“I was thinking about going to The Three Broomsticks this weekend.” Remus says noncommittally in the morning, while they’re finishing getting ready for the day. Sirius is searching through his messy wardrobe for the matching pair of his sock.
“Yeah, mate, sure.” He says without looking up. There’s a moment of suspicious silence before James speaks.
“I can’t.”
“You can’t?” Sirius glances at him. “Why?”
“I have plans.” He says vaguely.
“With who?”
James stares at Sirius for a beat.
“Regulus.”
“You have plans with my brother?” Sirius frowns. Since when do James and Regulus go out just the two of them? James looks around the room.
“Wormtail?” He says in lieu of a reply, turning to Peter.
“I can’t, either.” Peter says, not looking at any of them. “Mary wants to study herbology.”
His tone sounds a little more convincing than James’, but it still doesn’t make sense. They’re both busy all of a sudden on a Hogsmeade weekend?
“What’s up with you two?” Sirius asks, having found a sock, sitting on the floor to put his shoes on.
“Nothing’s up.” James says defensively. “Can’t we have plans outside this group?”
“Are you lying?” Sirius squints at him.
“Lying? Why would we lie?”
“Since when do you hang out with Reggie?”
“We’re friends, we can hang out.”
“Without me knowing?” Sirius finishes tying his shoelaces and stands to James’ height.
“You don’t have to know everything going on in your brother’s life,” James says. “How toxic of you.”
“No, I have to know everything going on in your life, Prongs.” Sirius corrects, because they don’t even take a step without letting the other know. James knows he’s been caught so he looks around the room again as if an answer is going to pop out from somewhere to help him.
“Alright, I wasn’t supposed to tell you this,” He sighs. “Reg wants to go get you a birthday present.”
Sirius pauses. It makes less sense now. Regulus isn’t that affectionate and Sirius can’t remember the last time he got a gift from him. Either Regulus suddenly grew a new personality or James is lying for some reason, which is way more likely.
“Let’s say that’s true, why is he bringing you along?” He asks.
“Hey, I’m an excellent gift-giver. And for company, obviously.”
“Yours?”
“I don’t know what you’re trying to imply.” James says in a tone indicative that he does, actually, know. Sirius sighs, because he knows to pick his battles with James’ stubbornness, so he drops it.
“Looks like it’s just you and me, then, Moony.” He says, turning to Remus and lightly knocking a hand against his arm. Remus gives him a weird little chuckle.
“Yeah.”
Remus is taking longer in the bathroom than he usually does. Sirius knows because he’s woken up relatively early for a Saturday by the sound of the shower turning on and he rolls in bed for a bit longer, then gets up to choose an outfit, hears the shower turn off, and now it’s been 10 minutes and Remus is still in there.
“Moony, c’mon, what are you doing in there?” Sirius knocks on the door. There’s a sound of something falling and a curse. “I want to have a shower, as well.”
The door is opened only a few moments later and Remus stands before him, towel around the waist, naked chest, wet hair. Steam from the hot shower still swirls in the air from being trapped in a windowless closed room.
“I didn’t know you were awake already.” Remus tells him, shaking Sirius from the staring he had been doing at Remus’ scarred chest. What was he even looking at? It’s not like he’s never seen it before, or even noticed it, because he has. He knows Remus is objectively attractive and has a nice body, but every now and then a reminder comes in the form of a shirtless Remus and slaps Sirius across the face.
“I am.” Sirius says stupidly, pulling his eyes up to Remus’ face. He looks somewhat amused.
“I can see that.”
“Well, let me in, yeah?”
“All yours.” Remus steps outside to give Sirius access.
“What were you even doing that took so long?” Sirius asks, stepping in and smelling something sweet and fruity.
Remus shrugs.
“Haircare. Skincare.”
“Haircare? Today?” Sirius questions, looking at Remus’ back that’s turned to him. “Ooh, Moony, are you trying to look good for me?” He teases. Remus glares at him over his shoulder, but Sirius doesn’t miss the way his cheeks start gaining colour. “Okay, I’ll look good for you, too, Moony.”
And he does. When he steps out of the bathroom, Sirius takes notice of Remus’ outfit to gauge if the one he picked out is appropriate. Remus wears brown corduroy trousers, a white dress shirt under a knitted vest in earthy tones, and black shoes. There’s also a black overcoat by the foot of the bed along with a grey scarf that show Remus is expecting cool weather. Sirius, however, is not going to let a little cold ruin his outfit plans, so he keeps the bell-bottom trousers paired with a tank top he cropped himself in order to show off his stomach and the new navel piercing, even when Remus tells him it’s cold outside. It’s still October, he’s sure he can handle it.
