“Stop pacing around will you?” asked Regulus, already exasperated.
“Reg…” warned James.
“Stop pacing around please.” Corrected the younger boy.
Three boys were on the Gryffindor dorm room. James was sitting on his bed against his headboard and Regulus was in-between his legs with his back leaned against James´s chest. James was playing with Regulus tight and short curls. Sirius, on the other hand, had been pacing the room for at least twenty minutes and it was driving his brother insane.
“I´m in love with my best friend!” Sirius murmur not to anyone in particular.
“Oi! I thought I was your best friend!” complained James.
“You know what I mean Jamie.” Sirius finally stop in front of James´s bed. “I´m in love with Moony.”
Regulus, who had pick up a book on James´s night stand and was reading in order not to murder his hyperactive brother, didn’t even bother to look up when he said
“Congratulations you are officially the last person to know.”
Sirius huffed in annoyance. James gave him a little smack on the arm. Regulus just snickered without putting down his reading material.
“Very helpful Reg.” said Sirius in a sarcastic tone. “But now what? Do I tell him? Or do I keep it to myself---“
“What did we talk about?” interrupted James.
“I can´t bottle things up.” Recited Sirius automatically.
James smiled satisfied.
“You are so annoying sometimes Potter.” Complained the older Black.
“Yeah, yeah, Pads, say what you want.” Answered James dismissively.
“So what now?” pushed Sirius.
“Well, why don´t you asked him on a date?” Suggested Regulus.
“You think?”
“You could ask him to Hogsmeade. You know, see his reaction to the idea of you two. Worst case scenario you fake it was a friends date.”
“A friends date?” asked James to his boyfriend. Regulus just shrugged. “You two are impossible. Just tell him how you feel. Open up to him. Put it out there. You don’t have to dance around each other. I really think he likes you too. And if he doesn´t at least you know in your heart you tried.”
There was a solemn silence in the room.
“I rather go with Reg´s idea.”
“Fine! Do whatever you want!” said James throwing his head against the headboard. He could feel Regulus shaking with laughter. A small smile was painted on his face inevitably.
.
The Hogsmeade trip was on Saturday, however Sirius had taken all week long in order to sum up the courage to ask out his friend. There were a lot of doubts on his mind. James, as always, had insisted on just coming clean. But Sirius was worried. Not about getting rejected. He was more concerned for Remus. What if he felt weird after rejecting Sirius? It had taken at least a year for the sandy haired boy to open up to his roommates. What if Sirius advance send him back to his shell.
“Then I´ll just have to gain his trust all over again.” Thought Sirius, resolved.
He had tried to ask his friends a couple of times along the week. He hadn´t planned anything big in order to be able to cover it up with the friends date excuse. And so he had tried asking him before Quidditch practice, at herbology, during breakfast at the great hall, after double potions, on the quiet commodity of astronomy class, by the great lake on their daily walk, hell he had even gone to the library and spent two hours in silence just watching Moony studying because the words wouldn´t leave his throat.
“Sirius you have to ask him now.” Said James when they were returning from detention with Flitch. “It´s already Thursday, I´ve seen him reject a bunch of people. You have to ask him before he says yes to someone else.”
“Fuck Jamie.” Said simply the raven haired boy. “But if he is rejecting everyone… how can I be sure he won´t also reject me?”
“Pads, you have an advantage nobody else has.” Sirius perked up hearing James´s words. He leaned closer to the taller boy in order to hear his next words. “You are already his friend. You know him better than anyone. You are the only person who can get him to open up. And believe I can tell he looks at you like a lost poppy too.”
“Too?! What do you mean too?! I don´t look at him like a lost poppy. That´s not punk rock.”
“Really? From all that I just said you focus on that?” asked James clearly unimpressed.
“You are right. Sorry Prongs.”
“S´all right.” Dismissed James. “So?”
“Yeah…” said Sirius mulling over James word. Then a bolt of energy seemed to enter his body. “You know what Prongs? You are right. I´m his friend.”
“Yeah!”
“I´m smart.”
“Damn right!”
“I get him.”
“Yes you do!”
“I´m the most fucking handsome guy on all Hogwarts history”
“Yeah! What? No! Sirius!”
“Fine…”
“Just ask him out, you tosser.” Said James shoving Sirius down the portrait hole towards the common room.
