#i mostly see remus and sirius the way some artists draw them

[getawayfox]

Because @crazybutgood and I spend our days enabling each other, we're back with another rec list! This time's niche theme is all about art. Some works focus on art as a main concept, while others feature artist characters or art in some form. Here is part 1 of our recs with a colourful mix of both! All works marked by 🌈 are recced by CBG, and those marked by 🎨 are recced by me.

🎨Finely Drawn Lines by @the-sinking-ship (E, 64k, Draco/Harry) 

Draco doesn’t consider himself an artist (though the dozens of sketchbooks lining his shelves might suggest differently). Yet ever since Potter returned to Hogwarts, accepting a teaching position alongside Draco, his drawings have taken on a rather singular focus. From the curl of his lips to the exact number of lines that form at the corners of his eyes when he laughs, Draco has catalogued every shade of one Harry James Potter between the pages of his sketchbook. So long as Potter remains none the wiser, Draco will have no trouble controlling his crush. But when Potter comes to him with a dangerous proposition, Draco fears things are about to get so much more complicated.

Before he realised it, Draco had gone ahead and catalogued Harry Potter’s every expression. And this was precisely the reason Draco could never let Potter see inside his sketchbook. What he was doing would most certainly be considered creepy, although he never meant for it to be. It wasn’t as if he was following Potter around or lurking in dark corners, carving his portrait into every surface. It was simply that Potter was a very good subject. 

Oh, and Draco was a bit in love with him. There was that.

🎨The Art of the Matter by @thestarryknight  (E, 5k, Draco/Harry)

Someone has been casting increasingly awful curses on artworks, targeting Muggle viewers. Draco and Harry are one of the best cursebreaking teams around despite their penchant for distraction in cloak closets. Their latest case? A Muggle portrait in the Paris Salon with a virulent blood curse.

In seven years, Harry had learned a thousand ways to take Draco apart. Most of these did not need a single word or a single touch, so attuned were they to the very intimacies of each other’s motions. Harry loved like it was the only thing he knew how to do. He looked at Draco like Draco was the only thing he had ever seen, like Draco ought to be stared at every moment of every day and Draco was starting to believe it, crazy as it seemed.

🎨Like this then, just like that by @lqtraintracks (T, 394, Draco/Harry)

Draco paints Harry, and Harry falls in love.

Harry shuts his eyes, lifts his chin toward the syrupy sunlight, and tries to embrace the moment and not ache with a pre-emptive regret for the day Draco finishes. Because he started out posing for a friend, and now he’s falling

🎨 Beebox's entry for Draw Drarry Badly by @beebox-illustrations (Not Rated, Artwork Draco/Harry)

🎨 In the Bed by @saintgarbanzo (E, 11k, Remus/Sirius)

Left to his own devices the summer after the prank, Sirius crafts an unusual gift to mend his relationship with Remus.

He flipped to the section of still lifes, loving the off-kilter tables and apples that looked like they could tumble right off the page. Sirius had felt like one of those apples his whole life, ready to fall right off the edge, always liminally right on the fucking edge.

🎨 The Treasuries of Firenze by jennandblitz (M, 14k, Remus/Sirius)

A chance encounter in a market sends Sirius Black spiralling down a path he couldn't escape, even if he wants to.

He’s just in shirtsleeves, the thin cotton enough of an allusion to translucent that Sirius imagines he can see through to the planes of reality where the two of them know each other better.

🎨 Let Men Burn Stars by @wolfpants (E, 18k, Remus/Sirius)

Remus felt impossibly flummoxed by them both, but mostly by Sirius. He was like the last argument in a text that he couldn’t make heads or tails of. The temptation to unravel him was undeniably strong. -- Just a little story about two boys fumbling and falling in love one summer in Buckinghamshire.

Remus offered him his hand to help him up from bed, and it was a cruel move, he knew that, but they were now playing a game of to and fro, and this was his to, desperately casting out a net to catch Sirius’s fro.

🎨 Blue by @BubbeBruja (M, 6k, Remus/Sirius)

In October of their sixth year, the weather changes, Sirius paints (another) moonscape, and Remus goes blind.

“Where did you learn to paint so well?” A blushing, eleven-year-old Remus asked his new friend.

 Sirius blushed back, red, le pomme, and shrugged and said “all purebloods learn” and grew ten feet inside, because Remus Lupin thought he painted well.

🌈 Plausible Deniability by Bearixt (T, 10k, Draco/Harry) 

“Harry, being released to you is simply an opportunity that arose from this—one that I will grab while I can. You call the shots; I just give my expert advice. You want to catch this copycat, don’t you?”

“One Draco Malfoy in this world is already enough,” Harry mutters. Staring straight at him, he crosses his arms. “That’s it? No tricks, no hidden agendas?”

Draco raises his hands. “You’re right. Christmas and New Year were boring, and I can’t imagine celebrating my birthday here when I can be out partying.”

“I won’t let you out just so you can have fun, Malfoy. You’re a criminal.”

— An ex-con man works with the agent responsible for his incarceration to catch a thief.

“There’s a reason why you let yourself get caught. There’s a game you’re playing here, and this copycat case is related.”

🌈 Matching Pair by @thestarryknight (T, 4k, Draco/Harry)

Harry Potter was possibly the last person Draco had expected to find standing at the foot of his favorite portrait at the Tate Magique. And yet, there he is, looking incredibly fit and monopolizing the attentions of the portrait. It's not bloody fair.

There’s no sense of color in the rough pencil lines, but Draco can see the echoed ideas of shading -- the bright folds of Sarah’s shiny taffeta skirt echoed in inverse in the deep creases of Myfanwy’s heavier broadcloth dress.

🌈 A Portrait of the Artist by @firethesound (T, 5k, Draco/Harry)

When Harry Potter, reclusive artist, finally agrees to an interview, Draco can hardly believe that he'll be the one to do it.

He’d talked a bit about Potter’s studio, which really was a nice building, open and airy with large windows and lots of light. And all the paintings, of course. He’d made sure to mention how they’d rendered him speechless.

