Under strange circumstances

Chapter 10 part B

Sirius

'Daisy!' She rolls her eyes, but responds enthusiastically to my hug. 'Good to see you Sirius,' I notice her look past me and grin at her eagerness. 'James is in the living room having a panic attack, you see. Poor bugger is scared of seeing you again.' She frowns; 'Scared?'

'I think he means that James is nervous of seeing you again because he hasn't seen you for a week, Lils.' I feel excitement rush through me and run around Lily to Remus. 'Moony!' He rolls his eyes (predictable) but lifts me off my feet anyway, twirling me around then moving in to kiss me passionately. Fuck, I know it's only been a week but I feel like I've been waiting for his lips for millenia. A sharp throb in my head makes me break away from the kiss and hold my hand to my temple. 'What's wrong, Sirius?' Remus asks worriedly. I swallow and try to laugh it off; 'Oh nothing-'

'It's pronounced "hangover", Sirius.' I turn around to glare at James, who is now leaning in the door frame with a smirk on his face. 'Recovered from your panic attack, Prongs?' His smirk turns into a scowl, but only for a second until he notices Lily, who is kneeling down petting the cat somewhat awkwardly (right.... I forgot she was here when Remus kissed me...). 'Lily,' James moves towards her and she stands, brushing herself off. 'James-' He cuts her off with a hug, which she sinks into happily.

James

One week has felt like way too long to go without seeing Lily. I know I keep saying it, but I really, really want to kiss her. But, as I look into her green, smiling eyes, it still doesn't feel like the right time. Or maybe I'm too scared. Either way, I let go of her to take her bag, noticing guilty that she bites her lip in disappointment as I do this. 'Come inside,' I pretend my voice isn't shaking with nerves as I carry Lily's (heavy) suitcase inside, sighing in relief when I finally drop it in the living room.

Lily

The inside of the house is even nicer than the outside. The walls of the hallway are lined with dark red wallpaper, and the floors are covered in soft carpet. Numerous paintings line the walls ('My mother has a passion for art.. These are her works.'), and the ceilings are painted with constellations and stars. 'Oh James.... It's beautiful..' The words escape my lips without asking my brain for permission, and I blush slightly at James' soft smile of mild embarrassment. 'You don't think it's... weird?' I shake my head, to his delight, and he motions for me to move into the living room. The cosy space makes my nerves completely disappear and replace themselves with excitement. I sink down into the soft sofa happily and smile at Sirius and Remus, who are arguing with each other. 'Why do you have a hangover, Sirius?! I've told you on numerous occasions not to drink so much, it's not healthy!'

'I don't drink that much, Moony. I'm not stupid, you know.'

'I'm not suggesting that you drink often, I know you don't. It's more that when you actually do drink you have no limit!' Instead of replying, Sirius reaches up to Remus and brings their lips together, ending the heated conversation. I roll my eyes as they draw closer together, and turn to James, who has sat down beside me. 'Aren't hangovers supposed to be much worse than this? When my old muggle friend used to have them, she wouldn't even be able to get out of bed; that's how much pain she was in.' James smiles shyly and puts a hand behind his neck (cute cute cute). 'Well... yeah, that is how they usually work, but my dad and I developed this potion that kind of gets rid of the hangover.. It's still a work in progress though. That's why Sirius' hangover is still there.' He frowns at the couple who are now making out heartily in one of the armchairs.

James

'You made a potion that cures hangovers?!' Lily is completely in awe as she stares at me, then Sirius, then back at me. I feel heat rise to my cheeks and rub the back of my neck. 'Well, my dad helped me... I didn't do much, really. And like I said, it doesn't work fully yet-'