A Life Worth Living

Plans

 "Not that I don't love a good lads' night, but, why are we here?" Percy asked, looking around the noisy pub with a pinched look on his face.

James didn't say anything, but he was curious about the same. He hadn't expected the Quidditch player to invite him out without Iris. It felt a bit odd to be here with Oliver and his friends on such short notice.

But he was patient. Best to wait for Oliver to get to the point, though James couldn't help but worry a bit about Iris being on her own. While his ruddy cousin had said he was still working on a plan, he wouldn't put it past him to try something stupid on his own.

Much like the last disaster that had ended up with Iris at St. Mungo's.

"Just realized that we all havenae spent much time together without Iris," Oliver said, taking a drink of his beer and shifting slightly on his stool.

"Right," George said slowly, seeing straight through the lie.

"Truly," Oliver insisted, frowning at him.

"Then why did your voice just go up a pitch?" George asked, grinning.

"It did not," Oliver insisted - though his voice rose even more, causing George to laugh loudly and Percy to roll his eyes.

James just glanced around the group, seemingly clueless as to just why he was there and what exactly was going on.

"Alright... so I do have ulterior motives," Oliver finally admitted. "I want to propose and I havenae the foggiest idea how to do it so I need yer help,."

George whooped loudly and nearly knocked his beer over, garnering them sharp looks from nearby tables.

"FINALLY!" he shouted as Percy smiled pleasantly.

"Mum'll be pleased. She's been wanting to try her hand at another wedding to make up for Fleur and Bill's being overtaken by Death Eaters. And it gets her off my back about Audrey for a bit," he said.

James was quiet, studying the Quidditch player. He then smiled, though it was slightly tense.

"Congrats, Oliver. You're a lucky man," he said lightly.

Inside James was seething. It had been two weeks since his moron of a cousin had stabbed Iris behind the joke shop. He should have come up with a plan to get Oliver out of the picture by now, but every time James asked, Flint would respond with "Almost." James was beginning to think he was just toying around with him for a place to hide out from the aurors until he could make his escape.

The old manor was run down, but it did provide a bit of warmth and protection from the elements. And with winter settled in, Marcus would need it.

"But seriously... how do I do it?" Oliver asked, looking around the table.

George clamped his hand on Oliver's shoulder and shook his head slowly as he tsked.

"Wood, if you have to ask that question, I worry about your future children," he said, grinning. Oliver swat his hand away.

"Are ye daft! Get yer mind out of the gutter," he retorted, frowning at him. Harry grimaced.

"I really don't want to hear this," he muttered.

"Any ideas?" Oliver asked, trying to get the conversation back on track. "I'm no so sure..."

"So you don't know how," George replied, waggling his eyebrows and continuing the joke.

Oliver huffed again, red creeping across his cheeks as he frowned at George.

"We dinnae need help there!" he shouted, then glanced around and cleared his throat as George continued to chuckle. "Right. How do I propose to Iris?"