Threads of Warmth
The weekend arrived before Remus even had time to second-guess the plan. After some thought, he suggested they invite James, Regulus, Lily, and Mary to join the adventure. He figured the more, the merrier—and with this group, it was bound to be unforgettable.
James, always ready for a bit of mischief, claimed he knew a route to Hogsmeade that would keep them completely out of sight from the castle. “Even if someone’s staring out of the astronomy tower with a telescope, they won’t see us,” he promised with a smirk.
At dawn on Saturday, the six of them snuck out, the early morning air crisp and cool as they followed James’s secret path. Laughter bubbled up here and there as they stumbled over uneven ground, but soon enough, the familiar cobbled streets of Hogsmeade came into view.
Once there, Sirius clapped his hands dramatically. “Alright, teams of two! Everyone buddy up and meet back here when you’re loaded with sweets.”
Mary didn’t wait for anyone’s input. “Lily, come on!” she called, grabbing her friend’s hand without hesitation. Their fingers laced tightly together, and they were off in a blur of movement, their laughter trailing behind them as they disappeared down the street.
James and Regulus lingered just long enough to wave before heading off in the opposite direction. James was animatedly talking, his hands gesturing wildly as Regulus rolled his eyes but followed with a faint smirk.
That left Sirius and Remus standing together. Sirius turned to him with a grin. “Looks like it’s just us, Moony.”
“As usual,” Remus said, his voice soft but warm.
They started walking toward Honeydukes at an unhurried pace, the quiet hum of the village wrapping around them. Without a word, Remus slipped his hand into Sirius’s. Sirius glanced down at their joined hands, then back up at Remus, his grin turning softer.
“You’re getting bolder,” Sirius teased lightly, giving Remus’s hand a small squeeze.
Remus rolled his eyes. “Or you’re just rubbing off on me.”
When they reached Honeydukes, the shop was already bustling. The smell of sugar and chocolate filled the air, and Sirius immediately pulled Remus toward a shelf stacked high with Chocolate Frogs.
“Alright,” Sirius declared, scanning the sweets like he was making a life-altering decision. “We’re getting at least five of these, maybe six. You’ll eat half, won’t you?”
“Two, at most,” Remus replied, amused. “And I’m buying them this time.”
Sirius raised an eyebrow. “What happened to splitting everything?”
“I’m buying them,” Remus repeated firmly. “You can fight me about it later.”
They browsed the shop together, picking out a few more treats—a handful of Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans, some Fizzing Whizzbees, and a bar of Honeydukes’ finest milk chocolate.
As they stood at the counter paying, a voice interrupted them.
“So this is where you two wandered off to.”
They turned to find James and Regulus standing at the door, James grinning as if he’d just caught them doing something scandalous. Regulus, meanwhile, looked unimpressed but had a bag of his own, likely filled with sweets.
“Finished already?” Sirius asked, slipping his bag of treats over his shoulder.
“Lily and Mary dragged us here,” James replied. “They’re somewhere in the back arguing over sugar quills.”
Sure enough, a moment later, Lily and Mary appeared, both laughing as Lily waved a pack of quills in triumph.
“Alright, now what?” Sirius asked, looking around at the group.
“Well,” Lily said, tucking her sweets into her bag, “we could head to the Shrieking Shack for a bit before going back. Unless anyone has a better idea?”
“Yes, go back to the castle. It's freezing out here,” James said, his voice trembling slightly as he rubbed his hands together for warmth.
Without a moment’s thought, Regulus slipped off his jumper and draped it over James’s shoulders. The unexpected gesture made James freeze—not from the cold this time, but from surprise. His cheeks flushed pink as he mumbled a barely audible, “Thanks.”
Regulus didn’t meet his gaze, his lips curving into a faint, almost shy smile as he looked off into the distance. “It’s nothing. You looked colder than me,” he said quietly, his tone steady but soft.
The silence that followed was thick with unspoken tension, broken only by the crunch of frost beneath their feet.
“Uh, alrighty then,” Mary piped up, breaking the awkward moment. She hugged herself tightly and shivered. “Should we head back? I’m freezing too, and I really don’t need another detention.”
The group murmured in agreement, turning back toward the castle. The path was quieter now, their earlier chatter subdued as the cold nipped at their fingers and noses.
As they walked, Sirius fell into step beside Remus, nudging him with his elbow. “You alright there, Moony? You’ve been quiet all day.”
Remus glanced at him, his breath visible in the frigid air. “Just thinking.”
“About what?” Sirius asked, his tone light but his eyes searching.
Remus hesitated before answering. “About Regulus. He’s… different with James. Don’t you think?”
Sirius shrugged, though his gaze flicked toward his brother. “Maybe. Or maybe you’re just overthinking things again.” He grinned, trying to steer the conversation back to something less serious. “Not everyone can have my winning charm, after all.”
Remus snorted, rolling his eyes but smiling. “Sure, Padfoot. Whatever helps you sleep at night.”
Ahead of them, Mary and Lily walked together, their heads bent close as they talked in hushed voices. Mary still looked a bit tense, but Lily’s laughter rang out, a sound warm enough to fight the cold.
As the castle came into view, James pulled the jumper tighter around himself, glancing at Regulus from the corner of his eye. “You didn’t have to do that, you know.”
“I wanted to,” Regulus replied simply, his voice steady as he tucked his hands into his pockets. “I wouldn’t want you catching a cold.”
James opened his mouth to respond, but before he could, Sirius shouted from behind, “Hurry up, you two! If Filch catches us out here, we’re all doomed!”
The group paused for a moment just inside the hidden passage, letting the warmth of the castle chase away the lingering chill from their late-night excursion. The distant hum of the enchanted torches flickering along the walls filled the silence as they caught their breath.
“We made it,” Sirius said, grinning as he ruffled his wind-tousled hair. “And without a single run-in with Filch. I think that deserves some kind of medal.”
Lily rolled her eyes, though a smile tugged at her lips. “Or maybe just some common sense next time? No more early morning adventures in the middle of winter.”
Mary nodded emphatically, still rubbing her hands together. “Seconded. I can’t feel my toes.”
“Alright, alright,” James said, holding up his hands in mock surrender. “No more freezing escapades. I promise.”
Regulus raised an eyebrow. “You’ll forget that promise the second you’re bored tomorrow.”
“Probably,” James admitted with a lopsided grin, drawing a quiet laugh from the group.
They exchanged soft byes before parting ways, their footsteps echoing down the stone corridors.
As Remus trudged toward the Gryffindor common room, Sirius fell into step beside him. “Worth it?” Sirius asked, a playful glint in his eye.
Remus glanced over, a small smile playing on his lips. “Yeah. Worth it.”
Behind them, James lingered in the hallway for a moment, his fingers brushing against the fabric of the jumper still draped over his shoulders. The faint scent of Regulus’s cologne clung to it, subtle but undeniable. With a quiet sigh, he folded it neatly over his arm and made his way up the stairs.
And somewhere deep in the dungeons, Regulus lay on his bed, his thoughts stubbornly refusing to settle. The warmth of the castle might have chased away the cold, but it hadn’t dulled the feeling that today had changed something—something he wasn’t ready to name just yet.