🌈 the call of sweet things by @softlystarstruck, with art by @ihopeyoubothstaysafefromharm and @babooshkart (E, 88k , Draco/Harry)

Draco's happy with his quiet, lonely life in Woolbury, spending his days working at Pen Pals and keeping his already tidy flat spotless. But when Harry Potter shows up with pink hair and secrets about his magic, Draco’s carefully upheld balance falls apart. He doesn’t quite know how he ends up decorating Harry's cottage, drinking unreasonable amounts of cocoa, and laughing more than he’s laughed in years, but it's Christmas, after all– and he finally has a chance to set things right. My 25 Days of Draco and Harry 2021 fic!

“I really like that artist’s card designs,” Draco says, and Harry looks up at him with raised eyebrows.

“Really?”

“I–” Draco twists his hands together. “Yes? Is that weird? I just like the little animals because they look… happy. They look like they go home to warm houses and big families, and– uhm– it’s just nice. To imagine that.”

🌈 He’s So Lucky (He’s a Star) by @digthewriter (M, 21k, Draco/Harry) 

Potter has everything he could ever ask for. The perfect life. Then why does he look so sad when no one else is looking? Except for Draco, because Draco’s always looking.

I think you see more than anyone else. Maybe he's waiting for someone to see it.

🌈 The Art of Love by @mars-bar81 (T, Artwork, Draco/Harry)

Draco loves watching Harry's creativity come to life with his lovely paper art.

🌈 Body Art by @sugareey-makes-stuff (E, Artwork, Draco/Harry)

Enough is enough, so Draco decides to get creative with a new art "project" after weeks of having to draw one nude (and delicious) Harry Potter.

🌈bloom for me by dynazty (T, 824, Pansy/Luna) 

It was a flower garden. That’s what Luna told her.

The slight summer breeze pushing in through the open window of the studio brushed her bare shoulders as she situated herself on the settee, propping her chin on her folded arms and trying to be as patient as possible as Luna rustled quietly through her box of paints.

[angelicamerlinbarnes]

I just really think Remus Lupin is a ballerina okay AU

Remus Lupin has been doing ballet since he was four. He was exuberant and flashy at first, but after his first teacher, Greyback, molested and abused him, he is quiet and reserved. He prefers to dance by himself and does not speak to anyone inside or outside of the class. He wears pink material and is the best dancer in the school, but everyone is more terrified of him than they are jealous. He has sad eyes and soft hair, but prominent scars (both self-inflicted and from Greyback and accidents) cover his freckled skin. He’s a mystery, but no one wants to solve him.

He lives with his roommate and only friend, Severus Snape, who is a writer. He spins out films and novels and poems by the hundreds, especially inspired by the rain. Remus and Severus will often spend rainy days together in their apartment, with Severus typing furiously and scribbling while Remus dances to Hozier and Lana Del Rey off to the side. Sometimes when Remus will have nightmares, Severus will hold him and sing Russian lullabies until he falls asleep. Severus smokes lazily and wears subdued flower and gothic dresses that show off his jutting hips and collar bones. Having escaped an abusive father and a dead mother, he and Remus bond over their shit parents, with Remus’ father being neglectful and his mother kind but catatonic. Their neighbors think they’re witches, but they’re alright with that.

They both have to work to pay the bills, so while Severus works with preschoolers, Remus works as an assistant for a terrifying professor named Grindelwald at the university. He’s a reformed felon who’s always glowering, and there are rumors he’s Dumbledore’s husband, who is Remus’ mysterious ballet teacher with the twinkling eyes. But no one has the guts to ask him - it’s unknown what he was locked up for, and nobody wants to risk that it was irrational homicide. He mostly ignores Remus though, and doesn’t mind if Remus reads or dances while he works, so Remus doesn’t think he’s too bad.

One day Remus is grading some papers for Grindelwald when Lily Evans walks in, a vision in a white floral lace flowing vest and an across-the-shoulders dark blue dress, a brown belt around her waist and matching ankle boots coming up over creme knee-high knit socks, a black hat on her head. There’s a camera around her neck and her smile is beautiful, surrounded by her freckles, and she and Remus hit it off immediately. She asks if he can spare some time to be her model for the day, and he agrees. They’re hanging out in the park and laughing when Severus walks over, having finished work. The moment he and Lily lay eyes on each other, something happens, something magical, and Remus can see it in both of their smiles as they exchange shy hellos.

Lily starts to hang around them, her and Severus teetering on the edge of something. Remus nudges Severus until he’s brave enough to ask her out, and their first date is in the park where they met, sitting on a bench in the rain and watching the birds. Remus is pretty sure they’re gonna get married one day.

To keep himself busy while his two friends fall in love, Remus escapes to the dance school, dancing alone to Lana Del Rey in an empty room when the door creaks open and he hears, “Wow.” He turns around and smiles, taking in the sight of James Potter, an old school friend who left for Julliard and he hasn’t seen in years. James laughs, pulling him into a hug, and Remus lets him, tangling his hands in James’ curls and grinning when James presses a kiss to the corner of his mouth. James tells him he’s been enjoying a gap year before going to search for a job as a back-up dancer for Taylor Swift, to which Remus giggles and tells him he’ll be great. James beams, and pulls Remus along, saying he has to meet James’ best friend-partner-person. Remus agrees, and changes back into his flowing white dress decorated in bees and black flats, tucking spruce leaves in his hair before taking James’ hand and following him out.

At James’ apartment, he calls out, “Babe! I’m home!” Remus watches as Sirius Black comes skidding down the hall, dazzling in a sparkling black croptop with gold touches and a raggedy sheer maroon skirt that falls just above his spiky combat boots. With white and gold dahlias in his hair, he’s the most beautiful thing Remus has ever seen, and he stares as James pecks Sirius on the mouth, coming away with dark red lipstick stains. When Sirius looks up at Remus, his eyes twinkling, and Remus reaches out a hesitant hand, which Sirius takes. “Hi,” he breathes, and Sirius laughs, loud and bright. He leans in and kisses Remus’ cheek. “Hello, beautiful,” he says sweetly, wrapping an arm around Remus’ waist. “James has told me all about you, love.” Remus blushes, unable to stop smiling even as Sirius pulls away at James’ indignant “Oi!” and doesn’t touch him again. Sirius is the love of his life - he doesn’t know how, but it’s something he just somehow knows, the feeling taking root in his chest and sprouting flowers.

