#{ famous last words | walburga }

[lulublack90]

Prompt 10 - Bar/Restaurant AU

@wolfstarmicrofic April 10, word count 1000

The restaurant Remus worked in was swanky. It was the most expensive in the city. He was only a busboy, but he loved it.

The Potters may be famous, but they had kind hearts. Effie was the head chef and prided herself on her perfect, delicious food. She often boxed food up for Remus to take home with him. He was certain she cooked most of it just for him. Monty ran the front of house, ensuring everything flowed and the customers were all happy. He always had a cheerful wink for Remus and a hug when he arrived.

The last Potter was their son, James. He and James had hit it off instantly, and he thought that was probably what got him the job in the first place. James worked the bar and helped Remus clear the tables when he was having a bad day. He loved the Potters and happily put up with their snobby customers just to spend time with them. 

One evening, the richest family in London darkened their doors. 

Walburga Black swooped in, closely followed by her husband Orion and her youngest son Regulus. Her eldest made a B-line for the bar. 

“Sirius!” She barked. Sirius immediately turned away from James and got back in line behind his father, but not before catching Remus’s eye and grinning at him. 

She seated her family without waiting to be shown. Walburga Black did not like to be told where she could and could not go. She clicked her fingers in Remus’s direction. He looked around. Monty was busy with another customer. Marlene and Mary were carrying plates of food to a big party. She clicked her fingers again. 

“Finally,” She snapped. “Champagne and three whisky neats.” Remus stood frozen to the spot, unsure what to do. A hand squeezed his. He looked down and saw the eldest son’s hand moving back to the table to fiddle with his fork. Remus walked shakily to the bar and gave James the order. 

“Breathe Remus. It’s fine. Just make sure they always have drinks.” James said as he placed the drinks on a tray. 

“Wait. What do you mean?” Remus paled. 

“You’ll have to be their waiter while they’re here. She hates having multiple people waiting on them. Please, Remus. They always leave a good tip, and it’s all yours.” James put his hands together and pleaded silently to Remus. Remus grabbed the tray of drinks and served the drinks.

“Menus,” She ordered. Mary brushed past him, forcing four menus into his hand. Quickly, he passed them around the table. Sirius's fingers brushed his hand as he took his, making Remus nearly knock over Regulus’s drink. He moved away so he wasn’t hovering. Monty caught his eye, and he went to stand by him. 

“Sorry, kid. They’re early. I thought we’d be alright. You okay?” He put a comforting hand on Remus’s shoulder. Remus nodded. “Better go back over. I think she’s ready to order.” Remus hurried back to their table. He was lucky he had a good memory as they all wanted changes and substitutions to their meals. He smiled pleasantly at each of them as he took their menus back. Sirius’s fingers brushed his again, but he was prepared this time. He hurried to put their order in before he forgot anything. 

When the ticket got to the kitchen, he heard Effie slam a pan down. She hated people messing with her food. 

“Oh, dear,” Monty groaned gently. “Remus, love. I don’t suppose…” Remus grinned at him. 

“Don’t worry, I’ve got it.” He pushed through the door and into the shining kitchen. 

Effie looked flustered as she peered at the ticket and stirred something that smelled amazing in a giant pot. 

“Hello, darling,” Effie cooed when she spotted him. “Do you have any idea whose ticket this is?” She pointed at the piece of paper next to him. 

“It’s the Black Family.” Effie raised her eyes to the ceiling and took a deep breath. 

“Alright people. We have the Black family order. Let’s make it perfect, people!” She pushed a chocolate mousse in front of Remus and a little spoon. He happily ate it as he watched Effie in her element. 

She got their first courses out in record time, and Remus took them out after explaining that he was taking care of them. 

He placed the food in front of the correct person and refreshed their drinks.

Remus hurried around, clearing the tables he’d neglected and re-setting them. He felt a rush of gratitude as he caught Marlene, Mary, Monty and James all clearing tables with him.

He kept a careful eye on his table and, much to his surprise, got through the entire meal without any mishaps. 

When it came time for them to pay the bill, he slipped it onto the table between Mr and Mrs Black. She picked up the small folder and glared down at the bill. She laid down a small stack of notes and rose from her chair. Orion put £100 into Remus’s hand and followed his wife. 

“Fleamont,” She stopped in front of Monty. Remus noticed the nervousness of his smile. 

“Yes, Mrs Black.”

“I demand that waiter at all our future visits. He is the only competent member of your staff.” She turned to her family. “Come.” And much like she entered, she swooped out the door, her family following in her wake. 

But Sirius paused next to Remus, slipped something into his hand and winked at him.

“Call me,” He grinned a wide, toothy smile and exited the restaurant. 

“Well done, Remus.” Monty clapped him on the shoulder. 

Remus looks down at the scrap of paper Sirius had given him in his hand. It had his number on it. Remus looked at it bewildered. “I’d call him if I were you,” James said over his shoulder. “He’s a good guy.”

Remus tried to share his substantial with the others, but they all refused, telling him he’d earned it.

[wonder-womans-ex]

‘Cause Boy I was Made for You

By wonder-womans-ex for @inloveoknutzy Sweater Weather secret santa exchange 2020

When Remus Lupin was eleven years old, he learned about soulmates. 

“Almost everyone gets a soulmark on their nineteenth birthday,” Mr. Holliday, his fifth-grade teacher, had explained. “A design, like a tattoo, on their left wrist. And out there, somewhere, someone will have a matching one.

“Some people don’t get them until later—no one knows why. Some don’t get them at all. It’s rare, but some people have more than one soulmate, or their soulmate changes. 

“Can anyone tell me why this might be?”

Trust a teacher to turn this into a lesson, Remus thought, and put up his hand. 

“Because people change, and the person who your soul matches could change, too?” 

“Very good, Mr. Lupin.” 

***

When Sirius Black was eleven years old, his parents kept him home from school. Instead, they sat him down at the dining room table—which was only ever used for special occasions; he couldn’t fathom why this might be considered one—and told him three things. 

“One,” Walburga said, bony fingers and long nails that reminded Sirius of talons drumming on the centuries-old wood, “your career comes first. Always. No matter who your soulmate turns out to be or how you feel about it, you are expected to make the choice that benefits yourself and your role in this family.” 

“Two,” Orion put in, “you are the only person who can prove who your soulmate is. If the reality is something that puts your future or your reputation at risk, lying is the best option. Remember, listen to your head, not your wrist.”

“Three—” this was Walburga again, “—your soulmark, when you get it, will remain covered at all times. No one else is permitted to see it. Are we clear?”

Sirius nodded. 

“Speak up!”

“Yes, Mother. Yes, Father.”

***

When Remus Lupin was thirteen years old, he had his first kiss. It was with a girl from his first aid course to whom he’d never really talked before, and it was wet and clumsy and didn’t taste very nice. In six years when he got his soulmark, he probably wouldn’t even remember her name. 

***

When Sirius Black was thirteen years old, he fell asleep in math class twice. He’d spent the entire night practicing—under his father’s instructions, of course—and the words in the textbook began to swim in front of his eyes. 

His mother slapped him across the cheek when she found out. Though he told no one for a very long time, that was when he started drinking coffee. 

***

When Remus Lupin was fifteen years old, he googled what if your soulmate doesn’t love you. 

***

When Sirius Black was fifteen years old, he found out what it was like to be famous. He enjoyed it, at first. There was so much to enjoy: the attention from his parents, the people who recognized him in public and smiled, and the hockey. 

The hockey was everything. 

He wouldn’t have thought so, but it was freeing, really, to be on the ice, doing what he loved, and know that the whole world was watching. It showed him he was enough—better than enough. He was the best. He’d been working towards being best his whole life, and now he finally got to feel good about it. What wasn’t to like about that?

Amycus Carrow, apparently. The first guy on his team to notice he was different. “Queer,” he whispered, as Sirius packed his gear up. 

Sirius wasn’t sure who he was trying to prove something to by sleeping with Janie Clearwater—Amycus or himself. 

***

When Remus Lupin was seventeen years old, he and his mom picked his little brother Julian up from daycare. Jules had a crude drawing of a star on his wrist in green washable marker. 

“My teacher has one! So I wanted one too!” 

Remus smiled, ruffling Julian’s hair. 

That night, he locked his bedroom door and looked up Sirius Black. Video after video of slapshots, passes, interviews, until he finally drifted off to sleep thinking that’s the sort of person I want to be loved by. 

***

When Sirius Black was seventeen years old, he had his first panic attack. He wasn’t sure what triggered it; he wasn’t sure how he pulled himself out, but he ran a thumb over the red marks where his fingernails had dug into his skin and tried not to cry.

***

When Remus Lupin was nineteen years old, everything went wrong. He woke up on his birthday to his wrist itching, and it took all his willpower not to look at it. He wasn’t quite ready yet. 

It was like Schrödinger’s cat, he reasoned—if he didn’t look, he couldn’t confirm what had been nagging at the back of his head for a while now. He couldn’t deny it, either, but it was better than nothing. 

Julian ran to hug him when he got downstairs, grinning to show off his gap-toothed smile. “I got you a present! Wanna know what it is?”

“I think,” Remus told him, “I’m about to find out anyway.”

Two weeks later, Fenrir Greyback approached him in the locker room. 

***

When Sirius Black was nineteen years old, he found himself signed to an NHL team he wasn’t supposed to be on and with a soulmark he could make neither head nor tail of: a silver wolf and black dog, intertwined like yin and yang, two crossed hockey sticks behind them. He remembered, distantly, being told that soulmarks were meant to make sense. 

The black dog was probably meant to represent him—black dog, dog black (he still hadn’t forgiven his parents for that one)—and the hockey sticks almost definitely had something to do with, well, hockey, but the wolf he had no idea about.  

***

It is now that these two stories meet. There is a split second, a fraction of time, and it seems as though the whole world is holding its breath. Will their paths cross, only to continue on their separate ways? Will they travel together for a time, before they are destined to part once more?

“Hello,” says Remus, and when Sirius holds his hand out coldly, their fate is decided. 

***

“Pots, c’mere a second!” 

Sirius is happy, almost. He’s got the team—he’s one of them, now, really and truly, but there’s something still off. He knows what it is, but he doesn’t want to. 

“I’m coming, Captain! Keep your head on!”

James comes to a stop in front of him. “Hi. What do you need?”

“Please poke Dumo.” A few of the guys chuckle, and this makes Sirius smile. He likes making other people laugh. 

“What, and you needed me for that? You couldn't do it yourself?”

Finn walks into the room, then, jersey half on. “Why do it at all? What did poor old Dumo do to you, anyway?”

“Yeah,” Pascal says from where he’s sitting by his locker. “Respect your elders!”

“Elder, you say? Edging on retirement, are you?”

“Tais-toi!” 

Glancing over to Remus, Sirius allows the barest flicker of a smile to pass over his face. He gets one in return. 

“Alright, everyone get moving,” Coach tells them, opening the door and surveying where they’re all arranged, faces like guilty puppies. “You’re paid to play hockey, not sit on your asses and gossip. Practice starts in five minutes, or you run laps around the outside of the rink. In skates.”

Most of them groan, and Kasey downs a Powerade. “Well, boys, that’s my cue.”

James is the next to go, then Finn, then Logan. Leo and Talker continue their argument—something about George Harrison; Sirius isn’t really listening—out onto the ice, and Adam follows them with Olli and Nado close behind. Dumo winks at Sirius before he goes, too, and then it’s just the two of them. 

“What did he do?” Remus asks, after Sirius has laced and relaced his left skate three times. “Dumo, I mean.” 

“Nothing much. Just… well, if you must know, he put shaving cream in the fridge, once. Guess what I had on my waffles that morning.” 

“Waffles aren’t on your diet plan.”

“It was last year.”

“And you waited until now to get James to poke him?”

He knows Remus can see right through him. He always can. “Never question the methods of a hockey player, Loops.”

He meant it as a joke, but Remus stiffens for some reason, jaw clenching and eyes darting away. There’s an awkward pause before Sirius says, “I’m sorry—”

“Don’t be.” 

“Right.” He clears his throat, trying in vain to find something else to say. He would be lying if he said Remus didn’t mean something to him—he knows it. But, after all, knowing something and acknowledging it are two very different things. 

Sirius runs the laps. 

***

That night, after practice, Remus is about to head for the bus station when Sirius steps in front of him. He’s walking backwards, even with his hockey bag slung over his shoulder, and Remus isn’t ashamed to say he’s a little impressed. (From a purely objective point of view, of course. It has nothing to do with Sirius and everything to do with the skill it would take, hypothetically, to do such a thing.) (He’s not fooling anyone, least of all himself.) 

“Want a lift?”

“You don’t even know where I live.”

“Well, we’ll just have to fix that.”

Remus rolls his eyes; he pretends to think about it. “All right,” he says, finally. “On one condition.”

“Which is?”

“I get to choose the music.”

Sirius lets out one loud ‘ha!’  It’s the most beautiful thing Remus has heard in a long time. (That would go well: “Oh, I’ve changed my mind. No need to put on the radio, I’ll be content if you just keep laughing.”) (There’s a reason people like him are off to the side, out of sight, instead of right in the spotlight with a microphone.)  

Remus is glad that Sirius waits until he’s parked outside Remus’s apartment building to bring up their earlier conversation. It says something that they say “So, about this evening—” in unison, but Remus isn’t going to think about that. 

“You go first,” Sirius tells him, the corner of his mouth lifting ever so slightly. “Please.”

“I suppose,” Remus says, slowly, “That I haven’t quite been honest with you. Any of you. I wasn’t always a PT.”

“Of course not. You’re my age. You can’t have always worked for the Lions—before that you were a teenager. A student.”

Remus shakes his head. “No. Before that I was a player.” 

“You played? Why’d you stop?”

“Bad hit,” he says, shrugging. “I’m over it. But I… I know what it’s like. The pressure. The rules. So, if you need someone to talk to… just remember—I know what the game does to a guy. You’re not the only one who’s been told to be something you aren’t by someone who forgets you’re a person off the ice, too.

“See you tomorrow, Cap. Thanks for the ride.” 

***

Sirius is probably the one person in history who has managed to burn eggs without even turning the stove on. 

“How on earth did that happen?” James asks when Sirius phones him. 

“I dropped them into the toaster—hey! Stop laughing! It could happen to anyone!”

“Yes,” he hears from the other end of the line, “But it didn’t. It happened to you.”

It takes exactly two minutes and thirty-seven seconds after hanging up on James for Sirius to decide to call Remus. Cooking failures might not have been quite what Remus meant when he said Sirius could talk to him, but it’s the problem at hand right now. 

(Remus laughs just as hard as James, but at least he has the decency to apologize for it afterwards.) 

“Well,” he says, once he’s calmed down, “What are you going to eat now?” 

“I’m not sure. Cereal?”

“Practice is in two and a half hours. You need more than that.”

“I’ll be—”

“If you end that sentence with ‘fine,’ I’ll take the laces out of your skates and strangle you with them. Do you want me to walk you through, I dunno, a pancake?” 

“Sure. What do I need?”

“Flour, butter, eggs, milk…”

Twenty minutes later Sirius is left with milk on his shirt, flour in his hair, butter practically everywhere else, and a microwave that won’t start. 

“I think,” he tells Remus, “I should have cereal.”

“You are going to eat a pancake if it’s the last thing I do—”

“Why don’t you just come over here and make it for me, then? I’m sure you’ll have more success.” 

He holds his breath for a moment, hoping this wasn’t a step too far, before Remus responds. “Yeah. Sure. I’ll be over in… half an hour?” 

“Sounds good.” 

Click. 

