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Getting a Prongs-On


Dora handed James a sweater. “Make sure you put it on if it gets cold,” she said.

“Mum, it’s June. It’s not going to get cold.”

“Listen to your mother,” said Charlus, staring down at the Daily Prophet.

Dora turned to Sirius and shoved a sweater into his hands, too. Sirius blinked in surprise. “The wind gets a lot more chilled by the ocean, even during the summer,” she scolded. “You don’t want to go catching anything.”

Sirius turned the sweater over in his hands, feeling the warmth in the stitching. It was hand knitted - dark red, with a tag in the neck that read Property of Sirius Black, Made With Love. He smiled at it and tugged it on, even though he wasn’t cold at all. The sweater was a bit long on him, the sleeves needed to be cuffed in order for his hands to come out, but it was already his favorite. “Thanks, Mrs. P,” he said, smiling.

Dora smiled back and half-hugged him as James whined and pulled the brown sweater she’d handed him ‘round his shoulders and said, begrudgingly, “There, you happy now mum? Blimey…”

“Yes, I’m happy now…” she reached into her apron pocket and pulled out a coin purse she handed to Sirius, “Here you are. You already have your galleons of course, James. Now you two be good, stay out of trouble, and have fun.”

Yes mother,” James said and he grabbed Sirius’s arm and pulled him toward the door, “Hurry, before she thinks of something else to delay us with,” he said under his breath.

Sirius waved to Dora as they went out the door and she waved back.

They were walking down the street toward the main road to summons the Knight Bus when Sirius said, “You shouldn’t be so hard on her, she’s amazing.”

James said, “She’s alright.”

“No,” Sirius said firmly, “Seriously. She is a really great mum and you should be bloody thankful for it. I wish my mum was half as good as her.”

James said, “Well you can borrow mine anytime, get the focus off me once in awhile,” he laughed.

Sirius’s sweater sleeves had come uncuffed and hung over his hands and he thought he would borrow her all the time if that was possible.

James stuck out his wand hand for the Knight Bus when they reached the road and Sirius worked on re-cuffing his sleeves as the bus cracked into view and rolled up to the curb beside them with a honk, honk. It hissed as it settled and the doors opened and out stepped Ernie the conductor and he grinned about at them and took their sickles, issuing them tickets and waving them aboard.

The ride to Maryrose’s house wasn’t too long - there were a couple other party goers on board, including Marty Brown and the two McKinnon sisters, but Marlene was still awkward about Sirius and Annalee was talking endlessly to Marty so that James and Sirius were still entertaining each other, laughing and making loud noises while they slid back and forth across the length of the bus as it went about, stopping and going, sending them this way and that.

Maryrose and Pandora lived with their mum and dad in a house by the ocean, on a sort of moor that stretched off in both directions for miles before the next house dotted the horizon. The knight bus rolled to a stop right in front of their house and Ernie saw the five teenagers off and tilted his cap and with a crack the bus disappeared. James led the way up the walk - he’d never been there before, but Maryrose was his girlfriend so they sort of all followed on after him as though he were the leader. He realized halfway up the walk that this was the first time he’d be meeting Maryrose’s parents and he wondered whether they knew about him and Maryrose and what they would think of him… He nervously cupped his hand to his mouth and smelled his breath and adjusted his shirt as he walked, wishing he’d worn something nicer than he had…

Mr. Jenkins answered the door when James knocked, and he welcomed them all in, “Come in, come in,” he said, waving, and they stepped through. His eyes lighted on the sight of Sirius, who had his hands jammed into pockets in Mrs. Potter’s sweater. “Sirius Black,” he said recognizing him.

Sirius looked up, “Yes, sir?”

“Nothing,” Mr. Jenkins replied, and he hastened to close the door fo the house - though he looked a bit nervous.

“I’m James Potter,” James said, thrusting his hand out to Mr. Jenkins when he’d finished locking the door, “It’s very nice to meet you, sir,” and he smiled his most charming smile.

Mr. Jenkins smiled back, took James’s hand and shook it, “Very nice to meet you also, Mr. Potter, you can call me George.”

George Jenkins led them through the house and out a back door onto a deck that overhung the cliffs overlooking the ocean. Down a steep wood staircase and onto the beach, where a bunch of people were already hanging about, a large pile of firewood waiting to become a bonfire that night, surrounded by logs and blankets and long tables of food and bottles of butterbeer. James was looking around, trying to spot Maryrose, when Sirius elbowed him in the side, pointing.

James turned and his eyes widened.

