Siblings
Chapter Two // Siblings
The three of them ventured through the wood, admiring the natural beauty of it all. Squirrels scurried in the treetops as birds chirped cheerful songs. Sirius and James were delighted to explore, although a little surprised not to find centaurs lurking. The sun shone through tiny gaps in the canopy, casting shadows along the muddy ground. Bluebells bloomed in grassier areas, among nettles and ivy which climbed up tree branches. Sirius began to hum a Bowie song as they all strolled along.
Eventually, after an hour or so of walking, they found a lanky, tall boy, high up in a tree, whistling and talking to himself; Finn.
“Alright, Remus?” he called out in a smug tone, before clambering down onto a lower branch and leaping to the ground, quite gracefully.
“These your mates?” Sirius and James looked rather awkward, stood in front of this brazen and daring youngster.
Finn looked rather muggle-like, his auburn hair slicked back and overly gelled, his sleeves rolled and arms covered in cuts and bruises. He had deep green eyes, with huge, dark bags under them; his pale, freckled face covered in various scratches and scars. Looking almost as battered as Remus did after one of his werewolf episodes, Finn wore a pair of brown, ripped jeans, a maroon jumper and a worn satchel, slung over one of his broad shoulders. His hands were covered in patches of dirt, more scabs along his fingers. The boy leaned back against the tree trunk, folding his arms and smirking.
“Well? What did ya want?” he shrugged.
There was a long silence, the gentle summer breeze blowing the branches of the birch trees to and fro. Remus was the first to speak.
“Just thought I’d introduce you to my mates.” he frowned, his brow furrowed.
“Cool. Don’t really give a shit though.” Finn snorted, and darted further into the woodland, and took a quick glance at them over his shoulder, smug as ever.
“Charming.” James remarked, before they all turned away, trudging up the hillside.
“I hate him, the prick.” Remus scowled, his temper rising. “Always been insolent, his whole fucking life. Sometimes he seems worse than Reggie. He always tries to embarrass people, or is just really fucking rude. I bet you five galleons he’ll end up in Slytherin.”
Sirius laughed.
“He and Reggie would make a right pair.” they sniggered. Remus nodded in agreement. It wasn’t long before James started babbling on about Lily.
“Aren’t her eyes pretty? The prettiest green I’ve ever seen. And her hair; her hair. A beautiful red. And she is just the kindest girl I’ve ever met, and obviously really attractive. Isn’t she, Remus?” he blurted.
“James, I’m literally gay.” Remus chuckled, and clutching Sirius’s hand to prove it.
“Oh yeah, sorry,” James said sheepishly. “I just love Lily.”
“We know Prongs, we know.” Sirius grinned.
They promptly all sat at the top of the bank, Sirius pulling off their leather jacket and resting their head in Remus’s lap.
“Heya, Moony.” they whispered lovingly. James groaned.
“Not again!” he sighed.
***
Upon returning inside the farmhouse, they sprinted straight upstairs, eager to listen to some of Padfoot’s vinyls.
“Bowie first, please?” Remus requested, pushing open his bedroom door.
“I’ll never say no to Bowie, darling.” Sirius grinned.
They all settled onto the floor, Sirius getting up to put Hunky Dory on the record player. They all got up and danced to Changes and Oh! You Pretty Things, but settled down when Eight Line Poem began. Sirius slipped his hand into Remus’s, humming along to Bowie as they shared flirtatious whispers. Remus withdrew a box of fags from his trouser pocket, offering one to both James and Sirius. Padfoot accepted, but James tutted and resorted to opening the windows. Remus grabbed his lighter and lit both cigarettes with a satisfying click.
They spent a few more moments smoking silently, before James began an animated conversation about the Chudley Cannons; his favourite quidditch team. James was a chaser for the Gryffindor Quidditch team at Hogwarts, and wanted to become the team captain in sixth year. However, Sirius was more of a Falmouth Falcons fan, and the two of them argued about who was best. Remus rested his head on Sirius’s, feeling he could doze off, due to how bored he was. He really couldn’t understand everyone’s love for quidditch, but he went along with it, best not to upset his friends. His mind switched to the summer stretched before him, revelling in how relaxed he felt. Free from the wretched Slytherins, free from Dumbledore’s orders; at home, on the farm, with his darling Padfoot and best friend James. Perfection.
***
After a delicious dinner, the three of them were more than happy to tumble into their cosy beds, exhausted from their day. The room was dimly lit with warm lighting, the velvet grey curtains drawn, as if to block out a non-existent cold. Remus’s t-shirt was damp with sweat, so he formed a gap in the curtains and pulled open the window, letting cooler air flow in. He promptly changed into plaid pyjama bottoms and a baggy t-shirt. He chucked his dirty clothes into a corner of the room, the designated laundry pile for them all. He lit a cigarette, inhaling that bitter, yet pleasing smoke, then went and sat on the windowsill, letting his cigarette smoke fill the outside air.
Whilst James went to the bathroom to wash and change, Remus and Sirius spent a moment alone.
“Can I sleep with you tonight, Moony?” Sirius asked, his voice small but loving.
“Anything for you, darling.” Remus smiled.
“You can be a tosser, sometimes, but I really do adore you; you’re just…” Sirius paused for a moment. “Magic.”