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The common room was deserted. A small fire flickered in the hearth and sprinkled splashes of orange across the deep red carpet, the high windows let in floods of sunlight, trickling across the empty tables and touching the wall opposite. Every student was outside, enjoying the last of the summer rays that shone brightly through the grounds of Hogwarts, before having to board the train home for the holidays.
All except one of course.
Remus Lupin sat tucked away in the tightest, most coziest corner of the common room, eyes squinting in the dim light trying to read the last pages of his book. With it being only a few days since the full moon, Remus had chosen to stay inside, letting the coolness of the castle surround him, the quiet comforting. He didn't hear the pair of footsteps that came stumbling in. He jumped at hearing his name, cursing when he hit his head against the wall behind him.
"What are you doing in there? Been looking for you." Sirius Black called out.
He stood proudly, beautiful black locks falling perfectly on his shoulders, stormy gray eyes stared out from behind a set of thick lashes, a sharp jawline complimented the confidence that came with him. Sirius was also tanned as he wore a tight fitting top and shorts that brushed his knees. Remus wondered if he had ever had an imperfection. He was flawless and Sirius always looked devilishly handsome, even when he'd been up all night setting up a prank with James. It made Remus like jelly.
"Just reading, you knew that. I told you." He replied.
"Well come out of there, I wanna show you something."
"What?"
"It's a surprise, come on Lupin. Can't waste any more time!" Sirius was practically jumping with joy and excitement, he pulled Remus out of the tight spot and hauled him up on his feet. Remus staggered a great four inches taller than Sirius's 5'ft 6 but somehow made it seem like he was the shorter one; hunching his back and slouching he found, was much more comfortable than a posture like a plank of wood. Sirius on the other hand made sure to rise above others. Broad shoulders and muscles, chin up and fitted clothes to accentuate his even more perfect figure.
Remus could just die with one look at him.
"Oh, alright. Lead me the way." Remus said, letting Sirius take his hand and guided him out of the common room, down the moving staircases and to the gigantic wooden doors that opened up to reveal the large assembly of students situated along the lawn. Sitting down and laughing with friends. Taking in the summer sun. Some students had even taken to having a dip in the lake, squeals echoed across the grounds.
Sirius continued to lead with Remus behind him until they got to the forbidden forest clearing and out of sight.
"Um pads, what are we doing here?" Remus asked, nerves prickling his skin. He tightened his grip on Sirius’ hand.
Sirius nodded his head into the forest, "It's in there."
"What is?”
"You'll just have to wait and see, come along now moony. Got no time to waste!" Sirius grinned and Remus melted more.
Their relationship was a secret, only James and Peter knew and they had a brief idea that the girls too knew - they always had a knowing look in their eyes whenever they were together. They'd gotten together at the start of the year when a prank had backfired and Sirius was stuck telling the truth for the day. It seemed easy enough to handle until in the dead of the night he ended up confessing his crush on Remus, blurting it out when they had been alone. Remus, (thank god) reciprocated these feelings and both decided to work out how to be together. Obviously, they had done an excellent job and now we're still wrapped around each other's fingers after seven months.
The forest was different in the daytime than it was when the full moon was out and the night sky drew shadows under trees and bushes, hiding the other creatures that roamed. In the summer days, the sun filtered down through the branches of the towering trees, birds flew up above and sang sweet harmony's, rabbits hopped away and spiders spun webs as the boys made their way steadily.
"How long?" Remus asked, his legs began to ache from the trek.
"Not yet, but soon."
Remus yawned and watched as a deer galloped to the left of them. The trees slowly started to spread out until they opened out to a clearing and the sound of water made its way to Remus's ears. Frogs croaked and fish swam as ripples formed on the layer of blue that sparkled. A waterfall covered a cave on the far side of the bank and Remus stood mesmerized by the sight. With years of running around this place he's never seen this before. Though he does suppose, he was preoccupied.
"Just stumbled across it a couple of days ago." Sirius explained
"It's, wow. It’s beautiful" Remus gaped.
Sirius finally and reluctantly let go of Remus's hand and began to take his shoes and socks off before taking his shirt off too.
"W-what are you doing?" Remus stuttered.
"Going for a swim. You are too, now take your clothes off, just keep your pants on." Sirius smirked.
Fear sprang into his chest, "I- what? No, I'm okay."
"Oh come on, it's lovely in the water. Not cold and not too warm."
Remus shook his head, "It's not that, I just um, I er, don't like it."
"Don't like what? The water?" Sirius had now turned to watch Remus stand awkwardly off to the side, ringing his hands and gulping deeply. Sirius looked back to the small lake. Suddenly, it clicked in his brain.
"Do you know how to swim?" He asked, walking forward and taking one of Remus's hands back in his.
"I, er, um, I guess not." Remus whispered, looking everywhere but Sirius's eyes. He felt stupid but it wasn't like he's never gone swimming before. He'd been down the river as a child though after he was bitten his mother and father grew stricter, never letting him out of their sight. They stopped going down to the river, and didn't dare go to the local swimming pool. And Remus hadn’t thought he was missing out on anything, the memories before the bite were a blur. Since then he's not been scared of water, he just doesn't know what to expect. The fear of his parents had transpired to Remus, clinging onto him like a weed. He simply couldn’t shake it away.
