Work Text:
Honest question: what's the point of having to do graded group work right in the middle of summer vacation? The heat outside was unbearable. They could have been playing Quidditch, eating ice cream, or even taking a hose bath. But no!
The four of them were gathered around a cramped table in Sirius’ new apartment, stuck on a petty sentence that refused to be fixed and unable to use magic simply because “that was Professor Flitwick’s requirement.”
Seriously! How did he expect them to complete a C H A R M S assignment without charms?
The first five minutes seemed promising. Sirius swore they would solve the puzzle in no time and soon be able to go out and enjoy the city. But that did not happen. Perhaps it was the heat – which did not help at all – the lethargy of the holidays, or just plain unwillingness. None of them wanted to be studying at that moment.
Lily had her head buried in her hands, clearly regretting having accepted Marlene’s idea to join the two dorks for the assignment, while her friend lay sprawled on the floor, claiming she would melt if she stood up.
Sirius gazed out the window at the world beyond, looking unconcerned, as if they were not about to die of frustration over that wretched parchment handed to them by the professor. And James tapped the table absentmindedly, lost in his own thoughts.
The noise was minimal, the situation was ridiculous, but the heat and stress of the day did not help at all. With a bang, Lily slapped the table, stared James in the eyes, and said firmly, irritated – “Don’t make me come over there and rip your fingers off, Potter!”
Marlene jumped up from the floor, startled by the bang. Sirius merely watched them out of the corner of his eye and smiled. Lily was amusing when she was angry. James was amusing when he pretended not to be completely intimidated by her anger.
“I’d love to see you try without magic, Evans” - James replied mockingly, almost offended - “There’s nothing in this house that could help you. Pads doesn’t even have a knife” - He loved to get on her nerves.
But Lily just laughed dryly and continued to glare at him – “Then you’ll be surprised to learn that it’s remarkably easy to buy an axe here in Central London. I’m sure one of those could help me quite easily without the need of magic.”
James furrowed his brow. That made no sense – “Since when did you become a comedian, Evans?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about” - she shrugged, adjusted her chair, and returned to staring at the parchment, smiling with satisfaction.
“Axes… as if…” - James kept grumbling, incredulous, until he noticed a discreet glance exchanged between Sirius and Marlene.
Both pulled their chairs back and sat at the table again. Marlene broke the silence first – “I still remember when I bought mine, you know?” - She had her hand on her chin, as if searching for a distant memory, her eyes still on Sirius.
“Of course I remember. I was with you” - the taller one smiled, trying to suppress his laughter - “Easy money, spent even more easily! I hope you took good care of its blade…”
“Of course I did! I could lend it to Lil if she really needs it right now. My house is just two blocks from here anyway...” - she shrugged and looked at her friend, who was already curling her mouth into a mischievous smile.
“Are you telling me you actually bought an axe?” - James was outraged. He didn’t spend much time in London, but he couldn’t believe that it was possible.
“We’re neither confirming nor denying anything, Potter” - Lily replied playfully – “But as I said, I’m quite willing to go down the street and buy one to test on you. What do you think?”
James tried to hide it, but he knew he must have been as pale as a ghost. The image of Lily threatening him with an axe was not at all inviting, and he much preferred the visions of his secret dreams where they were tangled up together with all his fingers intact!
He was sure his expression must have been ridiculous when the three of them burst out laughing. And even he couldn’t resist joining in. When the laughter subsided, they tried to get back to work. They needed to finish that by yesterday.
But still suspicious and puzzled, behind a well-placed book, James called Sirius and insisted on the question, eyes wide – “Do people really buy axes around here?”
“Well, my dear Prongs” – he replied, barely holding back a giggle - “I think you’re perfectly capable of finding that out for yourself. Why not try tapping the table once more?”
Son of a b****! What a friend… James could hardly believe what he had just heard. There would be a payback for that one day, Sirius could count on it!
But as much as he loved getting on Lily’s nerves, James was on guard. And i Sirius couldn’t help him, he would do it himself. He wanted to keep his hands exactly where they had always been all his life. Even if that meant never again cutting even a single apple alongside that redhead girl.