*Title: As We Are
*Author: Jania Jitsu
*Disclaimer Haiku: Siri and Remy / They are Jo Rowling's, not mine / I think I will cry
*Feedback: jania_jitsu@yahoo.com
*Summary: In an alternate universe, Dumbledore does not become headmaster in time for Remus to go to Hogwarts.
***
"A kiss may ruin a human life." --Oscar Wilde
** Part Five ** What He Wants **
James just stared at Sirius for a moment. Once he had found his voice he said hoarsely, "Oh. Oh, really."
"Is that a 'yes' kind of 'Oh' or a 'no' kind of 'Oh'?" Sirius's brain mocked him. Out loud, he merely said, in a scared voice, "James..."
"Nope," James said, shaking his head, his voice and brain having suddenly made a comeback. "Nope. You don't have to say anything, Sirius. You're my best friend. You will be no matter who you fancy, be it that rich bitch Narcissa Marceau or the poor sweet bloke waiting tables at the Three Broomsticks. We're still partners in crime, no matter what."
Sirius grinned, unsure of whether he felt more like crying or shouting. He settled for saying, "Jamie, I'd give you a hug, but I'm not *that* much of a pouf."
"So, is that where you went last night? To talk to him?"
"Yeah," Sirius said; his previous failure catching up with him and changing his mood back into depression.
James immediately understood the mood change. "No!" he exclaimed, as if scandalized. "He didn't! What, is he *straight*?" For a man who was straight himself, James said the word in a voice awfully close to the one he hurled insults with.
"No. At least I don't think he is. I mean, he kissed me too..."
"Wait, you kissed him?"
"I just told you, there were two of us there kissing!"
"Unneeded visual," James muttered, taking off his glasses to rub the bridge of his nose. "Well, honestly, I don't know what to do here. We're going to have to go to an expert. Someone who always knows what to do."
***
"So let me get this straight," Lily said, transferring her critical gaze from Sirius to James and back again. "It didn't work out. He kissed you, so he obviously likes you back, or at least hasn't gotten laid for quite some time. You still love him?"
"Yes!"
"What's his name?"
"Remus Lupin." You'd swear Sirius had just said the name of God.
"All right. You did a sweeter variation of your traditional Sirius approach and he didn't go for it. You need something different. It may be a little more difficult, but it'll work, unless he's incurably straight."
"What's that?" Sirius asked.
"Well, what did James do when I first refused him?"
"Almost gave up," James said wryly.
"Okay, but then you got back on your feet and tried again. He sent me presents: flowers and candy and such."
"Presents?"
"*Presents*, Sirius. Sent anonymously, of course, because he'll *know* who they're from. Give him what he needs; what he wants. You need to *woo* him, Sirius."
Presents... Sirius smiled. He knew *just* what to get.
***
Remus Lupin opened the door of his ratty little apartment building, but no one was there. Odd, since they had been ringing the bell rather persistently a minute ago.
It took a moment for Remus to notice the parcel at his feet. He picked it up and squeezed it carefully-- it was very soft. He took it inside to open it; very confused, but definitely smiling.
***
"So, what did you get?" Lily asked from a couch in the Gryffindor common room, where she was reading a book with her feet propped up lazily on James's legs.
"Well," Sirius said proudly, "you said to get him what he needed..."
***
Remus smiled as he pulled the gift out of its paper wrappings. He held it out in front of him, his grin getting even broader.
It was beautiful! It was perfect! He tried it on and it was just his size. It was warm as well, and a nice color brown.
***
Lily sat up, alarmed. "A *coat*?!" she spluttered. "Let me get this straight, Sirius Black: I go on about candy, and chocolate, and flowers, and cards, and you buy the love of your life a *jacket*?!"
Sirius frowned defensively. "Hey, he really needs one, all right? You should see the other one-- it was a patched up old thing that was thread-bare and at least an inch too short at the sleeves. And I got him gloves to go with it." The 'So there!' that should have followed hung in the air unsaid, but heard by all.
***
Remus was trying on the coat, buttoning it up and checking the pockets and such, when his mind caught up with him and he suddenly realized what had happened: Someone had just sent him a free coat. A jacket, worth at least twelve galleons, for absolutely nothing. Who would *do* that sort of thing?
In his heart Remus already knew who had sent the coat and gloves, and he suddenly felt like crying.
"I'm so confused!" he said to the picture of his parents. "I don't know what to do about Sirius. His name is Sirius, Mum, isn't that nice? He's a *star*. And he seems really nice. I wish I were normal, Mum! Why couldn't I be normal?"
Remus cried.
***
"Well," Lily said, "I suppose it's your funeral." Then, seeing his face, her expression softened and she gave Sirius a hug. "You did good, Sirius," she whispered in his ear.
Next James gave him a hug. He said, "You'd *better* be a pouf, hugging my girlfriend like that!"
James, Lily, and Sirius laughed.
***
End Part Five.
***