Work Text:
The Marauders were the only four people in the Gryffindor common room on a quiet Tuesday night. The term ended a week ago and all four elected to stay for the Christmas holidays to support Remus during his transformation that fell (most unfortunately) on Christmas. Remus was adamant that the boys go home to be with their families but he was swiftly overruled and thoroughly outnumbered. Even Lily stayed under the guise of giving him “civilized conversation” but Remus knew she had ulterior motives revolving around her crush on a certain Quidditch captain. He didn’t miss the way her gaze lingered a bit longer on him or the faint blush that appeared when he complimented her “unparalleled wit” and “incredible potions talent”. Mary and Emmaline also elected to stay behind, but they were currently off with Lily building snowmen the Muggle way.
Sirius and James were playing an enthusiastic game of Exploding Snap in front of the fire while Remus was cocooned in an armchair with his nose buried in a book and a hot chocolate charmed to stay warm and float just within reach. Pete was focused on a game of chess he played on his most prized possession: a chess board with a set of pieces that could play themselves, always providing Pete with a “worthy opponent” when the rest of Gryffindor tower grew tired of losing every time.
After their fourth game, James and Sirius hauled themselves onto a couch, scuffling over who got to be closest to the warmth of the fire. James won, not due to his Quidditch reflexes, but because he took advantage of Sirius staring at Remus as he rose from his armchair and stretched, his festive jumper rising up and exposing a bit of skin in the process. As soon as he ambled up the stairs to the dorm room and out of earshot, James rounded on Sirius.
“You’ve got it bad, admit it.”
Sirius was about to deflect, but the sincere look in James’ eyes stopped him.
“Yeah, I do. I’m a goner. He’s so bloody perfect, Prongs, what do I do?”
“Talk to him? He’s pretty oblivious, I don’t think he’ll pick up on any hints you drop. You could drop a hint the size of a troll and he would think ‘Aw, Pads is such a good friend’ and you know I’m right.”
Sirius groaned and face planted in James’ lap. “You’re not helping! Aren’t you supposed to be all ‘You can do it, Sirius, go get your man!’ or something?”
“Would you prefer that? I’ll transfigure these cushions into pon-pons like those cheerleaders have. I’d make a dashing cheerleader.”
“They’re called pom-poms you prat, and no thank you. I don’t need to see you in a skirt again. You don’t have the legs for it.”
“Excuse you! My legs are glorious!” James pushed Sirius off his lap and onto the floor, but Sirius grabbed his ankle as he fell and took James down with him. More fighting ensued until Pete threw a pillow at them to get them to stop.
“You want to get Moony to realize you like him, yeah? You have to be direct and leave no room for interpretation. He’ll talk himself out of anything if there’s any room for ambiguity. So think of a plan and go win Moony over. Go get your man!” Pete gave a decisive nod and went back to his game as if he didn’t just give Sirius the most useful pep-talk of the century.
“Wormy, when you’re right you’re right. Prongs, let’s get to work making a foolproof and unambiguous plan to get Moony to notice me!” During this speech, Sirius climbed onto the coffee table and James provided a rousing round of applause. As Sirius was taking his bow, they heard a second pair of hands start to slowly clap.
“Fantastic speech Pads, but I think anyone would notice you right now. I don’t think you’ve ever gone unnoticed a day in your life.” He stopped clapping and smirked as he sat back down in his chair and remade his cocoon. “You don’t need an overcomplicated plan to get me to notice you, we sleep in the same room for Merlin’s sake.”
James waited for Sirius to respond, hoping he would take this opportunity to tell Moony exactly how he wanted to be noticed, but he was frozen in place on top of the coffee table.
“Oh Moony, only you could make clapping sound sarcastic.” James swooned and batted his eyes at Remus who snorted and returned to his book. Sirius shot James a grateful look as he unfroze and climbed off the table.
He turned to James and whispered a quick “meet me at the spot” and then loudly proclaimed his desire to fetch snacks from the kitchens. James gave it precisely 7 minutes and 38 seconds before announcing he was going to try and find Lily and show off his snowman building skills and instead went to meet Sirius at “the spot”.
Their “spot” was an unassuming alcove behind a tapestry on the fifth floor at the very end of the hall. It was past multiple similar alcoves earlier in the hall, meaning it was typically empty, and since it was on the east wing of the fifth floor it meant the timing of the moving staircases left a short window for students to get to this wing easily. It was an ideal rendezvous spot for dedicated students who knew the staircase patterns down to the second. The Marauders happened to be such students.
As soon as his hand was on the tapestry he was yanked into the alcove by a frantic Sirius.
“Prongs, we need a plan NOW. He provided the perfect opportunity for me to tell him and I froze. I can’t be unprepared again, I need to have a plan and be the one to execute it before he can spring questions like that on me again.”
“Alright, alright, calm down. We got this. First, we think of your strengths. Then, his weaknesses. Then, we assess the possible situations and pick the optimal conditions to execute the plan.”
“...This isn’t a Quidditch match, mate, it’s my love life.” Sirius deadpanned, not impressed with his friend’s approach to his problem.
“Sure, but the outcome is the same right? If you want to score, you need to have a good play.” He smirked as Sirius turned bright red and shoved him into the opposite wall.
