Dinners and Long Conversations
With everything that happened a fortnight ago, Valentine had been bouncing around at Potter Manor, where James, Sirius, and she were playing quidditch constantly. The countless hours spent on training in their relative positions took all their time, except when it came to practicing a certain charm that Mrs. Potter secretly taught Valentine. Both were absolutely giggly when the girl finally learned the charm and went out of her way to use it constantly. Along with another charm that turned her hair black instead of its original blood red.
Then when the night came for dinner at the Keilo's that found the three in the study. James and Sirius were practicing defense as Valentine played on a guitar that she had been playing since she was old enough to practically talk. Or that is the way she put it as James found her playing it one night. This is what they were doing when Mrs. Potter had finally found them and in doing so, she smiled winningly as she walked into the study.
"Okay you three," she sighed happily. "Time to get ready; now please go get changed into something muggle-like. Valentine, how 'bout you bring the guitar with you tonight? You could show Lily how to play it. James, you and Sirius behave or I'll wring both your necks! Now go and meet me in a half an hour." All three hurriedly went to get ready and returned earlier than expected.
The three had muggle clothing that they had bought a week before as a big step into understanding what Lily's world was like. So far, the clothing was a lot more comfortable than the wizarding clothing they were used to. Sirius had even managed to step into a world of leather jackets and tight blue jeans with white shirts. James had followed somewhat, but with a jean jacket instead. Valentine, on the other hand, had bought black jeans that were somewhat baggy and tanks that was also black. Her sneakers were black as the boys had bought black boots that shined nicely, but they bought a pair of white sneakers for some reason. Although when it came to a jacket, she bought a leather jacket that fell to her knees and fit nicely.
Mrs. Potter waited next to the fire place and smiled happily as they appeared. Mr. Potter had gone on ahead to meet with Naruko earlier. Smiling each went to their new friend's house and smiled when they noticed Lily, Remus, and Matti walking out of the kitchen only to come back in and look at them knowingly. James ran a hand through his hair and Sirius flashed a smirk in his direction then winked at Lily as Valentine went over to stand next to the girl with a huge grin.
"What are all of you up to?" Sirius asked with a gleam in his eyes.
"We were going to go and watch a movie that Lily gave me for my birthday," Matti laughed as he saw the curiosity that shined in his friend's eyes.
"What's a movie?" James asked confused.
"Oh," Lily gasped. "I forgot about you guys not knowing that!"
"It's a machine, a box... that shows a moving picture that shows a story." Remus answered with a chuckle. "They're really nice when you're bored. We were just going to watch Mary Poppins."
"Come on," Matti laughed as Valentine started to shake with excitement. "We'll watch it and leave the folks alone." They followed into a room with a three seat couch and another two seated ones on either side. Valentine and Lily went to the three seated one and collapsed looking put out and then bursting into a fit of giggles as they looked at one another. Remus sat next to Lily while Sirius gained the other side of Valentine, pushing them into the middle with laughter. James sat at the girl's legs as Matti put on the movie and sat next to him.
They got to a part where penguins were serving people when James started to snicker loudly at a thought he just had. Then he looked at Lily who was looked confused at this and he winked up at her making her look grow irritated. Sirius snickered as Valentine leaned onto him and sighed wistfully and grinned up at his smirk. The group noticed this and looked confused as she started to whisper something to him and they both started to grin.
"What's going on?" Remus asked with a knowing grin.
"We were just discussing the wedding," Sirius answered with a bark like laugh.
"What wedding?" Matti asked confused.
"Ours," Valentine giggled and winked.
"Whatever," James laughed.
"Don't you think it a little too early for a wedding?" Lily asked with a frown.
"Not to our families," Sirius chuckled darkly.
"Why is that?" She asked confused even more so. "Why is it your family's desire for you to marry each other?"
"Lily," Valentine sighed darkly. "We are from pureblooded families. Sirius' family is the oldest and mine is second. It is tradition to be in arranged marriages in our families. We're just lucky to be stuck together instead of with any other. We're the ignored children because we're thought to be better than any other pureblood. We can do no wrong. Since we have that freedom, we've learned everything we could and now that we have read philosophy and our history, well we think our families unethical."
"I would too," Lily sighed heavily then smiled reassuringly. "Let's just forget about it. It's obvious that you don't want to talk about it. So we're dropping the topic."
Valentine smiled like a Cheshire cat and chuckled, "Yes madam."
By the time the movie was over, they had eaten dinner and opened presents. The night went to fast in everyone's opinion as they were saying goodbye. A week later they would be going to Hogwarts. A week later they would see each other again. A week later where an attack would be made on a family. A week later that their world would change.
