Chapter Text
The castle was quiet as Remus walked back from the library. He’d stayed for two extra hours after closing time for everyone else, having told Madam Pince that he needed to catch up on work that he’d missed the week before.
Sirius had begged him relentlessly to not spend another night at the library, but it was a habit that he’d fallen into since about two weeks before. Remus knew deep down that he had another reason to avoid being in the common room, but he didn’t want to address that just yet. He wanted to avoid the issue for as long as possible.
“Remus,” A familiar voice called from the shadows, and the werewolf turned around slowly. His eyes caught on the round and short dark hair, and he tried to hide the surprise in his voice, “Richard. Why are you-?”
Richard Stubbins stepped out of the shadows and raised his eyes to meet Remus’ gaze, “I wanted to talk.”
Remus cleared his throat, “So you… followed me to the library and waited for two hours for me to leave?”
He shook his head, “No. You’ve been going to the library every night recently, and I figured out the time that you come back. I thought I’d come out and meet you halfway.”
Remus tried not to show any irritation on his face as he started to walk slowly, “And you wanted to talk.”
“Yeah,” Richard’s voice was quiet, “About us. Listen, Remus- I don’t know what made you break up with me-”
Remus couldn’t help but snort, having already guessed what Richard had wanted to talk about and finding the predictability of the topic incredibly amusing. He ignored the hurt that flashed across Richard’s eyes, “We were hardly together, Rich. Getting off a few times in the potions cupboard hardly constitutes as a relationship.”
Richard tried to reach a hand out towards Remus’ arm, but the werewolf pulled away quickly.
“I know what I felt, Remus,” He whispered, “It was more than that, and you felt it too. You were finally letting me get close to you. Things felt… natural. And then you suddenly cut me off.”
Remus’ throat felt unnaturally dry as he swallowed thickly, glancing down at the floor. He had perfect reasons for cutting Richard off. He wanted to tell him that, but the other boy would want to know why, and Remus couldn’t risk sharing his secret.
“I think what you felt was fairly one-sided, Richard,” He murmured, “I broke things off because… it was repetitive. Boring, in fact.”
Richard made a noise that sounded like a sharp inhalation of breath, “You’re lying. I know you are. Why don’t we try again? Give me a second chance. Let me get to know you fully.”
Remus felt incredibly uncomfortable. He’d found it difficult enough breaking up with Richard in the first place, but to decline his offer with no solid reason was going to feel ten times as bad.
They turned the corner into the Gryffindor tower, and Remus muttered the password quietly, ducking into the portrait hole.
“You’re not going to discuss this?” Richard raised his voice, “Why are you ignoring me? Stop shutting me out!”
Remus opened his mouth to reply, but no sound came out. He was stuck, unable to think coherently.
“Moony!”
Remus turned his head to the side, his eyes glazing over everyone else in the Gryffindor common room and landing on Sirius, who was draped over the sofa by the fire and floating Fizzing Whizzbees into Peter’s mouth.
“Remus? Are you going to say anything?” Richard pressed, his brows furrowing together with frustration.
Remus glanced at Richard, and then back at Sirius, before he opened his mouth and spoke the first words that came to mind, “I’m dating Sirius!”
It was only as the whole common room fell silent and everyone turned to stare at him that Remus realised he hadn’t spoken but had instead shouted the words at Richard.
Slowly, his eyes sought out Sirius, who seemed to be considering what the werewolf had just said. Their eyes met, and Remus tried to communicate with him in the wordless way that they’d learnt to do. Don’t say a thing. Stay silent. I didn’t mean it.
He didn’t listen, and instead leapt up and grinned wickedly at Remus, “Moony! I thought we decided we weren’t going to tell everyone just yet!”
Remus felt his whole body begin to burn with embarrassment. He was frozen in position, completely and utterly lost for words.
“Yes!” Mary Macdonald shouted from her spot by the window, “Mar! You owe me ten galleons!”
Suddenly, the whole room erupted into shouts of glee and groans of defeat as students began to exchange money. Remus’ mouth dropped open in horror as realisation dawned on him. The other Gryffindor students had bet actual money on him and Sirius dating.
He turned to face Richard, preparing an apology, but the words died in his throat. Richard was reluctantly accepting five galleons from Dorcas, who appeared to be just as reluctant to pass it over.
An arm slinked its way around Remus’ waist, and he glanced up at Sirius’ beaming face.
“Sirius-” He started to say, but he didn’t know what to say or how to explain himself.
“Smile and wave, Moony”, Sirius whispered into his ear, his warm breath causing Remus’ cheeks to flush, “We’ve got fans to please.”
