MOONSTRUCK ... r.lupin

chapter twenty-four

Poppy's dad is alone, but his smile is so bright it feels like he's spreading her in enough love for two people, one hand curled around her stomach in awe of the baby she's creating. Michael's mum is peppering his face in kisses, his dad is taking pictures, his grandmother is already crying and his little brothers and sisters are jumping all over him, trying to mess up the suit he spent forever fixing perfectly. He's bright red at all the attention. Amalthea's mother holds Cameron.

Amalthea does not hesitate to sweep her two-year-old daughter into her arms, kissing her cheeks and her head over and over and over, tearing up as her daughter tries to slip her necklace into her mouth. When she smiles, she shows off what little teeth she has. Marcella Drew runs one hand over her daughter's head and the other over her granddaughter's. Her husband is nowhere to be seen.

Even from where he's standing, Nate can see the look in Rabastan's eyes. It's almost like he wants to slip away from his own family and join hers. Who cares about picture-perfect parents, and married brothers, and beautiful sister-in-law's, when you can actually have the perfect family right there, with people who actually love you, who don't expect you to carve magical tattoos into your arms just to prove your loyalty to the cause.

Nate's eyes flicker around the entrance hall. Flashes of navy tulle. A shimmer of ruby silk. He could step forward and be drowned in teary family units coming together, laughing friends saying goodbye, enemies letting go of past issues. But, he doesn't. He just waits by the doors, leaning against the cold stone walls, watching as everyone indulges in the moment they've been waiting for.

The girl in the painting at his shoulder leans closer to him. He thinks it's supposed to be a comforting gesture, and it is. All of these paintings have shown him the way around this castle since he was old enough to walk by himself. They've watched him grow up, kept him safe from harm, whispered secrets to him he was never supposed to know. And now, he just has to leave them all behind.

He might never see them again.

His mum is probably somewhere in the Great Hall, setting up for the graduation ceremony, her last moments of peace with Dumbledore before they all go storming in, making noise and ultimately getting on her nerves. Nate wishes she was out here, waiting for him with open arms, showing off just how much she loves him even though she already does it every day already.

He watches the clock strike twenty minutes past one.

"C'mon, this way," he hears, and then moments later, a familiar Gryffindor comes into view, two older versions of him trailing closely behind. He's smiling from ear-to-ear, white scar stretched along his nose a little bit pink, acorn hair tousled delicately to actually look styled. Nate's heart thuds faster against his ribcage.

At least he won't have to worry about missing Remus.

He stops right in front of him, wearing maroon chambray suit trousers that are a little bit short at the ankles and have a few loose threads dangling from wherever. His gold silk shirt is obviously new, though, and has been tucked into the trousers, just loose enough that it bunches up around the waist. There are a few buttons undone and from here, Nate can see the littering of white scars bubbling across his chest and the silver chain necklace that dangles from his neck. The shirt is tight around his biceps. Merlin, he does look good all dressed up.

Blood rushes right up the back of Nate's neck.

"Mum, Dad–" Remus ushers his parents forward and throws his arm out towards Nate. "–Meet Nate. My boyfriend. Finally."

He's grinning so brightly that Nate almost can't tear his eyes away. It's like the moon and he's the tide, constantly pulling him back and forth, never giving in, never letting go. Pull him forward into a kiss. Push him back onto the bed. Pull and push. Going in, going out. He tastes like starlight, smiles like the full moon. Nate wants one of those cameras so he can remember this moment for the rest of his life.