#remus would be mortified the next morning

[tea-blankets-andstars]

Remus getting black out drunk at a party and singing this to Sirius- with a dance

[iamgonnagetyouback]

hi it's me back again this time for the trope corner! my fave character atm is definitely remus and I'd love something with the trope roommates to lovers with him pls? maybe with a bookworm!reader if that's okay? love ya bunny 💕💕

roommate!remus lupin x bookworm!reader where he acts like he hates you but still there are new books lying on your desk every day

As a bookworm, your life has always been about books, shelves packed to the brim, and stacks overflowing onto every available surface in your room. And then there was your roommate, Remus Lupin. Tall, thoughtful, annoyingly observant Remus, who, despite his quiet nature and penchant for his own bookish pursuits, seemed to approach reading differently. He devoured classic literature and thick academic texts while your heart beat for modern fantasy and anything with a fairytale retelling. You’d always thought he found your taste… well, inferior. There were times you’d catch him glancing at your bookshelves with a slight furrow in his brow, and it made you think he didn’t really like you, or worse, that he found your tastes childish.

But then something strange started happening.

One morning, you’d found a new book on your desk with a small sticky note: "I thought you'd like it. - Remus." The title was something you’d had on your “to-read” list for months, a limited edition copy with a beautiful cover. You’d been bewildered, touched, but totally thrown off. How did he know? He barely even seemed to notice your genre.

From then on, more books started appearing, each one exactly something you’d wanted to read, always with a note in his scrawled handwriting: "Saw it and thought of you." or "Seems like your thing. - Remus." Each time, you’d been filled with a strange mix of happiness and confusion. Whenever you tried to bring it up, Remus would brush it off with a casual, “Oh, they were on sale.” Yet, none of the bookstores nearby had any sales at all—believe you, you’d checked.

Finally, you decided to return the favor. After sneaking glances at his desk and asking him (subtly, of course) about his favorite authors, you picked up a series you thought he’d like. You left it on his desk with a little note—but no signature. When you heard the familiar jingle of his keys in the lock, you dashed to your room, grabbed a random book, and opened it, pretending to read with intense concentration.

Only to hear footsteps pause in your doorway. You didn’t look up.

“Dove…” Remus’s voice had that exasperated yet amused tone you knew all too well. “Why are there new books on my desk?”

You looked up innocently, feigning ignorance. “What books?”

His hands went to his hips, and he gave you that intense stare he used whenever he was piecing something together. “Some new books that, interestingly enough, I mentioned to you in passing last week. Books I happened to say I’ve been dying to read.”

You shrugged, not meeting his eyes. “I don’t know anything about that. Besides, don’t flatter yourself, Lupin. I don’t hear half the things you’re saying most of the time.”

“Sure,” he said slowly, though his eyes gleamed with mischief. He turned, but as he reached the door, he paused, then poked his head back around the frame. “By the way, dove…”

You raised an eyebrow.

“Your book is upside down.” He smirked, taking in your mortified expression. “While I think you’re quite brilliant, I don’t think you’ve quite mastered the art of reading that way.”

You felt your cheeks burn as he left with a wink, and as soon as he was out of earshot, you grabbed your pillow, letting out a muffled scream into it.

The next day, a new book sat on your desk, along with a sticky note: “I’ll gladly accept more book recommendations if they come with you pretending you don’t like me. - Remus”

You bit back a smile, your heart hammering with a mix of frustration and excitement. Remus Lupin was infuriating. But maybe, just maybe, he was also a little bit wonderful.

guys i think i found my most favourite oneshot i've ever written

[marigold-hills]

Dunes & Waters, part 40

PART 1 • PREVIOUS PART • NEXT PART

They spend the day in Cairo.

“Do what you want, Remus,” Kingsley says, resigned, “Just… don’t let him out of your sight.”

“Wasn’t planning to,” Remus answers and Kingsley looks so disturbed by the notion that Remus thinks it came across different than he meant it.

They behave like tourists - a silly thing, from people with over a decade of combined research experience in Egyptian matters. But the day is hot, and Cairo is lovely, and Remus licks melting ice cream from Sirius’ cone to try the flavour. It’s cherry. He thinks he’s in love.

Sirius is dressed in wide-bottomed, floral-patterned shorts, a white shirt with its collar open. Sunglasses perched atop his head. It’s the same outfit droves of tourists wear, but on none other does it look like that. Like it was made just for him, like the purple swirls of blossom only bloomed to inspire the designer so they could make the clothes Sirius would wear. A strand of hair falls over his face so prettily Remus would be convinced it was purposeful if not for the fact that he saw Sirius roll out of bed that morning and do nothing to it.

He can’t believe that he gets to fall asleep and wake up next to that, that he gets to watch that mind at work.

“The new moon is on the fourth,” Sirius says over a shared plate of Fūl. (The smell made Remus’ mouth water as they passed the restaurant, someone at one of the tables eating a portion. They had to stop.)

“When did you have time to check that?”

“The date? I knew it already.”

There’s no reason to, for Sirius. “Why?”

“What do you mean why. You know why.” The words come with such precise eye contact Remus can’t even try to misunderstand.

“But… why?” He asks again, this time with different meaning.

“Remus, you know why.” Sirius answer, and the words are the same but they are so, so different.

Remus thinks he does. Sees it in the mornings as they wake up, side by side, and in their office as they work together, and in their apartment as they live together. He’s not sure when it changed, from nothing but two people occupying one space to this, but the change is obvious and, from a distance, startling.

Doesn’t have the words for what it is, not in any of the languages he can understand. Not yet. He hopes soon.

“Will you make it? The potion?”

“I’m not very good at that, unfortunately,” Remus admits. He has to, because it’s true. And because he can’t mess up his research for the sake of appearing more competent than he is, but saying it to Sirius? Mortifying. Makes him wish he paid more attention when his mum tried to teach him.

“I can, then, if you don’t want to hire someone.”

“Let’s check what the Box says on the inside, first. Don’t want to wast time if it’s something silly, like a hair potion.”

“Her hair was rather lovely,” Sirius laughs. “But I doubt it. You don’t go through all the trouble she’s gone through if it’s not important. Will that be enough time for you to translate?”

It will be. He’s looking forward to it, to getting back to their office and working on it again, but it’s bittersweet with finishing this holiday they made themselves, lazy days and long night and Sirius, Sirius, Sirius. 

NEXT PART

NOTES:

Not certain how the updates will be now as I’m writing backwards from the end for the rest :) so if I disappear for a little bit, that’s why

@tealeavesandtrash

@moon-girl88

@hoje--aqui

@cocoabutterandbooks

@onion-sliced-apples

@prancingpony42

@digital-kam

@remoonysiriusly

@sweetstarryskies

@a-sunset-outside-my-window

@procrastinatingstuff

@annaliza999

@arasael

@a-pine-cone

(let me know if you do/don’t want to be tagged!)

[strgrlxox]

𝚙𝚎𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚎𝚜 ❜⠀❫⠀───⠀🌷 . . . 『 ꜱᴇɴᴅ ᴍᴇ ᴀ ʀᴀɴᴅᴏᴍ ʜᴇᴀᴅᴄᴀɴɴᴏɴ ꜰᴏʀ ᴀ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀ ɪ ᴡʀɪᴛᴇ ꜰᴏʀ ᴀɴᴅ ɪ’ʟʟ ʀᴀɴᴛ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ɪᴛ. 』 𓄼˚𓏲・・ ・࿐ $4.99 ❞

omg drunk remus would be such a flirt <3 and then the next morning he’s like. wait what did i do.

NO CAUSE THIS.

you'd be trying to take him home but he'd be borderline obnoxious..."jus needa touch m'pretty girl, yeah?" he'd slur with his hands wandering all across ur body while u try to swat him away.

"you need water and food." you'd be trying to scold him but it's so funny the way he wobbles around that you can't help but laugh.

"or i could just eat u?" he'd suggest, wiggling his eyebrows while his hands creep underneath your sweatshirt.

"remus."

he'd be fucking mortified the next day when you told him of his behavior, apologizing like it's all he could do. he's so cute omgg

[impishtubist]

sirius & harry & the sex talk

Remus has barely taken his cloak off before Sirius is dragging him into the bedroom, shutting the door firmly behind them. When he locks it, Remus raises an eyebrow at him. 

“Really, Padfoot?” he says. “At least let me shower first, I was literally running through mud all night.”  

“I’m not going to shag you,” Sirius says impatiently. “We have something more important to do.”

“More important than shagging?”

“Yes,” Sirius says, going back over to the bed, where he’s spread several diagrams. “I caught Harry kissing George this morning.” 

“Really?” Remus sounds intrigued. “I have to admit, I didn’t see that one coming.” 

“That’s because you haven’t been paying attention,” Sirius says, ignoring Remus’s huff of indignation, because really, how could he have missed the way Harry and George had been looking at each other this past month? “But it made me realize, Moony--no one’s ever given Harry the sex talk!” 

It’s then that Remus finally takes notice of the diagrams Sirius has on the bed, the ones he’s been working on all afternoon. “Padfoot, no.” 

“Yes, Remus,” Sirius says as he returns to his sketching. “I’m his godfather, it’s my job.” 

“Harry’s fifteen! Surely he knows all this?”

“Barely fifteen, and please, tell me who you think has given him any kind of sex education? The Dursleys certainly wouldn’t have, and Hogwarts doesn’t have a sex education program.” 

“Alright, fair point,” Remus concedes with a sigh. “So what do you need me for?” 

“You did all the animation spellwork for the map. I need you to animate these diagrams for me.” 

---

Harry sits in the library with his head in his hands. He can’t believe he finally got up the nerve to kiss George, after literal months of pining, and Sirius had to walk in on them. Admittedly, for a moment there, the small part of Harry that’s never truly left the Dursleys thought that Sirius might shout at him--or worse--but Sirius had merely blinked in surprise, told them not to let Molly catch them, and then said he wanted to speak to Harry in the library that night at eight.

Harry has spent the past six hours quietly freaking out, and now that it’s finally eight, his heart feels like it’s about to hammer its way out of his chest. 

“Ah, Harry, right on time.” Sirius breezes into the library, looking far too cheerful for a man who’s about to give his godson a scolding. Harry wishes the sofa he’s sitting on would swallow him whole. 

“Look, Sirius, I’m really sorry and it won’t happen again. It was--it was an accident.” 

“Hm, didn’t look like much of an accident to me,” Sirius says, but his tone is light and teasing. Harry doesn’t understand. Why isn’t Sirius mad? “But just in case you ever, er, accidentally kiss George again, or any other young man, it’s important that you be well-informed about other activities that can stem from kissing.” 

With a wave of his wand, several large, poster-sized pieces of parchment appear out of thin air. They’re covered in diagrams that are enchanted to move, and it takes Harry a moment to realize just what those diagrams are depicting. He immediately claps a hand over his eyes, his face burning.

“Sirius!” he hisses. “Is that a--a--”

“It’s called a penis, Harry,” Sirius says cheerfully. “Drew it myself. Now, here’s some parchment for you so you can take notes…” 

What follows is the most mortifying two hours of Harry’s life. His face never stops burning, and though he takes notes thanks to Sirius’s insistent prodding, his hands are shaking and the words are basically illegible. 

“So,” Sirius says finally, vanishing all the diagrams with another flick of his wand and coming to sit next to Harry on the sofa, “any questions?”

“Why aren’t you mad?” Harry blurts. It’s utterly exhausting, waiting for the other shoe to drop. He’d rather just get it over with. “You should be mad.” 

Sirius frowns. “Why would I be mad? Kissing is a perfectly natural thing for teenagers to do.” 

“But--but it’s your house! I was disrespectful.” 

“For kissing someone? Bloody hell, mate, if it was disrespectful to kiss someone in my house, then Remus has a lot to answer for.” 

Harry pauses. What? “Professor Lupin has been kissing someone here?” 

Sirius gives him an odd look. “Well, I certainly hope so.” 

Harry continues to stare at him blankly, uncomprehending, so Sirius sighs and says, “Harry…you know we share a room, right?” 

“Of course you do.” It made sense, didn’t it? They were best friends who had been separated for twelve years. Harry thinks that if Ron and Hermione were gone for twelve years, he’d want to keep them where he could see them, too. 

And then he abruptly understands what Sirius means. He and Remus share a room. And probably a bed, too. And that means that Remus has been kissing--

“Oh, gross!” Harry says. “Sirius, he was my teacher!” 

Sirius lets out a bark of laughter. “Teachers are allowed to kiss people, you know.” 

“Not when it’s my godfather they’re kissing!” But Harry’s only teasing. Actually, it kind of delights him to know that Sirius has found someone. His godfather has been through a lot, and he just wants him to be happy. 

Sirius ruffles his hair, amused. “Right, to bed with you, then. Molly will have my hide if I keep you up any later. And don’t forget, if you need condoms or lube while at school this year, you can ask Madame Pomfrey--”

“Sirius.”

“--but I’ll send you with a stash in your trunk to get you started,” Sirius plows on stubbornly, and Harry feels his face heat up all over again. “Also, if you bring someone back to the dorm room, a silencing charm on your bed curtains is common courtesy. And--” 

Harry gives up. He turns and walks out of the room, the door cutting off Sirius’s words as it closes behind him.

[kohanayaki]

.:Time and Time Again:. (Marauders Era x Reader) Ch 2

As you reconcile with Sirius, he reminisces on how you came to be friends despite a rather rocky start (mostly told through flashbacks taking place in the Marauders era).

LINKS:   CH 1   CH 2   CH 3   CH 4   CH 5   CH 6   CH 7   CH 8

________________________________________________________

Ch 2 .:Pranks and Past Prejudices:.

~Previously~

“I was about to see if you were awake,” Sirius admitted with a small grin, “Seems we both had the same idea.”

He shifted his weight from foot to foot, stepping aside slightly so you could come in. If the Sirius Black from your school days had offered you into his room in the dead of night, you would have slapped him upside the head; but things were different now, and so were the two of you. 

However, as you glanced around the room you almost laughed at how remarkably unchanged it was, and why wouldn't it be? He hadn't lived here since he was sixteen, and he was only living here now because he preferred this house to an Azkaban cell by a small fraction. While the rest of the house was set in deep tones of obsidian and gray, save for the green Slytherin theme of his younger brother's room, Sirius' room was all warm shades of red and gold, Gryffindor paraphernalia covering every inch of it from Quidditch trophies and old banners to a tapestry he had stolen from the Great Hall when they'd won the house cup that year.

The room was littered with memories of your school life— a set of charred robes from when he and James had drunkenly lit the Quidditch field hoops on fire, an old Beater's bat that he had broken in half during the Cup finals, an old Gobstones set you used to play with in the courtyard, and stacks of classic rock records that you and Remus had gifted him for the holidays. A muggle toolbox sat in the corner of the room from when he'd made improvements to his enchanted motorbike that couldn't be done with magic, which you were certain his parents were mortified by.

Posters of bikini-clad women were plastered across the wallpaper, and you recalled the day he told you his mother had a fit when she realized he'd used a permanent sticking charm on them so she couldn't take them down. Said posters were still present, but mostly covered up by all the photos of him and his friends from their school and early Order days— the only noticeable sign of change you could see from his moving back in. It was truly like some sort of time capsule.

As soon as you tore your eyes away from the room and turned to focus on its owner, a tense silence fell between you two. This was the first time you had seen Sirius in over a decade. The last time you two spoke, he was in chains being led away to Azkaban. What was there to say? How could you possibly think things could go back to the way they were? 

“Sirius,” your voice cracked with emotion as you said his name, and when you saw the look in his eyes, so similar to the look he'd given you when he was in that horrible barbed cage during his trial, the dam just broke.

You practically threw yourself at him, sobbing quietly into his shoulder as the fabric of his shirt bunched up in your trembling hands

“I'm sorry,” you said, “I am so, so sorry I didn't believe you, Sirius. I didn't know, I didn't—”

“(Y/n), it's okay,” Sirius said softly.

