The Gryffindor common room was alive with chatter as usual, with Marlene and Mary whispering in a corner, clearly up to some mischief. Peter was lounging in an armchair, flipping through a Quidditch magazine, and James was staring intently at Remus, who was trying to concentrate on his book.
"Moony," James began in his best persuasive tone, "I've been thinking…"
"Uh-oh," Remus muttered, not even looking up. "That can’t be good."
"Oi, that’s rude,” James replied, elbowing him. “Anyway, you’re friends with Lily now, right? She actually listens to you. All I’m asking is a little… push in the right direction.”
Remus gave him a look that was somewhere between amusement and exasperation. Since Remus and Lily became friends, James wouldn’t stop pestering him about it. “Oh sure, because Lily is just dying to hear all the wonderful things you think about yourself.”
James groaned, glancing over at Marlene and Mary as they tried (and failed) to pretend they weren’t listening in. “You don’t even have to say anything amazing just—just drop my name in during your patrol. Once or twice. Maybe mention how mature I’ve become.”
Remus chuckled. “So, lie?”
Marlene stifled a laugh and called over, “Since when do you need help, Potter? I thought you’re irresistible.”
Mary grinned. “Yeah, losing your charm, James?”
James rolled his eyes at them but turned back to Remus. “C”mon, Moony, it’s Marauders’ code! Always help a mate in need.” James recited dramatically, placing one hand on his chest.
“Code or not, Prongs, Lily’s not going to fall for it. She’ll probably hex me for trying.”
Sirius, who’d been listening with a smirk, leaned back in his chair. “Oh, I’m sure Evans wouldn’t. You two are best pals these days. Practically joined at the hip!” His voice held just the faintest hint of jealousy. “You even hug her.”
Remus rolled his eyes, though his cheeks tinged slightly pink. “It’s called being nice, Pads. Not that you’d know much about it.”
Sirius raised an eyebrow, pretending to look offended. “Excuse me, I am nice, you absolute git.”
Marlene snorted, leaning over to Mary. “Bet he’s jealous. Remus and Lily having all that ‘friend time’ without him.”
Remus shot Sirius a sidelong look, only half-joking. “Yeah, Pads. Jealous much?”
Sirius shrugged, nonchalant. “Only because I know she’s taking up valuable Moony time.” He gave Remus a quick, mischievous grin.
“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure to pencil you in sometime.”
Sirius scoffed. “Pencil me in? Please, you know I’m the main event of your life, Moony. The headliner! Without me, it’s just a bunch of boring filler.”
Remus rolled his eyes dramatically. “Oh, absolutely, Pads. I’d be lost without you, really. Who else would provide such top-notch entertainment and questionable life choices?”
Sirius shot him a playful glare. “You just can’t handle my brilliance, Moony.”
At this, James let out an annoyed sigh, running a hand through his messy hair. “By Merlin, do you two ever stop? Can we just focus on what’s important now? Moony, you’d really turn down your best mate in his hour of need?”
Remus just laughed, closing his book. “Sorry, Prongs. Lily would know in seconds I was setting her up.”
“Well, I suppose I could offer something more… persuasive.” James pulled out his crinkly stash of Honeydukes chocolate, giving Remus a hopeful grin.
“You’re really pulling out all the stops here,” Peter said, watching with a grin.
“Tempting, but still no,” Remus said, chuckling.
Then he glanced around to make sure the girls weren’t paying attention, but they were distracted showing Sirius something in one of their magazines. “Besides,” he whispered, “I don’t even have patrol tonight. Still sore from the full. Lily is covering for me so I can stay in the library.”
That was definitely one of the best perks of her having discovered his secret.
James’s eyes lit up, and Remus could practically see the wheels turning in his head. “You don’t say.”
Remus shot him a warning look. “Oh, no, Prongs—whatever you’re planning, it’s a terrible idea. Give her some space, really.”
But James only winked. “Don’t worry about it, mate. I’ve got it all figured out.”
“Just leave me out of whatever it is.”
***
Later that evening, Lily was patrolling the halls when suddenly Remus joined her.
“What are you doing here?” Lily asked, eyeing him curiously. “I thought you were still resting from… you know.”
“I’m feeling a lot better now, so I figured I’d join you,” Remus replied, and his voice sounded strange. But Lily thought it was probably some residual full-moon effect.
They walked in silence for a few minutes, until Remus broke it. “So, Evans—“
“Evans?” Lily chuckled. “Since when do you call me that? Who are you, Potter?”
Well, as a matter of fact.
James cursed internally. Of course Remus calls Lily by her real name, the bastard. They’re friends. Suddenly, James really wants to march up to the library where Remus is studying and shake him and demand to know how he managed that.
