Work Text:
1978
The farm was going great and he couldn't wait to come back for the holidays. He wondered if the apples were good to eat already, maybe when they got back he and Sirius could test out Euphemia’s pie recipe and send it to her as a gift. Her cooking lessons were going somewhere, seeing that he and Sirius could at least do something edible without setting the kitchen on fire. That summer was wonderful and being able to finally bringing Sirius home to meet his mum gave him just the most domestic feeling, couldn’t wait to experience it again. He wondered if the little cows where doing alright. It was the first time that the farm had animals and they were just so cute and Padfoot had gotten along so well with them, and everything was so perfect.
Wormtail and Prongs had stopped by for a while too, for the full that month. After that, they all went to spend the rest of the summer with the Potters. They did that big bonfire in the backyard and he and Sirius used it to stargaze. He thought that he could definitely try to replicate it at Hogwarts on their third year anniversary this year. He thought Sirius would be thrilled.
Lily was there too, having finally ran away from home, she was staying with Marlene’s parents now but spent the summer with James, that being their first summer as a couple. Merlin, saying that was still weird. Lily has finally allowed someone to love her and Remus was so proud of her best friend for beating her insecurities, she was so deserving of love and James had all the love in the world just for her. But hey, enough talking about those two, where were we? Oh yes, the cows were growing strong and the farm-
“Drink this for me?” He was shaken of his thoughts by one of Snape’s friends cold tone and without too much thinking he just downed everything in the small glass container.
This year’s potions class was extremely boring. Lily and Sirius had gotten into The Slug Club so they were having the ‘fancy-ran-away-from-home-people’ type of potions class while James, Remus and Peter were left in the old, boring potions course.
Today the pairs were mixed up so none of the marauders could work together, and for Remus unfortunate luck, he was paired up Avery.
He picked up the ingredients and tried to do the bear minimum but Avery quickly put him aside and started working on it by himself not ‘wanting a filthy gryffindor fucking up his grades’. Better for me, the werewolf thought, as he rested his hand on his palm and started to zone out on his thoughts.
Remus started to feel the symptoms immediately after drinking it up. A heat of rage consumed him inside as he processed what happened. Smashing the vial on the ground, the werewolf turned to Avery, feeling himself heat up, fuming in disgust.
“So tell me Lupin, how was last weekend? Had a good night of rest in the shack?” the slyhterin inquired, with sarcasm pouring out of his mouth.
“Did you just try to drug me, you little piece of shit? Do you think I'm scared of a fucking useless pureblood like you?”
He had gotten up from his stool, towering over Avery, which was not difficult. He didn't know what had overcome him so quickly. Of course that he would think about saying something like this to the pureblood but being a logical, non-confrontational person he would probably just fake being sick and go to Madam Pomfrey.
But honestly, right now, he was feeling neither logical nor non-confrontational.
Now he felt like he could throw a really good one on Avery’s inbreed face.
And so, he did.
“Drug you? I was just doing what we are told to do in the class, Lupin. But if you are feeling confident enough to open up about your ‘health problems’ you could always do it.”
‘For fuck’s sake, this bitch is so dumb’ is what flashed his mind while he threw the first punch, right across Avery's jaw.
And that wasn't the last.
The sound of the punch and the stools falling on the floor echoed on the dungeon’s walls, causing the whole class to pick up on what was going on and people were quick to react to it.
Because Remus, oh so quiet and calm Remus, the chill marauder Remus, was beating the shit off of Avery right now and right there.
But Merlin’s beard! Moony! Our Moony! Is beating the shit off of Avery right there! Are you fucking seeing this Wormtail? Holy shit! I’m never missing a potions class again in my life!
“Mate, I think we should probably do something to stop him.”
“Oh, shit! You’re right.”
James was quick to jump into action after that, working his way into the crowd and quickly detangling Remus off of the fight and holding him back against his chest.
“Have you gone mad?” he gritted behind his teeth as Moony made effort to get off his grip.
“This fucker tried to drug me.” he said slightly out of breath.
A loud throat clearing was heard as professor Slughorn pressed his wand against his neck.
“Mister Lupin and Mister Avery, a word. And for the rest of the class, please return to your dormitories.”
The earful that Remus had gotten was something else, but did that really matter if Avery was being taken to the hospital alley after trying to make him admit that he was a werewolf in front of the whole class? Absolutely not.
“I'm sorry professor but this won’t happen again, and I can assure you that my proficiency in charms can surely help you cleaning the mess that I made so the detention won’t be needed.” he said as he watched Slughorn’s mouth opening to give him a detention.
