It was a cold evening around Hogwarts; winter had just set in, and the air was sharp. But inside the Gryffindor common room, it was warm and full of life, even if there were only three people in there.
Lily Evans was sitting at the corner table, tapping her pencil in frustration at the essay she was supposed to write for DADA. Meanwhile, Remus Lupin sat slumped in a plush velvet chair by the fireplace, with a certain black-haired boy lying horizontally across him, Regulus Black.
James and Sirius were going to spend the evening on the Quidditch pitch, then try to have a sleepover in an empty classroom.
Even if Remus thought this idea was insane, it did mean he got to have Reg over without fear of being caught, so he did not mind.
Remus gently stroked Regulus's hair as if he were a cat, and the pleased expression on Regulus's face was definitely cat-like.
"Ahh, this is nice," Reg sighed, pulling Remus's hand to his mouth for a kiss. Remus smiled at the beautiful boy. "Yeah, Reg, it is. It's nice to have you here without worrying about the twats," Lupin chuckled.
Reg sat up. "Those twats are your best friends," Reg rolled his eyes. "Does not make them any less of twats." Remus smirked smugly, leaning closer to Reg to kiss him.
They were mid-kiss when the common room door swung open with a bang.
WHO THE FUCK WOULD BE HERE THIS LATE?
Remus and Regulus both had looks of fear on their faces when they saw who it was. At first, Sirius did not notice anything; he was laughing too hard with James. "Moons, you were right, we are back, Filch-" he paused, noticing his brother sitting in the lap of his ex.
"What the fuck," he said with a look of betrayal on his face. "Sirius, I'm so sorry," Reg begged.
Sirius took a deep breath and put on his sweetest voice. "No, no, Reg, you're fine. After all, of course, my little brother would want to copy me in everything, even copying who I dated. I'm more interested in what Remus has to say. Hey, Moony, what's this?" He cocked his head.
"Sirius, mate, I'm sorry. I just did not know how to tell you. I knew you would be weird about me and Reg since he is your brother, since-" he had no idea what to say. He never planned on things with Reg going this far, where he was actually...actually falling for Reg.
"What, what, Moony dearest," Sirius asked in his sickening voice. "Sirius, knock it off. You were fine with it being James and Reg. Why not me and Reg?" Moony asked annoyed. He held Regulus's hand tight.
Sirius's face turned white like a ghost, then pink to purple, and finally red. How could Remus be so stupid? How could Remus not realize how much of a betrayal this is?
"God, Moony, you really don't get it, do you?! I said I was sorry! That was months ago. I'm fucking sorry, alright? It was stupid. I never should have done that stupid, idiotic prank! But for revenge, this is too far. This is just betrayal!" He yelled.
Remus gasped; he was shocked. How could Sirius say such a thing? He got up trembling. Barely audible in his calmest voice, Remus said, "Sirius, you know what betrayal was? The person I loved more than anyone selling out my biggest secret just to get a cheap laugh."
Sirius heard every word. "I said I was sorry!" He exclaimed. "And I said it would take a long time for me to forgive you," Remus said, grinding his teeth.
"God, Moony, we fight all the time. Why can't you just forgive me, and we can go back to how things used to be, you and me kissing and being together? Being in love. God, Moony, why can't we be in love again?" Sirius begged.
Remus was stunned; this was ludicrous. "In love, Sirius? In love!" Moony said, trying to keep himself calm. "If you really loved me, you would have never done that!" He yelled.
The tension was thick; you could cut it with a knife. No, a knife would not be sharp enough; you would need a sword.
"Fuck you," Sirius mumbled under his breath. "Come on, Remus, let's go to the Slytherin common room," Reg suggested, pulling him along. "Yeah, sorry, Reg," Remus gave him a weak smile, following.
He turned back one last time. "Oh, and Sirius, Reg is a better kisser." This would really make him mad.
When they got out of the common room, Remus fell to bits, crying and slumped against the wall. "Remus, what's wrong?" Reg asked, bending down to meet his gaze.
"God, your brother is an idiot, Reg. I'm so sorry," he cried. Regulus wiped the tears from Moony's face. "Yeah, I know, but..." he paused.
"Yeah, Reg?" Remus asked sniffling. "Do you still love him?"
Remus went silent and grabbed Reg's wrist. "No, of course not. Sometimes I miss what we had, but that's done and gone. He's just my mate now. I can't love him like I did after what he did. Besides," his gaze softened, "you're so much better. You listen and communicate and talk to me. You don't hide your feelings from me and are fine with my boundaries—something Sirius was never good at. He had to announce our relationship to everyone, even if I was not ready. Look, Reg, don't doubt for a second what I have with you. Is that understood?"
Reg nodded with a small smile on his face. "Thanks, Remus. Now let's get back to my common room. I'm sure those friends of yours, Dorcas and Marlene, will want to hear what happened, and Barty is definitely going to prey on me." Reg rolled his eyes, helping Remus up.
"Okay, star, let's go." Remus smiled. He lightly kissed Reg on the top of his head and took his hand, running down the hallway.