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Beautiful Stranger	By : TheLadyFeylene Category: Harry Potter > General > General Views: 5460 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 5
- 6
- 7
Disclaimer: Charlie and Remus aren't mine. I'm making no money off of this.

Warning: Slash. That means sexual relations/tension/innuendo between two men. If that's not your cup of tea, just hit that hand little back button.

Dedication: For everyone who reads this. I hope you like this chapter...

Author's Note: Well, here we are at another chapter. Charlie gets assertive! Charlie...Goes shopping! Shorter chapter. But the next bit has to be from Remus' point of view, so that's why.

Beautiful Stranger
Chapter 6

A week passed. Remus and Charlie settled into a routine, but not much more was done on attempting to cure the werewolf's problem. Charlie was at a loss as to what to do. He had *thought* that the alcohol had helped. Remus had certainly gone into his wolf mindset. But something had gone wrong, or something. Remus hadn't explained exactly what, but he had told Charlie firmly they'd have to find another way. Most of the Society' members ignored the werewolf, but no one else complained. News of Charlie's fondness for the stray had traveled quickly. Daisy was sent off to a reserve in Scotland, and things pretty much evened out.

//This is going no where...// Charlie thought to himself, drumming a quill on his desk. The full moon was still about two weeks off, so there was plenty of time. But not if Charlie wasn't given *some* sort of simulation. //I wish he'd let me convince him to get drunk again. That looked like it was working!// And, if Charlie was perfectly honest with himself, he had other motives for wanting to get Remus Lupin drunk.

//That had to have been one of the sexiest thing's I've ever seen.// Remus had gone positively primal. He had hunched down, back arched, eyes glowing...it had been extremely erotic. A feral-ness had entered into every movement that the werewolf made, and he had seemed more fluid and graceful then ever. And his eyes! They had glowed a brilliant gold, standing out in his cameo cut face. And he growled!

//I really wish I knew if he were interested or not...// Charlie had flirted shamelessly, but it seemed to be to no avail. Remus flirted back some, or at least Charlie thought that's what it was. But nothing other then that had come of it. Charlie got the impression Remus didn't take him very seriously. The werewolf never initiated anything, but responded to Charlie. And the dragon master was legitimately interested.

//There's just something about him. He has this presence...this quiet presence. I just like being around him, and talking to him. And he is really good looking. Even when he's not wolfed out.// He grinned, twirling the quill in his fingers. He had taken to fantasizing about his handsome houseguest quite often, and was giving some serious thought to helping make those fantasies a reality.

//Maybe he's just old fashioned.// Charlie decided. //I've got to be more assertive. Though I was pretty sure that my constantly calling him sexy and dropping as many innuendo's as I could fit into a sentence would have given him a clue. I just have to go about this differently, that's all.// That would be difficult. Charlie wasn't the suavest or slickest of people. He knew how to be romantic, but knowing and doing were two different things. //I'm more romantic then Bill, anyway.// The eldest Weasley's idea of romantic was paying for his date.

Charlie glanced down at his planner. He had an appointment later. AT the moment he was 'in a meeting'. That was the easiest way not to deal with people he didn't want to deal with. No one ever seemed to question that line. He wasn't even entirely sure what it meant. But it allowed him to sit behind his desk doing nothing without interruption. He sat behind his desk doing nothing anyway, but he liked to be able to do it in peace.

//Merlin bless Remus Lupin.// Charlie smile to himself. The werewolf was quite good at keeping people out. Except for the people that actually *worked* for Charlie. They ignored Remus completely, as though he weren't even there. But that was better then insulting him. //Romance. How do you romance a werewolf?// It wasn't as if there were books on it. And the copy of "Werewolves for Dummies" that Charlie had picked up really didn't go into their love lives very much. That was something that was kept hidden in the secret desk drawer, along with anything else Charlie felt would upset Remus. //Well, he does seem old fashioned. Maybe I ought to take him out to dinner. Or...get him flowers, or something. No, flowers are to girly. I don't want to insult him, I want to impress him.//

Sighing, Charlie pushed the problem from his mind. He had to look over some reports that had come in by owl earlier that morning. But he couldn't get the image of two golden glowing eyes out of his mind.

***

Diagon Alley was crowded. It generally was, but it never really bothered Charlie. Now it did. He ducked and weaved through the crowds, trying not to push people. There was a real nice little restaurant tucked away between shops that Charlie thought Remus might like. It was a bit on the ritzy side, but Charlie had checked his funds and decided he could afford it. But he had to make reservations. He had never understood the point of reservations. They made sense, but he didn't think they should be required. Rolling his eyes, he slipped between two chattering old witches and into the dimly lit restaurant.

