James knew something was going on. He caught Moony and Padfoot deep in conversation so often, their sentences dwindling as soon as his presence was noticed, that he was sure they were planning something.

He tried to stick to them like glue, but it seemed like sometimes they would just simply disappear off together, and return hours later - Padfoot always looking supremely unconcerned and Moony with a smile playing around his mouth.

Sometimes he would catch snippets of their whispered conversations between classes - Padfoot asking if something could happen tonight, and Moony saying that no, he had work, or it would be Moony making plans and Sirius mentioning the Map or Snivellus, at which point Moony would always sigh and ask if Snape was more interesting than him. And Sirius would make a face that James couldn't quite read, but he knew it was an expression Padfoot would only wear when Moony was around.

James also noticed that after he had Quidditch practice, while Moony and Padfoot would giggle a lot more for days, there'd be a lot less between-class planning.

Sometimes James would try to rush back to the dormitory to catch them in the act –whatever the act was - but they'd always be perfectly quiet, Moony on his oddly unmade bed doing work, and Sirius lounging on his own bed, smugly watching the other boy.

James would stomp into the bathroom, time after time, disappointed once again that his plans had failed, while Moony's and Padfoot's seemed to be going along smoothly.

But whatever was going on, he had had enough of it at breakfast, the next morning.

James sat down opposite the two of them, muttering 'morning' before grabbing a heap of toast. He noticed that Moony was blushing a light pink, and Padfoot was holding back a laugh.

"What's the matter with you two?" James asked, fed up.

"What do you mean?" Padfoot said, his tone light.

"You two - you're up to something. I know it." James struggled to keep his voice even.

"Wh- We're doing nothing!" Moony said defensively.

Padfoot glanced at Moony, who caught his eye and covered his mouth with a hand, stifling a giggle.

"Look! You're doing it now! You know something I don't," James said, temper rising.

"We know lots you don't, Prongs," said Padfoot, grinning.

"I'm serious!" James said.

"So am I," said Padfoot, and Moony laughed again, spluttering on a mouthful of tea.

"Honestly, if you two are thinking of pulling something, well, I know what you're up to."

Padfoot lowered his voice and whispered into Moony's ear, and Moony blushed a deeper pink.

James got up. "That's it, you gits. I'm off."

He swung his legs over the bench, and stormed out of the Great Hall. If he'd looked back, he would've noticed that Moony and Padfoot were deep in conversation once again, Moony leaning almost on top of the other boy, while Padfoot watched him intently, a burning in his eyes.

More importantly, James would've noticed that they were holding hands under the table.