PERFECT // JAMES POTTER

16. Summer Holi-yays

Scarlet Winters left the Hogwarts grounds, carrying her trunk, with the rest of the Marauders following. She had already bid farewell to Milo with the promise to write to him. Together, the five of them boarded the Hogwarts Express and tried to find an empty compartment. After wandering the thin hall for a while they eventually found one and lifted up their trunks to put them in the overhead compartments. Unlike five years ago, Scarlet could now lift up her trunk all by herself, without the help of James.

"Do you need help lifting up your trunk?" James asked with a teasing smirk.

"Piss off, Potter." Scarlet rolled her eyes while fighting off her grin.

"Language, Miss Winters!" Sirius fake-gasped.

The only thing Sirius got from that statement was a rather rude hand gesture from Scarlet.

"If you two don't shut up, I will leave this compartment." Scarlet threatened, "I'm sure Lily will be more welcoming."

The two put their hands up in a mock-surrender.

-=+=-

A long train ride later, they finally arrived at the train station. Scarlet, James and Sirius all exited the train, trunks on their trolleys with Cleo perched on Scarlet's. Immediately, Euphemia spotted her boys and ran over engulfing both in a hug. To Scarlet's surprise, she turned and squeezed Scarlet with the same amount of love.

"Come on, let's go home." Fleamont said, smiling at the three of them.

Fleamont took James and Sirius by the shoulders while Euphemia held onto Scarlet's hand. Together the two disapparated, taking the teens with them. They appeared in the living room of the Potter household with a crack.

Fleamont handed them their trunks and told them to unpack upstairs. James and Sirius went to the right to their room, while Scarlet turned left to arrive in the room she spent her Christmas break in. 

The first thing she did was set up a small bed next to her own for Cleo, who happily curled up on it. Then, she turned to her trunk and sighed, beginning to take out her clothing.

-=+=-

Finally, the job was done.

She sighed in relief and ran her fingers through her hair. She suddenly stopped when she heard shouting and laughter.

Poking her head out of the window, she saw James and Sirius splashing each other in the pool. Eventually, they noticed her staring.

"Like what you see?" James shouted up with a smirk.

"Pfftt, as if, Potter!" Scarlet shouted back.

"Stop flirting with each other and get down here, Winters!" Sirius called.

Scarlet playfully rolled her eyes and got changed into a cute polka-dot bikini and grabbed a towel before heading down. As she passed the kitchen, Euphemia stopped her.

"If you're going into the pool, dear, you can bring that floatie over there." She said with a kind smile.

"Thank you Euphemia!" Scarlet replied with a smile.

"Oh please, just call me Aunt Mia." She waved Scarlet off.

Scarlet grinned and took the floatie before heading outside in the sun.

As she approached the pool, she saw James eyeing her.

"Like what you see?" She asked with a teasing smirk.

"What took you so long?" Sirius interrupted, swimming over.

"I was just getting this floatie." She said before inhaling and blowing air into the floatie.

After about ten minutes, the floatie was finally inflated and Scarlet was feeling quite light-headed. Nevertheless, she smiled and threw it into the water, before pencil diving in. 

When she rose to the surface again she quickly swam her way to the drifting floatie before hoisting herself on.

For the rest of the day, the three spent their time in the pool, splashing each other and pushing one another in. 

-=+=-

It had been a few days since their arrival the the Potter household and Scarlet felt guilty. She felt she put a strain on the family that thought that she should be paying back Fleamont and Euphemia. So, early one morning, Scarlet set off into the quiet town to try and find some sort of job. 

She visited differed stores and restaurants before finally finding herself outside of a small cafe called 'White Moon Cafe'. She stepped through the door and was immediately greeted with the warm and cozy interior. There was a till to the end of the room, with a small kitchen behind it with an archway leading into a hidden room. Only a few customers were sat at tables, some were sipping their coffee and nibbling on their cake while others were digging in to a full English breakfast. Scarlet approached the till, walking past signs that advised customers to order and pay at the till.

"Hello, dear!" A older woman with grey hair and a warm smile greeted her, ready to take an order.

"Hi, I was just wondering if you have any part-time jobs available?" Scarlet asked.

"You're in luck! One of our staff members has just left. You're free to take the job." The lady offered kindly.

"R-Really? That would be amazing, thank you!" Scarlet said, beaming up at the woman.

"Can you come in this Saturday? I'll talk you through the basics then. Is it okay to come in at 9:30 and your shift can end at 1:30." The lady said, writing this down on an ordering slip, "My names Jane, by the way, what's yours?"

"I-It's Scarlet."

"What a lovely name! There's a girl who works here near your age, she's called Alexis. She works Saturdays too."

Scarlet nodded and took the slip of paper that Jane was giving her.

"Oh! By the way, I'm afraid I can only work on holidays. I go to a boarding school." Scarlet quickly said before she forgot.

"Not a problem, dear." Jane smiled, "I'll see you on Saturday!"

Scarlet waved as she exited the cafe, sighing with relief. She smiled and tightened her grip on the ordering slip with her shift times on, before walking back through the small town and back to the Potter home.