Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Because one person asked, I have created this index for anybody who would like to skip around this fic for the express purpose of following one character's storyline. The markers below are as follow;

G- General POV of all characters.

When it says Marauders, I do mean all Four Marauders are involved.

For the others, in example, Chapter 7 will be (Lily- Alice) because the majority of it focuses on Lily and her budding friendship with Alice.

Ship names, for those very few who don't know, are Remus/ Sirius- Wolfstar, and James/ Lily- Jily. Due to the time frame this fic is set though, Lily still hates James and it's a work in progress through the majority of the books, so when it's James swooning over Lily it'll be Jily, but when it's Lily slowly falling for James, the shorthand will be Lames.

I don't know how common this one is, but saw it online once, so Frank and Alice are Fralice!

However, if it's just that person's name, (Sirius, Peter) then it's two separate focuses in the same chapter, not even necessarily of the same topic. Hope that all makes sense and I hope you enjoy.

For those of you that do not know this trick; if you are on a computer you can simply press Ctrl+F and it will find and highlight every mention of that person. For example, if you just want to read about Regulus, when you hit Ctrl+F at the same time, a little pop-up box will appear and you can type his name in, and you should have a number of results to scroll down and find all the chapters he's specifically in more visible.

BOOK ONE:

1. The Accident... (G)

2. The Boy Who Lived – Potions room (G)

3. The Vanishing Glass – Cupboard under the stairs (G)

4. The Letters From No One - Dursley place (Remus - Sirius)

5. Keeper of the Keys – Hut on the Rock (James, Marauders)

6. Diagon Alley – The Leaky Cauldron (Wolfstar)

7. Journey from Platform Nine and Three Quarters – Diagon Alley (Wolfstar, Lily - Alice)

8. The Sorting Hat – Great Hall (Peter - Regulus)

9. The Potions Master – Snape's Office (Lily, Fralice)

10. Midnight Duel – Trophy Room (Wolfstar)

11. Hallowe'en – Troll Destroyed Girls Bathroom (Lily)

12. Quidditch –Quirrell's Office (G)

13. Mirror of Erised – Mirror of Erised Room (Regulus)

14. Nicolas Flamel - Gryffindor Common Room (Frank)

15. Norbert the Norwegian Ridgeback –Charlie's Room (Regulus, Sirius)

16. The Forbidden Forest – Clearing with Unicorn (Wolfstar)

17. Through the Trapdoor – Traveling Along Through the Trapdoor (Alice, James - Regulus)

18. The Man With Two Faces – Room With Mirror At End (Jily)

BOOK TWO:

19. The Worst Birthday; Dursley's backyard (G)

20. Dobby's Warning; Harry's bedroom (Marauders, Regulus)

21. The Burrow; The Burrow's kitchen (Lames)

22. At Flourish and Blotts; Flourish and Blotts (G)

23. The Whomping Willow; Weasley Car (Frank, Peter)

24. Gilderoy Lockheart; Greenhouse 3 (Wolfstar, Peter- Regulus)

25. Mudbloods and Murmurs; Lockharts Office (Wolfstar, Regulus, Frank, Alice- Lily)

26. The Deathday Party; Deathday Party (Lily, Frank)

27. The Writing on the Wall; Hallway for this Scene (G)

28. The Rogue Bludger; Moaning Myrtle's bathroom (G)

29. The Duelling Club; The Zoo (James- Peter, Lily- Frank- Alice, Wolfstar, Regulus)

30. The Polyjuice Potion; Slytherin Common room (G)

31. The Very Secret Diary; Gryffindor Dormitory (Wolfstar, Fralice, Sirius- Regulus)

32. Cornelius Fudge; Fudge's office (Regulus)

33. Aragog; Cupboard Aragog was Stored in (G)

34. The Chamber of Secrets; Antichamber (Lames, Regulus- Sirius)

35. The Heir of Slytherin; Chamber of Secrets (Sirius- Regulus, Wormtail)

36. Dobby's Reward; Dobby's room (Sirius)

BOOK THREE:

37. Owl Post; Peter's Home (James- Peter)

38. Aunt Marge's Big Mistake; Aunt Marge's Place (Lily)

39. The Knight Bus; Knight Bus (G)

40. The Leaky Cauldron; Magical Menagerie (Marauders)

41. The Dementor; Dementor Train (G)

42. Talons and Tea Leaves; Trelawney's class (Marauders, Lily- Frank)

43. The Boggart in the Wardrobe; Remus's Home (Marauder's- Fralice, Lily)

44. Flight of the Fat Lady; Lupin's Office (G)

45. Grim Defeat; Quidditch stands (James- Sirius, Alice- Frank- Lily, Peter- Regulus, Sirius- Peter)

46. The Marauder's Map; Honeydukes (Lames, Wolfstar, Regulus- Peter, Sirius- Peter)

47. The Firebolt; Quality Quidditch Supplies (Frank- Alice- Regulus, Alice- James, Wolfstar)

48. The Patronus; Class With Boggart (Sirius- Regulus, Lames)

49. Gryffindor versus Ravenclaw; Ravenclaw Dormitory (G)

50. Snape's Grudge; Hill Overlooking Shrieking Shack (Sirius, Marauders)

51. The Quidditch Final; Wood's/ Percy's Dorm Room (Peter)

52. Professor Trelawney's Prediction; Trelawney's office (Remus- Peter)

53. Cat, Rat, and Dog; Inside the Whomping Willow (G)

54. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs; Shreicking Shack (G)

55. The Servant of Lord Voldemort; Azkaban (Peter)

56. The Dementor's Kiss; Remus's Cage (Moony)

57. Hermione's Secret; Lake Edge (Marauders)

58. Owl Post Again; Charms room (Regulus)

BOOK FOUR:

59. The Riddle House; Frank Bryce's Home (Regulus, Peter)

60. The Scar; Island Sirius is on (Marauders)

61. The Invitation; Muggle Post Office (Lames)

62. Back to the Burrow; Inside Dursley Fireplace (G)

63. Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes; Barty Crouch's Office (Alice)

64. The Portkey; Stoutshed Hill (Regulus- Peter)

65. Bagman and Crouch; Quidditch World Cup Field (James- Regulus, Alice-Remus, Marauders, Wolfstar, Regulus-Peter)

66. The Quidditch World Cup; Top Box in World Cup (Lames)

67. The Dark Mark; Below the Dark Mark (Regulus- Marauders, Lily)

68. Mayhem at the Ministry; Percy's office (Lily)

69. Aboard the Hogwarts Express; Alastor Moody's Home (Frank)

70. The Triwizard Tournament; Department of International Magical Cooperation (Sirius- Regulus, Alice- Peter)

71. Mad-Eye Moody; Transfiguration classroom (Regulus, Remus)

72. The Unforgivable Curses; Frank's Home (Fralice)

73. Beauxbatons and Durmstrang; Durmstrange ship (Wolfstar, James- Sirius, Regulus- Peter)

74. The Goblet of Fire; The Museum of Magical History (Lily, Peter- Alice)

75. The Four Champions; Great Hall Anitchamber (Peter- Sirius)

76. The Weighing of the Wands; Ollivanders (G)

77. The Hungarian Horntail; Surrounded by dragon enclosures (Marauders, Regulus- Remus)

78. The First Task; Broom Shed (G)

79. The House-Elf Liberation Front; Kitchens (Lily, Fralice, Marauders, Regulus)

80. The Unexpected Task; Beauxbatons Carriage (Marauders, Lily, Regulus)

81. The Yule Ball; Beauxbatons Castle (Regulus- Lily, Frank- Remus, James- Peter)

82. Rita Skeeter's Scoop; Hagrid's Hut (Frank)

83. The Egg and the Eye; Prefects Bathroom (Jily, James- Alice, Lames)

84. The Second Task; Under the lake (Regulus)

85. Padfoot Returns; Caves behind Hogsmeade (Regulus, Peter, Remus-Sirius)

86. The Madness of Mr. Crouch; Crouch Manor (Marauders, Alice- Lily)

87. The Dream; Riddle Manor (G)

88. The Pensieve; Bagman's office (Wolfstar, Peter- Regulus, Lames, Frank, Alice)

89. The Third Task; Hedge Maze (Sirius- Alice, Regulus- Lily, Remus- James)

90. Flesh, Blood and Bone; Hufflepuff Common room (G)

91. The Death Eaters; The Graveyard (Regulus)

92. Priori Incantatem; Potter Manor (Lily, Sirius- Regulus, Sirius- Peter)

93. Veritaserum; Moody's Office (G)

94. The Parting of the Ways; Ministry Atrium (Marauders, Jily, Alice)

95. The Beginning; Cedric's home (Regulus- Peter)

BOOK FIVE:

96. Dudley Demented; Sirius' Room (Sirius, Lily- Sirius)

97. A Peck of Owls; Eeylopes Owl Emporium (G)

98. The Advance Guard; Tonks's home (Remus- Sirius)

99. Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place; Grimmauld Place Portraits Gallery (Regulus, Wolfstar, James- Alice)

100. The Order of the Phoenix; Grimmauld Place's Attic (G)

101. The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black; Grimmauld Tapestry (Regulus-Sirius, Lily)

102. The Ministry of Magic; Arthur's Office (G)

103. The Hearing; Courtrooms (G)

104. The Woes of Mrs. Weasley; The Weasley's Attic (Lames)

105. Luna Lovegood; Lovegoods Garden (Regulus- Peter)

106. The Sorting Hat's New Song; Umbridge's house (James)

107. Professor Umbridge; Owlery (G)

108. Detention with Dolores; Umbridge's Office (Regulus)

109. Percy and Padfoot; Percy's Room (Lames, Regulus, Sirius)

110. The Hogwarts High Inquisitor; Staffroom (Sirius, Jily, Regulus- Peter, Lily)

111. In the Hog's Head; Hog's Head (Fralice, Sirius- James, Frank- Remus, Peter, James)*

112. Educational Decree Number Twenty-Four; History of Magic Classroom (Lames, Fralice)

113. Dumbledore's Army; Quidditch Locker Rooms (James- Remus, Wolfstar, Regulus)

114. The Lion and the Serpent; Madam Hooch's office (Sirius- James, Marauders, Frank- Alice- Lily)

115. Hagrid's Tale; Mountain Village of Giants (Regulus- Peter, Alice- Moony, James- Lily, Moony- Padfoot,)

116. The Eye of the Snake; Mr. and Mrs. Weasley's room (James- Padfoot, Jily, Fralice, Lily- Regulus, Regulus- James, Remus- Padfoot)

117. St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries; Same (Peter- Remus, James- Padfoot, Alice- Frank)

118. Christmas on the Closed Ward; Alice's Home (Alice, Frank- Alice- Lily, Remus- Padfoot, James)

119. Occlumency; Department of Mysteries Door Room (Lily- James, Marauders)

120. The Beetle at Bay; Madam Puddifoots (Frank- Alice- Lily)

121. Seen and Unforeseen; Snape's home (Marauders, Sirius- Regulus, Lily)

122. The Centaur and the Sneak; Firenze's classroom (James, Regulus- Peter)

123. Snape's Worst Memory; Lily's home (Lames, Lily- Alice, Lily- James, Lily)

124. Career Advice; McGonagall's Office (Lily, James, James- Sirius, Peter)

125. Grawp; place where Grawp is tied up (Regulus, Remus- Alice, Peter- Sirius, Peter- Regulus)

126. OWLs; Time Room (Sirius, Peter- Remus)

127. Out of the Fire; Buckbeaks room (James- Remus, Sirius, Regulus)

128. Fight and Flight; Centaur Village (Remus- Sirius)

129. The Department of Mysteries; Hall of Propchies (Peter- Sirius)

130. Beyond the Veil; Veil Room (Sirius)

131. The Only One He Ever Feared; Aurors Office (James- Sirius, Wolfstar, Fralice, Lily)

132. The Lost Prophecy; Dumbledore's Offices (Regulus- Sirius, Jily)

133. The Second War Begins; Magnolia Crescent (Wolfstar, Lames)

BOOK SIX:

134. The Other Minister; Muggle Ministers office (G)

135. Spinner's End; Draco's Room (Lily- Regulus)

136. Will and Won't; Kreacher's room (G)

137. Horace Slughorn; Slughorn's place (Peter- Regulus, Wolfstar, James- Sirius, James- Remus, Sirius- Regulus)

138. An Excess of Phlegm; Weasley Garden (James- Sirius, James- Alice, Wolfstar)

139. Draco's Detour; Weasley's Wizard Wheezes (James- Regulus)

140. The Slug Club; Hogsmeade station (Regulus, Alice- Frank, Wolfstar)

141. Snape Victorious; DADA classroom (Sirius- Peter- Regulus, James- Sirius)

142. The Half-Blood Prince; Apothecary (Remus- Sirius, Remus- Frank, James- Remus- Frank, Lily- Alice)

143. The House of Gaunt; Same (Lily- Sirius, James- Remus)

144. Hermione's Helping Hand; Hermione's home (James- Lily, Wolfstar)

145. Silver and Opals; Borgin and Burkes (Remus, Marauders, Lily- Alice, Wolfstar)

146. The Secret Riddle; Riddles orphanage (James- Remus- Sirius, James- Peter, Wolfstar)

147. Felix Felicis; Classroom with birds (Lily- Frank, Sirius- James)

148. The Unbreakable Vow; Slughorn's Office (Regulus- Peter, Regulus- Lily, Frank- Alice- Lily, Sirius- James)

149. A Very Frosty Christmas; Weasley livingroom (Alice, Wolfstar, James- Remus, Sirius- Lily, G)

150. A Sluggish Memory; Scrimgour's Office (Jily, Remus)

151. Birthday Surprises; Ron's Room (James- Remus- Sirius, Lily- Alice)

152. Elf Tails; Hooky statue (G)

153. Lord Voldemort's Request; Hepzibah Smith's place (Sirius- Alice, Wolfstar, Jily)

154. The Unknowable Room; Seventh Floor Corridor (Wolfstar, Moony- Padfoot- Prongs)

155. After the Burial; Aragog's burial site (Wolfstar, Remus, James)

156. Horcruxes; Restricted Section (Remus- James, Lily- Frank, G)

157. Sectumsempra; blood-soaked bathroom (Remus, Regulus- Peter)

158. The Seer Overheard; The Three Broomsticks (Regulus- Sirius, Regulus- Peter, Regulus- Lily, Remus- Peter, James- Sirius, Wolfstar, Sirius- James)

159. The Cave; The Cave (Wolfstar, Sirius- Lily, Sirius- James, Frank- Remus, Peter-Sirius-Regulus)

160. The Lightning-Struck Tower; Astronomy tower (Sirius- James, Wolfstar, Lily)

161. The Flight of the Prince; Slytherin dorms (Fralice, Remus- Sirius, Remus- James)

162. The Phoenix Lament; Hospital Wing (Wolfstar)

163. The White Tomb; Dumbledore's Funeral (Lily- Alice, Sirius- Remus- Frank, Sirius- Regulus)

BOOK SEVEN:

164. The Dark Lord Ascending; Professor Burbag's Office (Wolfstar)

165. In Memoriam; Daily Prophet Editor Office (James, Wolfstar)

166. The Dursleys Departing; Privet Drive (Peter- James, Remus- Lily, Alice- Sirius, Wolfstar, Regulus- Peter)

167. The Seven Potters; Battle Area in the Sky (James- Regulus, James- Sirius, Frank)

168. Fallen Warrior; Hufflepuff dorms (Wolfstar)

169. The Ghoul in Pajamas; Weasley's chicken coop (Wolfstar, Regulus- Peter, Lames, James- Remus- Sirius, James- Sirius)

170. The Will of Albus Dumbledore; Ginny's Room (Remus- Lily)

171. The Wedding; same (James- Alice, Regulus- Sirius, Wolfstar, Remus- James, Lily- Frank)

172. A Place to Hide; Grimmauld place kitchen (Sirius- Regulus, Remus- James, Wolfstar, Regulus- Peter)

173. Kreacher's Tale; Grimmauld Place (Sirius, Regulus- Peter, Wolfstar)

174. The Bribe; Mundungus' house (Lily, Sirius)

175. Magic is Might; Alleyway with vomit and unconscious Runcorn (Wolfstar, Remus- James, Sirius)

176. The Muggle-Born Registration Commission; The Ministry of Magic (Fralice, Peter- Lily, James- Regulus, Wolfstar)

177. The Thief; Nurmenguard (Regulus- Remus, Wolfstar, Sirius- James)

178. The Goblin's Revenge; tent they travel in (Sirius- Peter, Sirius- Regulus)

179. Godric's Hollow; The Statue of James, Lily, and Harry (Wolfstar, Sirius- James, Jily)

180. Bathilda's Secret; Potter's destroyed house, Godric's Hollow (Remus- Alice, Peter- Sirius, Regulus- Peter)

181. The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore; Dumbledore's childhood home (Remus- Peter, Sirius- Regulus, Remus-James- Lily)

182. The Silver Doe; same (Moony-Wormtail-Padfoot-Prongs)

183. Xenophilius Lovegood; Lovegoods Place (Wolfstar, Remus- James)

184. The Tale of the Three Brothers; Luna's room (Sirius- James, James- Peter)

185. The Deathly Hallows; Lily and James' Graves (Jily)

186. Malfoy Manor; Same (Peter- Regulus)

187. The Wandmaker; Dobby's grave (G)

188. Shell Cottage; Same (Remus- Lily, Wolfstar)

189. Gringotts; Dragon Vault (Frank- Sirius- Regulus- Peter)

190. The Final Hiding Place; Mountain lake edge where dragon dropped them (Sirius, Wolfstar)

191. The Missing Mirror; Aberforths' room in the hogshead (James- Sirius, Regulus, Wolfstar)

192. The Lost Diadem; Carrows Office (Sirius, Fralice)

193. The Sacking of Severus Snape; Ravenclaw Common room (James)

194. The Battle of Hogwarts; Room of Things, FiendFyred (Fralice, Jily, Wolfstar, Peter-Regulus)

195. The Elder Wand; The Twin's room (Remus- Regulus, Wolfstar, Jily, Regulus- Peter, James)

196. The Prince's Tale; Lily and Snape's forest spot (Jily, Sirius- Peter, Lily)

197. The Forest Again; Aragog's Den (James, Lily)

198. King's Cross; Platform Nine and Three Quarters (G)

199. The Flaw in the Plan; Narcissa's childhood bedroom (Sirius, James)

200. 19 Years Later; Harry's future Home (G)

201. The Tapestry (G)

*If I had to recommend you start the series where the real 'plot' of this fic gets going, it would be with this chapter. The rest is arguably all set-up.

Chapter Text

It is recommended, though by no means a must if you know the Marauders history enough to be reading fanfiction about them, you read We Were first. The first five chapters are slightly AU to the continuity of this fic, but the grand point and especially the final chapter are key to the beginning of this fic as you get plopped in the middle. Link is below or you can find it in my profile.

Before you get started; Warnings include- Explicit Wolfstar (Remus/Sirius), and on the whole a rather flimsy premise that I honestly created to indulge myself because I didn't let myself do it the first time. A lot less logically based and a lot more I just felt like having fun with this one. It's not to say I'll let this degenerate into tropes and one note things, but there's going to be even less reading of the books involved, as in literally they're just interacting around the story with only passing mentions of what's going on in there. If you want a much more grounded basis and more 'realistic' approach to a reading series, I put my heart and every cell of my mind into The Life that Never Lived, PDF's upon request. I'm pretty sure this one grew from my funny bone that I broke when I was seven.

The dungeons where Potions were held had always felt like the most oblique part of the castle, and Sirius had been in every corner of it to claim as such. It wasn't entirely the fault of the dark stone walls, sweltering hot air from the many flames, or the often unexplained fumes. The feeling seemed to seep up straight from the cold stone floor no matter how many fires were lit, as if the wooden stool itself were trying to pin them all with the unknown.

Sirius had never been more grateful for a Potions class to be over, and that was really saying something. It was the last one of this bleeding school semester, and if he had to spend one more day glaring at a cauldron and somehow inexplicably turning it the wrong color one more time without the usual helpful hint from Peter telling him why, he was going to chuck every last drop of it in Slughorn's face for constantly telling him he'd figure it out!

He'd never packed up his bag faster, even managing to multitask by muttering under his breath how stupid all this was. He was the first person to make it to the door, but collided with someone even less pleasant to see than the three people he'd most been avoiding lately. He cursed loudly, earning several dirty looks as the rest of the class was now passing. His bag had ripped upon stumbling into his little brother and smashed to the ground, sending his things flying and managing to spray him with ink.

Regulus hesitated in the doorway, muttering a quick, "sorry Sirius."

"Oh, it knows my name," Sirius growled under his breath, though his tone was far less hateful than usual, considering this was the first time he'd had a proper conversation with someone in nearly three weeks. His little brother was hardly his first choice, given his proud Slytherin status and being two years younger didn't remotely have them coming near each other most days, a fact he was usually grateful for.

"Yes, he does," Regulus' scowl looked remarkably close to Sirius', the two put side by side at once was rather eerie. His tone though was even more friendly than Sirius', which wasn't all that hard as he tried to explain his abrupt appearance. "I ah, I came sprinting down here to see if I could catch Slughorn, ask him if I could pick up an extra credit assignment."

Sirius straightened with his stuff still half strewn around, but again that pull for someone to talk to seemed greater, especially as he glanced back and saw who hadn't left yet, so he responded no matter how unenthusiastically. "Yeah, what you struggling with?" While tapping his bag and mending the tear, slowly bending down to pick each item back up while he absently listened. Regulus even began to help him while he explained in short, precise sentences like he was practicing for the teacher.

Frank Longbottom and Alice Smith slipped in past the two Black brothers at the doorway and found the room mostly empty, and they shared an exasperated look as they wondered if they'd just walked in on Slughorn telling this group off again. They were early for their next class after all, but the teacher was nowhere in sight. They did get a full view of what started quite an interesting journey.

James was hanging by Evans' cauldron, trying to chat happily with her, but mostly waiting for Sirius to leave first. He could hardly stand to look at him these days, let alone pass by him in such a restricted place, yet the wanker had struck up a conversation with Regulus of all people, someone he'd hardly spoken a whole sentence to in the past five years, but no, he'd chosen now! Probably just waiting for them to walk past first, like this was all still some game to him.

Remus and Peter were hovering on edge right beside him, Remus fidgeting with what was left of his cauldron on the desk while Evans was trying to pack hers up and being hampered by James staying in her way. "Won't you at least consider coming? It's our last game of the season! What if you're my good luck charm, you've always been the best at those! Do you really want to be the reason Gryffindor loses?"

"They've gotten on just fine without me there the past years," Lily snipped. She never knew why she even bothered responding to him half the time, but considering it no more discouraged him than ignoring him, at least this way she got to vent.

She tried to sidestep past him, James once again stepped into her way, and the two collided with each other, their hands accidentally slipping into her cauldron Remus had just mistakenly dumped his own potion into.

Whatever the concoction the two mixed together created upended the entire world.

At first though, nothing really changed. There was no marvelous flash of light, no force of nature that showed everyone outside of this room had vanished. Lily simply made a gagging noise as she pulled her hand out of the vat and glared furiously at the oddly pale teen, pulling her wand out at once with her less dominant hand she hadn't tried to catch herself with and banish the gunk off while hissing at him, "You are so lucky I turned that in already Lupin! What the hell did you even create? I've never seen this before," she finished with a critical eye at the now steaming mess, that vanished before their eyes.

"Wow Remus, you should do that more often, really makes cleanup easier," Peter chuckled while Remus looked rather concerned.

"I, err, I'll admit, I really screwed up my potion worse than usual. I think I added three things I actually wasn't supposed to, so you've got me."

James just flung the mess from his hand, which also vanished before it had even landed on anyone, and glanced back hopefully like he'd thought his source for this mess had left already.

He hadn't.

His face was turned in their general direction, like he'd been trying to subtly glance over and hope for the same, but now he was looking right through James. That wasn't uncommon lately, but the stunned look of confusion on his face was enough James grudgingly turned his head the other way to see what.

Back on the lip of the cauldron, was a slim red book with a golden one on the spine. It was just sitting there, like Evans had left it on purpose, but it certainly hadn't been a second ago.

Lily took his distraction as a chance to bolt from the room, Regulus gave his brother an awkward wave goodbye and went back out towards Slughorn's office since he'd clearly missed him, and Alice and Frank tried to casually step back out as well. Even being a year above those four had not left them oblivious to their fight. The whole school was aware of the fact the four Marauders had not been seen together in quite some time, and neither of them particularly felt like putting their nose into why.

James was still frowning in confusion at the odd title stamped across, which simply read Harry Potter Year One.

"Err, did either of you-" James looked at the two as if in some kind of explanation, but both gave a mystified shake to their head. James couldn't help it, he still looked automatically towards his best mate, and then he caught himself and realized they were the only four left. Sirius' eyes had still been locked in on the odd object, really ridiculous his mind supplied as James had no relatives named Harry, and wondered if this was some odd attempt at a prank?

Sirius didn't stick around to care, completely forgetting the rest of his things, he turned on his heel and finally exited as well, when they all heard a shriek.

As one, the four bolted up to the Entrance Hall, Alice and Frank right behind them as they hadn't wandered off far, to see Lily standing in the middle and stamping her foot in frustration upon seeing them. "Damn, I thought someone would have reacted to that."

"Err, Evans," James began in concern as if for her health.

"Where is everybody!" She demanded while gesturing to the Great Hall where there should have been a packed lunch crowd. Nobody was in there, and now that they were listening for it, the din of a castle filled with people, was deadly silent all around them.

As if given a signal, everyone began shouting all at once, sure the ruckus would cause someone to appear, but the only other arrival was Regulus coming up from the stairs as well, looking at all of them with great concern. "Geez, you lots shouting usually has a much greater audience."

"Thank you Regulus for that helpful insert!" Sirius snapped.

Regulus ignored that and seemed to look around himself and really acknowledge his own words, before realization slammed into him as well as he whispered, "What's going on?"

"We'd all like to know that," Frank put his hands up in frustration, this was what he and his girlfriend got for getting to class early.

"This is ridiculous," Lily seethed, stomping up towards the stairs. She was intending to barge into every crevice of this place and find someone other than these idiots to deal with. She didn't know what the school was playing at, but it wasn't funny.

Alice and Frank followed her as they still considered her the least craziest compared to the others.

Sirius still couldn't bring himself to look at the other three and bolted out onto the grounds for an exit, and Regulus couldn't think of anything better to do but follow him.

James waited until they were back alone before nodding to Peter, who pulled the Marauder's Map back out and cast the charm to activate it. On cue, the magical ink appeared, spreading through the tattered paper, but only revealing eight names instead of the several hundreds it normally housed.

"What the bloody hell?" Remus demanded, snatching it away as if sure somehow Peter had cast it wrong. He deactivated it and retried five times before looking up in exasperation, to see James flipping through the book. "Of all times, you chose now to pursue one of those!" Remus demanded.

"Remus, what the bloody hell was in that potion," James whispered to him.

Remus looked at him askance. "I told you I don't know, I was, well I-" it was hard to admit how thoroughly distracted he'd been, even more than usual in his potions classes. His past two attempts had been utter messes as well. Somehow without Sirius by his side and being a constant distraction, he'd found a way to blow up his more recent attempts, so he'd been rather proud this one had only changed the wrong color seven times. "What's your point?"

"This," James waved it around, his face still looking somehow detached as if he had no clue what he was really saying, "it's-" he broke off, and Remus huffed in exasperation as he snatched it away.

"Yes James, it has words, glory look at that they're even strung together with sentences! What's the big-" he stopped abruptly at what he saw quite clearly had Prongs so thrown off. Remus could feel it now, this book was giving off as if the most powerful magic to exist, certainly that he'd ever been around.

"This isn't, there's no way-" he tried to protest what his eyes weren't changing.

"What?" Peter demanded in exasperation of the two.

"That's from the future." James stated coolly.

Peter laughed, realized neither was pulling his leg, and then yanked the book to him as well.

"It, it's a joke or-" he tried to say, but it was the exact same to his eyes as well.

"Remus, what the bloody hell did you mix with Lily's Profligare potion?" James asked again like he'd have another answer!

"I, I told you, I have no clue!" Remus insisted, his heart restricting painfully in his chest.

"Why aren't their words in the rest of this book?" Peter asked curiously. There were an easy three hundred pages to this thing, but only the first sentence was visible. The rest was blank.

"Put that down," Remus suddenly yelped, slapping it away from him. It thudded to the ground and even skidded a few feet while Wormtail looked offended.

"Merlin Remus, James was holding it for a whole five minutes and he didn't explode."

"Let's prioritize for a minute," James insisted. "Ignore that thing and figure out where everyone is, maybe show that to Dumbledore-"

"That might be a problem, as there's no one else here!" Remus snarled.

"Well I'll say one thing, Evans sure can make one good banishing potion," Regulus commented as he stepped back into the Entrance Hall minus Sirius.

The question burst out of James before he could consider doing otherwise, "where's your better half?"

Regulus scowled hatefully, hesitated, but still answered, "still wandering the damn grounds, think he said something about checking the bottom of the lake. I don't know what you lot are fighting about, but for him to be saying that even as a joke really is something."

James flinched with the first spot of guilt he'd felt, and Remus looked away as if he hadn't even heard. Peter took the opportunity to shove the map back out of sight before he twisted his fingers together and just deciding to ignore that as well and said, "We might as well go find the other three and show at least them. Something Dark is going on around here, perhaps we shouldn't go wandering off."

"Oh that's nice, just leave him out on the grounds by himself then if that's what you're thinking," Regulus muttered as his two friends seemed to agree and took off up the stairs, Peter having to jog to keep up.

They found them already up to the second floor, and with every empty room they'd opened, they'd become increasingly more panicked. This just wasn't natural! Even during the holidays you were likely to run across someone by now! A ghost even! What was left of the Marauders caught up to them, and Lily's near hysterics weren't helped with their answer to this.

"Just come back downstairs!" James was trying to put his hands up in a comforting, surrendering gesture to the vivid redhead who hadn't stopped shouting for a solid minute, so her face was as bright as her hair. "We found something you lot really should see!"

It took a bit more persuading and Frank and Alice agreeing first before Lily conceded searching every room wasn't helping.

They went back downstairs and saw Sirius had rejoined his little brother, and the two were frozen in place over what had already been discovered with the book still open on the ground for all to see.

"You wanted to show me a book!" Lily demanded as she looked murderously at Potter. "How is that helping to find out what happened!"

"Just look at it," Potter insisted.

Without touching it, she went to where it had fallen on the floor, and then she too along with Frank and Alice saw.

Scrawled across the top was the title The Boy Who Lived, which meant nothing to anyone so their eyes skipped down to below that, which was just under the date 1981. Six years from now.

Chapter Text

Lily stooped down, and picked the book up slowly, gazing hard at the year before slowly looking around at the others. Then she marched back down to the dungeons.

"Evans, what are you doing!" James protested as he followed her. "We should stay together, we have no clue what's going on-"

"As if he's ever needed a reason to be around her," Peter muttered to Remus as the whole group followed, Sirius and Regulus trialing at the back reluctantly.

They entered to find Lily already fast at work, with James still talking at her more than anything and Peter and Remus hovering uneasily behind him and still looking anxiously around like they were expecting an attack. Alice and Frank were shifting anxiously in place just as uneasily behind Lily with absolutely no clue how they'd gotten involved in this but deeply regretting whatever this was.

Sirius just perched on a stool as far from everyone as he could while Regulus slumped against the wall even further away, feeling even more out of place than the couple.

Lily ignored them all, running back to the still empty cauldron. She dropped the book back in it and turned to the student supply cupboards and began pulling ingredients out.

"Lily, what are you doing?" Alice decided to try since Potter was being so thoroughly ignored.

"Reversing this," she said flatly.

"You're insane," Frank pleasantly informed her, he knew fellow Ravenclaws who wouldn't dare try such a stunt as reversing this problem without a teacher present.  His claim was backed up by Pettigrew.

"He's right, we have no clue what got us here. You're good Evans, but even you're not good enough to create the counter potion for something that more than likely was just invented!"

"Well I'm certainly going to bloody try rather than standing around here doing nothing," she hissed as she began cutting up some roots.

James snatched the book out of the cauldron before she could dump anything on it, and huffed, "well fine, you do whatever you like then. I'm going to see what all of this is about," and he began the iconic first line of the series. The moment he had, the next appeared. "The book's called Harry Potter, and it starts with something as lame as Muggles," James pouted as he again checked the front cover.

"You think anything not about you is lame," Remus rolled his eyes at how this was starting.

"What are you doing anyways?" Alice decided to ignore the boys commentary on how boring this muggle life sounded in favor of asking Evans, who seemed the only one keen on getting them out of this.

"Retro Diebus," she answered without looking up from the spiel she was carefully inserting into a fruit Alice couldn't identify. Then again, she'd never been as good at Potions, or Herbology for that matter, a great disappointment to her head of house she was sure. She would be quite glad to drop both classes if not for her Auror training. It was a good thing she'd found Frank to tutor her, and well...

"I have no clue what that means," she confessed aloud before she could get lost in thought.

"It's going to reverse what Lupin did," she said with utter confidence.

"Are you still blaming this on me?" Lupin couldn't help but yip in protest. "It's not my fault you didn't banish your potion like everyone always does. You're as conceited as you accuse us of being, always keeping samples of your own work to try and improve upon them."

Lily flashed him a look that lesser men would have shrank away from, but James was still ignoring them all and continuing, as well as he really didn't want to see this fight progress. Lily's work thankfully kept her attention as she began stirring ingredients in her very precise method and so didn't take the opportunity to shoot back at Lupin.

She was being diligent as always in this class, even Potter reading about all these mysterious happenings revolving his name or whatever mess was going on. Admittedly she did look up with the same hope the rest of the room felt at the mention of You-Know-Who being gone, but then she dismissed this as whatever insanity was going on with the rest of this castle. Things would make sense if she just finished her work.

However, her hand slipped on her knife she was using to chop up a Nether Wart, and she sliced her finger deeply at the mention of Petunia, and a sister.

"Evans, you okay?" Frank asked in concern as she sucked in a breath and waved her hand frantically to rid the burning pain.

James had instantly dropped the book and rushed to her side, genuine concern in his eyes, but she snapped at all of them, "don't mind me, it's just a cut."

She pulled her wand and prodded the angry flesh, which sewed itself up nicely thanks to her advanced charms work, but then she made a guttural noise of frustration at seeing her brew ruined, smatterings of blood turning what was once a bright white potion now pink.

"You sure you're alright?" Alice insisted after Lily banished her wasted attempt and kept using other curses that weren't magically related.

"I said I'm fine," she snapped, causing Alice to raise her hands in surrender and back off and Frank to scowl heavily at her.

"Hey, don't snap at her just because she's trying to help. No one needs Snape in here."

Lily fearlessly matched his scowl and looked ready to go for her wand again at what she deemed as an insult to her friend. She couldn't understand why Frank would say such a thing, but then to her shock Potter came to her defense first.

"Lets everyone just cool it, we're in an odd situation here." He spoke first to Frank, but then turned to Lily and offered her more roots to begin again. "Here Evans."

She took them carefully, as if fearing they'd take off her fingers next. "I don't need your help, or defense," she snapped at once. Then, she glanced again at Frank who was heavily rolling his eyes, and honestly just to prove him wrong about her and her best friend, as an awkward form of an apology she didn't seem able to spit out, she finally explained herself instead, "err, that was my sister's name. I just, wasn't expecting it to show up-" she stopped herself abruptly and returned to her cutting table, only pausing to say to Frank and Alice, "sorry," before starting her work again.

James simply looked elated at having learned something new about Evans, that she had a sister. He found the idea fascinating, and exchanged a happy look with his mates, but then he remembered why Sirius wasn't quite meeting his eyes and quickly kept going through the awkward silence.

"Knew there was something about that cat," Peter interjected, even if they had already figured this out for themselves. "Not sure why McGonagall of all people is hanging around though."

"If Dumbledore's there, I'm sure we'll get answers to everything," Remus said a little wistfully, wishing their headmaster was here now so they could be getting that sooner.

James read eagerly through the rumors and oddity surrounding his son, Harry. He quite liked that name, he decided, though he wasn't keen on all this talk about what some possible kid of his could have to do with Voldemort. He skipped right over Dumbledore saying the name and ignored everyone else flinching around him like they always did, he found it ludicrous to be so afraid of something like a name, even if he'd yet found anyone to agree with him. Even his best mate, rebellious in all the same ways as him, had it far to ingrained from his parents and still twitched uneasily, though James still refused to look at him now just to mock him like usual.

All of this news was trumped though, when McGonagall said a very simply sentence that meant the world to him.

"Prongs, you okay," Remus prodded him when he just stood there, frozen. "I know this is probably more words than you've read in a lifetime-"

"He's probably overloaded himself," Peter snickered indulgently.

Still there was no reaction, and so Remus once again took it away and easily read up to the part James had stopped, then he too couldn't seem to spit it out with a comically torn expression in place. "Well, err, I'm confident we now have proof these have no bearing on our life."

"What's this?" Peter asked eagerly.

Remus shrugged and tried to read the passage, but James snatched it back and declared as if saying his vows, James and Lily Potter.

Remus gave him a pitying look though, ignoring Lily's splutter of protest and Sirius falling off of his stool from laughing so hard, and asked him, "did you read the rest of that?"

"Eh?" He said in confusion, before finally finishing the sentence and under other circumstances the juxtaposition of his expression would have been hilarious.

"Okay stop, just," Evans raised her hands up as if the motion alone would do this, and it was clearly working. "You've done many insane things man, but claiming us to be married and dead in the same sentence is a new one for you."

"He's not making this up," Lupin defended, while Black was still laughing and Pettigrew looked just as gobsmacked as Potter to be doing anything.

Lily just kept staring at them like she was waiting for a punchline, until Regulus spoke up.

"I can see it."

"Excuse you?" She spluttered.

Regulus shrugged without remorse as he tried to address her, though he was looking just slightly to the side of her, likely from the awkwardness of going from never having spoke to someone to explaining why he'd believe a love story. "I just, I can see you finally caving into someone like Potter, you two are quite the same."

He gave a sideways look at Sirius and didn't elaborate. Sirius' humor had dried up some and he gave his little brother a loaded look right back, he felt there was something off in Regulus' delivery.

Evans just looked scandalized now. "Well I'm so bloody glad you approve!" She missed the look on his face that starkly said something otherwise as she turned back to shouting at Potter. "I however am going to get us out of this insanity and stop fantasizing about Potter knocking me up!"

James honestly looked a bit hurt she wasn't giving this a second of consideration, and turned back to the book miserably. All he could hope now was someone popping up and explaining this mess better than whatever Dumbledore's next tosh was about no one ever knowing.

The only good thing left was Hagrid's arrival and mentioning Sirius, on a motorcycle of all things but that was the least surprising bit he'd heard of lately. He was honestly just happy to even hear of one of his friends in this mess of a story considering everything else that was going on.

James finished the final sentence just as Lily was moving to dump the final ingredients into her cauldron. The pot sizzled for a second, then this time there was a bright flash of light, and all eight of them felt an extraordinary tug upon their very soul and were flashing through nothing, and everything.

So yeah, hope you guys liked! Hope I established everything alright? Any questions you have ask away and I'll likely answer them so long as I feel they're not spoilery for future plot points of this. Can't wait to keep going with this!

As a fun game, I'd love it if you all predicted where the next chapter was going to be, it would greatly amuse me!

Chapter Text

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Not having been remotely prepared for it this time any more than the first, the eight of them collapsed to the ground in such a miserable place, for a moment the Marauders were convinced they'd been put inside the Shrieking Shack.

This place was somehow even more inhospitable. There was a storm outside, raging nearly right through the thin walls, and all of them collectively shivered and took a step closer to the center of the room. Lily took her wits about her first and jabbed her wand to the fireplace, the warmth spreading around giving them the ability to detail the rest of the area, though none of them enjoyed the view.

There was only one bedroom off to the side, a lumpy looking mattress and bedding that rather should have been burned from all the stains they could see on it. Truly those Dursleys must have been desperate to sleep on such a thing instead of their normal king sized bed with silk sheets and all their other extravagances.

The flooring had so many catches on it, uneven extremely from so many years of bad weather and ill care, it would be a miracle not to break your neck merely walking across the room, and a couch that was sagging to the ground so much they were sure Dudley had just placed his immense weight on it and cracked it in half.

"I had absolutely no desire to see the actual spot Harry laid himself on," James said in disgust, his eyes on one particular bit of corner not far from the fireplace, as if the boys instincts had still been trying to seek out warmth where none was. The thin bit of material fluttering in the breeze in the spot couldn't even be called a blanket, the patch of floor only softer than the rest because it was slightly damp from a leaky roof. It wasn't a fit place for an animal, let alone a scared little boy.

"I-" Sirius tried to say to him, going to him and wanting to put his arm around his best friend in some kind of solidarity, but James shrugged him off and stormed over to sit on the same spot, glaring around at nothing as if daring someone to stop him. He couldn't explain it to anyone, it felt stupid to even realize why he wanted this, but he wanted just some small part of himself to know what his son went through, even sitting in the same spot as he once had...or would. Whichever. The cupboard had been a punishment, this was an actual place he'd tried seeking out, and James was determined to understand why.

Sirius just watched him for a moment before reaching out and snatching the book away before Remus could protest. He wanted out of this miserable place as soon as possible, and if he was understanding this right, the pattern would continue they'd leave here as soon as the next part was over.

"Does anyone ever actually call Hagrid by his job title?" Frank asked without much interest when the chapter title was told.

"Not that I've heard," Alice agreed, keeping closer to her boyfriend than the fire for warmth in this place. "I'm just glad it was him, poor kid's had enough trouble in his life, at least Hagrid will finally help Harry to understand all this."

"I wonder why him though?" Lily said with high curiosity. "A ministry representative came and explained to my parents when I first got my letter, and after all these years, the blokes hardly memorable. He even managed to dress normally, an honest accomplishment," she finished with a small snort, remembering the few times she'd seen others try. "Hagrid on the other hand will likely leave an impression, probably not one most Muggles would forget. I imagine anyone as well as these Dursley's would be frightened by him."

"It was likely Dumbledore's decision, and he couldn't have picked anyone better," Remus said with a faint smile, looking forward to Hagrid doing more to scare the piss out of these people.

They all rather enjoyed the back and forth favoring Hagrid as he got through the Dursleys to explain to Harry what was going on, and everyone but Lily and Peter listened with interest to hear what it must be like for someone to hear for the first time something they'd known all their life.

"What does it mean by owl?" James burst out laughing. "What other way is there?"

"Never mind Prongs, I'll explain later," Peter promised, knowing there were likely a ton of things by now building up in his mind to ask about, and the only reason he wasn't interrupting every five seconds to ask was because he kept throwing sideways glances at Evans, clearly not wanting to look as imbecilic around her as he usually was. Those Muggle Studies classes he'd been taking must not have been doing him much good.

"I'm really warming up to Hagrid," Remus said conversationally to Peter, hovering with him near the fireplace and wishing Sirius hadn't followed them over while continuing. Still trying to avoid looking at him in general, he was trying to keep up some commentary with his actual friends. "Why haven't we ever gone to his place and hung around?"

"Did you honestly just suggest we hang around an authority figure at school?" James demanded while looking faint. "Merlin Moony, I know we've been laying low at school, but this is ridiculous."

Remus made a face at him and Peter nodding along, but still refused to give the sideways look at Sirius he so wanted to for someone to play along.

Alice frowned reproachfully as the four tried to act like no one else was here while Black kept going, and the feeling only grew when Hagrid brought up Harry's past. She supposed she couldn't blame the friends for banning around their mate as his death was brought up again, but aside from Potter throwing more anxious looks at his long time crush, he seemed to have decided giving her space for once would be better than jumping her for attention at further news of their demise.

So Alice took it upon herself to go up to her and give her a kindly pat on the shoulder. They hadn't spoken much outside of class, or in them for that matter, not actually sharing any being a year older. Lily seemed to take the gesture warmly enough, patting her hand gratefully and giving her a small smile that melted away when Black only made things worse by parroting a future Petunia's rant.

Peter let out a low throated whistle. "Blimey, that is a lot of built up hatred for a sibling." He was giving an uneasy look at his two friends who had gone as long as he'd known without even looking at each other, he couldn't imagine how much worse it would be if it lasted as long as Petunia was implying about her sister.

By the end of the rant Lily's face was pinched tight together, she'd shrugged off Alice's hand and stalked as far away from everyone she could so she could mutter in silence about all of this. James didn't look much better, his teeth gritted together and having to powerfully remind himself not to deck Sirius for saying those things about Lily because he wasn't technically the one saying them, but the fascination of having a sibling like that had died as quickly as it had arisen. If they'd been blaming all of the misfortune on Harry before on Vernon, there was no longer any doubt this may well be Petunia's idea to take out her vindictiveness on Lily's only living family.

"Hagrid can threaten people with an umbrella?!" Remus gasped, having always wondered why he carried that around and this was the best answer ever. "That's it, I'm asking him to marry me!" He declared with a light smirk in place, looking determinedly at anyone but Sirius to return the smile and play along. Peter giggled slightly but refrained from joking along, so Remus sighed, wishing for the millionth time already none of this had even started.

"I'll fight you for that ring," Sirius happily butted in before Peter's laugh could subside. "Besides, we've far more in common!"

Remus pursed his lips rather than acknowledge anything more, and Sirius' smile was even more forced when he kept going after throwing a halfway look at James who was still watching the two with pity. At least they were trying now, though he was confident it had more to do with this situation and the unfamiliarity of it. They were trying to stick together rather than continue quarreling because of this, but the other two Marauders had a bad feeling that wasn't going to last long before something snapped between them again.

Tension did melt just slightly when everyone in the room gave varying laughs for Dudley getting a pig's tail out of the exchange, but Sirius hesitated in finally getting to the end, taking a careful breath and warning. "Well, this is almost over again, think there's any way to brace ourselves from that, that crappy version of apparating happening again?"

"I honestly doubt it," James sighed while still holding his hand protectively. It wasn't at all comforting the injury hadn't vanished with their previous surroundings, and while the throbbing had died down to mostly ignorable if he didn't flex his fingers, he knew it would flare up if he landed on it, again.

"May as well get it over with then, brace yourselves," Sirius sighed before finishing, and not having a moment to gloat he'd been right.

Chapter Text

Below is finally the real start to the promised wolfstar...though I doubt this came as a surprise considering how much I've been building up to it lately.

Even being prepared for the soul wrenching yank through time and space could not give one the preparation needed to slam back down in a small, dingy, poorly lit pub. The staircase on the far back wall, they all knew, led to rooms that while cheap, were not accustomed to more than one night stays and so shanty at best with only a dozen total. The tables spaced out, while clean of grime, held age old stains Tom had never quite managed to scrub out, the chairs were mismatched and several of them had been repaired though the magic no longer showed it.

The bar was by far the most noticeable feature, covering the length of the room and most highly polished with squashy cushions on the stools with many butt impressions still warm to the touch, though lacking its usual tenants and keep, leaving the drinks, both in bottles and left along the counter, to almost glow without any proper lighting.

"Well, I'll take this as a sign," James said, wincing slightly as he got himself to his feet and made his way directly there.

"What do you think you're doing Potter?" Lily demanded, askance at once as he brazenly stepped behind the counter.

"What does it look like? Spritzer anyone? Bet I can invent a new flavor before we get out of here." He asked pleasantly as he browsed through the shelves.

"Get your arse out of there," she snapped, taking an automatic step back as she said it. She hadn't lifted a finger to stop them at such a dastardly place as Number Four, but Tom nor anyone had deserved these boys messing with this place. "This is private property, we've no right to be here!"

"Clearly the universe decided differently," Sirius snorted as he stepped up with him. "Pass me a mixer will you Prongs."

James tossed one over his shoulder without looking while Sirius slid the book along the counter to catch it instead.

Regulus let it slide right past him as he sat himself on a stool and asked, "mind mixing me up whatever it is Father has on his holidays?"

"Bleh," Sirius made a face at his brother even as he let his fingers catch on the neck of choice. "Do you not value your taste buds?"

"Can't handle the strong stuff then?" Regulus challenged back with a smirk.

"I drank you under the table Christmas of 69'," Sirius said right back with a huff as he set down a brown tinted, ice clinking beverage.

"Please tell me you two didn't actually get drunk at the age of ten, or younger," Frank said with honest worry.

He was ignored.

When Pettigrew opted to second whatever Potter had thrown together in his glass and even Lupin began nursing something, the other three just turned away dismissively from them, Frank feeling obligated at this point to pick up the book and say, "honestly, I'm just hoping to get zapped out of here now before they get a chance to finish."

Alice tried both the front and back door without much hope, she even tried several of the rooms upstairs in the vain attempt of another window, but no one was much surprised when she came back downstairs shaking her head and sat next to Frank at the door closest to the back, pretending for a moment it was just the two of them studying again as he began.

Lily perched uneasily near the front door, still seeming the only one to struggle taking all of this in but smiling a bit as the chapter title promised some good to come. It was indeed adorable hearing of Harry's naivety shining through more than ever as he started spending time with Hagrid. She remembered once being that innocent and smiling around at everything magical, there were still times where she was, though they grew less and less as the years went on and it was kind of nice to hear it being played out again.

"You do have to love the first time you can enter the magical world is through a pub." Lily grumbled as an awkward silence hung over the whole bar in here as well when Frank finally gave them all such a huge example of Harry's fame in his time, and it was truly boggling to the lot of them what this kid must represent to the magical world. They'd hardly given it much time to consider, the idea was still too fantastical to really settle in their minds of a time without You-Know-Who, let alone a baby being the one to do it. It wasn't hard to imagine all of them acting the exact same way as these guests at something even more otherworldly than a celebrity.

Quirrell was passed by without much enthusiasm, the lot of them had far too much experience with the absurdity of a new teacher every year for that class, but the journey inside Gringotts garnered some all around fascination.

The speculation was wild, and ridiculous, from those apparently trying to get sloshed and guessing what that little package could be.

Lily's disdain for their drinking grew when Hagrid joined in and abandoned his charge, but to her surprise, the group in here seemed done with whatever had prompted this to begin with, at least none made back for behind the counter but instead were listening with honest interest as details kept pouring in of Harry and Hagrid's time, though likely they were just listening for more clues of what Hagrid could have been up to. She wasn't strictly paying attention to their every word, but she did notice tension building in the little group again that the alcohol had blurred for a time, Lupin certainly slammed his drink down hard enough to crack the glass when Sirius muttered something next.

Regulus seemed to try breaking the uneasy tension, but while Pettigrew gave an honest laugh Black shot him an annoyed look and instead got up and left the table, glancing around and catching her eyes for a second. She blushed upon realizing she was still watching them, far more than she'd ever done in her time where she actively avoided looking at them instead, and put all of her attention into grinding her teeth together at such an obnoxious, obviously pureblood kid acting like Potter far more than Harry had been so far there in Madam Malkin's.

James wasn't even getting the joy of noticing Evans' attention, sighing deeply when his crack about Hagrid being too good at keeping secrets backfired and only reminded his mates why they'd gone so long without speaking. At least he could admire Regulus trying to keep in their good graces with his little remark of this blond kid having the right idea about smuggling brooms into the school, seemed Sirius' kid brother could actually be smart when he wasn't being such a prick around his precious Slytherin friends back in school.

Things only got worse as Hagrid took Harry through the rest of the day without much more distraction, only the inside of Ollivander's cut off the thickening cord growing in the room.

"Bloody hell, what even is Harry?" Peter yelped in surprise.

"Parselmouth, and now having a brother wand of the Dark Lord," Regulus agreed with a raised brow. "I'm beginning to wonder if Potter adopted their kid."

James threw him such a filthy look, Regulus couldn't help but cringe away from the table, feeling extremely exposed now that Sirius was dithering behind the bar and still only seeming to have anxious eyes for his friend who wouldn't even look at him. Instead, without any kind of backup against someone honestly much older and more experienced, Regulus strode off to another table, forcing himself to shake off the idea he could actually mingle with a bunch of Gryffindor idiots. Clearly whatever they could agree on couldn't last when those Muggles weren't around to be detested.

Alice and Frank exchanged an uneasy look when they neared the end and Hagrid was about to take Harry back to the Muggles. They somehow had even more questions than when this all began, and it was hard to even talk about that when it felt like at any moment the place was going to explode considering every room they'd been in you could cut the tension with a knife.

Remus took a careful breath as he watched Sirius slip into the room behind the bar, as if looking for even a moment away from them, and finally finding a door that would open. He downed the rest of his drink, savoring the burn while it lasted and ignored James and Peter's uneasy looks as he stalked back into the room as well, honestly hoping for just one second of peace before they were forced into yet another new place. If James was going to keep pulling them together then Remus couldn't stand it anymore, it was high time he let Sirius know exactly why this wasn't going to work. If the two couldn't work things out now than they weren't going to, and he ignored the painful clench of his innards at the idea as he went in behind him.

Seems it was Tom's room, a simple bed in the corner with a few dressers along the back wall and a mirror on their right that Sirius was grumbling into. He tensed up upon Remus' entrance, twirled on the spot, and tried to say something, but Remus came here for a reason and wasn't in the mood to hear whatever it was Sirius had come back here for.

Slamming the door hard behind him so to block an audience, one look at those dark gray eyes, finally seeing the color again tore out of him, "I trusted you!" He got right in his face, jabbing him in the chest with every word. "I trusted you with the biggest secret of my life,* and at first I thought, he really doesn't care that I'm a monster. Turns out I was wrong, you just didn't care about me at all!"

"I don't care?" Sirius echoed in a faint whisper, before his eyes blazed with anger. "I don't care! How dare you! I spent the past three years illegally turning into an animagus so I'd never have to see you so close to death again! Coming back from the full moon looking the way you did, it's a miracle you've lived to your age! How dare you tell me how I care," and he shoved him as far away from him as he could.

Remus stumbled back, all the anger he'd been holding in finally released and now doubled back on him as if the words themselves had been a weapon.

Sirius had done what he always did, he'd taken whatever was given to him and gone beyond the limit with it. He'd kept pushing at Remus so that they were right up against the wall now, still breathing into each others faces. Both had said the words they'd been clinging to for the past three weeks. Every angry word pouring out and now hanging in the air around them all at once, but leaving nothing left between them but electrical energy. Their chests heaving against each other, Sirius seemed to realize just how thoroughly he was pinning Remus to the wall at the same time Remus glanced down and realized he wasn't just feeling the weight of this on the inside.

Then Sirius kissed him.

*The idea for this argument was one I think about a lot. Most everyone seems to just assume the Marauders figured out Moony's secret, and I do agree that's more than likely the truth, but honestly I do wonder if Remus didn't want to tell them at a certain point and that's what went on here. I didn't run with this originally because it doesn't fit his character all that well, he really is too insecure to think anyone would accept him, but as I said in the beginning, I'm playing around a bit more, going fast and loose by taking a few key things and moving them around, hence also how I got them together.

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 Sirius hadn't realized how touch starved he'd been until the first girls began flirting with him. Letting their delicately painted nails rest on his shoulder, taking any excuse to hold his hand, he found he really enjoyed all of it, but for some reason it felt just a beat off in a way he'd never been able to explain to himself until later.

Chapter Text

Chapter Text

"Oh this is perfect!" Peter burst out with surprised laughter the moment he'd caught his breath back from the stone room spinning about. "Slughorn's office, couldn't have asked for better!"

"What were you two talking about over there?" Sirius demanded with a slight pout, rubbing furiously at his head and so looking more cross-eyed than anything when he saw Regulus nodding appreciatively at their surroundings as well.

"Where are we?" Remus noted as he began looking around in detail, stretching and sitting up with a small frown.

The office wasn't designed to have eight random students be plopped into it, and those were the most obvious at first. James had landed in the chair with such force he toppled it over, sending the robes that had been hanging on the back to pool beneath him but doing nothing to cushion the fall. Evans had landed hard on the desk and upset a bottle of ink, while the other six had simply crashed to the ground in the little available walking space, Alice nearly in the fireplace with a hateful mutter, "this isn't feeling any better every time!"

They all got to their feet though with more winces to see what Remus meant, and found the not so subtle signs. The desk took up the majority in a spacious room, so it looked more menacing than any office they'd been in. The walls were lined with jars full of pickled things, Lily immediately identifying four of them. They were clearly somewhere in the dungeons with no natural lighting, the place echoed with almost as much emptiness as the immense hall before.

"I think we're in Snape's office?" Regulus said, having to dig the book out from under the desk and flipping to the next chapter.

"What do you mean he got an office?" Sirius scoffed.

"Do you expect them to give him a cupboard when he became the Potions teacher?" Remus rolled his eyes for that one.

"Or how about asking, so we're really traveling through time?" Frank muttered clearly to himself. The Dursleys house before had been ominous but still something outside their world, this was a place in their school that should not exist yet.

"Next chapter's all about him, so it looks like we'll find out," Regulus inserted when he read as much, and even Alice and Frank couldn't garner up any kind of good mood at the idea of this, but at least their slight grimaces were kind to the other four making exaggerated, pained expressions.

Lily simply looked radiant, wondering if she could convince the little Black to give this chapter up, but he was already going.

The start wasn't as bad as they would have thought, listening to Harry go through his classes for the first time was something they all knew well so it was much like their experiences with the last few chapters. It came to no one's surprise gossip was following Harry around, and James at least was excited to hear, whether intentionally or not, of Harry trying to get into that forbidden room just to find out himself what was in it, and they all had a good laugh at the bits Filch made an appearance in.

Most of the classes were as unmemorable as their own firsts after so many years, the only highlight being they all laughed at McGonagall still showing off to the first years, though she'd switched from a cow as in their year to a pig this time.

The Marauders couldn't help but give a mocking laugh to the idea it had taken Harry so long to get down to the Great Hall without getting lost, while Frank made a face in sympathy for the kid as it had taken him a week.

Lily couldn't help a pleased smile that Hagrid was still giving Harry such attention even in school, though she wasn't quite sure what the motive was for this considering Harry clearly now had a friend. She tried to tell herself she was acting paranoid, but it wasn't helping her feelings of unease grow worse when Regulus got to the last class.

For once, James wasn't paying much attention to her, especially her growing frustration at someone other than him for once as he watched his friends. Sirius was shuffling his feet with guilt the moment Snape appeared properly in full detail, but at least Remus was frowning at him rather than avoiding looking at him.

"I thought you two had cleared the air on this?" He muttered, unsure how much of a wasted effort that was and if he was going to be heard anyways.

Clearly thinking of the same, Remus chose his words carefully, "we, made our grievances clear, and it, ah, made some other things come out that we needed to talk about-"

"Look Remus," Sirius' impatience pushed through Remus' awkwardness, "I did a stupid thing, and I apologize. Now you are very well aware I didn't mean it, and clearly it's had no impact on this gits life," he finished with disdain when Regulus just kept dishing out the snide comments from Snape in this future.

Remus nodded his agreement to this, giving him an awkward smile and James hoped they were done lingering on this already. "Was that really all it took for you two?" He couldn't help but mutter in exasperation, but honestly he was more than happy seeing the two smiling at each other again, he just wanted things back to normal.

It helped that Peter chose that moment.

Nothing so grandiose as some of their setups they'd done in the past, but Peter wasn't doing this to impress anyone either. He just hadn't quite decided Sirius needed to be let back into the fold without some kind of revenge, so in perfect synchronization as if they'd planned it, he and Regulus raised their wands and intentionally combined two perfect spells that had a pipe line above Sirius temporarily dump down onto him.

There was a blast of icy cold water that sprayed only him, and then it was repaired as suddenly as it had started, leaving Sirius apparently one who'd rolled around in half cleaned seaweed on its way to the lake.

"Thank you Wormtail," Sirius said as it continued dripping down him, he even had to spit a bit of it out of his mouth before he could continue, "for finally getting that over with."

"You knew I was going to do that?" Peter protested.

"You are many things my friend," Sirius rubbed carefully to get a particularly slimy chunk of green out of his eyes, "subtle is not one of them."

Peter raised his hands in surrender but went over and offered Sirius the robes which he gratefully accepted to start wiping at his nose.

When he sneezed and a bit more flew out, Lily couldn't suppress it anymore and burst out laughing.

James looked over wildly and found her leaning up against the farthest shelf, her face bright red and holding her sides.

"Oh, so you do think we're funny?" He eagerly jumped at the chance to parlay with her in such a suddenly good mood.

She didn't answer for a moment even as her giggles subsided, nor did she plan to as she'd rather swallow that nasty concoction rather than admit why she'd laughed so hard.

It should have been impossible, it certainly made no sense to her to hear the way Sev was treating a kid, no matter who Harry looked like. She'd been growing steadily more outraged at the treatment of these children, and the blow he'd dished out to Neville just now in making it his and Harry's fault for a potion exploding was honestly the worst thing she'd ever heard any person do, let alone her best friend!

She'd wanted to scream, she wanted him in her face right this second to explain that this was all just a cruel idea of a joke and he was going to turn into that kind and attentive friend she knew so well any second, she'd had so many things building up in her for a solid few minutes that when she'd watched a genuine act of merriment even being played out amongst idiots who caused her more grief than anyone, she'd finally released it all.

Potter seemed to realize he wasn't going to get a response, so finally sighed and turned back away to continue smiling and laughing with his mates like old times while Alice sidled up to her again, holding her nose but frowning for a wholly other reason. She stood awkwardly there though, unsure how to reach out to Evans this time and offer anything when honestly the lot of them were just seeing more of the same Snape they saw every day, hearing those nasty rumors of the rest of the friends he hung out with. Frank hadn't said anything to her, but she could tell he was uneasy about Evans and much she associated with those nasty pre-Death Eater's just like the rest of the school.

"I don't suppose it helps at all he's treating all the kids like this, not just Potters," she tried anyways.

"Nope," Lily's icy, one word answer was enough that Alice got the mood and left her to stew in silence and sidle back over to Frank, who was scowling hatefully at this all as well.

"If Potter doesn't dunk his head in a vat of boils when we get back I will."

"Frank, that's not like you," Alice reprimanded quietly as she took his hand.

"Well I think it's high time I should be like that," Frank took her hand quickly and gave it a squeeze as he kept hearing what Neville was going through. "I've been growing sick for ages watching all these bullies run the school, now it turns out one of them's going to be given a position of power by Dumbledore himself and he's still abusing it. I've been saying for ages I want a way to fix this Alice, got to start somewhere."

"Turning into the monster only creates another," Alice quoted with a heavier frown.

"What would you have me do then?" he sighed, easily backing down from the threat as he looked to her bright amber eyes. They hadn't even realized they'd both wanted to be Auror's last year when he'd offered to study their OWL's together, each finding out it was the others desire as well only at the beginning of this year and they'd started dating that night. It was a purpose that they were sure would have drawn them together no matter what in the end, a fight they knew they were going to get involved in with the coming war and looking to meet it head on.

"What you always do Frank, use your head," she tried to chuckle, though it didn't last long as Regulus described Harry's mores mood upon going to Hagrid's, it admittedly hadn't been the best end to his first week.

Yet they were all caught off guard by Harry easily piecing together what they honestly hadn't given much thought to. What was Dumbledore moving around that was so important then? Regulus was so involved thinking about it, it still didn't occur to him to give them warning when he finished.

Chapter Text

The purple light from a fading sun gave every burnished piece of gold the effect of being on fire. Trophies, awards, medals, and several plaques all kept a highly polished look about them and stuck to their walls to the exact degree they'd been placed on even as a crash erupted and slightly shook the glass casings.

"That's it, new rule!" Sirius growled as he unstuck his face from a glittering cup boasting of some long ago Transfiguration award. "If you get close to the end of the chapter, you have to warn the rest of us!"

"Seconded," James groaned, having landed in the cradle of a statue, and sure he'd have a bruise for it later.

"Err, I'll agree with whoever gets me down," Alice squeaked from atop the tallest case of a life sized trophy of the school's first, and last, troll wrestler, except someone had the brilliant idea to have the prize be the size of the opponent rather than the student. The misting reflection from her breathing on the face of the bronze statue wasn't leading her to the confidence of getting herself down, considering she feared if she moved a finger to grab her wand she'd topple right off.

Frank tried to instantly jump forward and help, but in his haste hadn't taken note he'd landed on a precariously shaped hourglass award and knocked it over as well as himself, creating a domino effect that ended with the one she was on anyways. Thankfully her perch didn't so much as shiver even with the others now leaning against it. Still unbroken, the leaning cases now resembled an odd staircase.

She shrugged, taking this in stride by edging to that side of the lopsided head and now awkwardly shimming herself down each level, testing her weight before trying the next so as not to further upset anything, and finally making it onto level ground and patting Frank on the shoulder as he got to his feet with a blush.

"Well then," James sighed as he got to the floor and pulled the book out of a display of a dozen other books...leading him to ignore the question of who won a book as an award? "Now that that's settled," he only cast one more look around to make sure everyone was present as he started, rolling his eyes at Sirius now checking his reflection to make sure his hair was still evenly parted from his fall.

He had to hold the book just slightly awkwardly from his hand that still didn't enjoy anything being brushed against it, but was instantly pulled in by the chapter title alone. This was easily going to be the most interesting thing Harry would be doing yet, a duel! He found quickly this to be his favorite chapter just from listening to Harry explore their world even more through so much talk of Quidditch.

"That Malfoy," Sirius rolled his eyes and scoffed at him. "As if he even knows what a helicopter is, let alone bragging about getting away from one."

Lily looked at him in complete disbelief, which only doubled when his friends nodded along in agreement. It had been maddening enough listening to Dudley do all that to Harry and their mutters about that, but she really couldn't believe they couldn't see the hypocrites they were being now.

Torn between continuing to ignore their presence, especially in light of the last chapter, and giving them such a piece of her mind they wouldn't have any of their own left, she was grateful when Alice gaped open mouthed at them for a moment before bursting out laughing and turning to Frank, "you ever seen a bigger lot of idiots?"

"Not in all of my years," Frank agreed as he browsed further away from them, pretending to admire some Special Awards to the School given to a student rather than keep staring at such imbeciles.

Sirius spluttered with indignity, Remus and Peter exchanged a look and chose to say nothing, while James rolled his eyes without remorse and kept going, he wasn't going to defend himself to two people he'd never really spoken to, instead he just gave an anxious look at Evans and didn't want to linger on the subject.

It didn't help that the more Malfoy continued to antagonize Neville, the more filthy looks she shot him, as if picturing his messy black hair instead of the sleek blond. When the Remembrall was stolen for a second time and all Malfoy did was laugh as the poor kid was taken away for a broken wrist, James couldn't help but snap at her scoff of disgust, green eyes still lingering on him, and not because he'd been the one to say it.

"Honestly Evans, you really think so low of me? I've never nicked someone else's stuff, certainly not laughed when they were injured!"

"No, but you certainly cause plenty of the injuries," she refused to give in.

"This could go on for a while," Sirius sighed as he wandered over next to Remus, who'd gone over to look at some Defense Against the Dark Arts awards.

Remus agreed noncommittally, he was watching Alice Smith and Frank Longbottom. They were holding hands and whispering to each other, and he found it sweet how clearly worried they were for a kid sharing Frank's last name, whereas James and Evans were bickering loudly over Harry surely about to do the same thing as he mounted his own broom for the first time in chase of a much better flyer.

Peter was watching the bickering pair eagerly, looking at any second about to jump in and save James, though as he'd never actually stepped in between any of their fights neither of them were sure why he kept bothering.

That was all the looking Sirius did before he leaned in to Remus and muttered, "bored yet?"

Remus gave him a sideways look, glanced around at the spacious room that had a few darker alcoves, and shrugged before walking as if checking to see that both doors to this room were locked as well. Obviously he didn't want to go right past the two sparring, so he should check the one around the corner first.

Sirius followed with a curious smirk in place, only a step behind as he turned the same corner, but still wasn't expecting to be seized and pinned to the wall. Remus was still being gentle, holding his shoulders as their lips met, as if still politely asking if this was okay to be doing while not exactly waiting for permission to do it while keeping Sirius pinned. Sirius was having none of that.

The rush from this seized him, he pulled him in tighter, pressing their lips heavily together and only remembering to breathe through his nose when he had to at the slight catch of his breath. He'd already had his fun testing the waters of just kissing, and he wanted this to go further like he had before. He was going to enjoy this familiar company in a new way, and was still easily pushing aside who exactly he was doing this to lest things get awkward.

A groan he at least tried to muffle escaped him as Remus seemed to instantly understand like always, his hands sliding down tantalizingly slow towards his hips, when he realized what he'd forgotten at the same time he interrupted.

"Unless you two are planning on snogging over there, do you mind if we keep going before time actually ends us."

"I forgot about Regulus," Sirius hissed, pulling away at once and watching the corner with a leer as if expecting him to come bursting around and spot exactly what he'd just said. He in fact hadn't taken note of where his brother had been this whole time, he could have been in this very spot and they likely wouldn't have noticed!

"You tend to do that a lot," Remus said in an honestly conversational tone of voice, releasing him at once and stepping away as if to actually inspect how many trophies a school could hold for the largest Shrivelfig bush.

Sirius hadn't been expecting that, and his first instinct was to reach out and pull him back in arm's length, or even keep going just to prove that they could, there was no reason to stop, when Prongs came around the corner instead with Peter, the first still looking ruffled despite how much he was trying not to.

"Can you believe her?" James muttered, loud enough the whole place could likely still hear anyways. "A bully, honestly, why doesn't she ever go after Snape as often as he curses me! He started it. What's Regulus doing anyways, never seen him bother to say anything before this even while he's been hanging around Snivellus more than she has lately."

"Can't imagine the idea of being interrupted like that," Sirius huffed while crossing his arms.

James seemed to miss the sarcasm.

Peter gave Prongs a reassuring clap on the shoulder, still looking inexplicably pleased by all of this like he'd just seen a great show. "It's alright James, she'll come around."

James gave him a sideways look, like he was trying to detect mocking in that, while Remus finally looked at them and said, "ever tried using some reverse psychology on her?"

"I told you Remus, you can only take two electives, and why would you want to take more anyways-"

"No you idiot," Remus cut off with an eye roll, "I mean, if you don't want her to think you a bully, than try to stop cursing her friend for a bit."

James just looked at him before looking to the other two, "you ever wonder if Moony invented his own language without sharing it with us?"

"All the time," Sirius agreed.

James kept going then just to ignore Remus rolling his eyes at them again.

His excitement grew heavily almost at once, easily blowing off the still foul grumblings he could hear from the redhead at reading of Harry with such a natural on a broom! He was twirling through the air with ease, without a trace of fear, and then he actually caught that little glass ball without a scratch on him! Even McGonagall's arrival couldn't dampen his suddenly good mood, one little detention no matter what the kids fear was trying to tell him otherwise wasn't going to ruin his pride at hearing his Quidditch abilities being passed on!

Somehow the moment got better the longer it kept going!

"I think he actually stopped breathing again," Peter said conversationally as James didn't quite seem able to spit out the reason of why Wood was in the room.

"Probably shouldn't have been letting him get so excited, what with recently being electrocuted and all," Remus agreed with a touch of concern.

"Alright Prongs?" Sirius asked cheerfully, finally heaving himself off the wall with one last look at Remus before going to his best friend and patting him forcefully on the back. "I'm happy for Harry too, he'll be a shoo in for Quidditch in his next year-" he froze though as he glanced down at the words James couldn't get past his lips but Sirius then shouted at the top of his lungs.

Evans actually face palmed at the news of Harry being made Seeker. All four Marauders were over there laughing, applauding each other, and generally pleased beyond all measure for such an accomplishment. Even Alice and Frank looked politely startled at such a feat. Regulus just huffed and sank even lower next to the roster of all past Quidditch players and the various trophies earned over the course of the school. Of course no one was going to mention that he'd made the team in his second year. Obviously his older brother had done nothing more than look on at him in surprise when he'd seen him in the last few games as if he'd forgotten his only brother's existence except when they were playing. He'd show him though, when they got out of this crappy time, whatever was going on here, and played their Quidditch finals that weekend.

The din was deafening from the four and Regulus was honestly tempted to get up all over again and shove that book up Potter's arse if he didn't keep going. Thankfully his image needn't be used, this time, when he kept going at shouting levels all the way up to and past Harry getting into a midnight duel, and only ended with that little Hermione girl getting in the way of their merriment.

"What a little shit, threatening to tell a Prefect on them," James said, that smile finally slipping from him at such a turncoat move.

"She's as bad as Snivellus, more so than Malfoy," Sirius agreed, his nose turned up in disgust.

"Nosy little bugger, hope Harry or Ron shake her off before they get there," Peter nodded along.

They were all sure Lupin agreed as well, though his quiet mutter didn't carry as far like Potter did when he kept going.

Alice and Frank got a moment to smile again when they heard Neville was alright, and had inherited his father's memory problems, and they were all listening unabashedly to the duel about to come when the four kids got there, which meant they all said something quite unique to the little pint not even showing up.

"What a little shit."

James nearly fell over he turned so hard to get his head back around the corner to see Evans looking in his direction, arms crossed, and face still just as red from their fight, though clearly she was putting that aside for now to curse while saying, "never heard such a cowardice move, the least he could have done after starting the fight was finished it!"

Regulus frowned at her though, interrupting whatever fool hearted comment Potter was fixing to agree with. "I found it rather clever actually, why get yourself in trouble when you can just as easily setup your enemy?"

"I can see the merits of both sides," Frank agreed, "the underhanded tactic while he's just saving his own skin from really having to face the fight."

"It's purely ridiculous is what it is," Alice scoffed as she looked at her boyfriend. "There was no winning side in any of this and I'm honestly surprised it went this far instead of all the kids backing down."

"You lot have never been in a real fight have you?" James said aghast at all of this.

"And you've been in too many," Evans snapped testily, causing him to back down and go right back to Harry's problem.

It was a bit entertaining honestly, watching the kids panic and treating getting away from Filch like such a harrowing journey, but the amusement died instantly when the three headed dog entered the picture. Then no one was smiling, minds honestly frozen from shock of hearing of such a monster in their school and if it was really going to get away with eating a bunch of first years!

No one spoke, the rooms shadows feeling more vast than ever and the echo of a massive dog barking in all of their minds until James finally declared all four kids safe no matter what they tried to discuss afterwards.

"That was unbelievable," Peter was the first to find his voice, his light brown eyes still a little wider than normal. "Absolutely ghastly! Whose ruddy idea was it to have that thing in the castle!"

"Du-Dumbl-" Remus stuttered as if a child trying to speak the name for the first time.

"He wouldn't," James said at once. "The Forest he can't really control what comes in and out of there, but he'd never have that thing where so many students could so easily get to it."

"Well this certainly wasn't all Hagrid's doing," Sirius disagreed.

Remus flinched and no one really had much more of an argument, but the mystery still lingered like nothing they'd ever experienced in school. Just what was going on around there?

"Well here's my warning," James sighed as he read the final lines of this chapter.

Chapter Text

A really Lily centric chapter, which I didn't do on purpose, but I'm okay with considering how much focus I've been giving to the Marauders. 

Which did absolutely nothing to prepare them landing in such a place. The shattered porcelain stank of dripping water still leaking onto the cracked tiles, and burnt out candles leaving the windowless room in virtual shadows made it hard to even identify for a moment they were still in Hogwarts, let alone in a girls bathroom.

"Is this Moaning Myrtle's bathroom?" Alice asked, staying crouched where she'd landed underneath the loan intact sink that was still cracked as if something heavy had impacted it anyways.

"More importantly, what is that smell?" Remus grumbled, plugging his nose as it lingered and intensified rather than dulled in the room around them. He wanted to go over and blast the door open simply for a breath of air now more than just getting out for once.

He was ignored, though all of them had scrunched up faces for this fact as well.

"No, even that place isn't this destroyed," Lily disagreed in return to Alice, having to wade out of a particularly deep pool of water that had drowned her shoes and most of her lower half on impact. She had to nudge a broken pipe out of the way as she stepped out.

"Anyone else having the fear that crazy three headed dog somehow did this?" Frank asked, having to heave himself off of a toilet that he hoped was just filled with dirty water, though he couldn't blame someone otherwise if they'd witnessed this mess while being in here.

"I don't see that," Remus disagreed, prodding an obliterated bathroom stall with his wand and inspecting how it was clearly smashed apart, judging by all the splintered wood around yet no marks, from teeth or claws, in sight. He was also still breathing through his mouth more than anything, looking like he was panting slightly but only accomplishing at having his mouth be dry now and still tasting the air and somehow increasing the rank around him.

"Dumbledore's had that thing pinned up for a good few months before Harry found it," Sirius agreed. "Though I'm sure if something did change, I'm getting the feeling Harry's going to be involved in finding out what."

"Thank you for that encouraging statement," James sighed, his reflection in a shattered mirror showed how pale he'd been pretending he wasn't seeing all this.

Regulus had landed in half a cracked basin and shattered the rest of it beneath him, but he also didn't have the inclination to move away and towards the center of the room like the others did. He wasn't entirely sure that whatever had done this wouldn't be back any second to finish the job, and he'd rather not be in a crowd when that happened.

Peter finally found the book wedged into the wall that had the largest hole in it, and he stepped away from it just as fast back over to James to start reading rather than imagine what could make such an impact.

"Yes, Halloween!" Sirius whooped. "The one day a year we're all encouraged to eat candy!"

He bellowed this loudest of all in Prongs' ear, having noticed full well his eyes flipping to Lily in a panic. No one had forgotten the date earmarked for their deaths, but Sirius refused to linger on that and he was loath to let anyone else.

Remus gave him a sympathetic look, but thankfully attention was easily caught for all of them as the main portion of this chapter seemed to hold more chat of Quidditch.

Lily seemed the only one in protest of this, as she went down to the first and only undestroyed stall and leaned against the post, glaring at anything but Potter as he enthused over what he was calling a prodigy in the air. She wasn't sure how long it had been since all this mess had started, it already felt like days though she was sure it couldn't have been but a few hours. Yet clearly they weren't even passing in any normal amount of time frame anymore than locations, so who knew, maybe it had been years since she'd been out of his company already.

She wondered, if she'd somehow been forewarned this was going to happen, if she still would have bailed out of the experience though. As maddening as the boy was, and as goading as the news continued how much a future kid of his seemed to resemble him even without Potter being around, this was quite honestly the most fascinating thing she'd ever seen happen in her life.

While still unable to fathom why Sev was acting in such a detestable way in this future, she was now clinging to the idea there had to be a reason for this, something the school just didn't know but Dumbledore did for this behavior.

It didn't help the situation that Harry continued in a way she abhorred, her incredulity growing more by the paragraph someone had claimed her attachment to this kid. So far all Harry had done was follow Ron along in breaking school rules, and the moment he was done spending all his time thinking about Quidditch, he did nothing to deter his friend from making that little girl cry!

Harry had her sympathy while being oppressed at those horrid Dursleys, and he'd been perfectly polite but more quiet than anything around Hagrid while learning about this new world. Now though, there was no excuse but a child not wanting to deal with his problems he'd created just like his father as Hermione was just shooed from his mind as the Halloween feast was started. If he'd realized Hermione didn't have any friends than the very least he could have done after making her cry over it was offered an apology!

Of course, the arrival of the troll changed things just a bit.

"In the dungeon? In the dungeon!"

"I don't care what part of the castle it's in," Frank yelped to Alice, "it shouldn't be in the castle at all!"

"Wow," Black drew the word out far longer than it needed to be. "Wonder who on earth was stupid enough to try and get away with that!"

"Well it certainly wasn't Peeves," Remus rolled his eyes at the ludicrous suggestion.

Lily watched them all, growing paler by the second and wondering why there weren't screams in the background to echo the one going through her head for the fate of the student who knew nothing of this, but it was clear now Hermione hadn't lingered in their minds anymore than Harry-

"Oh my gosh, Hermione!" James yelled so loud he nearly startled Peter's ear right off.

"Crap, the little crying girl," Sirius agreed, dithering on the spot for a moment before making as if to go to the door right now, then he froze. They all did, as they looked around once again at the destruction around them, in a girls bathroom...

Alice said something quite to Frank's surprise, never having heard his girlfriend curse like that, but no one else really noticed as suddenly Peter was reading faster than ever. For once, James and Lily found themselves on the exact same page, standing on the tips of their toes and wanting to cheer Harry and Ron on as they went after her. Admittedly in a different method than she would have liked, Lily acknowledged, she didn't at all understand their need to avoid authority in their strive to get help, but she couldn't find it in herself to argue either.

The arrival of the troll on the same path as the boys did not come as much to the surprise as it should have considering what they'd realized, and any confusion or questions over the matter would just have to wait. It didn't matter how it had gotten up there, the opposite end of the school it had been reported. Who cared how it got in so long as it got right back out without killing a couple of first years!

Harry and Ron's harrowing pass through this place was like no experience they'd ever felt before. Each swing of the trolls club, every broken plaster around them seemed as if echoing anew, they could practically hear the kids screaming and were all wanting to duck down as well, as far away from this debris as they could.

Worst of all turned out to be Harry's impromptu plan to save Ron's life.

James had to fight the urge to tackle Peter to the ground and wrestle the book away from him. The news was too vivid, he could all to easily picture the little first year hanging off the neck, a wand being shoved up those nostrils. His friends could as well, Harry just too resembled his father in their mind and none of them would have idly stood by with that happening to him, so they all couldn't help the massive sigh of relief when Ron's spell worked out.

Peter could still feel his heart racing at the excitements end, Harry merely wiping his wands boogies away like it was nothing would have had him on the floor laughing any other time in his life, even the arrival of the teachers just couldn't mean as much.

The others were all so relieved in fact, and then more over shocked at Hermione's turn on all of this, Regulus felt he was the only one frowning in confusion at Quirrell's part in all this. He'd been acting pretty suspicious through this whole thing, declaring the troll was in the wrong part of the castle, and then arriving only to collapse at the sight of it.

The warning of this almost being over came, in hindsight, of not that much use, considering none of them actually had a way to brace themselves. Instead Regulus turned his attention to the thought he wouldn't deny that those kids were lucky to be alive, though the fact that Harry had made a new friend through the event felt honestly ridiculous. This kid sure had an odd track record, sharing sweets with one and saving the life of another.

Chapter Text

The office was so bare, that at first they thought they'd landed in an abandoned one. Yet the desk was filled with papers for markings, the curtains were well worn as if someone regularly pulled them back to view the Quidditch stadium beyond, and the chair was not the one from their time, but slightly modified into a more comfortable recliner. Still, there were no personal touches, and even those teachers who had no plans to stay longer than a year carried photos, or remnants of every human practice to somehow mark their space. No splash of color dominated, even the bedroom adjacent to the office held only standard bed sheets.

"We must be in Quirrell's office," Sirius decided. The feeling would never grow comfortable, but he was at least used to by now of shaking off the dizzying feeling of being somewhere he wasn't a second before so that he could step up to the desk and start rifling through drawers which were as bare as the walls, only filled with extra quills and ink.

"Bloke needs a personal decorator," Peter muttered, he'd never seen anything so bare bones, and he'd been to a DA teacher's office every year to know this wasn't common.

"What do you think happened here?" Frank asked as he stepped up to a corner of the room. There was an empty shelf that could have held any number of things from books to knickknacks, but it was as dusty as everything else. However, there was a small burn mark in the wall, with just the tips of a few feathers showing on the edge indicating it might once have been a bird implanted there, but now it was just a smoky, twisted shape like he'd tried to blast it off the wall instead.

Lupin stepped up beside him with a perplexed look as well, scratching his nail against this curiously. "I think it used to be an eagle," tracing his finger now across the lone visible feather, "maybe he used to be in Ravenclaw house?"

"Then why would he blast it off?" Frank's brows only rose higher with such an odd form of an answer.

There was no explanation for this peculiar place, but that was the pattern of this whole journey so far. So Remus stepped up next to Sirius and plopped down in the seat, scooping up the book where it had landed first and reclining leisurely as he began the next part. He cheered with joy the moment he read the chapter title, and Sirius sat on the arm of the chair at once to lean in and see why. Remus automatically pushed his face away, but by the time he read it out to the others Sirius was already whooping with his own joy they were going to be reading about Harry's first Quidditch game, finally!

James was beside himself with joy at once, clutching Peter to him in ecstatic excitement before they even got to details, they were all aware of who the match was going to be against. Peter was being just as bad, squealing and wriggling around just as much, watching James carefully to make sure he'd stay upright even when he was released to start all but bouncing off the walls.

Alice watched them and couldn't help but laugh at the show, remembering the two times she'd actually sat near them in the stands during their younger years and knowing they could possibly get worse, so choosing to follow as Frank went into the adjacent room to find some lower level of noise.

Regulus just stood awkwardly at opposite ends of the room from Evans, admittedly more ecstatic for this but honestly still unsure of how much he should bother trying to interact with Sirius. His parents had been making it increasingly clear during his holiday visits Sirius may not even be around much longer if he didn't change up his act this summer, and no matter what crazy world they were flying through now, he should still honor his parent's wishes and keep himself separate from the stain of his older brother. Just because his friends still managed to amuse him, and honestly he still couldn't help but look to what Sirius did and react the same way, didn't mean he was actually expected to hang around him.

Lily declined following Frank and Alice for once, but that just left her more uncomfortable than ever in this room full of boys who she couldn't claim to see eye to eye with about anything. They held no interest as Lupin went through the whole chapter leading up to the game, wasn't going to bother with any defense for what Sev did even if that was a rule he made up on the spot. The way they were reacting was even how she would have predicted, still making crude jokes at each other and reminiscing about all they'd done to Snape and wishing they could do more now while he continued to bully Harry.

Not that she even knew for a fact that's what this was. She more than anyone could understand why Sev was singling Harry out, not that she in any way approved of why he was for such petty revenge, but she wouldn't deny she could see in his eyes lashing out at someone who so reminded him of Potter just as much as her. She wished he'd be more of an adult about it, but there was just no point saying any of this to anyone present, it's not as if they'd understand.

Her fury at the situation only grew when Harry went on to accuse Severus of being after whatever that deranged dog was guarding. Honestly, one incident of an injury, an overheard conversation, and the kid just automatically blamed it on the person he didn't like. It was a miracle he wasn't adding Malfoy into the mix as an accomplice already, as if life didn't happen outside of teachers who yelled at him.

The build up to the game held no interest to her, it only set her teeth grinding back on edge and all she could do now was be grateful he didn't use any build up to blow off steam like the Potter in this room would. In fact she honestly couldn't admit to even listening to what happened up until the moment Harry mentioned his broom lurching beneath him. Something inside of her lurched as well.

She certainly didn't like Potter, but she'd never actually wished him irreparable harm, let alone death! That's what was going to happen when Harry fell though, so she looked on at Lupin stuttering through words in a panic, actually understood the look of fear on all of his friends, and met Potter's eyes with a dry mouth that honestly could have released a scream of fear any second.

"Evans!" James startled them all out of the vivid mental nightmare as he went to her side. She fell against the wall the moment that little Hermione girl claimed to have seen what was really going on, but remained just out of arm's reach of Potter when her focus snapped back to him still on a glare.

"It wasn't him," her voice crackled with force that would surely have stopped that bucking broom in place, it wasn't a wonder why James froze. "Severus isn't the one doing this."

Far from looking as if to check on her, the muscle going in his jaw made it clear he was holding himself back from doing something more than shouting now when his hand twitched for his wand. "Are you really so daft women? You can't look past, for one bleeding second of protecting and defending him against everything! What possible explanation do you have for this one?!"

"Why don't you try opening your mind for once Potter!" She snarled right back, off the wall in the same breath and glaring daggers at him, her hand in the same position. "Pull your fat head out of your arse and think! Or is that too difficult, with all the empty space up there?"

"Glory those two are the most self centered birks I've ever met," Frank muttered, staying happily on the other side of the door to mutter this to Alice. "Can't they have this row for the millionth time after they find out if the kid survived? I swear this went down last week about who it was causing the toilets to snap shut on people."

"Wasn't it Avery caught doing that yesterday?" Alice asked in surprise.

"Exactly," Frank finished with a snort.

"How long do you think they can keep going when neither really has the ability to walk away?" Alice asked in honest concern when the two just kept exchanging insults.

"You mean when Evans can't storm off," Frank corrected. "Ever seen Potter? I think he lives for this."

Alice huffed in disgust if this was really how he thought was the best way to keep her attention, and honestly just grew sick of it herself finally. She went back through the door, Frank following reluctantly, and right over to Lupin. Black was sitting on the arm of the chair and watching along with Pettigrew like a show, but the last Marauder was pretending nothing was even happening as he kept his eyes down on the passage, though clearly reading nothing as no words had been uttered since they'd started.

"You lot just planning on staying in here forever?" She demanded.

"That's an interesting question," Black looked to her and said conversationally. "Wonder if time's frozen forever, we'll never get old, never get hungry again, actually wait, that could get really boring."

"Whatever point you take from this," she said in exasperation.

He nodded and nudged Moony, muttering, "best go on then, you've studied in the common room with louder things going on."

Remus hesitated an extra moment before indeed choosing to ignore the pair and continuing. It certainly made the Marauders who were paying attention a new level of interest none had ever seen, setting a teacher on fire and all. That was something they'd never dare to do, and Hermione just became their new idol for that act alone, the reason that she was doing it just made her as solid a friend as Ron only made it all the better.

It was honestly sad to the three of them James took no glory in this, didn't even seem to mention it as he was still busy over there where apparently only he and Evans existed. He even missed Harry spitting up the Snitch in victory, and in fact only came back to realizing what was going on when Evans snapped her head in their direction upon Hagrid defending Snape.

"Finally, a sensible human being," she seethed, snapping away from him and storming into the room for any way to escape while still listening attentively now. Hagrid just became her new favorite person in this castle for finally seeing past singling out a person for this happening, something that childish idiot could never understand.

"Wait, what happened to Harry? Who won the game?" James asked with a ruffled brow, his eyes still on the door and for all the world still unaware when Peter answered he'd fill him in on the details.

"Fluffy?" Frank said into the awkward silence. "I can not for the life of me picture a three headed dog, fluffy."

"Thought you had more imagination than that love," Alice honestly giggled at her boyfriend's perplexed look.

"I'll take that scrap of information if the dog has pink fur on top of it all," Lupin said with honest interest, his eyes now alight as he kept going at finally getting more information no matter how unintentional Hagrid gave it.

"Why do I know that name, Flamel," Regulus muttered to himself, though he alone felt invested in this mystery. Everyone else still seemed far more involved with Harry, even Evans no matter how much she denied it. She certainly hadn't, in all her shouting, come up with any alternatives to who could be trying to kill the young Potter, unlike him, who was still chewing over all the information given as Lupin finished.

Chapter Text

This is a chapter I was really looking forward to! How many times have we gotten the chance to explore what these characters would see in there? I did it all from one point of view for a very particular reason though, which is that you'll discover some in later chapters. For now, hope you enjoy this rather Regulus centric one!

Regulus had been so invested in his own thoughts that while he'd had no choice but to acknowledge the sickening feeling of being transported without permission again, his new immediate surroundings were unimpressive enough his train of thought kept going inside this seemingly empty classroom.

He agreed with Evans up to a point. While Snape seemed to be going out of his way to make himself the obvious person stealing the Stone, and that it was under threat was obvious, Dumbledore wouldn't have it moved if it wasn't. The problem was, he could still believe any teacher in the school could have fallen under the same circumstances, and he'd be remiss not to notice that in fact it wasn't every teacher, but only one other that consistently kept popping up around Snape-

"Oi, Moony, you read what this says?"

His elder brother, as usual, interrupted his thoughts with whatever his obnoxiousness was about this time. He and his three friends were crowded around, well now that Regulus focused it was rather odd to see a mirror just sitting around in here.

"It's not a language I recognize," the other returned before turning away dismissively and instead began wandering the room, calling Sirius after him to find the book again and get the next chapter going.

Sirius, who had landed in the middle and blinked in confusion for a moment watching Lupin walk off and then glancing back, hurried after him.

Potter followed after them at once, ruffling up his hair and glancing anxiously at the red-head like he actually thought she'd find him more inflated than usual for landing in front of the mirror. Actually, that was likely the reason for why she gave a derisive sniff and turned away, but considering that was her standard reaction it was hard to tell.

Noticing Alice Smith and Frank Longbottom by the window with nothing of interest about them, and still just the tiniest bit curious what his brother had been shouting about, he instead circled to the mirror proper just behind where Pettigrew was looking transfixed into the center. It was a grand old thing, nearly the height of the room with magnificent wood-carved feet, and he saw clearly the inscription above it that not only stumped Sirius but himself as they weren't words he knew.

Still though, he couldn't figure out what had Pettigrew so transfixed on the image. He'd never seemed as vain as his brother or best friend, in fact this Marauder was often at the back of the group with Lupin, far more prone to watching them get into mischief than actually joining in, something Regulus could respect considering how far he'd always strived to stay out of trouble but also keep in good graces.

Finally the lot gave up a manual search and instead summoned the book to them, which came whizzing out from behind the mirror apparently. Sirius caught it, and ignoring Potters crack about him getting a chapter involving a mirror, began at once.

The boys burst out laughing almost at once upon reading of the holiday hijinks, and Potter looked around in surprise when he finally seemed to realize one hadn't joined in.

"Oi, Wormtail, since when are you not boasting of who you last pegged with a snowball?"

Pettigrew jumped guiltily, meeting Potter's eyes for an instant and flushing at having been caught, and immediately darted over to their side to join in. He kept throwing lingering looks back to where he'd been standing, so again Regulus turned his attention to his own reflection, and startled in surprise.

Now that the other wasn't in the way, he was the only one left in the center of the reflection, and the view wasn't himself. Not exactly.

He turned on the spot but of course no one was actually there behind him. No one even glanced over at him except Pettigrew, who was now watching him with a critical eye and looking between him and the mirror. They met eyes, a passage of understanding wove between them, and Regulus slowly turned back to see that image still there.

That Regulus was older, probably just seventeen, his parents over one shoulder and beaming with pride at their son, and the Dark Lord on his other, bestowing him as the right hand of the Death Eaters. It was the only thing he'd ever wanted from his life, because he knew there could be no better calling, or his parents would want that for him instead.

His eyes wavered, but not because of the mirror, instead it lingered behind his mind's eye when he tore his sight away to see his brother still laughing along with his friends without a care in the world. He and Lupin were reminiscing about something they'd done over their Christmas break, just the two of them. Sirius had of course not come home for the holidays, just like the past five years, just like this younger Potter was going to be doing it seemed.

"Oi Prongs, come er'," Pettigrew suddenly tore him away and began towing him back to the mirror, sudden inspiration lighting his eyes. Potter went along curiously, still throwing half anxious glances at Evans and stopped in confusion just on the edge of the reflection.

"What?" he demanded when his friend began watching him anxiously.

"Err, here, come er' and look at this proper."

Regulus realized what he was doing just as he prodded Potter into the center, once again blocking out Regulus' view. He had half a mind to shove both of them back out of the way, but before he could act on the impulse their reactions became too fascinating to watch.

He wasn't sure what that eager look on Pettigrew's face was, maybe validation that whatever this mirrors trick was didn't work on just him, though he should already know that not to be true considering he'd just been watching Regulus react to it.

Potter's reaction was the most vivid yet. "Glory, what is this thing?" He yelped loud enough for the whole empty castle to hear as he pressed his hand right up to the image, gazing at it with the widest smile any had seen.

"Eh?" Sirius and Lupin looked up from where they'd been whispering together while Longbottom and Smith had been laughing that they'd be in the library right now if they could, looking up Flamel as well. Even Evans, who'd apparently been feigning disinterest to the ceiling this whole time, turned begrudgingly around at such a statement, all of them to reexamine the mirror.

"What do you see?" Pettigrew demanded at once, his face alight with eagerness as he looked from the mirror to his friend, back and forth like he was hoping to get just a glimpse himself, or perhaps still trying to see his own sight again.

"The future I hope!" He whooped.

"I'm sure Harry's going to find this thing," Smith said, craning her neck around from her desk but still keeping back from it now that it was clearly confirmed as some kind of magical object, but she considered herself smart enough not to go poking around it until she actually knew what it was.

Longbottom's curiosity got the better of him though, and he slid free to edge around and see it proper. "I don't see nothing but myself," he told what they'd all seen at first.

"You have to look in it proper, obviously," Potter said dismissively, though making no move to allow him to do so, his eyes still transfixed on whatever his eyes alone could see.

Pettigrew huffed, clearly feeling dismissed his question hadn't been answered, but then, as he had yet to volunteer himself what he'd seen, Regulus didn't quite blame Potter.

They'd all been so thoroughly distracted by this mirror, they'd hardly taken any notice of Harry's search for Flamel or that his holiday break had arrived. Sirius had though, easily relating to what Harry was going through in not wanting to be at his place for the holidays, so he honestly hadn't been paying Prongs any mind, going through each of his presents with a warm smile, but freezing in shock as a particular one was revealed.

He nudged Remus, hard, who scowled slightly at him but leaned in as Sirius silently offered the book and then Sirius got to watch that same expression flit across his face. Considering the past few times they'd been interrupted though, neither dared say anything about what they really thought this thing was in such an open place even if the others were so thoroughly distracted. It was ruined all the same anyways when Sirius kept going, honestly happy for a moment no one was really paying attention until he caught their attention when it was confirmed Harry had been gifted an Invisibility Cloak, and the strange note attached.

"Potter has an Invisibility Cloak?" Evans couldn't seem to help demanding as if of someone else even as she turned to him like she expected an answer.

Clearly still disoriented from his own desire of the mirrors image, his answer came out slowly, "no, well I haven't now, so not a clue what that's about."

Smith and Longbottom were still muttering their shock that such a thing would ever be in his hands, let alone an eleven year olds. Those were highly rare and really valuable, Regulus agreed it would boggle the mind for anyone but an elite Auror to be in possession of a true one.

Evans just tisked and turned back towards the window, but Potter seemed to take the attention she'd given him as an invitation as always and go over to her side like he was hoping to somehow continue the conversation.

She responded by walking away from him, back around the mirror just to prove her point, seemed unable to stop herself from glancing at it on her pass, and Regulus watched that same expression of awe now appear for a fourth time. She even pressed her hand to it, her face mere inches away in seconds as if hoping to fall right through to it.

"What is it? What do you see?" Alice asked her quietly. She'd finally come over herself, though curiosity was clearly still warring with nerves as she stayed on the edge to ask this, neither of them even seeming to realize Regulus was still behind them.

"I, ah, a dream, I suppose," she murmured.

"Can I try?" Smith's decision was now clearly made up, stepping forward all the way, though her face at once still uncertain if she truly wanted Evans to step aside.

At first her hand tensed along the glass, her reflection showed a fierce look of protection like she was contemplating shoving the other girl away before allowing any such thing, her eyes had yet moved from the image, when she startled in surprise at a book screaming at Harry.

This didn't faze the Marauders, who'd had the unfortunate problem of discovering this on their own when trying to get a particular Transfiguration book out of there without permission. Regulus had been around to see them being told off, but had never bothered to ask why they wanted it, but their collective amusement seeing the reaction of the others actually managed to make them all smile for a moment.

When Evans turned back to face Alice as the shock wore off, she relented and stepped away at once, though certainly still entranced as her steps were still tentative at best.

For quite a few moments Smith just blinked, like her vision was having trouble focusing though that made no sense as everyone else seemed to gaze upon it clear as day. Slowly though she started to smile, a warm look Regulus had certainly never seen on her. Then she whirled on the spot and desperately waved Frank over to her just as Harry found this himself.

Regulus was so distracted from Harry seeing his parents in the mirror as well he didn't even register what Longbottom's reaction to the same object was. Potter and Evans were actually looking at each other with the same expression of shock and sympathy, Sirius was reading in a tone unlike any Regulus had ever heard, empathy.

The idea had been pieced together rather quickly in Regulus' mind by now, this mirror showed something they all wanted. The idea that all this little Potter kid wanted was a family truly felt wrenching, and for the first time made him feel a bit selfish for his own. He did understand it though, wasn't that exactly what he'd seen in another light? His family to love him.

Sirius seemed to be having difficulties reading this bit, the idea of saying the words his best mate only existing in a mirror couldn't be a happy one Regulus realized. It seemed to relieve something in him when Harry had no choice but to take off.

It didn't seem to be going easier the second time with Ron around, even hearing what he saw wasn't exactly thrilling since many could have called that from what he'd said on the train, though the two boys scuffling over it was just a bit amusing.

Finally though when Harry came back for a third time Sirius' curiosity won out, and not wanting to be forced to read that again he sauntered over and kindly shoved Longbottom out of the way. He looked properly outraged, but Sirius' expression was enough to stop him retaliating, he looked baffled. He looked from the mirror, back to where his three friends were watching him curiously still over by the desk, and back again before chuckling and going back over and trying to keep going like nothing had happened.

"Oh come on," Potter began wheedling at once, not letting Sirius go on until he at least tried, "you not going to share what you saw?"

"You didn't," Sirius reminded with a challenging little smirk.

"Me and Evans with this little Harry," he said at once without a trace of abashment, throwing her yet another look they'd all seen countless times.

Evans flushed and just glared back at him before resolutely turning back away. He sighed, but the hopeful gleam in his eyes only grew stronger for once, as if this object had only confirmed what he'd always known.

"You guys," Sirius answered with a shrug possibly to get his friend's attention back, or just to answer him anyways. "Guess I'm already living out my want."

His friends just gave carefree laughs, looking the picture of innocence in that moment, and Regulus couldn't help but scoff at such a waste as this, finally turning away and gazing at his own image again, something clearly none of these others could even comprehend, an actual future.

Dumbledore's entrance was admittedly the greatest surprise yet, even more so than the mirror itself as instead of Harry getting in trouble for this he instead was given a lesson over the object. 'Deepest desire of their hearts,' Regulus couldn't help but let the words spin in his mind, even as his heart squeezed again almost painfully. He'd give anything for this reflection to come true, how was it fair his own brothers already was.

As Sirius reached closer to the end, he stopped whatever it was Dumbledore was saying about socks or some nonsense to start pushing his last friend over.

"Sirius, what if I don't want-" Lupin tried to protest.

"Oh go on, everyone else did," Potter waved eagerly for him to keep walking before giving a pouting look at his last friend, "even if others won't share."

"I said I would later," Pettigrew huffed, crossing his arms and not meeting anyone's eyes now.

Lupin tried protesting one more time, but Sirius had already positioned him in the center. The boy cringed and tried to take only a peek before darting right back away, but like so many others, he froze and instead seemed mesmerized when he locked on. His expression became curious, he studied what none could see and then glanced sideways at Sirius again.

"Thanks," the gratitude was hardly more than a whisper, but the sincerity flooded the room.

Sirius just smirked, clearly pleased with himself even if he just as clearly wasn't sure what he was being thanked for. He waited expectantly, but when Lupin's eyes just darted around the room and he instead stuffed his hands deep into his pockets without saying anything else, Sirius took the hint.

Instead, just before he finished, Sirius turned curious eyes on him and asked, "what about you? Going to share what you saw?"

Regulus raised a challenging brow, but held no shame as he lightly interpreted, "my parents, actually having a child to be proud of."

Sirius' lip curled at once, but his expression turned almost pitying. "Careful what you wish for Reg," he muttered before turning back to the book and finishing with Harry crawling back to bed, somewhere they all honestly wished they could be at this point.

Let me know of the ones you saw, too predictable? I'd love to hear some guesses from you guys for the ones who didn't share. I won't tell you what they are, but it'll be fun to see you guess now!

Chapter Text

The scarlet plush carpet and gold trimmed furniture would have given it away, but Frank still easily deduced they must have landed in the Gryffindor common room even without that.

They were obviously in one of the towers, the view from the window showing the Whomping Willow in the distance and Hagrid's hut smoking merely in a late afternoon sun. He'd always had a guess this particular house was opposite his own side of the castle, though he spun in a curious circle how remarkably more roomy it seemed, he'd been picturing medieval weapons upon all surfaces, and all the suits of armor to hang around in here.

Usual occupants of this place of course made themselves right at home, the four Marauders instantly claiming cushioned seats by the fire, though Black made a face as he lounged sideways across his, feet dangling near Potter's face. "Not as much fun when there's no competition for them."

Potter shoved the trainers away and seemed completely at ease with this, stating, "better than Guffin telling us off again for taking 'his' spot. Honestly, every time Percy's mentioned I think of that inflated Head Boy who thinks he owns this place."

"Which I still say is the reason not one person in the common room blamed you for getting the chair stuck to his backside," Pettigrew snickered.

"Down a chair, up a win," Lupin agreed as he slouched in his own nearest the fire and looked ready to take a nap.

Evans was resting on the girls stairs with a put out expression in place, evidently she'd tried to go up to her room to get away from all this for a moment but of course all of those were still blocked off.

Regulus was at the tables far away from everyone again, digging his pinky nail into the wood. Frank finally decided he was curious enough about this one and went over to sit next to him, Alice following in surprise.

"I don't think we've ever been properly introduced-" he tried to begin politely.

"Did you realize that the third or fourth time we went jumping around," he said back without looking up. He was still digging his nails into the wooden surface of the table and seemed completely transfixed on his task of carving something into place, without magic, which was odd in itself.

"Well to be fair, after all being shoved in a closet together, I think proper hello's were a thing of the past anyways," Alice said with chipper.

Regulus gave a small bit of laughter in agreement for that before using his other hand to wave vaguely. "These seats may not be sat next to a fire, but they're free."

"Thanks," the two said peaceably.

Awkward silence only hung though, as Regulus was being friendly enough but clearly not up to anymore of a conversation, so Frank summoned the book to him which somehow fell as if it had been stuck to the ceiling for whatever reason. Then he glanced up and saw that the house-elves had yet come through for a nightly cleaning, including unsticking many papers waded up to the wall with spit. He decided to use his wand to flip to the right part and continue.

The chapter itself certainly started off with a bang, not only promising more information of Nicolas Flamel being the chapter title, but a vivid nightmare that would give anyone the creeps. Then a tiny moment of joy in hearing of Quidditch practice for the Marauders, and then everything was ruined with Wood's announcement.

Not one of them could come up with why it was actually a good reason for Snape to be refereeing anything, let alone a Quidditch game. Though the idea sent the older Black into mirthless tears considering the only time he'd ever seen him on a broom before, even Evans was aghast at why he'd be doing any such thing.

It was clear he didn't like Harry, which honestly Lily couldn't much blame him for, but there must be some motive she was missing in him wanting to be closer to this game. She just wouldn't believe Harry's, or Potter and his gang's, motives Snape was after him. It was all the more depressing to her she seemed the only one left believing this, even as she watched Frank reading he wasn't doing a very good job holding himself back from nodding in agreement with the kids ridiculous desires of trying to get Harry out of this game.

Neville came as a nice distraction then, until she pursed her lips up in distaste that only Hermione really stood up to help him while every other person fell over laughing. At least Harry was being decent to him, he and Ron finally showing more worth than she'd ever seen of the Marauders as they spent time to make this kid feel better whom they hadn't anything to do with before now.

No one could have seen coming the answer to Nicolas Flamel being in a candy wrapper.

"To think that was dropped on us ages ago and none of us took notice," Frank grumbled, eyeing that with much less annoyance than he meant to, he was still smiling it had clearly meant so much to Neville.

"Who actually reads the cards," Regulus shrugged, looking on with intrigue the story was finally progressing again even while he defended, "it's just the rarity of the card you want, not what the wizard did."

"You knew this whole time!" Frank startled in surprise and the book fell out of his grip as he turned around to see Evans glowering at Potter, who didn't look remotely abashed.

He just shrugged casually and hardly turned to acknowledge her this time, like she'd interrupted an important conversation, "sure, I've had Dumbledore's Chocolate Frog card memorized for months now, knew Flamel was an Alchemist. Why the yelling?"

"You couldn't have shared that?" Regulus demanded.

Sirius rolled his eyes, all four looking dumbfounded at the others dumbfounded expressions. "And why would we do that? What reason have you lot given for us to be sharing anything with you?"

"Well it's not as if you've had anything else to do, I'm still the only one looking for a way out of this mess!" Evans thundered.

"Yes, and checking every door is really doing you good," Lupin muttered, probably more loudly than he meant to in the usually much noisier common room.

"Who says we haven't been doing that as well while being ahead of the lot of you on Harry's mystery," Potter challenged, a gleam in his eye making at least Frank realize this wasn't all show. The four of them had taken every opportunity to be quietly talking to each other, and though they'd only heard a few stupid comments, it did cross his mind for the first time they really could be up to something other than just goofing along for the ride.

Evans was still muttering some foul mouthed comments Potter had known something before her and even Regulus still looked outraged at this slight, but Frank just sighed and kept going on so that he could catch up.

Indeed Hermione's explanation fascinated him, the idea that such a Stone could exist was such a fundamental part of magic that seemed so unattainable the more he learned of it, he wanted to get his own hands on this stone purely for studying purposes, it was no challenge at all to see why Snape or anyone would want it. Of course Evans' nostrils flared further at this comment, and she began muttering for no one to listen about how it could be anyone in the world besides her best friend, but at this point Frank found it easier to ignore her, and didn't envy Alice. When the redhead finally had no choice but to admit to this truth all of them had accepted, it would probably fall to his girlfriend to comfort the girl, considering she was the closest things to friend Evans had in this room.

The kids discussion of what they'd buy with the Stone was amusing, and mirrored along with the Marauders. Though now Frank was listening for it, he did notice that they were speaking at a perfectly normal volume when the dialogue hovered in the story, but the moment another conversation broke out such as Alice trying to engage Regulus in this same conversation, the four boys turned into sudden whispers.

Potter did fall out of his seat in shock though at Harry's proclamation. "Merlin my kids suicidal! A maniac he knows wants him dead will be within arms reach of him during a dangerous bloody game, and he's still going to play!"

Frank couldn't help it that time, he fully turned in his seat, craning his neck around over the high back red pleather to get a look at those words escaping Gryffindors prized Chaser. Yet this was no joke, he was frowning heavily and ruffling his hair, looking genuinely concerned for the fate of this future child. Considering Harry's last Quidditch performance, Frank would have thought any parent would fear their child continuing in this game, but as far as he could tell Potter had brushed the whole thing off. Now though, it was clear he'd taken this threat far more seriously than any believed, especially Evans.

Her brows shot up into her hairline, shock finally the most prominent expression on her face except contempt as she gazed on at him as well.

Black snapped his attention away from this reaction fast enough though. "Would you get on with it Longbottom? I'd like to know if the kid lives past this next game."

He actually sounded upset as well, eyes more on his best mate than anything, but the genuine concern stunned him as much as Potter's reaction. Seemed those boys were even more invested in this Harry kid than any of them had yet realized.

Since Potter looked ready to snatch the book away from him any second if he didn't get on with it, Frank quickly read through the next parts, that pep talk from Wood somehow only mounting things up worse than whatever he'd been intending. Finally though, Frank didn't feel all eyes on him were a glare when Dumbledore was mentioned.

"I'm probably supposed to be relieved," Potter muttered, finally taking his seat but still shifting restlessly. "At the same time though, Dumbledore wouldn't be there if there wasn't something to worry about."

"Cheer up Prongs," Pettigrew said, clearly infusing that into his own voice far better than the others could have. "Maybe even the twins will be keeping a better eye on him considering the last game, if Harry even starts to slip one of them will scoop him up before Dumbledore can draw his wand."

"Yeah," Potter seemed cheered at once by this idea. "Then they can knock Snivellus out of the air for us on their way doing it."

Evans scoffed, the mood wasn't truly back to content, but Frank got through the match with only a few curses for the whole event. Turned out Harry wasn't even the one to be worried about during this game. Malfoy finally said one to many comments and Ron and Neville doing something about it was more of a show than Quidditch for once.

"I love Harry's friends!" Black cheered from his seat, all of them giving a great whoop of joy as the proceedings included yet more thrill of Harry winning the game in a record time!

The Gryffindors celebration was short lived. The same four boys who'd been high-fiving and cheering each other on as if they'd just walked away from their own game froze and went right back to uneasily listening when Harry turned around to do his next foolhardy stunt.

"This kid is unbelievable," Evans whispered. Who was mad enough to follow a teacher into the Forbidden Forest, and eavesdrop on that conversation?!

Regulus agreed with her, but his unintentionally glancing over at her for doing so was instantly corrected when they accidentally met eyes. He went back to digging his nail into the surface of the wood. In the time it had taken them to be in here, he'd done out a rough drawing of his family houses crest, two stars above a sword, separated by an arrow point. He was just putting the finishing touches of the shield around it when Frank's voice hitched in his own bit of concern upon hearing Neville came out unconscious for that squabble, but aside from Alice covering his hand with hers and squeezing the two passed over the moment. Considering the main kid had now been in four near death experiences already to Neville's one, he still thought they were overreacting.

The closing bit felt ridiculous on these kids parts, Regulus would agree with Evans scoff of disbelief up to a point. They truly couldn't see Snape as anything more than the lone man out to get this object, but Regulus more believed Quirrell could be in it for a cut. That little argument had hinted the two were trying to work out a problem after all, and the Snape he knew certainly didn't ask for help willingly.

Chapter Text

Favorite chapter of this book! Also a location I've been really looking forward to showing off!

The walls were painted sky blue, the carpet a faded warm brown hinting at many years passing along leaving a permanent tread. The walls were covered in several posters that James didn't recognize of bands, but also several hand done, and extremely accurate, drawings of dragons that someone had magicked to life for this kid, flying around through each others edges.

It was crowded, the sparse bit of walking space nonexistent with the eight of them all in here at once, hardly much bigger than Harry's cupboard; but the love and care that went into this room was evident.

Lily came forward towards a desk crammed into the back corner and brushed her hand against a greyling snoozing, little blue plums of smoke escaping from its pointed head, the back end of which wasn't quite done. It was clear details were still being added of feathers to the long extended tail.

"Well I officially have no clue where we are," Peter muttered. He'd been the lucky one to land on the bed, but he had automatically moved to the edge and crossed his ankles, swinging his feet uncomfortably like he expected the occupant to appear and tell him to take his shoes off.

"Hey, wasn't one of Ron's brothers a dragon trainer or something?" Alice asked, leaning against the door with the book already in her hands.

"Dragon keeper," the older Black corrected with a look of disgust, clearly unable to grasp the concept of why anyone would want such a thing.

"I'm getting the feeling Harry's going to have some interactions with him then," she returned pleasantly, then read out the chapter title.

Black groaned in disgust and shook his shoulders like he was trying to shake off a nat before slouching over to the window and prodding along the edge like he was going to try and jump out.

"He has a thing against dragons," Potter pleasantly informed all of them needlessly.

Regulus frowned in sympathy, but knowing his brother would only snap his head off if he tried to say anything, he instead went back to investigating the picture. He was sure no one else had even noticed it, but he'd landed right in front of what must be the Weasley family.

It sat proudly against the wall, coupled in with so many other pictures of things it probably went unnoticed despite the red haired family. Regulus couldn't take his eyes off of it. He could easily identify the twins, chasing each other around every inch of available grass and weaving in between their fathers legs who was juggling the infant, whatever that little girls name had been, and who must be Ron hanging off his dad's arm to get his attention. The mother had her arms around the last three all at once, and looked exasperated, but the adoring smile on her face showed she wouldn't be anywhere else.

There was no other context, no telling what was going on before or after it was taken, why the kids were all so rambunctious or who had even taken the photo. It simply captured the moment of the one clear thing Charlie enjoyed in his life, the chaos of his family. It was baffling! All Regulus had ever known was the structure of his family tree, the rules and consequences through watching Sirius break those.

The story wasn't progressing with much interest to anyone even when Hagrid arrived. None knew him that well, so maybe he was always shifty when asked a direct question, though the oddity of him being in the school library when he'd never been known there before was keeping their attention. Ron's discovery just made it all click in a despicable way.

"A dragon! That mad gamekeeper has a dragon in his cabin! A Norwegian Ridgeback on top of everything!"

Remus covered his ears for the volume, but still looked more sympathetic than anything for Sirius' screeching.

"If I ever catch that man doing anything of the sort now I'll add him to my list right after I-"

"Alright Padfoot," James easily roped his arm around him to cut off what three just saw as a tantrum. Those who did know could only wince in sympathy with no real words of comfort for this. James kept trying anyways, "there's no dragons here-"

Then he cut off with a wince at his own stupidity as Sirius snorted in disgust and had to fight back the temptation to burn the walls into real fire.

"What's his problem?" Frank muttered to Alice.

"As if I know," she reminded. She was tempted to ask Regulus who clearly knew, but even though she could see his face he hadn't looked away from the wall this whole time, was still making no attempts to reach out and communicate with any of them, and she wasn't going to force her hand.

Lily, honestly felt a bit of pity for this. She'd never stopped to consider any of them with actual fears, human moments like Black was now showing. All she'd ever seen was their likes, one like to be exact, of their horrid ways against her friend. Now she was watching Potter, all three of them try to comfort their friend in by far the kindest thing she'd ever seen.

His mood only worsened when the kids went to Hagrid's, Hagrid only confirmed what none of them were surprised about. It made sense all of the teachers and not just Quirrell would put up some protection for this thing Dumbledore was protecting. No, it just kept going downhill that there was indeed an egg roasting away in Hagrid's fireplace.

"I actually kind of liked the three headed dog, that was cool once it wasn't trying to eat him anymore! The troll was a menace, but at least manageable! Your kid just couldn't stop there Prongs! A dragon, and it's all Hagrid's fault," Sirius kept up his insistent mutter, trying to push the arm away and get the dang window open that no force of magic or willpower was accomplishing. He was boiling up in here, he could swear those little flickers coming from the end of the dragon's nostrils were coming to life and fixing to leap right off the page towards him-

"Breath Pads," Moony was trying to soothe by instead changing the subject. Which actually made Malfoy feel useful for the first time. "Let's focus instead on plotting ways of getting Malfoy expelled."

"Why do you think he didn't just run off and tell on them?" Peter did ask curiously. "What does he have to gain by sitting on this information?"

"Don't know," James begrudgingly said, "but it's the first actual intelligent thing he's done. Looking for an advantage rather than just jumping around to get them in trouble."

Regulus looked up and around at them in surprise, it was the first kind thing he'd ever heard them say about a Slytherin. Then he just assumed they were saying it to throw Sirius off, which wasn't really working. He frowned in a bit of concern now as his brother just got more silent and still when the dragon had hatched. His brother had never actually told them what had happened when he'd been left down in the Gringotts vault, but his parents hadn't paid it much concern since he couldn't have gotten inside to any of the importance, like the gold or heirlooms. Regulus had tried to ask, just out of curiosity, but Sirius had completely ignored him.

Now he was more irked than anything he'd clearly told his mates something, the obvious sympathy for him made that clear. He and Sirius may not have been getting on in recent years, but when had that amounted to he couldn't be told anything?

Alice had no liking for the beasts in particular, but the idea of a baby one was more charming than fearsome like Black seemed to find it, so she read on with cute little spirits about Hagrid's handling of this, up until it bit Ron.

"Okay, now we have a problem," Frank winced and took an extra step back from one particular orange faced lizard that had its fangs exposed. He overbalanced and fell on the bed next to Pettigrew, who raised a brow at him but otherwise ignored that.

"Norwegian Ridgebacks are poisonous," Lupin agreed in a still rather forced conversational tone, while his back was to everyone. He had poked his head under the desk curiously, and came back with a tiny little spindle chair which he nudge against Black, who seemed resistant to sitting down anymore than getting away from the window. "Hope he went to Madam Pomfrey, she never asks too many questions."

"I like to think even she'd demand where he got a dragon bite," Alice disagreed.

Lily flushed a bit but chose not to say anything, having personal experience with the matron not asking one to many questions from a few experimental potions accidents, so actually agreeing with one of the Marauders for once.

The decision to contact Charlie and his quick response was the best thing Sirius had heard this whole chapter, they were getting rid of that beast toot sweet! His small moment of happiness didn't last long.

Things only got worse for the kids dealing with this mess when Malfoy still managed to make everything worse. Thankfully the kids didn't derail their plan for this, Sirius had never heard of a better use of their cloak than riding that monster from their grounds! He just couldn't stop his imagination going haywire, that thing growing larger by the moment and getting loose on the grounds and then roaring so loud his ears started bleeding all while trying to shoot fire that just missed him from the tiny alcove he'd managed to squeeze himself into by the grace of Padfoot. That cart trundling away without him in it, his Uncle Cygnus, and Aunt Druella apparently deaf to his calls to come back. He could still swear he saw Bellatrix laughing as she slipped the goblin something when they turned the corner-

He'd been sat down in the chair without his noticing, Remus' hand firmly on his shoulder and smiling kindly down at him. He wasn't sure what he'd been saying, but it suddenly occurred to him that the weeks he'd been having his blowout with Moony had actually been the longest stretch of time he hadn't had to think about that. Even the weekly potions classes with its kindling cauldrons or some scaly beast Professor Kettleburn had brought to class had managed to remind him of the incident all year.

So lost in his mind, he'd completely missed the part where Malfoy had been caught by McGonagall, and he forced a laugh as Moony quietly explained it to him until Charlie's friends arrived. He'd kiss them both for taking this thing away, though just as likely never go within arms reach of anyone mad enough to handle these beasts for a living. "That whole incident was entirely pointless!" Sirius kept up his furious mutterings he'd been carrying this whole time. Alice was honestly impressed he hadn't run out of breath. "What was the point of that I ask you? It certainly could have been left out and saved me-"

So invested was he in his own rantings, he nearly missed the ending horror of Filch discovering them without their cloak. They got not a single second to live in their shock before they were once again torn away.

Chapter Text

To those of you who do, enjoy your holiday! For everyone else, hope you enjoy this!

The breath of fresh air was like finally stepping out of an exam. Your brain turned back on, you could remember an answer you couldn't ten minutes ago, and they finally weren't surrounded by walls! There were no buildings, no castle, for once the lack of human civilization felt right...then Remus really looked around and saw where they were, and had to fight back the urge to scream.

The dark trees towered over them all, some pressed so close together it was as if they were hugging, others spaced almost evenly, as if someone at some time had actually intended to plant them. There were all different species as well, weather of magical properties or simply the transitions of very many years introducing new to this Forbidden Forest. The Marauders knew them all, not particularly by name, but of what could be inside them. They each could have taken a quick look around and pointed which direction Hogwarts was, how to navigate to a manticore den if one were suicidal enough, contact the centaurs or even go chasing after some spiders. They also knew what else would soon be in this forest, that only appeared once a month.

Remus had been feeling sick since this all took off, and not for the same reasons as the others. After he'd told his friends about his secret, they soon didn't even have to ask when the full moon even was, they could keep track of it themselves. Not by looking to the stars, but the werewolf himself. His body, so physically tied to the endless cycle, seemed conditioned itself to run in phases. When a new moon, Moony was at the peak of health, as bright eyed and laughing along with anyone. The heavier the orb became, the heavier his eyes grew, the paler his skin got, as if the curse itself were to match.

Ignorant as they'd been of the true meaning of time in all of this, they'd all kept a careful eye on him through every time jump, and none really liked what they saw. That last potions class, the last clear marker of anything they had, meant only four days tell a full moon again. Remus had been so quiet and withdrawn it could have been that night. Through several bunts across this universe though, they'd gotten so lost and muddled it was impossible to keep track of anything, let alone something so far above they couldn't even see.

Now all four looked up, but the thicket of branches was as revealing as a ceiling, and their friends luminescent pallor could still mean anything.

Then Lily did scream.

At first she'd simply thought it was a pile of snow. That was wrong though, there was a slight chilly breeze creeping through, but it had the taste of spring tease, not nearly cold enough for a whole mound of undisturbed pile so breathtakingly unpigmented.

The tangled legs, silky mane, and spiral horn had formed next. She'd started forward in concern, her mind offering up a foal sleeping. The deep silver of blood dripping still warm from its neck was the last click.

To the others credit, no one ran. They all had wands out at once and tried to draw closer to each other even in this circle of mistrust, but as one by one they all saw the same, a deadly silence fell as surely as this mythical creature.

Potter spoke first, inching towards her and hissing, "Evans, get away!"

It was true she had seemed to land nearest the mare, she could have reached out and touched the alabaster hindquarters.

"And go where," Regulus uneasily demanded.

Pettigrew shot a glance at him, and immediately turned on the spot and tried to shoot some purple jet of light into the darkness. It, like every spell before, simply vanished with no visible trace of ever being there, but the moment he stepped in the same direction, there again was an invisible barrier blocking them from stepping out of this clearing.

"Okay, well, at least whatever did it isn't in here with us," Frank offered, straightening from a defensive position near Alice and doing a quick 360 to confirm there was nothing lurking nearby. Shadows were aplenty, but certainly whatever had done this would have attacked at their arrival...right?

"Lily, come on, please get away from it," Potter insisted, the genuine fear still there finally sinking through her shock. Carefully, still on hands and knees like she'd landed, she backed away as far as she could, unintentionally putting herself right beside Potter as she stood, the book in her hand though none had seen it before.

"It was right by her heart," she muttered, running her hand uneasily over the cover and looking up at him. Then just as quickly, she turned and walked away, over to Alice and Frank, flipping through pages for her place and reading the chapter title without surprise, she'd figured that out all on her own.

James watched her go before turning eyes back on the unicorn. They didn't see many running through the Forest, though they weren't shy creatures, as they had no natural predators. One had even come across Moony, but though he'd stared it down, he'd instead continued right back to putting his nose to the ground after some griffins nest still five miles out.

Regulus spoke what all of them still couldn't get past, "what could have done this?"

Even those who hadn't taken Care of Magical Creatures knew a thing or two about this beast, for Professor Slughorn stressed when using their hairs or horn shavings in potions classes how valuable they were, and the only part they'd use in class. Even Professor Flitwick had once treated them to a lecture when one student asked about the wand core. Everybody said the same thing. They were a purely good and innocent life, and to slay one for any reason was a curse. To continue the act, to drink the blood as something had clearly done...it was unheard of.

For the first time, none of them had really stopped to consider the fact that though all people had vanished during their time of this, what about other things? If the unicorns body could still be here, than very likely what had done this could be as well.

With that lovely thought in mind, Lily read with more unease than she ever thought a book could do, about Harry getting something silly like a detention. The Marauders at least were momentarily distracted from everything by wondering just what Harry had done with their cloak, surely the boy wouldn't leave it up on the tower forever!

They did feel for Harry of course, and even more for Neville when he got dragged into all this for doing the right thing. McGonagall's punishment was admittedly ridiculous, but now that the others were distracted but the Marauders could just shrug off something so silly like losing house points, they kept on track with their friend who may be facing a very real problem soon.

Throughout all of these time jumps, any one of them could have been during a full moon, and none of them could do a thing about it. Knock out the other four so they didn't realize what, or who, was happening and transform? Protecting all of them while in some enclosed space!

This was so far the only solution James had thought up, and Remus hadn't a chance to tear it down then in their common room, but he did now where hopefully the wind snatched away their words better than the Quidditch team acting a prat to Harry.

"This just isn't safe! I nearly killed someone last time, I won't let it ever get that close again!"

"That was my fault," Sirius hatefully pointed out, tense and looking nearly as sick as Remus at the reminder, but he had to make this clear. "You're right Moony, it won't ever go that far again because we'll make sure it won't, none of this is on you!"

"What do you want us to do anyways?" Peter demanded with a little huff, he couldn't be on look out forever, he'd already seen Frank grow suspicious of them at least once. "You keep griping about this, but I don't hear you coming up with any ideas." Then, at a much more conversational tone of voice, "Glory, Harry would be the one to come across Quirrell at a time like that."

The others had to quickly play catch up to what they'd been listening to in the background, but clearly no one else noticed, so their inane chatter to each other about all Harry's varying luck was given no more thought than the whispered conversation.

"Wait, what's Harry doing out on the grounds for his detention?" James did turn and look at Evans fully again, glancing to Peter and really feeling like he'd missed something, but the other shrugged with no more clue than Filch was giving.

Then Remus slumped to the ground, looking utterly exhausted and likely to faint any moment as it seemed his own worst fear was going to play out in Harry's time at the exact moment it was here.

They were all admittedly thunderstruck at such a punishment, but the fact that it was taking place with Hagrid made them think that somehow the gamekeeper had pulled this off himself. Likely feeling bad for getting the kids into this, in his warped mind he probably thought he was giving them a treat.

Alice just snickered at the young Malfoy, and how Filch was no help at all. "Honestly, any decent teacher would have just told what you should do when facing a werewolf, not him though."

"Wouldn't be Filch if he didn't traumatize one kid a year," Frank agreed.

Remus tried to keep breathing evenly that they were just blowing this off, that surely the teachers wouldn't have them out there during a full moon...but there was no longer a werewolf on those grounds even trapped safely away, so what if they didn't care about such things anymore? Filch nor Hagrid were denying a full moon tonight!

News of the unicorn brought them up short at least, all eyes turning back to the very same.

"Please," Potter begged, "someone tell me that we're just getting an unpleasant first hand look at this thing! Let the record be broken that we aren't where Harry likely will wind up!" His voice was near screaming at the end, and Sirius shifted uneasily from rubbing Moony's shoulder to patting James, now both looked likely to vomit.

"See, he's going in with Hagrid," Peter tried his best to keep looking on the bright side of this. "Nothing in this forest is going to mess with him!"

"Nothing in the forest now," Remus said hoarsely, the others were just pleased he was still bothering to make conversation. "Twenty years from now? Clearly something got in."

"Do we need to separate you two next?" Sirius snapped.

"Yes please," Remus bitterly grumbled, glancing again at the heavens like he hoped they'd swallow him up.

"Moony, listen," Sirius crouched down beside him, James and Peter striking up a loud conversation about what they hoped ate Malfoy as a distraction. "Nothing's going to happen, alright! Time's been a bit screwy around here lately, I know, but that has to mean it's also working on our side! No full moon," he finished, practically breathing in his ear by the end, "and Merlin help it if there is one, we won't let you hurt anyone, not even yourself, just like always."

Remus turned to face him, and in the practically non-existent lighting all he could really do was trace his face. Their noses were inches apart, and that electricity seemed to snap between the two again. Remus couldn't help it, he believed him. He could still vividly recall that look of shock, the horror only just setting in as James told him what had happened, and then Sirius had gone all defensive and tried to play it off like another joke. This time his expression remained open and sincere, which was all Remus had wanted to see the past month. It took every ounce of willpower he possessed right then not to kiss him, his hand twitched involuntarily anyways and brushed against Sirius fingers. 

Padfoot just smiled and let them stay overlapped like that, it was dark enough nobody would notice.

James paused in describing the details of bowtruckle eye removal as he glanced between the two, certainly sensing something, but he was just so happy they were even speaking to each other again he didn't press them for whatever that was.

Of course Malfoy ruined the whole thing, all of them jumping in shock at the red sparks and wanting to pull that blond head off for doing that to Neville at a time like this. Maybe it was just because they saw the danger right in front of them, but it felt even more suicidal than facing down that troll for Harry to be going off alone now!

Sirius would even take Norbert back! This was something that could actually kill the kid, again!

Indeed that seemed exactly what was about to happen! Whatever monstrosity that was drinking unicorn blood and then turning its attention on that little boy was as good as dead if the centaur hadn't arrived.

Lily couldn't help but sink to the leafy ground herself as, whatever that thing could be was run off. For the first time, she'd really felt invested in that danger, had wanted to shield and protect Harry from this! All of the other situations he'd either gotten himself into or she hadn't believed a danger was there, she'd either just seen Potter in her mind being an idiot or trusted Sev wouldn't let anything happen. Now though, that little boy was just doing a detention for the school, one he'd gotten while helping a friend, and this was by far the most heart stopping thing to become of that!

The night just couldn't end there. They got more information from Firenze than anything else so far, none of it at all pleasant, and all putting a much larger scope on this problem.

Regulus hadn't even been sure how he'd felt about the demise of the Dark Lord because of this Boy Who Lived. He'd spent his whole life up until now wanting nothing more than to join the prospering future of the Death Eaters, but in fact the world seemed to have gone on without the Dark Lord. Now though, from the word of a centaur, there was absolute proof this was no glory for money as they'd all believed before. Now it made sense why Dumbledore wanted that Stone right under his nose.

The Dark Lord was trying to come back, and he seemed determined to kill Harry to do it.

Lily nearly pissed herself all through the conversation of Harry catching up his two friends on all of this. She'd barely given herself a moment to even admit how invested in this story she'd slowly been before it was all slammed down on her with pure adrenaline. A world without You-Know-Who was so far just a fairy-tale in this future, now just as quickly it was all about to be stripped away? She had no clue how Harry was being so calm about this!

The end note still managed to hold its own surprise, though at least it was a decent one. Getting his cloak back could only be a good thing, right?

Chapter Text

Happy New Years! May this one be better than the best!

At first, Alice thought they were still in the Forbidden Forest. Whatever she'd landed on certainly had an earthy feel to it, but also thicker, like she'd landed on roots of a tree. She tried to get uneasily to her feet, overbalanced, and landed again on her rear in the completely dark cavern. At least this time they weren't all smashed together in a tiny cupboard, wherever they were was roomy enough she couldn't even reach out and find Frank. It wasn't until she didn't hear the others groan, now familiar from doing this each time they were moved about, that she froze.

For the first time in these moments, the place they had landed was not quiet. It wasn't particularly loud either, but a noise all the same. Not a whisper of wind through trees even, as had been present in the past, but like a rumbling, almost a purring, or a snore, but so much louder she must not be hearing it right.

"Frank?" she whispered as quietly as she could, not wanting to disturb, well anything. With no clue what was going on, and that dead unicorn still hovering behind her mind's eye, she erred on the side of caution as she tried to inch forward after hearing no response.

Then she realized, she couldn't move.

She'd been so numb and dizzy like all the other times, it wasn't a feeling you got used to, that the realization her legs were slowly losing feeling hadn't immediately registered. If anything she'd tried to ignore that numbness, now she was entrapped all the way up to her waist.

"Frank!" She shouted now for anyone to hear her. She still had her wand on her, had never put it away while out in the Forbidden Forest, but honestly wasn't even sure to trust herself what spell to use. With no clue what was holding her down and not knowing if Frank were nearby or whom she may accidentally hit, casting a spell at random could do more harm than good.

Refusing to let indecision cost her life, she raised her wand to the ceiling instead and shouted, "Lumos!"

What was even momentarily illuminated nearly made her scream all over again. The other seven were all struggling in vain against thick vines, already entrapping either their chests or mouths the moment they'd landed so none could shout a spell in even the hopes to escape. Limbs were already lost in the sea; pain, shock, or the plant itself forcing their only weapon away. Alice seemed to have mercifully landed the farthest away, the creepers having had to inch forward to grab at her but quickly drawing her back into the thicket.

Someone was less than an arm's length away, wrestling with all his strength and gnashing his teeth as if trying to bite right through them, but more only took place, surely covering his face very soon! Not Frank's though. For a moment she thought it was Sirius, then the youth of those deep black eyes, not grey, registered him as Regulus.

The light from her first spell was already dimming, soon the deadly plants would circle up to her own lungs. "Frank," she pleaded again, still desperately searching for him, knowing he could have listed off a hundred deadly plants and surely this one, but she couldn't think of a single one right now, nor spot him amid all the moving bodies writhing as much as the feelers. The only useful tool of knowledge was fire, most everything magical or otherwise would run from that, right? What if she was wrong, what if fire somehow just made these stronger?

With only breath enough for one more spell, she had no other choice but to redirect her now dim wand towards her feet and desperately shout, "Caeruleum Igne!"

The Bluebell Fire flew from her wand, though she felt no heat. Her entrapment fell away at once, with an almost screech like noise rustling back into the confines of its horde.

She turned the flame for the other at once, his gasp of relief like music to her ears. He sat up at once and inched his way to the wall, rubbing at his legs to try and get feeling back in them likely, and looking crestfallen towards the mass. Alice realized he no longer had his wand on him, but feared dropping the fire to summon it for him.

Aware of every step she took, she began forcing her way farther in, trying to engorge the fire as much as she was capable of and ignoring the ringing in her ears all along the way for holding onto the spell so long already. She managed to find Frank, Evans bright red hair, and three of the Marauders in quick succession, who all had to take a second just to breath, and she didn't blame them. The plant continued to shrink away from her, but this only managed to make its tether tighten along those she couldn't yet reach, forcing her to keep the flames longer and longer on each new person she located.

Just as her vision was starting to blur from holding onto the magic for so long, another jet of flame joined her, Regulus had found his wand and air back. Good thing as well, for the elder Black had landed the farthest away and was so entangled they almost couldn't make him out of the last thick pile of swirling snares. The two flames together forced it to slither off him, and they dragged him and ushered the others who were still gasping into the next room.

It was just as dimly lit, but as the floor wasn't covered in vegetation, she happily collapsed.

"What-the bloody hell- was that!" Potter tried to demand around a deep cough, clutching his chest with a hand that was already starting to darken with a bruise. They all looked just as bad, most of them were struggling just to sit up, as if their limbs were still locked in place involuntarily.

"De-Devil's Snare," Evans managed around a rasping throat, her eyes still watering and leaning against a wall for support even as she was forcing herself defiantly to her feet.

"Does it make you feel better? To know the name of the plant that nearly killed us?" Lupin snapped at her, though was apparently completely ignoring her.

The Marauders were pushing past this inconvenience of almost dying and forcing their way over to the elder Black, still unconscious...at least Alice hoped he was just unconscious. He had the most vivid bruises of all, as if the shadow of the vines were still trying to cling to his neck where a few leaves were still lingering in his hair.

Alice stayed close to Frank, watching him recover just as slowly, the only part of him freely moving was his hand still grasping as if for his wand. She looked pleading back at the door, as if begging it to simply divulge what she knew she'd have to go back for. If anything just for the stupid book to get them back out, but also for everyone else's wands.

Then she startled, not having seen Regulus coming back over towards them and raising her wand to strike again almost before that registered.

He raised his hands in surrender at once. One was holding the book, the other, two wands.

"Here," Regulus hovered uneasily in front of them, but then pocketed one and handed the other to Frank. "Figured no one would want to go back for those, grabbed them before I came over to help you and kick out the others."

"He means that literally," Pettigrew muttered, but there was pure gratitude in his voice as well as the smile on his face when she looked over at them again. The other Black was rousing, making frustrated little noises and rubbing at his throat, but those dark grey eyes were blinking at the surroundings and they could already see a snide comment forming on his lips.

Regulus pulled his wand back out the moment he'd been sure Smith wasn't going to curse him, he didn't need to add that threat to his list. Now he joined her in looking around more properly. They seemed in some sort of tunnel, sloping slightly downwards, and if you strained past the heavy panting breaths, you could still faintly hear the slithering of the Herbology plant, a thunderous growl of snuffling snores, and something even fainter, as if the soft rustle of wings a Seeker had trained his ears to search for.

Keeping one eye on their only way forward and the other on their backs in case that mad plant tried creeping through the door, he still had attention to spare as Sirius was helped to sit up by Lupin, still incapable of words but at least alert enough to take his wand back from Potter. He'd simply handed the four that weren't his own to him in hopes he'd sort them out, but had recognized Longbottoms purely for the strange wood of Apple that he shared and had recognized the leathery pattern inlaid in the wood when he'd spotted it in his hand of all their previous flashbacks.

"So what do we do now?" Smith whispered. Though she alone had seemed to escape from the vines unscathed, the amount of magic she'd taxed herself with holding onto the spell so long to free the seven of them had clearly drained her as much as their struggle for life. She kept swiping her short, thin black hair out of her round, sweat-covered face. She also had an upturned nose set above pouting lips, but the most startling feature was one he'd never noticed. Such strange eyes, almost tawny in color, wide and alert now as she kept protectively close to her boyfriend. Regulus didn't know how long they'd been dating, but they seemed extremely close.

He only knew of her family through what his mother spoke of the Smith name. In his lessons, he'd learned several traits of the pureblood lines, such as the eye color he gazed upon now was one taken from her line, but that was all that had been shared. Then he'd been warned the family had not been supportive of the Dark Lord in these recent times and Regulus should be wary around them, especially as neither of these two had been chosen of the nobel Slytherin house.

Never before would his mother have been able to speak of such a gallant nature, of one who pushed herself to help the rest of them when she'd had every opportunity to make a break for the door she'd been closest to. Regulus was no coward, but he would have hesitated of doing the same as her for the knowledge he could not have saved them all.

"Thank Alice, for starters," Evans spoke up, looking to the girl with the first real kindly expression she'd been able to hold.

The others did so at once, Regulus getting out an awkward one as well. She simply muttered she'd expect them all to do the same and kept her place on the ground in Frank's shoulder.

"Who's turn is it next then?"

Regulus was snapped from his thoughts, not having given himself permission but had actually lost focus on his own whereabouts. So Potter speaking up forcefully drew him back out.

He was clambering stiffly to his feet, prodding his other friends to do the same and stretching now as if working off a hard Quidditch practice. "I for one would like to know how an eleven year old got down into this mess for starters!"

"Right, yes," Regulus muttered agreement. Anything to get them out of this mess permanently. He took one more last look at Sirius, who was still rubbing at his throat and being supported by Lupin but otherwise glowering around with his usual expression of superiority, as if he got strangled by plants and walked away from it all the time.

The start consisting of Harry's exams was unmemorable, and they really didn't have much sympathy for the kid taking exams with the pressure of Voldemort breathing down his neck considering they lived through that daily. Potter was clearly trying to get some enjoyment out of it, attempting a lively conversation with his friends about what classes he hoped his kid specialized in. Even unable to speak, his older brother still managed to hold a conversation with the lot of them through facial expressions alone, which was just as grating as if he were over there talking. How was Sirius so close to those bunch of idiots they didn't even need words to talk? It was likely due to their simplistic conversation, he convinced himself.

Even as the three kids made it to the lake and had a chance to relax Regulus' agitation was growing. The Potter kid was the only one concerned for what was going on with the Dark Lord, the other two were trying to play it off like there was nothing.

Among the Marauders now admittedly fair mutters of why they couldn't have landed out there instead of in here, he realized he'd been far more distracted by them lately than he ever would have believed, as he didn't catch onto what the younger Potter was doing until he was shouting it out to Ron and Hermione.

Regulus had paid virtually no attention to the trouble that gamekeeper had gotten himself into with that dragon and had almost agreed with his brother, the entire thing had been a pointless addition as he'd been more focused on Snape, Quirrell, and who could really be after the Stone. Now he realized what a fool he was, that wouldn't have been added if it wasn't needed, but he'd lapsed in a very large way. The timing of it all. Hagrid gaining a dragon through illegal means, when he had something the Dark Lord wanted, information.

The exact way of how to put that mad dog to sleep, which he shared just as readily with Harry when caught off guard.

He just stopped there, and no one yelled at him to go on, surely they were feeling just as much like a fool! He'd been so distracted by his brother spazzing out in that stupid dragon kid's room and even his friends showing some kindness for his house he'd utterly missed the detail, so obvious in hindsight!

James watched several of them react as if they'd just gotten a first year spell wrong. Evans looked outraged she hadn't worked that out, Frank was rubbing at his forehead and muttering what an idiot he was, even Peter crossed his arms and look scandalized that had passed his notice. James was still just impressed his son had cottoned on to something like that, his kid had certainly taken after Evans more than him, though he'd long since noticed that.

When Sirius' brother just seemed struck dumb, apparently he had an ego problem as well thinking himself so smart, he cleared his throat heavily and spoke up, "well congratulations, the first year beat us all out! How exactly does that lead him into Devil's Snare?"

"Oh use your brain Potter," Regulus riled up at once, still glaring more hatefully at the words than anything. "He's going to go after it now, considering he knows how to get past the first obstacle as well as the Dark Lord."

"Or Snape," Frank corrected, thinking that still the better option of whoever had been under that cloak.

"Or Quirrell," Lily snapped at him.

"Anyways," Alice drew out the word before any more bickering could continue over that before addressing Regulus. "That's jumping the spell a bit isn't it? So the kid knows how to get past Fluffy, why would he go after the Stone himself?"

"Well first of all, we're down here! How would we have wound up that way if we weren't following this kid's path?"

Alice looked done enough and raised her hands in surrender, so Regulus kept the second reason to himself, it's what he'd imagine Potter doing. Sirius' friend, not the kid, but true enough of both. The noble idiots who always thought they had to do the right thing by what they thought was right, and no one else.

The instances through McGonagall were entirely unmemorable, of course she wouldn't believe those first years, neither would they if they hadn't been following along. It didn't stop Alice sighing deeply and stating she wished their teacher would give them a chance instead of dismissing them. Only Regulus clinging to gratitude for his life being saved by her stopped him snapping she was being much to optimistic for what a teacher actually did with their job, McGonagall was the worst one as far as he was concerned, never bothering to reign in any Potter before this one.

The news of Dumbledore's departure however, was greeted with much more intensity.

"You have got to be pulling my wand!" Evans thundered, her face quickly growing to match her hair. "Dumbledore well knows that Stone is under threat, or he wouldn't have put it in that bloody school! He shouldn't have any effing reason to leave!"

James watched her with a surprising benign smile in place, as if he couldn't get enough of her shouting. Maybe it's because it wasn't at him for a change.

Lupin quickly rose up though, looking at her completely offended as if she'd just chucked dung at their Headmaster. "Be reasonable Evans, Dumbledore has to be one of the most important names in our society! Chief Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, Hagrid himself has said their current Minister asks him for advice all the time on top of obligations we probably don't even know about. He's clearly doing a favor for a friend hiding this Stone, but that doesn't mean he should shirk every other responsibility he has."

Evans scoffed heavily, clearly refusing to back down on how ludicrous she found that flimsy defense. "He was apparently doing this to protect the Stone from You-Know-Who himself, otherwise I can't imagine why he'd do something as dangerous as keep it in a school full of children. That should take precedence over some paperwork that needed to be signed!"

Potter interrupted whatever it was his friend tried to say next to point out with a devilish smirk, "sounds to me like you actually care if Harry goes after it Evans."

Her expression stiffened, and she at once denied any such thing as vehemently as she just had Lupin.

Regulus rolled his eyes at her stubbornness, she was clearly the only one who believed this, and then easily cut off their argument only to start a new one at Snape's arrival on the scene.

"Surprised he's not down there with the Stone already," Pettigrew scoffed.

"Shut up, the lot of you!" She snarled at once, losing all patience with them and beginning to stamp down their incline away from them. "You've no proof he's the one doing this, and I am sick of you-"

"Evans, wait," Potter called after her at once, the rest of them rather reluctantly following. "You don't know what else is down here!"

"If a bunch of eleven year olds got through it, I'm positive I can," she said back coolly without glancing over her shoulder.

"How do we know they lived through it?" Regulus pointed out.

That stopped her in her tracks, hand now on a new door.

Potter only half turned to look back at him, and even that was an icy glare.

Regulus didn't back down, honestly dumbfounded, "have none of you thought of that? This kid should have died a handful of times already. Clearly the dangers we're passing through are real enough to us, who's to say he lived through it? If he's stupid enough to come down here voluntarily, than they likely got strangled by that plant no first year would know about, or even Quirrell, Snape, or whoever else came down here actually looking for the Stone did them in. I certainly wouldn't be surprised, honestly the little idiots deserve it for thinking to challenge-"

"Enough Reg." His voice didn't even sound like Sirius, being strangled had a tendency to mess with your vocal cords a bit, even a wizards. Most nerve wracking of all, it almost made him sound like their father, and Regulus' mouth snapped shut at once. He glowered at his brother anyways and quickly riled himself back, "well then it's clear you haven't. Sorry for informing you of it, I'll just go back to trying to get us out of here then."

Potter looked ashen like he was going to be sick from the thought, Pettigrew was patting him on the shoulder and looking unclear what he was supposed to say, and Lupin was holding Sirius' shoulder again as if he needed the support. He couldn't see Evans' expression as she still held her back to them.

Regulus thought them all fools.

Frank took an extra step away from the younger Black, wrapping a protective arm around Alice and fighting back the urge to snap at him for saying all that, and he wasn't even really a part of it. It wasn't even because he was a Black, since it was another that got him to stop. It did make him pause though as he glanced between the two, no matter how similar in looks, how drastically different they were. He'd always believed his mother's words saying that was a rotten line no matter how far back you traced it, but suddenly Frank had reason to consider otherwise watching these two in action. He'd always questioned the meaning of pureblood, and looking on now left him with even more questions than ever.

The strangest part of all was, though his clear disdain of everyone around him had never left, Regulus had just had a hand in saving their lives. He'd grabbed everyone else's wands, and handed them back! It would have made far more tactical sense not to, or even keep them for himself and hold all the power here. Only Alice would have had hers then, and she was so exhausted Regulus easily could have ripped it away from her. Why help save them, especially Evans, if he clearly held no feelings for anyone like he so often tried to show. The one only a year younger than them was nearly as befuddling as this whole mess they were in.

No one had any hope Harry's first plan would work out, and were unsurprised when the two boys were again told off by McGonagall and Hermione couldn't tail a teacher.

Regulus didn't bother to hide a superior smirk at being right the young Potter was going down there himself with some grand idea of saving it, his speech only made that kid more idiotic than anything in his eyes. Luck, that's how he planned to get out of that, just like it was the only reason the little idiot was still alive considering all he'd been up to.

James tensed as the little snake brat kept going, honestly considering cursing the book out of Regulus' hands soon and then continue if he didn't drop that superior attitude. He was sure Sirius wouldn't stop him, or anyone at this point. The only thing stopping him was the lingering gratitude he had just saved their lives, even Sirius', but if he was going to lord it over them and think that granted him the ability to say whatever he liked, James would happily stuff him back in with that plant. He'd survive by the time they got out of here, probably.

Alice ignored the clear tension bubbling up around her, and instead smiled softly at Harry's surprise his friends wanted to come with him. This hadn't been a question to any of them, even Regulus it seemed given his earlier, insulting statement. She did notice all of Harry's Christmas presents sure were convenient now, especially Hagrid's little flute. It's like he was trying to tell Harry even before he came out and said it.

Her smile blossomed into pride at Neville standing up to the famous Harry Potter. Through this whole book she'd felt more solemn than anything hearing of her own future child, no matter what she told Evans she still couldn't help but think of him as hers. It was distressing to hear the child had no confidence in himself through all of this, but to know Ron had done something to make it better! She cheered outright for her lone boy trying to fight all three of them for what he thought was right.

Then her and Frank winced for their kid getting such a spell placed on him because of it.

"I apologize on behalf of Hermione," Potter told them with sincerity, though not quite being able to knock a smile off his face for his own pride at his kid.

"You?" Evans demanded, even turning on the spot and looking like someone had just torn off her socks.

"Yes, me, apologizing for someone else, doing a spell that's undeserved, for the correct reasons of doing it." Potter said slowly and with still more cheer than this dank underground corridor deserved. "I feel as Hermione's one of Harry's friends, one of us should."

Frank wasn't sure if his leg was being pulled either, but he and his girlfriend exchanged bemused looks and thanked him for the consideration anyways. They were honestly just grateful Neville wasn't coming along.

Peeves was of no consequence to anyone, though for some reason the Marauders very clearly admired Harry's trick to pretend to be the Bloody Baron. Most Slytherins figured this out by their first year though, so Regulus had just assumed everyone else had as well.

When they finally did get into the room and got another full view of Fluffy, they were all just grateful they hadn't landed in there first! Some fate of fortune truly had saved all of their lives, there was no way they would have learned about the music tip in time to sedate the dog themselves and survive it with all limbs.

Then the kids landed in that deadly plant, and Regulus had to fight back the urge to rub at his chest that still felt swollen from his entrapment in them. He couldn't even keep going with smugness he'd been right, those kids seemed likely to die by the plant, until-"How on earth does that little first year know about Devil's Snare!" Pettigrew demanded. Evan's only beaten him to tell his friends about it by a hair's breadth, just like always, and he'd only known what it was because he'd been doing some advanced studying for his Herbology OWL. Admittedly lacking his studying in other areas like Transfiguration and DA for it, confident his previous animagus doings would help him through the exams next week.

The information still hadn't helped him when he'd landed face first and immediately had his arms and legs snared like everyone else. He'd even tried to transform to escape, which had actually worked for a few moments, before the vines only tightened along his smaller form. He could have edged himself right out still, but just as he was sure Prongs and Padfoot had discovered, nothing could escape a new tentacle lashing one into place, and once that fire had lit the room, feared discovery and dropped their animals which were doing no more good than struggling human limbs.

"I, can't imagine it," Evans clearly agreed with him, though no one was surprised she'd known the plant. You had to be just as good in Herbology as Potions, to know the plants you were using for ingredients, and she was the most advanced in that class than anyone in the school.

"She must have come across it in some book that only referenced it, and done independent studies from there," Remus decided. He'd come across plenty of advanced stuff in that way, though he preferred looking up creatures to plants or spells like his friends. Hermione was clearly the type to do all four and then some!

James was growing impatient, glaring at his friends and Regulus alternatively now. "I don't care how she knows, hopefully she read the part of how to get them out of there!" He was clearly being extra touchy now that the idea had been put in his head his prodigy may not live through it.

Thankfully she did, and they each blessed whatever had made Professor Sprout mention it or whatever had compelled Hermione to ask about it six years too early.

Prongs made as if he was all for going ahead now that his sprout had survived the challenge, but Remus reached out and stopped him. "Why don't we actually let the book go ahead of us? That way we'll know what we're stepping into next."

"What Gryffindor cowardice is this?" Regulus scoffed at once, though he barely looked up form the words. "Wanting to hear of the first year getting through the next challenge before you brave it."

"I don't see you offering to go in there first," Lupin snarled.

"You're right, Evans was, now shut up the lot of you," Alice snapped.

Regulus rolled his eyes first, his point still standing she had stopped when he pointed out the flaw in her plan, but wasn't disagreeing they had the advantage of being forewarned of whatever they were facing next. It wouldn't stop him dueling out to the Marauders some payback in commentary for all the slights he was sure they'd made about his house.

Then he started snickering uncontrollably at the next task, keys! They had to actually catch one specific key in a room full of them! He read through the little Potter's work in this room with actual glee, honestly the most fun he'd had since Harry's first Quidditch game which should have offered the same but had held almost no actual mention of Seeking and all shouting between Potter and Evans.

Now Regulus was finally getting some actual proof the kid's ability was no fluke on the field, Ron's helpful advice all he needed to pick out the very one. The moment he realized this fact he pushed past all in his way and let himself into that room to take in this sight, and was not disappointed.

"Want to see who can catch it first?" Potter offered him one of the three brooms that were indeed in there, but held no other hint of camaraderie. There was a challenging glint in his eye, he looked ready to do more than best him for the slights he'd been making of late.

Regulus took the challenge at once. He didn't care how often Potter nicked the Snitch to play with it, that was entirely different than looking for it in a real game, and he proved as much. While no push over with his tactics, Potter seemed more intent on blocking his path and tailing him than using his sight alone, Regulus still went into a spectacular dive and nearly collided with two others when he spotted the correct key, indeed with a bent wing. He snatched it, but overcompensated by toppling off his broom and landing on something softer than ground, though not by much.

"Get off of him," Potter grumbled, landing beside them and ruffling his hair in pure agitation more for his loss than the kid landing on Peter.

Peter groaned beneath him as Regulus breathlessly got to his feet, then proceeded to dust himself off one handed and keep the key firmly clasped in his other hand. Pitying his move, he bent down and actually offered his hand to the one who'd made a show of involving him earlier, and Pettigrew's light blue eyes shined with thanks more than pain when he told, "nice catch."

Regulus smiled in thanks and made to turn and put the key away while Potter kept muttering and looking over at Evans, Regulus had no doubts he'd never be forgiven showing him up while she was in the same room with him. He couldn't help but glance at his brother as he passed, but Sirius hardly noticed, clearly still being restrained by Lupin. It must have taken all his efforts not to let Sirius up in the sky with them, likely stopping both from seeing the whole show, and Regulus scoffed heavily as he passed. It was just like his brother to be more involved in his own world than actually notice what his own brother could do, again.

He was only half right, Sirius had seen the whole thing, and he was bloody impressed. When had his kid brother learned to fly so well? Sirius had only ever experienced it his first summer at the Potter's, and been lucky to make the house team two years later. Remus had in fact only been holding him back and stopping him running over there at the end when he'd seen such a bad landing, and Remus had only done that with the hissed reminder in his ear he'd already been strangled once today, Regulus might continue it if Sirius started babying him. He was clearly fine, and they had bigger problems, like James now clearly plotting murder of said brother.

"You really shouldn't have challenged him like that," Remus pointed out quietly as they went through to the next passage, Regulus pausing in the middle of it to find out the next task. "What exactly did you hope to accomplish?"

"Not, that," he said stoutly.

"Cheer up Prongs, maybe Evans found it humbling you lost at something," Peter offered with a funny little smirk saying he didn't think much of his own words.

She didn't either, her back to all four of them and muttering something to Smith and Longbottom with a different kind of frown in place for these circumstances.

They all almost missed the next revelation, but caught up in pure confusion that of all things, a chessboard?

"Wow," Frank drew the word out, raising his brows from the door back to Evans with much less skepticism than moments before. "I no longer think you're crazy Evans, these are pretty convenient."

Regulus found himself agreeing with her, again, already grasping what she meant. It was quite the fate of fortune a kid who'd plainly made himself so good at the game found a version of it down here where the supposed protection of the Philosopher's Stone was going on, not exactly the best time for a game.

Still, they all waited patiently for this challenge to be done, and received their first real shock at the blow to Ron. He'd done it! He'd won the game for them! And then he suffered the price for it? How was that fair? Frank and Alice in particular made a noise of distress, for all that redhead Weasley had done to help boost their kid's confidence, they'd have run to him right now and made sure he was okay! All eight of them hoped at once that kid made it out of there alive, and it was a sobered group who stepped in to this same room.

"Anyone here hiding a secret good chessman ability?" Pettigrew asked of no one in particular as he looked up, and up, and up, at the king's piece on their black side.

"Who says we have to go through," Longbottom pointed out, walking around the edge, but stopping at once as a pawn leaped out and stopped him getting past.

He bristled and stepped back away, but Smith still agreed, "well, why do we have to play at all? Let's just let Regulus finish the chapter, and we'll be zapped out of here anyways."

"Now where's the fun in that?" Regulus couldn't help but ask, while he went back to doing just that anyways. She was right, why risk their lives for something like this when they had no stakes in getting farther. The book hadn't given details of Ron's victory, and even if it had Regulus wasn't confident this game would go exactly like the one Ron had attempted.

Now with more than double the people who they wouldn't risk losing, it would be impossible to come out without another injury, or worse, everyone else agreed.

The fact that there was another troll down there, also unconscious, intrigued Regulus far more than any of the others it seemed. One getting in on Halloween wasn't a coincidence, and unless Snape was doing something massively odd regarding Potions, Regulus now felt more convinced than ever who exactly it was helping out the Dark Lord this year.

Evans's eyes gleamed with envious want at Hermione tackling the riddle. She now eyed the pieces with more longing than ever, clearly willing to risk playing the game just to shoot through to that room as well and take a shot at her friend's challenge. Regulus could honestly imagine the two playing games like this all the time with each other, it seemed their sort. To be honest Regulus was impressed with Hermione himself, something he never thought he could be at a muggle-born. Book-smart she'd clearly shown herself, this was entirely different. A shrewd logic he'd have thought well outside such a panicky child who'd forgotten her magical abilities moments ago when searching for wood. Never before had he seen evidence of what his older brother meant when he spoke of all magic being equal to those who could use it, having always dismissed Evans and any other muggle-born before as a fluke of nature, or Severus helping one along far more than she'd ever let on.

Potter made a loud noise of frustration at his boy separating from his last friend, while Regulus almost regretted having to finish where he was. The Dark Lord wasn't in there? How much had he been wrong about?

I really am sorry the tasks got cut a bit short. I was tempted to have them start with Fluffy and continue, but I couldn't possibly give them the sudden brainpower to sing him to sleep, and they'd probably all be eaten by the time Harry got to that part of the chapter, so I skipped a step. Then the problems of them playing through the chess game arose, and I tried a few versions where they all had to work together, but it started taking up so long and there were just so many pieces that couldn't feasibly be lost in a game without getting them killed I had to settle with stopping them there to my own disappointment. Don't worry, there shall be more than ample other opportunities they're all going to have to work together and trust each other. The troll still would have been unconscious and Lily still would have figured out Snape's riddle, so all in all, this was the best bet. Sorry, hope you enjoyed the rest though!

Speaking of, did anyone else ever appreciate JK seemed to know about the Greek Myth of Orpheus, who sang his way in and out of the Underworld once. If not then this is a massive coincidence.

Chapter Text

To Guest: Thank you so much! I agree the blind trust in Dumbledore gets kind of bad for the Order, especially in regards to Sirius, and consequences to that are going to be seen. Thanks so much for reviewing, hope you like the end to this book!

The result of landing on concrete stairs would cause anyone's head to ring. Let alone after being teleported in the worst version of apparition ever, for what, the seventeenth time now? All while hearing about your kid from the future while you were dead. James felt lucky his head was still attached as he sat up, massaging his aching neck muscles and having to give a very bleary look to these, once again, new surroundings. He found them the least fantastic yet.

The stone stairs they'd landed on descended in a perfect square all the way to the bottom, the only lighting source flickering about was the black fire from the only doorway out of this room. It should have been a rather calm place, certainly not as terrifying considering some past rooms, but there was an echo of death in this one that only the unicorn before had housed. The promise they did not want to be in here.

Wobbling to his feet, he did a quick headcount and still found everyone present, and the book laying innocently on the floor. He was exhausted, and despite the multiple opportunities he'd been given to talk to Evans, and more importantly, this whole instance had forced Remus and Sirius to make up, he was more than ready for this to be over.

Despite being insanely curious who had been on the other side of Harry's door, he still paused in confusion of that chapter title. Two faces? Was that supposed to be a metaphor? He hated those.

"Ha!" Lily shouted at the top of her lungs, and despite being completely wrong and feeling every moment of it, he still paused to watch her rub it in. "I told every one of you miserable lots it wasn't my friend, and I was right! It was that sniveling coward in it all for the gold!"

"I never disagreed with you," Regulus informed her superior smirk, "he was a perfectly viable option." He didn't see why she found herself so smart not falling for the red herring of a villain, it had been fairly obvious if it wasn't Snape it was him, considering the idea someone else entirely had been running in and out of this castle to get that Stone was utterly ridiculous.

"You just agreed with a Muggleborn," Sirius stopped whatever he'd been doing along the stairs to instead stare at his brother like he'd declared himself such a thing. "Our mother would faint on the spot...I'm so proud!"

"Shut up Sirius," Regulus snapped at him at once. "If she's right, she's right, I don't see it happening again."

Lily's haughty expression only grew at still somehow being the butt of their jokes and stalked as far away from all of them as she could.

"Damn it Sirius, you're not helping," James sighed as he watched her storm off.

"I was trying to congratulate him being a decent person, sorry that didn't come across," Sirius shrugged without much concern as he went back to performing his spell on the stairs to find out what was really down here. This was supposedly the place where the Stone was being held all this time, Dumbledore's enchantment, how come nothing was happening to them being in here? Yet no matter what spell he cast or enchantment he tried to invoke, he found nothing to disarm, let alone anything out of the ordinary from this place.

James just went back to reading, and immediately noticed something odd. "Hey, he's not stuttering this time?"

"Thank goodness we never had to try reading much of that," Remus muttered as he stayed where he'd landed and kept rubbing at his abused ribs. "It would have been a disaster."

"No Moony, pay attention," Peter rolled his eyes, "why wouldn't he have a stutter anymore?"

It took a moment for his heavy eyes to focus, but after a few sluggish blinks it clicked in for everyone.

"Why would he fake such a thing?" Alice whispered, checking every shadow now to make sure he didn't burst out of here next.

"Perhaps that centaurs warning should have been taken with much more concern than we previously thought," Frank murmured, "and with a much more pressing time concern."

"Don't start that," Lily tried to fret while shifting uneasily on the spot, all wands still drawn and now pointed to every shadow. "Harry himself said You-Know-Who wasn't in here."

"The man would be hard to miss, even with Quirrell's absurd turban," James tried to agree despite his own unease. He felt the most defenseless, holding the book now and unable to properly hold his wand in his injured hand. He trusted his friends to cover him if anything happened, and he'd drop this in an instant to help, but for now he tried to quickly keep going, only to be stunned once again at the next revelation.

"Bless my soul," James breathed, looking like someone had just punched him in the gut. He searched for her just like always, and she finally met his eyes back, until he was the one to look away. Having to swallow past five years of solid hatred, he looked back and said sincerely, "I, guess I really was wrong about him."

Her brow remained creased, she didn't quite smile back, but for once there was something akin to recognizing he was talking to her without that superior tone she so hated, as if of course she should want to speak back.

"Now don't go spare on me Prongs," Black cut in, ruining the moment and returning her scowl to him at once. His voice still sounded a bit shotty and as painful as James' hand felt, but James couldn't imagine anything stopping Sirius talking long, least of all a plant. "He's still been a ruddy arse to Harry all year, plus those other kids! Someone needs to give him a good kick up the-"

"He went out of his way to save my kids life!" Potter defended at once, and it took a moment for Lily to fully process that. James Potter was defending her friend Sev. "I think that may mean he's not the totally irredeemable bug we found him." Well, in his own way.

Black looked to his other two friends for support, but both of them seemed more than happy to not pick sides on this.

James chose to keep going, and found his resolution wavering at once. Snape hated his kid, for what? Because of him? Was he really going to carry on a grudge to his kid? He knew if roles were reversed he certainly wouldn't like Snape's kid, but he'd never go out of his way to humiliate one like this teacher had been doing.

This was an idea he'd nurse at a later time, for now he was much more concerned with Quirrell doing wandless magic, and monologuing!

Protective instincts kicked in, and he was hardly paying attention to a word he was saying, only focused on the idea that Harry could die from this! Quirrell could have easily killed him by now, or take him off to You-Know-Who! He couldn't even bring himself to glance up, far too invested in this, to see that the others were just as concerned.

The mirror of Erised finally made Sirius stop his incessant checking of the room, they all froze for a moment at that! There must be some secret they were missing, no way would Dumbledore put something in place that showed your deepest desire, which in this case, would be where the Stone was!

Remus had to clear his throat hard past his confusion, but quickly stated, "there must be a trick to this we hadn't understood, it's Dumbledore after all! When's he ever done the obvious thing."

"You've far too much faith in that man," Lily told him, but there wasn't much derision in her voice. A lot of the teachers here had grated on her nerves, constantly not expelling the Marauders and all, and most recently their headmaster had even helped keep something under wraps that the Marauders had all been arguing about. That's all the school had worked out anyways, no matter how wild the explanations of this got.

Lupin's smile turned both relieved and genuinely enthusiastic for the explanation they all got. Black threw his head back laughing at once when Quirrell in fact stated the entire problem they hadn't considered.

"What he most desires is the use of the Stone, not the actual location, therefore he'll never find it," Regulus mused to himself out loud. "That's quite brilliant."

"I just wish the Mirror was in here again," Pettigrew sighed. "Why wouldn't it be?"

"Who knows, but considering you still haven't even told us what you'd see in there, it can't be that important," Black rolled his eyes.

Pettigrew gave him a little glare, then glanced at Potter quickly and waved him on to change the subject.

Quirrell transitioning into stating You-Know-Who had in fact been at the school during the time Harry had overheard him being threatened was possibly the scariest part yet. Their headmaster had still been at the school at that time, it seemed ridiculous You-Know-Who had gotten in at that time, right? Quirrell just kept going though, seemingly talking to himself, but then getting an answer. This was crazy, they were convinced everything was out to kill Harry Potter!

He now had the Stone in his pocket? Regulus at once took back what he said about brilliance, if the thing could just appear like that anyways! This kid had just been sentenced to death, they were all sure of that.

All of them, because no one wanted to hear of You-Know-Who murdering an eleven year old child, while sticking out of the back of someone's head!

None of them had ever actually seen You-Know-Who. He was a ghost story, the figure their parents spoke of that was trying their very lives, but inside the confines of this castle, they were safe from him. Now that illusion was ruined, they got more of an idea than they'd ever wanted of his features, his future.

"How is that thing possible!" Frank hissed backing as far away from that book as he could go. "Vapor! Even ghosts can't take over bodies of another!"

"If you find out, do let us know," Regulus murmured, unable to wrap his mind around the fearsome Dark Lord, the powerful bringer of their world, into this. A shadow of a creature, not even human. This was like magic of nothing he'd ever heard, it wasn't natural. Wasn't that the idea though, the promise he'd been offered, to go forward in life with one who had already conquered death. Was this the end of that quest?

He could still see the look in Bellatrix's eyes, the vivacious gleam as she told of her first duty as a Death Eater, serving the Dark Lord. She kept grabbing her arm in reverence, though never revealed what could be under her sleeve, she kept stroking the spot and promising him this could all be his as well very soon. Why should he have said no? Looking on at Sirius now, a mingled disgust and fury such a blight could exist, he honestly felt himself in that moment it was very clear what his answer should have been.

Yet this was no more easy an answer than not taking his cousins offer to go someplace special with her this summer. Because the Potter's had been murdered, and had apparently been nothing but weak willed saps about it the whole time. He'd rather die than be such a useless wizard, and serving the Dark Lord was the only way to make sure he fulfilled his life's roll.

"That's a lie!" Sirius thundered so loud, for a moment Regulus was sure the roof would cave in. "How dare he ever-" Lupin grasped his shoulder hard, Pettigrew was white knuckled and grasping Potter's elbow, who looked faint at his own words. Then as Harry shouted much the same, Potter still managing to keep going to see his kids reaction was all Regulus could think, the Dark Lord himself admitted he had not been telling the truth in that moment. Potter had fought back and what's more, the Muggleborn stood her ground to protect her young, which someone of lesser magic should never have been able to do. So what was the truth? How had the Dark Lord become this way? What was he agreeing to follow?

His mother would curse him if she heard he'd been asking all these questions, but this is why he'd never spoken such things aloud, he'd seen Sirius do this first. His father would be far more than disappointed hearing Regulus had been consorting with Muggleborns, even agreeing with one of them, and not defending the Dark Lord's will now as he bade Quirrell attack Harry and there was uproar all around. Instead he kept his silence, just like he always did, and chose instead to watch these events play out.

Lily found herself leaning against the wall, pale and shaking from hearing of a death now marked for her more vividly than ever. No distance in the world she put up would make hearing this any better, she'd be sacrificing her life for a child she had refused a connection to up until this point, she suddenly felt as cruel and heartless a monster as Voldemort. Alice was suddenly there, grasping her hands and promising her this wasn't set in stone, but Lily could picture it, now more than ever. Could no longer pretend she wasn't entertaining a future with a child in her arms, and a death for his future as surely as her own.

The struggle of Harry against Quirrell was terrible to listen to, the pain that child must have been feeling as his own scar seared him while he found the one way to harm his opponent echoed around this room as if they could still hear the screams. His, falling, his passing out, and Potter just stopping there, surely Harry had died, and You-Know-Who would rise again as if this were nothing.

"James?" Peter whispered, staying close and trying to offer all the comfort he could, but it felt like he wasn't even there. He just remained frozen, gaping down at the book and still pale as a ghost.

"Prongs," Sirius said forcefully, and that did snap him out of it, like only Sirius could. His head swung towards him, but his eyes remained unfocused.

"Harry he..."

"It's alright Prongs," Peter soothed, patting his shoulder and reaching forward like he was going to take the book, "we still have time to fix this, I'm sure Harry's death-"

"He didn't die," still slightly devoid of just a bit of sanity from hearing it all, James finally looked properly at all his friends. "There's still more left, he's going to be fine!"

Remus felt a bit concerned for his health, but Sirius was quick to play along. "Of course he is, he survived when he was a baby, right! Ten years later, bah, he'll walk away with another cool scar!"

"You're incorrigible," Peter grumbled to all of them, but James looked just slightly heartened and kept going, having to wait hardly at all to find Padfoot to be right.

"Ya hear that Evans? Hey, Lily? Harry's survived, he thinks Dumbledore's turned into a Snitch," Alice kept gently trying to coax a reaction out of the red head who seemingly went comatose.

The girls words did seem to put something back into her, she snorted in surprise and glanced back around her, finding Alice with the brightest most encouraging smile of anyone, and Frank waiting patiently for her to come back to her senses before offering, "there you go, see, Dumbledore did come and fix everything. I'm sure we were just being paranoid before thinking he set all this up." Well, he was clearly trying for comfort.

He was a big guy, broad shouldered with white blond hair and sharp blue eyes, but he always spoke in a soft, kindly voice as if afraid to startle anyone. Lily appreciated that right now. Whatever his goal, it had worked, Lily refocused her energy on a child she couldn't yet lay claim to no matter how attached she felt to him, and realized there was someone right now she could question. As soon as they got out of here, she'd have something to say to Dumbledore.

