Countdown to small gifts 3/7: Head canon

[smallgiftsmods]

Welcome, folks! Every year at small gifts, we start off the holiday season with a week's worth of discussion posts. It's a chance to get to know other participants (or say hi again), meet our readers (hi, readers! we love you!), and while away the hours before December 1. We'll have one topic per day until November 30. Come on over and introduce yourself on our Day 1 post!

Day 3: Head canon

What are your favorite bits of head canon related to Remus and Sirius? Tell us in the comments below!

Comments

[shaggydogstail]

1. Animals love Sirius. There's a hint of it in canon, with Crookshanks and Buckbeak, but it's actually all animals. Nifflers bring him presents. Adult unicorns let him pet them. Underhanded tricks have been played on unsuspecting Slytherins when Sirius charms their owls into doing him favours. As a child Sirius was never allowed pets because the Blacks didn't want dirty, common things in the house (even post owls had to live outside), but the Potters gave him a kneazle. Remus is not jealous about it getting to sleep in Sirius' bed, don't be silly.

2. Remus is a fashion disaster. It started as just "not much money, don't really care" so why not wander about in corduroy and terrible jumpers, in unbecoming shades of brown, mustard, and orange? Remus is initially baffled at how the whole Geography Teacher aesthetic makes Sirius hot for him, but it works out pretty well for him so he's not going to complain. And maybe he plays it up a bit because he knows what it does to Sirius but you can't prove anything.

[maraudersaffair]

all of this is just so damn cute!

[magnetic_pole]

There's so much of it in canon! I mean, the guy hangs out with a hippogriff and lives as dog. My own theory is that he's hiding out from his own human emotions, but that might just be an added bonus. :) There should be more serious animal fic about him--not just animagi, but all kinds of animals. Fun! M.

[mindabbles]

#2. It really is the only plausible explanation for the increasingly shabby clothes. Remus isn’t an idiot, after all.

[abyss_valkyrie]

Gah!!!I love that animals one so much!And Sirius being turned on by Remus' style(or lack thereof) is just hilarious!

[sostrata.livejournal.com]

Yay for Sirius the animal magnet! I loved the devoted kneazle Sirius had in your RS Games fic. Now all he needs is a crup! He can change into his dog form and they can play together. It would be fun!

[rj31]

These are brilliant!

[magnetic_pole]

I think the most persistent bit of head canon I've had over the years has been this: Sirius is a loud and forceful introvert, and Remus is a soft-spoken, self-effacing extravert. It's not a common combination--most of us introverts are also quiet, and most of you extraverts are also bubbly--but it makes so much sense for the two of them and the ways they seem to complement each other. Sirius isn't the leader of their little group at school--he's got strong opinions and a big personality, but he's James' most loyal follower, and he tend to take only a few people into his circle. He's also just *done* with human interaction after a while--you can see him become irritable and retreat from the group in canon. Meanwhile, Remus, who's so often portrayed as shy in fic, actually seems to spend time with a variety of people and enjoy their company. He's attuned to others' motivations and able to smooth things over where Sirius couldn't care less. M.

[mindabbles]

I love this. It makes so much sense. Sirius is described of paying attention to no one but his close group at school. He seems to open up one-on-one (with Harry and Remus). I can’t see him being a teacher, for example. And, Remus is always noticing how others feel and reaching out to do something about it (or frequently, anyway.) Note the number of times in the books he tells someone else that something isn’t their fault.

(Oops, wrong log in first time!)

[ruinsplume]

This is fascinating. I think you're really onto something here. Especially Sirius of the OotP era. In both canon and fandom he's often seen kind of going off by himself and brooding, which god knows is what I (also an introvert) do when I'm stuck in a house full of people and can't escape. I think Sirius is also a performer who likes the spotlight, but then he crashes from too much people stimulation and needs to be carted off by Remus or someone for some quiet uh, restorative time.

And yeah, Remus is just way more chill and good at interacting and taking pleasure from that interacting. Maybe what's portrayed as shyness is actually just trauma from being a social outcast because of his werewolf status. When he's in an environment where he knows he's relatively safe (like when he was teaching at HW) he's good with everyone, even Snape.

