In the Cards…
Lily had butterflies in her stomach as she sat on the top step of her front porch, blackberry pie perched securely in her lap. Although only one was present now, she had made four—judging the first three unfit. This one, with it's latticed top crust and rich purple filling, looked spectacular. She tapped the sides of the dish, wiggled her toes inside of her shoes, and leaned her head back, taking a deep breath.
She had not expected to be this nervous. Scanning the sky, she wondered if the clouds moving north would hinder James' route. Once again she worried for the sake of her pie on the back of James' broom, but how else would she get to his house?
From inside, Lily heard her mother's startled cry and then, though it did not seem possible, she heard James' calming voice giving some sort of explanation.
Lily rushed inside of her house, the welfare of her pie dissolving like the last straggling cloud in the storm system she had just been watching. In her living room, James was gesturing to the fireplace with one hand and shaking her mother's arm apologetically with the other.
"Ah! Lily," he said spotting her. She tried not to sneeze as he embraced her.
"Lily!" Her mother exclaimed, one hand over her heart. "James arrived through the fireplace! And he means for you to do the same!"
Lily turned to James for confirmation, for some reason unable to form words in his sooty presence.
"My father pulled some strings and had you connected to the Floo Network for the evening."
Lily found her voice and wondered, "Is that even legal? How could you get that done?"
James grinned cheekily, "My family has some clout, Lily."
After an awkward silence, he steered her towards her own fireplace.
"Ready?"
She gulped, called "Bye mum" over her shoulder, and clutched her precious pie.
James threw some powder into the flames, whispered their destination in her ear and nudged her forward.
"Maenllwyd!" she cried, letting the smoke consume her.
A moment later she found herself disoriented, stumbling out of a much larger fireplace. In fact this fireplace was more like a doorframe, and instead of being in the living room, it was in a hallway. Checking her pie, she waited for James, hoping she had come to the right place. The name of his house seemed quite strange to her. When he came through the fire-way behind her, she let out a sigh she had not known she was holding.
James smiled when he saw her, taking the pie from her arms and placing it on a tall table.
"My mum's in the kitchen," he nodded towards a door, wrapping his arms around her. Lily, needing to feel reassured, kissed him.
Before long she felt James weight as he tried to back her up, but she stood her ground.
"You can't keep pushing me against walls," she said pulling away from him and righting herself.
"Why not?" he asked as she maneuvered around him to regain her pastry.
Lily changed the subject, "What was that I said to get here?"
James leaned back on his heels, "Maenllywd? It means 'Greystones'—my mum's hopeless."
At the mention of his mother, James took Lily's arm and began pulling her in the direction he had previously nodded to. They passed a few rooms that James named but Lily ignored. Smells and noises from the kitchen were becoming stronger and her heart was throbbing in her stomach.
Finally they emerged in the dining room. The large table was set with shining silver and candles that reflected off the glossy wood surface.
"Mum?" James called. Through a swing door next to a well-stocked cabinet of china Lily heard a shriek much like that of her own mother earlier. In an instant the same rosy woman she had seen at King's Cross came bustling out of the kitchen, arms stretched wide. James rescued the pie form Lily's arms as his mother embraced her tightly.
"Lily! You must call me Megan. Have a seat in the living room, I've got to get back to the chicken. Jamie! Get your hand away from that bowl. Is that a pie? How lovely! Blackberry, my favorite! I mean it, Jamie!" Megan Potter whirled about asking questions and issuing commands faster than Lily could take them in. Soon her pie was on a pedestal on a side table, James was leading her back the way they had come as his mother had disappeared into the kitchen again.
As Lily sat on the couch she paled, "I don't think I said anything. Your mother is going to think I'm so rude."
James laughed, "She's too excited to notice anything. You are the first girl I've brought home," he paused not wanting to lie and qualified his statement, "to meet her."
"Oh really, Jamie?" she asked making him cringe.
Sitting side by side, Lily finally found a moment to ask James about the events of his letter.
"So have you and Sirius talked?"
