Work Text:
The halls of Hogwarts were never quiet. There was always something stirring, someone running down the corridor because they were late for class. Graduation was just around the corner for the students who were in their final year. A time that should be filled with joy and excitement, a bit of nerves about the future ahead outside the castle. But for Sirius and Remus, that wasn’t the case. It was also their graduation coming, along with James and Peter. All four of them would cross the stage and head off into the world. In their world, however, doom lingered around the corner.
Sirius’s hands were shoved into his pockets and remained there as he and Remus crossed the field after the sun had set. Remus didn’t know what they were doing. Sirius wasn’t telling him much of anything right now. He glanced over to Remus and noticed how he looked a little thinner than usual. His sweater hung off his shoulders, and the material no longer fit snugly around his wrists. Bags lived under his eyes; it should have been chalked up to the stress of graduation.
It wasn’t.
Remus had been focused on the ground for most of their walk. After what felt like forever, he looked up and stopped in his tracks. A cold sweat broke out on him, and his hands began to tremble in his pockets. Why would Sirius bring him here? Ahead was a massive willow, one that bruised Remus many times over the years during full moons when he wasn’t in control of himself.
Remus’s breath stuttered, and for a second, he was no longer standing in the present. He was twelve again, smaller and weaker. Though during the full moon, he would try to leave. The branches of the tree would whip against him, bruising his ribs, thankfully never breaking one. He was twelve again and running back towards the shrieking shack.
Pain shot through his left ribcage. His body felt the pain before his mind could remember that he wasn’t in harm's way. Yet.
“Hey,” Sirius cupped Remus’s face softly and ran his thumb back and forth. Remus’s eyes scanned Sirius’s for what felt like an eternity. “It’s alright, Moony.”
The willow ahead of them was blowing in the breeze. They weren’t close enough to trigger a reaction from it, but Remus knew that if they took any further, it would go wild and throw them as far as it could. It has no mercy for them. It never did and never would.
“I have a surprise for you,” Sirius told him. Before letting go of Remus, he gave him a quick kiss and then stepped back. He turned to face the tree and pulled his wand out. Remus stood confused and still scared. “We leave in two weeks.” He lifts his wand and takes a step forward. After many long nights of sneaking out and practicing, he was finally able to do something he’d wanted to for years. With a flick of his wrist and a fast chant that Remus can’t quite catch, he watches the willow shudder for a moment and then freeze. It’s absolutely still, not even the wind is moving its branches.
“I wanted you to see it still for once,” Sirius says calmly and turns to face Remus again. He watches as Remus stands there, unsure of what to say. “We have an hour or so, if it’s feeling generous tonight.”
Sirius offers his hand to Remus, who gently takes it. He nods, and Sirius speaks again. “We don’t have to stay if you don’t want to. But, if you would like, we can just sit and watch the sky underneath it for a little bit.”
Both stand still, Sirius waiting patiently for Remus to make his move. He would wait as long as he needed to. Remus takes a step forward and grabs Sirius’s hand with such force that Sirius nearly falls forward. His heart skips a beat, and he walks with Remus, and they grow closer and closer to the tree. Remus pulls his wand out, and with the slight flick of his wrist, he adds a blanket to the scene. A large white blanket rests near the base of the willow, and they walk closer.
As Remus stands in front of the tree, Sirius uses his wand and adds some pillows and a teddy bear. The pillows were red and matched the ones from the common room. The teddy bear was something special to Remus. Their first trip to Hogsmeade in year 3, Sirius bought it for Remus. It was his most prized possession, and he still slept with it most nights.
Remus didn’t notice that Sirius had set up the rest of the area and was sitting. He was staring at the tree still. This living thing that caused him many bruises and near broken bones sat still. He touched the bark with a shaking hand. It felt like the other trees around the school grounds. It was just like every other tree for right now. His breath hitched, and he sat down.
Sirius watched Remus, and his stomach jumped up to his heart and back down. How did he get so lucky? Remus noticed a small basket with sweets and snacks for them. He grabbed something for each of them and plated up. They ate in silence, and Remus had his head on the other’s shoulder for a bit.
“Moony?”
“Hm?” Remus made a noise and looked up from his treat. Sirius was just staring at him. Before Remus knew what to expect, Sirius kissed him. This wasn’t their first kiss, not by a long shot. But it felt different. Soft and vulnerable in the open and underneath a killing tree. Anything could have happened and ruined the moment, but it didn’t. Time was frozen for once. There was no anticipation of their graduation, what adulthood would look like for them, or the war. It was just Sirius and his moony, someone who was his better half.
