Written for:

One a Week - 1000 words. AU chosen: Auction

World Dream Day - Use the phrase 'dream come true'

Showtime - Situation: a breakup

Duelling Club - AuctionAU, Word: Drifting, Quote "The heart is the only broken instrument that works."

The Plan

Auction!AU

Remus knew it was insane. He should have cancelled after finding out his long-term boyfriend was getting married to his pregnant fiance (something he had neglected to tell Remus), but Lily wouldn't let him.

It had been two months since he found out and he was trying to move on. Things hadn't been good for a long time, but Lucius was very convincing when Remus tried to end things and Remus had been having relationship doubts for some time now. He was ready to meet someone who would put him first sometimes - someone who cared about his happiness.

That wasn't going to happen at a school reunion slash charity auction event.

Remus couldn't even tell her: "I'm sorry, I'd love to be one of the people you auction off, but I can't. You know how Lucius is." He couldn't use that excuse anymore and she'd see through anything else.

...oOo...

"Remus, you're making a fool out of yourself, doing this auction."

Remus spun around, his gaze falling on Lucius. Behind Lucius, Remus caught a flash of dark hair as a man turned away.

"Being a fool seems to be the story of my life," Remus snapped.

"Things don't have to change between us. If you'd have taken my calls—"

"Lucius, we're over. Go and be with your pregnant fiance. I'm moving on and you really should be doing the same. I don't know what you're expecting. You cheat on me for… she looks almost full term, so at least nine months, propose to her and then think I'd still want you? There is no 'we'; there will never be ever again."

"Fine," Lucius said, his lips twisting into an ugly scowl. "But we'll see what happens when no-one bids. Maybe I'll throw in my own bid. You'll have to spend time with me then."

"I'd rather walk in front of a train," Remus retorted. "There is something really wrong with you, Lucius."

...oOo...

"Two-hundred and fifty pounds," came the shout from the audience.

"Anyone else?" Lily asked, smiling around the audience. Silence followed. "Sold. One date with me goes to…" she glanced out at the crowd, waiting for a name.

"Everyone, I vowed that one day I'd date Lily Evans." A man with glasses stood up and smirked around. "That day has arrived."

"James Potter," Lily muttered, the smile fading slightly. "Well, it's for charity... next, we have Remus Lupin. She grabbed Remus' hand, dragging him to the centre of the stage. "Let's start with five pounds. I'll bid five myself."

"Ten," someone shouted quickly. Remus glanced around but couldn't make out who shouted.

"Fifteen," Lucius shouted.

"Twenty."

"Thirty."

"Fifty."

Remus couldn't find the source of the second voice, but he was glad that someone was bidding on him. Well, someone that wasn't Lucius. Lily wasn't bidding past the five pounds, but he suspected it was because someone else was bidding on him.

"One hundred," Lucius stated.

"Two hundred," came the eager reply.

"Three hundred," Lucius shouted, sounding angrier as the amount went higher.

"Five hundred."

"Seven hun—"

"A thousand pounds!" the stranger shouted, cutting Lucius off.

"A—" Lucius began, but Lily quickly interrupted.

"Sold!" she shouted over Lucius, "To… the hottie in the leather."

...oOo...

Remus smiled nervously at the stranger as he walked over. This man had paid a thousand pounds to have a date with him. Either he was rich… or insane. Probably insane. Remus couldn't deny that he was utterly gorgeous.

"Why did you pay that much?" Remus blurted out.

"Because I've waited too long to get a date with you, I'm not about to let Malfoy swoop in again."

"I'm sorry, I'm not entirely sure who you are."

The man grinned and moved closer and Remus couldn't help but stare at him. Dark hair was twisted back into a bun. Soft, inviting lips were curved up into a grin and his stormy grey eyes were fixed intently on Remus.

"Try picturing me with braces and horribly short hair," the man said. "I'll give you a hint. I was terrible at maths."

One name came to mind and Remus stared. "Sirius Black?"

"I'll tell you a secret though," Sirius murmured. "I wasn't terrible at maths. I might have actually been better than you at it. I may have lied because you were a maths tutor."

"You… you lied so I'd tutor you? Why?"

"Because I fancied you," Sirius stated as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. "You're just as gorgeous now as you were back then you know."

"You didn't think I was gorgeous," Remus scoffed. "Nor am I now."

"You don't see it, do you?" Sirius murmured, his hand reaching up to Remus' cheek, but stopping short. "It's not just the outside that makes you beautiful, it's what's inside. When people used to talk about me - about my family and stuff, you never said a bad word or treated me different. I really fell for you, Remus. I was going to ask you out, but Lucius did it first. I had a plan and everything. It broke my heart that I missed my chance."

He pulled an aged sheet of paper from his wallet and unfolded it. One side was maths. "Turn it over," Sirius insisted.

"Sirius' plan to make Remus Lupin fall madly in love with me." Remus couldn't help but chuckle as his eyes drifted over the words. "But you could have anyone, Sirius. Why me?"

"I don't want anyone. I've only ever wanted you. You're adorable and you're still wearing the cardigans, it's perfect. A dream come true! So… how about it? Ten years later than planned, but do I have a chance?"

"You've just paid a thousand pounds to get a date with me, I think I'll give you more than one date if you'd like," Remus replied with a warm smile. "I'm sorry I broke your heart."

Sirius' smile softened. "The heart is the only broken instrument that works," he murmured. "Maybe you can unbreak it."

1000 words

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