Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Saturday, October 23rd

5:56pm

Prongs if this actually works i suppose I’ll have to apologize to Evans for calling her a brain dead hag

Dunno what a prongs is but you’ve got the wrong number mate

Wrong number?

Yeah. You’re texting the wrong person

Shite.

I knew Evans deserved to be called a hag. So you’re not James?

Can’t say that i am

But how do i text him?

You could try getting his number right

Okay

Ok

But let’s say I’m absolutely hopeless with technological, could you walk me through the steps for that?

…

The steps for texting the correct number?

Er

Yes

I’d start by asking the person who you’re trying to text for their number

And then entering it into your phone correctly instead of bungling it all up

Oi!

I didn’t bungle it up, Evans did

And Evans is?

Prongs’ girlfriend

So Prongs is a person

Yep my best mate

And you can’t just ask him what his number is?

I suppose I could, but I wouldn’t know how to text him

Evans is the one who knows how to do all this, it shouldn’t even be possible here

I’m going to go out on a limb here and say this is your first phone?

Yep

So what are you, 12?

What?? No

I’m 17, nearly 18

And this is your first phone? Your parents must be bloody strict

Hah

you don’t know the half of it

Interesting

Well this isn’t really any of my business so I’m gonna let you get back to trying to text your mate

Try not to bother any other innocent souls on the internet today

Wait you’re not going to help me?? It’s important that I figure this out

Unfortunately for you, it’s really not my problem that you’re 17 and still don’t know how to text

It’s not my fault :(

So you’ve discovered emoticons but you can’t figure out a simple text

Just make that Evans bird help you

If I ask for help after calling her a hag she’s gonna he

hate me 

Sounds like something you should’ve thought of before you called her a hag

:(

8:09pm

Welp, I figured it out, no help from you

It only took you an hour and a half

It’s not my fault! James was ignoring me because I called his stupid girlfriend names

so James and Prongs are the same person?

You know what, I don’t even know why I ask, I don’t really care

Yes Prongs is James

And if you don’t care, why are you responding??

Hullo?

...

Ok, real mature

I am perfectly mature for my age

Unlike some people who have just figured out texting

Not. My. Fault.

How old even are you??

Wouldn’t you like to know

You know my age

You’re the one who volunteered their age to a random man on the internet

So you’re a man!

Well spotted

I’m a guy too

I hope you aren’t like 60

Why does it matter?

Well I don’t really fancy texting a 60 year old man at 8 at night

But if I’m young it’s fine?

Well yeah, if you’re my age you’re less likely to solicit me for sex

Wow.

I could still try to solicit you for sex even if I was your age

Well are you?

that’s for me to know you to find out

text mannnnnnnn :(

Is that your name for me? “Text man”

What else am I supposed to call you

Quite literally all I know about you is your gender and that you look down on those who don’t have texting experience

Well you don’t really need to know much about me, we are strangers

Strangers who are now forever bonded because you’re my first text!

That is a ridiculous premise to base a bond on

I’ve made friends over less

Oh we’re friends now are we

Yes, text man, we are

Christ.

If you don’t want to share about yourself, I can go first

I’m a 17 year old boy from England but I’m at a kind of boarding school in Scotland.

That’s pretty safe basic info, don’t you think?

Hullo?

Sunday, Octorber 24th

1:28am

Fine.

I’m 17 (so no I’m not trying to solicit you for sex) and I live in Wales.

11:13am

What a great thing to wake up to

Now all I need is a name to call you that isn’t text man

Quite literally anything would be better than text man

What about Whale?

…

Why do you want to call me Whale

Well you live in Wales

That is not

Good lord

Okay you can just call me Moony

Moony?

Yep, it’s been my nickname since I was a kid. Idk who even started it at this point 

Wait what’s “idk”

Oh right

It’s slang for I don’t know

Ah

I was gonna make a joke about “if you don’t know what it means, why use it” but I thought better of it

Good because I may have blocked you for that

:(

Anyway, do I get any backstory on the name Moony?

It’s just a play off my real name

Which I guess I don’t get to know

What’s the point of the nickname if you get to know my real one?

Anyway, what should I call you

Now I don’t know much about this internet stuff, but I assume I shouldn’t just give out my name?

Correct

You could just give me a nickname

Hm that’s just as well, you probably wouldn’t believe me if I told you my name

You can call me Padfoot

So you’re Padfoot and your mate is Prongs

Is there a P-name theme or is that purely coincidence?

Hah that’s just coincidence

And do I get any backstory on your nickname?

Well I’m Padfoot because I’m fourth year my mates and i pulled a glorious prank on the girls in our house and they played one back using, well, pads

Huh

My mates let me walk around for a full day with a pad stuck to my foot

It was not on.

Okay but you can’t say you wouldn’t do the same to them if they were in your shoes

Was that

Was that supposed to be a pun??

I can be punny

Mer

Mercy, is this what it’s like to talk to me

Now you know the pain

hm it’s not so terrible

Sure

Ok and how did Prongs get his nickname

Ooh that’s a fun story

Ok so

Before Evans and Prongs got together he was obsessed with her. And I mean obsessed . For years he was constantly asking her out and making these grand gestures and taking the piss so she’d pay attention to him

Well one day he was messing with her during lunch when she was obviously already in a bad mood

And she just fucking

Stabbed him in the hand with a fork

Like way harder than the situation warranted

So he got sent to infirmary and she was in pieces and felt bad (which is what led to them reconciling and eventually getting together)

But long story short, he has 4 scars on his hand from the prongs of that fork

And thus he became Prongs

Wow

Ok 1. How are they together?? She assaulted him and he annoyed her for years
and 2. Infirmary? I know you said you went to a boarding school so I knew you had to be a bit posh but… you call the nurse’s office the infirmary?

Well 1. They are a sickening couple. They bicker constantly when they aren’t snogging each other half to death, but even I have to admit it was a long time coming
And 2. I guess you could say James and I were raised pretty posh but the school definitely isn’t. If anything it’s made me less posh

Ok but just because the school is less posh than you are doesn’t mean it’s not posh

I might just call you posh boy instead of Padfoot

Okie doke then I’ll just call you whale man

“Okie doke”

And that is still a terrible name

You are absolutely no fun

Aren’t I just ;)

Yeah well I

… you?

Padfoot you what?

1:27pm

Sorry, James stole my phone and forced me to exercise >:(

Wow the emoticons are getting better and better

I’m going to pretend I know what emoticons are

Anyway, I am sweating in places I do not want to be sweating and I hate James very much

Mm

Did you consider this might be revenge for the whole hag situation

I already apologized to Lily for that, I think James just likes to see me suffer

I assume Lily is Evans?

Hah that’s a funny way to word it

Lily is her first name, Evans is her last

Is she going to appreciate you giving her full name to some bloke you texted on accident

…

she’ll never have to know

It is now my mission in life to find Lily Evans and tell her you gave out her full name on the internet

You’re just plain evil, she’ll have my balls as a trophy

Would James really let her get her hands on your balls?

Hah, here’s one thing to know about Lily Evans: no one “lets” her do anything. She does as she pleases and if you have a problem with it you can shove it where the sun don’t shine

Damn she’s sounds like a real witch

Hah

You could say that

But no, she’s actually incredibly nice and has like and impeccable moral compass

But she is her own woman and will not take your shit

Ok that makes her seem considerably more likable

She’s definitely likable

She’s slated to be Head Girl next year

Ugh, the Head Girls at my school were all bossy know it all’s with sticks up their arses

Oh no, she’s definitely that as well

But she’s relaxed a bit the past couple years, and has relaxed a whole lot more now that she’s dating James, Hogwarts’ resident troublemaker

Second only to me, of course

…

Padfoot

Yes?

Are you telling me

That your boarding school is named Hogwarts ??

Absolutely it is

That is the single worst thing I’ve ever heard

:)

I’m sorry but I simply cannot be messaging a boy who goes to a school named Hogwarts

:(

Sorry posh boy, try going to a less ridiculous school next time

Ok well what’s the name of your school??

I’m sure it’s so normal and non-warty, eh?

Well it was St. Augustine’s but er

I’m actually being homeschooled right now

Homeschooled? Like u learn at home?

Er yes

Do you really not know what that is?

Let’s just say I was sheltered as a kid

Very. Very sheltered

Okay. Well, I went to St. Augustine’s until last year, but I had to stop so now I’m being homeschooled for sixth and seventh year

Oh, why’d you have to stop

Reasons

That’s enlightening

Yep

Okayyyyy new topic

Sorry, it’s just kinda personal

I understand

You don’t have to explain yourself to me

Ok thanks

I think I may go take a nap

Ok

I’m sorry if I upset you

You haven’t

I actually take naps quite often you’ll find

Alright

Goodnight I guess Moony

Goodnight I guess Padfoot

Chapter Text

Sunday, October 24th

6:06pm

Okay sorry for the sort of abrupt end to our conversation earlier I guess

I just get tired pretty easily and I was up late last night

Hey no worries, Evans and Prongs kicked me out of the dorm to “study” anyway and I can’t have my phone outside of it so

Damn they “study” in your dorm?

And why can’t you have your phone outside the dorm?

I let them have it on Sundays

Phones aren’t really allowed at Hogwarts

Shite really? What is this, the 1600s?

I mean I’ve never really had one so I don’t miss it

And no one at school has them either so it’s not like I’m missing out

No one’s snuck them in from home??

If my school had a no phone policy it would absolutely be ignored or worked around

Er I suppose Hogwarts is just very strict. My mates and I are the only ones I’ve heard of with phones

Blimey, it’s like a different world

Hah yeah

So how was your nap?

Actually very refreshing, thank you for asking. What did you do while you were exiled from the dorms?

Oh you know, lost to Peter at chest, snuck food from the kitchens, the usual

Is Peter another one of your mates

Oh yeah, he’s the third in our dorm, along with Kingsley

Though James Pete and I don’t really talk to Kingsley, he’s the swot type

Is Kingsley his first name or last?

It’s his first name

Wow and I thought mine was eccentric

Kingsley takes the cake though

I dunno if it’s weirder than my name. I bet your name isn’t

Don’t be so sure about that

Well you said yours is less weird than Kingsley’s, and mine is at least on the same level as his

I guess

Idk maybe I just have a cool name complex

I go back and forth between loving and hating my name

Really? Why?

On one hand it’s pretty cool and unique

But on the other it’s connected to family in a way that I can’t really change

How do you mean?

Our entire line has a sort of theme to our names

And my name follows that theme, which means I stand out, but only in a way that’s linked to them

And I hate being linked to them

Oh

I’m sorry Padfoot

It sucks having a constant reminder of things better left out of mind

Yeah.

But it’s okay, because all my friends call me Padfoot and all the birds at school think my name is bloody cool

Pull a lot of birds, do you?

I mean

I suppose

You suppose?

It’s more of an ego boost than anything else, getting girls

Don’t tell James this, but I actually haven’t been with a girl. At all.

That’s not something to be ashamed of

I know

It’s just. Kinda weird for someone my age I guess.

And

And it’s not like I couldn’t, even. 

I just. Don’t.

Y’know?

I think I do

I’m the same

You are?

If we’re talking about the same thing, then yeah

Okay

It feels a little better to know there’s someone like me

Yeah it does

Erm so you said you’ve never been with a girl before

Yeah

Have you 

I mean, tell me to fuck off if I’m overstepping but

Have you ever been with a boy

I

No I haven’t

Have you?

Yes

Was it

I mean is it like how I think it would be?

Yes

And more

Wow

Ok

Good to know

Yeah

Uhm

Maybe a new topic then?

Yes that’d be good

Tell me more about your friends

Mercy, I could talk about them for ages

James has been my mate for years now, he was the only one nice to me in first year because I was a right little shit

I met Pete at the same time but we only really became friends because James and him were like childhood friends

So you and James are close then

Yeah absolutely, i dunno if I’d survive without him

Ah

We’re basically brothers at this point, I go to his house for holidays and everything

Oh

Okay cool

Are you only close with Lily because of James?

Nah, I’ve been friends with her for a few years now

She’s a bit more grounded than a lot of people in my year, so I like to spend time with her when I need peace and quiet

Which only happens rarely, I admit, but she’s nice to have around

That’s like the opposite of me

Most of the time I like my peace and quiet but every once in a while I to let loose and go a bit wild

But hey, opposites attract so

Yeah they do :)

So what type of quiet are you?

What type?

Yeah like are you bookish quiet or weird quiet or hidden depths quiet, that sort of thing

Well I quite like the sound of hidden depths quiet, but realistically I’m probably bookish quiet

If you knew me you’d likely call me a swot

I know you perfectly well and I wouldn’t call you a swot

Padfoot you know next to nothing about me

And whose fault is that?

I’m guessing you think it’s mine?

Who else?

Ok fine, what do you want to know

That’s a dangerous question, Moony

I want to know everything

Everything? That’s a tall order

Idk what to say, I’m pretty boring

Blasphemy! I’ve been talking to you for two days and I’m not bored at all

Not sure you know what blasphemy is but ok

I dunno, if you have questions you can ask them but I really dunno what to say about myself

Hmm ok

Let’s start with what you ate for dinner last night

What I ate for dinner? Of all the questions in the universe you could ask me, you ask what I had for dinner ?

What do you want me to ask Moony? What your deepest darkest secret is?

You could

I probably wouldn’t tell you though

Probably

Probably

Well? Answer the question

I had chicken pot pie last night, wbu?

Not exactly the question i meant but okay

Chicken pot pie: yum. Wbu: ??

It means what about you

Oh, I had a whole bunch of shite

Wow Padfoot, you have such a way with words

D’ya see, my stupid question helped me learn something about you - you’re snarky

It’s my main personality trait, yes

Not your main trait

Hold on

Holding

Prongs is yelling at me because “it’s nearly 7 and you’ve had your head stuck in that blasted rectangle for the past 45 minutes” and “what could possibly be so damn interesting that you’re ignoring your best mate”

As if he didn’t have his hand up Evans’ skirt an hour ago

Well, what are you gonna tell him?

Probably to shove off and do something unspeakable involving his prick and a wild animal

No i mean

About what’s keeping you so attached to your phone

Oh

Well I was gonna tell him about you

Okay

And that you’re almost definitely not soliciting me for sex

Sounds like a plan

Idk, this feels important all of a sudden

Does it feel important?

I dunno Padfoot, I can’t tell you what to feel

Okay

Then it’s just ordinary

Okay

I really do have to go though, we’re executing a prank tonight and we need to stamp out the details beforehand

And I have to tell Prongs about the random boy I accidentally texted who may or may not be soliciting me for sex

Lol okay, have fun being the troublesome teen my parents warned me not to make friends with

You love it

Do I?

;)

I’ll talk to you later Moony

Talk later Padfoot

Monday, October 25th

6:38am

So are you going to tell me what “lol” means

10:49am

What is wrong with you

6am is not an appropriate time to text people

You’re lucky my phone was on silent

12:16pm

Moony, I came all the way back to my dorm before lunch just to check my phone, and all I get is verbal (visual?) abuse?? I’m hurt

I’m sorry that you made the decision to text me at 7 in the morning

That is a terrible apology

I’m sorry that I have school to attend, unlike some people in this conversation

I have school

I know, I just meant I have to be up early for a reason, it’s not choice

You have to be up at 6 for school?

Well

No

It’s more for sports, but that’s kinda school

No it is not

Ok stop arguing with me, I only have as long as it takes for James to find his tie before I have to go down for lunch

Please tell me what lol means

You’re an idiot

Lol means “laugh out loud” but it’s kinda morphed into just an expression of humor or a way to begin/end sentences

Kinda like hah

Ooh such an in depth explanation for this one, I like it

Teacher Moony

Lol

Good one

Ok I have to go, I’ll talk to you after classes

Ttyl

???

;)

4:21pm

All this new slang is especially confusing when you don’t explain it for hours

Moony

I must know what ttyl means

And why can’t you go to Evans with these burning questions?

Do you want me to?

Not really

Ttyl means talk to you later

It’s not really used all that often tho

By you

There may be people who exclusively use ttyl when ending a conversation

How would you know Mr. How Do I Text Someone I’m Sitting Right Next To

Wow Moony

I see now that you’re nothing more than a bully

Mocking me, leaving my on cliffhangers, yelling at me for texting you

I wasn’t yelling at you for texting me

I was berating you for possibly waking me up

Tomato tomato

…

That didn’t work out like you planned, huh?

No it did not

Yet another mistake you’ve pointed out :,(

Ok seriously where are you learning to do these emoticons

I’m not learning I’m inventing

Hate to break it to you, but you didn’t invent emoticons

I may as well have since I’m so good at them

You are a ridiculous person

You love it

Do I?

You’re repeating yourself Moons

So are you

Touché

Also “Moons”? Am I getting nicknames for my nickname now?

Maybe you are, Moonshine

Two can play at that game, Paddycake

:D

You’re not supposed to like it

What’s not to like?

About you? I’m sure quite a bit

:(

I’m kidding

I like what I see so far

My teachers say I could charm the skin off a snake

Your teachers say that?

Well not exactly that but it’s basically the same thing

And why, pray tell, do your teachers need charming?

Well I’ve told you about the pranks

They don’t always go off without a hitch

This is why so much of my time is devoted to planning them properly

Which is why you so callously abandoned me earlier

Yes

So you have to charm your teachers out of, what? Writing your parents?

Oh no, they’d never write my parents

Mostly I try to convince them it wasn’t me who blew up the toilets

And if they know it’s me I try to charm my way out of detention

You’ve blown up toilets?? How are you not expelled?

Okay maybe blew up is an exaggeration

I more just flooded them

Still

I’ve been kicked out of schools for less

You’ve been kicked out of school?

Well not kicked out exactly

More asked to leave

Thats

I won’t ask why but if you want to talk about it you can

It’s not all that serious, just a few misunderstandings

Okay

As long as I’m not talking to a delinquent

Oh I’m the delinquent? Who here has blown up a toilet again?

I didn’t blow it up!

That’s not what you said a minute ago

>:(

Okay tech genius, calm down

Hey Moony

Yes?

This is off topic, but can we continue the question thing?

If you’re so interested in me, go ahead

I am

What’s your favorite color?

Oh

Hm

Probably dark green

Moony! How dare you

What?

Green is the color of snakes

Okay and?

Our rival house are the snakes

I’m still not seeing the issue

You can’t like green because that means you like the Slytherins (snakes) and if you like the Slytherins then you hate Gryffindor which is my house. Then if you hate Gryffindor then you must hate me and we can't be

Friends

...

You realize how utterly unhinged you sound, yes?

Yes but I stand behind it

You’re criminally insane

Yeah but you love it ;)

Yeah

So I guess my second favorite color is pastel blue, is that acceptable

Hmmm Ravenclaw’s color

Oh Christ

I suppose I’ll accept it

Don’t get me wrong, Ravenclaw’s no Gryffindor, but I’ve always admired them

Ok wait, you really need to give me a rundown of the houses at your posh boarding school

Ok, ignoring the posh comment, here’s the rundown

Gryffindor: red&gold, bravery and perseverance are valued, objectively the best house

Ravenclaw: blue&silver, intellect and wit are valued

Slytherin: green&silver, evilness and ambition are valued, objectively the worst house

Hufflepuff: yellow&black, empathy and tenacity are valued

Wow

Ok just because you put the word “objectively” in front of something doesn’t mean you’re actually being objective

I have no idea what you’re talking about and I refuse to take criticism on this matter

Sounds about right

Alright, we’re going to have to continue this riveting discussion about school houses at another time because I have readings to do

So you weren’t lying about being a swot

Just because I read I’m a swot?

Moony, reading for fun is the defining characteristic of a swot

Do you even know how to read Padfoot?

Oh bugger off and abandon me for your books already

Your wish is my command

You can’t just give me that kind of power, Moony

Oi, get back here and let me command you

7:32pm

And what would you have me do?

Hm?

Oh nothing it was just a dumb joke

Lol ok

Look at you picking up internet slang like a pro

Will it ruin my credibility if I ask what slang is?

Yes

Ok then I definitely know what that means

Fuck you’re so cool

Mm I like the sound of that

You’re saying you don’t hear that all the time from the birds that think your name is “bloody cool”?

I mean yeah

But it’s nice to hear it from someone who actually knows me

Oh then let me say it again without the sarcasm

Fuck Padfoot, you’re really cool

Thanks Moony

Do you wanna keep going with the question thing?

As long as you still have questions I’ll still answer them

Ok

This one’s a bit more personal so you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to

But how did you figure out you were

Like

Like you?

Yeah

Well

Honestly I don’t know

I mean there was always something a little different about me, but that could be attributed to any number of things

It was really only made clear when my neighbor in year 9 snogged me and I snogged him back

Were you guys, like, together?

Oh no, we only got that one kiss before his dad found us and threw me out by my shirt

That was the first school I was asked to leave

God

That’s terrible

I’m so sorry Moony

It is what is

Did that sort of thing happen a lot?

It was never as bad as that first time

Except for when someone I was seeing got found out and told everyone I had forced myself on him

That one was rough

…

Fuck Moony

That sounds like hell

Yeah, that one was hard to explain to my parents

Sorry, I really didn’t mean to make this a whole sad thing

It really hasn’t been that bad of a thing. For every bad experience I have a good one

Yeah, but it’s okay to talk about the bad things

Like, I don’t mind listening if you want to share them

Thanks Pads

Anyway, I know it’s early but I think I’m actually going to turn in

Okay

Also, if I don’t respond tomorrow don’t worry, I have some stuff going on

Ok

Thanks for sharing that with me Moony

Thanks for listening

Anytime. I mean it

I know

Goodnight Padfoot

Goodnight Moony

Chapter Text

Tuesday, October 26th

7:45am

I hope you know it took all my willpower not to text you after you went to bed last night

You know 8pm is like a super early time to sleep, right?

12:22pm

I think I’m going to start carrying my phone in my robes because it’s too much of a hassle to sneak back to my dorm for it

4:12pm

I know you said you had stuff going on today but I can’t help but be surprised when I don’t get a reply lol

Sorry that sounded clingy

4:56pm

Hi Pads

Moony!! How was your day??

Ok

I slept in pretty late

Are you one of those early to bed late to wake people?

Not usually but last night definitely

Well surely you’re feeling refreshed now!

Oh yeah, super refreshed

I take it you had a good day going by all the punctuation you’re using

As good as it could be without talking to you ;)

Also I told James I was talking to some boy on the internet and he wants to “meet” you

Oh wow, sounds like a barrel of fun

Well I hate to be the bearer of bad news but I only really texted you to let you know I wasn’t dead

Oh ok

I’m sorry, it’s been a long day

Talk later?

Yeah of course

Ttyl Moony

Ttyl Padfoot

5:25pm

Padfoot where are you

Kitchens

You’ve been gone for a half hour

I’m hungry

Really? This seems more like pouting behavior

Fuck you

Touchy

What’s going on?

Did you ever think I left the dorm for a reason?

Possibly so an unnamed annoying git wouldn’t bother me

Did you ever think I asked Lily to charm these phones because you’re so prone to fucking off for extended periods of time when you’re upset?

Just talk to me Sirius

You’ll call me stupid

Only if you’re being stupid

And you know I won’t if you’re actually upset

Ugh

I was just waiting all day to talk to Moony

Is he that text boy you were telling me about?

Yes

And I knew he was going to busy today and that’s fine

But then he texted me and I thought we were gonna have a conversation but then he left again after like 2 minutes

And he didn’t even give a reason really, just that he had only texted me in the first place because he didn’t want me to think he was dead

Merlin it sounds so stupid typed out like that

Well it does seem like a bit of an overreaction

I knew you’d say that you berk

But you’re allowed to be upset about it

You don’t always have to give reason to your emotions, you can just feel them and work through them

Circe, is there actually a brain in that fat head of yours??

Ok that’s it, compassionate James is gone

Get your sorry arse back to the dorm before I put a dungbomb in your pants drawer

There’s the Jamesie I know and hate

I’ll be up in a bit, I’m gonna nick something from the potions cupboard first

Don’t get caught

Silence, ye of little faith

Wednesday, October 27th

6:14am

I personally think it should be illegal to force children to get up before the sun

12:37pm

Nobody’s forcing you to do sports Padfoot

You have obviously never met James

Mm but I’m supposed to aren’t I?

I mean only if you want to

I think he was mostly joking when he said that but I can give him your number

Why does this feel like meeting the parents

Aw Moons are you nervous

More apprehensive than anything

I really don’t know much about him

4:09pm

Sorry, a teacher almost caught me with my phone so I had to put it away until classes ended

But I’ve talked about James plenty of times, haven’t I?

Yeah but all you’ve said is that he forces you to do sports, annoyed Lily for years, and is your best friend

That’s not much to base his personality off of

Ok well let’s see

He’s direct, but not in a rude way

He’s really truly cares for everyone around him, but he can get caught up in things and not notice who he’s affecting

He’s weirdly good at switching between being a goofy prat to being really serious

I dunno, he’s just bloody brilliant

You sound like you really love him

Yeah

It’s nice that you have someone you’re so close to

What about you Moony, tell me about your friends

Oh I’m not really

I mean I’ve moved schools so often that it’s not all that easy for me to make long term friendships

And I’m homeschooled now so I don’t meet many people

Oh

That must get lonely

A bit

I’ve always been independent though, so it doesn’t really bother me most of the time

Yeah

I’m still sorry though Moony

It’s a good thing we’re friends now then isn’t it?

Yeah, I suppose it is

4:15pm

Hullo, is this Moony?

4:15pm

Oh I think I just got a text from James

Really?? The git’s supposed to be in detention until 5

Should I respond then if he’s not supposed to have his phone?

No it’s fine, he would only have it out if he knew he wasn’t going to get caught

Ok then give me a few so I can go have an awkward conversation with your best mate

Alright

Don’t like him better than me

Wouldn’t dream of it ;)

4:19pm

Yeah that’s me

You’re James?

Yeah I am

So you’re the bloke talking to Siri

Siri? I only really know him by his nickname

You guys don’t even know each other’s names? This just keeps getting weirder and weirder

I think it’s pretty weird that your best mate is named after Apple’s AI

I have no clue what you just said

You don’t know what Siri is?

