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This first time Sirius had gone to the new local sweets shop, he only went in to buy something for his godson. He had heard about the young man who owned the shop and who made all the sweets, but he didn’t think he’d meet him. He figured he’d be stuck in a kitchen all day and he’d have someone else run the shop for him.
But Remus Lupin himself had been in the shop and he had helped Sirius find exactly what he was looking for - telling him what flavours were nicest and letting him try it all.
Sirius had felt like a little kid in… well, a sweet shop, but when he went back a second time, he told himself it was only because Harry had loved the sweets he had bought for him so much. It wasn’t because he wanted to see Remus Lupin again, or because he was hoping to get to spend some time with him again.
He sure was pleased when Remus recognised him though and when he remembered who the sweets were for. They had a short conversation, but with Remus running the shop on his own - Sirius still not sure how he had the time, what with making all the sweets as well - he quickly had to get back to work.
Sirius had left with a bag full of sweets, and when he had shown up at James and Lily’s, they weren’t too pleased with Harry having all that sugar. The little boy had enough energy as it is, and Sirius knew it was hard enough for Lily keeping an eye on both James and Harry without them having a sugar rush.
Lily knew that something was up, and although Sirius had tried to keep it to himself, she had dragged things out of him. He had told her about the shop and about Remus - trying his best to leave out the part about the crush he had on him.
But when Lily shows up at his flat to go for a walk a few days later, she has a big grin on her face. Sirius doesn’t even have to ask where they are going, so he quickly throws on his nicer jacket and after checking himself out in the mirror, he follows her out.
“What does he look like, then?” she teases when they’re almost at the shop. “He must be pretty special if you…”
“He’s not!” Sirius quickly laughs, but the way it comes out he wouldn’t even have believed it himself. “I mean, he is very attractive, but…”
“But?” Lily nudges him in the arm as they step into the shop. She looks around, not for sweets but for Remus. When she spots him, she grabs Sirius’ arm and she squeezes tight. “I can see why you like him!”
Sirius shushes her before muttering an embarrassed, “I do not.”
“I bet he tastes good too, if he works with sweets all day,” Lily teases, still holding onto Sirius’ arm.
“No, thank you. Everything is covered in pumpkin spice at the moment. It’s disgusting.”
Sirius jumps up when he hears Remus’ voice, and he hopes that he hasn’t heard his last comment. But when he turns around he sees his friendly smile, not an offended one.
“Back again already?” Remus asks.
“Yes, I ehm…”
“He told me all about you.” Lily grins, but when Sirius elbows her in the arm, she quickly adds, “About the shop.”
“Oh, wow.” Remus smiles, looking a little embarrassed.
“Oh, yes!” Lily continues. “He couldn’t wait to come back and see…”
“ Buy something new,” Sirius corrects her, glaring when he looks at her.
“Well, actually…,” Remus says, oblivious to what is going on between the two friends. “I did make something new this morning. It’s not in the shop yet, but I can get you some to try if you’d like? It’s pumpkin spice toffee.”
“My favourite!” Sirius blurts out, feeling his cheeks go warm because of what he had said not even a minute ago to Lily.
“Great! I’ll get you some.” Remus smiles before disappearing off to the back of the shop.
“Your favourite?” Lily laughs. “Seriously?”
“Shut up.”
Lily rolls her eyes, curious to see his reaction when he has to actually eat the toffee. Sirius doesn’t want Remus to know how disgusting he finds it though, so he fakes a big smile and he makes Lily have some too.
“This is good!” she says, and she actually means it. She turns to Sirius and nudges him in the arm, “If these are ever in the shop, you’ll bring me some, won’t you?”
“Of course.”
Sirius blushes, embarrassed that it’s that obvious that he’ll keep coming back. But Remus doesn’t seem bothered, he just seems pleased that they like his newest recipe - even if Sirius hadn’t really meant it.
After spending the longest time at the shop, they end up buying far too much again - mostly because Sirius just wants to see that smile on Remus’ face again. Sirius doesn’t want to leave though, but what can he do? Especially with Lily here. She would never let it go if he did something to embarrass himself.
“You should ask him out,” Lily whispers after they have paid for their things. “He is great.”
“You’ve only just met him,” Sirius laughs. “Besides, I don’t…”
“You don’t like him?” Lily asks, cocking an eyebrow as she lifts up her bag full of sweets.
Sirius shrugs, wishing he could just go up to Remus to ask him out. But Remus is already helping another customer, and it would be a little odd to wait around until he can talk to him. So he sighs, telling himself that there’s always next time.
“I’ll see you soon?” Remus yells after him, flashing a big, hopeful smile - leaving the other customer for what it is for a moment.
“Definitely.” Sirius nods, and he gives a wave before leaving the shop with Lily.
“Why didn’t you ask him out? He clearly remembered you, and he asked you to come back!”
“So? He probably just remembers me because I keep buying so much…”
“Oh, please,” Lily laughs. “He obviously likes you, and you like him. So just…”
“I do not!” Sirius tries, but she just rolls her eyes at him.
“You’ve got it so bad!” she laughs, shaking her head. “ Ooh, pumpkin spice toffee… my favourite! ”