Hogsmeade on a Saturday evening was loud in the particular way only wizarding villages could be.
Not modern loud.
Not city loud.
Warm loud.
The kind built from overlapping conversations, clinking glasses, chairs scraping crooked wooden floors, enchanted lanterns flickering gold against old stone walls, and somewhere in the corner of the pub, a witch absolutely butchering a Celestina Warbeck song while three drunk wizards applauded like she was the second coming of Merlin.
The air smelled like roasted meat, fireplace smoke, butter, damp wool, and spilled ale.
Outside, snow drifted lazily through the darkening streets.
Inside, the Gryffindors had successfully colonised an entire corner of the pub.
James Potter was halfway through loudly arguing that being denied alcohol at seventeen was “a violation of his civil liberties.”
“You do not have civil liberties,” Lily Evans informed him without looking up from her chips. “You barely have object permanence.”
“I’m oppressed.”
“You asked the bartender if firewhisky counted as juice.”
“Because technically—”
“James,” Remus sighed.
“It could count as juice.”
“It absolutely could not,” Mary Macdonald laughed.
Peter Pettigrew was still pouting over the bartender laughing in his face when he’d attempted to order something “strong enough to alter his spiritual state.”
Apparently butterbeer was “plenty strong enough for you, mate.”
Frank Longbottom was snorting so hard into his drink he nearly inhaled foam.
Across from him, Alice Fortescue was stealing chips directly off his plate while he was distracted.
Fabian and Gideon Prewett were in the middle of some elaborate arm-wrestling match involving increasingly stupid bets.
“If I win,” Fabian declared, “you owe me your dessert.”
“If I win,” Gideon countered, “you have to tell McGonagall it was you who exploded the training dummy.”
Fabian looked horrified.
“That’s extortion.”
“That’s justice.”
Marlene McKinnon was crying laughing already.
Sirius Black sat in the middle of it all with the exhausted expression of a man being held hostage by his own social circle.
One boot kicked up on the bench.
Leather jacket half shrugged off.
Dark curls messy from melted snow.
He looked deeply unimpressed by existence.
Mostly because James had been talking for forty straight minutes.
“And another thing,” James continued, pointing a chip like it was legislation, “if they’re going to deny us alcohol, they should at least provide compensation chips.”
—and Regulus Black walked in like he owned the place.
Not dramatic.
Not trying to be noticed.
Which somehow made it worse.
His dark coat was dusted with snow, curls windswept, cheeks pink from the cold. Silver rings flashed on pale fingers as he shoved the door shut behind him.
He scanned the pub once.
Found the Gryffindor table immediately.
And grinned.
“Oh no,” Sirius muttered instantly.
James twisted around. “Oh brilliant.”
“Why are you reacting like prey spotting a predator?” Lily asked Sirius.
“Because I know that look.”
Regulus was already walking over.
Calm.
Smug.
Purposeful.
Like a cat deciding which expensive object to knock off a shelf.
“You say that,” James said brightly, “but he’s tiny.”
“He’s evil.”
“He’s five foot four.”
“He’s evil in concentrated form.”
Regulus reached the table.
Everyone watched with the anticipation of people observing an incoming natural disaster.
Without saying a single word—
Regulus simply dropped sideways onto the bench beside Sirius.
Fully.
No grace.
Just a dramatic boneless flop directly against his older brother.
“Ow,” Sirius complained immediately. “Fuck off.”
“Hello to you too.”
Regulus leaned harder.
Sirius groaned as freezing hands suddenly jammed against the side of his neck.
“JESUS CHRIST—”
Regulus burst into delighted cackling.
“Oh my god, your skin is freezing,” Mary wheezed.
“I know,” Regulus grinned, entirely unrepentant.
Sirius physically recoiled. “What is wrong with you?”
Regulus immediately did it again.
Both hands this time.
Straight under Sirius’s jaw.
Sirius made a noise of genuine suffering.
The entire table exploded laughing.
“HE’S LIKE A CORPSE,” Sirius barked.
“That’s dramatic.”
“You’re literally subzero.”
Regulus just leaned smugly into Sirius’s shoulder like this was perfectly normal behaviour.
