Arden

sirius talking about how the wine cannot be refrigerated and has to sit and breathe for an hour, has to be in a dark place etc.

“Listen…” Sirius was saying, waving his hands in the air and grinning with a confident smile. “We all know that I could pull anyone in the castle, alright–?”

“So you’re saying McGonagall?” Peter jumped in, grinning.

“Anyone my age,” Sirius amended, rolling his eyes at his friend. “I’m the master. Nobody’s as amazing as me, and I’m sick of you lads not respecting my talent! It’s fine to be jealous, but–”

But James was absolutely not going to let his best friend act so ridiculously. Snorting, he sat him in his bed and looked Sirius in the eye. “Oh, you’re so amazing? Pick up Moony, then.”

Remus, who’d been minding his own business reading his book, jumped and looked to James. “What?”

James grinned at Sirius. “Pick up Moony, Pads. You’re so good at getting a date? Get Moony all hot and bothered.”

It was clear that Remus was not fond of this idea, judging from the way he looked like he’d just sucked on a lemon, but James was looking at Sirius, who’d turned bright red. 

“Fine!” he stammered, too stubborn to turn down a dare. “Fine, I will!”

So Sirius sideled up to Remus, who now looked mildly amused, his pale face turning even redder as he fiddled nervously with a lock of his hair and stared at the ground. He looked so un-Sirius that James had to chuckle.

“Um, hey, Moony?” Sirius muttered, his voice the least confident James’d ever heard it. “Um…”

Everyone looked at Sirius expectantly, but the boy just squirmed again and coughed. Then he sniffed and looked at his naked wrist. “I–shit, it’s, erm, late! Gotta go shower and get ready for class tomorrow!”

“So, you’ve got a problem,” Pandora murmured to Regulus as they both sat by the side of the lake, watching the sparkling water while most of their friends splashed around to their hearts’ content. 

“Just one? Clearly you haven’t met my parents,” Regulus deadpanned, eyes on James, who was happily holding Sirius under the water.

She snorted. “Well yeah. But I meant your boyfriend.”

Instantly, he turned to her. “Why? What’d he do now?” Not that he believed James would do anything wrong, exactly. It was just…well, James liked to cause trouble, and he often found himself dealing with the consequences.

But Pandora laughed. “I just went in his bag, right before you got here. Needed sunscreen and he had extra. And d’you know what I saw?”

He paused, trying to decide if it would be better if it was something living, or something already dead. “Do I want to?” he hedged.

“Your favorite snacks,” she said, deciding for him, a huge grin on her face, “that lip balm you like. The only tampons you’re willing to use. The ink you like. Three of your favorite quills. And your favorite book. All just there.”

Regulus gaped, eyes widening. “Seriously?”

“Mhm. I think he properly loves you,” she replied, smirking.

He felt his body go light and a bit hazy, happiness and terror filling him in equal measure. It was amazing to think that anyone would do something like that for him.  “Fuck,” he murmured reverently.

Pandora laughed and waved to James, who’d turned and was grinning eagerly at Regulus. “Oh, it’s so mutual, isn’t it?”

“remus, if neither of us are married by the time we’re thirty, we should marry each other.”

remus is taken aback by the offer, and a little flustered. but he considers his words before agreeing.