chapter seventeen
Upon their entrance, Marigold took peace in the fact that it was even dirtier than the one adjacent, clothes were thrown around haphazardly, a broom that one might trip over as soon as they walked in. The walls held many Quidditch posters and he had a bookshelf that was cluttered with trinkets and oddities. She assumed Lily had felt the same fond amusement at the mess that she had across the hall.
Behind the head frame of a full bed, which had been stripped of its pillows and blankets, was a large window. It was thrown open, allowing the cool winter night air in, but Marigold took more notice of her friends’ voices just outside it. The only way out the window was to crawl out on top of the mattress, and so they did just that.
Sirius climbed out first to the roof, setting down the objects in his hands in favor of helping Marigold next. Remus followed close behind her, and now the eight sat together reunited once more in a pile of James’ bedding.
“Pretty sweet setup, huh?” Sirius settled himself next to James on the far end. Remus scooted slightly behind them and helped Marigold as she weaved around their bodies to sit on Sirius’ lap.
Beside James was Lily and Marlene, huddling together for warmth, Dorcas slightly behind them, talking with Peter beside her.
“Really sweet,” She nodded, gazing out at the view of tree tops with the remnants of Christmas Eve’s snow. Above the horizon, it was that kind of magical night, where the sky seemed blue rather than black, freckled with stars and illuminated by the moon.
Alexander’s words from the morning found her mind again, sleeping with the sun and the moon. That’s exactly what they were, Remus was the tragically beautiful moon, and Sirius a burning star. She wondered what she might be in the equation.
Sirius began his lesson of rolling for the girl, first showing her how with his hands in front of her, his arms warm around her. The next one she helped, taking turns in the actions whispered in her ear. The final one she completed by herself. It wasn't as private of a moment they had shared last time, so of course it would be less sensual, but Marigold found it just as exciting.
They were passed around individually, and one after another were ashed. The first began with Sirius lighting it for Marigold, then passed down the line. The next she lit for him, holding it to his lips with her thumb and pointer finger, the final one Sirius had to lay back to allow for her to stretch over him and light it as Remus balanced it in his dazed smile.
They stayed out there for a while after the last one, laughing through their highs and sending playful quips at one another.
“Are those the woods we're camping in, James?” Marlene asked from Lily’s lap.
“The very same, it won’t be a far hike, but there’s a good spot I like,” He explained, eyes not tearing off Lily’s side profile.
“Won’t it be cold?” Peter fretted.
“I could keep you warm,” Marlene smirked, knowing she would get a rise out of him but nothing else.
“God, you flirt worse than James!” Lily snickered.
“We’ll all be in one tent, there will be plenty of body heat to go around,” Sirius encouraged.
“Yeah, and how many sleeping bags?” Marigold asked the group, only to be met with blank stares.
“Guys, who brought the sleeping bags?” Remus asked, alarmed.
“I said I’d supply the food and the campsite,” James shrugged.
“I brought my dad’s sleeping pads,” came from Marlene.
“I said I’d get the weed and stuff to start a fire,” Sirius shook his head.
“I brought the alcohol, don’t look at me,” Marigold replied.
“It’s my uncle’s tent we’re using,” Lily chirped.
“I brought games for us,” Peter included.
“I told you guys I’d bring the hangover cures from my mom and the backpacks from my dad’s trip through the Appalachians,” Dorcas deflected.
“Yeah all of that checks out, and I came here with the camping chairs and the hammock…did we seriously overlook the sleeping bag part of camping?” Remus began to laugh at the obscenity, the rest of the inebriated teens following in suit.
“We’ll bring some good blankets I suppose,” Sirius said as he calmed down from the fit.
“It’ll be one big, warm, jolly bed then I suppose,” James sent a smirk back to Remus. “You three have plenty of practice in that,”
“Oh gross!” Marlene groaned.
“It’s bad enough that Marigold brings all their cooties into our dorm!” Dorcas’ tone held no malicious inclinations, just childish humor.
“I don’t know maybe she’s onto something there, we should try it, see what all the talk is about.” Lily grinned wickedly at her best friend. They all erupted in laughs again.
“I’ll always sing its praise, but then again it’s these two that I’m talking about, not snoring James there,” Marigold shifted now to lay her head on Remus’ thighs, her lower body still across Sirius’.
“Hey!” He defended.
The night grew later, and they all agreed they ought to try and sleep before the trip tomorrow, not knowing how much they would get the next couple of nights. Remus, Sirius, and Marigold left first crawling back through the window and getting a rush of adolescent joy. Smoking on rooves, climbing through windows, forgetting sleeping bags, It all seemed so fun and reminded them that they were young and had the entire world before them.
Marlene and Dorcas were next to head in, finding the guest room next to James’ with the trindle bed. Peter fled eventually, inviting James to come find him in the last remaining guest room if he needed him, which was really more of a study with a small bed in the corner, and then he hoped James wouldn’t come to seek him after that.
Lily and James sat out there the longest, and the girl was enchanted with the guy she found before her. Without his friends there to edge him on, he was surprisingly sweet and sincere, much more down to earth than she’d ever had the opportunity to witness before. His years of public pining hadn’t gotten him very far, but maybe this newfound boy would, the one that was kind and dropped the performative act.
Lily decided she’d spend the night in his bed after she helped him drag all the pillows and blankets back in. It was just easier, she reasoned, Marlene and Dorcas would probably wake up if she came in now, she wouldn’t even consider going to Peter’s, and she shuddered to think of what the other three were up to in their own privacy.
“You don’t have to convince me,” He gave her a truly earnest look, his blue eyes didn’t show any sign of their usual mischief or humor.
And good that she didn’t wander into the adjacent room, as those three were absolutely finding their own ways to stay up a little later, chasing the feeling of freedom and their adoration for each other.
Before she fell asleep, Marigold lay between the two young men, feeling warm and grateful for their company. She watched clouds pass in front of the moon in the window on her left, and admired the cool light it bathed Remus in. She dared her fingers to trace feather-light over an old scar on his ribs, then flattened her hand on his bare chest to feel his steady heartbeat and rythmic breathing.