Marauders - Always - Part One

Po-tay-toe, Po-tah-toe

"Glad that's over," James declared, following Lily across the parking lot. She was practically floating with excitement. He handed her over the keys that the man had given to him in the office and she took them, squealing with excitement as she all but danced to the mustard yellow Astra that sat parked out front of the little shop.

"I thought he was very nice, rather," Lily said over her shoulder.

James tucked the folded up paperwork he'd been given into his extended jacket pocket. "I dunno," he said, "I didn't like the way he wouldn't really talk to you, only to me - that was quite annoying."

"Welcome to what it's like being female," Lily said pointedly. "A lot of muggle men are like that. And when we assert ourselves to be listened to, we're generally considered bitchy or rude."

"Well it's very stupid because you know good deal more about the cars than I do anyways," James said, "He just wouldn't take a hint, even when I kept turning to you for answers." He shook his head. "Besides, I don't like the way he looked at me. Like I'm mental or something."

Lily was unlocking the driver door.

"Like I'm thick."

"You are thick, sweetheart," Lily answered, and she smirked at him playfully, then slid into the car and leaned across to unlock the door for James.

James pulled it open and climbed into the seat. "Yeah but he doesn't know that," he continued the conversation seamlessly.

Lily was running her hands over the steering wheel. "Well, honey, most muggles don't carry thousands of pounds in their pockets."

"Rich blokes do, I'll bet," he answered.

"Yes, but not as a bag of coins."

James hesitated.

"I think anyone would've looked at you like you're mental for counting out nearly five thousand pounds in coins like that," she explained. "Anything over ten pounds really should be in bills, love."

James shrugged, "Well I dunno. Paper money just seems really silly... I'm glad wizard money isn't paper. I like a good coin in my hand. You can feel the weight of it. It actually means something. It has substance. Paper is just... it's worthless..." He paused talking, looking at her as she admired the car, pressing buttons and playing with the window crank. She adjusted the seat and giggled when it slid backwards too far and she had to crank it back forward. James smiled, watching her.

She looked over after a moment of his silence. "What?"

"You're happy."

"I am. I'm very excited. I love this car, James." Her eyes were bright green and shiny.

"I love it, too. Just because it makes you so happy." He leaned across and kissed her and she kissed him back, running one hand into the hair at the back of his neck. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw their reflection in the little wing mirror. He smirked as they broke apart, meeting his own eyes in the mirror and winked at himself.

Lily didn't notice that, though, she had already turned back to the steering wheel and now reached up to adjust the rear view mirror. "Alright. Buckle up."

James turned and struggled with strapping the buckle across his chest for a moment while Lily pulled hers over her smoothly. Then she started the Astra up and the car purred to life and with a clink-clonk-clink-clonk of the directional, they were in the midst of traffic. James leaned back in the seat and watched her driving, occasionally glancing out the window to see the world go past.

They'd disapparated out of town to get the car and now had a bit of a drive to get home, and James thought that the car was so very peaceful feeling and nice.