#sirius and remus raise harry | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

ashhleysolo7 · 8 months

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A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

I originally posted this to my ao3 account, but I thought I'd share it on tumblr, too :) let me know what you think!

Summary:

How one magical portrait of James Potter helps Sirius Black and Remus Lupin admit their undying love for each other.

In other words, James' portrait is fed up with Sirius and Remus tip-toeing around each other and decides to take matters into his own hands.

Notes: James and Lily, unfortunately, do not make it, Sirius does not go to Azkaban, Sirius and Remus raise Harry, Voldemort is actually gone, and Regulus is good bc I love him I don't make the rules

sirius x remus | 9k | idiots in love

🌙✨

The months after Halloween are difficult, to say the least.

While what seems like the entirety of the Wizarding World is celebrating, Sirius Black is grieving the devastating loss of his two best mates. He’s also grappling with the fact that someone he once considered a friend was a traitorous, spineless murderer and adapting to a life where he is responsible for someone other than himself. Someone who happens to be his godson and a baby currently under the age of two.

When the truth reveals that Peter sold James and Lily to Voldemort, and the Ministry finally sentences Wormtail to a lifetime in Azkaban, Sirius takes Harry to Potter Manor. He moves out of the small flat he shared with Remus, though in those final months leading up to Halloween, it was as if Sirius lived there on his own, and scrounges for any items from Godric’s Hollow he could bring back with him to James’ childhood home.

Miraculously, a ridiculous portrait of James, Lily, and baby Harry survives the wreckage and Sirius is suddenly quite thankful for the item he once thought was one of the dumbest ideas his knobhead of a best mate ever came up with.

“It’s a perfect Christmas present for Lily!” Prongs had argued with the utmost conviction he had about most of his hair-brained ideas.

“You can do whatever you like, mate, but I’m telling you, Lily will hate it.”

Sirius doesn’t like to admit when he’s wrong, and he’d bet he wasn’t entirely incorrect this time because Lily certainly hadn’t seemed over the moon about the magical portrait of her family. But the years had softened her as she only looked at it with a bemused smirk before giving James a placating kiss on the cheek.

But now, Sirius has at least one way to communicate with the couple, no matter if it is just a shell of their former selves. It significantly dulls the pain, taking Harry to the portrait every morning to say hi to mummy and daddy. He can still engage in brief banter with Prongs like they’re still roommates back at school, and it’s especially delightful to overhear Lily calling James a toerag from out in the hallway while Sirius cooks in the kitchen.

It feels, for a moment, like nothing has changed.

That is until Sirius remembers he will never speak to James or Lily again. He’ll never come crashing through the Floo, yelling about whatever failed date he’d just been on, never fall asleep at the foot of their bed as Padfoot after one too many firewhiskies with Lily yelling for him to get out, and never waltz into the kitchen after a long mission away with the Order and steal Harry out of her arms, causing giggles to pour out of all three Potters as he tosses Harry gently in the air.

But Sirius can’t focus on those morose thoughts. Instead, he puts all his energy into helping Harry settle in as they adjust to their new normal.

So Sirius spends the days watching Harry perfect his mischievous toddler ways: climbing over furniture and throwing food into Sirius’ hair, followed by loud giggles at Sirius’ affronted cries. And Sirius continues to be utterly amazed as Harry learns new word after new word, new skill after new skill. He swears the lad grows another centimetre each night.

And he spends his evenings pouring over parenting books and flooing Remus, meticulously reviewing his day and voicing his concerns that he’s absolutely failing as a godfather until Remus can convince him that he’s making the right decisions.

Thankfully, Remus never minds giving Sirius the constant reassurance he desires. He reminds Sirius that, ‘No, just because Harry cried that does notmean he hates you, Pads.’

Now that the war is over, the two Marauders are around much more often. Neither of them has to travel for missions nor to spy for Dumbledore anymore, meaning that besides Remus’ part-time job at Flourish and Blotts, his schedule is wide open.

Remus tells Sirius over and over that he absolutely in no way minds the late-night chats or the invitations for drinks after Harry’s settled for the evening. They’re mates, best mates, and that’s what they’re for.

One of the first times Sirius reaches out to Remus with what he considers a huge favour, it’s a request to babysit for the night.

In the six months since James and Lily passed, Sirius hasn’t really made time for himself. Remus was surprised to see Sirius take Harry’s care so, for lack of a better word, seriously. Not that he expected Sirius to be a subpar caretaker, but the way he took to fatherhood was inspiring.

He puts so much thought and concern into how he’s raising Harry. He refuses to order takeaway or feed Harry anything but homecooked meals, except for the rare occasions Remus convinces him to bring Harry along to grab pizza or chips and a curry while reassuring Sirius that Harry’s not going to look at him any differently for having one beer with dinner. Still, even then, Sirius would bring food for Harry, insisting that whatever the restaurant was serving couldn’t possibly be good enough for his godson.

But when a nice lad asks Sirius to drinks down at the pub one afternoon while on a stroll in the park with Harry, Sirius decides it’s time. So he sends a quick note to Remus, asking if he’d be free the following evening to watch the prongslet overnight.

About five minutes before Remus is supposed to arrive, Sirius picks Harry up from where he’s flipping through some books in the sitting room and tells him, “Just a few more minutes and Uncle Moony will be here! And I’ll see you again, bright and early, because Pads here has a date!”

Harry lets out a chorus of giggles as Sirius bounces him on his hip until his father decides to make an appearance.

“A date?” Sirius hears Prongs call out from down the hall.

Every time the portrait suddenly speaks, Sirius’ heartbeat kicks into overdrive, and for a split-second, he thinks his best mate has returned. But then his commonsense reappears, and he remembers it’s that blasted painting he has somehow grown to cherish.

Sirius walks over to the portrait, letting Harry reach out and rub his tiny fingers along the enchanted oil figures of his parents.

“Yes, Prongs. You’re always telling me I should settle down, so I’m going on a date.”

“And who might I ask will be watching Harry?” The way Prongs’ eyebrow raises above his round glasses is uncanny, and Sirius severely underestimated how much time James had spent with the portrait before his death.

“Didn’t you hear me, mate? Moony’s coming round.”

Sirius doesn’t have time to decipher James’ confused stare because at that moment, a knock sounds out at the front door, and Sirius is back off to the entrance hall to let Remus in.

