"Hiya."
"You left without saying goodbye."
"I had to get to work and you looked so peaceful sleeping."
"You could've woken me up."
"I didn't want to."
"I'll fill in that paperwork today."
"Good."
"What time is it?"
"Half nine."
"I best get ready for my interview."
"Oh yeah, good luck baby. You'll walk it."
"Thanks. I'll see you at half four at Lil's then, at the caravan."
"It the one on the end by the hut?"
"Yeah, next to the Welsh nationalists. You can't miss it."
***
Barry Island, Wales
Remus burst into the front room where Lyall was placing an omelette down in front of Poppy.
"Hiya love."
"How do I look?"
"You look like someone who was about to get a job." Poppy smiled.
"Don't say that, I'm ever so nervous."
"Why?"
"I haven't had an interview since I was seventeen."
"Hey, don't panic. Why don't me and Poppy give you a little practice run?"
"Lyall, that's a cracking idea." Poppy said, mouth full of omelette.
***
Cardiff, Wales
The camera flashed and Owain smiled. "Great." Sirius went to sit back down. "Hold on, one more." Sirius smiled and the camera flashed once more. "Lovely." Sirius sat down. "I think you're really going to like-"
"To be honest, I'm not that bothered about what I look like on the website. I've got to get on." Owain nodded.
"No problem." Sirius turned to his computer. "Actually, can I just get one of you-"
"Monday. I'm all yours Monday. Today I want to finish early. I've got to get home." Sirius' phone started ringing on the desk.
"I'll leave you to it." Owain smiled as he left the office. Sirius accepted the call and held the phone to his ear.
"Prongs."
"Who killing them in the UK?" James sang.
"Everybody going to say 'you K!'" He heard Regulus join in. Sirius rolled his eyes. "Reluctantly, because most of this press don't fuck with me."
"Estelle once said to me, 'cool down, down, don't act a fool now, now.'"
"I always act a fool oww, oww."
"Ain't nothing new now, now."
"He crazy, I know what you thinking. Ribena, I know what you're drinking."
"Rap singer,"
"Chain blinger."
"Holler at the next chick soon as you're blinking. What's your persona about this Americana rhymer?"
"Am I shallow 'cause all my clothes designer?"
"Uh, dressed smart like a London bloke."
"Before he speak his suit bespoke." Sirius put his phone on speaker and placed it down on the desk before getting back to work.
"And you thought he was cute before, look at this pea coat, tell me he's broke."
"And I know you ain't into all that."
"I heard your lyrics,"
"I feel your spirit."
"But I still talk that ca-a-ash."
"'Cause a lot of wags want to hear it."
"And I'm feeling like Mike at his baddest."
"Like The Pips at their gladdest."
"And I know they love it,"
"So to Hell with all that rubbish."
"Yes! That's the best we've done it." Sirius heard James and Regulus high-five. "What do you think?"
"Very impressive. How long did it take you to learn all that?"
"We've been working on it for about two weeks."
"So what're you doing?"
"Nothing. I've just picked Reggie up from work."
"You must be so bored." Sirius laughed.
"I am mate. I'm completely bored. I'm a border collie."
"He hasn't got you in his life anymore, has he?" Regulus laughed.
"Listen, what time are you coming home?"
"We'll be there about half nine."
"Is Lily coming?"
"Yeah she is."
"Right, I've gotta go. I'll see you later."
"Alright." Sirius ended the call.
***
Barry Island, Wales
Remus walked over to Marco who was wiping down tables.
"Hiya, I'm Remus. I'm here for the job interview." Marco stood up straight and looked Remus up and down.
"Right." He draped the towel he was holding over his shoulder. "Can you make tea?"
"Yes." Remus nodded.
"What about coffee?"
"Yes."
"Hot chocolate?"
"Yeah."
"Can you cut cake?" Remus nodded. "When can you start?" Remus grinned.
"Whenever."
***
Motorway
Remus sat in the back of the car holding Harry's hand. Sirius was driving and Lily sat next to him in the passenger seat.
"Aw, he's really starting to look like James."
"I thought that." Sirius grinned. "Around the mouth."
"Lil, is it weird when you see James? Do you just think 'oh my god, I've had sex with him'?"
"Rem, If I thought that every time I saw a man I'd had sex with, I'd never get anything done." Sirius' phone started to ring.
"It's Monty. Will you talk to him? I haven't got the Bluetooth." Sirius handed the phone to Lily.
"Hello?" Lily sighed. "Maybe it is, maybe it isn't. What's it to you?" Sirius raised an eyebrow. "Oh, all right Monty? What's occurrin'?" Lily turned to the others. "They're orderin' a curry. Who wants what?"
"Oh, can I have a korma?" Remus sat forward. "Is a korma boring? I know it's boring." He sighed. "Sirius, will you make fun of me if I have a korma?"
"Course I won't." Sirius chuckled. "I think I'm gonna have - hang on, is Effie getting a pasanda?"
"Is Effie getting a pasanda?" Lily repeated down the phone. "Yes. Lamb."
"Right, in that case I'll have a king prawn balti." Lily repeated Sirius' order to Monty.
"If they got it, I'll have a Jamdani Hash."
"Jamdani Hash? I've never heard of that, what is it?"
"Duck it is, Sirius. Cooked in honey. And limes. Immense."
"What about naan bread?" Sirius asked. "Prongs will want a keema naan."
"I want a bhaji. Can I have a bhaji?" Remus asked from the back seat.
"Oh, Monty, what's the situation with poppadoms, bhajis and naans?" Lily turned to Sirius, "It's sorted.
"Tell him not to get all that hot stuff."
"Sirius said don't get the hot stuff." Lily ended the call and handed Sirius his phone back.
"We forgot the sag aloo. Text Effie and tell her." Sirius passed the phone back to Lily.