Maybe once the Polyjuice wore off.
Lily tilted her head, studying him out of the corner of her eye as they walked. “Remus, are you alright?”
“Uh—fine, perfectly fine,” James-as-Remus replied, attempting to mimic Remus’s usual calm tone but probably missing by a mile. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
Lily shrugged. “You’re just… acting a bit strange. Is it.. is it, you know, because of yesterday?” Lily bit her lip, like she didn’t know how Remus would react to the mention of the recent full moon.
But James couldn’t be more glad for the excuse. “Yeah, um, it’s hard and all.” Not really eloquent, but Remus wasn’t known for being the touchy-feely type.
Lily frowned sympathetically, reaching out to rest a hand on his arm. “You’re always so modest,” she said, shaking her head with a fond look. “After what you go through every month, I think you’re allowed to admit you’re tired.”
James-Remus chuckled weakly. “I know.” Because James did know, even if the real Remus didn’t.
“I’m being serious,” she said firmly, like she also didn’t believe Remus knew. “In fact, I think you’re the strongest person I know, Remus.“
James looked down, his cheeks warming slightly, even if none of those words were meant for him. But Lily was looking at him in that Lily-Evans-way and it made his heart beat faster. “Thanks, Lily. You’re awesome.”
“Back at you,” she smiled mischievously before adding, “even if you have questionable taste in friends.”
James gaped at her, but couldn’t help but chuckle. Lily’s dislike for the Marauders, or at least three of the members, wasn’t exactly news for anyone in the entire Wizarding World.
Well, time to get his plan in action.
“So, funny you said that cause I was thinking…” he began carefully, “maybe you should give James another chance. Sure, he can be a bit, uh… all the things you call him, but he’s got a good heart. And, you know, he has really matured, and only pranked Snape once since the year began, and is taking his studies more seriously, and—uh…”
Lily raised an eyebrow. “Since when do you sound like James Potter’s personal cheerleader?”
James floundered, attempting to stay cool. Remus was always cool when confronted, he always had a smart answer. Unfortunately, the potion only gave him Remus’ looks. “I don’t know. Just thought… he deserves a chance.”
Lily stopped, giving him a knowing look. “Okay, and exactly how much sweets are you getting from Potter’ stash?”
“What?” James was sure Remus’ voice was never that high before. “James doesn’t… I was just… How do you even know about the stash?”
Lily laughed. “C’mon! If you’re going to keep singing Potter’s praises all night, the least you could do is share the bribe with me.”
James cleared his throat, trying to recover. “No bribe, I just figured you might want to know the real him.”
“Oh, get off, Remus! If I didn’t already know who you have a crush on, I’d say you’re suddenly head over heels for Potter,” she replied, a smirk playing on her lips.
James nearly stumbled, caught off guard. “What? My… crush?”
Lily just laughed, clearly entertained. “You think I haven’t noticed? I mean, neither of you are subtle, you guys keep stealing each other’s food at every other meal and bickering like an old married couple every day.”
James hesitated, curious beyond himself about Remus’ apparent crush, but unsure how to investigate without being suspicious. He didn’t get a chance to try, as just then they rounded a corner and bumped directly into Sirius.
Sirius’s expression brightened weirdly when he looked at him, and he barely acknowledged Lily before focusing on him.
“Oi, Moony,” he called, moving close, voice softening. “Fancy meeting you here. I thought you were going to be buried in your precious books in your precious library?”
James tried to laugh in Remus’ usual dry way. Suddenly, he wondered if Sirius knew it was James pretending to be Remus, and was planning to sabotage his whole plan. But Sirius kept staring at him with wrong-eyes and James realized it was because he never looked at him that way, only Remus.
“I was feeling better,” James replied in his best imitation of Remus’ casual tone. Tricking Lily was one thing, but Sirius knew Remus inside out, probably better than anyone. “So I decided to make my rounds.”
It was a good thing Sirius seemed to be a little distracted, because he bought it. “Good. Mind if I steal you for a sec?”
Lily gave Remus a curious glance, full of meaning James didn’t understand. “He’s all yours, Black,” she said, sounding more amused than she should have. “I’ll go check the classrooms, see if there isn’t anyone hiding there.”
Once she was out of sight, Sirius pulled James-Remus aside, his expression suddenly anxious. “Moony, I… I heard what you and Lily were saying and I can’t help but think that… what I mean is… I’ve been meaning to tell you… there’s something I need to say before I go mad.”
James, who was planning to use Lily’s absence to fill Sirius in on the Polyjuice-Plan, hesitated. What in the world could Sirius be so nervous to tell Remus but hadn’t told James? They shared everything. James didn’t think there was any part of Sirius’ life he didn’t know about.