Sirius, as it turns out, is James’ roommate and queerplatonic partner. He ran away from his abusive home and is taking commissions as an artist. Mostly he draws wolves, dogs, rats, deers, doves, snakes, and cats. He affectionately calls Remus Moony, insisting his scars look like something were bit him and his eyes are the fierce amber of a wolf’s. Sirius in turn is called Padfoot, for his doglike energy and loving nature, while James is dubbed Prongs for being a dumbass who continually forgets he’s too big to fit in small spaces and gets lost in the woods almost every weekend. Remus never wants to stop hanging out with them, and learns to spend hours shopping at the vintage shop where Sirius works, the two of them falling for each other fast while James reclaims them as his partners in love as in life. And Remus is so, so happy.

While he’s busy falling in love with Sirius, Lily has moved in with him and Severus. Remus doesn’t mind, and tells Severus he’s thinking of making a home with Sirius and James. Severus hugs him and tells him he’s proud of him, suggesting they hang out that day just the two of them, like old times. Remus agrees, and lets Severus take him to the cafe where Lily works. In the corner of the shop is Regulus Black, a boy drenched in hoodies and coats that Remus and Severus buy free food and drinks for. Regulus thanks them profusely, and they all make small talk until Remus makes a comment that Regulus looks like Remus’ boyfriend Sirius, to which Regulus starts crying, explaining that Sirius is his older brother and he’s been trying to find him for years but gave up looking when their shit parents died and Sirius was nowhere to be found at the funeral. Remus offers to take him home, and Severus kisses Remus on the forehead before heading off to find Lily.

On the way there, they stop at the bakery and accept some free cupcakes from Peter Pettigrew, who owns the bakery with his elusive partner. Regulus, as it turns out, is homeless, and has been trying to make it on his busking money alone. But while he’s fairly lovely at singing, it’s not enough to buy anything concrete. As they eat, Regulus also tells Remus about Amir Levis, a librarian who lets him stay at the library. Remus exclaims that he already knows Amir, who helps Remus remember his pills and doctor’s appointments and always has a spare wheelchair and some tea for him just in case. Regulus admits to having a crush on Amir, but he’s too scared to do anything about it. Remus assures him he and Sirius will help him with it, and just like that they’re on their way.

At home, Remus smiles softly at the sight of Sirius and James entwined on the couch and says, “Look who I found.” At the sight of Regulus, Sirius shoves James to the floor in his haste to stand up, taking Regulus’ face in his hands and searching his eyes for answers. “You got out?” He says, breathless. “Really? You’re alright?” Regulus smiles sheepishly. “Of course I did, Siri,” he whispers. “You think I was gonna let you have all the fun?” Sirius tears up and tugs him close, rocking back and forth as the two of them mumble apologies and love confessions into each other’s necks and shoulders and hair. Remus gravitates towards James, kissing him with a smile before pulling him out of the apartment, saying they should leave the brothers alone.

Remus takes the opportunity to introduce James to Severus and Lily, who are immediately taken with him. They offer to watch him for the afternoon while Remus goes to therapy with Maxwell Needles, a counselor with magenta hair who talks to Remus about life, his accident, his trauma, Greyback, his suicidal tendencies, anxiety, PTSD, and depression. Remus also takes the chance to pick up Sirius and James’ ADHD medication, Peter’s OCD prescription, Lily’s bipolar medication, Severus’ schizophrenia suppressors, and a few books on autism (for Severus), Tourette’s (for Lily), and eating disorders (for James and, Remus suspects somehow, Regulus). Max is delighted to see him with so many friends, and says they’ll bring Peter over sometime for dinner. Though he’s not sure where that would happen since he’s torn between two homes right now, Remus agrees with a smile and bids the skater kid in the checkered jeans goodbye.

Back at school, Remus spends his afternoons in conversation with Mcgonogall, the waltz teacher who takes care of him. She’d adopted him when his parents died and he tries to stick around, asking advice about Sirius and James and whether moving in with them is a good idea. Mcgonogall says she thinks it is, and that she knows Sirius is a kind young man. As it is, he calls her Minnie, and knows her as a friend and a grandmother of sorts, since she helped him when he first ran away to James’ house. Remus is content with continuing the conversation but is interrupted by a phone call telling him Sirius, James, and Regulus have been jailed for a fist fight on the street.

Remus goes to pick them up, where he meets Bellatrix Lestrange, an abusive cousin of Sirius and Regulus who took particular joy out of torturing Sirius, who she almost killed once. She’s also been known to abuse children, especially those of the poor. Also in jail are Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy, a couple married only in spirit who keep having miscarriages and take their abusive anger out on each other and strangers. Their landlord, Voldemort, had demanded unconventional payments and they’d been essentially enslaved to him for years, only escaping his cultist grasp by means of murder, which is why they’re here now.

Remus sees James holding Regulus close and whispering to him as he kisses the cuts and bruises on his face in the corner of the cell, but says nothing about it, kissing Sirius hello. The four of them go home together, and as soon as Regulus is asleep Remus tells James and Sirius that he wants to make a home with them someday, just not right now. They laugh and smile and tell him they’re ready when he is and that they love him, and Remus thinks, Things are good.

[flaggermousseart]

creator tag meme

@knifeears said anyone could snatch it up, so here I am, snatching

rules: it’s time to love yourselves! choose your 5 (ish) favorite works you created in the past year (fics, art, edits, etc.) and link them below to reflect on the amazing things you brought into the world in 2020. tag as many writers/artists/etc. as you want (fan or original) so we can spread the love and link each other to awesome works!

#1 The Kiss in the Shrieking Shack

It’s almost a year since I made this, but I’m still very satisfied with it. I managed to make a lot of background with several layers of shadows. This was a very simple idea: just make one change to the canon scene. I added the canon dialogue from the scene in the tumblr post, and I didn’t need to change a single word, and that still makes me grin. My favourite panel is one of the last ones, where they just stare at each other, I’m very satisfied with that picture in particular, especially Sirius’ expression. This comic exploded in popularity more than I could have imagined. I am thrilled so many people enjoy it.