Regulus was sitting on the largest couch of the common room. James had gave up a long time ago trying to figure out how the younger black could get in the common room whenever he wanted. And if the Regulus knew the password- which hadn´t been provided by James- his boyfriend had also give up on trying to figure out how he got them.
James let himself fall on top or Regulus at the couch.
“Get off!” complained Regulus. James started peppering Regulus face with little pecks. And the younger black, who had been shoving his boyfriend off, stayed still. “Okay you can stay. But move your arse, I can´t breathe.”
James laughed carelessly, settling himself better on the couch in order to embrace the young slythering boy. It wasn´t difficult to make James laughed but it was evident that no one could make him as happy as Regulus Black.
“Remus is up.” Informed Regulus. “Have you asked him out?”
“I´m on it.” Said Sirius taking a deep breath and giving large and loud steps towards the stair.
Once he was out of view Regulus turned to face his boyfriend.
“Five galleons he messes up” said Regulus with a sly smile.
“Reg! That´s your brother!”
“Precisely mi point.”
.
Remus was laying on his bed. His long limbs almost didn´t fit on it. He had on arm around his head and the other one was holding up the book he was currently reading. His shirt had gone a bit up revealing a thin line of skin. Nothing Sirius hadn’t seen before, nevertheless nothing that helped Sirius to stay focused. Sirius was grabbing the strap of his satchel with more force than was necessary.
“You can do this. He is your friend- God how pretty is he. But I´m also pretty. I can do this. He is Moony.” He kept repeating.
It seemed Remus felt Sirius staring cause he lowered his book.
“Hiya Pads.” He greeting. Sirius swallowed hard. “What´s up?” asked Remus
“Moony you are my best friend—“
“I thought James was your best friend.” Said Remus with an amused smile.
Sirius move closer. He was now sitting on the edge of the taller young man bed.
“You know what I mean.”
Remus rolled his eyes. He marked the page he was reading. Close his book and put it on the nightstand. Then he opened his arms inviting Sirius.
Sirius of course obliged.
Sirius was facing up. On Remus´s bed they have pasted a map of the night sky. It helped both of them when they couldn´t sleep. It had been Remus´s idea. One of the nights Sirius sneak on his bead Remus had light up the stars with a swish of his wand. And Sirius was enamored. Well to be completely honest he didn´t remember a time he hadn’t fell enamored towards Moony. It´s just that, until recently, he hadn´t have a name for that strange feeling that settled on his chest whenever Moony was around.
“Would you go out with me to Hogsmeade this Saturday?” he blurted out.
He closed his eyes.
“Yeah sure Pads.” Answered Remus passing his fingers though Sirius´s hair.
“Was it that simple?” Sirius thought. “Did I just had to ask? Wait. Does this means Moony fancies me too?”
Of course he didn´t voice any of this thoughts. However he spent the rest of the afternoon rather pleased with himself and with the fact that Moony fancied him too.
.
“Moony can I come in’” said Sirius knocking on the door, Saturday morning.
“Why do you even ask…” started Remus as Sirius opened the door. “if you are going to come in anyway.” Finished the tall man with an amused smile.
“What on merlin´s beard are you wearing?” asked Sirius.
Remus looked at himself in the mirror. He was wearing an old sweater – it had ink stains but it was his absolute favorite- and some brown corduroy jeans.
“What on merlin´s beard are you wearing?” Remus arched an eyebrow at his friend.
“No, sorry that´s not what I meant.” Sirius started to fret. “You look absolutely gorgeous in whatever you are wearing but… like… I kinda dressed up.”
“I can see that Pads.” Said Remus blushing.
“Oh my god I just called him gorgeous.” Thought Sirius. However Remus didn´t addressed it.
“The question is, why´d you dressed up for Hogsmeade?” Sirius deflated a little and it seemed Remus could tell. He sighted looking at himself one more time on the mirror. “You know what? You are right, I´m dress down.” Said Remus trying to wipe out the frown from his friends face. “Let me change and we´ll be on our way, agree?”
“Agreed!” said Sirius cheerfully.
He followed Remus to the room and watched him change, while he sat on his bed patiently waiting with a shit eating grin on his face.
.
“Aren´t you two looking sharp?” said Lily when they finally went down to the clock patio.