“There he is! Moony’s here, Harry!”

Still unable to fully say ‘Moony,’ Harry instead calls out, “Moon! Moon!” to Sirius’ utter delight.

“Moony! Thanks again for watching him, mate!” Sirius genially greets as he swings the door open and sees Remus’ lovely dark eyes grinning back at him.

Remus pats Sirius on the back as he enters the home but doesn’t waste any time before he steals Harry out of Sirius’ arms, causing little Harry to erupt into squeals of excitement.

“No problem, Pads. I told you, anytime you need me, all you have to do is ask.”

While he lets Remus and Harry get acquainted, Sirius grabs his leather jacket and shrugs it on, ensuring he has both his wand and some muggle pounds.

After relaying the details of Harry’s nightly routine for the umpteenth time and avoiding Remus practically pushing him out the front door of Potter Manor, Sirius finally says goodbye, giving both Harry and Remus quick kisses on the cheek.

But as the door swings shut behind him, he hears James’ voice once again.

“You’re an idiot, mate.”

Deciding he’ll never get to his date on time if he sticks around to find out what the hell the portrait is talking about, he leaves through the front gate, heading off down the pavement towards the pub.

But instead of returning the following morning in rumpled clothes from the night before with finger-tousled, ‘I’ve just had the life shagged out of me,’ hair as he had hoped, Sirius walks back up the cobblestone path to the front entrance of James’ home - no, his and Harry’s home, now - just a few short hours later.

Sirius could have gone home with his date, but as they hovered by the pub’s entrance, the question of whether Sirius would like a nightcap back at his flat hanging unanswered in the late night air, something whispered that he should get back home to Harry and Moony.

The evening was fine, and it wasn’t like the lad was horrible or terribly boring. They got along well enough, bonding over footy and Muggle music that Sirius has grown fond of over the years. It just wasn’t right. He was missing that spark that Sirius always swears he’s looking for. Someone who can keep up with his banter, who challenges him, who doesn’t let him get away with his overdramatic tendencies.

When he stumbles through the door a little after midnight, dropping his keys in the bowl and watching as his leather jacket tumbles to the ground instead of hanging on the coat rack as he hoped, he’s happy to find the home is quiet, Harry obviously fast asleep for hours now, and a warm glow from a lamp still on in the front sitting room spilling out into the entryway.

Remus looks up from where he’s buried his nose in his book. Uncurling himself from the edge of the settee, he sits up straight, placing his feet back on the soft carpet and making room for Sirius as the slightly tipsy marauder meanders over, a melancholy look on his face.

“Hey, Moony,” Sirius says tiredly, plopping beside Remus. He rests his head back on the top of the cushion, staring at the ceiling with his limbs hanging limply around him as he blows a stray curl off his face.

“Date end badly?” Remus asks, peering over at Sirius’ slumped figure. He waves his wand at a nearby bottle of firewhiskey, pouring Sirius a glass and topping off his own.

“No, it was alright. Just not the one.”

“You’re never gonna find the one if you keep writing them off after one date,” Remus jokes, sliding the drink into Sirius’ hands.

“Oi,” Sirius points sternly, pushing himself until he’s sitting up straight. “I can’t help that I can tell after a couple of hours that it’s just not going to work out. Besides, you should be happy that your best mate isn’t settling.”

“You refused to go on a second date with Emmaline because she was scared of flying!”

Sirius scoffs, rolling his eyes at the memory. “Honestly, who’s scared of flying? That’s ridiculous. Obviously, it never would have worked. And we were fifteen. That hardly counts.”

“Sure,” Remus laughs, his eyes glinting in amusement from where he’s gazing at Sirius in amusement over his glass of Ogden’s.

“Well, what about you?”

“What about me?”

“When’s the last time you’ve been out with a lad?”

Remus avoids eye contact with Sirius, studiously appraising the hues of amber and gold swirling around the crystal container. “I’ve told you, Sirius, I can’t be in a relationship with my-”

“Merlin, you’re not still on about that, are you mate? The war’s over, you’re in your prime, and you’re Moony. Any man would be lucky to have you, ya git.”

Remus tries to hold back his laugh, but a chuckle breaks through despite his best efforts.

“Cheers,” Remus replies. “Anyway, I’m too busy to date at the moment. Have to make sure you and Harry stay out of trouble, don’t I?”

Remus quickly downs the rest of his glass at the wink Sirius sends him, and the two continue to catch up, eventually falling asleep together on the settee.

In the morning, Sirius blinks his heavy eyelids open to find his face smushed into Remus’ chest. Inhaling the comforting scent of chocolate and cigarette smoke he’s grown accustomed over the years to hanging around Moony like a delightful little cloud, he pushes himself onto his feet, stretching and cracking his back after an uncomfortable few hours sleeping on the sofa.

After freshening up, he grabs Harry, getting the boy ready for the day before heading to the kitchen and finding Moony awake, downing a quick cup of tea.

“Hey, want to grab breakfast out with us?” Sirius asks, picking up the mug Remus has left out for him, with the perfect amount of milk and sugar.

“Can’t. I have to open the shop this morning. I’ve picked up a few extra shifts this week. The rent’s gone up again.” Placing his dirty mug in the sink, he waves his wand, watching as the cup cleans itself before floating back to its spot in the cupboard.

“Moony,” Sirius sighs in exasperation. “I told you I’d help with the rent if you need it. You don’t need to pick up extra shifts, mate.”

“And I told you, I can handle it. I like working there. It’s not a hardship, Pads.”

Remus pushes past Sirius to head down the hall, ignoring the raised eyebrow he receives from James’ portrait as he enters the sitting room to grab his things.

“But you wouldn’t have to pay the rent alone if I hadn’t moved out. At least let me continue to pay for my share.”

“Sirius, drop it. We’ve talked about this a million times. I’m not going to accept your money.” Sliding his wand into the back pocket of his trousers and running a hand through his mousy waves, he turns back to Sirius, shoulders slumping as he lets out a deep breath. “I appreciate you wanting to help, Padfoot, but you don’t have to worry about me. Have fun at breakfast, alright?”

Placing a kiss upon Harry’s forehead, Remus raises his hand in a short wave before striding over to the fireplace, calling out his flat’s address.