//I should be able to get a reservation...// He thought to himself, grinning widely at the maitre'd who raised a rather questioning eyebrow at him. //I'm still in my work clothes...so what? Stuck up prick.// Charlie didn't see anything wrong with his plain leather pants and wool tunic, but obviously the oily looking wizard manning the desk did.

"May I help you. Sir?" The sir was almost an after though.

"Yeah, I'd like to make a reservation. For two. At....4." Charlie worked out time in his head. That gave him two hours.

"I see." The maitre'd glanced down at the roll of parchment on the desk, and sighed. "And under what name are these reservations to be made?"

"Weasley." Charlie grinned wider. This was going to be perfect. The restaurant was upscale, with velvet curtains and black wood tables and chairs. Each table seemed to have a candle burning on it, and the whole atmosphere was cozy, but not stifling.

"Very good. Please arrive fifteen minutes before your reservation."

Charlie nodded, before heading back out into the crowded street. He had told Remus he had some personal business he had to attend to, and had closed his office down early. The werewolf hadn't questioned, only nodded politely and offered to close things up for Charlie. //Wait till he finds out what I did...// The dragon master almost skipped as he headed back up Diagon Alley. He had ruled out flowers, but figured a box of chocolates couldn't go wrong. Something simple, not too flashy. And plain, since he had no idea what sort of chocolate Remus liked. There was a very nice candy shop that catered to just about anyone's needs. Charlie slid inside, eyes growing wide at the selection.

//Oh, but how I love this place...almost as good as Honeydukes.// Licking his lips, he wandered over to the boxed chocolates. //Okay....// There were hundreds of choices. It was all rather overwhelming. Charlie paused, eyes raking over the various selections. He was at a complete loss. //Caramel nougat? What the hell is nougat? Ripple fudge? Don't they have anything normal...//

"Mau I help you?"

Charlie whirled, shaken out of his thoughts by a smiling you witch with a wide smile.

"Uh...yeah." He ran a hand through his hair, grinning nervously. "I'm looking to buy something for a friend."

"Of course. Anything in mind?"

"Chocolate." //Brilliant, Charles. Chocolate. If you hadn't noticed, there are about a million different kinds of chocolate. You'd have done better heading out into regular London...//

"Any specific kind? What sort of friend are you buying for?" The sales witch seemed quite eager to help.

"Well, the sort of friend I'd like to take out to a romantic dinner. I want something simple though. Just...plain." He shrugged. "Nothing too fancy."

"Hmmm. We have a lovely assortment of truffles."

"What's a truffle?"

"Here." She reached up, and deftly snagged a simple gold box. She opened it, and showed Charlie the contents. Rows of simple dark chocolates sat nestled in a red velvet lining. //Red and gold...Remus did say he was a Gryffindor. Oh, this is perfect!//

"Great." Charlie said. "I'll take it. Uh...how much?" He had forgotten about cost, even though he had vowed price wasn't going to be a factor today. He had a nice little bit of cash saved up, and didn't mind spending it on Remus. He heard the price and had to fight to keep his face strait. //A box of chocolate costing *that* much? Ah well, it's for a good cause.// Charlie paid the sales witch, and had her wrap up the box with a bright red bow. He tucked it under his arm, humming a tune as he made his way back to the office.

***

Remus was sitting at his desk, looking through some papers. Charlie grinned, amazed at seeing someone actually *working*. No one ever worked. They shoved the work off on someone else, until it got to Charlie, who put it off until he had no choice. But Remus was always doing something. It was refreshing, and just another reason the dragon master was so attracted to the other man.

"So, what's a nice guy like you working in a place like this?" Charlie said, winking at Remus. It wasn't the most original of lines, but after over a week he had begun to run out.

"Oh, Charlie." Remus gave a polite smile, and offered up the papers. "Requisition forms. They aren't too outrageous either, so I thought you may want to take a look at them."

"Remus....the office is closed. No more work. It's play time now. Put your desk away, cause we're going out to dinner."

"Oh?" Remus titled his head, politely quizzical. Charlie wanted to throw him down on the desk then and there.

"Yes. I've got us reservations at the White Unicorn. And...this is for you." He held out the box, and Remus' eyes went wide. Charlie hoped it was a good sign.

"Charlie...I don't know what to say." Remus took the box almost hesitantly. "What's this for?" He asked, looking from the box to Charlie.

