Chapter 23
Christmas at Grimmauld Place n° 12 could only be described as chaotic.
After attending Professor Slughorn's Christmas party as promised to the latter by Harry to persuade him to reveal everything he knew about Tom Riddle, the twins were looking forward to being with their family.
They had to endure hours of pointless chatter just to get confirmation that Neville's suspicions were correct:
Voldemort had created seven Horcruxes. They only hoped that the plan devised by Luna, and which she still didn't want to reveal to them, would work.
All they could do while they waited was have fun with their foster parents, and they honestly had no complaints about that. Since they had returned, they had tarred Remus along with Sirius, loving the way he tried to yell at them every time they transformed into their animagus forms and buried him among their furs. Of course, he never said anything and just laughed delighted at the affection they showed him.
It was their way of letting him know that they loved having him around, especially after the man had spent the last few moons away from home undercover in other packs on behalf of the order. The twins, once discovered, were furious that they had hidden such a thing. Fueled by a smug Sirius, who had spent the last period worried about the safety of the love of his life, they didn't stop until Remus promised them that he would never do such a thing again.
They had noticed that something was wrong with Remus' sudden disappearance in their missives. Usually the letters they sent were full of notations made in two different scripts as they took turns to talk as they used to do in presence. So it was logical that once they returned they would demand explanations.
They spent Christmas morning opening presents and later baking a cake all together to take to lunch at the Burrow. When they saw Sirius almost pouring salt into one of the containers, distracted by the appearance of Remus wearing an apron, Daisy and Harry took the reins, otherwise the cake would have been inedible.
Of course, they couldn't help teasing the two adults who seemed to act like lovesick teenagers when they were next to each other. But when they started kissing each other on purpose to make them uncomfortable, Harry threw some dough at them in retaliation thus starting a food fight.
Looking at the kitchen covered on every surface with different kinds of food, Daisy had to restrain herself from bursting out laughing when Kreacher began to scream in horror at the sight. The elf shooed them away, pushing them off their legs as Remus tried to apologize in laughter, proposing to clean up.
" Away! Away! " Kreacher shouted, using magic to make the room spotless again and locking them out of there to their amusement.
" What are we bringing to Molly? " asked Remus, chuckling.
" I'd say a bottle of wine would do the trick. " said Sirius, resting his head against the other man's shoulder to keep his balance.
" Strange that your mother didn't grace us with her lovely presence with all this fuss. " snorted Harry, using his shirt to wipe his glasses.
" We could always set her on fire. " proposed Daisy, laughing when Sirius admitted that he had already tried and exhausted all possible solutions.
" I would marry anyone who got rid of her. " Sirius sighed dramatically, resting a hand against his chest.
" If you put it like that... " whispered Remus, rolling up his shirt sleeves to his elbows and purposely avoiding the hungry gaze the other man had on him.
They watched him disappear into the basement and return with an axe clutched in his hands. Remus then turned and, after putting on a seductive smile and giving a wink that made the other man blush, began striking the wall around the painting.
" Dirty half-blood how dare you lay your filthy hands.... " shouted the portrayed woman as she was moved off the wall. Or rather, moved with the whole wall in which she was magically glued.
" If the painting cannot be removed, the wall will be the one to come down. " whispered Daisy, watching admiringly as Remus threw the object proudly to the floor and stood on it. He was actively stomping on Sirius' mother, and everyone was looking up to the man.
" I think you owe me a proposition, don't you? " the werewolf teased him, exuding confidence as he looked his companion up and down. " However, it would be a real shame to waste such an opportunity after thinking about it for months. "
" What? " Sirius asked confused, watching as the man in front of him pulled a ring out of his pants pocket and knelt at his feet.
" Sirius Orion Black, the first day I met you I wanted to punch you in the face because of your elegant appearance and arrogant manner of bearing. But then that annoying little boy became one of my best friends. " smiled the man, tears in his eyes as he lost himself in memories. " You taught me to accept the parts of me I hate, you healed my wounds, metaphorical and otherwise, as I healed yours, and I will continue to do so as long as you let me. My precious star, life has tested us many times. We have faced much and lost even more but ... " Remus said, looking lovingly into his eyes before looking briefly at Harry and Daisy who were crying as they witnessed it all. " We also gained something good, didn't we? "
" Moony, ask the damn question. " said Sirius, restless, as tears streamed down his cheeks.
" Always impatient. " Remus smiled radiantly. " Would you do me the incredible honor of becoming my husband? "
Sirius knelt in front of him so they were at the same height and cradled Remus' scarred face in his hands. " Of course I will my beautiful, crazy, man. " He whispered before kissing him.
" Kids, come over here. " Remus said, extending an arm so they could curl up between them.
" We wouldn't want to intrude. " whispered Harry, uncertain.
" Harry James Potter, don't talk nonsense. " said Sirius, pulling them into the embrace and kissing their heads reassuringly.
" Can we see the ring? " Harry asked, smiling when Remus exclaimed an apology. He had forgotten to put it on Sirius' finger, distracted by the kiss they exchanged earlier.
" Guys? Are you all right? " shouted Arthur Weasley, coming in through the chimney carefully. The wand set in place in case there were any intruders, fell from his hands when he saw the scene in front of him. After congratulating himself, he added, " Sorry to interrupt such a happy moment but we were worried about your delay. "
" No bother. " said Sirius, helping his fiancé to his feet. " Time to get the presents for your boys and we'll follow you. Harry, Daisy, why don't you go with Arthur? "
" All right, kids. " Arthur said, leading the way with the two teenagers. " I had to stop my children from following me so go first so you can reassure them. "
Once they were alone, Remus watched Sirius carefully before asking, " Didn't we already take everything? "
" Yes but the others don't know that. " The other man replied, wrapping his arms around his fiancé's neck and pulling him into another kiss. " Tonight we will celebrate properly and we could do anything you want. "
" Be careful what you promise. " Remus almost growled under his breath as he tightened his hands around Sirius' hips, smiling when he heard him groan at the somewhat turbulent contact.