Books were always a comfort in Remus Lupin's life. From when he was a kid, sitting in the hospital waiting room for one of his many doctors' appointments and flicking through picture books and magazines, to when he was an adult, sitting in his chair by the window, sipping tea and reading some novel as the rain pattered against the window. No matter the book, Remus would want to read it, that's how important they were to him. Maybe that's why he decided to open up the bookshop.
It was a small little thing, hidden on the corner of a popular shopping street. It wasn't the most popular shop, but he still got a fair share of customers: parents looking for gifts for their kids and sometimes even school-aged children looking for books to help them with their classes. Most of the customers that did visit the shop ended up coming back on occasion. Remus always remembered their faces and made sure to give them a discount on their purchase.
Remus found that he didn't really mind the popularity of his shop; he was just glad that he could share the joy he had for books and reading. That was all that mattered to him.
With his books being his pride and joy, his top priority was to sort out the books whenever he could, whether that be during a time where the shop was next to empty or the end of the day when he closed the shop. It was the latter when he met Sirius Black for the first time.
The last of his customers of the day had left the shop almost half an hour ago and there were five minutes until closing time. Remus took this as an opportunity to go sort out the bookshelves so they would be presentable when he opened the shop up first thing in the morning.
He had just started on the fantasy section when the bell above the shop's door rang. Remus startled and looked up. By the front counter, there was a frantic-looking man, clad in a leather jacket and ripped jeans. His fly-away hair dropped down to his shoulders and he swallowed, his adam's apple bobbing in his throat, as he looked around the shop.
"Hello," Remus spoke up, straightening himself out. The man looked over at him, the most relieved expression on his face. "Can I help you?"
"Yes, please." The man said, a deep rumble of a voice. "Do you have any books by York Painter?"
"Yes, of course." Remus said, nodding. "Is there a specific one you're looking for?"
"Er..." the man trailed off, biting his lip. He pulled his phone out of his pocket, held up one finger to Remus, and said, "Sorry, just give me a second."
Remus waited patiently as the man typed on his phone. The man held the phone up to his ear, tapping his foot impatiently.
"Prongs!" He practically shouted when the person on the other line answered. "Yeah, I'm at the bookshop right now. What book am I supposed to get?"
The person on the other end spoke for a few moments and the man nodded. Their conversation lasted no less than a minute and the man hung up seconds after. He looked back over at Remus with a small smile as he pocketed his phone.
"Sorry about that." The man said. "She wants the one about painting and culture, or something."
"The Culture of Painting?" Remus clarified.
"Yes!" The man snapped his fingers and nodded vigorously at Remus. "That's the one. Do you have it?"
"Yeah, right over here." Remus said. He led the man to the Culture and Social section of the bookshop. He scanned his eyes over the books for no more than fives seconds before reaching into the shelf and pulling out a rather large book titled 'The Culture of Painting'.
The man's eyes widened as Remus placed the book in his hands.
"Blimey! This thing is huge!" The man said, moving the book up and down on his hands as if weighing it.
The two of them walked over to the register and Remus slipped behind the counter. The man placed the large book onto the counter and Remus slid it towards himself, scanned it, and returned it to the man.
"Would you like a reciept?" Remus asked when the man handed over his card.
"No, thanks. It's a gift for a friend. It's her birthday." The man explained.
"Oh, well, happy birthday." Remus said. He swiped the card and passed it back to the man.
"Cheers, mate!" The man exclaimed. "She's been wanting this book for ages. It's sold out pretty much everywhere else. I've been looking everywhere for it."
Remus hummed with a nod as the receipt printed out and he tossed it in the trash.
"Well, thanks, mate!" The man said, clutching the book in his hand and sending Remus a warm smile. "You're a lifesaver."
"Have a wonderful rest of your night." Remus said.
"Cheers! You, too, Remus."
The bell above the door rang again as the man stepped out of the shop. Remus stood still for a moment, shocked that the man knew his name - then he remembered that he wore a name tag and he let himself breathe a sigh of relief. Once he calmed down enough, Remus pulled the door ajar to flip the sign from 'Open' to 'Closed'. He let the door fall closed and went back to organizing the fantasy shelf, sighing.
