the cadence of part time poets

Chapter 61: Liar's Dessert

You know I've seen a lot of what the world can do,
And it's breakin' my heart in two;
Because I never wanna see you sad, girl,
Don't be a bad girl;
But if you wanna leave, take good care,
Hope you make a lot of nice friends out there;
But just remember there's a lot of bad and beware, beware...

- "Wild World" Cat Stevens, 1970

Wednesday 25th May 1977

Sirius was terrible with anything spicy.

Remus knew this because more than once he'd watched him dip his sticky fingers into one of James' regular care packages, only to complain for the next several hours that he'd never be able to taste anything ever again. Now, with only a month shy from the end of term, Euphemia Potter had sent her famous homemade chocolates as an early exam reward. Only thanks to having more kick than your average sweet, the chocolates felt more like a punishment rather than a reward.

"Maybe it is a punishment," Peter said, staring down at the tin and its unassuming tissue paper. "Like a warning—fail your exams and she'll force-feed you the fire-chocolate."

"She makes 'em with bhut jolokia seeds," James explained. "Ghost peppers. Evil stuff. But the salsa and vindaloo are great. If you've have the stomach for it, that is."

"Which ninety-nine percent of the population does not. One bite is like licking the bottom of Satan's flamin' ball sack," Sirius said, already pale.

Despite being under the impression that putting anything in chocolate that might bite back was a terrible shame, Remus couldn't resist clapping Sirius on the shoulder. "Well, Padfoot, your name was on the card too, and I'm sure you don't want to disappoint 'mum', so go ahead—give it a go."

"You're mental if you think I'm going anywhere near that stuff. My eyes are watering just with the bloody lid open." Taking the chocolates from Peter, Sirius snapped the lid shut and slid the tin beneath James' bed.

"They only get spicier with time, you know," James said, grabbing his school bag. "Dad calls 'em the 'fine wine of chocolate'."

Sirius held up a hand. "Out of sight, out of mouth, Potter."

It was just as hard in forms not to tease him, so Remus didn't bother practising much self-control. They sat around the room in a staggered formation in desks that Sheila had brought in for studying in preparation for their exams, which would commence the following week. She had the radio going as well, letting the quiet classical music drift across the classroom to 'stimulate their minds' and 'help wake them all up'. Rather than getting much studying done himself, Remus spent most of the short period watching Sirius, who was concentrating on the sheet music he'd propped up on a music stand next to his desk, scribbling and erasing notes while he hummed a tune to himself.

"Who would'a thought that the great Sirius Black would be frightened by a little chocolate," Remus said quietly, eyeing Sheila, who was lounging across the room and doing class marking while wearing a dress so vibrantly purple she probably could've been seen from Mars.

"I didn't see you jumping at the bit to take a bite either," Sirius shot back, pulling one foot up onto his chair and nibbling on the end of his pencil as he glared at his work.

"What's that?" Remus asked, pointing at the song.

"I'm calling it 'Wag the Dog'. Just wish I could remember how this bit went when I wrote it." He turned his glare toward their teacher. "Bloody Sheila. It's a music classroom—we should be playing music, not studying for maths."

"Does it have any lyrics?" Remus asked quietly, more intrigued than before.

"Mhm. Back at the dorm. You can have a look later if you want."