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Prompt from tigergirl-moonstar: Love story based on Remus and Sirius how they got together and their relationship how it was meant to be without Voldemort and sent to Azkaban
Chapter 3
Remus
Over the next few weeks, we had all developed a sort of pattern. Sirius and I would spend Monday to Wednesday with James and Lily one week, spending the rest at home - the next week, it would be Monday to Wednesday at home and Thursday to Sunday with James and Lily. Well, it wasn't always like that, but that was the rough schedule - not that we actually had one... It just gave us all that sense of normality, giving us something to follow now the war was over.
It was hard, trying to accustom ourselves to normal - as normal as it can be for those of the wizarding world - life. We had to remember that it was safe for Harry to go outside. We had to remind ourselves that it was now, a little, safer to go out at night. We had to remind ourselves that the threat was gone. After years of worrying about this one thing and knowing what it could do to us all... Well, it's a little difficult to adjust.
We were all just glad Harry had no idea what had happened - what could have happened.
It was strange, thinking about the what if's. I mean, anything could have happened! Anyone of us could have been shot down as we fought; Voldemort could have succeeded into getting to Harry... Who knew what could have happened?!
That thought played on my mind a lot through the battle. It made me think over the last things I said to those I care about. I made sure to end every conversation, with my parents, with an 'I love you'. I made sure my friends knew just how much they meant to me.
The one thing I couldn't do - obviously - was tell Sirius I loved him.
It wasn't that I didn't want to. Ok, maybe it was a little bit of that... But could you blame me? We had been friends for, almost, ten years - was it so bad that I was worried about damaging that?
There was too many what if's for me to say anything to him.
Harry's first birthday came quickly, the days just flying past. Lily was running around the house, making sure everything was ready and everything was perfect - James just chuckled quietly, staying silent. It was a smart move, I suppose - Lily was known to get a little snappy if someone got in her way.
Of course, being only one, Harry had no idea what was going on. He just sat on the floor and watched as his mother ran around, bashing his toys on the ground. Sirius and James had both been banished to watch Harry - and listen out for the party guests - as Lily dragged me around the house to finish decorating. Apparently, I was the only one she could trust with such a task. Honestly, it's because I didn't make jokes every five seconds, or suck in the helium from the balloons to sing musical theatre songs - I had told her it was a bad idea, but no, the boys had to understand what we were talking about...
"So, you told him yet?" Lily asked, casually.
Making me help decorate was, also, a way to talk to me about Sirius - without them overhearing.
"No, I haven't." I sighed, pinning another balloon to the wall. "And you knew I hadn't."
"I was hoping to be proven wrong for once." Lily shrugged. "Do you want me to tell-"
"NO!"
As I yelled, the chair I was standing on wobbled - yes, chair, we weren't using magic this time - the balloon falling to the ground again. The yell, of course, attracted James and Sirius, the two of them popping their head around the corner of the door. Well, I assumed that had happened - I didn't know they were there until James said something, the unexpected sound jolting me.
The chair wobbled again. Of course, when you're balancing on the edge of a chair, it's far more likely for you to fall off... Which I almost did. It was lucky that Sirius was fast – he steadied the chair, his arm wrapping around my hips to keep me from falling off.
"How can you be this clumsy?" he grinned, not even trying to keep the teasing tone out of his voice.
"It's a talent." I muttered, looking away from him as I tried to get down.
Rolling his eyes, Sirius looked at the balloon that Lily had now picked up, asking why we couldn't just use magic for, what felt like, the hundredth time. Lily gave the same answer she had been giving all day -
"Because!" she glared. "This is Harry's first birthday! It has to be done properly!"
Rolling his eyes, grabbing the balloon in his left hand.
"Fine, hold on." he sighed, moving slightly before he wrapped his right arm around my legs, in the crease of my knees.
"What the hell are you doing?!" I screeched, trying to grab his shoulders and push him away.
Of course, Sirius being stronger, managed to lift me up slightly, using his free hand to pass me the balloon. Instead of taking it from him, I clung to the doorframe near me, my knuckles turning white from how tight I was griping it.