I’m pretty sure I do, I live with him

No I mean

Christ

The Siri I’m talking about is a kind of technology that comes on Apple phones

If you’re using an iPhone you probably have it

Oh yeah I think we have iPhones

Padfoot told you we’re no good with technology though, yeah?

Yeah but I thought Lily would have shown you how to use all the features

Oh so the prat won’t tell you his name but he’ll freely give out my girlfriends?

Hah I was waiting for that shoe to drop

He accidentally gave me her full name

Really? That git.

Well it was nice speaking with you Moony, but I’ve got a aristocrat to pummel

I’ll assume the aristocrat in question is Padfoot and wish you luck

Cheers mate

Cheers

4:31pm

Moony what the bloody fuck did you say to James

He came back from detention early just to kick me

Kicked you did he? I’d say you got off easy

??

Lol I told him about you giving me Lily’s full name

MOONY

If he tells Evans I’m a dead man walking

I’m sure it’s not as serious as that

If she kills me that’s on you, Moonface

I’m shaking in my boots

Hmph

Well you and James had a nice long conversation

Did you spill any other deadly secrets during your little chat, hm?

It really wasn’t that long of a chat

And I didn’t spill any important secrets but he may have

Fuck

What’d he say?? He won’t let me at his phone

Not much, Siri

He told you my name?? The bastard!

He also called you an aristocrat? Not sure what that’s about

Bloody hell

I’m gonna kill him

Down boy

What?

I was making a joke

Telling you to get down, as if you were a dog

Er yeah, as if

Anyway, this is high treason

I’ll have his head for this

Mmhm

So are you going I explain the aristocrat thing or am I just supposed to make up increasingly elaborate theories in my head

I guess I’d better tell you before your brain starts smoking

Well, first off my name is Sirius, not Siri

James just calls me Siri because he knows it pisses me off

Wait, Sirius like the star?

Wait

Yes

How did you know that? No one ever knows that

Er I’m a bit of an astrology buff

Really?? Why’d you never say?

Dunno, it didn’t really seem like pertinent information

And I mean you could’ve asked about my hobbies with your questions thing, but instead you decided that knowing my eating habits was much more important

Oi, I stand by that question!

And yes, I’m Sirius like the star

That’s the family names theme I was talking about. We’re all named after stars

Mm I know you don’t really like your name, but you are named after the brightest star in the sky

That’s pretty fitting, don’t you think

…

Yeah

It is, thanks Moony

Anytime Sirius

Wow that feels weird

Do I get to know your name now

Mmm I dunno

Let’s hear this aristocrat story first, then I’ll decide

Ugh, you’re like a dog with a bone

Or a wolf

What?

Sorry I shouldn’t have said that, it was just a stupid joke

Please ignore it

Er okay

Anyway, James calls me an aristocrat because 1. He’s a dick and 2. My family is, like wealthy and elitist and stupid

And that’s not a brag or anything, I fucking hate them and I haven’t used their money or surname in years

Okay Padfoot I believe you

Why does James call you an aristocrat if it connects you to your family in a way you don’t like though?

It doesn’t really upset me

I’ve moved on from them for the most part and stupid jokes like that just serve to remind me that I don’t have to deal with their bullshit anymore, so it’s fine

He wouldn’t say it if it upset me

Okay

So if you don’t use your surname, what do you use?

James’

I’ll tell you what it is if you promise not to tell him I’ve given you his full name now

Haha okay deal

It’s Potter

Honestly I still go by Sirius Black but James and some of my cooler professors call me Sirius Potter

That’s actually really sweet

So, is my name weirder than yours or not

I hate to admit it, but your name is more eccentric than mine

…

Do I get to know yours?

Mm

Okay yes

!!!

Let’s see if you can figure out why my nickname is Moony

Okay

I’m Remus

Remus.

Wow this is like a surreal moment, I dunno why

I feel the same

My full name is Remus John Lupin

Oh, I forgot about middle names

Mine is Orion (to stick with the star theme of course) but I don’t really use it all because it’s also my father’s name

Mm my middle name is my father’s as well and I don’t use it either

Well, it’s nice to meet you, Sirius Potter

:)

It’s nice to meet you too, Remus Lupin

Alright, so any guesses as to why my nickname is Moony?

Ooh ok hold on

Well Remus is like Remus and Romulus, right?

Dunno where you’re going with that but yes

And they were like raised by wolves

Then Lupin kinda sounds like Lupus, which I think Canis Lupus is the actual name for wolves

Plus, you made that wolf joke earlier

Er yeah

So, if I had to make a guess I’d say your name is Moony because of, like werewolves, right?

Because they turn on the full moon?

…

Moony?

Oh

Uhm I hadn’t thought of it like that

It’s

It’s actually not quite that

Um listen I have to go to dinner Padfoot, I’ll talk to you tomorrow

Oh

Ok

Talk to you tomorrow Moony

5:47pm

I think I pissed him off again Prongs

What, did you give his full name to someone rando on the internet or something?

I’m being serious

Aren’t you always

Prongs can you not be a bastard for thirty seconds and listen to me?

Sorry Padfoot, you just make it so easy

What’s up?

I was talking to him because you couldn’t keep your bloody mouth shut about my name

How was I supposed to know your name  of all things was a secret!

And so he gave me his name and told me to guess why his nickname was Moony

But then as soon as I did he got all cagey and then suddenly said he has to go to dinner, which he’s never had to do before, and told me he’d talk to me tomorrow

Padfoot maybe he had to go to dinner

Shut it Prongs, he was acting weird I could tell

Yeah you and him see real close

Stop being jealous and help me

I’m not being jealous Pads, I’m just saying you’re acting a little obsessive about this bloke’s texting habits

Get fucked Prongs

I’m just saying, this is the second freak out you’ve had in 24 hours over the same kid

Forget it, I don’t know why I thought talking to you would be a good idea

I’m sorry, I was just trying to be honest

But if you’re saying there’s something up, I believe you

Yeah, thanks for the stunning vote of confidence

Don’t be that way

I dunno, maybe he has issues with his name like you do?

Yeah but why wouldn’t he say that? I told him about my whole thing, he knows I wouldn’t judge him or be an arse or whatever

Just because you’re comfortable talking about your family trauma doesn’t mean he is

You said he’s homeschooled, yeah? He’s probably still living with them so maybe it’s still a touchy subject

Yeah

That could be it

Mmhm

Now come out of whatever hiding place you holed up in and help me with this Arithmancy homework

Fine

I’m flooding the dungeons first though

Mm don’t let Lily catch you, she’s doing Prefect rounds

Your girlfriend’s a swot, mate

Yeah and she’s prettier than you’ll ever be so

Lying isn’t very becoming, James

Fuck you, Sirius

<3

9:52pm

Would you prefer I call you Padfoot or Sirius?

Hi Moons

Um either one works fine, I only hate the name Sirius sometimes

Okay, good to know

Er look, I’m sorry if I upset you earlier. I of all people should know that family names can be a touchy subject and I’m sorry if I said anything upsetting

Oh Christ, no

No no Sirius, you’re fine

I’m sorry, I’m just a moody fucking git sometimes, you did nothing wrong

Really.

Okay

You just left kind of abruptly and I didn’t want to just leave it like that

I know

It’s just

Things can get overwhelming for me sometimes and I guess I don’t have the best coping mechanisms

I usually just fuck off and bury my head in a book

It’s okay, I’m the same

Prongs gets on my case all the time because I go off on my own when I get upset and get myself in trouble

Apparently that’s why he had Lily ch

Choose these phones in the first place

What, so he could like keep track of you?

Yeah kinda

And talk me down from doing stupid shite when I’m pissed or hurt or whatever

So trust me when I say I know about bad coping mechanisms

I

What type of stupid shite?

Like pulling big pranks without caring about getting caught

Or just like

Putting myself in sticky situations without caring about getting out of them

Okay

Just stay safe, yeah Padfoot?

I will Moony

I haven’t done anything really stupid in a few years

Fourth year was the worst of it but I’ve learned to handle myself a bit better

I’m really glad

Would you like to hear how I really got my nickname now?

Oh!

Yes please

Okay

It’s actually because when I was younger and couldn’t spell all that well, and I often left the S off my name to make it “Remu” instead of Remus

So my parents would call me variations of that as nickname

And Remoony was the most common one they used, so it eventually just became Moony

Oh that’s super cute

I mean, it’s a lot more boring than my theory, but it’s cute

Yeah I suppose

It’s kinda a crazy coincidence that all 3 of the names you use are somewhat connected to wolves though, don’t you think?

Although, Sirius is the Dog Star so that’s kinda a cool coincidence

Yeah

Um could we change the subject?

Oh

Yeah of course

Do you want to do some questions?

That’d be nice

Okay, hold on let me think of something good to ask

Okie doke

Hmm

Hey wait, didn’t you make fun of me for saying “okie doke” a while ago??

Did I?

Well, it’s endearing when I say it

Oh you think so?

You don’t?

I do

I think a lot of the stuff you do is endearing

I

Thank you Sirius

You’re welcome Remus

Er anyway

What’s your biggest fear?

Oh

Hm I’d have to think about that

Take your time

I’d have to say

Probably hurting the people I love

Mm that’s a good one

What about you?

Ummmm

I’d have to say small spaces

I’m like violently claustrophobic

James and I got locked in a closet once (we may or may not have been running away from a prank gone wrong) and I had a full blown panic attack

God that sounds awful

I’m sorry Padfoot

It’s alright, I’ve learned how to avoid that sort of thing

Do you mind if I ask a second question?

Ask as many as you like

What’s your biggest insecurity?

Wow we’re doing deep ones tonight huh?

No “what’d you eat for dinner” now

Haha yeah, ig I’m just in a deep mood tonight

I just like getting to know you Moons

I like getting to know you too Padfoot

Would you like to answer this one first?

Oh yeah I can

I think mine’d be how loud I get

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been told to quiet down in my life

Hm it sucks that people have felt the need to comment so many times that it’s become an insecurity

Yeah

I mean I get it, I can be kinda boisterous but

Sometimes I’m doing nothing at all and just having fun and people still think it’s a funny comment to make

It’s whatever though

People shouldn’t police how you live

I think I’d quite like having a loud fun friend around

I think I’d quite like having a quiet snarky friend around :)

Anywho, did you want to answer?

Oh yeah

Er mine is my scars I think

They’re kinda all over

Oh

That must be difficult

Do you have to cover them up?

Yeah, I’m practically constantly wearing long sleeves and such

Why do I get the feeling you’re the type to wear sweater vests

Haha not sweater vests (no sleeves) but sweaters definitely

I have a frankly disturbing amount of sweaters

Wow

I want to say I’m surprised, but we both know that’d be a lie

You’re just jealous

What kind of clothes do you wear? Surely not sweater vests

Moony I would not be caught dead in a sweater vest

I’ll have you know I am very punk

Oh you are, are you?

What, you wear eyeliner and ripped skinny jeans and leather jackets?

Yes

Well

Not yet, but once I leave school definitely

Why not at school

Well we’ve got a uniform

Hah square

Oi!

I am many things, but I am not a square

Sorry, I can’t hear you over your adherence to the dress code :/

Remus just because we have a dress code doesn’t mean I adhere to it

Oh?

Yeah

I’ll have you know, I’ve only worn my tie once this week

Mm how naughty

You’re quite the bad boy, aren’t you?

Oh

Yeah I am

I was being sarcastic, but ok

Is that all for questions tonight?

Mm yeah I think so

I had to be up for sports this morning and my brain power is slowly leaking away

I’ll talk to you tomorrow?

Yeah of course

Ok

Goodnight Remus

Goodnight

Oh and Sirius?

Yeah Moons?

I just wanted to say

Thanks for being so cool about the whole

Scars thing

And not, like, asking about them

Of course

Anything for you Moony

Yeah

Okay, goodnight Padfoot

Goodnight Moony

Chapter Text

Thursday, October 28th

10:37am

Wow this is the first time I haven’t woken up to a text from you

I kinda hate it

12:25pm

Miss me Moony?

Wouldn’t you like to know

Hmm I’ll take that as a yes

I’m going to lunch, talk in a bit

Okay

4:29pm

So Moons

So Pads

After you said the whole

Er scar thing

It got me thinking that I don’t really have any clue what you look like

… Alright

Um

So I was thinking maybe we could describe ourselves to each other

Not that it particularly matters what we look like, but I think it’d be nice to have an idea of what you look like when I’m texting you

Okay

Um why don’t you go first so I know what to say

Okay!

I’m 5’10” and I have shoulder length black hair. I have silver eyes and like too pale skin

Basically whatever you think a vampire looks like? That’s me

Haha okay

I’m 6’2” with brown curly hair and hazel/amber eyes. I’m actually pretty tan for a kid from Wales, but I’d say it’s a pretty average skin tone for being white

…Remus

Sirius

You’re 6’2”???

What the fuck

I didn’t realize that was a big deal?

Of course it’s a big deal! You’re a tree

I could climb you

Mm you could

And why didn’t you mention the long hair?

What’s so special about long hair

I dunno any boys with long hair

I think it’s cool

Hm

Do you really have curls?

Yeah

Okay cool

Very nice

Just talking to a gentle giant with curls

Very chill

Doing alright there Pads?

Shut up

Yes

Am I how you pictured me?

I don’t really know what I pictured

I think that your physical description of yourself fits what I know of you though

I didn’t expect curls

I like curls

Oh

I like long hair

Okay

Ok

Oh by the way, I was thinking today

All on your own? Congrats

Hush, you

Hushing

Along with the what you look like thing, I was wondering

This phone can make calls, right?

Well I’d assume since Prongs said you have iPhones

Yeah okay so

And please, feel free to say no

Would you like to try calling later tonight

Oh

Um

Yeah, I think I’d like that

Okay

I’ll talk with Lily beforehand so I’ll actually know what I’m doing before I bungle it all up

You’ve never even made a phone call before??

Um

Not on this type of phone?

Oh, I bet your family had a landline, eh?

Er yes, that’s is

Anyway, Prongs is badgering me about helping him plan a last minute party right now

Whatever happened to you guys meticulously planning things out?

That’s just for pranks and shite that can get us in trouble

This should be a perfectly legal party

Except for the booze

And the staying up past curfew

And the inviting other houses into our common room

But other than that

Mmhm

Well good luck with that, I guess I’ll go finish my schoolwork while you abandon me

Swot

Delinquent

Ttyl Moony

Ttyl Padfoot

10:49pm

I think I need to go to bed soon

If you’re still planning with James we could talk another night?

Ugh yes, the man is losing it over decorations

We also may have taken a break to prank the Slytherins

Another night?

Yeah of course

Goodnight Sirius

Goodnight Remus

Friday, October 29th

7:46am

Mooooony

Prongs kept me up until forever planning this stupid party

Ergh I stayed up all night and you’re not even here to console me in the morning

11:56am

Padfoot you are simply pathetic in the morning

Also good morning to you too

12:31pm

Sorry, good morning Moony

Do you have no compassion for the state I’m in

I do, I just can’t relate to your exhaustion right now

Ugh

Serves us right for waiting so late to plan our Halloween party I guess

Wait it’s a Halloween party? That sounds so fun!

Woah there Moony don’t strain yourself

I think this is the first time I’ve seen you use an exclamation mark

Sorry, I’m just excited

Don’t apologize, it’s sweet

Oh

Thank you

I just really like Halloween

Really? Is there a reason?

I dunno it’s just a really fun holiday

My friend Alice and I dressed up as Bonnie and Clyde last year

Ok two things

First, I thought you had no friends? Who is this magical Alice?

Second, am I going to get clobbered for not knowing who Bonnie and Clyde are?

Okay fuck your ordered list, how do you not know Bonnie and Clyde?

Ugh Padfoot I have so much to teach you

Okay can you teach me in a bit, I’ve classes

Yeah of course, talk in a bit

4:05pm

Okay sorry, just assume I’ve been living under a rock and all pop culture references will go right over my head

Ok so basically

Bonnie and Clyde are this really famous crime couple who did all this cool shite then famously died in a shootout with the cops

Mercy, that’s grisly

Yeah, but fitting for Halloween

Yeah

So it was a couples costume?

 Mm yeah, those are the only ones that really win at costume contests

Okay

But you weren’t...

No we weren’t

Okay

Well tell me more about Alice then?

Oh, I didn’t really want to mention her earlier because

I actually know her from the time I spend in the hospital

And I wasn’t really in the right mind to field questions about that before

I’m still not, to be honest

That’s perfectly fine Moony

Would you like to talk about her though?

Sure

She’s really lovely

She’s the longest friend I’ve had, I’ve known her as long as we’ve been in Wales, which is about 2 years now

She’s kinda really frank, but in the best way possible

Like she calls me on my shite and knows when to push and when to let things lie

Idk I’m just really grateful to know her

She sounds like who James is to me

Yeah, I guess she is

So any clue who you’ll go as this year?

We were thinking Gomez and Morticia Addams

...Right

You have no clue who they are, do you?

I assume some weird murdery couple?

Well it’s kinda hard to explain if you’ve never seen The Addams Family

But essentially they’re the parents from this TV show about a weird creepy family

Oh

I wasn’t allowed to watch TV as a kid

At all?

At all

That sounds kind of awful

It’s sort of like the phone thing though

I never had it so I’ve never really missed it

I’ll ask Evans about the Addams family thing though

Haha okay

Do you know what you’ll go as for your party?

Mm James Pete and I are thinking the three musketeers, complete with swords and all

This party is sounding less and less legal the more you describe it

Shhh Moony, we have to keep it sounding tame so Evans doesn’t shut us down

She would destroy her own boyfriend’s party?

If it could get us all in trouble? Probably

Mm

So

Do you think you can call tonight

Oh

Yes

Um I could probably do it right now if you’re free?

I’m free

Okay

Give me like 2 minutes to find some privacy

*Incoming Call from: Posh Prick Padfoot*

4:13pm

“Hullo?”

“Er hi”

“Padfoot?”

“Yeah. Blimey your voice is deep”

“Oh yeah, I hadn’t really thought about that”

“No seriously, do you do exercises to deepen it or something? If I sounded like that I don’t think I’d ever stop talking”

“From what I know of you, you don’t stop talking anyway”

“Touché”

“And you were absolutely lying when you said you weren’t posh. You sound like you could have tea with the Queen and fit right in”

“I never said I wasn’t posh, just that I’m less posh than I was before I came to Hogwarts”

“Christ, this isn’t you at your poshest? I think if you sounded any more posh than this I’d lose a few years off my life”

“Mm I shouldn’t tell you that I speak French, Japanese, and Italian then?”

“...”

“No you shouldn’t”

“Hm okay, I’ll keep that to myself”

“Oh no you don’t. Go on, let’s heard your stupid posh voice in a different language”

“Your wish is my command”

“Fuck I can hear the winky face through the phone”

“J'adore t'entendre dire le mot foutre”

“...shite”

“Why don’t you speak French all the time?”

“Si je savais que cela aurait cet effet je te parlerais en français tout le temps”

“And what does that mean?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know”

“Oi, that’s my phrase”

“So?”

“So don’t use it”

“Faîtes-moi.”

“Ugh the French is unfair, Padfoot”

“You having phrases only you can use is unfair”

“Gall dau chwarae yn y gêm hon rydych chi'n gwybod”

“Fuck.”

“What was that??”

“Welsh”

“You know Welsh? I thought you only lived in Wales for 2 years?”

“I was actually born and raised here but then… well we started moving a lot”

“We more moved back here 2 years ago”

“Oh wow okay”

“So what did you say?”

“Oh no, you don’t get to say mystery phrases in French and then expect me to tell you what I said in Welsh”

“Remussssssss”

“Rwy'n hoffi clywed fy enw yn eich ceg. Hyd yn oed pan rydych chi'n swnian”

“Yn enwedig pan rydych chi'n swnian”

“Ta voix est si attirante, surtout en gallois”

“What are you doing to me Moony?”

“Same thing you’re doing with the French”

“Ti'n pryfocio”

“Ugh fine, no more French or Welsh for a little while, alright?”

“Whatever you say Padfoot”

“So what are you doing right now?”

“Are you seriously asking what-”

“ Besides talking to me! What are you doing right now besides talking to me?”

“Mm well before you called I was reading, as I’m wont to do, so I’m sitting in the window seat in my room with Moby Dick in my lap”

“Moby’s what in your lap?”

“Oh shut it, it’s the title of a book you insufferable fool”

“Insufferable am I?”

“Yes.”

“What are you doing anyway?”

“I’m just sitting in bed on the phone with you”

“Mm”

“So what are you wearing?”

“I- what??”

“Shite, no! That’s not how I meant it!”

“Padfoot, you tart”

“No! Merl-Mercy! I just- stop laughing!”

“Don’t ask me what I’m wearing if you don’t want me to laugh at you!”

“Fuck you, I just wanted to get an idea of what you looked like right now!”

“Oh God Sirius, you’re going to give me abs”

“I did not come on this call just to get bullied”

“I didn’t come on this call just to listen to shitty pick up lines”

“It wasn’t a pick up line! Ugh, you’re worse than James”

“Aw I’m sorry Padfoot, it really was just too funny”

“Good to know you derive such pleasure from my utter embarrassment”

“It was endearing”

“Yeah yeah, laugh it up”

”Don’t pout”

”Whatever”

“Your laugh’s really nice by the way Moony”

“Your embarrassed yelling voice is really nice Padfoot”

“I hate you”

“Nah”

“Maybe I do”

“Then hang up”

“...”

“Fuck you Lupin”

“Right back at you Potter”

“Anyway. Are you going to answer the question?”

“Really Padfoot?”

“Don’t make it weird Moony”

“Hah okay”

“I’m just in one of my sweaters and jeans and socks. I assume you’re in your school uniform?”

“Yeah that’s what I’m- Oh fuck!”

“ Pads?”

“Shite! I just remembered I’m supposed to be studying with Lily right now”

“Are you late?”

“I will be if I don’t go now”

“Good fucking luck, mate”

“I hate to go but she’ll hang me by my toes in the dungeon if I miss another one. Talk later?”

“Sure Padfoot”

“Okay, don’t have too much fun with Moby without me”

“Not at all what the book is about but okay”

“Bye Moony”

“Talk later Pads”

*Call duration: 20 minutes*

4:33pm

Sirius you’re late

Sorry I got caught up on a phone call

With who? You only know James and I’s numbers

Er

I’ve actually been texting a boy

A boy?

Yeah, I put James’ number in wrong when I first texted him and I’ve been talking to the wrong number for like a week now

Wow

And when you say talking you mean…?

Um yeah I think so

I mean, it’s like that for me, I don’t know if he feels the same way

Okay

Have you told James?

I told him that I’ve been talking to him, but you’re really the only one who knows about

The other thing

Oh

I thought James knew

Maybe he does

I’ve never told him

Hm

Do you want to talk about it?

I

I don’t know

Okay

Well if you ever do, I’m here

Thanks Evans

I’ll be at the library in a few

Alright, don’t forget your potions text

Got it

8:51pm

Padfoot

Moony

How was your study date

Terrible

After listening to you, Lily’s voice sounded even shriller than usual

You had better not mention that to her

It’s not my fault your voice is so nice. It nearly lulled me to sleep on our call

It was like 4pm

Didn’t you go to bed at 8 earlier this week?

Hush

Your voice is nice too, no matter how posh it is

You should like read to children or something

I can just imagine your tall arse stooping down to talk to children

It’s almost comical

I’m not that tall Padfoot

You’re just short

Oi! I am not short!

Someone’s a little defensive

I am not short, you are simply a giant

It’s okay, the height difference is actually quite cute

Oh

Thank you :)

I’ve always liked taller boys

Ah

Good to know

Yeah

Yeah

Um could we make that a nightly thing?

The calling?

Yeah I think that’d be nice

Okay sounds good

Wanna do questions?

Absolutely

Okay, do you want to ask one this time?

Oh sure

Er

Okay, just tell me something you’ve never told anybody

Huh

Like nobody nobody?

Yep

A 100% fully kept secret

Uh ok I’ll really have to think for this one

Take your time

I

I think that I don’t really hate my parents

Yeah?

Yeah

Like they’re awful, and they’ve done so many just truly terrible things to me and brother that I want to be able to say I hate them and would never talk to them again

But honestly?

If my mother showed up today and told me she loved me

I don’t know that’d I be able to turn her down

I don’t know that I have it in me

And I hate that

I hate it so fucking much that they have that hold over me

I don’t want to overstep but

I don’t think they have a hold over you at all

Yeah?

Yeah

If they’re really as terrible as you say, I think the fact that you got out without losing your ability to love or relate the others

I think it speaks a lot to your character. I think it makes you strong

It feels like a weakness

Just because they would call you weak for it doesn’t mean you are

Fuck

Okay

Yeah

Thanks Moony

Any time Pads

What about you then? I don’t want to be the only one spilling my guts here

Okay

I’m

I guess mine would be I really hate my Da

Your father?

Yeah

It’s

It’s not like he’s awful or anything

There’s just some stuff in our past that I resent him for and I assume he resents me for it too based on how he acts

I dunno I just feel like my life would be a lot easier if he just fucked of already

I know he’s only here for my Mum, so we really just tolerate each other for her benefit

But I really hate him

I don’t think I should but I do

I understand

And if you hate him, there must be a good reason. You don’t seem the hating type, Moony

I’m not

Thank you for saying that

I feel like I’m crazy sometimes, for hating him

If there’s one thing I know, it’s that some people deserve to be hated

Hah, that’s the truth

Would you like to call?

I actually think I’m going to go read

I’m sorry, I don’t mean to run off but… it’s a bit of a heavy subject and I just need a little time to calm down

I understand Moony

I’ll talk to you tomorrow? You’ll have me all day since I’ve no classes

Yeah, definitely

Thanks for understanding Pads, you’re really sweet

You are too

Goodnight Remus

Goodnight Sirius

Chapter Text

Saturday, October 30th

10:07am

Am I awake before you? This must be a miracle

Sleep tight, Pads

12:12pm

Ergh

Good morning sleepy head

Did you have a nice lie in?

No

Prongs jumped on my bed three times because I’m “wasting the day”

Early bird gets the word, Pads

Why would I want a worm

Worms are pathetic and useless and tiny

Mm, kinda like you when you laze around, hm?

Rude and uncalled for, Moony

Sorry Pads

Are you just about ready for your Halloween party tomorrow night?

