Barging - Moonchaser - @taylorswiftmicrofic - 350 words - AO3
Remus furrows his brows as he watches James enter the dorm, grab a tie and place it on the outside handle of the door before closing it behind him and turning to him. “It’s just me, Moons. Be honest, where does it hurt?”
“I’m fine,” he replies instinctively, making the other boy roll his eyes as if he anticipated that answer.
Opening his trunk, James pulls out an inordinate amount of chocolate—all Remus’ favourites—before depositing them on his bed. “Move,” he instructs.
“I just got comfortable.”
“I gave you the chance to tell the truth, but I noticed you hurt your back during your last transformation, so let me help.”
He can’t keep the fondness out of his voice as he asks, “You noticed?”
“Of course I did. I love you and will always notice your pain no matter how hard you try to mask it.”
Remus doesn’t know what to say, so shuffles forward in bed and he sits behind him. He feels his cheeks heat up at the low moan he lets out when James begins to massage his back, hastily opening a bar of chocolate to hide his embarrassment. After a while, when his pain eases to a dull, barely there ache, James places his lips to Remus’ neck, and he cranes it to the side to give him better access.
Obviously, this moment of pure bliss is interrupted by Sirius barging into the room, immediately exclaiming, “Oh, gross!”
“Did you not see the tie?” James responds, annoyed.
“I didn’t think you two would be…you act like such prudes.”
“Just because we’re not as into PDA as you, doesn’t mean we don’t do things in private.”
“James!” Remus hisses.
“Right, I’m leaving.”
The door slams shut behind their friend and the two of them share a glance before bursting out laughing. “His face was priceless.”
Remus smiles, utterly awestruck by the beauty of the man pressed against his back and leans in to tenderly connect their lips, marvelling at how lucky he is that someone so wonderful loves him just as much as he does.
info: girding potion gives the taker extra endurance
cw: mild sexual content
“look jus-just take it alright!” james says flustered, extending his hand out with a vial encompassed in it.
remus scrutinizes him, “what’s in it?” he prods, eyebrow raised.
james huffs, placing the bottle on the desk in front of remus.
“it’s a girding potion, you know, for before the moon” the younger boy mumbles, kicking his foot softly against the leg of the table.
remus looks at him in shock, “you made it…for me?” he squeaks out, immediately clearing his throat as his face heats.
james doesn’t seem to pay him any mind, smiling wider and nodding quickly.
“yeah! i mean, i did some research about which one would work better because apparently some of the potions don’t tend to work with lycanthropy because they contain aconite-” james starts to ramble, unaware of remus staring at him with a gaped jaw and wide eyes.
“shut up.” remus interrupts and james snaps his jaw shut immediately before frowning.
“you researched a potion for me.” remus states and james nods, confused.
“well that’s just what i stated but yes-“ james continues, perplexed but happy to explain again.
“stop talking.” remus states again and now james looks really upset.
“sorry jamie,” james melts at the sound of the nickname, “i just, you don’t understand what you’ve done” remus states.
james looks slightly guilty which concerns remus, “did i overstep?” the bespectacled boy asks, slightly softer.
remus shakes his head with a scoff, “god you’re as thick as it gets.” he huffs before standing up, pushing his chair back before grabbing the lapels of james’ robes.
he tugs the curly haired boy into a fierce kiss, grunting softly as the younger boy gasps, freezing in surprise before melting into it.
james wraps his arms around remus neck, tugging softly at the curls at the nape of his neck as he smiles sweetly into the kiss.
remus is losing oxygen fast, not just because of the kiss, but because of the pure adrenaline he’s running on.
he detaches quickly as he heaves for air and watches as james whines, chasing remus lips.
remus chuckles hoarsely, removing one hand from james robes to straighten his glasses and run a hand through his hair.
james leans into the touch and hums a satisfied sound, a smile gracing his features.
“you’re so beautiful.” remus murmurs into the quiet moment.
james’ eyes open slowly, his senses returning before he turns shy under remus’ gaze.
“shut up.” he flusters, shoving remus softly but grasping his sweater so they don’t actually detach.
James Potter hadn't meant to drink the potion.
In his defense, it was in a butterbeer bottle. In his stronger defense, someone had labeled it "Liquid Courage," and James had never been one to turn down an opportunity for bravery.
