Interlude 2
“Sirius no one will care if the forks and the spoons aren’t shiny,” Remus grumbled, his head pounding on account of it being so close to the full moon. “Just finish setting the table and then come help me make the pasta sauce.”
“But-” Sirius began to protest, holding up one of the newly polished fake silver spoons. He quickly shut his mouth after a sharp glare from Remus, and set down his rag - moving to grab the stack of plates on the island.
They’d been staying at Monty and Effie's house since James turned, it wasn’t ideal but the house had much better wards than their apartment in Soho did and James knew that if he showed up Remus and Sirius wouldn’t be able to turn him away - even if it ended in their deaths. James’ parents, as much as they loved their son, wouldn’t be able to let him into the home, Dumbledore had put up the wards himself and no one could get in who wasn’t written into the spells.
“Something smells good boys,” Effie shuffled into the kitchen, her hair up in a frizzy bun set with her wand.
“You’re more than welcome to join us for dinner,” Remus smiled gently, he’d loved his time with the Potter’s his mother had passed away when he was fifteen and his father was never much of a touchy-feely type.
“Oh don’t,” Effie smiled, the wrinkles around her eyes crinkling. “You haven’t seen your friends in months, it’ll be good to have a night for the young people.”
“Mum you’re the spitting image of a young person,” Sirius gasped dramatically, throwing an arm around her and kissing the top of her head.
“Oh Sirius love don’t flatter me,” she chuckled and shook her head. “I’m just here to get a bottle of wine for Monty and me, we’ve decided to have our own night,” she grinned, a glint of mischief forming in her hazel eyes.
“You two deserve it,” Remus chuckled, reaching up to get a nice bottle of white wine from the shelving. “Feel free to come down and get food at any time,” Remus passed the bottle into Effie’s small wrinkled hands.
“Thank you, darling,” she kissed his hand gently and turned to leave the kitchen. “Have a lovely night boys.”
“Thanks, Mum!” Sirius called after her, setting some more plates around the table.
The two men went back to their separate tasks, simply existing in beautiful harmony as the late afternoon turned into evening. Sirius was sitting on the counter singing along to Queen as Remus stirred the pasta on the stovetop when there was a knock on the door.
“I’ll go get it you finish up the pasta,” Sirius offered, kissing Remus’ cheek before hopping off the counter and heading toward the front of the house. Remus sighed with relief as soon as Sirius was out of earshot, he had been worried about his boyfriend for months… when James had left things were hard, but Sirius was just angry more than anything after their run-in with him in Diagon Ally Sirius had been suffering, he barely spoke, never joked around like he used too, secluded himself in their room whenever they weren't working and Remus was starting to get very worried about his blue-eyed boy.
They’d talked about having everyone over for a while but it’d taken months to find a night that no one was working on, and when they did Remus realized it was on a full and they’d had to cancel. Another might have become available a few weeks back when Lily was dropped from her position in Romania and finally came back home, so they’d booked the night immediately and made sure nothing could go wrong.
“Remus!” Someone screeched behind him and he spun around to a ball of red hair barreling toward him. “Merlin I’ve missed you.”
“I missed you too Lils,” he grinned as they wrapped themselves around one another and rocked back and forth gently. Remus loved Lily like a sister, they’d grown up a few doors down from each other and when she’d gotten her Hogwarts letter Remus was almost more excited than she was.
“I brought alcohol! Oh, and Mary is bringing Lemon Iced cake and some custard I think,” she pulled away from Remus and set up an expensive-looking bottle of scotch. “Do you need any help with dinner Rem?” She pulled her coat off and slung it across a chair tying her hair back with a gold piece of silk.
“Could you check on the meat in the oven and if it’s cooked throw it into the sauce?”
Lily nodded and peeked into the oven, working quickly beside Remus. “Merlin I’ve got so much to tell you all,” Lily sighed, levitating the hot dish of beef and platter of bacon.
“How was Romania? Less fighting over there?”
“Oh Remus it was beautiful, so much different than England,” she mused, using her wand to instantaneously chop the bacon into small pieces as it fell into the pot. “The dragons were magnificent, and they had the most wonderful food! We’ve got to make Tochitură together sometime.”
“We should have a day for cooking when the war is over, once a week where you and I just cook for everyone,” Remus fantasized, thinking about all the times he and Lily had cooked together over the years.