You almost jumped at his gentle touch, his arm wrapping around your waist and one hand coming up to pet your hair. It hurt him to see you like this, that you went through this much because of him.

“There was no way you could have known,” he said, resting his chin on top of your head as tears continued to stream down your face, “There was no proof that I wasn't the Secret Keeper. We'd decided to make it that rat at the last second. Only James and Lily knew and, well, they couldn't exactly attest to my innocence.”

Hatred bubbled up in his chest at his own mention of Pettigrew, but he forced it down for you, his expression softening as soon as he looked at you. “That was bad judgment on my part, I suppose,” he said in an attempt to lighten the mood, although twelve years in prison was a difficult matter to joke about.

“I should have just believed you,” you muttered into his collar. Sirius' other hand reached out to cup your face, wiping the last few tears from your cheeks.

“Come now, even Moony thought I'd done it,” he said, a small smirk finding its way to his face, “I know what it looked like. . . I don't blame any of you for not believing me. So please, don't blame yourself for this, (Y/n). You're still my best friend.”

“Oh, now you've done it,” you sniffled, laughing despite yourself as fresh tears spilled over. Sirius laughed along with you and yo u could feel the sound reverberate through his chest, rich and melodic. Warm.

He wrapped both his arms around you, holding you tight as you two chuckled like a couple of idiots, standing there glassy-eyed in the middle of his room. If anyone else had bore witness to the scene they'd have thought you'd gone mad, but in that moment you couldn't care less. Your body had been buckling under the weight of your guilt and how much you had missed him. Hearing him say that he still considered you his best friend. . . that was more than you could have ever asked for.

Sirius swelled with pride as he saw he was able to make you smile, something he'd long considered a small victory. He couldn't believe how much your relationship had changed. If someone had told him all those years ago that you would turn out to be someone he couldn't imagine his life without, he wouldn't have believed them. But he supposed life was unexpected like that. . .

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~   1973  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ever since the day you'd stood up to him, James Potter found himself increasingly curious about you. Of course he and his friends continued to pick on Snape, but when you were around to fend them off it became more and more difficult to do so, something that the leader of the self-proclaimed Marauders decided was cumbersome.

James insisted that to get to Snape they would have to take you down too, since you were so keen on protecting him.

“We need to cut the head off the snake,” he had said.

And so, slowly but surely, James shifted the cross hairs of his mischief-making from Severus Snape to you. It started out small; a Bat-bogey hex here, some heat sensitive combustion power under your cauldron there. What he didn't expect in the slightest was for you to actually retaliate with pranks of your own.

Quidditch season had just ended as the year came to a close, and James, who was supposed to be helping clean out the Gryffindor tent, was lying on his back and fiddling about with a golden snitch he'd found wedged in the wooden scaffolding. His head perked up as he saw the Lily across the pitch, walking next to you and chatting. He clearly couldn't care less about what, as he had no problem interrupting your conversation.

“Hey, Evans!” he hollered, heading towards you two.

As soon as Lily spotted him she rolled her eyes.

“And now we're walking faster,” she muttered, grabbing you by the arm and tugging you along.

“Aw come on, I just wanna talk,” he said, quickly catching up with you. Before long he had jogged a few paces ahead, turning around to block your path. “Hey,” he said with a smirk. He was wearing his Quidditch practice uniform, broom in hand.

“Merlin, you are nothing if not persistent,” Lily huffed.

“What can I say? I'm a Chaser~”

“Goodbye, James,” Lily deadpanned at the pun, and he quickly moved in front of her again.

“Wait, wait! Just watch this, okay?” he insisted.

You bit back a smirk, grateful he hadn't paid you any mind until now.

“Trust me, you've never seen anything like this before,” James said cockily, willing his broomstick to hover a few feet off the ground and hauling one leg over to mount it. However, as soon as his arse hit the wood, his entire body phased right through it. He groaned as his tailbone made unceremonious contact with the ground, his broomstick now hovering above him. As soon as he looked up the stick dropped and plonked him on the head, solid again.

You burst out laughing, revealing your wand that had been obstructed from his view by your sleeve.

“(Y/n)!” Lily looked at you in shock, hitting you in the arm playfully but unable to fight the laughter that rose in her chest. It was nice to see him get a harmless taste of his own medicine.

“Well, you were right, Potter,” the redhead said, “I've never seen anything like that before.”

James' face flushed with embarrassment while you two walked away, gathering his broom and whatever remained of his pride. You wouldn't get the better of him again.

Or, at least that's what he told himself until the beginning of your fourth year.

________________________________________________________

James strode down the corridors leading to the Great Hall with a pep in his step. It had been an unusually peaceful morning; despite having slept in, he wasn't in much of a rush to join his friends who had already made their way to breakfast.

The real reason for his quick pace was because he couldn't wait to see your reaction to his latest prank. It was a classic, amped up a bit thanks to a tube of ink from one of the “magic” markers at Zonkos. He hoped you liked your new look, because you were going to be saddled with it for a while.

As he walked through the courtyard he shot a wink to a fourth year Hufflepuff girl he recognized from his Divination class and she covered her hand with her mouth, turning away from him slightly as she tried to hold back the giggles that spilled from her lips. He gave himself a pat on the back, oblivious to the fact that the laughter was directed at him, an unawareness that stayed with him up until the moment he threw the doors to the Great Hall open. The gasps and laughter that followed him only grew as he sat down at his usual spot. Even his friends were staring at him, wide-eyed and unblinking.

“What?” James ran a hand through his hair in confusion, “What are you guys—!!”

As his hair flopped in front of his face his peripheral vision was curtained with the brightest shade of neon turquoise he'd ever seen.

“No,” he said, “no, no, no way!”

He grabbed one of the food trays, dumping the pastries that were on top onto the table. Peter squeaked as he caught a few that were about to fall, setting them down quietly on his own plate.

James stared at his reflection in the shiny metal, and sure enough his once pristine brunette hair was colored the bright blue of the magic marker whose contents he'd dumped into your shower bottle the night before.

“Did you like the shampoo?” a voice behind him asked innocently.

He nearly jumped out of his skin as he turned around to see you, your hair colored the same bright blue shade. Now he was thoroughly confused.

“It smells nice, right?”

“How did you. . . if I. . . why is your hair—”

“A simple connection charm on the shampoo bottle,” you said, “anyone who touches it receives the same benefits and results of the next person who uses it within three hours. In this case, you landed yourself a dye job and a hell of a keratin treatment, so you're welcome. The spell was already on the bottle to begin with; pretty convenient when you have dorm mates that can all save on buying product, and besides it can be kind of nice to skip a hair wash day every once in a while. I suppose I should thank you, I didn't have to do any shopping or sneaking around for this one. You did all the work for me.”

You put your hand to your chin, pretending to study him for a moment.

“You should take care of that fast, though” you said nonchalantly, gesturing to his hair, “you don't look nearly as cute as I do in this color, Potter.”

To further prove your point, you waved your wand around the crown of your head, and with a quick utter of 'aufero hue' the blue in your hair seemed to melt right off the strands, leaving behind your natural (h/c) locks. The color swirled around the tip of your wand in an aqueous state for a moment before you flung it aside. It landed with a splat! against the Gryffindor table, staining a section of the wood that same shade of bright blue as if it had grown that way.

“I'd do it for you myself, but I don't want to,” you smirked, “ Perhaps you could take a few remedial classes to learn the color-leeching charm. Have fun figuring something out!”

And with that you flounced away, leaving behind a very embarrassed, very blue, and very reluctantly impressed James Potter.

He may just have found himself a proper rival.

Sirius scoffed from where he sat.

“Oh please, the stupid charm can't be that hard to do,” he said, taking out his wand.

“Not that I don't have faith in you, mate, but I'm probably better off seeing if Slughorn has anything for this,” James said.

“Why don't you just soak your head in some Valerian water? That's what takes the color out of potions, right?”

“Peter, he might go bald if he does that.”

“Oh.”

_______________________________________________________

James would go on to land a few good jokes on you too. There was one night where you had snuck into the Prefect's bathroom and emerged with a mermaid tail, which was pretty awesome until you realized you had no way of getting out of the tub. From then on, you and James would continue to try and get the jump on one another, marking the start of your now-infamous fourth year prank war. It entertained the students and infuriated the faculty. Gradually, your pranks on one another became more light-hearted, meant to amuse the other person and make them laugh rather than actually hurt or humiliate them.

“Very funny, (L/n),” James said as he walked up to you, his body turned around 180 degrees from the waist up so he had to shuffle backwards to face you. You laughed, nearly choking on your pumpkin juice as you saw your handy work.

“What are you, five?”

“Right, because you're so much more mature stalking and bullying my friends,” you quipped back.

“I really don't understand how Snivelus is your friend.”

“Severus,” you said crossly, “and for the record, I really don't understand how Remus is yours either. He seems like a nice guy.”

“Har har,” James rolled his eyes, “Now would you turn me the right way 'round already? I've got Quidditch practice.”

“Nah, I think you're fine to play like this.”

“Honestly? Not a bad tactic. I can cover my blind spot and stare at my own ass while I fly.”

“Who's five now?” you grinned.

As the months went on, instead of storming over to each other and slinging insults, your interactions with James became more akin to playful banter. And frankly, Sirius didn't get it. You were a Slytherin, and a pureblood at that. Hell, you were a descendant of one of the 28 pureblood families. Everything about you went against everything he believed in and relished in getting away from each year when he would leave home to go to school. You were in the same house as those stupid blood purists, you probably were one yourself—

“You're glaring.”

Sirius blinked, snapping out of his stupor as Remus nudged him in the shoulder. He said nothing, slowly returning to eating his dinner as he tore his eyes away from you, sitting at the Slytherin table with Snivelus, Evan Rosier, and his younger brother of all people. He stabbed at his roast potatoes a little too harshly and his friends traded looks among themselves.

“You alright there, mate?” James asked cautiously.

“Fantastic,” Sirius said, shoving another forkful of potatoes into his mouth to avoid saying anything unsavory as he spotted you heading towards their table.

“Coming to the library today, Remus?” you asked the boy to his right who looked up at you in surprise.

“Oh, sure thing,” he said, “I'm off for the night.”

“Great, we can study for Arithmancy then,” you said. Remus nodded at your suggestion and you gave him a dazzling smile, walking off with your books.

“Since when did you two get so chummy?” Sirius bristled.

Remus rolled his eyes.

“We're just studying for the upcoming mid marks,” he said, “They’re proficient in Ancient Runes and History of Magic. As a study partner it's. . . refreshing.”

“Oi, are you calling us stupid?” James rose a brow.

“Your words, not mine,” Lupin grinned. He saw Sirius' bothered expression and sighed, collecting his things.

“You might get on if you bothered to get to know them,” he told Sirius out of the others' earshot, slinging his book bag over his shoulder before heading off in your direction.

You only continued to grow inadvertently closer to James throughout your fourth year, your prank battle coming to its epic conclusion with the two of you joining forces against some particularly nasty upperclassmen. Your practical jokes subsided, your quips and passing insults were traded for real conversations and walking each other to class. You hated to admit it, but he'd grown on you— especially with him letting up considerably on bullying Severus and annoying Lily lately.

All the while, the closer you got to James the more irritated his best friend became. In Sirius' mind, the more time you were spending with James the less time James was spending with him. They hardly hung out alone anymore. And since James started hanging out with you he started mellowing out, which made Lily start hanging out with him, which made him even more tame. Sirius just wanted his best friend back.

“You do realize that issue would largely be resolved if you weren't so bothered by hanging out with both of them together, right?” Lupin had brought up one night as Sirius was airing out his frustrations.

“I'm not going to bother making friends with someone whose family is so wrapped up in blood politics they forget to be human beings first. Trust me, I've met their mother enough times to know.”

“Have you ever asked them about it?” Remus pressed.

“I don't really need to, do I? They're a (L/n). Open your eyes, Moony!”

Remus' brow furrowed, a shine in his eyes akin to sympathy as he regarded Sirius.

“Perhaps it's you that needs to clear your vision, friend.”

A/N: Thank you all so much for the unexpected early support on this story! I have a lot planned for it~ If you’d like to be added to the taglist just let me know ! 

Read chapter 3 here!

Taglist: @blackpinkdolan @sleep-i-ness @parker-natasha​

[modern-vellichor]

hey!! i love your writing sm and i just wanted to make a request for poly marauders x reader and it’s just fluffy early morning cuddles or they all go on a date in hogsmeade - up to you!!

i hope it’s not too much of a bother <3

of course!! here u go <3

Remus towered next to you as you lazily brushed your teeth in the bathroom. James, Sirius, and Peter all ran around like children, excited for a day out in Hogsmeade. They complained as you and Remus took your time, leisurely pulling sweaters over your heads and pressing kisses to each other's cheek.

Finally the two of you were ready and were watching the rest of your lovely little group race towards the meeting point.

You and Remus strolled leisurely, hand in hand, watching your counterparts race down the path. You all enjoyed your days out in Hogsmeade, just differently. You and Remus enjoyed hot drinks and long walks and fresh air outside the confines of the castle, where the others enjoyed running around wildly and stocking up on chocolate frogs and firewhiskey.

Eventually, you managed to settle your wild little group at a picnic table in the village. Mugs of butterbeer littered the tabletop, empty wrappers alongside them.

Sandwiched between Remus and James, Sirius playing footsies with you under the table. James peppered kisses to your cheek between bites of chocolate and gulps of butter beer. Remus listened intently to Peter's rambles with a hand on your thigh. You listened happily, switching your attention from Peter and Remus to James and Sirius.

As the day began to end, the boys argued over who would walk with you on the journey back to the castle. Remus was immediately excluded from the pool, since the two of you walked all the way here. Peter wanted to finish his conversation with Remus. And after an intense game of rock, paper, scissors, Sirius was declared the winner.

He strolled back to the castle, one arm flung confidently around your shoulders. You wrapped his scarf around your neck, shaking from the evening breeze. Sirius took the initiative and pressed sloppy, sensual kisses to your neck as you were passing groups of first years who blushed and turned away, mortified.

"Sirius," you giggled as he passed another gaggle of first years, this time groping sliding his cold hand under your sweater, making you squeal. "Stop it!"

"Darling, with all due respect," he drawled. "No."

Back at the castle, you curled up by the fire in the common room, wrapped in James's arms. You were drowning in Sirius' sweater, Peter's head resting in your lap as Remus explained the astronomy homework to you.

"Remus, Remus, come sit," you crooned when he got a little too heated over your misunderstanding of the question asked. "You're too tired for this, just come cuddle."

Remus sighed with a soft smile. He couldn't say no to you. He curled into your side, a hand in Peter's hair. He kissed you gently.

"I love you, bunny."

"I love you, too."

[startanewdream]

Quidditch prodigy

Banner by awesome @the-dream-team​.

Summary: This time, when she tells Harry he will be the new Seeker, Minerva McGonagall says: “Your father will be proud. He is an excellent player himself” (and Harry knows it’s true because he spent years watching his father fly).

For @alec-lightwood-bane, who asked for a bit of James getting to be proud with his Quidditch prodigy. The only plot here is fulfilling your request :)

Now on AO3.

________________

From the first time that Harry mounted the little broomstick that Sirius gave him for his first anniversary, James knew his son would be a Quidditch player (sometimes he’d tell Lily that he knew that ever since he felt Harry kicking inside her, but Lily tells him all babies kick; it was not a signal, no matter how at that moment James was talking about Quidditch).

He is not surprised when brooms are Harry’s favourite gifts and, as his godfather, Sirius is more than willing to replace his brooms as Harry grows up, until, finally, for his eleventh birthday, Harry gets a Nimbus 2000. It is his first professional broomstick and Harry can’t stop talking about it all day, promising he will be a Gryffindor player in no time, discussing with Sirius how unfair it is that First Years don’t get to have their own broom nor play in their house team.

That afternoon, after the sunset when the temperature gets milder, they play a kind of five-person Quidditch, which makes no sense and have no rules other than Sirius and Lily are a team, James and Harry is another, and everyone needs to score a goal against Remus, who is a moderately good Keeper.

