Holiday
My fic for the rs_games:
Holiday
Author: missgryff
Rating: pg-13? mention of drugs
Summary: The boys go on a camping trip. fluff ensues.
Word count: approx. 3800
23 June 1977
“Things are changing for us, Moony. I’m not sure I like it. “
“Yeah, I know.” Remus stands at Sirius’ side and slides his arm around his friend’s shoulders. They are standing on a bridge on Hogwarts’ grounds. The Leaving Feast was this evening and tomorrow all the students will be headed home, some, like the Marauders and their fellow seventh years, forever. The boys stare off into the landscape and settling sun as dusk falls around them.
“It’s hard to imagine that we won’t be returning here in September.” He’s leaning into Remus now and the fear Sirius doesn’t put to words is betrayed in the touch.
“You’ll be fine, we all will. You’ve got that job lined up with the Aurors, haven’t you?”
“I know I’ll be fine. It’s you I’m worried about.”
Remus chuckles. “I’ll have you know I can take care of myself. My parents have the cellar set up for me, so that’s taken care of, and I figure that I’ll be able to find work in the Muggle world easily enough.”
“But you shouldn’t have to be locked up in a cellar! You need to run free! With Padfoot and Prongs and Wormtail. I could come visit you on nights of the full moon!”
“I don’t expect you or the others to plan your lives around me.”
“But I don’t mind! We became animagi for you, Remus. That doesn’t end at Hogwarts. And sweet Merlin, Moony, you can’t live with your parents for the rest of your life.”
Remus sighs now, lowers his arm and turns away from Sirius. “I know, but they know how to handle me at the moon. I haven’t even got work lined up yet, so it’s not like I can leave.”
“That may not be true. Move in with me, Moony. I’m buying a flat in London and you won’t have to pay the rent or anything.” Remus is quiet. Horrifyingly quiet, Sirius thinks. Remus is standing there opening and closing his mouth stupidly, failing to form a coherent response. Needless to say, he is rather surprised by Sirius’ offer, but he doesn’t feel it right that he wouldn’t be capable of paying a share of the rent. He actually has quite a few thoughts on the matter forming in his head when Sirius speaks again.
“Just… Just think about it, okay?” He turns to walk back towards the castle, nervously wiping his suddenly sweaty palms on his denims, but an impulse stops him and he turns back around. Striding swiftly back to Remus, he grabs his friend, one of his best mates, by the shoulders and neck and kisses him fiercely, shoving his tongue into Remus’ mouth. It is sloppy and passionate and perfectly imperfect for all of about ten seconds before Sirius pulls himself from Remus, each staring intently into eachothers’ eyes until Sirius breaks eye contact and is off and running as fast as he can back to the castle.
Remus stands there staring after Sirius. He has a lot to think about, he decides, and turns back towards the sunset, leaning on the railing of the bridge.
5 July 1977
Sirius,
I’m really starting to worry about you. Why aren’t you responding to any of my letters? Is it about that thing on the bridge?
I’ll have you know that I did not appreciate your ignoring my pointed looks on the train. You cannot claim ignorance either, as I know very well that you know very well precisely what I mean.
Are you seeing someone? When you came out to us in fourth year I didn’t expect you to stay single long, but you’ve never told us about there being anyone. Are you hiding something?
If you don’t wish to talk about it, well, I suppose that’s fine. It was an accident or a fluke or something. Now I’ve acknowledged that will you please respond to my letters?
Remus
Ps: Tell James I say hello. He at least answers my correspondence.
14 July 1977
Remus,
I’m sorry about the lack of reply.
… Regulus has taken the Mark. It’s official, Andromeda told me. Seems dear old mum was boasting about how proud she is of her only son. Fucking hag. It was only a matter of time, I suppose.
But Remus, he’s still my little brother, you know? Don’t tell the others, but I was still half hoping he’d finally listen to me and see the error of his allegiances. I can’t help but remember how things used to be between us, Regulus and I.
I’m trying not to be such a damn girl about it. Appearances to uphold and all that.
How’re you though? I feel awful that you won’t let us to see you at the full on hols. I don’t care if your mother doesn’t know we’re extremely illegal animagi. We make it easier for you, and that’s all that matters. Hope you’re feeling better.
Sirius
Ps: James sends his hellos. The chocolate is from the both of us, though clearly James doesn’t know you at all because he sent the Milk. I, your best mate, send the Dark. You’re welcome.
16 July 1977
Sirius,
I don’t think you understand the point of a postscript. You abuse the power of the PS. Tank you kindly, however, for the chocolate (and especially for remembering the Dark).
Well, now I feel a right arsehole for pestering you and here you’ve been dealing with this terrible news. I’m so sorry, Sirius. I hope it is of some consolation to you that you tried to talk him to the side of the Light. Perhaps one day still he will make amends. After all, if you’ve turned out so great, there must be some good in him somewhere.
I know it isn’t the same, but you’ll always have me and the others.
