Chapter 3
Remus stretched, his back cracking delightfully. The full moon had passed before they left Hogwarts for the holidays and as such he would be free until they returned. Which essentially meant that there would be no painful transformations over the holidays. Transformations were easier with his friends there so he was glad not to have had to worry about it over Christmas. Christmas itself had passed rather uneventfully. He had exchanged gifts with his parents, eaten the meal and spent the afternoon curled up with a new book. Boxing day had consisted of his grandparents arriving and he had spent much of the day catching up with them.
Having just woken up, Remus was not quite ready to roll out of bed. He curled into his pillows, smushing his face into them. His train wasn’t until 1pm so he had time. Time that he should be using to pack, shower and spend time with his grandparents before he left. He yawned but dutifully hauled himself from the refuge of his bed. He slipped under the warm water, taking a moment to appreciate it before he grabbed the soap. He dressed in his favourite sweater, well, Sirius’s favourite of his sweaters, and pulled on his jeans. He finished his packing and headed downstairs, dropping off his suitcase by the front door.
He spent a few tortuous hours talking with his grandparents over a board game and puzzle respectively before he was able to make his excuses and head off. He loved his grandparents deeply, but right now he just wanted to be back with his boyfriend. He slung his suitcase onto the seat next to him and stared anxiously out of the window. He knew it hadn’t really been that long since he had seen Sirius, but he missed him all the same.
As usual Sirius and James arrived with Effie to pick him up from the train station. Sirius launched himself at him and Remus just managed to catch him, dropping his suitcase to do so. James laughed loudly, grabbing his fallen bag. He slapped Remus on the back a few times before giving him a one armed hug as Sirius finally pulled back. Effie was still waiting by the car, a smile in place as she shook her head at them.
“Good to see you too, baby” Remus murmured,
Sirius beamed at him, looking up through his eyelashes.
James hauled his bag back to the car. He slung an arm around Sirius, stopping briefly to hug Effie and thank her for picking him up and having him to stay. She ruffled his hair, shooting a pointed look at James as she mentioned his politeness. James hopped in the front without a glance back. She shook her head fondly. Slumped in the back seat already, Sirius practically dragged him in. He reached out and slowly took Sirius’s hand in his own. He was pretty sure Effie didn’t know about the extent of their relationship. She must have her suspicions though. After all Sirius didn’t drape himself over James like he did with Remus.
Remus held Sirius’s hand the entire journey, politely answering all of Effie’s questions about his Christmas and replying with polite questions about her own. He briefly brought up Regulus, who seemed to be settling in well and then they were home. Sirius dragged him straight upstairs, James one step behind them and Regulus trailing behind them. They all crashed into his room. He dumped his bag, sitting up against the headboard. Sirius flopped down beside him, plating his head in Remus’s lap. Regulus raised a singular eyebrow but said nothing, sitting at Sirius’s feet whilst James sat at Remus’s feet.
Remus was pretty sure Regulus knew about Sirius and him. Regulus had dragged Sirius out of his bed. Well, out of his arms really. But equally, it wouldn’t be out of character for Sirius to crawl into any of their beds really. Regulus himself was perched awkwardly, as though he wasn’t quite sure if he should be there.
Remus offered him a smile, “How was Christmas?”
“So good!” James immediately exclaimed,
Sirius kicked at James, “He was talking to Reggie you dolt.”
“Ow!” James yelped, petulantly trying to slap Sirius’s feet in retaliation, but Sirius hid them under Remus’s leg.
“It was very much like this.” Regulus said, gesturing to them.
Remus laughed, “Now imagine sharing a dormitory with them.”
Regulus grimaced, “No thanks.”
“HEY!” Both Sirius and James yelled.
Remus smirked.
It was somehow strangely normal with Regulus there, as if he always had been, Remus mused. He dragged his hand through Sirius’s hair. They had ended up cuddled on the couch together after supper. Regulus settled in an armchair and James lay on the floor by the roaring fire. Why James was on the floor was a mystery to him, the other couch was right there. Both of James’s parents had vanished off for an ‘after supper walk’. Really, Remus thought, it was more likely they were just escaping the chaos the four of them would probably bring. He was almost surprised that they hadn’t devolved into disorder yet. But it was probably only a matter of time.
