Shopping - Peter POV
I got there early. I've found it's always best to do that when meeting others, then you can be sure that they won't leave without you. Lily, James, and Sirius arrived together. I'm not jealous, I'm not jealous, I'm not jealous.
One of them but not one of them. That's how they see me. The outsider of the group. The afterthought. Lily is almost more of a Marauder than I am.
Remus comes jogging over, out of breath and nearly ten minutes late. He's saying something about having to sneak out of the house. of course, he finds this funny instead of frightening. I don't even want to think about what my parents would do if I snuck around behind their backs.
James and Sirius clap him on the shoulder approvingly, I offer my best 'good for you' grin too. Lily shakes her head at us, but is also smiling as she starts dragging James down the street towards Godderich Hollow. Sirius and Remus elbow me and nod towards the couple in the lead, snickering at the way James is letting Lily take charge. I join in.
"Alright, don't look so glum. I promise to make this as painless as possible." Lily tells us as she leads James into the first store. Sirius cringes behind her back, but follows after them. Remus and I share a dubious look, but also follow. We did ask for this, after all, didn't we?
Lily is a whirlwind as she darts from one clothes rack to the next, piling her arms with all kinds of clothes. It's frightening, watching her. and it's strangely fascinating. Me, Sirius, and Remus stare at her from the doorway for a few seconds.
"It's like watching a Quidditch game." Sirius murmurs quietly.
"Lily's the Quaffle." Remus nods.
".and the clothes racks are the Chasers." I finish, also nodding in agreement.
Sirius is the first to notice that James has moved towards the change rooms. He nudges the two of us and we all tear our gazes from the girl-on- a-mission zipping from one rack to the next in favour of joining James.
Eventually, she seems to run out of racks to visit and stands importantly before us. "Here," she begins dividing up her armload, giving each of us smaller piles. "Go try these on. I'll wait. Come out and show me the ones that you like." she orders, shooing us towards the changing rooms.
With an overwhelmed panic, I look at my pile. Muggle clothes. Lots and lots of Muggle clothes. All because of one party. What a waste of gold, I'm probably never even going to wear any of this for anything else again, but everyone else seems really excited about this.
I'm still staring down at the pile of clothes when I hear one of the others stepping back out into the store.
"Lil, what about this one?" James voice asks. After a quick debate, I crack open the door to my changing space just enough to see what he's wearing. He's wearing a simple black t-shirt with a snitch on it.
"Thought that you'd like that one." Lily smiled. "Could you try on the one with the collar, the cream colour one?"
"Why didn't you just ask me to do that in the first place?" James huffed.
"Look, if you guys don't want to be here. I can go home. I have other things to do too." Lily hinted heavily.
James annoyance visibly melted away, "No, you know that we appreciate it right Lily? It's just, I never really liked shopping." He shoots her an innocent, sincere look which I can't really tell if he's faking or not. Lily's face softens.
"How are the rest of you making out?" She calls out.
I groan softly, Remus and Sirius are muttering under their breaths too from the sounds of things. "Nothing good hunh?" Lily calls out again, amusement in her voice. "Sirus did you even try the Blue one with the collar on?" she adds after a moment.
Sirius grumbles something that sounds like an annoyed mimic of her question. I wish she had've offered a suggestion to me as I rummage through the clothes.
"Blue is not my colour." Sirius says in a louder voice.
That raises my hopes some. there's something blue in my pile. I pull it out, slip it on and step out. Remus seems to have had the same idea. We come out looking almost identical, except that I'm somehow sure, he still looks better in this stuff than I do in mine. Lily's look confirms it.
But at least she decides that his blue shirt isn't quite good enough to purchase either. James gets his shirt and we move on to the next store. Sirius makes a joke about the shirt that I miss.something about James being Lily's golden snitch.? James gives him a mock punch, but chuckles, Remus laughs, so I do to. Lily just groans, grabs James and pulls him away from Sirius. She learned very early on in their relationship that a James and Sirius combination was never good for the sanity.
