#lie low at lupin's

[enbysiriusblack]

thinking about the laying low at lupin's but remus still lives with his dad hc.

remus: hey uh dad. can someone stay with us for an indefinite amount of time?

lyall: you made a friend then or something?

remus: uhh well 😳

*sirius walking in the cottage*

lyall: ... what is a wanted mass murderer doing in my doorway?

remus: it's a bit complicated

sirius: hey lyall, wow you've really aged handsomely. i love the grey hair on you. oh is that today's paper? you mind if i borrow it when you're done? *wink*

lyall: sirius, you charmer! welcome! stay as long as you need to

[ohyou-pretty-things]

artist: talitasami

[i-need-of-a-hobby]

how i picture the first conversation between wolfstar to go after arriving at remus' to "lay low at lupin's":

remus: so, i think we need to talk

sirius: *tensing up cuz damnit now they have to talk about their trauma and shit.* yeah...

remus: i made the longbottoms' son conjure snivilous in drag. for class.

sirius: tell me EVERYTHING

[alltoounwellll]

after azkaban sirius notices the new scars. some fresher than others. winding themselves around remus’ body like jagged wire.

“show me your scars” he says one morning. their legs tangled together beneath linen sheets.

“why?” remus asks, shying away.

“because I want to see how many times you needed me and I wasn’t there.”

[brandileigh2003]

Older wolfstar fic recs: (older in age that is)

