Vision Thing
James bounced into the local pub with his usual enthusiasm for new things. Pandora had dropped by earlier and suggested they have a night out, and Remus had suggested a pub he’d wandered past on his walk that morning. It was everything a muggle pub should be. Dark leather booths with rectangular tables along a couple of walls. A scattering of small tables and chairs were between the booths and the L shaped bar. A pool table off in an alcove with a large group watching what appeared to be quite a series game. The smell of stale smoke and beer, the vaguely sticky carpet, and all time hits all added to the atmosphere. James was in love.
Laughing, Lily slipped her arm through his and they wound their way over to an empty booth at the short end of the bar while Remus and Tara headed for drinks.
“You’d think he’d never been in a pub before.” Willow said
“We don’t get to muggle pubs much.” Lily said. “There’s one in London not too far from where I share a flat with a couple of friends we go to, but it’s quite modern. And a lot of the wizarding pubs closed down during the war because it was too dangerous.”
“Also James is always like this when he’s excited.” Sirius added
“Like what?” James challenged
“A giant puppy,” said Sirius instantly
“You're the dog.” James grinned.
“True. But I’m all grown up and quite sensible.” Sirius responded smugly
“Oh don’t make me laugh. I’ll spill the beers.” said Remus putting four points on the table, followed by three from Tara.
“Beer?” Willow asked
“Larger. Apparently it’s better than what we have in the US - at least according to the server.” Tara said, somewhat dubious about the information.
Willow lifted a glass and took a sip. “It’s definitely stronger and yeastier. Not too unpleasant.”
“First pint is lager. After that you’re on your own.” Remus said, squeezing in beside Sirius, who found himself squashed against James.
“For someone your size you’d think you’d use a chair. These booths are made for ordinary sized folk.” James whined as he connected with Lily’s elbow and had beer splashed on him.
“This is cosier.” Remus smirked, draping an arm around Sirius’s shoulders.
James rolled his eyes. In all honesty, he didn’t mind being a little squashed. He was in a new muggle pub with his best friends in the whole world and new friends from another time and place. It was both brilliant and surreal and he was going to enjoy every second of it.
The seven friends chatted and drank, comparing experiences. Willow marveled at much older the five wizards were compared to the kids she taught at college and university. “You guys don’t seem like regular twenty-one year olds” she said, draining the last of her pint.
The marauders exchanged looks. “We’re not really. We joined up to fight in a war that started when we were kids. Makes you grow up quickly.” Remus said. “But you know about that.”
Willow nodded. “Spent high school and college fighting demons and vampires. Discovered I was a witch along the way, which was very cool. And met Tara which was the best.”
“An extremely powerful one which was scary at times.” Tara said quietly.
“What happened? If you're now working, did you win your war?” Pandora asked into the momentary awkwardness.
“The war continues. It moves depending on where and when a new hell mouth opens up and then a group of local slayers and hunters take it on. Every fifty years or so I think it is” Willow looked at Tara “I guess we just retired back into normality. I teach. Tara’s an ER nurse.”
“Until you heard a weird voice, cast a curious spell and landed In Cornwall fighting an elder god.” Sirius said cheerfully
Willow giggled. “Until that, yes.”
“Thinking of which. When should we start researching getting home?” Tara asked
“We’re booked into the house for another couple of days, then we head home. You can come stay with us if you like.” Said James tearing his eyes away from a couple, one of whom looked terribly familiar.
“Maybe it would be better if they stayed with me.” Lily said, “Pandora too if you’d like. Marlene and Dorcas are away for a while yet so there’s room. Also being in the city will make it easier to contact, who was it? The Watchers?” She continued.
“Certainly raise less suspicion staying with Lily. Can say they’re friends from out of town.” Remus agreed. “What do you guys think?”
Willow and Tara looked at each other for a moment, shrugged and nodded. “Lily and London.” Willow said
“Done.” said Lily with a smile. She had been dreading going back to the empty flat alone, and while she knew she was always welcome at the Potters for as long as she liked, it really was time to move on with her life. Even if only in small steps.
The talk continued, more drinks consumed, and people shuffled seats as needed. Pandora was happy. ‘Lily glows.’ she thought, as the warmth of the pub and conversation infused her and they exchanged small smiles across the table. ‘Maybe I can spend some time there. Must ask the snuggleshorn.’
