Repost Fic: An Acceptable Gift (Remus/Severus, NC-17) Title: An Acceptable Gift Pairing: Snape/Lupin Rating: NC-17 Summary: Dumbledore decides to hold a Secret Elf exchange to foster community spirit. What is Remus supposed to get for the boy who hates everything? Warnings: None A/N: Many thanks to kirasha and aunty_marion for being wonderful betas. This was written for karasu_hime for the sunandsmut fest. No DH spoilers.
"Bloody Muggle lover," a Slytherin muttered as he and his friends shoved past Remus.
"He can't do this to us! I shall write to my father at once."
"Of course he can do this. He's the Headmaster."
When they had moved far enough away, Remus just smiled and patted the little piece of parchment in his pocket. He'd thought it a brilliant idea when Dumbledore declared there would be a Secret Elf exchange during the first week of December in anticipation of Christmas.
As soon as Dumbledore had explained the rules, little pieces of parchment had appeared in front of each student. Remus had got James, and he couldn't decide whether that made things harder or easier for him. James would like anything Remus got him, but he was used to really nice things, and Remus really didn't have money to spare.
"Oi, wait up!" Sirius called from behind Remus. "Who'd you get?"
"Secret exchange, Pads. Emphasis on secret."
"Aww, c'mon," He bumped Remus with his shoulder. "We're all telling each other who we got. Help each other pick a gift, yes?"
James and Peter caught up with them, chattering excitedly.
"I hope she likes what I get her." Peter looked worried, folding and unfolding his piece of parchment repeatedly.
"As though you wouldn't like being her slave for a day," James said with a wink. "Can't believe Dumbledore made that rule. This would have been a brilliant prank."
"I think you and Sirius are the reasons he made that rule," Remus said. "He wants to make sure everyone gets something… nice, at least. And if they don't like it, you have to serve them for a day."
"God, can you imagine serving old Snivellus?" Sirius gave an exaggerated shudder. "He'd decide it was a 'bad gift' just out of spite, and Merlin knows what he'd make you do. Dumbledore didn't make any rules about what was allowed and not allowed."
"Maybe he'd make you wash his hair." James laughed, and Sirius and Peter joined in, while Remus offered up a weak smile.
If they ever found out Remus actually liked Snape, or, even worse, found out the pale, sneering boy was often featured in Remus' dream fantasies, there'd be no end to the misery. Fiddling with the parchment in his pocket, he wondered who had ended up with Snape and if they'd try to be nice to Snape or just accept their day of servitude. He couldn't imagine Snape being happy with anything given to him.
Trying to change the subject, Remus said, "Weren't you listening? There'll be a charm on the Hall that will be able to tell whether or not the person really likes the gift, and a scroll will record those who really don't like it. So no lying."
"Oh good." James looked relieved. "I got Narcissa. I thought I was buggered for sure."
"Oh, that'll be easy," Sirius said, waving a hand dismissively. "I overheard her telling Andi about this necklace she wanted. Your mum would get it from Diagon Alley if you owled."
"I got Rebekah Ladimer," Peter said, and Sirius looked confused.
"Who?"
"Hufflepuff girl," James said. "Who'd you get?"
"Frank Longbottom. Remus?"
Remus hemmed and hawed until James realized what was going on. "He got one of us!"
"Who've you got, then?" Peter asked eagerly.
"Doesn't matter," Sirius said, slapping Remus on the back. "Any of us will like it just because it's you."
Remus rolled his eyes. "Thank you, Sirius, for that rousing endorsement of my gift-buying capabilities."
"That's not what I meant!" Sirius protested as Peter and James burst out laughing. "Oh, shut it, you two."
"We all got decent people, or at least people we know we can buy for," James said. "I wonder what poor sod got stuck with Snivellus."
---
The other three found out Remus had drawn James simply by holding him down and rummaging in his pocket as soon as they got back to their room.
"James!" Sirius held the scrap of parchment up triumphantly.
"Get him chocolate frogs," Peter advised. "You know he's missing Agrippa."
"Still?" Remus asked, snatching the parchment back from Sirius.
"Bloody rare card," James said. "But really, I'd be happy with anything chocolate."
Remus couldn't help but laugh to himself as the other three constantly assured Remus that whatever he managed to get James, it was bound to be perfect.
Late that night, Remus ran down the common room to find a book he'd forgotten and stumbled across Lily, who was sitting by the fire, biting her lip and staring at her scrap of parchment.
