Orbiting

The dorm’s common room had been transformed into a lively celebration spot, still maintaining its charm but with an added sense of personal touch. The usual warmth of the stone walls was complemented by strings of fairy lights—simple but effective, twinkling in the dim corners like stars. The flames from the fire danced invitingly, as though they, too, were in on the night's events.

The couches and chairs, typically disheveled from months of student use, were now arranged a little more deliberately, forming a loose circle around the central coffee table, which was cluttered with various types of alcohol and cups. A large homemade birthday banner hung over the hearth, ’Happy Birthday, Sirius!’ scrawled across it brightly colored paper.

The table that usually served as a place for homework and group study was now piled with snacks—crisps, chocolates, a few bags of popcorn—and a small but carefully decorated cake, the icing slightly uneven, but clearly made with affection.

Pillows and blankets had been scattered on the floor near the fireplace for additional seating. Some of the more worn rugs had been pulled out to add a layer of comfort and color to the floor.

James stood at the doorway greeting people as they arrived, a cup of whiskey in his hand and an infectious smile plastered on his face. Peter was near the snacks, nibbling away at whatever he could get his hands on without being too noticeable. Remus lingered by the window with a book in one hand and a beer in the other. He had already downed three shots of whiskey in anticipation of the crowd currently filing into the room.

The energy grew as more students arrived, their voices rising and falling in a soundscape of excited chatter. Remus was feeling more and more out of place and desperately wanted to leave, but he promised Sirius—no excuses. He decided to just read his book until the birthday boy arrived. Then he could share a few drinks with him before making his exit. Simple. He could do this.

After several minutes of being engrossed in his text, a voice broke his concentration. “Excuse me, but I think you have the wrong place. This is a party, study session takes place in the library.”

Remus looked up to find Mary and Lily standing in front of him.

"I'll have you know," he said, the corner of his mouth quirking upward, "that I'm multitasking. Expanding my mind while simultaneously testing my liver’s abilities."

Mary laughed, the sound bright, and Lily looked far too pleased.

"Well, perhaps you'd care to join us for a drink?” Mary asked.

Remus hesitated, his fingers tracing the worn edges of his book. The alcohol in his system battled with his inherent desire for solitude. But they were looking at him so expectantly and he had a difficult time declining.

"I suppose I could be persuaded," he said, closing his book with a soft thud and downing the rest of his beer. "Though I make no promises about my conversational skills."

They made their way through the ever-growing throng of people before arriving at the makeshift bar.

Lily handed him a plastic cup filled with an amber liquid that smelled suspiciously like more whisky. "Courtesy of James," she said holding the bottle aloft. "He's been saving it for a special occasion."

Remus took a long sip. He could feel the tension in his shoulders begin to ease, the alcohol working its magic.

The conversation flowed more easily than he'd anticipated, Mary's bright laughter and Lily's sharp wit drawing him out of his shell. He found himself relaxing, the book forgotten on the windowsill behind him.

Mary leaned in, her voice conspiratorial. "So, Remus, any idea what Sirius is planning for his grand entrance? You know he can't resist a bit of theatrics.”

As if on cue, the lights in the room flickered off, plunging the space into momentary darkness. A collective gasp rippled through the crowd, followed by excited murmurs. Suddenly the lights came back on to reveal Sirius standing on the sofa, arms lifted above his head like a true showman.

Sirius surveyed the room, a roguish grin playing on his lips. He wore a leather jacket that seemed to absorb the light around him, making him the focal point of the entire gathering.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he announced, his voice carrying over the sudden hush that had fallen over the room, "the party has officially begun!"

Everyone erupted in cheers and applause, and Sirius basked in the attention, bowing dramatically. James appeared at his side, clapping him on the back and handing him a drink as he stepped down from his perch.

“S’pose that answers your question,” Remus said turning his gaze back to Mary.

“Black has never been one to disappoint,” Mary chuckled, shaking her head slightly.

“You know him well then?” Remus asked.

“Known him for ages!” Mary took a drink from her cup before continuing, “We dated for a bit in high school, but we were in school together as kids too.”

Remus felt a sudden twinge of jealousy at Mary's words. He took another swig of his drink, letting the burn of the alcohol distract him from the sensation. "I see," he said, his voice carefully neutral. "And now?"