***
Remus hadn't really expected the man to come back in - he didn't seem like the type to enjoy reading all that much - so it was a great surprise when the bell above the door rang thirty minutes before closing time. Remus stood up from his chair with a heavy sigh, glancing up to see who entered.
"Miss me?" The man asked. He was once again wearing a leather jacket and another pair of nice ripped jeans. This time, however, he had his long black hair pulled into a ponytail, and a baby was resting on his hip.
"Hello," Remus greeted. "Did your friend enjoy her book?"
"Oh, yes." The man said with a soft laugh. "It's taken over her life already, mate. She was barely present at her own party because she wanted to start on the damn thing. I reckon she's already almost finished with it."
"Well, I'm glad that she's liking it." Remus said. "Is there anything I can help you find today?"
"Nope, just brought my godson here to browse some of the childrens' books." The man gestured with his free hand to the baby on his hip.
Remus nodded and pointed up the stairs.
"The kids' section is up there. You're welcome to stay however long you'd like, there're some chairs up there." Remus explained.
"Cheers! Thanks, mate." The man sent Remus a thankful smile and walked upstairs with the baby.
Remus stretched his arms with a grimace and walked over to organize the fantasy section for the sixth time that week; it was the most popular section, so Remus wasn't surprised. On occasion, he could hear the man reading sections of whatever kids' book to the baby and the baby blabbering back, but the shop was overall quiet other than that.
Other than the fantasy section, the other bookshelves didn't seem to need much organizing, so Remus was free to sit back down and wait for the man to come back downstairs so he could close up the shop for the night. He didn't have to wait too long, luckily, as five minutes before the official closing time, the man walked down. The baby was still resting on his hip, but it was clutching a picture book tightly in his little fists.
"Of the Moon?" Remus said, scanning the book. "Good choice."
The man laughed and handed over his card. Remus swiped the card and passed it back to the man.
"Would you like a receipt?" Remus asked.
"No, thanks, mate." The man said, taking the book and handing it to the baby. "Harry, what do we say to him?"
"Thank you!" The baby said, chewing on the corner of the book.
"You're very welcome." Remus said with a smile. "Thanks for coming in. You two have a wonderful night."
"You, too, Remus." The man said. With a wave, he exited the bookshop.
Remus walked over to the door and flipped sign from 'Open' to 'Closed'. He wondered if that man was going to become a regular in his little bookshop.
***
It seemed that the man was going to become a regular, as he came back not even a full week later. It was just before closing time, as it seemed when the man always came. He didn't have the baby - Harry, the man had said - with him this time, following behind him, was another man who looked almost exactly like the baby, but grown up. Remus guessed that he was Harry's father.
"Hey, Remus!" The man exclaimed.
"Hello," Remus greeted, glancing up for a short second. "Can I help you find anything today?"
"Nope, just browsing!" The man exclaimed. "Thanks, though."
Remus nodded and watched as the two men walked towards the Sports section. They disappeared down the aisle and Remus finally looked back down at his book. The bookshop fell into silence, which Remus was thankful for.
The silence didn't last very long, though, as the two men started shouting.
"Come on, Padfoot!" The second man exclaimed. "You're not actually considering buying that one, are you? They suck!"
"You're just mad they beat your team last game." The first man - what kind of name was Padfoot - said with a laugh.
"Maybe." The second man said. "But, come on, really? They aren't even your favorite!"
"So?" Padfoot said. "It has a poster with handsome men included, I'd be mad not to buy it."
There was a moment of silence and then the two men burst into laughter.
"Fine, fine, you win, get the damn book already so we can go. I have a date with my lily flower in half an hour and you were supposed to help me get her an anniversary gift!" The second man exclaimed.
"Yeah, that's why we're here." Padfoot said. "Just get her a book like always."
"I can't just get her a book, Padfoot!" The second man exclaimed.
"I think you're overthinking this, Prongs." Padfoot said.
Ah, Remus realized, this was the person that Padfoot had needed to call when he was getting that gift.
"Get her this." Padfoot continued.