What it actually was, however, was Jawbind. A particularly evil little potion that locked your jaw tight shut for a full day unless you had the antidote—which, according to Professor Slughorn (when Sirius burst dramatically into the Potions classroom with a weeping James in tow), would take about 18 hours to brew.
And so began The Day of Silence.
“I can’t believe this is real,” Sirius said for what felt like the tenth time that hour, sprawled on the couch in the Gryffindor common room as James dramatically scribbled Sirius, you are so rude and I hate you. on a notepad.
“You’re suffering, but this is honestly a dream come true for me.”
James gave him the finger.
But Remus Lupin didn’t find it funny.
At first, it was peaceful. Quiet. A calm sort of tranquility that descended over breakfast as James couldn’t talk with his mouth full (or at all), and instead made sad little whimpering noises every time he couldn’t gossip about McGonagall’s new tartan dress robes.
Then it turned tragic.
By mid-morning, James had tried to mouth something that might have been “I miss you” or “I’m dying”—Remus wasn’t sure which—and tried to kiss his cheek. The problem was that James’ kisses were like punctuation to everything he said. Kiss on the temple: “You’re brilliant.” Kiss to the knuckles: “I love you.” Long, showy kiss to the lips: “Look how hot I am, and how lucky you are.”
Without them, Remus felt like he was reading a very poorly written letter. One without commas.
“You haven’t kissed me in seven hours,” Remus whispered, standing in the empty corridor beside James between classes. “Seven. Do you even love me anymore?”
James looked offended to the core of his being and attempted to tackle-hug Remus, but it came off a bit desperate and a lot sad.
“Right, sorry,” Remus said, catching him. “You do. I just... I wasn’t prepared for this, you know?”
James sighed and pulled out his ever-shrinking notepad, scribbling:
I LOVE YOU. I’d tattoo it on my tongue if I could.
Remus took the note, kissed it, and dramatically pressed it to his chest. “Still not the same as the real thing.”
James melted, clinging to him like a puppy who’d been denied pets for a full year.
By hour ten, Remus was unravelling.
“I’ve realized something,” he muttered to Sirius and Peter in the common room. “I require physical affection. Like, constantly. I thought it was James being clingy, but no. It’s me. I’ve gone soft. I miss his mouth.”
Peter looked scandalized. “Remus!”
“Oh, please. Not like that. I just—” Remus sighed. “He kisses my forehead every time I stress about an essay. He does that stupid thing where he brushes his nose against mine and says something cheesy. Sometimes he just kisses my hand for no reason and I pretend it’s annoying but it’s not. I love it. I want it back. I miss his stupid lips.”
James, who had quietly entered behind them, blinked hard and clutched his heart. Remus turned, saw him, and promptly dove into his arms.
“I can’t do this, Jamie,” he whispered. “You haven’t even told me you love me today.”
James whipped out the notepad again.
I told you in the corridor. In writing. Twice.
Then, under it:
You are SO dramatic.
Remus nodded. “I learned it from the best.”
Then he kissed James. Hard. Fierce. Long enough that Sirius yelled “Oi!” and Peter ran away blushing.
James kissed back with all the passion of a Shakespearean ghost returned from the dead to see his beloved. He still couldn’t talk, but Remus could feel it—the frustration, the love, the dramatic flair.
At dinner, James sat beside him and kept scribbling increasingly ridiculous compliments on the parchment in lieu of conversation:
Your eyes are prettier than every star in the sky.
If I die like this, promise to bury me in your jumper.
Do you think Slughorn would let me lick the antidote early? I am wasting away.
Sirius leaned over. “He wrote “I’d marry Remus with my mouth sewn shut.” He’s getting worse.”
“I am also getting worse,” Remus groaned. “He keeps doing that thing where he sighs longingly and rests his head on my shoulder and it’s very distracting.”
“It’s a love language. Just not a verbal one.”
Then Sirius smirked. “Honestly, Moony, I think this might be a blessing. You’ve got him completely silent and extra clingy. You’re basically in paradise.”
Remus opened his mouth to argue—then considered.
James was, in fact, wrapped around his arm like a koala, silently pouting and blinking up at him with the most tragic eyes known to mankind.
“Okay,” Remus said. “Yeah. You might be right.”
