The Marauders: Year Five #Wattys2017

Positively Jinxed

"Mr. Black. May I see that cloak?"

Sirius hesitated.

"I will give it back, of course," Dumbledore said. "I just... would like a look at it, if you don't mind?"

He handed Dumbledore the cloak and Dumbledore looked it over as Sirius pulled Remus to his feet beside the bed. The silver fabric shimmered in the moonlight and flickering lanterns and Dumbledore inspected it, running his fingers through it, searching for seams, but the fabric was so smooth it was as though it had just formed into the cloak without sewing of any kind. "This is a very interesting cloak," Dumbledore murmured. He'd been wanting a look at it for some time. "Do you mind me inquiring where you obtained it?"

Sirius said bluntly, "A little."

Dumbledore nodded, "Then I won't ask." He smiled.

Sirius held out his hand for the cloak and Dumbledore's hand seemed the slightest bit unsteady as he put the cloak down into Sirius's hand.

Remus woke up and heard a proper account of what had happened - about the conversation with James in the mirror and the arrival of Newt Scamander - as they walked back to Gryffindor tower, Sirius supporting Remus all the way.

It had to be the earliest hours, the Yule Ball had to be long over, but there were still people in the halls, tucked into alcoves beside the suits of armor, or noises coming from empty classrooms, and Sirius thought fleetingly of all the plans he'd had for Remus after the Ball if things had gone differently. He looked over at his wobbly, silly wolf of a boyfriend and he said, "Oi. Happy anniversary, by the way."

Remus's lips quirked at the edge. "And to you."

"Best year of my life... being with you."

Remus had a full blown smile now and he laced their fingers together between them, his finger spinning the ring on Sirius's hand. "Sorry I ruined it."

"Sorry I tried to make you ice skate in your condition."

"You didn't know," Remus said.

Sirius said, "You know why I wanted to ice skate, don't you?"

Remus said, "Because you like to torture me? I'm bleedin' horrible at skating."

"I remember," Siius nodded. "Our first date, Rey. I took you down to the dungeons and froze the lagoon for you and we skated. Remember? And then we sat in that little boat and drank hot chocolate and you said you preferred Ovaltine."

Remus smiled. He hadn't remembered it when Sirius had been suggesting they skate, but now he could clearly recall the night. He squeezed Sirius's fingers. "It seems like yesterday but also ages and ages ago," he commented. "I feel as though I've been with you all my life."

"Me too."

"I'm going to miss you," Remus said suddenly.

Sirius looked over, "Miss me? Where am I going?"

"Aren't you going to the Potters' tomorrow?" Remus asked.

Sirius nodded, "But aren't you as well?"

"They didn't ask me," Remus replied.

"Bloody hell, Rey, family doesn't invite family to holidays," Sirius said, "Family just shows up."

"They aren't my --"

"Remus! Of course they are!" Sirius replied. "If nothing else, you're sort of their... their son-in-law."

"Their son-in-law?" Remus stopped walking. They were in the corridor, just outside the common room.

"Yes. Mrs. P thinks I'm her son, according to Prongsie anyway, and if that's true then that makes you her son-in-law."

Remus stared up at him, "Sirius, mate, we aren't married." He laughed.

Sirius thought of James and how he wanted to get married and have loads of babies and Roger, the cat, and realized it was his dream, too. Except he hated cats. And also he wanted his Moony, not Evans.

"But one day..." Sirius let the words drop away.

Remus's throat was very lumpy and he nodded, "One day."

He turned to continue toward the portrait hole. "And when we are, one day, I want to have four puppies."

"Puppies?"

"Yes. Little black fuzzy puppies. Three of them will be black fuzzies and one will be grey like your wolf and we'll walk them about in prams and people will think we're mental but when they say something about them being dogs I'll bloody rip their faces off because those pups are our children and we'll raise them to be good doggies and learn tricks and the like and --" he looked up at the Fat Lady, "Ostrich Feathers, madam." The portrait swung open and they climbed through, Sirius continuing on, "-- and we'll give them brilliant names. Strong names like Odin and Pewter (that can be the grey one) and Hercules and --"

"Stephen."

"Stephen? Bloody hell kind of name is Stephen?"

"Dunno - it just popped in my head."

Sirius laughed.

Suddenly Remus stopped and nudged Sirius, pointing.

Annalee McKinnon was on one of the chairs by the fireplace, kissing with Jackson Maw, their limbs tangled about, her face flushed and hair a mess. They'd been at it some time.

Dumbledore's words echoed in Sirius's head. "Mr. Pettigrew could use your attention as well... after what happened."

"Bloody hell." Sirius turned and ran for the stairs to the dormitory, Remus following along, too, glancing back over his shoulder at the girl who had undoubtedly broken his mate's heart.

Upstairs in the dorm, there was a quivering lump in the center of Peter's bed, deep beneath the covers. Sirius walked up and pulled back the duvet to reveal the rat in the sheets, curled about itself. He scooped it up with his palms and the little pink nose and whiskers twitched at him, beady little eyes flickering about. Sirius stroked the rat gently, "Aw, mate, we've just seen."

Remus came in and saw Peter in Rat form in Sirius's palms and closed the door behind him. "Anyone else reckon that the Yule Ball is positively jinxed for us Marauders?" he asked.

C