Sirius Black was a well-known author and activist in the Wizarding World, revered for his outspoken views on just about everything and respected for his written work; specifically for his factual series, An Interview With..., which offered detailed, accurate, and first-hand information about various different peoples and creatures.
His published studies were hugely popular amongst scholars and regular folk alike, and perhaps that was because they were not about the biology of other beings but rather about the cultures and behaviours; about the things that made them who they were and not what they were. Or maybe it was because, unlike much of the written work around, his books were not based on speculation or stalking but on actual facts: on real encounters and experience. Sirius had actually met and spoken with others, and the information he sent out into the worlds was authentic and unbiased.
He had only been writing for about seven years, but he had already interviewed hundreds of beings and published numerous books. He had spoken with werewolves, banshees, goblins, trolls, house elves, pixies, giants, vampires, merpeople... and there were still so many people out there that he had to find and talk to and write about.
Both his books and his activism had helped set about change in the Wizarding World, offering a unique perspective on the way of the world, giving the lost and broken a voice, and helping to change archaic laws and perceptions. Most of his work had been used in schools, added to the curriculum as Elective Reading with a handful of his books making it to Mandatory Reading status, which had helped to disprove old prejudices and enlighten the next generations. He had even done a few guest lectures at Hogwarts and Beauxbatons.
Sirius was quite proud of his accomplishments, but he wasn't done yet – a fact which he was reminded of as he was reading 100 Facts About the Half-Horse by Rudjer Offenbaum. He was barely on the third page before he realised that the book was full of absolute gobbledegook! Everything he had read thus far was completely unfounded. Offenbaum had never spoken to a centaur in his life, and he wasn't even hiding it! On the very first page, he stated very clearly:
'Beware, the information in this book has been collected by other factfinders and assembled on the following pages: I have neither seen nor spoken to the Half-Horse.'
It was this that decided it for him; his next book would be An Interview With... A Centaur. He had tried once before and they had proven difficult to find, and even more difficult to converse with, but it was time someone wrote something accurate about centaurs, straight from their mouths, and he decided that he was going to be the one to do it.
After a few days of digging around, a fellow activist by the name of Runty Schneider confirmed there had been some sightings up in Scotland. Sirius spoke to a few of his other contacts and heard a few more reports about a faction living in Aonghus Forest.
Nicknamed No Man's Forest, the trees were located in the Scottish Highlands near a small village named Durisdaig which housed both muggles and mage. When Sirius looked at a map of the area, he found that the village wasn't too far away. He could probably Apparate there, with a couple of stops along the way.
With that all decided, he packed a large overnight bag and some camping equipment. (He knew that the centaurs would be hard to find, private and tribal as they were, so he reckoned he'd be out in the wilderness for a few days at least, and going prepared would be best.) He then went into the kitchen and began rooting through the cupboards, collecting some food for his venture.
"Uh, Padfoot?"
Sirius froze, tin of beans in hand, and looked up to find his fiancé standing in the doorway. Remus looked so very handsome in the low light of their kitchen with his curious hazel eyes, windswept greying hair, and ugly multicoloured jumper. For a brief second, Sirius regretted his decision to go, but he knew that he had to. If he didn't try, no one else would. It had to be him.
"Moony, hi," he replied conversationally. "How was your day?"
"Good," answered Remus, eyes still assessing Sirius's movement. "Busy. Yours?"
"Great, yeah," Sirius nodded and dropped the tin in his bag. "Brilliant."
Remus hummed casually and leaned against the doorframe. "Do I need to ask what you're doing or...?"
"I am packing some food," he answered happily, turning back to his task and throwing several cans of beans into his rucksack and then a few packets of biscuits. "I'm going away for a bit."
Remus nodded slowly, "Right, right... Where are you going?"
"Scotland."
"Ah," said Remus, as if he understood. "You've got that look in your eye... Starting a new book?"
Sirius grinned, excited for his new venture. "Yes."
"Scotland..." Remus's brow furrowed in thought. "You've already spoken with the merpeople and the giants. Who are you going to interview now?"
"Centaurs," he answered.
"Padfoot..."
Sirius held up his hands to stop Remus's diatribe and said, "I know, Moony. I know what you're going to say. I know I tried before, and I failed. I know they're private and they probably don't want a mangy mutt like me hanging around and bothering them, but I need to try again. I can't find one book where someone has actually spoken to a centaur. It's all conjecture!"
Remus said, "You have my full support, Sirius, you know that. But why Scotland?"
"I heard some rumours of a unit up there," he answered. "Runty said he'd heard reports of some sightings up in the forest near Durisdaig." He put a few tins of spam into his bag and then turned to his friend again. "I think I can do it this time, Remus. I just... I have this feeling, you know? I'm going to do it. I'm going to find them and befriend them, and then I'll learn about them and I'll publish what I learn. With their permission, of course."
"Alright," Remus acquiesced, most likely because he knew he couldn't talk Sirius out of it. Once Sirius had an idea in his head, it was very hard to dissuade him. Sirius Black was stubborn and curious, two things Remus had said that he loved and that annoyed him in almost equal measure (almost, because love always won out in the end). "Fine, if you must. But take your wand, just in case; and the mirror so that I can talk to you."
Sirius grinned, glad that he had his fiancé's support, and Accio'd two-way mirrors from the bedroom. He placed one carefully into his bag and left the other on the countertop for Remus. He then threw another packet of biscuits into his overnight bag before he zipped it up.
He moved over to his boyfriend and wrapped his arms around the other man's waist in a loose embrace. (After all, who knew when he'd be back and able to do this again?) He buried his nose in Remus's hideous jumper and took a subtle but deep inhale. Remus responded by resting his cheek against Sirius's head and letting his arms come up to rest lightly around Sirius's shoulders.
"Keep in touch," muttered Remus. "I mean it."
"I will," he promised, pulling back and planting a chaste kiss on Remus's jaw. "I love you."
"I love you more."
"Impossible," replied Sirius, very seriously.
Remus rolled his eyes but offered a small smile. Sirius gave the other man one last kiss, on the lips this time, then picked up his bags and walked out of the flat, heading for the Apparition Point.
Durisdaig was a nice little village, filled with friendly folk and nifty little shops.
