Wednesday 1st September 1976
“This is the year, lads. This is the year it finally happens. Six years of waiting and it all pays off.”
“You can’t be talking about what I think you’re talking about,” Remus raised an eyebrow over to top of his book.
“Oh yes,” James was beaming like a drunkard, “Lily Evans is definitely going to realise she’s mad about me. I can feel it.”
“Are you sure, though?” Sirius smirked, “You’ve had these feelings before.”
“I have,” James nodded, respectfully, “You’re quite right, Padfoot. But something is different this time. I can practically taste it. Love is very much in the air.”
“Or lust,” Remus muttered, flipping his page over, “You’re probably just picking up on the raging hormones coming off these idiots.” He nodded at Sirius and Peter, who both kept glancing out of the train window, looking for their respective girlfriends.
“Who’re you calling an idiot, Moony?” Sirius retorted, “I can’t help it if I drive women wild with desire.”
“SIRIUS BLOODY BLACK, I COULD KILL YOU!” Mary’s furious shriek could have shattered glass. Sirius practically leapt two feet off his seat.
Remus gave a satisfied nod.
“Wild with something, anyway.”
James guffawed, nearly choking on the Bertie Botts every flavour bean he had been chewing.
No one was happier about Remus and Sirius’s reconciliation than James. He didn’t say anything directly, but as soon as he recognised that his two best friends were no longer keeping each other at arm's length, he was grinning from ear to ear, back to his usual mischievous self. And therefore,
back to sighing over Lily Evans.
Lily entered the carriage at this point, just behind Mary who had burst in like a whirlwind. Lily smiled at Remus and took the spare seat beside him, he smiled back and they settled in to watch the show.
“What have I done?!” Sirius asked, affronted.
“You really don’t know, do you?!” Mary stood with her hands on her hips, a look of disgust on her face. She looked spectacular when she was angry, her gold hoop earrings jangled, her kohl rimmed eyes were wide and fiery. “Diagon Alley?!” She stamped her foot.
Sirius’s eyes widened.
“Bugger.”
“Fuck you, Black!” Mary turned and stormed back out. Sirius scrambled up to follow her down the corridor, just as the train started moving,
“Oi, Mary, wait! I’m sorry..!”
Remus turned to Lily,
“What did he do?”
“Forgot her birthday,” Lily grinned, “Apparently they had a plan to meet in Diagon Alley and she waited for two hours…”
“Oh bollocks,” James slapped his forehead, “I was supposed to remind him…”
“You’re as bad as each other,” Lily snorted. “Godric save the girls stupid enough to marry any of you.”
“Has anyone seen Desdemona?” Peter asked, distractedly. Lily shook her head and the boys shrugged. Peter got up, “I’ll see you lot later…” and wandered out of the carriage.
“Bloody hell.” James said, “What’s happened to the marauders?”
“Oi, I’m here,” Remus said, returning to his book.
