Remus Lupin has three secrets.
1. He was a werewolf in a very anti-werewolf wizarding school.
2. He was completely and utterly in love with his best mate: Sirius Black.
3. It was him who had pranked the Slytherin common room last week.
Remus Lupin also knew three things.
1. He has the most caring, progressive and extremely overbearing friends a person like him could ask for.
2. He definitely cannot tell his best mate about his newly found feelings for him.
3. The Slytherins had definitely deserved it. (Well, all but one. But he wasn’t even in the common room when it happened so he doubts Regulus would’ve cared.)
It had been an unusually quiet day in the Gryffindor common room as every student from third year up had been enjoying a day at Hogsmeade filled with butterbeer, delectibles from Andy’s Candy shop, and spending a day with friends.
Not Remus, though. He had sent his friends on without him, feigning a headache. He had to solemnly swear he would take a healing potion and get some much needed rest in order for James - the certified mum of the infamous , - to actually leave him behind.
In actuality - which Lily was the only one aware of - he had just been actively avoiding a day spent with his best friend. Yes, the one and only, Sirius Black. The overly excitable, notorious pranker Sirius Black. The one with long black hair, the leather jacket, the almost-too-perfect silver-blue eyes. The Queen loving, art enthusiast. The short, feisty drama queen that had to have absolutely everyone’s attention at all times.
Remus had recently come upon an epiphany, of sorts. One that had made him realize that his one-second-too-long stares could've meant something more than a friendly admiration for the raven-haired boy. He realized that the feeling he got when Sirius (being the overly affectionate boy that he is) sat his head on the taller boy’s shoulder was extremely pleasant. And indescribably comfortable. That epiphany had made self-evident on a particularly cold day in the middle of a snow storm and Sirius had decided to curl himself up in one of Remus’ oversized jumpers and lay his head in the taller boy’s lap because, “Merlin’s bloody balls it’s colder than a witch’s tit out there! You’ve got to give me one of those grandpa sweaters you got laying around here.” Remus thought he could die right then and there and not care.
But with that revelation came a multitude of uncertainty for the self conscious werewolf. Most of them are along the lines of, oh no, what have I done?What is happening?, and most importantly, Sirius can never know.
So, with those thoughts circling his mind, he ran.
Okay, so he didn’t actually run, per say. More, avoided.
Every time Sirius came into a room - Announcing his arrival with a flip of his long silky hair, and a casual “I have arrived!” - Remus created an untimely escape.
And it worked. Well…For a period of time. (That period of time being exactly one day - because Sirius is a needy puppy desperate for his Moony’s attention.)
Now, every time Remus is alone, Sirius (being the worried friend he is) tries to corner him and ask him “What’s wrong, Moony?” with his absolutely adorable puppy dog eyes. Of course, Remus (being the self-conscious and self sabotaging person he is) quietly says “nothing” and passes by without another look - not an easy feat when the love of your life is the one you’re trying to brush off.
Knocking himself out of the rabbit-hole that was his mind, he quickly turned the page of the book he was attempting to read. But with his thoughts elsewhere it was near impossible. That was, until the object of his affections strode into the empty common room.
There he was. Sirius Black in all his glory. Well…Not exactly glory. The boy had tripped mid entrance when he saw Remus, quickly righted himself and made a beeline for the boy - probably due to all of Remus’ desperate escape acts.
“Moony! Oh, I’ve been looking for you everywhere! Whatcha doin’?” Reluctantly, Remus turned his attention to the rambunctious boy and sighed. Something told him he wasn’t getting out of this.
“Reading.”
Sirius blinked. “Well, yeah. I can see that. It’s Prongs that wouldn’t be able to see a troll right in front of his idiot face.”
“Then why did you ask?” Remus was well-aware he was making Sirius frustrated by now. For all his obliviosness, he got riled up fairly quickly.