let me know what I missed and self recs are welcome (also as always check tags for each one to protect yourself)

~~~please give these authors love, fandom engagement with writers is down and it means more than you know. ~~~

**And I know older is relative term bc most of these wolfstar are in their 30s I do believe. But. They have more life experience than in Hogwarts or uni.

--orange juice (i've been ready for you to come home for so long) by raggedypond: divorced parents of teddy with one bed at his graduation

-Honey If I'm Not by @brigid-faye divergent post war where remus left, jily lived, and wolfstar only reconnects years later by chance. (Also has a Sirius pov)

---used my best colours for your portrait by @littleoldrachel lie low at Lupin's with flashbacks exploring remus' life

-Looking for Moony by Writer_INFJ_2w1: meet and fall in love birthday party

-Flight of Destiny by @lucigoo lesbian wolfstar meet on plane (Luci also has several others where they're older and lots of beautiful fics

--Aging Gracelessly by orphan_account: texting fic

--the mayors of simpleton by fruity_individual divorced wolfstar get back together, raising teddy

-Second Generation by MsAlexWP single parents, getting back together. The sequel is so perfect too! It's a Nice Day for a Wolfstar Wedding

-the sea is a good place to think of the future by peachyybabe (second in series is mcd but this one is open ending)

-Of Memories and Milk Thievery by moonymoment raising teddy, get back together

--Birthday Blues by YouBlitheringIdiot @blitheringmcgonagall :Sirius is turning sixty and he is appalled...

--Give Quarter to Old Men - @krethes series

--dear your holiness by mollymarymarie

--The Postwar Chronicles by @sliebman10 post canon series

-Vigil Strange I Kept by whitmans_kiss explores effects of lycanthropy

--ten reasons (to go to michigan) by @greyeyedmonster-18 remus headed home, trying to move on from divorce

--Prettiest Star Verse by Raging_queer

-I didn’t sign up for this by Moonystoastandmarsbar divorced wolfstar

-Of Protein Powders and PTAs by @squintclover and @tracingpatternswrites rivals to lovers

-An Infinte Ocean by orphan_account raising teddy strangers to lovers

--The Road Not Taken by @mollymarymarie

-extra credit by MsAlexWP rivals to lovers

-Baby On Board by aqua_myosotis

-Of Memories, Bitter and Sweet by MsAlexWP memory loss

**luci's recs

-my love, take care of yourself by littleoldrachel

-How to romance a guy with (terrible) poetry by BayleyWinchester

-Teddy Plays Matchmaker by grow_as_we_go

-The Front Step Surprise by R33sesPieces

**Recs from others** (I haven't read all these yet but wanted to include)

--Just what the doctor ordered by WrappedUp (be aware there is age gap)

--The Lab by de_sire again an age gap

-Till We Have Arrived Home Again by prouvairing divergent post canon raising harry

-The Patchwork of Us by TracingPatterns

-The Things I Did by Lolo_row

-The Phoenix Agency by LupinsChocolatePraline

-The Fall by EuripidesTrousers

-Pages of You by wolfpants this is drarry main but apparently background wolfstar is really good

-Just Like Heaven by the_prettiest_w0lf_star: mechanic Sirius and librarian Remus

-soloorganaas

-impishtubist

***Self rec***

--Memories of You: mcd exploring memory loss

--Through the Years: Sirius thinks about the past and how handsome his husband is while holding their granddaughter.

--DN(R): Lie low at Lupin's era where they discuss decisions Remus made in the lost years.

**also- the wolfstar librarian is always a great resource make sure to give some likes on posts: 30yo and Up part 2 Bring Black Back Back from the Veil Lie Low at Lupin’s Post Azkaban Grimmauld Place

--Feel free to check my other rec lists, as well as the rest of my fics

--also ... This is list of canon divergent fic recs: post-azkaban, bring back black, lie low at lupins. Lots of same fics but I might not have all in both places.

[calmlyerratic]

Dumbledore: "Lie low at Lupin's for a while; I will contact you there."

Sirius: *literally runs out of the room*

this is canon

"Lie low at Lupin's for a while; I will contact you there."

"But—" said Harry.

He wanted Sirius to stay. He did not want to have to say goodbye again so quickly.

"You'll see me very soon. Harry," said Sirius, turning to him. "I promise you. But I must do what I can, you understand, don't you?"

"Yeah," said Harry. "Yeah . . . of course I do."

Sirius grasped his hand briefly, nodded to Dumbledore, transformed again into the black dog, and ran the length of the room to the door, whose handle he turned with a paw. Then he was gone.

— GoF, Ch 36

[brigid-faye]

Wolfstar lie low Drabble, shout out to irl beta @remakaz ❤️🫶🏻 you are the best travel buddy and tech* date ever (*tesco)

-

He’s been lying low at Remus’ for seven days. It’s after the seventh time he catches Remus’ eyes flicking down to his lips (over a cup of tea, standing in the kitchen) that the question in Sirius’ chest finally escapes his mouth.

“How can you still want me?”

After a week of what Sirius knows, dimly, is wild rantings and vacant silences, insomnia and night terrors, it’s this that makes Remus Lupin look at him like he’s crazy.

One eyebrow up, the opposite corner of his mouth a bit quirked, a head tilt that makes his curls fall over his forehead. It’s so achingly familiar, but jarring, too - the grey in his hair, the depth of the wrinkle between his eyes.

And -fuck fuck fuck all of this - Sirius should have been there for those changes, he wants to press his thumb against that wrinkle and push away all the pain and worries Remus has endured without him. Because of him.

