Our story begins on a cold, damp night the 3rd of November, 1977 to be exact. All around Islington, curtains were being drawn and fires were being lit to keep the night's chill from creeping in.
In the stag's head pub, the night was still young, a group of four young men were seen lingering outside. They were a loud and rowdy looking lot, all here for one reason only.
"Come on Moony, voldy would never look for us here," The tallest of the group stated.
"Padfoot, we can celebrate your birthday at Prong's place, you know, where it is safer," Moony replied.
"Maybe Moony's right guys come on, let's leave" muttered the shortest in the group.
"Wormtail" The last man clapped the short, mouse-like man on the shoulders "Where is your bravery and sense of adventure, No one is out looking though muggle pubs on a cold night like this, let's go inside and get Pads drunk."
"Yeah that's the spirit Prongs, lets go" Proclaimed Padfoot.
And with that, they one by one walked into the Stags head, light spilling onto the cobblestone street as the door was held ajar. Moony checked behind them one last time, before shutting the door and forgetting about the darkness for just one night.
Looking around the pub there was a warm and busy atmosphere, as people were winding down from work. The four young men moved through the crowd of dancers and found their way over to the bar, where they ordered a round of drinks and found a place to sit.
"Happy birthday Pads" Prongs cheered holding up his glass, the rest of the group clinked glasses and yelled happy birthday as they prepared for a night of dancing and fun.
As they were dancing, a group of girls approached the group. One of the girls stepped up to the rowdy group of men and offered them her hand. She was a shorter girl, with long brown hair, falling in waves down her back, which was left bare due to her dress, which hugged her figure.
"Hello there," She said with a wink. "My name's Carol, I heard you celebrating and was wondering if I could steal a dance with the birthday boy." She was swaying to the music staring up into the warm grey eyes of Padfoot
"You can call me Sirius, as long as I can call you mine" He winked as he whisked her around dancing perfectly in time to the beat. Carol blushed and leaned into him as they danced.
"Look Sirius, you're cute but I'm just here to have fun tonight" Carol muttered hoping his claim to her was just a joke.
Sirius laughed, it was a warm and musical sound that made her smile. "Carol dear, fun is what I do, how about you show me your place and I'll show you my favourite type of fun." He looked back at his friends and winked as Carol led him out the door giggling.
At 2am Sirius stumbled through the door to his flat, trying to sneak quietly up to his room. He tripped on the edge of the couch and let out an impressive string of cuss words, which was followed by a light turning on from upstairs.
"James he's home, you lost him so he's your problem, I'm going back to bed" a soft musical voice called out.
"Padfoot your home!" James came into the living room, turning on the light to see his best friend laying on the ground.
"Ehhh I heard lily up there, high five dude we both got some tonight" Siruis muttered clearly still drunk.
"Sirius, she lives here now, remember? We are building our house, going to get married" James laughed "I see you, Carol and some bottles of booze had a good night together."
"Shhhh she just wanted a night of fun and I did too" Siruis pulled the blanket from the arm of the couch. "I'm just gonna sleep here, prongs, beds too far away."
James picked Sirius up and pulled him to his feet, "Come on mate, I saw how you looked at her, you fancy her" James started leading him down the hallway "Beds this way Pads then you can rest for the night, I don't think this is the end of carol tho mate, never seen you look at someone like that before."
"Come off it" Muttered Sirius "It was just a drunken bit of fun to celebrate my birthday, nothing more."
James caught him as he stumbled into the wall. "If you say so mate"
The next afternoon, Sirius finally dragged himself out of bed. He walked out into the lounge to find James and Lily curled up watching a movie together.
"What's there to eat around here I'm starving" Sirius let out a big yawn as he spoke
"We left you a plate from lunch, it's sitting on the bench" said Lily, waving a hand towards the kitchen.
Sirius wandered into the kitchen as Lily and James started whispering among themselves.
"What's up with you guys, you seem pretty serious this morning" Sirius mumbled, though a mouthful of food.