Harry spends most of the time trying to learn how to ride the broom, so very different from the juvenile models he trained before, mostly intercepting the passes between his mother and Sirius than actually scoring goals. It’s not his son’s best performance, but James says nothing, only ruffling Harry’s hair and making it even more messy than flying already did it.

Harry flies well, naturally, but as a Chaser he always seemed to lack something. He works twice because of it, and James supports him.

The next morning, James awakes at dawn for no good reason. He plans to go downstairs only to drink some water before going back to bed and just laying there, but when he arrives at the kitchen, he finds the backdoor opened.

His wand is at ready at once, but it’s only Harry flying at dawn. He stops at the doorway, watching his son. He really flies perfectly — and boldly, he notices, training movements that James is sure he didn’t teach him and that Lily would have a fit if she saw, long dives that end with him recovering from it at the least possible moment, loops in the air that make him stand thirty feet in the air hanging on his broom only with one hand.

It is like watching him doing an extremely dangerous dance, and James makes sure his wand is ready, just in case, though he feels it’s not the first time Harry is doing this. It looks too well practiced for it. 

And it’s not the usual Chaser movements either.

This thought comes for him at the same time that Harry picks up a Golden Snitch from his pocket. He closes his eyes and lets the Snitch fly away, waiting a few seconds until he opens his eyes and flies upward, standing very still fifty feet up, only his eyes moving, concentrated. James can’t see anything different, but after one minute, Harry dives suddenly. When he recovers from the flight, the Golden Snitch is secure in his hand, its wings flying pointless in his closed hand.

His laugh fills the silence of the morning.

When James starts applauding, Harry’s laugh dies. He turns to his father’s direction, his face reddening and a mortified expression arising there.

‘Dad — I — I can explain —’

It feels as if his son is confessing a sin, rather than showing his talents, and James doesn’t understand.

‘What?’

‘This, I —’

‘Well, I must admit I’m upset’, James says, his voice teasingly, but Harry doesn’t seem to notice this. ‘Next time, you should tell me’.

‘I didn’t want — I mean, this is just for fun, I don’t really —’

‘Flying without inviting me? I am so disappointed’.

Harry pauses, dismounting his broom and holding it unsurely. ‘You are not mad because I was playing Seeker?’

James blinks, confused. ‘Why should I? You are natural!’

Harry looks at his feet. ‘We always trained chasing. You are a Chaser’.

‘Yeah, I was, so?’

‘So I should be one. Like you. Everyone tells me I fly like you, and... I didn’t want to disappoint you’.

James shakes his head, baffled that Harry could come up with that conclusion. Well, there is only way to show him. ‘Mount your broom. Go on’. 

Harry’s eyes are big, not understanding him, but he does as his father says. James keeps motioning for him to go up in the air and, when Harry is fairly high, he transforms the basket of apples in the kitchen into a basket of golf balls, going to the middle of their backyard.

Then he starts throwing one golf ball in the air after another, and Harry understands at once, flying around and catching each one before they fall in the ground, even when James throws more than one at a time. His son is rather breathless when he lands next to his father.

James can only beam. ‘See? You could never disappoint me’.

‘Even if I don’t try for a spot at the team as a Chaser?’

‘Any team will miss much more if you don’t play as Seeker’. Harry lets out a laugh that is undeniably relieved. James watches his son as they sit in the middle of the garden. ‘I mean it, Harry. Even if you didn’t play at all, I would never be disappointed with you’.

Harry raises his eyebrows, eyes glinting with mischief. ‘Even if I hated Quidditch?’

‘Well, you are right, then I would have to disinherit you’, he says seriously, but Harry’s chuckles in answer tells him that Harry understands his father is only joking. ‘Since when do you practice as a Seeker?’

Harry throws him a sideway look. ‘Two years now’, he says, smirking when James looks surprised. It’s not easy to hide anything from his parents, and yet Harry seemed to have perfected that. ‘Ever since I found this old Snitch in the attic’.

He picks up the Snitch again from his pocket. The Snitch tries to fly away, but when Harry hands it to James, the wings calm suddenly, the Snitch resting peacefully on his father’s hand.

‘Oh, what’s that?’

‘Flesh memories’, James explains, smiling. ‘This is the Snitch I nicked a long time ago at Hogwarts. It was never used before, so since I was the first to catch it…’

‘It remembers you’, Harry finishes, amazed.

‘And I remember it’, James murmurs, letting the Snitch fly and grabbing it easily. Even after all these years, his reflexes are still good, he thinks smugly. ‘I used to try to impress your mother with it, you know’.

‘Did it work?’

James runs his hand through his hair. ‘None at all. I hope you have better luck showing off with the Snitch than I did’.

______________________

Harry writes home twice a week at least, and every one of his letters mention how he misses flying and then that he at least is counting the days for the first flying lesson, so he can be in the air even for a little.

James expects his letter as usual the day after the flying lesson is scheduled, but instead he wakes up to find a grey owl waiting for him at breakfast, watching him severely. Only Minerva McGonagall would have an owl that looks as stern as her, but then again James always remembers how McGonagall’s patronus is herself, so he shouldn’t be so surprised.

What surprises him is her request that he comes to meet her as soon as possible that morning, informing the Floo Network to her office will be opened.

It seems serious and he can’t help but think of something happening to Harry. His son’s owl is nowhere at sight, though.

He scribbles a note to Lily informing he will be out for a chat with McGonagall — it shouldn’t be news to her since they met at least once a month to talk about the updates in the Transfigurations field — and quickly vanishes inside the green flames.

She is expecting him when he arrives, looking over a few scrolls.

‘James’, she says, the weirdest of the expressions on her face. She seems satisfied. ‘Have a seat’.

‘Hello, Professor’, he says, slipping into the old formality without even noticing. He usually meets her at the Three Broomsticks, rarely coming into her office. It always brings him memories of his years at school, and he almost expects to find the Head Boy badge pinned to his clothes.

‘You seem tense’, she notes, watching him over her glasses. ‘Take a biscuit’.

He does. Her biscuits are really tasty, but sitting in front of her, waiting for her to talk, makes him feel like he has just done a prank and is about to get a detention.

‘You must be wondering why I called you here’.

That makes him grin. Jokes were always his remedy to diffuse any situation. ‘I reckon you missed me’.

‘Hardly, when I see a copy of you everyday in the halls’, she replies easily, almost smiling. ‘Your son is less loud, though’.

‘Well, he did get a lot of Lily’.

‘Unfortunately not her disposition to follow rules’, Minerva notes, sipping her tea calmly.

‘Uh’, James hesitates, unsure. It’s not normal to call a parent for any misconduct (or else his parents would never leave McGonagall’s office), so if she called him here… ‘What happened?’

‘You know we have some rules that are stricter than others. For instance, this year the third floor corridor is absolutely forbidden’.

Years of ignoring rules make James want to ask what’s there, or else go discover for himself, but he just nods.

‘And one of the rules we always follow is to expressly forbid First Years of owning a broom’.

‘Hum’, he mumbles, still unsure. Harry knows that rule (he certainly complained a lot), and James is sure he saw the Nimbus 2000 waiting patiently in their broomshed, so he doesn’t get what’s her point.

‘Your son is bound to break that rule this year’.

‘He brought his broom?’, James asks before he can think through it, his mind trying to understand how Harry got to replace his broom with a fake copy so he could smuggle it to the castle. There is a mild impression, but if Harry did it, he would be in serious trouble…

‘No, not yet, I was hoping you could send it. He told me has a Nimbus 2000, is that correct?’

Feeling like he is missing the point still, James nods.

‘Good. If you could send it next week, it would be perfect. I am still getting the board’s signature of approval, but it’s only a formality, Albus already authorized it’.

‘Minerva’, he interrupts her. ‘What is happening?’

‘Oh’, she stops, looking simply delighted. ‘Yesterday during his first flying lesson, your son took to the skies after some silly gibbering with the Malfoy boy. As you may know, Rolanda is quite loud about how any First Year that flies unsupervised gets expelled. Or, well, a detention at least, but we don’t tell them that. First Years are so inclined to follow the rules… present company excepted, of course’.

James smiles guiltily now. But even he, desperate as he was to join the team, followed that rule at least. Madame Hooch really imposed fear.

‘What happened then?’

‘I saw him through my window’, Minerva tells him, pointing to the window next to her, that provides a nice view of the grounds. ‘Fifty-foot dive, recovered without a single scratch. Did you teach him that?’

James raises his eyebrows. ‘No, actually, he taught himself’.

‘Well, he is a natural, that I can’t deny. So I made him the new Seeker’.

‘Hum, what?’

‘Seeker’, she replies, not bothering to hide her smirk now. ‘I know you’ve been long gone from the Quidditch field, but you do remember what a Seeker is, I am sure’.

Later he will appreciate the fact that Minerva McGonagall is teasing him. For now there is only bewilderment.

‘But — seeker — no First Year — he must be the youngest Quidditch player in decades —’

‘A century, actually’, she corrects him. ‘I checked the records’.

‘That’s — that’s amazing! I am so —’, he stops, staring at her. ‘He broke a rule and you are awarding him?’

Minerva looks moderately embarrassed. ‘It’s not an award. I expect him to train harder to compensate for the years the other Seekers have of advantage, and if he doesn’t seem to take this seriously, I will reconsider not punishing him — oh, stop smirking, Potter’.

She looks suddenly stern again, but James can’t help himself.

‘You have a soft spot for him!’, he declares, grinning. 

‘I certainly do not play favourites’, she answers, voice full of dignity. ‘I only think of what’s best for Gryffindor and —’, she drops all pretenses suddenly. ‘— you should have seen the try outs! Wood, that’s the captain, Oliver Wood, was crying at the end because no one was able to even find the Golden Snitch. And after last year…’ She shakes her head. ‘If it means we won’t get flatten out by Slytherin ever again — that annoying smirk on Snape’s face —, oh, well, I would buy your son a broom myself!’

James smiles proudly now. There was always a fanatical Quidditch enthusiast in Minerva and he adores when it shows. And from all he knows of Snape, he will hate the fact that James Potter’s son is in the team in his First Year, which is only a bonus (though that is a thing he won’t admit out loud).

‘No need. I will make sure he is dedicating himself, but knowing Harry, he is just too marvelled at being part of the team. It’s what he most wanted’.

She sighs, somberer now.

‘And that’s why I called you, actually. Considering your long history of disregarding rules, this Seeker position is not to mean that your son will get away with everything. I’d rather have him go through his school years without too many detentions’.

‘Only a few?’, James teases.

‘Let’s aim for one third of yours and I will call it a success. He is a Potter after all’.

James nods, trying for a serious expression that’s broken by the fact he can’t stop beaming. His son. First Year Seeker! He can’t wait until he tells Sirius.

‘Oh, I will talk to him’, he assures her. ‘We can’t let detentions get in the way of Quidditch’.

____________________

[edupunkn00b]

A Little Bit of Love, Ch. 3: To Sleep, Perchance to…

Prev - To Sleep, Perchance to… - Next - Masterpost - [ AO3 ]

Rated T - WC: 3105 ---

Logan felt… wonderful.

Warmth seeped into his cheek and the side of his head from the just-right-firmness of his pillow. It soothed him in the way that a hot compress eased the ache of sore muscles or the steamy heat of a long shower could wash away almost anything. He was comfortable and relaxed and for a few moments, he let his sleep-fuzzed mind just be.

He breathed in deeply and the sweet, commingled scents of hot chocolate and spicy chai wafted over him. Layered under that was a subtle hint of lavender, and vanilla, and… bergamot?

But as Logan shifted in his bed, he could no longer ignore that the surface on which he was curled was not actually his bed. He couldn’t extend his legs without his toes bumping against a soft wall and the light glowing through his closed eyelids was wrong—too bright, the angle too high. The refrigerator hummed faintly in the background and he felt a delicious tingle in his scalp as someone carded their fingers through his hair. Logan’s eyes shot open.

He was not in his room.

A face floating in a blurry sea of black and yellow was looking down at him. Logan jerked up, shoving aside the blanket that he’d been clinging to and quickly wiping at his mouth to check for any mortifying evidence of drool. “No! Oh, no, Janus, I apologize!” He shook his head, jaw slack as his hands slapped at his face, struggling to adjust glasses he wasn't wearing. “I did not intend to fall asleep on you… I—I—I don’t know… Did I—I don’t understand what happened. I—I’m so sorry, Janus, I—”

“Logan, it’s alright,” Janus purred as he cradled Logan’s hand, palm up, and in it, carefully placed his eyeglasses. “It’s alright…” Logan fumbled with the frames, finally shoving them into place. Janus smiled at him. “You dozed off while you were reading.” He shrugged lightly. “You looked so peaceful… I didn’t have the heart to wake you.”

Face burning, Logan stared down at his hands. “I apologize. I hope I have not kept you from anything.”

Janus laughed low in his throat. “Not at all, my dear Logan.” He gestured around the quiet living room. “Thomas is asleep, everyone else has gone to bed… perhaps not to sleep, but… at least to their rooms.” Janus’ expression shifted and he wet his lips before continuing. He slid a little closer to the Logical Side. “Logan, would you… perhaps like to…." His words fell away before he could finish his question.

Logan sat stiffly in the corner of the couch, pupils still tiny pinpricks, shaking hands folded tightly in his lap. Janus cleared his throat to try again but Logan spoke first. “Retiring for the evening sounds wise.” He stood, stumbling a little with drowsy clumsiness. He straightened his tie before nodding at Janus. “Again, I apolo—” Janus started to shake his head and Logan smiled. “Thank you, for… for the rest.” He looked around at the cups scattered on the table. “May I assist you with cleaning up?”

“No, that’s fine, I can handle this. But thank you, Logan.” Janus stood, his features once again settled into their familiar, unruffled expression. He looked around the living room and spotted Remus’ morning star leaning against the staircase. “Remus is still awake if I need a hand.” Logan’s jaw tightened briefly, but he nodded when Janus stroked the side of his face, tucking a sleep-mussed lock of hair behind his ear. “Please go rest.”

Scooping up his book and the pencil he used for marginalia, Logan headed toward the stairs. He’d gotten two steps up when he turned around, mouth opening as though to speak. He watched Janus as he gathered the Sides’ mugs spread across the table in a whirlwind of hands and arms that reminded Logan of the swearing in at the courtroom.

Janus paused on his way to the kitchen, staring down at his arm where he cradled Lucas’ empty mug together with Logan’s, Remus’, and Virgil’s. For just a moment, a misty smile spread across his face. Then he cleared his throat and hurried into the kitchen and Logan heard the faucet squeak. He listened to Janus hum over the clink of dishes as he rinsed the mugs and put them in the dishwasher. Then Logan turned and continued up the stairs to his room.

He stopped at the head of the staircase. The hallway had… changed. The carpet runner under his feet was still the same swirling array of abstract flowers and paisley, and the walls the same soft cream color, dotted with the same framed art and photographs. But at the far end of the hall were now new doors. And, just as when Janus and Remus’ rooms had moved to the core Mindscape, the hallway had lengthened to accommodate the additional doors and rooms beyond them.

The new door next to Patton’s room was painted a bright, glossy orange in same shade as the stripes on Lucas’ tie and the old poet blouse he’d worn on Al Fadil. No light spilled from under his closed door and Logan nodded to himself with a small smile. Protestations about quick healing aside, Lucas needed to rest.

What had most surprised Logan, though, was the addition of another blue door. It was a dark, dark blue, nearly the same shade as his own, and it virtually glowed with an iridescence that refracted the ambient light when he tilted his head from side to side. Logan blinked at it. He’d seen this door before. Years ago, when he’d gone to the Subconscious looking for Janus, he’d seen this same navy blue door next to Janus’ in the darkened hallway.

He’d taken a step toward it when he heard a shuddering thud followed by Remus' giggle coming from Roman’s room and the Princely Side’s voice rang out, “That’s it! Enough…” There was laughter in his voice but, in Logan’s experience, the slightly shrill tone meant his laughter likely wouldn’t last for much longer. “Out, out, out! A Prince needs his beauty sleep.”

