#jamesxremus

There's Snow Time To Moon On Christmas by Zachary_Leigh: Muggle!Au James brings Remus home to spend Christmas with the Potters [[Rated M]]

Fame and Love - [[Orphan Account]]: Remus was homeschooled and meets quidditch star James. Romcom hijinks commence. [Rated T]

Safe and Sound - [[Orphan Account]]: CODA!James moves in next door to deaf Remus. [Rated M]

By Appointment Only - Puuvilla: ABO Dynamics alphas who aren't mated are assigned mates by the ministry, Alpha James and Alpha Remus meet and hit it off. [Rated E]

Not Eternity But Moments [[Orphan Account]]: Detective!James takes his son into hiding, and falls for Teacher! Remus who gets caught up in the action. [[Rated E]]

Spellbound Darling - Frumpologist : Vignettes of James and Remus in their 7th year [[Rated M]]

Not Quite Soldiers [[Orphan Account]]: Remus and James are on an undercover mission for the order, fake dating into complicated real-life dating [Rated G]

“Ah, what a glorious day to be gay!” Sirius grinned, inhaling deeply through his nose, and letting out through his mouth as a content sigh.

“Muggles sure know how to throw a party.” He added, hands on his hips, taking in their surroundings.

“I don’t think I’ve seen so many colours in my life.” Peter muttered, taking in the view himself.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it Petey?” Sirius slung an arm around Peter’s shoulder, and drew him close, ruffling his hair playfully.

Peter squawked in protest, struggling out of Sirius’ grasp. 

“That isn’t the word I’d use…” he muttered, and patted himself down as he escaped, but not before sending a glare at Sirius’ sniggering. 

“Blinding more like.”

“Careful there, Pete.” James piped in, sounding amused. “One might think you’re homophobic.” 

Both Sirius and James chuckled at the joke, but Peter only turned red.

“I’m not! Really, I’m not!” He whined, making the two laugh harder. “You guys are prats, y’know that?”

“Don’t worry, Peter. No one will think you’re homophobic.” Remus rolled his eyes, pulling his attention away from the celebrations to chastise the others.

His excitement was rather subtle, the complete opposite of how loud James’ or Sirius’ was, but you could tell it was there nonetheless, the way it lit up the green of his irises. Remus, though he didn’t outwardly show it, was practically vibrating in his spot with it.

“And how are you feeling, Moons?” James asked, his expression softening as he looked over at Remus.

“I’m good, honest.“ he replied with an equally soft smile.

“And I’m happy you lot are with me.” Remus added, earning a wink from Sirius.

“Anything for our Moony.” 

Remus huffed fondly, and shook his head at the group’s nods. 

“It’ll be good for us too, I think.” James said. “Not only because we’re learning about muggle tradition, but some of us are new to this whole…gay thing.” 

Remus snorted, brow raised. “Gay thing? Really James?” 

“Oh uh…sorry is that, uh, not allowed?” James rubbed the back of his neck, cheeks flushed in embarrassment. 

Sirius snickered. “Merlin, Remus, was I this bad when I was figuring stuff out back at school?” 

“Oi!” James cried out in protest, knocking into Sirius’ shoulder. 

“Cut him some slack, Pads.” Remus scolded, a small smile tugging at his lips. “And I dare say you were worse.” 

Sirius gasped dramatically. “Moi? No! It shan’t be…” 

“You told everyone that you couldn’t be gay, even when we were together.” 

“Touché.”

“It’s definitely better being out to my mates, but it’s also really scary? I’m terrified. How do you do it, Remus?” James shook his head in disbelief.

“It’s not easy, but it helps to have friends who support you, and have your back. I can’t really say much more than that, because I just am. Gay, that is. Like being a wizard, or a…werewolf. I just am.” Remus shrugged, reaching over to give James’ hand a squeeze. 

“Yeah, I like that. We just are.” James agreed, squeezing back.

“And I’m an ally!” Peter piped in, earning chuckles from everyone.

“Ah, yes, Petey, the biggest ally in a group of your queerest friends!” Sirius exclaimed, managing to wrap the bloke in another one armed hug.

“Now that we got that out of the way, I see a row of colourful drinks that have my name on them.” 

James rolled his eyes. “You just want to flirt with that rather sparkly bloke at the pub, who seems to have forgotten a shirt.”

“Oh, Jamie, Jamie, Jamie.” Sirius grinned wolfishly. “You shouldn’t judge a man by his state of undress.”

“Mhm, sure. As if you didn’t notice.”

Sirius shrugged slyly, and grabbed Peter by the arm. “C’mon Pete, you’re coming with me.” 

“What?! Why me?” 

“You said you were an ally, be my wingman!” Sirius winked at James, ushering Peter away. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do~!”

James clicked his tongue, shaking his head. “He’s unbelievable.”

