Ever the Same

Chapter Six: Slimy Git

The door to Remus Lupin's office swung open with force, causing him to jump as he turned to look at who had joined him.

"Moony!" Sirius was all but yelling. "You will not believe what I've just witnessed! I think I need to avada my corneas!"

"Ever the dramatics, Padfoot," Remus sighed, not being able to keep the smirk off his face as he walked towards Sirius Black. "What is it that you've witnessed?"

"I followed Reg and Prongs through Hogsmeade-"

"You didn't."

"I did! And it was all perfectly fine until Prongs showed him the Honeyduke's tunnel! And then-"

But Sirius couldn't even finish his sentence over the loud laughter pouring from his partner. Remus was laughing so hard that he found himself almost doubled over, hands planted on the desk beside off him.

"You should've known better, Pads. Really! You know what we've done in those tunnels!"

"But that's different!" Sirius objected. "We're us, and they're-"

Sirius struggled for the words as Remus continued to laugh. When he finally got hold of himself, Remus spoke again.

"You're the one that began the betting pool on the two of them. You can't be surprised that they're shagging."

Sirius immediately covered his hears with his hands. "Please, Moony! I can't take much more tonight."

Remus closed the distance between them and placed his hands on both sides of Sirius's neck, smiling warmly at him.

"We can stop pretending like we haven't wanted them together for year, Sirius. It's just us here."

sirius' shoulders deflated slowly. "You're right, Moons. As always."

His arms wrapped gently around Remus's midsection, closing all distance between their bodies. Tilting his head and kissing Remus, Sirius couldn't ignore the joy that he could feel blooming within himself.

"It's finally happened, Moonbeam."

"That is has, Pads. Have you checked the betting pool? Seen who won?"

Sirius's brows furrowed as he thought back to the enormous cork board that had taken up the entire wall of Remus's private study. "I haven't yet. Shall we go check?"

Sirius let go of Remus before he could answer and rushed to the office, letting his eyes scan over the list of votes for different things. It was a carefully constructed operation, taking bets on who would approach who first, when James and Regulus would go on their first date, and even when they would move in with one another. Sirius could feel his jaw drop as he read the list of names.

"Remus! You cheated!"

"It's not cheating to be smart, Pads."

"You set them up!" 

"As if you hadn't been trying to for years!" Remus fired back. "It's not my fault I'm better at it."

Remus then shook his head, once again laughing. "The Black family is so predictable. Validate your feelings just a bit and you're like putty in my hands."

"That's not true at all," Sirius vehemently denied.

Remus cocked an eyebrow, "I'm done with classes until 11 tomorrow and all I want to do is get you out of that bloody leather jacket. Are you going home with me or not?"

"As you say, my Moonbeam."