Evermore

Remus

Sirius wasn’t in his bed when Remus woke up. As much as Remus wanted to, they did not sleep in the same bed, they did not kiss each other in public, only in empty dorms and vacant classrooms, always with the map nearby. Over the past few months, Remus had found a way to be okay with that. He was okay with anything that would let him keep Sirius.

Peter was, as usual, fast asleep, his curtains drawn and the sound of snoring audible to Remus even from the other side of the room. James had always said Peter could sleep through an earthquake. James wasn’t in his bed either, but Remus knew where he was; quidditch practice. Sirius hadn’t usually been watching this early in the morning, especially in this weather. It was November which meant that Remus found it too cold to wander outside the castle for more than three minutes. It would be freezing sitting in those stands. So where was he?

James barged into their dorm just as Remus got up to look for Sirius from the window. James was sweaty and smiling, his glasses - round, thin wired frames which always sat precariously on his nose - looked patched together in middle, as if taped. “Hiya Moony,” James grinned at Remus.

“Prongs, its fifth year, how do you still not know how to fix your glasses?”

“Can’t be bothered to learn,” James shrugged, “plus the tape works well.” Remus stuck out his hand to James, gesturing for the glasses. “And I have you!” James added, “who needs to know anything when Moony is around?”

“Oculus reparo,” Remus pointed his wand at the glasses, the tape disappeared and they once again looked new. James thanked him, slapping him on the back before heading towards the bathroom.

“I’m gonna shower mate, see you at breakfast?”

“Yeah ‘course. Hey was Sirius down there with you?”

“Nah, saw him running round the lake though. Laps and laps and laps.”

“What’s he training for?”

“No clue, but with that broken arm keeping him off quidditch maybe he needs the exercise?”

Remus paused, glancing towards Peter’s bed which emitted a loud snoring sound, before continuing “yeah maybe, though he seems pretty fit already. Does he look skinnier to you?”

“Not sure,” James replied nonchalantly, “haven’t notice much to be honest.”

“He seems weird around meal times lately, eating slowly and not much.”

“Maybe he’s just sick or something? He’s always been rather skinny, probably still escaping from the Walburga effect, we only took him in this summer remember. He’ll be fine, he always is. Just don’t go interrogating him about it, it’ll only make him close up. Whatever it is, let him come to us, alright? Though I’m almost certain you’re being a bit anxious.”

Remus considered this. He considered James’ tone of authority, his final say on all things related to Sirius. If only he knew, Remus thought, that I love Sirius in a way he can’t.

“Yeah, alright,” Remus finally conceded, “see you at breakfast?”

“See you there!” James answered before ducking into the bathroom.

Remus got changed into his robes and headed down to the dining hall, shaking Pete awake on his way out.

~

Sirius was not at breakfast. Remus first saw him in transfiguration that morning. He was late, barely said a word, just slipped in right next to him and proceeded to copy his notes. “You okay?” Remus whispered.

“’Course Moony,” Sirius replied, smiling up at him and knocking their knees together under the table. “You around after this? I’m not sure I feel much up to a potions lesson,” he continued, a tone of mischief taking over his voice, “think I’m coming on with a headcold!” Sirius lightly coughed a few times to emphasise his point.

“Now that you mention it,” Remus continued wryly, “I think I feel the same way!” and he knocked their knees again under the table, resting his hand next to Sirius’, close enough that their pinky’s touched. Potions would be easy to miss out on, both the boys wanted to drop it anyways. Due to some scheduling issue, Pete and James were in a different class, it was unlikely anyone would miss them.