Hi =] Hope you like it.
I'm starting to write a new story, so that when this one's done, I'll have another to post.
Actually I have about three stories I'm thinking about.
One of them already started, the other two in my head.
I don't know which one I'll do next though, but this story is far from over, so I'll have a while to think about the other ones.
DISCLAIMER-YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS.
"Wakey Wakey, eggs and Bake-ie," Lily sang.
I sighed and sat up, Sirius' arm fell off of my waist, landing with a light thud onto the floor. I looked at it for a minute, then up at Lily.
"What time is it?"
"7 o'clock."
"Why did you wake me up at 7 in the morning?"
"Cause we need to go get some Muggle clothes from someone, then go shopping."
"Sirius and I wanna come," James mumbled, sounding groggy.
"Why?" I crinkled my nose.
"Cause we need to learn to shop in the Muggle world." Sirius yawned, sitting up.
Lily smiled, happy about getting to spend the day with James.
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"Did you get the clothes?" I asked as Alice walked back into the boy's dorm.
"Yes, from the same 6th years that let you borrowed the uniforms."
She threw us each a pair of low rise skinny jeans, white spaghetti strap shirts, a blue jacket for Lily, a black one for me, and matching converse.
"What do Sirius and I wear?" James asked from his bed.
I walked over to Sirius' trunk and started going through it. I found a pair of dark blue jeans and a long sleeved gray shirt.
After throwing them at him, I walked into the bathroom and showered, Lily came in as I pulling on my pants.
"How are we getting to London?" I asked with a yawn.
"Port key, then driving." She answered.
"Can I please drive? I won't crash, promise." I gave her my puppy dog eyes.
"Don't give me those puppy dog eyes! You almost ran over an old lady last time."
"I swear, I won't run anyone over."
"…if you go over the speed limit, even once, I will make you pull over and you will have to sit in the back."
"Thank you Lily!" I kissed her on the cheek, she smiled and wiped it off.
I bounded into the boy's dorm as Lily got into the shower. Remus was on his bed, reading (surprise, surprise.) James was in the clothes Lily had picked for him, a blue, opened dress shirt, sleeves rolled up and a white T-shirt under it, and some dark jeans with holes in them.
I looked at Sirius, he was laying on his bed looking at the ceiling.
"Sirius," I called, as I leaned up against the wall.
He looked at me and raised his eyebrows in a questioning way, "Huh?"
"Come here."
He stood up and sauntered over to me, "Yes?"
I studied his outfit, "Push your sleeves up, to the elbows." He did that. I murmured a spell and his jeans got that worn look to them, then I made them a little tighter. I took a step towards him, "Can I do something with your hair?"
"Are you going to cut it?"
"I don't have any scissors."
He smiled and bent his head down. His face was just inches away from mine, staring at my face, studying it with an intense expression. I looked away from his eyes and started messing with his hair. I fixed it into a casual, elegant style, then I used a spell to make it stay.
I put my hand under his chin, and raised his face out of mine. Then I looked him up and down and lifted his shirt up a little. He had on a black belt and his boxers were just barely showing over the top of his pants, "Hold your shirt up for a minute." He did so and I unbuckled his belt.
"I like where this is going," He smirked.
"This isn't going anywhere," I replied.
I grabbed his pants and pulled them down, to where a little more of his boxers were showing.
"That's uncomfortable," He complained.
"But it looks good," I smiled, "Now buckle your belt, but so help me if you pull those pants up, I'll chop your hands off."
He chuckled and did what I said, "What now?"
I looked at him once more, "Turn around." He did do, "Okay sit down. Kay, now stand back up." He sighed, "Turn around again. No, don't pull your shirt down. Sit again." I sighed, "Back up and don't touch your shirt!" I walked around to the back of him and studied his ass.
"Okay, now whenever you sit, don't pull you shirt down over your butt when you get back up."
He turned around, "Why?"
"Because your boxers show and a lot of Muggle girls find that attractive."
"Do you find that attractive?"
I shrugged, "Perhaps."
"Do you find me attractive?"
"Not in the least bit."
He scowled then point at my pelvis, "Why is your underwear showing?"
"Because a lot of Muggle guys find it attractive," I said while tracing the top of my lacy red undies.
"Mhm…" He raised one eyebrow and scrunched up his forehead.
