A/N: I've kind of got loads to do, but I skive of work with such zeal that I actually become productive. I got a fanfiction update email today, and I thought I'd return the favour.
Special thanks to my first reviewers ever Bookish Brownie, All The Pretty Horses, and Ell25.
Taking J.K.'s dolls out for a spin, but they still have her name on the soles of their feet.
Remus Needs Some Chocolate Cake
Life seemed to be going so well for him. He had a comfy room in a house with his best friend and a nice new green jumper. There was always a pretty girl hanging around, and she would smile at him on occasion. And sometimes when she would smile he'd have nice daydreams about if she'd kiss him, and he'd smile back. Then she kissed him. She kissed him sweetly enough, that wasn't what drove it all down hill. It was the grief stricken look she didn't bother hiding before she fled that really did him in.
He fancied her quite a bit and had he not caught a glimpse of that look he would have took their kiss on the second floor landing as an invitation to ask her out for a drink. But alas not only had he seen the look of horror, he heard her proclamation to Sirius.
After he'd gotten in he went to the kitchen for a snack before he went up to his room for the afternoon to do a bit of reading. On his way past the parlor he couldn't help but hear Tonks proclaim her feeling about werewolves to the rooftops. It was a well known fact that Remus Lupin had an uncanny knack for remembering everything you wished you'd never said, and reciting it to you word for horrible word.
But no matter how hurtful what she said was he couldn't actually bring himself to be angry at her. He was well aware of what he was and how much it scared people. His father let him know when the accident happened that he would be different and that people wouldn't like him for it.
"Remus, you're not the same anymore," His father said to him solemnly. His hand imediately went to the fresh wound on his shoulder that the healer told him would scar. "No, not just the scar." He reprimanded sternly as if Remus didn't understand of his own accord, "You're not all human anymore. You're something else too, something people will be afraid of. When people find out they will be afraid, but you can't blame them. You may only work hard to control what you can and minimize the damage. You are not normal, so you cannot expect a normal life.
Remus wasn't sure what was being explained to him, or even what he was if not human. But as always he answered his father respectfully, "Yes, I understand."
A knock on the door shook Remus from his nostalgia. Remus sighed a bit hoping whoever it was would go away. He wasn't sure he was up for a chat. "S'me, Sirius," a disembodied voice from beyond the door called.
He stood and unlocked the door, but he didn't open it. After he had sat down and resumed eating his ice-cream he called out, "S'open."
Sirius stepped in and closed the door behind him. "Want some cake?" He asked offering up a large hunk of chocolate cake.
"I've got ice-cream," Remus answered displaying his dish of ice-cream.
Sirius cast and appraising glance over Remus before renewing his offer a bit more sympathetically, "Want some cake Moony?"
Remus sighed, "It's my second bowl."
Sirius looked on sympathetically for a moment before scooping about half the block of cake on top of Remus's ice-cream. He sat down across from his friend. Remus mushed his cake around a bit with his spoon before taking a large bite. Sirius nodded in encouragement before shoveling a bit of cake into his own mouth. They sat silently for a bit while Sirius steeled himself for the conversation he was about to begin.
"So, I can assume you only heard the part of that argument that would be terrible if taken out of context."
"Probably, but still I don't see how any context other than 'I'm about to make a statement I completely disagree with...' or 'My previous statement was completely biased' would make that any less upsetting." He answered smartly.
"Would you believe me if I told you one of those was precisely the context," Sirius attempted futilely.
Remus smiled a sad resigned little smile, "No, but don't worry about it. I don't suppose it would be right for me to think any less of her for being afraid of something scary. And she's right, she did refrain from using the phrase filthy half breed."
Sirius's face fell, whether or not Remus was making a joke, somehow being grateful for a person not using a phrase that shouldn't be said at all didn't seem fair.
"I've tried arguing with you, so I know it doesn't work. But for good measure I'd like to say that while you are completely off it you aren't scary in the slightest measure."
"Yeah, well," Was all Remus could come up with, because like Sirius he knew that these arguments never went anywhere.
They sat in the comfortable silence that can only exist between great friends for a few moments, before Sirius broke it again. "I know you won't believe me at all, but whatever has gone on with my dearest little cousin isn't your fault, and it has nothing to do with you being a werewolf. Or even her being afraid of werewolves."
