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James burst into the Gryffindor dormitory, skidding to a stop at the look on Remus’ face. “It’s time, mate! Are we doing this or not?”
“We’ve got… a bit of a situation,” Remus replied with his signature tact.
A frustrated groan came from behind the curtains of Sirius’ four-poster. “I’m not fucking doing this. And you better not be laughing out there, Moony!”
“I’m not laughing. Just come out already.” Remus pursed his lips as he attempted to tamper down his smile, but still his eyes shone.
James quirked a questioning brow. His eyes darted between Remus and the bed. To Sirius’ shadow he said, “Really, Padfoot, it’s just Polyjuice. Can’t be that bad, whatever it is.”
“Not that bad!?” Sirius growled. “I don’t want to walk around looking like a twat .” He pushed aside the curtain and stepped out, the spitting image of Regulus Black.
For a second, James couldn’t breathe.
Sirius’ unruly waves now fell gracefully to his shoulders, a ripple of raven-black. Their eyes met. The grey was a touch darker, just barely.
James felt a warm rush of heat creep up his neck.
The familiar broad features of his friend’s face had been replaced with something much more refined. Sharper angles, all coming to a point like a match that he wanted to strike.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Sirius asked him warily.
James swallowed, suddenly self-conscious. He ran a hand through his hair, trying for normal. “Because you look like your ponce of a brother, mate.”
“Reckon that’s the point of Polyjuice,” Sirius replied with narrowed eyes.
Remus looked between the two, and clapped his hands together. “Right. Well. I’ve got a Charms essay I’d like to get a head start on, so if you’ve got cold feet...”
Sirius grumbled. “Let’s just get this itching powder into Snivellus’ bed and be done with it.” He walked out the door cursing under his breath, his usual swagger stifled by Regulus’ graceful frame.
James was left in the dormitory with Remus, who gave a knowing smirk. “Tiny problem there, Prongs?” he asked, nodding toward his trousers.
“Oh fuck off,” James snapped. He stormed out after Sirius as Remus chuckled behind him. “And it’s not fucking tiny!” he added without looking back.