***DISCLAIMER: La la la, with Rowling's characters! La la la, and no one's mine!
Transfiguration class breezed by, Professor McGonagall scolding Peter with every failed attempt at changing hairbrush to hedgehog. Soon enough, evening and dinner were warmly welcomed. Every mouth in the dining hall buzzed with offenses against Severus Snape and their top suspects. General consensus blamed Sirius Black, but a fair percentage insisted Remus Lupin was finally fed up with Snape's constant meddling.
As news made its rounds, James snorted brightly. "No one thinks it was me," he noted, beaming at Lily, staring cheerily at his best friends.
"Yet. And James, you'll do something tomorrow with the old Potter signature, and they'll regret you were never blamed for this," Remus smiled approvingly on his friend. James smiled at his plate, wishing he could will his heap of spinach right into Severus Snape's face.
The next day was Friday and a designated Hogsmeade weekend. Being forbidden to leave grounds for setting loose a flock of Golden Snitch-like hummingbirds during the Hufflepuff-Ravenclaw quidditch match, James and Sirius feigned disappointment.
Lily, Remus, and Peter bid their good-byes to the duo and boarded the train, expecting to meet the pair inside Honeydukes. The plan was executed without a hitch, and the small troop migrated to the Three Broomsticks. Turquoise high heels clicking, Madam Rosmerta grinned as she reached the table the had taken in the back, "Right, so that's four butterbeers for our gentlemen and a cuppa tea for the little lady, eh, love?"
"Yes'm," Remus answered, smiling contentedly. Rosmerta winked at Lily, "Lucky girl with all these fine young men." James puffed out his chest and pounded it with his fist in boyish bravado. The landlady rolled her eyes fondly, "All except for that Potter." She retreated for their drinks, and James blew a raspberry after her.
"I heard that, James Potter!" James blushed furiously pink as the woman's voice traveled back to their table. Lily beamed at him and took his hand, interlaced their fingers. Their eyes met, and he put his other arm around her waist. The five occupants of the table released a simultaneous chorus of sighs as Madam Rosmerta returned with four tankards and a teacup. She smirked at them, shaking her head as she surveyed them.
"Fixed your tea jus' 'ow you like, love: smells as strong as it tastes," Rosmerta winked at Lily. "Know how you like the type tah wear 'is 'eart on 'is sleeve." She fixed James with a look and flounced off toward the bar.
Peter had already managed to spill a large amount of butterbeer down the front of his robes and now desperately worked to dry it. Suddenly Sirius snorted, "Remus, I want to ask you something."
"Right, and what's that?" The other boy replied, licking his lips clean of butterbeer residue with a warm smile.
"Say I'd a girl, beautiful girl." He stared meaningfully at Lily, but she obliviously gazed at James. "Very smart and funny and devoted and not afraid to get in trouble when needed." Still no response from the pair. Sirius raised his voice a bit and pressed harder; Peter turned to watch James, wondering how long this would go.
"Let's say this girl—we'll call her 'Rose'—let's say Rose was very like me in a hundred ways that set us off perfectly. And Rose's a devoted thing, always staring at me so absently with those green eyes, or holding my hand, or something equally nauseating." Nothing. Thus encouraged, Sirius forgot his inhibitions and decided to go for broke, "Still you know I tend to get nervous around people of the female persuasion." At this, Remus glanced at James, afraid this was too obvious. James, however, didn't even blink toward them, eyes studying Lily's hand in his while a grin played on his lips.
Sirius boldly went on, raising his voice even more, "But I always play the bad guy and find some excuse to avoid her. And still, when she's gone, wouldn't you know—I'm head over heels just thinking of the girl."
"Sirius," Remus smothered a grin as he raised his own tone, "I'd think you were a complete fool and lucky I'm your friend."
"And why's that?"
"If I weren't, I'd sweep your Rosie off her feet myself!" Remus snapped aggressively. His expression invited argument, a sharp contrast to the usual passive shade of a smile. Still Sirius shared Remus' animation, having heard what he wanted. Peter, in spite of the well-meaning, groaned as he realized the aim, "Not another one of these…."
Sirius barely frowned, then put on a game face, prepared for a row. Taking a precarious chance, he invited a legendary temper, "And you, James, what would you do in my shoes?"
Remus shook his head with a grim countenance. "We're not supposed to interrupt, Sirius," he gestured casually at the pair beside him. "I mean, we made our point, but James works up his nerve in public? We should let this one go."
Two pairs of eyes traded knowing smirks. Sirius clucked his tongue and turned to the rather involved pair across from him, "Oh Remus, I always rooted for those kids." He gave a fake sniff and clapped a melodramatic hand on his friend's forearm. Remus shook his head and patted Sirius' hand, stealing a glance at Lily holding James' face in her hands, her lips pressed against his.
"Oh, I know, Sirius, me too." He bit his lip and closed his eyes. "I'm sorry," he swiped away an imaginary tear and looked away, "I just never thought it would be so beautiful." Cynical in the company of such optimism, Peter wasn't quite so amused, darkly muttering words like 'nauseating' and 'poor taste'.
A long moment, and Lily suddenly pulled her mouth from his, clearing her throat, and swiped at a stray piece of hair. She licked her lips and glanced at James' hands around one of hers, addressing her now-snickering friends, "I think you underestimate Sirius' Rose." Nothing could mask the sheer shock on Remus and Sirius' faces, and Lily continued superiorly, "She'd know exactly what she had on her hands and how to get her reaction." She smiled earnestly now, "And I would bet James' new broom—"
"Hey!"
"—There would be some reactions from the times he didn't avoid her interludes that dear Sirius wouldn't be sharing with us." Her eyes landed on James, and he looked away in embarrassment. A tight-lipped grin etched itself over her lips before she spoke again, "And do remember, Remus—'devoted' she'll stay." Her point driven home, Lily took a sip of tea. James shook his head, and Remus and Sirius blinked vacantly.
"I do hate to break this up, but we really better get going," Peter tapped his watch and shrugged regretfully. Immediately Lily glanced at James, and the three boys began to gather up their cloaks.
"Be careful," Lily reminded needlessly, "and don't dare get caught." She bit her lip as she fastened James' cloak about his shoulders, "Watch out for Snape, of course, and hurry up to the common room." James leveled his eyes at her height, and he grinned while she fixed him with a protective glare.
"Of course, Mum." James smirked, and Lily wagged a finger in his face. He watched a moment, humoring her, then swept her into his arms and kissed her forehead. "You wait for me in that common room, and I swear I'll hurry up." She suddenly turned as Remus grabbed her arm.
"I will! I'll see you soon," and she was gone, swept into the street and warm spring wind by one of his best friends.
James let the grin saturating his mind reach his face as Sirius laughed aloud. The boy turned the smirk on his friend and nodded in concession, "Just like you said, Sirius. Head over heels just thinking about the girl." He raised his eyebrows playfully and laughed, "But let's get outta here; I've got a common room to get to."
