Once again thank you for the reviews guys! And I re-read the last chapter and ya I guess Harry's dialogue is a bit precocious for his age. I'll modify that chap when I get the chance unless anyone has any objections? Anyway, here is chapter 8! Hope ya like!
As James and Sirius walked in into the kitchen, they saw Lily with her back turned to them frying cabbage in the pan. The extractor was on so she never heard them entering. Sirius went down to the sitting room to where Harry and Remus were. James snuck up behind her and placed his arms around her waist lifting her up off the ground slightly. Lily shrieked with the fright James had given her "Alright darling?" he asked while placing her back on the ground and releasing his grip round her. He walked over to her left, placed one hand the counter and grinned stupidly at her. She was determined to be annoyed with him but once she saw his face she gave a sly smirk and concentrated on the cabbage. "In reply to your question, I was fine until you gave me the fright of the century." She said smirking at him. He stood erect and approached her saying "Ah I'm sorry love. I didn't mean to scare ya." He kissed her on the cheek. "You know I don't like people sneaking up on me James." She said firmly. James looked quite despondent at this remark. Lily turned off the extractor and the ring where the pan was and moved it to another ring. "But…" she started with a smile. James looked less solemn when he saw her smile. It ignited him inside every time he saw that smile. The smile he fell in love with at the age of thirteen. "…You can make it up to me in one particular way…." James cut her off and brought his lips to hers and kissed her passionately placing his arms round her waist and hers round his neck. After a few minutes they broke apart. "Am I forgiven?" James asked with a sly smirk playing on his lips. "Well what I meant was that you could set the table but….." James cut her off again. "But that kiss was to die for?" he asked winking at her. Lily turned back to the pan and began removing the cabbage from it and placing it on the plates next to the oven. "Well?" James asked. Lily turned back to look at him, "Well…..I've had better." She said flirtatiously "Oh really?" asked James smiling at her. Lily reciprocated the smile as James plunged forward and kissed her again truly, madly, deeply. Just then Sirius emerged from the sitting room followed by Harry and Remus. Sirius and Remus were in awe at the spectacle before them while Harry just giggled quietly. Remus instructed Harry to take a seat at the table. Sirius turned to face Remus quizzically. Remus just shrugged and sat next to Harry sniggering. Sirius interrupted James and Lily; "Wow wow! Easy on the tongue people! There's a three year old in the room." Lily and James stopped. Lily just turned back to the preparations of the meal while blushing. James turned to his friends and smiled at Sirius cynically expressing his gratitude. "Moony mate ya alright?" James asked smiling warmly. "Ya Prongs I'm good thanks. How about you?" He asked warmly.
"Ah ya mate I'm great cheers! Or at least I was until Sirius interrupted." He glared playfully at Sirius who had now taken a seat at the table next to Remus, leaning back on two legs with his hands behind his head. "Mate I was only thinking about little Harry here. There aint no need for ya to get all bent out of shape here! Ya know?" he replied smiling. James was placing knife and forks on the table and glasses and didn't get a chance to retaliate because Lily served up the meals.
At about 7:30 when dinner was over, Sirius was playing exploding snap with Harry and James was playing exploding snap with Remus. The winners of the two teams would play each other after this game was finished. Lily was upstairs getting ready to go out with her friends. "Snap!" Shouted James. "Victory is mine!" he said grinning and throwing his hands up in the air while leaning back in his chair. Remus smiled amiably at him. "Nicely played mate." James returned all four legs of the chair to the ground. "Ah cheers Moony!" he said smiling and patted him on the back. "But don't forget that you still have to play Sirius or Harry before you can truly claim victory." Said Remus quietly. "No bother." James said smiling. "You are too cocky for your own good sometimes you know that mate?" said Remus smiling amusedly. Just then there was a knock on the door. James got up to answer it. As he opened it he saw Lily's three friends; Sharina Stilton, Karina Power and Isabella Lucas. "Alright ladies?" James asked smiling at them. "Hey James." They all replied in unison. James then stepped aside to let them in kissing them on the cheek in turn. After they were all in he closed the door and told them to take a seat. Sirius looked up and said "Alright girls?" and winked at them. Hey Sirius." They said in unison. He got up and hugged them each before resuming his card game with Harry. "How are ye?" asked Remus. "Good thanks Remus." Replied Isabella smiling and taking a seat next to them. "You alright Shari?" asked Remus. "Ah ya I'm good. Thank you Remus for asking. "Harry what do you say?" asked James. "What you mean Dad?" he asked. "Look at me when I'm talking to you." He said firmly. Harry looked up and smiled sheepishly. "Sorry dad." He replied quietly. "We have guests Harry. You could at least say hello." James added. Harry looked at his dad and then looked over at the three women. "Hi" he said barely audible. They all smiled at him warmly "How are you Harry?" asked Sharina. "YES!" shouted Harry excitedly. "You won mate!" exclaimed Sirius. "I'm fine thanks." Replied Harry timidly. "Give me five Prongslet!" Shouted Sirius happily. They high fived. Everyone half laughed at this. Sirius ruffled Harry's hair. "Does anyone want a drink while their waiting for that wife of mine? I swear she changed twenty-five different times already!" said James smirking. They all sniggered at this. "Well I'm ok thanks James." Said Isabella turning round to face him. "Karri? How bout you love?" asked James. Karina was sitting next to Sirius. "No thank you James" she replied sweetly. Shari darling! You will wont you?" "Course she will!" shouted Sirius smiling and winked at her. He resumed to collecting the cards and put them back in the box. She just blushed. "Ah no honestly I am ok James. But thank you." She replied. So what did you guys get up to today?" asked Karina. She was the most confident of the group. Always willing to say her piece and never afraid to ask anything especially when it came to guys. She was wearing a black denim skirt which came below the knee, a red halter neck top and silver stilettos. Her long brown hair was neatly tied back with a claw clip with little curly pieces surrounding her face. She was one of Sirius ex- girlfriends. They broke up because they didn't feel their relationship would go anywhere. They went out for two weeks in sixth year.