Sirius stayed at the local Inn for the first night, then he hiked through the highlands for two days until he finally reached the outskirts of the magical forest. He stared up at the tall trees looming over him, dark and twisted but also beautiful and charming.
With a giddy smile, he walked on.
After two more days of searching, Sirius found himself in the middle of nowhere with nothing to show for his journey: no sightings, no contact, not even a track-mark. He found nothing to suggest the rumours were true and he was beginning to think that the operation was a dud and that the reports were false.
That was until he found himself caught in a trap that was so well put together and so quick that it left him disorientated for a moment.
He had been so busy absorbing the beauty of his surroundings and inwardly lamenting his lack of progress that he hadn't been paying attention to where he was actually going. One second, he was hiking and muttering to himself; the next, he was hanging upside down, ankles bound, vision blurred, and his wand and backpack on the ground, out of reach and completely useless.
As he dangled, his mind went through a million possibilities – some good, most bad – and he knew that he had to escape before the setter came back. He assessed the trap and came to two conclusions: the trap was clearly well set and, seeing as he was in No Man's Forest, it was most likely set by some sort of hunter or forest dweller.
He tried to kick out first, but the ropes were too tight around his ankles, and hanging upside down gave him virtually no leverage. He tried to swing but he had nowhere to really go. He tried to break himself free with some non-verbal magic, but both his wandless and wordless magic were a work in progress. He even tried to unpick the vines with his hands, but it was no use. The binds were strong and held together by some powerful sorcery.
It was a little while before he was found.
A young centaur girl appeared between two of the larger trees, quietly watching him with a curious frown. If it hadn't been for a crunch of sticks beneath her hooves, he might not have even realised she was there. He was so happy to find that the rumours were true that it took him a second to greet her.
"Hello, hi," he said. "Hi, there. I'm Sirius."
The youngling said nothing.
Sirius paused, wondering how to move the conversation forward. He was trapped and if he wanted to be free, this child was probably his best hope.
"Um, could you possibly help me out?" he asked, gesturing to his feet. "I'm a little tied up."
The girl stayed silent, staring at him with small brown eyes, as if assessing him and the threat he posed. He offered a smile and tried to look non-threatening – which wasn't exactly hard, given he was red in the face from being upside down for so long. After a second, the girl turned and trotted away. He tried to stop her but before he could shout anything even remotely coherent, it was too late. She was long gone.
"Fuck," he muttered to himself.
Long minutes passed before the sound of crunching twigs echoed again.
When he looked over to where the girl had been, Sirius found a full-grown centaur: tall and well-built, his hair was long, his beard was luxurious, and his eyes were so dark, they were almost black. His stance said that he was a leader of some sort and Sirius wondered if he was a hunter. Maybe he was the trap setter.
"Hi," Sirius greeted with a (hopefully cordial) smile, waving from his upside-down position.
The centaur did not respond. He merely stared for a moment longer before he produced a blade and cut the rope holding Sirius up with one swift move.
"Oof."
Sirius landed in a heap on the ground but quickly gathered himself and sat up to look at the centaur. "Thank you," he muttered, blinking rapidly as blood rushed from his head to circulate around the rest of his body once again.
The centaur grunted in response, then stowed his blade away and replied, "Go."
"Wait!" called Sirius as the centaur turned to leave. "I'm here to speak with you."
The centaur stopped and turned to look at him once again, his face stoic and guarded.
"Please?" Sirius stood up shakily and brushed himself off. "I just want a second of your time."
The centaur huffed in response, then turned and galloped away.
Sirius didn't have the strength to follow, nor was he dumb enough to. Past experiences had taught him that certain beings were extremely private and likely to react badly if someone ignored their wishes, and he wasn't about to risk his chances with the centaurs. With a sigh, he picked up his backpack and pocketed his wand. He made a mental note of where he was before he did as asked and left the clearing, deciding to set up camp a little bit away and try again later.
Tomorrow, maybe, he thought to himself.
"So, how's the search going?"
Sirius sighed deeply and lay back on his makeshift bed.
There were so many brilliant things about being an author but one of the pitfalls was the amount of travel and overnight stays elsewhere. He travelled so much – which was good and fun and satiated his desire to find new places and try new things, but it also meant that he had to spend a fair bit of time without Remus by his side when he was trying to find beings to interview, and that meant that he had to spend far too many nights cold and alone.
"Padfoot?"
Sirius snapped back to the present to find Remus frowning at him. It was so nice to see the other man's handsome face, even if it was through a tiny reflection.
"Sorry," he muttered. "Sorry, it's been a long day."
"You found something?"
Sirius nodded and answered, "I found them."
Remus looked surprised. "You found... oh. Well, how did it go?"
"Not brilliant," he admitted, turning onto his side and pulling his blanket up to his chin. He cast another warming charm.
"What happened?" Remus asked softly.
"I got caught in one of their traps," Sirius admitted. "I wasn't watching where I was going, and I got snapped up by my ankles. I dropped my wand, and the binds were too strong for me to break by hand. They found me and let me down after a bit, but they told me to go."
"But you're going back, right?"
"Of course," he replied instantly. "I have to. I didn't get a chance to talk to them properly. I didn't have time to explain why I'm here or what I do or... anything, really."
Remus hummed quietly and Sirius watched as he lay down in their bed. It made him want to be there, in his home with his fiancé, snuggled up under the thick blankets, wrapped around the other man like a vine on a tree. He could technically go back. He knew roughly where the centaurs were, so he could Apparate home and then back tomorrow, but he didn't. He needed to stay in Aonghus Forest; he needed to prove that he was no threat, that he was there for a reason.
"I miss you," he mumbled, quietly.
Remus's face softened in the mirror. "I miss you too," he replied, then he tapped his temple with two fingers and pointed them at Sirius.
Sirius smiled and mimicked the movements. It was a simple action, but it made him feel less alone. It was something they had created during their schoolyears when they were still figuring things out. Its meaning was simple: they were thinking of each other.
"I need to go to sleep," Remus murmured after a few moments. "I have work early in the morning."
Sirius nodded and muttered, "Okay, yeah. I'll speak to you tomorrow?"
"Definitely," Remus replied, then added, "I love you."