I turned to Remus, "Are you coming with us?"
"And face the torture of having you dress me? I think I'll pass." He smiled.
"Well fine then," I said, faking an offended voice.
"Are we ready to go?" Lily asked from the bathroom door, her underwear showing as well, I gave Sirius a see-even-Lily-does-it look.
"Lily, darling you look just beautiful," James commented.
She laughed, "Uhh, thanks James. You look pretty good yourself."
He gave a goofy grin. I snorted and walked over to Lily, jumping up on her back. She laughed and walked to the door.
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"Your ass looks nice in those jeans," Sirius commented as we headed towards the Muggle Studies room, Lily still giving me a piggy back ride.
"Aww, did you hear that Lily? You get a 'beautiful' from James, while I get a 'nice ass' from Sirius. Isn't that so sweet?"
She laughed, "The sweetest."
"Well I try," Sirius said from behind us.
I hopped down off of Lily's back and wiggled my butt as him, "It this a better view?"
He laughed and pinched it.
"HEY!" I rounded on him, "Don't ouch my ass!"
He just smiled innocently, "Wasn't me, it was James."
"It was not!" James cried.
I laughed at his face and hooked arms with Lily. We were a few doors down from the Muggle Studies now. I started skipping and Lily joined in. We came to a jumping stop at the door to the room and waited for them to catch up with us.
Once they did I knocked on the door and waited until I heard someone call, "Come in."
We walked in to find Professor Klip sitting at her desk, looking over some papers. She looked up at us, "Hello. I assume you're here for your port key? It will take you to the outskirts of London where a car will be waiting. Once you're ready to come back, hold the port key and say 'Take us back to the cottage.' And you will end up there. Okay?"
"Okay." We all said.
"Now how much money would you like to exchange for Muggle cash?" She asked.
"Uhh, 35 Galleons," Lily and I said, handing her the money. (AN/ According to 35 Galleons is about 175 pounds, I think that's what English money is called, and about $341.25 in American currency.)
She handed us our Muggle money and James and Sirius exchanged theirs.
"Here are the keys. Who's driving?"
"I am," Sirius and I said at the same time.
"You're not driving," Sirius said.
"Oh yes I am."
"You can't."
"And why can't I?"
"Because you're a girl and are supposed to let the man drive."
"I'll ignore that comment, but I do have something to ask you."
"Yes."
"Do you have a license?"
"A what?"
"That's what I thought," I smirked as I grabbed the keys from Professor Klips' hand. My license was like my wand, I took it everywhere I went, so therefore, it didn't get burned in our dorm.
We walked out of the classroom and Sirius stepped up beside me, "What's a license?"
"It's a piece of paper that says a person is allowed to legally drive a car."
"So all I need is to get a piece of paper, have someone say that I can drive, and I'll be able to."
"Uhh, no. You gotta pass a test first."
"What kind of test?"
"A driving test." I said smiling.
The key started glowing and we all touched it. I felt my feet part from the ground and I went flying through the air. Then I landed.
I waited a few seconds before standing up, "LILY! I DIDN'T GET HURT!"
She laughed, "I'm so proud!"
"Why would you get hurt?" James asked.
I waved him off and looked at our car. It was jet black, tinted windows and a sunroof. I didn't know what kind it was, but I liked it.
I hopped into the front seat, Lily slid in beside me and James and Sirius sat in the back.
Smiling I started the car, opened the sunroof, and turned on the radio, "I love driving." Then I put it in drive and went speeding towards the city, Lily yelling at me to slow down.
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"Okay, that's it, out of the car!" Lily yelled as we stopped at our first red light.
"Lily, please, I won't go fast again. That was just because we were outside of the city, no more reckless driving…for today, that is." I begged.
"Should have let me drive," Sirius murmured in a sing song voice from the back.
I turned around, "You just be quiet," The light turned green and I drove forward, "So…where do we want to go for breakfast?"
"How about some café?" Lily asked, forgetting about my reckless speeding.
"What's a café?" James asked.
"It's a place," Lily answered.
"Well, that makes it very clear for James and I," Sirius mumbled.
I looked at him in the mirror and smiled, "You'll see what it is when we get there."
Lily and I started singing, much to Sirius' dismay, and 15 minutes later we pulled up in front of 'Luogo Di Prodotti Alimentari' a beautiful outdoor café.
