Sanctuary

Chapter 71

Saturday, 27th January 1973

As James watched Lily walking away, he couldn't keep the smile from his face. That had been the most successful interaction he'd ever had with her. And he hadn't said anything stupid. Of course, she didn't know it was him she was talking to, but he could work with that.

'Come on, mate. We've got to go,' Sirius said, coming up behind him. It didn't take them long to fly back up to their dorm, and Sirius was on him as soon as the window was closed. 'I can't believe you told her your nickname!'

James shrugged, heading towards his desk. 'It's not like we use the names in public, anyway.' He was way too happy to let Sirius' anger get to him. In a few minutes, he'd burn himself out and forget all about it.

'That's not the point,' Sirius hissed. 'Do you realise how pissed Moony's going to be? You literally just promised to stop blabbing things to people.'

'Oh.' James stopped searching his desk drawers for his money pouch and looked at Sirius. 'Shit.'

'Yeah, "oh shit." What are you doing, anyway?'

'Looking for my money. I need to buy Evans a birthday present.'

'Now?'

'Yes, now. Her birthday's in two days!'

Sirius looked at him with a face of complete exasperation. 'You can't give her a present. She'll want to know how you knew it was her birthday.'

James rolled his eyes. 'I'm going to sign it from Sunshine.'

Strangely, that didn't make Sirius look any less exasperated. He sighed and took a seat on the end of his bed, leaning forward with his forearms resting across his knees. 'James, you can't have a relationship with her under polyjuice.'

'Obviously,' James said, frowning at him. Did Sirius really think he'd do that? 'I just want her to get to know me, and she actually talks to me when she doesn't know it's me. Hopefully, by the time she finds out, she'll already like me.'

The door opened while he was speaking and Remus and Peter walked in, catching the end of his speech.

'By the time who finds out what?' Remus asked, crossing the room to his bed. He dropped his bag on the floor beside it and pulled off his jumper, dumping it on the end of his bed before taking a seat, leaning back against the headboard and crossing his legs at the ankles.

'By the time Lily finds out the Marauder she's flirting with is James,' Sirius told him.

'I don't know if duelling counts as flirting,' Peter said.

Sirius laughed. 'Oh no, she was definitely flirting.'

'I kind of fucked up, though,' James said, glancing at Remus out of the corner of his eye. 'She asked what to call me, and I told her to call me Sunshine.'

Remus groaned and leant forward, hiding his face behind his bent knees. 'James!'

James sat on his bed, shoving both hands into his hair. 'I know, I know. I'm sorry.' He lowered his hands to his lap and looked at Remus. 'I was so stunned she was being friendly, it just came out.'

Remus sighed, lifting his head. 'Alright. Well, it's not the end of the world. We'll just have to be even more careful not to use the name around other students. And once Sirius figures out your inner animal, we can change it.'

'I suppose I can do James first,' Sirius said. He pointed at James. 'But you owe me. I'm looking forward to finding out what I'm going to be.'

James nodded. 'Thanks, Twinkles.'