Flirting with Mischief

Morning was never something that Sirius looked forward to. So in fact, it was surprising to see him streaking off down the street, with the sun not even considering to rise, as if he were on this dire mission he had to complete. But, surprises were what usually won over the girl, he noted, so he thought he should start with early rising.

First on his list of things to do, was to check in with Bruce, the local florist. He knew exactly what he wanted to get, not something incredibly ostentatious, like a dozen red roses, but something simple. Maybe a few orchids or lilies...and some baby's breath; he didn't even have any idea what baby's breath was, but he knew women liked it.

Well, liked it enough to wear it in their hair at weddings like they were five again.

What was it with a green striped canvas overhang as the outside decoration of a florist shop? He'd be a millionaire if he bet someone what every florist shop looked like.

As the shop of flowers came into view, a smile tugged at the corner of his lips, and he couldn't help but smile, wrapping his warm coat around him a little further, and tiny puffs of air were visible coming out of his nose; if he had snorted, he would've looked like a Spanish bull on the day of the bull fight.

(Alright, enough with the comparisons.)

His feet found their way inside the shop, and over in the corner by the register was Bruce, an old man in his sixties, half-asleep in his chair, the newspaper dangling from his slackened grip. Sirius spared only a half glance in his direction before he spotted the arrangement he wanted. His eyes stayed wide open as he gazed up at the bouquet of white roses and cala-lilies, tied with a bright green tissue wrap. With his hand reaching out towards the arrangement, he stopped short at the sound of newspaper rustling, and the harsh voice of a man in his sixties.

"Ahh...if that there is for a lady friend, it'd be just about perfect...but not nearly enough." Bruce, the florist, had woken up, and was now standing up, leaning over the counter on his elbows, with his hands cupped around a coffee mug.

Sirius, a little put off, let his hands fall to his sides as he stared over at Bruce.

"I'm not quite sure I know what you mean, sir."

Bruce chuckled lightly, straightened up, and grabbed his walking cane, hobbling over to where Sirius was standing.
"I wasn't expecting you to, son. You see, every bouquet in this shop has a particular message, you wouldn't want to give your lady friend the wrong message, would you?"

Sirius looked a bit amused. "Mm-hmm. And what sort of message does this bouquet give?"

A smile tugged at Bruce's old lips. "'I'm sorry you're dead.'"

Sirius snorted suddenly. "No, I suppose that's not the message I want to give then..."

A chuckle escaped Bruce, and he nodded, wisely. "I realize that, sunny-Jim." He put a hand on Sirius's shoulder, clasping it there. "So, I suppose we should start with what you'd like to say to this lady friend-"

"Er, sir? How do you know it's a lady friend?" Sirius interrupted.

Another smile crossed Bruce's face. "You're not exactly the image of magic, dear boy."

This time, the smile came from Sirius's face. "No, I suppose not." A sigh escaped him. "Well...this 'lady friend', as you put it...I've known her for about five years now, but I can't understand how now, of all times, I would begin to consider taking her out for dinner...I guess I just want something that says 'You've done enough to stay on my mind, but I'm not going to rush into things.'"

A nod came from the old man, and he hobbled away from him, muttering to himself.

"Something light...not too flashy...no no no, the lilies would never do...ah hah!" He started and reached out, grabbing a small bouquet of yellow day-lilies and white azaleas, which made the entire arrangement look elegant and exotic, like a beautiful face with no need of makeup. "This is exactly what you'd want to give her, boy."

"Oh yes, sir." His eyes were even wider than the last bouquet he'd seen, and his hand reached out to take a hold of the flowers, and he followed the hobbling old man back to the register, and paid for the flowers.

Bruce stopped him before he left, Sirius's hand on the door handle. "Oh, and son." He grew sober. "Don't let her get away. If she's special enough to get flowers for, she's someone who will break your heart."

Sirius nodded, thanked the man, and left the shop. If he wanted to be honest, he would've thought the old man was growing delirious, but he just let him be. It would have been incredibly pointless to confront him about his crazy antics.