She held her tongue though, not really looking for another argument which she was sure she'd get from Lupin at least, the way he'd been defending the man of late. Instead she listened intently to the, informative, passage between Harry and Dumbledore in the hospital wing.

At least he started with the important information, that Quirrell was gone, and the Stone was safe. Potter seemed to have a hard time saying the words Harry had nearly died doing so, and finally Lily understood what he had seemingly grasped at once from all this. This was a child not yet born, but could someday exist. Why not, at least for now while traveling through his world, learn to understand him.

"The thing?" Regulus demanded, askance at once. That mirror itself had been a stupid explanation as far as he was concerned, genius indeed! If you left any room for it to be pulled back out by anyone but yourself than you were a fool! "He really did set all this up for that Potter kid to find out about all of this? Go down there and what, prove himself?"

"Don't be ridiculous," Lupin scoffed. "He's impressed Harry found out about Flamel, that's all. He would never try to get Harry dragged into this!"

"Sure seems that way," Frank disagreed as he thought back through it all. "That door was ridiculously easy to get through, those challenges certainly were easy for a bunch of first years, clearly the only problem You-Know-Who had was getting past Fluffy, though that admittedly was no one's fault, Hagrid seems a bit of a blabber mouth."

"Easy! Harry almost died there at the end, Dumbledore said it himself!" Potter fired right back.

"You-Know-Who being on the back of Quirrell's head was not part of the challenges, likely an unforeseen event at all, I'm sure the man's never had You-Know-Who slip into this school like that before, let alone at all."

"You're just looking for someone to blame because You-Know-Who nearly came back," Remus snarled. "Dumbledore's not a Seer, this isn't his fault, and Harry's a very nosy kid who got in and got lucky. Don't you put this on anyone else!"

"Okay," Peter cut in before anyone could return with something else. "We could argue about this all day, but for the love of Merlin, James is almost done. Can we please let him finish and go back to arguing about this in the real world."

Remus turned away, clearly thinking his point had been made, while Frank rolled his eyes heavily at such a daft idiot blindly following anyone. He wasn't saying Dumbledore was pure evil, but some accountability for the man who clearly had a plan from the beginning would be nice, having Hagrid pick that thing up in the first place right along with Harry Potter felt like no coincidence.

James was at least grateful to Peter for that, but was stunned stupid only a few moments later when again their headmaster encouraged Harry to call Voldemort by his name.

"But, why?" He wondered aloud, clearly only to his friends attention now, the other four were just shifting impatiently and waiting for this to be done rather than dwelling on something so ludicrous to them. He'd done it on a rare occasion when he was trying to prove something, but never so casually.

"Don't know, I suppose I've always done it out of habit," Sirius muttered. Now he thought about it though, Dumbledore was right. If they kept refusing to acknowledge the real name, they may even grow fearful enough to start flinching like twits along with everyone else, though thankfully the four of them had never delved that far into it.

James eyed that for a moment, before going on cheerfully through the rest of the conversation calling him Voldemort as well. Evans, Frank and Alice, looked at him like he'd gone nuts, but only shifted uneasily at something so unfamiliar happening right in front of them. Regulus was the only one who flinched, outright ducked like he expected someone to pummel him just for being in hearing range of this, but was ignored.

The idea of him coming back again, just in another body, was truly terrifying, and James certainly hoped that didn't happen until someone found a way to keep, Voldemort, as far away from Harry as it was possible to be. Dumbledore's statement was certainly helpful to him, he'd set out himself to make sure he never full returned!

Then Harry asked a really good question, why him, why the Potters? Sadly he cursed Dumbledore's name colorfully for the lack of response, earning a glare from Moony but not much else. He certainly hoped Harry lived to be old enough to hear the answer.

At least it was explained what exactly had gone on with Harry and Quirrell's inability to lay hands on him. His voice went soft, he dared not look to Evans, but no matter his mind telling him otherwise his eyes betrayed him and he glanced over to her.

Her face was impassive, and though she'd been trying not to show it, James had seen hints the past few times she was growing to care for at least the idea of Harry. He couldn't tell now what this had done for it, but he certainly hoped she didn't find it as repulsive anymore, that was his kid, their kid! And she was his saving grace, the reason they were getting this experience! He'd be sobbing and bouncing off the walls in her place, sadly all he got for his efforts was more questions in wondering why he couldn't have done that for her and Harry.

Dumbledore stating he'd left his Invisibility Cloak in anyone's possession was laughable to him right now, but no matter the circumstances of that he was just happy it had somehow landed where it was supposed to with Harry. Considering he was feigning any knowledge of it right now though, he couldn't do more than exchange meaningful looks with his friends, but couldn't quite get all the way past it.

"Snuck down to the school kitchens eh? Thought you didn't have this thing now," Alice frowned at him.

"I don't," James shrugged as carelessly as he was capable of. He was fairly good at it when not confronted by Evans. "Must get it in the next year or so, looking forward to that at least!"

He did not appreciate Harry asking about Snape's hatred, terrified it would erupt something between Remus and Sirius again, but Dumbledore's answer was very thankfully diplomatic, and the two simply shifted awkwardly but seemed able to make no more fuss about it. James honestly just hoped it would never come up again, he didn't like the calculating look he caught on the other group.

"You, saving Snivellus' life!" Peter thankfully broke the tension by bursting out laughing, and thankfully only the three of them knew it as his too high pitched, nervous giggle while trying to shield something. "You'd sooner snog the man!"

"As if I needed more nightmares Wormtail," James made a disgusted face at him while giving him a grateful smile and loudly moving on.

Ron and Hermione's entrance was a bit adorable, they were all happy those kids made it out as surely as Harry. Harry and Hermione's conversation about Dumbledore's desire to have all this happen certainly wasn't helping the tension though, so James quickly moved past that, and the news of a Quidditch defeat as that would make no one feel better, and found himself genuinely touched at what Hagrid did for Harry.

"That is the best gift ever!" Sirius whispered, his eyes gleaming with want right now. He'd love to get his hands on that photo album, see pictures of them in their future, proof of Evans and James' wedding for one.

His best mates small smile completely agreed, the four of them already knew they couldn't hold a grudge for what Hagrid had unintentionally done to Harry, this gift more than made up for everything, even the dragon, Sirius grudgingly decided.

"You have got to be kidding me!" Alice's brows shot up in absolute outrage when the End of Term feast held Dumbledore giving points to those kids. She'd clung to disbelief through all three, surely Dumbledore really wasn't doing this.

"I think it's sweet," James chuckled. "Harry deserves a reward for saving the world from, Voldemort, and he would have gotten those points if he'd played Ravenclaw anyways."

"He lost those points because he was sneaking out of bed at night, nothing to do with the Stone!" Frank protested.

"At least they only tied Slytherin for the cup, and didn't outright, oh, never mind," Regulus rolled his eyes heavily as Dumbledore and Potter finished.

Alice and Frank wanted to still be mad, they honestly understood why Slytherin would feel snubbed for this happening, but at the same time they couldn't hide a beaming pride Neville got those last points, that their kid stood up for his house like that. It really made them understand why the Marauders were hooting and high-fiving Harry's accomplishment, even if they held themselves back from doing the same.

Potter's mood sobered at once, all of them feeling downcast this was ending with something as depressing as Harry having to go back to those Muggles who didn't deserve to have such a kid in their presence.

James found himself finishing the last pages with a spring in his voice though, an honest feeling of hope. He'd take the information given in this, and the first thing he'd do when he got back was see to it this didn't have to be his future.

I'm now torn if I'm going to launch right into CoS next week, take some time off, or just put this on hold and entirely focus on Life that Never Lived. Not to mention I've got another project cooking I desperately want to get started, but I absolutely refuse to do until I finish one of these series. Gah, too many ideas, it's very tearing...

Chapter Text

I've made the executive decision, to make this one long fic. Obviously, as you're reading this in the exact same story as opposed to having to hunt down the sequel in my profile. I did this for two reasons, the larger one is I feel it flows a lot more like one story than the Life that Never Lived does. That is spaced through Harry's life, and his reactions, his family reading about that with him and following his progress. This however is focused least on Harry, but more on the eight of them dealing with each other in all these crazy environments that Harry wound up in. The second and stupider reason is just that I wanted to, I was curious what the massive word count would be at the end instead of adding it all up myself.

...

Enjoy!

While they had finally begun to accept, even anticipate, but still never quite get used to that soul wrenching feeling of being pulled through time and space because another chapter had finished, they'd taken that last one with a grain of happiness it would be their last!

Then they all groaned in misery to find themselves not back in their Potions class, not even back at Hogwarts, but back at Number Four, Privet Drive!

"What the bloody hell!" James howled in a temper at once, pulling his wand out and reducing the nearest bush to leaves and roots, then turning his wand on the next without thought.

"That should have worked, we should be back at school," Remus agreed, massaging his abused rib cage and genuinely not understanding why they'd still be trapped out here.

"Maybe, maybe we just got sent back to where we first teleported," Alice tried to offer, going to the back gate and trying it with actual hope again. It refused to swing open, Frank tried to hop it and found this impossible.

"Argh!" Lily snarled, running her hand so hard through her hair she came back with strands in her nails. "This is the last place I wanted to wind back up at, even if this bloody cycle had to continue!"

"I'm sure you're not the only one," Regulus muttered.

With a heavy sigh, though all feeling rather resounded to the fate they'd clearly be stuck like this longer, they began searching for the stupid bloody book, though honestly with no idea why. It shouldn't have anymore to say.

This was a spacious backyard, neatly mowed ruler straight and trimmed hedges all along the back fence, though now with the exception of a few smoldering and threatening to set the whole place alight. The sunlight above already made this a blistering heat of day, the grass dry despite it's clear care, even the garden shed was highly polished on the outside but seemed to gleam threateningly. James was distracted at once by stepping inside and losing track of what he'd been looking for in favor of studying all these odd tools, though this time refrained from touching anything with his fingers still sore.

Peter chose to scale the side of the houses decorative vines for a view, was unsurprised to find he couldn't get very far when on the slanted roof and couldn't even cross to the front of the property, but caught his eye on something he hadn't quite been looking for.

"I think I know what the problem is," he told them as he fished out of the gutters a book of pure green, only the little silver two on the spine distinguished it from the leaves. "We seem to be flashing through the rest of Harry's years."

"Please tell me that is a miserable attempt at a joke," Sirius groaned as he sagged onto the nearest bench, still rubbing at his bruised throat.

"Well, I've found his second year, so I'm guessing not," Peter sighed, making himself comfortable up here and reading out the chapter title to prove his point. Given where Harry was, he imagined all of the kids birthdays were the worst, but wasn't looking forward to finding out about this one in particular.

James hoisted himself up there with him for kicks, and the others just settled themselves resignedly in the grass. Evans went over to the concrete patio, but chose to ignore the chairs and instead crossed her legs on the warm ground and tied her hair up in the evening sun. Frank and Alice lounged against the wooden fences, holding hands and just hoping this one went by without anything closer to alive foliage beneath them. Remus sat himself beside Sirius on the bench and tipped his face back to the sun, closing his eyes and wishing he were back at the lakes edge rather than this place as his friend began.

Sirius couldn't help but notice how much he'd filled out this year, from the thin gangly teen. Not quite as much as the rest of them, Remus' health would always be rather stunted, but the warm light on his face actually highlighted the light brown of his hair rather than the few gray bangs he had, the scarring more shadowed than prominent for once. He grinned at just how relaxed Moony managed to appear during all of this, though his good mood wasn't destined to last.

It certainly didn't start much fun at all, no one wanted any further reminders of what those Dursleys constantly did to Harry, putting him down like this all the time. The argument was stupid, no way could they get rid of his owl, and the Marauders in particular were being restless for not even being able to wreck the Dursleys things in retaliation for it all this time. They suddenly weren't even sure if what they'd done to the inside of the house was still there, did the effect they have on the place they were in remain like it did to them?

"If they think magic is that bad a word, I've got some real headliner news for them," Sirius scoffed.

"You do need to keep in practice, you haven't had a chance to use them on your parents in ages," Remus agreed with a small smirk that dimmed the sun. Sirius couldn't help but lean in closer, grinning just the same, happily escalating this with details of what he would like to give them knowledge of.

Peter couldn't help shifting uneasily closer to James as Harry reflected back on all he'd learned of his previous year, as if they'd forgotten. It was as much news to them as learning of this boy's potential existence! He envied Padfoot and Moony down there, trying to chat their way through this bit!

Prongs, to his credit, tried to brush it off by plucking some leaves out of the gutter and enchanting them to float down on the others. He had the first few batches float down in the shape of a heart to land around Evans, who completely ignored him, which was just a tiny bit of improvement over shooting a hex back. He then spent the remainder of this recap trying to shoot them up unsuspecting noses, muttering all the while for Peter alone it was actually a shame Snivellus wasn't here, his was the largest target.

Peter managed an appreciative titter, James always had found every way to make things seem better, even helping along to ignore his own death sentence.

"Rotten, filthy Muggle, locking that kids things away," Regulus grumbled as he watched his brother and friend on the bench. The two had been quite chummy lately ever since they'd made up, leaning so close together they looked as likely to brush hands as Longbottom and Smith over there. Regulus had almost hoped for just a second Sirius would pull his head out of his arse and remember to agree with him back in this place what a waste the whole species was like he had last time.

It was clearly not going to happen, the two conspiring over there for possible further torment of them or anything else Regulus just hadn't a care to listen to. He burnt an incoming leaf to cinders and thought Potter should count himself lucky he didn't turn the spell on him next.

"I think at this point they don't even know Harry has a birthday," Alice scoffed in disgust of these people treating a kid like that. "I've heard of happier child hoods from-" she cut off when something went whizzing into her mouth, and she spat a leaf out in disgust.

"You arse Potter," she snapped, having already batted away three of them and quite done with his antics, ready to raise her wand in retaliation by now.

He merely hooted with pleasure and wound up for another one.

"You do realize you're only helping the Dursleys, cleaning that out for them," Frank pleasantly called back, at least causing him to freeze in his actions before finally lowering his wand and muttering in disgust.

"Thank you," Alice sighed, leaning back and giving his hand a gentle squeeze. "Maybe we should spend the rest of the time reading around these places, there must be a way to continue to throw that logic at him."

"One can only go so far in tutoring before it ends with beating their head against a desk," Frank disagreed.

"Also sound advice for him, so there's really no down side," Alice concluded lightly.

Lily couldn't help but crack one eye open curiously as Vernon announced it an important day, not that she could ever delude herself by now thinking he'd actually grown such a thing as a heart, let alone a brain about what should have been important that day. It didn't stop her wondering what he could deem important and how she could make sure it never happened for that disgrace on the animal kingdom. A ruddy business deal? She closed her eye again and tried to pretend that Pettigrew's nasally voice was non-existent again, just trying to enjoy the sunshine and not relate to how miserable Harry was feeling. How alone he seemed to feel all the time at this place, and it was all his own family's fault- no! She couldn't think about that now, or she'd burst into tears in front of these people, most of whom she couldn't stand. Sev wasn't here, so she'd just have to tough it out on her own and refuse to let her mind revisit her own summers in a place disturbingly similar to this one.

Those leaves were actually helping, though she'd never admit it to Potter. If she concentrated very hard, she could just be back in her forest, surrounded by trees, waiting for the world to return back to normal at school, just like Harry, where her real friend was...at least while she could still hang around with him, when he wasn't also trying to chat up with so many other terrible people, and she just couldn't understand how he-

"They what!"

She sat up so fast she created a mini-whirlwind of the leaves around her and barely noticed, wand drawn on Lupin's outraged face. "Hermione and Ron forgot his birthday? That's ridiculous, they'd never, not after all they'd been through!"

She almost would have laughed at his personal offense to this if she didn't honestly agree, and had to backtrack a bit to really hear what she'd been trying to block out, and then couldn't even blame him for the outburst. Merlin, no mail all summer, what had gotten into Harry's friends?

"Surely we're missing something," the elder Black pacified, looking more confused than anything. "Hermione wouldn't have an owl most likely, and maybe Ron's parents have to use theirs too often to let him borrow it..." the excuses were flimsy at best and they all knew it. It truly made no sense, and the swell of pity around all of them for this poor kid having no one to acknowledge his birthday, even worse humming the tune to himself! Even her home had never gotten so bad!

"Oh good, I needed a distraction," Potter said from above in an all to familiar tone, but for once in her life Lily couldn't even blame him. She detested the little birks attitude of taking his problems out on others, like her friend, by hexing anyone he felt like. Yet in this instance, she got it. She wanted to curse Dudley to, for being the embodiment of all Harry's troubles! She'd restrain herself of course if the little ponce was put in front of her, drawers dropping or not, but it was almost as much a revelation to her to feel empathy for Potter as to still wonder what Harry had seen in that bush.

Then the real jaw dropping moment came in for everyone else, that poor kid nearly getting his head bashed in with a frying pan. Regulus couldn't give it a second thought but for a bit of empathy, maybe that kid would learn to keep his mouth shut like he had. Instead he remained focused on the inconspicuous, lone little bush behind his brother, the only one Potter hadn't destroyed upon first arriving. Regulus had well learned his lesson from the last book, and he wouldn't again let himself be so easily distracted as everyone else so clearly was, throwing all kinds of abuse around about all the chores Harry was to do. Regulus would have thought at least Sirius could blow the whole thing off as well, they may not be doing chores at their own place but the treatment wasn't unfamiliar to the two, but no, he was just in much of a temper as everyone else.

It was pathetic getting so worked up over something that wasn't even happening, leaving Regulus alone to wonder what had almost happened to the young Potter in that bush. Another attempt at return of the Dark Lord? If so, should he even say anything about it, but instead actually try to find a way to help it along. After all, if this future did happen, if he found a way to help someone so powerful in fact gain another strength in a sooner return to glory, maybe he could stop little boys from ever again feeling afraid in their own home, because there wouldn't be any fear left. The Dark Lord would make everyone an equal, and filthy Muggles like this would be a thing of the past.

Pettigrew finally warned that the first bit of this ending was nigh upon them, and Regulus did all he could to brace himself for whatever good that wouldn't do, admittedly as intrigued as anyone by the final line telling him he may not be far off. Who would be in Harry Potter's bedroom in a place like that?

Chapter Text

Considering past events, Remus actually felt a second of relief as he slammed down onto something that made a creaking groan of a bed instead of the much harder surfaces. Then the book smacked him in the face as it too impacted this place. He yelped in fury, jerking upright and pulling it off his nose, and immediately noticed a window. With bars on it. He couldn't breath, his skin was surely boiling off him at this very moment to be replaced with something so much worse, something wrong-

Instinct propelled him forward, he didn't even notice until much later there was glass in the way as he shoved that aside, the fresh air wafting in did nothing to relieve him as he was now fully able to turn his head in all directions, pleading with the clouds to part- until his eyes found that glowing orb in the sky, and he finally breathed.

It was waning, at least five days old.

"Moony," a hand gently grasped his shoulder, and he whirled on the spot with an uneasy expression still in place. They'd been lucky this time, but the bars...where were they?

Sirius continued with an easy going smile, exuding calm in the face of his friend still breathing rather hard for no reason four out of the eight people here would understand. "Relax, I don't like being locked up either, but we'll get out as soon as we can."

"Right, yeah," he gave the jerky nod of agreement he knew was expected of him. Still, his eyes lingered on the black cord that had yet to really start fading from Sirius' throat, the way Prongs still kept his hand protectively close to him as he sat down uneasily on the foot of the bed. Injuries for them here meant something, and he was still convinced he'd cause the worst to all of them.

Grasping Sirius' hand on him for a moment longer than he really should have, he forced it away in the next moment, lest the stares continue, and went back to the book he'd so quickly dispelled from him while trying to eye the rest of the place, not to give away the small space hadn't been what had set him off. There was nothing to note of really, the simple bedding looked like an afterthought, a minuscule blanket hardly big enough for the childlike bed crammed into the corner. The shelves lined the wall all filled with broken or forgotten things, dust clear in the air as his nose continued dilating just a touch to fast. The smell of owl droppings was the most distinguishing from that, and he was now grateful for the air flowing through for this fact alone.

Then he froze as a soft hooting from behind him made that really register.

Regulus had landed very near the waste bin Hedwig's cage had been set upon, and reflexes alone had saved the owl from tumbling to the ground with him as the shock of his landing hit the room. The others hadn't landed much better, they never did, and the small space left many in each others company much closer than they normally would have preferred. Pettigrew had landed extremely close to him, his head smacking the wall right under the window. Lupin had nearly trampled him in his mad dash to pull that open, but he'd quickly flipped his agitated gaze from his friend back to the snowy creature hooting dully at them.

"So this is Hedwig eh?" Potter muttered, his own eyes sweeping the room the most critically. "I'm guessing we're still at the Dursley's."

"Mind like a steel trap that one," Regulus muttered under his breath. He really should have known the response he'd get, saying that so close to one of his mates, and so was unsurprised to see Pettigrew give him an angry glare for that, opening his mouth for some witty defensive retort he was sure, but then Lupin began, gratefully cutting that off.

"What's a Dobby?" Alice muttered for herself, only half her attention on what she was hearing as she found herself half hanging out of the room, through the door, that had a cat flap of all things in it. Or rather, who, she supposed as she kept wriggling her ankle in the tight space, since she didn't know many things that could provide a warning like the chapter Lupin was starting revealed would be happening. As if they needed anymore warning from this book something was going on in their life.

Her question was ignored, attention was caught right back on the story, they'd all been confused, curious, and concerned, all to varying levels per person, of what was in Harry's room in this muggle house. The answer came very quickly to all of them who at once understood that as a house-elf.

"How is it Harry's life keeps getting stranger by the day?" Frank muttered to Alice, who had only now been able to wrench her foot free of the cat-flap in the door. She was rubbing her ankle now and both were more convinced than ever this was all some mad set up more than a kids room, except for the fact Harry used to sleep in a cupboard. Apparently this prison like room was an upgrade from that.

Black sat himself on the window seal, half hanging out onto the bars themselves covering it, swinging his feet as if in boredom dangerously near Pettigrew's head, who was now alternately glaring at those feet and the Potter kids owl, like he couldn't decide which to be more annoyed with. Potter stayed at his chosen spot of the foot of the bed, watching Evans fidget with her hair as far from everyone as she could, with the most absorbed expression one could have.

Only Lupin continued to show his unease of this place, and Frank couldn't help but wonder at that, he seemed a very on edge sort of fella at times, while others perfectly at ease to go along with his mates. He did seem to get sick on and off an awful lot at school, but he couldn't imagine what that had to do with this room. They'd certainly been in smaller and enclosed spaces and he'd seemed more agitated than weary like now, still glancing at the bars every few lines in-between reading his way through this house-elf's inane chatter.

"You're kid is a bit off Prongs," Sirius snickered when Harry offered the house-elf a seat.

"He's never been around them before, I'm still just impressed he hasn't demanded the thing appareate him away from this place," he said back a little snippy, eyes still on the red-head, but his disdain when he looked anywhere else made it clear what he thought of being in this place. Had there been bars on the other windows on the top floor? He didn't remember, certainly hadn't taken a proper look in Dudleys room, but the cat flap bothered him greatly. He did not like this room, it was only just fit for that house-elf, but certainly not his child.

Regulus sighed heavily when Dobby started beating his head against the wall in self punishment, his hand twitching forward to stop this on instinct as if Kreacher were in the room.

He'd always had a liking for house-elf's, especially his own, who more often than his own brother would sit and hear him talk when his parents were done with their lessons for the day and sent him off. Sirius had been more prone to lock himself in his room after those times, but he'd had more an urge to wander, Kreacher always a help in those times, all sorts of stories about every room in the house that had never felt like his parents lectures.

For the first time, he quite liked Potter's kid simply for the way he reacted, just like Regulus would have. Harry jumped forward, trying to help the elf and make him stop punishing himself. He'd always hated watching Kreacher do that, and in fact had never had the gall to do this himself on the rare occasions he'd witnessed his own having to do the same. His mother would not approve if he got in the way of Kreacher punishing himself, this Potter kid was lucky Dobby's masters weren't around to tell Harry otherwise.

Lily smiled at Harry's further interactions with Dobby. She couldn't help but be horrified at the poor things life, already having the urge to snatch him away and help him along to the Hogwarts kitchens. No house-elf deserved such a hateful life as the one he clearly lived, encouraging the little thing extra punishments! She honestly agreed with Harry, Dobby's owners and the Dursleys were of the same fold, and they all needed to take a nap with some Devil's Snare!

Her affection for this lad with her eyes grew more when he dismissed his own fame, calling it all rubbish. How nice it was to the ears, hearing of a humble Potter.

Peter watched Regulus roll his eyes of all things when Harry's pain at mentioning his friends came up, and frowned at Sirius' kid brother. How could anyone be so careless hearing of something like this? It was heartbreaking, everyone in here had someone who would acknowledge their birthday, Harry deserved the same. Then he really thought about that, and wondered, did Regulus? Sirius most certainly wouldn't with the way he treated him, his friend had confessed his parents treated birthdays more like a celebration of their past than present, hardly an acknowledgement of the person themselves.

...so did he? Peter raked his mind, but he really couldn't recall Regulus actually having any friends. Sure he was a member of the Slug Club, but so was Evans, and from what James said she never seemed chummy with those people. Certainly not friendly, yet cordial enough. Though Prongs had only been to one or two events, for her company alone. Surely Regulus had at least made friends in his own house? Yet Peter couldn't recall one recurring face around Regulus Black. He'd certainly never paid him much mind of course, he could easily be missing something, but he couldn't even remember the kid laughing before they'd dumped that water on Sirius.

Evans may have burst out laughing the loudest, but Peter had seen everyone at least crack a smile, Regulus especially as he'd snickered appreciatively seeing his older brother in that state.

His thoughts were interrupted by Dobby finally getting to deliver his message, about Harry Potter not returning to school.

Remus' anxiously tapping foot froze, as did Sirius', his toes inches away from Peter's nose. James, still trying to flash flirty smiles at Evans, was stuck mid expression in what could have been comical if it wasn't so ludicrous. Evans's fingers had frozen in place inside her hair. He swore even the owl stopped hooting in her cage.

Frank burst out with an uneasy laugh, glancing from Lupin to his girlfriend like he was still waiting for someone to join in. "That was a joke right? There's just no way, I mean..." he trailed off, looking more dumbfounded every second. Regulus couldn't blame him.

This situation was quite possibly the most insane in history. A house-elf, had snuck out of its masters house, and gone to warn some kid not to go back to school?!

"I thought crazy only ran in my house-elfs line," Sirius leered at the little book, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "Clearly I was wrong, and that one needs to be gone as well."

Regulus gave him a nasty look for that and at once snapped, "why don't you take this seriously Sirius! How many times does it take you to learn when to shut your mouth and pay attention?"

Sirius gave him an unimpressed look for that, while Pettigrew gave an uneasy laugh while shifting his weight, clearly wishing to jump out of the way being in-between the two.

Lupin chose to ignore the lot of them, reading on and hoping for more, but got nothing but a terrible omen and no more help from Dobby, in fact quite the opposite as Vernon made an appearance. "Easy Prongs," he murmured encouragingly, though he knew better than to really try to stop him as he gripped his wand tightly. Still, he tried to remind him, "nothing in here for you to be cursing-"

"Watch me," he vowed, though forced himself to relax back as Vernon did leave after threatening Harry, he still didn't like to think what that would amount to later.

"Why would Dobby know if Harry was getting mail or not?" Alice demanded sharply.

"Surely house-elf's can't do that," Lily protested. She certainly knew of them, when Sev had taken her to the kitchens in their third year they'd all seemed like polite little workers. She'd been explained the rest of their natures, but now she felt he'd left an important detail out, as if this was possible.

"Oh yes they can," Black answered her with a rude little sneer that wasn't for her. "Those are powerful magical creatures, they can do anything they want, though usually their magic is much more bound. Clearly those owners of his constantly abusing him didn't think to reign him in nearly as much."

Potter gave him an annoyed little frown he hadn't the chance to tell her that in a much politer way, but Remus kept going with even more unease now as Harry's night still got worse from there. All through his quarrel with Dobby over said letters and the house-elf's run through the house for escape they were all stunned silent at the proceedings, none of them had ever seen a house-elf so devious and determined! Active, obedient, even helpful were words for them, not this conniving little one doing his damnedest to keep Harry out of school, and with the air of winning at the Dursley's reaction.

"That, that!" James stammered, at a loss for words as Harry's expected letter arrived no matter how unjustly, Dursley hauled that kid back up the stairs, and their current surroundings were finally given a context no one had really asked for.

Pettigrew shifted restlessly on the floor, alternately glaring hatefully at the door and bars and back to his mate with genuine concern he was about to shut down from outrage with nothing to expel those feelings. He even got halfway to his feet, like he was going to go comfort him, but then Sirius jumped down from the seal and beat him to the punch, all three now squashed up on the tiny bed with Potter in the middle, all looking miserable for this kids fortune. Pettigrew hesitated an extra moment before sitting back down and muttering, "bloody, stupid, useless,-" he kept up a string under his breath now not glaring at anything.

"Three days!" Lily snarled none to quietly, but it still went unheard. Lupin was reading no more loudly than usual, but there was an undercurrent in his voice that made all other noise void. He seemed likely at any moment to switch into a threatening growl with this continued treatment.

Remus couldn't help it. He wished he could control himself more, but it grew harder by the line. Harry was being imprisoned! He knew that feeling better than anyone, if not bars than certainly being trapped in his own body. He'd just checked, but his eyes kept flitting to the window and away now with almost every breath he took, trying to convince himself this prison was not his, but Harry's, and that didn't make it better! He was so distracted by his own turmoil the words he was shooting out hardly even registered there at the end, and by the time he had realized what he'd been saying they were being pulled away once again.

Chapter Text

To Guest: Haha, sadly not, I just wanted to put Hedwig there because something about her will pop up again later that I wanted them to chat about. Nothing and no one else will be joining the ride.

To everyone, thank you all so much for your reviews, it means the world to me!

It was a homey kitchen, that was the first immediate apparent thing. Even after they'd all landed it didn't seem to disturb the already hectic nature of the place any.

The stove was still full of the warm smells of a feast of a breakfast, to which the Marauders at once began helping themselves to. Dishes in the sink were scrubbing themselves to a polish, and someone had left a deck of self shuffling cards on the counter, just above a drawer filled with all sorts of Muggle things Frank wasn't sure of. He thought that may have been a battery peeking out, but wasn't positive.

There were over a dozen chairs scattered about the room, all of various types, a careworn cloak hung over one at the head of the table which was oblong, with a few burn marks imprinted in the wood, and some things carved into the legs, initials perhaps. Hanging proudly in the center of the wall behind this was something resembling a clock, but instead of two, it carried nine hands, and no numbers were present, instead such things as 'work,' 'school,' and, 'mortal peril' were around the face. Strangely, the hands weren't pointed at any of those, but all trailing aimlessly about the circle, the clockwork as lost in time as they were.

Fighting back a shiver so as not to think of that, he put his attention out the window, his eyes skipping right past a wilted feather duster, where a hedge hinted at a garden just out the backdoor, and what could be a chicken coop paces away from that, with gentle hills rolling on for miles beyond this.

Despite being stuffed to the brim in this tiny room, Frank was amazed how open it all felt. He couldn't help but compare it to his own kitchen at home, where his Mum had everything perfectly outlined for its place, four mirrored straight chairs around one symmetrical square table. Even the lake he could see from a very similar window was usually steal gray, the wide expanse looking more threatening with its deep waters.

He looked down when someone gently took his hand and was unsurprised to find Alice, a stack of marmalade and toast in her hands she'd braved from the depths of the Marauders hogging the food. He couldn't help but grin lovingly at her, bending down to give her a kiss on the temple before beginning to nibble on his breakfast as the older Black began. They had no idea why a Burrow would be mentioned, wasn't that were animals slept? At this rate though they truly wouldn't put anything past the ability of Potters kid getting into something.

The two tried to sit on the ledge in the early morning sunlight, but disturbed the feather duster, which came to life as an aged owl, ruffling his feathers at them and blinking slowly. Alice offered him a bit of toast, and he accepted this in his beak before hobbling to a perch. Frank reached over and pet it for a few moments in thoughtful silence.

Between ripping up bacon and shoving that into his mouth, Sirius eagerly kept going with the now lively story of the Weasley's arriving, especially those twins! What brilliance they were, knowing how to pick muggle locks!

Of course Harry's escape couldn't be all fun, Vernon had to come and muck everything up, but honestly picturing the look on his face was almost worth all that had happened. Didn't stop any of them from hoping Harry never had to go back to that Muggle dwelling.

Lily couldn't help but think the same, just silently, to herself at the far end of the room. She was trying very hard to resist the sausages sizzling away in protest that this wasn't their house! They shouldn't just be helping themselves to anything they liked! Frank and Alice weren't helping, even Regulus was picking over some eggs.

She'd already tried to leave from the room to stop further temptation, but found all ways out of the room barred. Just behind her, she was sure that was a washing din with a room beyond that, and at the other end was a crooked staircase leading to more. A promising swinging door even could have led off to a living room, or she even would have preferred to go out into the garden. Nothing, all blocked like always.

So now she was forced to listen in protest of the Weasley's catching Harry up to speed while he in turn told them of why mail wasn't going around. The idea that it was Malfoy's house-elf was, realistic, but even she couldn't see Malfoy doing something so stupid as to try stopping Harry getting back to school by using his elf as a prank. Besides, she was sure of Dobby's sincereness, the warning he'd given.

"Awkward," Peter stage whispered when they reached Ron's home, the house they were presumably in, and Mrs. Weasley came out to at once give her kids a stern dressing down.

"Makes me real grateful to my parents," James agreed with a chuckle as he speared another fried egg and shoved it in his mouth whole. He still had his eyes on Evans the whole time, as usual, and was growing worried about her. He hadn't seen her eat anything since this started, and they'd been at it for hours by their own internal clock he was sure. So he grabbed a plate of fried potatoes and tomatoes and made his way over to her. At first she just narrowed her eyes and glared away from him, clearly more annoyed than anything he somehow knew her favorite breakfast.

"Here," he dug a galleon out of his pocket and left it purposefully on the table. "Will you please eat something now?" He offered her the fork and plate.

"I don't need your money, or pity," she snapped.

"I'm not offering you that," he agreed, wafting the plate as near her nose as he could. "I'm offering you some delicious food that's just hanging around this kitchen that Harry's certainly eating away."

"He was invited here, we were not," she grumbled, but her resolve was wavering as much as her mouth was watering. She'd skipped lunch to do a Transfiguration essay she was behind on, and she really was hungry...

"I'm listening to the fact that she had no more clue Harry was arriving than he did, and yet she dumped a plate of food on him. I'm sure if they were here this second we'd be offered the same while explaining ourselves," he wheedled.

By this point in the book they'd already finished breakfast, and the kids were going to do a punishment of de-gnoming the garden. There was no telling where they'd end up next, and it was being made perfectly clear how welcome Harry was here...surely that would extend to just one plate of food on her part...she made the mistake of glaring at him, determined he'd walk away, but was caught off guard by the sincerity of his concern. She usually didn't take the time to bother reading his face, she was usually to busy giving it the pure disdain it deserved for picking on every student in that school, especially her best friend. Her guard was down though, without Sev around, and for the first time she realized he had hazel eyes. Very open, wide eyes that were currently a genuine peace offering for some food.

Without even realizing she was doing it, she accepted the plate. The brilliant smile lighting his face was like none she'd ever seen before, from lips that usually were just throwing curses around. What was even more spinning than that was, he walked away. He didn't pester her anything further; brag he'd known this would work or point out he'd known what she would like, offer her a seat at the table, or even compliment her. He just went back to his friends, who had somehow wrangled Regulus into their conversation of bragging about how far they'd managed to throw gnomes, which apparently were out in the Forbidden Forest. She stabbed a potato and chewed slowly while looking back out the window, her mind scoffing at her caving like this while her stomach happily rumbled to shut up and enjoy.

Mr. Weasley turned out to be a delight, Sirius hadn't even known about the Muggle things around the house! He stopped pestering Regulus to give details of why he'd been in the Forest at any time and got up to go inspect the drawers, Frank watching him rummage through them without care suddenly making him understand why Evans had been so put off with their helping themselves to food. Clearly the Marauders were growing braver by thinking they could do anything they liked around here, though he was personally sure they'd be the same way no matter what the situation. He seemed as delighted as Arthur to find such things in here and called Lupin over to him to have a few things explained, abandoning the book in the middle of Mrs. Weasley chastising her husband for that car.

It took his friends several tries to convince him to leave the lot and finish, but his enthusiasm had vanished Regulus' good mood, he was looking about this house with such pure disgust they could have been back in Privet Drive. It made Frank a bit sad, how conditioned that kid must be to hate all things that weren't like his family, to even hate another pureblood family simply because they enjoyed Muggle things.

"I wish we could see Ron's room, and the twins room, and the rest of this place," Alice quietly said beside him, her eyes on the ceiling with curiosity.

"Perhaps we shall," Frank offered without much enthusiasm, personally he was just hoping this madness would end before they wound up trapped somewhere much less hospitable. That Devil's Snare was still weighing on his mind, and he already had a bad feeling this Potter kids life wasn't going to get much better from there, even if this chapter did end rather nicely for once.

Happy Valentines Day! I couldn't squeeze in wolfstar considering the circumstances, but Lily may hate James even just one percent less than before now, so I hope that counts for something.

Chapter Text

"You have got to be bloody kidding me!" Frank demanded, and Alice couldn't blame him. They'd landed in a bookstore, Flourish and Blotts she was sure, and wasn't particularly looking forward to combing through all the massive shelves to find the one they were actually supposed to be here for.

This idea wasn't helped along by their invasion having toppled over several displays into each other, creating even more of a hectic environment. Pettigrew was still trying to dig his way out of a Divination display he'd landed in, and Lupin looked pinned beneath several heavy books with Lockhart scrawled across the title.

The Black brothers too seemed distracted at once, having landed in front of a section devoted to dark creatures. The elder one scoffed and kicked a book on werewolves away from him, perhaps he had a personal disliking for them, and then walked towards his friends to help dig them out. The younger one picked out a book on Infiri and began flipping through the pages with a look of mild curiosity. His parents had mentioned those a few times but had yet to go into great detail.

Alice just gave his hand a gentle squeeze, managing to be as exasperated as she was amused at these particular circumstances before choosing to wander off to the healing section. She wanted to brush up on some things if this was going to continue for the foreseeable future.

Frank watched her go, his eyes lingering with a grin he was confident would never evaporate at the sight of her. He had to drag his attention back to the problem at hand and knew immediately he wouldn't have it, he summoned the book to him again instead of dealing with this nonsense. It came flying out of the children's section of all things, as if this book should be given to kids with all it's disturbing things going on with poor Harry. It even knocked over a copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard on its way to him. He just snorted and flipped it open, easily finding his place where the words began at the chapter title of their current location.

He easily ignored everyone around him, the Marauders now wandering shelves and chatting in quiet mutters near the back of the store, Evans joining Alice and having what at least sounded like a nice conversation, and the youngest Black remaining where he'd landed as if determined to ignore the lot of them and continue as if this were a purposeful visit. Harry's time at the Weasleys wasn't really of much interest, except for how sad it was as the kid compared the two lives of wizards and Muggles.

Nobody else really registered the name of Lockhart, though it rang a dull bell in the back of Frank's mind. He wondered if that was a student going to school now, but he wasn't quite sure. Regardless, the books he'd written sounded ludicrous and nothing like a textbook. He was sad the classes standard seemed to be falling with each year, but there wasn't much to be done about that.

Their trip to get to Diagon Alley wasn't as unmemorable as Frank would have assumed. Even with Harry using Floo Powder for the first time, he would have thought it would all just continue rather dully, but nope. The little Potter kid somehow landed himself in the wrong location, and one he certainly shouldn't be in.

Both Black brothers stiffened in surprise the more they heard of this description, the elder one hissing some explanation or other to his friends that they didn't like either. Even Evans was getting fidgety about Harry in such a Dark place, and the company he soon found himself in wasn't helping matters.

"I've heard of being getting misplaced in the Floo Network before, but this is ridiculous on that poor kids part," Alice sighed in commiseration. Thankfully he made it out of there without too much incident, Frank unable to deny he wanted to join in with the Marauders snide comments about how nice it was Malfoy was squirming over something in that meeting.

At least there wasn't anymore incident, as Harry quickly came across Hagrid, then Hermione, and the Weasleys in quick succession. Though Frank was honestly beginning to doubt this kid could go anywhere without something happening to him, he still hoped the rest of his trip in Diagon Alley was peaceable, he certainly wasn't enjoying the young Potter finding incidents everywhere he went.

Sadly it wasn't meant to last, when he did arrive at this particular book store, they were finally introduced to the Lockhart mentioned, Lupin rubbing his head and already scowling at the name, and that was before his grand announcement.

"What a tosser," James scoffed, the four of them having circled the whole shop by now with their wanderings and having made it back around to their original spots. He picked up one of the books again, now taking a closer inspection of the man who they'd clearly be hearing a lot of in this book. He flipped through a few pages of Wandering with Werewolves, but his expression only grew more dumbfounded as passages leapt out at him.

"I honestly can't see this one going well, but it's got to be better than the last one," Pettigrew agreed. Frank noticed there was an odd bulge at his waistline now, that he was doing a very good job of covering with his arms. Frank wasn't sure what he was bothering stealing, or even if it would leave with them. Perhaps he thought Evans would give him a telling off.

Lockharts preferential treatment to Harry, and literally pulling him into the limelight set all of them in a bad mood for this bloke right off the bat.

"Honesty," Evans was snipping of no one, but her eyes were resting with a familiar scowl on the Potter in here. "The one Potter who doesn't seek out attention, yet it's being shoved on the poor kid."

"If he hasn't fallen for it already, I'm sure this incident won't turn him to enjoying the public," Alice sighed, though she could see how this could go to a kids head easily enough.

Frank didn't particularly enjoy his mental thoughts from earlier being parroted back to him by a Malfoy when they once again put themselves into the conversation, but he wouldn't deny either his respect for Arthur grew tenfold at what happened next.

"Whoo!" Black actually leaped off the ground in his excitement, nearly falling in Lupin's arms on his way back down and hardly seeming to notice. "This is amazing, why didn't I ever think of starting a fight in a bookstore! Ammo as far as the eye can see!"

"As if you'd ever stoop to throwing a Muggle punch," Frank rolled his eyes.

This was a mistake, Black seemed to take this as a challenge, putting his fists up in a mockery of a boxer. Now Lupin kept his hands on him in what almost looked restraining, but there was a slight smile lingering as well, making Frank wonder if he was just going to indulge him if this continued so what was the point?

Frank turned dismissively away from it all, trying to finish. Admittedly the fight was just a bit entertaining, he certainly knew a few things his mother would say to a Weasley and a Malfoy getting into a brawl. They were all cheering for the redheaded patriarch by the end, even Evans and Alice were giggling to themselves about him defending his job, his pride like that.

As he finished his final lines, agreeing with Harry Floo powder wasn't the best way to travel, he only just registered Alice yelping at him to duck before the sickening feeling of being torn through time began again.

Chapter Text

No sooner had they landed, feeling relatively squashed but honestly they'd had worse, then Frank released a furious yelp of pain as his head jerked, the corner of a book catching the nap of his neck.

"Frank!" Alice yelped in concern, twisting around in her seat to get an eye on him.

He rubbed at the spot in disgust as he looked at his new surroundings, and looking for one in particular, but was immediately  distracted. They were in...Frank wasn't even sure. They were on cushioned seats, there was admittedly plenty of legroom between where he was and where Alice was now craning over the exact same cushioned seats in front of him. She and the Marauders were up there, Potter at once fidgeting with something in front of him, but making a guttural noise of disappointment it wasn't moving. It was a circle, sectioned into three spaces.

Black was right beside him, hooting with unrestrained laughter as Frank picked up the book and considered clubbing him back in revenge, but he was also right next to Alice, and in such a small space he didn't want to risk hitting her.

"You rotten twat, what exactly was the point..." he trailed off though, glancing at the book in his hands and back to him curiously, then to the book in Alice's lap. He craned his neck, but couldn't see Pettigrew, who was ducking down in his seat next to the door and trying to look as small as possible, so he couldn't tell if whatever he'd filched was still on him. Still though, "when did you throw this?"

"Right as we were taking off. I was worried there for a second you got done to fast and you wouldn't get to see just how Muggle I can be," Black pompously responded, puffing up his chest and squirming between Alice and Potter, trying to twist himself around as well and eye Frank. He'd even somehow managed to find a book on Toadstools, Frank had to give him credit for that as he hefted the object experimentally.

"That really is a bit interesting," Evans grudgingly followed along with his train of thought even as she was giving him quite the look usually reserved for Potter. "I would have thought it would have gone back to where it should be once we left."

"Yet it came along with us," Frank agreed, "along with the consequences," he finished, rubbing at the back of his neck again where it had struck.

"What do you think qualifies for this?" Regulus' expression was burning with curiosity, quite a different look from his usual derision when all eyes shifted to him, but clearly a puzzle put precedence. "Nothing's yet come along with us before, not even that owl of Harry's whose cage I was right next to the time before we vanished, so it can't just be a proximity thing."

"It was...in motion with us?" Alice offered, again imagining the scene of Black chucking the book at her boyfriends head, and the path continuing despite their leaving the space.

"I, suppose," Frank agreed, it really was as good an explanation as any.

Black still had quite the pleased look on his face, clearly not at all acknowledging what they had just understood. Not even his friends realized he was really smirking because he thought it was nice somehow, even just a tiny comfort to again understand just one part of what they were going through.

"Speaking of motion," Pettigrew spoke softly, but still expected his voice to carry, his eyes out the window. He'd been paying attention to the conversation around him, but had been far more invested looking at the clouds. He'd been hoping to grab someone's attention with his comment, but seemed to have gone unnoticed. Usually he preferred that, being at the back with Remus while the other two took the spotlight. He always had enjoyed observing those around him but lately it was getting on his last nerve. James was paying less attention to him than ever now that Remus and Sirius had made up, and even in this group of eight he still couldn't get a single acknowledgment anytime he ever noticed something?

Alice decided it would be kinder to change the subject than let things escalate into another fight, now that Frank's shock was wearing off and he was weighing the book with a much more calculating look in his eye, as if considering where best to rap the corner of that hardcover over Black's eye instead, and turned sharply to Potter, "stop messing with that will you, I don't want to think if this thing's going to crash!"

"Crash," most of the others muttered in concern, finally looking even more about themselves, and finding there wasn't much to crash into up in the air. In a car of all things! For once nobody tried the doors, in fact the exact opposite as the other members scooted closer to each other in fear they would suddenly burst open and spill them outside.

"Where the bloody hell are we!" Regulus demanded, looking a little sick, his grip on the cushion beneath him threatening to tear it right up.

"The Weasley's car, I'd think," Remus muttered, standing up casually, the space seeming to magnify with him as he leaned over the seat in between his two friends to get a look up front. "The fact that it's driving itself is quite the magic attached, I'd love to pick Arthur's brains over this thing."

Frank watched him carefully, looking for any signs of discomfort at being in such a tightly enclosed space no matter how much it expanded. He found none though. His face remained open and light in the quickly setting sun, he only shifted his weight for having to stand in one spot so as not to tread on his or Evans toes beside him. His idea of him being claustrophobic then was vanished, and he was back to idly wondering what his problem had been back in Harry's room. It hadn't been much of a full-proof idea anyways, as it didn't explain his frequently sickly appearance at school in their normal time, though admittedly that could be an unrelated thing and the teen just had poor health on top of, something else.

At the same time, Peter was much more subtly watching everyone in the backseat. He didn't like the way Longbottom was eyeing Remus, and wished he could pass off to James and Sirius to cause a distraction for this, but it would be impossible in such a confined space without being noticed, especially with Smith in-between him and them. Remus himself didn't even seem to notice, all three of his friends having a gay old chat over the radio and trying to tune it to a station, unsuccessfully so far. Evans had her arms crossed and was looking more stuffy than the rest of them, and he couldn't particularly blame her, but then Regulus really caught his eye. That expression really was something, and he had every doubt Longbottom could really speculate much of anything over his friend, so he let his mind wander over the younger Black instead.

He didn't look afraid, not really, but there was definitely something there showing he didn't want to be here. Couldn't be a fear of being so high up, he was a Seeker for crying out loud. Surely it wasn't the close quarters, he really hadn't shown much of a problem being in small spaces more than anyone else. As he caste his mind back over previous moments though, looking for that same expression, it clicked. Regulus wasn't afraid of anything in here, but who could spot him in here. Stupid, by all accounts as it was clear long ago they weren't coming across anyone anytime soon, but Peter was convinced he had it. Regulus got this way when he was in any way connected with a Muggle thing. He glanced curiously at Sirius, but he was taking zero notice of his kid brother, he may as well not have been there anymore than him! He started to get agitated at all of his friends now, carrying on like that when he'd been keeping lookout, just like always. How long would this go on before any of them bothered to ask-

"Where's it going though?" Potter interrupted any train of thought, with a rather valid question. "Surely not back to the Burrow?"

Alice finally picked up the book in her lap and flipped to the correct chapter, and Frank at once shifted uneasily at the look that dawned on her face.

"I'm afraid no one's going to like that answer," she muttered, before reading out the chapter title.

Lupin's face finally took on the pallor Frank had been expecting, they all had that same look in place now. "Why?" He was still the first to rasp out in shock.

"Harry shouldn't be anywhere near that thing," Potter agreed, sounding as breathless as if said tree had just whacked him.

Alice jittered in place with unease, her fingers tapping out a nervous rhythm on the spine as past experience told them they were lucky not to already be trapped in the shadows of that tree. She crossed her fingers as she began that wasn't going to change anytime soon.

It was a bitter sweet beginning, the kid finally dreading going back to school because he had somewhere else he wanted to be. Mrs. Weasley doting on him made it obvious she knew this just as much, and she hoped for the kids sake his summer there would be even more extended next time.

Listening to the Weasley family really was fun, every one of them was a joy to listen to, and their journey to the train station was as hectic as could be imagined what with all the starts and stops they got.

It was a bit confusing why they were in the car flying if Arthur didn't take it that way to the train station, in fact she would have enjoyed that more, traveling through the Muggle world. She was wondering all through the next page why it wouldn't be the same, until Harry crashing into the barrier snapped up her attention.

Potter said something that made her ears want to curl, and she couldn't even blame him.

"As if our life weren't going crazy enough, now Harry's is joining in!" Black agreed, looking on at the book in disgust for such a slight.

"I've never known anyone to be barred entrance from the train," Lupin muttered quietly, with the same levels of concern.

Alice could hardly believe herself what she was telling them, but as soon as it was made clear this was no fluke, both Ron and Harry were being kept out, Regulus scoffed heavily at all the mystified faces. "Well it's obviously Dobby. He clearly realized his first attempt to stop Harry getting to school didn't work, he must be a persistent one."

"A house-elf did this to my kid!" Potter raged at once, stamping his foot, and accidentally hitting the accelerator. Thankfully this didn't seem to have any real effect other than the car whining a bit in protest.

"He's trying to protect Harry," Lily softly reminded, her brows furrowed as she again wondered just what was so terrible at school this year a house-elf of all things would be involved in it.

At any rate, Alice was ignoring their exchanges and kept going to their current situation, those kids deciding to take the car to school.

Potter's anger seemed soothed at once, he actually started chuckling as he looked around himself again in appreciation. "Well I couldn't have done better me-self, taking a car on a joyride to school!"

"I really can't figure why they bothered, I'd enjoy the pleasure of missing a few hours until someone managed to apparate me there," Frank rolled his eyes.

"They're both little idiots," Alice agreed. "Harry's got an owl, why are they acting like they're stranded with no other means? Surely Harry's suggestion was good enough, and Ron's parents would happen along their car sooner rather than later."

All four Marauders looked very put out their adventure was being talked out, even the car seemed to begin protesting this as its windshield wipers began swiping across the glass without a clear reason.

The sun began sinking into a deep red color around them as the story progressed no matter their thoughts, the kids finding the train fast enough, though blatantly ignoring a faulty invisibility booster. Lily certainly didn't want to know what else was faulty about this car and just hoped Alice would hurry up and get them out, was it just her or were they losing altitude? She could swear the clouds had been below them skimming the tires, not level as they began dipping through.

The Marauders seemed to be refusing their good mood spoiled, laughing along wildly with Ron's joke of airplanes, even if James currently wouldn't admit to not knowing what that was in front of Evans. The moment the toffees had been mentioned Peter had dived for the glove compartment and shared those as well to his friends. Regulus and Alice surprisingly even took one though the other two refused. It was indeed getting hot in here, and they were all still in their school robes and couldn't even shirk but one layer for it. Peter tried the window hopefully to let some air into the stuffy car, but it either couldn't, or wouldn't.

The latter shouldn't have been possible, but the longer this went on, they were all growing uncomfortably aware of the fact the car was not enjoying this ride as much as some were. The whining noise was growing louder and more persistent than ever as a deep indigo took the sky, and Ron's explanation of it never having traveled this far was a comfort to no one.

Something had been nagging at Remus this whole chapter, and the explanation for the chapter title whomped his mind as the castle came into view. "Smith, read faster," he suddenly pleaded, as she'd broken off to giggle over her shoulder at Frank, the two clearly enjoying the view.

"What's your problem?" Longbottom demanded for the sharp tone at his girlfriend.

Before he could answer, the car jerked wildly, sending them all crashing into the drivers side and each other.

Alice then said something very reminiscent of what Potter had earlier, as she understood quite clearly then. With earnest now, she belted over the next few pages, quite in a panic for Harry and Ron's predicament as it became all to clear what tree exactly they landed in, they'd be in the very same spot in a very short amount of time!

It became apparent the kids were slightly ahead of their own travel, the car reacting on its own and spitting them out of its contents and then taking off. There was an erratic laugh from beside her, Black seemed to find it quite funny the kids had walked away alive at all. She couldn't yet hold such relief.

If she'd had time to, she would have cursed this bloody chapter couldn't have stopped upon Snape's arrival. Instead she had to linger on his ways of verbally abusing those kids, and it well could be the death of them next! Was him belittling them really necessary right now?

It seemed to take ages, the car now vibrating around them emphasizing her every syllable how fast they needed to get out of here. Sadly when McGonagall and Dumbledore arrived, they couldn't even get a swift exchange from that! A deranged kind of amusement tried to light up in Potter as his kid argued with McGonagall over house points, of all the trifle things, even as he kept a white knuckled grip on the wheel, still trying desperately to spin it any other direction than their oncoming course.

Sans punishment except a detention, the book wouldn't even take mercy on them and skip then! She was quite sure she'd piss herself in moments if they didn't hurry up with those damn sandwiches and get to the end already!

The car continued inching towards the castle, its nose to the ground. Spitting words out in earnest, even as the car took initiative and avoided the stone to swerve around, she only managed to get them to Hermione's approach near the common room. The others were just starting to shout in fright of what was right in front of them, when-crunch!

Even being cushioned between two boys, Alice jerked hard at the impact, the book sailing out of her grasp as she face-planted the dashboard.

"Get us the bloody hell out of here!"

Her ears were ringing, she hadn't a clue who'd shouted, it could have been herself, nor could she distinguish voices from the cars own tantrum. It's engine revving so loud it could be screaming itself as a branch thick as a python began pummeling the roof of the car, now caving in on them.

Scrabbling desperately, her hand snapping the last page to her from sheer dumb luck, she flew through what she could see around red leaking into her eyes and was mercifully able to recognize the feeling of being jerked away rather than any other direction as the glass began to splinter.

I'm starting to feel a little bad for abusing these guys as much as I have...can't promise the next chapter will be any better though even when they aren't in a near death experience...

Chapter Text

The dull morning light cast just the tiniest specks of a rainbow in each little drop of dew hanging on the leaf in front of her face. She pulled back quickly to further inspect the pot, and then her proper surroundings of Greenhouse Three. Lily looked around swiftly, but in total ease of being in one of her favorite parts of the castle. The mist casting everything with a more mystical glow than any chalkboard filled classroom could, the warm smell of earth and the feel of a garden around her reminding her of her most pleasant childhood memories with her mother.

She noticed instantly the others weren't in quite as good a mood. Clearly being around more plants after yet another had tried to kill them wasn't helping anything.

Alice and Frank immediately backed to the glass-wall upon seeing more greenery around them, and all of the Marauders were now nursing head injuries to boot. She stepped forward at once and identified the foliage as Mandrakes, and spotted the green binding of the book blending in conspicuously with a particularly fat pot.

"Well, I think your motion theory was just ruined," Alice sighed when they'd gotten their bearings.

"Why's that darling?" He asked, still inspecting the venomous tentacula carefully, which was currently slithering a vine along the ceiling towards anyone.

"We were in a moving car," Alice needlessly reminded, easily pulling his attention from turning on the spot and trying to find that book on Toadstools to follow this new idea. She even tried summoning it to her, but it seemed as no one had kept a conscious decision to keep it on person it had not traveled along. "The car clearly didn't come along with us."

He frowned around her, though it was rather apparent. "You're right, guess we'll have to come up with another idea." He stepped forward and brushed his hand across her forehead, where blood had already dried into her hairline and was still trickling towards her cheek. His thumb gently swiped at it, but when that only smeared it he pulled his wand and gently cast the worst of it off her.

"Thanks," she sighed, taking his outstretched hand.

"I think you were close with that movement idea," Evans offered, sidling up to them with the copy of Harry's life in hand. She was so distracted from her mind spinning at the possibility of all this she hardly noticed who she was speaking to, let alone she'd interrupted the pair. "The book moved with you because we were in motion," she emphasized by waving her arm about this new space. "That car was already in motion when we got there though, maybe that negated the affect."

"I can see that," Frank agreed.

"Well bully for Harry, getting to enjoy the after affects of hitting that tree!" A very loud voice said from right above him. Padfoot was very clearly more sore over the fact this kid had gotten such a reception over his more than any bodily injury Sirius now possessed. Remus didn't feel the same, just groaned and tried to bury himself further into the darkness of the dirt on his face, to avoid the sharp twinge of his rib-cage.

"Why couldn't we have appeared amongst a cheering crowd for surviving the same," another voice agreed. Slightly farther away, but just as familiar.

He was used to his rib-cage breaking. It did so once a month to accommodate another body erupting from his own. So he was quite clear on the fact they were not broken now, and still somehow found it comforting the effect would last much longer than just the night.

"Oi, Moony, quite taking a literal dirt nap and pay attention," Sirius was now nudging him in said rib cage. He sighed restlessly, inhaling some dirt for his effort, but sitting up all the same, holding himself carefully. He saw Sirius' remorse at once, and the swelling along his forehead an accompanying shade of bruise to still match the laceration around his throat. It matched the exact shape of the cars dashboard they'd just been in. He'd been thrown to the floor in the impact, so his sore body was probably the least of the damage.

"You alright?" He spoke quickly, looking around to everyone else to see the worst of the injuries.

Prongs and Alice both had blood still dripping down their faces, but both had already set about healing the injury and now it just left a gruesome affect. Peter was still holding his nose as if in great pain, but that seemed to be the worst of it. Everyone else was simply holding themselves stiffly from their new death experience.

"Sure," Sirius agreed with chipper as he folded himself beside him on the floor.

"Then clearly that impact didn't knock any sense into you," Remus said good-naturedly.

Sirius' eyes gleamed now, a teasing light so familiar he swore Sirius alone possessed it, had perfected it just for him. "I know I'm the only one you've kissed, so it must be torture, you going so long in between. You could always do so now, make it better." He unnecessarily indicated the dark shadowing at his right temple. "I'm sure that'll put something in me, eventually," he finished with a not so subtle shifting closer to him.

Remus snorted lightly and again looked very obviously around. The only obstruction was the long table before them holding many pots. He cared not enough to get up and investigate what they were, but even under normal circumstances this was not the place for such talk. Sirius' brazen whisper meant he must have hit his head harder than he'd thought, perhaps his ears were still ringing. It didn't mean he certainly wouldn't mind- "You're not the first person I kissed you know." He said swiftly, being sure to ruin his presumption, though it wasn't doing anything to put his mind elsewhere. He couldn't help but admit to himself he wasn't really trying.

"Really?" He sounded genuinely surprised, and perhaps even a trifle something else Remus wasn't sure of. Certainly not jealous, he'd made that clear. Hadn't he? He'd certainly thought so, but they hadn't really discussed this since back before the mess began, and they hadn't really started all this in the best circumstances... "Hmm," Remus hummed in agreement, deciding to think on this later when it was bound to come up again. "Ersa Melano."

"The Gryffindor Prefect! Moony, you sly dog," Sirius must be really pleased to use such a phrase on him, he noted bitterly.

"Prongs had been driving me crazy, insisting I was going to die alone because I was of age and hadn't kissed anyone like you three had. You know he kept setting me up, so finally I gave in. Don't know where he thinks he's got room to talk, considering the only person he's been with is Heather Valson and that lasted what, three months?"

"Two and a half," Sirius happily corrected.

Remus rolled his eyes but kept going, "anyways, so yeah, tried it out with her, and it wasn't bad." He kept going loudly before Sirius could interrupt to ask when exactly. No need to answer it had been after patrolling on the Fourth Floor, in the Prefects bathroom, when he'd been angrier at Sirius than he'd ever been in his life... "I certainly enjoyed myself, but it was only the one time, honestly I'm not even sure what all we did should count as a date," he trailed off with a far away gleam in his eyes. "She broke it off right afterwards though because I wouldn't tell her why I kept getting sick all the time and missing classes, she seemed to convince herself I'd given her something contagious." He finished with an awkward smile he only reserved for the werewolf humor he used on them.

Sirius' smile was nothing but sympathetic now, so Remus was sure he was overthinking the first reaction.

Peter watched restlessly as Remus and Sirius sat whispering in the farthest corner and James had eyes only on Evans. The chapter title was of no consequence to anyone, that pompous idiot would get one named after him. Evans had already dug right past that right into Harry's first day back at school, which started out quite eventful with a Howler of all things. He listened without much care as Ron's mother had a go at them. Frank was going through all the plants around them kindly and patiently with Alice. He spotted Regulus from the corner of his eye pacing restlessly near the back trestle table where all the earmuffs were stacked and waiting, eyeing the venomous-tentacula as he passed every sweep.

This was certainly nothing new, he wasn't even sure why it was hitting him so hard lately, but he couldn't deny the more frequently it was happening, the more it grated on his nerves he was once again left standing here without any of his friends taking notice, or trying to draw him into the conversation. He couldn't help blaming it on Sirius and Remus, a vicious edge to his thoughts as he glared at the two comfortably close together, smirking and laughing along at the door.

Things had been fine before their stupid spat, but when it had been going on both James and Remus had been so mopey he'd barely gotten a laugh out of any of them, yet he was still the one trying at least, and he'd thought they'd appreciated that. He'd missed Sirius of course too, but what he'd done had been horrible, and then he'd gone and acted like he hadn't even cared, treating them like they'd had the overreaction when he'd barely had one at all. Peter had even, foolishly he now realized, started to hope James and he could even do something together more often without Sirius always hanging around. It had never happened, and things had just gone right back to normal now without so much as a thank you to him for trying to keep it that way all along.

Lily couldn't help but smile with pride at Harry's guilt over what he'd caused the Weasley's. She wished he'd thought of that before he'd pulled such a stupid stunt, but it was such a good thing it occurred to him at all she'd have given him a hug if she could.

James was watching her smile, he always loved watching that the most as she rarely did it near him, but couldn't grasp why as he huffed in annoyance at Hermione's 'you deserved it,' air. He didn't dislike her, being the loyal friend she was, but he wished she wasn't so high and mighty about such a stupid thing as rules. It didn't help she was clearly so deluded by that idiot Lockhart, constantly trying to make a fool of his kid.

"Ouch," Frank winced in sympathy for Sprout having to tend to that mad tree. "Why would she put that tree in a sling at all? Surely the branches would grow back?"

"She'd no sooner make its regrowth harder than Flitwick would insult a student," Alice said with a kind smile as she glanced out through the glass window to see it set up just like that now.

"Lockhart's quite the idiot, thinking he knows better than Sprout about anything," James snorted enthusiastically, causing all three of them to jump, none of them had realized how close he'd gotten.

Lily sniffed and walked quickly away, intent now on the lesson about Mandrakes even if she knew plenty about them now.

James sighed in disappointment, but took it with his usual good grace and meandered back to his friends. Sirius and Remus were happily chatting away, but to his surprise, so was Peter with Regulus of all people, again.

James paused to access this for a moment. The first time he'd excused, trying to get Sirius' kid brother involved in a prank was quite brilliant, but seeing him do it now was just odd, what reason did he have? He'd never been one to postulate around, so he went over to find them in a conversation comparing the most pompous people they'd met. Not unreasonable, considering Lockhart was being one to Harry right now, lecturing him of all things on that flying car stunt.

"Really? I'd have thought Sirius was the worst in your family," Peter insisted good naturedly. "How can any Uncle be worse?"

"Don't ever take Sirius up on his offer of a family dinner, or you'll have to find out," Regulus chuckled. "This prattle Lockhart's going on about has nothing on Uncle Cygnus' stories about how he bested the worlds deadliest creatures. Man won't shut up about this Iron Belly he captured and put down in our vault."

James groaned as he jumped in by saying, "I'll bet Sirius hates that story in particular. "

"He does, as a matter of fact," Regulus' animated face dropped slightly as he eyed Potter wearily. It hadn't bothered him talking to Pettigrew, he'd made himself easily enough available over here muttering to himself, and he'd honestly just grown bored standing in the corner when nothing of interest was going on. Even now, Professor Sprout was going over the lesson on Mandrakes, something they were all well aware of. Now that Potter arrived however, he became much more aware of what his impulsive decision had lead him to doing. He didn't even know Pettigrews blood-status, how would this look to his friends, his parents?

It should have been even easier with Potter, Regulus tried to tell himself, he knew his blood status. He couldn't make the easy words keep coming though, now shifting guilty as if caught red handed.

James didn't seem to notice a thing, he had his head cocked to the side and was watching Evans again as some idiotic kid named Justin tried praising Lockhart's book, his Wanderings with Werewolves one in particular. He'd only skimmed a few sections and found it ridiculous, how could anyone fall for that?

Peter tried to reengage Regulus, mostly for revenge in James deciding to come over long after the fact when he'd actually had a conversation going. He was now being ignored by both.

Regulus couldn't help but be intrigued at Ron's broken wand and all the problems it was causing him. He remembered this redhead saying it was his elder brothers wand at some point, and so this one being on its lasts legs and not cooperating more than ever was fascinating to listen to. He'd interrogated Ollivander for ages on the properties of these when he'd first gone to him, pleasing his father immeasurably as he'd assured his son as they'd left the shop the wand-maker would likely make him his assistant in no time.

He and Frank were actually of the same mind. Frank had not forgotten what Ron had done for his son last year, and he wished he could do something for Ron now to return the favor.

Lily snorted violently at a kid with a camera appearing around a Potter. She was sure the one in here would actually pop from over-inflation, she still couldn't help picturing him instead of young Harry half the time.

Malfoy of course didn't help anything, and she really did wonder about that kid. He reminded her a bit of Sev, and she wondered what his story was, if he still acted around his friends or if he was a sweet, kind kid who listened to all of their problems. She sighed heavily as she realized she was projecting, how much she just missed her friend and wished she wasn't so alone on this journey, unlike everyone else who had someone to connect with.

James scoffed and got all huffy when Lockhart entered the scene and only made things worse, grabbing Peter and hauling him over to his other two friends.

"Do we know a Lockhart," he demanded of all three of them, "because we are soon. I'm sick of him singling my kid out."

"Not that I'm aware of," Remus shrugged without concern.

"They haven't said how old he is, so there's really no telling," Sirius shrugged, though his expression was a bit more miffed, briefly making James wonder what he'd interrupted them talking about. James pressed on anyways in a much quieter voice, "think I've got a new idea for Moony."

"Oh?" Peter said, finally looking like he was trying to be invested in this instead of making faces at them all. James also briefly considered asking what his problem was, but he had more important matters.

"Yeah, it'll only work if it's on Hogwarts grounds, but-"

He cut off, and all three of them understood why. Evans had continued all through their whispering, going on about Lockharts big-headed prattling and that stupid useless thing called a quiz that they all would have ignored anyways. Then the moron had let pixies loose in the class.

"Now see, why couldn't we ever get a teacher as mad as that," Sirius said at normal volume and then some, laughing like crazy.

"I don't believe that man's ever had anything to do with, any magical creature," Remus said slowly, for surely if he'd dealt with half the things he'd said he wouldn't be using such an obvious fake spell.

"What a fraud," Peter agreed impatiently, he'd already turned away from ignoring this and wanted to hear Prongs' plan, but all three of them were laughing now and concocting ways of doing this school wide in the castle.

When Lockhart vamoosed from the classroom leaving the kids in place and everyone else was just laughing at all these antics, Regulus again wondered if he was the only one wondering at the mystery at the beginning. Dobby had not made another appearance, though he was still sure his guess was right about it being the house-elf trying to keep the Potter kid out of school. The first day of classes had come and gone without a real incident, so those 'terrible and unspeakable,' things hadn't started up right away. Was anything at all going on, or was that house-elf as mad as his brother claimed this teacher was.

Chapter Text

"Sirius?"

"Here," Sirius said at once shuffling out of the shadows behind the door, taking Remus' outstretched hand. Remus gave a little tug, whispering, "come here," and Sirius obliging straddled his lap on a bed, now the two were forehead to forehead.

It should have felt too intimate, they'd only had a chance to snog twice and both had been interrupted, they really hadn't explored much of anything for what they were doing to each other outside of even that, so this was quite the situation for the two to just be comfortably in each others arms. It was just that though, comfortable. All the emotions boiling inside Sirius now felt just slightly simmered, like steam finding its release in a teapot rather than all stewing up inside and blowing the top.

"Now tell me what's wrong," Remus whispered, their faces so close together their lips were already brushing.

"You've got enough to deal with Moony-" he tried to protest, unable to shake those fear-filled looks he continued to give every window, like the one they'd again had to glance anxiously through to check the phase of the moon on this new night.

"Doesn't matter, I'll still always hear what you've to say," Remus stated, their hands still clasped together growing painful from Remus' tightening. His other came up and hooked onto the back of his neck, fingers playing with the long black hair to make sure he couldn't back out.

Sirius breathed carefully, closing his eyes and finally feeling his heartbeat still as he whispered, "He laughed Remus! My first summer back, and the first thing he asked me was 'what's a mudblood?' I gave him hell for saying that word, telling him to never use it again because there was no such thing, we were all just people. He promised he wouldn't, said he'd never meant to offend me. Now, bloody five years later, and he laughs! It's my fault, I know it is, I should have been around him more, made sure he never, that I never let him-"

"Let him?" Remus cut in with a deep shake of his head. "Sirius no, don't do this to yourself. That boy in there may share your last name, but he is not your responsibility! He made his own choice, he's following his parents and told you to take a hike when you refused to do the same."

Like a damn bursting, Sirius then released a huge breath at finally saying this aloud. "I know that, it's just..." he trailed off without words for the disappointment he felt, like Regulus' fate was already sealed by this lone reaction.

It had only been the chapter title, his expression had been more surprise than true cruelty, but Sirius couldn't shake it! He'd strode away through the nearest door lest he do something he regret, like use an Unforgivable curse on his little brother. It was honestly a miracle he'd found one that opened.

There was a silence before Remus leaned forward, now pressing their lips together in a firm kiss. Sirius returned it at once, craving any kind of release from his own mind, cupping his own hand around Remus' neck to tilt his head back and exalting in the almost instant relief of not having to know anything, just feel how happy it made him to share this and now have the pleasure of taking his own life by however he wanted.

Daring shot through him, and his tongue began tracing lips, seeking entrance, and as always Remus was willing, opening his mouth and the two outright snogging right there in that room. Their tongues explored every bit of reach, teeth even clicking together with the intensity and then Remus' hand moved to Sirius' hip, sitting him down tighter upon his lap.

When Sirius' hair tickled his own nose beyond his own capability to think past it though, he leaned back and brushed it out of his face, still breathing as heavily as when Remus had entered, but now for a wholly other reason. "Guess I believe you now, about that kissing others thing."

Remus just gave a sly smile back, hand still resting comfortably on his waist as if it were the most natural thing in the world, his other trying to pull his face back down from inside his hair. "Glad you've admitted superiority on this."

"No, no," Sirius resisted, letting their faces lean back down but refusing those tantalizing inches now just for that.

An insistent knock on the door cut off whatever would have been said next.

"Hell Sirius, I'll make Regulus apologize if you lot would get out of there already! You think we're enjoying all these Lockharts gaping at us, it's getting creepy!"

"I'm going to kill Wormtail," Sirius pleasantly informed his seat mate as he glared at the door.

"I'll help you bury the body," Remus promised even as he gently got Sirius to get off of him.

With a little huff Sirius did get up and stomp to the door, but couldn't deny he did feel better as he opened it and glared down at Wormtail while pleasantly informing him, "I hope you heard that."

"What, more death threats against me? Sirius, if you carried out every one you've offered against the lot of us, you'd be in Azkaban for a killing spree."

"Me?" Sirius mock widened his eyes and placed his hand on his heart.

"You'll still be his first victim," Remus promised as he pushed the two out of his way so he could step back through.

It really was creepy, the Lockharts eyeing everyone of them from every available wall space of the room. The adjoining bedchamber they'd surely just been in likely still had more, if either of them had cared enough to look, though they'd been a bit occupied to even find a light.

Sirius was already tempted to go back in there and do so now just for something to do, anything would be better than looking anywhere about the room than at his kid brother who had already so deeply betrayed him he wasn't sure if he could ever look at him again. When Remus had read that, Lily had gasped with insulted surprise, and the rest of them had muttered words of distaste and backed away from Moony as if just being associated with such a word was damning. Not his kid brother though, of course not, he'd gone snickering away like a little idiot!

When had this become his reaction, who had instilled it in him? His parents, fellows at school? He'd already witnessed Regulus hanging out with several he shouldn't be, and rather than do anything to stop him, he'd only further chosen to ignore his brother, and was now kicking himself for such neglect. What if he'd tried harder, made some real attempts to push him in the right direction...

Sirius was so focused on when exactly his inattention had turned into missing such a large detail as this reaction would occur that he completely missed the first few bits about Harry avoiding attention from Lockhart and Colin, something he couldn't blame the kid for it if he had been listening.

Potter and Pettigrew were still exchanging looks, it was clear neither of them liked the fact that their friends kept wondering off to talk about their problem without consulting them, but Frank turned away from their tiff without concern to start investigating this room. He didn't at all buy into the fact a man claiming to be so successful couldn't handle pixies, or indeed would make such a stupid decision as releasing them into a classroom like that. Something was fishy about this one, and he wanted to know if there was any evidence in here of his lying, or something more.

Alice let Frank wander off muttering about falsities as she made her way over to Evans, who was muttering mutinously about this whole entire chapter being centered around Quidditch. Harry's captain had woken him at the crack of dawn, and now they were spending pages hearing of Harry falling asleep to some stupid methods to do with the game.

She may have actually enjoyed the game, except for the fact that when she'd gone to the ones in her first year Potter had taken the opportunity to try and regal her the entire time. This child's experience wasn't proving much better.

"That Colin kid is something," Alice happily offered as she joined her. "Bet he'll be the top photographer for the next Daily Prophet before he even graduates."

"I'm happy Harry's not encouraging him and mostly ignoring him," Lily's scowl lessened slightly while talking to her.

Both girls were admittedly distracted as Lupin announced the arrival of the Slytherin team at the Gryffindors practice, everyone was well aware they were only there to pick a fight.

Frank briefly looked up from Lockharts desk, finding it quite despicable Malfoy had managed to buy his way onto a house team like that, but quickly went back to his rummaging. He'd normally be appalled to the idea of going through a teacher's desk, but honestly he would have made an exception for this one even before his suspicions. This egocentric man needed someone putting a few pins in his life if this mess was any indication. The surface was covered in his plaques and trophies of awards, his Witch Weekly's Most Charming one at the very front and most highly polished. In the first two drawers he'd found nothing but quills and bottles of ink at a ready notice, the most ostentatious was a peacocks feather. In the next set he'd found hair care products and a wig he must test them on, a bottle of Ogdens old Fire-whisky, which he quickly put back away lest the Marauders get another hare up their butts for it, and finally nothing in the bottom one.

He'd just pulled out his wand to try a few spells and see if anything were hidden in this when the shouts of outrage echoed around, the Lockhart picture on the desk nearly fell off the broom he was riding and covered his ears. He looked to Alice first, who had her arm wrapped protectively around Evans' shoulders, then he really saw it wasn't so much protective as restraining. Her face was flushed red and she looked likely to murder someone, like Regulus, who looked more haughty than ever with all eyes on him.

Regulus held himself loose and proud just like he watched Sirius do all the time when bowing up for a fight, entirely unintentionally. He really couldn't understand what their problem was, as he insisted again, "it's just a laugh, stop taking everything so sensitive Sirius."

He could tell others around him were just as upset he'd laughed again when Malfoy had called that Granger girl a mudblood. His own parents had insisted it was the proper word to use on Muggleborns, and this was always the reaction amongst quite a few of the older Slytherins whenever they heard the word, so he'd thought it was just to be expected and Sirius was exaggerating everything like he always did. He wasn't as sure now, seeing all seven of them look at him like scum instead. He wasn't backing down though, and instead crossed his arms and stood there purposefully. He wasn't taking it back, he had no reason to, and the only one it should really offend was Evans, and she was such a prick to them all anyways he hardly considered it a loss.

James still had his wand out, tapping it restlessly against his hip and aching to throw a multitude of curses. The only thing stopping him was just how much he did look like Sirius right now, but it was a quickly dwindling insecurity, Sirius would never stoop so low to laugh at something like this. He'd just raised his wand when Moony chose that moment to keep going, his voice much harsher than usual, and it wasn't hoarseness from one of their nightly wanderings this time.

Now James and Sirius were the ones exchanging such heavy loaded looks, while Peter began edging around all three of his friends as if looking where to place himself in case of a fight. Remus was most certainly not happy about it, but was still of the opinion if Sirius was beating himself up already for Regulus just laughing at the word, Sirius would be in an even worse way if he actually snapped and attacked him, so he tried to persevere and keep a fight from happening.

Ron had attacked Malfoy in retaliation for his friend being called that, as he well should, Alice viciously thought as Lupin kept going around the tense silence. She was still thinking about doing the same for Evans, and was even more surprised Potter and Blacks own brother hadn't first. She had no idea what was holding them back, but it wasn't going to stop her if Regulus didn't fix that attitude in laughing about such a degrading word. She genuinely applauded Ron's use of slugs, wishing she knew that spell now.

Lily forced herself to turn away from that imp, patting Alice's hand in thanks but refusing to give any more acknowledgment to someone who could be so careless about such language as that Black. Least Potter had one thing going for him in that way, he'd clearly been moments away from making him apologize if his best mate wasn't hesitating on doing the same.

They were all grateful Ron was being dragged away from Malfoy before anything else could happen, even Regulus. He wasn't sure what he was supposed to be doing now that he had everyone in the room despising him for something he'd just thought was natural, especially as many pure-bloods were in this room. He wasn't that surprised at Potter and Black not getting the joke, but he at least would have hoped Longbottom and Smith would, and was now trying to examine in his head the differences between those two and others even outside of Slytherin who had laughed along before. He still managed to scoff in disgust at that oafs deceleration that marrying muggles had saved their species, of course they wouldn't have died out, pure-bloods always prevailed.

Lockhart popping up again to give advice to yet another round of advice to someone who obviously didn't need it had Frank again going back to his rummaging, bypassing the empty drawer for now and going carefully through all the surrounding paintings, only mildly paying attention to Ron explaining what had happened while at Hagrids. He found nothing of any more significance than Lockhart signing several of these as well, and errantly wondered if the man did them himself. He had to be good at something after all, and it clearly wasn't what he was boasting of in the fight against the Dark Arts.

Sirius finally drew his eyes away from Regulus glaring determinedly at them all, with no more of an idea what to do than when he'd first snickered at the beginning of the chapter. For the first time since his kid brother had been sorted into Slytherin though, he wanted one. He wasn't even sure to what degree, it seemed like a long lost battle to save the idiot from what their parents wanted of him, but Sirius still couldn't shake the feeling of failure Regulus had fallen so far already at the age of fourteen. Least McGonagall gave a nice, or terrible depending on viewpoint, distraction with that detention.

"I think our Head of House is trying to do your son in this year Prongs," he happily told him to try and put some attention back on himself. He'd need to find a bigger space to try and talk his friends into some ideas, he didn't want Regulus overhearing.

"I think it's the opposite, she might actually be trying to give him a treat, as obvious as Lockhart's taken a liking to him," James rolled his eyes back, though they were still sour and glaring to the door.

"What say you Pete?" He redirected. "Care to place a bet? Think someone's going to do Harry in again this year. I've now counted two teachers making a good go of it."

"You're awful," Wormtail pleasantly informed him.

"Oh, you're right," Sirius theatrically clapped a hand to his head. "It is three, I always forget about Snivellus!"

All four of them burst out laughing, to Lily's disgust, but their amusement was short lived. Lupin kept going through Lockhart's bloody useless detention, and she'd thought nothing could be worse than lines, when Harry heard something that had them all freezing in place.

It became so stiff and silent in the room you could hear a ghost breathing, but no whisper of the words echoed again through here. Frank sprinted back to the desk and double checked the time when Lockhart himself said what it was, and spoke so softly the others thought it a guttering of the candle for a moment, "well, it's the same time now. Must mean that whatever it is, isn't here now."

Lupin still had to fight hard several times to swallow around a dry throat and finish, Harry's doubt of hearing this not managing to trickle into a single one of them. They would not think so lightly of someone after this kid again, not after last year, and Sirius now felt callous for his own joke. Something was going on this year, Dobby had warned them, and this was the start to it.

Frank gave Regulus one last look of distaste as if he wanted to blame all this on him, he still seemed entirely careless about the whole thing, and went back to that last drawer.

One quick spell revealed Lockhart did have something at least mildly worth hiding in here, and another had a stack of papers appearing. Frank slowly peeled through them, but it only furthered his confusion to find interviews. The one on top featured someone from Armenia, and it was clearly only the last page of whatever they'd been talking about in regards to a werewolf, then the same man thanking Lockhart for sending an advanced copy of his book. Why would these be so poorly hidden, they didn't seem to mean a thing. As intensely focused as he was on these, he hardly registered the magnetic pull of being dragged away.

In writing this chapter, I realize I've been neglecting Frank and Alice's actual relationship a bit, and I'll try to work on that in the coming ones. Any in particular you guys want to see highlight more? I know I focus on wolfstar kind of infrequently as well, and Lily and James are a slow ball rolling...like it's still frozen in the ice for now.

Chapter Text

Frank lay there for several moments before the screeching noise finally roused him from the stone cold floor. Shivering with every twitch of hands, he pushed himself into a sitting position and lethargically looked around to see who was being tortured. They turned out to be musical saws, and Frank counted his blessings when he banged his head on something and uttered a curse on the far side of the room, rather than being in the younger Black's condition of landing right next to these still going while no one was playing. Considering this only mild compensation for the way he'd acted in the last room, Frank rolled himself out from under the table just for the movement, as he was sure he was already turning blue from the cold, but stopped in surprise when he saw the papers he'd been holding from Lockhart's office had come along.

Eager and always willing to go find her, he hurried over to Alice's side, who was huddled up next to the door with a very put out expression in place. "Normally I love the cold," she happily told him. "'S my favorite time of year, with the beautiful snow and warm mugs, but I think I can pass on whatever this place is."

"A Deathday Party," Potter informed them, having not landed too far away, rubbing his hands together for warmth as well but looking quite pleased with himself as he quickly snatched up the book. "This is brilliant, can't believe Harry's going to one of these!"

"Must be Nick's, he usually makes a thing out of his," the more tolerable Black for now agreed as he came wondering over, hardly looking as if the cold was bothering him at all.

Potter was already flipping through pages to find his place as the two went near their other friends, while Frank eagerly turned to Alice and explained what he found.

"It's a good thing you weren't made Prefect," she couldn't help but laugh when he was done. "Going through a teacher's desk like that, what's come over you!" She happily teased.

"Don't let my mother hear you saying that," he tragically informed her. "She wouldn't stop going on about it all summer, rest of my life most likely."

Alice's smile lit up the whole room as far as he was concerned, hardly even noticing the puffs of air still visible for the warmth of her smile. "So you finally mention her, and that's what you come up with. We've been dating nearly ten months now, how is that the first time you've mentioned your family to me? I've all but introduced you to mine."

Frank just shrugged without comment for now, and as always Alice happily stepped off the topic with good grace. "Well, our theory of objects going into motion with us seems confirmed then, you keep hold of these papers and maybe when we finally stop spinning through this kids life they might just come back with us all together."

"You think that's possible?" He asked eagerly, looking around again and thinking of several advantages they could have of this. It would be quite something to find magic beyond their years, even books not even published yet, and take them back to the past of all things!

"I don't see why not at this rate, with all we've done," she sighed, looking far less encouraging to the idea, her mind clearly on whose timeline they could erase in all this.

Frank frowned in acknowledgment of that, and quickly kept on track. "Right then, I'll leave them in here when we leave and hopefully they'll go back to him."

"Best hurry up and let me read them then," she agreed, holding out her hand. Potter was already up to the explanation of why Harry was going to this Deathday Party, though neither of them had given much care at all for Filch haranguing another student about filth in the castle.

Lily had paused in surprise of hearing Filch was a Squib, but apparently she'd been the only one not to be enlightened of this news. Must be a mudblood thing, her mind scathingly informed her as she went back to braiding her hair and pacing restlessly along the black crepe paper nearest the instruments. It wasn't at all pleasant, the sound harming her eardrums so much she hardly caught a word of what Potter was now saying in regards to Harry's own dissent coming down here. It was still better than the rest of the room. That younger Black had moved away from this area at once and had instead located over to the rotting food table with a blanket look of disgust, as well he deserved, she hoped the smell was atrocious. The Marauders were all located more in the center of the room, as if hoping to avoid all repellent things around them, while Alice and Frank stayed near the door and continued whatever they were chatting about. She had no wish to join them this time, she just wanted to be alone.

That wasn't even true though, she wanted Severus. Alice's defense for her had been heartwarming, she'd even grudgingly acknowledge under duress she admired the extreme reaction from Potter in his shout she be apologized to. At the very least though both were just pacing acquaintances in all this, at most Alice was turning into a genuine friend and Potter slightly more tolerable if he could stop bothering to hex the one person missing. She wanted her best friend here for her, to have him be the one to tell Regulus off for that, to offer her to tag-team the little whelp in retaliation for that remark. She could so easily envision what Sev would have done for her in that moment of need of a true friend she was almost smiling despite the circumstances.

"-Prongs, would you bloody pay attention! You'd be done by now if you'd quit gawking at her every other line," Sirius groused beside him.

"Eh?" He muttered, turning to him in surprise, before Sirius was proven right the very next second by his eyes again flickering to her. He loved it when she played with that long red hair, though he preferred it down than the tight braid she was putting it in. He could almost imagine it, that long mane sweeping around them between the pearly figures that should have been surrounding this place, possibly passing through several without a care, eyes only for each other. They'd sway to the tune of this awful music around them, but it wouldn't be so awful with her in his arms, the two keeping each other warm in this freezing room.

"J-J-James! I am b-b-begging you t-t-to-" Peter couldn't even get the full sentence out he was stuttering so bad from the cold, and Remus wasn't even trying, pressing himself so close to Sirius he looked like he was trying to jump right into his arms for any warmth. James released a gusting sigh, yet more visible air puffing out of him, as he grudgingly turned back once more to his lad having a miserable time at this party. He did suppose those two weren't as used to the cold, they didn't have to go out in Quidditch practices during it but instead spent their times up in the warm fires while he and Sirius became accustomed to this. Of course on nights during these weathers they all had fur coats, so that wasn't a problem either.

"Oh yes, alright," he huffed as he went back to seeing Peeves taunt Myrtle, that was nothing new. He honestly would have skipped right past the Headless Hunt being such ponces to Nick, as they were every time he invited them. They'd only heard of his Deathday Parties once before, tried to sneak down here last year but been caught, but from what he'd heard inside the room before then had been similar. This bit was turning out to be nothing of interest at all, and his mind was just starting to wander back to clever ways he was sure he could convince Evans to just have one dance with him in here when Harry finally excused himself from this place, and heard it again.

His breath caught in his throat, he swore his friends even stopped shivering in surprise and went for their wands with nothing but a steady hand as they all again strained to hear a thing, but it was just too noisy in this room with that horrid background sound. He wasn't even sure if he'd caught anyone else's attention besides his friends, but he certainly did when he swore at the top of his lungs.

"What do you mean Harry went after that voice!" Sirius agreed while looking faint. "Prongs, I think your kid may well have a death wish!"

James did not disagree, reading on in a complete panic Harry would catch up to whomever this was!

Regulus was quite grateful he didn't, not even he wanted to hear of the murder of a twelve year old, but he did come across something just as intriguing as an icy voice in Hogwarts.

"Chamber of Secrets?" Alice murmured for herself. "I've heard of that, I think my cousin Flora mentioned it, but I hardly listen to a thing she ever says." She already wished she could go back to reading more pages of that strange interview Lockhart had given a man regarding a werewolf attack, it had certainly been better reading material than this tale.

"Me mum might have mentioned it once as well, more like an old wives tale surrounding Hogwarts and when it was founded," Frank agreed, scratching at the back of his neck as he tried to recall.

"Twice in one day, I'm flattered," she happily told him.

"Don't get used to it," he chuckled, wrapping an arm around her to draw her in as her shivers continued to increase.

The two froze, almost literally in these conditions, and it wasn't all for the cold anymore. "What's happened to Mrs. Norris?" She whispered so quietly beside him it was as if she feared whatever, or whomever, had done that were in here now.

Frank had no answer. Of all the things he'd seen the kids in this school do to each other, maiming a cat like that still ranked pretty high on his list.

Even now that the voice had gone, Potter clearly wasn't in any better of a mood. He seemed genuinely distraught at the arrival of someone, only to deliver another insult. No one got a chance to react again to that word being spoken as they were pulled once more from this room.

Chapter Text

To Guest: You ask a lot of really good questions that no one has an actual answer for other than, Dumbledore's a conceited idiot who's trying to test Harry. As for the Lockhart business, I have zero clue, it's like they spent the entire book believing Lockhart did those things in his book as well as Hermione but still saw him for the fraud he was, and that makes zero sense, so you got me. Thanks so much for your commentary!

It was admittedly a relief to still find themselves inside the familiar stone corridors of Hogwarts, even if the moment they were dropped into was quite horrifying to find in their school.

"Is, is that blood?" Pettigrew squeaked in protest, quickly backing away from the wall, his eyes flickering to the nearest torch bracket. Even though he'd half expected it, he still almost screamed at the sight of Mrs. Norris hanging there.

"This place has gone mad," Potter breathed behind him, he looked likely to be sick as he jumped forward and dragged his friend farther away. "Who, who would-"

"Not even we hated Filch and his cat that much," Sirius agreed, keeping his back firmly against the wall.

Regulus stayed right where he was at the far end of the corridor, wishing more every moment he could leave it altogether, especially as he caught sight of where the book was.

Pettigrew must have as well, as he swallowed hard and looked back at his mate still holding tight to his shoulder. "I'll give you one guess where that book landed."

He reached up and patted his hand, perhaps even squeezed it for a moment as if to reassure, and then slowly and carefully went back and plucked the book before the flames could lick at the pages where it sat just above where the cats tail was wedged in.

He quickly darted back to his friends side with a relieved sigh, but didn't immediately feel up to turning it open. "What do you think is happening here James?"

"Don't know," he said so quietly it was almost impossible to hear from so far away. "I've got a bad feeling Harry's going to find out though." He had his back turned to all of them now, eyes trained on the corner he could no more pass. Regulus suddenly realized how vulnerable he was, with the four Marauders clumped up down there, and the other three crowded in front of a door and across from the threatening, still glistening letters. He again glanced down the empty hallway, flickering with shadows of an empty castle, and almost wished that the story would dump them in that time instead. At least they'd be surrounded by other students and teachers, rather than eight teenagers having to figure all this out alone.

Pettigrew began in a taut voice of Filch arriving to discover the same as them, and his reaction was as vivid as it was sad to hear. He didn't particularly care for the caretaker more than anyone else, but he'd certainly never prayed upon his cat for such a vengeful reason as killing it like someone in this castle would some day.

"I suppose this rules Filch out as a suspect," Remus muttered more for something else to hear other than death threats being issued by Filch. He was eyeing the door Longbottom, Smith, and Evans were now trying to open, but having no more success than any before. Instead his eyes began examining the scene, hoping for some clue as to what happened here.

"Never thought of him as a possibility," Sirius needlessly agreed.

They both relaxed just a fraction when Peter kept going on into the teachers arriving, and Dumbledore taking control of the scene at once. Despite already having been in Lockhart's office and not wanting a repeat experience, even that would have felt better than hanging around in a corridor with a dead cat.

Until their headmaster passed along the news this was not so.

"Petrified?" Longbottom echoed, to confirm he'd heard as much. "What on earth can do that?"

"A few things," Remus couldn't help himself prattling off at once his knowledge of beasts. "Certain arachnid venom, gorgons, a few spells-"

"So, are we still in danger from any of that?" Evans cut in with a look that wasn't quite hopeful, but looked more like she wanted to be.

"Nah," Sirius decided, clearly bolstering up some false bravado now that it was clear the threat at least didn't seem to be upon them soon.

"Sirius, this is not a nah kind of situation!" Remus protested, swatting him upside the head.

"And what is, pray tell?" Sirius demanded back as he rubbed at the spot while smirking at his friend. "I find this a perfectly good time to try and enjoy life, while we still have it!"

"Shut up Black!" Frank snapped at once.

"Be real Longbottom," the other returned with a haughty sneer. "If this pattern continues, I'll bet my house we're going to end up in the presence of whatever did this," he gestured needlessly at the cat.

"Not necessarily," Alice insisted, looking to Evans to support her theory. "Not if a person did this, we haven't seen another human since all this started. So, as long as it was a wizard that's somehow done this-"

"What person do you know that petrifies an old man's cat for fun?" Lupin protested, turning on the two of them to defend his friend, even though he himself had just scolded him. "I'm sorry I even said that, there must be something running around the castle that's doing this. If a person wanted to go after Filch, they'd take him, not his cat."

"I don't think so," Evans sided with the other two, "it must be a person orchestrating all of this, and just because we don't know of the magic yet doesn't mean it's not possible. We don't run around this place thinking we own it," she finished viciously.

Peter looked between his friends and the other group before deciding to hurry along before he was asked to voice his opinion. Personally, he hoped they were right, and feared his friends were instead.

Regulus kept himself, and his opinions, out of this for now. Even as he felt he had a bit more to the answer, it was nothing concrete. He well remembered a story his mother had told him about the Chamber of Secrets, and of a horror spoken within said to be Slytherin's own monster. He didn't know if Sirius even remembered the same, his brother had never been very good paying attention to their mothers stories. He had no more idea than anyone else though what it could all mean, or even if it was a valid threat. Anyone, like that Malfoy kid, could have done this themselves just to get a scare out of the school, but he didn't think that likely, especially as Potter asked of his friends;

"Think my kid's nuts?" He spoke softly though, true worry in his voice for why a child of his would be hearing voices.

"No," all three of his friends assured him at once.

"It's not as if he's Sirius', then the poor thing wouldn't have a chance," Pettigrew poked fun.

"Harry didn't tell the teachers he heard the voice for the same reason none of us would, they would call him crazy," Lupin more lightly pacified. "We know that Harry's telling the truth though, so there must be some explanation."

"Besides going off to live in a madhouse, like mine," his brother agreed.

Regulus scowled but chose to ignore his brother and try to understand how Harry hearing such a thing could fit into all of this.

Lily listened uneasily as she questioned the same, and didn't have quite the same conviction some child of Potter's wasn't just a tad loony, but hearing voices didn't seem to be one of the issues with that. Instead she turned to Alice and Frank and asked, "why do you think we've been locked out of a bathroom of all places? That's never happened before." They'd been lucky a fair few times now to stumble across one of those about as often as food, and she'd been hoping their luck would hold.

"Perhaps the castle's doing us a favor, that's Moaning Myrtle's bathroom after all," Alice shrugged.

Upon hearing that Filch had not been able to clear the words from the wall, Frank uneasily stepped forward, and gave the script a prod with his wand. Nothing happened, so he tried a few different spells, and he could no more erase it with magic than with Mrs. Skower's All-Purpose Magical Mess Remover. Knowing he wouldn't dare do this under normal circumstances, but curiosity very much getting the better of him, he instead used a more powerful bit of magic and gouged some of the stone wall right from the letter C, which finally came free.

"Frank!" Alice gasped in protest as he went back over to them, twisting the bit of smooth stone this way and that in the light.

"I want to know what this is," he insisted without remorse. "That's quite some powerful magic used to get it up there."

"They could have just wrote it up there and used a permanent sticking charm," Evans pointed out.

"No, I don't think so," he hesitated for a moment before pulling his dragon-hide gloves out of his pocket, now thankful for his mothers paranoia of instilling he wear them while brewing any potion. He slipped them on and rubbed his finger vigorously against the red mark, and still nothing happened, though this time he hadn't really been expecting it too. "I think this is blood, but of what kind I can't imagine."

"There's not a lot of creatures whose blood is like that," Lupin spoke up quietly from behind them, and they all turned in surprise, not having realized he'd come forward to speak to them, but having watched Longbottom had piqued his curiosity.

"You know which ones do?" Frank asked, genuine curiosity mixed in with some weariness, he'd never had a pleasant interaction with a Marauder before this.

"Sure," he agreed, the troubled lines on his face making him look older than his years should. Up close they all noticed how pale his skin was in the dim lighting and his unusually grey bangs, though not many people really got close enough to notice or care about such details, he spent too much time with people the school was more than happy to leave a wide berth. "If I'm right though, we're going to have a problem."

"This school is full of wankers!" Potters protest cut in, and Lupin looked back up and around curiously as if he'd forgotten what they'd just been talking about. "How could any of them think my son would be the heir of Slytherin!"

Lupin went back over with an exasperated expression in place, and Lily wondered if his friends ever grew as tired of Potters theatrics as she did. Who cared what the school thought about one lone student? She wanted to call Lupin back over and demand he finish whatever he'd been fixing to say, if he had an idea of what had put that blood up there he should share it.

She'd misread his expression though, Remus was just as exasperated as his friends for this student population even considering such a thing. He happily went back over to the fold of his friends and snarked right along with James and Sirius, albeit under his breath so only the three of them could hear, as Peter kept going right up to Binns's class.

The history lesson Binns offered over the subject was probably one of the most interesting things to ever actually happen in that class, and it was quite depressing they couldn't enjoy young Hermione making this possible considering the topic. They all felt too bad for Harry immediately after the fact, the kid actually trying to convince himself of what the school thought. James was no more related to Slytherin than any other pureblood, and they all wished they could be there to tell him as much.

Regulus finally listened back in with interest again as the kids circled back to this location again to search for clues. He couldn't imagine they'd find any with so much time passing after the fact, but with his eyes still flickering between the open corridor and the dead cat, he certainly had his fingers crossed they would. Sadly, scorch marks and spiders meant nothing to him, and he scowled and muttered about wasting time as Ron let his friends in on his arachnophobia problem.

"That's not fair!" Lily protested as her son decided to follow his friend into the very bathroom they were being blocked from.

"I'm sure we'll get sent to another room soon with a loo," Alice told her sympathetically.

"No, not that," Lily rolled her eyes, "I just hate being left out, if Myrtle saw something I'd rather hear it from her than Potter's friend over there."

"I doubt Myrtle's in there," Frank reminded. "We haven't seen a ghost anymore than, well, anything else. Hell, Mrs. Norris actually is the first living thing we've seen around here," and she's not even really alive right now, he finished in his head.

"Think she's been in the castle the rest of the time, or is she just here now because she's-?" Alice paused and swallowed awkwardly without finishing. Petrified or not, she looked quite dead from here.

"Hard to say," Frank scratched uncomfortably at his neck. "I wouldn't be too surprised if whatever happened didn't work on animals though, it didn't on Hedwig."

Myrtle proved to be of no help to anything, which explained why the Marauders looked so bored with the interaction, which surprised Lily a bit. If she'd thought about it at all, she would have expected them to enjoy hearing of the encounter with a ghost, they seemed to consider themselves rather experts on them, as much as she caught them chatting with all others in the castle.

Then Percy came and shooed the kids all away, and really it was starting to feel like quite the waste of a chapter until Hermione offered such an interesting solution.

"They really think it's Malfoy that much?" Peter quickly stopped before the last sentence to verbalize his surprise.

"More likely him than Harry," James sniffed, though he too seemed to agree this was beyond a second year.

"Polyjuice Potion though?" Sirius was blinking with a rather disturbed expression in place. "Of all the ways they decide to get the answer?"

Remus agreed with a good laugh as Peter finished with the excellent point of Ron's on how this would even be possible.

They were surprised not to be interrupted by being yanked away, but Evans laughing. Leaning against Myrtle's door with pure mirth on her face as she tried to gasp out her surprise of a twelve year old managing such a thing. Then the door she was leaning on swung open behind her, and she fell out of sight.

Chapter Text

To Guest: Thanks so much! I'm so glad you're enjoying this!

"Evans!"

Even though he was farther away than Frank and Alice, Potter still somehow managed to dart between the two and be on the other side of the door with her, practically kneeling over her in concern before she'd even landed.

She pushed her sopping wet hair out of her face and glanced around with a sense of vertigo for the sudden change, and not just in scenery. Light was pouring in from the hallway now, natural sunlight just managing to illuminate her sneakers, which only emphasized the gloom she'd been dumped in.

It seemed every mirror was cracked, every sink tap was broken, and every surface seemed flooded, the long stem candles dripping water instead of wax.

She hardly acknowledged the hand being offered her, accepting it and getting to her feet before she realized who had.

Snatching her hand away with a scowl, she rotated slowly on the spot to find the others all crowded around the girl's bathroom door in an odd display, while Potter went bright red in surprise and scrambled back over the threshold as if seeking sanctuary.

"Sorry," he quickly managed to stutter with the most uneasy look she'd ever seen in place, his eyes flickering with true embarrassment and remorse to the sign above the door.

She chose not to acknowledge him for now, accustomed to her bearings at last but still feeling on edge, so very grateful as Alice chose to come in with her. "Well, at least Myrtle isn't present, and the cat vanished."

Lily couldn't see through the boys to confirm as much, but she was grateful for that at least. It was a new time and setting then.

"Why would Harry come back in here for any reason?" They heard Lupin asking. "Even the first time was faintly ridiculous, asking if Myrtle of all ghosts had seen anything."

"I still can't believe he did it," the elder Black snickered. "Even we never went into a girls loo for any reason, except for Prongs." He finished with such a wicked tone no one needed to turn and see the look he was now giving his best mate.

Potter sniffed, but seemed to choose not to acknowledge that as he instead asked, "Hey ladies, is the book in there? I'd like to know how they plan on getting that note from Lockhart."

"What makes you assume he's the dense one Ron was referring to?" Pettigrew asked curiously. "There are plenty of other dense teachers about this place. Merlin, I'll bet we could con McGonagall into doing this for us again-"

He finished with an oof, as if one of his mates had elbowed him to silence him, but while the other three just rolled their eyes and seemed not to care what the Marauders would have wanted a book from the restriction section for, Regulus gave the lot a curious look. What would those layabouts need a book for, besides just trying to cause more trouble?

Alice had to actively search for a moment before finding it on one of the lone sinks that seemed to have no damage. She scooped it up but was stopped from opening it by Potter shouting, "are you two going to get out of there? I feel so odd trying to talk to you while you're in a bathroom!"

"Then don't talk to us," Evans suggested.

"Here," Alice gave the book a toss back to the doorway. "If you can't stand me doing it from in here, you do it out there."

She only vaguely registered that Lupin had caught the book and started reading as she investigated this lone bit of debris free area, wondering why Myrtle wouldn't have had a go at it like everything else in here.

Frank cautiously stepped in as well, followed by the younger Black moments later. Clearly those two had decided they'd rather be in this area with the girls than the Marauders now bickering outside on whether they should do the same. It was nothing particularly special about any other facility in the castle, but it uncomfortably reminded them all of the one the troll had destroyed. They hoped this was not a recurring instance of finding themselves in wrecked bathrooms.

"Did, a Bludger do that to the bathroom?" James asked in confusion of such an odd chapter title. All Bludgers were rogue really, considering their job in the game.

"If so, my money's on the Weasley twins releasing one into the school," Peter chuckled.

"Lockhart really is the biggest idiot I've ever heard of," Sirius said casually beside him, the topic lighting this as inconsequential as if they'd been discussing hags.

"Idiot wouldn't know a thing about werewolves if one bit him in the arse," James agreed with bright eyed amusement that was only ever there for their jokes. No one inside Myrtle's bathroom was paying them any mind, but Remus still felt a bit uneasy playing along. His friends had taught him to joke about everything since first year and he loved doing it himself now, anything to brighten his life. Now though, he wasn't just one kid blending into a school, those four in the bathroom had already been spending an uncomfortable amount of time around him and a few had even given him suspicious looks here and there now that he was such a focus, so he read past his friends loudly.

"Ha, they did use Lockhart to get that note!" James pumped his fist in triumph. "Pay up Wormtail."

"It was a stupid bet," he groused as he slapped the coins into his hand. "Harry used the easy target. "

"It is the first time he's tried this, give him some credit he even pulled it off," Remus said fairly.

"That idiot Lockhart’s a Seeker?" Regulus muttered in surprise, suddenly hoping that he was somewhere back in their school so he could face him off in a game. The new teacher may be inept and fooled the world about his skills in Defense, but surely he had to be good at something, and the newly minted Slytherin Seeker had yet had an opponent to really be much of a match against anyone.

"Why are they headed back to this bathroom?" Potter demanded in surprise, and it really was such a good question the lot inside got distracted and turned to listen to him. "They'd just got caught by a Prefect there the other day."

"Where would you suggest they hide out to find out more about a potion they shouldn't be doing?" Lily challenged with a surprisingly smug expression. She was confident those four had no idea how to do anything as subtle as hide anything. Her mind wondered if her own secret brew she had going was even still in the castle, if what she'd done would disrupt her attempts at improving upon-

They did not answer, a genuine surprise as she would have expected Potter to eagerly tell her anything just to keep up the pretense of talking. She narrowed her eyes suspiciously just as the littlest one, Pettigrew, piped up, "our dorm. We're the only ones who go in and out of it, so it's perfect."

"Gee Wormtail, just tell them where we keep our secret stash of dungbombs as well why don't you," the elder Black scoffed, but though he put a swift smack into his friend's head, they all saw it had no force to the blow.

The others turned away dismissively, but Lily kept frowning at them with suspicion. She still wasn't sure why Potter hadn't been the one to answer, as if they were stalling-

Lupin kept going then, and what came out of his mouth next was so ludicrous everything else flew from her mind. "That, that little second year really thinks she's going to brew that potion?" Lily demanded. She'd been sure once the smart girl saw the complexity of the potion she'd admit defeat, instead she began chatting about how to get ingredients and continue with such a thing!

"Great, Hermione's going to poison Harry. Think that will get us out of this mess?" Regulus muttered in disgust. She scowled at him, not taking kindly to even joking death threats, and went over to see what Alice and Frank were doing instead as conversation turned to Quidditch amongst the Marauders.

"We're trying to figure out why this sink doesn't have any damage like the rest," Alice told her before Lily could even ask.

Lily took a quick look over the area, twisting the knob to see it didn't work either but unlike the others wasn't cracked in any way. Then she crouched down like they were to try and see underneath. Nothing of note stood out, but the three crowding around such a mundane problem had Regulus glancing over curiously as well. His sharp eyes spotted something odd at once from this distance, but merely rolled his eyes and instead turned his attention longingly to the floor, where his common rooms were below for some peace and quiet away from this lot. Of course those three wouldn't acknowledge something like a snake, of course the Marauders were getting hyped up and catcalling a Quidditch game none of them had stakes in. The only reason he was vaguely listening was to hear what kind of opponent Malfoy was to the Potter brat, no one had even presented a challenge in the last one.

James was wriggling with pure excitement to be hearing of the game, he wished he could be outdoors at least instead of next to some dreary old bathroom! He was half tempted to wrestle the book away from Remus and belt this out himself! The first Bludger strike nearly knocked his breath out at the close call and he wanted to mutter a foul which hobknocker had done such a thing so early in the game!

Then it came again, and he started to wonder if the Bludger was just going after Harry instead of being clubbed there by someone, which would have made sense the first time, but not twice in a row.

The third attempt made him cold all over as if he'd fallen into a ghost.

"Ah, yeah. I, I'd say that's a Rogue Bludger alright," Peter said faintly at the idea of such a thing. Even with two Beaters on either side of him like Harry had, the force of a cannonball being waited at anyone's head was sure to kill!

"Who the hell is ruining this game!" Sirius shouted in outrage, his fists tensed so much he looked likely to clock Remus for saying all this.

"I don't care, I just want to hear Harry live through this," James said in a voice his friends rarely heard, but had been getting to a lot lately. Prongs was pissed, and was likely to do more than set off a dungbomb when he found out who had not only tampered with his favorite game, but set up a way to have a child of his killed.

Remus swallowed uncomfortably but kept going in a rush, for once quite glad they weren't getting much of a visual image of all this. If they'd even been in the stands during this part it would have put a much more vivid point across, yet the ghosts bathroom behind them wasn't feeling like a good omen.

Things got even more out of hand when James was forced to respectfully see his sons point of view. He was going to win that game if it was the last thing he did, literally, and was he any better? He'd done some very crazy stunts on his broom just to score another point, to get his team just that farther ahead. He vowed right then he would have to stop and actually consider what he was doing though, he didn't have a death wish! He longed for some kind of distraction as the crazy ramped up and Harry began a series of maneuvers to keep his head intact, he wished he could peek back into the bathroom and see what Evans was doing instead of all the shocked faces around him for what they were hearing. He couldn't take his eyes off the book though.

Regulus was amazed he'd gotten his wish, what a match! Just, not in the way he'd been expecting. His expression soured though when the Bludger was doing more to make this a challenge than his actual opponent, Malfoy was being quite the disgrace when the end was in sight, and the idiot hadn't even seen the Snitch above his head. He winced in sympathy but hardly gave a passing notice to a broken arm as, like Harry, his mind was set on capturing the Snitch at all costs.

It was only after Harry's success and his temporary unconsciousness that he heard the Marauders releasing breaths of relief and Regulus realized what he'd been thinking about a fellow Pureblood. It truly went against everything he'd ever been taught, that someone inferior like that half-blood had bested someone from the Malfoy line so easily.

He tried to convince himself it must have been a fluke, but that wasn't working at all, and then Lockhart proved a useful distraction.

"What on Earth does that bumbling buffoon thinks he's going to do about a broken arm?" Lily said this in such a dangerous tone, Frank and Alice had to look around to make sure she wasn't speaking to Potter.

Frank did agree. This guy was even more of an idiot than Professor Kimble, and that witch had been the biggest idiot he'd ever met until this point. "He can't even counter Doxies, I'd rather have Filch treat my broken arm."

Alice had expected the Marauders to get a laugh at the idea of not having any bones in the arm, but instead all they could hear now were furious mutters out there. She sunk lower next to the sink in trepidation of what little she could hear. She'd heard that tone before, right before they'd used a spell that had gotten Snape's head stuck in a cauldron last month. He'd been in the hospital wing ever since, and it didn't help there had been a concoction in the bottom meaning he likely would have drowned if Evans hadn't been there to make sure he could still breathe with that thing on.

From her vantage she was now eye level with the taps on the sink, and her eyes widened in surprise of finally seeing something unique, a tiny little snake etched into it. She wondered at that, if there were perhaps little carvings of all the houses' animals all over the school and she'd just never tried looking for them before. She knew her house was littered with dancing badgers for decoration, perhaps Slytherin had once been more subtle about doing such a thing about the castle?

Remus was already fuming a student had to go to the hospital wing for something a teacher had done to him, and the arrival of Dobby made nothing better!

"I've never wanted to kill a house-elf more than I do right now, and that's really saying something," Sirius stated coldly, and his friends knew exactly what he meant.

They'd never heard of such a conniving little elf, and on some level it was almost impressive the imp had managed to block Harry getting onto the train. It was even genuinely pitiful he'd been hurt by his masters, but none of them could deny they'd give that house-elf a good kick themselves for what he'd just tried to do to Harry. You don't try to take a Marauder kids head off and not get retaliation!

Sadly he gave it to himself moments later, and nothing more as Dobby vanished, because another victim was announced. It wasn't a cat this time.

Remus slumped against the wall in shock for what was happening in this school, and he'd always thought he was the worst monster to be here. He swallowed hard and looked to his friends, all wearing grim expressions back for what was happening. This hadn't really been fun to begin with, now a student could be in real harm. He took a shaky breath, but kept going now in such a rush he forgot to mention this was about to end, he just wanted to be out of this particular place right now.

Lily gasped, then immediately covered her mouth in fear as if the attacker would jump out at her next. It helped nothing Frank and Alice exchanged horrified glances and edged just a bit closer to her, she was well aware she would be the victim if someone was really out after Muggleborns in this castle. She tried to scold herself being ridiculous, that wasn't something you could tell on sight...but what if whatever was doing this could?

She lowered her hands and plunged them into her robes, now quite steady on her feet and glaring about every corner, just daring for the same to happen to her now. It helped slightly when McGonagall explained Collin had been found on some random stairs instead of near this bathroom again, but this only raised more questions. The most confusing of all was Dumbledore's.

Chapter Text

Peter found it a genuine relief, once his head stopped ringing, to find themselves not in Hogwarts for now. There was just too much going on in their school that was giving him the creeps, too much trouble Harry kept getting into that they somehow managed to follow.

His confusion still rose of where exactly they were. There were glass cases lined all along the walls and a metal bar protruding from the wall in front of all that as if it were any kind of deterrent, and it took a few moments before he could get to his feet and peak into the nearest one, prepared to dart away the second another dangerous thing lunged out. Instead he found a strange, very tiny little creature with rough brown skin and buggering blue eyes. There were three prongs coming out the back of its head, but four legs that seemed webbed in appearance and a flat tail. His eyes swept down further and he saw a plaque reading Axolotl- Ambystoma mexicanum, with some description of the beast. Looking more properly now along the way again he saw the same type of thing in front of every display. They were in a reptile house.

He'd been to the zoo a few times in his youth, but his mum being a seamstress meant they hadn't much money and it had been a treat. As far as they knew Harry had only been the one time, but that didn't explain why they were here now. Up until this point they'd been following Harry along, this seemed rather out of the way.

"Hey, I think I found the boa Harry was talking to," Frank said as he eyed a great mound of green coils snoozing away.

"I don't think so," Alice corrected. "I distinctly recall that one being brown, and a Brazilian boa. The Emerald's are from Brazil, but not the right species."

"Maybe they don't have it on display anymore," Lily muttered, thinking that whether it had escaped captivity or been caught, someone likely wouldn't want it on sight anymore.*

"Oi, I found a door that opened!" Sirius whooped in triumph, keeping the book loosely under his arm as he sucked in the fresh air. "How about we put this nasty business on hold lads and get some space, I've never been to a zoo before!"

"That was just sad," Remus told him at once, and Peter was more than happy to follow them out of this place. Too many things in here would find him a snack, in both bodies he could assume.

"I want to see the Dudley gorilla," James agreed as he darted past, coming almost at once to a fork in the road. He didn't even hesitate, high on pure energy he darted right and took off at full speed still shouting about all the animals he wanted to see.

"I vote Wormtail fetches him," Remus smirked.

"You literally just used a Padfoot joke on me, I can't decide if I'm offended or flattered," Peter rolled his eyes as he strolled past the two, who were clearly enjoying the clear skies and shady foliage more.

"Go with flattered and do what he says," Sirius suggested.

Peter was already doing so, scoffing about the two turning into layabouts, but turning into a jog to keep James in sight as he took a left. He finally caught up to him as he was bouncing in place and reading the plaque of a reindeer. "Look, look it Wormie! My distant cousins!"

"Prongs, you know just because you can turn into one doesn't mean-"

"Shhh! Don't spoil my fun, think I can get in there with them? Bet I can be king of the herd!"

"James, I really wouldn't recommend-"

He was being ignored, he'd already slipped under the wooden boards and was standing in the space in between, fingers pressed into the mesh gate, eyeing the top as if he could gauge how far the jump was. "Wonder why they only have males in there," he said absently as he tried to fit a trainer into the metal.

"This is one of the few species of deer where females can grow prongs to, I'm sure they're in there," Peter said in resignation as he managed to get both feet off the ground, but stayed there for a moment rather than lifting himself higher.

James hesitated, trying to stretch his arm up higher to get more purchase without toppling over, but couldn't get his feet in well enough to manage such a thing. "Where's Sirius?" He demanded as he wobbled dangerously, looking for more backup than Peter's silent unsupport.

"He and Moony were taking their sweet time while you ran off."

"Been noticing that a lot lately," James groused as he let himself loose and hit the ground, deciding to focus on this. Of course he could have made the climb if he wanted to...it just would have been easier if he'd had his broom.

"Yeah," Peter agreed, keeping the bitterness entirely out of his voice as James acknowledged this as well.

"Probably just catching each other up on every mundane detail Pads missed the past month," James sighed, even as he did gaze back curiously.

"Wasn't much to miss," Peter reminded.

James ignored this, no need to go back and reminisce how quiet their life had somehow gotten with one of their numbers not on speaking terms, so grabbed hold of Peter and began towing him further on. "Oh well, they'll catch up. I saw an exhibit for meerkats isn't far off, let's go see your cousins Pete!"

"I think this place got the sign for this one wrong," Frank told Alice as he inspected the odd creature before him. "That's clearly some kind of zebra."

"Says here an Okapi is a subspecies of giraffes and zebras," Alice agreed. Shrugging at how odd Muggels were for their many sciences, especially in naming creatures. The two moved on, stopping with increasing frequency and more than happy to have Lily around whenever they ran across something odd, like a cart full of bobble-heads.

She seemed to be in a radiant mood, having tied her hair up and was all but skipping ahead of them and only rounded back when they called out a question to her. When curiosity had gotten the better of her and Alice had finally asked why, she'd just smiled and admitted, "the peace and quiet is nice."

It was true they hadn't heard a word of the book yet, which was rather odd, and they wondered if distance had finally pulled the magic too far and they didn't even know if the Marauders were continuing the story somewhere else. Only Frank seemed disappointed in this prospect, the mystery of that monster at Hogwarts still on his mind, they could be missing clues. He was having far too much fun though to really offer the complaint, and didn't dare suggest actually hunting the lot down, bringing the girls moods with this.

"Let's go find the birdhouse," Lily suggested, her eyes sparkling with excitement. They spotted a huge dome like structure in the distance which must have been what caught her eye and easily kept pace with her as she kept up a happy babble. Alice suddenly realized this was really the most she'd heard her talk since this began. "I love birds, did you know their bones are hollow, but still incredibly strong. You can't just snap them in half like a chicken bone."

"Do you own an owl?" Frank asked kindly, but to his surprise the smile dropped from her face.

"No, ah, my parents won't allow it." Her answer sounded very diplomatic, but Frank still regretted asking, having brought her mood back so low.

"My sister, really," she tacked on defensively, her tone edging harder every word now. "She, err, I've asked, but she hates animals, and my parents, err, I mean I have to respect her wishes too."

"Must be hard having siblings," Alice offered.

"Yeah," she agreed, her hand trailing up to catch strands of her hair now and playing with it, walking along at a much calmer pace so to stay even with them now. "She, ah, doesn't like that I can do magic but she can't. It's, been hard to talk to her lately. Last time we really did was our last trip to the zoo, first summer back from Hogwarts. It's like she forgot where I'd been gone all year, and we just talked and had fun all day. Even though she took no interest in the animals, we played games watching Muggles pass by and mum and dad let us even go off ahead of them a bit to show they trusted us being bigger. Then we went to the birdhouse, and I saw the most beautiful owl in there! I started telling her about all the ones at school, and -" She stopped there, both in speech and walking, staying frozen on the spot in front of a cart advertising plushies for all sorts of critters to see in this zoo.

Then she blinked as if coming back to reality and gave them a very guilty look. "Sorry, looks like I'm always putting my foot in my mouth no matter the company. I'll just let you two-"

"Don't be silly," Alice said at once, reaching out and taking her hand with the best smile she could offer. "As if we're going to let you off on your own after spilling your guts like that. Your sister's a twat for not wanting to hear about your life, but we'd love to."

Frank gave an encouraging smile as well, thinking the poor girl needed some fun in her life. Between such a home life and someone like Snape for a friend, she probably didn't get much. "We don't have to go to the bird house, how about we find the food court?"

"No, I want to," she insisted, her eyes lighting with some spark again. "I really did love the place, it's so exotic and probably as close as I'll ever get to seeing the rain forest. Err, it's also on the way to the restaurants," she offered herself.

"Sounds perfect," Alice agreed, now the one dragging both of them along.

Remus and Sirius were unintentionally taking turns watching each other. It was a miracle they'd managed to keep their school bags on them all this time, but when Sirius realized he had, he'd slipped the book into it without a second glance yet, and that had been almost an hour ago now. Finally he could just enjoy some time out, and some alone time with Remus.

The two had already stopped and had a good snog once already, before the sound of something had drawn their startled attention. It didn't sound particularly threatening, and in fact it turned out to be a lion attempting to mimic a roar, though it more sounded like a giant cat hacking up a hairball. Remus had dragged Sirius over and began mocking the beast, and the proud cat actually responded in kind. Sirius nearly fell to the ground laughing as the two kept 'roaring' at each other for a good few minutes.

Then the two had taken off to actually find their mates, looking first in the gorilla house where they'd expected to find them. They did indeed spot the apes, but in the very back hiding in the shaded trees and various equipment they had available to play in. Then they'd been sidetracked at where the warthogs were rummaging about, Sirius being genuinely amazed how tough they looked compared to the bacon he was craving.

Remus had to drag Sirius away from the anteater, while Padfoot still insisted he wanted a closer look at such an odd creature and surely it wouldn't run if he turned into a friendlier dog. They had another good pass at each other before they realized they had an audience in front of the lemurs, and still red faced and fixing their clothes from that, they finally stumbled across their friends gazing at some naked mole-rats.

"There you two are, we been looking all over!" James called in excitement.

"What's with you two, you look all hot and bothered," Peter agreed. There was an odd look in his eye as he saw the pair and then looked back at James, but both ignored him and the question.

"Probably walked right past each other in a place this size," Sirius said off hand. "Let's go find that place Harry mentioned, where we can get some ice cream around here."

They all stopped and had some fun in front of the tigers, each bidding how far they could get in before the big cat realized they were there. Peter insisted he'd make it the farthest, without becoming a meal. Then they came across a bear enclosure, two huge beasts tossing each other about inside. It seemed in good fun, for the animals.

"Come on, we run around with a werewolf once a month, I'll bet I can take them!" James insisted, now more than willing to levitate himself into the enclosure and give it a go.

"Prongs, you are literally something they'd have a joy eating," Peter tried to protest.

"Not if he has backup!" Sirius insisted, bouncing on his heels in preparation.

"You two idiots are going to be murdered and then we're going to be zapped around with corpses," Remus pleasantly informed them. "Please, let's go have some lunch, and then we can come back," he quickly pacified.

They were still happily bickering about it when they found a good sized restaurant and went into the cool air with gratitude, raiding the kitchens for the sweet treats and each making their own scoop before Sirius finally took a grateful seat at a table and digging into the bag for the book.

"So you weren't reading that this whole time?" Peter asked with interest.

"Nah," Remus shrugged, "was just having some jollies about the place like you two."

"I'd been wondering if we'd just get yanked out of here before we'd find you two," James rolled his eyes.

Sirius ignored him too as he finally got started reading the chapter title.

"Glory Black, we could hear you outside, can you yell that any louder," Smith said as she poked her head inside, her face flushed from heat as well but looking almost grateful to have found them.

"You just getting started on that?" Longbottom asked as he came inside as well along with Evans, all three clutching stuffed parrots.

"Yep, glad you could join us," James smiled and very obviously moved himself over to make room for them, her, nearly pushing Peter out of his seat in the process.

Peter scowled and shoved him back just as hard, James nearly face planting his ice cream.

Ignoring the two making snipping comments at each other now, the three sat around comfortably, though not nearly as far away as they could. James still beamed at the proximity, wishing they could spend the rest of this reading adventure here, it was clearly putting Evans in a good mood, she was even smiling as Sirius started off and it didn't even dim that much as the Muggleborns in the school were described during this monster fear.

Regulus spent the entire time staring at penguins. They were funny little things, he'd instantly decided, and had been captivated at once by the flightless birds zooming through the water at such speeds. For a moment he'd even tried to see if he could run faster and been amazed the bird swam the length of it's glass before he could do any such thing. Smiling as the one he'd locked eyes on darted away, he tried to circle around and follow it, finding a nice large tree he could sit under and observe the whole area.

He was sure if a Muggle were to come along he'd be terribly scolded, he'd had to clamber over a large ridge right into the enclosure and several of the birds came up to him within reach, clicking their beaks and eyeing him for food. When he offered nothing they lost interest and began preening each other, the splash of water as the bodies leaped free of their miniature ocean the only noise he heard until Sirius finally began reading the next part of the chapter.

His voice had been so clear Regulus had startled, scattering all the webbed critters that had gone near him back into the water, but when he looked around, there was still no one in sight. Sighing and inching himself further a bit more so that his feet nearly touched the clear surface, he relaxed again and let himself enjoy the tale from a distance for once. He couldn't hear the commentary going along, to which he was grateful for. He could almost imagine it all anyways, his idiot of a brother and his friends laughing about the Potter kid causing trouble in Snape's class, Smith and Longbottom being happy about everything and chatting about the good merits of a dueling club. By the time the chapter even got to the part of Harry attending it Regulus was so relaxed he'd even slipped his shoes off and dipped his feet in the water, surprised by how pleasantly warm it was.

Hearing of Harry actively speaking Parseltongue was of great interest to him, his fascination with Potters child growing all the more as he took control of the situation and spoke the language he'd only heard rumor the Dark Lord could as well. Knowing the child could and actively hearing him do it twice now was enthralling, what his family would give if he could do such a thing as well! Potter and his friends treated it like some bad thing, and Regulus just had to scoff, those kids didn't know how good their life could be if they'd just be a bit smarter, instead all three reminded him of his idiotic brother.

The idea of something happening to a ghost did get his attention, a chill sweeping through him that had nothing to do with the warm sun still beating down. He couldn't blame that Ernie fellow for thinking Harry had done it given the circumstances, but a pureblood should be smarter than that! He should realize you should always look at more options available than just blaming the obvious source, shouldn't he? He was really starting to question that, considering that Hermione friend of Potter's obviously knew better but so many purebloods didn't. Then he swallowed and looked around again, waiting for his mother or one of his friends from school to spot him having such traitorous thoughts-

He cursed and jumped straight out of the enclosure in surprise, not because Potter was going to see the headmaster, but a penguin had taken a nip at his foot, apparently under the delusion it was a snack rather than toes. He drew his wand and took aim at the pestilent bird, but lowered it at the last second as he conceded he had been asking for such a thing to be happening. Then he was pulled away altogether.

I regret nothing! I had such a blast! Having them branch so far off from each other turned this into four little mini narratives and I loved it, not to mention so many animals I got to imagine in the background of everything! I've never been to the London Zoo, but they have a website so I tried to keep everything they saw as realistic as possible, but as always please correct me if I got even some insignificant details wrong.

*This is in reference to the fact that I found a directory of all animals listed in the London Zoo. They have three boas, only one of which is from Brazil, and it's the Emerald species.

Chapter Text

Extra chapter today because, Father's Day! Those guys need more appreciation!

If Frank had any time to hope that being transported from a seated position would help with this insane process of being thrown across time and space, he was found wrong at once. He collapsed to the ground yet again, somehow these trips always seemed to miss landing them in chairs, like the one right in front of his face.

"Glory Regulus, what were you up to out there?"

Frank grabbed the edge of the sturdy seat and got himself into a more comfortable upright position to look around and see the elder Black eyeing his kid brother with confusion, a sentiment he shared. He had his wand drawn but held casually at his side, and his feet were bare. He'd landed on top of the mantle of a fireplace and looked properly confused by such a thing.

"None of your business," he muttered as he swung himself down.

Frank agreed with that at least, and began looking around himself, trying to understand why everything had a greenish hue. It didn't take much to grasp they were back at school, and this must be the Slytherin common room. The place was very dark, with a low ceiling and plenty of long, straight backed chairs available that cast more shadows than anything. It didn't seem like a particularly pleasant place to be.

The others were all getting grudgingly to their feet as well, taking in each bit of gloom with clear disdain.

"Would anyone else be surprised if Slytherin's monster's hiding about in here?" Pettigrew muttered as he walked past him.

Alice came up to him rubbing her arm, eyeing the blank stretches of wall. The absence of decorations, or even a door for that matter, left them feeling claustrophobic, especially after having come from such a bright open space. Ironic the zoo full of caged animals felt more hospitable than a place where so many of the pure-blood elite spent their time. "I'm not sure we'll be able to read the book with this lighting, we'll have to cast a spell just to find the words."

"Oh stop your complaining, the lot of you," Regulus groused as he went over to the center of the room. "Just because it's not the opulent glory of a tower doesn't mean it hasn't got some charm." He raised his wand and gave a simple sort of wave, then Frank had to shield his eyes at the blinding light.

He had to blink a few times for his eyes to adjust before his mouth fell open in surprise. Now this looked more like how he'd picture the proud house living. The soft green glow was still present, but now the lamps above shone bright like high-noon down on the chairs laced with silver, almost like thrones, each leg seemed studded with emeralds. The bare walls were suddenly shone to have a beautiful scale-pattern, he felt he could go up and pet a living creature encircling them. The floor turned out to be a dark, highly polished reflective sort, so that whether you were looking up or down you felt you were in a sea of endless riches as both were inlaid with gorgeous embroidery of the darkest silver ruins.

Evans let out a low, appreciative whistle, sharing his sentiments. "Why couldn't we have started with this?" She was wishing Sev was here with her so she could kick him, she'd been begging him to sneak her in here to have a look around and he'd always refused.

"Cause not everyone wants to wake up and go to classes with the lights on," Regulus rolled his eyes while responding to her. Now that they had some proper way to look around, Frank easily spotted the book resting innocently on a nearby table. There was still homework scattered about the place, and for some reason a few Christmas decorations were dangling about, adding nicely to the decor of the room.

Frank had just cracked the book open and read the chapter title, he could only be impressed for a moment they'd be talking about Polyjuice Potion four years early by Harry's standards, when he heard a shout.

Looking up and around in surprise, he saw Sirius Black had been trying to go off to the dormitories beyond, and a wall of dirt had snapped down in front of him. His friends had snatched him back before he could go another step farther even as they watched it trickle back up into the ceiling.

"The bloody hell-" Potter began in protest.

"It's a security measure, I'm sure if any of us had tried to wander up to your dormitories something would have happened to us as well," Regulus shrugged. "The school doesn't seem to have a particular care if we go into each others common rooms, but the dorms are a bit private, don't you think?"

He walked past them without a care and disappeared from sight down a long corridor, but his way stayed lit with a soft green light just below his feet to guide his way.

"Little tosser," the Black left behind scowled, shoving his friend off of him and beginning to pace in front of the entryway. "I can't believe this castle won't even let us into the boys part! Not like there's anyone to snoop on in there anyways."

"Come on Pads, let's go see if we can explore the rest of the castle instead," Pettigrew offered, already walking towards the opposite wall.

Frank couldn't help but watch them curiously, if anything just because he wanted to know how they knew where the exit was, he spotted no such thing. They went with confidence though and tried pushing a bit of wall no more defined than the rest, and nothing happened.

"Damn, looks like we're stuck down here," Lupin sighed before stretching out in the nearest chair.

"How do you lot know where the door is?" Alice asked.

"We snuck in here once in our third year," Potter said while eyeing Evans with that usual confident smirk in place, clearly waiting for her praise at such a feat any second. "Only got a quick look around before a student spotted us and we bolted before they could say anything. Always meant to get back in here and get a look around-"

"Now we have the perfect opportunity, and the bleeding dorms won't cooperate," Black sighed.

Frank decided he wasn't really surprised, and trying to ignore the horrifying idea they'd tried the same in Ravenclaw tower and what they could have gotten away with up there, he went back to the slightly more sain twelve year olds handling a potion years above them.

It didn't start with that of course. In this new environment, he'd almost forgotten his excitement for hearing about Dumbledore's office, a place he'd never been. It was very interesting to hear of from Harry's perspective, and he hoped eagerly he could view it himself, without the added threat of getting sent there like the Marauders were still bragging about.

"Sometimes I really dislike that hat," Alice said as she sat down beside him, shifting around until she got comfortable in the high-backed chair. "Making a kid feel so awful just because of the house it thinks he should be in."

"Magic is not the universal cure for happiness," Frank agreed.

Nobody paid much attention to the interactions of Fawkes, they all knew how phoenix's worked.

"Lads, I think we need to find some way to thank Hagrid," James told as he slumped against the wall and pulled out his wand, twirling it in his fingers out of boredom. "He's the only person in Harry's life who I've consistently not hated."

"Speak for yourself," Sirius sniffed. "I still haven't forgiven him bringing a dragon onto school grounds!" Even as he listened though, he felt his heart warmed by such a loyal act as Hagrid storming into an office with a dead rooster to declare Harry's side. "Alright, I vote we get him a rooster safe hen-house."

Peter laughed and agreed, but Remus had his head cocked to the side in deep concentration. He wondered at the coincidence of Hagrid's roosters being killed at the same time muggleborns were being threatened inside the castle, but then Sirius distracted him by elbowing him and announcing loudly in his ear, "I say we take a leaf out of the twins book, everyone around here needs a good laugh."

"It's too bad Snivellus isn't here to red herring as this Slytherin heir," Peter agreed.

"You don't think it's him?" James asked in surprise.

"He's no more likely it than you or Sirius, even if he is a royal prat." Peter shrugged. "He's a second year, and what's more, if he wanted to do this he'd have been doing it last year. Nah, my money is this is someone new to the school who thinks they're trying to be some show off, a first year."

Lily sat down hard right where she still had landed in surprise at the announcement that little second year had managed a Polyjuice Potion! She'd been convinced this whole time that little girl was going to poison herself and her friends, but then they went and executed a plan and used the vat perfectly!

"I wish we'd gotten to be in the bathroom with that," Alice sighed wistfully. "I'd have loved to drop some of my hair into it, to see what color it turned."

"I hope these kids never have to come up with a plan to save their life or anything," Regulus muttered more for himself than anything, but he made the others all jump anyways. None seemed to have even noticed he'd entered the room again, still barefoot and looking very annoyed by this. "They couldn't even be bothered to investigate where this common room is before trying to infiltrate it."

Sirius laughed in agreement as he told, "honestly Reg, this kid clearly didn't get our brains."

Regulus scowled and pointedly walked back out of sight then so that he wouldn't have to stay in the common room, while Sirius just watched him in confusion. He pays his brother one complement and the world ends huh? Would it kill the kid to take notice of someone who wasn't his precious pureblood friends or parents? Maybe then he'd stop going around laughing at words that shouldn't even be spoken.

Listening to the affects the Polyjuice Potion was having on Harry was quite interesting, Frank wished he'd had this passage available back when he did the assignment this year. He kept reading through the rest without much interest as his mind spiraled off on this train of thought, wondering about how long they'd been at this, had exams already happened? Was the school back in their time in fact already releasing for the summer and his mother would be at the station wondering where he was? How long had they been at this-

"Ha, the Malfoy kid doesn't have a thing to do with this! Pay up Prongs!"

They dissolved into terse mutters about that pureblood git saying such a thing about a fellow student, while Frank ground his teeth in agitation at how loud they could be before realizing what he'd just read. It was a bit surprising Malfoy didn't have a thing to do with what was going on this year, and felt a little bad for Hermione. She'd gone through all this trouble to make such an advanced potion, hadn't even come along for a reason he hoped the boys would discover as they started to head back. Now it turns out it really felt like it was all for nothing.

"A cat!" Lily yelped. "Oh dear, that poor thing!" Ignoring as always Potter smiling at her and his friends laughing like idiots for no reason she could tell now, the heartless gits.

"Err, that's reversible, right," Alice asked her, hoping Hermione wouldn't spend the rest of her life in St. Mungo's for some misfortune like this.

"I would really think so," Lily sighed, moving closer now to peek over Frank's shoulder as if hoping he was holding out the answer on her.

He wasn't but he did warn the chapter was about to end. He took one last look around this room, but didn't give himself enough time to worry about what was coming next, if he dwelled on all the horrible possibilities too long he doubted he'd be able to get out another word.

In my defense for this chapter, it really does annoy me all we see of the Slytherin common room is dark and boring, same as practically every other character we see for the house during Harry's school years. So I gave the place an upgrade. I can't wait to get to the Slytherin dorms where I have another really fun idea! Sorry if you disagree, and this is headcannon, not cannon.

Chapter Text

Remus felt a deep pull on his core, one he instantly recognized that had nothing to do with once again blinking into new surroundings they had not been in moments ago. Moonlight glinted in through the arched windows of the Gryffindor dormitory, but he cared not what or who he stumbled over as he lurched to the ledge and peered out helplessly beyond. The clouds were wispy, the moon bright and high in the sky, but not full. Two, perhaps one day tops.

He pressed his sweating brow to the glass with gratitude, already sensing the others getting much more slowly to their feet and recognizing Sirius placing his hand on his shoulder before he even looked over to check.

"You have got to be kidding me!" James began loudly causing a distraction. "We get blocked from entering the Slytherin's dorms, but we just get plopped into ours! Who's controlling this mess, I demand a refund!"

"I wasn't aware you were paying for this ride," Peter huffed as he rubbed his forehead against the offending trunk it had crashed against. "Mind if I get my share back?"

"Urgh, I don't know how on Earth we're going to find the book in this mess," Alice scowled about the place as she brushed a sock from her head.

"Charming little place," Frank agreed, having half landed under a bed and getting the joy of a toad leaping away from his face in surprise. Trevor, if he recalled correctly.

"Don't know what you lot are complaining about, we've finally got some beds!" Black cheered, pulling his friend away from the window and collapsing on the nearest one with an exhausted look in place that, to be fair, likely was not faked.

"How long have we been at this?" Potter agreed, flouncing on the floor and yanking the blankets off of the perch his friends had claimed. "I say we don't even bother looking for the next part of this mess until morning and get some shut eye!"

"Well I'm glad you lot can get comfortable," Lily sighed, staying where she'd landed at the foot of the available mattresses, eyeing it as if fearing it was going to consume her in her sleep. Even in the familiarity of being back up in her tower, if not the girls portion, she could not shake the feeling this castle seemed to be clutching even without the mass of students present. There was something going on she'd never had to fear even in her own time.

Regulus watched silently as, to his surprise, Potter actually ignored her and kept chatting up his three friends in their one space. Alice and Frank blushed scarlet at the sudden implications before them and went to separate beds, Regulus stayed where his was nearest the door, and Evans realized after a moment she was going to be ignored and tentatively began trying to organize the blankets into a more suitable position. Regulus found it quite clever. The last thing Potter could have done to force Evans to sleep in a bed was going all chivalrous and making a space for her. Now she was settling into one with orange drapings all along it silently while just as thoroughly ignoring him.

He decided to take the suggestion himself and stretched out on the last one, the canopy of which had shamrocks dancing along the perimeter and a few pictures of a sandy haired bloke and a tall black kid laughing. He didn't know which was the beds owner, and he didn't care as he closed his eyes and rolled over, trying to get comfortable. It took quite some time to fall off to sleep, though he was surprised Sirius still whispering incomprehensibly was helping. It reminded him of home, where he could often hear Kreacher going about the place at all hours, and the portraits whispering, the wind ripping through the old house.

It didn't take that long before Peter decided to risk it, transforming into Wormtail and creeping along to each bed and checking carefully to see all others asleep. He went so far as to give their noses little licks, but the worst reaction was Longbottom tossing violently over in his sleep and muttering, his snores nearly knocking Wormtail off the bed. Then Peter popped back over to his friends, who all had heavy lidded eyes themselves, but were grateful to stop whispering about Quidditch statistics for once upon his nod.

"This is getting too close guys!" Remus managed hoarsely. He couldn't even pretend to not be holding painfully tight to Sirius' arm, he desperately needed some anchor to those around him instead of the death threat hanging just outside this window in the night.

"Relax Moony, I told you I had a plan," James promised, the others having to almost read his lips in the poor light. They wished they'd had this conversation back out in the zoo where no one had been around, but they'd been too afraid of risking their conversation being carried through magic. Regulus hadn't once questioned what all had transpired when they'd been out of sight, so they'd just have to run on the assumption they'd have to watch every word they said no matter the location. They may not get another chance like this for awhile.

"And what, pray tell, would you lot have done in such a confined area if I'd transformed and began trying to kill everything in sight?!" Remus' voice only restrained from screaming by doing the opposite, the words horribly jumbled together and barely intelligible to those around him.

"Easy, we pin you down, Peter would get through the chapter like all our lives depended on it. Then, when we flashed out of here, we'd just have to erase their memories of what happened, reread the chapter they all missed, and poof, problem solved!"

Remus wondered how long his friend had been certifiable without him noticing. Possibly back when they'd decided to keep hanging around after learning his secret and he'd ignored it.

"That is the stupidest thing I've heard in my life." Peter thankfully agreed with him.

"I'm not hearing you two come up with any better ideas," Sirius snipped, but the uneasy frown on his face told enough, he was no more sold on this.

"Prongs, remember when you got electrocuted at the Dursleys?" Remus tried to remind him, straining not to inflect in his voice how idiotic his friend was.

James clearly did as he flexed the digits uncomfortably. His hand still hadn't seemed to fully heal from the event, even if he did seem to have it back in working order. It was mending, slowly.

"The words from the book vanished until you came back around. Merlin knows what would happen to it if one of us died, we'd probably be stuck in that spot forever! I don't think erasing knowledge of the book will help anything!"

"We wouldn't be erasing knowledge from the book, I told you we'd reread the chapter and give it back, just not certain unavoidable events that happened," James insisted with confidence.

Remus licked his lips and again looked nervously out the window.

"Thankfully, time still seems to be on our side and it hasn't been a problem yet," Sirius said with just a touch more confidence. "At least we have a starting point for a plan. Let's get some shut-eye while we can."

Remus slumped against the headboard, knowing even as exhausted as he was he wasn't going to sleep a wink. He felt colder every second, helped nothing by Sirius sliding off the bed and joining the other two in a sort of pile along the floor.

His stomach kept twisting into painful knots, and every single time he managed to unravel just a bit by the reminder his friends wouldn't let anything happen to the innocent people around him, it only went even more taught at the idea he'd kill one of them in the process. He curled into himself and kept looking blearily out the window, the reflective surface tormenting him as it grew brighter every second.

"Moony?"

It had to have been hours later, he'd watched the slow process as it trickled across the sky in his mind's eye, but he couldn't so much as let one finger free of the cramped position he'd set himself in. Sirius slid up on the bed beside him again, wriggling his fingers in until he'd unfastened both his hands and then finally pulled those apart. Remus finally rolled his head around to see the dark silver of his eyes. They were nothing like the bright color he so feared.

"I decided to take Prongs' advice and have a chat with you while we could," Sirius crawled up and laid along his back, so that he was whispering in his ear, one hand still gripping his to make sure he couldn't pull himself back away. "Don't worry, they're both asleep. I'd say I'd know after nearly five years." He added on when Remus didn't respond.

"What did you want to talk about?" He muttered back, his own voice sounding like a strangers it dragged so badly.

"Don't know," he admitted. "Just couldn't sleep."

Well that was a lie, otherwise he wouldn't have 'wanted a chat' when the other two were out. Remus kept himself quiet and let Sirius build up whatever was on his mind. When he finally got it, it wasn't quite what he was expecting.

"I think Peter knows."

"Eh?"

"Hmm," was his only mutter for a moment, before he kept going in a soft whisper right into his ear, "he's been watching us. Course, he watches everything, but still."

"If this is your idea of pillow talk, it's lacking," was all he could think to say as yet another fear was paralleled into the mix, the last thing he wanted was James and Peter making every alluding joke in the book about the two of them and Sirius getting cold feet, pulling back with fear about anything resembling a relationship with their hooking up, and it hadn't even gotten close to that yet.

"Remus, I mean it," Sirius muttered, trying to draw his legs up to him but instead just knocking them into Remus' knees. He kept them there instead, Sirius now entirely along his back as much as he could.

"You want to tell them?" He finally asked. If Sirius had been trying to give him something else to think about, it had worked.

"I don't like keeping things from either of them. I get the feeling they're going to know sooner rather than later, and we should tell them before that."

"We haven't even told each other what we've been doing." He huffed as a get around. He flashed back to the moment he'd started this by kissing Sirius back. He'd justified it to himself at the time as a way to draw Sirius back to him and find some way to stop the fighting, the panicked look across his mates face when he'd first done it clearly meaning he hadn't any more to go on. Now he was worried he'd jumped the gun on the right way to do that, even if he couldn't regret it as he finally started to relax along the warm body. "Can't we at least wait until we get out of this crazy mess?" He asked more quietly still, worried Sirius had nodded off in the silence as he went through his mind for an answer.

"Yeah, yeah that's fair. This has got to stop eventually. As much as I'm not enjoying living through Prongs' sons crazy life and all."

Remus snorted quietly in agreement to that. "Think there's really some monster running around this castle?"

"I'm thinking it more likely with every passing event in this kids life. I just can't put my finger on what."

Remus hadn't let himself think on it himself, so invested in everything else going on. He finally let himself fall into a fit of uneasy sleep as the silvery moon finally faded behind his heavy eyes. Sirius smiled, and slowly as he was capable of, inched himself away from Remus until he slid back between James and Peter on the floor. Remus still slept on.

Alice had suffered quite a few abrupt awakenings. One when her cousin came over for the summer and thrown her things all over Alice's bed in welcoming, another as her dorm-mates cat pissed on her, but none quite so memorable as Frank kissing her good morning. She smiled up at him and curled tighter into her warm bed as he brushed at her hair before some part of conciseness returned and she murmured, "what are you doing in here?"

"I'm pretty sure we've yet been able to fully answer that," Frank reminded her kindly. She blinked the haze away and finally realized she was not in her own dorm, but still up in Gryffindor tower. There was water running somewhere in the background, she realized as she sat up slowly. She found the Marauders all awake and moving about, much quieter than she would have given them credit for, though still being their usual selves and going through all the available school trunks. Pettigrew was at the foot of hers and tossing things around, a football of all things bouncing against the opposite wall.* It was noticeable they all had slightly damp hair, and their clothes looked just a bit less worn.

She looked properly around her own setting for the first time, some glimmers of unease still present she'd slept in a stranger's bed. This boy was either a muggle-born or had a clear love for them, as he had a poster of one of their sports up that wasn't even moving, though a few pictures scattered around of a tall, dark skinned lad and a sandy-haired boy in someone's backyard messing around with the same football that had just been tossed around.

"They claim to be looking for that," Frank stage whispered as he gestured to the book that was sitting clearly on the bedside table of the bed Frank had been sleeping in.

She stretched as she got out from under the covers and went over to it, sitting down there instead as they'd clearly already been through this place, in far too much detail. There was a pair of pants with all the pockets turned inside out right near the foot of the bed. Frank followed and put another easy arm around her, gesturing before she could grab the book, "had you been wondering what Neville looked like?"

She had, admittedly, and was just as pleased as she was shocked when Frank reached into the bedside cabinet and pulled out a moving picture. It was a family portrait. Frank began pointing out people clearly from his side of the family, but she couldn't spare a glance for any of them, even her future mother in law with a vulture for a hat. Her son, the youngest by far, was standing half behind her in the photo, his little face only peaking out every few seconds the brightest spot.

At first she thought her son had inherited all of his fathers looks along with just his family, with that light blond hair and kind brown eyes. It wasn't until he peaked out again she could spot her own face inlaid with her child's, the kindness she felt pouring from him.

Smiling with pride and very carefully keeping the picture in her grasp as she moved to take the book, she vowed to keep this with her as long as she could get away with. First she couldn't help but stop and look around herself once more with an uneasy feeling. This bed then, her sons, was the only one without any sort of defining marker. She locked eyes with Frank, the worry passing between them as real as Potter flinging textbooks about with abound.

"Aren't all diary's very secret?" The elder Black laughed as he strolled by, checking carefully under each bed for something that was beyond both of them.

"Shouldn't you wait for Regulus to get out?" Pettigrew called over.

In answer, the water stopped, and the younger Black stepped out, toweling his hair and straightening his shirt.

Alice and Frank looked relieved, and Lily reluctant, but they all took turns in the second years boys bathroom. It was simple enough, everything done up in silver and gold of course, with lions embroidered into all the linen. Thankfully the plumbing was working just fine, the settings for the taps were the same in their respective bathrooms, and the laundry shoot still magicked their clean clothes back to them by the time they were all freshened up.

"I'm not surprised the school would think Hermione got attacked," Evans said as she came over to sit beside them on the edge of the bed, taking a brush to her long locks, finally. It was amazing how relaxed they all felt after a little hot water, and the schools magic still somehow managed to know what products each of them used.

"I'm just hoping it makes all those kids realize how stupid it is to think Harry's the one doing this, attacking his friend." Potter seemed to agree with her, stopping his shenanigans of tossing bed sheets around to smile winningly over at her.

She turned away, not taking notice of the water dripping upon the bed, but her nose didn't go quite as high in the air as usual when he talked to her.

"I still don't find it a particularly brilliant idea for Harry to be back around that bathroom," Remus muttered as he sorted through the third trunk.

"Hasn't done anyone any harm," Sirius shrugged as he passed by, tapping his chin as he eyed a pair of trainers. He held one up to his foot, then tossed it away without satisfaction.

"It can't be coincidence this place now has two random events like this," Remus insisted, abandoning a magazine over Great Locations of Kenmare.

"Myrtle floods her bathroom a dozen times a year," Sirius continued trying to ignore him. "Just because Harry found a ruddy book in there some broad wanted to flush away shouldn't mean anything- Oi, Wormtail! Stop sniffing the damn Fudge Flies and come here!"

Peter left Ron's bedside and came over with a harassed expression in place. "Whatever you want to try out on me this time Sirius, the answer's no."

"Why do you always assume it's that?" Sirius asked innocently, then kept going before he could retaliate. "Nah, Moony thinks something's up with this book Harry found, and I want someone else over here laughing at him with me. Cause more of an impact."

"You two are horrible to each other," Peter told him pleasantly. "That wouldn't work anyways, because I'm on his side, listen," he insisted when the background noise of Harry's Valentines settled down and he realized something was odd about it.

James was still snickering about the Valentine his poor son had received, while Evans was looking mortified about the same and desperately wishing that book wasn't giving Potter ideas. Regulus had been spending the whole time in the windowsill, admittedly enjoying the high view. Everyone froze as Alice went on to describe the sentient book.

"Do you think it's in here? Now?" Alice hissed as if she feared it would hear her.

"No," Potter said at once with confidence, taking a cautious step away from Harry's part of the room anyways. "No, we've been looking through this stuff all morning, haven't seen a trace of it."

An awkward silence still hung as Smith forced herself to continue, which only grew worse when Harry was sucked right into the pages.

Everyone remained frozen until it became clear Harry was in no immediate danger, as no one in this odd memory from the diary could see him. Potter, clearly trying to act as always as if this were all casual news, went back over to his sons things and began looking around with even more vigor.

The rest of the Marauders seemed to decide this same tactic, while the three still on the bed drew closer to each other. Alice's voice only shook a bit at reading of something like this, and it only grew more confusing as she reached the end and this Riddle seemed on the verge of finding the true culprit.

"Aha!"

Alice looked over in surprise as Potter quickly stowed something out of sight with a sheepish expression, clearly regretting his outburst. He'd been spending an inordinate amount of time at Harry's trunk and around his bed, and she found it almost sweet if a little obnoxious that's how he was trying to learn about his kid instead of paying attention to the book about him.

"What was that?" Frank asked as politely as he could manage.

"I, ah, found one of Lockhart's signature books Harry got! Bet that's going to be worth a fortune, I'm going to nick it!"

She and Frank exchanged a look of how much they believed that, but Alice hoped this creepy memory was almost done with already and ignored them.

Sirius wasn't listening, he'd finally found a pair he was sure would fit.

"Here Reg, put these on," Sirius said while tossing a pair of boots at his head. Regulus caught one, the other landed on top of his bare foot. A pair of socks quickly followed the same pattern.

"I don't need your help," Regulus snapped as he pushed both away. "I could get some on my own if I wanted to."

Sirius scowled down at him. "You want to wind up back in the Forest or some nonsense barefoot, fine."

Peter watched Sirius strut away, as much as he could in such a small space, back over to James. The two started up a whispered conversation while James kept patting his pocket, and Peter rolled his eyes. He instead turned his attention to Regulus with a sympathetic smile. "He means well."

"I'm not going to bother responding to you if you're just going to defend your mate over there," he huffed.

"I'm just saying," Peter put his hands up defensively. "He bosses me around all the time too. Think that's how he shows he cares."

"And he claims he's nothing like our parents," Regulus rolled his eyes and looked back out the window without further comment.

Sirius had watched the whole thing, and blew a frustrated breath when Peter joined them. "Little idiots going to get a toe cut off or something and I'm just going to laugh at him."

"Souvenir?" Remus offered, before all four burst out laughing just as they were transported away again, none having the chance to realize just what exactly Alice had said before it was too late.

*For us Americans, that's a soccer-ball.

Chapter Text

To all my guest reviewers, thanks so much, your words mean so much to me and this is my way of saying so!

Lily was the lucky one. She seemed to have landed in a large, sturdy chair that didn't even fall over as she was slammed into it. Her luck didn't hold, as Potter came stumbling right into her and landed in her lap.

"Sorry," he muttered as he blinked dazedly up at her.

"So am I," she scoffed as she pushed him off. She watched with disinterest as he fell the rest of the way to the ground before looking around. "Are we in Dumbledore's office?" She asked in surprise. It seemed to be as Harry had described, a great circular room with many portraits hung all along the wall. Most surprising of all, the occupants were all present, eyeing the students with great looks of unease.

"No, this isn't right," Potter corrected as he adjusted his glasses, though he was only looking at the desk before him. "Dumbledore's desk has clawed feet. This one's not the same, and I don't know why he'd have any reason to change it."

"Plus that's not a Hogwarts view," Lupin agreed, once again at the window. An orange glow of sunset bathed his face as he looked out onto a balcony, the terrace set up for a grand dinner party, the flat lawn beyond something Lily vaguely recalled seeing on her television once, perhaps the Muggle Prime Minister's back yard?

"We're in the Minister of Magic's office," Frank managed around an awed voice, staring more closely at all the portraits around, particularly the one right behind Lily in a large ornate frame.

"Tas right!" The woman told him, eyeing the lot of them with great suspicion. She had tightly curled grey hair and tiny little specks set upon a mushroom nose. They all vaguely recognized her as their own current Minister for Magic, Millicent Bagnold. "And just what are you lot doing in here? Ministry never allowed tours right into my office in my day."

"Err, tours?" Frank asked eagerly, wondering if they could finally get some sort of clue of what happened to the outside world. "Exactly how long has this office been empty?"

Her face went blank in confusion, before she kept going on in a sharp voice. "Never you mind, you lot need to get out."

"Wish we could," Pettigrew sighed as he once again tried the door unsuccessfully.

An ugly old wizard who resembled a toad with a muddy brown backdrop right next to the door snapped, "wishing never got you anything, how's about you get on with it." Peter eyed the name, Ulick Gamp, committing it to memory so on his O.W.L. exams he could fill in the blank for rudest Minister.

"Right, well, I'm just going to," Black tried to edge towards the bookshelf, eyeing all the titles and looking for the one they needed. Most of them were so boring he couldn't believe anyone had ever cracked the spine open, you'd think a Minister would have a more lively office. Instead, while the place certainly had a grand feel with the domed ceiling and columns of book cases, a few even did have the same knickknacks he'd once spotted in Dumbledore's office, the place felt more like a front than if anyone had decorated with a care for themselves.

Regulus clutched a hat stand to get to his feet, which only had one lime-green bowler hat upon it. He got himself upright and found himself face to face with Artemisia Lufkin, a woman who vaguely resembled McGonagall. He sort of recalled her name as the first Minister to hold a Quidditch World cup in Britain.

"I've found the book," Potter announced behind him, the sounds of him rummaging through the Ministers desk audible. "Here Evans, like a turn?"

She scoffed, but to Regulus' surprise he heard, "give me that, I'll read it just to get us out of here. How about you not go through someone else's things for a change of pace?"

The sounds of another drawer opening stopped, and he heard a deep sigh. "Sorry Evans, can't do that, might be something important in here!" Then the rustling noises of papers being rearranged began.

The red head stormed past him out of his peripheral, and Regulus rolled his eyes for the display. Didn't those two ever get tired of antagonizing each other? "Look alive sunny," Artemisia Lufkin told him with a pleasant sort of smile now, "that's one spit fire you're in the company of."

He turned away in disgust, his eyes falling on his brother and Lupin now chatting animatedly with Grogan Stump, one whom he definitely recognized from his fathers lectures. Of course his brother seemed to like that one, the idiotic Minister who decided to classify all the differences in the sort of creatures out there, but he was also the one who created the Department for Games and Sports. He was one of the few lectures both brothers had enjoyed.

Regulus instead turned to Longbottom now trying to have a proper conversation with a Minister he most certainly did know. Faris "Spout-Hole" Spavin. His mother loved that man, always going on about the story of his attempted assassination by a centaur. "You don't have another portrait anywhere? Can't leave this room and find out if something's going on in the outside world? Merlin, you don't have a clue how we're in this mess? This has to be one of the most collective knowledgeable people in history, and not one of you-

"Oh, they're not going to be of any help," Alice interrupted with a sympathetic frown to her boyfriend. "They're of no more use than our photos you know, they can only say what their real life counterpart was most likely to have. Nothing of the sort we'd need for help, it's beyond them."

"I've never looked into how conscious the portraits are," Frank admitted ruefully.

"I have," Alice shrugged. "They're fascinating, I was thinking about taking up a class this summer."

Evans looked just as disappointed, but finally turned to the book and began reading. None of them recognized the name of Cornelius Fudge, but given their environment it wasn't too hard to put together who he was.

Regulus didn't have much care of the Potter brats worry his friend Hagrid was now the main suspect. That Riddle kid who had tried to put the blame on him was ridiculous, but then, he was from a Muggle orphanage, it was no surprise he was wrong. Obviously Hagrid couldn't be the heir of Slytherin, as far as Regulus knew he wasn't even a competent wizard. No pure-blood of Slytherin's line would be riffraff about the castle grounds.

Lily was reading all of this while trying not to chew her lip up in thought. She unintentionally agreed with Regulus, someone must have framed Hagrid those fifty years ago and then stopped the attacks knowing it would be foolish to keep going. This did nothing to explain Harry's current predicament of who was doing the same now, and why such a long wait in between attacks?

James at least was enjoying hearing of Harry discussing his options for more classes. He could commiserate the feeling of wanting to drop some, and then sat up with interest a new subject was being added.

"Divination?" Peter demanded, circling around the desk as James was now on his knees with files circling him. "Why couldn't we have had that option, do you know how much easier our life would have been to make up shit for our homework instead of Ancient Runes!"

"But you're great at that class," James looked up at him in surprise.

"Yeah, but still, I'd have liked a dozer option," Peter shrugged as he sat down beside him, careful not to sit on anything and block James' progress. "Looking for anything in particular?"

"Not really," he shrugged as he kept going. "Decided not to pass up the opportunity to see what goes on in here though. Mostly it's just his signatures on final documents about imported goods, some minor law regarding trade with Eurasia, food that needs to be shipped out to Azkaban-"

He stopped in surprise and looked around, Peter and everyone else with him as Evans read out the trashed out common room they'd currently left.

"Who on Earth would do such a thing!" Frank asked in surprise.

"Besides the Marauders," Evans agreed with a glare at the two she could still see, knowing the other two were still at it behind the desk.

"It was like that when we entered," Black said carelessly, but there was a suspicious frown on his face all the same as he tried to figure out who would have done this and why. Hermione's suggestion it could only be a Gryffindor didn't make any sense, Harry and Ron had already proved this year anyone in the castle could have gone in. The real question was, why?

They all grew uncomfortably still when they realized the object that was missing Riddle's diary!

"Well, I say good," Remus muttered as he sat down in the Minister's chair and kept eyeing James' work. "That thing was no good and didn't need to be around Harry or anyone. Whoever came and got it from him can deal with such a nasty dark object."

"I don't understand what the point of it was," Sirius was starting to pace in agitation and kicked a file right into James' lap by accident. A few papers scattered out of it while he kept going. "Was Harry supposed to find it? Was him finding it some elaborate trap? Who would care if the point of it was for Harry to see Hagrid being framed all those years ago? Anyone who knew him would know he'd never actually turn on his friend."

"Idiots about the school who don't know him well at all," Peter suggested as he went to pull the last page out from under the desk, while James tried to haphazardly put the rest back into a neat pile.

At least as Evans kept going they had the promise of a good Quidditch match to look forward too, until that was also ruined by that voice once again appearing.

Remus shivered and sunk deeper in his chair, thankful the sun was still clinging to the horizon outside even if the sky was blood red for it. At least they weren't back in the castle having to hear of such a thing happening again.

"I swear Hermione would stop in the middle of a fight just to go look up a spell!" James laughed in surprise as she darted away again.

"Prongs, look at this," Peter suddenly hissed, now crouching very purposefully under the desk while Evans kept going. He froze in surprise and the two hardly even registered their friends grousing loudly about Quidditch of all things being canceled.

Frank and Alice listened with trepidation, holding each others hands and standing as close to each other as they could in the large office. It didn't matter they weren't in the castle, they could feel the impending doom of whatever had caused such a thing, and were horrified to be right. A double attack, and one was a girl they well knew would affect Harry.

"Oh!" Lily yelped in surprise, dropping the book as if it had scalded her as she read out Hermione's name. Her stomach heaved, she looked near tears. A prefect and another Muggleborn! She may as well picture herself there, petrified forever!

"Shh, hey, it's okay Lily," Alice was at her side then, as if she could rub comfort into her through her arm. "I'll finish this, alright, everything will work out."

"N-no," she said stubbornly at once. "I was just, surprised."

"It's alright to admit otherwise," Frank said kindly, watching her shaking hands in concern.

"Well, I don't need to because I'm not," she snapped, stepping away from both of them. She refused to be pandered too when there was nothing wrong! She was being ridiculous, picturing herself as such a thing, they'd never be getting anywhere near whoever was doing this.

The two exchanged a look of concern but didn't protest anymore, letting her work this out how she saw fit.

The mirror made no sense to anyone, though Regulus shifted restlessly as he was sure an answer was piling up right in front of them. Those school rules McGonagall was suddenly trying to enforce wasn't going to help anything. Then he scoffed in disgust how easily swayed the house of Gryffindor was so ready to blame and throw out anyone of his own house. Of course none of those idiots would recognize a frame up job when one was presented.

"What are you two looking at over there?" Sirius finally demanded when James and Peter shared a dreadful look over mention of Harry going to see Hagrid again. It seemed like a good idea to him, see what the gamekeeper really did have to say about all of this.

"That we don't think Hagrid will be there when the boys come knocking," Peter sighed.

"Why?" Remus sat up in surprise to snatch the paper away now. "Think he's going to make a run for it, that's ridiculous."

"I know I would if that was coming for me," James said grimly when Remus went white in surprise.

"Oh for the love of-" Sirius snatched it away next rather than waiting for Moony to find his tongue, and then promptly lost his own. He swallowed uncomfortably and could only breathe again when the boys did it and found Hagrid indeed still at his cabin. His state though made it clear he was now as aware of his pending doom as they were. Someone would soon be calling to arrest him and take him to Azkaban, as this order by the Minister declared.

"They can't do this!" Peter whispered in a horror mirroring Hagrid's, he'd be doing much more than just breaking teapots around his own place.

"Oh but they can," James spat in disgust, suddenly on his feet and stamping across everything now without a care. More pages scattered about the entire room now, he had half a mind to conjure up more and create a mini-tornado full of all the Ministers most precious things and cast them away forever. He would never let this stand, Hagrid had done nothing to deserve this! If they'd had proof of this act he already would have been locked away, now they were just rehashing an old suspect, and for what? To put the blame on anyone? Or the half-giant.

Dumbledore's presence was the most mild of relief, and that was ruined anyways in the next second as the Minister himself was there to fill out the order.

There was nothing but stunned silence and nasty faces as Evans told all why Fudge was there, and things still only grew worse when Lucius Malfoy arrived.

Regulus tried to look relieved, but he couldn't find the feeling anywhere in him. The pure-blood stepping in would surely make all of this better and stop all this happening to kids, he knew that's exactly what his mother would say, but then he realized he shouldn't even be wanting this to stop. It was true the only ones being attacked were Muggleborns, and who should care if a few less of them were plaguing the school?

He did.

He hated to admit it, even to himself. It left him nauseous with the feeling a knife was going to sprout in his back any second for such a thought, but he couldn't deny it anymore. It just wasn't right, this happening to kids he shared a class with! How could it ever be right to see anyone so terrified for their own life, as Evans clearly was.

He didn't know who to turn to or what to do with this news of Dumbledore now being just as forcibly departed as the gamekeeper. He really couldn't think of much of anything past the idea this had to stop somehow. He couldn't imagine how things could get any worse as they were ripped from this place once more.

More disclaimer, I'm making more stuff up. It's so much fun! For the record, I imagine the place can be transformed to each Minister's desire, and this is still the early stages where Fudge emulated and wanted to be just like Dumbledore. What his office would have looked like after the fact I might circle back to, but it would be hard to squeeze in, as I'm still adamant they won't ever return to the same place twice. If any of you have any other ideas what you thought Fudge's office would be like, I'd love to hear it!

Chapter Text

"Not again!" Was the most intelligible thing to be understood through the multitude of cursing ensuing around them all.

They were somehow, impossibly, in an even smaller space than Harry's cupboard had been! Not one of them could even sit upright without cracking their heads, all forced in a bent angle with their knees in their face, the miracle it was even wide enough for the eight of them to all be squashed into one another achieved only by magic.

"Where the bloody hell are we!"

"Who cares, somebody get us out!"

As muffled and in pain as they all were, the one that rose above them all was the only one they could care about, Regulus miraculously having the book and giving absolutely no care to anything of the pleasant openings as he sped his way through the opening chapter, caring no more than the others who or what an Aragog was.

"I would follow a horde or angry goblins into a dragons den to get out of this place, Ron's spider phobia is laughable," Peter moaned right beside him, fidgeting so much James swore he was knocking into everyone around him purpose.

Truly a wrenching scene though it was to hear Ron agreeing to track down the spiders into the Forbidden Forest all from one look at his friends empty seat, Regulus couldn't pay much of anything a mind when he was only squinting at words with the book mashed into his nose because he couldn't stretch it one bloody centimeter from his face as cramped as they all were. He'd certainly never had a will to go looking for spiders, but that task sounded like a blessing right now compared to their current conditions.

The trek the two boys were making was long and far more arduous than anyone wanted it to be! All the tension being built up would surely cause their current encasement to explode before they even reached where ever these spiders were heading! The car making a reappearance only left them temporarily distracted, but finally the boys had a run in with the real spiders of the forest. Any other day Regulus would have been sympathetic and partially afraid for his own life at such large beasts dragging off two twelve year olds. Some part of him was even thanking his lucky stars someone's foot was smashed into his backside rather than currently in the hold of those pincers where they just as likely could have ended up.

Aragog, it turned out, was the arachnid father to all others in this bloody castle apparently, and his interactions with Harry weren't leading to any of them having much envy of Harry getting to stretch his legs more than them at the moment.

Either way, he was more than grateful Aragog was keeping this conversation short, not so much when the spider then sentenced Harry and Ron to death for it. The idea still settled uneasily in the back of his mind what would happen when Harry died, where would they get sent next? Thankfully the car made a comeback and they escaped with their lives. At this point Regulus wasn't convinced he'd get out of this space with all his organs where they were supposed to be he was scrunched so tight, so he eagerly finished with Harry's epiphany and didn't get a second to dwell on it himself, not one second to breathe properly as he finished.

Chapter Text

The sensation of falling wasn't unknown to a Quidditch player, but James usually had control of it! Instead he was left a screaming, flailing mess as something hard slid along his back, and there was minimal lighting at best as pockets of air kept shooting in his face like he was being spun past whirlpools. He was sure he screamed, and it wasn't just him.

There was an unsavory crack upon his landing, and the shooting pain of landing on his rear led him to the fearful belief at first he'd cracked a bone in his arse. Scrambling madly to his feet to detect any damage and deny any such thing lest his friends die of laughter, his hands scraped over something that too cracked and shifted beneath him, something even digging into his palm as he got upright. The pain lingered, but no worse than usual, so he let out a final gust of relived breath he not only could stretch as much as need be, but there was plenty of space around, even if it was all pitch black.

Then he shivered and swallowed loudly upon realizing this same thing. "Guys?" He called hoarsely, from dust hovering about the place he assured himself, not any sort of fright of what could be lurking around this unknown area.

Seven calls came back in varying degrees of pain, then one pitched higher than the rest. "Eww, get it out!"

"Evans?" He called quickly, stumbling in his haste to try and pinpoint her voice and flaming hair in the gloom.

"There's something in my hair," she insisted as he slowly came into sight, indeed swiping at her long locks. He could just make out something gossamer indeed tangled in, and so desperate was she to get it out, she didn't even argue the point as he stepped forward and helped her.

"Here, I got a light," Smith popped up beside them and did as such as James pulled off something long and white clinging to her.

"It's on you too," she wretched, stepping away from him and still batting at herself in disgust. "What is that stuff?"

James knew from his many escapades deep in the forest, but didn't want to tell her.

"Think it's spiderweb," Regulus called, his voice still far enough away in the gloom it was echoing, but his tone was almost semi-conversational. Between Evans being more repulsed by her situation than being near him and the young Black's gratitude of being able to stretch again, everyone seemed in an almost pleasant mood. "I'm guessing we were just in Aragog's cupboard Hagrid kept him in."

"Well, I guess I count that as the lesser of two evils, considering where we could have ended up," Peter said from close behind him. He was trying to shuffle around much more carefully than anyone else, but the sharp snapping noise every time he moved his foot still echoed about them.

"Great, now we know where we were, let's have a chat about this place," Longbottom sighed, lighting his wand too and raising it as high as he could. Still farther off in the distance, James could only make out the source of the brightness, but everyone made little gasping noises of surprise that finally had him looking down too.

Eight sharp sounds of rat bones now snapping beneath them filled the chamber at once. None succeeded as the floor was absolutely littered with them.

"Did we find where Mrs. Norris stashes her meals?" Peter demanded in a wobbly voice, and James really couldn't blame him for being a little extra sick at the idea of this.

"This place is huge," Sirius disagreed. "There's no way we're on Hogwarts grounds and we don't know of this area."

"So conceded, the lot of you," Evans huffed, crossing her arms and glaring up at James as if he'd said the words. Though he hadn't exactly disagreed with his best mate either. "You think you know every inch of this entire castle and it's grounds."

James bit down on his lip to stop himself pointing out their map of the place should be evidence enough, but instead offered her a saucy smile and opened his arms invitingly. "I'd gladly search them all with you Evans."

She rolled her eyes and walked away, James watched her go in the dim light for a moment with an incorrigible smile before turning to Peter and whispering softly, "keep your eyes up mate, I do not like to think what led Harry down here."

"Don't have to tell me twice," Peter agreed, his face still a bit green around the edges as he reached over and plucked a little rat bone out of James' palm.

More than ready to get out of this place, James summoned the book to him. The sound of yet more bones scattering around them as it flew to his hand sent shivers up his spine, where he hoped it stayed, instead of splayed out around him. The second he flipped the book open to where the chapter began, his breath stopped cold in his heart.