The rest of us set out, following after her once again. This is a waste of gold AND a waste of time.
Shopping -Lily's POV
I took the boy to a shop on the fringe of Godderich Hollow. It was a mixed community so both Wizarding and Muggle clothes were sold. I thought that it was a good place to start. I looked at the stores I had to work with, and my company.
Okay.Peter was easy, he'd do whatever the others told him. Remus, not likely to bolt until he found enough to impress Maia. James would probably stay with her, until I was done. even if shopping bored him. Sirus.well, maybe an hour.before he got stir-crazy, very short attention span that one.
Alright, don't look so glum. I promise to make this as painless as possible." I told them. I pulled James along to the first store. The others followed, not very enthusiastically.
I whirled around the story collecting various things. Something for each of the boys. James, who'd been shopping with me before, just waited at the change room. The others took their lead from him, not surprising really. I wondered sometimes if they ever thought for them selves.
I'd grabbed mostly shirts for them to try. Although I doubted that Maia would have minded them in Robes. I thought the T-shorts were just more appropriate for the summer. Besides. I knew James would look hot in one. Heck. they would all look good.
"Here," I separated the collection that I'd gathered and handed them each a stack. "Go try these on. I'll wait. Come out and show me the ones that you like."
Lily waited while the Marauders went to change. A service girl came over to her. "It seems like you have everything under control. But I'll ask anyway, do you need any help?" She asked politely.
"Yeah, Pool Party, need new look for them." Lily replied. The clerk looked thoughtful.
"Well, I know that Silver's has some great suits, here in town. My friend found his at .oh Pennitins, in Cambridge. But they may not fit in well." The witch told me.
"Lil, what about this one?" James showed me a simple black t-shirt from his pile. It had a picture of the snitch on it (well they were in the birthplace of the snitch).
"Thought that you'd like that one." I smiled. "Could you try on the one with the collar, the cream colour one?"
"Why didn't you just ask me to do that in the first place?" James huffed.
"Look, if you guys don't want to be here. I can go home. I have other things to do too." I replied. They always acted like this when we went shopping.
"No, you know that we appreciate it right Lily? It's just, I never really liked shopping." James told me. He looked all sweet and cute, of course I caved.
"How are the rest of you making out?" I asked. I heard a few grumbles. "Nothing good hunh?" Lily thought about it for a second. "Sirus did you even try the Blue one with the collar on?" She heard a distinct grumble.
"Blue is not my colour." He replied. I had to hold my laughter.
I got James the black-snitch-tee. And we headed to the next store. Same drill as before. They waited, I gathered.
"Sirus, what colour do you prefer, navy blue or slate grey?" I called to him. He shrugged. "Fine, but you're trying it on. Stop being stubborn." I handed them each two tops and two bottoms. They headed off to try them on.
Remus found a top that he liked, it was a short-sleeved collared shirt white with a hint of blue in it. I assured him that it was very appropriate, and looked great on him. Truth was, that I knew very well that Maia was going to thank me. It accentuated how well toned Lupin really was. Peter found a t-shirt that was a deep green, almost black colour the looked very nice on him.
"Okay, the sales-witch recommended Silver's." I told them heading toward the store.
"Then why didn't we just go in there?" Sirus asked.
"Because the other store was on the way." I replied. "Come on, has it really been that bad?"
"I don't see you having to change every five minutes." Sirus commented. James rolled his eyes. Remus and Peter, tried to avoid eye contact. They'd heard these before.
"That's just because I have yet to find something I want to try on." I stated. "I actually have been looking for a new bathing suit. Just haven't seen one I like, yet."
We entered Silver's moments later. Sirus crossed his arms, he told me that he wouldn't try anything on, unless I did to. Just like him to be that stubborn. No wonder Len kept getting pissed at him.
This place was great! I would never have admitted it to them, on principle, but I suddenly thought that we should have come here first. Besides they were really no fun to shop with, unless it was at a Quidditch shop, Candy Store or Zonker's.