Remus smiled, "S'no matter." he said trying to appear nonchalant, but Sirius could see him for what he was-completely disbelieving.
"Oh, don't be so narcissistic." Sirius accused. It was a little trick he learned to snap Remus out of blaming himself. "I'm telling you the truth"
Remus shrugged in a way that was more giving up than accepting as he cast his empty bowl aside with Sirius's plate. Sirius frowned, "I'll be right back," he said and left abruptly. Remus let himself be properly sad for a moment-sad for himself, for Sirius, for the world in general- before he flopped into bed hoping his friend would forget about him. And for all his stoicism and rationality, Remus Lupin was sad that the girl he liked didn't return his affections. He pulled the covers up over his head, and sighed wishing it wasn't the middle of the afternoon so he could fall asleep or at least actually go somewhere and hide.
Sirius returned too quickly for Remus's liking with more cake and two glasses of chocolate milk. He tore the covers back leaving Remus out in the cold. "Jerk," He muttered, but it was muffled by his pillow. He took a moment to adopt some semblance of a cheerful countenance before sitting up.
Sirius offered Remus a spoon and a glass of milk. "Thanks," Remus muttered already lifting the fork to his mouth. They sat eating and drinking for a bit before Remus proclaimed, "I'm full." Sirius put the plate on the night table and turned to Remus with and earnest look on his face, "I need your help."
Remus rolled his eyes, "I will not help you spike Minerva's drink at dinner Sirius!"
"Pfft!" Sirius guffawed and broke into a laugh. Once he regained his composure he spoke again, "As hilarious and entertaining as that sounds, it is completely not what I had in mind. I actually need your help with something serious."
Remus cocked his head to the side, and looked at Sirius curiously. It was not often that he wanted help with something other than a prank or that he wasn't up for playing tricks on Minerva, "Well, you remember my pretty cousin right? The one you like and who says mean things she doesn't mean?"
Remus rolled his eyes, "Yes, I think I remember that on. She's the one that changes colors right?"
"Yes, that one! Well she seems to have gona alittle bit off."
Remus looked unconvinced, "Sirius you don't know that. You knew her as a child, but you missed quite a bit of her growing up. She could've changed."
Sirius wouldn't relent at logic, "But she's been so open and cheerful at meetings and things. Then when I talked to her this morning she seemed lonely and drawn. And I don't believe it's normal to be horrified of dating? Not of you silly!" He said when he caught sight of the face Remus had pulled, "Well I suppose of you, but she isn't specifically afraid of werewolves. She seems to be afraid all dating, werewolf or otherwise. It's not rational."
Remus looked surprised and vaguely confused for a moment, "I'm not sure why you would ask me for this sort of advice," He sighed.
"I figured since you were such a noble self sacrificing person that you'd put aside the little misunderstanding."
"Hmpf" Remus huffed before continuing with his advice giving as if uninterrupted, "I suppose if she's that lonely you could try spending some time with her instead of moping around the house like a put out child," Sirius pulled a face but Remus ignored him, "And you know that being in The Order doesn't do much for anyones social life. You pretty much have to befriend other members or be alone, and seeing as the Weasley boys are off in Romania or marrying French girls, Dumbledore is crazy, Minerva is scary, and Snape is just unpleasant that leaves you."
"Don't forget Mundungus and Mad-Eye," Sirius reminded.
Remus snickered, "Do you fancy spending the day with Mundungus or Mad-Eye?"
Sirius huffed, "Well what about the other bit?"
"Well I can't assume to know how to fix anyone's fears, but you could try finding out why she's so afraid, if you can manage to be just a little bit discreet about your intention she might talk to you.
Sirius shook his head a little bit disbelievingly, "This is why I come to you for advice," He said gesturing at the space between them, "Your so goddamn brilliant and sympathetic, even to people are more than a little undeserving at the moment."
"She is not undeserving. And if you'd really like to cheer her up somehow I doubt that making her feel terrible about a statement that I have no right to be upset about is the way to go." Remus said sternly.
"Oh," Sirius said, and everything he planned to say to her flew out the window.
End Note- Yes, marauders eat their feelings. And if you don't believe my try standing between Sirius and the treacle pudding after he's had a run in with Snape.
What will Sirius do about his dearest cousin? Will Remus have heartburn? Why is Tonks so sad? For answers to these questions and more stay tuned for the next episode!