Chapter Text
Sirius is helping Effie with the washing up in the kitchen, it’s a form of bonding they’ve kept up all these years since she first moved in with the Potters at 16 to now a decade on when Sirius has a place of her own. Something about the calming repetitiveness of washing each plate and the peacefulness of the kitchen seems to mollify Sirius and she has had some of her most difficult conversations in the setting.
“So… I’ve been doing some thinking…” Euphemia started and the lilt in her tone caused Sirius to turn and study her. Immediately she noticed the mischievous glint in her eye and poorly concealed smirk tugging at the corner of her lips, well this was certainly a cause for concern. Many people made the assumption that James’ proclivity for mischief could be attributed to Monty, and whilst he shared that streak, it was Effie you really had to watch out for. Yet unfortunately for her she shared her son’s inability for subtlety, or maybe Sirius had just been around her so long she knew her tells, a thought that warmed her greatly.
“Molly and Arthur’s wedding is coming up, and she was just checking with me about numbers” Effie continued, attempting a tone of casualty. “Of course me and Monty are going, then you and James were both invited too” Sirius was already aware of this and had confirmed she would love to attend, so wasn’t quite sure where Effie was going with this.
“And they were considerate enough to permit you and James both plus ones” ah of course, how could Sirius not realise this was yet another matchmaking attempt, “obviously James will be bringing Regulus but unless you have a secret partner you’re hiding from me you’re without a plus one. But fear not, my sweet, I have various connections and have compiled a list of potential suitors for you.”
Effie pulled out a literal list with a flourish from her apron pocket, Sirius was so astounded she took the paper to review without interrupting Effie as she had originally planned which clearly Effie interpreted as a go ahead to continue. “There’s that sweet girl Hestia from a few doors down, although she did only go through a breakup” Effie paused as though to do the calculations “I think it must be about seven hours ago now so maybe the poor thing needs a bit of time to breathe” Sirius was shocked into silence yet again, never ceasing to be astounded by the efficiency with which Effie came across gossip.
“Then there’s Kingsley, although he and James did have their little tryst back in school so maybe that would be a bit strange” that seemed to snap Sirius out of her silence because absolutely not.
“Effie no, just absolutely not. I really appreciate the trouble you’ve gone through with finding… recruits but I’m all good thank you.” She was going to stop there but then saw that was not going to be enough to pacify Effie so added “I was planning on bringing Remus anyways.”
Sirius thought that would suffice and it’s the truth, she hadn’t asked Remus yet but she doesn’t see why she would say no and she knew it would be much more fun with Remus by her side. However, as she glanced back in Effie’s direction it became evident this was decidedly the wrong thing to say.
Effie let out a high pitched squeal and wrapped Sirius in a hug spinning them around “I never thought I’d see the day you guys are finally together, oh I’m just so pleasantly thrilled.”
Finally together, what’s that supposed to mean. I mean her and Remus had been getting mistaken as a couple for the entirety of their friendship but Effie knew it was nothing more. She went to interrupt but didn’t get a chance to as Effie continued “I’m so happy for you honey, I was starting to get a bit worried about you for a second there. I know you always say you’re happy being single but you know it’s always a mothers dream for her child to find happiness and love.”
No matter how many times Effie did it Sirius felt the same overwhelming sensation whenever she referred to Sirius as her child, which is why it pained her but Sirius had to correct her. “I’m sorry to disappoint, but Remus and I-”
“If I’m being honest it wasn’t looking good the only real option out of my suitors was Severus and I-”
“Snivellus?!” Sirius abandoned all attempts at correcting Effie because what. On. Earth. In what world would Sirius be in any way interested in spending any time with Severus Snape, it sent a shiver through her just thinking about it.
“Well I’m not one to support name calling but yes Severus from school. He’s the only one out of all my bachelor-lettes who has been single for a while, hasn’t been involved with any of you kids previously or has any criminal convictions.”
At this Sirius raised her eyebrows and so Effie returned “it was only theft nothing too Sirius. And anyways none of that matters now you’ve got your darling Remus to accompany you. Such a lovely girl, you’ll have to invite her round for dinner soon so we can meet her properly with the new girlfriend status she’s achieved.”
