For the middle of June, the weather was being quite unforgiving on the Saturday of Nargles Bookshop’s grand opening. Setting up both her and Dorcas, the store's social media manager, chastised Regulus on his anxiety about the weather mucking up the event.
“Oh, honestly Regulus, stop fussing.” Pandora swatted his hand away from fidgeting mercilessly with his silver cufflinks. “Sirius was very thoughtful getting those for you, so don’t break them.”
The three of them had dressed up for the occasion. Regulus, wearing his all black formal suit, and a matching cuff earring, Dorcas had shown up in a deep purple pantsuit that contrasted her dark skin and blue streaked hair beautifully. Which left Pandora in her pink and floral long sleeved dress. She’d chosen to leave her hair loose and curly for the day, but it would probably end up tied back if the store got busy.
“I’m lucky they don’t have dicks on them,” Regulus grumbled but shook his hands out nonetheless. “Do I look okay? Seriously--don’t.” He glared at Dorcas who had smirked, probably about to jokingly remind him that actually, he was Regulus.
“Oh, I know what this is about.” Pandora grinned, leaning back on a bookshelf near the cash. “You’re nervous about seeing James.”
“Who’s James?” Dorcas asked, holding up her tripod.
“No one,” muttered Regulus.
“He’s the cute boy who works at the cafe next door,” Pandora responded at the same time.
“He’s no one,” Regulus repeated. “It’s already miserable out. I doubt he’s going to come.”
“Wait--” Dorcas smiled, “he works with the redhead doesn't he? The one you spent Tuesday night gushing to me about?”
“It’s possible.” Apparently it was Pandora's turn to blush and fidget with her sleeve awkwardly.
“Oh, this is going to be a great day.” She laughed, turning to set up some photo lighting behind the cash.
What would have been a slow day left the store filled with chaos. Friends showing support, locals having seen their posters around town, or on social media. Dorcas had outdone herself. She even set up a makeshift photo station near cash, cheesy masquerade masks and all. It was so busy, Pandora almost regretted wearing her dress, but it was nice to dress up for the exciting day.
Neither she nor Regulus noticed when Sirius and his boyfriend, Remus, walked in. Though she did catch him in time to see him attempt to sneak up on Regulus at cash, helping customers check out.
“Well well, if it isn't my dearest brother all grown up.” Sirius bumped his shoulder into the younger, startling him in a brief moment of peace between customers. “Is that an earring?” He poked at Regulus’ ear, who slapped his hand away.
“Jesus Christ, Sirius. I’m not eight,” he snapped, glare venomous on his older brother. “Don’t sneak up on me like that.”
Sirius put his hands up in surrender. “Alright, alright, sorry for being proud of you. Looks like good ol’ mum and pops were right about me corrupting you.”
“I am capable of corrupting myself without any of your help, thank you,” Regulus shot back, facing the cash.
“Ah, of course you are Reggie,” smiled Remus Lupin as he approached the scene.
“Thank God we’re here to keep them under control, isn’t that right Remus.” Pandora made herself known, looping her arm through the taller mans’.
“Right you are, Pandora.” Remus nodded seriously, though a glimmer of humour in his eyes ruined the facade.
“Are you going to stand there, or do I get a hello?” Called a voice from behind the four of them.
Sirius moved swiftly to wrap Dorcas up in a bone-crushing hug, “Of course, Dorcas dear. How could I ever forget you.”
She rolled her eyes as he put her down, “I regret speaking.”
“Me everyday,” Regulus snorted as he beckoned the next woman in line.
It was nearing six o’clock, closing time, when James and Lily arrived carrying a large flat box with them. Surprisingly, it was Sirius who shouted out to them.
“Oi! Prongs, I thought you were working today. What are you doing here?”
James' face broke out in a grin upon spotting Sirius, and he bolted over tackling the other man. Which effectively abandoned Lily at the door, who was still holding the box.
“How do those two know each other?” Pandora asked precariously, approaching the other girl.
“Oh,” Lily shrugged. “They went to school together,”
“Wait, really?” Pandora's eyes widened. She must have looked pretty shocked, because Lily laughed.
“Yes, really. Why?”
“Sirius is Regulus’s brother.” Now it was Lily's face that morphed into something like horror for a moment before settling into a controlled calm.
