A Master Plan

Author: Lia
Rating: NC-17
Archiving: All FQF will be archived solely at this site until September 30th, 2004. At that point, the author may post the fic elsewhere or may be contacted to have this fic archived at different sites if they so choose.
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. I do not own Harry Potter, its characters, or anything associated with it. I'm not making any money from this story, and I don't intend to.
Challenge & Summary: Full Moon 4 - Sirius is such a tease and Remus decides to show him just who's boss. However, it takes just a little bit of encouragment from a friend to get him to go through with it.
Author Notes: This is dedicated first and foremost to Jateshi... because without her, there would not be a FQF. Yes, I know I did all the grunt work and the organisation, but she donated the space and has just... well, she knows. And, thank you to Avengangle for letting me run down to her dorm room about every ten minutes last year for the little things. Thank you everyone as well for making this fest as much of a success as it has been. If it wasn't for you guys, this fest would not have happened... so thank you, from the bottom of my heart. And, a last thanks to Casey for her great Beta job. ^^

There's a fine, fine line
between together, and not.
And there's a fine, fine line
between what you wanted,
and what you got.
You gotta go after the things you want
while you're still in your prime.

There's a fine, fine line between love,
and a waste of time.
                     -- "There's A Fine, Fine Line " --
                                         -- Avenue Q --

"I should have known."

Lily glanced up from her book and looked over at the boy sitting beside her. Nearly an hour ago he had asked her if she was busy because there was something he wanted discuss with her, but for the past fifty minutes they had sat in silence. Those four words were the first he had spoken all afternoon.

"Should have known what?" Lily asked, turning the book over to lay face down in her lap. She wasn't sure if he was ready to talk yet or not, and didn't want to appear rude by having an open book in her lap.

"Should have known that Sirius would never take this," the boy paused, wincing at what had become an overused, yet automatic joke, "Seriously."

Lily sighed and picked up her book once again, though this time it was to close it. She certainly wouldn't be reading anymore this afternoon. In the back of her mind, Lily had suspected this conversation would happen sooner or later. Yet, given Sirius's past, she had had a sinking suspicion it was going to happen sooner rather than later, and sadly, she was right. With a sigh and a slight shake of her head, Lily turned to face her fellow prefect.

"Remus, you knew how he was before you started dating him. Why did you think this time would be any different?"

An instant change of emotion passed over Remus's face, going from hurt to anger in only a matter of seconds. Instantly Lily regretted her words, no matter how much truth there was in them. The angered look on Remus's face faded as well, returning to the expression akin to sadness and hurt.

"Why?" Remus asked in a whisper turning away from Lily to look out over the lake. He paused a moment longer to consider his words, wondering just how much of his relationship he should confess. Then again, Lily had been the one he originally came out to, so why shouldn't she know everything?

"Because he said he loved me," Remus finished, his voice growing softer with every word. He paused once again to watch the Giant Squid sun himself before continuing a second time. "Even before I said it. It was a week ago, after we…" Remus grew quite red in the face and Lily didn't have to be a psychic to understand his meaning. "For the first time... that's when he said it." A third pause, Remus finding it difficult to speak of this, even to Lily. When he spoke again at last, there was a distinct bitterness in his voice. "So, that's why in the past five days he's flirted with twelve girls, six guys and snogged Missy Wellington."

Lily closed her eyes, silently cursing Sirius. She laid a hand on Remus's knee in an attempt to comfort him, but he never acknowledged the touch.

"And that was just what I saw," Remus finished, his voice so soft that Lily wondered if Remus had intended for her to hear his words.

Silence descended on the two and Lily watched Remus wage an internal battle to remain in control of his emotions. For the almost seven years she had known Remus, she could remember only one time that he had looked close to losing control. Lily had always been amazed at the amount of self-control Remus possessed and to see that he was teetering on the edge of losing it that Lily knew just how deeply Sirius had hurt the other boy.

"I'm sorry, Remus."

Remus attempted to shrug off her words like they didn't matter but Lily could see the truth in Remus's eyes. Lightly, she rubbed his knee, trying to convey some sense of comfort to the Prefect.

"I should have known... I never should have thought..."

