Chapter Twenty
Lyla POV
The hospital wing was dead silent, but the air was heavy with tension. Awkwardness seemed to float around the room like the ghost in the Great Hall.
“Was I horrible?” Remus finally asked.
“No, Rem, no,” I said, quickly. Remus covered his face with his hands.
“I’m a monster! I could have killed all of you. I’m so, so stupid.”
“Remus,” my voice grew sharp, and Remus jumped a little. “I don’t want to hear another word about it,” I commanded sternly. “You are not a monster, and this isn’t your fault. Don’t be dense. We were attacked by Death Eaters.”
“I—“ Remus started to say, but I cut him off.
“Did you mean to transform in front of us all?”
“No, but—“
“Did you have any intent whatsoever to hurt us or anyone else?”
“Well, no—“
“Did you hurt anyone. Anyone at all?”
“No—“
“Then I don’t see what the problem is here.” I looked sharply at my boyfriend. He glanced at James and Sirius who were sitting in the other side of the bed.
“Don’t look at us mate,” James said. “She’s totally right.”
“Of course I am.”
Remus opened his mouth, closed it, then reopen it. “Fine.”
“Say it,” I raised an eyebrow. Remus sighed, but a smile crinkled the corner of his eyes nonetheless.
“I am not a monster. This wasn’t my fault.”
“Good,” I nodded, satisfied.
“What about Iris and Regulus?” Remus hands twisted the sheets, winding and unwinding them.
“See for yourself,” I asked, calling over my shoulder. “You can come in now!”
The door to the hospital wing opened to reveal a worried Iris, an uncomfortable Regulus, and an excited Mel. Iris dashed across the room, flinging herself onto Remus.
“Are you okay? I was so worried! Lyla told me everything, and I just—oh it must be so horrible for you! Are you feeling alright?” Her hand came up to feel the temperature of a very bewildered Remus’s forehead. He glanced at me and I winked.
“I’m fine, thank you Iris.”
“That’s good!” Mel chirped, plopping down on the bed next to Remus’s. He looked even more befuddled. Regulus approached, and I held my breath.
“Lupin,” he said, straightening.
“Er, Black,” Remus was avoiding eye contact. I held my breath.
“Nice tail,” was all Regulus said before he turned away.
The answer seemed more than enough for Remus who smiled and leaned back into his pillows.
There was an awkward moment where we all looked at each other, silent.
“Sirius,” Regulus said, looking at his brother, emotionless. I shrunk back into Remus, apprehension and anxiety twisting low in my stomach. “Do you still write to Andromeda?”
“Yes,” Sirius answered, narrowing his eyes. “Do you…do you want to talk to her? Are you thinking of…”
“No.” Regulus’s voice was firm, leaving no room for questioning. Sirius’s face fell, bit as James wrapped a comforting arm around his friend’s shoulder, I could see Regulus glance at Iris and give himself a little shake.
“I need to get into contact with her,” Regulus told his brother.
“Why? You’ve never liked her,” Sirius inched closer to the bed where Remus lay and Mel sat.
“Narcissa wants to talk to her.”
“What?” Sirius cried nose scrunching in confusion. “Why?”
Regulus ignored his brother. “I made a deal with her. My end is to facilitate communication between her and her sister. You will help us.”
“Us?” Sirius growled, teeth poking out from behind his scowl like a dog.
“Yes. Me, Iris, Lyla, and the w—Remus,” Regulus’s usually pale face pinked, and I wondered which of the many awkward options was the cause.
“What?” Sirius’s took a step forward. “So you’re who Lyla has been asking her questions to. Figures you are an expert in dark magic.” Sirius shook his head violently, dark curls whipping across his face.
“Sirius,” I started to say, but he cut me off.
“That’s enough. Enough,” Sirius hands flew to his head and began tugging at his hair. I stood up, wanting to comfort him but wary of triggering another panic like what had happened in the library.
“This is insane. Do you know what your playing at, Reggie? What you’re risking? And not just for yourself!” Sirius jerked his finger towards Remus. “You’re endangering my friend and his girlfriend and her sister, and…and…I don’t even know what side you’re on!”
Silence fell once again over the room. Regulus didn’t met his brother’s peircing stare.
“Do you even know?” Sirius face crumpled as he asked the question.
Regulus bit his lip.
“I…I don’t…I’m doing this, okay?” He said, backing up. “And I need you to get the letters to Andromeda. Are you in or out?”
Sirius glanced at Remus and then at James. He shook his head, less an answer and more a reorientation.