#2 November 1st 1993

Sticking to the Prisoner of Azkaban-timeline, making a scene with just the teachers. I just like what I managed to show with the dialogue and the art here. In canon, Snape seems to think Remus Lupin isn’t trustworthy because of his past history with Sirius Black, as we can see from his talk with Dumbledore at Halloween, and the things he says in the Shrieking Shack. I just took that, and made it a romantic/sexual history. Snape’s not outing him as a werewolf, instead it’s another painful secret he pokes at.

Also satisfied with Minerva and Remus’ short conversation; he didn’t help his ex into Hogwarts, and she believes him, but at the same time … Remus IS hiding one BIG secret (the fact that Sirius became an Animagus to help Remus through hard times) that quite IS possibly at least part of how he got onto the school grounds. Ah. Guilt.

The last picture took me ages. I made the poster, and then copied and tweaked and drew tears and holes in them, piecing it all together in a ton of layers. I kept the file of the posters, and ended up reusing it in a different comic later.

#3 Nightmare

Still in the Prisoner of Azkaban-timeline, when everyone thought Sirius was a murderous traitor. Parts of this comic are a bit uneven. I spot some issues with the size of people’s eyes in certain frames. But it’s mostly about the atmosphere and emotions, and I think that worked well here.

I always like drawing Sirius’ ‘straight outta Azkaban’-look; dressed in rags and long messy hair. Here I had a lot of fun working on making him creepy, both with dialogue and the way he acts. As if he really was a loyal servant of Voldemort, not giving a damn about the deaths he’s responsible for … and any romantic tones are messed up and possessive, as if he had intended to keep Remus like a pet once Voldemort took over.

This is basically all about creepy atmosphere and how Remus never got the therapy he needed after the war.

#4 Picking up the Pieces

This was the year I started writing fanfiction. I love reading it, but never dared to write and put it out there before. I worried I wasn’t good enough, that I didn’t understand characters well enough … but once I dipped back into my obsession with HP (this is one of the fandoms that is always in the back of my mind, even if others things take the front seat), I ended up trying. I feel comfortable with this world; I feel I know it well enough to try and make something within it, even without my art as a crutch.

Picking up the Pieces is an AU where Sirius gets a trial and ends up raising Harry together with Remus. I love this type of AU, because there’s the happiness of a better childhood for Harry, contrasted with the war they came out of, and the people they lost.

The Trial took a lot of work, but I wanted to try and do it justice. I love working in details of the world, and reread and reread the canon we know to try and piece it all together, and drag in just about all I could think of that could be used as proof for and against Sirius.

Both that part, and Wolfsbane are Outsider POV from minor canon characters, and I absolutely love Outsider POV. I liked fleshing out Damocles Belby, and make his research into the Wolfsbane potion more emotional.

We need to talk about the snakes is basically a slice of life episode focusing on Harry’s magical powers starting to appear, and with some special skills his godparents never suspected he had. I enjoyed peppering background about their life together into this, and it is one of those stories where the audience that knows canon understands what’s happening, but the characters don’t; and I enjoy that.

I still have ideas for Picking up the Pieces, so hopefully, there will be some more in this series.

#5 Rumours

Aaand right back to Prisoner of Azkaban-timeline! (yes it is my favourite HP-book, why are you asking?) This little fic has much in common with #1 and #2. It is basically a canon scene that I did a little bit of tweaking to. It deals with the rumours that have started to spread around the school about how professor Lupin used to date Sirius Black years back.

It’s short, but I liked writing Harry in this; his thoughts on those rumours, both at the beginning and end of the fic. It sticks to Harry’s POV like how the book canon is presented, and again there’s how we the readers know things the characters does not.

#bonus 

I just think this unicorn is rad.

I tag @kattlupin, @engie-ivy and anyone else that wants to do it. Show us what you’ve made this year!

[modern-wolfstar]

You said you prefer tall Sirius to short sirius because it’s book canon and the gay flamboyant stereotypes some people push on wolfstar bothers you. I know you said you don’t mind it switched around but I also prefer tall Sirius. Do you know blogs that write that mostly. Or artists that draw them that way? Thank You.

no :( some people watched the movie and said “oh short and dramatic sirius that means he MUST be gay and flamboyant” and like OBVIOUSLY not all of them are like that. some tall remus/ short sirius etc is written well and i love all creators !! it’s just a common thing to see but it does bother me when some people force it and think it’s the only way. because i want cute tall sirius art :( i want to see BOTH sides written and drawn but people are AFRAID of the TRUTH and the BEAUTY and it makes me SAD. book sirius is tall. so i am validated. also thank you because you obviously read that FOREVER long PSA i wrote about that haha

[maraudererasmut]

Black and White (Part XIX)

Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV | Part V | Part VI | Part VII | Part VIII | Part IX | Part X | Part XI | Part XII | Part XIII | Part XIV | Part XV | Part XVI | Part XVII | Part XVIII | Part XIX | Part XX | Part XXI

((Author’s Note: I AM SO SORRY THAT THIS TOOK SO LONG!! I hope the chapter makes up for the fact that it took such a long time to write/post it! I hope you guys like it!!))

Remus walked into Black and White carrying two coffee cups from work, his knuckles turning white from the tightness of his grip. He was terrified, to say the least. This would be his first time seeing Sirius since their evening at the cafe, and Remus wasn't entirely sure if his presence was desired.

"Uh… Sirius? M— Mr. Black? Are… are you here?"

Of course he was there. Sirius ran the gallery himself. If he wasn't there, the door wouldn't be unlocked. Remus felt stupid asking his question aloud, but the response he got put him at ease.

"Yeah, I'm here, Remus. I'll be right out."

Remus.

So they were still on a first name basis. That was a good sign. 

It took a moment, but Sirius eventually emerged from his back office, looking rather worse for wear. His hair was left loose around his shoulders, dark inky tresses spilling over his unbuttoned collar. He looked tired; more tired than Remus felt. More tired than he had ever looked before.

"I… uh… I brought coffee…"

"What are you doing here, Remus?"

The tone of Sirius' voice didn't sound harsh or accusatory; it was filled with exhaustion and melancholy, but it wasn't rude, which was a surprise.

"Oh…" Remus glanced down at the paper cups in his hands, as if his reason for being at the gallery was obvious. "I… brought coffee," he repeated. "Cappuccino, skim milk, sprinkle of cinnamon?"