"She hates sports." Prongs said.
"Fine, fine." Padfoot said with a heavy sigh. "Get her one of those history books she loves so much."
"You're a genius, Padfoot!" Prongs exclaimed.
"I've been told." Padfoot said.
Prongs dashed out of the Sports section and turned into the History section. Remus winced as he almost ran into the corner of one of the bookshelves.
"Don't worry about him." Padfoot's voice came from next to him. Remus startled and looked over at him. "Well, not about him getting injured by a bunch of books falling on him. Maybe worry about his anniversary dinner. He's got to go in fifteen minutes and he hasn't even gotten his wife a gift yet."
"Yikes." Remus said. "Are you ready to check out?"
"Yeah." Padfoot said and he handed over the book about whatever sports team that Remus didn't really understand.
"Would you like a receipt?" He asked as he scanned the book.
"Ouch." Padfoot said. "And here I thought we were close enough that you'd know I don't ever get a receipt."
"Well," Remus said with a shrug, handing the book to Padfoot. "I think it's polite to ask."
Padfoot laughed and took the book from him.
"I'm Sirius, by the way." Padfoot said.
"What?" Remus said.
"Oh, fuck." Padfoot huffed. "My name. It's Sirius."
"Oh!" Remus exclaimed. He felt his cheeks heat up. "My apologies."
"No, no, it was my fault. It happens everytime, I should have specificed that first." Sirius said.
"I found one!" Prongs exclaimed, running up to the counter with a book in his hands. He handed it to Remus.
"This is a good one." Remus complimented.
"You've read it?" Prongs asked, looking relieved. "Do you think my wife will like it?"
"If she's interested in learning about medieval times, yes." Remus said, scanning his card and handing him the book. "Would you like a receipt?"
"No, thanks." James took the book gratefully and glanced at his watch. "Shit! Come on, Padfoot, we've got to go! I only have five minutes to get to the restaurant!"
Sirius laughed and waved to Remus as the two men left the shop.
"Thanks for coming in." Remus said as the door shut. Those two were a handful.
***
"Morning, Remus!" Sirius exclaimed.
Remus startled and looked up at him.
"You're here early."
"Yeah, I thought I'd give you a break and come before it was time for you to close." Sirius said.
"That's too kind of you." Remus said, rolling his eyes. "Can I help you find anything today?"
"Nope, I actually just came here to talk to the cute employee."
"Pardon?" Remus said, staring at Sirius with wide eyes.
"I just wanted to see you." Sirius said with a shrug.
"Oh." Remus said. He swallowed thickly, feeling his cheeks heat up. "I'm the owner, actually."
"Ah," Sirius said, nodding. "I should have expected that, you're the only employee that's ever here."
"Yeah, it's small enough that I don't need any other employees." Remus shrugged.
"Makes sense." Sirius smiled at him and leaned against the counter. "So, got any hobbies?"
"Reading." Remus said.
"That's it?" Sirius said, a laugh bubbling out of him.
Remus nodded.
"Makes sense that you'd choose to own a bookstore of all things." Sirius grinned at him. "Are you free tomorrow?"
"Er, yeah, I think..." Remus trailed off and looked at Sirius. "Why?"
"I thought we could go catch a movie or get a drink or something." Sirius said.
"Oh."
"If that's something you'd be interested in."
"Sure." Remus said, surprising himself. "I don't see why not."
"Brilliant!" Sirius exclaimed. "I'll come pick you up here at nine tomorrow?"
"Sure." Remus repeated. "Yeah, that sounds good."
"See you then." Sirius smiled at him and turned to the door. "Bye, Remus."
"Thanks for coming in."
***
The bookshop was the least busy it had ever been. It left him with more time to worry about seeing Sirius that night - was it just going to be a friendly thing or was it going to be a date? It left Remus wondering why he had even agreed in the first place, he hadn't even known Sirius that long.
Still, as Remus locked up at exactly nine, he heard the rumbling of a motercycle. He pocketed his keys and watched as Sirius, wearing exactly what he always was (accompanied with a nice biking helmet), pulled up to the shop on the nicest motorcycle that Remus had ever seen.