"It's ok. I would never let you fall." I heard Sirius say, the arm around my legs tightening their hold.
It took a few moments of his saying this for me to reach down with one hand and grab the balloon, slowly moving it towards its intended place. I had never been good with trust - they all knew this. Even when I trusted someone, there would also be certain things that would make me uncomfortable or nervous with them – like this. I hated not being able to fully trust people – my friends, even my family – but I suppose that was life...
After a few shaky tries, I managed to pin the balloon to the wall, returning my grip to the doorframe as Sirius started to lower my feet back down to the chair.
Everything was fine until Sirius let me go – I went to stop off the chair, but it wobbled yet again and tipped before I could steady it. True to his words, however, Derek didn't let me fall – well, lie, I did fall, but I fell on him. The motion propelled Sirius backwards until he was on his back on the floor, me on top of him – of course, as soon as I tried to get up, not realising we were tangled together, we were sent rolling, this time with me on the floor and Sirius above me.
Sirius kept himself propped up so he didn't fall on me, his hair hanging straight down and covering the sides of both of our faces.
We just stared at each other, eyes wide as we tried to take in what had happened.
As soon as I realised, I slid out from underneath him as quickly as I could, scrambling to my feet. I tried to find some excuse as I brushed myself down - I was saved by a knock on the door.
It didn't take long until the house was filled with kids and adults alike.
Of course we had the entire Order - including Dumbledore and even McGonagall! Alice and Frank had turned up with little Neville - he had only turned one the day before Harry. Even Molly and Arthur had showed up with the kids - since she was eleven days off of her due date, we hadn't been sure if they would make it.
It was nice watching the older kids interact with the babies. Bill, being the oldest at ten - almost eleven - ended up keeping watch as everyone played, making sure that his siblings remembered to share and such. Charlie, being eight - almost nine - was almost like his second in command, though he was more interested in his toy dragon... Percy - four, almost five - didn't seem all too interested in playing, opting to sit on the sofa and flick through one of his picture books. Fred and George - the three year old, dynamic duo - they decided it would be fun to just run around the house, only stopping to spend some time with the three one year olds... Of course, they never stayed there long. Lastly, the babies - Ron, Neville and Harry - they sat there, laughing and babbling away to each other as they watched their enchanted - thanks to Arthur, Frank and James - toys fly around them.
It was sweet - bittersweet.
I had always loved the idea of having kids of my own - being around Harry so much only cemented that. Watching all eight children playing with each other just made it even better! But I would never want to run the risk of cursing any child I had with being a werewolf! I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.
So there was a problem, wasn't there?
But it was fine - it wasn't like there was anyone in my life at that moment, besides, anyone that did end up dating me down the line would run for the hills when they found out my...'furry little problem'. It didn't matter... I was content with being 'Uncle' Remus...
Sighing slightly, I left the living room where everyone was gathered, heading towards the kitchen to grab another cup of tea. Even though I could still hear the noise through the open door, it was still quiet in the kitchen, the only sound coming from the kettle as it boiled. I leant against the counter, folding my arms on top of it as I dropped my chin to my chest, closing my eyes as I just breathed.
As I stared at the fraying sleeves of my oversized jumper, I tried to push out the thought that I really needed a job! That was another thing I had always loved the idea of! But who, in the wizarding world, would hire me? They would figure out what I was after two months! I couldn't get a muggle job either - I had no qualifications! There was nowhere for me to go in the world, nothing for me to do.
"Maybe I should start my own business." I muttered to myself, pushing up as the kettle settled down.
As I started fixing up my tea - black, two sugars - I heard someone walk into the kitchen, their shoes clicking slightly on the tiled floor. I thought it would be Lily or Sirius, maybe even James or Molly or Frank... I didn't expect to find McGonagall standing by the table, a cup cradled in her hands.
"Good afternoon, Professor." I smiled, nodding to her.
"Oh, Mr Lupin, it's been three years!" she sighed, a faint smile on her face. "Just call me Minerva."