"Ok, I'm going to teach you then."
"What? Sirius no. It's ok, really I'm fine. I'll just sit on the bank."
Sirius smiled and shook his head, "Don't be silly, it'll be fun. You'll love it. I promise." And he waited sitting on the bank with his legs dangling in the water, splashing the fish that dared to come close to him. Remus clenched his teeth and began to carefully take off his clothes. Sirius has seen him many times before; snaking scars and bruises, a widening pattern of lost memories and tortured turnings. He hated how he looked, he hated the stares he would receive, opting to hide under large jumpers that were strayed at the cuffs.
But Sirius didn't hate them. He didn't like them as such because of how they happened but that didn't stop him from staring lovingly at the freckles painting Remus’ face, his soft blonde curls bouncing with every laugh, a hue of amber eyes escaping in the never ending land of dreams from the books that have stayed by his side. Sirius loved his toothy grin, loved the hugs that held the warmth in and the terror out, loved the subtle glances of adoration, loved how he could listen to an endless rant of nothing and everything.
To put in short Sirius really did love Remus.
After minutes of silence, Remus sighed, "Okay, so how are you doing this?" He moved down the edge, carefully letting his legs hang, his feet fully submerged into the water.
Sirius slipped in and floated next to the bank, arms either side of Remus's legs. "Just hold on, ok?"
"Okay."
"It'll be ok, trust me."
"Right."
Sirius held firmly onto Remus's sides and lowered him into the water. Remus took a sharp breath in and closed his eyes but he trusted Sirius with everything he had left in him and let him continue to lead the way. As Sirius had said, the water was warm but even so, he was shaking. Remus had been convinced to lay starfish on his back, staring up at the blue patched sky through the branches that had previously kept this place hidden. Sirius was to one side, arms under his back holding him up. His fingers hovering on Remus' skin.
"Nice isn't it?" Sirius asked.
"A little."
"Feeling okay so far?"
"Mmm."
"Alright then, wanna try this one your own"
Remus blinked and shook his head as much as he could without swallowing some of the water. “No, no I'm good. Stay like this."
Sirius tutted,"Aw, don't be like that, just like having a bath."
"Might be useful if I had one."
Sirius was taken back. He tried to remember all the times Remus had had a bath but none came to mind. Had he really never had one? "You're kidding?"
"No, mum was scared I'd drown or something."
"But you were a prefect! You never used the bath then?"
"No."
"Well then, now's a better time than ever to try."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Before Remus could get an answer, Sirius had begun to slowly drop his hands from supporting his back. Remus laid still and stiff, he didn't like the feeling of being alone in the water. He closed his eyes and wished it all away, pretending he was elsewhere. Reading a book on dry land, cozied up by the fireplace with a hot chocolate floating nearby ready for when he needed to take a sip, wrapped in a blanket. The moment didn't last long as a wave of panic rushed through him. What if his mother's fears came true? What if he drowned? What if Sirius had just left him? What if this was some cruel prank to torment his fears to get a good laugh?
If only he could breathe.
"P-pads? Y-you still there?"
"Yes, yes I'm still here. You're doing great moony." Sirius brought his hand out of the water and began to sooth Remus, stroking his head and pushing his wet locks out the way of his scrunched eyes.
"I don't like it anymore." He whispered.
"Okay, let's go to the bank." Sirius said and let Remus latch onto him. He was still on his back but his hands were gripping Sirius's arms like never before, his knuckles turning white, crescent moons engraved into his skin. Remus didn't realize how far they had gone out until he opened his eyes and saw that they weren't close enough to the bank that he could get out.
"Sirius, why'd you let us get so far out?" Remus whispered again, he didn't trust himself to go any louder.
"Sorry. We just drifted.”
Sirius pried Remus's hands off and let Remus cling onto the bank instead, as he came up in front, resting himself on either side of him. "See? Wasn't that bad?"
"I guess yeah but it could've been better. You didn't have to let go!"
"Sorry, I didn't think that you'd be so frightened by it.” Sirius admitted, “Look if it makes you feel any better, we'll go to Hogsmead and get some ice cream, yeah?"
"Okay. Yeah and you can pay."
Sirius chuckled and Remus pressed his back against the bank, finding a ledge to put his feet on so he could stand. Sirius brought his hands to hold Remus's face, cupping his cheeks. Remus wrapped his arms around Sirius's waist and brought him close so their bodies were touching. The water lapped softly at them. Gently they met lips and kissed, slowly. Their breaths tangled together. Remus’ fear drifted away.
“Come on, let's get out.” Sirius spoke quietly and pulled Remus out, pushing him on his back on the floor, continuing where they left off.
After a while they laid on their backs, side by side. Hands entwined together and heads touching.
“Thank you.” Remus said, “This doesn’t mean I want you to teach me quidditch.”
Sirius grinned, “Damn, you’ve seen through my plan.”
Moments passed and soon silence fell around them and they watched the trees above as the birds flew past. Remus couldn’t believe how lucky he was.