Bright Water

September 1982

James curled himself under the large knitted blanket his mother had spent so many hours finishing for the autumn. He had made a cup of tea and was now sipping the warm liquid. The fire in the indoor stove burned gently, wrapping the room in a warm glow.

September had finally arrived, and its chill had not been left behind. The rain was pouring down, and the windows were misted over. It was on evenings like this that James felt the most relaxed. With a cup of tea and a blanket, everything was right. His parents were over at some friends’ house for a card game, a tradition that had lasted since James’s childhood. They would be home around ten, so James still had an hour to himself. The encounter with Regulus lingered in his mind, and he replayed the day in his head every night as he prepared for sleep. Thoughts of Regulus were comforting and always gently guided him into slumber. He would soon find time to be with Reg again. James also needed to figure out which flowers Regulus liked. It wasn’t roses, so perhaps tulips? Lilies? Daisies? Regulus might be the type who liked daisies. They were elegant in a subtle way, which would surely appeal to Regulus. A bouquet of them could be subtle enough to let Regulus know that James was thinking of him, without being too intrusive. He would take such a bouquet with him next time! He knew that Regulus didn’t open up to just anyone, but perhaps the flowers would help.

There was a tenderness between them that needed no words to express. A feeling that grew stronger each time they were together. James knew there was something unspoken behind Regulus’s reserved exterior, something he hoped to break through one day.

James closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. The sound of the rain drumming against the windows was hypnotic, and the gentle crackle of the stove filled the room with a calm, almost meditative atmosphere. James took another sip of tea and felt the warmth spread through his body.

The thoughts of their next meeting made him smile. He could almost picture Regulus raising an eyebrow when James presented him with the flowers. "Daisies? Why those?" he would surely ask with a playful grin.

James nearly melted at the thought of Regulus’s smile. He let his gaze rest on the grey sky outside, as raindrops streamed down the window in long lines. He could almost envision Regulus’s face, the quiet seriousness in his eyes often masking something deeper—something vulnerable that James longed to understand. It was precisely this combination of distance and tenderness that made James think of him so often. Regulus was like a puzzle that only James felt called to solve. He was so absorbed in his thoughts that he nearly didn’t hear the faint knocking on the door.

At first, he thought it was the wind. But a brief moment later, he heard it again—a soft knock against the wood.

He set his cup down and straightened up. James felt curious, and his heart began to race a little. He took a deep breath and convinced himself that it was probably just something about the house. Old houses had a tendency to creak, especially in the rain. But the sound repeated itself, this time louder.

James pushed the blanket aside and rose quietly. He walked out into the hall and towards the door. Their porch light had broken last week, so he couldn’t see who was standing outside. Finally, he took a deep breath and opened the door.

"Hello?" he said half-heartedly, though his voice trembled slightly.

But instead of an empty doorway, someone was there. Two figures stood in the shadows, almost motionless. It took a moment before he recognised the silhouettes of his parents. But they shouldn’t be home yet…

“Oh goodness, come inside. Why are you standing out there in the rain?” James said as soon as it dawned on him that the two older people were shivering from the cold. He helped his mother out of her coat and hung his father’s hat back on its hook.

“I’ve made tea; it’s probably still warm if you’d like some.”

His mother smiled warmly at her son. “Just sit in the living room; I’ll bring the tea.”

He quickly kissed her on the cheek before darting back into the living room and flopping onto the sofa again. He grabbed the blanket and pulled it over himself while listening to the sounds of his parents in the kitchen. Although their early return was unexpected, James felt a sense of comfort at their presence. It felt as if the house was filled with warmth and life, simply because they were there.

Yet something nagged at the back of his mind. There was something strange about their return. They hadn’t mentioned anything about why they were home early. It was probably nothing, but James couldn’t help but think about it. He had a habit of seeing things that typically weren’t there, and it was hard to control. He looked out towards the hall, where his mother was making her way into the living room with a tray. She still smiled, but it was a smile that belonged only to Fleamont, who was watching. James had always loved his parents’ love for each other, and seeing them happy together meant everything to him. When he was younger, he used to stay up until midnight every Christmas, for when the clock struck twelve, his parents would dance in the kitchen to the sound of their favourite carol. A song they danced to on the Christmas Eve they fell in love, a song that had remained a tradition to dance to. Now they had a son together and had adopted another; they had grown and loved each other for so many years. Effie came in with a tray of tea. She set it on the coffee table and sent him yet another smile as warm as the sun itself.

