Title: Comic Relief

Characters: James Potter and Sirius Black.

Prompts: Dialogue - "You know, you can get a lot for a kidney on the black market" & 300 words.

AN: Written for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (Challenges & Assignments). Assignment #2, 2018 Careers Advice (Less-Than-Desirable-Careers) Task #1: Write about having to complete a mundane job without magic; The 365 Prompts Challenge; & The Insane House Challenge.

Word Count: 300

Sirius Black had his brown hair pushed back into a ponytail while he viciously scrubbed the plates clean. His movements were fierce and almost violent but there was no anger in his grey eyes. James Potter stood next to him and would occasionally look away from the glass which had been cleaning for the past minutes. His raven-coloured hair was as always messy and his hazel eyes were filled with concern. James was aware of the fact that the glass was clean but he struggled to put it to the side. He could feel the tension in the air as they did a job, or a chore without using magic.

"There's a first time for everything." James eventually said with an uncertain laugh. Sirius tore his eyes away from the mundane task and grinned at him.

"This isn't my first time. I've done the dishes at home lots of times," there was no joy in his laughter. "Mum and dad would have probably sold my kidneys if I refused."

He laughed again but there was a strain in his voice that James easily picked up. They were only children, Sirius was thirteen years and James was twelve, and still they knew so much about each other. It was due to that connection that James had seen Sirius flinch when his mother became cross with them. Because he believed that their punishment would be worse than merely doing the dishes. James thought hard to come up with something to say.

"You know, you can get a lot for a kidney on the black market."

Sirius didn't think twice before splashing some water in James' direction. "You're an idiot, Potter."

This time James could tell that his smile was genuine. Sometimes it wasn't about solving the problems, it was about comic relief.

The end