I picked out a small collection for each of us. Only half a dozen or so.truth was I couldn't really carry any more than that. Sirus looked at me. "What I have my pile to! Now change!" they did as they where commanded. I think that it was only to get this over with. I knew that James was going to take me around and do the tourist thing being the Quidditch fan he was. Not that I really minded.
I tried on a simple one piece with a wrap tied at my waist. I had started to insist on seeing things. "Ready?" I called. Grumbles. I stepped out and looked at them. James looked fabulous, . . . but then I may have a slightly biased opinion there. Peter, nervously stepped out, it wasn't a bad look for him, but she thought that he could do better. Remus, he . was hot. that was definitely a good look. Sirus, definitely not.
"So? Any comments?" I felt like I was pulling teeth.
"About us or you?" James commented. Looking her over. "Looks good on you. This, he motioned to himself. It. . . doesn't feel right. Lily you know I like a little dressy."
"Fair enough. Sirus, that one's a no! I don't think that it suits you well." I told him. Sirus looked at me, thankful. "That one's not bad Remus. Definite potential there."
"Lily you look good. Is that what Maia meant by two-piece?" Remus asked.
"No. Maia told you something about a two-piece?" I felt a smile curve my lips. He nodded shyly, I think he started to blush. "I think I picked one up. I'll show you."
I hadn't really intended on showing the lot of them. Maybe James, if it looked good on me. Leave it to a Ravenclaw. Maia was such a flirt. I put on the gold two-piece that I'd picked up on a whim. I looked down at myself, not bad I thought. "Alright, round two, ready?" I called. I suddenly felt very nervous, and slightly cold.
"This is the kind of two-piece Maia meant." I told them in my bravest, I'm- not-self-conscious voice I could manage.
Shopping - Remus POV
"Sirus, what colour do you prefer, navy blue or slate grey?" Lily calls out to as we visit the umpteenth store. Black lost his sense of humour about four stores ago, and his patience for all this shopping is visibly decreasing with each piece of clothing Lily presents him. Unsurprisingly, he shrugs silently and indifferently at her latest selection. "Fine, but you're trying it on. Stop being stubborn." She says firmly, handing him each of us two tops and two bottoms. I grin slightly as we start off in search of the changing rooms. At least she's not piling us with huge armloads of clothes anymore!
The first shirt is a baggy shirt with no sleeves. I don't like it. Fortunately, Lily doesn't either. The second is a white, short-sleeved, collared shirt with a hint of blue in it. I don't like it. This time though, Lily does.
"I think Maia will really like it." She suggests at some point, while I try arguing that it feels tight and clingy.
Maia will like it? Turning to examine myself in the mirror again, I reconsider. Suddenly it's not feeling quite so uncomfortable anymore. "Alright." I shrug, "You're the expert, I suppose." Can't make it sound too much like all I'm thinking about is Maia's opinion.
Hanging on to the white shirt, we all wait while Lily struggles to find something for Peter. In the end, she decides on a t-shirt that was so deep green it could almost pass for black. I think Petey was feeling a little self-conscious about wearing Slytherin colours, but none of us had our house colours anyways.
That's one thing about Peter though. he worries about everything and anything.
"Okay, the sales-witch recommended Silver's." Lily shares as we continue down the street.
"Then why didn't we just go in there?" Sirus asks petulantly, arms crossed. I raise my brows at him. This could get interesting soon.
"Because the other store was on the way." Lily replies matter-of-factly. "Come on, has it really been that bad?"
"I don't see you having to change every five minutes." Sirus comments, his voice dangerously close to a whine. James rolls his eyes. Peter and I try to avoid eye contact. Laughing at Sirius now will only make him madder. but if he could only see himself when he gets like this.!
"That's just because I have yet to find something I want to try on." Lily states calmly. "I actually have been looking for a new bathing suit. Just haven't seen one I like, yet."