Which, judging by Sirius’s expression, it unfortunately was.
“What are you doing here?” Sirius demanded.
“Existing.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“Go away.”
“No ❤️.”
James started choking laughing into his drink.
Regulus finally acknowledged the rest of the table with lazy satisfaction.
“Hello, Gryffindors.”
“You look suspiciously pleased with yourself,” Lily observed.
“I usually am.”
“That’s fair.”
“Where’re your little death eater minions?” Fabian asked.
Regulus snorted.
“Barty and Evan are on a date.”
There was a beat.
Then Sirius barked a laugh.
James nearly slammed his hands on the table. “THEY FINALLY DID IT?”
“It is not a date,” Regulus said immediately.
“Mmhm.”
“They’re just going to dinner together.”
“That’s a date.”
“And then walking through town together.”
“Still a date.”
“And Barty bought flowers apparently, but in a threatening way.”
The table dissolved.
Remus physically covered his face.
“Threatening flowers?” Peter wheezed.
Regulus nodded solemnly. “Black roses.”
“Of course they were black roses.”
“Evan called him psychotic.”
“And yet he still went,” Marlene grinned.
Regulus stole a chip off Sirius’s plate.
Sirius slapped his hand away.
Regulus stole another one anyway.
“Pandora’s off with Xenophilius,” he continued casually.
“Where?” Alice asked.
“Some forest.”
“That sounds ominous.”
“They’re doing necromancy.”
“…Right.”
“Dorcas punched a girl.”
“Good for her,” Marlene said instantly.
“She’s in detention.”
“Still good for her.”
“So now,” Regulus sighed dramatically, already reaching for Sirius’s drink, “I am tragically abandoned and alone.”
“You’re surviving remarkably well for someone abandoned.”
Regulus ignored him.
He took a sip of Sirius’s butterbeer.
Sirius stared at him.
“That was mine.”
Regulus looked him dead in the eye and took another sip.
James was fully crying laughing now.
“You let him do this?” Frank asked.
“No,” Sirius said flatly.
Regulus reached over and stole half Sirius’s chips.
“Yes, you do,” Lily corrected.
“I fight him constantly.”
“You lose constantly,” Gideon pointed out.
“That’s because he fights dirty.”
Regulus smiled sweetly.
Sirius looked deeply tired.
The waitress passed again and Regulus immediately pointed at the menu.
“I want that.”
“No.”
“And those.”
“No.”
“And one of those little chocolate things.”
“No.”
Regulus blinked slowly at him.
Then pressed freezing fingers against Sirius’s ribs.
Sirius nearly launched himself off the bench.
“FUCK—”
Regulus was cackling so hard he almost folded sideways into the table.
“YOU LITTLE SHIT.”
“Buy me chips.”
“No.”
“I’m starving.”
“You ate my food.”
“And now I need more food.”
“You are an actual parasite.”
“Mmhm.”
Regulus stole another chip.
Sirius rubbed both hands down his face.
“What are you actually doing here?”
Regulus shrugged.
“Just waiting for the money for the food.”
There was silence.
Then Sirius closed his eyes.
Slowly.
Painfully.
“Oh my god,” he groaned.
James immediately lost it again.
“So you are staying,” Sirius said.
Regulus grinned.
“Yes.”
“And I am paying.”
Another grin.
A brighter one this time.
“Ah yes,” Regulus said happily. “I have zero dollars.”
“You don’t even use dollars.”
“I have zero of those too.”
Fabian nearly fell off his chair laughing.
Sirius looked moments away from death.
“You’re unbelievable.”
“I’m adorable.”
“You’re a financial burden.”
“You love me.”
“That’s unfortunately true.”
The words slipped out automatically.
Easy.
Reflexive.
And for a brief second the table quieted slightly.
Not awkward.
Just noticeable.
Because Sirius said things about Regulus differently than he said things about everyone else.
Even when he was complaining.
Especially when he was complaining.
Regulus noticed too.
His grin softened for about half a second.
Then immediately turned evil again.
“Buy me mozzarella sticks.”
“Oh for fuck’s sake.”
“You’re my older brother. It’s your sacred duty.”