[chasingbluefish]

Just wanting to second everyone who replied. I adore this. There are degrees to everything and being one thing doesn't mean you have to stick to a specific mold. This makes so much sense.

[aurelie_saintjuste]

As an extroverted introvert, I just... Y E S.

I think they both grow into opposite roles, so to speak. In school, Sirius may have been rambunctious, boisterous, charming and extroverted, while Remus was more laid back, soft spoken, studious, trying to be a role model and maybe even a little self deprecating. Remus grows at Hogwarts, having an opportunity to finally be himself and be surrounded by people and friends and a "normal" teenage social life denied to him by his condition in his home with protective parents.

Fast forward to adulthood - Azkaban has destroyed Sirius, the silence would have probably - okay, kind of canonically - driven him insane. He has no one to charm, no one to laugh with or cause mischief with. He's not the popular troublemaking pretty boy anymore. Remus, meanwhile, is accepted back to Hogwarts to teach a new generation and is comfortable with everyone. He's LOVED by everyone, save maybe Snape, who knows his real condition.

Sirius FREAKS OUT with too much overstimulation post Azkaban. I headcanon that Sirius would have a horrible time where he once flourished - in loud groups and in boisterous parties. The anxiety would just put him over the top. He might try to dive headfirst back in it, but it would never really be the same.

I have to stop rambling. I have to...

[abyss_valkyrie]

This makes so much sense,lol!I just love how this fandom continues coming up with theories even years later!

[museinabsentia]

I love this sooooo much. And it's very much corroborated by canon. I mean, even in flashbacks to them at Marauder age, Sirius never noticed the girls checking him out, really only paid attention to his friends, but was loud and brash with them. I mean, I get that people want to correlate introvert with shy, but I think that's bull. I'm a serious introvert (off the computer, where people can actually see me)but I'm not even the slightest bit shy, just really really awkward. So I love this take on Sirius.

And Remus as well, I mean, he's really good with people, all people. He's just not loud about it. I mean, honestly, how many introverts would be able to teach? Way too much attention on them.

[shaggydogstail]

Yes, Remus is definitely an extrovert. (I'm less convinced that quiet extroverts are rare - I think people commonly mistake loudness for extroversion just like they mistake shyness for introversion, but they're not the same things at all.) I've gone back and forth on Sirius, because his withdrawn behaviour in canon often seems the result of his mental health issues more than a sign he really enjoys being alone, but the fact that he chose to live alone at 17 rather than stay any longer with the Potters suggests a preference for decent amounts of alone time.

[luminousgloom]

I've never thought about it like that before, but this is my HC, too! Thanks for describing it so eloquently!

[aurelie_saintjuste]

Some of mine are trivial little nothings, and I think are pretty widely accepted, but -

Remus is Welsh. I'm not sure why I'm so attached to this, but I love the idea that he's Welsh. I think it's the accent. Curly, honey colored hair, light brown eyes, freckles. I think he's shorter than Sirius.

Sirius, being a pureblood, was begrudgingly put through all manner of what he believed was useless learning. He's fluent in French, for sure, but hates using it. He likely also knows about a dozen different ways to tie an ascot or tie, which is why he absolutely hates wearing his uniform tie neatly. The boy is well versed in classical music and opera, but obviously prefers his punk rock.

The days leading up to and immediately following the full moon, Remus' senses are extremely sensitive - everything smells strongly, his eyes are painful in light, he can hear pins drop in corridors across the school and his skin prickles at everything. Sirius struggles between wanting to take care of him or use taking advantage of these heightened senses for debaucherous purposes.

THE ANIMAL THING. YES. Sirius finds a damn kitten on the Quidditch pitch and tries to convince Remus to take care of it and Remus is like, "Are you for real?"

They keep the cat.

It lives in one of Remus' many jumpers, all of which are in terrible condition, none of which he's willing to part with. Sirius doesn't understand the jumpers until he steals one of Remus's to wear on a particularly cold day, and he loves the smell and feel of the thing so much that he also refuses to let Remus get rid of any of them.

I probably have more. I should probably have a limit on how much I'm allowed to post here. I've been pretty hard up for an outlet for all of these ramblings, which is becoming increasingly apparent.

