Title: Best Bet
Author: Zully Quirke Rating: PG
Part: 3/5
Pairing: Sirius/Remus
Author's Notes: And at last, I crank out part three! I have the whole darn thing planned out now, just have to finish jotting it all down on paper now. Or virtual paper, I guess this is. And of course, had to include a little OTP of mine in this. I'm a sucker for James/Lily. Sorry this bit's a little dull; don't worry. Things will pick up in the last two bits. :)

Remus hadn't been able to think straight for the remainder of that day, or even going into the next one. Lily and James both seemed preoccupied (something to do with Snivellus and Lucius, he'd overheard) and Sirius was acting as if nothing had happened. It was business as usual for his best friend, complete with pranks and yowls of laughter and back-clapping.

The only hint he ever gave that he was acknowledging what'd happened at all was a small twinkle in his eye from across the room in Potions, a knowing smile while Remus watched him at Quidditch practice. It made Remus's cheeks flush up even though these could all very well be imagined.

Sirius liked him, and Remus had definitely enjoyed that kiss. It had taken him awhile to come to terms with that idea, but he found that as soon as he had he could quite easily imagine himself doing it again. And again. Amongst other things as well, the thought of which made Remus's cheeks light up like a Christmas tree.

As Quidditch practice ended, Remus climbed down the stands as he always did and headed out towards the locker room doors. He wasn't allowed in as he wasn't a member of the team, but he always waiting for Sirius before they walked back over to the library to finish up their class work.

There was something different about Sirius when he came out of the lockers today though, and it took Remus a good ten solid seconds to figure out that Sirius wasn't wearing a shirt. He had various small scratches along his chest, mostly obtained while in his "other" form. He wasn't bulky, but Sirius was definitely a boy who kept himself in shape.

Sirius raised a quizzical eyebrow. "My eyes are up here, you know," He said casually. "Although now I know how every girl I've ever gone out with feels."

Remus blinked and scowled, grabbing at a nearby towel and tossing it at him. The scowl was mostly for himself, he realized. Staring at Sirius like that, honestly. Like he'd never seen him shirtless before!

"Put your shirt on! We can't go to the library with you half naked, now can we?" Remus accused, carefully not looking anywhere below Sirius's chin.

"Actually I can't go to the library today, that's what I came out here to tell you," Sirius said apologetically. "They're keeping me after for extra practice. We play Slytherin tomorrow, you know. It's a big game."

Oh yeah. Remus had somehow managed to forget about the biggest game of the year at Hogwarts, two rival houses going head to head. Of course Sirius had to stay after today. He shuffled off towards the library alone, a plan storming about furiously in his head. He smiled slowly and picked up his pace a bit; yes, Remus knew exactly what he'd do. It was only a matter of time now.

Meanwhile, James was having to physically restrain Lily from jumping in and "fixing it" for the two of them.

"It's infuriating!" She bellowed, "Those two obviously have it for each other, why don't they just talk to each other and figure it out?"

"Actually," James said, pushing at his glasses a bit, "Sirius kind of already has. He's just waiting for Remus, right?"

Lily nodded her head and folded her arms over her chest. "Right. So all we have to do is lock the two of them in a room and not let them out until Remus admits he feels the same way."

James actually laughed at that, earning him a scowl and a sharp glare from his female counterpart. "Lily, it doesn't work like that! He has to figure it out by himself. When two people like each other, it--" He stopped, flushing a bit as he coughed. "Well. It just has to work itself out, you know?"

This time it was Lily's turn to flush. "I-- yeah, I guess. So we're just going to have to wait and see what happens?"

"Mmhmm," James mumbled as Lily shook her head and sauntered off towards the classroom, not entirely sure they were still talking about Sirius and Remus.