In The Trees
Saturday, November 29th, approx. 8:00am, approx. £30,000 raised so far
“James!” Effie calls, frantically rushing around and checking the last details inside the small shack James is in.
“Mum, everything is ready, trust me.”
“Are you sure? People will start arriving soon,” Effie frets.
“That’s a good thing. And if we’re a bit slow, or something is a bit off, they’ll survive and so will we. They might not even notice,” James reassures his mother, bringing her in for a comforting hug.
“You’re probably right,” Effie agrees, sighing. “It’s just… so much will be determined by this.”
“I thought you were okay with selling?”
“I am, in a way. I would be okay with it if it was just me and your father, but you, James…I can’t help but feel like I’m taking away your future with this. I didn’t realise how much you were devoted to the farm, not before these past few weeks. I want to give it back to you- your future, that is, and the farm.”
That was more than James was expecting, but he accepts it.
“Don’t worry about me, Mum. I’ll be okay. Really.” James doesn’t know if that’s true or not- he doesn’t have many other ambitions, or plans, or hopes, or ideas for his future career.
“That’s good,” Effie says. She’s always been strong for him, so James knows if she plans to cry over the farm, it’ll be somewhere he can’t see.
“You ready?”
Effie nods, and walks out of the shack, back up the road to where she manages the checkout counter in the shop with Monty.
The setup for the farm is odd like that; when you drive in, you go a hundred metres or so and end up at James’ shack- the saw rental place. If you needed a saw, this was the place.
Then, you passed a few small parking lots, off of which you could park depending on which tree you wanted. If you wanted a balsam fir, you’d park in lot 2, which corresponded with field 2. If you wanted a douglas fir, one of the most popular yet hard to grow, you’d park in lots 3-6 because they corresponded with different parts of douglas fir fields (namely fields 3-6), and so on.
Once you’d finished driving the long, winding road, you’d get to a more empty field. At this field, your tree would be shaken out for bugs, and then wrapped for the transportation home. Then you would enter another shack, this one to check out for the trees. The Potters had hired a few teenagers for these jobs, as they did every year, and so far they’d been trained well. Now was when they were really put to the test- opening weekend.
Effie and Monty worked at the checkout counter in the barn, the very one they’d had the meeting with Starry Night in. This year, it was filled even more than usual with knick knacks, furniture, blankets, mugs, anything Christmas themed and sourced locally. It was essential they made as much profit as they could, and helped as many of their fellow community members as they could, as well.
Mary and Lily were here too today to sell their assorted baked goods and delicious drinks. While they’d originally started as a stand, they’d recently upgraded to another cute shack, one much more suited for Christmas and food than a folding table.
You ready?
A text from Lily.
As I’ll ever be. You?
Yep. Made tons of cookies and have gallons of hot chocolate, ready to go.
Glad to hear it .
The first car pulls up, requesting a saw and directions, and things only improve from there.
The campaigning so far has really paid off, both monetarily and, evidently, popularity wise. The Potterly Trees had travelled to every fair, Christmas market, and event they could in a two-hour radius to try and raise money. They’d made £40,000, a respectable amount, but so much would depend on this month’s sales. Opening weekend was always a hit, so James hoped for realistically £100,000, tree and saw sales combined.
James hands out saws like peppermints, pocketing dozens upon dozens of 10s, and from what he hears from Effie and Monty, things are going incredibly well for them, too.
After at least 500 cars, James reaches one with a familiar driver in it;
“Regulus?”
“James.”
“Just couldn’t stay away, huh? It’s okay, I don’t blame you. I’m pretty irresistible.”
Regulus looks him up and down, and then shrugs, admitting, “You could say that. Still, no. I’m here to check things out.”
“Shouldn’t that be illegal or something?”
“Not if I’m doing it in an unharmful way. I’m simply interested in how many trees you have for business purposes,” Regulus says. A car behind him honks.
“Will you be needing a saw, then?”
Regulus just drives off rudely, and James shoots a quick text to the group to make them aware he’s now here. James has no idea what he’s up to, and while it could be suspicious, James would like to believe it isn’t, and Regulus has no nefarious intentions.
