Chapter 25- The Unexpected Visitors

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A sound penetrated Sirius' drunken stupor. Someone was calling his name. He tried to open his eyes, but they were too heavy. With a grunt, he let his head loll back against the wall, hoping whoever it was would leave him in peace.

"Sirius!"

He knew that voice. His lips curved. "'Ello, love."

"The owl returned this morning with my note still attached. I was so worried. I had to make sure you were all right!"

Sirius cracked open his eyes to look at the woman on her knees beside him. "Feelin' no pain, darlin'."

Rosmerta's pretty, pink lips were trembling. "What made you get drunk on Christmas?"

He snickered. "Happiest time of the year, innit?" When she continued to stare at him, Sirius mumbled. "Mem'ries."

Her face softened as she pulled him into a hug. "I didn't know. I'm so sorry I wasn't here for you."

"S'alright," he said, enjoying the sympathy in her voice almost as much as using her bosom for a pillow.

Sirius would have drifted happily back to sleep if his head had not started to pound. One minute, he was floating on a blissful sea of affection. The next, a wave crashed over him, slamming his noggin against the ocean floor. He groaned.

Rosmerta pressed him closer, but he was in no condition to appreciate it. "Do you have any potions for a hangover?" she whispered.

He almost smiled. Through some fluke of genetics, noise sensitivity had never been one of his problems on mornings after. She was sweet to think of it, though. He sniffed. She smelled good too, wearing the perfume he'd given her.

"In the lav," he mumbled.

She gently propped him back against the wall. "I'll hurry," she said softly, kissing his cheek.

His lips had pursed for a kiss. They turned down sulkily while he called after her, "Bring a couple of brushing/flossing mints too!"

While he waited, Sirius rubbed a hand over his stubbly face and grimaced at the dry, nasty taste in his mouth. He hoped two mints would be enough to counter the something-crawled-in-his-mouth-and-died state of his breath. No wonder she hadn't kissed him. Lethargically, he lifted an arm and took a whiff. Merlin, how had she stood him near her? Alcohol was sweating out of his pores. It was bloody disgusting.

"Here you go, love," said Rosmerta, returning with the potions. "I recognise 'Morning After', but what's this one? Irn-Bru?"

Sirius chuckled and took the glass bottle filled with a bright orange liquid. "Made in Scotland from girders," he said, quoting an old ad. "It's a Muggle fizzy drink. Caffeine makes the other potion more effective, an' the drink replaces fluids and sugars."

She watched him drink the Irn-Bru and potion down, smiling a little as she said, "I should tell Mr. Harris in the village to stock it in the Apothecary."

He smiled around the mints he was chewing. His thoughts felt clearer and stars his mouth felt better! Sirius leaned forward to thank Rosmerta with a kiss and began to shiver. He wrapped his arms around her. "I'm so cold."

"Of course you are. Hangovers give a kind of hypothermia. We need to get you warmed up."

"I need a shower," said Sirius.

Rosmerta helped him to his feet. "You don't switch from hot to cold, do you? It doesn't work, and does more harm than good."

"No, no, just warm water," he said, leaning against her. The arm around his waist tightened, making Sirius feel better, despite the chills wracking his body. She really cared about him.

The only lavatory with a shower was upstairs. "C'mon, love, you can make it," said Rosmerta.

Sirius gave a huff of amusement. "Feel free to levitate my body up the stairs if I stumble."

"Sorry," she said, "I left my wand at home and can only do one spell without it, so don't stumble, because you'd take me with you." In response to his questioning look, she smiled. "Whatever happens, I'm not letting you go."

He braced a hand on the wall as they started to climb. "I'm only good at one wandless spell too.What's yours?"

"Stupefy."

Black eyebrows rose. "Nice one."

"What's yours?"

Reluctantly, he admitted, "Rictusempra."

She laughed.

Sirius said dryly, "See how brilliant I am? I make you laugh without trying."

Blonde curls brushed his face when she turned to him, nodding. "It is brilliant," said Rosmerta. "When you make someone laugh uncontrollably, you walk away and no one is the wiser. Stupefy them and everybody knows they aren't causing it themselves!"

He had never thought of it that way. "Yeah, but I still need to work on wandless magic more."

"Maybe we could practice together."