Sirius grinned, "I love you more."
"Impossible," Remus responded, before he winked (though it was more of a blink, because Remus could not wink for the life of him) and the mirror went blank.
Sirius sighed and let the mirror fall beside him.
Tomorrow would be a better day, he decided. He knew where to find the centaurs now. He knew that there was a faction living in Aonghus Forest, and he knew what to look out for. Tomorrow, he would have better luck.
Sirius went to the clearing the next day and waited.
He waited, and waited, and waited.
He read a book in the spare time. He cooked and ate some spam and beans. He shared some bread with the forest critters and took some photographs for his study. He wrote a letter to James and Peter to update them on his progress, and he mirrored Remus to check in.
Hours passed with no one happening by. The trap had been reset, so he knew that someone was bound to come by at some point, but when it began to grow dark, he decided no one was coming by that day and he went back to his tent.
The next day was much the same: he waited, he read, he ate; he befriended the critters, he waited some more, and then he went back to his camp when nothing happened.
On the third day, he made a breakthrough, of sorts. After a few hours of waiting, the centaur with the long hair and leader-esque stature returned to the clearing. Sirius immediately stood up from his spot by a thick Druid tree and brushed himself off before offering what he hoped was a friendly smile. The centaur merely looked at him.
"Hello," he greeted. "I'm Sirius." When the centaur said nothing in response, he continued: "We met the other day. Briefly. I was just—"
"Why are you here, wizard?" the centaur interrupted.
Sirius was thrown for a second at the obvious disdain in the other being's voice, but he understood why (after all, his lot hadn't been the best when it came to centaurs... or any being that wasn't human, really). He quickly pulled himself together and answered, "I want to talk to you."
The half-man glared at him.
"I know you've no reason to trust me," Sirius said. "But I'm asking for a moment of it anyway."
"What do you want, wizard?"
"I just want to talk," he repeated. "That's all."
The centaur furrowed his brow and straightened his shoulders. "We do not talk to your kind," he said, and the way he said it left no room for argument. "Leave. Now."
Sirius opened his mouth to reply but the centaur was already galloping away. After a few moments, he left the clearing with a heavy sigh, packed up his stuff, and Apparated away.
"Padfoot, you're back?"
Sirius was wrapped in a warm embrace before he could even answer. He returned the hug right away, burying his face in Remus's shirt. The scent of the other man comforted him, and he held on tighter, so very glad to be home, even if he was disappointed by his recent failures. They didn't really feel like failures in that moment, though, because being with Remus made him feel invincible, like he was good and worthy and not a disappointment.
After a moment, Remus pulled back and pulled a face. "And you smell."
Sirius huffed a laugh and said, "Well, more than a week of hiking in the wilderness with no showers will do that to a man."
Remus smiled and cupped his face. He planted a chaste kiss on Sirius's lips before he asked, "Why are you back?"
"I, uh... He came back, the centaur, but he told me to leave again. So, I did."
Remus nodded slowly. "Right... Are you going back?"
"Ah, no, I don't think so."
"What, so you're just giving up?"
Sirius bristled at that, but he knew that Remus wasn't calling him a quitter. "I'm not giving up," he replied. "I'm just... giving in."
Remus frowned but did not say anything. Sirius sighed and moved out of the other man's embrace, heading to the kitchen to check on the curry that he was cooking for them. Remus followed, leaning against the doorframe and watching as Sirius worked. After a few minutes, he asked:
"You're really not going back?"
Sirius shook his head and stirred the viscous orange liquid. "They don't want to talk to me, Moony. I can't force them to. They think I'm there for nefarious reasons."
"So show them you aren't," Remus replied, as if it were that simple.
Sirius turned the temperature down on the Muggle cooker and turned to face the other man, leaning back against the countertop with his arms crossed.
"And how do you suggest I do that, Remus?" he asked. "Years of hunting and slavery and vile mistreatment – they don't trust me, and I don't blame them."
"Of course they don't trust you," said Remus, moving into the room and taking Sirius's hands in his own. "And they won't. Not straight away, at least. Trust must be earned, Padfoot. You know that more than anyone."
Sirius didn't say anything. Instead, he stared at their hands: large and masculine, twined and hanging loosely between them.
"If you want to do this, Padfoot – if you want to have an honest conversation with them and show the world who they really are, you have to go back and show them that you are not a threat," Remus stated. "You need to show them that the world is different now, that you helped change it, and that you are willing to wait for them."
Again, Sirius said nothing. This time, he stared at his fiancé: tall and handsome and determined.
"You know where they are, right?"
Sirius nodded.
"Okay, good, so you don't need to camp out there anymore," said Remus. "You can go to the forest, wait until they tell you to bugger off, come back here, and then do it all again the next day."
"They told to leave on two separate occasions, Moony," Sirius muttered. "Shouldn't I respect their wishes and just... stay away?"
"Did they ask you not to come back?"
"No, but it was sort of implied, wasn't it?"
"No," Remus answered. "If they wanted to you never return, they would've said so."
Sirius furrowed his brow. "So, what, I go there and just wait for them to tell me to leave?"
"Yes."
"Okay..." Sirius's frown did not abate. "How long do I do that for?"
"For as long as it takes to get a result," Remus said. "Listen, they tell you to leave, you do it, but you go back the next day and the next and the next. You respect their wishes but keep going back until you get through to them. Be persistent but not insistent. Show them that you are good, that you want to do good. They just need some time, some proof that you aren't like the others. Give them that."
Sirius thought about it and quickly decided that Remus was right: if he wanted to write this book, if he wanted to dispel harmful misconceptions and change the relationship between humans and centaurs into something good, then he would have to go back. He would have to be his usual stubborn self. He would have to bother them and show them that he wanted resolution, not conflict, and that he was a trustworthy sort.
"Alright," he said with a determined nod. "I'll go back tomorrow."
Remus smiled quietly and brought their hands up between them. He kissed the backs of Sirius's hands and then each top knuckle. Sirius smiled at the sappy gesture.
Everyone thought that he was the romantic one and that Remus was hopeless but sometimes the other man would do things, offer little actions or soft words, that would go against such perceptions. The truth was that Sirius was a loud romantic, grand in his demonstrations and noisy with his assertions, but Remus was a quiet sort, subtle with his displays and private with his proclamations.
