Pretty Handsome Awkward
Lily looked at herself in the small bathroom mirror. It had been a tumultuous few days. First finding out that what she had believed to be a wild goose chase had been a real threat, though probably not the one Dumbledore had imagined. Second, the sight of the supposedly dead Voldemort lying broken at the base of an elder god portal having been killed by Regulus. Fighting against said elder god. Fighting on the side of another elder god who had now gone walkabout. Meeting Pandora properly despite going to the same school for years. Meeting muggle witches from America in the future. Realising that Regulus wasn’t as horrible as he used to be at school though colder and more deadly. Getting drunk and dancing with Pandora for Halloween. She sighed. ‘0h dear. I think I might be getting a crush on Pandora.’ She thought, then gave her reflection a tiny smile. Sam always liked Pandora. “An odd child but great heart.” She remembered Sam had said when she’d asked why Pandora would want to be friends with a cold bastard like Regulus Black. And now they were faced with how to get said American witches back to their own time.
Lily shook herself sternly before she headed back into the living room where the rest of the household were hiding from the rainy afternoon. ‘No time for dreams, we have a mission to complete.’ She thought, though the smile still lurked at the corner of her mouth.
The living rooms had been arranged so that the two matching, well worn couches were facing each other on either side of an oval, glass topped coffee table. At one end of the table there was a good sized fireplace with a small fire in it, and the large cream coloured armchair Regulus had spent most of the party sitting in. At the other end of the table, facing the fireplace, were two smaller brown velveteen armchairs in which Willow and Tara sat curled up notionally reading a couple of novels they had found in their room. Lily sat down on the coach opposite Remus and Sirius, who were sitting facing each other, Sirius’s legs on Remus’s lap.
“I’m bored.” Sirius announced to no one in particular.
“I’m sleepy.” Said Tara closing her eyes
“I’m doc.” Responded Willow not looking up from her book.
“Guess that makes me grumpy.” Remus replied, putting his feet on the edge of the table.
“Then I’ll be happy.” Lily laughed, picking up her book. “Even if this book is boring.”
Sirius stared at them “You’re mocking me.” He said
“He must be dopey.” Willow said struggling to keep a straight face
“He’s definitely not bashful.” Said Tara “Are you always that loud?”
Sirius refused to blush. Remus barked out a laugh.
“James must have been really drunk if there was no silencing spell.” Lily remarked
Tara looked at her. “Seriously?”
“Seriously.”
“Well please make sure someone casts it tonight. It’s really off putting.”
Lily laughed as Sirius struggled to keep himself in check. “Not fair.” He said eventually. “You lot are none too silent yourselves.”
“Oh honey, we’ve been way too tired to be loud.” Tara smiled sweetly at him
Sirius huffed and stared Remus, who was chuckling. “Thinking of James. Where is he?” he asked, trying to change the subject.
“No idea. I’m guessing Pandora and Regulus went back to their place. He may have gone with them.” Lily mused.
At that moment James walked in and shook himself like a big furry animal, getting droplets of water everywhere.
“You’re wet.” Sirius said with his usual knack of stating the obvious.
“And you’re dry.” said James
“I thought he was bored,” said Lily, abandoning her book.
“We know it’s not bashful.” Tara laughed
“Or doc.” Willow said joining in
Sirius yelped in frustration. “Bloody hell. What are you idiots talking about?”
“The seven dwarves of course.” said Tara giggling at the thought of the elegant Sirius as one of Disney's dwarves.
“The what?” James and Sirius said in unison
“Snow White and the Seven Dwarves I assume.” Remus said, looking at Tara who nodded. “Animated movie” he added seeing the look of confusion on Sirius's face. “Muggle long form cartoon.”
“Oooh.” They responded, only slightly less confused.
Willow watched fascinated by the interaction. It was a bit like observing her college classes when she talked about witches and demons. “I take it there not much cross-over between the regular and magic worlds?” She asked
“It’s mostly those of us who have grown up in non-magical or as we call them, muggle families. Remus and I did. Remus’s Mum is a muggle, and all my family are non magical. James and Sirius on the other hand are from pure-bred families so not at all. Although they’ve spent loads of time in London since the wizarding war ended.” explained Lily
“Hey. I also live near a muggle village. We go there a lot.” James objected
“And I grew up in London so I watched muggles everyday.” Said Sirius somewhat offended.
“You did Love. But you never had a telly, or went to the movies, or even the shops.” Remus said moving a pouting Sirius so he was resting in his arms.
Once settled, Sirius shrugged. “True. Once Andy took us to the natural history museum - it was amazing - and a few times we went to the tiny playground nearby when she needed to escape a family gathering. But that was before she was disowned.”
The room fell quiet at that until Remus broke the awkward silence with a cynical “So lots of movies then?” causing Sirius to elbow him in the ribs and James to choke on his drying spell.
A happy peace restored the group was silent again. Dry one more, James plonked himself down on the couch with Lily eyes drifting to the empty chair beside the fireplace. ‘I wonder what Regulus is doing now.’ He thought idly, his mind drifting from the chair to the image of Regulus in his bed that morning.
—-
Regulus, despite his best attempts at resting, had given up and was stalking the streets of the town. The rain lashed down on the bubble he had created around himself to stay dry. Climbing up and down the different streets had kept him warm. Now he found himself hovering outside a small cafe. It was almost dusk and the soft light was inviting.
“You going in or what?” Asked a gruff Cornwall voice.
“In it seems.” Regulus muttered and proceeded to enter.
The cafe was cosy and quiet. The warm yellow walls, terracotta tiles and worn wooden floors gave it a summery feel, while the small bookcases filled with random books, magazines and knickknacks reminded Regulus of Pandora’s neat chaotic cottage. There were a few lingering customers keen to stay out of the rain which Regulus appreciated as he made his way to a table beside an interesting looking bookshelf.
After reading a number of titles he picked up a volume of William Blake’s poetry. ‘Mad bastard.’ He thought. ‘Would have made a brilliant wizard if he’d known where to go.’
His thoughts were interrupted by a vaguely familiar voice. “Well hello handsome. Tea or coffee table day?”
“Coffee. Strong and black please.” Regulus answered looking up at tall slim youth with blonde hair and a tan.
“And I thought you liked it creamy and dreamy.”
“Hi V.” Regulus said with a smirk.
“Hi Art. Thought you were still in France, swanning about all fancy and free.”
“While you appear to have traded sun and tourists for rain and work.”
“Touche.” V smiled a wide, perfect smile that was designed to bring a potential conquest to their knees. “I’m almost done here. Okay if I join you for a coffee?”
Regulus shrugged. Blake was boring these days, and he wanted a distraction. “Sure. “ he said nonchalantly.
The next couple of hours passed pleasantly as V flirted outrageously and Regulus donned the rich-boy muggle persona he adopted in France, flirting back in a way that would shock everyone who knew him.
“Sooooooo ….. What would you like to do this evening?” V asked as the cafe had closed and the afternoon darkened to night.
Regulus leant back in his chair “What do you have on offer?”
“Well there’s a half decent pub not far from here. We could have a couple of drinks and go back to mine?” V suggested switching on his thousand watt smile.