Pomona returned to the safe house. She was staying off campus until the summer holidays ended, but she had not expected anyone to be inside. A burst of intensely rhythmic music came from a radio or some other device.
She followed the sound into the living room and found James Potter, bobbing his head and swaying to the music.
Comics, pizza boxes, and several bottles of alcohol lay on the coffee table and sofa, while he was frying food in the kitchen.
She took out her pocket watch and checked the calendar and time. At this hour, he should either have been home with Lily or helping Sirius keep Remus company through his transformation.
"Ahem." She coughed twice, interrupting James before he could sink any deeper into his own world.
"Hi—oh!" James nearly burned himself on the pan while greeting her.
"What are you doing here?" Pomona asked.
"Er... Sirius said I could stay here," James said hesitantly. "I know you share this house."
"That's not what I'm asking!" She stared at James, feeling she ought to condemn his irresponsible behavior.
"Harry keeps crying. He won't sleep unless Lily holds him. I'm no use there at all," James said wearily. "I need some time to rest."
She thought about it for a moment. James's "activities" had indeed been rather frequent lately. After fighting Death Eaters, he still had to go home and look after a baby whose days and nights were reversed and who never stopped making a racket.
"You can sleep on the sofa." Pomona stared at the comics strewn across it. "Provided you tidy these up first, or there won't be any room for you."
James immediately ran over to clear the comics off the sofa, abandoning even the pan on the stove.
Pomona had intended to collect