chapter eleven
James swung the front door open without so much as a knock, earning a scorn from Lily. The five bustled in, bickering over James’ action, Peter defending him and all the girls disagreeing. James’ words were caught in his throat, he just smirked at the scene in front of him.
Remus was vacuuming the rug, Marigold thrown over his shoulder so their friends could only see her legs, head facing Remus’ strong back. He couldn’t hear them over the loud vacuum, and he was focused on the yells and laughs coming from the girl demanding he set her down.
He spun her around, making them both dizzy, before shutting off the machine and throwing her down on the couch rather ungently. He towered over her, ready to lay himself over her and kiss her till their faces were sore.
Their group of friends in the doorway were silent, watching in awe almost. Marlene cleared her throat, catching Marigold and Remus by surprise. Remus looked up at them, covering his bare legs sheepishly. Marigold flipped over onto her stomach, peering over the arm of the couch, giggling.
“We thought you lot wouldn’t be making it in for at least another hour!” She stood to hug the girls.
“What happened to using floo powder the old way?” Remus was beyond embarrassed.
“James wanted to travel like muggles,” Lily rolled her eyes as she hugged her close friend.
“Cabs are fascinating, Mooney, the smell like dust and smoke,” James enveloped the tall boy in his own arms.
“Peter rode in the trunk!” Marlene exclaimed with excitement, clinging to the brunette girl.
“Where’s Sirius?” Peter stretched his arms at the memory of the cramped space.
“Upstairs in the shower,” Marigold answered after kissing Dorcas’ cheeks.
As if on cue, the sound of water running upstairs halted and Sirius yelled out.
“Goldie, get your cute butt up here and give me my last clean pair of underwear now!”
Marigold ran upstairs, eliciting cheers from James and laughs from the others. She halted in the doorway of the restroom, cheeks red and eyes wide.
“They’ve arrived, mister, just in time to hear you yell that!” She rushed out, slipping the boxers off and throwing them at his wet chest, avoiding looking at him too long in only a towel and shy to wear her own underwear and Remus’ sweater in front of him.
She ran out of the room just as quickly as she entered, in search of her clothes. He called after her playfully, slipping the rest of his clothes on in a hurry.
When she came back downstairs in her own articles of apparel, she made quick work putting on some chai. The boys took the suitcases upstairs to the guest rooms, while the girls surrounded Marigold like hens.
“I’m so happy, I can hardly explain it,” She beamed at them.
“I bet, you’re a jolly little housewife,” Marlene teased.
“This is a fantasy you’re living in,” Dorcas gushed.
“Two adoring men at your beck and call!” Lily sighed dreamily, even though her situation wasn’t too different.
“I think I’m in love!” She announced, looking between her friends' faces.
“With which one?” Lily whispered. The other two cackled and shrieked with delight, gripping their friend.
“Both?” Marigold admitted, hushed.
“So, sleeping arrangements…” Remus clapped his hands, leading the boys into the kitchen.
“Yes,” Dorcas sobered up and faced him, a smile accidentally escaping against her will. The girls behind her stifled their laughs.
“Well um,” Remus began, his brows furrowed in confusion at the girls’ behavior.
“I haven’t even gotten to say hello to the ladies yet,” Sirius grinned, stepping to greet them all.
He tugged Marigold into his side after hugging them all.
“Right, well, there’s a queen mattress in my parents' room, two twins in the guest and a full in mine-“ Remus began again.
“I think Lily and I will take the twins,” James faked a yawn to stretch an arm over the ginger.
“Yeah that’s not happening, only if Dorcas is there to protect me,” Lily scoffed.
“Peter and I’ll take the queen!” Marlene purred, a sultry look given to the man. He turned red and his eyes shot wide.
“I think I’ll room with James,” He looked to Remus.
“Boo,” Dorcas teased at the bashful blonde.
“Then you, me, and Cole will sleep in your room!” Sirius smiled at his best friend.
“No, you’ve had her all summer,” Marlene crossed her arms.
“And you girls get her all school year!” Remus mused.
“Alright, alright! Marigold ceased the bickering as she shut off the stove. “For at least tonight, all of us girls can sleep in the master, you boys divide yourselves accordingly.”
The eight of them had supper in the garden that night, a bong and Shepards pie shared. They returned to the living room as it grew colder outside, the wind biting at their noses. That night they all went to bed tummy and hearts full.
The girls piled into the queen bed, excited to be able to catch up without boys’ prying hands and ears. James and Peter slept in Remus’ room, where Marigold had taken up camp all summer prior. Sirius and Remus slept in the guest room where Mr. and Mrs. Lupin had placed them to give the girl some privacy.
In the morning, Marigold snuck out from her spot between Lily and Dorcas, creeping down the stairs to not wake anyone. They would wake in due time to the smell of a pot of coffee. She pattered around the kitchen for a few minutes in solitude before she heard the cheers of Marlene and James upstairs.
She turned the stove off and hurried upstairs. James had launched himself onto the bed at Lily’s feet, Peter sitting on the bedside table nearest to Marlene’s edge. Marigold shook her head but crawled into the bed next to Dorcas again.
Sirius and Remus were roused from their heavy sleep, following their friends' voices into the master bedroom.
“Leaving us out, aye?” Sirius quipped.
“No!” Lily shrieked as James tickled her.
“James helped himself in, thank you very much,” Dorcas laughed.
“Well then, maybe so will we,” Sirius teased, leaning over the footboard.
“Tonight we’re all swapping beds,” Remus proclaimed, sitting next to Marigold’s legs.
Indeed they did, after a night of smoking outside in the garden, they once again found themselves putting on records in the living room. This time it was some of Mrs. Lupin’s ABBA records.
Marlene pulled Marigold from Remus’ lap on the couch and the two began swaying around haphazardly. She had managed to score a quick peck from his lips before being thrust onto the rug. They sang along to words rather badly, soon getting Sirius and James in on it. Those four, always the most outspoken had a good laugh about their ensemble.
“Alright, alright, just the girls now,” Marlene urged Lily and Dorcas up from their shared loveseat.
“Lovely!” James sighed contently, he and Sirius taking the girls' spots.
The girls put on a half-ass performance, grinning from the weed and tobacco. It was more silly than anything, but there wasn’t a single boy in the room not swooning. Marigold gave both of her boys those eyes of infatuation, lovesick and peaceful content. When the ballad ended Marigold tugged Lily with her to the loveseat.
There she sunk to her knees between Sirius’, smiling like a fool and catching her breath. Lily leaned her back against James’ legs. Marlene collapsed pathetically on the sofa, leaning into Peter but with her arms wrapped around Dorcas, Remus helped her out of Marlene’s tight clutches with an amused chuckle.
Sirius wordlessly leaned down and caught the girl's lips in his own with a hand cupping her jaw, earning shouts of shock or encouragement from around the room.
When they went to bed Sirius, Remus, and Marigold returned to their respective spots in Remus’ cramped bed. The three remaining girls stayed in the big bed, and James and Peter were exiled playfully to the guest room.
The school year began pleasantly, for the most part, Sirius was a little pained at the sight of his younger brother giving him the cold shoulder. Remus of course was still inflicted with his condition, but the group was getting better and better every month at helping him through it.
Sirius and James had fully mastered their animagous by now and were trying to help Peter with his. When they begged Marigold to start the journey, she eventually gave in. She had no power in her soul to resist her boys’ wishes.