A/N: I don't own the rights to any of these characters, settings or anything to do with Wizarding World. This is a work of fiction based on
the universe created by J.K Rowling.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN – REMUS

April 1978

Remus furrowed his brow and dropped his quill, potion brewing was never his strong point. He turned the page and gazed over the different illustrations of plants as they blurred and moved around in front of him. Remus groaned and rubbed his eyes, he'd been studying magical plants and their functions for too long. Remus could hear the scratching of quills as Frank and Alice continued to take notes next to him, Marlene sat to the left of him and looked as drained as Remus felt. He stretched back in his chair, feeling his back crack, and gazed at James and Lily sitting opposite him. Their heads were bent together and James was explaining Transfiguration lore in further detail for her. Lily looked enthralled by James as she furiously scribbled down the words he said. James' hand rested on Lily's back, Remus smiled to himself and sat forward again closing his book. James looked up.

"Calling it a night, Moony?"

"If I never have to look at a drawing of a magical plant again, it will be too soon!"

Marlene threw down her quill, "Fuck this."

"You kiss your mother with that mouth?" James said, dramatically recoiling and fanning his face.

Marlene rolled her eyes and began packing up her things, "I've had enough. Can we do a day session tomorrow? I would like to go to bed early at least once before these fucking exams."

"Yes please!" Alice chimed in, "After lunch?"

"Done, Lily?" James said, putting his books back in his bag.

Lily yawned as she stood up and nodded, "Sounds good to me, I'm exhausted."

Remus slung his bag over his shoulder and yawned, Frank patted him on the back as he stood, "How about we tackle Charms tomorrow, Remus? Give you a break from Potions?"

"I'm never opening that book again!" Remus responded.

"So you're prepared enough to ace the exam then, Moony?" James grinned.

Remus scowled, "I just want to pass it. We're going to be in the Order anyway so who needs to be top of the class?"

Marlene shrugged, "You never know, maybe potion brewing could help in the war?"

Remus nudged Marlene, "Don't encourage him, please!"

Marlene laughed as they all headed for the exit. James threw his arm around Remus and ruffled his hair. Remus shrugged away from James and winked at him when he noticed Peter in the corner, studying with Cara. Peter looked as though he was hanging on her every word.

"Is that the Hufflepuff that Wormtail is into?"

Remus cocked an eyebrow at James, "Her name is Cara."

"Is that the Hufflepuff, Cara, that Wormtail is into?"

Remus rolled his eyes and pulled James along with him, "Yes, that's her."

James whirled out of Remus' grasp, "Well don't you think we should go introduce ourselves?"

"Leave him alone Prongs." Remus grabbed James and yanked him out of the library.

"You've got quite the grip there Moony!" James said, "What's got your wand in a knot?"

"You know what." Remus stared ahead at the others laughing, "Now is not the time to discuss it."

James stopped and frowned at Remus, "Spit it out."

"You think I don't know you would just go over there and make things uncomfortable for Peter? Merlin knows you and Sirius do that enough without her around."

"She's a Hufflepuff!"

"And I'm a Pisces!"

James cocked his head, "What now?"

"The point is it doesn't matter. She's not the one who attacked Sirius, she's not even friends with the ones who did it."

"Yeah but-"

"No buts! I have had enough."

"We have a problem with Hufflepuffs."

Remus clasped his hands around James' face, "James my dear, get over it."

James stared at Remus, quite affronted, "The fuck did you just say to me?"

"Get over it. We're about to graduate and go fight in a war. There are bigger things to worry about." Remus nudged James, "You know I'm right. They aren't the enemy. They're not the bad guys. It's You Know Who and people like those assholes who hurt Sirius, but not them and certainly not Cara."

James frowned and looked back at the library, "I've been a right prat haven't I?"

Remus chuckled, "It's like we went back in time to our fifth year."

"That's mortifying."

"Hey, nobody's perfect."

James chuckled, "You're right. And look, I'll have a word with Sirius as well. I think mostly he gets caught up with me and I've just been so angry about what happened."

"I know. I'm still angry too. But there are better ways to deal with that rather than putting it on innocent people, yeah?"

James pulled Remus into a hug and began pulling him along the hall, "Come on, the others will think we've become part of the library or something."

They caught up to the others and said their goodbyes to Frank as he disappeared off to the Ravenclaw dormitory. By the time they reached the Fat Lady Remus was struggling to keep his eyes open. Lily whispered the password and they climbed through the portrait. Remus felt his heart warm when he saw Sirius draped across an armchair engrossed in a book.

"Goodnight boys," Marlene said before turning to Lily, "Are you staying in the dormitory with us tonight or bunking with James?"

"I'll come with you two, I could use a good night's sleep." Lily said, "James hogs the blankets."

"That's outrageous!" James exclaimed and Lily raised an eyebrow, "Okay, maybe sometimes but only when it's really cold."

