Chapter 2
Title: Moonstruck
Pairing: Sirius/Remus
In which Remus gets a tutor.
Chapter 2
“I’ll be back in a bit, I want to go say hi to Lily.” The spectacled boy said, trying to flatten his hair before getting up from the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall the next afternoon.
"Actually, I think I’ll come with you.” While James chatted up the redhead, he wandered over to where Remus was sitting at the Ravenclaw table. “So, how’d your test go?”
The fair-haired boy looked up from his meal, “It went well, thanks. I got full marks.”
“So it seems I wasn’t such a bad teacher after all.”
“No, you weren’t.” He bit his lip before continuing, “Actually, I was thinking…I’m ahead in all my other classes, but I’m just not up to date on my transfiguration…and OWLS are coming up at the end of the year. I was wondering if you would be willing to tutor me?” He looked up at the taller boy shyly.
“Sure!” Sirius replied enthusiastically. This would be the perfect opportunity to get to know the mysterious boy.
“Great. Do you want to meet up in the Library later? That might be easier than sneaking into the Ravenclaw dorms. How did you manage to do that, by the way?”
“Oh,” Sirius faltered, “we have our ways.” He didn’t think James would appreciate him spouting off his mouth about the Cloak. “How about I meet you in the Library at nine? Near the Restricted Section.”
“Ok. I’ll see you then.”
Sirius turned back to the Gryffindor table with a goofy grin. He was feeling entirely too good to bother berating himself for acting as foolishly smitten as Potter usually did.
~~~((*))~~~
Remus deposited an armful of books on top of their table with a loud thump. “This may take a while.”
“Not to worry, I came prepared.” Sirius dug into his pockets and produced a box of Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans, two Sugar Quills, and a handful of Chocolate Frogs.
“We’re not supposed to eat in the Library.”
“Do you always do what you’re supposed to do? Oh wait, that’s right, you’re a Ravenclaw.”
Remus rolled his eyes and started unwrapping a Chocolate Frog. “All I know is you better not let any of yours hop around. If Madam Pince catches us, I will hold you solely responsible.”
“Agreed.”
They settled down to read. A half hour later Sirius reached for a Frog, to find mostly empty wrappers. He glanced up to see his quiet companion absently licking his fingers, and found himself mesmerized.
“Sorry,” the lips twitched guiltily, “I have a thing for chocolate.”
“No problem. I’m impressed. It usually takes James and me hours to get through a pile like that,” he teased. “How is the studying going?”
Remus frowned. “It was going fine until I got to Divination. I just don’t see the difference between a slanted line versus a curved line…” He shoved the book, titled Palmistry for Beginners, toward Sirius.
“It looks like you’re in luck. The summer before last my family went to Romania to visit my Aunt Cassiopeia. She’s lived there for years and picked up some traditions from the locals. She read my fortune and everything. I think I remember some things, not that I believe in any of that rot. Here, give me your hand.”
Remus reached his hand across the table. “Your Aunt Cassiopeia? And you’re Sirius?”
“Huh?” Sirius looked up, distracted for a moment by the other boy’s warm skin. “Oh, yeah. It’s a running theme in my family. The whole lot is named after constellations.”
“I bet you aced Astronomy.”
“Yeah,” Sirius affirmed with a grin. He turned back to the task at hand, so to speak. “See here. This is your life line.” The dark haired boy pointed at a crease bisecting the Ravenclaw’s palm. “The longer it is, the longer your lifespan. The other lines that cross it indicate major life events. According to this, you’ve already had a few.”
He moved on to another line, this one running parallel to the top of Remus’ hand. “This is your heart line.” Sirius lightly traced the crease, and thought he felt Remus shiver. He had to will himself not to stroke the tempting palm. However, he didn’t get a chance to explain what the heart line said.
“Aww, isn’t this touching?” A sneering voice interrupted.
Sirius looked up to see the unwelcome face of Severus Snape. He scowled. “What do you want Snape?”
“I’m simply dumbfounded at this disgusting public display of affection. I would have hoped you had enough sense to keep your hormones in check when children are about,” Snape waved his hand toward some second years a few aisles over.
“Simply dumb is right,” James spoke up from behind him.
Snape turned on him with a great sweep of his Slytherin robes. “Perhaps, Potter, if you spent as much time on your personal hygiene as you do on wisecracks, you could do something with this bush,” he spat, indicating James’ wild hair.
