Chapter Six

DC: I don't own Harry Potter

They made it home, and Lily slumped into the kitchen chair ready for a little rest. But with the Marauders still up and ready to play, rest and relaxation could be a rare type of thing. James was watching the box, as Remus and Sirius argued. Lily, still in the kitchen, was thinking of something to make for dinner. It had to be a little quick and easy thing. She felt really tired all of the sudden.

Sirius glared at Remus. "Well your name is Remus isn't it?"

"Yes," Remus replied. "I would have to think I, and you, knew my name."

"And your middle name starts with a J?" Sirius asked. His hands were crossed as he glared at Remus.

"Ah-huh," Remus answered.

"Then I'm going to call you RJ!"

Remus scrunched his face up, for what seemed like the third time he'd done it already. "I don't like it."

"You have to like it!"

"I do not have to!"

"Yes you do!"

"Do not!"

And it continued on like this. Lily shook her head. She could hear it even through her kitchen. If it got any louder, her neighbors would probably hear it too. She got up to search her pantry, hoping that the noise would settle down a little, and that she didn't have to get up and go out into the living room.

As she pulled open the door to her pantry, she heard someone start to cry. She immediately thought of Remus. He was a gentle kind of boy. He was one who could be teased, and easily break apart.

She rushed out into the living room to find…

Sirius holding his arm on the floor crying. Lily blinked in amazement, before turning her head to the guilty one standing a few centimeters away. Remus looked like a little guilty puppy with his fist in the air. James, well, he wasn't paying any attention at all. His eyes were glued to the box.

'Remus!' Lily thought. 'Of all people! He's not the little gentle man…boy I thought he was.'

Lily went into mother mode. She didn't know she had a mother mode, until recently, and she supposed she was going to learn how to get used to it. She picked up Remus, and began to cradle him a little. "Remus! What did you do?"

"I punched him." Always the honest one.

"Why? Was there a reason?" Lily asked.

"He called me RJ."

Lily thought about this. She set Sirius down, who hid behind her and wiped away his tears. Now why would Sirius call Remus that? It took her all but three seconds.

The conversation at the Leaky Cauldron. Sirius wanted to know what Remus's last name was. He had said John, so Sirius must have thought it was much easier to say RJ then Remus. Lily shook her head.

"Remus, you know that was a very bad thing to do." Remus nodded guiltily. "Now I want you to apologize to Sirius right now."

"Sorry Sirius," Remus said.

Sirius came out from behind Lily. "I guess its okay…" Something caught his eye on the TV. "Lookit! Cowboys!"

An old black and white American movie was what caught Sirius's eyes. Both he and Remus sat down beside James and watched the movie.

Lily was relieved that Sirius was so forgiving. She wondered what made him turn into such a prankster when he grew up. She went back into the kitchen, with this thought in mind, and continued with the thoughts of dinner.

--------

After the little cowboy movie, all the boys had found some coloring tools and parchment and were sitting at the table where Lily could keep an eye on them. It was getting late, and she was almost done with dinner.

They were having something simple. Lily got the bowls set on the counter, and filled them with the macaroni and cheese. She got spoons, and set them next to the bowls.

"Dinner is done!" Lily said, gathering up the extra parchments.

"But I'm not hungry…" James said.

"Really now?" Lily asked.

"Me neither," Remus and Sirius said together. The three of them were happily scribbling away.

"Well then." Lily put the food back into the pan. "I guess I'll eat then."

She set the parchments back on the table, and sat down with her bowl of food. She watched as the boys continued on with their drawings. Every once and a while they'd show her a picture they colored or drew. She'd smile at the simple drawings remembering when she was little a month, or so, back.

Around nine, after everyone used the bathroom and settled down, Lily got them ready for bed. They changed into their pajamas and climbed into their big bed. She still needed to get them their seperate beds, but for right now they didn't seem to mind.Lily gave them a hug goodnight, and made sure there was a nightlight for James.

Lily went back downstairs and stored away all the extra food. She turned off the kitchen light, and went into the living room. There, coming through the open window, was an owl. Lily took the letter, and dug in her pocket for a knut to pay for the trip.

Lily tore open the letter. It was from the Ministry. She read a little before throwing it up in the air. Making a sound might have awoken the boys. She had gotten the job she wanted! After the moment of happiness she read on.

She was to start in two weeks. She hoped she could manage until then.

Suddenly tired from the event, she closed the window, and headed down the hallway to her room. Changing, and brushing her teeth, Lily was in bed and turning out her own light.

Lily fell asleep surprisingly fast. She had closed her eyes, and the darkness came.

But it didn't last long.

She felt her bed move up and down. It woke her up.

She stared into the eyes of Sirius. It scared her almost half to death. She reached over him, and flicked on the light. She looked at the clock. It read eleven.

"What are you doing?" Lily asked.

"We're hungry."

Lily looked past Sirius to see James and Remus at the door. She looked at them strangely. "Why are you hungry now of all times?"

"We just weren't hungry when you asked us," James replied.

"I told them you'd get angry," Remus said in a whisper. "I thought you'd get angry…"

"No, no Remus." Lily yawned. "Come on I'll feed you then you have to go to sleep."

Lily led them to the kitchen, and got out the macaroni. She heated it up at the stove as the boys waited patiently.

She served them their food and they ate silently. Afterwards Lily led back to her room.

"Now, go to sleep boys," she said, yawning again.

"Okay." The boys got under the blanket. Lily turned off the light, and went back to her own room.

--------

Lala Rue here, and now it is on to chapter seven! When I type it I'll post... I hope I type it soon.

Well, there you have it. Mr. Remus can be Mr. Tough Guy. Poor Sirius, though. He should have stopped while he was ahead.

That reminds me of a terrible joke/story...why did I bother listening to it.

Well, I'll update soon if I can get the seventh chapter done!

Love, Lala Rue!