Orbiting

Evan looked up at Remus from where he had been peering through the eyepiece of the massive telescope and shook his head laughing, "Mate, if you don't come back to Earth soon, we'll have to add you as a constellation on our star map."

Remus quickly blinked to clear his mind and focus on their project. Charting the stars was a crucial part of their final grade, and they had to spend several nights working on it as a team. Professor Sinistra was known for her high standards when it came to accuracy. Despite the pressure, Remus was beginning to enjoy spending time in the astronomy tower. It did require breaks for him to climb the steep staircase to the top, but once there, he felt a sense of tranquility wash over him. From this vantage point, high above the grounds of Hogwarts, it was as if he were slightly detached from his worries - at least for a little while. The vast expanse of glittering stars above seemed almost otherworldly, and Remus couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder and awe at the beauty of it all.

Remus offered a wry smile, his amber eyes reflecting the starlight, "I don’t know, that doesn’t sound so bad," he mused softly. "Think I might enjoy being a part of the night sky. Seems peaceful."

“Guess you can join our resident star up there then.” Barty cut in clapping Reggie on the back.

“What are you on about?” Remus asked, confusion overtaking his features.

“Reggie? Evan provided, but when Remus still didn’t show any signs of understanding he continued, “Blimey mate, we mapped the Leo constellation last time. Remember we had to get up before dawn to see it?”

Remus thought, running through the stars of that constellation. Zosma, Denebola, Algieba, Regulus… wait. Realization hit him.

"Reg," he started slowly, his eyes widening as realization dawned on him, "Is your full name Regulus?"

“You didn’t know that?” Evan asked like he thought it was common knowledge.

"You can't be serious." Remus breathed out in disbelief, now seeing all the similarities between Reggie and Sirius that he hadn't pieced together before.

“No, that would be my brother.” Regulus looked regretful as soon as he made the pun. “Christ, can’t believe I said his stupid joke.”

Remus coughed trying to disguise the information swirling around in his head. "Right then," he said, reaching for the parchment where they had been meticulously recording their observations. "Where were we?"

As Barty delved into their progress, Remus felt his attention wandering again. His mind drifted back to the memory of lying next to Sirius on his bed. He could almost feel the warmth of Sirius beside him as he spoke about how close he'd once been with his brother, and how it had all unraveled. Sirius had talked about Regulus not understanding how he was slowly dying in the house they grew up in. But Remus had seen Regulus' scars—surely Sirius knew that house was killing him too. Right? When had Regulus received his first scar? Did Sirius even know?

Remus' thoughts were interrupted by Barty’s voice. "It's

Cassiopeia next, isn't it?" he asked, gesturing towards the northern sky.

Remus nodded, grateful for the distraction from his tumultuous thoughts. As they adjusted the telescope, he found himself studying Regulus more closely. Remus noticed how Regulus would occasionally glance towards the Gryffindor dorm, a fleeting look of longing crossing his face before being quickly masked. In those unguarded moments, Remus saw echoes of Sirius - the same sharp cheekbones, the same stormy grey eyes. Yet where Sirius burned bright and fierce, Regulus seemed to glow with a softer, more subdued light. His movements were careful and measured, a stark contrast to his brother's spirited energy.

The time ticked by, and the group fell into a comfortable rhythm of observation and notation. Remus was drawn into conversation with Regulus, their words flowing easily as they discussed the intricacies of celestial mechanics. There was an unexpected depth to Regulus' knowledge, a passion that shone through when he spoke of the stars and their stories.

As the night deepened, the four boys worked diligently, their pencils scratching against parchment in a soothing rhythm that blended with the whisper of the breeze.

Evan stifled a yawn, stretching his arms above his head. "I think that's enough for tonight, lads. We've made good progress."

Barty nodded in agreement, his eyes heavy with fatigue. "Right, you are. Let's pack it up."

