Arguments and Chocolate Cake

Arguments and Chocolate Cake

"Remus?"

The deep voice reached Remus, sitting by the kitchen table reading the Daily Prophet. He took yet another sip of his tea and muttered a vague, "Hmm?"

"Come out here." Sirius' voice managed to be both secretive and demanding at the same time, something that never ceased to amaze Remus. But it wasn't more than five minutes since he'd walked in the door; he was tired and hungry and Sirius had eaten all the stew they'd saved from yesterday's dinner, which didn't improve Remus' foul mood. All that was left was a dried-up chocolate cake.

"I'm reading," he muttered and turned the page, frowning slightly at the article he found. The Hit Wizards had confiscated a large shipment of flying carpets outside Torquay. Once more his thoughts were cut off by a loud groan from the living room.

"Come on - I'm waaaaitiiing..."

The voice had a slightly offended tone to it now, and Remus gritted his teeth in irritation. "Not now, I'm reading the bloody paper."

The sound of shuffling feet came from the living room and soon Sirius turned up in the doorway, looking at Remus with an unreadable expression on his face. "What's the matter with you?" he asked.

"I haven't slept for twenty-four hours and I'm tired and hungry," Remus snapped back, "and you ask me what's the matter?" He returned to the paper, where the Hit Wizards fought like madmen with an Afghan rug. The rug won the fight and fled outside the picture frame, with a Hit Wizard running after it, apparently uttering a tirade of curses and swear words.

Sirius entered the kitchen and sat down by the table where he leaned his chin against the back of his hands. He kept staring at Remus with a little grin. Remus pretended not to see it.

"I've had an idea," Sirius said; his voice gave away the fact that this was an idea he was exited about and couldn't wait another moment sharing.

"Is it the motorcycle?" Remus asked.

"No."

Again that annoying little grin, and Remus decided the easiest way was to sit back for five minutes and listen. Then he could go to bed. He folded the newspaper neatly and put it away. "Then what?" He picked up another piece of the chocolate cake and sighed.

"I've been thinking about something... Don't you too think it's pretty quiet here?"

Remus pondered this for a few seconds. "Yes, you're right. Maybe we should invite a few people over this weekend; throw a little party? It's been a while since last time."

"I didn't mean like that," Sirius replied with a grimace. "I mean everyday. Don't you too think it would be nice to have company, a pup in the house?"

"Getting a dog? It would have to a big one, then - you know how you get in your Animagus form. I just don't want you eating the poor thing," Remus said, struggling to keep the patient tone in his voice. "And who's going to look after it when we're away? A dog is a big responsibility, Sirius! You're supposed to be in hiding, which means I will be the one who has to wander the streets in the rain, walking it. Can't say I find the thought appealing."

"You just don't get it, do you?" Sirius leaned back in his chair and stared at Remus. "I'm not talking about a dog!"

"Then what are you talking about?" Remus hid his face in his hands - he could almost hear the bed calling for him to come and rest his weary body and soul.

"I'm talking about a baby."

"A what?" Remus stared at him as if he was seeing Sirius for the first time. "Are you insane? You're an escaped convict and I'm a werewolf. No one in their right mind is going to let us adopt a child."

"I'm not talking about adoption." Sirius gave him a wink and got up from the table. "Wait here!" he said to the confused Remus who stared after him with big eyes.

Sirius had gone mad...finally. Remus had been waiting for it to happen. Just humour him, Remus thought to himself as he got himself a new cup of tea. I'll contact St. Mungo's tomorrow. The minute after, Sirius came back with an old book under his arm, looking smug. As Remus sat down once more, his lover leafed through the book, waving away specks of dust.

"Here," he muttered and laid the book on the table, pushing it over to Remus.

He took one glance at the page, and put the cup down. "What the...?" He turned the page, and could feel himself turn pale. Not only pale; his stomach churned when he saw the pictures. "This looks dangerous! I don't think this is a good idea, Sirius. Women are designed to bear children, men are not - it's as simple as that."

"It's not dangerous!" Sirius frowned and took the book back. "Unpleasant, yes, but not dangerous. At least not if you do it right; look here on page 563..." He pushed the book over once more, but Remus refused to look at it.

"Honestly, no way." The mere idea gave him goosebumps, not to mention the pictures in this godawful book. Where had Sirius found this book, anyway? He took a deep breath and decided to play nice; he was dead tired and the last thing he wanted now was a fight. "You know, Sirius - I couldn't stand it if something happened to you. We're in the middle of a war if you haven't noticed, and worrying about a pregnant boyfriend on top of everything else..."

Sirius gave him a surprised look. "No, I wasn't going to do it! I thought...well, I'm not the mothering sort, you know that. I thought that you could..."

"What?" Remus felt the anger rise in him; this was too much. "You want me to go through something like that?" He pushed the book over to Sirius who was too astonished to catch it, and the heavy book fell off the table and landed on the floor with a thud. "That's the most selfish thing I've ever heard you say! I'm going to bed, and you can sleep on the sofa!"

In the bedroom, he picked up Sirius' blankets and pillow and brought them into the kitchen where he threw them on the floor.

"It's that time of month, is it?" Sirius replied sarcastically.

Remus raised his hand and pointed at him with a finger shaking from anger. "Don't. Talk. To me." He returned to the bedroom and slammed the door shut.