Disclaimer: Nothing that you recognise of the Harry Potter Universe here is mine.
AN: Sorry this is taking so long, I am currently suffering from a severe case of Writers block for this story. I will attempt to plunder forwards though.
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Chapter 46 – Thank you
I soon started to heal a little as much as one could in such circumstances I suppose. Sirius and your parents Harry took it upon themselves to keep me in this slightly more uptone attitude (James did confess a wish to seeing Lucius Malfoy getting the crap kicked out of him again though).
I began to settle back into some form of normality in my school life and social life but there was definitely a newfound respect for life and everything it is about.
Besides, I had Sirius's birthday coming up in the October (he was actually one of the youngest in our group, the pattern going James, me, Sirius and then Peter much to Sirius's dismay. This did not however show through should someone glimpse us what with Sirius being the tallest).
So I decided to push aside my mourning for now to make sure that my lover was well and truly pampered for his birthday in repayment of everything he had done for my family.
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(1976)
"Sirius, despite the fact that you have now left your family that does not mean you can get a motorbike!" James groaned as he ran a weary hand down his face. This argument was a common one and his answers were beginning to become automatic to selected words (e.g. 'Bike' = 'No').
The taller teen scoffed as he crossed his arms over his chest but there was a twinkle of amusement in his eye. Secretly James liked this look on his Best friend's face because after the past events of the last few weeks it had become a rare sight. He also refused to bring up the fact that he had cried after watching said Best Friend break down up in the dormitories as he felt if Sirius didn't want to talk about then HE didn't want to talk about it.
"Come on man, I have the money thanks to my Uncle –and- it's my birthday!" Sirius retorted. In reply James merely sighed, shook his head and chuckled before throwing his hands up.
"I bet if Remus told you couldn't have a bike then you'd obey."
"I am faithful to Remus, I enjoy talking, sleeping next to, shagging, snogging, laughing with, crying with AND hanging out with Remus...but not even he has the almighty power to drag me away from my guilty dream."
Shaking his head again James gave up with a sharp laugh.
The dorm door opened about a minute or so later to reveal Remus with his arms full of books and Peter who was sucking on a sugar quill as he nodded at something the tawny haired boy said.
Looking over at the long haired teen Remus smiled at his boyfriend before walking over towards him, setting his books down on the bedside cabinet and then nestling himself to sit sideways in Sirius's lap. The Dog animagus smiled and rested an arm over the werewolf's thighs and the other hand twined itself in his hair.
"Hey love, how're you feeling?" Sirius asked, his voice going tentative almost instantly compared to a minute ago.
"Good, I got a letter from mum and dad. Mum says that daddy is just as insufferable as ever, refusing to rest when needed." Remus shook his head a little in mild amusement. His father never was one to just sit down and do nothing.
Sirius chuckled also.
"Sounds about right." He said and the werewolf chuckled as he bent his head forwards a little to kiss gently at his lover's lips. Sirius reached up a graceful hand to cup a pale cheek, completely forgetting their audience until a significant cough came from James's direction.
"Well this is all fine and dandy but I think there is the rather pressing manner of what we are doing for Mr Black's birthday." James said loudly making the couple break apart.
"Tradition follows that usually all birthday events are discussed when the Birthday recipient is not in the room. But that's just me and my 'wacky' believes right out there in the open for you." Sirius said dryly making the boy in his lap chuckle silently as Peter out laughed.
"Since when has James followed tradition?" The ratty boy asked and all nodded in agreement.
"We could just stay here." Sirius said and all other members of the room were stunned into silence.
"Did I hear correctly...?" James asked.
"Did Sirius Black just say...?" Remus added.
"...To stay –here- for his 16th birthday...like a good boy?" Peter finished in a dramatic scandalised voice.
Sirius did not look amused.
"Oh shut up. I'm just not feeling all that lively at the moment, just a little worn down is all." Remus stroked his arm lovingly feeling a little guilty. Sirius shook his head firmly at the boy.
"It's –not- you or your family's fault so stop with the kicked puppy look. I'm just a little nackered is all." The animagus stated firmly.
"Yeah it's all those nights of passionate love with me he's been having behind your back." James teased and Remus laughed, Sirius too but for an entirely different reason.