Remus’ happy cackle grew louder as heavy footsteps approached from the other side and then Roman’s bright red lacquered door flung open. “And you need all the beauty sleep you can get, Ro Bro… you clean up well, but you’re looking a little—”

His words were cut off when a small golden pillow flew out of the room, beaming him in the head. “We have the same face!” Roman cried from his room. Remus laughed as he picked up the pillow and flung it back into his brother’s room.

“And you gotta admit, we’re both pretty hot.” He shimmied his shoulders and waved to his brother as he slammed the door shut with a huff. “Good night, Ro Bro,” Remus sang through the closed door.

Roman opened the door and stuck out his head, frowning past a smile. “Good night. Same time tomorrow?”

“Except next time, I’ll let you win!” Remus ducked and laughed as the pillow came flying back out, striking the wall behind him. “I’m keeping it this time!”

Remus finally turned and saw Logan frozen in the hall, head tilted, watching their interplay. “Hey, Lo Lo,” he said in a quieter voice. He set Roman’s pillow on the floor next to his room, then moved closer to Logan. “I hope we didn’t wake you from your nap.”

“Ah, no, rather…” Logan’s eyes flicked back over to the far corner where the new door had appeared, but where once he’d seen the iridescent blue, now stood only shadow. He shook his head and sighed. “Perhaps I am more tired than I realized. I should go to bed.”

Remus waggled his eyebrows and brushed the back of his fingers over Logan’s cheek, “If you want some company, just give us a holler….’

Logan’s face grow hot as he stammered, “Ah, r—right, I—I—will keep that under advisement.” He swallowed and looked down at his feet. “I, ah, I believe Janus is still downstairs if you were looking for him.”

Biting his lower lip, Remus frowned at the Logical Side. Finally, he nodded, “Sure, Lo.” After a moment, Logan looked up again and Remus smiled. “See you in the morning?”

Nodding rapidly, Logan returned his smile as he walked backwards toward his room. “Yes. Yes, of course, Remus. Have a good night.”

Remus turned and slowly made his way down the stairs. Logan watched him go then slipped through his door and into his room alone.

Logan shivered as soon as he closed the door behind him. Out of habit, his eyes were drawn to his desk and he started to walk toward it, unthinking. The squeak of the casters on his chair brought him back to full awareness and he shook his head. It was late, well-past midnight. If he started to work now, he would not want to stop and would likely seriously damage his circadian rhythm.

Sliding his chair back into place, Logan marched to his dresser to gather pajamas and prepare for bed.

Eleven minutes and thirty-eight seconds later, he was scrubbed, brushed and flossed, and ready for sleep. He turned off the brightest lights, leaving his bedside lamp lit. A crawling energy coursed through his limbs as he began to pull back the covers and he recoiled from his bed.

Back on the ship, Janus, Remus, and Logan had had no choice but to sleep huddled together on the cold, hard wooden deck under rough woolen blankets. Logan had thought he would relish his first night back in his own bed, luxuriating under his familiar soft comforter and plush pillows.

But now… he sat down on the foot of the bed, hands at his sides, tracing the swirling green and yellow threads woven through the thick dark blue blanket folded over the edge. Remus had created it for him after their movie night when he’d felt how cold Logan’s room could get at night. Logan thought he’d missed it.

Perhaps sleeping on the ship hadn’t been so bad after all. It was all rather logical, actually. Many people found the gentle movement of a ship to be soothing and conducive to rest, and there was a brisk market in sound machines and ocean wave recordings designed to ease one into sleep and perhaps if he obtained one… Sighing, Logan shook his head.

It wasn’t the ship he missed.

Logan took a deep breath, walked over to his bookcase and pulled down the first book that his fingers grazed. He then drew back the covers and crawled into bed. He sat up against the headboard, pushing away the memory of how the three of them had similarly sat together for their Twisted movie night, and pulled the covers up to his chest. He opened his book and began to read. In the past, reading had nearly always helped lull him back to sleepiness.

An hour later, though, Logan was half-way through the book and was no sleepier than he’d been when he’d started. Sighing, he marked his page, removed his glasses, and turned out the light. He settled in under the covers and closed his eyes. He lay there shivering for a few moments until he sat up again and pulled the extra blanket up and around his shoulders and chest. It was slightly weighted and the gentle pressure over his arm and sides reminded Logan of the way Remus had clung to him on the ship. Despite the strangeness and the danger of that environment, Remus’ arms around him had left Logan feeling safe and warm and… wanted.

Logan’s eyes shot open and he sat up, forcing away that train of thought. He drew his legs up, hugging his knees against his chest and pushed back against the sharp ache that began to spread under his sternum, out through his arms, and down into his guts. He crushed his eyes closed and waited for the pain to shrink back into that cold, familiar stone in the pit of his stomach. After a while, when it didn't hurt so much to move, he sucked in a deep breath and blew it out. He took one more breath and then fluffed his pillows, rearranging them into a more comfortable configuration and laid back down, once again willing his eyes to close.

Breathing deeply, he let himself sink into the softness of his bed. He leaned into the pillows under his head and against his back and pulled a third close to his chest. He sighed, twisting his fingers in the pillowcase and tugging it closer to his heart just as he’d held Janus’ hand that first night on Al Fadil.

He’d very nearly told Janus everything he'd been thinking that night. But he'd been certain that, given all the other unknowns they were facing on the ship, it would have been unwise to reveal something so risky. While Logan had been confident he could keep his growing attachment under control, he’d been reluctant to burden either of them with the knowledge. So instead, he'd kept his own secret, relished their friendly affection and let that suffice.

As Logan lay in his bed, he remembered how the warmth of Janus’ human skin had contrasted with his cool, smooth scales, and the way they’d practically sparkled in the tiny glint of starlight that spilled from the closest port. Rubbing his hand lightly over his mouth, Logan thought about how Janus' smooth forehead had felt under his lips when he'd impulsively pressed a kiss against his head, mumbling his excuse about permutations.

What might have happened that night if he had confessed to them?

Logan sat up again with a huff and yanked hard at his hair as though it could pull the thoughts from his head. You’re disgusting. Absolutely disgusting. If they knew what you were thinking about them… Stretching across his bed, he turned the lamp back on and opened his book. It was going to be a long night.

---

The warm light bleeding from Janus’ bedside lamp cast long shadows over the ceiling mural in his room. As his eyes traced the familiar loops and stars, Janus held Remus close, arm wrapped over his shoulders, scaled fingers gently carding through his hair. After nearly an hour of agitated rambling—mostly about Logan—Remus had grown silent and Janus thought that perhaps he’d finally fallen asleep. He bent down to kiss the top of his head, then leaned over and turned off the bedside lamp. Remus whispered into the darkness.

“He needs us, Jannie.”

Nodding against his head, he pressed more kisses into Remus’ hair. “I know, Muse, I know. We’ll talk with him in the morning, perhaps with some rest he’ll—”

“No, Jannie.” His voice cracked and he sat up, gripping Janus’ pajama shirt with both hands. Janus imagined he could see the Creative Side’s frown even in the dark. “He needs us now.”

“Okay,” Janus nodded, switching the lamp back on. “Okay.” He smirked as Remus leapt out of the bed and reached for the doorknob. “Ah, Muse?” He let his eyes briefly trail down Remus’ naked form. “Perhaps we can afford the time for you to get dressed first?”

Scoffing, Remus rolled his eyes and snapped, instantly covering himself in a long-sleeved green thermal top with silver details and matching flannel bottoms. He held his arms out and curtsied. “Let’s go.”

Moments later, the pair stood outside Logan’s door. Remus raised a fist to pound on its surface. “Wait, Muse, softly. He might be asleep.”

Remus turned to Janus, shaking his head. His lips quivered in a frown. “He’s not sleeping, Jannie.” Remus did, however, knock more quietly than he ordinarily would. When he bothered to knock at all, that is.

They stood quietly together, listening to a faint rustling coming from inside the Logical Side’s room. Remus started to bounce on the balls of his feet, cracking his knuckles. Janus gently pried his fingers from each other and kissed his hand. The door suddenly opened and Logan stood blinking at them, mouth just barely agape.

His hair stuck out at odd angles, one arm tightly hugging himself over his stomach. His pajamas were rumpled and even his ordinarily pristine glasses had a smudge in the upper left corner. He stared at the two of them as though unsure they were really there. Finally, he asked in a rough voice, “Ja—Janus? Remus? Are—are you all right?”

“Oh, Lo Lo… we came to ask you the same thing.”

“I am fine.” Logan’s gaze bounced between the floor, the doorframe, and a spot on the wall just past their shoulders. Everywhere but their eyes. “I was merely doing a little reading before bed.”

Janus reached out to cup his cheek, and Logan couldn’t fight his instinct to lean into the touch. Tears burned behind his eyelids as Janus gently turned his face so their eyes would meet. “My dear Logan, have you forgotten who you’re talking to?”

“Can we come in, Lo Lo?”

“Of course, pl—please.” Logan opened the door completely, stepping aside to let them in. He closed the door silently behind them. He turned to face the pair, both arms wrapped around his middle now, shivering slightly.

“Lo Lo, you’re cold.” Remus said.

“It is rather chilly in here tonight.” He took a step toward his closet. “I am confident I have something—”

Remus grinned, “Lo, wait!” He swirled his hands and snapped out his wrists. A plush sweater woven with blue, green, and gold yarn appeared. “How’s this?” he asked, still smiling as he draped it over Logan’s shoulders.

Pushing his arms through the sleeves, Logan nodded. “This is… quite beautiful, Remus.” He sighed with a tiny smile, rubbing his hands over the sleeves. “And pleasantly warm.” He looked up at the Creative Side. “Thank you.” Janus slid his arm around Remus’ waist as he stepped back, admiring the fit.

Janus looked around Logan’s room. “Lo, how long has your room been this cold?”

He shrugged lightly, shuffling his feet as he curled his toes against the floor. “I noticed it when I came in tonight. Of course, I haven’t been in here all day and empty rooms tend to run cold…” His voice trailed off and he looked around the dark room, shadows seeming to swallow the cool light trickling from his bedside lamp. He wrapped Remus’ sweater tighter around his body.

“Lo,” Janus gently squeezed Logan’s shoulder. “I think perhaps Lucas’ room isn’t the only room that’s changed tonight.”

“Do you…” Shards of ice grew in Logan’s stomach as he clenched his jaw, fighting to keep a sudden tremor under control. “Do you think this means that, with Lucas here, my room is… moving to the Subconscious?”

Remus’ eyes grew wide and he clung to Logan, gripping his arm with both hands as though he might sink through the floor at any moment. “Fuck, no! No, we’re not letting that happen.” He turned to Janus. “Right, Jannie?”

Janus smiled and stroked Logan’s cheek, pressing a soft kiss first against Remus’ forehead, then Logan’s. He shook his head. “I didn’t let it happen before and I’m certainly not going to let it happen now.” He brushed his thumb over the growing crease in Logan’s brow. “However, I believe the opposite might be happening.” He took both of their hands and led them back into the hallway.

“Let’s go see.”

taglist:@mavenmush @melaniidarling @braingoburr @lunatatic @demon9980 @crossiantgay @psychedelicships @justmeandmygayships @bluerosesbleedred @ts-creator-boost @tsfanficarchive for this fic:@rottingarts @gothybubby

[lovemeleo]

What about Logan not being able to skate well at practice because him and his boys did the ole dazzle dazzle right before practice because Logan liked begged for it.

Aka Logan getting chirped to hell because he had sexy time before practice and can’t skate well

omg Ach, I cannot tell you how hard I wheezed at “the ole razzle dazzle,” love that so much! Hope you enjoy this lil blurb of the aftermath of the razzle dazzle. 

O’Knutzy and the SW world belongs to @lumosinlove!

cw: talk of sexual content and a couple innuendos

***

It was a bad idea. Probably one of their worst ones to date. And to be completely honest, they’ve had a lot of bad ideas. This one though. This took the cake.

“Lo, babe. You’ve gotta get up.” Finn murmured, running his hand over the blanket where Logan was hiding. The only answer he received was a groan from the lump in the bed. “We’ve got practice in less than an hour and you know if you don’t eat something, you’re gonna be miserable on the ice.”

A hand came from under the blankets, pushing Finn’s face away, “Fuck you and fuck off.” Logan muttered, his voice raspy,

Finn laughed, yanking the blankets off of the shorter man, “If I recall correctly, I was doing the fucking. Or one of the people doing the fucking.” Logan hid his face in the pillow, letting out a groan.

“Why are you like this?” He muttered, sitting up slowly before he flopped right back over. “Oh mon Dieu. We’ve made a mistake… We have made a grave mistake.”

Another voice came from the doorway as Logan tried to move back under the covers, “What’s going on?” Leo asked, leaning on the doorframe. He was already dressed, of course, sipping from his cup as he watched the two of his boyfriends.

Logan sat up carefully, his face scrunched up in a wince, “We are never fucking before practice again. Ever.”

A smirk passed over Leo’s face, but he hid it quickly behind his cup, “It was your idea, mon chou. I told you we had early practice.” And he had, but that wasn’t helping Logan right now. It had seemed like a good idea at the time. His boyfriends’ had teased him for almost an hour, how did they expect him to make any good decisions?

Logan carefully pushed himself out of bed, wobbling a bit as the soreness from his ass and hips fully settled in, “Well, this is going to suck.”

After showering and eating breakfast, the three were heading to the rink. Logan had sprawled across the backseat, still complaining.

“You both have always been a pain in my ass, but now it’s very fucking literal.”

Finn couldn’t help the laugh that erupted out of him, “Oh my god, you’re an idiot.” He said, glancing back at him through the rearview mirror as they pulled into the rink parking lot. The three boys grabbed their bags before heading inside, though Logan was a couple of steps behind as they made their way into the locker room.

“Morning, boys,” Sirius said with a grin, pulling his practice jersey over his head. Leo and Finn shouted their greetings, as Logan carefully made his way to his stall. He should’ve known as soon as he showed the slightest sign of a limp, Loops was going to be on him. Fucking PT senses.

Remus’ eyebrows furrowed, watching Logan move around the locker room from where he was stretching on the floor, “Tremz, you good? You didn’t hurt yourself at practice yesterday, did you?”

The tips of Logan’s ears turned bright red as he turned to face his stall, hiding the mortified look on his face, “N-non, Loops. Je vais bien. Just slept wrong, feeling a bit stiff.” He muttered, waiting for the floor to swallow him up because oh my god.

“I’m sure Hestia would be willing to help you stretch out if it’s that bad,” Remus continued, oblivious to the fact that Leo and Finn were trying to hide their wheezing laughter. Those assholes. This was their fault.

Logan cut him off before he could continue, “No! I mean.. I’m good, Loops. Promise.”

Just as Remus was about to say something else, Cap rested a hand on his shoulder, “Mon loup, he doesn’t need a PT.” He said, a smirk spreading on his face as his eyes flickered between Logan and his two boyfriends, who were practically in tears at this point. Bastards.

Remus, bless him, looked up at his boyfriend, confused before it clicked. He fell back on the floor, letting out a loud laugh, “Oh my god, Tremz, you’re a fucking idiot.”

Tying off his skates, Talker stood up with a grin, “Right before practice and everything? C’mon, Tremzy.” The room was filled with chirping and laughter as Logan couldn’t hold back his own laughter, hiding his face in his hands.

“It seemed like a good idea at the time!” Logan laughed, his cheeks still flushed as he leaned back in his stall.

Jackson smirked, his arms crossed on his chest, “Yeah, it always does until you’re trying to stand the next morning and it feels like you’ve been run over by a truck.” 

“Exactly! Like multiple trucks.” Logan said as he started getting his skates on.

Leo glanced over at Finn, feigning surprise, “I didn’t realize you were a truck?”

Of course, he said this just as Finn was taking a drink of his water which ended up, splattering on the floor as he burst out laughing, “Ah, fuck. I thought I was more of a jeep, but I guess.”

