The Farm

Wake up, sleepyhead

Put on some clothes, shake up your bed

Put another log on the fire for me

I’ve made some breakfast and coffee

Look out my window, what do I see?

Crack in the sky and a hand reaching
down to me

25th July 1976

Remus rolled over, sprawled out over his crinkled bedsheets. Sirius had eventually returned to his own bed, but still managed to make a mess.

Remus groaned, face-planting his pillow. Birds were chirping outside, and the window was open.

James’s bed was empty, but then he noticed Sirius, smoking a fag, sat on the windowsill.

“Morning, darling.” he smiled, and Remus sat up, yawning.

“Morning, Pads.” he whispered, grabbing a box of cigarettes from the nightstand, and poking one between his teeth. He walked over and joined Padfoot on the windowsill.

Sunlight poured through the open curtains, warming up the room and giving it a warm glow. The distant humming of a chainsaw could be heard, although Remus couldn’t identify where the noise was coming from.

The bathroom door opened with a click, and James emerged, padding across the room and leaving his neatly folded pyjamas on his pillow.

“Morning, lads!” he smiled, rosy cheeked.

“Morning!” Sirius nodded, his eyes twinkling.

The room fell silent for a moment, Sirius and Remus inhaling and exhaling that delightful smoke, whilst James busied around, tidying up; he wasn’t usually this clean, and seemed anxious, but Remus assumed he was missing Lily.

Remus promptly stubbed out his cigarette in a nearby plant pot, and leapt down from the windowsill, helping James to tidy.

“I’ll take the washing down, you clear up those sweet wrappers.” Remus suggested, scooping up the pile of washing and leaving the room. He left it in the wicker basket on the landing.

Returning to the room, he stacked up a pile of books he’d been meaning to read, sweeping off the dust.

The room now was filled with the strong scent of Sirius’s cologne, and Remus could have screamed, right there and then.

He could feel the electricity pumping and fizzing in his veins, his temples pounding.

“Sirius, I-“ he began, sitting down on the bed.

Sirius said nothing, but instead grinned.

“I love you, Moony.” he said softly.

“I love you too.” Remus replied.

***

About half an hour later, they were called down for breakfast. Sirius and Remus took their seats next to each other, James sitting opposite them.

Finn was at the table too, looking bored as ever and playing with his sleeve, but Darla was absent again. Sirius wondered if she ever left her bedroom.

A house elf that James and Sirius hadn’t previously noticed emerged from the kitchen, carrying the plates of steaming hot food that hadn’t already been laid on the table.

“That’s Slouch; filthy little thing.” Finn piped up, looking revolted.

“If he’s so filthy, Finn, it’s about time you helped around the house.” Mrs Lupin remarked. She had a sharper tongue than Sirius and James had imagined, and it caused them to like her even more.

Mrs Lupin, or Hope, was warm, caring, but wonderfully humorous all the same. Additionally, she cooked the best food, and always smelled of fresh raspberries and wildflowers. If only Sirius had a mother like her.

Today, she was wearing a floral blouse, with a white skirt and a brown apron over the top. Her auburn ringlets were, once again, tied back into her signature bun, her face freckled and tanned.

She had aged like fine wine, not a single grey strand of hair.

Finn looked sheepish, tucking into his food without looking up.

“Enjoy, everyone.” Hope smiled, taking her seat at the table. Mr Lupin, or Lyall, gave her a loving look from across the table.

James had finished his breakfast first, and carried his dirty cutlery into the kitchen.

“Shall I do the washing up, Mrs Lupin?” he offered.

“Oh, James, you are a sweetheart. But it’s fine, Slouch will get to that in a minute.” Hope replied.

The clouded windows let in streams of golden sunlight into the dining room, leaves of grand oak trees billowing in the July breeze.

***

The next day, James, Sirius, and Remus went into the local village to explore.

It was a muggle village, so of course Sirius and James were intrigued.

“I’m going to call Lily, could you wait there, lads?” James requested, blushing a little.

“I’ll wait here, Remus is just popping to the shop to buy some fags.” Sirius explained, hoisting himself up onto the brick wall and sat there, waiting.

James entered the phone box, inserting his change into the little hole, and punching in Lily’s number, before picking up the receiver.

He appeared to be having a very animated conversation, laughing and doing movements with his hands; Sirius couldn’t help but smile.

He was glad when Remus returned with the cigarettes, lighting one almost immediately.

“We’re proper addicts now, Moony. Proper smokers.” he joked, slipping his hands into Remus’s and holding the cigarette between his almost perfectly symmetrical teeth.

“Come on James, we haven’t got all day!” Remus called out, puffing out smoke.

He took a seat next to Sirius on the crumbling brick wall which surrounded a weedy flowerbed, sprouting only a small thorn bush and a few dandelions.

“Are you ready for OWLs, Moony?” Sirius asked, his voice faltering a little.

Remus looked up from lighting his cigarette. His face softened.

“I mean, I suppose I am. But I dunno, really. It’s a big thing to think about,” he shrugged, putting the fag to his lips. “Are you?”

Sirius fell silent for a moment.

“I don’t think so. I’m not nearly as clever as you. It’s not like me to be all soppy and worried, but I dunno if I’m all that prepared for OWLs; and you always seem to be ready.” he sighed, scratching his head.

“It’s fine to not be prepared, darling. You have the whole year to study. Plus, I’m not always ready; I just pretend I am because…” Remus paused, zoning out.

“Carry on.” Sirius encouraged.

“Nah, it’s fine.” Remus replied, stubbing out his cigarette in the dirt.

***

Before bed that night, all of them tried playing Moony’s guitar.

“Go on, have a go, Padfoot!” James urged, as Sirius picked up the huge instrument.

He was practically useless, could only pluck the strings a little. They all laughed.

“I’ve never bothered playing instruments, to be fair.” Sirius snorted.

James couldn’t do much either, but at least he knew a chord or two.

Then Moony picked up the guitar. Sirius was buzzing with excitement.

Remus began plucking at the strings, playing what sounded like a familiar song.

He and Sirius began to sing,

“Over the dead sea,

Keeping you company,

Thinking “I’m not afraid of you now.”

“I’m not afraid of you now.”

Letting my eyes close,

Shedding my soft clothes.

Wind blows,

Wind that howls like a hound,

Wind that loves like a clown.

Mystery of lack,

Stabbing stars through my back,

Forwards, beckon, rebound.

Forwards, beckon, rebound.”

The room was quiet for a moment, Remus continuing to play the tune.

“Bloody hell, I didn’t know either of you could fucking sing!” James was beyond shocked. “That was amazing!”

And Remus played it over and over.