[abyss_valkyrie]

Honey, the fandom exists for this reason, so we can vent and ramble as much as we want. :3

Can I just second that Welsh!Remus thing? And since his mum was welsh too so it just, you know,works! Sirius with the ties,yes, I can just picture him doing up Remus or the Marauders' ties for a fancy occasion with a 'oh my god, you noobs' kind of look.
The jumper one makes me want to write a ficlet though that will probably happen when I'm like 70 years old!Hehe!

[mindabbles]

Here are a few of mine.
1. Sirius has known he was gay since he was very young. It increased his feelings of separation from his family, which were already strong enough. James figured it out pretty early on in their friendship, and Sirius never fully admitted to James how much James’ lack of reaction meant to him. Remus on the other hand, did have a reaction.
2. Remus had other relationships when Sirius was in Azkaban. Some were short and one was longer. He never let himself fall in love again. (This can be fixed by an AU where Sirius never goes to Azkaban).
3. When Remus first saw Harry on the train, he was at a complete loss for words and he thought his heart would break. Soon, looking out for and teaching James and Lily’s son became the easiest and most natural thing in the world.
4. Sirius befriended Lily before James’ charms became apparent to her. Once he got to know her, Sirius knew she and James would end up together.

[abyss_valkyrie]

Ack!The 3rd one!I really like thinking of how Remus might have felt proud and happy every time Harry excelled at something but kinda sad that he had to hold back on showing his happiness as someone close to him.

And I can see the 2nd one happening too, so much.

[jepierre]

It isn't so much a headcanon but how I view them when I write.

Echoing what others are saying about introvert Sirius, I love that. I always imagine them being exactly who the other person needed at that point. During their school years, Sirius brought Remus out of his shell, turning him into the more-confident (but not cocky) sarcastic boy that I love. When Sirius was broken after prison, Remus was the calming voice, the person who settled him above anyone else. While he never forgets the invisible scars, Remus tries to heal them just as Sirius did for Remus at school.

Sirius always knew he was gay, and the posters of women were out of fear his mother would find out but also riling her up. Whereas Remus was conflicted, not knowing that he could like both boys and girls, because all he had been told is how dangerous being a werewolf is.

Sirius is fluent in french, but despises it where as Remus adores it. Remus self-teaches himself latin, but after fifth year and finding that both chocolate and Sirius are a huge distraction, doesn't continue with it.

Remus is a heavy sleeper who needs a lot of sleep, Sirius is a night owl who runs off very little sleep.

[abyss_valkyrie]

Aahhh!Remus self-teaching for fun is just so charming somehow.Of course as a teen he got distracted! I also am liking this opposites theory of them, that was always there but the introvert thing I haven't thought of before. It's so much more complicated than the usual picture we see.
Like even after years, I don't know if I'd consider myself an intro or extrovert!

[abyss_valkyrie]

1.Okay so we know how Remus likes his sweet stuff, sugar and all. I can't help but imagine Sirius being sort of the opposite or just with the smallest sweet tooth on this planet. I reaaaally happen to enjoy a scenario where Sirius seeing Remus eat a very decadent dessert with layers and layers of chocolate, caramel, icecream and other things on it makes his teeth rot just by looking at it.

2.Remus is a bit of a mama's boy and has absolutely no shame about it.

3.Sirius was gay and probably had a thing or two at Hogwarts with other people.

4.Remus can't study or concentrate on work in complete silence without background noise. I feel like his gramophone thingy in the PoA movie kinda does this justice. Also I just love the idea of Remus doing his summer homework with a Walkman though I don't think they existed then!

[magnetic_pole]

Remus can't study or concentrate on work in complete silence without background noise. I feel like his gramophone thingy in the PoA movie kinda does this justice.

Ah, I'd almost forgotten about the gramophone in the PoA movie. That's a nice interpretation of that detail.

Also, a walkman's totally possible, at least by the late 1970s! M.

[museinabsentia]

I'm not sure I have any solid headcanons, honestly. I do have some tropes that I tend to stay away from, but that's not exactly the same thing.