"As if –you- could bag me Potter! I only go for those above my extremely high standards!"
Remus laughed and blushed at the same time. It felt good to be able to smile again, to have a knot in his chest not from emotional pain but from laughing too hard.
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Remus stared up at the canopy of his bed that night trying to think of possible gifts to give to his mate. He wanted it to be extraordinary but personal. It had to both celebrate Sirius's day and also give thanks for everything he had done for him. He had sent his mother a letter about Sirius's birthday but having sent it only that morning he hadn't received an answer yet.
The letter he had received from his parents was certainly more hopeful then before. There was still an underlining of pain at the tragedy but all the Lupins seemed to be taking from Sirius's theory of living life to the fullest. Possibly a reason why his father would not stay in bed...he and Sirius were a bad influence on each other it would seem.
Sighing when he realised his mind had wandered off track once again he sat up. Pushing back his curtains he threw his feet over the side of the bed and waited a minute as his eyes adjusted to the dark. The minute they had he stood and made his way towards his boyfriend's four-poster. Once there he reached forward to pull back the heavy drapes and after listening to Sirius's deep breathing for a moment he clambered in.
Once the quilt was wrapped around him also he snuggled up close to his mate, his face pressed into his lover's neck, arm over his chest and a bent leg over Sirius's hips. He closed his eyes ready to drop off but then familiar fingers began to run through his hair with ease.
Smiling faintly he opened his eyes again.
Sirius was looking at him lazily, eyes droopy with sleepiness but otherwise happy.
"Your own bed not good enough for you?" He asked in a husky, sleepy voice.
"My mind was moving around too quickly...I was hoping a warm body might help me drop off." He answered honestly and Sirius rolled over to lie face to face with Remus.
"You weren't winding yourself up about your dad were you?" He asked now wide-awake in case his lover needed comfort.
"No, no nothing like that, don't worry." Remus smiled gratefully at him. "I was just wandering what to get you for your birthday."
Sirius chuckled as he nuzzled closer, beginning to drop off again.
"You're enough for me." He said around a yawn and Remus sighed.
"That isn't very helpful, you already have a 'me'."
"You...naked...bed...possibly handcuffs." Sirius teased earning himself a swift slap upside the bed.
"You won't get anything at this rate, come on for real, what do you want?"
Sirius was silent a moment, his eyes closed and his body still before he answered in an honest, quiet voice.
"To be able to heal you."
Remus was stunned into silence and couldn't reply. Instead he settled for silently watching as his lover drifted off back to sleep.
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Remus had it! He knew where to have Sirius's birthday!
The epiphany had struck him half way through an Arithmancy class where he had given a sharp 'Oh!' as the thought came to him. He had sheepishly apologised afterwards but the Professor had looked at him sympathetically, obviously shrugging it off as something to do with his family's current state.
Now though he was in the Shrieking Shack adding the final finishing touches to his 'epiphany'. He had told Sirius to come down here at 8pm and had been working on his little surprise since six. He straightened the present on the floor again before frowning at it then straightening it again.
He jumped when he heard footsteps on the stairway and standing abruptly he brushed off the seat of his trousers before watching the door anxiously. Not two minutes later the door pushed open unsettling nearby dust to reveal a rather confused Sirius Black.
Once the blue eyes had scanned the room they shifted from confused to heartfelt surprise.
The room with the large leaning four-poster bed was filled with little candles. A large picnic mat was spread out in the centre of the room with a small basket beside it filled with food. Two gold goblets were standing beside the food and in a bucket of ice was some chilled Butterbeer.
"I couldn't get Champagne." Remus said shyly as he awkwardly gestured towards the drink and Sirius's heart melted even more.
"I can't believe you did all this." Sirius said moved. Usually it was he who set up the romantic or impulsive surprises for Remus, not the other away around.
He looked over at his boyfriend and gulped a little. Remus had opted for some tan dress trousers and a simple white button-down shirt but it looked stunning on him, especially with his hair tied back like that so there were wayward strands in his face. He was twisting his hands together nervously in front of him and he would rock to rest on one foot for a minute before swapping. His amber eyes seemed nervous and Sirius smiled at him lovingly as he moved across the room towards him.
