You Spin Me Round (Like A Bottle)

And Remus Got You

Pads,

Thank you for trusting me enough to tell me everything. First and foremost, there is absolutely nothing wrong with you. It's perfectly normal to question things when figuring out your sexuality, I'm just sorry that James and Pete's comment triggered it, rather than it being something you began to question on your own account.

There's really no right or wrong way, or 'one size fits all' kind of answer on how to navigate your feelings, but I do have a book about different sexualities and identities back at Hogwarts that might help. You're more than welcome to borrow it if you're interested. I'm not sure if I can offer much advice without being face to face, but I suppose I can tell you about my own struggles and my personal experience. I'm not sure if it'll help, but maybe it'll put you at ease?

Anyway, I didn't think much about my sexuality for a while. I had crushes on girls and boys from a young age and didn't think twice about it. I don't think it was until fourth year when I realized it wasn't the 'norm' to like both and I was fucking terrified. I saw it as another thing that makes me different from everyone else so I pushed it down and tried not to think about boys for a solid year before I opened up to someone about it.

I don't know if you'll be upset with me for not telling you or James or Pete first, but the first person I told was Lily. At the time I didn't know why I felt most comfortable telling her first and not my best mates, but looking back, I know it had something to do with her unwavering kindness and understanding. It was one night during prefect rounds when I nervously told her all about these feelings I had for a boy—I nearly cried when she didn't say anything right away. But then she smiled and said something I've never forgotten;

Remus Lupin, there is nothing wrong with you for liking a boy or a girl—for liking anyone. You like who you like, you're attracted to who you're attracted to, and there's nothing wrong with it. Your feelings are valid, you are valid, and I still love you.

Though I don't have all the answers for you, I hope this brings you a bit of peace. If it doesn't, then Sirius Black I want you to know that your feelings are valid, you are valid, and I still love you.

See you in January,

Moony

From the moment Sirius received Remus' letter, he couldn't put it down. He carried it with him in his pocket every day and when Remus sent the book, The LGBTQ+ Community; A Guide for Questioning Magic Folks, Sirius reread the letter whenever reading the book became too much. By the time he hugged his parents and boarded the train with James, Sirius felt slightly more at ease than he did the last time he was on the Hogwarts Express.

He sat beside James and briefly smiled when Pete clambered in and practically threw himself in the bench across from them. Sirius became quite transfixed with his nails and began to pick at them, trying to push down what he wanted to say. Though Pete did spend a fair amount of time at the Potter estate with Sirius and James, Sirius hadn't told either of them about anything to do with his sexuality. He didn't want to tell them when he was still confused about everything, and decided to wait to tell them when all four of them were reunited. Worst comes to worst, Remus would be able to fill in the blanks that Sirius would fumble with.

The door opened and Sirius' eyes snapped up, a true smile forming on his face as Remus entered the compartment. The tall gangly boy nodded with a smile as he sat down beside Pete, right across from Sirius. They stared at each other for a few seconds longer, though Sirius found it all too soon when Remus ever broke the contact and turned to James and Pete.