Author's notes: I am very addicted to writing this series. It's very easy and very fun! You guys seem to like it, too. I try to present Remus in these stories with as little fanon as possible. My Remus is not completely bookish, he is not a prude, he is not a doormat for his friends, and he is not a crybaby. With this series I am not just trying to make myself write again, but I am trying to become known for more than just Harry/Draco. Now, enjoy part five!
And now, Sakai Michiba presents:
Ira Dulcis
Part Five of the Smitten series
James Potter was not speaking to Remus Lupin. Remus had stolen his kiss from Lily, had been romantic and charming and dashing (at least, in his recollection) and stolen her from him knowing full well how he felt about Lily. He wanted to go up to the dormitory and strangle him in his sleep, but Sirius had said that he would deal with it, and James believed him. Sirius was his best mate; Sirius would stand by him during this.
Sirius had had quite enough of this fight. For six days, he had been lunging between a fight-hungry James and a pissy Remus, knowing that the longer this went on, the more likely it would be that they would really hurt one another. There was only so much that Remus was going to take of James badmouthing him, and every day was getting worse.
James had really hurt Remus's feelings earlier in the day, yelling at him that he hoped he killed himself on the next full moon, or worse, that he would kill someone else, because then he would be locked away in Azkaban and no one would ever have to see him again. Remus had hexed him, making him sprout eyes all over his face, before he retreated to the bedroom and sealed himself inside his four poster.
Sirius was standing in the room next to Remus's bed, sighing. "Moony," he said quietly, and when he got no reply, he knocked on the bedpost. "Moony, can I come in?"
There was a moment before Remus opened the curtains just a little, looking up at Sirius with a stone-set face. "What do you want?" he asked. His voice was very tired, and Sirius was aware at that moment how very old Remus was inside. Slowly, Sirius, pulled the curtain to the side and crawled into the bed with the other, pulling the curtains closed and sitting in front of him, legs crossed.
"James is just mad, Remus," he said quietly, and he leaned back against one of the posts. "You know how he gets about Lils. He's just—"
"I didn't even kiss her, Sirius!" Remus snapped, and he slapped his hand against the cover of the book he had been reading. "She kissed me! I didn't even want to kiss her! I don't fancy Lily and I wish she'd never kissed me because it was my first and I didn't want it to be with her!" He was getting upset the more he spoke, his voice rising in pitch and becoming panicked. "Why did she even—"
Sirius reached over and touched Remus's lips with his fingertips, shushing him. "Shut up; I know. You don't have to explain anything…to…me." His eyes widened as Remus's lips arched against his fingers, full and soft, and he brought his hand back quickly. "I um…think you should go punch James in the face and break his nose or something because he really shouldn't have said what he did and…" He cut himself off then, watching Remus, who was blushing very lightly and refusing to meet his gaze. "Remus?"
He did not get an answer, just a little nod, and Sirius rested his hand on his shoulder for a moment. "Moony, c'mere," he said softly, finding it hard to swallow, and when Remus gave him a fearful look, he took control and seized him, pulling him closer and wrapping him in a forceful hug.
"Sirius, you're being such a pouf," Remus murmured into the other's shoulder, his voice muffled by robes, but he did not pull away. He really did not think Sirius was being a pouf at all. He liked this, hugging him there in the dark, and he held handfuls of Sirius's clothing as he rested his cheek against his warm neck. "I hate him, Sirius."
Sirius's eyes widened, but he nodded and slipped his fingers into the other's hair. He felt Remus relax against him, and he scratched his scalp rhythmically. "He hates you, too," he laughed softly. "But it isn't your fault. Um…If you didn't want Lils to be your first kiss, then who?" He was embarrassed to ask it, and Remus stiffened in his arms.
"Oh. Um, no one I guess. Figured I'd be celibate all my life, you know," he said, pulling away a little and looking at Sirius's shoulder. "I never thought about it."
"Liar," Sirius whispered, and when Remus gave him a startled, uncovered look, Sirius leaned over and kissed his cheek in the dark. He felt Remus lean into the gesture a little and hum very softly, and when Sirius pulled back, the other fell over just a little and gave a horrified squeak.
Scrambling backward, Remus was tomato-red and stammering. "S-Sirius, I…" He yelped as he fell off the side of the bed, and when Sirius, who was barking laughter, looked over at him, he scrambled out of the dormitory, horrified. Sirius sighed and leaned back on the bed for a moment before he realized that Remus was running right into the snakepit. He leapt up and chased after, knowing that James waited at the bottom of the steps.
Notes: Stay tuned! – Sakai Michiba