"I like that idea."

Rosmerta sent him a look of playful warning. "No snogging until after study sessions."

He gave a theatrical sigh. "All right, if you insist."

Her giggle made him grin.

At the top of the stairs, he said, "First door's my room, don't mind the mess, I'm a right slob, shower's in the lav off the bedroom."

Rosmerta's only reaction to the clothing hanging out of his trunk and strewn across the floor was, "If you need a wardrobe, I've got one in the attic I could shrink and bring over."

"Think that would help?" he said jokingly.

"Can't hurt," she said, escorting him into the lavatory.

Sirius propped a shoulder against the wall, embarrassed to be so weak and sluggish.

He closed his eyes, wishing Rosmerta were unbuttoning his shirt for a much different reason.

"You…uh…undo the trousers, I'll turn on the shower," she said, stepping away. "How does the water charm engage?"

He opened his eyes at the exact moment she stepped into the shower area, looked up- and became drenched in the face with water. "It's automatic," he said apologetically.

Rosmerta's dripping hair plastered her blouse to her body. "So I discovered." The corners of her lips turned up. "Water's nice and warm."

Sirius lifted the shirt he'd taken off. "I'd give you the shirt off my back, but it reeks. You'll find a clean one in the trunk."

"Okay."

His lips quirked when he said, "I would tell you I'll only be a minute, but I smell so bad, it's going to take several."

She smiled. "You're worth waiting for."

-

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After she shut the bathroom door, Rosmerta realised she didn't have a towel. No way was she going back in for one. Sirius' lavatory was the tiled kind with a central drain and no shower curtain.

Even the idea of seeing him in the shower made her heart pound and her face feel hot. If she actually saw him- no, those thoughts led to trouble.

She peeled off her blouse and laid it over the back of a chair. Walking over to the trunk, she spied a towel on the floor. Rosmerta picked it up and sniffed warily. Mmm…smells like clean Sirius, not sweaty. She used it to rub her hair and torso dry.

Her bra was a little damp, but she kept it on. Christmas Eve, she'd taken it off, and found out how quickly looking became touching and kissing became a beginning instead of the end in itself. If she hadn't pushed away, grabbed her top, and dashed for the Floo….

Rosmerta shook her head. Her thoughts were veering into dangerous territory again. She smiled, imagining stuffing them in a box marked Open in July.

In the other room, Sirius was singing 'God Rest Ye Merry Hippogriffs.' His voice had a husky quality she found sexy. Pleasant, she rapidly amended. So pleasant, she turned to his trunk and distracted herself from Sirius' pleasantness by searching for a shirt.

She had bent over the trunk and lifted a jumper to reach a black tee when the bedroom door opened.

"Sirius, did you forget we were supposed to visit Moon…y…." James Potter trailed off, his eyes huge behind his glasses at the sight of her standing in Sirius' room.

Rosmerta saw the boy's jaw drop as his eyes fell to her chest. She hastily clutched the black tee to cover her exposed skin. They stared at each other in awkward silence.

She smiled hesitantly. "Hello James."

James swallowed hard. "You…you're…you're Madam Rosmerta."

She grimaced. "Please. I'm only twenty-one. Call me…."

"Rosmerta, love, did you find a tee?" Sirius asked. He exited the lavatory with one towel wrapped around his waist while he dried his hair with another.

"Yes, but she hasn't had a chance to put it on," said James.

Sirius froze. Raking his hair back, he stared at his friend. "What are you doing here, mate?"

"I'll go put my shirt on in the lav," said Rosmerta, scurrying across the room.

Through the door, she heard James ask, "Remember Moony? Our friend we promised to visit on Boxing Day? I saw the whisky bottle downstairs. Did getting plastered with your pen friend make you forget?"

"I got pissed on my own, mate. Rosmerta just came over to check on me and helped my sorry arse up the stairs."

"Oh…my apologies…." After a moment's silence, James said, "She is your mysterious pen friend, though, isn't she?"

"Yeah."

She heard the frown in James' voice. "Why were you drinking?"

Rosmerta could almost 'see' Sirius' shrug. "You know me and holidays. Black moods lead to a piss up. It's an ancient and noble family tradition!"

James asked the question Rosmerta was thinking. "You've broken every other tradition, mate, why not this one?"

