Standing There By You
Ch. 29- Laughter, the Best Medicine
Disclaimer: Let it be known... it's still not mine.
A/N: I'm sorry this chapter is so short, but I'm going crazy because:
a) I'm leaving for vacation tomorrow and I still haven't packed,
b) Since I'm going to be gone for a week I am (trying) to have another chap all typed and uploaded so my beta can submit it for me around Wednesday,
c) I'm worried what beta is going to write in the review responses ; )
:Sniff: I'll miss you...
Sirius stumbled to the right, a little to the left, and then staggered into the doorway. Cursing the door with words not appropriate for innocent ears, he rubbed his forehead and winced at the undoubtable rising mark. Spreading his hands out for balance, he took a few more uneven steps forward and grasped onto the cart.
"Train must be going through a rough patch," he thought grumpily, as he dug into his change pouch for a few sickles.
A plump lady accepted his money in exchange for a Pumpkin Pasty, and whistled a harmonious tune as she set off down the aisle.
"Thank you," Sirius said mostly to himself, seeing as the lady-that-pushed-the-cart (he made a mental note to suggest name tags) was already half-way down the train. He planted a foot firmly on the ground to confirm his balance, and set off back to his compartment.
Unfortunately, a twisted little bugger got in his way.
"Look who it is," a rather unsightly boy with short brown hair sneered. Two figures beside him laughed.
Scratch that. Twisted little buggers that had grotesque faces and spines that were showing significant signs of pre-hunch backs.
Sirius scoffed at the third years and made to push past them. A rather large one (that would probably still live with his mum until he was fifty) stepped in front of him. "What, don't you want to be introduced to your brother's buddies?" the boy asked, smiling a cold smile at Sirius. "Go on Regulus, introduce us."
Sirius shifted uncomfortably. Why wasn't he sneering back? Why wouldn't he just give some quirky comeback and push past them? He was surely strong enough, what with his quidditch toned arms-
"No, I don't think so," his brother said, crossing his arms with an air of superiority. "At home we've found it most effective just to ignore the good for nothing prat. You should've seen his face when my parents-"
"Regulus," Sirius said sharply, his pumpkin pasty crushing under the pressure of his tight grip.
"Hey, I forgot to tell you to get me a chocolate frog," James said, stepping out of a nearby compartment. "Did she already... what's going on?"
"See," Regulus said, ignoring James as a cold smile spanned across his face, "whenever my parents and I ignore his very existence he always gets all frustrated and goes all red in the face." He smirked at his brother's angry face.
"Regulus," Sirius repeated, this time more forcibly.
Regulus and the two other boys walked off as they chortled away, entering their own compartment and leaving Sirius and James by themselves. Sirius glared after the path his brother had taken, breathing heavily as he watched them disappear near the end of the train.
He crossed his arms and turned towards James uncomfortably, the frown on his face foreign compared to his usual grin. He cleared his throat and ran a hand through his hair, before nodding slightly and turning back to re-enter their compartment. James followed suit, but just as he was about to go in, stopped him. Sirius froze before the doorway, his hand dangling just above the handle.
"Sirius, are you, I mean.." James began uneasily. "If you wanna, you know-,"
Sirius made a face and shook his head, his frown still evident. "Alright," James said, returning his nod. Sirius opened the door and the two boys stepped into the compartment.
James witnessed the miraculous change incredulously.
The deep frown that had seemed permanently etched into Sirius's face transformed into his usually cheeky grin and his eyes opened wide with undiscovered laughter, as soon as he stepped foot into the compartment.
"I've got the best joke to tell you..." Sirius said, looking around his friends as he plopped onto the seat and stretched his legs to rest on the sill of the window.
James watched Sirius's sudden change of demeanor in wonder, confused as to how he could've switched attitudes so quickly. Only two seconds ago in the aisle, he had been dreadfully perturbed.
He realized Sirius had reached the punch line from the expectant look he always wore when finishing a joke, and although still thoroughly bewildered, he did the only thing a best friend could do. He laughed.
The incident in the hallway wasn't brought up again; the rest of the train ride was spent trading jokes, and was therefore a very amusing trip indeed. In fact, one joke in particular was so hilarious that it had the boys rolling around the ground in laughter, oblivious to all of their surroundings.
As Grace walked past the compartment, her eyes caught sight of the very amusing scene, one of which included the Marauders laughing insanely and pounding their fists on the floor.
She pushed open the door cautiously; you never did know what to expect when the situation involved the Marauders. She viewed the compartment with interest, and although Sirius's jokes could be funny, she highly doubted their insane laughter was due to the hilarity of the punch-line, but rather the amount of sugar they had recently inhaled. The compartment was lined with more wrappers than she could count, and even more packages of goodies lay strewn about in every which direction.
She cleared her throat and crossed her arms, grinning widely when all four boys jumped. "Oh, hi Grace," Sirius greeted, propping himself up with his elbows. Beside him James and Peter did along the same line of things, but Remus hastily scrambled to his seat, smoothing his hair that had been rumpled up on the ground.
He shot Sirius and James a death glare as they nudged one another and made several furtive glances between Grace and Remus.
