Disclaimer: Everything belongs to JK Rowling, except characters and events
you can't recognize as being part of the Harry Potter series.
A/N: thankyou all sooooo much for the reviews! I was really touched by all the support, and I'm glad that you all liked it! And it's ok if you liked 'Changing Rooms' more than this one, because I do too! Still, this is turning out a bit better. I'll probably finish it in the next few chapters though. I know that I haven't developed this idea to its' full potential, but I guess this will just have to do. Hope you like this next chapter!
Chapter Nine
Sarah's Birthday Bash
"What do you mean it was Sarah's birthday yesterday?" Sirius exclaimed, his mouth hanging open. He slammed his hands down on the bench top in his parents' kitchen and glared at Andrea.
"She didn't really want it to be a huge deal," Andrea said calmly. "I would have thought she'd tell you though."
"Yeah,' Sirius agreed, frowning. "I would have thought so too."
"Still, lily insisted on throwing a party for her, and you and the guys are all invited." Andrea, who was making tea, flicked her wand to vanish some teabags.
"Good. Now what do I buy her?"
IN LILY'S BEDROOM AT THE GIRL'S APARTMENT
Lily stared at the note in front of her in frustration. It read: 'Ich liebe dich. Your admirer.'
"What the hell?" she muttered, turning it over in her hands. This was beginning to annoy her. She didn't want some random who had a crush on her to come and ruin her relationship with James, which was going especially well at the moment.
She got up, still clutching the note, and walked down the hall and into the lounge. Grace sat there, carefully plaiting some streamers, and ignoring Sarah, who seemed to be complaining that magic would be a lot quicker. Finally she looked up.
"Look, if I want to pretend I'm a muggle, would you just let me be?" she glared.
Sarah rolled her eyes but didn't say anything. Instead, she slumped onto the couch and stared up at Lily.
"What you got there?" she asked, nodding at the piece of paper.
"Oh, another one of those anonymous notes," Lily sighed. She had told Sarah and Grace about the notes a while ago, after receiving the first one. "Have a look."
"Hey...I know what this says," Sarah said, reading the note. "It means 'I Love you' in German."
Lily sat bolt upright.
"You're kidding?" she said, eyes wide. "Then maybe the other ones mean 'I love you' in different languages as well!"
"Most likely," Grace said, tying a not in the streamers and standing up. "You should check in the library."
"I think I will," Lily said, beginning to smile.
THE NIGHT OF THE PARTY
James and Remus stood in the hall outside the girl's apartment, waiting for Sirius to join them. He had been rummaging around the kitchen when they had apparated, and he still hadn't arrived.
'Oh, come on, let's just go in," James said, tapping a foot impatiently on the ground.
"You go," Remus said. "I think Sirius needs some moral support. He said he might ask Sarah out tonight."
"Yeah, I know," James said, smiling a little. "I can't wait to see how that turns out."
"I'm here!" Sirius suddenly apparated into the hall.
With an amused glance at James, Remus knocked on the door. They could here sounds from inside, and after what sounded like scuffling and a short shout the door swung open. Sarah stood smiling at them, with Grace behind her, scowling.
"Happy Birthday!" James said, giving Sarah a brief hug, and then walking into the apartment. Grace nodded sourly in greeting, and he grinned in return.
Remus had followed him, but Sirius was still mumbling happy birthday to Sarah, who had an eyebrow raised and was smiling a little.
Grace marched behind them, almost herding them into the kitchen, where the table was covered in platters of food. Lily and Andrea were bustling around, rearranging the plates, and placing more food into bowls.
"Hey," Lily said, eyes lighting up at the sight of James. She quickly kissed him on the cheek, making his eyes snap wider. He hadn't realized that they were at that stage yet.
"Uh, hi," he replied, looking a little wild.
Andrea and Remus had slipped into easy conversation, and Grace saved James by launching into a tirade of complaints about Sarah not letting her greet the guests like they had planned, and how she refused to sit at the head of the table instead of on the couch.
"Yeah, life's tough," he agreed, using a bit of Graces own sarcasm. She smiled at that, and turned away to help Andrea.
LATER
The night wore on, with laughter and jokes showering down on the friends. The cake was cut, and Sarah slipped from 19 to 20 smoothly. Later on, the friends, minus Sarah and Sirius who had disappeared, sat down in the lounge. For a few moments, everything was quiet. Then-
"It seems strange doesn't it?" Lily said suddenly. She was leaning against James, who had his arm around her.
"What?" James asked, tilting his head to look at her.
"One graduation and three years later, we're all here, just like we were in Hogwarts," Lily explained. "I mean, sure, Peter's away, and Lisa left for America, but otherwise, things haven't changed much."
