Title: Warmth
Author: Kait
Rating: PG
Pairing: Remus/Sirius
Summary: Two Christmases.
Notes: Written for the contrelamontre subtle love challenge.


Warmth

"Are we almost done?" Remus asked with a sigh as he pulled his two massive bags from Flourish and Blotts into Madam Malkin's. Sirius had already marched straight to the back to look at dress robes.

"Almost," he called back distractedly, running his hands lightly over a soft looking sapphire blue robe. Remus let his bags sink to the floor. It was their last day of winter holidays. Sirius had spent the holiday with the Lupins, who were delighted to see their son don an expression that was something other than wistful. In a few hours, they'd be back in Muggle London and on their way to King's Cross Station to catch the Hogwarts Express.

At least Remus hoped it would be only a few hours. Sirius did occasionally tend to be a bit of a peacock and the last time they had been here Remus had managed to read through four lengthy chapters of Hogwarts, A History before they left again. With a sigh he summoned a chair from across the room and began to get comfortable. However, when he glanced up, Sirius was already at the counter, speaking to Madam Malkin. Curious, Remus approached them.

"Yes, exactly like the Hogwarts issue, but with brass clasps." Sirius was pointing at the Hogwarts winter cloaks hanging next to the counter. Madam Malkin was already getting one down and beginning to charm it.

"Sirius, your cloak is fine. And Hogwarts requires silver clasps." Remus was puzzled. Sirius knew as well as he did that the silver clasps were part of the uniform. The only student without them was--

Oh.

"It's not for me, it's for you, you idiot," the other boy replied with a small laugh. Remus' brow furrowed, glancing down at his slightly frayed and patched winter cloak.

"Why?"

"Because you looked cold."

Before Remus could question him further, Sirius threw out one of his incredibly disarming smiles. Remus opened his mouth and then closed it, his mouth quirking into a confused sort of smile that widened when Sirius grasped his hand firmly.

"You seem to have made it your personal quest in life to keep me warm," Remus murmured, raising one perfectly arched eyebrow. Sirius laughed, handing Madam Malkin his Galleons and tugging Remus' old cloak off with his other hand.

"I have a feeling I probably always will."

*****

Remus tore at the paper of his gift carefully as he say in front of the fire on Christmas evening. Twelve Grimmauld Place was actually inviting for the first time in the twenty-five years that Remus had known Sirius. The roaring fire, the warm smiles of his comrades, a full stomach, soft echoes of Christmas carols flowing through the building... it was quite homey, even Sirius had to agree.

Sirius. Sirius who was gazing at him with those disarmingly intense eyes, silently urging him on. Remus rolled his eyes and began to rip the paper off again. He had received quite a few gifts from Sirius already, but he claimed this last one was rather important. Molly stood and collected a few mugs to refill with eggnog just as he finally reached the box from Madam Malkin's.

"Open it," Sirius insisted, leaning over and reaching for the box to hurry the process along. Remus quickly pulled it from his grasp, smiling as Mundungus chuckled heartily at their display. He pushed up the sleeves of his newly acquired Weasley sweater and opened the box. Inside was a simple black cloak with brass clasps. It looked warm and thick, much nicer than any of his current robes. His eyes clouded as he let his mind wander to a faded memory of a Christmas holiday from long ago.

"Why... What made you...?" he frowned, trying to think of a way to properly phrase his question. Moody, Mundungus, and the children were all staring at them now.

"Because you looked cold," Sirius replied promptly. "And I think, about twenty years ago, I started on a personal quest to keep you warm." Remus smiled and placed the box on the floor, his grin and his eyes a little too bright.

"Mm. I think I remember something about that. And maybe a promise of always?" Sirius didn't reply. He never did in front of the children. But Remus knew that later that night there would be many promises, both verbal and physical and right then, as Sirius firmly grasped his hand once the others returned to their own affairs, that was all he needed.

-end-