Written for:

Hogwarts Singletons Challenge - Prompt: When you are in danger of owning too many cats

Too Many Cats

Sirius had only gone into the shelter to get out of the rain. He was only going to pretend to look at the animals before making excuses and leaving.

What he hadn't expected was to meet Remus Lupin.

What he certainly hadn't expected was to be taking one of the cats home with him, along with all the important stuff that Lady needed to be well cared for.

Sirius didn't even like cats. But there was something about Remus Lupin that he couldn't say no to.

...oOo...

Sirius was appropriately upset when he returned to buy Lady a new toy (and to see Remus of course) and found out that Ursula may be put down. Remus was devastated over the cat so Sirius was too. After all, he didn't want Remus to be sad about anything.

Sirius liked to think that he had bonded with Remus at that time, over this ugly cat.

He decided that it wasn't bonding: in fact, Remus may actually hate him, as he walked home with the second cat. A big grey brute of a cat that was blind in one eye and extremely old.

...oOo...

It didn't matter if Sirius recognised the cat from down the road. It had no collar and that's all that mattered. He scooped the feline up and headed to the shelter, explaining to Remus about the stray cat and how he had tried to take it home, but poor Ursula got upset with it. He knew it would put him in Remus' good books and maybe get him closer to the date he wanted.

Remus had the solution. Sirius couldn't bring himself to say no as Remus unloaded another cat onto him. A kitten, Pascal.

Sirius knew he shouldn't keep returning to the shelter, but there was something hypnotising about Remus' smile. Sirius wondered if Remus convinced everyone to take home twenty cats each, just by smiling at them.

...oOo...

"You know, that's eight cats," Remus said.

Sirius watched him warily, scared that Remus planned to give him a ninth cat. He was ready to bolt, when Remus reached out, his hand resting on Sirius' arm. "You're saving lives. Four of those were going to be put down. I didn't know there were people that loved animals as much as I do. You're amazing."

Sirius was still wary, but beamed at the praise.

"I was wondering… maybe I could come over and see the cats sometime? If… if that's okay?"

Sirius nodded his head. "As long as you don't bring another with you," he insisted. "I think eight is enough."

Remus laughed. "Of course. No more cats. But… we have some snakes dropped off the other day… would you be interested in adopting one? Or how about a turtle?"

Remus smiled softly, hopefully, and Sirius found himself nodded. "The turtle," he muttered. "But only if you go to dinner with me."

"Deal!"

Review Please :)

Thanks to Lizzy for betaing