In the Quiet of the Library
The following week, Remus was taking a break from studying when he spotted Sirius pacing outside the library. His dark curls were a bit messier than usual, and his eyes darted around nervously. Remus couldn’t help but smile to himself, knowing exactly what that look meant.
Sirius caught sight of him and grinned mischievously. He walked over quickly, his steps purposeful. “Moony,” he whispered, voice low and excited, “I’ve found another place.”
Remus tilted his head, raising an eyebrow. “Another one? I thought the broom closet was your favorite hiding spot.”
Sirius winked, leaning in closer as if sharing a great secret. “It’s good, but it’s a bit... cramped, don’t you think? I need somewhere we can actually—well, stretch out a bit.”
“Stretch out?” Remus asked, amused, but there was a hint of curiosity in his voice.
“Come on,” Sirius said, grabbing his sleeve and tugging him toward the back of the library, where the shelves seemed to stretch on endlessly. “I’m not talking about just kissing, Moony. I’m talking about being able to actually breathe.”
They wound their way past the long rows of books, the sound of their footsteps muffled by the thick carpet. It was still late afternoon, and most students were in class, so the library was unusually quiet. The air smelled of parchment and dust, and the light from the windows slanted through the shelves in soft, golden beams.
Remus could feel the familiar thrill building in his chest as they reached the farthest corner of the library. This part was so secluded, even the librarian rarely ventured this far. There were a few small tables tucked against the walls, but Sirius led him past them, stopping at the very end of the row.
There, hidden behind a massive set of shelves, was a small alcove. It was hardly noticeable unless you knew where to look. The corner was dark, but cozy, with a few worn armchairs stacked up against the wall. It was tucked away, out of sight from the main hall. The perfect spot.
“This is…” Remus started, his voice filled with surprise and something else, something deeper. “I didn’t even know this was here.”
“Exactly,” Sirius said with a grin. “Which is why it’s perfect. We can hide in here, away from the world. Just us.”
Remus stepped into the alcove, looking around. The space was barely large enough for the two of them, but that made it feel all the more private. The air was still, the usual noises of the library muffled by the thick shelves. For a moment, all he could hear was the soft rustling of his own breathing and Sirius’s quiet chuckle as he watched him take it all in.
“Well,” Remus said with a smirk, “it’s certainly more spacious than the broom closet.”
“Don’t get too comfortable,” Sirius teased, taking a step toward him. “We’ll have to make sure we don’t get caught again.”
Remus laughed, his nerves easing as he leaned back against one of the shelves. “I don’t know, being caught might be kind of fun.”
Sirius’s eyes lit up at that, and he moved closer, standing just a few inches from Remus. “Maybe it’s the thrill of it,” he said, his voice low. “The idea that we could be discovered at any moment—makes it feel like we’re living on the edge.”
Remus smiled softly, feeling that familiar rush of excitement. It was the same feeling he got whenever they snuck off to the broom closet or when Sirius would surprise him with a quick kiss in the hallways. They were constantly dancing on the edge of being found out, and it was a kind of secret freedom they shared.
“I suppose we’d better not test our luck,” Remus said, his eyes flicking to the open space outside the alcove. “We don’t want anyone to know.”
Sirius stepped forward, closing the small gap between them until their chests were almost touching. “I don’t care who knows,” he whispered, his lips curling into a smile. “Just as long as it’s you and me here, right now. That’s all I care about.”
Remus’s heart skipped a beat, and he looked up at Sirius, seeing the warmth and sincerity in his eyes. It made his chest tighten in a way he couldn’t explain, a mixture of affection and something deeper, something that had been growing between them ever since they first shared a moment in the broom closet.
Before Remus could respond, Sirius kissed him—slow and gentle at first, as though savoring the moment. It was different from their usual kisses, more patient, more tender. The kind of kiss that didn’t need to be rushed. They had all the time in the world here, in their little alcove, far away from the rest of the school.
Remus melted into the kiss, his hand reaching up to touch Sirius’s cheek, feeling the warmth of his skin, the slight stubble along his jaw. He could hear Sirius’s breath catch as they pulled apart, and he felt that thrill again, the one that made his heart race in his chest. There was something intoxicating about the secrecy, the quiet intimacy of their hidden moments.
“I’ve never been so glad to be caught in a corner,” Remus said with a soft laugh, his breath still uneven.
Sirius chuckled and brushed a strand of hair out of Remus’s face. “You should try it more often.”
“I think I will,” Remus replied with a teasing smile. “Though, we should probably be careful. You never know who might walk by.”
Sirius shrugged nonchalantly. “Let them look. I don’t care. Just means we have to be quicker next time.”
Remus’s laugh was quiet but full of affection. “You’re impossible,” he muttered, but his eyes sparkled with fondness. He didn’t mind the thrill, the sense of danger that came with sneaking around the castle. In fact, he liked it more than he expected. Being with Sirius, hidden away in a place like this, made everything feel exciting and new.
They stayed there for a while longer, enjoying the quiet of the alcove, sneaking kisses when no one was looking, and whispering soft words to each other. It was their secret world, their small corner of Hogwarts where nothing else mattered.
When the bell rang for curfew, signaling that it was time to head back, Sirius reluctantly pulled away. “I guess we should go,” he said, though his voice was tinged with reluctance.
“Yeah,” Remus said, giving him one last kiss before stepping back toward the door. “But I’ll be looking forward to the next time we can sneak away here.”
Sirius’s grin returned, bright and teasing. “You and me both, Moony.”
As they left the alcove behind, slipping back into the main halls of the library, Remus couldn’t help but feel a small thrill. There was something undeniably exciting about their secret, something that made every quiet moment they shared feel even more special. And as they walked side by side, their fingers brushing now and then, Remus knew that this little alcove would become just as cherished as their broom closet—another secret place where they could be themselves, away from prying eyes.