bRAINBOW SERIES/b

Author: Pixie-Rings

Fandom: Harry Potter

Pairing: Remus/Sirius

Genre: romance, humour

Rating: G to soft R

Disclaimer: Belongs to J.K Rowling. If I were her, I'd be rich, which is a reason not to sue me. I own nothing except the clothes on my back, the glasses on my face and the cats on my sofa.

Warnings: none

Summary: A series of small ficlets dedicated to Remus and Sirius concerning the meanings of the eight original 1978 colours of Gilbert Baker's first Gay Pride flag.

1. Hot Pink: sexuality

2. Red: life

3. Orange: healing

4. Yellow: sunlight

5. Green: nature

6. Turquoise: magic/art

7. Indigo: serenity/harmony

8. Violet: spirit

bxxXxXxx

1. Hot Pink: Sexuality/b

Sirius wasn't stupid. He was actually incredibly clever, bordering on genius. So when he realised, after kissing his fourth or fifth girl in fourth year, that they didn't appeal to him and never had done, he also quickly realised what he was. Especially when thoughts of kissing Gavin Lewington had six months ago replaced those of kissing Jennie Dawlish. He knew he was gay. He liked blokes. Simple as that. Sirius wasn't the kind of person to ever do anything halfway, or remain in a grey area. It was all or nothing with him, and he was quite proud of that.

But he kept his sexuality a secret. His friends were truly all he had, and he did not want to lose them. He couldn't have cared less about his family. They could all go to hell for all the fuck he gave, but his friends… Loyal Peter, partner-in-crime James and wonderful, wonderful Remus… He couldn't bear to lose them.

Equally quickly after figuring himself out he figured out the reason he stared at Remus so much was because he fancied him. Short, brown hair, pale thin neck, long delicate fingers and beautiful amber-green eyes. Remus was gorgeous, although he'd never think that of himself. Silly wolf. So, after that, it didn't take him long to realise he cared for Remus so much because he loved him. He'd lay down his life for any of his friends, but he'd travel to hell and back for Remus. He hoped Remus felt the same way too.

xxXxXxx

Remus was in third year when he realised girls weren't that much fun. He knew James fancied Lily, but that certainly did not mean Lily fancied James. In fact, Lily seemed to like Remus, despite the fact Remus had never seen her as anything but a friend. So it happened that, towards the end of third year, he decided to try. They kissed. Once. They both admitted it felt 'off' a year later. When they realised why, they laughed about it (James and Sirius had not been pleased to learn about it).

After that, Remus steered clear of females. They didn't interest him anyway, but he refused to admit, even to himself, that he was gay. It was bad enough being a werewolf, but queer as well? No, this was wrong... It was only when a good-looking Ravenclaw named Neil asked him what he was reading one day in the library and he flushed and couldn't say anything apart from 'fnumblebargle' that he concede he was bi. But not gay.

Not until seeing Sirius half-naked and sweaty after Quidditch practice made him tent his pants and seeing Grace Turnbull in only a sports bra on a broomstick didn't. After that, he began crushing on Sirius in earnest, all the while feeling torn between guilt and desperation. Because Remus never made anything easy for himself.

That summer, he came out to his parents. His mother had burst into tears and from then on it was never the same between them. Awkward, full of long uncomfortable silences and forced, polite smiles. It hurt Remus so much to think his mother could accept him as a ferocious man-eating monster but not as a boy who liked other boys. His father, on the other hand, was nothing but supportive. He said Remus was far too mature for it to be just a phase, and that as long as he was judicious and careful ('especially around the Muggles. It's illegal for them, or something...') he didn't have a problem with it. He even bought Remus a book entitled i'A Young Wizard's Guide To Homosexuality - everything you wanted to know but never had the courage to ask'/i. That was exceedingly embarrassing, and John Lupin seemed to sense it and never asked about the book.

He decided he'd read it at school. Not long after the start of fifth year James was rummaging around in Remus's trunk for a spare quill and found it. Much joking and teasing had ensued, and Remus had come clean. James didn't seem to care. Peter shrugged and said it couldn't be helped. Sirius seemed overjoyed. iThat/i was explained by the fact he kissed Remus not five days after.