Under strange circumstances

Chapter 9

James

'Aaaaaaand, that's how I nearly lost my virginity to a horse!' Drunk Sirius finally sits down as he finishes his story and pats me on the back happily. 'Lucky I didn't, eh, Prongs? Otherwise, that would have been quite bad.' I sigh and nod and Sirius starts to perform a depressed rendition of When I'm Sixty-four by the Beatles. Normally I would be drunkenly singing alongside him, and Remus would be the sober one on care duty, but he isn't here yet; he and Lily both arrive tomorrow.

The first week of the holidays is always the craziest (for me and Sirius anyway). It's where we get drunk, have the strange yet honest chats about life, and go through my dad's old muggle albums and stuff. Random, but fun. Usually I enjoy this week thoroughly, but this time I've been distracted; all I have been able to think about is how Remus and Lily are coming for two weeks. Obviously I'm mainly thinking about Lily, and Sirius about Remus. I don't think Sirius and I have ever fangirled over Lily and Remus together before, but that's what we've been doing for the past week.

Sirius finishes his drunk rendition of When I'm Sixty-four and turns to me happily. 'If I wasn't a virgin, I'd be a musician.' I nod and take the firewhisky from his hand. 'Okay, no more drinks Sirius. You don't want to have a hangover when you greet Remus tomorrow. I don't think he'd like that.' Sirius focuses on me with a bit of trouble, and I help him get up. 'Come on, let's put out the the fire and go back to the house, shall we?' I quickly put out our little campfire and trudge up to the house, Sirius leaning heavily on my shoulder. The door is unlocked, like I left it, and as we go inside we're met by a wave of heat. The fire is on, and my parents are in the living room, sitting together on the couch watching a muggle television program of some sort. They look up as I enter, and my mum's lips go into a thin line when she takes in Sirius' drunken form. 'James-' she begins, but she's interrupted by Dad. 'Oh, leave them be Euphemia.. They're young men now, and as long as they don't do anything stupid they'll be fine.' Mum shakes her head disapprovingly at Dad who winks at me. I grin affectionately, then move towards the stairs. 'Oh, James, get Sirius into bed then come down here, okay? Your mother and I have something we want to talk to you about.' I nod, then ascend the stairs, my shoulder starting to ache from Sirius' weight. I plonk him into his bed, get a nice fire going in the fireplace of his room, and throw a blanket over him. Then I go back downstairs, dragging my hands along the red walls and thinking of another red I want to drag my hands through..

Mum and Dad are waiting for me in the living room still, but they've turned the TV off. I sit down in the chair opposite them and then smile at them. I love them with all my heart, I really do. Though they always apologise for being so old and "worthless" I couldn't ask for better and kinder parents. 'James,' Dad begins. 'Your great aunt Audrey has just turned one hundred and forty-eight years old. Your mother and I admittedly forgot until today, when we received an invitation to her birthday celebrations. We know that you have your friends coming round for the next two weeks, so we won't ask you to come, but your mother and I were hoping to go ourselves, if you don't mind.' I smile and jump up, walking over to them. 'Don't worry 'bout me, Dad. You two go and have fun, and send Audrey my congratulations. We'll be fine without you, and Remus and Lily know how to cook so that'll be even better.' Dad smiles and stands, hugging me firmly. Then he holds out a hand to my mum, who bats it away. 'I can lift myself up, dear.' She kisses my head and hugs me gently. 'Treat Lily nicely, darling, it's a sure way into a woman's heart.' I feel myself blush at this, which delights my mother into embarrassing me even further. 'Don't do anything silly with her, or inappropriate.' Then she takes my father's hand, and waves her wand, summoning two packed suitcases to her side. 'We'll be back in a month or so, when you're at school. Have a safe trip there darling, and try not to burn down the house while we're gone.' Then they step into the fireplace and floo themselves away.

~

Lily

I never knew James lived in such a nice house.

I mean, it's not like I was expecting a quidditch pitch in his garden or anything... I just wasn't expecting such a tidy house. Also, I thought that maybe there'd be smoke pouring from the windows since his father is the Fleamont Potter... but I'm wrong there too.

As I stand at the bottom of the hill leading up to his house, I admire the view. His house rises on a bit of a hill, and stands tall compared to the surrounding landscape, which is all expansive fields that seem to go for miles. A small forest sits behind the house, on the other side of the hill, giving off quite a country feel. The house itself has brick walls, painted a very pale yellow, with vibrantly coloured flowers sitting in little boxes under the windowsills. The small garden out the front is filled with vegetables and fruits, as well as some strange plants which I can only assume are used for Fleamont's potions. The whole house is surrounded by a little fence, and a fat cat lounges lazily on the doormat. As I go to open the fence a crack sounds behind me, and I turn to see none other than Remus Lupin. 'Remus!' I leap into his outstretched arms and feel relief rush through me. I always get worried when he goes home for the holidays. I know his parents are lovely people - I've met them before - but I also know that they don't handle the werewolf thing very well. They love him dearly, but they're quite honestly terrified of him. I don't think he handles that fact very well.

'How come you're just standing here, Lils?' My smile leaves my face and I look down at the ground nervously, biting my lip. 'I'm kind of nervous, honestly. I've never been here before.' I look up to see him smiling at me kindly. 'I was nervous the first time I came here too, but trust me, the Potters are the nicest people I have ever met. They seem to have a thing for making outcasts feel better...' He trails off and I look away again. It's true, what he's said. Sirius, Remus and I are all outcasts within our families. Suddenly Remus reaches forward and opens the gate, motioning for me to go in; 'After you, m'lady.' I roll my eyes but go in anyway, indulging in the sweet aromas arising from the numerous plants in the garden. The fat cat on the doormat meows at me, getting up and rubbing him(her?)self on my legs affectionately. I knock tentatively, holding my breath and ignoring the cat as someone approaches the door.