Remus was up in the dormitory, plotting. It was hard, as he had predicted, and he found it rather worrying that his main source of reference was his Muggle Studies textbook. Three full, extremely long chapters on the 'courting traditions' of muggles ((as most of them were the same for Wizards, Remus got the impression that the author just wanted to wax lyrical about romance for a while. He was not impressed by this.))
"Oh, this is useless," he muttered, grimacing as he glanced over the pages. Disgusted, he snapped the book shut and let out an irritated breath, flopping back against his pillows.
The main theme seemed to be the same, giving gifts ((Except for the small section about beating people around the heads with clubs and dragging them off by their hair, but Remus had a feeling that that wasn't really very socially acceptable any more)). This was nothing new to him. The problem was – Anything that Sirius Black wanted, Sirius Black got for himself.
He had to get Sirius something that Sirius didn't realize he wanted yet.
This could be a bit difficult.
-
It took Remus a long time to find the Perfect Gift ((capitals required)) for Sirius. It couldn't be too expensive ((because Remus didn't have that much cash)), but it couldn't be some knock-off thing from the corner shop.
Ironically enough, though, Remus did find it in a corner shop ((although not the same kind of corner shop he had been thinking of)), and it was at knock-off price. However, given the way it hummed slightly with some kind of intriguing energy, and the fact that incorporated dragons and shiny things into the design ((two things that Sirius was quite fond of)), Remus didn't think he would mind.
Unfortunately, as he didn't manage to find this until the day before the full moon, he was forced to take certain measures to make sure that Sirius understood everything properly.
-
"Are you sure you'll remember everything?" Remus asked anxiously.
Peter shot him a disgusted look.
"I think I can handle giving someone a letter, Moony," he said. "I'm not quite as stupid as Prongs and Padfoot make me out to be."
Remus blinked, then gave him an apologetic smile.
"I know. I'm sorry, Wormtail." He shrugged. "It's just...this is really important. Trust me, I'd be fussing far more if I had to get James to do this. I know I can trust you."
Peter beamed up at him.
"Don't worry. I'll make sure he reads this." He grinned. "For one thing, you two fighting is damn scary."
Remus chuckled.
"It must be pretty awkward for you and James, especially since you haven't got a clue what's going on."
"Can't say I'm not curious," Peter said, pocketing the envelope. "But it's not exactly my business now is it? And I doubt James has even noticed." He hustled Remus towards the door. "You need to get going. We'll be down to see you later, alright?"
"Alright. See you, Pete." Remus gave him a small wave, then began to make his way towards the hospital wing to meet Madam Pomfrey.
-
"Here."
Sirius blinked down at the plain, innocuous white envelope that Peter was currently holding out to him.
"What the – Wormtail, I just want to grab my brush off my bed."
"I'm under strict orders," Peter said, trying his best to suppress a grin. He wasn't doing very well, Sirius noted irritably. "I'm not to let you near your bed until you've read this."
Sirius glanced at his bed, the curtains of which were drawn tightly around it, as usual.
"Under orders from who?" he demanded.
"Moony."
Peter blinked in surprise, Sirius moving faster than he had thought physically possible to snatch the envelope and tear it open. He fished out the paper inside ((only one sheet, he couldn't tell if that was good or bad)) and unfolded it, greeted with the sight of less than half a page of Remus' small, rounded and nearly indecipherable handwriting.
He squinted down at it, ignoring Peter's curious gaze.
Sirius,
I'm positive you of all people will remember my shameful admission that I like romance. However, equally shamefully, I do not have much of a knack for it myself. I'm afraid I can't really compete with a positive rose-bush.
I want to apologize for that, by the way. I...didn't realize they were for me and dumped them on your bed thinking they were yours. Probably should have looked at the card, but I have ethical problems with reading other people's mail ((Unless they've already read it, before you say anything)).
I'm not sure how much you meant the other night – we both got quite snappy. However, I hope you did mean one thing – that you love me. Because, since you've been avoiding me, I've realized that I sort of love you. I think you probably did mean it – you don't generally tend to be complimentary when you're as pissed as you got then. That was my fault too – sorry.
To make up for it, I got you a gift. I hope you like it, I wasn't really able to inspect it properly – it didn't really agree with my werewolf side.
Hopefully, I will see you tomorrow,
Love
Moony.
Sirius blinked. He re-read the letter again, in something of a daze, his eyes drawing back to that one sentence 'I sort of love you'. A big stupid grin split his face and he felt happier even than when he got his bike.
After a rather long pause, during which Peter's gaze turned from curious to frankly quite frightened, the last paragraph sunk in. Carefully folding the letter back up and placing it in the inside pocket of his robes, Sirius then moved towards his bed. He pulled back the curtains with a flourish ((he only ever opened curtains in a flamboyant manner. It seemed pointless otherwise)) and spotted the item on the top of the bed.
He sucked in a breath that was echoed by Peter and he picked the gift up reverently.
It was a small sword. Its hilt looked to be silver and was fashioned in the shape of a dragon, the pattern of which continued to twine across the scabbard, the material of which showed faintly crimson through the metal. Reverently he drew it out, enjoying the 'zing' noise it made. It couldn't be more than fourteen inches long – not a proper sword by any counts – but it was beautiful. It had dragons, and it was a pointy weapon of death ((the kind that Sirius had a particular weakness for)), and it was shiny.
Shiny and silver.
Well, he thought, that cinched it. Remus normally avoided Silver like the plague, for obvious reasons. That he'd do this for Sirius? Proof positive.
Beaming, he shoved it back in its scabbard and tucked it neatly in his suitcase. Then he grabbed Peter's wrist, hairbrush completely forgotten, and dragged him down the stairs to go join Remus for the night's entertainment.
-
Remus' face twisted into a slight grimace as he woke up and he made a discontented noise, shifting around a bit for a few minutes before reluctantly admitting that he was awake and opening his eyes.
He found Sirius sitting over him, smiling down at him in a terribly worrying manner and he frowned.
"Sirius?" he asked, muzzily.
"Sh," Sirius said with a grin. He handed Remus a small cup of something, which Remus took. "Swill," he commanded. Remus obeyed that, and the closely following "Spit."
He spat the minty-tasting liquid into the cup that Sirius held in front of his mouth, then stared at Sirius, terribly confused.
"What was that?" he asked.
Sirius just grinned wider, then grabbed his chin and kissed him thoroughly.
When they broke apart, Remus licked his lips and blink dazedly at Sirius.
"Um?"
"Mouthwash," Sirius said, smiling.
"Mouthwash?"
"Didn't want to kiss you when you have morning-breath," Sirius clarified. "Would've meant I'd have had to stop to let you brush your teeth."
Remus considered this.
"Oh," he said.
He paused.
"Does this mean I'm forgiven?" he asked.
Sirius laughed.
"You're adorable when you're half asleep," Sirius told him, before kissing him again.
Remus took that as a yes.
-