Pandora was pulled from her musings by a sharp elbow to the ribs from James.
“Pandora. Is that?.” James said, sounding torn between bemused confusion and intrigue as he watched the pale young man playing pool with a group of rowdy twenty-something’s.
“Maybe.” she responded. “Why? does it look like him?”
James glanced over at the group again. He’d been looking at them quite a lot as the conversation had waxed and waned and restarted over the course of the evening. The young man did look like Regulus but wasn’t acting like him at all. “I don’t know” he said “I can’t imagine Regulus flirting the way that young man is. But the smile is the same. I think.”
“Lots of people look like Regulus so maybe it is, maybe it isn’t.” smiled Pandora “Don’t worry about it. Let them be and let’s have another drink.”
Still unsure, James gave in to Pandora’s suggestion and headed to the bar where he was joined by Sirius, whose shout it was anyway.
“You see the young man in all black playing pool with a couple of other guys? That wouldn’t be your brother would it?” James asked as nonchalantly as possibly.
Sirius squinted through the smokey air, his head fuzzy with beer “Nah.” he said “Reggie was never that cool. That’s always been me.”
“Tosser” grinned James, handing some of the drinks to Sirius before picking up the rest. “Let’s get this lot back to the table before you spill them all.”
Over by the pool table Regulus had been surreptitiously watching James and Sirius. At one point he’d been convinced James would try to come over and talk to him. Seeing them look at him from the bar, he decided it was time to go. Playing the role of the dilettante Art, Regulus turned and handed V his cue. “Your turn then I’m out of here. Can barely stand up let alone shoot straight.” He slurred with a smirk, sounding more drunk than he actually was.
V laughed. “Ok lover boy. Let me walk you home. Don’t want you falling over somewhere, or someone, you shouldn’t.” He said before going to take the final shot of the game and collect their winnings.
Regulus waited, his eyes straying back to James, who even through his colouring looked flushed with warmth and drink. He remembered the kiss too. So much. So quick. Was it only the night before? He wished. He repressed a sigh. Not a good place to go. Instead he allowed V to stuff half their winnings into his back pocket and wrap an arm around his shoulders. Regulus swayed slightly to cover his flinch at being touched. ‘Might as well keep up the ruse.’ He thought. V laughed again, also swaying slightly. Together they wound their way through the crowds and out into the night. But not before Regulis had met honey-coloured eyes which sparked with recognition. ‘Bollocks.’ he thought ‘There goes my reputation as a cold hearted cad. Or maybe I’ve improved it. Getting drunk and snogging a different person every night. It’s an image. Wonder if I can make it a reality.’
The rest of the night passed quickly and when ‘last round” was called James was more than ready to go home. Pandora had seen the look of shock on his face but said nothing. Regulus needed a good time and as lovely as this group were, he also needed to not be him for a little while longer. They had a tough year ahead of them and this might ease a nightmare or two. Under the table she felt Lily’s hand twine itself around hers and squeeze lightly. It had taken all night, but they were finally sitting together and had reached an unspoken agreement. It would be spoken soon, Pandora knew. That would make things harder, however if she was going to allow Regulus a couple of nights of freedom then she would give herself the same. She squeezed back.
“Alright gentle witches and wizards, methinks it’s time to vacate these dusty premises and make love with our beds.” announced Sirius, swaying to his feet and downing the last of his lager.
Needing no more encouragement the others rose and made their way out onto the rain slicked street. James cast his eyes around in the dim lamplight hoping to see where Regulus had gone. He wasn’t surprised, though still disappointed, that there was no sight of him or the person he’d walked out with. He was surprised to watch Lily lean into Pandora. That he hadn’t seen coming.
“Would you like to come back to mine?” Lily asked softly, pulling Pandora a little back from where the others were stumbling down the street.
Pandora shook her head. “Can’t tonight. Things to do before the sun comes up.” She said “But we can come over for lunch? Would that work?” She smiled, her dark brown eyes filing with mischief.
Lily smiled back. “Hug?” She asked, unsure of where things stood.
“Always.” Pandora whispered as they embraced. This felt so right she didn’t want to let go. The moment lingered then it was broken as James fell over his own feet.
“Til tomorrow.” They whispered into each other's hair and went their separate ways.