A/N: Sorry for the late update! Pretty hectic week, and I had a bit of writer's block. Hope you guys enjoy!

Chapter 3

"This is the house?" Lily was staring in disbelief at the gloomy, rundown, weepy little hovel.

"It's…a real fixer-upper," Nicole finished lamely.

The house was so tiny, both girls wondered how five people would be able to fit. The windows hung crookedly out of place, and the wooden door was moldy—its hinges and doorknob red with rust. The siding was the color of very very old dust, and smelled like so.

"Looks excellent, doesn't it?" Remus quipped excitedly. He and the other two boys were just short of squealing like teenage girls at a boy band concert.

Sirius put his arm around as much of the two girls' shoulders as he could reach. "My dears, you honestly didn't think we'd let you live in something like that, did you? Of course not—especially after what we promised your dads." He gave his wand a little flick.

Lo and behold, the house morphed before their eyes. The grimy walls melted away into cream-colored siding. A second level erupted from the roof, and the mold-encrusted door turned into smooth, varnished red-brown wood and gleaming gold doorknob.

Lily's and Nicole's mouths fell open, small squeaks from the depths of which emerged.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" James remarked proudly. Lily nodded slowly.

"The plants!" Nicole squealed happily as a garden popped out of nowhere.

"I promised you a garden before, remember?" Sirius beamed at her joy. "I'm delivering on that."

On cue, James, Lily, and Remus slapped their hands over their eyes.

"I feel so left out," Remus complained. "Darn you couples."

"Well, you could always go join them—EEYOW!" James hopped on one foot as Lily's shoe connected hard with his shin.

"Thank you, Lils!" Remus gloated as he lowered his hands to watch James with amusement.

"What'd you do that for?" James whined.

"That's for your vile mind," Lily shot back.

They eventually made their way up the flower-flanked steps to the door. Remus tapped the doorknob smartly with his wand, and a loud whirring noise came from the door before it swung open.

"Gah! No!" The girls were aghast.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" James remarked proudly.

The outside of the house had looked sophisticated and elegant, but the interior couldn't be more different. All the furniture didn't match, the walls were varying shades of garish yellow and purple, the kitchen was bare, and it appeared that they were expected to have meals on the floor.

"That's it," Lily gasped and attempted to regain herself. "We're going shopping."

xxxxx

They Apparated to Berkman's, one of Hogsmeade's newest home stores. Lily and Nicole immediately headed for the furniture department and set about ordering.

"This is nice," Lily commented as she inspected a sand-colored couch. "Mood Couch. 'Self-adapting, color-changes to match your every mood.' "

"What happens if there are two contrasting moods?" Sirius looked very interested.

Lily raised her eyebrows. "I wouldn't know, Black, and neither will you." She pointed at the clerk slapping a sign onto the couch. "They're sold out."

They eventually decided on a lovely red couch, a good polished rosewood dining table and chairs, and new utensils and appliances for the kitchen. Their money nags considerably lighter, they made their way back home to begin the great renovation.

xxxxx

"Easy now!" Lily called out as James and Sirius struggled to wriggle the couch into place. Remus groaned as he shuffled by with a box of china in his arms (because the girls refused to let him just levitate it).

Nicole was in charge of shooting new color on the gaudy walls, which had now been transformed into a gentle butter-yellow shade.

"It looks fine already," James grumbled as Lily motioned for him to move the couch a little more to the left.

"James, I saw how well you men did with the decorating. So I think I'm going to go with me."

They worked next with the kitchen—arranging, tearing down, and cleaning. Lastly, they fixed up the house's three bedrooms, followed by the first-ever house fight.

"This is a great bedroom," Remus remarked as they entered a corner bedroom. It was very cozy and comfy, breezy, and had a window seat just overlooking Hogsmeade.

"Yeah…it is nice. OK, Nicole and I get dibs on this one! Lily announced.

"WHAT? Hey, I saw it first!"

"Yeah, but I claimed it first…"

"It's mine!"

"Ladies first, Remus."

"That's not a valid argument, Lily."

"People…people!" James quickly leapt between the pair. "Calm down. Love, I think you can let Moony have this one—Sirius and I have set aside a room just for you. If you'll follow me…"

They traipsed a little down the hallway, then James threw open the next door they saw.

"Oh, wow!" Nicole exclaimed.

"It is beautiful!" Lily agreed.

"Ha!" Remus crowed. "I win!"

The room was very spacious. It didn't have a window seat, but the two windows provided excellent views and cool winds. The walls were painted avocado green, and it was very well-cleaned.

"Oh, Remus, I'm so sorry!" Lily threw her arms around her best friend's neck and hugged him. "This is wonderful…thank you guys so much…"

James pouted. "Don't I get a hug too? I helped!"

Lily stood on tiptoe and gave him a quick kiss. "You get better."

In a few moments' time, the rooms had been straightened out—James and Sirius had plastered Quidditch paraphernalia (and hair care products) from wall to wall, Remus had set up several bookshelves for his personal library and attached heavy drapes to his window, and Lily and Nicole had their room teeming with books, clothes, and hairbrushes.

"We did all this in one day?" Nicole breathed in awe as they stood, dusty, dirty, and exhausted but content (and for the boys, relieved), in the newly-scrubbed foyer.

"We are good," Sirius remarked, sliding an arm around his girlfriend's waist.

"You know…I feel really good about all that we've accomplished today," James said slowly. He waggled his eyebrows. "We deserve something…like a night on the town? My treat."

"Sounds good," Remus agreed.

"You're on," the rest chorused.

They ran off to make themselves ready for their celebration.

xxxxx

"Oof!" James squeaked as he narrowly avoided a particularly short wizard. Breathing hard, he managed to plunk the tray of drinks onto the table. "Whew…remind me to never volunteer to get the drinks ever again…Butterbeer for Greenleaf, here you go…chocolate shake for Lily, here, love…"

Lily took a healthy swallow of her drink as James swigged his firewhisky.

"Ah, Ogden's. Nothing like it," sighed Sirius as he lowered his half-empty glass.

"So, you guys have fun today?" Lily inquired.

"You call that FUN?" Sirius looked appalled. "That's slave labor."

"Well, it does help to not have the house looking like a clown went mad in it—and actually having things in the kitchen," Remus reasoned.

"It's life with Lily, mate," James quipped. "We're going to have to live with it. To adulthood?" He raised his glass.

"Adulthood," Lily echoed. Her green eyes sparkled as she touched his glass with her own.

"Adulthood," the rest followed. They all clinked glasses.

XXX

A/N: I continue to thank God for the blessings and love He's given us, even throughout pain, suffering, and doubt.

To my reviewers Arista Ramabra, LupinLover99, and Wilty: Thanks so much:)