Remus swallows his tea and sets his cup on the counter. He considers Sirius for a moment, opens and shuts his mouth. Frowns and deepens the wrinkle.

“I would have kissed you in that fucking shack, Sirius,” he says, low but even. “If we-I should have kissed you in-”

Sirius isn’t aware of closing the distance between them, he only knows that the kiss is messy and desperate and tastes like life. He’s been so scared that he will finally do the one more thing that will make Remus give up on him, shun him, hate him. Some one thing that will expose the too much in him, something that will reveal the terrified need he feels to hide in Remus’ bones, in the warm brown of his eyes.

But Remus is kissing him and breathing in gasps, nearly sobbing with relief and-

Oh.

Oh, you need me, too.

[blueberry0409]

post poa wolfstar be like:

Remus: Why would you think any of this was a good idea?

Sirius: Probably because I'm a dangerous sociopath with a long history of violence.

Remus:

Sirius: I don't know how you keep forgetting this.

[wolfstargazer]

Lie low at Lupin's - a wolfstargazer microfic

Sirius had sprung immediately into action. He had always been good at acting on instinct, and he'd spent so long waiting for something to do that he was like a coiled spring, not giving the instructions Dumbledore had issued a second thought.

Figg and Fletcher had been easy enough to track down. Arabella rarely left her house and the company of her cats, which afforded her an uninterrupted view of Number 4, Privet Drive. Mundungus had always been a creature of habit, and it didn't take him long to find him at one of his usual haunts.

Only then did Sirius pause and consider that the final part of Dumbeldore's directions might not be so easy to fulfil.

"Lie low at Lupin's."

Just four words. Sirius turned them over in his mind.

He had thought about writing. But hadn't. Every time he'd tried to put quill to paper the words hadn't come.

Sirius had told himself it would be safer for everyone if he kept his distance. He was on the run, after all.

He could have sent a note before arriving. Something short to explain that he was coming, that Dumbledore had insisted, that he'd need to stay for a little while whilst things were put in place. He was intending to offer Grimmauld Place to the Order. But that would take time.

But he hadn't.

Instead he'd apparated straight to the flat Remus had kept all these years, transformed into a dog to sneak past the nicotine-stained landlord who Sirius remembered from years ago replacing a lightbulb in the downstairs hall, before shifting back into a man as he hesitated outside of Remus' door.

He should've written. But he hadn't. What could he have said?

I can't tell you where I am, but the mangoes are excellent?

I'm sorry if my actions the year before last got you fired?

I need you. I want you. Is it too late, do you think, for us?

Hopeless, nervous, but more alive than he had felt in years, Sirius felt a rush of trepidation as he reached out and knocked on the door.

Footsteps on the other side. The door opened. Remus, bathed in light, appeared, soft from the evening and really there. Not a memory he'd had to fight in Azakban, nor a phantom he'd conjured whilst laying awake at night replaying the brief moment they'd shared together in the Shack in each other's embrace. Remus was real, regarding him with confusion, on the threshold of the doorway.

The desire to take Remus into his arms was almost overwhelming. In his mind's eye, Sirius saw himself plead passionately into Remus' ear, "Tell me I'm not too late?"

Reason and fear took over, and Sirius heard himself say in a voice that didn't seem quite like his own, "We can't talk here in the open."

Remus nodded and, without a further word, stepped aside so Sirius could enter and closed the door behind them.

[m00neroni]

so, (says with a thousand wips and on-going fics.) currently thinking about how the narrative would change and how much it would fix the situation if sirius knocked remus up during lie low at lupin's.

clearly, remus wouldn't find out until they are already living in 12 GP (and I feel sirius would be fucking livid at the idea of his pregnant partner growing his child in that hellhouse, so would they stay 24/7 there? another question.) by then, order missions are back - e.g the stake-outs at the department of mysteries to guard the prophecy - so they would have to tell the order that remus is absolutely not participating (which remus would hate, very obviously.)

with remus and sirius together all the time (because, honestly, a pregnant werewolf can't really risk it to be seen in society, can he?), would sirius' depression and general mental state deteriorate as much or would he be more settled? more rational? maybe to the point of being able to care more about his wellbeing?

obviously sirius would (rightfully and thankfully) still want to protect harry and keep an eye on him as much as possible, but would he put his unborn child at the same level? uhm.

and then, the baby would be born before june, which meant that by the time the department of mysteries battle takes place there is also the matter of another little human being in sirius' radar to take care of? would it affect his actions? I don't think he would have stayed behind (remus either, lol), but would he taunt bellatrix to the same extent? or would he play his cards better and survive?

uhm.

[loonyloopylupin96]

What was so bad about where Remus was living that Sirius moved to Grimmauld Place within the space of zero books?

[enbysiriusblack]

laying low at Lupin's but it's Remus having moved back in with his father so he's awkwardly making all three of them tea whilst Lyall tries to act like it isn't that strange for Sirius to be staying with them, and Sirius is just sitting in the kitchen with all his multitude of current issues and trauma but he cannot stop his brain from panicking over how his ex boyfriend's father has got even hotter.

