what we shared

chapter 4

"That was fantastic!"
"Did you see the look on their faces?"
"What about Slughorn. Oh my god."

"And only took us a day to come up with, can you imagine what we could do with even more time?"
"Don't get too many ideas Sirius, I'd still like to graduate thank you very much."
"Don't worry Evans, we'll graduate with top marks, and have fun doing it." James cocked his head, with such pep in his step he was practically bouncing through the halls on their way to History of Magic.
Laurie laughed, watching them revel in the excitement of success from behind.
When Sirius grabbed her wrist.
"Hey, I just wanted to say thank you. For coming up with this idea, and helping me." Up ahead the group was preoccupied, James and Remus singing some jolly tune, arms linked. "Of course. You would've done the same for me-for any of us." Laurie was sure of this and Sirius smiled. "Besides, the look on the Slytherin's faces would've made anything worth it."

* * * * *

The weeks progressed and James was right, they were all getting top marks in almost everything- though no one could beat Lily in potions. They spent most evenings when Remus wasn't sick, together in the library or common room, doing homework-occasionally much to Sirius's boredom, or scheming.

One morning in December, the owls arrived with the morning post like they always did, but for the first time, one landed in front of Laurie; only nearly missing Peter's porridge. Swallowing her last bit of toast, she opened it, expecting the worst.
𝘔𝘺 𝘋𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘓𝘢𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘦,
𝘐 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘵 𝘏𝘰𝘨𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥-
𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦.
𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘮𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘶𝘴𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳'𝘴,
𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘶𝘴 𝘵𝘰
𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴.
𝘚𝘢𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘰 𝘵𝘰 𝘑𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧.
𝘔𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘔𝘶𝘮. 𝘹𝘹

James must have picked up on the look on Laurie's face because he leaned over her shoulder.
"What is it?" Laurie passed the letter to him and his eyes widened. "Laurie that's great! But promise you'll still come over the next day." He was watching her carefully, searching her face for how she might be feeling.
"As if I would miss your mum's cooking." She gave him a reassuring smile.
"What's this about?" Sirius spoke up from his twice refilled plate.
"My mum's going to be home for Christmas." She knew how weird it sounded, who's mum wouldn't? But if the others thought so they didn't say anything.
"Laurie's mum works at the ministry, and they're always full of madness around Christmas time." James says, tapping Laurie's foot with his under the table.
"Oh brilliant. Turkey or ham? My dad prefers turkey, but my mum insists that ham's better so we end up having both even if it's just the three of us. Leftovers to last until summer I tell you." Remus nodded from the other side of the table, for once swallowing his food before talking.
"We have ham. The biggest one mum can get at the shops, and my cousin's come over, though even without them my dad wouldn't leave any leftovers." Lily laughed.
"Philomena's coming back home for Christmas this year although she might be a vegetarian now so Godric knows what we'll have."
"What about you Sirius?"
"Don't even get me started. This ridiculous feast made entirely by the house elves, with all the trimmings and every atrocious pureblood family my parents know."
"You could always come to mine mate, my parents would be happy to have you."
"You know James, I might just take you up on that."
Soon enough, it was the last day of school, and before boarding the train back to London the common room was busier than ever, full of students transfiguring whatever they could find into last minute makeshift gifts for people, packing bags, and hugging everyone in sight.
"Promise you'll all write, or phone, here's my number, and address." On their carriage on the train, Lily was handing out pieces of paper.
"Phone?"
"Yeah same question."
"God we've gotta get you lot into muggle studies as soon as possible."
"Mum and Dad would hate that. It's perfect." Sirius settled into his seat opposite Laurie, swinging his arms over Peter and Remus' shoulders. "Don't know how I'll cope without you lot."
"It's just Christmas break you tosser." Remus said, elbowing him in the rib.
"Oh it'll be torture." He threw his head back dramatically and although he was joking, Laurie couldn't help recount everything she'd heard about the Black family. And based on the look James gave her he was thinking the same. "Andromeda thinks my parents intercepted the birthday present she sent me too, so they mustn't be over the whole Gryffindor thing."
"Your birthday? When was it?" Laurie snapped to attention and Sirius looked at her sheepishly.
"Oh, uh, November. Third."
"You 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘦𝘳!" Laurie kicked him the shin.
"OW!"
"Sirius why didn't you tell us!?" Lily whisper shouted, angry but still aware that they weren't the only people around.
"What sort of self obsessed prick just brings up his own birthday."
"Mine and Laurie's are July first." James nodded pointedly.
"Mines 30th of January." Said Lily crossing her arms.
"10th of March."
"August 11."
"Well-"
"We've got to have a party." Laurie said decisively.
"A party?" Sirius met her gaze, in an almost challenging way. She met it, unwavering.
"At my house, my mum won't mind. You can all convince your parents, or catch the knight bus,"
"I like the sound of that. So long as it's lowkey, more of a get together, snacks and movies kind of thing."
"Of course. But you're all up for it?"
Peter was biting his fingernails.
"My parents are always telling me to branch out and make friends, so I think they'd let me."
Remus didn't say anything. Just nodded, A smile creeping up on his face.
"So it's decided. See you all again in a few weeks."