James did not meet her eyes, but shook his head. He sighed, mussed up his hair, and shook his head again. "We- it's like… I don't know. But my mum has been trying to find out what's going on. He's been out a lot lately, but not with Remus, so… I don't know anymore."
Finally he looked at her, and she gave him a sympathetic smile, unsure of what to say. He leaned in, sliding his fingers through her hair.
"Jamie!" Megan called from the kitchen.
James did not move for a moment, but Lily pushed him up.
"I'll be right back."
She nodded. Lily ran her fingers over the couch pillows, playing with the fringe as she studied the room. She had always known James was well off, but the grandeur of his house impressed her with a feeling of inadequacy.
"Nice isn't it?"
Lily nodded, and stood to turn towards Sirius. He was leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, scowling.
She moved to hug him, but he stepped away.
"It's really good to see you," Lily offered.
Sirius rolled his eyes, "This is you winning, Evans. Stop being so fake."
Lily clenched her fists. "You know, Sirius, you have some real problems."
His eyes widened with sarcasm, "Oh do I?"
"Just stop being a prat and be nice."
"Remind me why I should be nice to you. Is it because you brainwashed and stole my best friend?"
"I'm your friend too, Sirius."
"Thanks, I'll pass." He turned to leave.
She closed her eyes as she spoke. "I didn't steal James, you pushed him away."
Sirius turned back to her, "What do you know about it? You haven't lived here this week; you haven't heard Meg humming about grandchildren."
Lily looked away. "We're just dating, why is everyone making such a big deal?"
Sirius laughed bitterly, "Because we all know James—"
"Dinner's ready!" Megan called.
Lily tried to move past Sirius into the hall, but he caught her arm. "--a lot better than you."
"I never doubted that," she whispered back, before marching into the dining room to find James carrying a platter of chicken and his own preoccupied frown. Sirius arrived a few moments after her. The boys moved around each other staying as far apart as they could. When Sirius went in to the kitchen to help with the other dishes, Lily turned to James.
"What's wrong?"
He shook his head and pulled out a chair for her, motioning her into its seat.
Megan and Sirius came from the kitchen once more, arms laden with bread, cheese, and vegetables.
James helped his mother with her own seat and then returned to the chair on Lily's other side. The two of them sat opposite Sirius, staring at each other like two teams on the pitch before a match.
"Jamie's father is going to be late," Megan stated slightly irritably. Lily thought she heard a muttered "as usual" but could not be sure.
"It all looks delicious," she attempted, smiling politely. The mood at the table was strained at best. Even Megan was preoccupied. Lily could barely endure the silence during the serving—and after was not much better. James and Sirius contributed nothing save the scrape of knives and clatter of forks. She looked around the room desperately trying to find something to talk about.
"I love--" she began at the same moment Megan tried, "So, Lily--"
They both stopped to let the other continue. Lily smiled awkwardly, "Go ahead."
Megan smiled back, with such warmth Lily almost forgot about the sulking boys at the table with them. "Jamie tells us you are a candidate for Head Girl."
Lily nodded, "It's been a goal of mine for some time."
"Well, congratulations."
A commotion in the hall called everyone's attentions, and Lily took it as an opportunity to kick James in the foot.
"Ow!"
"Help me!" she pleaded.
James nodded as his father walked into the room, smiling apologetically at his wife, who glared at him pointedly.
"Hallo, Lily, pleasure to see you again."
"You too, sir."
The distraction lasted until Mr. Potter had finished piling food onto his plate and then the company settled back into quiet reserve. Per Lily's request, James tried a few different subjects, but nothing lasted very long. When his parents went into the kitchen to clear the dishes for dessert and fight about Richard being late, Lily turned to James.
"This is a massacre."
James placed his napkin in front of him, "It's not that bad, love." He smoothed her hair unreassuringly with the arm he had resting on the back of her chair, but did not meet her eyes. Sirius groaned.
"I'm trying to keep my dinner down."