“Your Uncle Moony is stubborn, Harry. He’s stubborn!”

After the green flames die down, it doesn’t take long for James to mutter to Lily, “I don’t know how much longer I can go without saying something.”

“You’ve never held your tongue once in your life, mate,” Sirius calls out, wondering what he’s done now that he’ll have to hear about.

Just last week, the portrait version of his friend had moaned for hours about the stuffed toy snake Harry had taken to carrying around. Sirius would be impressed with the painting if it wasn’t driving him mad.

“What’s happened to his lion teddy?!” James had cried, affronted as Harry waddled over to the portrait, raising his new prize to show it off to his parents.

“Don’t look at me like that, mate. You didn’t see his face at the zoo museum. The boy was about to burst into tears if he couldn’t leave with it, and Regulus was all too happy to buy it for him.”

“If Harry ends up in Slytherin -” James starts to threaten, but Lily quickly interrupts.

“Then we’ll be equally proud of him, right James?” Her painted figure turns toward her husband, glaring at him as hard as she ever did during their seven years of schooling. Sirius swears he sees James’ figure gulp before nodding quickly. Lily directs her attention back to the baby in her frame, her unamused frown morphing into a soft grin as she watches her son wave out to his doppelganger on the other side. “That was very nice of Regulus, wasn’t it, Harry?”

“Reg!” Harry calls, making a soft hissing noise as he moves his toy snake around before waddling down the hallway with Sirius trailing after him.

“I take offence to that,” James replies to Sirius, obviously put out that Padfoot would call him out like that.

“Just telling it like it is, Prongs. Now out with it, mate. What is it you wanted to say?”

Lily gives her husband a warning look, and Sirius watches as James’ eyes dart back and forth between his wife and his self-proclaimed brother before blurting, “Why haven’t you just asked Moony to come and live here already?!”

“Oh. Didn’t think of that.”

“Idiots. The both of them, I swear,” James sighs to Lily, rolling his eyes before dropping his face into his hands. “I should’ve been given an Order of Merlin for dealing with them.”

Lily rubs her husband’s back soothingly, giving Sirius a commiserating smile as if she’s holding back laughter at the pair of them.

“Oi, shut it. You know how Moony is. He’s too prideful for his own good.”

Lily and James shoot Sirius identical looks he takes as them saying, “Really?” and he swears James mutters under his breath, “Cauldron, kettle,” to which he waves them off.

“You know what I mean. You saw how he reacted when I offered to help with the rent. He hates feeling like a charity case and refuses to accept money, let alone ask for help, the git,” Sirius sighs fondly, wishing Remus would just realise it’s not a weakness to accept help from his mates.

It took Sirius himself far too long to come to that realisation, but Prongs and Moony helped him see that. Now, if only Remus would take his own bloody advice.

“He’s gonna come up with some bullshit like, ‘I don’t want to be an imposition, Pads.’”

“Sirius, I’m sure Remus is doing okay. And if he was truly struggling, he would come to you for help.” At James’ imploring gaze, Lily continues, “But… if you really want him to move in, maybe you could explain that an extra set of hands around the house with Harry would be a huge help.”

“That would be nice,” Sirius agrees. “And I’ve missed having a roommate that’s not a child under the age of two…”

“What are we then?!”

“Honey,” Lily sighs, patting her husband on the arm placatingly while rolling her eyes goodnaturedly at Sirius. “But really, is living with a baby all that different than living with James in Gryffindor Tower?”

“Oi! And from my own wife!” James rolls back against the frame as if he’s been stabbed, to the utter delight of the baby Harry at their feet.

“Yeah, alright. I’ll talk to him. Thanks, Potters.”

Sirius stares appraisingly at the painted figures of his best friends, cherishing James’ excited and hopeful expression compared with Lily’s patient and loving demeanour. Merlin, he really wishes they were still here.

The next time Remus stops by, Sirius has his argument all planned out.

He cooks a delicious dinner for them and Harry, setting the Potter’s dining table and even going as far as buying Moony’s favourite bottle of elf-made wine.

Remus eyes the rarely used table with suspicion but Sirius insists they stop living like heathens, eating standing up in the kitchen or with plates in their laps on the settee, and actually use the table for once.

The only problem is, by the time Harry’s bathed and in bed, Sirius is pleasantly buzzed on wine, the spring breeze blowing in through the open windows, and Remus’ laughter, and he can’t exactly remember all the finer points he’d mapped out in his mind earlier.

All he can focus on now is how much he wants this all the time. He and Remus together, taking care of Harry, making jokes and reminiscing about their school days over a couple of drinks.

“Moooooony,” Sirius draws out, plopping down onto the settee next to Remus and throwing his legs over Remus’ lap as he places a second bottle of wine on the coffee table.

“Yes, Padfoot?” Remus replies, quirking an eyebrow at his mate while unable to help the upward quirk of his lips at Sirius’ whinging.

“I have a proposition for you.”

“Oh?”

“Move in with us.”

Remus chokes on his drink, and a little droplet of red liquid appears at the corner of his mouth. Sirius leans forward, resting his chest against Remus’ shoulder and brushing his thumb along the spilt wine before placing said thumb in his mouth, sucking off all traces of the juice from his finger.

“Wh-what?” Remus blinks at Sirius, eyes flickering down to where his thumb has disappeared between his wine-stained lips.

“Come on, Moons. It just makes sense. We have plenty of room here! And it’s not like you’re not here all the time anyway.”

“I’m not here all the ti-”

Remus’ cheeks are slightly pink, but Sirius doesn’t notice as he ploughs on.

“And, I mean, if all of this hadn’t happened,” He continues, waving his arm around them to encompass all the shite they’ve been through in the past year, “Then we would still be living together, yeah?

“I mean… I guess that’s true.”

“I could really use the help with Harry, honestly. He’d love it if you were here more. And we worked well together as roommates, didn’t we, Moony?” Sirius pouts, leaning closer to Remus again, hoping his puppy dog eyes will seal the deal.

Rolling his eyes, Remus turns rigid, refusing to look at Sirius and instead staring straight ahead at the soft flames sparking in the grate before gritting his teeth and giving a quick, firm nod.

“Yes! So it’s settled. Tomorrow we’ll start moving your stuff out of the flat and into the spare bedroom.”

