Remus liked parties well enough. Sometimes they were entirely overwhelming and other times they were just what he needed to overload his senses and gain a bit of freedom. He liked parties in the Room of Requirement best. There were more places to hide, more people to get lost in. He didn't have to worry about being too loud or if the younger kids were going to sneak down. He was pleasantly surprised by the excitement he felt for the coming party that night. It was a Christmas Eve party between all the Houses. Only the seventh years were being invited to the Upper Years party that was always held in the room of requirement.
Remus wouldn’t drink tonight. He probably wouldn’t stay long. The full moon was in two days and he was already feeling achy and irritable. He didn't want to make anything worse. Plus their Christmas Break was coming up, Remus and Sirius would be going home to James’. It was going to be excellent. He would get through the full moon and then have a wonderful break. Everything would be fine. He just had to be careful not to overdo it.
Now, of course, Remus is the most sensible of the Marauders but he is still a Marauder that makes very dumb, very ill advised choices. He can’t help it. He’s a teenage boy. It's not totally his fault. His usual tight control has times where it slips. Usually that can be blamed on three things, 1) Lily's general existence, 2) Sirius' puppy dog eyes, which are frankly so unfair, and 3) James saying he needs something.
An hour before the party, Remus was dragged into Lily's empty dorm. Marlene, Mary, and Alice must've gone down to the party already. Lily went to work. She fixed Remus' curls, dusted their faces with golden glitter, and unbuttoned Remus' shirt. He let her paint his nails a dark green. The party had been going on for two hours when Remus finally dried Lily's bright red nails with a quick spell. They had to be going. They slipped into their shoes, both in dirty old converses, and started out of Gryffindor Tower.
“Rem?” Lily asked, slipping her hand into his. Remus squeezed back, hauling her into his side so that they could walk close together. Remus hummed to show he was listening as he struggled to slide his wand into the special pocket created specifically for wands in jeans. They were too tight. That was Lily's fault. “I need you to get drunk with me tonight.”
Remus snapped his head up to look at her, “What?”
“I want to get drunk tonight. To just let loose a bit, yeah? I'm very tired and just want to have ridiculous, immature fun made better with alcohol. But I don’t want to do it by myself so can you please get Remus Lupin wasted tonight with me?” Lily demanded.
As previously established, Remus never said no to Lily.
“Why bother asking when you know the answer is yes.” Remus groaned. “I can’t be blamed for getting the Head Girl blathered.”
“I think we’ll start with some firewhiskey shots! First one to drink five gets to pick the next record." Lily beamed as she hauled him into the Room of Requirement.
~~~
Sirius was tipsy. Only tipsy. And it was eleven o'clock at night. This was a rare occurrence.
He and Peter had arrived early to help set up. Then Sirius had talked to Benjy Fenwick about his desire to work for Gringotts for a while. Then he had gotten pulled into a debate about jinx versus hexes with a few Ravenclaws. Then he was pulled to dance with Amelia Bones. By the time he was able to take a breath, the room of requirement was full of people. The music was loud, but not too loud. There were quiet corners where others had gone to talk or make out or smoke. There was a small dance floor, full of students.
Sirius was pleased with the turn out. The energy in the room was infectious. Everyone was feeling light, joyful. Christmas Break was coming up. They were celebrating. The air tasted sweet. The lights were hazy, not too bright but not too dark. Sirius felt drawn in. He wanted to dance and yell and laugh with the others. But he wasn't feeling as if he was ready to let go like that, not without the crutch of something to loosen his tense limbs.
Marlene appeared at his side, throwing her arms over his shoulders. Sirius adjusted his stance to hold her up. She wasn't that drunk, but she was definitely on her way to being so. "Hey! Having fun?" She slurred into his ear.
“Marls!” Sirius cheered. “Where have you been?”
“Dancing with Cas, doing shots with Jamie, and you will never believe who snuck in here!” Marlene crowed, swaying slightly. She had a manic grin across her face, something that was probably supposed to look mischievous but just made her look slightly delirious. She was definitely going to have a bad hangover tomorrow.
“Who?”
“A handful of sixth years, including your dear brother and his friends.” She cackled, collapsing as her legs became jelly. Sirius tightened his grip around her waist.
“Dorcas helped them.” Sirius accused, knowing the answer already. Dorcas would always be friends with Regulus, Barty, Evan, and Pandora first. He could appreciate the loyalty there. He felt it every time he looked at the Marauders, even at the Gryffindor girls too.