“I’m making a fashion statement, Moony, I can’t let the cold ruin it.” He informs Remus, as he tops it all with his leather jacket and puts on boots. Remus makes a noise in his throat but doesn’t otherwise fight Sirius off on this matter when he knows it’s never worked before.
And off they go, walking together down the path to the village amidst the other students. Sirius keeps looking around to see if he can spot James and his brother, but they’re nowhere to be seen and he’s not sure what to make of that. He’s still trying to decode whether James was lying earlier in the week.
Remus sheds his outerwear once they’re inside The Three Broomsticks and heads over to the bar for butterbeers while Sirius finds them a table.
“Discreetly,” Remus says with emphasis, as he places two beer steins on the table and sits across from Sirius. “Look behind you, at the back.”
Discreetly is not part of Sirius’ vocabulary, so he whirls around, searching for whatever it is Remus wants him to see.
“Dorcas and Marlene?” Sirius asks once he spots them in a secluded corner.
“You just can’t be subtle, can you?” Remus sighs.
“I was born to shine, Moony, you should know that by now.”
“Yes, my mistake.” Remus nods. “Anyhoo, what do you reckon is happening there?”
“Obviously, they’re on a date.” Sirius says and Remus hums. “And I bet Dorcas made the first move.”
“What? Why?”
“Well, Marlene goes kinda stupid when she’s around, so I don’t think she’d manage it.” Sirius explains.
They go on discussing Marlene and Dorcas for a bit, then switch onto other gossip-worthy students until finally landing back on their friends.
“Do you really think Prongs and Wormtail were telling the truth about today?” Sirius asks as he places the third and last round of pints for the day on the table. Remus rolls his eyes at him with a fond smile.
“You love a conspiracy, don't you, Pads?”
“Don’t tell me you didn't think they were acting weird that day.”
"Weird, maybe. But that doesn't mean they're not telling the truth.” Remus says. “Like, you know how Wormtail is around girls. If Mary asked him to study, he was probably flustered.”
“Yeah, but why would she?” Sirius argues. “He’s hopeless.”
“Sirius.” Remus shoots him a censoring look.
“Oh, you know it's true. I love the kid, but... I mean, I wasn't sure he would pass all his OWLs.”
“Well, he’s better at herbology, isn't he?”
“Not than us.” Sirius shakes his head. “Not than Lily. Why would Mary study with him, and not Lily?”
Remus shrugs.
“Another one of life's mysteries, Padfoot. Doesn’t the improbability of it prove he isn't lying?”
Sirius squints at him.
“Are you in cahoots with them?” He asks. Remus heaves a sigh.
“I’m not even going to answer that.”
“What about Prongs and my brother?”
“Why don’t you ask your brother?” Remus suggests.
“Reggie won’t tell me.” Sirius waves a dismissive hand. Then a horrifying thought occurs to him. “You don’t think that they’re—no they wouldn’t do that to me. D’you reckon?”
“Do I reckon they’re what?” Remus asks patiently. Sirius looks around and lowers his voice.
“Shagging.”
“Sh—what?” Remus frowns deeply at him. “You got that from them buying you a birthday present?”
“Oh, they’re not buying me a present. That was clearly a lie, which begs the question why would James lie? What is the truth?”
“Have you run out of conspiracies about the teachers that now you have to come up with ones about our friends?” Remus asks tiredly.
“Oh, that reminds me,” Sirius says, jumping on the topic of teachers. “I have an update on the Minnie-Poppy theory.”
“Do tell.” Remus encourages, seeming eager to leave behind the investigation into their friends’ excuses.
“I was taking a look at the map late last night, as one does, seeing who’s sneaking into whose bed,” Sirius launches on the tale.
“Sirius, that’s not what the map is for.” Remus interrupts, tone disapproving.
“It’s not my fault if it shows up, I’m just looking at it.” Sirius says, as if he’s not quite literally one of the responsible people for it showing up on the map. “Anyway, there was Professor McGonnagall taking a stroll with Madam Pomfrey—remember, late at night—then they went into the infirmary, which was empty, and they hung in there for a bit, their dots extremely close,” Sirius places his two index fingers together to demonstrate. “They stayed for so long that I didn’t even see when they left.”