"Oh, we're just good friends now. Sirius and I... we work better that way." She glanced over at Sirius, who was now moving through the mass, greeting people with charm in full effect. "He's a force of nature, that one."

Lily, who had been observing the exchange with keen interest, interjected, "Speaking of Sirius, we should probably go wish him a happy birthday."

Remus nodded, allowing himself to be guided through the sea of bodies. The birthday boy was in his element, his charisma drawing people to him like moths to a flame. He was regaling a small group with a story of how he sweet-talked a professor into extending the deadline for an essay when he caught sight of the trio approaching and his face lit up. "Moony!" he exclaimed, "you made it!"

"I promised, didn't I?" Remus replied, it came out softer than he intended. He cleared his throat and added, "Happy birthday, Sirius."

"I'm glad you're here," Sirius said, his voice earnest. "It wouldn't be the same without you."

Remus felt a warmth bloom in his chest that had nothing to do with the alcohol. He opened his mouth to respond, but before he could, Sirius was swept away by another group of well-wishers.

The party continued to swell around them, the music growing louder, the laughter more boisterous. Remus found himself back in conversation with Mary, nursing his drink and observing Sirius in constant motion, a whirlwind of energy. He flitted from group to group, his laughter ringing out above the music, his presence electrifying the room. Remus couldn't help but marvel at how effortlessly Sirius commanded attention, how he seemed to shine brighter than anyone else.

Through the noise, Peter’s voice rang out, “Let’s play a game!”

The suggestion rippled through the crowd, eliciting a mix of excitement and groans. Sirius's eyes lit up at the prospect, a mischievous look spreading across his face. He clapped his hands together, drawing everyone's attention.

"Brilliant idea, Pete! What shall it be?”

James stepped forward, a glint in his eye. "How about a good old-fashioned game of Truth or Dare."

Sirius waggled his eyebrows, "Truth or Dare, you say? Classic, Prongs."

Remus felt his stomach tighten. Drinking games were not his forte. He glanced around, hoping to find an inconspicuous exit, but Sirius caught his eye and beckoned him over.

"Come on, Moony," Sirius called, "you're not thinking of sneaking off, are you?"

Remus sighed, knowing he was trapped.

The partygoers began to form a large circle, shifting furniture and bodies to accommodate everyone. Remus found himself wedged between Mary and Peter, their bodies pressing against him in the small space.

Sirius, ever the host, took center stage in the middle of the circle. "Right then, you lot. We'll start with the birthday boy, shall we? Who wants to ask me first?"

James leaned forward, a wicked smile playing on his lips. "Truth or dare, mate?"

Sirius answered immediately. "Dare, of course. Who do you think I am?"

James pretended to ponder for a moment, though Remus suspected he'd had a dare already thought up. "I dare you," James said with a dramatic pause, "to give a lap dance to the person of your choosing."

A chorus of whoops and whistles erupted from the onlookers. Sirius, never one to back down from a challenge, grinned widely. "Easy," he declared, his eyes scanning the circle.

Remus felt his pulse quicken as Sirius's gaze swept over him. He silently prayed that Sirius would choose someone else, anyone else. But fate, it seemed, had other plans.

"Moony," Sirius purred, sauntering towards him with a predatory gleam in his eye. "Care to help a birthday boy out?"

The noise in the room grew louder as Remus felt his face flush crimson.

“Oh, no. I think you should pick someone else for that.” Remus protested.

"Come on, Moons," Sirius coaxed, "it's my birthday, after all."

Remus swallowed hard, his throat suddenly dry. He could feel the eyes of everyone in the room on him, waiting for him to oblige the request. Mary gave him a gentle nudge, and he found himself rising to his feet, his legs moving of their own accord.

Sirius sat Remus in a chair James had placed in the center of the circle. "Just relax," he whispered, his breath hot against Remus's ear. "And enjoy the show."

Remus sat rigid in the chair, his hands gripping the edges so tightly that his knuckles turned white. He could feel the heat radiating from Sirius's body as he moved closer, the scent of leather and cologne filling his senses.

