Itching and Irresponsible [Moony&Regs]

[Remus Lupin]

Fleas.

Remus Lupin couldn't stop itching! Some time along the last full moon, he had picked up fleas and they had not left him yet. Padfoot probably gave me them. Remus thought grumpily. As a dog, it seemed Pads had a lot of fleas. Fleas had never bothered Moony until now.

It took a simple potion to rid of the little buggers but Remus had to go to Diagon Alley for his needs. In the Apothecary, Remus began searching the shelves for ingredients. He had only needed one more when he spotted a certain display of books.

Lycanthropy: Werewolves Could Soon Be Tamed read the title of the book. Curious, Remus looked around and noticed that no one was paying attention to him and slowly made ways to the books. Remus grabbed one of the books and began to read the back.

Just as he started to read, the back of Remus' cloak fluttered and quickly he drew the book into his chest. He couldn't let his secret be found out like this. He was the responsible Marauder who would not let himself be discovered. He turned around and faced whoever had just passed by him. He was slightly shocked to see none other than the flea-givers brother, Regulus Black.

His mouth formed a small 'O'. Had Sirius ever told Regulus about my problem? Remus thought to himself. Calmly, Remus closed his mouth and gained back his cool. "'Lo Regulus."

[Regulus Black]

Regulus was in the apothecary for the third time in December, on a mission to restock the potions ingredients in the flat and pick up the things he needed to brew some healing ointment for Katie's frequent flying injuries. He'd gone out for a change, leaving his daughter at home with his fiancee.

The brisk December air bit his hands as he opened the door to the shop, and quickly closed it behind him. Regulus could remember the winters that he'd lived in his cloak, curling up in an armchair before a fire in the common room and reading one of the books from his family's library. When he was able to walk outside in his robes through the snow, and let it melt from the hem in the entrance hall. While living like a muggle had saved his life and gotten him away from the Dark Lord, it definitely had its drawbacks. The clothes were a huge part...the magic pulling a close second.

He skimmed down the isle, eyes flitting over the labels on bottles in various shapes and colors without seeing what he needed. Walking to the next isle, Regulus saw a display of books at the end, and a rather familiar figure standing in front of it with an open volume in his hand.

Regulus let his eyes run over the shabby, well-worn cloak and the worn hands that turned the pages, lingering for a moment on the man's shoes. He'd never liked Remus Lupin in school, but as he'd realized with several of his brother's other friends, this was purely out of resentment for the status of his un-relationship with Sirius. From what he recalled, Remus was always wherever Sirius was...he'd been quiet and studied, and been a prefect. He'd never caused Regulus any particular harm, though.

Remus must have felt eyes on the back of his head, or his back, or something. He turned and looked straight at Regulus, and for a moment the younger of the Black brothers wondered if he was about to be snubbed or yelled at or otherwise punished for his previous allegiances. But the shock faded from Remus's expression, and he simply uttered a greeting, actually saying Regulus's name. He was surprised that the older man had remembered it at all.

"Hello, Remus," he echoed, wary.

[Remus Lupin]

What? You think I'm going to bite you? Remus thought at the cautious reply of Regulus. Am I still a werewolf and don't know it?

Remus smiled at Regulus. Recalling, Remus couldn't really think of a time at Hogwarts when the two had ever spoken. Since graduation, Remus could remember one time, at graduation, when he had been introduced to the younger Black but basically, Remus knew him on a name only bases. Remus had however heard Sirius talk about his brother a bit throughout the years.

"How are you? What brought you to Diagon Alley?" Remus asked, a little nervously, still clutching the book to his chest. He had no idea how he was going to put the book back without looking suspicous or making up a wild and pathetic excuse.

Without stopping himself, Remus brought his wand arm up and scratched the back of his neck where a flea was sure to be. After a moment of realizing what he was doing, Remus quickly dropped his hand and smiled uncomfortably at Regulus.

[Regulus Black]

Regulus opened his mouth to respond to Lupin's polite question, but the words died as the older wizard skittishly itched at the back of his neck. His sheepish grin was telling...and the way he was clutching a book to his chest. Frowning slightly, Regulus allowed his eyes to roam discreetly to the bookshelf that Remus was practically shielding. He caught a glimpse of a title that might have been Feeding Your Fangs, but Remus shifted before Regulus could be sure. His brother's friend was clutching a vampire care manual? It couldn't be right.

He snapped his mouth shut when he realized that he was standing there like an idiot. Shaking his head briefly to clear his thoughts and suspicions, Regulus said, "Oh. Uh, I'm here...getting potions ingredients. Adriana and I have been brewing bruise ointments and other healing potions ever since Katie got her broom, it seems like." Regulus paused, realizing that Remus probably didn't know who Adriana was, or that they'd been living together ever since school, or that they had a baby. But the polite retort was tumbling from his lips before he could go back and explain. "And why are you here?"