"Maybe I will. I felt pretty duff, having to be lugged up the stairs."

Rosmerta opened the door. "You're not useless, and I'll be downstairs, fixing you something to eat."

Sirius had the sweetest smile. "Thanks, but I think my cupboard's bare."

"I brought some groceries, just in case," she replied. Rosmerta looked at James. "Have you eaten?"

"Yes," he said. "I'll take a cup of coffee, though, if it isn't too much trouble."

"No trouble," she said with a smile, making to leave.

"I'll help," James said, following her.

-

Downstairs, Rosmerta picked up the basket she'd set down beside the fireplace in her rush to check on Sirius and made her way to the kitchen. The tiled counters and floor were clean, but the cookware appeared black and grimy as the old-fashioned stove.

Grateful she'd packed everything she might need in the magicked basket, she took out all the items required to make scrambled eggs, toast, and coffee.

"How can I help?" asked James.

"Can you cast a spell to heat the stove?"

"Sure."

He waved his wand and lit a burner. She smiled her thanks. "Have you ever conjured toast before?"

"No, but if you tell me the spell, I will."

Rosmerta put on the coffee and instructed James while she scrambled half a dozen eggs.

When Sirius entered a few minutes later, dressed in a black jumper and trousers, Rosmerta handed him a plate and told James, "Coffee's ready."

"Thank you," said James, adding milk and sugar to his cup.

Rosmerta took a sip of her coffee. "You're welcome."

"How proper and formal you two sound!" Sirius said after devouring the eggs and a piece of toast. He was leaning a hip against the counter next to her. "Can't you relax and be friends?"

"I think James is being incredibly friendly, considering the circumstances," Rosmerta said. "Finding me in your room like that had to have been a shock."

James' lips twitched as he looked at Sirius. "A big shock."

Sirius chuckled. "Huge?"

James smiled. "It took awhile to get my mind round the idea." Hazel eyes shifted to Rosmerta. "Do any of your friends know?"

She said, "An employee knows I'm seeing someone, but he doesn't know who, and everyone else thinks I've gone off dating." When James nodded thoughtfully, she added, "I'm not ashamed of my feelings for Sirius…it's just…the way things are in the village and at Hogwarts…if our relationship became known…." Rosmerta took a breath and said honestly, "I'm still living down the gossip over what happened almost five years ago. People would think the worst."

Sirius set his plate down and wrapped his arms around her. "Its okay, James won't tell." He grinned at his friend. "Might be hard to keep it from Lily, but it's only until we leave school."

James was watching them with an odd look on his face. "You've been seeing each other for months, right?"

"Yeah," said Sirius, tightening his arms around her.

"Then…you shot him down in the bar that time…so no one would suspect?"

Rosmerta laughed a little. "No. I was still trying to discourage him, then." She tilted her head to look up at Sirius. "Didn't take you long to change my mind, did it?"

Sirius bent his head and kissed her.

James cleared his throat. "Ahem, don't mean to hurry anyone…however, we did make plans to meet Peter and visit Remus."

"I'll clear up, you go on," Rosmerta said smilingly.

Sirius kissed her goodbye in a way that made her blush and James say, "All right, goodbye, Rosmerta. Sirius, I'll meet you back at my house shortly."

When the sound of footsteps faded, Rosmerta pulled back and said, "I'm so relieved James isn't against us, that he didn't bring up my age or reputation…."

"Or my reputation," Sirius interjected. "Listen. I trust James with my secrets- my life, if it comes to that- and I'm honoured he feels the same way about me. Remus and Peter are mates, and damned good ones, but James is my best mate, so don't you worry about a thing," His expression became sly, "except how to get your bra back."

She laughed. "I don't want my bra back. I want you to keep it, and think of me."

Grey eyes turned smoky. "I don't need anything to help me do that. I'll keep it under my mattress, though, like you do those romance novels."

Rosmerta kissed him firmly and stepped away. "Good. No go!"

He winked and sauntered out of the room. She sighed, watching him every step of the way.

-

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Sirius stepped out of the Potters' fireplace, thinking what a difference a few hours made. He saw James pacing back and forth and said, "Worried I'd make us late?"

Relief washed over his mate's face. "You were polishing her tonsils pretty thoroughly."

