A/N: Written for The Houses Competition. Thanks to AJ, 2D, and Holly for the betas, you lot are wonderful.

House: Ravenclaw

Category: Drabble

Prompt: First Day of Work

Word Count (excluding a/n): 499

Weak sunlight streams through the thin, tartan curtains of Remus' room and he groggily cracks open his eyes. He burrows deep into his duvet, the familiar smell of cinnamon and old parchment washing over him. Nostalgia overwhelms him, and he almost thinks that, if he just reaches out an arm, he might be able to feel a tangle of limbs beside him.

"Mooo-ny!" Sirius whines, his hot breath tickling Remus's neck. "Moony, wake uuup. I'm bored."

"Go back to sleep, Pads." Remus tries to sound firm and disapproving, but a small smile tugs at his lips. Sirius presses a kiss to his mouth, and he tastes like chocolate.

His body is aching after the long train journey, his head throbbing. As he walks down the corridors, the walls seem to be pressing in on him, trapping him. He'd thought he could handle being back at Hogwarts, handle all the memories that he'd tried so hard to suppress. Evidently, he was wrong.

The sound of students' footsteps echo around him and his heart flutters, hands shake, and he runs, away from the Great Hall and down towards the lake. It's his first day on the job, his first time teaching students. It wouldn't do, he realises, to have a meltdown whilst eating porridge in front of the entire school.

Finally, he collapses onto the damp grass, letting the coolness soak into his skin. The sky is dotted with clouds, and, for the first time in years, he feels completely calm.

James tosses the snitch up in the air and catches it with one hand, then looking around as if expecting to see Lily Evans falling to the ground with adoration.

Sirius rolls his eyes. "Calm down, Prongsie. She doesn't want to have your babies, yet."

James growls and leaps towards him. Sirius' shrieks fill the air as he shoves Remus in front of him. He clutches at Remus' shirt, and burrows his head in his chest. "Save me, Moony," is all Remus can make out, and he laughs.

The cool air whips through his hair, and he stretches out, his spine popping. He should be getting back, he thinks, as it would set a bad example to show up late to his own lesson. Begrudgingly, he hauls himself up and ambles back to the castle, taking his time to watch students walking down the paths to Hagrid's hut, their shouts carrying on the wind.

As he walks down past the Great Hall, McGonagall stops him and warns him that the Weasley twins, Hogwarts resident mischief makers, are in his first lesson. She has a glint in her eye, and Remus knows that she's remembering his own childhood antics.

"This is ridiculous, Sirius," Remus humphs, surveying the damage their latest prank has caused.

"Professor Moony," Sirius crows, a teasing grin on his face. "Before we know it, we'll be old and grey, and you'll be heading off to teach on your very first day…"

Remus cuts him off with a kiss.