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It all starts on Tuesday afternoon when James is hanging out with all his friends by the Black Lake. It’s the middle of October, and he is woefully underdressed for the increasingly cold weather. Jeans and a t-shirt were not the best choice, but his jacket wasn’t where he usually kept it, and he was too excited to take the time to look for it.
Sirius is asleep, splayed out on the grass as usual with his sunglasses on. They’re completely pointless with the current weather, but he maintains that they make him look cool. Peter is also lying on the grass, though he is finishing up some homework, while Remus and James are both leaning against a big oak tree, chatting quietly.
“What do you think about Professor Fort?” James murmurs, thinking back to their first Designation lesson only a few hours ago.
“He seems nice enough. He handled Lucius’ offensive line of questioning well, so I think he will be good,” Remus replies.
“That’s true,” James hums thoughtfully. “Lucius is such a prick. Merlin forbid omegas be more than walking incubators.”
Remus turns his head to look at James then, with a look that he can’t really decipher, and it sends a chill over his skin causing him to shiver. Remus frowns at this, looking down at his friend’s bare arms.
“Where’s your jacket, James? It’s too cold for you to be dressed in just a t-shirt,” Remus chastises.
James has the decency to blush, looking down in embarrassment until he hears movement beside him. He returns his gaze in time to watch the way Remus’ shirt lifts with his sweater, exposing a sliver of his stomach causing a pathetic little keening noise to escape his mouth.
If Remus hears the noise, he doesn’t acknowledge it, much to James’ relief. Instead, he instructs James to lift up his arms and guides him into the soft knitted sweater. He gives a satisfied, little nod once James is wrapped up and leans back against the tree.
☆☆☆☆☆
James wakes in the morning feeling content and surprisingly well rested. It isn’t until he sits up and stretches that he realises he is still wearing Remus’ jumper. It smells absolutely divine as he pulls it up to his nose to inhale deeply. He can hear the other boys rustling around in the dorm and so, without really knowing why, he peels the sweater off and tucks it under his pillow.
He climbs out of bed nodding along to a chorus of quiet morning greetings and quickly ducks into the bathroom to clean himself up a little before breakfast. Once the four of them are somewhat ready to start the day, they make their way to the Great Hall together.
Breakfast is the usual affair of toast and cereal and when they are clearing up their dishes, James offers to drop them all off in the designated spot. He carries them over by himself, checking to make sure nobody is watching him and then slips the spoon Remus used to stir his tea into the pocket of his robes.
☆☆☆☆☆
The rest of the week continues this way and by Friday, James has amassed a rather bizarre collection of things that he strongly associates with Remus. Along with the teaspoon is one of his friend’s quills, his potions homework from Wednesday, a button that had mysteriously disappeared from one of his shirts, and a chocolate bar, the only thing Remus had actually given to James. They all sit in a little pile on Remus’ sweater as James picks each item up and holds it in his hands.
“What am I doing?” He murmurs quietly to himself. “Am I suddenly becoming a kleptomaniac or something?”
He is alone in the dorm for at least the next hour while his friends are still in the common room together. A short while ago, he had faked a headache and slipped upstairs to check on his collection. He couldn’t explain, even to himself, why he treasured the items so much, and he was beginning to wonder if he should take himself to the infirmary. If it goes on much longer, Remus is going to start wondering where all his things are disappearing to.
He tucks the loose items into his pillowcase and the same way he has done for the past three nights, he cuddles the sweater against his chest, breathing in the calming scent it holds. In no time at all he is drifting off to sleep.
☆☆☆☆☆
Once again, James wakes in the morning to the comforting scent of Remus’ sweater. He buries his nose in it with a happy hum, giving himself a few moments to soak it up before he tucks it under his pillow and drags himself out of bed. He trudges off to the bathroom to get ready for breakfast and is both surprised and delighted to find Remus already inside brushing his teeth.
“Good morning,” he murmurs, sidling up to him at the sink as he grabs his own toothbrush to do the same.
Remus grumbles in response and then spits out his toothpaste to reply, “Morning, James. You excited for Quidditch practice this afternoon?”
