Hogwarts Assignment 9 - Mythology - Task 8: Mares of Diomedes - Write about someone who can't talk. Alt: Write about a maneater.

Cooking Club - Cheese: Write fluff

Writing Club:

Character Appreciation - (setting) Hogwarts

Disney Challenge - Write about someone who feels like an outcast.

Shannon's Showcase - 10. Word: moon / Theme: overcoming difficulties

Count Your Buttons - Parchment

Lyric Alley - And so surreal

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

Emy's Emporium - Cloak of invisibility

Debate Club - WolfStar/Fluff - Colour: Amber

Geek Pride - Character participates in a competition

The Bet

WolfStar

Sirius makes a bet with James that he doesn't need his voice to get someone into his bed. It's not so easy, but during his week of silence, Sirius happens across Remus Lupin.

"I'll make a bet with you," James said, pulling a tipsy Sirius away from Alice and glaring at him.

"Relax, I'm not chatting her up. I know you had that dream about her the other night and want to shag her."

"Date," James corrected, trying to look at Alice. "Ignore him. He's out of his mind."

Alice rolled her eyes. "Come and talk to me when you're sober," she told James before walking away, leaving the pair alone.

"What's the bet?" Sirius asked eagerly.

"You're so certain that you can pull anyone anywhere, but that's because you can talk your way into people's beds. Your challenge is to pull someone without saying a single word."

"Easy as… well, nothing is as easy as that."

"And to make sure, I'm going to put a curse on you. It'll only allow you to talk to professors." He paused as Sirius opened his mouth. "No, you can't try and get McGonagall."

Sirius pouted and sighed. "Fine," he muttered.

...oOo...

The next morning Sirius woke up and couldn't utter a word. For a moment, he felt panic wash over him but James' challenge echoed in his mind and he let out a sigh.

The deal was that he had to get someone whilst not saying a word.

The day went worse than expected. The girls he spoke to that usually fluttered their eyelashes at him were expecting compliments and sweet words. They didn't hold much interest once they realised he wasn't going to give them the attention they wanted.

The second day, Sirius changed tactics, searching out guys he knew were good for a hookup.

And somehow he managed to fail.

Not wanting James to win, he headed to the one place that was made for quiet people. The library, though only the nerds hung out there. Maybe he would be able to pull someone quickly and beat James.

He found a full table and grabbed a random book from the nearby shelf to make himself look busy whilst he scoped out the group at the table.

Hufflepuffs. He had landed on a table full of dorks in yellow who wouldn't tell him how to get into the kitchen. This was a bust already because Hufflepuffs were quiet usually. That meant that they wouldn't talk and he wouldn't talk and it'd just be awkward and silent. At least Gryffindors like to hear the sound of their own voice and Ravenclaws like to prove they were smarter. The Slytherins would know within minutes what was going on and would boycott him and plan revenge.

He was about to stand up, when he noticed someone sitting on the other end of the table, away from the other puffs.

The guy was staring down at his work and Sirius took a moment to examine his features. Dorky. Cute. Shag-worthy. He straightened up - he could do this.

He began to slide down the table, when he felt fingers wind around his arm. He spun around, giving the guy a questioning look.

"I wouldn't bother. He doesn't talk to anyone."

Sirius glared at the guy before pulling his arm back. He continued up the table, meeting the gaze of the guy who had looked up for the altercation.

Sirius smiled and opened his book, getting a reluctant smile in return. Curious amber eyes watched him for a long moment before returning to the books and Sirius began to read, sneaking glances over his book.

The looks were returned and the Hufflepuff's cheeks reddened.

...oOo...

'Tonight my dorm? Sirius,' he wrote on a slip of paper. He slid it across the table, certain that this guy was totally into him.

'Sorry. Want to get dessert in the kitchen after dinner? I'm Remus,' came the reply on the same slip of paper.

Sirius considered it. It was the best offer he had gotten plus it meant he got to know the way into the kitchen.

'It's a date!' he wrote. He picked up his book, winked at Remus and headed away from the table.

He was going to win the bet by the end of the night.

...oOo...

Dinner was slow. Sirius was eager to get Remus to break his silence and scream Sirius' name, so once the food switched over, he looked over at Remus for the hundredth time, expecting him to stand and leave.

Remus reached out, taking a slice of chocolate cake and putting it onto his plate, so Sirius turned his attention back to James and Peter.

"Managed to pull yet?"

Sirius glared at James before sneaking a glance at Remus. He saw Remus putting a third piece of cake onto the same plate so turned his attention to the chocolate cake. He never really had a sweet tooth for chocolate and didn't know what the fuss was - he had never been allowed it growing up -but if Remus was taking three pieces, then it had to be nice.

"You never eat chocolate," Peter commented as Sirius took a small piece.

And after it was gone, he couldn't help but take a second piece, enjoying the flavour. Where had this cake been all of his life?

When he finished, he looked over towards the Hufflepuff table, only to see that Remus had already left.

He rushed from the room, not wanting to miss his chance.

….oOo...

Sirius wasn't sure why his fingers shook as he brushed the crumb from Remus' lip, bringing it to his lip and licking the crumb from it. Remus' eyes followed his movements. Not knowing how else to get Remus to follow, he reached out his hand, gently taking Remus'. He laced their fingers together.

It felt nice. As a rule, Sirius never did things like holding hands, but it was a means to an end. It's not like it meant much more than sex.

Remus smiled down at their joined hands. It wasn't the uncertain smile from the library. No, this smile was brighter than that. This smile lit up his whole face in a way that had Sirius captivated. Remus pulled him down the hallway, but all Sirius could focus on was how Remus' hand felt in his.

...oOo...

That night after dessert, he walked Remus to the end of the corridor. Remus let go of his hand and there was a moment of hesitation before Remus leaned in.

