Haircut
Remus hadn’t expected much when he got back to the dorm after a day in Hogsmeade with the girls. Sirius had told him he and James would just pass time doing something.
Something
And when Remus opened their dorm door and saw Sirius sitting in the bed it was.. it was definitely something.
“No”, was all he said.
“No, no, no'', he said again and shook his head. He brought his hands to his face and let out a groan. “No Sirius, no“, he walked closer to the boy whose hair, instead of reaching almost shoulders, barely reached his ears. Curling from the ends, which was, yes cute, but no no no.
“Love, why would you do that”, Remus heard himself whine as he ran his fingers through the way too short hair. He has always loved Sirius' hair, the silky wavy strands that turned even more curly when the weather was humid. It made Sirius, well Sirius and now it was gone. Remus wanted to cry.
“Remus I-“
“Why did you cut your hair? You loved it. I loved it!”
Sirius looked like he could cry anytime now. He was chewing on his lower lip looking down to his hands.
“It was a dare”, he said quietly, not meeting Remus’ eyes.
“A dare? who- James fucking Potter I’m going to kill you. No wonder he was smirking when I walked past him in the common room”, Remus cursed some more as he yanked the door open. He stomped down the stairs and as he got down he saw the wild dark hair peaking over the top of sofa.
“James fucking Potter what the fuck did you do to Sirius”, he asked and took the quidditch magazine from him. The other boy first looked at him with a smile, but as he saw his friends face the smile faded a bit.
“It was a dare-“
“Why the fuck would you dare that. He loves his hair!”
James struggled. “I didn’t think he would actually do it”
“Of course he would do it, he’s Sirius he doesn’t think about what he does until afterwards and then it’s too late!”
“Okay fair point-“
“Now his sitting on his bed looking like he’s about to cry every minute now! If he hasn’t already. I’m about to cry!”
“He’s what?” James' face went white and his eyes grew bigger “I- I didn’t know.. he just said that he would wait for you to get back. Told me to go down. Fuck, why didn’t he tell me?”
“He’s still Sirius and doesn’t want you to get upset”
James ran his hands through his hair. “I’m the worst best friend ever. Aren’t I?”
Remus didn’t say anything, because they both know that isn’t true. He just turned around and started walking back to the dorm. He heard how James got up to follow him.
“James, give us a minute. Okay? I wanna talk with him”
“Are you mad?”
Remus sighed. “No. It’s not my place to be mad. I’m just pretty disappointed with the both of you”
“I’m sorry”
“I know, Prongs. But I’m not the one who needs to hear that, am I?” he gave him a sad smile and turned around.
It was a bit dramatic, they were all a bit dramatic. It was just a hair and could be grown back. But everyone who knows or has even seen Sirius knows his hair is a big deal. Remus knows the reason behind the long hair isn’t just that it looks absolutely beautiful on him, but because his parents never approved the long hair. They always hated Sirius’ long hair and made him cut it just so it only reached under his ears. When Sirius ran away he grew his hair out, to show he was free from that house.
So it wasn’t just hair, it had a meaning and it was important. And of course James didn’t know that. He wouldn’t have dared that if he did. But Sirius had only told that one secret to Remus and Remus only.
When Remus got to the door he quietly opened it, but the dorm was empty. Remus furrowed his eyebrows. He walked in and checked all the beds just to find them empty. Then he realised the bathroom door was locked.
“Sirius, sweetheart?” he said and pressed his ear to the door. He heard movement on the other side. He heard Sirius sniffle and move closer to the door.
“Can you open the door, love?”
The lock on the door turned and Remus carefully opened the door. And Sirius stood there, his eyes red and puffy. He looked small, somewhere between Remus leaving and getting back Sirius had changed into one of his sweaters. It reached his mid-thigh and if he didn’t look so miserable Remus would have teased him about it
“Oh Sirius”, was what he said instead.
“I’m sorry”, Sirius said quietly and Remus immediately shook his head and took a step closer.