At exactly 9:00 the next morning, Slughorn arrived in the Gryffindor common room with the antidote. (Sirius had bribed him with cauldron cakes and enchanted wine.)
James downed the potion in one gulp, let out a gasp, and immediately grabbed Remus' face.
“Oh my god,” James breathed. “I thought I was gonna die. I missed talking, Moony, but even worse—I missed kissing you. I missed your stupid dimples. Your ridiculous little sighs when I kiss your neck. Your—”
Remus shut him up with a kiss, finally, finally not one-sided or desperate. Just warm and relieved.
When they pulled back, James was grinning. “I love you so much it physically hurts. I never want to be quiet again.”
Remus narrowed his eyes. “I want you to kiss me every five minutes from now until the end of time to make up for lost affection.”
“Done.” James kissed his nose. “I was already planning on it.”
From across the room, Sirius sighed loudly. “You’re both unbearable. I liked him better when he was mute.”
James cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted, “I LOVE YOU, REMUS LUPIN!” for the entire tower to hear.
Remus, predictably, beamed. “God, I missed your stupid voice.”
While all his friends are excited for their first trip to Hogsmeade ever, James is nothing but nerves. See, for most of his peers, the first trip to Hogsmeade is an opportunity to hang out, spend money, and get away from the castle. For James, it’s the perfect opportunity to ask his three-year long crush on a date. Finally.
He has no reason to be as nervous as he is–practically shaking. He’s been practicing for weeks with Sirius, but asking Remus is just…different. Of course, it is. But the worst he can say is no, right?
After spending three days avoiding the conversation, Sirius makes it a point to drag Peter out of the library one afternoon while they’re all supposed to be studying, insisting that the other two Marauders stay behind and continue their Potions essays. James glares at him as they walk away, but he can’t help but feel grateful.
“What was that about?” Remus asks, and James’s stomach turns. Whether at being alone with Remus or finally having no excuse to avoid asking him on a date, he’s not sure. Either way, it’s not helping the jitteriness he feels.
“No clue,” James lies. He can feel his face heating up, and for a moment he almost cries. He’s blushing. How embarrassing.
Remus shrugs and turns back to his parchment, and for a moment, James does the same. It doesn’t take long for him to come to the conclusion, however, that if he doesn’t ask him now, he won’t do it at all. “Hey, Remus?”
The other boy looks up, and James nearly swoons at having Remus’s honey brown eyes on him. “You okay?” he asks, and James realizes he’s just been staring for about twenty seconds too long.
“Hogsmeade,” he blurts out. Oh Merlin. This isn’t going according to plan. There’s a jolt in his stomach, urging him to abort the mission. But he’s a Gryffindor, darn it, and he can do this. Remus tilts his head in confusion, and James thinks his heart skips a beat due to how adorable it is. “Us–well, you and me, that is–butterbeer together, maybe?”
“Erm…what?”
Right, of course. Nothing he’d said made any sense. James hangs his head and curses under his breath, then inhales deeply, before looking back at Remus, this time at the center of his forehead rather than his intoxicating eyes.
“Would you want to get a butterbeer together in Hogsmeade?” he asks, just like he’d practiced with Sirius. “Just you and me.”
“Just you and me?” Remus asks, and James nods. “What about Sirius and Peter? Won’t they want to come?”
James’s heart sinks just a bit, but he forces himself to keep his spirits up. It wasn’t a no just…confusion. Maybe James hadn’t been clear enough.
“A date,” he says, again spitting out words without thinking about them properly. “I–I’m asking you on a date. I don’t want Sirius and Peter to come, I want…I want to go on a date with you.”
Without his permission, his eyes wander back down to Remus’s, only to find the other boy looking back at him in wide-eyed shock. “You want to–to go on a date? With me?”
James shrugs, smiling shyly. “Yeah, I–well, I fancy you, so–”
“Yes,” Remus interrupts. James’s heart jumps.
“Yes?” he asks, almost in disbelief. Actually, there’s no almost about it. He definitely doesn’t believe it.