Logan rolled his eyes, but he couldn’t help the fond smile that appeared on his face. They were idiots. But they were his idiots.

[hello-everyfandom]

“I’m not very good at flirting, am I?”

Warnings: Cringey attempts at flirting?

Pairing: Remus Lupin x Reader

Words: 2k

Summary: Remus is nervous for your first study date, or date? Is it a date? 

You were quite oblivious when it came to people who fancied you. Howard Lewis, from house Ravenclaw, practically had heart eyes for you and attempted to ask you out every Saturday morning whilst you drank your tea. The only response he was given was a hum and a sweet reply back, 

“I’m not planning on doing anything but reading my novel,”  

You frustrated a lot of boys in your year, and even in the year above. You must know, right? You must’ve known that at least half of your house and even more boys from the other houses have tried to flirt with you and received nothing back. But you didn’t. You loved blind. And, not to mention, quite peculiar as you obliviously ignored your suitors. You spent days feeling quite lonely and even longed for a handsome fellow to sweep you off your feet and into the forbidden forest. Remus Lupin thought you were peculiar as well, but not peculiar as in a bizarre fashion, instead, he thought of you strangely amazing. He found himself gifted the seat to the right of yours during Transfigurations and was kept his glances towards you to only a few per minute. He was smitten. And he was speechless when you approached him one Saturday morning, unaware of your rejection to a Mr. Lewis of Ravenclaw, and asked him to study with you.

“Hello Remus,” you said, he greeted you politely and with reddened ears, he knew he would get teased for later, “I was wondering if you were not too busy after lunch if you could help me study a bit of Transfigurations. I find it actually quite difficult and would rather McGonagall not deducted points from my house.”

Remus nodded quickly and stuttered out, “Yes, I. Where should I meet me? You? I mean, you.” he quickly wanted to slam his face into his porridge but you seemed to enjoy his response and giggled.

“There’s a tree near the lake; if you bring your textbook I can bring a blanket for us to sit on?” you offered, “I swear I have the comfiest blankets in my dorm.” Remus sent you an embarrassed smile and watched you longingly as you spun and left the Great Hall, a steaming mug of tea in your hand.

Sirius clapped his hand on Remus’ shoulder rather harshly, he’d say, and let out a bark, “How the hell did you do it?” Remus snapped out of his gaze to look at his three friends who stared at him in wonder.

“Do... what? Exactly?” Remus begged his face to go back to his original pale colour and stirred his breakfast with a spoon.

“I believe you have a date with a Ms. Y/L/N.” Sirius grinned boyishly and hooted, “Remus, how did you do it!” 

“Sirius, get your hand off me before I feed it to the giant squid and leave your body for dessert, and it’s not a date,” Remus grumbled and shifted awkwardly in his seat. 

“No, really, mate, how did you manage to get a date with Y/L/N? How did you get her to ask you on a date?” Peter pushed closer to Remus and jokingly added, “Oh Moony, you know love potions are illegal to give to other students, correct?” Remus shoved Peter aside and looked for James for help.

“It’s not a date! Prongs?” 

James put his hands up in defense, “Not me, Moons, I can’t help you as I think you’ve just scored yourself a date with Y/N. But, what I can help you with is Lewis as I think he’s going to absolutely fuck you up by the looks of it,” James stood up and did the ‘I see you’ motion towards Howard and yelled, “Oi, Leeeeewis, you jealous? Yeah, you better be. Fix your bloody eyes, mate, you’ve got a starin’ problem!” 

This time, Remus actually did slam his head into the breakfast table.

Lunch flew by and Remus couldn’t do anything but fiddle. He had run to and from the common room and dorms, a few times just to ensure he had all the right things. To say he was nervous was an understatement. Was this a date? Did you want to date him? Why him? Remus flopped down on the couch next to Sirius and buried his face in his hands.

“Alright, I give up. I need your help,” he mumbled,

“You? Ask ME for help? The god of dating and sex himself?” Sirius asked dramatically, placing a hand on his chest and inhaling sharply.

“Oh will you just- sod off will you? And just tell me, exactly how you flirt?”

“Moony we only have a few hours, I cannot possibly teach you the essence of the Black seduction in a few hours.”  

“The only thing you’ll be seeing is black unless you-” 

Sirius shot his head back and laughed, “Relax Moony, perhaps we should do some yoga to loosen you up. Are your buttocks in a twist? You can tell me.” Suddenly Remus regretted asking Sirius for help but took notes on his flirting technique anyways.

“Oh hello! Come join me, please!” Remus felt everything he had eaten and all of his organs drop, his tongue swelled up and he began to sweat under his sweater. Seeing you in the fall light made him internally (and externally) swoon but he attempted to take a deep breath. He began to try and mimic the way Sirius walked through the halls, putting swagger in his hips. “Remus, you’re being silly, perhaps you’ve been spending too much time with your silly boys, come sit! Don’t be shy.” You smiled again, making Remus forget the stupid stupid walk he learned from Sirius and just sat down. 

“You were right,” he said in surprise, “this blanket is extremely soft.”

“Would I lie to you, Mr. Lupin? Feel free to lie on it, I’ve taken a few naps on it ‘mself, though I probably should’ve focused on my potions essay instead.” Remus would rather nap on your soft thighs and feel your fingers slide through his hair, but he chuckled and replied,

“If I did, who would study with you?”

You pouted your lip slightly, making Remus clench the book he was taking out, “I suppose you’re right. I couldn’t fathom studying with anyone else.” Were you flirting with him? You seemed to lean closer to Remus, wanting to feel his warmth. But, Remus couldn’t place whether or not you were acting flirtatious due to the immense amount of nerves in his system. The two of you began to study, Remus would provide a word and you a definition. Much to his nervous delight, your conversation ran rather smoothly and no awkward lull of silence was provided. 

Might as well go for it, Remus thought and glanced at the piece of parchment he tucked away in his bag. He cleared his throat and rubbed his sweaty palms on his pants.

“So, Y/N...” he trailed off, almost getting lost again in your gaze, 

“Yes?”

“You’re so cute, I think if, I think if you were, I think if you were a boggart, no,” he fumbled quickly with his words making you furrow your eyebrow. 

Perhaps he is having a stroke? You thought.

“If, I think. If you were a... since you’re so cute, and if, a boggart you were, or I’d have... you’d be a.. cute... one?” If Remus could die, he would’ve. On the spot. If he could be struck by lightning and guided to the pearly gates that muggles seem to dream about, he would. In fact, he would even rather be sent to the fiery pits of hell than listen to what he was saying. His attempt at flirting had gone disastrously as he licked his lips in anticipation of your reply. He watched as you looked at him and began to blink rapidly. A wide smile spread across your lips as you let a small laugh slip out.

“Remus Lupin,” You began, sitting up, “Are you flirting with me?” You continued to giggle, almost shyly. 

“What? No! I mean, yes. Maybe? Because I said, the boggart, and cute and...” 

Remus Lupin, you are an idiot. He thought

“I’m not very good at flirting, am I?” he stared at your smiling face before realizing how mortifying the last minute of his life was. “Excuse me while I jump into the lake now.” You bit your lip to stifle the laughter and held his forearm.

“Remus,” you said softly, “I thought it was quite lovely actually.” 

He sighed and shook his head, “you don’t have to protect my feelings, Y/N, I’m more than happy to die over his embarrassing moment. I feel like a right and foolish prat right about now.”

“I’ll say it again, I thought it was very sweet. I’ve never been flirted before, so it was new for me as well.” Remus’ eyes nearly bulged out of his skull as he became redder and shook his head.

“No no, that’s not true. I know half a dozen Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs who are mad for you! And Howard Lewis even asks you out every Saturday!” 

Now it was your turn to be confused, “What are you talking about, Remus?”

“The... the!!” Remus was exasperated, “boys fancy you.”

“No, they don’t?” You began making Remus want to rip his hair out.

“Yes, they do!”

“Remus, no boy has fancied me in the entirety of my life, you must be mad.”

“Well, I fancy you!” He blurted out making you instantly blush,

“Oh.” 

“Yes. And. I’m terribly and dreadfully awful at flirting but I wanted to try and show you that I do actually, um, like you.”

“Oh,” It became quiet, not silent, but quiet. “Well, I,”

“Y/N, you don’t have to say anything, we can forget about it and just study.” You tried to speak again but he cut you off, “Really, it’s okay. It was foolish and stupid and dumb and immature-”

“Don’t I get to say anything, Mr. Flirtatious?” You teased and brushed off your skirt, “I fancy you as well if you didn’t pick that up already, and truthfully, I did find your flirting, while disastrous, to be extremely and utterly adorable.” Remus blinked before an awkward, toothy smile rose. “I’m glad we got that settled then, yeah?” You nodded at Remus before he continued after you, 

“Now, may I at least ask you a few questions?”

You hummed in response.

“So is, is this a date?” 

“Do you want it to be?” you asked,

“Yes.”

“Then it’s a date.”

“Lovely,” Remus felt more and more joyous, “now, did you really not know that every boy in Hogwarts was pining over you?”

You quickly shook your head, “Why would I? I haven’t given a care about any of them until you came ‘round.”

“And the blanket?”

“I brought the blanket so we could read and lay on it,”

Remus was satisfied with his answers and longed to lean in to kiss you. He, and his absolutely dumb-witted nerves, decided to save it for a second date and held your hand instead. Fingers threaded and interlocked, you gave him a reassuring squeeze.

“That reminds me, do you have that extra book in your bag I seemed to have misplaced mine and I-” you reached into Remus’ bag and before he could react, you pulled out the piece of parchment with all the bloody pickup lines Sirius had fed him.

“Is this...?” You asked,

“Yes.” He quickly answered. Your eyes scanned the page in amusement.

“Why didn’t you go with ‘Are you a snitch? Because you’re the greatest catch here,’ I think that one is much better suited than ‘uh, cute, boggart, uh, you, and if I were,” you mocked him jokingly before leaning back comfortably on his chest. He could sing with happiness and leap off the face of the Earth.

“Hey, so maybe flirting isn’t my strong suit.”

“I say this as sweetly as I can, I think you better stick to Transfigurations instead.”       

[enchantedblackrose]

All the Pieces Pt 2

Sirius Black/Fem Reader

Warnings: light swearing, kinda long, unedited. I broke canon and will probably continue to do so in other parts now?

Part 1|| Part 3|| Part 4|| Part 5

Part 2 of ?

No more secrets from you I would lose to love you And I have never felt so Like a man that's been set free I can spread my arms now - Pieces, Dan Powell

Your questions wait longer still as you watch Sirius step hesitantly into your living room. It's not completely conscious, but you can't stop looking at him. He's so skinny and looks defeated, but then that fresh morning sunlight dances across his face. For a second you see glimpses of the boy you knew years ago.

Sirius clears his throat. The sudden noise startles you and you nearly jump.

"Shower!" You yell, though you're not sure why it comes out as a shouted demand.

"'m sorry, what?"

"I mean, you must want a hot shower?" 

Disbelief creeps onto his face. "I would love a hot shower so don't take this wrong, but you must have a hundred questions for me?"

"A thousand actually," you smile, "but they can wait."

Your compassion causes a warmth to fill Sirius that he hasn't felt since the last time he was in your presence. He nods his gratitude, not trusting himself to speak. 

You direct him to the top of the stairs and inform him of the fresh towels in the linen closet and the second bedroom he may use. Before he closes the bathroom door, you tell him you'll see if you can scrounge up any other clothes for him.

"And then if you want," you say, "we can set those damned robes on fire." Sirius laughs as you walk away.

Never being one able to throw anything away, you know for certain you have some old clothing belonging to Sirius. Not trusting the old rickety steps of the pull down ladder, you apparate to the attic. 

"Lumos." The tip of your wand illuminates enough of the storage space that you easily find the light fixture and gently pull on the chain. You put out your wand.

Immediately you spot the desired trunk and the sight of it causes you to draw a sharp breath. Your habit of saving everything while at times like this is beneficial, it often brings you some pain. You sit in front of the trunk, opening it slowly.

Photos and a small midnight blue velvet jewelry box sit on the very top. You pick them up and hesitate before setting them aside. 

Next you pull out a large leather jacket, followed by men's pants, several shirts, including tees with the face of David Bowie, another with the Stones, and even one with ABBA. You throw your head back in laughter; you really do keep anything and everything, but this is why. Even these mundane items hold precious memories.

You set the clothes beside you and thumb through the photos: Sirius kissing you on the cheek, Sirius kissing James on the cheek, you and a very pregnant Lily at her baby shower, you and Remus laughing with a pink haired, confused Sirius in the background, Peter attempting to rollerblade, Sirius in his dog form, the marauders near the Whomping Willow at school, you and Sirius slow dancing at James and Lily's wedding. You sigh before gently placing them back in the trunk. You pick up the little box, the delicate fabric still plush and smooth in your hand. But you decide to return it to the trunk without opening  it. 

Sirius should be getting out of the shower soon and you want the clothes ready for him when he is. You turn off the light before disapparating to the guest bedroom. The clothes were well preserved and a few incantations later they are freshly laundered. You leave them at the end of the bed.

You retreat to the kitchen to prepare brunch. The food is mostly done when from above you hear the water stop, squeaks of doors opening and shutting, the creaking of floorboards and then Sirius barking a hearty laugh. You smile to yourself.

"You always were a pack rat," he says, appearing after a minute. You see he opted not to wear any of the muggle musician shirts, but instead he's in a solid black t-shirt and dark jeans. Both hang loosely on his thin frame. You say nothing about his playful quip, mostly because it's true. You indicate for him to sit in one of the wooden kitchen chairs. "That said where's your engagement ring?"

Your heart sinks as you think to that blue box upstairs.

"Sirius," you warn, your voice low.

"I'm sorry. That wasn't fair. Though you not wearing it was the second thing I noticed about you." He offers a smile, but you don't relent, refusing to dive into this conversation when there's still so many answers he owes. Seeing your hardened expression, he holds his hands up signaling he still means no offense.

You sigh. "What was the first thing?"

His grin widens into a full smile. "Your eyes of course. They're just as I remember. Beautiful,  full of goodness and emotions. I could always tell what you were feeling."

Despite yourself, you feel heat rise to your cheeks, blushing over Sirius Black's words like you were still a schoolgirl. It's mortifying to adult you and you take a large sip of orange juice to avoid eye contact.

Sirius smirks slightly, but begins to eat. The array of food mimics a small buffet: chocolate chip muffins, pancakes, bacon, toast, oatmeal and scrambled eggs. A glass pitcher with orange juice sits beside jams and butter.

Sirius takes more than a bit of everything. A mostly comfortable silence falls over the table as two of you eat. Even when you have finished, you refuse to bombard Sirius with questions, allowing him to enjoy the meal.

Finally, getting his fill, he peers at you across the table. It's finally time for you to learn the truth.

"What do you want to know?"

"Everything," you reply without missing a beat. And so Sirius starts with Peter's betrayal ("literal filthy rat! How could he?" you cry) and ends with knocking at your door.

Your eyebrows furrow. Sirius told you his story and you're still left with questions.

"What's on your mind?" He asks knowingly.

"How did you know where I was? Remus stays here once in a while, did you know that? What's Harry like? Merlin, Peter escaped? He's out there free and you're...do you think he knows where You Know Who is?" You rapid fire questions without thought or pause, but Sirius chuckles.

"I can only answer one at a time, darling. Slow down. Breathe, maybe. I'll answer them all." He shifts in his chair, leaning back slightly. "Dumbledore came to that tower where I was held and told me, in his way, that I may have a friend here. That he would send an owl to that friend explaining my innocence. Remus and I had little chance to chat dealing with that treacherous rat, and Snape," he sneers "and the full moon, of course. But I am glad to know you and Remus maintained your friendship," he pauses as if wanting to say more, but thinks better of it. 

Both a sad and happy smile plays on his lips as he answers your next question. "Harry is a carbon copy of James, with the same knack for trouble, though he has Lily's eyes. I'm hoping he has her common sense, too. He's got a good head on his shoulders and the right sorts of friends surround him." Sirius's expression goes dark. "Peter will go wherever he thinks he'll be protected. Voldemort is out there, and I'm willing to bet Peter will do anything to get to him."

