Chapter Text
James couldn’t breathe. His eyes must have deluded him. It could not be possible. He hadn’t processed a single word that Queen Lily had said, still occupied by the marking on her wrist in the shape of none other than a doe. After glimpsing the shape on her wrist, James only had one word running through his mind: soulmate.
Everyone had a small marking on his or her wrist in the shape of some animal. It had been said that if two people had complementary markings, such as a doe and a stag in Lily and James’ case, they were soulmates. However, in recent times people had lost hope of such a phenomenon. Many believed that it was a myth, but to James there could be no other explanation for the marks.
“Can you believe our luck?” Sirius exclaimed, as soon as Queen Lily had departed. The four of them were making their way back towards their current living quarters.
“Something is finally going right for us,” Remus replied, his mouth bordering on a grin.
The four of them had not been in one place for very long. In fact, they had only been brought together a year ago when, by some act of fate, the four of them had each tried stowing away in the same abandoned shack in the outskirts of Griffin. There had been rumors afloat that the shack was haunted; hardly a soul had ever dared approach it. Yet, fate had led the four of them straight to it. That night had begun as one with suspicions and contempt, but had ended with new friendships and a sense of camaraderie. Each had come from unfavorable backgrounds and were in desperate need of finding their own happiness.
Sirius and Remus had run away from their respective homes, as their parents had been abusive and did not accept them for who they were. Sirius’ parents had been supporters of King Riddle, which Sirius could not bear to stand for; Remus’ parents were too poor to pay much attention to Remus. James and Peter, on the other hand, were orphans and had been left to fend for themselves. Peter had become an orphan a couple of years ago, while James had no recollection whatsoever of his parents or of any relatives. He had never experienced anything akin to familial love- until he had met Sirius, Remus, and Peter.
“Did you guys see her wrist?” James asked almost obsessively.
“Let me guess, she’s your soulmate ?” Sirius responded, with a snicker.
“She had a doe on her wrist! What else could that mean?” James questioned.
“Are you sure it was a doe and not just your imagination?” Remus asked, raising his right eyebrow.
Peter and Sirius laughed, amused by James’ claims.
“This isn't a joke, guys! You all have heard the legend about soulmates: ‘There are those souls who find each other in every lifetime. The marks on everyone's wrists aid souls in reconnecting. The marks of the soulmates compliment each other.’ See? How much more complimenting can the marks get than a stag and a doe?” James pleaded.
“Even if you were right, what makes you think a queen would marry a commoner? Soulmates or not, she has a kingdom to protect,” Remus pointed out, much to James’ chagrin. That thought had been lurking in the back of his mind, but he did not want to let all of his hope die away due to a simple tradition of royal society.
“Me? A commoner? I’m hurt, Remus.”
“What would you prefer? Peasant?” Remus asked with a chuckle.
“That’s low,” Sirius commented.
“Nevermind that, we’re going to be knights!” James exclaimed, eager to change the subject. His friends had often teased him for his romantic outlook in life, and he wasn’t quite in the mood to be told he was being naive yet again.
“Is it even worth it though? Think of all the rules we will have to follow,” Peter spoke up.
“What are you talking about? Of course it’s bloody worth it!” Sirius replied. “Think of the glory, the respect we will have. We’ll no longer be peasant boys; no longer will you just be Peter, but Sir Peter.”
“I guess that does have a nice sound to it,” Peter acquiesced.
“Plus, what chance would we have against King Riddle on our own? Four boys running around with a stupid name like ‘the Marauders’? He would laugh in our faces.” James said.
“Hey, I don’t think ‘the Marauders’ is a stupid name,” Sirius yelled out, feigning hurt.
“Okay true, but you’ve got to admit, it is nothing compared to ‘the Knights of Griffin.’”
“I guess I can’t argue with you there.”
“Hmm, ‘Knights of Griffin’… that will take some getting used to,” Remus said with a far-off look in his eye. The reality hadn’t really set in for any of them. To go from being without a home and having to live off the land to living among royalty would not be an easy transition. Not that he would be complaining about the change.
“And who knows, maybe James here will rule alongside Queen Lily one day,” Sirius said with a chuckle.
“Hey! It could happen!” James shot back. All the tales he had heard of soulmates had ended happily, so why would his be any different?