“Are you sure this is going to work Reggie?” asked James searching in the distance for his others friends.
“It hurts me that you doubt my abilities.” Answered Regulus.
The couple were sitting by the lakeshore. It was a sunny day and a very calm one at that. They have been discussing their friend’s love life because Remus and Sirius were so oblivious to notice they were madly in love with each other. Regulus had suggested flirting with Remus to make Sirius jealous.
“Listen, we both know Sirius pretty well. He´ll definitely get jealous but I don´t know if that would be enough to make his realize his feelings.” Pointed out James.
“Worth the try.” Regulus shrugged.
“I think you just want to flirt with Moony.” Said James with a mischievous smile.
“Don’t we all?”
The messy haired boy poked Regulus on the ribs and the younger brother laughed softly. Regulus batted James´s hand away, a smile still painted on his aristocratic features.
“Hey!” complained James.
“I´m kidding but-“
“Of course there is a “but” ” said James pulling Regulus by the waist into his embrace.
“But, it´s a good chance to get under Sirius´s nerves.”
“Oh, you are so mean.” Said James nuzzling on the younger boy´s neck and peppering it with little kisses.
“But you love me.” Declared Regulus.
“I do.” Smiled softly James.
Regulus turned his head to give James a soft kiss on the lips.
“So? How do we do this?” asked James sheepishly.
“Leave it to me.”
“Wait. Does this mean we can´t tell Sirius yet about… well this… us?”
“Well not yet. If we want him to think I´m truly interested in Remus he can´t know yet. But I promise we will tell him soon. Maybe he´ll even be relieved I want you and not his crush. He might take the news better that way. It´s a win-win situation if you think of it.”
“Oh, don´t I have the most brilliant boyfriend in the whole word?” asked James excitedly. He hugged Regulus even tighter, inhaling the other boy´s scent.
“James! You are crushing me!” complained halfheartedly Regulus.
“We have to come up with a plan, oh my incredible boyfriend.”
Regulus laughed.
“You are so dramatic, Potter.” He said smiling. “As I said. Leave it to me.”
.
It started with little comments. On the way to class Regulus would say something along the lines of “looking good Lupin" or “hey Remus, you hair looks great today.” They were all friends but the comments didn´t pass unperceived neither by the sandy haired boy, nor by Regulus´s older brother. Then it escalated to little gestures. Take for example, Friday´s breakfast at the Great Hall.
“Hi Remus, I buttered your toast just the way you like it.” Said Regulus, who had already being sat when the four Gryffindor boys arrived.
“Oh… er… thanks?” responded awkwardly Remus.
Remus and Sirius always sat down at the Great Hall. Actually, they sat so close, sometimes their elbows would bump when getting stuff from the table. But they didn´t mind at all.
“Peter why don´t you sit here.” Said Regulus pushing peter down on the bench.
Remus took his usual place next to Peter. But right when Sirius was about to take a sit his brother pushed him. Regulus sat next to Remus.
“Oi!” complained Sirius.
James laughed into his mug and his glasses got little drops of milk.
.
Regulus did other things of course. He offered to carry Remus´s books to class. “You are not even heading that way!” complained Sirius.
He offered to study together. “Moony and I study together.” Answered Sirius. “You actually study? Huh, never knew you could read.” Responded his brother.
And James could only laughed. Sirius would complain at night in James´s bed, but his idiot of a best mate couldn´t pin point the reason he was so mad.
But the final straw was when Regulus comments became not very subtle. Sirius and James were at Quiddtich practice. Regulus had taken advantage of this moment to sneak into the boy´s dorm. Now, for this part of the plan, Regulus had needed James´s help.
“I´m telling you. There´s something odd going on.” Said Sirius as they were climbing up the stairs.
“Do you think Regulus fancies him?”
By Sirius reaction James had might as well call Remus mudblood or half-breed, because Sirius´s face seemed to lose all color and then a very red tone settled across the bridge of his nose and spreading across his cheeks. “Oh, he is mad.” Thought James. But Sirius couldn´t say anything.
“Wait I have to tie my shoelace.” Said James.
They were in front of their dorm. He leaned his broom against the door heavily. The slight “thud” it produced was the signal that James and Regulus had agreed upon. So when James bent down to tie his shoelace Regulus voice was clear and loud enough so that the other one´s could hear it.
“Remus, James and Sirius are practicing and I don´t think they´ll be back in a long time.” Regulus voice trespassed the door.
Sirius had his hand on the door knob but he looked horrified.
“I guess so, yeah.” Remus voice was barely audible. “Regulus, what´s this all about?” there was a slight tremble on Remus voice. Sirius looked at James with his eye´s as wide as plates.
“Well I wanted a little privacy-“
“We shouldn´t eardrop.” Said James trying to yank Sirius away from the door.
“Shhh. James is Moony and my brother.” Said the other one putting his ear against the door.
“I´ve been thinking about it lately. Well about YOU lately-“continued Regulus.
“James what the hell is going on.” Whispered Sirius rather aggressively.
James was trying his best to keep his face serious.
“Seems I can´t get you off my mind.”
“Uhm…. Regulus… I don´t think…” stuttered Remus.
That was the signal James had to wait for. As planned he opened the door. Sirius gave a little yelp before he came crashing against the dorm floor. He quickly stood up but he seemed to freeze like a statue when he took in the whole view.
Regulus was leaning towards Remus on the sandy haired boy´s bed. And Remus, even though his tallness seemed very small. Like he was backing away but the only place to go was closer to the mattress. James looked at Regulus, who gave him a quick small wink.
Suddenly both boys were red. Remus´s redness due to embarrassment, but Sirius on the other hand was livid.