"Hello," she responded, smiling at the group. "I just thought you'd like to know we're only fifteen minutes away, so you should probably get changed into your school-robes."
"Thanks," James and Sirius said, sitting up from their laid-back positions. Grace nodded and her gaze lingered across the compartment.
"Hello Remus," she said, and her brows furrowed in concern as her eyes settled on the rather frightened looking boy. "Is there something the matter?"
Remus just shrugged and made a slight movement with his head, which Grace assumed to be a no. "Oh, alright then," she said, her smile reappearing. "So how was your summer?"
Remus stared at her blankly for several seconds, before jerking his head as if just realizing she was talking to him. He made several odd movements with his mouth before muttering the ingenious word, "Yes."
Grace blinked at the unexpected response, and frowned with a confused expression. "Um... that's," she wrinkled her nose and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, still staring at him curiously. Suddenly she let out a snort and shook her head. "You're cute."
With one last wave she disappeared out of the compartment, shutting the door behind her with a soft click. Remus sunk low in his seat, mumbling furiously to himself.
"Yes?" he grumbled, "yes? Of all the words I could've used. Okay, fine, well, alright-"
"Don't forget peachy," Sirius put in merrily.
"Oh, or corking," Peter added.
James looked thoughtful. "Dandy's a good one too."
Remus ignored his friends and sunk lower into his seat. "I am such an idiot."
Sirius stood up beside him and put a hand around his shoulder. "But, a cute idiot mate, a cute idiot."
As they slowed down near Hogsmeade, a drizzle swept over them, which soon turned into large drops that pelted loudly on top of the train.
Rain has a way of making even the simplest things seem mad; all of the sudden everyone is in a hurry and chaos ensues. As the students exited the train, this was no exception. Frightened first years were bumped around and all of the other students were dashing towards a carriage.
James's shouts couldn't be heard over the downpour, but the motion with his arm clarified where he and his friends should head off to. The other boys nodded in agreement and jogged to the nearby carriage.
Just as they got there, however, three other drenched girls darted in front of them. "Hey!" James yelled, his voice barely audible over the roaring winds. "You and your little friends get out of here Evans, we're taking this carriage!"
"I don't think so," Lily shouted back, lifting a shivering finger to point at the other carriages. "We were here first, you're the one that needs to find another!"
"No way!" James exclaimed, his voice going a bit hoarse. "You-"
"Oh come on," Grace yelled, moving to step towards the carriage. "Just get in, Lily. Coming Julie?"
"All of the other carriages are probably full by now!" James shouted.
"Ah, guess will have to share then!" Sirius said, giving a little hop as he made to move towards the girls.
"I'm not sharing with him," Lily yelled, staring at James furiously. "Not in a million years!"
"Suits me, because I'm not going anywhere near you,"James shot back.
"Lily, just come on," Julie persuaded, as she followed Grace up the stairs. "It'll only be for a couple of minutes."
Lily ignored her friend's request as she continued to storm, rivaling the one that currently roared in the quickly darkening sky. "I will not go near him-"
"You couldn't pay me a hundred galleons-"
"I'll never set foot in there with this schlem-"
"I'd rather share a carriage with a hinkypuff-"
"It's only right, because we were here first-"
"Bye!"
"What?" Lily and James quickly cut off their bantering at the sound of this farewell, and turned to see a dozen or so carriages rolling out of Hogsmeade, Sirius waving merrily out of a window.
Lily's eyes bugged out and her mouth dropped open, and James rushed toward the quickly retreating carriages. "Wait!" he shouted.
Lily ran beside him as well. "Stop!"
The invisible horses were either hard of hearing or held a very twisted sense of humor, because they trotted onward, leaving Lily and James behind.
"Well this is just great!" Lily huffed, crossing her arms. "Look what you did, Potter!"
"What?" James exclaimed, swiping away a sopping strand of hair that had fallen into his eyes. "You've got to be kidding!"
"Oh now what are we supposed to do," Lily cried, looking after her dry friends wistfully.
"There's plenty o' room in these boats," a deep voice boomed cheerfully. "Righ' over here's a spare one."
"I can't believe this," Lily grumbled, one hand holding up her sopping head.
James grunted, his head hanging between his legs and held up by a soaked piece of his robe.
Two boats over Hagrid was directing a group of first years, comforting the ones that had doubts about the sorting. Looking over, he spotted the gloomy and seething fourth years.
"Oh, it ain't tha' bad," he said blithely, chuckling a bit under his shaggy beard. "A little fresh air won't do you any harm."
"Well not when the fresh air is soaking me from head to toe and I'm riding on a tidal wave," Lily mumbled.
"Yeah, while our friends are nice and dry and probably having a good laugh," James said grumpily, trying in vain to ring out his robes. The rain was just beginning to let up, but his robes still stuck to him persistently.
A boat to their left floated past them, the children inside oohing and ahhing at the site of the looming castle.
"Ooh... a big building," James mimicked bitterly. He looked up at Lily. "Hey, did you eat a lot over the summer Evans? Because I think you're weighing down the boat. Look, that's a whole boatful of kids and they just zoomed on by."