"James? Prongs? What's wrong?" Remus and Sirius were suddenly surrounding him, and the cascade of noise beneath their feet should have made that much more obvious. It was hard to hear anything over the sudden pounding of his heart though when he answered.

"I think I know where we are." Taking one more shallow breath, he managed to get out the chapter title in barely more than a whisper.

He swore the air around them got colder, even as everyone tried to step a bit closer to each other.

"How, why is Harry in here?!" Evans's voice echoed more than ever in their surroundings as no one even seemed to be breathing anymore in fear of attracting anythings attention.

"I'm more concerned with getting us out, I'm sure we'll get your answer as we do," Longbottom called. James took another uneasy breath, but readily agreed with that.

Thankfully the beginning of the chapter didn't start with anything too harrowing, just the boys rehashing everything. Nothing of interest happened at all really until Ginny arrived acting like a suspicious little thing, but James excused that as a first year acting as scared as the rest of the school was. Merlin, Evans still was, and she was the toughest person he knew. Yet he saw it every time he looked out of the corner of his eye at her, the way her hands shook, the way she stood ready to run at a moments notice since these attacks had begun, how she was actually seeking out companionship from someone other than Snivellus in Longbottom and Smith.

Peter had to jab him in the side to remind him to continue, and he dragged his eyes back to Percy acting like a shifty git. They were all eternally grateful Moony hadn't let his Prefect status change anything about him.

McGonagall catching the boys trying to sneak off and see Myrtle, and the exchange that instead caused them to go visit Hermione was at first the highlight of his day.

"She always was a sucker for our sob stories the most," Sirius agreed with chipper.

"You know, after she took away fifteen points each for catching us in the first place," Peter rolled his eyes.

The boys were having so much fun reminiscing James was hardly paying attention to a word he was reading, and almost glossed right over the detail of what Hermione had in her hand.

"A, a basilisk?" The demanded question came out in such a soft hiss, the others all shifted around in unease waiting for the beast to show its face. Frank couldn't even attempt to keep going without that same panic in his voice. "How, that's not possible- a basilisk!"

"It makes sense though," Remus managed in just as low a whisper, crowding closer to his friends and eyes peeling through every shadow. "All the clues Harry just spelled out were right there the whole time." He was kicking himself now for not thinking about this more, every time the stray thought occurred to him to investigate and put together the same his friends distracted him, as usual.

"We really need to start paying more attention to this stuff," James managed in a hoarse voice he still tried to make lighthearted.

"It's not as if there's one down here," Sirius made a brave stab and a much better attempt at sounding casual. "If Slytherin put it down here, I mean, even those snakes can't live as long ago as that."

"But there's something prowling around the school now," Peter reminded, eyes flickering in so many directions he was worried they were going to fall free of his head. "And whoever's opening the Chamber now could have just as likely put one down there, especially if it's the same person who done it fifty years ago. Basilisks live a couple hundred, yes?"

Regulus watched from the mouth of the tunnel as the lot of them debated this with disbelief. He'd had his suspicions it was some sort of monstrous snake for ages, and here they were arguing the point even when that little Muggleborn good as confirmed it. He could only watch the back and forth for so long before he finally burst, "would you get on with it! What does it matter, we're still stuck down here until you bloody finish!"

There was an odd silence as everyone turned to him in surprise, before he managed to spot Sirius' flashing smile. "Mother would be so disappointed, you speaking out of turn like that."

"Shove it Sirius! I just want to go home!" His voice had managed to remain calm and collected this entire time, but the force of his words he was sure must be impactful. He could swear even the ceiling let out a trickle of dust.

Potter continued anyways, clearly eager now to at least admit to the fact getting out of this place would be the better option. He'd barely managed to get to the revelation of McGonagall summoning all the teachers though when the ceiling began to more than sprinkle dust, it suddenly became a flood, and before anyone had time to process more, the whole Earth seemed to be shaking around them. He was sure someone shouted out the command to run, as if that weren't obvious enough. Jumping back into the tunnel as the first bit of safety his mind latched onto, he clung to the hard metal that barely allowed him to rise off the ground it was so slick, the curve that had shot them all out impossible to actually find purchase on. He felt right through his bones the shattering of the ceiling behind him.

He tried to take a breath, but all that came up was a sharp, painful cough as dust continued to settle around him. Refusing to let himself stay curled up in here a moment longer, he poked his head back out and swore his heart stopped in surprise.

"Sirius?" The uneven croak could have come from anyone, surely it hadn't been his voice to crack like that upon seeing the wall that had bombarded them from nowhere.

There was more coughing now, he was sure it wasn't his own! Fighting his own legs refusing to uncurl from his position, he eased back onto the leveled ground and demanded his eyes to focus in this new gloom, the dust still lingering at all levels in the air like he was trying to see through mist.

Movement, and he was stumbling forward, still fighting back his own cough just to get a glimpse, yes! Sirius was doubled over, holding his chest in discomfort for coughing so hard even as he was still trying to stagger about like a drunkard. Potter was right beside him, patting his back and alternately glancing at Evans, whom he barely recognized now. Her shock of red hair looked as if it had aged a couple hundred years in the span of the few seconds. He was sure none of them looked any better.

He heard voices as if from a long ways off, his ears still ringing so loud it was hard to distinguish who was shouting for who, but at least someone else had survived on the other side of the wall. Sirius caught himself then, eyes darting back to awareness in a panic and at once latching onto his brother. The relief that actually flew onto his face was too much for Regulus to process all at once, and he sat down on the spot, too tired to fight back his own coughing.

"Hey, hey, it's fine. Come on Reg, let it all out," Sirius promised, his voice probably not as soothing as he was going for as restricted as it still was, but patting him roughly on the back had the same effect.

"We're fine, hey Wormtail, don't do anything stupid! Yes, all four of us, we are fine."

Potter's voice sure could carry, even managing to make itself heard through the pounding of his head, surely the others on that side heard as well. Still eyeing his best mate, he directed towards Evans now, "you sure you're alright?"

"I, ah, yes," she muttered, carding her fingers through her hair without purpose, looking him full in the face with pure shock. Regulus didn't know what had happened there, but he could imagine it. Everyone else had made a run for the other side, the opening none of them had wanted to go near. Potter and his own brother though, hadn't. What had Evans been doing to have her unwanted admirer seek her out? What had Sirius been thinking coming back!

Mother was on the verge of disowning him if he did one more thing to disgrace their name, and he'd given no uncertain emotion he was okay with that. Sirius had been avoiding him the entire time they'd been to school together and they'd had little to no contact even during the holidays.

So what had possessed him to come charging this way? Aside from backing up his best mate...

"Look, if everyone's still breathing, I'm going to bloody finish this before the rest of the roof goes!" Potter called out. He had to clear his throat several times, and still only managed some painful coughs for his efforts.

"Here, cup your hands," Evans suddenly said. Potter gazed at her for a second before tucking the book under his arm and doing as asked. With a wave of her wand and a quiet uttered word, a fresh pool of water appeared. He took a tentative sip, spilling most of it down his chin.

"Thanks," he finally said in a clear voice again. She just nodded once, crossing her arms defensively again once more and turning her attention back to the wall, brushing her fingers across the rough surface.

Potter finally went on reading, and the horrifying news there was a little girl dragged down here all on her own was enough to make him wish the ceiling had caved in the rest of the way, blocking anyone from ever being down here again. Ginny, a little pureblood who'd never done anything to anyone.

"Reg, here, would you put these on already." He startled, not having realized Sirius had even stayed beside him this whole time. He felt so out of it the basilisk could probably appear at this point and his head was still so stuffy he wouldn't even be able to run. This could be remedied by the shoes his brother was holding out.

"Where did you get those? You really been toting them around with you this whole time?"

"Nah, I've always been good at transfiguration," Sirius rolled his eyes without care. Regulus felt his mouth open in surprise as he glanced down at the piles of rocks now all around, his mind still drawing a blank at such advanced magic when most students in his brothers year were still struggling to turn mice invisible, let alone into something completely other.

"Thanks," was the only thing he could manage to whisper. Regulus knew he was many things, but not a fool. Knowing when to accept something had always been one of his biggest attributes, his mother had always praised, so he accepted the boots while bunching up a handful of his dusty robes and trying to wipe up several scrapes of blood across his feet. The stinging didn't even start until after the first few swipes, proving just how numb he'd been to the world.

"Oh here, let me," Sirius quickly waved his hand away, and a few quick utterances later with his wand and Regulus' feet were bare of anything except skin once more.

"Have a secret talent for healing charms as well?" He muttered curiously as he slipped the socks and shoes on.

"Practice," was the only vague answer he was going to get, as Sirius was no longer paying him any attention, his entire focus suddenly back on Potter and the book.

Regulus understood why. He'd only been half listening to the poor Weasley family's suffering and the boys attempts to right the wrong, and really what had they been thinking going to a fool like Lockhart for help? Now here that old fraud was, being even more of a bastard than any of them could have predicted.

"I swear when we get out of this, I'm going to make sure that fool doesn't have a head to use, let alone a hand to write those lies with," Potter hissed, his hands fisting along the books bindings.

"Oh this can't be good!" Evans groaned in protest as the boys next leap of logic was to take that neanderthal with them to this very place. Their presence down here left none of them in doubt Harry and Ron would find a way down to where they currently were.

Indeed they did, with a little help from Myrtle pointing them in the right direction of a tap, with a snake on it.

It didn't take long after that to find out what had caused the cave to collapse, and every one of them had the urge to do something much stronger than just kick Lockhart in retaliation.

James clung to as much relief as he did fear in these last pages as Harry forged on ahead, alone. At least he could still rely on his friends around him as they were plunged into the next unknown.

Chapter Text

Wet!

Alice automatically tried to pull away from such a thing, spluttering in disgust as she realized she was sunk in water with hands and knees. Splashing and flailing as she tried to get up in protest, she realized there really wasn't anywhere to go that wasn't covered in a thin layer of water.

Heart still thudding painfully in her chest from the last near death experience, she tried to lurch to her feet to find the new chamber. The first realization was how sick she was of the color green. Though it had no visible source, the hue managed to highlight the large stone pillars spaced every few feet in the shape of yet more snakes, as if she hadn't enough of a fright from those knowing the king of the species was slithering about somewhere.

Still gasping painfully for normal breath, she latched onto a new bit of color with painful glee and quickly hurried to Lily's side. "Oh thank goodness you're okay!"

She just nodded, getting to her feet in the same shaky but hurried way with Alice supporting her elbow. "Potter pulled me out of the way," she muttered, sounding quite like she'd been hit over the head anyways she was in such disbelief. "I, I've never frozen like that-"

"I'm so sorry, I thought you were right behind us!" Alice wasn't even listening, pulling her into a tight hug, nearly sobbing in relief, guilt, and lingering worry.

Lily patted her awkwardly on the back before trying to pull away, and Alice let her with the excuse of rubbing still dripping fingers over her face to brush the strands away clinging to her eyes. Together the two went about to everyone else, rounding their group into a tight circle with no protests. It was no secret that the dangers behind them were only the start of their worries. This was the basilisks layer.

Several heavy moments of silence not even broken by the drips of water anymore persisted before the eldest Black finally spoke up, "can you believe I'm related to such an atrocity? Moony, promise me if I ever start to looking like my ancestors, you'll put me out of my misery."

Regulus turned slowly on the spot from one of the too life-like statues to see Sirius gazing up, and up, at a statue of a brutish man with broad features and a cruel expression. He had to admit, Sirius was right in one regards, there didn't seem much of a family resemblance.

"We're supposed to be looking for the book to get out of here you bloody idiots!" Frank snapped.

"Well I don't see anyone wandering off to go find it," Potter snapped right back, no one even daring to shift their weight, let alone move from each other in pursuit.

"Anyone else going to give summoning it a try?" Pettigrew finally asked in the smallest voice imaginable. None yet had, they were all aware any trace of movement could summon the beast even faster to them, but it was either that or stand here like the most delicious thing this snake would have had in centuries like a waiting buffet. So taking one last breath of dread, he cautioned, "everyone close your eyes," following his own advice before finishing, "accio book."

His ears had been expecting a splash, but instead the book fell into his outstretched hand perfectly dry. They waited several more agonizingly long moments for anything but surely a beast of this size would have made itself known. Hissing the air, moving about in the pools of water, something. Cracking his eye open just beyond the lashes and letting out the smallest puff of breath in relief, Peter quickly began muttering out Harry's story.

James made a mad attempt at a laugh as his son described Salazar Slytherin as monkyish, giving Sirius a look that promised this would come up later in much better circumstances. For now, they had more important things they had to concentrate on.

Ginny was alive! That was honestly the first bit of good news any of them had been given in such a long time!

That was the last bit of good news they were likely going to get, as a ghostly figure arrived in front of Harry.

Small mercy though it was, they were all grateful no such apparition appeared before them. Unlike Harry, more focused on poor Ginny, every one of them were well aware something not right was happening for this to be appearing. Had the diary been some sort of magic supplicant? It was impossible he looked the same now as he did fifty years ago, but they were all at a loss what answer that could be. One thing was clear, he was somehow connected to this place, no way was it a coincidence otherwise. Explaining yourself away as a memory didn't seem like a good explanation at all.

The longer it kept going, the worse it got. None of them had ever wanted to sit around and laugh at a little eleven year old like this Riddle was doing, and the chills in the air as talk turned to souls only grew worse.

Amidst Riddle's rant of how he got Ginny to do all this was a sad story indeed, but what came next would quite honestly take the cake for surprising things he wasn't sure he'd believe for the rest of his life.

"Wormtail, I swear, now of all times! To be playing one of you're bloody word games! Tom Riddle's Voldemort, honestly," Sirius turned around to face him fully, eyeing him like he'd hand fed his mind to the awaiting basilisk. "He's a muggleborn from an orphanage, remember."

He didn't answer, his mouth was half hanging open, the words still echoing off his tongue leaving him with a nasty taste left over in surprise. Not a muggleborn, but a halfblood. Voldemort/ Riddle's mother was a descendant of the statue behind them as surely as Sirius, but only through half the lineage!

There was an odd noise Peter only noticed in the back of his mind, but one he quickly realized he should be paying attention to. It was a grinding, sort of scraping of stone moving across stone, and suddenly his heart ran colder than the murky water still covering his shoes. He did not want to look up. He did not need to look up. He knew better than to do it, even before he heard the horrified voices around him, and James' whispered, "Merlin, no."

Peter could only pray now in between reading faster than he ever had in his life that he was almost done, that he'd rather be sent anywhere else in the world than where they were now! He couldn't be shocked over the biggest news of their modern life if he didn't survive this place first!

Where was Fawkes?! Why hadn't what Peter said in echoing Harry summoned the phoenix to them in here again? A bird with healing tears would have bloody come in handy with where they were! No time to think about it, no time to think about anything-

Too late, he was always just too late on the uptake on everything, and this time was no different. No sooner was Riddle calling forth the basilisk through his words than the horrendous noise of something larger than their life was crashing into the waters below. Just as he realize what was coming for them than suddenly he couldn't see anything, the cloying black of an endless smoke over his face only just barely covering the sound of the spitting and hissing frustrations of a hungry beast.

There was no prompting to run as the Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder thickened in the air, but the problem was, there was no where to run. The only way to get out of this place had to be opened by a parselmouth, and none of them had miraculously gained that ability! The only way to get away from this king of serpents was to finish reading the text, but the moment he gained his sight back he'd surely be faced with the golden eyes of death.

Someone reacted, there was no telling who, the eight tried to break into a run while desperately shooting any number of spells as the darkest of creatures edged forward. No matter what color the magic or where it struck, only the lingering black powder in the air kept it temporarily disoriented.

"Regulus!"

"Sirius-no-"

Too late, the brothers collided, falling headfirst into an even deeper pit of water. Both remained face down, for fear of moving of the creature above them or a worse reason he couldn't tell, and he wasn't going to wait around.

James and Remus were already on Sirius' heels the moment they'd realized he'd turned around, Peter right behind, but it was his slightly shorter pace that saved them. The basilisk's tail struck him across the chest, and he sailed out of sight up the tunnel when the other two had a chance to duck out of sight.

"No, no, no!"

"Finish the damn chapter!" Potter shouted, sidestepping back to where he'd last seen Peter as Remus kept trying to dance through the poisonous skin and teeth to Sirius.

Neither could move more than an inch without meeting scales, the snake encircling them and still spitting and hissing madly every second. It's tongue flickered the air again, head turning towards Evans as Alice tried to keep going, pleading with her voice to stop cracking. They were all cornered, the beast having every one of them pinned down, only the black powder in the air saving them from a perfect strike-

Squeak!

A rat should not have been the very last thing Frank would have expected to find down here, but really, where was the surprise? After seeing all the bones of its brethren in the previous chamber, of course it should make sense more would come out of hiding and run for better cover in all this chaos! It was also somehow their saving grace, as the gray rodent continued squeaking in fright, darting from one patch of water to the next. The basilisk's tongue flickered curiously in the direction, jaws widening and saliva dripping to the ground as a more common meal finally came across its path that wouldn't fight back.

The basilisk lunged, as Alice reached the final word.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter, it's one I've been really looking forward to! The implications of who could and couldn't summon Fawkes was one I went crazy over thinking about, but I didn't reach a proper conclusion honestly. I kicked around a few ideas of the lot of them all trying to say Harry's Dumbledore loyalty speech, but none really fit so I left that out. Of course Regulus' reaction is one I know a lot of you were excited to see! More to come in the next chapter as the shock wears off, hope you enjoyed!

As a bit of celebration for Harry's birthday next week, if you come back to this chapter July 31st I'll have a short teaser in place of this note for the starting chapter of Deathly Hallows- The Life that Never Lived, which I'll leave up until Sept. 1st. Can't leave you guys hanging forever, and it is a further solidifying promise of what's more to come!

Chapter Text

Decided to post this chapter a day early instead, the excerpt I promised is at the bottom!

Her ears were still ringing, vision blurry and unmanageable, but still Lily forced herself back to her feet, staggering into something very solid, stone-like. She froze, breathing so harsh it was hurting her chest as she fumbled around now realizing it was true and continued darkness rather than a lack of sight on her part.

She had to keep calm, she kept telling herself. Whatever was beneath her fingers didn't feel human, or snakelike for that matter, but the cold marble surely was one of their group only paralyzed and not truly dead! She was the only one proficient enough in potions to reverse-

"Lumos!" A now all too familiar voice spoke quietly from right behind her, Potter's wand revealing a solid stone wall icy smooth to the touch under her grip, the ceiling hanging low enough over their heads they could reach up and touch it. Small comfort though it was, it helped that the place was dry and stale, small and isolated, the opposite of the endless void like place from before. She turned quickly to the boy holding his wand aloft, eyes quickly scanning their surroundings. She couldn't blame him, though there were no snakes in sight, this place still seemed far too likely to hold more danger. There was nothing distinctive at all about the place, no clue where on earth they could be, and they didn't care, as she did another careful count. There were only seven people present, counting herself.

The Black brothers were still shaking from wet and fright as they sat up carefully, Lupin hovering over them both. Alice and Frank were assisting each other to their feet and keeping their wands aloft. The place was so bare, there was no way she could miss him, yet, "where's Pettigrew? Where's Peter?"

"Here," came the small voice from right behind Potter, still half crouched on the floor and remarkably pale, almost blending into the background. Lily did a double take, her eyes nearly popping out of her head as she stared at him, hard, and not entirely in relief, though it was there that he hadn't died back in the Chamber. She swore he hadn't been in this room a second ago.

"Good man Pete!" Potter declared, his voice shaking no matter how hard he tried to hitch a smile onto his face and beam around at everyone. "We all survived, I vote we not go for round two!"

"There is a first time for everything," the elder Black groaned as he took Lupin's hand and let himself be hoisted to his feet, then returned the favor and offered the same to his kid brother. He didn't take it, and hadn't yet moved to more than flip over and rest on his backside, chest still heaving as painfully as hers was.

Potter clapped his friend on the shoulder and helped him to his feet, still giving him a relieved smile Lily couldn't shake. Perhaps he hadn't noticed his friend at first either? She just couldn't shake the idea-

"So where are we now?" Frank demanded, bending down and peeling the book from his shoe.

It was a fair question. Certainly nowhere they recognized, and nothing at all to indicate an answer. The only thing of note was a very sturdy door behind them the couple and even they had no urge to try at this point. Merlin only knew what was on the other side, and for now there was nothing in here trying to kill them, so they'd take it.

"Who cares," Lupin groaned, hand still on his friend's back as he kept massaging his ribs. "We're not in the Chamber anymore, can we just enjoy this moment." He slumped back against the wall himself and closed his eyes like he was ready for a nap.

Smith returned with something and Longbottom began reading, but Sirius wouldn't even be distracted by whatever Dobby still had to do with this as the chapter title indicted. He crouched down next to his brother and quietly asked, "hey, you okay? You took a nasty hit."

Regulus didn't answer for so long Sirius started to grow worried before he finally got the answer, "it's all a lie."

"Err, yeah, most things in life tend to be," Sirius agreed with baffled chipper, anything to get his brothers eyes to focus, but they weren't. Longbottom had already read through Ginny getting to reunite with her parents and Dumbledore awarding Harry and Ron for this stupid stunt. Everybody was sinking to the floor in exhaustion and looking relieved to just be able to do that for a moment. Yet Regulus still had a look upon his face like at any moment he'd turn his head and find his death.

It wasn't until Dumbledore mentioned Harry likely having some of Voldemort's powers in him that Regulus reacted again, and all he did was flinch and pull his legs into his chest, like the little kid hiding up in the attic refusing to come down until Sirius had promised their parents had stopped fighting.

Sirius could barely fathom himself what all they'd heard, that everything they'd ever been told about the Dark Lord was false. The man, the mortal who claimed to be more, was in fact trying to purge the world based on a big fat lie. Sirius would have laughed under any other circumstances, but apparently his little brother didn't seem to be finding it as funny.

He tried to imagine it from the kids point of view, but the problem was he'd never given in to believing such a thing as what their parents had wanted of the world, what Regulus had readily adopted. He was only fourteen and everything he'd ever known had been shattered, and Sirius was helpless to offer anything because he no longer knew anything about this boy. He knew more about his three best friends than his own brother.

Turning instinctively to them for help, he saw that Moony really was fixing to fall asleep, barely keeping his eyes open and slumped against the wall like he was. The sky above must be housing a moon not long after it was full. Even not having experienced the change with it would cause his friend to feel the exhaustion it should have. James was watching him with a puckered brow and clear worry, but was also taking the time to engage Evans while she was in a sociable mood, apparently living through a life or death situation had put her in a better mood towards him. She hadn't sprinted to the opposite side of the room yet at least, even if she was keeping an arms distance from him and he didn't seem likely to increase that. Peter still looked shell-shocked, which Sirius couldn't blame him for. Wormtail deserved bloody two hundred points to Gryffindor and more for what he'd pulled, he hadn't needed to see the act to hear what was going on and what gave them the chance to get out of that place.

Lucius Malfoy and Dobby arrived back on the scene as some kind of distraction, and that all made a sickening kind of sense as the little house-elf made it perfectly clear what was going on. Sirius was forced to watch again as Regulus recoiled into himself, and he refused to just sit around and let his little brother dwell on all things pure-blood going on around him, so he spit out the first question that came to mind as loud as he could, "speaking of things hiding in plain sight, exactly who was carrying around Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder and not sharing such a thing? I mean, I'm not criticizing the use, but come on, that's a rather significant detail to share don't you think!"

Silence for a moment, as everyone looked at everyone else waiting for the crack, until finally the last person Sirius expected to spoke up, "it was mine."

"Where did you get that? Without me knowing about it?!" Sirius demanded of his kid brother.

"Father bought some for me over the summer in Knockturn Alley," Regulus murmured without looking at any of them. He said nothing more, and Sirius bit down on his lip to stop himself demanding more of this explanation. Like why he was carrying it around with him today ( yesterday?) during class.

Alice sensed the awkward silence lingering, and really she didn't want anybody else to ask what else was being hidden on their persons, so cleared her throat awkwardly and spoke up, "well, I think I've sussed out where we might be. I'd hazard a guess this is where Dobby sleeps. Makes sense doesn't it? The Malfoy's would have him down in the dungeons when he wasn't running their house. We seem to pop up wherever something's happening in a person's life to do with the story, apparently it doesn't always have to be Harry."

Nobody argued the point, it made as much sense as the rest of this mess. Lily's hand tightened along her wand in frustration as Malfoy took out his loss of not being able to murder an entire school and a little girl out on Dobby. The chapter title still lingered in her mind, distracting her from everything else now. Dobby may have gone about it in the wrong way, but he certainly did deserve a reward for all he'd tried to do in helping Harry!

Then he got it, and they all worried that somehow Harry had made things incredibly worse. Freeing a house-elf was not in fact a reward at all to those creatures, but the truly baffling part was Dobby's reaction. He actually seemed happy! It made no sense to any of them, from reputation and whispered stories any other house-elf would be having a nervous breakdown. Dobby was all but cheering. None of them could really complain of the development, when it possibly saved Harry's life from a vengeful Malfoy. They all suspected that little critter was going to make another appearance though, how could he not after such an event?

The last really eventful thing was the all around cheer of Hagrid being rightfully returned, and Percy acting like an idiot all year because of a secret girlfriend of all things. Frank reached the end, back to Harry having to go with those bastard Dursley's again, and all anyone could really hope was that they wouldn't be sent to Privet Drive again.

Whoo! Another book down! Hope you enjoyed! I did set up some really important themes for future books and I still hold how much I genuinely enjoy this one in general, but we all know what we've really been looking forward to!

As promised, here's a preview to The Life Never Lived, Harry Potter and the ? ( Deathly Hallows):

"I can handle it!" Harry insisted. "It's only one more year, surely I can remember all that without doing anything to myself-"

"Too risky," James said flatly.

"Not worth it," Lily agreed.

The three had been having this argument on and off for the whole of last night and all of this morning. Clearly remembering Dumbledore's death had been Harry's final straw, he didn't want to keep pushing them to learn about his past like this, but somehow he actually thought hurting himself by remembering these things all at once would make it easier on them?

None of them agreed.

Remus seemed to have decided he'd let the parents handle it and had tried to excuse himself from any conversation by checking on baby Harry, even though James had already put him down in his room for the day. That had been twenty minutes ago, and they'd never be able to get Harry to agree to just start the next book until they got Moony down here, so Sirius took it upon himself to go fetch him already.

He was at least where he'd said he'd be, looking sleepy as he rocked the infant in the chair but at least content, rather than the distant friend he'd had for the majority of the last day.

"Do you think Quirrell was a horcrux?"

Remus had to blink a few times to get his mind to focus on Sirius even being here, and then again upon such a random question. He hadn't even begun to articulate a response when Sirius kept going with his train of thought.

"I've been trying to come up with other ideas for these horcruxes, you know, in case Harry doesn't find them all in a year at the age of seventeen, and Quirrell really stuck out to me. If Nagini can be one, what if he's got them in other people!"

Remus swallowed uncomfortably where he thought Sirius' mind was really at, and gently talked out, "I can't imagine it. Snakes, and animals in general, are more primitive than us in the mind, and can be easily controlled. As Dumbledore said, Voldemort cared for no one, I doubt he'd care about them long enough to allow them to hold a piece of his soul."

"But he gave that diary to Malfoy," Sirius insisted, a light shining in the back of his eyes he was trying hard not to let through. "What if he trusted other Death Eaters even more!"

Remus wished Sirius would just come right out and say it, but he'd keep this up so long as Sirius kept beating around it. "I find that very hard to believe. The diary was meant to be used, it had a purpose. These other Horcruxes were meant to be put away from the world, and those who found out about them."

Sirius didn't look particularly convinced, but he nodded anyways. "Right, well, I'm out of ideas for the day then. Would you come back downstairs already so we can get Harry's last year over with, poor kid deserves to have his head put back intact."

Despite his worry, Sirius had been pleased to see Moony interacting with him normally during this. Now he had to watch Remus close himself right back off and drag himself to his feet, his hands lingering on the infant even as he set him back in his crib.

"You really want your own, don't you?"

Remus turned abruptly away and walked past him. "I can't."

"That's not what I asked."

He continued to ignore him and Sirius trailed after him now studying the back of his head. There were far too many things going through Remus' mind he wasn't talking about, and that was going to drive Sirius nuts sooner than the fate of others in Harry's time.

They entered to find Harry getting quite as frustrated as his parents, holding the book hostage to his chest and eyeing the door with frustration. "-isn't just about you lot anymore! Snape could go out and do that to Dumbledore any moment now, Merlin knows what my presence here is causing-"

"Harry, you're panicking," Lily tried to insist.

"Whatever is going on out there can wait two more days," James said firmly. "Come on Harry, you've gotten this far. I won't let you just hurt yourself with one year left, it won't take us that long for your memories to come back in a much safer, gradual way."

Harry turned on the two entering, turned to Remus in support. "You must see it's pointless to wait!"

"I don't see being able to get out of here at the expense of your life pointless," Remus sniffed.

Harry groaned but finally slammed down into a seat in defeat, thrusting the book to his mother. "Can't we at least hurry along with this then."

Lily tisked and swatted him lightly as she took it. "Excuse me if I'm still going to enjoy while I can hearing about your life."

Harry gave her a look as if fearing for her health, only Sirius hearing his mutters about what there was to enjoy. He elbowed Harry hard in the side, the only gesture he needed to tell his godson to cool it as James took his other side.

Lily cracked the book open with one last careful look at her son before starting.

Halloween Day! October 31st yawl, it's not much farther off, I promise!

Chapter Text

It was musty, but considering other much less pleasant aspects he'd recently found himself in, Frank considered it a blessing that was the first thing to register as he peeled himself off the floor.

They were in someone's bedroom, sparse on details but for the light brown bedspread neatly done up. At least it was spacious, even the eight of them in here, while a crowd, didn't feel too cramped, but the lack of use made what could be a homey place feel abandoned. Frank had landed right next to the slightly ajar closet door, and a quick peek inside revealed little clothing but lots of hangers. A quick look at Alice showed her by the window, a very nice second story view looking down on what was supposed to be a busy street below. As usual there were no pedestrians in sight, all available stores vacant. His girlfriend was tracing a shape on the windowsill, where clearly something was usually stored.

Before he could voice the question, Pettigrew blurted out, "what are we doing here?"

"You know this place?" Evans asked in surprise, gingerly getting off the bed she'd landed on and inspecting surroundings with a little less hostility. At least someone familiar with their location didn't seem to warrant scrutiny of another monster about.

"Well I should hope so," the elder Black snorted with the same look of surprise, but slight amusement as well. "Apparently whatever magic's running this cockamamie problem ran out of places to dump is, so it went with his room."

"Ah," Frank muttered in understanding, a sudden chill passing over him as he again inspected Pettigrew. He looked like a lost lamb more than anything, staring vacantly out the window with clear displeasure at something. He wondered what it must feel like to just be dumped in your home with no warning, and the place was empty of everything you knew. All of your things still back at school waiting for you, no family or anyone else to greet you. Ghost like, he'd imagine, and not nearly as friendly as Nearly-Headless Nick.

Lupin gave him a gentle pat on the shoulder and a reassuring smile, saying, "I'm sure everyone will appear right back where they're supposed to once we get this all over."

"Yeah," he muttered without looking at any of them, walking past to get to the door. He tried it, and to all of their surprise it did open. Potter immediately darted off with ease for a bathroom while his other three friends trailed down the stairs. Alice and Lily joined him in the small hallway, where only one other door led off. Regulus stayed right where he was in the room.

They shuffled awkwardly for a moment, unsure what to do. Frank felt the compulsion to speak to the younger Black. They were all still reeling from the revelation of You-Know-Who's true self, but none more so than one who'd made it clear he was to be a follower. All of them had witnessed his brother try to get something out of the lad, but with no reaction from him none of them felt they could do better. It felt heartless to just leave him alone now though, when he looked even more lost than the boy who was forced to wander about his home in this state. Frank changed his mind and went back in the room, tapping him gently on the shoulder.

"I'm going to find the book and read it downstairs, feels a little rude to read this in Pettigrew's room. Care to join us?"

His eyes were a solid black, Frank had never noticed. Like Snape's and Hagrid's, a rare trait to be sure, they were the most distinguishing thing from his otherwise copied visage of Sirius. Instead of the proud, even arrogant posture the two so often held in opposition to each other, they just looked empty now, as vacant as the room around them. He nodded though, and slowly got to his feet while Frank spotted the book under the pillow.

It wasn't real surprise to see that it had changed. Now it was a dark royal purple in color, with an innocent black 3 inlaid all the warning they were given.

Alice led the way out, and after only a little hesitation, Regulus hoisted himself to his feet and followed. The dark, twisted thoughts spiraling through his mind were getting him nowhere. Did his parents know? Should he still care what they said now that everything in his life was a lie? Had Sirius known!? He'd seemed just as surprised as anyone, but what exactly had been his confidence then, before this revelation, that made him so sure-

He gnashed his teeth and kept following the others, pleading with his brain to stop tormenting him. He got a distraction even sooner by stepping into the kitchen.

Here things were much more clearly looked after, the scuffed floor having the gleam of fresh cleaning, the stove still warm and the smell of a large turkey wafting free, wasted upon the floor. Pettigrew was kneeling beside it, hand outstretched as if to catch the roasted bird. He was surprised for a moment, they'd heard no crash, but then understanding settled.

The fear of what had happened to the rest of their school, to humanity had dulled slightly as they grew accustomed to this topsy-turvy world of flashing through time and space hearing of their future through some book. Now here Pettigrew was, faced with the very real awareness that whoever should be here at his home no longer was. A whole new round of questions penetrated Regulus' mind; were his parents gone too? The Dark Lord? Did any of this even matter if everyone else was really gone forever? What if-

Sirius cleared his throat sharply, and Regulus was extremely grateful for the distraction. "She'll be alright Pete," it never failed to surprise him his brother spoke with more calm familiarity to his friends than anyone Regulus knew. "Soon as we're done with this, she'll be right back here tisking at herself."

"Right, yeah," he spoke so quietly the words were hardly noticeable, he remained in his squatted position, eyes unmoving from the meal. With no prompting he blurted out, "she, it's Friday, or was, right? She, always makes turkey sandwiches for the neighborhood, lasts us all weekend while she hems up-" He stopped as abruptly as he'd started, eyes darting desperately to his friends, the panic restricting him so bad Regulus swore his throat was convulsing.

"We know," Potter promised, giving the food a light tap with his wand. Nothing seemingly changed. "Now it'll be good till she manages to get to that, right?"

"Yeah, yeah of course," he agreed, still twisting his fingers and not even flinching when Frank shifted awkwardly for a few moments more before beginning to read. None of them really even cared about something as mundane as Owl Post to ask why that would be a chapter title.

At first it was nothing but depressing recap of what they already knew of Harry's life, as if they could have forgotten such a thing honestly, and some tripe about his homework. Nothing at all really happened until Harry's presents arrived. Thirteen and finally getting the simple joy of someone selecting a gift for you on your birthday. It made Regulus realize just how alone he really felt.

Chapter Text

Remus had never really considered the smell of dog repugnant before, but the puddle he landed in and the odor that met his nose was really trying to change that. "Are you shitting me!" He howled in disgust as he pulled himself free.

Sirius whistled from atop a rickety pile of empty dog crates. "You must have really pissed off someone in another life."

"I hope you fall on your head from there," he snapped as he waved his wand to remove the mess, though that still didn't remove the lingering scent from his own nose.

The two took eyes off each other and instead spent a moment to glance around and realize they were the only two out here. Sirius, in his usual feats of ease and grace, landed on his feet beside Remus and the two cautiously circled the area to find themselves in some sort of barn, which mostly seemed to be used for storage. Stacks of dog-food, of a high premium quality, were in carefully managed containers as well as an assortment of collars, and even a few medical supplies.

"I'm feeling a little creeped out now," Sirius muttered, rubbing his neck and eyeing the cages he'd been upon.

Neither got the chance to make much more sense of it when the barn doors swung open wide, and Frank's surprised face peered in. "Oi, I found um!"

"Where are we?" Remus asked as they joined him at the door to find an even wider expanse beyond, quite the gorgeous acreage for some sight beyond, and a bulldog sitting at Frank's feet wagging it's tail curiously up at the pair.

"You're guess is as good as ours," James assured as he came up beside Frank. "Everyone else is inside that house," he gestured beyond the two where they couldn't yet see from the inside, "but I'm suspecting we're dealing with an animal lover. There's bulldogs all over the place round here."

The one watching at their feet was on the younger side, completely white, and rather healthy in weight Sirius decided as he knelt down and scooped up the pup.

"Let's go see if they've found the book yet, spread some light on this nonsense," Frank sighed.

Circling around the side of the barn found a very nice bungalow, clearly very well kept up with bright shutters opened wide. Even from their view as they approached what must be the backdoor they could already see inside the kitchen, where bright yellow wallpaper was abound and even more pictures of bulldogs hung from surfaces. Inside saw Peter at the table, face in hands and looking exhausted, with two more bulldogs sniffing curiously around his feet and Regulus at the table beside him. The two stopped talking when they entered, but to the others surprise there hadn't been much noise of hostility in either tones.

"Come on Wormy," Sirius said at once with chipper, going forward and clasping him on the shoulder while forcefully putting the puppy near his face. "Won't get back to our world tell we find the book, sitting around worrying ain't going to fix that."

"Alice already found the book," Regulus shrugged without concern.

"Well then let's get to it," Frank agreed going past them into the living room. Alice was sitting on the floor next to a snoring pooch as tan as the carpet rather than the plastic bound furniture, while four more dogs of the same breed were all lazing about comfortably, one nursing a litter of three. Lily was crouched down beside the proud mama, stroking a little fawn one.

"Don't be getting ideas now," he cautioned as he offered to take the book from Alice before sitting down by a brindle colored one with a rather rotund stomach and very round teets, likely promising another litter soon. "We don't have time to be hunting down formulas for puppies."

"I know," she sighed as she relaxed against the wall and glanced out the front window where a picturesque well stood on a hill. "It's just nice to land somewhere so pleasant for once. This isn't any of our houses, seems to just be some nice person who breeds dogs. I don't know what Harry has to do with this place, but it seems to be something good for once."

"Chapter title doesn't indicate as much," Frank said in surprise as he cracked the book open. The opening was as horrendous as usual, none of them ever actually enjoyed hearing of the Dursleys many ways they managed to make Harry feel as unwelcome as possible in that house.

Things picked up with interest though, when the Muggle news casually said a certain name.

The other five walked slowly into the room, eyeing Frank like they thought he was playing his first prank. Even Pettigrew was looking more lively again, still clutching the little white pup to his chest a little too tight as he went from looking at the book to not only his best friend, but the brother that shared the Black name.

"Did we miss something?" Potter demanded, wand clutched in one hand and the other balled into a fist. Frank found that a tad dramatic. It was the Muggle news after all, and while it had caught him off guard, there was certainly no reason for his him to be getting defensive over it.

"No, not really," he said calmly, already turning back to the book. "I'd think you heard as well as I, someone named Black broke out of a Muggle prison." The group remained cluttered in the doorway while Frank finished, though there really wasn't much more to be said from the news.

Lupin made an awkward sort of noise that may have possibly been an attempt at a laugh. He put a casual arm around his friend and eyed the brother with that same pained sort of look that was desperately striving for carefree. "Well, what do you suppose you two get up to in the future?"

"Stop exaggerating Moony," the elder of the two brothers pushed his friend away with a much more natural look of uncare. "Just something being stirred up in the Muggle world, how could anyone break out of Azkaban for it to be related to us?"

"Yeah," Regulus quickly muttered agreement, but his brows were still ruffled with confusion and uncertainty. Frank couldn't blame him. Of the two, he'd put money down the youngest would certainly break the news first in You-Know-Who's service rather than the toerag and self proclaimed savior to James Potter.

Harry very obviously had no reason to dwell on this, so it made sense he was distracted by the next interruption of someone named Marge coming about. His reaction to the news was distracting enough to get to them as well.

"What's that horrid woman done then?" Lily snapped in frustration. Already more than sick of the way these horrid people treated her son, she had half a mind to slap Petunia across the face when she saw her again, even if she still doubted herself to go through with it. This perverse future version of a life without her in it already featured a bitter best friend who treated her son so horrid and she was still bound and determined to find a way to an answer for that, her sister was a slightly lesser concern but one she'd have to deal with eventually.

At least this particular problem wasn't on her plate, this Marge was Vernon's sister, and the location they happened to be at suddenly made more sense. Then her hand froze on the little pups warm fur as the their surroundings went from cheerful to claustrophobic in seconds as the laundry list of misdeeds she'd done to Harry were listed. The bright wallpaper was sickening, the little box of dog treats placed sporadically had her clenching her jaw in disgust, and the walking stick left propped against the back door was something everyone was eyeing to be broken in half.

This was no innocent woman breeding dogs for a living, this was a horrible woman, just like every other person in Harry's life who treated that kid like scum, for what?! Lily felt fooled as she sat there shaking with rage, taken in by the beautiful countryside and calm animals around her not to realize there was always something repugnant under the surface.

Of course things only got worse when the woman arrived, Lily couldn't help but get defensive. Of Potter of all things! And not just Harry! This Marge woman shamelessly took to taking criticizing to an inhuman level in regards to Harry and even going so far as to putting this blame on his parentage. As many times as she'd wanted to curse Potter's face off, at least she knew why he deserved it! This woman didn't know anything about them, and what she was saying to a child was reprehensible!

Between this, Petunia not having the decency to say a single word in defense like some part of her still hoped for, and the revelation the woman actually had puppies drowned, Harry magically blowing her up was a blessing.

Lily didn't burst out with cheers like the Marauders, or even resort to the other three muttering things they'd like to do to this woman instead of something so mild, Lily just let herself relax. She released a stream of breath, her shoulders slumped, and she scooped the little ball of folded skin that was the wrinkly puppy just finished nursing and tucked the babe into her neck. It was by far the most mild victory Harry had ever dished out on his own, but really, it was somehow the most satisfying.

Defeating Voldemort, twice, was still such a fantastical thing for something of their future, let alone a kid of hers to be doing it, she still just hadn't quite grasped that concept. This however was something she and her son could readily agree on, no one would be saying such atrocious things and getting away with it.

The news that Harry was leaving that house was a welcomed one, she couldn't stop herself from laughing in relief. Of all the times she'd escaped a very similar house and words from her sister, the idea of escape was one she knew intimately. As Frank warned the closing sentence was upon them, she regretfully set the little pup back down next to its mother and watched Pettigrew finally do the same.

Chapter Text

BANG!

A sensation he was sadly familiar with but still not quite accustomed too, Regulus still wasn't expecting to be launched out of his seat the second he'd found himself stable again. There was a rushing sensation all around him, as if he were trying to find purchase at high speeds even if he felt no actual wind on him. Forcing one foot after the other back to his feet, he caught a glimpse out the window to a neighborhood he had no hope of identifying, because the second he realized it, there was another tremendous BANG! and he was right back on the floor having to start all over again.

The Knight Bus, his mind helpfully supplied as he began the arduous process again of stumbling back to his feet now in search of something with purpose. Though he'd never been on it himself, tales from others at school left him in no doubt, even as he spotted Evans at the far end of the bus in the same circumstances muttering obscenities with their current location mixed in. The two of them must be on the top floor, with only four available beds, two on each end clinking together like pendulums, and a staircase visible leading down.

It was the first time he'd found himself alone with her, but even given their circumstances, he found it a rather inconsequential thing. Maybe it was the fact that he still hadn't come to terms with everything he'd grown up with being shaded in a lie, maybe it was surviving multiple life threatening attempts in her presence, but whom he once would have considered a mortal enemy and someone to hold nothing more than contempt over, he instead found himself struggling to her side and offering a hand up.

She didn't accept, and he wasn't surprised. He couldn't even be angry, he wasn't even sure himself how he would have reacted letting her do something as casual as brush skin with him. Every part of him should have told him how repulsive that was, but really how was that any worse than the Dark Lord being a fraud? What was the truth anymore?

BANG!

Now the two were a tangle of limbs upon each other, and he more than happily disentangled himself and made his way past her to the staircase, she right behind him now without any discomfort of her own to the proximity. Whatever her problem with him was, a streak of pride or something of her own personal vendetta, he was well aware he had no room to judge her for it after he'd let himself be so easily swayed to judge everyone else the last fourteen years of his life.

On the next flight he found Smith and Longbottom supporting each other and trying the impossible feat themselves of navigating past rows of beds swishing this way and that on wheels, several colliding with them frequently, to the next set of stairs. Neither had the book, and with no echoing words around them they all assumed the Marauders hadn't yet managed to come across it in the chaos either, so down below they went.

With another obnoxious BANG! he finished his decent by crash landing below, and so viewing upside down Sirius at the wheel and trying with maddening inaccuracy to drive the bus in some semblance of a direction, Lupin beside him shouting something at the top of his lungs that were both profanities and unhelpful directions, while Potter and Pettigrew were trying desperately to stay stable long enough to draw their wands.

"This is insane," Longbottom spoke clearly beside him what they were all thinking.

"It's driving itself, I swear I'm not doing it!" Sirius snapped back, or at Lupin, or at the steering wheel itself for all he knew. It seemed true, as Regulus righted himself but stayed on all fours for now which seemed safest; that his brothers white knuckled grip had no sway in the maddening jerk that sent them all crashing into the same side of the bus.

"I found it!" Smith called in relief, having fallen hard into the last available bed on the row and pulling herself free with the book.

"Get on with it then," Potter pleaded as he was forced to magically repair his glasses from the last fall.

The chapter title was self explanatory, as if anyone needed clarification of where they were this time.

Harry's panic over his situation seemed laughable in comparison to theirs. Even as the delusional kid thought he was going to go to Azkaban for some underage magic of all things there was yet another BANG! and they were hurtling across an open valley, one lone house in the distance that still had to be moved from their path as Sirius kept trying in vain to do anything about the steering wheel unsuccessfully.

Alice shivered slightly as she kept on to Harry feeling threatened in that innocent Muggle neighborhood. Perhaps their circumstances, while far from pleasant, were to be hailed as much a good thing as the bus arriving for Harry in that moment as well. The kid had enough prior experience that she certainly believed something more was watching him than the stray dog he described. The Marauders were likely thinking the same, Black even let go of the wheel as he and his friends exchanged uneasy and confused looks.

A massive dog being around in the exact same time frame as a Black was being mentioned in Harry's life? If James hadn't just had his head knocked into another window by this infernal bus, he would have done so himself just to make sure it was still attached. The four friends kept exchanging very worried looks as Smith kept going on, and then he swore his heart stuttered to a complete stop when an article from the Daily Prophet ruined their life.

Not Sirius. It was the only thought that mattered as there was yet another tremendous BANG! and this time he had to grasp onto Sirius to stay upright, and of course he caught him. The two were now grasping the steering wheel, his best mate looking dazed as if the words never quite sunk in.

Remus listened to Alice read the article with a detached horror. One part listened to every detail stuttered out, cataloging everything like he would any stupid rumor he heard in school. He couldn't look away from Sirius through it.

As Alice fumbled through the rest of the article and finished, the most silence this bus could contain managed to linger. The engine still revved in their ears, the beds all crashed together like cymbals, and the presence of magic in the air filling yet another BANG! could not be unheard, but none was louder than the stillness of the eight of them as this news sunk in.

Regulus burst out laughing. It was more empty noise really, his eyes were buggered practically out of his head and it was very clear he was now clinging to a bed-frame for more support than their mad journey required with that white-knuckled grip.

"Err, Alice, how about we ah, continue this back upstairs-" Frank began, already trying to make his way there.

Prongs immediately surged forward, anger blistering off of him with such intensity Peter wondered if the windows would implode. "What the bloody hell does that mean?"

"That we'd like to not have to spend anymore time around you lot than we have to," Alice snapped back at once, only half his size but crossing her arms and backing to where her boyfriend was now, though she'd hesitated to follow him a mere second ago.

Clearly sensing danger and always trying to diffuse it first, Remus stepped forward and tried to pull him back, "let it go Prongs, if they think-"

"That damned paper doesn't mean anything!" James was red in the face now, more angry than any of them had ever seen him. "And I don't appreciate the insinuation you think otherwise! Sirius has never, would never-"

"What?" Evans snapped, getting in between him and Alice with her own fiery glare that was much more familiar. "Tried to blow his way out of a problem? Attacked others to get what he wants?"

Peter's heart actually stuttered in his chest with fear as a muscle started ticking in Prongs's jaw, he looked for a second like he'd quite like to hit something, and he'd certainly never looked that way at Evans.

BANG!

The new location outside only succeed in tossing them all about again, but of course the tension only grew worse the more chaos their surroundings offered. Remus grasped James' shoulder firmly now and actively tried to pull him away from the three.

Sirius still hadn't moved.

"Come on Prongs, it's a bloody stupid article, probably some misunderstanding-"

"People don't get sent to Azkaban for misunderstandings!" Frank shot back, his hand twitching uncomfortably for his wand.

BANG!

"Can someone please finish the ruddy chapter and get us off this bus!" Regulus interrupted, a gray pallor to his skin as he watched the lot. He'd made no move to intervene in the fight, but it was as clear to him as anyone that's what was about to happen.

"Happily," Alice pacified by sitting down where she was for whatever stability that could give her.

Nobody really took in another word, not Harry's childish worry about whatever trouble he'd caused and certainly little care for whatever the Minister was doing arriving. Frank and Evans remained tense and right beside Alice as if fearing an attack any second. Moony alternated between keeping his hand on Prongs who never stopped glaring at the lot, and watching Sirius, who seemed to have locked down.

Peter and Regulus were left to stand across from each other, to watch and wonder not for the first time if they were going to get out of this alive.

Ah chaos, the best friend a writer needs to advance the plot in awkward silence. I regret nothing! Hope you enjoyed!

Chapter Text

Even before Peter's head had stopped spinning from their newest space he heard a door slam shut, and as his eyes focused on the surroundings he only saw four around him. Evans, Longbottom, and Smith had very likely gone into the first room they'd seen, away.

Blinking a few more times he found himself face to face with a crup, asleep at the moment curled up in the corner of its crate. Looking around more properly he recognized himself in the Magical Menagerie, he was leaning against the counter, and after hoisting himself to his feet found a pristine cage full of lively rats skipping happily about and a door beyond that, likely where the rest of their group had vanished to.

James was already pacing in heated frustration, paying no attention to anyone around him with his continued mutterings. "Misunderstanding my arse, we just heard about Hagrid being taken to that place because of something he didn't do, but apparently it's the most mad thing on Earth for the same to have happened to Sirius. Thirteen people, thirteen years, this is a right load of-"

"I know that Prongs, we know that," Remus was still trying to soothe his temper, with good reason. They didn't have Snivellus here for him to vent on, and the niffler currently trying to escape its crate certainly didn't deserve his wrath any more than any other creature in here. "It just, shocked them I'm sure, caught all of us off-"

"Shocked! Yeah, that's a good one. Padfoot! Sirius, why the bloody hell didn't you-"

All three of them turned to find him right where he'd still landed, slumped against the back wall where apparently a billywig was usually displayed, though he wasn't spotting anything in there right now.

James finally vented some of his fury by clutching up the first thing his hand grabbed, a bag of rat feed off the counter, and chucking it at him. It collided just above his head and sprayed everywhere with still no reaction.

"The hell's the matter with you!" James stormed over to him still in a towering temper. "Why am I the only one-"

"What's shouting about it doing you? Any good? I don't think so!" Remus insisted, starting to look a little flustered himself as he looked desperately between the pair, and then finally to Peter as if actually thinking he'd have an answer for once. He just held his hands up in surrender, as lost for words as he had been during the last fight between his friends. He wasn't even sure if this was a fight, what did you call such a horrid accusation that Sirius wasn't protesting?

James began his pacing again as words echoed from outside the door about Harry spending his time in Diagon Alley of his own free will. He was grinding his teeth and muttering so furiously it was a wonder if he could even hear a word.

"Why weren't the names listed?" Sirius finally did speak up, when Harry would overhear passersby on the street talking of it so casually. "The, the ones who..."

Remus sat down beside him then, wrapping an arm around his shoulders while Sirius kept his knees tucked to his chest. James deflated slightly, but his need for action against this still wouldn't slow even as he answered a touch more calmly. "Ah, I'm sure they are at the bottom or something, probably that Shunpike guy just, you know, didn't read it."

"It, very well might have been us though," Peter grudgingly acknowledged what he thought Sirius might be thinking. "You got the blame for something happening, but the two of us were there, for some reason, and something happened."

"Said a Muggle was present, for all we know that could have been the target and things got out of hand. Merlin knows that sounds like something you'd get caught in," Regulus offered quietly, shuffling over by the front door as he looked uneasily from this room to the street. It was very clear he had no want to join the others upstairs now, but he still didn't feel secure in here with them as he'd tried the door but couldn't get out.

Sirius didn't look particularly relieved, but he did marginally seem to come to grips with this idea now that there was some sort of explanation in the air. Even just Regulus speaking again, the first time he'd made any attempt to do so since the revelation of You-Know-Who had been announced, eased just some part of him. Of course the paper would take his name and slander the rest, come up with some cock-and-bull story about him being on the Dark Lord's side and blame him just like Hagrid had for being a half-giant so of course he'd been the cause of that Chamber mess no matter how little sense it made when you stepped back to look at it.

The majority of what they heard of the book wasn't particularly noteworthy, Ron and Hermione arriving, Ron's little pet rat apparently was sick and Hermione got her hands full with a new cat, literally. Glancing up at the shelves now he spotted it quickly enough, the squashed face wasn't hard to miss among the sleek breeds. Crookshanks was perched right on the edge of his enclosure, already out and free again, watching everything below with intelligent yellow eyes that frankly gave Sirius the creeps to stare at too long.

Then the fight with Molly and Arthur was overheard, and Sirius had to painfully remember how to swallow again. Remus tightened his arm around him and scooted just a bit closer with a scowl in place, while his other two friends began saying terse things of rebuttal to every horrible thing those Weasleys had to say about him. Sirius found himself as flush with gratitude for them as he had been with worry in the first place.

For the first time, he really thought about his life in this future without Prongs, what must be going through his head for all of this. It seemed he'd look past this heinous crime, possibly even seek Harry out and somehow reveal the truth to him. It's not like he had anyone else to turn to? It made some sort of sense, why Harry would have spotted a black dog around him, Harry seemed to be the only link he had left to the life around him.

Reaching up, he grasped Remus' hand on his shoulder and held it for a few moments longer than strictly necessary, just breathing again which he swore he hadn't done for the remainder of that bus ride. He grinned at Prongs and Wormtail, even Regulus for not running off the second they heard this. He didn't care what the rest of the magical world thought, he'd long since learned to ignore the student populace and this was no different. He had all the people he needed to care about right here.

Chapter Text

Regulus had never considered the rocking motion of the train any comfort. In fact it made him sick to his stomach, this bit of transportation was as good as the embodiment of every expectation he'd ever had put on him in his life. Now he was trapped in a compartment with a list of people he'd never have asked for, and the book chose to fall onto his head.

He rubbed the spot and glared up at the luggage compartment where he was unsurprised to see Hedwig snoozing in her cage next to a very battered briefcase with a tag hanging off the edge, but he was distracted from making out the handwriting by the cat carrier still sealed shut. Crookshanks was obviously still inside, he could see his squashed orange face trying to peer down below. Regulus briefly wondered why Scabbers wasn't present up there as well, but perhaps if he'd remained on Ron's person he wouldn't be present?

The pets were the lucky ones, remaining up there while a thick layer of tension sat on all the seats. The Marauders were clearly no happier than the other three to be forced back into such a small space, Evans had made quick work of checking the compartment door to make this otherwise. Nothing came of it, so Regulus was left in the awkward position of sitting across from his brother next to the window with two groups of people on each side. One thought his brother a cold-blooded murder in this future, the others insisting otherwise. He kept waiting for someone to demand he pick a side.

Yet no one had. Sirius hadn't asked him what he really thought of this, nor had his fellow purebloods in Longbottom and Smith turned to him and tried to say their point on the matter to him. This time, he was really left to make a decision. He tried to imagine what his mother would say about this, stand by the purebloods side and defend such accusations, or would Sirius being who he was would not get such a reprieve from their mother. It seemed like an honest toss. Then he remembered his mother didn't always know what's best anyways, she'd been wrong about the Dark Lord and who knew what else. So maybe, for once, he should come to his own conclusion without an outside voice.

He licked his lips with nerves and instead began flipping through to the new slot of empty pages for now. As always words materialized at the new chapter, entitled The Dementor. For a moment he was sure that one lone word would break the heavy silence around him, nobody could disagree those scourges of the Earth could mean anything good to come. Rain continued to lash upon the windows outside, the train rocked violently and kept trucking on no matter the gale force winds making it all so much worse, and the luggage above creaking was still the only accompaniment noise, until, "hope the food trolley still comes around," Pettigrew said into the awkward silence.

Regulus chuckled with agreement to that at least, glancing around to see every one of them making some indication of agreement as he began.

James was grateful Harry didn't get the chance to repeat any of this to his friends while the Weasley family was scrambling to pack for the train. He didn't need any of the vilifying comments against Sirius repeated, least of all the ones concerning Harry. It was all ridiculous to the extreme and he hoped something changed soon other than having to hear of this horrid news.

He'd really been hoping nothing of interest would take place, for once, but Harry didn't even get a chance to hop aboard the train before Arthur Weasley was pulling him aside and laying it all on even worse. Even if some You-Know-Who supporting murderer was after Harry, which wasn't Sirius!, who on Earth was crazy enough to think his son would go looking for him? It somehow even made less sense than putting Sirius' name into the mix, and he wouldn't have thought that possible moments ago.

Remus was already exhausted by the constant glares being shared across the small space. Squashed between Sirius and James, he was getting the majority of them. It's not as if he wasn't used to such looks, their group wasn't exactly popular when they were the reason a whole corridor was ducking for cover. Not to mention Evans seemed to have made it her personal mission to glare at them as many times as was humanly possible and beyond. It felt different now though, that they didn't have a corridor to exit from, a class to get to, something else to occupy their time in between constantly having to put on a face for others.

Time was a wonky mess, and it had been since all this started. He was sagging back in his seat in a dead exhaustion, eyes heavy lidded and ready to take a long and restless sleep from a full moon he hadn't run. He could feel it in his bones though, that it should have happened, and this had been going on for, days? It was impossible to tell.

Regulus' voice was calm enough though as Harry began looking about the train for a place to sit, and he was quite warm. It wouldn't be the first time he'd lolled off to sleep, and Sirius' shoulder just so happened to be rather comfortable... "Professor R. J. Lupin."

Said man snapped out of his seat as if he'd been electrocuted, suddenly wired and quite alive, chest heaving as he looked from Regulus to his friends and back as if waiting for someone to scream, 'gotcha.'

None did. His three friends were looking at him like he was a ghost, the other four had their faces scrunched up in a variety of expressions stating incredulity this news existed.

"Well, there goes our idea the rest of us are dead," Sirius spoke, his voice barely heard in the howling wind.

"I, I don't understand!" He choked out, gazing up at the luggage rack where it still sat, plain as day. Fingers trembling so hard he could barely grasp the handle, surely his shaking hand would make the weather beaten suitcase come apart before he found the latch.

"Obvious ain't it," Evans muttered, her eyes now narrowed even farther with mistrust.

She was ignored, finally Peter took pity on him and reached over to release the contents. Maybe it was some insane coincidence with some other man's initials, but that idea was ruined as Remus couldn't keep his fumbling hold and everything fell to the floor.

There were a few different sets of patched robes that were several sizes too large that covered most of the foot room now, a bar of chocolate that had landed half under Frank's seat, and a few bathroom belongings that could have fairly belonged to anyone.

Then there were the rest of the things peeking out that only the Marauders could have known to associate with their friend. One of those articles of clothing was an old threadbare cardigan all four of them had taken turns wearing so many times, none even knew who the original owner was. Several books were dog eared with messy scribbles in Moony's handwriting all over varying Dark beasts of the world, bits of parchment on a mound of subjects all bound together as if waiting for notes to properly be taken, and on the bottom inside of the suitcase was a crudely hand drawn circle.

All four of their eyes were drawn to it, lost in the memory of choosing something so simple yet personal to them to put on every bit of luggage they owned. A full moon, a letter in each of their chosen names, something with no ending or beginning and was simply meant to last forever.

"Moony," Sirius broke into his frozen mind, but the expression on his face left him clueless what was coming next. "Congratulations on making something of your life, at least one of us did."

That smile was fake, the jesting tone was forced, but Sirius was making an effort not to let the others see the pit twisting him up inside at the idea now being presented before them. That their friend was alive and well, and a teacher of all things, while Merlin knew what was going on with Sirius.

Regulus just snorted and muttered about the odds as he continued, but the Marauders couldn't bring themselves to pay attention to anything else he said. The kids dissolved into talking of Hogsmeade and all sorts of things, even Sirius again, but they were pretty fixated on this new bit of information and had no way to get it out of their system.

What had Remus been doing all this time if not spending every day with the Marauders? What was this future like if Sirius had really been in Azkaban this whole time and Prongs long dead. What about Wormtail, had he just moved on with his life as well? Did the two even keep in contact? The idea seemed ludicrous to question now, but all four of them were suddenly faced with the very real idea none had ever questioned before now, what was really in store for them?

Alice watched with curiosity, and even some worry, as the more that was exposed this year the quieter the Marauders got. It wasn't natural. Not once in the years she'd been in their vicinity had they ever been any such thing even close to this. Even if they weren't laughing obnoxiously, shouting to each other about all their jokes, or whispering in the corridors, these pale wide eyed faces looked alien.

When Regulus mentioned Harry's birthday Sneakoscope going off and the silence persisted in here, she got up curiously and located Harry's trunk above her head. She had to rummage for a few moments before finding a nasty pair of yellow socks the little top was indeed inside of, but even as she held it out for inspection it wasn't going off now.

"Wonder what's got it in a twist round them then?" Frank happily picked apart this new puzzle, hearing nothing but the younger Black reading this whole time was starting to get eerie.

"Maybe Lupin's not really sleeping, he's faking it," Lily pointed out, still with a heavy look at him where he'd slowly sunk back into his seat, now sitting on the very edge though and looking paler than usual, which was really saying something.

"That's Professor Lupin to you now!" Potter tried to correct with his usual boasting and cocky grin, but even as Lily watched something seemed off about it. He seemed stiff, his eyes out of focus instead of trying to catch hers. She found that unnerving, and then with a horrid self reflection, she realized she felt bad for him. James Potter! She really couldn't help it though, no matter how hard she tried to shove the feeling away. The poor teen had learned that he was to die, where his kid would be relocated, and now two of his three friends had some pretty shoddy things going on in their future lives all in a matter of days. It was a lot for anyone to take in.

For a moment Lily thought the deep lurch had come from inside her, but then she nearly fell out of her seat as the train did come to a screeching halt.

Regulus fumbled with the book and only just managed to keep hold of it, words stumbling a bit as he got to the same part. He shivered in trepidation, for what he didn't understand, until he shivered again and realized it wasn't just some feeling. It was true, bone deep cold, the windows were icing over and he could see his breath.

"Wha-what's going on!?" Pettigrew demanded, his voice shrill as he recoiled from the door, wand already drawn.

The others had already done the same, even as the answer was presented. A dementor was aboard, and it had its sights on Harry.

The youngest Black was reading in an outright panic, flying through words to try and get this chapter over with before they were forced to experience anything similar. Sadly even after he got past the part of Lupin in the book banishing the creature, they remained in the black void. Regulus could feel his chest rattling, his mind was buzzing painfully as whispers from his past began cluttering to the forefront and he could barely concentrate on the words in front of him.

He wanted his dad to put a big, warm hand on his shoulder and tell him his plan. He wanted his mum to tell him what there was to do and how to solve this. More than anything he wanted Sirius to wrap an arm around him, like he hadn't done since before before that Gryffindor nonsense began. He wanted his big brother to promise their parents weren't really mad at Regulus and he would handle everything. He couldn't grasp that feeling, that emotion, just kept stumbling along through Harry's bizarre recount of a woman screaming, Malfoy being his usual petty self, and finally as he felt his soul rattling in his chest as if it could sense the monster beyond that door, they were in the castle and McGonagall was looking into the incident.

His eyes flinched without his permission, to the door and back to the words in a panic as he kept waiting for it to happen. Smith was beside him shaking in her seat, a silent scream trying to pass her lips. Sirius was still across from him, his hand clutching his chest and mouthing something unintelligible, the horror on his face unmatched. He checked again, and just beyond the window pane he saw a tall, dark, cloaked figure with grotesque, misshapen looking digits reaching for the handle.

In one last desperate breath, he declared Hagrid and Lupin being made Professors, then Harry finally getting safely into his own dorm, and finally they were out.

Chapter Text

"I thought you could only see Dementors if you saw someone die?"

"They're not thesterals you dumbass!"

James groaned as he struggled to open his eyes this time. For a moment he thought he hadn't accomplished it at all, before he realized they were in a very dimly lit room, but at least it was quite warm. Sitting up slowly with still shaking hands, he found himself in a very pleasant cushion, a roaring fireplace behind a teacher's desk only a few feet away.

Sirius and Regulus were already up and aware, bickering with each other, and the others were getting more unsteadily to their feet and glancing all about them to make sure there was truly nothing more about to pop out at them. Where they were exactly though was a bit of a mystery.

One quick glance out the nearest window showed him to be looking north, and as high up as they were and in a circular room no less, he was positive they must be in a tower. It was odd though, as the North Tower wasn't used in his time, so he really hadn't a clue what the tea set up all around was for, nor the plentiful cushions instead of seats like a class would normally have. In front of him was a steaming blue teacup just waiting to be drunk.

There were two books in front of him, one he vaguely recognized as Harry collecting while he was in Diagon Alley, and the dark purple book leading them around this madness. He'd never cared about Divination a single moment in his life before now, but he continued putting the obvious together rather than dwelling on anything else. "I think we're in Harry's new Divination class."

"Figure that out all on your own did you?" Frank rolled his eyes as he looked through the teachers desk curiously. James was beginning to think he'd actually like this guy if he weren't such a prick, he had a natural curiosity about him that clearly, without anyone around to enforce them, he was all to willing to indulge. As of now, he wasn't taking the accusations thrown at Sirius any more lightly from some Ravenclaw who didn't know a damned thing about his best-friend.

"Well get to reading, would you Prongs," Remus prompted, sitting on a poof so forceful beside him, he felt compelled to see if anything had come out.

"Eager to get to your classes?" Wormtail chuckled as he came over and helped himself to some tea.

"Urgh, I still can't imagine it. Moony, at the front of the class!" Sirius snickered as he sat down on his other side and began nudging James' foot. James kicked him in the shins before he began.

James still didn't continue right away. He really wanted a chance to talk to his friends, really have a conversation about this future and all that seemed to have happened to them. This was extremely private though, and not just because of Moony or even Padfoot. He just wanted some time with his friends again, back in their dorm. He'd always loved being the center of attention; nicking students textbooks to juggle them, telling raucous jokes, chasing the Snitch about, but always at the end he'd crept off to his dorms and have a late night conversation just the four of them before bed.

Judging by their expressions, the others felt the same, but there was nothing to be done for it except power on. "Talons and Tea Leaves."

"Well, we got the second part," Peter smacked his lips in appreciation as he'd finished his glass in record time.

"I swear you've scalded all your taste-buds off," Sirius rolled his eyes.

"It's good," he defended, reaching for a clean cup to pour more. "Much better than bags."

"Must be bitter, I've not seen any sugar," Remus looked genuinely hurt for this misfortune, it was likely all that was stopping him from making his own cup.

"The one time I don't have any honey on me," Sirius smirked.

"Bloody hell, they won't shut up about the damned chapter title." Evans grouched from the opposite side of the room. "We're never getting out of this blistering hot room."

James watched her for an even longer time than usual, but for once couldn't think of anything to say to her. He'd always been endeared by her, the ferocity in her every step, how intense she was over every subject, especially him. He fancied himself the hero who was going to rescue her from Snivellus the useless idiot. She'd spurned him, but never enough the thought had ever crossed his mind she wouldn't see what he was doing eventually. Now though, if she really thought so little of Sirius? Surely she didn't mean it, thinking him a murderer? The flare wasn't truly gone, but he looked away lest something he would actually regret passed his lips towards her.

Malfoy was a pleasant distraction, the git.

"Somehow I doubt that boy's as funny as he thinks he is," Lily scowled in Potter's direction, then her brow furrowed when he glanced up at her and looked away remarkably quickly. "Not that this is a new development for boys." She finished pointedly. He made no reaction, and her feelings quickly rose to true bafflement. She twisted a strand of her hair around her fingers in curiosity for a moment, before she decided she didn't care and turned away.

None of them were paying Hermione's little conundrum any real interest. So the girl was taking some extra classes and worked them into her schedule, however she and McGonagall had pulled it off likely wasn't interesting in the least.

Regulus muttered to himself when Hagrid announced boasting about his coming class. He'd tried striking up a conversation with Sirius, to try and talk to him and see if he couldn't find out what had spooked him around that Dementor. He'd never imagined a look like that could appear on his face, and he truly just wanted to help. Instead he'd been insulted and the prat had walked away to be with his friends once again after his ignorant comment, now he was left by a trapdoor in the floor as the kids in the book struggled to find the tower they'd been dumped into.

"Well she's going to be a character!" Alice burst out laughing for the description of this Trelawney professor.

"She already sounds like a fraud to me," Frank muttered without interest as he finished shuffling through her papers with nothing interesting to note. He plopped down in her high-backed chair and surveyed his surroundings, admittedly enjoying the atmosphere provided.

"Why's that?" Lily asked in surprise, as she continued looking through Unfogging the Future by Cassandra Vablatsky. None of it was really any more fantastical to her than turning a rabbit into a pair of slippers.

"Well it's all a load of tripe, obviously," Frank looked surprised at her. "None of this stuff is real," he waved vaguely around the room, where a crystal case of glass-balls could be seen, there were some medallions of unrecognizable symbols on a few patches of carpet, and the ceiling above had smoke imprints that may have more significance than Lily had guessed.

"Why's that?" She repeated even more curiously.

"Yes, do enlighten us Longbottom," Sirius sneered from his poof. It was hardly an intimidating posture, crossing his arms while sunk into a giant purple cushion, but he still somehow thought he managed it. "Continue telling us what is and isn't true from your wild experience."

Frank scowled a bit without looking over, continuing to address her as if there had been no interruption, almost. "Me mum's always been very clear about this load of tosh. You can't predict the future, even magic has limitations and that's one of them. Certainly no such thing as Seer's, prophecies, and signs from the beyond."

"We use unicorn horns as potion ingredients," Lily still sounded more polity argumentative for Frank's position on this than anything. "How is that more outlandish than applying astrology in practice?"

"What's that?" Frank blinked in confusion.

"Oh, I know this one!" Potter's hand suddenly shot up as if he really were in some class again, the eager look back upon his face speaking around her now present again. "Muggle's use it to define things about their birth based on the stars! Evan's is an Aquarius, that symbol that looks like a mouth."* He looked quite proud of himself until she turned incredulous eyes on him. He looked unabashed for several more moments before he actually realized she was just staring at him with that expression again, the one she'd had on her face since the train. He quickly turned back away, unwilling to diagnosis what this new feeling she was directing towards him was so long as she was still holding to not acknowledging Sirius' innocence.

"I see you've actually been paying attention in your Muggle Studies class," Pettigrew finally broke the silence when Potter hadn't continued right away, just kept staring at the book again like he was waiting for something. "Professor Burbage would probably give you ten points if she were here for that."

"I thought we were supposed to be doing that assignment over our own astrological symbol?" Sirius accused.

"She suggested it," he shrugged without remorse, before finally continuing on.

The class continued in mostly uninterested silence. Frank and Lily did not pick up on their conversation again, and James kept reading absentmindedly through Trelawney's chatter as he tried, for once, not to think of her. He finally got a reprieve when all four of them burst out laughing at Harry receiving a Grim in his cup.

"Oh that's brilliant," Sirius chortled hardest of all, now eagerly grabbing for his own cup and pouring himself a glass. "Think I'll get a stag?"

"I doubt the point of the exercise was to get your favorite animal," Alice rolled her eyes at them, but was ignored as they continued with this game.

"Nope!" Peter popped the p for emphasis as he looked gleefully into his cup. "I got a bloody rose! Maybe I'll find true love," he snorted, setting his cup down with an eye roll.

"According to this," Remus was flipping curiously through pages while still sipping his own, "it means deep emotion, friendship, infidelity, and betrayal."

His friends continued another round of snickering, while Remus repeated the process on his own cup he'd just finished. "Ooh, I got a lightning bolt. Wonder if I'll be the next Boy Who Lived."

"Merlin I hope not, it would be awkward as hell to be related to you," Sirius smirked.

Remus ignored him and pointed at what he'd found, "apparently it means 'you will be betrayed by one who calls you a friend.' Merlin, are all of these just depressing?"

"I got something that looks like a set of wings, or maybe a bird?" Sirius was squinting and tipping his head from side to side to try and get some kind of visual.

"That could either mean peaceful, or an enemy." Moony snorted.

"I'm genuinely disappointed it wasn't a Grim," James snickered, refusing to admit the plummeting feeling in his gut as he eyed his own cup and swore he saw the same. He hung around with a 'grim,' once a month and wasn't going to let a cup spook him now. Before his friends could ask about his, he kept going on with Harry's time.

The situation was made even funnier when they reached McGonagall's class and his own son ignored the lesson on animagus'. It took everything in him not to laugh at that.

"McGonagall's a breath of fresh air to those kids," Frank snorted, hoping to instigate Lily into talking again, but she was swirling the dregs of her own tea around and just looked forlorn now. He stood up from the desk and circled around so she couldn't miss his apologetic smile in the shadows. "Sorry, if err, I offended you. Over the whole-"

"Oh, no," she quickly said, placing the chipped blue cup back down and giving him her whole attention. "Just, distracted," she casually flipped the book shut as if it had suddenly bored her.

"Right, yeah," he awkwardly rubbed at his neck and left her to it, more disappointed than he thought he'd be Potter had quickly burnt through the next lesson over something in Transfiguration. The change of topic would have been nice.

Lily smiled distractedly again until he turned away, trying to convince herself surely it was a coincidence she'd seen a snake...

Regulus was growing a little jealous of the meal the trio of kids were enjoying, even if they were still bickering over it, so was happy enough when the subject was changed. He was still avoiding his own teacup, he didn't want to tempt fate like Aunt Misapinoa was always going on about. If anyone was a real Seer, it was that woman, and he couldn't understand why Sirius was laughing all this off. Still, he knew his brother had a liking for magical creatures, and this one should be easy enough to engage him in. "I've a friend who's taking Care of Magical Creatures, and he hasn't mentioned anything about Hippogriffs."

"Not all teachers follow the same plan," it was Lupin who looked up and explained polity enough, his tone surprisingly gentle and calm for never having directly spoken to him before. "This is a bit advance, we didn't do these until our fourth year, but Hagrid may be showing off a bit."

"You didn't take Care of Magical Creatures?" Sirius didn't look up, but instead snorted crudely into his cup. "Let me guess then, Arithmancy and Study of Ancient Ruins."

"The two you didn't look twice at, too difficult for you," he snapped, quickly growing tired of his resistant brothers constantly fluctuating ability to look at him. The idiot truly seemed incapable of making up his mind if he wanted to talk to him or not! It seemed impossible he could come to any decision ever, let alone one so monumental as murdering people!

His mental tirade came up short in surprise at the thought, and he sucked on the inside of his cheek for a moment trying to analyze further if he had anything else to back this thought up as Potter continued.

Hagrid was doing quite well. The lesson was truly enjoyable, until Malfoy got involved. The git.

"I wish that hippogriff had ripped his whole bloody arm off, the insolent brat!" Sirius snarled in frustration.

"You know, it may be Padfoot, that comments like that make them think you're capable of such violence," Peter offered helpfully, even pointing his thumb to the three unimpressed faces.

Sirius grumbled for a moment before turning purposefully his seat. "I'm not going to defend myself from a bunch of idiots who don't know how to take a joke!" Then he turned back and looked quite pleased with himself for it.

James let out a little huff of breath that none of them could decide if it was suppressed laughter or annoyance at his best mate egging them on. They certainly all grasped what the following expression was as he read out Harry's reminder of Sirius Black supposedly being out there stopping his son from going to see a friend! He muttered tersely under his breath until his heart melted in sympathy for Hagrid. Then he wanted to dump his head in the water-trough again for suggesting any child of his shouldn't be wandering around school. He instead warned the chapter was near completion, and they all did whatever they could to brace themselves for the next skip.

*The symbol is actually supposed to be water, or waves or something, but that's what I thought it was at first until I read it.

Chapter Text

This room should have looked quite nice. Between the handsome furniture all built sturdy to last, the maroon quilt draped carefully over the bed, the three separate bookshelves all packed full, and the lovely sky-roof centered above their heads that was just now trickling in a purple light, promising a beautiful sunrise. It was the other details.

There were no other windows. The furniture was welded into the floor. Dust coated the air, causing several people to sneeze simultaneously, but didn't quite mask the noise of the howling wind outside that made Potter feel as if he were shouting to be heard.

"Come on Moony, let's see if your mum left any food in the fridge." With a calmness that astounded Alice, he walked over to the door and threw it open with his usual exuberance, trying to usher everyone outside, but his thin frame did not cover the fact that there was a padlock on the door. It may not have had bars, but if felt just as much as a prison as the room they'd left at the Dursley's.

Lupin nearly sprinted from the room, red-faced and nearly crying with shame. The Marauders followed after him with completely straight faces as if this were a normal day at their friends house, the other four didn't know what to make of it.

Frank waited until their voices and footsteps receded, quite hard to do in the still tumultuous wind, and spoke quietly. "Well, this could explain his odd fits of claustrophobia. Wonder how often his parents lock him up in here?"

"And for what?" Lily agreed quietly, wrapping her arms around herself. The place felt freezing, for no good reason.

Regulus was sucking on the inside of cheek with just as many questions. He'd never really bothered wondering much about Lupin before, had never paid much attention at all to the teenager considering he had no knowledge of his last name.

Alice had to clear her throat a few times before she finally said, "well, it's really none of our business." She could already here Pettigrew's voice reading the book from the open door. "Why don't we just join them."

She missed the part where she had to convince Frank of this fact, he clearly still didn't want to be in their vicinity willingly,  but the fact that Sirius had not yet made any attempt to murder them seemed to win the argument in Alice's favor.

Lily wasn't in much of a mood, listening to Malfoy be a prick and Severus being civil about it in trying to keep the classes focus. She couldn't hear them, but was sure the Marauder's were bad mouthing him anyways, automatically on Harry's side saying this wasn't fair treatment. She was ignoring the small part of her that honestly thought they were right and he probably wouldn't have done the same for Harry, but there was no proof!

Instead she walked slowly out into the hall and took her time investigating the rest of the place. She felt like a snoop, but well, this was a man who would apparently be a teacher at her school one day, around kids of hers if she ever did have them. He was an odd one, there was no harm in perusing family photos.

To her surprise, there weren't many. A few scattered baby pictures that seemed only to age through about four years, the young Lupin in the photo holding an ice cream and being held lovingly by two folks who greatly resembled him, obviously his parents. The pictures just stopped abruptly though, with plenty of wall space left, so she Alice and Frank continued on into the living room. It had a great front window that saw right into open woods beyond, the wind tore through even louder out here.

The cushions looked well worn, there were even more book cases about and even a desk in the corner as if this were also used as a study. She couldn't help but notice the front door also had a heavy lock. It looked homey enough, but still there was something missing Lily couldn't put her finger on.

She couldn't help but compare it all to the Dursley's place again, how unlived in the place felt despite the clear signs of this being a home. Except now there was no mock child to pose in front of anyone, it was as if Lupin's presence didn't even exist here.

She finally entered the kitchen to hear of Malfoy continuing to make a prat of himself, having Harry cut up his potion ingredients for him and still mostly ignoring this. The boys had pulled out heaps of food from surrounding cupboards, the place had enough to feed an army and they were steadily making their way through it now. Lupin looked over, watched their hesitation for a moment with a tentative smile, and offered them a bag of crisps and gestured to the oblong table.

"My Da' used to work for the Ministry, and me Mum was a nurse. They both still pull in a nice pension, you're not putting us out," he assured especially to her, recalling her previous aversion to eating out the Weasley's.

Frank just kept looking on curiously as he accepted the food, noting the past tense of both his parents jobs, and the way it had been said several times in the future how not particularly well off Lupin seemed. He honestly thought Lupin might be playing up his situation a little, but felt it rude to call him out otherwise.

Lily seemed to decide the same and began tasting a few things, before nearly choking on one when attention turned to Neville. The six around her began not so quiet streams of conversation at how cruel this had just become for a simple class, Alice and Frank clearly all on the Marauders side now. Lily felt near tears all of a sudden. She got up and stormed out of the kitchen without looking back, unable to be around anyone lest she curse the lot.

There just had to be an explanation she was missing, some clue being left out because of Harry just hating for no reason as his father once had. The Severus she knew would never do such a cruel thing, not after having lived through being bullied for so long by another. It seemed impossible he'd transfer this to a random student!

She'd been trying to make her way to the bathroom, unable to block out the grating sounds of Pettigrew reading farther about all this horrible nightmare of a future. Tears were blurring her vision and she was trying too hard not to let them escape when she ran smack into someone still lingering in the hallway.

"Oh, sorry," she blurted.

"S'alright," Regulus just shrugged and moved out of her way. She gazed at him for a moment, on tenterhooks to ask what he thought of this. She'd seen him hanging around Sev lately at school. Could he possibly have an explanation for this? Did she want to hear it from him? He offered nothing of his own, so she swiped her hand under her nose and kept going, slamming the door to the loo.

Regulus turned his eyes back to the last family photo up. There were no names for him to put together, but suddenly he wasn't so sure he should pass off Lupin as another of no status. There was something about his father's face, something he vaguely recognized...being in the papers once? He'd suddenly swear his parents, or maybe even Kreacher had mentioned the last name Lupin once...

Lily sat on the bathroom sink, toying with her hair and contemplating leaning over the toilet bowl instead, she really did feel sick. Malfoy's little comments were only making things worse, even more confusing, though she wouldn't have thought that possible before. What was that little toe rag on about? Why would Harry do anything against Black, he hadn't really done anything to him personally?

It made her stomach twist into even more painful knots as her mind offered its own conclusion. That Black and Lupin were in on something together. The two seemed aghast at the idea their friendship wouldn't last, well what if Black had an accomplice to that horrible attack? Malfoy's dad very well may know something about all this and had unwittingly passed it on to his own son.

'Or you're just looking for someone else to blame,' her mind nastily pointed out as the cruelty of that Potion teacher was put into practice, this twisted version of her best friend was actually described as disappointed his vile attempt at murdering a child's pet hadn't worked. This was wrong, every bit of this was absolutely not as it should be! Surely this was just Harry's skewed point of view, she would never believe it of her best friend!

Hermione's oddness was not enough to deter anyone from their thoughts on Snape, but the start of Moony's class finally stopped the Marauders from all too familiar conversations of what they were going to do to that slime-ball when they got a hold of him again. The fact that Longbottom and Smith had stayed present in the room when their suggestions got increasingly darker really spoke volumes, their grim faces were not at all pleased to Lily's reaction to this. Whatever blossoming friendship was going on there might have a permanent taint if she didn't pick her loyalties soon.

Peter cleared his throat of a custard cream he'd just swallowed hole and instead turned to Moony. "Tisk, tisk mate, being late on your first day! Can't hardly tell your students off for that now!"

"Hmm, I'm liking the idea of this more and more," Sirius was still half savoring a biscuit in his mouth, spraying them all with food. "Professor Moony, here to teach us all how to properly do our homework."

"Yeah, make it all up," Prongs finished with a snort, spraying them with chocolate milk he'd just tried to guzzle.

"I've done no such thing," Remus insisted with an unrepentant smile. "It's not my fault Binns doesn't know how the Giant Wars began."

"Or you drooled so much over that page in your sleep you couldn't read it yourself," Peter concluded, reading on loudly now around his friends spluttering.

His voice still caught uncomfortably at the idea of his friends state of dress, but already too much attention was being put on him in his place of residence, so he hurried past that.

After being kicked in the shins by both Prongs and Wormtail, telling him to knock it off loudly for good measure, Sirius had finally found Moony's leg and was now fondly keeping him distracted by pressing their legs together as much as he could under the table. He was even fixing to risk letting his hand fall down to his side, Moony's lap, if his color didn't come back soon. He knew it was a strain on Remus to be back in this house.

They'd only been over a handful of times, Lyall and Hope seemed very weary of letting visitors stay longer than a few minutes lest anyone start asking personal questions about Remus' life. Of course the Marauders knew why, now, but their friend had grown accustomed to a very quiet life. Never before having so many people in his house at one time. He was just grateful none of them could see outback of the house.

It helped that at least this Professor version of him was keeping things lively, that interaction with Peeves had been brilliant! They were still chuckling about it when they finally arrived to the destination, the bloody teachers lounge of all places, to find the worst bloody teacher inside.

"Rip him to shreds Moony!" Sirius said at once.

"Blow up a potion in his face, see where he lands up," James scowled.

"Or just poison him," Peter agreed.

"These are all quite tempting offers in front of a class of thirteen year old's," Remus responded with a very amused expression.

"Oh, we have absolute faith you will give him the retaliation he deserves," Sirius quickly pacified. "We're just letting our imagination run wild."

"Yes, we're aware of your limitations, but that usually just makes you even better," James agreed.

Alice and Frank exchanged a look and didn't bother to defend this one bit. If they were hoping something would be done to Snape in retaliation for what he'd just tried to do to their son, well, it's not as if they were going to pretend they could stop it. Snape's position was made only worse by his parting line being yet more cruelty to Neville, and Alice couldn't help her outburst, "if you don't kick his arse I will!"

The boys at the table all turned to size her up, before each smiled and assured her justice would be swift.

Admittedly the start of it didn't make any sense to Frank, a boggart was hardly the most formidable creature one could face. His had turned into a snarling griffin, with a sleek golden lion body but eagle wings and talons instead of front legs pulled from his youth.* Quiet a fearsome beast but one he'd easily swept aside with magic nearly ten years later. He didn't understand the delighted looks on the troublemakers or how this could do anything to Snape sense he'd left the room. His doubts only furthered when the Professor prompted Neville to explain what his mother wore, Black now had his fist stuffed in his mouth to control himself and Potter was about to slip out of his chair from shaking with so much laughter.

They were all horsing around, teasing each other with increasing loudness of each others boggarts and what they all seemed aware was coming. It made Frank just a tad jealous, seeing them all so close, one conversation being shared by four so easily. He had quite a few friends around school, but none who would finish each other's sentences like this.

Finally, in between stuttering breaths of laughter, Pettigrew regaled them all with the retribution Neville deserved, and it was beautiful.

Snape, in a dress. Severus Snape, in his mother's green dress and favorite hate. Snivellus being humiliated like he'd just tried to do to Neville. No matter how you put it, all six of them were now on the floor, tears streaming down their own faces with mirthless laughter enough to banish any boggart for a year.

Regulus had snorted softly from his place just beyond the kitchen, but really didn't find the image as hilarious as all those others seemed to. Perhaps because he had no personal grudge against Severus for any particular reason. He was in fact quite confused by the man's actions though, wishing he did know the reasons for his actions against the pureblood child of Longbottom. Was it pure vindictiveness? Some other motive he was missing?

Lily was all the more glad she'd isolated herself from this now, as she'd caught the traitorous flash of a smile in her mirrors reflection before she'd quickly brushed her hair and hid it away. It wasn't right to laugh, she'd quickly scolded herself, Lupin was just as bad as his mate always had been and apparently always would be, and retaliating with a childish way to put her friend down. Her scolding was weak, at best. What Sev had done was far more hurtful, nearly killing that poor kids pet.

The rest of the class seemed to be going without incident until Harry's. A dementor, she shivered at the very name being mentioned again. Yes, that was quite the thing to fear, much worse than hers had been, her sister appearing and yelling every vile thing she could. In the middle of her class. Lily had nearly burst into tears, then Severus had stepped forward, taking the boggarts form of his own father Tobias. Sev had barely blinked as he made his father's pants fall to the floor, laughing at him before turning to comfort Lily. She'd received no marks for that day, but the teacher had kindly offered her a redo, with her best friend encouraging words promising she would get past this. She'd turned Petunia's dress into the awful green color she hated so much and laughed herself silly that day, all thanks to Sev.

Now, twelve years later, and Snape was falling victim to the same trick he'd once given Lily to get through another day; and she'd laughed at him this time. Because this time, he'd been the one to nearly reduce a kid to tears.

She leaned back against the wall, letting the light switch dig uncomfortably into her back as her feet sat in the sink for the rest of the chapter, more frustrated at herself than anything for her lack of answers to her best friend.

* I know griffins in mythology are actually depicted as having eagle front halves and lions just as the back-half, but a flying lion sounds a bit more horrifying, no? Or just call it creative liberty with an established myth, like JK did with the mermaids. Whichever you prefer.

Chapter Text

It was an, interesting space, to say the least. They all recognized they were still in Hogwarts, a quick peek out the window confirmed it was a windy day on the schools grounds. None of them automatically recognized the room they were in though.

There was a tank sitting in the corner filled with murky water, though nothing discernible inside it. Remus went over anyways to peer in, Sirius following along so he could eye the books on a nearby shelf, all titled after Dark creatures. Frank went over to riffle through the desk, and found assignments already marked for DA lessons.

"Wow," Peter was turning slowly on the spot, taking it all in. The worn briefcase still sitting pleasantly on the edge of the desk, a chipped teapot and an empty goblet still steaming off to the side. "I think we're actually in Professor Lupin's office."

"Eerie," James muttered agreement. "Somewhere Moony's going to be one day, that we never are." They both shivered and went over to where their friends were for a distraction. Remus had found the book amongst the others and was continuing the tale. "Flight of the Fat Lady? How odd, where do you suppose she's going?"

"Don't know, she's never been known to dodder off before," Sirius said without concern.

"You've always threatened to chase her off when she pretends the password has been changed," James reminded with a laugh. "Maybe you finally go through with it." He had taken great comfort so far Sirius hadn't been mentioned anywhere near the castle, clearly whatever he was up to had nothing to do with Harry.

Sirius laughed in agreement, and to everyone else it looked like they hadn't a care in the world.

Alice tried to catch Lily's eye and see what she thought of this newest place, but she still seemed distant, playing with strands of her hair and looking everywhere, and no where. The narrative certainly wasn't helping this along, if anything it was making it all worse. The Marauders were yukking it up, hearing one of their own made such a great teacher that the students all loved. Alice was honestly quite pleased with Lupin and wished she could find some way to thank him for how he'd treated Neville, giving him a way to stand up to Snape, even a fake one.

"We don't have to talk about him," Alice said quietly as more of his bitter personality was highlighted. The red-head pulled even tighter into herself, as if trying to shield herself from the words. "It seems a little hard to get away from this though." She finished with as much sympathy as she could, admittedly it wasn't much, she didn't know anyone who was being such an arse to everyone around him.

"It's not him though!" Lily said at once with passion. "That's not my friend, never how I've known him!"

Alice bit her lip rather than respond, but then Potter whirled on the spot and snapped, "well it's high time you see the side of him everyone else has!"

Frank couldn't help but wince and step away from the lot, out of the line of fire.

This was understandable, as Evans predictably shot back at once, "just because you lot feel the need to curse-"

"No!" Potter snapped back, and there was none of his jovial tone, the light in his face showing how much he enjoyed her attention now. "You don't get to accuse my best mate of being a murderer never even knowing him, but still defend the biggest bully in this school! I've been trying to get you to see that for long enough!"

Lily just stood there, looking far more stunned than any spell could accomplish. Finally she flipped her hair and stalked away, but not before snapping, "good! Good riddance! It's what I've been hoping you'd do for the past five bloody years!"

Potter looked genuinely surprised at such a reaction, rocking back on his heels and turning to face his friends again in confusion. "For one second, I actually thought I'd gotten through to her."

"Shouldn't have made it sound so final mate," Sirius offered helpfully. "Now she might actually not be expecting you to start up again."

"Plan for a sneak attack," Remus offered quietly, causing the four to laugh again. The book thankfully took a turn with their mood, talk of Quidditch and Wood's even more persistent attempts at a winning year.

It was depressing Harry would be missing the first Hogsmeade trip, but Peter very, very quietly whispered, "hope he, ah, winds up there anyways," with a promising look at James. He nodded to himself, quite agreeing his son deserved to get in there no matter what means. It would make his day for a son of his to find a certain secret passage.

Arguments were lighting up everywhere, even in the book now as Ron and Hermione's problems with their pets was highlighted through a romp around the common room with Crookshanks and Scabbers. Peter in particular shivered for that, it had happened a few times by accident and wasn't something he'd wish repeated.

Hermione wasn't winning points back with any of the Marauders as the day went on and she was so callous about hearing of another kid losing her pet rabbit back home.

"I swear, Hermione seems like more of a self-centered prick than that Lockhart!" Sirius scowled in frustration for the sobbing kid. "Who picks now of all times to hammer her point home, can't she offer a bit of sympathy!"

"That's rich coming from you," Frank raised a mock surprised brow. "Considering the only emotion I've ever found in you was contempt, or juvenile euphoria."

Sirius scowled, his hand twitching for his wand, until, "just because you and that Muggleborn agree on the flimsy premise of Divination doesn't give you a pass to start acting like her Longbottom," Regulus called from the window, slumped down so far in the shadows he was nearly invisible. "I know for a fact you and Smith thought she was being too harsh a whole book ago, no need to over stew yourself and come out warped," he finished with a smug expression.

Frank rolled his eyes, unimpressed, while Sirius was beaming at him. Regulus was no longer looking at either of them, eyes back out the window and completely uninterested as Lupin stuttered Harry's way through an attempt to get McGonagall to allow him to go anywhere without a permission slip. Everyone knew how that was going to turn out.

The mood only grew worse about the room as Harry was left to himself as his friends departed. No one envied those who were alone, and Frank pushed past the group of four roughly so that he could join Alice giving a comforting chat to Lily. The two began sharing their favorite spots out in Hogsmeade, and after a little cajoling Lily finally opened up as well and joined in with a half-decent smile, effectively not bringing up Snape's name.

Sirius only hesitated for a few moments before waving Regulus over as well. His little brother looked pleasantly surprised, hesitated a few moments himself, before coming over to join them.

"So, I've been thinking about this from how you would Sirius, and perhaps what happened-"

"Oh can we not!" Sirius said at once, his tone cracking with well disguised strain. To anyone outside of this circle, it wasn't even noticeable. "I wanted to have a laugh about Filch! Come, please tell me you've some stories about snubbing him!"

Regulus rolled his eyes and already looked like he was regretting coming over here. Lupin coming into the story again and offering Harry to come into this very room only marginally improved his mood, he was hoping Harry would find some detail in here he'd missed about what was going on this year.

"Oh, it's a grindylow!" James said in surprise, turning back to the tank and now tapping it enthusiastically. "You've hid him too well Moony, I can't see him back behind all that seaweed."

"I'm sure I'm just letting the little thing be comfortable till class, then I'll likely take that out," Remus offered.

James smiled with ease that conversation between Harry and Remus flowed so smoothly. Well of course it would, any kids of his would get along with his friends! He was surprised he hadn't heard more about this! Why hadn't Moony gone and sought out Harry? Well, the same reason he hadn't for the past thirteen years...which James had no good reason for. Her pursed his lips tight and fought off the urge, again, to bring this up. He shook it off and instead enjoyed what transpired between Harry and Remus, until Snape came in.

"Gah! Can't go one bloody hour without wanting to hex him lately," Sirius scowled.

"Sadly, I'll have to agree with Black on this one," Frank muttered quietly. The guy had some rotten timing, Lily had instantly gone back to her reserved and stand offish self. She flared a bit at hearing Frank's mutter, but wavered at the look on his face. Clearly he didn't regret saying it, at all. She couldn't help but think, were they the ones missing something here, or was she?

They all stiffened and looked around the room suspiciously, until Peter nudged his friends and gestured to the goblet he'd previously noted. He no longer thought it housed tea.

Sirius licked his lips nervously, taking a step closer to Remus. "He, wouldn't really poison Moony with a witness about, would he?"

"I mean, who would believe Harry if he did?" James muttered. "Dumbledore already hired him knowing what he's capable of."

Lily's eyes grew wide in disgust at their minds, then narrowed in horror as her own mind trailed off in wonder. What on Earth had caused Lupin and Severus to become cordial? Possibly just time, the two actually growing up and maturity rendering civility? She could hope, but she wondered if it wasn't something else. Just last week Sev had once again been going on about the Marauders and how they were hiding something. Had he finally discovered what? Her friend clearly still hated Potter in this time though, why not Lupin? Then her mind again went to the rest of his friends, to Black. Who was now on the run for murder.

Her mouth went dry, she almost screamed but stopped herself at the last second. She'd previously suspected the two old friends could be in on something together but had tried to brush it off for one of them being at school, but how could Sev have been roped into it? Was he still just trying to know, or had he done more and figured it all out?

They were all left with more questions than answers as Snape departed as mysteriously as he'd come, and the fact that Lupin seemed even grateful as he drank what he himself described as a 'disgusting,' potion clued in no one. The Marauders knew something, the other four were all positive of this, but clearly not enough for an answer judging by all of their worried expressions.

Lupin was the most distracted of all, he kept glancing out the window so frequently it was as if he didn't even realize he were reading about the Gryffindor portrait being attacked until Peeves arrived, and then they were all wired with attention and worry until the name was given. Sirius Black had struck again.

Chapter Text

To all who celebrate it, Happy Thanksgiving! To everyone reading this, enjoy your day!

For once, Sirius' shock was so much he didn't even notice the change of scenery, including the sleets of icy water now poring down on him. He just stood there, quaking in one spot, gasping again and again, "I, I'm sorry, I-"

"Sirius!" James finally broke into his line of sight by shaking him, honestly it was a miracle he could see where he was going. His hazel eyes weren't even visible behind the rain smeared glasses, his unruly hair was plastered to his face. "Padfoot, come on mate! Let's get below the stands at least for some cover!"

When Sirius didn't respond, James grabbed his elbow and began physically pulling him along. Sirius stumbled and nearly fell down below, James twirled on the spot and caught him before he could. He kept his hands in place until he was sure Sirius wasn't going to fall over, than caught an even stronger grip on him. Sirius stalled him for only a moment, bending down and picking up what he'd slipped on, nearly lost in the pounding torrent, the purple book. James nodded in understanding, the two now galloping down and underneath the stands where Remus and Peter were waiting, bouncing uneasily on their toes and huddling close under their robes for whatever warmth they could.

"Pads, you okay?" Remus still had to speak a bit louder than normal to be heard, especially as thunder rolled not to far in the distance. "We saw you just standing up there for a whole minute."

"Yeah, we know you're sorry, alright," James clapped him on the shoulder, his face looked scrunched and almost painful between the chattering teeth and his eyes squinting to focus on anything. Sirius just blinked, he hadn't realized he'd still been saying it.

"Really mate, there's ah, there must be some logical explanation for this," Peter tried to reassure.

Sirius couldn't think of anything to say to that. He hadn't even bothered to shake his hair out of his face, it looked like a shaggy mess dripping down all around him.

"Oh, I spot Regulus!" Peter suddenly yelped as a distraction. He was nearly falling down the steps, eyes scanning for some way to slip beneath the bleachers. Peter darted out this time to snag him and tow him inside. He was ghastly pale and looked like a drowned victim, but at least his black eyes were alert.

"Thanks," he panted, taking in their surroundings. "This must be some kind of sick joke," he sighed, turning back to look just as a flash of lighting captured the sky. "We finally get put into the Quidditch stadium, and this madness is happening!"

"Guess we'll have to wait a little longer to get back in the air," James sighed in agreed disappointment.

"Seen the other three about?" Peter asked, trying not to poke his head too far out into the icy rain to scan for them.

"Yeah, opposite end of the field, they were ducking out of this just fine," Remus reassured, finally dragging his eyes away from Sirius, but going right back to eyeing him as he still said nothing.

"Sirius, you're scaring us," James finally whispered.

There was still water leaking down from overhead, steady drops dripping and plopping on exposed skin, trickling down their collars and leaving them just as shivering and miserable. The four of them kept swiping at themselves every few moments, shivering to try and keep themselves warm, bundled close to each other, except him.

"We can't pretend this isn't real anymore," he finally managed in a croaky, unfamiliar voice. They would all swear he'd been standing in that rain for years, his face gaunt, eyes focused on nothing. "I, I did something. I, I tried to-" he turned wretched eyes to his best friend. "Prongs, I'm sorry."

James could swear his breath was misting around him, but he didn't even notice as he returned as calmly as if this were still about the weather. "There's nothing to be sorry for Sirius. You haven't done anything, nor will you. Not while I'm here for you."

There was a spark, like a light suddenly got turned back on inside his gray lit eyes. Then he blinked and it was as if nothing had ever happened. It was as simple as that, he shared a smile with him and nodded, clutching the book with new life. "Right then, let's get out of this mess shall we?" He cracked the book open and began reading like it was any other, despite the black words smearing slightly, though his brows ruffled and a slightly unpleasant smile returned as he got out the chapter title.

"Grim Defeat? Blimey, must be Harry's first loss in this mess," Remus shivered, still sidled up as close to Sirius as he could, fighting the urge to stuff his hands in Sirius' pockets for warmth, they weren't doing him any good chasing away the goosebumps.

"If one person on that team gives him grief for it, I hope Harry pulverizes them," James scowled. "This will be a nightmare of a game."

"I hate Quidditch!" Even shouting at the top of her lungs, Lily was barely heard in the sharp sounds of the pattering water. She pushed her sopping wet hair out of her face, which looked nearly black hanging around her.

"Normally I'd like to say otherwise," Alice tried to say between chattering teeth, wrapped in Frank's arms and still shivering as hard as anyone. "On this particular occasion though, I feel compelled to comply."

"Still wanting to try out for the team next year love?" He managed to ask in her ear.

"Let me get back to you on that," she managed a genuine laugh. Lily couldn't help but smile at the two, the temperature just a few degrees warmer she was sure just for the air between them.

The three heard quite clearly the school being corralled into the Great Hall while a search for Black went down.

"Did you see his face?" Alice knew it was pointless to whisper in this downpour, but she couldn't help it. She had to clear her throat twice before trying again in a more stable voice. "Just before we got sent here, when he realized it was him who'd done it."

Frank and Lily both had stoic expressions, but she swore she saw the unease plain in their eyes.

"I think we're being too harsh on him," Alice insisted, trying to bring their hesitation further out. "He hasn't done this yet, and this future's clearly getting to him."

"I just don't know Alice," Frank sighed, brushing her dark hair away from her face repeatedly in the gale winds. "I can't feel safe in a room with him now because of all this, I can't get it out of my head. I'll take this," he needlessly gestured to the ink black sky and another roll of thunder crashing in, nearly shaking them out of their boots, "than be stuck in an enclosed space with no way out."

"It would help if he'd show a little remorse," Lily sniffed, purposefully this time, as she kept sniffling just to make sure her nose was still attached instead of frozen on the ground. "Instead, he just gets this look on his face, like he's daring us to tell him to do it or something."

"We've hardly been around him since we found out, and I still remember his face when we first heard," Alice tried to insist. "Come on Lily, I know you've got bad blood for him and his lot, but-" she broke off as a fork of lightning looked as if it was going to tear the sky in half, and she shivered harder than ever for the bone deep cold around them all.

For the whole of Sirius running through the kids discussion of the events, Sirius felt almost normal about it all. Yeah, this would be exactly what he and his friends would be doing during that time, making up wild theories! He effectively pushed this bizarre behavior of some future of his as far away as he could for now. It's not as if he'd done anything...surely his friends were still right and there was a huge misunderstanding...well until then, he had Quidditch to focus on!

Wood was being a maniac about the whole thing, which was entirely understandable. Sirius looked up and around to mock James for this, he just knew his best mate was going to be just as bad when he made captain!

Then he spotted Peter and Regulus, pacing back and forth to keep warm and chatting quietly, snickering even.

He put up with it as long as he could, but then his frustration boiled over when they found out Moony was skipping one of his lessons, and Snape was taking over! He snapped the book shut and decided he needed a break, leaving James and Remus to mutter quietly to each other with worry as he stormed over to the pair for a distraction.

"So what are you two on about? Regulus, if you're trying to sweet talk Peter into giving away our Quidditch secrets, it's going to take a lot more sweets than this," he smirked.

Regulus gave him a look of pure disdain and marched off, Sirius swore he even stomped in a few puddles as he went around a bend and vanished into the gloom.

Sirius stood there for several moments, glaring after him. That hadn't exactly been his goal, though he should be happy, now they could worry about what Snape was doing in private. He couldn't help it though, he turned to Peter with a look of absolute bafflement. "How do you keep-" he waved vaguely to where his friend and his kid brother had been laughing of all things. He couldn't ever remember making Regulus laugh, and he was the funniest person that little shit knew.

"Sirius, you've been ignoring him long before all this started, it's not my fault I'm actually enjoying making someone laugh." Sirius opened his mouth to protest, but Peter cut to the throat and said what he knew was really bothering him, "it's not as if you've been the best influence. I figured I'd try while I could to show him not all Gryffindors are terrible."

"You're being a terrible mate right now!"

"For, telling the truth?"

"Yes, no, wait...dammit Peter, just say something to make me feel better or I'll go find James or Remus."

Peter shook his head in disbelief at his dense friend as he spelled it out for him while keeping an eye on where Regulus had vanished. "Try being nice to him."

"I did," Sirius protested.

"Yeah, sporadically! Great job there Pads," Peter rolled his eyes. "You just insulted his Quidditch ability, like you two are on good terms, which you're clearly not. I know you were joking," he quickly tacked in for the flush of color managing to come in to his frozen face, "but I'm honestly not sure he did. You could have followed him just now and we would have joined you. You could have congratulated him on helping me prank you instead of continuing to ignore him. You've had an abundant opportunities and you still seem far more invested hanging around Moony now you've got him back than bothering to try connecting with your brother."

Sirius toed the weeping ground without looking at him now, stuffing his hands in his pockets and amazingly not having a response for that.

"Why do you suddenly care anyways?" Peter asked with surprise, in all the years he'd known Sirius, he hadn't even mentioned he'd had a brother until the day he was sorted. Sirius hated talking about anyone who shared his last name, so this sudden interest in him was quite odd.

"I, he," Sirius blustered for a moment. "At least before when I could ignore him in a whole castle I could pretend I didn't know what he was turning into, now it's in my face! I, I mean, it won't kill me to try and fix him while I've got the chance."

"Fix him?" Peter demanded. "Well you aren't starting off well mate, thinking you can turn him into you. What do you even want from him? If he never laughs at a word you don't like again, will you go back to ignoring him?"

Sirius opened, then closed his mouth again without response.

Peter just nodded, his point made, and sauntered over to the tense conversation between the last two Marauders.

"-but he might!" Remus' voice sounded like the shriek of the wind, his dark green eyes wild with panic. "Who's to say Dumbledore didn't tell all the staff! Merlin, we already know he knows thanks to Sirius-" Who winced and muttered another apology for that recent slip, but for the first time since it happened, that wasn't what Remus was focused on. "I can't believe I even got this job, he's probably told the whole world by now!"

"Relax Moony," Sirius threw his arm around Remus at once, letting his hand rest protectively on his neck. "Doesn't matter what Snape does for an hour in your class," he emphasized the last two words. "Those kids love you, Harry's made that clear, and they're a bunch of teenagers who already hate Snape. No matter how many snide comments he makes, no one's going to think twice about it."

"Yeah mate, just got to treat it like another day, except instead of sitting in the back with us, you're teaching the class," Peter said eagerly. "Brush it off, laugh, pretend you have no idea what's going on, or all of the above."

"Dumbledore didn't spill your secret now, he's not going to do it then," James agreed at once, picking up his earlier point. "If some like McGonagall still know, than those are the only people who will know! Not that it matters," he finished with a hard smile. The protective flare for both of his friends, simmering just below the surface constantly lately for how attacked they felt, was reaching its boiling point.

Remus swallowed uncomfortably still, but finally nodded. There was nothing for it, they had to get through this to get out of this blasted weather. Sirius had to release him and put both hands back on the book, and he instantly missed the warmth, his confidence wavering again at once. He swore he could still hear the echoes of the screams from his youth playing on a loop in his head, his father shouting, his mother screaming, the pain from that bite the most vivid, all because Snape had to fill in his role as teacher for the day.

At first Sirius seemed to be right though, despite his snide comments, none of it was particularly new to any of them. They seemed to get through half the class with just his crude critiques before he declared today's lesson. The four of them went very still, hatred for what that slimeball was doing leaving them breathless.

"Come on Lily, you've got to admit it's kind of harsh," Frank insisted to her defense. "He is skipping around a lesson plan I have confidence Lupin would have set up."

"So he's pushing them a bit, some like Hermione have surely studied ahead. I'm sure he, ah, does it in his own class all the time," she crossed her arms and hopped in place, though this did nothing to help either her understanding of more brutal tactics by him or the still declining temperature.

"I don't particularly care for his teaching methods to be put in other classes," Alice returned coldly, words even icier than the little icicles hanging beneath the stands now.

Lily grimaced and muttered a soft apology as she remembered all that had been done to Neville, then she blinked back tears and repeated herself in a stronger voice. "I am, so incredibly sorry for him, for how awful he is to your son-"

"You haven't done anything," Frank politely cut across her. "You've been apologizing for him for the past year Evans, if not longer, how long are you going to keep doing it?"

Lily brushed across her face, trying to make it look like she was batting more hair away than the hot tears before they froze in place. She had no answer for him, though she needed one, soon. If she didn't get some sort of explanation for Sev's behavior through this, she didn't know what she was going to do.

"I can't just, judge him because of this future!" She pleaded with them to understand. "He's still my friend in that castle!"

"Yet you seem to find it inevitable this is Black's future," Alice said pointedly.

Lily deflated and shuffled back from them a few feet, the flash of shame at her own hypocrisy finally causing her to give in to the sob bursting from her throat.

Regulus listened to the story progress alone now, mostly tuning out the petty drama Snape was causing in the class, but suddenly very interested in Ron sticking up for Hermione. It wasn't an unheard of thing, Slytherin's had to stick up for each other all the time against the rest of the school it seemed, they all had to band tightly together or be picked off. The difference was, these were Gryffindors, who had plenty of options.

Honestly, Harry's friends baffled him, they had plenty of opportunities to go be friends with others and Harry seemed their only unity. Yet here the pureblood was, sticking up for that know it all Muggleborn despite constantly berating her everywhere else. He would have liked to put it down to the Weasley's and their blood traitor status just wanting to make some ghastly scene like he'd been taught, but there seemed no motive. Ron in fact got a detention for his little show and didn't even seem angry at Hermione for it. He suddenly wondered if he was missing something between Harry's friends.

They finally got to the pumped up Quidditch match, and Sirius put as much enthusiasm into his voice as he could while reading of this. It didn't much work at first, Harry wasn't having much luck in this game. Thankfully Hermione stepped in and gave them all some interesting insight into a new spell, James's face looked positively gleeful at the idea.

"Prongs, hold off on trying that please!" Peter suddenly said, snatching his wrist as he began twirling his wand in his face. "Remember the last time you tried a spell that you'd just heard of? It took Madam Pomfrey three hours to get your face to flip back right side up."

"Oh, fine," he pouted, finally taking his glasses off and tucking them inside his robes. "They weren't doing me any good anyways," he grumbled. "I'm demanding your robes to clean them off with though in the next place."

"Fair enough," Peter looked highly pleased with himself for getting Prongs to listen and continued with, "hell, I'll give you my whole shirt."

The other three all laughed at him, but then stopped quickly in surprise at another, possible, Sirius sighting.

Of course, they had no proof this black dog being up in the stands watching Harry play Quidditch was Sirius, it could just be another figment of Harry's mind what with that Grim Trelawney told him about being on his mind, but the odds! All four of them were convinced Sirius was indeed hanging around this castle for something...and hanging around to watch Harry play Quidditch was frankly the best option available.

They dared not breathe a word of this, already on tenterhooks about Moony's secret so recently being brought up, their own didn't need anymore whispers. It didn't stop them from sharing smiles with each other as Sirius casually kept going now, feeling absolutely elated at this mention of him.

That was ruined, of course, not a few moments later by the arrival of dementors. Not just one, of course not, it seemed every foul creature that was supposedly guarding this school was suddenly in attendance far above, and the four of them shrunk into each other protectively.

"Why, why haven't they arrived yet," Peter hissed, fighting back the urge to poke his head through the stands and check to make sure they weren't hovering right above them now.

"I, I think they are," Remus stuttered, abandoning any pretenses and finally burying his face into Sirius' shoulder. "I, I've been hearing screaming, in, in my head for awhile now. I, thought it was just," he swallowed painfully, "but apparently, th-they, they're up-"

"Up in the air, where Harry would be after the Snitch," James finished in a diminished voice, hands trembling anyways.

"A good fifty feet away, yeah, let's keep it that way," Peter moaned, the effects of those monsters still lingering on them all the way down here.

Sirius adjusted himself comfortably so Moony didn't have to move, but felt like a detached soul himself as he tried to finish as fast as possible. Whatever magic was keeping them away from those below the stands may not last after all...and things only got worse as they were forced to hear Harry's experience, yet again.

Lily's knees buckled as it all sank in around her, a cascade of water went up around as she lost her fight and sunk to the flooding ground right along with Harry.

"Lily, oh you poor thing," Alice crooned softly, tearing out of Frank's arms and wrapping herself tight around the other girl. The two clung to each other, Lily even sank into the embrace for a moment as she couldn't fight this feeling of isolation anymore, not alone. A stronger pair of arms was suddenly on her other side, and it took her a moment to realize it was Frank. For just a moment, she'd half expected Potter, to pop up in her life like he always did when she least expected it.

They weren't even halfway through this chapter in Harry's life yet, and somehow it all kept growing worse as Harry woke up in the hospital wing and was told the news of what they'd all grasped. Now his broom was gone as well, and as Sirius finished, none of them could imagine how it could get worse than this.

Chapter Text

To Guest: What an interesting thought! I've actually never seen before that Snape wanted to get Harry kicked out of school to protect him from Dumbledore and Voldemort, so kudos! I do disagree, I think it's more the simple solution in this case, Snape was doing Dumbledore's orders but still hated him because he looked like James but reminded him of Lily. Still, it was something new to think about, so thank you!

Warmth! The sensation after such harsh conditions was quite literally the best experience they'd had through all these trying times. Eyes still watering and adjusting to these new surroundings, none of them felt the need to stay so close and huddled together anymore as the rest of this place came into focus.

It was still too eerily quiet, save the wind howling outside which helped some. The place was so heavenly though, for once they didn't care about the outside world.

"Padfoot, I think we actually may have died during that last one," Remus stated as he spun slowly on the spot.

Sirius inhaled deeply, mouth already watering a bit, and feared answering for getting spittle on every surface. Not in Honeydukes of all places.

Shivers already slowing in such a homey environment, James quickly ruffled his hair back to normal. He swallowed, but not for their surroundings. As mad as he was at her, those last few moments had left him legitimately concerned about Evans, and spotting her now he realized he'd been right.

She was still crouched down on the floor in the far corner, her dark red hair plastered to her face but not quite hiding her red tinted eyes and sniffling noises that had nothing to do with being next to a barrel of All Icing For All Occasions, Flavors Include Strawberry, Dragon Breath, Chocolate and More! Frank and Alice had landed behind the register a bit away from her, so he still managed to get there first.

"All right Evans?" He couldn't help but ask, even as his innards clenched and he still felt like snapping at her for all she'd thrown at Sirius lately. It was the angriest he'd ever been at her, and still he couldn't think to do anything else but offer her a box he'd swiped on his way over. "Bean?"

Anyone hearing their last words could not be the most pleasant of things, let alone what she must have been suffering through. Maybe that was why she looked at him and said with the calmest, most indifferent expression ever, "no thanks."

Ignoring his outstretched hand still, she got herself shakily to her feet and murmured something about checking for the book upstairs, all the while James couldn't help but notice such an alteration in her personality. Somehow seeing her so subdued was even worse than her usual anger at him. He bit down on his lip and looked around with intent, there had to be something he could do.

The upstairs flat very quickly showed there was no book in sight, though that had been the least of her worries. Alice and Frank truly were very good friends, one look exchanged between them before she'd gone up these stairs had explained she hadn't wanted to be followed, she'd just wanted a moment alone.

Around her was a one bedroom, tightly packed but clearly very loved and lived in space. A small kitchenette sat in the far corner looking out into the alley way, a comfortable bed was all made up, and a door cracked open showed a closet charmed to hold the rest of their belongings. The only door closed she quickly rectified to find a bathroom.

The smell of the candies still managed to waft up here, but that wasn't why she took an uneasy breath. All her reservations were screaming at her for the invasion of privacy she was considering, but her hair was still dripping slightly on the floor, and she needed some way to chase away this cold that was still settled around her. The last time she'd had the privilege of a shower had been in the Gryffindor dormitory ages ago...

This was finally a decision she made for herself, no outside voices telling her what she should and shouldn't do, and she needed this for herself. Decided, she quickly set to work.

The tap was easy enough, and she set the spray as hot as it would go while she pursued the linen available. There weren't enough spares, so she gently took a rather threadbare butter yellow towel, and duplicated it eight times before putting the original back and leaving the rest on the sinks edge, shucked her wet clothes into the basin and finally managed to relax.

After she was done, a quick charm left her attire still grungy with use, but warm and dry once more as she made her way back downstairs, amazed to find no one had started the next part yet. Her answer came in the form of the Marauders, as usual.

If she hadn't known better, despite Harry's loss in the last chapter, Gryffindor would have just won another game. Potter and Pettigrew were juggling various sweets between them, while occasionally still managing to swipe a parcel into their mouth and continue their exuberant game. The elder Black was busy stacking various boxes of every candy available onto his younger brothers head, and it didn't even look like it was under duress. She couldn't imagine how he'd talked him into it, but he was smiling as much as the others. The only thing missing was the cheering crowd and the butterbeer for their usual antics. She found herself smiling and relaxing even more than the steaming hot water had provided.

"I've found it!" A voice cheered, from below her feet? Lily looked around and finally spotted a door behind the register she hadn't noticed before, and Lupin came charging out holding nothing apparently but he had a pleased enough smile on his face. He looked surprised to see her back and quickly went over to Potter and Pettigrew, sidling up like he was going to join the game.

The others seemed so busy they either didn't notice, or didn't care. She cleared her throat and polity informed, "err, I've found a shower up top, I'm sure they wouldn't mind, I mean I've tried to keep it as put together as I found it. So long as we all do-"

The older Black, Sirius she forced herself to distinguish, looked around at her, and before she was even done was sprinting towards the stairs.

"Oi!" His little brother spluttered, but too late, there was already a door slamming shut upstairs and the sound of running water again.

Potter fell to the floor laughing at the display, a pile of sweets quickly covering him. The others were all snickering as well, but Pettigrew came over and waved his wand to begin unpiling the makeshift, edible hat. The younger- err, Regulus finally took the base off his head, a whole box of licorice wands, and cracked it open to begin unwrapping one, offering Pettigrew another in thanks. "Black, red, green, brown, purple, blue, or the one that's all mixed together?"

"The rainbow one," he asked. He took a huge bite of the mixture, and his skin quickly took on the same tie-dye effect. Regulus snickered as he took a bite of the green one, his skin taking on a sickly hue but clearly enjoying the flavor anyways.

"Oi, Evans," Potter had suddenly popped up right beside her again, somehow unburying himself from his pile of sweets, but unsurprisingly still clutching some. "I found a chocolate ganache flavored pack of All-In-Rolls. Padfoot already ate the turkey one, and I may or may not have nibbled on the hash one. Had to pry this away from Remus and Peter nearly killing themselves for it, so I hope you enjoy such a sacrifice." He flashed her a winning smile and offered it to her with a slight bow even.

She couldn't help it, she snorted out a laugh. Through all of this madness and mayhem, something was finally normal again. She quickly regained herself back though, ignoring the bright twinkle in his eye, and told him sternly, "I'll not have it, and you shouldn't either! You can not tell me you've brought enough money to repay this shop all the madness you've already caused."

"Evans, you wound me!" He flashed her that smile again, clearly pleased as ever at the proceedings. "I've been keeping this business afloat for as long as we've been here, of course I'd never run them out without proper compensation now." He pulled a money bag, which she swore he hadn't had in their Potions class when all this started, and jangled it purposefully.

She let out a resigned sigh, but finally took the dinner bred flavored in her favorite dessert.

James smiled to himself as she turned away, towards Alice and Frank already levitating a few feet off the ground as they enjoyed their sherbet balls. Bless Moony for having the quick hands to pass him the gold without anyone noticing. He was patting his past self on the back for keeping a stash of galleons in the basement below right under the secret trap for just such occasions, it was quite lucky he had still managed to get in, even if he was sure had he traveled all the way back to the school that one would have been blocked.

There were alternately seven of them all enjoying themselves as one excused themselves to the bathroom, Remus going last because he just hadn't been able to bear putting down his salt water taffy until he'd finished it. The water was still as warm as ever, thank Merlin for magic.

In all the hubbub, Frank finally found the book behind a stack of Shock-O-Choc. They were all in such a relaxed and comfortable mood, everyone having savored a few chocolates first, that at first he almost glossed right over the chapter title.

"What map?" Alice asked in confusion, looking from the book to the suddenly shifty Marauders.

"No idea," Potter said with a completely straight face.

"Yeah, beyond us," his best friend nodded along.

"We're not the only Marauders on Earth," Lupin casually studied his fingers, picking fudge out from under his nails.

"Why would you assume otherwise?" Peter asked back innocently. He kept his hand in his pocket where said item currently was. They'd only finished it over Christmas break of this year, no way were they willing to show it to anyone else in this school! Not to mention, it wasn't really working anyways, the place would be more deserted than it ever had in its life. Even during holidays you could find some teachers who lived there about the school, now there wasn't even that.

The three exchanged a look of exasperation, but really they couldn't force another answer out of them, considering none believed this, so Frank just got started hoping for more answers from the book.

Regulus just kept eyeing Sirius, though he wasn't sure what for. He wasn't expecting some special treatment and an explanation, but he'd been well aware for ages his brother and friends got up to something around school. Even without Snape going on about it to anyone who would listen it was obvious enough, there just wasn't enough care from the general student populace to find out. Now here was an honest clue to it all, but what did a map help? By second year most students didn't need such a thing.

A kid voluntarily staying in the hospital wing for the weekend was quite the depressing way to get things started. It was nice his friends all came to visit him, Frank actually got a chuckle out of the fact that he didn't share his recent Grim sighting because he could accurately predict his friends reactions. There was irony abound in there.

Sirius didn't seem to find it as funny, blanching in unease and taking a step closer to Prongs at the reminder Harry had nearly died both times he'd caught sight of him. Was he really some omen? Twelve people had all died around him for some reason... "Oi Padfoot!" Remus cut in loudly. "Come here and play Exploding Bonbons with me."

"You two are so lame," Peter rolled his eyes as Sirius at once darted over. "Only couples do that sort of shite."

"Just because you caught Bertha Jorkins and Florence Jr. playing that last month doesn't change the fact that they've been doing this since third year," James rolled his eyes at him. "Now come here, I want a witness to see how many Pepper Imps I can fit in my mouth at once." Peter frowned in confusion at him why he hadn't instead made some joke towards Evans about trying the same, but willingly followed him over to the shelf where he could grab arm fulls of the little candies.

Alice was filling her pockets with plenty of Drooble's Best Blowing Gum, while Frank was popping Crystallized Pineapple into his mouth every few sentences. Evans was now ignoring everything as much as she could as she dug into some No-Melt Ice-Cream Every Flavor, but she seemed to have a hard time swallowing it. He sighed and wished more than anything he could skip ahead, but the blasted book only let a few lines appear at a time. No one should have to listen to their final moments being lived through by their child. There wasn't any comfort they could give her for this.

Sirius nearly choked on his next bonbon when Ron threw a crocodile heart in Malfoy's face, spraying Dynamite Coconut all over Remus and neither of them caring as they knew they'd do just the same.

"I won that one," Moony smirked, wiping the crumbs free from his scruff, he needed a shave soon.

"Blast," he grumbled as he snatched up the next one blindly, and then scowled when it came up black.

Remus did so next, coming up with a red one. The two held each others gaze as they popped them in, but Sirius lost again this time because the little concoction exploded in his mouth faster, forcing him to quickly and visibly swallow. "How do you win at this every time?" He demanded as the prick still sat there smirking with his jaw firmly held around the candy even as Sirius blindly began choosing another. Luckily he came up with a white one this time, while the book turned to Professor Lupin's class.

"I've always been better at handling my sweets," he muttered for Sirius alone, nearly causing him to drop his candy. He grumbled and eyed the staircase, but didn't think the two of them could skip off without their friends noticing and coming along this time. Blast Wormtail putting the idea in his head, he'd been fighting back the urge to snog Remus for a whole minute now, the candies would have made such an experience even better.

They were interrupted anyways by the two joining them, smoke still pouring out of Prongs' nose and a very satisfied look on his face. "New record!" He crowed, collapsing on the ground beside Sirius and offering him a Jelly Slug.

"You really must make quite the good teacher Moony," Peter snickered. "All those kids complaining to you, and you taking it in stride like that."

"Least I managed to take your advice and keep my cool," he sighed, knowing full well he wouldn't be having any words with Snape. If he wasn't already avoiding him before, he would be now, even though the question of that mysterious potion was still on all their minds, Harry didn't seem to be picking up any more clues about it.

Lupin did call Harry back, and that following conversation was wrenching for them all. More talk of Azkaban and those dementors wasn't helping anyone's mood in here despite the warmth surrounding this room. No amount of Chocolate Flavored Pumpkin Pasties was going to make hearing of this better, but it was quite interesting to hear he promised Harry dementor lessons soon! The four exchanged almost excited looks for that promise, finally someone who was going out of there way to help Harry.

"Thanks, err, Remus."

Moony nearly startled to his feet, the only one who didn't seem surprised by Evans coming over was Prongs. He seemed determined to be unfazed by this, shifting through some Treacle Fudge with an absent expression.

"Oh, ah, you're welcome," he quickly smiled at her, meeting her expression openly. "I'd ah, do it for any student of course, but, well, I don't need to tell you I'd do anything for James' kid."

"Right," she said quietly, turning back away now that she'd said her peace, unable to shake the dark thought her friend had certainly never bothered to do the same. She held the two beside each other in her head, trying to age them up nineteen years, it was almost unfathomable. Her best friend had turned into some bitter tyrant of the school and here Potter's friend was, going out of his way to help Harry.

Of course this didn't explain Black on the loose, and Lupin just so happening to be at the school the same year. There was just no way that could be a coincidence, but would another of Potter's friends really be out to kill Harry?

Alice distracted her by offering her a Sugar Quill, gazing around at Honeydukes with a new eye and asking, "you know, I've just thought. Why would this place have any significance to Harry? He's not getting in here, and I wouldn't think his friends bringing him more sweets from this place would be so big a deal."

"Who cares," Frank managed around a mouth full of toffee. How he'd been getting the words from the book out with any semblance of intelligence was the real mystery today.

Regulus stopped sorting his beans into different colors and looked up with interest as the twins pulled Harry aside right before a Hogsmeade visit, instantly guessing what all this was about. He'd heard rumors from some of the older students the school had dozens of secret passages, and he'd certainly put money down those twins knew some of them. Then his eyes widened further as he turned to look at his brother, the four of them looking as if they were holding their breath in anticipation, all sweets forgotten and expressions locked in on Frank. A map of those secrets of the school would come in handy, and the Marauders were certainly more than capable of making such a thing; and then it somehow got even more fantastical!

The four of them had to scramble desperately to hide their sudden euphoria of Prongs kid of all people just stumbling across this! Instead they were forced to fix confused expressions in place, trying to make themselves look as intrigued and curious as anyone else should. It was like staring down Dumbledore!

"Wow, ah, what a marvel that thing is!" James began earnestly.

"My, my, we must be geniuses to figure this out, by our seventh year surely!" Sirius quickly agreed.

"If it's even ours," Peter quickly tacked in.

"Oh yes of course, how silly of us, or anyone to think we alone could engineer such a thing and-"

"Sign it with your bloody stupid nicknames you keep calling each other," Frank interrupted with an eye roll.

"You lot are the worst liars, really pathetic considering how often you try practicing at it," Alice snickered.

"Can't we see it," Regulus asked with such an excited little squeal to his voice, Sirius swore he was that ten year old again asking to see his big brothers wand.

Then James made the mistake of looking at Evans, five years of habit unbroken, and found her looking nothing but curious for this.

The two caved. Remus knew they'd lost. Peter pulled it out.

Sirius snatched it away, cleared his throat with far more importance than anyone really thought was necessary, and stated clearly, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."

Little ink lines began spreading about at once, and the other four crowded forward eagerly.

"Well I don't know what you were expecting," Remus couldn't help but say defensively into the silence. "You knew as well as us there's no one in the castle for it to be properly working right now!"

"Mrs. Norris is still there," Regulus noticed, prodding a corner that housed Filch's office.

"Huh, none of the other animals are," Alice said curiously.

"Or that basilisk," Frank shivered.

"We had to put a special charm in to track that cat," James shrugged, "doesn't work on all animals."

"And we don't have the Chamber on here, we never found it," Sirius sighed.

"I'm not particularly fond of the idea of adding it in," Remus agreed.

"How did you manage such a thing?" Evans asked, a wide-eyed student in class again. She held her hand out curiously, Sirius reluctantly let it go.

"Some modifications to the Homenum Revelio spell, had to transfigure a textbook on revealing charms," James quickly said with bursting pride. He was more than happy to brag about this to her now that it was out in the open, but Peter was still frowning at the four suspiciously.

"It's not exactly something we made overnight, took us ages to get it all-"

"Isn't Hogwarts unplottable though!" Frank interrupted. "How did you actually manage this?"

"Drew the whole thing myself," James crossed his arms with a smirk. "The magic didn't stop us from animating our own map, we just couldn't con one up from the school. Padfoot and Moony managed all the fancy wand-work, then Wormtail went around and marked all the details."

"I can't imagine this thing when the school's, well, normal," Alice giggled as she scanned every corridor. Even having lived there the past six years, she hadn't found half the places marked on this thing. "How can you make out anything with so many people about?"

"Practice," all four said at once.

"I want to know how the twins got a hold of it," Regulus took his turn holding it, Evans offering it without a second thought. He held it up to the light, then flipped it all around to get every angle, before finally folding it up again. "I can't imagine you lot letting this out of your sight much, let alone how it fell into the Weasley's possession."

"They said they swiped it from Filch," Peter recalled. "It wouldn't be too far fetched for him to confiscate it from us and for them to figure out how to get it working from there." Then he shifted uncomfortably and again tried to caution, "of course, the more people who know about it, the more likely-"

"You think Harry's going to get into Hogsmeade with this!" James suddenly shouted above everyone, snatching it away and quickly tracing his finger to the corridor Harry would be in.

Regulus gave Peter a sympathetic smile and whispered, "don't worry, I won't tell anyone."

"Thanks," Peter sighed back while Frank scrambled back to the book curiously. "I just hope those three will keep their mouths shut."

"It's hard to imagine Evans doing it," Regulus agreed. "She might lord this over you lot, threaten to turn it into a teacher once the novelty wears off."

"That might put Prongs off her once and for all," Peter couldn't help an ironic laugh.

James' prediction came true of course, and Harry was soon on his way to this very building. The other four of course went traipsing down the stairs as if to meet him, all of them crowding around the basement now looking for the secret hatch.

The Marauders stayed on the stairs with smirks in place, their eyes knowing just where to fall.

Frank tried to keep reading and get a clue, but despite Harry coming up and then above into the shop, he still couldn't spot it. Alice cast a few spells to reveal any such thing but nothing happened, while Lily was walking purposefully on the floor, clearly listening for something. Regulus was watching, and finally managed to follow Sirius' eyes, right to a square spot on the floor that had slightly less dust then everywhere else.

Alice yelped in excitement when he pulled it up, jumping down the hole with abandon.

"Bit of a squeeze down here, hard to imagine you four all scampering around in here," she called back.

"We manage," Sirius snorted.

It took a while for them to finally stop badgering questions, but the Marauders couldn't find it in them to be very upset at these four learning one of their secrets. Well, two, but plenty of students knew of the secret passages existences. They still had one secret that was just for them after all, and still no one had thought to ask them about their nicknames.

Harry was now able to explore Honeydukes, and eerily running right into his friends. They'd all had their fill of candy already and were more than happy to hear of Harry getting to explore even more of the village. James expected the chapter to be winding down soon so went wandering back upstairs to make sure and drop enough money in their till, Remus going with him to see if he couldn't stuff a few more sweets into his pockets for the continuing trip, who knew when they'd get food again. Regulus thought up a few more questions and managed a decent conversation with Peter and Sirius for a time, while Lily and Alice were discussing the merits of that kind of magic. Their thoughts of those boys being layabouts felt laughable now, how much research must have gone into that map?

Frank was as surprised as anyone when the kids reached the Three Broomsticks, got comfortable, and then choked on the words as teachers appeared.

"Blast it all, Harry can't have one decent thing!" Sirius scowled.

There was a thunk from upstairs, and they didn't have long to wonder what had been dropped in surprise as a cascade of Tooth-Splintering Strongmints came tumbling downstairs, James and Remus close behind.

"This is madness," Potter protested, skittering on the last few steps and nearly sliding into the entrance that had been left open.

"He didn't even bring the Invisibility Cloak," Remus sighed.

Hermione did some quick thinking and hid the kids from sight, but the relaxed tone couldn't quite come back.

"Has anyone tracked how long Hagrid's been in this place before?" Peter sighed. "I feel like Harry's going to miss curfew before he can slip past him."

"Have a bit more faith in the lad," Sirius tried to laugh off. "He's on the smaller side," sending a superior smirk at James, who in turn flipped him off. "He'll sneak out in no time."

Frank hoped they were right, he didn't particularly want to be the one to read about Harry's adventure getting ruined so thoroughly when he wasn't really doing anything that wrong. He'd expected the conversation wasn't much to listen to, but was quickly proven wrong when once again Black and the dementors were the topic. In all the excitement of this news he'd almost forgotten about Black's future misdeeds.

Judging from the mingled horror and resignation on his face, he might have as well. He shrunk back into the shadows with ease, nearly vanishing from sight and murmuring something for his friends ears alone.

"It's alright Pads," Remus caught him up in a reassuring embrace before he could slink too far away.

"Yeah, we still don't believe a word of it, no matter who says what," James stated in no uncertain terms.

"Even McGonagall of all people," Peter laughed awkwardly as their head of house even managed to share light on the tail. The four managed a pleasant smile for a moment as she reminisced about James and Sirius being as close as brothers, it was a wonder she didn't mention the other two, even a little offensive considering she now worked with one of them! Sirius' teeth sunk uncomfortably into his lower lip as he wondered at that, if he'd really done something to make her not associate Remus with him anymore.

Things weren't going that badly for a moment, James even perking up with interest at Sirius being his best man at his wedding to Evans. He glanced over and saw her scoffing, as usual, but even now he couldn't help but grin at the idea. She would look lovely in white. He turned away much quicker than usual though with an uneasy sigh, he wasn't sure how to look past her attitude towards his best friend. He'd named Sirius Harry's godfather for crying out loud, the news unsurprising to him. Shouldn't that be enough for anyone to know what kind of person Sirius was?

He missed Lily watching him out of the corner of her eye, her own mind a tumultuous mess of wondering at her future. A marriage to Potter of all people sounded ridiculous of course, but what would it have been like? His best friend had been there, had hers? Her sister? For just a moment, she could imagine it. Tired of feeling so alone, and the one person still trying to fight for her attention, she'd cave and possibly say something civil to him-

She'd missed some of it in her musings, Black being a Secret Keeper or something and the Marauders vehement protests something must have gone wrong with Dumbledore's spell before their mate had done anything against Potter. She wanted to scoff and laugh at their naivety in such a reckless friend, but stopped cold before she could even start, forcing herself to remember this time she once would have said the same about Sev- still would! Right?

Frank was growing increasingly uncomfortable the longer he had to keep going. Hagrid's shame at not stopping Black but instead accepting a gift from him like that bike was only making things worse. When he'd dismissed the Marauders as naive for thinking their friend couldn't do what the rest of the world said he'd done, they all must have been some level of crazy. It just kept getting worse, Black managed to kill Peter in that explosion?! It didn't seem real.

That arrogant pureblood stepping off and taking out a dozen muggles to prove himself had been perfectly in line with the character he knew, but taking out one of his own friends with it? After having just stabbed another in the back? It was hard to imagine any human with half the loyalty he'd witnessed in the past few days conceiving of such a thing.

Regulus had started to back away from his brother at the gore in this story, feeling like he was interrupting something private between the four even as he was forced to listen to the grisly tale. He stopped though when he realized what he wasn't seeing. The four just seemed frozen in place, expressions stuck on shock and nothing else. Regulus drew his wand and flexed his fingers, scenarios running through his mind of six of them turning on his brother. He didn't care what mother said, what anyone said, Sirius hadn't done anything yet to deserve this fate. Regulus still wasn't convinced this was the whole story, he wouldn't trust anything second hand now if details were already admitted to being covered up.

James unfroze first, stuffing his hands casually into his pockets, eyes flashing with fire about the room as he snarled what a horrible story that had been. Remus crossed his arms and put a calculating expression onto his pasty face, whispering to no one all the inconsistencies that could be had from this. Then Peter moved, Regulus raised his wand with a curse on his lips, but the guy merely launched himself into his friend, half shrieking, "glory Pads, to think what was going through your head finally wasn't your insanity! It's alright, whatever the hell that was, I know you'd never really!"

"I, wouldn't," he managed in half a sob, fingers trying to shake right out of socket as he patted him on the back, before crushing him in a life threatening hug. "Course I wouldn't," he repeated with a conviction no one would have believed moments ago. "I'd never."

Frank and Alice exchanged another of their unspoken looks. After such tenderness, watching their friendship in action, he found himself trying to guess what story in this future was missing a few holes, while watching those in front of him band around each other. Frank read the last few lines, Harry's shock at hearing all this as fresh as theirs, and begged of the new chapter to give some relief.

Chapter Text

To Guest: In James' defense, it's nearly a year before he even starts to 'deflate his head a bit,' by cannon, where as Lily did start to change at this time in her life, just a few days early honestly of what would have happened between her and Snape. So when, and yes when, James does begin to see the error of his ways he'll actually be going through life faster.

Sounds of jubilation rang in Alice's ears before the rest of her senses had even caught up with her. The place smelt strongly of wood polish and she flinched in surprise when something bright red looked like it was fixing to sock her in the face. She stumbled back in surprise and managed to tip over a whole casket of something that went spinning across the floor in every direction.

"Alice?" Frank called in concern as she muscled her way around what she finally recognized as Quaffles, the projectile charmed to be spinning in place showing off its new apparent aerodynamics on display.

"Over here," she called from the corner and following the loud noise around the mess of balls she made to find herself in the store proper, Quality Quidditch Supplies.

Frank sprinted over to her in relief, still shaking wood shavings out of his hair. "Sorry love, I landed in a pile of Make-Your-Brooms, I think some little kid was in the process of carving something into the handle when I interrupted." He caught her hand as he continued to look about. "Do you know where we are? I think that's Diagon Alley past that window, but-"

"You've never been in Quality Quidditch Supplies?" Alice asked in surprise.

"Me mum never brought me in here," he shrugged. "Thought the sport was a bloody waist."

"It's no wonder you wouldn't help me practice for the Beater tryouts next year," she laughed in surprise as his chagrin grew. "Don't worry love, I'll help you learn how to ride a broom over the summer, if you want," she quickly finished.

"I, ah, could give it a try," he uneasily agreed, clearly putting more enthusiasm into his voice than he meant. "Can't be worse than Neville's first try, eh?"

The two exchanged a look of pure love and excitement, their future spanning before them in that moment as Alice's mind corrected the instance, of teaching her son all about a sport she'd loved for ages.

Lily came over to them then with a deeply annoyed expression seemingly frozen in place. "Well, no use in expecting any of them to help us find the book soon. They seem to have reconsolidated their friendship by acting like even bigger loons than usual, if you can believe it."

Alice saw a beach-ball sized Snitch now being tossed into the air at the front of the store and believed her without question. She tugged her boyfriends hand and began waving Lily off to the side, "there's a collection of Quidditch manuals and how-to's on the far wall over there, we should start there."

They found Regulus there flipping enthusiastically threw Brooms to Buy. He began jabbering without even looking up, "these designs are fantastic! I can't believe how sleek the models become in a few short years! Do you think they worked out the design flaw of-"

He did look up then and flushed in surprise to see who it was.

Alice smiled politely and encouraged him to finish, "you mean the tailwind on the Cleensweep models? I sure hope so. I've been angling to save up for a new Silver Arrow because of it."

Regulus blinked several times in confusion, before a smile slowly lit his face. "You follow Quidditch?"

"It's a thing me and my mum love," she agreed. "I was going to try out for the house-team next year."

"We might be playing against each other then," he stated, and to her surprise she saw some excitement beginning to light his usual dower expression.

"You already on then?" Frank asked, eyeing the third year, who seemed almost miniscule to them sometimes being two years older.

"Yep, though I've only been a reserve player so far. The usual Seeker has actually been in the Hospital Wing all week though, so if he didn't make it out by classes today, I got to play in the match next week!" He exclaimed in pure child-like delight, then his face clouded over as he muttered in confusion what day of the week it was supposed to be exactly.

"I hope things work out for you then," Alice told him sincerely as Lily had long since lost interest in the conversation and perused every spine along here, but between the cover of Witch Weekly being dominated by some person with a surly face and heavy dark eyebrows, and a copy of Quidditch through the ages, not finding the book they needed.

Regulus nodded, blinked again in surprise as if just realizing who he'd been talking to, and managed the most friendly smile any of them had seen as he waved them off and began flipping through the magazine again.

"He's a weird kid," Frank muttered as they went traveling aimlessly down the isles of the store now with no clue where to look next, and not in any big hurry to be done and put in a more unpleasant place to use magic to find it. "Sometimes he's so hostile I feel like I can't take my eyes off him, then other's, he's..." he struggled to put into words what they'd just seen.

"A normal kid," she offered politely. "I'm still trying to figure that out as well. Seems he really only gets defensive when his big brother starts pushing his buttons and the pureblood issues come up. Makes you wonder what his home life's like," she finished with a sigh, eyes on Lily as she watched a Bludger go sailing over their head without interest. They heard it crash somewhere in the back of the store, and they all steered clear and went to the front instead.

The Marauders were beside themselves with pure energy, clearly all that candy they'd inhaled had taken hold. Black and Pettigrew were responsible for the majority of the objects being thrown around, unable to handle one for any length of time before daring the other to throw it, and the other complying. Lupin was sitting on the counter with an indulgent smile in place, occasionally waving his wand to fix something right only so his friends could go at it again. Potter was conspicuously missing.

"You lot have no restraint!" Evans snapped as a pile of Puddlemere United towels crashed into the floor from their wild antics. "Would you have some bloody respect for one place?"

"Live a little Evans!" Pettigrew called back, before he burst into a mad fit of laughter that almost sounded like a shriek. He jumped onto the space beside his friend and began hanging from the rafters in the ceiling, scrambling madly to lift the rest of himself up there.

Alice felt a bit of pity for him, it couldn't be easy to learn of this kind of future and the lad seemed to be taking his words to heart and enjoying himself to the fullest now. His friends were clearly indulging this. She turned away, and finally spotted the book. Potter was unintentionally drooling on it and didn't even seem to realize it, as it was propped on the display next to the Firebolt.

She darted over there as well, eyeing the beautiful, sleek design with relish. It looked fast just simply sitting there in the sun, she couldn't imagine the feel of one beneath her. She was surprised Potter wasn't crashing around the store on it yet.

As if reading her mind, he groaned in pain, "it's a display model only, not the bloody real thing."

"That's almost fair," she sighed with longing. "I can't imagine any security charms in the world would stop someone from trying to steal it." Her mind was already putting together Potter discovering this by trying to take one along with him now.

He looked to her in surprise, it looked almost painful for him to drag his eyes away, but clearly hearing her tone. "You like Quidditch?"

"Why does everyone seem so surprised by this?" She pouted.

"You've barely said a thing when Harry's games were going on," he shrugged.

"I like to play it, don't have much enjoyment for listening to it," she said back, while finally and reluctantly grabbing the book.

"Enjoy the chapter then, seems we'll be getting skipped forward to one of Harry's matches," Potter gave her a genial wave and went back to panting over the broom.

Alice wasn't so sure, the timeline didn't seem right for it at all as she'd thought Harry was just starting his winter break, but opened the book curiously to read the chapter title, which gave things a little more context.

Pettigrew fell from the ceiling in surprise, and didn't even seem to notice. "Harry's going to get a Firebolt!"

Alice gazed fondly at the picture, which didn't at all do justice to the lovely bit of wood in the window.

"I guess losing his Nimbus model changed his mind about getting a new broom like that," Frank laughed at the kids indulgence. "Poor lad needs a pick me up I'm sure," he finished more quietly, eyes still on Black who looked like he was trying to do a cart wheel for reasons beyond both of them.

The excitement of this news made everything feel like there was a new energy around it, even the dampening opening reminding them all how Harry was taking this news. It was clear the Marauders were trying very hard not to even listen, the three even abandoning the front counter to join their friend at the window and talking painfully loudly about anything they could think of.

Alice couldn't do the same, and not just because she was the one telling of poor Harry's suffering turned to hatred towards Black. She watched the teen flinch and edge even closer to his best friend, throwing an arm around Lupin like he was trying to hold himself upright at his soon to be godsons feelings. She'd been wondering about her own future ever since she'd learned about Neville, worried why her son never mentioned his parents and was raised by Frank's mother. If her son hated his parents even a fraction of what Harry was feeling for someone he should have been so close with, she didn't know how she'd be able to live with that. She honestly wished she had a better answer for him rather than more accusations.

Lily listened as Harry's friends tried to cheer him up, and Harry wouldn't let them as he reminded Malfoy may have been aware of this news. She vividly remembered the brats words to Harry about the elder Black, Sirius, and how she'd wondered if somehow he and Lupin were in on that horrible murder together. Now with this new information of learning their friend was involved, she wasn't so sure, but then how had the child of a Death Eater been so informed of the event? Was it really possible they'd both turn on their friend in a few years? What of Potter? The longer she thought of this the less sense it made.

Frank hoped that Harry going to visit Hagrid would help him. He needed someone to vent at, an adult in his life who would be a solid presence in this troubled time. He'd never known his dad, but thought he'd be a lot like Hagrid if he hadn't been killed by Death Eaters.

James turned to actually watch Alice with concern and surprise of what was wrong with Hagrid, then they all muttered, "I'd forgotten about that hippogriff."

"I say we start a Quidditch team for him!" Peter said at once, breaking off and making a run for the isles. "The Hogwarts Hippogriffs!"

"I don't think they'll give a school an international team," James snorted as he followed after him.

"If they did, we'd have to form one giant team, and the body count would never end," Remus snickered as he trailed after them.

Sirius hesitated to follow, eyes still lingering on the book. His friends refused to treat him any differently no matter what came to light, but he'd noticed these three with something new on their faces from that last chapter. It had not passed his notice Regulus had been about to draw his wand on someone either, for him. He felt like he owed all of them, something. A peace offering, a thanks, an apology, he wasn't sure, but some way to show he really wasn't this mad man of the future. He'd never really cared what anyone thought of him in school before, but this was different, he didn't want anyone to think he was capable of this! Now it was clear they were reconsidering and even agreeing with the Marauders something was going on about this story, now how to reinforce this when Harry's opinion of him was lower than ever?

Harry helping his friend to save the hippogriff was too sweet, almost sickly so, Regulus wanted to laugh. Hagrid was certainly one strange person, crying over a beast. He wondered idly, as he found a nice chair to sit in and continue flipping through his magazine, how Hagrid had survived Azkaban for as long as he'd been there. Regulus froze when he even realized Hagrid and Sirius would have been in there at the same time. He shivered and was happy for the change of topic to Harry getting Christmas gifts, especially that new broom he'd already snuck a peek at.

The boys ideas of who had sent it to him all had merit, he could even hear echoes throughout the store of varying people's ideas, most of them thinking it was McGonagall or Dumbledore again. Regulus wondered if they were really missing a rather obvious person, Sirius. He was certain he cared enough about Harry to use money he claimed no right to.

There was some scattered sympathy again for Scabbers once again being chased by that cat, and quite a few mutters when Hermione only made her position worse by worrying over who sent the broom instead of just enjoying the gift! He rolled his eyes even harder when he in fact heard the other Muggleborn present voicing this same worry Harry should not just be accepting this gift without question. He'd probably agree, if he thought there was anyone out to hurt Harry that wasn't around the last two years. He'd finally had to admit to himself there was no doubt Sirius was innocent of these crimes, and there was just no reason he'd be 'going after,' Harry.

Once again nobody seemed to give much of a passing notice to Lupin being absent for his health. It was a common enough thing for him in school, seemed he never grew out of that.

Remus flushed at this being pointed out anyways, then paused in confusion as the potion Snape was apparently making for him was again mentioned with no real understanding of it all. There was just no chance it was a coincidence. Snape knew he was a werewolf, and was giving him something for it?

James and Peter froze in front of him with weary expressions as well, but dared not speak of this in such a compact store where anyone could hear. Instead they gladly took the distraction of McGonagall coming to confiscate Harry's broom, and very loudly spoke of how infuriated they were with Hermione going behind Harry's back like that.

"She was looking out for her friend!" Evans shot back from five isles over. "I'd hardly think you would complain about that Potter, considering that's what you've been doing for your friend since the beginning!"

"It's different!" James thundered back, but with that light back in his eyes of finally getting the chance to spare with her again openly. "I'm defending Sirius from false accusations, not tattling to a teacher so they can nick his stuff!"

There was no response, and James preened with satisfaction, seeming to think he'd finally gotten through to her. He even went jogging back over to them, Peter hurrying to keep up.

Remus was all for standing around and watching the show of Prongs and Evans again, but got distracted. "Oi, Padfoot, I found you a Whimborn Wasp Jersey with Bagman's numbers!"

"Moony, you're the best mate ever!" He'd spoken without thinking, all but apparating to the isle he was in, but froze when he reached for it and their hands brushed together.

There was a pause as the two just stood there for a moment gaping at each other.

It's stupid to flush like some school girl, Sirius quickly corrected himself, he knew what you meant! Their fingers were still overlapped over the bright yellow stripes.

The two hadn't found an alone moment in quite some time now, and the more this kept happening the more charged the air became between them. They'd agreed to hold off the awkward conversation of whatever this was and include James and Peter in it, but that had been when they'd thought they were just traveling through Harry's first year. Now all of this horrible new information kept coming up between them all, the two honestly just wanted an escape.

Remus cleared his throat and finally stepped back, effectively putting the conversation off again like it had never been turned back on. "Well, put it on before Smith finishes!"

Neither gave a single care to the exclaims of surprise that Sirius could have sent Harry that broom, it felt obvious to them, and it's not as if this news would change anyone's opinion of him in either way.

Sirius shucked his bag, slipped out of his school robes and threw them off without care, grinning as he exposed his top half and Remus cleared his throat again. It wasn't anything the other hadn't seen over the past five years of sharing a room in the morning, he told himself, but he still found himself preening a bit and hesitating longer than he should have before pulling it on.

Moony caught his eyes and smiled again, whispering, "perfect fit," as they were teleported away.

Chapter Text

Yay bonus chapters! Enjoy your day, and your holiday, and everything that matters to you!

The place was not even lit, which hadn't boded well the past few times for them, so Remus was quick to wave his wand and light the candles along the wall. It revealed nothing more than a desk with a suitcase on top, the rest of the room was cleared.

At first they all relaxed, recognizing an unused Hogwarts classroom, the view outside a crystal clear night, the moon newly waning. Then they heard the suitcase rattle.

"I swear to Merlin's sack if it's another three headed dog, I am out!" Frank hissed to no one.

"Thankfully we didn't have to deal with that one," Peter tried to offer, his voice too high pitched to convey any real comfort. "Plus, I've got a nice falsetto-"

"Someone summon the damn book and get us out of here before we have to find out!" Lily snarled, their wands all pointed either at the suitcase or at the door for the threat, but none seemed willing to activate anything. Finally Lily took a breath and followed her own advice, the suitcase went sailing into her hand.

She dropped it as if it had burned her.

"Evans?" James at once asked in concern, but too late, it fell open right in front of her.

A new girl now stood before them all, carefully set blond hair and pale fishy eyes in a neat pink dress, her face scrunched up in pure disgust. Eyes locked on Lily and storming even closer with a ranky, perfumed air she sneered, "I can't believe you did that freaky magic again Lily, mum and dad will kick you out for sure this time-"

James froze with no idea of what to make of this, even as the red heads eyes filled with tears and her wand began to lower, but Remus leaped forward and shouted, "Riddikulus!"

The image flickered for a moment, eyes still locked in on Lily. For just a moment, a boy now stood before them with long greasy hair and a hooked nose, but then it changed to a cartoonish looking dog trying to balance a bone on its nose.

Sirius could only muster up a very small laugh in surprise, but that only drew the boggarts attention onto him next, blank eyes focusing in and already beginning to change into a woman, except this time with haughty dark features and claw like hands as she shrieked at her eldest son what a disgrace he was, in a voice they all recognized from frequent Howlers in the Great Hall.

Padfoot blanched in disgust and tried his own form of the banishment, but then it only grew worse again at the weak attempt, flickering to Prongs, then Moony, and then Wormtail all with looks of horror and disgust upon their faces and spewing even worse things of betrayal and a friend they couldn't trust, all words they'd already said to him.

James pushed him out of the way and, ignoring the change to a skeletal snake-like face appearing from nothing, this time said with purpose, "Riddikulus!"

It changed to a yellow balloon and made a farting noise drifting lazily around the room. Peter made a forced attempt at laughter and they all tried to join in this time with understanding. It landed, flickered feebly between a rat, a pool of blood, a griffin, then settled on an erumpent, rearing onto its hind legs and horn pointed at Alice.

She shrieked and backed away in surprise, but gathered her wits back just as quick, all of them on guard now. She repeated the incantation and watched it shrink down to a fuzzy kitten chasing its tail. They all laughed this time with feeling.

It tried one last feeble attempt, rolling onto its back and nearly locking eyes with Regulus who backed quickly away with a truly horrified expression. Lily stormed forward with a vengeance. The image blurred, taking the shape of a person once more before she shouted at the top of her lungs, and then there was a fish flopping on the floor and singing some tune none of them recognized, but they all laughed anyways in surprise.

Finally, it vanished, the silence left behind though labored with still startled breaths was almost calm thanks to the way it had ended.

Lily very cautiously peeked back inside the suitcase, to find the book sitting innocently inside. "Well," she whispered, still breathing the heaviest. "I guess Harry gets those lessons from Professor Lupin."

They all shuffled for a moment back into more casual stances, everyone looking at someone with worry for this experience.

"Err, Evans, you sure you're okay?" Potter still asked her even as he was looking at his best mate, expression sallow to the extreme and twisted up, still glaring where the boggart had vanished.

She flipped her hair over her shoulder and scooped the book up without comment to get to her place.

"An erumpent?" Frank put his arm around Alice and politely asked her. "I feel like there's a story there."

She made an awkward attempt at a giggle to fight off the full memory. "My dad took me to a sanctuary once, it did not end well. What's with you and griffins?"

"A wild one went onto our property once," he grimaced. "I'd be cat chow if my mum hadn't stepped in. Needless to say, I'm quite proud I didn't wind up in Gryffindor for that alone."

She did laugh that time, but both were now done soothing each other and watching Lily with still more worry. They wanted to say something to her, find some way to really make her laugh this off like they had, but she'd just found her place and read out the chapter title, causing an inadvertent but welcomed distraction. "That's not really the way Harry's going to stop this dementor problem." She turned accusing eyes on Lupin, who looked politely puzzled himself. "That's a seventh year charm, I only know of it because I accidentally did a practice quiz for a N. E. W. T. instead of an O. W. L last week. You can't expect a third year-"

Three Marauders decided to keep to themselves they did in fact know that charm, even if they weren't dementor tested, because there had been a study done on correlations between the form they took and similar animagus'. One, did not think that through.

"Do you know any other way to make a dementor piss off?" Black snapped at her, visibly swallowing but puffing up and nearly shouting. "You want Harry to be hearing you scream in his head for the rest of his life? At least Moony's trying something, I don't see any other Professor-"

"Padfoot," Potter placed a restraining hand on his shoulder. "Breathe mate, she didn't sick that boggart on you, or what came out of it, which was complete bollix."

He took a deep breath and blinked a few times, whatever he'd been yelling at in his mind finally being replaced with her vivid red hair. "Right, sorry Evans."

She just nodded without comment and tried to read on, putting the tid-bit away for later on how, interesting, it was Potter always seemed able to calm all his mates down. What would they be like when he wasn't around to do that?

Sirius had even less interest hearing Harry arguing with his friends, as if he hadn't lived through that enough. So he grabbed Regulus by his shoulder and began towing him to the farthest corner away.

He went stumbling along, but willingly, and straightened his robes and drew himself up imperiously when released. "The hell Sirius? You know you can just ask to have a word with me like normal?"

Sirius huffed and muttered for a moment about the kid before he asked in an almost gentle voice, "your class done boggarts yet?"

Regulus sucked on the inside of his cheek for a moment before answering, "no, at least, not like that. None of my Professors have ever mentioned them, certainly not Liz if it was supposed to come up this year, but Dad actually found one in his desk the day before Christmas Holiday ended. Told me I was going to practice on it this summer," he finished in a small voice. "Guess, now I'll be better prepared for it?"

Sirius had only wanted to somehow brush off the horrible things that boggartWalburga had said if his little brother had questions, but now he felt like he should ask more, for once. He'd flat refused anymore lessons like that with his parents after fourth year when they'd given him several dozen different lectures on not just how to do certain spells, but who they should be targeted towards, and that wasn't even getting into how they talked about beasts like trolls, goblins, and werewolves.

He'd tried to convince his little brother to join him and stop going to these as well, but the little brat had refused and told Sirius he wasn't going to disappoint his parents like that, then asked him to go outside and play a game. It was pure insanity! How long did Regulus think he could keep walking the line between appeasing their disturbed parents and keeping whatever moral compass he still claimed he had?

There was a small distraction from the discourse James was serving by Wood trying to work Harry off the team because of this dementor problem, his best friend shouting loud enough for the whole castle to hear, "Moony, if you don't get Harry a solution to those dementors, I'll banish them all from Earth myself!"

Wormtail gave a wild laugh for his usual antics, the both of them discussing loudly how they'd go about doing that when classes swung around to mentioning said professor again. Sirius looked up and around properly in concern when Hermione displayed, well, not a response they appreciated.

Regulus watched his brother eye Lupin with concern when the little Muggleborn girl seemed to know what was wrong with their newest teacher. Regulus felt affronted for a moment, he hadn't a clue if it was some disease he had or he was just consistently under the whether, but he also hadn't spent much time looking into it. Seemed the nosy little girl had done so and was now lording it, typical behavior of those less fortunate. He shifted his weight uncomfortably to the Muggleborn reading all this, the image of her fiery hair jumping to his defense and tackling the creature, and without permission guilt flooded him for the vicious thoughts. He slumped away from Sirius in confusion and sat by the desk as he tried to sort out all these conflictions in him. The boggart's shape for him, everything he'd thought he'd known being a lie, and still who to believe.

Sirius let him, as he didn't have a satisfactory answer for his own problem yet, and turned to enthusiastically egg Evans on with 'interest' of this new spell they clearly hadn't heard of!

Lily ignored their idiocies, but did stop curiously when the name of the incantation was given and how to invoke it. She hesitated, searching through her mind for something that might work.

Frank didn't have to think twice, summoning forth when Alice had agreed to go out with him and shouted, "Expecto Patronum!" A white burst of light did indeed spew forth, but to his disappointment it merely faded away just as fast.

Alice waffled on anything to use. Her life had been quite mellow, nothing would really stand out in her mind that would give her much of anything to work with. She got more frustrated the longer she tried, thinking there must be some high point in her life as she flickered through memories with her parents, friends, and even Frank, but there was no peak producing silver to be found.

The Marauders all, 'gave it a go.' They all had great bruises on their prides to only produce very thick and consistent vapors of smoke without letting their true patronuses take shape, but they'd resisted the urge to brag to the world about their years too early practice in becoming animagus', they could hold off bragging on this too. Sirius turned to Regulus and called, to try and push some attention away, "come on then, give it a go! See if you and Harry are on the same level?"

'I'm nothing like that half-blood' he wanted to snap back, instinctively insulted, but took a deep breath and instead tried to respond to his brothers enthusiasm. He recalled the time he and Sirius had built a fort out of blankets in the study and Kreacher brought them snacks all night, the two whispering about all the adventures of the future, home alone as their parents went to a dinner party all night. A very substantial silver something began to materialize before him, but he was so surprised it faded away just as fast. He looked wildly over to see his brother beaming with pride.

James was watching Evans sadly, advice or something to help on the tip of his tongue. She was red in the face and muttering the enchantment with purpose, but barely a whisp was visible. Usually the ruler of the Charms room, he'd half expected her to be able to flawlessly enact this one, but she was clearly struggling with some aspect. When she opened her eyes and saw him staring, she looked even more angry and frustrated, turning back to the book with a despicable look, muttering about practice later.

She didn't exactly feel better that she was doing worse than Harry, or the fact that the boy had to create a fake memory just to produce results! She flushed with shame as she suddenly realized she may do better trying the same, nothing she'd come up with seemed to be working. Not the earliest ones of the first time she'd done magic, nor the more recent of her and Sev trying to create spells and jotting them down in his mums old potion book. She stamped her foot in frustration of what she was doing wrong.

The lesson was going brutally, and Evans' clear displeasure at her inability to do the spell wasn't helping things along. Constantly having to hear of your last dying words on top of lacking in magic her son was getting only half decent results in this same spell, more than her. At least Harry had an excuse for his lackluster work, his secret desire to hear his mother's voice, the only time in his life he would.

Then Peter fell back against the wall, clutching his ears in pain rather than keep hearing her stutter in surprise over James' last words. You-Know-Who closing in, and his brave, loyal, stupid friend standing his ground against everything. He should have ran, why didn't he run? This wasn't some animal that could so easily be tricked and fooled, this was a tyrant even Prongs couldn't face!

He watched his friend for several long moments, looking as if he were seeing a ghost in Evan's hands, but then his chest puffed up and he drew himself to his full height as if fixing to go ten more rounds with everyone in the castle. "Damned right!" He declared with actual pride.

Sirius and Remus looked on the verge of tears hearing of this, but then they too threw their shoulders back in pride for such a response. Peter wished the castle would swallow him hole in shame as he couldn't bring himself to do the same. His eyes flickered to where the Boggart had vanished, the tiny little rat that had appeared mocking him. He'd always been weak and small compared to them, even his fears, and the self-loathing only grew stronger for what he was, what his first reaction would always be.

Lily had just been given a whole new perspective of this future smacked into her face. There was still the loathsome image of being married to Potter for all of this to even be occurring, but for once that was the most insignificant bit. She held, in her hands, proof that James Potter, cared for her. Like she'd watched him do for his friends in the past few days alone, like she'd seen him even trying to do for her, now magnified in an action he clearly had no regrets for. For this one second, his last breath, he was not some arrogant prick trying to win her affections.

"Lily?" It was the quietest, most gentle way he'd ever called to get her attention. The reason he called her Evans was too rile her up and see her face him with that challenging look ready to go, but that's not what she needed now. "I don't regret it." The calm he infused into that, spluttered something out of her.

"How do you manage to- I don't even like-"

"That's alright," he actually shrugged, still looking like this of all things was a casual conversation. Not the birk that was blindly defending his friend, the arrogant idiot who couldn't see any opinion but his own, just his declaration this was a satisfying enough end. She didn't understand it one little bit. She turned slowly back to the book, because for once she didn't know what to say to him. Thank you didn't seem proper enough, when she couldn't return she'd do the same.

She almost, sympathized with Harry coming to tears over hearing of this. She'd tried, and failed, to put distance between the idea of this child being hers, and for the first time was struck by just what the boy would think watching this. The first thing he'd ever heard in his parents voice was their life ending for his, and here the two of them couldn't even hold a civil conversation! The lad would probably cry ten fold if he was forced to hear this instead.

Some of James' confidence wavered when Remus, or Professor Lupin whatever, refused to elaborate on their friendship. He had no idea why his friend had been going out of his way these past thirteen years to not care for Harry, and dancing around the answer now was making him feel sick. Just what had happened?

Sirius and Remus exchanged terrified looks for the same, now watching Prongs as he finally looked worried about this future like hearing his own last words hadn't managed. Sirius roused himself, and in a fit of solidarity to chase that away shouted, "oi, who's up for round two with that Boggart! Professor Lupin's slacking, only letting Harry have three goes!"

Remus swallowed uncomfortably rather than admitting he wanted to quit again from this bloody story, but the other two looked relieved and laughed just like Padfoot had been hoping, even if both sounded extremely forced.

There was rising hope in everyone now as Harry finally got a good attempt off! Professor Lupin still had to step in, and it didn't seem encouraging the man who was teaching this couldn't even produce his own patronus to do it, but they'd take whatever they could get at this point.

Professor Lupin's even more cryptic comments about Sirius had the two shuffling closer to each other with unease, wishing more than ever there was some way to just get an answer already rather than all of this foul run around nonsense. Harry pausing to reflect on all of this was making them sicker by the moment, it took everything they had not to grab each others hands in front of everyone just for some comfort in this dreadful situation.

Thankfully the book lightened up from there and the moment passed without either having to acknowledge it. More chats of Quidditch and fond laughter at the little third year whining about homework between all the OWL students was really what everyone needed.

Time dragged on for Harry, Frank and Alice looked out the window curiously as if they were going to see the sun zipping by along with Lily's words, though thankfully they were saved from that experience. When the book did go back to talking about Harry in those lessons, Lily couldn't help her voice shaking again, not needing a repeat to know how much Harry needed this, and yet finally understanding why he'd never want them to stop. Her dismay at this was nothing to the Blacks reaction of finding out the oldest one was to be Kissed.

Sirius would have fallen if his friends hadn't caught him, his face a silent scream of fright, which set Regulus' blood boiling. No one and nothing made his brother look like that! "They can't do that! It's been outlawed- it's never even been allowed it's so beyond words! Just who the bloody hell is trying to hide what doing this to him!"

Hearing his little brother throwing a fit, over him, snapped Sirius out of it like nothing else could have. He'd stood there and watched in wonderment for a moment like everyone else before finally going over to him and wrapping a reassuring arm around his shoulders. Regulus immediately tried to shake him off, still muttering profane things Sirius was a bit proud to hear coming from his young mouth, but held tight. "I want you to remember this moment Reg," Sirius said with conviction. "Purebloods are not any more safe than anyone else from the bad things they do, or are framed for doing." He'd only been trying to distract the both of them from this future horror, but now his kid brother looked even more aghast.

"-But, Sirius, don't you see! This is why the Dark Lord's plans should be followed! He wouldn't let this happen to you!"

Sirius flushed in anger, his arm tightened painfully around the kid, but he remembered how shocked and afraid he'd been when hearing the news of You-Know-Who's real name and birth and forced himself to keep going reasonably. "No, Regulus, it wouldn't. I'll never follow him or what he wants, and he'd do much worse to me because of it. You've got to stop letting others tell you what to do-"

"Like you're doing!" He snapped, finally pulling away. "Both you and our parents just keep saying things, how about giving me a chance to see it for myself? All I've seen so far is someone deciding you're going to get your soul sucked out because you killed a bunch of Muggles! Who cares about them, but under the-"

"Shut up!" Sirius snapped back before he could say it again. "Do you even hear yourself? Murder's okay now, so long as it's not someone who can do magic? What next then, killing Muggleborn's will be okay because it's not you?" To his surprise, Regulus' eyes flinched to Evans and away, it was the first time Sirius had seen him even acknowledge her. "Then who, hum? Wizards without pure blood lines can go to? Then there will just be You-Know-Who's minions, and even those might some day choose to not agree with who goes next, and there won't be anyone left to stop him!"

He took a deep breath and tried to keep himself calm when Regulus just stood there, pale faced but with that insufferably stubborn look still set. He didn't seem to have a rebuttal for that though, for once. "Fine, think whatever you like," he muttered, stamping back to his friends.

Lily felt like backing slowly out of the room so as not to draw attention towards her and invoke another fight like that, even as she'd been unable to look away from the whole thing, completely riveted. The brothers were much more of a spectacle than her and her sister were, she was sure, but still she couldn't help but find herself sympathizing with Sirius Black of all people. She was full of that today apparently, as she wanted to consul the sibling who couldn't get through to the other. It made going back to reading feel ten times more awkward as she kept shooting him anxious looks, an apology or words of understanding on the tip of her tongue for him that he was clearly ignoring even from his own friends.

They were all so distracted it took a few moments for McGonagall's words to sink about Harry's Firebolt being returned to him, than Lily's good mood vanish as fast as it was back for those Marauders. They were a ball of pure energy and excitement Harry got the broom back while she just wanted to chuck it in the trash, considering Harry and Ron even went so far as to rub it in their friends face they'd been right all along. She still remembered Harry nearly being thrown from a broom once, was it beyond her son to admit it could have happened again and better safe than sorry?

She'd thought they were going to end on that high note for Harry, for once, but then another bomb was thrown into the mix for all parties. Hermione's cat had finally eaten Ron's rat. More than one relationship might be irreparable now.

I meant to have this argument between Sirius and Regulus at a later point, but it fit in really well with this book and I couldn't pass up posting it now. Instead Regulus' turning point will just flash back to this instead of this happening during it, can't wait!

Chapter Text

Remus gazed up blearily to the painted stars above and immediately knew something wasn't right. He'd spent the majority of his life gazing up to see those patterns and learn what they meant to him, and even before he sat up and saw the four-poster beds he realized they were only enchanted symbols, and they were once again in dorm rooms. He slumped back down onto the bit of floor he was on and didn't want to bother getting up, they were all exhausted from this nonstop travel.

He wasn't the only one, everyone seemed to be muttering about this fortuitous timing and was claiming beds, though there were only four to go around. The dark blue comforters did look inviting, and Prongs claimed one to drape across all four of them as they piled onto the floor nearly on top of each other as they settled in, Regulus still curling up under the sheets that were left in the stripped bed.

He felt surprisingly well rested when his eyes glummed open and no time had seemingly passed around them, the sun still hovering at dusk in the windows. He found himself once again curled into Sirius' chest, and should have felt much more worried if he hadn't been the first to awake and begin trying to edge away, despite Padfoot's arms trying to tighten around his waist in protest. He managed to get himself into an upright position at the foot of Regulus' chosen bed, and began absently stroking Sirius' hair to wake him.

Bright grey eyes cracked open and he made a quite adorable little mewling noise of protest, moving again to curl himself back around Remus' legs and head now resting inappropriately in his lap. Remus awkwardly, and still very quietly, gave a little throat clearing and began tugging on the long locks none so lightly. "I don't think anyone else in here needs to be woken up to that Sirius," he offered. He muttered a few obscenities, but already James and Peter too were beginning to toss around with sleep wearing off and Sirius finally sat upright by himself and rubbed at his eyes. A true miracle in itself Prongs hadn't awoken first really, this fact a true testament to how much these books were getting to him. The real oddity was the light noise waking Wormtail up too.

There was no promise of breakfast to really get them moving, so the four Marauders just sat near each other in a huddle and looked around curiously at their surroundings proper.

They were a bit bias in saying the place wasn't nearly as opulent as their dorm, the stars twinkling above only seemed to invite them to close their eyes again, the sun coming in from the wrong direction they were used to making them feel even more off. They couldn't deny its splendor though, the carpet they could attest was a fluffy rich purple, the trunks reminiscent of their own spilling over with school supplies and memorabilia of the current students living in here tacked up along the wall. The photo on the nearest nightstand was of a girl with straggly blond hair and perturbant eyes being hugged by a woman of the same features, another picture beside it of the same girl slightly older now hugging a strangely dressed man.

