Moresome May - Dating show prompt

Writing Club - Showtime - Making a difficult choice

Sophie's Shelf - Write about someone pretending to be interested romantically in another person

Pranks and Pacts

Remus didn't know why he signed up to a dating show. Hell, it wasn't fitting for him to be there. Who was he kidding when he thought he had a chance to win.

His eyes moved around, focusing on each of the other contestants in turn. He had been introduced only minutes ago and with each name, his already low confidence lessened and lessened.

Lucius Malfoy

James Potter

Barty Crouch

Gilderoy Lockhart

Antonin Dolohov

5 men that were easily more handsome than him, leaving Remus with the feeling that he'd be first out of the house.

"Cameras are rolling, maybe try smiling," James said, taking a seat next to Remus and putting his legs up on the table in front of them. He leaned back on the sofa. "People will vote and that'll affect you."

"What chance do I have of winning?" Remus murmured softly.

"You could win," James murmured in reply. "Just wait and see how it goes. The show chooses different people with different personalities, so it really depends on what this main guy actually likes. You brought books and stuff - maybe he's into that."

"We'll see," Remus replied softly.

"So… Lockhart is busy with his mirror and I don't like the looks of Malfoy and Dolohov, so tell me about yourself?"

"You sure you like the look of me?" Remus joked.

James grinned. "Yeah, you look decent enough. I'm a very good judge of character after all and you… yeah. So…"

"Well, I'm a writer. Nothing big unfortunately. I work at a bookshop too because though I've written a couple of things, it's not enough to pay the bills unfortunately."

"What do you write?"

"I'm all about mythological creatures," Remus explained. "Though I love history too… so I throw some mythological creatures into a historical moment and write. Aimed at teenagers, they could actually learn history without realising it."

"Smart idea," James said.

"And you?"

"I'm a policeman," James said.

"So having a good sense about people is a good trait in your line of work."

"Very good. We have so many people who lie to us like it's nothing. I can tell if they're the sort to pull a gun or not."

"Gun?" Remus' eyes widened. "Be careful, guns…"

"Yeah. I've been shot at a couple times. One bullet grazed my shoulder but didn't hit me properly." James brought his hand up to pat his shoulder for a moment. "It hurt like hell though. That was a few weeks into the job too. My parents freaked out and tried to talk me into doing something safer. But now I just make sure I'm a little more wary around people."

"All people or people with guns?" Remus asked.

James chuckled. "A bit of both. I mean, I had a feeling about this guy, but he looked like he couldn't hurt anyone. Had this look about him like he wouldn't even know which way to hold a gun, so I brushed my feeling aside and he pulled the gun and shot at me. I learned to trust my feelings after that."

"A more rewarding job than working in a bookshop."

"See, you shouldn't compare yourself to me, Remus. You know what your problem is - confidence. You looked at a bunch of good looking blokes and decided before you even met the one we're competing to date that you weren't in with a chance. You're comparing our jobs. Don't compare us, we're completely different people and you were chosen because of your interview with Lily. She met with whoever it is, decided that we were all suitable to date him. You've already been narrowed down from probably thousands of people."

Remus smiled. "Shouldn't you be discouraging me so that you'll win quicker?"

"If I were one of the others, perhaps. They seem like the sort. But I think you're a nice bloke and I'm not going to make someone else feel like crap."

"Thanks," Remus said. He was ready to say more, but the door opened and Lily Evans walked in, smiling around at the contestants.

"I used to go to school with her," James whispered loudly. "Convinced myself I was in love with her. I used to follow her everywhere. She had an adorable nickname for me."

"What was it?" Remus whispered back.

"Toerag," James said, snickering. "That was until I snogged a bloke at a party and… well, let's just say I realised some things. I like birds, but I like blokes a hell of a lot more."

"Pay attention," Lily insisted. When the pair looked over once again, Lily smiled at them before looking around the room, her gaze darting over each of them in turn. "In a moment, you'll meet the man of all of your dreams, Sirius Black. It's just a quick meet and greet for the cameras. Be polite, smile. Don't take too much time. You'll get your chance."

