39. Good Ol' Uncle Al
"YES! YES, YES, YES!"
"What the bloody -"
"AHHH YES!"
The Great Hall was at its normal comfy capacity, the majority of the students enjoying breakfast. Seventh years played nervously with their food, knowing in a few hours the exams they planned for the entire year would be upon them. Yet as Sirius Black raced into the hall, a piece of parchment clutched in his grip, shouting in wild delight, those who noticed him watched in surprise.
The familiar group of Gryffindors all reacted somewhat differently to Sirius' apparent hysteria. James looked up from his breakfast at Sirius, interested, yet still shoveling eggs into his wide open mouth. Reamus simply shook his head as he watched his friend prance about the Great Hall. Lily was too busy cramming for her exams, although she had been studying for months and was fully prepared, to even notice. Emmeline shriveled her nose, somewhat annoyed by Sirius' behavior. Mora and Peter both were unsure of how to react to Sirius, and simply watched him in awe and mild amusement.
"YESSSSSSS!"
"For Merlin's sake, what is it, Sirius!" Emmeline said as Sirius arrived before his friends.
Sirius, too excited to form anything in English, thrusted the paper into Emmeline's face. She plucked it away and read aloud. "Mister Sirius Black, we regret to inform you of the passing of Alphard T. Black, on May the twelfth at precisely seven in the evening-Hold it! You're cheering over this?"
"Sirius!" Lily scolded. "Your family is dreadful, but that's just so disgustingly morbid -"
"HEY - I've never even seen the man. My mum always said he was a bit off his rocker, so being the kind hearted sister she was, she acted like he never existed. So unlike her, right?" he explained, still beaming. "Just keep reading!"
"Alright, calm down there tiger," Emmeline answered, brining the letter back to eye level. "Blah, blah, blah, division of the assets, blah, bah-Hey!"
"Division of the assets?" Peter echoed.
"His will," Reamus explained. "He left you something then?"
Emmeline put the letter onto the table. "Something? There are so many zeros in that number I can't read it without getting dizzy!"
"I'M RICH!" Sirius boomed. "I NEVER HAVE TO WORK! I'M SET FOR LIFE!"
"Bloody hell," Mora said, "And you've never spoken to this man before?"
"Nota once!" Sirius exclaimed. "And look, this is what he wrote in his will, it's bloody brilliant, I wished I waited to rub it in my family's face like good ol' Uncle Al did."
James took the parchment and skimmed down to the part Sirius was referring too. "Here it is: 'And to all my dear cousins and my darling sister, I leave a generous endowment of zeros galleones, zero sickles, and zero knuts. I herby leave all of my worldly possessions to my nephew, Sirius Black, in hopes he can keep the tradition of utter disgrace to the Black name alive and kickning now that I have passed on...' And your mum had no idea your uncle was like this?"
"She said he was nuts, I guess this is why," Sirius smiled.
"You've got more than just money, Padfoot," Reamus pointed out. "Look, you've got his house too. Seven bedrooms, five baths - Sirius, what are you going to do with that much space!"
"Well," Sirius said, shoving his way between Mora and Reamus upon the bench at the table, putting his arms around both of them. "I was hoping my dead-beat mates could use a place to stay, considering they haven't found anything better than a dumpy flat in the middle of -"
But he was cut off as Mora hugged Sirius so tightly he was left gasping for air. "I know, I know, I'm amazing," he choked out before Mora released him.
"Living with Sirius Black, I may go mad," Reamus smiled.
"But in a big fancy schlep of a house!" Sirius answered.
"Sirius, you have no idea what this means," Mora said, "Merlin, how can we thank you?"
"Sexual favors?"
Mora went to smack Sirius, as she normally would, yet three other hands had beaten her to it; Emmeline, Lily, and Peter striking all Sirius.
"You're such a pig," Mora said as she rolled her eyes.
"But a pig with a fancy new place," Sirius added.
"True, true..."
"Eh, if I get's me into the house, I'll do it," Reamus said, "Doesn't mean I have to like it..."
"Suit yourself then!" Mora laughed.
"Are you sure we'll be able to put up with, this?" Emmeline said, motioning to Sirius across the table from her. "I mean, living with him?"
"Gee, you suffocate me with your affection, Emmy," Sirius moaned.
"Ehh, after I curse him a few times, he'll let me be," Mora smiled.
"Nah, you love me..."