The instant the call is over, Sirius opens the freezer and grabs one of the popsicles he secretly has stashed there. They’re not part of his diet plan, but he needs one. Then he takes a sponge and starts trying to get the butter out of the sole of his shoe. 

***

The first thought that crosses Remus’s mind is that Sirius’s tongue is purple from one of the popsicles he thinks no one knows about. If Remus kissed him, he’d probably taste like grapes. (The thought is banished from his mind the moment it enters.) 

“So,” he says, surveying the damage. “I am going to teach you how to make a pancake.” 

Sirius, it turns out, is infinitely better at following instructions when they’re simple, and the two of them work out a system quickly. Remus makes the pancake, Sirius gets the ingredients. It works. 

“That’s salt, not sugar. Try again.”

(Most of the time, at least.)

 “Really?” Sirius is squinting at the package. “Why doesn’t it say so?”

“It does. Right there.” 

“How am I supposed to read that?”

“You need glasses, Cap.” 

“I have glasses. I just never wear them.” 

“What?” This is news to Remus. Visions of Sirius with glasses and bed hair are swimming in front of his eyes. “Why?” 

A shrug. “I look stupid.” 

“I’m pretty sure you’d be drop-dead gorgeous in anything.” 

There’s a beat of silence. Remus realizes that, yes, he said that out loud. “I mean, all those fangirls certainly seem to think so.” 

“Right. Yeah.” Sirius clears his throat. 

“Anyway, pancakes! I think these are almost ready to cook—can you turn on the element?”

“The what now?” 

“The element? The coil on the stove?” 

“Should’ve just said that in the first place,” Sirius grumbles. “Fucking Americans.” 

“Fucking French.” 

Suddenly, Remus has a spatula pointed at his nose. He has to cross his eyes to see it properly. “Say that again; I dare you.”

“Fucking French?”

“Awright, that’s it! En garde, bitch!” 

And so begins the great whisk-vs-spatula duel of 2020. There is very little batter left once they’re done—in the bowl, at least. Most of it is on their clothes. 

They look at each other. “Cereal?” 

“...Cereal.” 

***

Kasey’s eyes go wide—almost comically so—when they show up to practice together. 

“Cap giving rides?” He says, and Sirius isn’t sure what accent he’s trying to fake but he ends up sounding like a scandalized duchess from the movie adaptation of an Austen knockoff. (Maybe that is what he was going for. It’s hard to know, with Kasey.) “I thought the day would never come.”

“Shut up.” 

“Make me.”

Remus’s elbow digs into Sirius’s rib cage. “You don’t want to say that. He tried to make me shut up this morning—it’s something I’ll never recover from.” 

Sirius almost laughs at the expression Remus makes when he realizes exactly how that sounds. 

“He dumped pancake batter down my shirt!” 

“You didn’t!” The look on James’s face is aghast. “First the eggs, now this—what will people think?” 

Finn looks up from his phone. “Eggs?” 

“Sirius here dropped the eggs he was going to eat for breakfast into his—”

“Shut up, shut up, shut up!” 

Dumo slings an arm around his shoulders. “The price you must pay for telling James to poke me yesterday. Learn from this, mon fils. Learn.” 

“Don’t tell me what to do, old man.”

“Treachery!” 

Shrugging him off, Sirius grins. “I am the kitchen monster. Cross me and I will slaughter you in a food war.”

“Try me.” This is Logan speaking; Sirius hadn’t even realized he was there. 

“You’ve been warned!” 

***

“Look, there are twenty-two hockey players in this arena, and I ain’t one of them,” Moody says, and Remus can’t be sure, but he thinks Sirius looks at him. 

***

“You’re favouring your right leg,” Remus comments as soon as Sirius is off the ice. “Want me to take a look?”

“It’s fine, really—”

“I’ll try again. Want me to take a look?” 

“Yeah, that would be great. Thanks, Loops.”

“That’s what I thought you said.”

They walk into the PT room in businesslike silence, Sirius hoping all the way that one of them will break it. Neither does, and it isn’t until Remus has taken off both his skates for him, now expertly examining his left ankle, that he realizes what he should say. 

“You mentioned you played, last night.”

The finger tracing his Achilles tendon stills. “I did.” 

“Were you any good?” He knows, somewhere, that he’s entering forbidden territory. He can’t bring himself to care. 

“I’d like to believe so.”

“Be honest.” Sirens are blaring in his head. He keeps going. 

“There were rumours…” Remus bites his lip, glances away. “People said I was set for first.”

“What? How come you never said anything? C’mon, you need to play with us sometime, just scrimmage or something—”

“Maybe. That hit…”

“Right. God, I’m sorry, Rem.”

If Remus’s Adam’s apple bobs at the nickname, Sirius doesn’t notice. He certainly doesn’t try his best not to jump to conclusions. (Double negative; that’s a yes, a voice that sounds suspiciously like James’s says in his head. Shut up, he tells it.)

“It’s fine. Really. I just don’t like talking about it. And besides, I like this. Working with the team, even if I can’t be a part of it.”

“You are. A part of the team, I mean. Just as much as I am.”

“Sure.”

There’s another awkward pause before Remus clears his throat. “So, I’m gonna put on some anti-inflammatory gel because it’s a little swollen, but don’t get used to it. I want you to keep doing some stretches, not too much pressure. Capeesh?”

“What the fuck is a capeesh?”

“Just say it.”

“...Capeesh?”

“Awesome.” 

Remus leans forward towards him, their foreheads almost touching. Sirius’s breath catches. 

It’s over just as suddenly. The tube of extra-strength Voltaren is in Remus’s hand, and Sirius feels stupid for thinking he was going to—

Nope. Not thinking about that. 

When he feels tears start to prick at his eyes, he glances up at the fluorescent lights overhead; at least then he’ll have an excuse. There’s a moth resting on one. Its wings flutter once, twice, then go still. Fragile things, moths are—maybe it’s died, maybe it hasn’t. He could read into that, but he won’t. 

He jumps when the cool of the gel on Remus’s hands touches his foot. “Hey!” He yelps, looking quickly down. 

Sirius hates to succumb to cliches, but he would be lying if he was to say his heart doesn’t still. 

Because Remus has pulled the sleeves of his jacket up to his elbows, and his wrist is turned to the sky—to Sirius, who has seen that mark before somewhere. 

Somewhere. He’s kidding himself. He’s seen it every day whenever he bothers to look at his own soulmark, and he’s seeing it again now. 

“You know what, I’m fine,” he blurts out, shaking his ankle out of Remus’s grasp. “Thanks, though. See you later, Loops.” 

***

Remus stays there for a second, watching Sirius leave. He doesn’t know what he did wrong, and he’s not sure he wants to. 

When he gets up to leave, tossing the container towards the first aid kit on the bench and allowing himself a small smile when it lands perfectly inside, blood rushes to his head. He closes his eyes, waiting for the dizziness to pass. 

And then he crashes into Finn. 

“Whoa, sorry,” Remus says, stumbling backwards.

“Nah, don’t stress it. There’s just something I want you to check on.”

Remus is hit by a sense of deja vu. He wonders if Finn, too, is going to leave without explanation. He follows him back into the PT room, Finn gesturing for him to lock the door. 

Though he may be the shorter of the two, Remus knows it’s his job to be the bigger person. “What was it you wanted to talk about?”

Finn waits another moment before yanking one sleeve up to reveal three paw prints, each no bigger than a thumbnail, clustered together—one forest green, one golden, and one a deep navy blue. 

“Your soulmark.” Remus doesn’t understand. “What? Is something wrong?” 

“There’s three of them,” Finn says. “Which means there’s three of us.”

“You have two soulmates?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s fine, Finn. It may not be common, but it’s not unheard of. You don’t have anything to be ashamed of.” 

“It’s not that. It’s… hey, you can’t tell anyone this, okay?”

“I know. Doctor-patient confidentiality, remember?”

“Right.” Finn takes a breath, squeezing his eyes closed. “What if I told you I know who they are? Or I think I do?” 

“Hypothetically?”

“Hypothetically.”

“Well, I’d ask you if they knew.”

“And I’d say I don’t think so. One of them’s pretty stubborn—wouldn’t see love if it stood up on the ice and sang the national anthem—and the other isn’t nineteen yet, so he doesn’t—I mean wouldn’t—have his mark yet.” 

“His?”

Finn’s eyes widen. There is a pause before he nods, slowly. “Yeah. Got a problem?”

“Trust me, I’m the last person on earth who’d have a problem with something like that. Hypothetically.” 

This, at least, earns Remus a smile. “Are you…?”

“Yeah.” 

“Cool.” Another pause. “What if I told you, still hypothetically, that they were both on the team?” 

“Then I’d say get the fuck out of here and win them over before they start thinking you’ve forgotten about them.” 

Finn, smiling ear to ear, starts to leave. “Wait,” he says, hand on the doorknob. “You said you were…”

“Gay.”

“Yeah. Do—do you know who your soulmate is?”

Remus opens his mouth to say ‘no.’ He really does. But what comes out—when he takes into account the look of recognition on Sirius’s face when Remus had his sleeves rolled up; the understanding that had passed between them outside Remus’s building (god, that was just last night); the way they’ve always just clicked—is most certainly not ‘no.’ 

“Oh, fuck, I think I do,” he says, and he and Finn run out into the hallway together. 

Sirius’s car is pulling out of the parking lot when Remus arrives, out of breath, at the front doors of the arena. 

“I don’t know why he’s in such a hurry.” Remus jumps. He hadn’t heard James come to stand beside him. “Just packed up his gear at the speed of light and left. Didn’t even shower; he said he’d do it at home.”

So Sirius had been so appalled—disgusted, even—at Remus being his soulmate that he’d left without explanation, with barely even a goodbye. There was a pleasant thought. 

He turns so his back is against the door, sliding slowly down to sit on the floor. 

“Y’know,” James says, sitting next to him, “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you needed a hug.”

There’s a moment of comfortable silence before Remus says, “James?”

“Yeah?” 

“I need a hug.” 

James gives the best hugs. Everyone says so. But until now, Remus has never been on the receiving end of a true James Potter hug—warm, strong, and friendly as hell. (“I want that on a t-shirt,” James says when Remus tells him so.)

But eventually, James has to go, too, and Remus heads back to the PT room. He passes Logan in the hall, looking like he’s been hit over the head with a two-by-four. Maybe it’s Finn’s doing; he had mentioned that one of them was oblivious. Logan, Remus knows, is the definition of oblivious. 

***

“And I think that’s all,” Coach Weasley says, glancing around, “Unless anyone else has something to say? Moody? Cap? Loops?” 

“Actually, yes,” says Remus after a moment. “Checkups! Not naming names but Kris lied about his rib acting up so now all of you get to be interrogated.” 

Sirius swallows. He’s not anxious to be alone with Remus; not after yesterday. There’s no way there aren’t going to be questions. 

Kasey goes first, Remus taking just under five minutes to deem him ‘good to go.’ Kris, surprisingly, is only kept for eight, despite the claim of his ribs acting up again. Finn takes the longest—fifteen minutes—and as soon as he’s out he grabs Logan and Leo by the wrists and marches them off somewhere. Sirius’s turn comes last, right after Pascal’s, who gives him a knowing look as he enters.

“Hi,” Remus says, first aid kit nowhere in sight. “Sit down.” 

“Where?” Sirius gets only a shrug in response. 

He hesitates a moment, then sits on the floor, picking at the sole of his sneaker. 

“How are you feeling?” Remus asks suddenly.

“Fine. Ankle’s not bothering me any more.”

“No, I mean how are you feeling?”

Scoffing, he starts to stand up. “I’m not doing this.”

“Yes, you are.”

“No, I’m not.” 

“Sirius Black, sit your ass back down before I make you.” 

Sirius sits his ass back down. 

“Good. Now, how are you feeling?” 

“I’m… confused,” he says, trying to be honest without being specific. “And nervous. And I cried myself to sleep last night, which I haven’t done since I was like seventeen, so there’s that. But mostly I’m just really fucking mad.” 

“At me.” It isn’t a question. 

“No, not at you! At me! At the—” he gestures wildly. “—Universe, or whatever. Can I go now?” 

Remus doesn’t even acknowledge his request. “So you’re disappointed.”

“...Yeah.” 

“May I ask why?” 

“I’m pretty sure you fucking know why.” 

“Maybe I do. But I’d like you to explain it to me.” 

The stupid thing is that Sirius wants to talk about it. He really does. And Remus is the only person he can conceivably talk about it to. But he still chokes on his words when he says, anger burning his throat, “It was never supposed to be like this.” 

“What do you mean by that?”

“Shut up, shut up, shut up!” Sirius practically screams. “Stop trying to fucking— psychoalalyze me or something, for fuck’s sake. You fucking asked, and I—” He tears his fingers through his hair, feeling his chest start to constrict. “Just stop talking!” 

The echoes of his shouts fade out too quickly, and the only thing worse than the voices is the sound of his breathing getting faster and faster. Remus’s hand twitches, as though he wants to touch him but thinks better of it.

“It was always supposed to be someone different. Someone faceless; nameless. Someone I could run away from. I can’t fucking run away from you, Remus.

“I always thought I could lie. That I could—pretend, or something. Just keep hiding. It was supposed to be someone I could hide from, because I’ve spent my whole life fucking hiding and that’s all I know how to do. It was never supposed to be someone I could fall in love with.” 

There’s a choked noise from where Remus is sitting on the bench, but nothing else. Sirius refuses to look at him. 

“And I just—I just fucking hate this, because all I’ve been told is that hockey comes before my dreams. And that’s made sense until now because until now hockey was my dream, but now there’s you. Yeah.” 

Remus, to his credit, waits until Sirius’s breathing has calmed down and he’s furiously wiped the tears from his eyes to speak. “What do you need?” 

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“I mean forget everything. Forget your family, forget the team, forget me—what do you need?  

“Right now? For the rest of my life? Because those are two very different things.” 

“Let’s start with now. Can I do anything for you? Can you do anything for yourself?” 

“I need a hot chocolate.” 

***

They wait until everyone else has gone, and then make their way outside to Sirius’s car. There’s only one other in the parking lot—a grey Toyota Remus thinks belongs to Nado, or maybe Kris. He’s not sure why he thinks it matters, because it doesn’t. 

Silence hangs around them the whole four blocks to the nearest Tim Horton’s. Inhale; exhale. Inhale; exhale. This doesn’t necessarily mean anything. 

That doesn’t stop Remus from hoping. 

He knows it’s wrong; of course he does. It’s Sirius’s choice, in the end, because Sirius is the one who will be most affected. His career, his life—all on the line if he decides to trust whatever plan the world has in store for them. It’s not like that for Remus. Not anymore. 

There’s a parking spot right outside the front door. Sirius pulls into it, but he doesn’t get out right away. He glances around, makes sure there’s no one immediately in sight, and then he looks down to where his hands now rest in in his lap. Slowly, he pulls up his right sleeve to expose, bit by bit, his soulmark. 

“I don’t know why I never guessed it could be you—Wolfy McWolf Wolf.” 

Remus feels his lips twitch upwards into something resembling a smile. “I could say the same, Dog Black.” 

When he puts his hand on the console, Sirius rests his on top of it. It’s not much. 

But it’s something. 

***

Sirius looks longingly at the Boston cream doughnuts. “Please. I haven’t had one in so long.” 

“Think again, Mr. I’m-on-a-diet-plan.” 

He’s not surprised. What was he thinking, having his PT as his soulmate? (Well, he wasn’t. He didn’t get to choose. But, he thinks to himself, the point still stands.) 

“I’ll have a medium hot chocolate, please, a plain toasted bagel,” Remus looks at him and sighs. “...And a Boston cream doughnut.” 