“I didn’t agree, Pads. I was just-”

“Nonsense, Moony. I told you, it just makes sense. You already stay there enough anyway! It’s yours! You’re off tomorrow, right?”

Nodding, Remus sighs in defeat.

“Fine, but I will be helping with groceries and Harry’s care,” Remus sternly tells Sirius, pointing at his chest in warning.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way, Moony!” Sirius smiles, raising his glass in cheers and momentarily thinking that was easier than he thought it’d be.

🌙✨

Sirius knows like it should have felt like a bigger adjustment once Moony moves in, but it genuinely feels as if he’s always been there.

They take turns with Harry, ensuring he’s staying on his schedule, and it’s as natural as if they’ve been doing it all along. Remus cuts back on his shifts at Flourish and Blotts, spending more days out and about with Sirius and Harry, and Sirius is finally feeling a sense of calm take over - like maybe he really has gotten the hang of this whole parenting thing.

Though it all seems to be going swimmingly, it doesn’t take long for Remus to notice something’s up with the portrait of James, Lily, and Harry from Godric’s Hollow.

The first clue arrives a week into Remus living at Potter Manor.

Sirius wakes early that morning, allowing Remus to have a much-needed lie-in. The next full moon is approaching, and though Sirius has greatly appreciated the break Remus has given him from being a full-time parent, he knows Remus is exhausted from the extra time spent taking care of Harry and all his recent early morning shifts opening the bookstore.

Once Sirius has fed Harry his breakfast and given him a quick change, he places the boy with a few books and toys in the sitting room before heading into the kitchen to make himself a cup of tea.

He vaguely registers the shower going and hopes he wasn’t too loud with Harry’s morning routine, but he sets about pulling out an extra cup for Remus, along with cream and sugar and the makings for a full English.

Just as the kettle whistles, a high-pitch scream follows it from out in the hallway.

“Harry! Harry, oh no! Quick, Padfoot! Moony! Help!” James yells from inside his portrait, causing Sirius to drop his mug, porcelain shattering as he sprints into the hallway.

He surges past the painting, forgoing the desire to ask his mate what’s going on and instead running into the sitting room, wondering what trouble the toddler could have gotten into in the brief moments since he’d left him.

A wave of guilt crashed over him; he knew he should have stayed with Harry until Remus got up. But all the safety charms and alarm spells he’d cast around the home should have alerted him if something was wrong.

Rushing over to the boy, Sirius lifts him, looking him over and trying to determine where he was hurt.

“Are you alright, Harry? What happened?” He asks in a panic, directing the second question over to Prongs.

Harry peers up at him, obviously startled by the commotion but looking, for the most part, unharmed.

“Sorry, Padfoot. It looked like he was walking over to the fireplace. I was just afraid he was getting too close. I didn’t mean to frighten you. I just got panicked.”

Sighing in relief, he hugs Harry close, kissing the top of his head.

Suddenly, Sirius registers the bathroom door opening, hitting the wall in its rush, and then Moony bursts into the room.

“What happened?! Is Harry alright?”

Remus stands in the doorway, chest heaving in a mixture of fear and exertion from rushing out of the shower to ensure everyone was safe, and Sirius can’t help but gape at the towel slung low around his hips.

Droplets of water drip down his scarred chest, along the toned muscles and sparse bits of hair, leading below the edge of the fluffy, white towel. The few years since their shared dorm days at Hogwarts had done Remus well. He was no longer the tall, gangly kid Sirius remembers sharing a room with.

When did Moony get so fit?!

Realising this is Remus he’s ogling, Sirius’ eyes snap back to his face, which really isn’t all that much better. Remus’ mouth is open wide, taking deep gulps of air to calm his racing heart, and Sirius briefly wonders if his lips have always looked so kissable.

His wet hair is pushed back as if he was in the middle of rinsing out his shampoo, giving Sirius a clear view of his wide eyes, his pupils dilated from the obvious fear that something had happened to poor Harry. And his cheeks are a delightful shade of pink, and Sirius finds he wants to trace the droplet racing down the side of his face with his lips before latching on to the spot along his neck he’s sure will make Remus -

Merlin, where did this come from?

He’s never thought about Moony like this before.

Well, that’s not exactly true.

Remus was what Sirius would consider his gay awakening, not that Remus himself knows that, but he knew he was into lads, as well as birds, when Remus came back their fourth year, towering above the rest of them, his broad chest stretching out those adorable jumpers he wore. Sirius, along with the rest of Gryffindor house, moved Remus right up to the top of the ‘fittest blokes in their year’ list.

But Sirius knew he needed to move on from that crush quickly.

It never ended well to fancy one of your best mates, and Remus had made it quite clear over the years that he did not fancy Sirius. Remus didn’t date much, but the few blokes he had gone out with over the years were so far from anything like Sirius that it was almost comical.

No, their relationship was strictly platonic.

And Sirius was fine with that. He had thought that the feelings had gone away. He hadn’t thought about Moony like that in years, especially with the war bearing down on them. But seeing him now, like this? Maybe the feelings had just been buried deep down?

Or… maybe I just need a shag.

“Sorry, Moony,” A beaming James apologises from his perch on the wall behind them. “False alarm.”

“Prongs,” Sirius admonishes. “You know enchantments are barring Harry from just waltzing into the flames.”

“I know, I wasn’t thinking. Just got scared.”

Remus glares back at the painting, but Prongs just shrugs sheepishly, obviously unfazed.

“Honest mistake, mate.”

Rolling his eyes, Remus directs his attention back to Sirius and Harry.

“You alright, Padfoot?”

“Huh?” Sirius asks, shaking his head and tearing his eyes away from an enticing droplet that trails its way along Moony’s collarbone to meet his gaze.

“You just still seem a little out of it,” Remus says, obviously concerned for his best mate. “Are you sure you’re alright?”

“Yeah, sorry!” Sirius jerks, directing his attention back to the boy in his arms. “Just in a bit of shock. That scared me a bit, but we’re alright.”

“Good. I’m just gonna…” He trails off, nodding his head back in the direction of the bathroom.

“Sorry to interrupt your shower, Moony,” James winks as Remus walks past him, his smile widening even further at the glare Remus directs his way.

🌙✨

The next time Remus realises that James is interfering in his and Sirius’ friendship is on Harry’s second birthday.