We enter Silver's moments later. Sirus immediately crosses his arms stubbornly "I'm not trying anything else on."
Finally beginning to look exasperated, Lily planted herself in front of him, somehow managing to look imposing despite the fact that she was shorter than him. Without opening her mouth or looking to James for support, she raised her brows expectantly. A small muscle in Sirius' face twitched. "Fine! But only if you're trying this stuff on too!"
"Deal." Lily agreed, backing off and letting her eyes roam the place.
Looking around, some of Sirius dampening mood finally hits me too. This place is huge. How was it that anyone could need such a selection of clothes? Beside me, Peter sighs heavily, and I'm tempted to join him.
Naturally, Lily's back to piling her arms as full as she can manage. I bite back a groan. Sirius and Peter aren't quite as successful.
Looking particularly miserable, Sirus gives Lily a pointed look.
"What I have my pile to!" she defends herself, holding up several items that she had not passed on to us. "Now change!"
James was the first to start marching to the change rooms, I followed reluctantly, more eager to get this all over with than anything else. Peter hesitates a moment behind me, torn between backing Sirius on the refusal to try any more clothes on, and backing James, who evidently decided that keeping his girlfriend was more important than planting himself next to Sirius. Just before entering the change room I glance over my shoulder at Peter and Sirius. Peter opted to follow James' lead, Sirius is very slowly bringing up the rear.
Blindly grabbing the first thing my hand closes around, I change and examine myself. If nothing else, today has really made me appreciate wizard robes.
"Ready?" Lily's cheerful voice calls out.
We all step out at about the same time. I have to admit, Lily looks really good in the suite she chose, James is also looking comfortable in what he's wearing, but then, he always had been pretty confident about himself.
"So? Any comments?" she asks, after we've all had a chance to examine each other.
"About us or you?" James asks slyly, looking her over head to toe. "Looks good on you. This," he motioned to himself. "It. . . doesn't feel right. Lily you know I like a little dressy."
"Fair enough." She agrees, before turning to Sirus, "That one's a no! I don't think that it suits you well."
Sirius, for once, is actually looking relieved as he turns to head back to the change room. Her eyes travel around to me next. Her eyes widen just slightly, her brows rising with approval. "That one's not bad Remus. Definite potential there." she shrugs casually after getting a hold of herself. I don't let my mental grin of triumph show on my face.
Her critical eyes are now on Peter, who is shifting uncomfortably from one foot to the other, she purses her lips. 'Not bad, but try again.' was written all over that look. I should know, she'd directed it at me enough times today already. Peter had also clued in as he let out a small sigh, but he turned around to rummage through his pile of options once again.
I was really starting to feel badly for Sirius and Peter. If Lily was anything like James, I'd say she was picking on them on purpose.as it is though, I guess they were just cursed with a string of bad luck today.
"Lily you look good. Is that what Maia meant by two-piece?" I finally ask curiously, trying not to stare too much at her outfit.
"No. Maia told you something about a two-piece?" There's definite amusement in her voice, and I'm not sure if I should be suspicious or excited. A slow, knowing smile curves her lips. Nodding hesitantly, I feel the blood rushing to my face. There is definitely some kind of inside joke going on here. "I think I picked one up. I'll show you." she offers, winking at James.
James at least looks as confused and bewildered as I feel though. He meets my eyes as Lily retreats to the changing room and shrugs.
Sirius and Peter return in their new outfits just as Lily disappears. They look at James curiously, but all James can do is shrug and jerk his chin in the direction of Lily's changing room. We wait in silence for several minutes
"Alright, round two, ready?" she calls out. Sirius and Peter sigh.
"This is the kind of two-piece Maia meant." Lily announces, stepping out and striking a pose that showed herself off very clearly.
I think my jaw must have hit the ground.
James stumbled over the bench he'd propped one foot up on, his eyes widening.
Peter let out a small, strangled sound.
Sirius' jaw joined mine on the floor.
