Posh-O Boy
“This is exactly why you let me drive.”
“Oh shut up, I’m doing just fine.”
“You’re really not, you’re taking up two spots- here- budge over.”
“Remus!”
“Then you do it!”
“I’m trying to!”
“Okay wait, there’s a better spot over there.”
“Yes, I see it.”
Finally, the car came to a stop and Remus Lupin let his head rest back onto the headrest.
As much as he loves Lily, who has been his best friend through quite literally everything, she can not park for shit. It should be a crime, truly. Not that Remus’ parking skills are any better but if he was driving right now, they wouldn’t be diagonally angled too close to the pavement on one end and too close to the barrier mark on the other. And they definitely wouldn’t have taken three wrong turns and probably given them all whiplash at a red light on the way over here.
Either way, they made it.
The party was for a friend of Emmeline’s, who is a friend of Lily’s, ergo Remus and Lily were invited. Remus knew Emmeline Vance well enough but he didn’t know the girl or even of her but they apparently all went to the same school together. He guessed that was supposed to mean something but he couldn’t see what. Originally, he wasn’t planning on going but he was talked into it, as he usually is most things.
Now he’s here with Lily, who offered to be tonight’s driver, and no matter how bad she drove, the only way she could bring him to go out tonight was the promise of getting pissed.
“Where are we meeting Emmeline, again?” Remus rubbed his face with his hands before opening his eyes, looking up at the ceiling of the car. It was tan and was worn where the seam met the door arc.
“Just outside.” Lily answered. The small vanity mirror pulled down in front of her as she reapplied her lipstick. It was some shade of maroon that showed up lighter than it did on the tube.
Outside, Remus could hear the sounds of people getting out of their cars and greeting people they knew, squeals of girls running up to each other and laughter being muffled by the glass windows.
“Remind me again why I let you bring me here?” He let his head roll and turn to Lily.
“Because,” She capped her lipstick and rubbed her lips together, taking a finger to wipe away any excess from the corners, “You need to get out more and I have no other friends but you.”
“You do have other friends.”
“Oh right, I meant I need to get out more and you have no other friends but me.” She smiled brightly.
“Right.” Remus huffed.
“Don’t worry, love, I love being your only friend but I think it’ll be good for you. Especially after you-know-who.” Lily patted him on the shoulder then continued to fix her mascara.
“You can say his name, Lils.”
“Actually, I choose not to. It’s a horrid name and my ears are better for it not hearing it,” She convinced, “And also, as your best friend, he’s an asshole and if I hear his name again I’ll rip him to shreds.”
Remus laughed. Lily was nothing if not a fierce and insanely protective friend but he supposed he’s the same way when roles were reversed.
His name was Eddie Bones. Technically it was Edgar but Remus refused to acknowledge that bit. He and Eddie met a few months ago and it wasn’t long before they started going out. It wasn’t official or anything and it only lasted a short while but within that time Eddie made it a habit of twisting Remus’ feelings just to see how far he could get. In short, it wasn’t great and it ended even worse. But Remus is past it now.
“Alright, you ready?” Lily finally announced, popping the vanity back up to the roof and running her fingers through her overgrown fringe.
“Yeah.”
As they walked from the car towards the house, both Lily and Remus took a final look at the car. People passing by were chuckling to themselves and making comments to their friends and though both of them knew the park job was bad, they weren’t about to let everyone know that they knew it was bad. They nodded to each other in agreement and left the car behind them.
“How do I look?” Lily asked as they neared the door.
“Fine.” Remus glanced down at her. She was wearing high waisted blue jeans that had some flare to them at the bottom and a white band t-shirt that she tied in the centre, underneath a tan suede vest that was left open. She had on brown heeled boots and had thrown on a few gold necklaces she’d found lying around in the side pockets of the car. Her red hair was fluffy and waved down past the tops of her shoulders, hitting her chest.
“Fine?” She stood still. “Love the enthusiasm.”
“Lily Jolene Evans, you take my breath away. You’re the centre of all my adoration and the root of my every inspiration. You look stunning as always and everyone here should all drop dead in love with you.”
“That’s more like it.” She hummed, hooking her arm with his as they both laughed about it. “You and your jumper look beautiful as well.” Lily teased while also being sincere.
