10Things I Hate About You

(Remus/Sirius)

By Marie Strawberry Ocean

Remus shaved himself, as Sirius entered the Boys' Bathroom.

Feeling awkward, as Sirius got into the shower, Remus said, "Could you possibly uh...have your shower later?"

"Right, okay," Sirius said, covering his towel over his waist and shutting the bathroom door.

God, Remus felt so embarrassed recently, when talking to Sirius. Was it his hair? Or his twinkling eyes?

He had to tell James and Peter.

xxx-xxx-xxx

"Moony have you been paying attention to me for the past twenty minutes?" Remus jumped, as James glared at him.

Remus mumbled, "Yes."

"What have I been talking about?"

"Uhh...how Lily's rejected you again?"

"She didn't reject me, it was more-"

Peter piped up, giggling, "It was more that she screamed in his face and kicked him in his bits."

"Ahh, I see. Listen, I've got something to tell you."

Peter giggled once more, "Oh goody-goody! Another Marauders' meeting! Let's get Padfoot!"

Remus said hurriedly, "No, don't Peter."

"There's something strange about you today Moony," James narrowed his eyes at Remus, suspriciously.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"No," Remus squeaked, which was a great impression of Peter when he was wetting himself.

"What is it?" Peter patted Remus continuously on the shoulder.

"Have you become obsessed with Snivellus? Traitor!" James covered his mouth, pretending to be shocked.

"What-? No!"

"You're joining my mini club?" Peter grinned.

"Uh, no Peter, sorry, I'm not going to be able to join your 'From Fat to Thin' club. But, I can see...-cough- that you're progressing with the diet."

Peter blushed and rubbed his belly. "Gee, thanks Moony."

"What's the problem then, Moony?"

"Well...it's just..."

"Yes; please hurry up. I've got a box of chocolates to give Lily. It is Valentine's Day tomorrow."

"Valentine's Day," Remus mouthed the words. "Oh god, I forgot!"

"Why Remus? Are you giving anyone anything special?" Peter squeaked.

"Nah."

"Oh. What about Charli Burns?"

"Hell no!" Remus said, horrified. "She hex's people for just speaking to her."

"Are you fucking serious?" James asked.

"Uh...that's an awkward question James, but I'd actually love to."

"What?"

"Never mind."

James grimaced. "I saw a lot of letters on your bedside table, mostly from guys."

Remus choked. "Guys...as in male guys?"

"No, Remus, female guys is the one," James said sarcastically. "Didn't you know they were there?"

"No, I was in the bathroom."

"Yeah, and for quite a long time too," Peter chuckled.

"What?"

"Oh, nothing," James grinned at Peter, as Remus eyed the two with great suspicion.

"The thing is...don't get mad or anything...but I've recently found out I'm gay. Don't get mad," Remus said, a tad too worriedly.

James shrugged. "I'm not mad-." And then, he took in what Remus had just said. "What? DON'T GET MAD? Remus, old chap, what has got into your were-wolfy mind? Is it your time of the bloody month or something?"

Remus' voice became low. "Shut up, Prongs, I don't want the whole student body knowing my secret."

"Yes, your furry secret."

"Where is Sirius?" Peter looked around.

"No idea," James said, looking terribly bored by Peter's answer. "Remus, is it William Zabini? Your lover I mean."

"Ew-no."

"Torin Abott?"

"No."

"Izzy Williams?"

"That's a girl Peter."

"What, are you a gay?"

"God, Peter, please pay more attention to the conversation you, Moony and I are having. Is he...Jonty Kingsley?"

"He's hot, but not my type."

"Nathan Padinski?"

"He's rather lanky, but a great Potions' partner."

"Me?"

"James, why would I do that to you? To Lily?"

"To Lily?"

"Yeah," Remus blurted out. "She's had a major crush on...Rack Budoo," Remus caught himself just in time.

"What?"

"I meant she's had a major crush on Peter's frog Rack Budoo."

"I don't have a frog named Rack Budoo," Peter pointed out.

"Right Peter. Just humiliate me, why don't you."

"Have you got a crush on Peter?"

"Peter...uh...maybe not sorry," Peter blushed and looked away.