Mel stood up and crossed the room to Sirius. I gaped at her as her slid her arms around Sirius’s waist and put her mouth to his ear.
She whispered, but I was standing close enough to hear her words.
“I know, love. I know. But maybe…maybe this is the right thing even though it…feels so…complicated. I love you. I want to grow with you in a world not run by hate and fear. Maybe that starts here.”
She pulled away from Sirius who was looking at her like she had hung the stars in the sky herself. He practically shined for her.
“I’ll do it,” he told his brother. “Just…watch you back.”
Regulus, a carefully constructed mask hiding any surprised expression, gave one curt nod. “You too.”
He turned halfway before pausing. “You know, I don’t despise you.”
It sounded like an olive branch, twisted and broken, probably long dead, but still an olive branch.
“Then act like it,” Sirius responded. Regulus left.
Iris stood up and followed him.
“We’re so talking about this later,” she said to Mel before the large doors to the Hospital Wing closed.
I waited a few heartbeats of silence before speaking.
“So…you’re dating?”
“Yup,” Sirius popped the ‘p’. “Have been for maybe two months now.” Mel nodded.
“We didn’t want a lot of attention on it,” she said. “We’re sorry for keeping it from you.”
It took me a moment to realize she was speaking directly to me. James and Remus must have already known.
“It’s totally fine,” I waved my hand. “I get it. As long as you’re happy.”
Mel turned to Sirius, gooey-eyed. “We are.”
I pressed my lips together, a sudden rush of sorrow filling my stomach. Everyone was growing up. We all had plans for our future, and not the playful, half joking ones that we’d held at the beginning of out time at Hogwarts.
It would be Easter Holidays soon, and the end of term would follow close behind. The Marauders would be off, then, in the world. I wondered what kind of place it would be. I hoped it would be kind, but that was unlikely.
Snuggled back into Remus’s arms, watching Sirius and Mel talking in hushed tones as James unwrapped a candy bar.
I agreed with Mel. I wanted to grow in a world that wasn’t run by anger and panic. I realized for the first time since I had decided to research Ravenclaw’s diadem that I wasn’t afraid to work for that world I wanted.
I wasn’t afraid to fight for it, to sacrifice for it. I could tell in my bones I would have to.
And I would, when the time came, but not right now. Right now, I would sit with my friends and remind myself what I was doing this all for.
“I love you,” I told Remus, squeezing his hand. He held me tighter.
“I love you too.”
Regulus POV
Cissy,
I hope your wedding planning is going according to plan and that you are surrounded by the people who love you during this special time. I look forward to seeing you in person during the Easter Holidays and for you to get to share these memories with me. I assume your plan to visit Grimmauld Place while I am home hasn’t changed? I have always counted on you to pull through and I know you will not disappoint me.
Yours truly,
RAB
Regulus dear,
You flatter me. You know perfectly well that I have not always come through for you, but it is true that I have always done the best that I could while upholding the name of the Noble House of Black. I’m certain you understand. Never fear dear cousin, for in this instance you will be satisfied. My plans to visit Grimmauld Place over your quaint break are perfectly on schedule and I look forward to seeing you, as always. You’re quite right that being surrounded by family during this transitional time is the greatest comfort one can have. Now I must dispense with the condensation because for this, I must truly thank you in the most honest terms I can. Regulus, I owe you, and will not soon forget this. I may not always come through for you in the ways you’d like me to, due to certain restraints of this family, but I do always follow my heart. You are one of the truest pieces of this, and it is my sincerest wish that you do the same. Don’t live in fear, cousin. I know you’re too smart for that.
Yours ever,
Cissy
I stared down at her letter, reading it and rereading it. I was glad she still had the cup in her sights. It’s not like we had necessarily stayed in touch while I was at school, but anytime there was a family gathering things fell into the way they always did with us. Sharing looks across the room whenever my mother or Bella were being particularly insane.
It was rather nice to have someone to write to besides my Mother who only wrote to berate me.
This wasn’t the only thing that had me staring at the page, though. Was Cissy… apologizing? Cissy never apologized. I supposed I couldn’t quite classify it as that, but there was an acknowledgement there.
Perhaps of the horrors I had gone through while she stayed silently to the side like the rest of the family, an obedient, statuesque, blemish-less young woman. I didn’t have it in me to condemn her for that, although maybe I should have. My family was twisted enough as it was, I couldn’t bear to estrange myself from her of all people.