Remus was in fact wearing a jumper and it had green of all shades and tan stripes going through it. The sleeves ended a bit long on his wrists and yet barely went over the belt on his pants. He wore the same pair of worn doc martens he usually did and that was about it.
The house the party was being thrown at was quite large and had two levels, already busy with life inside. Less people than Remus imagined but more than he hoped for.
“There she is!” Lily let out, squealing as she ran a few feet ahead of Remus to throw her arms around Emmeline Vance. Emmeline had straight jet black hair that grew to the middle of her back and straight trimmed fringe falling just above her eyebrows. She had on a self cropped tank top and a knee length skirt, covered with a sheer throw over that fell to about the same length and opened slightly past her hands. The moment Emmeline saw Lily, she nearly knocked them both off their feet from jumping up and down, taking turns to show off each other’s outfits.
“Lily Evans, I adore you.” Emmeline gushed.
“Oh stop.” Lily tsked playfully.
Remus laughed at them both and greeted Emmeline, resulting in a group hug. He didn’t know how it happened, only that it did and he was trapped for a good ten seconds of arms and long fluffy hair.
“Remus, how are you, love! I haven’t seen you in forever.” She patted him on the wrist when they broke apart, finally. And actually, he saw her three weeks ago at a coffee shop near the flat Lily and Remus just recently started sharing.
“Alright,” Remus replied anyway. “But ask me again in an hour and I’ll be great.”
“You and me both.” She laughed then grabbed them both by the arm suddenly, “Wait- do you notice anything different about me?” Emmeline turned her head both ways so they could make a guess. Remus hated guessing games like this.
Remus gave up immediately and after four guesses Lily was out as well, “My nose piercing!” Emmeline exclaimed.
“Oh” Remus realised the silver hoop in the side of her nose.
“Wait, didn’t you always have that?”
“Yes, well, I had a gem but now it’s a ring.” She explained to Lily, who was delighted about it either way. They chatted for a bit back and forth about it and other related topics before Emmeline got cold and moved the conversation towards the door, pulling Remus along with them.
“Wait, so who's the girl this is all for?” Remus asked, watching the different people start to fill the house.
“Oh right, her name’s Marlene Mckinnon and it’s her eighteenth birthday. Her parents are on holiday and her brothers don’t really mind since they’re older than her and out themselves.” She informed then turned back to Lily, “I actually wanted you to meet her and her friend, Mary. You’ll love her, she’s amazing.”
“Can’t wait!” Lily smiled.
Emmeline was distracted by someone else calling for her and bid Lily and Remus a short see-you-later before she ran off.
“Shall we?” Remus offered, seeing as there was nowhere else to go but in.
“Ah, we shall.” Lily agreed and took his arm again, leading them both into the warm house.
The door was open so a breeze was still present but the party-like atmosphere was already building with body heat. People weren’t dancing yet but the music still played in the background, warming everyone up.
Remus ducked under a low hanging banner and examined the house. It was nice. It had egg-shell coloured walls and orange-brown accents in the windows and door frames. There was a clock above the kitchen hanging that had closed shutters and an opened door beside it. There was a record player near the couch, which was covered in orange and green throw pillows and a brown and white crocheted blanket that looked like flowers. It was sitting on an old fashioned stand with dozens of records filed neatly beneath it and looked like it hadn’t been used in some time. It was a shame, Remus had an affinity for older music and he loved the way things sounded on vinyl.
“Should I go get us some drinks?” Remus looked around at the table set with three pitchers, plenty of bottles, and tall stacks of red solo cups.
“I’m driver.” She reminded.
“Okay, fine. Should I go get myself a drink and you a juice?” He corrected teasingly.
“Oh gods, that sounds like I’m seven.” She laughed but nodded for him to go.
He went and found the table and poured Lily a glass of some pink looking juice from the pitcher, tasting it first to double check. It was some lemon-berry mixture but completely safe. Remus grabbed a new bottle of whatever (honestly, he didn’t really care what it was) was there and walked back to his friend, careful not to spill.
“Here you are.” He offered as she took the cup, lifting it to her mouth to sip it. She groaned as she noticed some of her lipstick had tainted the rim.