All sorts of interesting items seemed to be scattered about her space, including a rolled up magazine peeking out from under the pillow Regulus was still using, a gurdyroot with holes sporadically carved into it, a jar of cat litter with odd things that certainly were Ruins painted in bright pink, and a Muggle Dream catcher hanging crooked in the drapes around her curtains. The other three beds in comparison looked tame.

Curious, and already bored waiting for the others to rouse, the four went snooping with only slight restraint through the girls belongings, half of the things they couldn't even identify, the rest beyond them why a girl would keep these on her person. There was a bit of charms homework with odd little notes along the margins full of warnings that didn't seem to have anything to do with the Alohomora spell it was over, and a complete potions essay that had a seven out of ten, the stylistic flowers and other unidentifiable things that could only be divined from this girls imagination in the margins a clear point of consternation to Snape as it was likely him who'd viciously struck-through them with red rink. They did find the book amongst her things though, next to a clearly hand stitched together novel called, Crumple-Horned Snorkacks and You.

James was disappointed to open it and find the words weren't yet visible until everyone woke up, so he gave the book a toss away and kept spinning an odd device filled with sand around in his hands.

The book landed on Frank, startling him awake and in tandem causing the others just as rude awakenings. The Marauders mildly apologized without even meaning that and kept up their browsing. Frank rubbed sleep out of his eyes and instead of retaliating just smiled around at the familiar surroundings. Even if it wasn't his exact dorm, the familiarity was still the first bit of comfort he'd had since this madness took off. Alice shivered as she crawled out from under her covers and pulled her school robes tight around her as she made her way over to Frank, nudging him aside and crawling into the warm space beside him, head resting on his shoulder as he flipped the book open to begin now that everyone was awake, whether they wanted to be or not.

Harry's story was doing no better to lighten their morning mood. The end of Ron and Hermione's friendship would be a sad blow to them, even having never met these kids. They had at least four more years to hear of Harry's life they presumed, and if he really lost a friend this early on it was likely to be awkward the rest of his time, especially over a pet.

There was some noisy pleasure from the Marauders in finally getting to hear of the Firebolt in action, though Alice's little noise of displeasure at still only getting to hear it rather than feel the sensations herself were apparent in his ear. He stopped to kiss her forehead in sympathy and hoped aloud they'd get to come across Harry's broom themselves eventually in this madness so that his girlfriend could have a go.

Excitement only grew as the whole of before, and the actual Quidditch game was being described in excruciating detail. Frank felt a small bit of revenge at Potter cursing himself not having kept the book so he could be reading this even if he had no real interest in the game, but it seemed he and Evans were the only ones. She was still sprawled out in the bed under the covers, twirling her wand absently and clearly in her own mind.

The rest of the boys, Regulus especially, were all having a merry time critiquing the techniques of both Seekers on display as well as heavily analyzing every aspect of what was mentioned form the other players. Alice was clearly listening, but mostly laughing at them taking it all so seriously.

He nearly threw Alice from the bed in surprise as dementors made an appearance again, he'd startled so hard in his own seat at the idea. Harry handled them like a pro this time though, hardly even flinching and displaying magic beyond his ears in nearly creating a fully corporal patronus to send them away as he kept his attention focused.

Harry caught the snitch, a victory was won and not even slightly dampened by the reveal those dementors were in fact Malfoy in disguise. If anything, it made the moment sweeter Harry's victory was doubled over on that boy getting some comeuppance. The were all laughing and being as jubilant in their celebration as the rest of Gryffindor tower.

"What do you think the Ravenclaws are doing, mourning their loss?" Alice asked him, eyes gazing curiously around the respective dorm room.

"Likely, the Quidditch Captain's throwing his own party and strategizing ways to win next time, and the rest of the dorm's enjoying their own various activities. I know what I'd be doing," he finished in a quiet whispering in her ear, making her giggle while being uncomfortably aware of sharing a bed with him in a room full of people.

Frank flushed as well and read on to save them both. He expected it all to wind down, Harry's odd little dream being just that, and was as surprised as anyone for the boy to be awoken with Ron's fears of a nightmare, that were quickly being proven as anything but. He didn't want to believe it, trying to convince himself the rest of the chapter Ron had been having a bad dream and magically caused his hangings to be ripped in distress. Frank had been trying to convince himself the Black he'd been forced to share time with lately couldn't be capable of such madness in the face of how he clearly cared for his friends, but there was little explanation left as it was confirmed by the Portrait Sirius had made yet another murder attempt on Harry's life. He closed his eyes as he finished, rather than look up and see the four friends being ripped from this room, and possibly apart from each other for good.

Chapter Text

Deathly Hallows is now complete! I can't help but scream this at every opportunity! If you'd like a copy of the complete series with the bold text summarized, just email me and I will be more than happy to send you the entire thing!

Sirius at once lost his feet upon landing and face planted a puddle of foul smelling green sludge. No matter how much he tried to spit it out and wipe his face clean, the mess clung to him. By the time he'd at least cleared it away from his eyes and mouth, he got himself onto all fours and looked around to see what should have been a familiar site.

He was on the very outskirts of Hogsmeade, a place he and his friends frequented far more than the others of Hogwarts and possibly even the villagers themselves. He'd spent more times having adventures in every nook and cranny of this place than even doing homework, if one could believe it. This particular spot, and what it looked down on, meant more to them than words could express. The Shrieking Shack stood in the distance, the measly fence guarding it off, the sheer drop and magic bordering one from going inside through any of the blocked off windows or available door were quite powerful to one who didn't know what they were doing. There was melting snow upon the ground and puddles of mud every few adjacent feet, perfect for a prank to pull or vanish at a moments notice.

His friends were the ones he was having trouble recognizing.

They had not landed near each other at all, but each held the same expression of shock that was quickly growing into something Sirius had no desire to look at. His breaths were coming out in short, sharp little panting gasps, as if he'd broken a rib. He wished the Devil's Snare were strangling him again, or even better, a venomous tentacula. He'd rather be back in a dragon's cave than fight his blurry vision and see what he knew would be there on his real family.

"Sirius, you daft idiot, how is eating mud any solution to this?" Then there was a warm hand thumping him on the back, a kind voice affectionately telling him to stop being stupid, and James' hand hovering in front of his face.

"How the hell are you lot still," words wavered off, Sirius didn't know how any of them could stand to be around him after what they'd just heard. That didn't stop him from clinging to this while he could, taking Prong's hand and only staggering for a few moments before his feet steadied beneath him.

"I don't know what to make of the madness of this future," James brutally told him, expression defensive as he scanned around for the book, but he gave Sirius' hand a reassuring squeeze before dropping it. "I do know it hasn't happened yet though, so would you stop panicking about it every other second please?"

Sirius spat out one last glop of mud and still gave a slight grin. "Yeah, I'll try."

"If you manage it, Moony will owe me three galleons," Peter smirked. "We've a running bet you can't go longer than three days without freaking out over something."

"Define freaking out," Sirius huffed with an exaggerated pout.

"Shouting and your general presence are the commonly accepted terms," Remus shrugged. "He almost won last year actually, until you found out it was Wormtail who ate your Potions homework and our deer friend graciously played partisan and gave me the win."

"Aha!" Said Marauder had wandered off from their babble and managed to spot the book resting in a nearby tree. He scaled it the Muggle way for the onlookers.

"I will never understand those four," Lily muttered, shielding her eyes from the sun and waiting for Potter to fall from the tree any second. Maybe he'd land on his fat head and deflate it a bit. "They really can laugh off anything, even attempted murder on each other."

"The kind of friendship we should all aspire for," Alice shrugged.

Lily flushed slightly in unease, thinking if rolls had been twisted slightly and Sev had ever done anything of this scale to her, she couldn't forgive such a thing. The way he was acting now was inexcusable, and the chapter title Potter declared only promised things weren't going to get much better.

Regulus listened to the school in controlled chaos because of his brother and couldn't decide who he was more impressed with, the Sirius of the future getting in and out of that place undetected after a botched murder attempt of his best friends kid, or his idiot brother smiling along at the events now. Chest out, hair swept over his shoulder, pride rolling off of him in waves for managing such a stupid move. Would they still be acting like this if that was the end of the story? If Sirius had really killed Potter's kid, would they all go back home and pretend none of it had ever happened?

He wondered, not for the first time, just what their most recent fight had been about. Something equally as bad as nearly getting an innocent killed? How many times would Sirius get away with this before his friends cast him out? Regulus knew, even if Sirius had done all those horrible crimes, at least he'd still forgive his brother. He never did anything without a good reason, and was continuously amazed the three he called his brothers seemed to feel the same. Would his friends do the same if he suddenly told them he was having questions about their future plans?

Frank listened intently to the kids interpretation of why they thought Black hadn't murdered Harry when he had the chance, and didn't take to the idea. If he was mad enough to be breaking into this school at all to exact these plans, surely his way out wasn't on his mind, just the murder itself. So either Sirius wasn't as mad as everyone was saying in this future, or they were still missing something.

He forgot everything else when he heard his poor son was in the most trouble for all this. His indignation at McGonagall's treatment of him grew with his fury, he had half a mind to get up to that castle and tell her off for this the second they got back. As if he was the first child to lose a password or let another student into the dorm, he shouldn't be punished for Black's doings!

When Hagrid's note arrived and they went to visit him, Alice huffed impatiently at those two forgetting about Buckbeak as much as they seemed to everything that wasn't a Firebolt lately. Just because it wasn't their responsibility didn't negate they'd offered to help. She was glad they had Hagrid in their lives all the more when he straightened them out about how they'd been treating Hermione, someone needed to tell them that sooner rather than later.

Hermione threatening to turn around and tell McGonagall about Harry's new found map wasn't garnering much sympathy though.

"What a snobby little brat!" Sirius huffed. "Can you believe this is the same kid who brewed an illegal potion last year."

"She's trying to keep her friend safe," Remus shrugged in some defense. "She's not going about it the right way, but I give her credit for trying." He didn't seem to have convinced any of his friends, but they were also the ones who ran around with a werewolf once a month. Safety wasn't often their first concern.

Alice and Frank were all the more unsympathetic to Harry's wanting to sneak out here again by trying to ditch Neville to do it. It was obvious their son was wanting a friend to be around and Harry was only thinking about what he wanted, couldn't he at least invite Neville along? He wouldn't be like Hermione and go tattling his first chance, of that they were sure.

James at least got some enjoyment of Harry's time through Hogsmeade now, especially his trip inside Zonko's. Then his son ended up here, on this very spot, and he looked around with fondness as he tried to imagine the scene. Him and a red haired kid instead just having a laugh, or him and a son who looked so much like him but with Lily's eyes as he told of the grand adventures and tails of the Marauders. He glanced at Lily and saw she was merely ignoring them, playing with her hair in agitation and clearly wishing he wasn't out there at all. He sighed and wondered what it would take for her to start daydreaming the same.

Then Malfoy arrived, and while his friends began muttering in frustration for that prat ruining their spot by his mere presence, James had the kind of grin that automatically had Lily narrowing her eyes at him once more for whatever nasty prank he was thinking.

She didn't have to wait long as Potter described the following fight with glee, along with Harry's invisible revenge. She tossed her hair over her shoulder and went as far away from them all as she could, beyond words this child kept resembling his father, always trying to solve every argument with underhanded tactics. She only listened with vague interest as Harry went off same as Malfoy for the castle and was still left wondering how Snape and a grudge of his would be involved even as he appeared and dragged Harry off to his office.

He belittle and accused him, but that was nothing unusual. He even brought up the same thing Dumbledore once had in his own light, about Potter supposedly saving his life, but now sharing more it had been some prank gone wrong. Her eyes widened in surprise and then narrowed suspiciously when exactly this had happened. Surely it wasn't the exact same instance Snape had told her about only last month.

It wasn't until Lupin was called in that she got her first hint of what was coming. She knew Snape's suspicions about him and what the Marauders got up to and still laughed at Sev's crazy ideas, but his reaction to the same man now full grown almost made her want to laugh. If this was the grudge being referred to, it really was a bit pathetic he couldn't let an old schoolboy resentment slide for a fellow college. Lupin was acting the same in this future as he did now really, avoiding everyone given the chance, why did Sev care so much?

She wasn't getting an answer as Lupin talked Snape out of any punishment, but then proceeded to berate Harry himself.

Lily watched from afar as the Marauders shifted with further unease as one of their own invoked Potter's name. Seemed she wasn't the only one unhappy with the way their future friends were acting.

Hermione ended the chapter with the gory announcement Buckbeak's death had been sentenced. If only that were the worst thing going on right now.

Chapter Text

High noon sunlight was pouring into yet another dorm they were thrown into.

There were four beds, all in the Gryffindor four poster colors, but for some reason the place seemed weird, Peter decided as he rotated slowly on the spot, like each had cut up their own half into sections deliberately to contradict the others.

Regulus had landed in the best spot by far, the area was decked out in Puddlemere United logos, Quidditch schematics, broom models, and tactical bits of parchment floated about in midair so that the viewer could have a complete three sixty view of whatever he'd been in the middle of doing, the charms still in place while he was gone. He gently plucked one closer to him, seeing a cut out picture of a Firebolt and its statistics pasted onto a mock up of the pitch with squiggly lines in all possible directions and more numbers beneath, he was almost jealous of the amount of detail in it all.

The one Peter had landed in was pristine, not a smelly sock in sight or out of place. N. E. W. T. practice exams were in disciplined piles, and notes over more notes with nary an ink blot out of place were stacked prodigiously on the foot of the bed. He grimaced as he got to his feet, bumping into the nightstand and knocking over a picture of the redheaded family, imagining Percy coming forward and berating him for messing with his things.

The other two were perfectly bland in comparison. One lad had a toad in a tank on his bedside, star charts and practice exams for an upcoming Divination Exam of all things on his bed. The last had an odd number of pillows creeping out from odd places in the bed, stuffed in between the mattress, stuck to the ceiling, and at least half a dozen still slowly multiplying from under the bed. A bad duplication charm that he should probably keep practicing, Peter deduced.

His friends began converging on Oliver Wood's side of the room for the book, for obvious reasons, Sirius opting to get Regulus involved and making it a race. Alice, Lily, and Frank went over to pillow boys side of the room, giggling amongst themselves about fixing it before the whole place was covered, but Frank's attempt being botched at once as he merely fused three together instead like a grotesque looking body.

Peter meant to turn away and start helping them to tear through the pile of the Quidditch nuts things, but stopped in surprise at Percy's open trunk, spotting the book on top of several library borrowed Transfiguration texts. He picked up the purple bind gingerly, flipping it uneasily in his hands and peeking at the last few pages. They were still blank, only the text of the next chapter visible, and even then only a line at a time until he read it all aloud. He sighed with distaste, wishing the outcome of Sirius' fate wasn't being hung over their heads so mysteriously, but at least smiled with enthusiasm as he loudly bragged the chapter title.

"No fair!" Sirius said at once, crouching on the spot as if preparing to tackle him to the ground and wrestle the book from him.

"Finder's keepers!" Peter teased, dancing in place to make himself harder to catch as Sirius began stalking forward unsubtly.

"That joke would have been a lot funnier if you'd actually made Keeper this year," Remus said mildly, as James tried to circle around behind for a sneak attack.

Peter didn't have time to respond, he squealed in surprise at Prongs grabbing him from behind, throwing the book in the air and only just slipping away before he could get a good grasp, then doing a graceful spin and still catching the book with his back now pressed to the wall instead. "Back, back all of you heathens!" He laughed, brandishing his wand now. "I'll stun you two, don't make me! You're going to listen to me read about the best Quidditch Final ever and like it!"

"You are a cruel, evil soul, and a traitor to us all," James pouted as he flopped across Percy's bed, likely putting more creases in it from his one romp than had been done in seven years. Sirius flopped on the floor like he'd been struck dead.

Moony seemed to appear out of nowhere as he'd had his attention on the other two and plucked the book away.

"Moony!" Wormtail protested, at the same time Sirius sat up like a begging dog and shouting the same.

He patted Peter's head like he was a small child, impish grin in place, before sighing and handing it right back. "Just didn't want you getting too big for your breeches over here. Telling them off like that!"

"Now you're the evil one!" Sirius gasped as Peter finally began. "What's the matter with you, getting my hopes up like that!"

"I'd rather let him piss himself telling you two about this, than you two turning on each other fighting to see who could read it," Remus said without remorse.

The two finally seemed to give in, going to sit in front of Peter with their full attention like little school children, whispering to each other over every other sentence like school girls. It didn't start with the high end action they'd been expecting, the opposite in fact as they were brutally reminded of what they'd temporarily forgotten, the poor innocent hippogriff being sentenced to death just for giving Malfoy what he deserved.

Regulus watched as everyone around him muttered in terse disgust for this, even Frank, who'd been attacked by a griffin in his youth. He rolled his eyes and muttered about the lot of them not seeing the big picture, if it had been anyone but a Slytherin they likely wouldn't be complaining the animal had been in the right. It was a dangerous creature and Hagrid shouldn't have let it be around students so new to the subject, this was the obvious outcome. The gamekeeper turned teacher was lucky he wasn't being fired on top of it all.

It did no real help for Ron to offer help on the appeal now, the damage was long done for the hippogriff, but it did help the two friends to make up. Lily sighed for how easy the two made it seem like their month long argument had just vanished. The fight's she'd been having with Sev lately weren't nearly so easy to shake off...

Hagrid earned everyone's sympathies as he took to the news, even Regulus felt a bit of begrudging sadness, though for the beast or the half beast he wasn't sure. The gamekeeper saying he'd do his best to make the hippogriffs last moments its best was really something else, he truly seemed to care for the creature beyond any reason. He'd never seen anything like it.

Pettigrew was really getting into the fight between young Harry and Malfoy, Alice couldn't help but notice. He kept dancing on the spot, stopping and starting in excitement during the mix of it, he looked ready to piss himself in excitement. His friends weren't acting any better, both Potter and Black were loudly muttering their displeasure someone hadn't cursed the blond kid yet, and Lupin was picking at his fingers leaning against the wall with a dissatisfied scowl usually hidden behind a book of his own to show his mutual feelings.

Alice really couldn't blame them, it must go against their nature at this point not to curse whatever was bothering them in the moment, but at least they'd finally get to hear of an argument not ending in magical blows- SMACK!

Pettigrew shouted that so loud you'd think the wall of the tower had just caved in, but the silence lasted for only a few more seconds before all four boys were laughing uproariously for Draco's misfortune of being slapped in the face by one Hermione Granger.

Alice couldn't help a surprised giggle bursting out of her for that, which she quickly tried to cover up. Even if it was long since deserved. Frank noticed anyways and shook his head wearily, imagining the telling off his mother would give him for going around socking people like a common Muggle. The Malfoy boy may have had it coming, but that didn't mean it had to be done in such a way.

Evans had her lips pressed tight together to stop her own laughter pouring through, surprising Regulus. She hadn't shown much restraint about anything all this time, why bother now? He was chuckling appreciatively himself, as there was no one around to hide it from. His parents couldn't scoff in disgust a little Muggleborn had dared do such a thing to a pureblood, his friends couldn't sneer how uncivilized and petty such an act would seem before casting their own curse upon this, he just took the moment while he could to chuckle the unpleasant child of Malfoy getting a well deserved wake up like he recently had, anyone could surprise you.

Hermione continued to hold attention the majority of the chapter, skipping a class next of all things and then giving Trelawney a piece of her mind as she stepped out. It was almost inspiring even, the girls one act of self-confidence striking Malfoy seemed to have warped her whole day. It was fascinating to say the least, Peter reflected. Despite the fact that they ate and slept and time clearly moved around them, this all felt like one very long day to him, and he'd already seen Regulus acting just the slightest bit differently because of it. What would happen when they finally broke out of this cycle?

He was distracted from such thoughts as he glossed over homework piling up, as if he needed a reminder of that with his OWL's starting next week in his own time, and finally got into the pre-Quidditch excitement they'd all been waiting for! The growing tension between the two houses was the most familiar thing yet they could all attest to, and the kid having vivid dreams the night before the game was unsurprising to anyone.

Prongs and Padfoot were like giddy toddlers on the floor, whispering to each other every few seconds what they hoped was going to happen during a Quidditch final, speaking of all Harry's past shown skill and how he'd put it to use. He stopped for a moment, inexplicably irked that even with their soul attention in his hands, they seemed enraptured in it rather than his input. The second he stopped for breath the two were snapping at him to get a move on, dampening his own enjoyment slightly.

The instance with the strange dog and Crookshanks was one in particular he wanted to stop and look to his friends for, but they clearly were determined to blow off everything while they egged each other on to get to the game already, and he scowled behind the book now, missing Regulus trying to catch his eye in sympathy as he found it just as fascinating.

He'd watched Prongs playing Quidditch long enough though that even in his foul mood, he still couldn't stop the flood of excitement getting to read about Harry doing the same. It was thrilling to hear first hand experience what it really felt like to be on the best broom in the world, in such an important game, things he'd only ever be able to imagine rather than live...

Peter found himself getting lost in the story, forgetting it was even Harry he was reading this about, but his own fantasies over taking him of catching the Snitch, of the cheering crowd surrounding him in praise, it was James actually clapping him on the back. It was so easy to see in his mind's eye, because he'd already seen it once before in the Mirror of Erised, if only there was some way to make it true. He almost regretted coming to the end, wishing he could linger forever in the happy feeling floating only in his head, but before he could stop himself he was already saying the last sentence of the chapter.

Chapter Text

This is a terrible mother's day gift, and has little Lily in it. But I still wanted to post today. Cheers!

The place reeked of alcohol worse than The Leaky Cauldron, and Remus had been in there recently enough to speak from experience. He groaned in disgust at the heavily ladened perfume trying to cover the smell, the stench of incense and the billowing smoke of a fireplace, none of which quite masked the smell of the rich wine.

"What's the matter Moony?" Sirius looked absolutely dapper in the environment, Remus choosing to watch him circle about the new room to focus on instead.

"The place reeks," he needlessly emphasized as his eyes adjusted to the dim lighting. "Where the bloody hell are we?"

"I'd hazard a guess at Trelawney's office," Frank called, once again riffling through an available desk with abandon. "Judging by all the Divination homework in here, oh, and a few personal items. She was in Ravenclaw," he held up a bronze eagle embossed pin on a delicately wrapped blue shawl.

"I'm growing jealous by the moment we never had this teacher," James laughed as he found a door that would open and stepping through. Remus made to join him, but recoiled as the smell only increased. Prongs continued to call out as he traveled farther away, "she's practically got her own distillery in here beside her bed! There's another door that leads straight to her classroom! Blast, of course it won't let us go in farther down to the castle."

"I'm surprised it let you in there," Alice followed him, "considering we've already been in."

"Guess we get to revisit places, would have been bloody useful to know while in that cramped room in the Dursley's," Regulus muttered.

James didn't even seem to hear them, and neither did Remus. "For the love of Merlin open one of those windows," Remus called, going quickly after them now to do just this. He hardly glanced at the wine cabinet stacked to the ceiling or the messy bed behind him as he threw open the painted glass and greedily sucked in some fresh air.

The quad was visible below, looking strangely forlorn without a person in sight sneaking about in the dying sunlight. By the time he'd pulled his head back to bare the process again, the place had certainly aired out some he didn't feel like he was dying anymore, and Peter immediately shoved the book into his lap with a disgruntled expression.

"Everything alright Wormtail?" He asked in surprise, expecting to have found him as jubilant as most everyone else still seemed to be about the recent Quidditch victory. Even Alice and Frank looked in spirited moods for the event, chatting with James and Sirius more than ever before they were being so damned happy. Sirius' little brother was even eagerly joining in, if you didn't know they were all from different houses and never spoke before nobody would have batted an eye. Only Evans seemed bored waiting to get a move on things, he could see her at just the right angle back in Trelawney's office sitting on an available poof and looking bored up at the ceiling.

Peter appraised him for a moment, before muttering sullenly, "guess I forgot in those few weeks of silence just how loud James and Sirius could get."

Remus looked at him in surprise, before snorting with laughter. "Don't know how you could have forgotten! Did you manage to get even more thick recently?"

Instead of his usual laugh, Peter frowned a bit and started to walk off. Recalling Sirius' warning that in fact Peter might suspect what the two of them have been doing out of sight recently, he chose his next words carefully, "nothing's changed Peter, I hope this book's future isn't getting to you, we're still us."

"Yeah, I got that." Peter muttered before finally shuffling away to stand at James' elbow, but crossing his arms and watching him with an odd look, like a little kid waiting to get his parents attention. It was so bizarre Remus stood there a whole ten minutes watching and waiting for something to happen, and finally realizing it wasn't. Then Regulus of all people seemed to realize it and turned to include him. How often-

"Bloody hell Lupin, would you start already and end this madness," Evans shot at him from three rooms away, startling him so much he nearly dropped the book out the window. That wouldn't have been a fun experience. He likely could have just summoned it back, but what if he couldn't? Would they be trapped here forever, living off of wine because they couldn't move on? Could they summon things to them outside this room? Harry's Firebolt would be in this castle right now, wouldn't it? He ignored her and set the book down on the desk with a crystal ball waiting to be ignored and attempted this very thing, expecting the broom to come shooting up and exclamations of surprise and enjoyment from Sirius for finally getting his hands on this, but sadly nothing happened.

Lost now in a whole new round of questions about the logistics of this, they truly seemed limited to the environment they landed in and this bubble only, that he didn't even notice Evans coming up behind him and snatching the book away to read the chapter title until she was right behind him.

"Alright, already, I'll read," he pacified, holding his hand back out tentatively, afraid she'd take a bite out of it for as nasty a look as she gave him.

Her mood had only worsened at what was coming, Trelawney and predictions hadn't been a fun topic for them when it had come up before, and she slammed it back into his hand and stomped back off to glower in the corner.

He sighed as he began, wondering what miracle it was going to take for all of them to be in a good mood at once. The start to this certainly wasn't helping, Harry basking in his Championship winning only set the group's chattering even more boisterously and Lily to start rolling her eyes and muttering loud enough for anyone to hear what a waste that sport was. It was of some relief he got to change topics to the upcoming exams, even if none of them appreciated the reminder theirs was supposedly next week if they ever made it back to their time. Even the twins spotted buckling down reminded him he had a whole stack of Potion's notes to get through back in their dorm- ugh, he'd rather read this, even if this insane version of Sirius did make another appearance.

Hermione's oddities about her class he practically skipped right over, he really hadn't been paying enough attention to invest in this girl torturing herself for some classes. Of course the next bit with Buckbeak's execution was just as depressing as ever to think about, Remus in particular wishing to recoil and hide behind Sirius and James whenever this was mentioned. He could so easily imagine himself in Buckbeak's place, the Ministry coming up here like a kill squad the moment they found out a werewolf was present here. He tried his best to shake off that recurring nightmare as he kept going.

At least Harry's exams were interesting to find out about. Even if he was the only one paying the slightest bit of attention, the others were still dissecting the Quidditch match with no end in sight. He couldn't blame them, as none of this was anything new to them, until he got to his.

"An obstacle course? Moony that's brilliant!" Sirius called over, completely cutting off whatever Peter had been saying.

"Sounds like you would make a great teacher, always love the ones who do practical lessons and make them fun," James nodded along.

Remus flushed a bit as he smiled at them, adding a chancing glance over at Lily and watching her consider the idea at the way he handled all of the students. Even Sirius' little brother didn't seem to have a bad word to say about it, and for just a moment Remus thought he'd gotten his wish, until he caught sight of Peter, who was once again frowning at James. Remus felt bad he seemed to have once again pushed whatever his friend had been saying aside and meant to apologize, but he didn't want to call Peter out in front of everybody and swore he'd save this for later.

The book wasn't letting any other happier feelings linger, as the Minister himself appeared with the executioner right to Hogwarts front door. It was truly disgusting how blase' they were being about their own mistreatment of this case, something that deeply disturbed him. If they couldn't be bothered to think twice about the little things, how were other such instances in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures being handled?

Finally he got to the point of the chapter in Harry's last exam, Divination. Trelawney was as gormless as ever, in comparison Hagrid had made a better teacher this year with his flubberworms. Trying to cajole a student into imagining their friends pet with his head cut off was despicable, he had half a mind to toss all her sherry bottles out the window for the way she was acting, and that was before she scared them all heartless as he read out a real prophecy.

He swore his voice was as raspy as Trelawney's by the end, there was something so wrong with what he was reading he couldn't make sense of it if he was stuck in here for the rest of his life.

Sirius' breaths' began rattling out of him as if they were already being counted down. He staggered back, away from everyone, looking like he was going to be sick or worse any second as he mouthed it all again, though no one needed that repeated.

"Sirius!" Several people called in unison concern, but he didn't hear one. "No, no, I don't want, no, not that-" He hadn't realized his knees had given out on him, or that he'd backed all the way up into Trelawney's room again before they had. The sherry bottles glimmered above in the candle light from both adjacent rooms, in all sorts of tantalizing colors. He already knew before he bothered to reach for one though, he could drink every one of them and could never forget this horror.

The Marauder's didn't know what else to say, Peter didn't think he'd even bother anymore if he had an idea. It's not as if anyone listened to him anyways. James wished with everything he had they could just keep brushing this aside as nonsense, but at this point it didn't seem possible. Were they really going to have to travel through the next four years of Harry's school life listening to this madness? Remus wished he could bite his tongue off rather than having said that horrible prophecy, like he'd seared it into his own tongue. He didn't know what to believe anymore. Rash, impulsive Sirius Black could never have done such a horrible crime, but what had happened to their future to cause it?

Regulus looked from his brother to Sirius' friends with a calculating look in place, wondering if he was the only one to realize the prophecy had never said anyone by name. Even the two of them who believed the most in prophecy's had to have heard, made the same understandable path in logic this could still all be referring to someone else, right?

Evans' voice trickled in through his haze, she'd picked up the book at some point and continued, whether in callousness or pity he didn't know or care, he was grateful. It all happened in quick succession to him, Hagrid crying over the loss of his hippogriff, and yet Scabbers's miraculous return giving Ron his rat back. A pet and some brooms, those were his godsons biggest concerns this year, when he was now left a shell wondering when it was going to end for him. He just wanted this to be over.

Chapter Text

Sorry for the delay on this! I've been working on the outline for my Reading the Twilight Fic, and it's surprisingly hard to switch back and forth. Before I was just jumping between two HP timeline's, not two whole different fandoms, so I'll give you guys the choice. Either chapter's for this will move up to once a week and no North Star until early next year, or I finish book three, end this four books too early, and North Star goes up instead in July. Let me know.

There was a short, bumpy slide down his rump before he was left sprawling in a pile of dirt in a dark tunnel as their next destination. Sirius tried to sit up and then grunted in further pain as several more people came tumbling down on top of him.

Maneuvering and cursing helped sort it out, mainly the second, and soon they all found themselves able to hunch over uncomfortably, but they'd been in worse places recently. He didn't even need Evans to light her wand to tell him where they were though, he'd know this secret passage as well as his own dorm room. The sharp windy breeze discernible above his head, the faint, musty odor of blood and dust ahead, the way the path was slightly less well worn than any of the other hidden tunnels they'd ever found, though that was quickly being changed the longer the Marauders knew about it. They were underneath the Whomping Willow.

He didn't need Remus' soft little whimper of worry, James subtly stepping between Moony and everyone, or Peter's awkward shuffling backing away from everyone to know why this put them in such an awkward position. The only conceivable explanation to them why Harry would be down here, is that one of the Marauder's had taken him down here for some reason. Neither of the present two seemed to have much of a good reason.

Waiting at the end of the slope was the now dusty purple book, sitting innocently with the pages now smattered and crumpled from so many people kicking and landing on it as they went past. Sirius swallowed a bit of bile as he went to pick it up, but he ignored his hand shaking as he met Remus' eyes and tried to concoct a plan for the worst.

If, and it was still a very big if to him, Harry was somehow down here because he found out about Moony and had some cockamamie idea about seeing it, the three friends in this time would have to do a hell of a lot of covering up for their Remus now to make sure none knew the wiser it wasn't true now. He gazed down at the chapter title for too long, Frank began laughing at what the hold up was. As an experiment, he tried to laugh and summarize the odd chapter title, just telling everyone else it was a bunch of animal names, but no more words appeared until he finally said Cat, Rat, and Dog.

He couldn't fake it. He didn't know a way how to talk them out of this one.

It didn't start out with any good omens, what with Buckbeak being unjustly killed and the poor trio's reaction. Then Scabbers started going nuts, the reason being quickly revealed Crookshanks was still after him. Still he could hardly spare any of it a thought as the tunnel subtly shifted in size around them, though he really couldn't care less now he could stand up straight instead of hunched over the book.

Then the dog arrived.

He startled so hard he scraped his head against the ceiling, causing a slight dust cloud around him and pouring over the book. He took the temporary coughing fit this caused amongst the others to gaze at his friends in pleading silence to tell him he'd read that wrong, but their shadowed eyes gave nothing away.

Sirius had started this worried about how Moony's involvement was going to get dragged into this and what potential secrets was going to come of that, now a whole new scenario was playing out behind his mind's eye. The deranged animal he'd become in Azkaban, sapping away his humanity and leaving him with one animal urge left to kill, somehow being directed on one he'd so love.

A puddle of sick was there at his feet, and he didn't even remember doing it. His throat still burned, his stomach rolled and threatened to continue any moment, but all he felt was the horror his mind had latched onto and wouldn't let go. He'd gifted himself this animal form to save Moony, now it would be the death of James- Harry- James-

"It's alright Padfoot-"

"Let it out mate."

"How hard did he hit his head? Did he give himself a concussion?"

It all swam before him like he was seeing the three from underwater, he was afraid to clear his gaze and find out what was holding him upright, but James was there. His best friend was undeniably keeping him on his feet, not the wall. Remus and Peter were promising in every way but words that no matter what that monster of their future did they weren't going to pin the blame on him now. Even Regulus was bouncing on the heels of his feet and eyeing him in concern rather than criticizing anything for once. He should feel safer than ever, but he didn't know how to shake loose the terror lodged in him, had zero faith he could say the words that he'd killed his godson.

Wormtail finally took pity on him, and after several Evanesco spells to pick the book back up, gave them all a confident smile he could somehow make this easier on everyone if he was the one to say it.

The madness didn't sound much better coming from him, as Ron was somehow grabbed instead and dragged along into this very tunnel. Sirius could swear he could identify the very streaks of blood in the dark lighting. It didn't work the sanity back into his favor any. That wild animal seemed determined to kill and had just grabbed the wrong kid. Did that mean something of him had spared Harry at the last second, or was he so gone he couldn't even be bothered to care anymore.

He tried to fight that off, surely if students had been attacked and killed all year they would have heard of it! Was this the first time then, and he'd been building up to it?

Harry and Hermione went after them, to no one's surprise, but too late the Marauders misunderstood the look of dawning determination the four outsiders had on the Marauders.

Potter didn't make a joke about saving another redhead in distress with a salacious look at Lily, Lupin wasn't hovering in the background with suppressed laughter but was now the one with a supporting hand on his friends shoulder and trying to whisper words of comfort for no one else's ears. Pettigrew was reading like an ancy toddler, his voice stopping to squeak uncomfortably every time he stopped for breath.

Of course they'd be worried about Potter's kid, that wasn't unreasonable as they'd all made it clear from the beginning they'd been invested in this future and Harry. Their distress over Black's fate of being an escaped madman had also been perfectly reasonable, if a little blind to some of them early on. Now with time on their side they'd finally conceded maybe all of Black's actions weren't so black and white, and it wasn't Potter being comforted for the fate of his child they were watching.

The idea, the unbelievable, illegal, but slow forming understanding had hardly taken root before it was slapped in their faces. Sirius Black was an unregistered animagus, and his friends knew it.

"You idiot," Regulus told him with pure sincerity. He would have decked him if his brother didn't look so miserable already.

Sirius was exhausted. He'd spent countless hours now being hurtled through someone else's life with company he wouldn't have asked for, now he'd been living through countless hours believing himself a madman and a murderer which finally seemed irrevocably true. He didn't know what would happen to him if this secret was told, but surely a fine at the worst, which still wasn't as bad as Moony's secret being revealed. He was tired, so he didn't deny it.

"I don't understand," Frank muttered, looking between the four. "You must have a reason for doing this, even you lot know this is more than breaking a school rule for kicks. What possible reason-"

"He doesn't have to explain himself to you even if he did know," James snapped, his every breath trembling with nerves. The nightmarish image of Sirius dragging Ron off, his own self congratulatory words Harry would follow wasn't adding up to him. If he'd wanted to kill Harry than he'd had opportunity enough, something else was going on here, and he was already getting a headache trying to follow along, let alone fending off their prying questions.

It fooled no one. They all knew now, and no one was sure how to go forward with the information.

Sirius couldn't stand there any longer, avoiding their eyes, doing nothing. So he snatched the book back from Wormtail as he took another trembling breath, reading out in his own harsh tongue the tussle between him and Harry, the thirteen year old kid actually winning with the help of his friends and then considering murdering him. He almost wished Harry would, put him out of his misery those dementors had trapped inside him.

Then Remus was there, offering backup Sirius had never asked for but always seemed to find when he least expected it. Sirius wanted to fall into his arms now, sob in gratitude he wasn't alone in this future and Moony was still there for him, something still made sense. The only thing stopping him was the fear of drawing attention back to Moony, the one Marauder who had another illegal secret much more dangerous to have the spotlight on, in a house they were far too close to, with a night ahead they had no absolutes about.

It was all in vain as Hermione ousted him, after he'd finally been able to get his feet under him. Sirius took a deep breath, threw back his shoulders, and dug into every bit of collective knowledge he'd acquired over the past sixteen years of his life as he turned to Remus and said, "and I thought I was the monster in there."

It was there for just a second, the flicker of hurt, the shadow of true fear at those words finally being flung in his face, but he also knew Sirius. He'd seen the true look of disgust on his face directed at other students for whispering about werewolves after they'd come up in a lesson. He'd heard the true tones of unforgivable loathing every time he looked at Snape. This was Padfoot covering Moony's tail and leaving his own hanging. There was every chance it wasn't going to work, but he smiled at him all the same for trying.

James slugged Sirius in the shoulder and called him a jerk, trying his hardest to sound like he didn't mean it. Peter had perfected the art of an awkward laugh and shuffled even farther away, keeping his hands behind his back to now show them trembling with nerves at being caught.

It might have actually worked, had they not spent every other available moment defending one of their own against another equally radical claim. Now, their blasé brushing of this off just gave other moments a chance to make a lot more sense.

Frank recoiled, waiting for his life to flash before his eyes as he realized the danger they'd been in without even realizing it. He went back and counted, almost kicked himself for each clue he'd overlooked. What being an illegal animagus had to do with it, or even if the two were cause and effect he still wasn't sure, but he grabbed Alice's hand and began trying to pull her as far away up the tunnel from the rest of this insanity as he could. They hadn't asked for this.

Alice jerked her hand away with a scowl at her boyfriend, she hadn't grown up with the prejudices she knew most purebloods had gained. Her mum was an auror, she was descended from the first set to have ever gotten the job. She knew from countless stories what it felt like to be victim and hero, and right now she saw Remus Lupin, hovering terrified behind his friends, as an innocent person just like her.

"Frank!" She protested as he hesitated. He didn't continue backing away, but he didn't look much ashamed for his automatic reaction, nor her tone.

"You don't want to hear the stories my mum's told me about werewolves-"

"Your mum sounds like a paranoid git the more I hear about her," Alice crossed her arms in frustration. "I've heard things from my parents too, and they're not just stories. Those poor creatures live in poverty, most of them just kill to survive-"

"Oi! Do you two mind having this conversation like he's in the room," Sirius Black took a dangerous step towards the pair, even in the near darkness they could see the anger coming off of him, as Lupin shuffled even farther away from all present in shame.

Sirius regretted his outburst at once. Five years of ignoring other kids whispered comments about this and he'd caved now, but he couldn't just shoot a hex at them and laugh it off like his usual prank, Remus couldn't just pull him along to the next class muttering to him how much it didn't matter.

Peter, to his credit, still tried as he piped up, "yeah, how would you like it if we started laughing about how your future turns out? Oh wait, we don't even know yet!"

"Oh don't kid yourself Peter," Regulus rolled his eyes. "The man himself hasn't even denied it, and you lot are actually terrible liars." He was slightly paler under his dark hair than usual, his eyes remaining trained untrusting on the outed party, and every terrible lesson he'd ever been through with his father over dark creatures was playing back through his mind, but for once in his life Regulus was trying to drown out every outside voice but his own.

He wasn't sure how much he could trust Sirius over his own parents, he'd thought his brother had never lied to him but now even that was wrong. Now all he had left to feel were the two contradictions of his life, the lies of You-Know-Who's heritage and his own. If he'd been wrong about that all his life, what else was he wrong in assuming straight from his parents?

Lily wondered if she was going to be sick. Her first thought was that it made a horrible kind of sense, the cruel lot of friends had found each other, of course Potter and Black would accept a werewolf as a friend considering they showed no mercy to their own victims of those horrible degrading acts they called pranks.

She looked again though, really looked at them. Remus Lupin was a scared, pale teenager watching those around him take in this news as he hovered behind his friends. No 'monster' could ever look that vulnerable and be a pure killer. Peter Pettigrew was looking between them and his friends, like he was waiting for a signal what was going to happen next. He still trusted his friends to make that decision so he could go along, while those horrible friends of Severus', even Sev of late followed blindly with the first thing they were told by their superiors without thinking twice about it. Sirius Black was being accused of murder, now of his best friends son, and he still stood right beside him as if at any moment he was going to be that killer for his friends. James Potter stood as their center, every bit their good influence as he was the bad.

Silence like none before lay thick in the air, each person waiting for someone else to make the next move. Sirius reacted first, it was his sanity on the line here, and now with Remus involuntarily being thrown into the mix in this future, it was both their lives on the line. He snatched the book away from Peter and read in a blur. He wished his future self would give Professor Lupin a kick for tottering on about Sirius dragging two people into this passage, about focusing on Ron's pet of all things.

He cursed the man having to over explain everything now of all times as none of it was making any sense. How was any of this helping?

The mental tirade came to a halt as Sirius Black, the escaped prisoner of Azkaban, finally answered who had done these true crimes all along. Peter Pettigrew.

Let's be honest, are you really surprised that I left it at a cliffhanger at this point?

Chapter Text

Consensus won, and this will indeed go up to weekly updates. Would you rather a different day than Thursday? It's all the same to me. Enjoy!

Random side note, I'm going back and doing a massive overhaul of editing Life that Never Lived now that it's done, and boy do I apologize to you guys about all the grammar mistakes. I take no critiques offensively, so please bombard me with all that you found yourself reading that, and this, and anything else of mine.

It was home away from home to Sirius. All the mischief they'd managed in this place. The first time they'd been in here was when Remus dragged them out of bed to tell his darkest secret, then they'd spent the following years performing their illegal animagus practice in these dusty walls when it wasn't being occupied by said werewolf until they could finally join him. They'd drawn up their map, concocted their pranks, and now it was tarnished forever as he looked upon one of his best friends as an accused traitor by none other than himself.

The upholstery was uglier than her great Aunt Delilah's. It did have the same stain across the back, as if Petunia had accidentally splashed this one with juice as well and blamed her. Instead of smelling of cigars from her father though, it held a faint tint of metal, and the arm of one was torn right off, age-old stuffing long having fallen free.

In fact, amidst the dust clotting her nose she could swear the whole place smelled faintly of blood. A scream of surprise lodged in her throat as she scrambled to her feet and spun on the spot, the muted chaos growing the longer she looked for it.

She was in a very old living room that upon first glance just seemed unlived in but fully furnished. The other bits of furniture were all almost cleanly snapped in half, as if something very large had flown right through them without care. A table leg had been snapped right off and lay on the opposite side of the room, and that was the largest bit of splinters. There was no door visible, but a used patch of earth in the floor gave her the wild guess she'd find yet another secret entrance back to where they'd just been in if she cared to look. A rickety staircase trailed above to parts she had no wish to explore. "What do you think's happening up there?" She asked quietly. She'd never wanted to draw the Marauders attention before, but now for a whole other reason.

"I'd say we've seen them worse lately," Alice tried to say optimistically, "hopefully their hashing out this as well, and ah-" Her words were cut off by a great slamming noise above, and she winced and fell silent.

Regulus wasn't going to wait around any more. He'd been left out of enough of his brother's life, and even if he had to barge into this private moment he wasn't going to miss anything else. Despite his determination, his hand stilled on the door though as he realized he couldn't hear any shouting as he would have expected. The silence scared him far more. Ignoring the shrieking of the wind around them and the old house creaking in tune, he furrowed his brow in concentration to try and hear if he should in fact back off.

Then the book continued in Sirius' voice, which didn't necessarily mean that a resolution had been found without somebody's death. Still, he hesitated right outside the door, just in case.

It went against Sirius' better nature not to be doing something more than reading a bloody book, but the more reasonable half of his mind (that sounded oddly like Remus before he'd even spoken it) said to hear every last word of explanation before doing anything rash. After all, he'd spent ages now being accused of a crime none of his friends had believed possible, he'd never dream of doing the same to one of his best mates.

In the heavy silence that had followed this mutual, unstated decision, he'd summoned the book to him. It seemed to sail up from behind the mangled mattress along with a new cloud of dust that didn't even have a chance to settle back down before the termite-ridden fourposter crashed around it. The place wasn't exactly well cared for in their time, but it must have gotten even worse once the Marauders vacated it after school. They certainly wouldn't let Moony sleep his full moon's off in here, let alone Madam Pomfrey.

Memories they were all clinging too even before Sirius started with the chapter title, small but genuine smiles for their nicknames being shared, just the four of them once more.

In a fit of desperation to keep this story private, knowing even those in here could hear it, he began aiming every spell he could think of to the book to reveal past this part.

"Sirius," Remus tried to tell him otherwise, but he wouldn't quite look at him as he snapped, "I already know your life story! I did my waiting, twelve years of it, in Azkaban!"

"Sirius, you haven't been to Azkaban yet-"

"Shut up!"

Remus gave in with an amused shake of his head, letting Padfoot run out of steam and admit defeat before finally going in an almost casual sort of way. He hoped it would last and whatever was keeping the others down there would last, he didn't want an audience for whatever happened next.

Harry at least got right to the point of the major problem Sirius had just accused, wasn't Peter dead in this future?

Sirius was not doing a very good job of explaining himself, and James fought back the urge to put his best mate in a headlock for trying to brush past the valid question by just killing a pet rat!

Remus recoiled in shocked disgust at himself for clearly having truly believed Sirius had done all this in the future, something he hadn't wanted to think on before now. It just couldn't be true, he'd never believe it of Padfoot anymore than Wormtail... He listened in dwindling hope as he tried to remain the voice of reason and insist Harry hear all the facts first, but what would be at the end of that story?

Peter listened in strained silence as the books choice of words reverberated around the room. His heart felt like it was being twisted beyond recognition at the way none of them could quite look him in the eye, at how far apart they were suddenly all standing from each other as the new accusation settled around them. He didn't want to believe it, he would never! Not to his friends, not to James!

The Marauders were hardly distracted by Moony starting the story, from the very beginning. There was a single moment of worry between the four, but they all knew it had already been confirmed down in the tunnel. They'd been so in each other's business they'd barely taken the time to even assess what the others thought of it, but then they all agreed, they didn't care.

This is what mattered to them right now, how their lives had affected their future, not their past. If, even if the worst was true, James tried to shudder away from the thought but braved on in the filled silence, the worst had happened and one of them had betrayed he still held firmly to the adamant promise he'd made to Sirius this was not their future! Was it inevitable though?

Remus was starting to wish they had taken this downstairs to where everyone else was. Sirius' voice had eased out somewhat while talking of Remus' past, it was after all something he knew all too well. The Wolfsbane potion was news to him, alleviated some of their previous worries just what he and Snape were doing, now that made some sort of sense at least.

He would have liked to see how the others were taking to it though, how people that weren't his best friends would look at him with a cure in sight. Would Evans' suspicions about him alleviate any? Would Longbottom still back away in horror?

They, in fact, were not missing the Marauder's company at all. The three had taken careful seats upon the cushions, hoping moths were the only thing biting their surroundings lately. Alice was sitting between them, crossing and uncrossing her ankles with every unsavory groan the couch made. They'd all remained quiet for the most part as Lupin recounted his life. She wasn't sure what they were waiting to happen, or even what would.

Potter's three best friends were all up there, all apparently having been living a lie the past twelve years and it was all coming out now. She pitied them, though she kept trying to think of some kinder way to tell them this awful news and was coming up blank. Probably best then, that they stay out of it as long as possible.

Frank still looked like he was going to be sick, he hadn't so much as sat down, but squatted over his perch, rubbing his palms together with a wild look in his eyes. Lily simply had a gobsmacked look on her face and was sunk so deep into the upholstery it would take another leap through the space-time to get her out. She decided to focus on Frank first, that didn't look comfortable.

"Frank, darling, won't you tell me what's really bothering you?"

"Isn't being in the den of a werewolf enough?" He yelped, eyeing her as if she were the one trapped in a spot of madness. He rubbed his hands together even harder, muttering about werewolf saliva sinking in straight through his skin. "I got nicked last week in Transfiguration, remember? I didn't go to Madam Pomfrey to get it fixed because it was just a scratch, but-"

"I'm sorry I called your mom a paranoid git," Alice kindly interrupted, "but honestly, you can't believe every horrible rumor you've heard without proof-"

"Sev was right."

Alice turned curiously to her to see what she meant, but her eyes were vacant. She was speaking as if to a ghost.

"He was right about everything, they have been sneaking off, his, his theories I always scoffed at-"

"Lily?" Alice placed a kind hand on her shoulder, shaking her a bit to get her attention.

"Those- Potter and his friends-"

Alice could see a fire starting to burn in her, build in her, but then the book reverberated her friends into this future, as Severus Snape interrupted the proceedings.

Chapter Text

I think I shall do Thursdays for now, at least until Proper Life's done, then I might even move this up to two updates a week for a time.

It sat on an island, gritty sand loose and packed full of bodies on sight and ready for the next victim. The higher up one went, the fewer concentration of dementors, and the less the security. It was all open halls and little caves to die in, for dementors needed no bars to keep their pray captive, their own heads did that. The cells were housed on the lowest floors, guarded twenty-four-seven. These were not the ones sentenced to a few months in this place for some forgivable infringement, but saved for those who had no hope of escape. Most did not survive past the first year, only those of no remorse would last. It was here Sirius had survived.

It was here Peter wondered if he was going to die. From his first gasping breath in these ice encrusted walls, he felt his soul shiver inside, he heard the horrors of this future trying to force its way into his reality. The worst part was how he could already see it, he was already begging for a way out and imagining anything for it. He could hear the rattling breaths of thousands of dementors closing in on his location in the heart of their land, and he sobbed and begged for strength not to do the wrong thing again, but what choice did he have? If You-Know-Who appeared now and told him he'd rescue him, but had to leave his friends here, would he still do it? He'd never been strong like James, and Remus, and Sirius- Sirius!

A silver light seemed to ignite inside him as he recalled how his friend had survived this place for so long, and then he was Wormtail, pattering across the bone ridden floor and slipping in between bars, hunkering into every shadow as dementors faded around him. Every shadow he entered felt like another plunge into the beasts, even his sharp eyes couldn't divine the natural darkness from their essence, but he could finally traverse the hallways freely as he went in search of the book to get them out of here!

To his relief, he heard the beginnings of the book even through the bowls of these walls, and after concentrating only a few moments he recognized Smith's voice. His worry only increased though as she quickly went through Snape's cruel interactions and then being dispelled from the story, he had no way of knowing if his friends were suffering now while she tried to get them out of this. He had to find James, had to make sure he knew of this trick that helped to fight off the dementors, however little it diluted the effect.

Every cell was empty, every nook, cranny, and hole vacant. After a while, even this started to disturb him. Was Azkaban not the place of death? The rancid smell permeating the air, the very breath of every dementor he passed, his own soul seemed to echo with this notion, but the dead were no more visible to him than any living soul they'd encountered since this began. How studios were the dementors in collecting the bodies? Surely he'd have come across one?

They finally came into view through the gloom, on the highest levels, where the dementors were scarce but you could no more be free. The seven of them huddled around each other alleviated not by the silver moonlight above that was barely a day away from being full and causing yet another problem, but the circling of a stag and dog, which were starting to flicker.

The book's words had clouted around him as he'd traversed the doomed prison, every accusation since Remus and Sirius had forced his appearance worse than any dementor passing above him. He could hear his own pitiful protests being lobbed, hated himself more than his friends ever could for the spineless thing he'd become, but he'd convinced himself if he just found them they'd see who he really was. Like Sirius, this twisted parallel of their life was not a reflection back.

The difference, he now saw, was that Sirius really had been innocent all along, and he hadn't. As Wormtail confessed his crime, the Patronuses faded from sight.

I've always wanted to do a chapter solely from Peter's perspective, and this seemed like the perfect time. Everyone will get one at some point in the story.

Chapter Text

Silver glinted all around them. In the dark woods it highlighted every aged line in the trees and every hollow on the ground, gave every blade of grass a new sheen. It was in the very air of the full moon, casting bright shadows on the only nearby cottage too far off in the distance for most eyes to see, and shined on the bars of the reinforced cage.

For the first time, Remus was too distracted to notice, and he wasn't the only one.

"Let me go! I'm going to kill him, I swear I will-"

"Sirius, think about what you're saying!" Remus pleaded, holding him with shaking hands. "He hasn't-"

Peter slowly appeared before them, just behind James, his other form so small the other four hadn't even been able to pick him out in the gloom. "I, James, Sirius, I couldn't, Remus you know I could never-" this only enraged Sirius further as he struggled harder, and Remus started to lose his grip.

For a moment Peter thought he was seeing double, he flinched farther back into the corner as he thought Sirius broke free, but it was Regulus who was suddenly in front of him, then pivoted on the spot and shoved Sirius farther back into Remus' arms.

"What's the matter with you?" He snarled so fiercely into the others face, their resemblance was more prominent than ever. "He's spent ages defending you, never giving you one bit of shite over-"

"Sirius!" Remus' voice pleaded behind him, to listen he supposed, as the shaking increased, but he just tried to shove him off again, and found the grip on his arms turning inhumanly tight. He didn't know what he was going to do to Peter yet, maybe shake him next, force him to really see what he'd done rather than that look of shock still in his face now ebbing with fear-

"Padfoot get out of there!" Some instinct in him began the change right along with Moony before he even heard James, but the werewolves hold only tightened, Remus' guttural screams of pain growing fainter as the howling grew around him.

As cloth tearing to shreds joined the cacophony, James' last shout of someone get the damn book was the last true sane noise before Prongs slammed into the pair at full force. He didn't know for several long painful seconds if he'd intervened in time as the black dog was finally able to shake himself loose, bleeding over the pristine surface of their enclosure.

There was not nearly enough space for anyone's liking, the four painfully non-animagus wizards could only cower in the farthest corner away as the three animals brought new meaning to the term fur flying.

The melanistic deer had the brute almost pinned to the floor through his tangle of antlers, the enormous black dog had his jaws secured into the werewolves two hind feet no matter how many times he was slammed against the bars for his efforts, and the tiny purple book had wound up in the thick of it all.

They should have summoned it. They could have tried to help. Wormtail saw all of this, and bristled at being the one called a coward this night as he danced between the ones who would always be larger than him, and began nudging the book along. He'd been helping to distract this particular werewolf for nearly two years now, and like the basilisk before, was completely fine with being the distraction as he finally gave a good enough shove that it slide across the wet surface and landed at Evans' feet. He'd watched for too long as her hands darted forward, not seeming to think twice about scooping up the now weeping cover as more droplets scattered around, Prongs was starting to lose his tenacious grip on the slick surface and Moony's jaws snapped on flesh at last.

Wormtail spun on the spot and hissed in protest, biting the snout and dancing back farther away as his ear throbbed. Blood began dripping into his eyes now, he longed to change back and see the true damage, but knew better. The werewolves bite would not contaminate animals, but he feared risking changing back too soon.

All he could do now was listen, as Evans began mirroring their horror in Harry's life. It started out with just the tiniest bit of hope they all needed, if Sirius really adopted Harry as was being implied than surely this mayhem of a life would end! Then it all went wrong, of course, in both lives. Moony's struggles were slowly breaking him free, and a massive swipe of his paw now added Prongs' blood into the mix, his hooves unable to get any more purchase as he bellowed and was left a mess of limbs. Padfoot made a last, desperate lunge, teeth sinking into Moony's scruff and pulling with all his might as the werewolf's contagious jaws ached for his pray, just as Evans reached the ending with Harry blacking out and the dementors likely murdering Sirius, and it was all Peter's fault.

Chapter Text

Waking up was the worst part of it all. He'd grown up with this disease that took over every aspect of his life, so he knew with painful clarity each step, all the way up to the black-out inducing painful transformation. The blur of memories the next morning often took days to sort through, the strong feelings much easier to recognize of what had been done. If he'd eaten anything, it was even more clear for some reason.

His stomach was empty, his mind lingered in a state of despair, and he was in fact ten times more sore than usual, so he knew something must have happened. Even with his friends there the past few times though, that moment of consciousness where he first opened his eyes into the unknown haunted him. Who had he hurt this time?

His eyes slowly flickered open, taking a shorter amount of time to adjust than others, but not understanding what he was seeing any better at first. There was no roof over his head, the Shrieking Shack could have been a million miles away, but that he was still on the Hogwarts grounds he knew without a second glance. He tried to sit up and groaned in protest, so instead let his head flop to the side miserably, and with growing worry as he found himself on the edge of the lake.

Like all corners of these grounds, it was a spot the Marauders knew well. They'd spent countless hours under the shade of that tree, hid many a things in that bush just over there. The waters were calm, and mirrored back without disturbance his blood-soaked visage, and Peter standing over him.

"You're bleeding," Remus slurred in concern, rolling his head gingerly to the other side as he saw his hand pressed to the side of his head, even though there was a thick stream going all the way down to his neck.

"And you need these," Peter had to use one hand to toss a pile of clothes onto his feet from the school bags that had still managed to follow them along all this time.

"When did you- how-?" He tried to string together while also quickly trying to dress and not fall back down from exhaustion all at the same time.

"Since we were in the dorms," Peter shrugged without really looking at him, and it wasn't to spare his decency Remus knew. "When Regulus' shoes didn't spontaneously come back I thought, well you lot were all worried about the werewolf part which, you know made sense, but I figured you'd appreciate-"

Remus' eyes were still tracking faster than his brain could keep up, he saw Sirius jogging towards them but didn't recognize the look on his face until he'd plowed into Peter, sending him sprawling into the dirt.

"You stay the bloody hell away from him!" He snarled, voice so contorted it wouldn't surprise him if he still had a few of Padfoot's other traits.

"Sirius, wait," Remus tried to get to his feet, to cobble together what had happened while he tried to kill them all. He still remembered the confession, the sting of betrayal fueling Sirius was not alone, but unlike the hothead standing between them drawing his wand, he was trying to keep the two firmly separated in his head just like he had for Sirius this entire time. "It's not him, look at him-"

"Sirius, Remus, I couldn't, you know I couldn't have-"

Sirius wasn't listening, he shot a jet of blue light that made Peter squeal while he spat out a mouthful of dirt. "You left us for dead while you ran and saved your own stinking skin, again!"

Remus caught Sirius' wrist and finally stumbled to his own feet, but Sirius jerked his arm away easily, Remus' hand coming away still slick with blood. He fell back to his knees as much for his own instability as the disgust in himself.

He didn't know what Sirius would have done next, only escalation he was sure, until the only person who could have stopped this stepped in.

"Enough Sirius," James spoke quietly and calmly, he didn't have to do anything more than get Sirius' attention and Padfoot lowered his wand.

Sirius was still shaking all over, it was only with the greatest restraint alive he lowered his wand but still kept a daggering glare. James walked past him regardless, offering his hand to Remus, both wincing as he got to his feet. "Remus, are you alright?"

"Am I alright?" He slurred, painfully aware that was James' own blood soaking through his shirt. "What the bloody hell happened to you three?" It took agonizing seconds to put together, it wasn't computing in his head, why they were injured so badly. They'd learned their own healing charms, equal to Madam Pomfrey's in tandem with learning their Animagus practice for such an event, but none of them were bothering to apply them as they stood on guard waiting for someone else to make the next move.

Remus did, as he twisted on the spot and vomited.

"Oh, Moony-"

"Back off!"

He could barely hear the quarrel between Peter and Sirius erupting again or what James said this time, he felt a hand on his shoulder guiding him away from the puddle of sick, only just being blown away by the wind as his knees gave out and he stumbled into the bush and refused to get up again.

It was impossible to get the image out of his head, where the other four were. He knew he hadn't killed them, he'd know that, but what he'd done to his friends only one step below as far as he was concerned. He'd never hurt them so bad before, not even the very first time where he'd treated them like a free meal. They'd done so much better at defending themselves, only coming off with a few deep scratches and one bite mark across Prongs shoulder he'd shrugged off. It was only the four pinpricks of light across the lake that caught his attention and made them all realize they were surely about to have company that set them into motion.

"Nothing has to change!" Even in the roar of his own ears, Remus could hear the desperation in his voice as he tried to shuffle closer even though Sirius' hand tightened along his wand again. "We can, modify their memory's, make them forget-"

"Ha!" Sirius' sharp bark of laughter had a truly cruel, twisted edge to it the likes of which they'd never heard, not even last month when he'd laughed upon hearing what Snape had tried to do. "You'd like that, wouldn't you? We're not just going to forget though, even if we wanted to I doubt we could! The bloody magic we're tied up in doesn't seem likely to just let us zap a whole chunk of the story out of our heads! Stop trying to pretend you care about, about any of us!"

"Sirius, I couldn't! You guys, you know I couldn't do that-" His voice was rising.

"Tell me you wouldn't." James still hadn't shouted during all of this, he still spoke with the same soft, quiet demanding voice. "You keep saying you couldn't have done it Peter, but you haven't said you wouldn't do it. Tell me the thought's never crossed your mind, that you would never consider siding with Voldemort over us!"

Peter flinched, but if it was because James had used his name or the accusation he suddenly went silent for, they didn't know. Despite the shock of blood loss setting in, the void larger than Hogwarts itself growing between them, he could still see more than anything the shame in his tremoring lips, "I, I couldn't-" Then he clasped his hand to his mouth as he finally realized what had slipped out.

James shook his head, from Remus vantage he looked more disappointed than anything, though all he felt was stunned. "Just, just clear off for a while, yeah? Let us..." he didn't finish, he didn't have to. It was the exact same thing he'd said to Sirius a month ago, when they hadn't been sure if they'd ever speak to him again either.

Only by the now waning light of the full moon could Remus' eyes keep track of his seeming vanishment, as Wormtail likely set out to find the very edge of the perimeter they were trapped in. He hoped he stayed that way the duration of this madness they were traveling through, he didn't know how he was going to look him in the eye again.

Sirius could vividly remember the bloodlust he'd been described having, as he and Remus were about to kill their friend before Harry had stepped in. It had been the most vivid feeling they'd felt in Azkaban, before being quenched by Moony's abrupt appearance. Now he had to stand here and force himself not to go after him again as Padfoot could, to do what he wasn't quite sure, as he crouched down in front of Remus and began tending to his wounds.

"Don't," Remus tried to push his wand away. "Just-"

"Let him Remus," James whispered in the most world-weary voice that could ever exist. "Give him something to do before he tries blowing up the lake again."

The joke fell flat, the sentiment of reminiscing about their past adventures felt like a torture device, but Remus was too exhausted to bother protesting anymore as he slumped uncomfortably against the leaves regardless.

The three remained huddled around each other, not speaking the rest of the chapter, as Regulus' voice finally began echoing across the grounds for all to hear. It was a pathetic laugh James forced out as he heard the chapter title. Hermione's Secret of how she'd been getting to all of her classes had been the most trivial part to them this entire time. The revelation of what it was, a magic beyond them that manipulated time itself, would normally be idolized and drool worthy to the lot of them, but not now.

Another adventure for Harry took place, involving saving Buckbeak and Sirius, but his future son's life didn't seem any more apt for a good ending than his father's right now, as Sirius was forced once more to simply go on the run. As Sirius' parting words praised Harry for making his father proud, James agreed, but it was with a bitter aftertaste in his mouth for what had caused this mess. His friends, whom he loved like brothers, had turned on each other this night, and he didn't know how to reconcile with that.

He wondered abstractly how Evans felt about all of this, what she saw now. Still the arrogant toerag, who blindly trusted his friends and got her killed, left their son in this mess? It occurred to him as he looked around once more, he didn't care. He looked at Sirius, tending Moony's wounds with a tender expression no one but them would ever see, Remus' exhausted eyes sinking closed, a vulnerability he couldn't dare show to any but them. He longed to see over the pair, trying to make the two laugh about what their next prank was going to be while Peter would be at the corner of his eye, keeping an eye on the grounds for Madam Pomfrey coming to retrieve Remus from the Shrieking Shack like every full moon, but he finally knew what he'd refused to accept since the start of this travesty. Their life was never going to be the same again.

I was originally going to have Regulus read the chapter with the other three and get their reactions to all this, but then I realized I had nothing left to say for the next chapter, leaving it extremely bland, so you just get two separate reactions, and the most important first. Hey, I could have reversed it and left it vague what these four were doing during this leaving it open-ended what the results were for yet another chapter, so I think you guys got the better deal.

Chapter Text

I finished the third book again! Woooo!

It already felt like a lifetime ago they'd fallen into something as simple as a classroom. The desks sat in the moonlight, graffiti polished and spare quills already tidied away by the house-elves. The stools were stacked neatly on top, and the desk sat at the front of the classroom surveying the unusual calmness. It must be Flitwick's, Regulus guessed, his was the only one with a cushion in place. He found this a lucky chance, having landed on it, but also wincing just as much to see Sirius landing painfully upon a desk knocking both stools to the ground. The combined noise of the other six all doing the same was enough racket to rouse Filch to them in mere seconds on any other given night.

When the seconds trickled by and the mood of the room saturated the air, he decided he'd rather be caught out of bed.

Having the, pleasure, of knowing Sirius his whole life, he knew everything had not been smoothed over in their short time apart during the last chapter. While he'd found the book floating along in the lake, and taking the time to carefully dry it, he'd considered seeking these four out to make sure they weren't killing each other in the meantime now that they weren't stopping that monster from killing them. He found himself legitimately worried about his older brother, the injuries he'd received in the pale moonlight trapped in that cage had seemed nasty even surrounded by matted fur.

The problem was, he'd realized while crouching over every page and taking the time to let each letter dry to stall for time, Sirius wouldn't feel the same. His brother, all three of those idiots, had long since known what their friend was, and they not only tolerated it, but defended it.

'What would mother and father think?' Had been his first disgusting reaction after making sure he hadn't received a scratch himself, before remembering all they'd been wrong about yet again. This was different though, right? Just because they'd been ill-informed about You-Know-Who, didn't mean they had to be wrong about everything. Proof of what mindless beasts werewolves were had been inches from his throat, and Sirius was protecting that?!

He'd tried another question as he sat on the lake edge, dry book in hand but no will to seek anyone else out without his own answer at the ready. 'What did Sirius and his friends get out of it?' It baffled the mind he still wasn't sure. Were they treating Lupin like some dangerous pet like Hagrid would? What benefit came from having him around? Surely just the act of advanced Transfiguration practice they'd voluntarily done to be around him couldn't solely be it.

Regulus tried to go back over all he'd seen for context, but it wasn't providing much. The 'friendship,' they supposedly had was clearly as flimsy and feeble as parchment, the amount of time's he'd seen them all turn on each other. Now here he watched the proof layout, as Peter remained as far away from them as possible for his future misdeeds. They'd been no better to Sirius a mere month ago.

He watched as Potter summoned the book in a detached sort of voice, not looking at anyone, even Evans. It came shooting out of Flitwick's desk, and he began reading like it was the most boring of History of Magic text. As if refusing to show any emotion would hide the enormous riff all could see.

A mad dash of Harry trying to get back to the Hospital Wing in time should have been exciting, or at least something new to think about, but nobody seemed to be paying him much attention. He wondered briefly what Longbottom and Smith thought of all this, why they were avoiding each other's eyes and Evans was standing apart from everyone just as much as Peter, but then he decided he didn't care. For the first time, he didn't want another purebloods opinion, he was sick of where that had led in the past to more lies, but the problem was he didn't know how to put together his own.

Strangely, he found his answer was pity, as he watched Peter. He watched Potter reading about Snape destroying Lupin's career as the DADA teacher and how that instigated anger from him, by the point of which Harry went to confront Lupin he was shouting so loud he was unintelligible. He threw the book to the ground and began pacing the length of the room furiously. It was pretty obvious every pent up emotion he'd been trying to keep a hold on was coming out on this one problem, he wasn't holding his tongue for one word over Snape, and Evans wasn't even saying anything to the contrary. She just watched him vent with the same dark, calculating green eyes as if she were studying a particularly complex potion.

Lupin calmly picked up the book to finish, but tried to remain partially behind Sirius the entire time to do it, not looking at anyone, voice so quiet it was a wonder anyone could hear. Sirius, for his part, was dismantling stools to get his own frustrated energy out, by hand.

Mostly, he watched Peter, who was having to do an awkward sort of dance to stay out of Potter's way whenever he passed. He noticed the way his eyes kept flickering to Sirius and away, but how he kept avoiding looking at Potter at all. Then he got angry, as he realized Sirius was doing it again. Treating someone like dirt in his boots just because they weren't acting how he wanted them too. Was Sirius going to treat him like a pariah the rest of his life because of it though? Was he irredeemable now because of choices he'd made to stay alive?

As Lupin wound down the chapter with Sirius the godfather getting a last parting letter to comfort Harry, he saw Potter circling back to him and thanking him for looking after his future godchild, telling Lupin and even laughing while he said he didn't hold a grudge against him for anything, and his anger boiled over.

Haha, whoops, another all Regulus chapter. I swear I don't do it on purpose, but I find once I get into his head it's hard to get back out. I'm sure you're all so disappointed.

Chapter Text

It was a run-down cottage, fit to fall in a burst of strong wind. Eight teenagers falling into its midst nearly did the job. Dust coated everything in such thick layers, the simultaneous sneezes nearly sent a chair falling over. A burnished teapot with long cold water sat ready on the stove, a chipped cup and bag never used set at the ready with no one to save it as it toppled on its side. The only distinguishing sight from the moth-eaten, broken recliner in the living room and the tightly fitted bed was the mansion just visible in the distant gloom.

Frank tried not to look at it longer than he had to, it gave him the creeps for no good reason. Upon closer inspection of the minuscule space, he found a book lodged into the broken back of the chair, but it had changed again to a dark blue. It was much, much thicker than the previous three versions, but as it had a light blue four emblazoned on the spine he was sure it was the right one he was supposed to find. Even without previous experience, it still gave off a magical energy as blatant as the tension filling the tiny area, and he'd rather not be too close as this place gave no choice when it blew, so he tried to crack it open and begin.

He didn't even get the chapter title out.

"So that's it then?"

Alice couldn't help but be rather impressed with the way Regulus bowed up to the three boys much older and larger than him, he certainly wasn't giving it much thought as he laid into them.

"Don't know what you're on about," Sirius Black scoffed while inspecting his nails, the air around him still exuding he always found himself winding up in dusty cottages a thousand miles from school do to magic outside their control. Then she reminded herself he regularly spent his free time in that Shrieking Shack and exploring the grounds with a werewolf, so maybe that's why the four had taken it in stride so quickly. This really wasn't such a big deal in comparison.

Regulus didn't seem to agree, as he shoved at his brother to keep his attention. Alice watched as all three, she turned purposefully just to see it as true, frowned reproachfully at him for it. "You know perfectly well! Why's Peter suddenly not looking anyone in the eye, eh? What did you lot say to him? He ruddy stood by you and defended you because of some crimes, now you can't be bothered to do the same?"

It seemed to take a lot of effort for Sirius Black to force his scowl to look light and amused as he continued antagonizing his brother. "Oh, as if I have to explain to you," he pandered. "Come on Reggie, you're smart enough to know the difference between the rat who set me up for a crime isn't the same as not doing it."

"He hasn't done it you arrogant shit!" Regulus shouted loud enough dust trickled down from the rafters.

"I don't see how it's your business," Potter finally cut in as Sirius wasn't holding back his anger much longer. "Why don't you run along back to your Dark Art's club now and let the big kids handle it."

If his goal had been to infuriate the younger Black beyond words, it worked. He turned on his heel and went to stand by the front door where Pettigrew was and hissed something quietly to him.

Pettigrew just shook his head fiercely, and then 'vanished.' This time though, they all had the sense of mind to look to the ground and just spot a bald tale slipping underneath the recliner.

The three Marauders still visible looked like they were going to be sick at the cowardly display, but Lily felt like bursting into applause someone other than her had finally called them out on their insolence. She wanted to have a go at them herself, but Frank had finally taken the lingering silence to begin.

Peter listened, just like he always had for his friends. He'd always been smaller, everyone always overlooked him, he'd been the perfect one to blend in and hear every conversation in a room even before he'd shrunk down to this size. He took in quickly everything there was to say about The Riddle House and stored that information away, connecting it easily to You-Know-Who, ergo it would definitely be important later. There would be a later, there had to be.

He would not confront his friends as Regulus had suggested, nor do anything to further incite them like suddenly trying to pathetically make friends with Longbottom and Smith. He doubted he could anyways, he still wasn't sure how he'd made the friends he had. They'd take him back though, just like they had Sirius, once he found a way of reminding them of his usefulness.

Doubts began plaguing him at once though, if they even should. He'd probably just turn around and somehow get James killed all over again. You-Know-Who was no unintelligent animal to be outsmarted as he'd done in the past, and it was clear to him now they didn't even need him to do that. Their tricks and planning couldn't last forever, when school ended they'd have to find something else to do, would probably have started to forget about him anyway, he'd already seen the beginnings of that. Who would need him around then to get information? What would be his purpose?

Frank read with intrigue about the history being fed to him, but felt he was the only one really taking it in. The three Marauders had banded together in a tight circle and seemed to be having some whispered argument Black was on the outs of. He kept shaking his head and gesturing over his shoulder a lot. Lily and Alice weren't being much better, looking out the window to the decrepit old Manor being described but exchanging softly whispered words as well while throwing pitiful looks to the younger Black, who was gazing foully at the recliner.

His namesake alone seemed to have his interest as he spotted burglars in the old house, and Frank couldn't help but glance up now to make sure a light wasn't visible there yet. He was the only one paying strict attention to the details provided as the war hero made his way along the property past his beloved plants, and then began overhearing You-Know-Who's conversation to Pettigrew.

He almost wished he could climb under some furniture and hear the rest of it out too rather than read through the dead air proceeding this portion. Pathetic was the kind way to put the following description of the interactions for plots of murder, a far cry from the boy he'd been seeing recently tagging around with the most extravagant students in the castle.

The poor old groundskeeper had been marked dead as soon as he'd entered that house, to this everyone knew. Still, there were flinches all around for the curse being cast, but it was Harry's experience seeing it all that had them gasping for breath as they were pulled away.

Chapter Text

Now that Proper Life is complete, I shall be moving updates to this to Monday from now on.

Heat blazed down on them with such ferocity, it rained sand for a moment as they each rolled to cover their eyes along with the general downpour their landing caused. Most of them sat up spitting it out and ruffling it from their clothes and hair. Sirius got the misfortune of landing in water, and came up coughing through seaspray with a clump of seaweed in his hair.

For a worrying moment as he staggered to his feet back towards shore, he wondered if he'd pissed himself. Then he realized the water was simply that warm, far more than the lake at school had ever been. The view he caught sight of was breathtaking, more exotic than anything he'd ever seen in his life. The deciduous trees seemed to reach through to the heavens, the light mist coating their skin was as warm as the sun still shining powerfully through the clouds to cast down on a makeshift lean-too laid out upon a granite shore. Tropical birds roosted right above it further providing shade and almost making it look completely blended into the shadows if he wasn't looking directly at it.

Then he saw Peter taking off his shoes and stuffing his school robes into his bag, sweat already appearing on him like the others, and he bitterly remembered what would drive him to this place. Harry had no reason to be here, unless the Dursleys had gone mental and taken him on some extravagant vacation. He however had last been mentioned fleeing the country, and his own godson, because of him. This seemed a likely, remote, place he would have landed.

Cursing and muttering the entire time he went splashing through the water, fighting the impulse to go over to him once more and throttle him for being a two-faced cad the whole time they'd known him, by the time he'd waded back to shore the others had all gotten semi-comfortable, but clearly feared stripping too far down even in the glaring sun. Who knew where they'd end up next, Antarctica?

Regulus was shaking his legs through the sand like he'd had the jelly-leg jinx placed upon him as he wandered over to Peter and began trying to talk to him again. Rather wishing he had pissed himself than watch that, he saw Longbottom wiping sweat from his eyes and giving the girls an unhappy look as they went towards the shade of the trees and scratched unhappily at his skin.

Sirius was still wearing his Wimborne Wasp jersey, and the pants of his school robes and didn't feel the need to show off farther, unlike Prongs who had stripped down to his boxers unrepentant and was now running laps in the shore waiting for Sirius to finish approaching.

"I could have bloody drowned out there while you were showing off!" He shouted upon approach.

"Nah, Moony would have saved you," James waved off, keeping his eyes on Evans, who was with Smith heading towards the lean-too in a casual stroll, eyes traveling along for the book he supposed, or taking it all in. He was still doing the latter.

Sirius tried to exchange an exasperated look with said friend, but he had a very strained smile in place it took Sirius a second to process. He wouldn't meet his eyes, and in fact his face looked slightly more than flushed. Sirius was about to start preening as he realized his wet clothes clung to him damn near as much as Prongs showing off, but it also showed off the darkening stains of blood anew trickling down his side and painting the water. He muttered a curse and began reapplying the charms. Prongs was only fairing slightly better, the marks slashed across him were newly scabbed as well, and a fresh stain only a few paces away showed Peter had likely gone through much the same upon their new landing again.

All three of them nearly jumped out of their new skin when they heard the startled yelps of the girls.

James was fastest again, even never having run on sand before didn't seem to deter him, but before the others could scramble over to see what monster was on this island with them, they could also hear him laughing. By the time they jogged into the thrown together shelter, it was to see him in a spectacular bow to Buckbeak, the girls fighting back the sweat running into their eyes as they did the same.

The Hippogriff graciously did so in return, even if he did click his beak in agitation upon the new arrivals. James merely came forward and patted his beak for comfort. "Looks like you kept along a buddy Padfoot."

"And he's kept our ride safe," Alice noted the book in the piled leaves clearly meant for a nest.

Remus winced upon hearing the chapter title, he'd had enough Scars to last his lifetime, and elbowed his way back out of the suddenly crowded space. Peter stumbled over his feet and nearly crashed to the ground as he tried to get out of his way. Remus stopped on instinct, even reached out to help catch him without thinking twice, then he saw the nick in his ear that would never regrow. Shoving blindly past everything else, he made his way back to the unforgiving sun.

He felt James and Sirius following him, but did not want to turn around and face them. Their comforting words, their promise they didn't blame him. None of that erased the harm he'd done to them, and would inevitably do again. How could he blame Peter for some future deeds of his when his actions still held garish marks on them all?

Surprisingly short on breath, he stopped only a few paces into the shaded trees and leaned against the nearest one, soaking in the warmth while he could. It wasn't just their casual dismissal of him nearly being a murderer. It was also his intended victims, how none of them had even so much as looked at him since it happened. It was the numb shock he still couldn't get out of his brain that Peter had it in him to someday be the cause of this future they were living through. Maybe not now, but the fact that he hadn't been able to deny it to James' face left his mind spinning so fast he thought he was going to be sick again.

"Ynoom ecalp siht evol d'uoy."

Remus kept his eyes closed, even as he scowled in confusion. That was Sirius' voice, but unless he was trying to make him laugh from sheer randomness, that hadn't made a lick of sense.

"Suolaej os eb dluow sgnorp."

Then he did open his eyes, only to see Sirius and James right next to him, looking as baffled as he felt and glancing around wearily, wands drawn. Remus didn't blame them, but something about what he was hearing tugged at his memory. It didn't sound like any language he knew, but-

"Rats live on no evil star."

He looked up, to see a bright-eyed bird staring very intently at him. "Oh," he gasped in surprise, finally cluing the other two in. "Looks like an emordnilap found us."

"A what?" James asked in surprise.

"I remember Kettleburn mentioning these," Sirius agreed as he smiled at the beast. "They speak backward for you. Though I don't recall ever having said any of that."

The bird clicked its beak upon Sirius speaking, turning attention directly to him, and then recited, "Taht fo yna dias gnivah reve llacer t'nod I hguoht. Uoy rof drawkcab kaeps yeht."

"Fascinating," James muttered at once. "Looks like Sirius, err, the Sirius on the run here and not mine," he needlessly gave him a playful shove, nearly overbalancing him as he grinned at the bird, "a friend."

"I like him," Sirius agreed at once.

"Mih ekil I."

His grin only grew. "Can I keep her Prongs? I want to name her Ava."

"Ava mih eman ot tnaw I, sgnorp mih peek I nac."

James merely went cross eyed as the bird continued to jabber away, he wasn't particularly impressed. It was massive for one, even as she fluttered down to land on Padfoot's head it was nearly double the size of any owl he'd seen, with a beak the size of his face in a rainbow of colors. The sleek black feathers were large enough he wouldn't be surprised if there were some fancy emordnilap quills out there, and the claws were giving him nervous ticks even as gently as they were clearly being on his best friends head.

Sirius lifted his arm, and Ava obligingly stepped onto that instead, still staring at him intently.

"I wouldn't recommend it Pads," James decided. "Maybe when we get out of this mess we can come back and get you your own, but this one might get hurt along for now."

Sirius pouted but seemed to agree, even before Remus added, "Besides, you've already got Buggle. I hardly see you needing two birds."

"I could cross-breed them!" Sirius suddenly said in excitement, cocking his head to the side and hearing the book already flesh out his idea. "You see, I'll bet this is the one I've been sending letters to Harry, mix the two birds together and who knows what would happen."

"You're turning into Hagrid," James grumbled, but was over shouted by the bird saying in one long speech, "Neppah dluow tahw swonk ohw dna rehtegot sdrib owt eht xim, yrrah ot srettel gnidnes neeb ev'I eno eht si siht teb ll'I, ees uoy! Meht deerb-ssorc dluoc I."

Remus shook his head slowly, fighting back a smile now at Sirius' far too pleased expression. "Well, it's certainly as noisy as you. I always said if you weren't a dog you'd be some sort of bird, though I always imagine you more of a peacock."

Sirius sniffed, and now with an impish grin in place said perfectly clearly right next to the bird, "and I always said I wanted to be a duck! They're awesome creatures, can fly, swim, and walk, not to mention-"

James reached over and smothered his mouth before he could go on a whole rants worth. The bird blinked for only a moment before saying back what Sirius had managed to get out.

"Noitnem ot ton, klaw dna, miws, ylf nac, serutaerc emosewa er'yeht! Kcud a eb ot detnaw I dias syawla I dna-"

Remus was pleasantly surprised to find that once he'd stopped snickering at the pair, his head wasn't spinning so much. The two had done it again, but it didn't completely erase the empty gap he was sure the other two felt about this newest experience. Guilt was already pouring in he hadn't said anything to Peter since it happened, but he didn't even know what to say. It should be nothing to forgive what he hadn't even done yet, but now he was afraid. If he ever looked him in the eye again, would he always see this future lingering over his head?

Jerking his head sharply from side to side, rather than letting his stomach plunge farther into despair, he instead held his arm out hopefully. Ava appraised him for a moment before hopping over, and Remus nearly buckled under the weight. He hadn't been expecting the bird to be so heavy, for as casually as Sirius was holding her. Then he thought for a moment, and grinned as he told the bird, "Step on no pets."

Her large black eyes seemed to study him for some time, before repeating back now in his voice, "Step on no pets."

James and Sirius burst in surprised laughter. "How'd you come up with that so quickly!" James protested slightly. The chapter was winding down now, and his mind was scrambling frantically to see if he could try the same rather than dwell on everything Harry was.

"Just something I realized a while back, never thought it would have any practical use," Remus shrugged with a smug grin. "I'm wondering how long it took Sirius to come up with that rats live on no evil star thing," he finished with an uneasy wince, he hadn't meant to say that out loud.

Sirius turned away, but not before Remus had seen the boiling anger once more. He used his wand to blast bark away from a tree, startling Ava who flapped her wings in protest and nearly bit Remus' neck off.

"Oh, wait, I've got something," James said quickly and peaceably. He held his arm out and bounced hopefully on his heels for the bird. She didn't seem particularly happy about it, but finally, after some coaxing from Sirius who had slowly turned back around and smiled at the bird, Ava did indeed move onto Prongs' jiggling arm.

James looked very intently at the bird, and then pointed at the mouth of the tent. "Pretty please, tell that redhead, Snave thgirla?"

The emordnilap clicked her beak in response, and then took off.

"That wasn't a sentence," Remus frowned in confusion as he tried to work out what James had said. He didn't get much time to think about it, as he heard Alice call a warning she was on the last sentence. They all scrambled to get their things back on, he wasn't even sure if Evans had gotten the message before they were gone.

My favorite palindrome is Go Hang A Salami, I’m A Lasagna Hog. Let me know yours! 

I'm not a geologist, nor have I ever been to Britain, so any mistakes on visually explaining this are all mine. The only thing we're told of where Sirius was while he was on the run was south, but I also imagine he wouldn't want to go too far from Harry. Certainly not all the way down to Africa, but I've no more been to the UK than any other place outside of Texas. In my head, he was somewhere on the Isles' of Scilly.

Fun fact about this chapter, I tried to figure out which tropical bird JK was imagining when writing this so I could say Sirius was there, but the largest species of owl can be up to ten pounds. The largest tropical birds are only five pounds. So what she was imagining I've no clue, as even the smallest tropical bird should fit through any window an owl can. Hell, Hedwig is comparatively larger than toucans, if we're talking wing size and body mass.

Personally, I always thought she meant a toucan and just grossly overestimated how big they were, so I just went with that and magically enlarged them. After all, if this world has one of the 'stupidest' species of birds delivering messages, who's to say they don't have other modified versions of our animals.

Chapter Text

Lily held on even tighter to the letter as she fell, sending a mass of white over every part of her. She found herself struggling to even sit up, as whatever she was in moved with her like quicksand. Starting to panic slightly, as memories of the devil's snare flared up, she almost released her clutch on the paper in favor of grabbing her wand until her free hand grabbed onto something hard. She gasped in relief and sat upright, for a bewildering moment thinking she was trapped in a tornado of swirling letters, before an envelope fell onto her lap address side up, and yet her confusion only grew.

Every bit of it was covered in stamps except for a square inch on the front, into which someone had squeezed the Dursleys' address in minute writing. Scattered around her were other envelopes, though they all looked perfectly normal. Picking it up and clutching it in the fist still holding tightly to the letter, she glanced around more properly to find she wasn't the only one to land in a bin full of envelopes.

Alice and Regulus on either side of her were already trying to climb out of theirs. The older Black seemed stuck in a printer somehow, whether he'd tried to put his foot in that slot or he'd landed that way she wasn't sure, nor particularly cared for his misfortune as Potter and Lupin moved forward to help get him out carefully.

Peter Pettigrew wasn't even visible, if he would be at all, and Frank was shifting his weight awkwardly at the front desk where Lily now realized was a postal service station.

"Wow, where are we?" Alice asked as she plucked a stamp off her nose.

"Muggle place where mail goes," Lupin called in explanation as Black's foot came loose, though there was now printer ink all up his pants leg.

Alice gave him an awkward sort of smile he couldn't have seen as he hadn't really looked up. Lily grimaced at the tension still active like a live-wire in here and shifted even more uncomfortably to start crawling out as well. She realized that something in fact was jabbing her in the bum as she started to scramble about, and pulled the book free with her other hand.

"Need a hand?" Suddenly Potter was there, offering her a hand and that smirk she'd been dying to curse off his face for years now.

"No," she snapped, moving the book to her other hand as well, and juggling all three, managed to get out just fine on her own with fair grace. "And if you sick any more birds on me to ask how I am, I'll curse your meals to taste like worms for a month."

"Alright Evans," he grinned unrepentantly. She ground her teeth in frustration for how casual he was being, and almost changed her mind to turn away from him completely. At the last second though, she really looked at him. He was shivering in his damp clothes with the AC on, those hazel eyes were hard, much darker than she'd seen them the one time she'd bothered to notice. His smile seemed more forced than she was used to as he addressed her alone as if no one else existed. She recalled how he'd been prancing around all but nude on that beach to show off and looking her way every five seconds, still ignoring one friend and pandering the other while harassing her, all while boasting scars from the last.

She sighed, and decided he'd been through enough as she muttered, "err, well, since you're here, would you like to see this?"

He looked genuinely surprised as she shuffled her hand's load for a moment and offered him the letter from Harry to Sirius she'd found in that hut. It had been the only personal touch, and she'd spent the entire chapter examining every detail of it, fascinated beyond words how he wrote his g's the same as hers, the way it had been carefully folded by a Black she was only beginning to understand.

Potter accepted it with a look of such pure gratitude, she flushed and turned away before he could open his mouth again, and flipped the book open blindly to start reading before he could respond. The Invitation made her instantly curious, and she glanced again at the envelope in her hand, almost breaking it open to see what this was before changing her mind. She didn't know the charm to reseal it, yet. The beginnings of this one were disgusting on many levels. The continued interactions with those Dursleys set her blood to boil as much as dealing with the Marauders, if not more lately. The way they constantly excused themselves and especially Dudley of their actions, their mistreatment of Harry with no good reason, it made her want to invent a new potion to somehow change the very essence of her blood so that no future kids of hers would ever have to be anywhere near these people for any reason.

At least the explanation for the strange envelope came soon after, though Vernon having to be the one to find it left a bad taste in her mouth. Turns out she didn't even have to unseal it to find out the contents of why the Weasley's would be sending Harry mail, it was actually quite sweet of them to brave such a Muggle concept as sending mail just so they could try and accommodate people who didn't deserve it. She stopped for a moment and swallowed to hold back tears for the circumstances she kept finding this poor kid in, and more than half the time they seemed to be her fault.

It was her best friend treating him like scum at school, it was her sister making his existence hell in his own home. Yet not one person at the Burrow made him feel unwelcome, her influence at least couldn't taint anyone there.

She kept her nose buried in the book as the argument between Vernon and Harry began, ignoring the others circling the place curiously. She didn't notice that Frank stayed uneasily on his side of the counter, toying with the retractable part of a line divider. She didn't spare much thought to the three Marauders now chatting exuberantly about everything they found, like a tape gun. She did feel the smallest spot of warmth Alice stayed by her side, flipping through a phonebook and stopping every few pages to examine some add or another and mouthing a few of them aloud in confusion.

The chapter wound down with a sweet note, one she knew to savor now given past experiences. Harry was going to a game he really wanted, with a very good friend, and he felt safe at least with Potter's best friend there in spirit if not in person. After placing the letter fondly back in the bin she'd found it, she told the others to be ready for their next departure with an almost friendly sort of tone right along with her son for once.

Chapter Text

I am sorry for the varied chapter length in all of these, I get more material out of some locations than others.

Seven screams rent the air and seemed to echo back at them. There was a general combination of pain and frustration mixed into all the voices as they once again found themselves crammed into a very small, dark space.

"Why does this keep happening to us?!" Sirius howled in miserable protest.

"Peter, I swear if that's you foot up my arse again-"

A tiny little squeak of protest from their feet was his reply, but the diminutive form of one of them gave not a single breath of relief. James still found his face smashed painfully against a rough wall as Frank desperately dug the book into any sort of viewable experience, and Remus found himself the only one able to wedge a wand free and give light to their circumstances.

Every word out of his mouth seemed a painfully slow process, he didn't even have much in him to be sorry Alice's elbow seemed likely to crush his windpipe before he finished, though she had no hope of lowering her arm with Sirius crammed against her the way he was. Not one of them could so much as twitch a finger once more without harming someone else more.

Vernon's complaints seemed the most petty thing in the world, his griping at Harry about the Weasley's coming to get Harry. As far as he was concerned, even if that happened in the next second it wasn't fast enough as he sneezed painfully and swore his head collided with the other six all at once.

Of course the experience had to drag out as long and painfully as possible. He was sure this was karma for something! Finally, after what felt like years, Frank managed to painfully describe the experience from Harry's point of view of the Weasley's, and their current predicament. No one was thrilled that their circumstances were in fact the Dursley's fault, blocking up the fireplace with them inside!

He was sure that later he'd lament not being able to laugh at the horrible relative's abuse in all of this, as his breath caught when he heard Mr. Weasley getting them all out. "Bloody hell we're all idiots," he snarled at no one. Not caring the injuries he was giving or receiving as he suddenly fought like a madman to get his wand free and do the same.

"Are you insane?" Unbelievably, it was Sirius of all people asking that. "We've tried getting ourselves out before and it's never done an f'ing thing! Let Longbottom finish so we can all get out in one piece!"

James ground his teeth up in frustration, now realizing that was soot covering his face, but finally relented against arguing the point. He had to admit it was just as likely the curse would rebound and possibly kill them then get them out as nothing had worked previously, but it didn't make any of this feel better knowing how trapped they were!

It seemed to take ages. Normally the twin's antics were a highlight but now he wanted to shove them in the chimney himself so they could continue to share in this misery rather than having to hear of anything else further, even the prank involving Dudley they'd concocted. Finally though, as Vernon began throwing plates around and Arthur stepped in, Harry was forced to leave, and so were they.

Chapter Text

Any landing that allowed her to be splayed out would be considered a win after their last painfully forced entrapment, Alice knew, but considered taking that statement back almost at once as she sat up and looked around. It was a hard decision, but she almost wished for the fireplace back rather than finding herself in such a posh office. The place immediately gave her the creeps.

Barron and unloved were the first words to come to mind, and yet she recognized this place as someone's work area, surely there should be more personal touches? The wooden desk was black and so highly polished it looked metal, there were no photographs in sight, or even paperwork left out. Only one work cabinet seemed to suffice the needs, an ordinary quill sat waiting in a full ink pot. Even the chair looked buffed, as if the idea of showing its wear would have it cast from the room in the same second. A simple name plate stated this as Barty Crouch Head of Department of International Magical Cooperation. She found the book waiting in the center of his desk, as if it too feared being a millimeter out of place.

Even their arrival hadn't done much to disturb the place, as there wasn't much to disturb. The large office left little for them to look through and nothing for them to examine. Frank cleared his throat awkwardly as the silence dragged on, and she flushed rather than glance his way as she scooped the book up and began.

She had not a clue what Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes was, but it apparently garnered some excitement from the visible Marauders', she definitely heard them laughing. She wasn't really paying them much mind, nor was she giving much thought to what she was reading as Harry finally met the entire Weasley family. She'd seen Frank out of the corner of her eye edging around the desk and standing awkwardly at her side.

It's not like she'd been intentionally avoiding him, but she hadn't gone out of her way to talk to him again since their little spat at the lake's edge. She still couldn't believe all the things he'd said about someone he barely knew, but hadn't been able to argue much when those contagious jaws had been inches from her own throat. If Black and Potter hadn't been there, they'd all be dead because of him. If Pettigrew hadn't managed to get the book to them in the madness, they'd be dead even faster. She wanted to be more grateful, but shamefully there was still more fear and uncertainty than anything as she looked at each of them.

How could she be mad at Frank for saying the same things? At least she was trying to repress the thoughts and see them for the people they were, but that was all the harder when they went around trying to pretend like this was normal again, while their friend was clearly suffering.

She was so distracted by her own thoughts she nearly read right past the explanation of said chapter title, it was a joke shop created by the Weasley twins. Sympathy washed over her as she then heard how disapproving of it their own mother was, and let her eyes flicker up to meet Frank's.

He smiled hesitantly at her as he whispered, "I can imagine their shoes." Her smile grew, yet still restrained as she remembered being so happy he was finally starting to share details of his life outside of school with her. Now she wondered at his automatic reaction again, and what a bad influence his mother seemed to be compared to her own parents who always tried to keep her smiling.

The rest of the chapter went by in much the same fashion, it was admittedly very interesting hearing about someone's family through yet another outsider she'd never met. She wished they'd landed in that garden feast Mrs. Weasley had created, as her stomach began to rumble. The three friends kept getting visibly more excited as talk of the Quidditch World Cup became unavoidable, and Alice even would have liked to join in on that one, but she couldn't shake everything else this room contained.

Regulus Black was still bouncing on his toes and pacing in frustration, unable to look at anything without scowling. The poor lad had been through too much in such a short amount of time, and something needed to happen there. Lily was braiding her hair with a far away look in her eyes. Even in the short time she'd really gotten to know her, it was obvious she was thinking hard about nothing present.

Through all of it though, Frank started whispering in her ear with a smile. About this and that, how he'd love to hear more about this Crouch man they must be in the office of, he hoped the twins didn't let their mother deter their own hopes. At last Frank gave her a genuine smile, and she reached the end and took his hand in hers once more. Alice may have realized she didn't like everything about Frank, but she wasn't going to deny she was still falling in love with him.

Chapter Text

James' eyes began watering at once upon trying to take in his surroundings, his hand came up automatically to shield his eyes from the bright sun just cresting onto the hilltop he found himself on.

It was a marvelous view to be sure. Deeply sloped, promising a challenging climb, the grass thick and springy making him wonder if he could take his shoes off and bounce on it. Perfect Quidditch conditions, he grinned at once, remembering the coming Cup and more than pleased if this is where they'd hear it from, he felt on top of the world.

Beyond the sunrise he could make out a few more sparse details, more rolling hills in the distance, and even farther off what could possibly be the Burrow, or a giant rook, it was hard to be sure.

Not everyone seemed as happy with the surroundings.

Evans was muttering a charm to get the grass stains out of the knees of her uniform, Longbottom and Smith had somehow slid down half the length of the hill and were now having to nearly crawl back up, and Sirius' little brother was as far at the boundary as he could go glaring down into the grass.

At least Remus and Sirius were still getting into the spirit, as they all but bounded over to him snickering at some joke, the three quickly breaking into an argument over who would get to read the chapter.

"So you're just never going to speak to them again?" Regulus demanded of the long bald tail, only just visible for his keen eyes in the grass. He still got no response, and Sirius' voice pitched even louder, it sounded like he was whining about not getting the opportunity to read.

"I don't understand," Regulus snapped again, though this time without even expecting a response. "You're supposed to be his friend, how are you not standing up for yourself?" He stamped his foot at the end more to release his own frustration he seemed the only one who was even acknowledging anything was wrong lately, still watching the only visible part of him now worm about on the ground.

He kept going just for himself now as Potter began reading about his prodigy having an early rising. "I don't understand any of this," he plopped down into the grass and began pulling out fistfuls of tufts, feeling he may as well be talking to himself now. "Why's all of this happening? When did we start going along with this rather than trying to find a way out? What's going to happen when we do?"

The last one had burned out of him as he finally spoke what he'd been stuck on since he found out the Dark Lord was a half-blood. More than Sirius, more than all of this, what was he going to do?

"We find out, how inevitable it is, I suppose."

Regulus startled at Peter's quiet voice finally appearing, the boy beside him finally. His watery brown eyes were back up the hill though, where his friends were all boisterously laughing about finding the boot now, the book apparently abandoned as they found a new way to spend their energy.

"That's why I'm avoiding them, like Prongs asked me to," he continued, rubbing absently at his nose. "I, don't want to go back, if it's going to be true anyway."

Regulus scowled in confusion. "You're rewriting the problem than already. If you lot never become friends again, then he'll never use you as Secret Keeper and won't die."

"Exactly," Peter whispered.

Regulus' frown only deepened, "but then, because you don't want that to happen, you're already proving you're not the same bloke who did it to him."

"But I could turn into him, if I go back," Peter insisted.

"But, now you won't," Regulus repeated.

Peter shook his head slowly, still rubbing at his nose which was starting to drip a bit.

Regulus' blood boiled. He wanted to grab Sirius and make him see how miserable someone who had defended him for so long was. He didn't understand how those three could just pretend like their long-time friend no longer existed, how he was allowing it to happen. Sirius had called him a coward and Peter hadn't denied it, but Regulus had always known it took more than a solid will to tackle a problem.

Evans seemed to have grown impatient at being stuck up here, the sun didn't seem to be rising any farther in the sky, they were apparently frozen in their little bubble with the bright orb permanently in all their eyes no matter which way they turned until they got out of here. She scooped up the book and continued, pausing every now and then to laugh with Alice and Frank about how their travels were somehow tied into Portkeys and spitballing ideas on how it all worked again.

Regulus glanced to the side, seeing Peter had vanished again as the chapter wound down. It shouldn't really surprise him, he'd always worked best alone.

Chapter Text

Sirius found himself on all fours in a grassy meadow still blinking bright morning sun out of his eyes, and grinned at the potential for mayhem all around. With not a soul in sight.

Head still spinning like he'd just taken a bad tumble from a broom, he staggered to his feet and stumbled around for a few moments, right into someone's tent. Not his initial intention, but he shrugged and kept at it anyway, even if he would have picked a grander one to start. It's not as if this one was uninteresting.

Instead of supporting either of the current teams here, they seemed to have hung posters of the Tutshill Tornados around. The beddings were even done up in bronze and blue, and there was a Comet Two Sixty leaning against a twin bed at the ready, amusing him for a moment as he imagined whoever owned it had actually planned a pick-up game at the World Cup, he knew he would have.

After only a moment's hesitation, he raided their cupboards and found a few things to eat, before eying the bed wearily. It had been a while since they'd taken a break, and he hadn't heard the book going yet. However, he wanted to meet up with James and Remus first, explore with a bit more daylight. Maybe he'd run into everyone and they could all agree to take a nap so no one got any surprise jerk aways.

The peacock cocked his head to the side, and James mimicked the pose. The bird extended its albino plumage and James waved his arms wide. Unimpressed, the other one snapped his beak impatiently to move him along, but James' grin only widened as he once again tried to pass them by, sure there would be something of interest in the tent they were guarding.

"Hey!" looking up and around in surprise, James grimaced at Regulus marching towards him, almost literally. It always fascinated him how much this kid looked like Sirius but acted nothing like him, his best mate hadn't held himself so straight since Filch once threatened to tie a broom to his back.

"Yes?" He asked unenthusiastically, noticing the book in his hand, and turning dismissively back towards the birds.

"Need to talk to you about something."

He was glad he'd turned away now, the resemblance wasn't so uncanny when he didn't have to look at him. "When I want your opinion on my friend's, I promise you, I'm not shy in asking for it."

"Some friend," he scoffed.

James clenched his jaw, but before he could respond he went on primely, "no, that's not what I was going to say. You're probably better at hunting down the lot than I am-"

"Some Seeker," he snorted.

"But I'm going to keep this with me and crash for a few hours," he went on, somehow his voice getting more snooty by the moment. "That way, no one has to worry about not knowing when we're leaving again."

"How considerate," he rolled his eyes.

"Just thought you'd like to pass along the message," his voice sounded just a touch surley now. "I say we meet up at the Weasley's tent, once everyone's there, then we'll all be ready to keep going."

"What an excellent idea," he snarked.

He heard Regulus blow air through his nose in what was too dignified to be called a snort, but felt him still standing behind him. Temptation won out, he glanced over his shoulder and saw him chewing on the inside of his cheek as he continued to eye him. Whatever he was considering saying, he was sure he didn't want to hear it, so finally abandoned the stately tent and walked off.

"I just hope your memory isn't as shallow as your gene pool," he finally called after him. James flipped him the bird and made a quick cut through more tents.

He tried to keep eyeing everything as he walked past with curiosity, but now he just kept expecting to see Regulus out of the corner of his eye following him. Then he grimaced as he'd swear he heard Sirius' voice and turned expectantly to still see nothing. He considered circling back out of spite and trying to get back into that tent, but it didn't hold much appeal without his friends around to go through it with him.

The silence was beginning to ring in his head, he found himself pacing the same cloak propped up on sticks four times before he even realized it, and then when he finally made the conscious decision to turn deliberately left, he slammed full-face into someone.

"Sorry!" Frank said automatically, reaching out a hand to help steady him.

'Frank the tank it felt more like,' James thought to himself as he rubbed the bridge of his nose. "S'alright, wasn't looking where I was going."

"You seen anyone else?" Frank asked with an uneasy smile. "I've, ah, been looking all over, this place is like a maze. Found myself in a sea of faces on tents, it was a bit spooky, but no one else besides you."

"No one you'd want to run into," he snapped.

Frank frowned at him, but James didn't want to deal with anyone else right now, certainly not the bloke who probably would have pissed himself if he'd run into Remus instead. He turned away without another word regardless and walked purposefully this time, now tapping his wand on his hip in thought. He considered throwing up some sparks, surely everyone would see it and they'd all meet up regardless and then be able to break off on their own.

Everyone, his mental voice repeated, and guilt began bubbling to the surface as he pictured it. Would it be worse if he didn't see a glimpse of Peter, or better? He'd respected his wish and stayed away, but James hadn't tried much to figure anything out since then, every time he even considered thinking about all he'd heard he just wanted to throw up again.

Shouldn't he have tried anyways though? Come around and been badgering the lot of them to hear his side again? 'Sirius hadn't,' he mentally reasoned, 'he was probably taking his cue from him.'

'And look how well that turned out,' he argued back with himself. How long had they been fighting before they made up in that future then? If this hadn't happened, how long until the four would be friends again? Long enough that the mistrust would never truly fade and that's what started all of this?

'He'd been the best mate at your wedding!' He yelled at himself. 'Surely the four of them still meant something to each other!'

"But not enough," he sighed aloud, before wincing and covering his mouth in shame.

"Prongs?"

Shaking his head and finding himself somewhere new once more, surrounded completely by moss apparently, he still called back, "Moony? That you?"

"Yeah, finally," he came jogging into sight, Alice Smith of all people trailing along behind him with a nervous yet excited smile. "Thought I heard you, we've been looking all over for anyone!"

"Oh yeah, me too," he said quickly, easily putting a smile back in place, more for Smith than anything. "I ah, ran into Longbottom and Regulus already, but, obviously they couldn't handle my charm."

"I'm so sure," Remus rolled his eyes, while James continued gesturing over his shoulder.

"Err, that way, sorry I didn't get you a map."

"A shame," she grinned, "you seem so good at those."

He smiled genuinely in surprise at how comfortable she apparently was, or at least, she didn't dart off in that same second. Remus was still studying him, so he was quick to keep going, "seen Padfoot?"

Moony clucked his tongue and gave him an obvious look. "Yes, I absolutely spotted him in the distance but didn't hail him down, instead I just kept wandering around wondering where you lot were."

"Always keep us guessing Remus," James nodded.

"I haven't heard the book yet," Alice said when the silence started to grow.

"Oh, ah, yeah," James was quick to cobble his mind back into place. "Regulus, er, found the book and said something about crashing before reading it. Said he wanted us all to meet up at the Weasley's tent when we were ready to get going again, so no one had to deal with a surprise pull away."

"How sweet," she grinned.

James scratched awkwardly at the back of his neck, and Remus shuffled his feet for a few more moments before Alice cleared her throat. "Right, well, guess I'd best go find Frank and Lily. It was, nice talking to you Remus."

"Yeah, you as well," he said quickly.

She smiled one last time and waved before taking off.

"You two find something of interest to talk about?" He asked curiously.

"Not really," he shrugged, "she mentioned she was a quarter Irish or something, but who isn't really."

"Oh, and you two seemed to be hitting it off," he smirked.

"You and Evans create enough love drama, don't go trying to start more," Remus rolled his eyes, before adding shrewdly, "and changing the subject. What's wrong?"

"Nothing," he said quickly. "Let's go find Sirius." Finally, with one of his friends back around to chat with, the voice in his head quieted down.

Lily sat with her feet hanging into the well, swinging them about and wishing the water was high enough she could dip her toes into it. She could just magic it, she supposed, but even after five years in school where that was accepted as the norm, the look on Petunia's face when it came up had her hesitating to do it casually. She knew what Sev would say if he was here at least.

She sighed as her eyes started to droop down heavily, but clung stubbornly to the sunlight keeping her warm and eyes wide open. Harry lingered in her mind once more, somehow a son she had no wish to have with Potter was less painful to think about than other thoughts that so often consumed her. What did that say about her? He was here with his friends, having a gay old time, which she was surprised to not be hearing about yet.

Quidditch had never been particularly endearing to her, but she was almost looking forward to the coming game anyways. It always seemed a topic that everyone could enjoy, and she was so tired of fighting.

The warm sun continued to beat down, causing a sheen of sweat to appear. She closed her eyes and kept soaking it in, letting it seep down to her bones. She hadn't realized she was nodding off until she jerked uncomfortably, and found herself nearly toppling down the well. Clutching painfully tight to the bricks and her wand, she swung herself carefully around and decided it really was time for a nap, she'd look for Alice and Frank later. Meandering over to the nearest cluster of tents, she hesitated for a moment before picking out a simple, smaller one. Inside was a flowered dress hanging on a hat stand and sparsely anything else but a bed. She hoped that meant this was an elder woman's tent who wouldn't mind offering Lily the bed she crashed in.

They'd finally found Padfoot examining a squashed slug, he'd greeted them enthusiastically and then dared Prongs to eat it. Now they were wandering around fighting off itchy eyes and slowing conversation. Exhaustion was setting in, but none of them seemed ready to call it quits and get some rest.

None of them said it, but when they walked into a tent with four beds at the ready, they froze.

Sirius turned to leave, trying to ignore his skin twitching in unease. What would be worse? To pretend the bed was filled with the usual snores, or be grateful it wasn't? Before he could make it out though, James cleared his throat. "Ah, actually, maybe we should-"

"I'll go kip under a tree," Sirius muttered without looking at them.

"Actually Sirius, I was going to say maybe we should talk about-"

"I want some bloody sleep Prongs!" Sirius snapped without turning around.

"I don't think I can," he whispered back.

Sirius inhaled the air still coming through the tent flap, he still didn't want to turn around. "Shall I knock you over the head then? Can't hardly whip up a sleeping draft."

"Padfoot, I mean I can't just go to sleep without thinking-"

"Right, a nice concussion charm it is," he began mock digging through his robes.

"Sirius! I mean it!"

He saw Remus out of the corner of his eye taking a few uneasy steps back, like he expected a bomb to go off between them. He turned slowly, trying to force himself not to glare at Prongs, reminding himself whose fault this was. "And what exactly is having a little powwow going to do? Help you cry yourself to sleep we're never speaking to him again?"

"I never said that-"

"And why haven't you?" His voice still sounded painfully calm. "You really haven't said much of anything, either of you. In case you've forgotten-"

"I think you're the one who's having some damage to your brain," James said a bit coldly. "I just wanted to say we've all had a chance to cool down and maybe we should go find him to talk-"

"I'm not speaking to him!" Sirius flared in disgust. "Not unless I can hex his ruddy face off! He-"

"I know perfectly well what those books say he did, to all of us," James crossed his arms to hide his shaking fists, the only sign of his anger. "And we need to talk to him about it, after five years and all we've been through, he deserves that-"

Sirius spat on the ground, turned about, and walked out.

James blinked in hurt, and surprise. That wasn't like him at all, he would have normally decked someone before just walking away.

"I'll ah, go talk to him," Remus muttered lamely.

"Right, yeah," James whispered without looking at him either. His eyes blurred with exhaustion. He didn't know who he hoped would come back through that tent anymore. He was so sick of feeling so useless, he hadn't at all stepped in and helped Remus and Sirius with their fight, and now this had somehow escalated to even worse. He didn't know what to say, he didn't want to say anything. Peter hadn't served him up to You-Know-Who...but he couldn't stop seeing the guilt on his face. Unable to deny the idea...

Sirius was no easier to track down a second time. He just caught sight of him walking as fast as he could and tried calling after him, but he either couldn't hear him or was ignored. He only just stayed in sight, and by the time Remus caught up to him panting slightly, Sirius had his face pressed miserably to an invisible barrier.

They were at a trailhead now, lanterns sitting unlit in the trees. Remus couldn't help but be mildly impressed for a moment how far he'd come so fast. He was still injured, even the shadow of the Devil's Snare was still visible on his neck, but Sirius was nothing if not resilient.

"Sirius we really should-"

Sirius' hand lashed out, he caught the collar of Remus' shirt and pulled him in for a searing kiss. Remus responded for only a moment before pulling away, "that's really not-"

"I don't want to talk," he clearly enunciated every word. Keeping a firm hold on him, he began pulling him back towards the nearest tent. Remus reluctantly let himself be dragged along, beginning to wonder if that's all this was to Sirius, another way to avoid everything for as long as he could.*

Peter hesitated over every step he took as he eased himself slowly towards the tent. He'd been doing so all day as he'd landed quite close to Remus, had watched protectively, then curiously as he came across Alice and they'd had an awkward yet cordial few moments before finding Prongs. He should have taken off then, what did it say about him he was already eavesdropping on them? Was this why he'd become a spy for You-Know-Who, it was the one thing he was good at?

He shouldn't have been listening in on them all day, it was only making him more guilty, but the smallest flair of hope kept him shuffling closer as Sirius stormed out and Remus followed. If James really, finally, wanted to talk, he was more than happy to.

With one last dragging breath to build up what little nerve he had, he changed form and poked his head around the side. Then let it out miserably as he saw he'd waited too long.

Prongs had set himself on the bed, and fallen into an uneasy sleep. His face was resting uncomfortably against the frame, his glasses skewed and about to fall to the floor with his next breath. Dancing on the spot for a few moments more he finally moved forward and took them off for him, lest they fall under the bed and they spent another memorable few moments laughing as his butt wiggled around while he dug them out.

He bit his lip to stop himself laughing at the memory, Remus hiding James' wand up his sleeve and trying to blame Sirius for it, Padfoot on the ground laughing his butt off all the same. He'd just been witness to it all, like so many times in their life. How soon until they forgot he'd been there altogether?

Should he wake him? If James finally wanted to talk he was more than happy to, his words had sounded promising, but not altogether reassuring. Like the coward he was, he hesitated. What if James just wanted to talk to the other two about keeping him out for good? Like a child, he clung to the notion that maybe, if he just gave it more time, it would work itself out?

Placing the glasses on the table, he eased himself back out without making a peep.

Regulus stretched and rolled over uncomfortably in the borrowed bed, glaring moodily at the light still around him. The fact that the sun hadn't seemed to have changed position disturbed him, as if he hadn't slept for nearly as long as his body said he had. Then he spotted something even more odd in the bed across from him.

Why Peter had decided to bed down here was a bit of a mystery, it's not as if there wasn't an abundance of other choices. He was an only child as well, it's not as if sleeping alone should really bother him. Most of the time he'd spent crammed around this lot he'd longed for the nights in his fourposter bed at home. Even if what home meant to him was now a question hovering above his life, he liked to think the little changes like his room being undisturbed by dormmates would stay the same.

Yet he couldn't resent waking up to the company either. He also understood more than anyone what it felt like to feel alone surrounded by others.

Moving about quietly so as not to disturb him, he eyed the teapot sitting ready on the stove for a moment, wondering idly what would happen if he called to Kreacher. Would he appear from his timeline, whistling while he worked? Was he even alive now to be summoned if it would work?

Storing the questions away for later, he finally threw the blankets off and set up for a small morning breakfast. He was stirring sugar into a chipped mug that had some American school logo plastered on the side and flipping idly through the blank chapters of the book when Peter awoke.

He groggily stumbled forward and muttered a sullen thanks as he spotted the second cup, sipping noisily at the still steaming liquid.

"What do you think would have happened if two others had started this?" He finally asked one of the idle questions floating through his mind.

"Eh?" Peter's watery brown eyes were still half-lidded as he began rummaging through a biscuit tin.

"I mean, if Lupin and Evans had somehow accidentally stuck their hands in that potion instead of Potter, or you even, or, me."

"Oh," Peter had to blink a few more times before it seemed he'd even caught up, seemed he wasn't a morning person. "Erm, well, I'd suppose we wouldn't strictly be hearing about some love child, except maybe if it had been Longbottom and Smith perhaps, but ah, perhaps something the same. Maybe we, would be hearing about other futures."

"You think?" Regulus asked enthusiastically. "You mean our points of view on this future, or something else entirely?"

"Like?" Peter looked intrigued at the prospect.

"Just, what we were talking about, I can't get it off my mind," Regulus shrugged. "That, the future isn't set in stone, especially not this one."

Peter slurped the last of his drink and smacked his lips for a few more moments before answering, "well I certainly hope so, but exactly what stakes are you hoping won't occur?"

Regulus spooned a few more cups of sugar into the dregs, creating a lumpy mess more than anything and began pushing that around instead. "I don't know yet, and that's been bothering me as much as anything."

Peter snorted softly. "I wish I still didn't know, take it as a blessing while you can mate."

He got up then to rummage through the rest of the cupboards, missing the surprised look he'd left behind. Were they mates now?

Lily was smiling up at a banner for The Salem Witches Institute when they finally found her.

"I've been looking all over for you guys," she said with chipper as she all but skipped over, still clutching a pamphlet for the place.

"We haven't been avoiding you, we swear," Frank grinned.

"We've been looking for you too, but when we finally found each other we nearly fell asleep over this purple fire-"

Lily laughed and waved off the rest of the apology. "So, how should we move forward? I'd feel bad summoning the book and waking up anyone else, but I don't fancy waiting for those layabouts to spend twelve hours sleeping either."

Alice was still rubbing some sleep out of her eyes while Frank explained what he'd been told about meeting up at the Weasley's camp when ready.

"Great," Lily actually clapped her hands together. "Any idea where that is?"

"Let's, ah, start that way I guess," Frank pointed in a direction he'd yet been, and she more than happily took the lead.

"Someone's a morning person," Alice smiled.

Lily smiled without remorse and began enthusiastically asking if they'd seen any other interesting sights.

"Maybe this was a bad idea," Peter muttered as he spotted James heading slowly their way.

Regulus grabbed his elbow before he could poof out of sight again, drawing the other threes attention. The five of them had been managing to chat so pleasantly that the blanket tension settling down as he spotted them couldn't go unnoticed, but he ruffled his hair instead of slowing his stride.

"Morning all," he called, doing a goofy little spin on the spot for a moment before just plopping down on the grass, only slightly farther away than would be considered casual.

"I expected the other two to be with you," Frank called with a forced neutral voice.

Peter's uneasy smile turned to a snort of mirth. "Please, if Prongs isn't around, it'll take a riot to wake them up."

"Well, they're up somewhere around here," Regulus noted, as words had appeared ages ago, he'd just been politely waiting as he'd said he would.

"I'd get started then," Potter said quietly.

Regulus wanted to protest, he'd said he'd wait until everyone got here, but Peter nodded along eagerly and the others were starting to look restless. He hesitated a moment longer, looking between Peter and Potter, the latter of whom had pulled out his wand and was transfiguring the grass at his feet to weave itself into complicated figures and looked sullen.

Glancing one last time at Peter, he decided he was missing something and took the bit of peace while he could and said, "Bagman and Crouch."

"Not Ludo Bagman?" Sirius tied his shoes up and glanced at the jersey still lying on the floor.

"Unless he had a kid," Remus grumbled, face still pressed into the pillow. It didn't matter he was technically awake, it didn't mean he wanted to get up. "Even then, I don't know what that has to do with the other name."

"Crouch, Crouch," Sirius repeated as Regulus' voice continued to filter into the tent about Harry getting his first glimpse of this place. He wasn't bothered he hadn't kept his word and waited for them to appear, his timing was actually rather fortuitous, best he started now before Sirius changed his mind and crawled back into the bed. "Haven't we heard that name already?"

Remus garbled something about him being Percy's boss, proving once more he'd been listening much better than Sirius had bothered.

Sirius began bouncing impatiently on the bed as nothing he was hearing was too interesting. The book was dragging out every detail it could of Harry walking around, meeting a muggle, building a tent. It was maddening, he wanted to hear about the cup!

"Padfoot!" Remus whined, reaching out blindly to grab him and hopefully still him.

"Come on Moony, rise and shine," Sirius grabbed his hand and began pulling on him to drag his face back from underneath the pillow. He felt a little bad when his eyes barely opened and he could only muster a pitiful glare in response. Remus usually slept the whole day after a full moon night. His sleep in particular kept getting harassed during these massive time skips. If he let him doze back off though, someone might really come looking for them, Prongs might be now.

"I know Remus," he squeezed his hand gently. "I really am sorry, I know you're tired, but let's try exploring a little more. Maybe Bagman's got a tent around here! Oh, and we could find that Muggle's house, I do love looking around those."

Harry and his friends had gone out to get water and back already by the time Moony had finally been roused from the bed, and even then he reluctantly set off again with Sirius. Slow to wake, but boundless once he got going, he did indeed drag them all along the rest of the campsite for the rest of the chapter, never staying in one place too long even when they did come across something he took an interest in.

Bagman's tent was solid gold, a yellow wasp banner flying proudly above it, but not many details inside except for an odd little book full of scribbles. It took them a while to makes heads of it, and finally concluded the letters were acronyms for different names, money placed, and statistics for the coming match. A bag of gold was stashed under the bed, and the two whistled in longing as they realized they'd been missing out, never realizing the money they could make if they started betting on their own house sports.

At least he was fun to hear about, Sirius almost pissed himself in excitement Harry got to meet the player! Hearing about Crouch wasn't nearly as fun, they almost wished he hadn't made an appearance at all he was so stuffy to listen to, let alone be around.

Mr. Roberts house was just inside the barrier on the edge of the property. It was a sweet little home, he even apparently had two kids, a boy and a girl. Remus flipped fondly through the boy's artbook while Sirius closely inspected a unicorn doll and muttered they'd gotten the details all wrong, he'd never seen a purple one.

It seemed to take ages, Remus was even fully awake by the time Arthur announced the game was about to begin. The two hardly shared an eager smile before they were teleported away.

*This fic will remain at a T rating, but I'll also be deleting some of the lemons I tend to write during this and have decided to post them in a separate fic called Moon and Stars. I'll rate that M just to be safe, go check out if you enjoy.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/8677858/chapters/79782466

Chapter Text

Lily stumbled, a sense of vertigo shooting through her. She'd never necessarily been afraid of heights, but she'd also never landed on the ledge of a several hundred-foot drop with her head still reeling. Gripping the ledge painfully tight she risked cracking her nails, she turned slowly on the spot and eased herself back down towards the chairs, and felt her stomach clench for a different reason. She was the only one up here.

Knowing the Marauders, she expected someone to pop out and yell 'boo,' any second, so she took a few more cautious steps in, eyeing every chair and half expecting them to be crouching down for some reason. That wasn't like Frank and Alice though, nor did the seven really seem likely to ban together for something so childish.

"Hello?" She called tentatively. Nothing, and finally real panic started to creep in as she saw the book. Had something gone even more wrong? Where was everybody else? She really didn't like the idea of handling all this alone.

It hadn't bothered her so much down at the tents because that had clearly been the designated area. This was a box, where were the others?

"Wooohooo!"

She startled so hard several chairs hit the ground with her. She pulled painfully to get back upright and was barely able to spot whoever had even made such a noise of excitement. The seven of them were all going wild, blurring past so fast she hadn't a hope of seeing what was really going on, but she could guess.

Puffing out an annoyed breath, she sat in the seat farthest back and snatched up the book, but did still begin with a begrudging smile of her own. Considering past events, not least of which what brought them here, it was nice to have something so mindless to her as a game with no stakes. If she managed to get through it without a single incident because everybody was having such harmless fun, who was she to judge?

Sirius hadn't stopped yelling since Alice had found them. He'd already collided with Frank in his eagerness to grab one and was likely to die of an adrenaline burn before it wore off at this rate. James couldn't help but grin as his best mate took off like a madman with no regrets. That's always how Sirius had lived his life, and hopefully always would.

Alice was keeping up with him with ease, shouting playful insults and encouragement alike as the two longed for the rest of the equipment to finally play a proper game. Remus was trailing only just slightly behind them looking more alive than any prank they pulled could ever give him.

James wished himself the balls weren't kept under lock and key to keep from tampering until they were released, but the idea made him swell with just as much happiness and eager anticipation. If they could keep hold of these until they landed back at Hogwarts?!

Peter and Regulus were cajoling Frank to go at more than a crawl closer to the ground, but the three seemed to actually be having a good time of it. From his birds-eye view, he easily spotted all three smiling at each other at the very least.

Only one person was missing, and he was starting to grow worried why he couldn't spot Evans anywhere in the stands, even as her reading Harry living this experience reverberated around them. She hadn't been in either of the locker rooms, and her vivid hair should stand out even in the worst sections. It wasn't until Alice paused in front of the Top Box did he realize his overlaps and headed down eagerly to see how she was really taking to this.

"-sure you don't want a go?" Alice asked, and even as he sped over he could hear the slight reluctance in her voice.

Evans very obviously could as well, she laughed as she shooed her away. "Honestly, I've no desire. Have your fun, don't pester any of the others, I'm really alright."

Looking just a touch relieved, Alice took off at such breakneck speeds, even her Firebolt may not have been able to keep up. She nearly collided with a wall before making the sharpest of turns, and James wasn't entirely sure how much of that was skill or luck.

"Alright Evans?"

She looked up from describing Winky the house-elf with the most mild look of annoyance he'd ever seen on her face regarding him. "And if I am?"

His heart definitely soared higher than even this broom could manage, it was the most civil thing she'd ever said to him!

"Glad to hear it," he grinned, and then unable to stop himself, "you said you didn't want your own go, but I'd be more than happy to let you ride pillion?"

"I'd rather jump off this with no cushioning charm," she promised, but he'd swear she didn't roll her eyes nearly as much as usual.

He never could take a hint. "I should stay up here, keep you company just in case you change your mind-"

He swerved at the last second, his foot still tingling where it had almost dismounted on the ledge.

"You'll do no such thing Potter," she shook her head without looking at him now, vibrant green eyes back on the book. He couldn't exactly be disappointed with the view regardless.

"Right here then," he struck an impressive pose he was sure.

"Try again." She was now very obviously holding her wand still without looking up.

"Over there then," he agreed quickly, before shooting off and daring Sirius he could pull off the Wronski Feint before he could.

She was glad she'd kept her face out of sight, if he'd seen how hard she was fighting back a smile it only would have encouraged him more. She got through the rest of the chapter without incident. She really couldn't keep the smile out of her voice as she read how much fun Harry was having, hearing all of them laugh and play trying to reenact the amazing plays.

It still didn't quite manage to keep her thoughts from shuffling in every few paragraphs. She'd wanted from the very start of this for Severus to be here, but for the very first time, she was glad he wasn't. Their laughter echoed into every last corner of the arena as she realized he'd been so right about them, and so wrong.

Chapter Text

Regulus was used to landing in the absolute silence by now, only the sounds of his companions groaning and shuffling back to their feet. Wherever they were was dimly lit, with a soft green hue barely enough to discern the closely packed trees surrounding their little clearing. Otherwise, there were no birds chirping, hardly a breeze blowing about, no hint of a presence beyond.

Yet when he heard Smith scream, his first instinct was still to look around for the danger, until he actually spotted her looking up.

He'd swear his heart stopped in his chest, he felt like he may as well be looking into another mirror that could show his future. The Dark Mark hung above them in all its glory.

"What, what is it?" Evans hissed, backing to the far edge of the clearing, looking from the symbol to Alice like she expected all of us to start sprouting extra heads.

No one seemed to want to be the one to tell her, all eyes still fixated on the skulls bottomless depth, the snake entwined through every thought he'd ever had. He knew he couldn't form the words as his throat kept convulsing.

"It's the Dark Mark," Potter finally got out, breaking his gaze away but talking more to her shoes. "It's, You-Know-Who's symbol, it means someone's died."

Regulus felt more than saw as everyone then began inspecting the ground instead, as if waiting for the dead body to appear. They'd once landed in the same spot as a deceased unicorn, would they for a person as well?

"Harry?" She asked of no one.

Potter could only swallow in answer, and now everyone was scanning the ground for the book to give an answer. He did seem the most likely, and some very small horrible part of each of them almost hoped it to be true. Maybe, if this was how Harry died, they would finally be free of this madness casting them about and get back to their time, their life.

No one got a chance to do anything else though as Sirius launched himself at his once friend and socked him clean in the nose.

Peter hit the ground, blood pouring down his face once more, except now from broken cartilage in the center of his face rather than his ear.

"Sirius!"

"Padfoot, mate what the hell-"

"If you killed him too, I swear I'll-" The elder Black fought like crazy to get Lupin off of him again, Potter scrambling in between them desperately. It was so like the last time, right before Lupin had transformed, Frank couldn't help to back even farther away in fright, glancing up at the sky once more, trying to see past the deadly skull and snake to wherever the moon might be.

Alice dithered on the spot, as if she wanted to help but didn't know who. Evans drew her wand but seemed unclear who to point it at. Regulus didn't even hesitate and darted to Peter's side, offering him a hand up, and letting out a sigh of relief when Peter took it.

He may have staggered to his feet, but did nothing more. He didn't draw his wand to defend himself, or fix his now clearly broken and swelling nose, he just clasped his arms in front of him and cringed in place, as if prepared to take whatever blow came next.

"Sirius! Sirius stop!"

He didn't seem capable of even listening to Prongs anymore, he fought out of the arms pinning him like a madman, unable to see or hear anything but James screaming and the green light dousing everything around them. Then his own face exploded with pain.

"Oi!"

"I am not holding him back so you can-"

Regulus drew his wand and pressed it against the pulse in his older brothers neck. He didn't care Potter shoved him back away or that Lupin now looked likely to let Sirius go and throw a punch himself, all he saw was that he finally had Sirius Black's irrevocable attention.

He spat a bit of blood onto the ground, and against all odds an almost cocky grin slipped into place. "Well look at you, throwing a Muggle blow. Didn't think you had it in you."

Regulus had known exactly what he was doing, and didn't let himself be distracted as he flicked his wand to where he wanted him to see. "Look at him Sirius, really look at him."

He instead busied himself by wincing and pulling at his nose as if to fix it back into place, Lupin and Potter stood at his shoulders ready for whatever came next. Regulus was not backing down, he was tired of second guessing himself.

"Regulus, please don't-"

but Regulus spoke louder, stamping his foot and demanding attention. "How can you lecture me on the decisions of my life, dare call them your friends, when you're just as much of a two-faced, back-stabbing, arse!"

His chest was heaving by the end, but it felt like he'd finally thrown a brick from his chest getting all of that out. He stood waiting for Sirius to hit him, yell at him, something. Instead Sirius' sharp gray eyes wavered from him, he finally dared to look where he'd refused before. He tried to turn away just as quickly again, but everything was still swathed in a green light he'd always hated so much.

The air caught in his throat, his eyes stung. If he looked at him for too long all he'd see was his own mistakes seeping into others all over again. It's not like it was hard to imagine what he could have done to Peter in the future to cause him to get James killed...which meant he was the one to-

Turning sharply away, he went as far as he could from the others, mentally begging anyone from following him, not trusting his voice to say it regardless. His foot crunched over something along the way and he didn't even pause to see what.

Potter and Lupin exchanged a wordless look before Lupin took after him once more. The two were just visible in the verdant gloom. Potter just looked desperately between the two and Peter, who was looking after Sirius as well longingly. He'd seen something on his face, there for just a second, but wasn't even sure what to make of it. It certainly wasn't the all-consuming hatred he'd been expecting. Not able to look at anyone else now, he finally quietly summoned the book to him. It came shooting to his hand from a nearby tree, and he read the almost predictable chapter title now.

Regulus for his part was left fuming in place, even if he still did feel just slightly better for finally getting to fully say his piece. He didn't know what was going to happen next, but he liked to think this was a step in the right direction.

Frank, Lily, and Alice all felt like spectators at the most awkward show imaginable. They had no stakes in this recurring bomb of a life. Well, Lily supposed she should, as she watched Potter bend down and pick up whatever Black had stepped on.

Pettigrew was reading quietly but swiftly, before they knew it the peace of the game in the book was as much a thing of the past as it had been the moment they'd landed here. The kids were running for their lives, a Muggle family was being put on a grotesque display. The closer she looked, she saw the way Pettigrew's skin turned sallow as he described it all happening, how sick he looked at the thought that really could be him one day. She watched Potter's hand close convulsively over what appeared to be a toy, a little Quidditch player with its arm popped out of socket.

Now Harry's wand was missing, and he was possibly running for his life. She couldn't get it out of her head, that the Death Eater's were going to catch up to him and end his life. She chanced a glance towards Black and Lupin, standing as close to each other as they could, gazes unwillingly fixed back on the book just like everyone else's. It had amazed her, among other things, how all four of them had almost instantly accepted this future and begun talking about Potter's kid as some inevitable thing to be.

She was only just catching up, she was sixteen for crying out loud! If she ever fantasized about having kids, it certainly wasn't with Potter! She couldn't even pretend to deny it anymore, her heart clenched with painful worry as a boy who was to be her son was separated even farther, now it was only him and his two friends alone with a threat out here.

A nightmare she never even knew she could have seemed about to come to life before her ears, she staggered back in fear even as she drew her wand for a protection that wasn't her own, despite no threat appearing. Harry was surrounded, and she wanted to help him.

Peter Pettigrew's voice shook, he stammered for a few more painful moments before looking to James Potter for what to do, still a source of comfort. Only the steady look of worry for his boy remained as he finally read it out, and there was a tiny break of relief it was only stunners sent his way. Then, a more stable breath of fresh air, as it turned out to be the Ministry coming to call for whichever Death Eater had sent up the signal instead of the opposite.

What happened next was a madhouse, and yet somehow still easier to take in stride as a house-elf was accused of these crimes and a high-end official of the Ministry Winky belonged to seemed to take control of the mess. Harry's wand having done it all was the only piece she latched onto. When had this shift occurred? At what point had she finally allowed herself to admit she was worried about this kid- her kid?

As Arthur Weasley explained in more detail what exactly had happened, and Hermione mentioned she'd know because of a book, it occurred to Lily to think of this backwards. What Harry would think of her if he'd seen how she'd been acting towards him all this time. She glanced helplessly at Alice and Frank, who were standing in each other's arms for comfort.

If Severus had been here, would she be doing the same? Seeking comfort in familiarity? Through every step of this she'd clung to her current life without admitting it may well be her past.

Chapter Text

They landed in yet another office, though to call it such was a bit grand. More like a cubicle that was waiting on an upgrade. There was paperwork set up in neat, alphabetical files along the desk that was hardly wider than the chair beneath it, and yet still seemed to find room for the inkpot. A nameplate was the only thing out of place, only the first few letters visible and the rest obscured by a picture of the Weasley family.

The eight of them had been crammed in tighter quarters, but it wasn't fun to have no elbow room in the minuscule space, nor particularly enjoyable to scavenge for the book. It was at the bottom of a stack of papers with freshly signed ink from Crouch over an import of a sphynx that seemed forgotten, the large majority of everything current was complaints and requests for reimbursements of their damaged property from that catastrophe of a Cup.

Remus accidentally tipped it all to the floor as he tried to dig the book out, then winced and muttered an apology to no one here. Potter forced a laugh no one acknowledged as Remus began Mayhem at the Ministry, eyes flickering to the floor once more and mentally agreeing.

Lily shifted uneasily in sympathy as Mr. Roberts gave the improper goodbye upon Harry's group leaving, well aware that could have so easily been her or her family under other circumstances. On pure instinct, her mind flickered to the thought Sev would never let that happen to her, but then she shifted even more uncomfortably as she wondered how true that was. Considering the lot he'd been hanging around so much lately...

The Weasleys made their way home with much a'fuss from their mother, then Harry slipped off to Ron's room and spent some time worrying about Sirius Black not having replied yet. The present Marauders, all four of them she checked, looked surprised and even concerned at this news. Even Regulus Black could be visibly seen biting the inside of his cheek, and Frank and Alice exchanged a bewildered look the man wasn't keeping in better contact with his godson after the news Harry had delivered; still all Lily could think of was her absent friend.

How long had they been missing? Was he worried at all about her? What would she say to him when she saw him again? She tried hard not to look accusingly at Lupin as the last conversation they'd had simmered in the back of her mind.

"...thought we were supposed to be friends?" Snape was saying, "Best friends?"

"We are, Sev, but I don't like some of the people you're hanging round with! I'm sorry, but I detest Avery and Mulciber! Mulciber! What do you see in him, Sev, he's creepy! D'you know what he tried to do to Mary Macdonald the other day?"

Lily had reached a pillar and leaned against it, looking up into the thin, sallow face.

"That was nothing," said Snape. "It was a laugh, that's all."

All his throwaway comments, all his pestering and assumptions about what the Marauders got up to, and he'd been right all along. Would she tell him? Was it not fair to admit to him he'd been right all along, they were up to something in school?

Lupin had very nearly killed them, true, but they’d also been locked in a cage with him and he had done everything to stop Black in the meantime from hurting Pettigrew just now. She knew, the whole school knew Severus had done something involving that tree and some monster in its roots because Dumbledore himself had gotten involved and forbidden he speak of the events, to protect Lupin she now knew. Sev followed them all over the school, had apparently followed them down there one night because he could never leave them alone, trying to get them caught and thrown out. Who did that make in the wrong, the illegal animagus’s playing around the werewolf, or her nosy friend for getting involved?

She remembered all the way back now, to Snape’s Grudge and him recounting an event of Potter playing some nasty trick to nearly get him killed. She’d thought that simply hadn’t happened yet, but as protectively as James Potter had defended Sirius Black as well as Remus Lupin through all of this, never leaving a moment of doubt as he stood between his friends and them, it seemed a ludicrous notion he’d do such a thing as get Severus involved in their private affairs when he’d never even bragged to her about his masterful transfiguration work of nearly getting eaten alive once a month via a deer.

He’d done nothing to pull Pettigrew back into the folds of whatever argument they were having though. This future was a complete mess, he was apparently dead because of that friend, a deed he was being punished for but still not scorned away from? He’d held Black back rather than joining in with his son nearly being presumed dead under that mark. What was the line he’d cross? Had Severus made one too many theories and cracks and Potter had tried to teach Lupin a lesson, or were their secrets, their friendship still more to him?

She knew now, even more than her best friend, the insides of their group. Yet it still gave her no better idea of who was in the right in their constant fights. Pettigrew still had dried blood on his face and was avoiding looking at any of his so-called friends, Potter was standing slightly apart from his other two friends with a miserable look on his face and gazing up at the ceiling without taking in a word of what the Ministry was going through any more than her.

Even the Weasley family's inner squabble about some writer giving Arthur some bad light and Percy defending his boss over his father wasn't really holding her attention, she had her own misgiving feelings to worry about.

Regulus, on the other hand, couldn't help but stare on in fascination as Lupin's derivative voice spoke for Percy made his feelings clear. He would have thought Sirius more than anyone would be sticking up for Percy, but he was hissing his displeasure as well into Lupin's ear apparently and had stopped prodding along the edges of his own bloodied nose. Considering the blood traitors he still sort of thought them to be, he'd been under the slight impression from what he'd seen of their family they were all very close, this was an odd perspective to see their inner quarrelling's were no different than his family's.

"Dress robes? Of all the silly things for the school to add?" Alice giggled a bit and squeezed Frank's hand. He startled a bit and dragged his attention to her from his own thoughts, but then admitted sheepishly he hadn't caught what she said.

"What's the matter?" She asked as Ron began complaining to his mother for the pair he got. They did sound a bit old fashioned.

He hesitated for a moment but didn't bother lying to her, sharing his impending worry. "I'm ah, wondering what Harry's going to encounter at school this year is all. Something's obviously building up to happen, again."

She wanted to laugh that having to dress up had him so worried, but Lupin gave them the warning the chapter was about to end before she could respond, and she winced a bit at the parting lines showing more discourse running in the Burrow as Ron lamented his poor state again. She gazed once more about the office, eyes lingering on the Weasley family photo on the desk. She couldn't help but mentally agree her boyfriend was probably right to be worried at this rate.

HPHPHP

Your input is important to me, every single person reading this, so if there's someone's point of view you'd like to see more of feel free to let me know.

Chapter Text

I know Friday the 13th isn't a holiday, but it happened in December and amused me, so here you go!

"AHHHH! Get it off of me!"

"Who's dying?"

"Nobody move a muscle until we know what's going on!"

All of this was nearly drowned out by a loud, pounding noise like metal being slammed against metal. Head spinning, the cacophony likely to drive them all mad soon, "Lumos!" was shouted in varying degrees of panic. No lights appeared.

Sirius began turning crazily on the spot waiting impatiently for his eyes to adjust, then yelped in pain and felt his wand roll away from him. James and Remus darted to where they heard him, before they too cried out and their wands fell to the ground.

"Freeze!" Frank commanded with determination this time. "Do, not, move!"

Alice, Lily, and Pettigrew were all breathing raggedly, eyes darting around as they slowly adjusted to the natural light trickling in through the front window, to try and discern what was happening, keeping their wands closer to themselves now rather than aloft.

Trying to swallow around a painfully dry throat, Frank cast his eyes slowly away from Alice and forced himself to really look.

It was definitely somebody's living room. The furniture was old and worn, a highbacked chair closest to him seemed to be what was holding Potter hostage. He thrashed desperately against the woven cloth keeping him in place, but as Frank watched closely, it didn't seem to be doing anything but restraining him.

The pounding noise continued, but the other screams had subsided. Cautiously, never moving his feet as he kept shifting around to get the rest of the picture, he spotted Lupin and the older Black lashed to the couch in much the same fashion, and the youngest of them dangling from the ceiling light upside down in a tangle of chains. Craning on his toes, he could just make out the window onto a front lawn, and saw two dustbins slamming against each other as if both were determined to have all the trash contained in the other.

The rest of the house seemed just as inconspicuous. A tiny kitchenette was only just visible in the dim light, a worn bed in the far corner with the covers all over the place. At the foot of that was an odd looking trunk with seven keyholes, and it was shaking.

"Well?" Pettigrew hissed at him. Frank could barely make out his proportions, but could see his eyes locked on the others with far more worry than Frank would have given him credit for, considering how they'd been treating him lately. "Are we just going to stand here, or help them?"

"I think Frank's right," Lily called as she frowned up at Regulus still struggling, face already turning red from his position. "If we try to help, who knows what else in this place will attack us. Where are we anyway?"

"Haven't a clue," Alice shivered, "not sure I want to know."

"Think if we summon the book it'll come with its own trap?" Frank asked of no one, debating the pros and cons of this in his head.

"What if they don't come along with us when they're stuck like that?" Pettigrew snapped. "We have to get them loose first before we try."

"That's an odd assumption," Alice frowned at him. "The magic taking us around has actually gotten us out of just as many scraps as it's put us in."

"But we don't know!" Pettigrew insisted stubbornly.

The dustbins continued their horrid banging, it was giving Frank a headache. Before he could come up with any other conclusion, Pettigrew vanished from sight, just the slight glint of a bald tail visible along the floor was all that illuminated his path as he began darting around through shadows.

The very carpet beneath them seemed to come to life, a full sized human of pure dust began surging forward in pursuit, and then Pettigrew was squirming in hands he couldn't bite, screeching.

"Dammit," Lily hissed as she flinched at the sight and took an automatic step back, which was all this accursed house seemed to need to find her a possible threat. With a wild screech the fireplace opened up, and they all felt the gust of wind that dragged her off her feet and then sealed her up inside it.

"Lily! Oh, Merlin, Accio book!" Alice called in pure panic, anything to get them out of here now. The book did not appear.

He and Alice exchanged panicked looks now, and even as he watched her spell activated yet another trap, the coffee table rose up and flew right towards his girlfriend. It settled on her with a loud bang, upside down, pinning her beneath. The book came loose from it.

Frank couldn't breath. He felt like his head was going to explode any moment. If he so much as reached for the bloody thing, who knew what would happen next. The bedsheets would come to life? Trapped in that shaking trunk the rest of his life? Tossed right out the front door? Feeling every whimper of pain as Alice struggled beneath the sturdy table, he closed his eyes and forced himself to think. Magic was not going to get him out of this, but something had to.

They'd been speaking before, so it wasn't voice-activated. If he crouched down and leaned forward without losing his balance, there was a chance he could reach the book, but at this point feared any movement from his spot would set something else off.

The dustbins were still setting off the worst of rackets, he didn't know how long someone could hang upside down safely, let alone how well the others could breathe, Alice's whimpering pains were steadily growing louder. He clenched his fists in frustration, his wand threatening to drive splinters into his palm he was sure. How was it magic couldn't do anything, now of all times-

Then his eyes flew open, and he let out a softly uttered curse as he realized. He did indeed crouch painfully slowly, not letting his toes twitch one bit in his shoes, and extended his arm, and his wand in his hand, just far enough to tap the cover of the book. Applying as much pressure as he dared, lest he break the tip on top of everything, he gave it just the smallest of nudges towards himself, and froze.

Nothing happened.

Forcing himself not to hurry the process along, he scooted the book the rest of the way, and with a cry of relief stood back up with it in his hands, trying to ignore his shaking knees as he finally found the chapter title to get them out of here, Aboard the Hogwarts Express.

Giving one more soft utterance they couldn't have ended up there again, eyes flickering one more time to Alice in sympathy this chapter couldn't just be one sentence long, he launched into the almost mundane morning of another Weasley day.

Reading so fast he hardly a care what he was describing, let alone if anyone could understand his stuttering strung together mess of a tongue, he only paused once in surprise as he realized what he'd said, and then regrettably backtracked to figure out who else was in the vicinity of the most obnoxious dustbins.

"Mad-Eye?" He asked of no one in exasperation. "What on Earth does a lunatic named Mad-Eye have to do with Harry Potter!"

No one responded of course, so he tried to keep going with the same vigor as before, but couldn't help slowing down just a touch as he got a bit invested. They were in the house of an Auror! One past his prime, as far as he was concerned, and the name Moody. It nagged at the edge of his mind, possibly someone his mum had mentioned. The way Bill and Charlie Weasley spoke of him must mean he was of some prominence.

A muffled protest echoed around him, the squee's of Pettigrew still as painful to the ears as the exploding garbage, why he hadn't changed back must be more magic they had no hope of deactivating. Getting himself back on track, Frank pressed on with quite a bit of ire as the book itself went with a bit of cheek, teasing something else coming at Hogwarts. It was lucky he couldn't use a real curse, or he'd be sending one the Weasley's way for unnecessarily dragging this out.

Even Neville entering back into the story couldn't distract him any more than the trash talk of Malfoy nor mention of what other schools were like as he finally reached the final paragraph.

He hesitated there though, trying to swallow painfully once more. Pettigrew's worry lingered in him now, he looked pleading to Alice once more, for someone to bounce an idea off of what would happen. He did not want to try going through the rest of this alone, but what would happen to them? Would they be stuck in this time forever? Sent back to theirs, trip ended? He did not like the unknown, everything should have an answer to it, even if it was one not discovered yet.

Staying like this forever though wasn't an option, he'd swear little Regulus wasn't even squirming above him anymore and Alice was starting to wheeze painfully. Past experience was all he had to go off of, it would have to be enough.

In case the meaning wasn't clear in chapter, that was Moody's place, and he's the kind of paranoid guy who would most definitely have more than dustbins guarding his house. I in fact imagine every single inch of that place was boobytrapped unless he turned it off upon entering, including a spell that didn't even allow magic that wasn't from him. How did he get locked in the trunk then you might ask? Jr. had already secured some of his hair for the polyjuice potion before attacking him in his own home.

Chapter Text

Papers of varying importance went flying into the air, desks were knocked clean off their feet right along with them, and chairs and ink bottles pelted them all as the eight of them crash landed once more. At least none of the furniture came to life to attack them this time though.

"Alice!" Frank gasped at once, rushing madly to her side.

She assured him she was fine, a bit sore but fine, as she in turn thanked him profusely for the rescue. Lily and the Marauders were all getting to their feet as well in varying degrees of stiff pain before Frank remembered to look around more critically for the last of their group, and then cursing once more uneasily as he didn't automatically spot him.

They were in a very large, open office space, with world maps encircling all around them. Even a cursory look at one had it zooming in to Great Britain before he looked away dismissively and it returned back to normal. Doors lead off in an abundance of directions, several left casually open. The Marauders were already poking their heads inside curiously, Sirius calling out for his younger brother loud enough that anybody probably could have heard through several walls regardless.

Alice had his hand in a white knuckled grip, the question all but etched into her forehead even as she met his eyes without accusation. It was more than he deserved, if the lad really wasn't here then-

"I found him!" Lupin called from all the way back near the lifts. They all hurried over to find him splayed out uncomfortably, still flushed red in the face, but breathing alright as far as they could tell.

Sirius didn't seem ready to take anyone else's word for it as he tapped him repeatedly on the face. "Reggie? Come on you little shit, if you die on me I'm not explaining it to our parents."

He groaned, his eyelids fluttered for a moment, but while his face was returning to normal color he still remained lax. Sirius grabbed his shoulders and set him upright against his own shoulder while scowling at Frank.

"Poor kid," Lily said in sympathy. "I'm sure he'll be alright though." She hadn't really forgiven him yet for when he'd laughed at that foul word being used, but seeing how small he looked now was easing her up just a bit, as she reminded herself how impressionable people could be.

Potter cleared his throat and offered an awkward change of subject. "So, this is the Department Crouch runs eh? Looks a dump."

Peter couldn't stop a snort of surprise at the mess that they'd created. James gave him the most awkward smile imaginable, causing Peter to blush and wander off elsewhere. Baby steps.

Sirius watched him go with a scowl in place, before he looked at Prongs who was now watching his trainers intently. Then, softly from his arms he heard a muttered, "Five more minutes," and looked down in time to see his brother trying to burrow further into his arms, before his dark eyes fluttered open and he saw how close their faces were.

Regulus' immediately scrunched up in displeasure, and he said in no uncertain terms, "Let, go."

Sirius did. The brat fell to the floor and groaned as Sirius stormed off in any other direction that did not have a person in sight muttering about arseholes, his nose was probably still smarting.

"Well, now that that's all settled, I'm just going to," Potter waved his hand in the air once more, forever acting as if this was a casual day of studies and leisure. Then with a quick spell, the book was in his hand and he was perching himself on the nearest desk and flipping for his spot.

Alice gave the book a rather miffed look, it couldn't have bloody done that for her when she needed it? Lily went over to the nearest map and began inspecting it curiously, intrigued at once as she found it zooming in to show a nice wooded area, the same in fact as the one near her home. Curious, she then visualized in her mind downtown London, and was greeted with a deserted view of there as well.

Frank slumped to the ground where Regulus had been, peeling off a paper from his shoe that had a long list of names on it for some reason, rather French ones he decided as a few leaped out at him.

All of them stopped what they were doing when Potter cleared his throat uneasily and read the chapter title.

"The Triwizard Tournament?" Lupin had stayed by Potter's side and was now looking over his shoulder as if checking his pronunciation. "I've read about that, was banned ages ago though."

"Why?" Alice asked in surprise as she stayed restlessly on her feet, but enjoying the feeling of being able to do so much too much to get more comfortable. "Sounds like what, a game between schools? Too many sore losers?"

"Too many deaths," Lily corrected without looking up from the map, which was hovering over Australia now for some reason. "Thing was a nightmare from what I've read about it."

"And now it's back, and around Harry," Potter gave an exaggerated sigh. "Why am I not surprised?"

He looked eagerly at her to see a return, but she didn't even acknowledge him, causing him to pout and dive into the story.

It started off with a charming reminder of how horrid the weather was as they were arriving at school, and Peeves causing further misfortune to no one's surprise but at least James Potter's mirth.

He laughed boisterously at Peeves' old tricks for several moments, before he realized none of his friends had joined in. Sirius Black was in one of the offices, demolishing it by the sounds of it, and Peter Pettigrew was now sitting awkwardly at the edge of the room and spinning the chair about, as if he couldn't decide if he wanted to be seen or not. Remus Lupin was still beside him, but with such a distant gaze on his face it was a wonder if he was taking in a word.

The four must have had some sort of confrontation back on the campgrounds, and Alice winced and shuffled even more uncomfortably in place at the idea of how long this could last. Their other fight had ended in blows, and though time was nonlinear in their circumstances, it couldn't have been more than hours for that to happen always confined around each other. Previously though she knew from the social circles of the school three of them had avoided one of their own for a month just before they'd all fallen into this mess. The details of that fight non were privy to either, nor was she sure she wanted to know at this point.

It's not as if she had stakes in their fight, and things hadn't exactly been more pleasant during the first two books when they'd been getting along at their most civil. Yet she still felt the urge to do, something. Of the five minute conversation she'd had with Remus Lupin, he'd certainly been pleasant enough, though she still couldn't help but wince at the horrid image of a monstrous creature lunging for her throat when she wasn't looking at him, though seeing him now fidgeting with the sleeve of his robes deep in thought, he looked like a perfectly normal teen.

She hadn't even spoken to the others one on one, but maybe she could? Perhaps what they needed was a mediator?

Amidst her pondering thoughts, James Potter had read all through the waiting around, the Sorting Hat's song, the actual sorting, the majority of dinner, and Hermione's little tiff over house elves being there. He'd just gotten through the majority of Dumbledore's speech when he stopped, and in doing so gained everyone's attention.

Whether for dramatic effect or he'd been genuinely surprised, it was always hard to tell with him, he then described the new DADA teacher for the year, Mad-Eye Moody.

"Fits, doesn't it?" Lily sighed, finally looking away from the map which zoomed out of an apothecary shop in Northern Ireland back to normal. "Harry always seems to hear of his teachers before they wind up there."

"I wish we were less acquainted with him," Remus Lupin grumbled, stretching his neck for emphasis.

The description was honestly frightening, the kind of man you'd meet and wonder how he was still alive. Frankly, if she'd lived through his battle hardened state, she may be just as paranoid as him in booby-trapping every inch of her home.

His arrival was thankfully not lingered upon though, even if James Potter said his introduction with a rather sour expression she couldn't blame what with the bruises she was sure to have added from his home, before they were all reminded the Triwizard Tournament was going to be an event at Hogwarts.

Dumbledore didn't exactly explain much they hadn't worked out on their own, so she decided to at least give her plan a try before they were thrown into their next perilous situation. She'd have liked to start with James Potter, as their ringleader she was sure his opinion mattered the most, but she could hardly pull him aside as he all but egged on the twins' plan to join this tournament. Instead, she hesitated between the other two.

Mostly, she felt for both parties. Sirius Black had been dealt a very harsh blow to his life in a few short words, what with hearing a best friend of his would cause so many problems, yet it didn't sit right with her he was blaming this on his friend who'd never strayed from his side during all the accusations being pinned against him.

Peter Pettigrew wasn't one she could sympathize with entirely though, his friends knew him best and if they couldn't see past such a horrible betrayal then what if he was really capable of it? He seemed remorseful of it now though, and her heart ached at the idea of a choice, even if he inevitably made the wrong one, being taken from him.

So she avoided the bangs coming from an office that had done nothing to deserve it, like everyone else was, and made her way over to his little corner with the most polite and open expression she could, soured somewhat by a glare back at the book for Neville sharing his feelings about the tournament. His grandmother, her possible future mother in law, never missed a chance to make her possible kid feel unworthy, did she?

"Sorry," Peter Pettigrew apologized, stopping his spinning abruptly. "I, ah, hadn't realized I was bothering anyone-" without quite meeting her eyes.

"Oh no," she said quickly, straightening her expression back out. "I, um, came to see how you were doing."

It was hard to imagine him as a fat, lazy rat who did nothing but sleep and betray others as she looked into his youthful face now full of bewilderment, the images as divided from each other as Remus Lupin when he'd been a werewolf.

"Oh," was all he said lamely for several moments, before looking side-eyed at where Regulus Black was holding his head steady and taking calming breaths. He was probably still feeling a bit dizzy from his spell. "Erm, alright, I guess. The dust, never did anything to me. It was weird not being able to change, though. I, didn't like that," he finished quietly. "Made me think there for a second I'd be stuck as a-"

He stopped abruptly and swallowed before resuming his spinning. Regulus Black looked up and in their direction, but then went cross-eyed at the chair's movements and closed his eyes as if in pain.

She sighed as she realized this was probably Peter's intention, he clearly didn't want an audience. "Alright then," she smiled wide enough she was sure he'd see it despite his restlessness. "Just doing the rounds, making sure and all."

"Right," he muttered noncommittally as James Potter wound down the chapter with the lot of new fourth years climbing into bed. He warned them the chapter was about to end, and sighed without any enthusiasm at what was next.

Again, I have no clue about the medical profession I assure you, and all I could gather from online is more than twenty minutes being upside down will cause loss of consciousness, and more than a few hours, death. Seems to vary per person. I guessed and put it down to wizards and their high tolerance once more.

Chapter Text

A Merry Christmas to those who celebrate it, and enjoy your day for everyone else!

The last thing Regulus needed after finally getting his head on straight was to crash face first into a chalkboard. Coughing and spitting out dust, he saw he'd completely ruined whatever Professor McGonagall had been in the middle of writing, and it was a lesson far above his own head anyways. The accompanying images showed a rock halfway through a transformation into a dog.

Everybody else was getting to their feet, groaning and eyeing their new surroundings suspiciously as usual, so Regulus took the moment to eye Peter curiously. Ever since Peter had declared them as friends on the campgrounds, Regulus had surprisingly likened to the idea. Looking back, he'd never had anyone call him a mate before. None of his other dorm mates, certainly not the others he hung out with who were too afraid to call themselves what they someday wanted to be. To each other, they were always accomplices, allies, associates and in the end, it was more of a unity they all knew where they were going.

Did he even want to be associated with any of them anymore? It wasn't possible they knew what he did of the Dark Lord, but would they be questioning it the same way he was? That everything they'd ever known and planned to be themselves was a lie?

Peter Pettigrew had never told him what to think, and though he wasn't a pureblood, it would be nice to have just one friend who he didn't always have to consider his words around. He at least didn't see him as the coward he now saw himself as. The guy sounded like he'd been in a very messy situation, reprehensible to be sure, but a betrayal that hadn't even been enacted yet. Who's to say what decisions would be made until the moment of? Even with this future spelled out, now knowing could change everything. Why was he the only one seeing that?

Then Regulus winced as he wondered if he was still thinking about Peter, or himself.

Sirius had found the book in a student's bag, but had tossed it clear across the room without a second look. Moments later, an ink splattered copy of A Guide to Advanced Transfiguration followed and smacked into a window before he discarded the bag entirely and went on to the next.

Alice Smith seemed to volunteer herself to go over and read the chapter, but also seemed to regret it with just the chapter title.

"Oh great, what's Mad-Eye Moody going to get up to now?" Potter demanded. "Making first years wet themselves? Accidentally drowning kittens?"

"Teaching, I'd assume," Lupin rolled his eyes at his friend, though his eyes continued to track Sirius' progress through the back of the classroom. It was obvious to the walls itself Sirius was working through something, and he thought Prongs still needed him more. Even now, with Evans only feet from him in his favorite class he'd barely spared her a glance, and he was positive it wasn't for the novelty of being near her wearing off. Remus didn't really think that was possible. However, he didn't seem to be doing him much good just bumming around his side.

"And here I thought this was the one class I could count on you to take notes in," he said cheerfully enough as he made his way to Sirius' side as Smith began Harry's morning breakfast.

Sirius ignored him and traveled onto the next bag. He'd been avoiding everyone since they'd spent their brief time under the Dark Mark, and Remus' innards twisted uncomfortably that he didn't automatically know why. Sirius was not the type to blame himself for, anything, he was too proud and more than happy to pin problems on everything else. His hand in Snape's near-death and his following response last month had proved that to Remus, but he could also not come up with any other explanation for the look keeping him locked away from him and James now. It was the same vicious hatred he'd held since what Peter had done had been revealed, but now permanent whether he was looking at Wormtail or not.

He was making progress even farther away across the room while Remus hesitated, wondering if he even should go after him or let Sirius come to them? That seemed even less likely to happen than world peace at this point. Remus glanced at where Peter was, at the far end of the room and having a rather stilted looking conversation with Sirius' little brother. The number of times he'd been seeing that lately was baffling, but not his concern right now.

Remus' attention was admittedly distracted by Harry reaching his Care of Magical Creatures class and Hagrid introducing a brand new species he couldn't even identify. Blast-Ended Skrewts? Now what on Earth...it's not as if he was doing any good and it couldn't hurt to hear of this new development.

James let out a soft laugh under his breath no one heard as he watched it all. He gave credit to Remus for trying, and just as predictably letting himself be distracted. He tracked Sirius' progress as he kept himself away from everyone, as he'd been doing during their previous fight, but Sirius was not a solitary person by nature. He'd hated his home for how alone he always felt, considering his little brother prided himself on spending more time with his parents and his own house-elf over him. Before all this there'd hardly been a time at school he'd left James' side, that he couldn't glance over and see him with a mischievous plan at the ready to keep them all going to their next bout of trouble.

Yet he hadn't a chance to send a very important response back to Harry, and as his son made his way to Divination and Trelawny echoed even worse fears he couldn't help agreeing with his son. This future was more than proof enough something could happen to the four of them and they could never make up from it, and James didn't want that! Surely Sirius didn't either...

Regulus' face fell as Peter sidestepped another question for the fifth time, and he finally decided to take the hint and leave him alone. Peter flinched with guilt as he saw this, he really did have a knack for driving everyone away, but he didn't call Regulus back as Harry and Malfoy erupted into a fight. It would do him no good, he told himself, to look like a pathetic rat trying to worm up and make friends with Sirius' little brother, he should have never done so in the first place-

Everyone froze what they were doing rather abruptly as Malfoy got turned into a ferret. The person responsible for this living up to the mad part of his name.

Then James and Sirius were laughing again, together, loudly, as if they hadn't a care in the world except putting whatever student had messed with them in their place.

Evans clearly didn't agree, she was scowling ferociously that a teacher would do what Potter was so fond of in problem solving, and Frank seemed to agree with her, he seemed astounded any teacher would resort to such a thing. Alice seemed the most undecided, as if she were trying her hardest not to seem smug at this comeuppance but failing all the same.

Regulus turned back to him curiously, and then the two shared a look of excitement Peter hadn't felt in what seemed like a lifetime. There was nothing quite like the euphoria of watching others at work, knowing you were apart of something. They may not have had a hand in the proceedings this time, Peter was sure in another life Regulus actually would have been one of Draco's friends, but for now they both seemed able to agree the little furball had got what was coming to him.

Well, not entirely. Regulus was mostly laughing at the little idiot getting caught. It made perfect sense to strike while an enemy had his back turned to you, served the Potter's kid right doing such a foolish thing, but also Malfoy had made a very obvious mistake doing this in the Entrance Hall. He could certainly appreciate someone learning their lesson. Regardless of why Peter was snickering, it still felt good to see they could still agree on this being hilarious.

Remus didn't have anything to hide behind to show his amusement, and he didn't think he would regardless at the amount of textbooks available. Alice got through the rest of the chapter with the boys in high spirits, James and Sirius were finally in the same mood with something to tie them together again once more. He hoped it wasn't the simple, cheap thrill of laughter that held them together, but still held his breath it could at least be the start of mending their group once more as the chapter finished.

Chapter Text

To Guest: Thanks so much for the review! I too would never laugh at an animal being bounced around for any reason, even knowing it was a transfigured student, I'm just not wired to ever see an animal and not want to help so I totally get your reaction.

"Mum's going to kill me," Frank sighed at the newest bout of trouble their landing had caused, in his own home this time. He had no idea what the implications of that for Harry Potter's story was, possibly the lad and Neville would be spending time together? That seemed to be the theme. Regardless, he'd rather read of that than imagine the scolding his mother was going to provide as he helped Alice pull herself free from the precious potted plants. The rest of their home fared no better.

It was a grand three-story in a weathered Victorian design, with pastel shingles along the outside not even faded to time he could hear someone outside shambling around on, a sunroom Lily was blinking painfully inside of, and an attic with a portal window of an excellent view of their entire massive lakefront property he could clearly hear someone going through from the living room.

Reddish-brown dirt now littered the beige carpet, the bright afternoon sun shining in that almost looked like blood he quickly magicked back into place of the carefully designed pot, lest inner spells spill water on the floor next at their due time. The furniture had not been spared, his mother's favorite sofa now had a missing leg from his landing on it he was also quick to repair, but the spell wasn't good enough to hide the blue upholstery had recently been tampered with.

He could see the kitchen beyond, bathed in more natural light with Sirius Black prowling about in his now usual moody way. Frank winced as he carelessly pushed the chair aside his Uncle Algie always sat at and made his way to the back door to the lake beyond. Frank could see the exact counter space he'd landed on, and the ceramic bowl he'd shattered and had yet to fix.

"Hey, it's alright love," Alice placed her hand calmly on his shoulder as he winced for the abundance of noise for the others making their way through his house. "I'm sure whatever destruction we're causing is getting fixed when we're zapped back away."

"We've yet to have proof of that," he snapped, "and somehow, my mum's going to know it was me who did this regardless."

She removed her hand and stepped back, and he winced harder as he heard his own sharp tone well after the fact. "Sorry darling," he apologized at once, offering his hand out and relieved she took it immediately.

"I can understand his nerves!" The older Black shouted from the kitchen, clearly no shame in eavesdropping. "Last two times we ended up at someone's home, it didn't end well for them!"

Frank went paler, and Alice shot him a nasty look. Those were his supposed friends he was so callously speaking of, but he didn't seem to think twice of it as he pounded restlessly, and uselessly they all knew by now, on the back door to be free as the others made their way down the staircase.

The long, narrow walkway allowed them to only come down one at a time, so he clearly saw none of them yet had the book. Quick to zip past them and see the damage they'd done, he also didn't want to admit aloud how he was also making a run from Sirius Black's words before anyone could see.

Alice began to follow, and he had half a mind to tell her otherwise, until he groaned in pain to see what they'd done and the thought of her comfort was almost all that sustained him.

Several of the photos lining the wall had been knocked down, their portraits shaking their head disapprovingly and joining the others still on the wall. Aunt Enid's glasses were a sparkling, twisted mess in the middle of the hallway, though whether she'd done that or someone mistakenly had was a fair debate.

Poking his head in, his room alone showed no clear signs of disturbance, but that could have been due to the fact there wasn't much to bother. His bed remained made with his pillow at the wrong end so that the sunlight could shine on that spot all day, the window open and the same small little tear in the flywire all that marked him apart from the rest of the house.

His insides sunk even lower as he wondered, was this still his room, or Neville's? Which time were they in exactly? If this was his sons, shouldn't there be some defining marker? One could argue, as the lad would be at school there wouldn't, but surely Frank was overlooking something...

Alice came up beside him and took his hand again, he squeezed it and wondered what she was thinking of all this, if she was dreading this mess starting as much as he was. Was Neville finally going to tell what had happened to his father? Name his mother? The two hadn't really spoken much of it, with no reason as they had no way to get a clear answer and fear of speculation stilling their tongues.

From below though, the clear sounds of Lily's voice spelling it out left little to the imagination.

"The Unforgivable Curses?" Alice hissed, so quietly it seemed she feared the walls hearing. "That must be, unrelated to, why we're here."

He didn't answer her, he couldn't find his tongue to say anything.

As Lily got properly started, her tone as always weary and unsure as she read of Snape's most resent foul deeds, Frank continued his way uneasily through the rest of his home. His mother's room next, which definitely showed signs someone had landed in here. The frills along the edge of her bed were crooked by a quarter of an inch, her stuffed hat had fallen to the floor upside down giving the bird an even more severe look than ever. He waved his wand in a vain hope to fix this, and still somehow knew he was missing something.

Alice stayed protectively by his side, her lips pursed unpleasantly as she watched her boyfriend pad around his own home with the same unease he had back in the Marauder's places. As Moody entered his classroom for the first time and they made their way up to the attic, she had to fight off the impulse to take his hand and pull him back downstairs with the others just for a distraction. She would have thought she'd love visiting his home, maybe even getting to see a more relaxed and casual side of him she'd been missing lately surrounded by others he didn't know well, but it seemed more the opposite was happening as they made their way to the last floor.

The two had been listening very intently this whole time to Moody's speech to the class, but thanks to the chapter title were not surprised at the lesson he declared they were having. It made some amount of sense to them after all, they were seventeen and heard use of these as common as the body count in the news, but that didn't make hearing of it being taught to fourteen year olds better. Nor why they were in Frank's house had yet to clear anything up.

Frank cast his eyes around at all of the tipped over boxes, the window open letting in a stiff breeze, and shifted his weight restlessly as he once again went to raise his wand and put everything right, then stopped quite suddenly.

The lesson was going along in the background, Ron offering up the Imperius curse first, but what had caught Frank's attention was a photo that had tumbled out of one the highest stacked boxes. He'd never gone through these himself, his mother had expressly forbade it, but now for the first time he regretted listening to her so keenly as he laid eyes on his dad. He only had a few scattered memories of him in his earliest youth, laughing together mostly as his mother fondly scolded the pair. Her scoldings had only grown worse after he died, the Killing Curse he knew, performed by a Death Eater callously in the middle of the street while Frank had been right next to him.

He rubbed his thumb carefully over the photo, his dad and Aunt Enid laughing at some long forgotten joke, a fanged gerbil in his hands. Was this why they'd been placed here? The Unforgivable Curses mocking him back what he'd lost?

Alice knelt beside him to help sort out the photos as Moody finished demonstrating the effects of Imperio on the spider, and he paused at a picture of what must be his Uncle Algie meeting his mum for the first time to look back towards the doorway in surprise of Neville first being mentioned offering up an answer.

"Merlin I hope my mum never shared this with him," he whispered as he gathered them all up now, trying to ignore how tight his throat was. Looking at the array of life around him frozen forever in these photos made him well understand why his mum kept these tucked away up here. What good would it do to see these all the time? He didn't really regret this foray though, now he knew where they were if ever he did want to see them again.

Alice helped him pack it all away again carefully before sitting in the open window sill with him, the two huddled together for warmth and each other's presence as Neville gave such a bad reaction to seeing the physical effects of the Cruciatus Curse being put on the spider. It didn't seem fair that the one time he'd been shown to take initiative and offer up something for class he needed Hermione to step in and tell the teacher to stop traumatizing him.

Lily's voice quavered as she forced out the last curse, and Harry dwelling on it. What Moody was saying, it shouldn't even be possible, and yet Harry had survived, because of her. She only hesitated a moment before glancing up, and eerily looking right at James Potter.

He was leaning almost casually in the kitchen doorway, the other Marauders scattered around closer than they'd allowed themselves last time but still awkwardly avoiding each other. He wasn't looking at them though, but at her as well, his bright hazel eyes looking darker than she ever could have imagined as he pictured this all as well as her. It took little effort to give him green eyes in her mind, to see her own son's gaze looking to her for an answer for all of this. She still had no idea what she'd say to him, to either of them. How she longed for this not to be true, but growing more used to the idea all the time this was inevitable...

Alice managed a wobegon smile for Moody realizing he'd traumatized Neville and coming over to offer him a word of comfort after class like that, she wished half the DADA teachers they had were so aware of the students. She sniffled softly that couldn't have been her, the chapter title had come and gone in explanation and the two were left with more confusion than ever why Neville seemed so alone in the world.

Frank released her hand and wrapped an arm around her shoulder instead, still not wanting to cut off the air coming in despite the chill as they next heard of Neville actually happy once more, this teacher stepping in and giving him a positive memory now in encouraging him in a subject he was good at. It wasn't as much as they could ask for, but at least of some comfort he wasn't forgotten by everyone.

The story kept on track with Harry though, of course, and the two managed a watery smile for each other, not bothering to hold back laughter the Potter boy resorted to making up his homework for such a useless class. The two even couldn't help playing along at points and started suggesting their own bad predictions, Alice laughing so hard she nearly toppled backward out the window as Frank suggested Trelawney getting a frog in her throat and not teaching classes for a bit.

He kept a steady hold on her, and the two subsided to listen again as the twins were once more mentioned up to something suspicious, but that passed with hardly more explanation. Then Hermione was back, and finally revealed why she'd been darting off to the library so much.

"SPEW?" Alice giggled. "She really couldn't come up with a better name than that."

"I've heard one never can figure out all the problems with names they chose, it's good to bounce the idea off of others," he shrugged.

Both being purebloods, they had no idea what Hermione's real problem was. Alice even had a house-elf at her home, though Frank's line had died out two generations ago, his mum still spoke fondly of the little thing. So far Hermione hadn't been able to hold their attention on the topic, all she'd been saying was how mistreated they apparently were when neither of them had heard any such thing, even what had been done to Winky made perfect sense to them. They listened with only mild curiosity as she wrangled her friends into her new club, minds still on Neville and their own future.