Remus is out in the back garden, watching Harry and Molly Weasley’s brood of children flying around on toy broomsticks. It’s been a delightful summer afternoon, catching up with the adults while watching Harry share his presents with Molly’s youngest boy, Ron, with Sirius’ booming laughter as a perfect soundtrack in the background.

He’s sipping on a butterbeer, listening to Molly’s husband Arthur explain his latest experiment with his Muggle radio when Sirius heads inside to grab Harry’s cake. Letting Molly know it’s time, they wrangle the kids, leading them to the picnic table they’d set up so everyone would be ready to sing to Harry once the cake arrived.

“Oi, Black, mind if I use your toilet?” Molly’s brother, Fabian, calls out to Sirius as the ginger follows him into the home. He was a couple of years ahead of the Mauraders at Hogwarts, but they’d all grown closer during the war as Fabian and his brother Gideon were both members of the Order.

Gideon died in a fight against Death Eaters early during the war. He was outnumbered but held them off long enough for Fabian to lead the Muggles in the area to safety. Unfortunately, his death was something Sirius and Fabian could bond over; the overwhelming loss they’d both been dealt due to the war.

Sirius, entering the kitchen and summoning a couple of candles to place on top of the Quidditch-themed cake he’d purchased for Harry, nods absentmindedly to the bloke. Remus had told him the candles were pointless; Harry, being only two, wouldn’t be able to properly blow them out, but Sirius insisted. It’s his birthday, Moony! He’s got to have candles on his cake!

“The bathroom’s down the hall, mate. Second door on the left.”

“Cheers.”

He continues arranging the candles, then uses his wand to light them and levitate the cake out the door and into the hallway. Before he can stride out through the open glass doors and back into the garden, he notices out of the corner of his eye that Fabian has struck up a conversation with James’ portrait.

The noise from the party is overflowing into the home, but he’s close enough to hear James say, “No, mate. You should go for it.”

Fabian laughs, “I’ve never gotten dating advice from a portrait before, but if you say so, Potter.”

Sirius doesn’t have time to reflect on what he’s just heard, because at that moment the kids see the cake and the singing begins in earnest.

Sirius absolutely melts at Harry’s gleeful expression. The lad makes grabby hands at the cake, and Remus leans down to explain to him not to touch, but to blow the candles out.

In the end, Sirius extinguishes the candles nonverbally, making Harry clap, believing he’d blown them out himself. While Sirius takes his seat next to Harry, giving him his slice and watching as he forgoes the small spoon they’d laid out and instead grabs a fistful of icing, Molly helps distribute pieces of cake to the rest of the group.

Remus is off to the side, rubbing his chin in amusement while he watches Harry with a soft smile on his face. Sirius is busy appreciating Remus’ arms in the rare short-sleeve shirt he’s donned for the stifling summer afternoon when Fabian sidles up next to him.

“Thanks for having us, Remus.” The lanky redhead greets, and something about the conversation immediately bristles Sirius, like he’s a cat with his fur standing on end. Remus has fully ingratiated himself in their little family, but it was Sirius who sent out the invitations for today, not Moony.

“Of course,” He cordially replies, sending Sirius a sly cheeky grin, which he takes to mean, ‘Behave.’ “Thanks for coming. Harry loves spending time with your family.”

“They do get along great, don’t they?” Fabian asks, nodding down at Harry as the boy leans over to Ron, trying to give him a handful of his icing. “And it was good to see you. It’s been a while. Maybe I could see you again sometime, without all of my nephews and niece?”

“Sure,” Remus agrees absentmindedly, directing his attention back down to where Harry is finally eating the actual cake portion of his dessert.

“How about Friday night? The Three Broomsticks?”

Sirius watches, flabbergasted, as it seems to dawn on Remus that the bloody wanker is asking him out. Fabian grins like the cat that got the cream, a charming smile with his hazel eyes twinkling in the afternoon sunlight as Remus’ dark eyes widen in shock.

“Oh. Like- like a d-”

“A date,” Fabian confirms before Remus can get the word out himself.

Sirius wants to blame the flush he watches spread on Remus’ cheeks on the hot air, but numerous cooling charms throughout the garden are keeping the kids and their guests from overheating in the sun, and the way Remus bashfully avoids eye contact, starring down at his feet with a small, pleased smile on his face entirely destroys that theory.

“Yeah, that sounds nice.”

“Pick you up around six?”

“Perfect.”

Before Sirius can close his mouth and adopt a neutral expression at the blasphemy he’s just witnessed, a glop of yellow icing slaps him directly in the face.

It makes a loud enough plop that Remus and Fabian turn to look.

“Bollocks.” He curses, and Harry lets out a little giggle. If the laugh is directed at his action or the word Sirius isn’t entirely certain until he hears a confident “Bollocks!” shouted back at him in Harry’s high-pitched squeal.

“Nice going,” Regulus whispers beside him, handing his older brother a napkin.

“Piss off,” Sirius grumbles, wishing it was socially acceptable for him to throw icing at Regulus. Or perhaps Fabian. Yes, that would be satisfying.

As Remus leans down to gently remind Harry that they don’t throw icing and that bollocks is an adult word, Sirius stalks off to the kitchen with Regulus trailing behind him.

“So, why did your boyfriend just agree to a date with another man?”

“He’s not my boyfrien- Oi, don’t be a prat, Reg.”

Using Aguamenti, Sirius wets a flannel, wiping the remnants of the sticky sweetness the icing left behind off his cheek before filling a glass and taking a large gulp.

“Why don’t you just ask him out already?” Regulus complains, plopping himself on the Potter’s kitchen counter.

“We’re mates. It’s not like that.”

“Okay, then why did you look like you wanted to throttle Prewett?”

“I just don’t like the lad, that’s all,” Sirius mumbled, turning away from his little brother’s knowing smirk and grabbing a butterbeer instead.

“Oh, so is that why thirty minutes ago you almost pissed yourself laughing at one of his stories?” Regulus raises his eyebrow in disbelief, his barely concealed smirk just waiting to turn into a full-blown, shit-eating grin.

Sirius frowned, knowing that if anyone had asked him thirty minutes ago, he would’ve waxed poetic about how cool Prewett was. He and James had been determined to follow in Fabian and Gideon’s footsteps, attempting to be the leading pranksters at Hogwarts.