It wasn't long until he reached the hotel, and he walked inside, right up to the lady at the front counter, who was wearing a usual red suit.

"Good morning, sir? Can I help you with anything?"

Sirius nodded in return. "Yes. I'd like to know if Daphne Cryferd is still in her room? I wanted to surprise her with some breakfast."

She instantly got a sympathetic look on her face. "I'm sorry, sir, but she's already at breakfast in our main room. Just down the hall, third door on your left."

Sirius nodded again. "Thank you..." And he continued on down the hall toward the doorway. Above the frame was a sign, which read "Meridian Room 2". He supposed that it was some sort of big hall for special events of some sort.

At the doorway, he froze, the bouquet of flowers behind his back as he stood there, scanning the few couples at the tables scattered around the room. Near the right side, however, he spotted the caramel locks that belonged to Daphne. Her back was to him.

And sitting opposite of her, his mouth full of kipper, was James. Curiosity and a little anger welled up inside of him, but he walked over, bold as he was, and gently laid his hand on Daphne's shoulder.

"Morning James, Daph...these are for the beautiful lady." And he whirled the flowers out from behind his back, and was pleased at the gasp that escaped her as she took them.

"Oh thank you, Sirius, they're so lovely..." She buried her nose inside the bouquet and took a deep breath, her eyes drifting closed as she did so. "Oh, lovely..."

James, who wasn't noticed by Daphne, looked up at Sirius a little guiltily. "Morning, Sirius...would you, erm, like to join us for breakfast?"

He nodded a bit stiffly, and slid into the booth next to Daphne, his hand brushing against hers.

"Oh sorry-"

"Oh sorry-"

They had said it at just the same time, and their eyes met for a moment, and both let out a short laugh, before a waitress bustled her way over.

"Morning, m'dear. Is 'ere anythin' I can get yeh?"

Sirius glanced around toward the menu, and then nodded. "Yes, please. I'd like some coffee, kipper, and hashed potatoes, with a small bowl of oatmeal on the side."

The waitress jotted all of this down, and then left, walking toward the kitchen, he assumed.

Sirius immediately turned toward James. "So, when did you wake up? I left the house and you were still asleep."

James shifted uneasily. "Actually, mate, I jinxed some pillows to take my shape. I was in the shower, getting ready when you woke up, and I was gone by the time you reached the bathroom for a shower yourself."

Sirius furrowed his brows. "Oooh, teach me that trick. For some reason, McGonagall always wants to check my bed when I'm off once a month-OW!"

He had received a kick from James, along with a warning look.

"Oh, yeah, sorry mate." And he quickly changed the subject. "Daphne, darling. I was wondering if you'd like to join me today for a little sight-seeing."
"Sight-seeing? You?" She giggled. "I don't believe you would even do anything that had to do with nature." She glanced toward James and back at Sirius. "Don't you have to work or something?"

Sirius shook his head. "Not until about four in the afternoon. I work late shifts, remember?"

Realization hit her face, which brightened it, and Sirius took a moment to admire the way her eyes sparkled up, her eyelashes splayed out.

"Oh, I see. Well, I don't have anything else planned, so I suppose I will, Sirius."

"Jolly good," James answered, his eyes locked on Sirius for a moment, before turning back to Daphne. "Perhaps once our good friend here goes off toward work, you could drop by my house for a bite to eat and a chat?"

Daphne smiled at James. "Oh, that'd be so nice, James, thank you." She took another whiff of her flowers. "Sirius, these flowers are so beautiful...I never would've thought that you'd have such taste!"

Sirius shrugged as his food was brought to him. "I suppose I just have a good read on things...Thank you." He added to the retreating waitress.

Another glare from James. "You know, Daphne...I think somewhere in the house we have a photo album where I've put all of the old photos from the beginnings of Hogwarts...maybe we could look through those?"

"Aww, James, I never knew you were the sentimental type. That'd be great, James, thank you."

