It wasn't late yet, not too late at least; the sun was just fading over the horizon, moonlight starting to filter through the treetops. Remus and Sirius walked, hand in hand, on the edge of the Forbidden Forest, taking a moment of quiet before what was sure to be hell.

The date was 25th December 1977. It was the Marauders' last year, last Christmas, at Hogwarts before they were sure to be thrust into a war they were too young to fight. Leaves crunched under their feet as they walked in comfortable silence, which was soon broken by a whisper of admittance.

"I'm scared, Moony." Sirius's voice was quiet but heard like a siren in the silent dusk. "I know, I am too," was Remus's sighed reply. Sirius smiled slightly, trying to brighten the conversation. "Well, aren't we a pair? Going off into unknown danger to talk about unknown danger?" He gestured around them at the dark forest, the one forbidden to all students, not that they cared.

Remus shoved him. "Honestly, Pads, you're awful." His tone lowered, turning more serious as he squeezed Sirius's hand tighter. He stared off into the trees, watching the light fade. "But really, I am scared. I still don't know if I'm gonna join. I want to, but... surely having a werewolf in the Order wouldn't be a good look?"

Earlier that day, Headmaster Dumbledore had called the Marauders to his office. He had told them about a secret organisation called 'the Order of the Phoenix' and had asked if they wanted to join. James had, of course, signed up immediately. Peter had been uncertain but had caved reluctantly when James told him that it was all for the greater good.

Sirius and Remus, however, had been on the fence. They did want to join, to fight, of course they did, just... was this really what they wanted? To live in a time of war? Fighting every day? It certainly wasn't a life of luxury. "Me neither," Sirius whispered. "I don't know, it just... it feels too soon. We're so young, but... at the same time, we're not anymore. Feels like we should do something."

Remus nodded silently, agreeing with the statement. Sirius sighed, brushing some snow from his jacket. "At least we won't have to worry about homework anymore!" He smirked, his tone coming out only slightly flat.

"Not like you ever did yours anyway..." Remus snarked back, giving his boyfriend a playful kick. "Oh, because you were such a goody two shoes? I seem to remember you being the mastermind behind half the greatest Marauder pranks!"

Remus laughed. "Oh, please, I was the mastermind behind all the greatest Marauder pranks."

"Hardly."

"Oh, yeah?" Remus asked, eyes twinkling. "Name two you came up with."

A moment of silence followed as Sirius thought. "There was that time we covered the Slytherins in glue and red feathers! I came up with that one... right?"

"You did not! I came up with that, and you know it perfectly well."

"Alright, fine, you were the main prank planner, but we helped!"

"Yeah, yeah, suuuure. You 'helped,' yeah...."

Sirius's blush was visible in the faint light. "Oh, shut up..."

They kept walking, leaving footprints in the snow in their wake. A long silence passed between them. Remus broke it, his tone quiet and uncertain. "When we leave Hogwarts, we're... we're still gonna be... together, right?"

Sirius's eyes softened. He stopped walking, facing Remus and taking the werewolf's hands in his own.

"Remus Lupin, you're the love of my life, you're the most amazing soul in the universe." Sirius shifted, reaching into his pocket. "You make me happy like no one else does, you light up my world, you make every day worth living."

Remus's eyes widened as Sirius got down on one knee, his eyes shining with emotion. "The first moment I saw you, I knew you were the one I wanted to spend the rest of my life with."

Sirius held his hands up, in them a small black box. Remus covered his mouth with his hand. "So, that begs the question: will you marry me, Remus John Lupin?"

"A-are you being serious? You... you want to... marry... me?"

"I'm always Sirius."

Remus laughed, the tension breaking. "Yes, you idiot! Yes, I'll marry you!"

Sirius slipped the beautiful brass ring on his boyfriend-no, fiancé's finger. Its stone was amber, shaped like a full moon. "It-it's beautiful, Sirius..."

They embraced, their lips touching first soft, then desperate. They kissed like they wanted to be there forever, their lips clashing with a worry for the future and a promise that they'd always have each other.

A/N
If you liked this, it'd mean the world to me if you checked out my other book 'Bound By Scales: A Dark Trio Story'