"Lily?" Remus sat down beside her and tucked his legs under himself. "Everything ok?"
"I suppose so. It's just… what am I supposed to get Snape?"
"You got Snape! Oh. I mean, you got Snape?"
Lily laughed. "Yes. I thought about some potion ingredient, but I can't afford the really good ones, and all the ordinary ones he's got already. I don't want to do anything personal, like clothes or jewellery. And he'd just get insulted if I bought nice soap or shampoo."
"Uh, yes, I think soap would be a bad idea. Book?"
"I don't know what he has and doesn't have," Lily said, folding up the parchment and tucking it away. "I just hope he doesn't want anything too nasty when I have to be his servant for a day."
Remus felt a strange flutter in his chest. "What if we swap?"
"What, have you got someone worse?" Lily looked suspicious.
"Nah. I've got James," Remus said, pulling out his own parchment. "See?"
"Well, that ought to be easy enough. Why do you want Snape anyway?"
"I don't," Remus said, a bit too quickly. "But I think I'd do better with him than you. Plus they all found out I have James, so it'd be a surprise if you turned out to have him instead."
"All right," Lily pulled out her parchment and swapped with Remus. "James it is, then. Think a piece of paper saying 'one date with Lily Evans' will do it?"
"Are you joking? He'll be over the moon!"
---
Remus hid the new scrap of parchment in a small locked box buried deep in his trunk. He couldn't risk any of the others finding out he now had Snape, and he'd made Lily promise not to say anything for fear of them trying to do something to "old Snivellus."
Lily seemed happy to have James now, so Remus didn't regret swapping with her. It was just Remus didn't really have a clue what to buy for Snape either, despite having watched the other boy for over a year now.
He knew how Snape's slender hands looked as he prepared a potion, and the expression of concentration he wore when studying Ancient Runes. He knew Snape now wore trousers under his robes, and that he had a tiny scar behind one ear. He remembered the day he noticed Snape had stopped hunching over, and instead strode through the halls with more confidence, robes snapping. He knew Snape's timetable and his habits and what he ate.
But Remus still didn't know what to get him for Christmas.
He watched Snape even more closely for the next week – they were in the same classes for Potions, Herbology, Ancient Runes and DADA – but the only thing he learned in class was that Sprout was trying to get Bertie Bott to name a flavour of jelly bean after the Headmaster.
"It will taste like acid pops, liquorice whips and sherbet lemons in layers! Do you think he'll like it?"
"Uh, sure," Remus said, backing away. He hadn't realized Dumbledore had made the staff do the exchange as well.
Lily started to watch too, since she felt bad that Remus had taken Snape off her hands. Three days before the exchange, she leaned over the lunch table and gave Remus a list of books she'd seen Snape looking through in the library. "He was really paying attention to this one… no, the one on Celtic Runes. You know, the one with the pornographic pictures."
"They're not pornographic!"
"Close enough."
The book in question was how Remus settled on his idea. He saw Snape looking at it again, and sent a charm to mark which pages Snape studied the most.
All of them were the ones – near pornographic, he admitted, though not really explicit – of two men.
He tossed and turned all night, and, just before sunrise, came up with a plan.
It was brilliant. Completely insane and likely to get him hexed within an inch of his life, but brilliant nonetheless.
---
They had a Hogsmeade day right before the exchange, so that students who still needed to purchase gifts could do so.
"Lily," Remus said in a low voice, trying not to attract the other Marauders. "Do you know what Snape doesn't like?"
"What exactly do you have planned, Remus Lupin?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
Remus could feel himself blushing bright red. "Er. Um."
"You're purposely trying to make yourself his slave." Lily tossed her book aside and sat back to look Remus over. "Interesting approach."
"Well, I thought he probably wasn't going to like anything I can afford," Remus admitted. "So I thought, what would make him happier than having one of the people he hates under his thumb."
"I am many things, but stupid isn't one of them. I looked at that Runes book too."
Remus blushed even harder. "Well…"
"Be careful, Remus," Lily said, her face softening. "Don't let him hurt you or anything."
"I can take care of myself!"
"Mm-hmm."
"I can."
Lily sighed and gave up. "He hates Cockroach Clusters. Always passes them on when they pass a box of sweets around the Slytherin table."
"Thanks, Lil," Remus said, then leaned in and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, ignoring the squawk from across the room that had to be James. "It'll all turn out OK, you'll see."
"Yes, well if it doesn't, I'm not picking up the pieces of you that will be scattered all over Hogwarts," Lily said, shaking her finger at him.
