Castles Crumbling

The Three Broomsticks was usually their meeting place after a long Hogsmeade day for the seven Gryffindors. Remus was sat next to Sirius, and James next to him. Peter was on the opposite side of the table next to Marlene, Lily, and then Mary in between Peter and Remus. It was the usual setup after Remus came out to the bunch.

Peter was uncomfortable with the fact Remus was gay, and the day after he came out, he was indifferent towards Remus. He recalled James telling him to knock off the act. The next day, Peter was almost back to normal. Remus was thankful for James. He still switched seats with Mary.

The beginning of the year, a week after Remus came out, Sirius cornered him. They were still rocky after fifth year, but well enough. They spoke for an hour. Then kissed. Then, Remus almost pushed him away. Sirius quickly made his intentions clear that he really was serious about Remus.

No one but James knew, and Lily was catching on. James catching them was a long story that Remus rather not ponder on for too long.

Marlene and Sirius were getting a little deep into an argument. Remus stopped listening long ago when they shifted topics from dark creatures to Quidditch. Remus already had his fill of Quidditch with James being a Quidditch enthusiast, and now Sirius, who had just joined the team. Marlene's interest in the sport was also beginning to wear on him.

They had gotten a noise complaint a little while ago. The two arguing and everyone chattering around the table was beginning to fill the room in its entirety, and so they set a muffliato charm.

Remus looked out from the table. Sirius and James obstructed his view, but not enough to the point he couldn't stare out diagonally. Out from there, he saw the door open. In came Regulus, then his little friend Barty. After Barty, a boy he was holding hands with who had blonde hair trailed in. Then, another blonde after him. They were the Rosiers.

Marlene somehow disconnected herself enough from the argument to notice Remus’ distraction. She too looked out to the door, and so did the rest of the bunch. The last to walk in was Dorcas Meadows. Remus knew her because of Marlene who had a massive and obvious crush on the girl.

“Why is she with their bunch?” Mary questioned. Remus looked over at her, then back out at Dorcas. “Isn’t she a half-blood,” she continued. Remus nodded distractedly, watching where she sat. “Pandora Rosier, maybe?” Remus looked back over to Mary who supplied him with a shrug.

Marlene grumbled something, a look short of a scowl worn on her face. Sirius was holding the same distaste to his brother whom he was much more involved with now. They got into another ‘Mommy’s boy’ argument, Sirius called it. Remus thought it was better to just stay out of it.

From beside him, Sirius snorted. Marlene’s eyes shot back to him. She was clearly still far too riled up and in the mood to continue their argument.

“You should really like men,” Sirius raised his eyebrows. Remus looked at James who looked just as appalled at this statement, and he was ready to interfere.

Remus came out the year before, and the topic was a strong one. Being a werewolf was a lot more frowned upon than being gay, but Remus still had some loose comments from Peter. James made it his duty to shut Peter down immediately after he started.

In the middle of the year after that, Sirius and he had also begun to take things more seriously. Their relationship blossomed into something bigger than just a few bathroom meetups. This statement wasn't much of a shock to Remus, but the implications for Marlene made him a little upset.

Lily fake gagged while Mary giggled at her. Peter looked all too uncomfortable.

“No, women are really hot,” she smirked, mocking his posh accent. Remus was starting to get a headache.

Sirius rolled his eyes. “No, they’re not!” He defended himself all too quickly.

Marlene began to reply, only getting something short of a ‘yes-’ out before the entire table became a zoo. Lily gasped, Mary and Marlene made it their duty to make the loudest and most obnoxious noise ever, James laughed, and Peter looked at Remus.

Remus thought about reaching over and slapping him for a minute before realizing what Sirius had just said.

His eyes dragged over to the boy next to him who straightened up a little. James’ eyes darted to Remus the second he took a deep breath. Marlene decided to speak again.

“THAT’S GAY, YOU’RE GAY!” She shouted, laughing along with the others. Peter didn't find this funny whatsoever. James was still laughing, but also throwing worried glances at the two of them. Sirius sucked in a breath. Remus was prepared to hear him disregard their relationship. He knew Sirius wasn’t ready to share it with everyone yet, and James knowing was just accidental.

Sirius cleared his throat, seemingly posher than ever. “So? What if I am?” he suddenly said, breaking their laughter immediately.

The girls fell silent. Remus fell silent. All of a sudden, no one else in the booth mattered but Sirius. Remus stared at him like he just revealed he was a proud Voldemort follower. Thank Merlin for the muffliato spell they set earlier.

“That’s okay... As long as you’re happy,” Lily quickly said, not letting the silence sit for too long. She told the same thing to Remus when he came out.

Marlene shrugged, “we all are a little gay, aren't we?” Because with this Gryffindor friend group, that just seemed to always be true now. Peter quickly said, “No,” in a small voice. Marlene looked at him dead in the eyes and said, “You’ve had to have thought about kissing Remus once at most.”

Remus looked dumbfounded, now looking away from Sirius. The Three Broomsticks never failed to amaze him. “Actually,” Sirius spoke up. Remus couldn't take any more of his speaking and wanted to clamp his hand over the boy’s mouth. “Remus is my boyfriend, so I hope not.”

He took Remus’ hand and held it up. They had this conversation many times, and Sirius each time said he would when he was ready, and Remus each time would smile and nod. He was ready since the day he came out.

Remus looked out at the bunch. First, at Marlene who was giving a look of pure fondness for him. Then, Mary, who reached over to put her hand on Remus’ opposing hand with a smile. Lily looked a little worried.

“Put my hand down before the rest of the place sees..” Remus quickly muttered to him. Sirius looked at him for a moment, squeezing his hand. He lowered their hands, keeping them interlocked under the table. “Maybe Reg would tell dear old mommy.” Sirius muttered under his breath, to which Remus sighed at.

He looked back at the rest of them, and Peter still looked mildly uncomfortable. Remus just snorted at him, then looked away. He wasn’t worth the fight.

After the Three Broomsticks, Marlene, Mary, and Lily all caught up with him. Marlene gaped. “You sly little git! We used to talk about those two men like they were the patriarchy, and you never once thought to mention you had it mad for Black?”

He no longer found these antics the way he would back in any other years, annoying. Now, grown, he was fond of it all. He loved these girls with every bit of his heart. “Didn't think it was much of a mad crush until last year,” Remus admitted, looking over to the second tallest of the bunch with a smile.

Lily kept looking at him with that same worried look. This time, he met her eyes, furrowing his eyebrows. “Yeah, Lily?” he asked, hoping she wasn’t about to entirely switch up on how she thought about him or anyone else being gay.

“I’m sorry,” she started with. Remus’ heart dropped. “Are you sure he likes you? I mean... You know what he is- was- like.” She frowned, and Remus’ head fully turned to look at her. He nodded, happy she was worried for him over disgusted. “Pretty sure he does. He's worse off than me sometimes, sappy tosser.” Remus smiled fondly to himself. Lily wrapped her arm around his waist, and the two grinned at each other.

Mary tapped his shoulder.

“He’s a real great song, isn't he?” She said, to which Remus let out the ugliest snort in the world. They all burst out into laughter, and the three boys behind them watched in utter confusion.

Remus would never be able to handle life without them ever again.