You Shouldn't Have Lied

#2

A week later

The fireplace in the living room lights in a green flame. Harry notices, looking up from his sketchbook. When Faolan steps out, he takes off his headphones.
"Hi Fway," he says, pressing pause on the Walkman.
"Hey Harry. Am I to early? I can always come back later."
"No, it's fine. We're almost ready, but my parents are very excited, so I came in here to get away."
"Mm, fair. What you listening to?"
"Guns N' Roses."
"Nice."
"Haz, you ready? We're leaving soon. Oh, hi Faolan," Regulus says, putting his head through the doorway. Faolan nods to him and Harry says, "yeah, we're good to go."
"Great," he walks into the room and perches on a sofa, "you mind if I stay here? I love those idiots, but I don't know how much reminiscence I can take."
"In that case, definitely."
"I dread to see what will happen when you actually leave for Hogwarts."
"I am so glad I'm not going to be here for that."
"I could always go to the Leaky Cauldron for, like, a week."
"The Silver Dragon's nicer," Faolan says.
"Good point. Who runs it nowadays?"
"William George."
"He's still around! He was about a year away from dying when I was not much older than you."
"Yeah. Going on 137."
"Good for him. He used to give me discounts on a room because I was a kid. Great guy."
"I know right!"

"Kids, babe, we're leaving in two minutes," James says from behind Regulus, putting an arm around him to pull him towards his chest, before kissing the top of his head. The younger man laughs and taps his arm.
"First, we'll be down in a sec. Secondly, eww," Harry tells him.
"I'm sure you'll be like this one day."
"I will never be like you."
"I wish my parents were like you," Faolan mutters.
"Trust me, I deal with this times two most of the time."
"My parents couldn't give two shits about each other. They barely even argue. All couples argue! One could literally die and the other wouldn't care."
"Language," James says on instinct.
"I feel ya, kid," Regulus tells them, "good ole childhood pureblood betrothels."
"Yep. At least they're not related. And my betrothed is not related to me."
"I think mine was my second cousin, once removed."
"How'd you get out of yours?"
"Easy. She died."
"How can you get out of a betrothal without someone dying?"
Regulus shrugs.
"Damn."
"Do they know about your...Full moon situation?"
"You think my parents want their pureblood companions to know their child is a werewolf?"
"That could probably get you out of it."
"And ruin the Byrne name. I'd rather get married than face my parents wrath. Even if it would mean they finally acknowledged my existence."
"Wait, you're engaged?!?" Harry exclaims.
"Tá."
"To who."
"Some rich british pureblood. I've met him a few times. At yule balls. Apparently there are no, and I quote, "untainted Gaeilge families left. They are all tainted with muggles and muggle borns. Marrying a Sasanach is not as bad" however, they did not use such kind terms for muggles or muggleborns."
"Interesting."
"Honestly you guys, we're leaving. Everytime we tell someone to get you, they just join you," Sirius says walking through the door.
"We were just coming."
"Mmhm. I expected better from you, James. You were meant to be the responsible one out of us."
"I thought that was Moony," James argues.
"Have you met Moony? The only reason anyone thought he was the responsible was because he never got caught."
"Ehh."
"GUYS! WE'RE LEAVING! GET YOUR ASSES DOWN HERE!" Remus calls from downstairs.
"Speak of the devil."
"We should probably go," Harry says, walking to the door.
"I'm with you on that," Faolan replies.