"And if it does?"
She smirked. "Then I want details."
---
Remus had just finished wrapping up the small box from Honeydukes when James approached.
"So I get chocolate then?"
"Maybe," Remus said. There was silence, until Remus felt compelled to speak again. "What did you really want to ask me?"
James hedged for a moment, then blurted out, "That kiss with Lily…"
"We're friends, Prongs. That's all. She's sweet, but I'm not interested like that."
"Oh." James looked relieved. "You're sure?"
"I'm sure," Remus said, clapping James on the back. "Come on. Time to meet our fate."
---
At dinner, Remus found a lovely leather-bound journal and quill set from a girl a year below him in Ravenclaw, and he waved across the tables with a grin of thanks. She smiled back, looking relieved.
Remus turned back just in time to catch James opening his gift, which Lily had purposely shaped like the Honeydukes box Remus had been wrapping. His face when he realized he had a date with Lily was priceless, and Remus and Lily both howled with laughter as James leapt up and ran like a madman around the table, holding the small scroll over his head in victory.
Looking over to the Slytherin table, Remus saw Snape scowl and shove the box of Cockroach Clusters over to the younger Lestrange. Remus bit his lip and hoped he'd done the right thing.
He'd find out soon enough.
"Hey!" Sirius poked Remus. "If you didn't have James, who did you have?"
Before Remus could answer, Dumbledore stood and called for silence. "Those whose gifts were found wanting will have a small black stone by their plate. Those who did not like the gifts that were received will have a small golden stone. Everyone who has no stone is free to go."
Remus sat and watched as most of the students and all the staff but Dumbledore left the Hall, James and Sirius casting sympathetic looks behind them as they left. Gathering his courage, Remus joined the students surrounding Dumbledore.
Dumbledore quickly paired up each student with their servant for the next day, leaving Remus and Snape for last. Before he left the Hall, Remus thought he saw Dumbledore give him the slightest wink.
"Sorry," Remus said before Severus could say something nasty.
Snape sneered. "If you had paid even the slightest bit of attention, you'd know that I hate Cockroach Clusters more than anything."
"I do know," Remus hurried on when it looked like Snape was going to hex him. "I just thought an even better present would be having me as a slave. I have to do whatever you want tomorrow, you know."
"True," Snape said, slapping his wand against his leg several times. "Though what, exactly, are you useful for?"
Despite all his best efforts not to, Remus blushed. "Anything you want."
Snape gaped at him, then sputtered, "Did… did you just proposition me?"
"Er…" Remus blushed even harder. "Maybe?"
"Why would you think that I would want you?"
"Well, I saw that book you were looking at and those pages," Remus said. He saw Snape raising his wand. "And just… wait! Don't hex me! It's just… me too."
"You too, what?" Snape asked, still looking suspicious and angry.
"I, um…I like boys too. I thought we could… you know. Have a bit of fun?"
"You think I need to learn something?" Snape sneered. "The noble Gryffindor condescends to show the slimy Slytherin all about sex? Well, guess what. I already know about sex."
"Oh good! You can teach me."
It seemed he had rendered Snape speechless.
"So I'll see you tomorrow?" Remus said hopefully.
Snape recovered his equilibrium enough to reply. "Be at the Slytherin dungeons by 8 a.m."
"OK." Remus paused, but Snape didn't add any more detail. "See you tomorrow, then."
As he walked out of the Hall, Remus glanced over his shoulder to find Snape watching him and wondered what the Slytherin was thinking.
---
Sirius, James, and Peter mobbed Remus when he entered their room, but he refused to tell them the student he was now slave to. He did tell them he'd helped Lily out by trading, at which point James gave him a crushing hug and refused to let the others pester him any more. He spent the rest of the night sharing the giant pile of candy Peter had received and teasing Sirius about the new dirty mags Gideon Prewett had gifted him with. His own new quill and journal were tucked carefully away in his trunk for later use. They all went to bed around 2 am, and Remus, despite being nervous about Snape and what was going to happen, fell asleep quickly.
---
Early the next morning, Remus woke up and headed for the shower, making sure to wash himself thoroughly. He dried himself off and, after some thought, dressed in his tightest, most flattering clothes. As he ran a brush through his hair, he took deep, calming breaths.
"I can do this."
"Of course you can, dearie," the mirror said. "You look very nice."
"Thanks." Remus set the brush down. "Here I go."