"Don't say that Remus," Lily replied sharply. Remus raised his head, his brow furrowing slightly at the tone of her voice. "You had no way of knowing. It was possible that he could have changed. You don't --"

"You know the cliché, Lils," Remus interrupted with a bitter shake of his head. "A leopard never changes his spots."

Lily sighed and once more silence descended upon them. After a few moments, Remus made a move to get up but Lily pulled him back down to the ground.

"Lily, let me go. I've already taken up most of your time today and we both have work we should be doing."

"Beat him at his own game, Remus," Lily said softly. "He could be like most men and afraid of commitment. Push him and see how far he'll go." An odd look passed over Remus's face. He opened his mouth to speak but Lily held up a hand. "And if you say you're afraid if you do that, you'll lose him, ask yourself if you're really happy. If you leave things as they are, you'll never really have Sirius. If we try this, you at least have a shot."

Remus looked down at Lily, considering her words and then took a seat beside her once again.

"What do you have in mind?"

-=-=-=-

Remus wasn't sure if he could go through with the plan - it just wasn't him. He was no seductor; he was no flirt -- it simply wasn't in his nature. And now Lily was expecting him to make Sirius jealous? Impossible. Abso-bloody-lutely impossible.

But it was too late to back out for everything was already in place. Remus sighed to himself and ran a hand through his hair as he stood outside the Great Hall. What if this didn't work? What if doing this made Sirius realise that he'd rather date someone else? Perhaps it would be better to either cut his losses and move on or simply accept that Sirius would never be a "one man" man.

Once again, Remus sighed to himself. Lily had said the same thing to him outside two days ago and Remus had decided to take charge of the situation. Yet, now, when faced with the decision once again... Remus would much rather have gone with the safe route and lived with a promiscuous mate.

Remus closed his eyes as he leaned against the corridor wall. He also knew that the safe route was unacceptable. He knew in his heart that he couldn't accept being anything less than first in Sirius's eyes. So, even though he may have been scared to attempt this plan, he knew he had to go through with it.

"Are you ready, Remus?"

Remus turned to see Lily standing behind him. There was no turning back now; there was no running away. It was now or never and Remus was ready to take the leap.

"I hope so."

Lily grinned and kissed his cheek. "Come in when you're ready. If we're lucky, two men will change their minds tonight."

She flounced off without another word, leaving a fairly bewildered Remus behind.

'Two men...?'

After Lily left, Remus remained in the Entrance Hall a few moments longer to give her time to get settled. To be perfectly honest, he wasn't sure just how he was going to flirt with the girl to make Sirius jealous. Remus wasn't exactly a master at flirting; that title lay between Sirius and James. Remus was lucky if a girl would even flirt with him in the first place, let alone if he sought one out. Remus sighed to himself, straightening his robes. Hopefully Lily would just take charge and everything would be fine.

The Great Hall was a buzz with noise and the sounds of knives and forks bumping into each other. With the Hall this noisy, perhaps no one would notice this little play acting, save those involved. 'That would be the best,' Remus thought, 'as I'd rather not have the entire school know I'm dating Sirius...'

If one could call what they had dating. More accurately it was fucking each other while Sirius continued to flirt with anything that moved and had two legs.

Lily had chosen her seat well... far enough away from the boys, and yet close enough at the same time. Remus knew neither James nor Sirius would be able to hear their words, but they'd be able to see every single touch and reaction between the two play-actors. Remus took a deep breath and walked towards Lily, praying that this was going to work... and that he wasn't screwing himself by flirting with her. 'Time will tell... time will tell... ' he kept telling himself.

A smile was thrown in Sirius's direction as he passed by his normal seat and continued on to where Lily was sitting. If Remus had turned around (and he didn't, for fear of his resolve crumbling), he would have seen a shocked Sirius, his mouth hanging open at his boyfriend's brush-off.

"Sirius, close your mouth," James chided with a kick to Sirius's skin. "I have food on my plate and don't really care to see your half-eaten food."

"Did you... did you see that!?" Sirius exclaimed after he had swallowed.

"He went to talk to Evans. So what? They're prefects... it's probably something... prefect-y."

Sirius seized James's shoulders and forcibly turned the boy to look at Remus and Lily. "Does that look 'prefect-y' to you, mate?"