One thing James is grateful about is the fact that Regulus and Sirius have been talking more- in James’ opinion, it’s helping both of them, although neither would ever admit that. But now James doesn’t have to be the only one to talk to Regulus, and he knows Siriuis won’t shy away from him, although that’s a 50/50 for whether it’s good or bad. James doesn’t know the specifics of the chats, but he can assume it’s mostly well intentioned banter. Or he hopes it is. You never know for sure when it comes to the Black brothers.
James continues to sell the saws, eventually trading out with one of the highschoolers for a lunch break. When he walks to Mary and Lily’s stand, he’s surprised to find Sirius and Regulus there, talking with Mary and Lily.
“Hey,” he greets, moving in for a croissant. A chorus of “heys” greet him back.
“They’re good, aren’t they?” Regulus says, eating a croissant himself. “Dorcas brought me some a bit ago. Haven’t stopped eating them since.”
James sends Mary and Lily a confused look, but they just shrug. Business is business, he guesses.
“Yeah. Mary and Lily are geniuses in the kitchen.”
“And out,” Lily adds. “Don’t forget I beat you in final exams.”
“Trust me, I won’t. Not when you take every opportunity to remind me,” James jokes, making Mary and Lily laugh about the excitement over the final exam scores their last year at Hogwarts.
James eventually goes back to his stand, planning to ask Sirius about it later. The casual, almost friend-like way he interacted with Regulus was odd, but comforting to see.
______________________________________
“Good day today, huh?” Effie says at that night’s family dinner.
“Very good. I think we’ve got to have made, what, 110k?” James agrees excitedly. Even though the Christmas aspect of this business isn’t about the money, and any other year James wouldn’t have cared, this holiday season is special. It is about the money, so they’ll have the opportunity to say every other season isn’t.
“That’s good. We should be on track for our sales goals, at least,” Sirius says. “Donations are coming along well, and it helps that the gala thing is soon.”
“I’d forgotten about that,” James says. “December 13th, right?”
They’d taken Remus’ advice, and planned a gala, all based on fundraising. They’d invited many important people from the community to it - fellow business owners, London millionaires, and anyone they could think of with some influence or kindness in their heart. It was also open to the public, for the sake of as many people as possible and drop ins. It would be their biggest event yet.
“Yep,” Monty confirms. “You two boys have tuxes?”
James and Sirius both nod. Tuxes are important attire for business meetings.
“That’s good. I want this to be a bit fancy, so keep in mind that no jeans are allowed,” Monty adds, looking directly at James, wearing a visibly old pair of just those. James laughs at that, as they used to be Monty’s.
“Deal.”
There’s nothing more to add to the conversation, so a comfortable silence settles over the dinner, everyone eating in peace.
Eventually, Sirius speaks up.
“Would you mind if Regulus came?”
James looks up, surprised that Sirius would offer, and that Regulus would want to.
Effie doesn’t miss a beat. “Of course!” She accepts. “The more the merrier.”
It’s a very Potter answer, to say the least. A few years ago, back when the farm was doing well, the Potters would throw a Christmas party every year. It was always a big event, but in later years, they hadn’t been able to afford that. It’s one of the reasons this gala thing was so important to them- it was almost the same as it was years ago.
Except Regulus was there.
James wasn’t sure how to feel about that, or how he should feel about it. It made him a lot more nervous, for one. Suddenly the suit he was planning to wear, which had seemed appropriate enough for the event, wasn’t good enough. Nor the hair style he was planning to wear, or anything he was planning for. Oh, that was an enjoyable thing to realise.
“Yep,” James quickly chokes out, coughing on his chicken as he agrees.
“James?” Sirius asks, looking at him oddly. “You okay over there?”
“Super,” James wheezes, because he’s now legitimately choking thinking about Regulus anywhere near him.
“Are you sure? You seem ill,” Monty says, looking at him with a concerned and curious twinkle in his eye.
“Fine,” James says normally, then lets out a final cough. “Yep. Fine.”
“Alright, then,” Effie continues. “Anyone else you two want to invite?”