The common room was empty as he ran through it and headed out the portrait hole. Remus reached the dungeons several minutes early and he stood, bouncing on his toes, until the wall opened. Snape appeared in the opening, tousled and sleepy-eyed, wand in his hand as he waved Remus into the Slytherin common room.
When Remus was directed to a small hallway off the common room, and then to the third door on the left, he was surprised to find a small, private room filled with feminine frills. He turned to Snape with a questioning look as the other boy shut the door.
"Narcissa owes me," Snape muttered with a yawn.
"Oh." Remus held out his wand.
"Why are you giving me that?"
"I thought it might make you trust me. At least for today."
"Doubtful," Snape said, but took the wand anyway, locking it into the bedside drawer. He yawned and stretched, and Remus couldn't help but look at the small strip of skin between vest and pyjama bottoms.
"So what's first?" Remus asked, rubbing sweaty hands on his trousers.
Snape sighed and flopped on the bed. "I shouldn't have told you to get here so early."
Kicking off his shoes, Remus curled onto the bed beside Snape, careful not to touch the other boy yet. "We could sleep some more."
"As though I would sleep with you around."
"Well, then…" Remus leaned over and placed a hesitant kiss on the corner of Snape's thin lips.
When he pulled back, Snape was looking at him warily. "You really do want to do this."
Remus nodded.
"You would have done this with anyone you got," Snape said, scowling now. "You wish to lose your virginity that badly?"
"No," Remus said, feeling himself blush. "I, um. I traded Lily for you. I wanted you. I gave you something you wouldn't like on purpose."
There was silence for a long moment.
"How long?"
Remus decided his face was just going to stay permanently red around Severus. "A year? Maybe a bit more."
"So… after you nearly killed me. That's rather perverse, Lupin."
"I wasn't spending much time with James, Sirius and Peter. I spent a some time with Lily, but she has her own friends." Remus bit his lip, unable to look Snape in the eyes. "I guess mostly I started watching you."
"Hmmm," Snape said, reaching out to run a finger along Remus' lower lip.
Remus supposed it was as close to a yes as he was going to get, so when Snape pulled his finger away, he leaned in to capture Snape's mouth in a real kiss. Snape tasted stale, as though he hadn't brushed his teeth yet, but his mouth was hot and his tongue was sinuous, and Remus couldn't help but moan.
When he pulled his mouth away from Snape's, Remus realized their bodies were now pressed together, arms wrapped around each other. He could feel the wand digging into his back and a hardness against his thigh. His own trouser-clad erection was rubbing against Snape's bare belly where his cotton vest had been pushed up.
"Snape?" Remus whispered, suddenly unsure of himself.
In answer, Snape kissed him again, grabbing Remus' arse and rolling their hips together. Their cocks pressed together through the fabric and Remus found himself making the most ridiculous noises as he kissed and rubbed against Snape. He tensed, digging his fingers into Snape's back, and came, Snape following immediately after.
Remus lay there in Snape's arms, limp and disinclined to move, even though his trousers were growing very uncomfortable. With a grunt, Snape pulled his wand free, waving it over both of them and muttering a cleansing spell.
"Mmm, good," Remus said, burying his face into Snape's neck. Sated and well pleased with himself, Remus drifted off into sleep.
When he woke up some time later, Remus realized Snape was already, or perhaps still, awake and had slipped both hands under Remus' shirt. Not bothering to open his eyes, Remus nuzzled forward and kissed Snape's neck.
The hands paused a moment, then continued tracing patterns on Remus' back.
"So will we actually get our clothes off next time?" Remus asked, pulling back so he could look at Snape.
Snape's fingernails lightly scratched Remus' back. "If you want."
"I thought today was about what you wanted." Remus smiled and kissed Snape to show he was teasing. "I am your slave until dinnertime, you know."
"I will not be accused of forcing you," Snape said with a frown. He pulled his hands out from under Remus' shirt.
"I want this." Remus pulled Snape closer. "I want you."
"Well, I'm hardly one to turn down sex when it's offered freely," Snape said, smirking.
Remus felt his heart beating faster in anticipation when Snape pulled him upright, tugging Remus' shirt off along the way. Now they were both on their knees, facing each other, and Remus stayed very still, hardly daring to breath as Snape ran his hands along Remus' chest. When Snape flicked a nipple, Remus' hands raised involuntarily, fluttering against Snape's shoulders.
"You can touch me, you know," Snape said.
