Archive of Our Own ^beta

The world span around Remus as he stumbled into the sofa. With a grunt he flopped down, laying his head on Lily’s lap. She laughed and took another sip of her beer, patting him on the head.

“You good Rem?”

“Things spinning,” he slurred. 

Time twisted and he realised he was sat up, Lily forcing a water bottle into his hand and telling him sternly to drink.

Begrudgingly he did, but it was Halloween, when else should he be plastered? This was the official night for it. 

They had always done some kind of celebration on Halloween, just an excuse for a piss up really. But they were all well out of school now and onto real adult jobs. They didn’t get much time to all be together like this anymore so why not go all out?

James seemed to be of the same mind, dancing around the room as he blasted ABBA. Marlene and Dorcas were giggling as they poured yet another line of rainbow coloured shots to likely hand out to everyone and get them even more munted. Pete seemed to have lost his shirt and was now in the corner armchair patting Remus’ cat, Mildred, like a super villain. It was a wee bit creepy. But the random smacking kisses he gave her on the head ruined the illusion. 

“Hiya love, how are you going?” 

He felt gentle fingers carding through his curls and made a pathetic sound as he slumped against Mary’s side. She was sat on the arm of the sofa so he ended up leaning against her denim skirt and the fabric was all scratchy and uncomfortable, but he didn’t have it in him to move. 

“Here.” 

She jabbed him in the mouth with something and he begrudgingly opened up to let her feed him chicken nuggets like a toddler. Where she had gotten them from he had no idea. Had they ordered food? He hadn’t had any in the freezer before. 

“Feeling better?” 

Remus finally lifted his head, groaning as he did, and met her eye. Mary had gone all out on her outfit, dressed up like a cowgirl complete with hat and lasso. He really hadn’t been arsed and had just thrown on a flannel and said he was a lumberjack. He glanced around the room, feeling slightly less spinning than before. Everyone seemed to have settled down a bit, the music slightly slower. James and Lily were dancing in the middle of the room, completely in their own world and he brightened a bit to see it. 

“Yeah better, thanks,” he said, smiling up at Mary. She gave him a pat on the head and hopped down to join him on the sofa, sinking into his side with a sigh. 

“This was fun to do again,” she said quietly, nostalgia on her voice. 

He nodded, wrapping an arm around her. It had been months since they had been able to catch up, always having clashing schedules. She was working flat out at her fancy marketing job and he’d had so many shifts at the bookshop that they’d only been able to sporadically text. That seemed to be happening more and more between his friends. The group chat that had once been endlessly buzzing now only active every now and again. Weekly catchups had become monthly. He knew it was just a symptom of them all being busy with their own lives, but all his friends had such direction. He just felt listless.

He liked his job at the bookshop well enough, though retail wasn’t exactly his calling. But still, it was a job, and he was glad to have it with his condition. He would’ve never have been able to hold anything down in the magical world, but the little muggle bookshop gave him the flexibility with his shifts that he needed. 

Hearing from his friends though, who were all following their passions, he couldn’t help but feel a bit distant from them. Lily was always so excited to talk about her latest potions research, James always had stories from his days as a healer. Peter loved working at the restaurant down Diagon Alley and he was a damn good chef. They all had their futures and goals and were so integrated into the magical world that Remus now only touched tangentially. If he didn’t have them he doubted he would even be a part of it at all anymore. He just had his shifts at the bookshop and came home every evening to his cat and a microwave tea. 

“Hey no being sad.” Mary gave him a shake and he chuckled, pulled from his reverie. 

“Sorry, trying not to be.”


Mary looked at him with furrowed brows, dark brown eyes assessing. “Right then,” she smacked him on the thigh and stood up, “lets dance.”


“Mare-“


“Nope!” She grabbed his hand and pulled him up with a stumble. “We are going to have fun and dance and you’re not going to think of any of the silly things in your brain.”


Remus shook his head with a huffed laugh and let her drag him to the middle of the room. 

James flashed him a drunken smile and moved to give them space and Remus let it all go. Music picking up and Mary let out a excited shriek at the song and he lifted his arm to give her a twirl. 

They danced til there were no thoughts in his head. Just the thrum of the music and the laughter of his friends around him. The giddy smile on Mary’s face making one grow on his own and soon he was laughing with them. 

He didn’t need to think right now, just enjoy the night and the precious time he had with the people he loved most. 

When his feet were aching he crashed down on the armchair, much to Mary’s protestations. But he felt light. He felt happy. 

James pressed another mystery drink into his hand and he took a sip of the burning concoction. God knows what was in it, but fuck it, it was the night for bad decisions and the hangover would make him pay tomorrow. 

Soon enough the others all crashed down around him. He stole a chip from the nachos (how had they gotten those?) Marlene and Dorcas were eating as they sat on the floor. 

“Moony, what did you used to do for halloween?”

He tilted his head at James’ question. “We didn’t really do anything when I was a kid.”

Lily leaned in closer to her husband on the sofa. “You didn’t do trick or treating?”

Remus shook his head, “Nah, Mum thought it was too much like begging for sweets and she didn’t like that, plus,” he gestured vaguely and Lily nodded in understanding at the implication - he had to keep a low profile because of the whole werewolf thing. 

“What else do muggles normally do then?” James asked. 

He, Mary, and Lily shared a glance, the only ones who had grown up with muggle parents and sometimes it felt like teaching the others about an alien world. But it did give them plenty of opportunities to fuck with them.

“Well,” Lily said with a grin, “in some muggle traditions Halloween is the time of demons and spirits,” she waggled her fingers in a spooky way, “and apparently you can summon them on this night when the veil between our realms is thin."


James’ eyes widened in fascination. “You can summon ghosts?”

“Not like the ghosts you know, more like creatures from another world.”

James mouth fell open and Remus bit his lip to hold in his laugh. He might have been raised catholic from his mum, but he didn’t believe in any of that heaven or hell thing. Sometimes he might chuck out a prayer to St Anthony when he needed to find his keys but that was about the extent of his belief nowadays. 

“Can we try it?” James was practically bouncing in excitement. 

Lily just shook her head, acting solemn, “It’s a serious business, demons are tricky, if you make a deal with them it always comes with a cost.”


“Why would I make a deal with it?”

“That’s what people summon them for, to make a deal for something they want but it takes something when it does it.”


James hummed in thought a moment, “What if we summoned it and didn’t make a deal?”

Lily just shrugged, “Then nothing would happen I guess. I don’t know if it even works, I doubt it.”

James’ face twisted in contemplation, then he nodded. “We should try it.”


Lily’s eyebrows shot up and she glanced at Remus. He just gave her a wry smile, because honestly what did she expect? Telling James there was some secret and potentially dangerous ritual to be done and he would be far too into it. She should’ve seen that one coming.

“It’s not going to work Prongs,” Remus said gently, trying to curb some of his excitement and the oncoming disappointment. It was a children’s sleepover game to try and summon Bloody Mary or levitate their friends light as a feather. It was a silly game, that was all. 

“So what if it doesn’t?” James grinned at him and he knew there was no stopping him now he had the idea in his head. “Still could be a bit of fun. What do we need?”

Lily grumbled as James jumped out from under her, clapping his hands. “Right, Lils we need…”


“Candles, um, salt?”

“Okay! Rem do you have those?”

Well at least this would keep James entertained. He looked to the others and found them watching him eagerly too. Ah shit. Okay, sure. 

He gave a defeated sigh, “Tea lights are under the sink and there should be some salt in the cupboard.” 

Peter and James bolted into the kitchen and returned a moment later with the gear. Peter was jabbering about correct circle formation as Lily instructed him to make a pentagram on the floor in salt. All Remus could think was how that was going to be a bitch to clean up in the morning.

Marlene arranged the candles at each of the points of the star and dragged him onto the floor so they were all sat in a circle around the salt ring. 

“Um, what now?” Mary asked. 

“Light the candles?” Lily said, passing a lighter to Dorcas. 

She lit them one by one and then he felt Mary and Lily take his as they all joined hands. 

Something uneasy settled in him. Logically he knew this was all just a big joke. There was no such thing as demons, they were just stories to teach people morals, manufactures of the church.

None of this was real, but a strange energy hummed in his core and it unsettled him. 

The others all just looked excited, even Lily looked entertained, none of them seemed to feel the strange sensation he did. Maybe it was just the drink. Surely that was it. He just felt a bit queasy from the booze and it was making him paranoid. 

“What now?” James asked giddily.

“One sec, let me find - ah here.” Lily looked up from her phone. “Found a ritual, site looks a bit dodgy but fuck it why not.”


“That’s the spirit!” James shook Lily and Dorcas’ hands and they laughed, Remus couldn’t help but smile fondly too. James’ excitement really was contagious.

“Okey here goes, everyone shut your eyes."


“Why?”

“I don’t know, just feels like we should?”

They all shut their eyes and Lily intoned in a low voice, “Ego te voco-“

“Why’s it in Latin?”

Remus cracked his eye open at Peter’s question. “All magic is in Latin isn’t it?”

Peter nodded in a ‘that makes sense’ way and shut his eyes again. 

“James you read the next bit.”

“Daemon ab inferis.”

He passed the phone to Marlene. 

“Ego te ad haec mortalia regna voco.”

The phone was passed around the circle, each of them adding to the incantation. 

“Adiuro te huic circulo.”

“Exi daemonium.”

“Esto in hoc mortali regno.”

Finally the phone landed in Remus’ hand and he shook his head before he read the final line. “Teneris ad me, exi et ostende te.”

He could have sworn the light in the room dimmed a bit darker, that the candles flickered for a moment. But nothing happened. 

The others each opened their eyes and looked around, but there was no change. 

“Didn’t it work?” James asked with a pout. 

Lily just shook her head, “Doesn’t look like it, sorry love, but we gave it a go.” She leaned over and gave him a peck on the cheek and that had him smiling again. 

They all stood and went back to as before, not too much changed but a bit disheartened that it hadn’t worked. Lily went to telling them scary ghost stories and with a drink in hand soon they were all laughing again. 

Remus stood with a groan, the night catching up with him a bit. He didn’t notice as he scuffed the salt circle, breaking it, as he went to put out the candles. Couldn’t have his drunk mates knocking them over and burning down his flat. It might be a bit of a shit place but it was still his. And he did want his deposit back eventually. 

The rest of the night passed in a blur of laughter and music, he barely thought anything of their little summoning charm as he crashed out on his bed, still in his clothes, and sank into the pillows gratefully. 

Remus groaned and swatted at the stream of sunlight that burned at his eyes. Of course he hadn’t closed the curtains last night and now his room was way too bright. 
He rolled over in his bed and reached for the glass of water on his bedside table.

Fucking christ. 

Not fucking water. Straight gin. God drunk him was an asshole. 

He spluttered and sank back into his pillow. His mouth dry and lingering taste of gin making him feel nauseous. He grappled for his phone that was lost somewhere in his duvet. 

The clock on it showed it was well past midday. Thank god he didn’t have work today. 

He lay there, stomach turning and headache growing until it all became too much and he knew he had to get up and sort himself out. 

With a great heave he wrenched himself out of bed and stumbled to his bathroom. Barely opening his eyes as he splashed water on his face and brushed his teeth to try and rid himself of any lingering alcohol. Pretty sure his blood was still ninety percent booze. Honestly he wasn’t even sure he was fully sober. It felt like he’d been hit with the hangover while he was still drunk. 

What the fuck.

When they used to drink in school he’d get up the next morning and go to class, and yes they’d all be a bit dusty but he’d be able to function.

Fuck getting old. This was bullshit.

Feeling sorry for himself, he rubbed at his bleary eyes as he wandered into the kitchen. A cursory glance around his living room only made him grumble. He loved his friends and it did look like they had tried to clean up a bit, but the place was still a tip with empty bottles and all the furniture moved around. 

But that wasn’t a problem for now. 

He ambled into the kitchen and grabbed a seemingly clean glass off the bench, skulling a whole glass of water before going back for a second. The cool liquid did help in soothing the pounding in his head and scratching in his throat. 

He filled up another glass and poured some more dry food in Mildred’s bowl. Where the silly cat had gone he wasn’t sure, but she must be around her somewhere. 

Rolling his neck as he walked, trying to get that irritating crick out of it, he wandered through the living room. Only thought on getting back into bed for the rest of the day and ceasing to be human. Maybe ordering some kebab. 

As he neared the door to the hallway he paused. Something caught in the corner of his eye. 

Slowly he turned. 

What the actual fuck. 

Sat on his dining table, leaning back on their hands and smirking in amusement, was a person. 

A very pretty person.

Remus rubbed at his eyes. 

That can’t be real. 

He must still be more drunk than he thought. 

He was hallucinating.

A figment of his imagination, the very pretty leather-clad man who was watching him with a raised brow. 

Nope, not happening.

Remus shook his head and muttered under his breath, “You’re not real… I’m too hung over for this shit.”

He barely saw the man’s face fall in confusion as he turned away. Shutting his bedroom door behind him and crawling back into bed, instantly falling back asleep and barely giving the pretty illusion a moment’s thought. 

Remus sighed as he burrowed into his pillow. Comfy and soft. His headache was gone and he felt marginally better than he had this morning. He had the faint memory of waking up and downing some paracetamol so that probably helped. Also the coffee and kebab that he had found on his bedside table. He couldn’t remember ordering them or getting them from the delivery driver but he must have been still too tipsy at that point. Honestly, he’d lose his head if it wasn’t stuck to him, and the drinks didn’t help. He’d scarfed them down and promptly fallen back asleep.

Now, he reached down the bed to the fluffy lump curled by his hip. With a soft smile he ran his fingers over Mildred’s tortoiseshell fur and the little creature started vibrating with her purrs. His smile grew. There weren’t many things in his life that truly made him happy, but he was always glad he had her. His work was decent even though customer service wasn’t his thing. And he loved his friends but they could be so full on and sometimes he just didn’t have the energy. He felt bad when he had to miss pub nights because he was sore from the moon, or simply just too tired from work, but it just wore on him and he couldn’t always do things with them or even bring himself to reply to their messages sometimes. 

Peter had asked him gently once, at one of the quiz nights at their local that he had been able to bring himself to go to, if he’d maybe thought of speaking to someone or going to the doctors about how he often felt low. But he’d just shaken his head with a dismissive laugh. Not like he could explain to any shrink about how he turned into a howling beast once a month. Or how he felt he was playing pretend in the muggle world he didn’t really fit into. How could he really describe the listlessness and lingering feeling of something missing that had been a constant knot in his chest as long as he could remember? It was pointless. Peter had asked it as though there was more though, as if it was becoming more obvious. But he didn’t think it was. Everything just seemed the same, and maybe that was why Peter asked, since they were all changing and Remus just seemed stuck. 

Remus shook his head against the pillow. No, it was just the after effects of the alcohol making him linger on those thoughts. He was fine. It was all fine. 

Reluctantly, he got out of bed and threw on a comfy shirt and some track pants. At least getting sort of dressed made him feel semi-functional. Now he just had to sort out some tea. 

The sun had well set and he pulled his curtains shut. He drifted into the living room, running through what he could possibly make with the dry pasta and nothing else he had in the cupboards.

Remus froze.

Eyes widening as he took in the sight on his sofa. 

The pretty man waved at him.

Remus’ mouth fell open in shock. What the fuck. That can’t be real. There can’t be someone here right now. 

Was he a robber? But then why was he just sat there on the sofa with that amused smirk? What the fuck?

And fuck, he’d left his wand in his bedroom. He was completely unarmed. 

Slowly Remus took an inhale and met the man’s eyes. 

Oh wow pretty. They were a mercurial shifting silver, rather eery but in a beautiful way. 

“Who,” his voice cracked from disuse and he tried again stronger this time, “who are you and what are you doing here?”

The man tilted his head, amused smile growing and that sent a flash of irritation through Remus. The gall of him to be so casual when he had broken in here. Not like he had fuck all worth stealing so what the fuck did he want?

“You invited me,” the man said and Remus had to fight off the stirring in him at the rich, silken sound of his voice. Oh this man was dangerous. Quite how, he wasn’t sure yet. 

Remus folded his arms and levelled him a glare. “Like fuck I did. What are you doing here?”

The man shook his head with a laugh, perfectly messy curls bouncing as he did, and he stood. He looked ready to take a step towards him but the look Remus gave stopped him in his tracks. Instead he wandered around the sofa and looked around as if he were perusing at the shops, seeing what was on offer. 

“You did ask me here, you summoned me. Don’t you remember?”

Remus narrowed his eyes at him. Surely this was some sort of mind game this would-be robber was playing. What on earth could he mean he summoned…

Oh fuck.

Oh fuck oh fuck oh fuck.

A shuddering inhale wracked through him as his mind spun and he had to brace himself against the wall. The man just watched, waiting. 

This couldn’t be real. 

They’d just done that stupid summoning as a joke. A silly sleepover game that kids played. It wasn’t ever supposed to be real. 

All of a sudden his chest felt too tight. The world felt too close. All too bright and loud and he couldn’t catch his breath, he couldn’t breath, he couldn’t-

“Hey, hey.” A gentle hand fell on his back and led him to the sofa. Remus crashed down on it, head falling into his hands and hanging between his knees as his whole body shook. 

It couldn’t be real. 

This was just a prank from James. He’d sent one of his other friends that he hadn’t met before to come and play a joke on him. That was all this was. That made the most sense.

The hand on his back was warm and grounding as it traced circles. Slowly coming back to his senses, Remus realised the man was still talking, low and gentle and soothing, and he focussed on the sound of it. For someone posing as a demon he was doing a shit job of pretending to be evil. It was actually rather nice. 

Finally he managed to control himself and he shrugged off the man’s hand. He turned to look at him properly and found, to his surprise, what looked like genuine concern in those silver eyes. 

“But really,” Remus asked firmly, “who are you? Did James send you as a joke? Because if he did, well done, you got me, you can go tell him now.”

The man’s brows furrowed. “I don’t know a James. No-one sent me, well, besides you when you summoned me.”

“Bugger off with that,” Remus laughed dryly, “game’s over. You got me, pull the other one.”

The man only stared at him. “It’s not a game. You summoned me here. Normally people summon us to make some sort of deal, so I’m not sure what you want.”

Now it was Remus’ turn to frown. The man seemed so sincere. If this was a prank then he was certainly a very good actor. He scanned over his features, looking for any trace of guile but found none. In fact, the more he looked, the more the yawning pit of dreadful realisation began to grow in his stomach. 

There did seem something otherworldly about him. Besides his beauty - which look, Remus was only a man and it had been a long while since he’d gotten laid, he was totally fair to look a bit - there did seem to be some strange energy around him. Like the edges of the world pulled differently around him, as if he didn’t quite belong here. 

Maybe he wasn’t joking. No surely not. That couldn’t be true. But…

“Are you saying…”

The man nodded, eyes wide in sincerity. Remus’ jaw dropped. 