"Actually," Remus said. "I would say that heaps of things have changed. Just for the better."
Looking around at them all right then, James couldn't have agreed more. He looked up to see Sirius entering the room quietly, looking a little angry, and Sarah following, frowning. Sensing it was time to leave, James stood up, shifting around Lily.
"Well, I think we had better go," he said, glancing at Remus, who gave him an answering nod. Sirius was already standing, a scowl on his face.
Lily was looking at him calculatingly, so he half smiled, and then turned to say goodbye to Andrea.
Five minutes later, the boys were back in their own apartment.
"What happened?" James asked straight away.
Sirius rolled his eyes. He looked away for a moment, and then sighed.
"She said she likes me a lot too. And that's why she doesn't want to go out with me," he said shortly.
James frowned.
"That doesn't make sense," he pointed out.
"Go figure," Sirius snapped, and he stormed away.
"I guess I'll sleep on the couch then," Remus said mildly, although it was Sirius' turn again.
FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE COOKING CLASSES
Lily stared angrily at yet another note that she had found in her coat pocket. It had what looked to be Chinese or Japanese symbols written on it, and the same signature scrawled down the bottom.
"Your admirer," she snorted. "Stupid creep..."
The notes were really beginning to get on her nerves, and she was just about ready to write a reply note and leave it in her bag for the coward to find.
She was passing the Marauder's kitchen, and she stopped to check how they were going. She had set the students to working on baking pies that lesson, and they seemed to be catching on pretty quickly.
When she walked into the kitchen, James was bending down, searching for a pie dish, and Sirius was stirring the filling on the stove.
Owen was standing next to her, and the new student who had replaced Dirk, a young man named Jack, was turning dials on the oven.
"How are you all going?" she asked, putting her clipboard down on the bench top.
"The fillings cooking well," Sirius commented. He peered into the saucepan, and then turned down the heat on the stove.
"I can't find the pie dish," James muttered.
Lily reached over to help him. Jack was standing near her folder, waiting for James to move so he could get something out of the cupboard. He glanced at the note that was lying on top of the folder.
"Hey! Do you read Japanese?" he exclaimed, making Lily turn around.
"Uh. No, actually- is that what it is?" Lily said, straightening up, and smiling in puzzlement.
"Yeah. It says... 'I love you'," Jack said. He looked up, grinning. "Got an admirer do you?"
Just then, James hit his head inside the cupboard and yelled.
"Are you ok?" Lily said, bending down again to check.
"Y-yeah," James nodded. He looked at the cupboard, rubbing his head. "I'm fine."
Lily frowned a little, but nodded. As she left the kitchen to continue her rounds, she sighed. It seemed as if all the notes meant 'I love you' in different languages. The admirer was creative, that was for sure.
HEAD AUROR GRAGERSON'S OFFICE
James suppressed a sigh, trying to stand as still as possible. Gragerson was pacing in front of him, and his back was beginning to ache. Sirius was standing beside him. They had no idea why he had been called as well, but it didn't appear that they were in trouble, so James was just glad for the company.
"So, men, have these classes been informative?" the Head Auror said suddenly, turning to face them.
"Yes, sir," James replied, still looking straight ahead. "They have been most interesting."
"Dear, dear, Potter, always so stiff. Relax a little," Gragerson said, shaking his head. "This is only my office, not a concentration camp. To operate well, we must all be friends, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US!"
Both James and Sirius visibly jumped.
"Y-yes, sir," James said, eyes almost looking wild.
"Of course, sir," Sirius agreed.
"Ah, yes, Black," Gragerson, said, nodding to himself. "I take it you have been going to these classes as well? Why is that, may I ask? Just to keep Potter company, or are you interested in COOKING yourself, perhaps?"
"Uh, I was there for moral support," Sirius supplied.
"Yes, yes, I'm sure," Gragerson said affably. "Well, I expect a full report of this in two weeks, form both of you, seeing as Black ENJOYS these classes SO MUCH!"
"Yes, sir," James said weakly.
Gragerson smiled.
"Off you run, then," he said, turning back to his desk.
James and Sirius saluted in turn, and then strode out the door.
"Great," Sirius hissed. "Now I have to do work."
"Your choice for coming along in the first place," James grinned.
"Oi, you were the one who wanted me too!" Sirius said, looking injured. "Anyway, I think I'll drop the classes. I think I scared Sarah away. She wasn't there yesterday."
James sighed. It seemed as if as soon as one relationship was patched up, another was ripped open.
A/N: Soooooooooooo sorry this took so long, I've been really busy. Please review, as I'm dying for some feedback. Thankyou for reading!
