Chapter 3
Sirius has to say, he’s disappointed when he looks at the TV tower for the first time. It’s a very foggy day, so he could only see the top from the plane and the bottom from the ground at the airport. The round thing is completely invisible.
Two buses wait for them when they finally walk out into the fresh air again, James pulling all three of their suitcases behind him while Sirius and Regulus walk ahead, arms linked. Sirius is very okay with this arrangement.
Professor McGonagall takes the registry for like the fifth time that day before they all file onto the bus, Sirius very reluctantly plopping down next to Lupin.
He’s on his phone again, scrolling, headphones tucked over his ears, squashing his fluffy hair.
When he finally notices Sirius, his expression changes, and he slowly pulls the headphones down.
“Hey”
Sirius huffs.
“Um… sorry for what I said. I didn’t mean it. Your brother actually seems really nice.”
Sirius looks at him out of the corner of his eye.
“Look, I know you don’t like me, but maybe we can try to be civil? Just for this trip? It’ll be easier for both of us.”
Sirius’ heart does a funny thing at how hopeful Lupin sounds. How gentle. The wolfish smirk and mischievous eyes are gone, now a soft look and a kind smile. Sirius isn’t sure how he feels about that.
“Fine. But insult my baby brother again, and you’ll regret ever talking to me”
The threat is lame, and Sirius expects Lupin to snort or something, but he just smiles wider.
“It’s really sweet how protective you are of him”
“I’m not-” Well who is he kidding? He’ll beat up anyone who breathes wrong at his baby brother.
“Yeah, okay, maybe I am”
Lupin hums, before pulling his headphones back on and pulling a worn book out of his backpack, flipping through the pages until he finds the one he wants. Sirius quickly looks away when he realises he’s been staring for too long.
Sirius looks out the window, watching the cars zoom past them. Lupin keeps tapping his fingers against the cover of his book, and Sirius finds himself tapping his foot to the same beat. He can slightly hear the music coming softly out of Lupin’s headphones, the pattern they pat to changing with every song. Sirius can’t help but grin.
Sirius blinks, and suddenly they’re turning into the outer lane, buildings surrounding them as they enter the city.
Sirius watches wide eyed as they pass so many people, each completely different. Sirius has been to London before of course, and that’s a pretty crazy place but he can’t help but stare at the people here. One minute they drive past an 80-year-old punk walking a chihuahua, the next a group of drag queens waves at them, the next two girls covered head to toe in tie dye cross the road while smoking spliffs.
As they get closer to the centre, his classmates get more and more excited, and when they drive past Alexander Platz, everyone starts taking pictures, even if the Rotes Rat house is in the way.
They drive through a tunnel after that, and when they come back out, all the houses are old and colourful. They make their way through the cute neighbourhood, little kids and their parents everywhere, full cafés and busy ice cream shops.
Finally, they pull up in front of what Sirius can only describe as Dracula’s house.
It’s a tall, old stone building, with tiny stone statues looking down from the main doors.
They file off the buses, and their teachers go inside while they get their stuff, instructing them to sit still. Everyone except Evan and Barty, whom Reg is keeping a close eye on, do as they’re told.
When the teachers come back, they hand each pair of ‘Berlin Buddies’ a key and tell them dinner’s at 8:30.
Sirius follows Lupin up the stone staircase, taking note of the sweet ass pool, and into their room.
There are two twin sized beds pushed together in the centre, a little desk by the window and a wardrobe as well as the bathroom. Lupin doesn’t even ask Sirius before he plops down on the bed closer to the window and starts taking out all 4 books in his backpack.
Sirius huffs and sets his backpack next to his bed, before starting to unpack his clothes and put them in the wardrobe.
He tries not to scoff when all Lupin does is open up his suitcase and pull a jumper out if it, seemingly the only effort he’ll make to unpack.
When he’s done, Sirius goes to his bed and watches youtube videos about what if the earth were shaped like a donut or how infinity works. He’s a nerd, okay? Fuck off.
Lupin seems to be half listening as he reads, and Sirius would put headphones on to piss him off if it weren’t for the warmth that spreads through him when he hears Lupin’s chuckle whenever the narrator makes a joke.
And so they lie there, side by side, listening to nerdy videos, not fighting for once.