Arcane [Sirius Black]

Chapter 3 - Padfoot's Cinderella

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JAMES WAS SWEATING.

It was a hot day at the Potter household and the sun was beating down with rays that felt like hot lava causing the boy to wipe his forehead repeatedly as he stood in the back garden uncomfortably.

"Sirius, come on! Stop daydreaming and help me," He cried out before groaning as he spotted another gnome run across the turf.

Fleamont Potter was not so keen in finding out how James and his friends had decided to spend their last day of school that year (lengthy parchments from Professor McGonagall explaining once more how fireworks were in no way allowed on school grounds or how streaking in the school hallways was strictly prohibited were not what the man wanted to spend his evenings reading) and had sentenced the boy to all sorts of nasty chores for his summer holiday.

James attempted to explain that it wasn't him doing the streaking but rather a group of "Slimy Slytherin Gits" but Fleamont insisted that did not change the fact that James had enchanted them to do so without their control and in fact, only made the matter worse.

Today, the agenda was to clear the garden of the invasive garden gnomes which plagued so many Wizarding households.

Sirius, though promising to help James with his work, was in no shape or form interested at the moment.

"Prongs, I told you. How am I supposed to work right now? I can't focus on anything!"

"Well, Padfoot, maybe you should try to get your hormones in check!"

"Says Mr. 'I love Lily Evans so much she's all I think about 24 hours a day and 7 days a week and I can't even do my schoolwork without thinking about her perfect little face,'" Sirius mocked his friend's voice.

"I do not sound like that!"

Sirius only chuckled but made no action to move from his spot on a sun lounger. Noticing this, James just groaned and grabbed another gnome by the leg.

"Fine, since you seem adamant about being lazy, let's at least be somewhat productive here," James gave in, "Tell me about this girl again."

"It was awesome! I didn't even do anything, she just walked in out of nowhere! Like some angel descending to save me from my personal hell."

"Are you sure you didn't imagine this?"

"Yes, James," Sirius stated strongly, "I am sure."

"Well, how can you be sure? I mean...don't people hallucinate sometimes when they are in pain? I'd say parties at the Black household are pretty high up on the discomfort scale."

"I'm sure because she kissed me...or maybe I kissed her...I don't know but it happened!"

"Aww, little Padfoot is growing up," James teased.

"Shut up. It's not like I've never kissed anyone before!"

"Yeah, but would you really count spin-the-bottle and a 'fling' with Marlene as experience? I wouldn't exactly call you a player, mate."

"What are you talking about?" Sirius quipped, "The girls love me."

"Nah, they just want a touch of your "luxurious locks". I heard Kimberly Abbott and Ellia Owens talking about it a few months back."

"You've just solidified my point. No one can resist this," Sirius flipped his head of hair dramatically with a smirk.

"Ick," James stuck his finger toward his throat with a fake gag, "All I see is a ruddy bunch of dog hair."