James doesn’t have anyone else, because all of his friends are already going to be there. Marlene, Mary, Lily, Sirius, and Remus, too, someone he’s newly started counting as a friend and who (by request of Sirius, yet again) would be at the party as well. It should be a moment of realisation, that he doesn’t have too many friends, but he’s very happy with the ones he does. He doesn’t need more, and while he wouldn’t mind them, he doesn’t want more either.
James shakes his head in unison with Sirius.
“Nope! We’re all set now, thanks Mum,” James says, and continues eating the chicken.
The rest of the dinner passes by normally, the family making polite small talk and having fun discussions about nothing in particular. Eventually, it ends, and after the dishes are done, and a Christmas movie is watched (specifically Elf, James’ favourite), it’s time for bed.
One of the most important parts of being an early riser is getting a good night of sleep, so James usually heads straight to bed after the mandatory family time. Tonight is no different, and Sirius is sleeping over, due to the early rise needed and just because. However, Sirius is making it very hard to sleep.
“Do you think inviting Regulus was the best idea? I mean, we’ve been getting better, but there’s always the possibility he is a spy for my parents-”
“Mate, he’s probably not spying for his parents.”
“But there’s no way to be sure. I mean, what if he’s just pretending to be close now?”
“Trust me, he isn't. Would he be telling you everything he has as just a ploy for our information?”
Not that James actually knows what’s being said, because he figures that brother business and nobody else’s, but he knows it’s personal.
“That’s a good point,” Sirius acknowledges. “But it’s still a possibility, right?”
James sighs into his pillow, then looks over the edge of his bunk bed, where Sirius is laying below.
“Is it? That’s up to you to decide.”
“This is so annoying. I shouldn’t have to think so much near Christmas,” Sirius groans.
“Trust me, I’d rather not, either. But it’s almost inevitable, don’t you think?”
“About some things. Like what gifts to give. This is way harder, though.”
“Like how to ask out Remus? I think you should be thinking about that more,” James says, steering the conversation away from the endless loop that is Regulus and to the much more enjoyable and less vexing topic that is Remus Lupin.
Sirius just groans again. “I can’t . It’d be ‘unprofessional’ or something, and completely ruin our friendship and the case. That’s what is most important.”
“Your happiness is what’s important,” James argues. “He makes you happy. I’ve seen the way you two look at each other.”
“I don’t know,” Sirius says. “It’s possible he doesn’t even like me. What if he isn’t even gay?”
“That’s not even a question to either of those to anyone who has eyes, excluding you, apparently. Invite him over tomorrow, to see how the farm works and stuff. Trust me, he’ll love it.”
“Will he? I can’t be sure. He might not even come. He does live all the way in London.”
“Yet somehow he’s come to basically every one of our events, and sleeps over at your flat whenever possible?”
Sirius stays quiet for a moment. James wonders if he’s pushed too far, because the topic of love can be a sore one for Sirius sometimes, given that he doesn’t have much experience with it, and the type of love he gives wasn’t accepted for such a long time.
“Do you think Regulus would mind him, terribly?”
I hope not, James thinks. It’d be a downright shame. For Sirius, of course. It’d be troublesome for Sirius .
“I think he’s grown and matured from your parents,” James replies honestly.
“That’s the problem, he’s still with them. How do I know he isn’t just like them?”
“He still talks to you, doesn’t he? And texts you, and was talking with Mary and Lily earlier. He can’t mind it too much.”
James can admit, he used to hate Regulus Black. He thought he was just like his parents, a stuck-up, homophobic, snob, who was mean to Sirius and only cared about themselves and money.
This last month has shown him a Regulus he barely recognises. One who truly is Sirius’ younger brother, one who isn’t a bigot, one with thoughts and feelings and a thawing heart. If you had told James Potter he has feelings for Regulus Black two months ago, he would have called you crazy. Now? James almost believes it.
“I don’t know. I can’t be sure.”
“Don’t let him hold you back. Talk with both of them. Maybe they’ll get along, you never know,” James encourages.
“Maybe. They both like law and stuff.”
“Nerds.”
“Remus did tell me once he used to be a nerd in high school. Remember those shoes we bought from that third year, by the way?”
“What about them?”
