A/N: This is for my sister. Ro, I wrote a happy marauders fic just for you. Seriously, I was in the middle of a sad exploration of the Black brothers' relationship, and I stopped working on that to write this instead because it's your finals week and you deserve it. You're welcome. Kick ass, you academic weapon, you.
Night Light, Star Bright
Regulus Black waited patiently in the shadows, just out of sight of the nosy portrait that guarded Gryffindor's common room. Though it was nearing curfew, students sporting red and gold striped ties continued to stream in and out of the entrance hole, giggling over something that had happened during the third year Potions class earlier in the day and talking about the upcoming break.
The sun had already gone down outside, making it easier for the Slytherin to go unnoticed. Eventually, the hall emptied out, leaving only the soft rustles of paintings shifting about in their frames to fill the quiet. Regulus was used to finding private ways to entertain himself, as his mother had always told him that children were best seen but not heard, so he was perfectly content to watch a rather large spider spin a complex web on the other side of the alcove until the familiar scuffling strides of someone who had not quite gotten used to their most recent growth spurt hit his ears.
"You're late," Regulus said dryly as he stepped into the corridor, not bothering to glance at his companion as the pair quickly made their way towards the third floor.
"Yes, well, your brother caused a small fire in the common room, so I had to deal with that before I could leave," Remus Lupin responded, exasperation evident in his tone.
Now that Regulus thought about it, Remus did smell more of the charred sort of smoke that occurs when things that should not be burnt are set ablaze rather than his usual cigarette smoke. A subtle glance at the taller boy revealed that there was a dusting of ash coating his hair, giving it a sort of salt-and-pepper look that wasn't wholly out of place on the exhausted Gryffindor.
"Small?" The Slytherin repeated, doubtfully enough that he knew Remus would take it as his cue to rant if he wanted to. He hid a grin in the air opposite of the other boy as Remus immediately let out a growly sort of noise that Regulus knew meant he was frustrated.
"Yeah, you're right, that's complete shit," Remus sighed, thankfully starting his tirade just before they reached the stairs, which meant Regulus would probably get away with climbing more slowly than usual without earning a suspicious look from the older boy. "He lit half of the bloody sofa on fire before I could even begin to put it out."
Regulus couldn't help the way his shoulders dropped from their usual guarded place around his ears as the pair made their way through the empty corridors, Remus's accent especially thick as he moved on to complaining about the way that Sirius left his socks lying around the dorm and never remembered to bring a quill.
"So things are good between you two?" The younger boy asked softly as they finally reached the third floor. He risked a quick look at his companion as Remus slid a ring onto the middle finger of his right hand, which immediately lit up and filled the hallway with a warm glow.
Pale brown eyes flicked sideways to meet his, and Regulus caught the crooked smile on Remus's lips before he ducked his head to slide his own ring on.
"Things are good. He's an idiot, mind, but he's my idiot."
"Gross," The Slytherin muttered, hating that there was no mistaking the fondness behind the word.
Remus let out a soft huff of laughter, holding his hand aloft slightly as they began their rounds. The wooden rings that they wore kept the shadows at bay as the two moved in companionable silence.
Technically, Prefect rounds were meant to be completed without any lighting spells, unless they had definitive need for one. It was, in Regulus's opinion, a stupid rule. The idea behind it was that an illumination spell would give someone out after hours advanced warning to hide. In theory, the torches placed periodically along the walls ought to be enough for someone to get by on.
They weren't.
Regulus, who was no stranger to being out after hours even before he was given a Prefect's badge and permission to do so, was well aware of this fact. He had anticipated being partnered with Pandora or Dorcas for rounds, neither of whom would have asked any questions should he decide to light his wand.
In any other instance, he would have been pleased to discover his name beside Remus Lupin's. The two had struck up an easy friendship when Regulus had been moved up a year in Arithmancy, hardly speaking during class but spending hours in empty classrooms studying and gossiping after it ended. He was well aware that Remus had likely requested to be paired with him for rounds, for the headboy, Frank Longbottom, determined the partners, and Regulus knew that the older Gryffindor (who was ridiculously fond of the "Marauders", as they liked to call themselves) never would have thought to pair them himself.
Still, as (secretly) flattered as he was, Regulus had to fight to keep from shooting Lily Evans an envious look as she delightedly looped her arm through Panda's and began discussing constellations.
It had been a miserable first three rounds, though the Slytherin had determinedly done his best not to show it. Apparently, he hadn't done a very good job, because Remus had figured him out by the time they met for their fourth stroll through the dark castle.
"Here," He had said by way of greeting, holding out a hand as he stepped out of the gloom that surrounded the entrance to the Slytherin common room.
Regulus had jumped and let out a swear, instantly defensive and slightly angry at having been startled. The other boy had held up his free hand in a placating gesture, but left the other one extended towards him. Reluctantly, biting his tongue so that he didn't bite Remus's head off instead, Regulus had accepted what turned out to be a small wooden ring.