But now…

“I just- He’s not right for our Moony, that’s all,” Sirius replies determinedly.

“Whatever you say, brother. But you might want to ask him out yourself before it’s too late.”

Friday night comes far too quickly for Sirius’ liking.

All week he’s been in a mood.

Ever since Prewett muttered ‘a date,’ like an absolute prat, Sirius has felt the need to punch something. Hard.

He still doesn’t fully understand why it peeves him off so much, the idea of Moony going on a date. It’s not just Prewett either, he’s realised.

Oh, no. The idea of his Moony going out with any old lad puts him in a right sour mood. It could be anyone, and Sirius would still feel the monster raging within his chest.

He’s still moaning about until he hears Moony waltz back in through the door a few hours after Fabian swept him through their fireplace. He feels an immense relief course through him, and he can’t bare to think about how mad he would have driven himself if Remus hadn’t returned until the next morning.

The green tinge he’d been seeing the world through all week disappears as Moony walks into the sitting room and smiles at Sirius nursing a glass of firewhiskey on the settee.

It’s then that Sirius realises he’s jealous.

Jealous of Remus dating, holding hands, snogging another bloke. The Padfoot within him growls fiercely at the idea of his Moony dating anyone other than Sirius himself.

Thankfully, Remus provides a heavenly distraction from Sirius coming to terms with these revelations when he slumps down next to him, stealing Sirius’ glass and taking a sip of the amber liquor.

“Did you have a nice time?” Sirius forces himself to ask, though the question burns in his throat almost as badly as the firewhiskey itself.

“Yeah, it was alright. A little strange.”

“Strange?”

“Yeah… I mean, we get along, obviously. So it was a nice time. And, I mean, he’s attractive, but it was strange. It was the first time I’d ever been out with someone who knows about my condition. So the things I usually worry about… just weren’t there.”

Oh. Sirius really didn’t think about that. And now the jealous monster, the angry dog, has morphed into a whining puppy, guilt-ridden at how he’s acted all week.

No matter if Sirius wishes it was him in Fabian’s place - and Merlin that is going to take some getting used to - Remus deserves this.

He deserves someone who will prove to him that he is worthy of love and devotion and all the things that make life worth living.

“I’m happy for you, Moony,” Sirius forces himself to say, hoping Remus doesn’t notice his strained smile.

Remus quirks a smile back, peering over Sirius’ figure in a way that makes him think maybe he wasn’t as believable as he had hoped.

“Thanks, Pads. Did you, um. Did you tell him to ask me out?”

“What?”

“Well, he just said he probably wouldn’t have if he hadn’t gotten some advice from one of my mates.”

“No… No, it wasn’t me. But I’m glad you had a good time.”

Confusion settles over Moony’s expression, but it quickly morphs into one of realisation. Sirius watches as it becomes stony, and then he proceeds to down the rest of Sirius’ drink.

“It’s been a long day. I’m off to bed. Night, Pads.”

He ignores the call of goodnight from James’ painting, and instead bypasses it for his door. As Sirius stumbles up the stairs to his bed a couple of hours later, the bottle of firewhiskey almost finished, he’s finally accepted that he, Sirius Orion Black, fancies Remus John Lupin.

Bugger.

🌙✨

Sirius secretly hoped that Remus and Fabian’s first date would also be their last, but he was sorely mistaken.

For the next month, he watches Remus stop in after a morning shift at Flourish and Blotts to freshen up for a lunch date or as he leaves early for dinner with Prewett. The prat even sometimes joins them on dates with Harry, being perfectly agreeable and charming and buying Harry anything he wants.

It drives Sirius up the wall, but he can’t say anything. This is the happiest Remus has ever looked, and Sirius cannot ruin that because of his silly schoolboy crush.

But the first time he wakes in the morning and finds Remus’ bedroom door open, the light off and the bed still made, obviously not slept in, it’s a sucker punch to Sirius’ system.

And the fact that Remus is donning his favourite jumpers for his dates, looking as adorable as ever, is not helping matters in the slightest. Sirius grows more and more frustrated, wishing he could just grab Moony by the shoulders and snog him senselessly.

Finally, Andromeda insists that Sirius take a night off for once and reassures him that Harry will be fine overnight with her, Ted, and Nymphadora. Ted has pizza and Muggle kid films lined up for the evening, and Sirius pretends he’s not ready to burst into tears about leaving Harry for a night as he drops him off. It’s not the first time he’s stayed overnight with the Tonks', but every time he leaves the boy, it’s challenging.

But still, Sirius decides to take his cousin up on the offer, knowing that Harry will love spending the evening with Nymphadora, or Tonks, as she’s insisting they call her, the hyper-active seven-year-old, and proceeds to relax, as Andromeda ordered.

He heads straight to his room at Potter Manor, relaxing in a scalding shower. After, with a glass of firewhiskey on his nightstand, clad in nothing but a pair of pants, he settles into the too-big bed, ready for a night of blissful stress relief.

He’s so tense, and he doesn’t find much time to himself, what with a two-year-old running around, so he intends to take full advantage of an empty home.

He refuses to think of Remus as his hand trails along the edge of his pants where they rest against his stomach, instead focusing on the feeling of his fingers gliding along his warm skin.

But what he doesn’t know, is that Remus had just recently walked through the front door from his dinner with Prewett, and James, the insufferable little shite, told Remus that Sirius wanted him to speak to him.

So, right as his hand slips below the elastic, his bedroom door opens, and there Remus is, standing gobsmacked in the doorframe.

Sirius yelps, yanking his hand away from his body and diving for a pillow to cover himself.

“Oh, fuck. Sirius, I am so sorry. I’m just going to -yeah.”

The door slams, and Sirius hears footsteps padding down the carpet along the staircase until Remus’ door clatters to a close, as well.

And Remus knows that for the third and final time, James’ stupid portrait is up to something.

Remus, having enough of James’ meddling, waits until Sirius is out at the park with Harry the next day to confront the portrait.

He’s been avoiding Padfoot, hiding in his room since the unfortunate incident the night before, until he heard Sirius and Harry leave, the front door closing loudly behind them.

“What in Merlin’s name are you up to, Prongs?”

“Have no idea what you’re talking about, Moony,” James replies, the widest, guiltiest smirk adorning his face.