The full was harder on me without you guys, but then, it always is. I’m all right, I swear, and the chocolate really does make me feel better.
Remus
PS: Tell James thanks for the chocolate and don’t tease him too harshly for the Milk misstep. I don’t discriminate in my chocolate consumption.
21 July 1977
Remus,
Are we going to see each other at all this summer? We’ve yet to make plans! James is demanding some sort of adventure, naturally. He suggests camping. I’m not so sure about the ‘great-outdoors’ business he’s on about, but I’ll give it a shot. What do you think?
Sirius
22 July 1977
Sirius,
I am heading north to visit my Gran in two weeks, just after the full. I think it’d be a lovely idea if you lot would join me. She lives in this quaint little cottage and there’s a lake we can camp near. She says you are welcome to come, and even says she can give us camping things. We haven’t any tents, though, so ask Mr. Potter if they’ve any. Pass it along to Peter and James, all right?
Remus
23 July 1977
Remus,
We all have agreed that your plan sounds ace. When shall we meet you?
24 July 1977
Sirius,
Floo in to Gran’s place on the second. I look forward to seeing you lot!
8 August 1977
Sirius is the first to step out of the fireplace at Granny Lupin’s cottage, closely followed by James and Peter.
“You sodding bastards,” Remus greets them with a chuckle in his voice.
“Good to see you too, Moony,” James replies cheerily. The others have turned up wearing corduroy pants, button up shirts, vests, and funny hats. It is clearly some half-formed prank on Remus; they know Granny Lupin and her old-fashioned ways.
“I heard that Remus!” all-knowing Gran calls from the kitchen. Greetings and hellos continue as they all settle and dust off the excess floo powder from their clothes. Remus catches Sirius’ eye and there’s a quiet awkward moment between them that the others don’t notice before they’re interrupted by Gran’s voice.
“I have tea and cake in here, boys!”
“Brilliant,” Peter exclaims happily.
Sirius agrees, “I love your Gran.”
“These are for you,” with a smile James hands Remus a pile of clothes. They are a set similar to that the others arrived in.
“Hah. Right,” Remus grins crookedly in appreciation of the others’ antics. The four seat themselves around Mrs. Lupin’s kitchen table.
“Here you are, boys. Good to see you all,” she sets a plate in front of each boy. “How is your mother, James?”
“She is very well, thank you.”
“Send my regards.”
“Your cake is delicious Mrs. Lupin,” Peter offers appreciatively.
“Thank you, dear.”
After they’ve had their fill of coffee cake and tea, James is quick to inquire after the camping supplies. Remus leads the others out the back door of the cottage and toward the shed. “Yeah, so the stuff is outside. Gran and I have charmed this trunk and it’ll provide us some basic food for as long as we like.”
“Brilliant,” Peter grins.
“I’ve also found some fishing rods in the garage just over there. I have no clue how Gran accumulated so much Muggle recreation equipment, but there you are. There’s also a real Muggle camera in a trunk here somewhere, and some folding chairs for around the fire.”
“We could’ve just transfigured some, mate,” James says. He’s not used to Muggle things, clearly.
“Well we’re taking the car out to the lake, I figured this would be nice.”
“There’s a car?!” James and Sirius are terribly excited by this. The pureblood boys have never in their lives ridden in one of the Muggle contraptions.
“Well yes. I wasn’t going to apparate with all of this stuff.” Remus enters the garage and shows his friends the car. It is out dated for sure, but it’s a classic and runs like new.
“Your Gran is a legend, mate.” Peter looks on in open-mouthed awe at the car. His father is a half-blood and instilled in him at an early age an appreciation for classic automobiles, something which is completely lost on James and Sirius.
“Anyway, the tent situation,” James pulls out two diminuendo’d tents from his vest pocket.” Dad’s gotten these from some ministry crony or something daft like that. Says they’re a bit on the “cozy” side, whatever the hell that means. Two, though, so that’s ace. “
“Awesome,” Sirius puts in, “I’m claiming Remus.”
“Claiming?” Remus asks challengingly.
“Well, yeah,” Sirius says as if it doesn’t need explaining. “Peter snores, sorry mate.”
“What about me, you great ponce?” James is mockingly affronted. “‘Best mate’, ‘like a brother’, really?” He does a horrible falsetto impression of Sirius’ voice and then makes to tackle his friend.
“You mumble about Lily in your sleep!” Sirius says from under James’ crushing knees.
“Do not!”
“Well you do, James,” Remus puts in, watching his friends amusedly.
Peter thoughtfully adds, “Quite pathetic really.”
“We undertook desperate measures once and cast a silencio round your curtains!” Sirius is now trying to shove James off of him.
“Lies!” James has gotten the better of Sirius, but Peter steps in to help Sirius up.
Sirius fixes his mussed hair as he says, “Least you won’t be able to trouble Pete too much over the freight train in his face. No offence, mate.”
“None taken.”
“That settles that then,” Remus says with a quick glance to Sirius, who doesn’t meet his eye.