"I love you," Sirius said quietly.
"I love you more," Remus replied predictably.
"Impossible," he responded.
Remus grinned and released one of Sirius's hands so that he could reach around to switch the cooker off. He then linked their fingers together and took a step back, pulling Sirius with him as he walked backwards.
"What – Where are we going?"
"You need a shower," Remus answered, dragging him into the bathroom. "The food can wait."
Sirius hummed with a smile, letting the other man undress him. He had been stuck with himself for so long that he didn't even notice the smell of earth and sweat and dirt anymore. Remus clearly did, though, as he smelled like soap and elderflower. Once he was fully undressed, Remus flicked the shower handle down and the small bathroom filled with the sounds of waterdrops hitting porcelain. Sirius stepped under the spray.
"Are you joining me?" he asked.
"There is no universe in which I answer 'no' to that question," Remus replied solemnly, and promptly stripped off to follow Sirius into the small space.
Sirius woke up the next morning wrapped around a pleasantly pliant werewolf.
Soft light filtered into the bedroom through cracks in the curtains, making the place feel both comfortable and ethereal. He loved mornings like this, where it was just them and everything was calm and easy. It was so quiet, so different to the life he had thought he'd have as a youngster. He tightened his grip on the other man and snuggled further into the embrace, and they lay there for a little while before Remus muttered that he had to get up and get dressed. Sirius watched from his place snuggled up under the covers and when Remus was finally suited and booted, he leaned down and gave Sirius some advice:
"Maybe take something to the centaurs," he said, in reference to Sirius's plans for the day. "An offering of some sort, just to show that you're not there to cause havoc."
Sirius hummed in response, because it wasn't a bad idea at all, and Remus gave him a kiss on the forehead before he left for work. It was another hour before Sirius got out of bed. He dressed quickly and Apparated to Durisdaig, the small village on the outskirts of Aonghus Forest. He wandered the high-street, wondering what to take with him to the faction. He stopped by the Fruiter's to grab some fresh produce. Once he had a bag full, he Apparated to the edge of the forest and hiked his way to the clearing where he waited.
No one came by – which was disappointing but not unexpected – so Sirius went back to the flat with the fruit. He returned the next day but, again, no one turned up. He inspected the area and found the traps had been set yet again, so he figured they must be coming back soon. He wondered if they knew he would be returning, if maybe they wanted him to. Surely they would have set their traps elsewhere, if they knew about his presence and didn't want him to be a bother. On the third day, he left the ripe fruit in the flat and went by the Fruiter's again to buy some fresh produce.
On the fourth day, as he was leaning against an ancient Druid tree, reading a book and munching on some popcorn, the lead centaur came by.
"Wizard," he greeted, though it was not much of a greeting.
Sirius scrambled to his feet. "Hi," he said. "Hello. I, uh... I brought you something."
The centaur watched with suspicious eyes as he pulled random bits of fruit and veg out of the bag. He didn't really know what to get, thanks to the limited and most likely inaccurate books on centaurs, so he got just about everything: apples, pears, bananas, grapes, plums, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, and so much more.
"Fructus," the centaur noted.
His voice sounded different to the previous times he'd spoken to Sirius. It was lower, softer, not as menacing, as if he was surprised by the gesture. Sirius hoped it was a positive change. The centaur's dark eyes were still glaring at him, though, so he wasn't so sure.
"Yes," he said. "And vegetables, too. I wasn't sure what you'd like, so..."
He shrugged, unsure what else to say.
The centaur huffed and his walls came back up, shoulders straightening and voice taking on an edge as he commanded: "Leave."
"Okay," Sirius agreed. "I'll go. But I'll be back tomorrow."
The centaur did not say anything to that; he just stared with deeply suspicious eyes.
"Here, you keep these," he said, placing the bag of produce on the ground between them. Then he took some slow steps back before he turned and headed to the outskirts to Apparate home.
Sirius returned the next day as promised.
He bought some more fruit from the Fruiter's, less than before but enough to not be considered an insult, and he went to the spot where he'd first met the centaurs. Most of his time was spent reading books and feeding the small woodland creatures. After a few hours of nothingness, he was beginning to think that maybe the centaur wouldn't turn up, but he was immensely glad when the towering being joined him in the clearing around midday. When the centaur took the offering with slight hesitation, Sirius asked for a moment to talk. The centaur refused and told him to leave, and he did.
The same thing happened the next day.
And the next.
And the next.
It became a routine of sorts: Sirius went to the clearing, made an offering, asked for a moment of the centaur's time, and when he was asked to leave, he did without fight but with a promise to be back the next day. The centaur did not tell him not to return, which he took to be a good sign.
After seventeen days of fruit and seed offerings with minimal conversation, the centaur finally asked what he wanted.
"I want to interview you," he answered honestly. "I want to write a book about you, about your kind; something that isn't based on conjecture or assumption. I want to show the world that you're more than what they imagine, because I think you are."
The centaur was silent, but it was an odd kind. Sirius was used to silence from the other being, but he was not used to this type. He didn't know why it was different or how to describe it, but he knew that it somehow both set him on edge and calmed him.
"My name is Sirius Black," he introduced himself officially. "May I ask your name?"
The centaur seemed to hesitate, but eventually answered, "Asmodeus."
Sirius nodded once, a sign of respect, and said, "Hi, Asmodeus. It's nice to officially meet you."
Asmodeus grunted.
"Look, I know I'm asking a lot, so I'll understand if you say no, but I just want a chance," Sirius added. He gestured to the bag in his hands. "This... I just wanted to show that I'm not trying to trick you; that I am genuinely trying to do some good."
"What have you brought?" Asmodeus asked.
"The usual," he answered, looking in the bag to jog his memory. "Broccoli, kiwi, cabbage, sprouts, grapes, bananas... I remember you mentioned a couple of days ago that the apples were well-liked, so I got a load more of those. Um, I also brought you some Asperberry seeds. The shopkeeper said that they were supposed to help with healing?"
Asmodeus came closer and took the bag from Sirius's hands, something he had never done before. It had always been the case of Sirius leaving everything in the middle of the clearing and stepping back.
