Chapter 1
Sirius sighed. Just missed the bus. Fuck. Of course this happened the first day of his second year at university. It was especially annoying because he had to meet his private tutor before his lecture.
This is something he wasn’t looking forward to, but he was going to out of pity. He knew it was some poor kid his father had manipulated into helping improve his terrible grade in Biology, and he was curious who had been picked.
He knew he wasn’t stupid, he had gotten good marks in all his classes apart from the one module he picked up to please his dad. This is why I should never listen to that old man, he thought. He pulled out his headphones and waited for the next bus.
Sirius finally arrived at the library to meet his tutor - albeit half an hour late. Better turn the charm on, he thought. He searched around looking for someone who looked nerdy, and spotted a mess of curly hair sticking up over a pile of biology books. Bingo. He strolled over and dropped his heavy bag onto the seat opposite, sat down, and aimed a fake smile at his new tutor.
“I’m Sirius, your new favourite student. My dad probably bribed you with a shitload of money to improve my Biology grade and subsequently his mental stability. Not to offend you or anything, I’d really rather be anywhere else so let’s keep our interaction at a minimum. I won’t tell my dad anything, and you don’t have to waste your time teaching me. You also get paid. Deal?”
Sirius observed the way his tutor looked up at him through long eyelashes, all big brown eyes and nervous smile. The boy’s face morphed into one of confusion, eyebrows knitted together in a way that screamed no idea what you’re talking about.
Jesus Christ, was his tutor stupid? He must be one of those academic, antisocial types. Upon closer observation Sirius saw purple under his eyes, and a worn out demeanour. He looks like he hasn’t slept for days.
He waved his hand in front of the boys face. This seemed to wake the boy out of his stupor, scrunching up his nose adorably as he processed Sirius’s words.
“Hi, I’m Remus. Sorry for being slow, it’s very early. I think you have the wrong person. I’m a Biology student but I’ve not been assigned as your tutor or anyone’s tutor for that matter. Though I’d be happy to do it if your tutor’s bailed, especially if your dad’s offering cash. I could really use the extra money.”
Remus trailed off towards the end, looking down. Oh right. Well now Sirius felt bad, especially since his tutor (well not his tutor actually) looked embarrassed, his ears turning red. Cute.
Remus’s face turned a pretty pink under Sirius’s gaze. Thin build, all defined collarbones and delicate wrists, exposed by the flowy shirt draped over his shoulders. Sirius’s perusal moved up to Remus’s face, which revealed olive skin, freckles, and a mess of curly brown hair. Hmm.
Sirius quickly pushed any straying thoughts to the back of his mind. He was not here to rile up this pretty boy with the cute freckles and easy blush, as much as he wanted to. Besides, he had a lecture he needed to get to soon.
“Okay Remus-who’s-not-my-tutor, hate to disappoint, but I don’t actually want one. The fact that my real tutor seems to have bailed is pretty good for me. Thanks though.”
Sirius picked up his bag and left the library.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Remus watched as Sirius left the library. Did he weird Sirius out? Mentally, he chastised himself for being so out of it when Sirius approached him and started talking. In his defence, Remus was confused when Sirius started talking about tutoring, though he was more distracted by Sirius himself.
The definition of tall, dark and handsome, Remus had almost passed out when the gorgeous stranger came up to him and started talking. That smile, the deep green eyes, and the way Sirius had leaned in while talking had him glitching.
I really need to start seeing people again, he thought. That tiny interaction was enough to get my heart fluttering.
He wished he had tried harder to be Sirius’s tutor, especially with his gran’s medical bills getting higher and higher. Realistically, he knew her treatment was barely working, but he couldn’t bring himself to give up hope and watch as she slowly faded away.
The doctors had been discussing a new experimental treatment which could potentially keep her illness in check, but the price made his eyes water.
I need to find more work, he thought.
The bzzz of his phone showed a text from a coursemate.
You coming to James tonight?
Remus quickly shot a message back.
I’ll be there.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
5 WEEKS LATER
“Why has your grade not improved?”
The Dean leaned back in his leather seat. Ever the perfectionist, Sirius’s father sat with perfect posture in front of an impeccably arranged desk. The distance between every pencil and file looked like they had been painstakingly measured with a ruler.
Similarly, the same harsh perfectionism seemed to have been applied to the Dean himself, who had aged well from copious exercising and diets, all sharp angles and lean muscle. Sirius used to notice parts of himself in his father, but these past few years he saw it less and less.
“What do you mean? Is my 38 not a perfectly adequate score? You wound me father, after I tried so hard as well.”
Sirius paused when his father shot him a steely glare, and slouched in his seat.
“I’ll try harder, promise. My grade will have improved by the next test.”
“You said that last time. This is unacceptable, do you understand? You are my son, the child of the Dean. Do you see how it reflects on me when my only son cannot pass a simple class?”
The Dean slammed his hand on desk, rattling the pens and disturbing the perfect arrangement of objects.
Sirius sank even further into his seat.
“You will attend the lessons I’ve set up with that new tutor, and you will present me with an A on the next paper of yours. No more excuses, and no more parties. You seem to be making your way through the female population at tremendous pace.”
Sirius smirked. He didn’t deliberately try to sleep with many people, but who was he to say no when women, and men, threw themselves at him? He hid his face and nodded.
“Of course father. One problem, my tutor seems to have given up on me considering he’s not shown up once. I have someone in mind to replace him though.”
“Who?”
“He’s called Remus. Biology student.”
“I’ll look into it.”
Sirius wanted to see Remus again, and if he had to be tutored, who better than the nervous Biology student who was fun to tease? He thanked his father and left.