#first sight

‘Well, liven up the party Remus did, though probably not in the way James had imagined, when Remus was caught by Lord Orion Black in the storage room fooling around with the lord’s eldest son and heir…’

(Back to Fluff and Humour! Sort of a short Historic AU? Wolfstar, of course.)

The Fancy Things In Life

“One party,” James says, rubbing his temples. “One party! I took you to one party!”

Remus bites his thumb nail. “Well, at least you can’t say this party was boring.”

James just glares at him.

It is true, though.

James Fleamont Potter, as first and only son of the House of Potter and therefore the future Lord Potter, is expected to make an appearance at all the fancy events the elite organises, which is a lot. The same stiff people with the same fake smiles engaging in the same tedious conversation. Remus, on the other hand, is just a local town’s boy, who would normally never be at a party such as this, were it not for his unlikely friendship with James. When James, after pushing Lucius Malfoy into a pond during a hunting party to prevent him from killing a deer, had come into the local inn where Remus works, hoping for a place to hide, Remus had kept him hidden when a disgruntled Abraxas Malfoy later appeared in town demanding information. Now, James had the idea that maybe these parties would be better bringing his friend along, so he dressed Remus up in one of his costumes and took him with him as a guest, hoping that Remus would liven up the party a bit.

Well, liven up the party Remus did, though probably not in the way James had imagined, when Remus was caught by Lord Orion Black in the storage room fooling around with the lord’s eldest son and heir.

After staring in utter shock and outrage, Lord Black had said in a booming voice “What in the devil’s name do you think you’re doing?! Do you have no shame, defiling one much above your station like some scoundrel! I demand to know what family you are from! They’ll be rightfully embarrassed by your shameful behaviour.”

Remus had blinked at the red-faced man in his fancy coat with his flaring nostrils, then straightened his clothes before saying with a grin “I wouldn’t worry ‘bout that, m’lord. Mum and da run an inn, so they’ve surely seen much worse!”

Lord Black must’ve assumed Remus was some minor nobleman. Makes sense, as no one but a nobleman would normally be at an event such as this, and since he doesn’t know Remus, he can’t be anyone important. Knowing that Remus is a common innkeeper’s son did not make the situation any better. At all.

While the young man Remus had been… interacting with, Sirius Black, whom he noticed still had his hand on Remus’ hip, had to stifle his laughter in his sleeve, Lord Black’s head looked like it was going to explode.

To prevent the situation from escalating, James had dragged Remus away, while Sirius tried to calm down his father.

And that’s where they are now.

The door opens and closes and Sirius walks into the room, running a hand through his hair, that still looks dishevelled from where Remus had been running his hands through it, and Remus feels a, probably quite inappropriate, swell of pride at that. Remus gazes at Sirius for a moment, as he looks just beautiful. Sirius Black is widely regarded as the most handsome young man in the land. Really, how had James expected him to resist when Sirius admitted that the pang of attraction Remus felt towards him was very much reciprocated?

“I am ever so sorry about this whole situation,” Sirius says, in that posh way of speaking Remus finds so annoying in other nobles, but for some reason finds endearing in Sirius. “I at least managed to calm him down to the extent where he won’t try to strangle Remus the moment he sees him,” Sirius continues. “He is still very much affronted, but I am quite sure it is nothing I cannot handle.”

James lets out a sigh of relief. “Thank goodness for that.”

“Jamie,” Sirius asks. “Might I have a moment of privacy with your friend?”

“Absolutely not.” James crosses his arms over his chest. “As I recall, this whole mess started with you ‘having a moment of privacy’ with Remus!”

Sirius rolls his eyes. “See for yourself then.” He turns to Remus and takes his hand. “Remus, you have my sincerest apologies for the way my father unjustifiably mistreated you, and I regret very much how we were rudely interrupted.”

“Yeah,” Remus says, and he scrapes his throat. He hates how rough his voice sounds, and wishes he could use fancy words to puzzle together nice sentences in a soft, melodious voice, like Sirius. “I’m sorry too. Hope I didn’t put you in too much trouble with your da?”

Sirius shrugs. “Like I said, I can handle it. And in any case, it was worth it. I have no regrets.”

Remus smiles. “Me neither. It felt… right.”

“Right indeed,” Sirius smiles back. “You know, Remus, my days are always filled with stiff protocols and strict rules, but tonight, with you, I felt more alive than I’ve ever felt before.”

Remus opens his mouth to reply, but a loud groan makes them turn their heads to James, who is pinching the bridge of his nose and shaking his head. “Good lord. I had thought this was just an ill-advised hook-up, that blew up in your faces, and now we deal with the aftermath, do some damage control and be done with it. But no! You two have to actually be in bloody love with each other!”

He points at Sirius. “All these wealthy members of the high society competing for your attention, and you’ve never had even the tiniest bit of interest in any of them, but now you go and fall in love at bloody first sight with a town’s boy who works in the local inn! It is just so typically you to go for the whole ‘impossible lovers from different worlds’ trope. God, Sirius, you’re so dramatic!” He lets out an exasperated sigh. “Now what do we do? We’re going to have to arrange secret meetings in secluded gardens, and those kind of things. After tonight, Lord and Lady Black will surely be suspicious about everything. You mother will most likely send her manservant Kreacher to spy on you, which means we’ll have to ask Regulus to deal with that, and God knows Regulus’ help always comes at a prize. Also, I wouldn’t be surprised if your parents will now try and arrange a proper marriage for you as fast as possible! Now how are we going to get you out of that? And speaking of marriage, can you two even ever get married? Will your family acknowledge it? And if they don’t, how do we find a pastor willing to marry you if Lord and Lady Black disapprove of it?”

“James, Jamie,” Sirius says, holding up his hands. “Remus and I have known each other for a couple of hours. There’s no need to already start panicking about when we’ll get married!”

Remus arches an eyebrow. “When we’ll get married?”

Sirius smirks. “I consider myself an optimist.”

“Even with all the troubles we’ll face? Society’s judgement, your family’s anger?”

“I’m ready to face all of that. Besides, it does kind of make it more romantic, doesn’t it? Two lovers, crossing social borders, defying society’s expectations, and overcoming all obstacles, to fight for their love!”

“Oh God,” Remus rolls his eyes. “James was right. You aredramatic.”

“I prefer the term passionate,” Sirius grins. “But all joking, and all premature panicking-” he eyes James “-aside, I do genuinely feel something for you that I haven’t felt for anyone. We’ve only just met, but I feel this instant… attraction? Connection?. Now I don’t know if it’s going to end with us running off for a secret marriage on the countryside with James as our only witness, but I do know that I’d very much regret it if tonight will be the end of it.”

Remus can feel a bright smile spread over his face. “Me too.” He reaches out and cups Sirius’ face in his hands. “I feel it too, and I don’t want to walk away from this either.”

The next moment they’re kissing. It’s perfect. Perfect until they hear a loud shriek.

Lady Black’s shriek is immediately followed Lord Black thundering “What the-?! AGAIN?! Why, you filthy little…!”

Remus reluctantly pulls away, and Sirius chuckles softly as he rests their foreheads together. “Well, here we go.”

When I glance back to see whose footsteps are nearing,
I see a boy both dark and bright at the same time.
Walking in a quiet confidence,
his rich brown wings tucked behind him.

He’s coming closer.

imagine you and Loki falling for each other on first sight. But both of you thought it was unrequited, so let the mutual pining begin!