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Remus takes a deep breath in, bringing his hand down under his shorts and pulling out the final green tennis ball. He glances at the scoreboard behind his opponent, bringing his arm up to cough inside his elbow.
LOCKHART | 2 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 15
LUPIN | 6 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 40
One point to go.
If Remus wins this, he wins the semi-finals and secures his place in the Men’s final.
He doesn’t give himself time to think. He stands in position, bouncing the ball against the ground three times before chucking it up and groaning as he hits it.
It was fast and aggressive, just like he wanted. He watches carefully, keeping light on his feet as he watches the ball come back towards him. Luckily he doesn’t have to move far, so he brings his arm back, shouting as he hits it again, this time in the other direction, making Lockhart leap across the court.
He hits the ball clumsily and it grazes the net causing the audience to bellow out a loud “Oh!”
Remus doesn’t have to work much harder, he can tell Gilderoy is getting tired. He’s careful as he quickly decides his last play - the play that will secure his victory.
The ball comes at him fast but he prepared for this. He’s done it before, he’s perfected it before and now all he has to do is hit the ball gently enough so it just goes over the net.
Lockhart is slow at realising the play and he rushes forward, slipping on the grass as he holds his racket out, trying to hit the ball before it double bounces.
He’s unsuccessful and the ball bounces under his tennis racket, making him lose.
The crowd erupts from their chairs into a loud applause as Remus lets out the breath he’s holding.
He’s won.
“Now, this is a first for Wimbledon.” Lee’s voice booms through the speakers whilst the crowd in the Centre Court lets out a deafening cheer.
Remus’s chest heaves as he drops his racket and runs his hands through his damp hair. He blinks quickly, looking around the court and seeing a blur of faces. His eyes finally land upon his coach, Poppy and he smiles, mirroring her muted celebration of a firm nod.
He exhales again, grabbing the hem of his polo and pulling it up to wipe the sweat off his face. The crowd continues to clap around him but the ringing in his ears is too loud for him to register.
He’s won the semi-finals.
Remus is in the finals.
He suddenly remembers his manners and walks forward, meeting his opponent in the middle of the court, the net separating the two of him. He grabs his hand, shaking it firmly and thanking him for his congratulations.
He waits a moment for his opponent to shake the umpire’s hand before doing so himself. He turns to where his belongings are, picking up the Evian bottle and downing the rest of it in one go. And as quick as he can, changes into a a fresh polo shirt.
He stands again, walking around the worn-out grass and shaking his fist, nodding at the crowd as the applause and cheers envelope him. He takes a few deep breaths, nodding his head because this is exactly what he wanted.
Tennis is a good game like that - it’s not like football with its overzealous celebrations, not like Remus would take part in it. He simply smiles, taking in his win before someone directs him to the newly set up microphone in the corner of the court.
Mary MacDonald, head of the Association of Tennis Professionals, stands opposite him holding her own mic as he approaches for the quick post-match interview. The producer checks his mic before calling Mary in.
“Remus, what a match, congratulations! How are you feeling after this win?” She asks brightly.
Remus sniffles, nodding his head with a bright smile. “It means the world, really. It was a tough match, you know, Lockhart played incredibly but I’m really proud of what my team and I have achieved in these last two weeks.” He replies humbly, only lying slightly.
“You are entering your second Wimbledon Final with none other than your own husband, Sirius Black. Right off the cuff, how are you feeling about Sunday?”
“Well, it’s going to be a tough match, I’m sure. I’m just really proud of them and honestly, really excited for the match. It’s going to be a close one, definitely.” He nods with a polite smile before Mary finishes the interview and sends the camera back to the main studio.
He shakes her hand, thanking her for a brief interview before heading back to his chair to pack all his belongings away. He hikes his bag over his shoulder and heads to the crowd to sign a few tennis balls for the eager fans.
“Remus Lupin standing at 34 years of age is officially in his second Wimbledon Final. What a match!” Oliver Wood cries out in his heavy Scottish accent.
“I don’t think we’ve ever seen anything like this before. He secured two sets right off the bat like it was easy. Barely breaking a sweat.” Lee continues brightly.
“And now is heading to the final tomorrow with his husband, French-born player, Sirius Black.”
“What a match that’s going to be, Oliver! A first in Wimbledon’s history!”
“That’s right. For those unaware - finalists Sirius Black and Remus Lupin officially announced their relationship two years ago, making them the first couple to compete against each other in any final in tennis, ever.” Oliver reveals.
“With no official laws banning a match between a couple, it’s definitely going to be an incredible match. I mean, what are the odds, them both making it to the final? It’s incredible!” Lee cheers on.
“Now both Lupin and Black have won a Wimbledon Final - Lupin last year in 2023 and Black in 2021. Aside from these achievements, Lupin won the Australian Open earlier this year and Sirius won the French Open in 2019.”
“So they both have two Grand Slam titles to their names. I mean, can I get any more tense than this?”
“Well, Lupin is currently No.3 on the ATP ranking, with Black right behind at No. 4. It’s neck and neck!” Lee cries passionately.
“But the question that’s dividing fans is are we about to witness the most intense match in history or a match where it’s obvious they’re letting the other person win?”
Remus finishes up the autographs and looks up, face growing into a smile. He blocks out all sound and people as he walks around the court, one person on his mind.
Sirius is standing behind the scoreboard, freshly showered and wearing some sunglasses to cover their face. It’s only when they properly peek around the board does the camera catch them smiling.
Remus rushes up to him, enveloping them in his arms as he hugs him tightly. The camera zoom in on them, capturing the way Sirius tucks their face into Remus’ neck.
“Can’t help it though, they are adorable. They’re what we can only describe as the Tennis it couple.” Lee coos happily.
“Can’t image what dinner is going to look like for the two of them.” Oliver jokes.
“I know we are all hoping Lupin will at least touch upon the situation in the press conference afterwards, considering they’re both notoriously private about their relationship.”
“The closest we’ve ever come to something like this is when champion brothers Gideon and Fabian Prewett played against each other in four separate Men's finals. With no law stating that couples can’t play against each other, it’s going to be one for the books tomorrow, folks.”
“We’re your presenters, Lee Jordan and Oliver Wood. Join us tomorrow at midday on BBC 1 for the Women’s final of Wimbledon 2024. Thank you and good night.” Lee finishes as the camera pulls out away from the couple hugging to the rest of the audience in the court, still cheering.
They both pull away, Remus tucking Sirius close as they make their way into the back, away from all the glaring fans and cameras. With other staff and couches circling them, they keep quiet until Poppy meets Remus a few meters from his room.
“Good match, Lupin. We’ll talk about specifics-“
“Just give me 10 minutes, please.” Remus pleads, eyes wide and mildly tense.
“10. I’ll send Charlie in to grab your stuff.” She smiles, looking between the couple knowingly before setting off in the direction in which she came from.
Remus exhales, practically dragging Sirius into the private room given to players. He shuts the door behind him, dropping his stuff just as Sirius crowds him, leaning close and kissing him deeply.
Remus sinks into it, holding their hips and making sure he doesn’t sweat all over him. They finally pull apart, pressing their foreheads against the other's as they take a moment to just breathe each other in.
Remus knows one of them has to say it, that they have to bring it up, but he’s hoping Sirius sticks to their promise of leaving it until they get home.
They’ve spoken about it in length - what they would decide to do if the match plays out like this with the both of them competing. They’ve discussed with their coaches, with their friends and family and even the officials high up in the tennis association.
With no laws banning a match between a married couple, it was a weary but excited “should we just go for it?”
And now here they are, in complete disbelief that they’re actually going to be competing against each other in two days. And not just in any old match - it’s the Wimbledon men’s final. There’s simply nothing more important to a tennis player than this.
“You played beautifully. Exceptionnel.” Sirius whispers, leaving a kiss on the corner of his lips as they move back a few steps to the large sofa in the middle of the room.
“Thank you. The first two sets were easy and then he finally decided to wake up.” Remus rolls his eyes, keeping his head down as he sits on the arm of the sofa, kicking his shoes off.
“Yes, Lockhart seems to be more interested in the audience’s reaction. I still don’t understand how he got this far.” Sirius scoffs in his melodious French accent.
“He was playing dirty as well, god I could’ve smacked the racket up the side of his head,” Remus confesses.
