School: Ilvermorny
Year: 2
Topic: Clarity in Writing
W/C: 781
Decide What's Right
"She said yes," James shouted, loudly entering the common room, a mildly amused and defeated looking Lily being dragged along behind him.
Sirius looked up from where he was playing Wizarding Snap with Peter as his opponent put down his next card, and the pile exploded. Peter coughed through the smoke, waving it out of his face.
"You win, Sirius," he spluttered out.
"Shush, Peter. We have more important things now. She said what?" The pair watched as Sirius scrambled up off the floor, shoving Remus on the shoulder and dislodging the book that was covering the boy's face.
"What? I wasn't sleeping," the bleary-eyed boy said defensively.
"Remus," Sirius hissed, waving at him to stop talking. "What did you say?" He finally landed in front of James and Lily.
"She. Said. Yes," James sounded out slowly, pulling Lily closer towards him.
"You said yes?" Remus turned to Lily, who nodded affirmatively.
Sirius marched closer to her, pushing James out of the way and placed his hands on her shoulders, clutching her jumper in his fists.
"Do you understand what you're doing? I mean, he's loud…" Sirius started.
"And messy," Remus interrupted.
"And he's messy…"
"Don't forget grumpy." Remus threw out another option.
"And grumpy…"
"Sleepy."
"He can be sleepy as well."
"Are you just naming dwarves?" Lily asked, looking past Sirius at Remus.
"Why would I be naming dwarves?" Sirius responded, furrowing his brow. Remus laughed silently, his shoulders beginning to shake, no remorse in being caught. Lily shook her head bemusedly.
"It's a… muggle… reference… never mind. Continue." She waved him on.
"Muggles know dwarves?" Sirius asked, crossing his arms.
"Not dwarves like you, and I know. It's a film."
"Oh. I like films."
"Sirius, focus," Remus reprimanded, delivering a light smack to the back of his head.
"But Remus, Lilykins has a movie that we can watch," Sirius whined, turning his head to face the taller boy.
James snuck up behind Lily, wrapping an arm around her waist. "Quick, let's run while he's distracted."
"Why? I'm having fun learning about all your issues." Lily grinned up at him, tapping him lightly on the nose.
"Oh! Issues." Sirius turned on them again. "That reminds me, you need to go have a chat with several girls. They'll be able to give better insight into that area of things." He waggled his eyebrows suggestively.
"I think we're sorted there," Lily remarked softly, rousing an embarrassed chuckle from a beet-red James.
"James, you dog, you," Sirius ribbed, hitting James on the shoulder.
"No, that's you, Sirius," the three surrounding him chorused, Peter still coughing smoke out of his lungs by himself.
Sirius grinned and pressed a hand to his heart. "I'm so proud of you all." He mimicked, wiping away a tear from his eye as Remus rolled his eyes before patting him condescendingly on the back.
"Back to the matter at hand," Remus exclaimed over Sirius' faux cries. "Can I say congratulations?"
"You can," Lily said, grinning as she lifted her left hand to show them the ring. The diamond glistened in the light of the common room. Remus took her hand in his and tilted it to study the stone better. With a slight twist, the ring revealed the small rubies adorning each side of the larger, crystal stone. Remus rubbed his thumb lightly over the edge of it before releasing her hand.
"Very nice, James. Family ring?" Remus asked, stepping back slightly, narrowly missing the edge of the rumpled carpet, the largest victim in James' sudden appearance.
"No, specially chosen. The family ring is ugly." James smirked. "It's not fit to be worn by such a beauty."
"Oh puke," Sirius snarked good-naturedly. James flipped him off before following Lily over to the sofas. They plopped down on the crimson plush, Lily pulling Remus' book out from under her bottom and tossing it on the table.
"Congratulations," Peter said quietly, his head resting against the front of the chair opposite them.
"Thanks, Pete," James responded. "Here, how about a game of Wizarding Snap?"
"I don't think I can take any more smoke. Chess?" Peter said, his watery blue eyes widening.
"Sure." James pushed himself off the sofa, lightly squeezing Lily's knee. He pressed himself down between seating and the coffee table, stretching his legs out beneath the table, managing to only bang one knee while manoeuvring. He rested his back against the sofa, watching Peter set out the board. James reached up and grabbing Lily's hand, pulling it closer to him; he caught her eye and pressed a kiss to the knuckle just above the ring. They shared a contented smile before James faced Peter again.
"Let's do this then."