"You're welcome." He grinned over at Daphne, earning one in return. He chanced a glance toward Sirius, where he saw him staring back with a look of warning...or perhaps it was in the heat of competition.

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Laughter could be heard in anyone's ears near the coffee shop. It was an almost musical tune to hear it: the low bark-like chuckle that Sirius had, along with the higher-pitched, but not squeaky, laugh of Daphne seemed to make a melody. It was a bit of a fun-loving laugh, one that escaped her in the moment. Their footsteps whispered across the cobblestone, fallen leaves, and fresh snow on the street as the coffee shop came into view

If anyone had just chanced a glance their way, they would've assumed they were a couple. Then again, it didn't help the fact that they were stumbling over the uneven street and clutching each other for support, both from the laughter and lack of balance. As they got closer and closer to the shop, their footsteps slowed, as if it were a finish line they didn't want to reach.

Laughter erupted from Daphne after a brief whispering in her ear by Sirius.

"Oh, but remember the old horse we saw in the paddock?" A huge grin seemed to be permanently plastered to her face.

A vigorous nod came from Sirius. "Yeah, I do...I have to admit, if I was white like he was and got hit by a...a...whatsitcalled, spinkerler, I'd mess with my owners and roll around in the dirt too!"

Daphne rolled her eyes, returning them back to Sirius with an amused look on her face. "Of course you would, Sirius, you always like to mess with people's intentions."

He gazed down at her as they stopped across the street from the shop.

"What do you mean?"

Daphne looked upward into his eyes, almost as if she were trying to figure out if he was just acting thick or if he really was.

"Don't think I didn't see what you and James were doing this morning at breakfast...Trying to find out who would get to join me for the day."

Sirius considered playing it stupid for a moment, and then stopped and nodded.

"You're right. You caught me...or us, I should say." A short chuckle escaped him. "But you have to admit, it was for a good cause." His eyes flickered back to her, and his hand reached out, taking hers, and he lifted it up to his lips, briefly brushing them against the soft skin there, before he gently released her.

"I have to go to work...James'll be waiting for you at the house." Regret apparent in his posture and face, he turned away toward the shop. Daphne watched him go, and she felt sorry that he had work all of a sudden. Carefully, she told herself not to get head over heels and turn out like the rest of them.

It wouldn't hurt to at least promise something...

"Sirius?"

He turned. It was a good sign, better than ignoring her and still walking.

"Erm...I'll be taking the Knight Bus tomorrow morning back to Hogwarts. I'll see you in the Common Room?"

Alright, it wasn't exactly what she would've wanted to say, but it would have to do. These things took time.

To her delight, Sirius answered her with a slow smile and a nod of the head, before he continued his short walk to the coffee shop.

She stood there for a moment, her mind flashing images of everything they had done that morning through her head, before she finally turned back down the road, this time careful not to misstep and stumble. James would be waiting at his home, with his parents, most likely, for her.

God help her if she should leave James's place feeling the same way.

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It was a warm atmosphere after dinner, with a warm apple pie in the center of the room, steam floating away from it with tenacity. Mrs. Potter was an excellent cook, and it didn't matter if it was the rosemary chicken with potatoes or the delicate house salad that she had tossed with skill, she definitely seemed adept at it.

And as she took her first bite of the gooey and crisp apple pie, she knew that she needed to leave the house with a few recipes in her pocket.

Next to her at the table, James was eating his apple pie with indifference. It made sense, though, because it was his mother who had made it, and he probably had eaten this a million times over. But meanwhile with Daphne, she could've produced the tracks to an adult-oriented film with the sounds escaping her. In fact, every bite she took felt almost better than the touch of a gentle man.

"I'm glad to see you're enjoying it, dear." Mrs. Potter's eyes were fixed on Daphne, and a warm smile flashed onto her face.

Daphne swallowed her mouthful, longing for another bite. "Mrs. Potter, this is the most amazing apple pie I've ever had the pleasure of eating...what's your secret?"

She was rewarded with a shake of a head.

