#remus oddly enchanted by sirius

[lulublack90]

Prompt 31 - Countdown

@wolfstarmicrofic December 31, word count 765

Previous part First part

Remus woke early, feeling oddly warm in his usually cold bed. He felt stiff, as if he hadn’t been able to move much during the night. He looked down and saw a mass of black, curly hair draped across his chest along with the rest of Sirius. 

He couldn’t quite believe he’d let this complete stranger wriggle his way into his bed in so little time and not even for sex and, even more unbelievably, Remus didn’t care. 

He turned his head to look at the time, watching the second's countdown until his alarm went off. He still had a few minutes before he needed to start getting up. 

Remus bit his bottom lip as he tentatively moved his hand from where it was wrapped around Sirius’s waist and began tracing patterns onto his bare back. His skin was silky smooth and the image of Remus licking every inch of it shot into his mind. He felt himself grow beneath the sheets and winced when Sirius began to stir. 

“Hmmmm, someone's happy to see me,” He grinned sleepily, his hip bumping into Remus as he shuffled to see Remus’s face better. 

“I need to go to work in a bit,” Remus said, ignoring Sirius’s words. 

“Oh, okay, I’ll get up and leave you to it,” Sirius’s smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. 

“You don’t have to go right away,” Remus blurted out quickly, his arm automatically wrapping back around Sirius’s waist. “Sorry, erm, I thought I could make you breakfast.” He felt the back of his neck heat and knew his ears would be burning red. This was confirmed when Sirius’s eyes flicked to the side of his head and he bit down on his lower lip to keep his face straight. 

“I’d love that if you’re sure,” Sirius smiled sweetly at him, lying back down, nuzzling Remus’s chest until he got comfortable.

Remus was a bit stunned again. This felt so easy, so right, but he didn’t even know this man. Sooner than he thought, his alarm began blaring. “Oh my god, Remus, is that the Ducktales theme?” Sirius jumped up excitedly. 

“Yeah,” Remus admitted sheepishly. “I had a clock when I was little that sang it when the alarm went off, and it’s the only thing that wakes me up.”

“That is adorable,” Sirius leant over and pressed a quick kiss to Remus’s cheek and skipped out of sight, presumably to get dressed.

“So all I have is cereal,” He told Sirius as he got two bowls out of the cupboards and rinsed out the mugs they’d used last night and made more tea. 

“Cereal's great, I don’t usually get it at home,” Remus felt a twang inside his chest. He didn’t know a thing about this man. He’d have to rectify that once Sirius was gone. 

“Choc-y hoops, alright?” He asked as he poured a healthy portion into his own bowl. Sirius’s face lit up as he nodded enthusiastically. He looked like a little kid getting sugary cereal as a treat. Remus poured on some milk and slid the bowl across the counter to him. Sirius grabbed it and took a mouthful before going to sit down on the sofa. He let out a happy groan before shoving another spoonful into his mouth. 

Before he knew it, it was time to leave for his shift at the hotel, cleaning all the used bedding in the massive laundry room in the hotel's basement.

“It was lovely meeting you," Sirius said, his cheeks pinking as they said goodbye on the doorstep of Remus’s flat. 

“Yeah, I had a great time,” Remus confessed, and Sirius’s face broke into the most beautiful smile Remus had ever seen. 

“Would you want to maybe meet up again?” Sirius asked, suddenly looking a bit unsure of himself. Remus’s heart twanged again, and he couldn’t say no even if he wanted to, and he didn’t want to. 

“I’d really like that, Sirius,”

“Great, I’ll come round tonight. See you later, Remus,” He reached up and kissed Remus on the lips. He walked away, hopping to the side when Rufus opened the door to the kebab shop just as Sirius passed it. Remus couldn’t stop the laugh that burst from his lips. Then, it hit him that Sirius had invited himself over again. He made a mental note to get some groceries on his way home so he’d have something to feed the man. He shook his head, put his earphones in, and started his walk to the hotel, thinking about how different Sirius was to anyone else he’d ever met. 

[my-castles-crumbling]

Anon writing request- James finding Regulus asleep (Jegulus rated G)

He'd gotten...distracted. They'd planned to meet at eight, to pick up where they'd left off earlier, but he'd had to help Sirius and Remus settle a dispute about Quidditch and somehow it was now 9pm.

He crept into Regulus's room nervously, knowing the shorter boy would probably be furious with him (rightfully so) for keeping him waiting. In his head, he practiced his excuses, his best pouts and begging, and pushed the door open hesitantly.

But he was not greeted by an angry Regulus.

Instead, his boyfriend was spread out on his bed, blanket haphazardly covering his chest and lap, clothes crumpled and askew, snoring softly.

Instantly, James softened, taking in Regulus's sleeping form.

Regulus in sleep was oddly soft, his face relaxed and smooth, free from stress and anger and darkness. It was enchanting, seeing him so worry-free, and James couldn't resist the urge to reach out and trace his fingers along the prominent cheekbones, making his boyfriend's long eyelashes flutter.

"Jamie?" Regulus murmured, still half-asleep, shifting towards James and making the taller boy want to melt with the way he reached for him so innocently.

"I'm here, baby. Right here. Sorry I'm late," he whispered, curling next to him and pulling him in.

"S'long as you don't leave," Regulus muttered, tangling his fingers in James's t-shirt and breathing in deeply, again making James almost want to cry with the raw neediness he showed in his half-asleep state.

"Never," he answered, closing his eyes and holding him close.

[mistress-violence]

Prompt: Museum from @into-the-jeggyverse (August 28)

Word count: 676 words

Pairing: Jegulus (modern AU)

⚠️ Warnings: none

Regulus is the kind of person who has loved art since he was a child. James has caught on to it in the six months since they've been dating. He spent countless group outings listening to Regulus discuss aesthetics with Evan and Barty. Among his stuff in his room, he always found art history books and art magazines. Sirius once gave him a leather notebook with some famous painting on it (he heard some sort of Moan It, but he wasn’t sure).

James wants to understand this part of Regulus, but he always found art boring. When his parents took him on trips as a kid, James hated museums. They just looked like a bunch of old drawings with old people. He strode through them and dragged Euphemia and Fleamont by the hand until they left the dusty building and went to the park for ice cream. College did not draw James closer to intellectual pursuits. He still prefers to compete with Sirius, who can eat more hot dogs in a minute than stare at the "Mona Lisa.".

The closer the relationship between him and Regulus becomes, however, the more doubts he begins to have. Regulus is not only exceptionally beautiful and charming; he is also intelligent, refined, and elegant in every gesture. James is scared that Regulus will never take him seriously as a potential partner when he will finally see that James is not as smart as him.

Because of this, James invited Regulus on a date at the art museum. He is determined to impress his lover and show him that he too can like such things. He had spent a few days with Sirius and Remus trying to figure out this whole art thing, and he thought he was absolutely ready to get Regulus enchanted.

Panic hit him when he and Regulus arrived at the museum, and instead of those gold-framed paintings on the walls, they were white industrial rooms with all sorts of strange objects that the people around looked at with interest. James also checked that they were in the right place. Yes, it said "Museum of Contemporary Art" in big letters. Then where is the art? Remus had shown him pictures of people and pretty landscapes in the albums, not stones sitting on chairs and pieces of iron oddly welded together.

James regains himself. This is not the time to panic; he can handle it. He knows fancy words like "perspective" and "plasticity." He walks over to Regulus, who was staring at something on a wall.

"Interesting piece, isn't it? I can see the artistic vision in this. The colors are proportioned to balance the composition perfectly. A true work of art,” says James with face confidence.

Regulus turns his head towards him, his expression so neutral it looks like a Renaissance portrait.

"James" Regulus began. "This is the map of the exhibition. It’s written down how to get to the toilet from here."

All the color in James' face drains, and he becomes as pale as a ghost. He has no hope left; he sees himself dying old and alone in a house with twelve cats. As James imagines fateful, horrible scenarios, Regulus lets out a giggle. He finds it cute that James is trying so hard to impress him. Regulus grabs his lover by the shirt and pulls him into a short kiss.

“Come on, I want to see some sculptures. In one of the rooms they have a Pollock, I think you'll like it. And after we're done here, we can go eat some hot dogs at the place that you like. I heard from Sirisu that you can put 5 hot dogs in your mouth at the same time. I'd like to see that,” Regulus said, dragging James at his hand.

James raises his head like a puppy and his face lightens up. He nods with a big smile and intertwines his fingers with Regulus', entering the exhibit together. Later, he will show Regulus that he can actually put six hot dogs in his mouth.

[petals2fish]

Chapter 14: Falling for Her (James’ POV)

Notes:

As most of you know I work in higher education and I raise guide dog puppies as a second job. I have a busy term for the next eight weeks, so my updates will be sporadic until I'm back on more of a usual schedule. I'm hoping one chapter a week, instead of my usual two!

As they continued sliding deep underground, James found himself in the unknown territory that Lily had led them to. Attempting to control his movements, he slid against the rocky surface, occasionally bumping his head on the top of the circular tunnel. The air had shifted from acidic to heavy, making it difficult to breathe. 

However, the relief of not being dead was a comfort he welcomed.

It had been a while since James faced such life-and-death experiences, reminiscent of his first two years learning the ways of the forest. Suddenly, the solid rock gave way to open air, and gravity took hold of him. He yelped as he tumbled to the floor, landing directly on top of someone soft. The familiar scent of her reached his nose, and he recognized it as Lily's fragrance, oddly reminiscent.

“Sorry for not warning you,” she exclaimed, her hands touching his cheeks without warning, “are you alright?”

Then, in an unexpected turn, their noses brushed against each other, making James acutely aware of the close proximity of their faces. Hastily rolling off the girl, he felt a warmth rising to his cheeks as he pretended to dust off his clothes. Despite his reluctance to admit it, a newfound attraction stirred within him. It was as if Lily had enchanted him with her quick wit and talent for finding trouble.

“I’m okay,” he told her, “where are we?”

In tunnels, below the surface, one of the wyverns said, Sirius by the sounds of it. 

"Are you sure we're safe down here?" Lily's light voice echoed through the chamber, indicating to James that the wyverns weren’t lying.

Reassuringly, Remus, the dragon with the deeper voice, responded, It's a lot safer down here than it is up there. 

We know all the best escape routes, chimed Sirius with his higher growl.

James, relying on touch, felt the ground with both hands, searching for his staff. In the pitch-black caves, he struggled to discern even blurry shapes, as there was no light. Once he located his walking stick, he stood upright, feeling his hair brush against the top of the tunnel. Enclosed, dark spaces were something James detested, and for a moment, he almost wished he had stayed above ground.

Almost.

We've been dodging those bullies since we were 200 years old, Remus added.

Were we ever that young? Sirius pondered aloud.

Remus retorted, Of course we were, you moron! 

I'm not a moron! Sirius protested, defending his intelligence.

Yes, you are! Remus countered, intensifying their playful banter.

No, I'm not! Sirius insisted, vehemently rejecting the moron label.

“With all that bickering, I'm surprised you haven't fried each other," James remarked, attempting to inject some humor into the situation. 

Lily rewarded him with a silly little giggle that seemed to emanate from somewhere on his left. James wondered if he should conjure another witty remark just to hear her infectious laugh again. He’d liked it, above, when she’d held his hand. No matter how much grief he’d given her about it. 

Bickering with her was so easy, so fun . 

Fried each other? We can't even simmer. Sirius claimed with mock indignation. In an attempt to prove his point, James heard Sirius attempting to breathe in deep and then exhale fire, but all he felt and heard was a bit of useless smoke. The absurdity of the moment left everyone, including James, unable to suppress a collective chuckle.

Yeah, you see, he can't breathe fire or fly. Hmm. Sad, really. Remus remarked with a hint of sympathy.

Oh, excusez-moi, Mr. Self-Denial, but we can't breathe fire or fly, Sirius retorted.

Only 'cause you're holding me back! Remus quipped.

“How did this conjoined twin thing happen?” Lily asked, her close proximity to James causing him to stiffen so he wouldn’t accidentally brush up against her again.

Sirius and I are cursed with this form because of our parents' mating, Sirius said. 

“Why?” Lily inquired.

As half-dragon wyverns we are not pure of blood. For that, we are deformed and we weren’t accepted by the wyvern alphas, Remus explained their predicament fluidly. And as half-wyverns, we cannot breathe fire and are much smaller than dragons, so naturally, they pick on us. 

We want to be human, Sirius added. At least humans come in all different shapes and sizes.  

“You won’t find being human any more satisfying,” James said as he untied his hair from its bun to secure it together again. “Humans can be cruel.”

“Not all humans,” Lily interjected, her voice rising in a soft tone like she'd defend herself to her last breath.

“So,” James continued, his voice echoing as he ignored Lily, “you both are cursed in this form, forever?”

We can’t fly, so we can’t hunt. We can’t breathe fire, so we cannot defend ourselves, Sirius enumerated, it’s only because of my brains that we’re still alive. 

Remus exclaimed, frustration evident as he face-palmed in exasperation. I’ve been stuck like this with him for 500 years! 

Oh dear, it's learned to count, Sirius quipped, licking Remus in the eye playfully.

Remus retorted, I don't come here to be insulted! 

Sirius, undeterred, fired back, Oh. Where do you usually go? 

The echoes of the wyverns' skirmish filled the cavern, prompting a sigh to escape James's lips. They were, without a doubt, an odd pair. He didn’t know why the forest was placing him in the company of some of the oddest–he got a whiff of Lily again from beside him–nicest smelling creatures he’d ever met. He wondered if she knew how nicely she smelled, like a forest, right after it rains. 

"Come on, James," Lily beckoned softly from his side, her voice a comforting presence in the echoing darkness. “We should keep moving.”

Responding to her call, James followed the sound of her determined footsteps reverberating through the cave. Marlene, the falcon, fluttered nearby and gracefully landed on James's shoulder. 

Affectionately nibbling his ear, she cooed to share her thoughts. You like her. 

“Quiet, Marlene,” James hissed to the bird, wary of Lily overhearing their conversation.

Instead, up ahead, Lily’s feet slid along the ground as she called for him again, “James? Are you coming?”

Sirius’ voice chimed in, You don't need him, honey. Now you've got Sirius, keeping an eye on ya. 

James followed along, trailing behind with a hint of irritation evident on his face. Marlene laughed in her own falcon way, recognizing his frustration. James shrugged her off, prompting Marlene to simply fly away, likely perching on Lily’s shoulder instead. The falcon had taken a liking to Lily just as much as James had.

When James caught up to Lily, he asked softly, “Are you feeling okay?”

“Yes,” she said, “why?”

“I landed on you pretty hard back there.”

In the darkness, her hand found him again, sending shocks racing up his arm. “You couldn’t see me; it’s okay.”

He felt the itching need to touch her face so he could see her, in his own way. The desire to trace her features, memorize the shape of her nose, her eyes, and mouth consumed him. He wondered if she had freckles, or if her pale skin was as soft on her face as it was on her hands. While he knew she was smaller than him, based on how he’d held her previously, and that she seemed to have light colored eyes, he hadn't managed to make her look at him long enough to discern details through his blind spots.

“Can you describe yourself to me?” he asked softly, hoping his voice didn’t travel.

Lily was quiet for a second, and then she replied, “I’m very plain.”

“Describe yourself,” he asked again politely, “so I can draw up an image in my head.”

“I have long red hair,” she started carefully.

“Yes,” he murmured, “I see the flashes of red.”

“How–I mean–well, can you see some?”

“It’s like looking through a dark tunnel,” James described, “but there’s a pinprick of light that constantly changes color and shape.”

“Have you always been blind?”

He squeezed her hand, “I thought I was asking you the questions.”

He heard the smile in her voice when she replied, “but I’m not interesting, not like you.”

“Me?” he was surprised by her, again. “How so?”

“Well,” Lily began, “you live alone in the forbidden forest with a silver-winged falcon, and despite losing your vision, you flourish here. Catching your own food, rescuing strange girls from dragons–”

James cut her off, “You’re hardly strange.”

“You did say only a fool would come into the forbidden forest alone,” Lily reminded him.

James chuckled warmly, “Then I guess we’re both fools.”

“But we’re not alone anymore.”

James wished he could see her, more than anything he wished he could see her expression, because she had sounded so hopeful when she’d spoken, as if before meeting him, she’d been as lonely as he’d felt in the last ten years.

“No,” he agreed in a lower voice, “we’re not alone.”

Suddenly, pinpricks of light appeared, and Lily let go of his hand, cheering. James felt the air loosen its hold on his lungs and suddenly, Aura was back, its fluttering waves dragging along his skin in welcome. Beside him, Lily giggled, as the wind likely welcomed her too.

“Hello Aura!” Lily told it fondly “did you miss us?”

When James felt a light rain touch his skin, he breathed in deeply. The thick fog that had enveloped them in Dragon Country had dissipated. Marlene, ever the free spirit, took flight and soared into the world with a fierce cry. James felt like screaming for joy too, but instead, he used his stick to find a dirt trail amongst what appeared to be long grasses.

"Well, the good news is, we're out of Dragon Country. The better news is," James announced, holding his staff in position, "the next half-day will be the land of the druids.”

“Druids,” Lily sounded far away from him, farther than he would’ve liked, “here?”

James nodded, “I lived with them for a short while but didn’t take well to their religious lifestyle.” He sniffed, the winds drifting the smell of the wyverns his way. “You two won't be welcomed if we see druids, they’ve killed for less.”

Remus’ voice cut sharply, we helped you, now you help us. 

“How can we help you?” James remarked, folding his arms over his staff.

You have wizards in Camelot, Sirius said, do you think they can change Remus and I? 

Lily spoke up, from somewhere in front of James, “Merlin, he’s the best wizard in the realm. We could ask him!”

And he could separate us and turn us human? Sirius asked skeptically.

“I don’t know, honestly,” Lily shrugged, “but my father said he saw Merlin do some pretty amazing things.”

James hesitated, reluctant to reveal the harsh truth he had discovered – that all magic had its limits. Even Merlin, the revered wizard of Camelot, had been unable to restore his sight. The idea of separating two conjoined wyverns and turning them human seemed even more beyond the realm of magical possibility.

Taking charge, James remarked, "Come on, Lily, the wyverns will be fine."

Lily, always compassionate, pleaded, "James, let's take them with us. Please."

God, her heart would be the death of him. 

With a sigh, James reluctantly agreed, "Fine!"

Despite the internal doubts about the feasibility of Merlin's intervention, he chose not to dampen Lily's hope. There was a spark of determination in her voice, an unwavering belief in the power of magic to solve even the most extraordinary challenges. He didn’t have the heart to take her hope, and squash it. He was growing too fond of her, even in the short time together, to allow himself to be the villain in her story. 

Sirius and Remus cheered, their little wings clapping on their back in response to James’ agreement. Leading the way down the path, James caught a whiff of wildflowers as Lily caught up to him. Reaching out with the hand not using the walking stick, his fingers traced along her arms until he felt the soft petals of bell-like lupine between his fingers. Lily was holding a bouquet of flowers, and a smile upturned both sides of his mouth.

“What are those for?” he asked, letting his fingers brush along her wrist, finding any excuse to touch her, to know her.

“For you,” she announced brightly, “you said you can see bright colors, so I got the brightest I could find.”

James, who hadn’t believed in Gods for a long time, looked up towards the sky for the first time since his thirteenth birthday and thanked whoever might be sitting up there for bringing him Lily. They kept walking side by side, Lily refusing to move any further from him. Occasionally, her knuckles brushed against him, almost like she needed to reassure herself that he was there. 

It made his heart thump faster in his chest. 

Suddenly, Lily spoke up again, “I have my father's eyes.”

“Hm?” James asked, smiling when her arm hit his to let him know where she was.

“You asked me to describe myself, remember,” Lily said sassily before continuing, “I have green eyes, red hair, and a rather unfortunate complexion that burns in the summers by the shore.” James had seen a beach once, before his accident, and imagined her silhouette amongst the waves. “I’m about a foot shorter than you, and my favorite clothes to wear are riding breeches with a tunic, but my mother makes me wear dresses if she can get me into them.”

“What about your hobbies?” he asked, eagerly taking in everything she offered.

He felt her shoulders shrug as she walked by his side, “I can do needlepoint if that’s what you mean.”

“Oh, you must be deadly with a needle,” he joked, earning one of her precious giggles.

“I’d say I really shine on horseback,” she replied, “I’ve been riding longer than I can remember walking.”

“Do you have a horse, back home?” he asked.

“Her name is Gwen,” Lily paused, and her voice turned somber, “she threw me off when Ruber’s men were chasing me into the forbidden forest, I am just hoping she ran back home.”

James shook his head in disbelief, “you named your horse after the queen?”

“Yes,” her tone was prideful, “Queen Quenevire has had the most amazing adventures, she’s practically a knight of Camelot.”

James chuckled, as he had heard many stories about their unorthodox queen back when he lived in the palace. “Do you want to be like her when you grow up?”

“No,” Lily’s voice grew soft, “I do not want to grow up.”

“Why not?” he asked.

“Because that will mean I have to be married off to some lord,” Lily huffed, and James felt a pang in his heart as he imagined her in white alongside some puffy chested knight of the round table. “But maybe if we get the sword, and I show them what I can do, I can be a lady knight instead.”

“You want to be a knight?” he realized they were not so different, him and Lily. As the words hung in the air, he could sense a shared longing for a dream. A dream he had long ago abandoned. 

“More than anything,” she said, her voice turning forlorn. “More than anything, I want to be a knight.” Her voice reflected a profound yearning, as if the very essence of her being craved the honor, valor, and noble pursuit that knighthood represented.

He could listen to her talk like that all day. 

James grappled with a moment of reflection, biting his lip as he pondered whether to disclose to Lily that, once upon a time, becoming a knight had been his dream too. The reverberations of his past aspirations echoed within him, highlighting the realization that their paths had once been aligned by a shared ambition. More and more, he was realizing that Lily was everything he never knew he had needed in a companion. A friend. Perhaps more…

Breaking the brief silence, Lily inquired, "What about you, James? What do you dream of?" 

Contemplating her question, he decided against providing a truthful answer. "I haven't dreamed in years."

"I envy that," Lily confessed. "The constraints of my dreams can be suffocating. Always expected to conform, to fit into the mold they've crafted for me, as a lady." 

Yearning to gauge her emotional state, he wished he could see her face, discerning whether she was in pain or sadness. Opting for vulnerability, he whispered to her, "Sometimes, the world doesn't see beyond what's on the surface."

Her arm gently slid against his, offering a reassuring touch. "You deserve to dream too, regardless of what the world tells you," she expressed.

