"Supper's nearly finished," you call as you return to the kitchen, to check on the roast potatoes. "And I expect all of you to eat at the table tonight, and that includes – Sirius!"
The boy runs around the corner so fast he's nothing more than a blur of fabric and mischievous grin. At the sound of your shriek he topples over onto the floor in a heap. You step over him and into the kitchen, with little surprise at what you find.
Living with James and Sirius for this long, you've perfected the art of taking in the entirety of a chaotic room's happenings in a single, sweeping glance.
"James, drop it and sit. Sirius, back in here now."
James lowers one pail into the sink, leaving another on the countertop to drip ink and water onto the floor.
He takes a seat next to Sirius. They both wear such defeated, terrified looks it's laughable. You have to remind yourself that you can't laugh, that it's your job to remain firm, not to encourage them. But damn, is it hard sometimes.
"Would one of you care to inform me of what's going on in here?" Her eyes meet Sirius's, knowing he's more likely to crack under the pressure. Allowing him to stay for the holidays has made him grateful enough that he's likely to tell you what you need to know when pressed. More likely than James is, anyway.
Sirius breaks your eye contact as though hiding, and turns to look at James. He musters a look of faux-confusion. "What d'you mean? What's going on?" As he looks around you can't help but roll your eyes. It was cute, maybe, the first time. But it's been years since then, and you're getting a bit tired of their shenanigans.
"Why is there a squid in the kitchen?"
"A—A…?"
"There's a squid," you say, all clipped tones and stern appearances. "In my house. I want to know why."
The two of them squirm under your unwavering gaze, as though they thought you hadn't noticed it until you mention it. They're looking down at their wet shoes, at the puddle on the floor, at the old pail from the shed now tipped over on the counter.
Looking anywhere but at you and the tentacles waving from within the sink.
A/N: I'm back! And easing myself back into writing by going back to what I know and love. This one here's for the lovely Amber's Investment Building Challenge using the dialogue prompt "Why is there a squid in the kitchen?"