Moving On

Testing The Waters

"You did what?" James exclaimed. Looking at his mother.

Smiling, she said, "You heard me correctly James. I asked Minerva to visit today so that we could finally meet Severus. You did mention that he was ill before you lot left for the holidays. I don't see why you're worried."

Annoyed, he grit his teeth, "Well maybe because you didn't tell me about this before you sent the letter. Also, how in the name of Godric did McGonagall agree to that?"

"That was easy really. I told her that you boys were worried about her charge and wanted to meet him."

"And she believed that?"

"Of course she did. She says she fears that Severus would be very lonely these holidays so having people his age for a while could be beneficial for him. Oh I'm so excited! I just wonder what your Severus will be like!"

Face palming, James questioned why he had such a mother, he left the kitchen, ignoring his mother gushing over a guy she had never met. He trudged his way up the stairs and entered his room.

On the floor, Moony and Padfoot were playing Exploding Snaps.

Moony glanced at him as he entered the room,"What happened? We heard screaming."

Groaning, James fell unto his bed, "We're going to McGonagalls house today."

"Oh, well that's not too bad-- wait, what?" Remus threw the cards he held to the floor and rushed up to the bed.

He looked up at James, "Did you just say we're going to McGonagalls house?" He said turning around to look at Padfoot, who joined them on the bed.

James nodded.

"And McGonagall is our professor," he said. Again, James nodded.

"Our professor who's also housing Severus Snape?"

James nodded, chuckling as Padfoot fell off the bed in shock, as if finally realising Moony's dilemma.

Moony threw his head back in despair, Padfoot spewed all the curses under the sun.

After sitting up, his hair disheveled, he asked, while slapping his hands on his face, "So we're going to see Severus this afternoon? Oh Merlin, I don't think I'm ready! Prongs I'm not ready to see him, at all!"

"I know Padfoot, do I look ready to see him to you? I don't even know what I'm going to wear, what I'm going to say or how I should look at him!"

Smirking, Moony said, "What I certainly know I'm going to do is wear the ring he sent me."

James laughed heartily, joined by Padfoot.

"How very cunning of you Moony," Padfoot said.

Shrugging, Moony declared, "Have you seen how good those rings look? Also, it's almost as if he knows that you lot are Animangi, why else would Padfoot get a hound on his ring and Prongs a stag? He already knew that I'm a werewolf, that explains why mine has a moon and a wolf on it."

"Also, I want him to understand how overwhelmed we were by the rings, doesn't he know what he's doing to us? It's only fair that we return the favour."

He added more,"So here's my suggestion. We wear clothes that match with the rings in a laid back manner, so no suits Padfoot. Then we deliberate if the others outfit is good or not, giving suggestions here and there. Sounds good?"

James and Padfoot stared at each other and nodded.

"Nice, now let's get to it! We don't have all day." Moony said, hopping off the bed.