"You could've asked them to stay," Sirius says, and his words are muffled as they sink into Remus' jumper. He's come up behind Remus and presses his face into Remus' shoulder. They're staring at the empty fireplace after Hope and Lyall have left.

"It's okay," Remus smiles a little at the feel of Sirius against his back. "My father needs to go to work anyway," he turns around to put his arm around Sirius, holding in a wince as his back flares up in pain.

"Your dad works?"

"No, my parents just survive with no money," Remus says flatly.

Sirius wriggles free of Remus' grip, face pulled into a sweet little moue. He puffs his cheeks as his lips press together, and Remus can't tell if he's trying to look angry or cute.

He squeezes Sirius' pale cheek.

"Stop," Sirius groans, swatting at Remus' palm. Remus laughs a little despite the discomfort settling in his body.

"Uhm, guys?" It's Regulus, of course.

Remus and Sirius turn to face the boy, who's standing at the entrance to the library, eyes covered with his hands.

"We're dressed, you can look," Sirius grins. Remus goes red. "Why does your mind immediately go there?" He groans.

"It's happened before," Regulus answers, uncovering his face.

"Too many times," Sirius adds gravely.

"Once was too many," Regulus shudders, looking fairly traumatized. Remus shakes his head.

"Spare me the details," Remus mutters.

"Aw, he's jealous," Regulus grins.

"I—" Remus swallows his defence as he absorbs the equally mischievous grins on the two brothers' faces. "Yeah, so jealous," he huffs.

"Come on," Regulus grabs his hand and starts tugging him towards the door. "Severus texted, he's coming over for lunch. And he's bringing the final draft of that article of his."

"I'm going to be famous!" Sirius grins. Remus smacks himself in the face. Regulus sighs, rubbing Remus' shoulder. "Remind me to find a therapist for him," he mutters as they walk out of the library.

"You know," Sirius says from behind, "in all seriousness—"

Remus notices Regulus flinch. And Remus can't blame him. He wonders how many times the poor boy had to power through Sirius puns.

Sirius continues, unfazed. "—which I am, all the time, becuase... You know, I'm Sirius... Anyway, I think we really should get me a therapist."

Regulus stops so suddenly that Remus almost crashes into him. He spins around and moves Remus away to look at his brother. "You do?"

Sirius shrugs. "Makes sense, doesn't it? I've been looking into some,"

"Why didn't you tell me?" Regulus frowns. Sirius looks surprised, as if the thought never even crossed his mind. "Did you know?" Regulus asks Remus.

"No, he didn't," Sirius answers. "I didn't really... I mean, James knows. He helped me look."

Of course.

"So you've already found one," Regulus says.

Remus watches on, not sure what to think.

"Look, Reg," Sirius moves past Remus to grab his brother by the shoulders. "I was going to tell you, okay? It just slipped my mind."

Regulus sighs. "Everything slips your mind when it comes to telling me," he mutters, but eventually a small smile draws across his mouth. "But I'm really glad you want to get help, Sirius." he gives Sirius a small hug. Sirius ruffles his hair as they pull away.

Sirius grins at him. "I need all I can get," he laughs.

Regulus rolls his eyes, not looking amused. "Yeah, you do. You know who else needs help?" Without letting Sirius respond, he says, "Me. With lunch. Now come on."

***

Severus brings with him a bottle of wine. It's weird, Remus has never had a guest bring wine for lunch. Actually, Remus has never had a guest for lunch, period.

They eat quickly, and settle down around the table to wait for the rest of the Club. Lily gets there first. "Sorry I couldn't make it to lunch," she smiles as Remus opens the door. "But I got you guys frogs, here. And Cadbury, in case you were in the mood for Muggle chocolate."

"Thanks, Lily," Remus smiles back, taking the chocolates from her. He puts them away before sitting back down next to Sirius, who grabs his hand under the table and gives it a light squeeze.

"Tomorrow's your transformation," Severus says all of a sudden.

"Yeah, he needed reminding of that," Regulus rolls his eyes. Sirius makes a small choking sound.

Severus sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"What were you gonna say, Sev?" Lily asks.

"Hm," Severus frowns. As far as Remus can tell, the guy's face is a catalogue of frowns. An assortment of frowns in all shapes and sizes. Remus wonders if he frowns when he's happy, too.

"Come on, what is it?" Sirius asks.

"Nothing," Severus replies. "I might've found an opening sentence..." He pulls a notepad out of what seems like nowhere and scribbles something down.