Mora looked back to Sirius, before answering with an unenthused, "Meeeeeeh."
Mora could not help but conceal her excitement. Finding a place to live certainly became a daunting challenge. She feared she may have put it off for so long she would never find a home, and Reamus found himself in the same predicament, as did Emmeline. Peter already accepted the fact he would remain at home, to care for his ailing mother. And James and Lily were going to be together, wherever they ended up. Of course, Reamus and Emmy alike had the option of staying with their parents for a bit longer. Mora had nowhere in this world to go.
The thought of Mora, Reamus, Emmeline, and Sirius all under the same roof seemed to hysterical; Mora knew she wouldn't get much quiet time in that zoo.
"Hope you lot don't tear each other apart," James said.
"How's the house hunting you two?" Mora asked James and Lily.
"Nothing," Lily said, slamming her potions book. "The flat we want won't be vacant until August."
"You know what that means..." James hinted.
"Bunking with the parents?" Mora asked.
"Awww, Momma Potter will love you, Lil!" Sirius said.
Lily smiled. "True, if she took you in..."
"Ouch, what is it? Let's-all-harass-Sirius Day?" Sirius exclaimed.
"Course not, Padfoot," Peter said, "That's Wednesdays."
"OOOOOH!" Emmeline and Mora laughed, surprised by Peter's sudden comedic timing.
"Fine, have your fun, you lot," Sirius threw his hands in the air as he rose from the table. "BUT I'M RICH! YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!"
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"Well, I found that rather pleasant," Sirius mused as he, James, and Reamus strolled through the castle.
Their charms exam had just ended, and all three boys were convinced that each failed miserably. Utterly bored and not willing to devout this short time to further studies, as the others were, the three simply passed the time, secretly hoping they managed to get lost in the castle and miss their remaining NEWTS.
"You're mad then," Reamus said.
Sirius smiled. "That I am."
"After that test, I wish I hadn't studied either, then I could have topped Sirius' little act," James complimented. "Refusing to answer half the questions on the grounds it went against his religious beliefs. Bloody brilliant."
"And I may even get away with it!" Sirius added. "Thinking about it, I'm gonna miss these Professors. Merlin knows they'll miss me."
"Hmmf," Reamus laughed. "You know, if you do the same for the rest of your NEWTS as you just did, you may get to see them for another whole year."
"On second thought, I guess I'll change my religious beliefs," Sirius said. "What do these stupid exams matter anyways? We're bloody adults! Going off into the big-bad world in a matter of days! We shouldn't' have to take these ruddy things unless we want to!"
"But alas, Hogwarts is so cruel," James mocked.
"This place has been pretty good to us," Reamus reminisced. "After all, we pulled off our greatest stunts within these walls."
"Guess we'll have to keep it up once we're gone," Sirius said.
"Speak for yourself," James said. "First living back at home with my parents and my girlfriend, my mum would murder me. And then living with just Lily, well...Lily would do much worse than that!"
"Not to mention, our new roommates don't hold your same ruthless sense of humor," Reamus added.
"Dear, dear Moony," Sirius said, "My house, my rules."
"I honestly think you're both mental," James muttered.
"And beyond the obvious, why is that, Prongs?" Sirius asked.
"Well, you just agreed to live with Mora and Emmeline."
"And, your point?" Reamus said.
"Last time I checked," James began, "you were both madly in love with them, yet too damn stubborn to admit it. You honestly think you can hold in your secrets while they're sleeping under the same roof?"
"I did it for years here," Reamus admitted, "I guess I can pull it off in the new house for another decade or so."
"Well, you're an idiot," James stated quickly, "And you," he said, turning his attention to Sirius. "How are you going to hold up Mister Sexual Favors?"
Sirius pointed a finger to his head. "All up here, mate."
"Oh no..." Reamus sighed, "You think living with you will make Mora feel the same-"
"Moony, I take back what I said," James said, cutting off Sirius' plan. "Padfoot, you're the idiot."
"Oh c'mon!" Sirius grinned. "Once Sirius Black turns on the charm -"
"Mora runs off screaming in the night," James joked, causing him and Reamus to laugh.
"Joke all you want," Sirius said, "But once Mora and I are the next Mister James Evans, I might just have to say I told ya' so."
"Who knows," Reamus said, "You may end up marrying the girl."
