Hello readers! I'm back from holiday and now you can have lots of updates- every two or three days I should imagine. The story will be about twenty chapters long, and around twenty-five thousand words. There is going to be a Halloween party, huge amounts of fluff, a minor accident and one huge, awful, terrible, make-readers-hate-the-author disaster (and I'm not even talking about Beauxbatons…)
Lots of love goes to the following: LadyWillow, I r8ped Riddle, 'Chelle, Gwen Potter, Pooki Ze Great, PadfootMoonyProngs, aims80, CarpeNoctem27, fuzzyfishbowl, Rachel Molko (love and hugs are gratefully received- thanks), Demus, ScullyCat Marie, Polkat, Uozumi (yeah the idea for this fic came from Grease…), Give the World for Mr. Black (wow, I'm mentioned in your bio- that's made me happy!), Princess Flame, Gypsy Lupin-Black, Erfaciel, Chloe-Wagner, Cecil1, lisliasm, Liz, Vela-Chan (A prank on Professor Death? Now that's got me thinking…) madkornfan, jade, I give it all to Mr. Black, bunny7, Silmarien, Celestial Dragn, ddz008, Morissa, The Brat Prince, A.L. Lorraine and megan (sorry if it was you I was supposed to mail this story to- I only got the message this morning). THANKS EVERYONE!
~Sirius' POV, Friday 26th September~
Peter, Remus and I are sat in a small circle on the floor of our dormitory after dinner. "Peter," I say then glance at Remus. He nods at me reassuringly. "It's just that… well, since the beginning of… I first realised…" I stutter.
"Cut the crap, Sirius!" cries Remus in uncharacteristic frustration.
"What are you trying to tell me, guys?" asks Peter obliviously.
This is it. "We're-"
"Sirius is my homosexual lover," interrupts Remus calmly.
I stare at him. Peter stares at him, and then at me, and then back at Remus. He looks disgusted. For somebody so small and fat Peter really fancies himself as a manly man. "How long has this thing been going on?" he finally asks.
"Two days," I admit.
"Long enough," adds Remus.
Peter edges away from the two of us. "I always thought you were a little strange, Remus; a bit queer. But you, Sirius, I thought you were normal. And now you tell me you just another flamin' freak. Well, if you think you're using my dormitory for you sordid little… little affairs, then you're wrong. I'll tell the Headteacher about you- and I'll tell James!"
"James knows," I say evenly.
A look of horror crossed Peter's chubby face. "Shit! Not James as well!" Peter backs even further away from us. "If either of you lay a finger on me, then I'll-"
I can't control my temper any more. "Shut the hell up!" I cry. "I love Remus. He loves me. Neither of us are going to ruin our last three months together because of an overweight-"
"That's enough, Sirius," says Remus gently. Just at that minute James enters the dormitory and realising what is going on he sits down on his bed, picks up a magazine and keeps quiet. James' presence seems to make Peter embarrassed (Peter idolises James) and he clears his throat awkwardly. "Well, if you're in love then I guess that's okay. As long as your discreet and- WAIT A MINUTE! What did you mean about your 'last three months together?"
James looks up from his Quidditch magazine.
"I'm going to Beauxbatons after the Christmas holiday. I don't really want to," says Remus looking devastated. I put my arm round him.
"SHIT! Beauxbatons! No! Is there nothing you can do?" cries James.
Remus shakes his head and looks at the floor. I wonder if he's hiding tears.
"I really don't mind about your relationship," says Peter, in an effort to cheer Remus up.
"Good," I say. "Because you're going to have to live with it." And with that I gently kiss Remus' head.
~Saturday 26th September~
It's a well-known fact that all the teachers (with the possible exception of Professor Death) love Remus Lupin. They would let him get away with murder. As it is however, Remus has not got away with murder but has managed to get three of the Marauders permission to go shopping in Hogsmeade alone (Peter has got detention with Professor Death- maybe that woman isn't so bad after all!) The three of us walk up the main street. It's a blustery day and we all look with longing at the warm, glowing interior of the Three Broomsticks.
It's Remus' birthday tomorrow and I'm just wondering how to excuse myself from Remus so I can buy his present when he interrupts my thoughts. "There's this really good book that I've been meaning to buy about the Properties of St' John's Wort as a healing plant. So I hope you won't be too offended if I dash off-" And with these words he turns down an side street in the direction of a rare books shop.
"St John's what?" asks James.
I shrug and we continue down the main road. I get the feeling James is trying to lead me in the direction of 'Quality Quidditch Supplies'.
"That's an interesting quill," observes James pointing at the window of a large stationary shop on the right-hand side of the street. I turn to look. The quill is not remotely interesting and this makes me suspicious. Is James trying to prevent me seeing something on the other side of the road? I turn to see. My God!
"James! JAMES! Look at that coat! I MUST HAVE THAT COAT!" I cry, and dragging James with me I enter the shop and head straight for the rack of coats identical to that in the shop window. "Beautiful coat! Perfect coat!" I say to myself.
"So gay…" mutters James, although I'm not sure if he's referring to the coat or to me. At any rate, I've put the coat on and am now examining my appearance in a mirror. It's made of quality leather that fits around my body like a glove and is three-quarter length. The buttons are made of glistening wizard jet and the collar is double-breasted.
"What do you think?" I ask James.
"It's a little short," he says doubtfully.
"Perfect!" I exclaim. "Remus is going to look gorgeous in this coat."
James looks at the price tag and laughs. "Thirty Galleons! It must be love at that price!"
