Title: Like It's 1999
Author: RedLotus
Pairing: Remus/Seamus
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Remus goes to a party at Harry's and spends all night on the balcony.
Disclaimer: Don't own any of it.
A/N: Written for the HP Rare Pairs FQF (http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/hp_rarepairs/"), challenge pairing: remus/seamus.
Remus stood on the balcony, dutifully ignoring everything going on through the glass doors behind him. Why he decided to come to Harry and Ron’s party, he’d never know. It was just an excuse for all of Harry’s friends to get exceptionally drunk, grope each other, and pass out before apparating to work the next morning. He really thought that people in their mid-twenties should behave better, but then again, he never had that kind of life at twenty-five.
The music changed from a fast, techno song to a revolting rap song with loud back-beats. Remus propped his elbow on the railing, cradling his chin in his hand, and stared out into the black night, trying to make the racket go away. He silently cursed as his peace was disturbed by the opening of the sliding doors. Remus ignored it.
“Mind if I smoke, mate?” said a thick Irish brogue. Remus shook his head, still looking ahead. A head turned and looked at him closely. “Professor Lupin!”
“Good God, Seamus. I haven’t been your professor for over ten years!” Remus said, annoyed.
“I guess you’re right. Sorry ‘bout that. Remus, right?” Seamus lit a pleasant smelling cigarette. Remus glanced over at him, curious. Seamus grinned. “Cloves. Only kind of cigarette to smoke in my opinion. If you’re going to poison your lungs, at least do it with something that tastes good.”
“Strange logic,” Remus said, staring ahead again.
“So what brings you out here? Why aren’t you partying with everyone in there?” Seamus looked through the glass, where Justin Finch-Fletchley was dancing naked on a table with his underwear on his head. Seamus started laughing, turning back towards the railing. “Seems it’s time for the midnight show.” Remus glanced back quickly.
“That was more of Justin than I ever wanted to see,” Remus said, shaking his head.
“Seriously, though. What are you doing out here?”
“Seamus, I’m almost twice the age of everyone in there. I came because of Harry. He’s the only family I have.”
“You’re not that much older than us. I’m sure you can break it down when you want. Party with the best of ‘em, pick up tons of women.”
“Hate to break it to you, Seamus my boy, but I’m gay.” Remus studied Seamus out of the corner of his eyes, slightly amused. Seamus stared at him for a few moments, before nodding thoughtfully.
“Doesn’t surprise me.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Remus asked, offended.
“Come on, you’re too sensitive to be straight. Men like you are totally gay.”
“Thanks,” Remus said, rolling his eyes.
“It’s not a bad thing. I’m gay, too.”
“I figured. I must have seen you hit on at least three guys tonight.” Seamus blushed and Remus laughed. “Crash and burn, huh?”
“Yeah. It’s hard to find anyone when you’ve known everyone your entire life. Anyway, enough about me. Bet you were a party animal in your Hogwarts days.”
“Nope. I was the one keeping everyone out of trouble.”
“Well, tonight you’re with Seamus Finnigan. You have to party like it’s 1999.”
“Huh?”
“Muggle thing. Song. By Prince. Great bloke.”
“Whatever you say.”
“After your time, you know, since you’re old and all.” Seamus put out his cigarette and tossed it out into the night. “I’m going to get us a few beers. Be right back.” Seamus went into the house and returned seconds later with an armful of beer.
“Damn, Seamus. How much beer did you think we needed?” Remus asked, eyeing Seamus’s arms in amazement.
“These are all for me. Don’t be eyeing them like that,” he said, winking. He set them down on a table and handed one to Remus. “Cheers, mate.” They clinked their bottles together and turned them up. Remus got suspicious as he saw Seamus get a mischievous look on his face.
“What?”
“I have an idea.”
“Why do I get the feeling I’m not going to like it?”
“You’ll love it. It’s simple. Chugging contest.” Seamus held his bottle of beer up to Remus’s.
“Oh no.” Remus shook his head adamantly, but Seamus nodded.
“Oh yes. Come on, Remus. It’s a party. Have some fun. Drink too much, do stupid party stuff. After you get smashed, I’ll let you loose in there and you can round you up a one night stand. It’ll be grand.” Remus sighed and Seamus smirked. “Knew it.”
“I don’t know why I’m doing this.” Remus braced himself as he raised the bottle to his lips. Seamus winked at him again.
“Go!” Remus turned up the bottle and drank as quickly as he could, ignoring the way his stomach was protesting.
“Whoo! Done!” Remus said, shaking his head. Seamus finished his bottle and looked at him in wonder and admiration.
“Holy fuck, you downed that fast. No one’s ever beat me in a chugging contest.”
“I guess you met your match then, huh?” Remus crossed his arms, triumphant smile on his face.
“No, this will not do. Again. You just had less beer in your bottle than me.” Seamus handed Remus another bottle. Remus took it gladly, adrenaline causing him to think he could do anything, especially beat this little runt at another chugging contest.
“Go!” Remus drank quickly, just swallowing as the liquid flowed quickly into his mouth. He tasted the last drop and raised his hands in a victory stance.
“Done again!” Remus turned around a few times, instantly regretting it. “Whoa.” He swayed a little on his feet, grabbing the railing behind him. Seamus finished his beer, slamming the bottle on the table.
“Bastard.”
“No more chugging. I think if I chug again, I’ll throw up. And that won’t be pretty.” Seamus joined Remus on the railing again. They stood there in silence for awhile, growing more and more intoxicated by the minute.