Sirius smirked. This was it. He was going to pull Remus and get this blasted hex off him. For the second it took for Remus to lean in, Sirius had considered all of the ways to do this. Soft and gentle with fingers winding in Remus' hair. Rough, spinning them around and pressing Remus up against the wall. Maybe just a rushed kiss and he could seduce Remus in a nearby cupboard.

Before he could make any sort of move, Remus' lips had pressed gently against his and Remus was gone. Sirius couldn't even call down the hall after him.

He smiled, watching Remus until he turned down a hallway.

Maybe Remus was more than a shag after all.

...oOo...

It was the last day of the Easter holidays and Sirius hadn't gotten more than a single kiss on his cheek. He had all but forgotten the bet now because time flew in Remus' company. They hadn't uttered a single word to each other, but had taken quiet walks together, sat in the library together studying, and even snuck away for extra dessert. Sirius quickly learnt not to leave before Remus had demolished every bit of chocolate on the Hufflepuff table and even snuck a bit of chocolate cake out just because he loved seeing the way Remus' face lit up.

"Who is it?" James pushed, following Sirius out of the hall on the last day of the holidays. "This was fun at first, now it's just sad, Sirius. You disappear daily trying to beat me in our bet and there's been no progress. You're not going to win and I think we both know it. So just give up so I can restore your voice."

Out of the corner of his eye, Sirius spotted Remus. He usually waited leaning against the wall behind the doors and James hadn't noticed him. His smile faded with each of James' words and he looked at Sirius, hurt.

Sirius began to shake his head. This was more than just a bet - surely Remus realised?

"At least this way you can get back to shagging your way through the castle."

Remus stormed past them, determined not to look at either of them and Sirius reached out, grabbing his arm. Remus pulled away, ignoring him and Sirius glared at James.

"Lupin? I mean, he's not really your type, is he?"

Sirius turned away from James and rushed after Remus whilst pulling his bag open and removing some parchment.

He cornered Remus just outside of the hallway Remus usually headed towards when going to his common room.

'The bet is over tonight,' he scribbled down.

'Your dorm or mine?'' Remus wrote in reply.

Sirius stared at the words for a long moment. 'What?'

'Well, it'd be a shame if you lost your bet. We're closer to my dorm - should we do this now?'

Sirius' gaze moved to Remus' face and he couldn't help but stare. Remus looked hurt, defeated. He could barely meet Sirius' gaze and Sirius hated that he had hurt Remus.

He scrunched up the parchment and left. This was more important than the bet.

...oOo...

Even though the spell was broken, Sirius didn't say a word all day. He hated being back in classes and unable to spend his day with Remus, but he had a plan.

He wasn't going to talk until he had won Remus over - and this time it wasn't a bet, it was him showing Remus that this was bigger than anything. Because he liked the silence between them. There was never any urge to fill it with unnecessary words or brag about his skills at Quidditch. Their silence was simple, just sitting together, enjoying each other's company and sharing smiles.

Unable to find Remus at dinner, Sirius headed back to the dorm and retrieved the map he had made with James and Peter.

He watched Remus leave the castle. He would head down and catch Remus upon his return.

He watched Remus head across the grounds. Fine. That gave him more time to get downstairs.

He watched Remus disappear off the map.

...oOo...

Sirius huddled outside under the cloak as he watched Remus return. It wasn't that dark out due to the season but it was clear that Madam Pomfrey and Remus were trying to stay hidden.

He watched as Remus climbed out from underneath the Whomping Willow, somehow causing the violent tree to freeze up. He recalled how someone in the upper years had mentioned that the tree was planted just before Sirius and his friends started Hogwarts.

Slowly he began to put the pieces together. Remus was clearly hurt, Remus didn't talk and was withdrawn from everyone. Remus left the castle and had to hide away.

He watched as the pair headed into the castle, considering what he had seen.

...oOo...

When Remus woke up in the hospital wing, he found that he wasn't alone. Sirius Black was curled up in the chair reading his Muggle superhero comic with fascination.

Remus stared at him blearily. He couldn't understand why Sirius was there. After all, it was just a bet. James Potter said it himself and Sirius had looked guilty and Remus just knew that it had to be true. After all, Sirius had a reputation around the school, but Remus had thought this was different. Sirius had never been known to study with someone, hold hands and take walks. He was known for using his charms to get someone into bed.

Why would Sirius ever want him? It was for the best.

Sirius' head turned, his eyes meeting Remus' and he smiled, his eyes lighting up. Remus wished it was real because the way Sirius looked at him made him feel special, as though he mattered.

Sirius slipped a piece of paper over to Remus.

'I wanted to talk to you last night so I watched you. It was a full moon. I remember seeing it in the sky. I saw you this morning leaving the tree.'

Remus stared at the words. Suddenly he couldn't breathe, and Sirius reached out and turned the parchment over to reveal more words.

'It doesn't make a difference to me though. I promise to keep your secret.'

Remus stared at Sirius. Sirius rose from the chair and walked around the bed, climbing in without an invite. Remus shifted over, giving him a bit of space, and was surprised when Sirius cuddled up against him, his head resting on Remus.

It wasn't long before Sirius was fast asleep, and Remus couldn't help but feel hopeful once more as he let out a wide yawn, allowing himself to drift off.

...oOo...

He woke up to Sirius' beautiful face watching his own.

"I love you," Sirius uttered softly. "I don't regret taking the bet because if I didn't, I may never have found you. Please give me another chance."

Remus' lips parted. He hadn't spoken much since the incident when he was five years old. He sometimes called out for his parents whilst having a nightmare, or a whisper of comfort when his mother was upset, but nothing else broke his silence because he never had anything that was important enough to express before.

"I love you too," he whispered.