JAMES
Sirius Black was many things. He was kind, he was feared, he was loved, he was hated, he was headstrong, but most of all he was a pain in the arse.
James narrowed his eyes at Sirius from where he was sitting.
Sirius was currently lying on James’ bed, his tie askew and blazer crumpled up on James’ floor, his phone discarded by his head and staring mindlessly at James’ ceiling.
James sighed and turned back to his computer screen.
“Hey Wormtail…?” he began into the headphone mic.
”What?” Peter's voice crackled to life, slightly too loud in James’ ear.
“Um, i'm going to go now-”
“What?! We’re midway through a game James you can't just stop-”
”My Mum, um, she wants my help making dinner sorry bye-”
“James your Mum has the flu -”
“Bye Peter!”
He pulled off the headphones and chucked them on the desk before Peter could argue back. Fuck he thought, Peter was going to kill him.
Sirius sat up, rubbing his eyes and pushing the hair out of his face.
“What time is it?” he mumbled, shoving his phone into his school bag lazily.
“Uuuuuh” James swivelled round to check his computer screen, “5:00”
Sirius scrunched up his face “great”
“You gotta go?”
“Mhm”
He swung his legs round and stood up, stretching widely and yawning, before pulling on his blazer and rucksack.
“Tell Effie that i said hi and to get better soon.”
“Will do mate”
Sirius opened James’ bedroom door, and James listened as Sirius pulled on his shoes, fumbled with his headphones and closed the door as quietly as he could.
James waited 5 minutes before also getting up and running upstairs to his parents bedroom, taking the stairs two at a time and throwing open the door with gusto.
“Mum!” he announced, grinning at Effie, who was sitting up in bed, reading. She put her book down and pulled off her glasses.
“Light of my life, what do I owe another visit.”
James jumped onto the bed beside her and snatched the book from her hands.
He sneered at the blurb, “Really Mum, i don't think Dad would approve of what you read….” he squinted his eyes at the words, “ But when Emelda encounters her new mysterious and sexy boss, she finds her entire world flipped ov-”
Effie grabbed the book back, whacking James on the head as she went. “Your Dad doesn’t control what I read James Potter…. On that note, is Dad back yet? He was supposed to make dinner…”
“Maybe we should order pizza then…..?”
Effie sighed, shaking her head, “Ok you know what… If Dads not home in 15 minutes you can order pizza ok?”
James leaned over, kissed his Mum on the cheek before racing downstairs, sparing no time in throwing himself onto the sofa with the pizza menu and landline in hand.
“Italiano Pizzas speaking! How can I help you?”
Mr Harrison was not, in fact, italian. He was however from Surrey, though whenever he was ‘on the job’ insisted on using the worst Italian accent James had ever heard.
“Hey Mr H, How are you?”
“James M’boy! Good! I am very good! How is your poor Mother?”
“Hungry, sick, boring”
“Ah of course, of course, well what can we get for your lovely Mother… and you of course.”
James made a clicking sound with his tongue, skimming the menu so worn down it was difficult to decipher.
“Can I have… 1 large hawaiian, 1 large margarita and 1 large pepperoni. Oh! Can I also have 2 servings of dough balls?”
“ Of course Mr Potter! It will be here fast! Give your love to your Mother! Now shall i put that on the usual card?”
“Yeah please Mr H”
“Ok now, ok now, all done! See you very very soon Mr Potter”
It was common knowledge the Frank Harrison had crush on James’ Mum, ever since he had first moved here from Surrey and opened Italiano Pizza , he had fallen for Effie the first time she stepped into his little restaurant, Sirius found this fact absolutely hilarious, and always made jokes about Effie having an affair with Frank (which of course wasn't going to happen, not when she was married to a man like Fleamont Potter).
The Pizza arrived with Fleamont, who grinned at James as he walked through the front door.
“Did Mum say you could order pizza?”
“Of course, how unfortunate you intercepted our most beloved Mr Harrison before he could serenade Mum, she was just dying to see him” James said mildly, taking his pizza box and stuffing a slice into his mouth.
“Oi! Wait until we’ve sat down ok?”
“Bla bla bla” James said through a full mouth, causing Fleamont to roll his eyes.