---
The next morning the boys don their vests and funny hats and pack up the car. It’s a thirty-five minute drive out to the lake where they’ll be setting up camp for the next few weeks. From the back seat James and Sirius complain and yelp like children when Peter puts on an America album. Peter starts singing along to Tin Man and swats at their attempts to change it in favor of Led Zeppelin or Bowie. Sirius protests louder as Peter’s singing gets louder. Remus turns up the dial and drums along to the beat on the steering wheel. It is a lovely trip.
When they arrive, James sets up the two tents, one on each side of what will be the fire pit. Padfoot goes out to collect firewood, which undoubtedly means chasing squirrels. The others set out the folding chairs and start a fire to put the kettle on. In the middle of such setting-up-camp mayhem, Sirius discovers the Muggle camera in one of the trunks.
“Oi! Get over here you lot! Picture time!”
James rushes over; he’s intrigued by the idea of still-image photos. Remus and Peter are slower to stand where Sirius places them, but then demands Remus’ help in operating the confusing machine. As Remus arranges the camera on a timer, Sirius rushes back into the frame. When the timer clicks Sirius has jumped into the car as Padfoot, Peter is standing with one hand his hip, James is leaning against the car with one leg up on one of the folding chairs, and Remus has run in to stand beside James.
--
It is a calm evening as the boys muck about and fill each other in on the happenings of their lives in the month since they’ve seen one another. There are levitating marshmallows over the fire, loud, out of tune singing, and plenty of firewhiskey. Soon after sunset, Remus pulls out a spliff from his trunk. Mr. Lupin is one mischievous man, Remus thinks. Remus’ mother would certainly not approve of her husband providing her son and his best mates with illegal substances.
Eventually the Marauders stumble into their tents, sometime not too far off from dawn. Remus can faintly hear Peter’s snoring as he drifts off to sleep.
“Good night, Moo-ny,” Sirius moos Remus’ name as he falls into one of the beds.
Remus snorts at that, and similarly collapses into a bed, “Nighty-night.”
It is a great start to a great holiday.
-
A few days pass in the expected Marauderly way: filled with much noise, pranks pulled on one another, and general mucking about. Here they can ignore their troubles for a while: the coming war, marriage proposals, move-in offers.
It seems as if they both have forgotten about it, the kiss and the proposal of living together. All carries on as if it didn’t happen. Sirius is afraid of Remus turning him down; Remus is afraid Sirius has changed his mind. They pretend they don’t notice the furtive glances and awkward moments that arise when the others aren’t around.
They spend a lot time at the lake, getting all prune-y. Sirius has taken to waking up at two in the morning, stripping, and yelling and running through their small campsite like a madman, waking the others to go skinny dipping with him.
James likes to hike through the surrounding woods, but Peter always complains.
Peter most enjoys lazy days spent around the campfire with long meals and clever stories. James’ stories always end up with the hero getting the girl. Sirius’ are very adventurous and thrilling but also rather amusingly dirty. Remus’ are the most complex and always have the best plots. Peter tells rather good stories, too, though, his characters are always more realistic than James’ or Sirius’.
Remus quite likes all of these things: swimming, hiking, and telling stories over a good meal. Perhaps what he enjoys most, though, is putting on a kettle of tea and lighting up some “herb”, just lazing about the campsite under the stars. Just being with his friends in this beautiful setting is plenty to content him, and he cherishes every moment of it.
It’s the sound of summer: grand, content, and adventurous.
--
“Good morning, Marauders!” James calls as he exits his tent one morning, hair an absolute mess and clad in naught but his sleeping shorts.
“’Morning, James,” the others call happily.
“Is that eggs I smell for breakfast?”
“Indeed,” Remus answers.
“And sausage and toast!”
“You’re brilliant, Peter,” James says appreciatively as he sits.
Peter hands him a plate as he adds, “Well, we couldn’t very well trust Sirius with doing up breakfast, could we?”
“No, no! Certainly not!” James laughs heartily around his mouthful of toast.
Sirius looks affronted, “I did try!”
“It’s alight, old chap, we’ve forgiven you,” James gives Sirius a consoling pat to the shoulder.
Peter laughs, “I don’t know if I can forgive eggshells in my omelette as easily as James.”
“Shut it or you can collect your own firewood!”
James just shakes his head with a chuckle, then continues on with the business of the day. “So, Remus, you up for showing us how to fish today?”
“Yeah, of course.”
“That sounds great. I’ll pack up some food to take for lunch,” Peter sets to collecting some things from their charmed food-trunk.
“Brilliant. James, you can clear away breakfast, yeah? Remus and I will load the car.”
James sets off to do so and Remus says to Sirius under his breath, “I’m not sure putting the fishing rods in the boot counts as loading the car.”
“Perhaps not, but I’m not getting stuck with the washing up again.”
Remus laughs, “I’ll help you next time.”
Sirius looks at Remus’ chin and takes hold of it, examining it thoughtfully. “You need a shave mate.”