All three walked down the hallway, laughing together. The image of Sirius Black, arrogant ladies man extraordinaire, one day chained down to one woman the rest of his natural born life. Sirius Black and commitment were not words often used together in a sentence. The three boys chuckled at this image, enjoying this time together before they were forced to return to preparation hell for their NEWTS.
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"Be down in five!" Mora shouted out the door of the girl's bedroom.
"You better!" Lily called back.
Mora sighed, pushing away from the door. She honestly did not care whether she got down to the exam in two minutes or twenty, but she certainly did not want to give Lily a full-fledged panic attack. Small things like tardiness did not usually agitate the pristine Miss Evans, however with NEWT exams in a matter of minutes, anything set Lily off like a nuclear bomb. Mora only needed to throw on her uniform sweater and she was ready to go. Emmeline still lingered in the lavatory, obsessing over her makeup as she did every morning.
Mora moved across the room, pulling her sweater out from her trunk carelessly. She pulled it over her head, destroying all the work she had done brushing her hair. Grudgingly, she scooped her brush into her fist, ripping it through the brown mess. A small, whizzing sound buzzed. Suddenly it became louder and louder, like it was charging towards Mora. Turning to face the origin of the noise, Mora faced the window, and saw an envelope smash into the glass. When the letter could not penetrate through the window and get inside, it tried again and again, throwing itself at the window.
Shaking her head, Mora pushed open the window, and the letter soared into the dormitory. The bright magenta envelope contorted into the shape of lips, pursed and ready to speak. Mora braced herself, she had heard of howlers, but had never received one before in her life. Yet when the letter began to speak, its voice was not booming or angry, but sweet and high pitched.
"Miss Emmeline Taylor," the letter announced. "We are pleased to inform you, you have been accepted to the internship program at Witch's Weekly -"
But Mora never got to hear the rest of the message, as the sounds of Emmeline's ear shattering screech droned out the body of the letter. Emmeline charged into the dormitory, jumping from foot to foot around the room as her screams heightened. She snatched the lavender letter of the air and hugged it to her chest, still yelling in delight.
"What's going on?" Lily roared as she barged into the room. Her wand was drawn, afraid there was actual danger provoking Emmeline's reaction.
"I GOT IT! I GOT THE JOB!" Emmeline shouted, waving the letter above her head.
"YOU GOT THE JOB!" Lily shrieked, joining Emmeline's celebratory jumping.
"I GOT IT!" Emmeline said as she and Lily embraced, hopping about at the same time.
"Well, get in here!" Lily said, motioning to Mora.
Shrugging, Mora tossed her hairbrush carelessly over her shoulder, and instantly began leaping with the other girls. After several more moments of excitement, the three finally ceased their jumping, still huddled around Emmeline. "Em, I didn't even know you applied," Mora said.
"I only told Lil," Emmeline confessed, "I just didn't want everyone knowing in case I didn't get it. BUT I GOT IT!"
"What did you get?" Peter asked, now standing in the doorway of the room. "Merlin, I thought you were being tortured to death or something, what was it? Warts Charm?"
"No, Pete, it wasn't something so...nasty," Emmeline said gleefully, waving the crumpled letter in Peter's face. "I GOT THE JOB!"
"What job?" Peter asked, his disappointment glowing that he had been left out of the loop, yet again.
"Witch Weekly!" Emmeline shrieked.
"None of us knew, Peter, don't worry about it," Mora said reassuringly, and Peter smiled instantly.
"Congratulations Em!" he smiled.
"Merlin, can you imagine it?" Emmeline went on. " Me! Working at the most popular magazine in all of London!"
"Can you imagine Emmeline actually working?" Mora said. "We're almost grown up, you guys."
"Just a two more weeks and we're out," Peter said.
"It's so odd," Lily added, "The real world. No more cushy walls of Hogwarts. No more library only a few steps away..."
Mora watched Lily's expression turn grim. "I'm not leaving!" Lilly howled.
"I'm sure you'll manage Lil," Emmeline said.
"Besides, I can always give you a discount, considering you'll be in the shop all the bloody time," Peter said.
Peter smiled softly. Mora knew the Pettigrew's family business was not what Peter wanted to do with his life. Running their old book store in Hogsmede was not something he intended upon doing. But now that his father had left, Peter knew he needed to support his mother, he did not have time to train for any other job. Mora knew all the excitement over Emmeline and her dream job certainly was another blow to Peter's self esteem.
"You bet I will," Lily grinned.
"We all will, Pete," Emmeline added.