Barry Island, Wales
Remus and Lily lay at either end of the sofa under a duvet watching television.
"Can I do either of you an omelette?" Lyall asked. Remus shook his head.
"Can't face it." Lily muttered.
"We had the police round here this morning." Lyall sat down in the armchair.
"Did you?" Lily and Remus both turned away from the television to look at Lyall.
"Mhm, P.C. Lovelength his name was." Remus chuckled. "Wants his handcuffs back apparently."
"It was so funny. He squirted whipped cream on his-"
"Only me!" Poppy called as she came in through the back door.
"We're in here!" Lyall called back. Poppy entered the living room and smiled.
"Hiya." Remus gave a weak smile.
"You two look rough."
"I feels it." Lily sighed.
"Cup of tea, Poppy?"
"I won't actually Lyall. I just had a skinny white latte at Costa. I've just been to town you see, to buy a new outfit."
"What for?"
"A little while back, Sirius said that I could go out with them for his stag do. You've had yours so surely his should be soon?" Remus looked at Lyall. "I looked in the wardrobe and I thought, there's nothing in here to keep up with those young'uns. This new outfit cost an arm and a leg but it's Sirius' stag, I think he's worth it. So, when is it?"
"I'm just going to the bathroom." Remus made his way into the hallway where he sat on the stairs. He quickly dialled Sirius' number and waited.
"Hello?"
"Hi."
"What's up?"
"You need to have another stag do."
"What?"
"Poppy said you invited her to join you for your stag, she's really looking forward to it."
"No way."
"Please?"
"No."
"What else can I do? She'll be devastated."
"Just tell her the truth."
"Can't you just say James didn't plan anything?"
"Babe, that's unfair."
"Please?"
"I'm not having another stag do tonight."
"Please Sirius, she'll be heartbroken. She's got a new outfit and everything."
"Fine." Sirius sighed. "I'll phone Prongs and tell him."
"I love you."
"Love you too."
***
Barry Island, Wales
Remus opened the front door. "Hiya babe."
"Hiya." Sirius put his bag down and hugged Remus. "Did you get through to James?"
"Nah, I'll try him again in a minute." Sirius shut the door and followed Remus into the living room.
"Alright Sirius." Lily nodded. Poppy stood up from where she was sat at the table.
"Sirius, don't worry. Remus has explained everything. I think your friends are a shower of shit."
"Sorry you had to hear that, Lily."
"That's alright, Poppy."
"It makes me so cross to think that this smashing boy is not getting a proper stag do."
"It's okay, I didn't want one anyway." Sirius looked at Remus who gave a weak smile.
"I won't believe a word of it. Now, I'm picking you up at seven, we're going straight down The Leaky Cauldron for a right good knees up." Poppy smiled as she grabbed her jacket. "See you later!" She called as she left.
"I'll try Prongs again." Sirius headed into the hallway and phoned James.
"Padfoot."
"Alright?"
"I feel rough."
"I wasn't that drunk to be honest."
"Kebab was nice though, wasn't it?"
"Mhm. What're you doing?"
"I'm waiting for Lucy."
"I need you in Barry by seven. We're going out for drinks with Poppy."
"What? No. No way. Just me you and her?"
"Yeah."
"I ain't coming to Wales."
"Please?"
"No chance."
"For me?"
"Fine."
"Cheers." Sirius hung up and headed back into the living room. "He's on his way."
"Well done." Remus smiled.
"Sorry Sirius, when Poppy gets an idea in her head, that's it." Lyall placed a mug of tea down in front of Sirius.
"We'll be alright, might even be a laugh."
"I used to work down The Leaky Cauldron as it goes." Lily said, sipping her own drink. "If you see Tom, tell him I say alright."
"I don't know who Tom is."
"You will." Remus smirked.
"He's got a tattoo that says, 'I'm Tom', on his chin."
***
Barry Island, Wales
Sirius and Poppy sat at a small table in the almost empty pub. There were only four other people; two younger men playing pool, a middle aged man on the fruit machine and an elderly woman sat at the bar.
"Cheers." Poppy smiled as they clinked their glasses together.
"Yeah, cheers."
"James!" Poppy called out. James collapsed into the empty seat.
"Alright?"
"Here he is, the best man. Now, let me say my piece before we get started. You, young man, are a disgrace." James looked at Sirius who just shook his head.
"What kind of best man doesn't organise a stag do for the groom? This poor chap," Poppy gestured to Sirius, "He's not known where to turn because you've been filling his head with all sorts of nonsense about him not needing one. I shouldn't have had to organise all of this tonight."