"James…"

"Okay fine, all the time"

Lily chuckled and kissed him gently, "Goodnight. Goodnight Remus and you too Sirius!"

"Night Evans!" Sirius called from the armchair, "Don't worry he steals the blankets with me too!"

The girls headed toward the stairs laughing before disappearing up the spiral and out of sight. James flung around to Sirius.

"Am I that much of a blanket whore?"

Sirius raised his eyebrows, "Oh honey."

Remus wandered over to Sirius and planted a kiss on him before running his hand through Sirius' hair, "Did you have a good night?"

"It was just the break from studying that I needed! How about you two? Did you get a lot done?"

James slung his bag over his shoulder, "Evans took me through some wand work for charms and I returned the favour by explaining the complex lore of transfiguration. Solid evening."

"Seems like a fair trade." Sirius said and sat up pulling Remus onto his lap.

"Alas I am now exhausted!" James exclaimed dramatically and dashed to the stairs, "So I must bid you a good night before I fall into an everlasting slumber!"

"Yeah, yeah, sweet dreams you dramatic blanket whore!" Sirius chuckled.

"Goodnight James!" Remus said as James disappeared up the stairs laughing to himself.

Remus looped his fingers through Sirius' and nestled into him, "You're so warm."

"Well I've been sitting by the fire all night just to keep you cosy when you came back."

"You did not."

"Okay I didn't… But I did get you some chocolate from the kitchens and left it next to your bed."

"I love you."

"I love the way you love chocolate."

"Fuck, alright then."

Remus attempted to get up, Sirius pulled him closer and nuzzled his neck, "I love you, you stupid werewolf."

Remus grinned, turned and kissed Sirius on the cheek, "You're so gay."

"We're quite the pair."

"Will you join us tomorrow? We're going to meet after lunch, save the evening for better things to do…"

"You're a better thing to do." Sirius softly kissed Remus' neck, "But yes, I'll come along tomorrow."

"Sirius. I'm afraid of graduating."

Sirius stopped kissing Remus' neck and gazed up at him, "Well that killed the mood."

"I'm serious!"

"No you're not, I am!"

"Babe!"

Sirius shuffled in the armchair so he was sitting upright, "Talk to me."

"When we graduate, we're joining the Order and the war and everything that comes with that. And I want to fight, I do. But I'm also so afraid of what that could mean."

"Losing each other." Sirius turned and stared at the fire, "I think about that too."

"I know who we are and we're not the people who can stand by and not fight back. I want to fight. I want to stop You Know Who and his stupid hooded followers. I want to protect the Muggles and Mudbloods and anyone else they want to hurt."

"Of course you do. You've got the kindest soul I've ever met."

"And is protecting them, fighting, all of it worth it if I lose you?"

"Remus…"

"I know, I know. We don't know what's going to happen. But I think about this every day. Every time you're not with me I'm wondering if I'll actually see you again…"

Sirius pulled Remus into a hug, gripping him close, "I love you so much."

"I know you do." Remus pulled back and wiped away his tears, "And I know we're heading toward a dangerous time and I won't run from that."

Sirius smiled at Remus, "I love how brave you are. We don't know what's going to happen out there. I think about it all the time as well. What we'll be tasked to do in the Order, duelling death eaters, spying, saving Muggles and Mudbloods. I don't know. All I know is that it's a little easier to face knowing I've got you and the others."

Remus stroked Sirius' face, "Definitely makes it easier."

"James and I have been talking recently about graduation and life after school. And I was going to wait until graduation night to ask you…"

Remus' heart hammered, "Ask me what?"

"I know that I can do anything I put my mind to and I can fight in this war. As long as I will have you to come home to."

"What are you saying Sirius?"

"I'm saying I want you to move in with me."

Remus searched Sirius' face, lost for words. Sirius smiled and gently ran his hand under Remus' chin. A warmth spread across Remus' body and lunged at Sirius kissing him so passionately the two of them toppled off the armchair into a tangled heap on the floor.

Sirius chuckled, "Is that a yes then?"

"Yes you dummy!" Remus exclaimed, "There's no one else I'd rather live with."

"Well… Prongs lives there too dear."

"Yes but he has his own wing!"

"And thank Merlin for that!"

Remus pulled Sirius' face to his again and kissed him once more. Sirius rolled so Remus was under him and after a while pulled his face away before gently caressing Remus' cheek.

"Graduation doesn't seem like such a terrible thing now."

"It's the beginning of something great, Rem."

Sirius rose to his feet and pulled Remus up. Remus watched as Sirius collected his things and shoved his shoes back on. All the dread he had been feeling about finishing school and joining the war finally seemed to ease and for the first time in months he felt optimistic again. Remus followed Sirius upstairs to bed knowing that no matter what, he would follow Sirius anywhere.