But it was the bit at the end that gave me real pause. Was she telling me to follow my heart? I thought of her and Andy, her and Lucius, and her and I. She did always follow her heart, I supposed, while somehow still conforming to the Black expectations. I’m not sure I could walk that line as neatly as she could. I’m not sure I could have it both ways. So which way did I want it?
Don’t live in fear, cousin. I know you’re too smart for that.
Was that what I was doing? Being afraid? I examined my current exile from Iris and Sirius and realized that she was completely right. I was terrified of them. Terrified that if I let either of them in, one or both would leave me. Again.
I wasn’t sure if I would ever be able to reconcile with Sirius, or simply if too much had broken between us. I also wasn’t sure if I was brave enough to try.
But maybe there was someone I could try with, someone who hadn’t left me yet, or at least hadn’t left me unprovoked.
After waiting in the Great Hall for five hours, constantly scanning the tables and the doorway for any sign of her, knowing she had to show up eventually, she finally walked through the door, arm in arm with Mel. I bolted upright, causing the bench behind me to screech against the stone floors, and dashed over to them.
“Iris,” I said, out of breath. “Can we talk?”
“Sure,” she said, crossing her arms, her face guarded. I felt like we had made some ground surviving a Death Eater attack together but I guessed not enough. Mel crossed her arms too, standing like a bodyguard at her side. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.
“Alone?” I asked. She looked at me for a beat, examining my face. I tried to look innocent.
Then she sighed and said, “Fine.” When Mel hesitated she said, “Go save me a seat,” and Mel reluctantly left for the Hufflepuff table, shooting me dagger eyes as she passed.
I started heading for the door and to my relief Iris followed. I didn’t stop until we were in the empty courtyard, the early March sun weakly shining down on us.
I turn to face her. And gulped. I hadn’t prepared what I was going to say and now I wish I would have. I just kind of thought it would come out all right. But now she was staring at me waiting and I was just standing there like a mute idiot.
“Well?” she prompted. “Did you hear about the cup or something?”
“No. Well yes, Cissy is still planning on giving it to me at Easter but that’s not why I wanted to talk.”
“Then why?” she asked, very reasonably, I had to admit.
“I miss you,” I said. That is not what I had wanted to say.
She looked shocked. I gulped again.
“What I meant to say was,” I steeled myself. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry for calling Lyla and Remus that. I’m sorry for reverting back to my old ways, and for throwing up barriers at the slightest provocation. It’s wrong and I’m not used to all this… interaction but that’s still no excuse. I don’t really believe that about them anymore, I hope you know that. And I’m sorry that I ever did. They’re… kinder to me than I deserve. Kinder than any pure blood I’ve met. I’m so sorry,” I finished sloppily, unable to look at anything but the stone floor. It felt insufficient.
Shame was a new feeling for me and I didn’t like how it sat with me. But I was ashamed.
After a long silence, I finally looked up.
She was looking at me in the most curious way. Hesitant, but with a small smile playing at the edge of her lips like she found my apology… endearing. I clenched my jaw, waiting for the verdict.
“I can tell you're a novice at apologies,” she said no comically.
“Well, yes,” I said, unsure how to answer.
“What is the point of this Regulus? Why are you apologizing?” she asked.
I was taken aback. “Because it’s the right thing to do. And because it’s true and I wanted you to know,” I added. “Also, I kind of hoped we could be friends again? Like I said, I miss hanging out with you,” I said. I could barely get the words out and it nearly killed me, but I said it.
“Alright,” she said.
My eyes shot to hers. “Alright?”
“Alright,” she repeated. ”I forgive you.”
“You forgive me?” I parroted. She rolled her eyes.
“Of course I forgive you. To be honest… the only reason I didn’t try to fix this sooner is because I wasn’t exactly sure if you were sorry. Or if you actually thought of us as… you know. Less than.” Her cheeks had colored a bit and it felt like a gut punch.
Worse than I gut punch because at one point it had been true. “Not anymore,” I assured. “Not since I’ve actually known you.”
“Okay,” she said softly.
“So…” I hesitated, not wanting to push it but also wanting to be clear. “Are we friends again or…?” I trailed off. I never trailed off.
She rolled her eyes again, a smile breaking over her face and Merlin, I loved it. “Yes, we’re friends Reg. Of course we’re friends, don’t be an idiot.”
Now it was my turn to grin. I could hardly believe it. I even let out a little chuckle. “Thank Merlin for that,” I said, running my hands through my hair.
