the marauders- an inseparable bond

[20] the arrival

The morning their friends were due to arrive, James wouldn't stop fidgeting. He walked around the house in a sort of trance, randomly setting things strait on shelves or running back to the mirror to check his hair.
"Calm down prongs," Sirius said, "Why don't you have some breakfast?"
"I'm not hungry," replied the pale James.
"Rubbish, you're always hungry," Sirius scoffed, "Here, take this toast."
James just gave a blank stare.
"James, everything will be fine," Sirius said, talking more quietly now, as Mrs. Potter was just in the other room. "Look, have you seen the way she looks at you?"
"What?" said James suddenly, as if jerked awake by these words.
"Yeah," the other boy said, talking more quietly still, "when she thinks no one is looking, she'll look over at you, and the look in her eyes..."

This seemed to have done the trick, because James sat down and helped himself to some orange juice. He was just reaching for some toast when the doorbell rang.
"Merlin's pants!" yelled Potter as he jumped to his feet and ran to the door, Sirius following calmly behind. The door swung open, revealing two boys and a girl with big smiles on their faces.
"Hello," said Lily.
"Hey," replied James, a pink tinge already appearing on his cheeks.
Sirius waved to the group and pulled his boyfriend into hug.
"Well, c'mon in then," James said awkwardly.

The five clambered up the stairs and went into James' room.
"Good summer, all?" Peter asked.
Remus shrugged, rubbing his eyes, but looking happier now that Sirius' arm was around him. Lily's face shared the same enthusiasm. After a second of silence, James said:
"We'll I'm glad you're all here" and they burst into laughter.
"C'mon, I'll show you where you're sleeping."

***

The summer days spent at the Potters' were happy. They were filled with laughs, quidditch matches, pranks, food fights and long coversations. One night, when James was heading back towards his bedroom, he heard voices from Lily's room.
"You know, you're not alone. I feel like that too sometimes," said a squeaky voice the stag recognized as Peters.
"What do you mean?" said Lily, "You're one of them."
"I'm not stupid. I know what people say. That I'm least smart marauder, the least good looking, the least funny, the-"
"Peter that's stupid," Lily cut him off, "You know that's not true."
At the door, James didn't dare move a muscle.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Go for it," she replied.
"Do you like James?"
The boy outside sucked in his breath.
"James?" she said in a suprised tone, "Of course I do."
"No I mean.. Well, you know. Like that."
Lily didn't speak for a long time.
"I've changed my mind. You can't ask me a question."
He then heard her getting up and lunged down the hall, before hearing Peter call her back.
"Wait Lily, I'm sorry."
She sighed.
"I just don't understand why everything has to be about James. Sirius asked me that same question, you know. Can't I just be friends with you guys? Besides, I don't even think James likes me. That was a long time ago."
"Right," said Peter, "I should go to bed. 'Night Lily."
"'Night," she said, and as Peter's footsteps headed towards the door, James scampered.

***

Lily had been ecstatic to escape to the Potters' for the end of the summer. Who could blame her? She had been leaving behind Petunia's cold stares and her parents' constant "Wait, what's the point of Arithmancy again?" to be greeted with her best friends and a household of wizards. She hadn't been disappointed, the past days had been brilliant. Today, they had played two-a-side Quidditch in an expanse surrounded by trees not far from the Potters', taking turns being the referee. Lily noted, remembering their conversation, that Peter was the ref far more often than any of the others. She volunteered to take his place as much as she could, but sometimes she was too caught up in the game. Towards the end of the match, it had begun to pour, and when they all got back inside, they were soaked to the skin. She stood now in her bedroom, finally in warm dry clothes. She started heading towards the door, with the intention to go downstairs and make hot chocolate (Remus would be ecstatic). However, when she opened the door of the spare bedroom, she stopped herself a millimetre away from bashing directly into James. His arm was raised in the air, evidently about to knock.

"Oh hello," he said, surprised, "Can I- um- talk to you for a minute?"

"Sure," she said, wondering what on earth couldn't be discussed with their best friends over steaming mugs of hot chocolate. He followed her back into the room and they sat, somewhat awkwardly, on the bed.

"Listen," he began," I was wondering if- you, uh wanted to go out with me?"

At first she looked very surprised at these words, but then her face returned to its normal state and she said:

"Yeah, alright."

"Wait- what?" he blurted out, mouth agape.

She laughed at the expression on his face, and re-stated:

"I said yes, I'd like that."

"Are you serious?"

Laughing even harder now, she said:

"Of course I'm serious, Prongs. Why wouldn't I be?"

"Well, only that you said no all of fifth and sixth year.

She shrugged, "You're a different person than you were. Besides, I always sort of thought that you were joking."

"Joking? Me, joking about dating you?"

"Well I've said yes now, haven't I?"

This time, they both laughed.