Chapter Text
Remus lay awake listening to the snuffling noises coming from the bed beside him until he just couldn’t take it anymore. He got to his feet and tiptoed across the gap between their beds.
“Padfoot?” The quivering lump beneath the quilt froze, “Sirius, are you okay?” Moony placed a hand on top of the quilt and rubbed soothing circles into the boys back.
“I’m fi-ahh!” A loud crack of thunder sounded and the boy whined again.
Remus sighed and sat on the edge of Sirius’ bed. “You know Pads,” he said conversationally, “you don’t have to lie to me, there are no secrets between us, right?”
“M’not lying,” the sheets mumbled.
Remus huffed a soft laugh, “of course not. Pads, everyone’s afraid of something, I’m scared of the moon for Merlin’s sake.”
His friend mumbled something that sounded like, “with good reason.”
“Well, your animagus does take the form of a dog.” Remus said, still rubbing soothing circles into his back.
Sirius popped his head out from the quilt to raise an eyebrow at his friend, “so?”
“Most dogs are afraid of thunder,” Remus replied, grinning. Sirius huffed a laugh and Moony reached out a hand to ruffle Padfoot’s long hair.
“So what, this is just instinct?” The boy sat up and scrubbed a hand across his face to remove the tears. Unthinkingly Remus brushed the pad of his thumb across Sirius’ face to catch one he missed.
“Well, you do have a better sense of smell and hearing now.” Sirius grinned, ignoring the fact that he had always been afraid of storms.
There was another crack of thunder and Sirius flinched, wrapping his arms around his head. Remus smiled sympathetically and pulled Sirius into his arms. “It’s okay Pads, you’re gonna be just fine.”
Sirius nodded into his shoulder, “stay with me?”
“Sure,” Remus said, it was the least he could do given Sirius had turned himself into a dog for him. He lay down and pulled Sirius with him, resting his head on his chest and holding him close.
“Just try to get some sleep, I’m right here.” He pulled the quilt up over them both and started stroking the other boys back again. Sirius sighed and relaxed further into the embrace; he was asleep before the next flash of lightening.
The two boys woke to the inevitable teasing of James and Peter, which lasted for a week before one of James’ attempts to woo Evans made him the next target for their teasing affections.
In the years that followed, if ever there was a storm, Remus would often wake to find a warm lump of fur pressed tightly to his side. Remus would smile fondly, wrap an arm around Padfoot and drift back off to sleep. James never teased them about it again, sensing it was just something his two friends needed to do.