When the food is set down on the pickup counter, Remus snatches it before Sirius has a chance to. “Hey, this is my doughnut.” 

Sirius pouts. 

“You’re cute. Here.” He tosses him the brown paper bag, and Sirius removes his prize carefully. He‘s going to eat every piece of chocolate glazing if it kills him. 

Back out in the car—this is a conversation neither of them is willing to have in the public dining area—Remus chews on his bagel thoughtfully. Sirius tries and fails not to swear when his hot chocolate burns his tongue.

“Shit!” 

Remus glances over at him. Their eyes meet for a moment, then both look away. “So,” Sirius says after a while. “I think we need to talk.” 

“Yeah.” 

Silence, then—

“You go first,” they say at the same time, and laugh. Some of the tension is broken. 

Sirius reaches hesitantly to where Remus’s arm rests between the seats. He doesn’t need to voice his question—Remus sees it in his eyes; nods. 

Up close, he can see that there are a few differences between their marks. Nothing that could possibly mean they aren’t soulmates—just the discolouring on the dog’s tail; the angle of one of the sticks; the faded white gash that stretches from one side of Remus’s wrist to the other, separating the wolf’s head from its body. Sirius doesn’t quite know what he’s doing when he presses his lips to the scar. 

When he looks up, he sees that Remus is trying not to cry. And that’s when he makes his decision. 

“I want this,” he says, voice soft but sure. “All of it.”

[fanficflaneuse]

The Party

Index 

A/N: After a few days of going MIA, I’m back with a piece taken from two similar requests. I hope you like it. If you requested something, please be a little patient. I’ve had some rough days and I’m going back to my working mood :) 

Have a very nice weekend! 

Details:

Draco x sister! Reader / George Weasley x Malfoy! Reader / Harry x Malfoy! Reader (platonic)

Word count: 3460

Summary: Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy aren’t home, so reader convinces her brother, Draco, to throw the party of the century. 

“Come on, Draco,” whined (Y/N), “it’s going to be fun!”

(Y/N) had been trying to convince her younger brother to throw a party. Their parents were in France on some distant relative’s funeral and wouldn’t be back for a whole other week. She figured that doing something fun with her brother would rekindle their relationship, which had been strained for years now.

Draco was two years younger than his sister. Before Hogwarts, they adored each other. Draco looked up to her and almost idolized her. Then, she was sent off to school. The sorting hat took a long time with her and ultimately placed her in Gryffindor, much to everyone’s dismay. (Y/N) could still remember, like it was yesterday, the fear that consumed her as she sent a letter to her parents. She was expecting a howler that would fill every corner of the castle with the news of her disownment. Their silence was deafening. For a week, she had nightmares with her father burning her face from the family tapestry.

Then, on the first Sunday after her arrival, Professor McGonagall guided her to Headmaster Dumbledore’s office. For a second, there was a glimmer of hope. Maybe it was all a mistake. Perhaps she could be sorted again and her parents would be proud. As she set foot on the headmaster’s quarters, though, her face fell. As she found herself face to face with her parents, she gulped. Professor McGonagall and Dumbledore left them to talk, not without giving the first year encouraging smiles.

As (Y/N) and her parents stared at each other, she decided she’d show her courageous Gryffindor side. She had always been very rebellious. Even when she played the part of the perfect pureblood, deep down she knew it wasn’t something she wanted for the rest of her life. A lot of what her parents said also didn’t sit very well with her. And this was the decisive moment.

“Mother, Father…I’m sorry.” Regardless of how hard she tried, her voice cracked. Her vision became blurry a few seconds later.

“(Y/N), dear,” her mother said, engulfing the girl in her arms.

(Y/N) sobbed in her Narcissa’s shoulder. She thought she would never feel her mother’s embrace again, yet here she was, rubbing her back and all. The relief she felt was crushed by the fact that she still had to face her father. Narcissa wiped away her daughter’s tears and gave her a reassuring smile, like she had done so many times before. Lucius then came forward, his expression unreadable. He put his hand on (Y/N)’s shoulder and gave it a soft squeeze.

“This was…unexpected, to say the least. But there is nothing to be sorry about,” he said. (Y/N) still couldn’t decide if this was a good or a bad thing.

“Y-you won’t disown me?” she asked nervously.

“Of course not! Where did you get that idea from?” her father said.

Both Narcissa and (Y/N) shot him an “are you serious” look. Everyone around them was way too keen on having their children sorted in Slytherin. Disownments, banishments and the likes were concepts that adhered to a pureblood’s vocabulary even before they could spell their names.

“My child, I can only imagine how scared you have been in the last few days. I am very, very sorry. If the sorting hat placed you in Gryffindor it is because you will be a great fit in that house. And that is it. Right, Lucius?” Narcissa’s voice was equanimous, but she eyed her husband sternly.

“Right,” he mumbled.

“We won’t lose a child to some tradition. We love you too much to care,” she continued.

That day, (Y/N) learned about her mother’s aunt Walburga and her cousin Sirius. Narcissa vowed to never repeat that story. Even if her father winced when she mentioned that she had befriended the Weasley twins, she knew they had her back. She left Dumbledore’s office feeling like the luckiest girl alive.

The bliss, though, only lasted a few months. When she went back home for the Christmas break, she noticed how something had changed between her and her brother. As much as her parents reassured her, she swore he treated her differently. The adventures around the manor ended, as he claimed they were too old for that nonsense. Every time they were alone, she felt guilt and shame around him, as though he was always judging her. It made her sad. And she found refuge in the letters she received from the Weasley twins, especially George, who had become her best of friends.

Things turned for the worse when Draco arrived in Hogwarts, strutting with a posse of eleven-year-old entitled purebloods like he owned the place. Of course, he was sorted into Slytherin. He never looked her way after that. (Y/N) guessed that now he was bothered by everything she did, everyone she befriended and everything she stood for. She decided not to let that get the best of her and instead shared love and friendship to her newly found Gryffindor family. George and Fred’s little brother, Ron, had come to his first year as well and she took his little gang under her wing, especially Harry who had been brought up by some horrible muggles.

As the years went by, as much as Draco tormented the golden trio, she comforted them. When he bullied them, she apologized. When he said mean things, she always had a comeback. She even told on him with their mother when he was particularly mean, warranting weeks without her famous the care packages.

This year, though, (Y/N) had decided to declare truce. When they got back for the summer, Narcissa locked herself with her daughter in the piano room. They talked for hours about everything and nothing. Narcissa begged her daughter to reconcile with her brother. She told her how afraid she was of her son’s fate now that it was very clear that the Dark Lord had come back. She knew that, if the time were to come, (Y/N) wouldn’t choose Voldemort and she wished with all her heart she could take her brother with her.

(Y/N) took this conversation to heart. She was about to start her last year in Hogwarts and she didn’t want to finish her school having lost her brother completely. She thought a party would be the best place to start. They could have fun together, an occurrence unseen for many, many years. Also, after four years of sneaking around with the golden trio and Fred and George, she realized that there’s an especial kind of complicity between people who shared a secret. She wanted that kind partnership with her brother as well.

After much convincing, Draco agreed. He was expecting a gathering with their pureblood friends and acquaintances, perhaps a very selected group of people to talk and gossip for a while. Maybe if she saw him in his element he could show his sister that he was also worth her time. Draco was definitely not expecting the avalanche of people that flooded the manor. All of a sudden, he was surrounded by people from all houses and blood statuses. The seventh years brought fire whiskey and muggle booze. The music was raging. He looked in disbelief as Oliver Wood and Marcus Flint raced their brooms in their mother’s garden. He was disgusted by two seventh year Ravenclaws getting handsy by the staircase.

As he walked around, he encountered some of his friends. Pansy was sulking because Daphne had ditched her to dance. Blaise had already joined in the fun and Theo sat on a sofa between a cranky Ravenclaw and a very shy Hufflepuff. Crabbe and Goyle were nowhere to be found. 

“Are you having fun, Dray?” as he turned around, he saw her sister. One of the twins, who he didn’t bother to identify, had his arm draped around her shoulder.

He wanted to tell her that she was in big, big trouble. He hadn’t agreed to this. And how it was annoying and disrespectful and inappropriate and…then he saw the infamous golden trio behind her. They were talking to the remaining Weasley twin and eyeing his home in awe. If he had been pissed and annoyed at her sister, he now felt like he would combust in any second.

Draco shot his sister a murderous look.

“I thought you’d have some more respect for me and our home,” he said icily before storming off.

(Y/N) was very confused. Her friends eyed her worriedly. George held her closer to him.

“(Y/N/N), are you okay?” he whispered softly in her ear.

George and (Y/N) had a one of a kind relationship. They knew they liked each other. Back in fourth year, she had told him bluntly. He admitted his feelings as well. They had never made it official for reasons unknown even to them. They had shared a couple of kisses and sometimes they’d walk around with their arms wrapped around each other. They’d flirt a lot. And yet, if anyone asked them, they were both single.

Under different circumstances, she would’ve blushed a little because of how close he was. Maybe, she would’ve even flirted. Right now, her gaze was fixed on her brother’s retreating form.

“Should we leave?” asked Hermione sheepishly.

(Y/N) looked at her wide-eyed, realizing how rude her brother had been to them.

“Of course not,” she answered coolly, “I’m sorry Draco is so rude. Enjoy the party. I’ll go talk to him.”

The group scattered around. (Y/N) pecked George on the lips before she went to find her brother. She didn’t have to search too much; she knew exactly where Draco hid whenever he was upset. She walked up the stairs, were the party was just a distant rumour, and walked towards a godforsaken wing of the manor. After passing through a series of judgmental portraits, she pushed a heavy door that lead a spacious room. The only thing inside was a huge, empty wardrobe, which (Y/N) and Draco used as their own playground.

She smiled at herself, knowing that even if they had outgrown their playground days, that place remained a safe haven for both of them. She opened that door softly and found her brother huddled in a corner of the dresser, his face hidden in his arms. (Y/N) took a seat by his side.

“It’s been a while since we last played here,” she said.

“It’s a miracle you still remember,” he sniffled.

“How could I forget, starlight? It was our favourite hiding place,” she said fondly, calling him by a nickname she hadn’t used in a while.

Draco looked at her for a minute. She noticed his tearstained cheeks. “Well, now you’re so busy with Potter and your blood traitor friends, you hardly look my way anymore,” he countered bitterly.

Something clicked in her mind instantly. “Is that what this is all about?”

“You’re replacing me with Potter. Why wouldn’t you? He’s better than I am in absolutely everything. You send him presents, you cheer for him in quidditch, you’re always looking out for him. You’re like…like we used to be.”

Draco hid his face again in embarrassment. Once she heard his sobs, (Y/N)’s heart broke.

“I honestly hadn’t realized you thought that way until now. But I’d never replace you, starlight. You’re my brother. The things we’ve been through, the things we share, the memories we have together, those things have bonded us for life. It killed me every day to think that you hated me for not being the perfect pureblood sister. You’re the person I love the most and thinking that I wasn’t good enough for you…it made me so, so sad.”

Draco lunged forward and hugged (Y/N) tightly. “(Y/N), you’re my sister. Yes, you could be less boisterous, more proper…” (Y/N) raised her eyebrow. “But I wouldn’t change you for the world. I’ve missed you so much.” (Y/N) rubbed Draco’s back, like their mother did. She remembered what she said when they first arrived for vacations.

“I’ll always be here for you, Dray. And Harry’s not better than you. You’re just two different people. I won’t lie: I really love and appreciate him and I do try my best to give him some sisterly love because Merlin knows he hasn’t had much of that.” Draco tried his best not to scoff. “But you are my real brother. I don’t prefer him over you! And I’m here to reassure you, coddle you and hide in a closet while the party of the century is happening downstairs.”

Draco chocked out a laugh and hugged his sister tighter. He didn’t feel like moving just yet. (Y/N) understood he needed the embrace and so she stayed still, combing her brother’s hair with her fingers until he calmed down. She enjoyed the moment and realized how much she had missed the role of Draco’s big sister. He was such a gentle soul and even when they were kids she knew she had to be careful.

“I think…I think we can go downstairs now,” he announced timidly.

(Y/N) chuckled and nodded, refraining from teasing him. Once they were downstairs, her eyes met George’s. He sat in a circle with a bunch of people. She identified the golden trio, as well as some of Draco’s friends. Angelina Johnson was also in the group and so was Alicia Spinnet. (Y/N) dragged her brother to the circle.

“Be nice,” she mouthed to him as she took her place by George’s side.

“We’re playing spin the bottle,” said Lee Jordan before giving the bottle a spin.

A few rounds in, everyone teased (Y/N) on how she hadn’t kissed anyone. So far, Draco had given Katie Bell a peck which left him blushing. Ron and Hermione shared a sweet kiss. Harry kissed a giggly Daphne Greengrass. Theo smooched Fred, who also brushed lips with Angelina. Pansy Parkinson stamped her lips on Vincent Crabbe’s on what must have been the most dispassionate kiss of the night.  

After George and Alicia shared a quick kiss, it was finally (Y/N)’s turn. She had to kiss Blaise Zabini, on of Draco’s friends. She wasn’t very sure about kissing a younger boy at first. She asked him three or four times if it was fine with him, until he made the first move. The kiss started slow and shy and then Blaise grabbed her hair and pulled her to him. Her breath hitched and she kissed back passionately. How old was this boy and why did he have so much experience?

When they pulled apart, her head was spinning. Draco was looking at them, his eyes almost popping out of their sockets. Some people were cheering on them, particularly on Blaise. His friends were congratulating him on being a “ladies’ man”. Her friends were shocked. She still didn’t know what to make of the situation, until she realized George had left the circle. Fred couldn’t help to shoot daggers at her.

“Excuse me,” she said standing up.

At a distance, she heard Blaise boasting and Draco threatening him. (Y/N) rolled her eyes and walked through the sea of people in search of George. ‘Why do I keep chasing after people tonight?’ she groaned when she failed to find him within five minutes.

She went out to the gardens to try and think. (Y/N) sighed in relief as she recognized the familiar mop of red hair. George was pacing around. As soon as she saw his face of disappointment, she hated herself for accepting to that stupid game with that foolish boy. She should be dancing and having fun with her crush instead of having to mend broken hearts.

They stood in front of each other. George didn’t want to meet her gaze. For years, he thought that their arrangement was the best for them. The love and attraction were there and none of the drama. They could be partners in crime without the messy bits of a relationship. So far, things had worked in their favour. But seeing her smooching that Zabini git had made him change perspectives. For one, he was jealous. He hated every second of that awful feeling. And he realized he wanted to be (Y/N)’s boyfriend. He wanted everything, including the messy bits. He wanted dates in Hogsmeade. He wanted to take her home as more than just “the twins’ friend”. Now she had kissed that Slytherin and he felt like he didn’t stand a chance.

“I know Blaise Zabini could a better match than me,” he sighed.

(Y/N) eyed him quizzically. “What are you talking about?”

“We all saw how eager he was to kiss you. He might be a bit young now, but eventually he’ll probably try to date you and marry you and be the proper pureblood family you were meant to have,” he said his fists tightening with every word.

“Don’t be silly, Weasley,” she answered, moving towards him, “you know you’re the only one I want.”

She kissed him then. It was passionate and blissful. One of his hands travelled to her hair and his fingers tangled on her ringlets. The other hand squeezed her butt. (Y/N) moaned and bit George’s lip.

“Be my girlfriend,” he said against her lips before capturing them again.

“What are you doing to my daughter?!” roared Lucius Malfoy from behind.

Like a deer in the headlights, both teenagers turned around to face the Malfoys. Narcissa and Lucius looked at her, a mixture of rage and disconcertment in their faces.