“What are you accusing me of?” Dorcas appeared, a drink in her hand, like a shimmering ethereal projection. She was very put together, not a strand of hair out of place, not a ring turned in the wrong direction. She always was, despite the shine in her eyes that gave away how much she had already had to drink as well.
“My brother is here.” Sirius stared at her. He wouldn't even try to glare, not when Dorcas would just glare back. They would accomplish nothing just glaring at each other. They had tried that before and all it resulted in was a two hour staring contest and a detention for just Sirius.
“Yes, indeed he is. I wonder how that happened. Hopefully he's been listening to my wonderful advice. Oh dear, would you look at the time? Marls and I really must be going over there. Where that blue couch is.” Dorcas swept Marlene away, a shit eating grin across her face as she winked at Sirius, mirth in her eyes. Sirius shook his head in exasperation. He had the weirdest friends. He wouldn't trade them for the world but damn were they weird.
He supposed he should go track down his baby brother.
~~~
An hour later, Sirius had found most of his friends. Marlene and Dorcas hadn't moved from the blue couch. They barely looked like one person. Regulus was in the safe hands of James, the two of them standing in a quiet corner. Sirius knew his best friend would have his brother's best interests in mind. Mary, Alice, and Frank had been swimming around the dance floor, laughing in the middle of all the other students. Peter and Barty had been by the bar, seeming to be in an intense discussion. Sirius had decided not to touch that. Evan had been tucked into a corner with another student looking to be getting lucky.
He spotted Pandora sitting on a windowsill, smoking a thickly rolled blunt. She looked the picture of ease even as her eyes roved over the crowd. Her platinum blonde hair hung over her shoulder in a thick fishtail braid, little emerald beads woven through it. Sirius came to her side, resting against the cold wall. She passed him the blunt, allowing him to take a hit, and then snatching it back.
"Hi Pandora."
“You seem rather centered today,” Pandora mused.
“I haven't had too much to drink, not like the others.” Sirius shrugged. “How high are you?” Pandora never drank but she did smoke. She smoked the most weed, more than any other person Sirius had known. Sometimes he thought it was so she could deal with the sudden visions she saw. When she was high, her eyes rarely glassed over as she peaked into the future and was left with nothing but scraps of feelings from what she saw.
“Quite. The floor is made of talking trees and I’m quite certain someone keeps calling your name like they need you.” Pandora glared into the crowd but no one was looking their way. Sirius didn’t like the way she said the word need. It felt too heavy, too intimate. No one needed Sirius, not like that, not like he was a lifeline. Pandora was just saying that. She was high. She was saying things. It couldn't be anything of the vision variety. Sirius couldn't deal with that tonight. Pandora didn't need to deal with that tonight.
“Do you need anything?" Sirius asked softly. He wanted to be a good friend to his brother's best friend.
Pandora hummed, still gazing about the crowd. "Have you seen everyone tonight?"
"Almost. Lily and Remus are last on my list." Sirius admitted. He liked to keep tabs on those who were important to him, especially in huge settings like this where it was hard to see everyone. Sirius liked having those he considered family close to him.
Pandora slid from the window ledge and sank to the floor, her back against the wall. "Lily flower. We dated last year. We were the dying embers of a lit sparkler. We were a match that had been struck. Born for passion but not fated to last. We have found peace." Pandora snorted, hiding her face in her hands as she muttered the last part, "It was beauty, we were grace, it did quite literally get Lily punched in the face. Alas, it was rather worth it. On both our parts."
"Uh," Sirius said eloquently. He was so unaware of this. Lily and Pandora had dated? But they were such close friends now. Was Lily a lesbian? Sirius knew Pandora preferred women and nonbinary people, but Lily... Sirius wasn't sure. It wasn't his business. When they wanted to talk to him about it, he would listen.
"Go find them, won't you? I can't have an audience when I seduce the dazzling Emmeline." Pandora stood, a predatory gaze on her face. Emmeline was dancing with a few of her friends, unaware of Pandora's watchful eyes.
"Good luck," Sirius teased, pushing off against the wall and heading back into the crowd. A missing Remus by himself usually meant his senses were overloaded and he needed some peace. A missing Lily by herself usually meant that she was caught up in studying. But the two of them, missing together, well that meant trouble. And with those two... they were the type of trouble no one ever saw coming.
~~~
Sirius came across James and Regulus before he could find Remus and Lily. The two boys were talking in the same corner, smiling at each other. Sirius couldn't help but smile too. It was so nice to see Regulus happy, content, comfortable. It was a weight off Sirius' shoulders. "Hey," Sirius arrived at their sides, the other two moving so that there was space for Sirius to fit beside them. "Have either of you seen Remus or Lily tonight?"
