Chapter One
Easy like Sunday morning
Sirius stretched his limbs and smiled. Sunday. He loved Sundays. And today was looking perfect- a clear sky, with a hot sun beaming down on them. Brilliant for Quidditch, or a Muggle game for a change, tennis, badminton, or even cricket. Another chance to show off. Sirius's smile stretched. It sounded iso/i immodest, but he did like showing off. All the girls, even that bookish Lily Evans, couldn't help but swoon when he arrived after school in his white cricket gear. Hogwarts had finally yielded and introduced Muggle sports to the extracurricular list. He just happened to glance in his mirror as he passed. Yes, there was no doubt about it, he was looking good today. Just as well. It was the party today, after all.
Know it sounds funny
But I just can't stand the pain
Girl I'm leaving you tomorrow
Seems to me girl
You know I've done all I can
You see I begged, stole
And I borrowed
Yes, ever since James's mother, Penine, had planted the notion of a dinner with Lily's parents, he had been unashamedly looking forward to it. All the girls at school would just die to be in Lily's place right now- preparing to par-tay with Hogwarts' two hottest guys. James, to tell the truth, had not reacted over-enthusiastically to the idea. He had retreated to his room with a book while Sirius bounced around cleaning, cooking and decorating the manor. That was the thing about Sirius- he was the ultimate ladies' man. A tongue of silver and dashing good looks, but a brain in his head, a constant happy-go-lucky attitude to life and a willingness to help and share- perfect.
Ooh, that's why I'm easy
I'm easy like Sunday morning
That's why I'm easy
I'm easy like Sunday morning/
And once again, he was the first one awake. Sirius shook his head, smiling. Honestly. Now for some fun. He sneaked into James's room, careful not to make a sound. Flicking his wand, Sirius caught the can deftly. It had a gramaphone-type nozzle, and a push button. Aiming it square at James's ear, Sirius pressed and held. A loud, wailing, klaxon-type sound exploded from the mouth of the nozzle, sounding remarkably like a foghorn.
Why in the world
Would anybody put charms on me?
I've paid my dues to make it
Everybody wants me to be
What they want me to be
I'm not happy when I try to fake it!
No!
James sat bolt upright, eyes wide, glaring at his adopted brother furiously. But even before he had leapt out of bed, Sirius had sprinted down the hallway and hidden in a short space of time. James skidded round the corner, more than a little irritated.
"Sirius! I'm gonna KILL you!"
In his hiding place in the washroom, Sirius giggled. He loved days like this.
The door banged open and James charged in. Sirius was sitting calmly in the sink. James stamped his foot angrily.
"What did you do that for?"
"What do you mean, dear brother?" asked Sirius innocently.
"You know what I mean! Don't bother playing dumb, brother dear, it doesn't suit you."
Sirius never could play dumb for long. He was unrepetetant, however. "What? It was just for fun. I'm sure you understand."
"Oh yeah. Right. Sure it was." James scowled at Sirius, then pushed him from the washroom. Sirius heard the sound of the shower being turned on.
"Touchy," muttered Sirius.
Ooh,that's why I'm easy
I'm easy like Sunday morning
That's why I'm easy
I'm easy like Sunday morning
Sirius shrugged and walked back to his room, changing into some casual clothes: he would change again later. He never could fathom James's sudden mood changes. Best friends they may be, but they were so- so- different.
Movements could be heard from downstairs. Looked like the rest of the house was awake.
"Sirius?" came Penine Potter's voice from the kitchen. Sirius started guiltily. It was probably his foghorn that had woken them. He proceeded gloomily downstairs, carrying the foghorn. At least he would own up, whereas James would Vanish the incriminating evidence. Somehow, Sirius never felt comfortable lying. Stupid, he knew, but...
He came face-to-face with Penine, who had piled her black hair into a knot on her head and was tying an apron around her waist.
"Look, Penine, I'm really sorry-" he started, by he was in for a surprise. "Get James," she said distractedly.
"No need, Mum, I'm already here," said James smoothly, surreptitiously Vanishing Sirius's foghorn. Sirius blushed.
I wanna be high, so high
I wanna be free to know
The things I do are right
I wanna be free
Just me, babe
"Come and sit down, boys," said Penine, leading them to the dining room. The three of them sat.
Over the course of two or three hours, Penine painstakingly went over what inot /i to say to Lily's parents, a quick lesson on compliments, and the inexpendable finger-wag about appearances and presentation.
"...so make sure you brush your hair." Penine leant back in her chair. Sirius raised a hand. "Yes?"
"Well, it's kinda obvious that James will be- ah- occupying Lily all evening while you grown-ups chat, but what will I do?" He spread his hands theatrically. "Will I talk to the dog?"
"Well, duh, course not, but you could do, even though we don't have a dog, but you could, because youare a dog-"
"Shut the hell up!" hissed Sirius, kicking James hard in the shin. He rolled his eyes. When James rambled like this, he almost gave the secret away. Honestly.
"Sirius, don't worry. Mrs Evans specifically requested for you to do this- you need to look after Lily's twin sister."
Sirius's mouth fell open.
That's why I'm easy
I'm easy like Sunday morning
That's why I'm easy
I'm easy like Sunday morning
"You never told me that!" he said, looking accusingly at James.
"She never told me that!" said James defensively to Penine.
"Well, James," said Penine patiently, "I think the reason iwhy/i Lily never told you was that-"
"She hates him with every particle of her body?" interrupted Sirius.
"Er- no. The reason she never told you was that her sister- well, she's a Muggle."
James's mouth fell open too. "A- a Muggle? But that's really, really rare..."
"Exactly," agreed Penine as she left the table. "Make her feel at home, Sirius."
"Well," said Sirius, "it doesn't really matter that she's a Muggle, just so long as she's atasty Muggle."
Penine pretended not to hear him.
Because I'm easy
Easy like Sunday morning
Because I'm easy
Easy like Sunday morning
As soon as James's mother had left, however, Sirius dropped his head in his hands. "Oh my God... what am I gonna do, Prongs?"
"What do you mean?"
"Come on, James! Wake up! She's going to be a carbon copy of Lils! You know what Lils is like. She's too... businesslike for me! It might work for you, but... ohhhh." James tried to think of something to say to console him.
"Look, Padfoot mate-"
The doorbell rang.
"Uh oh."