Another silence falls over the two of you and you shudder at the prospect of Voldemort returning.

"I'm sorry if I asked too many questions," you finally say after a long moment.

"You didn't."

"You're welcome to stay here. For as long as you need."

"I'd like to. I'm not sure how long, but a couple nights at least if it's no trouble."

"It's no trouble. Er, does your hippogriff need anything?"

"Buckbeak? Nah. There's plenty for him to hunt and he's free to roam a bit, right? I'll introduce you two later."

You laugh. "I'll show you to your room. You must be exhausted."

He catches your wrist before you walk away. His touch makes you feel as though you're on fire. You ignore the sensation and look Sirius in the eye as he speaks. "Thank you. Your kindness is truly unmatched, y/n. Always has been." You don't know how to respond. As if on cue, he yawns and then frowns. "I haven't asked anything about you."

"There will be time for that later. C'mon." You smile reassuringly but mentally you're thankful to prolong any more heavy conversations.

Sirius follows you up the stairs into the bedroom. Your eyes scan the room and you frown. The pale green wallpaper accented with tiny pink rosebuds and the bed donned with oversized blankets and half a dozen throw pillows is a stark contrast to Sirius. You mumble something about not being able to redecorate this room just yet. But Sirius just smiles. You draw the curtains shut in an attempt to block the midday sunlight.

"I think you should have everything you need? Of course help yourself to anything in the kitchen. I'll head to town to get some things."

His face is solemn. "Y/n, stay with me?" He clears his throat. "I mean...will you. Please?"

Wordlessly you nod. You let him climb into the queen sized bed first. Once he's settled, you get in, laying next to him. He moves you closer. Your head rests on his shoulder. He breathes in your scent as his arms wrap loosely around you. You drape an arm across his chest, assuring him his touch is welcomed. His grip tightens slightly as his breathing slows. You watch the rising and fall of his chest until your eyelids flutter shut.

Light tapping on your front door pulls you out of your dreams. Confusion hits first as you're heavy with the weight of a man's arms around you. Sirius. You smile as you become more awake, remembering the moments just hours ago. The knocking grows louder. Urgent, even. Panic sets in.

You shake Sirius awake. He bolts upright in bed, his breathing labored. You place a hand on his chest to calm him. For the moment at least. "Someone's at the door." You tell him in a harsh whisper . Sirius's eyes widen. "Transform," you urge. "And for Merlin's sake stay here." He wants to argue, but knows you're right. You wait until he becomes a large black furry mass of a dog. You close the bedroom door behind you, earning a low whine from Sirius in the process. You hurry down the stairs, clutching your wand in your dominant hand. Fear courses through your veins. You feel your heartbeat quicken with each step.

Drawing a deep breath, you swing the front door open.  The sight nearly stops your heart.

"Finally y/n. Is he here?"

Taglist: @oingo233

[deadpcnned]

the gamble of the heart | chapter 3 (r.l.)

chapter three: hangovers and cowards

series masterlist

previous chapter

pairing: remus lupin x potter!reader

chapter summary: remus and y/n attempt to talk about their failed relationship 

warnings: swearing, hangover?? 

wordcount: 1.4k

a/n: super short chapter but the next chapter is already done and will be up soon

REMUS WAS met with a dimly lit room as he opened his eyes. He could tell it was daytime by the bits of light peeking in from behind the curtains, but the thick drapes were thankfully blocking most of the light. He was clutching an empty bottle of alcohol against his chest and there was drool sticking to the corner of his mouth. Remus wrapped himself further into his duvet, trying to ignore the nausea adding to his previous misery. He’d have to use some charms to cure the steady ache in his head and drink a shitload of water. 

Balancing himself as he stood, Remus was met with an empty room. He was sure he had slept through the boys trying to wake him up, as he had a habit of doing. Even if they hadn’t he really didn’t care. He just needed some food. Trudging down the stairs, Remus hoped that Sirius and James hadn’t planned anything tremendous today. He didn’t have the mind or the heart to deal with their antics, no matter how much he enjoyed them most days.

To his disillusionment, instead of a clear path to breakfast, he ran into a rather gorgeous obstacle. His anger wasn’t enough to blind him from how beautiful Y/N looked, perched up on the sofa reading from a textbook. With a shake of his head, Remus started to head towards the door again.

“We need to talk, Remus,” Y/N’s voice was a mix of stern and concerned and Remus sighed knowing nothing good was going to come of this conversation. Turning around, he walked back towards the couches and took a seat as far away as possible from Y/N. 

“Not here,” she motioned to the crowd behind her and began to go back up the stairs. Remus didn’t want to climb up the stairs. Not just because of his massive headache, but because he didn’t want to just listen to her. He had wasted enough of his time doing that.

But people always told him old habits die hard. 

Entering Y/N’s dorm, Remus took a seat at what appeared to be Lily’s desk. The tops of ten dead flowers that were carefully taped to the table - that he knew James had given her and she had reluctantly taken - were proof of that. He wondered if Lily would ever hurt James the way he had been hurt. Well, after she finally stopped pretending she didn’t care for the boy. He hoped not. No one deserved this pain, but especially not James. 

“What was yesterday about?” Remus slowly brought his head up to look at the Y/N. She was sitting on the edge of her bed, nervously clutching her blanket. He couldn’t count the number of times he had held her on that bed. Or the one night he had snuck into her dorm after a particularly gruesome full moon. He had wanted to remember the details of that night forever when he had left in the morning, but now he wanted anything but that. 

Y/N had mumbled an incantation under her breath and suddenly Remus’ head felt a lot lighter. 

“You know perfectly well what last night was about,” Remus said simply. There was no point in either of them playing dumb, especially her. 

“No, Remus. I don’t. It’s not like you to make a scene like that.” Remus scoffed at the expectations she held for him. 

“Yah? Well, it’s not like you to make out with some random in the middle of a crowded room.” Y/N looked at him incredulously, her mouth agape.  

“So, what? Are you jealous of Mason?” Was she fucking insane? 

“Am I jealous of Mason?” Remus was seething as he spat his words at her. “Of course I’m fucking jealous, Y/N. Stop acting so innocent.” 

“I’m not acting - Remus, I-” In two swift motions, Remus was standing right in front of Y/N.

“No, you are. You know damn well you’ve let me down. So, at least be brave enough to own it.” Slowly Y/N rose up from her spot, protectively crossing her arms in front of her. 

“So that outfit you wore yesterday… At the game. It was what? To get my attention,” Y/N’s accusation invoked a rosey color to inhabit Remus’ cheeks. He had felt embarrassed enough when he had made the decision the day before, but now he was mortified. All he could do was nod. 

“You looked utterly stupid.” Remus let out a mirthless chuckle and pursed his lip as he watched her. 

“That’s my fucking problem, Y/N. I am so goddamn stupid. I am so stupid that I can’t let go of this notion that you still care about me. That you still have all the feelings we talked about. But I’m even stupider because I would still do anything for you,” Remus’ words were bullets, but every shot aimed at Y/N seemed to be hitting him instead. 

“Moony,” He grimaced at the way his nickname left her lips. She looked distraught and he resisted the urge to smooth out the lines on her forehead. “I don’t know what you want me to say.” 

“Alright,” Remus took a breath, trying to keep his temper cool. “Start by explaining why? Why’d you start dating Tomlinson?” Y/N’s face flushed as she looked at Remus with an unreadable expression.

“I like him, Remus. That’s why.” Maybe if Remus had really been listening, the words would have broken straight through his bones. Instead, he was ready to ask her the next question on his mind. 

“What happened to us?”

It was a simple question. If Y/N had a new boyfriend she should have no problem giving him an answer. So, why was she tearing up? Why did she get to be the one hurting right now? 

“Remus, Mason, he just… I don’t know, Remus. I can’t explain it,” Remus was getting sick of her feigning guiltlessness. He was the one that was left alone and empty, she probably had Mason filling her up every night. 

“Did you lie in your letter?” He studied her reaction carefully as he spoke his next words. “You said you loved me, what the fuck does that mean?” When Remus had received the letter from Y/N, he had assumed it was going to be just another mundane update since the last time they had talked. Which would have been more than enough for Remus. However, within the last lines of the letter she had casually told Remus she loved him. He wasn’t sure if it had been a mistake, but that day he decided as soon as they were back at Hogwarts he would tell her how he felt. He would make what they had real. 

“That I loved you?” Y/N visibly retracted and closed her eyes as she replied. 

“Is that what it meant? Because if you fucking loved me, then how the fuck did you find someone new after three weeks?” Remus tasted a salty liquid on his lips and instantly wiped away the tears that were slipping down his face. What made him more angry was that Y/N was just staring, wide eyed. “ANSWER ME, Y/N!”

“Remus, I don’t know. I wish I knew what happened, but I just met Mason and it was like something instant.” 

“You’re a liar. There must be a reason that you fell… fell o-out of love with me,” Remus took a harsh breath in, willing his tears away. 

“I’m not lying. It had nothing to do with you,” Remus chuckled, choking on his tears. How cliche, he thought. Running his hand through his hair, he spun away from Y/N. It was as if the moon had come two weeks early, because he was unable to control the anger coursing through him. He pounded his fist against Marlene’s bed frame, but made sure to stay as far away from Y/N as possible. No matter what, he couldn’t scare her. 

“Remus!” Y/N yelled, running over to inspect his hands. Her hands were cold but she electrified every inch of skin she touched. Sighing, she looked up at him. “Look, Remus. I have no idea how to explain to you what I’m feeling, but you’re just going to have to accept I’m with Mason now. Or - or we can’t be friends.” 

“Okay,” Remus nodded his head calmly, carefully moving his hand away from hers and brought them to his side.

“Okay? Thank you, Remus -”

“I guess we just aren’t friends anymore,” Turning around, Remus didn’t bother listening to what bullshit Y/N was spewing. But before he walked out of the room he left her with one last thought, “Coward.”

Remus didn’t react until he was safely in his locked dorm room. And then he broke. Did Y/N have a charm to use for the pain growing in his heart? Because he really needed it.

taglist: @kitkatkl @faceache111 @peasantview @missmulti @666cookies @thetiredslytherin @wonderful-writer @devilswaldorf @chococerealmilk @rare-breed-of-human @rexorangecouny @messagesinthesky @theawkwardone-isme @fredweasleysbitchh @nicodoesntexist @whoreforfredweasley @voidmalfoy​

[dirt-cup-draco]

James x Reader-  Impossibility

Your head was pressed against the rough table you were sat at for breakfast, groaning as you tried to wake yourself up. You had been up all night working on an essay due that day because you’d spent too long helping James study. You knew you had needed to get it done before anything else but James was batting those pretty lashes at you and smiling in that perfect way of his and even if he was infuriating, you couldn’t say no.

“Alright there?” Remus laughed as he sat beside you, patting your back and squeezing your shoulder as you turned your head to peer at him through sleep blurred eyes. 

“Fine,” You sighed, sitting up to roll your neck on your shoulders, easing some of the tension as you blinked your eyes, once, twice, to clear away the film that was blurring everything at the edges. “Just stayed up late-”

“-helping Prongs?” Sirius snorted, biting into an apple as he noticed your heavy-lidded gaze. 

“Yeah, where is he?” You confirmed, talking a deep breath and straightening your back to help you wake. Remus gave you another hearty pat before he was reaching across the table to fill his plate with all sorts of foods. 

“I reckon he’s still asleep,” Peter offered, having watched quietly while eating some toast.

Sirius shook his head, swiping a pastry from your plat as you slapped at his hand. He stuck out his tongue before adding, “Saw him with Evans, probably tried to ask her out again,” The boys started to snicker, rolling their eyes as their friend tried-and failed- to woo Lily Evans. 

“Should’ve guessed, poor bloke won’t ever stop trying will he?” You tried to laugh but your chest felt tight. The toast you’d taken a bite of turned to sand in your mouth and your appetite was quickly vanishing. 

Your friends laughed around you in agreement but you wished any one of them would have said otherwise. Maybe a “he’ll get over her soon!” or a “don’t worry Y/N, he’ll realize how you feel by years end”. You knew it was wishful thinking but you had once been so close to James and now you felt as if you could hardly speak to him alone. 

Studying was easy, you could focus on the work you both had to do and channel your nervous energy into essays and editing James’ messy scrolls. Talking in your group was just as simple if not more, if you found yourself falling short someone else in the group would just speak up and the silence wouldn’t be longer than a second. 

But truly being alone with James, was an impossibility. 

You remembered the days before Evans had captured his full attention. It had been rare to see him without you and vice versa. You would spend your nights in the common room with your legs thrown over his lap, the fire warming the room and casting shadows against his boyish face. James would play with the frayed hem of your sweater sleeve and he’d talk about anything and everything.

 You could listen to him speak for hours, days even. There was nothing more interesting than the world through the eyes of James Potter. No wonder things had seemed so bleak recently. Over the summer you had lost your hold on James, your presence in his life just not what it was that previous school year and by the time seventh year rolled around you were just wishing you had your best friend back. 

You weren’t sure what had done it, maybe it was the hug that had been too long at the train station as sixth year had ended. Maybe it had been the long stares and the hitching of your breath every time he did something as simply as sending you a playful, meaningless, wink. Maybe it was just that James Potter no longer had anything to say to you.

“Coming?” Peter’s voice was soft as he poked your shoulder hesitantly, the other Gryffindors having cleared out of the Great Hall. Sirius and Remus hovered a yard or so away, the former whining about how he should have just gone with everyone else and caught that cute sixth year Ravenclaw before she got lost in the crowd. 

You nodded and gathered your books, embarrassed for being lost in your thoughts through breakfast and disappointed that James had never arrived. Sirius and Remus walked ahead having done their duty as friends by hanging back for you. Peter slowed his steps, casting you a glance so you would do the same. 

“Y/N... I just-” He started, brow furrowed as he cracked his knuckles nervously. 

“Yes, Peter?” You prompted, knowing he might need the encouragement. Your friend was meek as a mouse and you understood it was hard for him to reach out to you. 

“Is everything okay?” He stalled just outside of the grand doors of the Great Hall, the other boys having vanished to their next class. It seemed you and Peter wouldn’t be going. You didn’t want to deal with the detention and you knew he’d be mortified to walk into a full classroom, all eyes on him. 

Your eyebrows shot up and your own steps faltered. You stopped walking altogether as you realized he wasn’t budging from his place against one of the mighty pillars in the corridor. 

“Why do you ask?” 

Peter gave you an appraising look. “You barely ate breakfast today,” 

“I wasn’t hungry,” 

“There’s something else-” Peter pressed, and you couldn’t help but feel trapped. Of course something was wrong but what was anyone to do about it? James had made his decision, or his heart had. You weren’t to be the one for him and you would have to deal with that. 

“It’s nothing. I can handle it Peter,” You cut him off but felt your stomach twist with guilt as his eyes lowered to the ground, cheeks growing pink. 

“Look at me,” You sighed. 

“The stone is quite fascinating,  did you know that the founders-” 

“Pettigrew you better look at me or I am going to jinx all of your textbooks into frogs and set them free in the Forbidden Forest,” 

That got your friend to laugh and he looked up at you with kinder eyes.  “Yeah, ‘course you would,” You were as soft as him. 

“Thank you for caring, but I really am okay,” Pressing your lips to his cheeks you walked away feeling lighter than you had in a while. 

--

“Wormtail!” James shouted, arm falling free of Lily’s shoulders as he jogged up to his friend who was standing with wide eyes and a red face in front of the great hall, his bookbag having fallen to the ground. Peter’s eyes whipped from your receding form as you dipped around the corner headed to your dorm.

“J-j-” He stumbled over his words as the leader of his friend group clapped him on the shoulder, an odd look in his eyes. 

“Was that Y/N? Where’s she headed off to?” James asked as Lily passed by the both of them with a sweet goodbye. 