I looked back at Sirius and gave him a threatening, "Don't touch your shirt."
"Yes Ma'am." He smiled. I unlocked the doors and stepped out. James walked over to Lily and Sirius came to my side.
We walked over to the greeter, who studied Lily and I, before going to find us a table.
Sirius ducked his head so that his lips were beside my ear, "I don't like the way that guy was looking at you."
I leaned my head so that it rested against his cheek, "It's fine."
"No it's not, it's like he was undressing you with his eyes. Maybe you should zip up your Hoodie."
As I started to respond, the greeter came back and lead us to our seats. The whole way there girls kept turning in Sirius and James' direction, trying to catch their attention. Sirius and James didn't notice though, seeing as they were to busy glaring at whatever guy dared look my and Lily's way.
"Sirius, could you please stop?" I asked, looking up at his angry face.
"I'll stop when they do," He mumbled, snaking his arm around my waist.
I sighed, knowing further discussion on the matter would be pointless. Although it did kinda bother me when girls kept looking at him, then glaring at me. So just to spite them, I took my left hand and intertwined it with his hand that was resting on my hips. Then I leaned into his arm and smiled. They just sent more glares my way.
I looked up at Sirius and he smiled at me, "Should we tell them that it's not nice to glare?"
"Nah, why ruin their fun?"
"Okay, although it is rather rude…"
I just smiled. The greeter gestured to a table and we all sat down.
He handed us our menus, "Your waiter will be here shortly." And he walked away.
Sirius didn't even bother with his menu. Instead he took mine, leaned in close and we looked at it together.
"This is fun," He murmured, looking around at the still glaring girls.
"Isn't it?" Lily said from across the table.
I looked at her. She and James were sitting the same way Sirius and I were. Giving her a huge grin I turned back to our menu.
"What type of restaurant doesn't serve bacon?" I asked scanning it.
Sirius chuckled, "The crazy kind."
I smiled and our waiter came over, "Are you ready to order?"
I ordered coffee, as did Lily, and some French toast and eggs. Sirius got a cappuccino and some type of weird egg thing I've never heard of. James ordered juice and the same egg thing Sirius got. And Lily got a fruit salad dish along with her coffee.
After the waiter left, Sirius leaned back in his chair and I leaned back too. He threw his arm over my shoulders and I rested my head onto his shoulder. He laid his cheek against the top of head and we watched Lily and James.
"They're meant for each other," I mumbled.
"I always knew they were," He agreed. After a few moments of silence he lifted his head and looked at me, "Who do you think you're meant for?"
I was quiet for a couple of seconds while I thought. Then I truthfully answered, "I don't know. Maybe I'm not meant for anyone."
He laid his head back on mine, "That can't be possible. There has to be someone out there for you. There just has to be."
"Why do you say that?"
"Well, you're smart…nice…caring…loving, hilarious…everything any sane guy would want."
I snorted, "Yeah, right."
"It's true."
I rolled my eyes and let the matter drop. We sat in silence, watching Lily laugh at whatever James had said to her.
________________________________________
"Okay, where to next?" James asked from the backseat of the car.
"The grocery store," Lily and I answered in unison.
"The what?" Sirius asked.
"Pure Bloods," Lily and I rolled our eyes.
"How do you know we're Pure Bloods?" James asked me.
"Well, my brother's an Auror, and the Black name is very well known to all Ministry employees, even American ones. And, Lily's told me so much about you, James."
"Really like what?" James asked.
Lily just blushed and murmured 'Nothing.'
"What do you know about my family?" Sirius asked, trying, but failing, to sound casual.
"Just that they're the crazy pure blood type who hate muggles, half bloods, muggle borns, werewolves, vampires, etcetera, etcetera " I answered.
"I'm not like them," Sirius mumbled, sounding like a helpless child.
"I never said you were," I responded.
"But…do you think I am? ," He asked, in the same helpless voice.
"Of course not Sirius," I said firmly, letting him know that I knew he was better than the rest of his family, "Why would you ask such a ridiculous question?"
"I just had to be sure," He murmured.
"Okay, then," I said, pulling into the Wal-Mart parking lot. (AN/ I don't own Wal-Mart (of course) only using it's name. =))
"Now," Lily said, turning around in her seat, looking at the boys, "If you behave like good little boys, we will buy you a treat. But if you complain or beg for something, even once, we will march you out of the store and you will leave empty handed. Understood?"