Remus watched as a slow smile bloomed across Sirius' face, lighting him up, finally revealing a hint of the gallery owner that Remus had come to know the past few weeks. Sirius walked towards Remus, straightening his posture and brushing hair out of his eyes.

"How'd you know?"

Remus shrugged, offering Sirius a friendly grin.

"A little birdy told me."

Sirius rolled his eyes and graciously accepted Remus' peace offering. The artist watched as Sirius' shoulders visibly relaxed with the first sip of coffee, a hint of colour returning to his sallow cheeks. Sirius turned his gaze towards a painting on the wall, both hands grasping the cup, as if to absorb its warmth and energy. 

"Well… remind me to thank her later."

"I'm fairly certain I brought the coffee here," Remus said, mostly joking. He took a sip from his own cup of tea, letting the spicy warmth from the chai trickle down and heat him up from the inside.

Sirius remained focused on the painting before him.

"Thank you, Remus. Not… not just for the coffee… but for coming. Here. I… appreciate it."

"Okay, who are you and what have you done with Sirius Black?" Remus teased, attempting to lighten the sudden weight of the situation, trying to deter the looming darkness that threatened its way into their thoughts. 

Sirius didn't answer for a moment. He stood and stared at the painting, one of Lily's pieces by the looks of it, before finally giving Remus a response.

"This… this is the real Sirius Black."

Remus tore his eyes away from mercurial pools of despair, so deep and turbulent, the artist could drown in them if he wasn't careful. He directed his attention to the same painting, the same blues and greys of Sirius' eyes popping out from the canvas. 

"Well…" Remus muttered to the painting, twisting his cup around between his fingers. "Hello Sirius Black. I'm— I'm Remus Lupin."

Remus heard a sharp exhale of breath beside him— almost a laugh, but not quite. At least he could help bring some levity into their conversation.

"So…" Sirius began, before taking another sip of coffee. "How much did she tell you?"

Remus pondered the question, trying to find an appropriate way of answering it.

"She… uh… mentioned your brother. And… and you and James. She explained why you left the cafe the other day, why you seemed so upset…"

Sirius closed his eyes and furrowed his brow. When he opened them, there was a hint of pain still etched into his features. 

"And where does that leave us?"

Remus turned to look at Sirius, unsure what exactly the man was asking him.

"Wh— what do you mean?"

"Are you… still interested in showing here? Did you still want to… to work with me?"

"Of course." Remus' response was immediate. There was no question in his mind: Black and White was the gallery that Remus wanted his first show to be in. He wanted Sirius to run it, curate it, put the event together. He wanted Lily and James to be there. This was the gallery for him. "Why wouldn't I?"

Sirius' eyes drifted down to his coffee cup, his shoulders folding in on themselves ever so slightly. 

"You're not worried that the erratic drunk is going to ruin things for you? Cause you too much trouble?"

"I— what?" Remus took a step towards Sirius; he considered reaching out, taking hold of the man, showing a sign of affection, but he thought better of it. Instead, he simply looked at Sirius, his voice measured, his posture firm. "None of those thoughts ever crossed my mind. I— I want to show here because you're passionate. You have drive. You're confident… you're— you're a good gallerist."

You're annoying as all hell, but you know what you want from life and you aren't afraid to go for it. Someone like me could learn a lot from someone like you. You're fascinating. An enigma. And I need to figure you out…

"And you push me to do better. I'm producing better art now than I ever have before. You have a keen eye and you give good direction."

Remus waited for Sirius to respond, but the man simply stared ahead at the painting before him. The silence loomed over them as Remus watched the ghost of the man he thought he knew slowly fading into nothingness. 

It was a few minutes before Sirius eventually spoke, his voice echoing eerily across the empty gallery.

"You don't have to lie to me to make me feel better."

His words were soaked in bitterness, his expression crestfallen. He never once tore his gaze away from the painting.

Remus took a gulp of tea, weighing his next words very carefully.

"I don't lie." He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before continuing. "You don't know me very well yet, but that's something you should remember for the future. I don't lie." Another pause, another sip of tea. "I had enough of that growing up, I don't need it in my life."

The slightest hint of a smile passed over Sirius' face.

"You also had a shitty family?

"I'm an artist," Remus mused with a dark chuckle, "Do you know any that don't?"

Sirius' smile grew as he rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, one or two. But you make a valid point."

Remus brought his cup to his lips and tilted it back, draining the remaining contents and deliberating his words. 

"So…" he began after a moment. "Where do we go from here?"

For the first time since the conversation started, Sirius shifted his focus, his eyes settling on Remus' frame silhouetted in the fading evening light. 

"Where do you want it to go?"

Remus closed his eyes and pretended to take a sip from his drink, despite the fact that it was now empty. He needed time to think. Was Sirius talking about the gallery? Was Sirius asking about Remus' desire to show his art and work together in a professional setting? Or did the question go deeper than that?

Where did Remus want things to go?

"I…" Remus opened his eyes. He stared at Lily's painting, pretending not to see the way Sirius' gaze bore into him, pretending not to think about the swirling blues and greys, the perfection of colour, they way they shifted with each emotion. "I want to make sure that our show next month is your best one yet."

"Well then…" Sirius said softly, his voice relaxing, his tone sounding more and more familiar to Remus. "We'd better get to work. There's only a few weeks left…"

Remus turned to look at Sirius and felt his cheeks flush at the smile playing on the gallery owner's lips. The artist quickly looked down at the paper cup twisting between his fingers, trying not to read into the situation any more than necessary. 

"I'd better get home then…" Remus told his cup, trying to keep his voice steady and desperately willing his cheeks to stop feeling so warm. "I still have two more pieces to paint…"

"Yes, well…" Sirius muttered. From the corner of his eye, Remus could see the gallery owner shifting his weight from foot to foot. "I'll be in touch. I'd love to see your progress if— if that's okay…?"

Since when did Sirius ask for things instead of demanding them?

"Sure, yeah… that sounds… good. I'll… see you around, Sirius."

Remus glanced up and smiled, immediately regretting his decision. The look on Sirius' face was tender, affectionate. Somehow, he looked even more handsome like this. Remus hated it. 