I got there early. I've found it's always best to do that when meeting others, then you can be sure that they won't leave without you. Lily, James, and Sirius arrived together. I'm not jealous, I'm not jealous, I'm not jealous.
One of them but not one of them. That's how they see me. The outsider of the group. The afterthought. Lily is almost more of a Marauder than I am.
Remus comes jogging over, out of breath and nearly ten minutes late. He's saying something about having to sneak out of the house. of course, he finds this funny instead of frightening. I don't even want to think about what my parents would do if I snuck around behind their backs.
James and Sirius clap him on the shoulder approvingly, I offer my best 'good for you' grin too. Lily shakes her head at us, but is also smiling as she starts dragging James down the street towards Godderich Hollow. Sirius and Remus elbow me and nod towards the couple in the lead, snickering at the way James is letting Lily take charge. I join in.
"Alright, don't look so glum. I promise to make this as painless as possible." Lily tells us as she leads James into the first store. Sirius cringes behind her back, but follows after them. Remus and I share a dubious look, but also follow. We did ask for this, after all, didn't we?
Lily is a whirlwind as she darts from one clothes rack to the next, piling her arms with all kinds of clothes. It's frightening, watching her. and it's strangely fascinating. Me, Sirius, and Remus stare at her from the doorway for a few seconds.
"It's like watching a Quidditch game." Sirius murmurs quietly.
"Lily's the Quaffle." Remus nods.
".and the clothes racks are the Chasers." I finish, also nodding in agreement.
Sirius is the first to notice that James has moved towards the change rooms. He nudges the two of us and we all tear our gazes from the girl-on- a-mission zipping from one rack to the next in favour of joining James.
Eventually, she seems to run out of racks to visit and stands importantly before us. "Here," she begins dividing up her armload, giving each of us smaller piles. "Go try these on. I'll wait. Come out and show me the ones that you like." she orders, shooing us towards the changing rooms.
With an overwhelmed panic, I look at my pile. Muggle clothes. Lots and lots of Muggle clothes. All because of one party. What a waste of gold, I'm probably never even going to wear any of this for anything else again, but everyone else seems really excited about this.
I'm still staring down at the pile of clothes when I hear one of the others stepping back out into the store.
"Lil, what about this one?" James voice asks. After a quick debate, I crack open the door to my changing space just enough to see what he's wearing. He's wearing a simple black t-shirt with a snitch on it.
"Thought that you'd like that one." Lily smiled. "Could you try on the one with the collar, the cream colour one?"
"Why didn't you just ask me to do that in the first place?" James huffed.
"Look, if you guys don't want to be here. I can go home. I have other things to do too." Lily hinted heavily.
James annoyance visibly melted away, "No, you know that we appreciate it right Lily? It's just, I never really liked shopping." He shoots her an innocent, sincere look which I can't really tell if he's faking or not. Lily's face softens.
"How are the rest of you making out?" She calls out.
I groan softly, Remus and Sirius are muttering under their breaths too from the sounds of things. "Nothing good hunh?" Lily calls out again, amusement in her voice. "Sirus did you even try the Blue one with the collar on?" she adds after a moment.
Sirius grumbles something that sounds like an annoyed mimic of her question. I wish she had've offered a suggestion to me as I rummage through the clothes.
"Blue is not my colour." Sirius says in a louder voice.
That raises my hopes some. there's something blue in my pile. I pull it out, slip it on and step out. Remus seems to have had the same idea. We come out looking almost identical, except that I'm somehow sure, he still looks better in this stuff than I do in mine. Lily's look confirms it.
But at least she decides that his blue shirt isn't quite good enough to purchase either. James gets his shirt and we move on to the next store. Sirius makes a joke about the shirt that I miss.something about James being Lily's golden snitch.? James gives him a mock punch, but chuckles, Remus laughs, so I do to. Lily just groans, grabs James and pulls him away from Sirius. She learned very early on in their relationship that a James and Sirius combination was never good for the sanity.
