The windows rattled insistently as the train passed by Remus’ window, clouding his view of the brightly lit town with a black smoke that made his eyes water even through the thick glass. He stopped his sewing for a moment, stretching his aching hand as he rested his head on the other, looking out the window at the smoke with a blank face.
It was the day of the parade, soldiers coming home victorious from the war.
Victorious for now.
The smoke subsided slowly, and Remus tried to ignore the distant sounds of music and laughter echoing from the town centre as he picked up his needle and the hat that sat in front of him, a challenge that he was extremely close to giving up on.
Hats littered the small wooden desk, raised high enough above the ground that Remus’ feet couldn’t touch the floor. The hats varied in colour and size, height and adornments. But all of them were soon to be sold, so Remus tried his best not to become attached. Just as he was about to stitch the last few flowers on the white boater hat in his hand, he heard the front door open and the stumbling footsteps of his father echo through the small house.
“Rem!” his father’s voice yelled, “Where are you boy?”
Remus’ hand tightened on the hat, feeling the crunch of the straw under his fingers.
“If you’re in that goddamn room-” Lyall Lupin appeared at the door, gripping the frame to keep himself up. His hair was limp and greasy, his clothes stained and wrinkled. He looked a mess.
“Finished this early?” Remus said, turning his attention back to the hat, though his fingers were stiff. It was unusual for Lyall to return from drinking in the afternoon, usually staying out until at least dusk.
Out of the corner of his eye, Lyall glared, “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Remus sighed, “Never mind.”
“You know I don’t like you in here Rem, it’s about time we moved on-”
Remus stood abruptly, the legs of the chair squeaking on the floor, cutting Lyall off. Remus dropped the needle with a tiny ‘clink’, grabbing his own hat, a faded corduroy baker’s cap, from one of the many hat stands decorating the room.
“I’m going to go now,” Remus said icily, walking past Lyall, smelling the alcohol on him clearly. “I’ll be at the bakery.”
If his father called out to him, Remus didn’t hear.
~~~~~~
Remus walked quickly away from the house, images of his mother in the Hat Room invading his mind without permission, her long fingers wielding the needle like it was a wand, conjuring magic whenever she pulled it through fabric, her brown hair coming loose from where it was tied, falling on her face as she smiled at Remus-
He shook his head quickly and kept walking, shoving his hand in his pockets.
The music became louder as he got closer to the city centre, passing through grimy limestone passageways littered with war flyers flattened by hundreds of feet on the pavement. The streets were almost empty, with most people being at the celebration. Just how Remus liked it.
“Is that Sirius’ castle?!”
Remus’ steps faltered as he walked past a group of women dressed in pastels, pointing with gloved fingers to the distant hills where a tiny black speck inched along the horizon.
“Where…Oh! I see it!” another girl continued. “I hope he’s in town!”
“You don’t want that Martha,” a third girl said, her words getting quieter as Remus kept walking, “Did you hear about that girl, Anna? Sirius ate her heart!”
Remus scoffed lightly, dipping the cap on his head down. He knew that the wizard Sirius Black was real, but he didn’t believe half the rumours people made up about him. Picturing anyone, even a wizard, eating a heart was a hard thing to imagine. He’d never even seen the man, he wasn’t sure anyone had, really. Apparently his castle was as magic as he was, moving with a life of its own all around the country.
His train of thought was cut short as he ploughed into the backs of two police officers, his cap too far down to see the path in front of him.
“Oi!” the men exclaimed, turning around and sneering up at Remus. Up, as Remus was at least a head taller than both of the stocky men.
“Watch where you’re going lad,” one of the officers said sternly, pointing a thick finger in Remus’ face.
Still partly because he was still twitchy from the unfortunate run in with his father, and partly because he was in a sour mood, Remus batted the finger away without a second thought.
“Can you get out of the way?” he muttered; hands clenched in his pockets.
The policemen looked at each other before glaring at Remus.
“I’ll be needing a name and address son,” one said, “We’ll be having a chat about that mouth of yours.”
