To Paris

Chapter IV: Tea for Three

A swift knocking disturbed Remus's door at four am. Rubbing his eyes, he slowly pulled the door open.

"Where were ya?" Sirius grinned from the other side of the door.

Remus held the side of his head. Staring at Sirius with half-asleep eyes, he noticed the pale man's hair had been matted down from the rain.

Sirius walked into the apartment and Remus shut the door behind him.

"Erm... I must've fallen asleep..." Remus explained.

Sirius examined Remus's residence, almost with a look of distaste on his face.

"Can I get you anything, Padfoot?" Remus asked quietly.

"This place is so dark, Moony," Sirius noted, tapping his wand to a few lights.

It took Remus a moment to adjust to the brighter room.

"Tea?"

"Nothing like you at all. It's too large," Sirius continued.

"Hot chocolate? It should warm you right up," Remus questioned, examining the contents of the fridge.

Ariel meowed loudly and Sirius jumped up, cheeks red.

"Must've stepped on her tail-- wait, a cat? What is wrong with you, Lupin?" he wondered aloud.

"A... bone, perhaps?"

Sirius and Remus locked eyes; a moment later, they both started laughing.

"It's a shame you're doing all this secret Ministry work, the others and I were anxious to hear about how you've been," Sirius spoke.

Remus set a kettle and a couple of cups and saucers down on the coffee table in front of the sofa.

"Well, I suppose you already know where I live, and that I'm doing work for the Ministry. Letting you know a bit more shouldn't hurt."

Sirius sat down in the chair across from the sofa.

"You must give me your word that you will not tell anyone else, though," Remus told him.

"Of course, Moony. I won't say a word. When I tracked you to Paris the first time, I only told Penelope," laughing," so she could deliver my message. And-- well, James and Lily. And Peter, of course. Oh! And I do believe I mentioned it to the fellow in Diagon Alley..."

Remus nearly dropped the kettle with which he was pouring tea.

"I'll try to keep it extra secret," Sirius added, winking.

Sirius and Remus exchanged stories until well after sunrise. They had breakfast at a quiet Muggle restraunt.

"He'll have a crepe with strawberry and powdered sugar," Sirius told the waitress.

I hate crepes, Remus thought, smiling at Sirius. It was my favorite food-- when we were still together. I guess I stopped liking them because they reminded me of him too much. I wonder...

"He'll have scrambled eggs with bacon, and a biscuit. Grape jam, please."

Sirius winked.

They returned to Remus's apartment an hour later.

"I'm afraid I have to leave you, Remus," Sirius frowned.

"Are you sure you don't want to come in?" Remus asked, opening the door to his apartment.

"I really do have to return to my classes."

"You've got to be kidding me, Padfoot. Concerned with your studies?"

Sirius folded his arms.

"Are you positive you don't want to come in?" Remus questioned again.

Sirius took one step backwards.

"What is your problem, Sirius? I thought-"

"You thought wrong, Moony. I'm sorry, but you were wrong," the black haired man sighed.

Sirius turned and began walking away.

"Why, Padfoot, why? You wanted to meet with me. The tea? The breakfast? For what?" Remus shot.

Sirius stopped in his tracks. Remus didn't have to see his face to know that there was a look of shame upon it.

"I wanted to tell you... that there was someone else," he forced.

Remus nearly collapsed outside his door. Someone else? He told me that no one else could ever replace me. That he could never be happy without me. Or did I just imagine that?

"Who is he?" Remus let slip out.

"He was at the Potter's last night. His name is Christian. I..." he trailed off, and continued walking.

"Goodb-"

"Don't say it, Remus... just don't," Sirius called back before disappearing around the corner.

Remus lay in his bed, staring at the ceiling. Ariel remained at the foot of the bed. She knew something was wrong. I imagine I'll always be alone. Sirius said it himself. I've changed so much. Like my apartment I'm too dark. Too big. I don't have enough feelings, enough words and emotions to fill my head. Because all I can think about is...

Turning onto his left side he admired the picture on his nightstand. James... Lily... Harry... and Sirius.

Him...