His father sat heavily on the sofa and pulled his wife down with him. “It’s been a long evening,” he said with a lopsided smile, but there was a tiredness in his voice that James hadn’t heard before.

“Is everything okay?” James asked cautiously. His father’s eyes met his, and there was a brief moment of hesitation before he replied.

“Yes, yes, everything is fine, James… we just finished earlier than usual.” He smiled, which revealed his age. He was getting on a bit, as it had taken James’s parents a long time to have children. Fleamont had fine laugh lines, and his hair was peppered with grey. James leaned back on the sofa and took a deep breath before changing the subject.

“So… how did the card game go?” he asked casually, hoping to regain the cosy atmosphere.

Effie chuckled softly as she poured tea into the cups. “Oh, it was as usual—your father lost again,” she teased, sending Fleamont a fond glance. “But it was lovely to see them. They actually mentioned something that we thought you might be interested in.”

James sat up a little, curious. “Oh, what is it?”

“They have an acquaintance who is moving out of her flat in town,” Effie began cautiously. “It will be vacant soon, and they said that if you’re interested, you might be able to have it.”

James blinked in surprise. “Really?” His thoughts raced quickly. He hadn’t really thought about moving out before, though it was something that occasionally crossed his mind. It was easy to stay here with Sirius; their childhood home was safe and full of memories. But on the other hand… it sounded like a good opportunity.

“Yes,” Effie continued. “It’s not too far away, and it’s a lovely little place. You could go see it if it’s something you’d like to consider.”

James nodded slowly. “I… I would like to see it.”

He knew that Sirius might not be too keen on the idea of James considering moving. They had lived together for so long, and Sirius had always viewed James’s parents as his own. Leaving him would feel strange. However, they could always move in together. They had lived together back when they were at boarding school, and they lived together now, so it shouldn’t be a problem. It would also make it easier with the rent.

“When can I see it?” he asked.

“We can arrange that soon. They’re moving away in a couple of weeks anyway,” Fleamont said. “So if you like it, we can sort out all the practicalities.”

James nodded. As the thought of having his own place began to settle in, his thoughts drifted back to Regulus. What would it be like to invite him over to a flat that was entirely James’s? Just the thought of it gave a little flutter in his stomach.

James smiled faintly and nodded. “Yes, that sounds good. I just… I’m a bit nervous about it. And then there’s… something else.”

His parents looked at him, aware that he had more on his mind.

“I’ve started talking to Regulus,” James said suddenly, his gaze flickering briefly to his father before he stared down into his tea again. “Sirius doesn’t know.”

Effie and Fleamont exchanged a quick glance before Effie spoke gently. “How has it been? I mean, how has it been talking to him?”

James took a deep breath. “It’s different. Regulus has always been… reserved, but there’s something about him now that makes me want to get to know him better. I can’t quite explain it. We’ve had some good conversations. He seems more open to me than before.”

Fleamont raised an eyebrow and nodded slowly. "It sounds like he trusts you. But you know how Sirius will react. Have you thought about how you will tell him?"

James sighed and ran a hand through his messy hair. "I don’t know. I’ve been trying to find the right moment, but I know he’ll be angry. He doesn’t have the best relationship with Regulus, and I don’t want to hurt him, but... I can’t just ignore it either. I think I see something in Regulus that Sirius doesn’t. I believe he has changed, and I think there’s a good chance of reconciling the two brothers."

Effie smiled warmly. "You’ve always been good at seeing the best in people, James. But it’s important that you also take care of yourself in the process. If you feel it’s worth pursuing a friendship with Regulus, then you must make that decision. But it would be good if you could talk to Sirius about it as well."

James nodded slowly, staring into space for a moment. "I know. I’ll have that conversation soon."

It had become warmer in the living room after tea and their return home. Fleamont and Effie sat opposite him, their warm mugs in hand. An old radio played softly in the background, and James took a deep breath, resting his head against the soft back of the sofa.

“How is the band going?” his mother asked gently.

"It’s okay, but we still haven’t really broken through yet. We’re still playing small gigs here and there, and it’s fun, but..." He shrugged. "I want us to progress, do something bigger. Maybe it would help if I had my own place where we could rehearse without bothering you all the time."

Fleamont laughed and nudged James lightly on the shoulder. "Oh, come on. We’ve never complained about your music. We’re proud of you, whether you’re playing in small clubs or on big stages."

James smiled wryly. "I know. But it feels like we’re a bit stuck. I think we’re good, but it’s hard to get noticed out there."