"Well funny you should ask but we were actually reminiscing about the old days." Replied Remus.
"Really?" asked Karina half laughing. "What's so funny?" asked James.
"Well the old days for you and Sirius here were all about going out with as many girls as possible. Or at least kissing as many girls as possible in one year!" she said with a smile.
"Didn't hear you complaining!" said Sirius smirking at her. James smiled his agreement while Remus rolled his eyes.
"Ya and it was like all the pretty ones! What was all that about? Did ye think that the less vivacious girls had no feelings?" asked Isabella. "Wow Wow! Bella darling what are you yelling at me for? James was just as bad! Don't make me sound like the bad guy here! We did change towards the end of sixth year in case ye have forgotten!" said Sirius. Isabella was wearing a full length black dress which was strapless and had a cris cross effect half way down the back and had a v shape at the front. She was wearing mules with a corked heal and had her brown hair down. It was shoulder length." Ah yes you changed because Lily finally consented to go out with James over there." She replied while pointing her thumb in his direction. She had her back to him. "No not necessarily. I mean we did mature…." All the girls burst out laughing. "Oh come on Sirius!" Said Karina. "Ya Sirius you did not mature. You just didn't chase every girl coz James got Lils!" said Isabella. "Like the end of an era." Said Sharina. Sirius smiled at her and she reciprocated but blushed. She was wearing a full length gold dress which had a low back and a reasonably low front, yellow stilettos with silver diamond effect on the front. Her long blonde hair was half up, half down. She was exceptionally quiet but at the same time, nobody would dare cross her. Just then Lily appeared in the door way. All of her friends ran up to her and hugged her at once. She was wearing a red mini dress which was strapless. She was wearing red stilettos and had her hair slightly tied back. She was carrying a silver bag over her shoulder. James came over to where Sirius was sitting saying discreetly "She looks hot tonight!"
"Doesn't she always?" asked Sirius smiling. Remus smirked at them. They all dropped the embrace and went back to the table to get their bags. "Mommy." Said Harry standing up on the chair. "Yes sweetie?"
"You look hot!" he said smiling at his mother. They all laughed. "Did you hear that from your father Harry?" asked Lily glancing over at an embarrassed James. "Yup!" he said grinning. Lily walked over to him and placed a hand on his cheek and kissed him on the lips quickly. "Thank you James." She smiled at him. James smiled back and said "Your welcome sweetheart."
"What? That's it? Your not gona belt him one Lils? Where's the fiery red tempered Lily gone too that we all know and love?" shouted Sirius bemused. They all laughed but Lily rolled her eyes. She turned to face James and said "I'll be home by 11:00 at the latest so make sure that Harry is in bed by 9:00 at the latest ok?" James nodded before saying "Don't worry about a thing. Harry will be fine so just go and have a great time! There is no need to hurry back on my account." She smiled at him as he pulled her in for a hug. Her friends who were standing over by the door talking to Sirius and Remus over heard everything that James said and sad smiles played on their faces. "Aww James is so sweet." Said Sharina.
"Why can't I find someone like that?" asked Isabella aimlessly. "Oh come on you two! Get a grip will ye? We don't need guys to make us happy!" said Karina bitterly. Sirius exchanged quizzical looks with Remus. Sharina and Isabella just nodded in agreement with her. If the truth be known Karina really didn't believe what she just said. She had been hurt in the past and was determined not to be hurt again. Everyone knew she was unhappy but were not going to say that to her. Lily walked away from James and over to her friends. "Okay. Let's go." She said happily smiling at her friends. They smiled back and after hugging goodbye to Remus and Sirius they were gone.
They aparated to the three broomsticks to find a half empty pub. Karina said that she would get this round so the others took a booth at the end of the pub which was next to a long window looking out onto Hogsmeade village. Karina came down with the drinks followed by madam Rosemerta. "Hey how are you all?" asked Rosemaerta pleasantly. "Fine thanks" they replied in unison. "Haven't seen you in here for a while. Oh Lily how is little Harry?"
