Forgotten Promise- Marauders Era Fic

6: Whiplash

IT WAS THREE WEEKS AFTER Sirius and Ryland made up, the marauders and Ryland still were awkward with each other, but on a much more friendly basis. James had been talking to him more than before though, a friendship born between the two. Although he had to admit, out of all the Marauders, he'd been itching to hang out with Remus the most.

 Sometimes during their shared classes, they would sneak glances at each other. It had become a habit by now or some sort of game. Remus would look up every so often only to see the fleeting stare of Ryland, both looking away instantly whenever they were caught by the other. Ryland found himself thinking about Remus Lupin often, the small attraction towards the boy starting to evolve into something more.

He and his friends were sitting in the courtyard with a box of Bertie Botts beans nestled in between them. His head was on Edgar's lap, and Edgar playing with his hair, Ryland loved it when people played with his hair. It always made him feel safe.

Edgar and Amos didn't mind babying Ryland. He was the youngest out of the three and they thought his chubby cheeks and puppy dog eyes were adorable. Edgar had always been the most protective over Ryland. Taking the big brother role in the friendship. Edgar knew Ryland had an older brother but he still wanted him to have a brother figure in Hufflepuff. However, Ryland always wondered why Edgar chose to hang out with him instead of the Prewetts, Fenwick, and Cresswell.

The groups of friends decided to just lay around on their free day, chatting freely while trying a sweet every so often when someone would collect the courage.

"I'm telling you guys I'm definitely going to be able to ask out Celia this year" Amos was going off on another one of his rants. As he waved the box in his hand like a drunk. Confidence was clear in his voice.

"I'm friends with Celia, I can tell her you like her if you want, "Juliette said with a warm smile, Amos' eyes widening.

"No it's ok, I can do it myself" he squeaked, scared that the girl would actually tell.

"Translation for he's never gonna do it," Edgar said rolling his eyes as Ryland laughed knowing that it was true. Amos just sighed as he got a jelly bean, popping it into his mouth with no hesitation. The group of friends watched him closely waiting for his reaction, the boy started gagging after a moment.

"That's absolutely foul!!" Amos cried out as he stole Amelia's water bottle chugging down the contents. "Hey!! You better go refill it" Amelia snapped, Emmaline laughing at the situation. Amos shook his head, as he put the empty bottle down.

"I'll do it for you Amelia" Ryland volunteered while grinning at her, Edgar stopped playing with his hair to lightly smack his head. "No flirting with my sister!"

"Jeez! Okay! My apologies" Ryland said getting up, grabbing the bottle from the ground. Bowing down, while smiling at the girls before he left the courtyard to try to get into the kitchen. He was in the mood for coffee, and he decided to kill two birds with one stone.

After a little while of walking, he had made it to the painting with the fruit bowl, reaching a hand out to tickle the pear. The pear had giggled before it revealed a large door handle, and Ryland opened the door with his free hand. Ryland was often in the kitchens, he had made friends with a few house elves. Krafty was his favorite, he always knew exactly what he was here for. Krafty let him make his own coffee though, he loved the way Krafty would make it but he hated to burden him.

When he entered the kitchens he couldn't help but notice the marauders sitting down at a table talking to a house elf. Remus was the first to notice him smiling at him and Ryland couldn't help but smile back.  The moment was short though because Remus turned to the others whispering something to the three boys. The three instantly looked his way, James and Peter waving.

"Hey, Everest!" Sirius yelled out across the room, startling a few poor house elves.

"Hey Black!" Ryland said back with a smile before finding Krafty.

"Hey Krafty, I just came for coffee and water," Ryland said as he was waving the water bottle around to prove his point.

"I can fill that up for you, Mr. Everest," Krafty eagerly declared as he took the water bottle out of Ryland's grasp scurrying to get it filled up. Ryland shrugged it off before he began to make himself coffee. A sudden rush of air passed him and he knew it was most likely a person or a house-elf. The footsteps sounded too heavy to be a house-elf though. The steps had stopped close to him, meaning that the person had come to talk to him. He had assumed it was James, considering he usually spoke to James the most. "Hey Jamie," Ryland said softly, not turning to look at him. Pouring himself steaming coffee in a mug.

"Jamie?" the voice he yearned to hear asked from his right. Remus Lupin was leaning against the counter. Ryland didn't even attempt to look up, he knew he'd start rambling about something stupid. The nervous rambling often occurred when Remus Lupin was nearby.

"Since when did you call me Jamie?" James Potter asked from his left, ah shit. Double trouble. Ryland didn't even need to look at James to know the confusion clear on his features, his eyebrows furrowed as he tried to study the blonde.

"Jamie is a pretty nice nickname for you though," Sirius Black's voice said, coming closer to lean over Ryland's shoulder to look at what he was doing.

"You are aware the house-elves can make coffee for you, right?" The boy said as his nose scrunched in confusion

"Yes I am aware Sirius and James, Jamie is my new nickname for you" Ryland responded casually, still focusing on making his coffee perfect. Trying not to let his nerves get to him. As his hands quivered, he tried to regulate his breathing. Plus if he was going to get himself coffee he wanted to do it right.

"My mum calls me Jamie," James said leaning against the counter as he watched Ryland make his coffee.

"Should I just call you James then?" Ryland flushed red in embarrassment, looking up from his coffee to stare into James' eyes. Looking for any discomfort. Was he uncomfortable with Ryland calling him that? Or did he just not deem Ryland worthy of calling him that? James shook his head, calming the nerves of the Hufflepuff.

"No, I like it." Ryland beamed at this,

"He's a momma's boy" Ryland was suddenly reminded that there was an audience, Ryland's head whipping to the left to look at Peter, next to James. His head was spinning, trying to keep up with everything.

"James is the ultimate momma's boy" Remus grinned moving in closer to the Hufflepuff, passing the sugar to him. Their hands brushed as Ryland grabbed it, mumbling "thanks". Ryland knew his face was red and he needed an escape desperately. 

"Mr. Everest I've retrieved your water!" Thank Merlin for Krafty! Ryland wouldn't be able to deal with another second of whatever they were trying to accomplish. He knew it had to be some sort of bet or prank but it was over with.

Krafty brought the full water bottle to the Hufflepuff, Sirius stepping back to allow Ryland to leave.

"Thanks, Krafty! Bye Siri, Jamie, Remmie, and Pete!" Ryland left abruptly, his cheeks blazing. Leaving so quickly, he forgot his coffee on the counter.