James Potter (![[info]](https://www.insanejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} hartofaphoenix) wrote in ![[info]](https://www.insanejournal.com/img/community.gif){kind=small} refreshrpg,@ 2015-09-16 22:04:00 |
 |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
What: An important question
Where: Sirius’s Flat
When: August 18, immediately after this (BACKDATED)
Rating/Status: Low
James had promised Sirius ten minutes, but once Sirius mentioned there was something he wanted to ask that James would definitely want to know about, James apparated over right away, not bothering to give him the promised time. He did arrive outside the building Remus and Sirius lived in, and he tried to take his time walking up from the street, but he was far too curious for it to take to long, and it was only about five minutes after he last warded that he rapped his knuckles against the flat door.
“Padfoot?” James rapped harder, just in case Sirius didn’t hear him. “It’s me. Did you find your pants?”
"That wasn't ten minutes," came the exclamation from inside, where Sirius was actually lounging on the sofa with a cup of tea and, as he said, no pants on. Just his favorite pair of boxers. Oh, and a shirt, but still, boxers. He didn't move or even offer to let Prongs in. "I've still got three to get dressed."
James rolled his eyes, not that Sirius could see it. After the everything that had happened in the last month, he wasn’t going to let the lack of trousers stop him from seeing Sirius. Merlin, at this point, he wouldn’t let Sirius being completely naked stop him... though he did hope that wasn’t what he meant by get dressed. “I’ve seen you without pants on before, Padfoot. Open the door.”
"You need to learn patience," Sirius said, muttering something about locking him up alone in a cell for weeks and see how he did. But he got up and pulled on his trousers and even stuck his feet into shoes before, casually, making his way over and opening the door. "Hullo. I'm still alive."
"And I see you found your pants, too." James pulled Sirius into a tight hug that he refused to release for several moments. "Damn it's good to see you. How are you doing? Really." He looked at Sirius closely, trying to figure out his actual state of mind.
When he finally let go, James grabbed a package up off the floor and handed it to Sirius. "Mara baked."
Sirius didn't appreciate the hug, and he tensed up all over, stiffening, and extracted himself away from James the moment he was able to. He would have prefered to do it sooner but James's grip was annoyingly strong. "Thanks," he said, taking the package and setting it on the coffee table.
"I'm fine. School's starting soon, so it'll be a nice distraction."
James gave Sirius a look, one that made it clear he didn't believe that for a second, but it was also clear Sirius didn't want to talk about it, so he let it slide for the moment. "I know," he said instead, sitting down on the couch with a sigh. "I'm not looking forward to the girls going back. Makes me want to work there." He wouldn't actually have been happy working at Hogwarts--teaching was not his thing--but he entertained the idea every year when all of his family and most of his friends went off to the castle.
He wasn't going to get melancholy about it tonight, though. He forced a smile into his face and pushed thoughts of Lily and the girls heading off out of his mind. "So what did you want to ask me?"
"I wanted to ask you if you knew where that gold necklace I bought back in 7th year was. You know, the one with the ruby on it. I kept saying I was going to give it to Iris Pinkeasy one day. We found it at that Muggle rubbish sale in Bethnal Green? Do you know the one I'm talking about?"
"I remember, yeah. You carried it around with you for months. Never did work up the courage to give it to her. Though, considering how things worked out, that was probably for the best. You'd've broken her heart... or gotten slapped." James grinned unrepentantly. Remembering the necklace wasn't the issue. Remembering where it was, on the other hand... "Um. Did you leave it at the manor, maybe? There's a ton of stuff up there. It might still be in your old room. We can go look if you want. Or I can if you don't want to go. Why are you thinking about that now?"
The manor. That made sense. He just couldn't remember the last time he'd seen it. "I just want the ruby that's on it," he said with a light shrug. "I thought I might --" But then he mumbled something in a very uncharacteristic fashion. He cleared his throat. "That I might get it refitted into a ring or somewhat."
James quirked one eyebrow at Sirius's uncharacteristic mutter. The other joined it near his hairline when Sirius mentioned a ring. "You want to get the ruby reset into a ring." He leaned forward, resting elbows on knees as he looked at Sirius. "Any particular reason why?"
"So I can give it to Remus," he said quickly, in one breath, as though obviously that was why he was going to get it reset into a ring. Honestly.
Given the sentimental value of the ruby and the uncharacteristic way Sirius was acting about the whole thing, James had a pretty good idea why Sirius wanted to give it to Remus, but he was still going to make Sirius say it. "Whatever for? He doesn't really wear jewellery." It was inconvenient during the full moon, after all.
"I'm sure I don't have to spell it out for you," Sirius nearly snapped. He could blame it, later, on the whole 'being back in prison' bit, really. If he needed to explain it away.
"Oh, but that's half the fun." James wasn't at all bothered by the snapping. If anything, he was surprised it hadn't happened earlier. "So tell me, Padfoot, why do you want to give a ring to Moony?"
"Because he asked me to marry him and stole my thunder so now I want to make sure I get this done before he does it." A scowl and a blush - an actual blush - passed across his face.
James let out a started laugh. He'd anticipated a proposal, but that it came from Remus was unexpected...as was Sirius's grumpy response. "Aww. Did you have big romantic plans?" James asked in a sing-song voice he hadn't used with regularity since the kids were small. It was a damn shame he didn't have a camera with him. No one was going to believe him when he told them Sirius actually blushed.
"No," he snapped. "But I did think that -- eventually -- I'd have to be the one to broach the topic. Not that we can actually get married, by the way. Illegal, that, bullshit and what not. But we'll figure something out at least."
"I'm sorry," James said, though he didn't quite manage to stop chuckling. "I just didn't expect Remus to be the one to propose...or you to be so grumpy about it." He leaned over and clapped Sirius on the shoulder. "Congratulations. Seriously."
Truthfully, he didn't know why he was so grumpy about it. He was actually quite happy about it, but Sirius's moods were odd even in the best of times. "Thanks, Prongs."
"Of course." James stood and clapped his hands together. "So, shall we go look for that necklace? Have you thought about what sort of ceremony you want to have? And where? You'll need someone to stand with you, you know. Have you thought about who?" He spat out all the questions without so much as pausing for breath, much less giving Sirius a chance to answer.
Sirius blinked. "It just happened," he answered. "I haven't thought about anything other than the fact that I want to give him a ring. That's about it."
"All right, sorry. Though I will be mortally offended if the answer to the last question isn't me. Unless Remus wants me instead, I suppose." James grinned as he grabbed Sirius's hand and hauled him to his feet. "Now come on, let's go see if we can find that necklace."