“I am. You summoned me here. I come from the realm you call Hell.”

“You can’t be serious,” Remus muttered in disbelief. 

The man barked a laugh that caught Remus off guard. “I am Sirius.”

“Serious?”

“No, Sirius. Sirius of the house of Black.”

The man, demon, Sirius, looked to be barely holding in his laugher as Remus’ eyes widened and he sank back into the sofa cushions. 

What the fuck even was his life. This had to be another great cosmic joke on him. Why did he always get hit with this fuckery? What had he done in a past life to deserve this?

Remus groaned and rubbed his hands over his face, digging his palms in his eyes and hoping that when he opened them again the demon would be gone and it could all be some kind of bad trip. 

But no, Sirius was still right there. 

“Okay, alright. Fuck. How the fuck did I summon you?”

Sirius just tilted his head with a pitying look. “You did a circle and summoned me?”

“We did, but we just used some shitty thing we found online! It wasn’t supposed to actually work!”

Sirius gave him a condescending pat on the arm and Remus batted it off which only made him laugh. “Remus, why would you not think it would work?”

“Because it never does! It’s a stupid game muggle kids do with their friends to scare each other, it’s not real!”

Sirius clapped his hands, delight sparking in his eyes like this was all just so entertaining. “That’s it, you’re getting there!”


“Oh fuck off-“


“No no, just think, what was the thing you said there?”

“I’m not going to play bloody twenty-one questions with a demon.”


“Tch Remus, come on, you seem clever, surely you can figure this out.”


Remus glared at him. Arrogant prat. “Just fucking tell me, I’m too hungover for this.”


Sirius pouted like he was spoiling his fun and Remus really wanted to wipe that smug look off his face. “Well, you said it was a muggle game didn’t you? And are you a muggle?”

Remus’ eyes sank shut and he felt the last vestiges of his sanity leave as it clicked. 

“Nope. We have magic.”

“Well done! Gold star!”


“We’ve got magic so the summoning actually fucking worked.” 

Remus stared at the blank space of wall next to his bookshelf, the white paint slightly warped from the damp. This can’t be happening.

But the smiling demon who was excitedly bouncing beside him seemed proof enough. Almost.

“If you are actually a demon then prove it.”

Sirius paused, but then he flashed a grin and lifted his hands. Elegant ringed fingers twirled and the air around them shimmered and twisted, like the fabric of reality itself was bending in his hands. Jet black strands, fluid as smoke, swirled between his fingers and among them shone bright flecks of light, as brilliant as starlight. It was like nothing he had ever seen and something in his soul screamed wrong, wrong, wrong. It wasn’t of this world and even though his logical mind revolted against the idea, he could no longer deny that Sirius wasn’t what he said he was. He really was a demon from another world.

He didn’t notice when Sirius stopped his magic. Nor did he see the bemusement on his face give way to concern. Remus just stared ahead unseeing. Eyes glazed and mind racing as everything he thought he knew fractured around him. 

The warmth of Sirius’ hand on his arm brought him back to reality. Fine boned, graceful for all the darkness they had just conjured. But the touch of him, well it didn’t feel wrong. It felt grounding and stable and real. 

For someone who often felt adrift, slightly outside of his body and the world, Sirius’ touch dragged him back to it with startling clarity. 

“Remus?” He asked gently.

He lifted his gaze to his, but didn’t shrug off his touch. “How do you know my name?”

“Your friends were saying it last night.”


“You were here?”

Sirius tilted his head in a so-so gesture. “Sort of. It took me a while to come through fully since I haven’t been here in a while. Was a bit before I could be corporeal.”

Okay okay. This was real and now he needed answers. He needed to understand. 

“When was the last time you were here?”

Sirius hummed in thought a moment, “1982 I think.”

Remus couldn’t help but smirk, “Well that explains the look then,” he raked his eyes over him teasingly. 

Sirius scowled and he really shouldn’t have found that as adorable as it was. “Hey! I didn’t know what you humans looked like now! I tried my best!”

Remus laughed at his indignation and the pressure in his chest lightened just a bit. “Eh, you did alright.”

“Alright!” Sirius threw his hands up, but his eyes danced with laughter, “I look damn good thank you!”

“Yeah you do.” Remus slammed his mouth shut but it had slipped out too fast and Sirius spun to stare at him, shock morphing into delight as he took in Remus’ wide eyes. 

Okay he had to get back on track before he said too many more things he shouldn’t.

Schooling his features, he asked, “So you came here, but why me? All the others did the summoning too.”

Sirius held his gaze a moment longer before he seemed to shake himself from whatever those thoughts of his had been. “It’s you because you finished it. You bound me to you.” Remus frowned not understanding. “You called me and bound me to you. Did you not know what you were saying?”

“No? It was all in latin."


“Isn’t your magic all in latin?”

“Yeah but I don’t speak it, I just know the spells.”


Sirius blinked in disbelief. “So they teach you at your magic school how to do spells but they don’t actually teach you anything about the practice involved?”

Remus just shook his head bewildered. What did he mean by that? They got taught how to do the spells and potions and some of the theory, but the more he thought about it, had they ever really been taught why things were the way they were? Where magic came from? Why they did it the way they did?

That felt like a glaringly ominous omission. 

“What is it like where you are from then?” He asked Sirius, trying to distract from the disquiet brewing in his mind. His entire worldview was being flipped on it’s head in a matter of minutes.

“We have a different language for our magic,” Sirius said with a shrug, “but that’s mostly only used in ritual. We get taught to pull from our magical core and our innate magic and it’s intuitive. We don’t use conduits like you do with your funny wands, so everyone has their own kind of magic I guess, though families often have similar skills.” His expression soured at that, but Remus wasn’t sure why. “But we also live a lot longer than you humans, so we have more time to perfect it, maybe doing it your way means you learn it faster.” 

Remus just nodded. He could see some trace of that, some people could do wandless magic, but it was a rare and prized skill. Though he hadn’t found it too difficult, but he’d kept that well hidden. Something about it had seemed wrong when he was as cursed as he was. And he didn’t need to draw unnecessary attention to himself like that. 

Sirius started shuffling the longer Remus stayed quiet until eventually he broke. “Maybe that’s enough for today. Did you eat the food?”

“Food?”

“Food I got you, was it okay? You looked like you needed it earlier.”

Oh. 

“Yeah, thank you,” he said, giving him a weak smile. 

“Okay, I’m hungry and I want some of that pizza that your world has, I’ve missed that.” He flashed him a grin and Remus couldn’t help but smile back. Sirius’ energy was just infectious and he was relieved to lighten things up a bit. 

Sirius stood and gave him a nod, “One sec.” With a crack he apparated away and Remus barely had a moment to register it before he reappeared with two pizza boxes. “Here,” he said, handing one over. “Eat up, it’ll make you feel better.”


Remus took it numbly and Sirius settled in beside him on the sofa. Absently he turned the telly on and watched in detached amusement as Sirius flicked through the channels. The excitement and wonder on his face with everything he saw was distractingly sweet and no matter how hard he tried a seedling of a sensation started to bloom inside his chest. 

He just took another bite of pizza and ignored it, unwilling to even consider it. 

The next day dawned bright and Remus found himself surprisingly peppy for a morning. Normally he would be stumbling around getting ready for work, but today he found himself humming a tune as he put on his nice jeans and favourite jumper. It was clean and cosy and he actually felt good today. Just the little things making him smile. What the hell had gotten into him he didn’t know, but he was going to ride this for as long as he could. It had been a while since he felt this easy.

Then he walked into the kitchen and reality slammed back into him. 

Sirius was there, cursing to himself as he tried to figure out the French press. 

“What are you doing?”

Sirius jumped and spun around, hand to his chest. “Fuck you scared me.”


Remus just gestured at the mess he was making of the worktop. 

“I was trying to make coffee. I saw them doing it with this on the TV last night.” With an irritated huff he blew a strand of hair off his face. 

Remus bit his lip, trying not to laugh at the grumpy, sleepy demon. Actually where had he slept? He glanced over at the sofa and saw all the pillows and throw blankets folded on one end.

Oh. That wasn’t good hosting of him. 

“Here,” Remus stepped beside him and poured in the coffee grounds and boiled water, “you got the kettle right.”


Sirius gave him a droll look. “They had kettles last time I was here.”

Remus snorted very undignified like and set the coffee to steep. “It’ll be ready in a few, do you want breakfast?”

Sirius nodded eagerly so he set about making eggs on toast. It took him until the he was loading the plates up to realise that he hadn’t had any eggs or bread in his cupboard last night. 

“Did you go get groceries?” He caught the sheepish look on Sirius’ face from where he was sat on the kitchen bench. 

“Well you needed more.”

And he didn’t need to know how he had gotten them, thank you. He would live in wilful ignorance. 

They ate in peaceful quiet, Mildred winding around their legs and making Sirius laugh which only made that strange feeling in Remus’ chest grow. 

He grabbed his satchel and packed his things, throwing on his jacket as he headed towards the door, but stalled when he realised Sirius was right behind him. 

“What are you doing?”

Sirius dug his hands into the pockets of his leather jacket and shrugged. “Coming with you.”


“I’ve got work.”


Sirius’ eyes rolled, “And I’m bound to you, so I’m coming with you.”


His shoulders dropped with the great sigh he let out. “So will you have to come everywhere with me from now on?”

“For now, yup.” Sirius gave him a shit eating smile. “You’re stuck with me. Should weaken over time though.”

With a resigned nod Remus turned for the door. 

Okay this was his life now. Sure. Why not.

Another hour. That’s all he had to survive. And really when you thought about it, that was only six lots of ten, and you could listen to almost three full songs in ten minutes, so he just had to get through eighteen songs worth of time. 

He could do that. He did that all the time. 

Granted, that was usually at home with a nice cup of tea and his cat, not with an angry old lady ranting at him at a hundred miles an hour. 

“Why do you not have it?” She spat at him and Remus took a steadying inhale. 

“As I’ve said, the book hasn’t been released yet. No-one has it. You can come back in a month and get it then.”

“You can’t talk to me like that, you have it, I know you do!”

God please help me, just end this suffering already. 

“I’m sorry we don’t have it, but there’s nothing I can do. We can take your details and have one set aside for you when they come in.”

“You’re not getting my bank numbers! This is a scam! You’re trying to scam me!”

Please, sweet release of death, just take me. How long did it take for his manager to get her bloody coffee?

“We won’t take your bank details,” he gestured to the books she had set on the counter, “do you still want to buy these today?”

“Why would I put them there if I didn’t want them? I deserve to get a discount too.”

“And what kind of discount is that? We don’t do a senior citizen’s I’m afraid.”

Ah shit I shouldn’t have said that. The woman’s already red face now looked set to spew fire, but the bark of laughter from Sirius behind him did have him fighting back his own laugh. It had taken him a bit to realise that Sirius was visible to him, but not to anyone else. Which didn’t help the whole figment-of-his-imagination angle, but did make for a very entertaining commentary from Sirius all day that only he could hear. It really had made the day bearable. It seemed to be one of those days where all the shittiest customers came out of the woodwork specifically to torture him. 

“Why, you,” she blustered, huffing and puffing, “I will never come back here! The disrespect! You’ve lost a customer and I will be writing a yelp review about this.”

Remus just nodded and that only seemed to irritate her more. With a last splutter she stomped out the front door. 

“Fucking hell,” Sirius whistled. “Is it always like this?”

“No,” Remus said with a sigh and began sorting the pile of books she had dumped on the counter. “It’s normally fine, just every few months there’s a day when all the worst one’s show up. Just a curse.”

Remus turned to him with a shrug, but something in Sirius’ eyes had him pausing. He was slouched all casual against the wall but a genuine anger sparked there. 

“They shouldn’t talk to you like that.”


“No they shouldn’t, but they do, so.”

Sirius leaned in closer and Remus felt himself pulled in as if by a gravitational force. 

“You know I could sort her out.”

“In what way?” Remus asked slowly.

“You know, taste of her own medicine, bit of karma, disappear her.”

“Sirius! You can’t disappear her just because she was rude!”


“Why not!” Sirius threw his hands up and leaned back with a pout. “She deserves it.”


“She was just rude, she doesn’t need to be got gone.” Though that did sound very tempting and vindicating… no no he really couldn’t do that. Ugh. 

Sirius caught his moment of hesitation and a sly smile grew on his face. 

Remus shook his head.

Sirius waggled his brows.

“Sirius no.”


“Ah but you thought about it didn’t you?”

A defeated laugh dragged from his throat. “Fine, yes, I thought about it.”

A satisfied spark flickered in his sliver eyes. And maybe that cocky look rather suited him. 

“I am corrupting you.”


“That what you came here to do then? Corrupt me to evil doings?”

Sirius chuckled, “Evil doings? Nah, came here to make a deal but you’re not giving me any terms.”


“What could I possibly have that you want?”

“Human soul.”

Remus froze in his organising. He can’t be for real. That must be another of his jokes. But the look on his face was completely serious. 

Remus pinched the bridge of his nose in his exasperation. “Sirius, what the fuck?”

“What?” Sirius stepped beside him and finished sorting the books into their genres so they could be re-shelved. “Human souls are used in really powerful rituals, it’d be great to have one spare.”

“So you don’t even have a plan for it? Just going to take my soul and put it on the shelf for later?”

Something dark clouded his expression and it made Remus’ stomach twist uneasy. “Oh no I have plans.”

“I don’t want to know whatever mad thing you’re up to.”

At that Sirius’ grin returned and he gave him a wink that was far too charming for his own good. 

“Probably best.” He looked around the shop and finding it empty he jumped up onto the counter, swinging his Doc Martins to bash against it. “Okay no-one’s here so time to slack. What other weird shit have you had happen here?”

Fuck it, it was nearly time to clock off anyway and today had been a day. Remus leaned against the counter and looked up at him with a grin. “Well there was the guy who kept ringing in to get us to recommend him books, but he would eventually start asking about some of the smut books and start getting us to go into way too much detail about them and the actions in them-“


“What the fuck that’s so creepy-“


“Oh yeah. And another time…”

Remus had never expected to be cohabiting with a demon that wanted to steal his soul, but it was surprisingly easy. And even more surprisingly, he actually found himself enjoying it. It was nice waking up to hear Sirius pottering around in the kitchen making coffee and watching bake off together in the evenings. They’d settled into a routine of sorts with Sirius coming to the bookshop and reading behind the counter while Remus worked. 

His favourite part though was watching how excited Sirius got about everything. The world had changed so much since he was last here and every time they walked down the street he’d be pointing out things and bounding about like an excited puppy. 

And the strange sensation in Remus’ chest had grown to a butterfly fluttering. 

He just looked too adorable when he got that look of wide-eyed wonder at figuring out how to work the blu-tooth speaker so he could play any music he wanted, and he would dance around the flat while Remus cooked tea. Or he would make Remus’ breath catch like when he saw a motorbike and grabbed his hand, so warm and fitting perfectly, as he excitedly babbled about wanting to ride one last time he was here but hadn’t got the chance. 

Yes, Sirius could be terrifying sometimes still, a dark look clouding his features when he mentioned something about his home realm that viscerally reminded Remus that he wasn’t human, that he came from another world entirely, but as the weeks passed those moments lessened. That voice in his head telling him beware, danger, grew quieter and quieter. And before he knew it he realised he actually really quite liked Sirius. He was chaos incarnate, but Remus found himself smiling as he awoke just at the thought of asking Sirius about what crazy dream he had last night or just at the thought of spending time with him. The whole flat felt less dismal with him inside it. Light casting it warmer and always the sounds of music and laughter filtering through the walls. 

That was why Remus felt so guilty that he hadn’t noticed. 

He and Sirius had barely spent any time apart over the few weeks since he came blazing into his life, and maybe that was why he didn’t notice the change, because it crept in so slowly that he didn’t notice the progression until it became extremely evident. 

Remus shut the front door behind him, grocery bags in hand. They didn’t need to be attached at the hip anymore, Sirius had said the spell would weaken over time and it had, so he had popped to the little shop to grab some necessities. 

As he turned into the kitchen he stalled. Sirius had his hands braced on the kitchen bench, back to him. His flowing midnight hair hung lank around him and he looked to be breathing hard, all muscles tensed like he was in pain. 

“Sirius?” He asked, inching closer to him. 

Sirius spun and gave him the fakest of smiles. “Hey, did you get crisps?”

Remus nodded and set the bags on the worktop, not taking his eyes off him and brows furrowing as he took in the complete state of him. One thing he had learned was Sirius was fastidious about how he looked, maybe he was a little vain but Remus certainly wasn’t going to complain with how much he liked watching Sirius methodically doing his hair each morning or the focussed look he got when he did his eyeliner. But today he looked rough. His skin pallid and quicksilver eyes dimmed, like he was trying not to wince in pain. 

Carefully, he stepped closer. Sirius made no move to back away, only looked up at him with a glint in his eye, like he was daring him to say something. 

“Sirius, are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” he bit out, but then a broken sound tore from him and he lurched forward, grabbing at his chest. Remus caught him and pulled him closer, manoeuvring them so they were sat on the sofa. He kept ahold of him, running soothing motions up and down his back as Sirius took deep breaths. 

“It’s alright, you’re alright,” he murmured. Sirius barely responded, just a tight nod with his eyes screwed shut as he tried to breath through the pain. Fingers gripping Remus’ jumper as he leaned in closer and rested his head on his shoulder. Remus just kept murmuring quiet, soothing words. Holding onto Sirius until his breathing finally evened out and he leaned back. 

When Sirius let go he did so with a weary sigh, sinking back into the cushions and hiding his face behind his hands. 

Remus gave him a moment before he asked again, “Are you alright? What’s happening?”

Sirius’ hands hit the sofa with a thud, irritation plain. “It’s been too long.”


“What do you mean?”

“I wasn’t meant to be gone this long, being here weakens me.”

Brown eyes widened and he shook his head, “Why are you staying then?”

Slowly, Sirius turned to him, an ocean of mingled emotions swimming in his eyes. And quietly he said, “I don’t want to go back.”


Something in Remus’ heart caught. 

“Why not?”

But Sirius shook his head. “I have to, I don’t really have a choice.”

Sirius stood on shaky legs and Remus shot up beside him, reaching out to stabilise him. Brown eyes met silver and for a moment the world seemed to slow around him. Everything immaterial but for the way Sirius was looking at him. 

He couldn’t be leaving. But of course he had to. He was never meant to be here. Having him was just a lapse from his reality, just a strange few weeks that would make for an impossible story over pints years down the line. Having him here wasn’t real. 

Remus looked away first. 

He had to go. He had to leave and then he would get back to his ordinary, monotonous life and everything would be as it was. Just as it was meant to be. 

Remus let go.

He stepped away and gave him a wan smile. Sirius gave one back and it didn’t quite reach his eyes. 