“Now we can actually go horcrux hunting as a happy family instead of having all this weird strained tension,” she said, linking her arm through mine. I noticed she hesitated for a second before doing it, that it wasn’t quite as natural as before, but I supposed that was to be expected.
I colored a bit about the supposed “tension” and hoped that it was gone for good, but I wasn’t quite as certain as her. It couldn’t all be attributed to her anger towards me. Some of it was on my end, and I wouldn’t exactly classify it as anger. I shoved the thought down though. This would be enough. I had her back and it would be enough.
Iris POV
Gryffindor was playing Hufflepuff tonight and no one could shut up about it. It was almost like in light of both attacks that had happened this semester, people needed something fun and juvenile to think about.
I certainly did. Something that didn’t involve the war or injuries or even my new, tenuous friendship with Regulus Black.
I still was getting used to the fact, to be honest. I was a little wary about trusting him but if I was being honest with myself, it felt so good to have him back. Like the aching hole inside of me that I had been ignoring was filled again.
It was so odd, everything felt so similar to before, if I let myself forget about or fight. And yet I was still holding a piece of me back. It was all so confusing.
Because this was Mel’s big public appearance since her attack, I wanted to be in the very front row to cheer her on. People could be cruel, and I was determined to single-handedly offset their cruelness.
We had talked about standing strong in the face of hate during the match earlier, after a giggling conversation about a certain brothers who will it be named.
So even though the game didn’t start until 7:00, there I was, in the front row of the Hufflepuff section, at 5:00, sandwich nicked from the kitchens in hand.
I had just settled my yellow tied blanket on the bench beneath me when the creak of boards to my right had me looking up. Remus was padding over to me, bundled to the max against the February chill even though it was relatively mild. He looked like trash, despite the grin on his face.
“Iris! Hey!” he greeted, as he sat next to me and tucked a red tied blanket under him. I looked at it for a second, then back up at him.
“Hey! Beating the rush?” I asked.
“Yup. Great minds, I’m assuming?” he said, gesturing to my set up.
“Yup. Don’t tell me you have a sandwich tucked away somewhere too?” I asked him.
“Better,” he said. “Dessert.” He pulled a fistful of brownies from his robe pockets.
I gasped. “Ugh, why didn’t I think of that?”
“No need for you too,” he said easily, and handed me one smashed brownie, wrapped in a napkin.
“Thanks!” I beamed, shredding off a chunk of my sandwich and giving it to him, unsolicited. He grinned too, shoving the unappealing mess in his mouth all at once. I watched the scars from our most recent near death experience stretch across his face as he chewed and glanced across the field towards the hufflepuff tent.
“Where’s Peter?” I asked.
“Too much of a sissy to brave the cold,” he mumbled through his full mouth. “Lyla?”
“You didn’t hear?” I asked. “She just came down with that flu that’s been spreading like wildfire through the Ravenclaw common room. Took out Amanda and Bryant too.”
He frowned. “Oh no. Maybe I ought to get her soup or chocolate or something.”
“Don’t bother. Mel already made three batches or her signature soup. She swears up and down that it heals anything, and especially since she seasons it with Flu Fighter Phlem.”
“Ah,” Remus answered, looking puzzled.
“So why are you actually here early?” I asked, keenly. I felt like I had barely had a chance to get to know my sister’s boyfriend except in a group setting, what with us constantly either in the hospital wing or hunting dark objects.
I’d be lying if I said that finding out that he was a werewolf didn’t change how I saw him. Honestly, it explained a lot. How someone so dorky and softhearted could still have that hard edge to him. Why he always looked sleep deprived and ruffled.
Maybe I should have been afraid of him, but it was hard when I had spent six years seeing him as that sweet Gryffindor boy who added necessary balance to James and Sirius’s chaos.
He cleared his throat, looking uncomfortable. “Sirius has kind of been having a rough go of it lately. He’s had enough family drama to last a lifetime and reconnecting Andromeda and Narcissa feels like getting caught up in all of it again. Seeing the two of them is kind of like looking in a mirror. And I think it breaks his heart a little bit that Narcissa actively sought out Andromeda and well… it’s not exactly going the same way for him.”
He looked a little flustered, like he may have revealed too much.
“Anyway, I just wanted to be in the front row to support him, you know?”
I smiled a little at that. “I know.”
Just then, the Hufflepuff team shot out onto the field, their yellow and black uniforms stark against the gray day, and saving me from trying to figure out what to say next.
They looked like a dream, with Mel as Keeper, in the lead of their arrow shaped formation. As they sped by and the wind lifted our hair, I caught a glimpse of her grin before she was off and my heart leapt.
