Radio with static.
After the previous night, according to James' own testimony; they all decided to go to bed early deciding unanimously, not to use Veritaserum again in their games.
Lupin, however, already wanted to go home, but he seemed to be the only one who wanted this.
By the time he awoke he found that the camp was almost empty, despite it being quite early (9 a.m.). A growing fear came over him, and he began to call out to his friends with desperate cries, until Lily came out of James' tent and explained that everyone but the two of them went magical fishing.
Not having the faintest idea what magical fishing was, Remus nodded and stood by the unlit campfire. Lily, unlike Him, was already radiant, with an orange dress and swimsuit already on. Remus, on the other hand, was the same as yesterday, not even bothering to change his underwear.
He reeked of a mixture of salt, Lily's lotion, beer, and mustard, so he decided that his first mission of the day would be to go take a well-deserved shower.
“Remus I…”
“Don't worry, Lily” Lupin hastened to complete “Anyway, yesterday was not a good day for me.”
Both boys looked at each other, with Lily thankful that Lupin was such a kind person, and not very spiteful.
Near the compound where they were camping, there was a toilet that looked abandoned, but was functional for a pound. The place was staffed by a tall guy, who was flipping through a magazine bored, with a radio from which emitted more static than music. Lupin held out the money, the boy examined it for a second (the scars, they always noticed that) and then handed him some toilet paper.
“I want to use the showers,” Lupin said. The boy pointed to the misspelled sign, realizing that it was two pounds for the service, “okay.”
He rummaged inside his shorts, realizing he had no more money, muttered a curse, and proposed.
“How about if I fix your radio and give you a pound in exchange for letting me use the full service?”
The boy pondered for a second, but in the end agreed. Lupin wanted to go in, but the boy stopped him.
“First the radio” he said, speaking for the first time, in a firm, boyish voice, “then the bathroom. I'm not going to let you cheat me.”
Lupin shrugged, laid the towel on top of the chair, and asked the boy to turn around, to very subtly conjure a reparo. By the time the boy turned around, the radio had been set up and was playing clearly.
“Bro, thanks for that.”
Lupin got up, and the boy turned up the volume on the device, leaving him to go into the bathroom without further restriction. He showered listening to the voice of the Muggle commentator giving the weather, news and playing music.
«I can dimp the lights and sing you songs full of sad things
We can do the tango just for two
I can serenade and gently play on your heart strings.
Be your Valentino just for you»
He finished dressing and prepared to go back to camp, the boy stopped him again, this time noticing the boy's freckles running down his neck to the blush on his cheeks.
“What's your name, buddy?”
«Ooh, love, ooh, loverboy
What're you doin tonight, hey boy? »
“Remus Lupin, why?” Lupin replied.
The boy's expression was no longer as listless as it had been when he first met him, as he was now showing a deep interest.
“I have a normal name, my name is Thomas” he added “it's nothing, I just like you, did you get here today? I haven't seen you before.”
«Set my alarm, turn on my charm
That's because I'm a good old-fashioned loverboy»
He wanted to answer but was interrupted by a strong grip on his arm, he turned around to find Sirius, who smelled of fish, was wet from head to toe and seaweed was dripping from his hair. Thomas sharpened his gaze, and Sirius tightened his grip, not taking his eyes off the boy.
“Sirius? What the hell happened to you?” Remus questioned, pulling the seaweed out of Sirius' hair.
“It didn't go too well, that fishing thing… but never mind, I see you made a friend,” Sirius remarked, crossing his shoulders. “It's good to know that MY shy boy can relate.”
Lupin was surprised at the emphasis of the word. Thomas blushed so red; it was comparable to the color of Lily's hair. Behind him the radio went back to static that made the rest of the song incomprehensible.
“You shy boy?” repeated Thomas hesitantly, “Ha, it almost sounds like you're pussies.”
“Oh, WE ARE!” Sirius asserted, grabbing Lupin around the waist, “and I guess from your expression we're not the only ones. You want me to tell you something, kid? Being dismissive doesn't take away from whom you really are.”
The boy stood stone-faced and looked at Sirius angrily, Lupin couldn't help but cover his face feeling his face burn with embarrassment.
“Now how much was it to use the showers?” questioned Sirius signaling Remus to get out “Two?”
“Four” croaked Thomas, sitting down next to the radio, giving it a loud thump “Bloody hell!”
Sirius laughed and could feel all that jealous magic dissipate in the air, the radio returned to normal, with the announcer's voice commenting on the Queen song.
“But the sign says two.”
“Yeah, but I'm the one who charges FOUR! Or you shower in the sea.”
Lupin smiled in amusement before leaving the place, he was still angry with Sirius (how could he not be?), but every day he found it harder to remind his own heart that they should ignore him.
『 °*- ღ -*°』
33/46
Good old-Fashioned Lover Boy, by Queen.