“According to Remus, they were probably fake!”
“You’re joking.”
“Nope. He said he used to sell fake Doc Martens to the popular kids in school.”
“Well, we were pretty popular. I can’t believe Remus would do something like that, though.”
“Eh. I could. He’s pretty badass.”
James jumps on the opportunity to push more about getting Remus to the farm. “So he could probably handle it if Regulus did say anything…”
“I know what you’re saying, James Potter,” Sirius says. “But fine. I’ll invite him.”
James could squeal. Really, it’s more of a relief for Remus - James can tell the damage he did by telling him Sirius chops wood and then not providing further context. Now, he’ll have an opportunity to see it for himself, and speaking objectively, he won’t be disappointed.
“Glad to hear it,” James grins. “I can’t wait for this all to be over.”
“I second that. Then he won’t be our lawyer anymore.”
“Yeah, that reason too.”
“What’s your reason?”
“I just want to stop having to worry about money, you know? Just care about the Christmas aspect of this, not the competition and the money.”
“You could always just steal a bunch of art and sell it on the black market,” Sirius suggests. James laughs. “But seriously, I think we’ll be okay. I mean, we’ve made £30,000 in a month from donations alone. That’s gotta count for something. Plus, we still have the party. We can do this.”
“Yeah,” James agrees half heartedly, but it’s hard to shake that feeling that something will inevitably go wrong.
___________________________________
Sunday, November 29, approx. 9:30am
Marlene has been nervous before. While it’s fairly rare, because she likes to look at things confidently and head-on, it still happens. Dorcas? Dorcas makes her nervous.
It had all started that night at the bar, when they’d met, and hit it off instantly. Dorcas was gorgeous, classy, but enjoyable and funny. Marlene could take her pick from the wide range of reasons Dorcas might’ve been attracted to her, but it was anyone’s guess to whatever characteristic had sealed the deal.
But, things had moved along quite nicely in the months since. They’d gone on a cafe date, getting blueberry bagels and tea from The Leaky Cauldron, and had later gone to a few other Christmas markets, partially tagging along with Potterly Trees campaigning and partially as a date opportunity.
Today, Marlene had decided to invite Dorcas to Potterly Trees, after getting the Potter’s permission as she was still technically the enemy and after promising Dorcas she wouldn’t tell the Blacks, as that would probably not go over well with them.
It helped Dorcas that Regulus would be there as well, although Marlene couldn’t shake the slight distrust she felt for him after his stunts with Starry Night. However, Dorcas had assured her he was okay, so she really couldn’t hate him. What mostly surprised her was Sirius’ acceptance of him, but she’d decided to step away from that can of worms and focus on her own life and relationship instead.
You ready to walk through a bunch of trees? She texted Dorcas, because that was all she planned on doing.
I’ve got bear spray, so yes
i don’t know if this walk is worth all that…
No, but you are
Dorcas Meadowes, the romantic, clearly. How could Marlene not trust her?
Marlene sends back a few emojis that accurately conveyed her feet-kicking, giggling, blushing state (it was embarrassing enough to admit she had one, but to tell the cause of it in actual words was too much), and hops into her red pickup truck to pick Dorcas up.
At the gate, James greets them with a smile on his face, as Marlene assumes he greets everyone. Classic James. Always smiling, he is.
“We’re just going to look around,” Marlene says. “No need for a saw or anything.”
James gives Dorcas a jokingly suspicious look. “Okay, just keep your girlfriend from stealing our customers or anything.”
Marlene laughs with him, before driving off to a lot to park her car. She parks near the edge of the property, at the furthest one.
“This is…almost the worst lot to park in, if we want trees,” Dorcas says, confused.
Marlene grins at her. “I know. I didn’t mean to look at Christmas trees.”
Dorcas gives her another confused look, before Marlene grabs her hand and drags her off to the forest on the edge of the property. There’s a small bit of woods, and tall pines in front of it.
“What are these?” Dorcas asks, looking around the base of a tree that has to be at least 14 metres tall.
“These are whatever trees the Potters have bordering their own personal property,” Marlene explains, pointing to a house through the woods. “I’m not entirely sure of their purpose, other than to look extremely cool.”
