Work Text:
Lily Evans sat in her living room watching telly with her dad when the phone rang in the next room. “I’ll get it!” her sister Petunia called as she ran to the telephone. “Hello, Evans residence. Petunia speaking.” She said in a crisp clear voice. Lily, who had already turned her attention back to the game that was on, was surprised when she heard her sister call out that one of her “friends from school” had called. Lily glanced at her father with a raised eyebrow and he shrugged in response.
Lily picked up the phone and called “Hello?”
“Lily! Thank merlin!” Was the relieved reply from none other than “Remus?”
“Yes it’s me. I need your help!”
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s James and Sirius. They got themselves arrested by the muggle police!”
“Oh my god! What did they do?”
“Well they were just wondering around a department store, but they weren’t exactly in their human forms.”
“Oh no”
“Oh yes. And I have to go get them but I need help so I was hoping you would come and help me.”
Lily sighed and said “You all owe me so big for this.”
“You are my savior, thank you!”
“Where are you?”
“London, that’s where they were arrested,”
“Serously? It’s going take me like four hours to get there!” Lily let out an aggravated huff then said “Ok, fine. Where should I meet you?”
Remus gave her an address to go to and thanked her again before she hung up on him. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before turning to go back to the living room.
“Dad? Is it alright if I barrow the car tonight?”
“So you can drive somewhere four hours away?” he father asked her with a raised eyebrow.
Lily sighed and sat next to him on the couch. “So you heard that?”
“Mhm. London?”
“Yeah”
“Do I want to know why?”
“Probably not”
Mr. Evans sighed as he patted his daughter’s knee and said “Alright, just let us know when you are coming back.”
“Thanks dad. Should I tell mum?”
He shook his head and said “Just go, I’ll handle your mother.”
Lily kissed her dad’s forehead and left the room.
She went up to her room to grab her bag and emergency cash. As she was gathering her things someone behind her said “Where do you think you’re going?” Petunia.
“I’m going out for the night” Lily said vaguely.
“You’re going to London! At ten o’clock at night! You won’t be there until two in the morning! What business do you have in London at two in the morning!?”
Lily’s head snapped up. “You were listening?! I can’t believe you!”
“It’s that Potter boy you’re always talking about isn’t it?”
“I don’t see how it is any of your business where I go or who I see!” Lily yelled as she stormed out of the room and ran down the stairs. She grabbed the car keys and said another thank you to her dad before leaving.
***
Meanwhile in a London pound
James pawed at the cement floor agitatedly. I hope Remus got our message. I can’t believe this happened. He thought bitterly as he remembered him and Sirius getting arrested- well, captured is more accurate. How did he let Sirius talk him into this? And now James was locked up in a cage with barley enough room to turn around while Sirius was lounging comfortably on a couch with his head in the lap of the attractive brunette police officer who brought them here. James sent a glare at him and he winked back.
“Excuse me do you have a stag here?” James’ ear twitched. He knew that voice.
“A what?” asked the worker at the front desk.
“A stag, a male deer, the one with the antlers?”
“Oh! Yeah we got one o’ those in the back. Is it yours?”
“Yes! I have been to every police station and shelter in and around London looking for him! We were visiting with a group of kids in the hospital, he’s a therapy deer, the kids love him they always see dogs which most of them like but they like having something new and exciting, but anyway we were at the hospital and it went great but when we were leaving a car alarm went off and it totally freaked him out and he ran off! I was so afraid he would be hit by a car! I tried to follow him but he goes so fast I couldn’t- there you are you naughty boy!” Lily said as she entered the room where James and Sirius were. James felt a rush of relief at seeing her- wait is that a leash?! He looked at her with horror clear in his eyes. Lily just grinned sadistically back at him behind the shelter employ’s back as he unlocked the cage.