“Remus, um,” he scuffed his foot on the floor and looked down, and Remus didn’t think he had ever seen Sirius look nervous before this, “normally we would have made a deal by now and so I’d go back then, but when that doesn’t happen you’re meant to spell me back.”

Remus bit his lip as a thought formed. “And what happens if I don’t do that?”

Sirius looked up at him then with something akin to hope. “Then I’m still bound to you technically, there’s still a connection there.”


“Could you come back?”

Sirius nodded hesitantly and a slow smile grew across Remus’ face. “Then I’m not going to do the spell.”

Sirius’ head shot up and he gaped at him. “Really? You… you don’t mind if I come back?”

A low laugh came from him and he reached forward to take Sirius by the shoulders. “No, I.. well you like being here don’t you?” Sirius nodded vigorously. “Well then come back, if you want, if you can that is, you don’t have-“


“I want to,” Sirius said with a grin, cutting off his ramblings. 

Remus nodded then and pulled his hands back, not giving into the urge to draw Sirius in and hold him close. Why those urges kept creeping in he didn’t know. Maybe he just wanted to comfort him. Sirius looked so sad with that kicked puppy look, though it was brightening now and his lovely face broke out in a grin. 

“Alright, I’ll try, I can’t promise anything but I’ll really try.”


Remus nodded and they both took a step back. No goodbyes were said, he couldn’t bring himself to say it properly. 

Sirius grabbed his jacket and shoes, and in the middle of the living room he began to chant. Words like syrup, rich and thickly spilling from his tongue in a language that Remus couldn’t understand but it sounded ancient and arcane. The lights flickered and the shadows of the room seemed to pull towards him, wrapping around him like a shroud as the reverberations of his words echoed through the air and sent goosebumps over Remus’ skin. Dark, this magic was dark and eldritch, but there was a beauty to it. A lyricism to the words and the way Sirius’ hands twirled as he conjured. 

Then he stopped. His eyes met Remus’ and he caught the true fear etched there, what Sirius had been hiding so long, he tried to take a step towards him, to reach for him, but all of a sudden the room was plunged into darkness. 

The lights blazed and Remus let out a cry as they burned his eyes. When his sight returned he was stood alone. 

The wood of the counter was cool under his forehead and at least went a little way to soothing the throbbing behind his eyes. The headache had been persistent since the moon a week ago and no medicine or potions went to soothing it. Same with the clicking in his hip where the joint must not have slotted back into place correctly during his transformation. It’d become so bad he’d even risked going down Diagon Alley to the apothecary there instead of just medicine from the pharmacy since that was doing fuck all. The more time he spent out of the magical world, the harder it was to venture back. Walking down Diagon had him looking over his shoulder paranoid every thirty seconds and having to make small talk when he inevitably bumped into someone he’d vaguely known in school - who always hit him with the ‘wow it’s been ages, what are you up to these days?’ questions that only garnered weird looks when he said he worked at a muggle shop. It was all just a stark reminder of how little he fit there. 

Though recently he was trying not to let that bother him so much. He had been trying to do better in the weeks Sirius had been gone. It had felt like one bright moment and he hadn’t realised quite how much it had shaken him back to life until it was gone. He’d been better at keeping in touch with his friends and replying quicker to their texts, going to pub nights more regularly. But since the moon it was like all that momentum had come crashing down again and the drabness of everything had closed in around him. His messages were becoming sparse and the high point of his day was getting to have his meal deal in the back room at lunch without being interrupted. 

Coming back to Mildred every evening still made him smile, but now it felt like there was a vacuous space in his life where light should be. 

And for a few weeks he had had that light and hadn’t even fully realised it. 

Sirius had made him laugh, properly laugh, and made him want to get out of bed even if only to see him. He’d never really thought he needed constant company like that, always thinking his introverted ways made him more likely to spend the rest of his life with his books and cats, but now it just felt like it wasn’t enough. 

Annoyingly, he’d realised he wanted more out of life.

Which was a bit of a problem honestly. With his condition and all he hadn’t thought he’d find someone, muggle or magical, that could handle it. His friends were accepting but he knew how rare that was. Now he found he actually wanted someone to talk to about his day and to cook tea with and just spend time with. 

What the fuck had happened to him?

Sure the need had crept in before, but then he’d just gone out to a bar and found someone and gone back to their flat for the night. In the morning it was over and that need for companionship and connection could be shoved back into the corner of his mind. 

Last week he’d downloaded a dating app and that was grim. He’d deleted it within ten minutes.

But still, that need for more lingered. And he honestly didn’t know what to do about it, since the reason for it was a pretty demon man from another world who he had no certainty of ever seeing again. 

Two weeks. Maybe time worked differently there, maybe Sirius thought he’d been gone two minutes and he wouldn’t realise and come back when Remus was seventy and he would have spent his whole life on the lingering hope that he’d see him again. 

He couldn’t do that. So he had to keep going. He was going to find things that made him happy again. He was going to do better. 

He lifted his head off the counter. The sun had long set as the winter season turned the days short and he only had a few minutes of his shift left. Rotely, he closed up shop and counted out the till.

Wrapping his scarf tight to ward off the chill, he shuffled down the busy street, all other commuters heading home too, and climbed the stairs to his flat. 

Happy mewing and purring sounds came from the living room as he shut the door and a soft smile grew on his face. It would be okay. He had good things in his life. He had his friends and his cat. Maybe he should get Mildred a sibling, that might be good. 

Keys clattered as he threw them in the bowl by the door and hung his jacket up. 

“Milly where are you?” He called out, expecting to hear the patter of little feet on the wooden floor as she came bolting for him like she usually did. 

But not this time. With a curious frown he walked to the living room and froze in his tracks. 

“Sirius.”


The man cocked his head and gave him that wicked grin. Silver eyes bright and he jumped off the sofa where he’d been playing with Mildred. 

“Heya,” he said, a trace of nervousness on his voice, “did you miss me?”


In half a second Remus was wrapping his arms around him and pulling him into a great hug. Sirius made a sound, but sank into his hold and hesitantly brought his arms around his back. Resting his head on Remus’ shoulder and it felt so right. Leather and smoke and just Sirius. If it weren’t for the solid proof in his hands he wouldn’t believe it. 

Had he missed him? Yes, he realised, he had missed him a lot more than he had let himself acknowledge. How strange that was for only knowing him a few weeks, but Sirius had come in like a whirlwind and turned his life around, how could he not have missed him?

Eventually Remus realised he had been holding the hug a touch too long, but Sirius just felt so right in his arms. He kind of didn’t want to let go. 

But he had to. He stepped back and grinned at him. Sirius’ own nervousness fading and he returned it. 

Scanning over his features, he took in the tired eyes and dark circles, the lingering tightness even when he smiled. All he wanted to do was trace those lines, fade them away and drive the tension away from him, Sirius didn’t deserve to feel that.

“You’re back.” 

Sirius nodded, “Yeah and I can stay a while, um if you’d want that?”

“Yes!” It came out far to quickly and eagerly but that only made Sirius smile wider. “How can you stay longer though?”

With a dismissive wave of his hand, Sirius crashed down onto the sofa, sprawling out. “My brother helped me sort out some enchantments to keep my magic stable here, means I won’t need to go back there to recharge.”

Still stood there, Remus nodded. Sure that made sense sort of. “What kind of enchantments?” Considering he had been talking about human souls and blood rituals, what kinds of things had he done to stay?

The pause Sirius gave didn’t inspire confidence either. But slowly he reached up and pulled the collar of his shirt aside. Remus sucked in a harsh breath. Under his sharp collarbone were a line of dark runes, inky black but ragged as though they had been carved there and were still healing. 

“Jesus Christ,” he breathed out, stepping between Sirius’ spread legs and reaching down to hold the collar aside and examine the runes. He didn’t catch the hitch of Sirius’ breath as his fingertips skimmed over his skin, too focussed on the damage. 

“Sirius…” he shot him a look out the corner of his eye to find Sirius fully focussed on him. With a sigh he leaned back so he could properly look at him. “Why did you do this?”

He simply shrugged. “Had to, only way we could figure out.”

“If you’d looked longer you might have found another-“


“No.” The harshness of it made Remus flinch and the cold fury that settled on Sirius’ face had him pulling his hand back. “I couldn’t wait, I had to get out of there.” Sirius’ face shifted, something haunted behind his eyes. “I couldn’t spend a minute longer there, this was the only way.”


Numbly, Remus nodded and rose. “Alright, but you’re putting healing salve on it.”

“Yes sir,” Sirius said with a teasing twist to his lips. And no, Remus was not going to think about the heated sensation that shot through him at those words. 

With a sigh he muttered, “Just stay put,” and tapped Sirius on the chest. 

Sirius winced and let out a sharp hiss at the contact.

“Sirius?”

He rubbed at the back of his head, unable to meet his eye, “There might be more.”


“Christ. Okay.”

He grabbed the healing salve from his bathroom as quick as he could, only to return and find Sirius playing with Mildred’s paws and making cooing sounds. Oh that wasn’t fair. That was too cute. He was meant to be annoyed at Sirius and his recklessness and now his heart was just doing a weird melting thing. 

He set the salve down and scooped Mildred up, setting her down on the armchair instead. 

“Noooo.”


“You can have the cat back when you’re better.”

Sirius huffed and stuck his tongue out at him, but shrugged his leather jacket of. Remus just raised a cool brow and threw the pottle of salve at him. “I’m making sure you actually use it.”


Sirius flashed him a smirk as he pulled his shirt over his head. “Ah Rem if you wanted me to take my shirt off you should’ve just asked.”


Quickly, he ducked his head but he knew it wasn’t fast enough to hide the blush that flushed to his cheeks. He heard the low laugh Sirius let out and the sound of the pot being opened. As he sat down on the coffee table he finally brought himself to look up properly. 

All humour fell from him as his face dropped. There was a matching line of runes under Sirius’ other collarbone. But the most stark was the larger line of them that traced down his sternum and over his abs, all the way down to the line of his jeans. If he wasn’t so horrified by the carvings into his skin he’d be a bit flustered by all the muscle and those two shiny piercings, but as it was he couldn't take his eyes from the markings. 

“Sirius…” he whispered and the man’s gaze flicked up. Whatever he saw on his face had Sirius softening and he gave him a tight smile. 

“I do know, I know I was joking, but it really does hurt like a bitch.”


A huffed laugh from Remus, “I’ll bet. Will it heal okay you reckon?”

Sirius nodded as he rubbed salve into the cuts. “Yeah, it’ll just look like tattoos soon, and this seems like the good stuff,” he tapped the salve pottle. 

“Yeah I use it after the moons.” He didn’t say that it fully worked, the evidence of the scars on his face and arms were enough for Sirius to work that out himself. Especially if they were magical injuries, if they were just physical the salve worked perfectly, but there was only so much that could be done for curses. 

Sirius finished and chucked the pottle back to Remus, when he got back from putting it away Sirius had his shirt back on and was settling Mildred on his lap, who was purring happily. 

Remus hesitated at the doorway, a bit unsure what to say now the initial shock was over. But then Sirius smiled up at him, easy and open. 

“You want takeaway for tea?”

The moan Sirius let out was borderline pornographic. “Fuck yes, can we get Indian?”

Remus gazed out the window. Tea warm in his hands as he took a sip. Moonlight shone, a half crescent, into the room, illuminating with the warm light of the lamps around. 

“What you thinking about?” Sirius asked, setting down a plate of cheese toasties in front of him. Sirius had become a bit obsessed with perfecting cheese toasties. 

“Nothing really, just know the moon pains are going to start setting in soon.”

Sirius’ face tightened and he thunked his head against Remus’ shoulder. “What do you normally do during the moons?”

Remus shot him a dry look, “Besides turning into a bloodthirsty wolf?”

“Yes beside that,” Sirius said with a tut. 

“There’s an area that’s warded on the Potter’s land. We go there when I have to change.”


“We?”

“Ah,” well no real harm in telling him, he thought, “James and Peter come with me. They’re animagi, they can turn into animals, and they help keep the wolf entertained. It stops it from getting annoyed and doing this,” he gestured to the scars on his face.

He’d expected Sirius to only look pitying, but there was a curious glint in his eye.

“Having animals around helps?”

“Yeah, James is a deer and big enough that he can wrangle the wolf a bit, and Peter’s a rat so he just runs around and they play chase, from what they’ve told me - I don’t really remember the moons.”

Sirius nodded and a slow smile grew on his face. “Would you want me to help?”

Remus’ dark brows knit, “I’m not sure what you can really do.”


But Sirius only grinned wider and poked him in the cheek. “Well Moon Man, if you’re done being broody-“


“Hey!"


“If you’re done, I’ve got something to show you.” He jumped up and Remus watched with a quizzical tilt of his head.

Sirius did an excited little bounce and the sharp tang of his magic filled the air, then in the blink of an eye he was gone and in his place stood a great shaggy dog. Fur the black of the darkest night and far larger a creature than any dog than he had ever seen before. 

Remus’ jaw dropped and he couldn’t bring himself to move, even as the dog’s tail started wagging erratically and he bounded up to him, thunking his head against his knee.

“Sirius?”

A resounding bark and Remus let out a disbelieving laugh. Finally the shock faded and he reached forward, patting the dog around his ears. The dog made a happy sound and sat at his feet, tail still going a mile a minute. 

Remus just grinned and ruffled the dark fur, so soft under his touch. “That’s so cool,” he said with a laugh at the dopey look on the dog’s face as he sat there patiently, “such a good boy.”

A surge of magic and all of a sudden his hand wasn’t carding through fur, but twined through Sirius’ curls. 

Caught off guard, Remus paused. His hand still in Sirius’ hair, cradling the back of his head. Sirius on his knees between his legs and looking up at him through his lashes. An undefinable look on his face, but a faint blush suffusing through his pale cheeks. 

Oh he looked so good like that. Gazing up at him with those wide eyes and lips parted like he was just waiting for Remus to make a move. What would happen if he tightened his hold in his hair? If he leaned down and captured those pink lips with his? If he pulled Sirius closer? He was in the perfect position to…

Remus dropped his hand from Sirius’ hair with an apologetic look, but it took a moment for a shiver to shake Sirius into motion. For a second it had felt like they were on the precipice of something and a flash of heat burned down his spine. But he took a deep breath, not realising it had caught while Sirius had looked at him, and sank back into the cushions, returning his features to amusement to hide any traces of lingering arousal. 

Sirius sat down next to him, but the tense set to his shoulders betrayed his conflict. Eager to distract Remus gave a tight laugh, “That was really cool, does dog you have a name?”

Shoulders dropped and Sirius relaxed into a smile, turning to lean back against the armrest of the sofa, his feet burrowing under the blanket. Remus did the same, not even thinking before pulling the shared blanket over his own knees. 

“Padfoot, my brother named him Padfoot.” 

Remus’ shoulders shook as he laughed, “Why on earth?”

An exasperated sigh came from Sirius, but it was laced with fondness, “He was little, he thought he had big feet that went pad pad pad,” he bopped his hands along to illustrate.

He didn’t push, Sirius rarely spoke of his family, his brother he spoke of fondly, but often tinged with this look of hurt that made Remus’ heart ache. So he was quick to distract.

“My friends call me Moony.”

Sirius barked a laugh, eyes bright once again and throwing his head back. “Really? Isn’t that kind of-“


“Oh yeah fully, that’s why they did it,” Remus shook his head with a smile, “bit on the nose but they thought it was funny that it was so obvious but no-one ever called them on it. And honestly yeah it is a bit, so it stuck.” His lips twisted in a wry smile. 

“Alright then Moony,” Sirius said with a smirk, “you better eat your toastie before it goes cold, I worked hard on that.” 

Remus huffed a laugh and he grabbed his plate, turning the TV onto bake off for them to settle into for the evening. 

They stood shoulder to shoulder as they washed their dishes up from tea. Questions had been ticking over in Remus’ head since last night when Sirius showed him his dog form thing. What else could he do? What other parts of him didn’t he know about? What about where he came from? The more Remus thought the more he realised he knew very little. Any questions he had asked Sirius had skirted around so expertly he hadn’t even realised he hadn’t actually answered them. But that had been early on, before he came back. And something felt different now. There was an ease there now, but a tension too. The curious looks he caught Sirius giving him out the corner of his eye, or the way he would blush and look away quickly if he caught him. 

He’d never thought he’d see a demon blushing but you discover something new every day. Especially so with Sirius, and he desperately wanted to know more. To know everything really. He was fascinating. 

“Pads?”

Sirius choked on his laugh and turned to him, still drying the dishes Remus handed him. “That staying?”

“Yep,” Remus shot back with a smirk. But then his features sobered, “Um, I was wondering, you showed me the dog transformation thing-“


“My hellhound form, but yes.”


“Right that, and I’ve seen you do your magic,” he twisted his hands about and soap suds splashed, “but what else can you do?”

Sirius set the tea towel down carefully and turned, narrowing his eyes. Hastily, Remus rushed to cover, “I just mean, is there anything else? You have different magic of course and I’m just curious, I’m sorry if that’s asking too much, I didn’t mean-“

The corners of Sirius’ lips curled and his gaze softened, “There’s more, there’s a lot more honestly, I don’t know how I can explain it all.”


Remus pulled the plug on the sink and dried his hands, leaning back against the worktop, his undivided attention on Sirius. The note of trepidation in his voice had a nervous buzz in his mind growing. 

Silver eyes fixed on him and Sirius took an obviously steadying inhale. “Hell, at least the part where I’m from, has ruling factions, ruling families. Everyone has an affiliation, and families tend to have their own brands of magic and abilities.” 

Something haunted flickered behind his eyes and Remus longed to reach for him, but Sirius seemed too lost in his own world. He held tighter to the worktop and let him continue. 

“My family is old, one of the oldest, and they’re powerful. That’s how I could come through, not everyone can. It takes a lot of magical energy and not everyone can channel that. But being old and powerful, they're terrified of losing it, they do everything they can to make sure we will never look weak.”


An awful feeling churned in Remus’ stomach. Whatever Sirius was building to couldn’t be good, he just knew it.

“And we’re not like humans, children are rare and don’t come often. I’m the heir to my family.”


Oh shit. He’d figured Sirius was powerful, but this was something else. 

“My parents are brutal, regimented. And they raised me to be their successor, the mirror of their own beliefs. And for a while I did that, I didn’t know any different. But then my brother was born.” 

Sirius took a shuddering breath and Remus caved, reaching for his hand which Sirius clung back to with a white-knuckled grip. 

“Regulus, I couldn’t stand to see him treated the same way. And he wasn’t quite, he wasn’t the heir so he didn’t have the same kind of expectations. But I think because of that they didn’t pay so much attention and he ended up working twice as hard to try and prove himself to them, even though they never really gave a shit,” he let out a hollow laugh, “I kept Regulus safe from the worst of them, took it all instead. But as we got older Regulus got resentful of it all and we started thinking differently. He got more extreme in following them and the family traditions, and I got further and further away from it. To them I’m a complete failure.”