"For being you. Now open it." Charlie urged, and Remus carefully pulled the ribbon off of the box, and set aside the lid. He was always so fastidious! As his amber colored eyes fell on the chocolate, and an almost horrified look came over his face.

"Charlie..." Remus said, his voice soft and somewhat regretful. "I...I can't accept these..."

Anger welled up in Charlie. What did he mean, he couldn't accept it? He'd sent signals saying he was interested. He'd flirted back, and had certainly not been too shy about checking Charlie out. But now here he was, all timid and apologetic...Gritting his teeth and balling his fists, Charlie attempted to rein in his emotions. But his temper got the better of him, and he found himself yelling at Remus, despite not wanting to.

"Why? Is it because I'm your boss, or because I'm another guy? Either way, I sure as hell don't have a problem with it. I thought I'd made that pretty damn obvious. And you certainly seemed to hear it loud and clear. You know, if you weren't interested you should have said something, instead of letting me make an ass of myself. What? Did you think I was coming on to you for my own health? Or because I was bored? Or do you just not care? I thought you were a nice guy...obviously I was wrong. Nice guys don't lead other guys on. And by the way, I spent a whole lot of money on those, so you'd better accept them anyway!" Panting heavily, Charlie paused to take a breath, he found he had run out of things to say. He glared at Remus, surprised and a bit disappointed to see that the werewolf didn't seem guilty in the least. In fact he seemed....a bit angry, but mostly...amused.

"Charlie, it's not because you're my boss or because you're another man." Remus said, quietly and firmly, as though explaining something to a small child. "I can't accept these because they'd kill me if I ate them."

".....pardon?" Charlie had to ask, his mouth drying up and panic setting in.

"Chocolate. It's poisonous to my kind. So are onions." The werewolf set down the box, shaking his head. "I *am*, for all intents and purposes, a canine."

"Oh." Charlie could feel himself flushing. It started around his neck, and rose, until he was certain he was more crimson then his hair. He sighed, and looked down. He had never felt so stupid in his life. //Well...now I've made an ass of myself.// He closed his eyes, wondering if he kept them closed long enough it would all turn out to be a dream.

"But...thank you." Remus said, and Charlie opened his eyes to stare into a pair of deep amber ones. "It was a beautiful gesture."

"Oh." It wasn't the most original of replies, but it was all he could say. Remus closed the box and put it on the desk. He stood up, smoothing down the dark jeans he was wearing. Charlie had given him free access to his clothes, and Remus had been taking advantage of it.

"It has not been my intention to lead you on, Charlie." The werewolf continued. "I'm sorry if that's what you think I've been doing. I am...rather inept, when it comes to things such as romance and relationships." He offered up a weak smile, and Charlie just nodded. "I've had very few experiences with either. I don't like getting...attached to people. Sooner or later, something comes between us. Usually my lycanthropy. Because of that I tend to keep people at a distance. And since my secret was revealed, I've found no one who wanted to touch me, let alone share my bed."

"Remus...I thought I'd pretty much made it clear I was interested." Charlie finally said. //I am an ass. I am a boorish, id, id, idiotic ass. I should be flailed.//

"You have a flirtatious personality." Remus responded, smiling rather warmly. "You actually remind me of an old friend. To me you were acting no different then you would to anyone else."

"I treat you way better then I treat everyone else." Charlie said, feeling more comfortable with the conversation. //Okay...this clears some things up a bit. So...is he interested or not?//

"Yes, I see that now. But, regardless, I do not like getting involved. No, please let me continue." Remus cut off the protest Charlie had been about to voice. "I am aware my lycanthropy doesn't seem to bother you very much. But it will. You've yet to see me in my wolf form. Once you do, I doubt you will be so keen on me."

"Remus, I saw you get pretty close." Charlie reminded him. He wasn’t going to let this go. Not until something had been established. Whether it was that Remus wasn’t interested, or that he was. And it seemed that the werewolf was interested, just reluctant. And something about his reluctance was making Charlie want him even more. And it had become something more then just a simple physical attraction. Oh, that was certainly a factor, but it had become emotional as well. //Shit. I don’t care that he’s a werewolf. I actually think that’s pretty cool. It’s definitely an advantage when it comes to sex, if anything I’ve read is true.// "And that...well, let's just say I wasn't exactly scared."

"Mmmm." Was all Remus said, and Charlie took a deep breath. //We’ll talk about it over dinner. He’s not getting out of that....// Then he caught sight of the clock. It was almost four o’clock.

"Oh, shit! We've got reservations...come on."
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Beautiful Stranger