"It's a wonderful present, thank you." He said sincerely and he leant down to kiss the boy. Remus's arm reached up to encircle Sirius's neck as he opened his mouth to accept his lover's searching tongue. After a minute he pulled back but still with his arms around Sirius's neck.
"This isn't your birthday present, this is a Thank you for everything you've done for me and my parents." He grabbed one of Sirius's hands and brought him to sit down on the picnic mat before placing the present he'd hidden behind the basket in his lover's lap.
"-This- is your birthday present." He said and Sirius smiled at him before looking down again as he tugged off the lid of the box. He went stock-still as he looked at the contents then looked up again in shock at his boyfriend.
"My parents pitched in as well." Remus explained.
Inside the box there was a leather bomber-jacket nestled on top of some green tissue paper. The coat was black but where the light hit it, it was a bottle-green colour. On the back there was a Lion stalking towards them in different shades of green thread woven together to make the outline. The Lion's mouth was open in a silent growl as it's shoulders hunched in a prowling mode, small green flames licking just either side of the lion's paws in the same thread. On the shoulders, there were two buckles and also at the end of the cuffs. With shaking hands Sirius pulled the jacket out of the box and held it up before him, turning it so he could look at the front. The metal zip was circular with a 'G' in it for Gryffindor and on the left breast of the coat there was a rune. It was shaped so that there was a straight vertical line with two lines coming off it like a 'Y' except the vertical line continued between the two diagonal lines giving it three spokes.
"It's the rune of Protection. I thought it might be useful when you're wearing it on that motorbike you want so much." Remus explained and Sirius looked at him quickly.
"You mean...you don't mind if I get the bike then?" he asked breathless and a faint line between Remus's eyebrows made him laugh. Maybe he did care.
"Like I can talk you out of it." Remus said amusedly and Sirius laughed.
"Thank you love, this is just wonderful, all of it," He gestured towards the room, "But you didn't need to thank me for anything, you know that right?"
"I wanted to." Remus said instantly and Sirius closed his eyes as he smiled. Opening them again he reached over to cup his boyfriend's face lovingly.
"Then let –me- thank –you- for doing this." He whispered before claiming his mate's lips with his own.
(TBC)
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AN: Due to the writer's block deal the birthday (and continued scene just above us there) will continue into the next chapter as a filler until once again I can think of how to bring about the plot I want to do whilst tactfully pulling away from the Ethan plot. So yes, as a filler...you get sex...is this ok with everyone lol?
Thanks to:
Adhara1: A bit more cheeriness for you! And that's awfully nice of you, I'm sure the puppies will greatly appreciate the cakes. It's hard though, how the hell do I draw away from Ethan's illness whilst at the SAME time sticking to it?!? (Sighs) this writing milarky is tough work on the old noggin lol!
Yapi-is-gay-13: More happy Remus!
Kynny: Kynny, Kynny! My bloody emails gone down again! I will answer any emails you may have sent (if you have) when I can but for now don't worry, I'm not neglecting you! But tell me about it, I had to write the song down as it's been circling my head for days. I keep getting the older folk turning their heads at me because I'm a 17 year old singing 'Parting Glass' rather then something by like...oh I don't know, name someone modern lol!
Saturndragon: Ooh it was, if you live in England and in Bristol (highly unlikely lol) I strongly suggest it to anyone. It's at 8.30pm if anyone who lives nearby is interested! Spells are tricky business so I strongly suggest either learning all that you can from as many resources as possible before taking that step or do something nice and simple like a Honouring a deity. You sound genuine though so I don't doubt that you'll be safe and sensible.
Avain: Yeah I wanted to give Sirius a good life before he has to be whipped away in to the evil premises of Cannon. Plus Remus said in POA that these were the happiest days of his life so it couldn't be all crappy. That song though, try and find it, it really is a wonderful song to get stuck in your head lol! I agree, it's a 'despite how we feel life goes on' sort of approach which I hope is what the above it is to.
XXxPsycho-chanxXx: How about this one? Happier too?
Seraphina Pyra: That he is, everyone raise your hands if you want a Sirius (raises hand)!
Sev's Bitch: First off, lol love the name! Secondly, terribly sorry for confusing you lol!