Emboldened, Remus reached down and grasped the bottom of Snape's vest, pulling it off in one smooth motion. It was strange to see that Snape was thinner than Remus, ribs visible through pale skin. Remus was used to being the smallest in the room, with Sirius' broad shouldered beauty, James' athletic body and Peter's roundness. Tracing the edge of Snape's ribs, Remus could feel the tremble and flex of each breath. Remus leaned in and ran the tip of his tongue along Snape's prominent collarbone, a thrill running through him as he felt Snape catch his breath.
Snape's hands started moving again, rubbing thumbs over Remus' nipples, sliding toward his stomach. Awkwardly Remus pulled himself closer, so they were bare chest to bare chest. Wrapping his arms around Snape, Remus tilted his head as Snape's mouth latched onto his neck.
Remus reached down to grasp Snape's arse, then blinked in surprise.
"So that's why you're so skinny."
"I beg your pardon?" Snape pulled away from kissing Remus' neck.
"It's all back here," Remus said, squeezing for emphasis.
Snape glared, but Remus just laughed and kissed him. "I like it."
In revenge, Snape slid his hand down to the front of Remus' trousers and rubbed the heel of his hand against Remus' trapped erection. Remus moaned, eyes closing, then yanked Snape tight against himself and mashed their lips together. Snape overbalanced, toppling Remus backwards onto the bed with Snape landing on top of him.
Remus had just decided an encore of their previous performance would be lovely, when Snape sat up. About to protest, Remus closed his mouth abruptly when Snape started unfastening his trousers.
"No pants?" Snape raised an eyebrow as Remus' cock sprang free.
"Didn't much see the point," Remus said, and then gasped as Snape blew on his erection. A moment later, Remus' trousers ended up on the floor, followed by Snape's pyjama bottoms. Aside from that fantastic round arse, Snape was long-limbed and scrawny, with bony knees and hipbones that jutted out above his concave stomach.
"Don't you ever eat?" Remus asked, running his palm along one sharp hipbone.
Snape shrugged, uncomfortable. "I do, it just never sticks. If you don't like it, you can leave."
"No, I like it," Remus moved his hand along Snape's thigh. "I just feel like I'm going to break you."
"Trust me," Snape said. "I bend."
The images that entered Remus' mind at that statement made him blush furiously, and Snape smirked at him. Remus decided kissing Snape was probably the best way to get that annoying smirk off the other boy's face.
Remus lost himself in the kissing, only to break off with a gasp as Snape straddled him, pushing their erections together. He could feel the skin of Snape's balls as they rubbed against his in soft counterpoint to their stiff cocks thrusting against each other.
Snape captured Remus' mouth again, sliding his tongue in and twining it with Remus' own. Growing more and more aroused, Remus touched every part of Snape he could – thighs, arse and back in one sweep up, then down along Snape's sides. Their chests pressed against each other, erections trapped between their stomachs.
"You feel so good," Remus said as Snape mouthed kisses along his jawbone. He could feel precome and sweat pooling on his stomach and he thrust up, seeking to drive himself over the edge.
Maddeningly, Snape moved away. "Not just yet."
Snape reached for a small jar on the bedside table, uncapping it with a twist of his wrist and sliding his fingers inside. When he pulled them out, they were covered in a slick fragrant substance. Eyes never leaving Remus', Snape shifted so he was on one knee with the other leg out, foot planted firmly on the bed. He reached back, slowly pressing one finger inside himself. Remus bit his lip and reached down to tug at his balls, willing himself not to come yet.
"God, you're sexy."
Snape just looked at him, eyes half-lidded, and slid another finger inside himself. When he pushed a third finger in, his eyes slid shut as he twisted and stretched himself, hips thrusting, the head of his cock glistening above his foreskin and leaking precome, and Remus couldn't hold back a moan at how utterly debauched Snape looked.
Pulling his fingers out of himself, Snape slipped his fingers into the jar again, but this time when he scooped out the lubricant, he reached out to grasp Remus' cock. Remus groaned, and Snape made a firm circle around the base of Remus' cock with his other hand, staving off Remus' orgasm as he slicked Remus' cock. Slowly Snape moved his hand up and down Remus' erection, rubbing a thumb firmly over the head, then sliding a finger just under his foreskin.
"You're killing me," Remus said, moaning and trying to arch up into Snape's hand, but was held back by Snape's weight on his thighs. "Oh, please."
Still not letting go of Remus' cock, Snape shifted himself forward, lined the head of Remus' cock up with his entrance, and sat down, centimetre by excruciatingly slow centimetre. By the time Remus was fully inside Snape, he was clawing at the sheets in his effort not to thrust. Snape let go of the base of Remus' erection and settled his firm arse against Remus' balls.