“I’d love that,” she kissed his cheek gently and went back to her sauce. There was another knock on the door and a few seconds later two more bodies came running into the kitchen. “Marls! Mary!”
The girls squealed and piled into a group hug in the middle of the kitchen, Sirius came back in a moment later walking with Peter.
“Lupin you look handsome as ever,” Mary smirked and winked at him before pulling him into a hug.
“Ah, Remus!” Marlene threw herself into his arms. “It’s been forever,” she cried and squeezed him.
“I’ve missed you too McKinnon, McDonald,” he smiled and felt his heart warm in their embrace. “Is Dorcas coming Mar?”
Marlene pulled away and nodded happily, “She’s just gone out to pick up something for us all, she’ll be here soon.”
“You didn’t have to bring anything Mar,” Sirius scolded teasingly, hugging her from behind - they were nearly the same height with Marlene in her heels.
“Oh yes I did Black,” she smirked, “It’s a very fun little thing that will help us all relax just a bit tonight.”
Remus couldn’t help but smile, Marlene always knew how to make things just perfect, “Have I mentioned you’re my favorite person Marls?”
She laughed and flipped her hair over her shoulder, “Why thank you, Remus. You’re lovely too.”
They both laughed and Remus turned off the stove, he and Lily wasted no time finishing up the dish putting it into a large porcelain bowl in the center of the table.
Dorcas arrived just as everyone was sitting down and Remus went to let her in, “What’s my favorite jam on toast?” Remus asked, hating that he couldn’t just let his friends into the house.
“Trick question,” Dorcas snorted, “You don’t like jam on your toast. Peanut Butter and chocolate chips are your favorite.”
“Merlin it's good to see you,” Remus pulled her through the threshold and wrapped his arms around her. Dorcas hadn’t come into the circle until their last year at school, she and Marlene had gotten together, but Remus had taken an immediate liking to her and they'd become quick friends.
“Marls had me run out and get us a few joints,” she held up a discreet paper bag.
“She said,” Remus chuckled, leading the way into the kitchen. Marlene jumped up and kissed Dorcas as soon as they entered the room, which caused Sirius and Lily to make gagging noises.
“We’re eating here McKinnion!” Sirius teased, throwing a crust of his garlic bread at her head and narrowly missing.
“Must I remind you of the time I walked in on you and Remus in that-” Remus turned bright pink and slapped a hand over Marlene’s mouth before she could finish. She proceeded to lick his palm and Remus recoiled.
“Fine Lupin I won’t remind everyone of how I walked in on Sirius-sucking-your-cock-in-Minnie’s-classroom,” she ducked away from another piece of bread being thrown at her and returned to her seat.
“Really guys?” Lily snorted, “You had to define Minnie’s classroom?”
“You didn't have to live with them,” Peter rolled his eyes and Remus’ cheeks continued to heat up, “The things I’ve heard.” he shuttered and Sirius narrowed his eyes playfully at the boy. “I mean is it so fucking hard to cast a silencing charm?”
“I- okay that’s fair,” Remus laughed and shook his head, he hadn’t felt this light in months. The group broke out laughing and Remus helped himself to a large scoop of the pasta and a hunk of garlic bread. Sirius poured him some of the bourbons Lily had brought and Remus noticed Sirius’ glass only had water.
Not many people knew about the niche things that triggered Sirius and Remus cursed himself for not realizing, that bourbon tasted like blood to him… It had been what he was drinking the night he ran away and the drink was soured. Remus got up discreetly and poured Sirius some Cola into the glass before returning to the table. Sirius smiled sweetly and his hand brushed Remus’ under the table.
“Okay Mary I’ve got to ask,” Peter said through a bite of the pasta, “What’s it like being at Hogwarts? I know it’s different as a teacher but still.”
Mary shrugged and took a sip of her drink, “It’s not much different I suppose, there’s not as many younger students, and I get a lot of kids in my office, more than I think Ms. Holloway ever got before she retired.”
“Those poor kids,” Lily shook her head, “It’s got to be such an awful time to grow up and go to school.”