Effie reached out and touched his hand gently. "Things take time, James. If you truly believe in it, keep going. You’ll get your chance."

"That didn’t help with Lily," James mumbled in response.

His father coughed and nearly spilled tea all over himself.

“How is it going with Lily, anyway?” Euphemia asked quietly. She had been second-hand knowledge to all of James’ infatuation with the red-haired girl. He had sent letters to his mother about Lily, whom he had met at Hogwarts School and had decided from the very beginning that she was to be his future wife. By the time he was twelve, he had already planned their entire wedding. The problem was that James had never considered what she felt. He was so certain they would have a love story more beautiful than Euphemia and Fleamont’s that he had no problem waiting until she realised it too. That never happened.

"She opened a flower shop here in July, and it seems to be going quite well. She already has a few regular customers, and I’ve bought a bouquet of flowers there," he replied. He never minded talking about Lily; she was still his friend after all.

"That sounds like it’s going well for her," his father commented. "Who were the flowers for?"

James hesitated briefly. His parents would know if he was lying, but they wouldn’t press him to say more. What harm would there be in telling the truth?

"I... um... I gave them to Lucy—Regulus—"

The only thing that happened was an raised eyebrow from Fleamont and a smile from Euphemia. They wouldn’t push him any further than he was willing to go. Regulus was his own matter. Whether they found out one day was not important right now. What mattered was maintaining contact and creating a pathway into Regulus’ life that allowed for an ongoing friendship.

Yes, Regulus was ice, but James was the fire that refused to let him remain frozen.

Remus POV:

Remus smiled. The quiet library was filled with the scent of old books and a gentle hum from the few students who were deeply engrossed in their reading. Remus sat at a large, oval table in a corner, where light streamed in from the large windows, casting soft shadows over the worn but cherished books. Beside him sat Lily, her face illuminated with joy as she leafed through a novel. Remus was struggling to concentrate on his book and kept being distracted by the sound of chatter around the room. He was surrounded by rows of books, the smell of paper and dust filling the air. Lily had always been willing to go to the library with him when everything became too much. It was his way of escaping the world, burying himself in a good book in a quiet library. But today, it just wasn’t working. Even though he had left his flat and was now sitting in a library with a good book, it was fucking useless! James, Marlene, Mary, Peter, and Sirius were busy rehearsing for their upcoming concert this September, making it a good time to escape from the world. But Remus couldn’t focus, and it was driving him to the brink of a breakdown.

“I can’t believe they’re actually playing a concert this weekend,” said Remus, shutting his book, which he hadn’t been able to concentrate on either. “James is so hyped about it. I think he has grand plans to impress everyone.”

“Or at least grand plans to impress Regulus,” Lily said, and Remus froze.

Where the hell did that comment come from? Did Lily know about James’ feelings for Regulus? Oh no, just as long as James didn’t think it was him who had spilled the beans. This sort of thing wasn’t meant to be gossiped about, regardless of whether the others didn’t mind. Remus had told them all last year at school that he wasn’t interested in girls. No one had minded, but they had to get used to the idea. Remus believed that his confession had opened a door for many of the others. The new thoughts he had introduced into his friends’ minds floated around on the surface, and they couldn’t help but think about it. Marlene had certainly told them all shortly after that she was only interested in girls, and now James had a massive crush on Regulus. Remus thought it was more about the person when it came to James; he didn’t care what was in their trousers as long as it belonged to him. Overall, Remus was glad he had given them new possibilities they hadn’t realised existed.

“You should have seen James earlier,” Lily began, breaking his train of thought with a smile. “He stopped by my flower shop – and not for flowers for his mum, but for Regulus.”

Remus sighed heavily and let his book slide down onto the table.

Lily raised an eyebrow and smiled. “So it’s true! I suspected you knew too, but I wasn’t sure.”

Ugh! Lily knew him too well if she could gauge from one sigh whether he was up to date on Potter’s new obsession.

Remus shook his head and laughed. He might as well answer her since she was already aware. “Yeah, classic James, isn’t it? He gets completely absorbed when he finds something – or someone – he really cares about. But you bloody know all about that. How do you even know this?”

Lily giggled and rested her chin in her hand. “He told me when he came to buy flowers, but he’s not exactly good at keeping it a secret; at the party at yours, he was mumbling in his sleep about Regulus! I think it’s quite sweet, but I’m glad he’s given up on me! If I had to put up with it longer than I did, I’d have had a heart attack! I do miss the weekly flowers, though.”