James let out a blasting sigh of relief he hadn't realized he'd been holding, finally tearing his gaze away from Evans to look on at Sirius. He looked all too pleased with himself at the news he'd sent Harry about heading back to the country, and James wasn't going to deny in that moment how thankful he felt at the idea as well. He still had a bad feeling about this Tournament being around his kid, he was going to need Sirius.

The two shared yet another look of understanding, but Sirius flinched and looked away first. James dithered on the spot, he wanted to go talk to him along with Remus and Peter, at least clear the air, but then Evans was winding up the last of the chapter, and he knew the boys in that dormitory weren't the only ones in for a restless night.

Chapter Text

"Holy hobknockers, this place is amazing!" Sirius couldn't stop the delirious burst of happiness that possessed him to start shouting and running around the deck. Of a ship. A pirate's ship! In the middle of Hogwarts lake?!

The air was fresh in his face, streaming his hair behind him as he whooped with enough joy to possibly even tantalize the mermaids at the bottom of the lake to come above and see. He began latching onto ropes and swinging about, trying to haul himself into a crow's nest, and then taking off down below to try and see through a porthole before anyone else could even get their bearings.

"Should we, stop him?" Remus asked in mild concern. "I certainly don't want to know what's going to happen when he figures out how to work a cannon."

"Why would they even have a cannon on here?" Alice asked in extra concern behind them.

"Why is it here at all?" Lily countered prodding the massive wheel in front of her, then flinching away as if fearing the slightest breeze would send the whole thing capsizing.

"Well obviously Hogwarts is going to be attacked by pirates, can't be the arrival of the other schools," Regulus rolled his eyes as he trailed up from below, rubbing his head.

They could all still hear Sirius shouting like a loon from below decks, but they all spread out regardless to find the book with extreme curiosity, not one of them had ever had this experience, and as nothing was trying to kill them, they'd at least enjoy it while they could.

Alice found Frank happily swinging from a hammock below decks, grinning with that smile she'd missed so much lately. He invited her up into it, and the two spent another few moments giggling at the feel of it, though unable to imagine sleeping in such a thing.

Peter had landed in what must have been the galley, sending a sack of potatoes rolling around and a half-eaten sandwich upon the floor. His stomach rumbled just a bit, and after only a few moments hesitation he shrugged and began collecting the fallen spuds and washing them in the basin.

James and Remus found Sirius in the cargo hold, which also seemed to be some sort of improvised classroom of sorts. Books were lined along the lower shelves, several instruments they could identify on the top portions. Remus glanced along the nearest paper, but frowned in confusion upon finding it in Bulgarian so had not a clue what could have been going on down here. The two exchanged a look before deciding to stay regardless, and instead waited patiently for Sirius to finish inspecting a porthole and the lake life beyond rather than acknowledge them.

Lily decided to stay up on the deck, shivering a bit at a gust of wind, but smiling regardless at the stars above and admiring a view of her school she hadn't properly seen since her first night here, riding across this very lake. Hogwarts castle was as imposing as ever, she could still flashback to riding that boat with Sev, the two in awe along with the rest of the first years at the sight. Out on the grounds, Hagrid's hut could be seen, and something odd in front of it. It almost looked like a carriage, and horses perhaps, but they must be quite large to be so easily spotted from so far away. She began pacing across the deck in fascination as she looked up at the sails and the wood creaking beneath her feet, it would almost be spooky if she were here alone.

Regulus found himself in what must be the captain's quarters. There was a grand bed in the corner and an open bottle of rakia half-drunk beside a book on the desk. Upon closer inspection, it was the exact book Regulus needed for this to continue, and with a curious enough feeling he flipped it open to find his chapter did indeed live up to his assumption.

"Beauxbatons and Durmstrang," Sirius nodded without surprise, finally turning around to acknowledge the two. "Want to take a gander who brought this?"

Remus rolled his eyes, of course Sirius hadn't taken a look at any of the papers or books with the language hinting at an answer.

They hovered in slightly awkward silence as Regulus' voice echoed around them of Harry writing a note to Sirius to try and dissuade him from returning to this very castle. Sirius was wrankled slightly Harry thought it a bad idea coming back, he would think it obvious he'd want to be around his godson to help and was more than pleased at James' reassuring smile saying he fully agreed with his best mate. Remus on the other hand looked very hesitant, and Sirius decided he'd rather have Moony get it off his chest now.

"Well go on Moony," Sirius sighed and waved at him. "I know you've got the reasons I'm an idiot listed alphabetically by now."

"And laminated," Remus agreed, ignoring his confused look. "I do wish you'd be more careful, I'm not going to deny that, but it's not as if anything I've ever said dissuaded you from doing anything regardless. Either of you." He hesitated, then added softly, "any of you."

Sirius and James flinched and didn't look at each other for a moment again, but Remus cleared his throat and continued with purpose, "look, you two need to work out what your problem is, then all three of us can go and talk to Peter. It's not as if we can avoid him the rest of our life because of this."

"I don't see why not," Sirius said petulantly, but for the first time not as if he meant it, the smallest kernel of pity finally lodging in him. He could still vividly recall how alone he'd felt when all this began, because he'd made a horrible mistake he still didn't know if Remus would forgive him for. Then, under the light of that Dark Mark, he could no longer deny it hadn't been entirely Peter's fault...he was at fault for the betrayal in some way...

"Well I do," James snapped back defiantly, and Sirius took a quick step back like he expected to be hit in the face again. His nose still looked a bit swollen from that. "We never even heard his side- our Peter's," James finished when Sirius opened his mouth. "That book, yeah alright that future guy said why he did it, but you know what our friend's been doing this whole time? Exactly what I asked, giving us some breathing space, just like you were for nearly a month Sirius."

Sirius winced and didn't deny that.

"I think it's high time we let him say his peace." James concluded.

"I don't know what you're hoping he's going to say, to make it better," Remus sighed. "Even if he promises he'd never really do it, how much can it mean? Now, well, we'll always wonder-"

"Are you going to spend the rest of your life afraid Sirius is going to send Snape into your den the next full moon?" James harshly shot back.

Remus answered immediately, "no, he clearly regrets that." He bit his lip for a moment before half lying, "that's, what we talked about back in the Leaky Cauldron. I forgive him."

"And Peter doesn't deserve the same?" He gently tried to cajole. "For a crime he hasn't even done yet."

The two exchanged an uneasy look, but Sirius would be lying if he tried to say he wasn't now looking for anger rather than feeling nothing but as he responded, "it's not the same Prongs! I didn't actually get anyone killed! He did, you!"

"You almost did though," James crossed his arms, but hesitated as he wouldn't deny, "you think I'm looking forward to talking to him? You think I've forgotten any more than you? I just," he swallowed uncomfortably as he heard the news Professor Moody would be putting the kids under the Imperius Curse for extra training, the miracle that was his and Lily's future child and what all he was having to survive through. "I'm willing to try."

With that he left, he couldn't force them to do the same.

Remus stepped closer to Sirius now that James was out of sight, hesitating only a moment before rubbing a hand up and down his back and leaning down to whisper for him alone, "I hope you really heard all that."

"Every word," Sirius sighed, shoulders still slumped in defeat, pressing his forehead into Moony's shoulder rather than having to look him in the face. "Prongs is too damned forgiving though," he muttered one last-ditch reprieve for getting out of this, he already knew it had worked. He'd...try.

"That's one thing he and Evans have in common, hell, it's why he continued to put up with you after the first day," Remus say with an almost cheerful voice. He stopped in surprise and sniffed curiously at the air. "You smell that?"

Sirius dragged his face away from the warmth, but did indeed scent the air, and wouldn't deny his grumbling stomach the pleasantness of it as he grabbed his hand and squeezed for a moment before dropping it and taking off.

They found Evans, Smith, Longbottom, and Prongs already in the galley with massive bowls of a hearty stew. The two were quick to join in, but the three Marauders were the quietest and slowest to eat, all eyeing the door and ready to drop the delicious meal the moment they saw a particular someone enter. They wouldn't deny this time they'd drag him off to finally have it out...whatever it turned out to be.

"There's stew down below," Peter told Regulus as he finally found him perched comfortably in a captain's chair, feet propped up on the table and a bottle of alcohol with a third of it missing.

"No thanks," Regulus shrugged without concern as he flipped the pages, finding in Harry's story the arrival of the foreign students was indeed upon them. He knew he'd regret this later, but he only had a mild appetite for now, it certainly wasn't enough to entertain all others who would be attracted to the same.

"Thought you'd say that," Peter shrugged, before setting down one of the two bowls he'd carried around. "Don't worry, I can eat both fine."

Regulus tried, and failed to hide a smile of delight. The only person who'd ever brought him food before was Kreacher. It didn't matter how sick he was, his mother had always fussed over his table manners during dinners more. He gingerly dragged the warm bowl to him and took a tentative slurp, then dug in with gusto while still reading with just a bit more of a quick pace now. He wanted to be done eating before Sirius or his rotten friends showed up to ruin this good mood he was in.

Peter ate quietly beside him, not adding anything, though he'd been all for laughing about all sorts of things Harry got up to when he'd been hanging around Sirius and their lot. Regulus still wasn't sure what he hoped to gain from avoiding them, but he couldn't claim to be any better as he was now doing the same. It was their turn to do something about this.

The two did exchange a very curious expression as yet another instance of the twins up to something was again passed along, neither of them would deny they were abundantly curious what those two trouble makers were doing, but neither still felt much of a need to speculate on it, the two redheads reminded them too much of James and Sirius, not a duo they wanted to linger on.

Regulus did stop in mild admiration of Hermione Granger trying to keep the attention of a whole house on the acts of what house-elves do. He liked the company of his own, more than most of the people in his home some days, and could almost see her point the ones at Hogwarts should be thanked more, but Kreacher loved his life and the family he served. This little Muggleborn was merely showing her ignorance of what she was trying to pretend they needed a better life, it's no wonder his mother and father thought ones like her shouldn't be associated with real wizards, they had no idea what a real wizards home was like.

Then Sirius wrote a reply back to Harry saying he was back in the country already and safe as could be, and Regulus couldn't deny the breath of relief. He chanced a side look at Sirius' friend who wasn't bothering to hide any such thing, pushing some now soggy potatoes around the bottom of his bowl and chewing on his lip. Neither of them still wanted Sirius dead after all the rotten things he'd done recently, but could he say the same about them?

Finally the chapter was reaching its end and the other schools were really arriving, Beauxbatons Academy of Magic landing first with apparently an impressive display. He supposed it might have been in person, but all he really felt was grateful they got to enjoy this cool ship rather than some smelly old horses for this experience.

He sat up properly in his seat as he reached the final section, and read rapturously of the magnificent boat arriving, and paused for several moments to wonder dreamily if this vast vessel could really take them away, anywhere they'd like. Sailing may even be better than flying...

He heard shuffling footsteps downstairs and rummaging around the deck and scowled, realizing the minute peace the two of them had achieved themselves was about to be interrupted, and he'd rather do that on his own terms as he hurried to finish. The last little shock indeed surprising that Viktor Krum the International Quidditch player had been aboard this ship and he hadn't even the chance to see his quarters before they all vanished.

Chapter Text

Lily groaned as she sat up once more, rubbing at her temple. This falling and crashing around every time still never felt any better. Her breath caught in surprise though, and she almost considered this one worth it for the place they'd landed this time. Though she'd never been to these surroundings either, banners hung along the walls along the multiple display cases proclaiming this as the Museum of Magical History.

She'd heard about this place a bit, Mary Macdonald had been here on holiday with her family nearly every summer, as her mother was a curator here. Of course there wasn't a soul in sight now, but the place certainly lived up to its grandeur her roommate had promised. The tiled floors seemed lit beneath with a golden light, every time she placed her foot down again it glowed even brighter. There were wooden columns polished so highly each item on display seemed to be doubled, and when her eyes flickered up she saw the ceiling was so high it was nearly cast in shadows. There was an odd flickering light drawing her eyes almost immediately to the plaque right in front of her, where a roughly hewn wooden cup sat. It would have been entirely unremarkable had it not been full to the brim with dancing blue-white flames, standing on top of an ancient wooden casket.

She didn't know the spell to activate the plaque into displaying the whole backstory as Mary had promised all the attractions here could, not to mention she was living through a vivid enough retelling of one story, so she merely leaned forward and read:

Created in the 13th century by Iolanthe Peverell, this Goblet of Fire has harnessed the magical energy of all names submitted to it to bring upon the next champion for the Triwizard Tournament in helping to create the next Champion of the Wizarding World.*

Lily arched a curious brow at being able to see this in person, though she was quickly more interested in wondering why she was the only one in here.

Standing up wearily as if she still half expected someone to demand what she was doing here, or for Black to jump out behind the item and purposefully scare her, she gazed around at the other exhibits as well as looking for a directory of where the others might be.

This seemed to be a whole section dedicated to the Peverell family, the next item she spotted as an original copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard which apparently had been written by the brothers according to one theorist who had it on display. She passed some odd diagrams about how to make an invulnerable invisibility cloak, and even a tapestry containing a family tree.

When she finally got to the end of the hall and found nothing, she sighed and ran a hand through her hair at the three corridors, feeling like she was in some sort of maze, though at least all the directions were of some little indication.

To the left promised yet more history of even farther back, a shiny new plaque beneath promising a new exhibit of possible Hogwarts Founders items being discovered. To the right progressed more linear it seemed, a wide banner halfway down in bright flashing colors promising the newest Quidditch World Cup paraphernalia on sale if you'd missed out before.

Straight ahead was yet another side corridor it seemed, even more dimly lit than the one she'd just left, and a bit of rope keeping it apart. It was clearly closed for now, but it seemed it was going to be an offshoot of more pureblood families, possibly they were building one for each of the twenty-eight.

Deciding her best bet of finding those trouble makers was in the bound off area, magic or their own innate ability would lead them there, so chose the left path instead.

James Potter's voice began echoing all around her, and she still automatically cringed at the idea of him being so near her even if it was only his voice. She had no idea if she'd picked the right direction, his voice stayed the same volume level as she traveled along. She wished it would grow faint after a few moments, if just for the relief of his nearly shouting about Harry going to school with an international Quidditch player. What was he hoping, that their son would drop out of school and join-

She stopped dead in her tracks as she realized what she was thinking, then continued walking on even faster, actually forcing herself to pay attention to her surroundings again as if she could outrun her own thoughts. At least no one was around to see the first time she'd acknowledged Harry as 'theirs.'

Turns out she'd only been leading herself right to the source of the problem, as she heard a wild hoot of delight that was now painfully familiar, and stopped just shy of entering a Quidditch exhibit archiving the whole of the sport, which was where the majority of the boys had somehow landed.

Sirius Black and Remus Lupin were the worst sources of the noise, they'd likely caused an alarm to go off for trying to pry loose the first caught Snitch according to its marker, and had trapped the lot without a care as they chased it madly about the room on a pair of ancient, likely the first made brooms. It was a curious quandary, how far they could go with the little ball before the clanking symbols chasing them caught up to them.

Potter stood underneath all of this, flushed in the face from excitement most likely as the book seemed to be stalling over the feast. Regulus Black stood nearest to her with an eager look on his face as if he wished to join, he was doing a terrible job of hiding this, trying to smother the expression with haughty indifference.

Frank was hovering at the far end, looking in fear of his life passing through the madhouse so she couldn't even get to him. She didn't spot Alice or Peter Pettigrew at all and sighed for the both of them also in here somewhere alone. She envied that now.

Slowly creeping back away before anyone noticed her, she wouldn't put it past Black to sick that device on her somehow, and went off in the opposite direction as fast as she could. She'd already made it back to her original landing spot when still the book seemed to be stalling more than anything, going in excruciating detail over several students from the other schools, foreign foods, and even more attendees at Hogwarts from the Ministry for the proceedings it seemed.

Trying not to flinch as she'd swear the blue fire had grown even brighter as she passed again, she quickly kept going past that room and tried to maneuver her way around while it felt like an idiot was chasing her around screaming this at her. It was a shame really, she would have liked to explore this place under other circumstances, she'd bet Sev had read all sorts of things as knowledgeable as he always was about the magical world. Five years in and she still found herself turning to him for those answers...though lately she was more likely to get a straight answer from a textbook.

He'd been so, evasive lately. With every passing week he drew farther and farther away from her. She wished there was some clear cut answer, and maybe there was if he'd just stop hanging around those disturbing elders in Slytherin-

As if her wandering feet had directed her, she'd apparently diverted at some point following a path without even realizing it and smiled as she found herself in The Hall of Potions. She immediately decided she'd like to try and convince Slughorn to take a trip here, perhaps they wouldn't have time when they got back before their OWL's, but maybe something extra credit for NEWT students?

She passed up Gregory the Smarmy (fl. 1189); a medieval British wizard and Potioneer, who invented Gregory's Unctuous Unction, a potion that makes the drinker believe whoever gave the potion is his or her best friend. She did stop in surprise upon finding almost a shrine built to Arsenius Jigger, she wouldn't be surprised if Sev had built that himself though, as many advances as he'd made in both Potions and Defense Against the Dark Arts, his two favorite subjects. Still she kept browsing as Dumbledore finally called attention and began going over in detail this Tournament, that the Cup would be picking the champions, and that there was going to be an age limit, which admittedly was a relief to her. She liked to think she'd learned a bit about Harry by this time and he wouldn't have tried his hand at this, unlike James Potter, but now he didn't even have the chance.

Finally she came across the one she'd been so eager to find, Vindictus Viridian, her idol in Potioneers. She hadn't even known about him until she stumbled across his portrait one day off the Grand Staircase muttering about the bustle of the students just last month, and after returning several times and taking quite a bit an effort to charm him he'd finally opened his door to reveal to her the Room of Rewards. She'd invested many hours in the library since then finding every one of his achievements, even discovering he'd once been a Headmaster at her school himself.

Lily could sense the chapter was at least halfway over as the students were dismissed, there was a slight sidestep of Harry's own when the Durmstrang Headmaster even spotted Harry and took notice before Moody stepped in, but she realized she'd been fawning over this stuff and still hadn't found Alice with little time to spare. Hoping she hadn't too miserable a time apart from everyone, she didn't bother dragging her gaze away from some of his documented notes over a potion to turn literally anything green.

"You're positive?" Alice asked uneasily, with a faint blush.

"Absolutely," Peter assured, swinging his feet upon his perch with an uninterested look. "Every single time we've landed, it's the first thing Frank's done given the chance. That I've seen anyways."

Alice believed him, but she wasn't sure she liked talking to Peter even if he was reassuring a silly teenage crush. She hadn't really given much of a thought to him before his star roll, but apparently he'd been watching all of them. Now she hoped it was just his, ah, bad first real impression and she was trying to work past that feeling. Regardless, he was good at one thing, changing the subject.

She cast her mind about for some way to pull the conversation back to what she intended when she came in here. He'd been sitting astride a gargantuan stuffed creature, that was hairless with immense fanged teeth, as if some terrifying mixture of a saber toothed tiger and a naked mole-rat. Magic had it pacing about the room in an easy stride that could easily break into a running gate at any moment, though the lifeless eyes promised nothing so violent would happen. Peter was riding sidesaddle with a faraway look on his face, and didn't even flinch as a great winged boar shot past his head, ruffling his hair.

There were all sorts of other extinct creatures about, Alice was particularly captivated by the hippocampus swimming about near the ceiling that was on a nearly head-on collision with a great long-necked beast swimming merely through nothing. Across the room, a yeti was plucking berries from a tree that instantly grew them back and placing them in a basket that never filled, and an erlking seemed to be fishing for some other form of sea serpent quite poorly.

"You can go if you'd like, find him or Evans," Peter offered, she clearly hadn't been hiding her unease as well as she'd hoped. "You don't have to stay and talk to me just because you found me."

"But I want to," she insisted truthfully. "I was hoping to ah, be a bridge for you and your friends, help you lot along to some sort of, understanding."

"Why?" The truly baffled expression made his pointed features in his round face even more childlike.

"Because, I want to help," Alice said. "Isn't that reason enough?"

"You don't know anything about us," he said shrewdly, "you wouldn't know or care for any of this if you hadn't been dragged along."

"But I was," she readied herself, and then jumped up beside him upon the next creatures passing. She wobbled uneasily, before Peter reached out on instinct and grabbed her shoulder to steady her. "Thanks," she smiled, "and I think we had to have been brought along for some reason other than not getting to hear of Neville as much as I'd like. I don't even know if he's really my son."

"I saw the picture you and Frank have of him," Peter shrugged, "he's obviously yours."

Alice blushed quite vividly this time, but refused to be deterred again. "Well, until we meet up with them again, why don't you tell me what it is you want to say to them, maybe I can-"

"If I wanted to talk to them I would be," he spoke calmly, but there was finally a hard edge in his voice that had Alice regretting their proximity for the first time. "James asked me to give them some space, so I am, it's as simple as that."

"Doesn't seem fair," Alice still pointed out, "you haven't done anything, er to them, at this time," she couldn't help but finish awkwardly but with complete conviction.

Peter didn't answer, he clasped his hands in front of him and began kicking the poor creature in its ribs, she imagined if the beast were real it wouldn't be taking too kindly to that. Finally when he did answer, it was to the ceiling, "who knows what we'll really do in the moment, no matter what we're told of it."

"You still think you'll do it again?" Alice asked in surprise.

He squirmed uncomfortably on the ride now, then looked at her with a sharp glare. "Again, what's it to you?"

She didn't have anything to say to that, she really did just want to help. She always wanted to help all the new students be they in her house or not, but when she'd seen the Marauders fighting back in school she hadn't given a passing thought to their internal squabble and had not approached Sirius Black to talk to him about it. She hoped to help now simply because she had heard the story...but maybe she was just trying to be a part of something she didn't belong in.

Her silence seemed to have dragged more out of him than her questions though, he turned on the offense. "I don't know, okay? I've never had to think of it before! James and Sirius are the smartest, strongest blokes in that school, I couldn't even imagine what life would be like after we graduated before all this, but it bloody hell wasn't this future! If, You-Know-Who threatened me, my mother- would he, could James -?"

His voice cracked, he didn't look at her or anything anymore. The book had been droning on in the background this whole time, James Potter's voice echoing around them emphasizing the topic of this like nothing else could. Harry's life had continued on after this betrayal, he hadn't seemed to be dwelling on it at every opportunity as Halloween arrived, they spent time with Hagrid, and then the Goblet was spitting up names for each school. She wished she could think of something else to say, but began to admit to herself perhaps she was nosing in where she didn't belong. She hadn't a chance to say anything else regardless, as Harry's name came out of where it really shouldn't, straight from that cup as well, and they all vanished once more.

*The idea for the setting of this chapter was when I originally noticed The Tale of the Hopping Pot has an oddly similar story to this random person on the Potter Family tree in Pottermore. Go see Seamus Gorman's video for more details who elaborated on this much more.

Chapter Text

Happy Valentine's Day! Or not? Whichever you prefer, here's an extra chapter.

Regulus was immediately sure of three things. He'd never been in this room, would like to explore it under better circumstances, but would like to leave now.

It was a small, circular room lined with portraits from floor to ceiling, and for a wild moment he wondered what you had to do to be put in here? Was this a grand secret for those honored, or a storage place to shove away those they didn't have a care for in the hallways? A petite little witch in a purple witches hat nearly as large as her eyed them for a moment before flitting to the nearest painting and whispering in that person's ear.

The other seven were the reason he wasn't keen on taking in much more than that. Sirius, James Potter, and Remus Lupin stood groped in front of the large fireplace, their shadows casting daunting, flickering movement though they remained stone-faced and still. Peter had landed just slightly out of arm's reach of them, on the book, and was rubbing his rump for it while trying not to look at anyone. Alice had to cross the middle of the room to get to Frank, stiff and uneasy the whole time as she breathed in the tension as much as anyone.

James winced as he saw the audience waiting with bated breath. He knew he should have done this back at the museum, back where there was a slight chance of privacy, but then Sirius had distracted him by releasing that old Snitch, and well . . . He could keep waiting of course, but they never knew where they'd end up. They may have the rest of this book to go as well as the other three at this rate, but if he kept putting it off, he was afraid he would forever. Peter was already cracking it open, it would be so easy to at least wait and see why Harry had been put in this bloody tournament, though at this rate no one had really seemed surprised about that part.

Sirius took the choice from him regardless. He'd been watching James' face and upon seeing his distress, took matters into his own hands, as he was want to do. Brazen, or simply uncaring of the audience, he snatched the book away, causing them to look at each other for the first time in what could have been days.

"I'm sorry, I've been an arse to you, and said all that shit to you. I should have, err, never, or well, thought it through better‑" His voice was broken and uneven, James wasn't even sure if he meant it, yet. He did conclude with sincerity though, "You know I'd hate anything that would be the death of my best mate, even you, but I'm clearly just as screwed up in this future, well you more so but obviously I made some shitty mistakes too and‑"

"I know Sirius," Peter finally interrupted, and the soft sound of his voice made the other three wince as they already realized how long it had been since they'd really heard it. "I never blamed you lot for, well, what you said and did. I'm not happy with myself either." He rocked on his feet for a moment, not really looking at any of them, but seemed content to let it end there as he turned back to the book once more, holding his hand out expectantly.

Sirius hesitated, glancing at James for something, but he just kept watching Wormtail with hardly a change in expression. Sirius had said his peace, so gave the book back, admittedly curious to the extreme what was going to happen to Harry more than their...tiff anyways for the moment. If the kid died during this tournament, that would put their problems on hold for a while after all.

Peter glanced at all three of them for a moment with a hesitant smile, which James at least was able to return, before reading The Four Champions.

Regulus found himself smiling as Peter got started, not blaming him any more than Harry for the shock that must be coursing through them. It wasn't exactly the progress he would have asked for, but progress none the less. Harry's predicament quickly overtook center stage this time though as every adult in that school came in arguing at the top of their lungs about this change of the tournament, except Dumbledore's calm head.

Lily waited through the whole argument with bated breath, tapping her nails impatiently on her crossed arms as she imagined those adults in this very room discussing Harry's future. Why couldn't it just be as simple as Harry couldn't participate because he'd broken the age rule? Surely there must be a loophole, it's not as if Harry had asked for this like James Potter would have. Of course, hardly anyone believed poor Harry had been just as surprised as anyone this happening to him. She genuinely felt bad for the poor thing and wished she could give him some encouragement instead of Cedric, and the following rest of Gryffindor tower congratulating this stupidly spectacular feat.

She couldn't help scowling at Potter during the entire celebration, despite the fact that he was looking genuinely miserable for the child, she still scoffed as she knew if he'd been in that situation he'd be strutting like a bloody peacock.

When finally Harry got to his dorm though, her heart plummeted, and she wasn't the only one who cursed in surprise upon Ron's reaction. It was beyond depressing now, to see one of Harry's friends turn on him when he so needed the support...then she really looked at who was reading. It was no wonder Peter Pettigrew's voice shook, the danger of this hadn't even sunk past her outrage yet, but it clearly had his.

Peter kept looking at nothing in here, but his eyes were pleading with the beyond to show him something. As if he wished his friend would appear right now and talk to him, but not at sixteen she suddenly realized. Peter didn't want to talk to his friend right now, he wanted to talk to the ghost of the man he'd doomed, to hear from him if he was forgiven or not for this being Harry's future.

Chapter Text

Dust sparkled like raw glitter as it was thrown asunder from the surfaces they'd once sat upon, the eight teenagers began sneezing in painful succession and several of them yelped in pain as even more boxes piled atop them.

Danger came and went so frequently during these travels, none of them ever rarely felt safe enough to stow their's a way, though in a place like this it seemed more prudent just not to misplace it lest they pick the wrong one up. They were in Ollivander's.

Remus' breath caught in his throat, only causing him to cough harder and hopefully hide the look on his face. The place looked exactly the same as the first time he'd stepped in here, right down to the spindly chair he'd accidentally exploded on his second unclaimed wand. By the fourth one he'd been in a panic, casting anxious looks at his father to please tell him this was all still going to work out, that he did deserve a magic wand, he just wanted one normal experience. His father wouldn't quite meet his eyes when Ollivander came back with the fifth box, not looking nearly as deterred as Remus would have thought. "Here we are then, let's have this a try. Cypress wood, 10¼", unicorn hair, nice and pliable." He'd been cold and stiff, this had been the most he'd been around others in so long, and they'd come here at the crack of dawn before most of the shops even opened so that they could be the first into each. Lyall Lupin hadn't looked him in the eye all day, he'd been too busy casting suspicious glances at everyone around him, his hand never leaving his son's shoulder.

Ollivander knew, he was instantly convinced of that from those perturbant eyes, but when he'd finally wrapped his fingers around the bulbous end, the grooves already perfectly fit to match his fingers, warmth shot straight up his arm. With a surprised smile and a bit of prompting from Mr. Ollivander, he gave a little twirl and laughed in delight as the shop's lights all flared brightly as the sun and flashed every color of the rainbow before settling back. He'd hardly let it out of his sight since then, afraid the Minister or any person really would point out the very obscure law of nonhumans having wands, and where exactly he fell into that category...

Sirius watched the indecision flashing across Moony's face, like he couldn't decide if he was happy to be back here or not as he held his wand protectively instead of for protection. He understood why of course, they all nicked each other's stuff countless times, but never that. He shuffled all the closer to him now, keeping a leery eye on Regulus, Longbottom, or even Evans in case any of them dared say anything about it now that they could possibly guess the same, keeping his own very obviously at his side, running his hand down the ruins engraved in it he'd still yet to decipher. Cedar and 12 1/4th'', dragon heart-string, very rigid for a wand of this wood. The words played back to him clear as day back in this place, it had been the first disappointment of his parent's magical life after all. They would have expected him to have possessed a wand of Elder or Larch, those woods associated with power. He scoffed now as he had then, vividly remembering Ollivander's delight he'd gotten young Sirius' wand on the very first guess as he caused the shadows to flicker on the wall with purpose, all enfolding each other in the shape of snakes and almost scaring little Regulus.

Regulus, of course, would have denied that now had he been so informed, but the shop remained as vastly silent as ever. Even their ruckus of entering without its shopkeeper couldn't permeate the sheer magic in the air, the infinity of the shop's endless wand cases. He couldn't help himself from exploring at once, if there was one person he'd have voluntarily pulled along for his experience it would have been Garrick Ollivander. The man had fascinated him upon their very first meeting, being able to perfectly recite both of his parents and his brother's wands, and as many generations back as Regulus asked. The wandmaker had seemed delighted by him, pleasing his parents immensely as they began making rather transparent comments about bringing their youngest back around for Ollivander to take under his wing. Regulus thought back to that day with feelings as mixed as ever, Sirius had already been showing a pension by that time for his troublemaking ways, unwilling to conform to what their parents expected of him. It had taken the master three try's to be given his own wand, "Apple, 13 1/3'', unicorn hair and vastly flexible to suit your needs," he recalled with perfect clarity. He'd gone home that night and looked up every bit of wandlore book his father owned and even sent out to their Uncle Alphard for more. He'd been pleasantly smug to find apple a rarer wand wood, no wonder his parents had left beaming, but the more he dug the more he began to wonder if even the great wandmaker of their time could make a mistake. After all, when he'd taken his extension to magic, smooth all the way to the end where it got the slightest of twists, there had been no gigantic display of magic as he'd once seen Sirius produce. All that had really happened was a sweep of wind blowing through the store, blowing robes and hair about sure, but nothing too memorable.

All the studying he'd done had said wands of apple went well to those who had high aims, but did not mix well with the Dark Arts. What other path was there that the two didn't mix?

Peter didn't feel the need to hide away from anyone anymore, but still he sought no one out for now as he stood looking over Ollivander's work station. He dared not touch anything, but inspected everything with intimate detail regardless. A wand was halfway through its shaping, the core still half shown in the top half yet whittled together, a bright phoenix feather-like his own, but of cherry wood instead of his red oak. His was also slightly shorter than this one was apparently going to be, and he had no way of knowing the flexibility of the wand, he wasn't even sure what his own meant yet. Malleable, something you could shape as you wish. It sure didn't feel as if he had any say in what he wished as of late. The design almost embodied his nickname, he noted ironically, the wood was weaved as if with the movement itself and had ringlets along the entirety of it.

What happened to it in this future? Had he lost it in his fight when he framed Sirius? Kept it to help resurrect the Dark Lord before returning that wand and then continuing with his own? The same wand he'd used to help him create his masterful disguise that had allowed his cowardice to be his life while hiding out at the Weasley's? A rat he'd gifted himself along with his friends help to aid Remus. He gazed miserably at his left hand, the one he'd accidentally made vanish from sight when Ollivander had taken six tries to give him his wand. He'd been too shy to ask at the time what the record was for how long it had taken him to find a matching pair, but he was sure his was up there, he was always an in-between it seemed.

Alice was growing quite weary of constantly finding herself alone and meandering around strange places looking for anyone else. If the goal of the book was for them to be getting real-life experience of how Harry was feeling, she'd say congratulations long before now. She still looked around with keen interest, as she'd actually never been here. She'd inherited her wand from her grandmother, and it suited her well, but even she hadn't gotten this wand from Ollivander himself, but overseas from Japan of all places. "Reed and 14'', with a unicorn hair. It's a steady wand for a steady hand now," she'd been warned upon her eleventh birthday. She'd heard from others it wasn't prudent to use another's wand, but it had always suited her fine, and she rather liked the almost candy cane design of the wand, though it dipped in a slight hook instead of inwards at the end. She wondered what Neville's was, the fond thought flitted through her mind as she continued walking past endless rows of yet unclaimed wands. From what little she'd heard of Augusta, she had managed to grow more stern with age, but surely even she'd managed a smile for Neville like he deserved when gifted a wand as well, possibly from this very shop? She certainly wasn't going to complain about the chance to look around regardless.

Frank stayed where he was for fear of disturbing any more dust and sneezing his face off next. The boxes and uncovered wands lay scattered around him, and he eyed at least five that happened to be pointing at him with exhaustion. He dared not move them away though, he didn't want the wands to think he was trying to claim them and causing something else to go wrong. Exhaustion was stopping him from moving away entirely, he hoped dearly they landed someplace they could kip down soon.

He wished he could get up and go find Alice, or even Lily, but remembered well his mother's warning about staying right beside her and getting lost, especially in this place. He already was though, so what was the harm? He nudged a wand with his foot as he began moving around, and it sparkled red in protest, so he slowly lowered himself back to his previous position and waited it out instead. "Apple, 12 1/4'', Phoenix, a very austere wand while I was creating it, but I'm sure you'll manage." Ollivander's words seemed to mock back at him now, his wand certainly did seem as strict with him as his own mother. It took intense concentration to manage even the simplest of spells, he didn't dare try it now when all his heavy-lidded eyes wanted to do was slide shut. Evans's voice, while uneasy giving poor Harry's accounts going through this, still had a charming, mellow sort of quality he was quickly nodding off to, only missing the warmth of Alice's hands to really help him relax.

Lily twirled her wand about in her hand, getting it caught between her ring finger and pointer and holding it like that for several minutes while reminding herself there was nothing to curse in here she should. No Charm she could utilize either to help. Just another surprisingly yet ill-received connection she felt to her son, over how lonely he felt. The way Sev had been freezing her out with increasing frequency lately to hang out with those others instead, well, he may as well have accused her of doing something she'd never do as well. Why was she the one being punished when she'd done nothing wrong?

Things had been so much simpler back when they'd just started school, they'd done everything together then, even here. The old man had smiled kindly at her starry-eyed gaze upon everything, it had only taken him his second try to fit her up. Willow, 10¼", unicorn hair*, a quite swishy wand upon development. It was her dream come true, the soft brown wood had intricate swirling designs like water inlaid in it, she'd taken him literally and began enthusiastically swishing it everywhere of course, and much as she'd imagined that first time in their grove, it finally happened as sparklers trailed after the end in a truly magical display, from her! She still remembered Ollivander giving such details to Harry when he'd come for his, a little Muggleborn like her had even been as memorable as all the others who came across this shop.

It made sense, of course, that when Harry was called for his wand to be inspected it was the best Britain had to offer to do it. She wondered what he thought of Harry now, had he and his wand lived up to the great things he expected of him? She still wished for him to have a more normal life than he was getting first.

James continued rummaging behind the desk, determined to find the bloody list. Surely the man had to have a list of all wands in this shop and keep a record of who he sold them too, there was just no way he simply memorized it all?! Evans had long since picked up the book and was reading it, he was too disgusted by the world Harry was living in to even consider it. Now his own son's friends were turning against him along with the rest of that mad school, thinking that kid would do this to himself? There was enjoying being the center of attention, and then there was his offspring, and he knew quite well which side of the line Harry stood on. Why wouldn't his best friend know that? 'No friends are perfect,' his own snide voice reminded him as he avoided looking at his own for now as well while he continued his solo quest.

Sirius and Remus were huddled up together and he had no idea where Peter landed. Seemed even this mad charade was giving them some breathing room for a few more moments, and he took to that while he could by continuing his search manually along the shelves now. He'd tried summoning it of course, with the very wand Ollivander had gifted him, mahogany, 11", dragon heartstring*, nice and supple. He'd even guessed right on his very first try, and the spurt of water that shot the man in the face was his reward as James ran from the shop in delight before his parents could even pay.

The reddish-gold wood that had an almost spiderweb-like pattern inlaid in it remained in his pocket for now though as he traversed the endless shelves, none of which were even marked, each box identical to the last. Only cracking one open revealed the wand inside, and he just didn't know enough about them to even guess at which could be Harry's, if it was even here. Merlin knew exactly when they were in this shop, Tom Riddle's could still be here for all he knew. He didn't even have a good excuse for why he was looking for it, just another way to connect to his son? As his days at Hogwarts grew more dangerous, and even cruel from the student body within, he wanted to punch Ron in the face more every second for not exactly being helpful when Harry needed him now more than ever, what with Sirius' insanity not exactly helping his son in their time.

The ones noted with an * are of my own decision, the rest is cannon. Hope you enjoyed!

Alice Smith* - Reed, 14'', Unicorn, Steady, thicker at the base and thinning as it ended in a hook with one deep groove spiraling the entire thing.

Frank Longbottom/ Neville Longbottom's 1st Wand* - Apple, 12 1/4'', Phoenix, Austere, a very plain wand with no extra designs except at the very base of the wand where small scratches marked it as if the wood were already peeling. 

James Potter- Mahogany, 11", (Core Unknown)/ Dragon Heartstring*, Supple, spiderweb pattern inlaid across the middle of it.

Lily Evans- Willow, 10¼", (Core Unknown)/ Unicron*, Swishy, little water like waves etched into it in a dizzying pattern when twirled around.

Peter Pettigrew's first wand*- Red Oak, 11'', Phoenix, Malleable, ringlets along the entirety of it.

Regulus Black* - Apple, 13 1/3'', Unicorn, Flexible, smooth all the way to the end where it got the slightest of twists like a star about to burst

Remus Lupin- Cypress, 10¼", Unicorn, Pliable, bulbous at the end with finger groves only to the halfway point

Sirius Black *- Cedar, 12 1/4th'', Dragon heart-string, Rigid, ancient ruins etched in

Mine is: Hornbeam wood with a dragon heartstring core, 12 ½" and surprisingly swishy flexibility, and I like to think the design would resemble a turtles shell pattern.

Let me know yours?

Chapter Text

Sirius would swear the ground kept shaking even as he got himself up onto hands and knees, his vision was staying blurry longer than usual rather than letting anything into focus, and at first he thought it smoke in his eyes as he finally distinguished bonfires dancing all around him.

His long dark hair fell in curtains around his eyes, but now that he'd adjusted, it did nothing to obscure the fact he was face to face with a dragon. He screamed. A high pitch, death like noise that hurt his own ears, causing the fire breathing nightmare to roar louder and spray a white hot breath right towards him. He tried to get to his feet, too fast, and lucked himself into falling just below the deadly blast. Then he did get himself upright and took off at a dead run, until he ran face first into an invisible barrier just barely on the shadows of the last cage.

He staggered back, clutching his freshly bleeding nose but gripping his heaving chest instead, took the seconds it was worth to see the other seven weren't actually in the cages with any of them but staggering about in their own fear, and made the split second decision he wished he'd had available to him two summers ago.

"Padfoot, are you okay?" James asked in concern, seeing the blood matting his muzzle, but the dog merely shook his head, and his whole body with it, before pacing anxiously as far from the nearest dragon he could.

"That's a question I don't expect we'll get an answer to until we leave this spot," Remus pointed out. "Even then, I'm sure it'll just be, shut up."

James nodded in silent agreement and decided to get right to that, summoning the book to him. It came shooting from in between the feet of the largest black one that had spikes all along it, the blue cover was blackened around the edges and still smoking slightly, not a great omen.

Peter came hesitantly over to them, rubbing at the back of his neck awkwardly but still asking in genuine concern, "is he okay?"

"You try asking him," Remus nearly had to shout over the still roaring beasts, who seemed no more pleased with their presence than them. Remus barely noticed, despite the fact he'd usually salivate at the chance to see live dragons. His eyes were on the nick in his ear once more, barely illuminated in the still bright flames being shot in all directions. His gut clenched once more, he wondered if he was going to be sick again. Why on Earth did Peter come over here to check on them when he had every reason in the world not to?

James Potter read out the very obvious chapter title as the other four stayed huddled in the shadows as well for safety.

"Which one's the horn-tail, do you think?" Alice asked quietly enough she hoped it wouldn't cause the green one to keep direct eye contact with her, glaring in a truly predatory way.

"Ah, the one with horns on its tail?" Frank offered politely, watching Regulus's progress. He was braver than he would have given the kid credit before moments ago, he'd scattered after them upon first finding themselves here, but was now walking back between the four enclosures cautiously to head back towards the Marauders group.

Amazingly, he made it to the other side without a burn, though the blue one had tried her best.

"Why are they here?" Lily demanded faintly. "Hagrid having a baby on the school grounds was insane enough, what the bloody hell is wrong with this Tournament?" She finished by answering her own question.

"I don't want to know," Alice groaned, clutching Frank's hand harder. He returned the pressure in kind, all three of them wincing and burying their backs farther into the invisible barrier.

Regulus was chewing painfully on the inside of his cheek as he slowly but openly approached the four like they were more dragons. He had no clear goal in joining them, an oddity itself as he never did anything without a reason. All he was sure of was that he'd never heard his brother scream like that.

James stopped halfway through Skeeter's blithering article, admittedly happy with any reason to stop he was so disgusted, but tracked Regulus coming closer with narrowed eyes. He had three good reasons not to trust whatever he was coming over here to say right now, all involving the three currently around him.

He hadn't said a word about Remus, or to him, but neither had any of the others. He didn't know what would incite Regulus to now, but he'd push the whelp into the nearest dragon's cage if that was it.

He had zero clue what that recurring conversation Regulus and Peter had been having was about, but was in no mood to learn of it now when he wanted a chance to try and have Peter back talking to them, he didn't trust any Black to help with that right now.

Padfoot was currently shaking on his strong legs, all fur bristled on end and tail between his legs as he let out heart stuttering growls and soft whimpers intermittently. This bloody area was traumatizing enough to the lot of them they'd be happy to never be so close to a dragon again, he couldn't imagine having to stare at these things for hours with no clear way to escape, again. It was the dog though Regulus had his eyes on as he approached.

Regulus almost couldn't hear his own voice amidst the still painfully loud roaring, so he cleared his throat awkwardly and tried just a touch louder, "is, ah, is he-"

"No, he's not alright!" James Potter was scowling at what he perceived as a stupid question. "You mind if I get around to fixing that?" He waved the book obnoxiously.

Regulus frowned, but shook his head and kept what he'd really been about to ask to himself as Potter continued. Is he going to change back, had been his actual question, as it was hard to put together what his mind was telling him, that this beast was actually somehow his brother. He shot a side glance at Lupin uncomfortably, he couldn't imagine being trapped like that, in a body so, minimal.

The last time he'd seen this massive canine, it had its jaws around a werewolf that would have happily eaten them all. Now it looked like just as much a dangerous animal itself, and a cornered dog was the most vicious kind. The blood just barely visible in the glittering teeth from the injured nose that he'd caused was not helping the image.

His parents would be impressed, he vaguely realized the longer he looked. Despite the fact he had to remind himself every other second that was indeed Sirius, rather than another terror of this Forest, his sixteen-year-old brother was an animagus. Not a fact he'd really taken the time to appreciate back when it had been revealed, considering everything else happening. He shot another anxious look at Lupin, this time out of the corner of his eye, and then glanced through the thick foliage once more to make sure it wasn't a full moon again, but couldn't see through it to be sure.

Orion and Walburga had been wrong about so much, it seemed. The Dark Lord, his screw-up of a brother never managing to accomplish anything, it seemed they were even wrong about werewolves as well. The pale, tall kid that stood half behind James Potter looked more afraid of him than vice-versa as he seemed to be waiting for something just as much as Regulus was. He chanced a glance at Peter, who was still standing just a few feet away more than was casual but standing firmly nonetheless, obviously more weary of keeping his eyes on the massive dragons than any other immediate problem like the two seemingly dangerous animals at his back.

Regulus again had to remind himself of his Animagus lesson he'd had just this year, that the difference was Sirius was in full control of his mind, where a werewolf never was. Just because this terrifying bear-like dog looked like it was going to lunge forward and tear their throats out any second, Sirius wouldn't...right? Surely if he was, he would have done so to Peter and claimed delirium when he changed back, but instead as James Potter kept talking, detailing Harry's reaction to the article, Sirius almost began to relax.

Not by any noticeable means if you weren't looking for it, but Regulus was. Almost one by one, his fur began to smooth out, his tail came out from under him to merely become horizontal, and he was leaning forward on his toes. Careful, calculating, eyes still resting on the danger and teeth bared, but no longer growling quite so loud.

He'd been studying Animagi a bit for his upcoming exams of course, but never with any more intensity than the curricular questions he might perceive. Nothing of the magnitude Sirius must have gone through to be like this. Regulus only knew the very basics, and even those processes were still beyond him. The question that really boggled the mind was, why had he done it?

At the time, the book version of his brother had said it was to help their werewolf friend, but what use could this be except a meal? It had come in handy, certainly, in keeping him at bay, but only for the precious time it took to get away from those deadly jaws. The creature was unreasonable at all senses though, it had nearly torn Sirius and Potter to shreds without a second thought, so clearly no pack mentality had spared him.

It was a conundrum he had no hope of understanding without actually talking to Sirius, and possibly Lupin so long as he was going to stay in his human form while doing it. As Potter had pointed out though, that didn't seem likely to happen until they got away from this place, the Horntail shooting a blast of fire in their direction that all five of them had to duck to avoid proving a valid point.

After that, Potter's reading increased in tempo even more, he almost blurred through Harry's trip to Hogsmeade, and Hagrid's odd invite that nevertheless they all almost immediately understood would somehow lead to this place.

Lily almost wanted to slap the gamekeeper for being so excited about this, even bringing a competitor's Head along like some sort of date. Even Potter could come up with better romance than this!

Alice and Frank winced and pleaded with the ground to swallow them whole on the spot when they heard that the challenge Harry would be facing did indeed include these dragons, nesting mothers to be specific. The clutch of eggs, now that they knew to look for them, was indeed in the massive shadows well guarded, anybody would have to be insane to get near them! If Harry died trying, what would happen to them?

James' voice wavered uncomfortably as he heard that Karakaroff was sneaking there just as Harry was leaving, his mind going to Cedric and some kernels of pity for the kid who would be the only one of the Champions left out, but the majority of his mind was still on Harry and how he was going to! Hopefully Sirius would be of some help, after he had his own little freak out while talking to Harry in the fire?

He at first uneasily exchanged a small look with Remus as the conversation began, at least Sirius was looking better than the unrecognizable murderer from the Shack had described, but the longer it went on, the more obvious their worried exchanges got. Until finally he flat stopped and his mouth hung open for several beats, and Remus didn't even prod him to keep going.

Sirius had no reaction to the dragons Harry would soon be dealing with. Sirius was more worried talking about the Death Eaters in the castle, like Karkaroff! Sirius...really had changed.

Whether it was Azkaban or just time, they wondered what other little things would he have also prioritized over? He was still reckless, impulsive, this they knew, and he clearly put Harry above his own well-being, at least that was the same... but did he still have sticky fingers when it came to his friends' clothes? Did Sirius still throw his head back and laugh with his whole body? Did Padfoot still remember what it was like to trust anyone besides himself?

The big, glaring obvious difference of what would happen to Peter had shook them to their core, but it wasn't until now they thought back and really felt in their bones how different this world was, almost alien from theirs. It had been almost fun up until that awful moment to think of this as their future, that James and Lily would get together and have this child, that they'd just hear the tales of Harry's insane school years and find out what had killed them so they could keep the good and pretend the bad would never come. The real question though, was how any of this was going to end?

"Would you two quit gaping at each other like fish!" Peter finally snapped as the silence dragged on and Padfoot began whimpering uncomfortably right at their feet. "Dissect his shitty choices later please and get us out of here before we're roasted alive!"

The red one shot a mushroom-shaped fire right over his head to prove his point.

James swallowed uncomfortably, but complied, trying to take what comfort he could that was the first normal thing Peter had said to him in a while, and smothering whose fault that was for how long it had been.

Finally as the pages reached their end in this chapter, Regulus did speak up once more, the question coming out of him the least of his concern really, but the only one he expected anyone other than him to come up with an answer to for now. He looked at Remus Lupin, and asked, "does that really help?" His eyes needlessly flickering back to Sirius, err, Padfoot? The dog that had actually almost loosened up, still in a tense weary stance, but of a hunter sighting its prey rather than fending it off. His brother.

Remus Lupin smiled in surprise, but answered cordially, "like you wouldn't believe."

Chapter Text

It wasn't quite as cramped as the fireplace had been, but Frank felt like the magical broomshed wasn't doing all it could to help them out considering there was a Cleansweep jabbing him where it shouldn't!

There was hardly any elbow room, what with Regulus Black smashed against one side and Lily on the other. Even with two of their numbers animals, Sirius still a panting black dog and Peter immediately shrinking down once more in the minimal space, wasn't really helping much. Bloody magic only extending as far as they 'needed it.' Maybe the brooms wanted a little more luxury, he sure did!

Grumbling and cursing, and trying very hard to ignore his pounding heart and the averted eyes of the werewolf they were once more entrapped in an enclosed space with, Frank managed to wedge the book into his hand first from a shelf just above, nearly knocking it on his head with a bottle of wood polish that did collide with the ground.

He barely gave himself time to exchange an exasperated look with Alice for this happening once more before letting himself start with the strong smell now making them all crinkle up their noses for extra discomfort. The First Task was here, they couldn't delay it any longer.

It was not a nice go of it, Harry's fear of the coming event keeping all of them uneasily on their toes no matter where they landed. The fact that it was so close on the horizon and Harry didn't even have a plan on how to handle the task was vexing him the longer this went on, as was their circumstances as Harry and Hermione stewed over the problem. What did a broom shed have to do with this? Were the eggs somehow hidden here at one point? Well, at least they weren't now.

Breathing through his mouth was starting to make his tongue dry as he forced himself off, the strong smell of wood polish was making him light headed. He was barely keeping up with his own words as Harry confronted Cedric and told the final champion of the dragons, so they all started on equal ground. It was such a genuine thing to do, he was almost smiling despite his stomach curdling up in pain and anxiety to get on with this already, they all knew it was coming.

Moody distracted them a good bit though when he pulled Harry aside, not to scold him for cheating and telling another champion what was coming, but praise him, and even help him? Despite his insane house and generally forceful nature, he'd been nothing but kind and helpful to Harry thus far, it almost made them all smile as they put together what Harry being good at Quidditch had to do with the first task.

It still took him a lot of practice and concentration to get the Summoning Charm down, but by the time he did and he was being led to the first task by McGonagall, they were almost confident he'd come out of this alive!

The task was explained in excruciating detail by Bagman, by the end of which Remus was sure if Padfoot had still been human he would have ripped off his jersey in frustration, he was shuffling so much in agitation at his feet.

James wasn't feeling much better as Bagman sucked up to Harry, he felt like dropping a Bludger down his pants by the time he had to run off, he was being so annoying trying to butter up Harry.

Frank couldn't decide if it was a good thing or not the other tasks weren't even going to be shown, he supposed if Harry had spectated them it could have helped his own strategy if he hadn't one already.

At least when it finally got to Harry's, it was both fast, and detailed. Lily startled spectacularly when the tail spikes managed to snag Harry, a sack of golf balls raining on their heads going unnoticed. His singular focus on stealing an egg from a dragon, a suicidal task really, was handled with grace from the fourteen-year-old. They all felt hot, trapped, and enclosed in this space just hearing about the heat of those fiery blasts they'd just experienced going so close to Harry, but Merlin did he do it.

Even being the one to read such a thing, Frank couldn't imagine doing it, he'd have long since fainted just being taken to the arena! There had been plenty of evidence before, but here was just another example he was one of a kind for how he faced this problem.

A fact that was only further solidified when Ron came in to check on his friend, and Harry instantly forgave him. Just like that, the two went back to how things had always been, Ron's details of what the others had done in comparison to Harry as casual as ever. Still, he hoped a new saying wouldn't start cropping up that a dragon would solve all of Harry's problems.

Chapter Text

To Stitches: I completely agree with everything you said. There is a one-hundred percent chance James used some of his more, hospital worthy, pranks on anyone he heard asking Lily out, and though he fixated on her a bit and declared her his love, we're never actually given a reason why. They're more like Ron and Hermione than Harry and Ginny. They're two very obviously different people, so if they did stay married they would have had to work at it. Would it have lasted? I like to think so, but it's more than fair to assume otherwise as well. Thanks so much for all your commentary!

Their landing seemed to be louder than usual, as Alice crashed into a hard floor once more, she noted how surprisingly cold and smooth it was, and the banging residing all around her as she tried to quickly sit up echoed, along with one person screaming in pain.

She reached up blindly, sensing more than seeing something on her left and trying to pull on it to help her to her feet, but then yelping in her own intense pain as something crashed onto her head. She released it and fell back to the floor, now wincing and cursing in even more pain as she rolled onto her back instead and looked up at a stove. She'd pulled it open on her head, explaining the deep painful throbbing that was occurring, but at least the screaming had somewhat stopped, so as she carefully raised it back up and scooted carefully away to try getting to her feet once more, she was much more careful about how.

They were in a kitchen, a very large one. There were four long islands all with steaming pots, simmering pans, and hot stoves piping away for a fresh meal, and they'd landed in the middle of it. Remus Lupin was across from her, eyes streaming in pain as he rubbed at his freshly burned arm, she winced in sympathy as she realized he must have landed on the overturned gravy dripping on the counter. There was a casserole with hash quickly turning brown in the oven she'd just collided with, and sizzling bacon grease wafted the whole area from the warm fireplace behind them Frank had almost landed in. She hurried to his side while he winced and cursed, brushing soot from his robes and saying how he'd be happy never to be near fire again after all this.

"Who on Earth has a need for this kitchen?" Lily asked in fascination, prodding at a pot full of nearly three dozen simmering eggs ready to be shelled not far away.

"You mean you don't know?" James Potter all but materialized behind her, that same smile back on his face they hadn't seen in quite a while now as he indulged himself in his favorite past time, harassing her.

She just looked to him in silent exasperation, clearly aware whatever she said he'd continue anyways, and so he did. "We're in the Hogwarts kitchen!" The grand gesture he used to say as much was actually worthy of the environment.

Alice had guessed as much, it was a Hufflepuff tradition to find the place without hints from anyone else because they were all told how close it was to their dormitory. So far she'd been slacking on that, but now she'd be the second in her dorm to do it.

"I didn't really think Hogwarts had a kitchens," Frank blinked in surprise. "I thought the food just, appeared."

"It's a Gamp's Law thing, that's not possible," Potter disagreed with a friendly enough smile that still looked superiorly smug to them as he finished, "you'll learn about that in Transfiguration much later."

Sirius Black, apparently deciding a kitchen wasn't dangerous enough he needed to stay as a dog, called out to him as a distraction and he took off with one last lingering look at Lily.

The three Marauders converged around Remus, who was still nursing his burning arm, but then as they looked around they realized once more someone was missing.

Regulus had found himself in what must be the pantry, more food in here than there had been wands at Ollivanders, he couldn't imagine an army going through this amount in several lifetimes. Still, he could hear the others conversations and even louder landings and was traversing the space curiously to get out when he came across the wrong kind of door. It was diminutive to him, but Kreacher would fit through just fine, and this curiosity beat out the others as he knelt down to pop it open. He poked his head in and smiled in delight upon what he found, and considered going in to explore more and keeping this to himself when he heard Sirius start calling out for him.

Hanging his head, but deciding it would be better to heed him than cause that idiot to get into a panic after the last one he just went through, he finally found his way to an almost human sized door and pushed it open instead and nearly ran smack into Sirius.

"You'll never believe what I found," he told him with repressed delight, as he spun back around and lead the way. They all followed him without protest, and had to nearly break their backs to get through the door to find the rows of beds in here.

Each was miniature, most were straight and uniform with a single blanket and pillow cleanly pressed, at least the few dozen rows they saw were. The one closest to them was the only one with a trunk at the end, and it was cracked open, the contents of which were socks of every shape and color neatly folded, along with an odd assortment of clothes in just as fine a state, and the book resting on top.

Lily poked her head in last curiously, finding it almost depressing this place seemed more jail-like than anything. She really felt for Hermione's campaign the more she heard of it, surely these house-elves had personalities they'd like to attach to the meager space provided for them, what was with the one oddball bed Sirius Black was attempting to break as he flopped down on top of with a laugh as it barely fit his rump.

"I'll bet that one belongs to Dopey," a quiet voice muttered behind her, and she whirled on the spot to find Remus Lupin surprisingly close to her, but eyeing his friend affectionately. She snorted in surprise to hear such a Muggle reference from him, quite the rarity in this school for even the populace that did know of such things rarely ever brought it up, as if that would just further define them.

Remus Lupin was now looking at her in just as much surprise, taking a quick step back and giving her a sheepish look. She smiled uncomfortably as she forced herself to meet his eyes, she'd been rather avoiding thinking of him, or rather realizing she now owed an allegiance to either Snape or these Marauder idiots. When they got out of here, would she- should she tell Sev that he'd been right all along...

She startled even harder as Alice had apparently picked up the book and began reading, while the Marauders had quickly grown bored and were now ransacking the kitchens in the span it took her to read out the chapter title, The House-Elf Liberation Front. Frank stayed behind and was eyeing the miniature beds with longing, as if he was contemplating shoving a few together and getting comfortable. She couldn't blame him as she yawned herself, but leaned back comfortably against the wall for now.

Harry was enjoying the company of both of his friends once more on their way up to the owlery, but she found herself to be quite grateful to be down here instead as she plucked a few grapes hanging nearby. It was nice to hear of something so relaxing once more, just Harry sending off a letter to his godfather about how he'd survived, rather than having to hear of him living through said dragon experience.

Invigorated by the fruit, and getting a chill in place from standing in the cool air around all this food, Lily began exploring the endless isles, plucking up jerkies, cheese, and even ripping off a hunk of bread at her leisure from the schools kitchens as she tried to sort out her life while Harry actually enjoyed this party the Gryffindor's were throwing him in celebration.

Alice was smiling along at the events as well, Hermione getting the twins to tell how to get into the kitchens was the obvious lead up to how they wound up down here, clearly Hermione was going to take them up on that. Then she smiled even more broadly as Neville laughed along at those Canary Creams, ingenious little tricks she'd admit.

Frank was shifting about sluggishly beside her, and she wanted to cling to the good mood as long as she could, so she marked her place and the two began traveling the isles as well, coming across the pastries themselves not long after. The two had a very good laugh about thinking of the twins slipping in some Canary Creams into everyone's morning breakfast, it was certainly the kind of thing they could see the Marauders doing at least, as they helped themselves to a load. After they had their fill, they went back out to the kitchen proper, and she settled comfortably in Franks arms in front of the fireplace to keep going.

It was almost a pleasant experience again, maybe the two of them would invest in this being their studying spot in the future once they got out of this mess. Surely the house-elves wouldn't mind the company? The rest of the group was actually being pretty quite for once as well, likely pigging themselves out while they had the chance in the cupboards, the most chaos that was being caused was from the books and Hagrid attempting to get the Blast-Ended Skrewts to hibernate. It wasn't exactly encouraging, Rita Skeeter showing up again to cause trouble for Hagrid was now inevitable in this future, but thankfully nothing exploded at the moment.

Things even continued in a nice, calm pace as another Divination class was laughed through, Alice really hoped that was an option soon in Hogwarts time for just a nice layabout class. Then Hermione was back with a splash, dragging Harry through the castle, seemingly down to her common room if she wouldn't have guessed the destination already. "I can't believe it's so close," Alice pouted. "I've been a right idiot not to have noticed."

"Cheer up love," Frank kissed her temple, "I'm sure not every Hufflepuff's even found it, not every student sets out to find every secret place in this castle after all."

They all got quite a surprise though when Harry went in, and one elf in particular greeted him enthusiastically.

"Dobby's back!" Sirius said in surprise, nearly dropping the whole ham he'd been trying to shove into his bag.

"Yes Sirius, we heard," Remus rolled his eyes as he popped the last bite of waffle with jelly filling into his mouth.

"That's adorable," James grinned, juggling oranges purely for his own amusement, the peelings of the six he'd already devoured littered across the floor. "I'm glad that insane little house-elf is somewhere not with the Malfoy's anymore!"

Peter only hesitated a moment. Nobody had said anything against him following them down the cured meats isle, but nobody had said anything for it either. If they were just going to go on and pretend this had never happened, well, he could be game with that. "As long as he didn't bring along anymore insane Bludgers with him."

Remus gave him a forced kind of smile, Peter had seen Sirius give Regulus more friendly looks lately than he got, and James just looked sort of sad like he wasn't sure how to respond at all. Of course things couldn't be that easy, but at least they were all trying. They proceeded in subdued silence through the storages of food, stuffing every available bag and pocket silly. It quickly became apparent the strange trunk they'd seen full of clothes had been Dobby's, he worked here now like an actual member of the staff strangely enough. Winky too, well, sort of. They'd honestly forgotten about her, but her interaction was still less strange than Dobby's.

Regulus found himself fascinated at the juxtaposition of Dobby and Winky. He'd climbed up the food wracks carefully, so as not to needlessly squash or touch anything with his shoes, nearly up to the ceiling and casting the ground almost out of sight but found his own preference of delicacies the school only rarely served, including those odd peppermint humbugs. He chewed thoughtfully on the whole house-elf thing this Muggleborn Granger still wouldn't let go, Winky was behaving perfectly normally while Dobby was the odd one out here. He wouldn't lie though, as silly as the idea was of paying a house-elf, he was rather fond of the idea. Kreacher was so lively at just the smallest kind word said to him, was it possible he'd be even happier with a knut now and again? It certainly wouldn't hurt to try.

He even found himself smiling as Harry got on so well with Dobby, now that the elf wasn't trying to kill him, and they had a nice chat. Harry found out something odd to do with Crouch even, though no details from Winky, and Regulus hoped the others really heard what had just happened as well, something he'd figured out long ago. Kreacher was a wealth of information on things his parents didn't like to talk about, he'd learned almost as much from chatting with his elf as he did from them. He hoped all the others listening realized they weren't just invisible servants like so many others seemed to think. The bite of leftover bouillabaisse he'd been sampling got stuck in his throat a bit as he realized this was once again something he'd been so different about other purebloods on, was it really just his fate to be different from everyone?

Sighing with distaste that had nothing to do with the foreign foods, he stored an extra can of kippers into his pocket and went back to mentally memorizing where in the castle the kitchens were, he'd definitely love to make a return visit.

Chapter Text

Lily's landing was actually not uncomfortable for once. She floundered in place upon her back, but it was soft material ruffling behind her whatever it was. Worry spiking if this was some sort of trap to compel her to get comfortable, she sat up abruptly, bunching the silk blanket in her hand suspiciously. She found herself in a luxury room fit for a princess.

The canopy bed was baby blue with pink lace, the pillow looked scandalously shaped perfectly for her head, there was even a thin film drapings that were almost see-through and felt cool as rain to the touch, but were blocking out almost all the light. The moment she pushed them aside, they glided away without a second thought, and she could see a window, leading out onto the Hogwarts grounds. She stood at it for a long time, seeing Hagrid's cabin in the distance, and got a strange guess of where she was, but wanted further proof. She got it almost immediately when she passed the trunk at the end of the bed wide open with Beauxbatons uniforms neatly folded inside, and The Book resting on top. They must be inside their carriage then, possibly with Fleur making a larger appearance in the coming chapter.

Inspecting the area just a bit more, she found a private bathroom that resembled a spa more than anything, and would have believed it if someone told her she spent a weeks worth of time just enjoying being by herself and not thinking of anything but how warm the water was, even if she couldn't read any of the french labels. Once she got out she swayed on her feet for a few moments with comfortable exhaustion, for once, deciding that as she'd landed in here and nobody had come to call yet, another good rest was in order. They'd all stopped plenty of times in the past with mutual sleep at hand. It took nothing else to convince her to crawl back into the strange bed and the slightest of tugs had the curtains back around her before she was out.

Frank dithered uncomfortably in the hallway. He'd grudgingly passed several open and inviting beds in the long, candelabra lit hallway just to find Alice, to assure she was alright and this wasn't some weird trap for Harry's next task, but he'd found her peacefully asleep. She'd even found a room with some muggle invention that had music playing from a big black disk she'd figured out how to work, it sounded like a nice string quartet in the whole room. However, he didn't want to assume just because they'd shared a bed together once she'd be okay with it again, especially in even more, ah, private quarters as all of these rooms seemed set for individuals. He'd just turned away and decided to just sleep in the room across, honestly the floor looked comfortable enough to nap on at this rate, when a giggle behind him made him twirl around to see she'd rolled over and was laughing herself silly at him before beckoning him to get in while wiggling to the far side of the bed.

"But Moony!" Sirius whined, managing to sound like an irritable six year old despite being ten years plus that. "Why not just take the opportunity while we can to not have to sleep in the same place as those two wankers, I quite enjoyed it last time."

"Because last time, we hardly slept a wink," he didn't need to elaborate, and was glad they hadn't found the other two yet as he couldn't quite suppress a blush. "We're finding them first you dolt."

They'd already passed several rooms containing their other quest members asleep, and Remus was just beginning to wonder if he'd passed them accidentally somehow when he came across a room with stripped bedding, and now sure at least they were thinking the same as him, he kept his hold on Sirius and dragged him along until he found what must be the equivalent of a living room in a mansion inside this pumpkin carriage. Peter was already curled up on the queen sized sofa, fidgeting with his school tie despite the fact it was loose enough to come off. James was upside down in a squashy armchair Maxime herself could stretch out in, his glasses placed carefully on top but eyes wide awake.

There hadn't been this much awkward silence between the four of them since their first year, those first few months before they'd even decided if they liked each other, let alone would become the best friends they were supposed to be. Both of them still grinned when they entered, and Sirius couldn't stop a small, albeit grudging smile as he shook his head at the lot of them, calling them sentimental fools as he snatched some covers from the floor and padded down in yet another available couch next to the purple lit fireplace that had wine goblets only half empty he'd save for breakfast. Remus barely had time to smile before he too passed out amongst the synchronized snoring, letting his feet tangle together with Sirius' but resting on the opposite arm of the couch.

Regulus stretched languidly as he awoke, still as disoriented as ever to find the light outside was exactly where it had been when he'd gone to sleep, but the comfortable bed had rivaled his own and who evers room he'd borrowed had good taste. There were posters of all of the French National Quidditch Team doing their signature move, the Blitzen Ballet, across several posters, which had been what had drawn him into the room in the first place.

He pulled some individually wrapped macaroons out of his pocket and began eating those as he went through the rest of this persons belongings, finding several textbooks all in French he couldn't follow, but not the book they needed. He didn't really fancy going through every room to find it, but he also didn't want to start until he knew everyone was awake- "The Unexpected Task." He crumpled a purple one up in his hand in surprise all over the blokes belongings. Well, clearly Evans didn't have those same reserves.

James startled the rest of the way to awareness from his groggy state with a yelp, flopping right out of the chair and confused for several long moments. Whoever would have thought waking up to the sound of Evans' voice would give him heart failure? The others were stirring with only slightly more dignity, he couldn't even blame Sirius when the first thing he did was reach up and snag those wine glasses to finish them off as her voice echoed around them before they'd even had morning tea.

"Evans does an impression of McGonagall telling off Harry too well," Peter groaned, trying to shove the blanket through his skull.

Remus looked like he was trying to burrow into the couch for more rest without comment, and James and Sirius woke up too hungry to really be paying much attention as their head of house held up Ron and Harry after class for something as silly as not paying attention. The two of them were busy trading a basket of fried fish back and forth and lamenting how fast it was vanishing when they simultaneously choked on the cold batter upon hearing no detention was being served, but quite the unexpected task indeed.

"Harry has to wha-?" Remus actually jerked his head free from his cocoon.

"Get a date, and dance her?" Peter repeated, inspecting the sleep he'd rubbed from his eyes as if expecting to find something else contaminating him.

"Or him," Sirius corrected with a suddenly wicked smile, "maybe he'll ask Ron, you don't know Wormy." The snide remark had slide easily from his tongue as he envisioned the fun of Hogwarts hosting something like a dance, it wasn't until he looked over to see his mate blush and stammer at the idea that he really, fully woke up. He wouldn't have believed it five seconds ago himself.

Peter was smiling to himself despite not able to look over at Sirius, and James swooped in to save the awkward silence. "Listen to this poor kid telling McGonagall he isn't going to do it! A books not good enough anymore, I'd pay money to see this in action!"

For just a moment, they all got a good laugh out of that.

They weren't the only ones, Frank and Alice were having their own fits of laughter still curled up in bed. Frank could at least sympathize with Harry though as he struggled to even conceptualize asking Cho out, he'd had a crush on Alice for months before he'd over heard her struggling with Charms and offering to tutor her. Asking her out, outright and to a dance, would have been insanity at that point. They both listened intently for any hint of what Neville would be up to during all of this. As much as they sympathized with Harry not being able to go alone because of his public dancing, they very much hoped Neville would at least be mentioned going with some friends rather than not at all.

Lily was giving herself a very hearty pat on the back for deciding to read this one alone. She was sure it wasn't just her imagination hearing the obnoxious laughter of the Marauders over this adorable idea, barely a teenager Regulus' pompous expression and possibly boasting he'd been trained to waltz before he could walk, and worst of all Frank and Alice's adoring looks at each other. She liked the both of them, more and more as they talked honestly, but her own life right now didn't leave her in a good position to be happy the only two people she could possibly count as friends during all this were dating and she felt like she was a third wheel half the time around them.

It was even more than that, if she were being honest with herself. While the idea of getting to dress up like that for the evening sounded nice in theory, she had about as much chance of going with anyone as Harry did Cho. Her heart sank for the poor lad as his crush admitted she was going with Cedric. Her prospects were even less endearing. Potter would ask her, of course, and anyone who proceeded to afterwards would likely end up in the hospital wing for one various reason or another until the offers stopped for a time again. And Sev...

She flipped the page hurriedly, it would be too obvious now if she stopped to stew over this, someone may come and see where she was and she wanted to actually enjoy this alone chance while she had it.

Regulus listened with the most absent of attention to these teenagers getting turned down left and right, the Marauders laughter echoing out into the hallway as he went exploring the rest of the carriage. Was he the only one who still remembered someone had put Harry in this tournament for more than embarrassing him? Nobody had even bothered to speculate on a suspect in ages, Regulus didn't really buy it was Karkaroff himself. It wasn't improving his mood he'd had no one to talk to in a while now, of course now that Peter had made up with his friends and they were all chummy again he'd go right back to being ignored. He should have known nothing about his life would ever really change no matter how much he heard.

He startled in surprise upon opening the next door as an orange cat came tottering out of the room, immediately twirling around his legs and purring in affection. Shaking his head in disbelief someone would bring their pet on this trip, he bent down regardless and gave a friendly scratch on the felines rump as he looked around once more, finding something new to wonder on. Why was it the pets were usually present? Magical animals as well, he reminded himself with a shiver of disgust at the basilisk. The paintings had all been present too, but he'd have never considered them as people. What was the criteria then for what was left behind as they were thrown around this place? It was something to ponder on at hand anyways, as he found himself sprawled on the floor, covered in cream colored fur while Hermione Granger dropped the surprise she'd gotten a date but wasn't telling who.

The chapter was finally coming to an end with everyone successfully getting dates, and Regulus snorted in disgust, was he the only one not obsessing with romance around here?

Chapter Text

"Achoo!" Regulus sneezed painfully hard, his eyes watering so much they were squinted nearly shut, leaving him half blind as he tried to gaze blearily around to their new torture grounds. The bright sunlight was helping nothing, the nausea that still persisted through their trips along this place was as heavy as ever, and this time in particular they seemed in a truly bizarre area that he couldn't imagine had to do with Harry Potter's circumstances. It was a garden, a truly illustrious one that Professor Sprout would water at the mouth to see. He'd landed on a pile of Honking Heleniums that were vocally none too happy at him as he scrambled onto the smooth limestone pathway, and looked around to see Evans the Muggleborn in the field across from him gazing in just as much confusion at some purple flowers he couldn't identify.

Brushing pollen from his robes and looking around carefully, surely no one had forgotten the Devil's Snare, he found nothing immediately dangerous about their environment, but didn't quite relax either. The hedge walls were about a foot above his head, but he could see even taller ones in the distance as if they fluctuated in size, or perhaps the whole place was built on rolling hills, and behind him in the distance he could see where the trail began in the shadow of an odd building. It looked sort of like an abandoned, though clearly once very fancy hotel carved right into a mountain. The huge cracks along its surface made him leery though it would collapse any moment and start an avalanche, so he wasn't keen on inspecting it too closely. Rising clear above all of this was the mountain peak, the glinting sun shining down right on the whole place like a spotlight.

He turned back around to see Evans was cautiously making her way through the plants with the most dainty of steps, and waited patiently for her to make it to the pathway before deciding she wasn't going to die so turning to be on his way in search of the book.

"Hey, err, Black!"

He turned back with honest curiosity what she had to say to him, they'd hardly spoken this whole time, and he certainly had nothing to say to her.

"I, um, I don't recommend stepping back off the path, alright? There could be something more dangerous than Dancing Dahlias around here, wherever here is."

He nodded once to show he'd heard before going back off, hands deep in his pockets. He was surprised at himself he didn't care anymore what anyone would have said about how he handled that situation. That he should have cursed her, or at least reminded her that as the more superior wizard he needed no such warning, would have been the expected return, but now he had other things on his mind to worry about than whatever that Muggleborn got up to in this place.

He didn't have to travel much farther, taking two right turns before he found the book nestled in a patch of strange-looking plants. From what little he knew of them, he'd guessed they were foxglove and irises mixed together in a bright plum color to create whatever was strong enough to hold that hefty book aloft nearly up to his waist. Even though it was in arms reach, he wasn't stupid enough to try grabbing it from the strange plant, and instead he looked miserably at his bare hands. Even if he did summon the book to him, he wasn't sure he trusted the strange plant enough it wouldn't leave residue on his hands to cause some adverse effect. Then his eyes brightened with an idea, and he shucked off his shoes, slipping them carefully into his bag this time, almost enjoying the warmth of the path on his bare feet while he pulled off his socks and used them as makeshift gloves before getting the book in hand. He was quite proud of his ingenuity and didn't care how ridiculous he probably looked as he read out the chapter title, happy at least this was being gotten out of the way already.

Frank had landed in a very prickly shrub, and the more he twisted to get free, the sharper the leaves dug into his clothes. He could feel small nicks where several had already broken skin. He was cursing so frantically by the time the hand was being shoved in his face he didn't care if it was You-Know-Who offering him help out, he took it with gratitude as he was finally pulled free.

"Thanks," he said in relief, already scratching at a bead of blood traveling down his wrist as he looked up into the werewolf's eyes. He yelped so hard in surprise he backed right back into the bush, which gave him a very uncomfortable prod and sent him stumbling back forward right into him. Lupin caught him with a look on his face Frank's panicked mind couldn't process. Was he smelling the blood? Was it going to send him into a frenzy? He didn't know, he bloody didn't bloody know-

"Oi, Moony! What was all that then?"

Lupin rolled his eyes with an expression anybody in the world could have understood. 'This idiot, right?'

"What do you think it was Sirius? Frank petting the thing?"

Sirius Black was giving him a look that was somehow more dangerous than even the werewolf had yet given as he was scrutinized, and Frank took another automatic step back. Black was splattered in what appeared to be gray paint and was already clearly in a bad mood. Frank saw this as a perfect opportunity to make his escape. He meant to turn around and leave, and found himself face to face with a very large hedge, at least twenty feet high. Looking around properly now, he saw there was only one path away, where Black was standing, with only a cobbled limestone walkway leading towards the bramble bush he'd landed in. It still had a few delectable, succulent green fruits hanging lowly from it, resilient little thing it was.

"I don't suppose you two know where we are then?" He asked into the awkward silence, taking all self restraint not to scratch at his itchy skin, the blood quickly mingling with sweat that had nothing to do with the warm weather.

"Not one little bit," Lupin said pleasantly.

"If we find out, we'll let you know at the next landing," Black shot off with more venom than a Venomous Tentacula could hold as he spun around and stalked off, clearly expecting his friend to follow. Lupin watched him go with an exasperated look, gave him an awkward sort of smile, before jogging after him.*

Swallowing uncomfortably, and well aware whatever insane garden they were in could possibly have that as well, he made his choice and stood his ground as they turned the corner and left. Counting to thirty in his head, he then left the area as well, hoping Alice was alright.

James was staring up at a tree full of golden apples and was very tempted to climb up and grab one. Not for eating even, just for something to toss around and do. Peter was being no help, humming to himself and bouncing on his toes as he watched a patch of Sunflowers carefully, the edge of their enclosure keeping them in a nice warmth despite the breeze blowing through. He seemed no more intent on breaking the awkward silence though.

"Wish Evans was around," James finally said. "Bet she'd be able to name every plant here. Wonder if that will give you the Midas Touch if you eat it?"

"You never need an excuse to want her around," he returned passively.

They were saved from anymore stilted attempts by Sirius' little brother's voice breaking the silence, and to James's further bewilderment, he saw an actual smile break out across Peter's face.

"We should go find him. I've been meaning to ask for ages-"

"Why bother?" James blurted in confusion. He barely registered Peter's downcast look at being interrupted, this had been baffling him for ages. "What on Earth have you two been getting so chummy about anyways?" His tone came out far more bitter in the end than he really meant it to, how he wished none of this had even happened anymore and they could just go back to school. If he had to find a way to get Remus and Sirius to make up again all over he'd take that over this constant spin-table of his usual life.

"I, I mean we, well he doesn't-" He's never interrupted me, just sounded petty out loud, but Peter couldn't think of anything else to say in that moment. The first time he'd talked to Regulus, he'd just been trying to be friendly in some bad circumstances as well as outsourcing a prank on Sirius, it wasn't until this moment he realized he'd been so excited to go find Regulus and ask him about this strange environment he'd not even bothered to question he'd be able to ask without somehow being overlooked.

He'd stuttered himself into silence, and James just gave him a bizarre look for it. For a peace offering, Peter summoned one of the golden apples to him and gave it a pass to James, who smiled in delight at the distraction and began tossing it in the air, turning on the spot and walking off without glancing back, expecting Peter to follow as usual.

Peter only hesitated for a moment before he did.

Alice landed in a fountain with an undignified squee. Standing up and checking all over her skin wasn't melting off or something, she slogged through the golden liquid and had to crawl on her belly to drag herself over the edge and flop down on the other side, shivering harder than ever. Realizing she was alone and instantly weary of this fact, she kept her wand held tightly and turned slowly, hopefully to clue in what was going on.

The fountain was glamorous, the water itself had a charm on it to sparkle in the sunlight from the two golden wands crossed, being held aloft by two people she vaguely recognized for some reason. It took a lot of concentration for her to recall that was Nicolas Flamel, and so possibly his wife Perenelle with him. As the book echoed around her of Harry being at the Yule Ball, and not enjoying it one bit by the sounds of how the night was going, then further progressing into the grounds where Hogwarts had set up a sort of mini garden path as well, she suspected her home school had been inspired by the Beauxbatons Academy for some decorative inspirations.

She sighed wistfully and shivered again Frank couldn't be here to dance with her at the mention of all this, she'd have much rather landed in the splendidly decorated Great Hall, and she winced in sympathy instead it seemed to be wasted on the patrons as not everyone's love life was going so well. Hagrid and Maxime, then Ron and Hermione even having an unpleasant spat, as well as Harry's Champion Rival giving off the oddest of advice before going back to the girl of Harry's affection. As grand as this place was, she couldn't imagine even its splendid manor could fix the myriad of problems going on in these worlds.

HPHPHPHP

Sorry I couldn't show off how I imagined the real Beauxbatons would look, but you know, they are outsiders and I'm probably cheating a bit by even showing off the gardens.

* Once again, there is a lemon related to this chapter in the link below, rated M for a reason.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/8677858/chapters/79787233

Chapter Text

Happy Easter! This chapter has nothing to do with bunnies, or baby chickens for that matter, and the chapter with the Egg in it is tomorrow... Enjoy!

To Stitches: Then I'll consider that a compliment and that I'm doing my job right, you're not really supposed to like James and Sirius right now. They're the height of their self-described "arrogant little berks." At least now they all recognize something has to change, rather than being ignorant, and or blissfully ignoring this factoid.

Yes Regulus kept the socks on his hands the whole time, and it was a hilarious mental image I hope you enjoyed.

Alice fell into a fountain I imagine Nicolas Flamel donated to his school made of solid gold, but that's purely headcanon.

Frank landed spread eagle and bounced several times uncomfortably, head spinning even worse. Forcing himself to pay attention, he looked quickly at all the accompanying crashes and groans to see everyone was still alright and no worse for wear, Alice had landed on a table so sturdy it hadn't moved an inch and was large enough she was several feet off the ground. So was Frank for that matter, this bed looked comfortable enough it would have fit all eight of them if they'd piled on. The more he looked in fact, everything in here was larger than average, including the giant boarhound having a lovely sniff around the older Black, who was grinning and patting the dog on the head. Then Frank grimaced in unease as it clicked where they were, and he hastily leaped from the bed and wondered if Hagrid was going to come stomping in the door any moment.

They hadn't come across any humans though, not even ghosts according to the Marauders Map, but Hagrid wasn't all the way human he now knew...neither was Lupin, he mentally corrected himself, and he was hopping along just fine.

He was having the roughest go of it though, he acknowledged quietly to himself, as the guy swayed on the spot and looked rather gray as he glanced at the window. Despite the clear sun still bright, he managed to look as if several weeks had passed since the last time they met, and maybe it had. How badly did the full moon affect him even when he wasn't in the body of a monster trying to eat them?

There weren't house-elves about though, but animals a plenty. What was the baseline for who stayed and went then? Intelligence? The missing House-elves from the kitchens all but confirmed this theory the more he thought about it, and despite his ah, brutal nature, Hagrid was most definitely of human intelligence. Then Frank winced at his own analytical thoughts, Hagrid had never been violent to a soul. Neither had Lupin really, before he'd nearly murdered them all. He was the most mild of the Marauders, everyone knew he just laughed along or stayed out of the way, but rarely participated. It was hard to keep what he'd read about beasts and actually knowing of the two in line, how misconstrued were texts then?

"Frank?" He looked up in surprise to see Alice holding his hand and Lily giving him an odd look, he must have been quite spaced out in his own thoughts.

"Sorry darling, what was that?" He asked politely, dragging his eyes away from the door Lupin was still leaning against, watching Potter read with only half his attention about whatever Rita Skeeter's Scope was going to be about, nobody had taken a liking to her articles, most of his attention was focused on messing with Hagrid's pink umbrella he was apparently trying to get to work. The older Black had curled up in Fang's bed with the massive dog, the two cuddling and looking sickeningly adorable for it. Pettigrew and the younger Black were still up at the table, scraping their nails against what were presumed to be the infamous rock cakes.

"I was asking if you were alright, you've got bits of blood all over you," she squeezed his hand and already had her wand drawn, but her face still looked rather pinched. He knew he'd upset her again by having watched Lupin so long, but he just didn't understand why he was the only one who still was. As far as he could tell, nobody had really looked twice at him since the incident had happened, why was he the only one who still seemed aware how dangerous Lupin could be? At least, that's what every book he'd ever read about them said, they were always considered apex predators whether it was a full moon or not.

Maybe just full grown werewolves though, he tried to more clearly define. Lupin was still a teenager, an adolescent. Maybe the older he got the worse it would get, but for now he was still holding it in? Maybe that's why he didn't participate in the Marauders' pranks, he wasn't trying to tempt himself?

They'd heard of him full grown though, he argued back with himself, still unhappy at this clear lack of answers. He'd been a teacher at school for a year with zero problems, and he'd definitely been an adult by then, this was nearly twenty years into their future after all. The night of the full moon he hadn't even murdered anyone while loose on the grounds. Perhaps that wolfsbane potion had some sort of latent effect on him? While he hadn't taken it that night, he had been taking it for months previously, perhaps that had just dulled his senses?

"Frank?" This time he did hear Alice call his name, the concern in her voice evident as she inspected his exposed skin as if looking for something else she could fix.

"What kind of plant did you land in? Can you describe it?" Lily asked clinically, but there was concern in her voice as well.

"I'm alright," he quickly reassured them both. "I'm just, ah, thinking."

Lily didn't look particularly convinced, but Alice gave a soft laugh and a kiss on the cheek, distracting him all the more. "It's alright Lily, he's been known to be in his head for ages." Her eyes were still trained on him though, it was clear she wanted to know what had so caught him up, but he pursed his lips and didn't answer, skin still twitching uncomfortably in the present company. She didn't press him on that, and he loved her all the more for it.

In a very obvious chance to change the subject, he asked them, "Any guesses about that egg then?"

"Maybe, it'll act like a key during the next task?" Alice offered. "It'll, unlock something he has to use for the next part."

"They said it was a clue in itself though," Lily corrected, her eyes sparkling with joy once more, she clearly loved a puzzle. "Also, I don't think it would make noise if that was the case. You might be on the right track though, Harry may have to use it somewhere in particular to make it work."

"You think if he opened it underground, like in the dungeons, it would make a different noise?" Frank nursed the idea.

"Something like that, yes," Lily grinned in delight. "Cedric's clue of taking a bath with it certainly indicates it needs some special circumstances to activate the clue," she finished intensely. Frank wondered, before all this started, how long she'd gone without talking to anyone to be doing so with such enthusiasm now as she propelled off the idea into other avenues, mentioned a few potions she wished she could dunk the egg in to see the properties it housed.

Alice found herself going cross-eyed in moments as the two started bouncing ideas off each other, quickly slipping into plants, potions, and even spells she hadn't heard of. Alice swung their hands together and patiently let herself be ignored in their fun. Frank only had two other dormmates, and while they didn't outright ignore him, she got the feeling they didn't go out of their way to include him either.

She instead began listening to the others chatting around her. Potter had not gotten Hagrid's wand/umbrella to work for him and was now sitting cross-legged on the floor, the book in his lap to more easily flip pages while his hands were tossing a golden apple about, she had no idea where he'd gotten that. Remus Lupin looked like he was falling asleep right against the door, even a new development such as Grubbly-Plank mysteriously taking over the class was only just keeping his eyes open it seemed.

Hagrid was indisposed? What could that mean, Alice wondered on as she looked around more critically in his home for clues, but she'd never been in here to know if anything was out of place. There was no fire going, despite the snow on the windowsill, but he could have been out on the grounds as a gamekeeper was want to do and it interfered with his class for once. His bed was rumpled, but that could have been from Frank landing on it. From what they'd heard of his cooking, the food could have been days old or brand new and they'd never tell the difference. She really hoped Harry went over there to check on him after class. After that, spat, he'd had with Maxime, the poor guy clearly needed a friend.

Potter winced in surprise when he did seem to get to the reason, Skeeter's Scoop indeed.

"-That awful woman," Lily cut off what she'd been saying to scowl at the book in Potter's lap rather than the boy for once, still an odd sight. "How dare she spread his secret like that, Harry's bad enough!"

"You don't think others have a right to know?" Frank asked her in surprise.

"Not in this way," she tossed her hair and didn't even seem to register Frank's odd tone. Alice did, and she frowned up at him once more. "That bloody woman will completely misconstrue Hagrid just like she has been Harry. Even if by some miracle she doesn't, what does it matter as he's no threat to anyone."

Frank was frowning in unease by the end, tugging on his robes and looking very deep in thought once more. Alice sighed as she realized what he'd been debating this time, and she still deeply disapproved of his very black and white stance on this subject. Didn't being around Remus Lupin and Hagrid the past six years prove there was more to this than the stories they'd heard growing up?

Potter was protesting this article as vehemently as Lily was, and Alice got a bit of personal amusement at least those two were agreeing on something with so much vigor neither even seemed to realize it. Their child followed in their footsteps, he seemed in no way ready to let the matter end there about Hagrid and she was not the only one smiling at the kids' reaction to this as well. Sadly, Hagrid was not forthcoming, and Alice did notice the heavy-looking lock on his door was indeed shut tight enough Hagrid himself would have a job of breaking it down.

The passage of time was weighing all of them down as the Hogsmeade trip came and went in a blast of a fashion. Between Ludo Bagman's bizarre interactions and Skeeter all but rubbing in what she'd done, they all would have taken a crack at getting a chance to talk to Hagrid same as Hermione by the end. Of course none of them were expecting Dumbledore of all people to be in here, but trying to picture him sitting at the table with Hagrid and chatting with his friend in this time of need was honestly such a pleasant thing to think about, they were almost smiling again.

A feeling that only increased as Dumbledore took charge of the situation, flat refusing Hagrid's resignation and not allowing him to hide away in shame for something he had no control over. Alice wished she could hug her headmaster right now! She eyed Frank obviously, who was still fidgeting with his robes, but nodding along nonetheless. At least his faith in Dumbledore seemed to have tipped the scales in some regards, and she'd take the slow progress that was.

Chapter Text

They really should have enjoyed those other landings while they hand the chance, as every one of them groaned in painful misery upon impact in the most uncomfortable way possible across hard, cold tile floors. Peter got the worst of it, he landed with an echoing bang upon copper pipes that left the walls themselves vibrating as he finally came to a stop face down in the bathtub beneath.

"Everyone still alive?" James called miserably, rubbing at his head and staring blearily around, but his vision wasn't coming back into focus.

"More or less," Sirius answered as he began looking around for Prongs' glasses.

Remus peeked over the edge to see Peter curling onto his side now, whimpering in pain, several fresh bruises likely to come of it. He hopped down and offered him a comforting pat on the shoulder while performing a minor healing charm to at least help take the edge off the worst of the pain, allowing him to sit upright at least.

Lily had gotten it the easiest, landing on the wooden towel rack and knocking the whole thing over, now tangled up in them. Frank went over to help get her out, while Alice got uneasily to her feet, holding the golden egg curiously.

"Where are we?" Lily demanded as she finally pulled the last, thankfully dry and clean, towel from off her head while Frank tugged the fluffy white one free where it had tangled her legs.

"Prefects bathroom," the lone Prefect of their group answered as he pulled his friend out of, what the others now realized, was indeed a swimming pool sized bathtub.

She looked around with admiration at the grandeur of every gleaming tile, the picture of a mermaid more reminiscent of her youth than any textbook she'd found in this castle, and the diving board as she grudgingly made her way to Potter and handed him his glasses she'd somehow acquired in her mess.

He set them back in place and she immediately regretted her moment of kindness as he beckoned her to follow. "Come here Evans, you're going to love this."

"Last time we ended up in a bathroom it wasn't exactly pleasant," she grumbled as she watched him regardless, bolting right past everyone to the available taps each with a different jewel inset, and turning two on at once.

She, Alice, and Frank edged forward to see one pipe shooting out rainbow glitter, the other had lavender scented, flower shaped bubbles dripping down. Lily knelt and stuck her hand in curiously, to find it the perfect temperature.

"This thing's a damned miracle worker if you need to relax, I've spent ages in here this year before a Quidditch game thanks to Moony sharing the password. Really helps relax the muscles," he said with an open grin at her, she was pretty sure he wasn't even imagining her in the tub yet.

"I'll bet even Snivellus would take a bath in this," Sirius Black muttered from behind his best mate, who laughed in surprise. Lily scowled hatefully and stalked away. James watched her go with an unrepentant smile, he'd never grow tired of her tenacity.

"Passwords Pine Fresh, it never changes," he called to her retreating form.

"You ever think you're taking the wrong approach there," Alice was frowning at the pair of idiots, Potter didn't even seem to realize he'd done anything wrong.

"When I want your advice, I'll ask for it," he said in all cheerfulness.

Frank scowled at the idiot, took Alice's hand, and led her away without argument, joining Lily near the door now, the three of them inspecting the egg with curiosity and discussing if Harry would actually work out the clue in this place like Cedric Diggory had suggested.

James watched the three with longing, he'd love to go over there, take Lily's hand so casually, just shoot the breeze and talk amongst her and her friends all day. He was genuinely happy for her she finally had decent people to talk to, she'd never given herself the chance always hanging around Snivellus, and he hoped it stayed that way. From what he'd known of Smith and Longbottom before all this they were decent people, always stayed on the fringe of classes, but for two purebloods they certainly never got involved in the nastier students he did know of their houses.

He knew if he tried now she'd spurn him again, he really shouldn't have laughed at Sirius' joke and he knew that, but didn't she get that's what it was? A joke? If Padfoot had said the same about Regulus or even himself James would have laughed. She was always so diligent about everything in her life, it was one of the many aspects of why he loved to watch her. The way she always thought through a question so long before answering, she often missed her opportunity in class, she studiously stuck to what she was doing despite his best attempts, be it hanging around a waste of space like Snape or her homework, he only wanted to give her a bit of fun in her life she really needed. She'd get that eventually.

James turned back to see Regulus was trying to pick a fight with Sirius, again. There was another lad who needed more fun in his life, as well as that stick removed from his arse.

"You really don't have anything else to say to him?" Regulus demanded.

"What's there to say?" Sirius forced casualness in his voice without looking up, clearly intent on looking for his favorite tap that would give the foam the consistency of a snowball. "He'd say he could never do it, again, we believe him, I guess, and we move on." His hand was trembling so hard by the end he didn't seem to know which way he was trying to twist the tap anymore, but it wasn't moving regardless. "Guess we'll all find out what's what eventually, yeah?"

Peter and Regulus exchanged an uneasy look. It wasn't a solution as far as they were concerned, Sirius had managed to avoid the question, but it was...progress?

James clucked his tongue and jumped in to stop anything else happening, so long as they were all stuck together he would not rest until he got some enjoyment. "Tell me you lot aren't actually going to spend the entire time we're in here, of all places, talking!"

Then he shucked out of his clothes in record time once more, boxers alone covering him as he dived head long into the water. Sirius grinned and quickly mimicked him, with a cannon ball off the diving board splashing the mermaids painting. The two caused water to immediately start sloshing over the edges as they began a rowdy game of tag.

Peter did not feel like joining them, but he dutifully sat on the edge of the pool next to Remus, who was smiling and laughing at their antics and egging them on. He summoned the book to him, which bizarrely came shooting out of one of the pipes that had yet been turned on, and flipped it open before looking around and seeing Regulus hovering uneasily. He beckoned him over and smiled when he did with only a bit of hesitation. None of them felt up to talking anymore it seemed, and if asked they would have blamed it on how close they hopefully were to discovering Harry's egg clue.

"The Egg and the Eye? What's an eye got to do with this?" Lily shivered in disgust at the idea, wondering for a wild moment if the egg was going to somehow get Harry put in the hospital wing for hurting his eye or something.

"Maybe Moody makes another grand appearance," Frank offered, "helps him out again."

Lily nodded this made sense, admittedly more distracted than she would have liked to admit as she eyed Potter and Black in the pool. It seemed for every step she took to actually try and be civil to him, more in pity than anything for this mess so thoroughly and repeatedly having an affect on him, he took seven back. Reverting back to the same loathsome toerag at the first chance, would the idiot never learn his lesson?

She listened intently as Harry made his way here, enjoyed himself for a few moments with the pool as well, and then nearly had heart failure when Moaning Myrtle appeared. Her popping eyes stayed on the Marauders, none of whom batted an eye at this development. Only little Regulus Black was spluttering in surprise, and he got a mouth full of soapy water from his brother for that before he could say anything.

"Well, this bathroom just lost a bit of appeal," Alice shivered in revulsion as she hugged herself for a moment at the idea of a ghost peeping in on her.

"It's never occurred to me they can just appear in the bathrooms, of anywhere in here," Frank agreed with a grimace. Lily looked around hopefully, and spotted Harry's copy of the Marauders Map. It must have been, as it was several years older than the one she'd seen in said Marauders possession inside Honeydukes, which was currently still in one of their pockets. This one had aged parchment, was crinkled, and dogeared. Yet the enchantment to activate it still worked just as well, and she scanned it carefully now for their place, finally spotting their eight little dots, but not another soul except Mrs. Norris several floors down.

She showed the other two, who only looked slightly less queasy, as that didn't change how often it likely still did happen.

Harry's unendearing encounter with her was almost worth it though, as she helped him work out his clue, and they all listened open mouthed at the mermaid song.

"Damn, that's brilliant," Frank was smiling now at the prospect of hearing this in person but still eyeing the water, and the two rowdy boys in it, without much hope.

James and Sirius had been listening, and were quite pleased at this new development, but now that it had come to pass what Harry would be dealing with, they refused to let it sink down their groups spirits as much as it was Harry's. Yeah, how would he breath underwater for an hour? It was a valid question, and one they could deal with later. For now James heaved himself out of the pool and went padding over to them, but they'd clearly been so distracted they didn't realize any such thing until he said right beside them, "are you really not going to get in?"

Smith dropped the egg in surprise, it did indeed clatter around before opening with a painfully loud racket before he went chasing after it to close it. The three were left with more aggrieved looks than ever on him, so he shrugged and said, "have it your way." Prize now in hand, he jogged back and did a flip into the water.

Sirius waited for no such thing as permission, he'd taken the eggs noisy distraction to swim over to Remus, grab his legs, and jerk him in. He came up trying to splutter curses through the soapy water and swatting at him to Sirius' unrepentant smile. "Now if only we were the only two in here," he whispered into his ear, reaching through the water to squeeze the inside of his thigh before taking off again.

Remus swallowed another mouthful and was now grateful nobody could see below his waist, and the water really was rather warm, that's why his skin was suddenly so flush.

"Well then you two, are you going to have a listen?" James called, pushing his hair out of his face to eye Peter and Regulus, but both had been reexamining the mermaids song and barely looked up long enough to shake their heads they didn't want to get in. "How on Earth did we get saddled into this mess with such boring wankers?" He demanded of Sirius.

"Beats me Prongs," Sirius nodded, before taking a breath and ducking under the water. James quickly followed, and Remus rolled his eyes before acquitting.

By the time they came up, Harry was stuck in the trick stair and witness to the strangest of nighttime scenes even they'd never been privy to.

Lily watched as Potter laughed himself silly at his sons misfortune, then rolled onto his back and began floating peacefully in the water like he could take a nap to the sound of this mess. It infuriated her to no end, Harry could get into so much trouble if he was caught now, did he really not care at all? She reflected back if she'd just seen this back before this mess started she would have thought him the most uncaring heartless person there was, but she knew better now. That was him fidgeting, not just kicking his legs around in the water at the idea of Harry getting caught. He kept dumping his head back into the water and then sitting up and ruffling his hair into messy spikes rather than show his concern why Barty Crouch was so weirdly involved in something to do with Severus' office.

It wasn't as if he was afraid to show any other emotion, like brash carelessness or obnoxiousness, why then did he feel the need to smother such things?

Regulus watched over Peter's shoulder as Moody saved Harry yet again from getting caught by Snape and fixing this mess for him, he couldn't blame the auoror's intensity over the map either when he got his hand on it. While Sirius and his two friends continued splashing each other wildly, with no hope of hearing the warning the chapter was almost over, he reached over and grabbed the two idiots clothes and held them firmly against his chest. He wouldn't wish that mess upon anyone.

Chapter Text

James almost landed on his feet this time, stumbling forward madly in what could have been anything from icy slush, to mud, to quicksand, it was so shocking and repulsive to his bare feet, and quickly found himself face first with a solid block of water. He blinked dazedly several times as he rapped his fist against this new oddity, it didn't even come away wet, then screamed as his eyes adjusted through the murky swill to the sight of the four dead bodies.

He scrambled backwards so fast he found himself tripping right over someone and ruined any pretenses of clean that bath had given by now being covered head to toe in muck like everyone else, heart hammering out of his chest, unable to find his wand, and still looking right at them.

Sirius was trying to get madly to his side, wandless as well and feeling more naked for it than if his boxers had somehow vanished in between jumps this time, but finally getting unsteadily to his feet and hurrying over to Prongs to see the exact same thing. It was a horrifying sight to behold, and looking quickly down to see James uninjured and tangled up, nearly naked with Smith wasn't even distracting him.

Nobody else even looked down to notice the same yet, all eight of them were transfixed at the four floating figures tied down to a crude statue of a merperson carved into a boulder.

"Are they really-" Lily began in a quiet, broken voice, eyes on the little girl, she had to be younger than Regulus...

"N-no!" said Black's voice was shaking too much to even poster at his usually superior nature. "This, this must have something to do with, aha!"

He lunged forward for the book, held down by the blunt end of a trident so half buried in the muck as well as them, and pulled the now dirty blue binding free, instantly flipping it open to reveal the new chapter title, The Second Task.

"So, they had to come down here and find, people?" Frank started rubbing at his chest to get feeling back in it, now leaning against the barrier for support. "That's what they meant by recovering something taken? I bloody hate this tournament."

"I'm long since past," Alice promised, shivering in more than cold despite the mud clinging to her skin. "Mind getting off of me now Potter?"

"Eh?" He glanced down and seemed to realize he was keeping her pinned down, and dutifully rolled off with a quick uttered apology. Then his already pale visage went ever worse as he did a quick look around and didn't see his clothes anywhere, with his wand in it! Oh bloody hell, what happened to the shit they left behind, did they ever find out?!

"Here," James very suddenly found himself with Sirius's pants in his face. "Thought you idiots would like those back."

Sirius did not care that thanks to his brother he now knew what his sock tasted like, he quickly shoved his hands into every available pocket before coming up with Prongs's wand, looking over to see him doing the same with his own.

"You two really are idiots," Peter repeated as he watched Prongs get dressed. "What if he hadn't thought of that eh? And after Regulus went through all that trouble with his shoes?"

"We were having some bleeding fun for once," James scowled, his voice only slightly muffled by his shirt. "Maybe if you lot had joined, we all could have gotten zapped out of there at everyone's convenience!"

"That's all this is to you, isn't it? Fun," Regulus shook his head in disgust.

Neither of them answered, as they did not feel the need to explain themselves to him. Sirius huffily put his pants on and purposely turned away from him to go back studying the no longer dead, but still really, really dead-looking four.

"So, that's Ron and Hermione huh?" He said purposefully loudly to Remus. It was admittedly a guess, but not a wild one, considering the amount of times they'd been described. "Ron's taller than I pictured. Not hard to see why Harry's got a fancy for Cho though, she's a looker, eh Prongs?" Her's was much more wild in said guess, but if Ron and Hermione were down here, logically these were people the champions would care about.

"Eh," he barely cast another look at the girl with long dark hair, he was straightening his shirt and watching Evans, who was now studying the nearest merperson's house with great interest as it sank in for everyone where they must be. Beneath the Hogwarts lake.

It was far too dark down here to get a sense of anything too far from their little bubble of air, but what they could see was admittedly attention-grabbing. The seashells acting as a sort of roadway, the tangled seaweed much shorter than they'd have thought leading to the fun question of what they used to keep that cut down here, and even the houses were something few wizards had ever gotten the chance to see in such detail. The one closest to them was thatched together very cleanly, with no front door apparent.

"I don't understand why we're already at the second task when Harry has no idea what he's going to do to get down here," Frank was frowning heavily at the four victims still. "I'd have thought we'd get a whole chapter dedicated to that at this point."

"I'm not complaining, the sooner this is over, the better," Regulus muttered under his breath as he kept going through Harry's classes, his friends of no more clue than them how any of this was going to work out.

Remus' robes were now dripping with muck and water, he still wanted to kick Sirius for the impromptu bath, but he was frowning at him for a wholly other reason as instead of putting the Bagman jersey back on, he was flipping it this way and that with a frown.

"You don't have to keep showing off Sirius, you swimming around nearly starkers did that plenty," he reminded.

"This turd's been bothering me," he said off hand, before dropping it into the mud and crossing his arms. "Offering Harry all that help, avoiding the twins, something's up with him."

"So, what, you're going to run around shirtless now?" He laughed. "It's February up there Sirius, you'd die of frostbite in minutes."

"You'd keep me warm, wouldn't you Moony," he grinned, uncrossed his arms and leered at him, the scars visible on his chest courtesy of Remus making him wince and try to avoid looking at him.

"Your knackers would fall right off," Remus shot back, very proud he barely had a change in expression.

"You'd keep me warm," Sirius repeated, quite the opposite now with a salacious grin.

Remus was saved the tongue-twisting issue of responding to that by Sirius himself, but in the future. His return note to Harry was more than distracting enough to draw everyone's attention.

"Why do you want to know the Hogsmeade dates?" Evans actually asked of him.

"To take a stroll around, obviously," he rolled his eyes at what he clearly thought was a stupid question.

"And you don't find that the least bit dangerous?" Longbottom asked as if checking his sanity, which clearly slipped a few degrees when he answered.

"Nah, I know that place like the back of my hand. Honestly, can't believe I haven't met up with Harry in there yet."

Potter was now picking mud out of his nails without a care in the world, but at least Lupin and Pettigrew were looking at him with slight concern. It was good to know they weren't all insane, Regulus decided.

He continued on with more build-up instead, including a lesson from Hagrid over baby unicorns and another pep-talk from the gamekeeper. He couldn't help but sympathize heavily with Harry when he didn't ask for help because he was too afraid of disappointing Hagrid, if that wasn't the story of his life in the shortest words possible he didn't know what was. Bolstering quickly past that found the eight of them all laughing in surprise at Ron's response to this challenge.

They all looked affectionately at the redhead floating behind them, his absurd suggestion to just shove his head in the lake and ask for, well himself back was ludicrous, but seeing him here in person really put a funnier spin on that. They were all equally eyeing Hermione with great interest. Her bushy hair was hardly subdued by the deep water, it was almost strange to see her without a book in her hand, even in this place, as that's how they always pictured her in their head.

Frank and Alice would readily admit it was a blessing and a curse not to see Neville down here, to even have the image of how he'd look like this for even a second, while also getting to admire him in the closest thing they would get to see in person.

"Do you think, if we'd ever been in the hospital wing while she was petrified, we would have seen her then?" Alice asked.

"I imagine so," Frank shivered in further unease, thinking they'd look even more dead with their eyes open and glassy.

It was a shame, Lily thought, that they couldn't watch all of this happen in real time regardless, while they stayed hidden away or something. She'd have liked to see Harry ageing before them if that had been the case, but now it seemed she may not even get to see a picture of him at this rate, let alone in the flesh.

As the twins led Ron and Hermione away to McGonagall, presumably leading them down here, they all began looking even more anxiously at his friends. What would happen to whomever Harry was down here to grab if he couldn't accomplish this task? This tournament was still years above him after all, and these two wouldn't be in real danger if he couldn't win at a game, right?

Then Dobby was shaking Harry awake, and the poor kid was having to rush down to this tournament, fearing for his best friend's life while swallowing a what exactly? None of them had heard of gillyweed!

James couldn't stand the tension anymore, he ruffled up his hair, the wet and mud causing a hilarious mess as he suavely turned to Evans and told her, "you know, I'd still come down here and get you even if I didn't have magic to hold my breath for an hour."

She gave him a sour look for joking at a time like this, the boy really had no bounds.

This remark did have the effect of getting someone else's attention though.

"What do you mean it'd be Evans down here?" Sirius Black whined like a kicked puppy. He came over and gave his friend a good prod in the side to make sure he had his full attention.

"Oh come on Padfoot, we all know the merpeople would have murdered you out of sheer annoyance, even if you were asleep. At least I have a chance at getting her out in time," James Potter more than happily teased him.

Lily was watching all of this with a single raised brow and complete disbelief this idiot thought she needed anyone's help, he knew better than anyone what she was perfectly capable of. So then it really was just a show, one her, Alice, and Frank found themselves sucked into. By the time Harry had eaten the odd plant, gotten into the water, and found himself past the grindylows, almost all of the tension had been sapped out of them.

Now Harry was actually down in the village, the first one to do so, and honest fascination as first Krum showed up, transfigured into a shark! James could have kicked himself he hadn't thought of that one, he really had been worried. Then Cedric with something odd, like a fishbowl on his head, they'd never even heard of that one. Then Harry decided enough was enough, he wasn't going to leave the poor little Fleur junior girl down here and took matters into his own hands, dragging her and his best mate up.

It was nice to have the chapter end on such a happy note for once, Regulus decided, as Harry was awarded high marks for his act of bravery, even if he should have realized they wouldn't have just left the kids down here to die, obviously, he'd known that all along... the errant thought didn't stop his eyes from lingering on the four one last time as he warned the others he was almost done, their gaunt faces and the meaning they held leaving him with a sinking feeling heavier than the mud they were still standing in. It was obvious who Sirius would have down here, whom everyone around him would be able to really answer in an instant they'd pick. It was an obvious answer to everyone, except him.

Chapter Text

It was not a large cave, but they'd been in much, much tighter situations too. This place was the Taj Mahal compared to Aragog's cupboard. Despite the sun coming in through the entrance, they each lit their wand tips to be sure every corner was thoroughly explored so that no surprises could jump out at them, though only the hippogriff seemed present.

He seemed to have recognized them from last time, or he was too invested sniffing about for more bones to really care about who had joined him. A few bread crumbs and an empty flask of what smelled like pumpkin juice were all that remained of Sirius's current hideout, this place was somehow even more barren and depressing than the island he'd been on. The book was simply lying in the middle of the floor, open to reveal the large black dog's still image and the chapter title showcasing this very fact, there wasn't even a mock bed to mess up this time.

Sirius watched his friends' faces draw tight at this miserable place, still shaking slightly in their cold and muddied clothes, and grit his teeth. No way was he going to let them wallow like this about his future while he was in this place helping Harry. He jumped for the book, then smiled very smugly as he proudly read the chapter title.

"Padfoot, you have to actually leave first before you can return," Remus told him mock pleasantly.

"And stop talking about yourself in third person, idiot," James added with a forced smirk.

Sirius pleasantly stuck his tongue out at them, they'd both known full well what he meant, as he went off for the next part of Harry's story, ignoring the slight shivers of the drafty cave. He'd turn blue before he admitted he already wished he had a shirt back on.

The first thing of note did indeed implicate Sirius into getting more trouble, nothing new for him, but the note he sent was confirmation these caves were the ones beyond Hogsmeade and the remnants of the meal promised all this came to pass soon in this chapter.

First though they had to deal with yet another insufferable potions class.

Regulus had not spent any particular time with Severus, one on one anyways outside of their group in the dormitory, and hearing of how he interacted with these students wasn't endearing him. If Snape found him as incompetent as he found everybody else, he didn't really understand how the guy managed to have any friends. Why was Evans the Muggleborn always standing up for him? He'd yet seen evidence explaining that, and things weren't going better for him as he humiliated Potter's kid once more with Skeeter's latest drivel of an article over the Granger Muggleborn. What exactly did Severus get out of the exchange?

The only slight answer forthcoming was when he then separated the trio and taunted Harry about a rather interesting exchange, Severus did indeed blame Harry for breaking into his office, when they all knew it to be Crouch. The guy couldn't really be that clever if he only considered the one suspect, a student. Even if Regulus hadn't known better he'd think it foolish not to consider more options. He watched in silent fascination as Evans the Muggleborn stewed in silent fury about her supposed friend threatening to poison Harry with Veritaserum, and the current Potter very loudly protesting this fact.

Sirius kept going in a very jerky sort of reading way as he alternately shouted about what their school enemy continued to do and agreeing with Potter, he seemed to be barely paying attention as the really interesting part of this went on, Karkaroff showing up.

Regulus frowned when he heard Snape make such a familiar gesture that no one else seemed to understand, even Sirius. That's because Bella hadn't even bothered trying to talk to him this summer, but she had to Regulus. The stories she'd told with such reverence, brushing the exact spot on her right arm as well, her dark eyes glittering with more to come. She'd promised him if he continued doing right, unlike his idiot brother, he'd go far. She'd never showed him what was on under her sleeve to prove as much, but he believed her, then and now. The problem was, what would Bella say now if she knew about the Dark Lord like he did? That he was a liar, a half-blood, that he'd be defeated by a baby and a Muggleborn, and no one quite knew why except some magic tied in with love.

His parents would throw him in the bin if he dared come home and say such things to them now that he knew the truth, Bella would probably rip his tongue out while laughing he must have not heard right, but Regulus had. Over and over again, Harry Potter continued diving into the magical world and uncovering these secrets. The real question was, what was he going to do about it?

Peter watched alternately as everyone continued gripping their wands, itching to start a fight with Snivellus for one reason or another, even Smith and Longbottom though nothing had happened to Neville this particular time; all the while Regulus got completely worked up over something else. He knew that for a fact, he just wasn't sure what that something else was. Whatever Harry managed to overhear via Snape and Karkaroff was sending him back to biting on the inside of his cheek once more though.

He knew, possibly better than anyone at this rate, what it felt like to be torn in two over this future they kept hearing about. Yet Regulus hadn't shared these fears with anyone, not really, even though they'd all known in an unspoken way from the very beginning which side Sirius's little brother had placed himself on. Now here they were once more, hearing of his allies in this future, and nobody to speak to about them. If Peter asked, would he answer? In this space, probably not. One on one again, possibly, but then, did Peter want an answer for that? If he kept inquiring into his life, did that make him any better than a wannabe Death Eater himself? He cast an anxious look at Prongs and Padfoot, both of whom were ignoring him in general, but at least they weren't shooting him side-eye, suspicious looks when they thought he wasn't looking this time. He'd liked talking to Regulus, but both of them had already been inquiring as to why. If they were really, finally going to overlook a transgression he himself couldn't see past, should he really keep trying to put that in jeopardy?

Lily sighed in relief as Harry was finally released onto the Hogsmeade grounds, to this tiny dark cave, which was somehow more welcoming in presence with an escaped Azkaban convict in it than her favorite classroom. She ran her hands down the smooth plumage of the hippogriff as her stomach twisted painfully, it was getting harder all the time to keep her best friend back at school separated from Professor Snape. It's not like Sev would miss an opportunity to humiliate James Potter with that article and then turn around to one of his freaky Slytherin friends and hold some whispered conversation. She wrapped her arms tight around herself and tried to pretend the burning feeling all around her face was all in anger, even a bit of shame for this display of her friend while Alice and Frank watched her, and not mostly tears of frustration for all of this having no end in sight.

Remus sighed as he watched Sirius read through his catch up with Harry, none of what they were discussing particularly pleasant. He supposed the two chatting about the insanity of Harry's life was marginally better than if Sirius had been trying to reminisce about James or something, what with him standing right here, would be kind of awkward. He sighed audibly as the idiot shivered slightly in the sharp breeze that still managed to get inside this little spot, Sirius really was the most impulsive idiot alive, a fact he would never seem to grow out of as he spoke of his time in and out of Azkaban and then finished it up by still asking Harry to keep him informed rather than telling him to stay out of it. He read through it all with his usual superior tone, making Remus wish once again the other four hadn't even been dragged along on this little self discovery. He could see what Sirius was fighting with every word to hide, how scared he was this was his mirror into the future.

Chapter Text

To aaquater: Oh yes, Sirius' shirtlessness will come into play, I'm intentionally doing it for a reason that I hope you all enjoy.

To Stitches: I imagined Regulus' Patronus would be a lion, looking much like Scar in fact, but a manticore is a really interesting option I hadn't considered. Do you think that your patronus is always the same as your animagus? I consider that cannon personally, (though considering McGonagall is my only evidence not 100%) and so if it was a manticore, that would be legitimately the coolest! I actually have a list of nearly every HP character and what I think their patronus/ animagus is because I'm a huge nerd like that.

HPHPHPHPHP

Alice landed on what distinctly smelled like dirty clothes. She got confirmation of this fact by sitting up and a pair of used, and soiled trousers, slipping off her head.

"You alright Smith?" A slurred voice behind her understandably asked as she squealed in disgust and made a beeline for the ajare bathroom door. She barely paused to acknowledge it was Potter, shaking his head from a sizable lump, no telling what he'd smashed into upon their recent landing, as she slammed the door behind her and turned the shower on.

James blinked at the sight before he really took stock of it all and nodded to himself. They could all use a bit of that. He came across several more spare bedrooms in this place before finally finding another one that was deemed important enough to have an adjacent bathroom. He didn't waste much time himself before taking a proper shower and watching the ilk slowly go into the drain as he began to wonder where they'd landed this time.

Frank was still rubbing water, thankfully clean water now, from the nap of his neck as he took his own gander around this place and found himself in an immense library that answered that very question. It was practically the size of his home, but like nearly every room he'd come across it had a disturbed air about it. The books were all pulled off the shelves and scattered on the floor, some even ripped apart. In between every book case was yet another portrait of yet another Crouch.

He wasn't going to try the headache of asking any of them anything again of what could have been going on around here, and so ignored their tisking of the mess. The book he was looking for could have been in here, but he was much keener on finding Alice and Lily in this strange place, so he left the shambles and went off once more.

Lily rubbed her head as she took uncomfortably to her feet, using a hedge to keep her upright as she took in her surroundings of the great sweeping lawns. The hedges were becoming quickly overgrown, her mother would go spare for the sight. Whatever shape this one once had been certainly didn't resemble it anymore. The manor she found herself gazing at seemed in much better state. She wondered what kind of man would live in such a place and not take proper care of his property. She trudged through the grass, and stumbled to her knees in surprise. Yelping the Lumos spell at once for fear of anything at this point, she instead lit her wand tip upon a shoe.

Curiouser, and curiouser.

Making her way almost ghost-like through the shadows and the tall grass until she finally reached the gravel path, she found herself at the front door open for invitation. Hesitating and never particularly liking being alone recently, considering all the deadlier places they'd landed, she debated entering until she heard Pettigrew and Lupin's exasperated voices from just inside the door. At least they weren't screams of terror.

Ignoring the silver knocker in the shape of an eagle's head, she pushed it open wide and was in a grand parlor. It too was a mess.

A table was knocked over, a bottle of brandy long gone to waste. A high-back chair was nearly pushed into the fireplace's unlit grate, and beyond that was a set of stairs where Sirius Black was sitting, still bare-chested and looking almost bored with the proceedings of his two friends having a good laugh with each other.

An eagle owl was snapping its beak reproachfully at the pair, something tied to its leg, but neither of them were paying it any mind as they kept enchanting a pocket watch to hover in the air and letting it fall, the goal for the other to manage to get it to hover again before it hit the ground.

"I've found the book," Frank announced, hand in hand with Alice as he descended the stairs, the pair stepping around Sirius Black who didn't even look up at them, maybe lost in thought for the first time in his life. They spotted Lily still standing in the doorway, eying the betrayal of them looking decidedly cleaner than the mud she still sported and the new twigs likely caught in her hair.

"I'll wait until you've freshened up though," he concluded kindly.

"Much appreciated," she smiled in return, making her way upstairs to do just that.

Regulus was still running a towel through his hair and wondering how on Earth Sirius kept it so long, his was much shorter and it took forever to dry out, when Longbottom started the book. He startled a bit in the bathroom but thanked the fortuitous timing regardless, five minutes earlier and that would have been even weirder.

The Madness of Mr. Crouch? Was this possibly going to explain all of his odd behavior then? It would be nice to have a straight answer like a man going barmy for once, it would explain why he'd thrown his kid into Azkaban for doing something his mother had always insisted any sane pureblood would give their arm to do. Yet another odd juxtaposition of the world he'd never been privy to until all this, it seemed.

Alice sat cross-legged at Frank's feet, playing absently with his shoelaces as he read above her, wondering just as much as everyone else just how loony Crouch had always been. Apparently he couldn't keep his place together worth a damn without his elf, poor little Winky's deteriorating desinsion into freedom being once again highlighted as Harry gave the kitchens another visit.

The Marauders were still enjoying their little game, all four of them now with the extra challenge of avoiding spells from each other while keeping the pocket watch aloft. Lily was a step below her as she watched their game and tried to pretend otherwise, but it was either that or the wood paneling, so she wasn't hiding it well. Alice had never been in the Gryffindor dormitory on a normal day to guess as much, but she wondered if she always pretended to ignore them while they were up to their hijinxs and nobody had just ever seen otherwise. She never talked about her roommates really, and it's not like Snape would be up there to notice.

Nobody had seen the little Black yet, though it was a large manor, she still felt bad it didn't seem anyone was trying either. The times she and Frank had tried to chat with him he hadn't really been very forthcoming. Still, this place had an odd feeling about it, and someone should check on the lad. He'd been so quiet the past few places, she couldn't really recall him saying a word.

The moment she began getting up, Lily leapt to her feet right beside her ready to go. Maybe Alice had misjudged and she'd been fighting off the temptation to curse them instead of join them, it was surprisingly hard to tell with her.

"I'm going to have a poke around," she explained to Frank, who'd clearly been distracted by the story as he only looked up as she gave him a peck on the cheek and explanation.

"Oh," he stuttered in surprise, looking back down at the others and swallowing uncomfortably, already half closing the book, before he hesitated and glanced out the still open door instead. It was a half moon, Lupin was being the most lively of the bunch. Evidence of which, most texts had said, made him just as dangerous as a full moon for his energy could lead to a dangerous quarrel.

'One that led to hitting your mates with a curse to have them hanging in the air by their ankle apparently,' she snorted softly to herself as Black was effectively put out of the game for the moment while his mates laughed themselves silly.

Frank swallowed visibly, but then very obviously settled himself more comfortably on the carpeted step. "Alright love, I'm too curious to stop, you two have fun though."

She smiled brighter than the moon, giving him a more affectionate peck on the lips this time and running her hand through his hair as the two departed up the stairs.

"Anywhere in particular you want to have a look?" Lily asked pleasantly as they began traveling down the first hallway. "I found a ballroom a bit back, though I can't imagine the man was renowned for hosting parties."

"Think my Mum went to one actually, years ago," Alice agreed with a giggle. "She said his wife had been the life of the party and he spent the whole time boasting to his coworkers. Quite the surprising dancer though." She listened to Harry visiting the owlery by himself and watching from afar as Hagrid and Maxime had another interaction, a pleasant reprieve from anything death-defying recently, still leaving their current whereabouts and the chapter title all the stranger. She corrected the assumption though, "no, I actually had a goal in mind, I was thinking of looking for little Regulus Black. Haven't heard from him in awhile, and though nothing's attacked us in this place yet, I still thought I'd check on him."

"Oh," some of the enthusiasm dropped from Lily's face, and Alice couldn't blame her being weary of the lad. He'd been least friendly to her. She surprisingly picked herself right back up though and quickly hid that with a believable smile just as fast, "that's a really kind thought Alice, you're full of those. I really see where Neville gets it."

She blushed in surprise and had no comment for that.

They finally found him in the last room of the last wing, Alice couldn't help but think he'd sought the place out on purpose and the idea was reinforced when they saw the puckered look on his face as he inspected the room. The look didn't temper out much when he saw he had company, but his voice was cordial enough as he said hello.

Alice had seen as well as anyone how he'd been actively seeking out, even talking to Peter Pettigrew as of late. So maybe the kid was a little standoffish until he found some common ground, and she knew of at least one of those. "So, you think Crouch Jr. played Quidditch?"

This was the exact wrong thing to say apparently, Lily instantly deduced, as his uneasy frown turned into a full blown scowl.

"How the bloody hell should I know that, there's not a trace of the bloke in this whole house. Apparently he died the second he was shipped away to Azka-" he broke off and purposely turned his back on them.

"Oh, right," Alice finally said lamely to the dead silence that followed that. It wasn't hard to think for any extended time why the idea of Azkaban would bother him in particular for several reasons, his inevitable future being one, his brother winding up there being another obvious.

Lily's instinct kicked in though only moments later. "She was just trying to be nice, a lot more than you ever bother."

Both of them were briefly distracted by the book, Hermione being sent hate mail of all things and the poor girl having to go off to the hospital wing for it. They exchanged commiserating looks at the mess all around, finally turning to leave him to it as neither wanted to hear once more how much the mudblood probably deserved it, and missing the fact he watched them leave.

The two of them spent the rest of the chapter traversing the barren halls having a good chat about magical creatures they'd still like to see, those nifflers from Hagrid's lesson sounded adorable.

Remus finally let all three of his friends down and only preened in his victory for a few moments before he let himself get really distracted by the story, and Hermione swearing vengeance upon Skeeter. "I really hope she does it too," he nodded along, "that woman's caused enough trouble, and we can maybe even stop any of that before it starts."

"I'm game," Sirius hopped to his feet at once, then swayed dangerously, he had been upside-down the longest. Remus grabbed his arms to stop him face planting, not bothering to hide his resumed snickering at how flush his chest visibly was.

"What if someone even worse took her place though?" Peter asked as he shook out his legs, very much regretting letting himself get hit when he did, he'd thought Prongs couldn't have lasted that much longer! "Like, like someone who blackmails people to get stories instead of just making up-"

"One problem at a time," James rolled his eyes, very much repressing the spine tingling-feeling whisper that told him Peter didn't want to change the future- but obviously he did!

There was some interest piqued all around regardless at the last task being described by Bagman out on the Quidditch Pitch! Disgusted mutters, of course, for what they'd done to the place, but so long as it was put back right this maze sounded like an...interesting place, and the last one thankfully.

None of them were looking forward to being in there themselves, as was inevitable at this point, so they were as happy as anyone at the randomness of Krum pulling Harry aside, to talk about Hermione.

Peter giggled shrilly at the renowned Quidditch player thinking James's kid was any kind of romantic threat, even if Harry didn't like Hermione. He watched now as Prongs puffed up his chest in pride for the same and ruffled his hair, shouting loud enough for neighboring mansions to hear about his kid getting any lass he liked and able to beat that International player to boot.

There was something, off about it though. He couldn't even explain to himself for a moment why he forced himself to keep laughing longer than usual, why he was dithering uncomfortably in place when he had no good reason to as nothing was really wrong. Well... something had been wrong, for ages though. He'd felt it since the start, when Remus and Sirius had made up from their fight. Then that shite with his future had happened, and now everyone was ignoring there was some shift happening in their group. Their first game in too long and some old jokes didn't feel like it was really fixing anything- and what was Crouch doing there?!

Frank Longbottom was no longer leaning back casually on his elbows and pretending he wasn't watching them out of the corner of his eye, he now sat ramrod straight on the stairs and had no inkling of his audience, they were all so riveted by the sheer oddity of what they were hearing, glad for once they weren't at the scene of this crime. Standing in the shadows of the Forest, even one the Marauders knew so well, would have been terrifying, but somehow being in said man's house instead put an extra layer upon what they were hearing.

Madness was no joke then, the man had truly cracked, and Harry and Krum were there to witness the ravings.

Frank would swear the house itself stopped breathing, all eight of them taking in every word of Harry trying to soothe this Ministry official, then leaving Krum to take over as he went for Dumbledore. He was even selfishly glad Lily wasn't around this time, as Snape once again stepped in the way with his arse-like tendencies, he didn't need any distractions of how she would have explained that.

It was still all the stranger when boy and Headmaster returned, to find Krum stunned. Hogwarts truly turned into a madhouse for the following moments, and it wasn't until Hagrid was leading Harry away from it all that they each began really letting it all sink in.

Crouch was gone, his madness likely the cause of all this, but all of it? Frank did not think an onset of spotty mentality would cause him to put Harry Potter into the tournament, but things were progressing fast now into the final legs of his year, and still they were as scarce on information to the culprit of that as ever. Frank was a bit ashamed of himself he hadn't been paying nearly as much attention to details as he would have liked, and even found it some relief to look over and see the Marauders as aghast at all this as him. They were always known as clever students, to be able to do the stunts they pull, now three fourths of them being Animagi at their age was no easy feat. He was missing something, they all were.

Chapter Text

Chapter is dedicated to aaquater, who has not only been my go to person for so long now I don't remember a time without them on anything I have a mind to talk about, but helped in particular nailing down some details of this and future chapters, as well as looks over each of the chapters to make sure they're coherent. Don't know what I'd do without you!

To Stitches: The Patronus' changing is indeed a minor plotpoint in book six, and JK says it used to be a rabbit before it turned into a wolf, which makes me sad Tonks and Luna never got a scene together. I'm not saying an animagus could ever change too, but I do still think if you became an animagus it would be what your patronus would be at that time, example if Tonks had become an animagus before she fell in love with Remus it would have been a rabbit, but afterwards it would have been a wolf. The animagus would never switch of course, but it would still represent the animal of your soul at that time. That's just my personal theory though.
Judging does indeed go both ways, these guys still have a ways to go before they all accept each other, some faster than others...

HPHPHPHP

At least this time when Alice face planted something, it was relatively soft, even if she did find herself moments later on the floor instead and whatever she'd hit was now resting on top of her. It was removed moments later, Frank there once more and fighting off yet another sneeze, which she couldn't manage.

Fighting weary limbs to get to her feet with Frank's help, all of them were coughing and sneezing at the musty, sweltering hot room. It was only lit by the fireplace, casting long shadows over the eight of them. The only things of note were the rug in front of the fireplace and the chair she'd toppled over with a tiny table she hadn't managed to disturb, a bottle sitting innocently in place. Yet still no one said a word, they were all covering their mouths and trying to repress the abundance of noise they were making and looking at the lone door. Wherever they were, the very air made them feel as if they didn't belong.

Remus Lupin had landed closest to the window, and he'd been staring out rather than in like the rest of them. Now, eyes still trained outside, he reached over and tugged on the sleeve of his nearest friend. Peter Pettigrew chanced a glance over his shoulder, in the wrong direction it seemed, as he looked up into the sky. It wasn't visible to Alice, but she didn't think it was a full moon, he didn't look particularly worried about it. Then his eyes cast over the rest of the view, and he flinched, nodding his understanding.

The floor moaned in protest as their other two friends finally began to move, making their way over to the window as well. Alice watched their feet carefully to make sure the whole floor wouldn't give out on them. By the time they looked out as well and put it together, Alice didn't think she needed an answer. She was very glad now she hadn't knocked that little bottle over, she didn't want to know what the snake venom that was healing You-Know-Who would do if it had landed on her. Now the real question was, where was the snake?

It stood to reason, as every other animal they'd come across was usually about, shouldn't this one be? Her blood shivered just beneath her skin as if calling to it, she swallowed convulsively and prayed not to vomit as she also remembered the last time that snake had been mentioned, whom it had eaten. Were the bones of poor Frank Bryce somewhere here as well?

A slight tap on her shoulder would have sent a blood-curdling scream from her throat if it hadn't been lodged in place, but it was only Lily, grasping the book tight in her hand, her skin sallow with disgust as she glanced about every corner of the room.

Regulus Black stood alone in the farthest corner, arms crossed and nearly blending into the darkest of shadows. Everyone was accounted for, no-one was currently being attacked by a killer snake, but Alice was beginning to wish they'd landed back in the antechamber of the Chamber of Secrets, the rat bones scattered about and the caved-in ceiling more hospitable than this place.

She gently took the book from Lily, who made no protest, she looked a bit relieved as she more firmly grasped her wand. Flipping along the length of the book, it was quite an achievement they'd made it so far along to her, she finally found where the blank pages ended and their next chapter began. "The Dream," what a seemingly nice notion, for just a silly little dream to be the focus of a fourteen-year-old, rather than this haunted mansion.

Her voice sounded odd in the painfully quiet room, no one had spoken a word but her. The crackling fire set an odd echo to her words, and the topic the trio was discussing was not banishing their ill will by any means. The three fourteen-year-olds, not much younger than them at this rate, were sitting around discussing everything that had happened to Crouch and Krum, throwing about all sorts of possibilities. She grew more grateful with every book her and Frank's original wish did not seem destined to be true, she didn't want Neville involved in this.

Alice glanced up sporadically as she got through their late night, or early morning depending on one's view, to gage the others' reactions. No one was offering their own ideas for these circumstances. The Marauders didn't seem capable of speech at all really, none of them were really looking at each other, but instead looked like they had the lock-jaw curse placed on them. It was no feat to remember who was here in Harry's time, helping You-Know-Who regain his strength, the teenager before her looked more like a ghost every passing second he was forced to remain in this place.

Lily and Frank were no keener of speech it seemed, attention solely fixed on watching her from both sides while she stood the most vulnerable reading in the middle of the room. If they weren't watching the window, door, or shadows about the ground waiting for the telltale hiss of a snake or some other monstrosity to descend on them, they were watching the pages with impatient distress for this to be over.

It was absolutely sad, Alice decided, that as the trio arrived at the owlery for Harry to pass all this along to his godfather and the twins interrupted with talk of blackmail, not one single person could still break the silence on what this could even be about. Regulus Black finally twitched in the corner, but by the time Alice looked up he was still as a statue once more and she had no idea what his inclination for this was. The Marauders were silent as ever, there were no laughs to be had in this place of death.

When Harry and his friends went to talk to Moody and it still housed nothing but speculation and worries, it was almost a relief to switch to Sirius Black sending a letter so quickly, full of worry about his godson. It was honestly quite sweet, and showed him being far more mature and caring in this future than she really thought he was capable of. The only person he'd ever shown concern for here was Regulus, and it was fleeting and intermittent with insults so much it was a mystery how he really felt about anybody.

The trio practicing spells on each other and another divination class kept the pace going in a calm way, though none of them could still manage to relax one bit. Despite how relatively relaxed this chapter had been going, their current environment left nothing of promise. Either Harry was going to have yet another dream about this place, or worse, he was somehow going to wind up here.

An answer came not moments later as Harry dozed off to Trelawney's chat about whatever random planet. A dream then, a nightmare, a waking torment she forced herself through as her heart pounded crazily in her chest.

Peter Pettigrew, being tortured for a blunder, involving Crouch. It was, beyond words, what she was forcing herself to read into the dead air. Alice didn't know what she was expecting from the Marauders as she got it all out, and they didn't seem to either. It was only as his life was spared by You-Know-Who, in favor of feeding Harry Potter to the snake instead because someone else had fixed the Crouch mess, that Peter gasped in almost unintelligible words, "I'm sorry," before he doubled over and vomited. Mostly on Sirius, though due to proximity it managed to land on all four of them.

"Ah Pete," Sirius Black finally spoke to him again in the way he hadn't since before his betrayal had been announced, like an exhausted but overly affectionate brother. He Evanesced the mess away before grabbing his arms and helping him to stay upright, which his shaking knees showed was not an option much longer. James Potter rubbed his back and Remus Lupin was tisking affectionately while doing a much more through job of getting rid of the puddle of sick from the creases of all their clothes. None of them really said anything though, what was there to say?

The sight was somber, like watching ghosts reenact what they were supposed to do. Alice finished in the lingering silence with Harry finally getting into Dumbledore's office and walking in on a scene, feeling less resolved than ever there was a good way out of this.

HPHPHP

For the record, Nagini will never appear in this series, due to her being a maledictus and so technically of human intelligence but trapped in a snake body. It's a mystery they'll never be able to solve but we all know.

Chapter Text

Sirius didn't know how he was supposed to feel when Peter turned the tables on them and asked to be given some space, but he knew what he did feel. Relief. He'd walked away without a word, hardly aware of his surroundings as he sought out the most secluded space he could find, he'd all but curled up under the desk a second after Peter was done speaking.

He felt like he'd betrayed Prongs at the upsurge of protective he'd felt, hearing of You-Know-Who torturing Wormtail. The rat deserved it of course, and much worse! But, he argued back with himself, it should come from him, them. He was the only one to hurt his friends...he scowled at himself, glad there wasn't a mirror handy or he'd have likely broken it. He'd taken countless revenge on many a foolhardy student trying to curse Peter and Remus in retaliation for whatever he and James had done, but this was no longer a school yard problem, and he'd get more than detention if he told the Dark Lord to stay away from Peter. If he cared enough at all to do that, it was the whelp's own fault going to him...

Remus sat down carefully beside him, and then brazenly took his hand and held it carefully in his lap like spun glass. Sirius did not protest, but in fact smiled just a bit, imagining James and Peter coming around the desk to see this display. That would be fun to laugh off or talk themselves out of.

The momentary wave of amusement left him feeling more wrong footed than ever. "I want things to go back to normal," he snapped, before he forced a scowl into place and jerked his head in the direction he still knew he was, "well, almost normal-" he stopped himself abruptly, his gut clenching painfully at the look on Peter's face as he'd heard of his future a haunting image. Peter regretted it, he had from the moment they'd heard of it, but this had made it more real to all of them like nothing had before. They could say James was going to die, but so long as he stood between them all it had always felt more like a figment, a threat. That, had been all too real.

"Do you really still blame him?" Remus asked quietly.

"You don't?" Sirius returned sullenly, poking his head around the corner and squeezing his hand, watching Peter and Regulus talking, actual smiles on both their faces. He sighed heavily and said cuttingly, "okay, no. Not, I mean not really, more I'm, just tired. Tired of, this," he gestured to Bagman's office, a place he'd have drooled to get to before all this madness started. "Tired of being mad," he finished wearily. "The only person who I want to be mad at anymore is, V-Voldemort."

Remus flinched uneasily, but didn't protest either, they had to start somewhere.

"That's, a start," Remus nodded, still holding his hand firmly, giving his fingers a squeeze, "but Sirius, we can't just, go back to the way things were before."

"I know that," Sirius sighed.

Remus had to keep going though, get it off his chest in the momentary peace. "I wouldn't want things to go back to 'normal' anyways, not really. I, didn't trust you Sirius, I didn't believe you, and that's one of the many, many problems about this future. Something has to change."

"What though?" His voice sounded small, he was watching James, trying to get Evans's attention. "I don't want to lose anymore," he finished in a whisper, eyes flickering to Regulus, who was now chuckling softly at whatever Peter had just said. His, friend, looked quite pleased with himself, and Sirius wondered how often Peter made them laugh instead of being the punchline. He squeezed Remus's hand back and feared letting go now more than ever.

"Change doesn't mean lose," Remus tried to pacify, but there wasn't much hope in his own voice. It was hard to imagine how they were going to get through this without losing something, someone.

Lily groaned in pain once more, slowly forcing herself to sit up and take the precious time to deduce they were in an office now and nothing else more dangerous about, before slamming her eyes shut and rubbing small, soothing circles into her temples. What she wouldn't give for a Headache Solution, she could have whipped that up by her third week in school, all she needed was a little Armadillo Bile to get started-

"Like some help there Evans?"

Well, maybe there was another way to get some tension out. "Come another step closer Potter and you'll lose that hand." She opened her eyes in time to see the digits recoiling away and smiled with satisfaction, that headache was fading away already.

He still bounced on his heels in front of her for a moment, that pretentious smile still stuck in place as he watched her get herself to her feet. She looked quickly around to see they were in a very large office indeed, more than twice the size of their average classroom, with the walls and nearly every available surface covered in Quidditch memorabilia.

She grumbled at this misfortune, but found she was the only one who was. Alice had Frank by the hand, he was nodding politely with a slightly terrified look on his face from Alice's intensity as she gave him an in-depth account of something to do with the Quaffle in an enclosed case, the year beneath it clearly meant something to her. Regulus Black was running his hands over some Quidditch robes that were worth more than her house, and Peter Pettigrew was giving him a hesitant tap on the shoulder. She was surprised for a moment not to spot the other two, but looking around with purpose now spotted the two sets of shoes peeking out behind the desk nearly buried under paperwork. She didn't know what they'd found to interest them so much, but clearly Potter didn't care either as he continued trying to engage her.

"Here you go Evans," he presented her with the book with the same gusto as if he were proposing with it instead of a ring, and no she hadn't been imagining what flamboyant and over-the-top way he'd do that too so she could find another new way to hex him. "I know this isn't really your scene, so I thought I'd let you have this chapter while we actually enjoy ourselves."

"How thoughtful," she scoffed, snatching it away anyways. He was wrong, as usual, she wouldn't mind being in this place for the rest of their journey if they could, given alternatives. However, if they ever wanted this to end, someone would have to be able to pay attention to this thing. "It's a good thing somebody here isn't a nut like you lot, or you'd still be stuck on the first book."

"I'll always be happy to have you along Evans," he grinned, and the chapter title caught in her throat as she had the misfortune of looking at him when he said that, and seeing just how sincerely he meant that. Really? After everything that had been going on, he still meant that? Was taking the time to pay her any mind at all! It was truly the most baffling thing Merlin himself couldn't answer.

"The Pensive," she said loudly and with purpose, her skin prickling uncomfortably as he leaned against a full-body figurine of some likely famous Quidditch player whom he wasn't looking twice at, eyes completely riveted on her.

Regulus was now running his hand reverently along the smooth cloth emblem of the English National Quidditch team. Maybe his parents would be just as proud if he brought fame to their name once more by joining a professional team...

He startled in surprise at the light tap on his shoulder, turning around wearily to find Peter watching him with a sort of awkward smile on his face. "So, are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

Regulus blinked quizzically at him for a moment, they were almost the same highest despite the age difference he vaguely noticed, before answering, "we're in Bagman's office?"

Peter looked around himself properly before he laughed, and it brought the first hint of color back into his face. The guy looked a mess, like he really had just been brutally tortured with a forbidden curse instead of just hearing about it.

Regulus stepped to the side to show the signature just under the stamp, "nearly everything in here's signed by either Bagman or someone he was on a team with, couple of rivals too. The desk means this is either his study, or his office at work."

Peter almost beamed as he nodded, but didn't really look surprised. "Darn, now you gone and ruined what I came over here to say."

Regulus bit at his lip for only a moment before he blurted out, "why are you over here?"

Peter didn't look nearly as taken aback as Regulus would have thought, like he'd been expecting the question, but Regulus explained himself anyways. "Not that I mind, it's just, I mean after..." he trailed off awkwardly, imagining his father striking the back of his head for stuttering and not finishing a sentence. 'You should not speak until you intend to be heard!' For some reason talking to this lad had never felt forced though.

"I asked them to give me some space," Peter answered quietly, his eyes looking intently at their shoes now. "I didn't want them to feel obligated to, I mean it's not like I don't deserve, I'll just take the fact that they're talking to me now and not go badgering for more until-" He stopped, swallowed, and didn't seem keen on continuing.

"Until, what?" Regulus couldn't help but ask without thinking, again. There was a hunger deep inside of him he recognized only in Peter. While everyone else continued treating this like a game, or an unfortunate accident, they alone felt their realities drawing all too near.

"Until, we know more," Peter finished, looking at him again. It wasn't true hope he felt, but it was something other than the misery that had been clouding him since his betrayal. Maybe if he served enough penance in this future, maybe if they found some proof this didn't have to happen, maybe if he did try something new, like making a friend he'd never have considered before. Maybe...

James couldn't help but laugh affectionately at his future son, this book really was a whirlwind. He was glad Evans didn't seem to notice how shaken up he still felt about the dream they'd just heard about, instead he smiled at her mutterings of Dumbledore dismissing Harry and taking care of Fudge first, they were of the same mind on that. So his son decided to help himself to Dumbledore's pensieve, and her look at him also seemed to have them agreeing he was a chip off the old block.

The pensive wasn't going to be much for a laugh though, he could already tell that what with Harry landing in the Ministry courtrooms of all places. His stomach clenched uncomfortably as he remembered Sirius had never even been given a trial in this place, and to stop himself running to him or vomiting himself, he concentrated harder on Evans. He wished he could play with her long red hair as much as she did, holding the book uncomfortably and fidgeting with strands across her eyes. He forced himself to wonder on why she didn't wear it back more rather than the uncomfortable story being played out of Karkaroff being dragged in and all that followed.

Lily wouldn't have admitted if she were in that chair herself how much Potter was distracting her, still watching her so openly like he did all the time anyways- but what was this? Karkaroff had named Snape as a Death Eater, and Dumbledore had absolved him? Something painful flooded through her as she read that, and then reread it again a dozen more times to herself. There it was in plain text, a confirmation and condemnation in one sentence. Sev was going to be a Death Eater, but he'd also leave.

"Evans?" She startled, surprised she didn't rip the page right out as she looked once more at his hazel eyes. He seemed to have spoken out of turn though, he looked just as surprised as she was. There was something, vulnerable, he clearly hadn't wanted her to see as he just as quickly turned away, leaving her with nothing to gape at. She knew what he'd been thinking though, as he turned to watch Peter Pettigrew once more.

Her throat still felt swollen and painfully tight, it should have been easier to keep going now that he wasn't watching her every move, but she somehow felt more exposed than ever. What would Sev say if he were here? Would he defend himself, or be proud of this path his life had taken? The only way she'd be able to ask would be to finish this and get back.

The next memory was only mildly distracting, Bagman, a Death Eater? She was aware the man was an idiot, but he really didn't seem the type, but then, why was he so intent on trying to help Harry this year? That still made no sense, but he was absolved of the crimes easily enough, and his Quidditch fame kept him from getting even the threat of Azkaban.

Alice stopped abruptly rhapsodizing over her favorite save ever recorded and looked to the book in Lily's hand with a sinking feeling for how this memory was starting. Frank looked just as concerned as she, Crouch had his own son on trial, this was not destined to end well.

When the time came for Crouch to state the crime, Lily didn't even seem able to say it. Potter even reached over and gave her a rough pat on the back like she was physically choking and she didn't even react! Instead she finally dragged her eyes up, right to them, and with white trembling lips whispered the slated crime.

For the second time in a very short period, the air itself went dead. Neither Alice, nor Frank even seemed to know what to do with themselves as so much information was dumped on their heads like a sledgehammer. Aurors, them? It was an idea they'd both nursed, but for the reward of that being the price of their sanity? An answer as much as a curse to why they were no more in their son's life than Lily and Potter.

Frank would have started crying, more out of frustration than anything. The Cruciatus Curse, another unforgivable curse. He'd gotten a first-hand account only minutes ago hearing that used on Peter. He felt cold all over as he wondered of his mother, and how Neville's reaction to them being mentioned before made him want to be sick. The Unforgivable Curses seemed slated to haunt every corner of his life. What had he dragged Alice into just by falling in love with her?

She in turn just felt quietly furious, like she'd drag anyone who looked twice at them to Azkaban right now. She told Lily quietly, calmly even to keep going, and she'd say it a thousand more times herself if she had to like she had back when this started. This was not their future, it didn't have to be, and if that little Junior kid had been at the wrong place at the wrong time, or been involved, she needed to find out every detail and make it right for her, Frank, and any possibility of a future.

Chapter Text

Sirius once again found himself floundering in water. At least this time as he got himself onto hands and knees the water ended there, but his skin was tingling all over even as his eyes glanced around.

It was dusk, only the faint hint of light kissed the horizon and even that was going fast, giving him the glimpse of large hedges surrounding him on both sides, one way forward and back, both of which seemed completely dry to his indignation. He just simply seemed to find himself in a ditch, or puddle...that was still making his skin tingle more every second- in the maze!

He made a guttural noise that was in no way a scream as he tried to leap to his feet and get to dry ground, when he stopped at the sound of what was undeniably a scream behind him.

His skin now felt like he was fizzing all over, only his feet remained in and it was making him jittery, right on the edge of pain. Alice Smith though had the brilliant idea to try and climb right onto the hedge, and she was now white-knuckling the foliage, completely free of the water, and screaming.

He instantly lunged back towards her, unsure of what he could even do to help, but as the buzzing along his skin soothed the farther back into the water he went, his gut took over and caught her around the waist, dragging her back in forcefully.

She caught her breath in relief the moment her rump splashed back into the water, and he gave one of his own.

"Well hi there," he said cheerfully to her dazed expression. She was running her hands up and down her arms, Sirius understood the feeling, his were still tingling slightly, but he had no desire to lie down flat back in the water even to alleviate the feeling. "Fancy meeting you here," he finished with a Cheshire grin that made many a girl's hearts melt. She could probably do with the distraction for the time being.

Alice finally dragged her eyes up to see Sirius Black grinning down at her, every bit the prodigal hero he thought himself, and honestly was to her. She'd been locked in pain and terrified to let go even if she could have. She couldn't help it, she smiled back. "Thanks," she breathed.

"You're quite welcome!" He said with zero traces of humbleness, it was almost impressive. It almost reminded her of Lockhart in a way, the notable exception being she knew he was much deadlier with his wand. His expression started to falter though as she kept watching him, and he turned his face back to examining the area again, as did she.

The first thing they both noticed was, there were no sounds of approach. It made both of them even more uneasy than their watered entrapment. Both of them knew the dimensions of the Quidditch Pitch this was supposedly taking place in, so their companions most certainly should have heard her screams of pain, but there was no sound echoing back.

"Frank? Lily!" She called, already knowing it to be in vain.

There was no returning answer, except from Sirius Black again, who was eyeing the water with distaste, his fingers each tapping against his thumb in a pattern of agitation. "Do me a favor and don't scream again," he said abruptly, before he almost vanished into the night. She held back a scream by just the tip of her tongue as instead her eyes had to struggle for several moments to see she wasn't suddenly alone though, but a great black dog stood before her.

The last two times she'd seen the ferocious beast, it had been getting ripped up by a werewolf while he held it down, and cowering away from fire-breathing dragons. Neither happy memories to be sure, and this wasn't likely to make the list either. It only seemed slightly smaller now in comparison, and even then the great black dog blended so well with the shadows of the hedges she could only just make out the glimmer of teeth and eyes in the bright moonlight.

Then her blood chilled caused by no magic, as she looked up at the sky once more, and saw why he may have taken this particular precaution. It was a full moon.

Padfoot took a few experimental steps away from her, she wanted to cry out for him not to leave her and just barely held that in as well, as he took one paw out of the water and onto the dry grass beyond.

His sharp yelp of protest sounded louder than a blasting hex as he staggered back into the water, and suddenly Sirius stood before her once more, shaking his head in the exact same way as the wounded dog from moments ago.

"Well that bloody didn't work," he said sourly as he walked back towards her, and sunk into the water to sit cross legged beside her with a visible pout. "Some enchantments don't work as well when we're Animagus' but we've only just started experimenting with which ones, and I haven't even a clue what we're stuck in, do you?"

Alice wasn't even sure she could get herself to answer now she'd kept her throat so jammed quiet, but finally after several deep breaths she managed in a whisper, "should we be talking? What if, I mean your -well the werewolf-"

She couldn't figure out how to phrase the question politely, what if the bloodthirsty monster found them while they chatted.

Black's whole demeanor changed in the blink of an eye. His face tightened, and she was given the chilling look she'd seen him directing at Frank several times. "It's not a full moon, relax. The big bad Moony won't come out to play tonight."

She looked frantically from him, to the seemingly full moon to her, and back several times, but he didn't seem up to elaborating. Taking one more deep, painful breath, she forced herself to believe he must have better knowledge of this than her, so nodded slowly and instead answered at normal volume, "nope, have no idea what we're stuck in. Not meant to for several years I suppose," as if any of them had forgotten Harry was stuck in this tournament several years too young.

He watched her now like she'd just started babbling away in mermish. "You, believe me?"

She couldn't help but laugh, just a bit, at the genuinely surprised look on his face, coupled with some residual relief her fear had immediately been abolished. "You seem to be an expert on the subject," she pointed out. "How can you tell anyways?"

He tipped his head to the side in an almost bird like way as he studied her, his long dark hair falling across those bright gray eyes. It wasn't hard to see why most of the girls at school swooned over him. She however still saw the quiet, calculating look of someone who'd lived through far too much in a short amount of time, the same look they'd all been carrying for...days? Weeks now? Time was so nonlinear during this mess.

He answered, to her surprise, in a politely cordial way, almost scholarly, like Remus had back when she'd managed to talk to him around all those Quidditch tents.

"Takes practice, but you can see the glimpse of it waining if you study its edges. You're not entirely wrong, it's barely a day old, Moony's probably dead on his feet," he finished in a quiet voice that housed more worry in one name than she'd seen him display their entire time together.

There'd barely been time amongst the shock in the beginning of all this mess for him to show proper mourning for his best friend's future. During the entire third book's run, he'd been either cocky with assurance or worried for himself, until there at the end, where he'd just been downright murderous, and since then, just aloof to everyone. Now she saw the clear worry as he, like her, looked around once more for any signs of approach from the others.

The two never actually spoke to each other, though at least Regulus had a good excuse. Lily on the other hand just had questions she wasn't sure she even wanted to know the answer to from him. The two had landed only feet away from each other, and both took to their feet instantly and drew their wands, but not at each other. In mutual agreement, they just waited wearily, knowing exactly where they were and expecting the promised dangers any second.

Instead, Regulus moved first, cautiously crouching down and never letting his eyes rest in one place for a second as he dug the book out of the hedge's base. The two had landed where the maze split into three pathways, open in front of each of them, and the third being a dead end, where the book's cover was peaking out. Lily hadn't even seen it in the gloom. Shivering with distaste, he kept his back firmly pressed to the wall and began reading what they all knew, The Third Task.

Lily didn't even recognize the look that crossed his face several times while he read, but he kept his face low to read, so it was hard to make out his expression regardless as she kept careful watch.

It wasn't that he didn't trust the Muggleborn to forewarn him if something did head their way, she'd had plenty of reasons to turn on him in the past and yet hadn't, but he couldn't deny how vulnerable he felt, holding his wand aloft for light to read the print rather than having a spell on the tip of his tongue.

Only as he read through the first couple of paragraphs of the trio talking did it really occur to him, he was putting his trust in her. It hadn't even crossed his mind to turn away and forge this place on his own, but he stood here actually trusting her competency instead of visa versa. He wasn't sure if he had asked her to read instead how she'd have taken it, but he knew he wouldn't have just left her here unguarded, it didn't feel right to even think it. What was right and wrong anymore, he'd just have to keep coming up with himself, slowly.

For two people who had never actually directly spoken to each other during all this mess, Frank and Peter found themselves surprisingly enjoying the verbal sparring they were doing as they traversed the maze. The argument was simple in theory, but not so much for them given past experiences. Would Muggle technology work, if any of them actually had any? What with their little 'bubble' keeping them trapped from the school that blocked technology, neither seemed able to convince the other to his side even if they'd had proof.

Listening to Malfoy doing something bizarre and the trio talking about it may have broached the subject to the two, but it hadn't started so easygoing. They'd landed right next to the Triwizard Cup, a useless prize to the pair, and had merely stood in uneasy silence as each debated departing on their own to go find their friends. Rustling on just the other side of the hedge though, something far too large to be human judging by the jostling at the very top of the barricade, had both of them deciding it was possibly best to stay where they were. The maze was designed to attack someone going through it after all, and they'd both come to the silent conclusion if they didn't move, it wouldn't register them.

That particular theory though, was proved wrong, though neither of them knew it.

"Moony, come on mate, open your eyes."

Remus groaned miserably and twisted away from whatever was pulling on him. His eyes felt like heavy weights were wearing them down, he could feel the sleep crusting them together double as he even considered lifting them.

"Remus, please do not force me to set this whole ruddy place on fire just to get you moving, because you know I'll do it."

"Go away Prongs," he knew his voice slurred terribly, but the threat had to carry nonetheless, because James's voice quieted for a blessed moment. His mind was already lulling back into a peaceful dream, he was running just to run, even on an empty stomach, it felt good...

There was a soft rustle of leaves, as James apparently gave up for the moment and leaned back against a bush. He must have fallen asleep out under the tree, again. Hopefully they'd let him miss this next class...

Even this calm bit of dream was interrupted by a flaring irritation though, Sirius's kid brother's voice reading that blasted book, and nothing pleasant. Another Skeeter article all about how wrong in the head Harry was. Curled on his side and still burying his face in the soft grass wasn't comfortable persay, and a small part of him did want to check on Prongs, who could in no way be happy about this. He really should at least try to help him laugh it off, but oh, talking would eventually force him to sit up, and open his eyes, and even as the dream was slipping away he clung stubbornly to at least a half-conscious...

"Remu-!"

Adrenaline dumped into his system before he was even fully upright, his wand drawn and looking in all directions. James had done many a thing to get him awake, but never shouted like his life depended on it. His eyes took too long to adjust, despite how highly heightened they were, by the time he saw his friend, the hedges had already lashed him tightly in place and were dragging him backwards.

It was certainly no Devil's Snare, it wouldn't hold him until he moved no more, but Remus wasn't going to sit around and find out what it was going to do as he sent a blasting hex dangerously close to his friend.

His aim was true, the plant withered where he'd hit, but several more feelers were already creeping back out. He half lunged, half scrambled forward on numb limbs to grab James and haul him away, thankfully Prongs hadn't been so caught off guard that the fight had been knocked out of him. He thrashed wildly, almost hitting Remus in the face, the ingrate, but finally he was free. The two wasted no time finally getting to their feet and instantly breaking into a run.

They kept sprinting, Regulus's voice almost chasing them as a reminder of why they couldn't stop. By the time Remus began to slow, Mrs. Weasley and Bill had arrived, and when Dumbledore finally called the feast to a close, he stopped altogether, hands on his knees, and panted with exhaustion.

James quickly slowed his pace, barely winded, and hurried back to his side, patting him on the back and muttering whatever soft reassurances he could while keeping an eye on the ground. It hadn't moved to attack them again though, still he worried if they stayed in one place too long, it would happen again. He reached down and grabbed his arm gently, still politely coaxing, "I know Moony, you're exhausted, I'm so sorry mate. We really have to keep going though."

Remus nodded miserably and allowed himself to be towed a few more turns before the rest of his mind finally caught up to him, and he asked in concern, "we should have run into someone else by now," or something, lingered in the air between them.

James knew exactly what he meant and was very worried about the exact same thing. This maze had been described as being full of lethal traps, surely the hedges weren't the only thing in here after them.

Regulus at least sounded alright, with any luck everyone else had landed right beside each other and were having a gay old laugh, and the two of them had just been plopped a few feet away. Right, and Evans would declare her undying love for him next.

By the time Fleur, the last place contestant, was entering the maze, Remus was starting to sway dangerously as he kept with James's ever slowing pace, and Prongs caught his arm and slung it over his shoulder to keep him steady and moving. Despite the circumstances not exactly being in their favor, James cast a grateful eye to the moon once more. Better a day old than full, having to worry about Moony really finding someone in here on top of everything else going on wasn't a concern he needed right now.

James stopped so suddenly, that Remus's drooping eyes were forced to snap open even as his legs almost gave out on him from exhaustion. He didn't need to ask what was wrong now though, he could hear it just under Regulus's voice. Something large was approaching them, shuffling the hedges right on the other side, and there was a gap not twenty feet ahead. It could have been any number of things, but they'd barely had time to shuffle back a dozen feet with their own horrid ideas when a Blast-Ended Skrewt came scuttling out.

Half of Remus's mind found himself watching it with something akin to appreciation, certainly a hint of longing he'd never get another chance to see such a miraculous beast. The rest of his brain was yelling at him to shut up and keep moving before James left with only his arm and nothing else attached.

There was no sense in fighting it, both knew that without having to discuss a thing. It was as big as the largest acromantula they'd come across in the forest, and prior experience told them how useless it was sending any old spell at those things. So they simply kept running, as hard and fast as they could, adrenaline burning away everything except the fire that lit James's leg.

He cried and took a painful slide through the grass another three feet, smothering the worst of the flames. Even as he demanded his arms haul him back upright though, his leg wasn't having it. Remus unbelievably stayed on his feet, casting useless hexes and curses, but refusing to move another foot. James was about to use the very last of his energy to shout at the idiot to keep running regardless, when something went sailing over both of their heads.

For one delirious moment as it landed on all fours in front of them Remus thought it was Padfoot to the rescue, but the golden color was all wrong, and then the Sphinx let out a primal roar. It wasn't quite human or animal, but some terrifying combination of the two, and it froze their hearts in place as if they'd already accepted their death. She was not facing them though, likely all that saved them of a heart attack, but the skrewt, who came forward only a few more feet to lash its stinger in disapproval, before scuttling backwards for easier prey.

The sphinx sat down and began licking her paw before running it through her hair, only her still twitching tail giving away her true displeasure of the situation. Once she'd properly groomed herself back, she turned to them with an almost kind smile.

Remus's knees did give out then, and he sunk to the grass beside Prongs, hardly daring to hope at this rate Regulus would hurry up already and finish. If they couldn't answer whatever riddle the Sphinx was about to offer, they may as well have let the skrewt finish them off.

Regulus's voice was a blur to them, they vaguely heard Harry and Cedric finishing a fight against an acromantula, but their immediate concern was the Sphinx chanting her riddle at them. Neither had the oxygen left to answer even if they'd dared to figure it out, and were simply grateful when Harry and Cedric's bickering over the cup came to an end and they were teleported away.

HPHPHPHP

I was originally intending for all of them to run into different parts of the maze Harry had to deal with, but decided the majority of these guys deserve a break, and so put James and Remus through the ringer of a little bit of everything. I'm a bit cruel and it made me laugh.

Here's an AU to this chapter in my mini-HP collection called Pensive if you'd like to read about Prongs and Moony dealing with this maze as originally intended rather than James and Remus;

https://archiveofourown.org/works/18673105/chapters/76635092

Chapter Text

"So, does this mean Hufflepuff won?" Peter asked groggily. Even having landed upside-down in a warm, plush chair, the vibrant yellow walls with little badgers painted on them and the earth colored carpet gave it away. "How utterly rude," he finished in a mutter, thinking Harry had been slighted if that were the case. A tie was more than fair-

"Prongs? Moony, you two alright?" Peter flipped out of the chair and landed even more painfully than when he'd been upside down, but ignoring any cricks in his body he'd get for that later, he quickly scrambled around to see Sirius bending over the two in concern, rightly so. James's leg was still smoking slightly, and even as he watched, Remus lost the battle of keeping his eyes open, they rolled back into his head and he passed into sleep right on the table he'd landed on.

"We'll live," Prongs groaned, ignoring Padfoot's outstretched hand and inspecting the rest of his leg for further damage. Thankfully for now it just looked like a really bad sunburn, rather than charred flesh. "Remind me to kill Hagrid though."

"Don't think that'll be top of my list," Sirius crouched down beside him instead, casting a healing charm for him. "Even you wouldn't take those odds mate."

"I still owe him a good one," James returned sourly, still prodding the angry flesh until Sirius slapped his fingers away. "Only reason that blasted skrewt didn't kill us was the sphinx got territorial."

Peter choked in further concern and made his way over to Remus to check he really was asleep. Despite the slight snoring, he easily could have been dead.

Sirius didn't wait for permission this time and grabbed Prongs under the arms, hoisting him to his unsteady feet despite his protests and dragging him to the chair Peter had vacated. Then he came back and Peter was quick to help him get Moony to the couch, he didn't so much as twitch as they sort of half-dropped him down, he definitely wasn't light.

"Probably best we all get some sleep while we can," Alice agreed, standing surprisingly close to Sirius. "What with the tournament being over, and who knows what's coming for us next." Then she patted him lightly on the arm and whispered for him alone, "just remember what I said."

Sirius gave her a strange look as she went back to Frank's side, not quite in agreement, but he'd think about it regardless. For now he shoved Remus's legs at least slightly out of the way and claimed the other end of the couch again, ignoring the strange looks he got from Peter and James for this as there wasn't a lack of seating, but both of them were clearly just too exhausted themselves to care enough to ask, thankfully, as they tried to make themselves comfortable.

Frank watched the exchange with bewilderment, eyeing the shirtless stud of Hogwarts as it was clear some kind of interaction had happened between them, but brushed it off even before she slipped her hand into his and smiled for him alone. "How do you like my common room?"

"Lovely," he complimented with a genuine smile as he looked around once more. "I'm honestly jealous we can't switch houses now." It was a round, low-ceilinged room with a colourful profusion of plants and flowers that seemed to relish the atmosphere of the Hufflepuff common room: various cacti stood on wooden circular shelves (curved to fit the walls), many of them waving and dancing for no apparent reason, while copper-bottomed plant holders dangled amid the ceiling caused tendrils of ferns and ivies to brush your hair as you passed under them. James Potter seemed to be eyeing them with a careful eye Frank couldn't blame, he remembered the Devil's Snare as well, even if such a thing would never be here.

A portrait over the wooden mantelpiece (carved all over with decorative dancing badgers) showed Helga Hufflepuff, toasting her students with a tiny, two-handled golden cup. Small, round windows just level with the ground at the foot of the castle showed a pleasant view of rippling grass and dandelions, onto the grounds beyond. These low windows notwithstanding, the room felt perennially sunny.*

"I hope we get to go to the dorms as well at some point," she nodded to the rounded doors that led off. "But the couches are plenty comfortable," she squeezed his hand and the two curled up under the mantle and began to have a soft whispered conversation of what the other had done while separated in the maze. She never really got around to saying what she'd talked to Black about while stuck around him, but Frank hardly noticed that. He squeezed her tighter and shivered with distaste at the trap she described, while Alice smiled even broader he'd managed to have at least a semi-normal conversation with one of the Marauders, like her. They really weren't so bad individually it seemed, they just all enhanced the worst in each other apparently, she laughed to herself without sharing that thought aloud.

Only Lily and Regulus didn't seem to want to settle, though neither was acknowledging the other anymore despite the fact they shared the exact same thought. It was too easy.

All throughout this tournament Harry hadn't really had much of a struggle, now apparently it was just over? Lily kept flipping the blank pages of the book, it had landed right on top of someone's potions homework this time, but with at least Lupin and possibly Potter already asleep, no words were appearing. She'd seen how far along Regulus Black was though, and there seemed a decent chunk left, more than just the wrap-up of him going back to the Dursleys. You-Know-Who's plan hadn't seemed to come to fruition at all...

Alice had been right about one thing though, they both acknowledged to themselves, may as well catch some sleep now before they added any new nightmares to the mix with whatever did happen.

The floor was so soft Lily was tempted to just curl up right in front of the fireplace, but instead levitated a couch over there instead, mentally apologizing to whomever had been sitting here. She wondered once more what happened to these places once they left, and if a poor group of students would find themselves on the floor with no idea why their couch moved when they left once more.

Regulus curled up uneasily in a chair, not expecting to be able to sleep much in the bright common room, but his traitorous body was already listing to one side before he'd even finished the thought.

Lily was trying to walk her dog around her favorite forest spot, and doing a terrible job of it. The black beast kept tugging her in all sorts of directions no matter how much she scolded, and then when she finally got him to sit, he had a bone in his mouth, and he began chewing on it, loudly. Disgusted, she backed up and heard the crunching intensify, and suddenly the bright forest faded all around her, and she was in the Chamber of Secrets again, the dog had turned into a stag, still chewing on that bone that she now saw had a human foot at the end-

Potter stood before her chewing obnoxiously on some crisps, his hand holding out an unopened bag to her. "Alright Evans?" He asked cheerfully, not even spraying any of it on her, a small miracle. "Better enjoy that while you can," he said quickly to the indignant look she gave to him, though it was more for him hovering over her while she slept than the offered food this time. "It's the last of the food we've got on us, hopefully we get sent to the feast next."

She snatched it away and flounced over to where Alice and Frank were untangling themselves from each other, yawning and holding their own bags with bewildered faces as if they had no idea how that had happened.

Sirius had successfully summoned the bag back to him again and lobbed up for another throw. Regulus's reflexes were still on autopilot though, and he swatted it away once more, still snoring softly. Snickering in delight at the game, Sirius summoned it back for a fourth try when James circled back to him and snatched the bag into his hand.

"I should have woken you up last," he rolled his eyes, "now you've probably gone and crushed them all."

"They're still edible as dust," he shrugged without remorse.

James snatched Sirius's still mostly full bag and left the now abused one in its place, ignoring Sirius's mutters of daddy syndrome setting in as he changed the subject, "have you even tried waking him up yet?" Needlessly gesturing to Remus still snoring loudest of all.

Sirius hadn't, their feet were still tangled together and he was enjoying that too much. Aloud he said, "I'll certainly give it a try. Now that he's had some rest, at least we should only have to threaten bodily harm rather than acting on it."

James left him to it and went over to drop the bag gently on Regulus's face. That finally snapped him awake, and the bag fell to the floor, where he proceeded to crush it under his foot as he stood in surprise at how close Potter was. James sighed for the wasted food but turned away and left once more, grabbing the book and settling down next to Peter just a hair's breadth farther apart than he normally would have and flipped the book open, waiting patiently for the words to appear as Remus was finally roused.

When he saw them at last, a crisp lodged in his throat, and Peter reached over to thump him on the back in concern, but stopped just as quickly when he saw for himself.

"That's, not what I would have expected," he whispered to no one, flinching back away and studying the common room around them with new, worried eyes.

James completely agreed, as he had no idea why he was saying the words, "Flesh, Blood, and Bone."

If anybody had still been groggily waking up before, he had all attention on him now.

Lily heard about Harry and Cedric finding themselves in a graveyard instead of school with such a tight pit in her stomach, she wanted to demand from Potter what he'd really fed her. Surely this was all his fault, he was making this up just to scare them, he'd fed them something to make them all nauseous, he'd started all of this by bothering her at the end of class!

Her anger at him just didn't last though as a figure approached the boys, she knew this wasn't anyone's fault but You-Know-Who's. Sometimes she hated to be right.

Regulus watched and listened with abject horror only on Peter as Potter said the words. Kill the spare echoed in the room, it didn't even sound possible that had come from a teenager's mouth. The spare, what could that possibly mean? His brain shut down, even as he looked at all the older kids around him, their faces pale and looking sickly. The spare, what? He looked around again at the common room, and now refused to let it click together.

Potter wasn't letting anyone live in denial for what that could mean. He read in a rough, unrecognizable voice of the light coming out of a wand, and leaving Cedric Diggory's eyes.

James wanted to put the book down. No, more than that, he wanted to tear it into a million little pieces and then set each one ablaze and throw the ashes at Peeves and see if he could incinerate them further somehow. Nobody had actually tried that, he realized in near sudden hysterics. Why hadn't he thought of that, he was the most destructive person in the castle! Surely, if they just blew up this ruddy book, they could all just go home!

Before his hands could even twitch to begin though, he looked up at those around him. What would happen to them, even if it worked? Would they be trapped here forever without their means of escape? Trapped inside, though Cedric would never be able to come back here. He wondered if his homework was lying on one of those tables, never turned in. What was the point of all of this?!

Sirius moved so fast Peter barely had time to see him coming. Even if he had though, he'd do nothing to stop him, he hoped James wouldn't this time either. He deserved whatever thrashing that was about to happen, he'd actually killed someone, in cold blood, no hesitation. He was a monster, beyond redemption- He wheezed when Sirius's arms locked around him, unable to stop himself from tensing and pulling away on instinct, but found no force constricting the air out of him. Instead Sirius was holding him like a child, the muttered oaths under his breath were directed at himself.

"-never going to turn into that- won't let him be such an idiot again-"

Peter looked around wildly to see James and Remus too looked far more concerned for him, than about him, for once.

It took all he had not to burst into tears all over again as James forced out every cruel deed of this future. Hitting Harry! Creating that potion, using his own hand to bring You-Know-Who back to life...it never seemed to end, and it was all his fault! He'd do anything to atone for this...

HPHPHPHP

*The description of the common room came from JK herself. I don't know where she would have slipped it into the series myself, but I forever wish she'd gotten the chance.

Chapter Text

Alice was shivering even before she tried to get herself upright. Her eyes were straining with tears of worry and grief even without the loss of her familiar common room in place of the misty gloom settling around her. Then she blinked, blinked again, and slowly, with every forced breath, realized the body before her was indeed there.

She screamed. She screamed, and kept screaming and would surely continue even after her throat was swollen shut and even as she began to hurt her own ears she couldn't look away-

Even after she felt his strong arms trying to pull her away, pressing her face into the bronze eagle emblem stitched across his school robes, she couldn't stop screaming. It felt like she'd never be able to blink again without seeing the already pale pallor, the sightless gray eyes.