Sirius shifted, bringing out of his musings and back into the room. Regulus was perched, book propped open in one hand and raising an eyebrow at him. Remus raised an eyebrow back. Regulus flicked his eyes down to Sirius then turned back to his book. Remus followed his line of sight. Sirius was sprawled across his lap, eyes closed, breathing softly. Remus tried to hide his smile. Cute. He thought. How Sirius could sleep with a leg propped up was beyond him, but it added to the endearing factor. He brushed his hair from his face. The movement caught James’s attention who propped himself up on his elbows.
“Why are you on the floor?” Remus finally asked,
James shrugged, hauling himself upright, “Bedtime I think.” He said, smacking Remus’s leg as he walked past. Regulus, book still in hand, got up to follow.
Left alone with Sirius, Remus sighed, gently shaking his shoulder. Sirius groaned, swatting at Remus’s hand.
Remus chuckled, “Come on, my love,” He crooned, “Time for bed.”
Sirius opened an eye, “Bed?” He asked,
“Bed.” Remus agreed.
Sirius crawled off of his lap.
He shut his door behind him. He wasn’t really sure why they bothered with the ruse at this point, but he changed into his pyjamas and brushed his teeth alone in his room anyway. He wasn’t really sure how long Sirius wanted him to wait before he crossed the hallway to his boyfriend's room. He eyed a book on his bedside table but thought better of it. If he started, he would get distracted and wouldn’t make it to Sirius’s room. Which would go over one of two ways, either Sirius would spend the next day sulking or he would assume he’d upset Remus and spend the next day acting flighty. Neither were good. Instead, he unpacked his suitcase into the empty chest of drawers provided for him.
Once all his clothes were neatly folded away, he headed to Sirius’s room. He crossed the quiet hallway, tiptoeing over to Sirius’s door. The door opened easily, not a hint of squeaking hinges. Not that it would have mattered that much anyway, it seemed that James was arguing with his parents, loudly. Sirius was laid on his bed, headset in place as he listened to music, eyes closed and foot tapping to the rhythm. Remus closed the door behind him, locking it. He crept over to the bed. Beautiful. He thought. Sirius’s hair fanned over the pillow behind him. His long eyelashes fluttered slightly, brushing those delicate cheekbones. Plush lips moving as he mouthed the lyrics. Long fingers drumming out the beat on his chest.
The bed dipped a little as Remus climbed on, Sirius startled. Remus smirked, pressing a finger to Sirius’s lips to hush him whilst he swung a leg over him, straddling him. Sirius beamed up at him, yanking his headset off and chucking it to the side somewhere.
“Moony,” Sirius whispered,
"Baby,” Remus replied, dipping to press their lips together.
Sirius gasped into the kiss, as always, allowing Remus easy access to his mouth. He licked into Sirius’s mouth, teasing ungodly noises from him. Sirius grabbed at the front of his shirt with one hand, the other tightly gripping the back of neck. He pressed his hands firmly against Sirius’s sides, allowing them to creep up his body, under his shirt. Sirius whined, high and needy, shifting his hips up against Remus’s, already searching for friction. Remus chuckled meanly, shifting his own hips away and out of reach. He used one hand to pin Sirius’s hips down, the other dragging up and down his side. He bit cruelly at Sirius’s lips, catching soft cries with his mouth. Just as he started on Sirius’s neck, there was a soft knock at the door.
He pulled back, looking down at Sirius. Sirius shrugged, peering over at the door. The knock came again. Remus swung himself off of Sirius, sitting beside him instead as Sirius dragged himself upright, now leaning casually back against the headboard. The headboard that Remus would soon have him clutching at, with a white knuckled grip. Remus mentally scolded himself. Sirius, thankfully, seemed a little more with it, grabbing a blanket to throw over them. He cleared his throat as Sirius grabbed his wand.
