April- 1974
"So, I think I've hit gold."
Remus looks up from his parchment, eyes falling on Sirius sitting down at the table. He raises a brow, urging him on.
"Time travel."
Of course, even more cryptic. Honestly, why does Remus even try. He rolls his eyes, reaching for his goblet. "And you're suggesting we what? Drop Snivellous in the middle of the Great War?"
"Yes, but no. I mean that's the answer— time travel."
Remus finally puts two and two together, sighing loudly. He sets his goblet back down with more force than necessary.
"Please don't tell me you're still on this."
"Just think about it, okay? I mean there's no other way for that to happen, it's in the name!"
James stares up at the ceiling. "Moony, please. Just tell him the answer."
"He's not telling me shit, okay, cause I've figured it out." Sirius is far too confident for a man who is obviously wrong.
Late last night, the boys had been up in the common room doing god knows what. Remus doesn't even remember why but somehow they got onto the subject of muggle customs and he found himself explaining some tongue twisters and brain teasers for about twenty minutes. Most of the things he talked about weren't too special but then he made the mistake of posing one particular riddle that the rest of them took far too seriously.
Peter figured it out in no time, whispering the answer to Remus and bursting with joy when he received confirmation. He shared it with James who gave a proud smile, but when he offered to enlighten Sirius the boy refused. He was certain he could work through it on his own and ended up spending the rest of the night thinking, intermittently mumbling random bits of information before eventually going to bed incredibly bitter.
Since then he had been giving increasingly more complicated and incorrect answers. They were sat in the Great Hall for lunch now and Remus was deeply regretting his life choices.
"It has to be time travel. There's no way that's not the answer. You're lying to me."
"It's a lot simpler than that, mate. I promise," James whines.
"Bullshit. You're all conspiring against me, I know it."
Remus shakes his head and gets ready to respond when a short, dark skinned girl walks up behind Sirius and claps her hands on his shoulders.
"Alright, lads?" Mary leans her chin on Sirius's head, swaying lightly on her feet.
"Hey Macdonald," Peter chirps.
Mary swings one leg over the bench, sitting sideways to face Sirius. She places a quick kiss on his cheek before diverting her attention to the food in front of her. Remus visibly darkens, taking an angry bite of his sandwich.
"Macdonald, tell Sirius to stop being so stubborn already." James sounds a bit like a child who's just been told it's their bedtime. He's been in a strop again the past two days so his patience has run a bit short.
"I'm not being stubborn, I'm persevering and believing in myself to come up with an answer."
"To what?," Mary asks.
"Lupin told him this riddle last night, and now he's mad Peter got the right answer before him."
Mary looks to Remus, oblivious to the storm cloud raging above him. "Well let's hear it. Maybe I can be of service."
"No! Silence!," Sirius demands. He holds up a finger to Mary's mouth, turning his head dramatically. "I can do this on my own."
She bats his hand away. "Watch yourself, Black. That won't be the only thing you're doing on your own."
Peter chokes on his drink. Remus makes a disgusted noise as he stands, picking up his things and walking off.
"Where you going?," Sirius shouts.
"Away from this conversation." He storms out the doors, not looking back once.
He ends up in the library, reasoning that Sirius would probably check the common room and dorm first so he's at least buying himself a little time to cool off. When he enters he spots Regulus already sitting at their usual shared table, copying notes from some textbook. He heads over, both boys giving each other silent nods, and starts back in on his work.
These library meetings are a bit strange when you look at them from the outside. He can't really explain it.
They started some time around the middle of second year. At first they would only see each other from the other side of the room or when they entered the same aisle in search of a book. But then the library started filling up with students when exams came close, and it became frequently more difficult to find a space for oneself.
Remus remembers the one day he had managed to steal a table for himself and Regulus had come in, saw that everywhere else was already occupied, and just...walked over. Set his things down in front of Remus and started working. Didn't say a word, barely even acknowledged Remus's confused expression. After that they just kept finding each other, even at the start of this year when the library barely even had ten people in it.
He wouldn't really call it a friendship as they never actually talked to each other. It was nice to have someone there, though. Someone occupying the same space, but not requiring you to entertain them. That was never the case with the marauders.
Sitting in the library, staring at his half finished transfiguration essay, Remus couldn't get his brain to shut up.
Mary was a nice girl. She was smart and funny and she never took shit from anyone. She was small, probably the shortest of their year, but she was a little firecracker— Remus pitied the fool who dared cross her.
She was attractive as well. Her skin was a dark umber, contrasting with the soft caramel of her eyes. Remus never saw her without painted nails, usually a candy floss pink. Her hair was held in tight, springy coils and Remus thought it was funny how her wand would stick in place when she slipped it through the curls.
He liked Mary, really. At least he had, up until the beginning of this year.
Right after Christmas break, Mary and Sirius had started up some kind of little relationship. Apparently they now found it appropriate to throw themselves over each other any chance they got, including during meals and in the common room. Three separate times, Remus had walked through the portrait hole to find the two of them snogging on the couch as if they owned the tower.
It was obscene, really, not to mention downright annoying. Now all Sirius ever wanted to do was talk about her and everything they did together.
It wasn't really Mary's fault, he knew that. But he couldn't help hating her for it just a little bit; always interrupting their prank-planning conversations to cuddle Sirius and kiss Sirius and play with Sirius's hair and be the center of Sirius's attention and—
A sharp kick to his shin breaks Remus out of his train of thought.
He snaps his eyes up to see Regulus staring at him in confusion. He must've been zoned out for a long time for Regulus to notice and decide to do something about it. He blinks, shaking himself out, and settles back in to finish his work.
