#stardoe

“Er… About that… There was a bit of a potions accident,” James says guiltily, eyes darting to the Hospital Wing entrance, and all at once everything clicks.

Dorcas’ eyes widen as her knuckles tighten around the strap of her bag.

“He’s fine!” James rushes out at her visible panic. “He’s just… not quite himself. Botched love potion experiment exploded all over him. Poppy kicked us out until she can figure out how to reverse the effects.”

Dorcas lets out a shaky breath. “Fuck you for scaring me like that, James Potter, and fuck that. I don’t give a toss what Pomfrey has to say.”

“I’m not sure she’ll take kindly to that sentiment,” Peter says hesitantly. Dorcas ignores him.

“Come on, Remus. We’re going to see our boyfriend,” she says firmly, leaving no room for arguments as she storms over to the closed Hospital Wing. Remus scrambles to follow her.

“Cariad,” he says to her while she pushes the doors open. “Don’t be startled if he does or says anything unusual.”

Dorcas opens her mouth to say something along the lines of ‘Everything Sirius does is unusual,’ when she’s cut off by the ecstatic shout of, “Moony! Doe-eyes! You’re here!”

The doors had swung open to reveal Sirius a few beds down, whose face is lit up with pure delight. He tries to scramble off the bed only to be shoved back down by an exasperated Madam Pomfrey. She whirls around to face them with a stern look.

“I said no visitors,” she reprimands. Remus’ face melts into that wide-eyed ‘innocent’ look that is anything but.

“I know, Poppy, but Dorcas and I were just so worried about him. Please, can we stay?” he says pitifully, and Dorcas has to bite her lip to stop from grinning. Pomfrey softens a little, forever sympathetic to one Remus Lupin.

“Oh, alright,” she sighs. “But no funny business! Mr. Black needs his rest.”

“Of course, Poppy. Thank you.”

With that, she leaves and the three of them are alone in the room. Immediately, Sirius tries clumsily to get up once again and Remus rushes to his bedside, gently shoving him back down. Dorcas follows close behind, still anxious despite herself.

“You need to stay in bed, Pads, remember?” he says softly, and Sirius melts into the thin sheets. He stares up at Remus reverently, pupils so large they nearly eclipse the cool grey of his eyes.

“You’re so beautiful, I love you so much. Do you know that? I hope you know that,” Sirius says in a single breath and Remus bites back a grin.

“Yeah, I know that, fy calon.”

Dorcas chuckles a bit, relaxing at the sight of her unharmed love-drunk boyfriend. Said boyfriend whips his head over at the sound of her laughter and his whole face lights up.

“Doe. Doey. Doe-eyes.” Sirius reaches out blindly to grab her hand. She takes pity on him and slips her hand in his own, stumbling slightly when he tugs on it insistently.

“Yes, love?”

“I love you, I love you so much. Your eyes are so pretty, like— like chocolate. I love you, did I say that already? Come lay with me.” He tugs on her again, this time sending her stumbling into the bed.

“Christ, Sirius,” Remus breathes, rushing to stabilise her only for Sirius to tug again. Dorcas collapses on his chest with a laugh and he hums happily.

“S’alright, Rem. He’s just an impatient sap right now.” Dorcas pushes up to resituate herself and Sirius grumbles. “Oh, stop it. I’m just getting comfortable, I’m not leaving.”

“Oh, that’s good, then, that’s lovely,” Sirius sighs, closing his eyes contentedly. “You’re so lovely.”

“I know I am,” Dorcas grins as she rests her head on his shoulder. She looks to Remus, who is watching the two of them with a soft and loving expression, and teases, “Don’t you think so, Rem?”

“Moons,” Sirius’ eyes shoot open with a thrilled gasp. “You have to join us. Come cuddle, please?”

Remus stares distrustfully at the already-crowded twin bed. “I’m not sure I’ll fit, darling.”

“Please, Moony,” Sirius whines pitifully.

Dorcas snickers. “Yeah, Moony, come join us.”

Remus sighs, accepts his fate, and crawls on top of his two partners. It’s not comfortable by a long shot. No, gangly limbs dig into torsos, curly hair falls into faces, yet Sirius has never looked so content. He squirms delightedly under them which has the unfortunate side-effect of disrupting their precarious cuddle pile, nearly sending Remus to the floor.

“I love you guys, you know?” Sirius sighs dreamily, eyes falling shut. Dorcas giggles, meeting her other boyfriend’s eyes which are bright with humour.

“Yeah, Pads, we know, don’t worry.”

She reaches forward to grasp one of Remus’ hands, entangling their fingers on Sirius’ chest. He gently squeezes her hand and she sighs happily. Dorcas lets her eyes fall shut as she basks in the warmth of her partners, fully intending to enjoy this as much as possible before Madam Pomfrey returns to boot them out.