"Not since dinner," James locked eyes with Sirius, "Why?" They tried to have a silent discussion, but neither of them knew anything and were just making faces at each other. Regulus rolled his eyes at their antics, his arm coming outstretched between their gazes to point past them all.
"They're coming over here." Regulus snorted. Sirius and James snapped their heads over to locate Remus and Lily. The two of them were indeed heading their way. Lily was on Remus' back while Remus stumbled towards them rather clumsily.
“Oh my god.” James’ mouth dropped. Both Remus and Lily were laughing, wheezing really, and Lily had an almost empty bottle of Witch’s Brew in her hands.
“Are they…?” Sirius couldn’t believe his eyes. He had seen many versions of Drunk Moony. But laughing and stumbling and fucking giggling, yeah this would be the first. He really didn't know what to think about this. And then there was Lily, who he had never seen so out of control. She was a giggling mess, her cheeks blotched bright red and her grin so big it must hurt her cheek bones.
“Drunk? I believe they’re absolutely sloshed, very pissed.” Regulus chuckled, staring a little wide eyed at his two study buddies. He’d never seen them so uninhibited before. Remus continued to stumble towards them, Lily shouting out directions. They were going rather slowly, but they seemed to be having the time of their lives.
“UP! I said UP Remus, UP!”
“I can’t go UP! I can only go RIGHT!” Remus giggled back.
“RIGHT is for bitches! UP is for cunts! And what are we?”
“The biggest cunts!” Remus beamed as he came to a stop in front of them, teetering forwards. “Oh hello,” He waved at them, which made him lose his grip on Lily who then slid off his back and landed very unsteadily on the floor. The two of them wobbled, doubling over as they laughed. Lily wiggled around until she could get herself under Remus' arm and fitted to his side. The three boys, who were on the right side of tipsy and sober, were very accustomed to the way Lily and Remus were always pressed close together in some way or another. Sometimes they were jealous, but mostly they were happy the two studious, stressed, nerds had the other to lean on so literally.
“Oh my god it’s James and Regulus and Sirius! Bobbleheads!” Lily shouted, dimples coming out to play on her cheeks. James went red in the face. Sirius felt sorry for him. Dimples were hard not to swoon over.
“Bobbleheads?” James said slowly, blinking at her as if he were in a daze. Lily had that affect on him. So did Regulus, though Sirius wasn't totally aware of that yet.
“Hi Lily, hi Remus. Alright?” Regulus’ voice was laced in amusement. He was the most put together here, because of course he was. Though, internally Regulus was quickly adding these new personas of Lily and Remus into his memories, into his own ways of perceiving his friends.
“Reg!” Lily shrieked, swaying forwards and getting into the younger boy's space. Regulus immediately brought a hand to her arm, to steady her, to keep her upright. Lily looked at him for a second, eyes wide in awe and glee, before spinning sharply back to Remus, grabbing Remus’ cheeks and squishing his face with both hands.
Sirius had to laugh. Remus looked so adorably disgruntled at being squished. “I have to leave your side! I just have to! Will you live on? Will you climb the moon and throw chunks of it off without me?” Lily wailed dramatically. Sirius had never seen her so dramatic. Remus nodded, still squished, but looking very determined. His brows were furrowed. He shouldn't be allowed to look so cute, Sirius wanted to cry. “Goodbye, dear Remmy, I will see you never again! Do everything I would do!” Lily let him go, twirled towards Regulus and grabbed Regulus’ shoulder, leaning in close. Regulus' eyes widened as he brought up both hands to steady her this time. “I have a secret!” She chirped. “You get to know it!”
“Oh?” Regulus smiled, unfurling like a cat as he further welcomed Lily into his space. “How wonderful,”
“Can I know it?” James asked, looking on in a mixture of amusement and deep concerned confusion.
“Nope!” Lily placed her entire palm over James’ face, causing Sirius and Remus to erupt into laughter. “Carry me to that couch, Reg!” Lily didn't point, didn't tear her gaze from Regulus' eyes, just demanded.
“Which couch?” Regulus asked.
“The purple one.” Lily declared.
“Lily, there are no purple couches.” Regulus said gently, his anxiety ratcheting up to full force as Lily’s eyes started to water. “Um, no, wait, yes there is a purple couch!” Regulus glared at James. “Go make a purple couch.” He hissed.
