Sirius-11
Everything that day was normal. Normal Breakfast, normal cycle to college, normal college. No-one acknowledged his birthday, apart from Alya, who gave him a nice present (a brand new set of bamboo and horsehair paint brushes) and told him that the two of them, Reiny and Tom were going to the beach for a small party together.
It was a bit unfair. Gosh. How many times has that been said? It’s not fair. All his friends remembered Remus’s birthday and had a great celebration, but no-one remembered his eighteenth. He was quiet the whole school day, just getting on with his work, listening to him music. He sat with his friends at lunch, hoping that they would say something about his birthday, but no-one did. It really upset him that no-one said anything. Especially since it was his eighteenth. The day he became an official adult. He would’ve liked someone to notice it. But no-one did.
It was really upsetting that none of his friends had said anything about his birthday. How could they forget? He could understand the Marauders not knowing his birthday, since he had only known them properly for a short amount of time, but Lily, Alice, Marlene and Dorcas had been his friends for just under seven years now and had remembered all of his other birthdays... So why had they forgotten his eighteenth?
Sirius asked all of his friends if they wanted to go for a drink at the Hog’s Head after classes, but they all made excuses not to come,: ‘My sister is ill,’ ‘I have lots of homework,’ ‘my horse has to go to the vets.’ He just sighed and waved them all off, deciding to stay at college for an extra 45 minutes to study. Once he had finished his essay, he walked out of college and grabbed his bike and helmet, cycling back home, a sad feeling in the bottom of his stomach. When he did get home, he saw Reiny’s car parked out the front. This put a smile on his face, for he had missed Tom and Reiny and was looking forward to their little beach party later. He walked slowly into the house and was greeted by hugs and smiles from Tom, Reiny and Alya. He felt loved by these three people, and special, since they were the only ones that remembered his birthday.
“Sirius!” Tom said, squeezing him tightly, “I’ve missed you so much. Happy birthday mate.”
“Cheers Tommy! I’ve missed you too. I didn’t mean to be such a stranger...”
“Na it’s all cool,” Reiny said, kissing Sirius’s cheek, “Besides, you aren’t going to be a stranger anymore.”
“Where have you been? We were expecting you back home half an hour ago,” Alya said.
“Oh. Yeah, I was finishing an essay for my media studies. Sorry,” Sirius replied, walking over to his aunt to give her a tight hug.
“It’s alright. Now, Siri you run upstairs and out something suitable for the beach on and then we can get going,” Alya smiled and Sirius ran upstairs, changing into some shorts, a loose t-shirt and his flip-flops. He grinned at his reflection in the mirror and was just about to go downstairs when he heard his phone ping.
Happy 18th Star. Have an amazing day ;) love n miss u tons! Love Tonks xxx
He smiled; Tonks was just amazing at times. Texting a reply, he ran downstairs and out to the car, where Reiny, Tom and Alya were waiting for him. Reiny and Alya were travelling in Alya’s car, and Tom was driving Sirius in Reiny’s car. He slid into the passenger seat, buckling his seatbelt and Tom started the car, tailing Alya and Reiny.
“You alright?” Tom asked after about ten minutes of driving, the music playing softly from the radio.
Sirius sighed, “Yeah. I mean, I’m gunna have a great party with you and Reiny and Ally and It’s gunna be so much fun...”
“But?”
“But I wish my friends had said or done something. None of them acknowledged my birthday in any way, shape or form. And it hurts, you know?”
Tom smiled slightly and reached out to clasp Sirius’s hand, “I get you. I don’t know what to say other than I’m sure they will do something for you.”
“Yeah, I suppose. I guess we are all kinda busy with A-Levels and shite, but they all remembered Remus’s birthday. Just not mine.”
“Remus?” Tom asked, his eyebrows raised, and his mouth curved into a smirk as Sirius blushed.
“Shut up. Nope I’m not talking about him.”
Tom grinned wolfishly, but let it go. Instead, he turned up the volume on the radio and he and Sirius spent the rest of the journey singing and laughing like the two carefree teenagers they were.
When they arrived at the beach, Tom grabbed Sirius and blindfolded him before he could get out of the car.
“Hey, Tom!” Sirius shouted as his vision was taken from him, “What the hell!”
“Shush it’s all part of the party,” Tom said, bringing Sirius out of the car and locking it behind him.
“What the-”
“Hush. Mum and Alya have gone on ahead. C’mon,” Tom put his arm around Sirius’s shoulders and started to lead him forwards. Sirius was wary, but he trusted Tom, so didn’t make any further comment and let Tom guide him on in silence. After a minute, he felt the sand spilling over his flip flops, so he made Tom stop so he could go bear footed on the sand. Another two or three minutes passed, then Tom suddenly stopped him.
“Stay here and do not move or take off your blindfold until I tell you, okay?” He said.