If he were truthful, the remainder of the afternoon was spent lost in daydreams about what she might look like in her pretty gowns, contemplating who she truly was. He envisioned the possibility of her gaze meeting him with admiration and awe, allowing himself to indulge in thoughts of how that moment might unfold. Indulging in a fantasy where they had met under different circumstances, and he had been brave enough to court her without fearing rejection.

[hptransfest]

HP Trans Fest: Day 8 Works

We have 4 works for you today!

The first work today is about Trans!Snape.

Title: Dappled Light

Pairing: Lily Evans & Severus Snape

WC: 4639

Rating: Mature

Summary:  After the unfortunate day by the lake, Snape decided to tell Lily the truth about himself, or rather, herself. And what happened after that summer in a run-down library in Cokeworth.

Link: AO3

The second work is about Percy Weasley and how he comes to understand himself.

Title: Percy Weasley and the Chamber of Secrets

Pairing: Percy Weasley & Penelope Clearwater

WC: 16953

Rating: Teen and Up

Summary: His NEWT years are Percy's chance to land himself a Ministry job for when he graduates Hogwarts. Dad's career is on the line over enchanting his Ford Anglia, meanwhile Percy's looking out for his younger siblings—whether they like it or not. Slytherin's beast is endangering the students, and Percy's best friend seems oddly insistent on going to the bathroom with him.Percy spends his sixth year coming to grips with who he is, and realising that his mum wants him to be someone else.

Link: AO3

Our third work today is about Trans!Sirius leaving home to live with the Potters.

Title: Midnight and Royal Blue

Pairing: Sirius Black/Remus Lupin

WC: 10097

Rating: General

Summary: 29/07/1975Today, I ran away from home.The summer of 1975, where Sirius goes to live with the Potters and finally has the opportunity to be who she was always meant to be.

Link: AO3

The final work for tday features Charlie Weasley, and how she discovers her identity.

Title: a dragon mum

Pairing: None

WC: 2334

Rating: General

Summary: Charlie Weasley was the second born Weasley son, after Bill and before Percy. Growing up, he was definitely given more responsibility than the average child, particularly after Mrs. Weasley was pregnant with the twins. Second out of six sons, Charlie was an older brother before he had any other identity.But he would find other identities, in unexpected places.

Link: AO3

Enjoy the works, and give our writers some love. They deserve it!

We’ll be back tomorrow with more.

[aryastark-valarmorghulis]

Hi Tumblr folks 🔥I wrote a thing!

Cor Cordium

Rating: M Wordcount: 11k Tags: Marauders Era, Canon Compliant, Post-Sirius Black's Prank on Severus Snape, Angst, Pining, Kissing, Hopeful Ending, Spells & Enchantments. Dark Magic, Blood, Restraints, Complicated Relationships,  Summary: Hogwarts, 1977, after the Prank: dark magic happens at dusk.

“Remus, at first, thought Sirius was oddly misplaced in the Hogwarts library, his restless energy stifled, like a flame snuffed before it could burn, a spell reversed before it hit, but now, after a few months of this routine – it’s also strange to associate someone so unpredictable with a routine – he realises Sirius quite fits here.”

Keep reading on ao3

[themarauderstheoutsidersandpeggy]

Hi! If you're still in a mood to write for Sirius can you (if you want) do one where he has a crush on Remus's gf? Like he liked her for along time but missed the chance when they got together and now has to suffer bc of his silence? It could end with him telling her about his feelings just to let it out, or maybe Remus confront him about it?

Too Little Too Late - Remus Lupin x Reader (Sirius Black x Reader undertones)

Word Count: 2.4K

--

The one time, the one time that Sirius hadn't shown his attraction to someone by relentlessly shoving it in their face, was when he doesn't get what he wants in the end. If he'd have known that the uncharacteristic silence that he’d displayed out of genuine respect for you was going to cost him the first relationship that he’d actually have cared about, he would have climbed atop the Gryffindor table during the next meal and sung a song about his feelings. 

But no, his reward for not catcalling you in the halls, for not tugging on the back of your shirt during classes so that you had to talk to him to get him to stop, for not having James trip you so that he could catch you and croon that you’d fallen for him, was this.

His reward was watching your eyes light up, your cheeks turning up in the most beautiful smile he’d ever seen, pure joy and enchantment showcased on your features, at the sight of his best friend. 

He didn’t know how much more he could take. It was getting painful to sit with his friends at mealtimes, in the common room, or at breaks. Every time you laughed, throwing your head back slightly as your eyes scrunched shut, he felt your grip on him tighten, his heart crushed and his lungs constricted. He’d made frequent trips ‘to the library’ when you took your seat during mealtimes, knowing that he couldn’t take it.

But he had to take it, he couldn’t keep up and abandoning his friends, now could he? So he tried to sit there, watching the person that could have turned out to be the love of his life find happiness with his best friend. 

And Remus wasn’t blind, either. He saw the way Sirius’ jaw clenched every time you laughed at a joke that was told, he noticed that Sirius fell completely silent as soon as you sat down at the Gryffindor table with them. He even noticed how Sirius seemed to always need to go to the library as soon as you came to sit with them, unless, of course, you were joining them while they were in the library. Then for some reason he always needed to pop by the dorms to grab something that he’d forgotten.

Remus loved his best friend, of course. But he was getting tired of making excuses for Sirius, explaining away his oddly standoffish behavior to you every time you suggested that maybe Sirius just didn’t like you. He was getting tired of seeing your face fall as Sirius reused the same flimsy excuse over and over again, and he had to do something.

What better opportunity than this, while Sirius was trudging back to the castle with his head down, hair in his face as he kicked rocks that he found along the edge of the lake.

Remus muttered something to the group, his excuse probably sounding just as unbelievable and weak as Sirius’s. But he didn’t care, he just wanted an explanation for why Sirius was suddenly incapable of speech.

He chased after the raven-haired boy, reaching out to grab Sirius by the hand and tug him backwards, into a clearing that shielded the two boys from the rest of the group.

“You need something?” Sirius tilted his head sideways slightly, a residual habit from his animal counterpart. None of his previous hesitance to speak was still present, in fact, he seemed completely fine, shoulders relaxed and no longer tense.

This only made Remus more upset, a scoff leaving his lips as he leveled Sirius with a stern glare, “I need to know why you’re determined to run my partner off.”

Sirius clearly wasn’t expecting to be confronted about the issue at hand, despite not having bothered to put in an ounce of effort to conceal his feelings. 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about Moony, I’m not trying to run anyone off.”

“Well it doesn’t matter if you’re trying or not, because it’s working. You’re making them feel like they’re not welcome, and I wanna know why.”

“Remus, you’re really reading too far into things,” Sirius wrestled his arm out of Remus’s grip, only raising the latter’s suspicion further, “I’m just acting like I normally do.”

Remus actually laughed out loud at that, “Sirius, if you were acting like you normally do, you’d probably have stolen them from me already. Just admit it, there’s something wrong.”

Usually any mention of Sirius’s nonchalant attitude towards flirting would have elicited a smirk from the haughty Gryffindor, but the reminder of what he’d failed to do this time around had his fists clenching and his teeth gritting in poorly concealed annoyance.

“Listen, Remus, if I’ve said there’s nothing wrong, then there’s nothing wrong. Why do you have to pry like this?”

“Because there’s clearly something wrong! You are not a rude person Sirius, this is not how you act around people you have no opinion on. Just tell me what it is, I wouldn’t be asking if I didn’t care, because clearly something is upsetting you about this.”

Remus’s concern only aggravated Sirius more, because what kind of an asshole was he to be interested in his best friend’s significant other? The last thing Sirius wanted to do was look Remus in the eyes and tell him that the first happy relationship he’d managed to procure was spoiled because his best friend couldn’t keep his eyes to himself. But Remus, stupidly attentive Remus, was determined to get it out of him.

Sirius’s mouth stayed closed, his teeth digging into his lip as he debated what lies he could get away with this time. He really didn’t want to hurt Remus, but he couldn’t just pretend like everything was fine. Remus seemed to sense his hesitation, stepping forwards slightly to rest his hand on Sirius’s shoulder.

“You know you can tell me anything, right?”

Curse Remus and his avid concern for his friends.

Sirius felt tears, hot and itchy, prick at his eyes, Humiliation in terms of his love life was not something he was used to, and it was really hitting him harder than it probably should have. He ran a hand furiously over his eyes, as angry at the tears escaping and streaking down his cheeks as he was at himself for not having made a move.

“I just,” Sirius threw his head back, mouth opening as he sucked in a breath as if it would ease the sting of the words he was about to say, “I have some feelings that I should not have.”

“You couldn’t possibly have given me less details, Pads, keep going.”

Sirius’s face twisted into a wry smile, eyes void of the happiness that usually accompanied his grins, “I think I have a crush on them. No, I know I do.”

Sirius didn’t bother looking at Remus, knowing that the look of betrayal and disappointment that was sure to adorn his best friend’s face would only twist the ever-present dagger even further into his heart. Remus’s hand slowly fell from Sirius’s shoulder, and the slight chill that came from the lack of contact left Sirius wishing he could plunge himself into the Black Lake.

“You, wait- Just... You managed to catch feelings for the one person I was interested in?”

“Listen, I know it’s a shitty thing to hear. And I’m not gonna act on it, I would never do that to you. It just hurts to sit there sometimes. So I try to get out instead of making things worse. I never meant to create any hostile feelings.”

Remus buried his face in his hands for a few seconds, then stared intently at a piece of bark on the forest floor, “I appreciate that you’ve realized how shitty it would be to pursue your feelings, But it’s also kind of shitty of me to ask you not to pursue your feelings.”

Sirius managed the ghost of a smirk, “A threesome, then?”

The tension was effectively broken, a soft laugh coming from Remus, “No, that’s not what I had in mind. Are they, um, are they intense feelings? Do you think they’ll pass?”

“They’re probably not bad. I dunno yet. Just gotta wait and see, I guess.”

Remus hummed in acknowledgement, “Is it gonna hurt you? If I stay with them.”

“No that’s,” Sirius paused, “That’s not what I want you to do. You’re happy, Remus, you’re really happy, and I’m sorry this had to ruin it. I wasn’t even gonna tell you, I really don’t want this changing things.”

“Alright, just... Just let me know if it gets worse, okay? As happy as I am, that’s not a valid excuse to let you suffer.”

Sirius nodded, burrowing the tip of his shoe into the soft earth beneath him. 

“Well I’m not.. angry, per se, but I know Y/N is hurt, and I don’t know how to make up a lie to explain away your behavior. Would you just tell them the truth?”

Sirius’s face twisted into an uncomfortable grimace, and his hands buried themselves in the pockets of his pants, “I really don’t wanna do that.”

“I know but,” Remus sighed, running a hand through his hair in frustration, “They’re gonna ask what’s going on. They think you just don’t like them. And honestly I don’t know how else to explain this away. Will you at least come up with a lie, then?”

“And we’re lying to me because?” 

Remus’s eyes widened and his chest heaved with anxiety, shoes whirling around in the array of foliage on the forest floor as he turned to face you.

”Not lying like- I didn’t mean… just- We we’re trying to-”

“It’s fine, Remus. No use in covering it up.” Sirius’s gaze was still full of disdain, only making the sinking feeling in your chest grow as you waited for an answer.

“Listen, if there’s something you don’t like about me, about us,” you gestured between yourself and Remus, “please just let me know. This doesn’t seem to be fun for either of us.”

“Do you want me to leave?” You turned to look at Remus, intent on shaking your head because the last thing you wanted right now was to be left alone with the man who’d made it clear you were the bane of his existence. But Remus was looking at Sirius, hands in his pockets as he frowned.

“Yeah, if you don’t mind,” Sirius’s voice was stiff, a tone you’d never heard him take up with Remus. Your stomach twisted even more at the idea that you might be driving a wedge into their friendship, splitting it down the middle and leaving broken pieces behind you.

Remus nodded, smiling sadly at you before shuffling back through the forest to join the others, shoes kicking up red and brown tinted leaves every time they rose off of the ground.

You watched him walk away for as long as he was in your sight, sighing softly as he disappeared into the mess of trees lining the horizon. Only then did you turn to face Sirius, keeping your head down until he decided to break the silence.

“I don’t hate you.”

Your head began whirling with witty retorts but you bit your tongue, not wanting to make the situation any worse than it already was. He took your silence for anger, continuing with the same stiff tone he’d used since you showed up.

“I’m sorry I made you think that. I really don’t, though. I’m just not good at dealing with emotions.”

You were finally confident you could reply without any hints of disdain in your voice, almost whispering though it didn’t matter in the silent clearing of trees that you’d wandered into. 

“What emotions?”

Sirius’s face twisted up into a wry smile, “Going straight for the kill?”

“This is confusing enough as it is, please just get to the point.”

Sirius sighed, nodding as he roughly ran a hand through his hair, “Listen, I may or may not have feelings for you. And I didn’t tell anyone, and I didn’t even try to do anything about them, so obviously I’m not upset at either of you for not knowing. It’s just frustrating to see you two together sometimes, even though I am happy for you both. Makes me realize that I did too little too late, and I’m not used to that.”

You stayed silent as you dragged the tip of your shoe through a muddy puddle on the forest floor, hands behind your back as you listened to Sirius’s admissions. You had no idea what to say, what were you supposed to say when your boyfriend’s best friend confessed to having feelings for you?

“But it’s not hatred, really. Again, I’m,” Sirius paused, waiting until you looked up at him before continuing, “I’m really sorry I made you think I hated you.”

“It’s alright, um,” you hesitated, biting the inside of your cheek as you tried thinking of what to say, “Are you gonna be okay?”

Sirius smiled softly, nodding as his gaze trailed to the ground. His hair fell messily into his eyes, obscuring his vision and preventing him from looking you in the eyes, “Yeah, sometime soon, I think. I just need a while to process things.”

You nodded, “Take your time, I’m really sorry things happened like this. I wish things were easier.”

“Me too.” 

A silence fell between you, not uncomfortable but not pleasant either, somewhat stiff and pressurized. You felt bad that you couldn’t do more for the boy, but he was right, it was just too little too late. 

“Do you at least want to be friends?” Your voice was fraught with anxious hope, wondering how you and Remus would fare if you weren’t on speaking terms with one of his best friends.

“ ‘Course, yeah. Just, not too close too fast. Wouldn’t wanna fan any flames.”

You nodded, holding yourself back from giving Sirius a hug. It wouldn’t help, but you felt bad that you couldn’t do anything. 

“So we’re good then?”

“Yeah, yeah we’re good. I’m sorry again-”

“It’s fine, I understand. Thank you for still being happy for us, I appreciate it and I’m sure Remus does too.”

Sirius nodded, finally starting forwards and nodding towards the clearing where your other friends sat, probably awkwardly dancing around the tension between you three.

“You coming?”

You nodded, cracking your first smile since the discussion started, joining Sirius’s side and matching stride with him, “Yeah, let’s go.”

--

I’m so sorry this took so long! I’ve been working on it little by little every day, I wanted to make this a piece that was longer than just a set of headcanons. Please send me more marauders requests, particularly Sirius if you don’t mind, and thank you for being patient with me!

Taglist under cut :)

Taglist: @knowledgeisthebomb @moonyswolf @astertist @accio–zoe @wutheringweasley @crispyfrenchfriescrisis @set-phasers-to-cuddle @thecurlyhairedwinchester @snazzy-posts @huffle-homie24601 @celestialdiamandis @queen678900 @gryffindor-girl420 @ilostcount-helpme @Dedellis @ellie-emb @nervous-shawn @fcavalerro @dorcasmeadoweslupin @chloe-geoghegan1 @lostnliterature @remusfreakinglupin @marvelouspottering @fcavalerro @xmoonylupinx @swansong321 @xinyourdreamsx @spideymood @marauders-trash-forever @khaleesiclifford @thisismysecrethappyplace @gabiatthedisco @writing-red @stardust.and.glitter @sly-vixen-up2nogood @biatheintrovert @mamarhee @spiderman-n @wonder-worlds @honeymalfoy @dumbass-sandwich @emliy-antognoli @raavkans @maraudersandco @lilaccoveredteapot @potterhead-of-ilvermorny @spencer-is-too-perfect @blackpinkdolan @my-babies-are-ash @whysoseriouspadfoot @i-padfootblack-things @mysticalsandwichseeker @yallgotkik @lilmissmoony @keey-lime-pi @elenawhatonearthisthis @margotblackburn @chrisstabme @itsanarttodie @siriusly-sad @addibug1014-blog @galaxyoffangirls @just4muggles @everything-s-comin-up-aces @sedanleystanley @starryeyedsupernova @mcu-potter-pirate @mublood-blog @svtwit @parkersingfinitywar @onthebroadway @the17resa @thefullbullpen99 @snoploop @johnnycadeissocute @all-thegayships @briisasinamonroll @lady-of-lies @ardentmuse @blueivysuniverse @dark-night-sky99 @ilovetvshowsblog @s0cial-retard @savethehoneeybees @luna-xxxxx @bvmakk @deathofthethrones @humblemei @myfriendsaremypowers @broken-and-alone12 @fandomnerdsarecool @stardust.and.glitter @hopewithadashofglitter @lazydiabetic @killerbumblebee @angeld82300 @alisoncdariel @brungun @marvelismylifffe @iluvmesomemarvelndc @beutiflybybri @stephie-senpai @heartbeats-wildly @em-aesthe @godisreal @vibhati123 @miracleoflove @classypursefarmphysique @cncno @itsshelbygates @majesticavenger @jellyfishwriter @ikbrenda @righttide @marvelousmarauderstrash @hero-ically @itshelaodinsdottirbitch @behindthebook @sewarner @themarauders-headcanons @bloomingonmay @songforhema @rose-aesthete @blueberrytiger01 @i-want-my-name-back @lumonva @unfortunatekiwitrash @smilexcaptainx @oldschool-hoee @kiwi-nonspecificgender @shymagicsworld

[coffee--writes]

The Message on the Wall

Pairing: James Potter x gn!Reader - Marauders x Reader Content

Word Count: 5.9k (jdklfdh im sorry) 

Warnings: Underage Drinking, Implications of... yeah. I think that’s about it. 

Requested: Yes, a long time (i feel bad for only getting to it but i hope the nonnie stuck around to see this piece) by an anon who asked for James x Reader with childhood best friends to lovers trope. 

Summary: In which, James Potter was busy writing himself a message on the wall but was too blind to read what he had to say. 

Pictures. 

In actuality they were only images. For Muggles, they stood stagnant, for James Potter they moved slightly. 

But in deeper meaning pictures were moments in time captured in a frame. They were a personal reminder of things that were, things that used to be and anything else that didn’t fall into one of the other two categories. 

James Potter adored pictures. His room was littered with them. A handful were of Quidditch players and Tutshill Tornados merchandise. One picture of him and his parents sat on the nightstand beside his bed. But adjourned on the wall to the left was a mostly blank wall. One small Tornados banner was pinned against the soft red paint and in the middle a picture he was particularly fond of. 

The film captured James at the age of four. A broom was clutched in his left hand and a toothy smile on his face as the wind rustled his hair causing it to stick up more than it already did. Beside him was you, your eyes crossed and your tongue licking a swirled lolly. 

When his mother had shown him the picture you had just left for home, making a young James quite sad that his friend couldn’t stay just a little longer. Euphemia Potter had smiled, handing the picture to her son. “It’s okay, my love. Now you have a piece of Y/N with you.” 

“How?” James had asked, his lower lip jutting out in a frown. 

Euphemia laughed. “The picture captures you together. Look how happy the two of you look!” she points at her son’s smile in the photo. “You can do whatever you’d like with it.” 

James grinned, his eyes lighting up once more. “I want to hang it, mum!” he dragged her hand into the bedroom with him, climbing on top of his bedsheets and pressing the picture to the wall. “Here. That way I can say goodnight to them even when they're not here.” 

Euphemia Potter smiled watching as her son tucked himself under the covers. “That’s a brilliant idea, James.” With a wave of her wand, two pins fastened themself to the wall, the photo beneath. 

That was the beginning of James’s love for pictures. More pictures would accumulate such as the one of him and his father at a Tornados game. Drawings you would give him of flowers and Kneazles. The pictures would come and go but yours stayed the same. An additional picture of you and James would later be added three years later when the two of you were seven. James’s broom no longer sat in one hand, instead was gripped with two and hovering five feet off the ground. He had a wicked smile on his face, his glasses slightly falling down his nose. You sat behind him, your small fingers clutching to his waist as the picture captured you mid-squeal. 

Time went on yet the pictures of the two of you stayed the same. Along with your drawings, which had improved dramatically since you were seven, he’d occasionally find a Hollyhead Harpies banner plastered to his wall. When he came to scold you, pink banners adjourned in his hand, you’d laugh at the pout on his lips. He could never stay angry at you and always joined in on your laughter. 

The final year before things would slightly change was the year before going to Hogwarts.  A third picture was added at the age of ten. The Potter family had accompanied your family on a trip to Diagon Alley in which you had bought your screech owl, Juniper. James had one arm wrapped around you. His hair was untidy and a goofy smile was on his face as his other hand flicked your forehead. Your eyes were closed mid-laugh as one hand pushed his face away and the other perched with Juniper who screeched happily on your available arm. 

Again, time went on quickly and changes were made in James Potter’s room but you were not one of them. He packed up his Hogwarts things the night of August 31st, leaving his room full of pictures with a soft smile. 

You rode on the train with him, both of you waving goodbye to your loved ones. You grinned at him wickedly, “Excited?” you ask. 

“Definitely.” he responded. “Do you have money for the trolley?” 

You slide into a train compartment, one small boy already sitting there. “Yeah. Do you need to borrow some?” 

James nodded and you rolled your eyes, handing money over to the kind witch who passed by, grabbing pumpkin pasties for you and Bertie Botts for James. 

The ride was life-changing as you made acquaintances with similar mindsets. Two more boys entered your compartment and along with the scrawny boy from before, all of you made it to Gryffindor. “Where dwell the brave at heart” as James liked to put it. 

First year was an interesting feat with James quickly falling head over heels for Lily Evans. Your friendship never faltered although the thought of her in his life made you feel odd. However, you were sure she wouldn’t be in his life for quite some time seeing as his persistent efforts were met with an equally stubborn rejection. 

“She’s a firecracker, that one.” he sighed, walking beside you down the hall after another devastating encounter with Lily. 

“You’re just embarrassing yourself now, my boy.” you reply, dubbing his nickname to ease the comment. 

