Euphemia Potter definetly shouldn't make YOUR summer plans
James would like to think that he’s a relatively charming kid. In fact, he’d like to advocate that it’s probably all together one of his better traits.That coupled with the fact that he can’t seem to tell anybody no, means he tends to be a natural people pleaser. Maybe not entirely naturally. He’s become rather neurotic about it. Though as long as everybody else around him was happy, it couldn’t really be that big of a problem.
He must have been having an off day though, keeping his optimistic tendencies in check. Something must really be wrong with his reaction if his mum was looking at him like that.
A mix of horrified satisfaction, probably just because she elicited such an unusual response out of him. Mouth hanging open, glasses slipping almost completely off his arced nose.
“Ok Mrs. Potter, your gonna need to back up. Repeat everything you just said. Slower. That would probably help.” Remus shifted uncomfortably from beside him, a thoughtful expression flitting across his features. James sat still stunned, at a complete loss of words.
It took a couple of seconds for Euphemia to speak again, probably already second guessing whatever she was going to ask them. “I will not berepeating this again, I expect you to listen. All of you,” she cut a sharp glance over her shoulder towards Peter and Sirius, to which the latter just grinned and winked, “Your father and I’ve come up with an idea, James. An awful one admittedly, but that seems to be your M.O lately. I’m sure you’ve at least heard whispers of it Sirius, seeing as Narcissa’s unfortunately still your cousin-”
“I make it a point to actively ignore whatever ickle little Cissa’s doing actually, it’s either that or admit to myself that my family does exist and they’re not a pill induced nightmare I once had but please, don’t let that stop you.”
Concern briefly passed through Effies eyes, though quickly settling into vague amusement. “Anything that ever comes out of your mouth Sirius, is only ever going to prove my point further. You boys almost put Minerva in her grave this year, did you know that? I swearto god I would get off the phone with that women and thirty seconds later she would be back on the line again, describing your latest behavioral problem, all while you wreaked havoc in the background.” Pulling a shining black and gold parchment out of her pocket, she passed it off to James, effectively pulling him out of his shocked stupor.
“Now I’m not telling you boys that you need to agree to this, albliet that would make things easier. I’ve already talked to Hope and Mrs. Pettigrew and I’ve already made the decision for you, James and Sirius. You four will be learning some manners before the start of term this fall. Your bound to be expelled from Hogwarts the way things have are currently looking. I mean, did you really need to run a lucrative beta fish business out of the third floor toilets?”
“Mum hold on, before you go on detailing every apparent sin we’ve ever committed, what exactly are we agreeing to here?” James only realizes how stupid of a question that is as he looks down at the paper in his hands, detailing exactly what his mother’s left unsaid.
“A debutante ball? You want us, the guys who literally had fourty seven detentions in the last semester alone, to have anything to do with some kind of ritzy ball?
“Wait Effie, what? We make a couple mistakes in the midst of our boyhood and now your subjecting us to some kind of rich person torture?” Sirius squaked indignatlly, rushing to pull the paper from Jame’s grip.
A meek hand raised into the air. “Not to be that peson or anything, but what exactly is a debutante ball?” Now that he thought about it, James wasn’t really sure either. Thank god for Peter Pettegrew.
“Think of it as a sort of coming out ceremony were- not that kind of coming out Sirius, put your eyebrows away. Generally it’s reserved more for the girls, the debutantes if you will. It’s a sort of formal introduction into womanhood.”
Finally breaking his silence, Remus potently interjects, “Not to be the bearer of bad news Ef, but none of us really fit that criteria.” Although his gaze does hesitate a fraction of a second longer on Sirius.
“Yes, thank you Remus. Why didn’t I think of that before sitting you all down for this conversation.”
She’s nearing sixty but her quips rival even Remus’s at times.
“The specific one you’ll be attending is being hosted by a Hogwarts family this year. Narcissa Black nee Malfoy is head of admissions. She personally reached out to me earlier in the school year, filling me in on all the changes they’ve made specifically given that your class seems to be so….. behaviorally challenged. As of recently, participating escorts will be receiving the same lessons as the debutantes. Including etiquette lessons, which is the exact reason you’ve all been signed up.”
Sirius was practically seething. “That little shit. She knew what she was doing. Mentioning this to Effie. Getting our summers taken away, knowing mums are suckers for civilities and all that bullshit.”
He was nearing eighteen but his dramatics rival even those of Walburga at times. It was probably the only human trait she possessed, the conniving bitch.
The other boys eyes go comically wide, not even realizing how much jeopardy their summers seemed to be in, but before they could unravel their protests, Euphemia chuckles.
“It’s only a ten week process. It moves rather quick, I’d imagine. You’d be paired with an escort right from the beginning and you’d work with her right up to the ball at the end of the last week. Think of it as your final thrust into adult hood. You’ll all be eighteen soon enough. It’s time to start acting like it.”
James could tell from a quick look around that his friends were feeling the same way as him. Slightly ashamed that their actions had led them here, but also resigned to the fact that his mum was not letting them out of this so easily. Maybe it was the fact that it seemed they would be doing this regardless of their own opinions. Or maybe James couldn’t say no to his mum, especially after she’d already asked for them not to make it harder for themselves. Damn his people pleasing problem.
“What do you say guys? There’s no way all three mums are going to let this go. We might as well make the most of it, see how the other side lives. It is a ball after all. And we’ll get to spend some exclusive time with some girls, paired just with us. Imagine all that can happen in ten weeks.”
He looked past how uncomfortable his selling point seemed to make Peter. How harshly Remus swallowed. The lingering glance Sirius took of Remus’s throat as he did so. And he especially ignored how wrong it felt in the pit of his stomach saying it.