[sliebman10]

Second Chance

The door looked the same as it always had. Chipped white paint, a tarnished knocker in the shape of a wolf’s head James had bought as a housewarming present. The worn mat with a pawprint on it. He felt like he was falling into a memory.

Sirius bit his lip and knocked. The door opened and there he was. The same as always. Well, a little more grey streaked into his golden brown curls, a few more lines around his eyes. But still the same.

They stared at each other for a moment. 

“Hi Moony,” Sirius said softly.

Remus blinked and stood aside so he could come in. “I can’t believe you’re here.” 

“I can’t either,” Sirius admitted.

“How’s Harry?”

“Freaked out. I wanted to stay with him but…” Sirius sighed and smiled sadly at Remus. 

Remus reached out and put his hand on Sirius’s shoulder, a gesture that surprised them both. “He’ll be ok,” Remus said, more to reassure Sirius than because he really believed it. 

Remus showed Sirius to the guest room, without looking at him. They both felt the sudden tension between them. 

When it was time for dinner, Remus started working on it and Sirius joined him in the kitchen. They cooked using a mixture of magic and Muggles techniques, just like old times. Remus flicked on the wireless and an old Beatles song came on that they both started singing to, almost without thinking about it. 

After dinner, they sat in the living room. Sirius sat on the opposite end of the sofa but he really wanted to snuggle into Remus’s side like he used to. He didn’t know if he was allowed. There was so much he didn’t know. He could feel the weight of the past twelve years in between them.

When they got up to go to bed, they separated without saying a word. 

Sirius fell asleep quickly, but inevitably woke in a cold sweat in the middle of the night. He sat up, trying to catch his breath. 

And then Remus was there, putting his arms around Sirius, pulling him close. Sirius leaned into him, matching his breathing until the aftershocks of the nightmare melted away. 

“I missed you so much,” Remus said, into his damp hair. 

“Me too, Moony,” Sirius whispered. “Do you think we could…try again?”

Word Count: 387

@wolfstarmicrofic

[thebigstar-abouttofall]

I Don't Know Where I'd Go Without You (Chapter 14, Like Past Visions of Osiris)

Explicit. Ch: 14/14. Wolfstar. Slow burn.

This is an unrelenting portrayal of post-Azkaban Wolfstar, from July 1995 to June 1996. A story about grappling with what you once loved, when you’ve both lost so much to the ravages of time. And the attempts, slowly but surely, to put the pieces back together.

On the eve of the battle, Remus and Sirius don’t do very much at all.

Sirius takes a moment to enjoy the back of Remus. There’s the nape of his neck, laced with translucent scars, and the worn fabric of Remus’ tartan pyjama top, pulled taut across his shoulders. It bunches at his hips, revealing the small of his back. His matching bottoms are rolling up around his calves, striped with their own marks, fuzzy with light blonde hair. He blinks and wraps his hands around Remus’ waist, curling himself against his spine, his arse, the back of his legs. Finding Remus’ hot feet with his cold ones, he warms himself on them, inhaling his musty scent, heavy with fag smoke. 'Howsat?' He whispers in his ear. Remus settles his hands on Sirius’. 'Perfect.'"

[brandileigh2003]

Wolfstar fic canon divergent fic recs: post-azkaban, bring back black, lie low at lupins

Let me know what I missed including self recs, and give the authors all the love.

•Remain in Light by @veeagainsttheday (175k)

•A Store of Happiness by coyotesuspect (10k)

•An Unexpected Reunion by @r33sespieces (37k) Remus raising Harry when Sirius escaped

•Till We Have Arrived Home Again by prouvairing (43k) in 99, harry visits with news

•He Is Part Of Our Family Too by Lucigoo89 a gift for me 💙💙

•Beyond the Veil by Atalan bring black back

•Leave the Children Behind by @montparnassee

•Dignity be Damned by @violetthistle1 (121k)

•How Long 'Til My Soul Gets It Right by krabapple @severedreamerfox 88k

•Chiaroscuro by krabapple 17k

•December's Light by krabapple (16k)

•Where do we go from here? by realismreading

•Darling, I’d go through it again by lez_writes13 (32k)

•It gets so hard to breathe (when you're looking at me) by arcane_illusions and @neondomino (57k)

•Wherever I Am/You'll Always Be series by @brigid-faye

•The Postwar Chronicles by @sliebman10 post canon series

•Give Quarter to Old Men - @krethes series

Open ended:

•used my best colours for your portrait by littleoldrachel

•I Keep Mine Hidden by insatiablerealist (36k)

-On my tbr/recs from others-

• Darklands by orestesfasting (wip 15/16)

•One to Speak, Another to Hear by @seventymilestobabylon (60k)

•It Wouldn't Be An Adventure Without You by @myheadsgonenumb

•Hounds of Love by estas_absentis (15k) lie low

•The Long Road Home by orphan_account (15k) bbb

•Three Days (The Rebuilding the Temple Remix) by victoria_p (musesfool) ootp era (15k)

•Be With Me Always by TheHufflebean (63k) bbb

•No One's Gonna Love You by Anonymous (109k)

•Laughing all the way by Wheatmarten

•beautiful boy (darling boy) by @impishTubist  roaming_the_greenwood1 mpreg at grimmauld and Sirius is able to get custody of Harry, navigating dynamics, plus pining wolfstar and get together

•A grave mistake by @soloorganaas Sirius back from the viel and navigating complicated situation with Remus being married to Tonks.

•Black Oblivion by @alandia-wings Remus Sirius and tonks all survive

