Remus

"Stop sulking, Remus." Hope Lupin ordered, looking up from her knitting.

Remus snapped back to reality and looked at his mother. He felt heat rush up his neck, and pointed at his book, "It's actually called reading."

Technically, what Remus was doing wasn't called reading, it was called daydreaming. He had been thinking about Grimmauld Place, and his friends, and how they'd probably already broken out the firewhiskey by now.

Okay, fine, that wasn't true either. He was thinking about Grimmauld Place, and firewhiskey, only James and Peter weren't there... and neither were Sirius's clothes.

"You were looking about a metre away from the book, Remus." Hope said, the clicking of her knitting needles filled the room again.

"You know it's for the best, son." His dad, John, said, looking up from The Daily Prophet.

Remus nodded, his mouth feeling unusually dry, as he thanked Merlin that his parents didn't know Legilimency. He returned his gaze to the book, but the words didn't hold any interest to him. He could be in Sirius's house right now - the infamous Grimmauld Place.

They'd all heard a great many things about Grimmauld Place – none of them good – and this was probably their only chance to see inside, and Remus was missing it. There would never be another chance to enter the hellish place Sirius called a home.

Especially for Remus because, not only was he a Gryffindor, he was a half-blood and a werewolf. Sirius's mum would probably go into cardiac arrest if she found out Remus's filthy presence had graced her hallways.

Although, Remus was sure that wasn't such a bad thing.

He knew he should be grateful to his parents. They were only looking out for him. The full moon was this Friday and if he went to Sirius's for the week, it would mean he'd be turning into The Wolf around his friends. What his parents didn't know, of course, was that this wouldn't be the first time, not by a long shot. They had no idea just how equipped those three were, when it came to dealing with The Wolf.

Remus sighed, and his mother shot him a look. He looked apologetically at her and wriggled in his chair to get comfy.

Just as he turned the page, to keep up the charade of his reading as he daydreamed about Sirius's bed, someone knocked on the door. Remus dog-eared the book page and left the lounge. Out in the hallway, during the short walk to the door, he was free to sigh as much as he wanted. So he did, letting out all the pent-up frustration he had at being housebound. He reached for the front door handle, but before he touched it, the door swung open.

Sirius stood on his doorstep, smiling smugly. Remus blinked a few times, half-convinced this was just some vivid hallucination. No one could look that good in a leather jacket, t-shirt, and jeans. It was not possible. The necklace Remus had given Sirius last Christmas hung from his neck, and his hair was pushed back beautifully. Remus drew his brows together in confusion, and Sirius's smile grew.

"Hey Moonbeam." He grinned, leaning on the door jamb.

"Don't call me that." Remus said instinctively. It was only Sirius who ever called him Moonbeam and he hated it. Remus threw a glance over his shoulder at the lounge door to check his parents weren't listening, and whispered, "What are you doing here?"

"Nice pyjamas." Sirius grinned, his eyes trailing from Remus's bare feet upwards. Remus felt heat rush up his neck, instantly regretting his choice of attire – fuzzy pyjamas weren't exactly the sexiest outfit in the world – and repeated his question.

"I'm here to free my Princess." Sirius whispered back.

"I told Prongs I couldn't go." Remus said, ignoring the jab at him being a Princess.

"Yes, and I believe he told you that you're an idiot."

"He didn't."

"Well, he should have." Sirius said, "There's no way you're missing the chance to see me be an excellent host."

"But Sirius-"

"Remus? Who is it?" His mum voiced behind him. Remus let his eyes shut in defeat. He had lost now. If his parents ever met Sirius he'd be banned from hanging out with him. The boy who has a tendency to start fires, and has no sense of self-preservation at all, is not who you want your werewolf son hanging out with.

No matter how much your son wanted it.

"It's just Sirius, mum." Remus said.