He gave Remus a grim smile, one of brutal understanding and acceptance, knowing there was nothing to be done. 

“It’s been a long time since then, but Regulus and I are very different. I don’t know if he fully believes the same things they do, all their hierarchy and supremacy, but he very much knows that I think it’s all bullshit. But he’s still my little brother.”


“Oh Pads.” Remus pulled him into his arms and Sirius clung back tight. Feeling Sirius’ stuttered breaths against him, the short rise and fall of his chest. 

Sirius pulled back but didn’t let go of his hand. “I hate it. I hate where I came from. Every little reminder. I’ve tried to make it my own, but everything I am is so like them and I just, there’s no escaping it. I wish there were, but I don’t know a way out. You asked what other magics I can do? I can show you."


He tugged Remus by the hand to the middle of the living room and stepped back. With a shuddering breath he met Remus’ wide eyes. “My family have the night magic, but we also have shifting abilities, like my hound form. Well, there’s more.”

With bated breath he watched as Sirius tugged off his shirt, throwing it aside. Then Sirius turned around and his breath caught. On each shoulder blade were whorls of pearlescent skin, shimmering in the evening light. From them, down his spine, radiated lines. Some thicker longitudinal ones, interspersed with cross-lines of connection between them. They almost looked like old scars, but something was distinctly different. They almost shone with an underlying magic, like it was rippling just beneath the skin. 

The final exhale Sirius gave was audible, and then the air around them fell dense. Heavy with the scent of magic and Remus watched in absolute awe as the muscled planes of Sirius’ back rippled and melded. Protrusions of flesh growing from the knots on his shoulder blades, pulling the pearly lines out from under the skin as they grew. Sirius shuddered and shook, shadows spilling from his hands and pouring off him like he were pulling all light from the room. 

Remus gasped as the surging under his skin gave way and two forms burst from his shoulders. Slowly, Sirius turned. Fear palpable on his face. Terrified of how Remus would be looking at him when he saw the truth of him. Remus couldn’t move, completely in awe of him. It was beautiful, it was terrifying. For all the magic he had ever seen, nothing had ever been like this. 

Behind him, the forms grew and slowly, they unfurled. Remus clapped a hand over his mouth, eyes wide in shock. 

Wings, Sirius had wings. Almost bat-like, but formed of skin and muscle as an extension of him. Thin and membranous, the same pearled quality to them as the lines they had formed on his back. But now they splayed wide above his shoulders, fine and elegant as the rest of him. They were beautiful.

But one look at Sirius’ eyes and he knew he didn’t believe that. His lovely face a mask of dread, as if exposing his true self would send Remus running. How could it? Remus knew what it was to detest a part of himself. As much as he hated it, the wolf was a part of him - something monstrous that had forever changed the trajectory of his life, he would not be the person who he was today without it. He had no power over what he was and neither did Sirius. How could he ever hold that against him?

Carefully, he took a step towards him. Sirius stood stock still, nerves radiating, but Remus tentatively reached forward and cradled his jaw. Bringing him to meet his eye. 

“You’re beautiful Sirius.”

Silver eyes widened and his mouth fell open in a soft exhale, exposing a flash of sharpened canines. 

So this was his true form. This is what he had been avoiding showing, all the things he had not said. 

As he looked closer he could see it more. The way his eyes shone more starlit, more uncanny. The way light seemed to catch in his midnight locks and trap there. 

“Gorgeous,” he murmured, “you’re gorgeous.” Remus raked his eyes over the long line of his wings, the slight motion of them as Sirius swayed in closer. 

With the faintest touch, he traced his finger over the curve of his wing. Sirius full body shuddered. 

“Remus,” he gasped out, “they’re, they’re really sensitive.”

He looked back and found Sirius’ pupils wide blown, almost fully occluding the silver. 

Oh. Oh.

The hand on his jaw drifted lower and Remus skimmed his thumb over his lower lip, watching as it gave under his hold. The warm air of Sirius’ short breaths against his fingertip. 

“Does it feel good?” He asked, voice dropping low. 

Sirius let out a small sound when he traced another line over his wing. “Remus.” His voice a near whine. 

A step closer, almost chest to chest, and he tilted Sirius’ chin up, holding him fixed.

Silver eyes meeting golden brown as he searched for the answer he needed. The dark-blown gaze, pleading look in Sirius’ eye, was everything he needed. 

He ducked down and captured Sirius’ lips. Soft and heated, immediately threading his fingers into those perfect curls and gripping tight. Sirius gasped into the kiss, grabbing for him, fingers digging into his back as he clung on. He tasted like perfection itself. Danger and beauty and life. Everything he had been missing, everything he wanted. The embodiment of the stars themselves cradled in the palms of his hands. 

Remus pressed into the kiss, tongue tracing the seam of Sirius’ lips, seeking more. And Sirius eagerly gave it, letting out a groan as he opened wider. Remus’ tongue pressing in, smirk twisting at the corners of his lips as he traced the pointed ends of his fangs, so close to drawing blood. 

Hot and needy, Sirius whined into the kiss and pressed flush to him, hands scrambling at his back until he managed to bury them under his jumper. Nails dragging over the tanned planes of his back, catching on the scars there. Knowing he would leave red welts, but what was one more mark? At least these would be laid down in pleasure, not pain. 

Remus turned them, pushing Sirius backward without breaking the kiss or opening his eyes. Further into the living room until his knees hit the sofa edge. 

With a gasp he broke the kiss. Tasting divinity itself on his tongue. The look Sirius gave him was downright feral. Fine cheekbones pinked and flush trailing down his neck. Hair mussed from Remus’ hands. Already such a mess and he had barely gotten started. 

Slowly, Remus traced his hands down Sirius’ chest, over the healed tattoos, flicking at the piercings through his nipples and making Sirius let out the most lovely whimpering sound. With a grin he sank back into the sofa. Arms over the back of it and legs spread. Tilting his head as he took in Sirius above him. The heaving of his chest and heated look in his eye. 

“Kneel then.” 

Sirius paused and Remus raised a brow, curious to see if he would actually do it. But then Sirius was sinking to the ground. Hands on his thighs and looking up at him with the most ruinous expression. Oh Remus was a doomed man. He would be thinking about this moment for the rest of his days. Nothing would ever compare to the sight of Sirius on his knees before him. 

He raised his hand, carding his long fingers through Sirius’ hair, and Sirius leaned into the touch with a sigh. A soft curl to his lips like he was finding a peace in their moment. 

“Good boy,” Remus murmured absently, mesmerised by the soft look on Sirius’ face. But he most definitely caught the shudder that went through Sirius at those words. 

“Oh,” Remus said with a smirk, tightening his hold of his hair, “like that?”

Sirius nodded, a needy sound pulled from him. 

Oh he was perfect, absolutely perfect. 

Remus leaned down and captured his lips once again. Giving no quarter as he took Sirius’ whines and gasps from his open mouth. With a wicked grin, he dropped his hold and leaned back again. 

“If you want it…”


The eager nodding and fixated way Sirius grabbed for his belt had Remus’ mind reeling. Clumsy fingers, usually so fine and sure, unbuckled his belt and pulled at the zip of his jeans, but Remus stopped him, pulling his hands away before he could go further. 

Sirius looked up to him with furrowed brows but Remus just pushed him back. Ever so slowly, teasingly, he pulled down the band of his boxers. Sirius watching rapt as every new inch of skin was revealed. Until he pulled out his cock. Sirius didn’t move and he gave himself a leisurely stroke, already hard and leaking just from the sight of Sirius before him. 

A small “Fuck,” broke from Sirius and Remus could help but let out a low laugh. Sirius wasn’t able to hold back any longer and his hands went to Remus’ jean-clad thighs. Moving up and tugging at the hem of his jumper. With a huffed laugh Remus pulled it over his head and threw it aside. 

All the new skin exposed, Sirius raked his eyes over him, following with his hands, running over the planes of Remus’ chest and hips, anything he could to feel him. 
When he thought Sirius had had his fill he dropped his hand back to his hair, making Sirius look up. 

“Hands down.”

Sirius readily complied, eager and patient. For someone that moved around like a whirlwind, Sirius was perfectly calm and still. 

Finally, he dragged Sirius’ head forward and the man moaned as he wrapped his lips around Remus’ leaking tip.

“Fuck Sirius,” Remus gasped, pushing his head down further. And Sirius started to bob, drag of his tongue on the underside of his cock. Warm and wet, spit spilling from around his lips as he tried to swallow him down further with every downstroke. 

Remus’ mind left him. Nothing but the feeling of Sirius around him. Heat of his mouth and the tightness of his lips wrapped around him. Sucking and swallowing him down. Hand in his hair gripping tighter but not forcing him. Letting him set the pace but Sirius seemed set to give him the very best he could. Sinking lower and lower each time until he hit the curls at the base of his cock. 

“Fuck you look so good.”

Sirius hummed around him and it sent vibrations ratting through Remus, right to his very core. Fine rope of pleasure growing tighter inside him. Heat pooling and desperate. 

Sirius’ perfect pink lips stretched wide around him and a look of absolute bliss on his face. Eyes shut and lashes fluttering as he pulled up for a gasp of air, only to sink back down immediately, like he couldn’t get enough of his cock in his mouth. 

“Sirius,” Remus heaved out, “look at me.”


Dark lashes fluttered open, trails of tears leaking from them as Sirius pushed further and gagged around his cock. He pulled back a second to steady his breathing and Remus rubbed soothing circles where he held his head. But then Sirius was swallowing him again, holding his gaze. 

The tears spilling down his cheeks, mingling with the spit as it fell from his chin, lips swollen red, that had the tight rope inside Remus set to snap. 

He grabbed harshly at Sirius’ hair, pulling him off, but it only made Sirius moan low and filthy. Chest heaving as he leaned back on his heels. 

“You didn’t…” 

Remus shook his head, “Not ready to yet, just getting started.”


Sirius let out a choked laugh and slumped against Remus’ thigh. Still catching his breath. And Remus traced gentle fingers over his cheekbones and chin, wiping away any mess. 

Sirius nipped at his thumb as he ran it over his lip and Remus let out a chuckle. With a grin Sirius said, “Knew you’d be like that.”

“Like what?”

“All bossy.”


Remus scoffed but he couldn’t really deny it. Though he really hadn’t expected Sirius to bend to it so easily. 

He gave him a chastising bat on the shoulder but that only made Sirius laugh more. With a shake of his head he stood, pulling Sirius up with him. Leaning in and dragging him into a kiss.

Softer and sweeter than those before, tasting himself on Sirius’ tongue. 

More. He needed more. 

Sirius seemed to be of the same mind, reaching for Remus’ jeans and tugging them over his thighs. Remus kicked them away and went for the button on Sirius’. Fingers shaking and becoming desperate, he pulled them down with his boxers all in one. Sirius leaned down to take them off fully and when he stood again Remus’ breath caught. 

Fully naked before him, he was stunning. All lithe muscle and smooth skin. Unable to hold back, Remus reached for his hips, sucking in a sharp breath at the way he fit so perfectly between his hands. The cut of his hipbone as he drifted lower, the soft curls above his cock. 

But then his eye caught on something. 

“Sirius… fuck.”


A wicked smile carved Sirius’ features, amusement sparking in his eyes. “Surprise?”

A disbelieving laugh escaped him as he ran his hand over Sirius’ hard cock. Pink flushed and pretty like the rest of him, but as he ran over the underside he could feel the line of five barbell piercings down the length of him. 

“Fucking hell Sirius,” Remus murmured, unable to take his eyes away from him and he wrapped his hand around him. Sirius gasped as Remus stroked him, grabbing for his shoulders. 

“Remus, please.”


And he just begged too lovely. 

Remus’ lips crashed into his and it was mind melting. His hand working over Sirius, tongue flicking over those sharp canines, biting at his lip in the desperate need to have him. 

Remus broke off, taking Sirius by the hips and pulling him between his legs, sinking back onto the sofa so he could take him in properly. 

Sirius’ cock jutting proud in front of him and there was a heated look in his eye as he took in Remus’ wonder. 

“Fuck you’re amazing,” Remus murmured, making Sirius’ cheeks flush red again. Remus quirked a brow at that, he really did seem to get worked up about the praise. 

He was definitely going to be using that. If anyone deserved to be told how spectacular they were it was Sirius. 

His gaze fell back to his cock, and now he could properly take it all in. The five silver barbells on the underside were such lovely decoration and he wrapped his large hand around Sirius’ waist, holding him in place as he swiped his thumb slowly over them. Feeling each piercing under his thumb, making Sirius shudder in his hands as he ran over each one. 

Sirius’ hand went to Remus’ hair on instinct when he ducked down and licked over his slit. Lapping over the tip of his cock. Holding him firm as he lifted him to lave over the piercings underneath and Sirius let out a string of curses. Finger’s tangling in his tawny curls and tugging. 

God he tasted like heaven itself. A perfect angel sent down to ruin him. 

Remus hummed as he licked over Sirius’ cock, drifting lower to toy with his balls and that had Sirius’ knees buckling. Quickly he grabbed both hands around his hips, and held him in place as he tasted his fill. 

“Remus, please,” Sirius whined as he swiped his tongue through the drop of pre come leaking from his tip. 

Remus flashed him a grin and pulled back. Dropping his hold and leaning back on the sofa. He caught the way Sirius was looking at his cock slack-jawed and took himself in hand, stroking himself with a moan and watching the raw hunger etch itself across Sirius’ face. 

“You want to ride me?”

“Yes fuck yes,” tumbled out of Sirius’ mouth and then he was climbing over Remus. Knees settling on either side of Remus’ thighs and dropping onto his hips. Sirius moaned as he rocked back against his cock and it took everything in Remus to keep it together and prepare properly. 

He grabbed Sirius’ waist to still him and pulled him into a kiss, Sirius’ hands cradling his face and drawing him completely into the feeling of him. Teeth and tongues. Heat and need. 

With a wave of his hand and a muttered incantation he cast a lubrication charm, making Sirius cry out at the sudden rush through him. 

“It’s okay, just gets you ready quicker.”


“Fuck Remus, yes, hurry up.”

Sirius kissed him again and Remus relaxed his hold, letting him grind down again. But this time his hands drifted to his arse, grabbing at the ample flesh, fingers digging in as he pulled his cheeks apart. Sirius whined at the cool air over his exposed hole, slick with lube, and Remus really couldn’t let that. Sirius needed to feel good. He was so good. 

Fingertips circled his hole, dipping in and toying, applying pressure that gave no real relief. 

“Moony, please."


And the way Sirius said that, god that buried all the way into his soul. Need and ache, his name had never sounded prettier than when it came from his mouth. Like he had never truly heard it before the way it was meant to be said. Like it was made for Sirius to cry out. 
One finger sank into Sirius, making him moan loud and his hips stutter. The tight heat of him, warm and slick and Remus was obsessed. He slowly worked it all the way in, then out, tugging at his rim with each pass, opening him up wider. Soon enough he added another finger and Sirius was gasping into his mouth. 

“Now, want it now.” 

But Remus shook his head, “Not yet, one more.” Sirius pouted and Remus kissed it away, stretching him further and working faster. 

Then he pressed his fingers forward in just the right way and Sirius cried out high and wanton, nails digging into Remus’ shoulder. 

“There, there!” He moaned, rocking his hips into the feeling as Remus rubbed over his prostate. 

Remus trailed his lips down his neck, sucking dark bruises at the hinge of his jaw that had Sirius squirming on his lap. A teasing nip at his lobe and Remus murmured, “Taking my fingers so perfectly, doing so well sweetheart.”


Sirius whimpered and buried his face in Remus’ neck, breathing hard and shaking with the immensity of his desire. 

On the next press down of Sirius’ hips, he pushed a third finger past his rim. Long and thick, reaching deep into the blazing warmth of him, slick sounds mingling with Sirius’ moans. Hot breath against his collarbone and Sirius laving kisses over his neck and shoulders. 

“Please Remus, please.” 

“Please what sweetheart?”

He bit his lip to hold in his laugh at Sirius low muttering of “fucking-“ but Sirius pulled his head up and met his eye. All trace of control gone from him, throwing himself completely at Remus’ mercy. 

“Please fuck me, I need it, please.”

Remus rewarded him with a heady kiss. “Good boy, asking so nicely.” Sirius’ eyes darkened impossibly further and Remus finally took pity. 

He pulled his fingers from Sirius’ stretched hole and cast another lubrication charm on his hand, wrapping it around his cock and hissing at the coolness, but it quickly warmed and soon it felt too fucking good. He was so on edge already and he desperately needed to be inside him. 

He lifted Sirius by the hips and lined himself up to his hole. Meeting his eye, Sirius nodded, and Remus carefully lowered him, only sinking in to the tip. 

A broken moan tore from Sirius as his thick cock pressed through the tight muscle. “Fuck fuck fuck,” he gasped out, fingernails dragging through the short curls at the nape of Remus’ neck, tugging him in for an open mouthed kiss. Remus moaned into the kiss as Sirius sank down another inch, rocking into the feeling and wincing a bit at the adjustment even for the preparation they had done. 

Inch by inch he sank down, sharp inhales every step lower he got. Remus keeping up a litany of praise the entire time. “Feel so good, you’re doing so well sweetheart, taking me so well.” Sirius’ eyes sank shut and he hung his head back. Pale column of his neck exposed and Remus latched on, hands wrapping tight around his waist and sucking at the bob of his throat as he felt Sirius’ moans under his lips. 

Sirius sighed deeply when he finally settled fully on him. Slumping over him and shoulders shaking with the strain of it. Remus clung to him, tracing soothing circles over his lower back and cradling his head where Sirius rested against his shoulder. 

Suddenly a bit overcome, Remus pressed a tender kiss to his temple. “Perfect, you’re so perfect Sirius.”

Sirius made a grumbling sound and Remus pulled his head back with furrowed brows. Sirius’ eyes were glazed and heavy lidded as he looked at him, but Remus needed him to understand how much he really meant it. 

“You are sweetheart, really, absolutely perfect.”

Sirius held his gaze a moment, haze deepening behind his cloudy silvers. But slowly he nodded. 

“So gorgeous, so good for me.”

Sirius shuddered and sank back into him, but Remus heard the quiet murmur of “Want to be good for you.”

“You are, you’re so good for me.” Gently he moved Sirius upright again, cradling his jaw and pressing a kiss to his bitten lips. “Show me how good you are.”

Sirius nodded and a determination flared behind his eyes. He braced his hands on Remus’ shoulders and lifted. Then slammed down hard on his cock. 

They moaned in unison, Remus’ hands flying to Sirius’ hips as he lifted and dropped down on him again. Feeling the roll of his hips on the downstroke, every minute motion of the strong muscles. Sirius’ head hung back as he moaned, wings flaring behind him as he climbed higher in his pleasure. 