With a small tap in his wand, the whole classroom was back into place, and with another his backpack was on his back and he was ready to go.
“Now that that is sorted out, I have to get going otherwise I will be late. Great class today, professor. And for future reference I would suggest not doing the potion test on the students, seeing that that can lead to unthinkable results. More work for you on the end of the day, and we don’t want that, am I right, professor?” He waved as he turned to leave the dungeons where the class took place, without even taking a glance at the board where today’s class was written on. In his hurry, he could only see a big blob of yellow chalkboard.
He could feel energy and confidence burning in his veins, and he had to stop by the boys bathroom just to look in the mirror, to get a good look at himself, trying to recognize who he was.
He spent 15 minutes checking himself out and ended up late for history of magic.
As he settled down on his place, taking his books out of his backpack, he could only think one thing.
The dreadful time has come, Sirius “Sirius-ness” is rubbing off on me.
During class, James and Peter wouldn’t stop whispering to each other and giving him the side eye, but honestly, he loved history of magic and nothing could ruin his mood.
Sirius and Lily were walking down the hallway, ready to go to their meeting at the Slug Club. It was weird, not having the whole group on class together but they had a great time getting to know each other better.
Suddenly Sirius felt strong arms encircle his waist from behind and he was being spun in the air.
“Hi my love, I missed you so much today.” Remus said in a mushy tone as he placed him down on the ground again and kissed his cheek, forehead, lips and the top of his head, right in the middle of the corridor.
Who was this person and what happened to his I-hate-PDA boyfriend.
“Uhm, hi?”
“Ha! See this time I left you speechless, I’ve finally done it. You better step up your game Pads.” Remus threw his head back laughing freely, the laugh that was always reserved for their dorm, and rarely for the common room.
“Remus, are you drunk?” Lily stepped in the conversation as Sirius blush got worse.
“Oh, Merlin! Hi, Lily, I didn't even see you there!” he completely disentangled himself from Sirius to wrap Lily in a bone crushing hug. “James talked about you all the time in lunch today, I normally don’t mind but today it was so boring.” he said throwing his arms around their shoulders, as they walked their way to the dungeons. “I don’t know why, but he and peter wanted me to eat in the kitchens, said something about a feliz felixis thing, couldn’t understand shit, guess wasn’t just paying attention. But hey, how can you pay attention on anything else when you are dating someone as breathtakingly beautiful as you darling?” he pressed Sirius closer and kissed him on the head again.
Sirius head was spinning. What the actual fuck was going on.
He and Lily exchange a "what is happening?" "I have, absolutely, no idea" look across Remus chest.
“So, where are heading now?” he just couldn’t stop smiling.
Merlin he was so happy. Good friends, good boyfriend, good punch across Avery’s face. He definitely woke up with the right foot today.
“Potions?” Lily just couldn’t stop staring at him; he looked like he had drunk all the fire whiskey in the world and not enough at the same time.
“Our potions class today was great! Got to punch Avery right in the face. Fucker tried to drug me into talking about my monthly escapades but he is so dumb that I think he used the wrong potion, because when he asked me about it, I just had the sudden urge to punch him, so I did. Heard some ravenclaws saying that he still in the infirmary. I hope Poppy isn’t mad at me for giving her much trouble. But, you know, nothing that Hogwarts hasn’t seen before.”
“You are high, this is impossible, you have to be high.” Sirius said stopping dead in his tracks.
“Or drunk.” Lily complemented while urging them for the little alcove under the stairs of the dungeons
“Or both.”
“You punched Avery?”
“He tried to drug you?”
“Awn, look at you! Completing each other sentences already! Merlin, if James was here he would be blushing like mad! I wish I had a camera to get it on film.” Remus rested in the stone cold wall, one foot going up for balance, striking a pose so uncharacteristically confident of him.
“Remus for fuck sake just answers my question.”
“Dammit Pads, you are so hot when you are mad at me.” the dopey smile turning rapidly into a smirk, Sirius could only roll his eyes and grumble a ‘not now’, he only laughed a little and answered with ‘I know that you want it.’.
Lily was just fucking pissed with all the flirting. They were getting late and she definitely didn’t want to lose her place in the class.
“That’s enough, we are getting worried about you and you keep on feigning ignorance. Now, stop being such a prick and answer before I hex you so hard that you and Avery can be infirmary buddies.”
“Lily, darling, I’m not going to say that you are hot too. You have a boyfriend for that.”
“What happened to you?” she gritted her teeth, pointing her wand at him, deciding to deal with it in her on ways.
“I just told you what happened, Avery gave me something to drink and I was just daydreaming about Sirius and the cows so I didn’t question it and downed it all and when I noticed I was punching him in the floor.”