Yes! We’ve also got quite the prank ready for the feast just before

Aren’t you risking not attending your own party if you get caught?

It’s Halloween, Moony! You expect to get tricked

Besides, the professors know what to expect of us on Halloween after so many years

Made quite a reputation for yourselves, have you?

Yes

We even have a name

Ooh, the plot thickens

Did you name yourselves or was this name bequeathed unto you?

I love when you use big words Moony

We chose the name ourselves, but we were called it before we started using it

Well? I’m waiting on tenterhooks

Tenterhooks?

I thought you liked when I use big words

You know I do

Well, what do you call yourselves?

We’re The Marauders

Mm that’s actually quite a cool name

Right?? We’re proud of it

Mm

Alice’s coming over at 1 so we can try on our costumes for tomorrow

Are you going to a party or something?

Yeah, her boyfriend hosts a party every year

It took quite a bit of convincing for me to agree to go

Did you not go last year? As Bonnie and Clyde

Mm no, I was actually at the hospital last year so we did their costume contest

Wow they had a costume contest? That’s cool

Yeah it was actually kind of fun

But now I’m expected to socialize and be an actual person

It’s going to be exhausting

You’ll tell me all about it, won’t you?

Of course, if you’ll tell me about your party

Obviously

It’ll kinda be boring without you, though

Will you be able to text during your party?

Of course I’ll be texting you during it

Who else am I going to make fun of people’s costumes with?

Hm, I suppose my input on this subject is quite important

Indeed

So you James and Pete have your costumes sorted?

Yeah, everything except for the swords, but we’re just going to tra

Trade with the Ravenclaws for them

Ravenclaws just have swords laying around?

Er yes

We do live in a castle

Of course your boarding school is in a castle

Posh boy

Welsh idiot

O leiaf rwy'n gwybod sut i weithio ffôn

Again with the Welsh

You love it

J'adorerais si tu te tais

I’m gonna Google translate that

You’re what?

You said “I’d love if you shut up”

What the fuck

Unfair

How did you do that

Your absolute ineptitude with technology is a constant source of joy for me

:(

I just googled “French to english” then copied what you said and it translated it for me

What the bloody fuck is a Google

Padfoot I honestly wish I could help you, but I don’t think I can explain properly if you don’t even know what Google is

Ugh whatever, I don’t need you stupid technology

Whatever helps you sleep at night

Earlier you said “at least I know how to work a phone” which, rude

What

I thought you didn’t even know what “a Google” was

I didn’t use your precious Google

Then what did you use

It’s a secret

Bastard

;)

Whatever

Wanna call?

Yes please

*Incoming Call from: Remoony*

12:36pm

“Hiya Moony”

”Hullo Pads”

“You still sound sleepy”

“Mmm I wouldn’t be so tired if I hadn’t been woken up three separate times before getting up”

“I don’t doubt you’ll have your revenge on James”

“Hah, you’re completely right”

“What d’you think, itching powder in his sheets?”

“Seems like a fair trade”

“Y’know, I bet if I spoke French right now, your stupid Google wouldn’t be able to translate it”

“Yeah, I suppose you’re right”

“...Why don’t you test it?”

“You just want to hear me speak French”

“Is that so wrong?”

“No”

“T'entendre parler gallois me rend fou aussi”

“Mm”

“Has your voice always been that low Moony?”

“Er yeah I guess”

“I mean, not before puberty but it’s been like this the past few years”

“Hm”

“It’s nice to listen to”

“Thanks. Your sleepy voice is nice too Pads”

“Hah, I should call you early in the morning or late at night more often then?”

“Well I wouldn’t call 12:45 in the afternoon early, but yes definitely”

“You’re talking as if you don’t sleep until 10 everyday”

“I need my beauty rest Pads”

“I’m so sure”

“If you had to be up at 6 on weekdays, I bet you’d sleep in late on the weekends too”

“Hm I guess that’s true. Although I’m ill, so I say I get a pass”

“Oh”

“You’re ill?”

“...”

“You don’t have to answer”

“No, it’s fine”

“I… yeah I am.”

“Um, it’s really only for like a week or so every month though”

“Okay. Do you want to talk about it?”

“Um, not really?”

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have brought it up”

“No, no, it’s not your fault, I shouldn’t have asked”

“I’m- it’s really not as serious as all that. I’m really fine most of the time, it’s-“

“Moony. You really don’t have to talk about it”

“I… okay. Thank you Padfoot”

“Of course”

“Er, were you going to tell me anything else about what Halloween is like at Hogwarts? It seems like you have a tradition of some sort going”

“Oh, yes!”

“Ok so, basically, we play a prank on Halloween night as like the ‘trick’ part of Halloween”

“This year though, since it’s our last, we’re going to play a fake prank and then once everyone thinks everything’s fine and we’re done, we’re going to play our biggest one yet”

“It’s gonna be fucking mental, Remus”

“Wow. The Marauders don’t mess around, do they?”

“Nope!”

“So, how exactly do you play a ‘fake’ prank?”

“Well, it’s gonna be real but it won’t be all that interesting.”

“The plan right now is to just ch- er, change all the decorations to Gryffindor colors and set off a few fireworks in the great hall”

“Setting off fireworks indoors is a ‘not all that interesting’ prank?”

“Oh yeah, we’ve done that loads of times”

“You’ve blown up fireworks within your school loads of times… You never cease to amaze me, Sirius”

“I’m choosing to take that as a compliment”

“It was”

“I don’t see what the big deal is”

“The big deal?”

“The big deal is that you’re creating controlled explosions inside your school and this is just a normal occurrence for you”

“Hah, did you know that your Welsh accent comes out when you’re laughing, Moony?”

“Oh, it does, does it?”

“Yep”

“Well, sometimes when you’re cursing, I can hear a French lilt”

“Really??”

“That must be because I grew up learning French alongside English and my tutors would hit my knuckles if I cursed, so I learned to do it in French”

“Fuck your tutors, I like hearing you curse”

“Hah, yeah?”

“Yeah.”

“Well I like just hearing you talk in general. I’ve always had a thing for deep voices”

“Oh.”

“You have?”

“Er”

“Yeah, I have”

“I’ve always had a thing for posh accents”

“Oh?”

“Yeah.”

“Okay”

“Okay”

“...”

“...”

“Um Moony?”

“Yeah Pads?”

“Are we-”

*Incoming Call from: Arsehole Alice*

12:58pm

“Oh, um Alice’s calling me, I assume to let me know she’s almost here”

“Er, I kinda have to let her in if she’s here”

“Yeah, okay”

“Er, we’ll talk in a bit?”

“Yeah, I’ll talk to you later”

“Okay.”

“Padfoot I-”

*Incoming Call from: Arsehole Alice*

12:59pm

“Yeah okay I have to go”

“Bye Moons”

“Bye Padfoot”

*Call duration: 24 minutes*

1:00pm

“What, Alice?”

“Oi, what’s with the voice? I’m the one you’ve locked out in the cold”

“Fuck I’m sorry, I was just on a call with Sirius”

“Ah, and how is lover boy?”

“Don’t call him that”

“And I thought… Well I thought it was going somewhere, but then you called and… Whatever, it doesn’t matter now”

“Shite, did I interrupt something? You could always call him back”

“No, it’s fine, the moment passed”

“Whatever you say”

“Yeah.”

“Remus?”

“Yeah Alice?”

“I’m freezing my tits off out here”

“Fuck, sorry, I’ll be right there”

“You’d better”

*Call duration: 4 minutes*

6:15pm

Moony!

Padfoot!

Fantastic news

The wi

Woman who runs the bar we got our alcohol from knows one of the Ravenclaws in our year, so she’s hooking us up with double what we asked for

Wow

This is really going to be a party that goes down in Hogwarts history, huh?

Absolutely it is

Merlin, after this party and the prank, we’re going to be legends

I

Wait, Sirius?

Yeah Moons?

Did you mean to say Merlin

Oh

What

No

No, I meant to say mercy

I

I don’t think I believe you

What?

Sirius

Moony?

Are you a wizard?

I

Remus?

*Incoming Call from: Remoony*

6:19pm

“Moony wha-”

“Holy fuck, you’re a wizard aren’t you?”

“I- I don’t understand the question”

“Circe, all the weird cut off words make sense now!”

“C-Circe?”

“And how dense you are about technology? I should’ve bloody well known!”

“Wait, wait Moony slow down, I-”

“And who the fuck uses ‘Mercy’ as a curse?? Of course you were meant to be saying Merlin!”

“Remus, you aren’t saying that-”

“God, what about you saying you’ve never heard of The Addams Family? Or Google, of all things! I can’t believe I’ve been so blo-”

“MOONY!”

“What, Padfoot?”

“Are you saying that you-”

“Yep”

“This entire time you’ve-”

“Yes, Padfoot”

“...”

“Merlin’s saggy tits, you’re a wizard too?!”

“And he gets it!”

“Shut your stupid, sarcastic mouth, this is the best thing to ever happen to me!”

“Aw shucks, you really think so?”

“Sass is not appreciated in this moment!”

“Bloody buggering fuck, this changes so much”

“Fuck, this is so cool Padfoot”

“Wait, wait!”

“Why didn’t you say anything when I said I went to Hogwarts??”

“Son of a bludger, Hogwarts is a wizarding school?”

“What, have you been living under a rock?! It’s, like, famous!”

“Well you obviously thought a muggle wouldn’t recognize it!”

“Well you’re not a bloody fucking muggle, are you?? ”

“I’m- I-”

“Humping Hippogriffs, all this time I spent making up stupid excuses for things I’ve almost said!”

“Wait, what? Like when?”

“Like, like, I dunno!”

“Like when I said I’d trade the Ravenclaws for swords? What the fuck does that even mean?!”

“O-Oh my God, I didn’t even question it?!”

“Stop laughing, this is all your fault! I was covering for almost saying I transfigured some needles into swords!”

“Holy shite, stop Padfoot this is too much!”

“And when I said I’d never had a phone and you assumed I had a landline?”

“Fucking hell Siri-!”

“Moony, what the bloody fuck is a landline?! Do you know how often I had to bother Evans about the shit you’ve said??”

“I’ll assume she’s muggleborn?”

“Yes, you dense fool! She’s a muggleborn and I’m a wizard and you’re a bloody fucking wizard and-”

“So when you translated my Welsh earlier?”

“It was a spell”

”And when you set off fireworks in the great hall?”

”They’re from Zonko’s. Completely harmless”

“Shite.”

“Idiot. Clueless, blind, dens-”

“Oi! In my defense-”

“In your defense?! All this time we could’ve-”

“In my bloody defense, Padfoot you stubborn prick, I haven’t been in wizarding society in well over 11 years!”

“And you-! Wait what?”

“Yeah.”

“Wait, why?”

“It’s- it has to do with the hospital visits.”

“Okay...”

“That’s...”

“That’s all I really want to say.”

“I... Okay”

“Okay, I respect that Moony.”

“Thank you.”

“Um, so do you still use magic and stuff?”

“Oh yeah, absolutely”

“I just”

“Well I used to go to a muggle school, and we don’t really interact with that many wizards”

“Hm

“Am I an exception?”

“Yeah, you’re definitely one now”

“Okay”

“Wow”

“I could… I could apparate to you at like any time”

“...I suppose you could”

“N-not now, but...”

“But we could. Sometime.”

“Yeah. Sometime.”

“Okay.”

“Okay.”

“This is fucking surreal, Moons”

“I know”

“I never thought”

“I mean, I thought there were going to be things I always had to hide from you”

“I know what you mean”

“This is so bloody cool!”

“Merlin, Circe, centaur, bogart, werewolf, unicorn, charm, transfigure, engor-!”

“Okay, okay Padfoot! You don’t have to say every magical word you know!”

“But I can! I can say all the magic words I want!”

“Listen Pads, I know this is crazy and wonderful and I wish I could talk to you forever, but I really have to go help my Mum with the washing up”

“Really? You’ve never had to do that before”

“Not that I don’t believe you, I just”

“You’re not running off again, are you?”

“No! I’m not”

“It’s just, my Da gets home tomorrow and I want to make sure everything’s done before he gets home”

“Oh, alright”

“If we’re stopping now, I probably won’t be able to talk until morning because Prongs Pete and I are putting finishing touches on our ultimate prank”

“That’s the name now? Ultimate Prank?”

“Hah, it wasn’t before but now it probably is”

“Haha, okay Pads”

“I’ll talk to you tomorrow?”

“Yeah, of course”

“Alright”

“Goodnight Padfoot”

“Goodnight Moony”

Chapter Text

Sunday, October 31st

8:45am

Moony

Moony

Moonface

Mooniekinz

MOONY

*Incoming Call from: Posh Prat Padfoot*

8:46am

“Mnfh wha?”

“Hullo Moony!”

“Oh fuck no”

*Call duration: less than 1 minute*

8:47am

Moony :(

Padfoot why

Weren’t you just bugging me about my lie in yesterday?

And it’s ʕ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔHALLOWEENʕ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ

Padfoot, with all due respect, if you wake me up again I am going to come to your school and hex your ears off

That’s not scary, Prongs has done that to me twice

And are you saying you want to meet me?

Hullo?

:(

10:10am

See now, this is a much more appropriate hour to be texting

*Incoming Call from: Posh Prat Padfoot*

10:10am

“Hullo you git”

“Moony! Your voice is extra deep!”

“It is ten in the morning”

“Mm it’s very nice though”

“I want to say that it was nice to hear your loud arse at 8am, but it was not”

“First of all, hurtful. And second of all, I called you at 15 til 9 so”

“8:45 still has and 8 in it so shut up”

“Grumpy”

“Maniac”

“You love it”

“Mm”

“Aren’t you supposed to be doing Ultimate Prank related things?”

“Don’t be foolish Moony”

“Okay?”

“We don’t have anything to do today”

“That’s why I was gone so long yesterday, we were getting it all done so we could laze about today”

“How pragmatic of you”

“See, that was a compliment but you made it sound like an insult”

“Perhaps I’m in a mood because a certain prat was yelling in my ear at a ridiculous hour this morning”

“You are simply no fun in the mornings”

“Mm it’s okay, I don’t mind you being loud if it’s not so early”

“Really?”

“Yeah of course”

“I love hearing from you Pads”

“Thanks”

“Um Remus?”

“Yes Sirius?”

“Er, you know how you said you get overwhelmed sometimes and need a bit of space?”

“Yeah?”

“I’ve been feeling a bit of that today. Do you have any tips?”

“Oh”

“Well I’m a nerd so I like to read”

“Big surprise there”

“Shush, Padfoot”

“Anyway, really anything to take my mind off the situation at hand works”

“Do you… Would you like to talk about it?”

“I’m… I don’t know”

“Okay”

“I’m- it’s just… ugh, I don’t know. I don’t even know how to put it into words even if I wanted to”

“I know how you feel Padfoot, honest”

“You could… sometimes I switch to Welsh if I can’t get my thoughts in order”

“Really?”

“Yeah, and it helps focus what I want to say”

“I dunno though, that’s just what works for me”

“Would you mind if I tried? Like stayed on the call with you and talked a bit in French?”

“You know I’d never say no to you Pads”

“Especially if you’re offering to speak French to me”

“Hah okay”

“Um”

”Ok, here goes”

“C'est juste que ... chaque fois qu'il y a un grand événement comme Halloween, ça me fait sentir”

“Je ne sais pas, encore plus seul que d'habitude? Bien sûr, il y a James et Pete et ... vous-même”

“Mais”

“Honnêtement, je pense que mon petit frère me manque”

“Beaucoup”

“That’s all, I guess”

“Do you feel any better?”

“Yeah, I think so”

“Um I think I’m gonna go talk to Regulus”

“Regulus?”

“He’s my little brother”

“We… don’t really get along”

“He still lives at home.”

“Oh”

“Alright, I hope you feel better and I hope Regulus and you can… I dunno, talk?

“Yeah, that is kind of a lot to ask for with us”

“I’ll speak to you in a bit?”

“Of course”

“Ttyl Remus”

“Ttyl Sirius”

*Call duration: 12 minutes*

10:48am

Why does the map say you’re in the dungeons

Shove off Prongs

Are you going to do something that will ruin Halloween?

No, Merlin, just leave me be

I’m just concerned, Sirius

I don’t need your stupid concern, so leave off

Fine, just don’t get yourself blown up

Don’t tell me what to do

You’re really arguing with me about whether or not you should blow yourself up?

Whatever

11:09am

I talked to Regulus

Yeah? How’d it go?

It

Was kind of awful

I’m really sorry Pads

No but

I think he’s open to talking to me more

And I’m open to being less of a dick to him

So

I dunno maybe it’ll lead to something good

I dunno

Taking the first step is really hard

I’m proud of you

Thanks Moony

Anytime Padfoot

Are you okay?

I’m just kind of sitting on the floor in an alcove on the third floor

Nothing wrong with that as long as you’re safe

Yeah

Okay, fuck it. No more sad shite!

Moony, it’s Halloween

WHY are we moping on Halloween??

Fuck you’re right Pads

Alice and I are going to look so fucking good as Gomez and Morticia

Ooh, I made Lils show me pictures of them

Even though the ones on this phone don’t move, I think you guys will look so cool

Thank you

Alice found this cool charm that will turn her hair black for 24 hours

Oh, Alice is a witch too?

Yep

Do you know Florean Fortesque’s Ice Cream Parlor?

In Diagon Alley? Of course I do

She’s Florean’s niece

Really?? That’s so cool!

Also, who’s giving out their friends’ full names to random blokes on the internet now?

Whatever, she’s bound to take Frank’s last name anytime now so it won’t matter

They’ve been dating a long time?

Yeah

They dated all through school and now they’re here

That’s so cute

Yep

I know you James and Peter are going as the three musketeers, but what about Lily?

Much to James’ chagrin she’s doing Halloween costumes with her friend group

Last I heard they’re going as some muggle cartoon fairies?

Like from a TV show?

I guess? Although I dunno why they’d want to be fairies, they can be an awful nuisance

Oh wait, I suppose that fits that group perfectly well

What’s so awful about Lily’s friend group?

Ugh, they’re all gossiping harpies

And they’re obsessed with me, Merlin knows why

Obsessed with you? Quite the womanizer, are you?

I think we both know I’m the farthest thing from a womanizer

Hah

So birds think your name is cool and Lily’s entire friend group is in love with you?

Except for Lily, of course

Ugh Padfoot

Moony?

You’re hot aren’t you?

I’m

I dunno, I’m not like drop dead gorgeous or anything

Oh God, that’s what someone drop dead gorgeous would say

Shut up

You’re not even denying it anymore

I’m going to have to change your name in my phone

Wait, what’s my name in your phone?

Posh Prat Padfoot

Rude

So what’s it going to be now?

Pretty Posh Prat Padfoot

That is terrible

I am in protest of that name

Your protest is noted and duly ignored

Hurtful

I need a better name for you then

Or one you’ll hate more

What is it now?

Remoony

That’s cute though

Yeah but you like it

I need one you’ll hate as much as I hate yours for me

That’s petty, Padfoot

Yeah well

Now I’m tempted to add petty to your name

You wouldn’t dare

You can’t stop me

:(

I bet you’re even pretty when you pout

Why are you so obsessed with how attractive I am

The same reason you asked what I look like and what I’m wearing. I want to be able to have a picture of you in my head

No no no, you cannot turn you bullying me into something sweet

I forbid it

Oh you forbid it, do you?

Yes, consider it forbidden

So it’s still forbidden even if I say that I like knowing you have all these birds after you and I’m still the first and last person you talk to everyday?

…

Low blow, Moony

You don’t play fair

Mm I never claimed to

I’m still changing your name, though

How about Moony the Mistake?

Yep, definitely adding petty to your name

Malicious Moony, maybe?

Pretty Petty Posh Prat Padfoot is a bit of a mouth full though 

Miserable Mister Moony perhaps

I think I’ll make it just Petty Posh Prat

I’m no longer pretty?

So you do have an ego

It’s not an ego

Maybe I just want you to think I’m pretty

Then I’ll put it as Prettiest Posh Prat

Prettiest?

Yeah

I’ll remind you that you have never actually seen me

I don’t have to know what you look like to find you pretty

Oh

Well

Ok then

Mhm

Christ I love fall weather

Are you outside, Moony?

Yeah I’m on our back porch

Describe it for me? It’s kind of dreary here

Do you want me to call and tell you about it?

Yes of course

*Incoming Call from: My Moony*

11:21am

“Hiya Moony Moons”

“Hullo Pads”

“So what’s it like in Wales right now? It’s all grey here”

“Mm, it’s really nice”

“It’s windy right now and there’s a bunch of leaves getting blown off trees so they’re twirling in the air. And it smells like fall”

“Smells like fall?”

“Yeah, like all crisp and fresh and bright”

“That’s a really nice way to describe it”

“Mhm. I’m all cuddled up in one of my biggest sweaters and it’s just chilly enough outside that I’m not hot in it”

“I love your sweaters Moony”

“You’ve never seen my sweaters Padfoot”

“I don’t have to know what your sweaters look like to love them”

“Using my own argument against me, are you?”

“Not against you, just to express that I do in fact love your sweaters quite a bit”

“You’re sweet”

“ You’re sweet, calling me pretty and all”

“Be honest Padfoot, are you pretty?”

“Ugh it’s not like that”

“But it’s like something”

“I’m… conventionally attractive”

“I knew it!”

“Yeah, yeah you were right”

“Pretty boy”

“Whatever, it makes girls really bloody annoying to talk to”

“Really? What’s the most ridiculous thing a girl has said while trying to flirt with you?”

“Oh, that is a fantastic question. There are so many options to choose from”

“Give me some of the most memorable ones”

“Mm there was the time a girl said she would probably be able to cut her hand on my jawline, and then, like, pet my face? That was bloody awkward”

“Hah, so you’ve got a strong jawline, good to know”

“Be quiet, you. There was also the girl who just came and sat on my lap”

“Really? Without saying anything?”

“Yep. I didn’t even know her name. Turned out she was trying to make her boyfriend jealous”

“Did it work”

“Fuck if I know, Moons. I just pushed her off me and told her to try and stick on some other bloke”

“Poor Padfoot, having girls accost you left and right”

“You joke, but it gets old quick”

“It probably wouldn’t get old if you weren’t queer”

“I’m- that’s… yeah, I suppose you’re right”

“Alright there Padfoot?”

“Yeah, I’m just not used to thinking of myself as queer. I mean, I am, obviously, I’ve just never heard it said out loud”

“Oh”

“I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable Pads”

“No, no,  you did nothing wrong. I probably should say that… that I’m queer”

“Because I am. I’m gay. Like really fucking gay”

“Me too Padfoot”

“Yeah”

“Um, anyway, what time’s your party tonight?”

“It starts at 8 I think, but Alice’s coming to pick me up at 7:30”

“Are you apparating there together?”

“Haha, no Pads, most of the people at the party are Muggles. We’ll be driving”

“Oh, wow, like in a car?”

“Yes. We drive in cars all the time”

“Really?? Doesn’t that seem a little, I dunno, dangerous?”

“Cars aren’t dangerous if you drive them correctly Siri”

“Whatever you say. I’ll leave driving the muggle death machine to you while I apparate”

“And where will you be apparating to? It doesn’t even work in Hogwarts”

“How would you know, Mr. I Didn’t Know Hogwarts Was A Wizarding School?”

“Oh, I bought Hogwarts: A History after you told me you were a wizard”

“Aw Moony, you really do care”

“Hush”

“What time’s your party?”

“It’s at 8:30”

“We’ll pull the fake prank during dinner and the Ultimate Prank will be set off when the party’s in full swing, with dozens of witnesses to say we were nowhere near it when it happened”

“Padfoot you evil genius you”

“Mm practice makes perfect and we’ve been practicing for 6 years”

“Well I would hope that this- oh, shite”

“Moony?”

“One second Pads I just have to- oh okay yeah”

“Er, I have to go, my Da just pulled up

“Oh ok”

“Fuck”

“Are you… Will you be alright?”

“Yeah I’m- I’ll be fine. I just have to go.”

“Okay”

“I’m sorry Pads, I wanted to be able to spend today with you but- fuck, I really have to go”

“Don’t worry about me Moons, I’ll talk to you tonight”

“Yeah, yeah okay. I’ll call you back when I can”

“Bye Moons”

“Bye Pads”

*Call duration: 33 minutes*

12:17pm

I’m sorry about earlier Jamie

It’s okay Padfoot

Do you want to talk about it now?

I went to talk to Regulus

So that’s why you were in such a strop

Yeah

Well? Why’d you go? And what’d you say

I apologized for how shit I’ve been the past few years

And said that just because he’s still there and I left doesn’t mean he’s any less of my brother

And what’d he say?

To shove it up my arse

Typical

Did you hex him

No

But when I asked him if we could talk tomorrow he said he’ll “take it into consideration”

Same old Reg, then

Yeah

That’s progress though, if you two didn’t curse each other

Yeah

Do you want to come back to the dorm and we can lay down for a bit?

I thought Lily was coming up

She can come later

Come on Siri, you’re always begging for cuddles. Just come up

Ok

I’m gonna charm the suits of armor on the fourth floor first

Don’t get caught

When do I ever

1:51pm

I know you’re preoccupied so don’t worry about responding but I just wanted to say I understand how terrible dealing with family can be, so if you ever need to talk about it I’ll always be here to listen

That’s all, I hope your day is going okay

3:48pm

Alice I don’t think I can come tonight

The fuck?? Why not

Lyall just got back.

Oh bugger

What was it this time?

I didn’t have the door locked and warded when he got home

Apparently if I can’t be trusted to protect my Mum I can’t be trusted to go out alone

What kind of fucking bullshite is that? Did he want you to lock him out in the cold??

He said I’m always putting her in danger

Oh

Oh the fucking bastard

Yeah

Blimey, I’m sorry love

I could still sneak you out? He doesn’t have to know shite

No I’m

I don’t want to upset Mum more than I already have

You didn’t upset her, Lyall did with his stupid fucking grudge

It doesn’t matter

I’m going to go lay down

Please stay safe Remus

I will Alice

Love you

I love you too

4:15pm

I asked Lily more about her costume and she said they’re from the “Winks Club”? And she’s gonna be Bloom apparently

Hope you’re doing alright

*Incoming Call from: My Moony*

5:30pm

“Remus?”