"Just Sirius? Ouch." Sirius whispered as he stepped into the hall. He sidestepped Remus and headed for his mum, extending his hand, "Hi, Mrs. Lupin. I'm Sirius Black, we met last year at King's Cross."

Remus took a few seconds to turn around, trying to contort his face to hide his obvious shock at Sirius's manners. There was no one Sirius spoke to like that. Not even McGonagall.

When he finally turned around, hoping his face hid his confusion, Sirius was shaking hands with his dad.

"Of course, nice to see you again." His mum smiled down at Sirius, "But I'm afraid Remus can't go this week."

"I know, I came to talk to you about it actually." Sirius said.

"Sirius, we don't really think we'll be changing our mind." John said, looking at Remus suspiciously. As though it had been his idea to bring Sirius in. Remus was smarter than that, if he wanted his parents to do something for him, he usually just pulled the werewolf card on them. The only reason he hadn't done it this time, was because it wouldn't help his cause at all.

Sirius's shoulder slumped, "Okay, I understand."

He turned to leave, smirking slightly at Remus as he went. Remus wasn't sure what Sirius had expected to happen. His parents weren't going to be swayed by some charming teenager in a leather jacket.

Remus was about to open the door for Sirius to go, when Hope's voice stopped him, "Oh... well... you've come all this way. Why don't you at least have a cup of tea before you go back home."

Sirius's grin threatened to split his face as he stopped walking towards the door, and eyed Remus triumphantly. Remus let the confusion show this time. Sirius quickly made himself look forlorn and sad, before following Remus's parents into the kitchen.

Just before he disappeared, Sirius turned and mouthed something at Remus, "Get dressed."

The door swung shut, and Remus stood, mildly perplexed, in the hallway for a few more seconds. He shrugged. He had no idea what Sirius planned to do, he might just be here to abduct Remus and take him back to Grimmauld Place against his parent's wishes. If that was true, getting dressed and packed was the first thing Remus should do.

He jogged up the stairs, palmed open his bedroom door and began stripping off his pyjamas. He rooted through his drawers, and pulled out a t-shirt and some jeans. He threw them on quickly, and dragged his suitcase out from under his bed. Before he began throwing items in, he glanced at the mirror on his wall, neatening his hair.

Someone began to come up the stairs, and Remus waited to hear his fate. Sirius's head poked into his bedroom. He smiled triumphantly.

"Are you packed?" He asked, entering the room.

"Serious question..." Remus began, sitting on his bed.

He watched Sirius wander around his room, trying to keep his thoughts clean. Sirius had been in his bedroom before, but he'd been with Peter and James too. This time it was different. It was just Sirius, and they were older now, and Remus was suddenly aware that he was sat on his bed. He jumped up like it had set on fire beneath him.

Sirius didn't notice as he ran a finger down the spine of one of Remus's books. "Why do you have so many books?" He asked, sounding disgusted.

"To read. But answer truthfully, have you cursed my parents?"

"Nope." Sirius said, eyeing his reflection in the mirror. His eyes met Remus's in the glass, and he winked. Remus felt himself blush again and looked away quickly.

"Slipped a potion into their tea?"

"No."

"Then how did you do that?" Remus asked, watching Sirius wander around his room.

Sirius looked at everything. From the pictures of The Marauders on the wall, to the columns of books all over the floor. He rummaged through his drawers, his wardrobes, and fingered the letters on his desk. Remus would have protested at this obvious violation of privacy but he just wanted to know how Sirius had convinced his parents to let him go.

"I'm charming and good looking." Sirius said, as though he was speaking to a child.

"Right, of course." Remus said, rolling his eyes. He gently pushed Sirius away from his wardrobe and pulled out his clothes, chucking them towards his suitcase. He didn't pay much attention to what he was packing. He shoved his feet into his trainers and turned around to fold his clothes into the case.

When he turned around though, they were already done. Sirius was lying across Remus's bed next to the case, watching him through his dark lashes. Remus pointed at his case in question and Sirius grinned, "You don't have to thank me. Let's go."