The artist shoved his hand forward, offering it for a shake. Sirius hesitated before reaching out and grasping Remus' hand firmly. The two men had shaken hands a dozen times at this point; there was something frustratingly different about this one, and it lingered a beat too long.

Remus pulled his hand away and spun on his heels before Sirius could stop him. 

"I'll see you around, Sirius!" He called over his shoulder before making a beeline to the door. 

"Oh… okay… T— Thank you, Remus. For… for everything!"

Before he knew what was happening, Remus was outside in the crisp autumn air, trying not to think about the way Sirius' perfect lips wrapped so delicately around his name or how badly Remus wanted to find out what those lips tasted like. 

What was wrong with him?

((Bonus: Here’s a sketch that I did in a limited palette of this scene. Yes, I know there are inaccuracies, it was a quick sketch and I didn’t read the chapter before drawing it. Oops! Anyway, here it is!))

**THIS DRAWING IS NOT CANON! IT IS DONE BY MARAUDERERASMUT, NOT REMUS!**

[randomkposts]

Motorcycles, Maps, and Friendship

K: How did Sirius become the best friend of Lilly and James? Lily has Snape the Death Eater friend, and Sirius has his little brother, Death Eater, and I want them to talk about it, and James has something to do with it, and I want it to end with Lily teaching Sirius how to drive a motorcycle somehow.

Like, I can't see Remus being a muggleborn, and Peter doesn't seem the kind of person, so how did Sirius get so into motorcycles?

He probably in part did it to anger his family, but that doesn't explain where he got the resources or guidance/knowhow, to one day enchant his own flying motorcycle so well.

So either one of his muggleborn dates taught him, (or possibly halfblood), or Lily did.

And I like the thought of Lily going out with Sirius to help him pick out the right bike, or introducing him to a mechanic, or maybe her one of her parents is the mechanic, and they all work together on the project.

After all, her parents were pretty proud she was a witch, so wouldn't it be cool if Lily did involve them in the magic of her life, in contrast to a lot of other magic muggleborn relationships portrayed (still mad at Hermione for erasing her parents memories, ok)

E: I'm pretty upset not seeing parents being involved in their magic childrens live as much

: (

I know Colins dad was pretty surprised and bought him a camera for pictures

K: Also, I think there's a lot of potential things for Sirius and Lily to bond over potentially, particularly if Lily is game to the thought of pissing off pure blood fanatics by helping the heir to the house of Black learn about the muggle world, and blend in.

I remember one fic, where Remus commented that once out of school, it almost looked like Sirius would have to give in and learn to cook, but then he learned about the wonders of takeout from Lily, and that was that.

Just think of all the other things he could have learned from her too.

I mean we have next to no knowledge of Lily's character, so beyond having grades good enough to be head girl, what else could she have been up to?

Maybe James decided to try out a metal concert, hoping to impress her, and while it wasn't something she had tried before, they had fun. They brought Sirius along the second time, and he fell in love with the Genre, and found a way to blast it on the radio at home.

I want to know about Lily, and I feel Sirius and Lily could have been, and should have been good friends.

They both are close to James (though that happened much later for Lily), and Harry, and Sirius wants to piss off his death eaters family, and Lily would be an elegant way to get Sirius into Muggle subjects. Like his cannon motorcycle! I mean, not a lot of wizards go for flying motor vehicles, the only other one I can think of is Arthur and his car, so Sirius must have learned it from somewhere, and had to learn about the parts to enchant it correctly, so that it hasn't broken down in years.

That, or has Hagrid learned to give it maintenance, or Sirius did do maintenance on it in book five for him to be able to use it in 7?

E: I wanted to think of a little crack moment of Sirius didn't understanding Mr Weasley obsession with a vehicle. ...until he got his own

K: Sirius and Lily are bizarrely friends once the bullying stopped, and everyone is baffled.

James is pleased, cause clearly he has great taste in friends, but sometimes the nuances of what they get up to baffle him.

Why do they need a flying motorcycle? What's wrong with brooms?

And Sirius insists on his muggle hobbies and clothes having class, so he has tailored clothing, even if it's just jeans, and Lily, you have to help me pick a quality motorcycle, I want one that will last.

And it's exciting, because Lily too wants to work on a good quality motorcycle

E: Sirius throwing out muggle slang

K:People think Lily would get along with Lupin, but it's Sirius, who Lily is teaching slang, and enchanting a motorcycle with!

Who was the artist in the Marauders I wonder? Or at least, the one who mapped out and drew the map?

Like, I know they had to explore to get the dimensions, and Peter would have been very helpful at that (he is the smallest, Sirius might have been able to get away with it, but James wandering around as a deer in Hogwarts would have been noticeable, so he must have used the invisibility cloak, and maybe Lupin)

E: Hnnn good question i wanna say Remus is, but twist Peter? Few things he was good at was drawing but it took mostly Remus and either Sirius or James to find out more of the tricky spells

K: Peter and James bonded over exploring the castle. Sirius was good at charms, and Remus was good at research.

Peter still explores the castle, when he's pretending to be Ron and Percy's Rat

Peter could draw. He's horribly out of practice from years as a rat

Remus and Sirius did the math, and made sure the dimensions were right

Remus was the one to crack the names problem.

James found all the traps. He was better at Runes than most people thought

*and he knew some good shield spells

E: Peter roams the hiding places he and James found. Sirius being absurdly good at math makes me grin.I kinda wanted to know how they made it respond to certain people to be honest

Did they had like pre-written messages in case Snape found it?What traits did a person need to have to have the map respond back?

K: I would assume it only responds to people with magic, based on how filched couldn't use it

They probably had some pre-written messages programmed in. Snape, definitely, teachers probably, and maybe they gave hints for the password, that Fred and George eventually decoded.Or maybe they sent them on a treasure hunt, around Hogwarts, to learn the letters to the phrase they put in hard to find places or something

E: Haha be very funny too see the twins be so invested in research of Hogwarts

Minerva for a moment thought they actually were being diligent

[matrixaffiliate]

Like the Storybooks

Co-written with @hufflepuffmarlenemckinnon

FFN and AO3

Chapter 10

Sirius was not one to let a little headache get in the way of his work, but the very loud and abrupt noise of Marlene and her lady’s maid entering Lady McGonagall’s office chambers made him wince.