“Oh I rather like it! Bit o’ stubble is manly, right?” He puffs out his chest.
More laughter. “It isn’t growing evenly! You’ve got a bald spot just there,” he points to a spot on Remus’ jaw line, “And there,” now a spot lower on his neck.
“I don’t!” He exclaims, shocked.
“You do, Remus.”
“Damn.”
“Looks better clean shaven anyhow.”
“Thank you, Padfoot,” he says sarcastically in a high girly voice. “I think I’ll shave just for you,” he bats his eyes at Sirius.
Sirius lets out a genuine cheerful laugh and grabs one of the poles they’ve been packing and jokingly reels in Remus, as if he were a fish. They both double over in laughter.
“Oi!” James calls,” You two poofters ready to be off yet? Peter and I have finished.”
The boys regain their composure. “Yeah, I’ve got the keys.” Remus drives again, and this time James sits up front with him to play The Clash, which he knows Peter dislikes. They drive a few miles around to the far side of the lake where Remus knows the best spot for fishing is. That’s how they spend their day, with Peter and Remus trying, mostly in vain, to explain the point of fishing to the others. James and Sirius quickly tire of it, however, and make good use of the rope swing Remus’ father had charmed into a tree at the fishing spot many years prior. Sometime in the early evening Remus and Peter tire of failing to catch anything, so they each have a few goes on the rope swing before the four boys head back to camp for dinner.
--
Remus is asleep already when Sirius enters the tent that evening. Sirius lay down on his stomach, face on his folded arms and watched the other boy sleep. The two cots were a mere two feet apart and secretly Sirius is thankful that Mr. Potter could only get his hands on these tiny tents, though he and Peter have spent much of the evening cursing their cramped quarters.
Remus’ prone body is a mirror image of Sirius’, laid out on the stomach, facing the other. Sirius admires the perfect curve of Remus’ nose. He smiles inwardly at how he knows Moony despises his nose, which he would say is only anything but perfect. It has the most endearing, perfect little bump where the bridge of Remus’ reading glasses will sit in twenty years’ time. At that moment Sirius wants nothing more than to reach out and gently trail his finger down Moony’s most perfect nose. He doesn’t, of course, and continues to stare longingly at the boy across from him until he eventually fades into sleep.
---
In the middle of night, Remus awakens and finds he cannot fall back to sleep. He heads out of the tent and to the car as the others sleep soundly, though he thinks he can hear James mumbling some nonsense about Lily again. He wants to think. He crawls into the back seat of the car and conjures a pillow. Remus makes himself comfortable and considers his predicament, how hopelessly bent he is for one Sirius Orion Black. He wants to come out to the others but is afraid of how they’ll react. Sure, it’s no “Hey guys, I’m a werewolf,” but it is similarly a secret he’s reluctant to share. Though, he thinks to himself, Sirius did come out all those years ago and the others took it well. But it’s Sirius, was that what made it okay? He thinks about what happened on the bridge, as he does often these days. Did it mean anything? Remus sets his forehead against the glass of the window and gazes at the stars.
Not much later into his ponderings, Sirius appears at the window he’s facing. Sirius opens the door and explains, “I was worried about you, you shouldn’t sneak off in the middle of the night like that. One would think you were having adventures without me.” He sidles into the back seat of the car with Remus and conjures a blanket.
Remus just smiles weakly at his friend and curls up under the blanket alongside Sirius, whose beautiful long, dark hair is gorgeously mussed from sleep. Now seems like a good a time as any, Remus supposes, to tell Sirius.
“… There’s something you should know,” Remus doesn’t look at Sirius, but pretends to be rather interested in the frayed edges of the blanket.
“Yes?” Sirius sounds hopeful; he thinks that maybe Remus has considered his request to move in together.
“Do you remember in fourth year when you told us that you’re gay?”
“… Yes,” he answers with a furrowed brow; he has no idea where this is going.
“Well… I am too.” Remus voice wavers slightly and he is biting into his lower lip now, still not daring to even look up. When Sirius doesn’t respond Remus starts to panic. “I know I should have told you ages ago. It’s just… it’s just I wasn’t sure and then I figured you lot accept me for being a werewolf, but for being a gay werewolf? I just-“
“Remus, shut up.” Remus looks up at that. “Why the bloody hell would I care if you’re gay if I am too?”
“I-“
“Merlin, Remus, really. It’s all right. And the others won’t give a damn either. You should’ve known that. We’re your best mates.” He pats Remus knee consolingly.
“Do you still want me to live with you in London, knowing this?”
“I wouldn’t retract that offer because of your preferences, Moony.”
“Thank you, Sirius.” They are quiet for a while then. Sirius, for his part, is reconsidering everything he thought he knew about Remus and is silently terribly pleased about what it could mean for their future.
“… Does that mean you accept?” Sirius ventures.
“That depends.”
“On?”
“Will there be room for your records and mine?”
Sirius grins back at Remus, “ I’m sure we can work something out.”