“(Y/N) Narcissa Malfoy,” her mother’s voice was stern. She might be loved and spoiled by her parents, but the look they were giving her at the moment was one that assured a punishment to kingdom come.

(Y/N) noticed her little brother standing behind their parents, a smirk on his face. She guessed he washed his hands off the matter and was waiting to see her punished for their party.

“Bloody snake,” she muttered.

“Hey, don’t call me that! You got yourself in this missy,” he huffed in response, not even concealing the pleasure this was giving her.

“I thought we had magically rekindled our relationship?”

“We did. Does it mean I’ll magically take the blame for your mess?” he said smugly.

“Your friends are also here,” George retorted. He still had his hands on (Y/N), a fact the whole family was trying to ignore until he brought the attention to himself.

“What are you…what is…why are there…drunk people…my garden!” Narcissa was so taken aback she couldn’t even form a coherent sentence. Lucius was eyeing here warily; the only other time she behaved like this he had been banished from their room.

Narcissa went back inside, were everything was eerily quiet. The teenagers who just a few minutes ago had been dancing and drinking stared at the Malfoy matriarch. The music had stopped, just as any bit of conversation. She walked to her precious mahogany table in the common room, where the students had set all of the alcohol, and took a bottle of firewhiskey that hadn’t been opened yet.

“Everybody who I did not create, get out of my house right now!” She didn’t even raise her voice, but it had such a sharp edge to it that everyone in the grounds heard and complied. A sea of Hogwarts students ran out of the door.

George made a move to leave as well, but Lucius stopped him.

“No, you stay,” he said bitterly, “if you’re man enough to touch my daughter’s arse then you’re man enough to stay and listen to what I’m about to say.”

Both (Y/N) and George blushed profusely. Draco faked gagging and Lucius was about to start a lecture when Narcissa came back. She took a swig of the firewhiskey straight from the bottle. Lucius was glaring at George; but even as intimidating as he tried to be, the three teenagers saw how afraid he was of his wife’s glare.

“You,” she said motioning to George, “out.”

“Mum…” (Y/N) tried to intervene.

“Don’t you dare, (Y/N). Don’t you dare,” her tone was almost murderous.

George kissed (Y/N)’s cheek and walked out, biting his lips to hold in his laughter.

“When I wake up tomorrow my house better be pristine or you are going to be in a lot of trouble. Do you understand me?”

“Yes, mum,” (Y/N) answered, not wanting to meet her gaze.

“You two,” Narcissa motioned her husband and son, “to your rooms. Now.”

“But mum, won’t you punish (Y/N/N)? Look what she did when you were gone!” Draco pressed on, behaving in absolute Draco fashion.

Narcissa drank from the bottle again and Draco’s eyes widened.

“Listen to me, Draco. I am going to say something to you and I’ll only say it once: stop being such a little bitch.”

As soon as she said that, (Y/N) burst out laughing.

“I love you, mum,” she said.

“Don’t push it, (Y/N).”

Tags: @cleopatera @okaydraco @naomi02hook @the-hufflefluffwriter @the--queen-of-hell @honeymarvel @blisfvll @icintliviinyiniilsiji @gloriousrebelrunaway @heistmaster69 @victorialynn7 @inkhearthes @wollymalfoy

[blitheringmcgonagall]

The Prank - Boys Don’t Cry

Chapter 2: To Get You Back By My Side

Summary:James tries to help Sirius, Lily starts to rethink her opinion of Black and Potter and her friendship with Severus, and Snape finds his relationship with Lily is unravelling...

Now I would do most anything To get you back by my side But I just keep on laughing Hiding the tears in my eyes

Boys Don’t Cry (The Cure)

He had to find his brother and talk to him, exams were starting in two days and then the Easter Holidays, and more exams afterwards. He was an expert at this now, an intricate game, predicting what grades Regulus would get, and modifying his results accordingly. Only this year, he was sitting his OWLs. Merlin knew what his parents would decide this time around. Did they want him to get best in the class, to prove pureblood supremacist ideas? He had no idea. That alone put him off studying. Not that he needed any excuse. He was too exhausted to think in sentences, let alone study.He still remembered that Summer at the end of First Year, standing at the far end of the Platform, heavy dread squeezing his chest. He had successfully avoided seeing his parents all year, developing mysterious illnesses at Christmas and Easter. He had felt bad for abandoning Reg.But not bad enough to make himself go home.

“I can’t face them,” he had said, his cool indifference cracking. “I can’t face spending a whole Summer with them.”

He hadn’t told any of his friends what his parents were really like. Not even James.

“You can, and you will,” James had answered, his hand on Sirius’ right shoulder, steadying him

“Shakespeare, Henry V, Battle Speech at Harfleur,” Remus had begun, in his beautiful hoarse voice. “Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more…”

Remus was right. It felt like going into battle.

“Come on, Pads, you got first place in class, same as me, they’re going to be bloody proud, they have to be, right?” James had reasoned, waving his end of term report in Sirius’ face with a grin. “I’ll come with you.”

Sirius had swallowed.“I don’t think you-“ he said.

“I’ll come too?” Remus had offered.

“No way! Under no-“ Sirius had replied, looking at Remus in alarm.

“Alright.”

Remus had looked a bit offended, Peter had looked relived.How could he explain to them?He followed James, reluctantly, clutching his report, the feeling of impending doom worsening as he approached his parents.

“How do you do, Mr & Mrs Black?” James said, putting out his scrawny arm confidently. “I’m James, Sirius’ best friend.”

Walburga Black’s lips curled as she looked him up and down, taking in his lopsided tie, his bushy hair and the school shirt half sticking out of his trousers.

“James Potter,” he said sullenly, looking at his father.

A pureblood. But not one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight. Still. It could have been worse. His father’s face relaxed marginally, and his thin lips twitched, an attempted smile. There was an awkward moment as neither parent bothered to address James. James didn’t seem to notice or care either way.

“Sirius came first in the class,” James told them, beaming at his friend proudly.

“So did y-“James’ elbow hit his side and he yelped.

Wordlessly, Orion Black took the report from Sirius’ hand, without asking. His cold face scanned the results.

“First in the Year for DADA?” he said in a low voice.

Shit. He hadn’t thought about that. Merlin, fuck.

“Yes,” he said, refusing to look scared.

“Sirius is brilliant at DADA! He’s incredible!” James said, smiling widely but sounding a bit unsure, for once in his life. “Everyone thinks so, even the Slyth-“

Sirius stood on James’ foot to shut him up.

“Sirius,” Orion Black said, ignoring his friend, and grabbing him by the collar. “A word.”

Without warning, Sirius felt everything go black, head spinning, and landed just outside the front door of 12, Grimmauld Place.

“The Black family, famous for its knowledge of the Dark Arts? Practically unsurpassed in all of England. And yet you, the heir, thought it sensible to get first place in Defence?” he spat out the last word, Orion’s voice was practically a whisper, an iron grip around his neck.

He knew what that tone of voice meant. Surely defending yourself against attack was a good thing?Fuck. Merlin, fuck!

Continue on ao3

The Prank - Boys Don't Cry

[whenihaveyouromione]

When I Have You - Chapter 10

Read on Fanfiction.net or ao3 if you’d prefer!

Follow this story’s IG account ‘whenihaveyou.romione’.

If you’re interested in participating in a fanfiction writing competition for Harry Potter, playing in a Quidditch team and in a Quidditch position (Keeper, Chaser, Beater or Seeker) follow this link here. It’s super fun and well run, as it has been going on for 9 seasons now. 

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Chapter 10

Ron didn’t pry, but he was pleased to see that his words had made some kind of impact on Harry, because on moving day, Ginny appeared the happiest Ron had seen her in a very long time. It seemed Harry had taken his very vague and inexperienced advice and done something to assure Ginny that she was important to him. 

Cheerfully, she offered her assistance in their move. 

Ron didn’t have much to bring over. Just his clothes (which, once he had his own money, he was going to replace), and everything he’d had pinned to his wall. It almost felt a bit childish taking all the Chudley Cannons things he’d collected over the years, but he couldn’t allow his mother to toss them out either, which he knew would happen if he didn’t take them. Perhaps it was time he got a new bedspread, but he could at least store the other stuff away somewhere as keepsakes. 

He’d just watched the last of his possessions fly into a large cardboard box when Ginny came into his room and sat down on his now bare bed. She looked around at the empty walls, where all of his posters had once been, and smiled. “Ah, so that is the colour of your walls?”

“Ha, ha.”

“Hermione will be disappointed,” Ginny continued. “She actually told me she thought your obsession with the Cannons was endearing; even when I told her you’d had it that way since you were five.”

“Really?” Ron asked, his mind suddenly picturing an even bigger room for more souvenirs. “She likes my room?” 

“Yeah,” Ginny said, rolling her eyes. “She loves a lot about you, Chudley-Cannons-obsession included.” She looked at the box on the floor and smiled. “But I’d still think of a new way to decorate.”

“You’re being unnaturally nice,” Ron said, suddenly suspicious. “What do you want?”

“Nothing. I just assume I have you to thank for Harry’s sudden change in attitude.”

Ron flushed. “Er, he told you about that?”. He really didn’t want to engage with Ginny in a conversation about this. It was one thing giving Harry advice; it was a whole other thing to have to talk to his sister about her lovelife. Though, from what she had just told him, it seemed that Hermione and Ginny didn’t seem to have an issue discussing theirs.

“No, but it was such a sudden change, I assumed someone was in his ear, and you were the one I told about my frustrations, so I figured… well, thanks, Ron.”

“Anytime,” Ron mumbled, not meeting her eye. “Someone needed to say it. I don’t want him messing you around.”

“Funny, isn’t it?” Ginny continued, as if she was oblivious to his awkwardness. “You and I, being friends. I mean, you’re my brother and I love you, but it’s almost as if we’re friends now, too.”

“I guess,” Ron said, the thought only just occurring to him that he had, in fact, been spending a lot of time with his sister since the war. “It makes sense, I suppose. I’m friends with Harry, you’re friends with Hermione, I’m with Hermione, you’re… with Harry.” The last part came out in a squeak.

Ginny snorted. “It really makes you uncomfortable, doesn’t it? Me being with Harry?”

“Well, you are my sister,” Ron said, “and he’s my best mate, and… you’re my sister, and it just feels… weird. But I’m alright so long as I don’t hear about the intimate details —”

“Says you, who shares that with Harry!” Ginny scoffed. 

“That’s different,” Ron said. 

“How?” 

“Hermione isn’t his little sister.”

Ginny laughed. “You being my brother doesn’t seem to stop her…”

“What?”

“Nothing.” Ginny stood up from the bed, grinning. Then, catching Ron completely off guard, she hugged him. Ron hugged her back, and he realised that he couldn’t remember the last time he’d even hugged his sister. They must have been really young…

“What was that for?” he asked when she pulled away.

“For standing up for me,” Ginny said. “Even when I don’t need it, even when I resent you for it, even when it’s to your best friend. Thank you.”

“Er, anytime.” Ron picked the box up from the floor, and Ginny followed him down the many flights of stairs until they reached the bottom. Harry was already waiting, with even less stuff than Ron had. 

It was a stark reminder for Ron that while Harry may have been famous in the wizarding world, he had grown up with less than Ron had. It had taken Ron a very long time to work it out; that his best friend in the whole world had had a miserable life growing up thanks to his Muggle relatives, and most of the time, Harry had never sought the attention he got. 

Ron got that now, and he no longer envied Harry. In fact, he felt sorry for him. Ron wanted nothing less than to ever be in Harry’s shoes. 

Harry eyed the box Ron carried in his arms, then smiled. “Plan on decorating the house?” he asked.

“No,” Ron said. “I just don’t want Mum throwing them out. Although,” he looked to Ginny, “apparently Hermione finds it endearing, so you never know.”

Harry snorted and then nodded to the fireplace. “You ready?”

“Yep.” 

It felt very odd to be leaving the Burrow, knowing that he’d never be back. Not to be living there, anyway. He’d probably still come over for dinner often, and to visit. This had been the only home he had known, and as small and as crowded as it was, it was still home, and, if he was being honest, always would be. No matter where he lived in the future, he’d always remember the Burrow. 

Molly gave them each a hug, wiping her eyes and carrying on like it would be the last time she’d ever see them. She then placed a container of food on top of Ron’s box. 

“That’s so you boys don’t go hungry tonight.” She sniffed, gave them both another hug, and finally stepped back to give them access to the fireplace. 

“It’s alright, Mum,” Ron said, throwing some Floo powder into it. “We’ll come back to visit often. You’re all good.”

Ron let Harry go first, considering it was his house. Ginny said goodbye to him in a way that forced Ron to look away. She said something about seeing him tomorrow, letting him settle in. Then Harry was gone. 

With one last goodbye (to his family and his home), Ron followed and was soon stepping into the much darker room of number twelve, Grimmauld Place. 

He looked around, a strange feeling settling upon him, and it wasn’t because this was now his home; Grimmauld Place had always made him feel a little uncomfortable, even when it had been bustling with the Order.

“The Blacks were a miserable sort, weren’t they?” he said to Harry. “We definitely need to brighten this place up a bit if we’re going to be living here.”

Harry smiled and nodded. “Yeah, definitely can’t live here with house-elf heads all through the house. Hermione would have a fit. They’ll be the first to go. Maybe some new furniture, too. Something more…”

“Colourful?” Ron offered, looking down at his box of Chudley Cannons stuff again. “I mean —”

“We’ll go shopping tomorrow,” Harry promised. “For now, let’s just sort out what’s what.”

Ron followed Harry up the creaky staircase, stopping on the landing with the covered portrait of Walburga Black. “I really wish that could go,” he said. “Not sure I fancy coming down for breakfast every morning and having to see her.” He shuddered, still remembering the times she’d screeched for hours at a time when he, Harry and Hermione had stayed there for a brief time on their Horcrux hunt. 

“We’ll work on that, too,” Harry said. “Maybe Auror training will teach us some new tricks that we can use.”

“If Moody couldn’t do it, do you think we can?” Ron asked. 

Harry shrugged, continuing up the stairs until they reached some of the bedrooms. 

“You can have that one,” Ron said, indicating the one Harry had lived in for a bit after the war. “If you want, I mean. I guess we have plenty to choose from.”

“Nah, this will do me,” Harry said. “Which one will you pick?”

Ron contemplated some of the wooden doors. One had belonged to Sirius’ parents, which he flat out refused to even consider. Another was the one he’d stayed in just the other year. “That one, I guess.”

Harry nodded. 

Ron pushed open the door to the room slightly down the hall and opposite Harry’s room. It was just as he had left it before; cold, dark and rather gloomy. At least this time he had the means to change it. 

He set the box down and turned to Harry. “Are we crazy for living here?” he asked. “It’s not the best place in the world…”

“It’s the only other home I know,” Harry said. “It’ll be alright for a while, won’t it?”

Ron nodded. “Yeah, I guess. It’s huge for the two of us, though.”

“Would have been even bigger with just me.” And Ron saw the grateful smile Harry gave him. It warmed Ron; he was welcome here. 

“So,” Ron began, “what should we do on our first night here?”

…

The answer to that question was to have a quiet night in. That evening, around dinner time, Ron fetched the food his mother had given them, and they sat in the large kitchen at the end of the table to eat it. It wasn’t much, but it was more than what either of them could have cooked for themselves.

“So, maybe shopping for food is the first step tomorrow?” Ron asked as he sent his empty plate flying to the sink. “Where is Kreacher, anyway?”

“I… dismissed him,” Harry said. “When I first came back. He wasn’t too pleased about it, but he’s free now. Who knows where he’s gone, but I’m sure if we ever need him, he’ll be glad to come back to the house of his old master.”