Well, it was probably something James already knew, right? And probably better not risk discussing the plan when Lily could return any minute. “Oh? Go on, then.”
A moment of silence, then Sirius took a breath, his gaze more intense than James ever saw. “I… I really like you, Moony. And not just as a mate.”
Before James could even react, Sirius leaned in, pressing a quick, uncertain kiss to his lips. James froze, utterly thrown, and Sirius eventually pulled back.
“W-what?” James stuttered, trying and failing to process what was happening. Was this a prank? Did Sirius know it was him? Did he and Remus figure out the plan and decided to enact a little revenge?
Sirius's hopeful smile wavered, and a shadow of doubt crossed his face. "Moony?" he asked, his voice just above a whisper, vulnerability seeping through. "Did… did I do something wrong?”
James, still reeling, tried to stammer out a response, but all he could manage was a choked, “Uh… is this a prank?”
Sirius’s expression fell, disappointment and hurt clouding his gaze as he took a small step back, his hands dropping to his sides. “Right. Guess I shouldn’t have assumed.” He laughed hollowly, the sound harsh against the empty corridor. "I—I thought, maybe. Stupid, really.”
“Sirius, wait, I—” James-Remus began, sensing he was in over his head and ready to explain everything. But Sirius shook his head, his voice barely holding steady.
“Just forget it… I got it wrong.” He flashed a forced, brittle smile, not meeting his eyes, then turned on his heel and walked briskly away, leaving James alone, stunned and speechless.
James didn’t know how much time passed just standing there in shock, when Lily finally came back. She gave him one of her mischievous grins.
“So, what did loverboy want?”
***
The door to the boys dorm creaked open, and the real Remus Lupin stepped in, looking worn but content after what he thought had been a calm night off. He stopped short, though, seeing Sirius sitting alone on his bed, staring at the floor with a hardened, closed-off look that immediately set off alarms in Remus’s mind.
“Hey, Pads,” Remus said softly, crossing the room and taking a seat next to him.
“Not now, Remus, please.” Sirius curled into himself, his voice hoarse and eyes red. “Just, not now.”
Remus’ concern immediately skyrocketed. The only time he saw Sirius this distressed was after his last-ever talk with Regulus. “What’s wrong? Did something happened?”
Sirius glanced up, his expression shifting from hurt to anger. “Did something happened? Did something—So, we’re going to play that game, uh?” he said bitterly, his voice laced with accusation.
Remus blinked, taken aback. “What game? What are you talking about?”
Sirius scoffed, a humorless laugh escaping him. “Oh, come on, Moony! I guess you were conveniently confounded since our talk, is that it? Why have a real talk when we can just pretend tonight never happened, right?”
Remus frowned, utterly confused. “Pretend what? Sirius, I don’t… I didn’t even see you tonight.”
“Oh, so now you didn’t even see me?” Sirius snapped, eyes flashing. “Because I seem to remember you looking me in the eye, like I’m just some… some idiot for ever telling you how I feel! Like I was some idiot for even thinking that you could like me the way I like you.”
Remus’s heart started racing at that, more confused than ever, and needing to know right that second what was happening. The way I like you, Sirius said. That you could like me the way I like you.
“Sirius, wait,” he said slowly, voice softening. “What… what exactly happened?”
Sirius stood up, his frustration boiling over at the soft tone of Remus’ voice. “Don’t play dumb, Remus! You know exactly what you did. You didn’t kiss me back, and then you just looked at me like I was some joke.”
“When? When did this—?”
“You jerk! You absolute jerk! I thought we could at least have a real conversation, that even if you didn’t feel the same way we could still be friends. I’m sorry, okay? I’m sorry I misunderstood what Lily said to you, but it looked like she was talking about us, me and you, so I took a chance and now you… you can’t even…”
Lily? When did he talk to Lily tonight? He didn’t go on patrol with her, because of the full, just like he told James earlier when… oh no. Realization dawned on Remus’s face, his eyes widening. “Pads… I swear, that wasn’t me.”
“Oh, brilliant excuse,” Sirius scoffed, but Remus shook his head desperately.
“I mean it,” he insisted, standing up so he could stand close to Sirius. “I didn’t have patrol tonight, remember? I went to the library and I—“ When Sirius tried to interrupt with probably another infuriated rant, Remus covered his mouth with his hand. “And I think James went as me. He was pestering me about talking him up to Lily and you know how he gets with his schemes. He must have taken Polyjuice, I don’t know how he got my hair, that bastard, but it doesn’t matter. Just, that wasn’t me, Sirius. I swear to you, it wasn’t me.”
Sirius’s anger faltered as the truth sank in, the fight in his expression melting into shock and embarrassment. Remus lowered his hand from his mouth, and in their proximity he could hear Sirius’ shaken exhale. “You were at the library… you didn’t… you didn’t reject me?”
