Disclaimer: I don't own the characters or the book so please don't sue.
RemusSiriusJames: Glad you're enjoying it so much, I hope you weren't too impatient for this chapter!!
fearblank: Glad you think so!
the-dark-goddess-kari: I guess you'll just have to read to find out!
Nika Dawson: Well they are half of the Marauders, what would they be without pranks!?
tiffyrose: Well they do have to get ready for Hogwarts!
Having already been home, James had changed out if the school uniform, a pair of grey trousers, white shirt and maroon jumper, and instead put on a pair of old, faded blue jeans and a plain red tee-shirt, one of the few that didn't have any magical references on it, his jumper tied around his waist since it wasn't too cold yet but it was very likely it would be chilly by the time he left later that evening. For now however, he was standing at the end of along road, hoping he had the right place.
After telling James he needed to come over that night, Sirius had given some directions, but even so, he still wasn't too sure he was in the right place. His mother had been enthusiastic about him going out, or at least she was after she had cleaned James up again after the bullies had gotten to him again, his black eye was back once again, just when he had finally gotten rid of the last one as well he thought moodily, although the mood quickly faded again when he remembered he was going to see Sirius, that would certainly cheer him up. Sirius always seemed to have a way of making him feel special, wanted and respected, it was something he hadn't experienced before, and he liked it. Not to mention Sirius gave a fresh point of view to things, and conversations were never dull around the other boy, it seemed they had a lot in common, and not just their love of pranks or terrible fathers.
Wandering along the road, he carefully counted off the houses before coming to number 107 Hollows Lane where Sirius said he lived. The cottage was nowhere as near as large as his, then again, not many people's houses were that large, and of course was only one level since it was a cottage but it seemed homey on the outside and as though someone had put a lot of love and attention into the garden. Going up the driveway, he took a deep breath and rang the doorbell, feeling even more nervous when a woman, dressed in plain muggle clothing answered the door.
'Sorry, I think I have the wrong house.' James stuttered out, backing away slowly apologising as he did.
'Are you James Potter?' The woman asked kindly, her smile never leaving. James nodded, not too sure what to say. 'I'm Nicola Black, Sirius' mother, don't worry, this is the right house, I was just home from work a little earlier than expected, come in.' She opened the door wider and James came inside, slipping off his shoes and leaving them at the door. His house was full of marble floors in the passage ways, unsuitable for bare feet, but here had carpets leaving him to assume he should take off his shoes. It was the first time he had ever been in a muggle house, leaving him to stare at everything. How could anyone live in such a small place? He wondered as he took everything in. There were rooms leading off from the hallway with pale brown wooden doors indicating the other rooms but they were all shut leaving it up to his imagination to what was behind the closed doors. One door however, at the end, he could see inside as it had been left wide open, revealing it to be the kitchen, although most of the appliances in there he didn't recognise.
The hallway, unlike his own uninviting room, was a pale peach that left the room feeling warm, with pictures and paintings lining the walls, and a small table to one side with a strange looking device he didn't recognise perched on top. He'd have to ask Sirius about that later he decided, hoping he could come up with good enough reason why he had never seen one before, whatever it was.
'Thank you Mrs Black.' James nodded politely, trying unsuccessfully to remember some of the etiquette lectures he'd been forced to endure, but he was so nervous he managed to draw a blank.
'Nicola, please.' She immediately corrected him gently causing James to smile a bit. 'I'm glad I finally get to meet you, I've heard so much from Sirius about you. Oh dear, would you like a cold compress for that?' She looked worriedly at his blackened eye.
'I'm okay, but thank you, my mum helped me earlier, it should be okay.' He reassured the lady. His mum had taken away the sting, and apart from changing colours, it shouldn't get any worse.
'Alright, if you're sure. Sirius is just down there in his room if you want to go on through.' Nicola pointed him in the right direction, not looking entirely convinced, but it only made James like her more as she was so caring, one of the qualities that reminded him of Jolene. With a nod, he started that way, but quickly stopped when he saw a display of photographs. He could have sworn he saw one move.
Looking closer, he realised he was right, they were moving, and were in fact waving at him! He couldn't believe it, these were magical pictures!
'Oh dear, you really shouldn't have seen that.' Nicolas regretful tones came from behind him. He spun to see her with her wand out pointed at him. 'Why don't you come into the kitchen, I just need to tell you about them.' She tried in her most calming voice. James was thankful he hadn't been a muggle, that approach would definitely have terrified him, a strange woman with a stick pointed at him and moving pictures?! She should have just obliviated him then and there, but he guessed she wanted him to try and feel comfortable, or at least avoid causing brain damage to him when she wiped his memories.