Remus opened the cap of his bottle without much effort and drank down a good amount. Lily had started aimlessly talking about her most recent shift at the coffee shop when Emmeline found them again, but this time with two other girls beside her.
One had wavy blonde hair cut shorter at the top and longer at the bottom with overgrown fringe, similar to Lily’s, framing her jaw and hanging messily in her eyes. She had smudged dark eyeliner on that made her golden brown eyes stand out in the dim light. She had a wine coloured dress on with a light brown fur coat that cut off at her knees. How she wasn’t sweating through it already was a mystery to Remus. She had pink tinted glasses with black shiny frames that sat in her hair in front of a lopsided hair tiara-looking piece which was engraved with fancy lettering that read: Eighteen!
The other girl had dark thick curls that lay around her shoulders and added at least an inch or two of height to the top of her head, layering out into a round curve on each side. She had a ringed septum piercing and dangly earrings that hit the sides of her cheeks when she moved. She was wearing a long yellow-green top that sat closely off the shoulders and tied around in the front and a black mini skirt, paired with black knee high boots. She had both hands on her hips beside her friend and was now looking directly at Lily, admiring her.
Remus could admit, they both looked very cool.
“Remus, Lily,” Emmeline smiled brightly, speaking a bit louder to be heard over the music, “This is Mary MacDonald and Marlene Mckinnon.”
“Hi! Hello!” Lily greeted instantly, “Oh and happy birthday!”
“Thank you!” The blonde one who Remus figured was Marlene cheered, “Eighteen!” She pumped both hands in the air above her head.
“I’m Lily Evans,” She glanced at the girl who must be Mary, pausing a while to return the smile Mary was sending her.
“Lily, that's a pretty name.” Mary complimented and Emmeline and Marlene shared a quick knowing look.
Lily just laughed.
“Oh and this is my friend, Remus Lupin.” She quickly introduced, pulling Remus forward and making a twisting flare motion with her hand.
“Happy birthday.” Remus congratulated Marlene who was tipping back a bottle of her own.
“Thank you, thank you.” She nodded along happily.
“So Lily, like the flower right?” Mary stepped forward to nudge Lily into their own separate conversation and from what Remus could gather, Lily was more than happy to oblige. Fucking heart eyes and everything. He chucked inside his head, good on her.
“I have no fucking idea who half these people are.” Marlene said bluntly, looking around but lingering around Remus like she had nothing better to do. He was half surprised that she kept talking and more surprised that she treated it like they were close friends.
“Isn’t it your party?” He smiled, secretly pleased to have someone to talk to. Emmeline had disappeared (again) without Remus noticing, introducing other people and being an all-around friendly host.
He hated the beginning parts of parties. Never knowing what to do with your limbs and trying to force small talk. Terrifying. He watched Marlene shrug lazily as he took another swig from his bottle.
“Emmeline and Mary did the invites.”
“Right.”
“Yeah and they know a lot of people who apparently know a lot of people,” She went on, “Not that I’m complaining a bit because I love people. And parties. Remus, do you like parties?”
He debated in his head on how he would answer and settled for the truth, somewhat. “Not usually.”
“Really?”
“It depends, really.”
“Well then, I’m honoured you’re here Remus boy.” She tilted her head back to look at the ceiling. Remus had no idea what she was looking at.
“Cheers.” He took another sip. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Lily by the couch as her shoulder brushed up against Mary’s arm and he saw how a pink blush painted itself on both of their faces.
The party was finally coming to a peak and people had come around to light dancing, swaying back and forth, bobbing their heads to the beat, the occasional side stepping, nothing much but it was getting there. The music was turned up and Remus had to focus to hear what Marlene was rambling about. Something to do with where she’d gotten her coat. She was rather proud of it, he heard her mention a few times already.
People randomly came up to her and congratulated her and she let out a loud whoop each time but didn’t budge from her spot next to Remus. She insisted that he try her pink-tinted glasses because it’d make his eyes look cool but he brushed her off and said to ask him later, when he was sure to be much more agreeable. She laughed and said she’d hold him to it.
