Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry (challenges & assignments)

Auction: Gift fic for Gryffindor's Auction - Day 17, Auction 3: (dialogue) "Walburga was living proof of what not to do as a mother. Just do the opposite of her and you'll be fine."

A4 - Aromatherapy - Task 3: Write about a character overreacting

W/C: 1,255

Summary: Sirius visits the Potters in their new home and something's not quite right between the newlyweds...

Not Ready

Sirius stepped into the small but cosy cottage the Potters had moved into in Godric's Hollow. The Potters. It still didn't seem real that his best friend was now married to his childhood sweetheart and had been for three months.

"Hello," he called out in a singsong voice. He stomped his boots on the doormat to shake off the snow and gave his leather jacket a brush down as he hung it up by their robes near the front door.

"Living room," James answered.

"Kitchen," Lily added.

He froze. Something was off. He glanced around the narrow hallway and up the stairs, like something would give him a clue as to why his friends didn't sound right. Their owl sat on a little post at the bottom of the stairs, head under his wing. He obviously knew when to not get involved, even if he did always take Lily's side.

James, he would go to him first. He slowly stepped into the living room to find James painting the walls, his wand pointed at the paintbrush. Had they been arguing over paint colours? Was that it?

"Is that turquoise?" he asked James' back.

"It's cerulean," he muttered.

Yes, an argument about colours had definitely taken place. "It looks good."

That might not have been the right thing to say.

"No, it doesn't!" Lily shouted from the kitchen.

James seemed to shrink under her tone; his shoulders slumped down and a heavy sigh slowly left him. "Lily, there's nothing wrong with the colours you've picked. They're beautiful. Please, let me finish the painting and then decide – okay?" There was no response. James turned his head towards the door leading to the kitchen. "Okay?"

"Honeymoon period over already?" Sirius whispered.

"Yes, it is!"

"Christ! Bat ears!" Sirius shouted back to Lily. "Has she put a spell on them or something?"

"Not quite, no," James said with another heavy sigh. He brought his wand down and the paintbrush took itself off to the brush holder on the windowsill. "Let's not sit in here, I've somehow got paint on all the dustcovers." James pointed to the kitchen.

"Is it safe?" Sirius asked, eyes flickered to the door.

"As long as you stop talking about me like I'm not here," Lily answered as James opened his mouth.

Sirius raised a questioning eyebrow, James shook his head and disappeared into the kitchen. Reluctantly, Sirius followed him. He found Lily sat at the kitchen table in an over-sized t-shirt, shorts, and odd socks, her feet resting on the neighbouring chair. She eyeballed him while biting on a dry piece of toast.

Sirius sat diagonally across from Lily while James made a fresh pot of tea. Lily hadn't taken her eyes off him, staring at him like she was deciding if murdering him would be acceptable. "Is something bothering you?" Sirius asked cautiously. He slowly slipped his hand by his jeans pocket, feeling the handle of his wand. Just in case.

"Ask your boyfriend," she snapped.

Sirius looked at James to find he'd dropped his head, leaning heavily on the counter, with his back to them. "We'll be fine, Lily. I promise."

"That's easy for you to say when you're not the one getting fat!" Her voice got louder with each passing word. She launched her dry toast at Sirius' head. "Your bloody boyfriend got me pregnant!"

Sirius ducked. "Pregnant?" he asked, sitting up slowly. "Really?" He looked at James, who still hadn't moved, and back to Lily, who's red hair looked like he was on fire with her rage. "This is good news!" It was a statement, something to make them realise they would be fine.

"We're too young for a baby!" Lily said, tears filling her eyes rapidly.

James turned around, his eyes wide and eyebrows practically in his hair. "We're not that young."

"Shut up and make the tea… please," she sniffed.

James pointed his wand over his shoulder at the stove. With a whoosh, flames shot out of the gas hobs and set the cupboard above it on fire. Before Sirius could get his wand out, Lily lazily flicked hers while it was still sat on the table and the flames disappeared.

"We're not ready to be parents," she cried, more tears arriving.

Sirius waved James off as he moved to sit next to Lily, pulling the chair close to her and placing her socked feet on his lap. He took her hand and kissed the back of it. "You're going to be great parents. You managed to get James to grow up and behave like an adult while dealing with N.E.W.T.s. A baby is going to be so much easier."

Lily sniffed, wiped her tears and nodded. "Go on."

James, his body relaxing at Lily's change in mood, continued with the tea making. Sirius clasped her hand into both of his and held it tightly, giving her a bright, encouraging smile. "All the first-years loved you because you were like a big sister to them. You always knew how to make them feel better, especially the ones who were homesick."

"This is true," she agreed, the tears drying up.

"You're probably feeling overwhelmed because of the hormones and all that extra magic." He tucked a strand of hair coming loose from her ponytail behind her ear, feeling her hand start to relax in his. "It's a lot all at once."

"It really is."

James slammed a teaspoon down on the counter. The two of them look at him. He didn't turn to face them, instead he continued slamming items about on the counter, muttering under his breath. Phrases like 'I said that to her' and 'never listens to me' and 'told her I would take care of her' could be heard.

"I think he wants to communicate," Lily said, watching her husband have his hissy fit. "He doesn't have hormones raging, what's his excuse for the mood swing?" Sirius laughed. She turned back to look at him, giving him her first smile since he'd entered the cottage. She frowned as her eyes went to his hair. "What's going on with that?"

"What?" He patted his head.

"Have you dyed it? It's like a red-black, you can just see it when you turn your head." She leant forward, turning his head by his chin. "There."

"Are you really telling me that with a few words from this idiot, you're calm now?" James cut in on their conversation. He was finally facing them, his cheeks red and his brows deep in a frown. "You threatened to divorce me this morning!"

"It was the shock," Lily said defensively. She stood up, creeping up to him to hug him around the waist. He didn't fight very hard, instinctively wrapping his arms around her in return. "I still think we're not ready."

"Walburga was living proof of what not to do as a mother. Just do the opposite of her and you'll be fine," Sirius said with a grin. "So keep looking at me when you have a wobble, remind yourself of that, and the rest will be easy."

James and Lily looked at each other, a silent conversation had before they nodded at each other. "Will you be godfather then?" James asked.

"Really?" Sirius jumped up, his arms open wide. They both nodded, smiling at his joy. "I'm going to get this baby into so much trouble!" He hugged them both before they could argue. "I'll cook to celebrate. Lily needs something more than that toast she's not eaten!"

"Cook a delicious stew!" James begged. "I'm missing Mum's stews."

Lily turned green. "I don't feel so good."