James sat in his first class of the day, his favourite one, mostly because it was the only subject he and Lily had in common: Biology. The teacher droned on about the upcoming Alevel mocks whilst James picked lint of his school jumper, bored.
The door opened suddenly, and Lily Evans stepped through, looking flustered. She hurried to her seat, apologising to their teacher as if she had killed someone and sitting down beside James (the only seat available). He smiled to himself, she had to talk to him now.
James turned to her, eyebrows raised, “Your late… that's a first.” he kept his voice steady, bored- Secretly he was scared he might start giggling and choke up, Lily did that to people... Mostly him.
Lily shrugged, her face still slightly red, she had clearly run to this lesson, which was cute. “Orthodontists appointment, got my braces removed finally ”
James perked up, “Wait really? Let's see then.”
She flashed him a grin, and sure enough her braces were gone, leaving her teeth perfectly straight and orderly.
James nodded in approval, though he was slightly sad, he had always loved Lily's teeth, they were crooked and imperfect and totally wonderful, just like Lily. he didn't say anything though, “Very nice.. Very nice. They look really good.”
“Don't patronise me..”
“I'm not! Honest to God Lily, they look great!”
She stared at him a moment, as if this reaction shocked her, and perhaps it did, but in the end all she did was smile meekly and thank him, turning her gaze to her book with a strange awkwardness.
They sat in silence while Lily copied down the date and title, before scribbling down a note and sliding it across the desk to James. He picked it up, surprised, and opened it.
Are you going to Mary's party tonight?
Mary Macdonald had joined the school at the beginning of year 12. She was hot, funny, kind and threw good parties, what wasn't to like?
Before her, house parties were nothing to talk of, often hosted by the wannabes trying to impress people like James and Sirius, but always ended up disappointing them, but parties had never particularly interested James anyway, so it didn't make much of a difference.
He shrugged, why he wrote down, and shifted it so Lily could see. She took back the note and hesitated, before writing something down.
Idk Mary’s making me go, thought i'd be lonely
So you wanted ME to go with you?
I NEVER SAID THAT!!!!
Well i was planning to go to her party anyways (James, in fact, had not been planning on it at all) maybe ill just happen to see you there...
James watched as a smile formed on Lily's face as she read that last note before responding
Well if ur going i suppose hanging out wouldn't be totally shit
well most people do tell me im not that shit of a date
Lily, who had been reading over James’ shoulder, snatched away the note and pulled a face. “ For the record ” she whispered, “ It's not... It's not a date James. It's just friends hanging out. Ok?"
James had anticipated her saying that, so he slid across his phone to display the oxford dictionary definition of Date
1. the day of the month or year as specified by a number
2.a social (or romantic) appointment or engagement.
"Stop reading into everything" he whispered to her, "not everything is part of my agenda to get you on a date, ok?"
She raised her eyebrows,
"Ok... This was." he admitted with an unapologetic grin, "but it's a general thing."
She laughed, a warm feeling spread through him. "Well then” he said as the bell rung, standing up and shoving his biology book and pencil case into his bag, “I'll see you tonight...”
James found Sirius, Remus and Peter in the corner of the cafeteria. Sirius was grinning at some year 11 girl, Remus was glaring at the back of Sirius' head, muttering "Pedo" at him whilst Peter stared happily off into space. James sighed in contentment, he loved his friends. It was like his world had been spinning nonsensically until the sun in the shape of three boys had pulled it into orbit. His world revolved around the three of them. He would do anything for them, jump in front of a car and take a bullet.
When he sat Remus turned to him desperately. "James" He said, annoyance tinted in his monotoned voice, "Please tell Sirius to stop trying to fuck girls in younger year groups"
Sirius didn't take his eyes off the girl, "James" He said, with an equally annoyed voice, "Please tell Remus that number 1, she is only a year younger, and 2, to stop involving himself in my sex life. It's getting a bit pathetic how much you care about my dick- OW!"