Sirius’ expression softens as he pulls Remus down onto the sofa. “I’m always so amazed when I watch you play, mon chéri.” They continue, leaning forward and picking Remus’ hands up, pulling the sweatbands off for him.
“The last few games felt a bit rocky. I think I exerted myself too much in the first two sets when I didn’t need to.” Remus shakes his head gently, looking up at Sirius. He nearly melts, watching his eyes crinkle.
They’re both thinking about it. It hangs in the air around them. But Remus decides he might as well be clean when they discuss it. He brings Sirius’ hands up and kisses them quickly before walking towards the bathroom.
He’s not gone for long and when he walks back in, Sirius is lounging on the sofa, watching highlights from the game.
He pauses the television when Remus walks over, riffling through his bag of toiletries. “Your ankle is okay? It looked painful in this game.” Sirius looks over at the TV and then back at Remus who’s rubbing oil over his torso.
“It’s okay, I’ll have Alice check it out later.” He replies offhandedly, raking his hand through his hair as he walks past Sirius to his bag. He picks out a fresh white polo and shorts to match before getting changed, smiling to himself because he knows Sirius is watching.
They have maybe a minute left when Remus finally sits down next to Sirius. He quickly throws on new socks and some fresh trainers before exhaling loudly.
He slowly falls back with his eyes closed as Sirius’ arm goes around his shoulders and his hand appears in his hair. They’re quiet for a moment, just the sound of Remus taking deep breaths filling the silence.
“Chéri, are you stressed about Sunday?” Sirius asks quietly as if they’re cautious.
Remus opens his eyes, turning his head to the side so he can see them. He stares at the side of their face, getting lost in the sharp features of his nose and cheekbones before leaning forward and pressing a kiss to their jaw.
“Yes, a bit.” He says, truthfully.
Sirius smiles gently. “Me too.”
“But it’s going to be great.” Remus continues, a little furrow between his eyebrows appearing.
“Absolument.” Sirius nods their head agreeably.
“I love you,” Remus whispers.
“I love you too,” Sirius replies.
“You know I’m going to win.” Remus teases playfully, dragging his finger against the hem of Sirius’ shorts.
Sirius lets out a beautiful yet snarky laugh. “Keep dreaming, vieil homme."
“Oof, right to the heart!" Remus cries out with a playful grimace on his face. "I thought you loved the grey hairs?"
"I do, but let's face it, your younger and sexier husband is going to win."
They sit there for a few moments, smiling at each other before they hear the dreaded knock, pulling them out of their little bubble of peace.
Poppy opens the door a fraction before asking, “Are you both decent?”
“Jesus Poppy, I’ve just played a three-hour match.” Remus shakes his head, eyes closed.
“Hasn’t stopped you before.” She replies mindlessly before walking in with Remus’ assistant, Charlie.
They both congratulate him for the win before standing in front of the couple, waiting impatiently.
Sirius sighs, rolling his eyes gently. “D’accord, I’’m going, mon dieu.” They leave a quick kiss on Remus’ lips before standing up.
“Sorry love, can’t help it. You’re the opposition now, can’t be too careful.” Poppy shrugs as Charlie smiles sympathetically.
“Oh, it’s going to be a long 48 hours. See you outside mon coeur.”
“Love you,” Remus replies, watching as Sirius closes the door behind him.
Poppy ushers him up, going on about how they don’t have long to go over the plays as the press conference is about to begin in half an hour.
They make the executive decision to head over to Alice in the physio room, with Charlie meeting with the comms manager to finalise the details of his conference.
Remus didn’t get a chance to check out Sirius’ press conference as he was preparing for his own match so he quickly pulls his phone out, ignoring the texts of congratulations and heading straight to the internet to see what Sirius had said.
It’s like he expected - half the questions were asking him about the plays, especially as it was a very close match between him and his opponent, Kingsley. Luckily, Sirius stole the show in the final set, winning most of the games from the get-go.
The other half of the questions were more personal, with journalists trying to gain some insight into what the final would look like if Remus was to win.
Since no one knew the outcome of Remus’ match at that point, Sirius answered in the way they were trained by their PR coach.
“We’ll see.” He replies to the umpteenth question about the likelihood of them both playing the final. “Remus is an exceptional player and like in all matches, we will play to our best. It will certainly be interesting if he wins the semi-final. I for one, am rooting for him.” Sirius blushes cordially before getting up and walking out of the room, ignoring the sound of journalists shouting questions at them.
Poppy had seemed to be saying something to Remus when he clicks his phone off so he nods, knowing she’ll end up repeating it if it was truly that important. He walks into the physio room, tucking his phone into his shorts and leaning forward to kiss Alice on her cheek.
“You were amazing out there, congratulations!” She grabs his biceps, patting them a few times before gesturing for him to climb up on the table.
It’s a bit of a gruelling process, Alice stretching and testing his sore muscles, checking for any major issues before the match tomorrow. He tells her about his ankle and she applies some salve to it before manoeuvring it around slowly to check its mobility.
All the meanwhile, Poppy stands over his head, going over the plays from today - what he did right, what he did wrong.
“You exerted yourself in the first two sets.” She tells him, tilting her head to look down at him.
Remus pulls his arms off his face and blinks up at his coach, whilst Alice stretches out his hamstrings.
“I know, I know.” He nods.
Alice turns around and starts preparing some kind of bandage when Poppy sighs, sitting down on the table next to his hip.
“You did well. It was a good match. I wasn’t worried about Lockhart. He’s a complete tool and he plays too hard, always hitting outside the boundaries.” She tells him, genuinely.
They would probably be more excited about his win if the knowledge of his next and final match wasn’t looming over their head.
He understands it can’t be easy for Poppy or Minerva to coach them, knowing they’re playing the person they love most in this world. And despite the both of them assuring their coaches that they will play properly, with no mercy - it’s hard to actually believe them, knowing how much they love each other.
“Please don’t stress about Sunday. We’ve promised the both of you.” Remus sighs.
“It’s not just us Remus, this match, the both of you, it’s becoming a spectacle. I know you’ll want them to win and I know Sirius will want you to win but we need it to be a proper match. It’s the final - they won’t take it if either of you lets the other win.” Poppy tells him regretfully.
Remus takes a moment to think. She’s right, there’s a massive tug on his heart when he thinks about the match. Whilst they’ve both agreed to play as if it was any other opponent, who knows if they will respect that. Who knows if Sirius will get on that court tomorrow and purposefully throw some serves just to let Remus win?
It’s not just a matter of skill and ego - they will become a laughing stock if the match doesn’t go to plan. And that won’t only affect their careers, but everyone else involved.
It’s Wimbledon - they can’t fuck around.
“I know. We’ll play properly. It’s going to be the most intense final in Wimbledon history, I swear to you,” Remus says.
Poppy narrows her eyes playfully, tapping him on his thigh. “It’s exciting, truly. You’re getting massive buzz about it.”
“I still don’t understand how it happened. I mean, what are the chances?”
“With you and Sirius? I would’ve bet my entire life’s earnings on it.” Poppy laughs.
“Be honest, who do you think will win?” Remus teases.
Poppy hums, looking up as she moves her head from side to side. “You have a stronger serve but Sirius is lighter on their feet. He also has a reputation for making their opponents dance around the court, chasing the ball. You play rougher. Who knows?” She shrugs, smiling exhaustedly.
Alice sorts him out with some bandages to keep his muscles relaxed. Both women make him promise to have an early night - no unnecessary practising with Sirius.
He nods, rolling his eyes at them like they’re his mother and sits up, rolling his head back and forth to stretch his neck.
Just as he’s putting his shoes back on, a knock on the door comes and the comms manager for Wimbledon tells him it’s time for the conference.
This is the part Remus dreads the most. He knows that there are journalists there who want some juicy gossip or a quote they can turn into a headline, but he’s been answering questions ever since the fourth round.
In the grand scheme of things, Remus and Sirius aren’t celebrities in the same way movie stars are. Yes, they get noticed but most of the time, they can get through the day unscathed.
Still, they were cautious to publicly announce their relationship, knowing that they’d be compared to each other from the moment they would.