James had crashed into the bottom of the gravestone, face first against the name, so when he finally got his vision to stop blurring, the name Riddle was all he saw. He heard the screams, and he didn't need to turn to know what they meant. He saw out of the corner of his eye Peter vomiting into the diamond-encrusted cauldron, Sirius rubbing his back and muttering to himself again. Still he had to fight off the urge to look, all eyes drawn to Cedric, and the book laying open across his chest, the reason for his death scrawled on the words right across his heart.

So it was to everyone's amazement when Peter Wormtail Pettigrew forced himself off the cauldron, pushed away Sirius's hands, and grabbed the book to read, "The Death Eaters." He only allowed himself one more moment of hesitation, whispering an uttered apology for no one's ears, before he read relentlessly.

Maybe it was another way of atonement, maybe he just couldn't stand another second of being stuck in the presence, it was even possible he was doing this in some vain attempt to redirect their wordless shock and horror into fury upon the person who'd done it, but whatever the reason, Regulus watched every word he forced out. His jaw never unclenched, he stood above the body and recited, almost in one breath, like a eulogy You-Know-Who's second coming.

His cruelty, his vanity, his disappointment in his followers. Regulus stayed where he was, as unable to do anything to stop him as he was to look away from the sight. He stayed on his knees the whole time and was repulsed at his own actions, but had no strength to get to his feet and correct this. He thought of Bellatrix and her fanatical devotion, her already bloodthirsty nature; she'd been whispering this was the promise of his future. He thought of how Sirius had always tried to distance himself from this and wound up in the same place as her. He thought of his mum and dad and let a few tears fall free as he finally admitted to himself he could never be what they wanted.

Chapter Text

To Stitches: Agreed, the first leg of Regulus' journey to be the person who his book self is/ was has finally ended, but how he'll get the rest of the way there both does and does not involve Sirius in a way I hope you enjoy!

Lily was still crying as she crash landed once more, rolling several times and coming to a painful halt. Even as her impact caused what felt like bricks to fall all around her, she merely lay where she was, curled into the fetal position, trembling fingers pressed against her lips as another sob broke free. She hadn't stopped for so long now, it seemed impossible she ever would. It was too much, all too much to take in, and yet a fourteen year old boy, her boy, would be going through it all alone.

"Oh come now dear, it can't be all bad."

Lily sat up with a painful gasp, shuddering in fear and just a few more lashes of pain at her own stupidity for letting her guard down. Just because it had been so long since they'd seen another person didn't mean it couldn't inevitably happen! She was now far more familiar with her seven companions voices than she ever would have believed possible, could pick any of them out in a crowded corridor now, but she didn't know that one!

She forced her bleary eyes to focus, she had to know if there were anymore dead bodies around, nobody had started reading yet and Merlin knew what was happening- then she gasped a wet, snotty, painfully disgusting noise in relief to see it was a portrait. Tisking away at her, eyeing the mess she made.

It was not the only one in here, but the one speaking to her nonetheless in a kind, gentle voice. Despite her aged face, it held a hint of youth in it Lily didn't quite understand until she wiped yet more tears from her burning cheeks and saw the now familiar, kind hazel eyes shining out. The name plate underneath read Carinthia Potter- Nee Greengrass. Coughing slightly, shoulders still shaking with the force of it, she looked around again to find herself in an opulent library. She'd knocked over almost an entire bookcase, the evidence scattered all around her. Portraits of other Potters that had married into the family scattered the rest of the free space, and as she looked over her shoulder, she saw a tapestry woven together pyramid style right into the wall from floor to ceiling, of the far more direct line. There, on the bottom line where the last strip showed James Fleamont Potter, there was a piece of red string tacked on, and a sticky note proudly bearing the name Sirius Orion Black right next to it.

She tried, and failed, not to laugh. She sat down back on her bum, feeling like one as she buried her face into her knees. Of course they'd wind up here eventually, James Potter was probably going to be as miraculously alive as his friends and swope in to save young Harry and probably bring Cedric back to life and defeat You-Know-Who all while hopping on one foot. She sighed in exhaustion as the sounds of ruckus finally reached her ears, even the faint echo of someone calling out her name. She tipped her head to the side and peeked out through her hair at the door, waiting for someone to come barging in even as a few more tears trickled out. She wasn't going to bother to hide them. She was too exhausted to do much of anything else.

It was finally Lupin who stumbled through the door, like he was trying to see how fast he could dart in and out, but came to an outstandingly poor halt when he actually caught a flash of her. They stared at each other for a solid thirty seconds before he turned around and bellowed over his shoulder, "I found her!" Then he turned back to her, still rubbing his lined face in exhaustion. "Merlin Evans, you could have at least come and told us you were still alive before being alone."

She didn't understand the snappy tone he used, or why he even cared. She was well past that point, as Cedric's body still flickered behind her eyes every time she blinked. She just sat there like a useless, hopeless lump.

He stood there for another few awkward moments before finally turning to leave, she heard a quiet, muttered conversation not far down the hall now, but whatever he'd said to deter Potter had worked no better this time than any other time he'd ever tried. Yet when he came in, Potter was sanse swagger, for once. She wondered if it was due to his still limping, that instead of strutting around like usual, he walked almost casually to her side. "Alright Evans?" He asked softly.

"No," she managed through a still clotted throat.

He nodded, like that didn't surprise him, and instead looked around with bemusement. "Ah, sorry you had to wind up in here, not exactly my favorite room. Tradition and all that it even exists," he gestured vaguely over his shoulder to the family tree. "I think your portrait would have been the only thing I liked about this place," he added with a self congratulatory grin.

"Brilliant Prongs, really," Lupin called from where he was still listing on the door jamb. "Why don't you add a glib comment about Smith landing in your room of all places, I'm sure that'll also brighten her day."

"Don't be crass Moony," Potter rebuked cheerfully, "obviously we'll be going on our date through the secrets of Hogsmeade before she ever sees that!"

The snap came easily to her lips. "Not if it was between you and the giant squid!" Even to her own ears, it sounded far more exasperated than belligerent as usual. She almost couldn't believe what she was hearing, how did he still manage to smile like that despite everything? Maybe he was touched in the head, like she'd said many a times long before now.

He smiled unrepentantly and promised, "that can be arranged on the tour. Until then Evans," he gave her a grand, sweeping gesture worthy of the highest monarchy as he bowed to her, and then turned and grabbed his friend's shoulder, steering him from the room.

She didn't know if he'd had the book this whole time, or if he'd found it in here while she'd been distracted, but only moments later Lupin's tired, strained voice enveloped her and the whole mansion with the words, "Priori Incantatem."

A charm, she recognized at once, to show the last spells a wand had used. What could that have to do with Harry? Were they going to get a highlights of his last moments, his last desperate bids for survival before You-Know-Who finally killed him too, extinguishing the Potter line? Would his body materialize in this very room, like his name on the tree would in only a few years time?

Sirius looked around in surprise to find himself in 'his room,' or so James had dubbed it since his first visit here. He really didn't know why Prongs bothered, Sirius actually preferred to sleep at the foot of his bed most nights when he stayed over. Still, his personal things did seem to end up scattered in here more often than naught.

Several of his limited edition Chocolate Frog Cards were being used as bookmarks in his Muggle magazines he hadn't dared take back to Grimmauld place for their personal value, an old letter to Moony sat innocently on the windowsill, and several piles of clothes had turned into freshly laundered and folded piles of clothes since he'd last been here. It was exactly where he'd needed to be, he felt safer in this spare room than he ever could have dreamed he would in Grimmauld place. The effect was ruined by Regulus' surprised black eyes flitting around, taking in everything same as him.

He didn't dare look at him or he'd burn the little twits face off. He couldn't stand to be around anyone but his friends right now with how furiously murderous he was, the last thing he needed was hearing Regulus trying to defend Peter's future actions! Peter! He had to go check on him, could barely stand now to let him out of his sight until he found a way to fix this permanently.

"Sirius-" but Sirius didn't stop and acknowledge him this time, he had to find his real brothers. He grabbed a shirt at random from the pile as he stalked out without a backwards look.

He breathed only mildly easier when he heard Moony start reading as he traversed the wide, brightly lit hallways of the Potter Manor. What they were still hearing of was monstrous, he already knew he'd have been there for Harry to keep him away from those Death Eaters if he could! Being in this home only reinforced the boiling hatred he had for every one of them out there, laughing as his fourteen year old godson was sent to duel V-Voldemort. He had to find a way to fix this, for Harry to grow up knowing this as his home as surely as Sirius now did.

He froze in fury as he passed Mr. and Mrs. Potter's room to see Frank standing awkwardly in the middle. Some small part of him recognized this wasn't his fault, but that didn't stop him pushing the ajar door all the way open and coming inside to shoo him out.

Frank only had to look at him to take the hint, not speaking a word to each other as they went down opposite ends of the hall.

Regulus found he was still sniffling and trying not to cry, still wanting to beg Sirius to come back and not leave him in this strange place even if he was long gone, had been for years now. He felt open, exposed in this brightly lit room, in a stranger's home that Sirius had looked upon with more love than anything he'd ever seen.

He didn't know what to do, there was only a hopeless feeling left clinging to his curdled stomach. Listening to Harry duel the Dark Lord was a true nightmare, the only boy on earth who could ever survive such a thing certainly wasn't now, being used like a play thing instead with the Imperius Curse upon him. Once Harry died though, would they really be free of this? What hope did he have to go back to? He had nowhere else to turn to, not like Sirius did. Would Peter just laugh at him and tell him to figure it out while he and his friends went back to Gryffindor tower? Would he have any choice but joining the Dark Lord's inner circle? He couldn't decide if he'd been relieved, offended, or terrified to find himself not even mentioned like many of his cousins had been during the previous part.

Sirius finally sighed in relief to find him in the Potter's kitchen, stuffing his bags and pockets full to bursting with more food, though an entirely absent look on his face. He was clearly manhandling the peanuts into a side pouch on autopilot, though it was odd still not to see Pippit, the Potter's house-elf, wandering around helping him. It had been weird enough not to see them flitting about the Hogwarts kitchens.

A bit of shame welled up in Sirius as he watched him, his right arm in particular, confirming to his own head repeatedly there really was no Dark Mark there. His imagination had run wild with him while he'd gone around here, the graveyard they'd just left still clinging to his mind like mist. This was still his Peter though, not the mangled creature of the future doing nothing to help Harry as he should.

Peter looked up then and caught him staring. He gave an awkward sort of grin and held his hand out expectantly, and Sirius wordlessly handed his bag over to be shoved full of food next, the silence still odd between them, but no longer as awkward as it could have been. The ghost of Prongs and Evans having a hand in rescuing Harry, possibly the oddest peace maker they had, as a reminder of what they had to lose.

Chapter Text

The shadowy night flitting in through the closed window was all that illuminated their new landing. A usual crash and accompanying of curses rang about, but as Frank rubbed at his eyes and glanced around wearily once more, he squirmed in an old kind of unease at what he found around him.

On a desk stood what looked like a large, cracked, glass spinning top; recognizing it at once as a Sneakoscope from previous descriptions of it, though it was much larger than Harry's had been described.

In the corner on a small table stood an object that looked something like an extra-squiggly, golden aerial. It was humming slightly. What appeared to be a mirror hung opposite on the wall, but it was not reflecting the room. Shadowy figures were moving around inside it, none of them clearly in focus.

It was an exact replica of how Moody's office had been described, and the book sat open and waiting on the desk next to what could undeniably be a hip flask, the chapter title Veritaserum at least promising some full-fledged answers were coming.

Frank stretched uncomfortably as he got to his feet and went to go for the book and get just that, but stopped in surprise when Alice rushed right past him and crouched down behind the desk instead. He didn't know how she'd seen him back there, but now he too saw Regulus curled into himself and sniffling slightly. He hadn't seen the kid so upset-looking since Riddle's reveal, and then his big brother had stepped in and seemed to do something to help alleviate the situation.

Now Sirius Black stood in the corner, huddled with his friends and whispering to each other like old times, seemingly ignoring his existence. He wondered what they were talking about, it looked like some kind of disagreement. Peter Pettigrew certainly kept looking over his shoulder at him, but Sirius Black was stanchily shaking his head and Potter too was crossing his arms and not looking very happy.

It didn't seem they'd reached an agreement when Sirius Black turned away and all three of his friends looked on at him in exasperation, but he walked right past Frank as if he weren't there and then picked up the book to start reading like nothing had happened.

He didn't feel it was his place to ask after, any of them, and while he wanted to go and help Alice he wasn't quite sure what he could say she hadn't already. She didn't seem to be saying much of anything to him, just hovering kindly next to him with that patient smile of hers, waiting for the youngest to tell whatever was on his mind as she so often did for him. He had a feeling that wouldn't work as well on the stubborn Slytherin he'd only vaguely gotten to know, so turned to Lily to see how she was doing.

It was clear she'd been crying, understandable in all this, but the weird thing was she wasn't even trying to hide it. The guarded, cold and harsh girl that had started all this hadn't been around in quite some time, at least with him and Alice she'd relaxed enough she smiled more often than not. He had yet to see her so vulnerable though, and she wasn't even trying to hide it.

As he went towards her though, still listening intently as Sirius Black read out Moody separating Harry up to this very office, she met his eyes and shook her head. He hesitated a few feet away, acknowledging she didn't want company even if she was no longer hiding she needed it, but certainly not secure enough to encroach her himself. He still might have tempted fate anyways, they were at least friends now he was sure, but the impending idea of his Auror future and what he could be leading Alice towards made him even more skittish to encourage any of this. Would he not even be better off breaking up with her rather than risking this future? He sighed, feeling of no help to anyone as he turned his full attention to the book and regretting he'd been beaten to it now more than ever.

The interaction between Harry and Moody was strange enough to hold his attention anyways. He wasn't the only one who quickly lost interest in his own self-reflections as soon all attention was riveted on the book, and not the person holding it for once. Alastor Mad-Eye Moody, the famed Auror, had turned into a Death Eater? Was sharing with pride his master plan to Harry Potter with a wand about to blow off the teenager's face?! Truly this future was beyond all reason and logic, either that or the Auror position was as cursed as the DADA position and it's why the Ministry had such a hard time keeping their policing staff up.

The moment Harry mentioned it, Frank turned wildly to watch the Foe Glass himself now, but no swirling image solidified, no Dumbledore entered the room with a bang, yet here and now for them, the door was still blasted off its hinges, striking right into Peter Pettigrew. He groaned and rolled about freely though, clearly not Stunned as Moody now was in the book.

Remus Lupin went to his side and offered him a hand up while James Potter went to the chair Harry was being held captive in and used his own wand to blast it apart in frustration they were still being attacked during this upheaval of a life!

Still things only got stranger from there, as apparently that wasn't Alastor Moody at all, but an imposter. A supposedly dead one. This world really would never stop fooling them that dead didn't mean dead in this future. The insanity continued as Crouch Jr. under the forced feeling of Veritaserum, explained the whole insane plot. Frank could have kicked himself, or any number of people at how much passed under their nose. He wished he could have gone back and reread every interaction this Fake-Eye had with Harry, and cursed the book for only showing them the chapter they were in- he froze over in disgust as one particular past interaction came to the forefront of his mind. This scum had taken Neville aside, and comforted him during that ghastly lesson over the Unforgivable Curses! He'd been one of the ones to do this to Alice, leave Neville in this future like he was, and had the gall to-

"Frank?"

He only vaguely noticed Lily had come out of her own stupor, he wasn't even sure what she saw on his face. He only had eyes for Alice, who was still listening to Sirius Black read with a look of horror for all the people being murdered in droves, her eyes always on anyone but herself.

When finally all was said and done, it wasn't nearly the amount of answers he would have demanded from this world if he could. He didn't know who to ask of them, or even how to go about getting them himself. Was there even such a thing as an answer to this life anymore that would save them?

Chapter Text

The cold smack of hardwood floor across their faces was not the way to instill motivation for them to keep going with all of this. Lily wasn't even sure of where they were as she got to looking around. They were in a very large, long hall, three dozen fireplaces on each side right up until the proportional middle, where a great golden statue stood. From this far away, she could only make out the largest was a wizard with his wand aloft. Beyond that she saw golden gates.

Frank had found himself landing on a desk and not looking particularly comfortable for it, but he'd also found the book resting precariously on a tiny little needle that had a bunch of papers jammed on it. Clearly eager to keep going with the revelations far more than any of them, who would have liked a year's break from learning any news at this point, he saw Alice coming over to sit by him and began to read The Parting of the Ways.

Lily wasn't entirely sure what that meant, was Harry going to get into a fight with someone else now permanently?, and didn't entirely care right now as she stayed where she was and let out a long, exhausted sigh.

Remus was sitting on the edge of the fountain he'd just pulled himself out of, and still dripping wet, was dumping gallons of water out of his shoe along with a few galleons. Why did he keep getting involuntarily wet? His three friends were slowly meandering towards him, and he wasn't sure if they were looking to pick up on their newest little spiff or just a distraction.

He had no more idea than James or Sirius what Peter meant by it, trying to get them to go check on Regulus. Thankfully Alice had intervened regardless and Sirius had broken off the argument for now, but he was not looking forward to it coming up again. They'd never given a care for Sirius's little brother before this, and nothing of what they'd heard really felt they needed to be letting Peter indulge in this particular friend he seemed to be trying to make.

Admittedly the fact that their group had two really bad fights back to back was putting them all on edge, but Remus didn't at all like the fact Peter was still trying to shake things up. Were they not good enough for him anymore? What did he mean by it, trying to invite Regulus over?

Sirius made it to him first and hopped up on the ledge next to him, dipping his hand back into the water and fishing out a sickle. "Think if you take the coin back the wish goes away?"

Well at least he was still trying to be in a good mood.

"That's implying the wish works at all," he chuckled.

"I know what I'd be wishing for," Sirius told him grandly, giving the coin a little flick with his thumb, and catching it just as fast in his palm. "Heads or tails?" He asked with a grin that didn't at all seem to pertain to the coin anymore.

Remus laughed rather than answer as James and Peter were now in hearing distance. There were still a few beats of silence as they all stood in a loose circle, and Remus's laugh echoed in the Ministry's atrium into the burning silence of Frank retelling everything that they just went through, through Harry. He knew what he'd wish for right now, the banishment of awkwardness.

Peter cleared his throat, and at the last minute Remus thought with relief he was about to lose his nerve and not say it. Then he forced out in almost one breath, "look I'm sorry it bothered you guys, I just wanted-"

"Forget about it," James waved off, not looking at him. "Just let it go. Instead, why don't we see if those elevators work, I want to try and get another go at Bagman's office!"

Nobody responded, James made no move towards them anyways. Instead he kept casting his eyes around, and caught sight of Evans sitting in the middle of the atrium by herself, and without further ado waved and took off towards her anyways.

Peter had a strange look on his face as he watched him leave, before looking back at the two of them with an expectant look on their face.

Neither could honestly think of anything to say, and so weren't surprised, but a bit hurt when he went off and found Regulus standing by himself near a telephone box in the middle of the atrium.

"He really does do that a lot, doesn't he?" He asked Sirius absently, still watching James.

"Go have a chat with that effing brat instead of us lately, yeah," Sirius said in mild disgust, watching the two. He had half a mind to go over there and drag Peter back over here, even though he still couldn't think of anything to say. Five years with him as one of his best friends, and he was drawing an utter blank!

"Huh?" Remus looked at him in surprise. "No, I meant James interrupts Peter a lot."

Sirius looked at him like he'd lost his mind.

"Alright Evans?" James asked in honest concern as he sat himself down cross-legged several feet away from her. He was honestly worried, he'd never seen her so vulnerable for so long, it wasn't natural of her usual stoicness towards him.

"No," she surprised him by answering in an even voice, eyes on Frank and Alice.

"Anything I can do to help?" He offered instantly, though winced a bit as he couldn't even help his friends lately get back on even ground. He was starting to forget what that had even felt like.

She looked at him then, her large green eyes still red rimmed. It was utterly heartbreaking, he found his hand trying to come up and brush at her cheek despite the fact he was too far away to do such a thing and she'd curse his hand off if he dared. It was the face he kept seeing in his mind as Harry watched Sirius relive his death-advice.

"Sure Potter," her voice was still too even, unnatural. He wished for the ire back, the scorn tone was something he knew how to react to. "Stop fooling yourself."

He couldn't have stopped a smile lighting his face if he wanted to. "Sorry Evans, no stopping that. Anything else though? Back massage? Little life-saving perile? I've gotten out of a few scraps in my time, it's nice to know we team up and get Harry out of one-"

She hiccuped, her facade melted back into tears, but she still didn't turn away as she watched him.

His chest was starting to hurt, he really didn't know what to do now. He'd never been given the chance to comfort her, though he'd imagined it a million different times when she finally admitted she'd never be friends with Snape again and ran to his arms. This, he didn't know what this was. He found himself scooting closer on his butt, he probably looked ridiculous, but he didn't want to actually get up and run to her, like a startled animal who would dart off. "Lily," he so rarely used her given name, much preferring to keep her attention in a way nobody else did.

He was close enough to touch her now, and she wasn't telling him to go away. She wasn't leaning towards him either. She just seemed in stasis, unsure what to do with herself, and that wasn't the Lily Evans he knew at all. It clicked then, an understanding he'd merely brushed off. "Are you listening to the same thing I am?" He laughed at the absurdity of it all. She didn't feel useful?!

"It's your blood that all this was set around, not mine," he reminded, ignoring the rumble of unease that built up in him as he'd never forgotten who was involved in this plan, but he kept his focus on her. "It's your protection that's been keeping Harry safe all these years, apparently I just gave you a chance to run and that didn't even pan out." He did have to force a smile then, that revelation hurt worse than anything so far, equal to Peter's future betrayal. "I'm the one Snape hates, not Harry, your old arse of a friend just needs glasses," he pushed his up his nose and held his head up. "You're the strongest person I know," he concluded naturally.

When finally the worst was done, and it was Sirius as Padfoot escorting Harry down to the hospital wing, her eyes went from Frank to him in here. James saw something strange on her face as he carefully tended to Harry, a boy she hadn't even wanted to admit was hers not long ago. It was his friend, he reflected, that was there for Harry when he still needed someone, and not Snape, an apparently reformed Death Eater with a Dark Mark. "Snape wasn't mentioned in the graveyard at least," he offered quietly, the only consolation he could think to give her for that. "I don't know what happened to him Evans, but I can't imagine it was your fault."

As far as James was concerned, she was literally the only good thing to associate with Snape, and it seemed with her gone, he turned his vicious behaviour she refused to see on anyone and everyone in sight. He wanted to punch his hooked nose off she was now seeing what he had for years now, his desire all these years in light now made him want to curse his past self wanting such a thing.

She sniffled then, and finally brushed a few tears away, then bundled up her sleeve and wiped at her running nose. He leaned forward on instinct to brush her hair away, but she did lean back from him then, and he did as well. He didn't move back farther though.

They didn't say another word to each other as they listened in quiet reflection of this future, of Molly Weasley giving Harry his first hug, of this fourteen-year-old having to take a potion for a dreamless sleep just to escape a few moments of his life.

Alice watched anxiously as Potter stayed by Evans. She forced herself to wait though, not wanting to get in the middle if she actually did hex Potter, but to her surprise he sat a polite distance away and just talked to her. He didn't even seem to be doing anything wrong, and though she didn't show much in the way of comfort, she still wasn't sure of herself about stepping in. Her and Lily were friends now, but that didn't mean she was going to try and stop, whatever this was, from developing. She almost smiled to herself instead, thinking it was more than likely bound to happen eventually.

Instead she laid her head against Frank's hip and listened with displeasure as the Minister of Magic bumbled his way in and ruined the moments. Frank was still sitting on the desk right where he'd landed and had a tart look on his face for it all, the person in charge of their community first trying to skate around every problem, and then flat unwilling to see it. He'd caused a dementor to suck the soul out of the only witness to the events! Frank didn't react much to her being there, he was clearly too involved and frustrated with all these happenings, and she didn't blame him, she was more than upset by the end of it as well.

Her mind drifted to Neville once more, to Frank's mother having to be the one to care for her child all these years. She watched Lily and Potter, but in her mind's eye they were spectral ghosts still, being there in the only way they could for their child in this future. Crouch Junior had his soul taken away as punishment for what he'd done to them in the end, but it didn't really feel like justice, it gave nothing back to this future of misery.

Chapter Text

Happy Fourth of July! To my non-American readers, hope you enjoy your day!

HPHPHP

"He hates me," Regulus pointed out, not letting himself be deterred by the changing location again for long as he found Peter in the kitchen of this new home. It was probably a very nice cottage in the woods, quaint and simple with huge trees providing the perfect shade, but he took in none of it.

"No he doesn't," Peter tried to protest, ruffling bird seed from his hair, as he'd managed to land on top of a bag of it. "He-" but Peter stopped himself as he saw Regulus scrutinizing him, his hand. The way his right hand still shook, for he couldn't yet get the image of a glint of silver out of the corner of his eye. He'd been trying to pretend otherwise and thought he was managing it, nobody else had bothered watching him long enough for him to know if it was working though. "Yeah, a bit," he admitted quietly, lowering his hand and sitting on it instead to force himself to stop. It wasn't a large house, they could hear Sirius and Remus trying to cajole Frank and Alice to jump on a bed with them in the farthest back bedroom, and they weren't even being particularly loud for it, so he spoke softly. "Not you specifically," he tried to curb the blow, even though Regulus didn't look surprised at the confirmation. "Just, you remind him so much of your parents," he finished with an uneasy laugh.

"I could never make them both happy," Regulus sighed, slumping into the nearest chair, right on top of an Evening Prophet and covering up the most recent awful Skeeter article. "I don't know how to do anything right."

"That's not true," Peter protested at once, but he floundered there. He was used to being 'the youngest.' All of his friends treated him like their annoying kid brother, and he didn't even know how to talk to them about how he felt about that. If he had the words he wasn't even sure he'd use them, he didn't want to lose them all over again in whatever place he had with them. What good did he have to say to Regulus?

James paced restlessly about the house as he heard Alice begin. There couldn't be that much left, and then they'd start Harry's fifth year. This future containing his son would catch up to where he was in his life, about to end his own fifth year. James cringed and his pacing increased as he counted all of the many differences between them both, all that his child had suffered and been through while he'd been running around his school worrying only about what was right in front of him.

He couldn't even get his friends back to talking to each other, he could feel the distance between them growing more with every new location, and yet Harry's friends still stood by him through all of it. He listened to Hagrid comfort the trio and felt a great surge of exhaustion when his own name was spoken in such high regards by the gamekeeper. He finally had to acknowledge to himself he wasn't going to be able to fix this problem on his own.

Lily let her fingers trail along the lilac wallpaper, her feet shuffling along the warm carpet as it really sunk into her why this place felt so different from many of the homes they'd visited so far. This place had life in it that only a child could bring.

There was a little toy lynx up on a shelf, an orange ribbon around its neck frayed at the edges. An old coffee stain sat exposed on a worn chair right by a little side table that had a few pamphlets neatly stacked on it, as if Cedric still hadn't made up his mind about his career, Lily absently deduced. His parents were probably waiting eagerly for the summer months, to go over more options for him, because they still had time...

She caught herself trying to breath heavily, but a catch in her throat stopped that. She didn't even know this boy, not really, even after all they'd heard of him, but his body still lay fresh in her mind's eye. His final words, spoken right along with hers, to Harry. She absently heard, in the back of her mind, Harry getting on the train again, something Cedric should have been able to do one last time.

It wasn't fair, but then, life never was.

HPHPHPHP

So, the fourth book was majorly depressing for all involved, but thankfully they're now all officially at their turning points. The fifth book is where things will really start kicking into gear and more changes in their viewpoints and personalities will be obvious to all present in party.

Thanks so much for reading!

Chapter Text

I'm back! This fic has never left the back of my head and its been quite distressing leaving it for so long, but you can thank Tiffany Smithi in particular for kicking this ball back rolling, several of the chapters were even co written.

I have once again reached my favorite book. I am entirely smug about this fact. I shall be posting chapters on Monday, for the duration of at least this book because I'm so excited! I'm not going to lie, I'll probably take another break before doing six again, but I swear it won't be nearly so long again.

To Stitches: Doesn't sound odd to me, Kreacher's a fascinating character and he's worth his own book of commentary honestly on how him and the entire house-elf kind work. In Sirius specifically, I don't think it's intentional control he's trying to enact on Peter or Regulus, that's just what he equates care to. His parents are mega-controlling and he's unintentionally mimicking them by acting that way to show he's not like them, and you'll be surprised who finally calls him out on that.

HPHPHP

Sirius was jolted and bounced around painfully for several moments before the world finally stilled, and then he let out an ooph of pain as something not very small but plenty hard landed right on his gut. He shoved whatever it was off, and heard the unsatisfying clunk of the book hitting the floor and pages being ruffled as he finally sat up, and grimaced with further hate. They were in his room.

This was, unofficially, the worst location they'd yet been in. He'd take the Devil's Snare over here! Okay, maybe not the basilisk...or Azkaban...or certainly those dragons...okay, so it was a hard toss instead.

He sat up properly and held his head high, unintentionally the perfect posture of the Black prince as he surveyed the place from his bed once more.

He'd taken the liberty of putting some dignity in this place, just like James had always brought out the best in him, he'd endeavored to do the same here. The Gryffindor banners hung along the walls did well to hide the silver wallpaper, and he noted with high amusement Evans had landed right under a particularly busty picture of a broad with similar coloring. His eyes sought out his friends though, and he saw them taking it in with the same ill look as he usually did.

The pattern wasn't always exact, this wasn't proof Harry was going to be in this miserable place for any reason, Sirius certainly wasn't going to bring him here voluntarily, but the fact that they were here meant something to do with him was afoot, and none of them were looking forward to that after the last few disastrous mentions of Remus and Peter were left in the air.

Finally his eyes landed on the book he'd personally discarded, and it had once again changed, though the size remained relative to the last one, depressingly. Now though, it was almost solid black. Sirius only just made out the faint, purple five in the flickering candle light of his room. He fought the urge to swat it right out of Evans's hand as she started.

Dudley Demented? Had that useless Muggle cousin already lost his mind? He would have thought that would have happened years ago, but he couldn't really bring himself to care regardless.

He fought back the urge to snap at Alice Smith for the advice she'd given him now, to try considering other sides of a problem other than the immediate solution. It was easy for her to say, the biggest obstacle she ever had in her life was finishing a homework assignment on time. His earliest memories however were of this room, and how much the place gave him the creeps.

Regulus hunched his shoulders, feeling more wrong-footed here in his own home than he had at every other location mixed together. This was insane, he should have been grateful to be back here! Instead, all he felt was a deep-seated worry as he was forced once again to imagine what Mother and Father would say to him during the coming summer holidays, now in more vivid detail than ever here in Sirius's room. He did not want to end up like his brother, the idea of his parents looking at him with such disappointment nearly had him sick on the plush carpet. He still had no idea what to do though, there seemed no solution to exist how to keep his parents in his life and yet not follow along with the path they'd set in motion for him.

He listened to Harry Potter's life at the miserable Muggle household being deprived of news from his friends, the fifteen-year-old now actually older than Regulus himself and knowing exactly what he wanted. He cringed against the floor at the idea of a Muggle attacking him like that Vernon was to his own nephew, he watched his brother and friends, even Evans and her friends light up with pure hatred at this happening to Harry Potter and fought the urge to crawl under Sirius's bed again until the nightmares and shouting faded. He wished Kreacher were here, at least his house-elf was someone who had never shouted in his life.

James flopped down on the too hard bed next to Sirius and threw an uneasy arm around his shoulders, but better to finally act on a motion he could do rather than murdering that awful Muggle. "How is it this trip is actually worse than the last time I was here?" James asked in a too loud, forced conversational tone of voice.

"I'm sorry Kreacher can't be here for you to set him on fire again," Sirius almost managed to answer without clenched teeth.

"Don't pin that on me, it was your fault for wanting to burn the bed sheets instead of just changing their color like I wanted to," James corrected with an unnatural laugh as he kept watching. Evans's face was more red with anger than he'd ever seen, a true feat in itself, and all directed at those awful excuses for extended family. Harry was finally able to make a temporary escape to some local playground and mull it all over, but the fact that Harry wasn't even thinking about nearly being strangled but instead more fixated on his forced isolation really spoke volumes.

Lily couldn't help but start to relax against the wall a bit as she saw how this situation was going to play out when Dudley himself entered the scene, she nearly wanted to laugh at it all, despite the fact nothing was very funny. Harry knew his godfather well, her child did indeed do the exact opposite of what Sirius Black would have done in that situation and walked away from a fight. The idea only reinforced in her the adult Harry needed in his life was Sev, who knew just as well as her but what a pampered idiot like Black could never understand about a miserable home life.

She took the time to look around again at the extravagant bed he was lounging on, the tacky posters and grandiose chandelier with still alight green flames. It was no wonder he did whatever he wanted. Like Dudley instead of Harry, he was clearly used to getting it outside of school as well.

The following conversation actually went about as well as if James Potter himself had been there, taunting Dudley. Both boys were honestly in the wrong, Dudley had started that fight, but Harry was making it all worse by verbally vexing his cousin. She'd been forced to acknowledge a while ago Harry was not his father, but it was still all too easy to picture him instead of Harry during that mess, until the Dementors arrived.

No one, not a single soul was left untouched by what happened next. Harry saved his miserable excuse for a cousin from those festered soul-eaters, with every reason and chance in the world not to. Would any of them have done the same in that moment, after all those Dursleys had put Harry through?

Chapter Text

Two today, half an apology for this fic being gone so long, half because it's Valentine's Day!

To Stitches: Loyalty is earned, and then takes quite a bit to break, something I hope you've enjoyed being portrayed over multiple characters over the course of this series. Who will and will not have the loyalties they started by the end is the journey.

HPHPHPHPHP

There was a whole whirlwind of activity upon this landing, many shrieks from more than just the eight of them and so much movement that after their long solidarity it was frightening. His heart was fluttering in his chest in anticipation for a fight once more as he tried to see past his swirling vision, but then his eyes were only further obscured by some thick, milky substance and he cursed in further shock.

"Frank?" He heard Alice's voice not too far off, and she didn't sound particularly distressed, but his agitation still rose further when he continued swiping at his eyes and unwilling to cast the mess off with magic for fear of what it was.

"Here," definitely not Alice's voice spoke much closer at hand, but only after he'd softly uttered the spell and Frank finally cracked his eyes open did he recognize it as Lupin. He fought hard against the instinctive urge to cringe away, didn't entirely manage it, but did get out a sincere, "thanks."

Lupin gave him a small smile back, already several more feet away than he would have been while casting the spell, but waited patiently until Frank actually got his feet under him and was clearly fine now before leaving him to investigate the place, or more accurately, the owls. He recognized this place as Eeylops Owl Emporium. His face scrunched up in further disgust, he was glad Lupin had left now, as the expression had nothing to do with the werewolf but everything to do with the understanding of what had been on his face.

There were 225 different species of owls, and all of them seemed to be on display in some variation around this shop all in a variety of colors, not to mention the sign hanging in the back promising even more creatures could be requested, including bats for overnight deliveries, flamingos for an extra love-letter flair, and hippogriffs if you 'really wanted to deliver that message.'

There were still some up in the rafters rather than on their perches, feathers fluttering in a colorful tornado just settling on the ground from their abrupt departure at their unexpected arrival. He finally spotted Alice and Lily cooing affectionately over a rack of tiny little scoop owls, one was even albino like a miniature Hedwig. He heard Regulus's voice off in the distance and swallowed a laugh at the universes' sense of humor, landing them here while the chapter title A Peck of Owls echoed around them.

It was a quiet, diminished group that listened to Harry hauling his nearly unconscious cousin back to their house while having his questions ignored by the suddenly intriguing Mrs. Figg, and even more sporadically a new guy named Mundungus Fletcher. Then the Dursleys of course were of no better company, the ungrateful people they were accusing rather than thanking Harry for Dudley's circumstances.

Then the heat of it all really came down, Harry had in fact done underage magic, something that really hadn't occurred to any of them during the circumstances, considering he'd been in a life or death situation and it was a miracle in itself he even got himself out of it. The Ministry didn't seem to agree, as they actually tried to expel him over it? Then the barrage of other letters from a multitude of people came giving him all sorts of contradictory advice, and honestly by the end of it all they felt like collapsing from exhaustion just hearing about it, let alone poor Harry living through it.

Frank was beside himself with confusion by the end of it all, even hearing the first-hand account he didn't know how Harry was taking it all so calmly, having a conversation with those Dursleys on top of this turmoil. He watched Lily mostly through the majority of the exchange, the Ministry's steep response to this was catching him off guard, he had no idea how a Muggleborn would be reacting to all this, but instead she kept pursing her lips up and flashing her eyes in disgust every time Petunia opened her mouth. Not unusual, but it distracted him for a moment as he wondered if perhaps she'd gotten a few letters, perhaps not as disastrous as this one, but something from the Ministry herself forewarning her of these consequences.

There was audible relief all around when the final letter came and Harry was not going to be expelled until some hearing, at least giving some semblance of sanity back to the world, which was erased once more as that wasn't in fact the last letter, but Petunia was sent an incomprehensible howler. Lily had to fight the urge to go find Regulus just to make sure he wasn't making this up for some reason, but his voice stuttering in surprise was audible for all to hear. Clearly, even in the Muggle world, this future was on its last stretches of sanity.

Chapter Text

To Sjannie; I'm not spoiling the reactions of future chapters, but I will confirm there will be no AU after this. The final chapter will be an entire wrap up of its own.

HPHPHPHP

Remus almost caught a faint hint of his own self crashing into his face, and slammed against a glass window. He rubbed furiously at his forehead and muttered more oaths of this repeat, but for once was rather glad they were confined to wherever this was, or he probably would have gone right through that. He squinted at his reflection for a few moments, thanking the setting sun on his face before he forced his eyes to adjust past that and see beyond.

There was a small garden with a tiny little pond just on the edge of the property, other than that it was wide open space. Turning slowly back to the inside of the house he found a comfortable looking couch with the others all groaning and sitting up in various states of unrest. Only James and Alice were close enough to scrutinize though, and he was positive enough James didn't know this place anymore than him that he watched Alice carefully. She however looked just as bemused as him at this new location, so he passed the two and caught sight of the kitchen, where Longbottom was getting uneasily to his feet.

Sirius had landed on top of the refrigerator and was just lying there, looking miserable and very uncomfortable. Frank Longbottom was rubbing his backside and looking just as confused as his girlfriend though.

Remus turned just in time to see Peter, Regulus, and Evans coming out of a hallway and could easily see the question on all of their lips as well. It seemed none of them were quite sure where they were.

Considering past times this had not gone well for them, he didn't blame Prongs at all for his curiosity being abated for once and summoning the book to him, he did however frown in confusion at the new chapter title.

"Advanced Guard? Who's coming after Harry now?"

"Keep up Moony," Sirius slurred, his face already turning red from his prolonged, half upside-down position. "Between You-Know-Who, and now random arse dementors after Harry, it's obvious Harry hired advanced bodyguards."

"Yes, I'm so sure that's the ticket," Remus frowned up at him. "Are you okay up there?"

"What's this thing anyways, feels cold, but kind of good," Sirius opened his eyes and twisted his face so it was more against the freezer part.

"Muggle contraption, keeps food cold," he only barely managed to answer before Sirius did fall down from his perch, but he quickly scrambled back to his feet and now leaned his face more intensely against the door.

Remus walked closer to see what had him so riled up. There were a few bits of loose paper tacked to it, like reminders a bathroom sink was clogged, as well as a grocery list, but the idea this was a muggle household was ruined when he spotted the picture Sirius was looking at. It was moving.

A man and a woman he didn't recognize were smiling down at a little girl who was running in delight, and falling quite frequently, but always getting up and continuing. The interesting part was, her hair changed colors every time she got up. From red, to green, to blonde without any discernible reason why, and at one point several colors were in her long mane at once, as if a rainbow were chasing her about. She stopped and did a little spin so she was facing away from her parents, facing them more clearly, and in the blink of an eye her whole face morphed several different features before settling into a heart-shape and taking off once more.

"Well that's, new," he agreed, blinking in confusion at the odd sight. Were the parents doing experimentation on that girl or something?

"Yeah, it is," Sirius said in a weird voice, and Remus checked him to see he wasn't watching the child at all, but the mother, it was unmistakable the way his eyes were scrutinizing her, not tracking the little ones progress.

He hadn't looked closely at either parent really, the kid certainly drew the attention, but now that he was, he frowned in puzzlement to see she did seem vaguely familiar- "there's no way," Sirius breathed, his nose was pressed right to the picture now, causing the girl to fall once more. "Andromeda?"

It took a few moments for Remus to let his mind scatter around and figure out why he recognized that name, before it clicked as one Sirius actually mentioned being related to this cousin from time to time. She was the middle child of the three sisters, but that was all he could think of off the top of his head. He certainly wouldn't have realized it was the same woman now, she was much older for one thing, but Sirius would know best.

"Sirius, you alright?" Remus couldn't understand the strange look on his face as he scrutinized the picture.

"I, um, that's my cousin," he vaguely clarified.

"Yes, I gathered that, though I take no comfort we're in the house of some potential Death Eaters." Remus frowned and waited for him to get to the point. The look on his face was not worry, but something else Remus couldn't put his finger on.

He didn't answer for so long that the book had gone past Harry's next lapse of depressing times at that Muggle place, and reached all the way up to intruders. Sirius finally looked around properly back towards him, but kept the picture in his hand as he finally walked out of the kitchen to keep his eye on this newest danger around Harry.

When Moody and Professor Lupin were announced in quick succession, they all marginally relaxed this was no foreseeable danger, but it did no more to explain their surroundings until the rest of the guard was introduced, and Sirius nearly jumped in surprise at the name Nymphadora Tonks. Remus peeked over his shoulder again just in time for the girl in the picture to have her hair flash from purple, to orange, to pink hardly before he could name said colors. His suspicions were all but confirmed when she explained she was a metamorphmagus, something he'd never heard of, but that must be the explanation for winding up here. Was this her home? Was this where Harry was going to be taken? Maybe even a new girlfriend of his, she didn't sound that much older than Harry with the way she spoke to everyone, and she was singled out going back upstairs with Harry to get his stuff.

Sirius caught his wrist and started dragging him back towards the kitchen, though stopped and kept his head cocked to the side towards James still so he didn't miss a word as he spoke to Remus, "I think Andromeda did something unbelievable?"

"More than what you've done Padfoot? I won't believe it," Remus couldn't help but smirk, but he blinked and quickly caught up with his assumption as he scrutinized the picture again, and their surroundings. "Wow," he breathed before Sirius bounced on his heels and half shouted;

"I think she's married to a muggle! Or Muggle Born. Whichever! I, can you, no one I know would even dare-"

There was a light shining in his bright gray eyes Remus only ever saw when he looked at one person, James. Certainly the admirational look had only ever been attributed to Prongs's next bone-headed prank they'd all gone along with, but never to a member of his own family.

"That's," he swallowed, truly beyond words for what this was implying. "Really great Sirius, looks like you're not the greatest nutjob of your family."

"I'm not the only one," Sirius seemed to savor the words as he went back to eyeing every detail of the photo, and then doing a wild dance around the place as if to take in every detail of this life. Remus let him be, watching fondly as he tripped over his own feet, as uncoordinated as this Tonks in his excitement to finally find someone like him in his own family. Sirius's debilitating fear his blood was cursed had likely only been reinforced by his recent train of bad luck in this future, but maybe, if he really saw there were others who could stand up to his parents, well that could certainly only be a good thing.

He leaned comfortably against the couch now and listened with the first true enjoyment in a long time as Harry escaped those awful muggles and was flying once more, with trusted people. Peter and Regulus were smiling and whispering about something once more, he caught a few snatches of conversation and they seemed to think they were headed to this location for whatever this secret headquarters could be.

Evans, Alice, and Longbottom weren't talking much at all, but seemed just as enraptured at this story's new development, clearly something had been going on behind the scenes while Harry had been kept out of the loop.

James was so antsy by the time Harry landed, he was bouncing on the spot in fascination. The place certainly couldn't be here though, it sounded like a dumpsite more than anything. He supposed though, if they were going to set up some secret place to meet up, a rundown old neighborhood was the place to go.

Sirius had vanished from sight down the hallway, and Remus began to follow him just to keep an eye on that smile. He'd been inspecting things with care, for once, but he didn't want him to get carried away. He froze in surprise though, and whirled back around so fast he nearly fell on his bum himself when he heard the very specific and particular address Harry seemed to be at. 12 Grimmauld Place. Sirius's home.

Chapter Text

The dust hadn't even settled, nor the pain of landing flat on his back, when an ear-piercing, yet almost familiar shriek began in earnest. Regulus felt his heart slam into his throat as he sat up to see what once would have been the most welcoming sight in what felt like a very long time now. Mum was telling off Sirius.

He was just sitting there, gaping up at her, Regulus really would have thought he'd know better than anyone now that was only going to make it worse. Regulus was still fighting back a smile as he got unsteadily to his feet, stumbling towards his mother to distract her away from whatever she was mad about him now to explain, finally, to someone what had been going on! Surely she could help, she could see this future and know, like him, how things needed a change- he slowed though when he really looked into her face, and then fell back to the floor in shock at registering her portrait.

In a slow, almost nightmarish daze, he began turning slowly on the spot to take in the fact that they were home once more...but not exactly as he remembered it. They were in the portrait gallery, the door right off to the side where it should be, but there were several more portraits in here besides mum's that shouldn't be. Dad's was directly across from hers, his aunts and uncles all varying across the walls to draw attention and add to their retribution. The noise all piled up on each other, had him covering his ears, though they weren't doing a good job as badly as they were shaking.

"Shut up, you-" Sirius finally found his voice, but there was barely a hint of air, it was so lost in the mess that when finally the shout of 'Stupefy' rung, it was only the red sparks that gave away something new was happening.

Several more voices took up the spell, and then blessed silence fell.

"Sirius," the voice was gentle, calm now, but Regulus still flinched even as his eyes finally fluttered open, he didn't even remember closing them. Adrenaline was hitting so hard though it wasn't until Lupin had grabbed his brother's arms and was guiding him out of the room, and the troll leg got knocked over on the way up the stairs that it even occurred to him he could move as well.

Peter and Potter were already trying to go after them, but Frank's soft yet startling words stopped them. "Shit kid, are you okay?"

Regulus didn't need to look up to know he was being spoken to. He swallowed several times and didn't have an answer. He wasn't even sure how he did it, but he got to his feet and took off up the stairs as well, racing past so fast he wouldn't have seen Fluffy standing in his way until he made it to the very top floor. Only mum and dad's room stood on his left, but that wasn't his goal. He tapped the wall impatiently with his wand, but the stairs to the attic didn't descend as they should have. He was trapped.

He'd never felt trapped in his own home before, was this how Sirius always felt? Surrounded by those portraits, nothing but an echo of his parents, he'd swear the walls were closing in on him and he'd tried running to his favorite spot where nobody but Kreacher ever found him. He could hide up there for days until Mum and Dads fights subsided, just because he was used to them yelling at Sirius, or each other, or anything on their mind at all hours didn't always mean he wanted to be here listening to it. At least during Mum and Dad's lessons they spoke with calm dignity, he'd happily listened to them talk like that for days.

He heard soft footsteps behind him and cringed at the idea of Sirius following just to keep yelling at him and tell him to grow up.

James watched as Peter took off after Regulus without hesitation. Regulus, he knew that for a fact, not Sirius. The only reason Remus had beat him to get Sirius out of here had been because James had been watching everyone to make sure those portraits weren't going to jump clean out and slit their throats, they were that kind of horrifying.

Now he simply stood there and watched the empty staircase. To go after any of them would just feel redundant at this point. He hadn't exactly missed it was Remus Sirius kept turning to ever since that fight had been mended, and it's not like he had to dig deep to see why. James had been the one to insist Sirius keep his distance until Remus made his decision, and he had been the one to tell Peter the same thing. Now it seems they'd collectively decided to do the same to him, but he had no clue what he was being punished for.

"Come on girls, let's find somewhere else to read this, I don't know how long those portraits are going to stay frozen," Longbottom walked cautiously past him, even as dark as their surroundings were he couldn't have missed the uneasy look given his way as he put his first foot on the stairs James hadn't touched. Evans was even doing the same thing as she followed him on the same step. He didn't care why.

She was the one to crack open the book and read in a soft whisper where he knew them to be though, and Frank was practically reading over her shoulder, almost quivering with anticipation to hear about all of this. James  hardly took in a word of Harry's arrival, his eyes zeroing in on Alice Smith. She was trailing a couple of steps behind the two, stumbled slightly, and reached out on instinct to grab the banister before pulling her hand back away with a look of fear that she quickly tried to correct.

He made a snap decision as he finally put his own cautious foot on the first step and called back, "hey, Alice, can I talk to you?"

She stopped and turned to him at once, an understandably confused look on her face. The other two were so engrossed with Harry seeing all this in only slightly better light than they were, that they were several more stairs up before his words sank in and they turned back as well. "Just Alice," he added pointedly.

Alice was already descending the stairs, but now she stopped beside him with an even more confused, but at least friendly enough smile in place before she too turned. "It's alright, I don't think he's going to feed me to the other half of that troll," she gestured vaguely over her shoulder at the crude umbrella stand.

Frank gave an uneasy laugh, but nodded and started up once more. Evans's eyes were the brightest green he'd ever seen, they stuck out even here in this dark place, and she tried to take a step backwards before stumbling and not trying further. He waited until the book resumed though before asking plainly, "well, I told you I wouldn't be shy when I wanted your opinion."

She watched as he stopped there and crossed his arms, like he thought that was all the explanation needed. It wasn't for her. "My opinion on, what exactly?"

"I know you've been talking to my friends," he said like she was daft, and she frowned at the tone. "I want to know what about."

She smoothed down her hair as she realized it from his point of view for the first time, but it really hadn't been like that at all. Her chat with Remus had been brief and cordial in that sea of tents, and she'd talked more at Black than to him, and it had been very involuntary given the circumstances of that maze. He didn't seem to have taken in a word regardless. The only one she had sought out was Peter at the museum, and she wasn't just going to repeat all that. She chose her words carefully, "well, I'd say, you lot need to be talking to each other."

"Wow, thanks, I never thought about that," he rolled his eyes and tapped his foot, getting downright belligerent. "Anything more vague? Should we start with hello to each other?"

"I, decided to stay out of it," she admitted, or at least, she'd been trying to not butt in where she wasn't wanted, Sirius had asked her something rather similar after all, so she'd tell Potter the same thing. "I want to help, I just think you should try looking at it from their point of view. Ask them what they think more."

He just looked at her. It took a few moments for Alice to realize he was waiting for the rest. She merely shrugged though, she had nothing else to offer that hadn't been said in confidence.

Sirius may have followed along blindly as Remus guided him away, but he still knew exactly where they were, even if Remus himself didn't, when he stepped off the stairs onto the floor that housed some guest rooms. Sirius tried the door first, but when it didn't open, Sirius didn't care and pressed Remus up against it regardless, kissing him fiercely.

"Here?" Remus gasped, trying to jerk himself away. "Sirius, this is not why I-"

"Shh," Sirius giggled in his ear, still feeling more giddy than he had even after their first prank. "James is probably still trying to talk to Evans about whatever, and Peter's lost his mind, nobody's going to notice."

"That's still not what I-" Remus meant to protest, he even grabbed his hips to at least keep him at arm's length, but Sirius leaned in again and damn if Remus wasn't the most easily distracted person on the planet as his eyes began to roll into the back of his head, his hands betraying him and pulling Sirius closer instead until there was a clatter on the stairs and they sprung guiltily apart.

Someone certainly went rushing past in a hurry, but it was too dark to tell, and they stayed uneasily where they were pretending they weren't breathing heavily when moments later another more hurried footsteps followed.

Remus rubbed at his forehead, self-guilt and even more self-anger reminding himself to take a step even farther back before Sirius could distract him again.

"Padfoot, I mean it, I want to talk. Merlin, have you actually talked to anyone since..." his voice died when Evans began reading, and the answer sunk into him regardless. Sirius hadn't talked in almost a month now, and it hadn't started with Peter, he'd refused to talk to Remus the night he'd told Snape where to find him that full moon. Maybe even longer before that. Oh sure, he'd opened his mouth, words had come out, but there had been a distance in him that Remus was genuinely starting to worry about, and the look on his face as he'd looked upon his mother's portrait was the best chance he'd had to start that conversation in all this mess. He was half surprised James wasn't up here as well by now to double team him, that would have been sure to work.

The two of them flinched and jumped even farther apart when they realized someone was certainly venting their feelings around here, and it was Harry, at his friends. James's son was certainly holding nothing back.

The two listened in avid silence to the whole thing until the twins interrupted, and Remus only felt his worry grow. If Sirius kept whatever it was bottled up, well, he was a lot more boisterous than Harry. When he exploded, there was a good chance it would involve more than shouting.

"Sirius," he tried again, but Sirius seemed determined to brush him off, again.

"I did it Remus, did you see! Well, maybe not as well as that," he acknowledged his future self storming up the stairs to tell off those portraits in even more style than he and James had managed. "I've never told her to shut it before though! I bet I really can next time I see her."

"That's, great Sirius," Remus said in exasperation, but was stopped from saying anything else as they were tugged away once more.

Chapter Text

Extra chapter this week, I'm so excited to be halfway done! You can all thank Tiffany Smithi for this fic's continuation! She not only co-authored this chapter with me but will continue to do so for the next five. Hope you enjoy!

HPHPHPHP

There was more coughing and pain-filled groans going on than usual, and that was really saying something. Remus lay miserably and awkwardly on his side on top of something, but as he didn't feel any immediate pain and nobody was shouting he was about to die, he couldn't care enough to find out what as he licked his lips and let his mind linger just a few moments longer on his brief euphoria of his stolen moment with Sirius.

Regulus looked around balefully as he realized he'd gotten his wish in the end regardless, luck be kind he even seemed to have found himself in the exact spot he would have placed himself in. A nice little dark patch set up under a tottering pile of clothes in the family attic. Surprisingly though, the place didn't seem as much in disuse as the rest of the house.

There were distinct footprints all around, too old to be from anyone in here who were all still getting their bearings and hadn't even moved yet. The place did reek though, the stillness in the air lingering even more up here, but it didn't seem to be clogging his throat anymore. Then he snorted at himself in disgust and got upright, scolding himself. That was just because he liked this place the most, nobody had any reason to frequent up here, least of all Sirius, no matter why he was back in this house. Even Kreacher, who snuck him up food here from time to time when his parents were arguing, had even less reason to be up here if Mother wasn't having him fetch things.

Apparently he wasn't the only one curious about this though, he would have summoned the book to himself to find out what Sirius of all people was doing back here if Lupin hadn't done it himself and read out the chapter title. Thank Merlin, they were hopefully going to get more answers on whatever this Order of the Phoenix was aside from whatever a couple of teenagers had pieced together.

He did incline his head curiously when Harry received about as warm a welcome as he himself would have, it was at least a new experience to see his brother being surly to someone else besides him for a change.

He gave a rather surprised start, however, when the Sirius in the book said he was the last Black left. He and Sirius exchanged startled glances, and Regulus saw a moment of unguarded concern in Sirius's eyes before his older brother looked back to the book, clearly intent on dismissing such a thing until there was proof of that. It wasn't an unsound idea, considering the last person presumed dead was decidedly not, so Regulus said nothing either, for now.

Nothing of note was happening though, people were apparently just milling around in the kitchen and a few conversations struck up, so Regulus kept listening with one ear while watching the others explore, carefully.

Frank had landed closest to the trap door and quickly tried to make his way to Alice, who had landed in the farthest, dustiest corner, too quickly. He'd knocked over several old boxes, and the two were now curiously going through a few. They were holding an old stuffed dragon head Uncle Arcturus had supposedly slain, and avoiding looking it in the eye as if it were a basilisk instead.

Evans was flipping through a dusty old book with a pinched look on her face, but whatever she held kept her flipping to the next page in fascination. It was too dark in here for him to make out the title, but from where she was, he'd guess it was one of Uncle Alphard's rarer collections.

The four Marauders stood off to the side, Potter holding his lit wand aloft for Lupin to keep reading, none of them seemed to be talking much. Peter kept looking around more than at them really, like he was waiting for something else to happen. His eyes landed on Regulus several times and he smiled warmly, but gave him his space, which he appreciated right now. He'd wanted to come up here for some quiet after all when they'd been thrown up here regardless.

The preparation of dinner was underway, and Sirius struck up an immensely moody conversation with Harry; Potter and Peter were throwing him concerned looks, and Lupin opened his mouth several times to say something, but thought better of it.

Lupin paused for a moment over Sirius's bitter mention of Wormtail serving Voldemort and spilling their secrets; there was an awkward silence for a long moment before Lupin rushed on, and the topic was changed quickly. Peter didn't even have time to back away from them again even if he were going to.

Dinner was served and things seemed to be going all at peace for once, both for Harry now that he wasn't yelling at his friends and in here as no one was looking to start any more yelling, a blessed relief for Regulus. He was just beginning to relax back and let his eyes flutter shut, Lupin's calm voice reading this was hardly welcome, but at least peaceable enough as some old cod named Mundungus Fletcher regaled a tale about some old con of his, but then Lupin's voice took a bit of a hard change when Molly Weasley and Sirius started talking to each other, and Regulus immediately sat back up as well in concern.

Apparently he wasn't the only one who could feel the fight brewing when Molly snapped that Harry wasn't James.

"I would never!" Sirius protested.

"The you in the future doesn't know Harry as well as we do by this point," Frank reminded him quietly.

Sirius opened his mouth to reply, but then stopped, looking confused and uncertain. He cast a guilty look at Potter, who motioned Lupin to read on.

It only escalated from there, as any conversation with Sirius was want to do, Regulus began looking around the room carefully, curiously, while Molly and Sirius began verbally questioning whom was best to be making this decision for Harry and expecting at least someone in here to chastise Sirius for his future self.

To his complete astonishment, no one seemed to be. Evans was frowning at him for certain, but she didn't even seem to be biting her tongue, and it's not as if she didn't have a weighted opinion on the subject, even she wouldn't deny that now, he was sure, with how much she'd been paying attention to Harry lately.

Potter was beaming at Sirius. "That's my Padfoot," he said. "Go on, Remus!" he added impatiently when Lupin paused for a moment.

All eight of them listened, as Sirius actually seemed to win the fight. Molly, for all her kind declaration in stating Harry as good as one of her own, found herself with no ground to stand on to usher anyone else except her only daughter out, neither of whom gave in with grace. All distractions set aside temporarily as Sirius outlined Voldemort's current status, relying on what he'd done back then, as in their time.

"An army?" Regulus asked slowly. "From right now, in our own timeline?"

The Marauders exchanged excited looks, and Regulus knew what that meant - the moment they got out of this... place... the four of them would take off on another one of their adventures to figure out every secret even hinted at, and the rest of them would be left to go back to their old lives as if nothing had happened.

But Regulus couldn't do that. Sitting here, in the attic of his home, he realized nothing would ever be the way it was before - not for him, not for Peter, and certainly not for Potter and Evans, however much the fiery girl might try to deny it. All their lives, beyond a doubt, would be forever changed, but whether they would go through it together... Regulus shook his head and tried to focus on Lupin's voice reading out what Regulus can't help but think of as the gloomy dark of their futures - or, at least, most of theirs. He, Potter, Evans, Longbottom and Smith aren't even alive in the future apparently.

All Regulus was concerned about was getting back home, figuring out his life, and getting a straight answer from Sirius about whether or not they'll be involved with each other.

Lupin warned that the chapter was about to be over, and read the last line before they were all whisked away to their next destination.

HPHPHPHP

This fic is officially half done! Technically, as there's an odd number of chapters, it'll never be 'half', but semantics!

Chapter Text

99 chapters of AitF, 99 chapters to go! Post one up, read it below, 98 chapters to go!

Okay, I'll stop now.

HPHPHPHPHP

Of all the things he could have landed on, it had to be a bag of dead rats. Peter got to land beside him on the desk. Remus got to stumble over his own feat and smack into Frank Longbottom, James got to bash his head on the doorknob. But no, he got the bag of dead rats!

Which about summed up his whole life experience of still being in this house! And this room in particular. He plucked a tiny little bone from his hair and scowled at the blood in his pants and wondered what he'd done to deserve all this. His eyes landed on the book, propped against the wall at the very bottom of the tapestry. He sighed in resignation but hauled himself up to grab it, anything to hurry up the process of getting them out of here! When he picked it up however, it fell from his slack fingers in shock at what he saw.

He knew this ruddy tapestry as well as Hogwarts castle, it had been imprinted in his mind from youth. In his youngest years, his time-out punishment had consisted of standing in front of this wall until he could recite every name, top to bottom. He knew exactly which two circles the book had been blocking, or rather, used to be. He wasn't there anymore, instead a black smudge was left in its place. Regulus's was marked as complete, the year of death as visible as his shoes.

It was the most jarring thing he ever could have seen in his life, as if his head had actually split in two. He'd done it? Surely he'd been blasted from the tree for doing something that would finally get him free of this place, permanently. But, then Regulus had also done it. He'd stayed here, and died a part of here, and a part of him wilted with that knowledge, he and his brother really never could go back to anything resembling civil, let alone normal. A quick glimpse moving up showed his brother hadn't even outlasted his parents, both had lived for several more years. What Sirius had said in the future was irrevocably true, he was truly the last of his line.

"Sirius?"

He looked up in surprise to see his three friends had moved much closer than he would have expected. He opened, then closed his mouth, and couldn't think of anything to say, so instead wordlessly flipped open the book. The tree said it all anyways, there wasn't anything left for him to say. He didn't want to see their faces when they realized the same, what would be better? Praise, or condolences?

"The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black," he managed to say like a turd had replaced his tongue.

Regulus wasn't sure what had Sirius in such a stuffy mood in particular as he decided to read, this was definitely one of the better rooms in the house. At least the history of their family had always been one of the more fascinating lessons their father taught. The four of them were blocking his favorite part of the tree, probably intentional on his brother's part as he liked to pretend his circle wasn't even there most days, so Regulus instead went over to one of the cupboards and opened it curiously to see if anything there had changed.

He mostly ignored the book as Molly Weasley continued infantilizing the teenagers by thinking they'd go straight off to bed without talking. Instead he smiled in surprise to still see the old dusty bottle of the very first Sirius Black's blood, his brother's namesake. There was an odd locket he didn't recognize and briefly wondered who added that and why, as well as his mother's music box she often used to get herself to go to sleep. It worked wonders, as she wouldn't wake until someone shut it.

Harry and Ron ignored Molly's orders of course, but even when the twins arrived and hashed things out not much was said that couldn't have reasonably been worked out. Regulus was actually quite disappointed in this older version of Sirius, had his brother gone tame?

A part of Regulus, even having witnessed all these changes himself, could hardly imagine the house in such disrepair, and all these virtual strangers in here trying to change it. There was something almost violating in the way they were callously throwing things out that they had no right to, even with Sirius being a more than willing participant. He ran his fingers over the odd locket once more and shut the door back firmly, and locked it. At least nobody was doing it right now and he could still pretend all of this had some bearable answer in the end.

At least Kreacher was still there! He smiled in delight at the idea of his house-elf still the same after all this time, not everyone had to be horribly different or dead in this future. Despite the intriguing information coming from the book, Regulus really just wanted to know what had become of himself. Had his death had something to do with Kreacher's attitude - he'd hardly ever seen him act in this way toward anyone but Sirius, though Regulus supposed he wasn't surprised that this extended to blood traitors and dark creatures and...Muggle-borns.

Frank rubbed nervously at the back of his neck when he found himself next to Lily and Alice having a comfortable chat about house-elves, and what little they both knew of them really, only for Alice to give him a small little frown and not immediately acknowledge his arrival. He'd unconsciously put himself as far away from Lupin, and by subsequence everyone else in the room was now in between them.

He at least tried his best to downplay it by watching the book attentively, and getting the smallest of chuckles when the bag of dead rats was explained as Buckbeak's breakfast. The knowledge that said hippogriff was staying in his own mother's room at least seemed to cause said reader great mirth.

Regulus sighed in exhaustion as Sirius ended up leaning against the wall to support his weight he was laughing too hard. Mum really wasn't that bad! Strict, especially on him for sure, but this just felt uncalled for! Had Sirius ever tried to bother to understand why they had raised them the way they had? Maybe Dad and Mum just didn't know any better about all this, like he was still figuring out?

Yeah, and maybe those doxies will fly out of the curtain and sing carols instead, he scoffed at his childishly clinging mind. His parents did feel what they'd taught their boys was right and he knew it, but that still didn't give him any answers as to why he didn't. Yet he still didn't find what Sirius did funny, there had to be some elusive third path somewhere.

To his delight, Peter came over as a distraction and Regulus welcomed that with a grin. "Those twins are really taking off with this joke shop idea huh?"

"It's really impressive," Peter agreed, "I can't say I'd have done anything near as ambitious with all that gold."

"What would you do with it?" Regulus asked, as the idea only just occurred to him he'd no idea what to do with his family money himself.

"Don't know," Peter looked surprised at the question. "Experiment what I'd want to do with it I guess, blow it all before I even figure it out," he finished with a general enough shrug, but a slight grimace.

Regulus thought he was selling himself short, and would have said so, before the bag of dead rats was mentioned again by Molly sitting on it and Peter made the exact same face. He couldn't help but wonder for the first time how that must feel, to have some part of you be used as a punchline, and a dead one at that. He still didn't know much more than the basics of what being an animagus was like, but surely hearing of the dead animal you could turn into, especially like this, wasn't pleasant.

He was sadly deterred by Kreacher entering the scene. The state his house-elf was described in was so sad. His house-elf was supposed to be a reflection of his home, and yet his companion of so many years seemed to have sunk even farther than the old rotting floorboards. Kreacher certainly didn't mutter like some closed ward patient! And the very idea he had to sneak around their home amongst these strangers to salvage old things that he had far more of a right to just caused a pit in his stomach. Then he winced, for the first time in his life feeling shame at the word Mudblood as Kreacher said it so carelessly, and he watched the very one it affected in this room flinch so openly. He realized for the first time how he'd feel if someone called Peter that, let alone laughing at the word as he once had. 

Sirius, neither his brother reading nor the one coming in to break all this up, helped nothing of course as he ordered their house-elf about without even acknowledging he had a name, as usual. Regulus found himself shuffling uncomfortably and trying not to look at the tapestry himself now, he didn't know how he felt about any of it anymore, it made his stomach hurt just thinking about this stuff. So it was to his very great surprise when he caught Sirius's awkward face, and similar shuffling gait as he shot Regulus a rather odd look and read much more softly than he was before, like he was hoping the others had stopped listening.

Which of course only made Regulus focus on him all the more. Since when did he care about saying his visceral feelings for all of this as loudly as possible, what did it matter if he was saying it to Harry and everyone around them? Then his heart did a funny little thump in his chest as he realized Sirius was trying to hide the wrong thing. Not his words, but his placement, of being blown off the tree?!

He rushed forward and immediately tried to shove Sirius out of the way to confirm such a thing, but Sirius stood his ground now, frowning down at Regulus. "Yeah, alright, it's true," he sighed, even as Regulus tried to bend down behind his legs, Sirius raised one boot up and placed it purposely against the wall.

"How!?" Regulus gasped, still pulling fruitlessly at his leg it seemed.

"How should I know, Kreacher isn't muttering the story yet obviously," Sirius rolled his eyes, for all the world sounding as blissful as ever for such an awful thought!

Yet, the shock wasn't really there. Regulus was looking to see it for himself, but not because he didn't believe Sirius. Mum had been threatening it for ages now, and he had no doubts she'd go through with it. Just, the idea it had really happened...

Yet the following passages didn't give much in the way of details. He was sixteen when it happened? So it was likely to be, this very summer then? The much, much older version of his brother lingered mostly on the Potters, and how they'd taken him in, and his disgust with the whole place, as if this hadn't still been his home for sixteen years, like he'd left nothing behind.

Sirius stopped reading there though with a look Regulus didn't understand. He almost did look, guilty? That wasn't quite right, but whatever his eyes were lingering on in the words to come he didn't seem to want to share. Regulus started tapping his foot impatiently and began to scoff at Sirius to stop being dramatic, surely he didn't need to linger on this that much, when he jolted in surprise at Peter putting a hand on his too tense shoulder. Potter had to give Sirius a nudge to get him to spit out the next words, and they still rang in the silent air.

Sirius finally shuffled out of the way, where the glaring black spot shone like a beacon next to Regulus's tiny little circle, earmarking his death. Regulus hadn't needed proof to believe that either.

It had certainly been hinted at in the previous chapter, but even before that, since the Dark Lord's resurrection in the graveyard Regulus had been getting a creeping sensation this was where his life was headed. He just hadn't realized it was, so soon, in three years.

Sirius started reading at lighting speed then, as if the burn of the words wouldn't linger if he rushed through it fast enough. He'd joined the Death Eaters, and his parents had been proud of him. He'd died, because he'd become a coward in the future as well, just much slower than it was starting now apparently. An idle part of him wondered what it was he hadn't been able to do that led to this. Had his parents still been proud when he couldn't murder a Muggle-born on orders? Unable to torture someone while Death Eaters around him laughed?

He wished he could vanish from sight, it felt like a spotlight was on him and he didn't know what any of them expected him to do for the first time in his life, he didn't know what he expected himself to do. Was there even a way out?

"Reggie?" Sirius made to close the book and reach a hand out, and Regulus let him. If anyone knew how this felt, it was definitely him. The two of them just stood there looking at each other for a long time, it all felt so inevitable.

Sirius seemed to be waiting for something, so Regulus finally said the only thing he could. "I don't want that."

"Yeah," Sirius managed a tiny little grin, "at least we can finally agree on something."

Regulus took an uneasy breath before pushing the book back into Sirius's line of sight and stepping out from under his hand, but staying just as close.

Sirius felt like he should maybe apologize, but he had no idea if this was going to last in Regulus. The kid was scared right now sure, but how long until he shook it off and the bravado came back, that he'd find what he did wrong and make it right with the Dark Lord? After all, Sirius had made more than one snide remark over the years Death Eaters didn't exactly have the best mortality rate and nobody in this house had acknowledged him then, but if this was actually the first step in his kid brother finally seeing what he did in all of this, he wasn't going to break off this new line of thought. Nothing else needed to be said for now at least.

Then Molly came and interrupted everything anyway.

Lily carded her fingers through her hair as she watched the whole exchange, for the first time really seeing the Godfather Sirius would become, the little fourteen-year-old kid Regulus Black really was. Even with all the in-depth looks at their home she'd been getting, it hadn't really sunk into her what a number this place had done on these two until now, but it also raised an unpleasant awareness.

Guilt, firstly, as she realized her earlier assumption had been wrong. There was no silver spoon in Sirius Black's mouth like there was in Potter's, he clearly detested this house with every word he spoke of it, and had in fact been banished from his own family for refusing to be like them.

Sev's home life was far from ideal as well, yet he'd seemingly run to the Death Eaters at school no matter how often she begged him to stay away. Regulus was already making the first steps at trying to draw out of such a thing by just saying otherwise, what would it take for her best friend to do the same?

The rest of the chapter went by without incident as Harry and crew cleaned up the house over the passing summer, and then it was the night before his hearing to determine his fate at school. With Dumbledore a no-show in any way, quite the contrary as he'd apparently made an appearance specifically while Harry was asleep.

Was it really possible Harry wouldn't go back to school this year? That he'd remain shut up in here with Sirius for who knew how long? Sirius could barely swallow around the lump in his throat at the idea as he announced the end of the chapter approaching.

Chapter Text

To Stitches: Thank you so much for your continued support as this goes on! Indeed they will continue to get better from this point on in the story, and boy am I looking forward to that too!

HPHPHPHP

Lily was fortunate enough to land on a chair, but it wasn't neat. The chair rocked back as she landed in it, she lost even that small bit of leisure as she fell even farther forward and her foot got stuck in the armrest, and the rest of her messily fell to the floor with her foot still stuck. Lily tried to extract herself, but the chair wouldn't budge to give her room to get out from under the desk, something blocking it was the only explanation for why it wouldn't roll farther. So she craned her head around to see that Lupin was wedged between the chair and the wall, someone's shoe was dangling over the side of the desk, and pieces of parchment were fluttering everywhere. And that's just what she could see.

"Everyone alright?" she called, her voice oddly strangled-sounding because of her awkward position.

"Yep!" Potter replied with chipper. "You, Evans?"

Lily groaned and let her head fall against the back of the inside of the desk as the others all replied they were okay.

"Where are we?" Alice asked, squirming uncomfortably as she was literally wedged between the two desks, but unable to move forward with Regulus directly in front of her smushed against the wall, or Potter jammed against the door.

"A very, very tiny office," the older Black pointed out dryly, sitting the most comfortably on what must be Arthur's desk judging by the photo of his family adorning it.

"At least it's better than Harry's or Aragog's cupboard," Pettigrew groaned, sitting on the other desk like it was a saddle and not looking happy for it, but as unable to readjust as anyone else with another on either side of him. "Where's the book?"

There was some shifting and shuffling, but not much, before Frank's voice rang out from the opposite side of Arthur's desk, it must have fallen to the floor, it was a miracle he'd even been able to stretch enough to reach it. "I've got it." He cleared his throat for a moment before beginning, "The Ministry of Magic."

"Who wants to bet the door won't open?" Lupin grumbled, he'd been squashed before now, but the chair felt like a new insult digging into his stomach. No matter which way he moved, he couldn't budge an inch though with Regulus just as stuck, leaving Lily in her current predicament. "Who has an office this small, anyway? For two?" If even just James could get out they could all find a way to move an inch...

"Erm... Misuse of Muggle Artefacts, of course," the younger Black mumbled in near-exasperation. He must be somewhere that he can see something. Lily was slightly surprised not to hear a note of smug condescending in his voice at the mention of Muggles; instead, he sounded rather shocked and bewildered.

Harry's morning routine was uninterrupted until Black let out a snort at Tonks's exhaustion. "I stayed up for almost a whole week once, one night is nothing!"

"You'll do anything for a bad grade," Frank marveled, then read on quickly before more comments could be made.

Harry was given various pieces of good advice from the adults in his life, and Molly tried to mother him, despite his unvoiced wishes. Lily did not need anyone to tell her that Potter was likely ruffling up his hair again with an eternally smug look on his face as Molly tried to do the opposite to Harry.

Rather quickly, Mr. Weasley took Harry off to the Ministry with his endless fascination for Muggles and their things.

"Wait," Lily yelped, "this isn't his office, is it?" She felt slightly stupid for not realizing this earlier.

A moment of silence, and then Alice murmured, "oh, that poor man," and Sirius Black muttered, "so what nutter works with him?"

Lily would have thrown him a nasty look for that, but he seemed to guess at this anyway and quickly rectified, "not that that's a bad thing, but you do have to be kind of unusual to want to work with him."

"What're you implying about yourself, Padfoot?" Lupin demanded.

"Was just wondering that myself," Black's brother mumbled.

Harry was escorted inside the ministry by Mr. Weasley, who seemed to know everybody's names. Everything was going normally enough, until they entered the lifts-

Black gasped in horror, and Lupin, at least, from what Lily could see, slammed his head into the wall as the dramatic Black continued, "what nightmare is this future! They have laws about Sirius Breeding?!"

Lily gave a little snort of laughter, realizing too late the place was too small to go unnoticed when Potter yelped in true fright, "don't encourage him!"

The younger Black grumbled, "I've always said my greatest contribution to wizarding society would be a selective version of Silencio, so you can hear everything else he says but not that. Oh wait, what am I thinking, I should just silence all of him!"

Pettigrew snickered from the desk above her.

"I should be offended, but you just made a joke, so I'll pass," Sirius sighed. "The things you people do to me."

Frank finally snapped, "can you all let me read? I want to get out of here, you know!" His tone left Lily in less doubt than before that the rest of them are as cramped as she is.

So they all fell silent as Harry's experience of going up the Ministry lift was detailed. At one point, Frank paused just long enough to mutter about owls being used for only indoor flying, and if by 'used to' Mr. Weasley meant recently or not, and whether that was a thing in their own timeline, but kept going loudly before anyone could pick up on what he'd said.

Harry traveled through the Ministry, gawking at all the magical sights, which they all wished they could be doing just to stretch. Lily and Peter had never even been here before, being muggleborns and all with no Ministry hearings on their horizons. Sirius and Regulus had been on occasion for their fathers work over the summer, but never this office of course, usually just the Minister's private quarters, occasionally a peak at the other levels. 

James had been multiple times with his dad for his work being on the board of governors, and Alice and Frank had almost weekly visits with their parents having friends on multiple levels of this place and coming to meet for lunches.

It was noteworthy at one point Lupin shrank so far against the wall with a miserable look on his face the chair almost could have moved, and it took Lily repeating the level that Frank passed over so casually to remind herself why the Department for Regulation and Control of Magical creatures would cause a reaction in anyone. Lupin wasn't just anyone anymore, but technically, well, a beast. The moment passed so quickly though, if she hadn't been watching him from her janky position, she never would have seen such a thing, and it did not feel her place at all to even bring it up. What was there to say? That it was wrong, he obviously wasn't the person to be told that.

The others were interested as well, of course, but more so when Kingsley Shacklebolt showed up again, acting as if he'd barely spoken to Mr. Weasley in his life.

Sirius again stalled the proceedings by loudly exclaiming over Kingsley's Sirius-plastered cubicle. "What a lovely thought, me on all sides! Why couldn't we have landed there?"

"Padfoot, he's hunting you!" Potter groaned in exasperation.

"Eh, he's only faking it, remember?" Sirius retorted, and fell into a smug silence that Lily could sense even from under the desk as the conversation continued to be stuck on Sirius with only whispered asides about the Order.

Then, Mr. Weasley led Harry to his office, which was slightly smaller than the broom cupboard, and Lily finally had her answer about the size of the space. "I can't believe they put him in here!" she exclaimed indignantly. "I can see Percy's point about his position in the Ministry, this is an absurd amount of disrespect to the man just because he works with Muggles!" She took a moment to wonder if it's Perkins's desk she was stuck under, and if so, then if Harry had been here, his feet would have been in her face. She grimaced.

Mr. Weasley babbled on about his work and regurgitating toilets, until his partner showed up with news about the trial.

Lupin tried to sit up from between the chair and the wall, and despite failing, his scowl was at nothing in here with a foul temper. "I can't believe them! They changed it on purpose!"

Mr. Weasley seems equally angry as he hurries Harry back to the lift and mutters about it the whole time. Finally, they arrive at the courtroom, and, of all things, Mr. Weasley sends Harry in alone.

Frank barely had the presence of mind to warn them of the end of the chapter before they were whisked away.

Chapter Text

There was just no winning, as James finally had room to breathe, and the reward for that was getting steps in the back. Again.

They all sat up with general winces and grimaces once more, and looking carefully at each other to see a flash of recognition come over somebody. It didn't seem likely to happen as they all got wearily to their feet, and no one proclaimed where they were this time.

Alice found she was the only one on the ground to take in the room as you should from the doors directly behind her, and the book sitting on a smooth chair, with chains set in place. She took an automatic step away from such a thing, lest they come to life and strap her in, that book sitting innocently in place wasn't fooling her. The room was only lit by torches set high up in the walls, casting the very ceiling into darkness with no telling how high it was, and leaving everything underneath bathed in shadows. Even the first tire of stone benches rose high above her head and could hold hundreds.

Frank swung himself down beside her in the next instant and took her hand, both relaxing at the physical contact and breathing a bit easier when still no danger presented itself. Swallowing one last time to brace herself, she decided to summon the book to her just to be on the safe side and it soared to her hand. They'd both swear the chains clinked menacingly, but did nothing else.

Letting out a rather pitiful sigh in relief, really they'd been through worse, they still took refuge by the doors behind the chair just to be safe as she cracked the book open and began. "The Hearing," was self-explanatory at least, though the fact it was taking place in this room was still beyond odd. The very first sentence only sent another set of chills through everyone though.

There was just no mistaking the intent of Fudge, holding Harry's hearing in the very courtroom where so many had once been sentenced to Azkaban. Sirius climbed up to the very highest tier and had to fight back the urge to change forms once more at the suddenly vivid mental image of himself strapped into that thing; or worse, as his future self had once informed, it had sat empty while others had just decided to leave him to rot while he'd already been inside.

Alice licked her lips and had to fight the urge to apologize to someone for even speaking of this, but ultimately kept going with just a touch softer tone, like she was trying to gently let them all down as easily as possible how horribly this was going to go.

Lily began playing with her hair uncomfortably at the mention of so many people being in attendance. She'd been looking into affairs at Ministry trials lately in her off time, studying by-laws in the library had become a fallback interest recently since even fiddling with potions lately weren't always a safe topic between her and Sev anymore. Guests weren't usually welcome to these sorts of things though, but surely she just wasn't fully grasping the whole concept here yet. It sounded like they were holding a whole Wizengamot Trial to deal with Harry's underage magic.

Remus was certain his wasn't the only sigh of relief in the room when Dumbledore entered, but it was the most audible. Between Percy not even acknowledging Harry and Fudge attacking him so publicly, Dumbledore seemed like the only person left with any influence in the Ministry to get Harry out of this mess.

This hearing certainly wasn't going well regardless of who was in attendance, as Harry was interrupted, sidelined, and even dismissed for his impressive corporeal patronus without being able to get a word in through the majority of it all. It wasn't until Harry shouted about the dementors that he even got anyone's attention, and still Fudge tried to dismiss him as a story! It was infuriating to listen to, Sirius Black even went over to the seat Fudge would be in and lit all the paperwork on fire and nobody stopped him.

Alice's voice was getting harder, an edge of anger none of them had heard before except in regards to how Snape treated Neville, but hearing of how the Ministry was treating this was unprecedented. Dumbledore alone seemed to be keeping his head and manners when Fudge certainly wasn't as he had to remind the very government itself Arabella Figg was allowed in to add testimony for Harry.

Despite the bumpy start, at least her account was accurate and seemed to get the job done, and Madam Bones at least found her credible, so it wasn't all an uphill battle anymore.

Dumbledore's cool use of logic to back up Harry's story and the inconsistencies Fudge tried to throw back finally gave them all a bit of breathing room again, a feat this place had been trying to deny them since the entry. Even as some random woman named Umbridge tried to retaliate, that surely Dumbledore wasn't implying the dementors were sent by them, Dumbledore shot back her own fallacy. If the Ministry had control of all dementors, then how did they wind up near Harry?

When Fudge still tried to dismiss their very involvement as a lie on Harry's part and again was overruled by Madam Bones saying the witness had been plenty reliable, the Minister even tried to go beyond the immediate scope, of the previous warning he'd been sent, and all the trouble he got up to at school-

Though Dumbledore kindly corrected Harry's schooling was not of the Ministry's concern.

Now Remus's laugh echoed a bit in the room, and he definitely wasn't the only one doing so this time. Things were pretty much done from there, as Fudge was schooled on his own laws. After the looming fear of being stuck in a place like Grimmauld for any more foreseeable future, the news Harry was definitely going back to school soon couldn't have sounded any better! Aside from Dumbledore's rather odd behavior there at the end, he didn't so much as look at Harry during the entire thing nor acknowledge him the moment Harry was cleared of all charges, none of them could bring themselves to care right then as Alice announced she was on the last sentence. 

Chapter Text

This chapter has absolutely nothing to do with leprechauns, or the color green. Feel free to hunt me down and pinch me for the oversight. Enjoy.

HPHPHPHP

There was a ghastly smell filling her nose, but Lily quickly found she had trouble moving in any direction, let alone away from it. There was movement all around her, her companions all coughing away a fair bit of dust as well as that foul odor mingling with it, but then her skin began to crawl and real panic lit in her core as she saw an eighth person. There were only eight of them, there shouldn't be an extra person moving when she was stuck!

It was vaguely human-shaped, and the smell was reeking right from it as it passed along between them all. Not attacking, at least nobody was screaming, but not helping either. Just gliding along with an odd rattling noise and befouling their senses.

Lily finally managed to wrench a hand free, and found it came out of a pants leg. A quick lumos spell had her eyes dazzling in the tiny space, and the illumination wasn't much better than it smelled.

She was in a large trunk filled to the brim with clothes no decent person would ever consider wearing with as much lace it contained. Potter was a few feet to her side, his glasses askew and at a very awkward angle as he found himself tangled up in old bed sheets. Alice and Frank were helping each other to their feet while picking glass out of their hands, they seemed to have landed in an ancient old display of cups and plates and broken the majority of them. Lupin and Sirius Black were in the farthest back corner where old pipes were visible and trying their best to get free without breaking one loose, while Pettigrew and Regulus Black had knocked over an old dresser, scattering the entire room in photographs, the bright fluorescent Weasley hair in all ages the brightest thing here. It was the ghoul that still held all attention though.

The skin seemed to be dripping right off of it, leaving foul puddles of the stuff over everything, including them now. There was one half of a dead rat clenched in one hand, and a chunk of the poor rodent in the gap in its teeth. The eyes were unintelligent though, and Lily easily recalled her lessons on ghouls at once. Harmless, household pests.

"Someone kill me now," the attic, it must be where they were, was too small for Lupin's voice not to carry. "I can't live with this stench while waiting for the next catastrophe in that book." He'd finally gotten his ankle twisted painfully enough he could extract his torso out of the pipes and crawl free.

"Cheer up Moony," Sirius Black returned cheerfully, as he had to very awkwardly and carefully dance on his toes to avoid the pipe between his legs while following him out. "Sure the place smells, but we're not back at Grimmauld! That's more of an improvement than we've yet had with this bloody book of Harry's."

"I'll take your bedroom over this place," his voice came out a bit muffled now as he spoke while plugging up his nose, eyes racking longingly over every surface for a chance at fresh air.

"Blasphemy," his friend scolded, while now scouring every inch of the place himself to find said book it seemed.

Everyone was now doing so in earnest, it wasn't just the werewolf who wanted away from this puke-inducing area. It seemed to have hidden itself away well this time though, and in exasperation Lily took another rank breath first to say the accio spell.

At first Lily just saw movement, the book being darker than the shadows shooting right up from behind the chest she'd been in nearly made her scream in fright before it landed in her hand. She frowned down at the ruddy thing, it just had to be black didn't it? You could barely see the violet five flickering by her wand light.

"Like a hand Evans?" Potter was at her shoulder and drawing his wand even as he spoke.

She frowned at him, but chose not to answer, he'd do as he would with or without her approval, as she cracked it open and flipped through the blank pages until she came across where the new chapter began. "The Woes of Mrs. Weasley."

"The woman has seven kids, I'd imagine her woes would fill a dozen books," Alice frowned in sympathy.

"Eight if you count Harry," Sirius Black added in, causing both her and Frank to startle a bit. It wasn't a large attic and there would be no whispered conversations here.

The ghoul suddenly seemed like the good news.

Harry wasn't the only one shocked at Dumbledore's strange behaviour, and that was really something given his start-of-term speeches. Lily couldn't imagine why he hadn't so much as looked at Harry during the trial, let alone completely dismissed his existence immediately after it.

"Well, he did ignore Arthur too, does that make it better?" Potter was apparently going to be reading over her shoulder while hefting his wand for light, and she scowled down at the pages. She'd rather go blind trying to read in the dark, couldn't Alice come over and offer to take his place?

'Well, better him than a Malfoy,' she supposed. It wasn't a generous trade, but as he loomed over her at least she wasn't afraid of him. Lucius hanging around in the Ministry however, after what he'd done to Harry, and off to have a private chat with the Minister over obvious bribery and gold! It was despicable how casually the Minister was cavorting!

Harry at least got a party out of the ordeal, the amount of those could probably be counted on one hand as festivities at Grimmauld Place were thrown for Harry's freedom from that looming problem.

"The best party that house has ever hosted!" Sirius Black cheered, even pumping his fist before it banged against the ceiling and he shook his fingers out.

Regulus couldn't help but agree with his brother's sentiment, mother's parties were always dreadfully dull. Hearing of the Weasley twins' and Ginny's dance really did sound amusing and he was half surprised the Marauder idiots weren't trying to recreate it here.

Such rabble wasn't to last though, as none of the Marauders seemed in the spirit for it. Even if they had reached a general plateau of not avoiding each other, they didn't yet seem up to going to the feat of interacting much either. Regulus wasn't going to complain about that, as Peter tugged on his sleeve and showed him a hilarious picture of who must be a young Charlie Weasley in a dragon onesie.

Sirius and Remus actually shuffled even further away from each other uncomfortably, as it was Hermione who reacted to seeing Harry's scar start to pain him, the whole of the Weasleys who were looking after Harry. Why was it was always Harry's friends, another family entirely instead of the one Harry should have, who had been mentioned in that house, and still didn't seem to be going out of their way to even watch him like Prongs would want? It was no wonder even this disgusting-smelling attic felt more comfortable to be in than Grimmauld Place, it's not like Harry had anyone there looking out for him apparently.

James finally looked away from the light making Evans's hair a waterfall of red and instead looked once more to Sirius in concern as he shut himself away in that house, with only his hippogriff for company. No Moony skulking around the place, apparently, to talk to him? Certainly no him or Wormtail to try cheering him up in there.

Sirius Black wasn't the most approachable bloke, Lily could certainly agree with that and didn't blame Harry one bit for sharing his feelings with his friends rather than his godfather, but she found herself peeking at Potter out of the corner of her eye and suddenly wishing that would change as he kept shuffling about, making the light move with him, eyeing his mate with clear worry.

Sirius was the only connection to this idiot Harry would ever have, and she certainly would have at least tried to help her boy with that if she had any feelings for either idiot herself. What the hell was she supposed to do though, make friends with Potter and Black for Harry's sake? That would be going with the operation of this future existing, something she was still not convinced would come to pass, not if she had anything to say about it.

So Potter wasn't as big a tosser as she always thought, he was at least a human idiotic teenager rather than the biggest waste of space to exist. That didn't mean she'd marry the bugger and have this kid and these would be her problems.

Lily was quite glad she was the one reading as Hermione attacked Sirius personally for his sanity once more, she kept calm and read in an even, refrained voice, not giving a hint away one way or the other how she felt about it. Certainly none of the boys present could have managed the same, as they'd all made their opinion on that quite clear. Yes, she'd rather wondered about it all herself only two books ago back when he'd supposedly been a mass murderer, but well, just because he hadn't done that crime didn't mean he was all there in the head either. Growing up in that house, it would be a miracle if he was all there, and now he was forced into it twenty-four seven while having to listen to the Order bring in reports? She may have gone a touch mad herself.

Alice smiled privately, still far enough away from Potter's light and standing half behind Frank no one saw or even seemed to notice the development. The boys were all being quite vocal about how sane Sirius Black was to be keeping himself right where he was by choice, obviously a madman wouldn't be able to rationalize that, even Frank and Regulus Black couldn't argue that. Lily wasn't doing as good a job as she thought she was keeping her indifference out of her tone.

The mood was so sour as she plowed through she nearly read right over the development of Ron and Hermione being made Prefects. Then she stopped and backpedaled to smile at just how, human, Harry's reaction to it all was.

Lily would guiltily admit before now she'd had trouble separating the two Potters but that was forever ruined by his chastising himself for his slightly petty thoughts, and even genuinely congratulating Ron whom didn't think he deserved it himself.

James Potter only reinforced the difference as he puffed up his chest behind her, knocking into her shoulder as he shouted loud enough for all of the hills beyond to hear. "Course Harry didn't get that badge, no son of mine would be caught dead with such a thing!"

"Just his friends, it fits rather well," Lupin drawled with an eye roll. He had not been wearing his own when all of this started, and honestly Lily forgot he was one half the time, he never made a fuss about it, certainly not regarding his friends.

James Potter flashed him a grin and Lily quickly brought the book up to her nose to hide her smile at the exchange, damn her. When had watching the idiot go from infuriating to laughable?

At least practically everyone important to the story all in that kitchen came as good distraction for everyone as yet another party was being thrown there. Why couldn't they have appeared during that? With food and a pleasant banner rather than the ghoul finishing off the rat, the tail now stuck between its teeth.

Alice felt a flash of white-hot anger as Mad-Eye Moody appeared and gave Harry the opposite of a treat, no matter what that old auror said. Showing him a picture of her and Frank, his own parents, all the dead from his past all at once. Every single person in that photo was either dead, or probably wishing they were for the torments they went through. It was quite the mood killer.

James Potter had been hovering over her shoulder for so long now, she'd almost been able to completely ignore he was there, until he reached over and yanked the book out of her hands in shock. "What blasphemy is this! Moony, you stop telling lies to my kid!"

"What? What do I say?" Lupin asked curiously, but Lily reached over and snagged the book back with a frown at him.

"Mind your manners Potter, or you'll find yourself sitting on that ghoul's lap until we're free of here." She promised. His mouth was still hanging open in shock as she read the news that Lupin had been a prefect, but James Potter had been made Head Boy, and then stopped herself, wondering who had gone mad in that school to allow such a thing.*

"That was mentioned ages ago you dimwits," Regulus Black scoffed at all the shocked faces. "Hagrid mentioned it the very first time he met Harry, you're the Head Girl Evans."

"How do you remember that?" Sirius dragged his eyes away from James to frown at his odd little brother. Admittedly, they'd been rather distracted at the time just adjusting to all this insanity and not everything had stuck.

"I pay attention," he shot back with an eye roll, causing Peter to snicker quietly. He'd been about to say the same thing as Regulus.

"Well, well what I said still stands," Potter finally brushed off his surprise and smiled invitingly at his crush once more. "Head Boy is far more of a responsible job than a ruddy old Prefect. What do you say Evans, shall we practice those long, alone hours patrolling the school when we get back? Just so we've got plenty of practice."

Lily gave him a withering look and took several steps away, out of arm's reach once more as she pleasantly went back to ignoring him.

James sighed but respected that, he'd been silently dancing in his head she'd allowed him so close this whole time and decided not to press his luck as he raised his wand even higher aloft so she could still see.

The party began dwindling down though, and everyone snapped back to attention with worry when Harry followed Molly out as if up to bed early. Her 'woes' hadn't exactly been made prominent through this exposition chapter, so some heartfelt talk was likely about to crop up instead.

What instead transpired was far more ghastly than even the ghoul could manage. Her worst fears of watching her family die in front of her, one right after the other, even Harry.

Nobody had any smart-aleck remarks for that, each of them had already lost something to this war in their own time, and these books had long proved they'd have even more to lose. Professor Lupin and the godfather swooped in to the rescue by banishing the boggart, but the damage was long done to them.

Lily read Harry's final thoughts with a kinship to everyone in this room. Voldemort had to be stopped before any more families were destroyed.

HPHPHPHPHP

I'm really proud of how this chapter works out metaphorically as well as literally. The chapter's mostly about the Weasley's, hence the location of where they store all their things, but also Harry feels really separated from everyone even in the midst of them, he might as well be up in the attic during the party.

*This actually isn't mentioned in the chapter, but I didn't react to it back when it was, so lets pretend Remus slipped that in yeah?

Chapter Text

Last co-authored with Tiffiny Smith, thanks for all your help!

HPHPHPHP

Regulus found himself tangled in something - the branches of a tree? After a moment of panic making sure it wasn't the Whomping Willow, he disentangled himself and peeked out at the ground below, where the other seven were getting their bearings.

What caught his attention, however, was the giant tower not ten yards away. Despite its forbidding appearance, it had some wide, decent-sized steps leading up to a door with an eagle-shaped knocker, the whole affair had some pretty windows, and there was a well-maintained path with a sign (or maybe three) on it leading to the road some distance away. Regulus couldn't read the sign (it was facing the road), but Potter made a beeline for it.

Then he stopped and stared.

"Well?" Sirius hollered. "What's it say? Where are we?"

"Whose place is this?" Alice asked, staring at the tower.

"The Quibbler," said Potter. "Editor, X. Lovegood. Anybody heard of him?" The pureblood name rang an old bell in his head, but he'd never met one personally.

"Lovegood?" said Frank, furrowing his brow in confusion, the same running through his own mind. Had his mum ever mentioned an oddball named Lovegood in school?

"Don't ask me!" Potter said back. "Listen to this: pick your own mistletoe. And Keep Off the... dir..igg...ibble plums."

Sirius darted over to a bush with radish-like fruits on them and threw one at Potter, who caught it and looked confused.

Regulus decided watching them was a waste of time and set about searching for the book, which was wedged in a windowsill just barely out of reach. He Accio'd it and started reading. Well, Luna was either the wife or kid of this X., and judging by the fact Harry was back off to school, either were likely. Either a student Harry was about to meet or the new DADA teacher.

It wasn't as if he was anxious to be away from here, at least he was finally in a respectable pureblood home again, only the second since all this madness had started counting his own. Yet, for the first time in his life, he didn't care. He had no inclination to get to know these people just because his parents would have wanted him to, now knowing who else they wanted him to befriend, Bellatrix at the top of his list he may start avoiding right along with Sirius. Best to focus on the part of getting them out of here instead.

Right off the bat Harry was having bizarre dreams. His parents were mentioned, and Potter came back from the sign to join the others. Sirius's mouth was wagging noiselessly at the notion that Mrs. Weasley would cry over Kreacher's dead body. Out of it all, Ron and Hermione wearing crowns was about the most normal part of that experience, and the dark corridor with a door at the end stood out only because of how irrelevant it was.

Harry woke up, and everyone brightened immediately at the prospect of going to Hogwarts.

"Nothing too bad can happen there, right?" said Potter cheerily, and Regulus rolled his eyes at him. He wasn't the only one. Had he been listening to the past four books?

The hustle and bustle of getting ready to leave was a sharp contrast to the tranquility of the garden. Mother's shrieking, which nobody was bothering to silence, and which Regulus winced slightly at having to read aloud, only added to the distinction.

Then Sirius showed up in dog form, managed to insist his way into Mad-Eye Moody's guard (which was one short) and Molly worried on and on about everything (which Regulus was beginning to understand she thought of as her solemn duty, surpassed only perhaps by Mad-Eye) and causing Harry to liken her to Aunt Petunia, which raised instant protest from Lily.

"Mrs. Weasley is nothing like that vile woman!" the redhead fumed. "Their attitudes may be similar, but they spring from polar opposite motivations."

No one had the death sentence in them to argue with her even if they disagreed, which none did.

The group proceeded to the train until it was time to depart, and Padfoot said his goodbyes to Harry in far too human-like fashion, but it was absolutely ruined by Mrs. Weasley using his real name instead of Padfoot, or even Snuffles. Regulus still couldn't help pausing over the scene regardless as his mind wrapped around every oddity of it. Sirius, as a dog, which he still wasn't used to the idea of. Sirius giving a fond farewell to a godson he'd arguably spent more time worrying about than his own brother. He wanted to talk to him, the urge growing more desperate with every page, but there was a streak of pride deep in him that made the idea loathsome. Sirius would only listen to him now because he was starting to agree with him rather than just wanting to talk to his brother again, Regulus would just have to figure this out for himself.

Once on the train, at least Harry's problems took an easy center stage, Ron and Hermione mock-abandoning him for their prefect duties and leaving him in the company of Ginny, Neville, and the pre-acclaimed 'Loony' Lovegood, per Ginny's introduction.

She certainly did start off a sight, and only got more interesting the longer she talked. Loony did seem to support her, between the butterbeer cork necklace and wearing vegetation as jewelry. This odd paper, the Quibbler, was once again referenced in Luna's own hands, but rather than finally getting a peek at that article mentioning Sirius, Harry instead turned to Neville and they began chatting about some plant.

He admittedly would have grown rather bored with that very fast, if it didn't send some slime all over the whole compartment just as Cho Chang walked in.

Regulus nearly fell out of the tree laughing at the mental image, and even as he caught his breath back and glanced down he saw he wasn't the only one. Peter had been scaling the tree, to join him presumably, but was now only halfway up and clutching a branch precariously for support. Sirius had fallen into the dirigible plum bush and looked covered in them like he was trying to add to Luna's fashion statement.

Literally all of them had gotten a laugh out of it, even that Muggleborn Evans. He smiled to himself and reached down to offer Peter a hand to help him the rest of the way up, watching patiently as he got himself a more steady branch before continuing.

Regulus listened with some unfamiliar dread in his stomach as the two prefects returned to the carriage and explained their new duties, as well as expositioning Malfoy was the Slytherin one, to no one's surprise. His parents were already talking about the party they'd be throwing when he got that badge come next summer, and they'd given Sirius a whole new level of shit when he hadn't gotten one. Neither boy had even thought that was possible until they'd seen it in action. Sirius had acted as if he hadn't even cared, and for the first time Regulus squirmed at his fate pressing in on him even sooner than he'd imagined. Now it was next summer that would be the real test instead of even waiting until he was of age and letting his parents down he didn't necessarily want what they did. He certainly had no desire to be a prefect, how would they take that news?

"Hey, you alright?" Peter asked quietly. He'd been picking off leaves and shredding them for his own amusement, he'd even been considering moving a branch over into a patch of sun and maybe closing his eyes and really enjoy this brief respite of anything horrifying happening to them or Harry, but he couldn't very well do that when Regulus started chewing on the inside of his cheek over something as silly as the prefect badges.

Regulus met his eyes in surprise for several moments, before smiling kindly and answering honestly, "I've been better." He glanced down at his brother though and kept reading instead of elaborating, and Peter nodded to himself, Sirius did feel like the problem and the answer on most given situations.

Sirius was too busy still laughing to even notice Peter had ditched them again, let alone Regulus was trying to catch his eye from ten feet above him. Luna Lovegood was a hoot, he wished she was alive and in school with them now! She'd be as much fun to pull pranks on as Evans, this blonde may even laugh along at them!

James was listing against him for support as they all heard the article about Sirius presumably being some singing sensation. "Well go on then Stubby!" James wheezed. "Give us a tune and I'm sure the Ministry will never look twice at you again!"

"Don't encourage him," Remus rolled his eyes, but far too late, Sirius began singing the last Sorting Hat song they'd heard verbatim.

Lily, Alice, and Frank didn't think he could make the next top charts or anything, but they were reasonably impressed he even remembered the thing from the beginning of their year.

Regulus seemed to be ignoring them above anyways and didn't let them have any more fun with it, predictably, as he kept reading the next article as well, something about Fudge murdering goblins into pies, it was just too funny! Sirius still hadn't climbed out of the bush.

"Oh stop you idiots," Lily finally had enough, her temper snapping, they literally could not take anything seriously! "In case you've forgotten, Sirius is a wanted man for multiple murders! How is laughing at this poor girl helping that?"

"Haven't forgotten," Remus scowled at her, instantly insulted she seemed to think otherwise.

"No harm in laughing off this drivel in the meantime," James finished, completely unrepentant as he grinned at her.

Lily glanced down and saw Sirius Black was still smiling, the first time she knew of he'd done so in the face of this bleak future ahead of him, and hesitated saying anything back.

Regulus hadn't really thought much of the article, no sane person would believe that long enough to hear anyone out, and yet the real story was just as convoluted. Instead he'd kept going, now killing any pretense of a good mood as Malfoy barged into the compartment. His blood chilled at the parting words he left, not in fact more arrogance, but a sly observation of apparently having noticed Sirius on the platform!

His idiot brother was already safe back at Grimmauld place though, he quickly soothed himself, whether he wanted to be or not. Malfoy, Lucius or Draco, were no match for him even if he wasn't.

His mouth was still much more dry than usual though as he forced himself to keep going, but Sirius' snort of disbelief echoing up below wasn't as comforting as he would have thought.

Things only got more grim as Harry got off the train, and Hagrid of all people was absent from his usual post. None of them could even imagine it, the giant of a man had been there every year for the lake ride, now even that was changing. Would nothing in this future remain the same?

Clearly not, as even the carriages were now being pulled by beasts! What was happening to this school?

Peter saw Regulus's disturbed look as he read about the description of those ghastly horse-like things, and shouted loud enough that Stoatshead Hill had likely heard. "Ha! Take that you arseholes, I wasn't making them up!"

"Huh," was all James and Sirius could manage to say to that, while Remus's eyes widened with just as much excitement as if he were hearing about Blast-Ended Skrewts all over again.

"Fascinating, I'm so f'ing sorry Peter! What do you think they even are? Why can only you see them?"

"I can too," Frank frowned at the lot, but even Alice gave him a look of shock for the declaration.

He shrugged and looked just a bit shy at all attention suddenly on him. "What? Hadn't come up."

"How about all the ruddy times the 'horseless carriages' were mentioned!" Lily accused. "What on Earth are they?"

"Don't know," he frowned and tensed his shoulders as still everyone was looking at him now. "I've tried looking them up, but as Harry's said himself, it's a pretty big library when you don't know what you're looking for."

"What kind of Ravenclaw are you?" Sirius scowled.

Peter just smiled that finally his friends didn't think he was playing some weirdly elaborate prank on them any longer. It was no wonder to him his dormmates often thought he was soft in the head, seeing things they couldn't. Now the next time he swore he saw one in the forest, they'd actually believe him!

"What does it say that this Loony girl can see them too though," Sirius grinned and looked up at Peter obviously. He flipped him off, and Sirius laughed.

James and Remus released a breath both of them had been holding for a painfully long time, things really were going back to normal.

Chapter Text

There was so, much, pink. Nobody could blame Sirius screeching and covering his eyes or Evans looking like she was hard pressed not to start color changing everything in sight just to give their eye sores a break.

The couch was royal pink with gold embroidery. The carpet was piglet pink and so fluffy you could die on it or mistake it for cotton candy. Even the walls were decked out in a rainbow shade of pink. There were pale pink doilies on every wooden, pink-stained end table, only the book sitting open and waiting with its white and black pages broke the scene. James could barely recall a time it had been so visible, let alone open for them, like it wanted out of here as bad as them.

They appeared to have interrupted some tea party, a hot pink kettle was still smoking and strawberry pink scones were assorted neatly on an orchid pink tray.

"Whoever owns this house must be blind," Alice said slowly, turning carefully on the spot and spotting a hallway leading off to this sitting room. She took a slow, careful step towards it, still remembering Mad-Eye's house and what happened when they'd appeared in there, but nothing attacked her.

Frank followed her every step. They were definitely in some woman's house, an ugly toad-looking person who was in every picture along the hallway shaking hands with assorted people in cherry blossom pink frames. The new DADA teacher, they'd all have to assume judging by the chapter title, though why the Sorting Hat's New Song would be memorable in comparison they found hard to believe.

Peter had to take a piss but honestly feared what the bathroom would look like if this was the sitting room. Regulus was prodding his wand curiously along the scones waiting for something to happen, but finally he snatched one up and popped it into his mouth.

James was reading about Harry's trip up to the school with the same concern as Harry, where was Hagrid? Why was that Grubbly-Plank woman back? It was certainly a much more pressing issue to him than those creepy horse things Harry could suddenly see, but Peter and apparently other students had also been seeing them for years and they didn't seem to hurt anybody so he really was brushing past that, even as Remus was muttering at his side and peeking over his shoulder like he was hoping the book would give a visual.

If Harry's guess was right and he was still out convoying with the giants, then that didn't bode well for his health.

James had everyone's attention now when he announced the rest of the staffing changes going on, the toad-faced woman from Harry's trial being at the staff table.

Their suspicions may have been confirmed, but it cleared up none of their confusion. What was someone from the Ministry doing being a teacher there?! This had never happened as far as they knew, the Ministry didn't interfere in Hogwarts! Had Fudge's tyrannical behavior really come so far so fast?

Peter finally lost the fight with his bladder and took off after Alice Smith and Longbottom into the hallway in search of a bathroom as Prongs began merrily singing the new sorting hat song at the top of his lungs.

The rest of the house was just as ghastly, they really were going to go blind before they got out of here. He spotted the kitchen, with pink tiles and even stained glass pink windows, along with cherry-pink cupboards the other two were going through.

The first door he tried though mercifully led him into what must be her room, a queen-sized bed for such a squat lady with fairy hangings draping it, but his eyes locked on an adjacent door with a pink diamond handle and he went to quickly relieve himself. The toilet hummed a tune he didn't recognize and he loathed the salmon pink hand soap he had to use. Even the ruddy water she'd enchanted came out with the same tinge, it was like a nightmare!

By the time he was done James had read past the students' reaction to the hat's song, which had sounded nothing new to any of them, and the feast had begun. Peter let his eyes trail curiously about the room instead of rejoining them, eyes landing on several things. There was another door leading off to a closet, a jewelry box as large as he was prominently between that door and the bathroom one, and yet more plaques and awards. There seemed to be absolutely nothing about this woman that he did not dislike.

When Dumbledore unequivocally announced that Umbridge, Senior Undersecretary to the Minister of Magic was to be the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Remus winced and tried to step behind James. There were theories, and there was confirmation, and his stomach gave a nasty twist at the idea of someone working for the Ministry also a teacher at his school. He wasn't even sure if the Ministry was aware he attended Hogwarts, and he certainly didn't want to find out!

Sirius finally stopped pretending to gouge his eyes out when he saw that and went over, throwing an arm over his shoulder and looking around to spot Evans and Regulus were still in the room. He knew he didn't need to anymore, but he still kept his voice low enough they shouldn't have been able to hear, "relax Moony, nerdy guy like you, they'd be mad to throw you out just because of your furry little problem."

Remus did marginally relax. He only had two years of school left though, what exactly was next for him with the Ministry looming over him was an ever-pressing problem he couldn't ignore much longer.

Lily noticed the exchange but didn't give it much thought, she'd spent far too long ignoring the Marauders to give a care what they still had to whisper about. She'd been tempted to follow Alice and Frank to explore this Umbridge woman's house, but was now glad she hadn't, attention fully on the book now as she listened avidly to the speech she gave, overriding Dumbledore's own.

Regulus watched as Potter got twitchy with boredom trying to read said speech, but he took in every word with an uneasy frown. He watched as Sirius grabbed the wrist of his friend who wasn't reading and pulled him out of the room with a glazed over expression, and the werewolf certainly seemed happy to get as far away as possible from all this. Potter watched them go with a grumpy look like he wanted to bolt from this as well before glancing at the Muggleborn Evans and droning on with his shoulders a little straighter, like bolstering himself to finish was impressive or something.*

When he finished though it was pretty obvious he hadn't taken in a word, he had to give himself a shake to even realize he was talking about his own kid again and Hermione's critique of said speech.

Her explanation for it though certainly caught his undivided attention. James frowned to himself as he played the speech over in his head again, even going back and rereading some of it without Hermione's repetition. His skin crawled at the idea, what was the Ministry playing at? No matter how much they didn't like Dumbledore's truth, surely they couldn't do anything too radical, right?

He glanced up and saw the drawn expressions of Sirius's little brother and Evans, and didn't see either of them looking much happier at the idea.

James paused and ran a miserable hand down his face when Harry's two friends went off to their prefect duties and his boy was left alone to stew in the school's attitude about him, and the whole thing continued to grow worse when he made it up to his tower and even his dormmates seemed to be talking about Harry. What he would give to appear at his side like he would for any of his friends, offer a good joke for the laugh needed for that long trek up to the tower. He absolutely did not like this recurring pattern of Harry feeling so alone recently.

He saw Evans twitching out of the corner of his eye, but by the time he looked up she was frowning at him same as ever, or glaring at the book. Either way he grinned at her to let her know he knew she'd been feeling the same way. For a moment he was tempted to try and get her to admit as such, but instead decided he'd do for her what he wanted to for Harry moment's ago. "Don't worry Evans, I'm sure just because that woman dresses like a toad every day they won't enforce that upon the rest of us. The other students will realize that in no time!"

It actually worked for just a moment, she cracked a smile he'd swear it, but then she flicked her fingers at him to keep going and he did with pleasure that only lasted long enough to realize Harry's own dormmates were in fact going to start an actual fight over this. Harry and Seamus were about to draw wands on each other before Ron intervened!

James glanced up and around to find himself once again the lone Marauder in the room, and as he read the last lines of the chapter, he knew exactly how Harry felt.

*Not really so raunchy to deserve the M rating, but excluded from the fic for explicit mentions of Sirius' mouth more than anything, I'm never really sure how much the T rating encumbers.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/8677858/chapters/79788781

Chapter Text

To Stitches: Pink is a fine color in moderation, much like everything. James has yet to learn attention falls under this as well, but they're all getting there at their own pace. Thank you so very much!

HPHPHPHP

There was no chance for anyone to have a kind landing this time, what with the owl droppings all around and several more being deposited upon them at their abrupt arrival.

Lily found herself crashing against the window and had to scramble madly not to fall right through down to Hagrid's Hut below. James found himself face to face with Hedwig once more, who screeched at him all puffed up like a giant angry snowball.

Worst of all, rain was pouring down from above, rising the smell of hay and feces right to their faces even as they did get to their feet, water was slapping against their necks from the windowless eve even with the door closed, and Peter blanched in disgust to be spying more rat skeletons along the floor. He hadn't liked being in here even before he'd become an animagus, all the birds cooing and glaring down at him, now it just felt like a bad omen. He was more than happy to get out of here as soon as possible, and around cold shivers already creeping into him, he summoned the book which came zooming down from one of the top rafters just to add insult to injury. The soggy chapter title was somehow the worst bit of all though.

"A whole chapter dedicated to that toad-faced woman?" Sirius asked in disgust, leaning around Peter to double check for himself. Peter only wished he were making it up.

Seamus Finnigan only kept the mood in dreary levels by the reminder of how he, and likely the majority of the school, was going to be treating Harry this following year.

At least the twins were always a good distraction. Peter read almost fanatically about their poster and any form of fun and mayhem they could be sharing. Hermione of course had to go and kill that mood too.

"Oh don't," Lily snapped as she glared at the Marauders, particularly Potter as usual, though she was side-eyeing Lupin with some disdain instead of Black this time. "It's her job to be doing this as well as Ron's."

"No one's paying them to do it," James scoffed.

She rolled her eyes and most definitely was not going to get into it with him, it would fall on deaf ears how those eleven-year-olds had no idea what they'd be getting into to volunteer for anything.

Frank shifted uncomfortably as talk of Hagrid not being there came and went again. He kept telling himself he was being ridiculous just like Alice did, he'd already spent six years in this castle with Hagrid and Lupin the werewolf and literally nothing had happened but some odd rumors, half of which the Marauders themselves apparently started going by their commentary, and there weren't even any mysterious deaths or disappearances.

Telling himself that and his heart still accelerating without permission were two very different things.

Instead he was more than happy to smile along with Alice when Keeper tryouts were mentioned, even having no particular liking for the sport himself, he would sit through a dozen games just to watch Alice react to it.

Then even that was spoiled by having to listen to Harry's schedule for that Monday!

"I thought torture was banned at Hogwarts!" James yelped at that madness.

"It's, almost a good thing," Frank couldn't keep all the patheticness out of his voice for how he felt of this. "Get them all out of the way at once."

"No!" James snapped back for anyone trying to make this a good thing.

"We don't know that Umbridge woman is going to be a bad teacher yet," Alice sighed and defended her boyfriend more out of obligation than anything, nobody believed otherwise after what little they'd heard of her so far.

Peter just ignored her.

Even talk of their OWLs coming up helped settle no one, as the fifth-years still had those to look forward to when they got back! Even Frank, Alice, and Regulus grimaced along with them at imagining taking exams the coming Monday after having lived through this nonsense.

At least Sirius got a laugh out of the twins putting bulbadox powder in someone's pants, he was mentally writing that one down, though not yet determined who he'd use it on, present company not exactly excluded.

"It's nice to be ahead of Hermione on something," Regulus muttered for himself as she and Ron began to wonder where the twins had gotten their money for all their joke shop talk.

Harry semi-managed to change the subject at least, and the book droned on a bit into one of Binns's always 'memorable' classes, and the following spat between Ron and Hermione. Peter found himself almost starting to relax at least with these familiar patterns, he'd been expecting Umbridge to do something much worse by now what with her name being front and center.

Instead Harry went through a whole embarrassing bit with Cho, a nasty but predictable bullying of Snape, and an entire sleep-worthy lecture by Trelawney about dreams.

The rain was still lashing around them, Pig was now hooting and hopping along to his seventh spot, and they were all shivering miserably, but despite all of that and their continued mental assurances Umbridge wouldn't even bother to acknowledge Harry, they all felt a chill go up their spine when Harry first went into her room.

She certainly didn't impress anyone with her continuing to treat them like toddlers doing a morning greeting, but at least the worst she seemed to have them doing that first day was copying what they'd be doing for the semester, a standard enough approach.

Peter frowned however and Regulus glanced over his shoulder to read that for himself when it really sunk in what they were hearing.

Sirius had been pacing for warmth and James had been picking at his ears in boredom, but they looked up sharply as well.

Remus scrutinized the book in confusion and Frank opened and closed his mouth but decided to wait and hear this out first, surely they were jumping to the wrong conclusions here.

Lily and Alice exchanged a wordless look that spoke volumes, something was off there.

Things only got worse, as Hermione instigated a question they'd all like answered, why was there nothing about using spells on her chalkboard?

Only after Hermione refused to be deterred several times and even Harry jumped in did Umbridge finally say it in plain English, she didn't think there was a need!

Harry wasn't the only one who would have lost his temper at this notion. Never, in all their bad teachers, had they actually heard of someone coming into the school and refusing to teach!

They half expected the toad woman to slap shackles onto Harry rather than just writing out a note for McGonagall to read, this was just so out there.

Instead, Harry found himself with detention for a week, and McGonagall telling him to mind his temper.

"If that was her first class, what other levels of hell could the rest of this year be like?" Peter grimaced before promising the others at least this chapter was done while finishing the last line and at least getting them away from this dismal place.

Chapter Text

To Stitches: I won't deny Harry does have some angst problems this year and makes some poor decisions, but I love reading it all because I remember back to my teenage years and all the poor decisions I made, many of them just as illogical. As for the Marauders brushing off that testing for the first years, yeah not their best move, but the twins did test them on themselves first and I don't believe they meant any real harm.

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At first they all thought they'd somehow found themselves back in that woman's house. Despite a repeat location never yet happening to them, it would be her ghastly place to do so. Instead, it was just as bad, the pink stain that was her life had just traumatized this room.

The very bricks, doilies, and even this side of the door were now horror matched in a vaguely familiar office, a glance out the window showed the Quidditch stands did have them back at Hogwarts though.

"Moony, this is all your fault!" Sirius moaned, still fighting back the impulse to claw his eyes out with or without magic.

Remus didn't even have the heart to argue the point, if he'd known this was what would happen to the DADA job in such a short amount of time, he may have even risked his own affliction to keep this away. The book, once again, was sitting open and waiting for them, and Remus trudged over to get this started. He wasn't sure if Sirius was joking, but he did feel partially responsible for running from the school now whether Padfoot had meant to inflict that in him or not.

Lupin read out the chapter title to nobody's surprise, but a bit of dread. Despite the casual enough set up, they felt something ominous about a whole detention with Umbridge, and they'd never even officially met her. Potter went behind the desk and began rummaging through it with abandon, while Regulus wandered over to the smaller desk where Harry must have been doing his work, but when he got closer he found a rather odd setup.

There was a long black quill he vaguely recognized seeing in his dad's study. He'd seen his dad signing Ministry documents with it though, and Sirius himself had once warned him never to nick that particular one, so he wasn't sure why Umbridge would leave it lying around near Harry. Next to that was a long sheaf of parchment with the words 'I must not tell lies' written several dozen times, and plenty of room to spare for more, but in red ink with little splashes along the border of the heavy paper, yet a pot wasn't in sight.

Lupin's start of the chapter wasn't very interesting, Hermione having to explain to Harry why the student population was treating him this way. It was just a bit sad none of them had wondered the same, but Frank also realized, no one in here could call Harry crazy considering they'd lived through it with him. If he'd just been an outsider? Maybe...

The trio trying to drop the subject and do homework instead didn't last long, as the twins made a rather public launch of what their first Skiving Snackbox was going to be, on first-years.

The Marauders laughed in delight at the mental image, but the others had some reservations about doing the same until all were told to wake up without any setbacks. It was very impressive magic, they'd all admit to that, but the other four still felt it wasn't right, this being done on first-years. At least the volunteers should have been restricted to those of age like the twins were.

Regulus found himself scrutinizing Lupin instead of the quill he was now holding as Hermione lost her temper on the two and went over in a towering tantrum to tell them off in front of the whole common room. It was quite odd, to hear he'd be doing exactly what that Muggle-born was. It didn't bother him as much as it once would have, and that was even more bizarre.

Then he saw Sirius's lip curling in disgust as Hermione laid down the ultimate threat, threatening to tell their mother. Even Peter looked of the utmost affronted just like the rest of the Marauders. Hermione wasn't even their sibling, but he now saw himself more like the Muggle-born than ever, he'd certainly tell them off when they were being idiots, but he'd never go that far. It occurred to him though when Hermione stormed back to Harry and Ron and the Marauders kept muttering amongst themselves rather than continuing, that they were shooting the four furtive looks for more than just their distaste of the situation.

The Marauders had a lot of secrets, and now the four of them were privy to all of them. Their illegal animagus status, their werewolf, and least importantly, their map. Regulus had never had anything to hide to know that kind of gripping fear. He'd already promised Peter he wouldn't say anything about the map, but had he ever promised the same about the larger two? He didn't exactly like Lupin, but none of them were hurting anyone. He would never get Sirius in that kind of trouble, but he wasn't so sure about the other three.

He cleared his throat and waited patiently until everyone was looking at him before saying adamantly, "don't worry Siri, I've never tattled to mother and I'm not going to start now."

To his utter delight, Sirius grinned at him. It was finally that look he'd missed so often these past years, but it didn't distract him from his goal of watching the other three out of the corner of his eye to gauge their reaction.

Evans just clucked her tongue but pressed her lips together, as much as she'd ever shown on the matter of her silence. Alice was smiling at the display, and he hadn't seen her give any ill will towards anyone to worry about. It was Longbottom though who shifted his weight nervously and may be the problem.

Frank would have protested if anyone asked though. Dumbledore had been the one to invite the werewolf into the school and clearly nothing had, or would happen. He wasn't a snitch, he just didn't exactly want to be constantly in the same room with him. He found that even that was beginning to wear off though, he hadn't even moved behind Alice this time in the large open space of the office they were in this time. He'd been too distracted by the vivid pink on the walls nobody wanted to be next to.

Sirius tensed up like Longbottom had just done the same as Hermione and made to move forward and threaten anything he could to make him keep his mouth shut this instant, but James grabbed his arm before he could start another fight.

"We can't kill him until we're out of here, otherwise the books will stop working," he calmly, but quietly reminded.

Peter laughed, but Remus frowned uneasily at all three of them. James was joking, he knew that much, but there was something about the way he was eyeing the four that made his stomach flutter uncomfortably. What were they going to do when this mess was over, did they really trust them all to keep their silence? Even Snape, who now knew his secret as well, had left them feeling so claustrophobic in that castle lately they hadn't so much as sneezed without permission least he do something.

Did Evans even know that? She definitely hadn't known about him before all this though. It was the one thing James had talked about the previous three weeks, how little she'd been in Snivellus's company. The four of them could not just spend the last two years of their school under the thumb of five people though, or they'd do something drastic. Being in this office was only worsening the matter.

Remus kept going uneasily, seeking any form of distraction, and Hermione definitely offered that when she tried her little trick, free house-elves.

Whatever empathy Regulus had for that Muggle-born moments ago vanished, he looked likely to curse her on the spot. How dare she try and snatch away others house-elves! His mind instantly went to Kreacher and someone trying to force him to be free, it was a bleeding miracle Sirius hadn't done it in the future, and had actually considered the threat he posed to the Order if released.

Lily at least sympathized with the idea, but she still hadn't really looked into the matter like she really wanted to now before she shared any kind of opinion. Theirs were honestly the only noteworthy reactions, everyone else just got a laugh Hermione didn't even seem to realize her idea was useless considering they weren't her elves to be getting rid of and Lupin kept going with a faint smile once more.

The rest of the lessons went by without much notice until Care of Magical Creatures, when Malfoy let hint he thought Hagrid was in the same place they did, with giants. Harry's concerned reaction was understandable, none of them could still picture the grounds without him even though Harry kept mentioning it.

Luna Lovegood at least remained as memorable as ever, marching up to Harry in the middle of all eyes and declaring she believed Harry's side.

Sirius still had a dirigible plum tangled in his hair from his time in the bush, and Remus reached over and plucked it now before handing it to Prongs, who smiled fondly and announced, "I think I'm going to take a subscription to that magazine of hers."

Lily smiled without restraint, it was possibly the kindest gesture she'd ever seen him make. Then he caught her eye and gave the little plum a toss before catching it and asking, "like a pair of these as earrings Evans?"

She couldn't even make herself scowl at him, but didn't respond either, still not encouraging him.

James's heart gave an extra little flutter as she took twice as long before just looking away without a response, and he now pocketed it carefully, that was definitely no longer a joke.

Angelina's, lively, reaction to Harry's detention killed any good mood though, Quidditch tryouts even in this rainy weather would still be leagues better than this office. Even the fireplace crackled with a cold chill.

Harry finally made it to said dreaded detention, and they'd all swear the air just got colder with every word Lupin spoke.

Regulus went back to inspecting the long black feather in his hand in confusion, twisting it this way and that in the light, even as Umbridge herself said Harry wouldn't need ink for this special quill. He didn't get it-

"Hey!" He startled when Sirius lashed out and snagged it away.

Potter was hovering above the desk with his mouth hanging open like he'd only just spotted the long sheaf of parchment.

A dementor could have just appeared in the room, it couldn't get any colder in here and the air itself was draining out of all of them. Regulus stamped his foot in frustration; clearly, everyone older than him was getting something he wasn't.

"That's a Blood Quill," Peter finally answered, reaching over and pulling him farther away from the desk as Potter's face kept draining of yet more blood. "We've heard it mentioned a few times, Ministry employees use it to sign official documents. They're, for one use only, though." He finished haltingly.

Regulus finally put it together there wasn't any ink in the equation when Potter blew up the desk, and the paper that had been there. Frank moved to cover Alice, Remus raised the book as a shield, and Lily put up Protego instinctively, but the others only covered their faces as bits of wood rained down.

Curiosity admittedly flared more than anything though, Regulus was half tempted to take it back and give it a try just for the experience, but then Evans marched over to Sirius and snatched it away from him as well. He raised a brow at her but gave no reaction as she drew her wand, and then the place was raining tiny bits of what was left of the feathers from that as well.

She would have done the same if this had been used on Malfoy though, the injustice of it flaring in her like a flame far brighter than the one in here ever could.

Lupin decided to keep reading before anything else got exploded, like this book. His breath was a bit ragged though, he looked like he was going to be sick, even Peter's hand was still shaking a bit where he was holding onto the back of Regulus's robes like he was prepared to drag him farther away before one of his friends exploded next.

Regulus bit down on the inside of his cheek hard as details began to emerge, and he realized he still hadn't fully grasped the grotesqueness of the situation. Harry was having to carve into the back of his own hand, for hours, the truth Umbridge was forcing him to tell his own flesh was a lie.

By the time Harry left the detention Regulus tasted blood in his mouth from biting down too hard and quickly stopped.

The following week of this merely being repeated every night for Harry felt like some new kind of nightmare. The image of Cedric Diggory's dead body could have appeared in the middle of the room again and it would have made perfect sense. This was so disturbing, none of these teenagers could really imagine it. They'd never had to hear of anything quite like this torture, from a teacher at this school.

What was worse, was Harry doing nothing to stop it.

The shock only broke when the chapter came to an end, and Ron's miraculous Keeper position on the Quidditch team distracted no one.

No matter the differences among the eight of them, they found they could all agree on one thing. This woman needed to leave Hogwarts, now.

Chapter Text

To Stitches: I'm sure most people agree with that assessment. The twins are good people by nature and only need to calm just a tad about some of their pranking and think of consequences better. Sirius and Regulus have a rocky relationship right now, but it's better than the nonexistent one during the Hogwarts years before, and things will keep progressing for the two of them blow, hope you enjoy!

This chapter has nothing to do with eggs, bunnies, chickens, or even chocolate. I'm really awful at these holiday updates.

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Sirius slammed down on a very sturdy desk, but all he upset was a very old bottle of ink that spilled over his lap and would soon stain the wood if he didn't fix it. Peter felt as if he were being bodily slammed into a bed, but he sent up such a cloud of dust everyone's sneezing and coughing only doubled as they'd been doing it upon arrival.

One peek out the window made this all the more strange, they were back at the Burrow.

"Surely they weren't hanging around Grimmauld Place for so long this home started resembling it," Sirius said in disgust, picking up the now dripping book and siphoning the ink away, though the cover still remained an inky black and bothered him greatly.

"No, I think it's just this room," James corrected quietly as he gazed at the empty closet. He couldn't even imagine Arthur and Molly's distress at their child who'd abandoned them, but he didn't think cleaning his room would be top of the list. He tried to picture it, if Harry had turned out like Malfoy or something and James couldn't be so proud of this future kid of his. The idea was unbearable and he hadn't even convinced Lily to like him yet.

Lily watched his look of honest sympathy, and it took her breath away. She'd never imagined he could hold any kind of emotion except pigheadedness, and here he was, caring about this family's troubles with an unmistakable expression.

When Sirius Black actually read out the chapter title, she startled more in surprise of remembering there were others in the room than such an odd chapter title. It was no wonder they were in Percy's room then, but what did that have to do with Sirius's animagus? His better half, she mentally concluded, as at least he couldn't talk like that, unlike now when he read highly obnoxiously about Harry waking up and writing out a secret letter to him. Not that she'd deny Harry's letter was very clever, certainly no outsider would get it. She just didn't think he should be laughing quite so obnoxiously about Harry's genius.

Peter listened with a grimace as Harry got to the owlery and spotted another of those demon horse things, he'd honestly stopped mentioning seeing the same all their time in the forest by third year as his friends had stopped laughing by then and just rolled their eyes. Sirius had even accused him of this being a stupider running gag than making puns about his own name. The fact that Harry was mentioning it so frequently made him hope he'd figure out what they were, Prongs's kid had a very good track record of that.

Lily smiled as Cho made an unexpected entrance, and when all was said and done, gave Potter the most obvious look one couldn't miss from Pluto. "It's nice some Potters know how to talk to a girl without making an arse of themselves."

"They talked about Quidditch half the time," Potter had the audacity to widen his eyes and look innocent of what she could mean. "I'd love to discuss that with you more Evans, you just never seemed to take to it."

"Surely she meant the part about how she'd defend you from Filch, Prongs," Sirius Black corrected with a hearty snicker. "You can go order as many dung bombs as you like in front of her and she'll be your alibi."

Lily scowled and considered storming into the empty closet behind her and slamming it in their face just to vent as Potter laughed. She turned to face the empty coat hangers regardless, and so when her heart skipped a beat in surprise at Hermione reading out the paper and Sirius Black's real current whereabouts, nobody noticed that she actually winced in concern for the idiot.

'For Harry's benefit,' she mentally corrected herself quickly. If Sirius Black got caught in this future, well, Potter had been more miserable and down-hearted than she ever could have believed back when all that had been going on in third year. If he went back there now, it would only be worse for everyone, including her own kid having whatever parent he could ripped away like that for such a ghastly unjust reason.

She turned back slowly to eye him now, and was fascinated to see him reading the whole thing with his chest puffed up and complete swagger for how foolish he found his godson's worries. He even went into the next article about that Podmore fellow like nothing had happened. She knew that was bravado, he'd been more dejected than Potter during that Azkaban mess, and found it fascinating he chose to play it off and get a rise out of his friends by laughing about it all in the end.

Was that really their answer to everything? It certainly seemed so the longer she watched. They really were a fascinating bunch of idiots. Maybe when they got back she'd steal bits of their hair and study some potions on them to see if-

"Yes!" Regulus whooped in triumph, launching himself onto the bed beside Peter, but now bouncing on it in excitement as his older brother described Harry and Ron skiving off homework for double Quidditch practice. "This is going to be the most fun we've yet heard! I can't wait for the tournament when we get back to ours!"

It was the most undignified thing they'd ever seen him do, probably to ever go on in this room honestly. It had been a choice between this display his mother would kill him for, or finally bursting into tears and trying to hug Sirius again for watching his brother try to keep reading like that. After only a few bounces, he definitely preferred this.

Peter laughed and after a moment got up to jump on the bed with him, spraying them all with dust once more. Being back in this particular room had only reminded him he'd spent so many years here hiding out as Percy's pet, like a curse was on this room and everyone in it, he definitely needed to just not think for a few moments.

Alice laughed and finally stopped rubbing at the back of her hand in worry for that school, of Neville getting a detention as well. Sirius Black nearly fell off the desk laughing at the two, and then decided to jump up there with him and continue reading like a loon. The other two watched with indulgent smiles, and likely would have gone up there with them if there had been room.

Frank and Lily exchanged exasperated looks at the lot of them, but neither could repress a smile through the whole practice even as the Slytherins showed up and tried to make larger arses of themselves than usual.

It wasn't until Percy's letter showed up that Sirius finally slowed, and it wasn't because the springs gave out. He tried to keep reading it and bouncing, but by the end his knees started shaking and he almost fell off and busted his head on the desk.

James caught him, his forehead an inch from the corner, but he stayed slumped in his arms for a few more moments as what he really read sank in. The idiot was the opposite of him, but the exact same as him, leaving his family because he didn't believe the same as them. Now though, even that humongous bighead bothered to reach out to his kid brother and offer the same hand, something Sirius had never actively bothered to try!

James's laugh echoed oddly in the suddenly quiet room as they all waited for Sirius to spring back to his feet and keep going. "What was that your mother said about monkeys on the bed Peter?"

The two had abruptly stopped at Sirius's little fall, Regulus now holding onto the bed frame for support and frowning in concern. When Sirius finally did shake himself and keep going to Ron's reaction, it sounded oddly detached, and he winced with every rip he gave his brother's letter.

This bizarre reaction made sense to no one, how could Sirius be sympathizing with Percy of all people?

Sirius absolutely did not want to explain though while he was still kicking himself in the arse. He spoke of his own interactions with Harry almost all in one breath, and in the end found it oddly accurate as everything was being ripped away once more, that was clearly the only thing he was really good at.

Chapter Text

After all the general crashing, smashing, and cursing wore off, it was nice to find themselves in a normal part of the castle such as the staff room. A game of chess had been interrupted by Frank, and all the pieces were yelling at him for it, cloaks were hung over the back of a few chairs, a stack of books anyone would peg to be McGonagall's had been overturned, and Professor Sprout had apparently been in the middle of grading a few assignments upon their entrance. Someone had even been reading the paper, Frank noticed as Alice picked up the copy with today's date. He shooed away a pawn that was still berating him and went over to see it had been covering the book, but as he picked it up he looked sharply at her instead as she gasped loud enough to drown out everybody else's mutterings.

Without prompting she read out Umbridge's new position as Hogwarts High Inquisitor, and just what exactly that was. By the end all of them had a nasty pit in their stomach, and Frank was gripping the book like it had toad slime covering it. She'd only been there one week and already had equal power to the Headmaster? What madness was this?

Sirius watched in disgust as Longbottom read the chapter title as repeat of that stupid self-imposed ruling from the toad, but announced the article was read by Harry himself and was forced to reread it, as they all knew the book wouldn't let them skip. It sounded no better the second time, like a worm digging in one ear and down the throat, but sadly gave Sirius's mind a chance to wander and go back to watching Regulus with deep contemplation.

He was chasing the lost chess pieces around, and finally came up with all the white ones, offering Peter a game, who instantly agreed. He watched the two walk away, that pit in his stomach growing.

Some instinct still wanted to go over there and stop this before it went any farther. Logic told him that these two had ended up being Death Eaters without the others' influence, wouldn't them hanging out just fast forward that process?

Then he watched Regulus laugh again, and Peter actually smiled with a kind of pride Sirius couldn't claim to have ever seen.

This whole experience had gone from weird, to kind of cool, to horrifying, to traumatizing, to now just kind of, common place. The last time he'd thought about dealing with Regulus in any capacity had been ages ago now, the Marauders' own business being blown up and finally settling into an uneasy agreement had pushed his brother far from his mind, but now watching the two, he was kicking himself more than ever for it all.

Even being forced into his company Sirius had never properly reached a hand out to Regulus, as Peter himself had once so eloquently put it. He'd begun thinking of his dorm mates as his brothers by the end of second year, and third year had all but confirmed it by the time Regulus walked into school. Peter had even sort of absently replaced Regulus in his mind, the kid brother he could give shit to but nobody else in the world could. James was his equal now, the first to turn to when he had a problem and always had a good solution. Remus even had Regulus' biting sarcasm that he wouldn't let anyone see but his real friends, otherwise he was the face of cool and calm. He'd finally admit to himself watching them now he could have two baby brothers, right?

"Padfoot?" James hopped up on the table beside him where he'd landed and never moved, watching his line of sight. He tried to hide his unease Sirius was scrutinizing the pair again. If Sirius went off again about trying to get them to stay apart, James had no idea how he could step in and stop any of it. He still found it weird himself, but neither was doing any real harm. If anything, James would have to admit the two always seemed in a better mood hanging out with each other.

"It's not too late for us, right James?" He asked quietly, eyes on Moony now as he went over to the cupboard and rubbed his hand thoughtfully along it. Harry and Ron had once hid inside it and listened to the devastating news of Ginny's death and had saved her life in impossible odds.

"No," James said instantly, even if he still wasn't entirely sure what Sirius was getting at. He, as usual, was watching Evans, sitting by Longbottom's feet with Alice and the two whispering suspiciously as Harry's lessons went through without Umbridge, yet, in History of Magic and Potions, though the later of which was still a miserable experience for all.

She hadn't defended Snivellus in some time now, he'd very pleasantly noted, and in fact as talk turned to OWL grades she hadn't even glanced up at the book through the whole class. Maybe she was finally starting to see the git he was?

Then, as the twins arrived, her eyes flickered to him and away so fast, he'd swear his eyes were playing tricks on him. She still thought he was like them, only a troublemaker and nothing more.

He didn't want to open up his own prank shop though. While a worthy cause he'd invest in, he had other goals and aspirations for his life. He'd walked away from his career advice even nurturing the idea of being an Auror. Surely she'd see that as a good thing?

"We've always made our own future," James said practically, now grinning at Moony who was hovering as close to the three as he dared, clearly very invested in this whole teacher grading outcome. None of them acknowledged him, which in itself was a kindness to the fear-filled looks he was probably expecting. "I say we keep doing that."

"Yeah?" Sirius sounded a bit hopeful now. James grinned as he shook his shoulder for emphasis.

"Yeah. You're a bloody impulsive idiot, and I'd never change that, but maybe next time you lay into them, just, think about how bad you felt last time?" He felt stupid putting it as a question, but it was more than obvious Sirius felt bad for something regarding those two in particular. The list of reasons that could be wasn't exactly short, but when James tore his eyes back away to see Sirius honestly considering his words and eyes back on Regulus and Peter, he put it together with Sirius's reaction to Percy's letter.

Sirius wanted to make amends to the two, and he didn't want it to get ripped up in his face.

He tore his eyes away from their game, Peter was winning, and grinned at him. "And you Prongs? Going to put all that practice of annoying Evans finally sink in and try something else?"

"I might," he said honestly, going in vivid detail in his mind over all the times he'd interacted with her, specifically the ones where she hadn't started calling him an arrogant birk. The ones that stuck out were when he'd stopped trying to make her laugh, oddly enough, but had just talked to her. How strange. "Worth a shot."

The two were interrupted by the book, as Umbridge entered Trelawney's class.

"Bet you a galleon someone's going to walk away from this dead," James said uneasily.

Sirius wasn't taking that bet, this was definitely going to be a horror show. It started out memorable enough for sure, Harry giving Ron the task to analyze his dream about drowning Snape gave everyone a grim laugh, even if Lily would deny any such thing. Then Umbridge started asking some routine questions that quickly devolved into Trelawney's shriek of insolence that she could not See upon command. The spectacle finally ended with Trelawney's dour announcement that Harry was to die, again, and honestly it hadn't been as bad as they thought.

"Can I still get that galleon?" Sirius asked.

"No," James huffed.

Umbridge's own lesson in fact ended up being worse, as it ended with Harry in another detention! James snarled in disgust, his hand itching to go for his wand and suspend this woman up by her ankle and leave her there for eternity if she kept doing this to his kid! Sirius was so outraged he stood up on the desk and began shouting several expletives, while Lily let her face fall into her hands. She couldn't stop herself hearing this, but she couldn't keep watching.

"I can't help but be rather impressed with him," Peter said quietly to Regulus as he watched Sirius's face start turning colors. "A lesser man would have backed down after what Harry went through, this kid's still pushing her."

"Being an idiot about it though," Regulus corrected, also frowning in concern at his brother. "You really think getting detentions would change anything but make her happier? Harry would be better off finding some other way to fight back than bowing down." He preferred the idea of getting in her good graces and destabilizing her from the inside.

"It's not as if the Order is exactly sharing how to do that," Peter disagreed, but he could definitely see Regulus's point. Both of them were very aware that if Umbridge were here now, it would be Sirius and James in those detentions and not them.

"Hopefully someone will come up with a better answer for Harry then," Regulus muttered, or the people listening to this were probably going to break the sound barrier first.

Their game forgotten, the two cringed into their seats until Remus finally came over and convinced Sirius to stop threatening for a few breaths or they'd never hear the end of it. Harry's new Quidditch captain and even McGonagall adding insult to injury was improving no one's mood though.

Still, it was nice to see Sirius's temper lash out at someone else for a change, Peter and Regulus even found themselves smiling a bit as the three's not so quiet mutters of what kind of pranks they'd be doing to that Umbridge filtered in the room.

Lily found herself listening grimly to the lot rather than Umbridge and McGonagall's back and forth. It deeply bothered her she found no ill will for listening in detail to their horrible pranking, but was she any better when she'd just been imagining slipping in a slow-acting poison into her next meal?

At least she'd only been imagining it...right? She warred with herself just how far she'd go to put a stop to this, if her own hand was being cut open, if some little first-year's was. The idea of having children was still above her, but she wouldn't deny she felt protective of Harry enough she wasn't going to stop the Marauders if they got the chance of meeting her any time when they got back.

It didn't make their vile ways of doing these kinds of things to anyone that annoyed them any better, especially Sev, but this was also not the first time she understood why they did it. It scared her just as much as her own wavering answer she realized she was actually starting to understand those idiots.

Frank found that things only continued to get worse as Umbridge followed Harry to his next class, Care of Magical Creatures. When Harry was given yet another detention for defending Hagrid from Malfoy's past stupid mistake, he had to fight the urge to join in with Lily this time as she cursed vividly, though not as loudly as Black started doing all over again.

This was beyond disgusting, his Mum would never stand for this happening in Hogwarts! Then Frank looked miserably at Lily, and glanced sadly at the godfather, and reminded himself Harry didn't have anyone to really go to this with.

When Hermione brought up the subject of them just learning Defense Against the Dark Arts straight from Harry, he and Alice exchanged another terrified look. It was such a singular moment to them, they didn't even register anyone else's reaction, this was their own bubble of worry.

Neither had spoken of it because the book itself hadn't, but what if Neville started getting these detentions as well? Was Harry the only one here? Doing this to him was bad enough they already wished someone would step in, but it seemed a disaster waiting to happen if Neville, Ron, Hermione, those twins, and a host of other students were to join Harry.

Frank still remembered Luna Lovegood and Ernie Macmillan declaring themselves publicly believing Harry, and he fidgeted with unease if Harry would still think he was in the right if those around him started suffering his same punishment.

Chapter Text

The high pitched yowl of pain shook everyone out of their coughing and definitely drowned out the other general crashes as they all looked desperately around for the danger.

It was the Hog's Head, they all instantly recognized, even Regulus had popped in here on his second Hogsmeade trip thanks to a dare from a dormmate. The challenge had been to order and drink a firewhiskey, but the bartender had shooed him away. He wondered if it was the exact same bottle he'd been eyeing at the time that had crashed down on Alice Smith's head upon her landing behind the register and now had her bleeding profusely from the crown of her short, dark hair.

The others had landed throughout the establishment in other, arguably safer spots on tables and chairs, Lupin right into a barstool, Regulus directly onto the bar, spilling more drinks right on top of him, though at least the glass tumblers didn't add to the mess, instead it just made the floor slippery as Longbottom and Evans did a fast headcount and tried darting around behind to the scene.

Lupin had been closer though, so he'd gotten there first and was already crouching in front of her drawing his wand with a kind smile she likely couldn't see due to the mixture of blood and alcohol already dribbling into her eyes, and her whimpers of pain and surprise keeping his voice a likely mystery. She reached up automatically to rub at her eyes, and then higher to where the pain was coming from, and he grabbed her wrists in one hand and pulled them towards him, out of the way to perform the spell.

Regulus cringed in regret he had no way to help her, he couldn't even name a healing charm yet, but then Regulus startled right off the bar on top of them all when Longbottom barreled into Lupin and shoved him so hard away, he sent several more bottles crashing around them.

The following shouting and shoving that ensued was utter chaos until finally two clear shouts of "Protego!" sent the eight of them slammed back away from each other as if they were landing all over again.

Lily dropped hers at once and immediately turned to Alice, her advanced Charms work may not have as much practical practice as the Marauders' but she still knew enough of what she was doing she at least sealed the deep gashes along Alice's head. Reaching blindly, she only spotted a dusty old rag and cringed at using it to wipe the rest of her up, before the rest of her brain kicked in and she used Tergeo to great affect, and a quick Aguamenti to dampen it, heart thundering and hands shaking regardless. She hated blood.

James waited patiently, chest still heaving like he'd run the Quidditch pitch four times, until Alice's bright yellow eyes were finally blinking and she looked around in recognition. She was still exceptionally pale, and they were all now covered in blood and alcohol from it. He'd seen Remus lose more blood before and not lose consciousness though, so he was semi sure she was okay enough he dropped his own barrier, but still vibrated in place with adrenaline.

Peter got to his feet slowly, more than enough experience telling him to be cautious before someone else pounced, but when no one stopped him he hopped up onto the bar and swung himself to the other side, but stopped short of dropping down to offer his hand to Regulus to do the same, who was more than happy to swim out of this mosh pit if that was what it took.

Sirius took the precious seconds it was worth to see Remus hadn't fallen into the exact same predicament, but there was no visible blood streaming from him anywhere, so he lunged towards Longbottom fist raised.

James caught him at the last second and had to physically haul him back to the other side of the bar, taking five times as long to fix the space in the struggle that Sirius had covered in a second flat. Finally though he wrestled him back to the floor by Moony's side and met him with a hard glare, the silence that passed between them spoke volumes.

Frank hadn't so much as flinched away as he stayed in between Lily and Alice, but when Potter turned back to glare at him it was damn near as terrifying as Black's murderous intent of bashing his face in. The cold, calculated expression was the exact same he'd held when speaking of how best to dispose of Umbridge.

Remus decided he should stay where he was and keep trying to pick glass out of the back of his shoulder until it was safer to move.

Finally Lily got her feet as well, turning her back on the lot and offering Alice a hand. She took it firmly, but her feet stumbled terribly, and Frank finally moved as well to place a hand on her back as they got her out from behind the bar. No one stopped him, but he felt the three glares daggering into his back with the first hints of shame, he didn't have to look back to know who wasn't.

The floor was already growing stickier with every step they took, which probably helped her just a bit when the crackling silence followed the three of them to the farthest back corner to the stairs.

Alice took the bottom one wearily, rubbing her fingers against her eyes for a few more moments and still not getting any color back, but she was the first to properly speak. "What the hell happened?"

Her heart, already trying to pump in double time to supply the blood she'd lost, nearly went into overdrive at the deranged noise she heard echoing from behind the bar she now sadly recognized as Sirius Black.

It was Frank who answered though, crouching down to see her gentle eyes and saying honestly, "I panicked."

"Is that all you have to say for yourself!" Pettigrew gasped. "You could have killed Remus and her with your stupid stunt!"

Frank flinched, he was very aware that any of that raining glass could have nicked someone in the neck, eye, or any other arteries on the way down, he was pretty confident he had something lodged in his thigh, but all he kept seeing flashing back in his head was a werewolf bent over his girlfriend, bleeding a fountain of blood to boot.

It was not lost on him though, that it was still Lupin who had not done a thing in retaliation.

Frank got slowly back to his feet, taking the time to see the destruction he'd caused before turning back to face the others properly. He wasn't afraid of Black and Potter, but for the first time he felt like drawing his own wand in defense for himself at the looks they gave him. He swallowed that impulse and ignored it until he could see just slightly over the bar again, Lupin's green eyes were still painfully startled like he hadn't quite caught up to what had happened yet any more than Alice. He was reaching blindly over his shoulder, and his wince at finally pulling out a jagged bit of glass drew his friends' attention back to him.

"I'm sorry," and Frank sincerely meant that. He didn't know if the impulse would ever leave him entirely, but he wouldn't let anyone say he couldn't be the bigger person here.

Now the werewolf actually blushed, stammering on anything to say like, like a regular teenager. Frank almost wanted to laugh, but didn't think that would be of much help as he went back to Alice's side. She scooted over and took his hand at once.

Lily got up abruptly then and exited through a door, to everyone's surprise. Nobody moved until she came back with a platter of food.

The last time they'd had food was Umbridge's poisonous house nobody but Regulus had dared take so much as a snack from, and long before that the school kitchens. He was pretty sure the Marauders had scraped some food together back in the Potters' manor, but they hadn't exactly shared that abundance. Regardless, the rations had run out by the time they'd started this book. Even this drafty bar's old cheese and slightly stale bread felt like a feast. She'd given Alice the largest portion and set the rest on the bar without comment for the boys to help themselves.

Frank had immediately given the share she'd offered him to Alice as well, but she only nibbled down a few bites before surprising them all by drawing her own wand, and summoning the book to her.

"You should eat more-" he instantly tried to protest, she was still as pale as ever, but she shook her head so softly and even that made her look a bit green.

"My stomach's feeling," she stopped, and didn't need to elaborate. "I just, let's move on."

He did not agree, likely when they were wrenched from this place she'd just throw up what little she had at the next location, but she squeezed his fingers back and gave him a brave smile as she read the next chapter title as the location of this place.

What she really wanted was a chance to talk to him again, somewhere that wouldn't be overheard in this quiet room. The Marauders were not going to be a lively distraction, and while there was no guarantees the next place would be any better, she certainly didn't want to linger in here as the strong smells of copper and alcohol lingered in the air.

The whole thing touched her deeply as she tried to imagine it from his point of view, but even his bodily defense wasn't as warming as his immediately apologizing for it. Still, she wanted to talk to him about the initial reaction, she'd been delicately avoiding the subject but it clearly wasn't going away.

Peter didn't know what to think of the whole thing as Alice read about Hermione broaching the subject of Harry being DADA teacher again, and a chance to see how many people would take up that offer in the coming Hogsmeade visit. He found himself desperately wanting to turn to Regulus and reminisce about all the secrets of the village the Marauders had learned from all their times creeping about here, both during a full moon and regular nights. He didn't think stories like that would go down well in here right now though, and instead the heavy silence lasted as Hermione started spreading word around the school of 'Harry's' intentions about starting this group and they headed out to this place.

It was an, interesting meeting to be sure, but still nobody cried nay for these actions. To his amazement, nobody in here would still claim not to join Harry's group in a heartbeat against Umbridge's tyranny. He and Regulus exchanged a look as they just had to figure out a way to get them all to realize same as them, they all wanted to be on the same side here.

James smiled to himself as the meeting adjourned, and things were officially set in motion with twenty-five people all believing in his son. Harry went to go around Hogsmeade for a bit though, and he found his mind wandering more. What he would give to start boisterously laughing about Harry being a teacher of all things again, which he'd barely had a chance to do when it had been brought up. He'd made a few theatrical jokes just for his friends' amusement about how insulting to his bloodline that would be for Harry to do any such thing, he'd swear Evans had even laughed for a moment before they'd been zapped in here.

Now he was shifting in unease and entirely unsure of himself as Sirius kept his glowering glare alternating between Longbottom, and him.

He still didn't regret stopping Sirius though, all that had flashed through his mind upon seeing Sirius about to do that was when he'd hit Peter, and even before that when he'd egged Snape on and he'd found out about Moony. He'd really thought Sirius was going to start trying to control his temper, James certainly wanted to take a swing at the racist arse! He just hadn't because the past two consequences still had their marks all around them.

Peter was still standing closer to Regulus on that side of the bar. Remus was now watching the steady drip of the amber liquid onto the floor rather than looking at Sirius for yet another impulsive action of his.

Then his heart skipped a beat and his mind managed to scatter in half as he saw Evans watching him. Openly, curiously, for the first time in his school life like she wanted to come talk to him rather than the other way around. His entire insides shut down rather than leap at the opportunity like the idiot he was, and then it was too late as they were torn from here.

Chapter Text

Frank's suspicion sadly came true, as Alice hadn't even stopped rolling before vomit finally spasmed up her throat.

Lily was cross-eyed and swaying drunkenly as she determinedly went to her and rolled her onto her side, but she was already coming out of it by then, and by the time Frank stumbled over she was sitting up and trying not to laugh at the chalk dust he was covered in. Her body tried dry heaving instead, and that miserable experience left her slumping into Frank's arms in exhaustion as she finally got a look around.

They were in the History of Magic classroom. It must have been Frank who had erased whatever topic was on the board, there was a window opened in the back to a bright sunny day letting in a nice cool breeze, but most students didn't bother taking books out in this class, so at least the desks had been clear of debris for the others landing.

Alice's eyes were sagging closed and none of them would have been surprised if she fell asleep like that. Lily still hoped to get one more chapter in and pray they got dumped in someplace with beds, and began looking around herself. The book was next to Hermione's notes on giant wars, Lily would have guessed they were hers even before she saw the girl's small, smashed-up handwriting near the open window and her name scrawled across the top, but it was only half complete, the ink pot hadn't even been turned over from where James Potter had nearly landed. She snatched the book away and sat down in the seat, pretending it was the only thing that had drawn her over here. "Educational Decree Number Twenty-Four," she said loudly, pretending she also wasn't fighting off the impulse to say thanks to Potter.

It still baffled her mind, he'd helped her stop a fight?! Granted, he was still shooting dirty looks at Frank, but staying slumped on the floor under the desk beneath her rather than pacing along the back wall like his best friend, whom he'd stopped. She'd seen it all and could barely wrap her head around it.

Admittedly, she was rather unhappy with Frank's response herself, Lupin's revelation had been startling and she was a bit leery of him, but he'd never once showed them any ill will when there wasn't  full moon around. Black's reaction, as usual, had been far too dramatic. Then there was Potter's...

"Alice," Frank whispered quietly in her ear. Her eyes were still closed, but Lily was already reading about Harry's very happy feelings for creating his group, and then the damper of whatever this stupid new Decree was, so clearly she hadn't fallen asleep yet. "Would you like me to tell Lily to stop? You can go to sleep," he brushed his hand carefully through her hair, it still came away sticky with blood and alcohol.

"No," her voice slurred despite herself, and the fact that it was a lie. When was the last time she'd slept? Back in the Hufflepuff common room, her mind finally groggily replied, though the answer had taken so long to swim up the boys' outrage at Quidditch being disbanded barely registered, and Ron and Harry tried and failed to tell Hermione about the banning of said groups and clubs.

Before You-Know-Who had come back, before this future now felt like their present, and somehow it was even worse in Harry's time hearing of the tyrannical Umbridge. She didn't really think Harry was going to find a way to defeat her, but she also didn't want to be the reason they stopped when she was still so worried about them getting caught, even more so now as no traitor of the group was immediately sussed out during breakfast in the Great Hall.

Frank didn't argue the point, but he also was not nearly as invested as he usually would have been when Hedwig apparently showed up in this class, injured?

Lily startled terribly when Potter launched to his feet so fast he cracked his head on the desk and barely stopped until he was at the window, and then leaning out dangerously far to check below. He came back in rubbing his head, but she wondered if a Bludger hurt worse, or it was his thick skull that had him brushing it off and saying, "she's not there, keep going Evans, I hope she's alright." He hadn't even gotten to his feet at his favorite sport's insurrection, though his shouts had echoed loudly beneath her.

She flushed, actually feeling bad for her snide thought, and refused to acknowledge him eyeing her even as she found her tongue answering by once again looking critically at Hermione's half-done notes. "I'm sure she's fine, the three probably abandon class to take care of her."

"Ah," he nodded as if that made perfect sense, but still bounced on his heels and watched the book imploringly. It took her a few moments to realize that's what he was looking at, and she had to kick herself for being an idiot. Clearly she'd hit her head one too many times through this trauma.

Her guess turned out to be wrong as Harry left alone with his bird, but she eyed the incomplete work again and still didn't think her idea that this had distracted even Hermione invalid. She glanced up and saw Potter nodding and eyeing the chair Ron would presumably be in like he was thinking the same thing, the two imagining a whispered exchange, and she snapped her eyes back to the text in frustration at herself. It was just because he was standing so close she'd seen him first, and surely everyone had been thinking something similar, not just the two of them.

She found herself on the edge of her seat without any reasonable explanation to herself, holding the next page painfully already as Harry chose the staff room for help, and a quick exchange between McGonagall and Grubbly-Plank had Hedwig off for treatment, but Harry with a note from his godfather and more questions than ever.

Harry's mail was now being watched? Who, or what had attacked Hedwig? It couldn't have been Umbridge, but she was the only suspect. What was going to happen to Sirius?

It was all so daunting, Potter didn't even interrupt her in outrage at the Slytherin Quidditch team being allowed back in the same day it was disbanded.

What did get everyone's attention, was Malfoy's horrible comment about St. Mungo's dragging Harry off for brain damage.

The rest of them gasped, Lily sucked in air through her teeth she'd said such a thing, Alice even snapped out of Frank's lap, all steady once more as she put her hand on her wand, but told Lily with a straight face, "Neville. Tell me he wasn't there."

Lily wished she could, but that didn't change what happened next, as the next instant Neville Longbottom charged at Malfoy, but was forcibly stopped by Harry and Ron until Snape arrived and broke it all up.

They were all still shifting for that distressing moment, each wishing they could do something, say anything to make that even remotely better, but words weren't enough. Frank finally placed his hands back on Alice's shoulders, both were shaking, but he eased her back against his chest. She went willingly, but her eyes stayed open as Lily forced out the rest.

Thankfully Snape's attention was diverted by Umbridge in that class, and Neville wasn't brought up again. Lily's insides burned through the whole encounter, rather ashamed to admit her wavering thoughts about every single thing now.

She wanted to go back to Frank and Alice's side and promise that would never happen to them, but the words would just feel empty.

She wanted to turn to Potter and give him free range to do to Lucius what they couldn't to Draco for those vile words, but she'd try to find some way to do it first at this rate.

She read painfully about Sev's future, and her heart crumbled as she had no idea what she was going to be like when she got back to her best friend. Would she even be the same person anymore? She didn't want to stop being friends with Alice and Frank, but they hadn't made it a secret they no more liked him than the Marauders, would they still talk to her when she went back to talking to him? What was she even going to say to him about all of this? Betray the Marauders' secrets? Demand of him too many years early why he was acting this way? He'd think her nuts.

She'd been asking herself all of this for so long now, and she still had no good answers. The vile way he continued to treat Harry in there wasn't leading towards a good one.

In Harry's next class, Trelawney was on probation, and Lily read through it like it was Binns's reading.

The twins had perfected a new item for their Skiving Snackboxes, and even the Marauders couldn't bolster up the energy to cheer about it.

It wasn't until Sirius popped back up in the story, and the fireplace, that any of them felt themselves drawn back in, but found themselves ripped out just as fast as Sirius almost was.

Chapter Text

Regulus found himself being slammed into something even harder than a wooden desk, though he hadn't thought that possible, but his ears still rung from the metal clang. When his eyes finally settled, he found himself face first against a locker. He didn't even know Hogwarts had lock- he gasped so loudly Peter looked over at him in concern as he kept rubbing at his own head until Regulus shouted, "we're in the Quidditch locker rooms!"

The captain of his team, Craig Sloper, had let him be a reserve Seeker this year, but so far he'd sat on the benches during practice while the actual Seeker, Aubrey Bertram, shot around perfectly managing to catch the Snitch every time; nobody had bothered letting him even get in the air for practice. They were all fifth year and above, and had shooed him away any time he tried to follow them into the locker rooms, now nobody was going to stop him getting a look around!

He opened the one he'd landed against eagerly to see the scarlet Gryffindor robes with Weasley on the back, though it didn't specify which one. There were three long, low benches and a chalkboard across from that on a wall, separating the two bathrooms, and he promptly took off to investigate those.

"Who gets that bloody excited about a locker room?" Lily asked, starting to wonder if she wasn't the only one getting hit on the head one too many times around here.

"I sure am," Alice said, getting stiffly to her feet once more, and like him making her way eagerly towards a hot shower. Lily followed at once in concern, but Alice's brief little rest seemed to have done her some good, she didn't stumble once over the small step into the girls' section and opened the first stall door without hesitation, so Lily politely turned away and began shucking her own clothes as she investigated the place. Across from the seven shower stalls were another set of stalls for toilets, and the same amount of sinks lining the wall where they'd entered. She got a funny laugh for a moment imagining all seven players and even seven reserve players all being in here at the same time as she turned on her own hot water.

By the time they stepped out they felt like singing, they were actually clean again, even if Lily's charm still had their school robes unsoiled at best. They stopped in surprise though to see Sirius Black and Lupin apparently hadn't joined the amenities yet, but were the only two in there still.

Black had apparently been trying to pace again and muttering something while Lupin held his hand, but the girls barely registered any of it as the two immediately shied away from each other upon seeing them. Then Black gave them a saucy smile and swaggered right up to them. "Evening ladies, sorry I couldn't join you."

Lily groaned in disgust and stalked away, as if she needed another Marauder idiot panting after her, but Alice laughed in surprise, she was absolutely positive he was joking.

Sirius Black seemed delighted at her response, and smiled winningly at Alice, only causing her to laugh harder until someone cleared their throat behind him.

Lily watched Black turn on the spot and glower at Frank once more, his blonde hair looking more brunet as it still clung in a wet plaster to his scalp, hands still itching to cause some kind of violence, even though the odd sight of Frank holding apparently every towel in this place and having to crane his head around the pile just to see was worth a question.

Lupin came up and grabbed the back of his shirt though, hauling him just slightly around Frank like a scolded puppy, and adding to the effect by saying, "come on Padfoot, bath time."*

They walked into the steam-filled room, only to find the others already wrapping up, James literally with a towel as he prodded at his grungy clothes miserably. "I think I'll burn these when we get back, should have grabbed a change of clothes like you did when I had the chance Sirius."

"I can't believe I actually managed a shower before him," Peter was still rubbing a towel in his hair, "when's that ever happened? You two feeling alright?"

The two stayed awkwardly silent, it had been a while since they'd had to realize how perceptive they knew Peter to be, and if he suspected anything.

Sirius stomped off without response, losing an article of clothing shamelessly with each step until he was at the last stall and slamming it closed behind him. Remus plucked uneasily at the hem of his sleeve and avoided eye contact. He'd never liked changing clothes in front of his friends even though they knew about the scars now, and especially with Regulus still in here, his long hair still dripping water onto his clothes.

Peter and Regulus thankfully left in the awkward silence regardless, Regulus had agreed with the other two when they'd decided against going out to see what the holdup of Sirius and Lupin following in was considering he'd almost been caught in the future again and he probably hadn't wanted to show to anyone he was worried about it. James still wanted to check on him, but now honestly worried he'd just get brushed off again, but wanting to check on him somehow, he lowered his voice as the water squeaked on and the steam doubled. "Is everything alright with him?"

James hated he was having to ask someone else that, he was usually the leading expert on Sirius, but Padfoot wasn't talking to him?!

"Not really," Remus whispered, ruined slightly by cringing away from even Prongs, it only just occurred to him why James looked so defeated at having to ask this. Sirius had been avoiding him a bit lately, and he leaned closer to try and vaguely explain this instead. "He's, had a lot on his mind lately, you know that, and well, he's trying to find a new way to cope with it."

He was really hoping the room was actually as hot as his face was at the end.

James seemed to find this a reasonable enough answer at least, but still gave one last dejected look to the seventh stall before finally changing into his grungy clothes, but just tucking his glasses into his pocket as he left. They weren't doing any good in this steamed room.

Remus slowly peeled off one layer at a time, down to his boxers, and dithered if he should do what his mind prompted him to. They could be back any minute...nope. He definitely wasn't.

He couldn't make himself turn on the shower yet though, and instead found himself just leaning against the door Sirius had hid himself behind and tapping his bare feet impatiently. Finally, after starting and stopping several times in his head, he simply asked, "Would hitting him have really made you feel better?"

"Yes," Sirius instantly replied.

"Really?" He stressed the word, trying his hardest to keep the accusation out of his tone. "Think about the last two times you did something without thinking first Sirius, has that actually made anything better?"

He couldn't actually see Sirius, but he'd swear he could actually feel him twitch uncomfortably.

"Look, I'm not happy with Longbottom either," he continued when no response seemed to be coming for that. "Merlin knows I'd love it if nobody ever assumed I was some bloodthirsty animal again, but Sirius did you ever think, maybe he actually doesn't know better?"

"That's ridiculous-" his biting words were already edging towards incredulity, but Remus cut in insistently.

"Sirius, you know better than anyone what others think of me, but you three actually got to know me before you found out."

Sirius mulled that over for a moment before he retorted, "wouldn't kill the guy to ask then rather than treating you like that!"

"Have we really given him the chance?" Remus asked in exasperation. "I know I haven't exactly stepped up and offered to be their guinea pig if they have questions, I doubt you lot have." He thought for a moment and amended, "maybe Peter's been saying something to Regulus, but I kind of doubt it." At least, he wasn't vain enough to think that's what they were talking about now.

Sirius went so long without answering again, Remus got off the door and sighed in defeat. He had his hand on the next stall door though when Sirius spoke, "alright Moony. He, well, you're the one wronged here. If you really think a lecture is the punishment he deserves, well, I'll back you up on that. It's probably worse than what I could do to him anyways."

Remus's heart stuttered in surprise, and then he abandoned such a thing as caution as he went back and pushed his stall door open before closing it firmly behind them.

Regulus yawned and cracked his eyes open, and immediately began shuffling around uncomfortably. Evans had done them a kindness by embedding a cushioning charm into the hard marble floor, but still he woke up cradling his head on his arms instead of a pillow and it wasn't exactly comfortable. Peter was a few paces away, on his side and snoring. Potter was half hanging off a bench and grimacing even in his sleep at that awkward position.

On the other side of the room, Longbottom had built Alice a little mini bed out of towels and all the Quidditch robes, but she'd half pulled him on top of that and the two were tangled up together in a sickening display of affection. Evans had herself propped up in the corner, likely to have a crick in her neck for that, directly under the light switch where she hadn't bothered to move from once they'd all agreed a nap even in this uncomfortable place was better than nothing.

He didn't spot his brother or Lupin though, which was odd as he'd swear he heard the water turn off about the time he was falling asleep. Stretching uncomfortably he made his way back towards the showers, plus he really had to take a piss.

He'd relieved himself and was walking back before he spotted the two, propped up in a corner as well, but tangled up like the couple. It was the most bizarre thing he'd ever seen, and he'd once watched Davey Gudgeon try to swallow an ostrich egg whole.

It's not like he could blame his brother wanting to use someone else as a pillow, and maybe the two really had been as exhausted as everyone and barely decided to get dressed before dropping to sleep where they were. He eyed the two for a few moments more before just walking off, Sirius had always been the odd one, and he'd been given the impression long before now werewolves could sleep in any environment, and they weren't to be woken up under any circumstances.

He cringed at his own thoughts as he stepped back down into the locker rooms, now thoroughly understanding better than ever why Sirius had flat out refused any more of their parents' lectures this past summer with a friend like that.

He went snooping, quietly, through the rest of the lockers proper now before finally coming across the book in Harry's. Appropriate enough at least, but he didn't feel like waking anyone else up yet as he settled back down on the floor and thought through the blank pages.

It was surprising, thinking back, that there was no 'mystery' going on in Harry's life this year, unlike the first four where attention had frequently been captured by trying to figure out who was attempting to murder this kid. Instead, that weapon had not been mentioned once since Grimmauld Place, so it was likely not at Hogwarts or Harry would have stumbled into some way to investigate that by now. Instead they'd been dealing with the horrid effects of Umbridge, and no matter who plotted what, nothing they said or did was getting rid of her.

Instead, his eyes wandered back to land on Alice and Longbottom curiously, and his stomach tightened in unease. He'd never really talked to girls, though there were a few in his year he thought pretty enough he would, but Regulus also knew his parents already had an arranged marriage set for him. As far as he knew they hadn't picked anyone yet, but it had been brought up once or twice and he hadn't asked further.

Sirius had already made it very clear he'd have no part in that, not that Regulus could really blame him when they'd made mention of him and Bellatrix at one point. That had made his skin crawl so bad he'd almost thought about excusing himself from dinner before just putting his spoon down and cringing at the following fight. He'd hide in the attic for a week after that one.

His eyes switched to Potter and Evans, any first-year knew the first had a huge crush on the latter, but also of the results. Regulus huffed and squirmed, now eyeing the book in his hands in distaste, he blamed this stupid thing for where his thoughts had jumped to. Harry's crush on Cho had been mentioned so often this year, and it was just confusing.

He momentarily considered going back in and kicking Sirius awake, but he still wasn't even sure if he wanted to talk to Sirius. It was starting to feel like he wasn't going to get much of a choice though. He liked talking to Peter, he'd actually say with confidence now he was probably the first friend he'd ever had considering he could barely talk about Quidditch with anyone from his house without someone inevitably trying to bring up the Dark Lord. He didn't know how Severus could stand his apparent double life where he'd so smoothly discuss this and then apparently go hang around Evans where they talked about Merlin knew what, but surely not that.

Peter was two years older than him though. Would it be too odd to ask him about something like this? It still felt like a question he should ask his brother, if he could stand talking to him again, he still wasn't sure of that. He still didn't want Sirius to just start talking to him just because they agreed on the Dark Lord now, he wanted his brother to talk to him like old times back before they'd even been to Hogwarts. That was still probably a childish dream he was clinging to.

Potter startled and crashed to the floor out of his own dream, groaning and cursing loudly enough everybody else began murmuring and looking around blearily for this disruption. It must have been loud enough to wake up Sirius and Lupin too, because the pages he'd been idly flipping through suddenly had a chapter title that caught his eye almost halfway through the book. Dumbledore's Army, how strange.

"You alright Prongs?" Sirius came bounding in, awake and aware as if he'd been there the whole time. "Sounded like someone was cutting your toes off."

"I'll get a pair of shears and do it to you, arse," he huffed, but his upside-down smile held no hint of a threat. Sirius at least seemed in a better mood today.

Regulus watched the two for a few more beats with longing, Sirius never joked around with him like that anymore. As he started reading about the trio's worry of Umbridge getting ahold of Harry's mail though and Sirius looked genuinely touched at their worry for a moment before loudly brushing that off, Regulus still felt more like getting up and kicking him in the shins for still being an idiot.

At least he and everyone cheered the Gryffindor team was officially back in action, even if it was ruined only moments later by that arrogant little muggle-born accusing Sirius of living vicariously through those teenagers.

"Hey," Sirius looked genuinely hurt for the snub, and Regulus had to remind himself Sirius was glaring at the book like that, not at him, again.

"It's not as if you discouraged them," Evans huffed, rubbing her neck in the corner. "I don't blame her for thinking like that."

Regulus looked to her in confusion, turning her words over in his head as he realized, did she not think that of him? She actually hadn't been yelling and telling them off nearly as much lately now that he thought about it.

He still avoided the argument as much as he could, or at least didn't want to live through two at once, as Harry properly defended his godfather and the whole thing was interrupted by Peeves and Katie Bell starting a miniature war.

Even as he kept going though, right into this locker room and the boys preparing for a practice, Regulus kept absently watching the three and saw none of them had really taken Hermione's comment to heart. It was heartening they really did seem to not be judging Sirius anymore, especially after that last awful thing these books had implied he'd done.

Remus finally came out of the bathroom himself, waiting until Regulus took a pause for breath before flushing the toilet, and having splashed around the water in the sink far longer than he needed to, but still rubbing the heel of his hand into his eyes like he'd only just crawled off the floor. Sirius and James were now snooping through the rest of the lockers and had come across the little orange pill that had apparently put boils where no human would want them.

"Dare you to eat it Moony!" Sirius said as if he'd been there the whole time.

"I'm sure my physiology isn't so unique I wouldn't get those boils too," he grimaced in disgust.

Regulus looked at him in surprise, but it was Evans who piped up in confusion, "what's that supposed to mean?"