The girl cleared her throat and turned away, face bright red. Remus had kicked him under the table quite hardly, and Sirius finally turned his attention to Remus, giving him a disbelieving glare, "You wanker-"
"Sirius the amount you call me a wanker, i would assume it was you who cared about my dick-" Remus snapped, and as Sirius went to retort James quickly cut in, "I'm going to Mary's party tonight, if you guys want to come along?"
"Can't" Said Remus, shifting his attention away from Sirius to look at James, "I'm going to the library to revise."
"Boring!" Announced Sirius, drawing Remus' attention back to him, "Imagine revising instead of going to a party."
Remus snickered, "I'm sorry, who was it again that got a 7 in his French GCSE... Even though he is French?"
Sirius sat silent for a minute then shrugged, "Sorry James, I'm going to the library with Remus"
"Peter?" James asked, and Peter blinked back into reality, James smiled "What are your plans for this evening?"
Peter shrugged "I'm going to Mary's party"
"AHA!" James clapped his hands, "Well i'll see you outside my house at 9?"
Peter groaned and rolled his eyes "I am not giving you a lift"
"Yes you are"
"No i'm not!"
"Yes"
"no"
Peter's Dad pulled up just gone 8, and James jumped in the backseat, saying hello to an annoyed Peter and his cheerful father.
Peter's Dad was a nice man, had always been, really.
Pot-bellied and cheery and the perfect pub-dad.
He was divorced, (Peters Mum had run off with her yoga instructor two years ago) and quickly re-married, (Peter’s step-Mum was as far nicer than Peter's real Mum in James’ humble opinion, she was a sweet, pretty and fun woman who enjoyed watching geeky movies with Peter and cooking. Personally, if she wasnt 30 years older than James he would absolutely ask her out) and was exactly what James imagined Peter to be when he was in his late 40s/ early 50s.
He grinned at James as he got into the car.
“James! Nice to see you!”
“Hi Rick, how are you?”
“Good good! Pam is making risotto for tea, then i think we might watch coronation street, i'll tell you, me and Pam are hooked”
“Same as my nana”
He started the car and James turned to Peter. He was scrolling on his phone, and raised his head to smirked at James. “Well” he said, “someone certainly made an effort, i wonder why ….”
“ Yes …” Rick said lightly, though with a knowing emphasis, “How curious, is perhaps a certain girl going tonight?”
“How funny Dad! There is!”
“Shut up Peter...”
“Now who could that be?” Rick asked coily.
“Hmmm… Maybe just a certain Lily Evans” responded Peter, who was grinning ear to ear like a total sociopath.
Peter's Dad nodded blankly, “Err, which one's that again?”
“Dad you literally know who she is!”
“Not ringing any bells...”
Peter turned to James with an exasperated stare, “You do know! the one who was in the show orchestra the other year? The ginger?”
“Ah yes, the one with the viola?”
“Violin Dad! You know that!”
They pulled up in front of Mary’s house, which from afar wasn't incredibly recognisable as a party, but when you get close you can see groups of people dancing through the large windows.
Parties pre-Mary had been (to James anyway) awful.
They were either one of two things
- Sad
- Annoying (and sad)
The sad ones were generally hosted by people who wanted to suck up to people like James and Sirius, but ended up just making them wince and make excuses to leave early.
They were awkward, miserable and frankly made James consider killing himself everytime he steps inside one.
The other one, the annoying ones, were even worse.
shaky (awful) music far too loud and alcohol that tasted worse than battery acid, people vomiting everywhere (it made James want to jump off a cliff ), and worst of all, people like Severus went to them.
Mary's however, were far better. (Though James himself had only ever been to one), they happened once every month or so, and were pretty enjoyable. It had a strict guest list, only people invited by the host herself or had an approved invitation by a close friend (so in James’ case, Peter and Lily) were allowed to come. Mary played her music at a certain volume, and did not let anyone else mess with it, and as well as that, she played music even Remus approved of.
James knocked on the door, and was greeted with Marlene McKinnon (a good friend of Sirius’ and on their football club alongside James).
She grinned at him and Peter drunkenly, “Well helloooooo there.”
“Hey Marlene, can we come in?” Peter asked, responded by Marlene nodding her head.
“Yeah yeah, let me go get Mary first though”
She slammed the door, and it opened again a second later by Mary, looking very pretty and very drunk.