Holiday
Author: missgryff
Rating: pg-13? mention of drugs
Summary: The boys go on a camping trip. fluff ensues.
Word count: approx. 3800
23 June 1977
“Things are changing for us, Moony. I’m not sure I like it. “
“Yeah, I know.” Remus stands at Sirius’ side and slides his arm around his friend’s shoulders. They are standing on a bridge on Hogwarts’ grounds. The Leaving Feast was this evening and tomorrow all the students will be headed home, some, like the Marauders and their fellow seventh years, forever. The boys stare off into the landscape and settling sun as dusk falls around them.
“It’s hard to imagine that we won’t be returning here in September.” He’s leaning into Remus now and the fear Sirius doesn’t put to words is betrayed in the touch.
“You’ll be fine, we all will. You’ve got that job lined up with the Aurors, haven’t you?”
“I know I’ll be fine. It’s you I’m worried about.”
Remus chuckles. “I’ll have you know I can take care of myself. My parents have the cellar set up for me, so that’s taken care of, and I figure that I’ll be able to find work in the Muggle world easily enough.”
“But you shouldn’t have to be locked up in a cellar! You need to run free! With Padfoot and Prongs and Wormtail. I could come visit you on nights of the full moon!”
“I don’t expect you or the others to plan your lives around me.”
“But I don’t mind! We became animagi for you, Remus. That doesn’t end at Hogwarts. And sweet Merlin, Moony, you can’t live with your parents for the rest of your life.”
Remus sighs now, lowers his arm and turns away from Sirius. “I know, but they know how to handle me at the moon. I haven’t even got work lined up yet, so it’s not like I can leave.”
“That may not be true. Move in with me, Moony. I’m buying a flat in London and you won’t have to pay the rent or anything.” Remus is quiet. Horrifyingly quiet, Sirius thinks. Remus is standing there opening and closing his mouth stupidly, failing to form a coherent response. Needless to say, he is rather surprised by Sirius’ offer, but he doesn’t feel it right that he wouldn’t be capable of paying a share of the rent. He actually has quite a few thoughts on the matter forming in his head when Sirius speaks again.
“Just… Just think about it, okay?” He turns to walk back towards the castle, nervously wiping his suddenly sweaty palms on his denims, but an impulse stops him and he turns back around. Striding swiftly back to Remus, he grabs his friend, one of his best mates, by the shoulders and neck and kisses him fiercely, shoving his tongue into Remus’ mouth. It is sloppy and passionate and perfectly imperfect for all of about ten seconds before Sirius pulls himself from Remus, each staring intently into eachothers’ eyes until Sirius breaks eye contact and is off and running as fast as he can back to the castle.
Remus stands there staring after Sirius. He has a lot to think about, he decides, and turns back towards the sunset, leaning on the railing of the bridge.
5 July 1977
Sirius,
I’m really starting to worry about you. Why aren’t you responding to any of my letters? Is it about that thing on the bridge?
I’ll have you know that I did not appreciate your ignoring my pointed looks on the train. You cannot claim ignorance either, as I know very well that you know very well precisely what I mean.
Are you seeing someone? When you came out to us in fourth year I didn’t expect you to stay single long, but you’ve never told us about there being anyone. Are you hiding something?
If you don’t wish to talk about it, well, I suppose that’s fine. It was an accident or a fluke or something. Now I’ve acknowledged that will you please respond to my letters?
Remus
Ps: Tell James I say hello. He at least answers my correspondence.
14 July 1977
Remus,
I’m sorry about the lack of reply.
… Regulus has taken the Mark. It’s official, Andromeda told me. Seems dear old mum was boasting about how proud she is of her only son. Fucking hag. It was only a matter of time, I suppose.
But Remus, he’s still my little brother, you know? Don’t tell the others, but I was still half hoping he’d finally listen to me and see the error of his allegiances. I can’t help but remember how things used to be between us, Regulus and I.
I’m trying not to be such a damn girl about it. Appearances to uphold and all that.
How’re you though? I feel awful that you won’t let us to see you at the full on hols. I don’t care if your mother doesn’t know we’re extremely illegal animagi. We make it easier for you, and that’s all that matters. Hope you’re feeling better.
Sirius
Ps: James sends his hellos. The chocolate is from the both of us, though clearly James doesn’t know you at all because he sent the Milk. I, your best mate, send the Dark. You’re welcome.
16 July 1977
Sirius,
I don’t think you understand the point of a postscript. You abuse the power of the PS. Tank you kindly, however, for the chocolate (and especially for remembering the Dark).
Well, now I feel a right arsehole for pestering you and here you’ve been dealing with this terrible news. I’m so sorry, Sirius. I hope it is of some consolation to you that you tried to talk him to the side of the Light. Perhaps one day still he will make amends. After all, if you’ve turned out so great, there must be some good in him somewhere.
I know it isn’t the same, but you’ll always have me and the others.