"I know, I'm out of order."
"Apology accepted; we'll say nothing more about it. Now, I'll get you a drink, what's your poison?"
"Beer, thanks." Poppy headed over to the bar. "What a shithole."
"I'm sorry mate."
"I've just seen a bloke with a tattoo on his chin."
"That'll be Tom."
***
Barry Island, Wales
"Who's for another drink?" Poppy asked.
"I'll get these." James got up and went to the bar.
"I'm having a whale of a time." Poppy laughed. "I don't believe it." Poppy sat up straight. "CARADOC!" A guy came over laughing and pulled her into a hug. "I thought you moved to Swindon?" Poppy asked as Caradoc sat down.
"I have, I'm back to see my mum. She's had her appendix out."
"What a treat." Poppy called over to James. "James! Another pint in!" James gave a thumbs up before turning back around. "Sirius, this is Caradoc Dearborn. Caradoc, this is Sirius Black." Caradoc held out his hand and Sirius shook it.
"Alright mate, nice to meet you."
"You too."
"Sirius is Remus' fiancé. They're getting married exactly one week from today."
"At least you set the date mate." Caradoc laughed as he patted Sirius on the shoulder. "That's further than most, eh Poppy?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, when we were engaged, we never got that far."
"You were engaged to Remus? My Remus?" Caradoc nodded.
"Yeah, Remus Lupin. I was number four, you must be what, number six?"
"Eh?" Sirius turned to Poppy.
"Where's James with those drinks?" Poppy reached across Sirius, "How have you been Caradoc?" Sirius pushed Poppy back.
"Number six? What are you on about?"
"I was number four. No, let's see...um...who was first Poppy, was it Davy?"
"Here he is!" James placed the tray of drinks down on the table before taking his seat.
"No, it was Gilderoy, that's right. Then Davy, Mulciber, me, Benjy and now you. Yeah, you're number six."
"He's been engaged five times?"
"What?" James said before taking a sip of his drink.
"Yeah, didn't you know?"
"No, I didn't know." Sirius turned to look at Poppy. "Nobody told me."
"Don't think of it as some kind of conspiracy 'cause it wasn't like that. It's just that Remus felt it was better if we kept it from you."
"Hang on a minute, what's going on?" James asked.
"I feel awful. It was a long time ago." Caradoc shook his head.
"Right, who are you?" James pointed at Caradoc.
"I don't care how long ago it was. He knows everything about me." Sirius grabbed his jacket and got up.
"Pads, where are you going?"
"I'll be back in a bit."
***
Barry Island, Wales
Sirius rang the doorbell and Remus opened the door. He stood there in his pyjamas.
"Oh, hiya. Why didn't you come round the back?"
"Why didn't you tell me you've been engaged five times?"
"What?"
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Sirius..."
"I've just had a drink with your ex-fiancé."
"Oh my god."
"How do you think I feel, Rem?"
"Was it Davy?"
"No."
"Mulciber?"
"No."
"Gilderoy?"
"No, Caradoc."
"But he moved to Swindon?"
"He's home to see his mum. She had her appendix out."
"Oh look, don't stand there, come in and talk."
"Nah, I ain't stopping." Sirius turned to walk away.
"Where are you going?" Remus grabbed his arm.
"I don't know. I don't know anything, do I?" Sirius shook Remus off. "I don't even know who you are. I'm meant to be marrying you a week today but that's a joke."
"Oh come on, you're overreacting."
"Am I?" Remus sighed.
"I didn't tell you because I knew it would look worse than it was. I might have been engaged six times, but I've only been in love once and that's with you." Sirius shook his head.
"How can I believe that? If you'd have told me at the start, I could've dealt with it. You know, we've been treating it like this is the first time for both of us, really exciting and that. You've done it all before."
"No!"
"Five times! Five times, Remus! Now I'm just doubt everything. Maybe it is too soon. Maybe Prongs is right."
"No," Remus shook his head, "You're just talking rubbish."
"I've been thinking about it for a couple of days now. Maybe it is all too quick."
"No, don't you dare."
"Maybe we should put the brakes on, postpone the wedding for a bit...or just call it off."
"Is that what you want is it?"
"I dunno...yeah, maybe."
"You want to postpone our wedding because of things that happened before I even knew you?"
"I love you so much."
"I love you."
"This is just ridiculous."
"Sirius..."
"See ya." Sirius turned and walked away, not looking back.
"Sirius, please don't go!"