He smirked. “Then why do you hang out with me?” 

“Because, I’m the one who makes sure you don’t cross the line from embarrassing to mortifying.” 

He shakes his head with a silly grin. “I doubt that. You love me. That’s why.” 

You laugh, an effective way of avoiding the curious ideas that ran through your young mind. “Don’t throw around the l- word so quickly! You’ve got to mean it.” 

James bumped your side. “But I’ve known you for years.” 

You ruffle his hair, making it messier than it already was. “Save it for Evans.” 

---

The year ended and the two of you went home to Northern England hands overflowing with Gryffindor red, spirits high with a drive for Quidditch practice and addresses from Remus, Peter, and Sirius tucked away in your pockets. 

James’s room changed tremendously that first year. Alongside the Tutshill Tornados merchandise were small Gryffindor banners, lions enchanted to roar at the touch. You had given him one of your sketches from the school year, one of Sirius and him laughing in Transfiguration, another of him and Peter skipping stones. The pictures of the two of you still remained, a small collection of dust coating the edges which he wiped away with a smile. 

Second year was merry and full of high spirits. James had acquired his father’s invisibility cloak which gave cause to a number of nighttime rendezvous and adventures in the kitchens. Suspicion arose on Remus, whose monthly disappearances came to your attention. With the help of Sirius and Peter, the group soon discovered Remus’s guarded secret and accepted the furry little problem with open arms. 

The Lily Evans situation did not get any better with James’s persistence holding up fiercely and her hatred toward him even more harsh. As Sirius had dubbed it, “Mate, at this point you’re never getting married.” Remus and Peter whole-heartedly agreed, sending James into an adolescent spiral. 

“What if I don’t get married, Y/N/N?” he confided in you by the shores of the Black Lake. 

You chuckled, his delirium quite adorable. “You’re going to get married, James. Trust me.” 

He sighed, snapping a twig between his fingers. “It’s not definite.” 

“Nothing is.” you counter. 

James groaned. “I know. I know. But I would like it to be. Wouldn’t you?” 

You contemplated the idea, a thought coming to your head. “What if it could be?” 

He stared at you curiously. Your eyes lit up and James grinned. “Hit me.” 

“If by the time we are thirty neither of us are married then we should get married to each other.” you propose, a proud smile on your face. “That way we can have a definite of our own.” 

James grinned. “I like that idea. But what if one of us gets married before that?”

You frown. “Then I guess it’d be a flop. But it’s better than nothing, right?” 

He agreed quickly. The sun was setting into a pond of pink. The wind rustled and birds chirped and the moment seemed picture perfect and James wished a camera would magically pop up and capture the moment so he’d be able to hang it on his wall for years to come. It did not work that way, instead, he turned to you with a smirk. “I don’t have anything to propose with.” 

You looked down in embarrassment and gave him a shove. “We’re not getting married yet! It’s just a deal not the real thing.” 

He rolled his eyes at you. “I know but it feels as though something special should happen. How about we seal with a spit swear?” 

You stick your tongue out and pretend to gag. “Ew! No.” you flick his forehead causing him to wince. He grins before flicking you back, watching as you fall back onto the grass. 

“I guess a flick works as well.” he sighs. “Y/N Potter has a nice ring to it.” 

Your head falls against his shoulder. “I can’t believe I might be a Potter one day. Sounds disgusting.” 

James laughs, the weight of your head feeling oddly familiar against his shoulder. “Oh, shut it!” 

--- 

The years came and went. Third year, James made the Quidditch team and he quickly became a ladies man despite his obvious pining over Evans. You made sure to keep his feet on the ground as you didn’t want his ego to get larger than it already was. You came to all his games, occasionally bringing a camera so that James could add his moments of glory onto his beloved room wall. There was the time he tried dedicating a shot to you and ended up getting knocked off his broom by a Beater. 

He made the next one thankfully. 

On the other hand, you had earned the title of master dueler amongst the third years for your quick arm and sharp spellcasting. While James was at Quidditch practice: you, Peter, Remus, and Sirius would practice in empty classrooms although after a while they became rather bored as you would always win. James would cheer you on, even when you beat him there was a compliment of your skill and he was more than anything, proud. 

The summer between third and fourth year was the year the Marauders got their first group picture together. Everyone had met up at the Potter residence, Euphemia Potter snapping the photo with Sirius and James to the left, Peter and Remus on the right, and you in the middle. James hung the picture on his wall as it was routine by now. The whole gang got to see his famous wall of pictures, his life an open storybook to anyone who looked closely. 

Fourth year sparked love, pranks, and new ideas. Peter went on his first date, flaming at the cheeks as his friends waved him off embarrassingly. Group pranks ensued upon Snape whose oily hair was dyed all colors of the rainbow by the end of the first semester. You had gone on your first date as well, Steven Goldstein from Hufflepuff whom James threatened to beat up and Sirius who gave him “a talk”. 

Most importantly, the group addressed Remus’s furry little problem seeing as each year he came back with more and more scars than before. Two ideas sparked up from the meeting and both were large feats that every member of the group was willing to take. 

“So wait..” Peter asked. “You want to make a map… that tracks everyone in Hogwarts?” 

James nodded and Remus shook his head. “That’s exactly what I’m saying. Don’t look at me that way, Remus.” 

Remus shoved him lightly. “How would that even work though? Isn’t it a little invasive?” 

You smiled. “It most certainly is invasive but think about how awesome it’d be to have something like that. All we would need is…” 

“A complex locator spell.” you and Sirius said together. 

Everyone grinned. “Pete can do the drawing and sketching. He’s good at that stuff. We should check for secret passageways. All of us could do the magic. We’ve got the brains.” 

“I don’t think someone with brilliant magic technique would use the word brain to describe their intelligence.” you point out. James simply flicked you in the head. 

“And there’s the Animagi thing…” Sirius added. 

“That’s a reach.” Remus replied. 

“More than the map?” Peter questioned. 

Remus sighed. “You guys don’t have to do that for me. I’ve been transforming on my own for years. No need to have buddies now.” 

“Nonsense.” you say. “Anything for you, Rem. This is what you deserve.” 

The friends looked at each other silently. “Are we ready to pull off the biggest student feat in Hogwarts history?” Sirius whispered. 

“Aye, aye.” Everyone cheered. 

Peter grinned. “We’re up to no good.” 

James smiled back. “Then let us manage our mischief well.” 

WIth that the group commenced, exiting the abandoned classroom they used and taking off to class. James walked by your side as you headed to astronomy together. 

“I can’t wait till we pin this down. It’s going to be an epic year.” he grinned. 

You chuckle. “I know you’ll end up stalking someone, Potter. Evans by the looks of it.” 

He shook his head, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “Nope. I’m gonna stalk you instead. See if you’re hiding any secrets from me.” 

You smile. “What secrets could I possibly be hiding from you, my boy?” 

James nudged your side with a smirk. “You’re telling me a good-looking fellow like yourself isn’t sneaking off with some other lad other than their best friends.” 

You shook your head, the word “good-looking” repeating itself in your mind. “No. If I did I would tell you.” 

“Good.” he said, starting up the stairs to the Astronomy tower. “I don’t need some arsehole stealing you away from me.” 

You roll your eyes. “No one could ever steal me from you, James. I’m not a Quaffle.” 

He nods with a grin. “Yeah. I suppose you’re more of a Snitch.” 

You laugh, dashing up the stairs in hopes that you wouldn’t be late for your Astronomy lesson.

--- 

As one could guess more pictures and sketches made their home on James Potter’s wall. It was a cluttered mess but beautiful nonetheless. It was as though the wall had an expression of its own with its array of Quidditch jerseys, photographs, art, and ticket stubs. Nobody touched the wall except James as he liked having every picture in place. His wall organized the way he liked it best… messy. 

Fifth year was the first year you didn’t see James every week. He had eagerly signed up for Quidditch camp and had left for Wales with promises that’d you write about the boys and the progress on the map and Animagi projects. The projects went well with Peter completing the outline sketches of the maps, Remus filling piles of papers on Animagi transformations and finally Sirius and you gathering the needed ingredients for the Animagi process. 

You had grown taller over the summer, hair lightening and your features more accentuated. Eagerly you awaited James’s return and when the time did come you had woken up early in the morning to see him arrive by Portkey on the hill. The second he appeared you had rushed over, engulfing him in a hug. You had missed his touch, his constant nagging and overall  the James Potterness that followed him around that would never fade with time. 

Meanwhile, he was left out of breath, a couple of inches taller and a smile on his face as he squeezed you back. “Y/N/N! I missed you, you lazy hag.” 

You laughed, messing up his hair that sat more neatly than in previous years. “And I missed you, my boy.” 

The next days before school were spent catching him up on the map and at the pond by your house. With each swim you noticed the changes in James such as the six-pack the tedious trials at Quidditch camp had given him. 

“Oi!” you shouted, splashing him in the face. “Whatever happened to the skinny twig that was my friend?” 

He smirked. “Oi! Why are you looking?” 

You bit your lip, not allowing him to see you flustered. “I’m sorry. You’re my best friend and it’s a very noticeable change!” you pointed at his toned stomach. 

James tapped your nose and you stared at him in annoyance. “It’s only noticeable if you want to notice it.” 

He turned around, making to walk back to the shore of the pond. You didn’t remember when James had gotten so cheeky although he’d always been that way, just never with you. Wickedly, you took the bucket that floated beside you and dunked it in the water. With a mischievous grin, you snuck up behind him, dumping the bucket of water on his head. 

James turned around with a gasp, jaw dropped. You laughed, a wide smile on your lips at the sight of him drenched in his swim trunks. It wasn’t until his arms tucked along your waist, dragging you to the deeper ends of the pond did the smile drop and his return. 

“Why you little…” you seethed. “James Fleamont Potter if you-” 

It was too late by then, your body submerged in the water and you swam up, his laughter the first noticeable sound. You scowled as he doubled over with laughter on the shore. “I’m never letting you go to Quidditch camp again.” 

The two of you walked home as the sun set, many flicks to the forehead ensuing as you did. 

---

Fifth year was by far the most epic year of your Hogwarts experience. Everything was prepared for the Animagi transformation and phase two of the map project was ready to launch with Remus having gained access to the restricted section of the library. 

It seemed as though the whole student body had recognized the change in James’s physique which only led to an inflation of his ego. The worst part was that Lily Evans just so happened to be one of those said noticers and while her defiance toward him was still strong, she could be caught staring in class much to James’s delight. 

The Animagi process began as soon as the September full moon. While Remus suffered in the Shrieking Shack, the four other Marauders set their Mandrake leaves into their mouths preparing for an uncomfortable month of bitterness on their tongues. The leaves were held under their tongues when talking in class and for the rest of the time they resorted to note passing leaving the entirety of Hogwarts wondering why the Marauders went quiet so suddenly. 

During the period between moons, they worked on their map. Stacks of books, both regular and restricted, lay among them. Each had a quill and parchment used to take note of spells or pass messages back and forth. As you worked you received a message from James in the form of a crumpled ball of parchment. You smoothed it out with a sigh. 

I hate this thing. It tastes like piss and lime. 

You held back a chuckle, writing your own message next to his. 

You’re not backing out of this, Potter. It’s for Remus. 

He stuck the leaf under his tongue in order to stick it out at you and you rolled your eyes. He scribbled a message back. 

I know. I know. Doesn’t mean I can’t complain about it. 

You smirked, tossing the parchment back to him. 

If your scrawny arse can come back from Quidditch camp with abs then you can stomach keeping a leaf in your mouth for a month. 

He smoothed it out and you went back to your work only getting in a minute's reading before the parchment bounced off your head. You scowled at his antics but he only looked at his book with a smirk. Unfolding the paper, James’s messy handwriting took up the last blank space on the parchment. 

Nice to know you still think about my abs. 

Your stomach squirmed at the feeling that inflamed from his words and the smirk that was on his face. You flicked him on the head, throwing the parchment into the fire before Sirius could ask what it was. 

--- 

It took moon soaked leaves, untouched morning dew and a lightning storm to finally complete the transformations. It was on a late November night that a lightning storm finally struck and in the fifth corridor bathroom the Marauders made their first transformations. For Peter, a small rat with a wriggling tail. For Sirius, a pure black dog. For James, a large stag with mighty horns. For you, a sly fox with sleek orange fur. 

Thus that night began the use of the nicknames: Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, Prongs and Vixen. Dubbed by James and agreed upon all around. The final full moons of fifth year were spent prancing around Hogsmeade alongside Remus whose scars diminished with each transformation spent with his friends. 

The downside of it all was the building tension in the school. With Lord Voldemort on the rise, more and more of your classmates were showing their true colors. Select Slytherins no longer wore short sleeves, their wrists always covered even in the heat of summer. Watchful eyes and protective glares, you went home for summer in worry. 

Over the summer, Prongs lost his Pronginess. He wrote to Lily Evans most days of the week and now the things she sent him hung on his wall alongside you and the Marauders. An anticipated change but a scary one still. Every outing with James became more about Lily and less about anything else. You could feel your best friend slipping away and you told him so the night before the start of sixth year. 

The two of you sat together in the branches of a tree. The sun hit your skin in rays and clouds passed by over your heads. James’s voice droned on about his darling Lily flower and with an unknowing malice you snapped at him. “Shut it!” you groaned. 

His eyes looked over at you, hands holding your head in remorse. “Aren’t you happy for me? You’ve been acting off all summer.” 

“I’ve been acting off because you’ve been acting off. I am happy for you but Evans is the only thing you talk about these days. What happened to talking about the Tornados or sneaking out together for milkshakes?” 

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “It’s different now.” 

“Well, it shouldn’t be.” you exclaim. “I’m not saying you shouldn’t grow up. I support the idea of you no longer being a cheeky bastard. If you’re happy with Evans then I am happy for you. But being with Evans doesn’t mean you have to forget about me or the Marauders or everything else.” 

James nodded, a leaf spinning between his fingers as he frowned. “I’m sorry, Y/N/N.” 

You shake your head. “I am too. Sorry I snapped at you, my boy.” your head fell onto his shoulder the same way it had done for years only this time things had changed. The weight still felt perfect on his shoulder but now his stomach turned and his breath hitched at the close proximity. Things were indeed changing although the two of you only danced around it, not wanting to address the mess you two had made. 

Your head was still against his shoulder as you spoke quietly. “Just remember you’re not a Quaffle.” 

He chuckled, stroking your hair affectionately. “I guess I’ll be the snitch then.” 

You smiled, swimming in the feel of the James Potter you knew so well. Later that night, the two of you snuck out like old times, sharing a chocolate milkshake and sending each other glances the whole way home. 

--- 

Sixth year was a rollercoaster. The map was finished, all the efforts poured out finally receiving an equally impressive outcome with the parchment branded with the names of the Messrs. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, Prongs and Vixen. Remus had his first kiss and Sirius decided on leaving home and James welcomed him with open arms. 

The other Marauders were not impartial to the changes in your and James’s behavior. The miniscule changes in his face when you napped on his lap or the flush of your skin when he rustled your hair. In all honesty, it was as though the two of you were finally waking up and seeing what they’d been seeing all along. However, your own defiance was strong and love wasn’t simple. James was still under the impression that his heart beat for Lily Evans and you flirted around your feelings as opposed to finally confronting them. 

When Gryffindor won the Quidditch season, you were the first one in James’s arms to congratulate him. He spun you around, a large grin on his face. “We won!” 

You smiled. “That you did, my boy. Celebration calls and are you thinking what I’m thinking?” 

He tucked a stray piece of hair behind your ear. “Hmm? Let me guess… Firewhiskey?” 

“That’s my boy.” you cheer, linking your arm in his and dragging him off the field as Lily Evans watched the boy she had taken a chance on run off with someone else.

---

Firewhiskey made for a fine celebration and resulted in James and you collapsed on the floor of the Gryffindor common room at two in the morning. His glasses were crooked as he stared up at the ceiling and your hair fell in waves on the floorboards. 

“Blimey, I can’t believe we won.” James chuckled, his words slurring together slightly. 

“You deserve it, my boy.” you say, lightly punching his arm. “How are you feeling on this fine evening?” 

His cheeks went pink but a smile overtook his features making for a hilarious expression when he shouted out. “Randy!”  

You doubled over with laughter. “Gosh, James. I don’t need to hear about this.” you shove his grinning face with your palm. 

“What, you've never felt randy before?” he asked, a childlike expression on his face juxtaposing such an intrusive question. 

You hide your embarrassment behind a grin. “Yes, but I’m not going around telling you about it.” 

He tapped your nose with the tip of his finger and your stomach swirled. “And why not?” 

You turned over to your side. “I’m not sure best friends tell each other about being randy, Prongs.” 

James sighed. “I guess not. But how are you feeling, my little vixen?” 

With a swig of your drink and a grin you reply. “Randy.” 

The two of you erupt into fits of laughter. James pushes his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “I suppose it’s the whiskey then.” 

You stare up at the ceiling. “Yeah, I suppose so.” 

Both of you knew that wasn’t the case. You knew that despite the whiskey slowing the gears of your mind you still noticed James’s hand laying by your waist. You could still trace the outline of his chin and the bridge of his nose. James could still see the curve of your lips and the rise of your chest. Firewhiskey was most definitely not the cause of your randiness. 

But it was the easiest thing to blame. 

--- 

Your birthday came soon after with the Marauders celebrating in joy. Presents were exchanged with Remus giving you some books, Peter knitted (with the help of his mother) a pair of mittens for you and Sirius had gifted you a record to play on your stereo. 

But James had to be extravagant. It wasn’t everyday his best friend turned seventeen and he marked the occasion with something expensive yet meaningful. When you opened the small box inside had been a silver fox ring. It’s eyes sparkling gems that twinkled as if blinking. 

“James, I’m going to kill you.” you seethed. “This is way too expensive. I’m turning seventeen not fifty.” 

He laughed. “Oi, woman! It’s fine. Nothing I couldn’t handle. Besides, only the best for you.” 

You stared at it once more before engulfing him in a hug. “It’s beautiful, my boy. Thank you.” 

His arms squeezed your waist, breathing you in and remembering the sweet smells of childhood and friendship rolled into one. His eyes closed and it was as if he had drifted off into a pleasant dream. “Of course, my little vixen.”

You made certain to flick his head after. 

He was starting to regret giving it to you already. 

---

Sixth year came to a close with an even more devastating end than the last. The war only continued to rage with Muggles being murdered miles away from the school, Muggle-borns driving into hiding. Sirius’s brother was slowly falling into line with the other Slytherins, devoting their hours to the torture of Muggleborns, Lord Voldemort and the likes. 

James left Hogwarts heart-broken when Lily Evans broke up with him on the last day of term. “Look around!” Lily had told him. “You’re blind, James. I’m not the person you want and it’d be clear if you’d stop and take a look.” 

He hadn’t known what she meant and the first week of summer was spent crying and eating ice cream on the sofa with you by his side. His room had become a mess and Lily’s letters no longer remained on the wall instead crumbled up in a ball in the trash. 

Euphemia Potter couldn’t dread to see her son in the dumps any longer and she made sure to tell him so one evening after you had left. 

“James, you need to get your life together, my love.” she whispered, rubbing her sons back reassuringly. 

His words came out muffled into her neck. “It’s hard.” 

“I know.” she soothed. “And I’m always going to be there for you.” 

“Promise?” he asked. 

“Promise.” she smiled. “Now how about you go clean your room. It’s become quite dirty.” 

He nodded, trudging to his room with a broom. Lily’s words repeated in his mind as he entered. “You’re blind, James. Look around!” But there was nothing to look for. All he saw was his wall and a soft smile came to his face as he approached it. The Tutshill Tornado banners clung loosely to the paint and drawings of Kneazles and landscapes and trees. Pictures of the Marauders and Gryffindor lions. 

And finally the ones of you. 

His fingers ran across the picture in the middle. Four-year old James grinning and you licking a lolly. His eyes moved to the next one, seven years old and flying together on a broomstick. A grin broke out on his face as he saw the one with your owl in Diagon Alley, his fingers flicking your forehead. James’s mind was on hyperdrive as he examined each picture, one common factor in almost all of them. 

You. 

You were in many of the photos, a smile adorned on your face. If you weren’t in the photos you were the one taking them, knowing how much he adored them. Any pictures that hung were sketched by your hands. Here was James Potter’s open story, the story of his life all plastered to the wall as though it was an empty canvas. Present in every moment, every aspect, had been you. You had been the start of his book, the picture of the two of you as tots still smacked in the middle of the wall. Yes, he realized. You had started his book and had remained in it for quite some time. 

Lily Evans must’ve noticed and maybe everyone else had too. 

James had been blind to the message that was sprawled across his wall. He had been the one writing it, maybe not knowingly but writing it out all the same. Everyone had seen it except the writer and his subject, the message painstakingly clear years prior to its conception. 

He quickly removed all the pictures from the wall, grabbing each one that hung and piling them up in his hand. The door swung open as he dashed out of his room yelling, “I’ve got to go, mum!” before running out the front door. The hills of green were illuminated by the night sky, the stars burned for James as he hopped over branches and boulders to get to you. 

Your house was in the distance, your figure standing a few feet away from the home. He called out to you, your eyes turned to meet his. When he reached you, he paused, catching his breath. 

“James, what on Earth are you doing here?” you laugh, placing a hand on his shoulder as he breathed. 

He stood up straight, panting as he held up a photo. “This is us when we were four. The first photo we ever took together.” 

You squinted at him. “Right?” 

He shuffled through the pictures, fingers tracing each one. “And this is from when we were seven. That one from when we were ten. You gave me this drawing when we were six because you loved Kneazles and wanted one as a pet. That drawing was from the first year when we went skipping stones at the Black Lake and you sketched me and Peter.” 

Your face melts slowly. “James, I don’t understand. You’ve had these for years.” 

He exhaled, his eyes lighting up. “That’s the thing. I never saw it till now but Lily said I was blind and that she wasn’t the person I wanted.” You nod, wiping the sweat from his forehead with your sleeve and he grinned. “See that right there. That’s what I want.” 

The night air bit at your spine. “You want me to wipe the sweat from your forehead?” 

He shook his head with a soft chuckle. “Not exactly. I want you to wipe the sweat from my forehead for the next year and the next ten and then the next fifty. You’ve been doing it for years already and the thing is… I don’t think I want anyone else doing it for me.” 

You blinked as he came closer, his palms cradling your cheek as you gazed into his eyes. “You’ve been in my life for as long as I could remember and I want you to stay in it for as long as I live. You told me once to not throw around the l-word and I said…” 

“But I’ve known you my whole life.” you mutter. 

