“I’m guessing you’ve never been high before?” Peter asks, as Remus sits in the chair in front of him. Peter grabs the ice cream and the milk, starting to prepare Remus’ milkshake.
“Me? No. My best friend, Regulus, his dad was a big drinker so he hated all that stuff. Parties too.” Remus says, flatly.
“And where is Regulus tonight?”
“Oh, he shot himself last may.”
Peter looks up, terrified.
It’s not like he doesn’t miss Regulus, but now he’s actually getting over it. Of course, he misses spending the night in his room and talking about nothing and everything. He misses talking about how boys one grade above were prettier. He loved hearing about how Regulus’ DND character died and what he did before it. He misses everything about Regulus, but he can’t stay like this forever.
“Kinda wish he’d left a note, you know what I mean?”
The other boy nods, sadly. It’s weird how he never thought he’d tell people about Regulus, because Reg is not a fun story to tell. But also, he wished everyone knew Regulus, because he was such an amazing person.
“Where is the bathroom?” He asks.
“It’s upstairs.”
“Thank you, Pete. You’re so nice.” Getting up, he goes upstairs and opens the first door he sees. And god, how he wishes he didn’t have opened it.
He sees Sirius, his boyfriend, Regulus’ brother. It’s not like they didn’t talk after what happened, because there’s nothing to talk about. But they know the first thing they should talk about is Regulus, because he was so important for both of them. No, he still is so important.
“Hi.” Sirius says.
“Hi.” Remus says back, and god, it’s so awkward.
Sirius stays silent for a while, just staring at Remus as he plays with his hair.
“We don’t have to talk about it now.” Remus says. It’s a lie, because he really wants to talk about it now, but if Sirius doesn’t, then he’ll wait. For Sirius, he’d wait 12 years, or even more.
“C’mon, let’s go downstairs.” Sirius gets up, walking to the door and giving Remus a kiss. It’s slight, and just a peck, but he missed it so much.
“Yeah.”
Once they’re downstairs, Remus takes his milkshake and it’s the best one he’s ever drinked before. He sees James and Peter talking, whispering. He can’t hear it well, because Sirius and Marlene are talking about hot boys on his side, and stealing a little bit of his milkshake.
James turns to Remus, raising his glass.
“Everyone, raise a glass to Remus.”
Remus looks up, scared, and everyone stares at him, with smiles on their faces.
“What did I do?” He asks, trying to remember everything he did that night.
“You didn’t do anything. We just want to toast our new friend.” He says, raising his glass even more. “You’re feral. You attack, and you protect yours. You’re a werewolf.”
Remus dries his sweaty hands on his pants, remembering every fight he got into because of the bullying Regulus went through. He looks around, and he sees Sirius with a smile, and it fits him so well. Marlene, Dorcas, Mary, Barty, Evan, Pandora. They’re all staring, with big smiles.
“What is it? What 's wrong?” James asks, as Remus’ eyes start to water.
“I didn’t think anyone noticed me.’
“Well, we didn’t think there were any cool people left to meet. So, everyone…” Everyone else in the room finish his sentence, saying
“To Remus.”
They all drink their drinks, and Sirius gets closer, and whispers to his ear.
“Welcome to the land of misfit toys.”
Remus smiles, and the music turns on again. Everyone dances, and at some moment he dances as well. It’s the first of many parties he’s going to, and he loves it. Everyone is so nice to him, and he’s trying to be nice to everyone. In the end, everything will be just fine. “Regulus would love this.”, it’s the last thing Remus remembers saying to James. James smiles, and Sirius does as well.