Rendezvous
Sirius flew high to catch the golden snapper; he was fast and followed it on his heels. His hair was matted by the force of the wind, and despite the sun, Sirius never looked away. He flew higher and higher, carried away by his hunt. Sirius could vaguely hear the encouragement of his friends on the bench. Remus never took his eyes off Sirius, finding him very comfortable in a role he had never played before. It must have been all those years of training with James, watching him repeat those moves, he'd learned them. He wanted to support him, but he knew better than to stand out too much. Sirius barely tolerated his presence on the field... At that moment, Sirius raised his hand and in precise gesture, he caught the golden snapper.
"I caught it!"
Remus applauded in spite of himself, delighted for Sirius. He had already been behind the golden snapper for half an hour. He tried to stand up, but it was impossible to stay on his two legs for long without his cane. Sirius had time to turn back to his team-mate with a dazzling smile, before a bruiser collided brutally with him. The force of the impact made him lose his balance, and he stood on his broom for a moment, before letting himself fall into the void.
Remus watched helplessly. He shouted Sirius's name, as did several people on the platform. James jumped over the railing and grabbed a broom in the vain hope of catching him before Sirius hit the ground. However, the young man's unconscious body crumpled to the floor long before James could do anything. Remus picked up his walking stick and followed the troop as best he could. His teammates quickly took their places around him, some already running for help.
"Sirius." James called, landing at his friend's side. "Wake up, tell me where it hurts." James insisted on speaking, and took his hand, trying to get him to respond with small shakes.
Sirius didn't answer any of the calls. Panic slowly began to spread among the students, Remus tried to sneak past Sirius, but was interrupted by the arrival of a teacher.
Soon afterwards, Sirius was taken to the infirmary. He was unconscious, his nose was bleeding profusely, his arm was twisted in a bad position, and the punch had hit him right in the stomach, breaking several ribs.
Remus wept unceasingly. He was sobbing heavily, having no will to conceal his emotions; he was holding one of Sirius's hands. He was still unconscious, and Remus was frightened. He hadn't had the chance to touch him in weeks, and it broke his heart to know that it was because he'd had an accident that he was allowed to enjoy his warmth.
He'd been so scared when he'd seen Sirius off to the infirmary. Quidditch accidents were recurrent and could be fatal. Moreover, the fall had been impressive. Madame Pomfrey had done a remarkable job: she'd put those ribs, his nose and his arm back in place. He was going to be sore when he woke up, and he'd probably be in a bad mood.
He wanted him back in his life. It was his dearest wish, he wanted nothing more than to erase the previous few weeks and get their life back to the way it was.
"Please, I'm so sorry..." Remus murmured, stroking Sirius's hair.
"What are you doing here?" Sirius muttered. At least that's what Remus heard, his eyes widened and before he could think any further he leaned over and covered Sirius in a kiss.
He vaguely heard him protest, but eventually gave in: his whole body ached, and his mind wasn't quite right yet.
"Are you in pain somewhere? Would you like me to fetch Madam Pomfrey?" Remus asked, checking that all the bandages were in place.
"What are you doing here?" Sirius insisted.
"I love you, Sirius. You've been hurt, of course I'm with you." Remus replied.
At these words, Remus stopped holding Sirius's gaze, concentrating on an indeterminate spot on the wounded man's black hair. Sirius grumbled a little, not quite back with them yet. Remus enjoyed his privileged position for a moment longer, before deciding to let Madame Pomfrey know that her patient was awake.
Remus remained in the infirmary for the rest of the afternoon, talking with Sirius. He told him about the last few weeks they'd spent away from each other, and took full advantage of Sirius's condition to kiss his hand and touch him. When Sirius regained consciousness, he didn't talk much, letting Remus do the talking; he'd be lying if he didn't take advantage of his condition to be with him. He'd missed him a lot...
"How's your leg?" Sirius asked gently. Remus was rarely seen without his cane these days.
"I'm fine, I feel more comfortable with the cane. I tire quickly, and the cane makes it easier for me to get through the day." Remus explained, delighted by the attention he was receiving.
"You're far too happy for someone who walks slower than a snail." Sirius sighed with a smile.
He closed his eyes enjoying the quiet of the infirmary in the early evening. Soon, Remus would leave to eat and everything would go back to the way it was; it had to... coming back seemed impossible to him.
"I miss you terribly Sirius, tell me what I can do to make you forgive me..." Remus murmured, his eyes fixed on Sirius's face.
