10th July 1977
James woke me up on his way to open the window. It's funny how rooms only seem to feel so hot and airless when you're hungover. James stuck his head out of the window to take in deep gulps of air. I buried my head beneath my quilt, wishing for nothing more than a peaceful death. James eventually crawled back to his bed, and for a moment I managed to drift back off to sleep. Then there was the sound of feet pounding across the floor. I opened my eyes just in time to see James bolt across the room, his hand clapped firmly over his mouth, retching sounds slipping through his fingers. Poor sod.
I can't say last night wasn't worth the hangover though.
Yesterday morning was the aftermath of "the incident", and it was agreed that we all needed cheering up a bit. Remus's mother had sent over some sort of medicine, which perked him up straight away. It had been a job distracting Ava whilst the owl arrived, though. She's a bit naive, Ava, but it's a good thing under the circumstances.
"We should all go out," Andromeda suggested as we were all tucking in to bacon and eggs, "Out, out."
"But where though?" James enquired.
"Town is just a bus ride away. We're sure to find something there," Lily prompted. We all nodded eagerly, all except Remus, who looked a little apprehensive. I nudged him.
"How about it, Moons? It'll be good to get out, see the sights," I said.
He looked queasy at the though, but then he noticed Ava was staring at him hopefully. "All right," He shrugged. And although he still didn't look too keen, a glow appeared in his cheeks. He just can't resist the chance to have some fun, despite however he appears. He's a true Marauder, our Moony.
The girls went to get ready straight away, to grow their hair or dye their nails, whatever it is girls take hours doing. James stretched in his seat. "I wish we could play a bit of Quidditch," He said, "Hey, do you think if-"
"No, Prongs," We all chimed together.
"We could play football," Peter suggested.
"You and your bloody Muggle games," James snorted.
"We don't even know how to play," I pointed out.
"I do," Remus said.
"Come on, me and Moony will show you how to play. It's not hard," Peter insisted.
Rolling our eyes, James and I reluctantly followed Remus and Peter outside. Peter delved in to the derelict shed at the bottom of the garden, managing to locate a battered football squashed beneath a broken lawn mower. For goals we improvised with plant pots, placing two at either end of the garden a few meters apart.
"Right, Padfoot and Moony can be in one team, Prongs and I will be on the other. It's fair that way," Peter decided. He rarely gets to direct anything, I could tell he was getting a buzz from getting to order us around.
It was possibly the slowest, most stunted game of football played in history. Somehow, Remus and I managed to win. James was outraged, he isn't used to loosing at sport. Though the only other sport he's ever played is Quidditch. As a prize, it was agreed that Remus and I would get to have the first baths. Hot water is something of a rarity at Alfred's.
A few hours later we were all pruned and groomed, ready to leave. I stepped out of our bedroom with James, caught sight of Peter stood at the top of the stairs, and nearly died laughing.
"What the fuck are they?" I gasped between howls. James had collapsed in a heap my feet.
"What's wrong with them!" Peter cried.
"What's right with them!" I said.
He was wearing the shittiest looking flares I've ever seen. Like clown pants, they were. Remus sauntered out of his room to inspect the chaos, dressed in normal jeans (a sensible option also taken by James and I, an option that meant we weren't likely to have the piss ripped out of us) and a black jumper. His eyes spotted the cause for hilarity straight away, and even he couldn't resist a smirk.
"Piss off, the lot of you!" Peter yelled, "My gran got me these."
"Yeah, she probably used to wear them!" I chortled, causing James to collapse all over again.
"They're in fashion," Peter muttered, self consciously plucking a loose thread from his humorous choice of clothing.
"Boys, will you hurry up!" Andromeda's voice sounded from downstairs.
"Wait until the girls see!" James said gleefully.
Sulking, Peter followed us all downstairs. The girls were all gathered in the kitchen, passing around a bottle of wine from which they were taking swigs of. Andromeda promptly sprayed her gulp all over the kitchen at our arrival.
"Wow, Pete. Interesting fashion choice," She said.
"Oh fuck this. I'm going to change," Peter muttered. Peter hardly ever swears, its very out of character for him, however it's how you know he's thoroughly pissed off.
Lily shook her head. "You guys are so cruel!" She muttered, though there was a mischevious glint in her emerald eyes. She was wearing a sort of fifties style dress, all covered in tassels and sequins. It matched the colour of her eyes and showed off her long, thin legs. I had to stop myself from staring. James really is one lucky fucker.
Remus wasn't doing bad either. Ava's dress was a wrap around made of silk with Japanese flowers printed all over it. Her hair inspiration was obviously that Farrah Fawcett bird all of the Muggle boys get excited over. And then there was Andromeda. God. Does she have to be my cousin? That sounded wrong. But then how can such thoughts be helped when she decides to strut around in the tiniest black dress ever to have graced the Earth? That's the thing with Andromeda though; she's really something, but she knows it.
Peter spent ages upstairs, two whole bottles of wine disappeared before Lily decided to go up and check on him. When they came back down he was still wearing his flares. Lily cornered us all in the kitchen. "Don't any of you dare say a word. I told him they were lovely," She muttered.
"You devious little minx," James mumbled, pretending to bite her nose. Oh God, that's really not the sort of thing you want to picture hungover. Why can they never just get a room?
We had to walk all the way to the village to catch the bus. The girls began moaning about their poor feet, which apparently ached like hell in those scary looking heel things they all insist on wearing. James and Remus stepped up to the plate though and did the manly thing of giving Lily and Ava piggy backs. Peter looked hopeful that Andromeda would ask him for one, but she seemed to decide she'd be safer from groping if she walked.