“Right, so I guess we’ll be doing our own dishes then?” Ron said, and Harry smirked.

“Don’t let Hermione hear you saying that,” he said. 

“Don’t plan on it,” Ron said, yawning. To his surprise, he realised that that was the first time since that morning that he’d thought about Hermione. In the hours leading up to dinner, he and Harry had attempted to brighten up the place, but to no avail. “I hope she’s alright,” he added after a moment.

“Percy said she was fine, didn’t he?” Harry asked. “That it was all going to plan?”

Ron nodded. “Yeah, but I’d love to hear from her personally, you know? I guess it takes a while for an owl to get here from Australia.”

“I guess…” Harry looked around the empty kitchen, frowning. “Hey, you don’t fancy a Butterbeer, do you?”

“Sure,” Ron said. “You got any?”

“No,” Harry said, “but I can get some. Why don’t we really celebrate our first night as housemates?”

“By getting drunk?” Ron asked. 

“No, by, just… celebrating?”

Ron grinned. “Sounds like a plan, mate. Listen, you get them this time, and once we start getting paid for the training, I’ll do the next one.” Once again, he felt a thrill rush through him over the thought of making his own money. There were so many things he wanted to do with it that he doubted he’d be able to do it all on the first go. 

“Agreed,” Harry said and he clambered from his seat. “Won’t be too long,” and he vanished down the hall, where Ron heard the whoosh of Harry disappearing via the fireplace. 

The house immediately became quieter the moment Harry was gone. Ron got up from his own chair and wandered back down the hall and to the stairs. He contemplated writing to Hermione while Harry was out and letting her know that he wasn’t at the Burrow anymore. But then he decided against it. She had far more important things to worry about than him telling her that he’d moved house. He’d mention it in a reply whenever he received an update from her. 

Instead, he moved into the living area, which — like the rest of the house — was dark and bland. Sirius had hated this place growing up and as an adult, and Ron had never been a fan of it. It held a lot of memories for him, good and bad, and he hoped that eventually he’d be able to erase the bad ones entirely. 

He moved into the drawing room and sat down on the sofa, smiling slightly to himself. Here had been a good memory for him. It hadn’t been that long ago, though it felt like a lifetime. It was the first night here after escaping the wedding, and they’d all been terrified of being discovered after the attack in Muggle London. 

Ron remembered how he’d insisted he sleep on the floor and let Hermione sleep on the cushions. It seemed silly now, considering all that had happened, but it had felt right at the time. He’d been so desperate to prove himself to her despite having just fled an attack on theirs — and everyone else’s — lives. In fact, it had seemed even more important in that moment to give her some sign about how he felt. How many more days would they have together?

And it had kind of worked, too, for not long after Harry had fallen asleep she’d shifted on the cushions, her head turning slightly to face him. She’d been so close in that moment, and even with his own fear for his family, his father’s Patronus the only word that they were safe, her presence soothed him. 

“I’m scared,” she whispered. 

Those two words put everything else aside then, and he reached for her hand and squeezed it. 

“Me too,” was all he said. 

He had expected her to let go after that, but she didn’t, and he had absolutely no intention of letting go if she didn’t want to. They’d fallen asleep like that, and it had been the calmest he had felt in a very long time. 

In the present, he sat there for a long while, until Harry returned carrying some bottles of Butterbeer and one large bottle of Firewhisky. He held them up. “All ready to go!” he said.

The remainder of the evening was great, Ron thought. They chatted, mostly about Quidditch and what would happen once the new season started. Ron, as usual, had higher expectations for the Cannons than he should have, while Harry said if it was possible, he’d really like to attend a game or two. His only experience in watching the professionals was in the World Cup, which had been years ago now.

“I hear Oliver Wood is actually getting a chance to play this year,” Ron said. “So the Prophet says, anyway.”

They both smiled at that, and as amusing as it was, Harry and Ron agreed that they were genuinely pleased for the old Gryffindor captain. 

“Though, I’ll be honest, it would be a sweet victory if the Cannons beat Puddlemere,” Ron said. 

As the evening wore on, and the Butterbeer bottles slowly emptied, Ron found himself contemplating what life was going to be like in the coming months. The day after next he’d be all consumed with training, but what would happen after that? Once training was complete? Would he become a real Auror? Someone who could go on missions, catch Dark wizards? 

And what of his life with Hermione? She wanted to finish school, and he had no doubt that once she got her one hundred NEWTs or whatever exceptional result she was capable of, she’d be highly sought after in whatever career she chose to pursue. But then what? 

“You alright there?” Harry asked, snapping Ron from his thoughts.

“Hm?”

“You looked as if you were lost in thought,” Harry said. “And you had a stupid grin on your face.”

“Oh, right.” Ron felt his ears burning. “I was just thinking.” He wasn’t sure Harry would appreciate him talking about how he just simply could not imagine a future that didn’t involve Hermione in it anymore, so to change the topic, he said, “This’ll be great, won’t it?”

“What will?” Harry asked.

“The two of us living together?”

“Yeah,” Harry said with a small smile. “I think it’ll be fantastic.”

[alienatedchic]

Know them

Sirius Black. Black. The name was enough to make witches and wizards bow their heads before him. Why not? He was a Black! The Black family is the most ancient and purest blood family in the Wizarding world; they were one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight. They were most respected and honored in the society and had highest status. Their wealth was unlimited; generations could stay unemployed and yet will have enough money for luxuries. Sirius was raised to feel proud for who he is, his family and his name. His dear mother, Walburga Black, was always there to remind him and his younger brother, Regulus, of how pure they were, how handsome and perfect they were, how much worthier and better they were than half-bloods and muggle-borns (“scums and mudbloods” in her wording). However Sirius never bought any of this. Deep down, Sirius was always curious about muggles and why blood purity mattered so much. And if he ever mistakenly thought of it loudly, he would receive another deep cut on his small back. He and his brother was taught only about blood status and how important it was for them to keep it safe and pure as they were the only male Blacks born in their generation.

Being a rebellious kid, Sirius decided to break generations of Black tradition by getting sorted to different house but Slytherin when he received his Hogwarts acceptance letter. Though he allowed his mother to coo at what a handsome Slytherin he’ll be and that green and silver matched so well with him, Sirius in his mind had no intention of being a part of his family’s tradition or beliefs.

 James Potter. Another rebellious pure-blood of the generation with wealth and fame- his father had invented the internationally famous hair potion. As James came very late in his parents’ lives and was also the only child, the amount of love he received was limitless. He grew up in a big house with big yard and no scarcity to materials. Thus he grew up to become arrogant and egoistic as his parents never made him feel down or unimportant. Yet, he was the most generous and protective of his loved ones without much to his notice.

No one was as excited about receiving the Hogwrtas letter as James was. He was going to learn magic! Most importantly, he was going to have his own Quidditch team to play with! After getting attacked with kisses from his mother and hugs from his father, James hurried off into the Hogwarts Express and looked for an empty compartment. Finally, he found one, except it wasn’t empty. A girl with dark red hair was sitting beside the window, her head pressed against the window sill.

“Do you mind if I sit?”

“No”

She didn’t turn to look at him; her eyes were fixed outside of the window and on the station where families were still waving off to their kids and shouting last reminders. James heaved his trunk into the compartment and slid the door shut-waiting for the train to start. Within a minute, the compartment door slid open and a tall, dark haired boy poked his head in, scanned the compartment and his eyes landed on James’s

“Uh…other compartments are full…can I sit here…?”

“Yes.”

“Sure.”

The red haired girl (without turning her head to look) and James replied at once. Both James and the black haired boy stared at the girl. Shrugging, James gestured the boy to enter and helped him with the trunk.

“I’m James. James Potter.”

“I’m Sirius Black,” said Sirius, a little taken aback at how normal James was when he said his name-he just smiled and nodded.

Within a minute, James and Sirius started taking interest in each other. They talked about Quidditch and other random topics as the train started to move. The red-haired girl, finally, tore her eyes away from the window and leaned her head on the head of the couch, sighing.

A moment later, Severus hurried out of his compartment to look for Lily. Where was she? He looked into almost every compartment until he finally found her sitting beside a window, her eyes closed. “There you are!” He sat in front of her and grinned at her but she didn’t return the smile; she turned away.

Severus Snape was never taken care of and received little or any affection. His life at home was filled with constant arguments of his parents as he lay forgotten on the corner of his small house, praying desperately for another family. Severus would forget about his trouble and abuse at home whenever he would have the chance to stay with Lily Evans, a pretty red-haired girl from the muggle town, who, thankfully, showed signs of magic. They built quite a very strong bond and became best friends within weeks. Severus filled Lily with all the information he knew about Hogwarts and the Wizarding World while Lily marveled and waited longingly for her Hogwarts acceptance letter.

As their friendship grew stronger, Severus’s dislike towards Lily’s sister, Petunia Evans, also grew deeper. Petunia also had no liking toward Severus so she wouldn’t miss an opportunity to discourage Lily to not talk to “the boy from Spinner’s End”. However, Lily refused to listen to her, “So what if he’s from the Spinner’s End? What if he’s poor and has ugly clothes? He didn’t get to choose his life, you know.” Severus couldn’t help but melt at how sweet and kind this muggleborn girl was.

Lily Evans was a bright, small and cheery girl with thick, dark red hair. She was a lovely daughter to her parents and an amazing friend to her elder sister, Petunia. Petunia and Lily shared a very stable and strong friendship; they would share their silly secrets, treats and help eachother to steal their mother’s make up. While Lily was playful and a bit clumsy, Petunia was a well kept girl and liked to stick to the rules. Nevertheless, this didn’t stop them from being the most dynamic duo. Petunia always cared for her sister and, even though she would complain it wasn’t right to do, would help Lily pull pranks and jokes. They were best friends!

Until he came. . .

Until he became more interesting than Petunia because he was just as ‘magical’ as Lily. . .

Until the letter came. . .

Until Lily was labeled as the ‘special’ one. . .

Until Petunia called Lily a “Freak!”

No words could express the sorrow Lily felt in her small, young heart. No one knew how horrible Lily felt when the word, “Freak” left Petunia’s lips. I’m not a freak! Tears gushed from Lily’s eyes and ran down her cheeks as she bit her lower lip. She turned around when she saw a messy, black haired boy draw near her compartment. Another boy also entered the compartment later but she didn’t turn to look at them-she couldn’t let them see her red, puffy eyes.

“There you are!”

A wave of frustration rushed through Lily when she heard the familiar voice as the compartment door slid open for the third time.

“I don’t want to talk to you.”

“Why not?”

“Tuney h-hates me. Because we saw that letter from Dumbledore.”

“So what?”

“So she’s my sister!”

She couldn’t believe it. You don’t care about my relationship with my sister!?

The other boys took no notice in Lily and Severus until the latter mentioned Slytherin.

“Slytherin? Who wants to be in Slytherin?”

James was in shock. People really want to be in Slytherin? How nasty!  

“ ‘Gryffindore, where dwell the brave at heart.’ Like my dad,” James replied when Sirius asked which house he preferred.

Severus snickered at him.

“Got a problem with that?” James asked, coldly.

“No. If you’d rather be brawny than brainy-

Brawny or brainy? I can be both. I will be both. I’ll prove it, you little-

Before James could reply, Sirius spat, “Where’re you hoping to go, seeing as you’re neither?”

James roared with laughter.

Lily was shocked at how Severus mocked the two strangers and how they talked back! She took Severus’s hand and left the compartment, disgusted at the two boys, who called him “Snivellus”. How rude. Really, I thought magical people would at least know some manners!

Beside this compartment was another compartment filled with a different group of first year students. Amongst them was a small, mousy haired boy, sitting beside the window. His face was hidden behind a large book. There were deep cuts on his face and scratches on his skinny forearms.

“Hi, I’m Peter Pettigrew,” said a round, watery-eyed boy to him.

Looking from the top of his book, the mousy haired boy muttered, “I’m Remus Lupin.”

“Anything from the trolley, dears?” the compartment door slid open and the trolley women came in. At the sight of the lady, Remus dropped his book and shot up.

“Me.”

Peter’s mouth fell open as he got to see Remus’s face clearly for the first time.

“Oh, it’s just a bad accident,” Remus said, waving a careless hand when he realized Peter staring at his scars.

Was it really a ‘bad accident’?

Remus Lupin was attacked by a werewolf named Fenrir Greyback when he was only five years old. Fenrir attacked Remus to take revenge on Lyall Lupin, Remus’s father. Lyall Lupin was working against werewolves and believed that werewolves did not deserve living in the world. Little Remus had to suffer for his father’s mistakes. He couldn’t understand why his parents moved to an isolated place to live, why his parents forbade him to befriend anyone, why he would once a month wake up naked in their warehouse, why his body ached all over, why his small, skinny body had innumerable cuts or how and why his fragile bones crack into a vicious monster, every month.

Until Remus was seven year old, when he was fully able to read and write. He would read anything and everything he found. He was so smart for his age that big volumes of books were a piece of cake for him. That is when Remus learned about his lycanthropy.

“Mum. . .wh-what am I?”

The words crushed Mrs Lupin’s heart. She couldn’t look at her son-her beautiful, smart, innocent son. She dropped whatever was in her hands and ran over to her son and hugged him tight. Oh no. She could feel her son’s bones crushing under her arms.

“Wh-what d-do you mean?” Mrs Lupin muttered.

“Mum, am I a monster? Am I bad?”

NO, love, no! You’re my son, not a monster! Mrs Lupin wanted to shout it to her son but she felt she lost her voice. Her boy was facing a crucial reality not even adults deserve to. He’s just a boy!

“N-n-no, son. Remus, my sweet boy, you’re the best boy I’ve ever met. You can NEVER be bad.”

“Then I’m a monster? I. . .I know I am, mum. . .”

Sitting across the kitchen table was Mr Lupin, hiding his face behind the newspaper as silent tears fell from his eyes. He couldn’t take it anymore. His boy was suffering the worst punishment. . .

From then on, Remus started building the worst inferiority complex by isolating himself, even from his parents. He would preoccupy himself with books and lock himself up in his room. Before every full moon, he would go to their warehouse alone and return once the full moon was over. Remus Lupin was small, fragile and innocent but his world was harsh and old.

 After buying almost all the chocolate frogs from the trolley lady, Remus settled himself in his sit and started unwrapping chocolates. Peter, meanwhile, bought packs of Every flavoured beans and cauldron cakes. Remus and Peter started trading chocolates and cakes as Remus took interest in the quiet, shy boy. Their conversations wouldn’t last long for Remus wasn’t the best at socializing and Peter would get nervous for talking too long and would busy himself to finish his cakes.

Peter Pettigrew would always chew on his fingernails and bite his lips. When he was young boy, he showed signs of magic very late than average. His family almost counted him as a Squib so they would try and force magic out of him. Though Peter did prove himself to be a wizard, his family’s mocking of him being slow made him to actually believe he was stupid and that Hogwarts would never accept a half-squib like him. However, fortunately, he did receive the acceptance letter which, though delighted his family, didn’t help Peter gain any confidence in himself.

[imaginesinthewind]

A light amongst a sea of darkness

Pairing: Sirius Black x reader

A/N: Inspired by his famous quote “you are not a bad person”. What if he already received these words from someone else and he decided then to use them again for his godson? Enjoy!

Sirius’ POV

It was one of those nights.

Sirius had suspected it the moment he came to bed.

The sound of the rain falling on the windows of Hogwarts, or the snoring of the other Gryffindors confirmed the fact that it was night, that everyone was alseep but he was not. And he knew it was not going to come that easily because many thoughts lingered in his mind. Too many.

Maybe it was because of that letter he received in the morning, during breakfast. A letter from his mother. He had recognized his sophisticated handwriting straight away.