"As you read this article, Remus Lupin is awaiting his excruciating transformation into a wolf..." He looks up. "Isn't that so much better than Sirius Black is not the boy who the world thinks he is?"

Remus almost chokes on his breath. "What?"

"Why does it sound like I'm out of a Young Adult novel?" Sirius blinks.

Severus gives him something like a smirk. "Xeno came up with it," he shrugs. "Which one's better?"

"I don't know," Sirius pauses thoughtfully, "Let's go with Remus."

"That's so not nice,"

Remus grabs Sirius' knee at the voice that comes out of nowhere.

"Oh my God," Lily wheezes.

"Does he live in your pocket?" Regulus slaps his forehead.

"Not as far as I know," Severus mutters, pulling his phone out. "Xeno," he sighs, "You need to stop tapping into my phone,"

"No, I don't,"

"I feel like I have no privacy..."

"Yeah," Sirius chimes in, "What if he's getting laid?"

Severus' mouth drops open. It takes everything in Remus not to snort.

"Wouldn't we all love to see that," the editor cackles. "The most action Sev has ever got is during that one time he had to hold a dead girl by her hand,"

"He did what—"

"That's enough," Severus clears his throat. "Goodbye, Xeno."

"Aw, come on, bro..."

Severus looks pained. "I said, goodbye." He quickly cuts the call and takes the batteries out, almost dropping it in his rush. "Please stop staring," he mutters.

He's saved by the bell. The doorbell. Except James and Auguste come right in, not waiting for anyone to open the door.

"Hi," Auguste waves. "We brought chocolate for you," he tells Remus, "and more chocolate for the two of you," he turns to Regulus.

"And, as it seems, we also forgot them in the car," James adds. Auguste turns to him, unimpressed. "You didn't get them?"

"I thought you were getting them," James replies.

"I was driving," Auguste frowns.

"Yeah, but then you parked," James reminds him.

"Okay, but—"

"Alright, girlfriends," Regulus speaks up, standing up and pushing the two boys towards their usual seats. "You can file for divorce after we look at this article, okay?"

Feeling Sirius squeeze his hand, Remus looks at him. Sirius' eyes are sparkling, face full of laughter trying to slip out. And the moment their eyes meet, Remus can't hold his own laughter either. Sirius bursts into a fit of giggles, and Remus into a less elegant snort.

"Someone's in a good mood," James grins, ruffling Sirius' hair. He plops down next to Lily.

"Please, ever since they kissed or whatever, all they do is look at each other and smile," Regulus scoffs.

"They did what?"

Regulus smirks, raising his eyebrows. "Oh my Morgana and her sixty horses," James fans himself. "So cute, so adorable, get me a bucket I'm going to cry—"

"Finally," Lily grins at Remus.

"I know, right?" Regulus shakes his hair. "I was seriously considering Polyjuicing myself into Sirius and doing it but it felt too much like incest,"

"Aw," James pouts, "he thinks of Remus as family,"

"That's what you got out of what he said?" Sirius scoffs. "Polyjuice yourself into anyone, and I'll hex your ass into Jupiter," he warns Regulus.

"You talk big for someone who's holding his boyfriend's hand under the table," Regulus shoots back.

Remus feels his cheek flare up. He almost hits back with a 'He's not my boyfriend' but remembers that, while he and Sirius never had the time or need to label their status, it doesn't make sense to deny it.

"What, you thought you were being subtle?" Regulus laughs.

"They were!" James protests, "How could you tell—" he pushes his chair back to look under the table. "Oh, oh my—" he hits his head on the table on his way back. "Ow, fuck," he curses. "Anyway, that is the most adorable thing..." He peeks back down and spends a while there before re-emerging. "Look," he holds his phone out to Auguste. "So cute, ugh."

"That is cute," Auguste smiles.

"Okay but did you just take a photo to show Auguste? Because I feel like that's cuter," Sirius teases.

James blushes a little, cheeks tinting pink. Auguste looks completely unfazed.

"I figured he'd be too stuck up to bend down and look himself," James shrugs.

Auguste scowls at him.

"If we're all done trying to see who's cuter, can we go through the article?" Severus speaks up. James pulls a face.

"Sure," Sirius nods, squeezing Remus' hand and giving him a small smile that warms Remus from the inside out. "Let's hear it."

***

Author's Note

Leave it to me to update literal hours after I ask for time