Chapter Text
After leaving Hogwarts, the Maurauders moved into a small flat with each other near London. It was conveniently placed, since there was an abandoned workhouse not too far away in which Lupin went to in order to get through his transformations. Eventually, James left to move in with Lily, and Peter went on his own to some other country, which was certainly a surprise to the rest of the Maurauders; after all, Peter had always been the most clingy, and was inclined to follow the other three boys whoever they went. Nonetheless, by the time Summer had rolled round, two years after leaving school, only Sirius and Remus remained. Admittedly, it was quieter without Peter’s consistent whining and James’ infectious laughter, but Remus enjoyed Sirius’ company, and vice versa.
Remus Lupin, now a grown, strapping man, was getting ready for a job interview one morning. He had combed his tangled hair (to the best of his ability) and straightened out the moss green dress robes that he had on. His hazel speckled eyes winced in the sunlight as the curtains were drawn open; the rays of the sun revealed the scars on his face and arms, both old and new. Remus sighed and picked up the foundation from his bedside table, coating the scars in it so he looked like a normal enough wizard. After straightening his tie (for the fourth time) in the mirror, Remus left the confines of his room and trudged towards the small kitchen, where he found his friend Sirius sitting on the counter eating some toast.
“Made some toast for you, Moony.”
Remus smiled. It was very kind of Sirius to make food for him. Remus was running late as it was and needed more time. It was at these moments he wished he’d owned a time turner; but alas, the world wasn’t fair in that way.
“Thanks Pads.”
Remus said wearily and took a bite. The toast was burnt and the butter spread thin, yet Remus appreciated the effort Sirius put in all the same.
“I’m assuming you’ve landed yourself a position, judging by the clothes.”
Sirius mumbled between mouthfuls. Remus nodded. After leaving school, the young wizard decided they best path for him was one which taught children. A teacher. But since no magic school around here would have him, a werewolf, he had decided to become a magical tutor. Despite Dumbledore’s best efforts to have him work at Hogwarts, Remus just couldn’t bear to be away from Sirius for some reason.
Remus has yet to understand his feelings for Sirius. He had a small crush on him back in Hogwarts, but the crush had quickly died after Sirius began to date Regina Philangie. Remus knew Sirius was straight and that’s just the way it would have to stay. So why did it hurt every time he saw Sirius’ knock down gorgeous smile in the morning? Why did he get butterflies every time Sirius said Remus’ name? And why was he so insanely jealous of all the girls who would stare at Sirius from across the street.
‘He’s MINE.’
Remus often found himself thinking, but as soon as he thought it, the idea was quickly pushed from his mind. It would be wrong for Remus and Sirius to go out, wouldn’t it?
“Rem’? Are you alright?”
Remus was snapped out of his thought process and looked up.
“Huh? Yeah, sorry...did you say something?”
“Mhm. I asked where your job was.”
Sirius said with a slightly worried expression on his face. Remus tried to grin nonchalantly in order to dispel Sirius’ worries.
“Some rich folks outside of London. They want a private tutor, and said they had some good recommendations from an old friend.’
“Wonder who that is then.”
“So do I. But it means I’ll be back late.”
Sirius almost looked disappointed at this, which made Remus wonder why. But oh well. With a quick glance at the clock, Remus picked up his briefcase and the last slice of toast.
“Have a good day at your work, Pads.”
Remus said with a smile, and Sirius shrugged.
“Same crap as always.”
Remus grinned and waved goodbye, slipping his wand up his sleeve as he walked out the door. Sirius worked as an Auror in the Ministry. He didn’t care much for it, but he was good at it and at least it payed rent. Casting his lingering thoughts about Sirius aside, Remus Lupin turned on the spot and apparated away towards this family’s house.
Sirius sighed in exasperation when he heard the sound of Remus leaving. The flat was certainly lonelier when he left, and it made Sirius feel forlorn. Jumping off the counter, Sirius meandered into the bathroom, and threw the black robe he was wearing onto the floor. Then he began to run a bath with hot water and climbed in, watching the water cover his pale skin and noting how his ebony black hair drifted across the surface. Sirius’ chocolate brown eyes watched whisps of evaporation float upwards towards the ceiling in circling patterns. With that, he lazily grabbed his wand from the side of the bath and flicked it at the water, causing bubbles to come erupting from the depths and fill the bath. Sirius didn’t have to work for at least another two hours, so he had all the time in the world to laze around, much unlike Remus.
“Rem...”
Sirius found himself saying Remus’ name out loud and smiled softly to himself. Even the sound of Remus’s name was pleasing.
“I love you so much...”
He followed it with.
Sirius has been crushing on the unsuspecting werewolf for quite some time now. He supposed it had started back in sixth year, when Remus was by his side to console him about a girl who’d broken up with him. Sirius was a wreck, but there Remus was, comforting him with that soothing voice, soft hands. It was at that moment, in Griffindor House, when Sirius had realised something. Remus had always been there for him.
The Auror smiled to himself as he lay in the bathtub. That was one of his most treasured memories of his youth. And ever since James and Peter had moved out, Sirius had been building up the courage to ask Remus out. But every time Sirius had the courage, one smile from Remus quickly made Sirius melt into a puddle, and lose it all.
‘Honestly, Sirius. You can fight Dark Wizards and evil creatures every day, but you can’t work up the courage to ask a boy out?’
Sirius thought to himself, his mind teasing him. But it was true. Those monsters don’t have Remus’ soft hazel eyes, speckled with gold flakes. Those monsters didn’t have Remus’ gentle touch, or tender voice. They didn’t have his charm and intellect.
‘Heck, at least they have more courage than you do.’
Sirius thought with a small smile. And with that, Sirius climbed out of the bath and wandered into the bedroom, drying himself down with a towel as he went. Out of the wardrobe he pulled out his black shirt and black tie, with black trousers and black leather jacket. He found himself eyeing one of Remus’ many woolly jumpers through the open door of Remus’ room. They looked warm, snuggly. Probably smelt like Rem too...
‘Stop it, Sirius! You’re being weird again.’
With one final glance into Remus’ room, Sirius headed towards the small living room that they owned. Of course, it was only small because of the giant fireplace that occupied the majority of it. Sirius grabbed a handful of black, sooty floo powder and threw it to the floor of the fireplace. Great green sparks spattered and the tongues of fire licked ravenously at Sirius. He yelled,
“Ministry of Magic!”
And was whisked away within an instant towards his headquarters.
Upon arriving, and stepping out of the magical grate, he joined the large crowd of wizards until he arrived at his headquarters. Sirius spotted an old friend, Merida, and walked over to her with a friendly smile.
“Morning sleepy head. What time did you wake up then?”
She asked with a tinkling laugh, her blue eyes shining with glee. Merida was in Slytherin back in Hogwarts, but had often hung out with Sirius. She was one of the only Slytherins that appreciated Sirius as a Gryffindor. And of course, the young wizard had always liked that. Ergo, he liked Merida. And that’s how it had always been. Sirius often thought that perhaps Merida liked him more than a friend, but she knew he was gay...right?
“Oh, pretty early today. I made some breakfast for Rem. You remember Remus?”
He wondered aloud. it had been a while since him and Merida has talked.
Merida eyes widened slightly with what Sirius thought was envy, but she smiled with gritted teeth.
“Oh, yes. I love Remus.”
Sirius’ eyebrows narrowed in doubt, but she smiled and laughed like always and threw him a wand holster.
“Strap up. We’re heading out.”