Starlight
“Remus John Lupin, why are we going to a church?” Remus had dragged a whining Sirius all the way to the top of this hill and he wasn’t about to explain why now.
The two boys were enjoying a summer holiday in southern Sweden. James was visiting his family in the Lake District and Peter was somewhere in France, so it had seemed like the perfect opportunity for Remus and Sirius to go somewhere together, just the two of them.
“I told you already, I want it to be a surprise!”
Sirius couldn’t help but smile when Remus placed one hand over his eyes and used the other to push open the heavy wooden door.
Gently, gently, Remus guided his boyfriend through the cold entrance hall. Sirius held his breath as Remus gently pushed him forwards, the excitement building in him. He had never been a big fan of surprises, but he also trusted Remus.
“Is there anyone else here?” Sirius whispered, breaking the silence. Remus smiled; classic Sirius, incapable of shutting up for more than a minute.
“Yeah, there’s somebody sitting on a pew over there… oh, shit, they’re a werewolf.”
The person stands up, their unsettling eyes meeting Remus’s.
Starlight, your eyes are lookin' out so far away
Remus draws his wand, still not taking his hand off of Sirius’s eyes.
“Remus? Remus, what's going on?”
“Keep your eyes closed until I tell you to. Don’t want to ruin the surprise. I’ll be right back.”
Sirius hears Remus’s shoes clicking away over the tiled floor. He hears a bitter laugh, an unfamiliar voice snarling that Remus is weak, he hears the door of the church closing. He is tempted to open his eyes, but he doesn’t, because Remus told him not to. There’s a bit of muffled yelling from outside the church, a loud and concerning crack, and then silence once again. The door opens. Heavy breathing.
“Moony, what just happened?”
He can smell Remus getting closer. He smells like home.
“Just…” Remus is back at Sirius’s side. “One of Greyback’s. Nothing important- they disapparated before any damage could be done. Ok, ready for the surprise? When you open your eyes, look up.”
Remus didn't sound like he was lying, so Sirius opened his eyes. First he looked at Remus, who seemed slightly less put-together than when they had entered the church, and then he looked up, just like Remus instructed.
Constellation in the sky is smiling down on me
The whole night sky, painted on the ceiling in swirling, kick-you-in the face colours. Some of the stars are labelled in curling script. It’s beautiful, it’s breathtaking. Sirius feels like he’s 13 and listening to David Bowie for the first time all over again.
“Wow.”