“I think he is just suffering the effects of the Felicis.”
“That’s the thing that Peter wouldn’t stop talking about, you are so smart, love. I love you so much” Remus giggled and felt all giddy inside. Merlin, Sirius was just The Boyfriend.
“Should we bring him to professor Slughorn and get a counter potion?”
“Oh, I’ve already told Slughorn to fuck off today, said that he should review his way of teaching. Very unprofessional of his part, to test inconclusive potions on students. I think he could definitely find new methods of lecturing, Minnie showed me some books that talk about this and - ”
“We should just brew it ourselves before he does something stupid.” Lily turned to Sirius while Remus rambled about his tutoring methods.
Yes, Remus was his boyfriend and Sirius loved him very much but come on, he was a marauder first, so he just did what he was supposed to.
“Well, the effects disappear in 12 hours, innit?” he had the signature marauders glint in his eyes that Remus loved so much.
“Yes…” Lily said suspiciously.
“Well, then we just have 8 hours left, he couldn’t do anything that bad.” he shrugged and walked to his boyfriend, still hanging loose on the wall “You go find the others and me and Lily will go to class now okay? Don’t fuck around.”
“I’ll think about it.” he said in a raspy tone while wrapping his hands around Sirius waist, bringing him closer. “Have a good class, baby.” He murmured before kissing him briefly.
“Behave.” Lily said putting her wand back on her pocket and grabbing Sirius arm, detangling him from Remus hold to return walking towards class
“Love you two!” Remus scream echoed through the dungeons as he went up again.
As he left the dungeons, he decided to check up on James. He decided to change first, such a sunny day deserved to be enjoyed outside. Throwing on his Bowie shirt and some shorts, Remus had the sudden urge to stop in the mirror and slightly to flex his arms. Maybe he could see why Sirius thought his scars were so sexy, he thought briefly, before heading out of the dorm again.
He almost never went to the quidditch pitch during training, preferring to enjoy the quietness of the common room to get some study done. But today, he was just acting on his instincts and his instincts where telling him that James would love a visit.
It was such a beautiful day outside today, the sun was shining exclusively bright and he wouldn’t mind if even he, himself, could fly a bit.
As he reached the pitch he could hear James altered voice from outside the changing rooms.
"We don’t have enough time to keep playing around, Marlene. Or you go out there and play twice as hard or we won’t be able to win the next match. It’s all or nothing, remember?”
“Why you don’t say that to that fucking mutt of a friend you have. If Sirius can’t compromise then I shouldn’t be responsible for it.”
“Oh, so when it affects you he’s just “my friend”. I see how it is, then.”
“Well, if I have to work my ass off in the field alone, then yes, he’s just your friend.”
“Okay Marlene, if I could do something about it I would. So if you have any idea of how we can fix this why don’t you just go up there and tell Sirius to get his ass –“
“Please let’s not ask my boyfriend to do anything with his ass, thank you very much” Remus said entering their locker room.
James had that deer in caught in the headlights type of look, the one that came to him when he was all in his quidditch captain craziness. Marlene just looked outright pissed and with a good reason.
“Maybe I can cover for Sirius today? So you don’t have to overwork so much, Marls. And honestly James, just relax, it’s just quidditch.”
“Remus I’m so sorry but you’re so lanky that I think the broom might mount you instead.” Marlene said looking helpless as James lost his mind with the ‘just quidditch’ comment.
In his own words, ‘It’s not just quidditch Remus, its war, and this year it’s all or nothing’ as Remus had heard over all the 4 years of James playing quidditch.
“Hey, I don’t have the muscles for being a beater but I do have good reflexes, if that helps with something”
“You know what? Just put any uniform that fits and do as I tell you in the field. James, stop throwing a fucking tantrum and get to work already” She forced James goggles on and pushed him into the field, leaving room for Remus to change.
Remus was, letting everyone speechless, amazing since the first game.
James was ecstatic. He had never seen Remus flying so fast and being so entertained in a game of quidditch before. If there was a time that the werewolf didn’t even watch their games, he had now forgotten and forgiven everything.
If he only he would play like that all the time, James would sleep at night like a baby, knowing they would be unstoppable.
Remus was dodging and beating up every single bludger. He even made a hole through one of their mock up players, but easily fixed it with a charm.
James was enchanted watching Remus play so well, he looked like a league player. He just stopped mid-air, without realizing, to watch and wonder. What could have Gryffindor been if it was Remus. not Sirius. Merlin, Remus, why can’t you be like this all the time.
Until Remus hit him.