"Padfoot?"

"..."

"Oh Lord," Peter said.

James pointed out, "You don't even know what that means, Wormtail."

Peter mousy nose went all crimson red.

"Oh Lord Moony...please don't make me think who I think you have a major crush on."

Remus nodded and looked down at his, uh..fascinating shoe laces.

"Padfoot?"

Remus nodded once more.

"Sirius?" Peter asked.

Remus glared at Peter.

Peter looked innocent. "What?"

James grinned. "You've got some serious problems. Since when have you this crush?"

"About six months."

"And you call that recently?"

Remus glared at James. "Well, I'm surprised you HAVE been listening to me."

xxx-xxx-xxx

"Evans!" Sirius ran up to Lily, as she walked up to the Astronomy Tower, a book clutched to her chest.

"What do you want, Black?" Lily actually looked happy, for once, her long red hair cascading down her back.

"Okay, give me a straight answer. Do you fancy Remus?"

"Uh...no. Why?" Lily twirled her hair around her finger.

"Because...I mean, him being your partner in every subject except Potions."

Lily's eyes narrowed. "Black, where is this conversation leading to?"

"To your head," Sirius laughed.

Lily raised one of her ginger eyebrows. "Seriously, where is this conversation leading to?"

Sirius eyed her. "Can I trust you?"

"Make up your own mind, Black," Lily shrugged.

"You see...I've had a recent crush on Remus."

Lily snorted with laughter. "Recent?"

Sirius put his hands in the air. "What did I say?"

"Come on, Sirius, every single lesson, I see you sulking as the teachers pair you up with Snivellus. And then I also see you making moon eyes at Remus when he's not looking. Come on, Hogwart's 'Flirt Boy' is a bit too obvious when it comes to gay issues, don't you think?"

"Debatable," Sirius grinned.

Lily rolled her eyes. "So...what are you going to do now?"

"I'm going to declare the secret to James and Peter, and then I'll keep it quiet from Remus. I'd better rush," Sirius began to leave.

Lily said, "Hey Black?"

"Yeah?"

"I know just what you should do on today's occasion," Lily grinned at him and pulled him by the arm, as they both ran to James and Peter.

Lily Evans sure was in a good mood, to be able to go to chat with James.

xxx-xxx-xxx

"Prongs, Wormie, don't get mad okay?" Sirius said, cautiously.

James narrowed his eyes at Sirius, like he had done to Remus. "What is it Pads?"

"I-I…uh…"

Lily grinned and squealed, "What he wants to tell you, is that he's got a major c-r-u-s-h on Remus."

Sirius glared at Lily, "I thought I could trust you."

"Well, I thought your friends ought to know."

"Well, I was coming to that," Sirius stood closer to Lily, and glared even more.

"Why are you glaring at me anyway?" Lily's face was neutral.

"Because-"

James cut in, "Guys, let's NOT talk about glaring for the moment. By the way, Evans, I'd like to give you this."

James took out a box of chocolates from his pocket and handed it to Lily.

For a moment, Lily didn't know what to think. She blurted out, "That is so sweet!"

"Really? D'you think so?" Lily nodded slowly. Gee thanks, she thought. Thanks head for being so co-operative with my brain. "They're not Honeydukes finest?"

"Oh? I'm sure they're delicious," Lily said carefully.

"Yeah, I hope so. I made them myself yesterday."

Sirius laughed, "That was why you locked yourself up in the old, dusty broom closet."

Lily laughed nervously, as James' ears moved a little, side to side, all red and crimson.

Peter piped up, "So Sirius, what are you going to give Remus?"

"I don't know."

Lily suggested, "What about a computer?"

"What in the name of Merlin's Sunday Pants is that?"

Lily rolled her eyes. "Okay, pass on that. It's muggle technology. I thought Remus would like to examine with muggle tech."

"What about…" James pondered, "A vase with flowers?"

"Too girly," James and Sirius snorted when Lily whispered "Sexist men" to herself. Peter merely squeaked with hiccups.

"What about a Shakespearian poem?"

"What?"

"Shakespearian? Don't you know? He's like the most famous guy on planet earth," Lily looked at Sirius like he was a three-year old.