"Hey, Remus!" Sirius exclaimed, turning off the engine and stepping off of the motorcycle.
"Of course you drive a motorcycle." Remus said.
"Yeah, motorcycles are punk rock!" Sirius exclaimed. "This here's my best mate Elvendork."
"That's a horrible name." Remus said.
Sirius shrugged.
"I happen to think it's pretty punk rock." He said. "Prongs does, too. He helped me pick it out."
"Of course he did." Remus said with a laugh.
Sirius grinned at him and handed him a helmet.
"Well, get on. We're going to get dinner."
Sirius swung his leg onto the motorcycle and looked expectantly at Remus. Remus frowned, but put on the helmet anyway and got onto the motorcycle behind Sirius. Then, the two of them were off. It was only about a five minute drive to the restaurant that Sirius was taking him to, but Remus decided that it was better than walking.
Sirius parked the motorcycle and got off, extending a hand for Remus to help him off. Remus thanked him and the two walked into the restaurant. It was something fancy that Remus didn't think he would ever go to on his own - he doubted that he could even afford to buy one meal at this place. Sirius had apparently made a reservation already, as the waiter grabbed two menus and escorted them to a table outside. He asked what they wanted to drink and disappeared back into the building to retrieve their beverages.
"This place is really expensive, Sirius." Remus whispered, glancing at the menu.
"Don't worry about the prices." Sirius said. "I'm paying."
Remus briefly wondered how Sirius was able to afford this, but he figured that could be a topic for another time that wasn't their first date. Was this even a date? Remus felt his cheeks heat up at the thought.
"Erm, Sirius?" Remus spoke up after the waiter had brought out their drinks and had taken their order.
"Yes, Remus?" Sirius asked, taking a sip of his drink. He looked at Remus over the glass.
"Is this a date?"
Sirius swallowed and set his glass back down. He licked his lips and looked up at Remus.
"Do you want it to be?"
"I don't know." Remus replied honestly. He locked eyes with Sirius and felt his cheeks flush hotter. "Do you?"
Sirius stayed silent for a second, taking his glass in his hand and swirling around the contents. He set the glass back down and nodded.
"Yeah, I do."
"Okay." Remus said. He suddenly felt too hot and he reached for his glass, taking a large gulp of the ice water. "Is it a date, then?"
"Yeah, I think so." Sirius said. A small smile slipped onto his face and Remus let out a soft breath.
"Okay." Remus said again.
The watier returned with their food and they fell into a short silence.
"Thanks for agreeing to come out with me, Remus." Sirius said after a few minutes of eating.
"Yeah. Um. Thanks for inviting me." Remus said. "And for paying."
Sirius let out a loud laugh. Remus' cheeks heated up as a few of the other customers glanced over at them for a few seconds.
After that, the rest of their date went smoothly. Remus felt himself getting less embarrassed and more comfortable as the date progressed. Once they had finished their meals, Sirius paid for the entire thing and, from what Remus saw, even left the waiter a very generous tip. Then, they left the restaurant and walked down the street towards Elvendork.
Their hands found each other and their fingers intertwined. The two of them were silent, breathing in the cold night air, content to be in one another's company. They secured the helmets on their heads and got onto the motorcycle. Sirius turned on the engine and they soared off into the night. It was another five minutes to the bookshop and it was chilly, but Remus was content to just be with Sirius.
"Thank you, Sirius." Remus said shyly, looking down at his feet as they said their goodbyes for the night.
"Of course." Sirius said. "Thank you for coming."
Remus looked up at him and they locked eyes. Remus swallowed as Sirius leaned in closer.
"Can I kiss you?"
"Yes." Remus breathed.
Sirius leaned forward the rest of the way. It was a gentle kiss, lasting no longer than five seconds, but it left Remus wanting more.
"I'll see you tomorrow." Sirius said with a smile. "Goodnight, Remus."
"Goodnight." Remus said, breathless as he watched Sirius board the motorcycle and drive off down the street.
Remus decided that, if he ever met Sirius' friend that he had been getting that book for, he would thank her every day for the rest of his life.