"Shut it, Sirius. You don't need to be here," James snapped a little unnecessarily from Lily's point of view. During dinner it had been evident that James' frustration was building, while Sirius sat calmly reserved to whatever it was that was happening around Lily without her knowledge.
"James, that was uncalled for."
Sirius put out a hand, "Please, Evans, I don't need you to defend me."
"I asked you for one simple thing, Richard!" came an outburst from the kitchen.
Sirius rose, throwing his napkin down on the table. "I doubt anyone will mind if I miss the dessert course."
James stood as well. "So you're just taking off then?"
Sirius shrugged, "Like I said, I doubt—"
"I heard what you said." James' anger was apparent, and Lily sensed she was not aware of the full details to this situation.
"He's what?" Richard cried from the kitchen before coming back into the dining room, followed closely by his wife. Lily, the only person still sitting, felt drastically out of place in this unknown domestic situation. Richard looked at his son's best friend, who had become a staple in their home more than ever this last year. "Sirius, you're leaving?"
The boy nodded, his dark hair falling into his eyes. "I don't belong here."
Megan held her hands over her heart, "Of course you do, dear."
Sirius brushed the hair from his face, "But not indefinitely. I have to go."
Lily, still unaware, offered, "You could stay, and have some pie."
James went over the pastry. Picking it up defensively he shook his head, "No, let him go."
They stared each other down: Sirius' wand hand twitching, James with anger set in his jaw.
"He's leaving," James reiterated, stressing his words with unnamable, uncontrollable emotion. Suddenly everything changed as Lily realized the impact of those two words. Sirius was leaving-leaving. He was moving out. She watched as he tried to push past James, knocking forcefully into his shoulder. Her pie lost balance in the momentary conflict and plummeted to the ground. The dish shattered with spectacular clarity of sound and as if in slow motion, James turned and punched Sirius in the jaw. The room was mayhem as both parents tried to pull their boys apart.
"Stop it!" Lily screamed, finally standing, poetically accompanied by a crack of thunder. All movement in the room ceased, as James magically held by his mother and Sirius physically held by Richard looked at her, surprised.
"That is quite enough."
Both boys freed themselves from the restraints of parental hands and wands. And Sirius turned on his heel and left the room. As he stormed down the hall, James followed, yelling bitterly.
"When we you going to tell me, huh? By owl from you Uncle's?"
Lily went with them into the passage. The second she had taken action she knew she belonged here somehow.
James threw his arms up, Sirius stood frozen with his hand on the doorknob.
"You were just going to tell my mum and leave?"
Sirius did not move.
"After all I--we've done for you?"
That time Sirius acknowledged him by opening the door and walking out into the rain.
But James was still on the attack. Lily grasped his hand to try to keep him in the house, but he shook her off, slamming the door behind him.
She stood facing it, trembling. "Bugger it," she muttered, opening the door a third time and stepping into the night. Her vision was blurred by the streaming water, causing her to squint, but a flash of lightening showed her the way. James and Sirius were standing to the side of the house, near what would normally be described as a coach house. Inside, Sirius was throwing off the black cover of his motorcycle. James stood at the door; even with the rain plastering down his wild hair, he seemed unencumbered by the forces of nature around him.
"James!" Lily yelled, dodging puddles down the path towards them.
James did not hear her; he was listening to something Sirius was saying. Lily only caught the end of it.
"—not because of her! Because of you!"
James threw his head back into the wind, laughing, "Me? You are leaving because of me?"
Sirius nodded, wheeling his bike out of the shop. "You don't need me here anymore."
James looked down, dripping heavily. It was hard to say if he had been crying; whatever trace of tears he may have shed had been dissolved by the many paths of rain trickling around his nose and mouth.
"I thought we were brothers," he stammered almost too quietly for Lily to catch.
"We are."
Sirius put his hand on James' shoulder, "I was never going to stay here forever, James. It's time for me to go."
James moved away, trudging past an equally sopping Lily, into the house.
Lily was left with Sirius, who was mounting his bike and gearing up for his departure. She half ran towards him, yelling over the roar of its engine.