The rest of us set out, following after her once again. This is a waste of gold AND a waste of time.
Shopping -Lily's POV
I took the boy to a shop on the fringe of Godderich Hollow. It was a mixed community so both Wizarding and Muggle clothes were sold. I thought that it was a good place to start. I looked at the stores I had to work with, and my company.
Okay.Peter was easy, he'd do whatever the others told him. Remus, not likely to bolt until he found enough to impress Maia. James would probably stay with her, until I was done. even if shopping bored him. Sirus.well, maybe an hour.before he got stir-crazy, very short attention span that one.
Alright, don't look so glum. I promise to make this as painless as possible." I told them. I pulled James along to the first store. The others followed, not very enthusiastically.
I whirled around the story collecting various things. Something for each of the boys. James, who'd been shopping with me before, just waited at the change room. The others took their lead from him, not surprising really. I wondered sometimes if they ever thought for them selves.
I'd grabbed mostly shirts for them to try. Although I doubted that Maia would have minded them in Robes. I thought the T-shorts were just more appropriate for the summer. Besides. I knew James would look hot in one. Heck. they would all look good.
"Here," I separated the collection that I'd gathered and handed them each a stack. "Go try these on. I'll wait. Come out and show me the ones that you like."
Lily waited while the Marauders went to change. A service girl came over to her. "It seems like you have everything under control. But I'll ask anyway, do you need any help?" She asked politely.
"Yeah, Pool Party, need new look for them." Lily replied. The clerk looked thoughtful.
"Well, I know that Silver's has some great suits, here in town. My friend found his at .oh Pennitins, in Cambridge. But they may not fit in well." The witch told me.
"Lil, what about this one?" James showed me a simple black t-shirt from his pile. It had a picture of the snitch on it (well they were in the birthplace of the snitch).
"Thought that you'd like that one." I smiled. "Could you try on the one with the collar, the cream colour one?"
"Why didn't you just ask me to do that in the first place?" James huffed.
"Look, if you guys don't want to be here. I can go home. I have other things to do too." I replied. They always acted like this when we went shopping.
"No, you know that we appreciate it right Lily? It's just, I never really liked shopping." James told me. He looked all sweet and cute, of course I caved.
"How are the rest of you making out?" I asked. I heard a few grumbles. "Nothing good hunh?" Lily thought about it for a second. "Sirus did you even try the Blue one with the collar on?" She heard a distinct grumble.
"Blue is not my colour." He replied. I had to hold my laughter.
I got James the black-snitch-tee. And we headed to the next store. Same drill as before. They waited, I gathered.
"Sirus, what colour do you prefer, navy blue or slate grey?" I called to him. He shrugged. "Fine, but you're trying it on. Stop being stubborn." I handed them each two tops and two bottoms. They headed off to try them on.
Remus found a top that he liked, it was a short-sleeved collared shirt white with a hint of blue in it. I assured him that it was very appropriate, and looked great on him. Truth was, that I knew very well that Maia was going to thank me. It accentuated how well toned Lupin really was. Peter found a t-shirt that was a deep green, almost black colour the looked very nice on him.
"Okay, the sales-witch recommended Silver's." I told them heading toward the store.
"Then why didn't we just go in there?" Sirus asked.
"Because the other store was on the way." I replied. "Come on, has it really been that bad?"
"I don't see you having to change every five minutes." Sirus commented. James rolled his eyes. Remus and Peter, tried to avoid eye contact. They'd heard these before.
"That's just because I have yet to find something I want to try on." I stated. "I actually have been looking for a new bathing suit. Just haven't seen one I like, yet."
We entered Silver's moments later. Sirus crossed his arms, he told me that he wouldn't try anything on, unless I did to. Just like him to be that stubborn. No wonder Len kept getting pissed at him.
This place was great! I would never have admitted it to them, on principle, but I suddenly thought that we should have come here first. Besides they were really no fun to shop with, unless it was at a Quidditch shop, Candy Store or Zonker's.