Sirius quickly caught his frustration and sighed. “Look Moony. I know something’s wrong. I know you’ve been avoiding me. And I know you aren’t really sick.” He reached out a hand and placed it on Remus’ shoulder. Remus was just realizing how close Sirius had suddenly gotten. At some point Sirius had moved to be sitting right next to Remus on the couch. Refusing to meet Sirius’ penetrating gaze, he spoke.
“Astute observation, Sherlock Holmes. You are unbelievable.” He was trying for dry sarcasm but it came out as something of a plea. Finally it was Sirius’ voice that forced him to meet his eyes.
“Did I do something?”
“What? No, ‘course not.” Sirius held his gaze, scrutinizing his whole expression. It seemed like he was searching for something in Remus’ amber eyes. When he didn’t seem to find anything, he sighed and returned his gaze to the fire.
They sat in very uncomfortable silence before Sirius seemed to stiffen beside him.
“I think I know why you’re avoiding me.” Remus stilled. He whipped his head to meet Sirius, who was pointedly not meeting his gaze yet again. He couldn’t know…right?
“Y-you do?” He tried to keep his mini freak-out out of his voice.
“Yeah. I mean I guess it was just a matter of time before stupid Prongs opened his big mouth and told you. And I know why you’d be uncomfortable,” Remus was thoroughly confused by now but stayed quiet while Sirius continued, “but I just want you to know that you don’t ever need to feel - uncomfortable - around me okay? I wouldn’t ever do - or well say - anything. And - we can stay friends okay? But I mean if you’re also not okay with that…I mean that’s fine too I guess but…”
“Wait. What are you on about? Why would I ever want to not be around you?” Remus was now entirely too confused in the conversation. Something told him Sirius did not know why he had been avoiding him.
Sirius was being extremely fidgety which always meant one of two things: He was either planning something or nervous. Remus guessed it was probably the latter of the two.
“Sirius…” Remus tried to coax Sirius to finally look at him. Once he finally did, he continued, “What are you talking about?” Sirius’ eyes were filled with panic, so much that all Remus wanted to do was pull him into the biggest hug and reassure him of whatever was bothering him. But he suddenly felt that he had been the reason for this.
“I like you.”
It was said so fast and the second it was out in the air, Sirius broke off the continued eye contact. But Remus didn’t notice. Did I hear that right? He was two seconds away from telling himself he had misheard before it was repeated. It was a quiet whisper, a stark contrast to the loud jubilant boy who would dance around the common room without a care in the world.
“What?” That was the only thing he could say, even though he had clearly heard it. He Couldn’t possibly be hearing what he’s hearing right now.
“You heard me.”
“…You really mean it? Why?” Remus wasn’t sure what to do. Firstly, he wanted to jump up and tackle Sirius and probably snog him senseless. But Sirius looked so fragile, like he expected to be heartbroken. That was when Remus realized he was expecting to be heartbroken.
“Of course I mean it. Merlin’s balls! Of course I mean it, Moony. You’re the best person I know. You’re kind and sarcastic. You’re extremely funny. You’re my best friend and I’d be lying if I said you weren’t bloody attractive and…I’m rambling but really-“
Sirius was quite forcefully cut off by a warm hand on his cheek and a pair of slightly chapped lips.
Remus felt like he was on cloud nine. He was kissing Sirius. Sirius bloody Black.
There was absolutely no uncertainty in the way they kissed. It was familiar in the way of coming home after a long day, but so new. So delicate. So gentle.
When they both pulled back - because apparently humans need to breathe - Remus just took a good long look at the boy in front of him, not being able to shake off the massive grin his face held.
This boy. This crazy, energetic, sweet boy.
Remus Lupin knew three things.
1. He was completely and utterly in love with his boyfriend: Sirius Black.
2. Sirius Black was in love with him, too. (For some odd reason)
3. Sirius is going to be pissed when he finds out Remus blamed the whole Slytherin incident on him.