"This was never about me, was it?"
For the first time that evening, a kind smile played on his lips, "Head Girl is finally catching on."
Lily watched as bike and rider rose into the air, against the flow of rain pounding her to the earth.
When she reentered the house, she found Megan and James talking quietly in the hall. James' mother moved towards her, after the door closing alerted them to her presence.
The older woman took Lily's hands in her own. "It's a shame about the pie… and the evening as a whole… I'll owl you about tea next week. Just the girls," she leaned in conspiratorially, "Less drama that way."
After a quick embrace, Lily said her thanks and went to stand with James beside the monstrous fireplace. As Megan went up the stairs, James said softly, "Stay."
Lily wanted to reach out and hold him, but she understood Sirius' intentions. James had to accept his life. So she shook her head "no" and reached for the Floo powder.
James crossed his arms insolently, "So you're leaving me, too."
Lily rolled her eyes, "No one has left you. Stop being a git and man up, James. This is your home. You don't need anyone acting as a buffer for you."
She caught his eyes as she stepped into the flames, and nodded reassuringly. He held up a hand in acknowledgment, and watched her disappear.
Lily slept late the next morning, but it took her days to wake up from that night. She floated around like a lazy cloud, dreaming outside of herself. James' influence on her life was like an intoxicating fantasy and it was not until she saw him in the pub a few days later that she left her mind and felt her body awake again.
The four boys were a familiar sight, laughing and talking over beers at the bar. Lily tried to let her nervousness subside and pushed through the crowd towards them. Remus saw her first.
She smiled and hugged him, "It's great to see you!"
Remus agreed and motioned with his head at James and Sirius, a much different dynamic than the one she had witnessed last time she had seen them,
"I facilitated a reconciliation involving some gargoyle drama." He explained how Sirius had needed help replacing a statue in Hogwarts. Sirius asked Remus on the top-secret mission, but sensing a place for manipulation, Remus guilted James into going in his place.
"Ballsy," Lily congratulated him. "What if they had been childish and gotten into more trouble?"
Remus shrugged, "Nothing like a good, long, joint detention to heal wounds."
Lily laughed, "I see you speak from experience."
He grinned, "Let's get you a drink!"
He guided her closer to the others.
"Lily!" Sirius called, "We're celebrating!"
"I can see that," she replied, hopping onto the only stool she could find. The place was packed and most people were standing, pressing themselves against the wooden ledge, trying to get the attention of the bartender. The heat in the pub was overwhelming, and Lily removed her jacket—underneath of which was a much more revealing tank than her classic school uniform.
James looked at her, his eyes gliding over her bar shoulders and neck, only taking his gaze elsewhere when he encountered Remus' wolfish stare.
"I saw her first," he quipped to his friend. James pressed his chest against her back, leaning towards the bar. "Let me buy you a drink." Money in hand, he scanned for the server.
"Two shots and five more beers," he called.
"Shots?" Lily asked.
James grinned, "You've got some catching up to do."
An hour and one mishap where Lily fell off of her stool later, the red head found herself yelling over her boys, "Let's go dancing!"
Sirius looked at her point blank, "No."
"But I'm a really good dancer," she assured him, getting up and twirling, unknowingly being spotted by Remus.
"See?" she finished spinning, still spinning.
Sirius laughed. "Cheers," he said to Remus, clinking their bottles together. He downed the remaining beer and held his hands out to Lily.
Laughing and whirling with Sirius, Lily found herself confessing loudly over the noisy crowd, "I told James to man up!"
"I know!" Lily spun away from Sirius, momentarily losing hold of his hand. A moment later her face was in his shoulder, his dark hair the only thing she could she.
"Do you think he's mad at me?" she asked, but it was not Sirius she was talking to. James was holding her hand and her waist, smiling down at her.
"I think he'll get over it."
A/N- I tend towards a more forgiving version of events, where grudges are forgotten/resolved quickly/easily amongst the closest of friends. Hope this doesn't seem unrealistic to you! So, did you like?