“Mate, don't open it,” James had warned him. “You know how it's gonna be like. You don't need that. You don't need her poisonous words.”

James was right. He always was.

But Sirius could not help it.

He had to read it. He had to know.

And it was not disappointing.

It was cold, brief and was meant to hurt. All Walburga like.

“You will not be welcome here for Christmas holidays. We do not want someone whose very existence and behaviour shames us at our own table.”

He had thrown the paper away at the first opportunity. But observing his mother's words slowly burn and become ashes in the fireplace of Gryffindor’s common room had not relieved him.

It should not have touched him the way it had, Sirius had known far worse from his parents, and James had told him that he could join him for Christmas. He knew he was always welcomed at the Potter’s and it warmed his heart.

But somehow, Sirius felt like they were doing too much for him. Did he really deserve all their attentions? 

Maybe his insomnia also had to do with his brother, who now refused to speak to him by all means.

Change had begun slowly with Regulus. Sirius had watched him slip through his fingers day after day, getting closer to Slytherins whose ideas of purging dirty blood among wizards were nothing like him, the little brother he once knew. 

He had put all his last hopes on his brother, the last hopes of not totally giving up on his family.

But what could he possibly do? Try to save his brother from these atrocities, atrocities he had willingly chose to follow? Would he still believe him, Sirius, who had always been rejected by his parents because of what he thought- no, he knew was right?

Stuck between a silent rage and a deep sadness, Sirius realised that turning around and around endlessly in his bed would not help him to find sleep.

He got up and silently walked to the cold stony stairs that lead to Gryffindor's Common Room. The pleasant fire burning in the hearth was long gone, and he sat heavily on the sofa, wrapping himself into a plaid that was there. 

Sometimes, Sirius felt like there was too much darkness. All around him, in his family... What if it was also there, deep inside of him but he just wasn’t aware of it? What if he didn’t even deserve to be in Gryffindor?

This mere thought brought tears to his eyes and he had to bite his tongue not to start crying.

Gryffindor, and his friends - the Marauders, they were eveything he had.

But what if he didn’t even deserve them?

Your POV

Hogwarts was cold.

It was so damn cold that very often, you woke up at night with chattering teeth and totally freezing, exactly like tonight. Despite your attempts to wrap yourself in your blankets, you could not help but shiver from head to toe. 

Groggy, you opened your eyes and intented to take your plaid at the foot of your bed in order to have an extra layer, when you realized that it wasn’t there.

Frowning, you glanced next to your bed, before remembering that you had forgotten it in the common room. You let out a small curse, and lied down again in your bed, too sleepy to even move a finger.

But after a few minutes, the cold got the best of you and you sighed, slowly getting up and making your way to the stony stairs, your arms wrapped around you. 

The rain was falling hard on the rooftops and mist was envelopping a full moon; its weak rays of light could be seen through the windows. You were expecting to find an empty common room at this hour of the night but a weird noise came to your ears. It was a mix of sniffings and sobs. Was someone crying?

When your eyes fell upon a silhouette wrapped in blankets by the fireplace, your eyebrows rose in astonishment. Because not only had you found your plaid, but someone had borrowed it. That someone was Sirius Black and obviously, he was not going well.

Quite intimidated, you did not dare to approach him at first. You were used to see him with James or the other Marauders, and that vision of him, so despressed and sad, contrasted with the one that you had of him every day: popular, funny, seductive, sometimes a bit arrogant and your friend Lily would add reckless and stupid, but you had always liked that wild and rebel side of him. Even if nobody knew it. Well, except Lily but it didn’t really count as she was your closest friend and best confidant.

As silently as you could, you came on the sofa to sit beside him and when he finally noticed your presence, Sirius jumped with surprise and quickly wiped off his eyes. His long black hair seemed even more ruffled that usual and despite the darkness of the room, you could see that his eyes were red. 

“Couldn’t sleep?” You asked him, feeling a bit stupid because you knew that it was a dumb question. 

“Not really. And you?” He whispered. He was looking directly at you and you could feel your cheeks turning red, thank Merlin, it was night.

“Hm, actually, I came to get my plaid back but..." you answered shyly, pointing the blanket he was wrapped in with your finger. 

“Oh, I am sorry, it is yours,” he apologized, but before he made the slightest move to give it back to you, you interrupted him. “Oh no, keep it. It looks like you need it more than I do.” 

You smiled at him and he smiled back at you thankfully, but his smile quickly vanished, and his gaze got lost deep, deep somewhere. His long locks of black hair fell back on his face and you felt the irrepressible need to put your fingers in them. But instead, you slowly put your hand on his arm and murmured, “need a shoulder?”

Sirius didn’t answer but looked back at you. His eyes were shiny - way more than usual, and you couldn’t bear to see such a sadness in him. 

“Here,” you said, taking out your wand from the pocket of your pyjamas and drawing a small square in the air. Soon after, a tissue appeared and you gave it to him with a smile. He looked at it for a long moment, and he fist tightened around it.

“Do you believe I am a bad person?”

It was only a faint murmure, and Sirius had said it very quickly, as if he was afraid of hearing the answer.

“No,” you answered almost straight away. 

“But... My parents and my family and... my brother and...”

“No,” you repeated with a stronger voice. “Sirius, you are a good person. You are the only good person of your family, you are just someone who bad things have happened to.”

A sad smile appeared on his face and his gaze was almost desesperate. A few tears escaped from his eyes as he said, “but what if... what if it’s there, you know? What if it’s in me too?”

Almost immediatly, your heart broke from seeing him like this. You took his hand and squeezed it lightly.

“You know, I think it’s no coincidence that you were named after the brightest star in the sky.” 

“What?” He laughed as he quickly wipped his tears off his cheeks.

“You are the brightest star amongst a sea of darkness. The only light of your family. Don’t you ever forget that. There is no such thing as a bad or a good heart. As long as you choose to act on the part that matters, you are a good person.”

Sirius stared at you for a long time, as if he was discovering you for the first time. He was crying again but he ended up smiling between his tears.

“Thank you, (Y/N). I believe this is the nicest thing I’ve ever been told.”

“I-I... really m-mean this,” you said as you realized that you were freezing again. 

“You cold,” Sirius noticed. “C’mere,” he said, starting to open his arms.

“N-no I’m f-”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” he smirked as he pulled you against him under the blankets, “this is your plaid.”

You could smell his intoxicating musky perfume, and your heart raced faster. Your eyes started to flutter and before you even knew it, you started to feel very tired.

“(Y/N)?”

“Mmmh?”

“Thank you.”

[heart-shaped-heart]

Being a younger Slytherin sister of Sirius and Regulus would include:

Since you’re the only daughter in family, Orion and even Walburga spoil you and raise you like you’re princess.

Your brothers love you a lot though. 

Obviously both of them are really overprotective.

Literally the whole Slytherin house looks after you and is always ready to protect you as a respect for Regulus Black. 

Also, though you’re not in Gryffindor, the Marauders crew is always here for you too since you’re trying to keep in touch with Sirius.  

Though you’re not really pleased by his belonging to the Gryffindor house, his friends and so on, he’s still your brother and you love him anyway.

When it comes to your very first date, both of them give you advices.

“Keep your face, show him your power. Don't let him too much.” “I got you, Reg.”

“...And remember: if he's rude or something, just tell me and I'll break his jaw.” “Yeah, sure... Thanks, Sirius.”

After Sirius runs away, you really miss him, but meet him only in school. 

When the whole Black family gathers on some events, you spend a lot of time with Bella and especially Cissy as they treat you as younger sister of theirs. 

You was the first person who discovers that Regulus joined Death Eaters, and you was truly terrified and shocked; not really because you didn't support their ideas but because you realized how dangerous it is and how terrible person Voldemort is. 

You also know that Bella, her husband and a lot of your schoolmates are Death Eaters too, but you worry about Regulus the most. You feel a war is coming, and you know what hazard can it bring.

When it comes to your marriage, Regulus is the only person in the universe who is able to make Walburga change her mind about your future husband and consider your opinion. 

That is why, your husband is still pureblood, still rich, still has famous family - all like your mother wanted, but, thanks to Reg, he is chosen by you, he is beloved, he is the one who can makes you happy.

...The last time ever when you see Regulus is the day of your wedding. He looks very happy, like even almost happier than you, and when you thank him for everything, he looks like he's about to cry. 

And next day you find a letter from him on your desk. A letter, where he admits that you always were right about Death Eaters, explains that he is gone because it is a right thing to do, apologizes for it and wishes you long happy life.   

You feel like it is you who died, not him.

And in a few month your father, Orion, dies too. Life strikes you blow by blow, but you live on. 

After all, when you give birth to your son, you don't listen to anyone and call him Regulus in honor of a glorious man who sacrificed himself for a great cause and for those he loved. 

And then... war suddenly ends. But this is not all the news unfortunately. You’re announced that a lot of your school friends and relatives such as Lestranges have gone to Azkaban. And though you’re terrified, you realize that they knew the risks and that you anyway cannot help them: the evidence is obvious. 

Also this day you is reported that Sirius is arrested. Of course you’re sure that your brother would not betray friends for Voldemort, especially after all he’s been through. 

So you and your husband pull strings, use every connections you can, argue in court. But Walburga has the last word after hours of persuasions from you and helps you too. And in the end Sirius is free. 

As soon as he is, you two has a long, deep, serious conversation, after which Sirius comes back home and makes up with mother. Now the great Black family has it’s heir again, and lonely mother has her son. In a few years she dies in happiness, near her family.

Sirius gets married, and his child is born almost at the same time with your daughter. He also takes care of his friend’s son, Harry Potter.

Besides house of Blacks, you spend a lot of time in Malfoy manor. Your little Regulus plays with Cissy’s little Draco while you two chat and do something like embroidery or sewing. 

You, two sisters, are happy that though both Draco and Regulus are the only boys in their families, they treat each other like brothers. 

Everything seems to be okay now, but another war is coming. 

When Voldemort is alive again, you understand that everything you love is under threat. However you cannot join neither Death Eaters nor the Order of the Phoenix because both path would make you betray someone of your dearest.

But you were put in freakin Slytherin not for your good looks, weren't you?

So you and your husband organize the third side of this war, an alliance of proud pureblood families who were tried to recruit by Voldemort but don't want to obey insane half-blood upstart. Malfoys are obviously the first who joined.

And in the end, due to the unity, power and ancient ancestral magic of this families, you finally won the war. 

And life continues. You live peacefully now in the world which you've build for your children and their children. 

Life just goes on. You are happy. 

...Just like Walburga, in some years you leave this world in safety and happiness, near your large family, always remembered as loyal sister, beloved wife, proud mother and caring grandmother.

[araniaexumae]

Jily Band + social media AU

Hi! This is a work that takes place in the same universe as Stare but it can be read as a standalone piece. As always, special thanks to Mia @blitheringmcgonagall who is the best jily cheerleader ever <3

also tagging @thebo and @ravenclaw-ft because they liked the snippet (thanks!)

10 Up-and-Coming British Rock Bands

Hogsmeade Magazine

Number 6 : The Marauders

After self-releasing their first EP, Up to no good, in January this year, the Marauders have charmed audiences with their genre-bending sound and boy-band looks. By listening to the first songs, you would classify them as a classic rock band, and a good one at that. But if you pay closer attention, you’ll be able to discern some hip-hop or pop influences depending on the song. They originally made themselves known on the internet through youtube, in a delightful mix of music videos and ridiculous prank vlogs.

Peter Pettigrew @scabbers

@siriuslypretty @prongspotter @notromulus check it out guys we r famous now

hogsmeademag.net

Sirius Black @siriuslypretty

@scabbers @prongspotter @notromulus fucking FINALLY

James F. Potter @prongspotter

@siriuslypretty @scabbers @notromulus um what do they mean by ridiculous prank vlogs?

READ ON AO3

---------

London’s newest boy band is cuter than 1D

Rita Skeeter for Puddifoot Weekly

Call my title clickbait-y all you want, my readers know I only write the truth. And the truth is that London’s newest rock band the Marauders are sweet on the eyes. You might have heard Stare , which is their most popular number, on the radio. And if you’ve ever seen a picture of lead vocalist James Potter, you will wish he was singing it to you the next time you hear it! The young singer is the son of philanthropists Fleamont and Euphemia Potter and if his music career doesn’t work out, his inheritance already makes him into a very eligible bachelor. My sources tell me he’s still single, so the game is on! May the best lady win.

But no worries, there are enough men to go around! The three other members are just as attractive. You might recognize Sirius Black from his short career in modeling. He posed for several pieces for Walburga Black’s line when he was a child, but we all know about his dramatic falling out with his family since. ( Black heir disowned? ) It’s a shame he won’t model anymore, because I don’t get tired of looking at him. And his mysterious troubled past only adds to the charm!

The other members, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew, while more discreet, are just as handsome. There’s less drama surrounding their names… for now! I’ll be on the lookout!

Sirius Black @siriuslypretty

@prongspotter @notromulus @scabbers lol who would ever think James is attractive?

puddifootweekly.co.uk

Remus Lupin @notromulus

@siriuslypretty @scabbers @prongspotter you’re just jealous cause you weren’t called eligible

Sirius Black @siriuslypretty

@notromulus @prongspotter @scabbers idc I have bad boy charm

Peter Pettigrew @scabbers

@siriuslypretty @notromulus @prongspotter lmao I’m just imagining all the ladies fighting for james

Sirius Black @siriuslypretty

@prongspotter @notromulus @scabbers lol like that would ever happen

James F. Potter @prongspotter

@siriuslypretty @notromulus @scabbers I want a solo career

---

The Potter heir not so eligible anymore?

Rita Skeeter for Puddifoot Weekly

Pictures of James Potter and a mysterious redhead holding hands at a bus stop had all of internet screaming last night. Twitter user @bathildabagsht posted a picture yesterday afternoon and the band’s fanbase went crazy for it. For all the picture’s blurriness, any fan of the Marauders would recognize James Potter’s signature messy black hair. Oh how I wish I could run my hands through these locks! The woman’s identity is still unknown but you know me, keeping a secret is basically asking me to uncover it!

---

Euphemia Potter @euphemiapotter

Immensely proud of our son @siriuslypretty for his speech at the #pottergala last night! We love you!

The Marauders speak up about homophobia

The Quibbler

Last week, the Potter foundation held its annual fundraising gala, and this year’s goal was to support LGBTQ+ shelters. The presence of the Marauders was no surprise for anyone, since James Potter is the band’s lead vocalist and guitar player. The band arrived on the stage unannounced and performed a few songs, to the crowd’s delight. The biggest surprise, however, came after their set. Piano player Sirius Black remained on stage to hold a speech about his own experience with homophobia. Rumours surrounding his sexuality had first surfaced several years ago when his family publicly disowned him, but neither party had commented on it. In a moving speech, Sirius finally put an end to the gossip and came out as gay. He opened up about his difficult childhood and thanked the Potters for taking him in. But rather than detailing everything he said, I would rather you see it for yourself. ( Sirius Black’s speech at the 2019 Potter gala ) His way with words could bring anyone to tears and it’s no wonder that he writes most of the Marauders ’ song lyrics. Congratulations, Sirius!

Severus Snape @halfbloodprince

never been a fan of the potter foundation or the marauders but @siriusly ‘s speech last night was disgusting. no wonder the blacks threw him out

Peter Pettigrew @scabbers

@halfbloodprince U R disgusting

Remus Lupin @notromulus

@halfbloodprince wow thanks for voicing your opinion on the subject, it really matters to us

James Potter @prongspotter

@halfbloodprince his speech was better than your entire existence

Severus Snape @halfbloodprince

@notromulus @prongspotter voicing my opinion is my right

Lily Evans @flowerevans

@halfbloodprince you can use your right to stfu sev

James F. Potter @prongspotter

@flowerevans how are you so perfect?

