When Stars Align

Chapter 4 - Visiting the Potters

The inside of the Potter's residence was even nicer compared to the outside. Upon entering, you were met with the wonderful scent of coffee and freshly baked scones. A large maroon couch sat in the middle of the room facing a beautiful stone-carved fireplace in the wall. All of the walls in the living room were covered with photos of James, presumably his parents, and other family friends. The wall opposite of the fireplace had a staircase leading to the second floor and a large archway into a magnificent kitchen. It truly did feel like home.

A woman appeared from the kitchen with a welcoming smile on her face. She was older than expected, probably in her 50s, but still very pretty. She had curly black hair, similar to James, but longer, with a few gray strands here and there. 

"Hey mum! This is Evangeline!" James grabbed Evangeline by this wrist and puller her to the front of the group to face his mother.

"Hello dear, it's so lovely to finally meet you. The boys have been buzzing about you all night," she said as she pulled Evangeline into a warm, motherly hug. 

"Thank you so much for letting me visit Mrs. Potter,"

"Oh, it's no trouble dear make yourself at home. I've just made some fresh scones if you're hungry," she offered.

"Oooh yes please," Remus raised his hand and wandered into the kitchen.

"I'll go get you a change of clothes Angie," James said before bounding up the stairs. 

Remus brought out a plate of scones and set them down on the side table next to the couch, quickly grabbing some before Peter could get to them. Evangeline felt awkward standing in the middle of the room. She didn't want to sit down anywhere in her wet clothes, so she began to wander around and look at the pictures on the wall. There were dozens of James scattered about, and some of them were honestly quite odd. There was one of James and Sirius dressed in long black robes in front of a busy cobblestone street, a younger James sitting with an owl perched on his arm, and a more recent one of James looking very proud while holding a... broomstick?

Just as Evangeline stepped closer to the picture for a better look, James came back downstairs and thrust a pile of clothes into her arms before guiding her away from the pictures. 

"Here you go! These are some old clothes that don't fit me anymore. There's a bathroom upstairs on the left," he said.

Evangeline hesitated before making her way up the stairs and changed quickly, attempted to flatten her unruly hair, and neatly folded her damp clothes before leaving the bathroom. She was wearing a pair of gray basketball shorts and a plain blue t-shirt that made her arms look tiny in the big sleeves. She walked back downstairs as everyone was getting up and making their way to the kitchen. Mrs. Potter offered to take her folded clothes.

"Dinner is ready in the kitchen. James will serve you while I go wash these for you," she smiled.

Evangeline couldn't help but smile back. Mrs. Potter was the nicest person Evangeline had probably ever met in her life. She watched as Mrs. Potter walked up the stairs with her clothes before making her way into the kitchen to see the four boys animatedly chatting. Sirius caught her eye and stared at her outfit with a stern look on his face. Evangeline sat down next to Remus as James put down a plate in front of her filled with chicken and vegetables. 

It looked delicious. 

Seeing as the boys had already started eating, Evangeline grabbed her fork and joined in.

It was delicious.

"James I love your mom," Evangeline said between her bites of food. James gave her a confused look.

"This is the best dinner I've ever had. And she's so nice and patient and your house is so warm and fun and, homey, ya know?" Evangeline rambled as she looked around the bright yellow kitchen. 

"Exactly! I've been telling you James, your mum is the most amazing person on the planet," Sirius said to James.

Mrs. Potter arrived shortly after and sat down at the head of the table before greeting everyone while James made her a plate. 

"Where's dad? I thought he would be home by now," James asked his mother.

"He is home dear but I'm afraid he won't be joining us tonight. He's in the middle of a meeting," she replied.

James made a brief face of protest before shrugging and continuing his previous conversation with Peter about Peter's family that he was planning to visit up in Norwich. Remus and Sirius were talking about some of their other friends from school and Evangeline just sat back and watched. She had never felt happier than in this moment, eating a wonderful meal in a loving house, surrounded by her new friends after a long day of swimming, with the feeling of sand still in between her toes. She didn't ever want this day to end. Everyone continued to eat and chat as they finished their dinners before Mrs. Potter brought out a beautiful apple pie and handed everyone a slice. Evangeline was so full by the end of the night she wasn't sure she could stand. 

As the night went on the group eventually made their way back to the living room. Sirius had gone upstairs to grab a deck of cards and had asked, more like begged, Evangeline to teach him how to play solitaire. They had been at it for an hour before Sirius finally realized that it was a single-player game and decided to drop the idea of card games entirely. Evangeline sat cross-legged next to him as he stretched out onto his back to rest his head in Remus' lap.

"So boys, what shall we get up to tomorrow?" Sirius beamed.

"It's too bloody hot to do anything outside," James sighed.

"We could-"

"We are not going back to the record store Sirius," Remus interrupted, then looked over at Evangeline.

"Any ideas?" he asked her.

She wasn't expecting to be invited to hang out again the next day. She didn't even know the town that well. But she did notice a fancy-looking bookstore on their way to the river that intrigued her...

"I saw this bookstore today that I was thinking about visiting," she offered. Peter let out an exasperated sigh.

"You're just as bad as the rest of them," he complained as he slumped down on his side.

"Well, then it's settled. Tomorrow we will meet at the bookstore, peruse, go to lunch, and come back here," James finalized.

"Angie you must show me your favorite books so I can read them," Sirius smiled.

Evangeline felt her stomach twist into a knot at that.

"Well I better uh- go. Back home." she said as she stood, her cheeks reddening. Mrs. Potter appeared in the kitchen doorway. 

"Oh dear will you be able to make it home alright?" she worried.

"Yes! I'll be fine, really. Thank you so much for having me over Mrs. Potter!"

"Of course dear. You're welcome back any time."

Evangeline smiled and gave a grateful nod before turning toward the door.

"Bye guys," she waved to the group on the floor before stepping out into the hot summer air, a chorus of goodbyes behind her.