Disclaimer: Not Mine


Cha-Ching Cherry


"So, where to next?" Lily asked, smiling up at Remus.

"Where have we not been," he teased, squeezing her hand gently.

"Um… Well… Good point, that. We've been everywhere! It doesn't seem like we've been in Hogsmeade for that long…"

"Well, you know what the muggles say. Time flies when you're with a beautiful girl." He leaned down and kissed her temple, causing her to turn slightly pink.

"Honeydukes!" she cried after a moment of silent, aimless walking.

"What?"

"We can go back to Honeydukes! We ate all of our chocolate just now in the Three Broomsticks, it'd be a shame to go back up to the castle without any."

Remus grins. "A woman after my own heart. Honeydukes it is."

"Race you!"

"What?"

But Lily was already off, pelting full speed down the road towards Honeydukes.

"Lily!" Remus took off after her, catching up to her easily, despite her head start.

"No fair," she huffed, coming to a stop at the door and pouting ever-so-slightly. "You've got longer legs!"

"Then don't challenge me to a race, love," he whispered, kissing her forehead. "Because I will never let you win." He smiled mischievously at her glare and opened the door to Honeydukes. "Ladies first."

She stepped in and inhaled deeply, shutting her eyes in a look of complete bliss. "I love this place."

"Me too… Come on," he urged, taking her hand and pulling gently. "To the chocolate counter!"

Lily giggled at his childlike enthusiasm and jogged along behind him, taking three steps to every one of his. "Why are you so damned tall?"

"Luck of the genes," he answered absentmindedly, currently caught up in surveying the mountains of chocolate before them.

"Oh my… I can never decide…"

"Me neither… Hmm…" he trailed off, looking pensive, before calling, "Ambrosius?"

"Aye?" replied the owner of the shop, turning in their direction. "Oh, Remus, my boy! Good to see you again. Let me guess, you'll be wanting more samples." He laughed heartily, and the coupling of his white beard and his large, jiggling belly put Lily in mind of the American's version of Father Christmas.

Remus nodded. "Yes, sir."

"The usual, I expect? Doubled? For you and your lovely lass?" Ambrosius winked, grinning widely.

"Yes, please, sir."

"Remus?" Lily whispered, feeling a bit nervous. "What's the usual?"

"What's the usual, she asks!" chortled the candy maker. "Ah, you'll see, lass. Quite the sweet tooth, your young man has, I'll tell you that."

Lily blushed at the phrase "your young man," but smiled nonetheless. "Yes, I know. I have one as well."

"A good thing, that," Ambrosius said, bustling around behind the counter at a speed disproportionate to his large size. Lily attempted to see exactly what he was compiling, but to no avail.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"Oh, you'll see. Once you see your lad's 'usual.'"

Lily blushed again. Remus wasn't "her lad". Yet. Was he?

As if reading her thoughts, Remus released her hand and snaked his arm instead around her waist. "Don't look so worried," he whispered. "I assure you, you'll love the 'usual.'"

"Here we are," announced Ambrosius, hauling up two large sacks filled to the brim with what looked like one piece of every variety of chocolate in the shop. "Two servings of Remus' usual."

Lily's jaw fell open of its own accord. "That's the usual?"

"That's right, lass." Ambrosius chuckled. "Good thing you have that sweet tooth, eh? I'll be 'round the front if you need anything, Remus. Nice meeting you, Lily Lass." He winked, and was gone.

"Ready?" Remus asked, releasing Lily and grabbing both sacks. Lily couldn't help but notice the way his biceps bulged under the weight.

"How are we supposed to pay for all of this?" Lily regretted the question almost as soon as it was out of her mouth. True, she didn't have all that much, but Remus had even less. She braced herself for Remus to adopt the stony attitude of one who has been offended, but he never did.

He smiled. "I asked Ambrosius the same thing when he first handed one of these to me. He said it was free of charge. He'd seen me eyeing up the chocolate, not able to decide, and he put together a sack with one of everything and handed it over. Said he used to be like me, with a weakness for sweets and a…" he faltered, "limited pocketbook. Course, I insisted on paying him something. Finally, we agreed on two knuts a bag. Says I'm his best, most loyal customer. Great man, Ambrosius…"

Lily nodded slowly, still feeling quite embarrassed for having asked the question.

"Hey," he said softly. "It's okay. No big deal. Don't beat yourself up about it." He smiled gently down at her. "Now let's go eat some chocolate!"

He led her to the front of the store, towards the cashier. "Oh, no…" he muttered, looking down at the sacks. "Lily, could you reach into the right pocket of my jeans and grab four knuts, please? My hands are full."

Lily, blushing profusely, did as she was asked, careful not to let her hand accidentally stray too far to the side.

Ambrosius turned the corner, raising his eyebrows as he caught sight of the placement of Lily's hand. "Honestly, lad, can't it wait till you're out of my shop?" he teased, sidling up to the counter.

Lily blushed, if possible, even deeper, and presented the coins to Ambrosius. He took two and folded her fingers over the remaining two, closing her hand.

"But-" Remus started, but the man waved him away.

"Nah, it's a special day, lad. Never seen you come in here with a lass, least of all such a bonnie one. I had been starting to think you were a bit of a poof." Remus opened his mouth to say something about that, but Ambrosius spoke over him. "Keep your money, lad. Save up for something nice for your lass."

Remus opened his mouth once again, but was silenced by the look the man gave him. "Thank you, Ambrosius."

"Oh wait-" he called to their retreating backs. "See that pink one at the top there, lass? In the bag nearest you?"

Lily nodded.

"Taste that one first. It's new."

Lily nodded again, reaching for the candy and taking a bite. "Mmm… it's delicious, sir!"

Remus smiled at the way she lit up, and couldn't help but notice the bit of chocolate smeared at the corner of her lip. Well, he thought, can't let that go to waste, now, can I? It must be good, to make her smile like that… Hmm… He smiled unseen by Lily, who was still standing with her eyes closed in a state of bliss. I'll just have to find out, now, won't I?

He leaned down and slowly, ever so slowly, pressed his lips to hers. He heard her breath catch and felt a rush of masculine pride flow through his veins. She moved closer to him, pressing herself against him as closely as possible with the sacks of chocolate in the way.

Remus heard the ring of the cash register as Ambrosius deposited the knuts, and pulled away, licking lightly at the chocolate on her lip before leaning away.

"Mmm…" he whispered, smiling mischievously at her stunned expression. "Cherry…"


A/N: While I am not a fan of cherry, I do love chocolate! Next up – Coney Island Cotton Candy!