i'll be here in the morning ~ remus x reader
hellloooo! <3 here we go with a second attempt at a remus fic since people seemed to like my first one, but this is from remus's POV!
title inspired by i'll be here in the morning by townes van zandt.
quick summary: the gang goes to Hogsmeade to celebrate the coming end of seventh year and you end up drinking a bit too much, but remus is there to take care of you! (let me just say, I don't want to glamorize drinking lol) very fluffy, she/her pronouns used for reader
The Three Broomsticks was quite busy tonight, full of seventh-years celebrating the end of their final OWLs with the people they'd spent the last six or so years growing up with. Though the room was full of laughter and the pungent smell of ale, there was also the undeniable presence of a certain bittersweet feeling in the air.
Remus stood at the bar, feeling this bittersweetness himself. Oh, how he would miss this stuffy old pub and all the memories that it carried. Just a year before, he had kissed y/n outside this place after they'd shared a cigarette in the snow. He could still remember how cold her cheeks felt, the way she'd looked up at him. . .
"Thanks, mate," he said as the bartender handed him a couple of pints and he headed back to the table. He strode to the booth and sat down next to James, giving him the ale he'd asked for.
"I'm just saying," Lily chimed to the rest of the group, "I don't think McGonagall is nearly as bad as you all make her out to be."
Sirius rolled his eyes at her. "'Course you wouldn't Evans. Some of us, on the other hand, will not miss her watching their every move. I mean, I still don't know how that woman knew about half the things she did! I swear she has eyes all over the bloody castle."
"Quite true." Marlene giggled.
"Well, cheers to no more eyes on us, yeah?" y/n said. The group reached their glasses into the center of the table in joyous agreement.
Y/n smiled as she then proceeded to down an entire pint, banging it down on the table when she finished. "Right. I'll be back," she said, getting up to get another from the bar.
"I bet 10 galleons that she can't walk out of here on her own tonight." James laughed. "Good luck Moony, you'll be the one carrying her back!"
Remus chuckled to himself. James was probably right, but he'd let her have her fun tonight. If he was being honest, he thought the sight of a slightly drunk y/n was quite funny. What a sight she was.
She returned with two pints in hand, sitting back down next to Lily and handing her the second one.
Her eyes met Remus' as she put the glass to her lips. He felt the corners of his mouth turn into a warm smile and his heart tug at his chest at the mere sight of her gaze. She lowered her glass to reveal a mustache of foam above her lip. He laughed and reached across the table to wipe it off with the sleeve of his sweater. She squinted her eyes as she laughed at herself.
"Y'know, not to be sappy or whatever," Sirius gestured with his hand as he put down his glass, "but, you lot are the best family I could have ever asked for. It's hard not to be bummed that we have to say goodbye to Hogwarts and all, but. . . fuck!" He laughed. They all did.
"I just really love you shits is all." Sirius smiled.
"Oh, Pads!" Lily threw her arms around Sirius' neck from beside him. He flinched under her tight grasp. James chuckled.
Remus glanced at y/n. His heart was so full of love for them all, for her. He'd want to remember this moment forever.
Sirius flung the door to the pub open and drunkenly stepped outside as the rest of them followed behind. Sure enough, Remus was practically carrying y/n with her arm slung over his shoulders, stumbling beside him, though one thing that James hadn't predicted was that he too would be absolutely pissed. Lily was struggling behind them to keep him upright as he slurred affectionate remarks at her.
"You-you're so stun. . . stunning Evans, like. . . no other girl. . .even comes close to you," he shouted at her.
"Mhm. Okay." Lily grunted as she struggled to grasp him and keep him walking. "Thank you, darling."
Marlene and Sirius laughed at the sight of them.
Y/n wasn't much better than James, however. Remus could tell she was using all her might to focus on walking and trying not to puke on his feet. He used his free hand to push her hair away from her face and used the other to hold her close to him.
"You okay, hon?" he whispered to her.
"Mmm," she grunted in response against his shoulder.
"Right. We will be back soon. Then you can go to sleep, 'kay love?" he said as he rubbed her arm.
They trotted along and up towards the castle.
Remus led y/n to her bed.
"She alright, Remus?" Marlene asked from the doorway.
He laid her down on the pillow. "Oh, yeah. She'll be fine. I'm just gonna hang out with her in here until she's asleep if you don't mind. Don't want to keep you up though."
"Not at all! Sirius and I are going to hang out in the common room for a bit, so don't worry about it. Stay in here tonight if you want! I'm sure Lily will be staying in your dorm with James anyway," she replied.
Remus nodded. "Thanks Mars." She retreated back downstairs as he pulled off y/n's shoes and sat himself down next to her, running his fingers through her hair and rubbing circles on her back.
"Moony. . ." she said with eyes closed.
She breathed deeply. ". . . I've loved you for. . . for years. Since our second year. I remember it," she slurred.
He chuckled to himself. "I know. You've told me."
"I know but. . . I just-I've just always known it was you. Y'know? You're like- you're just so perfect. And kind, and like. . . annoyingly cool, and so. . . so beautiful. And I'm gonna have your babies."
He laughed softly, still playing with her hair. "Oh yeah?"
"I mean, I would hope so." He stroked his hand across her cheek, so rosy and warm. He saw her smile ever so slightly from his touch.
"So. . . annoyingly cool you say?" he chuckled.
"Yep." she said sleepily.
"I will be asking you to elaborate on that one in the morning," he said as he laid down next to her, hugging her close to him and nuzzling his head into her neck.
"Ok" she said ever so quietly. He could tell that she was on the edge of drifting off to sleep.
"Goodnight my love." He planted a kiss on her shoulder. Of course, he was sure that she'd feel horribly hungover in the morning, but he didn't mind taking care of her. After all, he knew she'd do the same for him.