Chapter 3: Secret Admirers

"A bag of Jelly Slugs and some Licorice Wands, please." Peter tossed a few knuts on the countertop, grabbed the parcel in his stumpy fingers and bit the head off of a Slug.

"Take it easy, mate," James said as he reached into a giant glass jar of jumping Peppermint Toads. "You'll bust a gut and we'll have to pay to have the place cleaned up."

The other Marauders chuckled, enjoying their Hogsmeade weekend with a quick stop at Honeydukes Sweetshop.

"Geroffit, Games," said Peter around a mouthful of candy.

"Revolting," Sirius snorted. "Anyone fancy some treacle fudge? Remus? Wanna share a bar of nougat, mate?"

"Can't," said Remus as he carefully searched the display cases. "I want to get Severus a gift. Something from a secret admirer so he knows that someone is thinking of him. Ever since he used that potion on his hair he's been getting real popular. Have you noticed?"

Sirius didn't want to admit it but he had noticed. A clean, presentable Snape made quite a difference. He could no longer scare people away with a mere scowl. In fact, several boys, and girls, now seemed to find Snape's snarkiness rather appealing.

"Not that he doesn't look amazing." Remus sighed. "He's gorgeous! Only now everyone else thinks so, too. I'm just worried that if I don't act soon someone else is sure to ask him out first. But what should I get him?"

"How about a Blood Pop? He is a vampire, after all," James snorted and stole a Licorice Wand from Peter. "Or you might try some Cockroach Cluster, but would that be considered cannibalism?"

"That's not funny, James," said Remus. "I want it to be something he'll really like, too. Maybe some Lemon Drops? Or Sugar Quills. That could be saying he's a good student, right?"

"He doesn't like overly sweet stuff." Sirius suddenly felt something twist in the pit of his stomach, but wasn't at all sure why. Too many Ginger Snaps, he decided. "Well, he wouldn't, being Snape and all. He likes blackberries. I mean, I think he said so one time or another." He quickly ducked behind a flowing chocolate fountain so they wouldn't notice the flush over his face.

"That's perfect!" Remus exclaimed. "I'll get him a basket and you can give it to him at your study session this evening. But remember, it never came from me."

xXx

Sirius groaned to himself and dropped an overly decorated basket in front of Severus at their usual table in the library. Several onlookers were laughing at the exhibit. Why couldn't Remus have gone with a simple brown box instead of this pink eyesore?

Snape seemed to think along the same lines, turning up his nose at all the sparkly ribbons and heart-covered tissue paper. "What is that supposed to be?"

"A gift," said Sirius, resentfully. "From your secret admirer."

"Very funny, Black." Snape pushed the basket back toward the other boy. "What's in it? Dungbombs?"

"Blackberries. You like them, right?"

Snape's face soured with disbelief. "I like them alright, but not when they're laced with something. What is it? Bulbadox Powder? A Swelling Solution? Maybe a charm to turn me into a vole or something?"

"No, but good ideas, all of them. I'll have to write them down. But these really are from a secret admirer." He pushed the basket back towards Snape.

Snape was not convinced and acted as if it concealed an angry serpent.

"Oh, don't be such a suspicious berk!" Sirius unwrapped the paper and tossed a berry into his mouth. "See? Yummy." He stuck out his tongue to show off its contents.

"Charming," Snape said. "How do I know that you didn't take the antidote before hand?"

Sirius snorted. "Oy! Evans! Witch of the Year! This way!" He called across the room.

Lily joined them at their table looking mutinous. "Are you trying to get us all thrown out of here, Black?"

"Wouldn't dream of it. Care for a sweet?"

"Are you mad? Don't let Madame Pinch see you with food in her precious library! And what's with the basket? Looks like Madame Puddifoot's threw up all over it!"

"It's for Snape, from someone who is thinking of him but wishes to remain anonymous."

Lily's eyes went wide as she dropped into a seat next to them. "What's that? Ooooh! Sev, you didn't tell me."

"This is the first I'm hearing about it," Snape said.

"Anyway, Evans, try one." Sirius extended the parcel. "Prove to the lucky boy that they're not poisoned."

"So help me, Black. If those things harm her in any way—"

"Never mind." Lily took a handful and bit into them. "These are good. Somebody knows your weakness, Sev. Well, who is it then?"

"Couldn't say," Sirius cajoled.

"You know," Lily said to Snape, "I'll bet it's Kevin Cresswell from Ravenclaw. He's been trying to pick your brains since you both joined the debate team. Maybe he's after more than your brains, eh?"

"Give over, Lily!" Snape tried to focus on his books.

"Or how about that tall, good-looking boy in Hufflepuff? Terry Tiberius. He's always making eyes at you. Wait, I know who it is. Why didn't I think of it before? He gets jumpy every time you're around."

Sirius held his breath. Soon it would all be over and he would be free of this nonsense.

"Dunstran Diggory."

This name had a definite affect upon Snape. He coughed to disguise the slight pinkish tinge to his cheeks.

Sirius chewed his tongue until he tasted iron. Diggory was a sixth year, and the seeker of the Ravenclaw Quidditch team, and popular and he was extremely good looking. Normally Sirius knew Snape would hate these qualities, but Diggory was also brilliant. Winner of last year's Wizard's Thinking Cap award and captain of the chess team, and Severus respected those with great intelligence. Sirius suddenly hated everything about Cresswell and Tiberius, and especially Diggory.

"It's not any of them!" he nearly shouted. "It's someone… nice." Both Snape and Lily stared at him and he wished that he had kept his mouth shut.

"This is ridiculous." Snape thrust the basket into Sirius' hands. "I don't get admirers! This is another of your little pranks, isn't it, Black? Well, you can take that sickening thing and shove it up your—"

"Are you so down on yourself that you can't believe that someone fancies you?" Sirius hissed. "You're not half-bad when you actually take care of yourself. And you can be pleasant to be around when you're not afraid that someone will discover that there's a human being under that golem exterior."

Snape did not respond to this. All the color seemed to drain out of his face, which was already rather pale. Eventually he shrugged and muttered, "Ridiculous. Can we get back to studying, please?"

xXx

A/N: I made up the names from random students mentioned in the Harry Potter Lexicon. That sight has been indispensable to me! I invented a brother for Amos Diggory, Dunstran, first because I always liked the name, and second because the actor who played Amos did NOT look like he could have fathered a son that fine. So, I gave Cedric a handsome uncle to explain where the looks in the family came from. Interpret that any way you like.