Sirius gulped, but nodded and felt Tom let him go. He didn’t move, staying perfectly still. While he waited, he listened to the sound of the waves crashing against the shore and the noise of other people on the beach. He could hear children laughing and screams of delight. It was his idea of heaven. All that was missing was his friends. He really wished they had done something for his birthday. Or even just wished him a happy birthday.
“Hey Sirius!” He heard Tom shout, “You can take off your blindfold now!”
Sirius smiled and untied his blindfold. He blinked a few times to let his eyes adjust to the sudden glare of the sun, and then his eyes came into focus. When he saw what was in front of him, he let out a surprised gasp. There, right there in front of him, was all his friends, Alya, Reiny and Tom smiling at him. There was a barbeque and some food lined up on a table, a gigantic beach ball was by James and Frank and a cricket set leaning against the beach wall.
“HAPPY BIRTHDAY SIRIUS!” They all yelled as tears fell down Sirius’s cheeks. His college friends ran forwards and swept him into a big group hug, squidging him in the middle.
“I-I thought you had all forgotten,” Sirius choked out.
“Sirius Black!” Lily exclaimed after she had kissed him on the cheek, “I thought you knew us better!”
Everyone laughed at that and let Sirius go, letting him turn to Alya, Reiny and Tom.
“Were you all in on this?” He asked, and they grinned.
“Yup,” Reiny said, coming over to hug Sirius.
“Let’s get this party started!” Marlene shouted, grabbing the beach ball and rolling it forcefully at Sirius, knocking him over.
“I’ll get you for that McKinnon!” He roared; a broad grin spread across his face as he jumped up and rolled the ball back at her. The others joined in and they switched between playing with the beach ball and playing French cricket, before finally running into the sea, laughing and screaming while Alya and Reiny started up the barbeque so that all the food would be ready when the teens came out of the sea.
“REMUS!” Sirius screamed as Remus dived under the waves and scooped Sirius up into his arms.
Remus laughed and Sirius clung to Remus’s neck, grinning.
“AAWW!” They heard Dorcas yell, “REMUS AND SIRIUS!”
“Fuck off Dorcas,” Remus shouted, rolling his eyes as everyone laughed.
“Guuuuyyyyysssss,” James whined, “I’m huuuuuuuuunnnnggggggrrrrryyyyyyyy.”
“Jesus James,” Lily said, launching herself onto James’s back, “When are you not hungry?”
James pouted and crossed his arms, making Lily laugh and kiss his lips.
“We have been out here for an hour,” Alice said, “And I can smell the barbie from here.”
“Let’s eat then,” Remus said, dropping Sirius into the sea and swimming to the shore, everyone close behind him. They ran towards Reiny and Alya, grabbing plates and napkins off the table and getting food off the BBQ. After they had got all their food, they sprawled on the sand, munching on their burgers and hot dogs as the sun sank and the dusk became apparent. Remus was next to Sirius, and they were sitting closer than was deemed suitable for people who were meant to be friends.
While everyone chatted around them, Remus and Sirius were having their own small conversation. One that they should have had ages ago.
“Sirius... I should have told you this before now,” Remus said, “I... I...”
“Rem-”
“I love you. As in I love, love you. Like I have feelings for you, and I want to hold you and kiss you and curl up with you and I want to call you mine,” Remus looked down and bit his lip. Sirius was smiling. Really hard. He had wanted this to happen since the day that bloody car had hit him. He reached out and picked up Remus’s hand, bringing it up to his lips and kissing his knuckles.
“Me too,” He said, looking into Remus’s eyes, “I love you. Have done so for ages. I want to kiss you and run my hands through your hair and read to you. I want to be yours.”
Remus’s hand came up to caress Sirius’s cheek, the other squeezing Sirius’s hand tightly. Sirius let his hand come up to run his fingers through Remus’s hair. They were close. Very close, their lips almost touching. Remus dropped his hand from Sirius’s face to his waist and he lent forwards, a silent request being sent and was answered instantly.
Lips met lips as the fireworks exploded. Two lovers coming together under the sparks lighting up the night sky as their friends cheered, celebrating not only Sirius’s birthday, but also the chapter in a new story, a story of two lovers and their friends out in the big wide world.
As they separated and smiled, their friends ran forwards, crashing into them, hugging the life out of them.
“FINALLY!” Peter yelled.
“I was sooooo sick of your pining,” Alice said.
“I think we all were,” Lily said.
“Way to ruin the moment guys,” Sirius laughed, shifting so he was leaning against Remus, holding Remus’s hand.
“You are very welcome my friend,” Frank grinned.
“Shush everyone,” Dorcas said, “The fireworks.”
Everyone quietened down and listened to the bangs and pops of the fireworks. After a minute, Marlene began to sing. It was only soft, but they could all hear it. It was a song about new beginnings and fresh starts. A song that fitted the night. The night marking adulthood for a friend and a new relationship for two others. Slowly, one by one, they all joined in. Harmonising and singing as the fireworks went off and they huddled together on the beach.
It was amazing. A perfect birthday, a perfect night. And you know what? It was going to be okay. They had each other, and it was just right.
It was perfect.