“H-Hi Sirius”

“Hey w- are you crying??”

“I’m- it’s- um”

“I’m sorry, that’s a stupid question”

“Are you alright?”

“I dun-dunno”

“Okay, hey, take your time. What happened?”

“Ugh fuck”

“My Da and M-Mum got in this huge fucking row because he told me I couldn’t go out tonight”

“What? You’re of age, aren’t you?”

“I’m- Muggles aren’t of age until 18”

“Oh”

“Why… why are you crying?”

“Ugh fuck I’m sorry”

“No, Merlin, don’t apologize! I just mean, what happened? Are you okay?”

“Er, a lot happened”

“He kept yell-yelling and saying that I’m supposed to be protecting my Mum and I’m always putting her in a danger, which is a low fucking blow because he knows- and, fuck and she started yelling back about how he’s so full of r-resentment for no reason and- oh fuck”

“Just breathe, Moons. Take your time”

“God I’m so sorry I’m breaking down like this”

“Don’t, please, you never have to apologize to me Remus”

“I’m- it’s just-“

“She kicked him out.”

“Wait, what?

“Your Mum kicked your Dad out??”

“Y-yeah”

“Like. How fucking mental is that?? I didn’t know she had-had it in her”

“Well fuck”

“Is it… that’s good, isn’t it?”

“I don’t… I don’t know Sirius”

“Okay, hey, you just need to some time to process”

“Yeah I… Yeah I guess”

“You don’t sound… Are you hurt?”

“He-he threw some shite before my Mum tossed him but I’m… I’m fine.”

“Merlin‘s beard, I’m so sorry Moony”

“It’s okay”

“I was doing pretty fucking shite earlier, but now- Christ now… god I dunno, I’m still doing pretty shite”

“I understand, that’s a fucking lot to go through”

“Yeah I… I’m sorry, I just wanted to call because I said I would but I- fuck I can’t do this right now”

“It’s okay Remus, don’t worry about me. Go lose yourself in Moby’s dick, yeah?”

“Oh, oh Christ that was a terrible joke”

“God, how do you always manage to make me laugh, Padfoot?”

“Don’t tell the Ministry I told you this, but it’s magic”

“Oh shut up you dork”

“...fuck I’m tired”

“I’m serious M-”

“I know, and I’m Remus”

“You- stop that, you absolute dork”

“Don’t steal my word”

“Moony. Really.”

“Go and take some time for yourself, I’ll be here when you come back, I promise”

“I’m… Thank you, Sirius.”

“Anything for you, Mooniekinz”

“I… I’m really grateful I know you”

“I’m grateful to know you too”

“Now go rest”

“Yeah”

“I’ll talk to you later Padfoot”

“I’ll talk to you later Moony”

*Call duration: 12 minutes*

5:53pm

Well I can come now

He changed his mind? That’s not like him

Not exactly

She tossed him out

She what??

Yep.

Told him if he insists on treating me like a child then she’d treat him like the dead beat Da he was and told him to pack his shite and get out

Remus

I’m sorry but I have to say it

After ten fucking years she just now realizes what a goddamn irredeemable bastard from hell he is??

Hey. It’s not been easy for her either.

Yeah but, fuck, Remus you’re her kid, she could have defended you before now

You don’t know what she’s done Alice. Don’t act like you know what she’s been through.

Come on, Remus

He’s the piece of shit. Leave her out of it.

Ok, ok, I’m just saying

Well don't.

Okay

Are you going to come tonight?

I don’t know, Alice

It’s a lot

It’d get you out of the house

And take your mind off of it

I don’t know if I want to leave her here on her own

Okay

You’ll let me know?

Yeah

I love you, you know

I know

I love you too

6:24pm

Hi Padfoot

Hi Moony

Doing alright?

Yeah

Want to talk about it?

No

Okay

Did you see my text about Lily’s group costume?

Hah

The “Winks” Club

You’re so cute Padfoot

What? Why?

I mean, yes, but why?

It’s the Winx Club

That’s stupid

Winx isn’t a word

No, it’s a club

Snarky

Clueless

Pretentious

Imbecile

Swot

Brat

I don’t like that one

Oh

I’m sorry Pads

It’s okay

I don’t actually think you’re a brat, I just like starting arguments with you

I like arguing with you too

Pads

Moons

I

Don’t know whether to go to my party tonight

Hm

Do you think talking to people would be helpful or harmful

I think

It’d be nice to have something to take my mind off… everything

But people stress me out

And I don’t want to leave my Mum alone

Well I don’t know your Mum, but I’d like to think she’d want you to have fun

Yeah, you’re probably right

Plus

You can get wasted at the party

Very true

I have to decide by 7:30 so Alice can know whether or not to pick me up

It’s okay whatever you decide

I know

The feast starts at 7, so I may have to go soon

Oh

Alright

I probably won’t be able to talk again until it’s over as well

Will you be alright?

I’m a big boy, I can handle an hour or two on my own

I just meant

I don’t want you to feel alone

I know, I’m sorry

I didn’t mean to snap

Thank you for caring about me Padfoot. It means a lot

It’s okay

Let me know what you decide about the party?

Yeah

Bye bye Moony

Bye Padfoot

7:13pm

Can you still pick me up?

Obviously

Thanks

I’m glad you’re coming

Me too

7:27pm

We’re headed to Frank’s now

Thanks for talking me through everything, Pads

7:56pm

Anything for you Moony

How was the feast?

Really good! Everyone laughed at our fake prank

We’ve lulled them into a false sense of security

What’s the Ultimate Prank going to be?

Hah

Well

We snuck into the kitchens early this morning put drops of a Levitating Draught in all the food for the feast

And we modified the potion so it’d be delayed for about 2 hours

Shite

We also have been walking the halls and charming them to slowly soften throughout the past week

We even managed to sneak into different houses common rooms and some staff spaces and and do this

So, at about 9:30 tonight, everyone in the castle is going to slowly start levitating uncontrollably

Then, if they manage to get themselves to the ground, they’ll find it’s softened into what’s basically quicksand

Jesus

Plus

We’ve transfigured about 50 nifflers, which we borrowed from the groundskeeper, into some of the goblets we’ll be handing out at our party

And we used the same time delay spell so they’ll transfigure back and start wreaking havoc at the same time

Christ Padfoot

So, if it all goes off without a hitch, the entire student body and most Professors should be left either hovering or submerged in quicksand while the nifflers absolutely pillage the castle until someone can figure out how to undo what we’ve done

And we’ve taken measures to make sure this will all be very, very difficult to undo

Padfoot

I don’t think anyone will forget the Marauders after this

They bloody better not

Are you not at your party yet

We’re actually pulling up now

Alice said she’ll hex me if I spend the entire night on my phone, though

That’s okay

Prongs pointed out that if any of the Ravenclaw swots or Slytherin berks see me using a phone, they’ll rat me out in a minute

So much for us texting each other during our parties

Yeah :/

You’ll tell me all about it in the morning, though?

Of course I will

You'll do the same for me?

Obviously

Well

I’ll see you on the other side Padfoot

Godspeed Moony

8:23pm

Okay, a quick text never hurt anyone

Some girl just asked me if my scars were real or part of my costume

Send help

8:59pm

I’m in the loo solely to tell you that three girls have tried to snog me so far and Peter has had his hand up Mary’s skirt for the past half hour

I need as much help as you do

9:13pm

Fingers crossed for your Ultimate Prank

9:24pm

The spell has started to kick in for a few people

Everyone else is laughing at them

Little do they know

9:29pm

Now a few people have started sinking in the extra soft spots on the floor

No one even notices me here with a phone

9:45pm

People are sinking and levitating! This is glorious!

10:07pm

Alich is takign my phone becsuae I’m to pssed to be trustde apprently

I just wnt to say befoer I go that you are so s lovely Pissfoot

Fuck I nver eant to stip talkifn to you

Ok ok she’s reslly taking it niw

Bye bhe

11:57pm

You’re so lovely too

Sleep tight, Moony

Chapter Text

Monday, November 1st

7:38am

Wait, did you call me Pissfoot last night?

8:21am

Hah! They’ve cancelled classes because there are some spots of floor that they can’t un-quicksand

Back to bed with me

1:47pm

Still not up Moons?

Who’s having a lie in now?

3:22pm

Fuck

Hi there

Have a nice nap?

No

No I did not have a nice nap

I’ve thrown up twice already

Moony my angel

How much did you have to drink

I

Don’t know

I am not a lightweight

Hmm that sounds like a lie

No really

I have a very high tolerance for alcohol

I don’t know how I managed to get this hungover

Are you at home? Or still at Frank’s

Somehow I made it to my own bed and somehow I am in pyjamas

Not my pyjamas, but pyjamas nonetheless

Whose clothes did you steal Moons

I dunno

The sleeves and legs are way too short

Well yes because you’re a giant

Ergh

Pardon me, I’m gonna go lay over the toilet bowl until I stop feeling like my insides are attempting to escape to the outside world

Enjoy your hangover while I enjoy my day off

Fuck u

<3

3:36pm

Are you on the quidditch field?

I’m with Lily

What’s up?

Is next weekend a Hogsmeade weekend?

Yeah I think so

We usually have one after Halloween, yeah?

Yes

Do you think it’d be weird if I invited Remus to come?

Remus?

Moony

Oh

Well I dunno

Do you know him like that?

I mean, he’s not just some random bloke to you anymore, right?

Yeah

He’s

I feel like I know him

Okay

Do you think he’d be comfortable with that? Or with you asking?

I think so?

I feel like he would be okay with me asking, and he’d be honest if he didn’t want to

And you’d be okay if he said yes? You’re actually prepared for that?

Yes

Then there’s your answer

Okay

Thanks Jamie

Anytime Siri

4:15pm

So did you not drink last night or something? You seem very coherent

Pepper up potion, Mooniekinz

You are the worst

You couldn’t share?

You live in another country

We’re both in the UK

That’s not

You don’t have a pepper up potion at home?

Nope

You couldn’t buy one?

The thought of standing up, or Merlin forbid, going outside is nearly enough to send me back to the toilet

Congrats on making it away from the toilet

Thanks

Now I’m laying in the dark with classical music playing very quietly in the background

Lightweight

I could drink you under the table, Padfoot

Who was the one who threw up today?

Fuck you

Mm you wish

Hey, I was thinking

That sentence only really only opens you up to insults, you know

Do you not want to hear what I’m thinking?

I dunno, I think hearing white noise would just put me to sleep :/

You are so mean

I am not going to share my amazing idea that you totally want to hear now

Unfortunate

Moonyyyyyy :(

I’m just teasing

What’s your amazing idea that I totally want to hear?

Well

This weekend is a Hogsmeade weekend

Yeah you’re going to have to explain what that means

Oh, we basically get to go into a little village named Hogsmeade near the school and like shop and hang out all day Saturday and Sunday

Okay got it

And I was thinking (don’t you dare)

:)

I was thinking that if you needed a Pepper up potion so terribly, you could always pick one up from Hogsmeade this Saturday and/or Sunday

Oh

Yeah

Like

At the same time as you

Yes

Er

That’s

Wow

You don’t have to say yes

I know

I

Can I think about it?

Yeah of course

I don’t want you to do anything you’re not comfortable with

I don’t know that I’m uncomfortable

You’ve just surprised me

That’s okay

I’m sorry

There’s nothing to apologize for

It’s just a question, take as long as you need to decide

It is quite a ways to go for a Pepper up potion

Yeah, but they make them strong here

You could stock up and never worry about a hangover like this again

Usually I never have to worry about hangovers

Oh yes because of your unbelievably high alcohol tolerance

It’s because I have a really fast metabolism

I’m a stick

Skinny boy, eh?

Yep, I’m skin and bones

I eat like I’m starved most of the time, though

What’s your favorite food?

Reviving the questions are you?

My favorite food is Cawl, which is a traditional Welsh broth with steak and potatoes and things like that

My Mum makes it pretty often

That sounds really good

Mine has to be the Turkish Delights

Got a sweet tooth, do you?

Absolutely

I never had many sweets as a kid, so now I love to have them

I’m not much for sweets

Except for chocolate

I adore chocolate

Really?

Yes. Especially dark chocolate

I could eat my bodyweight of it and still never be sick of it

Sounds like that’s your favorite food, then

Well I didn’t really consider it as a food, but I guess if yours is a sweet, mine can be too

Can dark chocolate really be considered a sweet, though? It kind of tastes like ash

Take it back

Make me

Dark chocolate is a gift to mankind and I will not have you disparaging it

Sorry, sorry, wasn’t trying to ‘disparage’ dark chocolate

It’s just not to my tastes

Hm I suppose that’s acceptable

I’m not really a fan of Turkish Delight

Fair

I talked to Regulus again today

Really? Did it go okay?

Kinda

He agreed to have lunch with me once a week

That’s progress, right?

I hope so

Either way, you’re making overtures

Yeah

I think James wants to go flying because we’ve got the day off

Okay

Try not to fall off your broom

I have never once fallen off my broom

I've never flown

What??

Never even owned a broom

We are going to have to remedy this, Remus

Mhm

Don’t think I’m letting this go

Whatever you say, Pads

Go have fun with James

I’ll get you on a broom eventually Moony

I’m so sure

Talk later Moony

Bye Padfoot

4:42pm

Alice

Wow, he’s alive

Yes

Not what’s important right now though

What’s going on?

Sirius asked me to meet him

Oh wow

When?

This weekend in Hogsmeade

That soon?

What’d you say?

To let me think about it

Well what do you think? Will you?

I don’t know

I kinda wanted you to think for me

Remus

Alice

Meet the boy, tell him he’s fit, then snog him senseless

Alice

Not helpful

You know you want to

I am not going to snog him senseless the first time I see him

And why not?

He could

We could just be friends

Bull fucking shite

You’re just a coward

So what if I am?

So you need to grow a pair and realize that you can’t keep hiding in your room and sulking for the rest of your life

Harsh, Alice

You need harsh

Look, I get it, people haven’t been kind in the past and it’s easier to say fuck em and try to survive on your own

But you won’t

At least, not happily

You sound like your Mum

Oi!

Sorry

I’m just saying, put yourself out there. It’ll only lead to good things

I still dunno

Yo u just need time

Give it a day or two and you’ll realize I’m right

Maybe

You always do

Not true

Very true

Alice

Yes?

Whose pyjamas am I wearing

Wouldn’t you like to know

Weirdo

Freak

Love you

Love you too

Even if you’re and idiot

Uncalled for

7:36pm

I fell off my broom

Hopefully not from too high?

Like 20 feet

That’s pretty high??

I’m in the infirmary

I broke my arm and fractured my hip

Fuck Sirius

I would have texted earlier but I just convinced James to fetch it from the dorm for me

Are you okay?

Madame Pomfrey said ill be fine in the mornign but shes keeping me here for the nifgt

Fuck texting with one hsnd is hard

Do you want to call instead

Um yeah let me cast a quick mugfling charm tho

Okay

*Incoming Call from: Prettiest Posh Prat*

7:41pm

“Hi Pads”

“Heya Moony”

“You sound tired”

“Gee, thanks”

“You know what I mean, git”

“Yeah. Pomfrey gave me a sleep draught”

“It tastes like soap”

“Hm I’m sorry”

“Are you feeling alright”

“Well it bloody hurt when it happened, but my arm’s perfectly healed now”

“That’s good”

“My hip’s the only thing giving me trouble and Pomfrey said that’s why I have to stay overnight to make sure it heals correctly”

“So you’re still in pain?”

“Not really, it’s just slightly uncomfortable”

“Okay”

“Mostly I’m sleepy”

“Sleeping draughts will do that”

“And a bit lonely”

“I… don’t like hospitals”

“I understand”

“I’ll keep you company, though”

“Thanks Moony”

“Wanna do a quick round of questions”

“Yeah”

“Okay, I’ll ask”

“Mm”

“What do you find attractive? In guys?”

“Oh hm”

“I like hands”

“You like hands?”

“Mhm, when they’re all big and veiny. And curls, obviously”

“You’ve said before”

“Mhm”

“So if a guy has veiny hands and curls, you’ll think he’s fit?”

“...”

“Sirius?”

“...”

“Damn sleeping draught”

“Goodnight, Padfoot”

*Call duration: 9 minutes*

Chapter Text

Tuesday, November 2nd

7:45am

Okay, fracturing my hip was kind of worth it

I get out of this morning’s classes too even though they fixed all the floors

Also, sorry for falling asleep on our call last night, that potion was strong than I expected :(

10:22am

Are you still out of classes

I just got back to the dorm to get my books

You’re fully healed?

Yeah!

I’m glad

I have to go to classes now, but some time off is better than none I suppose

Alrighty, have fun in charms or whatever

Potions with the Slytherins :( but I will try my best

Bye Padfoot

Bye Moony

4:32pm

Ugh right when I got out of my last class I was ambushed by McGonagall. James Pete and I have to report to her office at 6

Why?

Dunno

I think they figured out a way to prove the Halloween prank was us

Damn

Any way to get out of it

Out of going to her office? No

Out of taking blame for the prank? Won’t know until we figure out what they’ve got on us

Yikes, good luck

Thanks Moony

How was your day?

It was good

I talked to my Mum a bit after you went to sleep last night

What about?

Apparently I was offered a spot at Hogwarts when I was younger

My Da turned it down without ever telling me

…

Are you serious?

Unfortunately

That’s

I’m sorry Moony

Thanks Padfoot

Do you want to talk about it?

I wouldn’t mind hearing you describe Hogwarts a little bit

Of course!

Ok so basically it’s a big Scottish castle with Merlin knows how many floors

There are giant stone staircases that connect all the floors, but they’re right bastards and they move all the time

The staircases move?

Yep

Isn’t that dangerous?

I can’t say Hogwarts is all that concerned with safety

Apparently my freshman year they were going to plant this huge murder tree, but didn’t at the last second

Murder tree? What does that even mean?

I honestly couldn’t tell you

Anyway, the grounds are huge

Oh, when I said James was making do sports all those times, I was talking about quidditch

Ah

What’s your position?

Beater

Figures

Oi, what’s that supposed to mean??

Just saying

Delinquency and violence go hand in hand, mate

You are a terrible friend

So mean

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

What is that

How did you do that

Dunno¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Wait I’m gonna figure this out

—\_(“/)_/—

Perfect job

Fuck you

Tell me your secrets magic man

I thought you were the one who was so skilled with emoticons

:(

I want the shrug one though

You could always just copy mine

I tried to

No I mean copy and paste

??

You’re such a pureblood

Press and hold on my shrug emoticon and hit the button that says copy and then tap your text bar and hit the button that says paste

Dunno¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Wait how do I get it on its own

You have to copy the one I sent that alone

What’s the point of technology if it’s going to be this complicated!

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Good job

Thank you!

I have to go get my story straight with James and Peter now though :/

That’s okay

Try not to get in too much trouble

I’ll do my best

Ttyl Mooniekinz

Ttyl Pads

6:45pm

We have detention for the next week

Damn

How’d they figure you out?

Peeves snitched

Peeves?

This bastard of a poltergeist that causes problems all over the castle constantly

That’s awful

You’ll

Still be able to go to Hogsmeade, right?

Yeah

As long as we don’t get any more strikes

Okay cool

Yeah

Erm I actually have to head to detention now

Talk to you later

Bye Padfoot

9:26pm

Moony

Hullo James

I just wanted to let you know that if you don’t hear from Sirius tomorrow, you shouldn’t be concerned

Um okay

Somehow that makes me more concerned than not hearing from him would

It’s his birthday tomorrow

Oh

He didn’t tell me

He despises it

Sulks the entire day every year

Oh wow

Okay

Make sure he’s alright for me, will you?

Of course I will

Thanks Prongs

Anytime Moony

Wednesday, November 3rd

10:51am

I hope you have a good day, Padfoot

1:34pm

My Mum said she’ll make cawl for dinner tonight :)

4:22pm

Alice and I are going to the farmers market later which means I get to pick out my own potatoes for the dish tonight

7:17pm

The cawl has been consumed

It is as delicious as I remembered it to be

9:36pm

Goodnight Padfoot

Hope your day wasn’t too terrible

11:50pm

It wasn’t

I’m glad your day was good

Goodnight Moony

Chapter Text

Thursday, November 4th

7:38am

Thanks for talking to me yesterday, Moony

I know I didn’t respond, but I read all your texts

I know Prongs texted you, the prat, so thanks for not asking about it

10:47am

Of course, Padfoot

Also

Yes.

12:20pm

Am I missing something?

Yes what?

Yes

I will pick up some Pepper up potion in Hogsmeade on Saturday

Really?!

Yep

I am so so so excited

Wow

:)

Now go to lunch, dork

As you wish, Mooniekinz

4:43pm

Wait, so what made you decide to come?

Hm well now that my Da’s not here to complicate things

And I’ve thought about it

I just really want a Pepper up potion

I really want you to get a Pepper up potion

Yeah

Don’t you have detention right about now?

Ugh, don’t remind me

I’m on my way now

Do you have it tomorrow as well?

Yeah

I probably won’t be able to text much at all before we

Before Saturday

Ugh okay

I’ll talk to you tomorrow?

Yeah

And

See you Saturday

Yes

Okay

Bye Padfoot

Bye Moons

Friday, November 5th

7:21am

Wow you’re getting a Pepper up potion tomorrow

11:01am

Fuck you’re right

That’s

Wow

4:51pm

Are you excited

Almost ridiculously so

I’m almost sick with excitement

And nerves, I guess

Me too

Wow wow

Wow wow wow

Fuck

What time do we meet? And where??

Oh I don’t know

How about

12:15 at the Three Broomsticks?

Ok

That’ll work

Oh, don’t be late for detention

Shite

Bye Moons

Bye Pads

Chapter Text

Remus

     Remus apparated into the alleyway behind the Hog’s Head Inn at 12pm on the dot. If anyone (especially Sirius) asked, he’d say he had woken up at 11:30, gotten dressed, and apparated. The truth, however, was that he had gotten up at 9 and had spent 3 hours anxiously messing with his appearance. The outfit he had eventually landed on was a white collared shirt under a loose, forest green sweater. His trousers were a well-fitting pair of stone washed jeans, the only pair he had that hadn’t worn noticeably at the seams. Remus had fussed mercilessly with his hair that morning, but had ultimately foregone any product or beanie for his natural curls. Sirius had said he liked curls.

     Glancing at his surroundings, Remus stepped out of the dim alleyway and into the watery sunlight at the front of the inn. Sirius and he had agreed to meet at the Three Broomsticks at 12:15pm, so Remus shoved his hands into his jeans pockets and started towards the other side of the village.

Sirius

     Sirius was struggling not to run ahead of the group of students trekking towards Hogsmeade. Had the trip always been this long? Didn’t his classmates know he had important business to attend? He silently cursed James for refusing to lend him the cloak and let him use the secret entrance to Hogsmeade. So what if it was the middle of the day and the Honeydukes workers were bound to notice a schoolboy randomly appearing from their storeroom? He had things to do, damn it! People to see.

     Sirius shot a glare at James who walked beside him and resisted the urge to trip the prat. Ugh , this was torture. If the God Moony mentioned so often truly existed, he existed solely to cause Sirius torment.

     “Padfoot,” James said. Sirius turned around, walking backward to look at him, and raised an eyebrow. “Slow down.” Damn. Sirius turned front again to see he was nearly in pace with McGonagall at the front of the group, who would surely not appreciate Sirius passing her by. He forced his legs to slow and cursed James once again. If this went on any longer he may throw himself to the ground and scream.

Remus

      Remus reached the Three Broomsticks Inn with two minutes to spare. He loitered outside the door for a minute, his stomach in knots. Fuck. Was he really doing this? His palms were sweating mercilessly under the sleeves he had pulled down to cover them as thoughts raced through his head. Sirius was sure to notice the scars. And how skinny he was. Christ, he should’ve cast a glamour on his clothes, too, so they wouldn’t look so ratty.

     The doors in front of him opened and he started. It was only a goblin, though, hobbling out and paying him no mind. He stepped politely out of the way and took a few steadying breaths. It was now or never. He wanted this. After a few more moments of steeling himself, Remus reached out and pushed through the doors.

The inside of the inn was warm and dimly lit. The hum of conversation surrounded him, but it wasn’t overly loud or abrasive. It actually put him quite at ease and Remus’ shoulders came down from where they had tensed towards his ears. With a sigh, he stepped further in and glanced all around him.

     Most of the patrons seemed to be adults. In fact, he couldn’t see a single person in school robes. Remus frowned and looked towards the bar at the center of the room. The woman serving drinks had dark curly hair and a bright smile. She happened to glance over while Remus was looking, and her smile grew as she made her way over. Remus flushed bright red.

     “Hullo, there. Are you new to the area?” Her teeth were perfectly white and Remus’ anxiety seeped back in.

     “Er, I’m actually here to meet a friend,” Remus said. “You wouldn’t happen to know if the students from Hogwarts have come in yet?” Remus noticed the way the witch’s gaze flicked over the scars on neck and face before settling back to meet his gaze.

     “Oh, you must be Sirius’ mate,” she replied cheerfully. Remus blinked at her. “They’ve not quite arrived yet. Would you like a drink in the meantime?” She turned to reach behind the bar and pulled out a bottle of fire whisky, holding it out to him when she turned to face him again.

     “Oh, er, no thank you,” he said politely, shirking back from her a bit. “I think I’ll just wait outside for him. Cheers, though.” He quickly turned back towards the doors and headed out, ignoring her boisterous laugh behind him. He hoped Sirius would arrive soon.

Sirius

     By the time the group of students rounded the bend behind the shrieking shack, Sirius felt like peeling his skin off. Jeffrey Nguyen had spotted a wild horklump in the woods and the whole group had stopped for five minutes to inspect it. Sirius had never wanted to cry more.

     Now, though, McGonagall was making her usual ‘no mischief on threat of death’ speech while making eerie eye contact with him. He just sent her a cheeky wink and grabbed James’ arm in preparation to sprint off towards the Three Broomsticks. Pete was in detention for being out after curfew with Mary the night before, thank Merlin, so there was no one to slow them down. Surreptitiously casting a tempus charm, Sirius checked the time. 12:14pm. Remus may already be there. The thought sent butterflies soaring through his belly and Sirius suppressed a manic grin.