There was a cluster of girls across the beach, where Marlene, Annalee, and Marty were headed, and in the mix was Ali Prewitt, Maryrose - with bright orange hair in a swirling mass on top of her head today… At first, he thought Sirius was pointing out Maryrose and James took a step toward the crowd when Marlene shifted to one side and… James nearly choked when his eyes landed on Lily.

Lily had on a very short skirt - a very fashionable, green plaid skirt that showed most of her legs, other than what was in a pair of knee-high socks, that is - and a mustard yellow cardigan, her hair pulled over her shoulder in a long red braid... Something had happened to Lily Evans in the last month, and - actually - to several of the other girls as well. They’d grown breasts, quite suddenly it seemed, and the way the cardigan clung to Lily Evans’s pair of them made James’s heart come to a stop and he grabbed Sirius’s wrist and squeeze quite tightly.

“Bloody hell,” James breathed.

Sirius snickered, “Somebody’s gettin’ a prongs-on.”

“What?” James reached up to his head, afraid he’d sprouted antlers but then he realized Sirius was being crude and he shoved his friend.

“Maryrose is looking quite nice, isn’t she?” Sirius asked, smirking.

“Yeah,” James replied, though he still was trying to tear his eyes from Lily’s cardigan.

Sirius poked James in the ribs, “C’mon, let’s get you a butterbeer, Casanova.”

“Huh? What? Yeah, ok…” James turned reluctantly as Sirius grabbed pulled him ‘round so he was forced to stop staring a moment. “They’ve changed,” James said, stealing glances just the same, “I mean there’s been just -- just so much changing.”

“Try and compose yourself, man,” Sirius laughed. “Blimey, it’s really not that big a deal.”

“Not that big a deal?” James squeaked as Sirius popped the bottle caps off the butterbeers on the edge of the table expertly. He handed one to James and took a swig off his own. “How is that not a big deal?” demanded James. “The shape of them.”

Sirius shrugged, “It’s sort of… weird. Alien. Like where’d they come from? They weren’t there last month.”

I know,” James gasped. “But blimey I’m glad they are now.”

Sirius took another sip of butterbeer, “Remus better not have any of those when he comes back,” he muttered.

James laughed and Sirius smirked.

Suddenly Maryrose was running toward them. She was wearing shorts over a bathing suit and her eyes were a dark ocean blue, her orange hair wild and frizzy and pinned up. “Hey!” she cried and she wrapped her arms around James as she arrived, wrapping her arms around his neck so that the whole of her pressed against his chest and he stared at Sirius over her shoulder, eyes wide. Sirius smirked and gave him a thumbs up. “I missed you!” Maryrose exclaimed, and she kissed his chin - the only part of him that she could reach, seeing as he’d grown a bit taller in the last month.

“I missed you too,” he answered, and he kissed her forehead, “You look different,” he said.

“Metamorphmagus, remember?” She laughed and her eyes twinkled. James had meant her shape, but of course he wasn’t about to tell her that. Especially given the amused look that Sirius was giving him.

“Yeah. Happy Birthday,” James said.

“Thank you!”

“Welcome to being fifteen. Are you liking it so far?”

“So far!” she answered and she curled her arm ‘round his waist, “Come say hi to everyone,” she commanded and pulled him off across the sand.

Sirius waved half-heartedly and took another swig from his butterbeer, watching them go. He stood awkwardly by the table a moment, then looked about and found himself a log to sit down upon, sort of off to one side and looking over the water. He picked at the label on his butterbeer bottle. People seemed to be looking at him, then whispering to each other. Some actively avoided going near him, taking wide steps around the log where he sat.

“Hi.”

Sirius looked up to see Peter Pettigrew. “Hey, Pete.” Peter sank onto the log beside him, clutching a plate full of food from the table. Sirius reached over and took a couple chips off Peter’s plate without being offered, stuffing them in his mouth. “How’s your summer been so far?” Sirius asked, “Haven’t seen you since last month when you came by and scared the bejeebus out of Mrs. P.”

Peter shrugged, “Just been busy I suppose… ‘round the house and all…”

“Hows your mum?”

Peter stared at the food and hastened to put something in his mouth to delay the answer. Sirius waited patiently, though, and when Peter finished chewing, he said, “She’s alright. Been… sad… sort of distracted… upset on account of Maggie and all… Sort of been quiet ‘round the house…”

“I’m sorry, Pete. Have you been to visit Maggie at St. Mungos at all?” Sirius asked.

Peter shook his head, “I don’t dare.”

