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He should have taken up mademe pomfrys offer to stay and sleep. He should have taken off the morning after that moon, he probably should have taken the entire day. But still, here Remus is, standing with Lily in front of their cauldron in potions. In immense pain and on the verge of falling asleep.
He was almost sure Lily knew that he shouldn’t really be there. He was swaying on his feet slightly and she was offering to go get all of their supplies, albeit in a slightly clipped tone, and asking him to set up their station. But all that entailed was propping up the book and making sure that nothing would get in the way for when she came back with all of the little bottles, that were lined up around the room. Yet as she walked back, he couldn’t help but notice the glare she threw at James and Sirius. They weren’t oblivious either to the icy look she threw at them. James was stood looking like a kicked puppy, and Sirius stood with a curious look that did everything but said, ‘what have i done this time?’
“You should have let them go with you last night,” she all but mumbled as she started to read over the ingredients to make sure she had it all. Double checking before using her wand to light the little fire beneath their cauldron.
“And take James away from your date night?” He looked at Lily, ignoring her face that quite literally shouted ‘obviously’. “Sirius hasn’t slept properly in weeks, he doesn’t need my furry little issue adding to that.” He said back while accepting the bottles Lily had pushed his way. By the looks of things they were brewing a more advanced potion, he just rubbed his eyes waiting for more guidance from his friend.
She said something about two drops from the green bottle and a dash from the blue bottle before continuing. “You know that last night was James’ idea, I never plan dates around the moon. You know that Remus. And you also know that your friends will do anything for you, and if they cant they can tell you that.” She paused to re-read the book and added a pinch of something salt looking. And he did know that, he knew that as soon as Lily found out about him being a werewolf she made sure to never have plans around the moon.
“Lily,” he started, he wasn't too sure of his objective, and he wasn't sure why Lily was mad either. It's not like he was doing anything wrong specifically.
“Mix,” she ignored him and made him mix around the things that were clinging in the bottom of the pot while she once again checked the book. Picking up another few things to put in, she continued. “Do you know what i did this morning? I made sure to wake up early so I could go to see Poppy and ask how you are. Make sure that you were safe and that James, Sirius and Peter were all in bed and getting a quick cat nap before today.” She was slowly getting louder, her anger was just being shown with her throwing in the ingredients more heavy handedly each time. “What did I find? Poppy looking worried as she told me that you said you were fine, but she could see the new scars Remus. And your friends looking well rested and cherpy at breakfast.” She finished with a huff, stopping Remus from mixing anymore by slightly grabbing his wrist.
“I’m sorry,” he mumbled while pulling his wrist back making sure that the scars from last night were hidden. It was a rough one, it was the first one without his friends in a while and the wolf clearly didn't like being apart from its pack. He had a few really bad ones across his torso that he would have to explain to Sirius later. God he wasn't looking forward to that.
“Remus?” He looked back up at Lily to see her concerned face, “Did you hear what i said?” He just shook his head slightly while looking around the room. His eyes swept across, stopping at James and Sirius. They stood close together laughing about something, heads thrown back. Sirius’ hair wild and barely staying in the bun it was shoved in, hair framing his face perfectly. He heard Lily clear her throat, his eyes shot back to her. “You don't have to apologise, i just need to know you’re taking care of yourself. God I care for you so much you idiot, you need to let people help you.” She finished by grabbing his hand and giving it a squeeze.
He could only squeeze back with a smile on his face, the pain across his torso and the ache in his hips forgotten for a moment. The only thing he could feel was the love coming from his best friend, it lit a flame in his chest that he hadn’t felt in a while.
——————
“Lilyflower?” Remus said while lightly poking her side. They’d been stood around for around half an hour waiting for the potion to brew, in that time he had woken up a little and managed to piss James off by holding his girlfriend's hand. Which led to him refusing to let go of Lily, which Sirius and Lily both found hilarious.
“Yes Remus?” She looked at him from where she was using her free hand to stir the cauldron.
“What are we even brewing?” Her head snapped around to look at her partner, a smile started to stretch on her lips. One that only said trouble, it wasn't a safe look to be around at all.
“You’ll find out.” Was all she said before giggling to herself slightly. He had befriended Lily in second year and he still hasn’t been able to decipher her yet, considering its been over four years he isn’t sure if he should be impressed or worried.
He threw a look at James and Sirius who were talking to themselves again. James still looked like a kicked puppy and Sirius seemed to be making the absolute most of it, a broad grin painted his face, smoothing away any of the lines of worry Remus knew sat engraved on his face.
He wasn't sure how long he was looking at Sirius for but it was long enough for him look up and mouth “ what ?” across the room. Causing Remus to whip his head around and for Lily to start laughing again.
“Alright, come here. Sniff this.” Lily dragged Remus over and practically shoved Remus’ head into the cauldron. He inhaled and all he could smell was wet dog, he sniffed again and looked up at Lily.
“I think we did it wrong.” He said dejectedly. Lily looked at him like he was speaking another language.
“That's impossible Remus, because I made it basically and you sat there and looked pretty.”
“Then give it a sniff Lily! It smells like a wet dog!” He all but moaned as he put his head down on the desk, meaning he missed the funny look Lily sent him. But she still bent down and sniffed the cauldron.
“Nope, smells perfect to me.” She said while lightly carding through Remus’ hair. He just looked up at her and saw the brightest, goofiest smile ever.
“What even is this stuff, you didn’t tell me earlier.” Her smile turned slightly more sly as she started to speak again.
“It’s amortentia, my dear Remus.” She said as it explained everything, and it did basically. He followed where she was looking, over to the two boys who were leaning over their own cauldrons, inhaling deeply. Smiles playing on their faces as they did.
“Lily.” He said with a slight shake in his voice, staring at the boy with long black hair who had smelled like wet dog.
“Remus.” She replied while looking over at the black haired boy who had smelled like wood and grass, with a warmth she couldn’t quite describe too. They looked at each other at that moment and started to laugh.
They started to laugh at the complete irony of the situation. They were laughing at the chances that theirs both smelled like the person they were pining over or dating. Remus was laughing at the fact it was Sirius, and he was laughing in slight sorrow- because how would someone like Sirius want Remus. And Lily was laughing at Remus, she knew how his brain worked. She was laughing at how dumb her best friend was.
Little did either of them know that as they were laughing away in madness. The two boys were whispering together.
“Prongs, mine smelled like chocolate and books? It also had a hint of grass too? What was yours?” Sirius looked stressed as he waited for James to reply. James just leaned over, relief in his eyes.
“Mine's bloody perfect Pads, it smelled like home. Almost like freshly cut grass and fire.” He said while nudging his head towards their friends who were stood laughing together.
“Yours is Lily?” Sirius said but he was only looking at Remus, at how his face was crinkled so beautifully. How even though it looked like he didn’t get a wink of sleep his eyes lit up a room. How his scars that he hated so much just made him look better and better. He felt bad that he missed last nights moon, he would have done anything to spend more time with Remus, even if it was as the wolf and Padfoot. But he couldn’t help but let a small smile light up his face.
“And yours is Remus?” James said, just a little too innocently.
“Oh shit.” He looked up at that moment and met eyes with Remus. God he was so fucked