James is surprised that Remus knows he has practice as he isn’t on the team, and it gives him a funny feeling in his tummy to know that his friend pays attention to things that are important to him.
“Yeah. I heard we are learning a new drill which will be fun,” he replies enthusiastically.
Remus chuckles, setting his toothbrush away and pats James’ shoulder as he walks past to leave. James feels warmth in the place where his hand touched and does his best not to stare after him.
☆☆☆☆☆
The next time James is alone with Remus is two days later in Designation class. Today, they are learning about nesting, and he feels oddly excited. Once they all take their seats, Professor Fort begins to tell the class about the process and function of nesting.
“Although omegas primarily nest during heat, the urge to do so starts almost immediately after presentation and continues during the years leading up to the first heat. It can be especially strong in the presence of a desired future mate,” professor Fort explains.
“Nesting helps an omega to feel comfortable and safe during heats, pregnancy, and the infancy stages of pups. They are most frequently set up on a bed. However, if the omega is in a shared environment or feels unsafe, they may nest in an enclosed space such as a wardrobe or even in unusual places like bathtubs. It is important not to forcibly move an omega’s nest or enter it without permission as this can lead to severe distress and even illness.”
James notes down all of the information, wanting to make sure he can be prepared for when he or his friends present. He definitely wouldn’t want to risk making them ill because he didn’t pay enough attention in their lessons.
Professor Fort continues his explanation, pauses every so often to field questions.
“You may be wondering what a nest actually is, and the truthful answer is that they can vary greatly. Typically, they will contain pillows and blankets in order to make the space comfortable. Alpha’s clothing also tends to feature heavily, though if the omega is mated to a beta, then the beta’s clothes will also be used.”
Alpha’s clothing. James thinks back to Remus’ jumper tucked under his pillow in his bed. He’s been scenting it every night before he sleeps.
Is he nesting?
Professor Fort said nesting often occurs in the presence of a desired, future mate.
Desired, future mate.
Remus.
Fuck.
☆☆☆☆☆
James flops backwards onto his bed with a sigh. He left dinner a little early, claiming a headache, but really, he needed some time alone to think. Think about the fact that he is presenting early as an omega, building a nest, and apparently wants Remus to be his future mate. It’s all a lot for a sixteen year old to think about.
If he is honest with himself, most of it is really quite easy to accept. He is perfectly happy to be an omega and actually rather excited that he has already begun his very first nest. The only troubling part is Remus.
Does he know he’s an alpha? Should James tell him? James would have to explain how he knows, and he doesn’t feel ready to admit that just yet. What if Remus doesn’t want to be his alpha? He hasn’t ever flirted with James or said he sees him as more than a friend.
“Merlin, this whole bloody thing is complicated,” he groans, rolling over to dig out Remus’ jumper and inhale the scent. It soothes him and after a few minutes, he is already drifting off to sleep again.
☆☆☆☆☆
James wakes up in the morning with a fresh perspective. He has decided to embrace everything that is happening and build a proper nest that he can present to Remus and hope that he at least appreciates the sentiment even if he doesn’t reciprocate his feelings.
The first order of business is stealing another of Remus’ sweaters as the scent in his current one is starting to fade. In the end, this entails digging into Remus’ dirty washing to find a well worn sweater while his three friends are in the common room. He decides against returning the original yet, still feeling a little too attached to it.
That night when everyone else seems to have fallen asleep, James sits in his bed and scrawls out a list of all the things he needs to add to his nest. He needs to make it comfortable like Professor Fort said. He also decides that they need some food in case they get hungry, and they might want some activities to do while they’re in the nest.
1. James’ Really Awesome Nest for Remus
2. Alpha’s’ pillow
3. Alpha’s clothes
4. Yummy snacks (Moony’s favourite chocolates)
5. Butterbeer
6. Muggle lights that Moony loves
7. Remus’ book
8. Exploding snap
Once he feels satisfied with his list, he sets about planning how he will arrange everything until he eventually falls asleep with his list in one hand and Remus’ sweater in the other.