“Right, of course.” James immediately transfigured a lone armchair into a truly ugly purple couch. “Look! A purple couch!” He was trying not to laugh, trying not to feel jealous as the two people he found very attractive, very alluring went off together wrapped arm in arm. Regulus had his pleased smile on and Lily was beaming as the two of them went over to the newly transfigured couch and out of James' hearing range.
James tore his eyes away, looking back at Remus who was staring at the wall. He had a dopey grin on his face, stars in his eyes, and a red flush staining his neck and cheeks. He looked a bit delirious, a bit out of this world. He kind of looked at if he were staring at bubbles and trying to pop them with his eyes.
“Bit drunk, huh, Moons?” Sirius snorted, nudging Remus’ shoulder to get the boys attention. Remus found Sirius' eyes, giggling at Sirius before putting his face in his hands. James truly had never seen Remus so unstable, so giggly. It was like he had taken fifteen bottles of Felix Felicis.
“Only a little,” Remus looked up at them through his hands before ducking his head to giggle once more. He hadn't moved his feet since Lily had left his side. He appeared steady, but James wasn't sure what would happen if the taller boy tried to move.
“How much have you and Lily actually had to drink tonight?” James asked, gaze darting between Remus and Regulus and Lily on the couch. He really needed to keep his eyes off them, but the two of them looked so happy to be sitting together, they looked so beautiful in the warm glow of the room. Regulus was smiling and Lily was laughing. James wanted to be there with them.
“Oh you know… we had to do the five shots, I won of course, that’s why I picked Bowie… and then we just stole a bottle of firewhiskey when I dared her too, it was that or make out with... but we decided that was too unfair… Lily’s fault really... or wait maybe Mary’s.... Mary did bring the Witch's Brew…. of course we had to ride into battle after that! Oh! I remember!” Remus, who had been rambling, trailing off and giggling to himself, suddenly turned wide eyes on the two of them, gripping each of their shoulders with his werewolf strength coming out to play.
“Remember what?” James asked calmly while Sirius laughed. Sirius couldn't help it. It was either laugh or cry. How unfair that Sirius was bearing witness to Remus like this. How unfair that Sirius couldn't twirl the younger teenager around the room, that they couldn't laugh together, lean their heads in close and giggle in the corners of this party. But they weren't together. And Sirius could only stare at Remus. He could not touch. He could not hold.
“I solemnly swore on a pinky swear that I would be a Lion tonight.” Remus declared rather seriously. Sirius met James' eyes, their faces arranging themselves into expressions of bewildered confusion. It was odd to be talking to Remus and not to be making sense. Remus always made sense. Sirius didn't have a clue on how to handle it but figured he should at least try.
“Good job?” Sirius ventured cautiously, looking back at Remus.
“Oh! Thank you very much!” Remus turned a wide smile on Sirius, elation plainly visible on his face. “Do you really think so?” His expression was hard to bear. Remus looked eager, soft, happy. He looked excited. Sirius wanted to wrap his arms around Remus. It really wasn't fair. Why did this have to happen to Sirius? James, the prick, bellowed with laughter at Sirius' agony.
“Uh… of course I do. You’re a great lion.” Sirius managed awkwardly. Remus just hummed. Sirius hated when he did that. Sirius loved when he did that. Sirius was not drunk enough for any of this. Why had he trapped himself in this conversation? Why was he being forced to bear witness to an inebriated Remus Lupin who was usually so coiled tight with control?
Remus swung his head to look at James in a sudden motion, shouting, “Jamie!”
“Yeah?” James looked so confused.
“I’m a great lion.”
“The greatest lion.” James nodded watching Remus beam. It wasn't hard for James to be blindly supportive. However, it was hard to keep his amusement in check. He didn't want Remus to feel like James was laughing at him. Though... James wasn't sure Remus would even notice with how far gone the werewolf was. “This is the happiest I think I’ve ever seen you, mate.” Remus erupted into giggles, pushing a hand into James’ face. Remus looked at Sirius and made a very silly face, tongue sticking out and everything. Sirius cracked up in astonishment. He liked a silly Remus. It was cute and rare. “Why is your hand on my face?” James questioned, unmoving even though he could step away.
“Dampening the sun! You’re too nice James. I think I just might cream my pants.” Remus declared rather bluntly. At least that wasn't different. James went beat red under Remus’ hand. Sirius went bright red too. What the fuck was even happening?
“Remus!” Sirius tugged at Remus' shoulder.
“Sirius!” Remus responded in kind, turning willingly to face Sirius.
“You are so drunk.” Sirius had to point out.