"We're not serious mate, you are," laughed James.
"Oii what's that meant to mean" Sirius grumbled.
"Told you Lils he's always grumpy first thing, best let him eat then talk to him"
Sirius just sighed as he walked away, heading straight towards to coffee
Sirius sat there, slowly eating, thinking about last night. Surely it was just a fun fling, that's what they both told themselves anyway. She was just some muggle. He would never be able to see her again.
Finishing off his plate, he jumped in between James and Lily "So what are we watching"
Carol Joan Hastings awoke the next morning, hungover but happy. The moments of last night playing on her mind, looking around she found a leather jacket. "This must belong to that bloke I brought home" she muttered. She sits upright all of a sudden looking around for him, wondering where he could have got to. She picks up the jacket and heads to the kitchen.
As she gets up to make some breakfast, she sees her door left unlocked. Good she thinks to herself, the only reason she even went out last night was her friends had made her.
Jennifer wouldn't leave her alone until she agreed.. Something about being stuck in the house since Jayden cheated on her.
Carol stumbled to the couch, pulling a cushion close to her, and dropping the jacket as she started to weep. 4 blissful years they were together. They spent so many evenings together on this very couch, Just talking about their lives, and their futures. He even proposed just 7 months ago, it was the happiest day of her life. One month ago became the worst day of her life: she finished work early one day and came home to find him in their bed, some floozy spread out beneath him. She thought they were in love, that he was the one. But clearly he never cared. That day she had thrown all his things out on the lawn and told him to get out of her life, throwing the ring back at him as she started to cry.
She heard a knock on her door, snapping her out of her thoughts. Jennifer barged in "Why are you sitting here crying, last night was meant to distract you from that loser"
"I know, but even my fling didn't want to stick around" Carol sobbed. "I'm so horrible even a man I don't know snuck out. I told you no man would want me. It's hopeless Jen, I even fancied him"
"Hey now, he came home with you didn't he" Jennifer put her arms around her best friend
"He still was willing to fool around with you, so he thought you were pretty hot too, Plus" Said Jen "He left his jacket here, maybe he will come back for it"
Sirius got up stretching "You guys have such a boring movie taste" He jumped aside as a cushion came flying at him "Oiii"
"No one told you to crash our time, you just wedged yourself in there" James mumbled
"Aww you're just jealous that Lily cuddled up to me, By the way, Lils, who is the better cuddler?" Sirius was looking at her, waggling his eyebrows "Well…" Started Lily, James looking her way with a grumpy expression "Oh, James you know you're the best to cuddle up with" She gently kissed him, removing any sign of displeasure.
"Right well I'm off before you guys get at it right here" Laughed Sirius. "Has anyone seen my jacket? I know i was wearing it last night
"Maybe think back to when you were wearing nothing then" said James trying not to laugh at his best mate.
"Oh shit, I must have left it at Carol's place, I guess I best go get it" Sirius picked up the keys to his motorbike and started heading out the door, until Lily stopped him "So you still remember her name and address then do you"
"I mean, ya know how i remember random things when drunk, it's just one of those moments alright" Sirius stepped past her and out the door
"Sure it is mate, invite her round for tea one night, once you admit you have a thing for her" James laughed watching Sirius get red and just drive off.
Bloody hell, there was no way he was into this chick, right? He was sure she was older than him. Plus he was just a drunken mistake to her, Sirius Black didn't do relationships. Or at least that's what he told himself. Although maybe he could keep having a fling with her, but James could never know. He would never let me live it down. Sirius thought.
Pulling up into her drive he was worried she would be annoyed at him for just showing up. But he had no way to contact her, and plus he was just here for something that was his anyway.
He knocked on the door, and a taller women answered "You must be the birthday boy, come in Carol here was waiting for you"
"Jen shut up" Carol quickly looked towards Sirius, I was not waiting for you. I just noticed you left this" She held up his jacket. Jen shut the door behind them "Plus you have to at least stay for tea"