Remus briefly wondered how Sirius had folded everything so neatly and so fast, but Sirius zipped up the case and stood up expectantly, before he could ask. He grabbed Remus's hand, apparently oblivious to the sharp intake of breath Remus did, and lead him down the stairs. Hope and John were waiting in the hallway, and Remus walked over to them, leaving Sirius at the front door.

"Thanks." He whispered.

His mum neatened his hair annoyingly, and whispered, "Stay in the guest house on Friday, for us, okay? And drink your wolfsbane."

Remus didn't let his confusion at the words guest house show, and nodded instead. Whatever Sirius had said to them obviously worked, so he would just go along with it. He turned and left through the open door and found Sirius leaning against the side of his house.

A broom floated near him and fear took hold of Remus, squeezing the air from his lungs. He felt an icy drip in his chest.

"What the hell is that!" He choked.

Sirius glanced down at the broom, feigning innocence, and looked back to Remus, "It's a broom, Moony, you do know what a broom is, don't you?"

"What is it doing here?" Remus asked, sounding hysterical to his own ears.

"It's our transport." Sirius grinned, he mounted the broom. As his hands wrapped around the wood between his legs, Remus's mind was suddenly catapulted into less than clean thoughts, and he had to forcefully drag his mind away from the imagery it created.

He focused all his energy on the terror that had seized him, no way was he getting onto a broom. They could go by floo network or walk or something, but he would not – absolutely not – fly there. Not with Sirius. He voiced as much, and Sirius's eyes lit up with mirth.

"There's no fireplaces in Grimmauld Place," Sirius shrugged, and Remus felt sick to his stomach. Sirius stretched across the broom, practically lying down on it, as he continued, "No fireplaces at all, Mother doesn't like contact with people not of Black blood. And I live over an hour away by foot."

"But-"

"Oh, precious Moonbeam, I won't fly high, I promise." Sirius said, putting on a patronising voice. He sat up and pouted down at Remus as the broom bobbed gently.

"Fuck you." Remus hissed through clenched teeth.

Sirius rolled his eyes with exaggeration, "I promise I won't risk your life for a few kicks, now come on, before Prongs and Wormy eat all the food."

Remus kept his weary eyes on the broom, as though it would suddenly turn into a monster and eat him. Then again, fighting a broom monster was probably a hundred times safer than getting on a broom with Sirius 'I endanger my own life a lot' Black.

Remus had seen Sirius and James on their brooms a hundred times, and he still lost his breath every time one of them nose-dived for fun.

"Remus John Lupin, get on this broom before I leave you here." Sirius commanded.

Remus sighed, and steeled himself. He could do this. He hoisted himself onto the thin pole of wood and glanced around for somewhere to place his hands. He pursed his lips when he realised there was only one place to put them. As the broom slowly rose into the air, Remus wrapped his arms around Sirius, too scared to be happy about what he was doing.

As they rose higher, the air got colder and Remus wished he'd brought a jacket. He shuffled closer to Sirius on the broom, praying his thoughts would stay clean and his body wouldn't betray him. Sirius's leather jacket was cold against his skin, but he could feel Sirius's body heat on his hands, where they touched his t-shirt. The broom continued it's too-fast climb and Remus held his breath, counting to one hundred to distract himself.

He shivered and the broom slowed in it's flying. Sirius tilted and angled himself to look questioningly at Remus. His hair fluttered about his face in the wind. Remus tightened his grip on Sirius fearfully, and wide-eyed, asked, "What the fuck are you doing!"

The broom was still flying forward, albeit much slower, and they were miles high in the air. So high, that had Remus had the courage to look down, he probably wouldn't have been able to make out anything but dots of light from the street lamps. And Sirius was stupid enough to try and turn around to face him! He was mad.

"Are you cold?" Sirius asked, looking unnaturally calm given the situation.