Remus felt the anger pooling in his stomach, and he was about to tell the pair of them to get fucked, when he felt a hand on his waist, squeezing ever so lightly.
“There you are,” a smooth, deep voice said from behind him, “I was beginning to worry.”
Remus was frozen, unable to even turn his head to see who exactly was holding him like he was their lover.
“Now see here,” one of the policemen said, “We’re not done with him-”
As if under a spell, the man’s mouth stopped moving, his eyes bulging as both of them were forcefully spun around by seemingly nothing more than air. Out of the corner of his eye, Remus spotted a long, wooden, stick-like object held by a pale hand adorned by silver rings.
A wand.
Remus slowly looked down at hand still on his waist, locking eyes with the most beautiful man he had ever seen. Hair like spilled ink fell onto his shoulders, tiny braids peeking through strands and framing piercing grey eyes.
“Aren’t you a pretty one,” the man murmered softly, wand still in hand.
Remus glanced at it, “What are you-”
“So sorry to interrupt, but I’ve got a few… people?” he paused, frowning, “I don’t suppose you could really call them people… anyway, I’ve got some things on my tail and I’m sorry to say that you’re involved now.” He smiled brightly, “Just follow me, I’ll lead.”
Remus didn’t have the chance to splutter anything before the hand on his waist tightened and they were walking down the alley faster then he’d ever walked before. He somehow knew not to talk as their footsteps slapped on the cobblestones. He glanced behind him, his eyes widening when he caught a glimpse of multiple…creatures following them.
Slimy black blobs with huge noses and squinty white eyes seemed to appear out of nowhere one by one, until Remus was sure their numbers had doubled.
“Look ahead,” the man at his side whispered, a small smile still on his face, his grey eyes alight.
Remus looked ahead.
He realized all too late that they had been heading on an upwards slope, and were walking straight towards a deadly drop down to the city centre where soldiers and women were dancing and celebrating loudly.
“What-” Remus said as their pace nor their direction faltered.
They neared the edge, and Remus felt a hand on his shoulder, breath against his neck, “Trust me,” the wizard whispered as they stepped into thin air.
Remus squeezed his eyes shut, clinging onto the arm of the man tight enough to leave bruises, certain they were about to drop to their deaths.
But they didn’t fall.
In fact, they were floating quite effortlessly above the dancing civilians below.
“You’re doing so well,” the man murmered, and Remus shivered. “Now stretch your legs out, and walk.”
Remus couldn’t help but trust in the wizard as they miraculously began walking, walking in thin air over the colourful celebration below. Remus choked out a laugh fuelled by pure adrenaline and fear.
“There you go,” the man whispered, “You’re perfect at this.”
Remus glanced down at the man, the wizard, a thought prodding the back of his mind that he told himself he would ponder once his feet were back on solid ground, a thought revolving around one name in particular. The balcony to the upper level of the bakery was suddenly a hand’s length away, and the wizard let go of Remus’ waist, the absence of the pressure there making Remus’ face fall. The wizard took his hand, lowering him gently onto the balcony whilst remaining in the air.
His feet landed on the wooden boards, and Remus couldn’t help a sigh of relief.
“It was a pleasure, Remus,” the wizard said, his fingers lingering on Remus’ for a few seconds before he pulled away.
Remus’ eyes widened and he ran to the balcony, clutching the wood and leaning over precariously until he was almost face to face with the strange, beautiful man.
“Will you tell me yours?” he blurted, “Your name? Since you know mine?”
He didn’t even think to ask him how he knew Remus’ name, he couldn’t think about much of anything in that moment.
The man grinned, his hand cupping Remus’ cheek briefly, “You can call me Sirius,” he said, before dipping an imaginary hat and disappearing before Remus’ eyes.
Sirius.
Sirius Black.
Remus leant on the balcony, legs suddenly weak, gazing out into the hills, spotting the tiny speck that he knew was Sirius’ castle, his mind unable to stop thinking about the grey of the wizard’s eyes, his waist still burning from his touch, and in that moment, he vowed he would see Sirius again.