It took them two years to officially make a statement and that was two years ago now. They got married in a small ceremony in Sirius' uncle's Vineyard in France last year and managed to make it unscathed from nosy reporters. They're happy, happier than they've ever been.
Remus isn’t even sure the outcome is stressing him the most. He wants to win as much as he wants Sirius to win. Either way, the win will be theirs to share.
It’s more the fact that people are expecting a ruthless game and he needs to ensure they’re both ready to commit to that.
Remus enters the room full of photographers and journalists, skilfully avoiding the flashing cameras and heads to the front to sit down.
He smiles at the hungry audience, grabbing his water and taking a sip to try and delay the start.
Caradoc, the comms manager stands at the front of the stage, waiting for the audience to quieten down. “Mr Lupin will only be taking a couple of questions.” He says sombrely.
And just like that, the berating begins. Remus nods at some blonde woman in a navy pantsuit.
“Hi, Erin from The Guardian. Congratulations on the match, Remus, it was definitely a nail-biter.” She begins warmly and Remus smiles in acknowledgement. “Can you comment on how you’re feeling leading up to the final with your husband, Sirius Black?”
Remus flashes them a polite but tense smile. “I can understand it’s a big deal that Sirius and I are playing, I know it’s never been done before but at the end of the day, we are professionals and we’re going to treat this match like any other final.” He finishes, nodding his head gently.
“So you’re rooting for yourself?” The interviewer continues with a suggestive smile.
Remus tenses his jaw, curling his lips into a small smile. “I’m rooting for the best player. It’s going to be a good match. Sirius is incredible on the court and tennis is competitive. I won’t be surprised if it’s a close one.”
He completely ignores the woman who looks as if she’s about to continue and instead peers over her to a woman behind in braids.
“Hi, Shanon from Metro Sport. Remus, congratulations on a great match. I noticed you’re becoming very experimental with your shots, especially your use of the drop shot in your final play. What’s the motive behind that?” She asks politely and Remus looks at her attentively with a genuine smile, pleased with her question.
“Yeah absolutely, thank you for noticing, I’ve been trying to perfect it for a while. It’s something Poppy, my coach and I have been messing about with for the last couple of years. It’s one of those shots that is really difficult and sort of lethal when you get it right and I don’t know about anyone else but I really have to just go all in and do it before I overthink it.” He laughs, eliciting a small rumble of noise from the audience.
“But it’s one that I think is a really strong and sort of…well, I kind of think of it as a trick shot. I will say though when I’ve attempted it and it has gone right, it’s worth the celebration. I know it’s not a completely profound or new manoeuvre but it’s definitely not easy. The one person that comes to mind is Mad-eye, Alastor Moody, I mean that guy is just a legend.” He continues, taking a sip of water.
“Erm, yeah, I don’t know, some of his plays, I mean, he sort of treats it like it’s a game - his showmanship, he’s incredible. He’s tough but I don’t know, his relationship with the court, he doesn’t take it too seriously but he’s still really intense. Yeah, I’ve been studying his tactics and manoeuvres a lot, I mean, it’s about performance as much as it is about skill.” Remus finishes, nodding his head with a bright smile. He’s sure the answer ran away from him but he’s sure the lady can work something decent out of it.
The audience starts shouting out again and Remus decides this one will be his final question. A young-ish man to the left looks particularly eager so he avoids him and instead points to the man behind him, standing cooly and calmly.
“Hi, Remus, Jonathan from BBC Sport. I know you’re probably sick and tired of these questions, but I have to ask about the final. Obviously, when we spoke to Sirius a few hours ago we didn’t know if you two would be playing one another but now that it’s confirmed, can you tell us a bit about your tactics? I’m assuming you’ve played together before so is there a clear game plan in mind?” He asks confidently.
Remus swallows hard, wondering how to answer. And honestly, it’s been a long day and he knows the next 48 hours are probably going to be intense so he lets his shoulders drop and gives everyone in the room something to work with.
“You know, like all players, we each have our strengths. Sirius is lighter on their feet, they’re quicker but I have a stronger serve. It’s like any match that way - no actually, I have a feeling it will be more intense. When we play together at home…well, we’re very competitive. Every tennis player is but I feel like we have more riding on it.” Remus says with a knowing smirk.
“You know, the last time we played together publicly was nearly three years ago now in the US Open and honestly it was one of my favourite matches. No one was aware of our relationship at the time so it took a lot of the pressure off. I won that match,” He grins to himself, quietly proud of himself.
“But in terms of tactics, we’re both going to go into it like any other match. The point is to not only undermine your opponent but also defeat them in a way that shows your skillset. Our coaches are both quite cutthroat. But, tactics, I don’t know, you’ll just have to wait and see.”
“That we will. Alright, thank you, Remus. No more questions please.” Caradoc steps in front of Remus, blocking him out of the audience's view as he steps out of the room, expertly blocking the rush of camera flashes coming his way.
Charlie steps in line with him, tapping away on his phone. “Erm, Poppy and Minerva are in the conference room waiting for you. They want to talk to you both before you leave for the night.” He tells him begrudgingly, leading him back to the main set of rooms inside the building.
“Of course they do.” Remus sighs, shaking his head. “Charlie, will you take the car back to mine, please? I feel like walking home.”
“Sure, I’ll prepare your bags ready for tomorrow. Let you sleep in.” He offers cordially.
“Not sure tomorrow is the day for sleeping in, knowing Poppy.” He jokes lightheadedly. “Thanks, Char.”
Charlie nods firmly and sets off towards Remus’ private room to the right whilst Remus continues straight to where the conference room is, at the end of the corridor.
He can already hear the murmurs of the two coaches when he reaches the door and decides not to prolong the expected reprimand both he and Sirius are to receive.
Sirius is already rolling their eyes, mumbling something under his breath when Remus opens the door. Minerva and Poppy are sitting opposite each other on one end of the table and Sirius on the other. Remus doesn’t hesitate to b-line towards Sirius and take the chair next to him, quickly kissing his cheek as he sits.
“I’m not sure how many times we need to convince you! This is our career, nos vies! Why do you think we are not going to take this seriously?” Sirius exclaims, leaning over Remus to tell the two women before shaking his head again.
“Sirius, you know it’s not that. We’re over the moon that the both of you are playing each other. The fact that you’ve made it this far is amazing.” Poppy assures them gently.
“But that doesn’t mean you throw in the towel before the final. You’re tired of saying it, well we’re tired of hearing it. You can convince us all you want, but if you have made a deal between the two of you, you have to let us know. Please don’t embarrass us.” Minerva continues sharply, staring down the two of them with a firm gaze.
Remus exhales deeply. “We swear to you, on our lives that we have not made any deal about the match. No one in this room knows who is going to win,” He says, “Honestly, do you think either of us would accept the other taking the fall?”
It takes a moment but eventually, Poppy and Minerva relent and drop their shoulders, nodding slowly.
“We’re going to give it our all, like if it was any other match. Any other final.” Remus corrects, squeezing Sirius’ hand.
“I can’t believe this, you’ve seen us play. I’ve nearly bitten Remus out of rage, you think Sunday will be a boring match?” Sirius smirks slyly, raising their eyebrows playfully.
“You bite Remus on a normal day.” Minerva shoots back.
“Alright, alright, no biting on the court please.” Poppy smiles kindly. “Please get some proper rest, you’ll need it, knowing how the both of you play.”
“Thank you. Do we need to discuss anything else?” He asks.
“Nothing we can’t discuss in the morning. Let’s meet at 8 in Raynes Park for warm-ups and we can discuss strategy.” Poppy says, pushing back on her chair and standing up.
“Individually,” Minerva adds, narrowing her eyes at Remus.
“Love you too Minnie.” Remus grins at her sarcastically before they all make the move to leave the room.
“I know you probably won’t listen to me, but please don’t discuss any tactics. It won’t help, it will just confuse the both of you.” Minerva says once they’re walking along the long corridor back to the main part of the building.
“Next thing you’ll say is that we’re not allowed to play tennis with each other,” Sirius assures them, wrapping a hand around Remus’ arm.
“Yeah, we’ll see how that goes,” Minerva mumbles under her breath, stopping in the large lobby.
“We’re supposed to be meeting with some friends and family right now before we head home, do you want to join us?” Remus offers, checking the time on his watch.