James turned bright red, and moved to pull out his wand. But Lily, who had followed him, put a hand on his arm. “You’re one to talk about hygiene, Snape. Your hair has enough grease to fix all the squeaky doors in this castle,” he growled.
“Why don’t you run on back to your dungeon for a good wash? You’re fouling up my homework,” Sirius sniffed.
Snape glared at the two Gryffindors and their two Ravenclaw companions. He could tell he was outnumbered, and slunk to the back of the Library with a scowl.
“Umm, maybe we can finish this tomorrow,” Remus spoke up, as he gathered his books.
“You’re leaving?” Sirius asked, disappointed. “Don’t pay any mind to that slimy git.”
Remus looked at him. “I don’t. But I think I’ve had enough for one night. I’ll see you later,” he gave the dark-haired boy a small smile before heading out of the Library.
Sirius trailed his figure until it was out of sight. Then he glanced over at his best friend, whispering giddily with the redhead who was still holding his arm. He sighed; he was sunk. He now had it as bad for the golden-eyed boy as James did for Lily.
~~~((*))~~~
It was a crisp Autumn day and the Gryffindor Quidditch team was enjoying the chance to practice some new moves out on the pitch. Sirius floated lazily in the air, watching his fellow teammates. James was chasing madly after the snitch. A bit like the way he chases after a certain other Seeker, Sirius laughed to himself. He saw one of the Bludgers soaring his way and maneuvered his broom to avoided it before a Beater came barreling after it and sent it in the other direction. He had just scored a splendid goal, if he did say so himself, when he looked down at the stands and noticed Remus watching him. The dark haired boy quickly landed on the ground and dismounted his broom.
“I thought you didn’t like Quidditch,” he said with a grin, as he walked over to the other boy.
“You and Lily talk about it so much, I thought I should come take a look.”
“So what do you think?”
“It looks - brutal.”
“Yeah, but it’s invigorating. You better not be divulging our secrets to the Ravenclaw team,” he added with a wink.
“I’m sure they can beat you without underhanded techniques,” Remus replied with mock haughtiness.
“Not likely,” Sirius countered. “If you hold on a minute, I’ll go change, and we can head back to the castle.”
“Ok.”
Sirius felt like he was still flying as he headed towards the Gryffindor changing rooms. Remus had actually come to visit him!
When he came back, he found Remus surrounded by a swarm of giggling girls. When they saw the Quidditch star, they turned over to him, chattering. He quickly excused himself, grabbed Remus, and hurried out of there.
“What did they want?”
“They were questioning me about you,” Remus said frowning. “Thanks for rescuing me. Are they always like that?”
Sirius rolled his eyes. “Unfortunately, yes. You should see them when I have my Quidditch robes on!”
Remus appraised him. “Mmm, I can see why.”
Sirius almost stumbled to a halt. Had the other boy just checked him out? Well, this could get interesting, he thought smirking to himself as he quickly followed the rapidly disappearing Ravenclaw.
~~~((*))~~~
A few days later, the fair-haired boy approached Sirius after lunch.
“I got you something. For helping me out. And because I keep eating all your frogs,” Remus mumbled, as he placed a carefully wrapped box in the Gryffindor’s hands.
“You didn’t have to do that,” Sirius said, surprised.
“It’s not much. I made it myself. I was thinking you could use it for Quidditch, now that it’s getting colder…”
Sirius opened the box and found a pair of soft, leather gloves. He recalled that they had worked on a transfiguration spell for mittens a few weeks prior. But these were exceptionally well done. “Wow, this must have taken you ages.”
“I needed the practice,” Remus shrugged, slightly flushing. But the taller boy could tell he was pleased.
“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
~~~((*))~~~
Sirius had just exited the History of Magic classroom when he glimpsed the familiar golden-brown head of his favorite Ravenclaw.
“Oi, Remus, wait up!”
He found his path blocked by the greasy form of Severus Snape. “What’s wrong Black, afraid your little boyfriend will miss you?”
“Get out of my way Snape,” Sirius raised his wand threateningly.
“I’d like to see you make me, you little nancy boy freak.”
Sirius grabbed the slimy bastard by the collar, ready to hex him into next week, when he felt Remus’ hand on his shoulder. “Let him go Sirius, let’s just get out of here.”
“That’s right Black, let the prissy Ravenclaw whelp protect you.” Snape adjusted his robes glaring at the pair.
Sirius thought he heard Remus growling as he was forcefully pulled out of the hallway.