“Sirius…” breathed Remus.
“WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?!” exploded Sirius.
Regulus just laughed and rearranged his hair sitting on the edge of Remus´s bed.
“What´s the matter?” asked Regulus.
But Sirius searched for the other boy´s gaze.
“Moony are you…?” he couldn´t even finish the sentence.
Remus could see the hurt in Sirius eyes.
“No, Pads, is not-”
“I was asking Remus out. If you don´t mind.”
“You little shit.” Snapped Sirius angrily at his brother. He made an attempt to throw himself at Regulus but James hold him back.
“Let go James!” he demanded as he flailed to try to break out of James's grip.
“Pads, what´s wrong with you he is your brother?!” James said.
“I´m going to wipe that smug smirk of your face. You little shit.” Barked Sirius.
Now everybody was standing. Regulus indeed had that smug face, he knew would make his brother even angrier. Remus was just standing there dumbstruck, like he couldn´t quite process what was happening.
“What´s wrong with me asking Remus out?” he feigned innocence. “Is it because I´m a boy.”
Regulus hold Remus hand. Remus tried to yank his hand back but Regulus just squeeze. This seemed to give Sirius renewed force to fight against James, who was struggling to hold his best friend.
“I couldn´t give a shit about you being a boy!” Sirius screamed still wrestling against James. “But you knew I-“
“I knew what Sirius.” Said Regulus stepping closer, letting go Remus hand.
He gave James a light nod and James let go. Sirius grabbed his brother collar. Remus gave a step closer to both of them.
“You knew I was in love with Moony.” He whispered angrily.
So much for a whispered, given that every person in the room heard.
“Finally.” Said Regulus.
“What?” but Sirius wasn´t asking Regulus. He was asking himself. What in the bloody hell had he just said?
“I never thought you would admit it. Not even to yourself.” Smirked Regulus.
Sirius closed his eyes. Processing all the information. Then it clicked.
“Fuck off.” He said pushing his brother backwards but this time with a smile on his face. “You did all this to make me jealous?”
“Maybe.”
“Fuck off both of you.” Sirius laughed.
“Oh, um… Remus didn´t knew any of it.” Said Regulus truly uncomfortable.
Sirius snapped his gaze past his brother. Where a sandy haired boy was just… staring.
“Moony?” asked Sirius tentatively, passing his brother to get closer to the taller boy. “Moons?” he tried again.
Silence.
“You like me?” asked Remus searching Sirius face. “No, you said love… do you?”
Sirius stepped closer. Carefully.
“I do.” He said with a weak smile. “Do you…?”
“You are the biggest idiot on the whole wizard world.” Sighted Remus with relieve.
And then unexpectedly he dive forward. Sirius jumped back a bit. But Remus just went after him, looking for his mouth. Their lips crashed together. Sirius on one hand inhaled, he seemed to forget how to breathe. Remus, on the other hand, let all of the air filling his lungs leave, giving a long sight of contempt. And then Sirius was kissing back. They both pulled closer. After months of endless pining there they were. And there wasn´t “pulling” enough that could make them feel as close as they wanted to be.
They melted in heart and soul. All the longing looks, the slight brushes of skin, the endless nights wondering, and craving and hoping. It had all come down to this. This moment where Remus Lupin was everything Sirius could think of. This moment where Sirius Black was all Remus needed.
“Yes!” Screamed James throwing his fist up in the air. “Mission completed.” He said giving Regulus a high five.
“You were also in this?” asked incredulously Remus.
They had peeled off each other but Remus had his arms around Sirius waist. “Is this okay?” he had whispered to the raven haired boy. Sirius had just nodded because this, all this, was now, more than okay.
“Yeah it was our plan.” Regulus arched a brow at him. “Fine! Regulus came up with most of it. But I did helped. So you can thank me on your wedding speech.”
Remus turned Sirius head lightly so they could see each other´s eyes.
“Did all of our friends could see the pining?”
“I think so.” Laughed Sirius.
Regulus cleared his throat.
“Reggie, I´m not saying what you did was okay.” Started to lecture Sirius. “You could have just talked to me-“
“Yeah, like that would have worked.” Scoffed Regulus.
“But nonetheless I´m grateful for your weird plan.” Sirius thought about his word a bit. “God you two are weird.” He said to James and Regulus. “I think this was more for your amusement than for our sake.”
Both, James and Regulus laughed at this, they shared a knowing look. Maybe it had been for their amusement.
“Nonetheless, thank you both. I truly panicked for a moment there thinking you two were together.” Said Sirius pointing at his brother and the boy who he was currently clinging to.
“Not at all.” Said Remus laughing against Sirius hair.
Sirius closed his eyes. There were many questions on his mind. But this felt simply right. There was no way he belong anywhere else than in Moony´s embrace.
“So… now that you are NOT mad because Regulus isn´t with Moony… well… is it a bad time to say that we are actually going out?” asked James looking to the floor while scratching his behind his ear.
Sirius jaw dropped to the floor.
Regulus took James´s hand. Sirius winked at Regulus.
“MY BABY BROTHER JAMES?!” he screamed.
James snapped his eyes back to look at Sirius, who was now struggling in Remus´s grip. Oh, how the tables had turned.
“I think you better run, Prongs.” Said Remus with an amused smile.
With his height and werewolf-ish force, Sirius presented no match.
Regulus gave James a light peck on the lips. James flew the room.
“DON´T LET HIM GO UNTIL I´M OUT, MOONY!” could be heard James screaming from the stairs.
Remus opened his arms wide, freeing Sirius from his embrace.
“JAMES FLEAMONT POTTER COME BACK HERE, YOU COWARD!” scream Sirius as he ran out the room as well.