The full was harder on me without you guys, but then, it always is. I’m all right, I swear, and the chocolate really does make me feel better.
Remus
PS: Tell James thanks for the chocolate and don’t tease him too harshly for the Milk misstep. I don’t discriminate in my chocolate consumption.
21 July 1977
Remus,
Are we going to see each other at all this summer? We’ve yet to make plans! James is demanding some sort of adventure, naturally. He suggests camping. I’m not so sure about the ‘great-outdoors’ business he’s on about, but I’ll give it a shot. What do you think?
Sirius
22 July 1977
Sirius,
I am heading north to visit my Gran in two weeks, just after the full. I think it’d be a lovely idea if you lot would join me. She lives in this quaint little cottage and there’s a lake we can camp near. She says you are welcome to come, and even says she can give us camping things. We haven’t any tents, though, so ask Mr. Potter if they’ve any. Pass it along to Peter and James, all right?
Remus
23 July 1977
Remus,
We all have agreed that your plan sounds ace. When shall we meet you?
24 July 1977
Sirius,
Floo in to Gran’s place on the second. I look forward to seeing you lot!
8 August 1977
Sirius is the first to step out of the fireplace at Granny Lupin’s cottage, closely followed by James and Peter.
“You sodding bastards,” Remus greets them with a chuckle in his voice.
“Good to see you too, Moony,” James replies cheerily. The others have turned up wearing corduroy pants, button up shirts, vests, and funny hats. It is clearly some half-formed prank on Remus; they know Granny Lupin and her old-fashioned ways.
“I heard that Remus!” all-knowing Gran calls from the kitchen. Greetings and hellos continue as they all settle and dust off the excess floo powder from their clothes. Remus catches Sirius’ eye and there’s a quiet awkward moment between them that the others don’t notice before they’re interrupted by Gran’s voice.
“I have tea and cake in here, boys!”
“Brilliant,” Peter exclaims happily.
Sirius agrees, “I love your Gran.”
“These are for you,” with a smile James hands Remus a pile of clothes. They are a set similar to that the others arrived in.
“Hah. Right,” Remus grins crookedly in appreciation of the others’ antics. The four seat themselves around Mrs. Lupin’s kitchen table.
“Here you are, boys. Good to see you all,” she sets a plate in front of each boy. “How is your mother, James?”
“She is very well, thank you.”
“Send my regards.”
“Your cake is delicious Mrs. Lupin,” Peter offers appreciatively.
“Thank you, dear.”
After they’ve had their fill of coffee cake and tea, James is quick to inquire after the camping supplies. Remus leads the others out the back door of the cottage and toward the shed. “Yeah, so the stuff is outside. Gran and I have charmed this trunk and it’ll provide us some basic food for as long as we like.”
“Brilliant,” Peter grins.
“I’ve also found some fishing rods in the garage just over there. I have no clue how Gran accumulated so much Muggle recreation equipment, but there you are. There’s also a real Muggle camera in a trunk here somewhere, and some folding chairs for around the fire.”
“We could’ve just transfigured some, mate,” James says. He’s not used to Muggle things, clearly.
“Well we’re taking the car out to the lake, I figured this would be nice.”
“There’s a car?!” James and Sirius are terribly excited by this. The pureblood boys have never in their lives ridden in one of the Muggle contraptions.
“Well yes. I wasn’t going to apparate with all of this stuff.” Remus enters the garage and shows his friends the car. It is out dated for sure, but it’s a classic and runs like new.
“Your Gran is a legend, mate.” Peter looks on in open-mouthed awe at the car. His father is a half-blood and instilled in him at an early age an appreciation for classic automobiles, something which is completely lost on James and Sirius.
“Anyway, the tent situation,” James pulls out two diminuendo’d tents from his vest pocket.” Dad’s gotten these from some ministry crony or something daft like that. Says they’re a bit on the “cozy” side, whatever the hell that means. Two, though, so that’s ace. “
“Awesome,” Sirius puts in, “I’m claiming Remus.”
“Claiming?” Remus asks challengingly.
“Well, yeah,” Sirius says as if it doesn’t need explaining. “Peter snores, sorry mate.”
“What about me, you great ponce?” James is mockingly affronted. “‘Best mate’, ‘like a brother’, really?” He does a horrible falsetto impression of Sirius’ voice and then makes to tackle his friend.
“You mumble about Lily in your sleep!” Sirius says from under James’ crushing knees.
“Do not!”
“Well you do, James,” Remus puts in, watching his friends amusedly.
Peter thoughtfully adds, “Quite pathetic really.”
“We undertook desperate measures once and cast a silencio round your curtains!” Sirius is now trying to shove James off of him.
“Lies!” James has gotten the better of Sirius, but Peter steps in to help Sirius up.
Sirius fixes his mussed hair as he says, “Least you won’t be able to trouble Pete too much over the freight train in his face. No offence, mate.”
“None taken.”
“That settles that then,” Remus says with a quick glance to Sirius, who doesn’t meet his eye.