They gave each other confused looks, not understanding what she meant. I just laughed and hopped out of the car.
Sirius walked casually over to me and slung an arm over my shoulders, "They forgot an 'L' in wall."
"It's supposed to be like that." I smiled.
"Why?"
"I don't know, ask the Wal-Mart guy."
"Where is he?"
"Over there," And I pointed to some random dude walking across the parking lot.
Sirius released his hold on me and ran over to the guy. I saw his mouth moving, then the guy gave him a weird look and walked away.
Looked depressed, Sirius sauntered back over to me, "I don't think that was the right guy."
I started laughing, "I was kidding!"
"Ah, Samantha, you shouldn't kid with Sirius, he takes things too seriously." Lily laughed, stepping up beside me, her hand intertwined with James'
"Of course I take things seriously, I am after all, Sirius." He grinned.
"Oh God," I hung my head and shook it side to side.
He just chuckled and stopped a couple feet from the doors.
"What are you doing?" Lily asked as James did the same thing.
"There's no handle," Sirius answered.
Lily and I sighed and walked towards the doors, which magically slid open. We turned around and looked at the guys, who hadn't come with us.
"Coming?" I asked.
They stepped cautiously forward and then as they got closer to the doors they rushed through them. People were staring, giving them weird looks and directing their children away from the crazy men. I rolled my eyes and walked over to the buggies.
Lily and I each took one and I looked at Sirius with an excited expression on my face, "Sirius, do you wanna push the buggy?!"
"The what?"
"This," I said nodding at it.
"Is it fun?"
"The funnest!"
He smiled big, "Okay."
Lily snorted and looked at James, "Will you push mine?"
"Of course my Lily-Flower."
I laughed and pulled out a list, "Okay…let's do nonfood items first."
Lily and I took the lead, Sirius occasionally bumping my butt with his buggy. Each time I'd yell at him, telling him to knock it off. But did he listen? No he did not. He just laughed and did again.
I tried running away, but he just abandoned Lily and James and chased me down, catching me of course. Then he carried me back to them and set me in front of his buggy, which he had left behind, and bumped me again.
I had to laugh of course, "I'm coming back there if you do it again!"
He did it again. I stomped back to him, "I have no idea where this newfound obsession with my butt came from, but if you don't stop, I'll chop off your hands. Okay?"
He just smiled and nodded. Lily laughed and James chuckled. Rolling eyes I stepped back up beside Lily, "We need shampoo."
After walking through multiple beauty care isles -James and Sirius bickering about Quidditch, Lily telling them to shut up before any Muggles heard, and me buying some headache pills- we were finally ready to start shopping for food.
"What's this?" James asked for about the millionth time.
"Pop," Lily answered, rubbing her temples.
"What's it taste like?" Sirius asked.
"Bubbles," I answered, throwing some of it into Sirius' cart.
"Does it make you float?" James questioned.
"Yes," Lily answered.
"It doesn't look like it does," Sirius mumbled, studying the bottle.
"You're right, it probably doesn't" Lily replied, just telling them whatever might shut them up. But they just kept talking.
After they started asking about the things that were already in our buggies, Lily and I tuned them out.
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It was a long 4 hours. Yes four hours of walking around that store. Having to answer pointless questions from James and Sirius. Then having them glare at our check out guy, because, according to Sirius, he was 'Looking at us in suggestive ways' what ever the hell that means.
Then James wanted to go to some fast food place, so we had to go there, cause he would not shut up. I mean seriously, he whined for 10 minutes until I did a U-turn and went back. Lily just sighed and continued to rub her temples. And I needed a drink. But Lily said it was too early in the day, but we'd have one after we put all the food away.
And then Sirius chimed in with a 'Are you an alcoholic?' And I about punched him. I am never going shopping with those two ever again.
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Even though it was empty. Even though it had no heat. Even though it needed a lot of work, the cottage was our beautiful, perfect escape from everyone else in the world. After just one day in it, it had become our sanctuary. The place where we could discuss my fears for Shane, Lily's hatred of her sister. We could do anything without feeling ashamed of who might see it. Not having to be embarrassed about falling down the stairs, or about who might hear our off key voices singing some long forgotten 80s song. We could be ourselves here. (Of course being ourselves might bother Sirius and James, seeing as they had declared that they were going to spend almost all of their time at our house.)