“Absolutely sloshed.” Remus nodded as if that thought was amusing and not something that would bite him in the ass later. Sirius shook his head in exasperation. This boy.
"I don't understand," James muttered, wiping his own hand down his face. Remus gaped at James, mouth dropped open and eyes wide. Sirius had to shake his head to keep his thoughts purely PG.
“Jamie, James, Jam-boy, you must know.” Remus poked at James’ cheek, his features rearranging themselves into one of fond irritation, exasperation.
“Know what?” James asked only for Remus to let out a very long, very suffering, very dramatic sigh. So it wasn't just Lily who was being extra dramatic tonight.
“This is ridiculous.” Remus giggled again, actually beginning to move his feet. He almost fell headfirst into the wall, his only safety net being that Sirius and James caught him before he could. “Did I do it then?”
“Do what, you idiot? You almost just brained yourself!" Sirius shrieked, manhandling Remus into a secure standing position. Remus had unfairly firm arms. Sirius was being tortured. That was what was happening.
“I’m pretty sure I tried to sit down and I’m pretty sure there isn’t a wall behind you, Sirius. Don’t try to bamboozle me. I know what’s going on.” Remus grumbled, slumping forwards into Sirius' side, his full weight leaning against Sirius. Remus was rather heavy, lean muscles and tall features made it hard to steady them both. Sirius slipped them to the floor so that they could sit down, James laughing at them as he settled at their sides, with his back against the wall.
“I have never seen him like this.” James whispered to Sirius, watching as Remus tried to fold his legs so that they were crossed. He seemed to be very confused as to which directions his legs should be going in.
“Me neither. I’m half concerned and confused and half just really fucking loving it.”
“So… any reason you drank so much tonight?” James poked at Remus' leg with his own foot.
“Well Lily couldn’t get drunk by herself.” Remus, finally settled in a sitting position, shrugged. “That would just be,” He waved his hand in front of his face, searching for words only to be immediately distracted by the ring he had on his pointer finger. “This isn’t mine!” He said with a giddy sort of victory. It was a weird reaction, one Sirius didn't want to look too far into. The ring, Sirius recognized, was his own. Remus had stolen it in Fifth year and had never given it back. Well, Sirius had leant it to the werewolf and never asked for it back.
“Yeah? Whose is it then?” Sirius teased, but he couldn't help how fondly he looked at Remus nor how gently he spoke to the boy. Sirius watched Remus stare at the ring, brows furrowed and a look of deep concentration shifting his features. Sirius couldn't look away. He was smiling helplessly at Remus, how could he not? Remus just continued to stare, seemingly lost to the world. Sirius would give anything to know what Remus' mind looked like at the exact moment.
Remus jolted backwards with an immediate grin, "OH!" He waved with his entire body as Lily and Regulus walked over to them. "Look! Look! It's Lily and Regulus! Lily! Lily, hi!" Lily collapsed, melting like pasta into Remus and James' laps, just going limp and letting gravity direct her downwards. Her head landed on Remus' shins and her legs splayed over James'. James looked like he was passing through the gates of heaven.
“Remmy! I’ve done it! I’ve done the best thing ever! I am a genius!” Lily reached up to tap Remus on the nose. “I’m bloody brilliant!” She sat up to tap Regulus on the nose. “I’m the smartest girl alive!” She leaned over to tap James on the nose. Regulus and James both seemed very pleased with the action.
“I’m the dumbest boy alive.” Remus said mournfully, his shoulders slumping forwards.
“NO!” Lily cried. “No! No. No. NO. Remus!” Lily shifted, squirming her way into Remus' lap, wrapping her own legs around his waist and tucking her arms against his chest. Remus folded himself into her space, hiding his face in her shoulder.
“I know!” Remus wailed.
“YOU!” Lily pointed a finger at Sirius, glare in place though her head kept nodding forwards probably without her control so it just made it a bit funny. Sirius was perplexed. What had he done? Why was it his fault? What were they even talking about?
“Me?” Sirius raised an eyebrow, feeling rather stupid as he looked at them. What was he missing?
“He’s the dumbest boy alive!” Lily patted Remus’ back as if that explained everything while the other boy groaned pitifully into her shoulder. Sirius looked at James and Regulus who were trying so very hard not to laugh for help, help that he was not going to receive
“He’s not…” Sirius started, biting his lip to keep from laughing as Lily lurched forwards, her pointer finger jabbing into the space before his face.
“He is!”
“I am!” Lily and Remus shouted in unison.
“What does that have to do with me?”