I picked out a small collection for each of us. Only half a dozen or so.truth was I couldn't really carry any more than that. Sirus looked at me. "What I have my pile to! Now change!" they did as they where commanded. I think that it was only to get this over with. I knew that James was going to take me around and do the tourist thing being the Quidditch fan he was. Not that I really minded.
I tried on a simple one piece with a wrap tied at my waist. I had started to insist on seeing things. "Ready?" I called. Grumbles. I stepped out and looked at them. James looked fabulous, . . . but then I may have a slightly biased opinion there. Peter, nervously stepped out, it wasn't a bad look for him, but she thought that he could do better. Remus, he . was hot. that was definitely a good look. Sirus, definitely not.
"So? Any comments?" I felt like I was pulling teeth.
"About us or you?" James commented. Looking her over. "Looks good on you. This, he motioned to himself. It. . . doesn't feel right. Lily you know I like a little dressy."
"Fair enough. Sirus, that one's a no! I don't think that it suits you well." I told him. Sirus looked at me, thankful. "That one's not bad Remus. Definite potential there."
"Lily you look good. Is that what Maia meant by two-piece?" Remus asked.
"No. Maia told you something about a two-piece?" I felt a smile curve my lips. He nodded shyly, I think he started to blush. "I think I picked one up. I'll show you."
I hadn't really intended on showing the lot of them. Maybe James, if it looked good on me. Leave it to a Ravenclaw. Maia was such a flirt. I put on the gold two-piece that I'd picked up on a whim. I looked down at myself, not bad I thought. "Alright, round two, ready?" I called. I suddenly felt very nervous, and slightly cold.
"This is the kind of two-piece Maia meant." I told them in my bravest, I'm- not-self-conscious voice I could manage.
Shopping - Remus POV
"Sirus, what colour do you prefer, navy blue or slate grey?" Lily calls out to as we visit the umpteenth store. Black lost his sense of humour about four stores ago, and his patience for all this shopping is visibly decreasing with each piece of clothing Lily presents him. Unsurprisingly, he shrugs silently and indifferently at her latest selection. "Fine, but you're trying it on. Stop being stubborn." She says firmly, handing him each of us two tops and two bottoms. I grin slightly as we start off in search of the changing rooms. At least she's not piling us with huge armloads of clothes anymore!
The first shirt is a baggy shirt with no sleeves. I don't like it. Fortunately, Lily doesn't either. The second is a white, short-sleeved, collared shirt with a hint of blue in it. I don't like it. This time though, Lily does.
"I think Maia will really like it." She suggests at some point, while I try arguing that it feels tight and clingy.
Maia will like it? Turning to examine myself in the mirror again, I reconsider. Suddenly it's not feeling quite so uncomfortable anymore. "Alright." I shrug, "You're the expert, I suppose." Can't make it sound too much like all I'm thinking about is Maia's opinion.
Hanging on to the white shirt, we all wait while Lily struggles to find something for Peter. In the end, she decides on a t-shirt that was so deep green it could almost pass for black. I think Petey was feeling a little self-conscious about wearing Slytherin colours, but none of us had our house colours anyways.
That's one thing about Peter though. he worries about everything and anything.
"Okay, the sales-witch recommended Silver's." Lily shares as we continue down the street.
"Then why didn't we just go in there?" Sirus asks petulantly, arms crossed. I raise my brows at him. This could get interesting soon.
"Because the other store was on the way." Lily replies matter-of-factly. "Come on, has it really been that bad?"
"I don't see you having to change every five minutes." Sirus comments, his voice dangerously close to a whine. James rolls his eyes. Peter and I try to avoid eye contact. Laughing at Sirius now will only make him madder. but if he could only see himself when he gets like this.!
"That's just because I have yet to find something I want to try on." Lily states calmly. "I actually have been looking for a new bathing suit. Just haven't seen one I like, yet."