“That’s fun,” she ended up commenting in fake nonchalance. Well, Pandora thought, it seems like Regulus’ affections are not exactly one sided.
Based on the sudden tension in Regulus’ posture, and the oblivious delight in Sirius’ face, it looked as though the boys were figuring out the same thing. James seemed to be struggling not to stare at Regulus, who did look quite handsome. He was failing miserably of course, and kept glancing back. Surprisingly this did not seem to help ease Regulus’ forcibly pleasant expression.
Remus gazed on at the other three, looking like he wanted to disappear into his sweater. Lily waved him over to where she and Pandora stood, and he rushed over gratefully.
“I swear to god, those two are idiots.” He sighed, running a hand through his shaggy brown hair. Pandora figured he meant James and Sirius, as Regulus looked more like a cat thrown into water against its will.
Now that Pandora thought about it, she remembered Remus mentioning an old friend from school named Lily. It had never even occurred to her in the past week that it was her Lily.
“I know,” Lily sighed before turning to Pandora. “James and I made you a cake,” she nodded to the box in her hands.
“That’s so lovely of you two,” Pandora smiled lightly. With that, the messy introduction was forgotten.
“Let me take you two to the back area and we can get it ready to serve.” She wordlessly took the box from Lily's arms. Her hands were warm to the touch, despite the chill outside. Lily Evans was made of summer.
There was a stairwell that led to her and Regulus’ apartment upstairs just past the cash, it's presence created a bit of a short ‘hallway’ effect to the back area of the store. The space had a cosy, enclosed feeling to it. The walls were still lined with bookshelves--all of these ones were used. There was some natural light, but only from one window, giving it an underground feeling. The rest of the light came from assorted lamps and an overhanging light fixture. The furniture was mismatched, but soft--which was a necessity in Pandora's opinion. The floors were carpeted, unlike the hardwood front area of the store. It was a bit cramped, but she could feel the tension of the day easing out of her just by being in the space.
There was also a coffee table in front of one of the couches, where Pandora could place the cake.
“Ooh, this is lovely,” Remus’s eyes lit up when he saw the hidden area. “Remind me why I’m a waiter at that bloody restaurant again?”
“Because you wouldn’t let me give you a job here,” Pandora reminded him bluntly.
“Yeah, pride and..all that” Remus echoed absently as he pulled a book off one of the shelves.
“I think you might actually be getting through to him,” Lily joked, touching Pandora's arm.
“Oh, I’ll keep trying,” she assured the redhead.
Thankfully, Lily had brought enough plates for everyone. Remus was no help cutting the cake, already absorbed in the book he’d taken.
“So, why Nargles?” Lily asked, cutting into the lovely marble cake. “As the name of this place, I mean.”
Pandora sat on the ground to spread out the plates, allowing Lily to easily transfer slices of cake onto them before answering. “My--My mum made that word up.” It still hurt, remembering the good moments. Before she grew up and realised what her family was. “They were these little…pixies I guess. They stole books,” in her peripheral vision she saw Lily smiling warmly.
“If you had any that were left lying around for too long, Nargles would steal them in the night. And, they would bring them to new homes. Where they would be loved, and adored. She used to say Nargles were responsible for new books in the house too.” Pandora swallowed thickly before continuing. “When she died, she left me the money to open this place. I guess I wanted to honour her.”
“She sounds lovely,” Lily whispered.
“Yeah, she was.”
The two fell quiet, and Lily stood offering Pandora her hand. When she took it, she found herself face to face with the other girl. Her green eyes intense on Pandora's own in the warm lighting. She was about to suggest they call for the others when the sound of footsteps came from behind them.
“Oh,” Pandora turned to see Regulus standing in the doorway. “Sorry to interrupt, James figured you were--” He gestured to the cake, “getting that ready.”
“I think Sirius brought us champagne for tonight. I can close the shop and grab it from the fridge, to celebrate,” Pandora offered quickly.
Regulus looked like he was about to say something, but chose not to. Instead he nodded and let her pass.
-
“Here’s to my little brother.” Sirius grinned with his raised champagne glass in one hand, his other arm slug over Regulus’ shoulder. “And our lovely Pandora, of course.” Pandora felt her cheeks heat up, but smiled back nonetheless.
“For their brilliant shop, and the mountain of books that will be making their way mysteriously into my apartment because of it.” Sirius pointedly glanced at Remus, who rolled his eyes.
