23 year old Remus Lupin is chronically single, and working at a small muggle bookshop to make ends meet. Remus's childhood friend, Lilly Evans, is happily married to her high-school-sweetheart James Potter, who just happens to be the best friend of the infamous man about town Sirius Black. When Lilly and James' son Harry is born, they decide to make Remus and Sirius his godparents. When Lilly and James are unfortunately killed by Voldemort, the two young men are left with legal custody of baby Harry. With few other options, they movie into the house and try their best to honor their friends' wishes, despite the fact that they really don't get on. ***This is set in modern-ish times. Not the seventies. ***
Disclaimer: This story is based on the "Harry Potter" universe as well as the movie "Life as we know it". What this means is, I quite literally own nothing. A wealthy British woman owns the characters and a large movie company owns the majority of the plot.
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July, 2005 (Remus and Sirius are 19)
When Remus Lupin was agitated, he paced. His date was almost an hour late and Remus had worn a path in his stained, shabby carpet nearly bare. He checked the cracked clock on his wall for the millionth time and flipped open his muggle cellular to make sure he hadn't missed a call. Remus Lupin felt the shame and embarrassment seep through the cracks in his mental walls as he realized that he had been stood up. He was going to kill Lilly tomorrow. This was all her stupid idea, insisting that she had found the perfect guy for him and setting him up on a blind date.
Now, normally Remus hated the idea of blind dates, but Lilly's pleading eyes had really done a number on his resolve and he found himself caving into her demands. Now, flopping backwards onto his threadbare sheets he couldn't help but wish that he had said no to Lilly's badgering. He exhaled and stared at the graying ceiling with contempt, finding evidence of a small colony of spiders in one corner. He groaned in frustration and reached for his cell phone to call and complain to Lilly when he heard the loud roar of an engine outside on the street. He sat up in interest, and cocked an eyebrow.
A few moments later a hard knocking sound could be heard coming from the direction of the door. He cautiously slid from the bed, pausing for a moment to examine his appearance in the mirror. He flattened his tawny hair and ran his hand down his face, hastily checking for remnant stubble. His grey wool sweater had ridden up on his slim body and he pulled it down hastily, adjusting the wrinkles in his jeans and sliding his feet into the worn shoes by the doorway.
He opened the thin wooden door to find a tall man taking up most of the doorway. Eye level with a broad chest his eyes drifted upwards to an almost impossibly handsome face. Silver eyes glinted down appraisingly as the man looked him over. Remus felt his face growing hot under the scrutiny. He started to make a noise but it came out a slightly strangled sound. He coughed quietly and tried again, feeling flustered by the handsome stranger.
"You're late"
The strangers face took on a confused look.
"What time is it?"
Remus Lupin didn't even need to look at a clock. The stranger took note.
"9:37"
"That can't be right. That would make me…"
"67 minutes late? Yeah."
An awkward silence settled around the two of them. The tall dark haired man rubbed sheepishly at the back of his neck, his leather jacket riding slightly up as he did so. Remus tried his hardest not to stare.
"So... do you still want to go out?"
Remus hesitated a moment before answering.
"Well,
Remus hesitated a moment before answering.
"Well, you're here aren't you?"
They both chuckled uncomfortably. The tall man stepped aside from the doorway, holding his hand in invitation for Remus to lead the way. Remus stood there for a moment, before pulling the door shut and locking it securely behind him. The tall stranger rocked backwards on his heels as he waited.
"I'm Sirius by the way."
"Remus"
"Like Remus and Romulus?"
"Yeah kinda like that."
Remus turned and started down the steps, his face hidden in the shadows as he walked towards the street. Sirius followed slightly behind him on his right side.
"So…" he trailed off, as if thinking of something to say. "James tells me you're friends with Lilly"
Remus stopped and turned towards Sirius, surprise evident on his face.
"You know Lilly?"
Sirius chuckled. It was a pleasantly deep rumbling sound.
"Yeah, James and I have been friends since we were just small lads. He's been talking about Lilly ever since they met; I've met her a few times."
"Oh. Well, Lilly and I grew up together too. Her parents were friends with mine."
Sirius studied his face for a moment, looking for something.
"Were your parents muggles too?"
"My mum was, we lived in a muggle neighborhood."
"I see."
Sometime during their conversation they had begun walking again and Remus noticed with a start that they were nearly by the road. He scanned the street for a car, but couldn't find one anywhere.
"So how are we getting there?"
"Getting where?"
"I don't know… wherever we're going?"
Sirius looked confused for a moment.
"I didn't make any plans; I thought you were making plans."
Remus looked slightly disappointed, and then calculative for a moment.
"It's fine I know a place we can go."
Sirius gestured to a large black motorcycle underneath a tree. Remus felt a bubble of panic rising in his chest as he looked at the monstrosity of a bike. He paled slightly in the light of the half moon and Sirius looked briefly concerned.
"Are you ok?"
"I think I'll just drive" he said, gesturing to a small black sedan parked behind the motorcycle. "I can meet you there, or you can come in my car."
Sirius looked extremely put out.
"Uh, yeah, sure, I'll just come with you."
They both walked to the small black car and squeezed in. Sirius' mobile began to ring obnoxiously loudly, a sexually suggestive hip hop song ringing throughout the car. Sirius at least had the grace to look slightly embarrassed.
"Aren't you going to get that?" Remus asked with a raised eyebrow.
Sirius shifted uncomfortably.
"Uh, no. It's fine. Let's just go."
The phone continued to blare.
"Just answer it." Remus exhaled exasperatedly.
Sirius answered the phone, glancing carefully at Remus.
"Hey baby" he quietly purred seductively. "No, no, of course ill be there. Ill meet you at…" he paused and looked at Remus and then the clock. "I'll be there at 12. Mmm I cant wait either."
Remus watched the whole scene with a look of intense disbelief. Was this really happening? Sirius hung up his mobile with a sharp click and then looked expectantly at Remus.
"Alright, lets go then."
Remus snorted loudly.
"Did you actually just set up another date right in front of me?" Remus looked at Sirius incredulously. "How on earth Lilly thought we'd get along is entirely beyond me."
Sirius looked confused.
"What? Can't a guy have a little fun?"
Remus looked at him, mouth agape.
"Get out of my car."
Sirius obliged. They stood on either side of the car, arguing loudly over the roof of the tiny vehicle.
"How James thought I'd enjoy a frigid prude like you I'll never know"
"How Lilly thought I'd enjoy a dirt-bag like you I'll never know!"
"Fine!"
"Fine!"
"I never want to see you again!"
"Likewise"
They both stalked off in different directions. Sirius to his motorbike and Remus back to his house, all the while muttering about the failed date, angrily cursing their respective best friends.
….End Chapter 1….