4 Little Words
Disclaimer: HP is not mine and will not ever be mine.
Chapter 3—Ring Searching
Fifteen minutes later, James Potter reappeared looking disgruntled.
"You bought the ring Prongs?" Sirius asked taking a huge bite out of the mozzarella sub he had nicked from Remus.
James scowled. "No!"
Sirius sniggered. "How in the world are you gonna propose to Lily if you don't have a ring."
"Err; actually, that's not it. I need your help."
"Me?" Sirius looked surprised. "You want me to help you? It's the sign of the apocalypse!" He pretended to faint.
James waved his wand and Sirius' mozzarella sub shot towards him.
Taking a gigantic bite James finished the rest of the sandwich.
"Yes, I need your help." James said, pocketing his wand. "I can't find the perfect ring. I need your judgment."
"Okay," Sirius said bounding up.
"Where's Remus?"
"He went out with Alessandra," Sirius grinned, "That's just another word for he's snogging her brains out."
"Well then," James said brushing the crumbs off his shirt, "You are my advisor. Let's go."
"Right," Sirius jumped up and his plate fell to the floor.
"Prongs?" Sirius asked.
"Yes Padfoot."
"Where's my mozzarella sub?"
--
Five minutes later, James and Sirius Apparated to Diagon Alley.
"Are you buying her a ring here?" Sirius asked.
"Yup," James said, scouring the area for any stores that sold jewelry. "I'm gonna find her the perfect ring."
Sirius and James walked around a bit until Sirius nudged James.
"Hey James," he muttered.
"What?"
"Look," Sirius pointed towards the Quidditch shop.
James grinned and the two of them walked into the shop—clearly forgetting what they were supposed to do.
An hour later, both boys came out with five bags that they minimized.
"Good clean Quidditch shopping," James said happily, pocketing the bags. "I love it."
"Soothes the soul." Sirius replied.
A second later James looked confused. "What were we supposed to do again?"
"Uhh," Sirius scratched his head. "Ooh! I know! I know! Aren't you gonna buy Lily a ring?"
"That's it!" James said, smacking himself on the forehead. "C'mon!"
The two Marauders walked for what seemed like ages until Sirius said, "Is this what you're looking for?"
Right in front of them stood a modern looking building. A sign said: Magical Jewelry. In the window, a large and expensive looking diamond sat on a velvet purple pillow.
Sirius whistled. "I bet your mum couldn't even afford that."
The Potters were extremely wealthy and Sirius knew that Margaret Potter loved extravagant things and jewelry.
"She'd pressure my dad to get it for her," James said, "Now, let's go."
As they opened the door, they saw a huge display of jewelry and diamonds.
Sirius whistled. "I think I might buy myself something," he muttered.
"Sirius," James whined. "Help me find something."
As they started to look for rings, a sales clerk's eyes widened.
Mustering up her courage, the sales clerk walked over towards the Marauders.
"Excuse me," the sales clerk said in a timid voice.
James and Sirius turned around. "Yes?"
"May I help you with anything?" She said.
Sirius shook his head but James said, "Actually, yes you can. Do you know where any engagement rings are?"
The sales clerk's eyes went wide and she said, "Why yes we do. Come."
As she guided them over towards the appropriate area she said, "So, when's the big day?"
"I don't know yet." James muttered, thinking that the sales clerk was talking about Lily and him.
"So," the sales clerk said, going behind the counter. "What kind of diamond or jewel would you like?"
"A diamond." James said. "Something like that." He pointed to a beautiful diamond ring in the middle of the display.
"I'm sorry," the sales clerk said. "I don't think you can get that ring."
"Why not?" James looked up in confusion. "Is it sold?"
"No, however, it's made to fit a woman's hand. I don't think your fiancé would want to wear a woman's ring."
James cocked an eyebrow at the woman and said, "My fiancé?"
The sales clerk gestured towards Sirius. "Aren't you two engaged?"
Holy shit.
The sales clerk pointed towards another display. "These are more suitable for him."
Sirius' mouth dropped open in shock.
James leaned towards Sirius to say something but the woman recoiled.
"Please, I would rather appreciate it if you didn't kiss in front of me. I'm not accustomed to gay couples."
James felt the color rush to his face.
"This girl thinks that we're fucking gay!" James whispered urgently. "How the hell does she think that?"
"Well let's think about it," Sirius muttered sarcastically, his midnight blue eyes wide with shock, "Two men come in a jewelry store together inquiring about engagement rings. She put two and two together and came up with that we're fucking homosexual!"
"Uhh, excuse me," the sales clerk said politely, even though fear was evident in her eyes. "I thought I said—"
"This may sound odd," James said, interrupting the woman, "But do you think that Sirius and I are engaged?"
The sales clerk nodded. "But it's okay," she said, "I'm definitely okay with gay couples, I just think its wrong to see them kiss in public."
"Actually," Sirius said, "James and I are not gay. He's searching for an engagement ring for his girlfriend. I'm just his best friend."
"Oh my god!" The sales clerk's pale skin turned bright red with embarrassment. "I am so sorry! Oh, I feel like such a fool! A thousand apologies sirs."