“Oh? So you didn’t tell Fabian he should ask me out?” Crossing his arms against his broad chest, Remus glares at the portrait before raising his eyebrows at Lily, hoping he could get something with the more reasonable one of the couple.

The painted version of James’ wife smacks her husband’s arm, nodding in Remus’s direction in a ‘go on’ gesture.

James sighs, telling Remus, “I might have mentioned that I thought he’d have a shot if he went for it.”

“And reassured him that Sirius and I weren’t dating?”

“Possibly.”

His smarmy grin only grows as the questioning continues.

“And Sirius and I continually catching each other unawares, half-dressed is just a pure coincidence?”

“Whatever you two get up to in the comfort of my own home is none of my business.”

“That one was my idea, actually,” Lily admits, shrugging her shoulders at the aghast look Remus sends her before high-fiving her husband.

“Look, Moony. We’re tired of sitting around watching you two tip-toe around each other. You just needed a few nudges!”

Remus sighs deeply, pinching the bridge of his nose to keep him from doing something stupid like hexing the painting of his best mate.

“Honestly, how did you get your portrait to be such a twat?”

“Oi. Maybe my portrait is just serving a purpose.”

“Yeah, and what’s that?”

“Getting you two prats to admit you’re in love with each other, obviously.”

“Prongs, for the last time, Sirius does not love me. We talked about this last time.”

“It’s not my fault you can’t see it! Hell, he was practically drooling over you that day you walked out in nothing but a towel!”

“He absolutely was not. And, even if he was, which he wasn’t!” Remus sternly repeats, glaring at the painting. “That doesn’t mean he’s in love with me. I think he’s made that pretty obvious over the years.”

“Moony, Padfoot is an idiot. I love him, but he wouldn’t recognise love if it transfigured itself into a Cornish pixie and bit him on the arse. He keeps saying he’s looking for the one, and all the qualities he describes are you.”

“James, that’s just not true.”

“Intelligent, funny, caring, sarcastic, fit, doesn’t put up with his bullshit, loves Harry more than anything else? All sounds like our good ol’ Moony to me! He flirts with you all the time!”

“He flirts with everyone,” Remus waves him off with a roll of his eyes. It’s true.

“C’mon, you’re supposed to be the smart one. You can’t honestly tell me that you don’t think Padfoot has the hots for you.”

“He doesn’t.”

“Maybe,” Lily interrupts, ever the voice of reason. “You should just tell him how you feel, Remus. Then, you can find out his answer for yourself.”

“I can’t, Lils. That would ruin everything.”

“Moony, you’ve been in love with him since he stepped off the Hogwarts Express first year and you haven’t said anything. I just don’t understand why you’re keeping yourself from being happy.”

“Because Sirius and I don’t make sense. We never have, and we never will. We’re mates, and that’s it. You have to cut it out, Prongs. Yesterday was too much. Promise me you’ll stop.”

James pauses, taking in Remus’ expression, before dropping his shoulders in defeat.

“Fine. I promise I won’t interfere anymore.”

“On the map?”

“.... Yes. I promise - on the map.”

“Good. Thank you.”

🌙✨

“So, I heard Moony and Prewett are looking at flats together,” James tells Sirius in passing a couple of days later, absolutely unable to help himself.

If Moony questions it, he’ll just explain that portraits have fleeting memories, and he absolutely does not recall making such a promise. All’s fair in love and war and all that, right?

“What?!”

Sirius halts in front of the portrait, whipping his head around in shock at Prongs.

“Mhm. Somewhere in Diagon Alley.”

“He hasn’t said anything to me about that.” Sirius frowns, wondering why in Merlin’s name Moony would keep something like this from him.

“When Prewett dropped him off the other night, he said they’d go see the flat together. Prewett mentioned something about it being available in a couple of weeks.”

So, that’s it, Sirius thinks to himself. They’re that in love that they’re moving in together?!

He really wants to believe that’s not the case, but he’s seen them around each other these past few weeks. He’d be delusional if he genuinely thought he had a chance with Remus. Of course, he’s going to go for someone like Fabian. Calm, attentive, great with kids, makes rational, sound decisions, and listens to Remus rather than overloading him with all his problems and worries.

As deep as the hurt is, knowing that Remus is with someone else, Sirius is angry, too. He knows things have been awkward between them since Remus walked in on him - and he’s tried not to think about that and how he wished it had gone a bit differently - but does he really mean so little to Remus that he couldn’t tell him he’s moving in with his boyfriend?

Over the next week, things between Remus and Sirius go from stiff to icy. They’re barely around each other, with Remus seeming to have picked up more shifts at work and Sirius forcing Regulus to join him and Harry on as many outings as he possibly can.

They take Harry on his first visit to Zonko’s, buying way too many products that Harry is way too young to actually use, as well as the Royal Observatory, as Regulus insisted Harry learn about the stars as early as possible.

When Remus and Sirius are finally both home for dinner, they use Harry as a buffer. Their conversations revolve around the new faces he’s making, the things he does that remind them of either James or Lily and how his new favourite activity seems to be repeating everything they say.

Though things seemed a tad back to normal during their meal, Sirius was surprised to see that Remus hadn’t disappeared after he finished putting Harry down for the night.

Instead, he’s sitting on the settee, bottle of firewhiskey in hand, like old times.

Sirius accepts the peace offering, but something about sitting next to Remus like nothing’s amiss rubs him the wrong way, and after one sip of the liquor, he can’t help but blurt out, “So, when are you going to move in with Prewett?”

“What?”

Remus places down his glass, looking genuinely confused by the question. This just peeves Sirius off more.

“I mean, living in Diagon Alley? What more could you want?”

Remus automatically registers Sirius’ fake, upbeat tone as a dig, and scoffing, he turns away. “If you wanted me to move out, why didn’t you just say?”

“Don’t do that,” Sirius admonishes, rolling his eyes.

“Do what, exactly?”

“Act like you’re a burden and like I don’t want you around when all I’m doing is asking you a question!”

“Well, I wouldn’t think you considered me a burden if you weren’t acting as if I was a burden!”

“Oh, come off it, Moony. You know I don’t think that! I’d let you stay here forever if you wanted.”

“Then why are you asking me when I’m moving in with Fabian?” Remus asks, throwing his hands up in confusion.