He went a little red around the face again, even his smile looked more forced than friendly, but he also didn't immediately shy behind Sirius or Potter like usual as he tried to answer, "ah, some things don't affect me like they do others, I don't get common colds, and certain potions have strange effects on me."

Sirius reached over and popped him on the neck, but lightly, there was no force in the gesture or in his teasing tone. "I thought when you threatened to lecture them, you were going to start with something more interesting than that."

Peter's mouth was hanging open slightly, and Potter was watching the two like someone really was fixing to go at them with garden shears.

It wasn't having much of a good effect on their intended person anyways, Frank scrunched up his face in dislike that apparently some of the texts were true then and werewolves really were other. What else was so different about him that half-breeds needed post scripts about potions?

Lily though found what he'd said fascinating, she'd never have guessed at such a thing and now burned with the desire to ask just how many potions, which exactly, and what quantities he'd taken to know such a thing? She suddenly recalled that wolfsbane potion all the way back from the third book, and her eyes lit in delight as she half asked, half accused, "that wolfsbane potion though, did you know what that was?"

"No," he said honestly, "I've never heard a thing about that, but I also said it was something new in that time."

She nodded in fairness, but was already formulating a list of ingredients in her head, she'd have to ask him specifically if he knew which did and didn't have this effect on him. Was this why he was such a lazabout in potions? She would have wanted to know every detail of this if it were her.

James shifted about uneasily, when had Remus and Sirius decided on this approach? He didn't like the way Longbottom was still looking anywhere but at Remus, and now Evans was apparently going to start scrutinizing him like she would a potions text.

Regulus exchanged a bewildered look with Peter, who merely shrugged. Remus had been comfortable with them for years though to discuss this, but seeing him try to do it with the others was bizarre and he had no idea what to make of it. Regulus went back to reading rather than letting the awkward silence linger, all the way up to something thoroughly distracting, Harry's scar burning once more, and he knew it to be because the Dark Lord was angry about something.

He shivered through the following exchange between Harry and Ron over this, feeling like he needed another shower already by the end. The idea of having to deal with someone else's mood because of a cursed scar was just creepy, let alone who exactly Harry was connected to!

Regulus's stomach continued to swill with unease as Harry continued to brood over everything this could mean. At least whatever that weapon was still seemed to be out of the wrong side's hands, but as he fell asleep over his homework worrying about this, and Sirius, and even that strange dream of a locked door again, and the entire confusing mess of his life, it was almost a relief to get interrupted by Dobby turning back up with Hedwig.

He stopped at the small interruption and glanced up to see nobody looked very distracted. This, thing, between Harry and You-Know-Who was just plain weird, and kept getting more so as time went on. Regulus's eyes flitted to Lupin and back to the book though as he decided they weren't doing any good sitting around worrying about it. This had been done to Harry, the poor guy was just suffering through the consequences.

The house-elf was admittedly a very good distraction, as Harry confessed his problem of spacing issues with his group, and the elf seemed to have an answer for this? Muttering broke out amongst all the older students, but Regulus watched carefully and saw it was all amazement and curiosity, no recognition though, so kept going loudly and even bouncing a bit at the end as Harry got a message to where this would be taking place, and finally described how to get in.

"This is amazing!" Potter squealed, dancing on the spot like he was fighting the urge to wrench that away from him now, and Regulus held it a little tighter to his chest. "I can't believe, how did we never, Merlin's pants!"

"You never knew about this either?" Evans looked genuinely astounded he was admitting such a thing.

"You just heard Harry check the map, of course we didn't!" He seemed so stunned at this new development, he seemed to miss the one going on right in front of him of Evans actually asking a question directly to him.

"The Room of Requirements, can you imagine all the possibilities?" Sirius was practically drooling at the notion of this.

"It's even right on our floor, around the corner from our dorm apparently!" Peter bemoaned, leaning over his shoulder to get a look at this himself.

Nobody could stop themselves muttering in delight at this new discovery right in Hogwarts they could actually go to right now if any of them had still been mad enough to bother trying a door. Regulus sighed as he glared at it again for the first time in ages, wishing he had free rein so he could sprint up there right now, but finally conceded and read out over everyone to keep getting as close as he could to this place in the meantime.

It was of some mild comfort to the Marauders the twins were even in their seventh year now and apparently had never come across this place either as anything other than a one-way broom cupboard, according to them anyways as Filch hadn't been able to get it open but they'd left, and the four exchanged hopeful looks maybe in their last two years something similar would have happened to them as well by then, it was driving them nuts they'd have left the school and never even gotten a hint of this.

James pulled his map out and eyed right where he'd put it in, then he paused and considered to himself if they even should. Since they now knew exactly where it was, it would function the same as the rest. He'd have to add the charm telling how to activate the location, but that would take seconds. He smiled and rubbed his thumb over the spot as he listened to Harry in there, being a brilliant teacher he wouldn't deny, and how his boy was doing so much good for his fellow students.

He glanced up to see Remus and Sirius with their heads close together, laughing at how the name of this group came about. He looked over and saw Peter and Regulus laughing about mock dueling each other later, and then Frank and Alice beaming and cooing at Neville's first disarming charm on Harry.

Finally he looked up and saw that even Evans was enjoying all of this, laughing quietly at Harry's disjointed interactions with Cho while combing out her hair with a brush she'd clearly nicked from one of the Chasers.

He tried to tell himself this was an improvement, it seemed the first time since all of this had started they were all feeling good about something. He still sighed and tried to brace himself as much as he could when Sirius's little brother warned the chapter was almost done.

HPHPHPHP

Sorry I'm not sorry, I've been rereading Text Talk by merlywhirls again for the twelfth time so wolfstar was on my mind, and that brought up some of the other couples, and a kids reaction to said couples. I regret nothing and hope you've been enjoying! Some more drama and trauma to come, promise.

I've definitely got a few locations coming up you guys won't see coming, but as always feel free to guess, it makes my day!

*This excerpt is both the scene from Sirius' POV and another lemon, I've got the lemon properly marked though. When you get to the L break that's when the lemon starts, if you just want to read Sirius' POV and not that when you flip to the link below.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/8677858/chapters/79844059

Chapter Text

To Stitches: I will totally get behind the idea that Regulus is asexual, but sadly the poor kid never lived long enough to figure it out. Personally I always liked the idea that neither Black would have had kids regardless and the line would have died with them, so it still fits.

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Frank groaned, already missing the towel bed back as he lay on the cold floor once more flat on his back. His leg was propped up uncomfortably on a chest, and it was only after his head stopped ringing did he realize it wasn't his whole body shaking, just that.

He jerked quickly away with a startled yelp, drawing Alice and Lily's attention at once. He watched carefully, but they were in an open office with no obvious danger in sight, the two girls circling around a desk to get to him.

He didn't recognize it, but found himself unsurprised who did when the explanation came.

"I didn't even know Madam Hooch had an office," the older Black was tapping his chin and circling curiously on the spot. "Where in the castle would that be?" They were on the ground floor he was certain, bright sun streaming in through a window that directly showed the Quidditch pitch's entrance, but none of them really paid enough attention to her when she was refereeing to notice if she came and went from any door in particular down here.

"I've heard of it at least," Frank grumbled, now eyeing the chest in understanding, everybody knew the Quidditch balls were in here in between games to stop with tampering, and were returned here after practice so teams couldn't do anything in the meantime. It was probably the bludgers trapped inside that gave him a fright.

He smiled at Alice and Lily and told them, "did you know this is probably the most guarded office in the whole castle, even better than Dumbledore's. I once heard a Ravenclaw tried to sneak in here for her team to get at those, and no matter what she tried, she couldn't get in."

The younger Black came out of an adjacent door stretching, a bed beyond him showed this was also her room compounded.

"I've never heard that," Alice laughed.

"But I believe it," Lily rolled her eyes as she looked around in exasperation.

"Must be a Quidditch chapter!" Potter hooted in delight, shouting the summoning spell first. The chest went zooming across the office, Potter yelping in shock and ducking just in time as it sailed over his head and crashed into the wall behind him. Frank was now even more grateful he'd moved when he had the chance or he would have gone with that thing.

He tried to pry it open, but the lock on it would not give. Muttering in disdain, he went circling around the desk and went rummaging through it with no care for some keys, throwing things pell-mell in his wake.

"And here I thought this was the one place you'd show some restraint," Lily sighed as she spoke to him and had to dodge a magazine lobbed near her. "Madam Hooch is the only adult in this place you lot actually use her title for."

To everyone's utter disbelief, he ignored her and abandoned the desk to go into the room instead.

Every eye in the room turned to Sirius for explanation, and he quickly scrambled to hide his face wasn't as shocked as everyone else's, muttering audibly about body snatchers as he followed and keeping the building shame to himself.

How had he not realized the last time he'd talked to Prongs something had been on his mind? Sure he'd been distracted by having some fun with Moony, and then Longbottom just confirmed he was an arse, plus the mess with Regulus and Peter, not to mention the entire mess that was this future every time his name came up, but still, it bothered him greatly if James had somehow fallen through the cracks by not even registering if his best friend wanted to talk about something during all of that!

He walked in the room brazenly, determined to put Prongs in a headlock until he told whatever his problem was, but he'd already found the keys in a side drawer next to the bed and was trying to skip past him just as fast.

Sirius seized the back of his robes and kicked the door shut instead.

"The hell Padfoot?" James yelped in surprise, turning to him in genuine confusion. "Quidditch?!" It really would have been all the explanation needed under other circumstances, even he'd been distracted from Evans when one of their games was coming up, but Sirius wasn't buying that this time.

"Sure that's the only thing on your mind? I know there's not space up there for much else, but I'm just checking," he frowned, still casting his mind back to try and place when this could have started and still kicking himself violently he really couldn't say the last time Prongs had spoken up what was on his mind.

"I, err," he met his eyes uneasily and still glanced longingly at the door. "I was, just," finally he huffed and put it as bluntly as he could. "I was trying to give everyone some space, thought that's what you wanted."

Sirius looked stunned stupid, and James found himself just as confused as him now.

"What on Earth gave you that impression?" He demanded, glowering back at the door with a now familiar look that made James exhausted just recognizing it.

"You, you idiot," he said quickly. Sirius opened his mouth to protest so James continued with a halfhearted shrug, "I get a lot's been going on with you lately, I've been dead through all this so it's not like I know how it feels to be hearing about this future version of me, and you've been talking to Moony about it 'cause, he's alive, I guess, and I'm glad you two are friends again, honestly, but ever since you two have been talking to each other again," he stopped and rubbed at his temple, thinking that had come out all wrong.

Sirius wished a pit would swallow him whole already. Was he just cursed to ruin everyone's life? He really hadn't considered any of that at all!

The two were interrupted by a tentative knock on the door, and then it opening anyways and Remus shoving Peter inside.

Sirius had half a mind to kick the two out, he clearly needed to have a chat with his best mate, but Remus quickly intervened by smiling at the two and saying cheerily, "oh good, we weren't interrupting."

Peter laughed awkwardly, still eyeing the door like he wasn't even sure if he was supposed to be in here. Just because they didn't want to kill him now didn't make him automatically think he was invited back just like that.

James tapped the jangling key ring against his hip with nerves as he realized this was the first alone moment they'd gotten in a very long time, and they all just stood there awkwardly now. He was really starting to believe nothing was going to be the same anymore, and he looked miserably at the door and tried to stammer some half-hearted excuse to leave.

Sirius startled him by throwing his arm over his shoulder like old times, and then tightening around his throat in that choke hold that meant he wasn't going anywhere.

"Look, I'm sorry Moony and I didn't share our brilliant idea to try and get those others to relax around him by making a few more furry little jokes in front of them," Sirius said honestly, bouncing on his toes a bit and making James squirm all the more uncomfortably under his arm.

"Our?" Remus frowned at him, but Sirius ignored him and kept going.

"It, err, was a bit spur of the moment, and look, we really should have, but look, we-"

"It's not like I disagree," James nodded now that he understood, finally wrangling out of his grasp. "Just, I'd have liked a little warning."

"Sorry Prongs," the two said together, Remus adding, "I just, I saw an opportunity and went for it before I chickened out."

"Don't be ridiculous Moony," Sirius snorted, "you'd rooster out, and even then, it certainly wasn't a full moon, you had too much energy."

He stopped with a remorseless laugh as Remus shoved him. James smiled at the display as he told himself that whatever had happened, he was glad for it. If things had changed enough that Remus got through to him but he couldn't anymore, well, it's not the first change that had happened, and probably wouldn't be the last. He'd adjust...

Peter laughed in surprise at the idiots again, and then Sirius lunged without warning and snatched the keys away from Prongs, darting for the door himself now. James pounded after him shouting profanities, and the two barely had time to get out of the way of the door as the two began pushing and shoving each other, laughing madly by trying to get back to the trunk first.

James finally tackled Sirius to the floor, and the two went rolling around for several minutes before he came up victorious with the keys once more and finally retrieved his prize.

Sirius just grinned and threatened to release the bludgers on him if he didn't get started.

Remus stayed leaning against the door jam with a fond smile as Prongs read out The Lion and the Serpent, and wasn't even surprised when Peter wandered back over to Regulus and the two began smiling about the feeling Harry carried of his pride in the DA group.

He still winced internally as the root of the problem definitely hadn't been solved, they hadn't even seemed to realize Peter hadn't gotten a word in, again, but they weren't looking traitorously at him anymore as he went off. He didn't know if that marked a good thing that they had faith he'd come back if needed, or if he really wouldn't try to be a part of their group anymore. He seemed like he still wanted to be, having knocked and all, but Remus wasn't any better just shoving him like that, he scolded himself far too late. Would an apology just sound dumb so long after the fact?

Sirius finally seemed delighted to fix one problem right now though, as he stayed attentive at James's shoulder, trying to read with him and the two chatting loudly about the brilliance of Hermione's coin system.

As talk of Quidditch was built up and the two were louder than ever, she turned back to Frank and the three of them continued their much quieter conversation.

"I know you didn't mean anything by it darling, and you apologized right away," she squeezed his hand once more, "but I know you've been uneasy from him since all this came out, and it seems like he's trying a bit now. Can't you do the same?"

"It's not that simple," he wasn't even sure how he had to explain this to her, it still baffled him he seemed the only one with this problem. It's not like he'd been the only one in that cage, the mad animal having to be pinned down to stop from killing them, yet they'd gone back to acting like that never happened, that it couldn't happen again before all this was up. "Telling myself that and still doing it just aren't," he waved his other hand vaguely, but turned to watch him again. Seeing him now laugh along at Ron's inept yet impressive Quidditch save of accidentally kicking a Quaffle across the field into a goal post was the most normal thing anyone could do, but he doubted this would be the first thing his brain thought of if any of them had copious amounts of blood while in his vicinity again.

"I think Alice was right before though, maybe it would do us some good to, talk to them more," Lily paused with an eye roll as Crabbe and Goyle were announced as the new Beaters for the Slytherin team and the boys were mocking this. "At least, maybe when they stop being idiots about this game later."

Both of them watched her in surprise, she certainly hadn't agreed moments ago when Alice had said such a thing.

Lily just shrugged, waving vaguely at Lupin as well. "Couldn't hurt, maybe we've had them pegged wrong all this time, I know they've surprised me more than once during all this."

"I, yeah I guess," he sighed. "What are we even supposed to talk to them about? I'm with Lily, you know neither of us are the biggest Quidditch fans," he needlessly informed Alice.

"Oh, I'm sure we'll come up with something," Alice answered him with a beaming smile, leaning forward and planting a kiss on his cheek, before standing up properly and now sitting on the desk, joining the others in their disgusted shouts of this new low by the opposing team of making a full song about the Weasleys' life just to mess with them while the game was in full swing.

Lily and Frank exchanged an exasperated look, but still decided they'd wait for a better opportunity and began discussing games they wished they could be playing in a much more normal volume, like Gobstones. No one ever almost died playing that. The two did stop in outrage when Malfoy lost the game, and continued further insulting Harry now, even dragging Lily into it with more crude language.

She pursed her lips and couldn't say she blamed Harry or George attacking Malfoy, she'd curse anyone who called her that. She'd mostly forgiven Regulus for once doing the same, especially as he hadn't ever since that one time, and he'd only technically laughed along rather than out right saying it. She'd caught Sev even laughing at some cruel jokes before looking apologetically at her and changing the subject, insisting it was just force of habit from having to pretend around the others in his year.

Regulus's moment with his brother back in their house, each expressing they didn't want the other dead, was honestly the first step any of them had seen he'd even been willing to change. More than her own best friend had ever made, he wouldn't even say with any force he'd stop hanging around that awful lot.

The dragon bogies really hit the wind when McGonagall dragged the two up to her office for a telling off, but even though however much of that was deserved varied per person, Umbridge's arrival and banning Harry and the twins from said sport met a deadly silence from all.

"Well that sucks," Frank finally spoke into the heavy air.

Lily gave a nervous kind of laugh beside him, still watching all of them as if she expected someone to blow up any second.

"As if we didn't have reason enough to kill her before all this," Lupin said with an ugly scowl, then shot a guilty look at him, and Frank almost wanted to laugh at himself; Alice had been right already, he agreed with him. He still hadn't quite gotten over his fear of what this woman would do to Neville and the rest of the DA if she found out about that, but it would likely be the same if not something crueler as this woman carving up Harry's hand, and now stepping in from his own head of house and dueling out such punishments as lifelong bans.

Potter finally kept going with that same cold, calculating look in his eye Frank was now all too familiar with, but he'd help along with any plan these guys came up with to keep this woman from ever entering their school, let alone getting as far along in life as she had when they got back.

It was only in the last line of the chapter did any good news seem on the horizon, Hagrid was finally back.

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You guys will never see the next chapter coming...

Chapter Text

The thick clouds allowed flickering, heavy light down into the valley below while the scream echoed all around.

Regulus groaned, wondering at the miracle they hadn't all broken their necks with every toss around they got as he found himself laying out haphazardly on several sharp rocks on a very rickety pile of more disheveled earth that would probably go down if he breathed on it wrong. He eyed a much more stable-looking bit a good jump away, but still hesitated to move, especially as he had no idea where the others were. The sharp gust of wind that buffeted him wasn't giving him much choice, he took off at a run as the ground began shaking beneath him.

His feet lost purchase, he tried to jump the rest of the distance in vain, and found himself scrabbling maddly for any kind of hold, legs kicking wildly and a panicked scream already ripping up his throat. The clouds flashed away again, giving him just enough time to catch at a misshapen divot in the earth that looked like someone with jagged nails had scooped it clean away, and made his hand a bloody mess as he snagged it and finally pulled himself onto even ground, avoiding the hole that had saved his life.

He lay face down for a long time, panting and shaking, probably having pissed himself, cradling his injured hands that were possibly broken, though his whole body was a sore mess so it was hard to tell what the worst of it was.

He didn't remember screaming, but someone must have been drawn to him. "Reg! Regulus," it was a call of recognition, so he didn't have the energy to bother rolling over, someone did that for him.

It was Peter, his face was ghastly, and Regulus's eyes flickered curiously around himself again. He hadn't been so out of it he shouldn't have heard him approaching, and he was still on a very rocky ledge that had no visible ways of climbing in this tricky light, how had Peter scaled up and down so fast- oh right.

"Where is, what-" Peter was shaking him a bit while patting him down as if looking for an injury while also looking all around carefully, and Regulus just groaned and pressed his face to his chest, he didn't know what he was trying to ask, he was too exhausted.

The two jerked at once though when they heard the scream, and Regulus forced himself to sit up properly and take in everything again. It was female, they could hazard that guess, but Evans or Alice they couldn't tell. They were not in Hogsmeade, these mountains were too big, too old, and the valley that kept flickering below in the bright moonlight held no hint of familiarity to any of them.

Peter squeezed his shoulder, and then gently eased him back away, going and standing dangerously on the edge as he continued to look for something. "Stay here, alright, he won't bother making this climb."

"What?" Regulus tried to slur in confusion, but a horrible realization was already creeping up on him.

"Stay here," Peter said again, with such authority Regulus let his butt get very comfortable as Peter vanished again, only the hint of a long bald tail visible for a moment before that too vanished.

At first Lily thought they were back in Hogsmeade somewhere, but she was fairly certain there was no lake this big down by those mountains, nor did she really think the fuzzy, mossy something she went slipping around on that squelched oddly beneath her shoes and caused said scream could have happened around Hogwarts, so it was with great trepidation she hauled herself free of the water with no clue what else was waiting. When she splashed onto shore, she didn't even try to hide her relief as Potter came sprinting up to her, a look of stark concern on his face.

"I, thought it was, a boulder, at first-" she panted in exertion as he skidded to a stop beside her, looking around wildly for the danger. She pointed a shaking finger back, where the ripped head was just visible in the dark water. He didn't even look where she pointed. Instead he grabbed her arm and began pulling her with such strength, she half expected to be lifted clean off her feet as he got them running.

Alice found herself staring blearly at a hastily put out gigantic firepit. The logs were still smoking, and dripping wet, and she coughed heavily as she tried to scramble away, only managing a few feet before she found herself in the open night, her mind still too hung on how someone had practically been burning six nearly tree-sized logs in that huge thing to really figure out the danger as she spotted someone groaning and hunched in on themselves not too far away.

"Frank?" She called in concern, jogging over regardless of who it was, they were shaking and her concern spiked higher when they didn't even seem to acknowledge her. That was not her boyfriend though, the build was all wrong, she'd already figured out as she got within arm's reach, but then she heard a horrible snapping noise start to occur, and came to a cold stop as she realized Remus Lupin wasn't dying.

"No," the moan was the last intelligible thing that would be forced out of his throat this night, as his eyes, already half mad, began pinning in on her.

He was already nearly doubled in size, his jaw forming first, teeth flashing and snout scenting the air. His skin was still twitching like live bugs beneath the surface before silver fur began sprouting out, but the bones in his limbs and torso were still snapping and cracking loud as fireworks.

She didn't scream. She did draw her wand, but not for any defence she knew full well wouldn't work, instead she spun on the spot almost calmly, a crystal clear image in her mind for a plan as she took off back for the mouth of the cave at a dead run.

A howl finally pierced the night as she pointed her wand, her voice didn't even shake as she said, "Locomotor Lignum." The damp, half-dead and burned trees would make a pathetic barrier, but the last one stacked itself in front of the entrance just as something huge slammed into it, already causing half of them to tremble and shake in place. "Colloportus," she shot next, but was already backing away into the darkness behind her. It was a choice between spelunking this unknown alone, or hoping that spell that was supposed to seal a door shut worked on her makeshift contraption that wasn't technically a door, and she wasn't going to sit around and find out as she imagined him already rearing up to try again.

She was right to run, as Moony's now fully extended jaws and claws began tearing away at the obstacle, the magic only slowing him, not stopping. He muscled his way into a gap, and began shoving and forcing himself through, not caring for the way his fur and body strained painfully as the smell was too enticing. His head and a whole front limb went through before a painful shoot of pain did stop him, and he pulled himself out snarling viciously at whatever had just bit his tail.

Padfoot stood there, hackles raised. Moony huffed in derision and kicked at him before turning back, only vague recognition and the promise of food was more tempting, but then the black dog tried to do it again, and Moony found himself distracted by fury as he turned on him instead, chasing and snapping at his heels in retaliation.

Moony was faster, but Padfoot was more agile, taking sharp turns and calculated jumps while his pursuer only knew to keep up, not watch out. By the time Moony grew tired of his pursuit, he had to stop and scent the air again for his prey, and then huffed in frustration it seemed gone. He instead found something of the most mild commodities in the air instead, and loped easily around, Padfoot now following at his side as if nothing had happened.

The two found themselves howling in unison as they turned it into a race, Padfoot easily spotting below what Moony's goal was. He wouldn't lie, Padfoot found this almost freeing. It was the most they'd been able to just run in so long now. Their muscles bunched and released with exhilaration, the flickering shadows meant little to their sharp senses, the ground was nothing beneath their feet. Moony finally came to a stop, not even panting, but dipping his head down and began drinking deeply from the lake.

Neither let their guard down so much that they didn't swing around at something approaching, but both relaxed at the same time as they recognized Prongs at the opposite end of the lake. Padfoot had always been Moony's favorite visitor, the other two were simply creatures that weren't edible, but the large black dog was as close to pack as he'd ever known in his life. Moony seemed in an oddly good mood tonight though, as he not only huffed in recognition, but also began his way over with his tail high as if looking for another chase.

Prongs bellowed a warning though, lowering his weapons and scraping the ground in challenge.

Only now did Padfoot understand why he hadn't simply come over to join them. He caught just the faintest hint of Evans's scent in the air, and knew her to be hiding somewhere nearby. Shoving Moony with all his weight, he redirected his course to the closest precipice instead, and Moony let himself be distracted once more, now sniffing the air for something much better to whet his appetite, the bloody water satiating his tongue well enough he found no hint of the red head for now amongst Prongs's heavy scent.

Prongs grunted in concern from behind watching them depart alone, but Padfoot only needed to glance behind once and let his tongue lull out for a moment to promise a safe return, he should definitely stay where he was.

They began their rocky ascent just as the book finally began, Hagrid's Tale. Padfoot huffed for the fortuitous location they were in fact where Hagrid had been all this time, and not back in his cabin. Only the most aware part of his mind recognized it was his brother reading, and for the first time Sirius allowed some part of himself to be grateful that Peter would have sought him out, would be helping him stay low and keep an eye on him until they got out of this.

The two raced up the sharp incline too, but the rocks growing serrated beneath their feet and the steep ascent soon wore them both out before they'd even gone halfway. Moony began bounding down instead, but perpendicular to the way they'd come up. He kept tasting the air all the time, and Padfoot realized he was attempting to leave the heavy perfume of giants all around them.

When they were back on even terrain  once more there was half a mountain behind them and the lake where he knew Evans and Alice were. He had no idea where Regulus and Peter could be, but he tried to assure himself that they must somehow still be either upwind or too far away. It bothered him he hadn't a single clue where Longbottom could be around here, but he'd probably spotted the problem before anyone and attempted to bury himself underground first thing.

Sadly, Moony couldn't go another whole stride before he slammed into the barrier, and snarled in frustration. He took off at a quick lope parallel to the invisible barrier perfectly instead, and by the time they'd nearly circled halfway around the outside of the valley Padfoot even began to relax at the intoxicating exhilaration of running just to run.

Moony ran on instincts, one more powerful than any others. Feed. He'd never actually done so though. He did hear things, like the words echoing all around them describing this place that he kept trying to veer away from as much as the scent of the predators he knew instinctively to avoid. The voice did not connect to him in a way that mattered, for it was not screaming. The wind whipped viciously in all directions, buffeting new scents across his nose barely before he had time to sample them, but none of them were familiar, the dark forest he'd run about in for some time now. It was better than the last place he'd woken up in though, the screams he'd heard for the first time in his life, the blood that he did not crave but only drove him more wild to have what was right there.

It was only because he was trying to recall the exact smell of it to savor that he found just a tease of it in the air, and turned eagerly back towards the mountains.

Padfoot listened with absent disinterest as Hagrid's story wound down, no giants would be joining their cause, and the gamekeeper's injuries went unexplained. Then Umbridge intruded, and he let a thundering growl rattle out of him in disgust.

It was that one second of distraction that allowed Moony to change course, and Padfoot to only follow for a few paces before scenting the air himself to see what had caused it. Then his own instincts kicked in, a beat too late.

Padfoot lunged for his jowls, but even before his loose grip had sunk in Moony was lashing out with his opposite paw and caught such a sharp blow in his ribcage, the sound snapped around them and blood began leaking from the black belly.

The dog fell to the ground, stunned and whimpering, but Prongs wasn't here to get him to back off, and now Padfoot could smell it too, and it wasn't his blood Moony was now advancing on with salivating determination.

Not again.

He would not allow Remus to even think he'd come close to killing when all this was over. Moony was not going to so much as look at Longbottom tonight.

Padfoot gathered his strength, and pounced, tackling Moony off course just long enough to lock his own canines into his hind leg, and held tight.

Moony howled in outrage, twisting and lashing out with teeth and claws to be released, but Padfoot just held firm, he couldn't have let go now even if he wanted to, which no part of him did as whimpers and cries began searing from his own throat as every tear after bite went into his left side unrelenting.

A part of his mind absently wondered if he was going to tear Moony's leg right off. The rest of him wondered if there was going to be anything left to shred away as his vision began tunneling black. He missed the tiny little body that appeared out of nowhere and bit down with oversized teeth right onto Moony's ear, which distracted him only long enough to toss his head and howl again.

Padfoot did not even seem aware of his own high-pitched cries continuing that drew Prongs's stampeding forward, head bowed and tackling the two apart.

Frank watched the whole thing from seven feet away, but it wasn't his bleeding leg or even bars holding him in place anymore. His pursuit to find Alice was not forgotten, but he also didn't have to worry anymore that she was the one in danger as the chapter concluded, and they were all uprooted once more.

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Did you really think Moony would only show up once during this series, at the most dramatic moment possible? Oh no, I'm going to have a bit more fun with this through the rest of these books.

Fun fact, I was actually going to have it be Moony and Prongs running around in the Triwizard Maze, but as that has an actual date stamped on it I couldn't justify it. This day however, had no such restrictions.

Chapter Text

To Stitches: You weren't exactly right in your guess, but I hope you like the location anyways. Thanks so much for always reviewing and engaging, it always makes my day!

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No one even had the chance to scream as they all landed in a very small room, and more importantly, watched the transformation happen in reverse in rapid succession. Moony had barely gotten to his feet before Remus stood in place, and that only lasted long enough for his eyes to roll back into his head and he fell to the floor, unconscious and naked. The other two animals vanished with much less fanfare, a little pop and only one was left.

Peter rolled off the bed he hadn't even registered he'd been on, blanket in hand to cover him, while all eyes instead turned to the still whimpering dog splayed out on the floor in a puddle of black and red.

Not an ear had been saved from his cries in those echoing mountains, even Alice who hadn't dared turn on a light once she'd been able to go no further in the disturbingly small cave.

James was already knelt over him, speaking fervently the spells they usually used on Moony until his high-pitched keening finally subsided, eyes still half-lidded. Too in pain from the burning wounds to get comfortable to sleep, too exhausted to even take in this new place.

Prongs sat on the ground to pull and rearrange gently so that Padfoot's large head was cushioned on his thigh, sprawled out on his lap and still halfheartedly whimpering. "Everyone's okay, don't worry," he crooned as if to an infant, one hand kneading gently at the scruff of his neck, the other tucking away his wand and turning a gentle palm over his spine and down his legs to make sure he hadn't missed anything. Finally his heavy breathing evened out, but James still winced and held him tighter as his hand came away covered in so much blood.

He'd healed the gashes and mended the broken bones, even the internal damage should have sown itself back together, but he did not know the spell to help with blood loss or even if there was one other than a potion they had no hopes of getting the ingredients for. They'd only ever learned enough to help ease Remus of the worst of it until Madam Pomfrey arrived, and despite the dangers of running with a werewolf, only a few bites and scrapes ever came of it as he never had any interest in fighting them for dominance, let alone trying to eat them. Nothing ever this serious.

He snorted softly at his own train of thought, letting his hand rest gently against the beating heart. He'd be alright, he had to be. He'd sleep it off, they'd get some food into him and Alice, everyone would be fine, they just had to survive this.

"How long will he have to, be like that?" James looked up in surprise, his eyes finally taking in where exactly they were, and his heart thudding for a moment in shock as he realized it was just Regulus in front of him, wide-eyed and curious once more.

"Um, probably should be for a day or so," he answered, distracted as he looked around properly. A large queen-sized bed dominated the room, a thick, crochet blanket still clung to the foot of the bed that Peter was eyeing like he wanted to rip that off too, the quilt covering Moony also looked homespun. A pair of thin, wire-framed glasses sat on the table behind him, and the black book rested on the opposite nightstand, but otherwise there didn't seem much décor to speak of. "A lot of saliva got into the wounds-" he stopped and winced heavily, that was going to burn worse than the original wounds, not to mention scar. "Just, better safe than sorry, he'll work it out of his system and be back to normal in no time. So long as he stays Padfoot, there won't be any problems."

Regulus didn't seem to question any of this, but instead reached his hand out tentatively, brushing his fingers across the crown of his skull. The dog's thick fur felt surprisingly soft. Lupin had said they helped like he'd never believe, and damn if that didn't make more sense than ever right now... "Where did everyone else go?" Potter asked, his eyes on the open door behind him.

"Alice was hoping to find a bathroom, said something about a potions kit if they were lucky, but it leads into a scullery. I don't know more than that." Longbottom had been limping and she'd been anxious to mend that, werewolf in his vicinity or not. Evans had hovered and kept watching Potter, but she'd backed out of the room. He hadn't been able to do more than turn his head slightly to see it all, eyes still trained on his brother.

James sighed, they probably should check that out just to be safe. The last thing they needed was yet another surprise in some stranger's house. Gently nudging until Padfoot was off his lap and apologizing quietly as the soft whimpers started up again, he went over to Peter and grabbed Moony's feet in the burrito of blankets he was still in, the dried blood on it already covering Peter's own spells to heal the damage done to his leg, the majority of which had probably already healed with the transformation anyways. Anything other than a werewolf's own bite never lasted long.

Peter supported under his arms as they got him onto the bed, and then the two repeated this on Padfoot. He did awaken, stirring and huffing, but a few gentle words calmed him and his bright gray eyes lit with understanding, as he went slack in their grip until the mattress was beneath him. They watched as he nuzzled up against Remus's legs and curled into a ball still trembling slightly, Peter finally taking the quilt and throwing it over him before joining the other two at the door, but leaving it open behind them, just in case.

The washroom at least didn't seem very threatening. There was a bathroom door ajar, but his eyes focused on the stack of freshly laundered wizard's robes sitting in a wicker basket, and James peeked into the cupboard above this to find several threadbare pants and shirts. He dug around for a moment before selecting one of each that should fit Remus, then shrugged and went through them again looking for some for himself. There seemed to be a bit of a variety to his surprise, and wondered how many people lived here. He set those aside for now to keep going though.

The answer came when he followed the two into a very familiar kitchen. He'd only been in it once, but it had been a memorable experience.

"Oh good, you stayed awake," Alice called from the stove. She didn't have the red hair, but she easily reminded him of Mrs. Weasley, the amount of times he'd pictured her here in her home turf.

"Was too keyed up," he admitted, but even to his own ears his voice dragged a bit. They'd only been awake two hours at best since their last lie down, but the night caused a bone-deep weariness in him like they'd just spent a whole twenty-four hours dealing with Moony again.

"Here then," Lily got up from the table and offered him a plate covered with sausages already half-drowned in syrup. "I'm sure they won't mind," she added with a smile.

A real, genuine, one could almost call it teasing smile. His brain shut down. His stomach sent a sizzling sensation tracing through every nerve ending in his body. "I, um," he took the offered plate on autopilot looking her dead in the eye, and she let the smile linger as she went back to the table, sitting back down next to Frank as she went back to her fried potatoes and tomatoes.

Silence hung in the kitchen for several long moments as he stood there like he'd been clubbed over the head. Peter and Regulus went forward and began helping themselves to the feast and had dug in for several moments and he still hadn't moved. Peter bit into his eggs with a little too much gusto to stop himself from laughing. Remus and Sirius were going to die they'd missed this. He cleared his throat and directed at anyone who would answer, "so, since when can we leave the room we landed?"

"We could back in the Divination classroom from Trelawney's office," Regulus kindly reminded, but they'd had a lot going on during that time, so he wasn't surprised this detail hadn't been acknowledged in a while. "Maybe we could even before that, but none of us tried to get back inside the Dursleys' home." He was personally glad nobody had tried in Grimmauld place either, someone probably would have died if they'd tried traversing that whole house at once.

"No one tried to leave the Gryffindor dorms to see if we could go into the common room," Alice added. She was kicking herself a bit she hadn't realized the Dursleys' one specifically, her foot had been hanging out of the cat-flap door to Harry's room and she hadn't thought of trying to get the rest of herself out by just opening it?

Frank's eyes glazed over in thought for a moment before saying, "maybe we even could have left the locker rooms to go onto the Quidditch pitch, but I wonder if we couldn't still go beyond that. We can go up the staircase here, but only into Percy's room, none of the others."

"I can't help but wonder if it's because Charlie's room was given to a sibling we haven't gotten tossed into yet," Lily sighed.

"We still can't even get into their living room or the yard, so we still seem pretty confined, it's just slowly getting better," Frank shrugged.

"I'll take that," Lily said in delight.

"Molly does have a potions kit by the way," Alice added in kindly, scraping the last of the bacon onto a plate and bringing that to the table before digging in herself. James still hadn't moved. "I'm not surprised really she'd keep something like that on hand, with all these boys here. There were quite a few things in there Lily and Frank seemed excited over."

"Ditany," Frank nodded seriously.

"Some bubotuber pus," Lily stated.

"A bit of Wiggenweld Potion," Frank added.

"And some blood restorative," Alice finished, taking a hearty bite of a bacon and egg sandwich she'd put together. Clearly she spoke of that one from experience.

"We'll probably just have to nick the lot," Frank winced in shame for admitting this, even as he patted the little white box and cast Alice a smile of no regrets.

"We'll definitely find some way to pay them back if, you know, if it's actually gone or something for real in their time, or whatever," Lily stated in no uncertain terms for the wonky sentence.

"Great," James finally snapped out of his reverie, but then set the plate on the counter even as he still hadn't taken his eyes off of her. "I should, probably give that to them now, they'll sleep even better."

She nodded without surprise, going back to eating her food with far more investment than should really be needed as she gave it a little push in his direction.

Peter stuffed one last bite of eggs into his mouth and followed him, stopping to pick up the clothes left out, James coming in with the tiny vial of blue potion, still full from someone having the forethought already to use a refill charm on it.

The four left in the kitchen didn't break the silence, not yet, as they all reflected how different things felt from the last time they'd been here.

It was hard to tell if the kitchen felt the same impact. Despite the fact that it was still night outside, it was blitheringly obvious this wasn't the same night they'd just left, let alone the day they'd been here last, yet nothing of consequence had changed that they could see. The clock with the Weasley's hands was still drifting aimlessly, the drawers were still overpacked with the same muggle paraphernalia. None of it yet answered the much less pressing question of how much they impacted each environment when they left it.

They weren't really surprised when the Marauders didn't come back, but none of them felt like trying to fall asleep either. Lily finally got up and snagged that deck of cards off the counter, the self-shuffling charm must have worn off, because she began doing so by hand and asking if anyone wanted to play a game.

"I've never heard of it," Regulus whispered quietly.

"Neither have I," Frank shrugged, helping Alice to stack up some plates and lead them to the sink which began cleaning them at once.

"I can teach you, it's really simple," she promised, and nobody argued after that.

Lily was the only one who spoke as she explained the game to the three of them, but they were all smiling just a bit at the mostly luck-based structure after only one practice hand and three real rounds. It only took five though before Frank was trying to stifle a yawn, and Alice was quick to make an excuse.

"Neither of you are tired yet?" She still confirmed.

"Not even a little bit," Lily shrugged.

"Nah," Regulus frowned, all thumbs as he tried shuffling the deck again, but it scattered across the table as his bridge collapsed. He couldn't even blame it on an injury, they'd kindly dabbed Wiggenweld Potion onto his sore fingers. His face puckered, but he leaned forward and quickly began pulling them all back to him to try again.

"Well, we're going to borrow Percy's bed for a bit then," she only barely blushed at saying this so casually, but they'd been doing it for practically this whole trip so most of the embarrassment had subsided long before now.

"Alright then," Lily did look up at them with clear curiosity, Alice didn't sound even the least bit sleepy, but offered her hand to Regulus to show him how to do it again instead of saying anything.

He handed it over wordlessly and watched her every move as she shuffled in slow motion.

The two held hands up the narrow staircase up to the second floor, slipping into Percy's room properly now, when they'd only opened the door before just to check if it would.

Here, it seemed, finally was some sort of answer that their passing through didn't have an affect. The bed was still properly made, when she knew for a fact they'd left the blankets in disarray from their springing upon it, and the bottle of ink Sirius had knocked over looked untouched. There was even more thick dust upon every surface.

One could argue somebody had just straightened up and abandoned the place again, but it was hard to fathom a motive for any of the Weasleys' doing so. They both had to cast Tergeo several times to get the room any kind of bearable, let alone sleep in without sneezing their noses off, but as the two crawled under the covers, Frank whispered in her ear, "I was faking that yawning you know."

Alice laughed in surprise as she nestled against his chest. "No, I hadn't suspected you of that." She ran the tips of her fingers across his palm for a few moments before whispering, "that's the first thing you've really said since we landed here."

Frank kissed her temple as he mulled over how to answer her. "I suppose I'd never stopped to consider, why exactly, those guys went and did something so wildly dangerous and illegal themselves to hang around a werewolf. I was more stuck on the man-eating monster bit to, ah, see the other aspects."

He grasped her fingers to get her to stop, that was starting to tickle. "I saw it out there though," he breathed into her ear, "what you and Lily seemed to instantly get. They care for each other, they'd die for each other, Sirius Black really was going to die to stop Lupin from getting to me." It should have been obvious long before now, but he really would admit now his prejudices had kept him pretty narrow minded on this. It wasn't Lupin's fault, he didn't want to hurt any of them, and those three Marauders knew that, everyone had figured that out before him. "Remus," he corrected, deciding if going through all that hadn't put them on first-name terms he didn't know what could.

She shivered at the idea of how close that must have been for him to have had such a good picture. The story had been easy enough to piece together, why else but her boyfriend bleeding would Padfoot have to restrain him with such ferocity? She hadn't exactly wanted details though. "I thought he was dying out there," she hadn't wanted to admit this, afraid it would only make him hate Remus more telling how close she'd been to him as well in such a dangerous time, but now she admitted, "he just looked, so in pain, right before," she stopped with another shiver at just the idea of having to go through something like that once a month. Then the heart wrenching cry of the animal, she'd been convinced Sirius Black was dying on the other side of that log barrier keeping the werewolf away and she'd done nothing to help.

Frank shivered with her, but then instantly relaxed and just held her tighter. "I don't think Lily was kidding about trying to invent that Wolfsbane potion even earlier," he added on. 

"No, I'd imagine she wasn't," she could hear the grin in his voice. She still held tight to him as guilt warred with practicality. She couldn't deny anymore Frank hadn't been all wrong either, they really could find themselves in 'Moony's' vicinity again at any time, but there must be some better option out there than his mates constantly taking a beating for them every time.

"Might help her with that," he muttered, thinking he definitely owed the guy more of an apology than that, but it was at least a start.

Lily and Regulus were both very much aware this was the most time they'd spent around each other period. There was no peril to avoid, no book to read, they were simply trapped in this room with only each other for company and a deck of cards.

The game simply gave their hands something to do, and they did have to concentrate on it a bit, but the awkward silence started to wane as Regulus really got the hang of it. By the tenth hand he was shuffling with moderate success and dealing out the cards like he'd done it countless times, and by the eleventh the two started to realize they may both have a bit of a competitive streak.

Regulus was finally the one to break the long stretch of silence as he managed to beat her for the first time, and her response was to sigh she shouldn't have taught him that move. "Who taught you how to play this?" He hoped his voice wasn't as stiff as it sounded to his own ears, and that she wouldn't realize same as him this was the first time he'd tried talking to a muggle-born.

Though technically, he had no idea what Peter's blood status was. He'd admitted once already he'd never met his father, and though he hadn't outright said it Regulus had sussed out from his home and a few lapses in knowledge of wizarding society over their talks his mother was a Muggle, so he was as good as a muggle-born in some people's eyes. He just didn't want to be one of those people anymore.

"My mum," she smiled at the memory, while doing several extra shuffles of the deck to make sure she didn't get that hand again. "My sister got very bored with it and didn't want to stay past the second time, so it became a thing with me and her, we'd play for hours," as she dealt out the next hand.

He found himself completely fascinated at nearly everything she'd just said. He wasn't unaware she had a sister, that Petunia Dursley deserved a far worse word than mudblood thrown at her, plus he still remembered that boggart they'd come across, but it was the way she spoke about her in past tense, like he kept thinking about Sirius.

There was also the fact that she'd done such a thing as play a game with her mum, did all parents do that, or was it a Muggle thing?

He thought over his words as he collected the new cards, but didn't think there was anything offensive in them. Still, he spoke cautiously as he arranged his hand, waiting for her to give him a dirty look any second so he would stop and not ruin this. "Me and Sirius used to play Three Brothers, but not since we were a lot younger, he hadn't even started being an arse yet if you can believe it."

The cheek had not been the part of that he was concerned with sharing, but to his disbelief she actually giggled.

He sat there just staring at her despite the fact that it was his turn. He kept waiting for something to happen, but even he wasn't quite sure what. He'd never asked why you shouldn't hang around muggle-borns.

"What's Three Brothers?" She asked.

"It's a kids' story," he paused and chewed on his cheek for only a moment, but it was ridiculous at this point to even let the thought flutter about her learning something to do with wizards as he finally went and the pattern continued. "There's these three objects these brothers won from death, and when you have them all, you'd be master of death. A stone that lets you see the dead, a wand that can't be beat, and a cloak that repels any spell. When Sirius read it to me, we went on a quest about the house, looking for them. In the attic, all the spare rooms, you name it."

Lily was baffled something so lighthearted could have taken place in that miserable home, but then she wasn't more sure if she was disappointed, or unsurprised when he finished, "we eventually nicked father's wand, and he grounded us for a week for doing something so silly. Sirius doesn't like playing games with me much since."

His smile was childishly delighted as he won the hand again, it was hard to believe this was the same lad simply sitting here chatting with her when he'd once laughed at the most degrading of insults right in front of her.

He'd never outright called her that though, never really bothered to speak to her at all anymore than she had him. It was not lost on her as he now shuffled for a new game with ease that they'd all been rather stuck in their ways.

Alice and Frank really had dozed off, but only for an hour or two for a nap, when they came back down they saw Regulus and Lily were still at it, and a scorecard had been produced at some point. They'd won a pretty equal amount of times, and both seemed convinced they were going to trump the other eventually, but they spoke to each other with casual ease as they recalled what had happened at Slughorn's last party.

"The boys still out?" Alice felt bad for interrupting, but she was starting to get worried. How long were they supposed to sleep that kind of thing off before someone checked on them?

"Yeah," Regulus said casually enough. His sharp eyes missed nothing as he played his next card but kept the door to the scullery in his periphery.

"I think this is a common thing though," Lily added, her voice trying for casual, and failing. "I mean, Lupin does miss classes quite a lot, we all knew that, and those guys make up excuses for him all the time, so they probably know better than us."

"Did you want back in the game?" Regulus asked, and Frank wondered if it was his imagination some of the stiffness had left his voice.

"Sure," they both agreed.

The four whittled away at least another hour at it, until Alice finally convinced the two with a mild insanity problem they could call it even, and went to make some more breakfast, as all the ingredients were ready about the kitchen instead of hoping she could get into the Weasleys' cellar. By then though they were all growing restless and obviously watching the door.

"I'll go try and wake them up," Regulus finally volunteered what they were all thinking. "If they try to kill me, just know, I would have won eventually," he finished with a leveled look at Evans, who just smirked and pocketed the deck.

He pushed the door open quietly to find them all piled onto the bed. Sirius, err, the dog, Padfoot?, was now stretched out almost comfortably with his head across Peter's chest and feet digging into Potter's back, his own furry behind right on Lupin's nose that was not causing him to miss a beat of snoring. He sucked on his cheek for a moment debating how to do this, before finally deciding Peter was the least likely to sock him in the face on any given occasion, let alone being woken up.

He eased up and gently tapped him on the shoulder, but it wasn't his voice who said, "going to take more than that to get them up."

He made a very undignified squeal of surprise that should have woken up the whole house as he watched Potter. His eyes hadn't opened, he didn't even seem to have moved, but when he frowned around at the others again he realized it was the truth. Peter had merely grumbled and twitched but kept on snoring, and Sirius and Lupin hadn't even done that.

When he looked at Potter again his eyes were blinking hazily open, rubbing his knuckles into them and finally shifting to get up. He grabbed Arthur's glasses by mistake, went cross-eyed, and then finally stretched as he eyed Regulus wearily fixing his own in place. "How long we been out?"

"Couple hours, five maybe," he shrugged, none of them had been wearing a watch when this happened, and they weren't even sure it would have worked regardless.

"That's it?" His face scrunched up with displeasure. "Oh we're doomed, Moony's been out for two or three days after a night like that." Then he paused and assessed the lot, and glanced out the window as he reconsidered, "but, he also wasn't changed for nearly as long as usual, so we might get lucky and not have to set the house on fire."

"I'm sure the Weasley's would appreciate that," he nodded, eyeing the giant black shape curiously once more.

"Any food?" James cut in, and Regulus dragged his eyes back away from his furry brother but merely shrugged. Then he seemed to take the hint, and finally left.

James rubbed his eyes for a few more moments, but thankfully the tempting sounds of sizzling meat already had Padfoot and Peter's nose twitching to life. Maybe this process would have been easier if they were all Hufflepuffs instead.

Regulus hadn't been all wrong going after Peter first, only a few pointed prods and shakes with the promise of breakfast and he was rolling out of bed with some unintelligible grumbling before stomping off. Padfoot was usually more difficult, but his tail was thumping in excitement as he stretched instead before James even had to say anything, the food probably smelt even better to him like that.

"Ahah," he quickly scolded when he recognized the other way he was stretching, about to change back. "You are not to change back for twenty-four hours mister."

The dog huffed, and Regulus couldn't help but agree. "How exactly are you going to enforce that?"

Potter whirled on the spot to scowl at him, clearly annoyed he was still hanging around, but he was just too curious to pass up seeing Sirius like this.

"Fine then," he turned back, "until we finish this book."

Sirius huffed again, and Regulus laughed to realize he still recognized that gleam of challenge in his brother's eye. "I imagine that won't be any easier to stop him talking that long."

Potter threw his hands in the air in frustration before turning to him and snapping, "can I help you?"

"No," Regulus shrugged, "just watching."

"Well I'm so glad you're enjoying the show," he grumbled, turning back to Padfoot with actual sternness in his voice that surprised him, he really hadn't thought Potter had it in him. "I mean it Padfoot, you do not change back until I say so, you got really messed up, and I want you to wait. Better safe than sorry."

His brother finally let out a huge bursting sigh, but nodded and hopped off the bed still on all fours. He reared up and snagged the book on his way out, tail held jauntily in the air with an odd bit of smugness Regulus couldn't guess at. Did he think he could read that while barking at them?

The two walked into the kitchen amongst several odd stares, but Peter explained before he could while making a plate, "James wants him to wait, better safe than sorry."

It wasn't so funny anymore hearing them both say the same thing back to back in the exact same weary tone.

"Okay," Alice drew the word out a bit, but finally set up a plate, hesitated a moment, and just put it on the floor. Padfoot pounced on it and was licking the plate clean in moments, but in fairness, he did that even when he didn't have that kind of tongue just to annoy people.

The bathroom in the scullery was only a toilet, sink, and medicine cabinet, so sadly nobody got a shower this time, but Remus considered that a good thing as he shuffled along, James probably would have followed him in there as he stayed right behind him. It was a miracle he didn't have his hand on his back like an invalid.

He'd blindly dumped half a jar of brown sugar onto his eggs and scarfed down those before finally some real life began to stir in him, and he blinked around in confusion muttering, "how are we back in the Weasleys' kitchen?"

"Magic Moony, keep up," Peter snickered as he dumped yet more ketchup across his eggs, the plate looked more like a bloody mess than the werewolf's.

James properly explained their new theory, and by then everyone had finally slowed in their eating, if not stopped altogether.

Remus had nothing to argue against any of that as he scraped his fork uneasily across his plate for a moment before finally putting his dishes away and going over to Padfoot to fetch the book. He figured people were going to be glaring at him regardless from now on, may as well pretend in his own head it was at that.

Padfoot had been waiting for just such a thing, and quickly snagged up the book he'd kept under him while eating, and took off to the opposite side of the kitchen. "Oh no, we are not doing this again!" His face was almost luminescent pale, despite the sleep and food he still seemed only passably functional, but there was a genuine smile on his face as he effed his own words and started after him.

The game didn't last long, no one was in doubt Padfoot was going easy on him and let himself be cornered after only one romp around the kitchen, but finally Remus bent down and grabbed the book. Even Sirius didn't dare play tug of war with such a precious thing as their escape, and he let the slightly soggy mess splat to the ground.

"You're disgusting," Remus told him pleasantly.

The dog barked a laugh, did a little spin on the spot, and then went over to plop down in front of the still hot stove. He was still smiling as he eased back to the table and almost forgot to tense up at putting all attention on him as he read, "The Eye of the Snake."

"Oh great, what does Malfoy do to annoy him now," Regulus huffed under his breath. He'd already gotten Harry kicked off the quidditch team, a grievous insult that even he would have decked his fellow student for. Malfoy had been a sore loser from the beginning and even this was still a new low.

"Erm," Frank surprised them all by clearing his throat, and almost meeting Lupin's eyes without flinching. "I'm ah, curious, but um, how do you, I mean, what do you remember, well, we can't read when we're not all awake, so-"

"Well, technically, he is awake," Potter stated, eyeing him oddly, his tone much more sarcastic than waspish, but Longbottom had sounded nothing but curious, so he was trying to restrain himself.

"I remember," Remus answered much more quietly but sincerely, eyes twitching to a few more bits of toast left, to Frank, to the book like he couldn't decide what to address. "Hagrid came back and told where he'd been, Umbridge was an arse. The details are fuzzy and vague, but," he shrugged and finally settled on telling the book he remembered what had transgressed, fighting back the urge to scream as the pain had been the most clear in his head, and Padfoot wouldn't have had to restrain him like that except for the worst of reasons. Something had nearly gone very wrong, he hadn't needed James to tell him that.

He decided against elaborating that he did remember things better when he'd eaten, he didn't think Longbottom would want to know that. It had only happened a few times anyways, he'd come across a few predators that met Moony's liking, like a blood-sucking bugbear or even an acromantula that was only human-sized, more for the challenge and then eating the kill for victory rather than actually having a taste for it. They all knew what Moony really had a craving for.

Nobody interrupted him again as he started, the trio worrying about Hagrid's coming lessons and the range of possibilities of how he'd get fired for basically anything he brought to class.

The lesson turned out to be fantastic though, as it went over Thestrals.

"I've heard of those!" Remus exclaimed with the most energy yet, though really it was a miracle that amount of sugar he'd ingested hadn't done that already. "My dad's mentioned them, you can only see them if you've seen death."

His grin slipped away though as he muttered, "oh," in surprise, now eyeing Peter and Longbottom.

"Guess your dad never actually described them as creepy, skeleton, horse-looking things," Peter sighed.

"Nope, he's just mentioned them in passing. Ah, sorry, again," he finished sheepishly.

Peter just shrugged and helped himself to more juice. He'd never held anything against his friends, he wasn't going to start with that. A part of him still remembered how resentful he'd been feeling right before his catastrophe of a future was spelled out, and he'd spent many an alone hour worrying how that had built up and turned him into someone who could do that to James.

"Who did you see die?" Regulus blurted in surprise.

James twitched like he wanted to reach across the table and slap the idiot on the neck, even Padfoot huffed and eyed the heel of his brother's shoe with temptation and they all suddenly realized what a bad idea having him run around with available sharp teeth was.

Peter didn't seem bothered by it though, answering casually enough, "my Uncle Pierce*. He'd been sickly for ages and bedridden for that week, Mum told me not to go in there, but I did, guess it was just bad timing I happened to be watching him when he, you know, wasn't sleeping anymore. I was ten," he finished with a casual shrug that he hoped hid well how he'd come blubbering into the living room to his mother about his Uncle starting to look funny.

His friends had heard this before, but Remus still felt like an idiot and was kicking himself as he kept going he'd never put that together as he eagerly read the descriptions of them again and all of Hagrid's fun facts.

Alice laid her hand on Frank's, rubbing her thumb over his knuckles with a silent question, but he merely answered by kissing hers in return and turning quietly to ask Lily if she wanted to play that card game again. He'd tell her, just maybe not now, she already had a dislike for his mum and this probably wouldn't make things better.

Lily had barely gotten the cards clear from her pocket though when everyone really was scowling at the book in Lupin's hands just like he'd wanted as Umbridge arrived, and made even more of an arse of herself than usual.

"That woman has no bounds," Lily seethed, nearly crumpling the queen of hearts up in her fist before correcting herself.

"Can hardly believe someone so bloody awful exists, treating him like that in his own class, and we've been living with You-Know-Who murdering people by the day in our Daily Prophet," Alice agreed with quiet ferocity.

Frank just winced, but not for the reason everyone but Alice assumed. He now thought himself being just as bad as her, the way he'd treated Lupin, but certainly wasn't sympathizing with her like Potter's glare insinuated. He wanted to correct him, but the words 'I don't think your friend wants to eat me anymore' sounded obtuse to his own ears.

Their terse mutters and grumbles weren't making this better though, so Lily offered offhand and absolutely casual if Pettigrew and Potter wanted to be dealt in.

Peter agreed, he'd even heard of the game they'd been playing, but James opted out and tipped the chair back, rocking it casually as he watched everyone, especially her, with open interest once more. He still didn't know what she meant by it, that plate of food from before his nap, nor just casually speaking in his direction at all! It's not like he expected her gratitude at protecting her out there, he'd do it for anyone for Moony's sake. 

It killed something inside of him to even turn down this offer and enjoy her attention freely, surely they could even partner up on whatever this game was, but Remus was already shuffling uncomfortably at having put himself the center of attention like the idiot they knew he was, but he'd been as aware as Padfoot he was going to do this to himself just to prove how normal he was when he woke up. At least him not playing along didn't make Remus feel so singled out. That didn't mean he wasn't slightly tempted to push the idiot out of the chair and have him sit on the floor with Padfoot, all attention would be off him anyways, win win for everyone-

Regulus had eaten no less than half the loaf of bread with just butter and cinnamon, and soon began regretting it as his stomach swirled when the pleasant DA lesson ended and the book spiraled into territory he'd certainly never expected this to go in, and was clearly the only one. Everyone around him was laughing and tittering softly about Harry's first kiss with Cho, when Regulus had dropped half his hand in surprise.

The good mood wasn't meant to last in anyone as Harry went off to bed, and his thoughts weren't able to linger on girls much longer at the following nightmare.

Potter tipped his chair over in surprise, Padfoot jumped to his feet, hackles raised but no snakes to fight off in here, the rest of them stayed still as statues when Arthur Weasley was attacked, and in the deadly silence that followed as McGonagall arrived for Harry, Remus loathed finishing the last sentence as he looked one more time around the homey kitchen with dread, he wasn't the only one wondering if they'd ever come back here again.

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*Do I in fact imagine that Pierce Polkiss may be a Jr., and is some relative of Peter's, considering they're both described with a rat like face? Yes, yes I do.

Chapter Text

To Stitches: I thought you might enjoy the Lily and Regulus parts the most, you always say Regulus is your favorite and you were particularly anxious for Lily's growth so I wrote that scene really hoping you'd get a kick out of it!

It's just one bad thing after another with James, Sirius, and Remus, they haven't gotten as much of a chance as the others to relax and start letting themselves really get much change, but don't worry, it's coming along for everyone eventually, trust me! 

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Peter had never actually been to St. Mungo's, but he had a fair idea that's where he was. He'd at least heard of the place, when last year some bloke got the Mumblemumps and Madam Pomfrey hadn't been able to fix that and he'd supposedly come here for treatment, and the Marauders hadn't even done it. At least, he hoped this was where Arthur Weasley, and subsequently Harry, would be headed, better here than a morgue.

There was nobody else around him though, and he sat up in concern when he realized he was the only one in this particular room. The ward was small and rather dingy, as the only window was narrow and set high in the wall facing the door. Most of the light came from shining crystal bubbles clustered in the middle of the ceiling. The walls were of panelled oak and there was a portrait of a rather vicious-looking wizard on the wall, captioned: Urquhart Rackharrow, 1612—1697, Inventor of the Entrail-expelling Curse.

There were only three beds, and he'd landed in the farthest from the door. The cards he'd been holding were scattered pell-mell, only the ace of spades left clinging to his hand. The book wasn't in sight either, but he had no urge to summon it to him, instead his mind was still on Padfoot and those bites of his. While they were here, they should look around for some mixture of powdered silver and dittany. It wasn't a true werewolf cure, there was still no such thing even in Harry's time he was sure, but it helped ease the bites' pain level and helped minimize scarring, so surely it would do him some good.

He hopped off the bed, grumbling just a bit they couldn't have landed in here when they all needed sleep as there were plenty of beds to go around in a hospital, but stopped in surprise to see exactly what he was looking for on the bed table across from the one he'd been in. He twitched in unease, wondering if he was being paranoid or this mess was actually just trying to be kind to him for once. He pocketed it regardless and went for the door that thunked against something and instantly shut back on him.

Now he really knew he wasn't paranoid. No one else was in here, surely he should be able to leave and at least travel the hospital! He tried again, slower this time, and it once again thunked against something, leaving the barest crack. He grumbled in distaste, debated calling for help, but finally decided to risk it and changed forms to worm through.

Remus was on the other side having a panic attack. He didn't even seem to realize a door had slammed into his back twice, nor Peter appearing out of thin air beside him. One hand was fisted into his new shirt, right over his shoulder, the other was spasming open and closed as he kept gasping for air.

"Moony! Remus, mate, what," Peter crouched down beside him, trying to grab his hands and get his attention, but he just shied away from him still rasping for air. Peter looked wildly around for the danger instead, but still saw nothing, the corridor was completely empty. There were five more doors in sight, not counting the one he'd come from, but they were all still closed with little plaques beneath them. The one right across from him read:

Creature-Induced Injuries

Dai Llewellyn Ward

Stings

Underneath this was a card in a brass holder on which had been handwritten: Healer-in Charge: Hippocrates Smethwyck. Trainee Healer: Augustus Pye

The bottle of powdered silver and dittany seemed to burn in his pocket, as he turned his head slowly and read the one for the room he'd just left instead.

Creature-Induced Injuries

(Dangerous)

Dai Llewellyn Ward

Serious Bites

"Oh," Peter almost wished he didn't understand as he wrapped an arm around him instead, half his mind trying to draw him back into the crowd of laughing students to keep this kind of attention off of him, but this had long since happened. He wished Sirius were here for him instead, to make one of his stupid jokes readily available on that sign, he didn't see how he'd do much good with what Remus was dealing with. This is probably where Remus first woke up, after he'd been bitten.

He didn't want to imagine how the healers would have treated him, probably barely looking him in the eye. He could all too easily picture Remus at five, crying in pain and not able to understand where his dad was or why his mum wasn't allowed in to see him as his newly bitten shoulder burned.

"Come on mate," he muttered, changing to hold him under the arms. Remus was much taller than him, but on the lanky side, he should at least be able to get him to the bathroom and away from that particular door. The clothes James had picked out didn't fit him quite right, the shirt too loose around the shoulders, the pants a bit too tight he was sure as they exposed several inches past his filched boots from Arthur himself, and they left his skin far more exposed than his school robes. While Peter jostled him along, you could almost see the very first savage mark glinting on his shoulder.

Remus was practically dead weight in his arms, but his breathing was already starting to even out when Peter released him and he sunk to the floor again in the bathroom at the end of the hall.

"Don't tell Sirius," he whispered, curling onto his side, pressing his wet face against the cool tiles. He was still clutching it. "Or James. Please."

His voice was so pitiful at the end, Peter would have promised him anything. He wasn't even sure what Remus had to be so ashamed of, he was pretty sure he couldn't go back into the Shrieking Shack without having a panic attack himself at remembering all the crimes he'd done to James and Sirius being laid out in there. He cast his eyes up when he finally heard the book in Regulus's voice, the chapter title confirming this location, but decided to sink to the floor and just sit quietly with him for now.

Remus listened in the smallest part of his mind as if he had transformed to what was going on, but the mention of a werewolf being in there with Arthur only caused him to wince and curl up tighter as he absently wondered at the difference only thirty plus years in advancement had done. 

He'd been isolated from everyone the first month he'd been bitten, his own parents had been refused entrance and they'd strapped a muzzle to his face while holding him to the bed so as not to contaminate anything else. At least that poor man didn't seem to be going through that. He shivered into the cool tile and hoped that Regulus hurried up getting him out of here before anyone else found him unable to get over something so long into his past. Maybe they'd been right to keep him away from everyone though, even now. Merlin, what he'd almost done, again...

Lily first realized she'd lost her deck of cards. The hand she'd been holding was at every corner of this place, and likely they'd left the majority of the deck on the table. She sighed and took the time to peek into every door on the second floor, Magical Bugs, but all she got for her efforts was accosted by paintings, one particularly determined one following her through the whole floor convinced she had spattergroit. She had no idea how huge this hospital was, but when she came across a stairwell, she decided to go straight down to the bottom and work her way up. Then she heard the book start anyways and no screams of danger came from anywhere, so she simply sat half-way down instead and let herself have some time to think.

Regulus found himself in some sort of gift shop. He had no idea why someone would want a commemorative tea set of this place, but he repaired the one he'd landed on anyways, and then decided to make a pot while he waited for anyone else to show up. Amongst the stuffed dragons, teddy bears, jewelry, a few scattered cards that must have come with him, and blankets, there was a large section of novels to choose from, including several Gilderoy Lockhart covers, a few romance novels with half-naked blokes on the front that were making out wildly with slinky-topped women, and several kids' books including the Tales of Beedle the Bard. He'd smiled and brushed his fingers over that one, wondering if he should offer it to Evans, or would that be insulting? He didn't want to imply she should know them like any wizard. The book he'd actually been looking for caught his eye anyway as the teapot whistled.

When he was steeping his drink and still no one arrived, he simply flipped it open and decided to read. Maybe everyone just wanted a bit of alone time after being so cramped together for so long, he certainly got himself comfortable and tried to enjoy this as much as he could while worrying about Arthur's survival. Sirius was clearly okay, and Potter obviously didn't want him around intruding regardless, and he definitely enjoyed his quiet respite from anyone else for now as he sorted his own thoughts out while reading.

James went crashing headlong into a desk, and only as he sat up rubbing his head, did a plastic floor guide choose to lose its balance and crack down on him next. He scowled and gave the stupid thing a kick across the room as he stood up and stretched to have a new look around. He was in the lobby of, somewhere, there were chairs all around him and the desk was definitely for some kind of receptionist, but soon the book was in full swing and he shifted uneasily at finding himself alone in a hospital. 

His mind first flickered to Remus with worry, he hated being in the Hospital Wing alone for hours at a time and he wanted to go find him. Not to mention he absolutely needed to keep an eye on Padfoot for now, he couldn't get all that blood off his mind no matter how hard he'd scrubbed at the palm of his skin, but where to start looking?

There were some double doors behind the desk on the ground floor, and a stairwell to his right, but after glancing back at the now upside-down floor plan that really gave no hints where the others could be, he went through the double doors first.

He found Padfoot in a predicament, and had to bite his lip from laughing. He'd landed by a very odd contraption, it was mostly a solid white box on wheels almost the size of Hagrid, but had a dozen tubes coming out of it, all differently colored, and at least three were going after the unsanitary pooch in the middle of this place. A green one was making a suctioning noise right over his tail, the blue one was trying to trail along his jowls and collect any spittle that flew free, and the gold one was sweeping frantically around his feet trying to collect the hair he kept shaking loose as he scrambled madly in place trying to bite away all three at once.

He must not have been as quiet as he thought, as those too intelligent gray eyes landed on him, and he gave a solid bark at James. It was years of experience dealing with Sirius in general that translated this to, 'this is all your fault! I could have been rid of this if it wasn't for your stupid, paranoid arse not letting me change back!'

Now laughing freely, he moved forward and gave the machine a gentle push away from him. It came rolling right back, but Padfoot took the distraction to try sprinting off.

His back leg wobbled, and he instead slid ungracefully beneath a bed, James now holding the machine in place as it kept trying to go after him.

"I don't know the spell to make it stop," he got out in between more snickers, that were slowly subsiding as he crawled out from under and gave himself a gentle shake. "So you'd best just go through the doors there, hopefully it won't follow."

Padfoot limped heavily at first, but got a semi-decent stride by the time he was at the double doors. He however was still not coordinated enough to push them open and slip through without them closing back on him, wobbling too much in place on his left side.

Pretending he noticed no such thing, he shot a spell at the nearest bed and transfigured the folded nightgown into a duck. It squawked in alarm and took off, the machine now trundling after the feathers instead. He went over to the doors and casually pushed them open harder than was necessary so that they swung too wide and likely would have hit someone, but by the time they got back into the lobby Padfoot was panting at the foot of the stairs with an uneasy whine.

"Don't," James pleaded, sitting on the floor and just begging him not to try running around this place right now. "Please?" Padfoot hesitated for a long time before limping and curling up under a chair next to him only when the book began. "Sorry Sirius," he whispered, leaning his back against the chair, but just a smidge farther away than was necessary to at least let him pretend he was preserving his pride. Padfoot apparently wasn't going to care for such a thing now, wiggling so that his head was back on James's lap, and the cool metal of the chair legs was pressed into his wounds. James wrapped an arm around his chest, hand placed over his heart once more.

Alice and Frank did find themselves in a locked ward, and it was creepy. Surely a hospital room with multiple patients shouldn't have such, private touches about? At least the cards scattered all over they knew were theirs, the Jack of Spades resting on a signed photo of Gilderoy Lockhart would have been odd otherwise. They spent a decent chunk of time trying to get the doors open, using Alohomora and then shouting for anyone to hear them, maybe something was blocking the other side? But by then the book had confirmed Arthur Weasley was alive and they were coming up here to visit him, and the two just shivered and decided there was nothing for it for now, at least nothing in here was trying to kill them. Maybe this was where Arthur was? But then, where were the others?

Someone at that end must be a Lockhart fan, the place was peppered with pictures of him in a revolting reminder neither of them wanted. Probably a little kid though, Frank deduced as he spotted some joint-up handwriting that definitely needed more practice. At the opposite end was a flowery curtain that was drawn around more beds, and Alice was trying to peek around before she reminded herself there'd be no one in there to insult for looking, but still feeling a little guilty as she pushed it back.

There were two beds very close together, and she imagined fondly for a moment an old married couple in here for something minor and being visited by loads of grandchildren. There were Drooble's Best Blowing Gums stacked neatly on the table closest to her, but she didn't feel right nicking a few even though she'd run out ages ago from her stash back in Honeydukes.

Then she caught sight of the other side of the bed, and frowned in confusion, leaning closer to get a look at the moving pictures. She'd swear she should vaguely recognize them for some reason, especially the much older woman cradling a crying, blond, infant.

"Frank," she called out to him, he was still snooping about the other beds, one of which was covered in brown animal hair for some unbeknownst reason. "Would you come here darling, there's pictures here, I swear I've seen some of them before."

The memory just wouldn't come to her, though now she was looking at him and back, and a cold dread started up her spine. They'd been in the attic, her and Frank, and these had been in a box in his house-

Frank froze and looked at the ceiling, all traces of anything else forgotten as the chapter reached its conclusion, and Mad-Eye Moody all but confirmed You-Know-Who was possessing Harry.

HPHPHPHP

Not going to lie, I intensely debated over the fact if I wanted all of the other Spell Damage Ward people in there with Frank and Alice. Not the older versions of them, but the others. It would have been a great shocking impact and fascinating for them to interact with them like they never would. I decided though it didn't feel ethically right, we're never given a clue how much mental capacity they have exactly and it would feel insulting to put them on the level of animals when each of them does show some response to human contact.

Chapter Text

This is like the worst Mother's Day gift ever, but here's a glimpse into Neville's Mom's life...

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The walls were the same shade of amber as her eyes. The duvet on the bed was a faded unicorn pattern from her childhood she should have been embarrassed at everyone seeing.

Potter was admiring her poster of The Three Toads he'd landed in front of, grinning in surprise they had at least similar taste in music it seemed.

Regulus was prodding a lava lamp her dad had gifted her, but she couldn't even watch the blue and yellow goo go up and down.

The bedroom was opulent, none of them even landed within arm's reach of each other, Remus noticed as he quickly brushed at his eyes and was grateful he'd gotten himself together.

The carpet was solid gold, and very fluffy, as Padfoot landed on it with only a huff.

Instead she was gasping, shuddering, and generally falling to pieces as it caught up to her where they'd been trapped. 'You're being ridiculous,' her mind coolly informed her. 'You didn't even flinch when you found this out, why are you crying now?'

Because being told she was insane in this future and not having contact with her son was different than being trapped in that ward like they'd just been! They were out now, she kept telling herself, but it didn't feel like it. They were still trapped in this mess. They couldn't go to their next class and keep whispering or passing notes like there was no world outside the school, or go hunt down Barty Crouch Jr., Bellatrix, Rabastan, and Rodolphus Lestrange right now to cease this from ever being a possibility. Stuck in this limbo, it really hit her she didn't want to be strong anymore. She just wanted to cry.

Had Frank's mother refused to bring Neville there, or brought him every other weekend to people who didn't even recognize him? Which was worse? What of her mother and father? Every detail of that place felt burned into her brain as she once again found herself stuck on the fact it had been Frank's family photos about, had she any family left that hadn't all been killed in some gruesome way, or in the bed next to her?

"Alice, darling, what-" Frank tripped over himself trying to get to her, pulling her tight to his chest as his mind floundered why she'd be having such a severe reaction to Harry Potter's dilemma. Yeah, being possessed by You-Know-Who was awful in its own right, but she'd been the most vehement since the beginning this wasn't a future set in stone for any of them.

He pulled gently until they were sitting on the bed which Lily quickly vacated, having landed on it and studying pictures on the ceiling in surprise before she realized what she was seeing. Alice and a woman who must be her mother, the two in matching dark pigtails and laughing. Alice and a man with her amber eyes trying to lick ice cream from their own noses.

Now she was forced to watch as tears kept falling from her eyes with no clue what had caused it any more than Frank's wild look around for some sort of cause.

"Guess it wouldn't help her to feel better if I said I think her room looks cool," Potter offered, rubbing the back of his neck.

Lily wanted to hex him, making a joke at a time like this, but instead she ignored him and went on her other side, trying desperately to think of anything to comfort her like Alice had done for her countless times since this had started.

To her utter surprise though, Alice tried to laugh. She was nuzzling into Frank's side and holding Lily's hand, but actually trying to sniffle back the sobs and look around like she was just noticing it all for the first time like them.

"What happened darling?" He begged, brushing at her short hair desperately as she tried to get herself under control. They'd been stuck in that room the whole time, she'd even been trying to get him to come look at something before they were vanished away. Had there been a cursed object in there that had hurt her?

"I," she hardly wanted to say the words, like leaving him ignorant would be some saving grace. She wouldn't hide this away though, she'd never hid anything from him and she wasn't going to start now. The words caught in her throat regardless of her intentions, she didn't know how to say it. "That room," she tried again, but then she just kept seeing that baby picture of Neville in Augusta Longbottom's arms, like it was the last thing she'd ever seen before she lost her mind, and she couldn't say it.

Frank felt like a miserable friend, let alone boyfriend, he still wasn't getting it.

"Did you want us to leave?" Peter offered quietly. He was by her door, which he'd cracked open to find the rest of her house available.

"If you'd like," she tried to hide the fact she was wiping snot off on her shoulder by passing it off as a shrug. "There's three bathrooms, one down the hall in mum and dad's room, the other across the hall, and the last down under the stairs. You can help yourself to anything you like in the kitchen."

They all trailed out slowly, each wishing they could say something, but though she'd been kind and gentle to all of their troubles, they couldn't think of a word to say back at the moment either. Lily hesitated going last, giving her hand a questioning squeeze, but Alice just held tight back, she could stay of course, she really wasn't trying to hide this.

The lack of the others didn't really help Alice order her thoughts any better, she hadn't a problem speaking this to any of them, but she was still trying to put how to say it in her head in the least brash way possible for several moments as James started reading.

That same chill lodged back into place when she heard the chapter title. Arthur was still in that hospital. Somehow, someway, Harry was going to find her and her husband in there. "Oh Frank," she finally forced it out, she wanted him to hear it from her before then. "I, think- no. We were just on the closed ward, that's why it wouldn't open."

It only took another moment for it to click in him, and he went rigid in shock.

Lily gasped and tried to pull her into a hug, but Frank pulled her to him entirely and whispered, "glory, I, didn't even notice, how, what-"

"I saw, our, I mean, the, things around those beds," her voice died by the end, and she was grateful he didn't ask her to elaborate. She didn't want to keep trying to refer to that place, it would only make it more real.

"Oh Alice," Lily's hands were flitting desperately for any kind of comfort, and settled for patting her on the back. It was always Sev comforting her, he didn't like talking about his problems much at all. "It's not our future, you told me that. This will not be happening to you, either of you!"

"I'm not so sure anymore," she whispered, explaining Percy's room to her.

"That, that doesn't mean," Frank stopped and started as if in physical pain. "What, you think when we're done with Harry's seven years we'll travel through his whole life and be stuck in here forever? Or that we'll go back to school and lose all memory of this? I, no, I cannot believe, this has to mean something!"

"I'm so sorry," Lily whispered in horror. "This is all my fault, I've never forgotten that fact, but I'll, I'll do anything to fix this. We have to end up back in that Potions room eventually, and I'll, I'll fix this, I swear!"

"Lily no," Alice said at once, finally almost wriggling free of Frank as she turned to face her, though he still had his hands on her hips. "I don't blame you, nobody does! It was a stupid accident, it happens in a magical school."

At least Alice finally seemed to feel a smidge better as she smiled at the two, hugging them both firmly before getting up and heading towards her closet and determinedly brushing the last of the tears from her eyes. She certainly was going to take this time to get out of her days-old clothes.

Frank watched her go with a fire lodged in his chest. He would stop this from happening to her, no matter what.

Lily sighed and brushed at her hair as she thought it all over again anyways. She knew she could remake her half of the potion without a problem, it was Lupin's part that would be the experimental phase. It's what her and Sev had spent so much of their free time doing, but these past two months it was practically all they could stand to do together without arguing. Her stomach clenched uncomfortably as she wondered if she'd just make it worse by trying something again, she seemed to have that effect on everything.

Padfoot went limping out of the room last, and had to crane his neck all the way up to see Remus and James thanking Peter for something, both things a spectacle in themselves. Remus held his hand out and took whatever from him, and the other two went down the stairs while Moony tapped him on the nose. Regulus hesitated at the top of the landing, but didn't follow them in as Remus closed the door.

"Come in here you," he whispered gently, going to the door across. The bathroom was apparently under some kind of remodeling. The floor was solid concrete, but the double sink was marble white and had shiny new taps in place that must not have ever been used and more counter space than really should have been necessary. The multipurpose shower bath steam cubicle was sectioned off by a tempered glass door and looked big enough all eight of them could have fit in there as another squashed space.

Remus closed the toilet lid and patted it expectantly, but when Padfoot just looked at him, he quietly asked, "like some help?"

Every last dignity in him wanted to snap no, but really he'd only hesitated because he had no idea what Moony was up to. Lingering worry for him back at the hospital had been the only thing getting him this far in rather than going downstairs for food. He looked perfectly normal, but there was still an aura of guilt surrounding him. He played along if Remus wanted to finally put all that Madam Pomfrey fussing to his own use and check his wounds, which he assumed was going on here. He didn't like his chances much under the fur.

He went over, and made the small hop up, rather glad he wasn't human for how badly that burned his muscles like new and clenching his jaw instead to hide a whimper. Remus's gentle fingers went carding through his fur, but he'd guessed right, he was barely getting down to the skin, let alone getting a good look at the new scars he'd have.

He sighed in defeat and pocketed a little jar, but before he could jump down, Remus got down on his knees so they were on eye level, and held his head carefully like he was made of spun glass. "I'm so sorry," he whispered, and Padfoot was stunned to see tears in his eyes.

Sirius almost broke his promise to James. He would not let Remus beat himself up over this, it had been his decision! Remus would hate himself though, possibly even dangerously so, if he killed them any more than he'd almost done to Longbottom or even Snape. Comforting Remus like this was also the most perfect answer, so he instead leaned forward and used the side of his long snout to nudge against the back of Remus's head, pressing him into his chest. He couldn't actually hold him, but it should have been all that was needed regardless. They'd known full well what they were getting into when they became Animagi, and he didn't regret a single second of it.

Moony's arms came up and circled him tight, and Padfoot hummed in pleasure and let his tail wag just for show, getting the slightest chuckle out of him.

James reading the book didn't even make them spring guiltily apart this time, Remus's hands stayed in tight fists in his thick fur until his breaths finally evened back out to normal, but as Harry's fear ramped up to paranoid levels and he started taking advice from Phineas Nigellus of all paintings, the two finally eased off of each other and went to go check on him, Sirius didn't even lick his neck just to gross him out.

They went down the stairs to see their friend being plenty distracted though, Peter was trying in vain to stop the two dark haired boys lopping bits of their own skin off as they investigated a potato peeler.

"-I'm impressed they've even got this here," Peter was saying as he showed them properly again.

"We'll have to ask her," James agreed, alternatively reading a sentence and attempting this, and scraping against his thumb again. He cursed and dropped the whole spud in the trashcan amongst his half-peeled, now blood flecked flesh.

"I swear you and Padfoot share a brain cell," Remus sighed as he went over to show him again. "You're going to be out of fingers before we're done with this."

The injured digits from his long-ago electrical burn were not as faded as they would have liked, though everyone else's injuries had mostly gone with time. He wondered if it was the electrical component to the injury that stopped it healing amongst the several healing charms they'd used on themselves by now.

Padfoot barked in protest while James shared a sad grin with him. He was already missing his idiot brother's stupid commentary, though perhaps it was best he couldn't show his face during the bit where Harry had to be pulled out of his depression by his friends rather than his godfather even noticing, that stung all of them quite a lot. This future version of Sirius seemed so cold in comparison to his brother, he'd only ever seen Sirius that distant when they'd been arguing, he couldn't imagine why he was acting this way towards Harry. He turned quickly back towards the book, they had no answer except this one regardless.

By the time the other three came down the stairs, detailed Christmas presents were being given, and Peter had finished prepping enough sandwiches for several more stops.

"Alright Prongs, I'm done, stop trying to lacerate yourself already," he called, but when he didn't come over to place the preservation charms on them to keep them good while he wrapped up the last one, he glanced up to see Evans had once again caught his eye.

She must be wearing some of Alice's things, the redhead was much taller than her so her midriff showed in the silver top she wore and the billowing green skirt still showed a bit of her ankles.

"Hey Alice, why do you have a potato peeler?" Remus asked. She had on new clothes too, a wooly beige jumper and sweatpants.

"My dad works in the Muggle-Worthy Excuse committee," she shrugged, "he can't say it's a foolproof excuse if he doesn't test out a few theories himself. He remodels the house all the time for different scenarios, and we've a bunch of Muggle stuff hanging around, though not as much as Arthur I'm sure."

"How'd giving Sirius that stuff go?" Regulus directed at Lupin. Peter had told him that's what they were still upstairs doing, but he'd been so fascinated by the little whirly device he hadn't even seen them come in.

"Fur's too thick, just like his head, can't get the stuff on," Remus sighed.

Padfoot huffed in indignation, and they all looked down as they wondered just how much of an earful they were going to get from him when he finally changed back.

Remus just smiled in anticipation of that and turned to smack Prongs. He reluctantly dragged his eyes away as Evans went over to Peter and offered to do the Charm, it really was his weakest class so he let her without protest.

When Hermione announced who her last present was for, they were all very familiar with that rumbling growl from the grim-looking dog, and when they got down to Kreacher's room, and his shrine, there was a nasty silence even he couldn't drown out.

Regulus winced, wishing he could hide his house-elf behind him. Kreacher didn't know any better, just like he hadn't when all this started. His servant had been his only friend in that place these last three years while Sirius had been at school and ignoring him at home, surely if he just explained to his elf things had to change he'd go along with it, and burn those particular artifacts.

He took an uneasy breath, and stopped Potter as he shook himself and tried to keep going.

"I'm sorry for him, I won't let him keep those," he told them both sincerely.

Frank didn't seem sure how to respond to that other than smiling awkwardly and trying to wave Potter on, the less they dwelled on it the better, but he went to go sit at the table with the lot of them to prove there were no hard feelings. Alice sat on his lap and reached over to give the kid's arm a squeeze in thanks, quickly drawing her hand back so he wouldn't notice it shaking as the lot made another trip up to the hospital.

She swallowed painfully and sat back against Frank's chest as it all started not a page later. Arthur tried some Muggle experimental way to heal himself, and the kids all bolted from Molly's shouting. They got turned around, and ran into Lockhart.

Even Lily burst out in surprised, and a tad righteous laughter as they all thought this was great fun and payback, but Frank's skin was already turning sallow and Alice was half-tempted to excuse them back up to her room so they wouldn't have to see the others' faces when they realized.

They were delayed as James sat gazing at her long after her laughter had subsided and she rolled her eyes at him, she'd been hoping the Slytherin colors would at least minorly deter him. Then she shot Alice a stern look, trying to tell her he was always like this and it didn't mean anything, but really caught sight of them.

Alice denied herself the getaway as she glanced at them, and the fear that flashed in her green eyes said she'd already put it together. They couldn't leave now, the last thing either of them wanted was this group whispering pitifully about them and dragging this out further.

She couldn't bring herself to offer to take the book though as the trio and Ginny reluctantly followed their old DADA teacher in, and the recant of a much more lively version of the place they'd waste away in was described. A part of her wanted to do it to make this go faster, pretend she couldn't feel any pitying gazes she knew would be coming, but again the words jammed up in here before she had the chance.

Frank wasn't doing much better as the truth slowly sunk into the rest of them. To Potter's credit, he only hesitated a moment before glancing at them and putting together what must have been going on when they'd been alone. When both just nodded, he plowed on in the same diligent way he had been reading through his own son's life that he cared for so much, a soft, but steady determination.

This was not the future any of them would have chosen, but James still wanted it all to be true on just the smallest level, that he and Lily were destined to have Harry at the same time as Alice and Frank would have Neville. They'd go forward remembering every heinous detail, and fix every one of them. Their boys would grow up happy and never knowing what had almost been.

Chapter Text

Frank still felt like he was falling and moving for a very long time even after he felt the cold surface on his face, and pushed himself onto hands and knees.

They were almost in total darkness, only the burn of a blue light leaving streaks across their eyes and slowly dimming to guttural torches in the wall barely illuminated anything. It was just shadows on top of nothingness, the floor they were on had the exact same depth and shape as the endless black ceiling above. Padfoot was almost indistinguishable except his flashing eyes.

When finally he did get unsteadily to his feet and offered Alice a hand up, their eyes only just dimly took in the doors surrounding them on all sides, and they all huddled closer together in the center. Nobody was going to ask if they should try those out.

Nobody declared where they were for reassurance, but nobody was being attacked either. They just hovered in this endless void until finally the silence became too much. Alice needed a sense of purpose right now, so she took an uneasy breath, and summoned the book to her.

There was no telling which directioned it zoomed from, it just blended in too well with this place. Frank lit the tip of his wand for a better light source than those dusky blue flames, but the chapter title illuminated nothing, they'd never heard of Occlumency.

Regulus frowned in sympathy for Kreacher being found up in the attic after all this time, and wondered if his old elf missed him and was hiding in his favorite spot. Had his parents even mourned his passing, or instead toasted his goodbye as a good one, since he'd died doing exactly what they wanted? Did Sirius even care, or was he still busy mourning Potter and had only mentioned him as a passing thought? Was Kreacher the only one in that place who would even miss him?

He wasn't the only one noticing this detail though, and caught Peter's eyes which were just as worried.

Peter didn't at all like how this was so utterly dismissed by the Sirius in the book, nor how everyone in here just scoffed at his name again and passed over it. He couldn't entirely blame them, after his shrine felt like an extra blow to the back, but his thoughts lingered on Dobby. He may have been the first house-elf they'd heard doing such a thing as going behind their master's back, but that didn't mean he'd be the only one.

Everyone's attention was diverted to the latest development, Snape. Taking private lessons with Harry?!

"Dumbledore's really trying to kill my kid, isn't he?" James asked faintly. His three friends shivered in particular disgust for how pale he suddenly looked in this shadowy place, it really brought up the ghost in him he'd be at the time.

"Oh don't be so dramatic!" Lily rolled her eyes at him, she was even smiling of all things. "This is the kindest thing I've heard Sev do this whole time! He doesn't like being around Harry, but he's taking the time to teach him personally!"

Frank couldn't help but still think her rather naive. After everything they'd heard him doing, she still somehow thought that?

It wasn't just his utter amazement though.

"Don't be daft Evans!" Potter actually snapped at her. "I'm starting to wonder if Occlumency is a poison he's going to slip him or something, how can you even pretend he's still even a decent person after all he's done!"

She riled up in frustration, and to everyone's amazement the two began a bickering round, but one they hadn't seen in quite some time now. The last fight they'd really had was back on the Knight Bus, and Frank had believed just as firmly as she had the crimes Sirius had been accused of. A lot had changed since then.

Clearly not enough.

In the meantime the two been almost passively ignoring each other, even cordial the past few interactions. Whoever would have thought he'd now find himself agreeing with James Potter Lily still needed a reality check.

He'd been proven to be a Death Eater in the last book, had been nothing but an arse to her own kid plus theirs and everyone else in that school given any opportune moment, and that really wasn't any different than back in their time at school now. No matter how much she kept saying he wasn't really like that around just her, Frank wondered what it would take for her to see being one way to everyone but one person didn't make it okay.

"Lily, hun," Alice finally stepped forward, placing her hand gently on her arm, and Lily tensed up and turned sharply to throw her off before she caught herself, stopping at the last moment before slapping her hand away. She took several deep breaths and was nearly fighting back tears.

She was well aware this was a last, pitiful defense in a long stream of issues she had with Sev. She looked Alice in the eye, and took another steadying breath. She did not want to lose their friendship, she couldn't just keep lashing out at everyone when she knew full well they agreed with the Marauders.

Turning almost calmly back to him now, she cleared her throat and said with at least an attempt at a peaceable tone, "Severus saved Harry's life in his first year," she needlessly reminded. "You bent over backwards for him," she gestured to the black dog, "and you've obviously made some sort of peace with your friends no matter the shit they do," she didn't need to gesture at Pettigrew. "Can you not bloody pull your head out of your arse and try to see Sev might be trying."

She spoke that to everyone, maybe without the insults intended at Frank and Alice.

James did not look impressed, and he spoke without thinking, "My friends haven't been inducted into Death Eater's already like Snape is! Remind me, Sirius, about Snape being involved in that time-" Then he whirled on the spot with a look of panic and half shouted, "wait!"

Too late, Sirius had long been looking for an excuse to change back, and backing up Prongs was more than good enough in his opinion. With a little pop he stood before them on two legs once more, and everyone except his three friends backed away in shock at the sight.

His pallor eerily resembled that of a corpse in this pathetic lighting, the long dark hair hiding even more well whatever gray should be in his eyes. His clothes were half torn to shreds adding to the gruesome sight, and Remus ran to him at once in concern. If he'd started to change back too early, if their worrying had been obsolete this whole time and he'd actually bitten him-

Sirius doubled over in pain, the retort lost on his lips as he hadn't been expecting it to hurt that badly, but he quickly tried to wiggle out of the worried hands tugging his shirt aside. There were scars beneath, but no bite marks, he already knew that, he could feel the difference.

"Stop moving you idiot," James blustered as he grabbed him practically in a head lock so Remus could see clearly. Peter was already in place, wand tip lit as close to his side as he could without being in Remus's way.

"What's the matter Prongs, finally admitting I'm prettier than Evans?" He tried to grumble, but it came out more as a pathetic huffing.

James squeezed, and Sirius yelped, but more in surprise as something cool began tracing along his side, and the burning finally dulled to a throbbing. He couldn't properly see what Moony was applying, but whatever it was he released a breath he'd been holding in for a very long time and sagged in relief in James' arms, though he'd eat one of those flames rather than admit it.

"If I knew you lot were worried about a real bite, I'd have ignored Prongs's idiocies right away and told you. I think I'd know the difference." He patted James's arm, and he marginally relaxed his grip. They'd all been bitten by Moony at some point, and the burn of that injury always lasted longer than any other kind. Yet Moony had bitten Wormtail on the ear in that cage and he'd immediately changed back, and despite his own losing consciousness there at the end, he was still confident he'd been a dog and stayed one long enough there were no side effects.

Regulus watched in fascination as they fawned over him, until finally he was released from their clutches and he stood back up with a grin and smoothed out his hair. He and Sirius had never even been hugged by mother, and father's only usual affection was a firm pat on the shoulder which Sirius hadn't received since before his time in school. How did he stand others being all over him?

Lily stared as he showed such care for his friend, and couldn't even bring herself to tense up again as he turned wearily back towards her like he expected her to start all over again. Instead she wrung her hands for a moment and tried a new approach. "He can change," she wanted to believe that so bad, that he'd go back to the way he was before he started hanging around those awful pre-Death Eaters. "Give him a chance to prove it."

He tapped his foot, ran his hand through his hair, and twitched uneasily, but his eyes never left her steady gaze. "Shall I only curse him for the shit I know he's done?"

She didn't laugh like he'd been hoping, but there was the smallest twitch to her mouth that could have just been another flicker of azure. She turned back to Longbottom and gave Alice a friendly nudge, the two beginning to whisper finally where on Earth they could possibly be as Alice went on reading about Sirius and Snape nearly brawling in that kitchen before Arthur came in.

He'd meant it, in as much as he could. If that git was the reason Harry never had to see another attack like Arthur's, hell, he'd probably go thank the slimeball. He just didn't believe it would be possible, even if he did make a valiant effort not to sneer in disgust about how he treated Harry that first Monday night, insulting him at nearly every question, surely making the answers needlessly complicated. He didn't have any proof Snape was making Harry feel as stupid as possible as he explained the concept of mind reading, never having heard of this branch of magic personally, but surely the arse didn't have to give Harry zero preparation for what was to come other than 'prepare yourself!'

Remus and Sirius stayed close to James in case he spontaneously combusted from trying to keep hold of himself. He hadn't even seemed to hear Sirius had passed Harry something along in the book, possibly even their mirrors based on the little description given, and barely acknowledged Harry's hilariously pitiful attempts to get together with Cho. He was just focused very intently on Evans and trying to keep his scowl at least as well-hidden as the two of them holding hands while the shadows provided the cover.

Lily certainly didn't notice Potter's efforts, she kept her back to the lot to hide her own shame-filled face as it all somehow turned out even worse than any of them could have imagined. Harry was in even more intense pain and suffering as Severus dragged out flashes of old, horrible memories, and he never gave a single second of caring!

Harry's revelation managed to shock some of the despair out of her that she'd made an arse out of herself again, that Harry's consistent dreams of the long dark corridor ending in a locked door was actually in the Ministry of all places, down near the old courtrooms. She wasn't the only one who shivered with distaste, they didn't need to imagine Harry's dream anymore, wherever they were was a pretty oddly comparable place, it just housed many doors.

"You think that's where we are?" Frank finally asked, quietly enough like he was trying to let the guttering flames drown out his voice. "The Department of Mysteries?"

"Harry's been dreaming of this place," Regulus slowly agreed, "and Arthur was attacked at work on guard duty."

"Merlin's beard, what is this place?" Alice whispered, revolving slowly on the spot with just a tinge of curiosity now. You-Know-Who wanted to get into here, was the weapon behind one of these doors?

Frank grabbed her hand to keep her at his side, but he could see the others all eyeing different doors now too. "Let's get to the last sentence," he said all in a rush, almost pleading with the others not to do something so foolish and have them all wind up almost dead all over again. "Then we can, try a few doors, poke around just a little. But if anything, anything starts to look bad, I'll finish and get us out of this."

"That's fair," James finally agreed. Nobody moved towards the doors anyways, but even though he'd spoken for the others, he seemed the least curious of all, eyes still on Lily.

"Can we at least all agree we're honorary Unspeakables now just for being in here?" Sirius asked with a wide grin, causing all of them to snort in surprise at him.

Harry's lesson with Snape was dismissed, Harry was feeling almost as sick as when he'd seen the attack on Arthur as he joined Ron and Hermione for homework, that barely lasted a page before he was feeling so feverish he went off to bed.

Then it happened again, more vibrant even than when Harry had felt You-Know-Who's mood in the locker room. Harry was sprawled on the floor with laughter that wasn't his, and pain that he couldn't escape when Ron found him.

Lily shivered and pressed her hand to her mouth to stop herself from screaming. Two rounds of Occlumency with Severus and this happened moments later, was it a coincidence? Was he really still a Death Eater through and through? What was going to happen to her son because of it?

Alice came to the final line and was more than glad not to speak that aloud, turning to the others and nodding now was the best opportunity they were going to get. Some more reluctantly than others, they all went to a different door, and pushed. Nothing happened.

They weren't really surprised, but some were more disappointed than others as she finished with the nightmarish statement that You-Know-Who was happier than he'd been in fourteen years.

Chapter Text

The place felt weirdly small and cramped despite the fact there were only eight teenagers inside. The air smelt strongly of coffee, and Lily got a firsthand account as she landed on top of a booth and got the hot drink splashed across her lap for it, and she prayed they came across another dorm room in the castle to get the stain out of Alice's skirt. Sirius disrupted the lace as he smacked the window, Alice was brushing sugar out of her hair from an overturned table, and they all had pink confetti in every crease of their clothes from circling golden cherubs above as they got wearily to their feet, but none immediately recognized the place.

"Well, we're in Hogsmeade," Sirius offered, nose still pressed to the rain pattering window as he recognized the street and even Scrivenshaft's down the ways a bit. There was something odd on the window though, like a huge poster of someone moving. It didn't look flashy enough to be some new advertised product. It was raining too hard, and he couldn't get a good view to see it. He'd have liked to just go over there and hear the chapter from that store, but Alice already gave the door an experimental tug to no avail. "I just don't recognize this place," the scandal in his voice was eye-roll-inducing to the four non-Marauders. Even knowing exactly how they knew these grounds so well with their monthly romps with a werewolf didn't make their pigheaded assurances they knew every inch of this place feel less annoying.

"I suppose it stands to reason they'd add a few more buildings in time," Peter offered, wandering behind the counter and offering if anyone else would like a drink. He spotted the book in the booth behind Evans, the large black volume wasn't hard to miss in this place of reds and pinks, but nobody made a move towards it straight away. That last, horrible lingering sentence as heavy in the air as the brewed beans. They'd put it off for a bit and try to breathe the strong scent instead. "Let's just hope it wasn't Umbridge getting a foot out in this place," he added in disgust.

Lily didn't think it a particularly good idea when Pettigrew began handing out the highly caffeinated coffee to everyone, those boys didn't need any extra energy, but she was also starting to feel a little fatigued herself, and they weren't even slightly showing the same. Their sleep schedules were a bit off now, this would definitely do some good.

She slunk off to a corner booth by herself, deciding to leave Alice and Frank be in this clearly coupley place as Pettigrew handed them his first batch with a smile, and she watched in fascination once more as Potter and Lupin began quietly asking Sirius Black how his side was doing. He brushed off their concern with a grin that looked natural, not at all his usual haughty demeanor.

Regulus Black went shuffling behind the counter and began browsing through some of the pastries available, while Pettigrew surprised her by placing a mug down in front of her, she still somehow accidentally kept overlooking him when he'd been walking right towards her. He called over to Regulus though and the two joined the other three, Pettigrew had even grabbed the book on his pass through the place and read out the strange chapter title. Beetle at Bay? The only beatle that came to mind had to do with Rita Skeeter, but what could she be doing back here?

All conversations were silenced as he read the horrible opening, both somehow a good and bad thing all at once. The good news, they didn't have to wait and wonder what had made You-Know-Who so happy. The bad news?

Everything else.

The ten escaped convicts, and what they'd been in Azkaban for, plus blaming it all on Sirius.

Somehow Peter had remembered from the one time Remus had come over and last tasted coffee he'd hated the stuff, and had slipped him hot chocolate instead. It was this little detail that made all the difference to him as he alternately blew and sipped on it watching Peter read that awful article, seeing the color bleeding back out of his face and how very aware all of them were it wasn't Sirius those Death Eaters had more in common with in this future.

Regulus shifted imperceptibly closer to him, hiding his own face with his long hair as he put far too much care in stirring the drink with a biscuit. The other three just chose not to acknowledge the moment and shifted restlessly in place, but the fact that none of them left the table or punched Wormtail was the best improvement he could currently have asked for.

Lily startled and nearly spilt her piping hot drink back into her lap when Frank and Alice joined her anyways, she sliding in the booth beside her and Frank across, both still cradling their own lurid pink steaming cups.

"Oh, you don't have to," she quickly tried to say, even though she wouldn't deny for a second their mere presence comforted her from thinking of that ghastly white-haired version of the kind faced girl beside her. "You can have an alone moment without me always hanging around."

"You're not bothering us," Frank scoffed at the notion.

"We've loved your company," Alice quickly agreed, "I only wish we'd talked more before all this began." She went a little red at the end though and stammered a bit, before stopping herself from saying anything else and wincing as she took a too-fast sip and scalded her tongue.

Lily sighed and looked back out the window, she knew full well why Alice and Frank had barely been on passing terms with her, the same as the rest of the school, and it wasn't because they were a year above her. Her association with Severus put her in the same bad company as those friends of his, no matter how much she begged of him to be rid of them as well, nobody in school wanted much to do with her because of him.

The most uneasy silence that had yet passed between them festered as Pettigrew read through Umbridge passing yet another ludicrous Decree, stopping the teachers from talking about anything but their own subject in light of this news. The following DA lessons that were the subsequent of this as well lit the couple's face with such pride and admiration for Neville's response that she felt almost dirty sitting next to them.

Her and Harry's father were barely on speaking terms. Her best friend made Harry's dreams and scar problem quantifiably worse, and now Ron was even voicing the thought Severus's motives were clear to no one, no matter how much Hermione continued assuring Dumbledore trusted him, that should have been good enough for everyone.

It only gave her a few more feeble rays of hope their wise headmaster must know something they didn't. He'd already been wrong before though during Harry's life, and she'd been having her own doubts long before now.

Finally Harry was setting out on his date with Cho, and Alice wasn't going to let Lily keep stewing in such thoughts that had her face puckered up like that when she should be enjoying hearing about Harry on his first date just like all of them were hoping to get a laugh at.

"Lily," she reached over and kindly put a hand on her arm, smiling wider when she didn't even attempt to shrug her off. "We're not going to stop talking to you when we get out of this, even if you do keep talking to Snape."

Lily winced for the 'if', was it so obvious even she was having doubts? She listened mournfully as Pettigrew began describing Harry and Cho's light conversation about Quidditch and watched as Frank began pouring heavy amounts of creamer into his coffee and then casually reaching over and doing so for Alice as well, then she turned back to watching Potter as he started trying to stack all of their finished drinks, and then go around fetching more cups with laughs and further challenges to his task from his friends.

"I've noticed you've been a little easier on him lately," Frank offered as he followed her wandering eye and offered a change of subject.

She snorted and immediately turned away as if she'd been doing no such thing, but Alice had a teasing smile in place now and a quirked brow to stop her from denying any such thing.

"He's still an arse," Lily said at once, summoning a biscuit to her from the counter and dunking it into her now cool drink. "Just because he hasn't gone around cursing us every time we've annoyed him during this doesn't mean he'll stop doing it the second we get back."

"Maybe, maybe not," Alice agreed passively, but there was still something in her tone that hinted she was holding back laughter at Lily's insistence of this. She hadn't told them of where she'd been that full moon night, how he'd let himself be separated from Black just to protect her like that- She flushed in frustration and gulped at her drink, unable to deny even to herself she'd been watching him quite a bit lately. So she found the arsehole had some fascinating layers and wouldn't mind dissecting him to see what some of those were now, he was still an arsehole first.

The name of this place was finally given to them, Madam Puddifoot's, how frilly, but Harry's date was quickly growing more memorable than even this quaint shop, as the poor teen blundered one disastrous answer after another with Cho, until finally she went out into the storm, in more tears than the rain could do. Regulus found himself watching in pure fascination, making a mental list of things he now at least knew not to do.

"Well, I finally don't feel so embarrassed about our first date," Frank chuckled a bit into the awkward silence.

"I told you not to worry about that darling, natural selection would have done that bird in," Alice laughed.

"What's this?" Sirius swiveled curiously in his seat, a dangerous decision as the cups were now listing precariously towards him, and he had a galleon going this would last until the end of the chapter.

"Butt out Black," Alice said quickly while Frank blushed slightly.

"Good luck with that," Remus snorted softly.

"He's always been the nosy one," his little brother quietly agreed.

"He doesn't just keep up with the school gossip for Moony's sake, don't let him tell you otherwise," Peter agreed without looking up.

"Why do I put up with any of you?" He asked in exasperation.

Alice was laughing even harder at the exchange by the end, a stark contrast to Hagrid's dour mood and still not revealing how he got those injuries.

"So, should I be jealous?" Frank finally swooped in and saved Lily from getting anything further directed at her, as his girlfriend fell back into chuckles and looked to turn back to the redhead. "Don't think I haven't noticed him flirting with you." He lovingly teased.

"I wouldn't leave you if Viktor Krum walked in the door right now," Alice assured, blowing him a kiss.

Lily was smiling fondly at the exchange as the beetle was finally explained, and indeed it was referring back to Rita Skeeter, having a rough go of life by the sounds of her description. As Hermione blackmailed her into helping, and Luna Lovegood all pulled together to put Harry's story out there his way, the boys were being such a loud mess it was a wonder if they could hear him at all as each were chanting at Peter to either hurry up, or slow down in his reading as the tower of cups was now tilting this way and that dangerously.

Finally, as they were teleported out of sight, they were all laughing at the show no matter the outcome.

Chapter Text

The house was dimly lit, very old, and had seen better days before the eight of them crash landed in here.

Sirius was thrown so bodily into an old couch he felt something snap inside of it.

James crashed upon a bed that spit up on an unseemly amount of dust.

Remus slammed against a bookshelf so hard, it wobbled dangerously, like it was all going to crash down right on top of him.

Peter landed alone, in a dingy room that had the nearest excuse for a bed in a corner, the book on top, and that was it.

Alice was in some sort of wine cellar that clearly had the most use, judging by all the missing bottles on the rack.

Frank was thrown so hard against a door his nose busted.

Regulus found himself in a barren backyard, in an unfamiliar neighborhood, spotting a dirty river that wound between overgrown, rubbish-strewn banks. An immense chimney, relic of a disused mill, reared up, shadowy and ominous. There was no sound apart from the whisper of the black water.

Lily landed on the roof, and was not inclined to come down when she recognized a horribly familiar house in the distance with a cat weather-vane, that patch of trees behind the park just across the street, or the sign at the end declaring this is as Spinners End.

Frank blinked the spots out of his eyes as he realized he was in the room with Remus, and made a valiant effort not to flinch and run from the room as he fumbled for his wand in the semi-darkness and pointed it at his own streaming nose silently casting the spell, still trying to blink the stars away.

He wasn't entirely convinced he'd managed to hide it all, but it was still better than screaming. At least they were both saved from any stilted conversation by a shouting from behind the bookcase he'd landed in, Peter demanding if anyone could hear him.

Frank and Remus moved in tandem without even looking at each other, both tapping the bookshelf first, but whatever spell they'd tired had no affect, so giving it a shove, and still it didn't seem to want to move.

Sirius roused himself from the couch, shaking his hair out of his face as he went over and called, "stand back Pete!"

Frank looked at him in confusion. "What are you-"

Remus grabbed the back of his robes and pulled, pushing Prongs back into the room he'd just tired to leave from and slamming the door behind the three of them.

There was a soft, muffled exploding noise that seemed to shake the whole house, but at least when five of them converged back in the living room, it was to see the two of them waving smoke out of their face and bickering.

"Could have killed me you arse!" Peter was huffing as he brushed dust from his long ruined clothes.

"What, I got you out didn't I?" Sirius pointed out in exasperation. The bookshelf lay in a scattered mess around them like a war map.

"Remind me never to get rescued by him again," Frank muttered quietly to Alice, who snorted in surprise at him making such a dark joke.

"Where are we?" James interrupted the two, circling curiously on the spot.

Remus went over to a mounted wall light and flipped it on, but the bare bulb only cast the corners of the room into heavier shadows and illuminated their destruction upon arriving. There was an empty mantle, and Regulus knew there to be a very tiny kitchen he'd passed through to get in here, with a few muggle contraptions he couldn't recall what they were called, but he'd seen back in the Dursleys house, if lesser models in here.

"Hey, where's Lily?" Alice asked in concern.

Regulus had spotted a hint of her flashing red hair on the roof, but she'd sat herself down, and he figured she'd be in here by now if she wanted to be so obviously didn't want to be disturbed. "Well, I don't hear anyone else screaming for help, so let's get on with this." He summoned the book to him, which came shooting out of the room that had been behind the bookcase.

Frank thought him a bit more of an arse than usual, he'd thought they'd almost been getting along back in the Weasley's kitchen, and he really didn't care? The end of the last chapter wasn't that pressing of an issue to keep going! The chapter title illuminated no explanation. Seen and Unforeseen? That could mean almost anything!

He and Alice went in search of the house one more time with a thorough inspection but only found more dust and disuse, and then went out back just to make sure, but finally spotted her on the roof, just sitting up there and gazing into the distance.

The two exchanged an uneasy look, feeling almost bad now they'd forced their company on her back in the last place, but they also didn't want her to have to go through this alone. Snape was still being more of an arse than ever in those Occlumency lessons, and it was clearly getting to her. They didn't know what else to say though, they'd made it as clear to her as they could they still wanted to be friends to her whatever her decision regarding him, and if she didn't want to talk about it in the meantime they could hardly force her.

They went back inside, holding hands and hoping their friend knew she could join them when she was ready.

The chapter itself wasn't offering much in the meantime, Hermione was patiently explaining exactly how Harry's date was a disaster with Cho in almost painful detail. Alice watched James in particular during this to see if he was bothering to take notes, and to her unbelievable surprise he seemed to be.

Remus and Sirius were behind him, whispering and snickering more bad advice they hadn't managed to say during the last bits, but Potter was ignoring them and watching Regulus with an intent expression and still looking around hopefully like he wanted to catch a glimpse of somebody else's red hair besides the arriving Ginny and Ron.

Frank had the vague impression he'd pay Hermione to invent said book, 'Translating Mad Things Girls Do So Boys Can Understand Them.' "Have I ever mentioned how much I love you," he told his girlfriend seriously. His nerves had been a havoc convincing himself to ask her out, but it had practically been smooth sailing from there.

"I certainly never grow tired of hearing it," she giggled.

"Well Ginny at least gets better with every mentioning," Sirius perked up in delight at hearing the news she stole her brothers brooms for practice. He had no idea what Prongs saw in Evans, the girl was a nut not even liking the sport. "Don't be getting ideas though you little shit," he added quickly when Regulus gave him a curious look.

Regulus huffed and muttered something about having his own broom thank you as he kept going.

Another game came and went, this time with Harry completely in the stands having to watch as his replacement Seeker spotted the Snitch slower than he would have, the whole miserable experience capped with the score and they were all wondering now if Ron would ever manage to save a goal.

"Honestly, I think I'd just let him quit out of pity after that," Peter winced, he'd take giving up with dignity instead of another fiasco.

"Oh come on, he's got it in him," James bolstered at once, his eyes lighting in excitement. "There's totally a way to fix this problem! First you put one person in the stands until Ron could easily ignore that person no matter what they said or did, and then keep adding people until Ron could block them all out. I don't care how long it took, I'd find a way so that Ron would never let someone get the better of him like this."

"Cheers Prongs," Sirius mock raised a glass at him to everyone's stunned silence except Sirius it seemed. "You're a shoe in for captain next year."

"I'd better be," he nodded, and they couldn't even blame him for the pig-headed tone.

Peter sighed and took an uneasy step back as Remus just laughed in agreement. He swore they'd only liked him before because they'd shared a dorm with him so long, it's not like he was anything like them. He'd made a fool of himself in Keeper tryouts at the beginning of the year trying to get onto the team, and he certainly hadn't blamed the current captain for picking the younger player who saved all of her goals rather than his measly three. Both James and Sirius had promised at the time they'd come out and practice with him for next year even as a reserve player, but of course nobody had seemed to have time for that.

Regulus had watched the entire thing, debating whether he should say something, but Peter just shook his head and waved him on.

Sirius had watched the exchange, and had to bother his mind for several moments as talk left Quidditch and Harry was assaulted by owls for his article in the Quibbler getting released earlier than usual before finally remembering and guessing what must be bothering Peter now.

He winced, just a bit. It's not like they'd done it on purpose, he could have come down to Quidditch practice any time with them but usually stayed up in the dorms with Remus, it's not like Peter had ever brought it up himself again.

He still wanted a way to talk to both of them, but was drawing a blank as to how. Percy wrote the most obnoxious letter possible, he accused himself, you can just go over there! It was easier said than done though, some part of him was still afraid they'd just turn on him again, what the hell was he supposed to do to convince himself otherwise, let alone them.

"I guess that explains the seen part of the title," Remus interrupted his grumbling thoughts with an uneasy smile. "Now what do you suppose the unforeseen bit will be?"

"Some more madness to do with Trelawney I'm sure, that old bat can't foresee the weather," Sirius shrugged without care. He was getting vaguely annoyed watching Peter and Regulus take a few more steps back and start whispering about all the reactions to that article being mailed to Harry, but again he couldn't find any good reason to snap at the two for a moment. He wished he could drag Moony off for a snog, just for something to entertain them, but even if he was trying to consciously stop doing that for now so Prongs wouldn't think he was being ignored, he didn't trust this place enough anyways.

The two of them stopped in outrage as much as anyone though when Harry was banned from Hogsmeade by Umbridge because of this.

"That rotten creampuff needs to have her tounge cut off!" James spluttered in disgust.

"At least Harry doesn't have to follow that decree," Peter reminded grimly, "but I'll get the knife."

Frank and Alice watched as this was clearly the most insulting thing she could do to the Marauders, even if they would have ignored this and every other rule from her as thoroughly as they already did to every other in the castle.

It was of some comfort to Regulus at least that Umbridge's plan to ban the article at least backfired and the whole school found themselves reading it, he certainly enjoyed that part.

Things just continued to spiral downwards from there, as Harry had yet another vision of You-Know-Who torturing someone, though at least this time it was another Death Eater rather than someone they had to care about. Regulus was shivering in revulsion by the end, almost in tears as he kept picturing himself in that future still rather than Rookwood if he didn't find some way to talk his parents out of this when he got back. He wasn't like Sirius, he couldn't just run off to someone's house and expect to be taken in if his parents kicked him out for it!

Sirius nearly went to him then, his feet even began moving unconsciously to do it, Regulus looked miserable and wretched as he read that and clearly his worry about Regulus thinking this would never happen to him was wrong, but then Peter put a reassuring hand on his shoulder and whispered something just for the two of them. Sirius stopped cold and leaned back on his heels instead, they really didn't need him to make it worse if he tried to help.

James listened to it all while having to fight off a scream, he couldn't just come up with a plan for his son on how to casually combat this madness continuing to happen to him! He was nearly screaming and jumping on the spot in outrage as Snape still managed to make the whole experience worse during that next Occlumency class, all but confirming his job as a spy Death Eater, but for whose side he still couldn't trust.

He wished Evans was back down here more than ever, he'd love to watch her in particular to see how she took to him still insulting Harry every other breath after torturing his mind like this!

Something new happened on the next round though to break him out of his revere, and none of them were sure what would happen when Harry cast some kind of retaliation back from Snape's curse, in the form of Protego.

A girl was laughing as a scrawny boy tried to mount a bucking broomstick, and the Marauders felt a thrill of laughter at remembering this as their first flying lesson, and the idiot had done all that to himself, the girl had been Mary Macdonald, but everyone present had been laughing, even Evans would swear she hadn't been despite her twitching lips as she'd pulled him away back to the castle while Hooch had gone after the wayward broom when he landed.

A greasy-haired teenager sat alone in a dark bedroom, pointing his wand at the ceiling, shooting down flies, and Sirius sneered at Snape being such an awful person. He clearly knew the feelings of being alone then, but the idiot wasn't any good at making friends to fix the problem. He didn't even like Evans and he still pitied her having to deal with Snape.

*And then suddenly the last memory was being described, and they all felt a shot of horror as this very room was described, and a hook-nosed man was shouting at a cowering woman, while a small dark-haired boy cried in a corner...

"Oh shit," James muttered, turning crazily on the spot for who knew what, before bursting out of the back door so loud he almost startled Lily off the roof.

She'd been listening with a tightly knit stomach that ached so bad during the whole chapter she wished she could expel all of her intestines with a very particular potion in mind even before it had gotten to Snape's memories, then she'd contemplated jumping from the roof and barging in to stop all this before it went past that first memory.

She had no choice though, she knew that she couldn't save Sev from them hearing about this anymore than she could rescue Harry from the way he was treated. She still hadn't been expecting Potter to come thundering from the house and looking around wildly before spotting her up here.

She didn't know what he meant by it either when he gave her a long, beseeching look, before just sitting down in the grass and waiting out here patiently with her. He didn't apologize, try to get up there with her, or do much of anything besides that.

Her arms finally loosened their tight grip around her knees just a smidge, even she wouldn't deny to herself she felt just a tad bit less alone now just for his presence. She couldn't hear what the others had to say about this, still honestly didn't want to know what that explosion and all the general shouting that had been going on inside was.

She'd never have shared all she knew of Sev's home life with them if given the chance, he'd never even really told her, but she'd suspected it was something like this with the crude comments he made, particularly about his dad.

He'd sneak over to her window when it was a bad night, just like she would go to his when Petunia said something particularly vile, and they'd go hide out in their spot until they'd talked and laughed and it was bearable enough to go back.

Didn't he remember all that when he was being the same abusive arse to Harry? Did he care at all for how it would make Neville feel to be reduced to tears when he nearly had so many times? Did he find more comfort with those cruel friends who offered to torture muggles instead of her commiserating, was that why he wouldn't stop talking to them?

Regulus Black finally kept going, and she knew nor cared what their resolution to this revelation had been, she just wanted to shake Severus and demand answers why he was like this as he just vindictively ignored the whole instance like his past meant nothing to him and turned his wand on Harry again.

Her son found himself in You-Know-Who's mind once more, longing to break past that locked door, and for once managing such a thing and finding himself in the circular room of doors they'd already seen once before. Hot tears spilled out of her cheeks as he just insulted him again for not trying hard enough, as if it weren't her eyes in Harry's face that was begging for help to make this stop. Harry hadn't asked this happening to him anymore than Severus had ever purposely induced Tobias' anger.

Then a scream interrupted before the torturer could go any farther, and the two left it for the night to see what other catastrophe had befallen the castle. Lily bit down hard on her lip to stop a sob of relief escaping it was over again, for now.

The distressed person turned out to be Trelawney screaming over the fact she was finally being given her pink slip by a woman who needed to be buried alive in the color.

Umbridge was somehow even more revolting than usual as she glorified in the Divination teachers dismissal, while a crowd of students could only stand there and watch the poor woman's life get thrown down the stairs.

Lily glanced down and saw Potter's look of disdain for the very same, and she wanted to scoff he thought himself better when he had an audience to most of his shows. He embarrassed and tormented others for his own amusement just like Umbridge. She stopped the thoughts cold though as she imagined what Harry would think of this, and forced herself to really hear her own mental tirade, she knew she was still angry at Severus and lashing out.

James Potter was an arrogant toerag who did whatever for his own amusement, but he'd never driven anyone to tears, let alone stand proudly above the scene of his crime. If the person their prank was used on didn't laugh along, he usually just took the detention with grace and didn't target the same person again. If the curse he'd sent left someone unable to get to the hospital wing, he'd almost inevitably do it himself, if not one of his friends slinking off to go find somebody who would while he took the detention with a smile.

He was an arse, but he wasn't cruel, not like Umbridge was until Dumbledore stepped in and stopped the show.

She sighed one last time as she kept looking back on the past five years of her school life with a giant question mark plastered over everything, one she wasn't convinced even a centaur for a teacher could help unravel.

HPHPHPHPHP

*Just so you all know I'm acknowledging it and it's not a mistake, I did do the memories in reverse order that they actually appeared in the story for my own benefit.

Chapter Text

At first they all thought they landed outside again, which would have been a welcome relief considering the last time they'd been in open air it had not been a good night. This little clearing was dappled with light, the tree canopy just enough shade for them all to breath in the fresh air dancing about, the floor was soft spring grass that was at least a more tolerable landing than most places.

Peter knew better first though, as he seemed to have knocked over a wastepaper bin. Sirius had landed upside down against a stump, so he spotted a door for what it was instead of an oddly shaped bit of wood through a gap in the trees, and went over to pull it curiously, though it refused to open.

"Guess we're in Firenze's classroom," James said excitedly, twisting this way and that in the light, it really had been too long since they'd just lounged out by the lake. Even the last bit of fresh air they'd really had without having to worry about Moony had been a miserable time up in the owlery.

He waited only a moment more to appraise Evans one last time, but she was brushing furiously at her face and trying to pretend like nothing was wrong, and he could respect that. He summoned the book to him, and declared the chapter title.

Remus gave a slow, sarcastic clap at how proud he seemed of himself. "Congratulations Prongs, even Sirius could have made that leap in logic."

"I think calling it a leap is too kind," Peter grinned, "more like a hop."

Regulus busted out laughing in surprise, and he wasn't the only one. James and Sirius exchanged a fond smile as even Alice and Longbottom got a snicker at their expense, only Evans seemed to be trying to repress her smile, and she really wasn't trying that hard.

"I do wonder who the sneak will be though," Sirius said loudly with an exaggerated eyeroll for his 'hurt' feelings. "Maybe Harry? He can be pretty sneaky when he likes."

"You've won the last two bets, I'm certainly not going against you," Peter raised his hands up in surrender.

"A miracle in itself really, your luck must be changing for the better Padfoot," Remus grinned.

"I've got all the luck I need Moony," Sirius proudly declared.

James didn't even want to start reading as he watched, the book held loosely in one hand as he lazed back against a tree. He could have thrown himself to the ground and closed his eyes, and it really would be like none of this had even happened, they were all just laughing and ribbing at each other like old times.

Then Regulus came over and asked Peter for one of those sandwiches, and Sirius got that shifty look back in place and retreated slightly. It was better than him going and picking a fight like James would have thought he'd do by now, so even he couldn't deny things really were changing.

Someone finally cleared their throat impatiently, and he sighed deeply and sheepishly went back to the book, mostly aware there wasn't a real bathroom in here so he couldn't pretend this would go on forever.

It only took a quick conversation from Parvati and Lavender before Harry was being brought in here, and the place was pointlessly described again, but he read about Firenze with honest curiosity. Of the few centaurs they'd bothered to talk to in the forest, it was never very long, let alone getting on a first name basis with them.

"I was shocked there even were centaurs in the Forbidden Forest," Longbottom said casually enough. Not so loud as if he expected everyone to listen, but not quietly either, just chatting with Alice. "This really does sound unprecedented. I've read about them, and it's so rare for them to talk to humans really, let alone what's now going on at Hogwarts."

"I think we've all had more than enough of what he's read," Sirius huffed behind him, grabbing Remus' wrist and pulling him to the back of the classroom nearly out of sight. He knew he shouldn't now, but this wasn't an impulse he'd try to stop even when James did know, and it's not like he was going to have that conversation here. It could only be a good thing to keep Moony out of a fight as well, and otherwise distracted, he assured himself.*

James sighed in exhaustion but let the two leave, it probably was best to put some distance there, even if Longbottom actually looked apologetic for a moment. That was new at least, but clearly their plan to seem more approachable to the others was at least going to be put on hold, if not trashed all together, considering recent events. 

The lesson itself wasn't really that interesting, the same nonsense Trelawney had been going on about, but now even Firenze was instructing that this was all theoretical and unpredictable. At least he was honest about his hogwash.

Sirius seemed to at least like the idea though and had to jump nearly twice his height, but finally caught a low hanging branch, and when he came down with it, they were now all glinting in starlight instead.

James made a chuffed noise at the idiot and repositioned to get the book in some better light so he could keep going.

The end of the class came with some sort of new details on Hagrid's issue this year, and he'd saved this centaur from his own heard in the meantime. He sighed and glanced back, but Sirius and Remus were now completely hidden in shadows, and Peter and Regulus were having their own whispered conversation about Hagrid's newest 'attempt.'

He could have joined them, it's not like there was anything really stopping him, just the odd idea in general of talking to Sirius' little brother. He hadn't even known the kid existed until his sorting, and Sirius had not spoken a word about him sense. James had some questions about him, but none he could bring himself asking of either, especially not now. He chanced a glance at Evans again, but she was clearly still in no mood to talk to anyone. She'd sat herself in a patch of sun, but even now that it was stars shining down she just kept fidgeting with her hair, her knees still to her chest. At least it hid her red rimmed eyes better.

When he tried to keep going and talk just turned to OWL's, he pushed away his misgivings. This was just getting ridiculous, and James Potter did not mope. He strode over and plopped himself down beside the two as Peter was saying, "and it was this gray centaur with a beard as long as Dumbledore's, and we'd caught him at a bad time cleaning his hooves so he was really short with us and-"

"That's the centaur story you went with?" James scoffed at him. "How about the time we saw this pinto one that must have been out hunting, and when he spotted Moony, he shot an arrow at him; and I do mean Moony. So he growls a warning and rears up right, all eight feet of him, and-"

"Excuse you," Regulus scowled. "It's sort of rude to be interrupting one story with another, isn't it?"

James scowled right back. "You'd know all about etiquette."

Peter cleared his throat softly and gave James a beseeching look, and he huffed. He didn't understand why Peter was clearly trying to hide a smile, maybe Sirius' little brothers idiocies was rubbing off on him. "It was a boring story," he added petulantly. He'd never gotten to tell any werewolf stories before, and this one involved both, why should Peter get all the fun?

He didn't want to pick another fight with Wormtail though, especially not over something so stupid, so took his obvious hint of eyeing the book and kept going.

At least their coming OWL's weren't forced into his consciousness long, as instead talk turned to Dumbledore's Army, and Harry teaching them all the Patronus charm!

"I've meant to yell at you about this for ages," Evans' voice sounded a little shotty, but it got better as she easily directed at him with that old irritated tone again. "You lot lied! All four of you can produce a patronus, can't you!" Nobody really wanted to be reminded of their time in Azkaban enough to bring it up before now.

"Yep," James' tone reached an impressive level of smug as he looked at her. "There's been studies done on the correlation of animagus' and patronus' and we all did them before hand to see. Would have been pointless doing all that work just to not get any good animals from the bunch."

"I've never heard that," Regulus sounded genuinely curious as he looked from him to Peter.

"McGonagall got us onto the idea," Peter nodded, "we were asking her some questions about the whole thing and if there was any way to tell-"

"As subtly as possible of course," he interrupted with a smirk.

Peter rolled his eyes but kept going, "and she mentioned it, seemed happy to actually have a reason for us hanging back in class for once without issuing a detention."

"That's really cool," Regulus actually grinned, and he didn't look half as pompous as usual while doing so. He got to his feet, took the precious time to brush the grass from his pants, but drew his wand and tried again.

Like before though, it came out very bright and solid, but still vanished before it could solidify. Regulus huffed in frustration and glared at his wand like it had done him a great personal harm.

"It really does take a lot of practice and concentration, not just one burst of energy," Peter happily coached. "You have to really feel the happy emotion you're going for, and keep it in mind for a long stretch of time-"

"We only did it around dementors that one time," James uneasily agreed, "and that was the hardest it's ever been. It still took us months of effort."

Regulus still looked annoyed every time James spoke even when he was agreeing with Peter now, but the other three all gave it goes again, with the same results as last time to all of their agitation.

Remus and Sirius finally came back over to grace them with their presence much to his relief. They looked like they'd been chasing each other around back there, a twig was even stuck in Sirius' hair and they looked a little flushed even in the dim lighting, but when they saw what was going on they looked almost pleased enough not to go running off again.

Sirius made his dog appear with pride, and it went bounding around everyone just as smug as its castor, even darting right through Longbottom before stopping at his feet once more before vanishing.

Remus just rolled his eyes at the display and quickly asked him to keep going, though James understood why, Moony hated showing off his wolf patronus and he didn't want anyone to ask for it.

As several students guardian animal was described, Regulus leaned very close to Peter so Potter couldn't hear and whispered, "if you don't tell him to stop that, he never will."

"He doesn't mean anything by it," Peter sighed. His heart stumbled unevenly though as he thought about it again, it had only started annoying him recently, he was used to not getting a word in edge wise with those two loud mouthed idiots, but if he did just keep letting them do it would the resentment return?

They all stopped their own little tasks as if a dementor had showed up anyways though, when Dobby came in and delivered the news they'd all feared since the beginning. She knew.

Alice and Frank sat up abruptly, their wands in hand and an almost terrifying look in place. Harry had gone so long without a detention, and the mark had still been mentioned to be on his hand. Would they now forever have to picture Neville the same? He'd been doing so well, they didn't even get to hear what his animal would be!

Lily scowled and wished for the millionth time she could blow that woman up as Harry had once done to Marge and send her into the stratosphere, they were learning for crying out loud! And now these kids were running for the lives!

James looked as if he were reading the death of a dear friend as his son was forced to abandon his group and make a run for it, but not fast enough. He couldn't sit still as Umbridge began hauling him off, though at least it was to the headmasters office rather than her own for another round of torture.

He was pacing in frustration and kept kicking a nearby bush on his path as he went through the rest of the other unexpected guests to this, the Minister and Percy were back! Along with two aurors?! Just what was going to happen to his son, were they really going to haul him off to Azkaban for this!

At least one of them was Kingsley, and Mcgonagall was there too, it couldn't be that bad, right?

It got almost that bad. They couldn't even laugh at the expense of the girl.

"I found our sneak," Sirius said viciously as Marietta was dragged in, James was almost in a flying temper for Harry having no way to talk himself out of this because someone in his group ratted him out.

Then he winced at his own choice of phrase and glanced at Peter, who was ducking low and trying to pretend he wasn't even there even as his fists kept tensing up in frustration for this situation same as them.

The Marauders were all trying to move past that instance now, but it was of some comfort to Sirius if Peter did still blame himself. He just wasn't sure how to tell him it was okay to forgive, but not forget, he was still working on that himself.

Remus was distracted enough though when Dumbledore got a new animal association, a scapegoat! What was he doing, pinning the whole thing on himself? He half wished James was just making all this up as Marietta began actually confirming the story, and Fudge sent Percy off to get orders ready to send Albus Dumbledore to Azkaban!

Dumbledore at least kept his head better than James was, who kept cursing fluently at this in between reading to nobodies protest, as he dispatched anyone who dared raise a wand against him, made one last cryptic remark to Harry about those merlin-awful occlumency lessons, and left in style.

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The others aren't ever going to be able to do patronus' in fic, I'm really not trying to make these guys all elite students who can do anything and the DA was apparently practicing since January to get this far, it's mid-March in the books when this happens, so here's what I imagine their patronus' would have been-

Lily- Adder Snake/ Until she fell in love with James, then the Doe

Alice- Elephant/ Thesteral

Frank- Kangaroo Mouse/ Thesteral

Regulus- Lion (think Scar)

Personal headcanon on top of these headcanon picks, none of their patronuses' would have taken shape even if they had been practicing long enough to do them, because they're all in the most in between moments of their life. Their animal can't form, because they're not even sure of who they are right now.

Last thing of note, I imagine Neville's is a honey badger. Let me know your thoughts on all of these, especially if you disagree and imagined different animals for any of them!

* The excluded lemon

https://archiveofourown.org/works/8677858/chapters/79844233

Chapter Text

To Stitches: That's alright, thanks for reviewing whenever you can! Acknowledging the problem is half the battle, and Peter's at least finally acknowledged that, but it may take some time to develop into a solution considering everything else that's fixing to go on...

You do not understand how much I've been looking forward to this chapter!

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It finally happened, as it was bound to do. One of them took these continuous bad falls just a bit to hard.

Lily yelped in surprise to find herself on a branch, couldn't latch onto the trunk let alone another one for stability, and went crashing down so fast she couldn't guess at what was below. Her face was dunked into water, while her arm crashed into something much more solid, sending a white-hot shot of pain in all directions from her elbow.

She came up spluttering and gasping in pain, her hair plastered to her eyes leaving her blind, her wand arm throbbing so bad she couldn't have done anything even if her mind wasn't frozen in shock.

Only when she began whimpering at the movement but forced herself to use her other arm to push her hair aside did she suddenly realize she'd also lost her wand during the fall and she'd have no way to fix herself up, but then her eyes adjusted to see Potter was already leaning over her.

Even if she would have had the presence of mind to tell him to piss off she wouldn't have, her arm just hurt too bad and she'd be grateful for anyone to fix it. His wand tapped her arm so fast and lightly she didn't even feel it, and just like that the pain was reduced to a dull throb in seconds, and then a cool tingling replaced that, before she was flexing her fingers and rolling her shoulder like nothing had happened.

"I'm sure Madam Pomfrey would have you in the hospital wing overnight just to make sure it went perfectly," he told her with pure sincerity, "but it's not at that crooked angle anymore, so I think you'll live."

He just smiled at her. Not a grin, not a smirk, just a friendly smile as he offered both hands to help her up in a gentlemanly fashion.

She took a deep breath, and he was already lowering his hands in surrender, before she surprised them both by grabbing hold and hauling herself to her feet. Since he'd already started to pull back she barely had a good grip on his fingers as she did so, but she got back upright and released him all the same. His hands hovered for only a moment around her shoulders to make sure she was going to stay upright before he dropped them and took a step back, now with that familiar smug look firmly set in place.

For some reason it wasn't as grating as she remembered it should be.

She looked just as quickly away, and felt a swarm of feelings for recognizing every inch of this place. The little pond she'd landed in was ringed with four smooth stone pebbles that had broken her elbow, each had a different-sized handprint on them in a different color, the koi were all at the other end still. The rainbow awning gave shade to half the backyard, the sandbox on the opposite side of the tree nobody had looked at in years, and the kites left out, though long weather-damaged, gave a friendly enough sense of life. She was all too familiar with the tree she'd just fallen out of, because Petunia had once done the very same thing when she was seven and her collarbone had broken in three places. Lily had run over to help, placing her hands on her sobbing sister and easing her crying for only a moment, and her older sister had actually smiled at her in thanks, one of the very few times she'd seemed in awe of her magic rather than hating it.

She'd spotted that cat weather-vane from the roof of Snape's home. They were at her house. That tree had a direct view right up to her window, and while the branches didn't extend far enough for him to crawl over, he'd scaled it countless times with pebbles in hand to get her attention, and she'd ease open the window and bounce dangerously on the awning before bunching up the material and sliding the rest of the way down, landing just so over the table and the two ran free of the yard.

It seemed Potter may have done something of the same affect. Her window wasn't open, but the table was overturned like someone had landed on it, the glass surface had a crack down the middle.

A thrill of horror shot through her, the number of times they had shown up at someone's house was not a good omen for what was to come, and that was before she heard the chapter title, 'Snape's Worst Memory.'

Potter snorted and looked back towards the house where Frank's voice was coming from in surprise.

He spoke without thinking, "what would that be, his first bath?" Then he winced as he realized who he'd said it in front of, reminding himself too late she still wouldn't find that funny, and turning back to see her infuriated face meant he was still a pretty good judge of her character. He was unsurprised when she stormed into the house and slammed the backdoor behind her, and he sighed and gave her a few moments before following.

Walking in found a large, spacious living room. The ceiling was dark paneled wood and made it seem larger than he was sure it should be, and the floor was smooth marble tile in a wavy black and white pattern. There was an unlit fireplace with a brick hearth, with four different sofas along each wall. To his immediate right was an oblong table visible leading into the kitchen, across was the opposite front door, and to the far left was a hallway which probably led to stairs.

Longbottom was still reading, yet another ridiculous ministry decree, it was a miracle those weren't in the hundreds by now, and knowing he only had a fifty-fifty shot of avoiding whichever way she went and still trying to give her space, headed for the kitchen where he could hear his friends' voices coming from, she'd have more than likely avoided the same.

The kitchen was much more narrow, almost a hallway, with double doors at the end ajar. Longbottom was in there, leaning casually in a seat that squeaked in front of one of those machines that had electrocuted him last time. Alice wasn't anywhere to be seen, and it surprised him the guy was just apparently casually sitting around wherever he'd found the book to read, so close to Remus rummaging just feet away in one of those things that kept the food cold.

Sirius was unabashedly shoving cookies into his mouth and alternately flipping a noisy sounding device in the sink on and off for his own amusement, Remus holding his wrist protectively and James wasn't sure he wanted to know how close Padfoot had come to sticking his hand in that odd sounding machine before Moony stopped him. What would a Muggle even have blades down a sink for? Peter was at his back, presumably turning off whatever that thing was that made this whole place hot as an oven. It had four visible circles up top, each with little knobs above it, and though the door was closed, it seemed to be glowing on the inside.

Regulus was sitting on the counter beside Peter, looking around uneasily and chewing on his cheek as he eyed all of the available cupboards. If James had to guess, he'd almost say he was repressing the urge to open them all and have a look through, but something of this clearly Muggle house was still holding him back.

James had a very good idea whose home they were in, judging by Evans's face outside, and he was torn between encouraging this behavior to help loosen the kid up and giving her some privacy.

Lily went stamping up the carpeted stairs with so much frustration she expected dad to call after her any second to cool her temper. She was being ridiculous anyways, Potter's continued idiocies shouldn't surprise her any more than another fight with Petunia.

She reached the landing to see Alice holding a picture she'd very clearly knocked off the wall. It was the four of them on their first trip to the zoo.

She'd been sitting on her dad's shoulders, not even looking at the kind stranger as her eyes stayed trained on the multiple birds in the aviary. Mum had her arms wrapped around Petunia, who was giving a very posh smile that hid well how bored she'd been by that point and had been begging to go home.

"I bet your patronus would be that one," she told Lily as she glanced up, pointing at a red parrot, the blue and yellow plumage on its wings spread wide.

"I like to think it would be a bird," she agreed, "I've always loved them."

Alice immediately set the photo back on the wall, and looked to her in concern for the tone. She'd tried to sound happy about the easy topic, but it had clearly failed her.

"Want to talk about it?" She asked quietly, no judgement in her tone for whatever her answer.

Lily's automatic response wanted to be no, but that hadn't been doing her a lot of good recently, just bottling all this up. She still wanted to talk to Sev more than anyone, being back home only reinforced that. She hadn't come back during Christmas break this year, the two of them had stayed at Hogwarts to look after their newest pet project potion, claiming it as studying for the coming Potions OWLs, though they really needed no such thing. They could brew whatever happened next week by their fourth year, the two of them spent so much time looking, studying, and perfecting Eileen Snape's book.

They hadn't been interrupted once by any of those other horrible friends of his, it was the last good memory she had of him before the semester had kicked back in. It was always just the two of them during the summers here.

The chapter title still bothered her greatly though, even as that tosh about the Inquisitorial Squad was dumped on them, and Umbridge dragged Harry up to her office to interrogate him. The two stayed quiet and Lily began leading the way to her room as this went on, her hand tense on the handle until a massive BOOM interrupted all of her questions about where Sirius Black was.

Finally releasing a breath she'd deny she was holding, she pushed the door open and answered her just as quietly. "That chapter title, I'm wondering if his worst memory is meeting me."

"Oh Lily," she immediately stepped forward and wrapped her in a hug. Her clothes were still slightly damp, and she didn't even seem to be taking in the room. The walls were zebra-striped green and pink, there were posters hung all around of places she'd like to visit in the world and an old stuffed owl sat on her lions, and tigers, and bears bed sheets.

"He hates me so much in this future," she sobbed, sure Alice couldn't understand a word, her voice shook so much. "I think I pushed him too far, made him choose, and-" was that what his worst memory would be? Was Harry going to use Protego on him again and she'd finally hear of what she did to make him be such an intolerable person to everyone?

The fascinating description of Weasley's Wizard Wiz-Bangs did not distract her as she finally cried herself out, Alice just holding tight and rubbing her back until finally she had no more tears to spare and just fell onto her bed in exhaustion. Her face felt itchy and hot still from the dried tears, but as she kept swallowing and finally breathing normally again, she convinced herself she had to stop this. She wouldn't cry over him anymore. Maybe she'd find out and maybe she never would, but surely it didn't happen until far into the future. Maybe her finally agreeing to date Potter for whatever reason had done it and she'd fix this by that never happening, there was still time, right?

Alice still remained affable at her side, just sitting there like Potter had, it amazed her both of them had just instinctively given her exactly what she hadn't even wanted to ask for. She was inquisitively eyeing the room now, and when finally she caught Lily's eye again and she smiled, Alice was quick to grin back and say, "it still amazes me how opposite you two are in literally every way. I poked my head into Petunia's room, I didn't even know there were different shades of white. Felt emptier than the closed ward."

Lily wrung out her borrowed shirt, watching a few last droplets patter on the brown carpet, but forced herself to meet Alice's eyes when she answered. "It looked a little more fun when she was younger, but I think she started doing it on purpose recently, throwing out everything in preparation to move out as soon as she could. We've always been total opposites growing up, a lot like Sirius and Regulus." She frowned and realized she'd never retrieved her wand and got up to do that immediately, lest it get lost before this chapter was over, Harry was having another dream of that room You-Know-Who wanted in so badly. In fact, it was more elaborate than ever, even more rooms were being described as You-Know-Who got closer to his prize. She swallowed a very dry throat and kept addressing Alice instead of dwelling on what that could be.

"At least I've noticed they have some things in common," she continued to Alice as she opened the window. "I don't know though, after hearing all this, I don't think I can ever make up with her."

"I really can't blame you," Alice nodded, following her to the window, and leaning out in concern as Lily went over the side. She watched as Lily easily slid down the cloth, caught the end with expert skills, and swung to the ground, rummaging for a bit under the shade of a tree before finding her wand. Then, as if she did it every day, she propped a glass table back upright, tapped it to fix a visible crack, and jumped slightly to catch the edge, clinging easily to the material as she scaled back up, and happily took Alice's outstretched hand as she crawled back in her window.

She used a quick charm to dry her clothes, and tensed in unease as Harry went down for another Occlumency lesson. It was going to happen, she could feel it, and happily looking to stall she offered, "want to tell the boys to cool it and use the showers here while we can?"

Alice was distracted from answering by Cho stopping Harry on the way to said lesson, and the two having a pretty bad fight over Marietta.

Lily had forgotten her own question by the end anyways, she could see both sides to that. Merlin knew she spent more than enough time defending Severus's bad decisions, but Harry had nearly been expelled for that shite, she couldn't blame her son for not being as forgiving.

Then Harry arrived in a foul temper to find Sev putting memories into a Pensieve again, and she took an uneasy breath but prepared herself as much as she could. She had a feeling it would do no more good than preparing herself every time they were thrown around these insane timelines.

Then Malfoy barged in with some concern about a fellow Slytherin turning up in a toilet.

The roaring laughter from downstairs almost hid Lily's huff of frustration. She just wanted to get it done with now!

"I suppose you don't want to go down there and join them," Alice guessed, misinterpreting that annoyed expression, she'd had to bite her lip to stop herself laughing at the image herself.

Lily didn't really want to, but she also knew she couldn't just keep hiding away. They were all going to hear regardless, may as well suck it up and be there for them to gawk at when it happened, they all thought her a shrew anyways except Alice, Frank, and Potter, though Merlin knew why with him.

"Yes, alright," she agreed, the two going back for the stairs, but Lily scowled and sprinted down the rest so that she could stomp into the kitchen and blame Potter at what Harry did in Sev's absence.

"That's all your fault you know, nosey twat, you've no privacy."

"Don't be ridiculous Evans," Potter seemed delighted to be the rotten apple of her eye once more. "Yours is just as curious a nature as mine, smart as you are, like you could resist doing such a thing!"

"Have you ever heard the words private property?" She demanded back.

The two just kept going like that and Frank looked from the book to Alice, wondering if he was supposed to keep going while she was at least mildly distracted. She hadn't even seemed to notice James had been sitting at the table, not encouraging, but not joining the others either as the two Blacks went snooping through all sorts of Muggle kitchen things. Sirius had at some point put a strainer on Regulus's head, but froze that way to watch the show.

Alice finally waved Frank on, hoping the blow would hurt slightly less if Lily was already venting when it happened, but sadly all attention was diverted anyways as Harry jumped into the memory, and it started how nobody would have predicted.

James busted out laughing in surprise to hear, "his worst memory's the DADA OWL? What, does he find out later he only gets an E?"

He watched in concern though as Evans turned pale in shock and took an uneasy step away from him, she'd been so close during the fight her skirt had been covering his shoes, their knees almost touching. He bit his lip and decided there wasn't even a point in getting her to laugh for this next bit, as Harry easily spotted first Snape, then him in that hall.

What were the odds he wasn't going to be featured in whatever happened next to upset Lily? Admittedly he was still drawing a blank as to what that was, surely him and Snape having yet another fight after this test couldn't be his worst memory, considering this had been a weekly occurrence for years now. His son should get the enjoyment fixating on him now, before Snape departed for whatever reason.

At least Harry was excited as he got a real chance to compare the two, and he swelled with pride at his boy being all but the spitting image of him except with the best part. She wouldn't meet his eyes, but he'd memorized the beautiful green color long ago.

Sirius, then Remus, and finally Peter were all spotted in quick succession, and James sighed uneasily as he imagined this time next week. They hadn't been given their schedules for their OWLs yet, they wouldn't get them until that Monday morning, but he knew the next full moon would have been that Sunday night. Harry wasn't the best descriptor, but even noticing how pale Remus was made it a pretty good guess this had to be only a day or so later.

He didn't seem to spot Evans at all, but James felt an extra pang in his soul he didn't even recognize his mother's initials he scribbled on his paper, and he flashed said woman an innocent smile as she scrutinized him for that.

"Better than LP, I suppose," she finally huffed.

He just beamed at her flippant dismissal to hide the rest of his unease. Would Sirius still be avoiding them then, and Harry would wonder what they were fighting about?

The opposite in fact happened, as the four casually met up to begin discussing the exam! His heart soared as he wondered what had happened to change it then, had they won the cup and Remus and Sirius finally made up!

He met their eyes though, and knew that whatever the answer, this way was arguably better, and worse. He didn't know if the four of them would ever be able to do something so casually as just walk out to the lake again when they got back and really hang out, that was still really in the air, but at least the other four let out surprised snorts of laughter at Moony's self-deprecating joke.

He easily met Evans's eyes again and put up a mock-hurt face as he cried, "you think he's funnier than me! I can make plenty of werewolf jokes!"

"Shut up you idiot," she just rolled her eyes again, but not hard enough to suppress her still present smile.

"At least you now know to study for that question beforehand this time, I feel like I should be taking notes," Regulus offered sympathetically to Peter for that test fatigue.

Peter grinned at him, before giving Prongs an aggrieved look for the book's insult on him. "I'm sure I was too busy helping you study for Arithmancy you ponce, excuse me if I don't fawn over every detail of Moony's arse like Padfoot does!"

James grinned in surprise for the shot back like he hadn't in the book and finally decided maybe Regulus was a good influence if Peter wasn't going to take it all in stride anymore. He opened his mouth to retaliate, but stopped quickly when Evans snorted in disgust about him having the Snitch on him.

"You took a whole ruddy test with that in your pocket?" Longbottom asked him in disbelief. "I'd have gone mad, that thing messing around, distracting me."

"Guess we all can't be natural multi-taskers," he jeered, but then stopped laughing in surprise when Longbottom kept going, and Harry wondered why he didn't tell Wormtail to knock off the attention. He'd never told anyone to stop that, why would he? It was fun!

Peter didn't go as pink at Sirius's next jib at him, but he still looked mildly embarrassed at how obviously he was envying them. It really was no wonder to him they thought him an idiot, he didn't exactly hide it.

The Marauders actually left this group's center of attention though, when they got the crowd's notice of catching sight of Snape, again. The following back-and-forth of curses was familiar to even first-years by that point, Potter's crude sneer, and Sirius Black's twitching hands made it very obvious they wished they could have been doing this the whole time for as pent up and frustrated as they'd been for so very long now.

Lily cringed as she finally did make an appearance, though she'd apparently been there the whole time, just watching. She wondered what Harry thought of her defending him. He was not like his father, he didn't go around cursing Malfoy for his own pleasure, but she wouldn't be surprised if her worries came true now and he'd be upset at his own mother stopping his father's form of fun.

Potter interrupted his own crass comment of why exactly he was cursing Snape, she'd heard that too many times anyways and was almost grateful when he asked her, "I noticed that took two curses longer than usual actually. You two must be really fighting an awful lot to take so long to step in by next week."

She met his eyes with a blazing scowl, she did not need him analyzing her decisions!

He raised his hands in surrender and turned back to the book with open curiosity like McGonagall had just snapped at him to pay attention, then he flinched in surprise and covered his cheek when Snape finally got a curse back, and a dark one at that. Blood apparently went splattering around!

Sirius snarled in disgust and crumbled the last cookie up in his fist in disgust at that display, but at least Prongs got retaliation by stringing Snivellus up by his pants, and Evans even laughed at that!

They all looked wildly at her for that display, but she was already trying to quickly smooth her face out and pretend no such thing would make her laugh, that she hadn't wanted to do the very same to him the amount of times he'd been ignoring her since before Easter break.

James leapt wildly to his feet now, beaming at her and raising his fist to start shouting in glee he'd actually gotten her to laugh- when Frank had kept going, and Snape said it.

The rushing noise in her ear sounded as loud as thunder, but she knew that was all in her head for how deadly silent her house had gotten. She wanted to accuse Frank of lying, but there was no mistaking that ghastly look on his face for even uttering the word, let alone who'd just really spat it at her. She wanted to run up to her room, curl up in a ball and cry until he came over to her window and apologized, but that just wasn't going to be good enough this time.

It only left one available emotion to pour down on her, to drown her in tidal waves, and she acted on it purely from impulse, if she stopped to consider it, she'd explode. She turned on her heel and walked calmly to the front door, and while it opened, she couldn't even take the one lone step off her stoop. She was trapped in here still, encased in this bubble, and she couldn't go burn down their spot.

Then she snapped, and she screamed. She shouted every spell she knew at this thing, and when they all vanished with no visible trace, she dropped her wand and beat her fists against it until she was sure they'd come away bloody and raw. She just wanted out!

Alice knew there weren't enough kind words in the world to soften this blow, and a part of her mind branched off to wonder just what Lily had gone off to destroy next week. She'd mentioned her and Snape often brewed secret potions together, and she wondered if that would have been thrown through a wall somewhere in school. Then she went forward to stop her suicidal boyfriend in concern as he finally couldn't take seeing her like that any more than she could, and he came forward to grab her.

She reared back with a vengeance, headbutting his nose so that he was bleeding again, but he barely flinched as he half picked her up, half dragged her back inside and sat down on the nearest couch with her still trembling in his arms.

Alice darted forward and grabbed her wand, quickly pocketing it while Frank promised her, "just breathe Lily, you're going to hurt yourself. I'll hold him down while you kill him when we get back, but you can't keep that up forever."

She seemed to disagree, still pushing feebly at his arms and shaking her head over and over, still uttering through a now hoarse throat she wanted out of here. Alice's heart broke as she imagined Lily, all alone in the dungeons like this, and wanted to kill Snape herself.

Somewhere in the background, Remus had picked up the book and kept reading, though neither of them really thought the next location would make this feel any better. Then Alice's eyes brightened as she remembered something, but she bit her lip before she could act on it when the adult Snape finally appeared to drag Harry away.

This had been called Snape's Worst Memory, but what about it was the worst part? She wanted to believe it's what he'd called his best friend, but had it simply been Potter's arrogance once more in front of everyone like that? It's certainly what was implied when he actually shook Harry, and threw him from the room.

She wasn't sure if Lily was going to hit her for it, but Alice went over and hugged her as well, noting with relief her shaking was finally slowing and she was watching the wall separating her from the book. Alice didn't quite get a chance to register that expression as Harry's last line shocked them all, and they were torn away.

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To Sanne (Guest):

"Lily, whose furious expression had twitched for an instant as though she was going to smile, said, "Let him down!"

A quote from the book none ever seem to acknowledge that always fascinated me, Lily does get some sort of petty relish out of Snape's torment in this scene but doesn't ever let anyone see. Her reaction in this chapter is admittedly a fanon answer to this moment, but one I stand by, she did find it justifiably funny he never listened to her to stop fighting and this was his comeuppance.

 No, I don't think James was a bully, as that statement involves malicious intent of someone else's pain on a repeated basis on a vulnerable other.  I never for once believed Snape was vulnerable, let alone never retaliated with just as many horrible things back. As Remus himself said, Snape never left an opportunity to curse him. I imagine all manor of unsavory retaliation, but individually to them if Snape found them alone. Did Snape laugh while he did that to them? I personally think so.

Fighting from both parties is not mutual bullying, it's a recurring battle that one side had to stop to make it right. James stopped first. Snape joined the Death Eater's.

This lone memory is Snape's worst because of what he said to Lily.  What James was doing was Harry's focus, but not even Snape's, as confirmed in Prince's Tale when the memory replays in conjunction with his other times with Lily, not all of what happened between him and James.

 Considering Snape is a bully to the entire student population the past years already as a teacher I don't believe for a second he wasn't the same in his youth, and don't tell me it was to keep his cover as a Death Eater. That is a bull excuse for his behavior when he could have just been a passive nobody and kept his nose down to be in Dumbledore's good graces, hell it would make more sense for him to try to be the best teacher ever if his 'plan' was to infiltrate Dumbledore's school on Voldemort's orders. James' entire character should not be based around this sole instance as so many people do. Snape had years to change his behavior both before and after what he did to Lily; instead of hating a child for his parentage and making Hermione, Neville, and likely countless others feel tormented.

As always if you disagree I encourage you to tell me, I have no problems discussing differences of opinion and I hope you enjoy the rest of the fic.

Only ten left to go! And only two more before merlin's beard catches on fire again!

Chapter Text

Still my favorite chapter of this book, and I regret nothing.

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Remus knocked a tin of biscuits to the ground, which opened with a clatter and sent gingersnaps in all directions. The Gryffindor banner behind the straight back chair that Regulus accidentally tore down during his fall, the Quidditch Cup sitting proudly in a nook to the left of her desk that fell on Frank's head, and the transfiguration essays that went scattering around into everyone's faces at their arrival left no one in doubt for this to be McGonagall's office, though the four Marauders had memorized this place before the first semester was up, and even Lily had been in here a handful of times to know as much.

The book sat propped up in the windowsill, looking out at the Quidditch pitch beyond, but nobody made a move towards it, as everyone was still eyeing Lily warily like they thought she was going to try exploding the castle next. She did get to her feet, but much more calmly again, going for the door and trying it. Sadly, it did not open, and she closed her eyes instead, willing herself to have enough patience to get through the rest of this.

"Lily, hun," Alice began cautiously, while Frank belatedly wondered if he should bother using the Episkey charm before trying the same again. "Are you-"

"I don't care," she enunciated clearly, also not caring that everyone in the room was now eyeing her, she'd say this in front of Snape herself if she had to. "I'm done, I quit, I'm never speaking to him again!" She was shouting by the end again, and seemed to realize it. Taking a long, deep breath she went on in a deadly calm voice that was somehow even scarier. "This doesn't happen to me in, in six years when Pettigrew gets us killed," she'd feel bad later for him flinching and Potter giving her the filthiest look for insulting him again. "This is in days! I'm glad it's his worst memory, if that part even is! He should feel bad for doing it! But he did, he's just like those other Death Eaters, and I am done."

Alice and Frank exchanged a heartbroken look as her voice cracked again, but they certainly weren't going to try and help mend this one if she really didn't want to.

"I think you should still see if he'll say it again," Regulus Black of all people said. His eyes were flickering from Peter, to his brother, and back to her critically. "If you maybe stop it from happening exactly that way-"

"No," she said flatly, there was no room for argument in her voice even as she whirled to glare him down, her skirt flaring dramatically an unintended side effect. "I'll always know he said it, I'll remember it every bloody time he tries to talk to me, why put myself through that again?"

Regulus didn't back down though, he was starting to look a little angry himself. "He could change, if he regrets it enough."

"I've been waiting for a year now for him to change!" Lily sneered, "years, even, I'm sick of waiting around!" She felt like a fool, them all standing around watching her, when there had been so many signs in her past this was coming.

It had started with him skipping out on some of their study sessions because some of the cool Slytherins noted how good he was at potions and asking for his help right after their first class, and he began trying to equally split his time while keeping both sides separate, because Snape knew both sides. He knew those cool, all pure-blood Slytherins would mock him for having a Muggleborn best friend, but he'd never wanted her to feel either obligated to go hang out with him to change their mind or feel left out, so he kept the two groups as separate as he could for as long as he could. It had almost worked, until last year, where finally the prejudices began getting so much worse as the whispers of You-Know-Who grew and sides were being picked even before the students realized that's what they were doing when they looked a moment too long at a known Muggleborn, wondering if they weren't coming back from holiday like the last one.

Finally, he'd begun having to pick, he couldn't just go see her or his Slytherin friends and pretend the other side didn't notice, so he tried sneaking around doing it instead as if she wouldn't notice, but that didn't work any better, and they'd both begun demanding he pick a side. He'd tried to convince Lily it was her, even while he stuck with them, because she was safe from the nastier spells they liked to practice on other Muggleborns and he could deter them with his point of view knowing and slowly change them, he kept promising, but she didn't think that was a good enough excuse because she could take care of herself and it certainly didn't seem to be working thus far. Still, so long as he kept being her friend, so long as it was just the two of them, she let it go for just a bit longer, until finally he heard a nasty Muggleborn joke a row over in the library last month, and laughed under his breath. He apologized at once, promising it's just what he had to do around the others and he didn't mean it, but from then on she could never shake the feeling of who he was being real around anymore. Now she knew.

Lily's balled up fists were still shaking as she kept eyeing Regulus though, already a little niggle in her brain as she wondered if maybe she should still give him one last chance, a test. It's not like it would take any effort to get Potter involved in this scenario again, and Regulus was right about one thing, people could change, he was... but should she really put herself through all this again on a chance? She'd still always wonder if he was really just thinking it in the back of his mind, if instead he'd be the reason to get her killed in the future instead of Pettigrew next time around.

The thought stopped her heart in her chest, surely even if he did hate her now, he'd never do that?

"Would you get on with it, I want out of this cycle already so I can get on with my life!" She shot at Lupin, who was closest to the book.

Remus was too afraid for his life to argue the point, but at least James and Sirius were looking at Regulus in admiration for that, and Peter smiling and still leaning beside him felt like a great omen to them at least.

She forced herself to just breathe for several moments as Lupin stuttered out the chapter title, Career Advice. She didn't want anyone else's advice though, this was her decision!

Harry though, did capture her attention, and she was admittedly distracted from her own woes to recall the fleeting shock she'd felt before landing again had temporarily distracted her. Now she almost had to bite down on her lip to stop herself from laughing. Her worry seemed to be the opposite, Harry found his father just as much an arse as she did. Potter's involvement in that had been the most typical of the whole event. It was the first time she'd really felt close to her son as he saw what she did.

James definitely didn't find it as funny.

He was still half worried she would turn around and start trying to kill him, like she'd blame him for Severus lashing out at the wrong person, but as she kept her lips pressed tight together and just ignored him as much as ever, at least that didn't seem to be coming. He'd wanted to hold her as Longbottom had and promise she wasn't really alone, but he knew better. He'd never really been alone, he couldn't even imagine the pain she was in. Sirius would never call him something like that, and what was more, he'd never had to question such a thing; but then, there wasn't even a derogatory word for purebloods. 

Instead he listened in shocked horror as Harry analyzed the events, and found Snape the victim, like he'd once been to Dudley.

Remus kept trying to shrink away from the book even as he forced himself to read out Harry's side, his hands twitching in disgust like he wanted to throw the book out the window. Sirius kept looking from it to Prongs like he was waiting for a translator to all this. Peter just hung his head and wouldn't look at anyone.

James stamped his foot in frustration and began circling McGonagall's desk, but there was nobody to shout at, nothing to vent towards as Harry's whole idea of him crumbled to nothing apparently because of one instance, and he hadn't even been at fault! Snape had insulted Lily in the worst way possible, all he'd done was try to make him apologize, something he'd do to anyone for the rest of his life, how was that such a bad thing!

Yeah, Sirius had started it that time, but was Harry just forgetting Snape had been showing his true colors the past five years of his school life, belittling and insulting every kid that entered his class? He'd done that in his school years too, nobody had been safe from those terrible pre-Death Eaters and they'd often come out far worse than just being hung upside down in front of a crowd for a few moments! Snape had been a part of those instances, even if nobody had been able to prove it, James knew. Snape had been the one to use a dark curse, no normal spell just made a cut appear on him like that!

He stopped cold at Harry's next implicating thought, that he'd forced Lily Evans into marrying him somehow. It was the most insulting thing he'd ever heard from his life, all directed by his kid. He looked around as if concrete were slowly filling him, but at least everywhere he looked nobody in here seemed to believe that particular aspersion. Even Evans met his eyes, something his heart still thrilled at even as his mind circled desperately to understand.

"That's not Harry's fault," she actually, was, comforting, him? "It's Vol- V-" she had to stop and clear her throat, but finally spat, "Voldemort's," shivering herself for her nerve before flipping her hair over her shoulder and finishing with pure ferocity, "that he doesn't know us, whatever this future is. Whatever the hell happened Potter, I know you're not that kind of awful."

"Thanks," he told her sincerely as Harry turned his perspective to his own mother, calling her the decent one. Well he wasn't going to deny that one, ever since the very first time all she'd ever done was told them to stop, she stepped in whenever things escalated and pulled Snape away to try defusing the situation, which was more than he'd ever done, he'd admit to that. The one time she hadn't, and well, maybe things had gone too far...

It was a challenge, it was fun to push those Death Eaters as far as he could, getting whatever detentions he had to for it to show nobody was just going to bend over and let them do whatever they want. Snape was his personal favorite to target, he'd never appreciated the company Evans gave him! Harry didn't have the whole story, he consoled himself, and as Ginny arrived and Harry came to the brilliant conclusion to talk to Sirius about this, he would. He'd understand, right?

The actual point of the chapter cut into his miserable thoughts as Harry was distracted by all the Career Advice, the pamphlets over all the jobs, and then the actual meeting with McGonagall began, again with that toad in the back. He grimaced in disgust, wondering what Harry would have thought of hearing his. McGonagall had listened patiently as he talked of possibly being a professional Quidditch player, and he'd brought one of his drawings to show her which she'd said was very good, but as he'd departed she'd made the comment maybe a little law enforcement would do him more good. Overall his grades had been decent enough and he still had time and options, he didn't have to pin anything down, would Harry still think he was a lay about with nothing to do for his life but follow Snape around pantsing him all day if he heard that?

Lily watched at how absolutely miserable this was making Potter, he didn't even make one snide comment about Umbridge as she kept interrupting McGonagall, and thought this was probably the best thing that could have ever happened to him. To all of them. It wasn't pleasant, by any stretch, to have to be force-fed their life from somebody else's perspective, but she really acknowledged the good this was doing as he just slumped to the floor by Lupin's feet, head tipped towards the book not to miss a word.

Her berating had never penetrated his thick skull, his friends had only ever been an encouragement, even now Lupin and Black still looked more confused than hurt as he did, but Pettigrew and Regulus had their heads together once more and were whispering excitedly about their future goals, and Alice and Frank now had foreknowledge of this travesty of Neville not getting any kind of advice from his parents. She now had a truth forced upon her she'd needed for a long time but never would have accepted until the proof was laid bare.

Despite all that he'd been through, Harry was a good person, and Lily found herself smiling in encouragement, wishing Harry had a memory of her doing this rather than the one he did, he'd make a fantastic Auror, the best there was, all because he'd do the right thing no matter the cost.

She found herself suppressing laughter of all things as Harry went sneaking into a teacher's office once more, planning to use Umbridge's own fireplace to talk to Sirius Black. The amount of times Sev had offered to sneak into Slughorn's office and steal ingredients for their potions rather than Lily just ordering new ones suddenly wasn't so funny anymore, and she felt like she'd been kicked in the heart as she tried to think of anything else.

"Hey, Prongs, relax," Sirius finally sighed as he slumped to the ground beside him, still leaning against Remus's legs but watching him still fidget heavily as even old Professor Lupin happened to be there when Harry popped in. Did he really think the two of them were going to tell Harry to start hating him? "We'll set Harry right, nobody who really knows you can hate you, and Harry won't either when we're done with him."

"Yeah?" James tried to say like he agreed, but it still came out more as a pathetic question. He still didn't feel like he had a good answer for why Peter had done what he did, what had James done to make him fear Voldemort more than stick with them? Sirius and Remus still didn't seem as close as they should be in this future, something had changed between them as well, the lie that had started it all still cascading around. He wasn't sure he really wanted to hear Sirius and Remus try to reminisce about their glory days in school to Harry, had they possibly started hating him in this future too?

The answer very obviously seemed otherwise as his dread watching Moony slowly morphed to a soft smile as he eyed the pair, clearly calming Harry at least somewhat, but couldn't help but scoff at the phrase 'deflated his head.'

"I don't know why I put up with either of you," he laughed.

"We're the only people that bother trying to put up with you," Sirius shrugged without remorse.

His heart felt like singing right out of his chest at the next lovely bit of info, though Evans still rolled her eyes and didn't acknowledge the apparent news they'd started dating in seventh year! His mind spun wildly in every direction, he immediately vowed to look into whatever that head-deflating nonsense was.

Peter found himself wishing he could hide under the desk, even if nobody was really acknowledging him right now, even Regulus was attentive to the book as Harry's conversation was cut short and Filch entered Umbridge's office. He hadn't been mentioned at all of course, and who could blame his friends after what he'd done to them. The more he thought about it though, the more he realized he wasn't exactly relevant to their life at all.

He'd only been used as a ploy, an extra dupe in the future plans to keep James safe, and had done the worst thing imaginable to return that. It had been James's idea to become Animagi, and Padfoot was the best at that by far, keeping up with Moony as a companion, whereas the best he did was a distraction, and not even a very good one at that. Had he ever contributed anything to their life of value? He certainly couldn't come up with anything, and never would think up something so spectacular as the twins flooding a whole corridor with a swamp.

Everybody laughed uproariously at that, and were still chatting freely about it as if they wished they'd been plopped into that mess as Remus finished with the twins leaving the castle with one last hurrah against Umbridge. Would they even notice if he got left behind?

Chapter Text

They'd finally got their wish for fresh air, the Marauders all glanced around to find themselves back in the Forbidden Forest even! Nobody else seemed particularly happy with these circumstances, oddly enough.

Regulus found himself in some long ropes thick as he was heavily pinning him down, Evans went to help Smith disentangle Longbottom from a gnarly bush, and his brother, Lupin, and Potter immediately cheered in excitement and went to the very end of the barriers' reach as they raced each other to find out where exactly in the massive Forest they were. It wasn't comforting that none immediately knew what could be in the vicinity, nor that it was so heavily dark only the barest of a high noon sun trickled in through the trees to light the ground.

Peter came jogging over to help get him out though, offering him a hand up, and then hefting one uneasily in his hand as he eyed the trees he'd been between.

"I don't like this," Peter told him quietly. "We've never seen anything like this in here."

"Maybe, it has to do with Hagrid?" Regulus struggled to offer something well out of his depths, he'd only been in here a handful of times with some older students on a dare. They'd come across gnomes, a few bowtruckles and alizors before a nearby roar in the gloom had made them all decide a tactical retreat was best. "He keeps all kinds of mad things in this forest, right?" Was Fluffy running around here somewhere still? Or that car? "Harry and him are close, maybe he's domesticating something new, would explain why he's always so injured."

"Yeah, that makes sense," Peter agreed, "actually it makes a lot of sense, if he found something on his way back from the giants. I wonder if that's why Madam Maxime-"

Peter stopped with a squeal of surprise as Potter appeared from behind the tree and grabbed at him, laughing raucously before trying to pull on his arm. "Come here Wormtail, you've got to see this! Remus thinks he found signs of a giant, in this forest, can you believe the nutter! Padfoot's actually agreeing with him, they're both mad!"

Peter looked back and beckoned for him to follow, but Regulus just watched as he was pulled a bit along to something in the dirt that had interested the lot. His brother had the book in hand now with a very smug expression as he told Grawp was sure to be the name of a giant, it didn't make much sense as a chapter title anyways.

Regulus certainly didn't think it was funny at all and was sure they were all joking, but he didn't laugh as he just kept watching. Potter was clearly trying to put the whole instance behind him as he jumped around laughing with abandon about the Weasley twins' stunt, and while Peter hovered and laughed along too, every time he made to take a step back towards him Potter grabbed him and asked some new question, and Peter looked so deliriously happy, he didn't even seem to register they kept interrupting his answer.

It was all as much of a show as Lily Evans was putting on, he was absolutely positive. The three of them were huddled very uneasily in this forest they had no familiarity in, she kept sweeping at her hair in that agitated way of hers and still had such a faraway look in her eyes from thoughts she couldn't escape it was a wonder the words weren't glitching out in Sirius's hands from her lack of focus even as she was visibly trying to participate in her friends' quiet whispered conversation.

Something had to give, they couldn't all keep pretending to go about as normal until they got out of this, could they?

Then Smith surprised them all by spontaneously yelling across the clearing, "oi! There's not an Erumpent in here, is there?"

"Err," Potter grinned awkwardly, but his brother said, "yeah, why?"

She grimaced, that clearly hadn't been the answer she was hoping for.

"Not this far out here," Potter supplied, watching Lupin mutter quietly for a moment before he patted a massive tree. "They're closer around in meadows with soft, short patches of grass."

"Fantastic," she sighed, edging a little closer so they weren't yelling quite as much. Longbottom took an automatic step with her like they were joined at the hip while Evans stayed in place with, one could almost say, an amused expression. "Err, you are joking about that giant, right?" She asked.

"Actually, Regulus made a point-" Peter began, but was cut off by Potter once more.

"Well, just because we've never seen one, doesn't mean it's not possible," he teased.

Smith and Longbottom were actually drawn into the argument though, now the five of them were all debating each other back and forth for the pros and cons of it all.

"Err, Prongs," Peter tried one last time, but he barely came up to his shoulder, and the gesture of even tapping him to get his attention probably came across far more childish than he really meant it to.

"Yeah, one sec Pete, I don't care how many books you've read Longbottom!"

Peter sighed and walked off, and James didn't stop him this time, he had more than enough attention now.

"You win some you lose some," Peter told him with a shrug as he went back to Regulus's side with a smile that for all the world was still trying to brush off the instance.

Regulus still had half a mind to go over there and kick that idiot in the shins along with his brother just for good measure. At least Lupin was looking back and forth and seemed to realize anything had happened. He couldn't seem to get Sirius's attention any better though, they were having so much fun sparring with these two new points of view.

Alice even stopped to take a step back to admire her work, even if it hadn't quite gone how she'd intended, and Frank barely noticed he was so involved now. She felt a little bad Pettigrew had gone off again, but that was nothing new, and this would be proof enough to her boyfriend he could get on with them just fine as they kept lobbing the merits of a giant living in this forest in total ease like they were all in an advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts class. The book hung in Sirius's hand almost as if he'd forgotten a Quidditch game had been mentioned coming up. Even Remus was still adding in, and Sirius kept parroting his points and nearly whacked his friend in the face several times he kept agreeing with him even if he remained arguably on the outskirts of the argument like she was letting herself drift off to be, smiling indulgently as well.

He didn't seem to mind, chuckling and catching her eye with a knowing look even as he still watched his last friend talking to Regulus once more with a concerned expression.

'Sorry,' she mouthed at him.

He just shrugged and made a 'what can you do,' gesture to the loud-mouthed idiots, now including her own boyfriend, and it was lovely to see him get so invested in this and not even seem to realize Lupin was an arm's length away.

"You baffle me," Regulus told Peter sincerely as he watched them with a hint of longing.

"I've been called thick plenty of times, that doesn't surprise me," Peter shrugged, leaning against a tree and hands deep in his pockets.

"No," Regulus frowned, "I meant, like, you can be plenty knowledgeable and I certainly listen to you when it came to Lupin, I don't understand why you don't make them see that."

Peter looked just as confused as him now. "I know how Moony works, he's not difficult, it's not remotely the same thing."

"You still don't think you're good enough to be friends with them though," Regulus deduced.