“Heya boys! Come on in!”
They followed her into the house, an old Justin Timberlake song blasting out of her speakers, people danced, cups in hands, the crowd buzzed as they moved, there was some sort of strange magic in the air, an atmosphere that instantly clicked with the two boys.
James said goodbye to the other two as he navigated his way to the kitchen, turning down invitations to dance as he went and saying hello to people who shouted his name and beckoned him over. The kitchen held a feast of drinks and pizza, James located and grabbed two cokes. After that, it was only a matter of locating Lily.
He pulled his phone out of his pocket and found her on his contacts.
ME
im here!! where r u???
LILY
on the sofa! like the one near the window, do u want me to come to u?
Or do u think u can find ur way over here ok?
James didn’t bother texting back, shoving his phone back into his jean pocket and heading back in the direction he had come, bopping his way through the dance floor, drinks held up above his head until he eventually emerged, quickly spotting Lily on the sofa.
She was wearing one of Mary's dresses (as James assumed from how uncomfortable she seemed), a short black one which she kept pulling down. Her hair was let down, tucked behind her ears, where star shaped earrings dangled, sparkling in the fluorescent lights, and loose makeup that had clearly been done by Marlene.
She had her hand wrapped around her legs awkwardly, and she seemed to be looking for him ( she was looking for him ), she turned her head and made eye contact with him and smiled, waving, starting him from his trance with a shock.
“You look nice” he said as he sat besides her, passing over a can. She squinted at it in the light before smiling, “I'm surprised you didn't get me a beer”
“Pfft well” he said, shrugging, “I'm not really a drinker and you don't seem like one either”
“True enough” she raised her can, “cheers”
James grinned, this felt easy, this felt good .
“Cheers.”
He opened his coke, only to end up covered in fizzing coca cola, “FUCK!” he gasped, watching with dismay as it seeped into his favourite clothes.
Lily laughed, hand over her mouth, “ oh my god ” she wheezed “you idiot ”
“ Noooooooooo ” he groaned, falling back on the sofa, “this is my favourite tshirt!” She didn't respond, too busy laughing.
He covered his face with his hands, “ shut up ”
She sighed, giggling slightly, before taking him by the wrist and dragging him up, “C’mon, lets go get you cleaned up then”
She dragged him through the dance party into the kitchen, past Marlene and Dorcas making out; Past Mary, Emmeline and Peter playing some sort of drinking game; Past a few kids James didn't recognise clearly blacked out, knocking into each other and laughing hysterically.
Lily found some wet wipes in a cupboard and handed them to James one by one, as he attempted to clear off the resisting stains on his clothes.
Lily hoisted herself up on the counter, and picked at her fingernails, “Thanks for coming with me tonight”
James looked up, surprised, “Of course” he said with a smile, thinking about the million other things he would do, if only she were to ask, going to a party hardly seemed one to thank him for.
“I'm really…” she began, before sighing, “I'm just really glad we can be friends.”
James stilled slightly, before smiling again “yeah me too, i'm sorry i was always so… you know”
She shrugged, “what's done is done yeah? Lets just… Move on and forget about it”
He smiled up at her, and thought about the fact that he may never get over her… Lily Evans. The name was so perfect, she was so perfect, for so long she had been everything to James, and perhaps he was wrong for it, he had plagued her for so long, he remembered, once, he had even made her cry, way back in year 7, furious tears rolling down her cheek as she she shouted at him to “LEAVE ME ALONE ”
All those years, she had thought he was making fun of her- But he wasn't, and he didn't know how to make her see how serious he was, how serious he had always been.
James shuffled awkwardly, recalling all the things he had done, when Lily perked up.
“Oh god i love this song! Let's dance!”
An ABBA song blasted out of the speakers, and Lily jumped up and grabbed James’ hand, sparks flying off from her soft touch. She started jumping up and down as they reached the epicentre of the party, hair bouncing around as she did, James followed, and he realised he didn't mind just being Lily's friend, if it meant getting to dance like this with her, here, to some ancient song his Mum liked. The ecstasy of dancing, and the bounce of the party, everything was perfect to James, and he wondered, seriously, why he didn't do this more often.