Remus nodded, his gaze soft. “If it had been me, I would’ve kissed you back. And I’d remember every second.”
For a moment, Sirius just stared, a dozen emotions flickering across his face. Then, with a shaky laugh, his shoulders relaxed as relief and something else—hope—took over.
“So,” Sirius murmured, finally meeting Remus’s eyes, “does that mean… you feel the same?”
“I don’t know, might need to hear that confession first,” Remus teased, but his pink cheeks gave him away.
Sirius smiled, that beautiful Sirius-smile that Remus liked to believe it was just for him. And maybe it really was. “Moony, I swear to God, don’t test me right now.”
Remus laughed, and Sirius’ smile widened.
Taking Sirius’s hand between both of his, Remus couldn’t help but feel a little shy. “I do. I really, really like you. For so long that I don’t even remember when it started, it.. it feels like forever.” Well, now Remus really was embarrassed by what came out of his mouth.
“Moony! You romantic bastard!” Sirius was smiling so much it must hurt.
“Shut up.” But Remus was also smiling. How could everything with Sirius be so easy and feel so right? “Well, let’s hear yours, then. You know, the jury’s still out, so it better be good.”
“Well, not everyone can be such a romantic like you, Moony!” Sirius teased, his eyes now sparkling with life. “I just said that I liked you more than just mates, and, well, I guess it’s better if I show you the next part.”
Sirius finally leaned in, capturing Remus’s lips in a kiss that was both soft and urgent, filled with everything they had kept hidden for too long.
And Remus kissed him back, because there isn’t a world where the real Remus Lupin wouldn’t kiss Sirius Black back. A rush of warmth was flooding through him as he finally let go of all the fears that had held him back in the past. It was a kiss filled with the promise of something new, something real.
After they separated, the world around them seemed to stand still, the silence enveloping them like a warm blanket. Sirius pulled back slightly, his forehead resting against Remus’s, both of them breathless, their hearts racing in sync.
Remus searched Sirius’s eyes, a mix of disbelief and joy dancing across his features. “Okay, there’s just one important thing I need to know.”
“Anything, Moony,” Sirius said, his tone light yet earnest.
Remus grinned, a hint of mischief in his expression. “Who is the better kisser: me or James?”
Remus laughed loudly as Sirius’s eyes widened in horror, realization dawning. “I kissed Prongs. By Merlin, I kissed James. Ugh, I can still feel the ghost of James’s lips on mine. How am I supposed to move on from this?”
Remus couldn’t help but laugh even more.
“Well,” Sirius started dramatically, “I believe the only way to truly erase those memories is for you to kiss me again. It’s scientific, really. The more kisses, the less haunted I’ll feel.”
“Scientific, huh?” Remus replied, rolling his eyes, but already leaning in.
“Basic logic, Moony. I thought you were supposed to be the smart one.”
Remus chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief. “You’re an idiot, you know that?”
“Takes one to know one, Moonpie,” Sirius shot back, both of them sharing a laugh that melted into another kiss.
***
A few minutes later, the dormitory door flew open, and James stormed in, cheeks flushed. The effect of the Polyjuice had clearly worn off. “Pads—I can explain!”
But he stopped in his tracks, seeing Sirius and Remus laying side by side in Sirius’ bed, clearly closer than before.
“Oh, so I… didn’t ruin things, then?” James asked, looking between them.
“Not for lack of trying, Prongsie,” Sirius smirked, his arm around Remus’s shoulders.
James swallowed hard, his heart still racing. “Right, yes. I can explain everything.”
“Oh, I bet you can,” Remus teased, crossing his arms. “But first, let me say this. Never use my face again, understood?”
Sirius smiled. “To be fair, it’s a pretty face. Can’t blame him.”
“Very funny, Pads,” Remus said, rolling his eyes but unable to hide his grin. “I mean it, Prongs.”
James scratched his head, looking a little embarrassed but he was smiling. “Never again, Moony. Cross my heart. It’s not exactly an experience I want to repeat, I’m still trying to erase Sirius’ lips from my memory.”
“Oi! I’m a great kisser, you git. Right, Moony?” Sirius turned to Remus, leaning in close while batting his eyelashes exaggeratedly.
Remus laughed, pushing Sirius’ face away. James couldn’t help but smile even more at their friends’ obvious happiness. “I’m really happy for you guys.”
Sirius smiled, a real one. Remus could practically feel his relief at James acceptance of them. But the smile didn’t last long because James had to add, “And now you can convince Lily to go on a double date with me and you guys, Moony! It’s the perfect plan!”
James yelped as two pillows went flying at him.