“I think Minnie and I might sneak into one of the courts for old-time’s sake. What do you think?” Poppy replies.
“She’s addicted to losing to me,” Minerva shrugs and they both head off in the other direction. The two men watch them go, carefully linking their hands together as they turn the corner.
“Come on, if I ignore another one of James’ calls, he’ll murder us.” Sirius pulls Remus in the opposite direction, gearing closer to the stairs that will take them up to the rooftop bar.
They spend a couple of hours winding down and spending time with their friends and family, letting themselves relax after a tense and gruelling day.
They even indulge in a few drinks, letting the buzz overtake the stress from the days before.
James and Lily leave first to relieve their babysitter and they take their parents, seeing as they’re staying with them. Effie and Monty pull Sirius to the side, whispering something to him that makes their eyes water before hugging him goodbye.
Remus’ parents are soon to go after, not before Juno, Remus’ sister loudly whispers something about betting on Sirius winning. Remus rolls his eyes and gently pushes her towards the stairs, hugging his mum and dad and reassuring them that he won’t cry if he loses.
In the end, the rest of their friends leave as the grounds begin to close for the night and then it’s just the two of them left. Remus goes to pay their tab whilst Sirius pops to the bathroom. When he walks out, they say goodbye to the staff and walk hand in hand down the stairs.
“It’s such a beautiful evening. You feel like walking?” Remus asks gently as they walk out and towards the back entrance, in case of any wandering fans.
“Sure.” Sirius smiles, leaning into Remus’ body.
It’s late when they make it out of the grounds, nodding at security guards closing up for the evening and heading up back around taking the long way back to their house.
When they decided to move in together, it just made sense to buy a house close to the grounds. It’s a great area too, quiet and not central enough to be packed with tourists. Realistically, it’s a 10-minute walk, but they walk slowly, with no haste to get home.
“I was just thinking that we’ll have to call someone in to fix the gate before we leave for Italy next week,” Sirius says after a comfortable silence.
Remus suddenly turns to look at them, slightly bewildered with a grin. “We’re about to play the Wimbledon Final in two days and you’re concerned about our gate?”
Sirius giggles, “I am capable of having more than one thought, Remus Lupin. For example, right now I am thinking about the match. I’m thinking about the different ways Minnie is going to try and bad mouth you tomorrow as if that tactic will work.” He rolls his eyes before continuing.
“I am also thinking about the gate and that we have to call Esme in the next few days to sort the Italy house out. I am also, always thinking about you and you know how much space you take up in my mind, so if you really think about it, I’m quite clever.”
Remus shakes his head with a wide smile, leaning down to kiss Sirius on his cheek. “I’m not sure whether to be impressed or not. You do have a very big head.” He says, narrowly dodging the playful slap coming his way.
They pass a few stragglers on the road, politely declining any requests to take pictures whilst they turn the corner towards their house.
They keep quiet, cautious of any fans wandering around, out of their eyesight before pressing the code into their keypad and walking into the grounds of their house.
Sirius closes the door behind him and they walk down the driveway in the same comfortable silence they have come to learn to appreciate. When they get in, there are two covered plates on the kitchen counter with a note from their nutritionist pleading that they eat something filling before training tomorrow.
Remus throws them both in the microwave to warm up before they both head up to get changed into something more comfortable. They enjoy the small meal in front of the TV, talking about nothing as if the biggest match of their lives isn’t in two days. They finish up before tidying up and deciding to head up to bed.
On Saturday, they get up early, allowing themselves an extra half an hour in bed before getting ready and heading to the training grounds.
Poppy and Minerva are both waiting, mumbling to each other when they arrive. Remus and Sirius share a quick kiss before parting ways with their own coaches.
A couple of hours later, they meet back up after getting ready and head back to the main grounds to watch the Women’s final.
It’s a tense two-hour match but it’s the perfect motivator for the both of them. The camera catches them plenty of times, trying to work out if there’s any tension between them but Remus and Sirius sit there unbothered, wearing sunglasses with expressionless faces.
After the match, they head to one of the vacant courts and treat themselves to a quick and playful game whilst Poppy and Minerva watch. They start casually, passing the ball back and forth before slipping into a more genuine and serious mode.
By the end of the hour, they’re both sweating, laughing to themselves as they dab their faces with their towels.
They pack up and head home for an early night, promising to meet Poppy and Minerva early in the morning before their match.
Two hours after they get home and have dinner, they’re both lying in the dark, Remus resting his head on Sirius’ bare chest whilst their clothes lay sprawled out on the floor of their bedroom.
Sirius gently cards his fingers through Remus’ hair whilst he leaves gentle kisses on their skin every now and then. It’s quiet, but neither of them needs to say anything. There’s no real point going over the same things again and again - they’re going to play each other and that’s that. No amount of discussing it will change it.
But right now, they can just lay here, legs intertwined as if they’re one.
They’re supposed to be asleep when Sirius suddenly starts shaking underneath Remus. He tilts his head up, concerned, as he focuses on Sirius’ face in the dark. It’s not until he sees the smile on Sirius’ face that he unconsciously mirrors it.
“What, what is it?” Remus asks quietly.
“I don’t know, I feel like we should sleep in different bedrooms or something. Isn’t this bad luck?” He whispers gently.
Remus drops his forehead against the moon tattoo over Sirius’ heart and starts laughing himself. “Shut up. Besides, I already know what you’re wearing tomorrow.”
“I know for a fact it’s a sin to have sex the night before the big day.” Sirius continues, eyes crinkling beautifully.
“Say what you want, I needed that.” Remus drawls out, kissing Sirius’ chest again as he drags his hand up and down Sirius' hip and waist. “Nothing’s getting between me and this ass,” Remus mumbles against his skin before tucking his hands under Sirius’ body to squeeze his plump bum.
Sirius yelps, arching his back quickly before collapsing into a quiet laugh. Remus crawls up the rest of his body and leans down to kiss Sirius gently. It’s not sexual by any means, but it says everything that Remus can’t right now.
“Mh-hm.” Sirius sinks into the feeling, bringing his arms around Remus’ neck as he goes lower to their jaw and neck.
“I’m so obsessed with you,” Remus mumbles against Sirius’ skin.
“Yeah, you love me more than tennis?” Sirius teases and Remus pauses his movement abruptly and pulls his head back, arching his brow.
“Are you trying to throw me off? Make me swear my allegiance to you instead of tennis?” Remus whispers in a husky yet sultry voice.
“You won’t?” Sirius teases, gently scratching their nails up and down Remus’ muscly back.
“The night before the most important match of our lives?”
“Remus Lupin, it sounds like you care more about tennis than me?”
“This sounds a lot like blackmail. If by some miracle, I do end up winning, you won’t, like, break up with me and burn all my clothes will you?” ” He asks defensively.
“For starters, you would actually have to win so…” Sirius grins as Remus pokes him in the rib, tickling them.
Sirius rolls his eyes. “Yes. I’m going to throw away the best four years of my life with my husband, the person I love most in this world and was planning on having children with because of a tennis match. How do you want to split the house?” He replies sarcastically.
The playful expression on Remus’ face slips off and he begins to pout. “I know this was a joke but the thought of us ever breaking up makes my heart hurt, let’s not talk about this anymore.”
“Imbécile. Now let me sleep, I have to be up early tomorrow to kick your bum.” Sirius sighs, turning over in bed. Remus watches in disbelief before inching forward and wrapping himself around Sirius’ back before interlocking their fingers together.
“You’re not going to go easy on me, are you?” Remus asks hesitantly.
“No. When you lose, I want you to know that I worked you through the, what do they say, wringer? I want you to feel the loss in your bones. I’m going to make you work for it, Lupin, and at the end, I’m going to come up triumphant.” Sirius replies cheekily, bringing Remus’ hand up to bite it. Remus scoffs playfully, pressing a quick kiss to their neck.
A minute later, Sirius turns around in Remus’ arms, tucking into his neck. “I know you love me and are completely obsessed but don’t do something stupid like throw the match for me.” Remus can’t see their face but his voice tells him that there is a layer of anxiety behind the casual tone.
Remus smiles, huffing a laugh from his nose. He kisses Sirius’ hair and squeezes him tighter before replying in a tired voice. “Wouldn’t dream of it, love.”