We enter Silver's moments later. Sirus immediately crosses his arms stubbornly "I'm not trying anything else on."
Finally beginning to look exasperated, Lily planted herself in front of him, somehow managing to look imposing despite the fact that she was shorter than him. Without opening her mouth or looking to James for support, she raised her brows expectantly. A small muscle in Sirius' face twitched. "Fine! But only if you're trying this stuff on too!"
"Deal." Lily agreed, backing off and letting her eyes roam the place.
Looking around, some of Sirius dampening mood finally hits me too. This place is huge. How was it that anyone could need such a selection of clothes? Beside me, Peter sighs heavily, and I'm tempted to join him.
Naturally, Lily's back to piling her arms as full as she can manage. I bite back a groan. Sirius and Peter aren't quite as successful.
Looking particularly miserable, Sirus gives Lily a pointed look.
"What I have my pile to!" she defends herself, holding up several items that she had not passed on to us. "Now change!"
James was the first to start marching to the change rooms, I followed reluctantly, more eager to get this all over with than anything else. Peter hesitates a moment behind me, torn between backing Sirius on the refusal to try any more clothes on, and backing James, who evidently decided that keeping his girlfriend was more important than planting himself next to Sirius. Just before entering the change room I glance over my shoulder at Peter and Sirius. Peter opted to follow James' lead, Sirius is very slowly bringing up the rear.
Blindly grabbing the first thing my hand closes around, I change and examine myself. If nothing else, today has really made me appreciate wizard robes.
"Ready?" Lily's cheerful voice calls out.
We all step out at about the same time. I have to admit, Lily looks really good in the suite she chose, James is also looking comfortable in what he's wearing, but then, he always had been pretty confident about himself.
"So? Any comments?" she asks, after we've all had a chance to examine each other.
"About us or you?" James asks slyly, looking her over head to toe. "Looks good on you. This," he motioned to himself. "It. . . doesn't feel right. Lily you know I like a little dressy."
"Fair enough." She agrees, before turning to Sirus, "That one's a no! I don't think that it suits you well."
Sirius, for once, is actually looking relieved as he turns to head back to the change room. Her eyes travel around to me next. Her eyes widen just slightly, her brows rising with approval. "That one's not bad Remus. Definite potential there." she shrugs casually after getting a hold of herself. I don't let my mental grin of triumph show on my face.
Her critical eyes are now on Peter, who is shifting uncomfortably from one foot to the other, she purses her lips. 'Not bad, but try again.' was written all over that look. I should know, she'd directed it at me enough times today already. Peter had also clued in as he let out a small sigh, but he turned around to rummage through his pile of options once again.
I was really starting to feel badly for Sirius and Peter. If Lily was anything like James, I'd say she was picking on them on purpose.as it is though, I guess they were just cursed with a string of bad luck today.
"Lily you look good. Is that what Maia meant by two-piece?" I finally ask curiously, trying not to stare too much at her outfit.
"No. Maia told you something about a two-piece?" There's definite amusement in her voice, and I'm not sure if I should be suspicious or excited. A slow, knowing smile curves her lips. Nodding hesitantly, I feel the blood rushing to my face. There is definitely some kind of inside joke going on here. "I think I picked one up. I'll show you." she offers, winking at James.
James at least looks as confused and bewildered as I feel though. He meets my eyes as Lily retreats to the changing room and shrugs.
Sirius and Peter return in their new outfits just as Lily disappears. They look at James curiously, but all James can do is shrug and jerk his chin in the direction of Lily's changing room. We wait in silence for several minutes
"Alright, round two, ready?" she calls out. Sirius and Peter sigh.
"This is the kind of two-piece Maia meant." Lily announces, stepping out and striking a pose that showed herself off very clearly.
I think my jaw must have hit the ground.
James stumbled over the bench he'd propped one foot up on, his eyes widening.
Peter let out a small, strangled sound.
Sirius' jaw joined mine on the floor.