“I think I’ve loved you for a while. I just didn’t know it yet.” 

You shook your head as the wind rustled the branches, the windchime on your porch creating soft melodies. A large grin spread across your lips yet you continued to shake your head. “There’s a war, James.” 

He smiled. “Only more the reason to be with me.” 

“But I’ve been with you my whole life.” you tease. 

“Oh, shut up!” he chuckles, before leaning down to capture your lips. At that moment everything made sense. All the pieces of the puzzle sifted into place and the stars applauded you from the sky and the night gale created a ruckus at your shed blindfold. 

“Be my Snitch?” he asked. 

You rolled your eyes, “That’s the cringiest thing you’ve ever said, my boy.” 

He smirked. “Oh, but you love it.” 

“Perhaps I do.” you replied, flicking his forehead for good measure. 

---

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this is for @anythingforour_moony’s writing competition!!

Prompt: “Who ate my pudding??”

If there was one thing that Remus Lupin loved more than life itself, it was chocolate. Chocolate bars, chocolate cake, chocolate pudding, you name it, he would eat it practically inhale it. Not only would he gulp down anything with the slightest trace of chocolate, he would hoard it. He had secret stashes hidden all over the school. Throughout his five and a half years at Hogwarts, his stashes had remained undiscovered.

Or so he thought.

Without his knowledge, one silver-eyed, mischievous Sirius Black had discovered his little secret months ago. Actually, if he was being honest, he found it rather endearing. The image of one Remus Lupin, engulfed in that adorable green sweater of his, tawny curls falling onto his face, amber eyes gleaming with that enchanting golden tint that Sirius often found himself mesmerised in, happened to be the main source of Sirius’ serotonin regardless, but adding that to the image of Remus Lupin, curled up with some chocolate from his secret little stash, perfectly content, was even more adorable, if that was at all possible.  

Yeah… Sirius would really have to do something about this crush of his.

And so, Sirius hatched a crafty scheme: he would steal Remus’ chocolate from his stash. Not to eat! Oh lord, no. Maybe just to hide for an hour or two? At least until Remus noticed it was gone, which surely wouldn’t take long; the guy was obsessed. Once Remus had figured out that Sirius had stolen his chocolate, he would probably be rightfully mad. And then he would hopefully start spewing something about morals and boundaries or something. And maybe that, in turn, would help Sirius see that maybe being with Remus wasn’t all he’d thought it up to be, and maybe this silly little crush of his, could finally come to an end. Sirius’ main aim was just to find a way to make Remus mad, and stealing his chocolate was apparently the best way to go about that. 

The plan may have been long-winded and, frankly, ridiculous, but Sirius was desperate. He couldn’t go on like this – just being in the same room as Remus was enough to give him the complexion of a tomato, and surely someone would notice that soon? It was too risky; no one could ever know.

Little did Sirius know just how hard he had fallen.

That was how Sirius found himself sitting in the common room, absent-mindedly watching Peter try desperately to Vanish a table, and James hurriedly scribbling a Potions essay. However, the only thing he could concentrate on was the fact that Remus had just disappeared into the dormitory and was bound to discover what he had done any second now.

Not long after, his suspicions were confirmed. He heard the dormitory door slam, the sound echoing through the tower, followed by the sound of footsteps crashing down the stairs. Remus skidded to a halt at the bottom of the staircase. Sirius’ mouth was dry with anticipation; he could feel his heart about to burst through his ribs. He had no idea what Remus’ reaction would be, but he was notorious for being incredibly overprotective of his chocolate.

Sirius did not fancy his chances.

Remus was annoyed, to say the least. He had had a particularly good day, so imagine his disappointment and frustration when he hurried towards his trunk, only to find that the chocolate pudding he’d been eagerly looking forward to all day, had disappeared. And Remus knew he hadn’t misplaced, or already eaten, the pudding. There was only one possible explanation. One of those three idiots had eaten it. He wasn’t as angry as he could have been, mostly because he genuinely had had a great day, but he was irritated, nonetheless.

That was how Remus found himself storming down to the common room, ready to have a serious conversation with his friends about respecting boundaries. However, not everything goes to plan. When Remus reached the bottom of the staircase, his gaze landed on one Sirius Black. Remus, as so often happens, was mesmerised by the grin which seemed to light up any room, the eyes which seemed to be swirling in the ocean depths, and the hair which seemed to catch the sunlight, shimmering with the slightest movement. Sirius’ charm was infuriatingly distracting, and Remus couldn’t help but to lose himself in those breathtakingly bright eyes, which were gleaming like the moon.  

Come on, Remus, snap out of it. Feeling his face start to heat up, Remus took a deep breath. There was a more important matter at hand.

“Alright, which one of you was it?”

“What’s up, moony?” James replied without looking up.

“Who ate my pudding??” Remus narrowed his eyes at the three boys and seemed to notice Sirius’ eyes widening. As he watched, Sirius ducked his head behind those glistening curls of his, refusing to meet Remus’ gaze. This was unusual only in that the other two boys had looked up at the mention of Remus’ chocolate. It was the reaction of a guilty person. Remus knew it, Sirius knew it, and he was pretty sure James and Pete had also figured it out. 

‘Sirius?’

‘Hmm?’

Sirius still refused to meet his eyes, which only made it all the more obvious that he was guilty.

Remus waited expectantly, hoping that Sirius would say something; this was awkward enough as it was. Finally, Sirius glanced up.

‘Erm… I���m just gonna go take a quick shower… yeah, I haven’t had one since quidditch practice…’ Sirius stood up hastily, but found his way blocked.

‘Sirius Orion Black. If you have done what I think you have done,’ he warned under his breath, enunciating every syllable to ensure the message was crystal clear, ‘I will send you straight to Filch’s office myself, and tell him what really happened in the girls’ toilets yesterday. You can’t fool me.’

Sirius gulped. Although he was aware that he was currently in deep, deep shit, a part of him desperately wanted to make a ‘straight’ joke in reply to Remus’ threat. However, Sirius felt that may not bode well with the fuming werewolf, who was currently glaring into his soul. So, instead, he did the only reasonable thing he could think of; he ran. Scanning for all possible exits and realising the portrait hole was blocked by a giggling group of girls, he sprinted straight for the stairwell. Taking the steps three at a time, his heart pounded nervously as he heard Remus in close pursuit. He slammed open the dormitory door with enough force to make it rattle in its hinges and dived for his bed. Rolling across the bed, Sirius fell through the drawn curtain on the other side and landed on his feet. Although he personally felt that this was a move worthy of James Bond himself, there was no time to dwell, because he had probably pissed Remus off even more, if that was possible.

Speaking of Remus, Sirius had no idea where he’d gone. He could swear his pursuer had been mere footsteps behind him moments ago. Narrowing his eyebrows, he approached the dormitory door cautiously, when, out of nowhere, Remus barrelled around the corner, straight into him, and rugby tackled him to the ground. Winded from pure shock, Sirius could do nothing but flail desperately as Remus wrestled him onto his back and pinned his wrists above his head.

Suddenly, all the anger and all the panic evaporated. Their faces were mere inches from each other, and Sirius could hardly breathe. Remus was staring into his eyes, and Sirius noticed how the amber seemed to darken and his pupils seemed to expand.

But he had no time to think, because he could feel his heart pounding faster and faster, even though he had stopped running. He would have guessed that it was because of the pure intensity that comes with someone laying on top of you, pinning you to the ground, and staring deep into your soul, seemingly getting lost in your eyes, but his brain could barely comprehend what was happening.

Wait. No. That pounding he had felt? That wasn’t his heart. That was Remus’ heart. What? Why would Remus’ heart be beating faster? Shut up. Suddenly, Sirius became hyper-aware of Remus leaning closer to him.

‘Erm…’ he managed to mumble, now oddly self-conscious of how his breath smelt.

‘Tell me to stop.’ Remus whispered, so softly that Sirius could barely hear. Tell me to stop what?? What does that even mean?? What is he doing??

Remus was now so close that their breaths were mingling, and if Sirius moved slightly, he could probably have brushed their noses. Why the hell would I move slightly?? Are you crazy?? Let’s just see what he does.

And Sirius barely had time to process what happened next, because Remus’ lips curved into a soft smirk, no I am not watching his lips thank you very muc- HOLY SHIT, and then they crashed against his.

Remus’ lips. Crashed against Sirius’ lips.

Sirius’ nervous system was going berserk, his brain was short circuiting, and all he could think about was every point where Remus was touching him.

Time seemed to slow down; everything else faded away until it was just him and Remus.

Remus’ mind had a similar reaction. He swore he could see fireworks behind his eyelids and, despite his nervousness at initiating the kiss, what if I misinterpreted it?? I’ll literally ruin our whole friendship!! Ah you know what, fuck it, he ate my pudding, we don’t have a friendship anymore, those few moments were possibly the best of his life. But then, if it was possible, those moments grew even better; gradually, as they both got over their initial shock (and, let’s be real, a little bit of *gay panic*), they relaxed into the kiss. It turned away from passionate and hungry, and more towards comforting and slow.  

Sirius’ intestines seemed to be fizzing and twisting, his fingers tangling themselves in those golden curls that he was so incredibly crazy about.

Well, he thought, that’s my plan gone to shit.

[la-fille-en-aiguilles]

Blacker Than The Foulest Witch - II

Marauders x Reader - Young!Sirius x Reader eventually

A/N - This is the second part of the story - here’s Part I if you want to catch up.  Set during the 1st Wizarding War.  Quick warning! - This part contains some violent imagery (blood, etc.). Please be aware!  Taglist: @someinsanefangirl (I’m sorry if i forgot to tag someone? Let me know if you wish to be tagged in the future!)

Thank you so much for reading!

The sun was touching the black horizon with a faint red tip by the time the unlikely trio arrived to the Borough of Islington; tension hung heavy in the air, despite Potter’s attempts to diffuse it with bits of awkward small talk. Sirius did not speak, just watched the girl - Y/N - from the corner of his eye every time she made a quiet sound of approval, indicating that she’d actually been listening.

There was something entirely too perplexing about her. She moved with ease and almost swan-like elegance, seemed genuinely interested in whatever vague information Potter threw at her regarding their endeavours during this seemingly never-ending war… All in all, she didn’t seem stressed or hostile towards them.

However, when Sirius reached out his hand to her outside the mansion so that he could apparate her to his family home, she gave him a long and a very chilly look before telling him flat out that she’d rather not touch him.

He must have been quite a sight to contemplate once her answer reached his ears, for Potter gave him yet another warning look. Feeling like an utter moron, Sirius dropped his good hand to a side, his mouth a thin line.

“I will shadow you”, she simply said, like it was supposed to make all the sense in the world. Sirius caught himself frowning while Potter just shrugged. She did look like she knew exactly what she was doing, so none of them asked any more questions as they disappeared into the night. As expected, the girl was there, hot in their steps, as they arrived.

Sirius made sure no one followed them before he led James and Y/N to the square in front of 12 Grimmaud Place. The snarl on his face became even more apparent as they reached the porch. God, he still hated this place with passion - even now, despite it becoming the Order’s primary place of residence. Nothing could ever erase the memories beaten into those walls - or the hate they emanated.

As Sirius whispered the uncloaking spell under his breath and the house started to stretch, he could feel the girl’s intense stare on a side of his face. It had an almost tangible quality to it.

Oddly enough, when Y/N turned back to face the house, he almost missed the feeling of her gaze boring into him. Almost.

“Someone’s hurt”, she suddenly said, her body tensing like a drawn bowstring, her eyes fixed on the door. “He’s dying”, she added, turning her head just a little to a side, as if she was listening in on something.

Sirius felt his heart skip a beat as he shot James a panicked look. Potter’s eyes were wide as he ran up the porch, swinging the door wide open, barging in.

When Sirius burst through the doors, following him, he almost threw up - the stench of blood quickly filled his lungs like water, nearly drowning him in fear. The whole room was whipped into a frightened frenzy - he couldn’t make out any faces in the dim lighting as he rushed to the kitchen table. Even though the body’d been beaten into a bloody mess, one look at the man sufficed to put a name on the victim. Alastor Moody’s magical eye was spinning like an enchanted carousel in its orbit, begging them to do something - anything.

“Out of my way, Sirius!” with his eyes wide and his hands trembling, he felt Molly Weasley push him to a side as she hurried over to Moody with some nasty-smelling potion. He barely registered seeing Evans sitting at the table’s end, holding Alastor’s head in her bloody hands, her eyes pooling with tears.

“I’m so sorry, Alastor, dear, this will hurt”, Molly whispered as if not trusting her voice, pouring the potion all over his ribcage. Despite the pain it must have caused him (as the potion came in contact with his torn-apart skin, it sounded like an egg frying in a red-hot pan), Moody didn’t even utter a sound.

“Molly…” Sirius heard Remus speak from somewhere behind him, breath still caught in his throat. Lupin’s voice sounded so far away… “Molly, there’s nothing… There’s nothing we can do, just…”

“Don’t you boss me around, Remus!” she snapped at him without looking, still perched over Alastor’s body with the potion bottle clenched tight in her tiny hand. “Just another drop, Alastor, last one, I promise…”

“Molly…” someone spoke, their voice hoarse and low - as if they had been screaming for days. “Molly, stop”.

When the red-headed young woman spinned around to face him, with her usually smiling face distorted with pain, Sirius realized that the voice belonged to him.

A barely there sob escaped Lilly’s mouth as she dropped her head like a broken doll; the sound of it so sad, it seemed to break Sirius out of his stupor.

His breaths were now rugged; the rage seemed to take his body and his mind prisoners as he turned around on his heels, pushing his way out of the house.

“Sirius”, he heard Lupin’s voice again, a faint attempt to stop him.

When he didn’t listen, Molly’s shrill tone nearly made his ears bleed.

“Sirius Orion Black! Stop this very second!”

He paid her no mind, running straight into Arthur. They collided in the doorway - seeing nothing but red, Sirius pushed Weasley into the wall, marching on, blood roaring in his ears.

“Just where do you think you’re going, huh?”

He could swear she appeared out of nowhere; lilac sparkles dancing on the surface of her frozen eyes. Her hands crossed on her chest, she flashed him a valiant look. In the back of his feverish mind, Sirius caught himself marvelling at how small she actually was, the top of her head barely reaching his shoulders; yet the craving for blood pushed him forward. She might as well have been the death itself - there was no way of stopping him now.

Without even as much as a quick glance at her beautiful face, Sirius made an attempt to sidestep her… Before he knew it, he was shoved aside, straight into the ancient clock he hated, the wood of the intricate design moaning under his weight.

The force with which she’d pushed him away, like he weighted nothing, left him lying there in the remainders of the family heirloom, gawking at her like a flabbergasted idiot.

It seemed he wasn’t the only one - a new wave of shock with a taste of terror spread all around the room like cancer eating at a body. As if expecting this kind of reaction, Y/N didn’t hesitate as she made her way to Alastor’s lifeless body.

She stopped just a few steps short of the table.

Half-closing her eyes, as if she were in some kind of trance, she rolled her head back, her lips slightly opened. A soft sigh escaped her mouth as she slowly brought her hands into the air, their movements slow and delicate, like those of a ballerina. Her words were barely a whisper as the strands of her hair danced around her head, soft warm glow forming slowly all around her.

Nobody moved. Completely mesmerised and helpless, all they could do was watch.

The air now buzzed with tender kind of energy as quiet sounds of gentle voices echoed in the room. When Y/N  lowered her head at last, her eyes fluttered open - her irises shone like liquid gold. With an almost sensual moan, she closed her eyes again, throwing her head back and arching her back.

Sirius watched, hypnotised and unblinking, failing to believe his eyes.

Pure white light, like curls of dense glimmering fog flowed out of her chest; it writhed and creamed, without a sound whatsoever, like a thought trying to form itself on the edge of consciousness. Slowly at first; then all of the sudden it all poured out, blinding and all too warm, caressing Black’s bruised cheekbone, but most importantly, his hand, just moments ago broken to bits.

The glass in the room sang; the chandelier cried softly and then the light started to fade. Sirius blinked something fierce, trying to see without the bright-coloured spots blocking his vision. He was able to catch the last remnants of light as it faded in Y/N’s eyes, before she closed them on a heavy sigh.

A round of suffocating cough filled the room followed by a heavy thump. With his face still covered in blood, Alastor Moody rolled off the table and fell, rather ungraciously, on the dusty floor.

Still staring at Y/N open-mouthed, with her eyes rounder than two galleons and just as shiny, Mollie rushed to Alastor’s side. Once she saw his eyes and heard his mile-long curses signaling that he was, indeed, very much alive, Molly cried out in relief, squishing Moody’s head in her tight embrace.

“You reckless bastard, what in Godric’s name did you do!” Potter cursed out loud, brushing nervous fingers through his hair, wet trails still glistening on his cheeks. His eyes never quit Moody’s frame.

“Come off it, James, he almost died!” Lily chastised him rather weakly, now sitting on her knees, by Moody’s side as well. “How are you feeling, Alastor?” she asked softly, “How do-“

“I died,” Moody suddenly said, sitting up straight as his hands roamed all over his chest. “Those sons of witches, they ambushed me! They-“ he stopped mid sentence, not sensing any cuts or broken ribs under his touch. “What did you- I died, I felt them kill me!”

And the world seemed to freeze all over again, as if enchanted by Alastor’s words. Every person in the room - Remus Lupin, Lily Evans, Molly and Arthur Weasley, Alastor Moody and Sirius Black - turned their eyes towards the girl who brought the wizard from the dead.

In her usual nonchalant yet not overconfident fashion, Y/N slowly raised her chin.

“Do excuse me for intruding on your secret…” she gave it a quick thought. “Fight Club”, she continued with a raise of her eyebrows. “But does any of you know where I can find Igor Karkaroff?…” -

The corridor had been quiet for nearly ten minutes now. Clearing his throat, Remus stole a look at his waiting companion.

With her head resting on her left shoulder, she appeared to be sleeping; but Lupin knew better. The moment the commotion from Moody’s revival settled, and his eyes fell on Y/N he immediately recognised her as one of them. It shouldn’t have come as a surprise - during his long werewolf career, he learned to pick up the signs, no matter how subtle they were.

It was in the curve of her neck. In the movements of her wrists. It was sleeping upon her lips.

The suffering.

He recognised her as one of them - one of his own - one of those who were destined to struggle all their lives for the choices that were made for them.

He didn’t know her story but he knew. 

Remus knew that Y/N was one of them.

“So you just brought her here!” Moody’s booming voice whipped the walls of the study again, echoing in the hall.  “No questions asked, nothing! You just rolled out the red carpet straight into one of our secret locations because you felt like it! Would you like to whip her a Butter Beer now that she’s here? Maybe offer her some biscuits?”

Remus squirmed at Alastor’s words. For someone who had very narrowly escaped death just mere moment ago, he sure had some strength in those windpipes.

Cursing the reason for which he was, de facto, still alive.

“Don’t… Don’t listen to him”, Remus spoke at once, rubbing his nose with the back of his hand, not looking at Y/N. “He can’t think straight… He was dead just five minutes ago, after all”, Remus reasoned more with himself, nodding his head eagerly.

He stopped dead, however, as soon as a soft melodious laugh reached his ears. Sharply turning his head to face his companion, Remus felt a smile emerging on his scarred lips against his will.

Y/N wasn’t asleep anymore (that is if she’d been sleeping at all). She sat straight in the leather chair by the dirty window, bringing her legs to hug them close to her chest. Throwing her hair to a side, she faced Remus, her features relaxed and peaceful.

“I don’t blame him,” she said with a soft shrug. “I would probably be just as pissed if I was him. I mean… “ she paused, a mischievous gleam glazing over her eyes. “…He was, indeed, dead just five minutes ago”.

Remus held her stare for as long as he could - until the two of them burst out in a fit of infectious laughter, nearly missing on Sirius’ response coming from the other side of the door.

“You have some nerve, Alastor. She brought you back from the dead!!” Black roared like a wounded animal. “I don’t trust her and I don’t think I ever will, but we have to give her a chance to tell us her story before we jump straight to conclusions - we owe her at least that!”

The sound of his voice seemed to bring both Remus and Y/N back to the real world - where a war was raging outside the walls and where wizards were dying by dozens with every passing hour.

“He actually sounds like he doesn’t hate me”, Y/N observed out loud, a bit impressed.

“Who, Sirius?” Remus pushed back against his seat, folding his hands on his chest. “If your surname isn’t Black, then you have nothing to worry about”.

Y/N grunted in response, dropping her gaze to the floor.

“I think I heard him whispering to James that I was probably “Blacker” than his mother”, she shifted her gaze to face Remus again. “Do you think that counts?”

Lupin chuckled whole-heartedly.

“A profession of love? So soon?” he faked astonishment.

A soft laugh bubbled out of Y/N’s chest; it was cut short, however, by the slamming of the door as Alastor Moody resurfaced from the study, his face so red, Remus almost got afraid the veins in his neck would pop like champagne bottles.

“We would like to ask you a few questions, Miss…” Moody managed through gritted teeth, stepping aside to welcome her into the room.

“Y/N”, with her usual grace of a swan, she rose to her feet, throwing Moody a wicked smile. “I would, however, expect a man to remember the name of his saviour”.

Something sounding a lot like a chortle reached her ears, right before Remus cleared his throat.

Gritting his teeth some more, Moody mentioned for Y/N to come in.

His bright blue eye then focused on Remus.

“We won’t wait for Dumbledore”, Alastor announced curtly. “Fetch the Weasleys and Evans, Lupin. I’m sure they’d love to hear the witches’ story.”

[the-most-slytherin-hufflepuff]

Open your eyes (Chapter 2)

Well... hello. I couldn’t wait (cause im just that impatient) so here’s chapter 2. The credit for the characters goes to the wonderful and amazing @lumosinlove

@waltzintherain this chapter is pretty safe... or is it? Just know that this is not the thing I have been ranting about in your ask box (and would like to formally apologize for scaring you) 

@clearsuitcasecookienerd 

I’m not sure if there’s something triggering in this chapter but I’m including this warning anyway. Just in case

Masterlist

Finn was looking out the window of the library with a weary expression. Leo came up behind him, hugging Finn close to his chest and laying his chin on the shorter man’s shoulder. “What’s bothering you?” His tone was laced with worry. Leo watched Finn’s reflection carefully, trying to understand what had gotten his beloved so worried. He was frustrated when he found nothing there. Finn, for however open he was with his emotions, was almost impossible to read. 

