The Muggle Who Did Something: A marauders era fanfiction

Chapter 13: Tea for Three

"How on earth did you two manage that?" Cynthia pushed away from the door walking closer to the men standing in her flat.

Sirius was practically preening, a smirk naturally sitting on his handsome face. James looked less prideful than his friend, but only by a smidgen. The shorter man's eyes danced with glee, accompanied by a silent shrug.

"Haven't the faintest idea what you're talking about love." Sirius spoke casually before turning to his companion. "You Prongs?"

"Not a clue Padfoot." James crossed his arms, holding his chin and looking towards the ceiling as if in deep thought.

"Oh knock it off!" Cynthia rolled her eyes lightly as she spoke, earning small chuckles from both men.

"Can't I'm afraid," Sirius began dramatically. "How could I ever ignore my manners in the presence of a woman?"

"Really?" Cynthia playfully raised a single skeptical eyebrow at the tall man in front of her.

"Yeah," James chimed in, having already dropped his previous pose. "The manners just kinda just pop up when I need them. But in this git's case, it's just shameless flirting day in and day out."

"Being a gentleman is in my nature. Hardly something one would turn on or off, especially when it works so well." The black haired man finished with a wink as he defended himself.

Both James and Cynthia laughed at the sight, the woman shaking her head as she did.

"Is that what you're calling this, being a gentleman?" Cynthia began guiding the boys through the front room as they spoke.

She once again reclaimed her chair, sitting as she had before. The boys followed after, making themselves at home on her couch. James slung one ankle over his knee, leaning back into the couch. Sirius sat with both feet on the floor, nearly teetering on the edge of the couch. Spying the untouched plate of treats he threw a questioning glance to his hostess.

Cynthia smiled and nodded back. The man didn't wait long and he quickly scooped up a few biscuits, munching on them as if they were the first thing he had eaten all day. The girl reached out, claiming one for herself before they were all gone. She silently offered one to James but he simply shook his head, still smiling. Cynthia shrugged, holding the small treat on her one hand as she continued speaking.

"Who on earth taught you guys that sort of thing anyway?" The girl waved the hand holding the cookie animatedly as she spoke. "Who bows to anyone these days?"

Cynthia saw Sirius eyes go wide for a moment, before hardening slightly and growing dim. It was as if he had remembered something he would rather not have.

"Asia is big on bowing actually, a few other places 'round the world too I'm sure." James idly threw the comment out, drawing Cynthia's attention to him. The words also pulled Sirius back, his eyes shifting to shock instead of numbness as he looked to his bespectacled friend. While Cynthia wore something more akin to surprise, Sirius looked almost affronted for some reason.

"How on earth do you know that?" Sirius asked almost accusingly.

James didn't even respond with words, he simply threw a bored look towards his friend as if silently asking 'are you an idiot?'.

"Moony?" Sirius asked, receiving an eye roll from James. "Gosh, you had me going there Jamsie," he continued with a sigh, "One swot is more than enough, thank you very much."

"You do jump to the worst conclusions." James nudged Sirius with his shoulder. "You should know, Lily's going to try and fill my head with more useless facts than Remus ever thought of."