Thus far there had not been many words exchanged as he broke his fast with the King and Chief Minister. They had expected that it would be a rather unimportant meeting, seeing as it was the day after a banquet. It was really only meant to be the three of them, plus the Princess sitting in, Remus and Peter were away, aiding in the reinforcements at the borders with Semprapuria.

Princess Marlene generally observed Lady McGonagall silently and took notes. At that moment in time, Sirius was sure he was experiencing the absolute opposite of the concept of ‘silence’. It took him a moment to even parse together the words that were being said because she was obviously frantic and more than that she looked angry. Angry and absurdly gorgeous. The blush pink of her gown against her flushed skin drew his eyes. Had she always been this distracting? How was she more breathtaking now than she had been at any other juncture since he’d made her acquaintance? He caught himself staring at her bitten lips and felt immediately ashamed. He tried to re-focus. She was obviously there for something more important than all that.

He heard the name ‘Crouch’ amongst the flood of upset directed at King James, mostly.

“Slow down. What about Crouch? The Earl’s son? He’s one of the creepier of your band of merry suitors, right?”

“He won’t be merry at all if I get a say. As I just said, He was lurking behind my doorway! Like he may have been listening in. It’s disgusting!”

“I know a bit about the man in question, Cousin. He’s the heir to an Earldom but his father never had the time of day for him. The younger Lord Crouch has always been one to seek out attention where he could find it. Didn’t he make overtures of friendship at you, Sirius? He’s desperate but probably harmless.”

“I suppose he did, yes. Some time ago. But I was never threatened by him and I don’t think he lurked outside my doorway, this is entirely different. I don’t really care why he wants Princess Marlene’s attention, he had no right to be there or to speak to a princess of the blood in such a way.”

“No one is saying he did, Sir.” McGonagall’s low and steady tone of voice seemed to be an effort to diffuse the anger brewing in Sirius, but it wasn’t very effective. The implications of James’s statement made his blood boil.

“I think his Majesty would do well to remember that there are plenty of subjects in this kingdom who had miserable childhoods with rotten parents. There is no excuse for threatening a lady like that. It’s our choices that define us? Do you recall those words, Your Majesty?” Sirius was really losing his grip. He wanted to excuse it as being early and just an ill temper after a night of too much to drink, but he couldn’t lie to himself like that. The hypocrisy really hurt him.

Suddenly it dawned on him how terribly out of bounds this whole argument was considering Marlene and her lady’s maid were right there looking on. How could he have been so careless? Would Marlene think him suspect now? Had he said too much?

“I need air.” was all he managed to say before he rushed out into the hallway. His breath was unsteady. His lungs filled too fast in a rush of panic and his chest hurt by the time he made it to his own private chambers. There he was alone with his thoughts but safe.

What about Princess Marlene? He’d been so selfish in his taking offense to the King’s comment, that he’d made a spectacle. On top of his selfishness, he was also too much of a coward to go back and try to be party to the plans to keep her safe.

He’d have to seek her out. Soon. Tomorrow. He didn’t think he could see anyone for the rest of the day. His schedule was clear enough, but it would gnaw at him that he’d reacted like that. Knights were meant to protect Princesses. That was what all the storybooks said. Princess Marlene was like an artist’s rendering of those selfsame stories but he didn’t live up to the image of the virtuous knight. He was no true Galahad, and he was becoming more aware of it each time he let his mind wander to the flush of Princess Marlene’s skin. But he’d rather be Lancelot than Gawain. Selfishness and Cowardice didn’t have any place in a storybook hero.

Princess Marlene probably deserved a better defender. Lady McGonagall, he thought, would be her best bet at a real hero and defender in this case.

But there was something in the girl’s eyes that made him want to be a better knight. He would right this. He wouldn’t need to explain the reasoning, but he could apologize and offer to help her.

He really had already intended to help her in as much as he had decided, since the banquet, that he wasn’t averse to taking part in the rather ridiculous charade that she was already putting on. He could put on a show of courting her if that would keep her safe from harm. That’s what a true knight would do. He’d prevent harm from coming to the Princess in any way that was necessary.

He considered for a moment that all this intense loyalty to someone he hardly knew didn’t make very much sense. He’d never found himself inspired to pledge his sword to a fairytale beauty before. He didn’t think that was it, though she may have been the most beautiful person he’d ever encountered. That moment the previous night when her laughter reached her eyes as they danced… she was more captivating a sight than any mortal artist could possibly render. But that was beside the point...

Really it was all about James. The kingdom. He felt an enormous and undying devotion to the kingdom. She was the first in line to the throne. It all came down to King James. James, who’d hurt Sirius with his unthinking comment. He was angry with the king to an irrational degree but even being so incensed, he loved James so fiercely that he would draw his sword and defend the King with his own life that very moment if the need arose. James inspired that sort of loyalty within him.

Princess Marlene was like her cousin. She inspired feelings in him just like James. It was incredible and terrifying, all in ways that Sirius would never really be able to put into words. But tomorrow he would at least have to try.

[frankensteindotpdf]

All of them (bc why not)

HOLY CRAP HERE WE GO

Harry Potter: How do you want to be remembered?

As someone who made a difference; someone who was kind, sweet, funny, and loving. 

Hermione Granger: If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would you meet?

Daniel Handler/Lemony Snicket- This man is amazing. He’s my favourite author and I couldn’t even begin to express how much I love him.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle- Another one of my favourite authors. He was insanely intelligent and just sounds like an awesome guy.

J.K. Rowling- Obviously.

Gerard Way- His songs mean so much to me, and his art is amazing…I just love him so much

Dan and Phil- (including them as one fite me) They’re so smart and funny and sweet and I just really really want to meet them.

(that’s just the first few to come to my head)

Ron Weasley: What ice-cream flavours do you love/hate?

Mint Chip is one of my favourites (fun fact! for a while I only said it was my favourite because it was my favourite character’s favourite flavour). I also L O V E cookie dough and cotton candy. I cant hate ice cream broski

Hagrid: If you could breed two totally different animals together, what new animal would you create?

A turtle and a sloth. No specific reason why.