When the door opened Lily moved swiftly to clasp the harness and leash on James and shoved something fowl into his mouth. “Good boy James. That’s not so bad is it? He loves these treats. They are made of ground acorns and leaves. Alright James shall we go home now? It has been a long day and we need some sleep. Oh hello, what’s this?” Lily said as she turned around and saw Sirius.
“We found him with the deer. He doesn’t have tags so we brought him here.” The police officer said.
“Sirius? Is that you? Did you get out again?” Lily asked reaching out to scratch him behind the ear.
“Is he your dog?”
“No he’s my friend’s. Can I use your phone to call him?”
“Yeah sure it’s over there.”
***
Thirty minutes later Remus came bursting into the shelter looking disheveled and slightly out of breath. Sirius let out a bark and ran up to him jumping on his shoulders and licking his face. Remus laughed as he rubbed Sirius’ neck.
“Yes I missed you too boy. You know if you would listen to me you wouldn’t get into these situations and I wouldn’t have to go searching for you.” Sirius whined and looked down guiltily. “Thank you so much for finding him and taking care of him.” Remus said to the police officer. She stood up and said “It was my pleasure really. He is such a sweet dog.”
“Especially with beautiful people.” Remus said with a twinkle in his eye as he clasped a collar around Sirius’s neck. The officer giggled slightly and looked down. Lily cleared her throat loudly. She came here for a rescue not to watch Remus flirt. “Right well it’s been a long day. I should get this guy home. Thank you for finding him and taking care of him. Do you have room in your car for us Lily? I took a cab here and they never like having dogs in there.”
“I do have my car and I can drop you off, I’m parked down the street. Thank you so much for your help both of you.” Lily said leading the way to the exit. “You really need to fix that fence of yours. This is the fourth time this month isn’t it?”
“Yeah I know. I just haven’t gotten around to it yet.”
“Well get around to it already! If you don’t keep this one on a short leash- oh thank god we are out of there! I don’t think I could have prattled on any more.”
“You have some great rambling skills. No one even asked to see a license or anything. Well done.”
“Let’s get them back to James’ house so they can be human again. Although the quiet is a nice change.” James bumped Lily’s arm with an antler in irritation at the same time Sirius barked at her. Lily just rolled her eyes and kept walking to the car.
***
As soon as Lily pulled up next to James’ house he and Sirius transfigured back into themselves.
“Merlin it is good to talk again!” Sirius exclaimed as he stretched his arms out above his head after stepping out of the car. “And to not be on all fours”
“You’re telling me. At least you didn’t have antlers. They give me a headache after a while.” James said rubbing at his head.
“Poor things, had to sit in an air conditioned building with a pretty police officer all night. I’m the one to feel bad for! I had to drive for four hours!” Lily said as she slammed her door shut.
“You’re right Lily. I owe you my gratitude.” Sirius said as he dramatically dropped to one knee and took Lily’s hand to place a kiss on it.
“Thanks. This makes up for everything.” Lily said flatly. She shook off Sirius and wiped her hand on her shorts. “Well now that you are both back home and saved I am going to head back home so I can beat the sunrise. I will see you all September first.”
“Wait you’re joking right? You’re staying here tonight.” James said.
“No its fine, I told my parents I would be home by morning. If I don’t show up they will be worried sick.” Lily said with a shrug.
“No! I will not here of it! James is right Lily, you must let us show our gratitude by allowing us to make you breakfast tomorrow.” Sirius said grandly before snatching the car keys out of her hand. “Besides now you can’t leave!” he said with a laugh as he ran inside the house.
“Sirius get back here with my keys!” Lily shouted as she took off after him.
Remus shook his head as he laughed and James sighed. “At least this will get her to stay.” James said.
“You don’t think she can catch him?” Remus said with a raised eyebrow.
“No she definitely will, but Sirius will have dropped them in the bread box on his way through the kitchen. You want to stay over and help me make sure Lily doesn’t kill Sirius or vice versa?”
Remus chuckled and said “Sure”
James sighed as he heard a crash and his mother yelling. “Well it won’t be a boring night.”
End