“That’s hardly anything concrete.” Remus says, ever the sceptic. He’s not very supportive of Sirius’ prying into the teachers’ lives.
“How is that not concrete, Remus? You’re just a denier.” Sirius huffs. Remus fixes an amused look on him.
“It’s incredible how attuned you are to other people’s love lives.” He says.
“What does that mean?” Sirius frowns.
“Nothing. I just find it funny.”
“What’s funny?”
“You’re a gossip.” Remus shrugs.
“Yeah, that’s hardly news. Not to mention, you love gossip, as well. You like to pretend you’re apart from it because you don’t seek it out, but you listen to me go on and on about other people.”
“Do I have another choice?”
“No. But you could pretend not to care for it if you’re going to act all holier-than-thou.”
“I’m not acting holier-than-thou.” Remus rolls his eyes. “You want me to say I like gossip? I do, I just sat here for the past hour hearing you ramble about everyone else, didn’t I?”
“Yes, and you will hear more.” Sirius announces. Remus laughs.
“How do you even have so much information?”
“That's why my hair’s so big, Moony. It’s full of secrets.” Sirius whispers to him.
“If you spent half the time you do up in others’ business on your studies—”
“I’d have better grades?” Sirius mocks. “Please. I’m top of the class, Moony, if anyone gets to be in others’ business, it’s me. Now, stop changing the subject, I have to tell you about Frank Longbottom.” Sirius proceeds to tell Remus the fresh gossip he’s discovered about the older boy.
Just as they’re leaving the pub a bit later, a voice calls out near the door.
“Remus?”
They look around to see Remus’ ex-boyfriend settling on a table with a couple of friends.
“Marcus.” Remus says in a pleasantly surprised tone. Sirius’ face immediately morphs into a scowl, he does not like Marcus at all, regardless of the fact he hasn’t been with Remus for almost a year now. He could never explain this dislike, but something always just felt off about the short-lived relationship they had. They approach the table, Remus going in for a half-hug. Sirius’ scowl deepens and he makes no move to disguise it, even as Marcus glances his way.
“You remember Sirius?” Remus says, stepping back.
“Of course, hello.” Marcus says politely. He’d always been polite to Sirius and, for some reason, that pissed him off. Sirius hums and nods to him, then turns away and distances himself to let Remus catch up with his ex. He distantly hears Remus apologise for his behaviour and Marcus chuckle easily. Sirius wants to hex him.
He ends up waiting outside, despite the chill wind, because he kept glancing back at Remus and Marcus and it was making him irritable. He’s still quite irritable when Remus steps out and they start making their way down the street.
“What’s the problem?” Remus asks lightly, after a minute.
“There’s no problem.” Sirius lies.
“Right.” Remus says sarcastically. “You want to tell me why you’re suddenly in a mood, then?”
“I’m not in a mood.”
“Please. You didn’t even say goodbye to Marcus—or hello, or anything, for that matter.”
“Oh, so the issue is I wasn’t nice to precious Marcus.” Sirius mocks.
“Oh, the problem is Marcus.” Remus sighs. “I should’ve figured, you never did like him.”
“I just don’t get what you see in him.” Sirius admits with a frown.
“I don’t see anything in him, Sirius, I broke up with him.”
“Why are you all buddy-buddy with him, then?”
Remus stops walking and gives Sirius an amused look.
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you are jealous.” He says, lips turned up at the corners.
“Jealous?” Sirius exclaims. “Why would I be jealous?”
“I don’t understand, either, but it’s what it looks like.”
“Well, I’m not.” Sirius says with finality and restarts walking. Remus goes after him quietly.
“Okay, sorry I stopped to talk with my ex and it made you grumpy.” Remus says after a stretch of silence. Sirius has the impression he’s not really making an apology, rather just making fun of him. “D’you want me to buy you a chocolate to make up for it?”
Sirius looks around to see they’re reaching Honeydukes and Remus probably just wants a chocolate himself, the sweet-tooth.
“What chocolate?”
“Any one you want. But you have to stop sulking.”
“Fine.” He agrees.
They roam the full shop, weaving around the groups of students and putting candy in a basket together. When it seems that Remus is satisfied with his choices, because Sirius had made his in the first five minutes, they head over to the queue to pay. Sirius takes the basket from Remus.
“What are you doing?”
“I got it, it’s fine.” Sirius says, because even if he has been disowned and cut off from the family gold, he feels guilty making Remus pay something for him.