Marlene and Remus had somehow made their way over to stand near the ledge by the kitchen door, more so they were pushed to the sides by moving people but what was the difference, and she was asking his opinion on if she should chop her hair, as she called it. He tried giving some opinion but before he could really give any thought to it, his attention was being pulled away and Marlene’s voice became blurred in with the rest.
Beautiful.
That’s the first thing Remus thought when he was him.
He didn’t know why or how or who he was but as he strode through the front doors, in some ridiculously fancy get up and dark black hair falling perfectly at his shoulders, all he could manage was beautiful .
He was with two other people which he assumed were his friends and Remus watched from where he stood as Emmeline rushed to greet one of them. He was a bit shorter than them, maybe a few inches at most, and had a round face and ashy blonde hair that was parted down the side of his face. He seemed to know Emmeline because he started laughing as she welcomed him, introducing her to the boys behind him. The other one had round glasses and wild hair that stuck up at the sides. He was the tallest of the three (again, not by much) and seemed to be laughing about something.
And then there was- him.
Laughing so brightly he thought his eyes might give out if he looked at him for too long.
“But I can never choose because Emme said I should leave it long and I like it long, but the rest of my hair is short too so why not fuck it and chop the rest with it?” Marlene’s voice brought him back. His chest pleaded with him as he tried to tear away his eyes and took another long drink.
“Remus, you still with me?” She turned to him, tracing his gaze like it was a tangible string that would be meddled with. “Do you know them?”
“I was going to ask you the same thing.” He looked away feeling oddly caught. He hadn’t been but still.
“What’s with the posh get up?” She ignored and laughed bubbly, fiddling with the red solo cup she’d acquired somehow. Remus guessed it wasn’t her first drink of the night.
Remus laughed when she did. The three boys were all dressed in fine clothes and dark formal trousers. If they wore blazers or coats before, they were abandoned to reveal button down shirts that had been untucked from their belts, a few buttons undone to match the mood. Still, they all looked incredibly formal and it was sort of funny watching them blissfully ignore the confused looks they got.
“Who are they?”
Lily’s voice came from beside Remus, out of seemingly nowhere. He hadn’t even noticed she had been walking over. He swerved his head to her giving her a shouldn’t-you-be-making-out- with-that-pretty-girl look. She laughed lightly and held up two cups, one that Remus had brought for her and another with a weird looking drink mixture.
“Went to refill our drinks for Mary,” she explained, “Now who are we staring at?”
“No one,” Remus interjected, “No one’s staring at no one.”
“Remus is staring at posh-o boy next to Emme.” Marlene deadpanned from the other side of him. He snapped his head around to give her a look but she looked pleasantly unbothered.
“I think you and I will be good, good friends,” Lily giggled, leaning out in front of Remus to look at Marlene, who nodded dramatically in agreement. Great, Remus thought.
“Which posh-o boy, exactly?” She continued. Remus watched Emmeline start talking to them and they seemed to fit in right away. “Glasses? He’s fit.” Lily nudged, “If I was into guys he might be a good choice, no?”
“It’s the long haired smiley one.” Marlene supplied again.
“Oh shut up.” Remus tilted back the rest of the bottle, squinting his eyes shut and properly rethinking his life decisions.
“Wait, look- they’re coming over.”
Remus’ eyes shot open faster than he could process what she said and sure enough, Emmeline was leading them over. All of them, including him .
“Look what you did-” Remus tsked quietly.
“What’d I do!” Marlene lifted her hands up and Lily broke out into another set of giggles as the posh-o boys made their way across the room with Emmeline as their guide.
“Peter and co, this is Marlene Mckinnon, Remus Lupin, and Lily Evans.” Emmeline introduced, coming to a stop in front of them. “And everyone, this is Peter Pettigrew, James Potter, and Sirius Black.”
Sirius.
Sirius.
Sirius Black.
He tried the words out in his head, playing it over and over because what more perfect name for him but a star. Sirius. Sirius. Sirius.
Remus felt his stomach twist and flutter as he watched him from this close.
Beautiful, he repeated.
Beautiful.
Sirius was absolutely thrilling. His eyes were a deep blue in this lighting and it made Remus want to trust him instantly and yet build walls so sky-rocketing high so that he never risks falling into them. Never risks losing himself in them until he can’t make it back out. And without even saying a word to him yet, he knew that could be a very real possibility.
