Chapter 15
In their eagerness to finally steal a moment to themselves after an afternoon on James’s quidditch pitch, Remus forgot to lock the bedroom door. He only remembered this little detail at the same moment that the door unexpectedly opened.
Remus froze at the first sound of the wood creaking, panic blooming his chest, and Sirius barely had time to ask him what was the matter when they heard a strangled screech.
“Ja - oh god!” Lily had a hand clapped over her eyes as she whirled around. “Oh god. Sorry, sorry. I was looking for James. Sorry.”
Remus scrambled to throw his trousers on and tugged a shirt over his head, leaping out of bed and away from Sirius before Lily could reach the door.
“Lily, wait. Please.” She turned slowly, keeping her hand over her eyes. Remus glanced at Sirius to make sure he was dressed before tugging gently at Lily’s arm. “You can open your eyes, I promise.”
“I… are you sure?”
Sirius snorted. “Your chance to see me naked has passed, I’m afraid.”
Lily slowly pulled her hand down, glancing at the two of them warily for a moment before relaxing. Her face was still flushed an impressively deep red.
“Sorry to interrupt,” she said awkwardly, “I just thought James was in here. I got the rooms mixed up. I’ll, uh, get out of your hair.”
“I think we should chat first.” Remus felt suddenly very weary. After a little coaxing, he got her to sit on the edge of the bed.
“It’s not what you think.” Remus started.
“So you weren’t just having sex?”
“Well…”
“And the two of you aren’t in a relationship?”
“Okay, it’s exactly what you think.” Remus muttered. Sirius was trying and failing to keep the grin off of his face. “Are you, uh, okay with that?”
Lily looked supremely confused for a moment. “Remus are you asking me if I’m upset the two of you are gay?”
“Well, yes.”
“I had no problem with you being a werewolf, but you think being gay is where I draw the line?”
Remus opened his mouth and shut it again. He didn’t really have anything to counter that. Sirius threw his head back and laughed.
Remus frowned. “Wait, how did you know we were in a relationship?”
Lily smiled at them fondly. “Just a hunch.”
“A hunch?”
“I’ve known you for quite a few years now.”
Remus felt himself pale.“Does anyone else share this hunch.”
She shook her head. “Don’t think so, it’s never come up and I’ve kept it to myself.”
“Right,” Remus said awkwardly, “I would appreciate it if you continued to keep it to yourself for now.”
She considered him solemnly for a moment. “Of course I will. But if I could just make a suggestion?”
“Go ahead.”
“James would be happy for you. If you gave him the chance.”
Remus’s throat felt suspiciously tight. He stared down at the floor, not trusting himself to speak.
“We’re working up to that.” Sirius cut in smoothly. Remus felt his hand slide reassuringly up his back, fingers splaying out possessively over his spine.
Lily nodded and stood up. “Whatever you want. My lips are sealed. I’ll let you get back to, uh, you know.”
Sirius grinned lazily up at her. “You sure you don’t want to stay for the show?”
Lily smacked the back of his head as she passed.