“I said I’d buy it for you.” Remus argues. “Aren't you, like…” He trails off, as if he’s touching a sensitive subject, but Sirius doesn’t mind.
“Poor now?” He laughs. “Not really, I had some savings. Also, Prongs shares his money with me and I struck a deal with Reg to get half of his allowance.”
“How did you do that?” Remus asks, surprised.
“Well, part of it is that I have to spend some of it on him, the little shit. That’s what the chocolate frogs are for.” Sirius informs.
“And the other part?”
“Basically, he gets to blame me for whatever shit he does back home. Like, he stole some jewellery from our mother before coming back to Hogwarts and said I’d done it.”
“And you let him?”
Sirius barks out a laugh.
“It’s not like I’m gonna suffer the consequences of it.” He shrugs. “I think he figured I’d care more about it, otherwise he’d ask for something else, but I really don’t. In fact, I think it’s hilarious. Let him do some mischief and piss our parents off in my name, it’s not like they can hate me more than they already do.”
As they head in the direction of the path to the castle, it starts raining. Not much at first, but it turns heavy all of a sudden and then Remus is dragging him by the sleeve under a canopy.
“Moony, we could just cast an Impervious.” Sirius says with a chuckle.
“Not on everything, we’ll still soak.” Remus replies.
“Alright, we can just stay here and wait for it to pass.” Sirius pulls his jacket tighter around himself and looks out into the rain that doesn’t seem like it’s going to pass anytime soon.
“Are you cold?” Remus asks, observing him.
“What? No, I’m fine.” Sirius says, though admittedly the climate is a bit chiller than his leather jacket can handle, but he’s not going to tell anyone that. Remus rolls his eyes and starts unravelling his scarf, stepping closer to wrap it around Sirius’ neck.
“Moony, I said it’s fine.” Sirius protests weakly.
“Shut up and accept it.” Remus replies, cold fingers brushing against Sirius’ neck as he tucks in the ends of the scarf. Sirius obeys because he does instantly start to feel warmer. “Can’t have you getting sick.”
“Aw, Moony, are you worried?” Sirius cooes to wind him up.
“Worried I’ll be stuck nursing you if you’re sick.” Remus deadpans, distancing himself again. “You’re annoying as hell.”
“What about you?”
“I run warmer anyway. Werewolf blood.”
“What does that mean?” Sirius laughs.
“Wolves are made for the winter, you ever seen a wolf get cold?”
“Yeah, because they have fur, Moony, you’re a person right now.” Sirius argues, though he makes no move to return the scarf.
“I’m warm.” Remus insists. “In case you haven’t noticed, I’m wearing three layers and none of them are a slutty top.”
Sirius barks out another laugh.
“Ooh, you noticed!”
“Kinda hard not to.” Remus rolls his eyes.
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
The rain still shows no signs of slowing down, so Sirius takes a moment to check exactly where they are. Madam Puddifoot’s Tea Shop, he reads the sign, amused. Classic date spot, he himself having brought one or two people here when he was specially dedicated to having a shag. Not recently, though, he hasn’t been here in a while.
“We could go inside for a bit.” He suggests, quite seriously, because the wind is blowing raindrops on them now.
“In here?” Remus asks, taken aback.
“What, afraid they’ll think we’re together?” Sirius teases. Remus looks away into the shop, blushing faintly, which Sirius finds adorable. Remus looks back at him, then back at the window, and Sirius laughs. “Are you really?”
“No!” Remus quickly says. “I just—don’t want to get in the way of your hookups.”
Sirius frowns, he’s not even sure when he last had a hookup.
“Don’t be silly, I don't even have one.” Sirius says, already pushing Remus towards the door.
They search for a table away from the prying eyes, but still receive second glances as they pass, and a whisper here or there. They settle on a corner at the back, ordering some tea to warm up.
“Have they never seen two hot people before?” Sirius complains as he blows on his tea. Every now and then someone will look their way as if to check they’re not hallucinating Sirius Black and Remus Lupin apparently on a date. Remus chuckles lightly.
“I suppose we make an unexpected couple.”
“Dunno why.”
“What do you mean?” Remus frowns, but Sirius himself isn’t sure.
“I, um… well, I dunno. We make sense, don’t we?” Sirius shrugs, and, again, he doesn't know what he’s saying.
“Do we?” Remus asks and something about the way he’s looking at Sirius disorients him a bit.