“Prongs, you disgust me. Help me or get out.”
“Fine, I’ll help!” He put up his hands in surrender and straightened his robes and glasses. “Okay, let’s get this started.”
The two stayed holed up in their spot for the next two hours coming up with the perfect plan.
~~~~~
Wednesday evening found the common room filled with all seven Gryffindors who remained for the break. They were all lazing about as Sirius waved his wand periodically, changing the records and taking requests. Once Mary and Emmaline were done singing along to ABBA, Lily piped up from her spot on the couch next to Remus.
“Sirius, play me some Queen.” She shared a look with Sirius who sent a nod to James, who threw a balled-up piece of parchment at Peter, who tossed the ball at Mary, who nudged Emmaline. Remus continued to read, oblivious to what was being set in motion.
“Gladly, Lily-flower,” Sirius said with a smug grin. He waved his wand and switched the records, setting the needle down at a specific song on the album. Familiar notes filled the air, but where Freddie’s voice would normally come in, Sirius sang instead.
“I can dim the lights and sing you songs full of sad things
We can do the tango just for two
I can serenade and gently play on your heart strings
Be your Valentino just for you”
Remus finally looked up from his book when he realized Sirius would be gracing them with a performance. When he looked up he saw Sirius standing on the coffee table again, eyes trained on Remus.
“Ooh, love, ooh, loverboy
What're you doin' tonight, hey, boy?
Set my alarm, turn on my charm
That's because I'm a good old-fashioned loverboy”
Remus was too busy staring into Sirius’ eyes to notice his friends rise from their seats and gather behind the couch. A faint blush started making its way across Remus’ cheeks as Sirius maintained eye contact and continued singing to him. He only noticed the presence of his other friends when they provided the accompanying vocals.
“Ooh, let me feel your heartbeat (Grow faster, faster)
Ooh, ooh, can you feel my love heat?
Come on and sit on my hot-seat of love
And tell me how do you feel right after all
I'd like for you and I to go romancing
Say the word, your wish is my command”
Sirius gained more confidence and started swaying and dancing on the table and watched as Remus’ eyes remained glued to him the entire time.
“Ooh, love, ooh, loverboy
What're you doin' tonight, hey, boy?
Write my letter
Feel much better
And use my fancy patter on the telephone”
Sirius jumped down off the table and made his way to the couch where Remus sat, his book long forgotten beside him. He sat down, as close as possible, and took Remus’ hands in his.
“When I'm not with you
Think of you always
(I miss those long hot summer nights) I miss you
When I'm not with you
Think of me always
Love you, love you”
Remus’ eyes went soft as Sirius sang the bridge with their friends accompanying him (and sounding surprisingly good). Sirius pressed a swift kiss to Remus’ knuckles and gave his hands a squeeze before jumping back up from the couch. James and Pete belted out the next two lines and Sirius responded in his clear baritone.
“Hey, boy, where do you get it from?
Hey, boy, where did you go?
I learned my passion
In the good old-fashioned
School of loverboys”
Sirius watched as Remus laughed at the exchange, eyes alight with happiness. Sensing no sign of discomfort with the display, Sirius grabbed Remus’ hand and pulled him up and began dancing with him during the guitar solo.
“Dining at the Ritz we'll meet at nine precisely (One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine o'clock)
I will pay the bill, you taste the wine
Driving back in style in my saloon will do quite nicely
Just take me back to yours that will be fine (Come on and get it)”
Their friends sang their last line more than enthusiastically and both men laughed, Sirius nearly missing the start of the next verse. He held Remus tight as they twirled around the common room, savoring how the other melted into his touch.
“Ooh, love (There he goes again)
(He's my good old fashioned loverboy) Ooh, loverboy
What're you doin' tonight, hey, boy?
Everything's all right
Just hold on tight
That's because I'm a good old-fashioned (fashioned) loverboy”
The song ended and the two stopped dancing but didn’t leave each other’s arms. Their friends had quietly disappeared now that their musical talents were no longer needed. Sirius and Remus were inches apart and Sirius longed to tilt Remus’ chin down just so, allowing him access to a highly anticipated kiss. However, he had an important question to ask.
“So, what are you doing tonight?” Sirius tried to put on a confident smirk, but his eyes betrayed him and revealed his nervousness and hopefulness.
“Mmm, I dunno Pads. Do you want to go romancing?” Remus tilted his head and rested their foreheads together and smiled.
“Just say the word, your wish is my command,” Sirius replied in a whisper as he leaned forward and closed the distance between them, lips meeting for what Sirius believed was the best kiss in the world. Remus’ hands went to his waist and hair to bring him closer as Sirius rose up on his toes to deepen the kiss and throw his arms around Remus’ neck.
After a time, Sirius couldn’t be sure how long exactly, they settled down on the couch in front of the fire, limbs tangled together underneath a large blanket. Sirius sighed and leaned into Remus’ warm embrace.
“So, Moony, did you notice me?”
Remus chuckled. “Yeah, Pads, I noticed you.”
“And?”
“And I think I’m happy to have you as my good old-fashioned lover boy.”
Remus tilted Sirius’ chin up for a kiss that was more smiling and laughing than kissing, but Sirius thought it was just as good as their first…and hoped there would be many more to follow.