“Well, he’s your best mate.” Remus teased with a chuckle.

“Well, you dated him.” James teased back, reveling in the way Remus ducked his head and smiled.

“That I did. Guess I’ve got a thing for nobs.” 

“Oi! Keep it PG, Moony. My virgin ears are susceptible to negative influence.”

Remus snorted. “Oh yes, my bad. Wouldn’t want your virgin ears to be sullied.” 

“Thank you.” 

They grinned at each other for a moment, before they both looked away, distracting themselves with the boisterousness around them. It wasn’t anything like they have ever experienced before, which was rather bizarre, considering they were wizards. But it was like the muggles had possessed their own kind of magic, casting a spell over London, as a variety of people from all over filled the streets, dressed up in rainbows, waving around flags, and screaming their pride out to the world.

“I think I’d like to take Harry here one day.” 

Remus looked back over at James and smiled softly. “I think that’s a wonderful idea, James.” 

“I never thought it could feel like this. But looking out at all these people, seeing them stand up for each other, celebrating love? I can’t help but be proud. I want to share this feeling with my family.” 

“Harry would love that, I’m sure.”

“Besides, he deserves to know who his parents are. Who is uncle Sirius is. Who his aunt Marlene is, and his aunt Dorcus. Who you are.” 

Remus said nothing yet, letting James continue.

“This is history just as much as anything they teach us at Hogwarts. And he’s got some pretty good role models in his life who’ll teach him about it too. I don’t want him to grow up without knowing the sacrifices muggles made, just to exist. I don’t want him to grow up to become someone ignorant and hateful.”

“James…” Remus beamed at the other man, tears welling in his eyes.

“It’s not entirely the same, but I saw how the wizarding world treated you for being a werewolf. I can’t imagine what it’s like to be gay on top of that. And knowing what these people have had to go through just to be here right now, you grew up muggle.”

Remus hummed. “Like I said it’s not easy, but I have some pretty awesome mates who love me teeth, claws, dick sucking and all.” 

“Merlin,” James laughed, putting his hands over his ears. 

Remus smirked, expression mischievous. “Sorry.” He apologized, not sounding sorry at all. 

“You don’t look like a man who’s very sorry.” 

“You got me.”

“Whatever happened to our innocent little Moony?” 

Remus raised a brow, the corner of his mouth quirked upwards. “Hate to break it to you, Prongs, but the shit we got up to in Hogwarts hardly qualifies as innocent. And seeing as I’m the one who never got caught, and had to use my prefectorial status constantly to bail you three out, innocent isn’t the word I’d use to describe me.” 

“Merlin, we were a handful weren’t we?”

“You, perhaps. Me? Absolutely not. People liked me.” 

“Maybe a little too much.” James joked, earning a curious, albeit amused, look from Remus.

“Oh?” 

“Bollocks, Moons, don’t act all naïve now. You had to know that everybody had a crush on you at some point.”

“Did they?” 

James rolled his eyes. “Stop taking the piss, you arsehole. Sirius may have been the lucky bloke who got to have you, but everyone wanted you.”

“Mm, even you?” 

James eyes widened and he looked over at Remus, only to find him already looking back. James’ cheeks flushed a bright red and he cleared his throat. 

“Uh, well, um…”

Remus laughed. “James, relax, I’m kidding. I believe you. But, just for the record, even if everyone wanted me, I definitely didn’t want everyone. I am…very gay.”

It was meant to be a joke, to make James laugh, but James was still thinking about Remus’ previous question.

He swallowed past the lump in his throat and wet his lips. “What, erm, what if I did?” 

“Hm?”

“Uh back…back then. H-have a crush on you?”

“Oh,” Remus furrowed his brow, “did you?”

James chuckled, nervously. “I said everyone, didn’t I? You’re kind of the reason I knew I was bisexual, or well, at the very least, ‘not straight’ at the time.” 

“I was your first? Really? It wasn’t Lily?” Remus asked, and James was relieved by the lack of disgust in his tone.

“Yes, really.” He affirmed. “Lily was the love of my life sure, but you Remus? Well, you were Moony. My Moons. The Casanova of the Gryffindor Tower.” 

Remus groaned. “Ugh, please do not bring that nickname back. How embarrassing.” 

James laughed. “I dunno, I like it, I think it’s fitting.” 

“You may have been a right prat alongside Sirius, but you’re quite the looker too James. You’re certainly not ugly.”

“High praise.”

Remus rolled his eyes. “I’m serious.” 

James opened his mouth and Remus put a hand up, effectively cutting him off. “If you’re about to make a Sirius joke in his stead, I will hex you.” 

“Wow, Moons, not very ally of you. Someone might think you’re homophobic.” James mocked, an easy grin back on his face. 

Remus snorted. “Consider it gay on gay crime, then.” 