'It's okay Nicola, they're Wizarding photos, we have them too, and portraits.' James reassured her, her wand dropped.
'You're a wizard?' She checked causing James to smile, it was good she was being cautious after all, a muggle could have tried that on her just to try and escape.
'Pureblood, that's why I know so little about muggle things.' The younger boy explained, this seemed to satisfy her more with every Wizarding word he spoke, as it only strengthened his claim to be a pureblood. 'Are you an obliviator?' James asked, realising she hadn't called anyone in to sort out the problem but was going to do it herself, she nodded. 'Cool.'
'Glad to know one of you thinks so, Sirius just finds it boring.' James grinned; he had a whole other side to learn about Sirius now he knew.
'Do you mind if I pull a prank?' James switched the subject spotting an ideal opportunity he really couldn't pass up, the idea of it sounding better and better in his head with every second that passed, it was a situation no prankster could possible let escape, but he thought it only polite Sirius' mother have the final say if he could, it was the polite thing to do since it was her home.. Nicola laughed.
'Why not? Sirius loves pranks, it shouldn't surprise me his friend likes them too, then again, he did tell me you were the prankster.' James blushed slightly; he should have known Sirius wouldn't keep this from his mother no matter how much trouble it would land him in if word ever got out. 'What were you thinking?' James grinned causing Nicola to soon join in when she heard the plan.
Sirius wasn't really paying attention to anything as he lay in his bed. He'd remembered to take down any Wizarding photos he had and to put away his broomstick, so was now staring at the ceiling listening to some music waiting for James to turn up. He had no doubt the other boy would come, it was just when that was starting to agitate him. Surely James would have found the house by now, he had given the correct directions, he hoped, maybe he ran into trouble on the way home. He knew he should have walked his friend home, no matter if they were pretending to be strangers to one another.
He was just starting to wonder if he should go over to James' house to pick him up when his bedroom door flung open and a frightened, flustered looking James rushed in. Sirius immediately jumped up, switching off the music as he did.
'James! What's wrong?' He looked around trying to see what the problem was, and apart from the black eye, he really should have walked James home that night, he could see nothing which would have startled him so much.
'It's you're mother! There were these moving pictures and then she starts pointing this stick at me telling me it won't hurt too much and she's dressed in these really weird clothes! I think she's after me! You've got to help me!' James cried, latching onto Sirius in a panic. Sirius' heart raced, maybe it hadn't been such a great idea to invite a muggle friend over, he should have tried better to make the house more muggle, but he had honestly thought the pictures were going to behave themselves that night. Now all he had to do was try and get James calm enough that hi s mother could obliviate him, he just hoped their friendship would be okay and that wouldn't be erased, or that his mother would forbid him from seeing James again because of the risk of exposure of that the memories might be retriggered.
'James, it's all right, she won't hurt you, the stick is just…just…' Unfortunately no words came to his mouth as he tried to think of a reasonable explanation for his muggle friend.
A wand?' James suggested mischievously, all traces of his panic instantly vanishing.
'Exactly, a wand.' Sirius agreed, relieved, before his mouth dropped open in shock at the answer James had supplied him with. A burst of laughter exploded from James and his mother who had joined them, standing at the door causing Sirius to groan as he sank down on his bed, realising he'd been had.
'I'm a pureblood.' James finally explained as he joined Sirius, Nicola had left the two boys to talk while she decided to catch up on some reading.
'I should have guessed,' Sirius groaned, wiping his face with his hand. 'I mean it was all muggle terms you didn't get, not to mention why you have so much money, and why Potter was so familiar, you're one of the oldest families.' Sirius realised, but then again, he hadn't really been looking for wizards at muggle primary schools, even with that law in place. 'But how did you get the whole place to look muggle while I was there?' He decided to ask, he may have failed to get his house completely muggle, but how do you get a house that size to look completely muggle for such a time? Talk about work!
'A good butler.' James admitted. 'I guess Evitts shut the door for a few moments when you knocked?' Sirius nodded so James continued, he had been wondering why the door had been shut, especially with the speed it had been opened again for him and that no one seemed to know he was coming, ruling out passing on the message, but he had just brushed it off as some weird butler thing to do for the rich. 'He cast a spell over the whole house to freeze all the pictures, and while we were talking, he made my room muggle.'
'Huh.' Was all Sirius could say to that, it really did explain quite a bit. 'I guess we have quite a bit to talk about then, what do you think of Quidditch?' Sirius put forward his favourite question, knowing he'd struck gold by the way James' face had lit up in delight.
'Better than breathing!' James stated firmly causing Sirius to laugh. Oh yes, this was going to be a good friendship.