Author's Note: Warning: This story contains romantic love between two gentlemen. I don't own any of the characters, too bad for me.
It had been a busy day when Fifth Year Remus Lupin entered the Gryffindor common room. Once again he had more homework than he knew how to handle and once again he was out of chocolate. He had seated himself in a particularly plump chair and was preparing to begin his Potions homework when Sirius Black came strolling into the room followed by a gaggle of giggling Third Years. Apparently Sirius was entertaining them with tales of his daring deeds, which mostly consisted of tormenting Snape.
The other Marauders – James Potter and Peter Petigrew were following Lily Evans around trying yet again to convince her that James was dashing and worthy of kisses. Between Sirius's dramatics and the swooning of those silly girls, there was no way that Remus would be able to concentrate on his homework. Time for me to move to the library. Besides, he thought, why would I want to watch a bunch of immature girls crowding around MY Sirius? Remus blushed at his own thoughts. What in the world is the matter with me? I don't care if Sirius wants to flirt incessantly with a bunch of airheaded bimbos. It's not my problem that he's so handsome and so suave and smells amazing and could do so much better, but settles for stupid thin little blondes….
Remus jumped from the chair as he turned a bright shade of crimson and it finally hit him like a truck. Oh my sweet Merlin in a purple robe! I have a crush on Sirius Black… my fellow Marauder… Sirius Black… oh good Godric Gryffindor…. I've lost my mind. I've got to get out of here! He rushed from to the common room door and was about to make a mad dash for the library, when Sirius called his name.
"Remus Lupin! Where are you off to in such a hurry? You look like you just saw Snape in women's clothing."
Remus turned to face his comrade and fought to keep his voice even as he replied, "Well, Sirius it is awful difficult to think let alone study with you behaving like Casanova for all of your fan girls here." Remus indicated the crowd of half a dozen third years.
Sirius looked apologetic and replied, "Oh well… I did tell you yesterday that I would try to be less of a distraction, didn't I? I suppose that I will just have to escort these fin ladies downstairs. I promise that I won't let my admirers gather up here for at least another month."
Remus rolled his eyes knowing that it was too good to be true. There was absolutely no way that someone as arrogant as Sirius could go that long without showing off their mob of devotees. Remus commented doubtfully, "I really don't think you can pull that off."
Sirius, pretending to be hurt, clutched at his heart and replied, "You break my heart, Remus with your lack of faith in my word. I bet I can pull it off and I'll be so kind that if I lose… I'll give you awhile pound of chocolate. You can pick any kind you want."
Remus smiled at Sirius, "A guaranteed pound of chocolate… Make it milk chocolate with almonds."
Sirius inquired with a mock innocent voice, "Don't you want to know what you have to give me if I win?"
"Nope, I don't much care about things that will surely never happen, Black" Remus replied as he sat back down in the plump chair.
Sirius smirked his classic arrogant I'm- Sirius- Black- and –that- makes- me- the -best –there- is grin and walked out of the common room door followed by his fan group and yelled as he left, "If you so sure about that, Remus."
Remus picked up his Potions work and was left alone with the essay that Slughorn had assigned and his thoughts, which included happiness at the thought of a whole pound of chocolate, but annoyance at the fact that Sirius was still wasting his time with some immature trollops. Although Remus had realized he felt more than friendship toward the handsome boy, he couldn't believe that he might possibly have a chance with someone so wonderful. There is no way Sirius would understand. It's bad enough to have a crush on a friend, but to have a crush on a guy friend…. He already knows I'm a werewolf, but will he shun me if he discovers that I'm a gay werewolf…. And what about the others? How would James or even Peter react? There's absolutely nothing I can do… Nothing at all.
Three weeks later, Remus sat in the common room playing solitaire when Sirius stole his deck of cards right off of the table. Before Remus could demand them back, Sirius began talking.