"Oh he's very well. He's getting into mischief occasionally but then again look at his role models. James and Sirius!" They all laughed. "Oh Sirius is Harry's…..Godfather isn't he?"
"Yes he is. Whether or not that is a good thing or a bad thing I still have to figure out." They laughed again. "Ah Sirius may be a messer but his heart is in the right place. I've seen him with Harry in Hogsmeade a couple of times and he thinks the world of Harry. He will make a great father some day. Anyway I'll leave you to it." She smiled and left. "You know Lily she has a point." Said Isabella.
"Ya I mean we saw him with Harry tonight and he really does think the world of him. He really has matured as far as I'm concerned and I'm certain that he will make a great father some day." Said Sharina smiling across at Lily. "Ya I agree with you Shari. But maybe the reason you are so pro Sirius tonight is because…..he asked you out?" questioned Lily smiling. Sharina became despondent at this.
"No actually he did not. I guess he just is not interested in me." She smiled sadly. Lily put her butter beer. "Psh nonsense Shari! Why would you think that?" asked Lily.
"He didn't ask me out! That is a big give away Lils!" she said cynically.
"Oh come off it girl! We all saw how he was looking at you tonight. He was well into you!" said Isabella who was sitting next to her. "Am I right Kari?"
Karina was off in her own world and zoomed back in on hearing her name. "Yes, you are right Bella!" She said distantly. Bella looked at her concernedly. "I'll tell ya what when you come back with me I'll sort it out! Okay?" asked Lily. "Good idea Lils!" chirped Bella smiling. "Oh I don't know Lil….."
"No questions Shari! I'll sort it out and that's that." She replied smiling warmly at her friend who reciprocated. "Thanks Lils." Lily nodded. "Right come on girls drink up those butter beers coz we got a lot to get through tonight" said Kari. They all laughed at her.
"Why didn't you ask her out Padfoot? You said you would and now she probably reckons that you don't like her!" said James irritably. He was over by the sink making tea for him and the others. Sirius and Remus were sitting opposite each other at the table and Harry had gone to bed over an hour ago.
"I already told you Prongs. I genuinely forgot. I had all the intentions of doing so and then she was gone by the chance I realised that I never asked her out." Replied Sirius solemnly.
"So what are you going to do now mate?" asked Remus sympathetically. Sirius just sighed and leaned back on the chair's hind legs with his hands behind his head. "Agh I don't know Moony! I just don't know." Sirius said miserably and landed the chair on the ground. James came back over with three cups of tea and a plate of biscuits on top of one of the cups. "Well…." Started James. "….Maybe you could….." He was cut off by two people coming in the back door. "Hi guys!" said Lily happily. They all looked up to see Lily enter followed by Sharina. "Hi is right." Said James as he went over to hug his wife. "What are you two doing back so early? Its only 10:15! And where are the other two?"
"Shh James. Calm down okay? I asked them all back here for a night cap but they said they had to get up early for work but Shari decided to come back since she has a day off tomorrow." She smiled at him and kissed his cheek. She walked away and went over to the table to greet Sirius and Remus and make tea for Shari and herself. "Hope you don't mind James." Said Sharina. "No of course not Shari." He smiled at her and she reciprocated it. "Did you have a nice time?" James asked. "Yes it was great thanks James. He smiled and they walked over to the table. Shari took a seat next to Sirius since James pulled it out. He then approached Lily and whispered; "Did you do this on purpose? Bring Shari back here for Sirius benefit." She nodded and said "I see that you seated her next to Sirius." He nodded and they both sniggered inconspicuously. "I'll do that Lils. You take a seat." He said smiling warmly. "Okay. Thank you James." She smiled and took a seat opposite Sirius and next to Remus.
At 11:30 Sharina got up to leave. They all spent the entire night talking about various things but Sirius still had not asked her out. As she approached the back door, Sirius rushed over to her. "Um Sharina?" She turned round o face him. "Ya Sirius what's up?" she asked slightly nervous.
"Well I was just wondering if you were free tomorrow night?"
"I am yes but I have to be at work for 7:00 the next morning. I work as a healer in St Mungos but I'm hoping for a transfer to the Ministry of Magic." She replied quietly.
"Oh okay then. How about we go out for lunch tomorrow? I have the day off also." Sirius replied happily. "Yeah ok Sirius. That sounds nice. Thank you." She said with a smile. He half laughed.
"No problem. So will I pick you up on the motorbike or do you want to meet somewhere?"
She half laughed. "You still have that?" he nodded. "I couldn't be without it! It's vintage like me!" He winked at her which caused her to blush. "Well how about we meet outside Zonkos at 12:30?"
"Yeah great! I shall see you then darling." He said smiling at her and she then turned to leave.
"Oh do you want me to escort you home?" Asked Sirius.
"No its ok. I'm only apparating. Ill be there in no time."
"You sure?" he asked. "Positive but thank you. See you James, Remus."
"Bye Shari." They said in unison. She hugged Lily and said goodbye to Sirius and was gone.