----

James Potter’s girlfriend no longer a mystery

Rita Skeeter for Puddifoot Weekly

Remember when the internet went crazy for a picture of our beloved James with a mysterious woman on a bus? Well she’s no longer a mystery! IfJames Potter’s recent tweet left you with any doubt about his relationship with Lily Evans aka @flowerevans, yesterday’s pics will clear it up. The two were seen at upcoming photographer Dorcas Meadowes’ gallery opening and looked pretty cosy. The two left the event hand in hand and kissed just outside the venue. What a lucky girl!

But who is this Lily Evans? There’s not much about her on the internet but digging through her twitter will tell you that she’s part Irish and a chemist, so I guess our James has a thing for intellectuals. They’ve been seen on the bus several times after the first pics so they probably took the same route. Wait, what if she took that bus on purpose until she met him? Could she be a stalker? Guess I’ll just have to find out!

James F. Potter @prongspotter

@flowerevans omg quit stalking me

puddifootweekly.co.uk

Lily Evans @flowerevans

@prongspotter you’re an idiot

James F. Potter @prongspotter

@flowerevans maybe but i’m your idiot <3 <3

Peter Pettigrew @scabbers

@prongspotter @flowerevans pls stop

Sirius Black @siriuslypretty

@prongspotter @flowerevans so does that mean I’m now the most eligible potter heir?

Remus Lupin @notromulus

@siriusblack you sure about that?

Sirius Black @siriuslypretty

@notromulus ask me again tonight ;)

[lulublack90]

Prompt 24 - Candy

@jegulus-microfic March 24 Word count 995

Previous part First part

They arrived at the boundaries of Malfoy Manor, dressed in their best dress robes. Walburga had insisted that Remus be left at Grimmauld Place, locked in his room. Regulus hadn’t protested. He knew better than to defy his mother. He had locked Remus in himself. That way, he knew Remus wouldn’t be hurt if he tried to escape. If his mother had set up the wards and Remus had tried to break them, he would have been cursed. 

Regulus had also left his mirror with Remus and his walkman. Then he could talk to Sirius or James if he wanted and listen to music. Regulus hadn’t realised how much he actually liked Remus Lupin. He’d pulled a face when he realised he cared that Remus was comfortable while he was locked up. 

Walburga snapped him out of his thoughts with her sharp tone. 

“Best behaviour tonight, Regulus. Do not disappoint me.” 

“Yes, Maman.” He said, his back straightening slightly as he slipped into his posh little pureblood Lord role. 

Orion stepped up to the door, and it instantly opened. A tiny house elf greeted them. She was wearing a tea towel emblazoned with the Malfoy family crest. 

“Lord and Lady Black and Young Master Black, please be following Candy to the drawing room.” She bowed low and turned. They followed her, the front door magically closing after Regulus had entered.

Candy led them to the largest of the drawing rooms. Walburga would have settled for no less and taken offence if anywhere else had been suggested. 

Narcissa was well aware of her Aunt’s temperament and had gone all out. Magical cocktails waited for them. A deep red one that slowly shifted to green and left the drinker smoking at the mouth called dragon’s breath. It was quite refreshing, with a spicy hit that Regulus found surprisingly pleasant. And a blue shimmery one that fizzed and popped, named after the famous sweet’s fizzing wizzbies. Regulus thought Remus would enjoy that one. He had to quickly shut down that thought. Figuring out that he liked Remus was already becoming an annoyance. 

Candy kept popping in and out, bringing more and more alcohol. Regulus had taken to vanishing small amounts of his. He needed to be clear-headed for what he had planned.  

Orion’s voice had grown steadily louder with each drink. But when no one else was looking, he winked at Regulus. He realised that Orion was doing exactly what he was. He knew how important tonight was. 

Candy reappeared and whispered something to Narcissa, who stood opening her arms, letting her silk dress robes flow around her and proclaimed that dinner was served. 

The meal was just as exciting as the drinks had been. Narcissa may be married to a Malfoy, but she was a Black at heart and loved drama. 

Seven courses later, Regulus was feeling sleepy with the amount of food he had eaten. He hadn’t taken that into consideration. 

They retired to the drawing room, the fireplace now blazing. Cognac and coffee were passed around, and they settled in for the rest of the evening, discussing politics and his mother’s favourite topic, the Dark Lord. 

“Regulus has a wolf staying in our guest room,” She complained. “But it is at the behest of the Dark Lord, so I can not go against his wishes. But it makes me feel physically sick thinking that halfbreed is lurking in our ancestral home.” Regulus kept quiet, waiting for his chance.  

Candy had just refreshed everyone’s drink, and he made his move. 

He stood and excused himself, saying he wouldn’t be a moment. He made sure to sway slightly, as officially, he’d drunk quite a few of those lethal cocktails. 

He didn’t even know if the last Horcrux was here. He’d spent enough time around the others to hopefully be able to pick out the dark magic that surrounded each of the ones they’d found. The only problem was Malfoy Manor was enormous. Far bigger than anything Lucius and Narcissa could ever need, but Regulus also knew the Manor like the back of his hand. He started in the collections rooms. There were some very dark artefacts in there, but nothing that felt familiar. He slipped down to the hidden rooms beneath the Manor where the really dark stuff was. Again, nothing stood out. 

He checked Lucius’s bedroom and Narcissa’s, just in case. Lucius had a lot of portraits of himself in his, but other than that, it was pretty boring. 

He was about to give up and head back to the drawing-room when a shiver ran through him. Almost as though he was being led, he opened the door he’d just walked past. It led him into the vast library. 

He was running out of time. They would notice he was still gone soon and come looking for him. He closed his eyes and tried to feel out where he needed to go. It was definitely the same magic. He walked towards the centre and the round bookcase. It was beautiful, all dark wood and rising right to the ceiling. 

The books on it were the pride of the Malfoy collection. He didn’t want to think what some of them were bound in. But there on the display shelf was something completely out of place. 

A small black diary stood pride of place on its own stand. The dark magic was dripping off it. Regulus picked it up and flicked it open. It was blank. But he knew it was a Horcrux.

He did something next that would haunt him for the rest of his life. He grabbed the nearest book that just happened to be a first edition of Moste Potente Potions and tore a page from it. Quickly, he transfigured it to look like the notebook and replaced it. He checked his work one last time and was about to leave when. 

“And what exactly are you doing, Regulus?” Lucius Malfoy purred just behind him.  

Next part

[lyricfrost13]

My AO3 Fics

Yup I write fanfiction in addition to the doodles I post on here a lot, so I’m going to start posting links to them here because that’s a thing people do.  If you’re a reader of my stuff, feel free to message me/send an ask!  If you message me just say in the first message that you’re a reader so I know where you’re coming from.  

If you don’t want to sift through this post, but want to follow me, here:

Haunted_Frost on AO3

Anyway! *tosses fic in the air* Catch!

Family and Dissociation from Awkward Situations

Fandoms: Batman - All Media Types DCU Gotham (TV) Super Sons (Comics) Batman Beyond

Not Rated (but probably T at best) Choose Not To Use Archive Warnings;  Language: English. Words: 25,262. Chapters: 8/8. Minor or Background Relationships

 Characters: Bruce Wayne Jason Todd Dick Grayson Alfred Pennyworth Tim Drake Barbara Gordon Damian Wayne Duke Thomas Stephanie Brown Kate Kane Harper Row Cassandra Cain Minor Characters Original Characters Joker (DCU) Terry McGinnis Mar'i Grayson Jerome Valeska

Tags: Bat Family, Reconciliation, Family Feels, My First Work in This Fandom, POV Multiple, Not Beta Read, Catholic Character, Time Travel, Jason-Centric, Babysitting, Alternate Universe, Team as Family, Panic Attacks, News Media, Fluff and Humor, Some Plot

Jason's returned to Gotham to find things oddly different, but mostly the same. As he reacquaints himself with the Bats, and as they begin a new case or two, it might just turn out that the Red Hood belonged there all along. Reunions are uncomfortable, but sometimes they just might be worth it.

The Barnes Family Portrait

Fandoms: Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Avengers (Marvel) - All Media Types, Captain America (Movies), Winter Soldier (Comics)

Teen And Up Audiences, No Archive Warnings Apply, Gen, Part 1 of The White Wolf, Language: English. Words: 8,328.

Characters: James "Bucky" Barnes Steve Rogers Natasha Romanov Tony Stark Rebecca Barnes Proctor Scott Proctor (Marvel) Kimberly Proctor Howling Commandos Peggy Carter

Tags:  Alternate Universe Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence Bucky Barnes Recovering Family Team as Family Art Artist Steve Rogers Avenger Bucky Barnes Reunions Identity Reveal Secret Identity Bucky Barnes Feels Bucky Barnes-centric Steve Rogers Feels

"I began by being perplexed about my body; and I ended by being anxious about my soul. In short, I wished to know what I was." -Adolphe Monod

Bucky Barnes wrenches control back with his own two hands, and so does Steve - they find each other anyway, because the whole Barnes family is built to last, and so are they.

All Go Bare and Live by the Air

Fandoms: Deadpool - All Media Types, Spider-Man - All Media Types, Marvel Cinematic Universe

Mature, Choose Not To Use Archive Warnings, M/M,  Language: English. Words: 32,417. Chapters: 27/27

Peter Parker/Wade Wilson Peter Parker Wade Wilson Tony Stark Bruce Banner Steve Rogers Clint Barton Natasha Romanova Matt Murdock May Parker (Spider-Man) Rebecca Barnes Proctor Gwen Stacy Mary Jane Watson Harry Osborn Eleanor Camacho

Tags: Song Lyrics Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence Slow Burn Knitting Wade Wilson Needs A Hug Peter Parker is an Avenger Avengers Family Fluff Panic Attacks Implied/Referenced Self-Harm Photographer Peter Parker Dadpool Implied Sexual Content Kidnapping Happy Ending

Each chapter accompanied by a verse from "Bedlam Boys"; this fic alternates between Peter and Wade as they recover themselves and find each other.

The Fighting and Most Sensible Brothers Black

Fandoms: Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling

Teen And Up Audiences No Archive Warnings Apply Gen Complete Work  Language: English. Words: 3,173.

Characters: Regulus Black & Sirius Black Minor or Background Relationship(s) Sirius Black Regulus Black Walburga Black Orion Black Remus Lupin Harry Potter

Tags: Regulus Black Lives Sirius Black Lives Brotherly Love Marauders' Era Grimmauld Place Book 5: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Animagus

Snippets of Sirius and Regulus growing up, growing apart, and growing together again.

Team Free Will

Fandoms: Supernatural

Mature No Archive Warnings Apply M/M, Other Complete Work  Language: English. Words: 21,808. Chapters: 16/16.

Characters: Gabriel/Sam Winchester Catiel/Dean Winchester Dean Winchester Sam Winchester Castiel Gabriel Charlie Bradbury Bobby Singer

Tags: Alternate Universe - Superheroes/Superpowers Superhero Dean Superhero Sam Superhero Castiel Superhero Gabriel

In the cities of Crossroads, Garrison, Lawrence, and Palo Alto, four heroes have begun to work together against the crime organization, Hell. Locals aren't sure what to call the group-they run by their own rules, but get the job done.

The Hunter, who's famous for taking down a branch of Hell with just his gun, the legendary Colt at his side, is really just Dean Winchester, a mechanic trying to save the world. Legacy, the calm, collected man that can take out a criminal in a blink of an eye, is Sam Winchester, who just wants to prove that he isn't a freak, that he can do good in the world. Enoch-the silent, mysterious dark-winged angel that works part time for the Host, is Castiel Shurley, who is far more lost than he dares let anyone see. The Trickster left the Host and his Herald name behind, preferring to dish out justice as he saw it--Gabriel Shurley won't let his family make him choose a side again.

And when stirrings of Hell threaten the lives of those they love, nothing can stand in the way of Team Free Will.

Five Lights Rising

Fandoms: Supernatural

Teen And Up Audiences No Archive Warnings Apply F/M, M/M. Part 1 of Five Lights. Language: English. Words: 46,832. Chapters: 32/32.

Characters:  Castiel/Dean Winchester Gabriel/Sam Winchester Adam Milligan/OFC Dean Winchester Sam Winchester Castiel Gabriel Original Female Character(s) Adam Milligan Amara  Chuck Shurley Crowley  Rowena MacLeod Original Male Character(s)

Tags: Season 11 au Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence Originally Posted on FanFiction.Net Angel Dean Winchester Angel Sam Winchester Archangels Season/Series 11 Trials Hellhounds Time Travel prayers Archangel Sam Winchester Archangel Dean Winchester Happy Ending Everything is Beautiful and Nothing Hurts Alternate Season/Series 11

Against the Darkness, the boys will need new and old allies to save the world again.

Faced with orders from a God who won't show his face, they will have to endure the Heavenly Trials, a series of tasks that will ensure they have the power to take down something as old as God himself.

Coming Back Again

Fandoms: Supernatural

Teen And Up Audiences No Archive Warnings Apply Gen Complete Work Part 2 of Five Lights. Language: English. Words: 5,872. 

Characters: Gabriel & Lucifer & Michael & Raphael Minor or Background Relationship(s) Lucifer Michael Raphael Gabriel Sam Winchester Chuck Shurley 

Tags: Oneshot Archangel Gabriel Archangel Sam Winchester Human Lucifer Human Michael Human Raphael Vessels Time Travel Family Feels Brotherhood

Chuck decided, after the whole fiasco with Amara resurrecting his sons, that they deserved a human life. Gabriel's assignment, after running so far, was to stay close and protect his now-human brothers in the past.

Snippets of their lives come together, and they realize that no matter what, the universe seems to circle around back to them. 

[seriouslyblacklikemysoul]

“Brisé, pourtant vivant” - Part II - S.B.