Remus heard the others chatting and trading pleasantries but honestly he didn’t much hear them.
A war raged on in Remus’ head, telling him to stop staring and to force words out of his mouth. Anything, just something. But before a proper decision could be made he’d been caught.
Shit.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
Sirius glanced at him quickly, no doubt feeling the weight of Remus’ stare, and if Remus’ eyes’ saw correctly, he took a double take. The mere idea sent chills up the back of his arms. What if, he thought, what if he was right.
Sirius had stopped talking abruptly and Remus felt the group all pause to see what happened. Remus wasn’t making it up, he couldn’t- hell, he wasn’t that good of a liar. Sirius had caught him staring and now Remus felt himself being watched under his.
Remus never bragged about his height or cared much for it but as Sirius looked up at him, tilting his chin just slightly and making his eyes peer through his lovely long eyelashes, Remus was thankful for it.
“Hello.” Sirius finally spoke after a good few seconds, breaking into a smile, though Remus could’ve sworn it had been an eternity.
Sirius had a clear voice that was tainted with hints of a french accent and that just about did it for Remus. God, he was weak.
“Hi.” He barely got out.
Lily did a poor job of hiding a giggle but eventually they all went off and started talking separately. Lily went quickly back to the couch to find Mary as James with the glasses started chatting easily with Marlene now and Emmeline and Peter seemed to be doing a bit of catching up as well. While Remus could barely get his mind to function.
He had a shining star in front of him, what was he supposed to say?
“Remus, right?” Sirius asked again just for good measure, though they’d already been introduced. He didn’t mind. Sirius could say his name forever and ever and ever until the words became ingrained on the tip of his tongue and he had no choice but to say it.
“Yes.” He confirmed, “And you’re Sirius? Like the star?”
Remus almost saw a flicker of, well he didn’t know what, but for a moment and just a moment his features tensed and emptied like he had just remembered a horrible nightmare. As fast as it came, it went and Remus decided not to pay much mind to it. Instead he focused on the way Sirius’ lips drew apart and came together when he spoke, “I’m whoever you want me to be, Remus.”
“Well, I rather like Sirius, don’t you?” He tried not to think about how those previous words made his stomach flip.
“I rather like the way you say it.” He shrugged.
“Is that so?” Remus laughed, feeling the back of his neck heat up.
“‘Tis so.” Sirius didn’t look away and Remus had a feeling he wasn’t hiding his blush the way he thought he was, “Can I get you another drink?”
“Yeah, I’ll go with you.”
Sirius smiles wide and steps aside for Remus to lead the way. He makes it a few feet and begins to suspect Sirius hadn’t followed him until he turned around to the boy running to catch up after whispering something to James. James was laughing with Marlene watching them and Remus suddenly wanted to know exactly what Sirius had said to them. Was it bad? Was it good? Had to be good, right? Marlene gave Remus a big thumbs up and started making kissy faces from afar. His wondering remained unanswered.
“I have to ask,” Remus took the bottle Sirius was offering, “what’s with the getup?”
Sirius took a second to look down at himself like he’d forgotten what he was wearing, “I had a thing before this, family shit or whatever.” He laughed but the long swing from the bottle he’d taken for himself seemed personal.
“Either way, you look great.” Remus muttered, drinking his own drink.
“You think so?” Sirius’ smile instantly lit back up, leaning on the refreshments table and eyeing Remus like a fucking cartoon.
“Yes, I do.”
“Do you know anyone here?” Sirius continued, taking his eyes away from him to scan the room casually. Remus felt oddly cold the moment it happened, feeling the absence of Sirius’ gaze. That sounds absolutely mental, he knows.
“Uh, only Emme, Lily- that girl sitting on the couch, the one with orange hair and messy fringe- yeah her- and I just met Marlene and Mary,” He pointed out, “And now you.”
“Wait, I know her,” Sirius gestured to Lily, “James had a proper crush on her when we were like fourteen. Wait, you went to Hogwarts?”
“Yeah, Gryffindor ‘78.”
“No fucking way.”
“Yeah, why?”