“My sacred duty is throwing you into traffic.”
“You’d miss me.”
“I’d heal.”
“You’d cry.”
“I absolutely would not.”
“You cried when I got a haircut.”
The table went dead silent.
James turned slowly.
“WHAT?”
Sirius pointed instantly. “THAT WAS NOT—”
“He stared at me like a widow in a period drama.”
“I was startled.”
“You said and I quote, ‘they massacred my baby.’”
Mary made a strangled noise.
Lily physically bent over laughing.
Remus had both hands over his mouth.
“I was joking!”
“You looked devastated.”
“You looked ugly.”
“You cried.”
“I DID NOT CRY.”
Regulus looked smug beyond belief now.
Sirius looked one insult away from homicide.
The waitress returned carefully, clearly recognising chaos when she saw it.
Regulus immediately sat up straighter.
“I would like—”
“You are not ordering lobster.”
“I wasn’t going to.”
“You looked like you were.”
“I just want chips and mozzarella sticks and that chocolate thing.”
“And a butterbeer,” James added helpfully.
Regulus nodded seriously. “Yes.”
“No,” Sirius said.
Regulus blinked.
“Excuse me?”
“You’re not having alcohol.”
“It’s butterbeer.”
“You’re fourteen.”
“I’m almost fifteen.”
“You’re still legally stupid.”
“Please,” Regulus said dramatically.
“No.”
“Please.”
“No.”
“Please.”
“No.”
Regulus stared at him.
Then very deliberately rested his icy hand against the back of Sirius’s neck again.
Sirius shouted loud enough half the pub looked over.
“FINE. FINE. GET HIM THE FUCKING BUTTERBEER.”
Victory.
Pure victory.
Regulus looked radiant.
The waitress hurried away before the situation evolved further.
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality✓ Free Actions
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
okay bear with me, a sorta (SORTA) WereWise Harry Potter AU where Will is Sirius and Mike is Remus and they used to be so close during school and afterwards but get separated when Vecna goes after the Lumax baby and Will is wrongly imprisoned for murdering Dustin (he didn’t, Dustin just got stuck in his animagis form). Mike goes on the run because well one, he’s a werewolf and two, his best friend murdered their other best friend.
13 or so years later, Will escapes from prison and demogorgons patrol around looking for him. Mike gets offered to teach at the school and meets the Lumax baby who looks exactly like their parents it aches a little. Mike gets close to his friends’ kid, he teaches them how to cast a patronus to defend against the demogorgons who’ve been tormenting them.
Mike still has hope that Will will escape them. If Will was like anything like how he was during their childhood, then Will is doing everything he can to clear his name and return to Mike.
The Lumax baby finds out who Will is at the Old Creel house and Mike had followed them because he was worried when the Lumax baby never showed up for their lesson. He sees Will for the first time in years and breaks down in his arms. He’s missed him, missed him so much.
Nancy figures out that Dustin has been trapped in his animagis form and undoes his spell and golly does he have shit to say. Will’s innocent obviously. It was Brenner who told Vecna where Max and Lucas were so many years ago.
Will’s name is cleared. Then the Lumax kid gets adopted by Will and Mike and they get married and everyone lives happily ever after the end.
*Albus pays an unexpected visit on Remus after Sirius escaped Azkaban and asks a favor*
"I know the job comes with certain…”
“Perils?” Remus supplied when Dumbledore trailed off.
“I was going to say challenges.”
Remus laughed, because it was ridiculous. The position was cursed, everyone knew it. You would have to be desperate to take that job. Aren’t you though? Desperate?
“I know it’s asking a lot, but it would only be for a year. I know you are more than capable of the position, that’s not a question.”
“Isn’t it?” Remus couldn’t help but ask. He didn’t exactly have any teaching experience. His last four jobs were minimum wage and had each ended in less than three months.
“Of course not! You came top of your class in the subject, and your practical experience is extensive. You survived the war, you survived the pack.”
Remus cleared his throat and glanced at Grant. He didn’t talk to Grant about the war. He didn’t talk to anyone about the war. “My greatest achievement. I survived.” He took another gulp of tea. It burned his tongue. He didn’t flinch.