Finn turned his head a little to place a kiss to Leo’s cheek. He looked back out the window with a crease between his brows. “That letter Logan sent. They need help finding Regulus. He said that the prince got kidnapped by a sorcerer.” 

Leo kissed Finn’s temple and stepped away from him. Finn turned to him with a questioning look, arms crossed over his chest. “Don’t worry about it, love.” Leo tucked one of Finn’s red curls behind his ear. “There’s not much you can do right now. Wait till they get here before you start worrying yourself sick.” Leo grabbed one of Finn’s hands in his, forcing the other man to drop his defensive stance. “I know you Finn. Something is bothering you and it isn’t just Logan’s letter.” He touched his forehead to Finn’s gently. ”Tell me. What’s wrong?” 

Finn squeezed his hand once, twice, before answering. “It’s just that.” Finn took a steadying breath. “Logan and Sirius both grew up hearing about the evils of magic and now someone close to them got kidnapped by a sorcerer. Regulus went missing three months ago, the longer they go without knowing where to even start looking the harder he’ll be to find.” Leo kissed Finn’s forehead and hugged him close, placing his chin on top of his fiancé’s auburn curls. Finn sighed softly, burrowing closer to Leo’s chest, the tension bleeding out of his shoulders. “I don’t want you to have to hide a part of yourself around them, love. If anyone can change their mind about magic it’s you.” 

Leo smiled softly at him. “I love you.” He kissed Finn and took his other hand. “Come on. Your friends are arriving soon.” They walked to the entrance of the palace where Lily was already waiting, James at her side, practically bouncing on her feet. 

James smiled when he saw them, laughing when Lily took off running when she saw Remus and two other men enter the courtyard. “Should I be jealous?” He asked her in a loud teasing tone. She didn’t bother answering, too busy tackling Sirius in a hug. When Remus got off of his horse she hugged him tightly. Logan chuckled in amusement, sliding off of his saddle. “I’m really feeling the love over here.” Lily looked up at Logan and gave him a firm hug, whispering something in his ear that made him blush brightly. 

James approached Remus with a grin on his face, hugging him when he was close enough. He made sure no one was paying attention to them before asking quietly. “Do they know?” Remus shook his head lightly and James nodded, smile returning to his face in time for Lily to introduce him to the others. 

“This is James Potter”, she said wrapping a hand around his waist, “and that baby faced sunshine boy is Leo Knut.” The blonde blushed at the comment. 

“Stop teasing my fiancé Lily, it happened one time.” Finn said, laughter and amusement lacing his tone. 

“What happened?” Sirius asked with a confused look. 

There was a beat of silence, there was no way of explaining it without revealing Leo’s magic. “Don’t you dare tell them.” 

Lily was the first to catch on to what he was trying to do, a smirk appearing on her face. “And why shouldn’t I, your highness?” She asked mockingly. 

Leo groaned, hands coming up to cover his face. “You promised you would never mention it again.”

“Fine. We won’t say anything”, she conceded. The rest nodded, while Sirius looked on with an intrigued expression. He let it slide, accepting that he wasn’t going to get answers if Leo didn’t want him to. 

Remus grabbed Sirius’s hand and interlaced their fingers together. The group left the courtyard. Finn, Leo, and Logan going their separate way to one of the gardens. They reached the shadow of an oak tree and sat down, Leo laying his head on Finn’s lap. Logan looked at Leo’s baby blue eyes, “can I ask about the sunshine comment Lily made.” 

Leo made a small noise, hiding his blushing face in Finn’s stomach while the redhead laughed. “No. It’s so embarrassing.” 

“Stop whining Leo, it wasn’t that bad.” 

Leo smacked Finn in the chest playfully. He turned to look at Logan. “It was horrible. This one wouldn’t stop teasing me for days afterwards.” 

Logan raised an eyebrow at Finn. “So you do make a habit of making fun of other people’s misery.” 

The older boy shrugged. “I only make fun of my friends. Especially if they are as cute as this one”, Finn said, poking Leo’s dimpled cheek. Logan pointedly ignored the unknown feeling that settled in his chest. 

“What do you think the others are talking about.” Leo had an idea of what they were discussing, but he wanted to see if the three of them could come up with a way to find Regulus. 

Logan shrugged, a look of worry crossing his features. “Probably about Reg. It’s been so long since he disappeared. Didn’t leave a trace the dogs could track or anything.” The green eyed boy curled into himself a little, resting his chin on his knees. “King Orion says it’s the work of sorcery.” 

Finn’s paused for a second before going back to running his hands through Leo’s curls. “And you agree with him?” 

“I guess. Regulus started acting weird some time before disappearing. His nightmares got so much worse, he became paranoid and then one day it all just stopped. Out of nowhere.” 

That intrigued Leo, though he didn’t show it. “What do you mean stopped?” He kept his tone even. 

“I mean that he started sleeping peacefully. No nightmares, no sleepless nights. At least that’s what Dima told us.” 

Finn looked at Logan. “Isn’t that a good thing?” 

“We thought so. But some time after it all stopped he started acting oddly. He threw weary looks around and distanced himself from everyone. His servant was the only one who could talk to him normally.” By the time Logan finished Leo had gotten a far away look on his face. 

“Well that certainly sounds like sorcery.” Leo turned to meet Logan’s eye. “Maybe someone enchanted him or used a charm to get inside his head.” 

Logan hummed, a furrow appearing between his brows. “Is that even possible.” 

Leo shrugged lightly. “Sure. Though I think it’d be easier to charm an object that he would wear daily. That way the sorcerer only has to cast the spell once.” 

“How do you know so much about this stuff?” Logan asked. 

“I like to read about this kind of thing.” Leo made sure to lock eyes with Logan before saying the next part. “Hufflepuff’s laws on magic are not nearly as strict as Slytherin’s. It’s easier to break and heal enchantments when you know what you’re dealing with.” 

Judging by the tension that seemed to take over the green eyed boy Finn guessed he got what Leo was implying. To his fiancé’s credit he didn’t even blink when Logan’s hand twitched to the pummel of his sword. Leo’s baby blue eyes staring him down, daring Logan to do anything. Logan was the first to look away, body relaxing by a fraction, but it was enough for Finn, he let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. 

Logan took a deep breath before speaking again. “So there’s a chance that Reg was coerced into leaving the palace?” 

Leo took a moment to think the question over. “Not coerced exactly. If my guess is right and the sorcerer used an item of clothing or jewelry to enchant him then”, he waved a hand around, “ then maybe he is under their control. Like a puppet, guided by invisible strings.” 

“That sounds more likely actually.” 

Both boys looked at Finn. “Think about it. His attitude change could be someone else manipulating him. And if the sorcerer was able to get inside his head that would explain why his nightmares stopped.” 

Logan took a second to process what he had just heard. “What about Dima though? Regulus acted normally around them.” 

It was Leo who answered this time. “The mind isn’t that simple. It can’t be explained in black and white. And Dima is Regulu’s servant, I can only expect them to have a relatively close relationship.” At Logan’s nod he continued. “Whether they are friends or something more, Regulus trusts Dima unconditionally. Spells used to manipulate the mind attach themselves to insecurity and fear to twist the way you see reality.” 

“Are you implying Reg doesn’t trust us?” Logan’s voice took on a defensive edge. 

“No. I’m sure he trusts you, the question you should be asking is to what extent that trust goes.” Logan deflated slightly at Leo’s response. “Look, Logan, someone can trust you and still be scared of you. It happens and there’s not much you can do to fix it when you don’t know what's wrong in the first place.” 

Logan ran a hand through his dark curls. “But why would he be scared. We’re his friends. Sirius is his brother.” 

“That means nothing when it comes to fear.” Finn regretted being so blunt when he saw the broken look on Logan’s eyes.

 “Fear isn’t rational. And sure, you are his family, but for the spell to take hold over his mind so quickly there had to be something for it to hold onto. And you said he suffered from nightmares.” Leo kept his tone soft. “Did you ever wonder what they were about?” 

Logan looked down at his lap, all the fight seemed to have drained out of him. “No.” He looked at something over Finn’s shoulder, refusing to meet either of their eyes. “He has been getting them since he was a child. They were just”, he shrugged, “they were another part of Regulus.” 

Leo bolted upright, startling both Finn and Logan. Worried blue eyes met green. “We need to find Sirius. I think”, he bit his lip, thinking the words over, “I think I know what happened. Or at least have an idea of what might have happened.” 

Logan got up, stumbling over his own feet. “Let’s go then.”

“Wait.” Leo grabbed Logan’s arm, the other man looked down at his hand. “I don’t think you’re going to like it very much.” 

Logan stared at Leo, determination burning in his eyes like greek fire. “Do you think it will help get him back?” 

“Yes.” 

“That’s all that matters.” 

Brown eyes watched the interaction carefully. He decided that he would do everything in his power to help Logan. He didn’t know why the broken look in those green eyes hurt so much, but Finn never wanted to see it again. “Let’s go find the others then.” He interlace his fingers with Leo’s, squeezing Logan’s arm reassuringly with his other hand. “We’ll find him, Lo”, a look of determination took over his brown eyes, “I promise.” 

Logan nodded firmly and began walking, Finn and Leo following him out of the garden and into the palace. They decided to start looking for their friends in the library, since that had been the general direction in which they were headed earlier. Leo was the one to break the silence first. “Do you think I should tell Sirius.” 

“About your magic?” Leo nodded in response to Logan’s question. “Only if he asks. If the first thing you say involves the word magic you won’t get through to him. He wants Reg back, but he also thinks magic is the thing that took him away.” They had reached the doors to the library. Logan put his hand on the golden handle. “You’re going to have to ease him into it and hope that his desire to bring his brother back overpowers Orion’s teachings.” 

With that he heaved the heavy wooden doors open. A pair of silver eyes turned to look at them. Sirius gave them a weak smile. “Hey” 

The three of them walked to where he was sitting besides the rest of their friends and an unknown man. “Who is he?” At Logan’s question the man turned to look at him with a bright smile. 

“I’m Thomas.” He shook Logan’s hand. “But my friends call me Talker.” 

Logan leaned in to whisper to Finn. “Talker?” 

“He never shuts up.” Finn whispered back. 

Logan hummed, “Fitting.”

The three sat down at the table. Leo locked eyes with Remus and Lily across the table, a silent conversation passing between them. At Lily’s nod he began to talk. “Logan explained why you came here seeking help.” He turned to look at Sirius. “I may have an idea of what happened.” 

Sirius looked at him, hope shining in his silver irises. “Please explain.” 

“I— we think Regulus may be under someone’s control. An enchantment of sorts that took over his mind.” Remus’s eyes widened at Leo’s words. He stood up abruptly, letting go of Sirius’s hand and walking over to the bookshelf, taking books and parchment rolls out and setting them on the table while Leo continued his explanation. 

“That may be the reason why his nightmares stopped so abruptly. My guess is that someone used an object he wears a lot, most likely jewelry, and enchanted it. That way they would be able to influence his action while he wore it.” 

“He always wears one of our mother’s rings, even when he sleeps. Maybe that’s the enchanted object.” Sirius sighed defeatedly. “That doesn’t help us find him though.” 

“That’s where you’re wrong.” Remus sat back down on his chair and opened one of the parchment rolls. “The mind is complex, it's hard to enchant it and even harder to create a spell that will let you control it for so long.” He was reading down the lines of text frantically. When he didn’t find what he was looking for he moved to another scroll. “Only a highly skilled sorcerer could have done that.”

Lily picked up where Remus left off, explaining in a more calm tone. “Remus is looking through the archives. After the War many of the kingdoms created laws that forced sorcerers to register their magic. That includes what their specialities are, if they are priests for the old gods, things like that. If we can find the most powerful ones we can narrow down our search for Regulus.” She picked up a heavy tome Remus had dumped on the table and passed it to Leo. “We need to know what spell this sorcerer cast so we can break it.” She opened another book that sat in front of her, Leo had started reading the one she slid to him. 

“The mind is strong but once it cracks it’s hard to fix it.” Remus picked up another scroll. “Whoever enchanted Reg is using powerful magic to alter his brain. If the spell hasn’t worn off yet and we have to be the ones to break it his mind will take the worst hit.” 

“He’s going to need someone to help him through it.” Leo finished, focusing on the words he was reading. 

“Exactly.” 

Sirius looked between the three of them, a combination of hope and confusion on his face. “How—”

Remus raised a hand to interrupt the questions he was sure were coming. “Gryffindor has books on magic”, he said pointing at Lily and Leo’s books, “the scrolls are the lists of sorcerers, warlocks, and witches that live in Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Gryffindor.” 

“The queen insists on knowing all magic users that come and go from her lands. Anyone who studied the old religion and became a priest in the last twenty years studied in Ravenclaw at one point or another”, Lily looked up from her book, “the chances of one of them not being here are very low.”

Leo spoke up once she had finished talking. “Lily gave me a book of healing magic.” He stared at Sirius, the same daring look he had given Logan back in the gardens. “I’m a healer.” Leo’s eyes turned a bright shade of gold and a warm calming feeling settled over them. 

Sirius’s eyes became guarded, his hand reaching to the sword at his side. Remus reached over and took it in his, interlacing their fingers and placing a kiss to Sirius’s knuckles. “Leo is the best at healing. Regulus will need magic’s help, Sirius. There’s no way to work around that.” He squeezed Sirius's hand reassuringly. “When we find him, because we will find your brother, he may need someone to help ease him back into a reality where there’s no one speaking into his mind.” 

“The spell holds onto insecurity and fear. He had issues before this happened, the enchantment just added wood to the fire.” Sirius deflated slightly at Leo’s words. 

James spoke up after a moment, eyes wide and staring at a word in one of the scrolls Remus hadn’t looked through yet. “Does the name Bellatrix Lestrange sound familiar to you?” A chorus of no’s answered his question. 

“Bellatrix Lestrange”, he read, “high priestess of the old religion. Witch. Known Family: Druella Black (deceased), Cygnus Black (deceased), Andromeda Black, Narcissa Malfoy, Orion Black, Rodolphus Lestrange (deceased).” 

Sirius stared at James with an unreadable expression. Remus squeezed his hand lightly before speaking up. “That’s our mystery sorceress.” 

“How could you possibly know that.” Sirius flinched at his own aggressive tone. “Sorry”. 

“That’s obvious isn’t it”, Thomas said, ignoring Sirius’s defensiveness. “She has more reason than anyone to despise your father. She was family and King Orion was the leader of the War on magic.” 

“It would make sense if she was born with her magic”, Lily commented. “She probably was the next in line to be Slytherin’s court sorceress. Your father’s war robbed her of her birth right.” 

“And the best way to get back at Orion is attacking his favorite child.” Sirius's voice was devoid of any feeling. “Reg was always father’s perfect little boy. Except for the nightmares, but Orion ignored those.” 

Logan spoke up for the first time since they had sat down. “You said I wasn’t going to like something. You haven’t said what.” 

Leo locked eyes with Lily. Logan didn’t understand what happened in the few seconds they looked at each other, but Lily’s eyes widened. She gave a hesitant nod. “There’s a chance that Regulus has magic.” 

Remus groaned tiredly. “Of course he does. I’m such an idiot.” He rubbed a hand down his face. “How didn’t I notice. The nightmares. The paranoid glances. Warning Sirius before one of the missions his father sent him on just for him to come back injured.” 

Lily stared at Remus, eyes weary. “You’re not suggesting what I think you’re suggesting are you?” Remus nodded defeatedly, head dropping to Sirius’s shoulder. The other man tangled his fingers in his brown hair, eyes unfocused. 

Logan looked between them before speaking. “For the sake of us that have no idea what he is suggesting, explain, please.”

Lily looked around at everyone’s face before her gaze settled on Sirius. “Reg could be a seer. People that can see the future, parts of it anyway. But without training…” she trailed off. 

“What happens”, Sirius’s voice cracked, “what happens without training?” 

“The visions could drive them insane”, Leo answered. 

Remus lifted his head from Sirius’s shoulder, his warm honey colored eyes meeting Sirius’s lost gaze. “This just proves how strong his mind is.” 

“How?” Sirius asked, barely above a whisper. 

“Anyone weaker would have lost their mind years ago”. Leo’s voice was soft. 

Silence fell over them, giving Sirius time to process what had just happened. His entire life had been picked to shreds, making him questioning all of his beliefs. Leo had magic, Lily probably did too. He had lost family somewhere that had kidnapped his brother to get back at his father. His brother may have magic and-. A distressed noise ripped from his lungs before he could push it down. 

Remus held Sirius close as silent tears spilled down his face. He watched Leo’s eyes glow gold before Sirius went limp against him. He hugged him tightly, standing up and carrying him over to one of the dark red sofas and laying him down, draping one of the soft blankets that Finn kept in the library for late night reading over him. He kissed Sirius’s forehead softly, wiping the tear tracks that ran down his flushed face. 

“How long will that spell last”, he asked Leo once he came back to the table and sat down. 

“As long as he needs.” Leo’s kind baby blue eyes looked at the sleeping man. “He needs time to process everything. His mind needs rest.” 

“Thank you, Leo”.

 The man nodded and looked at Logan. “I know where we can find Andromeda. But I’ll need your help.”  

“What?” Logan’s green eyes widened. 

“She lives in Hufflepuff’s countryside. I remember seeing her name years ago in one of the archives.” Finn lit up at Leo’s words.

 “So you know where she lives?” Finn’s enthusiasm made Logan feel a little better. 

“Not exactly.” Leo answered. “I remember the general area but not the exact village. It’ll take at least three days to find her.” 

“Won’t it be faster if we look for where she lives in the archive”, Logan asked. 

“No”, Leo answered simply. “It would take a two and a half day trip to reach the castle and then another three days looking through the archives for her. Not to mention how long it will take to reach the village.” He looked at Finn. “She lives in one of the outlying villages near Gryffindor. It’s a day’s ride away, though we would still have to sleep in the forest for the night.” Both Finn and Logan nodded. If they found Andromeda they would have a chance of finding Regulus and that was better than what they had started with when they arrived at the library. 

“Very well then”, everyone looked at Lily, “we all have our work cut out for us. Remus take Sirius to your mother“, she gave him a sympathetic look, “he needs it. We don’t rest until we find Regulus.” 

“And if we don’t find him?” Logan asked quietly. 

Lily’s emerald green eyes shone with determination. “That’s not an option.”  

*~*~*~*~*

Sirius woke up in an unknown place. He sat up slowly, he could feel a headache starting behind his eyes. He closed his eyes tightly, as the memories of the previous day came crashing down on him like a heavy weight. He opened them slightly when he heard someone come into the room. A woman stepped through the door, she had light brown hair and gentle amber eyes. She seemed familiar, somehow. 

“I’m glad you’re awake”, she sat at his bedside and placed her hand on his cheek, eyes glowing gold. Sirius flinched away from her touch, not used to people using magic on him. “Remus will be glad your up. He has been pacing since he woke up this morning.” She chuckled under her breath, standing up and walking to the door. “Come out whenever you’re ready”, she said before leaving, closing the door gently and leaving him alone. 

Sirius sat in silence for a moment, thinking over everything that had happened since he arrived in Gryffindor. His mind went over the conversation in the library over and over again. Reg probably had mgic. SIrius was surprised to realize he didn’t care, or he did, just not in the way he maybe should have. He just wanted his brother back. His thoughts were interrupted when Remus barged into the room. “Thank gods you’re up.” Sirius grimaced at his boyfriend’s loud voice. Remus sat besides him on the bed and kissed him softly. “How are you feeling?”

“Physically fine, mentally exhausted.” 

Remus kissed his forehead, rubbing the back of Sirius’s neck to try and ease the tension. “Logan left with Leo and Finn this morning. They won’t be back for at most a week.” 

Sirius made a small sound of acknowledgment, leaning back into Remus’s soft touch. “Why?” 

“Leo thinks he knows where to find Andromeda.” Sirius sighed softly, the remaining tension bleeding out of his shoulders. Remus kissed the tip of his nose, interlacing their fingers together and pulling Sirius out of bed. “Come on. Jules has been asking for you and you need breakfast.”

They walked to the dining room. Sitting at the table were Julian, the woman who Sirius thought had to be Remus’s mother, and a man that had to be his father. Remus squeezed his hand reassuringly, pulling him to the table and sitting down. Sirius sat besides him, Julian at his other side. 

The man offered a hand for Sirius to shake. “I’m Lyall, you must be Sirius.” 

“Yes.” Sirius shook his hand firmly. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” 

Sirius gave a startled yelp when he felt something brush his leg. When he looked under the table his eyes widened. “Remus.” His boyfriend turned to look at him with a questioning look. “Why is there a dragon under the table?” 

He heard Julian laugh from besides him. The boy bent down under the table and brought out a small dragon. It was pure black with glowing purple eyes. It perched itself on Julian’s shoulders and curled its tail around his arm protectively. “Oh, that’s just Calliope”, Remus answered dismissively. “Julian has a tendency to take in strays. He found this little one in a cave near the river Godric a few months ago.” Remus threw a piece of bread at the dragon. 

Sirius looked at Julian incredulously. “Who sees a dragon and immediately thinks to bring it home?” 

“In my defense, I didn’t do that.” Julian held a piece of meat for Calliope to eat. “She climbed up on my shoulders and wouldn’t come down. And she’s adorable.” He scratched behind her ears. “I couldn’t leave her. She is just a baby.” 

“Believe me. We tried to make her leave.” Lyall smiled at Calliope’s indignant huff. “She just crawled back into Julian’s room. We gave up after the second time.” 

They ate in silence. Calliope moved to lay in Sirius’s lap at some point, he had to admit, she was pretty cute. He scratched behind her ears, looking at Remus with wide eyes when she started purring contentedly. The other man laughed brightly, eyes shining with amusement. They left the house around midday, heading towards the royal stables to get their horses. Twenty minutes later they were headed back to Slytherin, a heavy feeling settling over Sirius. “Father will want me to report to him.” 

Remus turned his head slightly to look at him. “What will you tell him?” 

“As much as I can, with obvious exceptions.” 

“Like Leo’s magic?” Sirius nodded, Leo was the reason they even knew where to start their search, he wasn’t going to spoil that plan by telling his father about magic. They rode in comfortable silence for a few hours, content to be in each other’s presence.

Remus pulled on his horse's reins to make her stop. Something was wrong, the forest was too silent almost like it was holding its breath. He turned to look at Sirius, who was studying him with a question in his eyes. He opened his mouth to ask why Remus had stopped, but he couldn’t get words out. 

A group of mercenaries ambushed them, coming out from where they had been hiding behind trees and bushes, causing an uproar and disrupting the unsettling silence that had fallen over the forest. Remus jumped down from his saddle and unsheathed his daggers just in time to block a sword that was heading for his shoulder. 

