The one where Sirius shows off his motorbike
Author's Note: I apologize for this piece of fluffiness...I suppose it's not really fluff since it is all part of the plot. It is just meaningless NOW. Oh yes, here is the extra "N" from last chapter's title. Thank you Iselin!
Lily subconsciously snuggled closer to James, her head resting on his bare chest. The sound of a motor revving made her sit bolt upright in the bed, her eyes wide. She threw on her clothes and went to see what on earth was making the noise. A smug looking Sirius Black sat atop a shining motor bike in her front garden.
'Hey Lils. Is James up? I wanted to show you my new bike.' He was wearing all leather, from his gloves to his boots.
'Sirius Andreas Black, have you got any idea what the time is?' Lily shouted.
'Of course I do, Lily.' He looked at his watch. 'It's five to two, what's your problem?'
James appeared in the window, putting an arm around Lily who looked like she was going to hex Sirius into the next dimension. 'We were asleep, Sirius. Nice bike, by the way.'
'Thanks James. Can I come in?'
'I suppose.' Sirius grinned and put the stand down on the bike.
'James! You know I love all your friends, but come on! It is two o'clock in the middle of the bloody night.' Lily whispered angrily. James kissed her jaw line and felt her relax. 'I hate it when you do that.'
They walked down the stairs and she put the kettle on. Sirius sat down in a chair, his leather creaking. James sat down next to him, running a hand through his hair. 'So, Sirius, how'd you get the bike?'
'I got the idea from that chap, Weasley. He was raving on about it when I went to apply for Auror Training. I went and looked around in the legitimate businesses but none of them would let me. I wanted my bike to fly James. I want to be able to take Janet somewhere...in leather, too.'
Lily gave them their coffee and sat down in a chair opposite James' one. 'Where did you find someone to charm it?'
'Somewhere down south. Bloke said he'd cut off both my thumbs if I mentioned where. That's why I'm here so late, it took some time riding back. Oh, James,' he sat back, his eyes distant. 'She rides like a dream. You have to take her for a spin.'
'Maybe in the morning.' He accentuated the statement with a large yawn. 'I'm tired.'
'Ok. Just let me finish my coffee.' Sirius gulped down the rest of his drink in mere seconds. He gave a Lily a peck on the cheek and slapped James' back.
The Potters trudged back up the stairs and listened as they heard the sound of Sirius' bike roaring off into the distance. Lily lay back in James' arms, tucking her head under his chin. His palm, roughened from countless hours on a broomstick, caressed her stomach through the cotton nightgown. She smiled.
'I wonder if he'll ever settle down.' Lily said softly.
'I doubt he will. In twenty years, he will still be waking us up in the middle of the night.'
'If he isn't on an adventure.'
James grinned in the darkness and Lily only knew he did was because of the years she had spent with him.
'I have an announcement to make!'
That was Remus' voice. He was struggling to be heard over the low rumble of noise coming from the patrons of the pub. Lily, James, Sirius, Peter and of course Remus were having celebratory drinks over Peter's engagement, Alexia having declined because of a family event. Unfortunately for Moony, no one seemed to be listening.
Sirius jumped up and said: "Oi! Listen up!" Instant silence.
'Thanks Padfoot. As I was saying, I have an announcement to make,' Remus stood on the bar, swaying slightly due to being somewhat drunk. 'Many of you would know the trials and...tri-tri-tribulations I've been under to find secondary education. I have finally been offered a position in a teaching academy!' He grinned and almost fell off the counter.
There were polite claps. He took a bow and sat down heavily in a chair next to Lily. She looked worried. 'Uh, Remus, can I talk to you about this academy thing?' She asked it very delicately.
'I suppose so.' His words were slurred together.
'Are you sure you want to do this? I mean, you've wanted to help the Cause ever since you knew about it. We were all behind you a hundred percent. Sirius, James and Remus: the mighty Aurors. Don't you want to help destroy You-Know-Who?'
'Of course I do, Lils, but this is my only chance to get a job. No one will accept me, and even now, there is only a slim chance a school is willing to hire a werewolf, no matter how accomplished. I'm screwed, Lils. I might as well try and get a job now before I become too depressed to even try.' He finished his speech with a long draught from his beer. 'It's no wonder all the "dark creatures" are joining He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named's side. He's offering them a chance. The Ministry is offering them nothing but ridicule.'
Lily did not appreciate her wine as much as she had thought she would. It somehow tasted bitter.
Alexia smiled at the reflection in the mirror. Lily was brushing her dark hair using long, languid strokes. They did nothing to help her nerves, which seemed to be as jumpy as they always were before a big occasion. Finally, the hair was silky and needed no more of Lily's attention. They sat down in chairs, looking at each other thoughtfully.
'I never thought you would marry Peter.' Lily began.
'I didn't think so either. I thought he fancied men, you know, hanging out with your James and that. But he is the sweetest man once you get to know him.'
She made a noncommittal noise. 'He's trouble.'
'I don't know how you can say that when you were in his inner circle. You were as affected by the Marauders as he was.' Even though Alexia hadn't raised her voice, her anger was evident.
'I'm not talking about harmless mischief making.' Lily carefully avoided Snape's almost mauling at the hands of Remus.
