Regimentum ⪼ Sirius Black/OC

Ride si sapis

Chapter Twenty Four | Ride si sapis

[Laugh if you are wise]

It's been nearly two weeks since the last time she saw James Potter. Two blissful, wonderfully peaceful weeks.

"When are we leaving? I wanted to relax today," Vivian drones from the couch as she flicks through a gardening magazine. Before anyone judges her choice in reading material, she'd just like to say that it was the only thing on the coffee table, and in her experience, anything is better than dealing with James Potter face to face. At least she can distract herself with learning a few new species of flower while he prattles on about Merlin knows what.

Beside her, Sirius laughs. James shakes his head at her, looking faintly offended. Mrs. Potter, angelic woman that she is, sets down a tray of sandwiches before cheerfully bustling out of the room.

"Don't be rude, Pride," James sniffs, reaching for a sandwich and taking a hearty bite. His voice is somewhat muffled when he says, "You didn't have to come."

Vivian eyes him over the magazine with a disdainful expression, watching him noisily chew. Merlin, he's such a pig. What does Lily see in him?

Anyway, back to the situation at hand. She did have to come. Sirius made her. She didn't have a choice. And she will be getting him back for this at some point in the near future.

It's midweek. Vivian had come home from work only an hour before, very much looking forward to spending the rest of her evening relaxing and getting some paperwork finished up for Mrs. Jones' case, which is still unfortunately circling through the lower courts and demanding far more of Vivian's attention than it ought to. Alas, the moment she had entered the cottage, Sirius had intercepted her on her way to their room, told her they were leaving in ten minutes, and didn't bother telling her where they were going until they appeared in Godric's Hollow on the Potters front porch. His decision to not inform her of their destination had made sense the moment she had opened her eyes and saw the familiar house. He knew she never would've agreed to come otherwise.

Damned Gryffindor.

Anyway, James has been his usual annoyingly loud self when they had stepped inside, greeting Sirius as if he hasn't seen him for months rather than two measly weeks and trying to give Vivian a boisterous hug (which she had successfully sidestepped) before dragging them all into the sitting room for a 'discussion of grand proportions'.

Now, considering that this is James Potter, that could literally mean anything. The man's ridiculously dramatic.

"You know, you could've come over to our place," Sirius says as he leans forward to take a sandwich as well. He sends his best mate a grin and adds, "You've got an open invitation."

Beside him, Vivian silently narrows her eyes at Potter, completely renouncing Sirius's words with a single look. James coughs when he sees it, swallowing his sandwich the wrong way.

"The last time I showed up unannounced, I was nearly hexed over a bagel," James mournfully reminds Sirius, shooting Vivian a narrowed look, too.

Sirius glances between them, sees the look on Vivian's face, and rolls his eyes.

"You were interrupting a very pleasant morning," Vivian snidely says.

James's eyes flash with amusement. "Believe me, Pride, seeing you and Sirius rolling around in bed wasn't exactly something I needed to witness."

Vivian's eyes narrow a touch more at that. She haughtily drawls, "You might get hexed over a sandwich if you're not careful, Prongs."

In times past, James would have gotten inordinately annoyed at her usage of his most illustrious and dishonorable nickname. Today, he merely sniffs and leans back, taking another bite of sandwich and muttering, "I forgot how absolutely delightful you were, Pride."