Remus managed to reach Sirius’s side. Both men fought back to back, but the enemies didn’t seem to end. Remus was so focused on his fight that he didn’t notice when Sirius got separated from him until he heard a faint hiss. He slashed at the last of the men that had been fighting him before turning around to look at Sirius. 

He was fighting one of the mercenaries and didn’t notice the man that was sneaking up behind him, sword raised. Remus knew he wouldn’t get there in time to help. He felt his magic tingling at his fingertips, itching to get out. He let it, his eyes turning a deep shade of gold, a gust of air traveling through the clearing and knocking both mercenaries off their feet. 

Remus looked at Sirius to check if he was ok, only to see silver eyes staring at him. Sirius’s face was a perfect mask of nothing. His eyes held no emotion, he looked more like his father than ever. Remus was terrified.

A deadly calm settled over the forest. Silver and amber stared at each other for what could have been years, but were really just a few seconds.

 “Sirius I—” he didn’t let Remus finish. Sirius turned around and left. Remus fell to the ground, his knees giving out from under him.

Sirius had to get away. He needed to put as much distance between himself and Remus as he could. He knew he couldn’t avoid this forever, not now that he knew that the man he had fallen in love with had magic. 

He needed time to think, clear his head, before he did something he would surely regret. He had suspected Remus’s magic since the day before, when Remus started planning with Lilly and Leo, but Sirius had tried denying it for his own sake. He couldn’t have taken the news last night, he couldn’t take them right now. So he just kept running. Sirius felt sick. His father had always told him magic was evil. Anyone who practiced it became corrupted, eventually. He couldn’t bring himself to believe that Remus, his Remus, the same man that had spent hours bent over books and looking through archives for even the slightest hint as to where Regulus could be, was evil. He thought back to Leo and Lily and Hope. All had magic, and all had been kinder to him in the short time he had known them than his father had been through Sirius’s life.

He stopped dead in his tracks. He left Remus, the love of his life, who had magic, alone in the middle of the woods probably thinking he would never see Sirius again unless it was through a wall of pain and fire. The realization slashed at his heart, it would’ve hurt less to stab himself with a hot blade. The image of his Remus tied to a pyre, body surrounded by flames, his screams filling the castle’s courtyard brought tears to Sirius’s eyes. He ran back to where he had left Remus, he could hear the fallen leaves crunching under his feet, his breathing heavy. When he got there he saw Remus curled into himself on the forest floor. The sight made his chest ache. It was like someone had taken a jagged knife and carved a whole where his heart should have been.  

Remus heard footsteps approach the clearing, but he didn’t look up. He didn’t have to. He could recognize Sirius by the way he walked. He had tears streaming down his face. He was scared, not of dying he knew deep down Sirius would never hurt him. He was scared to lose Sirius. He wanted his partner to really know him. To love the real him, not the lie he had created to survive in Slytherin. 

Sirius approached Remus carefully. Watched his shoulders tense. He could see Remus’s flushed face, he had tears streaming down his cheeks. Tears Sirius put there. 

The knife took another slash at his heart. 

He sat down in front of Remus. His love’s eyes were unfocused. Sirius wanted nothing more than to gather Remus in his arms and never let go. “Love”, Remus flinched at Sirius' voice, “ love please look at me”. His voice was thick with unshed tears. Remus’s amber eyes snapped up to meet grey. He could feel fresh tears falling down his face. Sirius put his arms around Remus and hugged him tightly. He felt the shorter man tense, before hugging Sirius back. 

Remus held onto Sirius like his life depended on it, face buried in the crook of his neck, breathing Sirius in. If this was the last thing he got to do he would cherish every second of it. He just hoped that if Sirius chose to execute him, if Remus was wrong and Sirius truthfully wanted him dead, that it wouldn’t be the flames. “I’m not executing you, sweetheart”, Sirius’s voice broke, “and I’m not exhiling you either.” Remus tensed. He hadn’t realized he had said that out loud. 

Sirius dropped a kiss to Remus sweaty honey colored curls, tears falling from his silver eyes. “I couldn’t bare to lose you. I don’t want to live in a world where you are not by my side.” Sirius felt his already bleeding heart break, tears falling down from his eyes. “Love, please look at me”. 

Remus lifted his head from Sirius’s shoulder. A sword calloused hand reached up to touch his cheek, thumb brushing across Remus’s cheekbone. He leaned into the soft touch, wrapping his hand around Sirius’s wrist. Sirius placed a soft kiss on his lips. Remus’s eyes fluttered shut. He leaned into it, before breaking the kiss and touching his forehead to Sirius’s. 

Sirius tightened his arms around Remus. He needed to hold onto him. Know that he was alright, that he was safe in his arms, because every time that Sirius closed his eyes the image of Remus burning came back to his mind. It made his blood run cold in his veins. “I’m so sorry, Re.”

Remus snuggled closer to Sirius, dropping a soft kiss to his neck. “I accept your apology.” Remus kissed the same spot again gently. “I understand why you ran. It still hurts, but I can understand. It was a lot and after what happened yesterday”, he shrugged lightly, “I get it.” 

Sirius took a deep breath before speaking softly. “Can I ask?” There was a beat of silence, and then Remus made an agreeable humm, moving to sit on the ground in front of his boyfriend. He took Sirius’s hand in his, squeezing it reassuringly, and gave him a small smile. 

“Ok”, he let out a breath before continuing, “what do you want to know?” 

“When did you start learning?” 

Remus looked somewhere above Sirius’s shoulder with a thoughtful look. “I guess I started using magic when I was a child.” His eyes focused on Sirius again. “But I did go through a few years of accidental magic when I was a baby.” 

Sirius gave him a confused look. “What?” 

“Right, you don’t know what I’m talking about.” Sirius pointedly ignored the murmured insults about his father. “Pretty much everyone who is born with their magic goes through a few years where they can‘t control it. That’s how parents know their child was born with a magical gift.” 

“What’s your gift then?” 

Remus smiled at him and held his open palm between them. “It’s better if I show you.” He whispered a word that Sirius didn’t understand and his eyes flashed a brilliant gold. A glowing fog appeared on his hand, curling around his fingers and wrist. “Air and light manipulation are my specialty, but I can do other more general stuff.” 

The fog had started to disappear. Sirius stared at it until it was completely gone. A second of silence followed, the small display of magic leaving Sirius temporarily speechless. He shook himself off his daze. “Can I ask what Lily’s specialty is.” 

Remus shrugged, not surprised that Sirius had figured out Lily had magic of her own. “She’s a fire witch. It’s a pretty rare specialty, dangerous even, but she knows how to control it.” 

“Do you fight with it?” 

“Not really.” Remus’s brow creased a little, looking for the right words to explain. “Air, it’s unpredictable, hard to control. It requires a lot of concentration. Lily tried teaching me how to fight with magic a few years ago.” He grimaced. “It didn’t go so well.” 

Sirius motioned for him to explain. “Lily is good with blades, but magic is her thing. Especially considering her specialty.” A small orange flame lit up in Remus’s palm. “Fire and air are both versatile, but fire is sharp and dangerous by nature. Air is powerful, but unless you put a lot of energy into it…”, a soft breeze extinguished the fire, “it’s not worth wasting that much energy when I have someone like Lils by my side. We’re a good team because the difference in fighting style makes us unpredictable.” 

Silver eyes stared at Remus with carefully contained curiosity. “Unpredictable how?” 

“Lili’s style is”, he stopped for a second before continuing, “she doesn’t follow patterns like most people. She changes tactics every time her opponent starts getting comfortable. Right when you think you have her figured out she changes direction.” 

“And you?” 

“You saw me sparring with Lily, why don’t you explain it to me.” 

Sirius tried to remember that fight. He had seen Remus moving with a grace he had never thought the other man was capable of, only stumbling when Lily managed to catch him off guard. Sirius suspected she was the only one that could do that. 

“You were fast. Managed to not stumble, somehow, I’m still trying to figure out how you didn’t fall flat on your face.” Remus blushed, but remained silent for Sirius to continue talking. “Your movements were fluid. It was hard to tell what you were going to do next.” 

His boyfriend smiled at him, amber eyes shining brightly. “Are you starting to see the pattern?” Sirius shook his head, making Remus’s smile soften. “It’s ok.” He grabbed his hand and went to stand up, pulling Sirius up with him. “I just wanted you to understand, our fighting styles mirror our Magic’s behavior.”

Sirius made a small ‘oh’ sound. The other man’s words sinking in, he decided to ask Remus more questions about it later. Maybe when Lily was there to explain, too. He felt his boyfriend tug on his hand lightly. “We need to find the horses. Unless, of course, you plan on walking all the way to Slytherin.” 

He wrapped his arm around Remus’s waist, chuckling softly. “Alright. Let’s find them and go home.” 

After they managed to find the horses, who were grazing by a small clearing near the river Godric, they rode towards Slytherin, debating how they should explain the plan to the king without mentioning magic. They had decided that Remus would go with Sirius to report to Orion on the rescue mission’s progress and once the king questioned how they had come about the information of who had kidnapped Regulus, as they were sure he would, Remus would mention the archives. 

They reached the citadel almost two days after their departure from Gryffindor. They were received at the courtyard by Sir Pascal who gave them a worried look. Remus handed his horse reins to a stable boy and walked up to the knight, Sirius following behind him. “Your father is expecting you in the council chamber.” 

Sirius nodded, motioning for Remus to follow behind him. They were standing in front of the wooden door faster than either of the would have liked, Sirius breathed deeply before nodding towards the guards to open the doors. His father was sitting on his throne, a stony expression set on his face. Sirius walked in, Remus following a step behind him. He tried not to flinch when Orion’s dark eyes settled on him. 

“Father”, Sirius bowed his head in respect. He wasn’t sure his fathers deserved that respect anymore. The king motioned for him to continue speaking. “We found a possible lead, and a possible culprit.” 

Something lit up in the king's eyes, it was a strange sight. Remus was so used to the dark, empty nothing behind Orion’s irises, the only other feeling he had ever seen in them was hatred for his kind. He tuned back to the conversation just in time to hear Sirius say  Lestrange’s name. It made something sharp flash across the king’s eyes, alarm bell’s rang inside Remus’s head, they had to choose their next words carefully. 

“Where did you come across this information?” Orion asked, something like ice creeping at the edges of his voice. 

“Actually, m’lord”, Sirius met his father’s eye, preparing himself for what would come after he spoke, “Remus found it in Gryffindor‘s archives.” 

Orion looked at him, Remus had to resist the urge to run away. “Is that true?” 

“Yes, your majesty.” He kept his tone carefully even. “The king keeps records of all sorcerers that live in his lands and ally kingdoms. I thought it would be best to start our search there.” 

Orion stared at him for a few seconds before returning his gaze to his heir. They continued their discussion while Remus stood back, occasionally answering any question the king might have had about the information stored in the archives. Three hours later Orion had given his blessing to continue with their search for Bellatrix, ordering Sirius to execute her on the charges of sorcery, treason, and endangerment to the crown. Sirius nodded stiffly, anxious to get out of the room and as far away from his father as he could. 

Remus followed behind Sirius, leaving the council room behind and walking to his boyfriend’s chambers. The moment the doors closed Sirius threw himself at his bed, landing with a small thud on the soft mattress, burying his face on the pillow and screaming, the muffled sound barely audible. Amber eyes stared after him worriedly, the last few days had been heavy on Sirius, his mind needed a break from everything and Remus wanted nothing more than to give that to him. With a flash of gold a crow made of pure light appeared in front of Remus, it’s wings fluttering softly. It moved toward the bed and perched itself besides Sirius’s head, tugging at a strand of his black hair. It startled a laugh out of him. “What is this?” Sirius asked softly. 

“A messenger bird.” Remus sat beside Sirius, maneuvering them so that Sirius's head lay on his lap, the bird sitting softly on his boyfriend's chest. “Lily’s is a butterfly.” 

“Why does she get a butterfly?” 

Remus began to run his fingers through Sirius’s dark curls, the feeling making Sirius melt. “I think butterflies are Lily’s favorite.”

Sirius’s eyes were closed, a small content smile on his lips. “What about Leo?” 

“His is a little salamander. A newt, if you will.” A small giggle bubbled out of Sirius making Remus smile, he bent down to kiss Sirius softly, he hadn’t seen his boyfriend this at peace since he received the news of Regulus’s disappearance. “I love you.” 

A startled expression took over Sirius’s face. “What?” His voice choked up by the sudden rush of emotion. “Y-You… what?”

“I”, he kissed Sirius’s forehead. “Love”, a kiss to his nose. “You.” Remus kissed his lips, slow and loving, trying to pour all of his feelings into it. The angle was more than a little awkward and Sirius was still a little in shock, but his eyes still fluttered shut. He returned it with as much love and adoration as he could. It was perfect. 

They broke apart, breathless and smiling. Sirius stared into Remus’s eyes, he could see gold swirling in his warm amber irises, how had he ever thought that magic could be evil. “I love you too. So much.” 

Remus smiled. Sirius could have sworn it lit up the entire room, a warm feeling bloomed in his chest. Sirius didn’t know how he had ever survived without the amber eyes, bright smile, and soft lingering kisses, but he never wanted to live like that again. He would do anything to keep his love safe.

 “I love you.”

[imaginejamesandsirius]

okay i know this is really dark but i’m into that shit. if you’re still active, could you do one about sirius being 19, and at his and james’ flat (james is out doing something) and he uses the mirror to call james because he wants to commit suicide? and james comes in and stops him from cutting and tells sirius he loves him and that he isn’t horrible and they kiss and hug and stuff?

((A/N: In accordance with the prompt, Sirius is depressed and not in a good headspace)) 

Sirius's hands were shaking. Not violently or anything, but because he was cold. He didn't know why he felt so cold. The air around him was warm, which he only knew because as he brought the mirror up in front of him to call James, his lips hadn't gone purple. 

He didn't want to call James, but he knew that he had to. The last time he'd felt like this and he hadn't called him, James had been so mad that Sirius had been sure he was going to walk out-- he hadn't; in fact, he'd insisted that Sirius call him the moment he realised he could use someone else's presence. Sirius didn't much understand that, but he knew that James was right. When he thought about it when he wasn't like this, it made sense to him. He didn't like an audience. The moment someone else-- particularly James or one of his other mates-- was in the room, he calmed down a little. Not much, but enough for him to be backed away from the ledge, so to speak. 

James had told him a hundred times that Sirius wasn't going to bother him by calling him, no matter what time it was or what James might be busy doing. Sirius knew all of this, but when it came time to pull James away from his night out with Remus and Lily, he hesitated, thinking that maybe this would be the time that James got mad at him. 

He activated the enchantment on the mirror so that its match in James's pocket would vibrate until he answered it. The tremble in his hands was barely noticeable now that he was holding the mirror up in wait, but it was still there. He started biting the nails on his free hand as he waited so he didn't do something... more damaging. James didn't like it when he bit his nails, and in the moment, Sirius forgot why until he tore one too close and a sharp strike of pain went through his fingertip and started bleeding. Slightly panicked, now, he shoved the tips of his fingers against his muggle jeans and hoped that the bleeding would stop quickly enough that James wouldn't see it when he came home. He would come home, right? He always had in the past when Sirius called him, but what if this was one time too many? What if-

The thought stopped in its tracks when James's face appeared in the mirror. "Hey man, what's up?" James asked. He could try and pretend all he wanted that everything was fine, but the worry lines next to his eyes gave him away. 

"I- erm." Now that they were face to face-- as it were-- he couldn't get the words out of his mouth. He didn't even know what he was supposed to say. Saying that he needed help might be the truth, but it felt pathetic, and if there was nothing he could handle right now, it was feeling even more pathetic than he already did. "You... told me to call." 

There was a brief flash on confusion, but it was quickly covered as James figured out what he meant. "Yeah. I've just got to say goodbye real quick, and then I'll be home, okay? It'll only take me a couple minutes." 

He lowered the mirror but didn't let go of it. It wasn't really a conscious decision, but he only let go of it when James walked in and gently pried it from his fingers. 

"Hey," James said. He sat on the bed next to Sirius and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. "D'you want to watch something on the telly?" 

Not really. "Sure." 

James knew him too well to believe it, so he said, "We can do something else. What do you wanna do?" 

"I dunno," Sirius said. 

"That's okay. Maybe we can just find something to eat, and-" James paused. He'd been reaching for Sirius's hand. The hurt one. And James noticed everything, when it was about him. Well, almost everything. 

Sirius shrank in on himself. "I didn't mean to," he muttered. "I was waiting for you to answer, and I needed something to do with my hands, and it tore on accident. I wasn't trying to do anything." 

"Yeah." James swallowed thickly. He brought Sirius's fingers up to his mouth and pressed a kiss to them. "Yeah, I know. I just worry. I'm sure it gets annoying, and I'm sorry for that. I just love you so much that I don't want for you to ever be hurt, you know?" 

James told him that he loved him all the time. He always meant as a friend. Sirius nodded. But. "I wish you'd stop saying that." 

"Saying what?" 

"...That you love me. I know you mean it, I just- I get confused when you talk like that. Sometimes." 

"What do you mean? What would you think I meant by it?" 

"That you're- y'know, in love with me. I know you don't mean it that way, but like I said, sometimes it's confusing and I don't know how to deal with it." 

James didn't answer for a second, but Sirius didn't worry that something was wrong. He just sat there, with James's arm around him and focused on making sure he was breathing. It didn't hurt to breathe. When James did answer, he kept his voice low, almost intimate. "What makes you think I don't mean it that way? I haven't come right out and told you because I don't want you to feel pressured or like you can't trust me to just be here for you as a friend. You mean everything to me, Sirius, and I'd hate myself if you didn't call me because you felt like you shouldn't. You know what I mean?" 

He shook his head, and when James moved to pull away-- not leave, just give him some space-- Sirius caught his arm and held on tight. "I can't-." He stopped and took a deep, shuddering breath. "I can't, right now." He wasn't about to confess that James was the love of his life when he felt so unbelievably like rubbish. 

"No, no, that's okay. That's good. You don't have to say anything. I just didn't want to brush you off and make it sound like I didn't care." He pressed a kiss to the side of Sirius's head. 

"Yeah." Sirius swallowed. "Radio or summat." 

Another pause as James figured out what he was talking about. Then, "Sure, we can listen to the radio." 

*

The next morning, he wasn't altogether surprised that he woke up next to James. They usually fell asleep in the same bed when Sirius got... like that. Waking up the next day was like having a hangover, only instead of getting the joys of drunkenness, it was misery piled on top of misery. He had a headache even though he hadn't cried last night. At least, he didn't think he had. He couldn't really remember. 

Parts of it were fuzzy, but as he laid there, he became more certain that James had told him he was in love with him. Talk about shite timing, right? How was Sirius supposed to respond to that? How did he bring it up, now? 

He dealt with it the way he dealt with everything else: he blurted it out and hoped that James understood what he meant. 

"You have, like, the worst timing in the world," Sirius said, nuzzling into his chest. James's heartbeat against his nose was oddly comforting. Odd because it was a beat against his skin, not because it was James's heart-- he already knew that he liked that. 

"Funnily enough, I knew that," James said. "Thoughts?" 

"I love you too, but dating isn't going to change anything." 

"I think it would change a lot of things, actually." 

"You know what I mean." It wouldn't fix Sirius's problems. It might help a couple things that got stuck in his head, but it wouldn't fix everything; he knew that much. 

"I do, but I think you also know what I mean," James said. 

He didn't answer for a moment. Not because he was trying to draw out suspense or anything, but he was having trouble getting his brain to connect to his mouth. It was usually like that on his not-really-a-hangover days when he tried to think about what he was saying. So he hummed and pressed a kiss to James's shirt instead of trying to put words together. 

In return, James kissed his head again. He understood what Sirius meant, like he always did. Thank Merlin, Sirius thought with a sigh. He wasn't sure he could handle a deep and meaningful conversation today. 

[halothenthehorns]

All in the Familly

Chapter 159: The Cave

The smell of salty air clung to the room as they landed with their usual lack of grace. The island barely seemed large enough to hold them all, and the eight of them raised their hands in unison to shield their eyes from the suddenly bright green light. Remus had to blink his eyes a few extra times in confusion as it seemed to be gleaming off of a crystal goblet right next to him as well for no apparent reason for that to be here, there was no other treasure nearby like a pirate cove this belonged in, and unless that was Hufflepuff’s cup, it had no reason to just be lying around here.

At first, they thought the surrounding surface that wasn't craggy stone was smooth glass, Regulus had landed dangerously close to falling right off and his nose was an inch above it to stare down and see it wasn't truly reflective though, there was something white moving beneath. He shivered and crawled back on hands and knees away before he had to get a good look, fearing at once some enchantment to lure him in.

"There are aliens in here aren't there?" Peter asked wearily as he turned on the steep, wet stone platform uneasily. "This is absolutely the place where aliens bring us to do wild experiments on."

"I told you to stop reading those bloody rags Wormtail," Sirius tried to laugh off even as he shivered in disgust. "They'll make you crazier than you already are."

"Shush you two," James said patiently. "Where do you suppose the horcrux is?"

"More importantly," Frank reminded, "where's the book?" It wasn't like there was anywhere for it to hide on their little pedestal.

They all hesitated, well aware Voldemort could have any number of things set up in here to kill them, but the fact that they'd landed at all and nobody was dead must be some sort of good news. Alice sighed first and held tight to Frank's hand as she called, "Accio book."

Something too large flung itself free of the lake like a geyser of an eruption, flinging water upon them all. Lily screamed so hard she hurt her own ears and Remus fell back onto the green light source, cracking his head over something oddly solid as it splashed back into the water with only a flash of white burnt into their eyes for identification.

"Let's not do that again!" James spoke at once in what little voice he had left that wasn't a scream of its own.

"Seconded," Sirius whispered as he offered Remus a hand back up. He didn't take it. Sirius looked down in concern to see he was now tapping his knuckles in confusion against what they'd all passed over, an inch above the surface of the phosphorescent glow. Water droplets seeped right through though, Sirius watched as the last one broke the surface of the potion, creating ripples before reflecting their face back.

"Moony, get away from that," Sirius snapped at once, reaching down to enforce this, but he looked up and met Sirius' eyes with such an oddly assured expression Sirius froze in place.

"I think the book’s in here."

Sirius did not like that look on his face.

James came forward and tapped the surface with his wand in confusion, but Remus' hand remained in place without falling through, nothing at all changed.

There was a crystal goblet on its side by the lake edge his eyes kept jumping to.