But then, Remus says, “Yes,” again. He says yes and he’s smiling, and he’s blushing and–
And James Potter is officially dating Remus Lupin. Wonders truly never cease.
new moon, morning tea-platonic moonchaser-fluff/sillies
James wakes up at four in the morning like clockwork. Even if he’s not getting ready for quidditch practice at five, he still wakes up, gets ready, and goes for a run. Sirius thinks he’s psychotic for running voluntarily, but James quickly sasses back that Sirius gets up an hour later on days they don’t have quidditch just to do his hair(and occasionally the smudged eyeliner look).
He’s just finishing up in the bathroom when he looks up in the mirror and sees the form of someone tall, eyes glinting an amber hue.
“Moony,” James hissed, “You could’ve given me a heart attack.”
Remus continues to stand there, in complete silence, and just taps on James’ shoulder.
He whispers to the other boy, who he now realizes is too tired to speak without some form of stimulation, “Do you want me to check if there’s any tea ready in the common area?”
He nods slowly, as if he’s still trying to process that it is, in fact, the morning, so James quickly makes work of tying his running shoes before quietly making his way downstairs.
Occasionally, Marlene McKinnon will be up and about on one of the window seats, likely doing a last minute Transfiguration essay or reading a muggle mystery book. Today was one of those mornings.
“It is not fair that Professor McGonagall assigned us twelve inches of parchment due today of all days,” they huffed.
“Is tea ready?,” he asked them, unbothered by the clear signs of slight distress.
They huffed, “Yes, Potter. Do you think any sane person could function without tea this early?”
“I can.”
“You also run, voluntarily.”
James scoffed and, in mock offense, pointed to himself, “McKinnon, I’m the most sane person I know!”
Marlene smirked, “That says a lot about who you prefer to spend your time with.”
He threw up both middle fingers before turning around and quietly making his way up the stairs, hearing a faint, “Son of a bitch,” behind him.
James peaked into their dorm room and spotted Remus standing in the bathroom, looking distantly into the mirror. He creeped in with a steaming mug and set it down next to the other boy gently, “Here you go, Moony,” he whispered once more, “One tea with no cream, no sugar, and a bit of cinnamon.”
Remus seemed to be lost in thought, almost as if he was looking at a stranger, and James couldn’t stand to see him look at himself that way, “Hey, you okay?”
James held a hand out in front of Remus and slowly placed it on his cheek. The other relaxed into him, slightly nuzzling his hand, and that’s when it hit him.
“Full moon tonight, then? I could’ve sworn we planned all of them out this year.”
“You did,” Remus finally rasped, “Sometimes I can’t sleep during the New Moon. It affects me…in different ways than the Full.”
“Hmmm,” James hummed curiously, “I guess I hadn’t thought…well, I never asked.”
“The wolf is more clingy which means I’m more clingy.”
Suddenly, everything seemed to click into place, “You kept watch last night didn’t you?,”James went to move his hand, but his friend looked at him with pleading eyes, “It’s okay. I’m just going to move our cups to my nightstand, so we can sit there instead.”
“What about your run?,” Remus asked slightly surprised.
James smiled, “Missing one day won’t hurt. Besides, you’re more important to me than running.”
“That’s a lie.”
“Okay, I do really love running, but I love you more, Remus. You’re my best mate.”
“Thank you, James,” Remus replied softly, “I…you’re my best mate too.”
James nodded, “Of course,” he grimaced, “Hopefully, the tea is not too cold.”
“Stop saying that.” Remus insists, “You can’t just say things like that to me.”
“Moony…” James says, so softly, voice dripping with warm honey sweetness, “Remus. I mean it. I love you. I’m not saying it on a whim.”
“You can’t.” Remus’s throat feels tight, his body too large for his skin, like just before a transformation, waiting for it to start ripping to make room for the monster inside.
He shoves James's chest away. He needs space. He’s dangerous, feral. Prongs needs to leave right this second before he is hurt, before Remus attacks like the rabid animal he truly is.
“Leave,” Remus croaks, nails digging into flesh.
James moves to get closer, slowly, trying valiantly to tame the wild animal in his bed, “Please.”
“Now!” Remus yells, pointing to the curtain, to the exit, and watches as James flinches in shock. Good, Remus thinks, he should damn well be scared, “Leave and don’t try this shit again. I can’t.”
Remus hopes to see anger, hurt, or even fear. Instead, as James grabs his crumpled clothes from the foot of the bed and begins to hastily pull them back on, all that is in his eyes is pity.