They began to gather their materials, carefully rolling up star charts and stowing away the telescope. Remus found himself lingering, his gaze drawn once more to the vast expanse above even as the others started back down the stairs. The night sky had always held a peculiar fascination for him, perhaps because of its constancy - the stars, distant and twinkling, seemed to offer a sense of permanence in a world that often felt chaotic and unpredictable. Yet tonight, his eyes were inexorably drawn to the moon, a waxing gibbous hanging high in the sky, its silvery light casting long shadows across the astronomy tower.

Looking at its pockmarked surface, Remus felt a strange sense of kinship with the celestial body. Like him, the moon bore scars - its craters etched into its face, yet it returned each night, undeterred. Over his trousers he traced his fingers along the raised lines on his thigh, feeling the familiar ridges and valleys of his own scars.

"Remus?" Regulus' voice floated up from the stairwell, tinged with concern. "Are you coming?"

Remus started, realizing he had been lost in thought. "Yes, sorry," he called back, tearing himself away from the moon. He descended the winding stairs, finding Regulus waiting for him at the landing, a questioning look in his eyes.

"Are you alright?" Regulus asked, his voice low and gentle. "You seemed... distant up there."

Remus managed a wan smile. "Just tired, I suppose," he lied smoothly, the words falling from his lips with practiced ease. "Late nights and early mornings.”

Regulus studied Remus for a long moment, his eyes narrowing slightly as if trying to decipher some hidden message in Remus' face.

"I don't believe you," Regulus said finally, his voice calm but firm. "There's something more, isn't there?"

Remus felt panic rise in his chest, but he kept his expression neutral. "What makes you say that?"

Regulus leaned against the cool stone wall, his eyes never leaving Remus' face. "Call it intuition."

Unease settled in his gut. Regulus' perceptiveness was impressive, reminding him too much of James' uncanny ability to read people.

Finally, Remus sighed, his shoulders sagging slightly as he leaned against the opposite wall. The narrow stairwell seemed to shrink around them, creating a private space that felt separate from the rest of the world. The moonlight filtered through a nearby window, illuminating Regulus’ face.

"I... I know your brother," Remus admitted barely above a whisper. The words hung in the air between them, heavy with implication.

Regulus' eyes widened, surprise evident in the slight parting of his lips and the sudden tension in his body. For a moment, he seemed at a loss for words, he searched Remus' face as if looking for something.

"You know Sirius?" Regulus finally managed, a mix of curiosity and caution hanging in his question. The name lingered in the air between them, charged with history and emotion.

Remus nodded slowly, "We're," he hesitated, what word would be inadequate to describe their relationship? Mates? Acquaintances? Remus didn’t know, so he settled on, "We met at the beginning of term."

Reggie’s face contorted slightly, clearly struggling with something internally. "How... how is he?" longing and resignation dripped from the question.

The air seemed laden with unspoken emotions. Remus felt a sudden, sharp pang of empathy for Regulus. He knew very little of their story, but it was clear that Reggie was not as indifferent as Sirius thought.

Remus weighed his words trying to think of the best response. “Well, I don’t know him very well…but he’s…he seems to get on alright. I get the sense that there’s more…um…more going on in his head than he lets on though.”

Regulus' eyes took on a faraway look as if lost in memories. "That sounds like Sirius," he said, a hint of melancholy in his voice. "Loud and boisterous on the outside and a million things left unsaid. I think–" He trailed off, leaving Remus unsure how to proceed.

He felt an overwhelming urge to comfort Regulus, to bridge the chasm that seemed to be forming. The stairwell now felt oppressively small.

"Regulus," Remus began tentatively, "I... I don't know the full story between you and Sirius, but I can see that it's complicated. That there's pain there and if it would make you more comfortable,” he took a deep breath, not truly wanting to say the next words. “I can stop hanging out with him.”

Regulus' eyes widened in surprise at Remus' offer, a flicker of emotion passing across his face. For a moment, he seemed to struggle with his words, his brow furrowing as he considered the proposition.