Tight heat of him, walls of him around him and gripping him tight - there was nothing better in any world. 

Sweat beaded on Sirius’ chest, catching in his collarbones and Remus surged forward, lapping at the falling droplets and sucking dark marks into the runic lines under the fine bones. Sirius gasped into the sensation and he picked up the pace, bouncing on Remus’ cock. A constant stream of little sounds of Ah! every time he hit the spot just right. 

Lips tracing over his neck, Remus reached around, one hand braced on his hips but the other drifting up to stroke over the sensitive skin of his wings where they met his shoulder. 

“Ngh Moons, fuck, that-“


“Feels good?”

“Yes yes so good,” Sirius moaned wanton. 

Hot desire pooled in his core and Remus did everything he possibly could to hold on, to keep them in this moment as long as he could. As he kissed over Sirius’ jaw his hand wrapped around his throat and he felt the shuddering of Sirius’ breath. Unsure he pulled back, but Sirius looked down at him with undisguised need. 

“Yes please.” Remus tightened his grip and Sirius shook in his hold, keeping his eye. “Ah, fuck, I’m not, harder.”

Remus’ eyes widened but a pleased smile curled his lips. 

“That what you want? For me to fuck you hard, make sure you fucking feel it?”

Sirius’ mouth fell open and he nodded, at a loss for words. 

Remus grinned wicked as he gripped Sirius’ hip in a vice and thrust up hard into him. Sirius fully screamed, thrashing in his hold but there was no reprieve as Remus slammed him down on the next thrust. Clashing of hips and skin echoed throughout the room. Sweat and sweet sounds that spilled from Sirius like the finest wine, rich and dark with desperate desire. 

Sirius’ hands fell from his shoulders, clawing at his chest and leaving livid stripes, but Remus only grinned, the flash of pain only adding to the pleasure. 

And Sirius moaned, eyes rolling back as he fully gave into it. Letting Remus push and pull, dragging him down on his cock brutally, pounding into him with precision, battering his prostate with every thrust and making him feel the full, considerable length of him with every single drive. 

“Taking me so well sweetheart,” Remus murmured, his mind foggy with desire. Nothing in the world but Sirius and the stretch of him as he split him open. So lost in his pleasure his tongue ran without any control. “So fucking pretty, so fucking perfect. God you look so good on my cock. Just made to take it aren’t you? My perfect boy.” Sirius whimpered and dug his nails harder into Remus’ chest. “Fuck you’re amazing Sirius, just look at you, god, I want to have you like this always, taking my cock like it’s all your made for. Bet you’d like that wouldn’t you? If I kept you like this, ready to take me whenever, being such a good boy for me and keeping yourself all stretched out for me so we wouldn’t even have to prep, you’d just take it.”

“Moons, fuck-“


“You’d like that wouldn’t you? Stay here and be my good boy?”

“Yes! Yes! Fuck, yes! I want that, want that so much!”

Something dark and possessive burned through Remus and he surged forward, capturing Sirius’ lips in a brutal, all-consuming kiss. 

“Mine,” he growled and felt Sirius’ shudder at the undisguised want in his voice. 

“Yours,” Sirius gasped, finally meeting his eyes again, pressing his forehead to his, “all yours.”

A rumbling sound tore from Remus’ throat and he grabbed Sirius’ cock harshly. Stripping over it and thumbing at the piercings underneath. 

A feral, primal need surged through his veins, setting every part of him aflame, burning with a visceral need to show Sirius how much he was his. 

He burrowed into his neck where he still held, laving long stripes of his tongue over his flushed skin, mingling spit and sweat. “Mine,” he growled low, not even recognising his own voice for the low grit of it. “Mark you as mine.” 

Sirius whined, high and needy, and folded into Remus’ shoulder. Sharp canines dragging over the skin and flexing muscle. “Yes yes, mark me.”


Without a seconds hesitation Remus bit down, tearing through skin and sinew, blood flooding his mouth but it tasted like the ichor of the gods. Ambrosial on his tongue, rich of gold and strength of iron. 

Sirius cried out and it was the most beautiful music to his ears. Remus grinned as he pulled back, licking the flows of blood from the wound and trailing his tongue up Sirius’ throat to murmur in his ear. “Mine, show me, so good for me, come for me.”


Sirius gasped as he thrust up hard and then he pulled taught as a bowstring. Clamping impossibly tight around Remus’ cock and shaking as his orgasm tore through him. Shuddering and moaning through the force of it, open mouthed and gasping against Remus’ shoulder. And then in his ecstasy he clamped his sharp fangs hard into Remus’ shoulder. 

Remus cried out as pain radiated through him, but that combined with the immense pressure of Sirius around him sent him vaulting over the edge. Thrown and dashed among the rocks as the last shreds of his sanity were sunk and destroyed in the storm of their pleasure. 

Vibrations of Sirius’ orgasm rattling through him, mingling with his own and merging until they became one. 

The reverberations of an earthquake. Bringing everything he knew crumbling down, laying the land to waste for something new and bright to rise from it. 

Remus’ breath came back to him slowly. Short inhales becoming deeper as air filled his lungs again. As the lingers of flashing light faded from behind his eyes and the sea fret fog cleared from his mind. 

He slumped back into the cushions of the sofa, pulling Sirius with him. The man made a small grumbling noise and a soft smile bloomed over Remus’ face. Tenderly, he kissed his temple, stroking his completely wrecked hair to try and set it to some semblance of right, but there was no hope, Sirius looked a complete mess. Bruises blooming and come spilled over their stomachs, warm and tacky between them. 

With a sly smile Remus pulled his come-soaked hand from Sirius’ spent cock and lifted it to Sirius’ lips where he leant against his shoulder. Sirius didn’t even open his eyes. All angelic looking as Remus pressed his fingers into Sirius’ mouth and he lapped his own come from his fingers, humming around them as he sucked it off. Remus smiled at the sight, at the look of satisfied peace that had settled over Sirius, and he went to pull his fingers away but Sirius whined and frowned and he just couldn’t have that. He pressed them back in and a smile curled Sirius’ lips, happy once again. Remus just chuckled and pulled him tighter to him, hugging him close. 

They hung suspended in their post-sex haze for a long while until the twinges of exertion began to ache at Remus’ joints and the position started to become uncomfortable. 

“Pads,” Remus murmured, “need to clean up."


Sirius shook his head against him and Remus huffed. He tilted Sirius’ chin and when the man opened his eyes they still looked glazed and misty. With a soft smile, Remus swiped his thumb over his cheekbones, wiping away the tears of pleasure there that he didn’t realise had fallen. 

“Okay love,” and with a jolt he realised how natural it felt to call him that, “I’m going to sort us out okay?” Sirius nodded with a dopey smile and Remus couldn’t help but lean down and press a gentle kiss to his lips. “You did so well sweetheart, you’re amazing.” 

Sirius grinned and burrowed back into his neck. A swelling emotion filled Remus’ heart, and he knew what it was, he couldn’t say it just yet, but he knew exactly what it was. 

Carefully, he wrapped his arms around Sirius and pulled them both up. Sirius clung to his shoulder, legs wrapped around his waist, Remus carried them towards the bedroom - for once thanking his werewolf strength. 

As they got to the doorway Remus chuckled, “Got to tuck your wings in love.” Sirius huffed and pulled them in and Remus smiled to himself as he carried him into the room. He sat Sirius down on the bed and went to pull out but Sirius made a pained sound and he froze.

“What’s wrong?”

“Not yet,” Sirius said, shaking his head.

Remus paused, trying to figure it out. “Okay love, one sec.” He fumbled for his wand on the bedside table and muttered, “Accio washcloth,” catching it as it flew from the bathroom. He quickly spelled it with warm water and carefully cleaned the drying come from both their stomachs, Sirius humming happily as he did so. 

Then, ever so gently, he pressed his fingers to Sirius’ rim. Red and puffy, Sirius whined at the soreness, but Remus placed a calming hand to his hip, giving it a squeeze. Sirius relaxed again and Remus let out an exhale as he pulled out. Overstimulated and spent, but he still felt the loss of his warmth around him. Sirius started to protest but Remus quickly sank three fingers into him, which made him sigh in relief. That pained expression giving way to contentment once again. 

Remus smiled, satisfied that he’d kept Sirius feeling good. He swiped the washcloth through the mingled lube and come that dripped from Sirius’ hole, spilling down his thighs. Eyes wide as he marvelled at the mess he had made of him and it sated something deep in him to see the evidence of how well fucked Sirius was. 

And he did look well fucked. Sex-sleepy smile on his face and myriad marks scattered over his neck and chest. Then Remus’ eyes caught on the bite mark at the base of his neck, where it met his shoulder. 

Fuck. It was okay, he wasn’t transformed so he wouldn’t turn him. And Sirius was a demon, could that even happen? He quietly sent a healing spell at the bite mark.

Shaking his head to rid himself of that incoming panic, he shelved that in a corner of his mind for later. For when they were both fully coherent and could talk about it. Right now he had to look after Sirius.

The man was just watching him, hazy eyes following his every movement. So Remus took him by the hip and turned him, Sirius gasping as it jostled the fingers in him but then sighing in relief when he sank down on his front among the blankets. He did a happy little wiggle that made Remus’ heart do a flip in his chest. How could a demon look so sweet and adorable? But if he knew anything, Sirius was nothing like what he had first seemed. 

His inky black curls spilled over the pillow as Sirius tucked it under his head, a light curl to his lips. Pearly pale wings splaying out from his back and over the blue bedsheets. A fallen angel in every regard, heavenly in his beauty. Like something of a masterpiece painting, to be hung in the Louvre to be marvelled at for the fine artistry of his form and divine creation of him. 

Remus shuffled across the bed, careful to not disturb Sirius too much, but with the span of his wings there he was almost falling off the edge. When he looked over he found Sirius watching from the corner of his eye. A flash of his normal self sparked there and with a smirk he lifted his wing. Remus gratefully shuffled under it and pressed himself against Sirius’ warmth. The wing curling around his back and it should have been strange he supposed, but it felt strong and stable, like he was held. 

Sirius let out a sigh and his eyes slipped shut. Remus kept watching as he fell into a sated sleep. 

Remus smiled as he sleepily wrapped his arms around Sirius’ waist. “That looks good,” he murmured into his neck, pressing a kiss there, right above where the bite he’d given him had left a faint scar.  

Sirius chuckled, still low in that scratchy morning way. “Me or the food?”

“Hm both,” and he gently bit at his unclothed shoulder. Sirius laughed but it turned into a moan when Remus kissed at the soft spot at the hinge of his jaw that never failed to make him melt. 

“Moons, cmon I don’t want it to burn.” 

Remus grumbled but the smile on his face gave him away, so he just leant his chin on Sirius’ shoulder and watched as he flipped the bacon in the pan. 

Mildred wound between their legs and soft morning light streamed through the windows, hazy and lovely, an ease hanging over them as they woke up to the day. 

The past few weeks had been like this and Remus didn’t know he could be this happy before. There were moments of blinding joy, but for the most part it just came in gentle contentment. A quiet sort of happy that settled deep in his bones and had him smiling as he walked to work, had him drifting off between customers when he glanced behind him to see Sirius engrossed in a book, tucking his hair behind his ears and expressions shifting as he read.

It just felt right, in a way he had never expected, or ever known his life could be. 

The incoming moon still loomed large, making his joints ache and creak, but he wasn’t dragged into his usual despondency before it with Sirius to distract him and bring him cups of tea when he felt too sore to move. 

One Saturday morning he’d woken and remembered it was a market day, he’d used to love going to the markets down the road and looking through all the nicknacks and food stalls, but he hadn’t brought himself to go in ages. And he’d realised he would really like to go again, show Sirius it. So they’d wandered down, hand in hand and this time Sirius fully visible to all. 

When Remus had asked about that Sirius had shot him a grin. “I don’t have to put the sight-shield up you know.” 

“Then why were you doing it earlier?”

Sirius had bit his lip, laughter dancing in his eyes. “Was easier, and it was pretty funny the looks people gave you when you were talking to yourself.”

“Fucks sake,” Remus had laughed, jabbing him in the ribs and tickling him, which ended in him kissing him and dragging him to the bedroom to make him pay for that. 

They’d wandered through all the eclectic stalls and returned with some second hand books under Remus’ arm and a weird looking frog picture that Sirius had been so delighted by he couldn’t help but get it. It now hung next to his bookshelf and made Remus smile every time he saw it. 

They’d lived in their little bubble of contentment so long, he should have expected it to burst. 

Remus was sat on the sofa, watching with a smile as Sirius in dog form played with Mildred. The cat batting at his paws and Sirius kept bopping her on the head. 

It was an entertaining scene that got shattered with the bang of the front door opening and James Potter yelling “Moony!” at the top of his lungs. 

Remus froze as he charged into the living room, bright grin and hair sticking in every direction, but then his face twisted in confusion and he paused in the doorway.

“Rem, why’s there a dog?”

Sirius cautiously slunk towards Remus, not taking his eyes away from James, and settled at his side. Remus reached out to touch his back, feeling his hackles up and trying to settle him.

James’ surprise shifted and he wandered forward, hand outstretched, “Bloody hell you’re a big fella, here doggy.”

Sirius growled and sharply Remus bit out, “Sirius, no.”

Sirius settled with a huff but James frowned, “Sirius? Isn’t that… Rem what?”

Remus let out a sigh and gestured for James to sit. He did, but a frown still marring his face. 

He knew the jig was up. He’d managed to avoid dragging his friends into this whole situation. He’d been telling them he’d made a new friend called Sirius, but hadn’t given them any more detail than that, no matter how much they pestered. But he had to come clean now. 

James looked between them, hazel eyes wide and questioning. 

Remus just gave a defeated nod and said, “Sirius, you can change back.” 

With a surge of magic Sirius materialised, wearing the track pants and old t-shirt he’d stolen from Remus. 

James lurched back in the armchair, reaching for his wand as he stuttered, “what the fuck!”

“Prongs, wand away.” James did as asked, but not without some hesitancy. And Remus could understand that, it was a strange situation.

Sirius sat down beside him on the sofa and on instinct Remus reached over and squeezed his thigh, just a calming touch but James’ eyes followed it. 

“You’re an animagus,” James said, still reticent but a curiosity now glinting behind his glasses. 

Sirius tilted his head in a so-so gesture. “In a way,” he said, which only made James lean in closer, more curious. 

Remus bit the bullet. 

“Prongs, you remember on halloween when we did that demon summoning thing?”

James turned to him with utter confusion, “I mean yeah sort of, I was hammered and its a bit blurry but sure.”

“Well you know how we thought it didn’t work?”

“What?”

“Well it did actually work.” Remus gestured to Sirius and James’ jaw hit the floor. 

“You’re fucking joking.”

“Nope.”


“You’re having me on.”


“James I’m telling the truth.”

That shocked James out of it and he stood, pacing in front of them and looking between them. 

Then he rounded on them. 

“Rem, what the fuck! Why didn’t you say anything!”

Irritation surged in Remus and he grabbed Sirius’ hand to ground himself. “How the fuck was I meant to explain this.” He tried to say it calmly but it came out with more bite than he intended. 

Sirius squeezed his hand and Remus looked to him. The nerves on Sirius’ face brought him back, and he took a steadying breath, giving him a tight smile. 

James’ eyes flicked between them, the look and intertwined hands. “Okay, this is mental. Prove it then.”

“Prongs, I’m telling the truth.”

But James shot him a raised brow, a touch of mirth to it. “And I’m sure I can say you’d never pull a prank on me like this.”

A wry smile curved Remus’ lips and he inclined his head, yeah okay fair call. 

Sirius tutted and shook his head, standing up. “Why is that both of your first reactions,” he muttered and then he started twirling his hands in those fluid motions. Streams of shadows and specks of starlight gathering between them. 

James’ mouth dropped but he moved closer to Sirius. “Fuck that’s so cool.”

Sirius’ brows shot up and he let out a disbelieving laugh. “I.. thanks. Better response than him, it sent him into an existential crisis.”


James laughed loud and reached over to give Remus a pat on the cheek which he batted away. “Sounds about right for our Moony.”

Sirius chuckled at that, “Yeah makes sense now. He was stressing about the cereal being one day over the expiry date the other day and wondering if it was safe still.”

“Hey if you two are done there,” Remus cut in as they sniggered. 

Sirius grinned as he sat back down next to him, giving him a peck on the cheek in apology. Remus glanced at James but he was only looking at them with a shit eating grin. 

Oh he would be getting flack for this for a long time to come. 

“So you’re a demon,” James said, point of fact. 

Sirius nodded, “Yeah, I came through when you lot summoned me, but Remus said the binding bit so I got stuck with him.”

“Oi as if you’re so miserable about all this.”

The look Sirius gave him as so fond it made his chest warm. “Nah, not so bad.”

“So why are you still here?” James asked.

Sirius faltered at that and looked down, fiddling with the hem of his shirt. “I don’t want to go back.”

James shot Remus a look and he just grimaced in return. A silent communication of it’s bad, don’t ask more. James nodded in understanding, always the most empathetic. 

“Alright fair enough,” and Sirius shot him a grateful smile. He turned to Remus then, “I just wanted to check in on you before the moon tomorrow, you doing alright?”

A soft smile broke over Remus’ face and he nodded, “Yeah, I’m doing good. Sirius keeps bringing me cups of tea and trying to feed me.”


Sirius mock scowled at him and James chuckled, “Okay, well if you’re alright. And uh, Sirius, if you can turn into dog mode, uh well I don’t know how much Rem explained bout the moons-“


“I told him.”


James’ eyes widened minutely, but he nodded, “Right, so, is Sirius coming for the moon then too? It might be good to have another animal there, especially a dog that big.”

Remus’ breath caught in his throat and he stilled. Oh shit he hadn’t even thought of that. Why hadn’t he thought of that? Easy answer was he’d been too wrapped up in Sirius, but really in some subconscious part of him, did he really want him to see him like that? At his worst?

Sirius tugged on his hand and Remus turned to him. The look Sirius gave him was one of open understanding and finally Remus took an inhale. 

“Moons, if you don’t want me to come that’s okay, but I swear it won’t be a problem. It’s not going to change… I mean, if it’ll help you then I’d like to come.”

Mind racing, but after a moment it coalesced into a coherent thought. He did want Sirius to come. Sirius had shown him the side of himself that he hid away, he could do the same. 

“Okay, if you’re alright with that, then yeah I’d like that.”

A brilliant grin lit up Sirius’ face and he reached up to pull him into a sweet kiss, uncaring of company. Remus blushed as Sirius pulled back and glanced over at James, who was pointedly looking away, though his smirk was evident. 

“Right then,” James said smacking his thighs, “reckon I should get going. It was nice to meet you Sirius, Rem a word?”