"If you're proposing, it's a no. Sorry, but I don't like pissing my brother off that much," He had responded in a flat tone, focused more on not seeming like he was rushing to escape the dungeons than he was on the other boy, which was why it took him a moment to realize that a glow had filled the space around them. Once he did, he forced himself to say, "Illumination spells are forbidden."
"Good thing I'm not using one, then."
When Regulus had turned, he found that Remus wore a ring that looked very similar to his own, though his was glowing just brightly enough to ward off the shadows. Trying not to look overly eager, the Slytherin had shoved the band that he had been gifted onto his finger, unable to fight off a grin when it lit up.
"I didn't think you were the type to do friendship bracelets," He had teased, more cheerful than he had felt on any of their previous rounds as the shadows around them faded into little more than a blur at the very edges of the corridor.
Remus seemed to realize that he was pleased, appearing at once more at ease himself in response. "I'm not. Don't tell James that, though. You can pry the bracelet he gave me out of my cold, dead hands. Regardless, I just found a spell to do these and I knew that Sirius would make too big a deal of it if I gave him the other one."
"Yes, he'd likely announce your engagement to the Great Hall upon the next meal," Regulus agreed good-naturedly, though they were both aware that Sirius would never.
"Undoubtedly."
Though Regulus had waited for the other shoe to drop, for Remus to choose the moment that cut the deepest to reveal his fear of the dark to the world, it never came. In the months that followed without mention of it, the younger boy began to trust that it would remain a secret.
It seemed a fair trade, he had decided privately. After all, he had been keeping his knowledge of Remus's lycanthropy to himself for years, only ever so much as hinting at it when he slowed their pace on the stairs in the nights just before and after the full moon.
Lost in thought, the two Prefects walked in silence for about half an hour, until Regulus could stand staring at the scuff marring the top of his shoe for no longer without saying something about it.
"James kissed me," He said abruptly, though he had waited until they were walking down a patch of corridor devoid of eavesdropping portraits before doing so.
A faint squeak as Remus nearly tripped over his own feet was the only indication that the other boy had heard him for a long moment. They passed a large portrait of two old men and a dog before stepping into a particularly dark part of the castle. Without a word, the Gryffindor took Regulus by the elbow and steered him into a secret passageway that he hadn't previously known existed.
Once they were away from all other ears, an expectant look and an impatient hand gesture was Regulus's cue to tell Remus everything. He thought about trying to find some place to sit, but the thick layer of dust that covered their surroundings put him off of the idea. Instead, he kept walking, but kept his pace slow, hoping that the corridor was long enough for him to fill the other boy in.
"So you know that we've been…" Regulus trailed off almost at once, trying to find a word other than the one that Remus favored.
"Flirting."
"I'm still not convinced that that's what he was-"
"I am not having this argument again. He kissed you, Reg. Unless you're about to tell me that he tripped over his own feet and fell lips first onto your mouth, I think it's fair to say that you two have been flirting."
"Well, he did trip, but that didn't have anything to do with the kiss," Regulus admitted, fighting a smirk when Remus instantly chuckled. "Fine, we were flirting, like we usually do. I said something rude. He told me to shut it, so I-"
The older boy groaned, undoubtedly guessing what the Slytherin's response had been, and Regulus gave up all hope of not smiling through the story.
"So, naturally I told him to make me. Next thing I knew, he was standing on my foot and kissing me."
"Standing on your foot?" Remus laughed his way through the question.
"Yes, look. He scuffed up my shoe."
Once the Gryffindor managed to stop chuckling, he gave Regulus a smile that was so sincere that it was all the boy could do not to squirm in the face of it. "I'm happy for you, Reg. Really. Thanks for telling me."
Managing a casual shrug, Regulus responded, "Well, you've been listening to me pine after him for nearly a year now. Figured it's only fair."
"Fair is you listening to me complain about your brother in exchange."
"Please," Regulus said, lilting slightly to the right in order to bump his shoulder against the taller boy's sweater-clad arm. He remembered a moment too late that Remus was covered in ash, and made a mental note to wipe his black jumper clean before he went back to the common room. "You putting up with Siri is a public service. Listening to you complain is the least that any of us can do in return."
Remus chuckled, launching into a story about a prank that James and Sirius were planning. The younger boy didn't even try to appear less interested than he was, for the Marauders' pranks were as legendary as they were brilliant. From there, Remus smoothly transitioned into talking about a New Year's party that James's parents Effie and Monty were apparently throwing. Regulus had, to his delight, been invited, though everyone was well aware that he would only be able to attend if the rest of the holidays went smoothly enough that he could sneak off with Sirius without their parents caring.
"Got any big plans for the rest of the holidays?" Remus eventually asked. If the topic had been anything else, Regulus might have been tempted to smile. Everyone claimed that Gryffindor's beloved Moony was the quiet sort, but Remus often talked his way through the entirety of their rounds, a rush of swears, gossip, and nearly outlandish stories of the Marauders' antics that Regulus was always happy to listen to. Other times, he would pepper Regulus with questions about himself, his plans, and his friends. The younger boy always feigned annoyance with the inquiries, but they both knew that he appreciated that Remus cared to ask.
