Chapter eleven: the missing jumper

It was now Wednesday and there was only three days till the rest of Hogwarts arrived. Lily had already come back from her visit home. She had told Remus that Petunia had been worse than ever and she just had to get out of their before she hexed her into next week. The group was crowded in the common room not really talking.

"I'm bored," Sirius moaned and the others just groaned their agreement.

"Ooooh let's have a snowball fight." Peter offered, and the others readily agreed. They had all been suffering form cabin-fever and needed a break.

"I'm just going to go get my jumper." Remus said heading off toward the boys' dorm. "I'll meet you lot out there."

Once in his room, Remus opened his trunk in search of his jumper. He reached all the way to the bottom where he usually kept it but; no jumper. Instead there was a piece of parchment on the bottom of his trunk. He pulled it out and read it.

Dear Remus,

Have stolen your precious jumper.

If you do not comply with demands, you shall never see it again.

Meet me in the 7th corridor at precisely 8 p.m. tonight.

Be prepared to give something in return for the captive (your jumper).

The bad guy

Remus stared at the note in disbelief. Though he didn't recognize the handwriting but it was obviously Sirius's work. He could smell him all over the parchment.

What do I do? He wondered. Should I play along or demand the return of my jumper right away.

He didn't know what to do. But whatever he was going to do could wait he had a more pressing matter at the moment. What was he going to wear? He sat on his bed in defeat. In doing so red material on Sirius's bed caught his attention.

He got up and picked it up. It was Sirius's jumper. The one James had given him.

To his surprise it fit him perfectly. He took a deep breath. Though the fabric was new it already smelt like Sirius. He did indeed enjoy wearing Sirius's jumper and had a very viable reason as to why. He was still highly annoyed that Sirius had stolen his and he planned to let him know he didn't appreciate his things being taken. But for now this would do.

He then left and headed out to the grounds to join his friends.

When Remus joined the others outside a game was already under way. It was Lily and James verses Peter and Padfoot, Sirius was in his Animagus form. When they caught sight of Remus both sides begged and pleaded that he join their cause. Remus made a good show of thinking it over but he naturally joined Peter's side.

Not only did Peter need all the help he could get but also seeing as Sirius was a dog at the moment it was basically a game of two on one, ok maybe two on one and a half. The foursome played their snow war well into the late afternoon, while Sirius barked and tackled members on both teams, (none more then Remus of course).

It was almost supper time before they packed it in. Sirius bounded out ahead of them and Remus soon lost sight of him. They all decided that a change in clothes was in order before it was time to eat.

After they were all in warm clothes they went to the Great Hall and sat at the single table in the center of the room. Remus looked around and saw that Sirius had not joined them. He had wanted to get him alone, and in human form, and ask for his jumper.

He barely ate much at dinner. He was a little antsy about meeting Sirius. He had so many questions.

Why does he want to meet me? Why did he do it? What do I have to do to get my jumper back?

Come seven thirty, Remus's mood had not improved. He was like a carbonated drink that's been shaken up. He didn't know if he was nervous, angry or excited. He tried not to think about it but it worked as well as 'not think about Sirius' always worked, which was not at all. So for now he just glared at the text book in front of him like it was its fault that Remus was so confused and missing his jumper. He was once again wearing Sirius's jumper because…well it was friggin' cold in the castle in January.

"Hey mate, what cha' doin here?" James said coming into the Common Room, Lily on his arm. She gave Remus a sweet smile but he just looked away. He wasn't in the mood.

"What does it look like?" Remus bit out a little harsher than he meant to out of nervousness. James was taken back by Remus's tone. Lily was down right shocked. Remus was shocking her more and more these days.

Must be the angst of unrequited love she had told herself and she had pitied him. But now his attitude was really starting to bother her.

"Remus J. Lupin," She snarled at him. "I have had it with your brooding" Remus looked up his mouth open in bewilderment. "I want you to leave this room and don't come back until you have removed the broomstick from you arse!" Remus didn't even hesitate. Lily's tone said she was absolutely serious and he didn't want to tangle with her.

Out in the hall Remus leaned against the wall. He looked at his watch. It told him that it was now twenty till eight.

What am I going to do now? He wondered as he began to wander around the school. He had plenty of time till curfew but with nothing to do. Than he remembered about the meeting, Lily and James's arrival had been a nice distraction for him.

Well, he remembered now and his curiosity, excitement and overall need for his jumper won over.