"Come back tomorrow," he ordered.
Sirius was so stunned by the request that he just nodded dumbly. Asmodeus nodded back, then turned and trotted away.
When Sirius returned home, he found Remus making a cup of tea in the kitchen. He walked into the room and latched onto the other man, wrapping his arms around Remus's middle and resting his head against Remus's back, right between his shoulder blades because he was too bloody tall. He felt Remus lean back into him.
"Coffee?" Remus asked.
Sirius shook his head minutely. Remus nodded and, after a few moments of silence, in which Sirius stayed attached to Remus like a limpet on a rock and the other man allowed him to, Remus placed his cup down on the countertop and turned around in Sirius's arms to return the embrace, his arms looping around Sirius's shoulders.
"Hi, darling," he greeted calmly. "How was your day?"
Sirius responded by burying his face in Remus's monstrously purple jumper and tightening his arms around the other man. He felt Remus's fingers card carefully through his hair. It relaxed him in a way that nothing else ever had or probably ever could.
"Long," he replied after a moment. "But worth it."
"Yeah?"
Sirius nodded. "Yep. He spoke more than five words to me today. I learned his name. Asmodeus."
"Asmodeus," murmured Remus. "Interesting name."
Sirius pulled back to raise an eyebrow and replied, "I'm sure he'd say the same about you."
"Fair," Remus laughed. "So, he talked to you? That's progress."
"I think so," Sirius muttered, burying his face once again. "From what I've seen so far, the centaurs are fiercely protective of their loved ones and seem to be very private. Or maybe that's just Asmodeus. I don't know. Maybe I'll find out. I think if I can explain what I'm trying to do and why I'm doing it, he might let me in. I mean, he took the fruit from my hands today. He's never done that before. I think I'm getting through to him."
"Centaurs don't like outsiders," said Remus, his hands still carding through Sirius's hair with careful sureness. "That's not speculation, that's fact. It's the same with most communities that have been hunted and shunned for hundreds of years. It's a means of survival. Him taking the fruit from you... that's massive."
Sirius grinned. "I know," he said happily.
"Keep at it," Remus muttered. "Show him what you're there to do."
Sirius nodded and took a second to think about it. His offerings of fruit, vegetables and seeds were all well and good, but he needed to do more. He needed to show that he meant no harm. He needed to do something that showed what he had done and what he intended to do.
"What if I— No, it doesn't matter."
"What?"
"Nothing," Sirius muttered. "It's stupid."
"Sirius," Remus spoke, and Sirius looked into his earnest hazel eyes. "What is it?"
Sirius bit his lip but eventually answered, "What I took a few of my books? Just to show him what I've done and what I want to do?"
"I think that's a brilliant idea," Remus replied without hesitation.
"Yeah?" Sirius asked.
"Yes," he answered.
"Alright," Sirius grinned, his mind wandering to which books he would take. "I'll take him some."
Sirius returned the next day with a bag full of fresh produce and some of his books.
With a little help from his fiancé, he had decided on An Interview With... A Werewolf, An Interview With... A Banshee, and An Interview With... A Giant. They were his most critically acclaimed books and he figured if he was going to show his intentions, if he was going to show what he had accomplished thus far and what he intended to do going forward, then providing his first few books would be the key. He had also included a newspaper clipping of the laws he had managed to change for werewolves and other beings.
Asmodeus arrived at midday as expected.
"Asmodeus, hi," Sirius greeted, standing a respectable distance away. "Thank you for meeting me. Inviting me back, I mean."
The centaur nodded once but said nothing. Sirius was used to this reaction. Asmodeus wasn't the most talkative of folk, but Sirius more than made up for it. He opened the bag and pulled out the books.
"I brought the usual fruit and veg, but I also brought these," he said, holding up the books. "They're, uh... They're just to show you what I want to do."
Asmodeus looked from Sirius to the books then back to Sirius. "You assume I can read your letters?"
"I don't assume anything anymore," Sirius replied honestly because he hadn't made a snap judgement since he was eleven years old, not after he arrived at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry where he met so many brilliant people who weren't what he had originally thought they were: not after he met a kind werewolf and a smart Muggleborn and two down-to-earth Purebloods. "Assumptions are often false. People are more than what we think."
Asmodeus squinted at him, as if assessing Sirius and the truth of his statement. After an extremely and unnecessarily long silence, the centaur stepped forward and took the books from his hand. He glanced at the covers and then took bag of produce as well.
"I have a question for you, Sirius," he said, stepping back. "Answer me this, and I will think about your proposal."
"Ask away."
"Why do you want to talk with me?"
"I'm a curious person," he answered honestly. "I just want to show everyone the truth. I know the world can be cruel, especially to those who are... different. I've seen enough injustice and enough pain in our world to know that something needs to change, but nothing will if no one tries. I want to try."
Asmodeus stared at him, weighing the words.
Sirius didn't know what else to say, so he bowed respectfully and said, "I can't come back tomorrow or the day after, but I'll be back on Wednesday."
Asmodeus nodded, and Sirius left the clearing.
The full moon came and went without any issues.
The pack transformed in their usual spot – an abandoned pub in the middle of the Yorkshire Dales, kitted up with the best charms and protection spells that the Wizarding World had to offer – and when the sun rose above the hills the next morning, James and Peter returned to their respective homes while Sirius spent Monday and Tuesday caring for his other half. (Well, he tried to. Remus was far too stubborn to stay in bed for two days.)
Sirius returned to Aonghus Forest on the Wednesday as promised. He brought some fruit and veg, and waited in the clearing until Asmodeus showed up.
"I read your book," the centaur said, without preamble, holding one of the books – An Interview With... A Giant – up.
Sirius grinned, but before he could say anything, Asmodeus continued:
"I spoke to Giandifor and his settlement," he said. "Giandifor believes you to be genuine. He said that you were interested in what he had to say and that you were idealistic but not unrealistic in your intentions. He also said that you are a Pureblooded wizard and part of the Black dynasty."
Sirius nodded, "All true, I suppose, though I haven't been considered a Black for quite a while now."