'Look, Lily,' Alexia's calm side took over. 'Please don't make me angry and make me say things to you that I will regret later on. Let's just get ready for the wedding and not saying anything else on Peter's fight against good and evil.' She gave her friend a smile and squeezed her hand.
'All right.' Lily sighed. They talked about nothing of great importance until it was time for Alexia to wed Peter. All the while, though, Lily Potter had a dark feeling in her stomach that something was going bad was going to come of the marriage.
Ginny grinned maliciously over the top of her dinner. Severus Snape, the greasy, over grown bat who had first been her evil Potions Master and then the bane of her existence as a teenager, had no power over her anymore. He couldn't make her cringe if she got a potion wrong, and she couldn't call her a Mudblood and make her feel terrible. Severus Snape was on her level.
'What are you grinning over, Evans - Potter -- Weasley?' He snapped at her.
'Nothing, really, Snape.' Ginny chuckled and drank from her pumpkin juice. 'I was just remembering when we were children and you used to annoy us on the Hogwarts Express. Do you remember when I told you that you were going to become a Professor?'
'Vaguely.'
'Did you believe me?'
'No. I thought you were as deranged as I think you are now. Now, please stop talking to me. I have enough trouble with Albus trying to engage me in conversation, let along a woman who can't get her identity right. One crackpot professor at once, thank you.'
His outburst completed, Snape continued to eat his dinner. Ginny turned and started talking to Remus who had taken on the job as Defense against the Dark Arts teacher. It was the only job he could find, and no one was willing to complain anymore that he was a werewolf. He had shown his loyalty to Good by taking a Crucius curse for Dumbledore last Summer. Everyone thought he was awfully brave. All the girls fawned over him like he was some sort of movie star.
Ginny could have sworn she felt a twinge of jealousy.
'So, Professor,' he said, smiling softly. His eyes twinkled merrily. 'How are your classes? Finding them interesting?'
'My Charms students are getting on nicely, thank you Remus. How about your dashing young Aurors?'
His smile turned into a grin. 'They are discovering that some creatures are better off left in the swamp you found them in.'
They lulled into a pleasant silence, the only noises coming from the scraping of knives and forks on plates and the talking of students. Finally, Ginny spoke again. 'I see the girls over there are shooting glances at you. Are you carrying on like a teenager, Professor Lupin? Are you consorting with lovesick girls?'
'Alas, I wish that were the case, my lovely lady. However, I find it hard to match the beauty that is to be found at the teacher's table.' He looked over her shoulder and winked at Professor McGonagall. Ginny threw a peek over her shoulder and saw McGonagall laughing. Remus chuckled at Ginny's actions and patted her knee. 'No, no. I am not "consorting" with anyone, Ginny.'
To her utter astonishment, she felt relieved that no girl had taken the darling Professor. She blushed red and placed her eyes on her plate, staring intently at the mash potatoes she had yet to eat.
Second Author's Note: Yay, now for my favorite part of the show...were I read the reviews! Yay.
Lia: I don't know if Ginny has green eyes, but it doesn't say against it, so I used poetic license there.
oliverswife25: I reckon Ginny and Remus are a pretty good match. Hell, anyone with Remus is good because he deserves someone nice and caring. And to live happily ever after. I admit, I was going to put Ginny with either Sirius or Remus, then I changed my mind to a reincarnation of James and now I her to be with Remus. I still don't know what yet.
Bluegirl18: I hope you don't mind this piece of meaningless fluff. Well, alone it is. There is a lot of innuendo there.
Tigerlily: I'll check out some of your fanfics once I get some sleep! Hee Hee.
Teri: Hehe, glad you got all "caught up" in my story. When I saw your review I was thinking something along the lines of Dude where's my car (Not that I have seen that. I think my family is allergic to popular movies) "Dude, I'm your uncle." "Dude, I'm your nephew!" LOL.
Iselin: Hey Hey there. No pro about the permission. My pleasure! Thanks for the heads up on the missing letter, I couldn't be bothered removing my story so I just added it to this one :D. I don't know about this chapter, it seems to be turning into a sheepskin blanket. FLUFFY! The reason Ginny is a charms teacher is because Ollivander said that the wand that Lily had was good for charms. Dum dee dum. There's the charm teacher! I was having a real problem with the idea for Harry's gift. It needed to be something original, and something that wasn't going to sound too trivial. Then I remembered Sirius' influence and thought, hell, Harry would probably love to have one of those. I have no idea how I came up with the Prankster's Bible. The Marauders just needed something to "pledge" on. I'm happy you liked the last lines. If you ask my best friend, Stevie, she'll tell you that I say that sorta thing. In my best action movie voice. Hee hee. Oh, and thanks for reviewing my other pieces of work. I think I will have to rewrite "A Bittersweet Victory." I have lost my passion for writing it :( OK, and that's the end of another review's reply. LOL. Thanks for being such a big fan.
Darth Flirt: I think Remus and Sirius would be the sorta guys who you'd have a school girl crush on. It shows in this chapter, hehe. I am getting around to the gaps, I just can't rush either side, or else it'll be just plain weird. One Ginny will be completely bored, waiting, and the other will be rushing around doing stuff. It is a balance, my friend. I'm glad you think my chapter is good!
And Finally: Thank you to anybody who reads my story!