“Stars in the sky, silk and sapphires!” Lily roared.
“Excuse me!” Remus shouted back, pulling away from Lily to look at her, his large hands pulling her face so that they were eye to eye. “Excuse me! That’s the biggest no thank you you’ve ever heard.”
“Oops.” Lily shrugged, seemingly not sorry at all, even as she softly butted her forehead against Remus' in silent apology. She turned back to Sirius. “You’re off the hook for now. Remus is the dumbest boy alive. I’m the smartest girl alive. Everything has meaning!”
“That’s beautiful, Lily.” James teased, making Regulus collapse into his side in laughter. Sirius was still a bit perplexed, shocked, confused, all of the above.
“I’m the dumbest boy alive." Remus nodded to himself. "And you’re the smartest girl alive. Tell me.”
“Oh! Swimmingly! Swimmingly! We’re about to run a fucking marathon, Remmy, a fucking marathon!” Lily threw her arms up in the air, trusting Remus to steady her which he did. He always would.
“A fucking marathon!” Remus cheered with her. The two of them sounded so excited, so happy, so jubilant. Sirius would've melted into the damn floor by now if he was capable of doing that. They, Remus in particular, truly had no business being so damn adorable. It was cruel.
“You know what I want?” Lily asked rather abruptly, her arms still raised to the sky. Remus nodded sagely, squeezing Lily around the middle once before leaning back on his hands.
“I can’t. James and Regulus must.”
“Will you live on?” Lily brought their foreheads together.
“I will live on!” Remus beamed at her, leaning backwards. Lily extracted herself from Remus' lap, stumbling but moving with far too much energy and enthusiasm. She beelined it to the dance floor. “Go with her, you fools! I swear I have to do everything!” Remus shouted, flapping his hands at James and Regulus who hadn’t moved an inch. The two boys hurried to their feet and followed after Lily. They got lost in the crowd. Sirius didn't worry. They would have each other. James and Regulus would look after Lily.
Which meant.... Sirius would look after Remus.
Said boy was leaning backwards until his back hit the floor, his head landed on Sirius' crossed calves, and his face was staring directly up at Sirius. Sirius brought his gaze down to meet the beautiful amber eyes already looking at him. Remus looked so soft, so content. He seemed loose. It was rare for Sirius to see Remus so worry free. He was glad that Remus could have this night to just relax, to just be.
“I have made a horrible decision.” Remus declared in a soft voice.
“What’s that?” Sirius asked, wanting with everything in him to touch Remus’ hair. It looked so soft, it looked so inviting. Would it be weird? It would probably be weird. Mates didn't run their fingers through each others hair.
“You’re gonna yell at me,”
“No,” Sirius frowned down at Remus, “When do I yell at you?” He asked though he knew the answer. Remus and Sirius yelled at each other at least once everyday. It was who they were. Remus snorted, rolling his head from side to side, knowing what Sirius knew about their yelling habits.
“I got really drunk. The moons in a day.” Remus explained as if explaining something to a five year old. Sirius rolled his eyes, even as he gazed down adoringly at Remus. It was too hard to ignore. He slid his hand into Remus' hair. It felt like silk cotton running through his fingers. The curls bounced a little. Remus didn't even flinch, he leaned into Sirius' hand, his eyes fluttering closed.
"We'll get you hopped up on potions tomorrow. You'll go to bed early, eat what you can. Don't worry." Sirius said easily. If Remus had been sober, perhaps they would've fought about the werwolf's treatment of himself. But Remus was drunk and Sirius loved him. Sirius would always take care of him, even when Remus said he didn't want it. Remus' eyelids opened wide. They stared at each other for a moment.
Sirius loved Remus' eyes. Loved them. They were soft brown, tinted with amber and sparkled with gold. They shined in the warm light. Sirius actually really loved when the wolf's eyes shined through, it made the color look truly golden. Beautiful. If Sirius wasn't already aware of how gone he was for Remus, the fact that he would willingly stare into Remus' eyes forever would've been a telling sign.
Remus finally closed his eyes, relaxing fully into Sirius, “I think my body sank into the floor.”
“What shall we do about it?” Sirius stroked over Remus' forehead watching the small fond smile that settled into place on Remus' face.
“The floor can have me if I can stay where I am.” Remus muttered. He was such an adorable, cheeky asshole. Truly. And Sirius loved the shit out of him. Fuck.
“Alright then,” Sirius agreed, helplessly fond as he watched the boy he adored slip into sleep in a room full of screaming, drunk young adults. The talent.