A/N: Part II! I know, I know... it’s not very exciting but! there are plenty more to come... if you want! As always, I would love to receive any kind of feedback.   Adelaide Kane as Rose(in my mind)  [Warnings: My poor English, as always. Triggering thoughts(sorry about that) and swearing. (Age gap?) Let me know if I missed something] {Friendly Reminder: Requests are open!} Part I  

   I climbed the stairs trying to get to the attic so I could sneak out of the window and into the roof. As I have done many times. But, emphasis on the trying. “Rose!”, a voice gasped out. I took one look at her and understood that she wanted to know where Harry was. “Hello Hermione”, I greeted her. She was such a great witch, but she was always so tense “Do you know when Harry will be arriving?” she asked worryingly. I offered her a reassuring smile. “Soon. Don’t worry Mione. He is going to be okay”, I told her and all I could do was wish for all of us to be okay. She smiled back and nodded, returning to her room… And I hurried through the rest of the floors until I reached the door that led to my freedom. Momentarily free. How bittersweet.     I snuck inside and closed the door behind me. I crept out of the window and sat down near it, but hidden behind it as well. That was all I would ever be. Hidden away in the dark of an old place, never truly belonging anywhere. Not even to my own self. Alone.     I have tried to convince myself that I was okay with being alone. That it didn’t matter. That I didn’t need someone in my life. That I could do this by myself; I didn’t need to be saved; I was fine.   How many lies? How many times did I have to repeat them, in order to finally believe them? I took a deep breath. How was I going to survive another year? Another day?! Nothing in my life seemed to be okay. My “parents” were the very people I had to fight. There was a war coming up and everyone knew it. Well, everyone who could think, that is. So how was I supposed to face them on the battlefield? How was I supposed to-   They weren’t nice. They weren’t family material. They had used all of the curses and even some more on me… so many times that I had lost count. They hated me. They disowned me, for Merlin’s sake. The house itself never-not once-felt like home. I was forced to do things, learn languages, master the piano and dance like a professional at those fake balls. I was forced out of everything a child deserves.     I still remember how they would react when even the slightest mistake was made. They expected nothing less than the cold perfection. However, the worst was yet to come. I was a pureblood. A royal pureblood. Every time someone said they were jealous of that very fact, I would really wish to just trade places. Because who would want their head to be on the line? Who would want all that cruelty and all that misery? The guilt that keeps you up at night due to the things your “family” had done? The loneliness that creeps into your heart and never leaves?         I had to create a façade… But, unfortunately, that façade never lasted very long. Once I was left alone…the pain would be waiting for me.     I first tried to kill myself when I had just turned eleven years old. Eleven. And to this day I remember everything. How easy was for me to push myself inside that bathtub and keep my head under the water. How easy it was to ignore the burning feeling that was building up in my lungs as my body was screaming, with the urge to survive, to my mind, which had shut down and wanted to let go. As though I was born with the capacity to self-destruct.     I said it was an accident. I lied and denied everything so casually that for a second I was truly grateful for that fake façade. I was built with an addictive personality. I could not deny that. I liked pretty little-well hidden-white lines and smoking cigarettes. I couldn’t give it up. Maybe I didn’t want to. I was decomposing. I was burning out.     I looked at the sky, wondering…was there someone else looking at it too?  Were we looking for the same things? What did they see? Were they mesmerized or were they trying so hard not to feel alone? And failing? Miserably…   I had come up here to smoke, but I was already numb. After, what felt to be, hours, I climbed down and got inside.     Harry was here. His voice was loud enough to be heard across the country. I didn't want to deal with this. However, it seemed rather inevitable. I plastered a fake smile on my face and walked towards the group. “More issues than Vogue, Harry” I said in a playful tone. He stopped yelling for a second and cracked a smile. “Hey, Rose. Sorry for being so loud” he answered sheepishly. I smiled and shrugged it off. “What is Vogue?” Fred asked all of the sudden. He looked puzzled. Like he was actually trying to find out on his own. Hermione snorted and started laughing. I gave him a funny look. “Muggle stuff, ginger” I nonchalantly answered, wiggling my eyebrows once. “So, do you know what are they talking about?” Harry interrupted before Fred could say anything. Or worse. Come up with a cheesy pickup line, as always. “Not really”. Well, that was not entirely a lie. Okay, maybe it was. I did know about the prophecy. But that was not my secret to tell. Or my call to make. “Maybe we should get in there” Ron said in a haze. My eyebrows shot up into heavens. “Maybe you do want to be killed by your mother after all” I said sarcastically. The tips of his ears went pink and a blush crept to his cheeks.     After a few brief moments, they started talking about Percy and how he had gotten the promotion that he so desired. It was rather strange, really. Fudge must be a complete idiot. Why would anyone doubt that Voldemort is back? Hasn’t he saw that the Dementors were out of the ministry’s control? That Deatheaters were roaming the streets? How many more deaths before he could realize that we were in danger?     Hermione tried to explain what had happened and why people wouldn’t believe that he was back. It was true that the Daily Prophet was indeed against Harry. Like on a personal level. It was a mockery. Who would want to become famous because somebody murdered their parents and failed to kill them too? I mean, it was sickening to describe Harry, or anyone for that matter, like that. Not all people were attention seekers. Harry was definitely not. “…you really shouldn’t be, not if they abide by their own laws, there’s no case against you ” Hermione trailed off, referring to the disciplinary board Harry was facing. “People don’t want to believe you because they still remember what happened last time, Harry. I do not condone it, but I get it. Imagine having lost family members and friends… loved ones, the last time Voldemort was on the rise. How easy would be for you to accept the fact that he was never truly gone?” I tried to reason. And it was probably true. I mean, after all this time and the assurances, who would want to- Harry didn’t get to answer because Molly had walked on us. Fred was trying to hide his expendable ear, George was too busy pretending to look innocent and Ginny was trying to hide her hands. Dungbombs. I smiled faintly. “Dinner is ready. Come on Harry everyone is eager to see you. Oh, Rose… Tonks wants to talk to you” Molly said. She went on but I had already left the room and was heading toward the kitchen. But before I could manage that, I saw Dora knocking over the troll-leg umbrella stand with a crash. A really loud crash. “Filth! Scum! By-products of dirt and vileness! Half-breeds, mutants, freaks, begone from this place! How dare you befoul the house of my fathers-”. I glared daggers at Dora. She kept apologizing and Walburga wouldn’t shut it.“Shut up. SHUT UP”, Sirius yelled at her. And just like that… welcome headache! Sirius yelling at her wasn’t the best idea, judging by the fact that she started spitting insults even louder. It took almost twice the strength to pull the curtains down. If she wasn’t dead alright, I would have murdered her.  “Hello, Harry, I see you've met my mother" Sirius said grimly as he looked over at his godson. That was my cue. I grabbed Dora’s arm and dragged her all the way to the kitchen before anyone else could follow. That earned me a confused glance from Remus.   “So, besides being clumsy, what else do you want to tell me?” I asked her as we sat down next to each other. “Oh, hello there Rose”. I looked up and gave a sweet smile to Bill and Arthur. “Hi, Bill. Mr. Weasley. How are you? Need any help?” I said gesturing at the papers he was trying to fold. “Yours, yes. Dora’s… no Merlin, no” he laughed as a grin made its way into my face. His words though made Dora turn abruptly to fire something back but… she knocked a candle down. And a scroll was covered in wax. I laughed at Bill’s expression. “Oh no. I am sorry. I-”. She looked sorry. But I couldn’t help it; a giggle left my mouth and she glared at me. “It’s okay dear” Molly said clearly tired of all the accidents that had occurred. “Just sit down, trouble. And do tell what’s up” I light-heartily told her while the others tried to clean up the mess. “Okay, don’t get me wrong, but I need to ask you something. Rose, do you li-”. But let me thank Merlin one more time. Molly was preparing the table for the dinner. And it was kind of chaotic. Fred and George happened. I just stood there, doing nothing, thinking about everything.

Part III

Part IV

Part V (smut)

[readersimagine]

Green Eyes and Auburn Hair (x reader) pt 1

Note: this was suppose to be a request for a ship but I got carried away and decided to make a series. Huzzah!!! I hope you like it!!!

So, this will be a reader insert as usual. 

Y/N L/N = your name and last name (my sister had no clue so maybe others out there don’t know either :) )

y/bff/n = your best friend’s name

Requested by: @thoughts-from-a-ravenclaw

It wasn’t the first time Hogwarts accepted a transfer student from Ilvermorny, but this was the first time the entire school has seen one in years. Needless to say, the school was on a frenzy on the first day that Y/N L/N arrived on Hogwarts. Whispers of a beautiful transfer student with auburn hair, green eyes, and a beautiful freckled face began at the last week of summer, and was carried along  the train and the grand hallways of Hogwarts. 

She was the talk of the town.

When she arrived in the Hogwarts station, she got off the train and was greeted by the sight of tall pines trees - not unlike those found on the grounds around Ilvermorny - and looming over her from the distance, Hogwarts. The castle was so different from the alma mater she used to call home. With her bags at her side, she looked for her guide. She was greeted by a boy with platinum blonde hair wearing a green uniform at the station. He smiled at her and extended his hand.

 “The name is Lucius Malfoy, a Slytherin prefect. I believe we are in the same year.” he said, words laced with honey.

 Y/N hesitated to take his hand but eventually shook his.

 “Y/N L/N, a Horned Serpent prefect from Ilvermorny. I assume you are my guide today?”

Y/N spoke softly and silvery. Her voice sounded music to his ears.

 “Indeed, I am. I will be taking you to Professor McGonagall for the ceremony.” he walked to her side and grabbed her bags, carrying them as they both made their way to the castle.

 Lingering eyes scanned her frame. Sea of bodies made way for what the wizarding world called as “The Golden Girl”. Soft whispers disturbed the tranquility of the forest pathway to Hogwarts.

 “Is that Y/N L/N?” Y/N heard a whisper from her right as she and Malfoy walked towards the castle.

 They entered the entrance hall and made their way to the Chamber of Reception. He placed her bags at the side as they both made their way to Professor McGonagall while walking through a parted sea of first years. The professor was busy lining up the first years for the Sorting ceremony. The prefect caught the professor’s attention, introducing Y/N to Professor McGonagall.

 “Why Miss L/N, I hope you had a pleasant train ride to Hogwarts.” Professor McGonagall said warmly at her.

 “I did, professor. I just didn’t expect to get that much attention from students.” Y/n admitted.

 “I hate to tell you this but you will have to face all those students once again for the Sorting Ceremony. You will be the last in line to be sorted.” Much to her dismay, Professor McGonagall just told her the last thing she wanted to hear.

 “But professor-” she tried to reason.

 “There was much debate on when you would get sorted. Majority of the professors said it was best fit to separate you from the first-year students.” The professor explained.

 “I see.”

 “Why in the world would they make me the last one? All the attention will be directed to me and everyone will be anticipating which house I’ll be sorted in.” Y/n thought.

 The professor left the two of them alone and started organizing the first years once again. Lucius turned to her and smiled.

 “You’ll be alright, Y/N. I’ll see you in the sorting ceremony.” he said and left to go to the Slytherin Dungeons.

 The Sorting Ceremony finally began. Y/N waited on the side, wearing her old Ilvermorny colours proudly. Her heart pounding on her chest loudly as she waited for her name to be called.

 “This will be different from last time.” she thought to herself.

 “Now when I call your name, you will come forth and I shall place the sorting hat on your head. And you will be sorted into your houses.” Professor McGonagall started. The professor looked at the list and glanced up. All the first years were called out one by one and each house clapped for the student they receive. The suspense in the air however started to build up after each student. The awaiting moment of Y/N’s sorting was finally about to come.

 Finally, the last student was about to be called. Everyone turned to look at her standing on the left side of the Great Hall.

 “Y/N L/N.” the professor called out her name.

 Y/N started walking towards the chair by the steps to the professor’s table where Professor McGonagall was standing and sat on it. All eyes on her as she walked with purpose and held her head high. Gasps and soft whispers filled the Great Hall. All eyes on the Ilvermorny girl. Soon enough, they were silenced when the professor placed the hat on her head.

 “Hmmm. An Ilvermorny, here in flesh and blood!” the hat exclaimed, and soon the room fell to hush. The sorting hat began to speak. Only it’s voice echoed the hall.

“A horned serpent blood has run through your veins for the longest time,” it began.

 Everyone in the room listened attentively to what the hat is about to say especially the House of Slytherin. Their hopes of Y/N joining their house ignited when they learned from Malfoy’s lips earlier that she was sorted in the House of Horned Serpent back in Ilvermorny. The sight of her wearing her colors proudly confirmed the rumors speculating among their parents conversations with their exclusive friends. They awaited another serpent to join their prestigious club of purebloods but little did they know the true meaning of her house.

 “Ambitious. Headstrong. Passionate to people. Scholarly…” the hat listed out her characteristics one by one. Each house began to believe their chances of getting the golden girl of the wizarding world in their side. Everyone on the edge of their seats as they waited for the verdict.

 “Ravenclaw!” the sorting hat exclaimed.

 The Ravenclaw house cheered when they heard their house name. McGonagall took the hat from her head and let her walk to her house table. She stood up from the chair and walked gracefully to towards her new house table.

 As she descended the steps, she caught four particular pairs of eyes from the Gryffindor table, which was placed beside her table. The four are gazing at her especially the boy with black untamed hair with a pair of hazel eyes hidden by a pair of glasses. She locked eyes with the boy and everything went in a blur. In her field of vision, everything focused on the boy. Her breath hitched, her heart hammered, her stomach fluttered. When the boy blinked, she came back from her daze. She looked back at her table. She smiled to all of her housemates as they made room for her to sit. She sat beside a lovely Ravenclaw in her year.

 “Hi, my name is Y/N.” she offered her hand to the person.

 “Y/Bff/N.” the person smiled and shook her hand.

 Dumbledore said his welcoming speech before the feast began. Everyone’s attention in the Ravenclaw table was on the transfery, waiting for her next move. Unsure of what to do, Y/N looked around to see everyone looking at her. She gave them a smile.

 “You don’t have to wait for me to get my food.” she chuckled and the whole table sighed.

 The whole table was finally able to breath. Her presence has made the whole table nervous. She was seen as the golden girl of their generation. Someone as perfect, closest to becoming as one of the greats.

 “We were just at awe to see you, L/N. You are the most amazing witch the whole world.” a boy sitting in front of Y/N said, who still looked uneasy speaking to her.

 “I’m just like one of you. Don’t think of me as anything else. What’s your name?” Y/N smiled at him. His heart practically melted when he saw her beautiful warm smile.

 “The name is Jude.” he shyly said as he shifted to his seat.

 Meanwhile on the table beside hers, the four boys, also known as the Marauders, remain their attention on her.

 “She’s breathtaking.” Peter sighed dreamily with his elbows on the table and his hands propping his head up.

 “I still can’t believe she transferred to Hogwarts. I only knew her through the papers. Now she’s living and breathing the same air as us.” the chubby brown haired boy shook his head as he continued.

 “So the rumors were true. It’s been speculating over the last term.” Remus, a tall boy with light brown hair and hazel eyes said as he took pieces of sausages from the serving plate.

“Indeed. The news that the only daughter of the revolutionary wizard researcher Dr. L/N was transferring to Hogwarts was the main topic of conversations especially of the purebloods.” Sirius, the boy with long black hair and smoky grey eyes stated. Putting a finger on his right ear, he continued.

“Walburga wouldn’t stop talking about it with Abraxas Malfoy when they had their annual summer meetings. Reckon she’s planning to set me up with L/N.” Sirius rolled his eyes and looked at Y/N laughing with her new found friends.

 “Or worse she might force you to compete with Lucius Malfoy for her hand.” Peter piped in while grabbing food to eat for supper. James, the boy with black untamed curly hair with a pair of hazel eyes hidden by a pair of glasses, just listened to his friends talk while sitting beside Peter and watching Y/N.

 “Isn’t he arranged to be wed with your cousin Narcissa?” Remus turned to Sirius, who is sitting beside him.

 “They often change their minds when the best thing comes around.” Sirius said as he motions waving hands, giving up understanding his mother’s pureblood way of thinking.

 James being curious as a cat, leaned closer to Sirius, who is sitting across from him.

 “What do you mean?” James asked.

 “She topped the overall score rankings of all wizarding schools while playing lead actress for that famous musical showing last year. She also got the best actress award.” Sirius said.

 “You mean that play my parents watch last Christmas?! She was that girl?” James with his wide open whispered loudly at Sirius.

 “Indeed.” Sirius chuckled at the sight of his best mate. Remus noticed James reaction as well. He looked at Sirius and Sirius got the look.

 “Well you can say that Y/N L/N is the best wizard in the whole world.” Remus said, pushing James’s buttons.

 “And the most beautiful girl.” Sirius joined in with his mischievous smirk on his face.

 “Indeed. The most beautiful girl.” Peter said dreamily causing Remus to chuckle at the fanstruck boy.

 “Bu-but not the most beautiful girl to me.” James exclaimed.

 “Says the boy who saw her play thousands of times.” Sirius commented.

 “It was a good play, ok?!” James defended himself as he placed mashed potatoes on his plate.

 “Whatever you say mate. Whatever you say.” Sirius shook his head as he grabbed food as well. “I wonder what your sweet Lily would say.” he laughed.

 James looked up to where Y/N was sitting. He caught her gaze and saw her smile at him.