“Come in?” Sirius called out, flicking his wand at the door to unlock it.
The door slowly opened. Cautiously, Regulus poked his head around the frame.
“Hey Reggie, what's up?” Sirius asked,
Regulus entered the room a little more, enough to close the door behind him, “You can’t hear it?” he asked.
Remus shot him a confused look, “ Hear what?”
“They’re arguing.” Regulus murmured,
“Yeah they…” Sirius trailed off, “ah fuck.”
Before Remus could ask what was going on, Sirius was getting out of bed, carefully approaching his brother, as though trying not to startle a wild animal. Now that Remus looked at him, really looked, he could see Regulus's eyes were a little wider than normal, and he was shaking softly. Fuck. He thought. He recognised that look. The exact same look Sirius gets sometimes, the one that reminds Remus that they come from an abusive household.
Having reached his brother, Sirius is gently leading him further into the room, guiding him to sit at the foot of the bed.
“It's okay.” Sirius promised Regulus, “It's probably just James being bullheaded. They’ll yell for a bit, then James’s will be sent to his room for the rest of the night and tomorrow he’ll apologise and everything will be alright.”
Remus nods, agreeing silently. The wild look doesn’t leave Regulus. Distraction it is.
“Hey Regulus, how do you feel about Bowie?” Remus asks,
Regulus shrugs, but Sirius gets the idea and quickly grabs his headset.
“Here,” Sirius offers, “It's actually playing Queen, but it's just as good.” He yanks the cord out so the music plays aloud.
“Just as good?” Remus asks, raising his eyebrows,
Sirius snorts, “Yeah, I mean it's not ABBA, but…”
“Sirius Black.” Remus shakes his head, “hold your tongue.”
Sirius laughs and just like that, almost as if a spell has been broken, Regulus seems to relax. His shoulders droop and he picks up the album cover, forgotten and half hanging off of the edge of the bed. He peers at the back, reading the information displayed. Remus is pretty sure it's just a list of the songs, but he doesn’t say that. He just watches as Sirius stands, heading towards his chest of drawers, littered with albums. If his eyes linger on Sirius’s ass, who's to say. Sirius grabs as many albums as he can carry, dumping them on his bed and mainly, on Regulus’s lap. Regulus jumps a little.
Sirius sits on the bed, one leg propped up the other tucked under as he leans forward and starts to go through all his albums. Remus watches, allowing a small smile to creep over his face as Sirius educates Regulus.
Eventually, Regulus’s eyes start to droop and Sirius walks him back to his room. Remus stays where he is, sat on Sirius’s bed, and waits for him to return. It doesn’t take long. Sirius closes the door behind him, briefly leaning against it as he releases a long breath.
“You okay baby?” Remus asks,
Sirius nods, “Yeah I just…” He trails off.
“C’mere.” Remus opens his arms, Sirius complies easily enough, crawling into Remus’s outstretched arms.
He settles quickly, head tucked under Remus’s chin, curled against his chest. Remus draws soothing circles on Sirius’s back.
“I hate that I didn’t take him with me.” Sirius mutters abruptly breaking the peace,
“You tried.”
“Not hard enough.” Sirius shakes his head, “I should have dragged him out with me.”
“Then he would have resented you.” Remus points out,
Sirius huffed, “At least he wouldn’t be so…”
“He isn’t.” Remus pauses, “Neither are you.”
Sirius hums. Remus isn’t sure if it’s in agreement or not, so he tips Sirius’s head back, forcing him to make eye contact. Sirius’s eyes flicker to his lips. He allows it, bringing their lips back together. Sirius is the one to deepen the kiss this time, Remus lets him, lets him set the pace. He’s unsure of exactly what Sirius wants right now, and he doesn’t want to push him. Sirius sits up, throwing a leg over Remus, straddling him. On his lap like this, Sirius has a tiny bit of height on Remus and he uses it. He draws himself up to full height, leaning down to kiss Remus and pushing his head back. Remus lets him. Lets Sirius push his head back until its resting on the headboard.