"So, Remus have you been enjoying the peace and quiet? Been getting all your homework and extra credit done like the perfect student that you are. In just one week, I will have won this bet and proven the brilliant Remus Lupin- star pupil- wrong."
Has it really been that long since his little crowd has overwhelmed the common room? I can't believe I hadn't noticed…. It's not like I haven't appreciated the peace and quiet, but I was really looking forward to that chocolate and…. Wait! I don't even know what he wants if he wins… Knowing Sirius, he'll probably demand that I transfigure myself blue for a month or run streak around Hogwarts…. That's what Sirius Black would do…. The evil prankster that he is he'd think of something to embarrass me. Remus pondered these things and questioned Sirius, "So… If you make if for another week, what is it that you want from me?"
Sirius stood and stretched lazily before looking down at his watch and commenting, "Well… Look at the time I'm supposed to meet James outside the Great Hall for his latest – "Get Lily Quick" scheme. I'll see you later." Sirius strolled out of the room and left one very nervous Remus to ponder what he might owe.
Sirius headed down to the library where he had arranged to meet James. Sirius sat down in one of the chairs beside his best friend and buried his head in his hands. "mmm….ca….working…not….can't do it….too hard….hate me…. He'll hate…. Ugh….grr….noo…." Sirius muttered incoherently into his hands as James motioned for him to lift his head off the table.
"Sirius," James began in his best I'm-your-best-friend-listen-to-me-or-I'll-psychoanalyze-you voice,"You need to lift you head off of the table and use sounds to form syllables to form words to form sentences to state thoughts in English. Okay?"
Sirius lifted his head off the table and began his rant again without pausing to take a breath, "I-can't-do-this-it's-not-working-it's-too-hard-Remus-will-hate-me-he-won't-like-me-or-he'll-think-I'm-a-freak-and-then-I'll-have-split-up-the-group-and-you-guys-will-stick-with-him-because-he's-smart-and-I'm-the-one-who-thought-that-television-was-when-muggles-put-each-other-in-boxes-and-watched-them-during-dinner-and-then-I'll-be-alone-and-he-won't-like-me-and-I'll-never-get-to-hold-his-hand-or-play-with-his-hair-and-then-I'll-have-to-just-jump-off-the-Astronomy-Tower."
James shook his head and put his hand on Sirius's shoulder and said in his nicest voice, "It's really okay, mate. No one can understand muggle technology and you know I'll stick with you no matter what. Now besides that, it will work. I've seen the way he looks at you and you look at him and if he doesn't want to get you alone in the Room of Requirement then no one does. Now just listen to me for once, you can do this. After all- you are the Sirius Black. There is absolutely nothing that you cannot accomplish except listening to McGonagall in Transfiguration. I've yet to see you accomplish that in all my years as your best friend, but you most certainly can do this. Just tell him that he lost the bet and as payment he owes you like you had originally plan. You two will go to Hogsmeade and have a great time. Okay, Sirius?"
Sirius groaned as if he was in physical pain, but nodded. He knew that he had to try and be as brave as he wanted everyone to believe that he was. Sirius thought back to the first time he had told James that he was bisexual. He had expected it to be horribly awkward and feared rejection, but James hadn't seemed to care at all.
His only reaction had seemed to be curiosity; he had asked Sirius a series of questions which included –"How long have you known? Do you prefer gals or blokes? Have you ever dated a guy? Have you ever kissed a guy?"
Sirius had answered all of these questions, "Since I can remember. I prefer gals. I've never dated a guy and I've never kissed a guy." Sirius knew that his best friend wouldn't steer him wrong.
One week later, Sirius skipping into the room humming what sounded like, "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" awakened Remus. Remus put his pulled his pillow over his head and tried to ignore Sirius's antics, but Sirius was not in a mood to be ignored. He leaned over Remus's bed and smiled and said, "I won the bet, Remus."
Author's Note: I like reviews! They make me smile, tell me if you liked it or if I completely messed something up. Thanks for your time!