Sirius waved goodbye as he followed James into the hallway, pulling the door to the living room shut behind him. 

James spun and he prepared himself for the inquisition, but James just grinned, shaking his head. 

“Oh Moony Moo you finally got got.”

James went to ruffle his hair but Remus ducked. “What, no, bugger off.”


James laughed at him, “Oh you so did, you fancy him,” he said sing-song.

“Shut up shut up,” Remus whispered, lurching forward to cover James’ mouth and ignoring when he licked him. James wrenched his hand away and then they were scuffling and laughing.

Remus pulled back, breathing heavy but feeling lighter than he had in a long time. 

James knew and he hadn’t gone running or made Remus leave. That was the best he could have hoped for. 

Hazel eyes flicked over his features and Remus felt far too observed. James always had that way about him, like he could see right through all his masks and diversions. 

“You really really like him don’t you?”

Remus blushed and nodded, unwilling to say that he reckoned it might be a bit more than like. But James nodded as though he already knew that. 

He reached forward and set his hands on Remus’ shoulders, meeting his eye. “Rem I’m glad. Its an absolutely insane situation, but you look happy, like properly happy, more than you’ve been in ages.”


“I am Prongs, really am.”


James smiled and smacked a kiss to his forehead, making Remus laugh and duck away, and James let go of him. “Should I explain to Pete? Not everything, I’ll tell him that Sirius is a new friend you made through work like you’ve been saying and I’ll say he’s an animagus not a full on demon.”

Remus nodded, “Yeah, I’ll tell them all sometime soon, but it’s just a bit much right now.”


“Specially when you’re all in the honeymoon phase,” James said waggling his brows. 

Remus tutted and clipped him over the shoulder but James just laughed. 

“Get gone,” but then he softened, “thanks, really."


James pulled him into a hug, “Course Moony. Anytime.”

He let himself out the door and Remus let out a sigh. It had gone well. It was going to be okay. 

When he returned to the living room Sirius gave him a tentative smile. “Okay?”

Remus nodded and sank down into his side, Sirius’ arm going around his shoulders. “Yeah good.”

On the night of the full moon the wolf ran with a stag, a rat, and a large black dog. Tail wagging as he met the new friend but something in him knew. Pack, his mind echoed when he saw the three of them. And when he licked the dog’s face, nuzzling into his neck, and the dog submitted to him, his mind called over and over again, mate mate mate. 

Remus woke in his bed the morning after the moon. Midday sun shining through a crack in the curtains and Sirius laying beside him, watching him. 

“Hi,” he whispered, “you feeling okay?”

Remus gave him a wobbly smile and shuffled closer, breathing in the calming scent of leather and smoke that lingered on him always. 

“Yeah, sore but okay. Did it go alright?”

“Mhm, the wolf seemed pretty happy to see me.”

Remus smiled properly at that and leaned in to kiss Sirius, tasting of minty toothpaste and that addicting thing that was simply him. 

When he pulled back Sirius’ eyes shone with something so tender it made Remus’ heart swell. It almost looked like… but no he couldn’t bring himself to hope for that. He just burrowed against Sirius’ shoulder and let his breathing shallow, drifting back to sleep.

Remus bit his lip as he internally laughed at Sirius. He’d shown him the Lion King the other day and now Sirius kept picking up Mildred and raising her to the ceiling yelling “Simba!” and spinning her around. He took a sip of his tea to hide his smile, he just lov…

He stalled that thought, quickly burying it back down in his chest, no matter how hard it tried to rise and spill from his tongue. It was too early to say that yet and yes their situation was strange, but he’d never felt anything like this before. He loved his friends, he told them that and they told him too (James especially, he was very affectionate), but it was something else entirely to say it to Sirius. He had no idea how he would react at all. Had the thought even occurred to him? Maybe Sirius just liked spending time with him, and yeah the sex too, the sex was amazing, but maybe that’s all Sirius felt. Just friends with some fun. 

One day, maybe one day he would work up the nerve to tell him. 

He was still watching Sirius, just wearing Remus’ grey track pants as he spun Mildred around near the kitchen in the evening light. He set Mildred down and started to turn to Remus, a giddy grin on his face, when his features contorted and he doubled over, grabbing at his chest. 

In a heartbeat Remus was up and at his side. All humour gone as he put a hand to Sirius’ back and held onto him. 

“Pads, love, what’s wrong?”

Sirius shook his head, gasping against the pain in his chest. 

Oh no, no, not again. 

He couldn’t go back again.

“Love, please, what’s happening?” He asked, panic rising. 

Sirius lifted his head, silver eyes wide and fearful, and Remus knew. 

No, no, this can’t be happening.

Sirius took a shuddering breath and pulled himself upright, still straining against whatever was tearing at his chest. When he pulled his hand away Remus glanced down, and there in the middle of his chest, just above where the line of tattoos started, a sigil in the shape of a snake glowed. Golden and bright as fire, like it was burning through him. Orange seeping from it in tendrils like it was scorching through his veins and setting him alight from the inside. 

“Sirius, what is that?” He whispered low. 

Sirius turned and collapsed against his shoulder, shuddering breaths rattling through him and shaking his whole frame. 

“They’re calling me back.” 

“I thought, isn’t that what those runes are for? You don’t have to go back, your magic isn’t being drained?”

Sirius shook his head against him, a pitiful sound of pain spilling from his lips. “Its not that, my magic’s fine, its them."


Oh shit. 

“Your family?”

Sirius nodded minutely and something inside Remus shattered. Of course. Of course this was all too good to be true. Sirius was the heir to his family. They would want him back so they could put him under their thumb again. He was only meant to be here for a short trip to get his soul and return, he wasn’t meant to have spent the weeks here that he had. Of course it couldn’t last.

“They’re summoning me back.”


“You don’t have to go though right? Just because they’re calling you don’t have to answer. They can’t make you can they?”

Sirius tilted his head back and met his eye, resignation lingering there like a burial shroud. “I have to. If I don’t the pain will get worse and worse and I don’t know what happens if I don’t…”


The implication hung heavy in the air. 

Remus shook his head and held Sirius tighter, tucking him under his chin like he could hide him there and keep him forever safe. “How can this happen?” He muttered to himself.

“They brand us with the family sigil when we turn twelve, its a whole ceremony thing.” 

He said it far to lightly and Remus pulled back, staring at him. “I meant more like ‘this isn’t fair’… what the fuck, they did that?”

Sirius nodded with a wince, and the sigil seemed to glow brighter. 

“Is it getting worse?”

“Mhm, hurts,” he managed to get out, slumping back against Remus’ chest and tightening his arms around him. Then small and broken, “I don’t want to go.”


Tears fought to spill and Remus had to shut his eyes, pressing his cheek to Sirius’ soft curls and taking in the warmth of him, feeling of him against him, desperately hoping this wouldn’t be the last time. 

Sirius gasped, fingernails digging into Remus’ spine hard. “Moons, it hurts, it hurts so much.”

Remus bit back a sob, pressing a kiss to Sirius’ crown. 

He had to go.

One of them had to let go.

Sirius let go first. 

He dropped his hands but didn’t pull back, letting Remus cling to him a moment longer. 

When he finally stepped back the sigil was blazing red, jagged lines radiating from it and searing across his chest. 

“Remus, I…” he reached and took his hand, gripping tight, and when he looked up his eyes were pleading, like they were begging for him to understand, “I’m sorry.”


“Its not your fault,” Remus said, cradling his cheek and pressing a gentle kiss to his lips. Soft and savouring, hoping the feeling would linger. 

“I know but I’m sorry.”


“Sirius-“


He dropped Remus’ hand. 

Sirius backed away, grabbing his shirt and jacket and shrugging them on while Remus stood immobile, unable to comprehend how quickly everything had changed again. Ten minutes ago he’d been watching Sirius laugh and dance about. Now his lovely face was a mask of utter devastation. 

Sirius stood in front of him, gazing up for a moment before he tugged him down and captured his lips in one last kiss. Tears spilled down Remus’ cheeks, mingling with Sirius’ own as he gasped a sob against his lips. 

Sirius stepped back. Eyes on Remus’. “I don’t know, I can’t promise I can come back this time. I don’t know what they want but it can’t be good.” 

Remus nodded but terror thrummed through every bone of his body. What was going to happen to Sirius when he went back there? It sounded extreme, and the fear plain in Sirius’ eyes spun a dreadful premonition. 

“But you’ll try?”

Sirius gave him a weak smile, “I’ll try.”

He took a step toward him, three important words on the tip of his tongue. “Sirius, I-“


Sirius doubled over again with a cry, sobbing gasps tearing through him. “Fuck, fuck, I’m sorry Moons, I’m sorry, I have to go, I have to.”

“No, love, please.” He moved towards him but Sirius’ eyes shot up. Fixing him in place and Remus stilled. 

Hard and resolute, though lined with agony. They softened and Remus could have sworn the look Sirius gave him mirrored his own. Devastation and love blurring together amid silver and golden brown. 

“I’m sorry,” he murmured. 

Remus lurched forward, Sirius muttering in his arcane language, shadows swirling around him and lights flickering above them. The room plunged into darkness and Remus’ fingers met nothing but air. When the lights blazed high again, Sirius was gone. 

The winter frost faded and flowers grew through the cracks in the concrete. Days got longer and the sun shone warmer. Remus went to work. He tried to remember to message his friends. He came back home and fed Mildred. Monotonous. Every day the same. 

A broken record in his mind kept telling him, you didn’t even say it, you didn’t tell him you loved him. 

There was nothing he regretted more than that. Why he’d let him delude himself that they had so much more time he didn’t know. He should have just told him.

And now it had been six months since Sirius had left and the hope that he would come back dimmed little by little every day passing.

The hour was late. The world outside gone silent, but Remus couldn’t sleep. He rolled around under his duvet, huffing in irritation. But his mind wouldn’t quiet. For months it felt like he had been walking through a daze, the world shifting around him as he stood still. His mind slow and sluggish and trapped. But today it had been thrumming. Like a buzzing at the back of his head that he couldn’t get rid off. He’d been on edge all day and his thoughts had been pinging in every which way. 

And now all he wanted to do was sleep. It had been a long and very dull shift and he just wanted to fucking sleep. But his mind wouldn’t shut the fuck up. 

With a groan he rolled onto his back. Staring up at the ceiling. Counting the chips in the white paint and trying to imagine they were the sheep that dotted the fields where he grew up. Maybe he should visit his Dad. Maybe that would break him from this lull he was in. Would that make it better? Probably not actually, his Dad was a prick and would probably make it worse. 

His thoughts kept bouncing about and he just kept staring at the ceiling. 

A loud crack jolted him upright. Scrambling for his wand, he dropped out of bed. Padding across the hardwood floors, trying to make as little sound as he could. 

Gingerly, he pushed ajar the door to his living room. Wincing at the creak of the old hinges. 

The room was dark, lit only by the glow of the streetlights outside. He stood to his full hight, knowing he didn’t make all that much of an imposing figure in his fluffy socks and pyjama bottoms. But he held his wand out, sure and strong, ready to face whatever had caused that sound. 

His eyes adjusted and he could make out a figure sprawled on the floor. Frowning, he inched closer. Then the figure let out a groan and turned on their side. 

Black hair spilling over fine cheekbones, face pale and contorted in pain. 

Sirius Sirius Sirius.

His mind a cacophony of noise all screaming his name. 

“Pads.” His knees hit the floor, reaching for him. One hand going to his face and brushing the matted hair away. Sirius shuddered under his touch but no words came, just another whimper of pain.

“Love, what is it? You’re here. Fuck, you’re here.” 

A shaky laugh but then Sirius winced. Remus set his hand on his back, intending to sit him upright but Sirius let out a cry and he pulled away quick. 

“What-“

He stalled when he realised his hand was wet. Looking closer, he realised it was coloured crimson. Blood dripping down his wrist. 

“Shit, shit, shit,” he muttered, “I’m sorry love, I’m sorry.” He wrapped his arms around Sirius’ back and under his knees, lifting him though Sirius shook, and carried him into the bathroom.

He set him down on the floor and flicked the light on. The halogen lights burned his eyes, but they gave horrific clarity to the situation. 

Sirius sat, braced against the edge of the bath and leaning on his arms. Eyes shut and tight-lined with pain. Whole body wracked with tremors of agony. 

He wore some fancy flowing-fabric trousers and there were leather cuffs and silver charms wrapped around his arms. His torso was bare and it exposed the depths of the damage. 

His back turned to Remus, he could see it all. 

Lacerations, deep and bloody, slashed through muscle and sinew, all the way to the bone in places, littered his back. 

Remus gasped, clapping a hand over his mouth and ducking his head to look away. Hating himself for having to look away but if he didn’t he knew the sob that fought at his throat would break free. 

He took a harsh inhale. Steadying himself as best he could. Though it did little. 

Sinking to his knees beside Sirius, he reached for his face. Tucking his hair behind his ear, and realising it was matted with blood, he tried to give him a stabilising look. 

“It’s okay love, you’re here. I’ve got you.”


Sirius leaned into his touch and his eyes fluttered open. “Moons,” he said on a breath and the relief in it broke Remus’ heart.

“Here love, I’m right here. I’ve got you.”

Sirius hummed, resting his head against the edge of the bath as Remus stroked over his cheek. “Moony.” His eyes began to shut and panic rose in Remus again.

“Hey, no, love, you’ve got to stay awake.” He tapped Sirius’ cheek and silver eyes opened again, clearer this time.

“Moons, it hurts.”


“I know love,” he choked out, “I’ll fix it, It’ll be okay.”

Remus stood and scrambled for the cabinet. Pulling out everything he could possibly think of that could help and putting it on the floor beside Sirius. Cursing when he realised he’d left his wand in living room and running full tilt to grab it, finding Sirius unmoved when he returned.

Remus let out a sigh of relief. He was here. He was in bad shape but he was here. 

His mind raced with how this could have happened, but right now his priority was sorting out the still-oozing wounds to Sirius’ back. 

He sank down beside him, running a hand through his hair and making soothing sounds. “It’s okay love, I’m here, I’ve got you, It’s all going to be okay.”

Sirius barely acknowledged him, just making a small sound, but at least he was still conscious. 

Grabbing a cloth, he soaked it in antiseptic. “I’m sorry love, this is going to hurt.” Sirius hissed when he pressed it to the cuts, gritting his teeth and muscles tensing as he gripped the bath white-knuckled. 

Methodically, Remus cleaned the cuts out. Stopping every so often to switch out the cloth when it became too soaked with blood. 

Finally he leaned back on his heels, taking stock of the true extent of the injuries. 

Some of the cuts were only surface level and would likely heal alright, but the majority of them were deep, some all the way to the bone of his shoulder blade, and he knew with painful certainty that they would leave brutal scars. 

Blood continued to spill and Remus didn’t know how long they sat on that bathroom floor. Sirius tensing against the pain washing over him and Remus cleaning away every trickle of blood that dripped down his spine, casting hasty healing charms to try and stymy the flow. 

When the torrent seemed to have stopped, Remus stood and washed his hands, water turning pink as is swirled down the sink. He sat down next to Sirius, cradling his jaw and turning his head to him.

“Hey, still with me?”

The faint illusion of a smile ghosted over Sirius’ lips, “Still here.”

A huffed laugh, half relief, broke from Remus and he ducked down to press a kiss to Sirius’ crown. 

He looked back over Sirius’ shoulder, and in the bright bathroom light glare he caught sight of the shimmering of pearlescent lines down Sirius back. 

A sickening reality slammed into him.

“Pads… your wings.”

Sirius looked up at him brokenly, mouth a grim line as he nodded. 

“Shit. Shit, okay. What happens if they scar over when they’re put away like that?”

Sirius shook his head and looked away.

“Okay love, do your magic thing, I’ll fix them, it’ll be okay.”

Tears spilled down Sirius’ cheeks, “It hurts, it hurts too much.”

Remus cradled his face in both hands, wiping away the tears. “I know love, I know, but I’ll make it better, I promise yeah?”

Sirius faltered, eyes flickering with thoughts streaming past, but eventually he nodded. 

“Okay love, come here, I’ve got you.” He pulled Sirius’ head to his shoulder, holding his waist, careful to avoid the fresh cuts. A constant stream of calming words as he carded his fingers through Sirius’ hair as the air around them fell heavy with the scent of magic. 

Sirius screamed as shadows began to ripple from him, grasping for Remus’ arms and clinging so tight it would leave bruises. But none of that mattered as Remus held him close. 

The brutalised flesh of his back began to contort and meld and the shadows flickered. 

“Moons,” Sirius cried out on a sob, tears streaming down his face, “too much, I can’t.”


“Yes you can love, you’re doing so well,” he kept carding his hand through Sirius’ hair, feeling damp droplets fall on his shoulder, “it’ll be better soon love.”


The shadows returned and Sirius screamed as protrusions sprouted from his shoulder blades, emerging from split skin and blood flowing again down his spine. Dripping red pools on the floor. 

Breathing hard against Remus’ shoulder, a muffled cry rent through him as his wings burst free. 

Remus bit back his own sob at the sight of them. “Well done love, you’re okay, you did so well,” he soothed, rubbing the back of Sirius’ neck as he shook against him. 

Sirius’ wings drooped against the floor, no strength in him to hold them up. But what absolutely wrenched Remus’ heart in two was the destruction of them. Thin, membraneous skin sliced to ribbons, hanging in tendrils from torn muscle. One wing was warped, jagged bone exposed on the curve of it. 

“Alright love,” Remus said, sucking in a steadying breath, “I have to let go a moment, I need to sort… just hold onto the edge okay.”

Sirius didn’t fight it as he shuffled out from under him, but his eyes did track him. Heavy lidded but still present, though clearly only by way of the shock and adrenaline running through him.

He set Sirius’ hands on the edge of the bath and stood. Trying to figure out the best move. 

Pain potions, anything… shit. He didn’t have any pain potions since they didn’t work right on him, all he had was fucking paracetamol. 

He handed some to Sirius and he swallowed them down dry. Not like it would do much but it was worth a try. He did have some sleep potions though so he could give those to Sirius after, that should help him rest enough for the cuts to dry up. 

With a nod to himself he knelt back down. Leaning over Sirius’ wings and slowly cleaning them. They were in tatters and finally, with Sirius unable to see him, he let the tears fall. Silently crying as he cleaned Sirius’ wounds. The man wincing and letting out cries when he cleaned the worst parts. Shoulders shaking with the force of his sobs as the shock began to fade and the pain set in full force. 

Remus unscrewed the pottle of healing salve, hoping beyond hope that it would work and heal the worst of it. He didn’t know how these wounds had been made, if they were magically cursed it would do very little in terms of scarring, but it would make them scab over and stop the bleeding.

Sirius shuddered under the cool salve and Remus made hushing noises, “You’re doing so well, nearly done,” he kept murmuring.