Jaizar.
A/N: thankyou all sooooo much for the reviews! I was really touched by all the support, and I'm glad that you all liked it! And it's ok if you liked 'Changing Rooms' more than this one, because I do too! Still, this is turning out a bit better. I'll probably finish it in the next few chapters though. I know that I haven't developed this idea to its' full potential, but I guess this will just have to do. Hope you like this next chapter!
Chapter Nine
Sarah's Birthday Bash
"What do you mean it was Sarah's birthday yesterday?" Sirius exclaimed, his mouth hanging open. He slammed his hands down on the bench top in his parents' kitchen and glared at Andrea.
"She didn't really want it to be a huge deal," Andrea said calmly. "I would have thought she'd tell you though."
"Yeah,' Sirius agreed, frowning. "I would have thought so too."
"Still, lily insisted on throwing a party for her, and you and the guys are all invited." Andrea, who was making tea, flicked her wand to vanish some teabags.
"Good. Now what do I buy her?"
IN LILY'S BEDROOM AT THE GIRL'S APARTMENT
Lily stared at the note in front of her in frustration. It read: 'Ich liebe dich. Your admirer.'
"What the hell?" she muttered, turning it over in her hands. This was beginning to annoy her. She didn't want some random who had a crush on her to come and ruin her relationship with James, which was going especially well at the moment.
She got up, still clutching the note, and walked down the hall and into the lounge. Grace sat there, carefully plaiting some streamers, and ignoring Sarah, who seemed to be complaining that magic would be a lot quicker. Finally she looked up.
"Look, if I want to pretend I'm a muggle, would you just let me be?" she glared.
Sarah rolled her eyes but didn't say anything. Instead, she slumped onto the couch and stared up at Lily.
"What you got there?" she asked, nodding at the piece of paper.
"Oh, another one of those anonymous notes," Lily sighed. She had told Sarah and Grace about the notes a while ago, after receiving the first one. "Have a look."
"Hey...I know what this says," Sarah said, reading the note. "It means 'I Love you' in German."
Lily sat bolt upright.
"You're kidding?" she said, eyes wide. "Then maybe the other ones mean 'I love you' in different languages as well!"
"Most likely," Grace said, tying a not in the streamers and standing up. "You should check in the library."
"I think I will," Lily said, beginning to smile.
THE NIGHT OF THE PARTY
James and Remus stood in the hall outside the girl's apartment, waiting for Sirius to join them. He had been rummaging around the kitchen when they had apparated, and he still hadn't arrived.
'Oh, come on, let's just go in," James said, tapping a foot impatiently on the ground.
"You go," Remus said. "I think Sirius needs some moral support. He said he might ask Sarah out tonight."
"Yeah, I know," James said, smiling a little. "I can't wait to see how that turns out."
"I'm here!" Sirius suddenly apparated into the hall.
With an amused glance at James, Remus knocked on the door. They could here sounds from inside, and after what sounded like scuffling and a short shout the door swung open. Sarah stood smiling at them, with Grace behind her, scowling.
"Happy Birthday!" James said, giving Sarah a brief hug, and then walking into the apartment. Grace nodded sourly in greeting, and he grinned in return.
Remus had followed him, but Sirius was still mumbling happy birthday to Sarah, who had an eyebrow raised and was smiling a little.
Grace marched behind them, almost herding them into the kitchen, where the table was covered in platters of food. Lily and Andrea were bustling around, rearranging the plates, and placing more food into bowls.
"Hey," Lily said, eyes lighting up at the sight of James. She quickly kissed him on the cheek, making his eyes snap wider. He hadn't realized that they were at that stage yet.
"Uh, hi," he replied, looking a little wild.
Andrea and Remus had slipped into easy conversation, and Grace saved James by launching into a tirade of complaints about Sarah not letting her greet the guests like they had planned, and how she refused to sit at the head of the table instead of on the couch.
"Yeah, life's tough," he agreed, using a bit of Graces own sarcasm. She smiled at that, and turned away to help Andrea.
LATER
The night wore on, with laughter and jokes showering down on the friends. The cake was cut, and Sarah slipped from 19 to 20 smoothly. Later on, the friends, minus Sarah and Sirius who had disappeared, sat down in the lounge. For a few moments, everything was quiet. Then-
"It seems strange doesn't it?" Lily said suddenly. She was leaning against James, who had his arm around her.
"What?" James asked, tilting his head to look at her.
"One graduation and three years later, we're all here, just like we were in Hogwarts," Lily explained. "I mean, sure, Peter's away, and Lisa left for America, but otherwise, things haven't changed much."