Dorcas nods in agreement, reaching out to touch the needles of one.
“These weren’t affected by the bugs?”
“Huh. Surprisingly, nope. It was only the Douglas firs that got eaten and all, and because they’re such a huge part of us…”
“Yeah. That tracks,” Dorcas agrees.
“Yep. Pretty big oversight on our part, but we’re learning now. Our trees are stronger than ever!”
Marlene then drags Dorcas further into the forest, past the large trees that border it. Their feet crunch on leaves as they walk deeper and deeper into it.
“You’re not going to kill me or anything, right? Because if you tried to, rest assured, I’d overpower you,” Dorcas mutters, as Marlene goes in different directions, seemingly following no path at all.
“Please. I took karate as a kid. There’s no chance of that,” Marlene retorts, scoffing.
Dorcas just rolls her eyes, finding the idea of the spitfire that is Marlene as a little girl in a karate uniform adorable and not at all threatening.
After a few more minutes of wandering, Marlene finally stops, and goes behind Dorcas.
“What I’m trying to get to is a few metres away, so I’m going to need you to cover your eyes now. It’s a surprise!”
“I swear, Marlene McKinnon, if you kill me-” Dorcas’ foot bumps into something metal, sending her into a cursing fit, as Marlene hastily tells her it’s okay to open her eyes.
Dorcas has stubbed her toe on a large, blue thermos, one on top of a large blanket on top of a lot of leaves and with more assorted food in containers on top of said blanket.
“This…doesn’t look like a murder spot,” Dorcas hesitantly says.
“I am not going to murder you, geez. It’s a picnic . Romantic, super awesome of me, amazing picnic. Duh,” Marlene says, gesturing grandly to the spread of food.
Marlene reaches down and picks up the thermos Dorcas accidentally kicked, then unscrews it, wafting it under her nose. “Hot chocolate!”
“That’s…”
“You like it? There’s also some croissants in the tupperware over there, Mary and Lily’s as I know you adore them, and a couple other assorted breakfast things as I wasn’t entirely sure what you’d like,” Marlene says, and pulls out a container at random.
“See this one? It’s-” Marlene opens it and checks it “beans, I think. Sorry. Clearly, I don’t even know what I packed! Sorry, this is a bit disorganised-”
“Marlene,” Dorcas stops her, putting her hand on her shoulder and taking a seat next to her. “This is perfect . Don’t apologise for anything, seriously. This is incredibly romantic.”
“Thank goodness,” Marlene sighs, clearly relieved. “I was pretty worried it might be a bit underwhelming. I mean, you’re some hot-shot corporate lawyer, and I’m a literal lumberjack on a Christmas tree farm.”
“So we’re the perfect match for a hallmark movie, then? Don’t worry about that. This is better than anything any other lawyer could do.”
“Really? ‘Cause I wouldn’t put it past Remus for Siri-”
“Any rich, important lawyer,” Dorcas corrects herself.
“Yeah. Fair distinction.”
Dorcas pokes through the food, and pours herself a miny cup of hot chocolate straight from the thermos and into a cute Christmas themed mug Marlene brought. Marlene pours herself one as well, and hands Dorcas a croissant.
“So, are we just going to stay here all day, then?” Dorcas says after a few hours, patting her full stomach. “I don’t know if I can walk back.”
“I really should’ve warned you to wear hiking shoes or something,” Marlene says sympathetically, looking at the black platforms Dorcas has on. Dorcas shrugs.
“We should probably get back semi-soon, but we have a solid hour, at least, to kill before lunch,” Marlene says.
“We could break into the Potter’s house?” Dorcas suggests, making Marlene laugh.
“That’s definitely helping your ‘not evil’ case, babe. Maybe we could break into some other house, though. That’d be romantic, right?”
“We could be England’s Bonnie and Clyde,” Dorcas muses, throwing a blueberry at her girlfriend. Marlene catches it, and instead of eating it, throws it back with horrible aim. \
“Who the hell are Bonnie and Clyde?”
“Some badass couple from the ‘20s in the States.”
“We’re pretty badass.”
“They killed people.”