Just as they started warm up drills, a flock of scarlet flew out of the Gryffendor tent and dramatically whipped around the field in soaring arcs and at least three barrel turns.
I rolled my eyes as Remus whooped. They then started their drills on their designated side of the field. But just as they slammed their quaffle into the lowest hoop, one of the scarlet clad figures abandoned his posts.
There were shouts of protest that went ignored as he shoved his long black hair out of his face and flew to the other hoops. The two keepers came face to face in midair, their robes whipping around them.
Now it was the Hufflepuff’s turn to protest as he disrupted their shooting drills. Mel shouted at them to keep going and as she relentlessly blocked every shot taken at the goals, Sirius flew directly beside her, not getting in her way, and not losing height with her for a second.
He looked to be continuously chatting with her as she ignored him, batting Quaffle after Quaffle out of her way until she appeared to miss one that slammed directly into Sirius, nearly knocking him off his broom.
A surprised laugh burst out of Remus and I threw back my head and cackled. The Gryffendor, who had stopped to watch hooted and though they were far away, I thought I could see the ghost of a smile on her face before she yelled at her team to stop floating around and get back to it.
“Okay, they total vibe, right,” I said to Remus. “I don’t know why I never noticed before.”
“Oh there is definitely a vibe,” Remus confirmed. “Without question.”
I bit back a laugh. “They’re going to be a handful together.”
“Most certainly,” he answered. In unison our heads turned up to our respective goal posts. Then we both giggled. I went home that night feeling content with the world.
Remus POV
I was trying very hard not to laugh. I had found myself in this position often since having befriended the Marauders.
Earlier today we had been caught red handed by McGonagall trying to slide down the moving staircases on mattresses and had been subsequently sent to Dumbledore’s office. James was now staring doe eyed up at the Headmaster.
“You must believe me, sir,” he begged, hands clasped in front of him. “It was all these two idiots. I was simply minding my own business reading. Then they tried to ride down the stairs and when McGonagall came…” Here he shook his head mournfully, the picture of innocence. “They cast a spell…somehow we swapped bodies…oh, professor, you must believe I’m Remus Lupin.”
I leaned back in my seat, spreading my legs in front of me and smirking. Sirius ran his hand through his hair in a very impressive James-like manner.
“I’m afraid he’s right, professor,” I said. “I am certainly not Remus. Je ne comprendre pas.” I had not the faintest idea what I had just said but it was the only French I knew. “I’m the one and only Sirius Black. Oui.”
Sirius laughed, jovially. “And I’m James!” He cried.
Dumbledore looked unimpressed and not even slightly convinced by our ruse. He opened his mouth to speak, but the door to his office burst open before he could.
“Headmaster!” It was Flitch, looking out of breath and irate. “It’s Peeves! He’s in the Trophy Room!”
“Calm yourself, Argus,” Dumbledore said placatingly. “I am coming.” He turned back to us. We blinked up at him, attempting our best to look guilt-free which I’m sure was a task we were failing merserably at. “We will discuss this later, boys. For now, gather your things and head back to your commonroom. Straight to your commonroom.” He gave us all a stern look before sweeping out of the room.
“Wicked,” James grinned and shot to his feet. He began opening cupboards and peering into drawers. “What prank should we leave?”
“Dunno,” Sirius kicked his feet onto Dumbledore’s desk. “See anything good to nab?”
“We can’t steal from Dumbledore, Padfoot,” I said standing up and stretching, bones still aching from the full moon. Although I had been assured many times it wasn’t my fault, I still felt a cold pit of acid in my stomach every time I though of last moon.
Shuddering, I attempted to distract myself by studying the room around me. For being supposedly the greatest wizard alive, Dumbledore was sure messy. I reached up to stand a large candlestick back upright, but jerked my hand back at the sight of what was resting behind it.
“Hey!” I cried out. “It’s the Sorting Hat.”
“What?” James approached me and Sirius stood up. Prongs stretched his arm upward and grabbed the tattered hat.
“We should try it on,” Sirius urged excitedly. “See what it has to say about us now?”
“You first,” James stuck the hat out towards me. “You the one who found it.” I was about to refuse, but then figured this was one of the least harmful ideas the pair had had in a while. What could go badly with this?
I shrugged and took the hat, plopping it onto my head without pretense, letting the fabric fall over my eyes. I waited for the small, but strong voice in my ear, picking apart my attributes, but it was silent under the brim of the hat.