Sirius simply squeezed Remus's hand a little tighter in his own. He wanted so badly for everything to go back to the way it was, but the humiliation was still too much.
"Just you and me... No one needs to know." Remus insisted, taking Sirius's silence as a door ajar.
It could be a solution. If he didn't have to endure the stares of his former friends... Sirius opened his eyes. Remus was looking at him with such love that he thought he'd never been so loved as he was at that moment. He wasn't angry anymore, just tired of avoiding everyone.
Remus's gaze gradually drifted to Sirius's lips. Slowly, he began to move closer, their noses brushing. Remus gave Sirius a few seconds to push him away, but he did nothing, waiting patiently. Without further hesitation, Remus kissed him.
Remus felt alive again; he'd feared he'd never have the chance to kiss Sirius again. The gentleness and tenderness of this kiss gave him the impression that everything was finally going to be all right. Sirius, for his part, indulged in the feeling of comfort and familiarity.
After a few moments, they parted, their foreheads still pressed together. Sirius sighed deeply before speaking.
"All right, Remus. We can try, just you and me, for now." Sirius murmured, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
Remus felt a wave of relief and joy wash over him. He'd found his place as boyfriend again, even if it wasn't official yet. He wanted to jump for joy and shout the news to the world. However, he contented himself with replying softly.
"Thank you, Sirius. I promise everything will be fine."
Sirius nodded gently, a slight smile forming on his lips. He wasn't yet ready to assume his decision in front of everyone. He didn't want it to be interpreted as a general reconciliation. Moony had always been special to him, so angry he'd almost forgotten him. But every day he missed his presence, he was sure that if he didn't give him a second chance, he'd regret it.
"Give me a little time, Moony... Kiss me while you wait." Sirius murmured, his blue eyes riveted on his partner's lips.
Remus resumed his place against Sirius; they kissed for a long moment before Madame Pomfrey came to separate them. She tried everything she could to get Remus to leave, but he was adamant: he wouldn't go.
Seeing that she couldn't change his mind, she lowered her arms and left, muttering that this was no way for the sick man to rest. They spent part of the night talking, catching up on the last few weeks away from each other.
---
In the days that followed, Remus and Sirius found a precarious balance between their secret relationship and their daily life at Hogwarts. They shared stolen moments in discreet corners, exchanging knowing glances and reassuring smiles. Remus did his best to ease Sirius's worries and show him that he was worthy of his trust.
Sirius had emerged from the infirmary as good as new; Madame Pomfrey had done an admirable job: his arm was back in place, his ribs were no longer hurting and he was feeling great. Remus had stayed by his side, despite the nurse's requests to let the patient rest.
Their relationship was unclear: were they a couple again? Remus would have liked to ask the question, but was afraid of upsetting Sirius. They had half-heartedly agreed not to reveal their new status to the others, preferring to keep it to themselves.
"Have you seen Remus? I'd like to ask him about the course..." asked Lily.
"Not since the end of class... He may already be in class," replied Marlene, replacing her scarf around her neck.
Remus hadn't joined the class; he'd taken advantage of the few minutes' break to hide with Sirius behind one of the large curtains adorning the school walls. He had discreetly taken Sirius with him to kiss him. Sirius loved these moments, apparently because of the mixture of excitement of being in the middle of a corridor and the fear of being caught. The kisses were quick, interspersed with laughter.
Remus parted his lips to let Sirius catch his breath.
"Come with me to Hogsmeade this Saturday, please," Remus whispered in Sirius's ear. He seemed to hesitate.
"I don't know... it's going to be crowded," Sirius replied, looking away.
Remus didn't insist. He took Sirius's face with one hand and turned it towards him to continue kissing. This made Sirius lose his mind, and he didn't want it to stop. Yet the second bell announced the imminent start of classes. Reluctantly, they parted. As they arrived in front of their classroom, they put their clothes back on as Sirius spoke.
"I'll come with you. We could restock your chocolate reserve," Sirius smiled at Remus's surprised expression.
Remus nodded, an ear-to-ear grin that he found hard to conceal once in the classroom. He was delighted; everything seemed to be working out with Sirius.
In class, Remus tried to concentrate, but his thoughts kept returning to Sirius. He remembered the feel of Sirius's lips against his, the shared laughter and the feeling of pure happiness. Beside him, James noticed his smile and nudged him.
"Well, someone seems to be in a good mood," James whispered with a wink.
Remus blushed slightly. "Just glad Sirius is feeling better."