And Sirius knew that she should correct her, there was no way that this could end well. But then she thought of the idea of going with Severus and surely there couldn’t be too much harm with Effie assuming they were together, after all she was going to bring Remus anyways. It was also really nice seeing Effie happy like this.
Effie and Monty were the kindest souls she’d ever had the honour of interacting with. They were kind and patient and above all else loving. They extended their love in endless supply to those who didn’t ask for it, to those who didn’t deserve it and it seemed impossible to resist the brightness they shone on those who entered their orbit.
Effie and Monty had that kind of love that poets transcribed, that filled people’s dreams and was wished upon on stars. It forced the toughest cynics to believe in love and prompted those who had given up on the feeling to keep searching. The two knew what that kind of love felt like and so wanted others to experience its magnificence also.
James had found it with her brother of all people. Which whilst initially horrified her, as soon as she bore witness to an interaction between them; a simple locking of eyes, soft adoring smile and precious brushing of hands Sirius knew. She knew it was love and she knew they more than anyone else deserved that. So she grew to fall in love with their love.
Sirius had never found that. Of course she had copious measures of platonic love, something she was immensely grateful for. But never romantic. It was not for lack of trying, she had been on her fair share of dates but nothing that filled her with that same feeling she witnessed emanating from those couples around her. Sirius accepted this, understanding not everyone was destined for romantic love and that was ok. But Effie did not accept that.
Sirius had been victim to various matchmaking schemes from Effie over the years. She never minded too much, if she was going to go on a date anyway it might as well be with someone Effie custom picked herself, who Sirius trusted with her life and knew she would never set her up with someone who would cause Sirius hurt or distress. But they always just ended in friendships, which Effie undoubtedly took much harder that Sirius. Which is why Sirius found herself speaking off her own accord.
“Of course, Remus would love that she’s always loved your cooking.”
The alarm bells carried on blaring persistently in her head that this would inevitably end in catastrophe. But as she took in Effie’s overjoyed expressed she couldn’t bring herself to regret it just yet.
✮☾✮☾✮
Sirius sits at her and Remus’ regular table in their café with not one pastry but three as well as their regular orders of mint tea and a chai latte, anxiously twisting the rings that adorn her fingers.
Remus walks in wearing a signature Moony look; a maxi skirt, her docs, the mittens Sirius had bought for her last Christmas because her hands were always cold and best of all one of her soft jumpers that Sirius loved and perpetually stole. Sirius just adored how cozy she looked, like she could just crawl inside the jumper and live in a universe where it was just her and Remus.
Remus initially looks rather startled to see Sirius already sitting down but that soon melts into a sweet private smile just for Sirius as those beautiful amber eyes glisten with something Sirius wouldn’t know what to name.
“Morning” she spoke in that soothing lull of hers “I can’t believe you’re already here you never get here first… and with three pastries, what are you trying to butter me up for?” Remus joked with a gentle laugh as she sat down. But once she got settled in she properly took in Sirius’ face then spoke again.
“Oh you actually are buttering me up, go on then what is it?”
Sirius pushed a chocolate twist towards Remus trying to put on her most innocent forgivable face, which Remus only returned with a comically exasperated whilst simultaneously amused gaze. Sirius found herself having to break the eye contact, Remus just had the most celestial eyes that Sirius often found herself feeling exposed by if she started too long; as though her gaze was penetrating through into her soul, reaching in and inspecting every part of her, it didn’t scare Sirius as such it was just such a overpowering feeling she felt she had to stop it sometimes.
“You know Molly and Arthur that live next door to the Potters?”
Remus nodded in response “the ones with the hundreds of identical kids.”
“Yes” Sirius affirmed, then took another unnecessarily long pause and Remus simply continued to stare at her waiting whilst she leant her head against her hand in an entirely too charming manner. “Well they’re getting married and the four of us got invited with me and James having plus ones and obviously he’s bringing Regulus and I was hoping you’d come with me.”
Sirius looked back up at Remus and was met with an expectant look “that’s it? Really? Of course I’ll be your plus one, but surely that question didn’t justify three whole pastries we’re always each other’s plus ones.”