"Oh yeah? Get me his fone-numba then," Sirius challenged Lily.

James pointed out, "He's dead Pads. Don't you listen to Remus when he drones on about famous muggles?"

"He doesn't notice what Remus says," Peter squealed. "He stares at Remus' red pants with pink lovehearts on them. I heard him curse a spell so he could stare at them."

Sirius blushed, "Wormie that is beside the point. I guess I could just give him a poem."

James snorted. "A poem? Come Pads, I'd expect you to do better than that!"

Lily said, "I think it's a great idea. But I guess it'll be hard for you to write a deep one."

"Who asked for your opinion?" Sirius glared at her.

Lily stuck her hands in the air. "Alright, I'll just leave you to it then."

xxx-xxx-xxx

What was Sirius supposed to write? Some sucked-up cliché romantic poem? He wasn't exactly the so-called 'Shakespeare'.

Do all Valentines' day poems have to be romantic and happy like a little bunny bloody rabbit? Sirius pondered. What about a deep, angsty poem…? Maybe not.

Sirius scribbled all over his 100th piece of paper, his 100th attempt.

What would Remus do?

Sirius imagined Remus, in his sexy voice saying, "Just follow your instincts Pads, dear," missing the 'dear' though, which kind of annoyed Sirius a little.

Despite that Sirius grinned and wrote through his poem.

xxx-xxx-xxx

Valentines' Day

A Big Day For Sirius Black

(All of you, remember that)

"Let's have a look then Pads," James said to Sirius, as he scoffed a croissant in his mouth.

Sirius spoke, "No way."

"See what?" Remus said curiously.

Peter piped up, "Oh, Sirius has a surprise for you!"

Sirius elbowed Peter, as he squeaked in pain.

Remus eyed Sirius, "What 'surprise'? You haven't planned another prank, have you?"

"Uh. No."

James whispered, "I think now's the time Padfoot."

Sirius shivered, as James pushed him up to the front of the Great Hall. He thought he heard a 'Good luck' from Lily, out of the corner of his ear.

James flipped a microphone out of his pocket. Okay, just speak normally, James thought. And DO NOT make a great big fat fool of yourself in front of Lily.

Why the heck does Prongs have that thing in his pocket? Sirius gave James a confused look.

"-cough- Hello everyone at Hogwarts! As you know, it's Valentines' Day and…" James began.

"Are you going to ask me out?" a Ravenclaw shouted out.

James gave her a weird look. "Unfortunately, not today. My friend Sirius Black here has a poem he'd like to read to my other friend Remus."

"He's gay?" shocked whispers spread around the room.

James said loudly, "Will you just shut up and listen to what Sirius has to say?" That shut everyone up. Except the Slytherins; Snivellus smirked at his fellow Death Eater Rodolphus Lestrange.

Sirius had small droplets of sweat dripping down his forehead, as he took a deep breath,

"I hate the way you talk to me,

And the way you cut your hair,

I hate the way you ignore me,

I hate it when you stare,

I hate your big dumb cargo pants,

And the way you read my mind,

I hate you so much it makes me sick,

It even makes my rhyme.

I hate the way you're always right,

I hate it when you lie,

I hate when you make me laugh,

Even worse when you make me cry,

I hate it that you're not around,

And the fact you didn't write,

But mostly I hate the way I don't hate you,

Not even close,

Not even a little bit,

Not even at all,"

Sirius saw that a small tear came out of the corner of Remus' eye.

Peter began to cheer, together with Lily and James. Soon the whole student body (excluding the Slytherins) were cheering with joy.

xxx-xxx-xxx

"Padfoot, I'd just like to say thanks for that poem you read at breakfast," Remus smiled at Sirius.

"It's okay, Remmy."

"Remmy?"

"Yeah," Sirius grinned.

"The thing is Sirius…I wanted to tell you…that I love you."

Sirius was shocked. His lips quivered a little, "I guess I love you too, Remmy. I think."

"You think?" Sirius winked, "That's right, I think."

Remus blushed, "Uh…shall we kiss then?"

Sirius grinned, "Yeah, let's just switch the lights off first."