☆☆☆☆☆
Three days later on Friday morning, James drags Sirius out of bed and down to the Black Lake. He barely makes it out of the castle doors before he is spilling out every detail of what has been happening the past two weeks and then begging him to help keep the dorm clear that evening, so he can show Remus his nest. He knows that Sirius and Peter won’t judge him, but he is terrified that Remus will hate it and reject him in front of their closest friends.
Sirius gives James a lot of reassurance and hugs and promises to keep Peter occupied all evening, so they can have their time alone.
“Jamie? Try not to worry too much, I have a feeling that Remus is going to really like it.” Sirius murmurs, squeezing his hand as they walk back towards the castle together.
James isn’t sure why Sirius seems so confident, but he decides to just be grateful and accept his support.
☆☆☆☆☆
Classes seem to drag on even longer than usual, and by the time they are finally dismissed for the day, James is practically bouncing with a mixture of nerves and excitement. He gives Sirius a look and then pulls Remus gently aside into an alcove.
He fidgets with his books, trying to remember the little script he planned, and takes a deep breath, looking up at Remus with a nervous smile.
“I was wondering if you wanted to hang out tonight? Like, just the two of us?”
Remus offers him his usual soft smile in return.
“Sure Prongs, anything in particular you want to do?” He asks, head tilted to the side slightly as though he can tell something is different.
“Actually, I was hoping that I could show you something. It’s in our dorm.” James blushes, looking down slightly.
“Lead the way.”
James hesitates for a moment, then slowly reaches out and takes Remus’ hand leading him back to their dorm. When they get inside, he lets go, giving Remus another nervous look and then draws back the curtains to his bed.
“I made this for you. Well, for us actually.”
He can’t even look at Remus, too afraid of his reaction, but it turns out he doesn’t need to. A moment later, he feels a hand slip into his own and a warmth pressing gently into his side.
“Jamie, is this a nest?” Remus murmurs.
He nods.
Remus moves forward onto the bed and tugs him with him, settling down among the pillows and blankets with James pulled in close against him.
“It’s lovely, darling. You made such a good nest.”
James blushes bright red, carefully draping an arm over Remus’ chest and absolutely delighting in the way he is holding him.
“You really like it?”
“I really do. Wait a second, is this my potions homework?”
James blushes again and Remus chuckles, brushing his hair back out of his eyes.
“You are so adorable.”
James looks up at Remus with a small smile and eyes full of hope.
“I got us some snacks too! Oh, and your book and exploding snap in case we need something to do. Are you thirsty? I got us some water too.”
He looks back at Remus to find him smiling down at him.
“Actually, I have an idea of what we could do,” Remus replies, brushing his fingers over James’ cheek.
“Yeah?”
“If it’s alright with you, I would really like to kiss you.”
James feels his heart skip a beat and he nods, leaning in closer, so their lips are mere centimetres apart. Remus cups James’ cheek and closes the gap, kissing him, soft and gentle.
When they pull back, James is grinning and Remus is smiling right back at him. He feels butterflies in his tummy.
“I was starting to think one of the ghosts had it out for me,” Remus starts, still cupping James’ cheek. “If I had known you were the one with all my things, I might have joined you here sooner.”
James giggles, burying his face against Remus and accidentally brushing his nose over his scent gland. He gasps, shifting his face away, feeling embarrassed yet again, until Remus tilts his head back up to look him in the eyes.
“You are so wonderful, James. I’ve had a bit of a crush on you ever since I met you and a much bigger crush on you for the past year. I am so delighted that you wanted me to be in your nest with you, and I want you to know how special you are to me. Will you be my boyfriend?”
James doesn’t even try to stop the huge grin spreading across his face as he nods excitedly. “Yes. I do want to be your boyfriend.”
Remus smiles and presses another soft kiss to his lips and then, very slowly, leans in and scents him. James holds his breath until he pulls back again and then after an encouraging nod from his boyfriend, leans in and scents him in return.
It’s so new and exciting and incredible, and James doesn’t stop smiling all night, even when he and Remus are tucked up in his nest again four hours later drifting off to sleep. It might just be the best sleep of his life.