“Dorm.” Peter stated and then shook his head, James snorting at his flustered friend. “I mean, yes that was her and she is headed to her dorm- I think. I’m not sure exactly but I doubt she feels like going to class today,” 

At that James frowned. “Well why not?” 

“She just hasn’t been feeling well ‘s all,” Peter had a suspicion that the teen in front of him was the reason you had skipped breakfast that morning and why you had been more scarce this year. With James’ attention elsewhere your feelings were jumbled and you were trying to find your place in the group. He understood in some way how you felt. Sirius, Remus and James had always seemed closer and it had left him feeling unwanted too. Forgotten even.

“Y/N was fine last night when we worked on homework,” 

“You mean she was fine last night when she did your homework for you,” Peter surprised himself by interrupting. 

“What’re you getting at?” James narrowed his eyes at his quiet friend. “You’ve got a problem with Y/N and I hanging out?” 

“Course not James,” Peter sighed, regretting his outburst. “I just don’t think she fancies only being needed when you’re looking for help on homework or talking to Evans or getting out of trouble.” 

“I don’t-!” 

“When was the last time you spoke to her about her day? Or the last time you ate breakfast with us and thanked her for staying up late the night before just for you? You should’ve seen her this morning, she could barely keep her eyes open! I just think you ought to be a better friend,” 

James gaped at Peter, words failing him as the boy turned on his heel and walked away. Peter’s shoulders were up around his ears as he quickened his pace but James was too stunned to give chase. Had he really been a poor friend to you? 

And what was going on with you and Peter?

--

There was a rhythmic drumming on your table at the library that was making it very hard to focus on the pages in front of you. “Merlin, Moony did you drink too much coffee today?” You snapped, eyes darting from the page and landing on none other than James. 

Immediately your expression fell into something more guarded and harsh, your lips squeezing into a thin line. James nearly paled at the sight. Since when had you looked at him with anything other than adoration? Maybe there was more to what Peter had been saying than he thought. 

“I’d like to think I’m more handsome than Moony but I do understand your assumption it was such a dashing young man at your table,” 

You hated that you had to fight back a laugh. “Stuff it Potter, I’m studying,” 

James wasn’t surprised by your dismissal, you weren’t the most studious in all of hogwarts but you did take your grades seriously and when you had homework to do very little could interrupt you. It was your tone however that hooked around his heart and tugged. 

“Is everything okay?” He coughed, tugging at the collar of his shirt. He didn’t understand his sudden shyness around you. It had been awhile since you two had talked but he didn’t think it changed anything, at least not for him. James just hadn’t had much to say when you already knew him inside and out. He supposed he hadn’t done enough listening. 

You closed your book, fingers pinching the bridge of your nose as you groaned. “Why does everyone keep asking me that?” You exaggerated and it seemed the minor change in volume alerted Madame Pince as you were silenced with a resolute “Shh!”. 

Shoving your book in your bag you slung it around your shoulder and made your way out of the library. James who had forgotten to bring any of his textbooks had no problem keeping up with you.

“Y/N!” He huffed in annoyance as you refused to stop and wait for him. “Just slow down!” 

“Just speed up,” you rolled your eyes and kept going until a hand was wrapping around your arm and pulling you backwards. You stumbled over your own feet and slammed into James’ chest. 

Without a second of hesitation you were tearing your arm away as if burned and putting space between you and your friend. 

“What did I even do?!” James nearly shouted in frustration. Since when had you been so against being near him? Since when had you closed yourself off so completely? 

James’ question made you pause. Of course he didn’t know what was going on. How was he supposed to know your feelings when you refused to admit them to anyone but yourself? He was just as clueless as anyone else, probably even more so. 

“N-nothing,” You answered honestly, cheeks burning. “You truly haven’t done anything...  Did you know you only sent me two letters over the summer? A-and that you’ve only spent more than fifteen minutes with me when you’ve needed me to help with your homework?” 

“We all went to the Black Lake just the other-” 

“But did you speak to me?” You pointed out. “I don’t mean when we’re with the others James... I mean just us, like we used to do. I guess I should be the one asking what I did wrong,” 

“You were just sitting at the tree and we were swimming and I just didn’t think to talk...” James defended and you gave him a sad smile. You knew he didn’t mean to hurt you or ignore you. “And over the summer things just got busy and I figured you’d be having your own fun.” 

“I know,” You promised. “I don’t mean to be unfair, I know things change and I can’t always hope for us to be like we used to.” 

“Can’t we try?” James asked, suddenly worried over the detached tone you used with him. It suddenly hit him how little quality time you two had spent together since the end of sixth year and his stomach churned. Seventh year was nearly halfway through and then you’d all be graduating and building your own lives. He knew he’d have Lily by his side, as well as his family- The Marauders- but would you be there too? 

James didn’t even know what your plans were after school. Shame burned deep in his veins.

“I’d like to,” You spoke honestly, smile tight. “But you’re busy and I’m- I just know that things will end up better if we both free each other. You’re free of worrying over me and I’m free of my helplessness,” 

“Y/N, before you do this at least tell me what the hell is going on,” 

“Can I get a hug? Before- Well before our goodbye,” 

“No, you can’t! Not if it means goodbye,” 

“James,” your voice cracked and your eyes turned misty. “I know you don’t understand but I can’t tell you... It will be so much worse if I do. Just please hug me and give me some time. Maybe we can try to be like we were once but I need time before that and you need to live your life like always- without fretting over what I’m doing,” 

The words cut deep even if that wasn’t your intention. Had James truly made you feel so forgotten that you insisted the end of your friendship was the best and only option? 

A hug was the least he could do. 

When his arms found their way around you he felt the tremors going through your frame. Shoulders shaking with the sobs you were trying to conceal and knees quivering with a frailty he knew had more to do with your emotional distress than any actual weakness. 

“I’ll see you around Potter,” 

You pulled away first and James wasn’t sure how to keep his hold on you anymore. It seemed it’d been gone for longer than he thought. 

--

“What!?” Sirius shouted. 

“Y/N, why would you do that?” Remus asked.

“He’ll come around,” Peter promised. 

Your friends had been kind enough to come see you in your dorm after class and you felt they should hear of the bridges burned before they found the ashes themselves. 

“James has Lily now... Being around that-” You shrugged, your feelings becoming obvious to the boys now in front of you. “It’s just an impossibility, alright? I’ll get over it eventually I just need some time,” 

“Well we can still hang out right?” Sirius looked unsure, worried he was losing a friend. 

“Of course Siri,” You rubbed your puffy eyes and tried to give him a smile. Despite having the largest outburst you knew he wasn’t angry with you. Simply worried. “I’ll always be here for you guys,” 

The three boys nodded around you, wishing they could’ve somehow helped before it came to this. But you had made your mind up and they knew it would take a miracle to change it back. 

--

That night James curled up with Lily on the couch, her legs thrown over his lap, the fire crackling. His fingers played with the ends of her hair as they spoke of anything and everything. Lily was James’ world and to change that would be an impossibility. 

[marvelettesassemble]

Bruises on our Skin (Sirius x Reader)

Summary: Soulmate AU -  Bruises and scars appear on your skin when your soulmate gets them. So why are you always covered in bruises in the summer holiday?

Word Count: 3k

Warnings: hints of abuse

You were glad that at least you didn’t share the pain of the bruises and scars that started to show on your collar bone. You didn’t know what problems your soulmate had but it seemed like it was a lot of them. When your soulmate gets a bruise or even a wound which will lead to a scar it will show on your skin also. Your Soulmate prevents yourself from showing a lot of skin, especially when it was too hot outside for the long sleeves you wore then.

In the first years it didn’t matter so much until everybody started pointing out the obvious and were asking you questions you didn’t have an answer for. Each summer the bruises became more and more. You weren’t sure if it worked this way but before you started your first year in Hogwarts you wrote on your forearm ‘are you okay?’, but you never got an answer. Maybe the ink had to be under your skin to show on your other half.

But when you were eleven you had other things to worry about: Finally starting your first year at Hogwarts! You couldn’t wait for all the cool things you could do with your wand and be able to spent so much time with other kids your age.  You didn’t mind being an only child but you imagine it would be great to share some things with other kids.

When you were asked which house you wanted to be put in, by your parents or other family members, you just shrugged and told them it wouldn’t matter. You were sure you’d have a blast. When you were about to enter the Hogwarts Express you noticed a girl standing by herself so you decided to start making friends right this moment and asked her if she wanted to share the train ride with you.

She was almost as excited as you and told you that she was the only one of her family who showed signs of magic. She told you that she was befriended with Severus Snape and it didn’t took long for him to join you in the compartment. He was sure he’s be placed in Slytherin while you and the girl in front of you, Lily, were unsure.

You were glad you were placed in the same house as Lily. Gryffindor would be your new home.

“Weren’t you supposed to be in Slytherin?” you heard someone asking another new boy at the table.

“Got a problem?” the young boy replied not showing any fear.

“No,” the other one said and put a roll on his plate, took another and placed it on the plate of the boy he asked the question. You’d learn later that the two of them would start to annoy you and your classmates. They’d befriend the other boys next to them and would never back down from a fight.

When all the excitement about entering Hogwarts had ended, you confined in Lily about the marks of your soulmate. She was astonished as it wasn’t always the case to see the soulmate marks so soon. She herself hadn’t seen anything on her body and was eager to see yours.

While her friendship with Severus fell more and more apart yours grew stronger. You invited her over in the summer holidays when her sister became meaner and ignored her. You were happy to share your room with her and have pyjama parties for two weeks. So of course she saw the bruises that started to show as every summer. But this time there appeared also scars – nasty scars.

You came up with many theories how your Soulmate had gotten them. You even started a game of who came up with the most ridiculous story. You even joked if he was a werewolf when the bruises started to show every new moon. When you didn’t want to go swimming because of the many colours your skin showed Lily pointed to your watercolours and told you to paint them over.  

“They are called watercolours for a reason. They would come up the second I’d enter the water,” you pointed out.

“So what? Are we witches or not? I think I have this powder with me. I use to throw it on my ink so it’ll stay on my paper when Potter decides to stroll into the room as if he owned it and didn’t notice that he throw that juice on my essay again.”

You giggled. “He does that sometimes,” you admitted. “But he and his friends aren’t so bad. Remus is pretty decent and he helps me studying sometimes. Maybe we should be nicer to them we could actually study together.” Lily just scoffed while you started to brush some yellow paint on your skin.

You were sitting by the black lake, your head in Lily’s lap while you were trying to study.  

“Oh can you just shut it?” you suddenly exploded and the boys who were discussing something vividly next to you stopped and stared at you.  

“What’s your problem?” Sirius asked and came nearer to sit down next to you while accidently kicking your leg. His friends followed him but didn’t sit down.

“Excuse me for being stressed because of the exams. I just want to study and you’re loud as hell. I can’t concentrate.”

“I think you need to lose up a bit,” Sirius said. “Even Remus is taking a break. How about we get together tonight and relax? We’ll get some stuff to eat and drink.” He offered.

You put your book away and rubbed your eyes. “Okay,” you said and surprised everyone including Lily. You were pretty stressed and you needed a night without studying.

“Okay, common room, 8 o’clock,” he said and jumped to his feet.  

You were in the common room before eight, playing a round of chess (the muggle version as neither Lily or you had the wizard edition). When it was almost time to meet the boys, Remus appeared by their side. “We decided to meet in our dorm if that’s okay for you. It’s a bit crowded and we didn’t really want to explain where we got the things,” he explained. You nodded and followed him. Sirius, Peter and James were sitting on the floor. Pillows were on the floor for makeshift seats and many sweets and drinks were also shattered on the floor. You even spotted half a bottle of fire whiskey.

“Oi, would you just shut it? Just wait for your soulmate,” Lily exclaimed after a rather nice evening. You really had fun – bot of you.

“So, what if I think you are my soulmate, Evans?” he said and while Lily didn’t pick up on it you noticed that he’d turned serious.

“Then I’d tell you, that you’re delusional. Here, I’ll proof you wrong and hopefully you’ll let me alone.” She got on her knees and bent forward, grabbed James arm and pinched him forcefully.  

“Are you mad, woman? Why didn’t you pinch yourself?” Potter exclaimed and rubbed the hurting spot.

“Why should I suffer, just because your wishful thinking?”

“Have you spotted marks yet?” Peter asked her curiously.

“No.” Lily admitted.  

“See, so it wouldn’t proof anything,” James exclaimed.

“What about you, have you seen some?” Remus asked you.

“Yeah, I see them since I’m ten. But I don’t want to talk about it,” you answered quietly.

Lily who’s just took a long sip of the whiskey laughed suddenly. “Oh, we’re joking that he’s a werewolf,” she laughed and both of you didn’t notice that the colour drained from the boys faces. “We’re coming up with the most ridiculous answers to explain the bruising covering her whole body.”

“Lily, stop,” you said and grabbed her arm. You didn’t really want to discuss anything of your soulmate in front of others. It wasn’t their problem and you bet he didn’t want everybody to know about it.

“You’re making fun of it?” James asked quietly, but serious. You felt like there was a spotlight shining on you.

“Well, excuse me for trying to make sense out of it or trying to make fun of it. I didn’t know that I was only supposed to think about what an awful life my soulmate seems to have and how I can’t do anything to help. Thanks for the night, it was nice so far.” You stood up, taking your best friend with you and left the dorm. You didn’t notice that nobody wished you a good night.

“I’m sorry,” Lily said, but you told her she had nothing to be sorry for.

When you woke up the next morning and greeted Lily she didn’t answer. She sat on her bed and didn’t move. You sat down next to her and before you could ask she pointed to a little bruise on her arm – the position where she had pinched James to proof that he isn’t her soulmate.

“It’s seems chilly outside, it won’t be weird for us to wear the sweaters,” you pointed out and for that day you didn’t talk about it until she climbed into the bed with you when you were supposed to sleep.

After the night in the boys dorm it became kind of awkward, especially with Remus. You didn’t study together anymore. You were surprised that Sirius were the only one still freely talking with you and so the two of you were walking on the grounds when you had a free period while your friends all had class.

“Hey, can we slow down?” you asked and put a hand on his arm.

“Of course, are you okay?” he asked.

“I don’t feel,” you stopped the sentence. And then you stopped everything because you fainted. It wasn’t long, because when you opened your eyes again you saw Sirius face in front of you.

“There you are. How are you feeling?”

“Not so good?”

“Can you walk to the infirmary?” You told him you would try and together you made you way inside the castle – your arms linked and just taking a break once.

Madam Pomfrey told you to sit on the bed. “Do you faint often?” she asked. You told her that this had been the first time, but you feel rather dizzy once a month. Just when you thought it couldn’t get more awkward, she asked if you’re sexually active. When you looked mortified at Sirius Madam Pomfrey paused.

“Mister Black, what are you still doing here?” she asked surprised. “Go outside, wait there if you must. But give the poor girl some privacy.”

He winked at you and walked outside. She examined you and gave you something to take when you were on your period so you wouldn’t feel dizzy anymore. She reminded you to drink more water in this time and you were excused. You were surprised to see Sirius still waiting in the hall, but he accompanied you to lunch without asking anything. But you noticed that there was a cup of water in front of you when you sat down.

Since you were thirteen you had a rather ugly scar just above your heart. It was a nasty scar and you didn’t want to think about how awful it had to be for your soulmate and why you both had that scar. Since the summer you often covered your skin in your paint. And today you had a feeling you needed to do this with this particular scar.  

You were alone in your room so you took place in front of your mirror and while you looked over to the colours you felt the need to use just ink. You were aiming for the head of a wolf (maybe because the werewolf theory was stuck in your head?) but the more you painted it seemed more like the head of a dog. Never the less you were pleased with the outcome. You smiled when you took a last glance in the mirror before you got dressed to start your day. Somehow you felt lighter than before.  

That day you didn’t see much of Sirus who was in the library searching for something. Remus joined him, but it was still strange. The tension had left your little group over the last month and you were sitting together for dinner. You noticed how Sirius always seemed to refill your cup with water until you told him to stop it. Lily seemed to warm up to James and he was almost walking on clouds because of it.  

