Ch.3 Cheerful Poisoning:
Sixteen-year-old Remus Lupin was hiding under many quilts and blankets in his four-poster bed, that Valentine's afternoon. He would have called it sleeping, but that was a lie. He had been trying to get extra sleep all day (the full moon was tomorrow), however it was all for naught. The bright sunlight was prying into his eyelids. He finally shook his golden hair, and sat up.
He was really hiding because his best friend, Sirius Black, had invited him for afternoon tea. Well, actually, he had invited all of the marauders… James was busy 'courting' Lily and Peter was busy 'courting' the giant chocolate heart in the Great Hall.
Remus was hiding because he did want other people to be talking behind his back. Sirius and Remus… having tea… all alone… on Valentine's Day… he thought it looked very suspicious to someone walking by. He did not want to cause any suspicion. Especially if he didn't know himself if they were right or not.
He loved Sirius. Yes, he knew that was true. He had always loved and cared for him as a friend. Yes, as a friend. Not as a lover. Remus was a very smart boy, and he was mature enough to know the difference. He felt a strong, honest compassion towards the other boy, and that was more powerful that anything he had felt before. Why bring sex into a truly loving relationship? He didn't need to.
But a few instances made him worry… like seeing Sirius coming out of the bathroom without a shirt on and leaving him hotheaded… like having his hand touched by Sirius' when they reached for the same glass and sending shivers up and down his spine… like staring into his dark eyes until James would cough loudly and brought him back to reality…
But, he wasn't gay. He knew it. Or rather he thought he did…
At that exact second, whilst Remus was deep in thought, young Sirius Black bounded into the room, eyes wide, tongue hanging out of his mouth. "REEEEEMUS!" He bellowed happily. Quickly he caught sight of him, underneath the many covers, and leaped onto the bed with him. Remus' heart leaped to his throat.
"Remus, old buddy, old pal, old friend…" He began, knees on Remus' feet.
"Sirius," He groaned. He covered himself with the blankets.
"Hey," Sirius poked him hard in the ribs, "Whatcha doin' sleeping on a beautiful spring day like this?" Remus groaned, "are we going out or not?"
A muffled noise came out from under the mound of blankets.
"What?"
"I said I don't wanna, today."
"Oh," Sirius' face fell, "well, do you want to just go down to the Great Hall, have lunch? Then, maybe, we can go out to the lake… and…"
The mound was silent.
Sirius curled up against him, laying his head on his shoulder. "Or, we could just be boring and sleep the rest of the day…"
Remus shuddered violently, leapt off the bed, and ran out of the room. "No, that's ok! We can eat! Let's go!"
Sirius sighed, grinned half-heartedly at the empty bed, and slowly followed him out of the room.
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Severus was hiding out in a bush in front of Madam Puddifoot's teashop in Hogsmead; he had been tipped off that that was where Sirius and Remus would be that afternoon. He grinned to himself again, vile clutched in his fist. He would disguise himself as a waiter and pour it in Lupin's drink. He had made that potion special; it would only begin the mayhem after one hour's time. Within the hour, he smirked, they'll be back at the great hall, so that everyone will see…
I am so sublimely good, he let out a maniac laugh that ended up being a very juicy cough. He inched around so that his arse was no longer in the dirt. He looked at his watch and began to get anxious. They were supposed to be here a half an hour ago.
"Hey Padfoot! Padfoot!"
Snape heard the familiar voice and sunk further into the bush.
"Padfoot! Wait up!" said a very hoarse Remus, who was panting at a very fast Sirius. He looked up, saw the shop, and his eyes widened with horror. "You didn't tell me we were going here!"
"What's wrong?" Sirius asked, nonchalantly strolling into the shop.
Remus stuttered, in terror, "Wait… Sirius… me and you… they'll think… date… Sirius!"
But Sirius wasn't listening; he had already gone into the shop and was talking merrily to the owner. Remus gulped, sense of foreboding rising with each step, as a very happy looking slytherin followed him.
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Remus stared at his tea. It had a funny pinkish color to it… perhaps for some holiday cheer. He refused to look up to see several couples snogging at their tables, or to see the red hearts that was covering everything, or to see a very, very attractive looking Sirius who was staring at him with puppy-dog eyes.
"Why aren't you drinking your tea?" asked Sirius, who was wearing a pained expression on his face.
Remus lifted the cup and sipped at it, gingerly, not wanting to make Sirius upset.
A few moments went by with no noise except the sipping of their tea. Remus couldn't take it… He finally asked the question that had been bothering him all day. "Why did you invite me hear, Sirius?"
His face went white as chalk. He mouthed something, and then shut it. And the he tried again, and them shut it. Apparently, he was having much trouble forming the words. "Well… actually… Remus…" He cleared his throat, loudly. "I've been meaning to tell you… you…"
Remus felt his face forming a smile, "Tell me what, Sirius?"
"Well, that…" he coughed louder this time, "that… I think the next full moon will be really fun!" He said very quickly.
"Oh," his face fell. What had I been expecting?
They drank the rest of their tea talking about the next full moon and how James would never get Lily to go out with him…
"Ready to leave Mr. Moony?" Sirius asked, holding the door like a gentlemen.
"To the Great Hall, Mr. Padfoot!" Remus grinned as he felt his stomach rumble.
A/N: DOOM! Haha… the next chapter's the good part… but I'll give chocolate frogs to whoever reviews now!