“Why are you sorry?” Remus asked and wrapped his arms around him. He felt how Sirius basically melted into him, his head nestled into Remus’ chest.
“You liked my hair and I cut it and I hate it and I want it back”, he said thickly and Remus squeezed him even more.
“First of all I like you and your hair no matter what it looks like”, he told Sirius and took a hold of his chin to bring his head up. “Second of all, I think you look very handsome with short hair. Third of all it will grow back”
He didn’t know if his words reassured the other boy at all, but he tried.
“I don’t like it. It feels too short”, Sirius stated and pouted. And Remus couldn’t even blame him for it.
“And why is that?”
“Hmm?”
“Why don’t you like it?” Remus clarified.
Sirius didn’t say anything, he sighed and pressed his face to Remus’ chest again. “Because it makes me feel like before I ran away”, he mumbled to the fabric of Remus’ shirt.
“There it is. But you know what Sirius? It doesn’t have to. You’re not there anymore and you can make new memories to overtake the old ones”
Sirius looked confused, like he didn’t know what Remus meant with it.
“Like instead of this reminding you of your parent it could remind you of James, about your stupid dares you guys do all the time. About your friendship with James. It can be anything you want”
Sirius stayed quiet and seemingly thought about it.
“And I know it isn’t that simple and easy”, Remus kept going. “But it could help”
Sirius then nodded.
“Yeah, I.. yeah”, then he looked up to Remus and smiled. It was a small one, but it was there. “Thank you Moony”
Remus smiled back and then walked them both to the sink where also hung a mirror. Then pushed Sirius to stand in front of the mirror and placed himself behind him.
“So, why don’t you like it?” Remus asked and wrapped his hands around Sirius’ waist. Sirius looked at himself in the mirror, turning his head from side to side. It was surprisingly well cut. It would maybe need some cleaning from Marlene, but other than that, they had done pretty well.
“I don’t know”, he finally said and shrugged. “It feels odd, it hasn’t been that short since fifth grade. I’m not used to it”
“It doesn’t mean it’s bad”, Remus pointed out and brought his other hand to Sirius’ hair. He ran his fingers through it and very gently pulled at it.
“Beside”, Remus said. “I still have something to hold and pull”
He smirked as blush spread from Sirius’ neck to the tip of his ears.
“Yeah- um.. yes true”, Sirius nodded and turned around in Remus’ arms.
“Thank you, Remus. You always know what to say”, he told on stood on his toes. Remus took the hint and took a hold of his cheeks, bringing their lips together to a sweet kiss.
“Now, there’s this certain James Potter waiting outside the dorm who really badly wants to apologise to you”
Sirius looked to the door and back to Remus.
“What?”
“I told him you were upset”
“Remus!”
“Oh and by the way”, Remus stepped away from him. “I’m disappointed with the both of you”
“What? Moony?” Sirius said and tried to reach for him but Remus slapped his hand away.
“I loved your hair, like very fucking much adored it. But yours and James’ shared braincell decided to stop working so now I’m disappointed”
“But..but you said I look handsome”, Sirius whined and stomped his leg like a toddler.
“Yeah you do. You’ll always be handsome, but the hair Sirius. The hair”, he said pressed a quick kiss to the tip of his nose to tell he really isn’t mad. Yes he did love Sirius hair, still does of course. But he was allowed to be the dramatic one out of the two of them for once.
“Love you Pads!” he said and walked out of the bathroom. He heard how Sirius followed him out and Remus went to reach for the door. As he opened it he saw James standing on the other side, panic written all over his face.
“Remus!” he said and glanced inside to the dorm. Sirius was sitting on his bed and looked back at him. James glanced at Remus.
“He’s all yours”
“Sirius I am so sorry-“
Was all Remus heard before he closed the door. He chuckled as he walked down the stairs. He decided he has to tell Regulus about this, he will lose his shit. And they could together make fun of the two idiots.
Oh how he loves his friends, even if they only share one brain cell.