Venilia: Ooh Tam Lin? I'll look into fitting that in for you! I think I'd have to fit in 'Skibberdeen' for myself as well, I love that one it's so sad, especially the line 'Your mother too, God rest her soul, fell upon the snowy ground.' Very sad. And Lol, I could –so- picture Andromeda doing that, and the Hobbit thing (looks sheepish) it's what my –younger- brother calls me (he's like 4 inches taller then me). Thank you so much on your comments about Remus's parents, I've come to love them so much and I agree on Brigit, she's one of my favourites as I would like to be like her when I'm that age, wouldn't you? So cheery and nice...I imagine I'd be a little temperamental myself lol!
Obviously Oblivious: THANK YOU! LOL!
Happo: Come on, help out Taykayo! LMAO at nickname, I think it's cool! And OH MY GOD (fans herself) have you been watching the Water challenges? The men are BLOODY HOT! LMAO! Hey Panda and Gup, missing you guys too! Sorry about the potential Happo, just persevere!
Malfoyscutie: No, no Cara is actually originally from my own stories. He has a Half sister in 'reality' (He actually attends regular college in my universe with his half sister Amber and both are Werewolves. They have a friend called has the nickname of Bast as she's very catlike). Hopefully someone would like to buy theses characters in the far and distant future!
Mirale nic Draco: LMAO My dad does but I'm a good drinker, I only get hammered with my two best friends! School starts in August for you guys? When do you break up because that seems like an awfully short holiday (I broke up mid July and I go back September 6th).
Toshide: I agree, which is why I had to write it lol!
Callista Silverheart: Dammit that must suck! At least you friend is passing on your message though I suppose! Yeah I heard about that Hurricane (wasn't it two)?
Hp-Azn: Here, here, here, ok, ok, and bye lol!
Dark Dragon Fire Demon: Here you are and ta much!
IsisFireDancer: Merry Meet! Ah I'm only one eight Irish but I'm all kinds of things (I think I may have mentioned it before but...) I'm 1/8 Irish, half Scottish, a quarter English and the rest is Maltese! LMAO at bumper sticker sounds well funny. My friend brogue me a badge saying "My Goddess gave birth to your God". What a way to piss off hard-core Christians huh! And what a wonderful belief that I totally agree with, if you can't poke fun at yourself who can you huh! Thanks, my eye isn't nearly as bad now I've seen the doctor! Blessed Be!
Jenna: LMAO oops sorry I wasn't very clear. I am English, I live in good old Bristol about 4 hours away (by coach) from London. I love our Castles, Edinburgh Castle is definitely one to see. And thank you, that's exactly the point I wanted to make. Death hurts us all but we have to keep moving for ourselves and for the one we lost.
Henordra: Lol sorry, this story was never meant to be this long!
Magus Durron: LMAO oh my god you practically reviewed every chapter and you've really made me bigheaded now I'll have you know. Thank you so much, you've brought this hugely wicked smile to my face!
Guu-Sama: Me? I can sleep anywhere lol! Floor, couch, and chair...preferably bed! And thank you!
Blue-Winged Angel: Aw I've always loved Sirius lol! And Remus...and Harry...and while we're at it I rather like Ron too lol! One spelling mistake? Wahey I'm getting better lol! As for the tavern, it was bustling. Imagine the scene in 'Fellowship of the Ring' when the Hobbits are in the Green Dragon and that about covers it lol!
Taykayo: Lol, hun don't worry! You are allowed to lead a life outside of fanfiction without offending me lol! Monty Python are the GOD of comedy, I bow before them and love them eternally! Ooh, right about the sex deal. I'm no use seeing as I'm not a homosexual male but I have been on the receiving end remember. If you think you're ready then go for it but ONLY if you have absolutely no niggling doubts. It's a big step for girls let alone homosexual guys. Secondly, it –hurts- believe me, more so I imagine for you so you –have- to be sure! Oh and always use protection! But if you say you love him and he loves you then I say if you want to then do it. He sounds like such a wonderful person and I imagine he'd take wonderful care of you (points at "Sirius") You'd better lol! Good luck to the both of you in whatever you choose. Now I'll raise my glass (raises glass).