“Is it weird?” James asked then, looking over to where Sirius was obviously weaving some elaborate tale or other—his habit of talking with his hands gave him away—captivating the barman, Pete on standby lest he need to add an embellishment or two.

“Is what weird?” Remus asked right back, following James’ line of sight.

“Dating a mate?”

Remus looked back at James, and the other could feel his stare burning into the back of his head, but he remained still, gaze still locked on the other half of the marauders. 

“Oh, well. No. Sometimes I think that’s the only way to date. But it’s different for everyone.”

“Even if it might ruin the friendship? If you break up I mean?” 

“It doesn’t do anybody any good to think like that. It doesn’t make the fear go away, I was terrified of my feelings for Sirius, and he of his for me, but even if we didn’t last, I don’t regret it. It was worth trying, then not at all.”

“Oh.” 

It was silent for a moment between the two of them, something unspoken beginning to fester. Remus shifted closer and put a hand on James’ shoulder, startling the man out of his reverie.

“James,” Remus said, breaking the silence, “do you…have feelings for Sirius?” He asked low and calm, but still loud enough to be heard over the crowd. 

James’ face screwed up, and he made a face at Remus, finally looking over at the other. 

“What?! Gross, no!” 

Remus laughed. “I’m sorry, but I only asked because you asked about having a crush on a friend. I assumed it was Sirius.”

“He’s like my brother! What made you think that?”

“Well, it isn’t news that you two are inseparable. You share a bond that the four us together never will. Not even Sirius and I had what you two have.” Remus shrugged, amused at James’ reaction.

“Okay, first of all, that’s not true. I love you all equally.”

Remus snorted, but James went on, “and secondly, I’d like to obliviate that image from my brain, thank you very much.” 

“I mean it’s okay if you do, you know. Whatever happened with Sirius and I is in the past.” 

James groaned. “Bloody hell, Moons, please stop. You’re killing me.”

“Alright, alright.” Remus put his hands up placatingly, a teasing smile on his face. “I’m done now, I promise.”

“It’s not Sirius.” James muttered. “That I like, or whatever. It’s not Sirius.”

“But it is a mate?”

“No comment.” James blushed, and Remus nodded, once again allowing James to elaborate, but not pressuring him to. 

“I was just curious. Since the four of us are still best mates. Despite the fact that you two…”

“Shagged?” Remus supplied, making James go redder.

“Fuckin’ hell, Rem.” He cursed, shaking his head. “I wasn’t going to put it like that but yeah.”

“It’s not any different than it is with you and Lily, you know. You two are still friends, aren’t you?” 

“Huh, yeah, I guess we are.”

“And sure Sirius and I didn’t procreate, we don’t co parent a kid obviously, but it’s not too different. We dated, we broke up, decided we were better off friends. We don’t love each other any less.” Remus smiled over at their friends, Sirius of whom was eyeing the barman over his glass of whatever fruity drink he ordered. 

“And I’m happy for him. Putting himself out there, after everything? I’ll always cherish the time we had together, regardless of how short or long it was, but he deserves this, to be happy, even if that’s not with me anymore.”

James nodded. “I got it. Thanks, Moony.” 

Remus chuckled. “What’s queer pride if not for the deep, thoughtful conversations we don’t get to have normally?” 

James laughed. “Right. You have an amazing outlook on literally everything.” 

Remus raised a brow at James. “I wouldn’t say that. Everything takes time, James. And it’s hard, but ultimately, in the end, you come to realize that you’re the better because of your experiences. That’s why people—like these muggles here—fight so hard for each other.” 

“I like that.” 

“Mm,” Remus nodded. “It’s all a part of being human. Or human adjacent.”

Remus met James’ gaze again, and smiled that sweet smile he loved so much. 

“Take you for example. You and Lily love each other, would die for each other even. None of that was destroyed by your split. You’re stronger for it. You’re a force together, and, despite not being together, you still function as a unit. And you’ve got an amazing little boy who gets to grow up with a large family who adores him, because of you two. Harry’s got an army behind him.” 

James’ expression grew fond. “What a lucky kid.”

“You’re telling me.” Remus laughed. “And I have it on good authority that he’ll grow up tolerant and with enough love to share. After all, he’s got two gay aunts, two gay uncles—one of which is a werewolf—and two bisexual parents. Not to mention a step mom who loves anyone, regardless of their gender.” 

“Merlin, we really were the gayest year at Hogwarts.” 

“Somehow, I have a feeling our kids’ll have us beat.” Remus mused.

“Harry’s got it good, and he doesn’t even know it yet.” James joked. 

“Though it’s hard to say there’ll be gayer years after us when you’re still there teaching, Mr. Professor you.” 

Remus snorted out a laugh and playfully shoved James. “I think you’re forgetting about Dumbledore.” 