Mary nodded, taking a bite of her food and continuing, “The strange thing is a lot of the kids I see aren’t muggle-borns - I think they’re a bit more immune to the fear especially when they’re young. The majority that I see regularly are purebloods,” Everyone glanced at Sirius for a moment before Mary continued. “Not the darker families for the most part, I had little Abigail Abbot come in sobbing just last week because she was afraid of what would happen if she needed to choose a side to live.”
Sirius sighed, “I hate what this war is doing to people, I mean Abs was fourteen when we graduated so what sixteen now? Sixteen-year-olds shouldn’t have to worry about this shit,” Siirus took a slug of his drink and quickly realized it wasn’t alcoholic.
“I say we put war talk on the back burner,” Dorcas suggested, her hand resting on top of Marlene’s on the table. “Lily! Have you met anyone yet?”
Lily’s cheeks turned the same shade of pink they’d been turning since she was five, Remus knew she was embarrassed, “Sort of…”
Everyone sat up straighter and leaned toward Lily - who tended to get quiet when she was embarrassed about something.
“Dorcas you know them… well we all do but Dorcas is better than you all I think…”
Something seemed to connect in Dorcas’ head and she slammed her hands down and stood up quickly. “She finally did it?!”
Lily nodded, a smile breaking onto her lips.
“Finally! I thought she’d just keep talking about you forever and never say anything!” She went on.
“Don’t keep us all in the dark over here Evans! Who is it?” Remus prompted.
“Well you know Pandora Lovegood?”
Everyone got excited then, Remus beamed and smiled at Lily as comments began flying.
“Oh, Finally you’ve always fancied her!” Sirius teased.
“The little blonde girl who made you a flower crown when you graduated?” Peter raised a brow.
“She wanted to Regulus and me about you for years,” Dorcas laughed, “though I’ve got to warn you, Evans, if you break your heart I’ll break your knees. I don’t care if you’re Marlene’s best friend, Pandora is my baby sister and I love her more than any of my own family.
Lily threw her hands up in a fake surrender, “If I break her heart I deserve it.”
“You should have invited her Lil,” Mary pointed out.
“Oh for sure!” Sirius nodded enthusiastically.
“She has some work things she’s been taking care of,” Lily shrugged and took a sip of her drink. “I say we all get pissed and do something stupid.”
“I’ll drink to that!” Marlene ‘cheers-ed’ Dorcas’ glass and downed the rest of her drink in one go. Everyone else followed suit and pounded their drinks, Sirius was already pouring everybody else another when Remus shook his head and let the burning liquor fall down the back of his throat. It had only been a couple of years since Hogwarts had ended but Remus was craving the familiar atmosphere of a Gryffindor rager.
✮✮✮
“Okay look-” Peter slurred, laying on his back on the sitting room floor. The room was in shambles, it was almost two in the morning by now and thanks to the drinks and the joints Marlene and Dorcas brought SOMEONE had thought it would be a good idea to build a pillo fort in the sitting room. It made Remus think of James, which had hurt but deep down it warmed the innermost parts of Remus’ soul.
“I’m just saying Pete, if you wanted to shag me in school I would’ve said yes,” Mary shrugged, giggling as she fluffed Peter’s hair.
“I wanted to do a lot of things in school,” Peter mumbled. “I mean do you remember playing spin the bottle and using magic to manipulate who it landed on?”
“Ha!” Mary snorted, “We thought we got Remus and Sirius together!”
“That was you?!” Sirius exclaimed. Peter and Mary laughed and nodded proudly, “Remus I owe you an apology,” he smirked and crawled into Remus’ lap - who just kissed the top of his head and wrapped an arm around his exposed waist.
It had been driving Remus crazy all evening, Sirius had been in a crop top and low-waisted jeans all day and Remus had been too busy to do anything about it, the urge to just pin him down and snog his brains out was overwhelming.
“I say we play it again,” Lily suggested, “this time no magic,” she gave a pointed look to Peter and Mary across their little circle.
“I’m so in,” Dorcas shrugged, sitting up from Marlene’s lap and trying her best to summon a bottle without her wand. There was a crash in the other room and she burst out laughing, “Maybe someone else should do it.”
Lily rolled her eyes and summoned one of the empty liquor bottles from the other room without any problems, which earned her a playful glare from Dorcas.
Remus didn’t let Sirius off his lap as they moved into a circle, the moon was the next night, and some of the impulses that came along with the wolf sitting right on the edge of his head. Being possessive over Sirius was a small price to pay compared to snapping at his family.