I frown, opening my mouth to ask if maybe this was some sort of replica or knockoff when something hard cam cracking down on my head.
I stumbling, shouting, and tried to rip the had off. Instead I tripped and landed on Sirius, I think?, and send us both crashing to the floor.
“Ow, ow, ouch!” I groan rolling over and finally removing the hat. “What in Merlin’s saggy left earlobe was that?”
When I didn’t get a reply from my usually talkative friends I sat up to see for myself what had happened.
Peaking halfway out of the Sorting Hat was a gleaming sword. It took me a moment read the inscription on the blade. When I did, I gasped.
Ravenclaw.
Hufflepuff.
Slytherin.
Gryffindor.
A diadem, guarded by my girlfriend. A cup, being stolen by Sirius cousin. Two houses. Two artifacts. A speculation. A swords proudly displaying the words Godrick Gryffindor in shimmering silver.
James reacted, kicking the sword away from us and Sirius hauled me to my feet, pushing me backwards.
“Do you feel anything?” He asked me, voice colored with panic. “Anything dark? Remus, are you okay?” He shook my shoulders violently.
“I’m—I’m fine, James, stop!” I cried pushing him off. “It’s not—it’s not evil.”
“That’s a relief,” Sirius said, scrambling to his feet. He pick up the sword and handed it to me. “You should keep it.”
“What? Why?” I asked, letting James pull me to my feet.
“Because,” he answered. “We can’t have any more of these dark objects being created. We’ll hide it under your bed.”
“Under my bed? Because that’ll surely fool Voldemort,” I retorted.
“It’s where we keep the Map,” Sirius shrugged. I returned the gesture and took the sword.
“Okay,” said James. “You two get that back to the dorm before Dumbledore comes back and I’ll clean up our mess.” He ushered us out of the office, and Sirius and I began our slow, cautious journey back to the Gryffindor commonroom, taking turns peaking around corners to check for professors.
“Sirius?” I asked after we had stepped out from behind a suit of amour we where using as a sheild from Slughorn who was returning from his nightly stroll.
“Yeah, Rem?” Sirius began walking again, hand deep in pockets, full on swagger mode.
“Are you…are you doing alright?” I cautiously questioned.
“Obviously,” he tossed his hair. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
“You’re connecting your astranged cousin with her younger sister and collaborating with your brother whom you’ve been not talking to for years now. Why would you be okay?”
Sirius shoulders sagged. “Regulus would never love me enough to make a trade for a few letters from me. I mean, he might make one so he wouldn’t get my letters.”
“I…I’m not so sure about that anymore,” I admitted. Sirius looked at me, a mixture of hope and apprehension swimming in his eyes.
“What do you mean?” His voice was hoarse and low.
“I mean, Regulus is on a hunt to destroy pecies of Voldemort’s soul. Why do you think that is?”
“Dunno. Maybe his crush on Zemen? The older one, of course.”
I shook my head. “I don’t think so. Sure, it’s part of it, but…if there is one thing those sisters have taught me is that the bond between sibling goes deeming than any romantic love could.”
Sirius didn’t meet my gaze, but he was shaking his head in disbelief.
“You still love Regulus, even after everything. It is really impossible for his to still love you?” I asked, trying to see behind Sirius’s curtain of hair.
Sirius opened his mouth, but shut it again with a snap before any words came out. I took that as a sign to continue.
“The amount of knowledge he has—that research couldn’t have just started at the beginning of the year.”
“What do you mean?” Sirius asked, voice breaking in and out.
“Sirius, you’re seventeen. You’re about to graduate. This is the last time you’ll be in any situation resembling forced proximity,” I explained. “This is his last chance to love you.”
“You really think so?”
“I really think it’s your last chance, too.”
Sirius didn’t say say anything for a long moment. When he finally spoke, it was only one word.
“And?”
“And I don’t want you to mess it up.”
“Why?”
“Because I love you, Sirius. I love you so much, and I want you to be happy. I know Regulus makes you happy…in a way no one else is capable of.”
Sirius finally looked at me, cheeks damp.
“I love you too, Remus. I’ll…I’ll think about what you’re saying. Really think.”
“Thank you,” I nodded at him, sincere.
“Speaking of dear Reggie and brotherhood,” Sirius smirked, throwing his arm around my shoulder. “With any luck, and if I know anything about love which I totally do, we may be brother-in-laws. What do you say Moons?”
I laughed, throwing back my head. “I say thank goodness for the Zemen sisters.”