James’ eyes widened. “What?! Dumbledore is gay?” 

“Christ, James, we need to work on your gaydar. Thinking Dumbledore is anything but gay is just as bad as you lot thinking I was into girls our fifth year!”

“Oi! You hid it very well!”

Remus laughed. “No, James, I didn’t. I was in love with my best friend the whole time. I think I was rather quite obvious. But apparently my type is ‘oblivious and hopeless’. If I don’t pine they aren’t mine.”

He huffed and rolled his eyes. “Seeing as everyone that I’ve ever crushed on was dating a girl.” Remus added as an afterthought, but James caught it.

He looked at Remus, really looked at him, and the other looked back, face scrunched up in confusion.

“What?”

“So…I’m your type then?” 

Remus’ eyes widened when he realized what he said. “I-“

“Relax Remus, I’m kidding.” James mimicked, earning a glare from Remus.

“What if you were?” Remus said, tone serious. 

“Wh-what?” 

The other man smirked. “I said: what if you were? My type? What if I had a crush on you, back then, too?”

James swallowed. “O-oh. Did you?”

“I don’t know, did I?” 

Remus’ piercing gaze was unrelenting, forcing James to look away. He coughed into his fist, albeit awkwardly, and instead turned his attention toward the people dancing along to the music.

Elton’s vocals drifted sweetly throughout the pub from the jukebox, and James immediately recognized it as one of Remus’ favourites.

He watched the others dance so intently, he almost missed Remus’ question.

“Would you like to dance?”

“Er…”

“With me?” Remus held out his hand as an offering, one James didn’t have in him to refuse. 

He took the proffered hand, and allowed Remus to drag him to the makeshift dance floor with the others, feeling his insides flip from Remus’ resulting smile.

‘You could never know what it’s like…’

‘Your blood, like winter, freezes just like ice…’

‘And there’s a cold, lonely light that shines from you…’

‘You’ll wind up like the wreck you hide behind that mask you use…’

Remus brought James close, and placed James’ hands on his waist, draping his own arms around James’ neck. His grip tightened on Remus, pulling the other man closer, till they were dancing, gently swaying to the beat, cheek to cheek. James couldn’t fathom how anything like this could be considered shameful, or wrong, to some people, when it felt so right.

‘And did you think this fool could ever win?’

‘Well look at me, I’m a-comin’ back again…’

James smiled as heard Remus singing softly along to the song, and closed his eyes against the swell of emotion he felt resonate deep within his chest.

‘I got a taste of love in a simple way…’

James pulled back a bit, a question in his eyes. Remus quirked his head to the side, an amused smile on his face. 

‘And if you need to know while I’m still standin’ you just fade away…’

James’ doubt faded away, and he sealed their lips together. Remus was eager to kiss back, chuckling against James’ lips as the other man pulled their bodies even closer, till there was no space between them. Remus didn’t mind, however. He reached up and held James’ face between his hands. 

They both pulled away eventually, startled apart by the sound of a round of confetti cannons popping, showering them all in colourful, confection-like paper, and streamers. Both James and Remus shared a look, before bursting into laughter, as the bar of muggles cheered, and sang along to the chorus.

“I see you guys are having fun.” Sirius teased, smirking into his drink.

“Yeah, I was just about to tell you two to get a room.” Peter joked, squawking indignantly when Sirius elbowed him. 

“Careful what you say Petey, James is a baby gay, you don’t want to scare him off.”

“Oi! Speak for yourself, you arsehole, I’m not a baby gay.” James laughed, rolling his eyes. 

“I did just find out that I was his gay awakening, back in the day.” Remus chuckled, tucking a stray curl behind James’ ear.

Sirius and Peter both snorted, and Remus raised a brow in question at his friends.

“Remus, you were everyone’s gay awakening.” Peter said deadpan, and James smirked over at Remus. 

“See? I told you, Moons ‘Casanova of Gryffindor Tower’.” 

“Yeah, yeah, how silly of me.” Remus rolled his eyes. 

James pecked Remus on the cheek, and the two shared a smile, before playfully shoving their friends as they made gagging noises at the public displays. 

Sirius grabbed some of the confetti and threw it up in the air over their group. “Here’s to us, marauders of both magic and sexuality, causing mischief till the end of our days.”

“That was awful,” Pete complained. 

“I thought it was sweet.” Remus smiled. 

“Thank you, Moony! At least someone appreciates me.” 

“Well I didn’t say that…” Remus teased, earning a gasp from Sirius.

James chuckled. “Alright, alright, enough you guys. Let’s enjoy our first muggle pride.” 

Sirius raised his glass. “Ah, yes, how could I forget, cheers, to the marauders at pride!” 

“To the marauders at pride!” The four of them chorused.

Peter and Sirius clinked their drinks together, and James and Remus shared another kiss, short but oh so sweet.