“I’ll go first,” Lily declared, gripping the bottle and flicking her wrist so it spun on the carpet. It made it about three rotations before it landed in front of Marlene.
The two smirked at one another and Marlene pulled Lily into a deep kiss, they pulled apart a few moments later and Lily was blushing.
“Morgana I forgot how much I missed that Evans,” she smiled, “But you’re nothing compared to Cas.”
“Aw that’s sweet honey,” Dorcas rolled her eyes and spun the bottle again. It landed on Peter, who spun it again to see just who he was fated to kiss. Remus watched as it settled in front of Mary ironically, the two shared a long and dramatic snog before pulling apart and allowing the glass to choose its next victim.
“I thought we said no magic you two,” Sirius teased from Remus’ lap.
“It’s not our fault the bottle wanted to indulge a teenage crush,” Mary shook her head and grinned.
“Mhm teenage crush,” Sirius wiggled his brows. A pillow was thrown their way and Remus dodged it by pulling Sirius to the ground.
“Hey you two the bottle has not landed on you, no snogging!”
“Humph,” Remus grunted, hauling Sirius back up into a sitting position and allowing him to move off his lap.
“Oo,” Dorcas grinned as she saw the bottle had settled in front of her, “Who shall be my victim,” she tapped her fingers together like she was a villain in some Disney film.
Everyone watched in suspense as the bottle spun around in circles on the floor, and when it landed on Sirius, Remus had to hold back a protest. It was one kiss, a simple kiss, it wouldn’t mean anything.
“Ha! I bet I’m your first man kiss huh Cas?” Sirius smirked and raised a brow at Dorcas who rolled her eyes.
“As if, this isn’t my first time playing Spin the Bottle Black,” she pointed out.
“What other men have you kissed Cas?” Marlene raised a brow, curious for her girlfriend’s reply.
“Barty, Evan, Regulus, and that weird Lockheart kid from Ravenclaw. And now Sirius, so five in total,” she cocked her head at Marlene who looked impressed.
“Wait you’ve kissed my brother,” Sirius pulled a face, too pissed to be affected by the memory of Regulus.
“Mhm,” Dorcas hummed, “Let's see who’s a better kisser shall we?”
They leaned into the small circle and Remus had to take a breath as their lips connected, the kiss didn’t last long and neither looked impressed.
“This is why I kiss Moony,” Sirius smirked and wrapped his arm around Remus’ waist. He taunted him just a bit, letting his fingers dip under his sweater and trailing his cold fingers over Remus’ waist - unbeknownst to anyone in the room.
“And that’s why I kiss Marlene,” Dorcas chuckled, leaning over and pushing her lips into Marlene’s. They came together and everyone groaned.
“Get a room you two,” Mary complained, throwing a pillow at the pair.
“Oh it is on McDonald,” Marlene pulled away from her girl and gathered a few pillows before aiming. One hit Peter smack in the face and he squealed, whipping it right back at the girls. Sirius grabbed a couch cushion and shielded himself and Remus from the fire, screams and laughter rang throughout the room. Remus let the warmth and joy wash into his heart and soul, he smiled at Sirius - who was looking at him with adoration filling his eyes.
“I love you Pads,” he whispered, brushing his thumb over Sirius’ knuckles.
“I love you too moons,” he smiled shyly, his face as relaxed as Remus had seen it in months.
They leaned together and Sirius’ lips brushed against Remus’, he pushed them together ever so slightly and bit on his boy’s lower lip asking him for more. Sirius would have given it to him happily if it hadn't been for the five heads that popped over the top of their makeshift wall, all armed with pillows.
“Nice try you cowards,” Peter snickered, then they tore down their protection smothering the boys with pillows. Sirius and Remus laughed and tried to fight back as best they could with no ammo.
The rest of the night went something like this, pillow fights and cuddling all together. At around four everyone was cuddled together in some kind of puppy pile, Remus was latched onto Sirius, Lily was laying across Marlene and Dorcas’ legs, Mary and Peter were laying back to back in little balls at the bottom of the pile, Remus couldn’t help but miss James’ presence - but he knew that’s what everyone was thinking. It truly had been a perfect night, and it’d worked miracles for Sirius, or at least he hoped.