He doesn't even get through a whole sentence before his mind wanders back to just thirty minutes ago: Mary getting all touchy with Sirius, kissing him right in front of their whole friend group, being so casual and open with their relationship. Who did she think she was, hogging Sirius all to herself like that. She didn't need to be with him every minute of every day. He was allowed to still be friends with the marauders. He was allowed to still spend time with them, alone, with no girls to suck on his face constantly.
Remus's quill snaps in his fist, ink splotches staining the parchment.
A harsh whisper of Welsh falls from his lips. He wipes his hand on his pants and moves to pull out a new quill and parchment. Digging through his bag, he comes to the realization that he has no extra writing quills and barely suppresses a groan, thumping his head down onto the table.
A quick knock by his ear has him looking up again. Regulus offers him an expensive looking black quill, definitely not one provided by the school. He holds it out expectantly. Remus reaches forward slowly, as if scared that this may be a trap, and takes it.
"Cheers."
Regulus gives a short nod, going back to his own paper.
Something about the gesture makes Remus feel funny. He watches the boy for a second and tries to think, considering the potential consequences of pushing things beyond their comfort zone.
"Uh...Regulus?"
Regulus's eyes meet his again and he looks incredibly taken back, no doubt by the fact that Remus has suddenly decided to turn this into a social event. He pushes on anyways.
"Have you spoken to Sirius recently?" He shifts a bit under the table, feeling increasingly more awkward.
Regulus's brows furrow. "I guess? We were together yesterday, if that's what you mean."
"Did he mention...seeing anyone?"
"Pardon?"
Remus sighs, frustrated with the vagueness of his own question. "Like...you know, like...fuck's sake, did he talk about Macdonald at all? Mary Macdonald?"
"Oh." Regulus's confusion lessens. "Something like that. He kept going on about snogging someone, I stopped listening after a while."
Remus felt a wave of relief wash over him. He leaned close over the table, trying to contain himself to a whisper still.
"Exactly! Merlin, I've felt terrible for weeks. I just want to punch them both in the face."
Regulus breathes out a laugh. "Is it really that bad?"
"You've no idea, butt. Can't go three minutes without each other, attached at the hip basically."
"And you lot aren't?"
Remus's heart stutters.
"That's different, yeh? That's...we're his friends, we're meant to. Like James, it's just always been that way, I guess."
Remus watches something shift in Regulus's face. His smile looks a little tighter and he glances down at the table.
"Doesn't feel great, does it?" His voice is barely there.
And suddenly, Remus finds himself back in their dorm their very first night at Hogwarts. All five boys introducing themselves, getting to know the people they would be living with for the next seven years. He remembers Sirius being relatively quiet until James asked if he had any siblings, and all at once he had exploded at them, telling them all about the boy that now sat in front of him.
His eyes lit up in a way they never did any other time when he talked about Regulus. At least twenty times every day, the other marauders would be bombarded with mentions of 'If Reggie were here—' or 'One time Regulus and I—' and on and on. And the letters— three or four times a week Sirius would send a letter to his brother, though Remus wasn't sure he ever saw him receive one.
For the first half of their second year, things had gone how he expected. Sirius used every excuse he could think of to talk to Regulus. But when he alone entered their train compartment come January, it was as if he had been replaced by a complete stranger. They tried bringing Regulus up but quickly stopped talking after they got icy stares in return. They never did find out what had happened over that break.
Remus hadn't even stopped to consider how Regulus must have felt during that time. Seeing his brother run around with his friends as if he hadn't just abandoned Regulus. And then loosing all of Sirius's attention to James on his birthday— no wonder he had ignored Sirius that whole summer.
A pang of guilt goes through Remus as he realizes they stole Sirius from Regulus first.
He leans over the table again, lowering himself a bit to catch Regulus's eye.
"He really loves you, y'know. I don't think anyone could ever replace you for him."
Regulus looks small. He shrugs, trying to play it off like it's no big deal. "Somebody already has."
Remus doesn't know what to say to that. He wants to reassure Regulus, tell him that whatever Sirius and James have won't ever really be the same as them. But how can he? Remus is an only child, he has no idea what it's like to wish someone dead and know you would die for them at the same time. He goes to speak again but is cut off by the library doors banging open and a yell calling out to them.
"The Prophet!"
Remus spins around to see Madam Pince angrily shush Sirius. He ignores her, running straight for Remus and Regulus's table, looking triumphant as ever. His hair is a mess, black curls flying all around as he comes to a halt right in front of Remus.
"It's the Prophet— a newspaper! That's the answer, yeah?"
Remus puffs out his cheeks, staring at Regulus with wide eyes. "I take it back. This is far worse."
"What's he on about?"
"Remu here told us a riddle last night and I've been coming up with answers all day, but I think-" he pauses dramatically, snapping and pointing his finger at Remus, "I've finally got it!"
"Said that the last four times, as well," Remus moans.
"Well what is it?," Regulus asks.
Remus sighs heavily, bringing two fingers up to pinch the bridge of his nose, eyes shut. "I'm the rare case where today comes before yesterday. What am I?"
Regulus goes silent, deep in thought. After a few seconds he straightens up, knitting his brows.
"A dictionary?"
Remus lifts his head to look at Sirius. He crosses his arms, giving a tired smile, and watches the realization slowly set in on his face. Sirius's mouth gapes in silent rage, pointing a finger at Remus, then at Regulus, and back again. Remus chuckles softly.
"Told you, you were overthinking it," he says, finally going back to his transfiguration work. Sirius groans, throwing his hands up and storming back out.