I do love a Sirius who is extraordinarily clever, but I think that's somewhat proven in canon by illegally becoming an animagus by 15. I tend to shy away from chocolate loving Remus, if only because I have no idea where it came from, so the fact that is as popular as it is tends to weird me out. I have nothing against it, per se, but I just don't get it. But for headcanon, I'm not sure.

I tend to go with a Sirius who loves his brother and is only on the outs with him because of the war (or a no war AU where they're close).

Remus I tend to like as the instigator for a lot of their pranks when they're younger. I mean, he was a Marauder for a reason, and I don't think it was simply proximity. He's just a lot more cognizant of the consequences of his actions. He's had to pay attention to them far more than your average child should ever have to.

I'm a firm believer in them getting together at Hogwarts, but not till after the Prank. I do feel that if they had been together Sirius would have thought more about what he was doing. He's careless and somewhat petty, but not casually cruel like that.

[magnetic_pole]

Remus I tend to like as the instigator for a lot of their pranks when they're younger. I mean, he was a Marauder for a reason, and I don't think it was simply proximity. He's just a lot more cognizant of the consequences of his actions. He's had to pay attention to them far more than your average child should ever have to.

Agreed! I can see Remus being a good follower, too, but not exclusively--their relationship in canon is too give-and-take for me to believe that they didn't take turns leading and generating ideas. M.

[amahami]

Disabled!Remus, cuddly!Sirius, swot-but-not-with-school!Remus, secret-bookworm!Sirius, french-speaking, piano playing!Sirius, easily excitable!Sirius, trans!Remus, genderfluid!Sirius, prof!Remus, prof!Sirius, librarian!Remus, librarian!Sirius, punk!Sirius, sweaters way too big!Remus.... basically anything, really.

[magnetic_pole]

Secret-bookworm!SIrius is the best. *cuddles him* Love these! M.

[sostrata.livejournal.com]

Oh! Oh! Head canon! I have a ton, but here's just some:

-Sirius is very smart and can do just about anything he puts his mind to. In particular, he likes experimenting with potions and learns how to make the Wolfsbane for Remus. When Harry lives with him (which *does* happen) he learns to become a very good cook.

-Sirius and Remus were working together in GoF. In the book, Sirius mentions things that he's learned, that he missed while in Azkaban. I think that it was Remus filling him in. Maybe they had a mirror or something that they were communicating by. And of course meeting for trysts- I mean, strategy sessions ::coughs::. Sirius certainly doesn't need Dumbledore to tell him just where "Lupin's" is at the end of the book!

- Sirius, well known for his supposed crimes, has a lot of female fans in the wizarding world, who can't resist such a handsome "bad boy".

-Remus can never resist teasing Sirius. It's what he lives for.

I also have loads of head canon for James, but you asked for just Remus and Sirius, so I will stop!

[sostrata.livejournal.com]

Oh, and I just happened to turn to this bit of head canon in my R/S notebook, and couldn't resist adding it:

Re their relationship with Hagrid: James and Sirius immediately took to him at Hogwarts because he went into the Forbidden Forest and was therefore Cool. Remus, however, stayed away from him. He knew of Hagrid's love of magical creatures, and he thought that Hagrid would probably figure out his secret. Not that he didn't trust him, but he knew how Hagrid accidentally let slip things. He also didn't fancy Hagrid trying to make a pet of him!

[wild_flame]

These are all so cute to read through!! <3

I don't have this kind of imagination myself so I'm going to share with you the genius of goodfrith and rj31 who are headcanon queens! Just off the top of my head two of my faves are:

1) Totally Tropical Remus- where Remus insists he is not drunk, "I'm just a little tropical," he slurs holding a pina colada in one hand, his hawaiin shirt in disarray. "Yeah, totally tropical, Remus," Sirius replies slowly with a raised eyebrow.

2) Grumpily-mothered Remus- usually by James and Lily, sometimes Sirius. He insists he can take care of himself. He can't.

Their (and others) headcanoning in rs-games team's group chat also resulted in RJ's adorable fairytale where Remus and Padfoot become teachers in Ireland and Goodfrith's hilarious fic in which James and Sirius have to look after baby cabbage heads sort of like when people are given those crying baby toys to look after as a project at school... I don't even know, but I almost wet myself laughing reading it!

[rj31]

💖