"No," Regulus said finally, his voice faint but resolute. "No, I wouldn't ask that of you. Sirius... he needs people in his life who care about him." He paused, a wistful smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "Even if he'd never admit it."

Remus sighed in relief, realizing only then how much he had dreaded the possibility of distancing himself from Sirius.

"I have a favor to ask, though.” Regulus' fingers began tracing abstract patterns on the stone wall beside him. "Could you... not tell Sirius that I'm here? At Hogwarts, I mean."

Remus felt his brow furrow in confusion. "He doesn’t know you're here?"

Regulus shook his head, a somber smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "You'd be surprised. Sirius has always had a talent for seeing only what he wants to see," Regulus murmured. "I suspect he's convinced himself I am taking over the family business."

"I won't say anything," Remus promised.

“Thank you.” there was a beat of silence before Reggie added, “We should probably head back, it’s late.”

The cool night air of early October greeted them as they stepped out of the tower. Their footsteps echoed on the cobblestone path, the only sound in the otherwise silent night. Remus glanced at Regulus, chancing one last thing.

"You know," Remus began, "I know it's not my place, but...I think Sirius misses you.”

Regulus halted mid-step, his body frozen as if struck. For a moment, he stood perfectly still, his face hidden in shadow. When he finally turned to face Remus, his eyes glimmered with a mix of emotions - hope, pain, and something deeper that Remus couldn't quite name.

"I think you’re wrong," Regulus replied, there was an edge that hadn’t been there before. “Besides, there are just some things that can’t be forgiven.”

He regretted putting the thought into words, “Sorry, I shouldn’t have said anything.”

“It’s ok, I know you meant well.” Reggie morphed his voice back into its usual tone. “See you tomorrow for a swim?”

A smile overtook Remus’ face at this, “Of course. Night, Reg.”

“Goodnight, Remus.”

Remus walked back to his dorm room, his mind racing with thoughts of the night's revelations. The university grounds were eerily quiet at this late hour, the lamps along the sidewalk casting dancing shadows on the old ivy-covered stone walls of the buildings.

He could hear rambunctious laughter and animated chatter from his room as he approached. Remus paused at the door, his hand hovering over the knob as he took a deep breath, trying to prepare himself for whatever was happening on the other side. With a gentle twist, he pushed the door open, stepping into a scene of controlled chaos.

The room was awash in warm, golden light from the floor lamp in the corner. The air was filled with the scent of butterbeer and the lingering aroma of chocolates. Peter was sprawled across the floor, his round face flushed with excitement as he jovially waved his hands, nearly knocking over a precariously balanced stack of textbooks. James was lounging on his bed, legs dangling over the edge, idly tossing a football into the air and catching it with practiced ease. Then, turning his attention to his own bed he found Sirius. His long, dark hair fanned out on the pillow like a halo of ink, contrasting sharply with the cream-colored sheets. He lay on his back, one arm tucked behind his head, the other draped lazily across his stomach. His eyes were half-lidded with contentment, a lazy smile on his lips. The light from the lamp gave his skin a golden glow, accentuating the sharp angles of his cheekbones and the elegant curve of his neck.

Sirius' presence seemed to fill the entire room, drawing Remus' gaze like a lodestone. His white t-shirt had ridden up slightly, revealing the tanned skin at his waist. Remus felt like the roles had reversed from their first encounter, now finding it difficult to look anywhere but the exposed skin.

“Oi, Remus! You’re finally back!” James yelled too loud for the small space.

Remus blinked, startled out of his momentary trance by James' zealous greeting. He forced his eyes away from Sirius, willing the heat he felt rising to his cheeks to subside.

"Yeah, just finished up at the astronomy tower," he replied, his voice sounding oddly strained to his own ears. He moved further into the room, carefully stepping over Peter's sprawled form to reach his desk.