Remus scoffed. “Lily, you have your own fucking flower shop; how can you miss flowers?”

She laughed a little, but then looked away. “It’s a bit different when you get them from someone else. And… and I don’t; I don’t get them from anyone but myself,” she smiled sadly, and before Remus could say anything, she was back on track. “But what about Sirius? What’s going on between you and him?”

Remus shushed her and glanced around to ensure no one had overheard her. Why did he have such a nosy friend? “Do you have to let the whole library hear you? You might have accepted me, but very few others do,” he looked at her seriously before continuing. “And he’s not interested,” Remus said curtly.

Lily let out a know-it-all huff. “He is!”

“He is not, and why do you even care?” Remus' voice grew more and more irritated. He quickly drummed his fountain pen on the paper in front of him, leaving ink splotches he would soon complain about.

“I care, you idiot, because he’s making it everyone’s problem,” Lily replied, and she didn’t need to say more.

Remus looked out of the window to the left of them. His brows knitted together as he let out a long sigh. He could barely hear the younger boy despite their close distance. “Can’t you see how he fucking talks to everyone?”

“Oh, darling.” Lily smiled at Remus, but instead of sympathy, there was tenderness in her eyes. “If you only knew how he looks at you.”

Remus furrowed his brow slightly. “How?”

“With stars in his eyes, as if you are the moon.” She leaned in closer, her voice filled with sincerity. “As if you are the moon, and he is lost in your light.”

Remus sighed. The only reason Sirius looked at him like the moon must have something to do with the nickname Moony. Remus loved how that name had come about. It had been one of those rare, clear nights at Hogwarts when the stars twinkled above them, and the moon shone brightly down over the school. Remus lay on his back by the edge of the great lake with Sirius, James, and Peter. They had all brought blankets, and the sky spread out like a big, dazzling tapestry over them. Remus let his gaze wander over the constellations, but as always, his eyes kept returning to the moon.

The moon had always held a special place in his thoughts. He could almost hear himself talking for hours about its phases, its pull on the tides, and its almost hypnotic beauty. And that evening was no exception.

“Look at the moon tonight,” he said softly, pointing up at the nearly full moon. “There’s something comforting about knowing it’s always there, no matter what happens here on earth.” The words flowed naturally, as if they came from a deeper place within.

He noticed out of the corner of his eye that Sirius was looking at him. There was a softness in his gaze, a warmth that caught Remus off guard. It was rare for Sirius to look like that, as if he was observing more than he would ever admit. Remus felt his heart quicken slightly.

“You really have a special connection to the moon, Remus,” Sirius said thoughtfully, breaking the silence between them. “I think I’ll start calling you ‘Moony’. It suits you perfectly.”

Remus looked at him in surprise. “Moony? Why’s that?”

Sirius shrugged with a small smile. “Because you always talk about the moon, and there’s something about you that reminds me of its quiet beauty. Besides, it’s a sweet name, and it fits you.”

He felt warmth rising in his cheeks and hurriedly looked away. “If you say so, Sirius,” he mumbled, but couldn’t hide his smile.

From that day on, Sirius started calling him Moony, and soon James and Peter followed suit. But every time Sirius said it, there was a warmth in his voice, a special glow that Remus noticed, even when no one else did. There was something in the way Sirius said the name that cut deeper than just a nickname.

For Remus, “Moony” quickly became a sign of Sirius’ special care, a part of their friendship that he cherished and kept close to his heart.

“But what about how he looks at everyone else?” Remus said quietly. “Every party we go to, he finds a new girl to snog, and it drives me mad!”

Lily sighed. “Yes, and that’s understandable, but you haven’t seen how he reacts when you’re talking to a man at the bar who clearly has too much interest in you.”

Remus whined as he banged his head down onto the table. “I just miss the good old days!”

“When women didn’t have the right to vote? Hm?” Lily asked, raising an eyebrow.

“For fuck’s sake, no! The days when I wasn’t alive,” Remus replied, his mouth pressed against the polished wood of the table. He lifted his head from the table and stared intensely out into the library, still with Lily’s words hanging in the air around him. It irritated him that she was so eager to meddle, and even more that she seemed to have seen right through him. But the thought of Sirius possibly having feelings for him felt like a knot in his stomach, a knot he both wanted to push away and draw closer to.

“I’m tired of this, Lily,” he mumbled, looking at her with a dark gaze. “I’m just trying to live my life. Why does it have to be so complicated?”