     With one last dire look aimed at James and himself, McGonagall dismissed the group. Sirius, James firmly in tow, shot off down the cobblestone street. As they came up on the Three Broomsticks, though, James yanked harshly on Sirius’ arm. They both slowed to a stop just out of view of the inn.

     “What, James?” Sirius asked as the other boy pulled his arm out of Sirius’ grip and began to mess with his robes.

     “You’ll thank me later, mate. You don’t want to fly in there looking like a madman, do you?” James yanked at his hair and Sirius slapped his hand away.

     “Thank y- Thank you, Prongs, but I think I can do the rest of this alone?” He gave James a pointed look, and the other boy just raised his hands in surrender.

     “Whatever you say, mate, I was just trying to help. But… If you don’t need me to go in with you, I’ll just go find Lily?” An overly sappy look appeared on James’ face and Sirius rolled his eyes.

     “Yeah, go snog your girlfriend, mate, I’ll be fine.” James grinned and clapped him on the back, running his other hand through his hair.

     “Cheers, mate!” With that, he turned around and shot off for Zonkos to meet Lily. Sirius shook his head at his friend’s retreating back and started towards the inn at a stroll.

     As it came into sight, the butterflies slowly made a reappearance in Sirius’ belly, and he tugged nervously at his robes. Sirius rarely ever wore his school uniform the proper way, and today was no different. His robes were open and flowing, one side falling off his shoulder from where James had tugged at it. His red and gold Gryffindor tie was loose on his neck and the white button up he wore under his grey v-neck knitted jumper was unbuttoned as far as it would go. He had added the jewelry his teachers docked him points for wearing to classes: a silver stud in one ear and a small dangly earring in the other. He also wore a small padlock on a chain around his neck that James wore the twin of. Typically, students wore slacks or blue jeans as trousers under their robes and simple tennis shoes. But Sirius, ever the rebel, had instead donned tight black jeans and a pair of combat boots the Potters had gifted him two years prior. He hoped he didn’t look too posh.

     As he reached the front of the building, his confident stride faltered and he stopped a few yards from the door. This was it. It seemed it had all been leading up to this, and he felt like a melting pot of emotions.

     Before he could force himself back into motion, though, the front door banged open and out came a tall boy dressed in muggle clothing. He wasn’t wearing Hogwarts’ school robes and his clothing was a bit more worn than most Sirius had seen at Hogwarts. Scars were strewn across the bit of exposed skin he showed, one in particular cutting from above his left eyebrow and over the bridge of his nose. He hadn’t noticed Sirius yet, and seemed to be fiddling with the sleeves of his slightly oversized sweater.

     He had a somewhat too large nose for his face, but it did nothing to detract from his beauty. He had a button nose, full pink lips, and a smattering of freckles across his nose and cheeks. His eyes, from what Sirius could see, were amber, and his cheeks were slightly rosy from the wind chill. He wasn’t lying about the curls, Sirius thought to himself. His hair was golden brown and waved and curled in ways that made Sirius’ heart stutter. The wind lifted parts of his hair, making it fluff and sway, and Sirius wondered if you could die from wanting to touch something so bad.

     Despite the butterflies dancing the tango in his stomach, Sirius grinned.

     “Moony!”

Remus

     “Moony!” Remus’ head snapped up from where he had been attempting to pull a thread off the end of his sweater, and his breath stuttered to a stop in his throat. Walking toward him with an easy confident gait was easily the most beautiful boy Remus had ever laid his eyes on. If he’d questioned his sexuality before, this confirmed things for him. Yep, he thought, definitely into blokes.

      Remus could see why James called Sirius an aristocrat. Even if his family wasn’t involved, Sirius fit the bill based on looks alone. His face structure was somehow very strong and very fine at the same time. His jawline was defined, his cheekbones high, and his nose long and straight. Remus would almost call his features feminine, but he was still distinctly male. His pitch black hair was half tied up, his wand holding it in place. The rest of it fell to his shoulders in natural waves. His eyes, Remus noticed as they made startling eye contact, were clear and grey. He clearly knew who he was and what he looked like, and Remus couldn’t help but balk ever so slightly at the man stalking towards him. At least he was short.

      All too soon, Sirius was upon him and Remus only had a moment to panic that this was the moment before he was pulled into a hug that smelled of leather and red dirt. His traitorous arms froze in indecision before he forced himself to hug him back.

     “It’s really you,” he murmured without thinking, and he felt Sirius squeeze him around the middle.

     “Hi, Moons.” They lingered in the hug for just a bit too long before they both pulled back to stare at each other. Sirius was wearing a marvelous grin and Remus couldn’t help the smile that bloomed over his face, stretching the scars on his chin. He watched as Sirius’ grey eyes tracked over his face, catching on the scars, before meeting his gaze again. His lips tilted into a sardonic smile.

     “Really, Moony? Green?” Remus’ heart skipped a beat as the air between them tightened. Remus broke first, bursting into a laugh as Sirius continued to grin at him.

     “I told you it was my favorite color,” he laughed. “I’m sorry your ridiculous house war wasn’t on my mind when I was picking out my clothing this morning.” Sirius’ eyes crinkled as he barked out a laugh that didn’t sound all that different from a dog’s.

     “I didn’t think you’d choose the color of my sworn enemies, though,” Sirius pouted. Remus watched as Sirius’ gaze tracked all over his face before running over his mouth. His eyes widened.

     “You never mentioned a lip ring!” Suddenly Sirius was close, very close, and his thumb was running over his lip where the black ring pierced it. Remus’ hand flew up to the arm Sirius had put to his face; not to pull it away, or even still it. Just holding. Sirius glanced up from his inspection of Remus’ lip and made that same intense eye contact again before laughing hoarsely and stepping back, taking his hand with him. “Sorry,” he muttered, rubbing his neck, “I always forget not everyone’s as tactile as I am.” Remus’ hand came up to touch the place where Sirius' had touched him and he grinned against his burning cheeks.

     “It’s okay. I expected a bit of oddness from you.” He smiled as he watched indignation take over the grin on Sirius’ face.

     “Oi!” He barked, obviously trying to suppress a smile. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

     “I’m just saying,” Remus drawled, “I don’t know what I expected from someone who can’t even be trusted to text the correct number.” Sirius’ mouth flew open and he gaped at Remus for a few seconds. It really shouldn’t have been attractive, but Remus just watched the way his tongue twitched in his mouth.

     “ This from the man who didn’t recognize that he was talking to a wizard for a week straight??” Remus threw his head back and laughed.

     “That is not -“

     “ Boys.” A voice from behind Remus called out and he whirled around to see the brunette witch from inside poking her head out the doors. Sirius took a step forward.

     “Rosmerta, darling, how can we help you?” Remus’ heart stuttered and he shot a glance between Sirius and the witch, who was smiling saccharinely at them.

     “You two have been out here bickering and making a racket and it’s driving away the customers. Either come in or fuck off, yeah darling ?” Remus’ eyes flicked back to Sirius. He was smiling serenely.

     “For you, my dear,” he said, reaching forward to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, “anything.” Rosmerta simply gave him a bored look and went back inside. Remus turned to Sirius and raised his eyebrows. He flushed. “We, er, go back a ways. You remember I told you someone was selling us firewhisky?” Remus nodded. “That’s her.” Sirius ran a hand through his hair and looked sheepishly at Remus. “Wanna go in?”

     “Lead the way.” Sirius smiled softly at him and pulled the doors to the tavern open for him to walk through. Remus flashed him a grin and went in. This was going to be an interesting afternoon.

Sirius

     Remus was amazing. He was just as sweet and funny and witty in person as he was over text. The pair found themselves a quiet booth tucked in the back where they wouldn’t be bothered, and Sirius cast a quick repulsion spell to ensure this. They slid into seats opposite each other, and Sirius couldn’t help but notice how Remus’ hair caught the low lighting of the inn and shined beneath it.

     “So,” Remus said in that gloriously low voice of his, “you told Rosmerta about me?” Their gazes locked again and Sirius’ heart went wild. He had realized quickly that Remus liked to make eye contact, and this set the butterflies in his stomach off every time their gazes met. Sirius ducked his head and grinned up at the boy across from him.

     “I may have mentioned you. She’s really a terrible secret keeper, though, I told her not to be obvious.” Remus smiled back at him and Sirius had to stop himself from swooning.

     “Oh, no, she’s definitely discrete. Only let on that she knew me after I said three words to her.” Sirius chuckled.

     “Three words, eh? That’s honestly not bad, for her. She’s revealed more about me in less time before.” Remus’ eyes lit up at this.

     “Why do I feel the sudden need to go grill her on everything about you?” He started to push back from the table and swing his long legs over the bench he was sitting on. Sirius lunged across the table and grabbed onto his sweater.

     “Oh no you don’t, you’re mine for at least another few hours. She can’t have you.” Remus looked down at Sirius stretched across the table and smiled at him. He slowly sat back down.

     “I suppose I can grace you with my presence for a bit longer.” Sirius flushed and reeled himself back across the table.

     “That’s what I thought,” he said with a lot more bravado than he felt. Remus grinned at him in a way that sent a prickle of heat up his spine and he rolled his shoulders, leaning back in his chair. “Is it hot in here to you?” He asked. Remus just shrugged.

     “I’m always hot,” he said. Sirius glanced up at him and raised an eyebrow. Remus’ eyes widened. “That’s- I meant- ugh, shut up, you know what I meant.” His cheeks were glowing merrily and Sirius felt something shoot through him. This boy was going to be the death of him.

     “Well,” Sirius huffed, breaking their eye contact, “ I think it’s hot in here.” Ignoring the pretty eyes Remus had set on him, Sirius shrugged out of his robes and set them on the booth beside him. Then he removed his tie and pulled his sweater up over his head. Left only in his white button up, Sirius undid a few of the buttons at his throat and rolled his sleeves up to his elbows. He felt Remus’ eyes on him as he did this and looked up at him beneath lowered lashes. Then, keeping eye contact, he fluffed his shirt out a bit, showing off his collarbones and flexing his arms casually. Remus’ eyes flicked down to his neck and chest and he raked his eyes over Sirius’ arms in a way that made him flush all over. Then he met Sirius’ gaze steadily and gave him a lopsided grin that said he knew exactly what was going on and didn’t mind one bit. Sirius returned the grin and leaned back in his seat, feeling no more cool than he had before. But then, that hadn’t really been the point.

     “So,” Remus said casually, “know any good spots to buy a Pepper Up potion?” Sirius threw his head back and laughed. Trust Remus to call Sirius out on his bluff.

     “Honestly? I’m not even sure if there’s a store here that sells them,” Sirius laughed. Remus faked gasped.

     “You mean to tell me you lured me here under false pretenses? I’m simply astounded, Sirius.” Remus was laughing too, and Sirius felt warm all over. This was what he expected and so much more. He loved having him here, in person, and being able to see and hear his laugh rather than just experience it over the phone.

     “Before you get your knickers in a twist, consider this,” Sirius replied, rummaging around in his discarded robes. He struggled for a moment under Remus’ bemused gaze before triumphantly pulling a vial out of a pocket. He presented it to Remus with a flourish. “A Pepper Up potion just for you, Moony.” Remus laughed and reached forward to take the vial from him. As he did, their fingers brushed and Sirius swore he felt the shock all the way to his toes.

     “If I had known we were buying gifts I would have gotten something for you, Pads,” Remus said. He was inspecting the potion as if it was the most important thing in the world.

     “I didn’t buy it, I nicked it from the infirmary when I fell off my broom.”

     “Delinquent,” Remus murmured, still looking at the bottle. Sirius kicked him lightly under the table and he looked up.

     “Do you want to place an order before Rosmerta kicks us out for sitting and not buying?” Remus turned around to see Rosmerta watching them with an expectant look on her face.

     “What, your darling doesn’t let you sit here for free?” Remus teased, still smiling and fingering the potion. Sirius rolled his eyes.

     “Rosmerta doesn’t do anything I ask her to do. Especially if it messes with her business. Remus snorted disbelievingly.

     “Well, what’s good here? Is there a menu or something?” Sirius smiled to himself at Remus’ muggle way of thinking. He couldn’t get over how nice it felt to have him here. They were chatting so casually and it was all wonderfully familiar, as if they’d known each other for years.

     “I wish you’d come to Hogwarts,” he blurted, and Remus looked at him in surprise.

     “What? Today? I don’t think your professors would-”

     “No, not today!” Sirius flushed at the very idea of having Remus in his dorm. “I meant, I wish you had come to school at Hogwarts when you were younger. We could have grown up knowing each other.” Remus’ features softened and he looked at Sirius a bit forlornly.

     “It would’ve been nice, wouldn’t it?” Remus sounded sad and Sirius kicked himself for bringing it up. He quickly tried to move past it.

     “Although, you probably could come to Hogwarts today, if you’d like. We know a secret passage back to the castle.” Remus blinked at him.

     “What, like sneak into the castle with you?” Sirius just shrugged. He had mostly been joking to make Remus smile again, but now that he thought about it… The idea of Remus in Hogwarts was one he liked. “That’s… yeah, I could do that.”

     “Wait, really?!” Sirius couldn’t believe he’d agreed so quickly. Remus shrugged easily, smiling at Sirius’ surprise.

     “Ever since my Mum told me I’d almost gone here, I’ve been dying to see what it’s like,” he said. “Not that your descriptions weren’t enough, but, well, your descriptions weren’t enough.” Sirius didn’t even have it in him to act mock offended.

     “This will be so fun!”

Remus

     “This will be so fun! Oh, Rosmerta, two butterbeers please!” Remus looked over in time to see the witch wave a hand and send two butterbeers over to their table. One set itself easily in front of Remus while the other wobbled and sloshed a bit on Sirius’ trousers before setting down gracefully on Remus’ side of the table and out of Sirius’ reach. This didn’t seem to phase him, though, because he simply pulled his wand from his hair, letting it fall down around his face, and cleaned up the spill. Then, he leaned over the table and grabbed his drink. Remus tried and failed to resist the temptation to smell him. That whiff of red dirt he had gotten outside was much more intense now that Sirius had removed all his layers. He smelled of leather as well, and was that-? Remus flinched back.

     “Alright, Moony?” Sirius asked as he pulled back to his side, glancing questioningly at him. Remus’ heart was going a mile a minute. Was Sirius wearing pure silver? He wracked his brain, trying to remember if that was a normal thing for wizards to do. He knew pure silver was too soft for muggles to make into jewelry; wouldn’t that logic carry over to wizards? Was Sirius wearing it on purpose?

     “Moons?” A touch on his wrist brought him back to the moment. Sirius was looking at him, concern evident across his face.

     “I- Sorry, Padfoot, I just, er, got distracted. Your necklace is pretty, what’s it made of?” Sirius had no way of knowing, right? He had to be making this up in his head. In front of him, Sirius’ eyes lit up.

     “Oh! It’s silver. Prongs got it for me when I left home for good. He wears the exact same one,” Sirus told him bouncily. “Actually, you wanna hear a secret?” Remus nodded uneasily and leaned in to where Sirius was looking around dramatically. “He had them made with pure silver to enhance the psychic charms he put on them. Now, in emergencies, we can communicate really basic thoughts to each other just by thinking!” Remus blinked at him. “Brilliant, isn’t it?”

     “I- yeah. Does it really work?” 

     “Yep! I don’t use it that often, though, because it takes a lot of concentration and emotion to make it work. Which is why it’s only really for emergencies.” He was grinning so brightly that Remus couldn’t help but return it, even if his stomach was still knotted up. This could prove to be a problem in the future, he knew, but for now it wasn’t affecting him, other than the faint smell.

     “Er, isn't pure silver supposed to be soft?”

     “I dunno. I think he used the argentum spell. You know, the one that makes silver chains?” Remus did know that one. He also knew it had been originally created so that there was an easy way to incapacitate and capture werewolves. He drummed his fingers on the table.

     “Would you like to go on a walk? It’s so nice out, we shouldn’t just sit indoors.”

     “ This weather is your idea of ‘nice out’?” Sirius laughed. “But yes, I’d love to stretch my legs a bit.” Remus nodded and downed the rest of his butterbeer. They got up from their booth, Sirius pulling his sweater back on and shrinking his robes before stuffing them in his pocket. He also tied his hair up again, still using his wand. He looked over at Remus and grinned before taking his hand and pulling him out of the tavern. Despite his earlier uneasiness, butterflies erupted in Remus’ stomach and he couldn’t stop the smile that pushed onto his cheeks. He’d probably follow Sirius into a volcano if he led him by the hand like this.

Sirius

     Sirius was in Heaven. On cloud nine. Experiencing Nirvana. This was simply who, what, when, where he wanted to be. Holding Remus’ hand, walking the streets of Hogsmeade. It was bliss. He honestly hadn’t been thinking when he’d grabbed Remus’ hand, but now their fingers were tangled together in a hold Marlene called the “waffle hold”, whatever that meant. Girls made no sense. This, however, made so much sense. He didn’t think he’d ever felt peace before this moment.

     He couldn’t stop looking over at Remus who’d had a small smile on his face the entire time they walked around. They had chatted a little when they had first left the inn, but now they were walking in companionable silence. Nothing had ever felt so right. And Remus had agreed to come back to Hogwarts that evening. Things couldn’t possibly get better.

     “Would you like to go to Zonko’s? I’m sure you and James have another prank planned despite having just gotten finished with detention for your last one,” Remus said, looking sidelong at Sirius with those pretty eyes of his. Sirius swooned.

     “Yes, I’d love that,” he replied, trying to keep the lovesickness out of his tone. “We may even see James and Lily there.They use that as their meeting spot after they’ve abandoned their friends.” Remus nodded and let Sirius pull him towards the joke shop. The door to the shop jingled when they walked in and Sirius waved to the man behind the counter before pulling Remus deeper into the store.

     “Ugh, they’re all out of dungbombs again! I thought we’d be able to restock our supply this trip,” Sirius huffed as they came upon a wall of shelves labeled ‘Perfumed Practical Jokes’. 

Remus

     Sirius pulled his hand out of Remus’ grip to rummage through the shelves and Remus frowned. He flexed his hand around the emptiness of where Sirius’ hand had just been. Who knew he’d get attached to the sensation of Sirius’ hand in his so quickly. He glanced over to see Sirius on his tiptoes attempting to reach something on a higher shelf. Remus chuckled to himself and stepped forward to help. He reached up for the item, placing his hand on Sirius’ back to let him know he was there. As Remus grabbed the item and was pulling it down, Sirius turned around and turned the reach into a hug, his arms settling around Remus’ waist.

     “Oh, hello,” Remus smiled, wrapping his arms around Sirius’ shoulders.

     “Sorry,” Sirius said into his neck, “you were just right there.” Remus hummed and leaned his head against Sirius’, content to hug him in the alise of Zonko’s. He knew Sirius was a very physically affectionate person, and he wanted to indulge him in whatever he asked for. Hugs were an easy gift to give.

     “Your hair smells very nice.” Remus gave a sniff and pressed his nose into Sirius’ hair.

     “Mmn thanks, I used Prongs’ poncy shampoo,” Sirius murmured, apparently content to stay as they were for a while. With his chest pressed against Sirius’ warm torso, Remus wasn’t complaining.

     “Do you like it when people play with your hair?” Remus asked, moving his hand from Sirius’ shoulder to rest on the back of his head.

     “Only certain people, but you’re more than welcome to.” Remus smiled and began to card his fingers through Sirius’ locks. His hair was incredibly soft and he only caught a few snaggles created by the wind outside. He gently unknotted them. They stayed like that for a few minutes, Remus quietly brushing out Sirius’ hair with his fingers while Sirius breathed into his neck. Eventually, Remus’ hand came up to the hair Sirius had tied up and he touched his wand lightly.

     “May I?”

     “Please.” He felt Sirius smile against his shoulder as he gently pulled the wand from his hair.

     “What do I do with it now?” His other hand was still holding whatever item Sirius had been reaching for and he wanted a hand open to continue petting Sirius’ hair. Sirius pulled back from Remus a bit and took the wand from him, their fingers brushing. Then he carefully tucked it behind Remus’ ear. Their eyes met and they smiled at each other almost sheepishly. Acting on impulse, Remus leaned forward and kissed Sirius softly on the forehead. Sirius’ arms tightened from where they were still draped loosely across his back.

     “What was that for?” he asked and Remus pulled back to look at him again. He shrugged.

     “Dunno. I wanted to.” Sirius smiled so wide it looked like it hurt.

     “You’re so sweet, Moony.” Sirius brought one hand up to rest on Remus’ jaw, his thumb swiping slowly over his cheek. Remus turned into the touch, resisting the urge to bite playfully at Sirius’ fingers. Their eyes met again and the contact sent the butterflies in Remus’ belly going crazy. Sirius was looking at him softly, his thumb still tracing Remus’ face, and Remus’ breath caught. Sirius tilted his head to the side ever so slightly and Remus didn’t know what to do with his hands. Should he keep them on Sirius’ shoulders? Is that how kissing worked? Of course he had kissed other boys before, but that had always been hard and fast. He had never had this sort of syrupy slow build up. ”Moons…” Sirius said quietly, a question in his voice. Remus thought the anticipation might kill him. He took a breath before leaning in and-

     “Padfoot!”

Sirius

     “Padfoot!” The two of them startled apart and Sirius looked over to see James and Lily coming down the aisle. Trust James to ruin a perfect moment. Sirius tried to give him a look that said go away! but the pair continued towards them, oblivious. He felt like crying. Remus was looking at the ground, shoulders pulled together and an embarrassed look on his face. Before James had so rudely interrupted them, he could have sworn Moony was going to… He redoubled his efforts in glaring at James, and Lily faltered a bit, glancing at her idiot of a boyfriend. James, however, remained oblivious and came to a stop in front of Sirius and Remus. “I see you two have finally met!”

     “Nice to meet you, Prongs,” Remus said politely, looking up and smiling at him. He stuck out his hand to shake and James just laughed and pulled him into a hug.

     “Blimey you’re tall!” James laughed again and pulled back to look at Remus, still holding him by the shoulders. “Siri, why didn’t you tell me he was so tall? I would’ve worn heels.” Sirius rolled his eyes from beside Remus.

     “Because I knew you’d try to make it into a pissing contest. Now hands off, you’re being weird.” Sirius came to Remus’ rescue and batted James' hands off of him. James stepped back and rolled his eyes.

     “As if we didn’t just see you two canoodl- Oi!” James was shut up by a slap to the back of the head by Lily. She gracefully stepped around her boyfriend and came up to give Remus a quick hug.

     “It’s lovely to meet you, Remus.” Her smile was bright and Sirius thought he saw Remus relax in her grip. “Please ignore these two idiots, they wouldn’t know how to make a good first impression if I taught a class on it.” Lily had a very soothing presence, especially when compared to James and Sirius. Sirius was suddenly very glad she had arrived alongside Prongs.

     “It’s wonderful to meet you too, Lily. Is that a Hozier pin, by any chance?” Lily’s face lit up and she touched one of the many pins she had decorated her robes with.

     “Yes! You know Hozier?” Remus smiled down at her and nodded.

     “Of course I do, have I been living under a rock?” Lily beamed at him, then turned to point an accusing finger at James and Sirius.

     “This. This is why I say I need more muggleborn friends! You lot never understand my references.” James pouted at her and came to inspect her buttons.

     “I recognize some of these,” he said, fingering one with the Holyhead Harpies logo on it. Lily just rolled her eyes and patted his face.

     “Yes, and I know you’re trying very hard. But it’s nice to have someone who immediately recognizes my references without me having to explain them.” James frowned again.

     “It’s not my fault muggles come up with the most ridiculous things. I mean, tellyvisors are just ways to watch other peop- oi, is that Sirius’ wand in your hair?” Remus’ hand flew to the wand he had forgotten was tucked behind his ear.

     “Er-,” he started before Sirius stepped up beside him.

     “Is that Lily’s lipstick on your neck?” Sirius asked innocently, glancing happily at the wand still in Remus’ hair. James flushed bright red, and Lily giggled and tried to wipe the pink off her boyfriend’s neck.

     “Bugger off Padfoot,” James said, scrubbing at the mark. “I was just wondering what you two were-”

     “And I was just wondering what you two were up to before you found us. You know your collar’s buttoned wrong, yes?” Remus had to bite his cheek to stop from laughing. James flushed again and his hands flew to the collar of his shirt. Lily looked amused.

     “I dunno why you’re talking, your robes are always messed up,” he said grumpily.

     “On purpose, mate,” Sirius laughed. “By the way, you brought the cloak, right Jamie?”

     “Oh no, you don’t get to use my cloak after taking the piss out of me. Go find your own invisibility cloak, yeah?” Remus choked.

     “ Invisibility cloak??” Lily just smiled at him while Sirius and James continued to bicker.

     “It’s not for me , you git! It’s so I can sneak Moony into Hogwarts.”

     “Oh, so I’m just supposed to let you because it’s for your precious boyf- ”

     “Finish that sentence, Prongsie my boy, and I’ll hex you bollocks off. If Lily hasn’t already got them in her purse, that is.”

     “You and what wand, mate? Yours is still on behind Moony’s ear!” Lily rolled her eyes at them and grabbed Remus’ hand, pulling him away.

     “C’mon, love, they’ll be at it for a while now.” Remus glanced at the two boys, who were still going back and forth. He let himself be pulled off.

Remus

     Lily led Remus out of the joke shop and down a narrow alleyway.

     “Er, where are we headed?” He felt kind of bad for leaving Sirius behind. He was meant to spend the day with him, after all.

     “There’s a bookstore just up this street. That’s a bit more your style, isn’t it? Sirius told me you’re a bit of a bookworm. A bookstore is a tad more my style too, if I’m being honest.” She glanced behind her, smiling. She must have noticed Remus’ hesitant look, because she laughed and slowed so they were walking side by side. “Don’t worry, love, the boys will catch up in a bit. They just have to get their argument out of the way. James has been feeling a bit abandoned since Sirius has started talking to you, I think.” Remus’ eyebrows shot up.

     “Really?” He had never considered that their texting could have affected other parts of Sirius’ life. Lily nodded.

     “Mmhm. The same thing happened with Sirius when James and I started dating. They’re very close, and anyone else coming into the picture throws them off sometimes.” Remus blushed.