Remus made the trek up to the 7th corridor slowly, thinking about what he was going to say to Sirius. Remus liked to think about situations ahead of time. What he would say and do and the like. It also proved a useful tool more often then not but what poor Remus didn't know was that this time nothing would prepare him for what was going to happen.

He rounded the corner and was standing in a deserted corridor. He looked around and strained to see in the shadows wondering if perhaps Sirius had decided not to come.

"Red is your color," Sirius said lightly as he stepped out of the shadows and into view. Remus looked at him not really knowing what to say. The two stared at each other for a moment before Remus broke the silence.

"Where's my jumper Sirius?" He asked his voice had a hard edge to it. Remus cringed, his anxiety once again causing him to snap at a friend. Sirius seemed a little fazed by Remus's harsh tone.

"Um… I got it back in the dorm…I uh …" he dropped off not knowing what else to say. Remus's temper spiked at this. He was upset that Sirius was acting so casual when he was so confused, upset that his jumper was never very far and upset that an explanation wasn't even offered.

"Dammit Sirius!" he finally exploded. "Why did you take it? Was it one of your pranks? Should I be expecting some sort of liquid-filled balloon to cover me? What? What's going on?"

Sirius's eyes widened at Remus's outburst. He began to fidget.

"Well…uh…y-you see the thing of it is…tha-well…" he dropped off not really sure how to say what he wanted to say. Remus was losing his patience.

"Spit it out, Black" he said but in a kinder tone than he had used before. Sirius took a deep breath.

"I wanted your attention," He said looking a little embarrassed. Remus gave a bitter snort.

"You have everyone's attention."

"Not yours," Sirius said looking like a puppy that's been kicked too many times. Remus was shocked at this.

"Oh come on Sirius! You have my attention all the time, you have everyone's, everyone loves you," he said rolling his eyes. Great! Another stunt by Sirius to get attention, like that never gets old. He thought to himself.

"No I don't Remus!" he said hurt shining in his eyes," your always reading some book or something. I mean you never watch me play Quidditch, never listen to me; all you ever do is read. It's always you and those stupid books of yours! All the time Remus! It's…like you're…I dunno having an affair with them or something." Sirius said heatedly.

Remus just stared at him.

He can't be serious, well actually yes he is. He smiled ruefully at the old pun.

"Let me get this straight." Remus began still staring. "You're saying I am cheating on you with my books so you stole my jumper to…what? Tell me about it?" Remus asked wondering if Sirius knew how absurd this all sounded.

"Well, no, yes, no…I dunno!" Sirius said exasperated.

"Well what do you know?" Remus asked fighting to stay calm and losing. Sirius thought about that for a minute. Then he began to speak slowly.

"I know you love chocolate, any kind of chocolate but after the full moon you favor milk and you like dark before and on special occasions will you indulge in white.

I know your eyes turn gold when you get excited about something, especially a new book. I know your hair had a hint of red in it when the sun hits it just right.

I know you bite your lip when you're really concentrating, and you tap your quill when you're impatient with us when we're studying together.

I know your eyes glaze over when Quidditch is brought up though you feign interest just to appease us. I know that you are afraid of heights.

I know you run your hand through your hair when you're nervous and over your face when you're embarrassed

I know that you have four smiles. One when your excited about something, one when your being polite, one when something is laugh out loud funny and one for when you look at your friends." (A/n: shamelessly lifted off of 'winning a date with tad Hamilton' but come on what a sweet line)

Sirius finished his tirade and gave Remus a watery smile. "And I know that I love you," he added.

Remus looked at him stunned. He was, for once, speechless. Sirius saw this and advanced on him. Before either of them knew what was happening their lips met.

It was a soft, shy and quick kiss. Just a graze of their lips really but it sent waves of feeling through the two so monumental that it is unlikely such power would ever be known to the world.

Remus was shaking as he pulled back. Sirius Black had just kissed him! He looked up at Sirius who also looked stunned but also insanely happy. Remus shook his head.

No, no he couldn't do this, allow this, it was right, it was…no it was a mistake. Remus shook his head again. Sirius's dark eyes filled with concern.

"Remus? Are you ok?" He asked. Remus just kept shaking his head and backing away. When he finally found his voice he said what he had just thought.

"No, no. We can't. I can't. I'm sorry." His eyes began to water and he was still shaking his head. He then turned around and fled.