On Sunday morning, Remus wakes up to Sirius slowly rousing at the same time. He smiles and leaves a kiss on the corner of their lips before getting up and heading towards the shower. Sirius slips in a moment after and they spend the morning wrapped up in each other, feeling more tactile than usual.
They share a filling breakfast as Poppy and Minerva meet them at the house, asking if they’re ready. And honestly, they are.
Remus feels less of the nerves and more of the actual excitement that he’s playing with Sirius. It’s his favourite thing to do at home so to be able to play in front of the world and show how well they work together, how they play in such tandem with each other, well, Remus can’t wait for that.
Charlie and Fleur, Sirius’ assistant, arrive together, doing some final checks on their bags and making sure they have everything prepared before they head off altogether.
Once they’re inside the grounds, the coaches take them to do some easy warm-ups and they each have a quick meeting with their personal physiotherapists to make sure they’re in the best shape.
Before they know it, they’re waiting in Sirius’ dressing room, all dressed and packed with the anticipation fuelling them. The quiet hum of the TV stops them from sitting in silence but it’s not like they’re paying attention anyway.
Sirius leans into Remus’ body whilst he plays with their fingers, craving the feeling of Sirius against him before they go out for the next few hours and play opposite each other.
There’s not that long until they need to be called up and Sirius pulls away from Remus, turning around so he can face him. “The anticipation is killing me. Distract me.”
Remus’ face flushes red as he sits up, looking around the room. “Now?” He asks in a low voice.
Sirius rolls their eyes. “Not that! Talk to me, tell me something.”
Remus nods his head, smiling slyly before he sinks back into the sofa cushions. “Okay, there’s something I’ve never told you. And don’t get upset, it was so long ago now.”
Sirius’ brows furrow together as they shuffle closer, eager to learn what Remus has to say.
“I think this was a year before we started dating but I was watching you play in some qualifying match in France and, oh my god, I was so obsessed with you. Not only because you’re gorgeous but the way you played, I mean you were so young and you were taking down professionals, you know.” Remus starts, grinning to himself as a gentle blush appears on the apples of his cheeks.
“Anyway, we had spoken once or twice before and I thought, since you were on track to win the match, that I’d run out and get you a bouquet of flowers from the florist around the corner from the grounds. You were on your last set and I ran out, picked up a big bouquet with the intention of sneaking down and handing them to you.” He continues, eyes flitting up to see Sirius listening attentively.
“But when you won, you ran up to some guy, I don’t know your boyfriend at the time and kissed him. And I went home all sad with a bouquet of flowers.” Remus finishes and Sirius’ face drops.
“No! Oh my god! Why didn’t you come and talk to me? No, that’s made me so sad!” Sirius drops their head, shaking it as they bury their face in their hands.
“It’s the only thing I could think of that I haven’t told you! It wasn’t supposed to make you upset!” Remus cries out, barring his teeth awkwardly as he shuffles closer, wrapping his arms around Sirius.
“You did this on purpose. This is psychological manipulation, Lupin!” Sirius looks up, pretending to pull away from him.
“Will you calm down? It worked out in the end because when I saw you at the next Open, I played really well to impress you and you gave me your number!”
“I was still dating Antonio!”
Remus shrugs, “I didn’t mind. I was in it for the long game.”
Sirius’ face softens and he leans in to kiss Remus before the dreaded knock on the door. They both sigh, sharing one last quick kiss before grabbing their belongings and heading to the open doors at the end of the corridor.
Poppy and Minerva come to check on them, giving them some last words of encouragement before they head back to the seating area. For a moment, the both of them wait by the doors whilst Caradoc waits for the signal to let them go.
They stand opposite each other quietly, listening to the speakers as the presenters open up the game. Remus can feel his heart beating in his ears but looking at Sirius, he knows it’s the adrenaline.
They’re due to go on in a minute so he quickly taps Sirius’ leg with his shoe, gaining their attention. Sirius looks up with a questioning look.
“You know…” Remus starts, struggling for words. Sirius smiles gently and he finds himself mirroring it. Remus brings his hand up, holding it flat up to his head “It goes you,” he then drops his hand to his chest, "Tennis" before finally dropping his hand down, "And then everything else."
Sirius’ eyes soften as he leans forward to press a soft kiss on Remus’ lips. “Je t’aime plus sue tout au monde.” They whisper.
“Love you too.” Remus manages to whisper before they’re ushered to go ahead. They share a look before Sirius heads out first, Remus close behind them.
The crowd seems to be louder than usual when they walk out and they wave nicely before stopping at their designated chairs to get ready for the match to start.
The umpire, a friendly-looking man called Flitwick introduces himself to the both of them and wishes them luck, reminding them to play fairly. He does a quick coin toss and Remus wins so he thanks him before Flitwick steps up the ladder.
“Welcome to the Wimbledon Men’s Final of 2024. We are your presenters, Lee Jordan and Oliver Wood and we will be taking you through the final match.” Lee begins as the camera shows an overview of Centre Court.
“Representing Great Britain, we have Remus Lupin, two-time Grand Slam Winner and previous winner of Wimbledon in 2023. And on the other side, representing France, is Sirius Black. Again, two-time grand slam winner - Black won the Wimbledon Final back in 2021.” Oliver explains in a heavy Scottish accent.
“This is a first for Wimbledon, isn’t it Oliver? Our two players today got married last year so this is the first time we’re seeing a couple play each in Wimbledon, let alone in a Men’s final.”
“That’s right Lee, we’re expecting an intense match. Both Lupin and Black are seeded at No.3 and 4 in the world, respectively, so in terms of skill, they’re neck and neck.”
“We’ve got Scottish chair Filius Flitwick umpiring the match today. They’ve brought out the best for this one - Flitwick announced his retirement two years ago.” Lee informs the crowd.
“In a tense and historical match like this one, I’m not surprised. Just looking out into the crowd already, I mean, everyone is buzzing. Even looking down at Lupin and Black, they don’t seem to be carrying too much tension.”
“Yeah, it’s a strange vibe, isn’t it? They look quite comfortable the both of them, as if they’re both sure they have it in the bag. It’s a tough one with this match because they are both incredibly talented - there’s no denying it.”
“I’m not sure anyone knows how this match is going to go - they’re up there in the ranks for a reason. They’re both incredibly talented but I wouldn’t say their plays are in any way the same. Lupin is stronger in serves and Black is quicker on his feet, I mean the number of shots you think they would miss and they practically float over, I for one am very excited about this match.” Oliver concludes as Flitwick calls their names out, urging the crowd to take their seats.
Remus and Sirius both stand up, doing some last-minute warm-up techniques before Flitwick allows them to take their position.
Just before Sirius can walk, Remus jogs over, grabbing their arm and placing a quick kiss on their lips. Sirius looks back in complete shock as a blush forms on their cheek. The crowd lets out a chorus of “Aww!” before he moves back to his own side.
“Well, I’m sure I’ll be saying this throughout the course of this match but this is a first, isn’t it Oliver? Not sure we’ve seen opponents share a kiss on the court before.” Lee laughs.
“This is going to be one unconventional match, Lee, one for the books, I’m sure.”
Remus looks over his shoulder as he walks back, watching Sirius blush as they move over to their side of the court, smiling as he shakes his head.
Remus is serving first so he grabs a couple of balls, testing which one feels the best before tucking the other two in the pocket of his shorts.
They get into position, bouncing on the balls of their feet as they wait for Flitwick to start the match.
Remus smirks at Sirius whilst they shake their head, failing to hide the flustered expression on their face. Remus shrugs his shoulders whilst Sirius raises a threatening brow.
All the stress and tension melts from Remus’ shoulders as Flitwick gives him the go-ahead gesture. “Play.”
Remus gets into position, watching out the corner of his eyes as Sirius does as well. He bounces the ball on the grass three times, looking through his lashes with a smirk before throwing the ball up.
Sirius mirrors his smirk, bending over as they spin their racket in their hand and in an instant, Remus brings his own racket up and hits the ball with everything he’s got.
The ball lands not far from where Sirius was positioned and they hit it back with a strong forehand. They throw it back and forth, Sirius hitting it expertly as Remus has to run up and down his side a couple of times.