“No, not like that…” Sirius laughs nervously. “That’s a bit… ridiculous—not that there’s anything wrong! With you, I mean. You’re totally dateable, you know that. Not that I would, I mean, not that I wouldn’t, I’m just—not saying I want to.” Merlin, what is he even saying at this point? The words keep coming out and he’s losing control of them. “I mean, sure, you’re a catch, anyone would be lucky to have you, I just never… you know, you and me together, that’s—”
“Sirius.”
“Hm?” Sirius finally breathes, glad for the interruption. Remus is laughing.
“Just stop talking.”
“Yeah, okay.” Sirius takes a sip of his tea while Remus shakes his head, amused. He feels the heat that crept up his neck and he’s sure it’s not from wearing the scarf. “Did I make it weird?”
“No, we’re good.” Remus assures him.
“Oh, look, I think the rain’s stopping.” Sirius tilts his head at the window, where it does seem to be clearing up. “We should just finish the tea and go.” He downs the rest of his cup, suddenly in a rush to get away from the warm shop, the furtive looks and the smell of tea. Remus agrees, still finding it all very funny, and they quickly pay and leave.
“Honey, I’m home.” Sirius announces jokingly, as they step into the dorm half an hour later.
“In here, love.” Comes James’ usual greeting from his bed. He pokes his head out of the frame with an enormous grin. “How was your date?”
Sirius frowns.
“Have they been gossiping about Madam Puddifoot’s already?” He asks, wondering if this is his comeuppance for spending the day gossiping about half the students in their year.
“Madam Puddifoot’s?” James’ eyebrows shoot up his forehead, seeming impressed. “Oh, Moony, I was not familiar with your game.”
“It wasn’t like that.” Remus says in a warning tone. Sirius glances between them, getting the feeling of something passing there that he’s not aware of.
“Wait, what are you talking about?” He questions.
James shoots Remus a disapproving glare and heaves a sigh.
“I don’t believe this. Moony.”
“Prongs.” Remus says in the same tone. Sirius keeps glancing from one to the other as if watching a tennis match.
“Padfoot.” He says, throwing his hands up. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing, he’s just having a laugh.” Remus says dismissively.
“Does it look like I’m laughing? No, this is so not funny.”
“Will you just tell me what you’re talking about?” Sirius asks again, starting to lose his patience. Since when do James and Remus keep secrets from him?
“You’re gonna have to tell him.” James raises an eyebrow at Remus.
“Yeah, thanks to you.”
“You’re welcome.” James smiles.
“Do you not recognise sarcasm anymore, Prongs?”
“I do, but you’re going to be actually thanking me real soon.”
Sirius waits but James and Remus are just staring each other down, not saying anything.
“Tell him or I will.” James threatens. Remus doesn’t look fazed.
“Alright, do it.” He shrugs, moving to his bed.
“What?” James asks, apparently having been bluffing.
“I can’t do it.”
“Yes, you can, I’m not going to—”
“Fucking hell, I’m going to kill someone.” Sirius interrupts, then points to James. “It’s going to be you.”
“Hey, why is it going to be me?” James asks indignantly. Sirius pulls out his wand to point it at him and James quickly raises his hands in surrender. “Whoa, it’s not my business, I swear, it’s Moony’s business, I can’t tell you.”
“I’m allowing you.” Remus says from his bed.
“No—”
“Just tell him about today and I’ll handle the rest.”
“What?”
“That’s my question: what?” Sirius shoves the wand closer to James’ face and he rears back, even if they both know he’s not going to use it. He runs both hands down his face with a sigh.
“I have to do everything in this house.”
“You do nothing in this house!” Remus calls out.
“You two,” James points to Sirius then to Remus. “Went on a date.”
“What?” Sirius asks, puzzled.
“You literally went on a date.” James stands up and starts walking to the door. “That was a date today. Now you talk to him!”
“Wha—Prongs?”
“No, I’m leaving.” James steps out and closes the door behind himself, leaving Sirius and Remus alone. Sirius slowly turns towards Remus, who’s blushing and looking pointedly away.
“Moony? Did we go on a date?” Sirius asks softly. Remus continues to stare at the wall to Sirius’ left.
“Sort of.”
“Sort of?”
Remus sighs, closing his eyes, and when he opens them, they’re fixed on Sirius.
“I… fancy you, Pads.” He looks away again. “I didn’t have the guts to ask you out, so I told Prongs and Wormtail to pretend to be busy today so we could go out just by ourselves and I’d confess.”
“Why didn’t you?” Sirius asks, the gears in his head working to help him absorb this information.
