Chapter Text
"This is it, lads," James declared as the taxis pulled up to the house. "Home for the summer."
"First of all, half of us are girls," Lily objected. "Second of all, this is your holiday house?"
"My bad, Lils," James apologised. "And yeah. It was built by my great-great-something grandfather and dad refused to sell."
Lily exchanged a glance with Remus.
"This place is double the size of my house house," Remus said, clearly flabbergasted.
James chuckled awkwardly. "Anyway," he said, shifting the conversation away from his family's immense generational wealth. "There are five bedrooms and ten of us so we're going to have to pair up."
"I take Remus!" Sirius yelled, dragging his boyfriend over to where they had dumped their stuff.
"Dorcas is mine, everyone else hands off," Marlene threatened.
"Babe, calm down," Dorcas said, calmly. "No one is trying to fight you. Let's just go grab our stuff."
"Me and Lils are good together," Mary declared.
"Guess that leaves me with you Pete." James grinned at the other boy. "Unless either of you want to switch?"
"Pandora and I are perfectly happy sharing a room," Regulus said, coolly.
"Okie dokie then," James said, wandering over to his stuff. "Oh and as far as rooms go," he said to the group. "I don't care which one you pick so if you have strong opinions, fight to the death. If you need to know where something is, ask me, Marls or Pete for help."
*
Later that afternoon, after everyone was settled into their rooms, they began to discuss what to do during the duration of the trip.
"We're here for a month and a half, Lily. We don't have to do everything in two weeks!" Sirius was yelling.
"That's not what I said, Sirius. I just said that we shouldn't waste the whole summer doing nothing!" Lily yelled back.
"I never said we should do nothing, I just said that we don't need to plan every tiny detail of our holiday. Because it's a HOLIDAY!!" Sirius was becoming quite heated in his argument.
As James looked upon the scene, he thought about how much he loved his friends and how happy he was that he could bring them here, where he, Marlene and Peter had enjoyed so much time growing up.
"Ok, ok," James yelled. "We can plan some things to do and leave other things unplanned. That way we're all happy."
"Fine, but I want a bonfire," Sirius agreed, sulkily.
"You know what, how about everyone picks an activity that they want to do and we'll make a list. That will ensure maximum happiness." Remus suggested.
Everyone mumbled their agreement to this plan.
"I say, Remus, old chap," Regulus startled everyone by joining the conversation. "That is a top-notch idea."
"Reggie, are you high?" Sirius asked, concerned about his younger brother.
"No, I'm simply expressing that Remus' idea was simply spectacular," Regulus replied.
"Is he having a stroke?" Lily whispered to Mary in concern.
"Why are you talking like that Reggie?" Sirius demanded.
"He's fine," Pandora said. "He just does this sometimes. I think it's to make him feel superior, but who knows with him."
Everyone looked at her confused.
"Since when were you here?" Peter asked, confused.
"Same time as the rest of you," she responded, airily. "I understand why you might not have noticed me. I tend to blend in with the walls."
"What walls are bright orange in this house?" Marlene asked, staring at Pandora's bright orange dress. "I mean, I know the house is big but I'm pretty sure I've never seen an orange wall in this place."
"She means," Dorcas cut in before Marlene went on a ramble about orange walls. "That people tend to forget about her because she's usually very quiet."
"And my skin is slightly transparent," Pandora added to quizzical looks.
"Anyway," James broke in. "Back to what we're doing tonight. I say we vote on it."
After scattered murmurs of agreement, he carried on. "So the options are that we go the beach for a bonfire, have a movie night or have a barbecue. Who votes bonfire?"
Sirius, Marlene, Peter and Mary raised their hands.
"Ok, five people, including me. Who votes for movie night?"
Regulus, Remus and Lily raised their hands.
"Ok, three people. Who votes barbecue?"
Dorcas and Pandora raised their hands.
"Looks like bonfire wins. Pete, is the firewood still in the shed?"
"Yeah, there’s tons in there," Peter replied.
"We're going to need food," Lily reminded James.
"Oh yeah,” said James. “How about you and I go to the shops and get the food for later? If anyone else comes, it'll get too chaotic."
"Sounds good to me." Lily pulled out a paper pad and a pen. "What food do we need?"
“Where the hell did you get that notepad from?” asked Remus. “And why do you carry a notepad around with you?”
“I had it in my pocket," Lily answered. "You would be surprised by the number of things you say that I write down. Any time any of you say something particularly dumb, I write it down to laugh at later." She laughed, before bringing the attention back to the matter at hand. "Anyway, back to the food.”
Marlene: "Marshmallows!"
Peter: "Burgers."
Sirius: "Ice cream."
Mary: "Sweets and chocolate."
“Ok,” said Lily. “This is a good start. James and I can fill in the blanks.”
“While I’m gone, Sirius is in charge,” James yelled as he left the room.
“Who said you were in charge?” Lily could be heard asking.
“You heard the man,” Sirius began. “I’m in charge. So first things first, we need to put on some Bowie.”
“Then,” interrupted Remus. “We need to get some firewood to start building up the bonfire.”
“Yeah, that too,” Sirius said. “Pete, lead the way.”
*
Peter led Remus and Sirius to the small shed on the edge of the property that housed firewood.
“We’re going to need quite a lot,” he said, almost to himself. “Remus, you’re the strongest so you take the most.”
“Excuse me!” Sirius exclaimed, insulted. “I am the manliest, muscliest, strongest man to ever exist and you have the audacity to claim that Remus is the strongest. Remus is a nerd. He reads books. How is he strong? I am the star of the Quidditch team. I play a sport and you say Remus is the strongest. I am insul-”
He was cut off as Remus walked past carrying a mountain of logs.
“How do you think I get all those books back to the dorm if I don’t carry them?” he asked, sarcastically.
“I dunno,” replied Sirius, astounded at his boyfriend's strength. “I thought you levitated them.”
“Nah, never,” Remus scoffed as he began the walk to the beach.