Sirius laughed and set his present for Remus on a chair. "No I wasn't. We were playing Tonsil Quidditch."

After a shout of laughter, James' expression turned considering. "D'you think Lily would want to play?"

"I should hope not, since she's your girlfriend, Prongs, and I'm taken…." Pausing to give a bark of amusement, Sirius said, "Of course she would! The tonsil thing- that's only an expression- it isn't literal."

James lifted his eyes to the ceiling. "I'm quite aware of that. I may have been born in the dark, but it wasn't last night, I assure you."

Sirius walked over and clapped his mate on the shoulder. "I never doubted it." He stopped joking and said quietly, "I told Rosmerta I'd trust you with my secrets and my life. I hope you know you can trust me the same way."

"I do," said James. He smiled. "You and Rosmerta…I'll never be able to order a butterbeer again without remembering…ahem…you two in the kitchen."

A black eyebrow lifted. Sirius would bet his friend would remember seeing exactly how curvy Rosmerta was, but since he'd seen the picture of Lily in a bikini, he figured they were square, and he'd change the subject. "Where's Wormtail?"

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

"Speak of the devil." James grinned.

Peter lumbered into the room, his round face wreathed in a smile. "Happy Christmas-Boxing Day- Holidays!"

"Got them all covered, don't you mate?" Sirius said laughingly, clapping Peter on the arm while shaking his hand. Following James' greeting, he said, "Looks like you kept dear old Granny from nicking your sweets this year."

"Yes, I did, thanks to…" Peter broke off, slanting a nervous glance at James before smiling at Sirius. "Yes, thank you."

Sirius returned his friend's smile, wondering how many Pettigrews suffered from Musophobia, fear of rats, this holiday. He asked, "How did your Grandmother like the Cockroach Clusters you gave her?"

Peter made a face. "She ate them and asked me to send her more."

James snickered. Soon all three of them were laughing.

"Here's the hamper Cook prepared," Mrs. Potter said, bustling into the room. She handed the enormous container to James. "I kept it simple, like you asked, dear. Just a ham, several rolls, a few tarts and cakes, some tropical fruit and couple bottles of wine."

"Thanks, Mum," said James, kissing her on the cheek.

She smiled happily. "Do give Remus and his mother our best and…oh!" she said, reaching into a pocket to bring out a brochure. She opened the lid and stuffed it in. "This too."

"What is it?" asked Sirius.

Mrs. Potter beamed. "S.P.A.M. literature. It says 'any way you slice it, prejudice against Muggles is wrong!'"

"Brilliant," Sirius said, waiting his turn to Floo.

Dorea smiled conspiratorially. "Next, we're making buttons! I'll send James a box to pass out at school."

Sirius lied straight-faced, "We're not allowed. School rules." He felt guilty, seeing her face fall, and said, "You could send Dumbledore a letter with your literature. Maybe he'd like to join."

Mrs. Potter instantly cheered. "I'll do it today!"

-

The fireplace he exited in the Lupin household was plain and poor compared to the one he'd grown up with, but the mantel displayed smiling, happy photographs that were conspicuously absent on the Black family mantel.

Remus' mother, Lois, was laughing and thanking James for the hamper. "If this is her idea of simplicity, what must your Christmas Dinner have been like?"

"Have you ever read Dickens?" James said dryly.

Tucking grey-flecked brown hair back into the simple knot she had arranged it in, Mrs. Lupin smiled. "I even translated a few passages to Latin for my classes to read before holiday." She noticed the boys looking toward the stairs and said, "Go on up, he's expecting you."

The townhome was small and narrow, with two storeys and a basement that contained a werewolf on holidays during full moons. Sirius followed his mates up worn, carpeted stairs to Remus' room.

They found Moony propped up in bed, reading a book. He looked tired and pale, but his eyes and smile were bright. After the four exchanged greetings and stories of how each had spent Christmas, Sirius said, "What're you reading, mate?"

"The Four Feathers," Remus answered.

"What's it about?" asked James.

Sirius picked up the book and looked at the jacket depicting a man in military regalia.

"A tale of cowardice, heroism, duty, and redemption," said Remus.

Sirius tossed it back down. "Sounds depressing."

James handed Remus a festive package and sat in the chair beside the bed. "Maybe this will cheer you up."