James smiled, glad to see his friend happy. He suspected things had worked out between them; he waited patiently for his turn. During the lesson, Remus glanced occasionally at Sirius, who also seemed lighter, more relaxed. Their eyes would meet, and a silent exchange of smiles was enough to reinforce their complicity.
Sirius was sitting next to Thomas, who also seemed to have noticed the change in behavior between Sirius and his old group of friends. He was sincerely glad that things were improving; he hadn't asked about the break-up, but he knew that the best thing was to make up.
On Saturday morning, Remus woke up with palpable excitement. He'd spent the last three days anticipating this outing with Sirius. After getting ready with his, he went down to the Gryffindor common room where he found Sirius waiting for him to join him in the Great Hall for breakfast. It was still early, no one was awake yet and this gave Sirius the opportunity to stay by Remus's side without attracting stares.
"Aren't you taking your cane today?" Sirius asked, seeing the young man without it.
"I feel fine, I think I can do without it. You'll be here if I don't." Remus replied with a gentle smile, his heart beating a little faster.
After breakfast, they headed for the castle gates. The sky was clear, and a radiant sun illuminated the wintry landscape. The village was bustling with activity, as students took advantage of their free day to stroll and shop.
"Where do you want to go first?" asked Sirius as they entered the village.
"Honeydukes, of course," Remus replied without hesitation. "I need to replenish my chocolate stash."
Sirius laughed and they headed for the candy store. As they entered, they were greeted by the sweet smell of candy and the tinkle of the door bell. Remus rushed to the counter, his eyes shining with excitement.
After filling their bags with sweets, they left Honeydukes and decided to take a stroll through the village. They passed Zonko's, the joke store, where Sirius couldn't resist buying a few new gadgets - even if the pranks had diminished in recent weeks, Sirius wouldn't rule out a return to business.
Their next destination was The three Broomstick, where they decided to sit down and enjoy a butter beer. They found a table by the fireplace, the perfect place to warm up after their walk in the cold.
"Thank you for agreeing to come to the village with me," Remus began, making sure to brush off his beer moustache before speaking.
"Thank you for asking me. It's been a while since I've been there. It's too cold to be crowded anymore..." replied Sirius, placing a comforting hand on Remus's leg, which kept hopping nervously.
Remus took a deep breath, seeking the courage to ask the question that had haunted him for days.
"Can... can you tell me what we are...? You and me? I'm sorry if it's still too soon. Everyone says I'm patient, but it's not really my strong point..." he asked, blushing, hoping it didn't show too much in the soft glow of the fireplace.
Sirius took another sip of butter beer before moving closer to Remus. Without a word, he placed his hand on Remus's cheek and kissed him gently. The kiss was slow and delicate, their lips brushing against each other in an intimate dance that made Remus's heart beat faster. He felt Sirius's warmth and affection transmitted through this contact, and the moment seemed suspended in time.
"I love you, Remus, and I've missed you. I want us to try again together, if you want too," Sirius murmured, stepping back slightly, his eyes shining with sincerity.
Remus felt a wave of relief and happiness wash over him.
"Of course!" he declared, nodding vigorously, his eyes sparkling with joy. "Yes, of course. Thank you, Sirius. I'll be worthy of your forgiveness."
He bent to embrace Sirius, feeling the warmth and security of his arms around him. The embrace was strong and reassuring, a symbol of their renewed commitment. Remus buried his face in Sirius's neck, inhaling his familiar scent and finally feeling like he belonged.
"I'm so happy," Remus murmured against Sirius's skin, his words barely audible but full of sincerity.
Sirius tightened his embrace, a soothing smile on his lips. "Me too, Remus. Me too."
They stayed that way, enjoying the warmth of the fireplace and their reunion, silently promising never to lose each other again.
---
James suspected that Sirius and Remus had made up in the infirmary. Remus had stayed with Sirius, and Sirius hadn't pushed him away. He'd hoped Sirius would come and talk to him to sort things out, but he'd continued to eat and work with Thomas. James had spoken to Lily, who had advised him to wait and let Sirius make the first move.
But James knew Sirius better than anyone and refused to see him replaced by Thomas or Sophie. Sirius was HIS best friend, and he'd do anything to make it up to him.
The days passed, and James felt Sirius's absence more and more. Every time he saw Sirius with Thomas or Sophie, a wave of jealousy washed over him. He couldn't concentrate in class, his grades began to suffer, and he lost interest in everything. Even Quidditch, which had always been his passion, no longer brought him the same joy.
