45 Ways to Make a Werewolf Fall for You

A HariPo fanfiction

by mew-tsubaki

Note for all chapters: The Harry Potter characters belong to J.K. Rowling, not to me. Some chapters are in Remus' POV; others are in Sirius', and the chapters feel more like drabbles at first, but you will see how canon events eventually culminate here. This is based on a list I've seen in people's profiles—"45 things that make you feel good"—so I hope you like it. :] Read, review, and enjoy!

*Special thanks goes out to my original audience for 45 Ways—100, 200, 300, 400, 500 reviews…they piled up so quickly! I appreciate the love you all have for this story, and I can only hope more enjoy it just as you did. :3

- ^-^3

1: Falling in love

Remus John Lupin shook his head as he walked off the grounds of Hogwarts Castle with his best friends all around him. His smirk hid his quiet chuckles.

Beside him was Sirius Black, playboy extraordinaire, with his head back as his laughs shook his body so much he could barely walk. He had a hand each on Remus' and James' shoulders to support himself as they left.

On Sirius' other side was James Potter, whose glasses were askew and hair was as messy as ever. He had his fist closed around a roll of parchment, and his other hand was holding Lily's.

Lily Evans was at his side, holding said hand and hugging that arm to her. She, too, was laughing, though not nearly as hard as James and Sirius. She kindly nodded to another beside her.

Peter Pettigrew nodded back, trying to stop his snorts. He was laughing with the rest of them, for he was in disbelief, too. Seven years, seven long years…were now over.

They'd graduated.

Just like that, memories of their first meetings on the train and in the Great Hall seemed so far away, so insignificant. Everything had metamorphosed since then. James and Lily were actually a couple. Peter had actually lost some weight. Sirius for once didn't have some witch glued to his lips. Remus had achieved his dream of, effortlessly, being their class valedictorian. Yes, back then they'd been a ragtag band of shuffling firsties.

Now they were adults… The boys were men.

"I think a round for all of us, on Remus," Sirius stated loudly.

Remus blinked. "Wha…? Sirius, no, why me? And Peter isn't old enough yet for firewhiskey. His birthday's a month away."

"Oh, Moony, it's you because you're the class smarty-pants," Sirius said with a feigned pout. "'Sides, do us all a favor and be bad for once." He winked at him cheekily and slung an arm around his shoulders. "C'mon, Remmy, if you don't know how to be bad, I can teach you."

The brunet wizard snorted. "I've had years to watch and learn, Padfoot."

Sirius grinned wickedly. "I hope you took notes."

Remus rolled his eyes and noticed James and Lily had gotten further ahead of them, and even Peter was up ahead, trailing behind the couple. Remus smiled and relaxed. He rather kind of liked semi-alone time with Sirius. There were rare moments when he could see into Sirius' mind without the Animagus cracking a joke. Those moments Remus treasured…

He froze mid-step. Oh, no. Did he really…?

His neck warmed as Sirius stopped with him but didn't remove his arm from Remus. Suddenly, Remus was very aware of Sirius' every move—his eyes darting over Remus' face, his mouth coming down in a slight frown at not knowing what Remus was thinking at that moment, his breath coming out in a sigh as he waited patiently for Remus to say something, his feet inching him a little closer to Remus in spite of the summer heat.

Remus closed his eyes to shut out his sensory overload of Sirius. No, this couldn't be— After all, Remus had always— And there was no way that Sirius, or even Remus, would be—be that way…

Right?

Finally, he looked into those gray eyes and realized only a minute had passed. Remus' chest tightened and loosened and repeated those actions until he finally told himself the words of which his instinct had just made him delightfully, painfully aware:

Remus was in love with Sirius.

Sirius cocked his head to one side, a habit he'd picked up from transforming into a dog often enough. "What's up, Remus?"

He watched Sirius' serious expression and saw the love, the care behind it. And then he broke out into a big smile as his chest swelled and his heart soared. "Nothing at all, Sirius."

"You sure? You look a little pale—whoa!"

Remus linked his arm through Sirius' and tugged him along. "I'm fine, Sirius. This day—it couldn't get any better."

- ^-^3

:D Count on most chapters being a happy ending. This 1st one may have seemed fast, but that's only because they've had a long history, and Remmius fans know it was Remmius all along. Tonks who? B)

Thanks for reading, and please review!

-mew-tsubaki ;]

2017 note: Ah, yes. 6 yrs later, I come back to one of my very favorite works. It's a lovely thing, rereading and editing one's old stories, but this one…this feels like visiting and reminiscing with an old friend. XD I still regard it as one of the best things I've ever written, across all my fandoms, now and future, and I just hope that new fans will enjoy this, too—whether you call it Remmius or Wolfstar, Remus/Sirius withstands time because their chemistry is too palpable, and I'm delighted to have written them so many times. -w-

And if you want to support 45 Ways, please swing by its AO3 version and consider liking and reblogging its posts on my HariPo fic tumblr, camelliacats!

Lastly, this story is available partially in Swedish and partially in Chinese! Please give those a go if those are your languages! :D (PM me on FFN for the links.)