The topic of soulmates wasn’t mentioned anymore by any of you.

“What are you doing tonight?” James asked.

“We’ll meet up with the Hufflepuff girls, what about you?” you answered as Lilys mouth was still full of carrots.

“I need to go to the library again,” Sirius said, but it didn’t matter to him that you all could see that he was munching potatoes.  

“What are you doing there? Planning a new prank? Should we be worried?” Lily asked when she had finally finished her vegetables.

“It’s personal,” he just answered, but that didn’t really ease your worry about getting pranked.

When you woke up the next day you didn’t feel any different other than feeling refreshed as it was Sunday and you could sleep in. You went to the bathroom and when you started to scrub the ink off your body, you haltered. Did you use Lilys powder? No, you were alone when you inked yourself. So why didn’t the paint fade away. Well the water turned black but the picture of the dog stayed on your skin. You scrubbed and scrubbed, but it still stayed there.  

You were confused but as you couldn’t do a thing you decided to end your shower. After getting dressed in a sweatshirt you made your way to the great hall where Lily was sitting with the boy gang and they were talking loudly.

“Oh come on and show it, if you’re so proud of yourself,” you heard Lilys voice.

“You know if you want to see a shirtless guy, you can always ask me. You know I won’t hesitate.” James eyebrows rose suggestively.

“What’s going on?” you asked when you sat down next to Peter and grabbed a piece of toast.

“Well Sirius here got a tattoo yesterday and although he tells us how awesome it is he won’t show it,” Lily explained.

“How did you get a tattoo?” you asked confused and looked over to see Sirius smirking. While he started to tell something about how he got it you spotted black ink under his white dress shirt. Black Ink right above his heart. Black Ink that looked familiar. You leant over the table and knocked something over. While you heard Peter complain about his pants which were soaked now, you started to undo Sirius button.

“You could at least ask,” he started but you didn’t react. You opened another button and lifted the white fabric. You were looking at a black dog.

“Neat,” you heard someone say.

“I know this painting style,” the voice of a girl was heard. Probably Lily, but it was as if you stood in a fog. You couldn’t hear or see anything other than that black dog in front of you.

“This isn’t.... This...” you started, but you didn’t know how you should finish that sentence.

You heard Sirius saying your name. His grin has left his face as he saw your shocked one. “It's just a tattoo,” his voice came through to the fog. You turned around, almost falling over the bench and walked away. You heard the voices of your friends behind you asking if you’re okay.

“Sirius, how did you choose this motive?” Lily asked while Peter was still busy to dry his pants.

“Well, you know...,” Sirius blushed a little. “It just appeared yesterday morning. And I liked it so much I searched for a way how it could stay there.”

“Did that happen often?” the red head asked further.

“One summer,” James started.

“you were covers in sunflowers?” finished Lily.

“How do you know that? Did you tell her?” Sirius was glowering at his best friend. James threw his hands up in defence.

“And was there a scar before that ink?” Lily questioned again.

“Yeah, how do you know all about this?” Sirius asked confused while Remus had put the puzzle pieces together.

“Because your soulmate has just left the room,” Lily concluded.

“What?” were heard from three different mouths.

Lily said they should all search for you, but Sirius said he had a feeling he’s know where you’d be and James gave him a blank piece of paper. Sirius took it and walked away.

“There you are,” you heard Sirius voice behind you. There weren’t many people outside as it was the end of autumn so you had decided to go for a walk.

You had almost reached the Whomping Willow when you decided it was far enough. As you hadn’t planned to walk outside you didn’t have a jacket with you and the wind was blowing. You shivered but you didn’t want to go back inside to talk about what you had just found out.

“I grabbed you a blanket,” you heard Sirius voice again.

“I’m actually quiet shocked that we’re soulmates. We all thought that Moony was yours.” The boy sat down next to you, facing the trees and the castle like you.

“Why Remus?” you asked and he just shrugged.

There wasn’t anything said for a few minutes. “I don’t know what to say. I never knew what I should say when I imagined meeting my soulmate. I can’t even imagine.. It must have been horrible... Merlin, what have you gone through,” you finally said and put your fingers above his hand.

“I don’t really want to talk about it, if that’s okay for you. At least for now,” he said.

“Of course. How about we start as friends and if you want to talk about it, I’m here?” He smiled at you and nodded.

“So, you like to paint?” he asked and so you started to learn more about each other with your fingers still touching his.  

Masterlist

[seaweedbrain404]

Wolfstar Au!: Hot and Cold (pt 2 of Parties and Morning Regrets)

@icitlali asked if there was a second part and um- yeah i wrote this, there may be more parts to come

pt 1

pt3

read it on ao3

Remus thought inviting Sirius up was the right thing to do which is the only reason he did. He dared to let himself hope but he didn’t really want to see Sirius. Still, Remus had manners and it was so cold outside that his own fingers were turning purple. Leaving Sirius out in the cold and making him probably walk home seemed too mean, even for Remus. Although, he thought Sirius definitely deserved it.

He followed Sirius up to the flat, Lily looked more than surprised when she saw Sirius come in and gave Remus another look. It was one of those looks that Remus didn’t like getting, the we’re-going-to-talk-about-this-later kind of look. He shrugged it off, too preoccupied with his bloody hip.

“Remus, did you really walk all the way here?” Lily crossed her arms over her chest as Remus closed the door behind them.

“Yeah, so what” He replied through gritted teeth. “I’m going for a shower to wash off the smell of stale alcohol”

“You’re going to be the death of me one day, Remus Lupin” Lily’s voice called to his retreating back. “Sirius, how are you?”

Remus heard vague small talk as he navigated his way to his bedroom. The pain in his hip wasn’t unbearable exactly. It was just bad enough for it to consume all his thoughts. All he needed was a warm bath, some painkillers and to limit his movements for the rest of the day. Easy. Unfortunately, the bath would have to wait until later though seeing as it would probably be rude to soak in the tub while having a guest over.

Showering after a night out was always a pleasant experience. He emerged from the shower just a couple minutes later with damp hair, a stolen pair of Lily’s yoga pants and a clean jumper.

“Ah, here’s the idiot who has no regard for his health” Lily smiled as Remus walked into the kitchen. “Are those mine?”

“Maybe, painkillers please?” He walked across the room and leaned his chin on Lily’s shoulder.

Sirius watched the interaction between the two with some hint of longing in his eyes. Remus wasn’t sure why, maybe it was because he had never been so casually touchy with anyone but now him and Lily were even closer than they were in school.

Lily wrapped an arm around his waist, rubbing circles on his hip. “Sirius, there’s a small pill bottle in the cupboard just there-“ she pointed to the right above her head “-would you mind grabbing it please?”

Sirius blinked for a moment, seemingly frozen at the sight of them. Then, he nodded. “Yeah- yeah, I got it”

He passed Lily the retrieved painkillers without looking at them. Lily hummed gratefully in return, easing Remus, who had hid his face in the crook of her neck, off her. He leaned back against the counter and Lily switched the kettle on.

“I promised Mrs Pettigrew from next door that I’d pick up her groceries today” Lily turned to Remus, glancing at Sirius, “and do a bit of cleaning for her since her grandson is out of town, do you think you’ll manage?”

“Yeah” Remus breathed out. “Don’t worry about me, I’ll be okay”

Lily pursed her lips and looked to Sirius again. “Make sure he stays home, yeah?”

Remus made a noise of protest as Sirius nodded, “I doubt he’ll want to listen to me”

“Lily, I can take care of myself”

“Hardly, you’re in a right state after being without me for a few hours” She scolded, “If you strain yourself any more then you’re going to really fuck up your hip”

“I can’t fuck up something that’s already fucked, can I?”

“I mean it, take it easy and don’t be an idiot”

“Alright, fine”

“And I want to talk to you later”

Remus paled a little at that, despite fully seeing it coming. He made a noncommittal sound and Lily, satisfied with herself, left the room to layer up on clothes and help the nice old lady who lived across the hall.

There was a tense moment when she left. The kettle went off and Remus poured himself a cup, then paused. “Tea?”

“Sure”

Sirius seemed more relaxed now that Lily had gone. It was as if he had been on best behavior when she was there and now he didn’t have to be. Remus couldn’t really blame him, Lily could be very scary sometimes and she was always unreasonably overprotective of Remus. In all fairness, he felt the same way towards her.

So Remus poured two cups of tea and then added milk and sugar accordingly. He had assumed that Sirius took his tea the way he did back in school and he was only a little ashamed he still knew what the other man liked in his tea off the top of his head.

“Am I allowed to ask about the accident?” Sirius picked up his cup and took a sip.

“Why do you want to know?” Remus retorted, taking a painkiller.

“Lily wouldn’t tell me… and I’m…. worried” Sirius looked embarrassed to admit it but he did admit it which was good enough for Remus. It showed some sort of growth, some kind of potential.

“Depends on whether you’re going to pity me or not because frankly, I don’t care much for it”

“Jesus, you don’t have to be so snappy”

Remus scowled at him, not saying another word. He didn’t care about being snappy in that particular moment. His hip hurt like hell, he could feel his leg slowly going as well and whenever he told people anything about the accident they all treated him like a fragile porcelain doll.

Sirius cleared his throat before speaking again. “I won’t pity you, if you don’t want me to”

“What do you want to know?” Remus asked, disregarding what Sirius had said.

“What happened?”

“I worked at this publishing place, had a late night so I took a cab home” Remus began, even thinking about that night made his heart race and his eyes sting. “Someone was driving under the influence and hit us- the cab, I mean.. and it was really bad but they put these screws and plates all in my side, shoulder down to my shin”

Remus paused a moment, wiping his eyes on the back of his palm. Sirius made to touch him but he jerked away, a little too fast and hissed in pain. Sirius retreated his hand, looking crestfallen.

“Anyway, I had to quit the job cause it was too far to walk and I refused to get in any type of car or bus or really any type vehicle since then” Remus rushed the end of the story, his hands were shaking and his throat felt tight.

Sirius took a step forward and this time Remus allowed him to. He carefully opened his arms and slowly wrapped them around Remus, giving him more than enough time to move if he didn’t want this.

Remus, however, was just exhausted. He collapsed right into Sirius’ arms which tightened around him. The bad thing was, he was still shaking, his lungs refused to take in air and oh, there was the whole thing about just falling into his ex-boyfriend’s arms. Good thing was, he felt safe.

Then he started crying, his own arms wrapping around Sirius’ waist while his arms were around Remus’ back. He was pretty sure the only reason he still remained standing was Sirius’ strength forged by years of playing rugby. Remus wanted to kick himself, everything about this situation was just so pathetic and he hated it. He hated himself for it.

Sirius, meanwhile, said nothing and just rubbed circles on the taller man’s back. “I’m sorry, I’ve been horrible to you and now you’re literally comforting me, maybe I am the asshole”

“Nah, I kind of deserved it”

“Yeah you did”

“Hey! you’re not supposed to say that”

“But it’s the truth”

“Shut up”

Remus let himself laugh quietly. He was mortified by this display of vulnerability and dearly wished the ground would open and swallow him whole. Then he made a feeble attempt at pushing Sirius away, nearly toppling over himself. He had to grip the counter behind him to stop himself from hitting the floor. Sirius made to catch him but Remus swatted his hand away.

“I think you should go”

“But I promised Li-“

“I’m tired and she’ll be back soon”

Lie. Remus knew that Lily would be gone for at least two more hours, maybe more if Mrs Pettigrew offered biscuits.

“Then I’ll just stay till she comes back, she really worries about you” Sirius shrugged like it was final and Remus didn’t want to talk about it so he slowly hobbled to the living room.

“Do you-“

“No”

Sirius started asking but Remus snapped at him before he could finish his question.

“Sorry” Sirius mumbled, hands up in surrender. Remus could feel eyes on his back as he managed to get to the couch. He switched on the telly, laying on the side of his body that hurt the least.

Remus figured that if Sirius didn’t leave, then maybe he could ignore him to the point of leaving. Unfortunately it didn’t work because this was Sirius so instead of sitting on the chair near the couch or even on the floor, he stood at Remus’ head. Hands were gesturing for Remus to sit up but he ignored them.

“Remus, squish over a minute”

With a groan, he turned onto his back and sat up. Sirius slid into the open space and Remus turned so that his feet were at Sirius’ lap instead of his head. He wasn’t sure how his body would react if Sirius started gently twirling strands of his hair and admiring them as if they were made of gold.

Remus closed his eyes, feeling fingers tracing shapes on his exposed ankles.

Suddenly Sirius spoke. “You and Lily have gotten really close”

His eyes shot open, a little startled by the tone. He wasn’t sure how long he was out but he definitely slept at least twenty minutes.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” His voice was groggy with sleep, the side of his mouth damp from drool

“It’s weird, I’ve never seen you so much as hug anyone”

Remus wiped the side of his mouth. “People are allowed to change and Lily is my best friend”

“It’s just- you’ve changed so much and I’m struggling to keep up” Sirius’ tone was strange, the most un-Sirius thing Remus had ever experienced him do since they met.

Remus’ eyebrows knit together, a frown now playing on his face. “The world doesn’t revolve around you, y’know… besides, I don’t have to change according to your terms”

“I never said that” Sirius spat.

Remus sat up in response, leaning back on his elbows. “Then why are you constantly bitching about how much I’ve changed?”

“Because you have! It’s like you’re this whole new person and I don’t even know you”

“I haven’t spoken to you since we were 17, that was 6 years ago and you expect me not to change?” Remus ran a hand through his hair. “Fuck, I went to college, I got in a horrendous car accident Sirius, do you really expect me to be the same person I was when we were teenagers?”

“No- it’s just, I don’t like change”

“Fucking hell Sirius, the world doesn’t care and guess what? that’s constantly changing too”

“Yeah but not as drastically as you! You work in a bakery for Christ’s sake when I know you always wanted to be a writer”

“And I know you vowed to never work for your parents and here you are, doing daddy’s dirty work no doubt”

“Remus”

“What”

“You were never this cruel”

“No, I suppose not”

The two sat in silence, and it took all of Remus’ willpower not to kiss him.

“Can we just be friends or something” Sirius looked sincere enough, good natured enough for Remus to want it.

“Something? Something like wh-“

But Remus never got to finish his sentence because suddenly Sirius’ knees were straddling his hips and they were kissing.

What the fuck!

Remus wanted to scream, he was tired and annoyed and now he didn’t know what to feel. He pushed Sirius away for a second time that day, both their breaths coming in uneven.

“No” Remus breathed out, shutting his eyes tightly.

“No?”

“Yes, no… I can’t… what were you thinking?”

Sirius looked both hurt and surprised but Remus wasn’t concerned about that, he was more confused than anything and also there was the almost unbearable pain in his hip.

“I- well you were being cruel and this is the only way I knew how to shut you up effectively”

Now it was Remus’ turn to look hurt, he pushed Sirius again with more force than before. He brought his head back down and refused to say another word.

“Remus”

Nothing.

“Remus”

He shut his eyes, willing himself to go to sleep again.

“I’m sorry”

“Remus, I’m really sorry”

“I know I shouldn’t have said that”

“I did want to kiss you, I also wanted you to stop being mean”

“Come on Moony”

Remus’ eyes shot open at the childhood nickname. “Leave me alone Sirius, I’m tired and sore”

“Are you cross?”

“With you?”

Sirius hummed in response.

“Yeah but mainly cause I’m tired”

“Oh, I’m sorry”

“Just stop talking”

Sirius did just that. Remus felt bad though, he very carefully and hesitantly moved again so that his head was on Sirius’ lap. “I’m sorry for being a dick” he whispered, eyes closing again.

“I’m sorry for not thinking before I speak” came Sirius’ soft reply.

Remus felt Sirius’ fingers move through his hair tentatively as if he was uncertain whether or not this was allowed. “No, I’m being a moody git, all hot and cold on you”

“I couldn’t blame you for it”

“Well you should”

Sirius didn’t reply and Remus remained on the side that didn’t hurt him, facing away from Sirius and towards the telly.