Chapter Four
“Come with me, yeah?”
Sirius hesitantly took his hand and it killed Remus to see how nervous he was. He carefully led Sirius to the most secluded corner of the room and held both of his hands in his. Sirius’ fingers were significantly colder and smaller than Remus’were, but he didn’t mind. He rubbed small circles on the back of his boyfriend’s hands to comfort him. Still, he could tell that Sirius wasn’t going to be the first one to talk.
“Padfoot?” Remus asked to get his attention.
“Mm?” Sirius hummed, looking down at their intertwined hands.
“Were you worried about telling me?” Sirius sucked in his lower lip and nodded. “I’m sorry that you were. I mean, you don’t have to tell me everything but I don’t want you to feel as if you can’t talk to me about certain things.”
Sirius sighed and then spoke, “I know Moons.”
He sounded so dejected. A small frown pulled at the corners of Remus’ lips. “Was James taking care of you?” Sirius mumbled something that sounded like yes. Remus squeezed his hands, “That’s good. I’m glad you weren’t alone.”
Sirius winced, “No I was alone a lot. I um,” he looked up at Remus nervously, “I didn’t always tell James.”
Remus’ frown deepened and he grew more concerned, “Why not?” he asked. Sirius shrugged. “Do you just not regress very young?” he tried.
Sirius bit the inside of his cheek and avoided Remus’ gaze. “Pads?” Sirius still didn’t look at him. “You alright?” When Remus still didn’t get a response he carefully wrapped his arms around the shorter boy and pulled him into a hug, rubbing his back soothingly.
He wasn’t sure that he would but almost instantly Sirius reached up and clung onto him tightly, as if trying to make sure Remus didn’t leave. It was a bit tight but he could tell that Sirius needed it so he didn’t say anything. He just stood there, holding Sirius in his arms and whispering sweet nothings into his ear.
After awhile, Sirius started to pull back and they parted just enough for them to be able to look each other in the eye, “Can we go back to the dorm?” Sirius whispered. Remus smiled softly at him and pressed a light kiss to his cheek.
“Yes.”
Peter had detention that night (though Remus had no idea how he’d managed that so early in the school year) so their dorm was entirely empty for once. The two of them sat down on Remus’ bed criss-cross applesauce so that they were facing each other. Sirius picked idly at the sheets in front of him. “Four,” he said.
Remus had been watching Sirius’ hands but looked up at the sound of his voice, “Hm?”
Sirius cleared his throat, “When I regress,” he started, “I’m usually four.” He was carefully watching as Remus nodded at the news.
“Sirius, that's a little too young for you to be all alone,” Remus gave him a comforting smile as he spoke as not to make him upset, “Can you try to tell someone who can take care of you next time?”
Sirius continued to pick at the sheets. “Can I-” he swallowed and then looked up at Remus with a fearful look on his eyes, “Can I tell you?”
“Of course you can,” Remus picked up Sirius’ hands and placed kisses on both of them. “I would love to take care of you, Pads,” he assured him.
Sirius laced their fingers together. “Thank you,” he whispered.
Remus looked at him and gently pulled the other boy's head towards his so that he could plant small kisses over his face. Sirius melted into the touch and when he’d had enough, he swerved his head so that Remus kissed his lips. It was gentle and tender and full of love and care.
When they parted Sirius spoke softly against his lips, “Call me Pads.”
Remus paused to think about it for a moment, “When you’re little?”
Sirius buried his head in the crook of Remus’ shoulder and nodded, “Sirius is fine too but I like Pads.”
Remus began to rub his back, “Whatever you’d like.”
He felt Sirius grin, “Can I have treacle tart for dinner every night?” he asked.
Remus pressed a delicate kiss to the top of his head, “Absolutely not.”
Sirius pouted, “Fine. But I want infinite Moony snuggles.”
“Moony snuggles?”
Sirius raised his head and looked at Remus determinedly, “Moony snuggles.”
Remus kissed his forehead again, “You can have as many snuggles as you’d like.”
Sirius seemed to like this idea and gave Remus a quick peck on the cheek before returning to his place in Remus’ neck. Remus loved it.
-
She was a Ravenclaw. 5th year. She didn’t play quidditch but she was a very big fan and always went all out for the matches. She had the natural gifts of a seer and planned on doing it professionally after she graduated; along with a few billion other things. She was bright and vibrant and it was quite possible that Lily liked her a bit too much. But how could she not? Pandora was an angel on earth; a gift unto the universe.
It was safe to say that Lily was absolutely infatuated with her. So naturally, less than a week into her crush, she told Mary and Marlene.
“Wait, who are we talking about?”
Lily’s cheeks were no doubt bright red now and she had stuffed her face into a pillow to hide it. Mary was sitting on her own bed (which they had moved side by side to Lily’s for girl talk) with her hands covering her mouth as she let out an excited squeal. Marlene was currently on the floor next to them looking up at Lily with a huge grin.
Lily tried her best not to sound too soppy when she answered, “Her name is Pandora Lovegood.”
Mary squealed again and said, “Oh my gosh I totally know who you’re talking about! Sixth year? Ravenclaw? Short? Blonde?” Lily nodded enthusiastically.
Marlene made an ‘O’ face and began pulling frantically at the sheet from the foot of Lily’s bed, “Lily Lily Lily Lily Lily Lily Lily Lily Lily Lily Lily
Lily Lily Lily-”
“What?”
“I know her. As in I’ve had multiple conversations with her.” Lily almost fell off of her bed.
“Tell me!” she said.
A wide grin spread across Marlene’s face, “She’s friends with Dorcas.”
Mary lightly kicked her shoulder, “And you’re mentioning this now.”
Marlene rubbed her arm and retorted, “Oi, I’m doing my best!”
Lily waved her hands dismissively, “Girls, not the point right now. Marls I need you to tell me everything.”
“What do you mean everything?” Marlene asked, rolling her eyes, “You want me to set you up?”
“No, we have a date first Hogsmeade.”
Lily replied.
Mary slammed her hands down on the bed next to her, “EXCUSE ME?” she gasped, eyes widening.
Lily squealed and bobbed her head up and down, “I know! I literally was saying that I’d see her and then she repeated it but more as a question so I panicked and asked her to go with me and she said, and I quote, “It’s a date.” I could’ve screamed.”
Marlene was now laying down on the ground but she kicked her legs at the news. “Pandora is the most straightforward person that I know, she totally likes you!”
Lily groaned and flopped backwards onto her bed, “Yes but is she straight? Because I couldn’t tell if she was being flirty or friendly and I don’t want to buy her flowers or something but then have it turn out she’s not into me.”
Mary shook her head, “Nuh uh. Lily, look at me.” After so many years of being friends with her, Lily knew that when Mary talked to you in that tone, she meant business. So, she sat up and looked. “First Hogsmeade weekend you are going to let Marls and I help you get ready and then you are going to meet that girl with flowers and whatever else you want to bring her because: She. Is. Into. You.”
Marlene hummed in agreement, “Yeah she definitely is. You should buy her lilies.”
Lily huffed turned her head away from Marlene with her arms crossed, “I am not buying her lilies.”
Mary giggled, “Oh no you have to.”
“Please?” Marlene added, “For us?”
Lily grabbed a pillow and swayed both of them with it. “You two are ridiculous.”
“I think you mean we’re ridiculously good at giving advice.” Mary said matter of factly.
“Here here!” Marlene agreed, throwing an excited fist up into the air .
“Now, we need to start planning your potential outfits.”