James just grabbed his broom and flew to the pitch as quick as he could, already feeling the pain in his leg. In his blurry field of vision he could see his teammates coming towards him.
“Keep playing, this is nothing” He ordered loudly to the others as he sat on the grass and took of his boot.
“Oh, fuck mate, I’m so sorry. I knew this would be a bad idea, I’m just so impulsive today that I decided to give it a try.”
“Mate I’ve never been more pissed at you in my whole life.” he said already tending the wound with some spells Alice had thought him the year before.
“Fuck James I’m really sorry. I can carry you to the hospital wing, if you want.” Now Remus really felt bad for his friend. It was a nasty wound after all.
“Do you think I care about my stupid leg? I’m pissed at you for not being like this all year around, you shit. We could win every season without even worrying.” James said in such a desolated tone that now Remus even felt worse.
“If it helps, I can come here and train more often with the team? I wouldn’t mind covering for Sirius more times.”
“No, you’re going to come again and we will do the whole team against you. You, my friend, will be my secret weapon for success.” He said with true Gryffindor glint in his eyes. Getting up to circle his arm around Remus shoulder, he quickly felt down to the ground again.
“Is it hurting still?”
“You know what? I will take that ride to Poppy, just to check if I did the spell right, never know when you will need.” James said, getting up on the broom with Remus, clearly faking being okay.
Getting out of the shower he finally got to experience that post-quidditch sleepiness coming to him. That game really got into your muscles, even the ones you didn’t know you had.
Heading to the common room, he quickly spotted the others on their usual place by the fireplace. The classes had just finished for the day and everyone was just waiting for dinner to be served so they could head to bed. Honestly, Remus thought that this would be the part of Hogwarts that he would miss the most. He secretly loved the idea of having someone to come home to. Just to talk about the day and have this little domestic moment before hitting the sack. He not-so-secretly hoped he could do it all with Sirius someday.
“So I heard that we had a new beater at quidditch today.” Sirius petted the sofa on his side, motioning to Remus to sit there with him.
“Yeah, but now I’m all tired and sore.” he snuggled up to his boyfriend, not caring about all the other people in the room with them. Now, he just wanted some cuddles and some kisses from the love of his life, is that too much to ask?
“Quidditch does that to you, especially playing the way that you were.” James said, now with his leg wrapped in a bandage and resting up on a pillow in Lily’s lap. He had not, in fact, done the spell right.
“Did everything go alright with Poppy?”
“Yes, it did but I would appreciate a lot if he could always come back in one piece.” Lily answered for him, placing her hand on James’ not injured leg.
“Sorry Lily, but I have some good news to make up for that. Pete, as I was leaving the hospital wing, guess who I walked into?”
“If it is that hufflepuff girl, I already said that I’m not interested.” Pete stopped his game of snapping stones with Dorcas to pay attention to him.
“Not the hufflepuff girl, actually really far from the hufflepuff girl. I ran into to professor Kettleburn if you would like to know.” The werewolf shifted his position on the couch, sitting more straight to help with the announcement.
“And what did you say?” Peter gritted his teeth and turned to look at his friend. Everyone knew how Peter was trying to follow the magizoologist field, especially with dragons, always loving care for the mystical creatures.
“I said that I knew the exact person for the internship with Newt Scamander that he’s offering. That this person had a lot of experience in the field and had an extensive research on werewolves that he definitely would love to take a look. And now, you my friend, has an interview with Scamander next week.”
Cheers erupted through the group and Peter tackled Remus into a bear hug that quickly turned into a marauders pile. He even cried a bit, knowing how he, alone, wouldn’t have the courage to ask for the position.
“Merlin, Remus, I don’t know how to thank you enough. Thank you Avery for making you drunk on Felix Felicis.”
“Hey mate, just pay me a pint when you are hired and stop talking about this felixis thing and we are even. You guys are really not shutting up about this today.”
“Remus, you really don’t know what Felix Felicis is?” Dorcas asked as the werewolf shook his head negative “And not a single one of you explained to him the whole day?” all the marauders plus Marlene shook their heads negative.
“I tried.” said lily raising her hands. “But Sirius didn’t let me.”
“Come on, at least one day we could handle a more unhinged Remus.” He said kissing his boyfriends cheek.
“Oh, Remus, my dear, I would run fast to find some new friends” a bunch of complains came from the group, as she shuffled closer to the sofa to explain to him better “Felix Felicis is a potion that makes a person more confident, without an impulse control, that’s why you been acting so out of character today.”
“And that’s why Avery tried to ask you about your monthly problem, that fucker” Dorcas continued “What he expected was that you would be reckless enough to spill all your secrets to the first person who asked.”