“We are in the middle of the woods…and you’re in heels…”
“And here I thought we’d established I was safe from being murdered?”
“What can I say? My mind changes often.”
At this moment, Dorcas pulls Marlene over, and they kiss, not for the first time and most definitely not for the last. Oh, Marlene loves kissing Dorcas. It's everything good about the world smushed into one joining of two mouths. Magical, one could say, and something that Marlene has said, in private texts to her friends and to Dorcas herself. She doesn't think she'll ever stop being grateful she decided to talk to them, specifically, that night. They might've only known each other for less than a month, but what can Marlene say? When you know, you know, and Marlene knows.
______________________________
It takes longer than it did to get there than it does to get back, but Dorcas doesn’t mind too much. It means more time with Marlene and, hey, that’s always appreciated. She still can’t get over the picnic.
One thing about being a prodigy is you don’t make friends easily as a child. You also don’t fall in love easily. She’d never even had a girlfriend before. Dorcas thought she didn’t fall in love easily.
Marlene is challenging everything she thought she knew.
Dorcas had always known she liked girls, but she never would’ve thought she would’ve liked Marlene, out of all of them. Marlene, who only went to two years of university for the parties, then became a bartender. Not because she was failing university, or because she didn’t like her professors, but because she wanted more adventure in her life than school. Right , Dorcas had thought. Because Godric’s Hollow is the perfect place for adventure .
Dorcas hadn’t let herself get close to many people growing up, so obsessed with moving around as she was, so the first people to ever understand her - Regulus, Pandora, Evan, and Barty - took a long time to do so, because for a long time, Dorcas didn’t let them. It’s why she’s so close to Regulus, because the two walls they both put up cancelled each other’s out.
But Marlene? Marlene has broken her wall in a month . What the fuck?
Maybe Dorcas does fall in love easily, because right now, she’s falling in love with Marlene. It’s not like Marlene is making it hard, either, with the picnic and the cute dates and everything Dorcas sees reminding her of her.
“So, Marlene and you are official, huh?” Regulus asks, while Marlene talks to Mary and Lily, ordering the two of them lunch.
“We’ve been official for a while. But…yes. Very much official now.”
“A date? In the woods? You must have fallen for her hard , because the Dorcas I know would’ve objected because she thought someone was going to murder her.”
“I did, trust me. But with Marlene…it didn’t matter if she did.”
“That’s the sappiest shit I’ve ever heard.”
“Don’t pretend you’re not jealous. I’m sure Potter would take you on a date if you let him, trust me.”
Instead of shrugging off the jab, or ignoring it, or denying it, like he normally would, Regulus’ pale-from-the-cold cheeks turn a shade redder. “You think?”
“Regulus fucking Black.”
“I knew it. You’re messing with me. That’s why I’m messing with you by playing along.”
“You know that is not why you’re playing along.”
“No, no I think it is.”
“So if James asked you out right now, you would say no?”
“James wouldn’t, because he’s too loyal to this farm, and I’m sort of on his business enemy’s side.”
“Right. But say you weren’t.”
“Then I’d still be his best friend’s brother, someone I still have a very tumultuous relationship with, so he’d feel bad asking.”
“You’re a terrible person,” Dorcas sighs, longing for the day she finally snaps.
“Yes, yes I am,” Regulus agrees. “If it helps, we are getting better. A tad.”
“That does help! Now I don’t have to feel bad about teasing you about your little crush on James.”
“His what ?” Marlene says, startling them and apparently herself as well. Regulus glares at Dorcas, who rushes to fix what it may sound like.
“No- no, not that, it’s just a joke. He doesn’t actually . Or he thinks he doesn’t. It’s a bit of uncharted territory.”
“Thanks, Dorcas,” Regulus says drily. “Nice save.”
Dorcas shrugs, taking a takeout box with a hot sandwich inside out of the container from Marlene, and letting her sit down on the log she was sitting at and moving to another one. “Just the truth.”
“I mean, I couldn’t care less, if that helps. I think James is the one who would care,” Marlene says, then winks. “But I won’t tell him. If you don’t want me to.”
“Definitely don’t,” Regulus clarifies.