"Actually," Remus said. "I would say that heaps of things have changed. Just for the better."
Looking around at them all right then, James couldn't have agreed more. He looked up to see Sirius entering the room quietly, looking a little angry, and Sarah following, frowning. Sensing it was time to leave, James stood up, shifting around Lily.
"Well, I think we had better go," he said, glancing at Remus, who gave him an answering nod. Sirius was already standing, a scowl on his face.
Lily was looking at him calculatingly, so he half smiled, and then turned to say goodbye to Andrea.
Five minutes later, the boys were back in their own apartment.
"What happened?" James asked straight away.
Sirius rolled his eyes. He looked away for a moment, and then sighed.
"She said she likes me a lot too. And that's why she doesn't want to go out with me," he said shortly.
James frowned.
"That doesn't make sense," he pointed out.
"Go figure," Sirius snapped, and he stormed away.
"I guess I'll sleep on the couch then," Remus said mildly, although it was Sirius' turn again.
FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE COOKING CLASSES
Lily stared angrily at yet another note that she had found in her coat pocket. It had what looked to be Chinese or Japanese symbols written on it, and the same signature scrawled down the bottom.
"Your admirer," she snorted. "Stupid creep..."
The notes were really beginning to get on her nerves, and she was just about ready to write a reply note and leave it in her bag for the coward to find.
She was passing the Marauder's kitchen, and she stopped to check how they were going. She had set the students to working on baking pies that lesson, and they seemed to be catching on pretty quickly.
When she walked into the kitchen, James was bending down, searching for a pie dish, and Sirius was stirring the filling on the stove.
Owen was standing next to her, and the new student who had replaced Dirk, a young man named Jack, was turning dials on the oven.
"How are you all going?" she asked, putting her clipboard down on the bench top.
"The fillings cooking well," Sirius commented. He peered into the saucepan, and then turned down the heat on the stove.
"I can't find the pie dish," James muttered.
Lily reached over to help him. Jack was standing near her folder, waiting for James to move so he could get something out of the cupboard. He glanced at the note that was lying on top of the folder.
"Hey! Do you read Japanese?" he exclaimed, making Lily turn around.
"Uh. No, actually- is that what it is?" Lily said, straightening up, and smiling in puzzlement.
"Yeah. It says... 'I love you'," Jack said. He looked up, grinning. "Got an admirer do you?"
Just then, James hit his head inside the cupboard and yelled.
"Are you ok?" Lily said, bending down again to check.
"Y-yeah," James nodded. He looked at the cupboard, rubbing his head. "I'm fine."
Lily frowned a little, but nodded. As she left the kitchen to continue her rounds, she sighed. It seemed as if all the notes meant 'I love you' in different languages. The admirer was creative, that was for sure.
HEAD AUROR GRAGERSON'S OFFICE
James suppressed a sigh, trying to stand as still as possible. Gragerson was pacing in front of him, and his back was beginning to ache. Sirius was standing beside him. They had no idea why he had been called as well, but it didn't appear that they were in trouble, so James was just glad for the company.
"So, men, have these classes been informative?" the Head Auror said suddenly, turning to face them.
"Yes, sir," James replied, still looking straight ahead. "They have been most interesting."
"Dear, dear, Potter, always so stiff. Relax a little," Gragerson said, shaking his head. "This is only my office, not a concentration camp. To operate well, we must all be friends, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US!"
Both James and Sirius visibly jumped.
"Y-yes, sir," James said, eyes almost looking wild.
"Of course, sir," Sirius agreed.
"Ah, yes, Black," Gragerson, said, nodding to himself. "I take it you have been going to these classes as well? Why is that, may I ask? Just to keep Potter company, or are you interested in COOKING yourself, perhaps?"
"Uh, I was there for moral support," Sirius supplied.
"Yes, yes, I'm sure," Gragerson said affably. "Well, I expect a full report of this in two weeks, form both of you, seeing as Black ENJOYS these classes SO MUCH!"
"Yes, sir," James said weakly.
Gragerson smiled.
"Off you run, then," he said, turning back to his desk.
James and Sirius saluted in turn, and then strode out the door.
"Great," Sirius hissed. "Now I have to do work."
"Your choice for coming along in the first place," James grinned.
"Oi, you were the one who wanted me too!" Sirius said, looking injured. "Anyway, I think I'll drop the classes. I think I scared Sarah away. She wasn't there yesterday."
James sighed. It seemed as if as soon as one relationship was patched up, another was ripped open.
A/N: Soooooooooooo sorry this took so long, I've been really busy. Please review, as I'm dying for some feedback. Thankyou for reading!
Jaizar.