Written for Hogwarts' Writing Club: Disney Challenge - C6, Bashful: write about someone blushing, Shannon's Showcase: 27 - (trait) stubborn, Book Club: Tootles - (emotion) nostalgia, (event) birthday, (plot point) running errands, Showtime: 33 - I Know Him: (action) laughing, Amber's Attic: Slash 1 - Wolfstar, Count Your Buttons: C5 - Remus Lupin, Lyric Alley - 1: I have never been the type to try and grab the spotlight, Ami's Audio Aspirations: 13 - Comedy: write about someone who is funny, Em's Emporium - Greece 3: The donkeys - (trait) easygoing.

Also for the Seasonal Challenges: Days of the Year - July 20 2018: Moon Day - write about Remus Lupin, Gryffindor Themed Prompts: (trait) lively, the Insane House Challenge: Action - Arguing, the Funfair - Northern: Sophie's Ice Cream Stall - Walnut - Sirius Black & Chocolate Chilli - Remus Lupin, Eastern: Penny Slot Machine - 9: Sirius Black, 11: Remus Lupin, 65: (emotion) joy and Hamilton Mania: Act 2, 20 - Making the most of your life - (emotion) Happiness.

Also posted on the Drabble Tag thread, where Laura gave me Wolfstar and "This is a terrible idea."

Word count: 673

the things that matter

"This is a terrible idea. I'm telling you, Lily won't like it — and we both remember what happened the last time you did something Lily didn't like, " Remus said, staring at Sirius pointedly.

Sirius shivered. He pushed past his unease, however, as he stared at the toy broom in the shop window before them. "But Moony," he replied with a whine and pleading eyes, "it's perfect. You know Harry will love it. I'm his godfather, I should get to spoil him."

"Somehow," Remus retorted dryly, "I don't think feeding into his love for high places will endear you to Lily. Or James."

Sirius pouted.

Wait, endear…

He gaped. "Was that a pun?"

Remus' lips twitched. "What was what?"

On anyone else, that innocent look might have worked, but Sirius had known Remus for too long — and been the victim of too many of Remus' 'I don't know what you mean's when Sirius asked him if he had seen the last piece of chocolate cake he had saved up for himself — to still get fooled by it.

Sirius let out a bark of laughter. Remus smiled at him fondly, and Sirius' breath caught in his chest.

It still took him by surprise, sometimes, that he got to have this.

He laced their fingers together tightly and stared back at the flying toy, swallowing past the sudden knot in his throat.

"I'm getting it," he stated. "If you'd like, we can even say it comes from the both of us. We both know you're practically Harry's honorary godmother anyway," Sirius added, only half-joking about the last part.

Lily and James' reluctance to pick a godmother for Harry bordered on the ridicule by now. Sirius suspected they actually enjoyed thinking of Remus as such as much as Sirius himself did, but since they knew Remus would never accept the position — supposed dangerous nature and all that — they didn't try.

It would explain why he hadn't heard of them considering anyone new in the last few months.

Well, that, and Remus' face was always hilarious when Sirius pointed out his 'status'.

Remus snorted and shook his head. "No thanks. I'll get my own gift for Harry. Something sensible."

Sirius laughed. "He's too young for chocolate, you know."

Remus' offended face only made him laugh harder. "Nobody's too young for chocolate! But if you must know," he added, scowling a little, "I wasn't planning on getting him chocolate." It was very clearly a lie.

Remus' annoyance died quickly, however. His angry huff turned into a cut-off giggle that only made Sirius grin wider.

"Stop doing that!" Remus protested.

"Doing what?"

"You know what," Remus hissed.

"I'm sorry, but you've been giving everyone chocolate for the past five years. Excuse me for not trusting your gift-giving skills."

"My gifts are just fine — and I recall you loving that chocolate," he added, sending Sirius a smoldering look that made him swallow the wrong way.

Catching his breath took him some time. Remus was, of course, no help whatsoever — he tried, in his defense, but he had started laughing so hard he nearly fell over when he tried to tap Sirius on his back.

"You're lucky I love you," he said hoarsely, once the coughing fit had passed.

Remus smiled back fondly. "Go get that toy — but don't expect me to protect you when Lily comes after you when Harry starts to break all the furniture!" he shouted as Sirius started to go into the shop.

"Wouldn't dream of it!" he shouted back, biting back a chuckle.

He was still grinning when he paid for the toy — even though Remus was probably right, and Lily would have his hide if Harry started zooming around the house on his little broomstick.

Well, Sirius would just have to keep it hidden when he was babysitting.

James and Lily were probably getting bored with being unable to leave the house for long anyway. They should thank him for bringing some… spice into their lives.