"What the fuck are you doing!" Remus repeated, as Sirius began to wiggle around, sending the broom jolting this way and that. Remus held onto Sirius in a vice-like grip, even as Sirius started to take off his jacket. It wasn't an easy thing to do with Remus clinging to him, but somehow he managed it without killing them both in a fiery broom crash.

Holding onto the broom with only his thighs, Sirius offered the jacket to Remus, still angling around to face him. Remus stared blankly at the jacket, and Sirius rolled his eyes, "Take the jacket, you're cold."

"Sirius." Remus said, slowly, it was his turn to be patronising, "If you think I can release you, long enough to put your jacket on when we're this high, you really are stupid."

"I promise you won't fall, and if you do I promise I'll fly down to catch you. Even if I don't catch you, I promise I'll cry at your funeral." He laughed and Remus glared at him. He stopped laughing, "Okay, not funny. Put the jacket on, Moony, or we sit here forever."

"I can't!" Remus practically shouted. There was no way his hands were releasing Sirius, it was a miracle he was even conscious to witness this height really. Any second now a strong breeze could come and knock him off, and even Sirius, with his arrogant sense of superior flying skills, wouldn't be able to save him.

"Fine, for Merlin's sakes!" Sirius twisted even further, almost slipping off the broom. He hung the jacket over Remus's shoulders, but it wouldn't stay. After the third time trying, it slipped off Remus's shoulders again.

Except, this time, Sirius wasn't fast enough to catch it. His fingers closed around nothing, as the jacket floated downwards. Remus was shocked enough to glance down. He immediately regretted it as bile crawled in his throat.

Too high.

They were way too high and Sirius's jacket had just taken a fatal fall off the edge. It was gone, some muggle would find it hanging from a fence tomorrow. It's not like they could just fly down and catch it...

It clicked in Remus's mind, seemingly the same time it did in Sirius's.

"NO!" Remus shouted as Sirius twisted back around to the front. He leaned forward and the broom tipped. Remus tightened his grip on Sirius, probably squeezing too hard, but Sirius didn't say anything, he just kept leaning forward. "DON'T BE SO STUPID!"

"Remus, it's my favourite jacket." Sirius replied simply.

Remus knew there was no arguing with a madman. So he leaned forward too, burying his face in the cloth of Sirius's t-shirt, as the broom pitched forward sickeningly. They were facing the earth at a ninety degree angle now, and if Remus survived this nose dive, he would make sure Sirius didn't survive the rest of the week.

And then they fell.

Air whizzed past them, creating goosebumps across Remus's arms. He was too scared to think of anything except the rock hard ground approaching fast. They were flying straight down, and both of them had slipped slightly forward on the broom. Remus had to put all his faith in Sirius's grip, because if he released the broom even slightly they'd both go hurtling to their death.

Remus had the fabric of Sirius's t-shirt clenched in his fists. It was horrifying. His heart had climbed into his throat, and he'd left his stomach behind. There wasn't enough breath in his lungs to scream, so Remus just remained frozen, hoping he lived. Hoping they both survived the crash.

Hoping he survived long enough to murder Sirius, who was shaking with laughter in front of him. It took Remus a long time to realise they were no longer pitched forward, but had straightened off.

Painstakingly slowly, Remus pulled his head away from Sirius's shoulder blade. Only now registering the smell of Sirius's skin, mixed with the cigarette he must have smoked on the way to pick him up.

He disentangled himself quickly, practically flopping off the broom, desperate to be on solid ground again. He collapsed into the grass, feeling like his heart had stopped permanently.

Sirius was still laughing, and Remus glared at him, running through every hex he knew and trying to find one big enough for his revenge. Sirius laughed for a long time, collapsing in the grass too, he tossed his rescued leather jacket onto Remus. Remus shoved it off and turned his head to continue glaring at the gorgeous, evil boy next to him.

"I hate you." He panted, out of breath from his torturous ordeal.