Dumbledore: What is your most treasured possession?

My books, probably. (This includes my sketchbooks)

Voldemort: On the first day of ruling the world, what would you do?

Remove all laws against things people can’t control or that don’t harm others (being gay, bathroom bans, religions, etc.). After that I’d order the wealth of the world to be spread more evenly, as well as the food.

Fred Weasley: If you were told you only had one week left to live, what would you do?

Cry? Then I’d probably read, try to do something impactful, start a fundraiser (people love to donate to dying teens) so the funds could go somewhere important like disaster relief.

George Weasley: If you could read minds, whose would you want to read?

Authors mostly. Also my friends, see how they really feel about me.

Draco Malfoy: Do you like yourself?

I’m working on it? I know I don’t hate everything about myself (even though it feels like it sometimes), and I’m trying to be more positive.

Ginny Weasley: What’s your favorite indoor/outdoor activity?

Drawing and listening to music.

Neville Longbottom: What’s your fondest memory?  

(Oh it sounds so pathetic) Going to Universal? Honestly I was shaking it was literally like stepping right into the movies I’ve been watching since I was 2. I really love the peaceful happy moments spent with friends and my cousins (they live like 10 hours away). Singing and feeling genuinely happy.

Luna Lovegood: What are your favorite lyrics?

Oh there are SO many I’ll just go with the ones I can think of first

“I never let them see the worst of me. ‘Cause what if everyone saw? What if everyone knew? Would they like what they saw? Or would they hate it too?” Words Fail, DEH

“I cry tears you’ll never see. So fuck you, you can go cry me an ocean, and leave me be.” Save Rock And Roll, FOB

“Oh how stupid to think that I could compare to the pretty girl with the butterscotch hair. And I won’t hate you but oh, it stings. How does it feel to be adored by him?” Adored By Him, Dodie Clark

All of Waving Through A Window

And wow that was depressing how about a nice one

“Take my jumper. Wear it, you’ll need it on the train home. And everyone will know that I’ve been loved tonight; a permanent hug from you.” Permanent Hug From You, Dodie Clark

Severus Snape: Of all your pet-peeves, which is the strangest?

Wow there’s a lot…incorrect grammar, being able to hear people chewing, clicking noises with no rythm or beat, people being too physically close…

Remus Lupin: What is your greatest fear?

Being alone.

James Potter: If you were reincarnated as an animal/drink/ice cream flavor, what would it be?

Honestly I have no idea…I have yet to decide on a favourite animal, drinkwise maybe one of those punches with pop and ice cream, and ice cream flavour…uhh is music a flavour?

Lily Potter: Who or what, if anything, would you die for (or otherwise go to extremes for)?

Anyone? People in general, I don’t really see myself as a person anymore, or at least worthy of the same respect and treatment so I’d do a lot for other people and yes, if it came to it, probably die for them too.

Sirius Black: What are your views on sex?

Personally I think it looks like a great thing to be shared with the right person. I think everyone has a right to their own bodies and their own decisions but I personally would have to be with someone for a while first.

Tonks: if you could be anyone else for a day, fictional or non-fictional who would you be any why?

Oh man idek that’s so difficult…..maybe Tonks? Honestly she’s so sweet and fun and CONFIDENT I could totally learn from that. Plus the metamorphagus powers would be awesome. and of course she’s married to remus

McGonagall: What do you believe I am thinking right now?

I think you’re doing the Jared Kleinman Laugh TM because of all the work you’re making me do.

Bellatrix: three words would others probably use to describe you?

annoying, irritating, stupid hopefully sweet, kind and funny

Lucius Malfoy: Do you tend to argue with people, or avoid conflict?

I love debating, but actual arguements happen VERY rarely…I never stand up for myself so the only time I’ll argue with someone is if they’re hurting one of my friends.

Molly Weasley: What do you define as a family?

A group of people who love each other, feel comfortable around each other, and support and bring out the best in each other.

Arthur Weasley: If you could have any career possible, what would it be?

FULL TIME LIBRARIAN, PART TIME TATTOO ARTIST

Peter Pettigrew: If you had to change your first name, what would you change it to?

If I had to, I would put much more thought and research into it but atm probably Beatrice or Elizabeth or something gender neutral

Umbridge: If you could choose, how would you want to die?

I WANT TO BE HIT BY AN AMBULANCE, AND HAVE JUST ENOUGH CONCIOUSNESS TO SAY “SOMEONE CALL AN AMBULANCE”

Colin Creevey: Who inspires you?

Youtubers like Dan and Phil, Thomas Sanders, and Dodie, as well as the members of MCR and authors and artists in general.

Dean Thomas: Are you generally organised or messy?

It’s a mix. I want to be organised, and some places of my life are organised (my closet is organised in rainbow order as well as type of clothing) but others are horrible (my room is a dump).

Seamus Finnigan: What makes you laugh?

Youtube, memes….everything tbh

Dudley Dursley: Who is the person you despise the most, and why?

Not gonna say the name but there’s a person I know who basically destroyed my mental state. They insisted they were a friend while shredding any self-esteem I had to bits. They made it nearly impossible for me to talk, telling me “no one cares” “shut up” or “you have no friends” anytime I opened my mouth, which of course echoed in my head when they weren’t around. They terrify me, because I know they can rip down the self-confidence I’m working so hard to build back up with a sentence. And I have to see them every day again. And they’re acting just like they used to.

Vernon Dursley: Who is the most important person in your life, and why?

Gosh this is tough. I don’t really…have a best friend. I used to, years ago. And last year, another person. But at the moment…no one. So that makes it really hard to choose someone. I know it doesn’t have to be a best friend but there isn’t really anyone else, either so…no…one?

Petunia Dursley: How close are you to your family?

Fairly? I feel like I hide a lot though.

Victor Krum: What is your favorite form of exercise?

none probably hiking on a nice cool day in the forest. Or sit-ups. Those aren’t too hard, so I don’t mind them.

Dobby: Are you spontaneous, or do you always need to have a plan?

(FINALLY LAST ONE) For most things, I very much need a plan. Otherwise I panic. If it’s just hanging out with friends, though, I do enjoy just wandering around shopping at festivals or downtown (but there has to be a set plan to get there ha)