Circle the Drain | R. LUPIN

4 | last talks and lost chances

R E G G I E M C L A G G E N

"You could come with us," Reggie pointed out. He glanced over at Remus, "Nobody will care."

Remus seemed to be contemplating this for a moment before letting out a sigh. "I already told James that I wouldn't disappear today," he explained, "Apparently I haven't been around lately."

"That's because you've been with me whenever you have free time," Reggie pointed out, ignoring the pang in his chest. He had wanted Remus to join him and his friends in Hogsmeade. A part of him couldn't help but think that Remus didn't want to be seen in public with him. But then he reminded himself that they weren't actually together. Outside of the bedroom, they weren't friends. They were barely acquaintances. "Not even for a little bit?"

"I wish I could," Remus informed him as he got out of the bed and started to get changed. "I really wish I could."

"Then do it," he replied.

Remus smiled sadly, "I can't."

Reggie frowned in response but quickly masked it. "Fine," he replied, getting out of the bed. He didn't bother to put any clothes on as he crossed the room to the boy, "We'll just have to meet up later then."

The boy's lip quirked upward as Reggie leaned up and placed a kiss on the edge of the his mouth. Reggie bent down to grab his pants off of the floor but Remus grabbed the boy's hand and pulled him toward the bed, attacking him with kisses.

R E M U S L U P I N

Remus made his way back to the Gryffindor common room with a smile on his face. Ever since he broke up with Sirius, he had thought it would be impossible for him to move on. Impossible for him to find someone else.

Don't get him wrong, if Sirius were to walk up to him and ask for him back, he would go in a heartbeat. His heart was still Sirius's but that no longer felt like something that was impossible to change.

It felt as though maybe, maybe, Reggie could be more than just a good time. That maybe he could be something. Remus only hoped that Reggie felt the same way.

Prior to entering the room, it hadn't occurred to him that the record player hadn't just been left on while the boys fell asleep but that the boys were indeed awake.

He opened the door and froze upon finding Sirius and James laying in Sirius's bed and Peter was standing off to the side. The record they were listening to sounded like Freddie Mercury but Remus had never heard the song before. They all looked over and Sirius's smile faltered as he caught the boy's eyes.

Remus's breath hitched in his throat. He hadn't seen Sirius smile in a really long time and he hated that he was the reason it was wiped away.

He was highly aware that it was odd for him to return so late - or early - in the morning. Rather than making an attempt at explaining himself, he sent the group a tight smile before he made his way to his area and closed the curtains behind him. He pulled out his wand and put up a silencing charm before letting out a breath.

There was no way they didn't know something was up now. He just hoped he hadn't hurt Sirius anymore than he already had.

R E G G I E M C L A G G E N

Ophelia rubbed her arms to keep herself warm as the group sat in the Three Broomsticks, "I told you this was a bad idea."

Reggie rolled his eyes. They had gotten into a short lived argument prior to leaving because the temperature had dropped below freezing point. He argued that this was her idea. He had also argued that they needed to have fun for once.