I take the coat to the shopkeeper and give it one last glance before he wraps it up. "…Water-resistant… unfriendly jinx protection… varying warmth depending on the temperature… genuine wizard jet from India…" The shopkeeper lists the coats attributes while James waits impatiently in the background, shifting his weight from foot to foot and wringing his hands.
The minute we are out of the shop James runs off in the direction of 'Quality Quidditch Suplies'.
~Sunday 27th September~
Remus Lupin looks like an angel when he sleeps- an angel with an earring and amber hair. I think he looks even more delightful when he's lying encased in my arms with his head resting on my bare chest. It's a shame but I have to wake him up before Peter or James is awake so that I can give him my present alone.
"Remie-love! Remus, wake up!" I whisper in his ear.
A delightful moan passes his lips but he doesn't wake up.
"Remus Lupin! Wake up this minute!" I whisper a little louder.
"WhatisitSirius? Huh? Whyyouwakeme? Heh?" he mumbles. I kiss along his hairline then nibble his nose. "GERROFF!" he cries and I place a finger over his lips to warn him to be quiet. His eyes open and he begins to looks awake.
"Do you know what day it is?" I ask.
A mischievous glint appears in Remus' eye. "Hmmm… Could it be National Elf Liberation Day? Or perhaps it is Save The Goblins Day? Or maybe it's my birthday!"
"Well done!" I grin broadly at him. "Do you want your present?"
"Present? And what would that be?" he purrs suggestively and strokes my chest. God, I love it when he's like this. Still, I hand him the wrapped coat before I become too tempted.
Remus rips off the paper with a wolf-like ferocity and then beholding the coat he gasps. "Damn me! Would you ever believe it?"
"Is it all right?" I ask puzzled.
"It's perfect, Siri. I love it," he pauses as though uncertain. "You do know that I bought your present yesterday? Before I opened this. You know that don't you?" he adds eventually.
I nod, mystified.
"Good." Remus slides the coat over his bare torso- he looks every bit as sexy as I'd imagined. "Fits like a dream… wizard jet buttons… anti-jinx protection…" he mutters while standing up and modelling the coat for me.
"Happy Birthday, Remus," I say at last. I get up too and give him a chaste kiss on the lips. "There's something else as well. Somewhere I've been meaning to take you for a while. And I'd like to take you there tonight."
"Okay," says Remus and I give him another quick kiss.
"There's just one problem," I say and continue when Remus nods. "We'll have to break just about every school rule to get there!"
"That bad? You know I'm a prefect, Sirius," he says. "I can't just go around breaking school rules…Oh, to hell with school rules! What time are we going? And what should I wear?"
"I'll meet you in the broom cupboard opposite the entrance hall at eight O'clock." I smile mysteriously. "And as for the clothing: just think 'Glam Rock."
~Later~
It's not the comfiest way of travelling- soaring through the night air on a broom while covered in James' invisibility cloak. However, I'm enjoying the flight because Remus Lupin is perched behind me, and his slim arms are wrapped round my waist and his face pressed against my neck.
I pull the broom into a steep dive and Remus utters a cry of "Oh!"
"It's alright; we're nearly there," I say.
We land in a dark alley. I help Remus off the broom and picking it up, I lead him out onto the road adjoining the alley and turn right. "Where are we?" asks Remus.
"Edinburgh." At the end of the road is a brightly lit four-storey house. The front door of the house opens as I draw near and together Remus and I pass into the entrance hall. Leaving the broom and invisibility cloak I lead Remus down a flight of steps and into the basement. Only it isn't an ordinary basement. It is packed with about one hundred people- all of whom are wearing eyeliner and tight vibrant clothes. Everybody's dancing and laughing and drinking, while 'Diamond Cats' is playing at full volume in the background. A massive glitter ball rotates at the centre of the room, casting silver spots of light across the flood of people who are dancing. Tiny luminous fairies float above the dance floor and hand out drinks, and the dance floor itself is coated in a thick layer of glitter.
"IT'S SIRIUS BLACK! Sirius! Will you dance?" cries a tall thin man of about twenty with long blonde hair. His arms are open and he's about to embrace me when he sees Remus and gives me a questioning look.
"Ori, this is Remus. He's my boyfriend," Remus grins at me and after digesting this information the blonde man walks away. I'm proud to be able to introduce him- he looks stunning in tight jeans, a blue shirt that he's charmed to shimmer and a thin blue cloak. Moreover, James (with taste I didn't know he possessed) bought him another hair colour for his birthday, this time in 'dark fire' and it looks gorgeous.
"What's 'Ori' short for?" asks Remus, taking a glass of amber liquid off a green fairy.
"Orion," I say. "He's the only other person I've met who's named after a star." I smile and finding myself unable to resist I kiss Remus passionately. I can't help but think that he tastes delicious.
"So we can do that here?" asks Remus breathlessly when we break apart.
I laugh at the expression of wonder on his face. "This place has become my refuge. That guy, Orion, runs it. I met him in London over the summer and he told me to come here when I got back to Hogwarts- I came several times before we got together. The thing is that while you're here nobody cares if you're gay or straight, or if you're alone, or even if you're a werewolf or-"
Remus cuts me off. "So you brought me to the one place in public where I can just be myself? Yes? Because that's perfect. And you're perfect, Sirius." And with that Remus takes my hand and pulls me onto the last tiny space on the dance floor. The song has changed to 'You're All I'll Ever Need' by the Magic Mushrooms and I distinctly hear Remus mutter 'this is our song…" before we start to dance.
Remus' arms have once again snaked round my waist and mine are draped over his shoulders. Our bodies are pressed together and we move in perfect timing. "You're All I'll Ever Need…" I hum in Remus' ear and he presses himself even closer to me as we prepare to dance away the night.