“Why, thanks Lily.” Said Sirius giving a funny bow.
Sirius was wearing a t-shirt with his sleeves rolled up, some gray trousers and of course his black converse. He had put glitter on his hair and Marlene had helped him with his eyeliner, which he still couldn´t get the hang of. Meanwhile, Remus had put on some navy blue trousers and a white plain t-shirt. He had layered it with a sweater that was more fitted than his usual grandpa sweaters and his Doc´s with yellow and red shoelaces.
“You two have dates?” asked Mary.
“Well of course.” Answered Sirius before Remus could get the chance.
Remus looked at Sirius strangely. Sirius grabbed Remus hand with a smile.
“Remus is my date.” He said.
“Sod off.” Said Remus smile. He lightly pushed Sirius away. However this was counterproductive seeing that Remus, in fact, didn´t let go of his hand.
“Well you two make an awfully handsome couple.” Replied Mary with the same playful tone.
The pair spotted Reg and James. They made small talk all the way until Hogsmeade, where James announced he had made a reservation at Madame Puddifoot. Regulus groaned but Sirius knew his brother like the palm of his hand. Even for Remus it was cleared to see that Regulus appreciated the gesture.
“Well where you wanna go?” asked Sirius once they were alone.
“Dunno… Three broomsticks?”
Sirius thought about it a bit. They always went to the Three Broomsticks. He wanted something a bit more special. Something just for the two of them but on the other hand, he knew Remus; a place like Madame Puddifoot on the first date would freak him out.
“Why don´t we go to Honeyduke´s?” suggested Sirius. “We can buy lots of sweets and then we can make a picnic on the hill over there.”
Remus looked taken aback.
“Sure, if that´s what you want.”
“No, no if you don´t like it we can do something else.”
Remus tilted his head a bit more. He looked down briefly at his interlace fingers.
“A picnic sounds nice Padfoot.”
And so, Sirius and Remus went to Honeyduke´s were Remus refused Sirius paying and where Sirius insisted a ton. Then they set out for the hill.
“Is this alright? Are you tired?” Sirius would ask once in a while, he knew Remus sometimes got some pain at the hip if he walked a lot.
Remus would assure him he was fine with a strange look on his face. Of course Sirius fretted over Remus but even he knew he usually didn´t worried as much. That might explain that strange looks from Remus. But Sirius couldn´t help himself. He wanted this date to be the most enjoyable date ever.
“Relax.” He thought to himself. “It´s just Moony. Talk.”
And so they talked. They talked all the way up the hill. They talk while Sirius transfigured a leave onto a mantle cloth for the picnic.
“Show off.” Teased Remus.
They talked while they unpacked a bunch of chocolate frogs. And they laughed. Sirius was always loud. Maybe that was the reason Moony wasn´t seen as the funny one. But when they were alone, Sirius had nothing to prove to anyone and Remus enjoyed making Sirius laughed. Because on the intimacy of the woods Remus Lupin was fucking hilarious.
“Save a little chocolate for latter Moony or we will have to stop by Honeyduke´s on the way back.” Teased Sirius.
“If you pay again I have absolutely no problem on stopping by a second time.”
“I´ll buy you anything you want Moons.” Say Sirius lying back and crossing his arms on the back of his head as a pillow.
“Is that so? Would you buy me… a dragon?” asked Remus lying beside him.
“Yes.” Said Sirius as his hand reached tentatively for Remus´s.
“Would you buy me… all of David Bowie’s records?”
Their hands brushed. Sirius intertwined their fingers and Remus gave his hand a light squeeze.
“Happily.”
“Would you buy me…”
“Anything Moons. Anything.”
“Wait let me finish.” Laughed Remus. “Would you buy me a house?”
Sirius propped himself up on his elbow. It felt like he was towering Remus, which was unusual.
“Only if I can live with you.” He declared.
Remus fake thinking about it. And in return, Sirius fake being offended. Finally both boys laughed.
“That sounds like a fair deal to me.” Answered Remus.
“Fair?!” asked Sirius “Is a win-win situation, the way I see it.”
Something changed in Remus´s eyes and Sirius was lucky enough to see it happen. He gave him a fond soft smile. That smile, Sirius had seen plenty. But it was on the eyes. Whatever there was behind those amber eyes, it was pulling him deep like magnetism. He had caught that look on Remus face a couple of times. It was like he was longing for something and Sirius thought he had never been prettier.