“Well there is some other small detail” Sirius took in a deep breath then mumbled as quick as she could “ndytbemfkgrfnd.”
Remus and Sirius had really mastered the art of understanding each other no matter the situation over the years; drunk, crying, laughing, half asleep, they always knew. But clearly that didn’t extend to not speaking fully formed words and speaking it at a volume where it was impossible for the other to hear.
“Say yes.”
“Yes to what?” Remus asked incredulously.
“Just say yes it will be fun then I’ll surprise you with what you’re agreeing to after” Sirius tried adding jazz hands in an attempt to further persuade Remus, yet it was to no avail. So she sighed then spoke again, more clearly this time.
“I need you to be my fake girlfriend.”
“Huh?” Remus questioned.
“Moonyyyy don’t hate me but I messed up” Sirius pleaded. Then launched into an explanation of what had happened with Effie and how she panicked and hadn’t corrected her. Putting special emphasis on Snivellus, I mean Snivellus Moony could you imagine?
“I don’t know Pads this seems like a really bad idea.”
“I know, I know.”
“Like so we fake date for a bit then suddenly break up and everyone hates me because they think I was a bad girlfriend to you.”
Honestly Sirius had not thought any of this through, so she just started rebutting with whatever came to her in the moment.
“No, no it can just be like a we realised we were better as friends, nice amicable breakup no one would choose sides.” At this comment some indecipherable emotion passed over Remus’ face that almost looked like pain, but it was gone as quick as it had appeared and Sirius realised she must have imagined it because she couldn’t think of anything in that sentence that would inflict harm upon Remus. “And it would only be Effie and Monty… well and everyone at the wedding who would have to think we were together.”
“Well Effie and Monty would certainly have it out for me after. I would hate for them to hate me” she paused then added “and honestly not getting to experience Effie’s cooking ever again might be the worst fate I could think of.”
Remus said it with such seriousness in her tone Sirius couldn’t help but let out a small laugh, but reassured Remus “I promise you that wouldn’t be the case, if anything I’d be the one berated for letting you go. You should’ve seen how over the moon she was when she misunderstood me, prattling on about how much she loved you.”
This seemed to satiate Remus slightly, but there was still this bittersweet ambience radiating off her. Sometimes it really felt as though the two girls’ souls were intertwined, with the depth to which they understood one another and way they shared emotions.
Remus was looking intently at her again as though frantically searching for something before confirming “just fake dating for the couple of months in the lead up to the wedding and then we end it?”
Sirius couldn’t quite understand the pinch of pain Remus’ words caused but there was a sudden buzzing current of discomfort radiating just beneath her skin. Remus really seemed like she wanted it to be done with as soon as possible, like the idea of dating Sirius was strenuous. Which Sirius supposed she understood but she didn’t think Remus would feel that way. But this shouldn’t bother Sirius, she rationalised, it would be fake and it was a strange situation that she should also be hoping to be over as quickly as possible.
So she confirmed “yes the wedding is in about two months and after that you’ll never have to even so much as hold my hand again” Sirius tried to joke in an attempt to dispel the odd mood that had settled.
Remus reached out and grabbed Sirius’ hand interlinking their fingers together, such a small gesture, such an insignificant touch. But something about the affinity of the gesture made Sirius’ breath catch. Sirius supposed she was aware of the fact that her and Remus never really touched much, Sirius was a very physically affectionate person yet Remus wasn’t and Sirius could respect that and so whilst they were extremely emotionally intimate they rarely ever touched. And so Sirius was taken back by the effect it had on her.
She was hyper aware of every point of contact, the smoothness of her skin, the softness of her touch, the firmness of her hold. For someone who was always so cold, Remus felt so comfortingly warm.
She hadn’t realised she had been so absorbed in the image of their hands intertwined until her attention was drawn back by Remus speaking again.
“I’ll do it” she said with a soft smile, causing an identical one to mirror on Sirius’ face.
Sirius dropped her forehead to their joint hands with a dramatic sigh of relief before looking back up “you’re a life saver Remus I’d be lost without you.”
“I guess I’ll have to stick around then.”