In the end, after an impressive first rally, Remus clumsily hits the ball and it bounces off his side of the net. He grimaces, dropping his head with a smile as he stands, listening to the applause coming out for Sirius.
BLACK | 0 | 0 | 15
LUPIN | 0 | 0 | 0
Sirius smirks to themselves, moving back into place as Remus pulls a ball out of his pocket, positioning himself to serve again.
Remus hits the ball, watching as Sirius hits it back with a meaningful forehand before Remus slams it out of Sirius' reach. The crowd applauds as Remus uses his sweatband to wipe his forehead.
BLACK | 0 | 0 | 15
LUPIN | 0 | 0 | 15
“If the first two plays are any indication of how the rest of the match is going go, then this is going to be very close,” Oliver says.
-
BLACK | 0 | 1 | 40
LUPIN | 0 | 0 | 30
“What a close one!” Lee cries out excitedly. “I’ll say one thing, this match is certainly exceeding expectations!”
“Can you see how in sync they are, they are anticipating the other’s next move from miles away!”
“Well, we can’t be surprised - Sirius mentioned in their interview on Friday how lucky they are to have someone to play tennis with all year round.” Oliver reminds the audience.
“I do wonder though, is there some competitive advantage since the two of them play together constantly?” Lee asks.
“I’m not that’s the right way to look at it - it’s not as if one player is benefiting more than the other. And this is just how it is during the different tours. If we think of the number of times Grindelwald and Dumbledore played each other…”
“Classic team the two of them, now those were some intense matches! Similar to the way these two are playing.”
Sirius bounces the ball three times against the worn-out grass, flitting their eyes up to check on Remus’ position. They throw the ball into the air and hit it across the court - not as strong as he would’ve liked but when Remus throws it back, he gains their force back.
The rally only lasts a few hits before Remus hits it in the other direction to where Sirius was standing, leaving him running clumsily towards it before it’s eventually called out.
Sirius sniffles, walking back to the stand holding their towel. He wipes his forehead, nodding at the ballgirl on their left to throw him some balls.
BLACK | 0 | 1 | 40
LUPIN | 0 | 0 | 40
-
BLACK | 0 | 3 | 40
LUPIN | 0 | 4 | 40
Remus is running across the court, back and forth as he tries to keep up with Sirius’ plays. There’s a glint of mischief in their eye, something only his husband can tell from playing opposite him for the last four years.
The adrenaline works in his favour as Remus ends up winning the game, pulling the advantages in his favour with two strong serves.
BLACK | 0 | 3 |
LUPIN | 0 | 5 |
“That’s the thing about Lupin - he’s always had a strong serve, it’s intense, it’s focused, he always knows his target and he hits exactly that. That’s why so many of his serves, and excuse the pun, serve him so well,” Oliver says.
“He’s got one of the strongest serves in tennis right now but Sirius’ forehand is lethal. They really exert themself - uses his entire body with those hits. It’s their showmanship.”
“I find him entirely entertaining to watch, Black always plays with a smirk on his face, I can’t imagine playing against them in a doubles match, I think I would psych myself out.” Oliver laughs good-naturedly.
Remus wins the first set, after a competitive first few games. He doesn’t celebrate passionately, instead, looks over at Poppy who nods her head with a smile. His family, next to her, cheer loudly, with Juno standing up and probably breaking a few rules.
BLACK | 0 |
LUPIN | 1 |
Remus walks down to his chair, trailing the net to get a good look at Sirius. He smiles proudly as Sirius mouths ‘good job’ before sitting in their respected chairs, chugging some water and popping some grapes in their mouths - purple for Remus and green for Sirius.
When Flitwick calls for the match to start up again, they both pass each other, Sirius placing a hand on Remus’ hip and kissing the corner of Remus’ lips. “Good luck.” They whisper, pulling away and crossing over to the other side of the court, ready to serve.
-
BLACK | 0 | 2 | 15
LUPIN | 1 | 0 | 30
You can see it in Sirius’ eyes - the determination. It wasn’t so much there in the first set. To Remus, even though there are thousands of people watching them play, it was easy to ignore them and pretend this is like any old match they play at home.
Except now Sirius has taken it personally. They’ve never been gracious at losing, no, he’s always taken it to heart. Even when they first started dating, if Remus ended up winning, Sirius wouldn’t be happy. It’s taken years for them to accept it, and he’s absolutely become better, playing Remus and other people in general.
But something about the look in Sirius’ eyes when they whip out their lethal left-handed backhand, Remus knows they’re not playing around anymore.
And the relief that washes over Remus when he realises that is completely refreshing. The fact that Sirius is playing as lethal as Remus wanted means that no one can question their abilities to play opposite each other.
Even though the both of them promised their coaches that they’d play earnestly, the thought always hung over Remus’ head. But now, watching as a little furrow appears in Sirius’ brows when he loses the point, Remus lets out a breath of relief.
That kiss of good luck wasn’t sweet - it was telling Remus to bring his A-game. Just because he won one set doesn’t mean shit. And Remus bites his lip at the thought.
Sirius lifts their shirt up to wipe the sweat off his forehead before bouncing a ball against the ground and hitting it back towards the ball boy.
They get in position, hiking the ball up and hitting it towards Remus who throws it back in the opposite direction. Sirius runs to hit it, forcing a strong and specific forehand. The ball lands just inside of the sideline before Remus can catch it and they win the point.
-
Sirius BLACK (FRA) | 3 | 7(7) | 5 |
Remus LUPIN (GBR) | 6 | 6(5) | 3 |
“The thing is Lee, you have to take into account that Lupin is older than Black and by a few years. He also came in quite late, sort of a rising talent story so do we have to question the fact that he might just be getting tired?” Oliver asks whilst the two players rest in between games.
After a gruelling second set, they both need the rest - no longer smirking and flirting with each other across the court.
Even during the tiebreak, the camera caught the both of them on separate occasions muttering under their breath and shaking their head - noticeably annoyed with the play. It's a funny thing because they both know they're playing their own husband, but they both have quite the temper and know exactly how to get on the other's nerves. Hasn't stopped them from their little good luck kisses before each game.
“I think he’s just been unlucky with a few shots. Black is an incredible player, especially with their luck in the Australian Open earlier this year and even the US Open last year. Getting to the semis and even the final isn’t new for them.” Lee says.
“That backhand of his has taken them places,” Oliver praises.
“But I wouldn’t doubt Lupin’s endurance. He is one of the older players in the tour currently at 34 - not old, I didn’t say old!” Lee chuckles to himself. “He’s been here before so I wouldn’t be so easy to dismiss his ability. And come on, we’ve seen him here time and time again, the sheer strength in his serves, in his forehands, especially being a leftie - it’s a rare kind of talent.”
“I only say that since Black has upped their game in the last two sets. It’s like he’s unlocked a new part of themselves, something we haven’t seen before.”
“He’s become very serious - excuse the pun! But I think going into this they were treating it quite light-heartedly, don’t you agree, Oliver?”
“I guess there’s some truth to it but can you blame them? They probably play against each other every day, it must be hard to pull out of that. And don’t get me wrong, it’s very entertaining to see them communicate on the court, something we don’t tend to see in tennis often.”
“The reactions from the crowd have honestly made my day. I wasn’t sure if a blow kiss was allowed on the court - I’ve never seen one before but Flitwick didn’t seem to mind!” Lee gushes on.
-
BLACK | 2 | 2 | 15
LUPIN | 1 | 4 | 30
“Right back at you, baby!” Remus shouts back as he runs close to the net, gently tapping the ball over the net and forcing Sirius to run from the corner of the court all the way forward. They miss the shot and the point falls to Remus who grins proudly at their husband.
Sirius shakes his head, blowing out some air as they walk back into position, gesturing that they have their eyes on Remus and Remus responds with a kissy face.
Remus can’t help the smile on his face - he doesn’t want this match to end. He pulls a ball out from his pocket, bouncing it on the floor before he serves again.
He grunts when he hits the ball and it lands far from Sirius, making them run over. They groan back, hitting the ball in the direction of the sidelines but Remus is quick to save it.
Unfortunately, he hits the ball too hard and it bounces straight out of bounds, giving the point to Sirius.
Sirius stands with their head held high, hand cupping his right ear arrogantly whilst the crowd applauds. Remus shakes his head, poking his tongue in his cheek. He pushes his eyebrows up, silently encouraging Sirius to get in position and serve again.