He slowly wrapped bandages around Sirius’ back, where he could on the wings but those for the most part couldn’t be. Maybe they should be splinted up, especially the one that sat at a bad angle, but he didn’t have the things to do that properly and he didn’t want to set it wrong and make it even worse. He tied the final knot of the bandages and shut his eyes with a heavy exhale.

Done, he’d done everything he could.

Remus leaned back and clapped his hand over his mouth. Stifling his broken sounds. He’d done the best he could but he was no healer, there was nothing more he knew how to do. But deep inside he knew, even if they found a healer there would be little else that could be done. Sirius wasn’t human, there was no guarantee magical potions would work on him. They likely couldn’t knit his muscles back together, stitch the ribbons of skin back together, re-grow the parts carved away.

He’d done his best.

With a gentle hand he reached over and ran his fingers through Sirius’ hair. Shit right. That needed cleaning. He wet a towel and sat beside Sirius, carefully pulling him onto his lap. Sirius slumped into him, sniffling as his sobs quieted. With the damp towel he cleaned through the strands of his hair as best he could. It was the most he could do right now. Tomorrow he’d wash it properly and hopefully that would make him feel somewhat better. 

When he’d finished he tilted Sirius’ head up, laying a kiss on his forehead. “All done love.”

Sirius sighed and ever so quietly, “Thank you.”


“Of course my love, always.”

Sirius’ breaths were still shaky, but he seemed to have relaxed into Remus’ hold. He was reluctant to move him, but they needed to get off the bathroom floor. The cold tile was punishing and there was blood and medical things scattered about. 

“Pads, hey, we have to move you to the bed.”

Sirius made an irritated sound but nodded and Remus wrapped his hands around his thighs, pulling Sirius’ legs around his waist. He leaned back as he stood, letting Sirius hang onto his shoulders as he took the few steps to the bedroom. 

As gently as he could, he set him down on the bed. Quickly, he grabbed pillows and turned Sirius around so he could lay face down. Sirius sighed when he stretched out, like the last of his strength finally deserted him. 

Okay. Alright. What next?

Remus skimmed his gaze over him and realised Sirius was still in his strange adornments. One by one he unclasped all the cuffs and bracelets on his arms and set them on the bedside table.

But he paused at the bottoms. “Pads, can I?” He tugged on the trousers and Sirius nodded. Slowly he peeled them off and brought the duvet over Sirius’ lower half, leaving his back bare to let it heal better. 

He dropped a kiss to his cheek before dashing into the kitchen and grabbing a glass of water for him, and the pillows and blankets from the living room. He set everything down in the bedroom and did a final check, but he didn’t know what else he could do.

Sirius’ wings spanned the full width of the bed and he didn’t want to risk bumping them and injuring them further if he tried to sleep up there, so he arranged the pillows and throw blankets next to the bed. 

“What are you doing?”

Sirius’ voice caught him off guard. Louder than anything before, this time he could hear how ragged it was. And with a hollow in his stomach, Remus realised it sounded like he’d been screaming. So loud it had cracked and broken. 

“Don’t want to knock you, I’ll stay down here.”

Sirius made a pouty face and that had a faint smile tracing Remus’ lips. He handed over the sleep potion and Sirius drank it down without even asking what it was, just trusting implicitly. 

He gave the bottle back and Remus set it aside, but Sirius left his hand at the edge of the bed. When Remus didn’t take it he huffed and batted it on the sheets. That did made Remus smile and he took it, lacing their fingers together. 

“The potion will send you to sleep soon,” he whispered, air around them feeling fragile. 

Sirius nodded, but then he whispered back, “It was my parents.”


Remus’ blood ran cold.

“I… I finally pushed them too far. I’ve been exiled from the family.”

“Oh love.” Remus held his hand tighter. 

Sirius didn’t explain further, his eyes drifting shut. Remus settled, leaning against the bed. He didn’t sleep at all that night, but he held Sirius’ hand the whole night through.

Dawn broke golden and bright, but Remus’ limbs felt like lead. He’d just watched Sirius as he slept, looking for any signs of change. It looked like the healing salve had worked well enough though, he didn’t bleed too badly through his bandages and he didn’t wake so the potion had worked well too.

His stomach growled and with a startle he realised he hadn’t moved in hours. He needed food, and coffee, and so would Sirius when he woke soon. 

He let go of Sirius’ hand, his own long gone numb and he hadn’t even realised. Trudging into the kitchen, he rubbed at bleary eyes. Mildred grumbled from the sofa at the disturbance of his footsteps but curled back up. Lucky thing knew nothing of all that had happened. 

He was boiling the kettle, a silencing spell cast as not to wake Sirius, when a loud crack echoed through the house and his wards blared. 

Oh for fucks sake. What now?

Pulling his wand from his pocket he turned, feet automatically falling into a dueling stance. His grip tightened when he saw the figure before him. 

Shadows spilling off him in waves, curling around him like they were his to command. He stood tall and imposing. Wings flared behind him only making him seem more deadly. An imperious air to him as he looked down the end of Remus’ wand. 

“Put that away,” he tutted. 

Remus narrowed his eyes and did no such thing. 

“Remus, I come in peace.”


“Like fuck you do. Who are you and how the hell do you know my name?”

The demon just rolled his eyes and tucked his hands into the pockets of the long coat he wore. It was a strange garb, stiff collared and falling to his ankles, made of black material. He wore those same flowing pants that Sirius had and around his neck hung an enchanted looking medallion. 

“You humans are so slow. I am Regulus of the house of Black, I assume Sirius has mentioned me,” an unsure chink broke his armour, “has he?”

Remus nodded slowly, “he has.” He didn’t lower his wand and Regulus noticed. 

“Probably not all good things then.”


“Why are you here,” Remus demanded. 

Regulus’ gaze drifted around the room and he frowned. “Where is my brother?”

“Safe,” Remus spat out. But when Regulus turned back he saw the concern barely hidden. “He’s okay,” he said softer, “well not okay, but he’s sleeping in the bedroom.”

Regulus nodded at that, donning the regal mask again. 

“Thank you for your aid then,” he inclined his head. 

Remus’ wand dropped just a bit. “You’re really just here to check on him?”

Regulus made a face at that, but he nodded. 

“Okay, I’m going to trust you,” he lowered his wand, “but if you do anything to hurt him I will hunt you for sport.”

Regulus laughed at that and for a second he really did look like Sirius’ brother. As he looked more closely the similarities were clear. Same dark curls, though Regulus kept his short, and the same fine features. Though the eyes were different. Regulus’ were so dark they were almost black. 

“Very funny human, you wouldn’t get very far with that.”

Remus bristled, “You have no idea what I would do.”


“No,” Regulus said with a smirk, “but you are nothing compared to us. Weaker magic, die quickly and easily, it would be like crushing a bug.”


Remus rubbed at the growing ache at his temples. “Great chat Regulus. What do you want?”

He faltered again and for a moment Remus was reminded that he really was the younger brother. Worry flashing across his features before he quickly hid it again. 

“I just wanted to know Sirius had gotten to safety, and now I know he has, I’ll be on my way.”

Remus frowned, “Don’t you want to see him? Talk to him? I can wake him up.”

Regulus just shook his head, lips a tight line. “No, no, it’s fine. I don’t know if he would want to see me, I just... I just needed to know he was safe.”

“And you’re just taking my word on it?”

Regulus tilted his head quizzically, like he was assessing him. “Yes. Sirius chose you. And he may be an idiot, but I do think he would have chosen well. Especially with everything that came with it.”


Remus’ brows furrowed as he tried to puzzle out what the hell Regulus was on about. But the demon offered no explanation. 

“Goodbye then Remus,” he said, magic starting to coil at his fingers. Then he paused. “Did Sirius tell you how this happened?”

Remus shook his head, “He just said he’d been exiled and that your parents did it.”


“Of course he didn’t explain,” Regulus huffed, “idiot.”


“He wasn’t exactly in any shape to.”

Regulus grimaced. “Quite.” His eyes flicked over Remus’ shoulders, where the collar of his baggy shirt exposed his neck and the faint scar of the bite mark Sirius had left there. “Did Sirius ever tell you what that means to us? That mark?”

“No?”

Regulus’ eyes sank shut and he hung his head back with a great sign. The exasperation evident. “Then this is all his to sort out.”

His magic flooded the room again but Remus spoke urgently, “Wait, how did you find us here? Will others be able to find us? Your parents?”

Regulus shook his head, a wry smile curving his lips. “No-one else will be able to find you. When they exiled him they severed the family bind,” he tapped at the middle of his chest, “and I was able to find you because I have had a tracker charm on my idiot brother for centuries. Always getting into trouble that one. Good luck.”

With a ear-splitting crack and flood of darkness, he was gone. Remus blinked in bewilderment. So that was Sirius’ brother. He was a bit intense. Remus shook himself and the lingering nerves fell away. He’d said the family wouldn’t come for him and he’d looked concerned, it had seemed sincere. 

The kettle flicked off behind him and Remus poured the water into the French Press, getting coffee ready for the hell of a day they were about to have.  

He set the coffee down on the bedside table and Sirius muttered a thanks. Blearily he opened his eyes. “What was that?” He asked.

“Your brother.”


Sirius’ eyes shot wide and he started to scramble up but Remus pushed him back into the bed with an ‘oof.’

“It’s okay, he just wanted to make sure you were alright. He’s gone now.”


Sirius sank into the pillows with a relieved sigh, but then he looked at Remus, conflicting feelings swimming in his eyes. “He wanted to know I was okay?”

“Yeah, I told him you were sleeping,” he stroked a hand through Sirius’ hair, “he’s pretty intense though, christ.”


Sirius chuckled at that. “Yeah he is. It’s nice he, I just, I didn’t think he would check.”

Remus leaned down and kissed his temple, “He did seem pretty worried.”

Sirius hummed at that, like he didn’t quite believe it. 

“He also said he could squish me like a bug.”

A barking laugh, “Now that sounds like Regulus.” Sirius grinned at him and it soothed Remus’ ragged nerves a bit to see a trace of his normal self returning. 

“Made you coffee and going to make some food too, then I’ll change your bandages.”

“Healer Moony to the rescue.”


Remus shook his head with a laugh, “Hardly, have had a bit of practice on myself though,” then a thought bloomed, finally calm enough to think rationally, “actually would be good if a healer looked at you. Can I ask James to come over? I know it’s a lot right now but he’ll actually know how to help better than I can and just it would be really good if you got proper treatment and-“

Sirius cut him off with a hand to his arm, “Yeah Moons, if it stops your panicking then sure.”

“Thank you love,” he took Sirius’ hand and brought it to his lips, “you rest and I’ll bring food in in a bit.” 

He set Sirius’ hand down and with one last lingering look, he went to make breakfast. 

James came over the next day and performed some proper healer spells that helped things significantly. He’d given Remus a horrified look when he first saw Sirius, but had quickly morphed into his usual chirpy self, keeping up a constant chatter with Sirius that had him laughing. Remus was glad of that honestly and eternally thankful to James, though he was a bit concerned with how well they got on and the kind of chaos that could spell for the rest of them. 

James managed to magically stitch together some of the worst cuts and bring the shallower ones to a pinky-pale scar. Though he had pulled Remus aside and told him that he couldn’t do more, the wounds had been inflicted with some form of cursed magic and would leave permanent traces, there was nothing to be done for that. Remus had just nodded, some part of him expecting that with everything Sirius had said, or pointedly not said, about his parents. 

James also brought with him pain-relief potions but unfortunately they found that, like Remus, Sirius seemed to have a resistance to them. So Remus had popped down to the pharmacy and stockpiled muggle painkillers since those at least did seem to work. 

It was a tricky next few weeks. Remus took the time off work even though he knew it would make things more difficult later in the month when bills were due, but he couldn’t let Sirius out of his sight like this. It took him a week to be able to move around, still wincing in pain every few steps. Even with magical healing speeding things up considerably, it was hard on Sirius. By week two he was stronger, but the lack of mobility was driving him up the wall and he was getting tetchy. Remus tried to keep calm, but he was exhausted too, and they ended up snapping at each other. 

It all boiled over three weeks after Sirius had returned. His cuts had all healed to pink scars. Still tender and many of them rather jagged, but they were healed and he could magic his wings back in. His wings hadn’t been able to be fixed back to how they were though, they would forever bear the traces of his parents’ brutality.

But the final drop in the bucket that sent it spilling was Sirius turning to Remus one day after tea. He met his eye, already an apology etched there, and said, “I need to go back.”

Remus balked, unable to believe what he was hearing. He slowly shook his head, skimming over Sirius’ features for any sign that he wasn’t being serious. But Sirius only looked at him with sorry already on the tip of his tongue. 

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” Remus spat out.

Apology turned to anger in those silver eyes. “I’m not, I have to go back."


Remus stood and started pacing in front of him. “Why! Why do you have to go back?” 

“Remus look at me!” Sirius gestured at himself, “I know I look like shit, but that’s not just from my injuries, its my magic, it’s draining again.”

Remus shook his head, “No, no, you did those enchantments right? Don’t those mean you’re able to stay?”

Sirius sighed and hung his head in his hands. “They have to be cast each time I come through, I didn’t last time.”

Remus stilled in his pacing. Oh shit. No no no no no. 

“So you have to go back or your magic will be gone.”

“And I can’t survive without my magic.”

Sirius’ eyes bored into him as Remus felt the reality of that crash down on him like a tonne of bricks. 

Sirius must have sensed his rising panic because suddenly his hands were on his shoulders. “Moons, it’s okay, all I have to do is pop back and recharge and I’ll cast the enchantments and it’ll all be okay from then on."


But Remus shook his head. “That takes a lot of magic doesn’t it? You don’t have the strength for that. You can’t manage it.”


Sirius pulled back, eyes blazing. “Don’t fucking tell me what to do.”


“I’m not telling you what to do-“


“Yes you are-“


“I just want you to be okay!”


Sirius slowly inhaled and reached for Remus’ hand. He bit back his anger and held onto him too. He could understand why, but it was so dangerous and Sirius was only just healed. Could he not wait a bit longer until he was better? Then maybe it would be less risky. And then there were his parents. Could they sense when he entered the realm? Would they come after him? What would happen if they caught him? 

“Moons, you’re thinking too hard, it’ll be okay.”


“I’m doing the right amount of overthinking, you’re not thinking about this enough.”

“I am, I swear I’ve thought this through,” he shook Remus’ hand and gripped tighter, “I don’t have to be there long.”

Remus looked away. Resentment bubbling inside him. Not necessarily at Sirius, but for all the ways he kept getting put in danger and hurt. It wasn’t right and it wasn’t fair. 

When he looked back Sirius’ eyes were pleading, nodding encouragingly. But Remus shook his head. “Okay you’ve thought about it. What about your parents? Can they tell when you come back?”

Sirius grimaced and Remus’ nerves spiked again. “Not the second I appear, but they have informants everywhere. I think I’d have a few hours before they come looking.”


“And would that be enough time?”

The moment of hesitation before he spoke was every answer Remus needed. 

“I could manage it.”


“That’s not good enough Sirius!” Remus burst out, jerking his hand from his hold. “And what happens if they get you? What will they do?”

Sirius visibly flinched and guilt flooded Remus. He hadn’t meant to do that. 

“Sorry, sorry,” he murmured, taking Sirius’ hand again and pulling him into his chest. Sirius hugged back and Remus took a deep breath. He didn’t like to argue with him, but they were both exhausted and wrung out and it was bringing out the worst of them. 

Against his collarbone Sirius muttered, “Whatever it is they’d do, its not gonna be good.”

Remus steeled himself and pulled back. Holding Sirius by the shoulders and fixing his gaze so he couldn’t avoid the question again. Every time over the past few weeks that he probed into it, Sirius had shut it down. And Remus had respected that. But now it was too important, it felt like he was missing one of the most important pieces of the puzzle and he couldn’t make sense of anything without it. 

“Love. What happened?”

Sirius ducked his head, but Remus cradled his jaw and pulled it back, needing him to see the desperation in his eyes. 

“Please, I need to know. I know it’s hard, but you keep dodging saying and I just feel like I’m missing something important.”

Sirius’ face tightened at that and he knew he was getting closer to the truth. 

“What happened? Why did they exile you?”

“Remus,” Sirius said on a barely there breath. 

“Please love, just tell me, no matter what it is it won’t change how I feel about you.”


Sirius’ eyes widened at that. Something akin to hope glinting in them. 

“Okay, okay.” He took a shuddering inhale to steel himself. “I was trying to come back to you. I was making plans and trying to figure out how to break the family bind so they couldn’t track me or pull me back like last time, but it’s old magic, really fucking old. And so powerful, it was going to be hard unless the head of the family, my father, did it. But I figured out a way. It took months but I figured it out.”

Sirius shook his head, a bitter laugh escaping him. 

“But my father found out somehow. I have no idea. Maybe the archivists told him what kind of magic I was looking into and he put it together, who fucking knows. He called me to his office and went off on one. I’m used to that shit, so I just took it while he ranted. But then…”


Sirius winced and Remus nodded, urging him on. 

“He got calm. And my father is not a calm man. When he’s calm it means you’ve hit the worst layer of angry. He told me it was time for me to step into my role as heir. That I had been shirking my duties for too long and indulging in my silly human travels and experimental enchantments. He wanted me to step into his shadow and become his protege properly. I refused.”

Sirius reached for him and took a steading hold of his jumper. 

“He was livid. He shouted and I shouted back and then he had his hand around my throat…”


Sirius reached for his neck as if feeling the phantom pain of it.

“And when he did, he saw the mark. I kept it hidden when I was there but he knocked my collar out of the way and he saw it.”


Remus’ glanced to the mark, shiny silver ring at the side of Sirius’ neck where it met his shoulder, exposed in his loose shirt. “Regulus mentioned that those were important.”

“Fucking Reg,” Sirius huffed. He held Remus’ gaze. The weight of his next words hanging heavy between them. 

“There’s magic in that.” Remus’ eyes widened. “In our traditions it’s a sign of claiming. When you chose a life partner you claim them.”


Oh fuck oh fuck oh fuck.

“And when your father saw that…”


Sirius nodded, “He went ballistic. I’m the heir and they had all these plans for politically strategic alliances for me. And then he realised, well, you know what your one look like,” Sirius gestured at it and Remus nodded. The mark Sirius had left on him had clear fang indentations. It looked markedly different to the one he had left on him. 

“He realised. He realised you're human. And that was it. That tipped him over the edge. He summoned my mother and told her, and she’s the real fucking mastermind. She spelled me still, I couldn’t move, and then she started casting.”

Sirius started to sway as he recounted and Remus pulled him closer, holding him tighter. 

“They said if I renounced it, if I kept it hidden and we came to an arrangement with the other family that it would be a secret then it would be okay. She would stop making me bleed, and if I played the dutiful son then it could all be swept under the rug. But I didn’t. I kept telling them I wouldn’t.”

