The Band Next Door | Jily

Apologising + (Befriending) The Band

2021 , The Hallway Between Flat 2b & 4b

Lily took a deep breath before knocking on the door, she was holding a box of doughnuts and was pretty sure last night had been a dream. It was the next afternoon, and Lily was spending her coveted lunch break apologising to The Marauders. She knew that if Alice was here, she would force Lily to do the right thing, so she was doing this for Alice and Alice only.

She fidgeted with one of the buttons on her cardigan, her nerves that had been building all day were bubbling around in her stomach, threatening to climb up to her throat. She prayed that she wouldn't puke on a Marauder. She stood awkwardly, thinking about how just a few hours before, she had no qualms standing here to scream at the band that had been the source of Alice's entire personality as a teenager. Lily was about to swallow her pride (And her vomit.) and walk away, but thankfully someone opened the door.

"Sirius just shut up about the chorus, it's perfectly fine!" Remus said as he opened the door. Lily was yet again taken aback by how tall he was in real life, his green eyes and curly fawn hair were a lot messier as well, and Lily noted a small white scar that went along his nose and down his cheek.
"Oh! Lily, hey!" Remus said sweetly, and Lily almost went crimson at the fact he remembered her name. Alice would literally die if she was here, well - die again . Lily thought morbidly.
"You remember my name?" Lily said, trying and epically failing at hiding her shock.
Remus was about to speak again when Sirius came up behind Remus and smiled cockily at Lily.
"Well Red, contrary to popular belief, it's not every night we get absolutely shown up by a journalist in pink pyjamas."

Lily furrowed her brows, "How do you know that I'm a journalist Black?" Lily said, putting her hands on her hips.
"You're not the only one who can google, Evans!" Sirius said, pushing back his shoulder-length hair, which was one of the reasons why Alice also wanted to "do" him.

"Reason 11, HAIR!" Alice said happily, noting it down in her notebook like it was some scientific discovery.
"And why is that oh horny one?" Lily said, bowing slightly, trying to stir the batter while Alice abandoned her own. This was one of Lily's favourite Alice phases, intense baking.
"Well, one - it's sexy and two, I can pull on it, duh!" Alice said, noting down 'Can brush it?' in her notebook.
"Oh of course, duh!" Lily laughed, licking the spoon and deciding that these brownies were going to be excellent.

"By the way, I also found your old Tumblr." Sirius smiled wickedly and Lily's stomach dropped. Remus looked confused but Sirius pulled his phone out of his pocket.
"No, no- Sirius don't-" Lily said, frozen with embarrassment.
"Monday 23rd of October 2015," Sirius began to read, and Lily knew the exact blog he was reading.
"Lilyflower89 blogs, Is it just me or has Potter gotten hotter? Hashtag, hotforpots." Sirius finished, already laughing.

Lily, however, was as bright as her hair.
"I can explain, that wasn't me- I mean it's on my Tumblr but my friend Alice- she loved you guys and she- well she wanted to get me back because I told her that Remus- Well, nevermind but... Yeah." Lily explained, her face scarlet.
Remus smirked slightly, and he made room so that Lily could go inside.
"Come in Mrs Hot for Pots," Remus said, and Lily wanted to crumble - but she followed him inside anyway.

Their flat was basically a bombsite, and Lily wondered again why the hell the boys were recording a new album in some rando flat block in the middle of London.
"Tea?" Remus asked, walking into the cluttered kitchen and flicking on the kettle.
"Yes, but I've got to go soon. I'm actually on my break, I work at-"
"-- The Times, Yes Evans, I stalked your Instagram as well," Sirius said from the living room, and Lily gave him a scowl. Lily couldn't believe that she actually scowled at Sirius Black, who she literally had a poster of in her room at her Mums (Not that he can ever know that.)

Remus shook his head at Sirius but smiled sweetly at Lily, " The Times? That's seriously impressive! How long have you been there?" Lily stared at him for a moment, Remus Lupin was talking to her, wanting to know about her life - she was in The Marauders kitchen, drinking tea out of an " I <3 Peter Pettigrew " mug.
"Six months," Lily answered, hating how sweet Remus was - she really wanted to hate him.
"That's really awesome, I've probably been reading some of your articles and not even knowing, what's the latest one you've done?" Lily blushed at Remus's flattery and took a sip from the tea, it was made eerily perfect, exactly how she liked it.
"Um, well the one about the effect your music taste as a teenager has on your music taste as an adult? I'm not exactly writing the big pieces right now, more fluff stuff." Lily nervously giggled, but Remus's face lit up.