of elf wine that Tom, the barman, had been gifted for Christmas and was all too eager to
share with good company.
Several hours later, James was being carried into the Floo by a still-sober Remus,
while Mia and Sirius slipped out the door and stumbled into Muggle London, mischievous
looks on their faces.
January 17th, 1978Once back at Hogwarts, routine became normal again.
In Gryffindor Tower, in the bathroom connected to the boys' dormitory, the three
seventh year wizards stood in front of the long horizontal mirror that hung above a row
of sinks. Peter was busy trying to use his wand to shave the stubble from his face. Remus
had taken the easier route and applied Herbert Hyslop's Magical Hair Removal Cream,
yawning and glaring at the dark circles under his eyes, courtesy of the approaching full
moon. Sirius, meanwhile, stepped from the shower, a towel wrapped low around his hips
as he faced the mirror and raked his fingers through his damp hair.
"You going to be ready for practice, Padfoot?" James asked as he poked his head
into the door. He was already wearing his Quidditch robes, eager to start the year off right
by driving the team into the ground.
"Do you think I'd risk losing a game to my little brother?" Sirius scoffed at the
notion. "Are you out of your mind? I've been just waiting for the day I can smack a Bludger
at his smug, stupid face and knock him off of his broom."
"Padfoot? What is that?"
Sirius looked at Remus, feigning innocence. "What is what?"
"Pads!" James grabbed him by the shoulders, spinning him around until he came
face-to-face with the inked script written across Sirius's pectoral. He glared at the tattoo.
"Is that my sister's name tattooed on your chest!?"
Sirius raised a challenging brow at his friend. Keeping one hand secure around his
towel, he used the other to tug at James's robes. "Is that Lily's name tattooed
on your chest?"