Minerva was one of those teachers that you knew you just couldn't piss off, even if it seemed like she was. Some students at Hogwarts, even some teachers, would say she had hated us Marauders... If they knew anything, anything at all, they would have realised that was not the case. She had been the reason James, Sirius and Peter knew how to become Animagi - though, if anyone asked, that was not how it happened. She was the reason all of our 'punishments' for our pranks were so light - secretly, she loved them, even making a few quiet comments on how to improve... She was the reason why James or Sirius never got a detention before, after or during the full moon cycle for not doing their homework - she knew that they either: didn't have time because they were helping me, or put my name on theirs even though she knew their handwriting. In a way, she was more of our groups mother. It was a nice thought, actually - especially since she had no children of her own.
"Then shouldn't you call me Remus?" I grinned.
"I suppose, if that makes you happy." she chuckled. "Mr Black was telling me of your interest in teaching."
Of course he did...
"You know, we are looking for a competent Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher?" Minerva mused. "Out of everyone that has applied, you are the most qualified - the most experienced, the most passionate."
"I didn't apply." I sighed. "And it would never work out."
"Poppycock! Albus and I have had you in mind since halfway through your first year! We just didn't know if you wanted it."
"As much as I would love it, the full moon makes it a problem. How do you think people would react to hearing their children were being taught by a monster?"
McGonagall placed her cup down on the table, folding her arms as he cocked an eyebrow. She gave me that look, the look she would give Sirius when he was being particularly irritating, or James when he was being rather obnoxious... I had never had that look aimed at me before...
"Remus, you are hardly a monster, nor will you ever be a monster. I don't see how you could believe yourself to be one for even a second!" she scolded. "Times and views are forever changing - people know werewolves helped us during the war. And not just werewolves! We had a lot of help from many creatures people deemed monsters. Their views are changing - you could help them see this!"
I could see the truth in McGonagall's eyes, see how she truly believed this was the case. But how did I know?
"Albus will be discussing this with you, at any rate. You won't need any extra training, you don't even have to start this year. But if it's something you want, take it." she continued. "Grab it by the hand and don't let go!"
After the guests had left and Harry had been put to bed, all of his toys and presents packed away, we all pitched in to clean up. Lily and James had refused to let Sirius and I leave, saying how we - just like they - were too tired. So we were all cleaning, hoping to get the mess sorted before we went to bed.
As I cleaned the living room with Sirius, I noticed how he kept glancing at me out of the corner of his eyes, biting his lip slightly - something he did when he was worried about my reaction. I knew he was waiting for me to chew him out, to tell him off about talking to McGonagall. But, the truth was, I wasn't mad...
"You can relax, Pads." I smiled, tiredly. "You're not in trouble."
"I'm not?" he frowned, head tilted to the side.
"No. I'm too tired to tell you off and I had a feeling you would say something to them - I just didn't expect it to be today."
I watched as Sirius' shoulders relaxed, his entire body deflating - like some massive burden had been lifted off of him.
"So... What's happening about it?" he asked, cautiously.
Standing up from where I had been picking up wrapping paper, throwing it into a bin bag, I perched on the edge of the coffee table, watching Sirius - not his arse - as he shut the door to the cupboard under the stairs.
"Dumbledore's going to Owl me, see when we're both free for a meeting." I told him.
"That's great!" Sirius grinned, bounding over to lean against the back of the sofa.
"It's just to talk, Pads. Talk. It doesn't mean I'm taking the job. It doesn't mean I'm going to be teaching in September. Just to talk."
"But still, it's great! I told you he would give you a job!"
Sirius' grin was infectious, my lips curling up at the sides on their own. It was amazing how this man could be so puppy like! Though, I suppose, that's why his Animagus was just so him.
"I'm going to take you up on the offer of being my assistant, if I do take it. I'll make sure that's one of my conditions!" I warned him, still grinning. "You can take over during the day of the full moons."
"Gladly! I need a job anyway - why not work with my best buddy?" Sirius winked, jumping over the back of the sofa to sit on it.
"I thought James was your best buddy?"
"Nah, he's my third cousin - we're just close. You, my dear Moony, are my best friend!"
And whilst that hurt a little, it still sent a warm sensation through me.
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