Having been disowned at sixteen years old, Sirius lived with the Potters as their unofficial son until he graduated Hogwarts and moved into a flat with Remus. A few years ago, his father, Orion, passed away and it was discovered that he never took Sirius out of the will. His mother, Walburga, tried to get his name written off but she was unsuccessful. When she died a year later, Sirius reconnected with his bother, Regulus, and they used their vast wealth and numerous family estates to help the disadvantaged. Regulus being a politician helped with their activism.
Asmodeus hummed, then asked, "Sirius, I believe you want our world to be different, but I cannot see why. You said you had seen injustice and pain, but so have many others before and none have tried as hard as you seem to be trying to change things. If I am to trust you with my tribe, if I am to let you into my home, I must understand your motives."
"Of course," he nodded, "The truth is, I am in love with a wonderful person who just so happens to be a werewolf."
Asmodeus made no reaction, other than a tiny step with one of his front legs. Sirius took that as a sign to continue, so he did:
"He's my best friend. I have been by his side for years and I've seen what he has had to go through. When we left school, I had to watch the abuse and the looks he was given, and it was difficult – for him and for me, because he's so brilliant and I knew he deserved better, but the world was, and still can be, awful.
"His grades were impeccable, but he couldn't keep a job for long because he needed a day off once a month and they were scared. People would cross the streets, deny him access to pubs or restaurants... I just wanted to stop that for him. I wanted his life to be good because he is so good to everyone else. He doesn't deserve it, any of it, he never has, so I wrote and published my first study.
"With a few other activists, we managed to get the outdated laws against werewolves undone, and we managed to get some new fairer laws passed as well. And then I figured, why stop there? I was a Healer before I was a writer and I had seen so many folks pushed to the back of the line or mistreated, all because of something they couldn't help. So, I left that job and this became my full-time vocation."
Asmodeus watched him carefully, looking for lies or perhaps trying to see how sincere he was being.
"You deserve the chance to show the world who you really are," he added. "Because I know that half of the stuff out there is wrong. I know it because I was taught shit in school that I learned wasn't right. The preconceptions, the books, the rumours – lies, misinformation – they all spread hate and fear. I just want people to know the truth so that we can become... I don't know... a community? Or something like that. They should know what you're really like, not from some scholar's ideas or some weirdo's stalking, but from you. There is more to you, I know it, and I want others to know it as well. I want to know who you are, what you like, what your life is like; what you believe in, what stand for... I want to know everything, and then I want to make others understand."
Silence reigned for a long moment before Asmodeus turned and began walking away. "Follow me," he grunted over his shoulder.
Sirius picked up his bag and quickly followed.
Sirius returned home that night with a half-full notebook and a jubilant stride in his step. He threw his bag on the sofa with little care and waltzed into the kitchen, immediately wrapping himself around his lovely fiancé who was sitting at the dining table.
"Oh," Remus said in surprise, putting his cup down on the table and returning the hug as best he could from his position. "Hello, you."
"Hello, my gorgeous dove," replied Sirius, pressing a kiss to Remus's hair before he released the other man and took the other seat at their small dining table.
"You look happy," said Remus, very astutely. He quickly prepared a cup of coffee with his wand before he levitated the drink to sit on the wooden surface in front of Sirius. "I take it the meeting went well, then?"
"It went brilliantly," Sirius stated with a satisfied grin. "Asmodeus is great. It turns out that he is really quite funny when he lets his guard down, and his tribe are so nice. They made me some food and Asmodeus let me ask questions all day. It was amazing watching them interact, seeing how they work as a unit. Asmodeus said I could come back to interview some of the others, if they agreed to, and he'd put a word out to see if any of the other tribes fancy helping out."
"That is brilliant," Remus agreed with a soft smile. "I'm glad it went well."
"You and me, both," he replied. "This book... It's going to change things, Moony, I can feel it. I really think it's going to alter everyone's perception of centaurs. I mean, I learned more in a few hours with them than I ever learned during seven years of school. Of course, I'll need to speak to other factions. I can't just have the one case study, y'know?"
Remus hummed in agreement and took a sip of his tea. "So, you're going back tomorrow?"
Sirius nodded and absently reached across the table to take Remus's hand in his. "Yes," he answered. "But since you have tomorrow off and we haven't spent a lot of time together recently, I told him I'd be by at midday."
"Good," Remus smiled, giving his hand a squeeze. "Are we going out tonight, or...?"
"Actually, I'd really like to just sit on the sofa and eat pizza and watch Blankety Blank, if I'm honest."
"Sounds like a plan," Remus muttered. "Well, then. I'm going to grab a shower and then we'll order in and settle down." He gave Sirius's knuckles a kiss before he stood up and began making his way to the bathroom, but he paused in the doorway and turned back. "Hey, Sirius, I probably don't say it enough, but I am really proud of you."
Sirius faltered, because even after more than a decade of people telling him how proud they were of him, he was still not used to it. "Oh."
"And I love you."
"I love you more," he replied, honest.
Remus shook his head with a smile, "Impossible."
Sirius spent the rest of the month and then some going back to Aonghus Forest and learning about Asmodeus and his tribe.
Some days were spent interviewing members of the faction and getting to know everything he could. Other days were used watching them interact whilst taking quick but detailed notes. He was permitted to spend a few nights at the camp, sleeping in one of the spare huts and observing their daily routines, participating where he was allowed. He studied their culture and learned about their philosophies. He asked all of the questions he could think of and didn't once feel dumb or out of line, which just showed how nice and solicitous they were.
In nine weeks, he learned more than he ever thought he would.
Sirius soon discovered that what the centaurs had was a sort of spiderweb community: different tribes and factions had ways of contacting each other even if they weren't in the same postcode, or even the same country. They found ways to share ways of life and resources and warnings. It was beautiful to see the connection they all had to one another and the openness they seemed to share.
Once he had learned all he could from Asmodeus and his unit, the centaur gave him the locations of three other tribes who were willing to talk with him and who, he said, might connect him to others in their respective areas. And so, with a promise to be back, Sirius spent the next few months immersing himself and learning more.
He visited a faction in Cornwall first and met up with the Grinesca tribe which was headed by a stoic but mostly friendly centaur named Aarnog who taught him a lot about the different creeds and Gods that they worshipped. Aarnog and Sirius talked for a long while, and Sirius spent four weeks studying the tribe and interviewing everyone who would talk to him before he moved on.
