Sirius Black was sitting alone at the Three Broomsticks, swirling a stein of beer at the bar. He winked at the bartender, a rather curvaceous blonde with a dishrag slung around her hip. He ran a hand through his sleek black hair, smoothing it out after a flying motorcycle ride during which he had observed no speed limit regulations for magical aircraft. It was Thursday evening, and James had owled him only hours before to meet up in the pub, but Sirius prided himself on being a man without restrictions or obligations, and was always free at a moment's notice for an old mate and a drink.
James strolled in with his broomstick, hair similarly disheveled, and sat down next to Sirius. "How are you, mate?" he asked.
"Great. Just taking it easy. Remus moved in for a few weeks until he finds another job. It's just like old times. I mean, I've never been lonely at night, but the girls always leave in the morning," he said with a boyish smirk.
"You're such a womanizer, Padfoot," James said.
Sirius shrugged. "Only until I find the right woman. What'll you have to drink?"
"Scotch on the rocks."
Sirius signaled the bartender. "Scotch on the rocks for my friend here. Thanks beautiful."
The bartender slid the glass of amber liquid down the bar and James took a long swig. "Whoa, slow down there, mate. Since when do you drink the hard stuff?"
"Since Lily came back to Hogwarts to teach Potions," James said, wincing at the strength of the alcohol.
"Oh," Sirius said, putting his hand on his chin and thinking for a moment. "I suppose I'll have to buy your next one then. It's been…what, three years now?"
"Three years, two months, and twelve days."
Sirius stared at him. "Now that, my friend, is sad. How many girls have you screwed since?"
"Zero."
Sirius choked on his beer. "What? You mean to tell me you've been with no one since your first love, who dumped you right after you had given her diamonds from your family's collection?"
"To be fair, she did give them back," James pointed out, taking another swig of scotch.
"Who left you out on the curb right when you had decided to propose?"
"You're not making this easier, Sirius," James said. "The point is, just when I was beginning to believe that someday perhaps I would be able to forget about her, or at least not think of her ten times a day, she strolls back into my life as if she had never destroyed it."
"Hm," Sirius thought for a moment. "How does she seem? Is she single again?"
"Gorgeous as ever. And yes, she's single, but she wants nothing to do with me. She came to my door wanting to have tea as old friends, completely platonic, when all I wanted to do the moment I saw her was take her in my arms and snog her through supper, then carry her up to my room and make love like we'd gone back in time three years."
"You ought to give up on her, mate. I'm saying this for your own good. There's more where she came from. I know plenty of girls just as hot as she is, girls that would be ecstatic to sleep with you. Why don't you just give it a break?"
"You don't understand, Sirius. It's been three years, but even after all this time I love her as much as ever. I've never been more convinced that she's the only woman for me." He was silent for a moment, taking a thoughtful sip of scotch. Finally he said, "I'll never marry if I can't marry her."
"Marriage is overrated anyway," Sirius said with a shrug.
"—and I'll never be with a woman if it can't be her." James lowered his glass to the wooden bar with a thud. He put his hand on his forehead and gave a deep sigh.
Sirius looked at him intently for a moment. "You feel this strongly about Lily?"
"I always have," James said with a shrug. "I don't know how she does it to me." He swirled his glass for a moment, with a faraway look in his eyes. "It's not only that she's beautiful…she's confident and kind, and her presence is calming. I used to be so content just to come home to her each day… the way she would nestle her head against my neck, her hair smelling of rosemary and lavender…the way she took care of me every minute when I had dragon pox...the way she tenderly stroked the back of my neck with her fingertips. She has such a wonderful laugh, you know, and her smile is so warm and genuine. When she left, my flat was so lonely and lackluster…even the cat missed her. The most wonderful part of my life was absent…" he took a sip, sadly. "No, Sirius, I never could really live without her."
Sirius nodded silently. Then he said resolutely, "Then James, we're going to have to win her back for you." He drained his beer and signaled to the bartender. "You want another drink? We've got a lot of planning to do."