"No!" Sirius snapped at once, dragging Remus back to his feet by the back of his shirt and putting himself between that putrid green light and Moony now. "Are you insane!"

He didn't answer, his dark green eyes flickered from the horrible light source back to Sirius and again.

"Absolutely not," Sirius shoved him another foot away, making him stumble so hard he nearly fell into the water, Sirius only just caught him by grabbing the front of his shirt now and not letting go. "I'll transfigure you into a goblet and drink that whole lake first you idiot!"

"He's right Remus, don't be ridiculous," James agreed.

"I'm not hearing any other options," Remus stated.

Nobody else said a word, the panic was starting to seep around the room like the cave was filling with it faster than the water could.

Sirius opened his mouth with his own book's worth of commentary on why that didn’t make this a good idea and anything else they should try first, but didn’t get that far.

"Then, we'll all take turns drinking it," Alice offered, her grip on Frank turning bruising but her voice held steady. "The effects should be minimal spread around rather than just on one person."

"That's not how potions work," Lily grimly corrected. "It's quality, not quantity. A sip and a gallon, we'd all get the exact same dosage. We'd all-" it didn't feel like a kindness to finish, "even if it doesn't kill us, it would incapacitate all of us, enough nobody could read. We wouldn't be getting out of here."

"Just us then," James flicked his fingers only at himself though, even if Sirius and Remus were still having the staredown to beat all. He seemed to think he was agreeing on the practicality of what the girls had said. "Still better to split it off a bit, yeah? The less one takes the better I'm sure."

"It won't work like that James," she hated herself to see the way his hazel eyes were draining of life. "The magic knows, it'll only quantify more for each person to drink the fill it must for the potion to vanish. You'd be needlessly hurting yourself and not helping them."

James flinched away from the green of her eyes, but the sickly color was still everywhere. It wasn't the same pretty shade, but he couldn't meet them anymore. He wanted to argue the point and say they should try something else first then, anything else, but Remus wasn’t wrong either... even if he was now brutally thinking of shoving his own head in the water and keeping it there for not volunteering first. If Padfoot couldn't talk Moony out of this though, nobody could.

Sirius hadn't really thought Prongs could talk their way into this one, but it didn't mean he was going to let this go without a fight either. "Why you?" He hissed in his face, not caring the words echoed back clear as day.

"The potion might not affect me as bad," Remus still had the audacity to be too bloody calm about this! Of all the things he didn’t freak out about?

"Might!" Sirius' hand tightened along his shirt like he was trying to strangle him with it from the inside, the collar was cutting into his neck and bunching up into a wad in his fist perfectly steady while his other hand trembled holding his wand. "If this is your idea of some, some werewolf experiment right now-"

"I'm not suicidal Sirius," Remus even rolled his eyes! "I wouldn't be volunteering if I thought it would kill me. Do you see a dead body around here? I just have a better chance than anyone else of it being, slightly more pleasant."

Sirius' chest was heaving like his lungs had vanished, his heart stuttering so hard in his chest it was hurting. Remus could throw all the logic in the world around and that would never make this feel okay! "You're not just another checkmark to me." He didn't stop to watch the shock flash across Remus's face. He dropped his shirt so abruptly Remus' knees nearly gave out on him again, he had no time at all to react as Sirius moved to snatch up the goblet and tilted it down into the liquid.

"Sirius!" Remus snapped, trying to jump forward and stop him.

"Padfoot," James whispered, but he seemed frozen in place with horror.

Sirius ignored them both and dumped the potion into the water. He looked back and snarled in frustration the exact same amount immediately refilled. He duplicated the cup and tried again, scooping out one and dumping it into the other before going back, but the basin didn't show any sign of drainage.

"Sirius," Remus placed his hand on the nape of his neck, fingers threading easily through his thick hair and only needing the feather-light touch to be felt beneath. "I'll be fine."

He would have stayed knelt there seething in frustration for hours, trying every damn trick in the world to outsmart this magic and then drink it himself before he let anyone else get away with this, until he heard it. The wet, suctioning sort of noise like pulling one's shoe out of a puddle as the water began boiling behind them right where the potion had broken the surface.

Seven of them turned to see the fleshy, white, waterlogged ascent of the inferius rising from the lake, James still had his eyes locked on Sirius as it surfaced right behind him.

"Prongs, move!" Sirius threw the cup in his hand on instinct, bashing the thing right in the eye. It fell out of the socket along with the cup into the dark water with no reaction from the creature while James only sluggishly realized the danger when it grasped his neck.

The others rushed to help, until their eyes forced them to see the rest. The water wasn't boiling, it was moving with the dark animated bodies as they all swelled underneath the surface to begin making their appearance.

James instinctively grabbed at the ice around his throat even as the flesh dripped right off his fingers and he lost whatever second he had to grab his wand, hating his own body for going rigid and easier to move as he slid along nothing. He transformed with a pop, and gasped in relief for the feeling to vanish, but the slimy, distended appendages only grabbed chunks of the black fur on his hind. Kicking on instinct, his hooves glided just as uselessly on the surface towards the water even as his aim was true and the things head sailed away with a disgusting pop mocking him back.

They were not strong, but they were many. More were already trying to take their place as Prongs bellowed in fury at them all being centered on him trying to stagger out of the water. He changed back and shot the fire spell right in one's face, but more were already grabbing his arms and legs and pulling him farther. He changed back again, but no bite, kick, or stab could fight them all.

Sirius had stood without conscious thought to be beside him, but froze when Remus gasped. The potion finally had a goblet missing. His pupils were already so dilated he could no longer see a single gold fleck in his green eyes as he tipped it back in with a trembling hand.

A flash of blue lit around him, and he reached out for her even as she already dropped the spell to try the other as she realized the heatless fire did nothing. Frank moved with her being pulled in any direction, and only the fact that he immediately let go saved him from being cursed as Sirius looked into her green eyes and begged, “don’t let him die.”

He did not wait for a response. Alice and Regulus were keeping the horde off of James with their spells while Peter was trying his best to hold James aloft, knee-deep in the water himself, but he was far too small, James easily kept breaking out of his grasp like he was another only to be grabbed by an inferi he also had to fight off, arms and legs swinging wildly with no clear direction anymore as true panic began to set in.

Sirius was already moving, shoving Peter aside and grabbing his brother around the chest to pull him back, as Prongs slogged around up to his waist, gagging and unintentionally assisting the creature as he stumbled blindly around.

Peter stood there stunned for only a moment before Sirius snapped, “come on Wormtail, you’re the most destructive git I know!”

His watery brown eyes lit with understanding, and the fire charm spewed from his wand like a dragons breath, dangerously close to all of them but finally creating some sort of dent, and still he reached out with one hand to grab the back of Sirius’ shirt as he dug his heels into the craggy surface. James was quivering in disgust up to his chest now, countless tangles latched onto his knees just below the surface and the headless one still hauling him in by his throat. His wand was back in his pocket like it always was from his most recent transformation, and he could not grab it for as tight as Sirius’ hold on him was, waist deep behind him on the slope.

It was like liquid nitrogen, it was so cold it burned and sank right through to Remus’s soul as he dipped the cup in again.

He was up to his fourth drink when he collapsed. The spine of the thick book was visible and Frank guiltily moved to grab that instead, but it did not come free. His hand could not go beneath the surface, though the book was not wet to the touch. Fighting back a burning hatred for himself, he grabbed back the goblet instead.

Someone had to stay here and keep the hoard off them! James may be their direct attention, but some curious others redirected towards their movement. Lily detested letting them fight only feet away as she used the less powerful ignis spell herself for Frank while he scooped drink after drink. Remus begged of Greyback to finish him already, holding the bite on his shoulder like he wished he could tear it off.

It wasn’t going to kill him, they both kept assuring themselves as they kept him safe next to their salvation. Dumbledore or Harry would be here, pale as the dead bodies surrounding them. If they could just get to the book and find out how they survived...

When finally the book was free to be grabbed, Frank pocketed the little golden locket inside along with the cup barely before he’d registered why he should, while she instead began reading. Frank held a now quiet Remus to his chest protectively and took his own turn shooting the fire at whatever got too close. The fact that she could at all meant he was still alive, the death grip he still had on his bite mark and the heavy, labored breathing were the most comforting thing he never would have imagined.

Sirius was up to his chest now, his hair swirling around him and clinging to his neck and face distorting the flashes of red; the only thing keeping him and James alive as he could not let go to try and help, his wand digging into James's side he was sure the only thing he could really feel now as he fought like a madman to escape in the freezing water, nearly dislodging Sirius in his attempts. Prongs' head was tipped back as far as it could go to keep his mouth above and his movements were already slowing in the cold and confined grasp just below the surface.

All the while Remus was screaming behind him.

The book was finally going now, he'd kiss Lily later. His boots had no surface in the slimy water, his muscles quivered as he was gasping as much as James for being torn in two but he could not move. Then one of the fires stopped.

Regulus screamed as too many finally overcame the smallest of them. Peter risked burning him he sent the next jet of flame so close, but the lot only recoiled long enough for the next three to move even closer and get a better purchase.

"Regulus!" Sirius didn't even know what he shouted next, some deranged encouragement, a curse for being so weak and small and always overpowered by those bigger than him, he shouted every good and awful thing he'd ever thought about his little brother while James' head vanished beneath the surface, his kicking and thrashing somehow managing to increase all the more and Sirius still didn't let go. He didn’t know who he hated most in that moment, Regulus, or himself for still not loosening his arms for one moment.

Sirius was dragged forward another few inches, but Peter got his grip back as his chin was now level with the water's surface, the danger to himself having nothing on the physical pull of being stretched in three directions at once. The jet of fire that burned the captors only lit the hundreds of sightless eyes waiting to move forward as the spell tampered off once more. To be relit costing another breath. Regulus had now picked up the screaming that Remus had stopped.

Harry and Dumbledore battling through the same with a better outcome sounded like Voldemort himself laughing at them as James' thrashing finally went still in his arms just as they were pulled away.

[buttercupbuckk]

MARAUDERS

HEADCANON:

Heya peeps. I got bored and I'm in a marauder-ing mood, so, here you go! I hope you enjoy.

SIRIUS BLACK:

Fluent in French, but it's his first language so he often gets words muddled when he speaks English - he has to look to Moony too often for help.

He didn't eat ice cream until 3rd year - on their first weekend at Honeydukes.

Sirius regretted to inform the boys that he was lactose intolerant, he claimed: 'how was i supposed to know?', to which Prongs replied: 'ice CREAM, Pads, CREAM!'

In 5th year, he started buying two Gryffindor Quidditch jumpers every term, because he knew how often Moony wore his old ones on the night after full moons.

He can't cook for shit - do not let that man near a kitchen, damnit. He set the fridge on fire the first time he went to Peter's house!

He has glow-in-the-dark stars stuck to the top of his bed in the dorm.

He LOVES fluffy stuff. He has fluffy socks, blankets, pillows, ect.

Stabbed himself in the eye with Andromeda's eyeliner pencil - it's why he refuses to wear the stuff.

Didn't know any normal swears until 1st year - when he met Remus Lupin.

Has and will dare Peter to eat a whole pot of gravy from the kitchens.

When Remus became a Prefect, he would sneak into the bathroom to take bubble baths.

Asked Dumbledore out on a date on a dare, the man winked and said: 'maybe next time.'

Has broken a total of four (4) pairs of James' glasses.

The Potter's absolutely adore him

He broke his ankle trying to climb a tree in 6th year because Wormtail was stuck and too scared to come down.

Buried his mother's favourite china plate in the garden before he ran away

His first tattoo was a moon that was enchanted to show the phases of each night - so he would never forget, no matter how far he went

Despite his Animagi form being a dog - his Patronus was a wolf; which got a few giggles from James and Peter

HE'S A BLUSHER

REMUS LUPIN:

He is, without a shadow of a doubt, Welsh. But he stopped speaking infront of the boys when James repeatedly asked him to say the names of some towns.

He only speaks Welsh when he gets angry, and this happens at least once every 2 months.

He spent the first 3 weeks of first year wondering why they used such stupid words for passwords

For ages 5 to 9, he wanted to be a Hufflepuff because he adores Newt Scamander.

By the way, he would risk his life for Newt Scamander

He introduced the boys to Queen, Star Wars and Elton John

He can't actually eat chocolate, so his comfort food is macaroni & cheese OR garlic bread, but never together

Fucking hates jigsaws - he nearly killed Peter when he suggested they do one.

He knows full well that Sirius abuses his privileges as prefects - but he never bothers to say anything

He taught James and Sirius how to swear, well it was more like they picked it up from him.

He has a radar for when the other 3 do stupid shit without him

He didn't know the boys were going to become animagi

He found out when he saw Padfoot on his bed, fast asleep. He thought: 'who's dog is this?', before he noticed a little scar on his snout - exactly the same to one Sirius had on his nose.

The first time the boys were with him on the full moon, was the first time it wasn't mentally painful.

He's actually terrible at Scrabble - but don't tell James.

C A N D L E S

Taught himself how to braid hair for Lily and Sirius.

He's scared shirtless of snakes - it's why he screamed in first year when he saw Slytherin decorations.

Minerva McGonagall is his role model.

Has a scar on his bum from when Prongs had to shove him with his antlers to calm him down on a full moon. Sirius still laughs at them.

JAMES POTTER:

He knows how to make daisy chains, and he loves to do them in summer

He can't swim properly - the best you get out of him is a funky dive and a pathetic float

Cried when Darth Vader revealed himself to be Luke Skywalker's dad.

Dyed his hair purple once in 7th year - didn't change it until Lily pushed him into the Great Lake, threatening to make him do extra Head Boy meetings

He enjoys cleaning, he finds it destressing

You will not catch this boy dead cleaning their dorm though - that's been a lost cause since 2nd year

Makes Peter a cake evwry year for his birthday, without fail

He can't bake for shit, but Peter still eats his birthday cakes without complaint

He has a mild addiction to Disney films. By mild, i mean he can sing every song from Cinderella without thinking twice

He has gone through approximately 42 pairs of glasses from 1st to 7th year.

Accidentally sat on McGonagall when she was in cat form

His antlers grow from his head when he gets angry - this is extremely difficult to hide during Quidditch

Up until 5th year, it took him over an hour to get from the Great Hall to the Gryffindor Common Room.

Still calls it 'Remus' furry little problem' without fail

When he first held Nymphadora - he nearly dropped her on her head. Andy hasn't let him touch her since

An Ace at Transfiguration, much to Minerva's liking.

He's bloody awful at CoMC and DADA

Joined Flitwick's choir in 1st year, quit in 3rd

He doesn't actually like Butterbear.

PETER PETTIGREW:

Sleep talks, has done since he was 6.

Oddly silent, and he earned himself the nickname 'Creeping Jesus', in 4th year.

He was ginger when he was a baby, but it faded into blonde

He hasn't got freckles, but he has cute moles dotted around

Didn't like being a rat animagi until he found out he could sneak into the kitchens at night to eat

The first time he called James a horrible name, 'asshole' for example, James cried for 2 hours before Peter apologised

Had braces from 2nd year till 5th

He kept getting sweets stuck in between them

He never gets a hangover - no matter how drunk he gets

He has awful memory. He couldn't remember his last name until McGonagall called it out in class

Hates beaches because of the sand and the seagulls

The only one in the group that hasn't passe dout on a roller-coaster - much to Sirius' dismay

He used baby shampoo until he was 13

ABSOLUTELY HATES SOCKS

His favourite film is, and always will be, The Parent Trap

He was once chased down the hall in rat form by mrs norris in 6th year.

[sincerlypadfoot]

Comfort And Death (6)(Part 1)

~After the death of Regulus Black, you take confinement in Sirius who cared for you like a sister after Reguas died, becoming each other's person, you stay at the black house, after having a hard time griefing one night, you go to the place Regulas died.

A/N- So I decided, the next couple chapters will be long because they have meaning and a turn around for the whole story, so chapter six and chapter seven will both be split up into two parts. Im super excited to be writing this.

Word Count-1875

Send Requests Here

                                       December 24th 1994

“We’re going to be late aunt Stella,” Harry mumbled walking into my room shaking his head, waking me up in the progress.

“Late for what?” I asked unamoused and still tired, only going to sleep a hour before Harry had walked into my room, fourteen and still not knowing how to knock.

“The Weasleys are coming over for christmas don’t you remember, and Hermione too and a bunch of my other friends, they’ll be here anytime and everyone in this house is still asleep,”

“Cricket don’t panic,” I croaked remember how Remus had thought it was a good idea inviting Harry's friends over for christmas. “Sirius and Remus planned this, go bug them and I promise i’ll be ready when you come back,”

Harry walked out of my room, watching him the passed couple years growing up almost made me feel old, smiling at all his achievement, dumb pranks and detention he’s gotten himself into, and the trouble he had caused, expressly Remus and Sirius last year, pulling a whole prank on the school, almost sending the two of them to Azkaban.

I used my wand, bringing out some clothes from my closet, letting the magic pick as my clothes followed me into the bathroom across the hall. 

“I’m answering the door, someone's here!” Harry called out, I smiled knowing it was the Granger girl, she was always the first one here to any party Harry had suggested we host.

I quickly slipping on a nice apparently green dress, almost tearing up but stopping as I looked at myself in the mirror. I used my wand to put my hair up in a bun neatly, I opened a little box that sat in the corner of my section of my sink, pulling out a silver flat ring and slipping it onto my finger.

“You know i’d think Harry gets this from Lily,” Sirius croaked walking into the bathroom, only wearing boxers. “It’s nearly twelve and people are already showing up, he totally gets this from Lily,” I let out a low laugh looking at Sirius.

“Put some clothes on you monster, we have guests,” I crooked still half asleep, walking passed Sirius and out of the bathroom taking my gaze down the stairs where Harry stood talking to Hermione and a ginger boy filled with freckles top to bottom. Ron Weasley.

I waved my wand in the air, turning the lights on his the house, the red and green christmas lights turned on and decorations came to life.

“This is a lovely house Miss Black,” Hermione said watching me as I walked down the stairs, looking at the three kids.

“You can call me Stella Hermione,” I chuckled taking a glance around the room. “Come on, I’ll make you something to eat,”

“My mums already in the kitchen, my brothers and sister are around her somewhere,” Ron said shrugging his shoulders looking at me, taller than Harry and I both.

“Harry, why don’t you and your friends great the rest of your guests then gather everyone in the living room, i’ll help Ron's mother in the kitchen,” I gave Harry a pat on the back then walked passed towards the kitchen where I could already smell Mollys cooking.

“Hello dear,” Molly was turned around mixing something in a pot, she had enchanted our whole kitchen into making a feast.

“Hello Molly,” I said with a smile walking towards her, her spoon kept spinning as she let go and brought me into a hug. “How are you doing?” She whispered in my ear.

“Good, I feel old, Harry's already fourteen, Sirius and Remus I think are planning to get married, but you can’t tell anyone I told you,” I let out a low laugh letting go of Molly.

“Your telling me you feel old,” Molly laughed shaking her head. “My oldest is working at Gringotts and my other is fighting Dragons, i’m surprised my hair is still red,” 

“Good morning,” Remus cheerfully said walking into the kitchen. “Molly this smells delicious,” 

“There are so many people here,” Sirius cried out walking into the kitchen. “I didn’t know how many friends Harry’s gotten, but he’s got more then I thought,” a chair was pulled out and Sirius sat on the table, ignoring the chair.

“We’ve got more than enough room for a whole village Sirius,” I chuckled tapping his shoulder and walking out, I looked at Harry who was standing around in the living room, a bunch of teenagers sat in our living room.

“Cricket, come here,” I whispered aiming my head for the door and walking into the hallway. Harry followed me out. “Are you having fun?” 

“Yeha yeah I am auntie Stella,” Harry said smiling from ear to ear. “Come on, I wanna introduce you to all my friends,” Harry grabbed my hand and dragged my bag in the living room, I was shocked but smiled gratefully.

“This is my Aunt Stella everyone,” Harry introduce at we walked into the room, I gave a shy smile to the pile of teenagers that looked over at me. 

“Hello Stella!” The twins called out raising the hands, I let out a small laugh looking around the room.

“Aunt Stella, this is Cedric Diggory, Dean Thomas and Neville Longbottom,” Harry said pointing around the room at the three boys who sat together on the couch.

“Longbottom eh?” I asked walking over to the nervous boy who looked at me as I just smiled. “Nice to meet you,” I put out my hand, shaking Nevilles then Deans then Cedrics. “Dinner is cooking by Molly, enjoy yourselves and make yourselves at home, there are more then enough rooms for whoever will be staying for the night,”

“And,” Sirius said standing at the door, I looked at him who had a smirk on his face. “Not like we have a whole firewhisky stash hidden for when Molly goes to sleep,” Sirius whispered making the twins laugh.

“Sirius,” I tapped walking towards him and shaking my head. “He’s telling the truth,” I said to the kids then pushing Sirius out of the living room.

“I’m sure they could have a few drinks, their parents obviously let them stay over, i’m sure that's enough of a confirmation,” Sirius joked shaking his head.

“Make sure the house doesn’t burn down, I have some things to do,” I said to Sirius walking away up the stairs.

“The ring,” Sirius said stopping me. “I get it,” 

I looked down at my finger, looking at my ring. “We were gonna get married I hope you know, when the war was over we were going to get married, I found it under my bed with a note,” I paused holding my tears back. “He knew what he was getting himself into Sirius,”

“Hey Uncle Sirius, Aunt Stella, I was wondering if we could watch some telly,” Harry asked walking into the hallway, I walked up the rest of the stairs, tears finally fell down my face as I passed my room, walking to the end of the hall and closing myself into a empty room.

The room Sirius and I enchanted to be soundproof. I let out a scream and fell to the ground, leaning against the door and holding the ring in my hand.

“Why did you do this Regulas,” I whispered looking down at the ring that laid in my palm. “You planned a whole future then left me!” I screamed tossing the ring across the room in anger.

“Fuck,” I choked out grabbing onto the door to help myself up, walking to where I tossed the ring in angry, picking it up.

“Are you okay Aunt Stella?” Harry asked behind me. I whipped my tears away quickly and turned around with a fake smile on my face. “You usual don’t come in here when your happy,”

“I’m fine cricket,” my voice choked up as I walked over towards him. “Just having a hard time with something right now,” I placed the ring back on my finger. “Why aren’t you downstairs with your friends, I thought you were watching telly?” I asked pushing my problems back and pushing Harry in my head forward.

“I wanted to come check up on you, were you married?” Harry asked looking down at my finger. 

