AU!
Warning: puns.
THC, Round 2
Slytherin, DADA
Standard
Prompts:
(time of day) sunrise
(location) woods
WC: 1608
The woods behind Potter Manor were dark and cold, and Remus desperately wanted to kick Sirius's arse for dragging him through them in the middle of the night. He yawned and rubbed his eyes, muttering curses under his breath as he trailed after Sirius like a lost puppy. The irony was not lost on him.
"Are we there yet?" Remus mumbled, tripping over a huge root that was sprawled across the ground, twisting like the back of a Norwegian Ridgeback. He grunted and steadied himself, scowling at the rough bark of the ancient tree. "Pads, it's the middle of the night!"
"Shh, just follow me! It's the summer howl-idays, Moony. Live a little," Sirius said, bounding through the woods, his enthusiasm obvious, usually contagious—but right now, it was annoying. He hadn't even allowed Remus to put on the fluffy dressing gown Mrs Potter had given him for his birthday last year.
Remus dragged his feet as he followed Sirius, muttering harsh curses and swears at the black-haired boy. He loved Sirius, he did, but sometimes, he wondered how Sirius could be so energetic all the damn time. Sirius's enthusiasm was usually contagious, but Remus wanted to strangle him right now.
They had been walking through the woods for the last ten minutes, and Remus's knees were about to give out on him. It wasn't that Remus was a lazy sod; it was just the glaringly obvious fact that it was so dark he could barely see in front of him.
"If we don't reach this special place of yours in the next five minutes, I'm going to send you to the place where all dogs go," Remus threatened, waving his fist at Sirius's back.
"The… pound?" Sirius frowned over his shoulder.
Remus rolled his eyes. "No, you idiot. HEAVEN. Or in your case, Hell."
"You wouldn't kill your best friend who turns into a very lovable dog, would you?"
"I will if you don't hurry the fuck up."
"You're such a swear-wolf, Moony," Sirius teased, throwing his arm around Remus's shoulders and dragging him beside him. He pulled out a small chocolate bar from the pocket of his pyjamas and handed it to Remus. "Here, eat this. It'll make you feel better."
"At least you have one redeeming quality," Remus muttered, his annoyance receding a bit. He unwrapped the chocolate and popped it into his mouth. His lips tugged up in a small smile as the sweet chocolate melted on his tongue.
"Don't wolf down your food, Moony," Sirius said mischievously, and a growl erupted from Remus's throat. Sirius placatingly patted Remus's shoulder and said, "Fur what it's worth, I like feeding you chocolates."
Remus didn't know what to say to that. On one hand, he was pleased with the chocolate—Sirius definitely knew how to keep him happy—but at the same time, Sirius's wolf puns were almost getting on his nerves. The loud yawn that escaped his mouth distracted him from his thoughts. "How much further?"
"Don't you mean 'howl—Oof!" Sirius bent over double, rubbing his ribs where Remus had elbowed him. "Do you sharpen your elbows, Moony?"
"My elbows aren't the only things that are sharp," Remus hissed, glaring down at Sirius. "Now, either take me to this blasted place of yours right now, or else…"
"Sheesh! You're so violent. I love it!" Sirius straightened up from his crouch and wrapped his arm around Remus's shoulders. "I promise you that you'll love this. Just… trust me, yeah? I found this wonderful place a few days ago, and I thought of sharing it with you..."
Sirius's eyes were wide with hope, and his smile shone like the moon's radiance; it melted Remus's cold, dead heart. Remus sighed and thought that maybe he had been a bit more violent—and grumpier—with Sirius than usual. Guilt weighed heavily on his chest, so he muttered, "Fine. But whatever we're doing… it's not a cause fur concern, right?"
Sirius's smile brightened at the obvious pun Remus had just used, and he crowed with delight. "Are you fur real? Did you just make a wolf pun? Yes! That was a start! By the time we get back, I'll train you to make better puns!"
"Oh, paw-lease," Remus said, smirking at Sirius's flabbergasted expression. "I read more than you do—which means I can make better puns than you ever will. Just because I don't, that doesn't mean I can't."
"I wasn't aware-wolf," Sirius said with a grin. "Want to play a game while we walk?"
Remus shrugged as he ducked under a low arthritic bough laden with blossom. "I'm a bit sleepy, so my puns might not be so... pawsome."
"Aww, do you need a cup of Earl Greyhound tea in your system first?" Sirius teased.