“Because James said you were looking at flats together!”

“Oh, for Merlin’s sake! I was helping Fabian look for a flat. He’s been kipping at the Burrow since Gideon passed. They lived together, and now he wants a new place to live. Without all the memories.”

“But you’re going to move in with him at some point, right?”

“Are you seriously in that much of a hurry for me to leave?”

“Godric, Moony, no! I just- he’s your boyfriend. That’s what happens, right? You start dating and fall in love and move in wit-”

“We broke up.”

Sirius attempted to finish his sentence, but Remus’ words finally registered.

“What? Oh…. Moony, why didn’t you tell me, you prat?!”

“Well, it happened on the night I walked in on you… you know,” Sirius gets momentarily distracted by the blush that blooms across the high points of Remus’ cheeks. “And, I don’t know, you’ve seemed cross with me ever since. No time has really felt right to bring it up.”

“I was, cross with you, I guess. I thought you were moving in with him and not telling me.”

“Sirius, we’d only been dating for a few weeks. You really thought I’d move in with him after that long and not tell you about it?”

“I don’t know! Wait… But then why were you still helping him look for a flat?!”

“Sirius, we’re mates. Just because it didn’t work out doesn’t mean we can’t still spend time together as friends. He wanted a second opinion. I think it’s been hard for him to adjust without having his brother around anymore. Surely we can both understand what that’s like?”

Sirius grumbles something unintelligible, knowing he’s being immature but still wishing they could stop talking about Fabian Fucking Prewett already.

“What was that?”

“I just think he shouldn’t take advantage of you like that! He can look at the flat on his own, can’t he?”

“Why are you being like this? I thought you liked Fabian?”

“I have been perfectly nice to him!”

“Sirius, come off it. I’ve seen you act nicer to Slytherins.”

“Regulus doesn’t count.” At Remus’ glare, Sirius acquiesces. “Fine. I don’t know why I’ve been acting like this. It’s just…”

"Are you... jealous?"

Sirius' eyes widen at having been caught, and Remus leans over to place his hand over Sirius’, whispering, “You can tell me, you know.”

“Fine! Yes! I couldn’t stand seeing the two of you together, okay?”

Sirius rips his hand out from under Remus’ warm grip before he yanks himself off the settee, pacing in front of the fireplace. He can’t believe he just said that. Merlin, Moony’s going to hate him.

“...What?”

“Godric, Moony. It’s been torture. I hate seeing you two together. I didn’t know if I should tell you - how you’d react, but I hated it. Please don’t hate me.”

“Sirius, I could never hate you. I just- I didn’t know you felt like this.”

“Well, now you do.” He turns, finally meeting Remus’ eye, waiting for him to say something.

“I mean, if you had told me you fancied Fabian, I would’ve never agreed to go out with him.”

“What?! Moony, you idiot, I’m talking about you. You’re the one I can’t stop thinking about. I couldn’t stand seeing you two together because I wanted it to be us holding hands, going on dates, and kissing. Not Fabian! Merlin, I love yo-”

Before he can finish that statement, Remus’ arms circle around his waist and his lips capture Sirius’ in the most passionate kiss he’s ever experienced. It feels right, Moony pressed against him like this.

Sirius throws his arms around his neck, deepening the kiss before Remus pulls back enough to sigh, “Do you mean that?”

“‘Course, Moony. I’m crazy about you. Can’t you see that?”

Before he can answer, Sirius presses their lips together again, sliding one hand through Remus’ soft waves while the other grips his waist, hoping to never let go.

He’s not sure how long they stand there, snogging in their living room before a familiar voice calls out from down the hallway.

“Yes! Finally! Godric, I thought I’d have to pay Reg to just lock you both in a bedroom until you had your way with each other, for Merlin’s sake.”

“Oh my god,” Remus whispers, pulling away from Sirius. His head turns towards the blasted portrait, but Sirius whines, sliding his lips along Moony’s chin, trying to get Remus’ attention back on him. He’s finally got Remus in his arms, and he is not going to let Prongs fuck it up.

“Hey! Aren’t you going to thank your best mate for helping you two finally see reason?”

“What in Merlin’s name is he going on about now?” Sirius whispered against Remus’ lips.

“Oh, don’t you know? He’s the one that pretended Harry was hurt so I’d run into the room half-naked. Then, he told Fabian I fancied him, and he should ask me out,” At that, Sirius gasps, not believing Prongs, James, his brother, would hurt him like that. “And the other night, he told me you wanted to talk to me when I walked in on you…”

Sirius will circle back to Moony’s adorable blush once he finishes yelling at James because Merlin if it isn’t one of the prettiest sights he’s ever seen.

“Prongs! Did you prank us?”

Sirius stalks off down the hallway, but he can’t seem to let go of Remus just yet. Linking their fingers together, he drags Moony along behind him to confront their mate.

“Is this why you told me I should ask Moony to move in with me? I should have known you were up to something.”

“I think what I’m hearing is, ‘Thank you, Prongs, for helping us see the error in our ways and realising we are hopelessly and madly in love with each other.’ And to that, I would say, ‘You’re welcome!’”

“Honestly, how often did you talk to this thing?! There’s no way a normal portrait could be this maddening.”

“All. The. Time.” Lily sighs.

“Think we could use him for firewood?” Sirius ponders, tapping his chin in thought.

“Oi!”

“Nah, I think we should keep him around a bit longer. For Harry’s sake.”

“You two would obviously be lost without me. You love me, really.”

“Yeah. We do.” Remus agrees, and the three Marauders smile softly at each other, James staring at his best mates finally in each other’s arms after all this time.

“I would just like the record to reflect that I had nothing to do with this.”

“Oh, there’s no way in hell I believe that, Ginger,” Sirius scoffs, turning to raise an eyebrow at Lily’s smirking figure. “No way is Prongs smart enough to pull this off on his own.”

Later, when Sirius drags Remus up the stairs to his bedroom, James leans over to Lily and whispers, “I think our work here is done.”

#remus lupin x sirius black #remus x sirius #wolfstar #marauders #wolfstar au #ao3 fanfic #remus lupin #sirius black #mwpp #oneshot #canon divergence #james potter #harry potter #lily evans potter #sirius and remus raise harry #James potter is a little shit #James meddles #portrait james and lily #my first post had to be wolfstar :)

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