-
BLACK | 2 | 0 | AD
LUPIN | 2 | 1 |
4th Tiebreak
The rally has been going on for a couple of minutes, with neither Sirius nor Remus letting up. About a minute in, Sirius starts laughing, hitting the ball with ease and making Remus dart in the opposite direction. The sound of their laugh causes Remus to mirror it whilst he chases after another one of Sirius’ hits.
In the end, it’s Remus’ own fault as he tries a drop shot move, inching forward towards the net on his side and hoping that Sirius misses it. Instead, Sirius calculates Remus’ move and plants themselves in the middle of the court, making it an easy dive to hit the ball over Remus’ shoulder, causing him to lose.
“Oh, what a shot!” Oliver cries out and you can hear the excitement in his voice.
“Played him at his own game, wouldn’t you say?” Lee mirrors his enthusiasm.
“And a lovely little rally. Well, I wouldn’t exactly call it little, they were pulling each other all over the court for over two minutes straight! I wonder if it was the sheer length of the rally that made Black laugh, or if it was something else.”
“Whatever it was, it’s certainly kept the audience entertained. You can even make out a small smile from Sirius’ coach and 13x Grand Slam winner, Minerva McGonagall.”
“What a woman, aye Lee? She was an absolute machine back in her day. Saying that and watching Sirius, I don’t doubt that she’s still a complete force on the court today.”
“It’s somewhat cosmic, isn’t it? Both McGonagall’s and Pomphrey’s students playing each other when they were such a powerhouse team. Even when they played doubles but especially when they played against each other, it was always such an intense match. Watching Black and Lupin play is almost reminiscent of their time on the court.” Lee says.
“Just looking back at the scoreboard - they are completely tied. I know we said in the beginning this was likely to happen but I mean, watching it in real time, it’s incredible. There’s no doubt about their skill set.”
“We said it was going to be intense but this close? I was sure Black was going to secure their third set but Lupin swooped back in with those serves - they were so quick and assertive, winning two games straight off the bat.”
“Well, we’re in the final set now and there’s still no indication of who’s the likely winner. You can see Lupin starting to slow down now, I understand what you mean from the third set but I feel it’s clearer now. He’s hitting the ball purposefully, making Sirius run all over the court in the hopes that he won’t have to.” Oliver finishes as the two men get back in position for the next game.
-
BLACK | 2 | 5 | 40
LUPIN | 2 | 3 | 40
3rd Deuce
They keep going back and forth.
If Sirius makes the next two points, they’ll win.
And Remus can’t help but tremble, knowing that this might be the end. If it was up to him, they’d keep playing until they drop - which won’t be too long for Remus, but still.
Getting to play Sirius in a game like this, where the stakes are so high, where the audience is so responsive, where it feels like a casual Saturday throw-around and life and death all at once, it's electrifying.
He’s not going to give in. He can’t. It goes against everything they’ve trained for. And besides, Sirius will know in an instant if he does and he knows they’ll never forgive him.
It’s Remus’ turn to serve so he gets in position. He bends his knee slightly, hunching over to bounce the ball, once, twice, three times before launching it up. With all the strength he can muster, he nearly shouts, hitting the ball over to Sirius’ side, allowing for a clean and seamless hit back.
Remus accepts it, grunting loudly as he throws it back in Sirius' direction. They keep up a friendly but tense back and forth for a while - something in their plays telling the other that they don’t want this to be over, even as desperate as Sirius is to win.
Remus tries his hand at stalling their victory first, by using a strong forehand in the opposite direction to where Sirius is standing. However, Remus miscalculates just how fast Sirius is and he launches across the court, just managing to hit the ball completely out of Remus’ range.
He drops his head, listening to the sound of Flitwick calling out the score - Advantage - Black.
BLACK | 2 | 5 | AD
LUPIN | 2 | 3 |
It’s the Championship point.
The crowd cheers and Remus can make out chants of both their names as he prepares for another serve. He wipes the sweat beads off his forehead, bouncing on the balls on his feet as his lungs burn. He’s exhausted but there’s no way he can stop.
He takes a couple of breaths, watching Sirius hunch over to get in position. They spin their racket quickly as a focused expression takes over his face.
In moments like this, Remus really feels the difference in age between him.
He bounces the ball three times like usual and launches it up in the air. And then time suddenly moves in slow motion, with the ball dropping at a snail's speed. Remus can see it, the way the ball carefully drops back down and the way he brings his racket up. And then, he hits it.
It’s a powerful serve, Remus intended for it and he hoped it would bypass Sirius without them having enough time to react. But then again, it’s Sirius so he leaps to the left, pulling his arm back and slapping the ball back to Remus.
Remus pushes off his feet, running to his left as the ball comes speeding towards him. He hits it back, feeling the strain in his forearm as he does so.
And then for a while, it’s just back and forth between the two, nothing but the sound of their grunts filling the centre court. Remus hits harder but Sirius moves faster. That’s how it’s always been.
Remus knows it’s over before it even is. He watches the switch go off in Sirius’ head as he lobs the ball back to Remus. They jog closer as Remus waits for the ball to bounce near the corner of the court. He’s trapped. But he’s practised for this exact thing.
Sirius, now being a few feet from the net hits the ball with a gentle tap, just getting it over the net in a clean and award-winning drop shot.
But Remus sensed this from miles away so he was launching forward the moment he hit the ball back. He’s so close. The ball bounces once, not far from the net and he can taste it - he brings his racket down, attempting to flick the ball back up and over Sirius’ shoulder before they realise.
Remus doesn’t make it. The ball bounces twice before he can reach it and the momentum of his run keeps him going for a few steps, towards his chair.
It happens in slow motion - the ball bouncing, his shoes slipping as he tries to stop himself and the crowd getting up on their feet, letting out the loudest cheer Remus has ever heard.
Sirius has won.
Sirius is the men’s champion.
“Game - Black.” Flitwick just about announces into the speaker as the crowd continues to let out a chorus of celebration.
Remus watches as Sirius falls to his knees, dropping the racket as they bury their face in their hands. His shoulders shake as they sob and the crowd continues to applaud as Remus looks over at the scoreboard, ensuring that Sirius has in fact won.
Remus stands there in one spot, shoulders dropping as his face splits into a grin and eyes well up with tears.
He knows it’s probably wrong, but he couldn’t care less. He wanted Sirius to win. He played his best, making sure Sirius had someone up to par to play against but he would be lying if he didn’t hope they would win with every serve, with every fore and backhand.
He knows he’s breaking a few rules but he sets his racket down, running across the court and leaping over the net to wrap his arms around Sirius, tucking his face into their sweaty hair.
“You did so good, I’m so proud of you,” Remus whispers, trying to coax their hands away from his face.
Sirius’ breath hitches as he lets Remus pull his hands away. He places his hands on Remus’ face, cupping his cheeks as if creating a privacy curtain away from the cameras.
“I wanted you to win.” They whisper, trying to control their breathing with a grieving look on their face.
Remus frowns, shaking his head as he leans in to kiss them deeply. “No, god, sweetheart you won. I was giving it my everything, I promise. You’re just better. And I’m so happy. I love you, I’m so proud of you.” He repeats like a litany of praise.
“What a massive achievement for Black today, they have just won their second Wimbledon Final and third overall grand slam at the age of 27,” Lee announces with a bellowing voice.
“And what a game! It was so incredibly close, with Lupin truly and honestly giving it his all, only to be defeated by one of his own signature moves. I wonder how long Black had that tucked away under his belt.” Oliver laughs.
They’re on the floor for a few moments before Remus pulls them both up. He finally has proper access to Sirius and doesn’t waste a minute before wrapping his arms around Sirius’ body, muffling the sounds of the crowd cheering again as he presses his head into their hair.
They pull apart, trying to remember the proper course of action for the end of the final and so they walk back up to Flitwick’s stand, Remus pulling Sirius by the hand.
Remus shakes his hand first, thanking him for a good game before Sirius does the same and Remus kisses him once more, pulling the backwards cap off his own head. “Go on, go celebrate, this is all for you.” He smiles, wiping the tear off Sirius’ cheek.