By the time James had turned to look, Remus had one hand on Lily's shoulder, leaning over her to whisper in her ear. Neither boy could read lips, for whatever was said was too soft to be heard. When Lily tossed her head back and laughed, the two Gryffindors went green with envy.

"That's... that's my..." both boys said in unison, unable to tear their eyes from the scene before them. Dinner had been completely forgotten.

Sirius glared at James. "That's your what, James?" Sirius asked, a growl in his voice. "Lily isn't your girlfriend. I'M the one who should be pissed off that that woman is fondling my boyfriend!! "

James smirked. "Are you?"

"Don't make me answer that."

Just down the table, the two actors were oblivious to the reactions of the boys sitting a few seats away. Or, at least Remus was, for he was too worried to look back for fear of wanting to back out.

"Do you think this is working?" Remus whispered in Lily's ear, bending down for a second time.

The green-eyed witch risked a glance at the two currently seething Gryffindors sitting just down the line. She raised her head, giving Remus a smile. "Hook, line and sinker."

Lily raised a hand, running it along Remus's hip and letting it rest there. Remus fought back a wince, surprised that he was as disturbed by a female's touch on his arse as he was. Remus sighed to himself but forced a smile at Lily.

Sirius, on the other hand was seeing red. James, beside him was sputtering, trying to get a word out, but couldn't.

"What is she doing with her hand on my boyfriend's arse?" Sirius hissed, his eyes narrowing dangerously.

"I can't keep this up much longer, Lils," Remus whispered, running a hand through her hair.

"Just kiss me," she replied.

For the first time since he entered the Great Hall and passed by Sirius, Remus glanced back in his direction. The look on his face could only be called one thing: pure jealousy. Just to see that look in Sirius's eyes was worth all he had done in the past five minutes. And, it was almost enough to call off the plan right then and there.

Before Remus even knew what was happening, Lily had her hand around his neck, pulling him down for a kiss. Their lips touched and hers parted, letting Remus deepen the kiss as he would. Letting his instincts take over, Remus's tongue pushed past Lily's lips to take that first taste of his fellow Prefect.

They kissed for a few minutes before Remus broke apart, forcing a smile at Lily. If he was wondering about his choice of taking Sirius over Lily (or any female for that matter), there was no doubt he had made the right choice -- he knew just after kissing her. Lily was... well, kissing Lily was like kissing his sister (if he had one, that is).

There was a muffled noise from behind him. Remus turned in the direction of the sound to see a look on Sirius's face akin to rage. Remus swallowed hard, wondering if maybe he had gone too far... maybe he had pushed Sirius too far and it was... over...

Sirius stood abruptly while the rest of the hall buzzed around them, seemingly unaware of the quartet of students involved in a silent battle for affections. Taking a deep breath, Remus shifted his glance across the table to where James was. If it was possible, James looked even more upset than Sirius, and James wasn't even dating Lily.

For once, Remus was at a loss of what to do. A flick of his eyes towards Lily revealed nothing either. She just sat there with a sly smile on her face while the two men across from her sputtered with rage. Sirius and James looked at each other briefly before they split apart: Sirius, stalking out of the Great Hall and James stalking towards the couple.

Hiding a look of pure panic, Remus looked at Lily, completely lost.

"Go after him," Lily whispered. "Go to him; I can take care of myself."

"Lupin, what the fuck do you think you're doing kissing my girl?"

Remus winced, backing away almost instinctively. He turned, one hand still resting on Lily's shoulder. Remus opened his mouth to speak, but Lily beat him to it.

"James Potter, if you haven't noticed, I'm not 'your girl'. But, perhaps if you would stop acting like a conceited git all the time, I would be." Lily stood, shaking Remus's hand off her shoulder. "Excuse me Remus." Her head held high, Lily left the hall, leaving a stunned James Potter behind.

"R...Remus...?" James asked, his voice shaking.

"What?"

"Did... did you put her up... up to that...?"

Remus sighed and shook his head, trying to figure out a way to leave James to go after Sirius. "No, I didn't. This plot was for Sirius, not for you," he answered, not bothering to hide the reason for his kiss. "Turns out Lily had another trick up her sleeve as well."

