It's a moon!

Sirius threw himself on James’ bed and groaned. Not an altogether unusual occurrence, but James knew from the lack of words that this was serious.

“Don’t tell me you struck out with McKinnon again?” James said, not looking up from his magazine.

“McKinnon? Don’t be disgusting, Prongs!” Sirius scoffed. “I have no interest in Marlene.”

“Then what’s got you throwing yourself around like a 19th-century maiden on a fainting couch?”

Sirius frowned at him. “I am not— Shut up.”

“So what is it? Detention? Did you tear your leather jacket? Your fags got wet? You know you can do a drying charm, right?” James laughed.

“No, it’s none of that…” Sirius sighed, having no idea how to phrase this and somehow coming out with “I think Remus may have... taken a lover.”

James’ eyes almost popped out of his head, and then he threw his head back and laughed. Sirius covered his face with his hands as James roared for a good few minutes. “You are not beating the 19th-century lady accusations, mate. ‘Taken a lover.’!”

“Come on James, you know what I mean!” He grumbled. “Why else would he not comment on my earring?”

“Wait, you haven’t actually seen him sneaking off or walking in on him in flagrante delicto with some stuffy Ravenclaw? This is all because he hasn’t commented on your earring?” James’ shoulders started shaking again.

“It’s a moon!” Sirius snapped.

“I can see that.”

“I thought it might be a nice little discreet way of… I don’t even know.” Sirius slumped back onto the bed. “Am I being an idiot? Wait, you are absolutely not the person to give perspective on that. Do you think he’d ever… you know, after the thing with Snape? It really felt like something was building before that, and I know it’s been a year, but sometimes I get flashes of that glorious tension, and fuck me, I want him, Prongs!”

“Have you told him?” James asked, already knowing the answer.

“Don’t be ridiculous!”

“Padfoot…” James was interrupting by the door to the dorm opening quietly. Remus looked at them both on James’ bed and raised an eyebrow, then he looked at Sirius for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly.

“Do you have a new earring?” He crossed the room and Sirius’ heart started to pound in his chest. He nodded, and Remus reached out to brush his hair back so he could see it properly. The moon pendant dangled just below his earlobe, and goosebumps rose on Sirius’ arm as Remus’ thumb ghosted over it, and then his earlobe. “I like it. It suits you.” His face broke into a slightly wonky grin as he looked down at Sirius.

Sirius could feel the bed shaking slightly from James’ silent laughter, but couldn’t bring himself to look over his shoulder and glare at him. Not when Remus’ eyes were boring into his own like that.

“Thanks. It reminded me of you.” He said, uncharacteristically quietly.

The blush that rose up Remus’ neck was all the response he needed.