•In Daylight by Essie_Cat

--check out wolfstar librarian list1. 2. She's awesome--

-- there is also a long list at wolfstar warehouse including older ones and many off of ao3--

[chlobliviate]

Wolfstar Microfics - Grief/Mourning

Words: 993

@wolfstarmicrofic

***

Sirius arrived at Remus’ cottage yesterday on Dumbledore's orders. It wasn’t that Remus minded, but a heads up would have been preferable to a bedraggled, but grinning Sirius just appearing at his door at 11 pm.

He made them both tea, and some toast for Sirius, and they sat on Remus’ worn sofa staring at each other for a few minutes.

“Would you like a bath?” Remus asked eventually.

“Is that your polite Moony way of telling me I smell?” Sirius laughed. “I’d love a bath, actually. Can’t remember the last time I had a bath.”

Remus nodded and took his tea into the bathroom to start running a bath. Sirius lingered in the doorway, sipping his own tea from his favourite mug. Remus had felt silly for keeping it but now, seeing it in his hands again, he was grateful to his ridiculous brain for forbidding him from throwing it away.

“Can’t believe you kept this,” Sirius said quietly. “Thank you.” Remus just smiled at him, “So. I’m assuming that Dumbledore didn’t warn you that I’d be here?”

“He didn’t,” Remus added bubbles to the bath, to Sirius’ delight. “But I’m glad you’re here. We have a lot of catching up to do.” Sirius smiled at him as he tested the temperature of the water. “I think this is done. Towels are on the rail. Do you need—”

“Would you stay in here with me?” Sirius’ gaze was fixed on the cup in his hands. “Please?”

Remus nodded, “Of course. Whatever you need.”

He looked away as Sirius shed his clothes and slid into the steaming water. He continued looking away as Sirius groaned blissfully before sitting on the floor with his back against the tub.

“You cut your hair.” Sirius said, “It’s nice.”

“Thanks. Uh, do you want some help with yours?” Remus asked, “I have conditioner. It wouldn’t be too hard to detangle, I’m sure.”

“You don’t think I should just cut it all off?” Sirius sounded surprised.

“Well, do you want to cut it all off?”

“No,” He said in a small voice, “But I convinced myself that was the only way of salvaging it. It’s pretty bad. There are no hairbrushes in Azkaban, but I think being Padfoot helped.”

“We’ll figure it out.” He turned his head slightly to smile at Sirius.

“Thanks, Moons.” Remus thought his heart might stop hearing Sirius call him ‘Moons’ again, but he schooled his features and took a couple of deep breaths. “You alright?”

“Yeah, yeah.” He rested his head on the edge of the tub. “You want me to put some music on? I have all our old records.”

“Of course you do.” Sirius chuckled, “Oh, shit. I bet I’ve missed so much. How many new Queen albums are there?”

And it was at that moment that Remus’ heart broke. Sirius, he realised, had no idea that his idol was dead. He really had missed so much. It had only been a few years since Freddie Mercury’s death, but it still devastated Remus when he thought of the end of his life or listened to The Show Must Go On. So he tried not to.

“There were a few in the 80s,” Remus said, guardedly.

“But nothing new?” Sirius swirled his hands under the hot water and smiled at the sensation. Then he paused and looked up at Remus. “Please don’t tell me they split up.”

Remus shook his head but knew his eyes were about to spill over and give him away. “Worse, sorry.”

Sirius stilled, “Tell me.”

“In the 80s, there was this illness that mostly affected queer people, queer men especially. AIDS. It’s not a death sentence anymore, but it was then. It was terrifying. So many of us died, Pads. Freddie died. A few years ago. It was awful.” He inhaled sharply, “I’m so sorry.”

He looked up at Sirius and saw his face frozen in a look of pure anguish. A single tear rolled down his right cheek as a sob choked out from his chest. “No.” He whispered, “No.”

Remus turned around, no longer caring about seeing Sirius’ body. He reached out a hand to wipe the tear away and Sirius grasped it in his own. Remus sat on the side of the bath and pulled Sirius into his chest, wet clothes be damned. Sirius sobbed as Remus held him, stroked his matted hair, and rubbed his back.

“I’m sorry,” Remus said again. “Queen and Bowie released a single together, days after you went to Azkaban*. It felt like the cruellest thing in the universe on top of everything else. There’s a lot you haven’t heard. We can listen when you’re ready. I didn’t even think about…”

They stayed like that until the bath water was cold, Sirius bordering on catatonic, nodding as Remus told him about songs and albums that he’d love. Sirius wondered what the point was. Everyone was dead or dying, Voldemort was back, and he had no way of protecting Harry, or Remus. He closed his eyes as Remus gently washed his hair with warm water and did his best to detangle the knots. He stared vacantly at the ceiling of Remus’ bedroom for hours and listened to Remus breathe.

After a few hours, he got up and headed for the record player. He rifled through Remus’ records until one caught his eye, with cartoon versions of the band on the front, ‘A Kind of Magic’. He scanned the tracklist and found himself drawn to side 2. He slipped it onto the turntable, dropping the needle onto the vinyl, a very familiar crackle that made him smile tentatively as he turned the volume down.

As soon as the vocals started There’s no time for us, There's no place for us, Sirius found himself crying again. Within seconds Remus’ arms were around him and he held on tight. He wasn’t sure which of them started swaying gently first.

Who waits forever anyway?

***

* this is my villain origin story.