Chapter 2
Sirius walked towards the gardens, masking his discomfort in the dress he was walking in.
Luckily the layers of skirts hid his feet meaning he could wear his boots instead of a pair of heels.
He saw Lord Lupin standings at the entrance, rocking back and forth on his heels as he looked up at the sky.
Regulus had been right, he was exactly Sirius’ type.
The young lord’s gaze turned to him, and he smiled brightly.
Sirius walked the rest of the way towards him and curtseyed.
“Lord Lupin,”Sirius said, “Thank you for inviting me for a walk through your lovely gardens.”
“Please, call me Remus,”He responded, before producing a bouquet he had been hiding, “These are for you.”
“They’re lovely,”Sirius said, taking the bouquet of daisies, “How did you know they were my favorite?”
“Your brother mentioned that you find roses cliche when I showed up to your quarters earlier,”Remus said, offering his arm to Sirius.
Sirius took it as the two began walking.
“Of course he did,”Sirius said, “I apologize, he’s just very protective of me. But I suppose I am the same with him.”
“You two are lucky to have each other,”Remus said, “I wish I had siblings. It’s always just been me and my parents, and now it’s just me and my mom.”
“I’m sorry about your father,”Sirius responded.
“Thank you,”Remus said, “So, my lady, what do you like to do in your free time?”
“Cassie,”Sirius said, trying to hide his wince at hearing his name, “Please call me Cassie.”
“Of course,”Remus responded, “So, your interests?”
“I like to cook, and clean, and I am very passionate about my studies,”Sirius responded automatically, having rehearsed with his mother hundreds of times.
“And I enjoy sword fighting and strategy meetings,”Remus said, “I know that’s what we are supposed to say, but I want to learn about the real you.”
He said it while staring deeply into Sirius’ eyes, green meeting his own gray ones.
“For example, the Remus who isn’t just a lord, enjoys reading and playing the piano,”Remus said.
“I love painting,”Sirius said, “It’s the one time I feel like I don’t have to be someone I’m not and I can feel whatever I’m feeling without it being wrong. Painting is my escape.”
Sirius dropped his head, practically hearing his mother’s scolding.
“There it is,”Remus said, “I want to get to know you Cassie. I know that this engagement is something set up by our families and isn’t exactly our choice, but I want to make the best of it. I hope someday we can have a happy relationship, whatever that may look like.”
They had stopped moving during Remus’ small speech, and Sirius was in shock by how sweet it was.
Remus just stared at him, nervously rubbing the back of his neck with his hand.
Sirius almost blurted out right then that he can never be happy while he’s pretending to be someone he’s not.
But he doesn’t, instead he smirked and said, “Oh, so you’re a hopeless romantic then.”
Remus laughed, and Sirius’ face reddened from the joyous sound.
He’s absolutely screwed.
“You’re falling in love with him,”Regulus stated.
Sirius had just walked into his own room where his brother was laying on a couch with a book open on his lap.
“Reg, you can’t just,”Sirius protested, “And I am not.”
“You absolutely are,”Regulus said, “You’ve got that dopey smile on your face which happens every time you receive a letter from him. Plus, you’ve been going to visit him every two weeks.”
“I have to in order to keep up appearances,”Sirius said.
“You miss him when you aren’t with him,”Regulus said, “Have you forgotten about your plan?”
“Of course not,”Sirius said, “I just didn’t expect to like Remus so much.”
“Sirius,”Regulus said, sitting up and looking straight at his brother, “You can’t go through with the wedding. Your only chance to ever be yourself is to run away, and come back once I’ve taken over for your father. If you stay, you will be forced to be the woman mother has always wanted you to be. If you stay, you will be Remus’ wife who he will be expected to have children with. You will forever be Cassi-”
“Enough,”Sirius yelled, interrupting his brother, “Stop, just stop!”
Sirius crumpled to the ground, and Regulus moved to sit on the ground next to him.
“I’m sorry,”Regulus said.
“I know you’re right,”Sirius said, tears streaming down his face, “I know that I can’t stay. I didn’t mean to fall in love with him, I really didn’t.”
“I know,”Regulus said, “And I’m sorry it has to be like this.”
“I wish I could tell him,”Sirius said.
“I know,”Regulus responded, pulling his brother into his arms, “Maybe one day you can.”