He returned home for a couple of weeks before he travelled to Iceland and found the Ólafurson tribe which was headed by an intense leader named Ólafur who taught him more about the ways to survive during the different seasons. He spent five weeks learning all he could and speaking with the unit. Ólafur introduced him to a few other Icelandic tribes and he interviewed everyone about everything for another four weeks before he moved onto the last tribe Asmodeus set up for him.
He went home for three weeks this time, to celebrate Harry's birthday and Peter's engagement, then he made his way to the south of France where he found a faction headed by a very courteous centaur named Aailia who taught him about the different roles within the tribe. He spent ten weeks with Aailia and her lot, learning about the various job types and how they were chosen. She even let him try all of the roles and speak with the little ones. He observed how they learned, how they grew up, what they did for fun. They were all so open and honest with him, willing to share their experiences and knowledge. Aalia connected him with a few other French, German and Italian tribes, who he went and interviewed.
The centaurs were all different, each with their own focus and philosophies and outlooks, but they shared many similar ideologies and ways of life. They confirmed what he thought: they were not what the books and rumours said. They were so much more, and he was excited to show everyone.
Once he was sure that he had enough information to start writing the book – i.e., twenty three notebooks full of interviews and observations, filled with solid information and actual facts – he returned home. He locked himself in his study and began collating his information, sorting it into possible chapters and areas, into interviews and informative sections. Once he had some sort of order, he began typing up the manuscript. It was dark by the time he heard the front door go.
"Padfoot?"
"In here," he mumbled, re-reading the previous sentence. It was difficult to focus on much else when he was in the zone, even his handsome werewolf of a fiancé. The door to the study opened and he heard Remus enter.
"You're back."
Sirius hummed, "For now, yeah."
He typed up the final sentence of his introduction paragraph and quickly read through it all before he turned around in his seat to find Remus leaning against the doorframe. The other man looked so handsome in the hallway light, his brown hair looking an orange-golden colour and his hazel eyes watching carefully. He was wearing that hideous purple jumper again but he still looked wonderful.
"For now?" asked Remus.
"I'll probably go back to see them," Sirius answered. "To clear some things up or get some more information if I think of any more questions."
"Ah," Remus nodded and wandered into the room, moving to lean against the desk next to Sirius. Remus studied him for a moment before he took Sirius's chin between his fingers and leaned down to press a gentle welcome home kiss on his lips.
"Looks like you're going to be busy," he muttered, glancing down at the numerous books and bits of paper. "Do you want a coffee?"
Sirius felt so very lucky in that moment to be with someone who knew exactly what he needed and when. "I would actually love that, yes," he answered.
Remus nodded, gave him a kiss on his forehead, then stood up and said, "Okay."
"Hey," he called, just as Remus stepped into the hallway.
Remus paused and turned to face him, "Yeah?"
"I love you."
Remus chuckled and replied, "I love you more."
Sirius shook his head resolutely. "Impossible."
Remus rolled his eyes but smiled and left for the kitchen.
For the next few months, Remus took care of him.
Often, when Sirius was writing, he forgot to balance his work life and his personal life, so Remus took that role upon himself. Remus made sure to bring him food and water and coffee at least three times a day. He made sure Sirius got enough sleep and showered regularly. He tore Sirius away from the study so that he wasn't exhausted by writing, and he made sure they attended any social gatherings and went outside or spent some downtime in front of the television together. Remus kept him sane during the months where he felt consumed by his research.
Sirius returned to the different tribes several times over the next few months, either for social visits or to check a few facts, and after nearly three months of intense writing, he was finally done. It was his most extensive study yet, he reckoned.
It felt weird, as it always did when he finished a project. The book had consumed him for months, the subject had been his focus for a year, and now it was finished. It was over. He had nothing left to write, nothing to check. He felt bereft, unsure what he was going to do next, but he knew that he would find his next project. He always did, in the end. But it was not the end yet. He still had to get the book edited, checked, printed, and published. There was still a long road ahead of him.
He picked up the stack of paper which would (hopefully) soon be a book and walked out of the study and into the living room where his wonderful swot of a fiancé was sitting on the sofa, frowning down at an all-creature-written independent newspaper.
"I'm finished."
Remus looked up from his papers. "You're finished...?" He glanced at the stack in Sirius's hands. "Oh. You're finished the book."
Sirius nodded.
"Wow, that's... wow. Brilliant. Uh, do you want me to read over it?"
Sirius bit his lip and sat beside Remus. "If you don't mind," he said, looking down at his work. "I need to make some copies and take them to Asmodeus and the others before I send it to the editors and publishers, but I'd like you to have a look over it first."
Remus nodded and folded his newspaper before throwing it onto their ancient coffee table. He held out a hand and said, "Give it here, then. I'll have a look."
Remus didn't ask why Sirius was taking the manuscript to the centaurs. He didn't need to. Sirius always took his books to the beings he was representing. He believed in honest and open contact. He needed to know what they wanted included in his book, if he missed anything or put something down incorrectly or needed to add anything. If he was going to tell the world about these beings and their cultures, he needed full approval from his new friends before doing so.
Sirius smiled and handed the stack over before he went into the kitchen to make himself a well-deserved cup of coffee. He stood in there for a long while, drinking his coffee steadily. Once he'd finished, he returned to the living room to find Remus sitting up straight on the sofa, reading glasses still on his handsome face.
"This is going to take me a while," he muttered, eyes on the paper. "Why don't you go and see Pete for a bit? I'm sure he said he was going to ask you to help him cook dinner for Dyanola."
Sirius considered it and quickly understood that Remus was asking for some silence in order to focus, so he nodded, "Yeah, good idea. I'll see you in a bit, yeah?"
Remus hummed but did not look away from the manuscript.
Sirius pulled his boots on and grabbed his cloak before he stepped out of the flat and made his way to his friend's. When he returned to the flat later that night, after having helped Peter cook a fantastic three-year anniversary dinner for his future spouse, he found Remus still leafing through the manuscript. It looked like he was quite close to the end. Sirius didn't say anything in greeting, not wanting to throw off the other man's concentration, and instead kicked his shoes off and went into the bedroom to get changed into his evening wear. He then went into the kitchen and made a coffee for himself and a tea for Remus. He took the drinks into the living room and placed Remus's on the coffee table before he sat on the solitary armchair, waiting for his partner's verdict.
