Moony: Year 3
Potter's Vacation Home
Tuscany, Italy
1 July, 1973
As soon as James' feet touched the white sand of the Mediterranean beach, the boy rushing as fast as he could kicking off his flip-flops and tossing off his shirt before he got to the water. Peter chasing behind him and miming his friend's actions.
Remus walked behind them at a slower place, picking up the things they had left on the beach and carrying the towels Mrs. Potter had handed them before they had left the house. The sun hat on his head shading his face from the sun that was shining happily down at them.
The beach was already filled with people, tourist or not. The late morning sun and sea breeze keeping the beach at a comfortable temperature. The werewolf slowly stared to lay out the towels, taking off his own shoes and digging his toes into the warm sand.
James ran over the spot Remus had set up as their little spot on the quickly filling beach, glasses in hand.
"Come on, Remus, in the water you go."
"Think I would rather relax and sit with our stuff to keep people from stealing it," Remus said, laying down on one of the towels. The sun hat being moved to cover his face, "Maybe even get the rest of the sleep I was denied in the warmth of the Italian sun."
James set his glasses down and kicked Remus in the side gently, "Oh come on, mum put a spell on the towels so no muggle or wizard will think about stealing. You got to get in the water some time, even leave the shirt on if you don't want people seeing."
Remus only grunted in response, shifting his body away from the foot, "I'll do it later; let me take a sun nap."
James pouted, "Fine, but it is your job to look out for Sirius."
With that, James turned on his heel and ran back into the blue sea, diving under a wave when he was far enough in and coming up with his usually messy hair plastered to his forehead. Peter splashing him right after he breached the surface of the sea.
Remus closed his eyes, letting the warmth of the late morning sun and the sound of the waves lull him back into an easy sleep. A very small part of him nagged him that falling asleep wasn't the best idea, but he decided not to listen to it. Sleep was more important at this time.
12 Grimmauld Place
London, England
Sirius paced in his room, his trunk on his bed and a deep frown on his face. The direct approach to his hadn't worked, apparently after last year's trip with the Potter's the family wasn't 'appropriate' for a teenage heir to be around. Rather he should be ignoring the loss of his favorite cousin to the 'filth' and celebrating the marriage of Narcissa to Malfoy.
Sirius grit his teeth and aimed a hard kick at his bed post, ignoring the searing pain that ran up his foot from knocking his barely protected toe on the hard wood. The teenager just sitting on the floor and waiting, waiting for the clock in his room to reach twelve.
His mother would be going to visit some distance aunt-cousin-thing who was ill and dying, his father going to the ministry and Regulus wouldn't be the wiser to his leaving. The consequences for leaving and not showing up for dinner were high, but at the moment he didn't care.
The sound of his mother's loud voice down the stair alerted him that it was almost time to leave. Jumping up from his seat he ran over to his bed and shoved the last of his things in his trunk, closing it and putting it on the floor.
The shrill of Walburga died with the door closing with a bang, and silence rung through the house, only broken by the fast foot falls of someone walking at a heavy pace who opened the door and shut it again.
Sirius counted under his breath, waiting till he reached thirty before he threw open his room door, dragging his trunk behind him. Soft, yet fast, feet hurrying down the staircase almost slipping and falling from the quick pace he was running.
He stopped at the base of the stairs, his breathing fast as he listened closely to his gloomy surrounding. The house was silent, except for the muttering of the portraits that were hung on the wall, the ones that could easily rat him out if he didn't do this carefully.
The thirteen year old sucked in a breath, tightened his grip on his trunk and made a very careful path towards his father's study.
"You can't swim in a shirt, Moony," James huffed, he was dripping wet with sea water as he stood over the sitting werewolf. "You can't even get a proper tan."
Hazel eyes judged the boy sitting in front of him now behind glasses, the usually pale face of Remus Lupin was slightly red but his arms were already turning into a dark tan almost matching the locals.
Remus only shrugged, reaching up and grabbing James' arm so he could put some sun block onto his friend. James not protesting as he let him put on the weird muggle stuff that apparently protected one from sun related sickness. They had been out there about two hours, the potion his mother had given them probably had run off by now.
"Maybe I don't want to go swimming, or get a tan."
"Then why are you even on the beach?" James whined, scrunching up his nose when Remus stood up so he could take off his friend's glasses and rub some of the sun block on James' face.
"Because I need to make sure you both don't drown," Remus smirked, poking James' nose playfully.
James only pouted, fixing his glasses back on his face.
"Your lack of faith in me and Pete hurts, Moony. I'm supposed to be the proud father of the group watching out for you all."
"You are more of a mother hen or an irresponsible idiot," Remus laughed, sitting the sun black down and looking out at the sea. Peter standing near it, looking down at his feet as the waves washed up onto the ocean and covered them up with the sea foam just as the boy leaned down to grab a shell.
James sat down next to him and frowned at his friend, "Come on; just get in."
"James I don't want to right now."
James bumped their shoulders together, "Come on don't tell me you can't swim. Is that the reason you aren't? I can teach you."
"I know how to swim, I just don't want to-"
"Then what is it, Remus? I just want you to have fun, I don't want you sitting up here all on your own."
"James-"
"Hello, gentlemen and lady! The best part of the part had arrived!" The voice behind them cut Remus' protest off and made James drop the subject as the messy haired wizard whipped his head around.
Sirius stood on the beach, a smirk on his face. His hair had grown out since when Remus had saw him at the end of second year, the dark waves reaching his chin and being held back with a small pin. The teenage laughing as James scrambled up and ran across the white sand until he had his best friend in a tight hug.
"I knew you would get here, though you couldn't be later! How'd you do it this time? Bribed them, showed them you're an adult and they have to let you do what you want?"
Sirius awkwardly hugged back, laughter on his face, "Can't give away all my secrets, Potter. What fun would that be?"
James grinned back anyway, fixing his glasses and letting go. Hazel eyes observing his friend, a little frown appearing at the white long sleeved shirt and the long trousers.
"These won't do at all, how are you supposed to enjoy the sun like this?"
Sirius looked down at his clothes and shrugged, "I don't know. Just thought I could swim in my pants…or something."
Remus sighed and stood up, taking the sun hat off his head and putting it on Sirius'. The grey eyed heir giving the werewolf a confused look.
"I don't want to see you get sun burnt again, or whine about freckles. Come on, I think I have an extra pair of swim trunks."
Remus grabbed his friend's arm, looking at James.
"Watch Peter, don't wander too far from each other or our things."
James nodded, "Won't let it happen, and when you get back you are getting in the sea."
Remus narrowed his eyes but started to drag Sirius back up the beach and toward the beach house. Sirius following behind, staring at the werewolf from the shade of his hat. The stares slowly digging under Remus' skin and clawing at the bones.
By the time they got back into the house and the room they were all sharing Remus was itching for Sirius to stop staring.
"What?"
Sirius just blinked his eyes, taking the hat off his head.
"When did you get this tall? Could have sworn you were below my shoulder last I saw you now you are almost eye level."
Remus blinked his eyes, face going blank. Watching as Sirius motioned whit his hands the height difference. He kept eye contact with Sirius for a few second before turning on his heal and opening his trunk, throwing the clothing at Sirius' face.
"Shut up, and get dressed." Remus sat on the bed and crossed his arms, watching as Sirius observed the 'muggle' article of clothing.