"It's okay," James said, "You—uh—really didn't know."
Even though Sirius and James accepted her apologies, the sales clerk continued to apologize for the next twenty minutes.
Everything was going smoothly until the sales clerk asked James how big to make the ring.
James opened his mouth to answer but suddenly shut it.
"Shit," he muttered.
"What?" Sirius asked.
"I don't know how big Lily's finger is." James muttered.
"James, James, James!" Sirius said in exasperation, "Does it really matter?"
"Yes it needs to fit perfectly! Hold on."
With a slight crack James Disapparated.
The sales clerk looked confused until Sirius said, "He's going to find the appropriate ring size."
"Oh," the sales clerk nodded and said, "I am still very sorry."
"And I said it's okay."
As the sales clerk busied herself, Sirius noticed that she was very pretty. And he didn't have a date this Friday night.
"Excuse me," Sirius said.
The sales clerk turned.
"If I may be so bold, I think you are very beautiful," Sirius winked. "How about you and I go out on a date Friday night?"
The sales clerk gave Sirius an amused look. "I would love too—"
"Great! Then I'll pick you up at—"
However, the sales clerk held up her left hand. A ring on her ring finger gleamed.
"—but I'm married."
--
James Apparated in Lily's flat.
There was a shriek, a crash, and a shout of, "Expelliarmus!"
James' wand shot out of his grasp.
"What the—"
He turned around to find a wand pointed between his eyes.
It was Theresa.
"Easy Theresa," James said, edging out of harm's way. "Don't poke my eye out!"
"James?" Theresa asked, lowering her wand slightly.
"Yes, it's me. Now, if you don't mind, may I have my wand back?"
Theresa threw James' wand back without a hint of embarrassment.
"I thought you were a Death Eater." She grumbled angrily as she stalked back to the kitchen. "You made me drop my plate."
James followed Theresa into the kitchen and a glass plate lay shattered on the ground.
"You mean you don't freak out like this when Lily Apparates?"
"Lily doesn't Apparate coming inside the house. She uses the door."
"Oh."
Theresa pointed her wand at the mess and as a broom and a dustpan came out she asked, "What do you want anyway?"
"Do you have a ring of Lily's I could borrow?"
"Why?"
"Because, I need to find the ring size for her. By the way, where is she?"
"She's at her parents' house. It's her dad's birthday."
"Oh—do you know where I can find one?"
"In her room obviously," Theresa muttered, picking up the dustpan and emptying it into the trashcan. "But don't make a mess. Lily made me clean for two days. And she can tell when something is messed up in her room."
"Okay."
James walked towards Lily's room and stopped short.
"Theresa?" He called.
"What?"
"Don't tell Lily about this. Okay?"
"Okay."
James turned back around and opened the door.
Lily's room was one word: spotless. The bed was made perfectly, everything was dusted to perfection and there was nothing on the floor. Nothing was peeking out of drawers and the room screamed 'perfection.' This was a definite change from James' room where everything was scattered. The last time James made his bed was when Lily came over and ordered him to clean up the house. That was a good six months ago.
James easily found her jewelry box and opened it. He found lots of necklaces, bracelets, earrings but no rings.
He frowned and dug through the jewelry box until he found what he was looking for.
It was a diamond ring.
James frowned and left the room with the ring.
"Theresa?" He asked.
"Now what do you want?" She was busy cutting up a piece of cake.
"Who proposed to Lily?"
"Huh?"
"I found her diamond ring and—"
"Oh you're so naïve. That was a ring Lily received for her birthday."
"But why a diamond?"
"Think about it James. Lily is born in April. The birthstone for April is a diamond."
"Who got this for her?" James had to be sure that this ring was recent.
"I did. For her nineteenth birthday."
"Good. Well, thanks for everything Theresa."
"Anytime. Just use the door next time."
"Will do."
With that, he Disapparated.
--
Back in the jewelry shop Sirius was bored. He had already counted the jewelry twice and calculated the prices for them four times.
Where the hell is James?
There was another 'crack' and James Potter appeared.
"There you are!" Sirius exploded causing the other couples in the store to stare at him. "What took you so long?"
"Theresa was going to hex me." James explained. "But I got what I was looking for."
"Well, I'll be waiting on the other side then."
"Why?"
"Because," Sirius whispered. "I asked out the girl who thought that we were gay and I found out that she's married!"
"Tough luck Padfoot."
"Just hurry up and buy the blasted ring so I can leave."
Half an hour later, James left the store with a small velvet box in his pocket.
Sirius was sitting on a bench chatting with a pretty blonde.
"Sirius," James said. "C'mon!"
Sirius gave James a nasty look and turned back towards the blonde. A few more words were exchanged and then Sirius jumped up and strode towards James.
"I think I just got myself a date for Friday night."
--
Chapter done!
I do not have a problem with homosexual people either. I just thought it would be funny to add it in. I do have gay friends whom I love a lot. This is just a precaution because I do not want reviewers saying I have something against gay people because I don't.