The bespeckled boy just stared at Remus momentarily before he shook his head. "I'll never understand any of you, least of all you, Remus."

A shrug was James's only answer. Both boys knew their conversations were over and left the Hall at the same time. They split ways at the Entrance Hall: James to go after his would-be girlfriend, and Remus to try and salvage a relationship.

-=-=-=-=-

Upon entering the Seventh Year Boy's Dormitory, Remus wasn't quite sure what he would find. He wasn't even sure if Sirius had come upstairs in the first place. But, the Dormitory was as good a place as any to start.

"Evening, Remus."

Or, he would be there and his search would end as quickly as it had begun.

Closing the door behind him, Remus leaned against the wooden door trying to keep as much space between himself and Sirius as possible just to be safe. Sirius though, looked worse for the wear and Remus half wondered if Sirius had been crying.

'Impossible. Sirius doesn't cry...'

Remus was more than surprised to see that Sirius was sitting on the edge of his bed, rather than his own. Perhaps that was a sign that things were going to turn out alright.

"Care to explain what happened?" Sirius asked, his voice low.

Remus shrugged in response, trying to act nonchalant. "I kissed Lily. What's the problem?"

Sirius's jaw dropped. "What's the problem? The problem is that you're my boyfriend, and thus the only one you should be kissing is me."

The innocent attitude was gone from Remus's face as he straightened up, no longer leaning against the door. "The same goes for you, right? You haven't kissed anyone but me in the past few months?"

"NO!"

"Then, explain Missy Wellington," Remus snarled, crossing his arms in front of his chest.

Sirius's face went white. "You saw that?"

"Yes, I saw that, Sirius," Remus spat. "I along with half the fucking school."

His head snapped up, not used to hearing Remus use such language. Sirius swallowed hard, not used to being on the receiving end of Remus's wrath. Of course, Sirius had never seen Remus truly angry before, save for the prank he pulled in their Fifth Year that had nearly cost Severus his life. But, even then, Remus's anger was nothing compared to what Sirius suddenly found himself facing.

"I... I can explain," Sirius said, trying to placate Remus. "It... it was an accident."

"It was an accident?" Remus threw his hands up in the air as he rounded on Sirius. "What, did you trip and fall and her lips just happened to break your fall?"

Sirius shirked away from Remus's tone of voice. He took a moment to compose himself before responding. His shoulders squared off and Remus knew they were in for a row. Sirius had a sinking feeling he was going to lose this fight, but he sure as hell wasn't going to give up either.

"Did you see the start of that kiss?"

Remus paused at that. "No, I didn't... but what does it matter? I SAW YOU KISSING HER!"

"EVER FUCKING THINK THAT SHE FUCKING KISSED ME-!?" Sirius swore, flying off the bed and crossing the room in one fast motion. In an instant, the two boys were inches apart, both holding their ground.

"Well, you didn't fucking look like you were pulling away," Remus replied, his voice soft compared to their shouts a moment ago. If anything, Remus's softer voice hurt more than his raised voice.

"I..." Sirius raked his hand through his hair, taking a step away from Remus. "I... I guess... I guess I didn't," Sirius said at last, looking away from Remus's face. "I've never pulled away from anyone before. And, I didn't think you would have seen... or that you would have found out..."

"No, you didn't think Sirius... you never think before you act," Remus lowered his head, swallowing hard. For the first time all afternoon, Sirius could detect just how hurt Remus was by the tone of his voice. Anger was gone now, and all that remained was hurt. "And you never realise that what you do could hurt others."

Sirius froze, looking at Remus. "I... oh, fuck, Moony... I didn't think... I didn't mean to..."

Hoping that Remus wouldn't fight his advances, Sirius moved closer to him, enveloping the smaller boy into a tight embrace. Remus didn't fight to move away, instead let himself be pulled close to Sirius's chest. Burying his face in the crook of Sirius's neck, Remus held tight to Sirius.

"I... I love you, Moony," Sirius said softly. "I meant it when I told you the other night. And... I'm... I'm so sorry."

This time, Remus did pull away from Sirius just slightly. His eyes searched Sirius's face and at long last he smiled. Raising a hand up, Remus lightly caressed Sirius's cheek.

"Just don't ever do this to me again."

"I won't... I promise."