After ten more minutes of shuffling papers and nervous heartbeats, Remus placed the closing page on top of the pile and put down his pen.
"It's brilliant," he said, simply. "Well-written, objective, concise, honest. I've left a couple of notes for spellings and grammar and such, but otherwise... brilliant."
Sirius released a sigh of relief that he hadn't been aware he was holding. "It's actually good? Fair?"
"More than fair," said Remus. "You are clear without being biased, your words are exact and not open to interpretation, you quoted everyone directly. The chapters and information are set out well. Like I say, there're a few grammar issues, but the editors can fix that." He paused, looking at Sirius carefully. "You've done it again, Padfoot. You've given them a voice. You should be proud, and I think you were right when you said it'd change things. This... You take this to the centaurs, and they'll approve – I guarantee it."
Sirius grinned. "Really?"
"Really."
Sirius fixed the errors pointed out by his lovely grammar slammer of a fiancé before he created copies and took them to the tribal leaders.
He took a Port Key to Iceland and another to France, dropping off a copy of the manuscript with Ólafur and Aailia respectively. He requested honest feedback from them, either to his owl mail address or through Asmodeus, and they promised to review it as soon as they were able. He returned to England and Apparated to Cornwall to drop off a copy for Aarnog before he went to Scotland and took his final text to Asmodeus. He was glad to find that he was welcomed in each place with open arms.
Aarnog and Aalia had no negative feedback for him, both commending his writing which made him feel quite proud of himself. Ólafur corrected a couple of spellings for their deities but was otherwise happy with everything else. Asmodeus was very pleased with the book and confirmed approval to publish it.
It took six weeks for the book to be edited and published. After only three weeks on sale, the study was a bestseller and negotiations had been made for it to become part of the learning syllabus for all mage schools in the United Kingdom. He had just left a particularly long but important meeting with the minister of European Education about his work becoming part of the abroad curriculum when he walked into The Hippogriff's Neck and:
"CONGRATULATIONS!"
Sirius jumped and was momentarily disoriented by the sudden loud howls and cheers aimed at him. He quickly caught up with what was happening and found himself overwhelmed by the scene in front of him: his friends and family and various loved ones taking up the space and beaming at him and... congratulating him? When he had agreed to meet Remus for lunch, it was safe to say that he had not been expecting his whole support system to be there as well.
"What, uh..." A hand came to rest on his back and he turned to find Remus standing at his side, a crooked grin on his face. "Moony, what is this?"
"Congratulations, Padfoot," said Remus; he sounded so very proud. "As of today, your book is officially mandatory reading in Care of Magical Creatures for all schools in the United Kingdom."
"Those poor kids!" James shouted jokingly, eliciting a large round of laughter and snickering.
"James!" Lily groaned, but Sirius just laughed.
"And a little Gryffindor told us that this may be the case for schools across the continent, too?" Peter asked.
Sirius looked at Remus, who he had thought would be better at keeping secrets but apparently not. Remus shrugged, looking a little guilty but mostly proud. Sirius shook his head and turned back to the crowd: "That little Gryffindor is correct. I just had a meeting with Barnaby Crossland and Ozcar Dupont who wants to make my books optional reading in most schools across Europe."
This announcement elicited another round of hoots and cheers that made Sirius grin. He was handed a drink by James before he made the rounds, greeting friends and family that he hadn't seen in what felt like years but was really only a few months or so. Everyone was there: Marlene McKinnon and Dorcas Meadowes, Frank and Alice Longbottom, Regulus, Mary Macdonald, Fabian & Gideon Prewett, Hope and Lyall Lupin, Mia and Monty Potter... It was so brilliant to be surrounded by his favourite people.
Marlene and Dorcas joked with him, Regulus offered him a calm but heartfelt congratulations, the Potters told him how proud they were of him – he definitely did not cry, no matter what James Potter says. It was loud and overwhelming but in the best possible way. After a few hours, the party began to wind down and most people left until it was just the original pack: himself and Remus, James and Lily, Peter and Dyanola, Marlene and Dorcas.
"I am so proud of you, Padfoot," Remus said, his hand taking Sirius's under the table.
"We all are!" crowed Peter, earning a round of cheers from the table.
"Hear, hear!" James laughed, raising his pint. "To Sirius, the best author around!"
"TO SIRIUS!" the table erupted, everyone raising their glasses and then taking a drink.
Sirius grinned, a little bashful. He was proud of himself but being raised by the Potters and being in a relationship with Remus had humbled him; had made him more modest and appreciative of what he had.
"Thank you, thank you. But I'd be nowhere without this man here," he said, gesturing to Remus with his head.
"To Remus, then," Peter said, raising his glass.
"TO REMUS!" the table followed, everyone raising their glasses and then taking another drink.
Remus rolled his eyes, but his pinkened ears told Sirius that he was sufficiently embarrassed by all of the attention. The conversation moved onto other things – like Peter's new job and James's attempts to have another baby with Lily and Marlene's move-in proposal to Dorcas.
"I mean it, Sirius," said Remus, quietly, whilst the others talked amongst themselves. "I am so bloody proud of you. Everything you've done, especially in these past few years... You're brilliant."
Sirius smiled but it was a small and timid thing because any compliment from Remus made him feel too nice. "Be proud of us," he replied, giving Remus's hand a squeeze. "If I hadn't met you, I probably wouldn't be doing this."
Remus hummed doubtfully and replied, "I don't know about that. I think you would've been doing this whether you'd met me or not. You're just that brilliant."
Sirius laughed and leaned further into him, shoulder against shoulder.
"I love you," Remus muttered.
Sirius smiled, "I love you more."
Remus squinted and replied, "Impossible."
Sirius laughed again and took a sip of his pint.
Sirius Black was a well-known author and activist. Most of his studies were taught in classes, analysed by scholars, and read by diehard enthusiasts. He was revered for his outspoken views on just about everything and respected for his written work, but he wouldn't be who he was or where he was without his friends, without his family, or without Remus.