His chest ached. Shattering shards of his heart splintering and piercing. “Pads, why? Why didn’t you?”

Sirius pulled back and met his eyes. Tiredness and exasperation in every feature of his face. 

“Remus…” quicksilver gaze flickered over his face, as if waiting for him to understand, but then he shook his head with a huffed laugh. Fond smile curling his lips. 

“Because I love you, you daft man.”

Remus’ mouth fell open in an Oh. Eyes widening slowly as that sank in.

He loves me. He loves me. He loves me, chanting through his mind. 

Then he surged forward, dragging Sirius into a scorching kiss. Every ounce of his love poured into it. Every time he had held his tongue. Held back because he wasn’t sure if Sirius felt it to. But he did, he did, he did. 

Remus barely broke away to say, “I love you, I love you so much you have no idea.”


Sirius laughed, resting their foreheads together, “Might have some idea.”


And Remus really had to kiss him again. 

They broke apart with a laugh. Holding each other close, never to be let go again. 

Remus grinned brilliantly, “I love you, I love you so much,” then his smile turned wry, “still doesn’t solve our problem though.”


Sirius groaned, “Do we have to go back to that?”

Remus pecked a kiss to his lips even as he grumbled. “Yes my love, we do. I’m never losing you again and I want to make sure.”

Radiant love blazed in Sirius’ eyes as he looked at him and Remus knew he was looking back just the same. 

“Right, so if I’m not going back, we need to find a stronger way to keep me here.”

Remus hummed in thought. “Your magic is tied to your realm right?” Sirius nodded. “So we need a way to tie it to this realm instead.”

Sirius’ mouth twisted as he thought but then his eyes widened, an idea resolving. Remus nodded, urging him on, eager to hear anything that could possibly work to keep him here. 

“Okay this is going to sound mental-“


“I like mental, it’s why I love you.”


Sirius smacked him on the shoulder. Remus just laughed.

“Thanks darling. Right, hear me out. Magic is tied to your soul, it’s part of your magical core,” Remus nodded, listening intently, “but my soul and my physical body are from another realm, they’re not meant to stay here. So, I bind my soul to another person’s that is tethered to this realm.”


It took a moment for Remus to understand, but then his jaw dropped. “You can’t be serious. You mean me?”

“Well technically your soul.”


“Bind our souls together?”

Sirius nodded as Remus tried to wrap his head around it. “Christ,” he muttered.

Sirius sidled up to him, wrapping his arms around his neck with a grin. “What Moons, too much for you?”

Remus shook his head, a slow smile growing. “Not going to regret being eternally bound to me?”

“Never,” Sirius said definitively. 

The surety with which he said it had Remus leaning down and kissing him thoroughly. 

Remus pulled back with a grin, “So how do we do it then?”

Sirius jumped back and then he was scrambling around, gathering candles and arranging them in a circle. Then he started to chant. That low melodic language of his. Words unknown to Remus, but he followed as Sirius pulled him into the ritual circle. 

Sirius kept up the incantation, all light pulling from the room and shadows surrounding then. Heavy haze over the whole space as weighty magic bore down on them. Sirius’ words drifted off and he gave Remus a nervous look, “One more chance to get out of this.”


“What’ll happen when we do it? Will I get demon magic too?”

Sirius shook his head with a nervous laugh, “I have no fucking clue.”

Remus kissed him, murmuring “This is insane, but I love you.”

Sirius smiled, bright as the sun for all the darkness shrouding them. Then he started chanting again. He held out his hand and drew a line down it, magical cut drawing blood. And he pulled Remus’ hand forward, palm up and doing them same. He pressed their hands together, palm to palm, blood mingling at the touch. 

Sirius reached out and placed his hand on Remus’ chest and nodded for him to do the same, Remus followed and stepped in closer, barely a breath away.

“Repeat after me, I’ll say it slow.”

His words came out low and silken, deep magic formed into the very heart of them, and Remus said back each line after him. Not knowing the words but feeling the immense power of them surging through him. His hair stood on end and the darkness closed in around them. Barely able to see Sirius’ face and the focussed look there but for the faint flickering candlelight. 

Suddenly a powerful electrical charge erupted through him. All nerve endings alight and scorching. He grit his teeth against it, overwhelming and powerful, and he felt Sirius’ fingers claw at his chest as he clung on just the same. 

Brilliant golden light beamed between them, string-like tendrils reaching between their chests and flowing with static charge as it channeled through them. Remus tried to focus on Sirius’ words, still repeating them back as he marvelled at the sight of their souls merging into one. 

All of a sudden the light blew bright. Burning his eyes and the magic tore through him. It felt like a knife to his chest, carving and reshaping him anew. Molten under the fire and forging him into something completely changed. 

The light fell away and the buzzing through him dimmed. Cautiously, Remus opened his eyes, not even realising he had shut them. 

The first thing he saw was Sirius. Grinning like the devil and silver eyes alight with wonder. 

“I think it worked,” Sirius whispered awed.

Remus could only nod, absolutely stunned. 

He pulled Sirius into his arms. Holding tight as the shaking of his hands settled and his heart rate slowed again. 

“Holy fuck,” he said on a laugh, “It actually worked.” 

He held Sirius’ chin and kissed him, static as they met and smiling more so than kissing, but it was absolutely perfect. 

“Guess we did make our deal then. You and me, forever.”

“Forever.”

EPILOGUE - TWO YEARS LATER

“Moons,” Sirius said with a whimper, biting at his red-bitten lips. 

Remus smirked at the needy sound of it, desperation falling prettily from his tongue. He rewarded it with another flick of his tongue over his hole, already worked open and fluttering around his tongue as he plunged it in. Sirius gasped and the strong muscles in his thighs tried to clamp down but Remus held him open. Large hand splayed over his thigh and holding it up near his chest. 

Sirius lay on his side, how he had been when he had awoken and Remus had begun pressing sweet kisses over his body, slowly turning heated. 

Late morning light came through the gaps in the curtains, a summer heat hanging in the air. Room humid and scent of sex heavy after the hours Remus had slowly been working him up. Starting with kitten licks to his cock, then swallowing him down, dragging him to the edge twice that way before moving lower. Pushing his legs apart and laying between his thighs, holding one of Sirius’ legs over his shoulder while he pinned the other to the bed. Sirius unable to do anything but take. Gasping into the pillow as he clung tightly, stuttered noises as Remus sucked purpling bruises into the soft skin of his inner thighs. Nipping bites that had him shaking and grinding down begging for more. 

Then Remus had trailed down to his hole. Still loose from the night before, but god he loved to be there and he would take every opportunity he could to taste Sirius on his tongue. No better place in the world than the blissful peace of his thighs around him and burying his face in his arse, teasing him and driving him right to the brink but never letting him over it. 

Remus pressed his tongue in deeper and moaned, Sirius letting out a constant stream of needy sounds above him. Sucking at his rim, already soaked in spit, he pulled Sirius’ knee over his shoulder, freeing his hand to circle two fingers around his rim. Toying with the sensitive area, hooking the tips of his fingers over and tugging to pull him wider, but not pressing in, not giving him any real relief. 

“Moons, please,” Sirius whined, legs shaking from the force of constantly being held back from his orgasm. 

Remus hummed, seeing vibrations rattling through him. Plunging his tongue back in and adding two fingers as he did. Spreading his fingers as he fucked Sirius with his tongue. Stretching him wider even though he didn’t really need it. Just taking his fill and keeping Sirius on edge. He thrust in another finger and pressed down, hard. 

Sirius let out a cry as Remus rubbed at his prostate. Overstimulated and sore from earlier touches, but his hips ground down into the feeling, trying to chase his high. Little sounds growing higher, hitches of breath shorter, the motions of his hips becoming erratic. 

And Remus pulled away. 

Sirius let out a broken cry, shaking his head against the pillows. “Moons, cmon, please,” he begged. 

Remus grinned as he rested his head on his thigh. Lightly tracing over Sirius’ swollen rim, pink flushed and already looking so well used. With a wicked glint in his eye, he hooked two fingers in and opened him up, just to spit right into his gaping hole. 

Sirius moaned and screwed his eyes shut as the warm liquid spilled down him and Remus gave him one more teasing lick before pulling back properly. He kissed sweetly over his inner thighs as he pulled his head away and set Sirius’ leg back down. One more lave of his tongue over the piercings on the underside of Sirius’ aching cock. 

With a grin he sat up and properly took in the state of Sirius.

Christ he looked a mess. Chest flushed red and beaded with sweat from the strain of it. Hair mussed and spilling over the pillows. His silver eyes glazed and mouth hanging open as he softly moaned against the pillow, small rocking motions of his hips like he was still trying to ride Remus’ fingers. Every motion made his wings shift, splayed out over the bed behind him and shaking from the lack of stimulation when he had been so close. 

Remus shifted onto his knees and took Sirius by the hips, rolling him onto his front. Sirius went easily, sighing happily as he ground down onto the sheets, finally putting some pressure on his aching cock.

Gentle kisses, between the wings emerging from his shoulder blades, tracing down the curve of his spine and over the white scar lines littered there. Remus teasingly bit at the swell of his arse and Sirius let out a yelp, making him grin. He just loved how vocal Sirius always was. Even after years together, the way Sirius would get so worked up was just addictive to see. 

Remus knocked his knees aside and settled in between his thighs. Wrapping his hands around his hips, he pulled him onto his knees. Back arched, bowed so prettily with his chest pressed to the bed. Body bending any which way Remus moved it, completely under his spell and he knew Sirius was happy to be there. 

One hand trailed over the curve of his arse, marvelling at the way it gave under his grip as he kneaded at it. The needy sounds Sirius let out when he did. 

Smiling to himself, he leaned over him, pressing a kiss to the nape of his neck and Sirius shuddered under the gentle touch.

“Moons, fuck me, please."


A wry smile curved his lips, “Just because you asked so nicely.”


With a grin he pulled back and took himself in hand. Pumping his cock even though he was already hard and had been since they started, but he was always so much better at dragging it out than Sirius was. He was just so impatient and Remus loved watching him struggle against the impulse, and that he let him take control and take his time. It was always so much sweeter for the waiting.

Hands grabbed his arse cheeks and pulled, thumbs digging into the soft flesh and spreading him wide. Sirius groaned as cool air hit his already well-worn hole and he gave a little shake, as if trying to urge Remus on. But he took a moment just to admire his handiwork, how messy he had gotten him before he even fucked him.

One hand bracing on Sirius’ hips, he pressed his dripping tip to his hole. Teasing at the entrance of it but not pressing in. Sirius whimpered and tried to buck back into it, but Remus clamped down tighter and held him in place.

“Oh love, you know you’ve got to be patient.”


Sirius huffed, “I’ve been bloody patient, hurry up.”


Remus tutted and shook his head, “Now that’s not very nice.”


“Remus,” Sirius groaned, but he knew he was just pushing at his buttons to spur him on, make him take on that rougher edge that Sirius craved. And they both knew he’d give it to him.

Remus shot forward and grabbed Sirius’ wrists, the man below letting out a started cry, and dragged them to the small of his back, just under his wings, holding them down in one large hand and pinning Sirius to the bed. 

Sirius shook around under him, trying to test the hold, but Remus held him firm. “That what you wanted love?” he leaned in to speak low and filthy in his ear, “want me to pin you down and fuck you hard?”

Sirius’ breath hitched, “Yes yes please yes.”


Slowly, he trailed his fingertips over the curve of his wing, making them tremble under his touch, so sensitive and he knew it drove Sirius wild. “You’re going to be good for me? Take whatever I give you?”

“Yes yes-“


“Oh love, I know you can do better than that.”


Sirius stilled, but then quietly it slipped from his lips, “Yes sir.”

A brilliant grin lit up Remus’ face as Sirius fell lax, mind fully succumbing to that submission he craved. 

With a flick of his hand he cast a lubrication charm and, holding Sirius fast to the bed, he slammed into him hard. 

Sirius moaned, loud and wanton, as Remus gave him no reprieved. Pounding into him brutally, long length of his cock dragging over his already overstimulated prostate. Thickness of it stretching at his worn rim. A constant melody of noises falling from his lips. Gasps and murmurings too broken for Remus to make out but he loved to hear then all the same. The sounds of Sirius’ pleasure a beautiful song echoing around the room. 

Sweat dripped from him, landing on Sirius’ back to blend with his own as it trailed down his spine in the humid heat. Breaths coming in short as he tried to hold back the growing tightness in his core, pleasure mounting higher and higher. 

“Sir please, need to come.”

But Remus shook his head.

“Not yet love.”


Sirius whimpered as Remus leaned over him, still clasping his wrists, but the other hand went to tangle in Sirius’ curls, pulling his head back and Sirius moaned at the sharp pain as he pulled.

“Yes yes, Moons, fuck,” he gasped out as Remus fucked into him, dirty grind of his hips as he bit at his lip. Looking down to see where he fucked into Sirius. The mingled spit and lube spilling from his messy hole as his thick cock spilt him open. 

That sent him right up to the edge and he took a ragged breath. “Fuck you look so good, such a pretty boy when you’re full of my cock. You take it so well, fuck, just made for this weren’t you, my pretty boy made to take my cock.”


“Ngh, Moons, please-“

Sirius cried out as Remus yanked his head back sharply, “Beg properly sweetheart,” he said in low warning.

Sirius nodded and Remus pressed his head back into the sheets, ragged breaths shaking his body under Remus’ palms. 

“Please Sir, let me come.”

Remus let go of his hair, still pounding into him as he stroked his thumb over Sirius’ flushed cheek, wiping at the tears of tears of pleasure that spilled. 

“Such a good boy for me, well done sweetheart. You want to come?”

Sirius nodded, whole body shaking as he struggled to hold onto his last fragments of control. 

Remus leaned in close, lips trailing over the curve of his ear, and murmured, “Then come love, show me how prettily you can come on my cock.”


He jerked back and pulled all the way out, slamming back into Sirius with his full length and Sirius screamed. Arms shaking as Remus pinned then, thrashing as his orgasm tore through him. Mouth open and spit soaking the pillow as he cried out, moans and shuddering breaths spilling from his lips. 

Remus slowly fucked him through it, but didn’t stop. Sirius’ shaking lessened bit by bit, but Remus didn’t let him fall into the sheets just yet. He held him tight, still thrusting into him, and when Sirius let out a sigh and relaxed under his hold, he picked up the pace again.

“Moons,” Sirius whimpered, “so much.”


“I know love, but you’re doing so well, want me to come in you don’t you?”

Sirius made a needy sound and nodded, and that was everything Remus needed. 

He pounded into him mercilessly, chasing his own completion and it was only a few more thrusts, spurred on by Sirius’ whines of overstimulation, and he was coming deep inside him. Pressing into him to the hilt, burying himself so deep like he could meld himself into Sirius and never leave, joining their bodies as well as their souls. 

Bright lights flashed behind his eyes and his tremors of pleasure shook him. Desire flooding through every vein, dam inside of him spilling over and pouring into Sirius’ warmth. He cried out as he came and dropped his hold of his wrists, reaching out to brace himself on the bed so he didn’t crush Sirius completely. 

Mind a rush of static and nothing but satisfaction and warm contentment as his orgasm ebbed away, just the feeling of Sirius beneath him and tightening his hole around him like the menace he was.

“Pads,” Remus groaned, mouthing at his shoulder, “stop doing that.”


“Stop doing what?” Sirius asked far too sweetly.

“The grippy thing.”

“I don’t know what you mean.” And he did it again.

“Sirius,” Remus growled low, biting at his lobe, “or do you want me to get off?”

Sirius’ fingers clamped around his wrist and he hastily shook his head. “No, stay, don’t want to be empty yet.”

“That’s what I thought,” Remus said with a smug smile. 

He mouthed gentle kisses across Sirius’ shoulders, over the sensitive skin of his wings, taking the time to let their breathing return to normal as they both came down from their highs. 

Arms starting to shake, he pushed himself back to kneeling with a groan, and ever so slowly he started to pull out. 

He watched in awe, because truly it was a beautiful sight. Sirius arse worn red from the clashing of their skin, the way come and lube poured from his hole as Remus pulled out. A satisfied thrum set up home in his chest. Just the bit pleased that he had fucked Sirius so well. And glancing back at his face, Sirius had that soft sleepy smile, the one he got when he was truly content. It made Remus heart flip just to see it. 

As he pulled his tip out, he quickly sank three fingers into Sirius. He made a pleased sound in thanks, and Remus lay down on the bed next to him, settling on his side.

Tracing over Sirius’ flushed cheekbone, he tucked a wayward curl behind his ear.

“Feel good love?” He asked quietly.

Sirius nodded with a fond smile, leaning in to capture his lips in a sweet kiss.

“Feel good.”

Remus flashed him a grin, “Not too sore to go out later?”

Sirius just rolled his eyes. “We promised James and Lily, so we’re going.”


“And you get to see Harry.”


Sirius’ face lit up. “He's going to say my name first, I’m his favourite.”


Remus chuckled, “Lily will literally kill you.”


Sirius grinned and shook his head, “Nah bet I can talk her out if it.”

Remus doubted that. 

Sirius shuffled about a bit and Remus pulled one of his fingers out. Sirius didn’t like suddenly feeling empty and this was the best way they’d worked around it, and it was nice to slowly come down together, as close as could be and talking quietly.

Sirius nuzzled into his shoulder and Remus carded his hands through his hair. Holding each other in the easy haze of contentment. 

When Remus pulled out another finger Sirius murmured against him. “How much do you have to do today?”

“Not much, but I’ve got a deadline tomorrow so I just need to make some final edits.”

He’d managed to quit his job at the bookshop finally. He hadn’t hated it, but it hadn’t really brought him any joy. It was just a job and it had been good while he got his feet under him, but Sirius had pushed him, holding his hand while he applied to jobs he didn’t really think he had any shot of getting. But then he had gotten interviews and he actually managed to land a job as a manuscript editor for magical research papers from home. It gave him the flexibility he needed and it was a step back into the magical world, and it did make him feel closer to his friends again. He and Lily could chat about the things she was researching with her potions and it actually made him feel like he was doing something fulfilling. He was rather proud of himself for that actually, strange as it felt. And he knew he never would have pushed himself like that without Sirius at his back supporting him every step of the way. 

And he’d supported Sirius when he’d wanted to get more involved and make a life for himself. He’d gotten a part time role at the animal shelter down the road from them. Animals all seemed to really adore him and Sirius adored them back. It was perfect for him and Remus heart melted every time Sirius came home excitedly telling him that one of their long-time residents had been adopted out to a good home, so happy and bouncing about with a sparkle in his eye. 

They had built a lovely life together. Mildred now had two other siblings to play with, their flat was filled to the brim with books and vinyl records and nicknacks from their trips away together. 

They had their love and their life and it was so filled with joy and laughter. 

And with any luck, it would be for many more years to come.