Questions about going home, however, were not to be met with his usual faux exasperation, but rather with a genuine groan that earned him a sympathetic look from the other boy.
"Mother's throwing another party, though apparently this one is a particularly big deal. Don't ask me why; as far as I'm concerned they're all equally as stuffy and boring as the rest. She keeps saying something about having a special guest stop by, but I haven't any idea who it might be," Regulus said, pretending not to hear the way that his voice was most certainly creeping into the realm of whining. "Hopefully Sirius manages to bite his tongue for this one, though. I know he makes a sport of irritating her, but I really do think she's serious about this party going well. Plus, we haven't any chance at sneaking out for the Potters' party if she's angry."
The look that he sent the Gryffindor at his side (which he hoped was more demanding than desperate and pleading) was met with a heavy sigh. "I'll remind him that he ought to behave every chance that I get, but you know how your brother is. He's going to do what he thinks is best, regardless of what the rest of us might say."
Regulus sighed, rubbing a weary hand over his face. He wished that there was a way for him to express how truly awful it was when Sirius upset their parents without betraying his brother's trust, but said instead, "You truly deserve sainthood for putting up with him."
"He's easy to love," Remus responded, very quietly.
Tucking away confirmation of just how deeply his brother's boyfriend's feelings ran, Regulus said with equal softness, "That, I know. I still wouldn't want to date him, however. Hence, sainthood."
That caused the other boy to chuckle. "Well I should hope not, though I suppose, knowing how you Blacks are, I should be grateful."
Biting back a laugh of his own, the Slytherin gave his friend a shove that was a bit more gentle than it might have been had the full moon not been just days earlier. "Asshole."
"Prick," Remus fired back easily, though his faint smile sombered a moment later. "I really will talk to Sirius about keeping your mother happy over the break, though I won't bring up her party, specifically, so that he doesn't know you talked to me about it. You might consider letting James know about the party as well. Padfoot's always been more inclined to listen to him than me."
"If they run off with each other, you're stuck with me, you know," Regulus muttered by way of response, just barely resisting the urge to roll his eyes at the casual reminder of his brother's co-dependent relationship with James Potter.
Their closeness stung far less these days than it had when Regulus first learned of their friendship, back before he had earned a place amongst his older brother and his friends. During Regulus's first years at school, he had listened to Sirius parading about calling James his "brother" with barely restrained resentment. That had faded over the years, particularly once he had realized that Sirius considering James a brother hadn't ever meant that he had stopped calling Regulus one, as well.
"I'm flattered to be your backup plan, starboy," Remus responded, the smirk that he sported telling Regulus that he had intentionally opted to use the nickname that Panda had spent several years desperately trying to convince Regulus to like.
"Gross, don't call me starboy. If you're so desperate to use it, I'm certain that my brother would prefer that title," Regulus grumbled, holding his hand out just a bit so that he could see into the gloom to their left.
"Your brother is a dog," Remus replied at once, the corners of his lips twitching when his words caused the younger boy to snort rather unattractively.
"I'm telling Siri that you called him a bitch."
"I'll gladly tell him myself."
The two continued to bicker until their shift ended, keeping their rings on as they made their way into the dungeons. Regulus had tried a few times to protest Remus's need to walk him back to his common room at the end of their rounds, but truthfully he appreciated it too much to really put up a fight. Instead, he always made his way to stand outside of Gryffindor tower before curfew, picking Remus up in exchange for being dropped off at the end of the night.
"I really am happy for you," Remus said softly as they neared the common room. Regulus knew he was referring to the kiss from James, though he was smart enough to avoid mentioning names with how deep into the dungeons they were. "You deserve to be happy, Reg."
"Don't get sappy on me now, Lupin," Regulus said, but not without bumping his shoulder against the taller boy once again. Remus returned the affectionate gesture at once, and Regulus resigned himself to the layer of ash that undoubtedly now covered his right arm. "Anyways, this is my stop. Do try to keep my brother from burning the castle down in the night. I rather like my sleep."
"I'll do my best," Remus responded with a snort, tapping two fingers to his forehead in farewell before slipping his ring from his finger and disappearing into the gloom.
Regulus slid his own ring back into his pocket. Fighting off a shiver as darkness surrounded him, he bit out the password and darted into his common room with as much dignity as he could muster.
Before crawling into bed, he carefully spelled all of the ash from his jumper, but he couldn't quite bring himself to scrub the scuff from his shoe. Vowing to take care of it in the morning, he made sure the curtains were closed tightly around his bed before pulling his nightlight from the top drawer of his nightstand, and he was dreaming of New Year's kisses at the Potters' a few minutes later.
I know that's not how REM cycles work, but, you know, magic.
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