It can be confusing
Hogwarts Slytherin Girls Dorms
February 12th, 1974
Grace had decided to keep that moment hidden in the back of her memories, it wasn’t important, it didn’t mean anything, they were messing around, he hadn’t mentioned it since so that was all it was. They continued as they were and nothing changed, they went to quidditch practice together, to class together, studying,meals, the tree, it was all the same. The upcoming quidditch match was Slytherin Vs Gryffindor so James,Sirius,Marlene, Regulus and Grace had spent most of their free time drilling each other and learning each other's weaknesses.
“Just because you’re my brother does not mean i’m going to let you win Reg” Sirius flew past him quickly leaving Reg floating by a quaffle post.
“And just because you’re my future sister in law doesn’t mean i’ll let you win either” yelled James from across the pitch.
“You’re lucky Lily’s not here to hear that she’d hex you in an instant” sighed Grace
“I have no emotional attachment to any of you so i simply just won’t let you win” said Marlene soaring past them all, she was good at Quidditch, really bloody good.
“Well she’s going to hex me in about.. two days” he said smirking
“You're asking her to be your valentine again? '' asked Regulus, landing on the grass.
“He asks her every single year” sighed Sirius, “Oye maybe her hex will backfire and trick her into liking you” he laughed
“Shut it” James pushed into Sirius with his broom.
“You asking anyone Reg?” asked Sirius nudging him, Grace landed and her eyes snapped to Regulus at the words.
“Erm, i don’t know i don’t think so”
“You’re not even interested in anyone” snapped Grace
“oh shit” whispered Marlene hovering around them with a small smile.
“Well how would you know” he replied
“You told me yourself, unless you lied.” she said, stretching out the word.
“I didn’t” he replied
“Alright, then the answer you’re looking for Sirius is no, he won’t be asking anyone” she said with a sarcastic smile and walked off the pitch.
“What the fuck just happened” sighed Regulus
“Someone’s got a crush that’s what” laughed Marlene
“Fuck”
“told you.” muttered Sirius earning a glare form Regulus
“Ask her to be your valentine” said James
“No i can’t” he said
“Alright well dont get mad when someone else does and she says yes”
“Well who else would be asking her?” he said with a small laugh
“Half of bloody gryffindor” blurted out Sirius
“What”
“Oh god it keeps getting better” Marlene sat down on the grass next to them.
“What do you mean half of gryffindor”
“After the whole snitch thing, she’s been non stop discussion in the common room” sighed James
“Some 6th years even want to ask her” said Sirius
“God that’s gross how does Lily feel about that”
“Those 6th years were in the infirmary for a few days with a pretty permanent bat bogey hex” smiled James.
“Whatever she’s not going to say yes to any of them”
“Some girl just asked Grace to be her valentine” said Remus strolling onto the field
“What!” yelled Regulus
“Wait a girl?” asked Sirius
“For Merlins sake i love this girl” giggled Marlene
“Did she say yes?” asked Regulus
“I think so and yes a girl” he said nodding to Sirius.
“Wait is Grace a-“
“That’s great!” said James cutting Sirius off, Remus’s eyes lingered on Sirius urging him to finish his words.
“Told you, you should’ve asked,” said James grabbing Sirius by the wrist and pulling him off followed by Remus.
“fuck fuck fuck”
“Watch out or I'll ask her out myself.” winked Marlene leaving him alone.
February 12th,1974
Grace stormed off the field, her face hot with anger, that he had really lied to her to spare her feelings. That bloody Black, she didn’t need her feelings protected, it's not like would have even cared if he did like someone. She moved her way through the crowded hallway until she found Remus.
“Regulus Black is an idiot” she sighed
“As are all Blacks” he retorted with a smile “How come?”
“Ugh it’s nothing, want to go to the library?” she said as she already started walking there.
“Fine I won't push, but only because I need to check out some books and your 12 year old drama is going to disrupt me” he said following behind her, as they approached the library a girl with sandy blonde hair and a bright gryffindor red sweater approached them with a small bouquet of dandelions.
“Hi, i’m Heather Padgett, i’m in your-“
“My transfiguration class, i know, hey” smiled Grace as Remus politely stepped back
“I was just wondering if you’d like to hang out on Valentine's Day?” she smiled pushing out the flowers.
The question was kind of a surprise she had never talked to Heather much, to be fair she didn’t talk to anyone but Regulus in that class, Regulus,
“a crush, i hadn’t really thought of that yet”
“Erm, i don’t know i don’t think so”
“Well how would you know?”
“Yeah, i'd love to” she smiled, taking the flowers. “Um Remus, do you mind if i go to the library with Heather instead?” she turned to ask him but he had already made his way halfway down the hall.
Field (Under the tree)
February 12th 1973
“Sirius” said James sitting him down under the tree, “What were you going to say about Grace”
“What do you mean” he asked, Remus silently stood behind James analyzing Sirius face.
“What’s your opinion on Grace going out with a girl” asked Remus
“Oh i was gonna ask if she was a fag” he said
“Fuck Sirius” sighed James sitting down next to him along with Remus
“What?!” whined Sirius
“You can’t call people that”
“It’s the term no? That’s what mother referred to them as, one of my aunts was one so she was burned off the family tree” he said nonchalantly
Remus turned to look at James and they both shared the same look.
“It’s not the term.The term is queer”said James
“How do you know this?” asked Sirius
“My parents didn’t want to force me to be anyone but myself so they taught me all about it once i started showing interest in girls” he smiled
“Are you queer?” asked Sirius
“ i don’t think i am, Lily Evans is about the only person i’ve ever shown any emotional feelings towards” he replied
“We’ll it doesn’t always have to be emotional for you to be queer” said Remus
“What?” asked Sirius
“it’s just, well it’s hard to figure out if you like someone romantically or if you’re just good friends, it’s hard to do that normally but it gets a lot harder and scarier if you’re queer” he said his eyes glued to the grass.
“Like if i looked at a bloke and got a hard on id be queer” laughed Sirius
“Well there’s like gay or like bisexual where you like both” said James a bit confused in his own words.
“Simply put, yes i guess you could be queer” said Remus quietly. There was a small silence and James was simply staring at Remus who had developed a small sweat.
“Alright, so in the future Sirius, queer is the term, and it’s not bad” he said
“Alright mum” he laughed and picked up his broom, “See you two at dinner?”
“yeah” smiled James
Remus began to get up and James quickly turned his attention to him.
“Remus”
“Yeah James”
“You’re gay aren’t you”
Remus stared at him in silence and felt the tears begin to surround his eyes. James didn’t look upset, he just looked confused.
“i don’t care Remus, and if Sirius cares he’s a bloody idiot and i’ll knock the sense into him”
“Why do you think i’m gay” he asked quietly
“You would’ve liked Lily, i thought you turned down Grace because you wanted Lily, but you’ve never liked Lily you said you were all good friends and that was it, that was all it would ever be” he said
“oh”
“What you said, about it being confusing, with your friends and all that”
“Yeah”
“You’d tell me right? If you felt that way about someone, i could help y'know, i’m your friend moony”
“I know”
The boys looked at each other in silence until James wrapped Remus into a hug and felt the weight of Remus’s breath drop onto him.
“i won't tell” whispered James
“thank you James”
“Always Remus”