A/N: Hey, y'all! Yet another Wolfstar that I'd like to finish one day. This is a Remus never went to Hogwarts!au, so be aware of that. ;)
Word Count: 510
Enjoy!
"So… I may have accidentally invited a werewolf to live with us."
James froze when he heard Sirius' words, his hands still hovering over one of the pots he was trying to wash. "Sorry, what?"
"You heard me." Sirius walked over to James, only slightly sheepish. In fact, if James didn't know better, he'd say his friend was excited. "He can share my room, of course. And he works, too, so he can pull his own weight."
James blinked, trying to banish the image of a wolf in a lab coat from his mind. As much as he tried, sometimes the wizarding world's most harmful stereotypes were still at the front of his mind; it filled James with the deepest shame to know that about himself, and he was doing everything in his power to fix that. Still, werewolves were different from Muggleborns.
His hazel eyes squinted with his unease, and he adjusted his glasses on his face as he regarded Sirius—his friend wouldn't just invite someone dangerous into their home. "And… who is this person?"
"Remus Lupin," Sirius replied promptly. "I know what you're thinking James, but trust me… he's a good person. He wears really big jumpers, likes to read, makes the best tea… He works in a bookstore, for Merlin's sake. He isn't dangerous at all, save one night a month."
James lifted a brow. He had a sneaking suspicion that Sirius was holding something back. "You know quite a bit about him. Something you're not telling me?"
"...He has good taste in music?"
"Sirius."
"Fine! I may or may not have been trying to ask him on a date when his living situation came up—don't ask me how, I still haven't figured it out—and I just… he's being discriminated against, James." Sirius' grey eyes pleaded with him. "His rent is higher than it should be, and he never shows it, but I know he's worried." Sirius ran a hand through his hair. When he next spoke, his voice was rough. "He needs help."
Well, then. James never could say no to someone in need, and if there was one thing he hated, it was discrimination.
And he could tell how much this Remus person meant to his friend.
"I never said we couldn't help him, mate." James sighed. "Just take this slow, okay? And maybe, you know, lead with he's a nice, dorky bloke before you drop the werewolf thing."
Sirius scoffed. "Not every werewolf is Fenrir Greyback," he muttered, but he smiled at James all the same… even if it was slightly strained.
"I know," James replied guiltily. "I'm… I'm working on it. Maybe let him know I'm working on it."
A small yet genuine smile reached Sirius' lips then. "I knew you'd be good about it," he murmured. "Trying is half the battle, you know. Remus has said that more times than I can count."
Embarrassed and not entirely sure he deserved any praise, James threw an arm around his friend's shoulders. "Sure. Now, why don't you tell me exactly how you know Remus."