#mischiefpuff

Harry still wasn’t back from his mission. It’s been two days since he said he would be back “at the latest” and the only reason Draco wasn’t storming down the door to the Head Auror’s office was because the DMLE had sent him an owl yesterday to notify him that while the officers were not back yet, they were in contact and safe. At least they had learned from the last time Harry had been on a mission and there was no communication when he wasn’t back when he said he would be. Granger really is creative when it comes to lethal spells…

Draco knew that he had signed on for this. He and Harry had talked about it extensively when they got together. That didn’t mean he had to like that his boyfriend was gone for indeterminable lengths of time. Nor had he figured out how to deal with the lack of physical affection when Harry was gone. Of course, he missed other things about Harry while he was away. But the ache of not being able to touch or kiss him whenever he felt like it… It felt like he was being hollowed out from the inside bit by bit and the longer Harry was away, the worse it became.

Without thinking, Draco found himself in front of their dresser, opening up Harry’s side. He pulled out a soft navy blue shirt and inhaled deeply as he pulled it over his head. Collapsing onto the bed, he pulled the collar up over his nose and let the lingering scent of Harry lull him to sleep.

* * * * * * * * * * * * 

After closing the front door, Harry paused. He was met with silence where he expected shouting, cursing, or at least some kind of noise as evidence of Draco’s presence. It was the middle of the day on a weekend - right? Draco should be home. 

Resisting the urge to call out for Draco, the Auror slipped his wand out of his holster, cast a quick spell which confirmed there were two people present - himself included. He made his way quietly down the hall where the bedroom door was wide open.

Stepping into the doorframe, Harry sighed. There was Draco, curled on the bed, wearing one of his favourite shirts. It looked like he had almost tried to curl up inside the shirt. Harry set his wand on the dresser, pulled off his shoes and robes and as quietly as possible, slipped into bed next to Draco. He’d complain that Harry hadn’t even showered when he woke up. Harry didn’t care though. He’d been gone too long this time. He just needed to touch Draco for now. Later he’d tell him how much he loved him. 

Sorry it took so long for me to answer this, love, I’ve been a bit overwhelmed and my inbox is stuffed to the brim right now, but I’m trying to go through it slowly but surely.

In general I write Remus as being insecure, but still very strong because that’s how I see him.  He’s a bit closed off and reserved because he has such a huge secret he has to keep, but he’s come to trust and rely on the other Marauders because of how they are with him.  But he’s also mischievous and the mastermind to their pranks.  Remus is very quiet and a bit reserved until you get to know him and then his fun and sarcastic side comes out and that’s what his friends love about him.  He can be the one to keep them in line and also to rile them up 5 minutes later.

My personal head canon for Remus in 1978 is that he was the happiest he had ever been.  He and Sirius were together finally after years of pining, they were in their own tiny flat together after Hogwarts and even though the war was picking up and they were starting to get in the middle of it he was still surrounded by friends who loved him and was with the man he loved most.  He had issues finding work, but it was still early days and he was able to hold down a job for a while even though he needed full moon days and nights off.  Because the other Marauders were with him on the night of the full he wasn’t injured most of the time and had a quicker recovery so at most he’d miss two days of work and could usually schedule them off without arousing suspicion so things were well on that front.

He and Sirius were so in love and they were helping plan Lily and James’ wedding so he was on an emotional high from the happiness in his life.  Dumbledore was dropping hints to him about the werewolf packs but so far hadn’t gone so far as to ask him to infiltrate so the missions he was a part of for the Order were not as dangerous yet and he still felt a bit safe and removed from the war.  He was optimistic that he and his loved ones would win and come out well and that’s what I think makes the betrayal and loss he faced just three years later even worse.  A part deep inside him knew his hope and happiness was just temporary, but he never expected things to fall apart the way they did and lose everyone and everything that had ever mattered to him.