James was constantly reminded of the times he had spent with Sirius. The shared laughter, the nights spent chatting in the common room, the nocturnal escapades under the invisibility cloak. These memories haunted him, constantly reminding him how much he cared for his friend. Seeing him so close to Thomas and Sophie made him feel as if he'd lost a part of himself.
One evening, as he stood alone in the common room, James felt the tears welling up. He realized he couldn't stand it any longer. He had to talk to Sirius, tell him how he felt, ask his forgiveness with all his heart.
Sirius was sitting on the dressing room bench after his match, the rest of the team already gone. He was removing his shoes when he noticed someone sitting at the other end of the bench: James.
"Can we have a chat?" asked James, his gaze turned towards the door.
Sirius didn't answer immediately, but a slight mumble suggested he was listening. They'd been circling each other for a while; it was time to talk, or at least listen.
"You've probably heard this a thousand times..." began James softly. "I'm sorry I made fun of you. I never meant to humiliate you in front of others, I just... I didn't think."
Sirius remained silent, continuing to remove his shoes. "I know I screwed up, I hurt you; and I'll never forgive myself."
"These last few weeks have been really hard. I don't want to spend another day without you. You are and always will be my best friend. But I miss you so much" James said as he stood up, finally catching the eye of Sirius who still hadn't uttered a word. "So I've made a decision."
James dropped to his knees in front of Sirius, his head bowed.
"I beg you, Sirius, forgive me. I don't want you to replace me with Thomas or Sophie. I want to continue being your best friend," he said, his voice trembling with sincerity. "I'm sorry, forgive me."
James continued to apologize, his head bowed. He stopped when he felt hands encircling his own. Sirius had knelt before him, his gaze searching James'. He brought his hands up to surround them in an embrace.
James didn't hesitate for a moment and responded to Sirius's embrace, overcome with emotion.
"I'll never replace you, James..." breathed Sirius, rubbing his face against James's, Padfoot-style.
Those few words were all James had been waiting for. He felt a flood of emotions rise up inside him, and he couldn't hold back his tears, struggling to contain the sobs that threatened to burst. After a long moment, Sirius stepped back slightly, wiping the tears from James's face with an amused smile.
"Were you jealous of Thomas and Sophie?"
James replied, patting him lightly on the shoulder. He accepted a handkerchief and tried to regain his composure in front of Sirius. He went to speak but Sirius cut him off.
"It's all right, Prongs. I forgive you, I don't want to replace you either." He said, running one of his hands through his friend's tangled hair.
There was no point in fighting anymore, it was all in the past. He missed James and wanted his life back. There was no longer any resentment in him, just the desire to move forward surrounded by the people he loved.
With palpable emotion, James nodded, letting a shy smile form on his lips. They remained like this for a moment, savoring the complicit silence that surrounded them. Finally, Sirius stood up and extended his hand to James.
"Come on, let's get some fresh air. It'll do us good."
James accepted the outstretched hand, feeling lighter than he had in weeks. They left the changing rooms and headed for the Hogwarts gardens, where the fresh autumn wind blew gently through the trees. Leaves crunched beneath their feet as they walked side by side, their hearts lighter.
"You know," James began after a moment's silence, "these last few weeks have been the worst of my life. I felt like I was losing a part of myself."
Sirius nodded, his eyes staring at the horizon.
"I know, Prongs. Me too."
James inhaled deeply, his emotions running high.
"This will never happen again, Sirius. I'll never hurt you again."
"I believe you, James." Sirius smiled, a smile imbued with sincerity, and shook James's hand in response.
To lighten the mood, James decided to change the subject.
"Tell me how you learned to catch so well at Quidditch. You've never played before!"
Sirius burst out laughing, a sound James hadn't heard in too long.
"Pure talent, my dear!"
James laughed back, feeling an immense weight lift from his shoulders.
"Really, Padfoot? No secrets, no special techniques? Just innate talent?"
Sirius shrugged, his smile not faltering.
"Well, maybe a little discreet practice when you weren't looking. And a few tricks learned from watching the best."
They continued chatting, exchanging anecdotes and laughter, letting painful memories dissipate in the warmth of their newfound friendship. As they talked, the common room gradually filled with other students, but for James and Sirius, it was as if the whole world had disappeared.
Remus arrived, accompanied by Lily, Marlene and Peter. All four had just returned from the library and were very surprised to see James and Sirius sitting side by side, beaming together. Remus didn't wait to continue on his way and come to sit beside Sirius in his turn.