“We were gonna get married, Regulas and I, but Harry I think you should go downstairs, you have guests,”

“Not without you aunt Stella,” Harry said grabbing my hand, I smiled letting out a low laugh.

“Okay,” The both of us walked downstairs, Harry letting go of my hand as we walked out of the room and downstairs, Sirius not in the hallway anymore. 

“Are you sure your okay?” Harry asked before we walked into the living room. “I know your my aunt and you should be telling me this but we can talk about stuff,”

I laughed at Harry's cheekiness. “Another night Harry dear,” I paused hearing a faint noise, the familiar noise of Sirius shouted. “I’m gonna kill your uncle,” I mumbled opening the living room, looking at Sirius who had the twins on the floor as he poured to bottles of firewhisky into each other the mouths well Ron and Ginny were keeping look out.

I closed the door and looked back at Harry who had a big smile on his face. 

“Guess someone's gotta go make sure your uncle doesn’t give anyone alcohol poisons before dinner,” I let out a belly laugh, Harry and I walked into the room and Sirius looked at us, finishing the bottle.

“Hello,” Sirius said dropping the bottles on the ground and looking at harry and I with a smile, the twins stood up without a double whipping their mouths with the firewhiskey.

“It’s not even dinner Sirius,” I laughed grabbing the bottles of empty firewhisky that laid on the ground. “The rules were after supper,”

“What fun are rules if they aren’t meant to be broken,” One of the twins winking at me, sitting down on the couch, Cedric, Dean, Neville, Hermione and now Ron and Ginny were all sat down on the couch watching telly. Harry joined them and I sat down beside Sirius, who had a flask his his hand, oddly, passing it back and forth from the twins.

“You want some?” Fred asked pushing the flask towards me, I looked around the room, then took the flask from Fred. “So hotstuff, how are you?” 

I rolled my eyes looking at Sirius who just bursted out laughing, taking the flask away from me.

“You are not my type Fred Weasley,” I laughed making Sirius laugh even more. “Besides, I haven’t dated anyone in almost nineteen years, I don’t plan on starting with a sixteen year old,”

“Nineteen years,” George pipped up behind him. “Not one man has caught your eye in those nineteen years?”

“Who wants some food,” Remus asked poking his head out of the of the kitchen, immediately getting the smell of fire whisky. “Sirius. Stella, we agreed to wait tell after supper,”

“Sorry,” I put my hand up in the air catching his attention. “It was my idea, got a little two recluse,”

“Well come on, dinners ready, you four take a breath mint and sober up in two seconds,” Remus signaled the kids to walk into the kitchen and the four of us sat on the couch longer.

“Thanks,” Sirius said putting his hand on my shoulder reaching into his pocket, pulling out four tiny breath mints. “I always got them in my pocket for these emergencies,”

[stormquill]

mahpiohanzia | chapter five [Remus Lupin/Reader]

You are an Animagus-in-training nearing the end of your education. He is Generic Defence Against the Dark Arts Teacher Replacement #7. Your final year at Hogwarts couldn’t possibly be any stranger than the previous six...but seven is one of the most powerful numbers in magic, after all.

Author’s Notes: Co-written by Andrew. Follow the blog @mahpiohanzia.

Notes: march's update is late, but I'm hoping to still have april's out on time!

we're still on a canon timeline at the moment, starting of course with Harry's very rudely interrupted Quidditch match. i love the idea of you finishing up your animagus training by exploring with mcgonagall and i could probably write a whole series alone about your misadventures tbh. a lot of stuff is happening in the next chapter (December), there's a slight chance I might have to split it in two? but we'll see. what do you think our dear Professor Lupin should get for Christmas? :3c

please let us know what you think! your absolutely lovely, fantastic reviews are what keeps us going, and we cherish each and every one!!

The weather remained stormy throughout the first week of November.

After Halloween night’s break-in, the atmosphere at Hogwarts grew tense with rumors. Sirius Black had somehow managed to get into the castle and attack the Fat Lady—Gryffindor’s common room portrait—when she refused to grant him entry to the dormitories.

As a result of the incident, dementor activity increased tenfold.

Though the dementors weren’t supposed to cross into the grounds, they disrupted Saturday’s Quidditch match mid-game, making Gryffindor’s seeker pass out on his broom a hundred feet in the air. If Malfoy hadn’t still been milking his injury and gotten Slytherin’s match rescheduled, the victim that day could have just as easily been a Quidditch player from your house.

How could such an accident have been allowed to happen?

The incident made you even warier of the dementors’ occupation; you never felt safe from them, especially not when you could still catch them out the corner of your eye, drifting aimlessly like enchanted smears of ink across the distant landscape. Even from afar, they filled you with unease. You were finding it more and more difficult to concentrate.

On the night of your first Animagus transformation with Snape and McGonagall, returning to your human form took an hour of careful focus. Not being able to use your wand to revert back made the task exponentially more difficult; though you were warned of this beforehand, it didn’t make the inability to change at will any less terrifying. You needed practice, practice you couldn’t do on your own, as you had to wait for your Ministry of Magic registration to go through before transforming without supervision.

In the meantime, you trained with McGonagall as often as her schedule would allow.

The exhausting drills of transforming from one form to the other and back again took place in her office. Once you got the hang of it, she started transforming alongside you, leading you on excursions on lunch break or between classes. As a raven, you would follow her around the school grounds, through small spaces and crevices you would have never noticed otherwise, mapping out shortcuts around the castle. Sometimes, you even got the chance to terrorize Mrs. Norris. McGonagall would pretend not to notice.

McGonagall’s Animagus was that of a sleek grey tabby cat. Her movements were graceful, postured, and sure, which was a stark contrast to your novice, unwieldy handling of your own feathered mass. You were still getting used to maneuvering properly—sometimes, you would clip a pillar mid-flight, or misjudge your landing and fall off a given surface. On one occasion, you flew straight into a library window and shattered it into a thousand pieces; when you heard Filch’s curses of frustration approaching from a distance, you and McGonagall exchanged glances, and ran.

Above all, you found the hardest thing to reign under control was the powerful animal instinct nagging at you from inside your head. If the voice wasn’t trying to get you to fly higher or draw your attention to random shiny objects, it was alerting you to McGonagall’s presence.

Fake cat. Fake cat. Fake cat.

‘I know,’ you kept telling yourself. ‘Shut up, already, I know.’

The most memorable outing occurred the following week.

To familiarize you with navigating natural terrain outside the castle, McGonagall took you just outside of Hogwarts grounds, where you found a dementor floating directly in your path. It was the closest to one you had ever been—the massive black wraith hovered in place, wearing cloaked, tattered robes whose edges faded into billows of ever-moving smoke. Whenever a human passed it, you noticed, it would give a slight turn of its hooded head, like a dog checking a scent in the air.

You and McGonagall walked directly in front of it.

The dementor did not notice either of you.

You couldn’t get your mind off the revelation throughout the remainder of your classes. Strangely enough, being in your Animagus form was the one instance you had ever felt safe around a dementor. You did not ask McGonagall about it, lest she suspect you of wanting to sneak away from the grounds on a regular basis&mdash. Somehow, the discovery felt like forbidden knowledge you weren’t supposed to have.

Dementors could not tell the difference between Animagi and normal animals.

You were still thinking about it when Defence Against the Dark Arts ended. By the time you handed in your spell theory essay, you were the last person in the classroom.

“Just the Slytherin I wanted to see,” Lupin spoke up, taking the parchment from you. “You seem a bit distracted, today. Everything alright?”

You'd let idle thoughts cut into your attention in-class. That was a problem. “Sorry, Professor. Lots of studying this week. I feel like the moment I stop, everything I’ve learned will come pouring straight out of my ears.”

“The joys of seventh year. Might I recommend earmuffs?”

You smirked, and he smiled up at you warmly.

“Well, now I feel terrible asking this of you,” he started, “but would you be able to meet me after classes this evening? I was quite ill last weekend and could do with some help catching up.”

The request took you by surprise—his proposition to have you as an assistant had only come a little over a week ago. “You’ve already spoken to Professor Snape?”

“Oh, yes. Seemed thrilled with the idea, actually. Did he not tell you?”

“It...must’ve slipped his mind.” You knew full well that was a lie.

To say you were astounded was an understatement. Though you picked up on Lupin’s sarcasm—it was impossible to imagine Snape being ‘thrilled’ about anything—the fact remained that Snape had given Lupin his approval to take you on as his teaching assistant. No summoning you for a meeting in his office? No passive-aggressive remarks during Potions? No pushback at all? You couldn’t imagine what Lupin may have said or done or promised to get Snape to agree so readily. The thought alone was oddly terrifying.

“I know you’re busy,” Lupin winked. “Think you can pencil me in?”

The wink he shot you was like an arrow to the heart.

How could you say no?

-

Being a teacher’s assistant was dreadful work.

As November trudged on, you were visiting Professor Lupin’s office after school two to three times a week. Half of your time was spent helping him organize sixth-year curriculums, while the other half was spent grading assignments to his unreasonably thorough specifications. Terrible as it may have been, you couldn’t help but think that if Lupin's standards for helping his students were just a little lower, assisting him wouldn’t have proven to be so tedious; you hadn't realized there was so much work behind the skilled instruction he made seem so effortless.

Still, you had accepted the position for completely selfish reasons, and those reasons were proving worthwhile.

You enjoyed receiving the random owl at lunchtime asking if you could help him after classes. Grading through twenty essays on the same topic was just another form of rote repetition for your own studies. Marking sixth-year answers wrong, but also having to detail why they were wrong, did much to help cover the gaps in your knowledge from your academically void year with Lockhart. The trouble was worth seeing what pun would appear on Lupin’s tea mug that day, and the stolen glimpses of him at his desk, focused, nibbling at the end of his quill as he read across parchments.

The bits of colour you had during your week made the rest of it feel that much more desaturated.

Today, you were studying outside, a large table all to yourself due to the colder weather keeping everyone indoors. You were running through multitudes of steps and ingredients for Potions, your many notes spread across the wide stone tabletop. Before your N.E.W.T. classes, you had always thought Potions was an exact science with no room for variation or interpretation, but Snape had done well to prove you wrong. Skipping a single one of his classes would have proven disastrous to your studies, as the majority of the material he provided had absolutely no mention in the assigned textbook; it was frustrating, but following Snape’s generous liberties to the book’s instructions yielded flawless results, results he would be expecting you to replicate from memory.

You looked over the Shrinking Solution recipe for the thousandth time, seeing but not reading any of the words.

You’d rather be flying.

Being an Animagus was invigorating in ways nothing else was. Everywhere you looked, the world around you was recontextualized with new possibilities. What would it feel like to fly over there? Could you reach that point without getting tired? How long would it take to touch that tree in the distance and come back? Five minutes? Ten?

McGonagall had warned you of this, of how addicting your Animagus form could be at first. She told you it was important to regulate your thoughts, to have strict control over your random urges to transform and escape. You had the rest of your life to fly, after all. You just had to stay grounded for another couple of weeks.

Another couple of weeks...

Breathing in a lungful of crisp autumn air, you tried once again to focus on your Potions studies. You realized Snape’s in-class instructions for the Shrinking Solution was almost completely different from the textbook’s—quite literally, all they had in common were the damned ingredients.

Already overwhelmed, you glanced up from your notes.

You spotted Lupin across the field.

He was clearly in a hurry, carrying stacks of parchment and fast-walking down the corridor, when a first-year stopped him to ask something. A split-second of exasperation flashed across his face before melting away, all at once—then, he was talking, his explanation to the young student full of kind smiles and enthusiastic hand gestures. Even when he was stressed, he was happy to be helping.

You found his unbridled enthusiasm enchanting.

To your surprise, you sensed someone approaching you from behind; the sense itself was a weaker, more diluted version of the same instincts you had when you transformed.

“Afternoon, Professor Snape,” you greeted without looking.

You felt a swell of pride at how you managed to give him pause. All it took was years of study and the ability to turn into an animal to keep him from sneaking up on you.

“Afternoon,” he said, flatly. “How is the assistant’s position faring?”

“Very well, I think. Unless you’ve received news of the contrary.”

He acknowledged your attempt at humour with a sarcastic little hum. “You may be wondering why I approved the request.”

“I’ve learned not to question your judgement, sir.”

“Though wise of you, in this instance it would be useful for you to know my reasoning.”

You were both watching Lupin from across the field, now. At this point, Lupin had taken a seat on a nearby bench with the first-year, placing his papers aside completely to review something in their textbook.

“I trust you are familiar with the recent incident involving Sirius Black.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Suspicions and security alike have been heightened across the board,” Snape continued. “As Professor Lupin’s aide, I will need you to keep an eye on him. Report to me of anything...suspect you may find. Understand?”

You kept your reaction neutral, though your mind began racing at once.

So Snape approved Lupin’s request just so you could spy on him? This seemed to be coming out of nowhere. Yet, if Snape was resorting to asking you for help, it meant he had suspicions that weren’t being taken seriously by other members of the faculty. That included the other teachers. That included Dumbledore. Though you had no idea what led Snape to believe Lupin had anything to do with Sirius Black, Snape would not have brought his concerns to you lightly.

He also would not have trusted you, lightly.

You had several questions. Now was not the time to ask them.

“Understood, sir,” you said simply. “I’ll keep you informed.”

-

To your mild frustration, being mysteriously enlisted to keep secret tabs on Professor Lupin only served to make the man more attractive. Snape would not have levied his wariness without good reason. You always had the sense there was more to him than he let on—now you were sure of it.

But what on earth could he have been hiding?

Several days had passed since your conversation with Snape, and all you saw of Lupin thus far was one severely overworked teacher trying to manage way too many students at once. Were all the teaching positions at Hogwarts this strenuous? McGonagall’s iron temperament and Snape’s perpetual state of irked impatience suddenly made a lot more sense—it was a wonder any of your professors had free time, at all.

You were grading papers at the small side-table and extra chair Lupin had brought into his office for you. Your stack of assignments was running as thin as your tea was empty; it was getting late, and you were on your last paper. Quill in hand, you read the next answer on the exam before you.

You snickered, louder than you intended.

The sound of your laughter put a reactionary smile on Lupin’s face. “What is it?”

“‘Why are they called The Unforgivable Curses?’” you read aloud from the parchment. “‘The Unforgivable Curses are named as such because they are curses that are unforgivable.’”

“Well. It’s not wrong.”

“It’s not right, either,” you said, marking the paper. You flipped through the textbook beside you to cite the exact page where the proper answer could be found. “You’d think being thrown into Azkaban would be a more memorable punishment.”

“Things like the Unforgivable Curses and Azkaban are abstract concepts to those who have no knowledge or experience with them. They're little more than scary stories, to most.”

“I never thought of it that way,” you admitted. “I suppose most people have never seen an Unforgivable used, before. I know I haven’t.”

Lupin made a thoughtful noise. “Pray you never have to.”

You glanced at him. This was the second time you’ve heard him make a vague reference to some terrible experience, voice laden with an unexpected severity that carried an unspoken weight. He had some personal experience with the Unforgivable Curses, that much you could gather. The morbid curiosity of the revelation had you treading lightly.

You tried to keep your tone curious. “Don’t you think it’s something we should see?”

“How do you mean?” he asked, still scratching at his parchment.

“You’re the most practical Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher I’ve ever had, Professor. Wouldn't you agree that we should see every spell and its effects, so we would know how to recognize them in a duel?”

“You’re suggesting I ask for a volunteer?”

There was a gentle edge to his voice that wasn’t there before.

“Well, not a student,” you said. “Maybe a Doxy, or something.”

“No living creature deserves to suffer an Unforgivable Curse. Not even a Doxy.” He sounded final. “Ethical considerations aside, there’s a certain level of intent required to cast such spells—an amount of darkness within you needed to make it work. To speak plainly, I don’t believe myself capable.”

You raised an eyebrow. “How do we defend against them, then?”

“You run.”

The sudden ice in his tone made your blood run cold. You wanted to ask him of his experiences. You wanted to ask him what he’d seen. With a few well-placed questions, you had stolen a glance into a depth of him—the same depth he kept well-hidden, the same depth that drew Snape's suspicions.

Lupin suddenly looked rather tired, as if he knew he’d revealed too much, and you realized too late that you had given him the wrong impression. You had no interest in the Dark Arts, yet your house colours betrayed you; if your questions had come from anyone else, it was curiosity, but because they came from you, it was a warning sign.

“It’s getting rather late,” he said, rising from his desk. “I need to return some creatures to the lake before it gets dark. We can finish up next time.”

“Would you like me to come with?”

“No need. It’s a simple errand, I can manage on my own.”

Lupin had his back turned to you as he gathered several large glass jars from his bookshelf, a large cloth draped over each to shield their inhabitants from direct light. You had encroached on a sensitive topic, and now he was trying to put distance between the two of you to dispel the awkwardness.

You didn’t like how that felt.

“I’m sorry, Professor, it was ignorant of me to suggest—” The apology tasted too much like self-pity, so you stopped yourself and rethought your words. “Like you said, Unforgivable Curses are just scary stories for people who have no experience with them. But I’m sure they’re nightmares, for those who do. I should have kept that in mind before speaking of them so lightly.”

You noticed he stopped shuffling through his shelves.

Getting up from your desk to approach him, you made sure your hands were outstretched by the time he turned to face you.

“Let me help, Professor.”

He stared at you for a moment before handing you a jar.

-

The walk down to the Black Lake was cool and quiet; the temperature continued to dip as the sun lowered, the slight breeze now biting against your exposed face and hands. You carried two large glass jars apiece, with each jar containing a different-coloured Hinkypunk from third-year lessons from the previous weeks. Hinkypunks were somewhat dangerous pests that were easy enough to dispose of, and though you didn’t question his decision, you were surprised Lupin was going through all the effort of returning them where he found them. Somehow, you imagined he was also the kind of man who escorted wandering spiders from his home without harming them.

One at a time, you released the creatures with no issue. Though they were normally aggressive little tricksters, the Hinkypunks didn’t seem too keen on attacking you once they were set free, instead taking their miniature lanterns and disappearing with a puff of smoke and a squelching shriek.

On the way back to the castle, through the thin layer of fog floating above the Black Lake, you spotted a large cluster of what appeared to be slimy balloons floating in the water.

“What are those?” you asked.

Lupin peered over to where you were looking. “Plimpies, I reckon.”

You approached the waterside to get a closer look. You were familiar with Plimpy eyes as a potion ingredient, but you had never seen the whole animal before. “What happened to them?”

“Merpeople handiwork, from the looks of it. They consider them a bit of a pest, so they tie their legs in knots and let them float away. As you can see, Plimpies inflate when they get stressed—they gather along the shoreline, eventually, and are left to the mercy of nearby predators.”

You thought getting the opportunity to see the Plimpy close would make them look less like balloons, but it had the exact opposite effect. They looked like regular fish hit with Inflating Charms and frog legs cobbled to their undersides—only, their long, skinny legs were tied up in complicated nautical knots that shouldn’t have been possible with organic appendages. There were about twenty of them, give or take. The longer you stared, the creepier the scene became.

Rolling up your sleeves, you squatted by the shoreline and grabbed the one nearest to you. You pulled out your wand from your inner robe pocket. “Deimplicitus.”

The Plimpy’s tangled legs untied. You tossed it back into the lake. It bobbed around for a bit before deflating with a very rude noise and disappearing beneath the water.

You grabbed another Plimpy and started over again.

Lupin called at you from a distance, a small laugh in his voice. “What are you doing?”

“You go on ahead,” you called back, throwing the second freed Plimpy into the lake. “I’ll catch up.”

“It’s nearly dark. If you’re caught outside the castle without a teacher at this hour, you’ll get detention.”

“It’s alright, just go back without me. I won’t be long.”

Unable to leave you alone in good conscience, Lupin watched as you repeated your process, over and over again, with several more of the magical fish floating helplessly at the shoreline. You would grab a Plimpy, perform a Detangling Charm on it, and hoist it back into the water, where it blew a giant raspberry before sinking below the surface. You were ankle-deep in the lake. The bottom of your robes were getting soaked.

Burying his hands in his pockets, Lupin walked over to you. “You really should just let nature take its course, you know.”

“I doubt I’ll disrupt the magical ecosystem by doing it just this once.”

“But why bother?”

“Because I saw them. So I can’t just leave them.”

To your surprise, Lupin pulled up the knees of his trousers, and he knelt down to help.

The two of you continued the task in silence, the quiet broken only by the occasional, hilarious sound of a Plimpy deflating. The sun had already dipped below the horizon by the time you cleared out the cluster. The last fish in sight bobbed in the crook of a large log nearby. You leaned further into the shore, reaching out to get it.

The log moved.

In an instant, the large, wood-like creature rounded on you and snapped at your outstretched arm, sinking its teeth into your wrist. You shouted in surprise—the shock of it sent you reeling backwards, and you landed on your bottom as the creature waded off into the fog.

“Are you alright?” Lupin asked, already at your side.

“I’m fine,” you hissed, quickly getting back on your feet. “Just a Dugbog, I think.”

“Probably here for the Plimpies. We appear to have interrupted dinnertime.”

“How rude of us.”

“Not to worry, Dugbog bites aren’t venomous,” he said, already reaching for your arm. “They tend to get a little nasty if not looked after properly, though.”

Lupin held your wrist in his hands, rotating your forearm to examine the wound. To both of your surprises, there didn’t seem to be any blood or broken skin.

That’s when you noticed what saved you.

You cursed. “The bloody thing made off with my watch!”

“Quite quickly, too. Perhaps it was on a time crunch.”

The snort of laughter you gave was most unbecoming.

From the corner of your eye, you saw a familiar giant of a man approach the two of you from afar.

You turned to him and smiled. “Evening, Professor Hagrid.”

He called you by name. “And Professor Lupin! Blimey, it’s after sundown. What are yeh doin’ out ‘ere so late?”

“My assistant and I were returning some creatures to their natural habitat,” Lupin explained. “What brings you to the lake tonight, Hagrid?”

Hagrid raised the net he was carrying. “Harvestin’ Plimpies.”

You paled, but Hagrid misinterpreted your look of shock completely.

“Now, don’t you look at me like that,” he said defensively. “They make a fine soup.”

Lupin leaned towards you so only you could hear. “Told you we should’ve let nature take its course.”

You couldn’t help but burst into laughter, which was met with Lupin trying—and failing—to hold back the cheekiest grin you’d ever seen on the man. Unconsciously, perhaps, he hadn’t yet let go of your hand, and in a rush of fleeting courage, you let yourself curl your fingers around his own for a moment.

Just a moment.