     “We’re not… we’re just friends.” Lily smiled kindly at him.

     “I know. But you are very close. And you spend a lot of time talking. I think Sirius and James are so used to being Sirius and James that anything else feels foreign.” She again saw his face and laughed. “Don’t worry, though. Sirius is very fond of you, and James would never resent you for being his friend.” They had reached the bookshop, and Remus stepped quickly in front of Lily to open the door for her. She smiled warmly at him. “Thank you, Remus.”

     They stepped inside and Remus felt himself truly relax for the first time that day. Even hugging Sirius in the joke shop had carried some underlying tension. Walking into the bookstore with Lily, though, Remus felt very at home. Books had always been his safe place, and he liked being here with Lily. She seemed to be very kind and considerate and Remus understood why Sirius went to her when he needed peace and quiet.

     “Oh, they have the new Newt Scamander book in!” Lily rushed over to a little stand showing off an orange and green book titled Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Remus followed her over and picked up one of the books she was flipping through. Hesitating for only a second, he flipped all the way back to the W’s and found the listing for werewolves. He quickly read through the description and was pleasantly surprised. While it did mention that they turned into a ‘murderous beast’, it also had a footnote that explained that without a full moon, they were as harmless as anyone else. Remus tucked the book under his arm and made a mental note to look more into the author.

     While he’d been reading, Lily had wandered over to the fiction section and began thumbing through titles. He went to join her.

     “So… Sirius talks about me?” Lily glanced at him and smiled knowingly. She turned to face him, leaning one shoulder against a bookshelf.

     “You’re just about all he talks about,” she told him. Remus ducked his head in an attempt to hide his grin.

     “Yeah?”

     “Yeah. Everyday, it’s Moony this and Remus that. It’s actually quite cute.” Lily was smiling at him, and Remus ran his hand through his hair, nearly knocking Sirius’ wand out of it.

     “Did he put that there?” Lily asked, nodding to the wand. Remus slid it out of his hair and twiddled it in between fingers.

     “Yeah he, uh, he used it to keep his hair up and we… I was messing with his hair and needed a place to put it and... he chose behind me ear.” Lily’s smile was radiant and she pushed at him playfully.

     “Casanova, you are,” she laughed, and Remus didn’t deny it.

     “I’m- he’s… yeah.” Remus took a breath to say something else when his phone buzzed in his pocket. “Oh, hold on, I’ve got a text.” He fished his phone out of his jeans.

3:45pm

Where are you? :(

Some bookstore with Lily

Come join us?

Be there soon!

     Remus clicked his phone off.

     “The boys are on their way.”

Sirius

     Sirius and James had finished with their row, and were breathing hard on the sidewalk outside of Zonko’s. Things had escalated after Lily and Remus had left and they had tussled a bit in the shop before being thrown out. Now they were sitting in companionable silence until they worked up the energy to go meet the other two at the bookshop.

     “You really like this bloke, don’t you Siri?” James asked quietly. Sirius gave him a sidelong glance and then looked ahead again.

     “Yeah. I suppose I do.” He wasn’t surprised that James hadn’t even asked about his sexuality, just assumed from context clues that he was into Remus. He had nearly throttled James for trying to call them boyfriends in front of Remus, though. It had been all he could do to not make things physical until they left. He made a mental note to thank Lily for taking Remus elsewhere when she saw trouble brewing.

     “Are you ever gonna tell him?” Sirius sighed and kicked his legs out in front of him restlessly.

     “I almost kissed him today.” James looked over in surprise. Sirius glared at him. “You and Lily just had to show up, though.” James hissed apologetically through his teeth.

     “If he was going to let you kiss him earlier, though, he’d probably let you try again,” James mused. Sirius shrugged.

     “It’s hard to get the timing right, though.” Sirius stared at his shoes. James sighed and clapped him on the back.

     “Come on, we should go meet them.” James pushed up off the ground and Sirius did the same, taking his proffered hand. The walk was somewhat awkward, a bit of tension left between him and James. Right before they went in, James stopped him.

     “We’re alright, aren’t we, Pads?” He was holding Sirius by the shoulders. Sirius sighed and gave into the hug.

     “Of course we are, you prick, just quit it with the boyfriends shite, yeah?” James nodded over Sirius’ shoulder and squeezed him once before letting go and entering the store.

     As soon as he got inside, Sirius spotted Remus standing near the back with Lily. He smiled to himself at Remus’ silly sweater and ridiculous height as he made his way over.

     He came up beside Remus silently and slipped his hand into his. Remus looked over at him with a fond expression and smiled. Sirius thought he might die.

     “Hi Padfoot, did you two have fun trying to kill each other?” Sirius smiled up at him.

     “Yes,” he said, leaning his head on Remus’ shoulder and looking up into his eyes. He could practically feel James rolling his eyes behind him.

     “We weren’t trying to kill each other, just rough each other up a little,” James said, waking over to give Lily a kiss on the cheek. Remus switched the book under his arm to the other hand and Sirius looked at it questioningly.

     “What’s that, Moony?”

     “Hmm? Oh it’s a book on magical creatures.” Lily nodded emphatically from where she and James were standing on the other side of the aisle.

     “It’s by Newt Scamander! He’s a revolutionary in the subject, he treats the animals with kindness and compassion rather than automatically writing them off as monsters. I’ve wanted to meet him for so long.” Remus was looking at her in surprise, then smiled and nodded. Sirius grinned. It looked like Remus was getting along with his friends and it made him feel warm and fuzzy.

     “I liked the way he talked about some of them in the book,” Remus said quietly. “He really does seem to respect them as more than just ‘beasts’.” Sirius looked at him curiously. His words seemed to carry some sort of weight, but Sirius couldn’t figure out what it meant. Remus looked over at him and smiled before dropping a kiss into his hair. Sirius’ stomach soared in a wonderfully nauseous way and he leaned harder into the boy beside him.

     “Are you two going to be here for a while?” James asked.

     “I’d like to be, yeah,” Remus said, looking at Sirius with a question in his eyes. Sirius nodded with a smile. As if he could deny Remus anything in the world. 

     “Well… I think Lily and I are going to head off,” James said, looking at his girlfriend. She nodded at him, a sheepish smile on her face. “We’ll meet you at the Three Broomsticks before we head back to Hogwarts, yeah?” Sirius and Remus nodded at him, and the two of them scurried out the door, giggling to each other. Sirius made a disgusted noise in the back of his throat and pulled on Remus’ arm for attention.

     “Yes, Padfoot?” Remus asked, amused.

     “What did you and Lily talk about while you were alone?”

     “You, of course. And James.” Remus turned to face Sirius rather than being shoulder to shoulder with him. Sirius wrapped his arms around his waist once again.

     “Anything interesting come up?” Remus tucked a strand of Sirius’ hair behind his ear and hummed.

     “Nothing much, except that you were a bit of a jealous berk when James first started dating Lily.” Sirius chuckled and laid his head against Remus’ chest, pushing into his hand. Remus snorted and  resumed running his hand through Sirius’ hair.

     “I suppose that’s true. For a while… for a while, James was all I had and it was… difficult to not be his number one person anymore.” Remus hummed and pet Sirius’ hair soothingly. “I guess… well, I wasn’t the nicest to Lily for a bit. Which was terrible. I’ve apologized so many times for the things I said to her then. I- I got over myself though. Came to realize that Lily’s incredible, and that James wasn’t just mine, and I could live without him at my side 24/7.”

     “That’s mature of you, Padfoot. It’s not always easy to share the people you love.” Sirius hummed into his neck.

     “I’ve never- I’ve never had a best mate that wasn’t James.” Sirius pulled back to look Remus in the eyes. “I’m glad I met you, Remus. You’re… you’re everything.” Remus’ heart stuttered in his chest. His eye contact with Sirius was almost painful, it was so charged. Sirius’ eyes flicked down to his lips and Remus' breath caught in his chest.

     “You’re my everything too, Sirius.” Slowly, Remus dragged his hand down the back of his neck. “I think you’re- Fuck!” Remus yanked his hand away from Sirius’ neck, wrenching out of Sirius’ hold.

     “Remus?” Remus could barely hear his voice through the searing pain in his hand. “Remus, what’s wrong?!” Remus was bent over, clutching his hand in agony, panting out harsh breaths. That fucking silver. It was all Remus could do to not cry. “Remus, please, let me see.”

     “N-no, I’m fine, Sirius, please,” Remus said weakly, pushing him away with his good hand. Sirius was insistent, though, and Remus was in no shape to stop him. Silver sapped every ounce of strength he had in him in addition to hurting like a bitch. Sirius gently but forcefully pried his hand open.

     “ Bloody buggering hell, Remus. What the fuck happened?? That’s a third degree burn!” Sirius was crouched over him, frantic. Remus didn’t even remember falling on the ground

     “I’m- it’s- it’s- I’m okay, Sirius, please, I’m-” Remus’ voice wouldn’t stop shaking and he couldn’t think straight. Sirius was calming down, but still studying his hand with furrowed brows.

     “Remus… that looks- that looks like the links on a chain,” Sirius breathed, one of his hands creeping up to touch his necklace. He looked up at Remus and Remus looked back at him with wide frightened eyes.

     “S-Sirius, please…” Remus’ breath was coming in short panicked pants now. Sirius’ eyes grew impossibly wider.

     “Remus,” he said, his voice trembling too now, “you’re not…” Remus’ breath turned into a sob and he scrambled to his feet and out the door of the shop. He didn’t hear Sirius behind him as he bolted into an alleyway and apparated home.

Chapter Text

Sirius

     Sirius sat on the floor of the bookshop for twenty minutes before someone else came into the back aisle. Then he got up and went outside to sit. Never in a million years would he have guessed. Besides the scars, nothing about Remus screamed werewolf. He felt sick. He couldn’t reconcile the sweet, pretty, snarky boy he knew with the image of a ravenous, bloodthirsty monster. And even though he knew Remus was what he was, he’d looked so scared when Sirius figured it out. And he had obviously been really hurt by the silver. Sirius touched his necklace and wondered at how easily he could run his fingers over it. How could something so innocuous be so deadly for someone else? Remus was probably in a lot of pain.

     Sirius’ phone was in his hand and dialing before he registered reaching for it. It only rang once before he hung it up. Fuck. Sirius looked back through the windows of the store at the display of that book Remus had been holding. The book about magical beasts. Sirius pushed himself off the ground and headed back inside.

     In the back aisle, the book lay abandoned on the ground. Sirius picked it up and flipped to the back few pages. There it was. The listing for werewolves. He read the entire thing including the footnote twice, but it wasn’t much information. It did say that they were harmless in human form. Something in Sirius’ chest eased at that. He didn’t know if he ever really believed that Remus could be dangerous, though. Staring blankly at the page, Sirius sighed. Then he went to the front desk to ask for more books about werewolves.

Remus

     Remus apparated into his bedroom with a loud pop! and immediately fell into his dresser. His hand still stung like a motherfucker, but he just sank to the ground at the foot on his bed and buried his head in his hands. Fuck. Fuck fuck FUCK . He was shouting it now and openly crying. This was the worst possible outcome. Other than physically transforming in front of Sirius, he couldn’t think of a way things could have turned out worse. Sirius probably hated him. He had probably immediately gone to James and Lily and told them about the big bad werewolf who had deceived him into being friends. Remus couldn’t stop crying, and he didn’t even notice when his phone buzzed on the ground or his mum knocked on his bedroom door.

    “Remus, dear, are you alright? I heard you apparate in,” his mum called, sounding concerned. Remus just cried harder and stumbled up to open the door. She was standing there, a kitchen towel in her hands, looking worried. When she saw him, she gasped and dropped the towel, immediately pulling him into her arms. “Remus! What on earth happened!?” Remus sobbed.

     “I- I was with Sirius and he- he was wearing silver and I didn’t think and I accidentally-!” Remus’ mum pulled back and looked him over with alarm.

     “Oh! Give me your hand, dear,” she cried, turning it so his burned palm was facing upwards. “Christ, Remus, have you done anything about this?!” She quickly pushed past him into his bathroom where he kept his post-moon supplies. She reappeared moments later carrying dittany and murtlap essence. As she had done for him dozens of times over the years, she poured the dittany on his burn and carefully rubbed it in. Then she smeared the murtlap essence over the worst of it, and unrolled some ace bandage. “Where’s your wand, love, you should heal it up before I wrap it.”

     Remus silently removed his wand from his back pocket, hiccuping and crying as he chanted some healing spells. No matter how upset he was, though, his mother’s loving and efficient way of dealing with things calmed him down. He watched, detached, as she wrapped his hand.

     “He knows, Mum,” he whispered when she was done, tears still falling. Hope Lupin looked him directly in the eye and said: “So?”

     He stared at her. “ What? He knows , Mum,” he sobbed. “The biggest secret I’ve ever had. He could call the ministry on me and say I’ve hurt him, or- or come to the house and attack us…” he trailed off miserably. “I’ve put you in danger. Again.” Hope glared at him, then cuffed him lightly across the head.

     “I have never been in danger of you or because of you, do you understand me? I will not have you spouting off your father’s ridiculous lies as long as you live under this roof, am I understood?” Remus blinked tearily at her. “ Am I understood? ” He quickly nodded, and wiped at his face with the back of his hand. “Now,” she said, “I understand if you’re scared that he may never speak to you again, but I like to think I’ve raised you to only make connections with good people, ones who would judge others based on who they are, not what . Does blindly hating you sound like this Sirius to you?”

     “No, but he’s a pureblood, Mum. He was probably raised with all these prejudices,” Remus sniffed. His mum scoffed.

     “Then he’ll just have to unlearn them, won’t he?” She had that same look in her eye she had the day she kicked his Da out. It made him feel a little more hopeful.

     “I- I guess, yeah.” Hope nodded.

     “Good. Now, I can either leave you alone for a bit, or you can come help me finish baking my loaf of bread. Which do you prefer?” Remus gave her a watery smile.

     “I think I’ll stay here for a bit. But. Thanks, Mum.” She softened and got on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. Then, without another word, she grabbed her kitchen towel off the floor and left his room. The door clicked shut softly behind her.

     Remus took a shaky breath and wiped the rest of the tears off his face. His mum was right. He was fine two weeks ago without Sirius, and he’d be fine now. Resolutely ignoring the throbbing in his hand, he walked back to where he had apparated in to find his phone and put it on silent, lest Sirius text or call him.

     As he walked, he accidentally kicked something under his bed. Curious, he bent down to look for whatever he had kicked. His heart stopped. Shite . Sirius’ wand was there. Unfreezing, he carefully pulled it out from under his bed and sat down. Stupidly, just holding his wand made Remus want to cry more, but he swallowed it down. Was it really only an hour ago that Sirius had tucked this behind his ear? The thought made him nauseous with sadness. Feeling stupidly upset, Remus indulged himself just a bit and twirled the wand slowly in his fingers. His phone buzzed.

     “Shut the fuck up,” Remus muttered, reaching for the device with the intent of shutting it down. Then he saw.

*1 missed call from: Prettiest Posh Prat. 2 new texts from: Prettiest Posh Prat.*

     His heart stopped dead in his chest. Morbid curiosity forced him to slide his phone open and read the message.

4:27pm

Remus

Can we talk?

     Remus felt like throwing up. Should he respond? ...Fuck it. Carefully, he wrote a response.

4:29pm

What do you want to talk about

     Remus threw his phone down and groaned out loud. Why did he have to feel like this ? Why couldn’t he just not care about the stupid boy on the other end on the line. It’s not like he was in love with him or anything, he had just met him. His stomach clenched uncomfortably and he pushed the through away. His phone buzzed again.

4:30pm

Can I call you?

     What the fuck was he supposed to say to that? Of course he wanted him to call. He wanted him to call and say that everything was fine, that Sirius didn’t care that he was a werewolf and that he wanted Remus to come snog his brains out. But that simply wasn’t going to happen.

     Before Remus could work up the guts to say yes, his phone began to ring.

*Incoming Call from: Prettiest Posh Prat*

4:33pm

     Remus’ stomach clenched and he held his breath. On the fourth ring, Remus picked up.

“Hullo…?”

“Remus.”

“Hi, Sirius.”

“I- um… I wanted- I wondered if you’d… come back.”

     Remus froze at that. Come back? He didn’t mean to Hogsmeade, did he? Did he think he wanted to embarrass himself any further?

“...I don’t know.”

“You- er, you have my wand.”

“Oh.”

“That’s not. That’s not why I wanted you to come back, though.”

“Oh?”

“I… I thought we might be able to… talk about it? I’m…”

     Sirius sighed, and Remus’ stomach tightened even further in what he tried to convince himself wasn’t hope. He learned a long time ago that hope could hurt a lot more than it helped, especially when you’re a werewolf.

“Sirius…”

“I’m not kidding. I… Merlin, I just want to understand. I know you’re not, like, evil or anything and I don’t want you to think… I don’t hate you, Remus. I really, truly don’t.”

     Remus didn’t know how to respond. Was that supposed to be a compliment? That he wasn’t ‘evil or anything’? Irrationally, Remus felt himself getting angry. He had gone 17 years dealing with this affliction, and now some pureblood ponce was reassuring him that he wasn’t evil?

“I don’t know what you want me to say, Sirius.”

“I want you to say yes. I want you to say you’ll come back and talk to me because I don’t want to lose you.”

“...”

“ Please , Remus?”

     It did feel kind of good, though, to have Sirius being the one begging for Remus back. Remus almost laughed to himself. Who would’ve thought, the pureblood wizard was begging the half breed werewolf to come back. As if he could say no.

“Do you mean right now?”

“Yeah, if that’s alright with you?”

“...yeah. Just give me a few minutes.”

“Thank you, Moony.”

“Yeah.”

*Call duration: 6 minutes*

     Remus hung up before Sirius could say anything else and sighed. He scrubbed at his eyes and went to tell his mum that he was headed out again.

Sirius

     If Remus didn’t show up soon, Sirius was going to throw up. He’d had the urge ever since Remus had left, but now it threatened to become a reality. He had extended the olive branch. He had invited Remus to come have a conversation about it. What more could he- The pop! of a nearby apparition stopped Sirius’ thoughts in his tracks. He stood up from where he had once again been sitting outside of the bookstore.

     Remus rounded the corner and Sirius' heart stopped. He had already forgotten what it was like to be in the same room as him. He was so pretty. Remus caught sight of him and faltered a bit before continuing forward. He stopped about a yard away from Sirius.

     His eyes were red and he had a cold look on his face. His shoulders were hunched forward and he looked guarded. If Sirius hadn’t known him, he may have been afraid of him. Sirius’ supposed he should be, then kicked himself for that thought.

     “Hi,” Sirius breathed. Remus’ face softened slightly.

     “Hi,” he replied, his voice a bit hoarse. Sirius' heart clenched.

     “Er, did you want to go to the Three Broomsticks? Get out of the cold?” Remus shrugged and Sirius nodded, turning and heading in the direction of the pub. Remus followed.

     They were silent on the walk and Sirius didn’t attempt to make small talk. He wouldn’t know what to say. They reached the doors and Sirius pulled them open for Remus once again. Remus shot him a glance then walked through without a word.

     They settled into the booth they had occupied that morning and all Sirius could think was that Remus looked small. Despite being a very large person, he looked as if he had collapsed in on himself.

     “Well?” Remus asked quietly. Sirius took a breath and ran over what he wanted to say in his head before speaking.

     “I… wanted to apologize for if I upset you with how I reacted earlier,” he said carefully. Remus looked at him in surprise and then straightened up.

     “No, I… I realize it can startling news,” Remus replied, picking at the ace bandage on his hand. Sirius frowned.

     “Is your hand alright?” he asked softly. Remus again looked surprised. He tucked his hand under the table.

     “I’m okay,” he said. “...thanks for asking.” He looked awkward. Sirius just nodded.

     “Er, after you left, I picked up some books about werewolves in that shop.” Remus flinched ever so slightly at the word ‘werewolves’ but nodded nonetheless.

     “They said that you have to be bit to become one?” Remus nodded again, keeping his eyes on the table. “But that if it’s not the full moon, they’re… you’re really not all that different from everyone else.” Remus looked up at that and made eye contact with Sirius. He slowly nodded. “Is that… Is that true? Is there nothing different about you when you’re not transformed?” Sirius asked a little hesitantly, not wanting to upset him. Remus shrugged.

     “Mostly, yeah,” he said.

     “Mostly?” Sirius coaxed. Remus rolled his shoulders uncomfortably and looked away.

     “I’d say the only differences are I’m a bit stronger than I’d normally be, I guess. I have better senses, especially around... the full moon. I can shake off spells a bit easier, too.” He looked up at Sirius again. “That’s about it.” Sirius nodded encouragingly.

     “So, you were... bit?” Sirius saw Remus’ face darken and his shoulders tense.

     “Yes.”

     “Would you tell me about it?” Remus frowned.

     “There’s not much to tell. I was bit. I turned. Now I’m… this.” He seemed to hate this question more than the others. Sirius decided to move on.

     “How old were you?” Remus glanced up. He made full eye contact.

     “Six,” he said apathetically. Sirius stared.

     “ Six?” he breathed. Remus just nodded. Sirius’ hands shook.

     “Who knows?”

     “My parents. Kind of why my Da hates me. And Alice.” Sirius’ brow furrowed.

     “Alice knows?”

     “Yes. She interns at St. Mungos and we met after one of my transformations.” Well. Alice was a witch, wasn’t she? If she was friends with Remus, it really mustn’t be that big of a deal.

     “The transformations,” Sirius asked, ”you’re always hurt after them?”

     “Yes. Always.” Sirius’ gaze flicked towards the scar on Remus’ nose and back to his eyes. Remus nodded in confirmation.

     “Does it hurt? During?” Sirius whispered. Remus sighed and trailed his gaze around the room.

     “I don’t really remember… during. The transformation always hurts, of course, it’s agony. And the one coming back isn’t a picnic either. But, for the most part I can’t remember very much of it. Just as I imagine the wolf can’t remember much of what I’m doing now.” Sirius blinked at him.

     “So the… wolf. It isn’t you?” Remus looked sharply at him.

     “ No.” Sirius nodded eagerly and the harsh look faded from Remus’ face. “No. It’s not.” Sirius took a breath.

     “Why… why didn’t you tell me?” Remus scoffed and put his head in his hands.

     “This is- I’ve never told anyone,” Remus rasped out. “My parents were there when it happened and Alice looked in my charts, the bitch.” Remus was rubbing his face, seemingly unconcerned for the burns on his hands. “And you’re…” A pained look crossed his face and squeezed his eyes closed. “I didn’t want you to hate me,” he said miserably. Sirius’ heart clenched and he reached for one of Remus’ hands. He startled and looked up.

     “I don’t hate you. I meant what I said earlier. I just wanted to understand and… I think I do now.” Remus looked at him again, almost vulnerable.

     “Are you... going to tell anyone?” he asked, voice wavering. Sirius blinked in surprise.

     “No. Of course not. Not if you don’t want me to.” Remus nodded and swallowed, looking away. “I was hoping,” Sirius started, trying to catch Remus’ eye. When he did he said, “I was hoping we could… still be friends.” Remus stared at him, then cleared his throat.

     “You’d… um, you’d want that?” he asked. He sounded so hesitant that Sirius wanted nothing more in that moment than to hug him so tight he couldn’t breathe, let alone look so sad.

     “I- I want that. I want that a lot.” Remus stared at him for a second more before releasing a shuddering breath and looking at his lap.

     “I want that too,” he whispered. Sirius melted. He quickly got up from his spot across the table and went to join Remus on the bench. Remus’ head snapped up when he sat down and he sucked in a breath when Sirius threw his arms around him.

     “ I’m sorry ,” Sirius said, squeezing Remus as tightly as he could. Hesitantly, Remus’ arms came up to hug him back.

     “Me too,” Sirius heard him rasp, and they sat like that for a while. Just holding each other. And if they were crying, that wasn’t anyone’s business but their own.

Chapter Text

Remus

     Eventually, Remus pulled back from Sirius’ hug and surreptitiously wiped his eyes.

     “You took your necklace off,” he sniffed, pulling his sleeves down over his hands. Sirius nodded and patted his pocket.

     “I took it off after you said you’d come back.” They made eye contact and Remus gave him a small smile. “Do you… do you still want to come see Hogwarts with me?”

     “Oh.” Remus hadn’t known that was still an option. “Can I get back to you on that?” Sirius smiled and nodded, reaching over to wipe a stray tear off Remus’ cheek. He blushed.

     When Remus had first shown up, he had been expecting questions about how dangerous he was or how many people he’d killed. Instead, Sirius had apologized to him before anything else, and then continued to politely ask Remus questions that weren’t invasive or stereotypical. Just an hour ago he had been ready to cry himself to sleep, and now he had the option to spend the night in Sirius’ dorm. He didn’t think he’d ever recover from this complete 180.

     “C’mon, let’s go find James and Lily before they find us sitting here.” Sirius pushed back from the table and offered Remus his hand. Remus took it and stood up.

     “What are we going to tell them? We look like we’ve been crying,” he said as he and Sirius pushed out of the tavern. Remus glanced over at Sirius, who, of course, didn’t show a single sign of tears on his beautiful face. He rolled his eyes. “Well I look like I’ve been crying,” he corrected, rubbing at his eyes with the hand that wasn’t in Sirius’ grasp.

     “They won’t notice anything,” Sirius assured him, guiding him down the cobblestone streets. “And if they do, we’ll tell them to bugger off and spend the rest of our time in Hogsmeade on our own, yeah?” Remus smiled over at him and nodded. Sirius smiled back and tightened his grip on Remus’ hand. Then he glanced sharply down at their joined hands. “Oh! I’m sorry, did that hurt?” Remus looked and noticed that he was holding Sirius’ hand with his injured one.

     “Oh, no it didn’t. I, er, I guess injuries from silver are considered magical injuries and I heal them pretty quick,” he said, hesitant to bring up the whole ‘werewolf’ topic again. Sirius looked at him in confusion. “It’s the same with the scars,” he explained. “I heal really quickly from, um, I guess werewolf related wounds, but it’ll probably scar. If I were to just cut myself on a knife or something, though, it’d scab and heal like a regular wound, without the scarring.” Sirius was nodding, a contemplative look on his face.