"If I do drink it, you should be very, very scared because then, my wolf and dog puns will be howl-arious."
Sirius threw his head back and howled with laughter. He grinned at Remus and took his hand in his. "Ah, Moony, and with that pun, I believe you have the corg-key to my heart."
Remus hid his laugh behind his hand and continued walking with Sirius by his side. Their banter consisted of mostly bad puns, and Remus was surprised to find himself laughing heartily—despite his lethargy. He did yawn a few more times, but Sirius's happiness at being out in the woods was getting to Remus.
By the time they reached a small meadow with soft grass that reached almost to their hips, Remus was wide awake. Sirius kept tugging on his hand and pulled him towards the middle of the meadow before dragging him down to the ground. The grass tickled Remus's ear, but Sirius was still beside him, and Remus couldn't even complain anymore.
"What are we doing now?" Remus questioned, looking up at the waning moon.
Sirius grinned and squeezed Remus's hand. "You'll see."
The candied perfume of the meadow and the woody incense of the trees mixed with the scents of pine and peat, but Remus couldn't focus on that when Sirius was beside him. Sirius smelled like the homemade cookies they had made and eaten just before bed, like the leather jacket Remus had bought for him this Christmas, like the campfire smoke they had been sitting around earlier that day, and more importantly, like the chocolates he was so fond of feeding Remus.
Sirius smelled… like home.
Remus was so startled by the realisation that he almost missed Sirius's excited chatter. "...And the sunrise will light up everything, and it's just so pretty you'll love it and—"
Remus smiled and murmured, "I better. Otherwise, I won't furgive you for dragging me out here."
Sirius laughed and said, "You will. You like pretty things."
Turning his head to look at Sirius, Remus whispered, "I do." He wouldn't say it out loud, but there was nothing prettier than Sirius Black and his smile. Sirius directed said smile at him, and Remus's heart raced in his chest.
Just then, Sirius pointed overhead. "Look! It's starting!"
Remus swivelled his head around and a small smile formed on his lips when he realised what Sirius had wanted to show him.
The sun was slowly rising over the horizon, reflecting back to them in a trident of bursts of amber-yellow, amethyst-purple, and blazing blues. The warm light soaked the meadow with its radiance, and Remus sighed as he enjoyed the warmth on his face.
An orchestra of birdsong burst through the silence just before turbo-winged blackbirds whirred under the velvety easel of the sky. The winged symphony of the birds' excited chitters lightened Remus's heart, and he couldn't help but beam with delight.
It was a wonderful sight.
"So… do you like it?" Sirius asked, pushing himself up onto his elbow to peer at Remus. His black curls fell into his grey eyes and he blew them away carelessly. The sunlight created a soft halo around his head, and Remus couldn't help but compare Sirius to an angel.
"I love it," Remus whispered, his eyes trained on Sirius.
"You do?" Sirius asked, leaning closer. All of a sudden, Remus had a feeling they weren't talking about the sunrise anymore.
Still, Remus swallowed and replied, his tone hushed, "I do. So much."
"The sunset loves you too… probably more than it can ever say," Sirius murmured, reaching up to caress Remus's cheek.
"Sirius…" Remus whispered, his eyes fluttering shut at the gentle touch of Sirius's slightly calloused hand.
"Yours is the light by which my spirit's born. You are my sun, my moon, and all my stars," Sirius recited quietly, his face moving closer.
Despite Sirius's terrible puns and overly cheesy compliments, Remus's breath hitched. Sirius's lips hovered over his, his warm breath washing over Remus's chin. Sirius whispered something unintelligible before he pressed a soft kiss to the side of Remus's mouth.
Remus hummed and smiled, reaching up to tangle his fingers in Sirius's hair, amazed by how smooth and silky his locks were. Sirius's lips turned up in a slow smile as he covered Remus's lips with his own. The kiss was soft, sweet, and oh-so-delicious; it didn't fail to steal Remus's breath away.
Remus hadn't known a simple trip in the middle of the night—one he had been so annoyed at—would have changed everything for him. Lying there in Sirius's arms, Remus couldn't help but smile and whisper, "I'm… over the moon."
Sirius threw his head back and laughed, the joyous sound startling away the birds from the nearby trees. "Howl I ever live without you?"
Remus sighed in mock-annoyance. "You won't. You're stuck with me now."
"And I wouldn't have it any other way."