My submission to the Sherlock Challenge - to write a MuggleAU!

Thank you to my Beta Michy Drarry Shipper who's been great going through my chapters, correcting mistakes and making sure the chapter flows well. :)

I OWN NOTHING!


Sirius Black remembered the first time he saw Remus Lupin.

It was in a quiet little coffee shop. Sirius had missed out on his morning coffee and dragged his friend and co-worker, Lily Evans, in with him at lunch. Lily of course, had insisted on having a seat and after a huff and a strop, he had finally given in. He had wanted to take his coffee with him, rather than sit around. He felt it was a waste of time.

He realised later that it was the best decision he ever made, allowing Lily to have her own way, as ten minutes later two men walked in.

Sirius saw the man in the suit first, as Sirius was sitting facing the door. He looked him over, but saw nothing overly special. The guy was good-looking, but wasn't Sirius' type. The man was of average height, he had dark messy hair, glasses hiding some nice hazel eyes and a wide grin on his face as he looked around. Just another pretty boy who cared too much about his own appearance.

Sirius found his gaze shift to the second man, who had followed glasses into the place, but the other man had already turned towards the counter.

He looked at the back of the second man and liked what he saw. Dark blonde, shaggy hair, casual clothes - jeans, converse and a sweater – he preferred that to suits. He couldn't see the man's face. He was tall and lanky, but seemed to lack confidence in the way he held himself. Sirius' gaze travelled down to a very nice arse. Sirius was impressed so far, but he wanted the man, who seemed to be eyeing up the chocolate cake behind the counter, to turn around.

Sirius looked back at Lily when she called his name... but his gaze slowly drifted back to this man, hoping for a glimpse of his face. He was disappointed, as the man didn't turn around once. He did notice him ordering a slice of chocolate cake though. Sirius grinned, wishing he could watch the man eating it, maybe lick any chocolate that got caught on his lips off...

Lily called his name again and he turned back to her, his daydream gone. When he looked back at the counter again, the men had already moved to find a table. Sirius knew they were somewhere behind him, as he couldn't see them and if they had left Sirius would have seen that too.

He frowned; he had missed his chance. The guy would have turned around to find a table, he could have gotten a look. Maybe if he waited a few minutes and walked to the bathroom, he could get a look either on the way there, or the way back. He smiled at his decision.

Lily snapped her fingers in his face, and he jumped. She grinned at him. "You with me now?" She asked and he nodded his head, trying to pay attention.

"So like I was saying, the book shop is ready to open tomorrow. Do you think we'll manage with just us, or do you think we could do with another member of staff?"

Sirius thought about it. "We don't open for another couple of weeks, so let's give it a month before hiring someone. We want to work out the busiest times, get everything in order and get a feel for the place ourselves first, so when someone new comes in, we'll know what we're showing them, rather than have three people being completely lost."

Lily nodded. "You're right for once. What time do we have to be at the printers to collect the flyers?"

"I'm always right," he told her, with a frown. He pulled out his phone to check the time. "We still have about half an hour. Got some business cards ordered too."

He started telling her about the design he picked for the cards. She knew he would pick something she would love. He was very good like that. She nodded as she listened and her gaze moved behind Sirius' head.

A man with messy black hair was grinning at her.

"I think we're done here," she said, downing her drink and grabbing Sirius' arm.

As she pulled him to the exit, she whispered, looking back, "Some man was staring at me, you know it pisses me off."

Sirius followed her gaze and saw her staring at the man with dark hair. As though he knew Sirius was looking, the other man turned around and the last thing Sirius saw was a pair of amber eyes, a scarred face and an apologetic smile as the door closed behind them.

He stalked ahead of Lily who rushed to catch up.

"They probably thought we were a couple," he grouched.

Lily frowned. "What?"

"The one with his back to us... I didn't get a proper look. The way you dragged me out of there, he probably thought you were my girlfriend or something!" Sirius complained.

Lily laughed.

"It's not funny. I saw his face for like a second and I liked what I saw and you've just dragged me out of there. It'd look sad going back in there now."

Lily sighed. "Sorry Sirius, why don't we come back in tomorrow, and keep an eye out for him?"

Sirius nodded, shoving his hands in his pockets. He led the way to the printers in silence, disappointed that he had missed his chance.

~oOo~

"Chocolate cake or not?" Remus mumbled, staring through the counter at the mouth-watering cake.

"Why do you ask, Moony? We both know that your question only has one real answer – and that's yes. I'm sure you've never resisted it."

Remus shrugged. "I can resist you know," he said, still staring at the cake.

"Fine, resist it, go a day without having chocolate I dare you."

Remus nodded, trying to look away from the cake.

"In fact, do it today. No chocolate all day."

Remus turned to look at his brother. "Can't. I already had some chocolate this morning."

James snorted as they moved forward and placed their orders. A coffee for him and a hot chocolate, with a flake, and a piece of cake for Remus.

"How are you not fat?"

"It's all the sex I'm having," came Remus' reply.

"Which is none," James laughed.

Remus joined in. "Well, it's in anticipation for the next lot then."

James looked around and grinned. Remus followed his gaze and spotted a couple sitting at a table. The women had a notebook in her hand and was reading through it. The man was sitting quietly. He watched James walk over to a table where he was facing the women and sit down.

He took the seat facing James. "She's sitting with a bloke, probably not single."

"But I think I love her," came the reply.

'Oh dear God,' Remus thought to himself.

"I'm sure you do, but I'm sure she doesn't love you in return. She probably loves the bloke sitting with her. They looked pretty cosy after all."

"I can make her love me!" James sounded confident and Remus shook his head.

"Sometimes you scare me James," he told the other man.

"She looks like an angel," he whispered, as though she would hear him.

Remus' hands moved to his face. He wasn't sure whether to be frustrated that James was obsessing over this women or not. James was always quite over the top... but on the other hand, he wanted to laugh.

"She could be a princess," James sighed, a dreamy look on his face.

Remus held back a snort.

"We'd have beautiful children," James decided and that's all it took for Remus to laugh.

He watched James wink at the women and heard chairs scraping.

"She's going, she's leaving. What should I do?" James panicked.

"Do not follow them. I mean it, James," Remus hissed, finally turning to see the women who had his brother losing his mind.

He saw a flash of red hair disappear out of the door and his eyes met with a pair of silver ones before the door closed.

James was getting out of his seat and Remus pulled him back down.

"Do not make a fool of yourself, we'll come back here another day at the same time, and if she's here you can look at her, but you can't creep her out by staring at her, or talk about her being a princess or an angel or about future children... In fact I suggest you don't speak to her at all."

James folded his arms and pouted. "Don't treat me like a child, I'm only a couple of years younger than you."

"Only a couple? Sometimes it feels like a lot more."

James let out an annoyed sound and stared at the door, willing the redhead to come back in, but it stayed closed.


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