"Astronomy, eh?" Sirius drawled, propping himself up on one elbow. His eyes came fully alive as they met Remus'. "Learn anything interesting tonight?”

"Just working on a project," Remus said doing his best to keep his tone neutral, "Professor Sinistra's quite hard to please."

Sirius' eyes sparkled with mischief as he sat up fully, his legs crossing beneath him. "Oh, I bet I could please her," he said with a wink, his voice low and rich like honey. "I've been told I have quite the... celestial body."

James groaned, throwing a pillow at Sirius' head. "That was terrible, mate."

Sirius caught the pillow effortlessly, hugging it to his chest as he laughed. The sound was melodic, filling the room with a warmth that seemed to seep into Remus' very bones.

"You're just jealous of my superior wit, Prongs," Sirius retorted, sticking out his tongue. Then, his gaze locked onto Remus once more, "What do you think, have any thoughts on my celestial body?”

Remus felt his face flush, caught off guard by Sirius' brazen question. He started moving items around on his desk trying to look busy.

"I think," he started, his voice steady despite his heart rate quickly increasing, "that your ego might be large enough to qualify as its own celestial body, Sirius."

The room erupted in laughter, James and Peter howling with delight at Remus' retort. Sirius' mouth popped open a little in surprise before an appreciative grin spread across his face.

"Touché, Remus," Sirius chuckled, his grey eyes twinkling with amusement.

"Sooooo," James piped up, "now that you're here, we were discussing going to the pub on Friday. And if you turn us down again, I’m pretty sure it will break Lily’s heart."

"I suppose I could join you this time," Remus said slowly, running a hand through his unkempt hair. "As long as it doesn't interfere with my work schedule."

"Brilliant!" James exclaimed, pumping his fist in the air. "Lily will be thrilled. She's been asking about you, you know."

Sirius raised an eyebrow at this, his gaze flicking between James and Remus. "Has she now?" he drawled, teasing evident in his voice. "Better watch out, Prongs. Looks like you might have some competition.”

“Har har,” Remus fixed him with his best unimpressed look. “Now if you wouldn’t mind, I would like the use of my bed.”

The deep, husky tone of Sirius' voice and the way he nibbled on his lower lip almost brought Remus to his knees. “Wouldn’t mind in the least.” He slid his body to the side and patted the bed next to him."

Remus felt his breath catch in his throat, momentarily stunned by Sirius' bold invitation. The room suddenly felt too warm, too small. He could feel the weight of James and Peter looking at him, waiting to see how he would respond.

"I meant for sleeping," Remus managed to say, his voice coming out slightly hoarse. He cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure. "It's late, and some of us have early classes tomorrow."

Sirius' eyes gleamed with a mixture of amusement and something deeper, more intense. "Spoilsport," he teased, but there was no bite in his tone. He gracefully unfolded himself from Remus' bed, stretching languidly as he stood.

"Well, Peter," Sirius announced, running a hand through his tousled hair, "I suppose that's our cue to leave. Wouldn't want to deprive our dear Remus of his beauty sleep."

James waved from his bed. "Thanks for coming by lads."

Peter grumbled good-naturedly as he pushed himself up from the floor. "Alright, alright. Night, boys."

As the two boys filed out of the room, Sirius brushed by Remus.

"Sweet dreams, Remus," he said softly, his voice low enough that only Remus could hear. "Don't let the stars keep you up all night."

With a final wink, Sirius slipped out of the room, closing the door behind him. The sudden silence was deafening, broken only by the pounding of Remus' heart in his ears.

He let out a shaky breath before going to the bathroom to brush his teeth. By the time he finished, James was already passed out with his glasses still on his face. Remus sank onto his bed, the mattress still warm from Sirius' body. The scent of smoky leather, with a hint of earthiness, lingered on his pillow, and Remus found himself unconsciously breathing it in as he drifted to sleep.