Sirius’ smile turned genuine, “honestly though, I’m proud of you.” He tightened his grip around Regulus, who tried in vain to hide his fond expression, making the rare decision to turn and wrap his brother in a tight hug.
“Here's to that, congratulations you two!” Called James from the big couch by the fireplace.
The room was warm, and filled with animated conversation. James, Regulus and Remus ended up fitting on one couch. Sirius, having not moved quick enough, pulled up a wooden chair next to Remus’ end. Pandora found herself in one of the cosy armchairs, with Lily sitting comfortably on the arm, and Dorcas across from her in the other one. The non-hogwarts students got to hear all about “The Marauders” school days.
“Good ol’ mother Black dearest didn’t want me corrupting Reggie here, so he got to go to the stingy, french private legacy school and I,” Sirius flipped his shoulder length hair dramatically. “got to go to Hogwarts with these prats.”
“Oi--” Remus complained at the same time James whipped his gaze to Regulus asking if he could speak French.
“They were a nightmare,” Lily commented. Her demeanour had loosened over the course of the evening, quite possibly at fault of the champagne. “Except Remus, of course.”
“Hey,” James complained, “you think he's so perfect, wait till you find out--” Remus lunged over Regulus to clamp a hand over James' mouth.
“We agreed to never tell her that,” he hissed. James put his hands up in surrender and Remus retracted himself.
“Pandora, Dorcas, did you two go to Beaudoux too?” Lily asked politely.
“Yep,” Dorcas popped the word with a flat tone. “We had these awful silver uniforms, and the girls could only wear skirts,” a mischievous smirk slowly took over her face. “Until our fifth year, that is.”
“We did a protest,” Pandora explained. “Courtesy of Regulus, and our friend Evan Rosier, who convinced the rest of the guys in our year to join in.”
“What did you do?” Remus laughed, head resting on Sirius' shoulder.
“All the girls wore suits, and the boys wore those blasted blazers and short skirts.” Dorcas smiled at the memory, “It worked, but the four of us got suspended.”
“You got suspended!?” Shouted Sirius, twisting to stare open mouthed at his brother. Effectively causing Remus to almost fall off the couch.
“Yes, I did. Not that our parents found out about it. See brother, the difference between you and me is that I don’t get caught.”
“Oi! I'm good at-”
“Oh yeah! You and Evan stole all the letters and packages from the mailroom,” Dorcas cut them off. “Bloody hell, that took them weeks to sort out.”
“Yeah it did, but it wasn't as messy as the time you and Evan broke into the Headmistress’ office and filled it with feathers,” Pandora reminded Dorcas, who cackled at the reminder.
“Why the hell did you do that?” Sirius shouted, he tended to get a bit loud when he drank. It was quite endearing, but Regulus looked like he might knock him down a peg or two any second.
“It was funny,” Dorcas and Pandora said at the same time.
-
After a while--and a bit of yawning on all their parts, the group decided to call it a night.
Sirius, Remus and James had already headed out. Dorcas and Regulus set out attempting to dismantle the photo station. Which left Pandora and Lily to clean up the back area.
“I can’t believe we’ve never met before this. Having so many friends in common,” Lily mused as she dumped all the empty plastic plates into a nearby trash can.
“I know, but we have now.” Pandora shrugged, looking up from the freshly wiped down table, only to find Lily already looking at her.
After a moment, the mood changed and Lily almost looked nervous. “I was wondering if maybe--” she paused, running a hand through her hair, which was down, framing her face beautifully. “There's this movie theatre near here. It only shows small budget films, art films and the like. I love it.” She fiddled with a gold ring on her index figure.
“How about Friday?” Pandora jumped in, “we close at five, and you guys do too, right?”
Lily nodded enthusiastically, “yeah, I can pick you up at six thirty? We can go to dinner somewhere, and catch an 8:00 showtime?”
“It's a date,” Pandora blurted. As soon as the words were out of her mouth she could feel the blush rising on her face. But, Lily's smile only widened.
“That sounds perfect.”
The two finished cleaning in peaceful silence, touches lingering on each other whenever they crossed paths.
Pandora didn’t know how she had managed to do so much right. To allow her life to turn out so wonderfully. Right then, in that moment, all she could think of was how grateful she was. That Lily Evans had come into her life.