Sirius circled him slowly, his hips swaying hypnotically with the music that someone had thoughtfully turned up. He ran his hands through his hair, tousling it in a way that made Remus feel flustered. With a wink, Sirius slowly shrugged off his leather jacket, tossing it to James.

The crowd cheered and called out encouragements, but to Remus, their voices seemed distant, muffled. His entire world had narrowed to Sirius - the way his muscles flexed beneath his tight t-shirt, the spark in his grey eyes as he locked gazes with Remus. Sirius moved closer, straddling Remus's good leg but not quite touching him. He rolled his hips in time with the music, his movements fluid and sensual.

Remus felt his heart hammering in his chest. He was acutely aware of every inch of space between them, charged with an electric tension that threatened to overwhelm him. Sirius leaned in, his lips barely brushing Remus's ear as he whispered, "Breathe, Moony."

With a sly smile, Sirius spun around, pressing his back against Remus's chest. He ground down, the friction eliciting a barely audible gasp from Remus. Sirius's head fell back onto Remus's shoulder, exposing the long line of his throat.

The room faded away as Remus's senses were overwhelmed by Sirius's proximity. The heat of his body, his intoxicating scent, the silky strands of hair brushing against Remus's cheek - it was all too much. Remus's hands, still gripping the chair, ached to reach out and touch, to pull Sirius closer.

But just as quickly as it began, it was over. Sirius gracefully extricated himself, taking a theatrical bow to the circle. Remus blinked, dazed as if emerging from a vivid dream.

"And that, ladies and gentlemen," Sirius announced with a flourish, "is how it's done."

Applause filled the space as Sirius helped Remus to his feet. Remus stumbled slightly, as he was still foregoing his cane. He made his way back to his spot in the circle.

Mary nudged him playfully as he sat down. "Well, that was quite a show," she giggled.

Remus managed a weak smile, still too on edge to form a coherent response. He reached for his drink, draining it in one long swallow.

The game went on, with the dares becoming more outrageous and the truths more revealing. Remus found himself shrinking back, hoping he wouldn’t get caught in the crossfire again. He watched as Peter was dared to drink a vile concoction of various alcohol, his face twisting in disgust as he choked it down. James, not missing a beat, was dared to streak around the outside of the building—something he did with a little too much enthusiasm. After that, a girl Remus didn’t recognize asked for ‘truth,’ and she blushed before revealing her secret crush on a professor. And then it was Mary’s turn.

“Truth or dare?” Lily asked from her spot across the circle.

Mary seemed to consider her options for a moment before Sirius cut in, “Don’t be boring MacDonald, c’mon.”

“Fine, fine!” She relented. “Dare.”

"I dare you," Lily said, dragging out the words, "to kiss the person in this room you find most attractive."

A collective "ooh" rippled through the room.

Before Remus even had time to process, Mary cupped his face and pressed her lips against his. The kiss was brief but firm, catching Remus completely off guard. As Mary pulled away, her cheeks flushed, Remus blinked in stunned silence

"Sorry," Mary said over the whooping, her cheeks flushed. "I hope that wasn't too forward."

Remus shook his head, struggling to find his voice. "No, it's... it's fine," he managed, offering a small smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Well, well, Aren’t you quite popular tonight,” Lily teased.

Remus caught Sirius's eye. For a fleeting moment, he thought he saw a flicker of something—disappointment? Jealousy?—cross Sirius' face. But it was gone so quickly, replaced by his trademark smile, that Remus wondered if he had imagined it.

"Nice one, MacDonald," Sirius called out, raising his cup in a mock toast. "Though I'm a bit offended you didn’t choose me.”

“Been there, done that” Mary retorted sticking her tongue out.

“Right, well, think it’s time for a break before we start a new game.” Sirius declared before promptly making his way to the whiskey.

The game dissolved as people dispersed for refills and conversation. Remus remained seated, his mind reeling from the events of the past few minutes. He could still feel the phantom pressure of Sirius's body against his, the unexpected softness of Mary's lips. It was all too much, too fast.

He stood abruptly, mumbling an excuse about needing air. Weaving through the room, he made his way outside, grateful for the cool night breeze that caressed his flushed skin. The sounds of the party faded as he closed the door behind him, leaving him in blissful semi-silence.

