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~Remus' POV, First Hogsmeade Weekend of the year, 6th September~

I struggle through the streets of Hogsmeade carrying three shopping bags (my mind is too preoccupied with thoughts of a certain tall, lean boy with inky blue/black hair and violet eyes to even consider how to put a lightening charm on my heavy load). The load in question contains all the items on my neatly written shopping list:

Black eyeliner

Brown eyeliner

One set of emerald green robes

Matching glittery clasp for above robes

Dr. Good-hair's original magic formula hair colour enhancer in shade 47 ('Amber Flame')

Helga Henderson's extra-strong surgical spirit

A huge pot of glitter

            I'm smiling as I walk. It had been surprisingly easy to go shopping on my own in Hogsmeade. James and Peter were busy downing butterbeers and flirting with the barmaid in the Three Broomsticks, and Sirius- Sirius had chosen not to go to Hogsmeade at all. The last I saw of him he was acting very strangely- he was doing his Potion's homework. Weird.

            I stop outside a small jewellery shop just off the Hogsmeade Main Street and glance in the window. Something catches my eye. It's an earring. I lean in closer and press my nose against the cold glass. The earring is small and silver with a very small star hanging from it. Whenever I see a star I'm reminded of Sirius, and I can't help thinking that this particular earring would look perfect hanging from my ear!

            "For you, it is seven galleons," says a soft voice in my ear. I spin round to see the owner of the shop, a plump young woman smiling at me.

"You startled me!" I reply but already I'm rooting around in my pockets to see if I can afford the earring. "I can give you six galleons and two sickles," I say at last and give the shopkeeper an appealing smile.

The woman laughs and retreats into the shop. A moment later she reappears with a parcel wrapped in shiny blue paper. She looks at me for a moment, then hands me the parcel and heads back into the shop. "You forgot your money!" I yell after her. Silence, and then-

"Look on it as a present from Sirius Black!" calls the soft voice from within the shop.

~Remus Lupin's Journal, 6th September~

Today is certainly a red-letter day! Sirius has done his Potions homework early for the first time in his life! And I have dyed my hair for the first time in my life! It's red and vibrant and gleaming. And, God, I sound vain!

However, I'm a little concerned about Sirius. We've only been back at Hogwarts a week but already he's acting strange. Firstly, on Monday he said I was an attractive creature!" I know he was joking but I still can't help wondering if the fifth year Sirius would have dared say that in front of everybody. Then he starts doing his homework on time. And- this is the really weird part- yesterday I caught Sirius listening to music and when I asked him what it was he was listening to, he replied: "Beethoven, 9th symphony. Sirius was listening to Beethoven!  Since when has Sirius listened to classical music? And what happened to his whole rock obsession?

I'm really puzzled. For one moment when Sirius told me he was listening to Beethoven, I thought that maybe he was doing it to please me. Of course, he could never love me like I love him, but maybe he was flirting with me in some way, or perhaps-

NO! I mustn't kid myself. I love Sirius with all my heart and all he sees me as is a friend. And anyway, he's not gay (at least I don't think he's gay: he does were eye makeup and purple dress robes though… Actually, maybe Sirius does like men! He hasn't flirted with a single girl this year. Okay, I reckon that Sirius could be gay- almost certainly.) I must remain hopeful. I have to put on my new robes, go downstairs (I'm lying on my bed in our dorm and Sirius is in the common room) and ask Sirius to pierce my ear. Uh-Oh. I hope it doesn't hurt… too much…

~Downstairs~

"Padfoot, are you busy?" I ask tentatively, as I approach the brightly robed figure sitting reading an essay in his own handwriting and drinking tea. DRINKING TEA? When did Sirius start drinking tea?

He nods but doesn't bother looking up. "What is it I can help you with?"

I sit down on the arm of his armchair. I'm trembling slightly from being in such close contact with the object of my affections. Sirius smells just like I'd imagine he's taste (I hope he can't read minds or he'd be disgusted) sort of warm and spicy. Unconsciously I'm breathing in his scent and leaning slightly closer towards him.

Finally, he looks up from his essay and fixes his gaze on me. "What was it you wan-". His eyes take in my new hair colour. I await his verdict nervously. "I love your hair," he eventually says in a slightly breathless tone. I should be happy about this but I only feel a brief flood of bitterness. 'Shame you don't love me as well, Sirius,' I can't help thinking. Then I find myself looking into his eyes and all bitterness is replaced with pure unconditional love for the young man before me.

I try to remember what I came for. "Does someone in your family own a jewellery shop in Hogsmeade?" I ask.

Sirius nods. "My half-cousin, Carmen bought the shop this summer. She's about the only decent relative I have. How come you want to know?"

I breathe deeply and nerve myself. Then I hold out the tiny earring that I bought earlier. "I want you to pierce my ear, Sirius."