In the Summertime

They were lying in the grass, lazily passing the day in a haze of ice-creams and half-hearted grass fights. Lily had on a huge hat and was playing mother, making sure they were all slathered in sun cream. Of course, asking four eighteen year old boys to keep themselves safe was tall order, and it had resulted in Remus having a handprint on his back where Sirius had covered him in suncream except for where his hand had been, and James had burnt his nose and ears, forgetting that the sun could attack them too. The only person who was actually tanning properly was Peter, which was a surprise to all of them. Of course, with her pale skin, Lily didn't tan, she burnt, which was why she was dressed in a long maxi dress that covered most of her up.

"Is this what the rest of the summer's going to be like?" Remus asked, looking up from his book without being prompted. He was lying on his front, his T-shirt littered with stray pieces of grass from when James had attacked him with fistfuls of grass for insinuating that the only reason he had passed charms was because Remus had tutored him.

"Nah." Sirius was lying on his back, hands behind his head. "You know this weather's gonna disappear within a week."

"It'd better not," James said, resting on his elbows. His shirt was in a crumpled heap on the floor next to him, where he'd dropped it after announcing that it was too hot for clothes. He'd threatened to remove the long shorts he had on as well, until Sirius pointed out that they'd seen it all before and did he really want another measuring contest? "I've hardly even begun to tan."

"Such a girl, Prongs." Sirius laughed, then spluttered as a handful of grass fell onto his face.

"You've burnt though," Peter told him, regarding James from over the top of his sunglasses. "Doesn't that count?"

"Yeah, 'cause the ladies love the Rudolph look," Sirius grinned, before sitting up so James couldn't attack him with the grass again.

Lily laughed as James lunged at his friend, missed then gave up with a shrug, citing the heat as the reason for his failure. "I think it's sweet. About six months too early, but sweet."

"Hear that?" James crowed, draping an arm round her shoulders. "She thinks I'm sweet."

"Sweet's nothing to be proud of," Sirius replied, pushing his sunglasses into his hair. "Sweet's what your great aunt calls you when you give her a flower. Sweet's what Andy calls Ted when he's fallen over his feet. And most importantly, sweet is what girls call you when they've decided that you're not gonna get laid."

Remus laughed, as James leapt to his feet as Sirius did, before chasing him round the park, almost treading on small children, who were laughing by the paddling pool. "But is this our summer? Lazy days in the park?"

Lily smiled, draping a daisy chain round his neck. "You say that like it's a bad thing."

Remus glanced across at Peter, who, judging by the evenness of his breathing, had gone to sleep, and then at Sirius who currently had James in a head lock, before he smiled. "It's not a bad thing. It's excellent."