“A lot of embracing from the two of them on the court right now - it’s definitely a different way of congratulating your opponent as far as we’ve been here at Wimbledon.” Lee jokes.
“Can you just imagine the surge of emotions the both of them are going through? Honestly, I don’t think we’ve seen a runner-up lose so happily before - Lupin looks as if he’s won himself!”
Sirius smiles walking backwards as he admires Remus before spinning around and waving his hands up at the crowd. They respond beautifully, cheering and hollering as Sirius makes their way around the green grass, shaking their in disbelief.
Remus flops down on his chair, watching in pure elation as the crowd pours love into Sirius’ win. He couldn’t be happier.
He tucks his belongings away just as Sirius notices Minerva and the rest of their family and friends. He leaps into the audience, running up the stairs and pushing through the audience to fall straight into James’ arms.
“And there Black goes, rushing up to meet his friends and family. It’s always nice to see this side of tennis, all the build-up and the training leading to this sort of celebration - it seems like Black has a lot of loved ones by his side which probably makes this whole thing worth it.” Oliver comments, watching Sirius make their way up.
And one by one, from Effie to Monty to Regulus to Lily, they envelop him, hiding him from the cameras. He then reaches over to Minerva who hugs him tightly before whispering something in his ear. Sirius kisses her cheek before pulling away, grabbing Harry out of James’ hands and lifting him high up for a kiss. Baby Harry kicks his legs out excitedly and flashes a gummy smile.
“That’s Sirius hugging his godson, oh, look at the way they’ve both completely lit up. Black’s mentioned before how important his family is in supporting his journey and by the looks on their faces, they’ve made it.”
Remus watches Sirius run back down quickly, smiling as he waits for him to take his seat. Except he runs across the court, jumping into the stands again and rushing towards Remus’ family.
Juno, Remus’ sister is standing at the end of the row, jumping up and down excitedly with her arms out and Sirius runs straight into him, lifting her arm as she cheers out loud. They leave a kiss on her cheek before running straight up to Hope and Lyall, the former bursting into tears with a grin as Sirius squeezes her tightly.
“I think this is what you call history at Wimbledon, with one player running up to celebrate with their opponent’s family. In this case, Lupin’s family just happen to be Black’s in-laws, but still, what a beautiful moment. And there he is, hugging Poppy Pomphrey, Lupin’s own coach!”
“What a final, Oliver, I’ve never seen anything like this!” Lee cries out.
Sirius eventually makes it back down as the ball girls and boys get in formation, ready for the trophy ceremony. They run across the court just as Remus gets up and runs straight into his arms again.
It seems the celebration with their family really lifted his spirits as he keeps repeating “Je t’aime” over and over again right into Remus’ ear until he’s gone completely red and flustered. He places a few staccato kisses on Remus’ lips before rushing back to his own chair to quickly pack his things up.
Then the usual proceedings begin, with the chair of the ATP walking out and announcing themselves. Flitwick walks over to accept his own award and suddenly, whilst he’s looking over at Sirius in a drunken gaze, Remus’ name is calling out as the runner-up.
He quickly composes himself and walks over to Albus Dumbledore, thanking him for the congratulations and holding the large silver plate up. The crowd cheers as he walks back to Mary MacDonald, ready for the interview.
“Remus, what an incredible match. I can confidently say, I don’t think we’ve ever seen anything like this before. Right off the bat, how are you feeling after this historic match?” She asks clearly into the microphone, mirroring Remus’ grin.
“Oh, what can I even say? I’m so incredibly proud of Sirius and the game we’ve just played. It was so intense and I think everyone in centre court today could feel it. It’s been such an absolute treat getting to play my own husband in front of such a warm and receptive crowd - I really felt the love today.” He nods with a soft smile, looking up at the blur of thousands of spectators.
“I have to say, this is probably the first match we’ve seen in tennis where the opponents begin each new game with a kiss. How was it playing your husband in such a high-stakes game?” She continues, eyes flitting over at Sirius.
Remus looks over just as Sirius laughs and he’s momentarily caught in their beauty. He looks back and sighs as if that’s answer enough. “I, er, I think tennis is always such a serious game, excuse the pun, but, erm, I play Sirius nearly every day so although it was the most important game in my life, it felt amazing because I was playing my husband. I really, honestly did not want it to end. And well the kisses, well, I’m not sure I would’ve made it this far without them.” He replies with a cheeky smile as the crowd laughs.
“You’ve absolutely melted all our hearts today, the both of you. Now, this is your third Wimbledon final, you previously won last year, can we expect to have you back in the future?”
“Let’s see, I’m always hopeful. Maybe not opposite Sirius again, I’m scared of the complete thrashing from them but I,” Remus looks over at Sirius and they share a knowing smile, “Er, I love tennis, I always have. I was just thinking earlier in the game that it’s only in tennis when I feel the difference in our age, but it’s a really incredible thing getting to play such an important game with my husband. This has honestly been my favourite match I’ve ever played. I’m really excited for both our futures, I know Sirius is definitely going to be back here, holding that trophy.” Remus finishes with a smile as Mary congratulates him.
He nods humbly and heads back to the other side, watching as Sirius makes their way over to the microphone. They’ve taken their braids out and their shoulder-length black hair falls in waves as he pushes it out of their face.
“Sirius, a massive congratulations on your second Wimbledon win. I know Remus has spent the last few minutes gushing on about you, but how are you feeling, this must be an amazing feeling to have won again.” Mary asks.
Sirius nods, swallowing hard as he takes a deep breath. “I’m not sure it’s sunken in completely. I sort of think I’m still dreaming, except if I was really dreaming then Remus would have won so…” They look back at Remus, tilting his head in a smile, “But exactly what Remus said really, we’ve been anticipating this game for so long and during it, I felt amazing but I didn’t really plan for what would happen when one of us eventually won so I’m still trying to wrap my head around it. I feel good though, my heart is pounding in my chest.” Sirius laughs, eliciting one from the crowd.
“I wanted to pick up on that last drop shot you made that secured your win. I know it’s something that your husband tends to use frequently, especially to secure his win so how did it feel using it against him?”
“Oh, it’s felt amazing!” Sirius cries out with a grin. “I play tennis with him all the time, every day and he always uses it just when I think I’ve secured a win. It’s not my strongest move but I can’t lie when it did work I felt very proud of myself. I’ve been secretly practising in the run-up to this game.”
“Well, it absolutely worked in your favour - it seems like Remus doesn’t mind so much.” Mary giggles as she looks over at a smiling Remus. “This game will go down in history not only as an incredible final but also as it’s the first match ever played by a couple. What does that mean for you not only as a player but also as a fan of tennis?”
“I’m sure a lot of people were weary of us playing together but I think we proved them all wrong. It was a very intense match, I felt it, and I know Remus felt it but at the end of the day, we’re professionals and we love tennis so that comes first. You know, just because we love each other doesn’t mean we can’t play a pretty lethal game.” Sirius laughs, looking over at the crowd with a winning smile.
“I also think, erm, I know sports isn’t always the place for love but I owe everything to tennis, because it’s the reason I found Remus, it’s given me a purpose but it’s led me to so many amazing people. I think this game we just played just proves so important we as athletes take our craft and talent. You know, we can set everything aside to play a fantastic game." Sirius pauses as his eyes become glossy with tears. "I'm very lucky to be able to share the thing I love most in life with the person I love most in life." He says, voice breaking slightly.
“And after such an amazing two weeks and an unbelievable final, what are you going to do to celebrate this win, I’m sure your husband will be leading the festivities by the look on his face.”
Sirius breaks into a smile, eyes flitting over at Remus with a sort of knowing smile. “Erm, I, er, sorry my mind went blank for a moment.” They laugh with wide eyes and the crowd lets out a mixture of cheers and laughter. “We’re having family over, we’re going to have a big party and then we’re going to sleep in!” Sirius bellows out with a grin, spinning around to look at Remus.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, your men’s champion for Wimbledon 2024, Sirius Black!” Mary cries out as the crowd breaks out into another cheer.
Sirius mimes “thank you” and waves to everyone as he walks back, urging Remus to grab the other side of their trophy. They both lift it up, breathing in the celebrations before Sirius sets it down on the table and wraps his arms around Remus, gently swaying them side to side as Remus whispers sweet words into their ear.