Leaning against the wall, Remus exhaled a slow breath, his hand instinctively reaching for his pack of cigarettes. He pulled one out, flicked the lighter, and lit it with a practiced motion. As the flame caught, he inhaled deeply.

He exhaled slowly, watching the smoke curl and dissipate in the cool night air. The nicotine coursed through his system, calming his frayed nerves. He closed his eyes, letting his head fall back against the rough stone wall. The distant sounds of laughter and music from the party seemed muffled now as if belonging to another world entirely.

His solitude was short-lived, however. The door creaked open, and Remus could hear footsteps approaching. He didn't need to open his eyes to know who had joined him.

"Escaping your own party?" he asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.

Sirius chuckled, "Just needed a breather. It's a bit... intense in there."

Remus opened his eyes to find Sirius leaning against the wall beside him, close enough that their shoulders nearly touched. In the dim light, Sirius's features were softened, his usual bravado replaced by a quieter, more contemplative air.

"Mind if I bum one?" Sirius asked, nodding towards the cigarette dangling between Remus's fingers.

Wordlessly, Remus held out the pack, his fingers lingering near the edge. Sirius took one in a swift, fluid motion. Then, he hooked Remus by the collar, tugging him down slightly, just like that time in the corridor. Before Remus could react, Sirius used the glowing ember of his cigarette to light his own. The brief flare of the flame illuminated his face—his cheekbones carved, his eyes dark and intense, shadowed by the soft light.

"So," Sirius said finally, exhaling a plume of smoke, "quite the eventful evening you're having."

Remus felt a flush creep up his neck, grateful for the darkness that hid it. "I s’pose you could say that," he murmured, taking another drag of his cigarette.

Sirius turned to face him. "I hope I didn't make you too uncomfortable earlier. With the dare, I mean."

"No, it's... it's fine," Remus said, echoing his earlier words to Mary. But this time, he found himself meaning it.

"And Mary?" Sirius asked, his voice carefully neutral. "That was... unexpected."

Remus shrugged, flicking ash from his cigarette. "For me as well," he admitted. "I'm not sure what to make of it, to be honest."

Sirius hummed thoughtfully, sucking on his cigarette. When he spoke again, his voice was softer, almost hesitant. "Would you have liked it if it had been someone else? Who kissed you, I mean.”

Remus held his breath. He tried to read the expression on Sirius’ face in the dim light.

"I guess," Remus began slowly, choosing his words, "it would depend on who that someone else was."

Sirius shifted slightly, angling his body towards Remus. "So, James then?" he joked.

“Lily, obviously,” Remus replied trying to school his face.

“What?!” Sirius’ eyes went wide. “Remus… I know that you have a class with her and you spend quite a bit of time together. But Lily and James are practically married and if he knew—” He cut himself off when he caught sight of Remus’ face which was dangerously close to breaking. “Bloody hell! You cheeky bugger! I thought I was going to have to smuggle you out of the country to save you from James’ wrath.” He clapped his free hand over his face laughing.

Remus snickered, "Your face was priceless, I couldn't resist."

Sirius shook his head, still in disbelief about the joke. "You're full of surprises tonight, Moony."

As their cigarettes neared the end, Sirius spoke up, “Coming back in?”

“Think I’m going to call it a night. Leave some action for everyone else.” Remus replied, stubbing out his cigarette on the stone wall.

Sirius nodded but had a small pout on his face. “Walk me back?”

“Sure, couldn’t disappoint you on your birthday.” Remus conceded.

They made it to the door of the common room and Sirius looked like he was wrestling with something.

“Guess this is where I leave you. Hope the rest of the party lives up to your expectations.” Remus started turning to leave when Sirius grabbed his wrist.

"What if... what if it had been me?"

"What do you mean?" Remus asked, even though he knew exactly what Sirius meant.

“What if it had been me that kissed you?” Sirius questioned again, nibbling slightly at his bottom lip.

Remus bent down, his movements slow and deliberate, and pressed a gentle kiss to Sirius' cheek, the warmth of his lips lingering for a moment against the cool skin. As he pulled back, a soft smile played on his lips, and he whispered, "Happy birthday, love."

Remus turned away, his heart threatening to burst from his chest as he made his way down the corridor toward his room. He could feel Sirius's gaze burning into his back, but he didn't dare look behind him.