"Oh shove off," she said angrily. She pointed a finger into a bundle of drenched robes that covered James's chest. "And don't blame me for this, you're the one that got us in this horrid mess in the first place."
"Ah, 'ere's the fresh air," Hagrid said happily. "See, it's barely a drizzle now."
"Me?" James shouted, although not a necessity since the storm had all but diminished. He stood up furiously. "You're unbelievable!"
Lily stood up too, although her height didn't match his as well as it had last year. Tilting her head up the slightest bit, she yelled back, "I'm unbelievable? Who's the one that-"
"Ay, no- no, kids, no standin' in the boats," Hagrid warned them, watching the dangerously rocking boat uneasily.
James threw up his hands in frustration and admonished the shouting girl. "Oh would you shut that big mouth for once-"
"Now c'mon, I'm no' lyin', no standin'-"
"I do not have a big mouth," Lily shouted indignantly, putting her hands on her hips.
"Kids-"
"Looks like a mighty big mouth to me," James said, grinning at Lily's frustrated face.
"Oh," Lily fumed, stomping her foot. She made to continue her rant, but was cut off as the boat hit a wave and she and James were suddenly greeted by the icy water.
Hagrid looked down and shook his head. "See, now that's wha' happens when ye stand in a boat."
A/N: Once again, thanks ever so much to my wonderful reviewers...
Gaby-Malfoy- Hmm... no, I probably wouldn't want to taste the stew either. (If you can call it that...) Thanks as always for the wonderful review!
Once again, thanks ever so much to my wonderful reviewers...- Hmm... no, I probably wouldn't want to taste the stew either. (If you can call it that...) Thanks as always for the wonderful review!Aerandir- Tu espanol es perfecto
Moonylover2000- Sirius is creepy, isn't he: ) Thanks for the review!
Kita- I made you cry? (From laughter at least) Wow! My first cyber initiated emotion.
Angelina Radcliffe- I'm glad you like the story thus far, and about the chapter, I know it was pointless... I was seriously debating whether I should wait and use some of that stuff for the holidays, but alas, I wanted to provide you lovely folks with a summer ; ) Thanks for the review!
MilesFromNormal- I'm very happy you enjoyed all that, thanks bundles for the review!
Misty Cherry- Hola! Thanks for the fabulous review, and the note to beta was because she is the wind beneath my wings...
- Hola! Thanks for the fabulous review, and the note beta was because she is the wind beneath my wings...Hermione1989- Glad you liked it, thanks for the review!
SuperHiperChit- Oh, I'm glad that you like Remus and Grace ; ) Thanks for the review, glad you found it humorous!
Siriuslyfun19212- Friends can be mean : ) The song was by Bette Midler.
StarLady92- The stew grossed me out too ; p Thanks for the review!
- Glad you found it so funny, is this the same ? that reviewed before?Lanette- Glad you loved it! Ah yes she is paranoid (btw her name's spelled Lily, not Lilly) Thanks tons for the review!
Holly-evans- Thanks for the review, I'm glad you liked it!
Luna Gypsy- Wow, glad you found it so funny! Thanks muchos for the review : )
Molly- Yes, he does have half (if not more) of the girl population, so I think he's all set for a while now ; ) Oooh, I tried the stew thing too. Just a note- a lot of things in here (or soon to come) are real life experiences. Quite sad really. (Unfortunately this would be most of the stupid stuff Sirius does...) Don't worry, Julie has a point in being, but I really have to start building up her character more, that's one of my biggest regrets. If I ever revise I'll change loads... thanks for the review!
Htebazile9851- Don't worry, I have no life either ; ) (even on perfectly sunny days) Thanks for the fantastic reviews, they really mean a lot to me!
JpSwEeTy157- Aw, thanks so much! I'm glad you enjoyed it, thanks again for the wonderful review!
MelissaMoony- Thick, very very thick. Thanks for the review!
LoadsofWaffle- I know, my worst fear :shudders: let's hope it never happens again...
FadingSlowly- Yeah, you're really the only one that commented about James's parents not being there. Nice pick up ; ) Thanks for the review!
Jess- It is, we'll have to try it sometime.
FreckledIrishMaiden- Oh so yummy indeed ; ) Thanks for the review!
RavenSiriusBlack- You'd better...
Suji- Hmm... maybe in the future ; ) The cheer was simply smashing, lookin good!
Ninde Annare- Aw, thanks! The review was wonderful, mucho appreciated!
Dreamlessnights- I hope you find your gift for words sometime soon! Thanks for the reviews : )
Dance-flirt- The Hogwarts Express? You crazy goose ; ) If Petunia was on that big scarlet train she'd probably have a heart attack and jump in a pool of sanitizer. Thanks for the review!
Charmed4ever- Yes, yes, it was a joke... You got me... :meek laughter: thanks for the review!
Siriusismine- Hey, I like typing that. : ) Thanks so much for all of the reviews, I'm glad you like the story so much, and the way I portray the characters, and I hope you enjoy the rest of the story! Sorry, President's already filled.
CotN4life- Wow, from start to finish? Thanks! That makes me feel ultimately spiffy : )