Princess Charming

Chapter 1

“Oh…yes…S-Sirius!” Came a booming voice from the upper dormitories, slicing through the silence that had encompassed the Gryffindor Common Room. A weary Remus Lupin shifted in seatseat uncomfortably, and sent James a wary look.
“Do you think…they’re…finished?” Remus cautioned incredulously.
James snorted his displeasure, before returning his attention back to his potions paper.
“Yes, I suppose you’re right…” Remus quelled, as he began to add the finishing touches to his own paper.
James relayed him a scathing look before his shoulders lifted into a shrug.
They had spent most of their free time in the common room, of all places, while Sirius occupied the dormitories above.
It was a never-ending routine. Every night, James and Remus took their usual seats in the far corner of the common room, at a large mahogany table. However, their activities changed, their routine did not.
Remus\' discomfort had spread to James and they both shifted uncomfortably in their seat when the pristine cries of final release crept down the stairs and died down to more than a barely audible whisper.
“Now…I think they’re finished.” James said hoarsely, as he set down his quill. He then pulled his arms above his head, as his long legs stretched from their current position to their full length in front of him. Attempting to stretch the weariness out of his aching muscles, he brought a hand to his mouth to stifle a yawn.
Moments later Sirius emerged from the dormitory, restraining his own yawn. He surveyed the room before taking his usual seat at the table, taking his quill in one hand, and with the other he ran five long fingers through his damp hair. He quickly set to work then. Mumbling phrases beneath his breath, and then writing something down. He could get a little bit more work done before he went to bed.
“Did you enjoy that?” James probed with a snort of dissatisfaction.
Sirius’ shoulders elevated into a shrug. However, his answer was not his own, it wasn’t even his voice. Remus had spoken for him.
“Of course he did, James! Wouldn’t you? I mean four times! Four times James!” Remus seemed more excited than Sirius was. “You did…didn’t you Sirius?”
That question was meant for Sirius, but given James’ expression as he rolled his eyes upward towards the ceiling, Sirius had no doubt that he had heard it.
Again, Sirius hoisted his shoulders into a shrug, as he stared down at his hands that had slowly entangled themselves into each other. “I don’t know…”
He didn’t need to look up; he could feel their eyes yielding relentlessly upon him.
“What do you mean you don’t know? You either enjoyed it…or you didn’t. It’s as simple as that.”
Sirius sent Remus a scathing look, before folding both arms across the surface of the table, and braced the weight of his chest against them.
“That’s what I mean…I don’t know. I mean, I enjoyed the feeling; hell I loved the feeling. Just not the person.” Sirius noted sighing inwardly against the frustration that was slowly building up inside of him.
They were silent for a long time, before anyone spoke. It was James who broke the silence.
“Sirius, you’re my friend. Okay, my best friend! I know how you feel. You’re lonely. We all get like that. But taking every girl that you come across to bed with you isn’t going to help you find someone any sooner.”
Sirius let out the callous breath that he had been holding in. He didn’t nhis his loneliness the topic of any conversation, especially not one where he was going to be lectured by his friends for his promiscuity, especially when he had stayed down in the common room his fare share of times for Lily and James’ sake also for Remus.
Remus spoke next “You might want to think about your approach. Despite how lonely you are there are other ways to get into a girls heart without getting into her pants first. You can’t just use girls like this Sirius. It’s not fair.”
“Okay!” Sirius choked, “I’m a bad person because I use girls, I get that. I’ve seen the error of my ways. So can we please quit talking about my love-life, or the lack there of?”
“We weren’t criticizing…we were offering…”
Sirius didn’t want to hear anymore of it, “Okay!” he choked again, hearing the rage in his own voice as it spilled through his veins, “Listen… I know I’m lonely, but I get used just as much as they get used. I try I really do, but in all honesty, I don’t think anyone will have me. I’m just a good shag.”
“Sirius…we didn’t…” James began
But Sirius wouldn’t have it; he stood up then, sending the chair flying backwards with the back of his knees. It hit the floor with a loud thud. He glowered at them, fighting to keep every bit of patience he had in him. He turned on his heels and left them stunned in his wake.