Boys Will Be Bugs

Chapter 46: Birthday

Remus wanted to get Sirius something for his birthday, but he wasn't sure what. He could have got him a record, but the record player in the common room had broken a while ago. No one knew exactly what happened, they had simply returned from the holidays to find that nothing would make it go anymore, so perhaps whatever spells had been placed on it to force it to work in the castle had worn off or something. Eventually, someone had just chucked it away.

Remus wandered around Hogsmeade on the next weekend trip, drifting away from his friends so he could search for something. He didn't have a lot of money to spend. Christmas wasn't for a while, and that was usually the only time he received any money, except for birthdays. He had around five galleons saved up, which wasn't bad. It could certainly buy something small for Sirius's birthday, but he didn't know what. A thirteenth birthday was pretty important, and Remus wanted to get something perfect for it.

He decided to enter the nearest shop and take his chances with whatever was in there. The best discoveries were usually accidental discoveries, so perhaps he'd find exactly what he was looking for. He closed his eyes, turned on his heel and opened his eyes. 'The Crooked Thimble'. It sounded like a pub, but it turned out to be a clothes shop instead. Remus rolled his eyes. Why would Sirius want clothes? Why would Remus want to buy clothes in the first place? But he kept his promise to himself and reluctantly walked inside.

It was quite small, almost dusty. It wasn't dusty, it just had the feeling that it was. It was dimly lit, and the walls were covered head to toe in racks of robes and shirts and dresses and so forth. Remus couldn't afford any of this, nor did he think Sirius would want any of it. He wandered to the back of the shop in search of something smaller. There were indeed smaller racks and tables placed near the back, filled with trinkets and accessories. Remus ran his hand through the clothes on one rack. It was lined with flowing skirts, which were very pretty. Remus wanted to buy one for Myfanwy, but he didn't think he'd have enough money left over if he wanted to buy something for Sirius, which he did. Then he thought about the night when they all tried on a skirt– except for him and Peter. But Sirius seemed to be far more into it than he was probably expecting. Could Remus buy him a skirt? Probably not, Sirius would think he was crazy. And when could he possibly wear it anyway? Remus turned his attention to the tables of trinkets.

He didn't know why he was even thinking of Sirius liking anything on these tables. All of this stuff was just for women, bracelets and necklaces and rings and stuff. Sirius wouldn't want any of this, and he'd probably be weirded out if Remus got any of it for him anyway.

And yet, Remus had known Sirius for three years, and probably knew him better than anyone else at Hogwarts, maybe even more so than James. He didn't know him inside and out because Sirius was still very private about a lot of things, but they had enough of a connection for the back of Remus's mind to nag at him and insist that Sirius might like this stuff.

Remus picked up a bracelet. It was thin, but pretty. Silvery, dangly things lined the outside of it, glinting in the occasional appearances of sunlight. He put it down. Sirius wouldn't like it, he was just being silly.

He turned to walk out of the shop. Then stopped, and before he could change his mind again, took the bracelet and headed over to the counter.

"Bit early for Valentine's day isn't it?" chuckled the man behind the counter. His one sentence confirmed to Remus that this was a terrible idea, but it was too late to turn back now. Remus had already handed over the money and the man handed him back the bracelet in a small bag. Remus didn't need the bag. He threw it in the bin and shoved the bracelet into his pocket. Sirius was going to hate him, but he was out of money and time now. He had no choice.

"Before you open it, just... keep an open mind?" Remus handed a tiny parcel to Sirius, wrapped in the most colourful page of The Daily Prophet that Remus could find. Sirius's birthday had gone like any other, with cake stolen from the Great Hall, hand drawn cards from broke classmates who couldn't afford presents (why hadn't Remus just gone with a card? Sirius wouldn't have minded.) and a midnight feast-slash-small celebration in the dorm room. Remus had waited until it was just him and Sirius alone to give him the present, mostly out of embarrassment more than anything. Unfortunately, Remus had to wait until nearly two am before everyone finally retired to bed and fell asleep. He snuck into Sirius's bed and handed over the gift.