“I couldn’t.”
“We literally got stranded in the rain, we had a moment there, you gave me your scarf, it was romantic. Why didn’t you say something?”
“I—is that a positive reaction?” Remus frowns. Sirius breaks into a grin and crosses the distance to sit in front of him on the bed.
“Moons, I’ll be honest. Do I fancy you? I’m fairly sure I do, but I did not know that until a moment ago.” Sirius states and Remus frowns deeper. “I didn’t know that’s what I was feeling, but I have been feeling different for some time now. About Marcus—you were right, I was jealous. When you said that, it got me thinking and I couldn’t understand why, but now it makes total sense. I never wanted you to be with him because… I want you to be with me. And I’m so sure of it as I say it that I have no idea how I didn’t realise it sooner.”
“You fancy me and you didn’t know?” Remus says slowly, a smile turning up the corners of his lips.
“What can I say? I’m one oblivious bastard.” Sirius laughs. “How long have you known?”
“Well, it’s the reason I broke up with Marcus, so…”
“That long? Wait.” Sirius squints at Remus. “Have we been on other dates that I didn’t know about?”
“Perhaps.”
“How many?”
“That I’ve been keeping track of, I think this was the sixth.”
“Sixth?” Sirius exclaims. “Moony! How could you not tell me… Well, next time let me know, yeah?”
“You don’t think you’ll be able to recognise it next time?” Remus teases. “I think I won’t tell you. We can play a game called Are We On A Date and if you get the answer right, you get a kiss.”
The mention of a kiss immediately attracts Sirius’ eyes to Remus’ pink lips and he thinks he doesn’t want to wait until next time to find out what they feel like.
“Can we play it now?”
Remus leans closer, whispering, “Well, are we on a date?”
Sirius swallows, looking into Remus’ eyes, which are full of mischief.
“I’m going to go with yes.”
Remus grimaces playfully and tuts.
“Too bad. The date’s over.”
Sirius blinks at him.
“Are you serious?”
“No, that’s you. Damn, you’re bad at this, Pads.” Remus says teasingly, and Sirius still doesn’t know if he really means he won’t kiss him. He rolls his eyes. “Oh, come here, you idiot.”
Remus pulls Sirius by his own scarf, which he’s still wearing, and crashes their lips together. His lips are still cold, but the inside of his mouth is warm, Sirius learns by shoving his tongue unceremoniously in there as soon as there’s an opening. It tastes of the black tea he drank and, suddenly, it is Sirius’ new favourite flavour. He feels Remus’ cold hands on his warm neck and it sends a shiver down his spine, causing him to sigh into the kiss. His own hands grab what he can of Remus—his collar—to hold him close because he might just cry if Remus pulls away, he wants to stay here forever.
They do, eventually, have to pull away and Sirius does so with only a whine as a protest. Remus laughs and leans their foreheads together, breathing deeply in the same rhythm as Sirius.
“I said we made sense, didn’t I?” Sirius comments, making Remus giggle.
“Yes, then you proceeded to ruin it.”
Sirius hangs his head with a groan.
“I panicked a bit there.”
“I noticed.”
“But I was right.”
“You were.” Remus concedes.
“So do I get a kiss for that or…?”
Remus laughs again and rolls his eyes, but obliges, leaning closer for a more chaste kiss. The door bursts open then and James is yelling before they even manage to look his way.
“Yes! Thank Merlin, finally!” He fists the air in celebration. “Actually, thank me! Go on, thank me.”
“Prongs, horrible timing.” Sirius grumbles, annoyed at having to separate from Remus yet again.
“No, it wasn’t. It was calculated.”
“Were you listening in?” Remus asks.
“Hm? No.” James turns his head to the open door, pretending to hear something. “Yeah, Wormtail?” He walks out again.
Shaking his head, Sirius turns back to Remus.
“Now, where were we? Ah, yes.”
In just a couple of days, the news spreads throughout the castle that Sirius Black and Remus Lupin are dating, and it feels like Madam Puddifoot’s Tea Shop all over again when they walk down the halls. This time, however, Sirius welcomes the curious looks and whispers; if there’s one thing he wants being known about him, it’s that he’s the one Remus chose, the one Remus loves, the one Remus keeps.
He holds Remus’ hand as they walk, swinging them so everyone will see. He presses little kisses to Remus’ face in the Great Hall. He leans against Remus at every opportunity.
Yes, let them see, let them talk, Sirius thinks to himself, let them know who I belong to.