YAY puppy fluff. My Do Over fans, please understand that I'm full of fluff and it's difficult to write a dark romantic drama when you're brimming with cotton balls. So I have to get it all out.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Remus was terrified. What did he like? Why did it matter what he liked? Why did he have to write an essay about it?
Describe, in 500 words or less, the things that you like most about the world that have nothing to do with magic.
What did he like? He liked Sirius. He liked the way Sirius' hair stood up in the morning. He liked the smell of Sirius' date cologne, and the smell of him without it. He liked the color of Sirius' eyes- slate grey with silver shooting through. He liked it when Sirius looked at him. He liked the way Sirius' voice sounded before breakfast. He liked the way Sirius rubbed his nose when he was tired. He liked the way Sirius licked his lips when he was thinking. He liked the way Sirius laughed at James' bad jokes. He liked Sirius' smile. He liked everything about Sirius.
But he couldn't exactly put that in his Muggle Studies essay.
Well, he could, but since Sirius was in his Muggle Studies class and they had to read their essays aloud, it might be a little awkward.
It was the first time in his life that he hadn't had an essay finished at least four days before it was due. It was Sunday; class was Thursday afternoon. If the rest of the Marauders thought it odd that he was joining them in the library to write instead of to help, then they didn't say anything.
James chewed on the end of his quill. "I like…Hmm. I like Lily."
Sirius smacked him on the back of the head. "You can't say that, wank, she already hates you enough."
James rubbed his tender skull, scowling. "What are you going to write about, then?"
Sirius gave a small smile. "It's a surprise."
James frowned.
Sirius grinned.
James pouted.
Sirius chuckled.
"No fair," James muttered, turning back to his scroll.
Remus stared at his own paper. Things he liked that didn't have anything to do with magic or Sirius. That didn't leave very much in the world.
He looked down at his hands. They were already stained with ink from the potions essay he had written that morning. His nails were small and ragged. He brought one finger up to his mouth. I shouldn't chew them, he thought. He did anyway. He scribbled on his parchment.
I like people with nice hands.
He smiled. Sirius had nice hands. They were long and lean with shell like nails. Sirius wouldn't admit it, but he took pride in keeping them up.
Remus thought some more. I like chocolate.
I like the smell of new books. He took in a deep breath. I like the smell of old books.
He took a look outside at the trees, which were quickly losing their leaves.
I like the way trees look in the fall.
I like big sweaters. They looked cute on Sirius, even though he only wore them when they were alone.
He could feel the itching along his spine that meant the full moon was close. His senses were on the overload; only one more night.
I like the quarter moon.
I like catching the first snowflake of the year on my tongue.
I like snagging the chair closest to the fire before anyone else. Especially when Sirius would jump into it with him.
I like jumping into the lake when it's hot outside. He did his best not to imagine that day last summer when Sirius had torn off all his clothes and run screaming into the creek near Peter's house.
What else…
"And I like someone but I didn't want to talk about them in essay."
A quiet laugh went through the room. Professor Hemlock smiled. "Very good, Remus. Any more volunteers?"
Sirius' hand shot into the air.
"Go ahead, Mr. Black."
The dark haired boy stood and coughed delicately.
"I like the way his fingers are always ink-stained. I like the way he bites his nails when he concentrates. I like the way his eyebrows draw together when I do something stupid. I like the way he always knows what to do. I like the fact that he's really smart, but can be completely dense sometimes. I like that his eyes are the color of honey and his skin is the color of vanilla and his hair is the color of peanut brittle. I like the way his breath smells like chocolate because that's all he eats. I like the way he wiggles his nose when he smells something good. I like the way he denies it. I like the way he stretches in the morning. I like Remus."
Remus felt his jaw hit the floor.
"Actually," Sirius said, walking up to the frozen boy's desk and kneeling down to face him. "I love you."
"Oy, Moony!"
Remus awoke with a start. Sirius was grinning at him from the other end of the table.
He sighed. I wish.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Preview of the next chapter? Yes please!
"Wormtail, your list is all food!"
"Well, food has nothing to do with magic."
"Fatass."
"Hey..."
"Watch your language, Sirius."
"Sorry."
"Do you think it'd be ok to put 'girls with red hair'?"
"Go for it. She hates you anyway."