“Want another beer?” Seamus asked, walking over to the table.
“Sure, think I can handle it now.” Remus accepted the proffered drink gratefully. Harry stuck is head out of the door at that moment, a slightly glassy look in his eye.
“What’re you two anti-social wizards doing out here?” he asked, his words slurring slightly.
“Chillin, yo!” Seamus said in an attempt to sound thuggish. Harry snorted in laughter and walked out onto the balcony. He grabbed both their hands, leading them inside. “Come on! We’re having a shots contest thingy!”
Seamus looked over at Remus, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively, but he shook his head urgently. “Come on, Remus! It’ll be fun.”
“Do you want me to throw up?”
“I’ll pay you five galleons if you’d do it on Neville. He turned me down tonight.”
“Neville Longbottom turned you down?” Remus asked, stopping suddenly. Harry, having forgotten about them, let go of their hands. Seamus stood there looking embarrassed.
“Yes. I think he’s with one of the Weasleys. Bill, I think. Or maybe Charlie. But he turned me down cold.”
“He’s crazy,” Remus said, walking towards the dining room, where a group of people were standing around, preparing for a round of shots. Seamus watched Remus walking away, a crooked grin on his face. He quickly followed.
Remus had squeezed in beside Harry, and Seamus basically pushed Ernie Macmillan out of the way to get in beside Remus. Ernie was cursing in Seamus’s ear, but Seamus gave him his most charming smile and then ignored him.
“Red-headed sluts,” Dean explained after everyone had their shots in front of them.
“Hey! It’s the Weasleys!” Seamus shouted. Ron hit him in the back of the head. Seamus rubbed it in exaggerated pain while Remus gave him an amused look. Seamus and Remus picked up their shots and took them. Remus was quite surprised at how good it tasted.
After shots of blue mother fuckers, buttery nipples, kamikazes, and orgasms, Remus thought he was going to pass out. He stumbled away from the table, where a few people were still shooting, and back to the balcony. He was leaning his head over and staring down at the ground below when Seamus joined him.
“What’s so interesting down there?” Seamus asked. Remus thought he sounded quite clear to have drunk so much. So he told him. “I drink a lot, mate. You don’t seem to, though. But you made it farther than a lot of people in there did. Harry stopped after the third shot. Lightweight.” Seamus rubbed Remus’s back soothingly. “If you gotta puke, mate, do it.”
“I do not puke when I drink.” Remus stood back up and tried his best to look dignified. Seamus laughed and pulled out his cigarettes.
“Care for one?”
“No thanks. Think I’ll stick with the alcohol. We’re doing fine over here.” Seamus lit his cigarette, puffing thoughtfully. Someone turned up the music really loud and it invaded the peace on the balcony. “Damn music,” Remus muttered.
Putting out his cigarette, Seamus turned to Remus. “Come on.” He grabbed Remus’s hands. “Let’s dance.”
“This music’s awful. I can’t dance.” Remus pulled his hands out of Seamus’s. Seamus left the balcony for a moment, leaving the door open, and returned quickly. The music changed from a loud, obnoxious rap beat to a slower, jazzier one.
“Better?” Seamus asked, pulling Remus to him.
“Much.” Remus wrapped his arms around Seamus, pulling him close. Seamus laid his head on Remus’s shoulder, swaying happily to the music.
Inside the house, the party was dying down. People were passing out everywhere and those left were slow dancing and making out. Harry and Ron stuck their heads out onto the balcony.
“We’re going to bed.” Remus and Seamus shook out of their daze and looked over at them, arms firmly around each other.
“Okay. Good night.” Harry and Ron gave them both knowing glances before walking off to their bedroom. Remus turned and looked at Seamus. “It’s getting late.”
“Aye, it is.”
“I probably should head home. I don’t live that far from here,” Remus said, pulling reluctantly away from Seamus.
“Sounds like a good idea. Where do you live?”
“Huh?”
Seamus stepped towards Remus, cupping his face softly. “I want to come home with you.”
“Damn, you’re forward,” Remus said. “I always thought I would take a man to dinner before I took him home with me.”
“Take me to dinner tomorrow night.”
“You do remember I’m a werewolf, right? That means, well, I’m a werewolf.”
“Werewolf, smerewolf. My uncle is married to a vampire or banshee or some shit like that. Who the fuck cares?” Seamus rubbed his finger across Remus’s cheek. “I like you. A lot.”
“You’re not just doing this cause Longbottom turned you down, are you?” Remus asked.
“Are you always this insecure? No. This won’t be a one night stand, unless you want it to be.”
“Well, no. But – “
“But what? You drink better than anyone I’ve ever met, you’re funny even if you mask it well, you’re intelligent, and you’re quite attractive. Not to mention I had the time of my life tonight after starting the worst night ever.” Seamus smiled weakly.
“There’s a soft side underneath that confidence and sarcasm, huh?” Remus said, leaning closer. Seamus nodded.
“Yep. But if you ever tell, I’ll kill you.”
“Deal.” Remus captured Seamus’s mouth in a kiss. Seamus slid his hand into Remus’s hair as his other wrapped around his neck. Remus pulled Seamus closer, circling his arms around his waist. After a few moments of kissing, Seamus pulled away breathlessly, resting his forehead against Remus’s.
“Do I get dinner tomorrow night?”
“And breakfast and lunch if you want.”
“I knew I liked you for a reason.” Seamus kissed Remus again before they apparated to Remus’s flat.
~Fin
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