"Can we sit down?" Remus asked without really waiting for an answer; he had a big smile on his lips.
Lily and Marlene exchanged a knowing glance before taking their seats in turn. Peter, however, remained in the background, observing the scene with an indecipherable expression. He took a chair out of the way, crossing his arms in obvious displeasure.
"Hi, Peter!" James exclaimed enthusiastically. He hadn't spoken to Peter again since their argument, but the euphoria of having Sirius back prompted him to include him in the group. "Come, sit with us."
Peter shrugged, his lips forming a thin line.
"I'd rather stay here, thanks."
The atmosphere grew slightly tense, but Sirius, determined not to let the situation get out of hand, spoke up.
"Come on, Peter. We're all here now. Join us." Peter looked up at Sirius, a glint of defiance in his eyes.
"All this because you decided to make up?" he whispered, loud enough for everyone to hear. "As if nothing had happened."
A tense silence settled in. James felt his heart clench; he didn't understand Peter's resentment. He wasn't going to let it spoil the reunion.
"Look, Peter," he began gently, "we know it hasn't been easy for anyone. We just want to try to make things right."
"We've all made mistakes, but we can overcome them together. That's what being friends is all about." Remus, sensing the tension, tried to lighten the mood.
Peter stared at the floor, his fingers drumming nervously on the edge of the table.
"We'll see," he said finally, without looking up. He remained seated, listening to the discussion without participating.
Gradually, the tension dissipated as everyone chatted. Sirius discreetly slipped his hand into Remus's, offering him a knowing smile. Remus returned the smile, happy to see that everything had worked out.
Sirius asked all he wanted, but Remus and James refused to tell him why Peter was reacting to him in this way. They said they knew nothing, but Sirius knew them, they were lying.
The weeks passed and the Marauders gradually regained their former complicity. James, Sirius and Remus had managed to rebuild their friendship, forgetting past mistakes and focusing on the future. They had had a discussion about what had happened. It had been a difficult but necessary conversation, which had allowed the group to move forward. James and Remus were very embarrassed at having to rehash the painful memories, and had apologized a hundred times. Finally, Sirius spoke up.
"The next time one of you apologizes, I feel like I'm going to throw up," he said dramatically, miming the gesture.
"We're sor-" James joked, but was cut off by Sirius.
"Euurk..."
They laughed together, sealing the end of this discussion and relegating it to the archives.
James and Sirius had become inseparable again, their nocturnal escapades, jokes and adventures in the castle resuming in earnest. Remus accompanied them from time to time to help out.
Peter, however, remained on the bangs of the group.
Peter watched his friends from afar. Despite James and Remus's best efforts to include him, he still felt like an outsider. The jealousy and bitterness he felt towards Sirius, and to a lesser extent James, were obstacles he couldn't overcome.
He couldn't believe that Sirius was a good person; he was convinced that he was lying all the time and took advantage of having Remus and James in his pocket to continue his manipulations. Peter's resentment grew daily, driving him further and further away.
The idea that Sirius could really change seemed inconceivable to him. The smiles and laughter shared by his friends haunted him, feeding his conviction that it was all a facade.
James and Remus finally gave up on the idea of reconciling with Peter. Peter's last words to Sirius were not digested, and his behavior towards the group was no longer acceptable. With the ball in his court, it was up to Peter to make the first move.
Finally, Peter made a radical decision. He decided to leave the group, no longer showing up at the nightly rendezvous on full moons. The pain of feeling constantly out of step had become too much to bear. James, Sirius and Remus, though saddened by the distance, continued to move forward together.
The years passed, and despite the hardships, Remus and Sirius remained close, finding deep comfort and unparalleled complicity in each other. They eventually settled together in a small house on the edge of Hogsmeade, where their days were filled with laughter, late-night chats and walks under the stars.
James and Lily, meanwhile, continued to write their own story. They were married in an intimate ceremony, surrounded by their closest friends, with Sirius and Remus at their side as witnesses.
One evening, as Remus and Sirius cuddled together on the sofa, a fire crackling in the fireplace, they received a letter from James and Lily. The letter announced the imminent arrival of their first child. The two men exchanged knowing glances and smiled, happy to see their friends building their family.
"Do you think they'll ask us to be godparents?" asked Sirius, hugging Remus a little tighter.
"I don't doubt it for a second," Remus replied, placing a kiss on Sirius's temple.