“I was Gryffindor that same year- how did I never see you? How did you never see us? I definitely would have remembered you!” Sirius spat out a little offended, like it was Remus’ fault he was deprived of ever meeting him.
Actually, it was fully possible that they existed there at the same time. It was a rather large school and during his younger years, Remus kept to himself a lot. It was very rare that he ever left his dorm or the library, so apart from his classes and Lily refusing to leave him alone, he wasn’t really that involved with anyone or anything else. He and Lily minded their own business and Remus was content to let school pass him by from the comfort of a quiet library corner.
Now that he thought about it, he remembered hearing rumours about someone liking Lily but then again, there were a lot of people who had rumours about Lily so neither of them took it seriously or paid any mind to it. Honestly, they didn’t even catch the bloke’s name and Remus never thought twice about it until now.
They had all been so close, breathing the same air, and yet living completely different lives. Funny how life works like that, Remus thought as he watched Sirius bring his drink to his lips.
“I didn’t get out much back then.” Remus answered truthfully.
“Mm well, I’m glad that you made the exception tonight.” Sirius smiled but didn’t say anything else.
He was just looking at Remus.
Like that.
Oh fucking hell.
Remus wanted to turn away but he couldn't help himself.
The music was growing louder as the energy in the room grew into a warm thickness, the beat throbbing softly against the walls. James was laughing at something Marlene was going on about and Emmeline and Peter had apparently joined them. Mary was listening on the couch to Lily inaudibly explain something with her hands, almost spilling her drink. There were tons of other people in this room but god, when Sirius Black- a man he just met, looked at him like that, they all disappeared.
“I love this song.” Remus half sputtered out, trying to keep his cool.
He took another heavy swig from his bottle and looked back at Sirius, who still hadn’t looked away from him yet, clinging to every note of the song that had started playing to keep him from doing what his mind so desperately wanted. Remus wanted to snog him mad right here and now.
But that was a bit forward, don’t you think?
“Me too,” Sirius replied softly but he was close enough to hear every syllable, “I think it suits you.”
Oh, my life is changing everyday
In every possible way
And oh, my dreams
It's never quite as it seems
Never quite as it seems
Remus must’ve been painfully obvious and pathetic looking because Sirius just grinned cooly and chuckled under his breath, looking out at the bobbing heads dancing to the music.
“Do you have a boyfriend, Remus?”
“What?” Remus almost spit up his drink. Went straight for it, huh.
“Or girlfriend?” Sirius raised his eyebrow then shook his head, “What I mean is, are you single?”
“Oh, right. No, I don’t,” He answered, “I mean, yes I am, single, that is.”
Why was Remus so flustered? He wasn’t usually like this. Usually, he wouldn’t even be talking like this or thinking such obscene things about someone he just met, or about anyone at all, especially after Eddie.
Oh shit, Eddie.
He’d completely forgotten about him and the fact that Remus was just getting out of that mess. He really should be upset about moving on so fast right? Was this moving on? He and Sirius were just talking, that's it. Nothing more.
“I’m just getting out of a relationship, actually,” He added and Sirius’ head snapped to listen, “Well, not really a relationship, I suppose. It was complicated.” Remus didn’t look at him, taking another drink.
“Oh, sorry.”
“It’s for the best,” Remus offered, now realising that it may have been awkward to mention, “He was a dick.”
“He?” Sirius’ mouth twitched up slightly and Remus could see the faint red blush creeping up on his cheeks, curiously.
“Yes,” He laughed, “As in, he was a dick.”
“Right. Fuck him.” Sirius agreed strongly (though not even knowing Eddie’s name), raising his bottle in a dramatic gesture.
“And you?” Remus tried to push the conversation back around, “Are you-”
“Yes.” Sirius cut him off, putting a finger to his lips. It was a bit unnecessary but Remus was not one to complain. In fact, a part of him hoped he’d leave it there. “To both questions.”
Sirius drew back his hand and Remus let out a breath that he didn’t know he’d been holding.
For a while within the safety of the crowded space, and he didn’t really know for how long until he heard the last chorus of The Cranberries song start up, he let himself look at Sirius, though gaze or stare at him was more like it honestly.