"Ready?" Snape asked, a bit breathless, but clearly still capable of speech, unlike Remus.
Gasping, Remus gave a jerky nod and Snape rose up, bracing his hands against the bed, one hand on either side of Remus' head. Remus' hips automatically followed and he planted his feet on the bed as Snape's face hovered over his.
Remus gripped Snape's hips, guiding the other boy down as he pushed up and Snape rocked back to meet him, moaning at each hard thrust. Realizing he wasn't going to last long at all, Remus moved his hand to grasp Snape's cock, realizing belatedly that Snape already had his slicked hand there. Remus bit his lip, and wrapped his hand around Snape's hand, fingers sliding through Snape's fingers to touch his cock. His thumb rubbed the head of Snape's erection, feeling the leaking slit. Without thinking, Remus brought his thumb to his mouth, tasting the salty precome and his hips jerked, losing the rhythm they'd managed to achieve.
Snape faltered, and Remus wrapped his arms around Snape and rolled them over, then held still, unsure of what to do next.
"Here," Snape said, showing Remus how to hook his elbows under Snape's knees, bending the other boy nearly in half.
"Doesn't hurt?" Remus gasped.
"No, but you will be hurt if you don't move."
Remus almost laughed, but kissed Snape instead, then began thrusting again. He must have been doing it better, because soon Snape was writhing under him, groaning and crying out, face twisting in pleasure. Wrapping a hand around his erection, Snape pulled a few times, then came, clenching tightly around Remus as he did. Overwhelmed by sensation, Remus followed a few thrusts later.
Sprawled on top of Snape, Remus decided that he could gladly stay like this forever.
"Move. My legs are starting to cramp." Snape pushed Remus to one side of the bed.
So much for the basking. A cleansing spell washed over him, then Remus found himself covered in his clothes. When he looked up, Snape had already pulled on his pyjama bottoms and was glaring at him, holding both of their wands.
"You're free," Snape said, arms crossed over his narrow chest. "I'm satisfied that you've fulfilled your slave day requirement."
Disappointed, Remus got dressed, then took his wand back from Snape. "I'll see you again, maybe?"
"We have nothing to talk about," Snape said with a scowl.
"Talking?" Remus asked, picking up Snape's hand and drawing the index finger into his mouth. He swirled his tongue around the tip of Snape's finger, then pulled it out of his mouth with a pop. "Who said anything about talking?"
Snape rolled his eyes and Remus blushed. "You sound ridiculous when you're attempting to be seductive."
"Why don't you sound silly when you're saying sexy things?" Remus asked, feeling tempted to pout.
"Because I'm not trying to sound seductive," Snape said as he reached out to touch Remus' lower lip. "If you have to try, it's not going to be sexy."
"Where did you learn that?" Remus moved close enough to feel the heat from Severus' body.
"I am not discussing my sexual history with you."
"Fine," Remus said, and kissed Snape firmly before moving toward the door again. He paused and looked back over his shoulder at Snape, who seemed surprisingly vulnerable as he stood in the centre of Narcissa's room. "If you ever want to… again, I wouldn't object."
Snape nodded, lip curling up the tiniest bit, and Remus grinned. Heading out the door and hurrying through the Slytherin common room, Remus decided this was the best idea he'd had in a very long time.
---
Remus realized it was lunchtime, but decided he needed to change. Not wearing pants underneath his trousers might be sexy and convenient, but it was chafing. When he got to his room, the other three had already left for lunch, so Remus quickly threw on some different clothes then ran to the Great Hall to join them.
"Day of servitude over?" Sirius asked as Remus dropped down beside him.
"Yes," Remus said, reaching for the rolls. "Wasn't too bad at all."
He caught Lily's eye and winked at her, then stifled his laughter as she choked on her pumpkin juice. James patted her on the back, looking anxious, and everyone's attention turned to the coughing girl.
Turning away to hide his grin, Remus caught Snape's eye from across the room. Snape raised his eyebrow at Remus, who gave him a huge smile in response. Rolling his eyes and muttering something that looked like 'bloody obvious', Snape turned away. Remus laughed and looked back at Lily to make sure she was all right.
"I'm fine," Lily said, coughing a bit more. "So everything was OK, Remus?"
He gave her a bright grin. "Still walking and talking."
No one around them understood why Lily suddenly started choking all over again.