Suddenly, Remus hand started moving towards Sirius face. Painfully slowly. Sirius could hear his heart beating on his ears. Remus knuckles brushed against his cheek. Remus pushed a strand of Sirius hair behind his ear and smiled. It was no longer a soft smile. Sirius couldn´t pin point what was it. It wasn´t mischievous. It wasn´t sad. It wasn´t an amused smile. It was the smile Remus reserved only for him. It was the same smile Remus gave him at night.
“Indeed a win-win situation.” Concluded Remus putting back his hand.
Sirius stay frozen on his place a bit.
.
“Here!” said Sirius plucking a flower from someone´s garden and giving it to Remus. It was a small bud of a red tulip it had already started to bloom.
The taller guy stopped. He grabbed the flower and put in on Sirius´s hair gently with a fond look on his eyes.
“No!” complained Sirius. “This one is for you.”
“Oh.”
Remus blushed. Sirius smile.
“Okay.” said Remus looking around. “This one is for you.”
He gave Sirius a burgundy rose.
“Hey! You two!” screamed a skinny woman from a window. “Stop plucking the flowers!”
Sirius and Remus exchanged a look. They made a run for it while laughing.
.
When they return to the common room James was already there, slouching on the big red sofa.
“Prongs get your stinky feet of my seat!” demanded Remus as soon as they entered. Remus usually sat left Sirius on the center and James on the right. But right now James was occupying the whole sofa.
Remus turn to face Sirius.
“I´m going upstairs to press this between some books.” Announced the taller buying removing the tulip from his hair. “You want me to press yours too?”
“You’re such a dork.” Said Sirius also removing his flower.
“And yet you love me.” Said Remus. Giving him a quick kiss on the forehead and leaving him standing in the middle of the room while he claimed the stairs towards their dorm.
“Hey tell Regulus to hurry up! He´s up there!” screamed James. The he turned to address his best friend. “So I take it, it went well?”
“Perfect.”
“I´m glad for you. You two are so good for each other. Actually it had always seemed like you two were already dating didn’t it?”
“Yeah I guess so.”
“I´m really happy for you Pads.”
“Thanks Prongsie.” Sirius stared at the stairs. “You know, some day I´m going to marry that man.”
James smiled. Sirius wasn´t looking at him, still he knew the raven haired boy meant it. James could definitely see it.
“I know Pads. I better be best man eh.”
“Actually I was thinking about Lily.”
“Oi you bloody git.” Said James pulling his friend and putting him on a headlock.
They fought a bit until Regulus came down from the dorms.
He sat in front of them with an amused smile.
“He doesn´t know.”
“What doesn´t he know?”
“Who doesn’t know what?”
“Remus. Remus doesn´t know it was a date.”
Sirius finally let go of James and sat straight on the couch.
“Of course he knew.” Said Sirius. Then look pleading at James. “He knew right?”
“He had no idea.” Pushed Regulus.
“How would you know?” snapped Sirius.
“I asked him about it.” Simply replied his brother. Sirius felt his heart drop. “The good news is, he had a great time with you today and he does fancies you.”
“How´d you know?”
“I. asked. him.”
“Oh.”
“Sorry Pads.” Said James rubbing his best mate´s arm.
“S´okay Prongs.” He perked up again with a resolute gaze. “This only means I´ll have to be more direct.”
He exchange a look with James and a mischievous smiled formed on both of their faces. Regulus groaned.
“Hey guys, I forgot I told Lily I´ll meet her at the library. I won´t belong.” Announced Remus as he reach downstairs.
“See ya!” said James.
Remus was almost on the portrait when Sirius called.
“Oi Moony!”
“Huh?”
“Did you enjoyed our date?” asked Sirius. His tone was lighthearted but his heart was beating with a force he wondered if Remus could hear it.
Remus rolled his eyes and gave him a bright smile.
“Sure Pads, whatever you say.”
Once the portrait was closed Sirius turned to James and Regulus, who were snuggling on the couch.
“He doesn´t know!” exclaimed Sirius.
“Told you.” Snickered Regulus. James smacked him lightly causing him to chuckle even more.
Sirius stared at the portrait on disbelieve.
“Well fuck me!”