     “Okay,” he said simply. He looked up at Remus. “That’s another little difference, then?”

     “Oh, I guess, yeah,” Remus said surprised. “I-I’m sorry, I hadn’t even thought of that one. I didn’t mean to leave it out, it’s-” Sirius gently squeezed his hand again.

     “It’s okay, Moony,” he said, not looking upset at all. “I didn’t… it’s okay if you missed some stuff, I just wanted to know the basics.” Remus blinked at him.

     “Oh. Okay.” His heart was still beating hard in his chest. He laughed a little shakily and looked at the ground. “I’m sorry, I’m not used to… talking about it. Or expecting people to be okay with it.” He heard Sirius let a small breath out beside him.

     “Honestly… at first I didn’t know what to think. I grew up with all this… all these prejudices and stupid ideas about what’s right and what’s not.” Sirius was staring ahead, a resolute look on his face. He obviously didn’t like talking about his family, and Remus felt dizzily happy that he would speak about them to him. “I- I read about it, though,” Sirius said, turning to look earnestly at Remus. “And, once I realized that this was just like all the other things I had to educate myself on and change my mind about, it wasn’t all that difficult to wrap my head around. I’m- I like you, Remus and your… affliction isn’t going to change that.” Remus ducked his head.

     “I’m- I could tell you more about it, if you want,” he said quietly. “Most books on the subject are full of shite, really.” Sirius scoffed.

     “You mean to tell me that you don’t eat babies on the new moon in your human form in order to retain your youth?” Remus choked.

     “Where in the world did you read that?!” He cried, watching as Sirius threw his head back and laughed.

     “Some old tome written by a nutter named Blorgin, or something?” Remus’ eyes widened in recognition.

     “Oh Christ, I know that one! I only got through half of the first chapter because of all of the shite he was spewing.” Remus shook his head and looked down at Sirius. “I can tell you more about what it’s actually like sometime, if you want.” Sirius nodded happily at him, then glanced over his shoulder and grinned.

     “Oh! Here come Prongs and Evans. How much do you want to bet one of them won’t have their clothes done up correctly?” Remus tugged lightly on his hand.

     “Don’t be mean, Padfoot, or they won’t be kind when you find someone to muss up your clothes with.” He waited for Sirius to laugh with him, but he didn’t get a response. He’d meant it in a teasing, perhaps flirtatious way, but Sirius just shot him an odd, almost alarmed look.

     “Er, yeah,” he said, looking uncomfortable. “Um, come on.” Sirius pulled away and turned towards the couple on the other side of the street.

     “Prongsie! Where have you two been?” He crossed the street quickly, bounding up to James and Lily. Remus trailed behind hesitantly. That had been kind of weird, right? Usually Sirius responded enthusiastically to Remus’ teasing, but it seemed he’d touched on a nerve. Maybe Sirius didn’t want to… tease with him anymore, now that he knew about Remus’ affliction. Remus tried to ignore the way his heart clenched painfully at the thought. Stop it, he scolded himself harshly. Sirius didn’t owe him anything, especially his affection. Remus was perfectly content being friends with Sirius. It was only just a bit unfortunate because Remus had thought for sure that Sirius had been teasing back earlier.

     He sighed quietly and watched as Sirius talked animatedly with his friends a few feet away. Remus couldn’t help but feel a bit alienated. A wolf trying to blend in with sheep, if you would. Remus kicked himself for the metaphor and his morose mood. He could pout another time. For now, he was going to enjoy the time he had left in person with Sirius. Remus rolled back his shoulders and approached the three friends.

     “-with you and Remus, hm? Or was that just- Oh, hullo Moony!” James cut his sentence off and gave Remus a strained smile when he came within earshot

     “Er, hullo,” Remus said slowly, surprised at the tense atmosphere. He stopped when he was standing shoulder to shoulder with Sirius, and glanced down at him. He was glaring daggers at James with his arms crossed over his chest. “Am I… interrupting something?” Lily, ever the peacekeeper, put her hand on James’ shoulder.

     “Not at all, love. James and Sirius here were just having a lover’s spat, nothing special.” She was smiling serenely at Remus, and though he didn’t believe it for a second he also knew now wasn’t the time to ask. “How was the rest of your day?” Unbidden, the image of him sobbing on his bedroom floor came to mind. He returned Lily’s smile.

     “It was lovely,” he lied easily. He risked a glance at the other two boys, who seemed to be attempting to communicate through glares. He cleared his throat uncomfortably. “Did you two want to head to the Three Broomsticks? I’m sure you all will have to head back to Hogwarts soon.” James broke his staring contest with Sirius to frown at Remus.

     “You’re not coming with us?” Remus took an unsure breath and shot a glance at Sirius, who was now looking at the ground.

     “I’m…” He took another breath and made a split second decision. “No, I am,” he said, forcing a smile. Christ, this was awkward. He didn’t know what James and Sirius had been talking about while he’d been arguing with himself, but it had put a strain on the entire group. Lily, at least, was acting normal.

     “Wonderful!” She said, clasping her hands together happily. “We’ll go to the Three Broomsticks and figure out how to sneak you in, yes?” Remus nodded and looked once again at Sirius, surprised to see him already looking back at him. In his peripheral, he saw Lily pull James off in the direction of the tavern. She really was a wonderful woman.

     “You’re coming?” Sirius asked softly, seemingly unconcerned with where Lily and James were going. Remus just smiled at him.

     “Of course I am, you berk.” He nudged playfully at his shoulder. “How else am I supposed to steal all your sweaters?” In a sudden switch of mood, Sirius smiled blindingly at him. Remus’ breath caught.

     “You can have all my sweaters, Moons,” he said, grabbing Remus’ hand and tugging him back towards the Three Broomsticks. Remus followed diligently, because where else in the world would he go?

Sirius

     Prongs was such a fucking berk. Trust him to bring up shite that had no business being brought up, especially with Remus standing feet away. He was such a nosy git, always trying to get Sirius to tell him things that weren’t any of his concern. He had half a mind to pummel him as he had in Zonko’s earlier that day, except Remus was rubbing his thumb over their joined hands and Sirius didn’t think he’d be able to let go if Merlin himself commanded it. Fuck, he was in deep.

     The four of them were sitting in a booth in the Three Broomsticks, drinking butterbeers and having a merry time. Sirius was tucked under Remus’ arm in a gut wrenchingly romantic manner. Sirius had thought when they’d sat down that this meant Remus could no longer hold his hand because, well, it was typically one or the other, wasn’t it? Arm over the shoulder or holding hands? But Remus had thrown his right arm around Sirius and taken Sirius’ right hand in his left. Sirius thought he may pass out from joy.

     As a boy, Sirius had been deprived of many things, physical touch being one of them. He hadn’t even been touched in harmful ways. No, his parents saved that for curses and hexes. So, when Sirius had arrived at Hogwarts, he had been introduced into the wonderful world of physical affection. It was intoxicating . At first, of course, he had scared away like a frightened dog (no pun intended). But after a while he had realized how comforting and lovely it could be, and he hadn’t stopped touching his friends from then on. James entertained him, of course, and slowly other people had gotten used to it.

     Remus was the quickest to acclimate to Sirius’ touchy-feelyness. After Sirius’ first slip up with the lip ring, he’d tried his very best to keep his hands to himself. It clearly hadn’t worked, though, and Sirius hadn’t been able to resist initiating hand holding and hugs. The wonderful part was how easily Remus had gone along with it. And then started initiating himself. Now Remus was all over him, and every time he touched Sirius without prompting, he nearly fainted from happiness. This was all he could ask for, really. A cute boy to hold his hand and kiss his head and tease him about how bad he was with technology.

     “Don’t you think, Pads?” James asked, interrupting his long train of thought. Sirius looked up from where he had been staring at his and Remus’ joined hands.

     “Er, what?” James rolled his eyes and Sirius’ stomach clenched in anger.

     “ We were talking about how best to get Remus into our dorm without anyone noticing. The plan right now is to give him the cloak and have him use the Honeydukes passage. Then you’ll meet him at the statue of the witch at 8:00 and you two can take the cloak back to the dorm. Do you think that’ll work?” Sirius nodded tiredly at him. It had been a long day with lots of emotional ups and downs. He kind of just wanted to go home and go to bed.

     Suddenly, a chime went off and outside a blue light shot into the sky. Remus beside him jumped slightly, while the three Hogwarts students just nodded and began picking up their things.

     “That’s the five minute warning,” Sirius explained at Remus’ questioning glance. Remus nodded. “Could I have my wand back, Moons?”

     “Oh, sorry,” he replied, pulling Sirius’ wand out of his sleeves and handing it back to him. Sirius smiled and kissed him on the cheek as James and Lily slid out of the booth.

     “Come one, I’ll show you to Honeydukes real quick and then I have to go.” Remus and Sirius followed after James and Lily, Sirius smoothly taking the shimmering fabric James offered him. Then the two pairs headed off in opposite directions, James and Lily to meet McGonagall, and Remus and Sirius to the Honeydukes store room.

Chapter Text

Remus

      Sirius had shown Remus to the store room an hour ago, and Remus had spent an hour trekking down a dark cold passage. He was glad his phone was fully charged so he could listen to music on the way, or he’d be hopelessly bored. He had shot off a quick text letting his mother know that he wouldn’t be home until tomorrow.

     The hour in the passage had given Remus time to think and he’d come to one conclusion: staying the night in Sirius’ dorm might break him. Sirius was too funny and nice and good smelling, especially now that he’d pocketed that necklace. Not to mention that he’d pocketed the necklace for Remus. He’d been so sympathetic and understanding about Remus’ problem and had bounced back from the shock remarkably quick. So quick, that Remus still felt somewhat like he was living in a dream world. Like any minute he’d wake up at the foot of his bed with tears dried on his face. He shook his head and kicked a stone down the passage. How had he gotten so lucky? In addition to all the wonderful things Sirius was, he was bloody fit . Christ, he was beautiful. He had nicely toned arms and a gorgeous face and long beautiful hair. Remus mentally prepared himself for the amount of self control sleeping in the same room as him would take.

     It didn’t help that Sirius and he had nearly kissed twice today. Every time Remus thought back to that moment in the joke shop, his stomach dropped with excitement and regret. He tried not to think about the bookstore, about what could have been if not for his traitorous fucking body. Remus couldn’t hate the wolf anymore than he already did, but this just added to the long, long list of the ways it had fucked up his life.

     Remus let out a long sigh and slowed his pace a bit. Despite nearly kissing twice, Sirius had acted so odd in that moment in the street. Or maybe Remus was imagining it. Maybe Remus was so obsessed with being the tossed aside little unloved werewolf that he took every little thing as rejection. Remus didn’t know what to think. What he really wanted was to kiss Sirius and be done with it. One way or another, no more fruitless pining. Either Sirius would reject him and they’d just be friends or…

     Or. Remus’ heart clenched at or. Or he’d get what he’d always dreamed of but never imagined he could have. Sirius already knew his two biggest secrets: magic and lycanthropy. There was no big secret to fuck them up down the line. He could… he could actually have a happy, honest relationship with him. If Sirius wanted it. The thought made him lightheaded and Remus picked up the pace again. Was it sad that an hour without Sirius was getting to him?

Sirius

     Sirius slammed into the dormitory, wand already raised and casting cleaning spells all around the room.

      Remus was coming here. In his dorm. To be with him. All night. He thought he might throw up. He sent his dirty laundry flying into the hamper at startling speeds, earning him a look from James.

     “Calm down, Padfoot. He’s obviously mad for you, he’s not going to care if he sees your dirty socks lying about,” James muttered. Sirius glared at him, not pausing his cleaning.

     “Go to sleep, Prongs, isn’t it past your bedtime?” He shot an air freshening charm at his bed, hoping to get rid of the smell of the crisps he’d had laying out.

     “I’m not going to bed until you explain about the necklace, berk, and why you were acting so cagey earlier.” Sirius turned angrily to face his best mate. Sirius loved the bloke, he really did, but sometimes he took the protective shite too far.

     “ I told you that it’s none of your business! Stop sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong before I hex it clean off your face,” he bit out. Kingsley’s curtains had been shut when they entered the room and Sirius hoped he had his typical silencing charms up, or they’d get an earful about shouting in the dorms. James frowned at him.

     “So you won’t tell me why you took it off, even though you know we’re supposed to keep them on in case of emergencies?” He asked. “You’ve worn it for years, what’s changed?” Sirius scrubbed at his face, frustrated. He knew James had reason to question him. He knew he would be on James’ arse if he ever took his off. They didn’t even remove them to shower. He just didn’t know how to explain without outing Remus. He didn’t want to lie to James; he didn’t think he could.

     “Would you believe me if I said I had a very good reason but I couldn’t tell you?” He finally sighed. James stared at him.

     “Can’t tell me,” he said flatly. Sirius looked at him in distress.

     “ Yes.” James didn’t look convinced. “Come on, Jamie, you know I wouldn’t take it off for any little thing. Can’t you just trust that I have a good reason, and that I’ll tell you when I’m ready? Or when I can?” James softened at the anxiety evident in his voice. He stepped forward and pulled Sirius into a hug.

     “Of course you wouldn’t take it off for anything, that’s why I was worried,” James told him. Sirius sighed and pressed his head hard into James’ shoulder. “You couldn’t have said that earlier, though? I’ve been worried all night.” Sirius pulled back to glare at him.

     “I would have if you hadn’t brought Remus into it right as he was walking up!” Sirius had been angry enough in that moment that he’d wanted to hex James, even while Moony still had his wand. James at least had the decency to look embarrassed about it now, though. He removed an arm from around Sirius to run through his hair, frowning.

     “That was quite awkward, wasn’t it?” Sirius just rolled his eyes and continued flicking his wand at dirty parts of the room with his arms still around James.

     “Yes, you git, terribly awkward. The only thing that saved your sorry arse was your girlfriend. You should honestly pay her, she’s doing so much charity work for you.” James just snorted and pulled back from the hug to wave his wand at a mysterious stain on their dresser.

     “Yes, well, you should pay Remus for the amount of physical affection he gives you,” James drawled. “Is he normally like that, or is that just for you?” Sirius blushed.

     “I think it’s just for me,” he said dreamily. James rolled his eyes.

     “Isn’t it about time to go pick lover boy up?” Sirius jolted and cast a tempus charm. 7:57pm.

     “Shite! Finish with the room, yeah?” He said, grabbing the map from James’ bedside drawer and bolting out of the dorm. James’ laugh followed him out the door.

Remus

     Remus stepped out from behind the statue of the one-eyed witch, making sure the invisibility cloak was secure around his shoulders. He had waited in the passage for a while, but had gotten impatient when the clock hit 8:15pm. He’d thought maybe Sirius was out here waiting on him , but no. He was alone in a gigantic corridor with no clue where Sirius or the Gryffindor dorms were.

     Just as Remus was about to resign himself to taking a seat and waiting for Sirius to show, he heard footsteps coming down the hallway. He held his breath and hoped it was Sirius and not some random student.

     “I don’t understand why we couldn’t talk outside of your common room, brother,” he heard an aristocratic voice say. He froze. It sounded almost like…

     “I told you, I have places to be Reggie,” a different voice responded. Sirius.

     “ Don’t call me that ,” the original voice spat. Remus heard Sirius laugh.

     “Oh, I’m sorry Regulus I didn’t realize you actually liked your ridiculous name.” Sirius and Regulus. Remus was scarcely breathing. Why had Sirius brought his brother with him? Wasn’t Regulus a Slytherin? Why was he on Gryffindor’s floor when his dorm was in the basement? These questions swam through his head as the footsteps came around the corner and the two boys came into view.

     “Just because you’re an ungrateful brat doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate the history behind my name,” Regulus snapped. Sirius rolled his eyes and stopped his brother a yard or two from where Remus was standing. Remus watched silently.

     “Well? What did you want to talk about? You went to all this effort to come find me when you could have just sent a note. What’s so important that you had to say it in person?” Regulus sobered at that. His already impeccable posture straightened even more and he took a breath.

     “There has been… talk. At home. Of you.” Sirius' face hardened and then drained of all emotion.

     “Talk,” he intoned, not quite a question. Regulus nodded.

     “And I just felt it was my duty to warn you that there are plans being set in motion that won’t have a very good outcome for you.” Sirius just looked at him.

     “And you know this because…?” Regulus huffed.

     “They included me on the plans, of course.” Sirius’ face twitched.

     “And you’re going to go along with them.” Regulus looked at his brother for a long moment, some emotion crossing his face.

     “...I don’t know,” he said finally. Sirius’ stoic resolve broke.

     “Reg,” he said, grabbing his brother by the arms. “You have to get out of there! I know you hate it and it’s not-” Regulus yanked himself out of his brother’s hold, a disgusted look on his face.

     “I’ve chosen to overlook the fact that you’re a bloodtraitor , Sirius, because you are my brother. But do not delude yourself  into thinking that we are the same. I am not as weak as you, and you will not drag me down in your desperate fall from grace!” Regulus stared at his brother with hard eyes, almost creepily devoid of emotion despite his impassioned words. “You have been warned. Do with the information as you will, but leave me out of your childish antics.” With that, Regulus turned on his heel, swishing his robes regally, and strided away. Sirius watched him go with a stricken look on his face.

     Remus didn’t know what to do. He didn’t think Sirius knew he was there, and he didn’t think he’d want Remus to have heard all that. Sirius was staring at where Regulus had disappeared, not moving. Remus wanted more than anything to comfort him, but it didn’t seem his place. As quietly as he could, he backed towards the stone witch. Sirius started and looked over.

     “Moons?” He asked into the empty corridor. Remus froze, then slowly pulled the cloak off himself.

     “Sirius… are you alright?” Remus asked, taking a hesitant step toward the other boy. Sirius just looked at him, a vulnerable look spasming over his face, before shrugging and looking away.

     “I don’t know why I expected any different. He’s still Regulus, after all.” A tension Remus hadn’t seen before lined Sirius’ shoulders and his face was cold and distant. In a flash, Remus saw what Sirius could have become if he hadn’t left his family. The Black Heir. As cold and stoic and unfeeling as Regulus had seemed. Remus’ stomach clenched. He took another few steps toward Sirius.

     “It’s still awful, though,” he said softly. “He’s your brother.” Sirius scoffed nastily.

     “And what a wonderful brother he is.” Sirius’ voice was dead and resigned and Remus’ heart hurt. On impulse, he closed the space between himself and Sirius and pulled him somewhat roughly into a tight hug.

     Sirius was still tense in his arms, but he returned the hug and rested his head on Remus’ chest. Remus scoured his brain for something to say.

     “Would you like to hear some Welsh?” He blurted out, then cursed himself soundly in his head. What kind of stupid offer was that? He opened his mouth to apologize and offer something else when Sirius laughed quietly into Remus’ chest and nodded. Remus blinked in surprise . Ok, not his worst idea apparently. Remus cleared his throat.

     “Ti'n gwybod, pan welais i chi gyntaf roeddwn i'n meddwl eich bod chi'n rhyw fath o dduw Groegaidd,” he said, his voice gravelly. He buried his nose in Sirius’ hair and laughed to himself. “Ac yna roedd yn rhaid i chi fynd yn y bastard mwyaf rhyfeddol, stop-galon i mi ei gyfarfod erioed. Nawr beth ydw i fod i'w wneud?” Sirius was starting to relax in his arms, and Remus kissed the top of his head. “Rydych chi'n mynd i fod yn farwolaeth i mi, fachgen posh. Pwy a ŵyr a fyddaf yn gallu cadw fy nwylo i mi fy hun heno.”

     “That’s a lot of Welsh,” Sirius said hoarsely, then turned to bury his face in Remus’ neck. Remus closed his eyes against the wave of attraction. He liked being affectionate with Sirius, but it really tested his self control. He sighed and pet Sirius’ hair gently, ready to talk some more, but Sirius interrupted him.

     “Tu es si adorable, Remus,” Sirius said into his neck, and Remus nearly went into cardiac arrest. Hearing Sirius say his name in a French accent was wonderful, but feeling his lips brushing against his neck as he did was otherworldly. He subtly twisted his hips away from Sirius’ torso. Oblivious, Sirius kept going. “Je ne pensais vraiment pas que je rencontrerais quelqu'un comme toi, stupide putain de géant,” Sirius breathed, then laughed to himself. Remus glanced down at him.

     “Having fun telling jokes to yourself?” Sirius pulled back, the feeling of his arms sliding on Remus’ waist making him shudder.

     “I just called you a stupid fucking giant,” he said with a cheeky smile. Remus couldn’t control the grin that broke over his face. He was so relieved to have smiley Sirius back.

     “All those words just to insult me?” He pulled at Sirius’ hair teasingly. Sirius gasped and kicked his ankle in retaliation.

     “I may have said some other stuff before the giant comment,” Sirius grinned, leaning into Remus. Remus laughed and tilted his head in question.

     “Well? Are you going to share with the class? Or are you going to leave me in suspense, you insufferable tease,” Remus asked, smiling down at him. Sirius stepped a bit farther into Remus’ space and pretended to consider the question.

     “Hmm,” he said, tilting his lips in consideration and looking off before meeting Remus’ eyes again and smiling. ”I think I’ll let you live in suspense for a bit. It’s good for you, really. Builds character and whatnot.” Remus’ heart jumped in his chest and he was helpless but to smile at the boy in his arms.

     “I could make you tell me,” he said jokingly, meeting Sirius’ electric grey eyes. He watched as Sirius' eyes widened and then fell into half lids.

     “And how would you do that?” Sirius’ asked, voice raspy. Remus’ breath caught. He hadn’t exactly meant it like that, but….

     “I have a few ideas,” Rmeus breathed, barely even meaning to speak. Their faces were inches apart now, and Remus couldn’t remember how they’d gotten this way.  The way Sirius was looking at him was doing terrible things to Remus’ nervous system and Remus watched, transfixed, as Sirius licked his lips.

     Their height difference had never been so obvious and Remus stared down at Sirius, relishing in how small but solid he felt in his arms. Remus could smell butterbeer and mint on Sirius’ breath and it was somehow the most intoxicating thing he’d ever experienced. Slowly, Sirius pulled his arms from around Remus’ waist and snaked them between their bodies to wrap around Remus’ neck. Remus shuddered at the sensation

     “I don’t think you’d do it,” Sirius murmured, his breath ghosting against Remus’ mouth. Remus was doing his best not to expose himself by pressing his hips against Sirius, and he swallowed hard. “I don’t think you have the guts.” Remus’ heart was fully in his throat and he could feel Sirius holding his breath.

     “Say I won’t,” Remus whispered, his voice on the verge of wavering. Damn the consequences , he thought. He was in far too deep, and if he let another opportunity to kiss this beautiful boy pass him by he may just have to Avada himself. He stared into Sirius’ eyes, the challenge clear. Sirius swallowed and Remus’ eyes flicked down to track the movement.

     “You won’t,” Sirius ground out. Remus let out a breathy laugh before leaning forward to snog him senseless.

Chapter Text

Sirius

      The night was not going as Sirius had expected. First, he had actually come to an understanding with James about the necklace instead of getting into a duel in the middle of their dorm. Then, he’d run into his brother, who actually seemed a bit conflicted over what their family was doing. And now… now he was standing nose to nose with Remus, practically begging him to kiss him.

     “Say I won’t,” Remus said huskily, eating Sirius alive with his eyes. Sirius’ entire body was aflame and he didn’t think he was breathing. His arms were around Remus’ neck and he was practically shaking in anticipation.

     Sirius had only been waiting to do this for a day, but it felt like centuries. Centuries and centuries of wanting Remus, of yearning for them to be more . All those hours of texting and all the underlying tension and all the missed chances. It was all coming to a head now and Sirius didn’t know if he’d be able to handle it. He felt like he was falling apart at the seams, and only Remus’ strong arms around his waist were keeping him together.

     Fuck, he loved Remus’ arms. The way Remus described himself, you’d think he was this scrawny stick of a thing, but that was nowhere near the truth. Despite being slim, Remus had incredible strength in his arms; Sirius could feel his muscles every time they hugged. Sirius was no weakling himself, what with all of the Quidditch practice, but there was something about Remus’ strength. It was so understated, and Remus obviously tried to hide it. Sirius wondered if it had to do with the werewolf thing.

     Right now, Remus was staring at him heatedly with those peculiar amber eyes and Sirius physically couldn’t figure out how to move his mouth. He swallowed and Remus tracked the movement almost predatorily. Sirius trembled.

     “You won’t,” he finally managed to rasp, feeling like he was going to fall out of his skin. There was a moment of delicious anticipation and tension where they both just looked at each other before Remus smiled. It wasn’t a soft grin, or one Sirius had seen from him before. Remus grinned like a starving man presented with an entire feast. Before he could even take a breath to steady himself, Remus leaned forward and pressed his lips to Sirius’.

     From the look in Remus’ eyes, Sirius had assumed that it would be scorching, that he would be eaten alive by the kiss. The reality was so much better. Remus was so gentle, pulling a hand from Sirius’ waist to rest on his jaw, and their lips just barely brushed before Remus pulled back slightly. Sirius made a small noise and leaned more solidly into the kiss.

     Sirius could never describe the feeling. Never describe the sensation, after wanting it and waiting for it and building up to it. It was so tender. So, so soft and gentle and sweet. It was really just a touch of the lips. A wash of sensation that they lingered on. Their lips moved against one another and Sirius could feel all the repressed emotion and attraction flowing out between them. It was divine.

     After a moment, Sirius gathered enough of his mind to start moving his lips with a bit more vigor, opening his mouth more and more. Remus caught on swiftly and took Sirius’ bottom lip between his and sucked gently. Sirius couldn’t breathe. Sirius threaded his hands up into Remus’ hair for the first time and nearly cried. His hair was thick and curly, but also soft and silky in his hands. He tightened his fingers ever so slightly, and Remus exhaled a breathy little noise into Sirius’ mouth. Sirius thought he might die.

     “Sirius…” Remus was pulling back, and Sirius unconsciously followed him, wanting their lips to keep contact. “ Sirius ,” Remus said again, like it was the only word he knew, and the only word he’d ever want to say. Sirius opened his eyes to see Remus looking down at him, his eyes half lidded and a slightly dazed look on his face. Sirius brought a hand down to cup his jaw, rubbing his cheek softly.