"I thought we weren't exchanging Christmas gifts," Remus said, even as his fingers began to unwrap the present.

Peter sat on the far end of the mattress. "It's Boxing Day, not Christmas."

Remus chuckled and read the title of the book he removed from bright paper. "Lingua Latina Occasionibus Omnibus…Latin for all occasions…Thank you, James."

"I think it's got ancient Roman pick up lines in there," James said with a grin.

"I can't imagine any girl ever wanting to hear them," Remus said, "but they should be good for a laugh."

Sirius, slouched against the wall, said, "If you ever come across a girl who thinks Latin is sexy, she's the one for you, mate."

Peter's forehead creased. "Hey Moony," he said. "Does Dorcas like Latin?"

Remus shook his head. "She prefers French."

"Oh," muttered Peter. He picked up a packet wrapped in newsprint. "Here, thought you could use a card game or three."

Remus smiled. "If you three are hanging round, I'll need them." He ripped open the paper. "Happy Wizarding Families, Witch Whot and Exploding Snap! I don't have any of these. Thank you, Peter."

Peter ducked his head, looking pleased. "Glad you like them."

Sirius picked up the box he'd placed on a bookcase and handed it to his friend. "I didn't wrap it. It's only chocolate bars, to help you…recover…."

Remus opened the lid. "They're Belgian, and seventy per cent cacao. It isn't any old chocolate, and they'll help more than what Mum can usually afford. My thanks."

Peter craned his neck, trying to see into the box. "How many bars are in there?"

"None for you." Sirius sent Peter a warning look. "If you're hungry, let's go raid the hamper." He glanced back at Remus. "Feel up to coming downstairs? We brought ham, rolls, fruit and tarts if you're hungry."

Remus smiled. "I am, actually, and looking forward to trouncing you all in cards."

"I always win Exploding Snap," said James. "So you'll have to settle for a victory in some other game."

Sirius picked up Happy Wizarding Families. "Isn't this an oxymoron?"

Peter nodded while Remus shook his head.

"Not always," James protested.

Sirius thought of Mr. and Mrs. Potter, and Mrs. Lupin. Slowly, he smiled. "You're right," he said, "but not about Exploding Snap. I'm the one who's going to win."

Remus threw back the covers and reached for a robe. "Perhaps I'll win."

"My mum says anything can happen at Christmas," said Peter.

Sirius met James' eyes and immediately looked away. If he didn't, he would burst out laughing. Opening the bedroom door, he said, "Very true, Wormtail, very, very true."

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A/N: Was this chap a surprise to anyone? Duff isn't the brand of beer Homer Simpson drinks for no reason, lol. Besides the Yank definition of arse, it means useless, junk, doesn't do the job. I've heard some Brits use the term to describe the PM. (pick a Prime Minister, any Prime Minister, heh) Irn-Bru holds its own with Coca-Cola in Scotland, and reading caffeine increased the effectiveness of analgesics somehow inspired me to use it in the chap. Anyone ever had one? Is it as sugary as it looks in the bottles? Henry Beard wrote Latin for all Occasions. I took literary license in saying there's another, wizarding version of the book, and the card games, too. :D Also, I'll admit to watching the Heath Ledger version of The Four Feathers instead of reading the A.E.W. Mason novel, but I think the summary of the book a good match for our four Marauders. The readers whose reviews last chapter made me smile, and then think...hmmm...they all want to comfort Sirius (a couple even wanted to share the firewhisky!)...what if Rosmerta found him the next morning? were……♥ 40/16 ♥ alix33 ♥ An Aspiring Author ♥ Carnivalgirl ♥ comettail ♥ cupcakeswirl ♥ Dolphindreamer ♥ ElspethBates ♥ FNP ♥ Freja Lercke-Falkenborg ♥ GraceRichie ♥ ishandtwofourths ♥ ladyofthebookworms ♥ Lilia Black ♥ MollyCoddles ♥ Moonlight ♥ Newbie GK ♥ p3rfeCtlyKluMzie ♥ Shadow-of the- Night35 ♥ Sivaroobini Lupin-Black ♥ Slipknot-3113 ♥ Sophia Loren ♥ sunny9847 ♥ and ♥ Watch Out for Yellow Moon ♥