Unwillingly, Remus tried to smile at everyone around them that was congratulating them. Sirius shook his head with a smile, “Moony is so terrible at keeping secrets! We were going to wait a few more weeks before we told anyone, weren’t we, love?”
Remus had elbowed him in the ribs, and was about to have some stern words with Sirius for playing along far too well when he felt James throw his arm over his shoulder.
“Well, what a tiring night it’s been! I say we all go to bed, don’t you? Moony has been in the library all evening, and I’m sure he needs some sleep. You too, Sirius. Goodnight everyone! Come on, Pete.”
The four boys trailed into the dormitory and shut the door behind them. It was silent for a brief moment, and then Peter suddenly burst into fits of laughter, clutching at his side as he doubled over.
“Not funny,” Remus grumbled, “Really not funny.”
“Yeah, Pete,” Sirius smirked, “Mine and Moony’s undying love for each other is a serious matter.”
Remus groaned, causing James to burst out laughing a moment later. Remus picked a pillow up and threw it at his friend as hard as he could.
“So,” Sirius leant against the wall lazily, “When did you decide that we were dating?”
“When Richard Stubbins wouldn’t leave me alone. It was a spur of the moment thing, I just wanted to shake him off.” The werewolf sighed, “We can tell everyone it was a joke in the morning.”
James stopped laughing, and caught his breath, “Oh no, Moony. You can’t do that. Did you not see? The whole of Gryffindor house had bet on you two dating. You can’t get out of it now. All the money’s been exchanged.”
“You two didn’t make any bets, did you?” Remus asked hesitantly, wondering if him and Sirius really acted like they were in a relationship that much.
“Well,” Peter started to say, but James kicked his leg out of sight from the other two boys, “Of course we didn’t. We… know you’re not together.”
Sirius leant forwards, his expression more serious as he studied Remus’ face, “Did you see that even Dick Stubbins bet on it?”
Remus paused, finally allowing himself to register that particular thought, “Yes. I did.”
“Are you okay, Moony?” Sirius asked suddenly, his voice gentle. Remus’ gaze met his friend’s concerned one, and he felt his eyes sting slightly. Sirius had an uncanny knack of bringing out all of Remus’ raw emotions at once in a way that no one else could. He suddenly had the urge to bury his head in Sirius’ chest and stay there just to avoid everyone else and the thoughts that were viciously circling around his head.
“I’m fine,” He glanced away, “I don’t care about Richard. It was nothing serious.”
Peter piped up cheerfully, “Clearly, seeing as you’re dating Sirius now.”
“I will hex you,” Remus muttered, his gaze lifting to Sirius and James as they tried not to laugh, “All three of you.”
Sirius threw an arm around the werewolf’s shoulders, “You wouldn’t hex your boyfriend, would you Moony?”
Remus growled and walked towards the bathroom wordlessly, picking up his pyjamas on the way. His thoughts were difficult to process as he brushed his teeth, but he knew one thing- he wished he hadn’t opened his big mouth. He could have chosen anyone, and he’d chosen Sirius Black. Sirius Black, the biggest drama queen he knew, who would not let this drop for months.
Then again, Remus considered, it was only a fake relationship. He would only have to keep up pretences when they were with other people. Otherwise, when it was just the four of them, he was free. In a few weeks time, he could stage a break-up. It would all be over, and he could forget about it at last.
It suddenly dawned on him that he couldn’t keep avoiding Sirius every evening like he had been for the past fortnight. He was also going to have to forget the incident that had taken place two weeks before- although he doubted the ease of that task, considering that it had been ingrained on his brain.
Remus shook his thoughts away and turned the tap off, deciding it would be best not to dwell on his mistakes. He walked back into the dormitory, where the other boys were slumped on their beds.
Remus climbed into bed and placed his wand on the bedside table, pausing only when Sirius called out, “Should I join you tonight, love?”
“Piss off.”
James howled with laughter as Sirius feigned a hurt expression. Remus rolled his eyes, “Sorry, Padfoot, I’m still aching from last night’s lovemaking. Perhaps tomorrow night?”
Sirius’ dark eyes twinkled, “Sounds like a deal, Moony.”
With a satisfied nod, Remus curled up under the covers and closed his eyes. He was exhausted, and knew that he would drift off to sleep any moment-
“Sleep tight, darling,” Sirius sang from his bed, “I’m sure your dreams will be filled with me in all my naked glory.”
Remus groaned and buried his head under the pillow, deciding that perhaps he wouldn’t sleep so well after all. At this rate, he didn’t know if he’d ever have a peaceful moment again.