Sirius tilted Remus's head upwards, silently asking permission with his eyes to kiss him. After a moment, Remus nodded, slipping his arms around Sirius's neck. Sirius took that as permission and lowered his mouth to Remus's. Sighing softly, and glad that the plan had worked in the end, Remus parted his lips for his lover. The kiss was what he recognised: a slowly sensual kiss that he knew would blossom into sweat-slicked bodies and soft moans.

Such wasn't evident in Lily's kiss, but it was a promise in Sirius's.

Even Sirius's touch felt divine on his body once again. The kiss deepened and Remus pressed against Sirius's body, not allowing a single sliver of daylight to pass between them. Sirius's hands travelled down Remus's back and came to rest on his arse, holding Remus securely against himself. Remus's hands found their way into Sirius's hair, playing with the short strands at the base of his neck.

"Are we okay?" Sirius asked, pulling away from the kiss momentarily. "I... I don't want to do this if you're still angry at me."

Lightly, Remus kissed Sirius once again, then reached for his hand. "We're okay... and I'm not angry with you. Just... don't ever take me for granted."

"I swear I won't," Sirius replied, allowing Remus to lead the way to 'their' bed.

Just before he reached the bed, Remus turned to face Sirius and slowly began to undress him. Each button from his Oxford shirt was slipped from its hole, Remus kissing each inch of skin as it became visible to his now hungry eye. Kissing Sirius's abdomen, Remus ran a hand along Sirius's inner thigh before he lightly cupped his boyfriend through his trousers.

A low moan left Sirius's lips, his hips pressing forward into Remus's hand. Gently, Remus rubbed Sirius's hardness through his trousers, loving every sound he could pull from his lover's lips.

"Bloody tease," Sirius managed to gasp out, pulling Remus up for another kiss.

Arms entangled around each other, they fell into bed, kissing and caressing every part of the other's body they could reach. Their slow pace was gone as clothes were discarded in a feverish frenzy. Remus wasn't sure where his Oxford shirt landed, nor where any other article of clothing landed. What mattered now was that he was on his back and Sirius's legs were on either side of his slim hips. A smile passed over the werewolf's face as he slowly ran his fingertips over his lover's thighs.

"I am not a tease," Remus said at last, replying to Sirius's comment nearly five minutes ago. "I fully intend--"

"--you fully intend on following through with everything," Sirius finished with a grin. "You're too predictable Moony... I know exactly what you're going to say next."

"You do?" Remus asked, raising an eyebrow. His fingertips continued to trail over Sirius's thighs and he could feel ever small shudder rack Sirius's body. Those same fingers moved from their place of origin to lightly run along Sirius's hard length, stroking him slowly as if trying to make him harder than he already was. "What am I going to say now?" Remus asked, rubbing his thumb across the tip.

"Nyagh..." Sirius mumbled, grinding his hips against Remus's hips and his maddening hand.

"Not quite," Remus said with a smirk. "I was going to say 'fuck me, Sirius'."

Sirius paused in his movements, rarely hearing Remus speak thus about their lovemaking. To say 'fuck me' was to break sex down to the basest of needs rather than something based off of emotion. But, Sirius also knew that Remus wouldn't appeal to his carnal side without loving him as much as he did.

And somehow, all of this managed to fly through Sirius's brain (even though most of the blood in his body was travelling southward, rather than towards the head on his shoulders) and he was able to comprehend it. Leaning down for a kiss, Sirius reached out blindly, rummaging around in the bedside table for the lube. His fingers closed around it and Sirius broke off the kiss to open the jar.

"Running out," Sirius said with a smirk, quickly coating his fingers.

"Think we do this too often..." Remus managed to say between soft sighs as he spread his legs farther for Sirius.

His lover settled between Remus's legs, slipping one slick finger just inside the tight ring of muscles. Remus let out a low moan, instinctively pushing down on that singular digit.

"There's no such thing as too often," Sirius whispered against Remus's abdomen, slowly slipping a second finger into him.

Sirius scissored his fingers, slowly stretching Remus enough to accept his girth. A third finger was then inserted, pushing in far enough to brush across that nub. Sirius hit that and Remus saw stars.

"Now," Remus groaned, grasping for any part of Sirius he could reach. "Ready and want you in me... now, Sirius."

