James found Sirius snogging Pearl at the back of the one and only bar in town that was not in the least reputable. He sat down at their table and waited for one of them to notice. Sirius was fairly quick about it.
"You came!"
"How long have you know that Evans girl for?"
Sirius stiffened up and said, "I don't know, four years? Five?"
"Do you trust her?"
"With my life." Sirius put a hand to his heart and grinned nervously.
"Which, apparently, she's saved at least once to my knowledge. Can you tell me why that is?"
"Her spidey senses tell her when to be there."
James leaned in until he was closer to Sirius than Pearl was. "Or maybe because you wouldn't be overdosing without her there. Why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't want you to get involved."
"I'm involved. What are you going to do about it?"
"Talk to you when I'm not keeping Pearl waiting."
"Pearl can wait. How long have you been a junkie?"
Sirius didn't know how much Lily had told him, so he said, "Heroin or crack?" and prayed.
James spoke very softly. No one could possibly overhear. "How long?"
"I don't know. I don't remember."
"Why not?"
"Weed, maybe."
"Weed."
"Yeah, like grass, like marijuana. It kills your memor –"
"How long, you fucking cokehead?" James landed his hand on the table, and Sirius jumped.
"Merlin, Potter, don't –"
"How long?"
"Was it before I knew you?" Lily was there too, Sirius could see her standing behind. He shook his head. "Five years in July, then, Potter. He got me into Hogwarts, remember?"
"I thought you said your mom died when you were twelve."
"I didn't suddenly know everyone in town. Use your head."
James took a deep breath and spoke to Pearl. "We have to go now. I think you should come with us, but then you'll have to leave us alone."
She nodded and detached herself from Sirius. He was not overly pleased.
"Why must it be now, Prongs? Could you not wait half an hour? Had you not figured out that on some level, maybe I was a little bit fucked over?"
"Sure," James said. "Which way did you come?"
"Through the mirror."
"Through the looking-glass," James said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "How quaint. We'll have to take it back, or Pearl will know almost as much as we do."