I think Lily shared my same thoughts as we walked through our door, arms loaded with grocery bags, Sirius and James arguing about who was carrying the most of them.
Sirius ran up to me, his bags making a swishing sound as he moved, "Sam, could you please tell James that I holding the most bags, therefore making me the strongest?"
"I have no idea who has the most. But if makes you fell better, I think you're both very strong," I pinched Sirius' cheek as I said this.
He crinkled his nose, "No need to be so sarcastic."
I sighed and walked into the kitchen.
________________________________________
It took an hour to put everything away because Sirius and James kept, once again, asking questions about everything they put away.
I slumped onto the floor by the sink. Lily fell right beside me, then Sirius on my other side, James beside Lily.
"That was fun!" James exclaimed. Him and Sirius just bursting with energy.
"Yeah," Lily mumbled
"We should do it again some time," I added.
"Or not," She chimed in.
"I like the latter," I closed my eyes and leaned my head back.
"Me too," She agreed.
_________________________________________
I must've fallen asleep, because next thing I know, I'm in Sirius' arms, him carrying me to our make-shift bed.
He laid me down and brushed a strand of hair out of face. His fingertips leaving a warm trail where he had touched me. I sighed and turned over, falling back into my pleasant slumber.
________________________________________
"Sam, wake up. It's supper time."
"I don't want to," My voice muffled against the pillow.
"Well you have to," And he poked my side, making me squirm and turn away from his finger. He laughed and did it again.
"Stop it," And I swatted weakly at his hand.
"Nope," And he tickled my full side.
I laughed and opened my eyes, "Fine."
"Aren't you going to ask what I made?"
"You made supper?"
"Yes."
I waited for him to say more but he didn't. So I sighed and asked, "What did you make?"
"Spaghetti and meatballs!"
I laughed at his proud, enthusiastic facial expression, and the way he threw his hands up in the air with great excitement.
I patted the side of his face, "I'm so proud."
He leaned into my hand, like a lonely dog, cherishing the first touch it has felt in years. Then he took my hand in his own and pulled me up.
I let him drag me into the dining room, where Lily and James were sitting at the table.
I yawned as Sirius pulled out a chair for me.
"You can't be tired!" Lily exclaimed from across me.
"That wasn't a tired yawn, it was a just waking up yawn." I smiled.
"Is there even such a thing as a just waking up yawn?" James asked.
"Yes there is, and it was just demonstrated for you." I said.
Sirius sat beside me and gestured towards the table with his hands. The white, square plates Lily and I had gotten at the store were set up with nice cloth napkins on top of them. The kind of napkins that you would be to afraid to wipe your mouth or hands on, for fear that you might stain the fabric. Then there were our red mugs, filled with water. His food resting in our multi-colored bowls. It looked homey and comfortable.
I looked back to Sirius' face. His enthusiasm was now gone, replaced with embarrassment, and weariness. And I realized that he thought I wouldn't like it. I smiled at him and could feel the tears in my eyes.. (Probably due to the fact that it was our first meal in mine and Lily's new house, and that Sirius had worked so hard on it.) I took his hand in mine and place my other one on the side of his face, "It's wonderful Sirius."
He smiled, but still looked doubtful, "Really?"
"Really." I whispered.
He kissed my forehead and hugged me tightly.
"We should have invited Remus," Lily said, taking us out of our moment.
"I did, but he said that…he wasn't feeling well." James said, averting his eyes to the window.
"Oh, well I hope he gets better," Lily mumbled.
"He'll be fine in a few days," James smiled at her.
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Dinner passed in a blur, filled with laughs, multiple pranks the Marauders had pulled, and me yelling at Sirius to quit rapping his knuckles against the table. And when he didn't, I started singing Candles by The White Tie Affair. He threw his hands over his ears and went 'Lalalalalala' really loud, while my singing got louder too, then Lily yelled at us to stop and she took an aspirin while we laughed.
After we finished eating, we all sat in our dark living room and just talked till about midnight, then Lily and I forced them to leave, promising we would be at their place early the next morning.
As I laid down in our "bed" I couldn't help but miss the feeling of Sirius' arms around my waist.
Like it? Love it? Hate it? What'd you think? Reviews...please