The Collision Theory | Remus Lupin

37. Eve of Celebrations

I can't sleep.
There is this bubbly feeling in my chest like someone's brewing a potion.
Everyone's already fallen asleep so I'm just lying on my back staring at the ceiling with a stupid smirk I can't get off of my face.

If I don't sleep then mum will ask me why I didn't and I'll be in trouble and Christmas week be kind of very ruined. Counting sheep works right? "One sheep... two sheep... three sheep-"

"Start counting sheep and I'll cut out your tongue, Novak." Lily hisses from her mattress, half sleep.

"How long have you been up?"

"From the start of two sheep." She pulls the covers over her head, "You're really loud."

"You're just a light sleeper." I retort, rolling onto my shoulder.

*

I really should have slept.
My own reflection almost gave me a heart attack. I look like a panda with dark circles.
Well more like a panda with bed hair defying gravity.
I'm bloody lucky I woke up first, I have time to freshen up, or rather not look like a zombie.

Pulling the front of my hair up out of my face, I go to make the most of the bathroom, as the past few days with a full house have taught me to appreciate having more than five minutes in a bathroom at any point in the day. I wash my face quickly, and dry myself with the towel I had hung up in there earlier.

"Presentable." I mutter at my reflection, sticking my tongue out at it before I leave.

I descend the stairs as quietly as I can, wincing as the floorboard groans under my foot on the fifth step. I'm just about to enter the kitchen when a low voice stops me in my tracks, "When I find myself in times of trouble, mother Mary comes to me, speaking words of wisdom- Shit! Novak!"

"James!" I laugh as he almost drops his mug of tea in fright, he hasn't heard me slowly tiptoe in.

He regains his composure, ruffling his hair once again so that it stands up like those comic frightened cats, "Well... Good morning."

"Morning." I go to refill the kettle to make myself coffee, trying to laugh as his dark cheeks turn almost crimson, "You lot should start a band."

"I beg your pardon?"

"Well," I sit on top of the counter while I wait for the water to boil, "I've heard Sirius sing, now I've heard you. I'm guessing the other two are musically talented."

"Peter can play the piano, Sirius was taught a load of instruments when he was a kid." James hides his face with his mug, "Never heard Remus sing properly."

"Stop being shy Potter." I roll my eyes, "You have a wonderful voice, just don't serenade Lily with it alright?"

"She wouldn't appreciate that."

"No she wouldn't." I laugh, jumping off of the counter, taking out a cup and dumping two teaspoons of coffee in. The smell of it fills the kitchen as I put in the hot water. Thank God that I'm not wearing my glass right now, otherwise they would have steamed up and I would be blind, "Why are you up so early?"

"Why are you?"

"I just am." I shrug, sipping my coffee, "Though I did recall asking first."

"I'm am early bird."

"Is that all?"

He rolls his eyes with a great sigh, "Fine... I wanted to count the presents under the tree."

"You're actually an overgrown child." I groan, face-palming, "Christmas is tomorrow."

He frowns, "Well, it's not like you weren't going to!"