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Sirius Black had been smoking since he was 10. It started small. Sneaking one in his room while his parents yelled downstairs. Hiding in the wardrobe when he wanted to get away. Then it escalated. Getting James to buy him packs and stuffing them in his luggage before getting on the train. This was made easier when he moved in with the Potter’s at 16. Euphemia pretended she didn’t know. Of course she did, Euphemia was more observant than Walburga ever was. Or maybe she just cared more. Sirius wasn’t sure, but he knew she let it slide a few times. She knew Sirius needed an outlet that wasn’t too harmful. He still tried not to do it in-front of her though. He respected her enough for that.
Remus had tried to get him to stop a few times, despite the fact Sirius had caught him a few times himself out the back of the Astronomy tower. Remus was a hypocrite if anything.
Sirius exhale the smoke and let his gaze flick up. James was lounging on the burgundy couch opposite the fire, Lily sat on the arm of it as she laughs at something he says while simultaneously playfully batting his hand off her knee. Peter was scribbling something down on some parchment. Most likely the Potions homework no one in the group bar Lily had done, despite the fact it was due tomorrow morning.
Remus was watching Sirius, and Sirius glanced down at the fag in his hand, then back up at Remus. Feeling some sort of twist in his gut. Not guilt. Something strange. Sirius took one last drag and stubbed the cigarette out against a mahogany bookcase. He meets Remus’ gaze and exhales the smoke- a smirk plays at his lips and he mutters
“Sorry”
Though he wasn’t entirely sure he meant it. He threw the cigarette into the fire so that he wouldn’t get strangled by McGonagall. He kicked James’ legs as he walked past intentionally. Which made Lily laugh harder, and James pout. Then Sirius plopped next to Remus, his arm settling on the back of the couch unconsciously. Remus glanced up at Sirius and muttered
“About time- if you get caught in the common room-“
“Oh come on Moony”
James grins from opposite “It’ll be alright. Solemnly Swear!”
Remus huffs and says “We just got here- and we’re 6th years now, we need to be a good influence for-“
“Moony.” Sirius smiles and looks down at him “You know full well, I haven’t been a good influence for anyone since we started”
Lily smiles from her seat on the arm rest next to james and says
“You have always been a bad example, Black.”
Sirius’s chest tightens just a little at that name but he grins brightly and says
“ ‘course Evans. What else am i supposed to be?”
Peter mutters from his spot next to Remus, not looking up from his parchment.
“You were the one who get me to skip Divination for the first time.”
Sirius looks at Peter and hums “And you shat yourself the entire time, wormtail. Thought you were gonna pass out and we’d have to take you to Pomfrey.”
James laughs lightly and leans forward, elbows finding his knees as he says “Now if i remember correctly- Moony was the one who told us about the top of the Astronomy tower that’s empty during lessons…”
Remus paused and let out a breathless laugh, glancing at Sirius, then back at James. “I just thought we could use a break.”