“Merlin, Dorcas, you are really fucking smart. No wander Marlene fancies you so much.” Remus said solemnly, looking at her and trying to control his urges to just not go up to Avery and punch him again.
Maybe the potion was wearing off, because he already felt like he could control his thoughts a bit better.
“Marlene, what?” The curly haired girl looked at him hopelessly, while in the back the blonde was simply red in the face without any reaction.
“Oh yeah, Marlene has been fancying you since the end of sixth year, James told us in the train.”
“And that’s our cue to leave, see you at dinner everyone!” James tried to get up and take a hold of Lily’s hand but Marlene’s spell was faster to hold him on the ground
“James Potter, what is your problem.”
“She likes me back?” Dorcas whispered to herself.
“Yes, yes she does but now we are going to fuck off so we don’t suffer the Marlene rage, so bye, enjoy your new girlfriend.” Sirius said in a hushed tone as he clambered over the couch, pushing Wormtail and Moony with him.
The trio quickly ran up the stairs of the dormitory, entering the room quickly while locking the door behind them.
“Remember when I said to you, don’t fuck around?” Sirius said, while putting a chair under the knob just for sure
“Yes” Remus giggled, being too close to his boyfriend after such a long day wasn’t that helpful for the Felicis.
“And what did you just do?”
“Fuck around.”
“Merlin, Remus. When will this thing wear off of you?”
“I don’t know, maybe if I sweat it could come out faster. But for that I would have to do a lot of exercise, if you know what I mean.” he said in a hushed tone, pulling Sirius closer and wiggling his eyebrows.
“You know, I have been dying to know the effects of the Felicis in bed, half of the reason I didn’t let Lily brew you the antidote later” he slowly scratched Remus neck in the way he knew the werewolf would like. “Want to help me find out?”
“Erm, guys? I’m just going to fly over to Hagrid’s to tell him the big news.” Sirius immediately broke the embrace to help Wormtail open the window so he could fly out. “Thanks again Remus! Love you, mate.”
“Don’t need to thank me. Love you too, mate.” Remus was still in his spot, unable to move, still feeling Sirius heat against his body.
As soon as Peter was out of the dorm, Sirius came back to Remus arms.
“So, do you think Professor Moony would be able to show me the effects of the Felicis?”
“Not Professor Moony, please.” Remus snorted as he pulled Sirius closer again; letting his hands roam around the small waist under his shirt.
“Well for your information I think that Professor R. J. Lupin is utterly sexy.” Sirius started kissing his neck, making Remus shiver under his touch.
“I know you do, but you calling me professor it’s just weird, I hate it.” Remus started moving them towards Sirius bed, which now was basically theirs since Remus have been sleeping there more than his own.
“Okay, I’m sorry.” Sirius hit the end of the bed with his legs and pushed them both to fall in the bed “Professor.” he whispered, just to annoy the other.
“When will you stop being such a little shit.” Remus hid his face in the curve of Sirius neck, laughing while adjusting them better in the mattress.
“Okay, fine. Less talking and more kissing.”
“So demanding.”
“You love it.”
“I do.”
And thanks to Avery and thanks to the Felicis, James and Peter ended up sleeping on the couch that night.
The first rays of sun and a small insistent sound hitting the window had woken Remus up from his peaceful slumber. His whole body ached as he detangled himself from Sirius’ chest, but it was all gone with a stretch of the kind that your whole body trembles.
It was early, earlier that they are used to wake up, so Remus decided to let Sirius sleep in a little bit more. He was so confused; his mind a complete blur as he walked to the window realizing that James’ owl was hitting the glass nonstop.
“James, what the fuck is your fucking owl doing here at this fucking hour?” little did he know that he was talking to himself.
In autopilot, he opened the window letting the owl inside and grabbed what it was holding. Coming back to bed, he left a little kiss on Sirius exposed back as he, still eyes glossy from just waking up, opened the red envelope.
“Good morning loving birds! Here’s your quidditch captain speaking, who is very much locked outside of his own dormitory. Its 5 in the morning, meaning you have 30 minutes to get ready and join us in the pitch for some morning warm ups! Remember, it’s now or never!
Also, Wormtail ran onto Avery leaving the infirmary, coming from the kitchens and he said that the slytherins are planning something to get back on us, so thank you very much Lupin now we got to plan something even bigger. Good luck with that because if you even think about showing up at five thirty-one, I will Not be helping.
And again, remember, it’s now or never.”
As the howler blew up in flames, Remus could only come up with one conclusion: the Felix Felicis had definitely worn off completely, because his day was already fucked and it had just begun.