"I love you too, Moonbeam." Sirius winked. Remus looked away up at the sky, where the first dots of stars had begun to appear. It was a cloudless night, and Remus thought it would be a beautiful night, if he hadn't almost died.

The grass beneath him was damp, but he didn't have the energy to get up yet. If he stood up now, his legs would be too weak to hold him. Sirius would probably laugh some more, and he'd actually have to punch him in the face, so it was best to just lie here for a bit.

"How far do we have to go?" Remus asked quietly, once his breathing had returned to normal. He felt like speaking loudly would destroy the calmness of the night. It was so still and so quiet, it was hard to remember other people existed.

Sirius seemed to have the same idea, as he whispered, "We're there. This is my neighbours garden."

Remus pushed himself up, feeling his legs shake beneath him, and set off walking towards the gate near the house. Sirius followed, picking up his jacket, his broom following him like an obedient pet. Remus shivered slightly. It wasn't even cold, but he was still a bit shaky from his experience.

Sirius misinterpreted his shiver and offered his jacket again. Remus accepted it. He could appreciate the comfort of Sirius's jacket around him, now there was no chance of him falling to his death. Something dawned on him.

"Where's my suitcase?" He asked, he didn't have the energy to panic, otherwise he would have.

"Oh, your parents are sending it by floo network." Sirius said, jogging ahead and entering the neighbouring house, which seconds ago, Remus was sure hadn't been there.

"Wait..." Remus called, slowing to a halt, "What did you just say?"

Sirius didn't reply as he ducked inside the house. Remus felt a slow burn of anger fill him. Oh, he would murder Sirius. He ran into the house, and stopped abruptly.

His murderous thoughts disappeared briefly as he took in the extravagant hallway in Twelve Grimmauld Place. It had expensive looking hardwood floors, and walls covered with portraits of rich witches and wizards, who disapproved of Remus as he entered. The hallway was long and huge, several doors lined both walls, and Remus wondered just how big this house was. There was a troll foot umbrella stand at the bottom of a huge flight of stairs, which seemed to twist upwards forever.

Remus was distracted by voices from a room down the hallway, and his anger returned. He marched into the lounge, throwing the door open with a bang, and pointed his wand at Sirius's face, "Guess who's going to be bald for the rest of the year."

Sirius held up his hands in surrender, and eyed Remus's wand nervously, "I'm sorry."

Next to them a fire crackled loudly in the fireplace, in the supposedly non-existent fireplace of Grimmauld Place, and Remus's suitcase stood nearby, covered with a thin layer of soot.

James was stretched across a velvet sofa, "Hey Moony, I heard you and Sirius had a wild ride."

The tiniest twitch of traitorous smile began at the corner of Sirius's lips, and Remus narrowed his eyes at him. Addressing James, he said, "I could make you bald as well, Prongs."

Sirius reached out and clasped Remus's wrist softly, he lowered his arm and smiled, "I got you here, remember? Without me, you'd still be at home."

"And without you, I wouldn't have almost had a heart attack!" Remus hissed.

"But I-"

"I hope there's a storm this week. Don't even think about climbing into bed with me, unless you want to wake up bald." Remus interrupted, sticking his wand back in his pocket.

"Fine," Sirius shrugged, "I'll share with Prongs."

"The hell you will!" James chimed in, chucking the freshly opened bottle of firewhiskey to Remus.

Remus unscrewed the cap and gulped at the liquid. The familiar burning sensation spread from his stomach outwards, and he felt himself relax.

"Wormtail?" Sirius asked.

"Sorry, Sirius." Wormtail responded. He seemed oblivious to the pumpkin flesh that dotted his face.

Remus smiled at Sirius, who pouted back at him. He wandered over to the velvet sofa and sat down, forcing James to move his legs. Remus wasn't quite finished with his revenge, but he'd have to think of something bigger later, right now he was just happy to not be a splattered human on the side of the road.