He really was pretty.
All the things he’d already taken note of were still there, his dark hair that waved down to his neck, ridiculously deep blue eyes that looked more grey than blue now, fancy out-of-place button up shirt that made him look absolutely godly. But from this close, Remus noticed more than just that and appreciated the details. The row of silver rings and flashy ear piercings that went all the way up his ears, a tattoo detail slipping out from underneath his collar that was previously hidden by his hair. The small movements his face made and the slight eases and tenses of his jaw when he put the bottle to his lips. The way his lips looked after he let the bottle fall away, the tiniest droplets of alcohol clinging to them and sparkling in the muted light.
Breaking his train of thought, listing off every detail of Sirius Black’s face, he was caught. Not that Sirius said anything, just smiling and proceeding to take another small sip from his drink.
It would’ve been awkward, it really should have been, because now they were just staring at each other like idiots, listening to what Remus knew was the song’s last few lyrics. But it wasn’t.
It felt oddly right and Remus couldn’t bring himself to look away. (He found that it was near impossible to look away from Sirius, which was fitting in a way because why would anyone in their right mind choose to not look at a star).
There was some instant connection, that instant feeling of I know you, I don’t know how or when but I know you.
He’d never felt anything like it before. Not with Eddie or with any past flings and romances. It was confusing and remarkable all in the same moment.
Call it destiny or fate, Remus didn’t believe in either of those things but this was getting him there.
The song ended and another one began.
An older 80s song, Hungry Eyes , if Remus remembered correctly. Lily loved Dirty Dancing and used to make him watch it over and over when they were younger, but the details were usually lost on him.
I feel the magic between you and I
I want to hold you so hear me out
I want to show you what love’s all about
Darlin’ tonight
Suddenly, Remus knew exactly what the son of a bitch was singing about.
He really hadn’t had that much to drink yet, so god, why was he being like this. In the back of his mind he could hear Lily giggling at him, telling him to shut up and be in the moment already.
“You’re, like, insanely pretty.”
For a moment, Remus was afraid he’d let that thought slip out but it only took him a second to realise that he wasn’t the one who said it. Sirius Black called him insanely pretty .
“That’s funny actually,” Remus chuckled, swinging back another drink because even though he probably didn’t need it, he needed it. Sirius’ eyebrows furrowed in confusion but let Remus finish, “I was about to say that same thing to you.”
Sirius’ cheeks blushed as he looked away smiling and Remus had to remind himself twice that he was the cause of it.
Now I’ve got you in my sights
With these hungry eyes
One look at you and I can’t disguise
I’ve got hungry eyes
Hungry eyes. Remus was right about the song, at least.
“Hey, do you want to get out of here?” Sirius blinked, still staring at him.
“Right now?” Remus was heavily debating it and under any other circumstances, he’d be out the door before Sirius had time to finish asking, but Lily was his ride home and although she’d understand, he didn’t want to leave her.
Sirius must’ve caught on quickly because he followed up with, “Oh no, I meant like go somewhere quieter to talk or something. I can’t really leave like that yet, my mates are here too, well I actually live with one of them and they’re my ride- I would, trust me, I mean if you would obviously- but,” He was fumbling and his face was getting heated. Remus would be lying if he wasn’t enjoying seeing him get worked up
“Sirius, it’s alright.” Remus smiled again, feeling like a hopeless idiot in some sappy film he’d normally roll his eyes at, “Let’s get out of here.”
Sirius sighed heavily, his face relaxed and gently swaying unconsciously to the music. It was almost endearing.
It only lasted a minute before Sirius grabbed another bottle and started pulling Remus away from the crowd. Sirius looked at his friend next to Marlene across the room and raised his bottle, exchanging some unspoken message to one another that only they understood and Remus glanced back at Lily, who was up and dancing bubbly with Mary and looking like there was nothing she’d rather be doing. It made him smile a bit more.
Without any more hesitation, Sirius’ hand slipped from his wrist and into his hand and Remus allowed himself to be pulled through the lively house. He honestly believed that Sirius could bring him anywhere and Remus would go willingly.
He should be scared of such a thought, of such power this man had over him but truly, Remus knew there wasn’t a thing that could scare him away now.