“She must be glad you’re home at least,” Sirius said, “And really proud of you for all you did with the Order last month… coming to rescue Remus and all…”

Peter shrugged, “Dunno. Maybe.”

“You dunno?” Sirius asked, “The way she dotes on you?”

“I’ve been sort of invisible,” Peter answered and his voice was sad.

“Invisible?” Sirius asked, “What do you mean by that?”

“Only that she doesn’t seem to see me,” Peter replied with a shrug, “Or at least not to give a damn if she does.”

“I’m sorry. Are you alright, Pete?” Sirius asked.

Peter grabbed more food and stuff his mouth again so he couldn’t answer.

Annalee appeared suddenly before them. She’d changed into her beach clothes and she was now wearing a pair of shorts with a somewhat small two piece suit’s top. She smiled at Peter like he was sunshine and she eagerly sat beside him, hugging his arm, “You came!” she said merrily.

“Yeah, I came,” he answered, his voice less enthusiastic than hers had been.

“I’m so glad!” Annalee ran her hand across his back.

Sirius suddenly felt like a third wheel. At least Peter would feel better about being supposedly invisible - Annalee certainly seemed to see him just fine - so Sirius excused himself and left Peter to it. He stood up and wandered over to the rubbish, tossing in the empty butterbeer bottle and the torn off label and hovered off to one side.

Lily Evans was standing off to one side, too, alone.

Sirius walked over to her. “Hi.”

“Hi,” she replied. She was hugging herself, like she was cold.

“You looked lonely over here. And I’m lonely, too, so I figured I’d come keep you some company,” he said.

“Thanks,” Lily replied.

“How’s your summer so far?” Sirius asked.

Lily replied, “It’s been okay. Mum and Dad are taking us on vacation next month, so we’ve been busy preparing for that. They say Tuney and I haven’t been spending a lot of time together - haven’t had a birthday party together in four years, so they want to do a half birthday and they’re taking us away.”

Sirius said, “Anywhere exciting?”

“America. Florida, to be exact. Disney World.”

Sirius had no idea what that was. He knew America, and a vague idea of Florida. That was about it. “Is Florida near to Costa Rica?”

“I suppose… maybe… in the grand scheme of things, I guess. Not really. I guess in the way we’re near to France or Italy, I guess.”

“Oh,” Sirius said. He didn’t really know where Costa Rica was, either, only that it had beaches that were warmer and much better than this, with bluer waters and less rocks on the shore. There were white sands there, warm white sand he could bury his toes in and toucan birds and loads of oranges. He wished he were there now in a hot sun patch.

As though she could read his thoughts dreaming about the warmer climate, Lily shivered.

“Here.” He took off Mrs. Potter’s sweater and hung it over her shoulders.

Lily hugged the sweater close. It was all warm from Sirius wearing it and she smiled, “Thanks.” She stared at the ocean a moment or two, then asked, “Heard from Remus?”

Sirius shook his head, “No. But it’s hard ‘cos Dumbledore said we can’t really contact him… for his safety… at least not conventional ways…”

“What other ways are there?” Lily laughed.

“Well… there’s the mirror…”

“Mirror?” Lily looked up at Sirius.

“Yeah, remember first year? Voldemort’s two way mirror? Well James and I… we… we sort of kept part of it. And Remus has got James’s bit of it but mine’s back at Hogwarts, in the Shrieking Shack. If I had it, I could talk to him, but… I don’t… so…” his voice sort of trailed off.

Lily’s fingers tightened ‘round the sweater. “Oh.”

“He’s with Newt Scamander,” Sirius said quietly. “Off seeing the world.”

“He mentioned that was an option for summer,” Lily said. “Him or the Weasleys.”

“Yeah,” Sirius nodded. “Newt it was. I’m sure he’s seeing all sorts of marvelous stuff, probably not even thinking about me at all. Too busy with all the… creatures… and… adventures.”

“I’m sure he’s thinking of you,” she said.

Sirius shrugged, “Dunno if I’d think of me, after how I failed him, let him get taken by bloody Fenrir… I haven’t really talked to him since before it all happened, you know? I mean I saw him for a few minutes but he was under a sleeping draught…”

Lily stared at Sirius a long moment, then glanced about the party. “The mirror’s in the Shrieking Shack, you say?” she asked.

Sirius nodded. “In Hogsmeade. Yeah.”

“You know,” Lily said, “I doubt anyone would notice if two wallflowers disappeared for a few hours.” Sirius looked at her in surprise, and she smiled.