No further urging was required. However, before moving his body to position his cock just at Remus's entrance, Sirius placed the jar of oil in Remus's hand.

"Make me ready," He whispered.

A look of surprise mingled with lust met Sirius's gaze then. He smiled and pressed the jar into Remus's hand for a second time, pleased when the other boy dipped his hand into the jar. Slowly, as he had teased earlier, Remus ran his hand slowly along Sirius's cock to prepare him. Remus kept his eyes locked with Sirius's the entire time; for they had made love enough times that Remus knew Sirius's body as well as his own. Remus stroked Sirius slowly, covering every inch of Sirius's cock with the oil.

"Keep that up, Re, and I won't be coming inside you."

Remus grinned hearing the nickname reserved for only when Sirius was so far gone with lust that he couldn't make out whole words. He reluctantly removed his hand and set the jar on the nightstand, spreading his legs wider to give Sirius the perfect angle.

And take the angle, Sirius did. The head of Sirius's cock slipped past his entrance and Remus moaned. Sirius slid further in and Remus groaned, clutching at Sirius's shoulders. A final thrust and Sirius was completely sheathed inside his lover and Remus groaned, pulling Sirius down for a heated kiss.

The slow rhythm built up between them, both wanting this to last as long as possible. After a few short thrusts, Sirius began to make longer thrusts into Remus, nearly pulling out all the way to the head before slamming into him. Sirius's hand wrapped around Remus's cock in order to stroke him in time with each of his thrusts. The two boys rocked hips together in a dance as old as time itself as their lips fought to come in contact with whatever skin they could. Sirius pushed as far inside Remus as he could, the head of his cock hitting Remus's prostate.

At this rate, both knew they wouldn't last much longer.

Remus came first, spilling onto Sirius's stomach with a long howl. His muscles clenched around Sirius's length and that was enough to push Sirius over the edge into a blissful orgasm as he buried himself deep inside his lover.

Collapsing onto Remus's chest, Sirius remained inside Remus for as long as possible. The mess never bothered either of them, for it wasn't long until Sirius pulled out to clean Remus up... with his tongue. Long, lazy licks cleaned the remnants of Remus's come off his stomach and the sheet cleaned the last bit off both of them. A cleaning charm later and the two lovers lay on clean sheets, wrapped in each other's arms.

"I love you so much," Sirius whispered, rolling onto his side and pulling Remus against him. "And I swear I'll never take you for granted again." Sirius's hands roamed over the taunt muscles of Remus's abdomen. "You're the only one for me, Remus."

With a smile, Remus turned his head around to rather awkwardly kiss Sirius's shoulder before he fell into a sated sleep. There would be no more discussion of Sirius's mistaken infidelity, nor would Remus doubt the depth of his emotions. A smile on both of their faces, the two lovers fell asleep in each other's arms.

-=-=-=-=-=-

The next few days passed without incident. Sirius was being 'good' and Remus liked being at the centre of his attention. James was having quite a good week as well. It seemed that Lily's plan had worked; James was acting the dutiful boyfriend and suddenly had lost most of his prattishness.

Heading from Arithmancy, Remus (with Peter tagging along) took a short cut from the classroom to meet Sirius near his Divination class. Barely rounding the corner, Remus came across the same sight as last week: Sirius pressed up against a wall with Missy Wellington kissing him and having her hands all over Sirius's chest.

Remus growled softly under his breath and even Peter took a step away from his friend. Across the hall, Missy was suddenly shoved away from a very irate looking Sirius. The two boys made eye-contact and Sirius stalked away from Missy without another word. Remus couldn't help but grin when Sirius moved to his side.

Peter on the other hand, had dissolved into a state of laughter.

"Sirius... you are so whipped."

Sirius punched Peter in the shoulder, hard enough to bring tears to the mousey boy's eyes. Remus cleared his throat once again before Sirius could hit Peter for a second time. Again, they made eye contact and Sirius sighed, lowering his fist and falling into step beside Remus.

"Like I said," Peter said, holding his arm and not caring that he was about to meet Sirius's wrath for a second time, "whipped."

Sirius sulked... Peter laughed... and Remus just smiled.

08. 01. 2004