---
The next morning the boys don their vests and funny hats and pack up the car. It’s a thirty-five minute drive out to the lake where they’ll be setting up camp for the next few weeks. From the back seat James and Sirius complain and yelp like children when Peter puts on an America album. Peter starts singing along to Tin Man and swats at their attempts to change it in favor of Led Zeppelin or Bowie. Sirius protests louder as Peter’s singing gets louder. Remus turns up the dial and drums along to the beat on the steering wheel. It is a lovely trip.
When they arrive, James sets up the two tents, one on each side of what will be the fire pit. Padfoot goes out to collect firewood, which undoubtedly means chasing squirrels. The others set out the folding chairs and start a fire to put the kettle on. In the middle of such setting-up-camp mayhem, Sirius discovers the Muggle camera in one of the trunks.
“Oi! Get over here you lot! Picture time!”
James rushes over; he’s intrigued by the idea of still-image photos. Remus and Peter are slower to stand where Sirius places them, but then demands Remus’ help in operating the confusing machine. As Remus arranges the camera on a timer, Sirius rushes back into the frame. When the timer clicks Sirius has jumped into the car as Padfoot, Peter is standing with one hand his hip, James is leaning against the car with one leg up on one of the folding chairs, and Remus has run in to stand beside James.
--
It is a calm evening as the boys muck about and fill each other in on the happenings of their lives in the month since they’ve seen one another. There are levitating marshmallows over the fire, loud, out of tune singing, and plenty of firewhiskey. Soon after sunset, Remus pulls out a spliff from his trunk. Mr. Lupin is one mischievous man, Remus thinks. Remus’ mother would certainly not approve of her husband providing her son and his best mates with illegal substances.
Eventually the Marauders stumble into their tents, sometime not too far off from dawn. Remus can faintly hear Peter’s snoring as he drifts off to sleep.
“Good night, Moo-ny,” Sirius moos Remus’ name as he falls into one of the beds.
Remus snorts at that, and similarly collapses into a bed, “Nighty-night.”
It is a great start to a great holiday.
-
A few days pass in the expected Marauderly way: filled with much noise, pranks pulled on one another, and general mucking about. Here they can ignore their troubles for a while: the coming war, marriage proposals, move-in offers.
It seems as if they both have forgotten about it, the kiss and the proposal of living together. All carries on as if it didn’t happen. Sirius is afraid of Remus turning him down; Remus is afraid Sirius has changed his mind. They pretend they don’t notice the furtive glances and awkward moments that arise when the others aren’t around.
They spend a lot time at the lake, getting all prune-y. Sirius has taken to waking up at two in the morning, stripping, and yelling and running through their small campsite like a madman, waking the others to go skinny dipping with him.
James likes to hike through the surrounding woods, but Peter always complains.
Peter most enjoys lazy days spent around the campfire with long meals and clever stories. James’ stories always end up with the hero getting the girl. Sirius’ are very adventurous and thrilling but also rather amusingly dirty. Remus’ are the most complex and always have the best plots. Peter tells rather good stories, too, though, his characters are always more realistic than James’ or Sirius’.
Remus quite likes all of these things: swimming, hiking, and telling stories over a good meal. Perhaps what he enjoys most, though, is putting on a kettle of tea and lighting up some “herb”, just lazing about the campsite under the stars. Just being with his friends in this beautiful setting is plenty to content him, and he cherishes every moment of it.
It’s the sound of summer: grand, content, and adventurous.
--
“Good morning, Marauders!” James calls as he exits his tent one morning, hair an absolute mess and clad in naught but his sleeping shorts.
“’Morning, James,” the others call happily.
“Is that eggs I smell for breakfast?”
“Indeed,” Remus answers.
“And sausage and toast!”
“You’re brilliant, Peter,” James says appreciatively as he sits.
Peter hands him a plate as he adds, “Well, we couldn’t very well trust Sirius with doing up breakfast, could we?”
“No, no! Certainly not!” James laughs heartily around his mouthful of toast.
Sirius looks affronted, “I did try!”
“It’s alight, old chap, we’ve forgiven you,” James gives Sirius a consoling pat to the shoulder.
Peter laughs, “I don’t know if I can forgive eggshells in my omelette as easily as James.”
“Shut it or you can collect your own firewood!”
James just shakes his head with a chuckle, then continues on with the business of the day. “So, Remus, you up for showing us how to fish today?”
“Yeah, of course.”
“That sounds great. I’ll pack up some food to take for lunch,” Peter sets to collecting some things from their charmed food-trunk.
“Brilliant. James, you can clear away breakfast, yeah? Remus and I will load the car.”
James sets off to do so and Remus says to Sirius under his breath, “I’m not sure putting the fishing rods in the boot counts as loading the car.”
“Perhaps not, but I’m not getting stuck with the washing up again.”
Remus laughs, “I’ll help you next time.”
Sirius looks at Remus’ chin and takes hold of it, examining it thoughtfully. “You need a shave mate.”