     “Remus, that was...” He laughed and rested his forehead against Remus’, still a little out of breath.

     “ Fuck, Sirius, why haven’t we been doing that all day?” Remus asked, taking both his hands up to bury in Sirius’ hair. Sirius smiled and leaned in for another kiss.

     Their lips slid together, intoxicatingly slow and sweet. Slowly, Sirius opened his mouth and brushed his tongue over Remus’ bottom lip, catching on his lips ring. Remus groaned and opened his mouth in response. Hesitantly, Sirius deepened the kiss even more, slipping his tongue into Remus’ mouth. Remus inhaled sharply and tightened his hands in Sirius’ hair. Their tongues met, and Sirius felt the sparks all the way in his toes. Their mouths slid wetly together, both of them feeling a bit more confident, and Sirius was taken aback at Remus’ skill.

     Sirius knew objectively that Remus had been with other boys before, of course, but he hadn’t actually thought about it. It made him feel a little amateur. Remus, however, didn’t seem to notice his lack of experience at all. He was languidly and happily snogging Sirius, matching his content noises every few seconds.

     Merlin, he was snogging Remus, what a thought. Another wave of absolute ecstasy washed over him and he kissed Remus even harder. Remus responded enthusiastically.

     Suddenly, Remus was walking Sirius backwards, nearly causing him to trip over his robes. Sirius gasped, back slamming against the wall of the corridor while Remus’ hand cushioned his head. He looked up at Remus, breathing hard, and Remus leaned in to kiss at Sirius’ jaw. Sirius went taught and loose all over his body. He gently tugged at Remus’ hair, pulling him back up into another sloppy kiss.

     Remus moved his hands from Sirius’ hair to run over his neck, his shoulders, down his arms. Remus’ hands landed on his chest, and Sirius shuddered at the touch, making embarrassing noises into Remus’ mouth. Remus pressed up even harder against Sirius in a wonderfully intimate way, but Sirius could feel… him against his hip.

     “R-Remus, Moony,” Sirius gasped out, pulling back. Remus stopped kissing him, and stared into his eyes.

     “Fuck, Pads, you’re just… You’re so bloody fit, Sirius,” Remus murmured, looking at Sirius like he was the most amazing thing he’d ever seen. Sirius’ stomach tightened slightly and he ran his hand down Remus’ neck.

     “I-I’m not, I… It’s- I-” Sirius huffed in frustration and abruptly yanked Remus into a hug. Remus made a surprised noise but acquiesced, frowning.

     “What’s wrong, Padfoot? Is this… alright?” He asked, stopping to wrap his arms around Sirius’ waist. Sirius buried his face in Remus’ neck, suddenly feeling embarrassed and stupid and childish. He wasn’t… not okay with what was happening. The snogging, of course, was wonderful. Heavenly, really, and Sirius never wanted to stop. It was the other stuff that tripped him up. The jaw kissing and the chest touching and the… hip rubbing? It was new. And daunting. Sirius had no clue how to react to any of it or how to talk to Remus about it.

     “I’m- We’re… I really like you, Remus,” Sirius ground out. Remus couldn’t help but smile against his shoulder and run his hands soothingly over Sirius back.

     “I really like you too, Sirius.” There was a pause as Sirius tried to get his thoughts in order. Remus hesitated and then spoke. “If you… it’s okay if you don’t want to… do anything, Sirius. Or if you’re uncomfortable at all. I won’t be offended or upset with you.” Remus’ hands we’re petting comfortingly over Sirius’ back and, stupidly, Sirius felt like crying. Remus was too kind to him. He sighed into Remus’ skin and tried again.

     “It’s not that I don’t… Merlin, I don’t want you to think I have any problem with you . It’s all me , I just… I’ve never, well, you know. I’ve never anything . And it’s just new to me. I’m… I’m not good at this, I’m sorry.” Sirius did his best to suffocate himself in Remus’ neck. How was he already fucking things up within the first ten minutes of them kissing?

     “You’re not a problem at all, Sirius,”  Remus replied, unfazed, as he dropped a kiss onto his shoulder. “You are free to go as slow or as fast with me as you want. If you never wanted to touch me again, that’d be your decision.” Sirius’ heart clenched in a way he didn’t quite understand. He let out another sigh against Remus’ skin then bit lightly at the exposed skin where Remus’ shoulder met his neck. Remus laughed and fisted his hand in Sirius’ robes. “What’s that for?” Sirius couldn’t help a smile.

     “I dunno. You’re sweet.” Sirius really didn’t know what was going on in his head. He just knew that he liked touching Remus, and liked having his mouth on him. Remus laughed again and hit him lightly on the back.

     “You bit me because I’m sweet??” He asked incredulously. Sirius just bit him again, harder this time. “Oi,” Remus said, pulling back to look at Sirius mock-sternly. “Don’t start something you can’t finish.” Sirius grinned cheekily at him. Then, making full eye contact, he leaned forward and bit Remus’ lip ring. All of Remus’ breath left him in a rush. Sirius tugged at the ring with his teeth, keeping his eyes on Remus’, before wrapping his lips around Remus’ bottom lip in a soft kiss. Remus made a pained noise in the back of his throat and leaned forward to meet Sirius’ lips in the kiss. Sirius thought he could do this for the rest of his life.

     Remus’ tongue brushed questioningly against Sirius’ lips, sweeping softly against them. Sirius sighed and opened his mouth to Remus. Their tongues met again, no less electric than the first time, and Sirius pulled at Remus’ hair happily. Remus groaned at the tug and began snogging Sirius in earnest. Sirius could die happy.

Remus

      The night was going splendidly in Remus' opinion. He currently had Sirius pinned against the wall with his tongue halfway down his throat; a splendid night indeed.

     When he had first kissed Sirius, he‘d done his best to keep it slow and sweet. It had been surprisingly easy to do with Sirius, though, mostly because he just loved the feel of Sirius’ lips against his at any speed. Now, however, he was attempting to snog him into the wall. He licked and sucked and bit at Sirius’ lips, earning him the cutest and most erotic noises he’d ever heard. It didn’t help that Sirius kept making these gasping, almost mewling sounds into Remus’ mouth anytime Remus bit or sucked at his tongue. The sensations were heady, making it all the more difficult to keep his hips angled away from Sirius. Remus wondered if it was possible to pass out from arousal.

     When Sirius had stopped and asked Remus to slow down, Remus had kicked himself. He’d completely forgotten that he was likely the first boy Sirius had ever kissed, let alone done anything else with. Not that Remus had even been angling to go further than kissing, but he understood how things could’ve been overwhelming for Sirius. He still felt a little guilty about that.

     Right now, Remus was attempting to snog Sirius as thoroughly as possible while staying away from anything with a sexual connotation. The way that Sirius was pulling on his hair, however, was not helpful.

     “Sirius,” Remus panted, pulling back to look down at him.

     “Unh?” Sirius was looking at him, dazed and more than a little flushed. Fuck. He looked so thoroughly snogged and debauched that Remus had to bite his cheek to keep from groaning aloud. Sirius just blinked at him in question, hands still in Remus’ hair.

     “Can I… Would it be okay if I put my hands under your shirt?” Remus’ heart was in his throat asking. He wanted to be conscious of Sirius’ hesitancy, but the idea of touching the skin of Sirius’ chest was driving him mad. Sirius blinked at him again before biting his lip.

     “Um… yeah. Yeah, that’d be okay.” He looked unsure and Remus frowned. He put a hand on Sirius’ cheek.

     “Are you sure? I don’t- It’s okay to say no, Sirius. I want you to only do what you're comfortable with.” Sirius smiled at him and gave him a soft kiss before looking at him again. Remus relaxed slightly.

     “No, I- I want to, I just… might change my mind. Is that alright?” Sirius was toying with Remus’ collar as he asked, and Remus couldn’t hold back a soft smile.

     “Of course that’s alright, love,” he said, watching as Sirius’ glance jumped to his face, eyes wide. They both stared at each other, blushing a bit, before Remus looked away, laughing. “Sorry, I just wanted to-” Sirius tugged at his hair.

     “Don’t apologize. I thought it was lovely,” he said, grinning. Remus returned his smile and leaned back in. Their lips met, and it was like the first time all over again.

     Their kisses were gentle and chaste for a few moments before Sirius started biting at Remus’ lips again. It seemed Sirius enjoyed putting his teeth on Remus, and Remus did not mind one bit.

     As their kisses slowly got more and more sloppy, Remus carefully trailed his hands down to Sirius’ waist, slipping under his robes to reach for his white button up shirt. With careful hands, he pulled the shirt out of Sirius’ trousers at the same time that he sucked on his tongue. This got a gasp from Sirius, and Remus grinned into his mouth as he slowly slid his hands under Sirius’ top.

      Fuck. He‘d thought touching Sirius above the clothes was bad? Touching him skin-to-skin was like drinking the nectar of the gods: intoxicating, but too much could burn you up from the inside out. With every touch, Sirius’ body responded and he sighed and gasped into Remus’ mouth.

     Just when Remus was about to brush a thumb over Sirius’ nipple and he what reaction that got him, Sirius went tense. Before Remus could respond, Sirius yanked away from Remus, grabbing his wrists to pull his hands off him. Remus, startled, immediately stepped back to give him space.

     Sirius was pressed against the wall, breathing hard and staring at Remus with wide eyes, his hands still tight around Remus’ wrists. Remus looked back at him in confusion and concern. Blinking rapidly a few times, Sirius swallowed and relaxed a bit, dropping Remus’ hands and looking away.

     “F-Fuck, I’m sorry,” Sirius stuttered out. He seemed to be trying to catch his breath, still tense and uncomfortable looking. Remus watched him in concern.

     “Sirius?” He asked, unsure of what to say. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you. Are you alright?” Sirius seemed to be trying to regain his composure, and Remus wanted to comfort him, but it didn’t seem like Sirius wanted to be touched. He was still staring at the ground.

     “You didn’t do anything wrong, Remus, I’m sorry. I’m just… bugger, I don’t know.” Sirius’ voice was wavering and he buried his face in his hands, pressing back against the wall. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.” Remus didn’t know what to do. He wanted desperately to hold Sirius, but instead he took a step back, doing his best to give him room.

     “Nothing’s wrong with you, Sirius. You said you might change your mind, and it’s perfectly alright if you did. You don’t… owe me anything, okay? You can tell me to stop touching you whenever you want to. It’s your choice.” Remus hoped to God he was saying the right things. He really wasn’t sure what had gone wrong but Sirius still seemed upset.

     Pressing the heels of his hands into his eyes, Sirius lowered his arms and looked at Remus. He looked like he was on the verge of tears and Remus bit his lip. Tentatively, he made a small gesture to offer a hug. Sirius sniffed and stepped into his arms.

     “I’m sorry,” Sirius said hoarsely. Remus shook his head. “I got kind of… overwhelmed, and I didn’t want to- I didn’t know what to do.” Sirius' arms were around Remus’ waist and Remus cradled his head with one hand.

     “You did the right thing. You can always pull away if I’m touching you in a way you don’t like, yeah?” Sirius nodded and pressed his face into Remus’ shoulder.

     “I did like it,” he murmured, sounding a bit embarrassed. “A lot. I just… it got to be a bit much.” Remus nodded again and dropped a soft kiss onto Sirius’ head.

     “I understand,” he replied quietly. He took an unsure breath before speaking again. “Sometimes…sometimes it gets that way for me. With the scars.” Sirius sucked in a breath.

     “...Yeah?”

     “Yeah. I can’t wear certain clothes because it’s really overstimulating, and I start acting batty for no reason.” Sirius huffed a laugh against his shoulder.

     “Mm, that’s the feeling. Being batty for no reason is just about my natural state, though,” Sirius joked, turning his head to press his face into Remus’ neck. Remus laughed into his hair, brushing his hand through the strands.

     The two of them stayed like that for a bit, Remus petting Sirius’ hair and Sirius breathing into his neck. Eventually, Sirius yawned. Remus craned his neck to look at his face.

     “Tired?” He  asked, brushing a strand of Sirius’ hair away from his face.

     “Mmhm,” Sirius replied sleepily. “You’re so warm, though, I can’t help it.” Remus laughed and bent down to kiss his cheek. Sirius leaned into the touch.

     “Want to show me to that dorm room I was supposed to see an hour ago?” Sirius grinned against his neck and pulled back to look at Remus.

     “It wasn’t an hour ago,” he huffed. “And are you saying you would have preferred to spend the past hour in the dorm with James rather than in this corridor with me?” He was looking at Remus happily and Remus couldn’t control the grin that broke over his face.

     “Of course not, you loon,” he said, flicking Sirius’ ear. “I’m bloody mad for you.” Sirius blinked at him, obviously not having expected that answer. Remus just smiled and kissed him lightly on the nose.

     As he was pulling back to gaze at Sirius’ 

 sleepy-face for a bit longer, Sirius’ hand shot up to his jaw. Remus paused and looked at him in question. Sirius stared at him for a moment before breaking into a breathtaking smile.

     “I’m bloody mad for you too, you bastard.” Sirius pulled him down and Remus quickly consented to another round of snogging.

Chapter Text

Sirius

     One thing Sirius had figured out was that he loved Remus’ lip ring. Loved it. He loved how it felt when they were simply kissing, loved the feel of it between his teeth when he got bold and bit Remus’ lip, loved the press of it when Remus kissed his cheek and eyes and nose. Sirius couldn’t get enough.

     At the moment, Remus' tongue was sweeping through his mouth, leaving tingling nerves in its path. Sirius sighed and hummed, pulling Remus down even further, loving the feeling of being both in his arms and down his throat. He was still up against the wall, Remus pressing solidly against him. The one hand Remus had on his waist clenched every time Sirius did something he liked, and Sirius was experimenting to see what got him to squeeze the hardest. So far hair pulling was winning.

     Sirius tugged on Remus’ hair, relishing in the feeling of his fingers digging into his waist. Remus groaned against his skin and pulled back just barely to glare jokingly at Sirius.

     “You know exactly what you’re doing, don’t you?” Remus’ voice was gruff and deep and Welsh and Sirius’ heart rate picked up. He raised his chin and gave Remus a taunting look. Remus' eyes darkened and he trailed his hand down from Sirius' hair to his jaw. “Bloody tease.” Sirius smiled at him and turned to bite lightly at his thumb.

     “You know you love it,” he said against his finger, tongue sweeping over it as he spoke. Remus looked at him in a way that made him dizzy, then shook his head and laughed. Sirius smiled back at him and trailed his fingers down from his hair to his neck, feeling Remus shiver at the sensation. “How many boys have you been with?” He asked impulsively. Remus blinked at him.

     “Oh, I’m not sure,” he said, still holding Sirius solidly in his arms. “Do you mean… been with or been with ?” Sirius bit his lip, heart sinking ever so slightly.

     “You’ve been with boys?” He asked tentatively. Remus nodded, looking somewhat anxious. “Then both, I guess,” Sirius decided. “How many boys have you been with and how many have you been with ?” Remus hummed and drummed his fingers on Sirius’ hip.

     “Mm, I’m not really sure. And it depends on your definition of been with. I’ve kissed maybe... fifteen boys? And gotten off with six or seven of them. I’ve only fucked two.” Sirius took a breath and the word fuck, and nodded in response. He knew he looked a bit shocked, but he couldn’t help it. He’d known Remus was experienced but he hadn’t expected him to be… so far ahead of Sirius. It made him feel like a foolish, virginal child. Which, he supposed, he was.

     Remus put a hand on his cheek and looked at him questioningly, his gaze very soft. Sirius melted a bit, not having realized he’d tensed up.

     “Okay,” he said, trying to be confident. “I wasn’t… That’s, I mean, not that you need my approval or that there’s anything to disapprove of, but I… that’s okay.” Remus’ eyebrows inched upward and he took a breath to say something. Sirius quickly spoke again before he could. “I mean, you know I’m not… that experienced. Or experienced at all. But that’s not… I don’t mind.” It still sounded stupid to him and he groaned, avoiding Remus’ eyes. “ I mean that-”

     “Sirius,” Remus said softly, his voice lilting with that Welsh laughing accent of his. Sirius sighed and looked at him again. He was obviously holding back a laugh and Sirius frowned, frustrated. It wasn’t his fault that he couldn’t get his words out or that he hadn’t found someone to be… intimate with. It was just difficult with the family he grew up with and all the expectations and stupid, traditional bullshit.

     “Sirius, it’s okay if-” Sirius huffed and pulled back and crossed his arms defensively across his chest.

     “I’m not a- a blushing virgin. You don’t have to use kid gloves with me, I can handle being talked to like an adult.” Remus’ mouth popped open and he shook his head.

     “I wasn’t- I’m sorry, I wasn’t trying to treat you like a child. I just wanted- I don’t want you to think that I only want… ugh .” Remus rubbed a hand over his face. Sirius’ face spasmed and his feelings wavered, suddenly feeling bad. Shite, Prongs was right, wasn’t he? He was a bloody moody git, always creating problems where there were none. He sighed and ran his hands through his hair, a stupid habit he’d picked up from James.

     “I’m sorry,” he said. ”I didn’t mean to snap. I’m just… it’s a hard subject for me, yeah? And I don’t like feeling… out of my depth. I want you to like me.” Remus was looking at him uncertainly, then frowned and reached forward to tentatively hold his waist.

     “That’s what I’ve been trying to say , Sirius,” he said earnestly. “That I like you, a lot , and I couldn’t give two fucks about whether you want my dick or not.” Sirius burst out a surprised laugh, gripping Remus’ forearms and squeezing. Remus looked so sincere and sweet that Sirius couldn’t help but lean forward and kiss him softly on the lips.

     “I understand. Thank you for… explaining and, er, yeah. Thanks.” He felt awkward, but rested his forehead against Remus’, who was smiling again and looking at him fondly.

     “Anytime, cariad bach ,” he murmured, pressing his lips lightly to Sirius.

     “What’s that?” He asked against Remus’ lips. “Was that Welsh?” Remus smiled and nodded, kissing him again. Sirius laughed and put a hand on his jaw. “Are you not going to tell me what it means?” Remus smiled and overlapped his hand with Sirius’.

     “It doesn’t translate perfectly,” he said quietly, barely an inch from his face. “Vaguely, it means little darling.” Sirius' stomach swooped and he couldn’t help but grin. Could this get any better?

     “You’re so cute, Moony,” he said, gazing dopily into Remus’ eyes, and he actually blushed.

     “Ac yr ydych yn nefol, fy nghariad,” he responded. He said it so dotingly that Sirius' heart squeezed despite not knowing a word of Welsh.

     “Shut up, you Welsh idiot,” he said, grabbing Remus’ collar and pulling him in for another kiss. He did not resist.

Remus

     Far too soon after they’d begun kissing again, Sirius’ phone started ringing. Sirius groaned and pulled back, lips red and wet. He looked so gut-wrenchingly gorgeous that Remus missed the first half of his sentence just looking at him.

     “-bet that’s James calling to ask if I’ve died?” Sirius griped, rifling through his robes for his phone. Remus swallowed and attempted to gain some composure.

     “Well,” he said, clearing his throat, “we have been here for an hour, and I doubt it could plausibly take this long to fetch me from the passage.” Sirius huffed a sigh and pulled his phone out of a random pocket, quickly sliding it open.

     “Hi Jamesie,” he chirped, falsely cheerful, and Remus gestured for him to put it on speaker. He did.

     “-the fuck are you? I’ve been sitting in the dorm twiddling my fucking thumbs, waiting to go to bed so that I wouldn’t be asleep when you and your sugarplum finally decided to grace us with your presence. So unless you're balls deep in Remus right about now, I’m going to assume you’ve abandoned me for no good-”

     “Merlin, shut up! What is wrong with you?!” Sirius’ eyes were wide and he glanced at Remus before looking away, flustered. Remus tried to hide his snicker in his neck, earning a muffled squeal and a hand pulling at his hair. He let Sirius pull him back and laughed at the startled look on his face. Who knew he was so ticklish?

     “Is that Remus I hear laughing?” James’ voice came over the phone. “Oi, what did I tell you about putting me on speaker without saying?” Remus snickered again and pulled Sirius to him, resting his chin on his head

     “Hullo, James. Balls deep, eh?” Sirius squawked in outrage and James burst out laughing.

     “Ha! See, Siri, Remus thought it was funny! It’s just a figure of speech, mate. What’s taking you two so long, anyway?” Remus paused and pulled back to look at Sirius. He shrugged.

     “Mm, it’s likely all the snogging, innit, Padfoot?” Sirius’ mouth popped open and he kicked him, laughing silently.

     “I- That probably didn’t help, no.” Remus smiled and kissed his cheek, feeling warm at Sirius’ happily embarrassed tone. James just clicked his tongue, unfazed, on the other end of the line.

     “About time, yeah? Merlin, if I had to hear another word about ‘Moony’s curls’ and ‘Remus’ hands’ I’d have to-”

     “ James .” Sirius’ cheeks were pink and he glared when he saw Remus’ poorly suppressed smile.

     “Well, I wasn’t half wrong about the balls deep bit, was I?” Sirius’ smile dropped and he glowered at his phone.

     “ Yes you were, you prick,” he said, glancing uncertainly at Remus. He just gave a small smile in return.

     “Oh, so you’re saying you don’t want-”

     “I’m saying if you don’t shut it about the ‘balls deep bit’, I’m going to hex your bits-!”

     “It’s not my fault you’re such a randy little-”

     “Maybe,” Remus cut in quickly, “we should head up to the dorm?” Sirius huffed in agreement.

     “Yeah,” he said, obviously upset, “see you in a bit, Prongs.”

     “Yeah, whatever, just-” Sirius clicked the phone off forcefully, still frowning. Remus touched his shoulder then drew him into a hug when he didn’t pull away. He held him as he silently stewed.

     He didn’t know why Sirius got so defensive about sexual things, be it because of trauma, inexperience, or something else, but he refused to let it get in the way of their… relationship? Remus had no idea what to call what they were doing. He knew what he wanted them to be, but that didn’t mean Sirius wanted the same. Honestly, he’d just take whatever Sirius would offer, whether that was everything or nothing. They were just starting out, though, and Remus wouldn’t make it weird by asking so soon. He put a hand on the back of his head soothingly.

     Sirius was breathing much more calmly into his collarbones now, and Remus ran a hand through his hair.

     “Are we going back to the dorm or are we going to piss James off for a bit longer?” Sirius sighed and pulled back, looking tiredly at Remus.

     “I suppose we should head back,” he sighed. “Curfew’s coming up anyways, and Peeves likes to try and prevent you from getting to your dorm if you’re out right before.” Remus frowned in confusion.

     “Peeves?” Sirius smiled at him in another quick change of mood and grabbed his hand to begin walking to the dorm.

     “Yeah, he’s a poltergeist that inhabits the school. He’s a real nuisance that no one has been able to get rid of, though I’m not sure they try all that hard. He’s pretty entertaining and kept mostly under control. We definitely don’t want to get caught out by him, though.”

     Remus nodded along, enjoying watching Sirius’ face as he talked. Sirius was a very expressive person. He wore his emotions on his face and his heart on his sleeve, and Remus hadn’t realized before today how much he liked that in a guy. He liked that he could tell what he was thinking just by looking at him. He liked that even if Sirius had trouble expressing himself, he always tried and didn’t seem to be the type to let things upset him without mentioning it. He liked that he talked with his hands, even when he was holding Remus’ in his.

     He was doing that now, actually, talking about the many portraits lining the walls and swinging Remus’ arm around with every gesture he made. Remus knew he should be paying attention to his surroundings because what other chance was he going to have to see Hogwarts so up close and personal? But he was too enamored by the quiet joy on Sirius’ face as he shared a little bit of his life with Remus.

     Sirius glanced over at him, and he attempted to arrange his face into polite interest rather than dopey lovesickness. He didn’t think it worked, though, because Sirius grinned and blushed, tugging Remus to walk closer beside him. Their hands brushed each other’s hips and Sirius got quiet for the first time that day (besides when they were snogging, of course).

     They walked in happy silence for a bit, Sirius guiding them through the twisting halls and up two staircases before they stopped in front of a particularly large portrait of a woman.

     “Password, lads?” She asked. Her voice was jovial, but she sent a confused glance in Remus’ direction before looking back at Sirius. He just smiled in that cock-sure way he had, and winked. She giggled in response and Remus tightened his grip on Sirius’ hand.

     “ Dona mihi ostium ,” Sirius said confidently, and the portrait swung outwards, narrowly missing smacking Remus in the face. Sirius grinned at him and pulled him through the opening.

     Inside was a ridiculously large common room. It was easily the size of the first floor of Remus’ house, and his stomach tightened uncontrollably with envy. This is what he could’ve had. He could’ve come here for 10 months out of every year since he was 11, and actually had friends. He could’ve had a support system that wasn’t just his mother and Alice. He could’ve been happy.

      “Moony?” Sirius was looking at him with wide happy eyes and he snapped back into himself. When had sulking ever helped him? He was here now, that’s all that mattered. Plus, he had Sirius now (he hoped), what was he pining for? Wasting time wishing he’d had a better childhood was just that: a waste. He returned Sirius’ smile.

     “Well? Where’s this dorm room I’ve been hearing so much about?”

Chapter Text

Remus

      “Aren’t you concerned that people in the common room will wonder who I am?” Remus asked as Sirius tugged him up the steps, presumably toward his dormitory. Sirius just scoffed and smiled at him over his shoulder.

     “First of all, there’s a ridiculous number of students in this castle. They’ll probably just assume you’re some kid from another house that they don’t know. Second of all, at this point everyone in Gryffindor knows not to question what I or James do, lest they incur our wrath.” He said the second part so seriously that Remus had to laugh.

     “ Incur your wrath ? Who are you, Shakespeare?” He asked as they reached the landing. Sirius looked at him, confused, and stopped in front of the third door on the right.

     “And who, exactly, is Shake Pierre? That’s an even stupider name than mine.”

     “What? How do you not know who Shakespeare is? He’s Shakespeare .” Sirius just shrugged.

     “Sounds like a right fool, if you ask me. Has to be, with a name like that.” Remus snorted.

     “Yeah, whatever you say Sirius Potter.” Sirius shot him a wry grin.