“If it helps, I think he’d care in the good way,” Marlene adds, and Dorcas is glad she did, because she can tell Regulus wanted to ask.
“Right.”
“Truly. He’s talked about you a lot . It’s quite annoying, actually,” Marlene says.
“What’s he saying?” Dorcas questions, because Regulus won’t.
“Good stuff, don’t worry. Can’t say what due to legality issues. By that, I mean he’d kill me.”
“That’s a good sign,” Dorcas notes. Regulus stays silent. “Don’t you think so, Regulus?”
“Regulus? Thinking?”
It’s Sirius’ voice that asks, and Regulus sends a quick, deadly look to Marlene and Dorcas before answering.
“I know it’s a concept foreign to you, but yes, most of the population does think, Sirius,” he draws, looking bored. It makes Sirius let out a hearty guffaw for some odd reason. Siblings . Dorcas has never had one, so she doesn’t understand them too well, but Marlene had a brother. One she has yet to meet, but then again, it’s only been a month.
“There’s the Regulus I know and love,” Sirius says. “Have you tried the sandwiches and cocoa yet?” He asks, eyeing the boxes on Marlene’s lap.
“Not yet.”
“Well, that’s perfect. Me, Remus, and James were just going to get some!”
Regulus’ face perked up at Remus, then dropped again at James.
“I may just get some lunch later, I don’t know…”
“Nonsense!” James says, rounding the corner, dropping in on the conversation like a fucking bomb. “Join us, it’ll be fun.”
“Will it?” Regulus deadpans, making Marlene snort out a bit of hot chocolate.
“Have you met us?” Sirius asks. “We’re the definition of fun.”
Regulus sighs, and gets up from the tree stump he was sitting on.
“Fine, I’ll join you,” Regulus agrees, rolling his eyes.
“That was surprisingly easy,” Marleme murmurs in Dorcas’ ear, just low enough for Regulus, close to them, to hear.
“What was that, Marlene?” James asks, looking between the three of them with a confused expression on his face.
“Nothing! You four go right ahead,” Marlene says, and waves them on.
“That was evil ,” Dorcas laughs. Marlene shrugs.
“It was all good things that James said. He even said that he was, I kid you not, ‘too pretty to be evil,’ in front of Sirius . It was the funniest thing ever,” Marlene says. “I’m determined to get them together. Also- don’t tell Regulus I told you that. James, and Sirius for that matter, would kill me.”
“It’s all good. I mean, I’d suspected enough anyway,” Dorcas says. “Neither of them make much of an effort to hide it.”
“Exactly! See, this is why you’re the best person ever,” Marlene says, and gives her another kiss, one that Dorcas appreciates greatly.
“What can I say?”
Around this moment is when the four of them come back, all with sandwiches in hand, Regulus included.
“It’s like a triple date,” Marlene whispers to Dorcas, only making her laugh harder.
“James and Regulus…Remus and Sirius…and us, the only people here with eyes and common sense, apparently,” Dorcas whispers back.
“How tragic for them. This is fucking awesome,” Marlene says, and kisses her yet again, drawing a cheer from James.
“Damn straight. Snogging my girlfriend is the best ,” Marlene tells him. “You should try it sometime.”
“Snogging your girlfriend? No thanks, I’m good. Sorry Dorcas, you’re not my type” James says, looking down ashamedly in a joking manner, making Sirius, Dorcas, and Marlene all burst into laughter.
“What would be your type, then?” Marlene asks, not looking at Regulus, but James’ eyes flit there despite that.
“Who the hell knows? I try not to limit myself,” James says. “Everyone is so great.”
“Right,” Marlene says, not agreeing or disagreeing. “But you just said Dorcas wasn’t .”
“That’s…a good point. Sorry then, Dorcas, I’ll reconsider.”
“I don’t think you should,” Regulus steps in. “Dorcas is with Marlene, there’s no need to.”
“Alrighty then, I won’t,” James agrees.
“Would you happen to know his type, Regulus?” Dorcas asks. From the look he gives her, Dorcas can guess that he’s thinking about the type of knife he’ll murder her with later, but all that really matters about that is it makes Marlene laugh.