“Oh I rather like it! Bit o’ stubble is manly, right?” He puffs out his chest.
More laughter. “It isn’t growing evenly! You’ve got a bald spot just there,” he points to a spot on Remus’ jaw line, “And there,” now a spot lower on his neck.
“I don’t!” He exclaims, shocked.
“You do, Remus.”
“Damn.”
“Looks better clean shaven anyhow.”
“Thank you, Padfoot,” he says sarcastically in a high girly voice. “I think I’ll shave just for you,” he bats his eyes at Sirius.
Sirius lets out a genuine cheerful laugh and grabs one of the poles they’ve been packing and jokingly reels in Remus, as if he were a fish. They both double over in laughter.
“Oi!” James calls,” You two poofters ready to be off yet? Peter and I have finished.”
The boys regain their composure. “Yeah, I’ve got the keys.” Remus drives again, and this time James sits up front with him to play The Clash, which he knows Peter dislikes. They drive a few miles around to the far side of the lake where Remus knows the best spot for fishing is. That’s how they spend their day, with Peter and Remus trying, mostly in vain, to explain the point of fishing to the others. James and Sirius quickly tire of it, however, and make good use of the rope swing Remus’ father had charmed into a tree at the fishing spot many years prior. Sometime in the early evening Remus and Peter tire of failing to catch anything, so they each have a few goes on the rope swing before the four boys head back to camp for dinner.
--
Remus is asleep already when Sirius enters the tent that evening. Sirius lay down on his stomach, face on his folded arms and watched the other boy sleep. The two cots were a mere two feet apart and secretly Sirius is thankful that Mr. Potter could only get his hands on these tiny tents, though he and Peter have spent much of the evening cursing their cramped quarters.
Remus’ prone body is a mirror image of Sirius’, laid out on the stomach, facing the other. Sirius admires the perfect curve of Remus’ nose. He smiles inwardly at how he knows Moony despises his nose, which he would say is only anything but perfect. It has the most endearing, perfect little bump where the bridge of Remus’ reading glasses will sit in twenty years’ time. At that moment Sirius wants nothing more than to reach out and gently trail his finger down Moony’s most perfect nose. He doesn’t, of course, and continues to stare longingly at the boy across from him until he eventually fades into sleep.
---
In the middle of night, Remus awakens and finds he cannot fall back to sleep. He heads out of the tent and to the car as the others sleep soundly, though he thinks he can hear James mumbling some nonsense about Lily again. He wants to think. He crawls into the back seat of the car and conjures a pillow. Remus makes himself comfortable and considers his predicament, how hopelessly bent he is for one Sirius Orion Black. He wants to come out to the others but is afraid of how they’ll react. Sure, it’s no “Hey guys, I’m a werewolf,” but it is similarly a secret he’s reluctant to share. Though, he thinks to himself, Sirius did come out all those years ago and the others took it well. But it’s Sirius, was that what made it okay? He thinks about what happened on the bridge, as he does often these days. Did it mean anything? Remus sets his forehead against the glass of the window and gazes at the stars.
Not much later into his ponderings, Sirius appears at the window he’s facing. Sirius opens the door and explains, “I was worried about you, you shouldn’t sneak off in the middle of the night like that. One would think you were having adventures without me.” He sidles into the back seat of the car with Remus and conjures a blanket.
Remus just smiles weakly at his friend and curls up under the blanket alongside Sirius, whose beautiful long, dark hair is gorgeously mussed from sleep. Now seems like a good a time as any, Remus supposes, to tell Sirius.
“… There’s something you should know,” Remus doesn’t look at Sirius, but pretends to be rather interested in the frayed edges of the blanket.
“Yes?” Sirius sounds hopeful; he thinks that maybe Remus has considered his request to move in together.
“Do you remember in fourth year when you told us that you’re gay?”
“… Yes,” he answers with a furrowed brow; he has no idea where this is going.
“Well… I am too.” Remus voice wavers slightly and he is biting into his lower lip now, still not daring to even look up. When Sirius doesn’t respond Remus starts to panic. “I know I should have told you ages ago. It’s just… it’s just I wasn’t sure and then I figured you lot accept me for being a werewolf, but for being a gay werewolf? I just-“
“Remus, shut up.” Remus looks up at that. “Why the bloody hell would I care if you’re gay if I am too?”
“I-“
“Merlin, Remus, really. It’s all right. And the others won’t give a damn either. You should’ve known that. We’re your best mates.” He pats Remus knee consolingly.
“Do you still want me to live with you in London, knowing this?”
“I wouldn’t retract that offer because of your preferences, Moony.”
“Thank you, Sirius.” They are quiet for a while then. Sirius, for his part, is reconsidering everything he thought he knew about Remus and is silently terribly pleased about what it could mean for their future.
“… Does that mean you accept?” Sirius ventures.
“That depends.”
“On?”
“Will there be room for your records and mine?”
Sirius grins back at Remus, “ I’m sure we can work something out.”