"I'm sorry, dear, but I cannot tell you that, or else it wouldn't be a secret. Perhaps in time, you'll find out." A wink came from her, and she glanced back to her son.

Dessert was finished within a few minutes, and Daphne seemed to come out of a reverie when James guided her away from the table and up to the bedroom. It wasn't a messy room at all, it only had a few clothing items scattered on the floor, but those were quickly picked up as he walked into the room, tossing them into the hamper in the corner. While he picked up the clothes, Daphne walked over to the bed on one side, lying down on it with her face buried in the pillow, and a deep sigh broke away from her body as her eyes drifted closed.

"I love this house..."

James glanced back at her, and stood back, leaning against the wall with his eyes hooked on her. To be frank, he was really eyeing everything attractive about her, which in his eyes, was just about everything. He couldn't agree in her taste in shoes(she was wearing knee high black boots with jeans, with flat bottoms), or the purse she was carrying around(a heavy black one), but just about everything else seemed just about right.

"Why is that?" He finally answered her question.

"I've no idea..." A smile tugged at the corner of her lips as her eyes opened and she gazed down at James. "But it has got something to do with the smells and the atmosphere and the complete hospitality of it all."

James nodded. "I'm glad you like it..."

She finally sat up on the bed, patting the space next to her.

"Come sit with me, James."

For a moment he considered just staying right where he was. He still had an incredible infatuation for Lily, who was probably out somewhere with her Muggle parents and sister, having a grand time. For a moment, he felt guilty of temporarily abandoning his chase after her for Daphne, but the next moment the feeling had disappeared as he made his way over to the bed, gently sitting down next to her and leaning back against the wall. His legs were kept straight across the bed, with his feet hanging off the edge another foot or two.

Daphne, meanwhile, was also leaning against the wall, with her legs folded to the side, and she laid her head against James's shoulder. They seemed content just to sit there with each other, staring at the bed on the other side of the room, before finally, James turned his head, his voice a low whisper.

"You know, I'm not quite sure why we've never done anything like this before."

A moment passed in silence while Daphne tried to come up with an appropriate answer. Without much success, she nodded.

"I think it's because you've always been too busy with other girls."

James shook his head. "No, I don't believe that. You've been around Remus plenty for studying, and Sirius enough to share some laughs. There's no possible way we could've just passed this up."
"But we did." She glanced up into his eyes, and there they were glued. For a long time, it seemed, they sat there gazing into each other's eyes, almost as if they could see each other's souls through them.

But then James made a movement, one in which his hand came up to cradle her jaw...

At his touch she started, pulling away gently and glancing about the room as if looking for something.

"Erm, sorry, James...but I think I better be going..." She got off of the bed, picking up her purse as she went.

James sat bolt upright. "What? Leave? Why?"

She shook her head distractedly. "Don't worry about it, really-"

"What did I do wrong?" His voice was filled some emotion that couldn't be picked out between desperation and curiosity.

Again, she shook her head, but this time it wasn't out of stress. Instead, she finally forced herself to glance into his eyes. "James, please, don't make this any harder than it already is."

Silence passed between them for a moment, in which they shared facial expressions. James's held a gaze full of confusion, yet desire to keep her there; Daphne's was one of desire for him to understand how she was feeling.

"You don't understand, do you James?" She finally said quietly.

Daphne was rewarded with a shake of a head, and she sighed.

"I'm not going to stand here and give you the lecture, James...you're a big boy, you can figure it out for yourself." She glanced toward the bedroom door, and made a few steps toward it. "Just remember that your best friend is doing the same you are...Goodnight, James."

With that, she nodded to him and disappeared out of sight, leaving James a little more bemused than before.

And the rest of his night was spent wondering what on earth had caused her to react that way. Of course he understand her last words, he wasn't that particularly thick...It quite possibly didn't help the fact that he and Sirius were both trying to charm her. Perhaps he should talk with Sirius about who would be the one taking her for the keeping...

He had much doubt about whether or not he would agree with his terms...