She gestured for them all to line up against the wall as the show required, and Remus somehow found himself standing in between Lucius and Lockhart.

"Exciting isn't it," Lockhart offered. "A week until I win this competition and have my face all over the television. I was made for television."

On the other side of Lockhart, James snorted.

The doors slid open and Remus' eyes darted eagerly to it. He had watched the television show so many times and knew that he wouldn't be disappointed by the man that walked through it.

And he wasn't. The man who strode through was more beautiful than he could put into words.

...oOo...

Sirius was in heaven. Well, not heaven. A big house with some of the most attractive men he had ever met in his life. The show host, Lily, had really come through. He had admitted that he had a thing for the bookish type, and there was even a man in a cardigan

Though he had to give everyone a fair chance, he had already narrowed it down to two. One had a smile that intrigued him - he could tell that James would be a wonderful partner in crime with him, which was even more fitting since he had been told the man was a policeman, but how could James compete with Remus, the writer slash librarian who blushed when Remus looked at him.

Who blushed like that anymore? It was completely adorable. Perfect even. Sirius couldn't get the wicked smile of James' or the shy gaze of Remus' out of his head.

At least he had a week to make up his mind.

...oOo...

"Itching powder?" Remus murmured, not glancing up from his book.

"Yup. He let something slip about being married," James replied. "What did you do to his shampoo?"

"Hair removal cream. He's only here to become famous. Oh, and he's happy to 'shag' Sirius a couple of times first."

James snorted. "I think you and me are the only two in this to actually win Sirius' heart."

"Should I expect to find something wrong on my date later?" Remus checked.

James shook his head. "No. You vs me… we fight fair."

"And Dolohov…"

"Well, if he somehow wins, how about I take you to dinner when we get out of here?"

Remus grinned. "I'd like that."

...oOo...

"You know, you're both making this hard for me," Sirius grumbled, dropping down on the sofa. "Why do you have to both be so perfect?"

Remus and James both looked up from what they were doing. They had been having a quiet conversation whilst Remus looked at his book and James flicked through a magazine. They hadn't expected to see Sirius so close to the final. From what they had been told, Sirius would be taking the evening to think about his choice before deciding between the pair.

"Sorry?" James offered.

"I mean, everything about you both is perfect," Sirius continued. "I'm in this for actual dating. I signed up to really meet someone. Also, itching powder… Simple but well done."

"Well, me and James worked out that we were the only ones here for something real too. One of the guys is married, another just wants fame. We decided that we'd weed out the ones who didn't want something real."

"And you've left me with the two men I knew it would come down to," Sirius grumbled.

"It's a shame you can't date both of us," James sighed.

Silence followed the statement and Sirius sat there, eyes closing. He took a deep breath and let out a soft sigh. "I'll see you both later."

...oOo...

"Remember this is live," Lily said brightly, as Sirius walked into the room, stopping facing the two men. "So no swearing."

Sirius nodded, his gaze moving between the two men.

"Now, the public seem quite split between James and Remus. Both have been voted high enough to give them extra time with you over the last week, to have better food and options for your dates. Their current opinion is quite split - 48% to 52%. Do you want to know who is highest?"

Sirius shook his head.

"So, Sirius Black - who are you picking to take with you on an all expenses paid trip to Las Vegas along with twenty-five thousand pounds spending money?"

Sirius turned to the camera, offering it a smile. "Well, I don't want to disappoint the viewers. Today I'm going to choose both of them."

Lily stare at him. "What?"

"Yeah. I could choose one man of my dreams, or have both men of my dreams. There's enough of me to go around. That is… if you both are happy with that?"

"The ticket is for two people," Lily spluttered.

"Good thing we have enough spending money to book another ticket," Sirius pointed out. "So… James, Remus. Wanna fly to Vegas and get hitched?"

"Thought you'd never ask," James said, throwing an arm around Remus' shoulders. Sirius grabbed Remus' hand and the trio left the room, Lily staring after them in shock.

"There… there you have it," Lily finally said, trying to compose herself. "Of course we'll add an additional ticket. Of course the network approves all sexualities and lifestyles, and wish Sirius, Remus and James happiness together."

1696 words

Review please :)