"I don't think they need me," Peter corrected with a heavy sigh, rather than admitting he was also right in some regards as well. His practical magic was leagues behind everyone's, even Regulus's he was sure. That memory had proved to him enough he'd be lucky to pass the most important of his OWLs next week.

Regulus shoved his hands in his pockets and couldn't think of anything to say back, he lived that feeling as well, Sirius had made it abundantly clear he didn't need him a long time ago.

"Well, we'll just see then!" Potter finally ended the argument of all things, his smug look even seemed just a touch less insufferable than usual even as he grandly pointed back at the book. "Go on then Sirius, tell them how right we are!"

His best friend was eager to do just this, while Frank shook his head in exasperation but hadn't been able to come up with a new point of attack anyways and they'd started repeating themselves a bit, best to get to the facts then.

"A few more bouts of that and Smith will have us all holding hands," Peter grinned.

"She's too nice to be an Auror, she'll get eaten alive by the first Death Eater she tries to haul in," Regulus huffed, still glaring a bit at Potter and his brother.

"Think that's why her and Longbottom made such a good team they were targeted?" Peter uneasily reminded, trying his best to not think up who had been in that party, like a certain Black cousin. "I'll bet you anything Longbottom's shrewd mind behind that wand can produce some nasty hexes, and she got them to confess on the spot." He laughed like it was supposed to be funny given the outcome.

That only served to remind Regulus of his own impending death in this future. He still remembered just as well as Peter who had done the deed to those two, his earlier fears of thinking no one would miss him suddenly had a garish light on them as he wondered if Bellatrix had targeted them in revenge? She'd been very chummy with him over the past holiday, those little hints of his future while she'd held her arm lovingly made a horrible amount of sense now as he realized she must already be a Death Eater, Mother and Father would be encouraging her to draw him in like Sirius never had.

He swallowed convulsively and fought back the childish urge to ask Peter to tell him it was all going to be okay, he didn't see how. According to Sirius himself it hadn't even been Aurors to do him in, but some lackey of the Dark Lord's, maybe even Bellatrix herself. He couldn't manage to do anything without someone hating him.

Peter seemed to realize his mistake all on his own, patting him gently on the back and whispering, "hey, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have mentioned that."

"Why not?" His voice cracked, he probably sounded like such a baby. "Everyone knows that's what's going to happen to me anyways."

"No it's not!" Peter looked horror struck now. "You said it yourself, we can change!"

"I don't see how!" He snapped, like a bitter child throwing a tantrum he was sure, still glaring at Potter. "I'm not like you, I don't get to go back to Gryffindor tower and be done with this when I get back, I don't know how to just fade off and go unnoticed to even be ignored by anyone! They all have expectations for me."

Maybe he could just run away from school and live in this forest until he was of age, surely Sirius and even Peter would love to show him how to do that. Maybe bring him out homework to do from time to time while he lived off berries and still show him magic if he ever crossed their mind.

"Regulus, I-" Peter tried, but was once again interrupted by the timely attention of his mates.

Sirius had been watching out of the corner of his eye and seen something happening between these two that didn't look all light fun anymore, and compulsively let himself pounce at the chance to see if he could be of help to smooth this over, he knew both well enough he was sure he could. "Merlin Wormtail, what kind of scary stories are you telling him about this place?" He laughed as he jogged over, Prongs barely noticing he was so smug about Hagrid bringing Hermione and Harry into here and his point was about to be proven.

"Shut up Sirius!" Peter's patience finally burst so loud everyone whipped around to look at him and he didn't even notice. "Merlin, can't you ever ignore me when I actually want you to!"

He put his hand on Regulus's shoulder and steered him away as far as they could go, blood pounding in his ears with such force he hadn't a care the scene he left behind, barely waiting until he was sure he was back out of hearing range before telling Regulus. "Hey, listen. Your arsehole friends don't get to tell you what to do any more than mine do! Or your parents, or anyone! You're the one who told me this future isn't set in stone, and I'll bloody move to another country to stop those idiots from dying if I have to! I won't be used like that again by You-Know-Who or anyone. There is going to be a way out of this for us Regulus!"

Regulus had never really thought himself much of an optimist before, and certainly wouldn't have pegged Peter for one before now, but he'd never let himself question much before to even have his own opinion for long, that's what had gotten Sirius into so much trouble in their youth. The idea of his future still terrified him, it wasn't the answer he so craved, but he finally came to the same conclusion he realized Peter had. Nobody was going to give it to them except themselves.

Peter wanted to still be friends with them, he just wasn't sure how he fit in anymore, if he ever had at all. Maybe it was a lost cause he should give up on, he told himself, it would certainly fix his own problem of not wanting James to die, not any of them, even if they did still annoy him, and it wasn't doing him any good to repress that feeling. He looked back and saw that Sirius had taken the book back from Prongs, an unsettling look on his face as he carelessly confirmed there was a giant tromping around in here, Hagrid's own half-brother.

To most it probably seemed uncaring, but Peter knew better, and he did feel guilty for apparently actually hurting Sirius's feelings for once. James and Remus looked just as unnerved, he tried not to feel too smug he'd caught them all so off guard, maybe they'd stop underestimating him now. Regulus stayed by him, chewing on his cheek in that way of his. He'd make a difference in somebody's life if it was the death of him.

Chapter Text

Sanne (Guest): Thank you for reading and reviewing! It always makes my day and I'm so thrilled you've been enjoying the fic and I hope you continue to do so with the epic rising climax of my favorite book!

HPHPHPHP

Frank landed as uncomfortably as ever, with no clue what he was fixing to crash into as he went sliding along the floor and his nose was a hair width away from entering a very odd looking object.

They were all surrounded by beautiful, dancing, diamond-sparkling lights. As his eyes became accustomed to the brilliant glare, he saw clocks gleaming from every surface, large and small, grandfather and carriage, hanging in spaces between the bookcases or standing on desks ranging the length of the room, so that a busy, relentless ticking filled the place like thousands of minuscule, marching footsteps. The source of the light was the towering crystal bell jar that stood right in front of him.

It appeared to be full of billowing, glittering wind, and even as he watched a tiny, jewel-bright egg rose in the jar, cracked open and a hummingbird emerged, which was carried to the very top, but as it fell on the draught its feathers became bedraggled and damp again, and by the time it had been borne back to the bottom of the jar it had been enclosed once more in its egg, and the loop continued.

Alice came up beside him and took his hand, helping him to his feet and guiding him carefully away. He did not protest, nobody spoke a word in the room.

The ticking was vaguely terrifying for some reason, the dark shadowed corners were of no comfort to anyone as the Marauders were just as lost in here as everyone else had been in the forest. Frank spotted the book leaning on a glass cabinet full of odd, miniature hourglass-looking necklaces.

"Don't touch!"

Frank startled and dropped his hand before he grabbed the book, only to look around and see it had been Pettigrew scolding Regulus Black. His fingers were still half-extended towards a coo-coo clock that was spinning 360 degrees in all directions for no good reason.

He dropped his hand, looking thoroughly chastised even as his eyes roved hungerly around, but Frank was a tad terrified to look at anything too long, the magic radiating from this place felt as powerful as the book he gingerly picked up as if new all over again. He realized why as he weighed it for a moment and truly felt the magic in the air, it all gave off the same sort of energy. Time magic.

"Nobody touch anything," Potter's voice agreed with absolute sternness. "Merlin knows what half this shite is, and I am not looking forward to being a dad so much I'll cart around one of you lot as an infant."

"The most sensitive thing I've ever heard you say," Lily told him.

Frank fought very hard not to laugh at the stunned look on his face as he went looking for his chapter. A collective groan went up from the present fifth-years, but he tried to tell them all, "look at it this way, it's almost cheating. You'll be getting some firsthand account of what to study, more than I ever got. Can't wait for Harry's seventh year for that."

Lily at least looked delighted at this point of view, but the Marauders still grumbled their distaste at having to hear a whole chapter over Harry's OWLs and moved even farther away.

It started with Ron still captivating attention over Gryffindor's win though, and Harry and Hermione weren't trying very hard to pull him back from that with news of Hagrid's 'small' giant of half-brother. Sirius had been in such a state he'd read right over a game victory and not even realized it. 'It's not like I care,' he kept reminding himself as he stalked off to the farthest corner. 'One less thing to worry about, they don't care about you anymore just like you wanted! No makeup required, problem solved!'

He was still staying well out of the way, leaning dangerously against a steaming purple cauldron. Merlin what he would give to go off somewhere with Remus and pretend this wasn't going on right now, but he wouldn't have dared even if they weren't in such a highly strange and potentially dangerous place. He needed to talk to James about why he kept doing that, he knew that now, though he and Remus hadn't exactly gotten to talking about it recently, and it had been Moony's idea to hide it in the first place.

James and Remus both came over slowly anyways, though he didn't notice until they were right in front of him, too busy glaring at absolutely nothing.

"I told you not to touch anything," Prongs sighed, frowning as he sat on the lip.

"You're touching the floor," Sirius shot back.

James made sure to look him dead in the eye as he drew his wand and tapped himself with it, and was now hovering a few inches above the ground. Sirius couldn't help it, he chuckled and got off, hands raised in surrender.

"I'm fine," he insisted as they kept frowning at him like he was mad enough to dunk his head in that thing, let alone actually mess with anything around here. "I don't care, honestly, good on Pete finally growing some and telling us to shut up."

Remus's mouth actually opened in surprise while James rolled his eyes in disagreement. Peter and Sirius obviously still needed to have a conversation they were avoiding, and he had no clue why Peter lost his temper when Sirius had tried!  At least Padfoot wasn't flying into a temper and starting a fight with them in retaliation. This new, passive, approach felt alien in comparison though. It was what they'd asked for, right?

Sirius really was trying though, rather than giving those two a piece of his mind about constantly wandering off and being annoyed with him for trying to join in, he forced himself instead to nod along and feel sympathy for Ron as he was let into the news of Grawp the giant. Some part of him even did mean it, he honestly respected Peter just a tad more now than he ever had before, finally standing up to anyone in his life. He just wished it hadn't been him, about Regulus!

Whatever his little brother's problem was before though, Peter seemed to have helped. He'd always been best at that, listening to them, just sitting patiently and hearing them out, giving practical advice that never felt too insulting for not getting there on your own. James had a tendency to just talk at you and refuse to relent until you laughed which helped soothe most of Sirius's problems, and Remus was great about giving space. Sirius...never helped with anyone's problems. He usually was the problem! He huffed miserably and ran a hand through his hair as he really felt the guilt dancing along his every thought and tried valiantly to push it all away and focus on the story.

Prongs began doing exactly that now as he saw this, going over in detail and ever increasing unrealistic proportions of each of Ron's spectacular saves they hadn't been privy to in hopes to get a laugh out of Sirius. He watched Remus wander off and give him his space, and tried to tell himself this was good, this was normal.

Alice was distracted from watching a handsome wristwatch spinning backwards by Frank's voice getting an uneasy tone for Griselda Marchbanks, an examiner, being mentioned, and didn't understand why until Neville explained his gran knew her.

She grimaced with distaste with more reason than ever and tried not to let the memory of that photo creep back across her mind at a time like this, instead turning to Lily and asking, "I would never, but I am curious, if we used one of those time-turners, think that would get us back to when we started?"

"I haven't the foggiest," Lily sadly said as she turned away from a sundial with the phases of the moon etched along the edges back to her. "You're right too, best we don't try, tampering with time magic is worrisome enough, let alone trying to mix it." She was eyeing that cauldron in the corner with heavy curiosity but refusing to allow herself to go investigate it; Potter and his friends were around.

Regulus was still drifting off by himself, hands firmly in his pockets now, but with a look of almost childlike wonderance for his surroundings. Peter watched bemusedly as he was also clearly still taking in every word of Harry's exams, the Charms one now being described in detail. He was surprised to see Remus disengaging from James and Sirius to come over, watching Regulus with a bizarre expression. He supposed, if you hadn't been paying attention to him, it was very far off from the usual stoic way he kept himself at most times.

Peter tried to tell himself Remus was the least likely to tell him off for how he'd dealt with Sirius, but he still couldn't help but get a bit defensive as that seemed exactly what he was about to do when he sidled up and scuffed his foot for a moment, building himself up to say something Peter wasn't sure he wanted to hear. "Regulus is going through something, and Sirius has shitty timing!" He tried to say calmly, but he was failing a bit by the end. "I notice you and James keep telling me to be patient with him! I wonder if you two are over there with the same old tosh to Sirius, oh he'll come around! Padfoot can't control his temper, let Peter whine it out!"

"Actually," Remus managed through gritted teeth, "he's been trying to work on that!"

"Oh," Peter said quietly in surprise, instantly mollified.

Remus breathed through his nose for a moment, unclenching his teeth so he could continue, "yeah, he's really trying Wormtail, but he's got it in his head you two don't want anything to do with him now."

"How's that my fault?" Peter tried not to snap back. "He ignores me unless he wants something, been doing that to Regulus his whole life! We're not all just here for his entertainment!" He wasn't quite shouting, but his voice still sounded sharper than he meant to.

"Just," Remus pressed his face into his hands, rubbing at his tired eyes before looking back at him in exhaustion. "Nobody wants a fight, right? Can't we all agree on that? He's trying Peter, I still hope you are too. And Regulus," he added after only a moment of thought as he watched him again.

"Yeah," he quietly agreed. "Regulus still cares what he thinks too," he added. He'd never come out and said it, but Peter could tell in the same way he still watched his big brother.

Remus sighed in relief that was at least a good start, now eyeing the gap between the lot and trying to figure out whether to call Sirius and James over here or get Peter to go over there, it was like a never ending tug of war with those two lately.

Regulus answered the problem for him, he'd circled the whole room by now and was right beside them without even seeming to realize it, nose dangerously close to the potion as he watched it bubble.

Sirius reached over and grabbed the back of his robes, pulling him back and tutting. Both of them moved over on instinct, but he'd already let go and said with only pure exasperation, "where's all this curiosity come from then?"

Regulus blushed rather than answer, he looked chastised when Sirius had only sounded curious himself for his brother's sporadic change in his usual tight-faced character.

Peter eagerly jumped in, "he's actually been asking me loads, that's a lot of what we've been talking about, he's quite curious about the world."

"Oh," Sirius looked genuinely impressed, he'd really never thought he'd even progressed past questioning his parents, let alone asking for more than they'd ever offered in their 'lessons.' What else had he missed?

They all almost missed whatever was going on with Umbridge and Hagrid, but quickly spun back to Frank as his voice began edging with concern.

"No," Lily started chanting under her breath in disbelief. "No, no, no, no!" Hagrid was the nicest person in that school, offering a friendly ear and a cup of tea to any students he came across on the grounds, like a lonely girl crying to herself in the shade of the Forest. How was it possible Umbridge could force him from the school like this?

Then McGonagall got involved, and she felt like screaming. She began backing away from Frank and shaking her head, trying not to even hear of this disaster, she heard the gasp and looked on instinct to see Potter with his wand in hand and a look of outrage on his face for their head of house being attacked like that. Alice caught her before she could back into that strange hourglass, and they held hands fighting back their own galloping fear for the state this school was in.

Professors Flitwick and Sprout, at least, were still trusted members of staff to turn to, but the slowly dwindling numbers had them fearing Umbridge would somehow manage to get rid of them before the exams even finished!

Frank found it hard to believe Harry was forced to just go off to his last exam like nothing had happened after that, he felt like the chapter should have ended with that kind of mess, what else could happen during Harry's exam? He shifted and muttered impatiently the whole way through the History of Magic questions, it was one of his better subjects and even he'd been grateful to drop it, he couldn't concentrate on a single thing Harry was forcing himself to recall in his sleep-addled mind.

Then Harry started dreaming again, except they were never just dreams, they never had been. No, Harry started seeing again, right into You-Know-Who's mind as he finally got past all the doors that had been blocking him all year, and into an entirely new room all together, one that terrifyingly sounded similar to this place. He read the next description as this place was bypassed with dread as Harry began to explore and Frank tried to convince himself not to throw the book away in fear Harry was about to come across a dead body, that they weren't headed to this cathedral-sized room and row ninety-seven next to find out whose fate would be gone.

You-Know-Who was right there, right on the other side of one of these doors. It wasn't some random bystander like Bode though, it was a member of the Order again. It was Sirius Black.

Chapter Text

At first James thought the concussive, ear-splitting shrieking noise was coming from him. He knew he wanted to scream, but the air felt lodged in his throat now, because he couldn't see Sirius! Had he been vanished into an unknown abyss for dying in this future!?

They were in a very dark room and something massive was moving about, a sunset was forcing painful light into their eyes from cracks around the edges of heavy curtains only illuminating movement but no distinct shape. The rank smell of several unidentifiable things left him gasping and wheezing and he just kept flailing madly around, he wouldn't stop until he found him!

Something painfully tight latched onto his neck and forced him to bend over double, he shrieked in fury, trying to pull away and blindly going for his wand, but he couldn't find it! He must have dropped it when he landed-

"Prongs, stop, moving," Remus hissed in his ear with more stress than he ever would have believed him capable of, hand probably white-knuckled on his neck, he was holding so tight and suffocating him a bit, but it was obvious Moony didn't dare let up.

Heart still thudding, the maddening scene of Voldemort murdering his brother slowly ebbed from his eyes to really take in their surroundings.

Buckbeak finally began to calm now that all racket had deceased, but he was still clicking his beak in fury even as all of them edged as far away as they could bent double. He was standing much taller than usual, and James's eyes finally adjusted to see him perched on a bed. There was fresh hay and sawdust all around, plus a bag of dead rats sitting where the pillows should, leaning against a wooden frame like a mock bag of feed. There were deep scratches in the posts, ruining whatever design had once been inlaid, like Buckbeak often rubbed his sharp beak against it. The real problem of why he didn't go back to his meal came apparent when they saw all the blood around him wasn't from his food, but a deep cut in his front leg.

Sirius finally came into view, and James breathed in relief and tried to move towards him, but Remus kept him in the forced bow with bruising force as Padfoot began gently, "hey there buddy, wow that looks like a problem. I bet it hurts, how'd you manage that huh? Come here Buckbeak, come on, I promise I'll summon up whatever your favorite is if you let me have a look."

Maybe it was the gentle tone, maybe it was the familiarity of the person even if he was several years younger, in Remus's opinion it was just Sirius's innate ability to soothe anyone if he wanted to with that natural charisma when he unleashed it and nobody could resist. Regardless, Buckbeak finally folded his wings and made a pitiful cooing noise as he nudged his head against his shoulder and shuffled forward on three legs while Sirius kept up his inane chatter and carefully climbed up beside him, never moving to fast.

There were already some bandages and cotton balls waiting open and ready at the foot of the king sized bed, Sirius ruddy hoped someone was up here helping the poor thing out. He could now only wish it was himself though, it would be the most useful thing he'd ever done in his life at this point instead of- nope! He was doing it now, taking every care to keep chatting with the hippogriff as he cleaned the wound and wrapped it up tight. He didn't dare draw his wand to try anything else, these beasts were notoriously shy about magic in their presence.

The others began cautiously rising back to normal, and Buckbeak allowed it as Sirius began hand-feeding him from the bag of rats. His tail was still thrashing, binocular vision able to track everything on both sides of his head, but he remained at Sirius's side standing on the bed rather than trying to chase them off, which would do no good, he'd already seen Evans try the door out of the corner of his eye.

James tried edging forward, but Buckbeak spat a dead rat in his face, tearing up his bedding with his good claw as he heavily pawed the ground. Sirius reached up and pat his beak while catching James's eye with the most comforting smile he could offer. "Relax Prongs," his tone was still more honeyed than it had ever been speaking to his best mate, he usually reserved such a thing for teachers he was trying to flatter out of detention. It never worked on anyone but this hippogriff before. "I'm, I'm fine-"

He couldn't keep lying, his voice shook and his fingers began to tremble and the restless animal easily sensed his distress and began ruffling his feathers in unease. Sirius quieted himself and began running his hand along the gray feathers now, stopping to scratch in between the shoulder blades and the back of the neck, those hard-to-reach places that had him almost cooing with content and finally relaxing into him.

No, he was not fine. Of all the trouble he'd ever caused his friends, this was by far the most grievous one yet, now with Harry added to the mix! His godson, his poor godson forced to see this, live Voldemort's pleasure of murdering him! All because he couldn't do one stupid thing right and suck it up in this house. Perhaps he should take a page out of Wormtail's book and start distancing himself from them, give them all a break from his never ending catastrophes!

They watched in distress as Sirius worked himself up to a silent storm, he was clearly making the animal ill at ease as well no matter the affection given, so when Smith grabbed the book up off the ground and began reading, both startled badly yet again. Buckbeak threw his wings to their full extent and shrieked at her while Sirius flinched and had no time to duck, earning the retaliation of being thrown into the heavy curtains and sent them all on top of him, throwing the rest of the room into sharp relief.

Out of the Fire, into the frying pan, Remus finished in his head as he and James rushed forward to help untangle him while the powerful horse legs kicked wildly at the wall, sending a splintering noise in the very foundation while the bellowing shrieks began again.

Alice dropped the book and immediately bowed in apology, mildly appeasing the hippogriff enough he didn't lunge off the bed to attack her at least. He still didn't seem able to settle though, making a keening noise of longing and clicking his beak as he began pacing restlessly on the bed.

It was the most splendid thing in here. The midnight walls had silvery threads in the design up to the ceiling like veins that seemed to seep right down to the canopy that was torn to shreds, but the grandeur ended there. Regulus had only been in here once to even know such a thing was in his parents' room, otherwise it was unrecognizable as all of their things had vanished. They were forbidden from entering, but obviously that hadn't stopped Sirius's purge of the house, which of course made perfect sense why Sirius had put his ruddy pet up here.

His brother smiled, just a bit when his mates got him back on his feet and he realized the same of his own destruction. Regulus longed to throw at him it was doing shit like this why he brought so much of his own troubles on himself, he'd never really tried to make peace with mum and dad. Instead he seemed to go out of his way to do things they dislike just to complain that they hated him.

Regulus cringed at the idea of going back and attempting the same. He'd never be so blatant and in their face at it as his brother, but he didn't much like the idea of them shouting at him the way they did Sirius if he told them he had other plans for his life. He still longed for some kind of peaceful balance.

Potter and Lupin both seemed reluctant to let him back out of arm's length, but the creature refused to settle until Sirius got back on the bed with him and snapped dangerously at anyone who tried to join him. Sirius offered him another rodent carcass and waited until he'd gnashed away at it before nodding back at Smith with that calm aloof air once more he was so familiar with, it was impossible to tell what he was really thinking when he shut down like that, just how they were raised. Mother may actually be proud of him at that moment.

Now his idiot brother was going to die because he'd been in this house too long and refused to listen to anyone, but at least he'd have someone around to notice like Harry and Lupin. The shock of it all felt like an insulting blow to his world view. Sirius was going to be murdered for doing the opposite of what he'd done, was there really no right answer?

She began again in an attempt at a soothing tone like his, and though the bird head was tossed in agitation, he didn't throw his companion aside again but allowed the noise as it did him no harm and her voice was very soft, with fear. She read with dread of poor Harry's panic as he tore off for the Hospital Wing for McGonagall, who wasn't there. She'd been transferred to St. Mungo's.

Harry only had Snape to turn to for help, and that idea didn't seem to be occurring to him as his friends caught up and he had to explain the whole maddening concept to them.

Regulus listened with pity for Harry having to live through this, but something else was ebbing to the surface as he watched the Potter in here. Envy. Sirius kept looking to him, offering him that carefree smile as he kept patting at the beast and even winking at Lupin like this was some joke, making silly faces and even starting to hum a tune under his breath as he continued scratching at the animal, and when he wasn't doing that he was just the haughty Black heir. For all anyone could tell his godson was out having a picnic with him. It was a very good farce a lesser person would have fallen for.

Sirius didn't even look at him. Not to gloat this was the proper way to go against the Dark Lord, not to sneer and mock him for being up in this room he shouldn't be or even to have a laugh about it. He'd known for a very long time now James Potter was his brother's equal in a way he never could be, but this hadn't felt quite so insulting until this very moment where he clearly wasn't even going to be a passing blip as his brother was probably over there pondering what his last thoughts would be.

Frank had his hands on Alice's waist as she read, holding her close as her voice trembled for Harry's pain. They didn't even know Sirius, not really, they felt they had a better understanding of the man he'd become through Harry than the teenager who seemed so determined to ignore the proceedings.

Their aching sympathy though didn't dim their downright confusion at the circumstances. He caught Lily's eyes and saw the same confused expression as she watched him, Hermione's pertinent questions that had no effect on Harry had the three of them very worried something about this wasn't feeling right.

Sirius shouldn't have been leaving this home for this plan to be possible, but this was the same man who'd broken out of Azkaban, that part wasn't so unbelievable no matter who told him what. Why would You-Know-Who need him to get this weapon though? That was a very stumping question, and one they hoped they weren't privy to. If Harry dipped back into the other's mind and heard, the answer would give no relief to these transgressions.

Ron's answer was, plausible, but one look at Regulus didn't make it hold much weight. He'd been killed very soon after his entrance, it seemed laughable he'd even been in You-Know-Who's presence, let alone had some key of knowledge.

Ginny and Luna arriving stopped the impending argument, Harry was so desperate with anger by now that it was a miracle a plan was agreed by all to use Umbridge's fireplace to check this out.

The only one he spoke to for his troubles was Kreacher, laughing about the entire painful situation. Sirius really wasn't there, and now they may get a live version of hearing the great and mighty Black turn out like them if he was tortured while Harry was forced to watch. Neville now being in the very room with them nearly made reality splinter before their eyes.

Lily finally dragged her eyes off of James Potter's white face and buried her own away in her hands so she didn't have to see his reaction when Harry finally remembered Severus Snape was a member of the Order. She didn't even believe anymore he would have helped Harry, she didn't believe much of anything anymore. Here she was, nearly crying in sorrow for these two and only able to imagine her poor son losing someone again, and hating her best friend, what on Earth was this future? How could it be possible something like this could exist?

Something in her sparked traitorously as she looked back up when she heard him lying to Umbridge. Veritaserum was far from the only truth serum, and for him to pretend he wouldn't have any others was laughable. She turned mechanically back to Potter to see his silent screaming was still in full blast, but his wand was in Lupin's hand and he didn't even seem to care. Even the simple fact that he hadn't a reaction for Severus and only had eyes for his best friend felt right to her. If he'd gone about insulting him now, at a time like this, she'd know he was heartless. Instead she was now reasonably confident, almost hopeful again that Severus really was still in the Order for Dumbledore's secret reason rather than any plot of You-Know-Who's. Sev had no reason to lie to Umbridge and help Sirius anymore than he would Harry, but that's exactly what he was doing.

Harry seemed to miss this revelation, he watched his potions teacher go with the purest loathing once more, and she couldn't blame him, after everything Snape had done to her boy. She wrapped her arms around herself as if torn in two. Was this just another false wish then? She still wanted to see in him that childhood friend? It didn't excuse what he'd called her, but maybe if he really saved Sirius Black's life it would show he wanted to change...

Alice nearly shrieked and wanted to throw the book away from herself when Umbridge's next solution was to use the torture curse on Harry. Buckbeak was still no calmer in the heavy environment and glowered at her, but Sirius was quick to keep his attention, a murmuring promise of more spoils for him as soon as he could. He was starting to lose his composure though, they could all see the cracks now. He wasn't even looking at his best mate anymore, his fingers were trembling in the soft texture and his hair was covering most of his face.

The two had once been each other's salvation in escaping Hogwarts, Sirius fought the mad desire to try so now. Throw open that window and ride off into the sunset on the back of the hippogriff, maybe animals could come and go from this nightmare.

He knew he couldn't though, he felt like a coward for even thinking it. His friends might be better off without him, but damn it all, even Hermione was coming up with quite the story to Umbridge's face and got Harry out of that situation, the three of them heading off to the Forbidden Forest! If that girl, who hadn't even wanted to help him moments ago, thinking Harry was having some nightmare, could manage that, he'd suck it up and be there for them any way they wanted him.

HPHPHP

For those of you who are disappointed you didn't get much of the other three Marauders thoughts, have no fears, I just broke it up a bit again and you'll be getting that full force over the next chapters. Hope you enjoyed, thanks for reading!

Chapter Text

Remus nearly lost consciousness; he hit something so hard and a flare of pain raked his whole body, but he absolutely refused to let himself black out again. If he was doomed to transform now, he would do anything to lock himself up alone first.

Instead he pushed himself off something solid silver, the red patches from where it had contacted his skin leaving him looking as if he had a fresh sunburn on his forehead, his palms shiny around the edges. The item had been the flat edge of a sword, now slightly dented from his impact, gleaming faintly in the poor lighting in here and waiting at the bottom of a long row of daggers, broadswords, and cutlasses on a rack. There were even more weapons all around, bows and arrows, spears, even a mace and trident. Nothing had come loose and killed him when he'd fallen into here, but he got cautiously to his feet and turned uneasily about the armory to see no one else around him.

He made instantly for the door and was relieved to be let out, only to find himself in an even more strange environment. He'd stepped right out of a tree, and there were clusters of others all around with doors carved into them. Even stranger still, he felt he should vaguely recognize the air as he took uneasy breaths, he just didn't care enough to figure it out as he immediately went searching for Sirius.

The village would have been fascinating to explore any other time. He passed homes that each had a unique care to it and even another room that stored some odd contraptions he'd like to take a look at under other circumstances. There were deep hoof marks in the dusty worn trails serving as roadways along each entrance. As far as he knew, nobody in history had been to one of these.

He just kept searching desperately, ears pricked for even the smallest noise. He couldn't actually scent out Padfoot, but his senses were stronger than most people's and he'd swear he'd be able to smell at least blood in the air if that had been around, and it was where he managed to find him.

Sirius was standing next to a crackling fire, looking at a deer carcass with a blank face. It was barely identifiable as such, it had already been skinned, the entrails were clearly being packed into salt crates around them, the hooves and tail were clearly next on the chopping block. Large stocks of fruits and vegetables all native to their Forbidden Forest sat in wicker baskets in carefully sorted piles.

Remus really hadn't a care, he was just surprised James hadn't beaten him here as he pulled Sirius to his chest.

He allowed it, but only for a few moments before he tried to pull away again. Remus tried not to let the panic force him to pull Padfoot right back as he got a good look at his face, the haughty look about him once more was terrifying. It's all he'd seen of Sirius those long three weeks they hadn't been talking.

"Don't do that Sirius," he pleaded, reaching for his hand. Sirius averted his eyes but let their fingers tangle together, Remus squeezed. "Don't close yourself off like that, please."

"I'm not," he was doing a passable job of just sounding bored, but he flinched terribly when Evans's voice echoed around them for the book, Fight and Flight. "Relax Moony, just because I'm not snogging you right now doesn't mean I'm not happy to see you."

"I really hope you don't think I'm buying that," Remus snapped, fighting the impulse to grab his face and force him to meet his eyes. "Your libido isn't the point, don't act like you don't care."

Sirius did look at him then, finally meeting his eyes but snatching his hand away and taking a step back, he obviously felt something now. "Don't tell me how I feel!"

The argument that had started this between them hovered dangerously in the air once more, Remus licked his lips and forced himself to remain calm. If he got Sirius shouting again, at least that would be an emotion to process. "I'm not trying to Sirius, just don't go off again pretending so. That's not helping-"

"You're the one who told me to piss off last time!" Sirius snapped, taking another step away.

"So that you could think about what you did, considering you were trying to pretend nothing was wrong!" Remus said slowly, forcing himself not to take another step towards him. If Sirius needed to shout then fine, but he wasn't going to help along the fight.

Sirius scoffed and turned back towards the fire, crossing his arms and snapping right back to that cool, aloof mask Remus was beginning to loathe. He very much wanted to hit him right now, or kiss him. Both urges were far too tangled up to be healthy he was sure.

 Padfoot spoke in a bored, drawling tone, "I never thought Snivellus would listen to me and go down that tree. I thought you knew me better than that Moony, I don't care enough about him to actually try to kill him, let alone involving you! He's just a pest."

Remus's breath shuddered as he forced it to come out slowly, Sirius was absolutely still downplaying this then. He tried not to let his anger rise to the surface, but he didn't know how else to make Sirius see the consequences of his actions if he wouldn't even face them. Even with this future forced upon them, Harry was in this ruddy forest pissing off the centaurs right along with Umbridge while Sirius was being tortured, and still he refused to see anything wrong with his choices? "Why did you kiss me?" He whispered not because he feared anyone else could hear, but he was too afraid of the answer, he almost hoped Sirius didn't hear him.

He did though, turning back and looking at him with real emotion again, but he looked just as confused and hurt now as Remus felt, looking at the burn marks on his skin with concern as he spoke gently. "Because I do care about you, bloody hell what else do I have to do to show you that?"

'Show,' Remus realized. Sirius had always worn his heart on his sleeves and never really feared showing any emotion, it's why he was always so in trouble with his parents and he'd gotten on so easily with James who never hid anything from anyone. It took effort to do so like he was now and keep himself at a distance. He even stopped for just a moment, Sirius took a step back towards him and reached for his hand with an easy smile once more, but let it drop just as quickly and sighed, hair falling back into his face and making no effort to push it away. Whatever emotion he was trying so desperately to hold back was hurting him.

Remus wanted to pull him into his arms and promise he wasn't alone with this, but that would just be a lie, wouldn't it? He certainly hadn't been there for Sirius when any of it mattered in this future. If he did now, maybe- but then they spotted red sparks in the distance, and both of them winced a bit with guilt. James would be going spare, he wouldn't want Sirius out of sight and only Remus restraining him the whole of the last location had kept him from getting murdered by Buckbeak. Prongs would have risked whatever that hippogriff did to him just to be by his best mate right now, Remus had to keep a cool head for all of them.

He offered his hand, pretending as much as he could it didn't hurt when Sirius hesitated before reluctantly taking it and the two went towards the beacon. Remus dropped contact guiltily when they came into view, Peter looked exhausted trying to hold James in place beneath the signal and clearly released him with pleasure as Prongs tackled Padfoot. He didn't know where Regulus or the others were and frankly didn't care right now, surely there wasn't anything too dangerous in this centaur village torturing them even if Umbridge was being dragged off for here.

How was he any better than Sirius, not wanting to tell about the two off shagging whenever they could. He still wanted to talk to Sirius about it but had been avoiding it as thoroughly as he could since there had to be some end goal when this all ended, but how long could that last? Did Sirius even know he'd had a crush on this idiot since he was twelve and Sirius had offered to keep his werewolf status a secret even from James? How could he, when Remus had never exactly told him, returning the physical affection obviously did not mean the same thing to Sirius. That he didn't think they were just friends with benefits right now and he wasn't just doing this for some fun and good times?

Listening to Grawp stumbling onto the scene and saving Harry from the horde of still angry centaurs and that ensuing fight was not a kind distraction, nor was the rest of Harry's group arriving in the forest and those thestrals being attracted to the scent of blood, finally giving Harry some means to get to Sirius and witness it all in person. He longed to reach out and hold Sirius's hand, be damned anyone who saw, but he stopped himself as he still played back Padfoot's sudden reluctance. If he really thought this was just casual on the off, then he wasn't going to force something more intimate right now, especially as they could be heading right towards Sirius's dead body.

Chapter Text

Peter was not the only one who did a quick head count the moment they landed in a long, narrow aisle in the poorest of lighting and still sighed in relief to only see seven people moving about, if not counting themselves. Sirius had landed farthest away, sliding a bit into the shadows, but James moved instantly this time and caught him, pulling them all into a quick circle of relative safety and they all complied as they spied around.

It was exactly as the book had described, a great cathedral-sized room so large you couldn't see the walls or ceiling, with tiny little specks of dusty light the most pitiful of visible sources to give them exposure. The smallest of peeks around the corner showed endless rows of shelves, and they were on ninety-seven.

Their breathing sounded obnoxiously loud in the silence that followed. It should have been of some comfort no dead body had appeared this time, but it gave no one a single second of belief somebody wasn't going to come out of this dead, the most likely candidate the one amongst them. Peter had to crane his neck a bit, but finally he spotted the book resting on the shelf of objects, tiny little spun glass orbs each with a plaque underneath them. He frowned and turned slightly, now dead center in the group as everyone else kept looking around while he read:

S.P.T. to A.P.W.B.D.

Dark Lord and (?) Harry Potter

He opened, then closed his mouth. He really should point that out to James, but he was hoping to get out of here instead, and yet, what were the odds the book wasn't going to do the same?

Regulus finally turned away from the endless shadows around them to see the same. The two frowned uneasily at each other, but Regulus quietly summoned the book to him instead of saying anything too. The chapter title was inevitable, The Department of Mysteries.

James, Sirius, and Remus all flinched heavily as Regulus began, moving closer to each other but still not daring to leave the sanctity of this tiny little space that wasn't currently trying to kill them. You-Know-Who was not lurking around the corner waiting to kill them all, he was just as human as anyone no matter how much the maniac tried to pretend otherwise, he was not above such trivial descriptions.

It was still hard to keep that thought in mind as Harry just kept feeling the pain of his scar. The journey seemed to take ages, by the time the teenagers on their way here arrived the others were at least trying to force themselves to relax enough they weren't standing on the balls of their feet, ready to run or throw a curse at a moment's notice. Instead they were all starting to take a look around now at the details of this place, even if still nobody dared speak a word except Regulus trying to get them out of here.

Except Sirius. Despite James having one death grip on his arm and the other holding his wand quickly snatched back from Moony, he was still just a foot apart from everyone else as close together as they could, that cold expression still held in place, his resemblance to Regulus was more heightened than ever. He still had his wand at the ready, he tracked James carefully as he watched the book when Harry made it down to that long corridor without a single obstacle and his face was just as worried for his godson to be here as they were, but there was still something remote to it all, like a delayed reaction behind whatever he was really thinking.

Sirius was the most impulsive, brash person Peter was convinced he'd ever meet. The first time they'd ever passed each other in the corridor was leaving Potions and he'd been pushed out of the way onto the stairs, the arsehole snickering as he chased after James without looking back. Yet Peter had hovered, and hoped, and watched the two in fascination for how easily they knew the place in their very first week. It had taken him less than a month to discover people so easily overlooked him and the ready penchant for eavesdropping quickly developed.

They'd noticed him though. James had caught him at it, smiling and offering if he wanted to help them out with something while Sirius had rolled his eyes and huffed impatiently, muttering about they didn't need a little sneak around to pull this prank off. Peter had excelled though, giving extravagant and detailed information of who would be where when this took place so much so they'd never tried pulling a stunt without him keeping an eye out again.

Padfoot had still taken a bit to warm up to him, but eventually he'd stopped side-eying him in annoyance and instead started up the teasing. Little things that slowly got more elaborate as time went on. Joking threats he used just as readily on Snivellus as him, smacking him upside the head or even sending a curse if he thought Peter was particularly in the way that day. Peter never protested any of it, the feeling of inclusion and even having this attention from the most popular kids in school was all he could have asked for in his life.

It was also him though Sirius tended to ask first about Muggle things, they had a wide range of experiments back in their door from a cannibalized radio Sirius was trying to pick up Muggle tunes on to even a landline he was trying to get to work. It's not that he didn't have the option of asking Remus either, but the whole thing had started when Sirius asked him for something he couldn't find in his Muggle Studies book and it had all spiraled from there, but it was pretty much the only thing the two ever had fun doing that didn't involve the others.

It was Sirius who held down a student and force-fed him armadillo bile when someone else shoved him down a flight of stairs once. It was always Sirius first who had a retaliatory remark, spell or otherwise if he perceived the slightest threat to any of them. His inherently cruel nature only rarely tempered off by James's influence as he jumped in to help, but escalation of whatever Sirius had been tempted to do somehow always had them laughing rather than anybody really needing a trip to the hospital wing by the end.

Whatever indifference Sirius was trying so desperately to keep up for Harry searching room upon room for him, Peter had a bad feeling for who it was going to break on when Harry did find him. He rubbed ruefully at his nose and watched Regulus, for the first time considering not just being Sirius's outlet if he retaliated.

Harry and even his friends getting delayed in each room for one reason or another was starting to make them all twitchy and sick with stress, Peter started biting at his nails as the endless possibilities for why he hadn't come across anyone. He was half tempted to offer to change forms and have a poke around, maybe they were missing something by refusing to move away. Surely the greatest danger was You-Know-Who, and he couldn't be here.

Sirius finally moved, and as he spoke for the first time his voice cracked with worry as he watched James, "stay away from that."

James had finally noticed the little plaque with his son's name on it just as Harry reached this aisle and was inevitably fixing to do the same. James still had a grip on Sirius, but didn't even seem to hear him as he took a curious step forward, a look on his face Peter really didn't like. James only waited long enough to hear that Harry picked it up just fine before reaching to do the same.

"It's not worth it Prongs!" Sirius said instantly, switching it now so that he was holding onto him, he had hold of his dominant hand and wand, but couldn't reach the other, there were just too many people in the way and he'd swear the shelves were already trembling from their proximity.

"You can't tell me this is a coincidence? This thing's obviously important! I'm related to Harry! Surely that should count-"

"Don't!" Evans pleaded with him, reaching out on impulse and catching his other wrist, and on pure instinct he looked to meet her eyes, and she stared back without a single waver. "Listen to yourself Potter! This hasn't happened yet, and bloody hell knows what'll happen to you if you do this now when we still have a chance to stop it."

"This could be our only chance!" James insisted, trying to fight her off weakly without actually touching her, that would be too distracting right now. "We could stop all of this now if we just get this stupid thing Voldemort wants so bad!" Nobody flinched at the sound of the name. "This is our chance to fix it all!"

"What if you die right now," Sirius pleaded with him desperately. Evans still hadn't let go of his wrist, Sirius still had a firm hold on his arm, but James hadn't so much as looked away. "That Bode man ended up with Alice and Frank because he was forced to try and grab this!" Their jokes and laughter all from before as they'd interacted with the various, seemingly empty environments felt more like a haunted nightmare. Peter still had a chunk missing from his ear, Sirius himself still had the scars from his fight with Moony, James's fingers were still injured from back when all this began. If James touched that, who knew if the effects would be reversed. "If you end up like that James, Harry'll never even be born, this'll all be for nothing!"

James still looked desperately at it, that tiny little pinprick of light the only thing he could see.

Peter couldn't just listen this time though, if they couldn't talk him down then Peter was prepared to stun him to keep him from doing it, but then the shelves began to shake.

Regulus blanched and whipped back to reading faster than ever as the shelves around them began heaving and moving dangerously, a few tiny glass balls even began raining down around them, one coming so dangerously close to hitting Peter he felt the graze of it like a slap on the cheek as it crashed at his feet instead. The puff of smoke tried to solidify into an old bearded man saying something, but his voice was lost under Regulus's.

James was still trying to push the others off, his damnable need for action that had led all of them through their years in school pushing him to still try one last desperate attempt to reach for the little ball still in place as Regulus finished with the perilous sentence Harry's group finally had company.

Chapter Text

Sirius saw something black fluttering as he stumbled around and only had a moment to be grateful at least he was about to hit something soft when a strong pair of arms grabbed him. He groaned as James hauled him to the ground instead, both of them now facedown on the cold stone floor.

He sat up and decided against pushing him down the stairs in retaliation, he was too grateful Prongs was okay. James sat up with a very peeved look on his face they'd successfully stopped him grabbing that stupid thing, now Sirius looked around critically to make sure there wasn't anything else to worry about killing them.

Regulus, Evans, he and James were up on some sort of raised dais, that creepy black thing that had so fascinated Harry and a few other kids fluttering along with no breeze in sight. Sirius concentrated for a moment but heard nothing whisper-like at all, but he still found himself grateful James had stopped him from stumbling through that as he probably was about to, it gave him the creeps even more in person. The book was resting on the arch holding it into place.

The other four had landed in a scattered mess all around, sitting up plenty fast and looking around in concern. He watched as Peter and Longbottom immediately looked to that thing as well, and seemed far more intrigued than anything. Wormtail didn't even get up, staying in place and watching the movement with that critical eye of his. Longbottom got slowly to his feet and actually began moving forward, despite the fact Alice was at the opposite end of the room and he didn't even seem to notice.

Remus was too, but he had eyes only on Sirius as he moved slowly down the steep stairs farther into the pit. Sirius quickly averted his eyes and made to grab the book, and scowled in frustration when James beat him to it. He gave it a toss though and called, "here Moony, get us out of here please?" Eyes still on Sirius with that expression he probably should have felt something for, but he'd been numb so long now he wasn't entirely sure what himself. He'd just known he shouldn't let Prongs grab that, so he'd stopped him. He'd gone through the motions of letting Remus comfort him, but even then it had felt more like watching someone else move his hand. Even the brief flair of emotion he'd felt being held by Moony had almost undone him, so he'd just screwed the lid tighter on all these bubbling emotions.

A spike of fear finally shot through his consciousness as Remus stuttered, "B-Beyond the, the Veil." He'd never heard Remus so terrified in his life as he whispered that and dropped the book, shaking his head in remorse as he mouthed he wouldn't do it.

It was the same look James had on his face since Harry had that vision, still there now as he grabbed Sirius and pulled him forcefully down the stairs to grab the book and still not leaving an inch of space between them. His son or his brother, Sirius had known from the beginning as well as anyone James was being torn in two now with both in such danger and he was actually going to force himself to read the results rather than waiting around for anyone else to figure it out. Sirius knew he should stop him, but he couldn't hold onto the feeling long enough to act on it.

Sirius was still clinging to his nothingness, an absolutely useless shell as he listened to Death Eaters arriving, taunting Harry and those teenagers with knowledge of what Harry now had in that Prophecy. He wondered if this is what those long years in Azkaban would feel like, just shutting down and not thinking for as long as possible, listening to sounds and refusing to react lest a Dementor was drawn back to you.

He didn't want to be! He wanted to hug James and tear that book away, stand on top of that stupid arch if he had to and read to save Prongs from this, he wanted to hold Remus and promise he'd never be alone, to check on Peter and Regulus to make sure they were okay. Someone should probably check on Evans too, he couldn't even imagine how she'd be dealing with all of this, her kid in danger because of him. Hell, he even felt for Longbottom and Alice, they'd never asked for any of this and their kid was in just as much trouble as his godson!

Every time he caught himself moving though he just doubled down on his new resolve, if he acted on a single one of those impulses he'd probably just make things worse, again! Somehow, someway he'd manage it in this room.

Harry was in trouble now. Bellatrix and Malfoy were taunting them all with promises of an answer while Harry's gang worked out a silent plan to get themselves away. They were mocked with vicious lies about Sirius's involvement being nothing more than a dream, and honestly they still couldn't believe it.

Whether a lie that had brought Harry there or a lie to sway them into running only to have him as a hostage still, Harry was given no true time to collect himself as the plan was put into motion and the Prophecy room was destroyed, scattering Dumbledore's Army and their enemies all about this place. Nobody had the inclination to go traveling through the other rooms in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the destruction as the war began taking victims from both sides.

Harry, Neville, and Hermione had been separated from Luna, Ron, and Ginny with half a dozen Death Eaters after each.

Neville's nose and wand were broken, and two Death Eaters were down, one more spectacularly than they'd ever be able to imagine with that baby head. Hermione went down in a flash of purple, and so did a Death Eater via Harry in retaliation.

"Frank?" The true fear in her voice didn't really register though.

It was more James looking around, actually distracted from this that had Sirius doing the same, but he did feel another beat of shock to see him tugging on Alice's hand to be let go, eyes glazed over as he still watched the blackness. Lily had jumped down and joined them, but he wasn't acknowledging the two girls one bit, mouthing something none could hear. Alice looked near tears he wasn't even reacting to the knowledge Neville had apparently just lost his dad's own wand in the fight, he wasn't really reacting to anything anymore either.

A shot of real panic finally washed over Sirius as he turned wildly back around and saw Peter was edging onto the stairs, small tentative steps but still just as riveted on that thing. Regulus was right in front of him on the dais, waving his hand pleadingly in front of his face and holding his wand dangerously, but Peter wasn't fighting as hard to get away, he just couldn't seem to stop looking.

"James, read faster," Sirius stated, finally moving again towards the pair. He didn't care if they hated him even more later, he'd drop dead rather than not react to this! James reached out to grab him though, nearly hyperventilating with stress. "It's alright Prongs," Sirius promised, squeezing the hand that trembled along his shoulder, finally meeting his eyes again. "Get us out of here."

Sirius finally getting his spark of life back bolstered James like nothing else could have, he swallowed and nodded with determination while Sirius and Remus went up the steps to get the other two. Peter went down backwards obligingly, but still had a very drugged sort of expression like he had no clue of anything except that small fluttering movement. James was reading with a vengeance now though, his strong voice carried in the whole room as Harry and his friends managed to regroup, but couldn't seem to get out of there.

Regulus put a firm hand on Peter's shoulder until he sat down on the ground and still he craned his neck to keep the thing in sight. Longbottom was really struggling against the girls now, pushing them away with force and calling, "Dad?" He wasn't going for his wand yet, but Sirius wasn't going to let it go that far.

He'd feel bad later for this as well when he aimed and petrificus totalus, causing Longbottom's limbs to snap together and he fell to the ground stiff as a board. There wasn't a chance anyone was going near that thing now as Harry came crashing back into this room alone! Every one of his friends were out of commission in one way or another, his godson had the prophecy and nowhere to run but up there in a mockery for the center of attention he was so like James for.

Neville wasn't going to stand for that though, broken nose and useless wand as his only form of attack while he descended into the fray. Alice made such a terrifying noise of fury Sirius jumped to be between her and James, but her vengeance for Bellatrix Lestrange mocking her child was not to be directed at anyone in here as she stayed by Frank's side and held his petrified hand.

The Cruciatus curse was set upon their child and Sirius couldn't just stand there doing nothing! He knew that pain, his godson had been subjected to the same from Voldemort, he made to go over there and promise Neville would live through it and anybody who said otherwise would pay, but the ghost of Prongs and Evans weren't going to swoop in and save anybody this time, the Order arrived.

James moved again and wasn't letting go this time, holding Sirius firmly to his side and balancing the book carefully as he rushed in amongst the others. This should have been a good thing, Sirius kept telling himself as he put an easy arm around James's back this time and held him just as close in commiseration. This should have been exactly what they were hoping for, Sirius up and around on his feet to the rescue, Harry would get out of there in no time now!

They kept expecting flashes of light to blind them from the battle, the eight of them were all staying low to the floor now even if they didn't need to and James was practically whispering the dreaded back and forth. Remus was holding his hand now and he didn't know or care who had started that as the prophecy was broken and everything felt so hopeless right now.

"Dumbledore?!" Sirius repeated in a great sigh of relief in case anyone had missed what Prongs had said. He moved to get up and dance around the room in excitement, maybe even try a few of those doors now and skip along merrily in here! Everything was supposed to be fine now, their headmaster could best Voldemort, nothing else was going to happen in this room while that white beard was around!

Prongs hadn't stopped though, his grip on Sirius turned to bruising force as he was still battling Bellatrix and Sirius laughed in wild delight for the idea, it was high time he got to bloody do something useful in this future like that!

Whatever words had appeared next though seemed to have frozen him over, and Sirius leaned in impatiently, still high on his jubilation to read more in confusion than anything Bellatrix had hit him with a spell! The nerve of her sent him into a fit of anger now, reading in a temper what James never could and not even realizing what he'd said until far too late.

Sirius had been the one to fall into the veil, and he did not come back out.

Chapter Text

To guest: Thank you so much! I'm so flattered, I too read chapters too fast and then reread whole chunks of the fic and it's mind boggling to me others do for what I write! Thank you so much and I hope the fall out below is to your satisfaction!

HPHPHPHP

"Shit," James whispered as he once again tumbled blindly around a new location without a care, all he knew was that Sirius had been torn away from him again!

"Shit," he said firmly as he saw Sirius had shut down, again. Whatever life James hadn't even been able to really revel in that had come back to his brother in that place had vanished without a trace as Sirius stayed slumped against a wall, Remus shaking him gently to rouse a response and not getting even a fake one this time. James didn't look twice at the cubicles with various pictures of Sirius throughout his life hung on the walls, surrounded on multiple sides by that ghastly prisoner photo, eyes only on the real one.

He grabbed up Sirius and made to pull him away, Padfoot only seemed able to stay on his feet because James was moving him. They were fixing this now! "Shit!" He cussed at the top of his lungs as the elevator once more refused to open, and he didn't care. He knew nor cared where anyone else was right now, let anyone else see!

"Sirius!" He held tight to his shoulders and ignored the way his voice cracked pitifully when Sirius was right back to not meeting his eyes. "Sirius, please, hit me if you have to! Shout, bloody hell sing if you must, but snap out of it!"

Nothing happened for so very long, the world may as well have really ended. James was crying now, but he brushed at his eyes impatiently with one hand and pressed the other to Sirius's still beating heart. James was beyond angry, beyond scared, he wasn't even sure how to fix this. Sirius hadn't shut down like this since his fight with Remus, and James had done nothing to fix that, just hoping they'd work it out!

The two had patched up though, and he'd thought everything had been okay. He'd known something had always been off, but some stupid insecurity for how he'd handled Peter had him asking Remus instead! He'd never have guessed Sirius would go back to this! Through every trial and catastrophe they'd faced during all of this, even during the Azkaban mess James had been there for him every step of the way to promise that would never change. For every problem that they'd ever faced, they'd always done it together with a smile because they'd never let the world keep them down. A joke just wasn't going to fix this though, James couldn't have even if he thought it would help. All he could do was leave his hand in place and be as brutally honest as he ever could. "Please, Sirius, I won't do this without you."

He meant it, in whatever way he could. He would not damn the others to this void of empty, haunted locations forever and burn that book like he so wanted to, they'd keep going along until they were free of this or died trying, but James would not and could not keep it together without him.

James had been loved by his doting parents and given everything he could ever ask for, except a brother. Euphemia and Fleamont had tried their best, but they hadn't been capable of keeping up with their energetic child nor producing any others, so while he hadn't exactly been alone or lonely, the moment he'd stepped onto that train he'd latched onto Sirius with that fierce energy of his, the two connecting as if they were two parts of a whole instantly. He loved Remus and Peter, he couldn't ask for better friends and wouldn't trade them for anyone in the castle, but Sirius was his brother, practically his twin in all the ways that mattered.

Something finally flickered to life in those dark gray eyes as he seemed to realize James wasn't moving away. It was slow at first, but building quickly as he started gasping. Like a shroud being ripped away, every single thing he'd been avoiding came slamming down on him all at once. "I'm sorry, I-" and then he screamed. A deep ball of guilt and sorrow for everything he'd caused, ever since Remus had told him to clear off and not come back finally came loose and rattled free now. James just pulled him into his chest and held on even if his ears started bleeding.

Sirius held tight to James even as his knees gave out on him and he started falling to the floor, so James just went with him and they stayed slumped against the lift as Sirius started uttering every kind of apology imaginable in a barely strung together voice. Like a film flickering in his head, his life really flashing before his eyes and he'd done everything the worst way humanly possible!

"It's alright, just get it out," James promised, holding him all the tighter. "You didn't fuck up, nobody hates you, alright? I don't, Harry won't, we'll stop all of this, I promise, just breathe."

He let his head rest on top of Sirius's as he let his own words really resonate in him, closing his eyes as he accepted the loss of what he was saying. If he had to give up on the idea of Lily Evans, if Harry really not being born would somehow stop this happening to Sirius, it was a price he'd just have to pay. Peter was already drawing away from them, Merlin knew what was up with Remus in this future and they didn't seem likely to get an answer for that! He was not losing Sirius.

Time still did not move around them, Sirius had no idea how long it took to wring himself out but it inevitably happened. He was forced to take in this place and embarrassment began to overpower his own shame at how he'd handled himself the previous month as well as this future.

He'd never cried in front of anyone before, now he found himself still coughing wetly practically in James's lap in front of five people he didn't particularly want to be around for various reasons right now as they all stood semi-visible throughout the Auror Office. He was done with putting anything else off for later though.

Untangling the various levels of guilt still left one predominantly at the top, and it wasn't hard at all to find Remus hovering very close by, his hand outstretched like he wanted to help and wasn't allowing himself to interfere all at once. He'd never spoken more sincerely in his life when he told him, "I'm sorry, for Snape. I shouldn't have ever said that, never as a joke or anything, and I won't ever let anyone around Moony again."

"I know that," Remus actually smiled of all things, he looked almost like he was trying not to laugh. "You've more than proven that Sirius, I said I forgave you and I do." He reached out gently and placed his hand on Sirius's side, those horrible scars.

Sirius licked his lips, shamefully aware how he'd been trying to make it up to Remus in the meantime felt pathetic right now. The new scars in his side didn't feel like repayment enough either, but he'd still find some way to prove it to Moony just by being there the rest of his life and holding to that promise.

He nodded and shifted, just enough he was leaning against James rather than completely on top of him, the two staying against the golden doors. Sirius closed his eyes in exhaustion, but then opened them again almost at once to find the book. Harry. His godson had just witnessed something nobody ever should have, let alone this fifteen-year-old who had already lost so much. James may not blame him for dying like that, but if Harry did... was there even any way to make up for that?

Peter had the book. It had landed on a desk, knocking over the nameplate of someone named Scrimgeour who had a detailed map of the London underground with locations marked off. He'd been holding it this entire time, unsure how to help but still wishing he could. He'd never have wished for Sirius to break down like that, it had been so heartbreaking to watch and know he could do nothing to help. Sirius finally met his eyes again though. Unguarded, for the first time since his betrayal had been revealed, and whispered, "go."

Not needing to be told twice and just as worried how Harry was going to deal with all of this, Peter read, "The Only One He Ever Feared."

James kept an arm tight around Sirius through the whole unbearable ordeal, he didn't even look twice at the wedding picture on display, nor have a look through Kingsley's desk or Moody's for that matter, instead he kept his eyes closed and let a few more tears fall as Harry fought off Remus and made a run after Bellatrix Lestrange.

Alice's heart rattled in her chest as she bypassed everything around her in search of Frank. The Quibbler she must have knocked off of Kingsley's desk, he must be a real fan if he kept up with every article, her mind absently noted. The recent photo of Tonks and her parents she kicked across the room, not even entertaining where in this place her and her future husband would have their desks, she was so desperate to find him and unfreeze him.

Half her worry was evaporated when she did find him sitting up with a dazed expression, leaning in confusion against Moody's chair. She only knew it as such for his name plaque, and didn't care enough to look farther as she tackled him in a relieved hug when he smiled upon seeing her.

"I'm fine darling," he promised at once as she searched his face for any sign of lingering desperation. He shivered still, he could perfectly recall the whispers growing stronger by the moment, a nearly forgotten memory of his dad calling out to him he wasn't sure he was happy to get back in this way.

He listened in horror as Harry actually began the mad attempt of fighting Bellatrix, Sirius still had his face covered in shame as he stayed huddled close to his best friend even when Dumbledore and You-Know-Who arrived as he whispered ardent apologies for the whole room as he clearly still blamed himself for Harry ending up in this situation just because he couldn't keep his arse in that house.

Lily couldn't really blame him though, as the battle between the two most powerful wizards cascaded around her son. She remembered those golden statues in vivid detail from their time in that Atrium, James Potter's attempts to comfort her.

She wished she could return the same to the two now, but it would feel disingenuous at best, she was well aware who hadn't been in the Order's party to help with any of this, Severus. Was it any consolation to the two Pettigrew hadn't been with the Death Eaters as well, or just yet more insulting to them as it was to her nobody was there for Harry when he needed them except Albus Dumbledore. What could she say to the two, to anyone except an apology they all felt for this disaster of a future.

The intensity of the battle made the very air feel hot around them, even James's vivid imagination struggled to keep up with every description while holding tight to what still mattered to him, and Harry's involvement nearly did doom him as Voldemort tried to play his last card in possessing his son. Fully invading his mind and body, he shivered in revulsion and still wouldn't allow Sirius to pull away as he gagged for the idea as well, still unable to stop apologizing fluently as for a moment they were all convinced they were hearing Harry's last thoughts.

All he wanted was to see Sirius again.

Like a funnel forcing everything into one tight feeling, Voldemort didn't seem able to stay in Harry's presence and was blasted free of their guide through this time. Sirius made a weak, pathetic little laugh that he still felt all the same, he stopped digging his knuckles into his sternum for too much hitting him at once and just basked in it. Even in death, at least he'd done something to help Harry one last time.

Prongs still held tight to him as Peter softly promised this chapter was almost done, like he was determined to stop that wrenching apart from happening to them this time as Fudge arrived to the same plane of existence as the rest of them rather forcibly and Harry was blessedly sent back to school.

HPHPHPHP

Oh, did I happen to not mention someone in particular during this? Wait for it...

Chapter Text

The circular office was strewn with bits of broken odds and ends like glittering tears embedded in the carpet, Fawkes was watching them all steadily from the ashes and made a silly little squeaking noise from his baby beak, and the portraits were calling and yelling at them in surprise when reality finally settled back.

Regulus shook his head slowly like he was still trying to get water out of his ears rather than that noise. He couldn't believe it had come from Sirius of all people. It was the most humanizing moment he'd ever seen in his life from his big brother, no longer the confident adult akin to dad. Just a scared teenager who had no idea how to deal with all of this like him.

He still didn't particularly like Potter, he seemed as arrogant as Evans always said, but at least acknowledged it as a good thing he'd been replaced. He certainly hadn't known what to do to help his brother. He'd thought Sirius was helping himself by keeping his emotions at a distance, and he'd obviously been wrong about that.

Sitting up slowly and having to dig a bit of something from out of his fingers from the wreck of this office, he took in the rest of this place with even more unease. If someone had broken in to steal something of worth in the Headmaster's absence, they hadn't done a good job of it as the Sword of Gryffindor was still visible in its case next to the Hat, and the Pensieve was still in its cupboard, as Longbottom proved when he cracked it open and bathed them all in blue light. Clearly valuables hadn't been the goal then, but why just upend all of the headmaster's trinkets? It certainly hadn't been them to do it, nobody had landed close enough to be the source.

The girls opened a door and came out of Dumbledore's adjoining room. A grand bed with plum sheets looked rumpled from one of their landing, Evans was rubbing her head from whatever she'd hit in there.

"Can you imagine how much knowledge must be in that thing," Peter surprised him by saying right beside him, hand outstretched. He was looking from the Pensieve and back with a teasing smile, but Regulus had no desire to stick his head in that. He took the offer reluctantly, surprised he stayed on his feet for as shaky as he felt. "This whole room even, wonder if he's working on another use for dragon's blood somewhere."

Regulus couldn't think of anything to say to that, biting down hard on his cheek as he tried to figure out what to do now. He did want to talk to Sirius, but the image of his big brother in his head had been shattered as much as these items, what was he supposed to say?

"He'll be alright, honestly," Peter told him gently. "Prongs will keep him in order, he just needed to, you know, be serious for a moment," he smirked at his own joke.

Regulus gave a surprised smile, and Sirius full-blown laughed. It wasn't a small office after all.

"Who else would I be Wormy?" He shot back, still slouching comfortably against the door like he hadn't tried to leave, Potter beside him rolling his eyes and audibly grumbling at Peter encouraging that stupidity.

Lupin was failing to hide a smile at the exchange as he grabbed the book from Dumbledore's desk. "The Lost Prophecy," he read with such surprise he actually dropped the book again, making a crunch as it smashed something into even more pieces.

The room stayed frozen for several long moments before Lupin shook himself and grabbed the book back quickly with an uneasy look at Potter, who had frozen up as if another death had been announced all over again. Sirius moved instantly, rubbing at his arm and muttering something for their ears alone. He relaxed, just a touch, and jerked his head away from the book, glaring out the window with very forced obvious disinterest.

"What, no bets on how Harry magically managed to come across this thing again?" Sirius offered weakly, but when his best mate didn't react, Sirius just gave Lupin a weary look of preparation. "Go on then Moony, let's get it over with. I'm still more worried about Harry than that stupid thing anyways."

Lupin didn't seem to agree, but he took a breath and started.

Harry was in pain. The kind of pain nobody would ever ask for, the loss of his only connection to his parents he'd ever known, or ever would again apparently. Regulus didn't know why Lupin was reading this, as if to spotlight how he once again was absent in Harry's life when needed. He kept going though, as the explanation came readily that it was Harry who had destroyed all this stuff in a rage to Dumbledore. Lupin just kept going though, his tone apologetic and full of sorrow as he kept watching his two mates, but there was something in there Regulus didn't understand, he just didn't know the guy well enough.

Then he looked at Peter and saw how he was studying Lupin and alternately eyeing the surrounding office, and thought he may be able to guess. Dumbledore had let a werewolf into this school when many a headmaster wouldn't dare, and Lupin had been big on defending the Headmaster back when all this had started. That had waned out a bit with each passing book, now he may in fact be doing this as an act of contrition.

The Boy Who Lived wasn't getting much comfort from the old man either, the explanation now coming in droves about his own hand in this horrible scheme of Occlumency and secrets put in him the desire to walk out of this school and never return, it was a wonder Sirius wasn't following in his godson's footsteps and destroying everything in sight.

Potter was the one crying now though, his arm tight around Sirius who wouldn't dare move away as his best mate seemed to have all the energy drained out of him to never return for every dirty crime listed. That it was Kreacher's doing, and the wise leader of the Order told Sirius only had himself to blame for it.

Regulus wanted to be sick at the idea. He wanted to scream like Sirius had and hope that made him feel better but knew it wouldn't. If he could plug up his ears and forget this one thing he knew he would in a heartbeat, that it was his beloved house-elf to be the death of his brother. Sirius looked infuriated beyond belief, it was hard to believe he'd ever hide any emotion again as he bellowed at the top of his lungs for Kreacher to be here right now, but no such summons was acknowledged for the first time in his life.

"Sirius, that's not helping," Regulus pleaded. "You can't just, he didn't mean-"

"Don't you dare Regulus!" Sirius snapped. He didn't take one step away from Potter as he turned all that fury on him now. "He meant to do exactly what happened! Injuring Buckbeak, trying to get Harry killed because of me! He's a worthless piece of shit just like your parents always wanted!"

Regulus winced at every blow, especially the 'your.' Did he already consider himself so unlike him? "Just listen, please," he didn't have an attic to hide away from his brother shouting. If he stopped arguing and pretended he didn't care like Sirius had then maybe he might do something worse than just scream. He'd always learned from his brother's mistakes, and he didn't want to pretend this wasn't horrible to him. To his complete surprise, Sirius really looked at him for a moment, then Peter, and closed his mouth.

The expression was still terrifying, no one could glower like a Black, but Regulus deliriously whispered, "he doesn't know better Sirius! You hate him, I know that, but he's got good in him, just like everybody! Haven't you wondered why he wasn't at home, why the house-elves aren't here at Hogwarts! You can't just want him dead because he's like our parents anymore than-"

He stopped as a soul deep cold whispered in his ear maybe Sirius had changed his mind and didn't care if he died anymore.

"I'm not asking you to like him," he finished in a miserable whisper. "Just, don't, hate him without giving him a chance to try."

Sirius slowly dropped the glare and kept watching him. His eyes flickered around the destroyed office and to his three friends then back to him and Regulus counted silently in his head all the different ways Sirius could kill him in this place just to be rid of his commentary.

His brother slowly eased the tension out of him though, and went back to leaning against his best mate without taking his eyes off of him. His voice was rough, but he sounded like he was actually trying to joke, "am I allowed to hate anyone in this future without that being thrown in my face?"

"Voldemort," Potter said at once with his own glare still held upon the world beyond.

"Bellatrix," Longbottom and Alice spoke at once, a word beyond redemption needed for her.

"Umbridge," Peter and Lupin spoke together with looks of distaste.

"Those Dursleys," Evans finished quietly but calmly.

"I accept that," Sirius finally forced a grin. He didn't really look like he meant it, but the fact that he stopped at all to even hear Regulus out meant the world to him right now, he wasn't going to keep pushing. Kreacher could be better if he just had some other influence, he just knew it! Not everything with their name on it had to end in ruins, surely.

Lupin finally kept going and he watched Evans pace in stark contrast, clearly furious her son was trying to futilely blame all this on Severus when Dumbledore offered explanation for where he'd been, but nobody needed to tell her how flimsy it felt. That Snape had really spent the whole night just wandering around the Forbidden Forest, and hadn't come across the centaurs and Grawp himself to figure all this out, he was more accomplished than that and surely should have been able to join the Order rather than conveniently being left out of the whole instance and not forced to pick a side. It seemed cruel nobody around here was getting the answers they so desperately wanted while Dumbledore explained Harry's life in painful detail to him.

The Prophecy that had set Voldemort after the Potters was issued by one now very familiar Divination teacher to them all.

"It would be her!" Sirius said with such ferocity the woman should have been ducking for cover no matter when she was now. "Bloody her that ruined my life the first time, now we're at round two!"

"I know Padfoot," James agreed patiently, "we'll lock her in a closet for the rest of her life when this is over so she can't be making any more of them, but please-" his voice broke at the end, and Sirius needed no further prompting to keep his mouth shut, a feat only James Potter had ever accomplished. Sirius knew he'd go mad without help if he had to wait any longer to hear this.

James felt like his ears were still ringing long after Remus had stopped reading that prophecy. This one was somehow even more vague than the one that had apparently been Sirius's doom, the only factor that related it to Harry was his birthday, but nothing at all for him to work with, fix some way out of this except possibly being a little choosy when they had their firstborn if that even worked. For all he knew when the prophecy was spoken again it would just change to that month. If he'd had any hope left clinging to his and Lily's son it was gone now, he couldn't condemn a child to this future that had his name in that Hall of Prophecy with no foreseeable way out of it for him.

There was nothing else to do. He couldn't not defy Voldemort, he couldn't stop any of that.

Sirius didn't have to imagine what Harry looked like sitting in this office, his future in ruins, because he was seeing it live. He'd never seen James look so defeated, not about any problem in the world. It had been him to come up with the animagus plan, his brilliant idea to keep Remus and Peter around when Sirius hadn't even originally wanted anything to do with them. His persistent optimism Evans would say yes any day only rivaled his absolute assurances there was more laughter to be had around the next corner if they just followed him.

He would not just sit here and let the fight drain out of James.

"Hey Prongs, I've got a secret," Sirius said at the top of his lungs. "We figured out Voldemort's weapon before him!"

James tried to smile for him, but it didn't feel real, Dumbledore had known this in its entirety this whole time and it hadn't helped Harry a lick, what good was he?

He saw a flash of red out of the corner of his eye, and he chanced a glance up in confusion what Fawkes would have swooped over here for, before his heart stuttered in surprise to see Evans staring down at him, hands on her hips. He couldn't guess at the look on her face, she'd never looked at him so directly with anything other than contempt.

"So, this thrice defined bit," she said airily, "you think it was three times each, or I did it twice more than you? I personally hope it's not something as silly a technicality as not joining Death Eaters, it should be something much more direct like actually hitting him with a curse or two."

Ironically, before, it was like he was trying to watch her without his glasses on, blurry and only the color easy to focus on. She'd always been such a constant fiery presence in his life. Now he really just sat here and looked at her, that this was like a new language to him, just seeing her speak as a normal girl.

"I'll take that as a challenge," he told her casually.

"That's exactly what I was hoping you'd say," she nodded, already turning back away. "Wouldn't be any fun if you just gave up."

Sirius now looked like the one who was dumbstruck as she walked away, but James could only shrug without answer and smile.

Remus kept going gently, some ingrained part of him still hoping Dumbledore would have another answer than this obliqueness, and finally his wish seemed to come true as the headmaster magically gifted them with the smallest ray of hope.

"What does he mean it might not have been Harry? That one we saw at the Ministry, it had Harry's name on it," stringing words together seemed to be paining Prongs greatly, but he latched heavily onto this.

"There was that odd question mark on it though," Peter corrected. "The rest all makes sense now, those were Dumbledore's and Trelawney's initials, but this must mean someone didn't put that in there until after-"

He stopped with a wince, and they didn't need him to finish anyways.

It still didn't feel like much of an answer, especially with the news that Neville could have been the other child!

Alice turned gray and Frank let out such a yelp it was as if he'd dodged his own deadly curse.

Lily instantly began hugging her friend, she wanted to do the same to Frank but he was already moving. He walked almost calmly to Dumbledore's desk, not even looking twice at Lupin or the book until he found a quill to load up with ink and a bit of parchment, then offered his hand that only just slightly trembled if one were watching for it. "May I?"

Lupin wordlessly passed it along and they watched as he copied down the prophecy and stuck it very purposefully in his pocket before handing the book back, then going over and taking his girlfriend's hand. It didn't matter the words now felt seared into their brains, he was now determined every chance they got he'd look at them every day until he found some way to break out of this and stop any Dark Lord from ever darkening their lives again.

"Is that it then?" Alice asked into the ever growing silence.

"No," Lupin whispered, still holding the book and watching Sirius and Potter. "Just, not sure how much more of this I can take."

"That's okay Moony," Sirius still managed a grin, now of all times. "Voldemort's been tormenting people before and after these two boys, but now Harry's given us a way to fight back. That power the Dark Lord knows not, maybe it's his self-destruct button!"

Potter laughed, even Lupin and Peter managed quiet snickers for the idiot.

The two would-be mothers watched him with something close to disdain for trying to make light of this, like they'd be slapping him all the way out of Hogwarts grounds if they could, but there was something in watching the Marauders now holding them back from retaliating. Frank felt it too in the way Black spoke, this wasn't really a joke to him as he played off, he'd do whatever he had to protect his godson again while keeping their focus on how to keep going rather than just dwelling on these awful moments.

Regulus recognized the same, but he wasn't so sure he could live with the outcome. He already feared going back to the world where his parents would hate him, what would happen if then the world just took his only family left away.

Harry was living through the same, as Dumbledore finally ran out of explanations for now and his thoughts returned to his lost godfather. He couldn't imagine how to get through it. So Regulus finally said the only thing he could think of to him. "I don't want you to die."

Sirius flashed him that smile he'd missed so much. "Lookie there, we can agree on two things."

Chapter Text

To Stiches: I'm so very glad you enjoyed! Indeed, Regulus and Sirius still have some things to clear out, but they're at least on the same side now...

To reviewer : I can assure you Regulus is in safe hands, the poor thing will have more development to come, as well as more good stuff!

HPHPHPHP

They all found themselves blinking in stark contrast of the lazy morning sun from moments ago to a heavy orb of late afternoon beating down on them all. Alice got a particularly painful landing, smashing face first into something hot and metal, Lily found herself scattered painfully in a pile of woodchips, and Frank was somehow twisted up in a lone swing set, the other already broken. Regulus was perched ungainly on the very highest peak of the playground, the sign visible to him at the end of the road from his view trailing this as Magnolia Park.

Peter, Lupin, and Potter were visible scattered around the street as well, his friend having smacked against the chain link fence and had the mark on his face to prove it. Lupin was still dazedly in the street right in front of where one of those muggle contraptions could run over him, or fly over him if it was anything like Arthur's. Potter was looking curiously around at all the Muggle dwellings, but bypassed them as he ducked his head around the corner and immediately took to his feet, ignoring the bleeding palms of his hands for landing on the sidewalk like that as he called after Sirius. He couldn't see his brother in the alleyway but kept his balance on his wooden perch and tipped his head up to the sun anyways, enjoying the view and thinking to himself for now.

If they'd been born Muggles, would they have ever done something as simple as play at a park together before? He'd never wanted to be one before, it was base traitorous to his species he was sure to even entertain the thought, and besides, those Dursleys proved enough Muggles were no better about being scum than some wizards. What Evans had said still lingered in him though, what he'd give just to play a game at a place like this.

Sirius had been the only one to land in the shade of the alleyway and so was already brushing himself off and back on his feet the fastest, but he could see from his crooked vantage that nobody was dying, not even Regulus who seemed in no danger of falling, so he'd happily kept himself out of the way for now, leaning against the cool wall and wondering if this was the exact spot Harry had once fended off the dementors and gotten his first sight of him so long ago as he still turned everything over while James and Remus quickly joined him anyways.

"I'm fine," he told them both before they could even ask, and he really meant it this time. He told them in detail and made sure to meet both of their eyes as often as he could so they'd believe him, "I'm exhausted, and depressed as hell it came to this, and still pretty pissed all things considered, but we'll be fine."

James only studied him for a moment before relief flooded him and he seemed to take him at word. Remus though was studying him intently, a question on his lips he kept suppressing by pursing them up and glancing guiltily at James.

He had an idea what this was going to be about and so saved Moony the awkwardness of stopping their fooling around before James even did know about it. "Give us a moment, yeah?"

Prongs looked surprised at the dismissal, but not particularly offended, appraising the two for a moment before shrugging, giving Sirius a thump on the chest, and jogging off towards Peter. Sirius watched him go, never having felt more love in his life for his brother, James still trusted him after everything. He met Peter's eyes and flashed him a genuine smile, who'd been standing on the edge of the grass. Sirius couldn't deny he was a bit glad he hadn't come over though, he really was too tired to deal with anything else right now and that swirl of emotions he couldn't avoid when he did head over there after this. He had a lot of cleanup to do.

Surprised, but willing when Remus took his hand and took him deeper into the alley out of sight of the park entirely, they could go no farther back onto the other street from the barrier once more. He braced himself, telling himself he would not hold it against Moony for cutting this off now that he'd had a reality check and that hadn't been helping, so he was fairly surprised when Remus leaned in and kissed him fiercely instead.

Sirius hummed in pleasure at how very alive he felt, the warm bricks on his back, Remus's fingers trailing lightly up his neck and hovering there, pulling him in closer and feeling very secure in how utterly good this still felt. The book finally started though, and the two sprung apart like the guilty party they still were as Evans read The Second War Begins.

"I'm, surprised," Sirius admitted quietly, the burning pain of Harry suffering through the various stages of grief only slightly easier to get through as he rubbed his thumb against Remus's bottom lip in silent question.

"Of course, you idiot," he scoffed in return, before he seemed to check himself and looked at Sirius steadily. "Look, I know we started this for the wrong reasons, but um, I've been wanting to do that this whole time, and I should have, but, I've been a coward. Look, you should know, I-"

"Think we should tell James," Sirius thought he was agreeing. Remus pulled back though and Sirius let his hand fall in surprise as he surmised, "that's, not what you were going to say?" It only just occurred to him he hadn't told Moony of his more recent conviction to even do so and probably should mention it to him first. "I know I said we'd wait until we got out of this mess, but come on Remus. You know he's no more going to be one of those pureblood arseholes who frowns upon shirt-lifters than I am. He should know why we keep buggering off."

"I just, like my business private, you know that," he muttered, no longer looking directly at him.

Sirius flushed and leaned farther into the mortar now with shame, but Remus quickly corrected, "not that I'm accusing- look Sirius let's move past that Snape shit for the last time, honestly. The arsehole is not worth the breath wasted."

"And we'll be discreet," Sirius more than happily agreed, taking Remus's hand and hoping he was caving. "Won't tell anyone else obviously, none of their bloody business, not even Peter if you don't want."

Remus still looked a tad panicked, so Sirius altered, "not next time everyone falls asleep, I'm too exhausted to stay up myself, but the one after that then?" Let him get used to the idea at least beforehand, that felt like a kind compromise anyways.

"Okay," it did seem to ease him up, he released a breath anyways and squeezed Sirius's fingers. He still tensed his shoulders though and looked like he was building himself up to say something, but then leaned in and kissed him again, with somehow even more enthusiasm than before.

He was very convinced Moony was just worried about being caught now, and hadn't the blood left in the right places to worry about such a thing as his fingers frisked lower.

"Down boy," Remus pulled back with a chuckle, leaving Sirius a panting and flustered mess. "Can't stay like this forever now," his smile was odd.

Sirius huffed and glared at the neighboring houses. "Think any of those will open for us? I'd curl up on that grass for a lie down if I wasn't worried Evans would shove those wood chips under my nails, and you know how I'd sleep even better." He still had his hand very suggestively in place.

Remus placed his hands on either side of the wall and pressed their foreheads together but seemed unwilling to do anything else, as if suspended in place. Sirius sighed but finally forced himself to be the one to pull away, ducking under his arm and jogging back out into the street to check himself. Remus already knew it hadn't worked though when he yelled at the top of his lungs, "no bed and breakfast for us, but thanks for stopping to check Evans!"

It was all too easy to picture in his head, Sirius jogging over to James's side like nothing had happened, the two still able to keep each other's spirits up through Harry's miserable coping, as if hoping their laughter would echo through time for him.

'You should have just asked,' Remus continued, accusing himself now that Sirius was long gone and it would be even weirder and more noticeable if he called him back. 'He's not a bloody mind reader!' It did matter to him though, what exactly Sirius wanted to say to James. That the two were just off shagging, or that maybe it was something more? He had time now at least, not much but some to get up the nerve and ask later.

Sirius certainly hadn't made it seem like it was going to be any such thing that full moon day he'd screwed all this up, but things had changed since then. They'd been through a lot dealing with these books and mostly each other, and he was positive enough in the enthusiasm Padfoot still showed just now his reluctance back in the Centaur's home had just been his abysmal way of dealing with this future and shutting down, which Remus should have stepped in and helped him with like Prongs had!

The hell was the matter with him, too cowardly to comfort him when he needed it but dragging him off like this at a convenient time? Or was it all just wistful thinking on his part he could have even made a difference, maybe only James really could have gotten through to him in that moment, it's not like he'd done anyone any good in this future after all.

He knew what a hypocrite he was being too, doing exactly what Sirius just had and trying to put it all off for later and avoid really talking to him. He wouldn't let it build up so bad he'd have a bloody breakdown over it though, he quickly promised himself. He just had to ask, and accept whatever Sirius's answer was, nothing else was required on his part. If Sirius didn't reciprocate he couldn't force anything to happen otherwise regardless.

Pushing himself off the wall and still cursing Prongs for these stupid too-tight pants, he leaned in the shadows for now and watched with a smile as his prediction had been exactly right.

Sirius had gone right over to James, and there was that air around him all the Marauders knew so well as he smiled at his best mate and instigated, "want to play king of the castle?" With his head cocked suspiciously in Regulus's direction.

"I'm game," James promised at once, turning back to Peter and only feeling slightly bad he already forgot whatever he'd been saying about magnolias and their plant properties. "Want to team up with him?" He offered in form of apologizing by letting them play start and including Regulus without protest.

Peter couldn't have looked more surprised if James had just blotted out the sun, but he grinned and said, "yes," at once. Hopping the fence and quickly scaling the playground nearly up to Regulus and explaining quickly while the two were already silently counting down the head-start they'd given.

Lily sighed as Potter began laughing again of all things while Harry was boarding the train once more to a home that didn't want him, now with no options left in the world even if the Order did arrive in some form of collective presence. She finally understood though, watching them play some deranged game that seemed to have no rules as the four shot spells at each other with no clear endgame to her. James Potter, much like his best friend, would never pass up an opportunity for a laugh if it was available, and she was really starting to see how that was okay as she caught herself smiling for the infectious noise and holding off far longer than was needed to on the last sentence as the park teemed with life.

HPHPHP

I actually managed to finish my favorite book without my whole profile being taken down, miracles happen!

As always, please feel free to guess future chapter locations, as well as what you're looking forward to seeing them react to. I have them all planned out at least in principle, but it'll greatly amuse me  to see your guesses.

Chapter Text

The room felt unbearably cold after their warm sprint through the park. The eight of them shivered and pulled closer together on instinct in the large office as their eyes tracked all around. A marble fireplace was the brightest bit of décor, but unlit, which Lily quickly corrected. It still didn't chase away the chill as Remus uneasily moved the firmly closed curtains to reveal the thin veil of fog against the sash windows, a hazy half moon just visible in the distance hanging over a house.

He swallowed uncomfortably for a wholly other reason as he kept his hand in place and tried to tell himself he was being paranoid for the lingering chill that felt deeper than any cold office. He might not recognize the place they were, but that was surely a Muggle neighborhood, and Dementors wouldn't breed so close to here causing this fog...

Alice squeaked in surprise at the small movement she'd seen, drawing all eyes to an ugly portrait with a muddy background and a frog-like man watching them. He marked the only indication of magic really, and they weren't going to bother asking him much, so it was a surprise when he provided an answer.

"What are you doing in the Prime Minister's office?" He demanded.

"We'd all like to know that," James assured.

"What would Harry be doing in this place?" Lily sighed as she stayed close to the fire.

"I say that's a problem for another day," Sirius grumbled as he made for the door. It opened, thankfully, and the room beyond was much more civil to his current needs. The plush waiting office had several large available couches and an adjacent bathroom as well as a tray of biscuits for whomever was waiting, and he immediately flopped onto the nearest one with exhaustion.

There weren't enough for all of them, but chivalry demanded of the others Alice and Lily get them while the boys got as comfortable as they could on the floor. The girls huffed at this when they saw, Lily flat throwing all but one cushion around the room at nobody in particular in protest and using the lone one as a pillow, Alice abandoning her spot in favor of curling up next to Frank on the floor with thick rugs and freshly cleaned carpet.

"You two alright?" James slurred, already half asleep but still forcing his eyes open to watch as Sirius pulled his shirt off and bunched it up in whatever form of a pillow he could, trying to smirk at Remus who just rolled his eyes, and then rolled over onto his other side. It didn't take a lot of brain power to follow Padfoot at least, ever. He had no shame for the scars on his side nor showing them off whereas Moony would never do the same no matter who knew of his affliction.

"Better than ever Prongs," Sirius chuckled as he flopped back down, keeping his voice low and very glad he'd waited himself now, he wasn't paying attention to a word he was saying his voice slurred with such exhaustion. "You know the miserable git, drama queen he is, terrified to tell anyone what's on his mind, but we're good." The others all probably thought him an arrogant arse for still being the most comfortable on the couch. Evans had distributed those cushions out fairly enough, it's not like he was putting anyone else out but himself.

He sort of regretted it all the same and was forcing himself to be cold up here alone rather than somehow winding up cuddling against Remus again, he really did sleep better that way for some reason and it had happened the past few times he'd been on the floor with him whether he meant to or not.

"Me, drama queen?" He demanded with his back still to them. "Hark, looked in a mirror lately?"

"Every day Remus," Sirius promised, eyeing him a tad in confusion, he sounded more agitated than the joke really called for.

James grinned as he drifted off, his eyes didn't open again for several long hours.

Getting themselves moving was an even worse process than uncomfortably falling asleep like they were, and the fire's warmth did not reach out here, so they all woke up shivering and looking around groggily in the unfamiliar gloom with no one feeling particularly well rested.

Regulus stumbled to his feet and went looking for the book with purpose though. The one time he hadn't really been paying attention to every detail of what had been going on, and they were now going to have to hear the consequences of that until they were free.

It didn't matter Harry had been in the dark and the whole thing had been wholly unsolvable, they'd had the most brutal of rugs pulled out from under them because of it and he would not be caught so ill-prepared again.

He went back into the Prime Minister's office with little sleep still clinging to his eyes and looked around carefully for the dark book that would blend so well in here, he didn't dare try one of those muggle light switches to help along. Instead sitting on the desk amongst paperwork was something slightly new.

The book was gossamer silver now, a little green six on the spine the only marking. He sat in the too-large chair and flipped open to the first chapter title and wondered which Minister was Other in this situation.

That answer was given in the first paragraph as he experienced this war through a Muggle for the first time in his life, their existence had barely been a blip on him before all this, now he read for this new world and their struggles.

It was fascinating really, to have the world contextualized through this other Minister by Fudge, but he stopped in surprise when his successor was announced. The others had come in by then, though nobody was talking for once, it was just warmer in here with that fire going. Lupin was still closest to the window and watching with unease, now they all understood why at least, to keep an eye out for Dementors. Thankfully none were close enough to be of real harm to them so long as he got them out of here fast enough, so he didn't linger on the topic past a feeling of relief this ex-Auror would be better than the last guy.

HPHPHP

Bit of a non-chapter I admit where nothing particularly happens, but I know you're all going to love the next one!

Chapter Text

The whole room felt as large as Lily's entire house. She didn't even immediately see the other seven right away there was so much opulent space and grandeur to take in. The walls themselves seemed to ripple in an expansive opal dragon hide, the green snake banners hung all along the room wasn't exactly an identifying mark in her opinion, she would have one of each house in her room if she knew where to buy it, but she seemed to have landed right next to a cork board with scraps of papers and more importantly, photos that she would have to suss out as belonging to Draco Malfoy.

Lucius and Narcissa watching the five year old carefully but with pride as he laughed for the snow floating around him at some summer park in the heat, chasing ducks and occasionally stopping to lick an ice cream. One of him, Crabbe, and Goyle at sevenish playing some sort of game with apples, the little blonde's teeth oddly crooked, so she imagined it was some time at Halloween and done on purpose. He, Knott, and Blaise in their teens and in Quidditch robes throwing Quaffles around, he and Pansy in a booth at Madam Puddifoots.

Beneath all of these were dozens of rolls of parchment, some with the ink still wet of different music sheets with elaborate tunes and lyrics only half done in. She wasn't well versed enough to even guess at what instrument he could play, but judging by the few she spotted around the room that Frank was sheepishly repairing after crashing into them, the better question seemed what hadn't he been privileged in getting to learn at his leisure.

No one just looking at a glimpse of his obviously loved and carefree life would ever guess he was such an arse to her son, as well as Neville and likely many others. Her ears now rung with the foul word he so casually used that Severus now seemed to agree with.

There were a few daunting hints at such a thing, his picture of a very young Bellatrix Lestrange smiling as he prodded at the tattoo on her arm with childlike delight, he couldn't be more than two. The Sacred Twenty-Eight redone in his neat handwriting near the top corner with little scribbles and notes about each family.

Pettigrew was near the door trying to open it, to no success, the diamond handle in his palm glinting. Regulus Black was spinning a bust of a snake head with black stones in each eye that was likely a thousand galleons or some such, and cursed to boot, that Draco probably used as a paper weight. The lack of a house-elf hadn't much of an impact on their life it seemed, the wide open space felt empty to her in the organized place despite the many things available to look at. This boy had wanted for nothing, even a glance out the wide arched window showed glorious albino peacocks strutting along hedges and acres of pleasure beyond to explore, and yet he'd just as likely kill Hermione and her at the blink of an eye it seemed. He'd showed no remorse for his fathers actions trying to kill her son twice now.

Sirius Black had been offered the same and spurned it all away, Regulus had apparently started asking questions far too late for it to matter and died for it. Severus had been given nothing of the sort but turmoil, and he'd embraced the Death Eater lot, abandoning her and showing no clear signs of regretting it ever since.

She was sick of burying her head in the sand for his whys, it was time to start asking questions, but the problem was the one whom she still wanted to most was not available.

Alice was still crawling off the king sized bed, Potter was holding a signed Snitch with some look of awe on his face for whomever the signature was for, and there was a beautiful occamy skinned rug the length of the room Lupin was gazing sadly down at.

Sirius Black came stumbling out of a closet not too far behind her, enough she could peek inside and see the extravagant clothes inside that was more shaped to a normal bedroom, the teenager himself clutching his throat theatrically and miming gagging for all to see as he 'collapsed' to the ground still sputtering his disgust at getting a look at the underthings.

Regulus wasn't fighting off a laugh as he nudged his brother with his foot before promptly declaring him alive and walking off.

She watched the little one go with a heavy feeling of unease. He'd probably know Severus better than her at this rate, sharing a House and all. He didn't feel as unapproachable now after they'd spent some time together, but that didn't mean she wanted to walk over and just start talking about this.

She would though. She wasn't going to let awkwardness stop her now! She just decided to wait until a better opportunity as he instantly engaged with Pettigrew once more.

Alice had found the book somewhere in the gargantuan bed spread and was now finally plopped on the edge, reading Spinner's End with no idea why Lily would flinch so hard, but stopping all the same to look at her in concern when she noticed.

Frank stopped fidgeting with the instruments, ceasing the background noise and drawing all eyes to her.

She took a steady breath and squared her shoulders, may as well get out with it now. "That's Snape's address. I guess we get to find out what he's up to."

Potter's face was like stone, it was very obvious he hadn't believed a word of Dumbledore's explanation last year about none of the events being in some part Snape's fault, and she couldn't even blame him. She no more believed Severus had done all he could to help.

To her amazement though, he didn't start threatening to curse him, or much of anything. He just went over to the floor next to his best mate and sat beside him, prodding him in the ribs and teasing, "I'm not giving you a treat for playing dead."

"How else am I supposed to learn the good tricks from the bad ones?" He chuckled as he flopped onto his back.

Lupin went over with an indulgent smile for the pair, and the three stayed close to each other as the book started not with their school rival, but Sirius' would be murderer and her sister.

Sirius now looked murderous himself at the very mention of them, far more than ever before just the blood they shared could bring out. It was better than the nothingness he'd been trying so hard before, to pretend he cared nothing of it, but she also knew now it just wasn't in his nature to sit around when there was nothing to be done about them now.

He leapt to his feet with his usual energy and began sprinting around the youngest Malfoy's room, stopping every few feet to filch things into his pockets for no clear reason to her, or even his mates, though they watched in amusement for whatever he was doing.

He didn't stop when her prediction came true and the sisters were shown to be visiting Snape, though apparently it wasn't a mutual thing, Bellatrix was no happier to be around him than any of them right now, but it seemed Narcissa's idea and her elder sister was trying to stop her.

Sirius circled back to his friends and whispered something eagerly to them. Both looked a tad confused, but neither seemed to argue the point as he went back off towards where Peter and Regulus were.

He seemed to have minorly learned his lesson at least, performing a small miracle and not shouting his arrival but instead quivering in anticipation for the two to look at him before speaking. "Who wants to play a treasure hunt?"

"Why does your answer to everything involve some form of illicit activity?" Peter snickered. "This shit is not yours."

"And since when do we care about that?" He looked at him in concern. "Don't go soft on me now Wormy! Regulus can hide the stuff, Marauder swear I won't peek!" He handed all the items from his pocket to Regulus and mock whispered, "you can even stay here and keep an eye on me."

Pettigrew made a soft little noise that was maybe a laugh of annoyance, but Regulus took the stuff and wandered off at once when Peter Pettigrew of all people was apparently sharing a house space with Severus in the book, and all eight of them winced at that interaction! Sirius did have good timing occasionally it seemed as he got his alone moment with the friend he so needed to.

She had never considered herself a shy person, just quiet. She'd had the only friend she ever wanted before all this and so never actively sought out anyone else. So when Regulus came over near her and tried to hide a pair of cuffs with the Malfoy crest underneath some of the papers, she didn't hesitate to engage him now that she made her decision. "Can I talk to you?"

"I don't see why not," he agreed, now holding a gross looking shriveled up hand without concern and eyeing the dripping pearls of the chandelier above her. She waited until he'd levitated it up there and was now pacing the length of the room, eyeing the bed, rug, and shelves keenly as he passed a silver cross in his hands with emeralds the size of her fist back and forth in his hands while she followed his path and tried to convince herself she was being practical rather than pathetic asking someone else about this.

She'd have liked to talk to Frank and Alice, but they had zero experience in the matter, this seemed her only option.

"How well do you know Severus?" She asked uneasily, as the man himself gave a list of believable enough reasons to Lestrange about why he was apparently still in Voldemort's good graces, but then what were his answers to Dumbledore for still being a trusted member of the Order? Why couldn't they have heard about that conversation instead?

He didn't answer right away, visibly thinking hard about something with that tick they'd all noticed by now. When he did answer, there was no self-pity in his voice. "Look, I'm not a fool, I know Sirius sent me away on purpose, and I honestly don't mind, it's nicer than he ever was back in school. Kinder than outright telling me to piss off, right?" He didn't wait for an answer. "Snape and his friends do the same though, Mulciber and Avery you know, even one of my own friends in my dorm, Carrow, they'll set me up to go run errands for them."

They passed by Potter and Lupin having an uneasy whispered conversation watching their friends, whom were clearly at least talking about something. Neither Sirius or Pettigrew seemed angry, but they kept gesturing at Regulus and shaking their heads a lot. At least he really wasn't peeking though, he had his eyes closed the whole time, and she bit her lip to stop herself laughing at the sight.

"Like a test," obviously noticing the same and choosing to let them be too. "Weird shit each time to see my nerve I guess. Follow Macdonald around for an hour to see where she goes, sneak this into class under McGonagall's nose without getting caught." He paused with a look of maybe not guilt, but some regret for clearly never having it in him to ask before any why's.

"That instant Darkness powder-" she suddenly realized, far, far back in that ghastly chamber.

"Was supposed to be checking where Slughorn was and steal some special snake venom form him, ironically," he agreed with a twisted grin far more reminiscent of his brother than he'd ever admit. "Powder was in case he caught me."

He considered her for only another moment before continuing. "I don't know what exactly Snape gets up to, they haven't let me in on that, but I've got a feeling it's coming soon enough when I get back. If all this is supposed to happen when I'm sixteen, they won't wait much longer. Sorry if that's not much help to you," he finished genuinely. "I suppose they could be doing the same to him and I just don't know it."

"That's alright," she promised. "Thanks, it's more than I knew already." Was calling her that foul word a part of their tests? Or had the memory truly hinged on Potter's cruel actions in the crowd? They weren't following in his head to know just what the worst to him was.

Snape had answered for his crimes well enough to appease one of Voldemort's lieutenants, and Narcissa began baring her soul, pleading her case to help save her child. Lily froze over in shock when he agreed to such a thing.

Regulus stopped when she'd fallen out of step with him, now watching her with those liquid black eyes and still obviously ignoring the two idiots obviously having a conversation about him. He bent down and tucked the cross into the folds of the occamys wings and told her quietly, "maybe he'd do the same for another mother."

"I want to believe that," she admitted, rubbing her hand absently over her empty womb. "I just don't know how to ask, I'll probably sound insane."

"Probably," he agreed with a small smile, eyes roving around when Alice called the chapter was almost done, "but it never hurts to ask." He looked back at Sirius though and frowned, instantly regretting his poor choice of words. How many times had Sirius gotten in trouble for doing exactly that? He'd never wanted to endure the shouting matches that occurred when his brother refused to back down without an answer no matter what way mother and father told him to shut up, and he quickly left the room before he found out the answer, it never felt worth it in such loud anger. If he cared enough later about the initial question, he'd ask Kreacher, who was more than happy to answer in his level voice.

"Wait!" Sirius bellowed, eyes snapping open and instantly bolting to the bed to snatch the book away from her now, running around the room like his tail was on fire as he began looking about and haggling to all three of his friends to give him a hint.

His antics got a laugh out of all of them for one reason or another, filching shamelessly through Lupin's clothes like he really thought something would be hidden there, an awkward and poorly done handstand with his feet resting against the wall swearing it would activate some secret door, and finally trying to coarse Regulus himself to give the last up when he still didn't spot the grotesque hand hanging above.

Regulus just gave him an impish grin truly reminiscent of his brother and snatched the book back to finish the last sentence rather than answer.

Chapter Text

To Stitches: I inherently agree, Snape hates the world too much and showed no signs of changing that in the actual book, ie their future, with his abhorrent methods involving the students, but while Lily hates him now and admits to the change, she still needs to work that out for herself. 

HPHPHPHP

It happened, again. Eight quickly became seven, but even Wormtail at his smallest alleviated nothing of the pain the rest of the teenagers felt at being shoved into each other's faces in a small, cramped space.

There was the sound of broken glass beneath their feet, Regulus was desperately trying the door handle, but there was no winning such a thing. Many of them bashed their heads together as they knelt for the book at once, but it was Lily who came up triumphant with the spine and pleaded someone to give her light to get them out of each other's personal space.

Sirius got his wand out first and did as such, but it was the wrong Black who recognized their current prison.

The pile of rags, the many pictures of his family his house-elf would treasure most, the shards of Bellatrix's was beneath Frank's boots appropriately enough.

They were in Kreacher's cupboard.

Sirius would know no such thing, he wasn't even convinced his brother knew such a place existed, and Regulus wasn't going to choose now to inform him.

The miserable chapter made this a good call on his part.

Harry, back at the Dursley's once more, but having to listen to those awful Muggles care nothing for Sirius's death while his will was read out by Dumbledore and still not permanently taking the boy away from there for good. The promise of one last year there while they all suffered this cramped, dank, and dusty place was as horrid as it was possible to be, and nobody waisted a breath saying otherwise to Evan's to stop her getting them out of this place.

HPHPHPHP

I do apologize for the 'non' chapters, but they can't all be epic adventures. The next one will more than make up for it, and in the meantime I posted an old one-shot I found as some form of repentance. It's called Catch a Falling Star, in my profile.

Chapter Text

Regulus crashed headfirst into a toilet with a knitted cover on the lid to soften the blow. He still cursed and grumbled for it while looking around and found the rest of the décor matching. A knitted stuffed cat on the sink by the soap and a box of crystalized pineapple, unopened. There was a walk in shower, as well as a pile of knitting pattern magazines for reading leisure in a wicker basket he'd knocked over along with the book, its silver spine standing out in here.

Not exactly tempted to sit on the toilet to read, he exited into the hall to find pictures on the wall that weren't alluding to an easy hint of where they were, an array of kids of various ages in frames down to the stairs. He stopped to admire them for a moment, taking a second to realize he could only know they weren't wizards because they weren't moving, but otherwise there was no clear difference. How fascinating, Mother always spoke as if there should be something. He no longer tried to convince himself he just wasn't seeing it, but maybe there just wasn't anything inherently 'different' about them either, aside from the lack of magic.

The entire house was still silent though, not a stair creaked as he went down into the dimly lit living room where a scene of total devastation met his eyes. The others were frozen in place, as if afraid to move once more and find something they shouldn't. Surely their landing hadn't caused this destruction, and his pulse quickened with worry.

The door was blasted off its hinges, a grandfather clock lay splintered at their feet, its face cracked, its pendulum lying a little farther away like a dropped sword pointing right at where Evans was still on hands and knees. A piano was on its side, its keys strewn across the floor, Peter tangled up in the wires. The wreckage of a fallen chandelier glittered nearby, Longbottom and Smith still had bits of it in their hair and clothes. Cushions lay deflated, feathers oozing from slashes in their sides, the Marauders weren't even at fault judging from the stark white faces; fragments of glass and china lay like powder over everything, and there were even chunks and gashes in the walls. Regulus immediately lit his wand and raised it high, giving illumination to something darkly red and glutinous spattered over the flowered wallpaper.

When Peter saw him at the foot of the stairs, the streetlights outside glinting off the bright cover of the book even before he'd lit his wand, and completely unharmed he couldn't help a relieved sigh. He'd done a quick count as always and hysterically wonderd for a moment if Regulus had just been blasted to smithereens from this recent slam. Instead, as he hovered on the last stair with the book in hand and a white face, he quietly whispered as calmly as he could, "start getting us out of here please?"

He swallowed convulsively, eyes still flinching to every corner looking for something none of them wanted to see again, but finally opened and read the chapter title that illuminated some horrible answer to this.

"What the hell has he been up to in this future?" Potter quietly demanded, getting slowly but steadily to his feet. Nothing attacked him like Moody's place, so the others cautiously began doing the same, but nobody wanted to answer him.

Dumbledore and Harry had no idea what they were fixing to walk into with their pleasant little evening stroll, destination this place. He even read right over the passage on Inferi like that was nothing in the face of this. They all felt beside themselves Harry was fixing to just be brutally reminded of the casualties of war even with the headmaster there for him this time.

So when the ruse was revealed, nobody could quite blame Potter shouting at the top of his lungs, "that arse!"

Regulus was so disgruntled at his near heart failure being a trick himself he gave the book an ugly toss into the mess and heavily contemplated for a moment jabbing his own wand into every available bit of furniture just to be safe. Still muttering some of Kreacher's favorite foul tongues, he went over to the piano and began helping disentangle Peter.

The others all went to scatter away in frustration from here, Alice and Longbottom heading towards the kitchen, Sirius and Lupin going up the stairs, but the other four stayed uneasily in the mess, an answer still more tempting to them even if they would have given their potions teacher a good whack upside the head for it.

Evans finally went for the book again with a look of distaste like she used to give Potter all the time. He still watched her avidly for a few moments before an odd look passed his face and he went jogging up the stairs. Regulus's stomach was still twisted into a painful knot of unease for this abrupt turn around of their environment being all a farce and glared at his retreating feet. At least Sirius was making an effort, he wouldn't be surprised though if Potter went up there and encouraged Sirius to stay the hell away from both of them at this rate.

Peter watched too in fascination as that was the first time in his life he'd ever seen Prongs purposely turn away from her when he had no good reason to. He was tempted to follow and ask, but still he hesitated.

Sirius had offered him a bridge, back there in Malfoy's room, but it wasn't just Sirius' continued attitude that was putting him off trying to coexist with the other three. Remus and James had never been so vivid in their reaction to him, but he still felt it sometimes. Like the chunks missing from the wall. The place still stood around them, but even when it was fixed as it was in the book, he doubted he could ever get the image from his mind again of how that betrayal felt he'd never want to cause. It still felt safer then to never let it go that far at all. He still wanted to try and be friends, just maybe not best friends anymore. Like Neville he supposed, he could stay on the fringes and still be on good terms with them, right?

Instead, he turned to Regulus and gave an explanation he knew was owed, now that there was no chance of a dead body being around. "Sirius is worried about you, by the way. In case you were wondering."

Regulus looked startled at the abrupt change of topic, but then smiled in a way Peter so rarely saw as he glanced at the stairs.

"He was apologizing, for back in the Forest, said he was sorry for getting in the middle when he knows he hasn't been helping before that. Well, in his own way," Peter finished with an awkward laugh. "It's pretty funny to watch someone roll their eyes when they're closed." He tacked on for levity.

Regulus just watched steadily for the rest, that didn't feel like something Sirius wouldn't say in front of him.

"Okay yeah," Peter relented, "he also tried to ask what we were talking about, but I wasn't telling him what you told me. Not unless you want me to."

"Thanks," Regulus whispered in surprise, though he didn't know why he was, he knew Peter was good at keeping secrets. It wasn't even really a secret he was so afraid of this future, but nobody had ever given him the option before to decide who knew what about him.

He was tempted to go find Sirius now and talk to him, but Peter told him quietly, "maybe give Sirius a moment? You probably don't want to bother them messing around here."

Regulus didn't quite get the odd tone but believed him. He'd waited this long, he could wait a bit longer to try talking to his brother, they had plenty of time left and he was still plenty curious to pay attention to this.

Remus shivered in distaste for the room he wandered into, despite its clear opulence. The silk sheets and plump pillows spoke of a well rested bed, but he quickly bypassed that for the window despite the fact he could feel well enough there was no full moon, but the mist clung to these very streets as well. He made nonsense patterns in the dew and thought hard about how he could get around his stupid promise to Sirius about telling James and yet knew full well all secrets had a way of coming out eventually, Slughorn hadn't been able to avoid Dumbledore for long- Then someone grabbed him from behind.

"Stop screaming you idiot, it's still me."*

"Sirius, I rarely find that less of a reason to scream," Remus tried to laugh, but Sirius didn't seem in the talkative sort of mood as his hands dropped to his waist. "Are you insane?" He giggled even as he flicked his wand and the door locked. Not permanently, obviously, but it would give them some warning. "This isn't just a bit weird?" He still half expected Slughorn to pop up after that heart attack moment, he'd never look at furniture around that man the same way again.

"It's on my bucket list to do this in a teacher's office," Sirius breathed into his ear. "This is the next best thing. Not up for it?" He pressed his lips down hard on Remus's throat and moaned when he felt Remus swallow convulsively.

'Ask you idiot, now, before this goes any further,' he tried keeping a straight head even as he let himself be pulled towards the bed, shamelessly helping Sirius out of his clothes with every step. "This um, list of yours-" he was panting already, what the hell did it matter again what this meant to Sirius so long as he kept doing that with his lips? "What, um, I mean who," he'd already forgotten his question anyways as Sirius sunk onto the bed and grinned up at him.

"Relax Moony, I'll give you a break when we get back, I wouldn't peg you for wanting to do half the shit I get up to anyways," he laughed as he coaxed Remus on top of him.

He'd only been half listening as he eagerly straddled him, nipping at his neck and jaw while palming him through the last of his clothes, but froze suddenly as what he said really sunk in, and a flair of possessiveness caused his hand to constrict.

Sirius gasped eagerly, but Remus' voice came out more clipped than he'd ever believe while holding Sirius like this, "what does that mean?"

Padfoot didn't seem to hear the warning, that wild, addicting laugh inches from his lips, his legs nudging him into a rocking motion as he teased, "I'll let you see the rest later. You really want to talk about this, now?" His breath was whiney and nearly pleading by the end as Remus hadn't yet moved again.

'Yes,' he knew he should have said. "Nope," he whispered, eagerly succumbing.*

It was far enough back on his neck even Sirius had to twist in the mirror to see it right. Nobody should be able to do the same, his hair covered it well. Sirius checked himself one last time as he smoothed the long black locks back perfectly to hide the mark, deciding he only looked as rumpled as everyone else for this near constant ricochet through reality before finally exiting the bathroom, prize now in his bag. Who kept sweets in their bathroom besides this lunatic? Remus probably would if he got his own house...He licked his lips longingly as he looked back towards Slughorn's room, but knew better than to go back, telling himself he'd risked enough for now. Moony needed a break and would understand if he just didn't come back, maybe he really did just want an alone moment Sirius wasn't giving him.

He'd pretty effectively blocked out Evans's voice as Slughorn already tried reminiscing to Harry about his old position, but the only thing he cared about for this anyways was that Snape should now be gone. He certainly hoped so, it was the only plausible reason he'd allow for this old walrus being back in school, none of the Marauders particularly liked him, so it wasn't at all surprising when he found Prongs behind a secret wall and rummaging through several jars of potions unabashedly, a golden vial flashing about, a strong smell of chocolate lingering in the air as he uncorked something and then quickly put it back.

"Moony okay?" He asked without looking away, he clearly wasn't that concerned with the small yelp of fright he'd caused Remus before muffling the door. "Heard something, what were you guys doing down there? Found this shit though-"

Sirius grinned in delight as he leaned against the wall to see him holding a glass flask full of a thick, mud like substance up curiously with a look Sirius was already on board with. "Fancy a swig Prongs?"

"Yeah, actually," he grinned remorselessly as he pulled the stopper out. "Care for a wager Padfoot?"

"Whoever gets caught first owes the other a galleon," Sirius instantly agreed.

Everybody would surely enjoy the laugh once they realized what the two had pulled, and this was a harmless spot of fun! Sirius grabbed up two dusty but waiting glasses and blew on them impatiently as James let the disgusting semi-liquid squelch out a shot into each.

James pocketed the rest and casually plucked a few hairs from his head and dropped it in. It looked almost as if it was pulsing in the cup, the thick maroon concoction was quivering along the edges just waiting for something to happen. He reached a finger out and traced along the edge with an amused smile, he was tempted to drink it himself no matter the uselessness of the action. He glanced curiously at Sirius to see him hesitating though and snorted in amusement as he was running his hand vainly through his hair. "Not going to make me drink your toenails are you prat?"

Sirius was quite tempted to spit into his just to lord that over him, he knew James would still drink it anyways, but ah, do to recent activities, he wasn't sure how much of it would be his own. So glaring at the arse, he delicately plucked at one precious lock, and winced with little pain as it came loose but watched eagerly as he dropped it down.

It was the brightest of scarlets, like if the sun had struck a ruby just right and dumped the color into his cup. He swirled it about like a fine wine and pursed his lips to stop the urge from licking it, but finally swapping cups and grinning like the loons they were as they tossed them back.

The two gasped in unison for how unpleasant the whole thing felt, but thankfully it was over quickly enough. They were shaking their heads though, still unintentionally mimicking each other as they held their new hands in front of their faces.

"Glory Prongs, it's a good thing you haven't lost your glasses. You'd be even more useless without them." It was so weird to hear his own voice, the deer nickname coming from his throat. James decided he didn't really like it as he figured out why the world was blurry and painful to focus on, removing them and passing them wordlessly along. His nose felt weirdly light and bare despite the fact Sirius' should feel no such thing.

Finally though he could properly see, himself. He briefly wondered for a moment if this could be sort of like looking at his son later, before quickly reminding himself like he had downstairs to knock off those kinds of thoughts now.

The two wordlessly exchanged clothes and kept uncomfortably flexing their shoulders and stretching, but by the time they were done it felt almost bearable.

"Don't know how that Crouch Jr. freak managed this for a year," James grumbled, still disturbed to not hear his voice come out and be staring at himself. "This is weird."

"Well thankfully the effects aren't permanent," Sirius sniffed, scratching oddly at his bare neck. "May the best man win!"

"I intend to," he said at once, fighting back the urge to pull Sirius' hair into a ponytail, it was heavier than he'd expected and he felt flush. Though after running his fingers uncomfortably through it for a moment he admitted to himself he had no idea how and he'd probably just hurt himself and either cause Sirius to piss himself with laughter or threaten bodily harm, either was likely.

The book had still been going, and Sirius grinned eagerly as he made his way towards the living room, at least that was a familiar expression on his own face. He obviously thought he could last longest around Evans, and he was probably right, he'd just have to stand there looking at her, the git. There was no fun in that though, and while Sirius was probably more concerned with winning and bragging rights, James wanted a challenge, so he went off in the direction he'd seen Remus go.

He found him quickly enough in Slughorn's room of all places and tried not to look too pleased he found him fidgeting with his shirt and a contemplative look on his face. The bed was all kinds of messed up like he'd been jumping on it for some reason. He had to remind himself not to try and falsify his voice when Remus glanced up. "What's on your mind Moony?"

"My treat," he sniffed. "Where's that pineapple you promised, I'm withholding round two until then."

James silently cursed himself and instantly regretted this, clearly he had missed a conversation between them and had no idea what they'd been up to. Still, he was nothing if not adaptable, and stepped forward to try and sooth out, "you'll get that crystal pineapple when I get mine."

At first he'd thought it might have worked, Remus got a smirk in place that always meant he was up to something, but then he whispered, "is that a challenge?" His hand moved to rest on the inside of James' thigh.

He jumped back like he'd been electrocuted again, accompanied by a high-pitched yelp that he would deny upon death he could ever make. He heard distantly something dropped in surprise in another room, his nose scrunched up in involuntary disgust as he watched Remus in concern. "The hell mate?"

"What-" he looked as confused as James felt now, but then he scrutinized him for several long seconds and demanded, "James?" His own face puckered with some anger and grotesque now.

"Yeah?" It took a moment for him to remember why his voice still sounded odd, and it wasn't all shock. He'd honestly forgotten he was in Sirius' body there for a moment. "How'd you know it was me?" He was only minorly distracted as he realized he lost and still watched his hand wearily, though it had fallen back into his lap.

"Because Sirius has never in his life done that," Remus said stiffly, and James froze in surprise as Moony's eyes flickered up to his own hand, which had been unintentionally ruffling up his hair with nerves. He cleared his throat awkwardly and smoothed his hand down the long main instead, but he knew the gig was up.

"Right," he muttered, far more concerned than anything still and not trying to play it off. "Found some Polyjuice Potions in Slughorn's stores, thought we'd have some fun, sure you didn't find anything you shouldn't have drunk? Like Essence of Insanity?"

Shock quickly collapsed down on Remus, he surged to his feet with a look of pure terror. "Oh shit, James? Um, look, we, I mean I, he was going to-" his eyes began darting to the door and back to him and changed to cussing fluently and backing away from him nearly to the wall.

"Hey, Remus, relax," James quickly soothed, taking a step towards him without even thinking. "I'm not angry, alright, breathe mate. Just, what the hell?"

Remus took several shaky breaths and still wouldn't even look at him, and James was starting to feel really bad. In his defense, that had come out of bloody nowhere, but Remus obviously hadn't done it on purpose, right? Maybe he'd been trying to grab at Sirius as a weird joke or whatever, hell is that what they kept whispering about, had Padfoot figured it out? They'd made weirder werewolf jokes to each other if so. He didn't at all want Remus to think he'd care if the guy was gay, he half suspected it sometimes as he showed such little interest in the girls back at school.

"Everything okay in here?"

The two jumped and turned around to see Evans of all people standing in the doorway, a look of genuine concern on her face as she watched the two. "There's been shouting." She clarified when the silence persisted.

"Um, yeah," he thought he grinned believably enough. He now had to fight off the compulsion with more effort than ever not to rumple up his hair in delight at the mere sight of her and was almost grateful for Moony catching him at that.

She still hovered, and both suddenly realized the book had been silent for quite some time, but there was still some kind of raised voice they'd been blocking out, and maybe it wasn't 'Sirius' shouting she'd meant. "Might want to check on your mate," she finally said, and confirmed as she shrugged and walked back off.

The two exchanged a very concerned look, what the hell had Sirius gotten himself up to? James went after her at once, beckoning to Remus without a second thought and filing this away for later. Moony thankfully followed without hesitation, even if he was a few paces behind than was natural.

She'd only got about halfway through the chapter and was feeling quite dispirited their teacher was on the run from Death Eater's in this Muggle neighborhood, but at least he'd agreed to come back. Dumbledore had been stepping into the broom shed back at the Burrow when Potter came in. There was an odd air about him, he kept scratching at the back of his neck and rotating his shoulders as he went and sat on the floor watching her with a stupider look than usual on his face.

Regulus and Pettigrew had been having some quiet kind of conversation about this new development and all it entailed for Hogwarts staffing. It didn't seem Potter was going to participate, until Pettigrew turned to him and asked, "What do you say Prongs, would you swap Vector out for anyone or take our chances?"

"Um," Sirius stuttered for only a moment. Damn, he hadn't taken Arithmancy with those three idiots, but he'd heard them complain enough over the years he could get along. "Guess we'll keep her around and avoid her, we've enough practice."

Regulus gave him a rather testy look he couldn't begin to guess at, he really didn't know his brother at all anymore.

One bridge at a time, he amended in his head. He still wasn't even clear on Regulus' loyalties. He was asking questions now and clearly trying to loosen up, but still defending the house-elf that got him killed and he still could not separate from their parents no matter what Regulus tried to say.

Peter kept going in an off-hand kind of way of forced casualness still, "look, I'm sure you're curious what Sirius was saying-"

"Not really," Sirius grinned.

Peter looked floored and a little hurt, so Sirius quickly gave himself a mental kick and redirected, "it's between you two." He stopped there and bit his tongue, he wasn't going to speak for Prongs and say everything was all good. James had been the one to convince him to even start at forgiving Peter, but he wasn't going to assume that meant he was all good either.

"He listens to you though," Peter tried to keep going, "and I was just hoping you could tell him-"

'Oh crap,' Sirius tried right then to give it up, he was not going to let Peter think he was talking to James and cause another fight later for this stupid prank! "Hey Wormtail-" Peter was already looking so annoyed, how had this gone so wrong so fast?

"Would you let me finish real quick-"

"No, really mate, I'm not-"

Regulus snapped.

He admired Peter was trying to keep going now around the obnoxious bloke still not taking a hint, but he couldn't just sit here and watch this anymore. "Can you not let him finish one bloody sentence without your opinion! I am so sick of you thinking you know what's best for everyone around here, no one elected you leader!"

He did not hear the thunk of something being dropped in the kitchen, nor realize Evans had lowered the book and was looking at them wearily before getting up, probably to finish reading in another room, though he doubted he'd take in a word of it now.

Peter felt too floored to notice any of it either, fighting down the urge to get between Regulus and James any second, but James didn't go for his wand. He didn't even seem upset or angry. Instead, there was some mingled look of pity, almost regret on his face which didn't at all track with the way he kept side-eying Regulus lately.

Sirius watched, half in fascination half in guilt as he let Regulus tear into Prongs, wincing for each blow his little brother dealt and glad to be taking this for James regardless.

"Ever since Sirius came home that first bloody summer all he's talked about is your bloody opinion on everything and I'm sick of hearing it!"

Sirius was starting to get annoyed by that point, he wasn't some mindless yup like his little brother and let Prongs speak for him, but he forced himself to hold his tongue and let Regulus get it all out now, he didn't even notice the other three coming back down the stairs.

James sure as hell wasn't going to allow the same when he took the scene in. He wasn't going to let Sirius' new passive approach to the two of them allow them to dog ear his best mate like that, and he immediately shoved Regulus. "Back off you bastard, now!"

Regulus looked stricken for just a moment before his face settled back into that cool mask of indifference the Black's carried so well. Sirius felt a pang in his heart the kid managed that at his age, his little brother even twitched for his wand, but Sirius forced his way between the two, snatching the vial out of James's pocket before this could escalate.

"Listen, we swapped bodies, okay! James and I, we found some Polyjuice Potion, we thought it would be fun! Merlin, how long you been holding that in Reg?" He still didn't really regret it when Regulus gave the both of them a look of deepest loathing and stormed up the stairs, slamming something up there. He didn't want to know what Prongs really would have said to him if he'd been down here this whole time.

Evans gave them a scathing look as well and turned quickly away to finish, muttering about their idiocies and stupid pranks again. Even Moony wouldn't meet his eye and Longbottom and Alice were watching from the kitchen with slightly open mouths like they still couldn't believe the stupidity they got themselves into.

Only Peter was left actually looking at them, and he was biting his lip to hold back a smile. Little shit. Whether he actually found the whole thing funny or was laughing at them neither could really be sure, and that was as irksome as Regulus' reaction.

The two gave each other exasperated looks, Sirius finally saying, "think we should hold off trying to get the others to laugh for now Prongs?"

"Guess there's no point in a prank if no one's going to laugh, not even us," he huffed in agreement, still eyeing the stairs with great dislike Sirius was far too used to seeing on his own face regarding his brother, but for the first time realizing James hadn't just been defending him, or himself, whichever. There was something else in what had just happened.

Evans watched them for a few more moments before saying with a guilty look upstairs the chapter was done and finishing good as her word.

HPHPHPH

You didn't really think I could go the whole book without some sibling drama did you? I wouldn't know what to do with myself at this rate!

* If you would like to read this conversation from Sirius' POV, it's in said link below, as well as the continued Wolfstar sexcapades clearly marked and easily avoidable if you'd like to read just the scene swap without the other content.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/8677858/chapters/81851602

Chapter Text

A gnome tried to bite him on the nose. James snatched the thing by its ankle right before the teeth broke skin and was already hurling it as far away from him as he could before he'd even properly gotten to his feet.

The fact that none of them suffered from their brains melting for the recurring switch between night and day was the real mystery to all this. There was a big green pond full of frogs Longbottom was sloshing his way through, the place was lined with gnarled trees and plenty of plants he'd been able to identify from Herbology class and a few he hadn't. The Burrow was just visible in the distance and his stomach snarled with hunger, they really should have taken advantage of Slughorn's food selection while they had the chance, but then he saw Regulus storming over there and decided he'd starve rather than dealing with that arrogant child right now.

His scowl intensified when he saw Peter going after him, Merlin what he wouldn't give to have just left that kid behind! Between him and Snape, who ever would have guessed these two bothersome ones would cause so much misery along this blasted trip.

Sirius was coming over to him eagerly, and he did a double take as he saw the Polyjuice Potion had completely worn off of him and glanced down at himself in surprise to confirm the same, only just realizing everything was fuzzy back around the edges again not from his head still being sore from his latest impact with the ground. The feeling of moving like they were was worse than changing bodies, who knew?

"Odd," he pulled the ripped up shirt off and passed it back, half a mind to steal more clothes from the Weasley's for both of them while here. "Doesn't feel like it's been an hour."

"That spell I put on Longbottom wore off with the jump," Sirius recalled as he passed his glasses back. "To us, it definitely wasn't long enough to have done so. Guess this mess makes even the magic we use on each other wonky, how annoying." It would have been sort of interesting to somehow find a way to gauge time before now if they'd thought about it, but James found when he slipped his pants back on he still had the Polyjuice Potion in his pocket anyways and sighed as he uneasily patted it.

He looked back to see Sirius giving him a beseeching look. His eyes flickering to where Regulus had vanished and back with a look James couldn't quite believe, was he really fixing to defend that kid?

"Listen Prongs, thanks, really, but I wish you'd let him keep going. I hadn't even realized, but he needs to get all that off his chest if he really has a problem with you and I'd rather him take that out on me even unintentionally anyways." Sirius still finished with a guilty look in place that set him bristling.

"You don't deserve that Sirius!" He snapped back at once.

"He thought I was you," Sirius quickly reminded.

"That's not the point!" James insisted. "I wouldn't have just stood there letting him yell at me! He's not your bloody parents, and I'm not going to let him start doing that shit to you if you're hoping that makes it all better! I'm not even sure why you're trying!" He regretted the words the instant they slipped out, Sirius looked so confused and he'd been trying so hard to bite his tongue against saying anything, letting Sirius make his own decisions about his little brother.

"What do you have against Regulus?" Sirius didn't quite demand it, but he sounded so surprised James chose his next words carefully, he'd already felt vaguely paranoid before this. He'd only just turned fourteen after all.

"You never talk about him Sirius, less than even your parents. I always wondered, well, how much he knows about, well, some of your punishments," he admitted, and didn't like the response when Sirius rubbed absently at his shoulder and didn't look at him. Moony wasn't the only one with scars, but some weren't so visible.

He pressed in now that Sirius didn't flat deny it, "I'll not have you feeling guilty you didn't keep that in your life if he stood by and did nothing instead of helping you in that forsaken house."

Sirius let his hand drop and looked back at him steadily. "I don't know okay, I honestly don't want to know if he knows. He's not been in the room and laughing, if that's what you mean. Mostly he just hides in the attic when I start going at it with them and doesn't come down until he's summoned and I've usually cleaned myself up by then. If he suspects anything he hides it well."

"A trait you two share," James grudgingly let some of the ire trickle out of his voice, at least Regulus had never actually hurt Sirius then to appease his parents, the nightmare he hadn't been able to shake. Hearing Voldemort do so to his Padfoot had not let the idea rest though. "I still can't say I'm all gung ho helping you out with him Padfoot, especially if he's going to turn that temper on either of us."

"Hasn't had the best role model from anyone," Sirius quietly muttered.

"You're working on it," James gave a sort of laugh in admittance. Better than having come down the stairs and the two dueling to the death he supposed. He still didn't quite like Sirius just taking this in stride though if this was the alternative, it wasn't natural to not see Sirius fight back.

He sighed when he heard Smith starting the book and decided to brave the house alone for now as he distracted Sirius, "I'm going to see if there's food, and get us both a change of clothes. Go find Moony would you, haven't seen him exiting the garden with the others. Tell him for me I don't bloody care who he snogs in the meantime, will you?"

Sirius looked so hilariously startled that James wondered if he'd gotten it wrong then, but it was probably even better he leave the two to it then. Whatever the hell they were up to, it was helping Sirius, he could tell that much as Padfoot grinned and took off.

James walked with his head held high into the kitchen and made straight for the stove. The others crowded around the table watched him when he walked in, the book still having a few leaves clinging to pages in Alice's hand as she alternately read and shook her head at whatever conversation abruptly stopped at his entrance.

Snorting in derision as if he was supposed to care about being talked about, weather it was a group this size, the whole of his house annoyed he'd lost such a huge chunk of points for his latest prank, or the whole of Hogwarts laughing both at him and with him whenever a prank or counter prank was in action, he strode over to the stove and followed the basic steps of potions class to get a fire going and setting a pot in place before pausing in confusion.

Alice disengaged herself from the table, both of them ignoring the annoyed look Evans and Longbottom gave each other as she came up to him and asked, "like some help?"

"Sure," he smiled at once. "Know how to make grits? Ever tried syrup in that, it's to die for!"

She grinned at his enthusiasm and promised, "oh I'm sure we can whip up some of everything."

He couldn't help but smile at her, there was just something about her round face that radiated kindness, it wasn't hard to see why Longbottom was so smitten even if she was a little too timid for him to get the full appeal. She was short too, barely a few inches difference to Peter, but she nudged him aside gently and he didn't even think about stepping aside for her as she began going through the motions and talking in a level voice everything she was doing, though he hadn't actually asked for a walkthrough.

He listened though. He was painfully aware because of this future his parents clearly hadn't survived to take care of Harry, and it twisted up something in him to ever wonder for long how much time they had left, had they ever shown up in his wedding photos to Evans? While he could go home now and ask his mum to teach him this, he instead likened more to the idea she might not just laugh along with her boy for once, but give her something to be proud of as he studied her wand movements and copied with wavering success.

The milk, water, and salt were all carefully blended together and at a steady boil, even if he was sure they came out a bit too lumpy when Alice quietly redirected, "I hope everything's okay with those three."

The invitation was clear. He ruffled up his hair, his wand slipping and the stirring stopped for a moment as he considered telling her yes, and he would deal with his problems, again. That hadn't exactly been working out for him so far though, and damn if she hadn't been right back in Sirius' own house. Maybe if he'd just bloody talked to Padfoot before this future slammed him in the face he wouldn't have broken his ear drums and had his feelings so viciously kicked into him.

"Not sure how to get Sirius and Peter to talk to each other," he finally admitted his problem. It may have even worked there for a second in Slughorn's house, before Regulus had so rudely interrupted he was sure. "Padfoot's trying, but ah, he's not the best at using his words." He was always more of a free spirited, gestures, and reactionary kind of bloke, and he rarely tried to hide any of it. Maybe if Padfoot hadn't been suppressing how little he'd forgiven Peter on his behalf it wouldn't have been so bad! James wouldn't change him for the world. "I know he tried back in Malfoy's room, but it doesn't seem to have done much good." He and Remus had been worried about just that, but hadn't let themselves interfere. "I'm not their mother, I can't just make them apologize to each other, but I don't know how else to help. What the hell do I say?"

He finally tapped the pot to get it stirring again lest something burn. It still felt weird to be saying this to anyone but Remus, but he hadn't anything else to offer but an apologetic shrug and mutual agreement there was just no mending this broken bridge with magic. At least Moony had promised he'd keep the two away from each other if he wanted, but that wasn't helping anymore than the two interacting the past few times. They'd been faking it thus far for his sake, and he knew that.

Now Regulus was trying to throw his opinion in, and he'd probably just pushed Peter farther away towards that kid. It's not like Wormtail had stood up for Sirius against the brat! He still didn't appreciate the last time Peter had shouted at Sirius back in the forest!

When Alice finally spoke, her voice was quiet but gentle, she seemed to respect he still was not trying to air their business and the others talking quietly at the table over their game once more should not be able to hear. "I don't know them as well as you do, but I hope you see laughing this off just isn't helping."

He grit his teeth to stop himself snapping at her that wasn't helping either, he still didn't know what else to do!

"I'd say, first step, just make sure you're all on the same page. Then, maybe, see where they want to go from there. Sometimes, we outgrow people, and that's not always a bad thing." She frowned at Evans, and James refused his own look to confirm it even if he knew in his heart what she meant and it was very, very true. He didn't see it as the same thing at all, Peter had never done anything like old Snivilius had. Sirius had over reacted in his anger, but this future wasn't letting up on them for a second about how awful things to come could be, he was entitled to an emotional outburst! He and Remus had tried to stop him from doing Peter a real harm!

"That's not very helpful," he huffed, removing the pot from the heat and grabbing down bowls.

"Sometimes the advice we need isn't what we want to hear," she shrugged, but she still looked sadly at her friend, and then back at him. "I'm sorry."

He huffed and changed the subject to syrup, bacon, and gravy, at least her company wasn't as bad as her fortune cookie nonsense.

Remus was still leaning against the apple tree he'd landed face first on and hadn't chosen to move, instead knocking his head softly against the bark in hopes it would knock some sense into him. Anger at himself still dominated rather than Padfoot not giving him some bloody warning for their stupid prank as he kept replaying what Sirius had said.

A break? They weren't even together as far as Sirius was concerned and he was already laughing about a break. What if Remus never asked for a break, would Sirius keep hooking up with him along with how many others when they got back? Would he be able to keep himself in check and go along with that, pretending to ignore any such thing was happening? He very much doubted it, and it only confirmed in him what he should have known back in that alley way, he really should put a stop to this now.

Amongst the cawing birds in the bright morning sun and the frogs still splashing about in their water, he heard someone approaching him and looked around in mild concern when he realized no shouting had resumed. If James and Regulus were off killing each other, they were doing it quietly.

It was the real Sirius this time, of this he was very confident of as Prongs would still be looking at him like a concerned parent about to give him the sex talk.

"You told him?" Sirius confirmed in delight as he barely came over in arms reach. He even turned around like the conversation was done there and they could go off to join James like nothing had happened.

He should have expected the gleeful smile. Sirius made himself as clear as possible on Slughorn's bed, Remus quickly reminded himself, and even before that. He only sees you as a playfriend, get over it!

Remus' scowl deepened, some of his self-anger getting an easy redirection. "No you arse, he figured it out when I didn't know it was you!"

Sirius just looked confused for a few more moments before he got it, and then he laughed as he edged closer. "What did you do?"

Remus shoved him back away in disgust. "It wasn't funny! What the hell are you so happy for?"

"I wanted to tell him," Sirius reminded with an eye roll, "what are you so angry for?"

Remus bit his lip rather than answer, this was going as horrible as it was possible to! "Look, it means something, different to me, telling people, alright." He tried to plead with him to understand. He clearly didn't. "Sirius, I know you don't see it as a big deal ever to tell us of your last dalliance, but it does to me, okay!"

Sirius just cocked his head to the side and kept watching him as if waiting for further explanation, like he couldn't fathom what other meaning there was, like he really couldn't picture telling his brother who he was hooking up with for any other reason than the fun of it. Remus tried to take some comfort in that Sirius really just didn't have the capacity to even be looking for anything more with anyone, not just with him.

"Okay, fine," Sirius mercifully gave in, though it was clear he still didn't get what Remus' problem was. Remus breathed in relief. "If you don't want him to know yet, I'll push him off what happened. I'd still like to know what you did," he added with a grin.

"How the hell do you think you're going to get away with that?" Remus demanded.

"If I can get McGonagall to not give me detention for transfiguring Eckers into a rocking horse I can do anything!" Sirius declared with the greatest hurt to his pride Remus was questioning this. He still hadn't stopped grinning. "You still have to tell me so I know what I'm working with."

Remus groaned and put his face in his hands, was this not bad enough without the teasing? "I hate you so much."

"Love you too Moony," Sirius casually agreed. "Now come on, work with me!"

Remus finally dropped his hands so he could glare at the bastard, and then let his hand rest on the inside of his thigh of the real Padfoot this time, leaning forward and whispering with as much annoyed suggestiveness in his voice he could, "is that a challenge?" He quickly dropped his hand and crossed his arms with a huff.

His pissed off attempt didn't really work, Sirius' eyes still glazed over with lust for a moment and he licked his lips before he shook his head and muttered, "yeah, that's not very subtle. Any more context I should know?"

"I still never got my pineapple," he sulked, as if that was really his biggest concern.

Sirius gave him a cheeky grin as he patted his bag. "Moony, I'm insulted, you really think I'd leave you hanging?"

He could not imagine where and how Sirius had found the time to nab that in between everything else that had gone on. The thoughtfulness in the action stunned him. Damn him for still getting aroused by this asshole when he wanted to keep glaring at him.

Padfoot's eyes flickered around the garden for inspiration, they even listened to some of the chapter in mutual silence as Harry finally confessed to his friends of the Prophecy hanging over his head and the Phlegm being Fleur Delacor back in wedding bliss to Bill Weasley, but that wasn't striking much. Remus' concern grew even Sirius' silver tongue wasn't going to get out of this one.

"Look, just hang around out here if you want to, avoid Prongs and the others, I'll cover for you, just like always." Sirius finally sighed. "I promise I'll get some actual food for you for the next spot, okay?" He even sacrificed the crystalized pineapple now, tossing him the box and not even taking a single one for himself.

"Don't bother," he grumbled as he caught it, but pocketed it. Deciding to scale the tree for now in any relief to get away, and half tempted to pitch himself off head first. Sirius pouted at him the whole way up until Remus was crunching on an apple so loud he could pretend he didn't hear him walk off.

Sirius kicked and huffed and paced the whole way back to the door, taking twice as long as the trip should be. Great, yeah, even Moony was mad at him now, this just really could not be going worse. He knew he couldn't force the guy to relax about being gay, or whatever he considered getting off with another guy to be. He'd heard plenty of horror stories from other kids in school for their parents' reactions. He had no wish to envision Remus anywhere near that, but did he really think so little of Prongs? Sirius just had to find a way to get him to relax about this, it was by far the easiest problem to focus on, he knew Moony so well he was sure he could come up with a solution to this. It was too bad he couldn't turn into another animal for him to help, he'd do it in a heartbeat.

He walked in and found himself plenty distracted by Alice teaching James how to cook. She was being really nice about it too, even as Sirius watched he waved his wand a little too enthusiastically and sent a packet of bacon flopping to the ground. She corrected him and he got it right in the next go with a very pleased smile and a half glance at Evans, who was ignoring him and playing cards at the table with the others again. James turned away remarkably fast and wasn't even trying to talk to her but kept his focus on Smith. The book was left open at an empty chair, so at least nobody was reading it to try and get them out of a nightmare.

Regulus at least looked in a semi better mood. He wasn't shooting death threats at Prongs at least, but just flat ignoring him, and he didn't at all look up at Sirius' entrance as he took the deck from Evans and shuffled with quite a bit of skill. Peter at least looked around with a half smile at him before waving him towards the food.

Sirius needed no such invitation and leaned next to the stove, stuffing himself silly and still not quite sick of breakfast meals despite the fact they'd been having that in abundance lately but purposefully leaning on Alice's other side and not engaging as her and Prongs chatted casually about their mums different home spells, something he couldn't join in on anyways.

James had never had a problem making friends, Sirius thought back, it was him who'd made the four of them friends, Sirius was still half convinced sifting through memories it would never have worked without Prongs as their buffer until they were all used to each other. So it was still his fault really James was now keeping himself on the outs and not engaging with the rest, but instead sticking by Sirius and keeping himself apart, something he and Moony much preferred.

Attention was one thing he'd had all his life, whether he wanted it or not. He glorified in it at school as much as Prongs, but still far more enjoyed their private jokes alone in their dorms once the laughter had died down, a choice when to be in the spotlight for his amusement and when to leave it, something he'd never been allowed before James.

It wouldn't kill the rest of these guys to understand a good joke and curiosity could do wonders for their own moods.

Stuffing the last of his food into his mouth, he went back to the scullery for a new change of clothes rather than this ripped up shirt, maybe that would help Remus at least somewhat. It greatly irked him nobody did ask why he was outside still even with a ready excuse.

Maybe it was slightly better this way, Remus would refuse this on principle and spoil what Sirius was going for.

He snatched the bottle of Polyjuice Potion out of the back of James' pocket and snagged five cups down, slamming them on the table and pouring a dollop into each, keeping just enough left in the vile he slipped it back in for Remus later and glared at the lot.

"Don't even dare tell me you're not curious?" He accused each and every one of them.

Alice came over at once plucking a thin black strand of hair away. "When I tried in class it was too lumpy, nearly a solid it was so gross, Slughorn gave me an A and I was worried it would be the wrong color if I tried. Thanks Sirius," and she dropped it in.

It frothed and bubbled for only a moment before settling on a beautiful shade of the lightest yellow, like a soft warm light, it even looked kind of fuzzy, like a baby chick.

She grinned in delight, but none of the others exactly looked encouraged to play along.

"Frank?" She sighed.

"I already know what mine is," he tried to put off, glancing guiltily between her and Lily and needlessly rearranging his hand. Sirius had no idea what was going on there. "It's blue, love, and yours is beautiful of course."

She was still pouting at him with those large amber eyes of hers, and so he finally gave in and winced as he came away with some loose blonde hairs, dropping them into his own.

Blue indeed, a very dark royal shade that had the consistency of a squashed berry. She still smiled in delight and leaned in to give him a kiss on the cheek, but neither went so far as to offer swapping cups and bodies, apparently even they weren't going to indulge them that far.

Peter glanced around but finally went next to at least show a spot of good faith, his mousy brown hair vanishing into the mud for moments before it changed. It was a speck of the light, just before the dawn sky showed a hint that was not quite black. It even had little sparkles of the stars, he'd swear it, the pinpricks desperate to still be seen as the opaque of the day began forcing its way through the peaceful night. In the crest of the velvet, just before the nocturnal animals would end, he smiled and shook his head fondly for the deep purple color.

"Come on then," Peter even reached over and gave Regulus a light prod. "They really didn't mean anything by it this time."

"I'll just wait for my own potions class when I do it," Regulus said stiffly, still only glaring at his plate as he played a card.

Alice knew better than to try and talk Lily into any such thing, she was too stubborn and probably already knew hers anyways considering her advanced potions work.

She was half right, Lily did know what color it was going to be, but with one last begrudging look at Potter to make sure he knew this wasn't for him, she gave her and Frank a friendly smile and plucked a red hair free for them to see.

It was the soft blush just under the surface, the light airy breath that flashed over and warmed the skin. Her breath caught in her throat again as she could already taste how lightly it would flit down one's throat. She brushed her hand through her hair and smiled softly to herself with pride, she'd never been fond of the color pink, it had always been Petunia's favorite, but she looked almost gleefully now at how it softly glowed in her cup, warmth seeping right through to the tips of her fingers once more.

Sighing in resignation of being left out and only for Peter's sake and not the other two, Regulus finally pulled a hair free as well.

Trapped in the forest, it would be the first hint of light. The faint sun flicking through trees, the slightly thicker grass getting just a little more springy with each step, the same shade of hazel flickering out of the corner of his eye when he was on a broom and the Forbidden Forest was just lively enough to grab his attention. The darkest shade of green, or a freckled shade of brown, he smiled softly as he tipped the cup this way and that to catch every last glimmer it would show.

Lily took all of their distraction to collect all of the cards this time and pocket them with purpose when Alice told she was going to finish the chapter.

Alice beamed at everyone smiling once more and mouthed a thank you to Sirius, who graciously acknowledged this with a competitive smirk. She made sure to catch James' eye before picking up the book to finish, and he nodded his resignation at last, their quiet whispers before Sirius had entered finally sinking in.

HPHPHPHP

And just because I don't have a better time to share this considering the location of the future chapter it shows up in I won't spoil, you got these now and this below:

Luna- light Orange/ Hermione- Dark Orange

Ron- Dark Brown/ Neville- Light Brown

Dumbledore- Gold with silver flecks

Fenrir*-

It looked more like smoke resting in the cup, the thick cloying kind that would choke your lungs and suffocate you faster than the fire could reach you. Even being nowhere near the lips, the urge to gag, plug up the nose and run was the first instinct upon seeing it. Surly such a vile color was not meant to ever be seen, let alone consumed, for it would never let go once it latched on.

Voldemort-

It's the color he feels pulsing all around him when that sense of purpose, power, rightness, and even triumph surrounded him. He could feel it now, almost burning out of the cup as the color reflected back his soul. It would darken with time just like the murky little depth of solid black color in the center was now, turning deeper and deeper shades with every new murder he granted those not worthy of this life, but always in the very edges before the liquid traced the rim of the cup, you could still see burning red.

Umbridge- pink

It sits like a heavy film over the tongue once swallowed down, leaving an almost chalky, lingering weight behind. The fluorescent, almost painfully bright color would be bitter, like the darkest tea, and would curl into a nauseating feeling the lower down your body it traveled.

Bellatrix- light green

The neon glow was enticing to look at, as if the vividest shade of a particularly tart apple were sizzling in the cup. One sip was all it would take, and you could not stop. You would keep drinking, even when you were out of breath, and the tang became painful because your mouth was burning, you would still keep swallowing happily for the phosphorescent liquid of the verdant shade. ( I can not believe the books literally glossed over what this canon color should be!)

Snape- light purple

It seemed painful to even look at, the image of drinking it would be worse. The morbid feeling of prodding this color, the heavy purple would whiten slightly and then turn back an even darker shade, to have that inside of him made him want to be sick. He wished it would mottle to the greens and yellows of a fading bruise, but feared it would never happen.

Don't worry, you'll get Remus' eventually. I think mine would be similar to a lime green, and sweet with a nice kick at the end. Let me know yours?

*You would not want to drink Remus/ Fenrir's, or any other werewolves FYI. I have a headcanon of what would happen if you tried to use polyjuice potion on a werewolf, and it's similar but more gruesome than what happened to Hermione when she tried to use it on a cat. Check out my AU, Proper Life, chapter 5 for details if you're curious, it's in the very first section so you don't have to read much if you're not invested in the whole thing.

Chapter Text

James immediately forgot his next course of action, but in his defense, he landed in paradise.

He never would have dreamed to even ask the book for something as fantastic as being dumped in the twins' joke shop, but he knew that's exactly where they were. He didn't even need to read the brilliant sign that glowed mirror like in the window, nor the empty cobble bricks of Diagon Alley beyond, no, the evidence was in every product label in sight!

Anti Gravity Hats– "Ruin a gentleman's day by making his hat fly away!"- to the Weasleys' Wildfire Whiz-bangs, his heart thrilled in delight to take in this place, imagining the floor packed with people of all ages here for a good laugh in such troubled times.

The eight of them were making enough sounds of delight for a whole crowd as is, there just was not something for somebody to love in here. In his hasty need to rush over and check out those Extendable Ears in person though, he actually passed Regulus scrutinizing a bottle of Magical Moustache Miracle Stubble Grow and forced himself to pause by the little spinning rack of potions before Peter or Sirius came over here.

Counting Quidditch statistics slowly in his head to make sure he didn't look like he was changing directions to punch the welp, he was minorly confident he'd achieved at least this when Regulus looked up and only scowled rather than drawing his wand upon him coming closer.

"If you're here to apologize-"

"I'm not," Potter said steadily.

Regulus glared up, cursing puberty more than anything Potter was so much taller than him and opened his mouth to give in detail how rude it was to continue interrupting people, still, before that look Sirius had given him flashed across his mind and he started chewing on his cheek as he thought through and replayed the scene in his head again.

It helped, to give his brother Potter's hazel eyes, remind himself it wasn't Sirius who may be actively hating him, but if he started shouting now Sirius may come over and just do the same. It wasn't a secret he'd back Potter first, he'd taken the diatribe for the man before after all.

Regulus looked beyond annoyed at him still, but surprisingly closed his mouth and just glared at him rather than continued shouting, already a good sign as far as James was concerned, but he leaned in close to make sure Regulus' little superiority complex wouldn't miss a word. "Listen, whatever problem you have with me, I hope you got it out of your system, but if not then you should know I'm not just going to stand there and let you shout at me like your bloody parents do to Sirius, nor will I tolerate you giving him hell he doesn't deserve. He's been through enough, we all bloody have while dealing with this."

"I, I didn't, I'm not-" Regulus spluttered in indignation, but James just kept glowering and watched with interest as he stopped after a moment and looked genuinely guilty now as he looked back towards Padfoot. "I don't want to be like them," he finally muttered, a note of defiance still clear in his voice as he continued to meet his eyes. "You're still an arrogant arse."

"I've been recently informed of that by my own kid thank you," James agreed, starting to lose that resolve not to hang Regulus up by his pants for at least this chapter, but Harry's face flashed across his mind and he held his hand still. "Anything else you'd like to say? Best get it out now."

At first James thought he wasn't going to answer, he was chewing on his tongue for some reason it seemed, but then he said in a very even voice, "you interrupt your mates. A lot. I don't know about the other two as much, but Peter especially. It annoys the shit out of me."

'What's it to you?' The insulted brush off was on the tip of James's tongue in outrage, but he quickly bit that off as he kept looking at Sirius' brother. If Padfoot was really going to try and start involving this kid in his life then he should probably get used to it now, and it was long obvious Regulus and Peter were good friends already. It seemed ridiculous to think at this rate that would just vanish when they got back out of this.

Instead he replayed the last conversation he'd had with Wormtail in his head looking to deny this, and felt just a tad guilty he hadn't actually heard a word, but that wasn't interrupting. He thought back farther, but he'd barely spoken to Peter, really talked to him since back during the third book now, if not longer. He and Sirius did have a tendency to talk to each other and only passively involve Remus and Peter when they butted in when the two got going. It wasn't something he'd ever consciously thought of, he and Sirius had far too much fun shouting over each other and getting the other to laugh harder next.

Alice was right though, trying to get the others to laugh this off was helping no one. He tried to make an effort right then to tell himself to watch that in the future.

He wanted to ask Regulus point blank his real question, but decided if he admitted to knowing of the levels of real abuse the Black parents had done to their eldest he would in fact not be able to stop himself hitting the nearest one in retaliation, so he was glad when Regulus seemed satisfied he'd not only said his peace but James had nothing to lob back and walked off.

Longbottom finally found the book and was reading about the youngest Malfoy. James glared out the window and listened with livid frustration this young Death Eater strolling around Borgin and Burkes with a 'mission' Snape had to help his mother with she had so little faith in, and his son was now actively trying to get involved. He refused himself a look at Evans to see if she was glaring at him for that being his fault too, because he couldn't deny he would be doing the same thing if given the chance, to thwart any kind of coming attack on his school.

Sirius appeared at his elbow just like always, smiling with such ease it made the entire thing worth it even if James still felt more agitated than ever for every Black but Sirius. He was already vowing in his head to give him paperwork to change that on his next birthday.

"So I heard you and Moony had some fun," Sirius lightly quipped, eyes resting on the rest of the bottles. It was still pretty funny to him to think about, mostly because neither party had any idea of the joke beforehand. He wished he'd caught the whole thing on camera just to laugh at their faces when it happened.

"Eh?" James looked at him in confusion, and Sirius was quick to elaborate on a convenient lie his eyes had landed on.

"Sorry about it Prongs, I doused him before we swapped, got distracted, didn't think whatever he did would fall on you," he smirked.

"You passed Moony a love potion?" James didn't seem suspicious so much as just unamused for once.

"Yep," Sirius remorselessly lied. "Was going to give Pete some Babbling Brew too, but I got caught too soon." James would laugh it off later when Remus finally got over his secret and they told him the rest.

"Well it didn't work quite right," James shrugged as he turned away and went over to look at some of the Invisibility Cloaks they had for sale, though none even came close to his, he was curious enough to see these knock offs. "He just made a pass at me, wasn't exactly all over you though."

"More of those wonky effects on werewolves I suppose," Sirius shrugged as he followed, and James didn't ask any further questions. Sirius still wasn't sure what the point of all this was and ditched Prongs as he got enamored by the Demon Box and nipped behind the counter for a bit of parchment and quill, hoping if he gave Remus this it would help him relax more.

James was more annoyed than he'd let on as Sirius came back shoving a bit of parchment into his pocket like he wouldn't notice something was obviously still going on, but he worked enough out for himself that it was clearly Remus who didn't want to tell. Sirius was just backing him on that, and if it was a gay thing he'd respect it and let Moony come to him when he wanted to, though he wished he knew how Sirius had figured it out so he could assure the same. Maybe he was entirely off the mark though and it was still something else, Padfoot was right about one thing, Remus was ever reluctant to share anything. He still wasn't sure what they'd done to so endear them he'd shared his werewolf secret all those years ago but was grateful for whatever that was and let the whole thing go.

Regardless, the two lost their heads when they found the Skiving Snackboxes and shamelessly shoved a box each into their bags.

Chapter Text

Twilight mist still hung in the air around them, and the deserted station left an odd taste in their mouth as the scarlet train hung behind them without moving off for once. Steam was still pumping out of it, there were even a few pets waiting on the ground cooing or hissing at them for their owners sudden departure as the eight of them landed in Hogsmeade station.

Peter had landed painfully on a bench and didn’t feel up to moving. Regulus stumbled into seemingly nothing to him, though thankfully the Thesteral only gave him a look of mild annoyance and didn’t take a snap. The dejected look he gave James and Sirius before stalking onto the train to be alone was heart wrenching to Peter, but he really didn’t know how to help with this one, he still had his own issues to work out with those two idiots, even if he had thought the prank had its merits and could have been funny under better circumstances.

Spotting the book down in the tracks of the train, he swallowed uncomfortably and watched for several extra moments to make sure it wasn’t going to spontaneously try to run him over as he eased himself down and darted back up with his prize in hand before following Regulus in even if he didn’t know what he was going to say.

There was only one compartment with all the curtains drawn, and Regulus was sitting inside chewing on his cheek so hard Peter had to fight the urge to tell him not to bite through his face.

He sat down across from him and opened the book with a whispered, “thanks.” Regulus smiled and nodded while Peter started, but kept pausing for extra breath than was needed just in case, offering company but silence at least for whatever Regulus wanted. 

Things had been going so well there for a moment, Regulus wanted to sob on his new friend's shoulder like a child. He’d really thought Sirius was trying to rekindle some old familial bonds with the two games and asking after him, but he couldn’t get the look not really Sirius had given him out of his head, and his brother hadn’t even apologized! Like he should be laughing the whole thing off like Potter had clearly wanted to back in the shop, obviously annoyed as piss at him still. Even Peter had clearly found the whole thing funny, but at least he was restraining himself from saying so and acting normal.

Regulus listened as Harry’s friends blew off Harry’s aspersions of Draco being a Death Eater though and at least found that of some interest. Harry and his mates got into fights every year it seemed over something or other, maybe he really was still being a child hoping his brother would just go back to agreeing with him about everything. He could still get along with him even if they had a different idea of what was fun now.

He was not going to be like his parents, he genuinely regretted now losing his temper and he shouldn’t expect Sirius to act exactly how he wanted him to at all times or he would be just like them. He’d either take his brother as is or not at all, and he still wasn’t sure which yet.

Frank was still detailing for Lily exactly what the invisible horse looked like as she ran her hand in wonder over the silky main she couldn’t see. They weren’t covered in blood, so the thestral gave no indication it even cared they were there anymore than Trevor hopping past them. 

They were blatantly ignoring Potter as he amused himself setting up some fireworks he’d filched from the last location, because setting those off was really the best way to make everything better apparently, even if none of them would deny enjoying the show when he did.

When they saw Alice coming over though from her landing, she gave Frank a careful look and whispered, “please try to talk some sense into her,” and left them to it, going a few carriages over and then inside of one.

“Are you two really mad at me I don’t agree with you?” Alice asked in surprise as she watched the display. They’d once even agreed with her to try interacting with them more before Snape’s not too distant future hurt Lily so bad, and Sirius’ future had imploded their lives again.

“No,” he said at once, taking her hand. “She just has no confidence in herself, telling Snape off for so many years and him never listening to her, she doesn't think you can help them anymore than I do. I still don't understand why you bothered," Frank told her, aware of how harsh he sounded, but he worried his kindhearted girlfriend was going to be quickly abused by that arse. Agreeing to not avoid them didn’t feel the same as involving themselves in their lives like she was now actively trying to do.

"What Harry said really bothered him Frank," Alice patiently explained, not letting his tone affect hers one bit. "Then, this future, it's really getting to him, and with his mates still all on the ropes, I think it wouldn't hurt to offer an olive branch. He listened too, he was quite polite back there in the kitchen."

"So he knows how to charm people, we know that from only getting half the detentions he should," Frank shook his head. "I'm still on Lily's side, if you keep indulging them they'll never learn."

"They're not exactly figuring it out for themselves at this rate," she smiled. "Going round in circles like they are, trying to make everybody laugh rather than talking it out. Regulus and Potter aren't shooting each other looks anymore, I think they cleared the air and that helped a bit. I don't regret it," she finished sincerely.

He sighed in defeat, he knew he couldn't really stop her nor was he going to actively try even if he did disapprove, but tried one last time, "thought you were staying out of it?"

"I am, as much as they ask me to," she shrugged. "James didn't, he was very attentive and open even if he didn't say much."

Frank kissed her temple and squeezed her hand but let it drop as he pulled her over to the carriage Lily had gone into, piling in themselves and listening avidly to the new Slug Club.

Sirius came over to lean casually against the same carriage as him like Remus wasn't obviously still pissed at him. Sirius clucked his tongue when he received no acknowledgment, he’d given up a front row seat to those fireworks for this, but said cheerfully, "Prongs thinks I slipped you a love potion, it's perfect right? You'd be a little grumpy if I did, and now you have an excuse for your excellent flirting and groping techniques."

"Flattery doesn't get you everywhere Sirius," he grumbled, even if he did turn his head around so he could see the eye roll that earned.

Sirius just preened at the attention, as usual. Why did he have to have a crush on the biggest prat at Hogwarts again? Padfoot smiled then, that one he only ever used in the dorms for them, and was still leaning against his shoulder. Sirius had done something he explicitly hadn’t wanted to, just for him in all this, so the real question should have been what had he done to deserve such a kind hearted friend.

"Here," Sirius suddenly dug something out of his pocket and handed him a bit of parchment. "My bucket list. Would you relax and think about having some fun for once!" 

Remus gazed down and felt himself flush just a bit, some of this was quite raunchy and he had no idea what at least one of those was. He meant to fold it up carefully and put it in his own pocket as a show of good fun at least, already trying to plan in his head how to subtly get Sirius off the idea he didn't need others. Padfoot really was doing his best to mature from just an impulsive hot-head, which had been endearing enough for how fun that unpredictable side could be even with the downfalls of it. This new mature thing he was trying was somehow even more- his fingers didn’t finish the first crease as he realized there was writing on the other side and flipped it over. His stomach dropped.

"That's a list of others you could hook up with too," Sirius leaned casually against his shoulder and began jabbing at a few names, some of them even surprised him. "The ones I check marked I've personally been with, just in case that bugs you too for some reason, but the others I'm pretty confident about from reliable sources. I could give you a list of gals too, if you want."

Traitorous tears pricked at the corner of his eyes and he quickly crumpled it up, shoving it into his pocket without looking at Sirius or anyone. Merlin he was being such a nancy, Sirius had never been subtle in his life about his many hook ups and he'd never given one indication to Remus that would change just because they were doing it now!

Sirius did care about him, just not the way he wanted, and he would just have to live with that. It was more than he'd ever dreamed in his life he could even have friends when he came to this school, what the hell was he even doing risking that on a fling?

He cleared his throat and was very pleased with himself when he sounded perfectly normal. "Thanks Padfoot. Do you mind, I'm trying to pay attention to what Malfoy's up to?"

Sirius shrugged and left Remus to his thoughts, he had more than enough fun shouting abuse at the top of his lungs at what that Slytherin did to his godson anyways as he joined James to gaze up at the fireworks.

Chapter Text

The room was so dark that at first they didn't recognize being back in such a familiar classroom. All the curtains were drawn and only spluttering candles lit the horrid décor that no other teacher would ever put up in here, grisly depictions of people in pain with ghastly injuries or contorted body parts. A copy of Confronting the Faceless by Hickabod Marthel toppled out of the bag Remus landed on top of, sending the book with a pale, empty human like shape on the cover that eerily reminded him of Voldemort skidding away.

He got up still shaking his head to find their DADA classroom like a nightmare as he sought out the others, all of whom had landed on desks and chairs as well. Sirius had landed by one particular picture depicting a soulless husk slumped on the ground and couldn't seem to look away, and Remus moved forward on instinct to put himself between that future that was not happening to him to catch Sirius' eyes with concern.

Padfoot smiled at him in relief and turned purposefully away, but Remus didn't think it was a better option when he went after Peter and Regulus again, that didn't feel like it was helping anything, but he knew better than to try and stop Sirius there. Instead he went up to the desk in mild concern for who was teaching the class this year, the room felt so forbidding it wasn't going to be a good thing.

Wormtail and Reg were looking over the class copy with mild disgust, sitting at the same desk like that could ever happen outside of this madness. He hopped up onto the table and grinned when Peter still looked up at him with mild curiosity.

"What were you trying to tell Prongs anyways?" Sirius asked.

"Um," Peter knew exactly what he was talking about and gave a questioning look at Regulus, who merely shrugged. Taking that as permission to say whatever he liked, he admitted, "I was going to ask him to tell you to stop asking about Regulus. If you want to talk to him Padfoot, he's right here." Regulus didn't look up, now acting more invisible than if he had the cloak on him. Sirius' scowl was not encouraging, and Peter winced. "Hence why I was trying to tell James, you listen to him."

"The hell is with the two of you?" His voice was already edging towards outrage. "I don't bloody have a mind link with him, I think for myself! James doesn't tell me what to do, nobody does! He's my best friend because he's never tried to pull this shit! If you have something to say then bloody say it! I was only asking you in the first place because the last time I tried you snapped my head off!"

Peter winced and looked away, feeling even more guilty for that now, but Regulus calmly interceded with a level look at his big brother. "Well then, I'm saying it. Go away please. I do want to talk to you, but, later."

Sirius threw his hands up in resignation but did as asked. Fine, if Peter and Regulus wanted to exclude him from their life, more power to them! Nobody could say he hadn't tried!

"No, we're not okay," he told James before he could ask, throwing himself into the seat beside him, watching Moony go through a desk with blood pounding in his ears rather than anywhere else for once. Being patient was a lot harder than he'd ever given credit for, he had no idea how to keep going like this. "Merlin, I would kill for a game of Exploding Snap right now."

"I can help with that without the body, this time," James grinned as he pulled exactly that from his bag, which was still overflowing with the rest of their prizes from the shop.

"You are the best mate in the world," Sirius told him with all the sincerity in him as they set up.

James waited until after the first batch had exploded and proudly declared himself as winning before saying calmly to Sirius, "you can get it off your chest you know. Just because I don't approve doesn't mean I won't listen." He'd admit he did feel a little guilty at his irrational anger for Regulus, but that wasn't making the feeling go away either when he imagined Sirius alone in that house.

Sirius watched the deck magically reshuffle, only waiting long enough to look around and see nobody had reacted at all to their game, and that was good enough for him as he told Prongs of every bloody thought that had been on his mind about both Peter and Regulus for practically his whole bloody life just under the books loud words, ergo neither of them barely reacting to Snape Victorious. It made too much sense after all, what with their surroundings and Slughorn taking his old job, and they cared far more about making each other laugh than the spare thought it was Snape would finally be gone after this book. They just had to get through it until then.

Lily and Frank watched in dumbfounded fascination for this. Once back in Malfoy's room had been an anomaly enough, but this was twice now the two had purposely showed almost a mature response to such dislikable news to them. Even Alice and Frank made more disgusted noises at the news that Snape was still a teacher around their boy, a promotion in that greasy gits eyes after all the horrible things he'd done.

Lily still couldn't help an automatic resistance to the idea of being peaceable with them, but she hadn't loathed the very idea of Potter for a while now, and she wasn't sure when exactly that had ended. She didn't have any other feelings to cling to about him now though, leaving her rather empty and concerned.

A very small, even traitorous part of her whispered against the idea of interacting with him in any way as some kind of betrayal to Sev, but she closed her eyes and pushed that thought away. He did not, and possibly may never again get any say in any part of her life.

By the end of it all where the most extravagant thing they did was high five each other in congratulations for winning the game without an explosion and catcall Lupin a few times for sitting at the teacher's desk to read all this while eating from a box of sweets without sharing, causing all five of them to smile for the friendly banter, Lily and Frank had quietly apologized to Alice and promised to try with her now. Maybe it would do them some good to interact with them more.

Chapter Text

The shop was brightly lit, causing more whiplash from the last room into this place and giving no one a chance for a decent landing as they all crashed into shelves of items none would reasonably like to be around.

Peter fell into a barrel of rat spleens, Regulus had a whole jar of bezoars fall on his head, and Lily cried in distress as her hair was tangled up in an array of poppy heads and unicorn tails strung together in the ceiling from the high shelf she landed on.

When Lily got herself down though and looked around at the apothecary, she felt a swirl of emotions for this place even as she put a feather and extension charm on her bag and made her way purposefully around, trying not to dwell on memories of her first trip here with Sev, this had been their favorite shop right off the bat as she went around touching everything she could despite the harassed shop owner chasing them and pleading otherwise.

When she found Frank studying a batch of cauldrons she took her time selecting the most well rounded one and said, "I think I'm actually going to take a leaf out of those boys book and start packing. Couldn't hurt to have a few ingredients on hand, yes?"

"Brilliant," he agreed, "just in case. I'll start looking around for some ingredients if you want to start on supplies, I passed a sign promising some new scales around here."

"Perfect," she grinned. Neither of them were going back on their promise to interact with the others exactly, but why waste this opportunity?

Sirius happily helped Remus to his feet, and then gave a flirtatious grin and let his hand rest on his ass just to amuse himself Remus was sure.

Looking for any petty reason to pick a fight and stop this, but also genuinely looking around first to make sure Padfoot wasn't being an arse, he hissed, "will you stop that!" Sirius immediately dropped his hand, but he still didn't look as chagrined as Remus would hope. "Merlin Sirius, you've been making passes at me under the table how long now, someone's bound to notice eventually. Don't pretend you don't know boundaries!"

"Okay, okay," Sirius finally said with a look of some regret. He knew Remus wasn't a fan of public affection, Moony was one of the few Prefects who annoyed some couples in the Gryffindor common room for taking away points if they got too handsy. Still he insisted, "how are you ever going to relax if you won't bloody have some fun?" He'd checked first too, and there was nobody nearby.

"Maybe I don't want to," Remus snapped.

Sirius looked very annoyed now, and considering it mission accomplished Sirius should avoid him at least for now, stalked off. He could hear Prongs' voice at the front and made a beeline for him instinctively even if that was where Sirius headed too, though Padfoot instead stayed in place just watching him leave, which he did not glance guiltily over his shoulder to see thank you.

Dancing a complicated path up and down isles full of unpleasantly smelly things, he finally caught sight of his mate near the register talking to Smith in surprise and not the person coming up behind him.

"Hey, ah, Remus?"

Said teenager looked over in surprise. Frank had never addressed him so directly, let alone by his first name. The older boy still had an air of awkwardness around him, but he didn't scream bloody murder when Remus looked right at him, so he answered politely, "yeah?"

"You know all about creatures right?" He was clutching something in his hand that was starting to make Remus nervous. What a poor time to have this fight with Padfoot, now clear on the other side of the store, but at least James was hovering nearby.

Remus quickly tried to scold such cowardly thoughts, he didn't need backup to talk. Longbottom had never done anything remotely vicious to him, and he was apparently the more nervous of the two as he just watched patiently for an answer.

"A bit yeah," he downplayed. Frank gave a hesitant smile and Remus was quick to return it out of surprise, deciding to elaborate, "it's a hobby I suppose, with me and my dad."

"So, you know the properties of this?" He asked, now showing in his palm a fang Remus instantly recognized. "I knocked a couple things over when landing, and Lily and I decided we're collecting ingredients for a few possibilities while we're in here, but we're both better at plants than animals. Mind, um, helping?"

"Not at all," Remus agreed at once. He followed Frank back down the aisle as he started pulling containers that were near where he'd found this one and beginning to juggle a few items down into the crook of one arm. A glass jar of newt's eyes, some crushed dragon's claw in a leather pouch, frog brains in a silver preservation vial, and a hefty jar of dragon's blood in an old urn.

Remus was prattling off facts he knew each were used for and properties they enhanced in potions and watching in concern as he kept trying to reach for more.

Frank looked away distractedly from the tin of sardines too far back for easy reach to ask, "Lily's made a mention you aren't a great shake at potions, you really know all this stuff just from studying the animals?"

"Studying the creatures' lives is how most wizards figure out what potions they are useful for," Remus shrugged, reaching out on instinct to balance the glass jar back into the crook of his arm where it was wobbling. Frank didn't even flinch. "It's not remembering all that, it's doing the practical's, I fall asleep so often in the warm classroom and then accidentally skip steps because my eyes are tired and shite."

"Girl in my year has the same problem," Frank nodded, now reaching up on his toes for the stubborn thing and crushing everything to his chest in concentration. "Stays up all night reading and then keeps trying to do it in class, I can't count the amount of times she's set her book on fire. Even when Slughorn confiscates it she's burnt out by then and still doesn't stay awake."

Remus laughed in surprise and finally offered as he came down to balance back on his feet with his prize, "like me to take some of that?"

"Oh, yeah," he eagerly agreed, better than making two trips.

Mindlessly passing the lot along, Remus began juggling it all in confusion, he'd only been offering to take the two bigger items. Something burned so unexpectedly, he sent the blood crashing to their feet, coating both of their pants in it instantly. The newt's eyes and fish rolled and flopped away in all directions, while the silver vile remained pressed to the palm of his hand for a few moments longer by the leather bag hooked onto his thumb before he shouted in pain and shook those off too.

Frank startled in surprise, slipping a bit on the slick floor and catching himself on a shelf just as James and Alice rushed over in concern.

Alice put her hand on her boyfriend's elbow to help steady him while James instantly went to Remus, who was doubled over clutching his hand and breathing through his teeth in pain. James's eyes landed on the little culprit still rolling innocently amongst their feet, and shoved Moony instinctively behind him while looking at Frank incredulously. While standoffish, he'd never been so cruel to him. "The hell do you mean by that?" He snapped in disgust. "I ought to transfigure you into a pretzel!"

"I, what?" Frank looked legitimately confused at what had happened though, already tempering off some of his anger, while Alice was scowling at Potter bowing up to her boyfriend like that deterring him from saying anything further, like the actual spell.

Instead he turned around and gently grabbed Remus' wrist, who was already trying to tuck it up his sleeve and promise, "it's fine Prongs, really-" despite his watery eyes and tight voice barely choking out the words.

James was having none of that and gently uncurled Remus' fingers from where they were trembling just above his palm to see the now shiny red mark in the perfect shape of the silver that had laid against his skin. James hissed in anger at how deep it looked, like it had been pressed in, but by the time he turned around trying to figure out where some dittany in this place would be, it was being pressed into his hand by Sirius with a furious expression barely being held together.

The others had come over at the noise and some put the situation together faster than others. James began dabbing the medicine in while Sirius held himself ramrod straight and watched only James, fearing any further movement on his part would cause him to do something he might regret, the look of pain on Remus' face burned into his mind needed no silver to linger for him.

A decision that almost seemed worth it when Remus was straightening back up moments later flexing his hand as it started to fade except for the faintest glimmer to show what had happened, and then used the same hand to brush against Sirius' fingers while telling James, "thanks."

Prongs nodded and turned back to face Longbottom with far more apprehension than the glowering Sirius was doing, his arm held protectively up still as a barrier while Remus caught Sirius' fingers and gave them a purposeful squeeze to which Padfoot returned before dropping his hand and saying quickly before anyone else as Sirius properly looked at him, "he didn't do it on purpose." As if, for just a moment, he'd forgotten he was talking to a werewolf... Then his eyes widened as he really looked at Frank, who finally seemed to have realized what happened himself as he looked guilty from the floor and back. "You really didn't, did you?"

"No," he said instantly. "Didn't even occur to me-" then he stopped with the same exact look as Remus.

"Wow," James finally dropped his arm while drawing the word out comically. "Okay then. I don't take back the pretzel threat though, let that be a warning," he grinned, like he was actually trying to turn around and tease him like nothing had happened.

Frank decided that was better than acting on the threat, his mind was still boggling on Sirius not having done worse. "Duly noted," he promised.

James patted Remus' arm one last time before casually waving his wand to clean up the mess, the vial sailing into his hand to be put back on the shelf.

Peter finally cleared his throat and spoke to no one in particular for the awkward silence, "don't worry, you're not the first person to do that. Last week in potions Grace Wilkes passed him a silver spigot and he screamed bloody murder, Prongs cursed her tongue to swell up in her mouth for three days in retaliation, and to distract the rest of the class."

"I didn't hear about that!" Sirius yelped in protest, before he went cross-eyed and took an uneasy step away as he realized why. He hadn't been speaking to them last week, and had only sporadically remembered what class to be in he'd been so out of his head. It was almost a miracle he'd even been there at the start of this mess. Merlin that felt like such a lifetime ago now...

"Must be awful, having to constantly be on edge just to be handed something," Frank said remorsefully. "I am sorry."

"I know," Remus said at once, rubbing his thumb into his palm absentmindedly and taking that step back towards Sirius without even thinking. "Don't worry, I told James off for that and refused to get him out of the detention Slughorn gave, they're a little...."

Protective, the word hovered in the air, and who could blame the two purebloods who knew better than anyone how others would react to their friend. Most students could find a picture in the papers of a werewolf, and the silver burned into their skin from Ministry interrogations splashed across the page when they actually caught one, bragging they were one step closer to catching the infamous Greyback.

Lily certainly hadn't questioned any of this in that exact class, she'd just thought Wilkes had accidentally splashed or burned Lupin and Potter had been an arse as usual, or Black had turned down her advances and they chose this moment to get her back, or just sheer boredom on Potter's part in a class he so disliked.

Potter didn't particularly look like he regretted it, but there was also something in his face Lily had never seen before, a question for nobody here as his eyes flickered around for the book. She didn't really think Harry would begrudge his father for this particular instance, but it was fascinating he was finally asking at all. He caught her eye suddenly, and there was that usual gleam of awe, before it clouded over once more and he turned back to his mates, whirling Sirius Black around and forcefully breaking his eye contact with Frank while muttering something about getting back into Diagon Alley for some fresh air if they could. His best mate did not relax as usual, but didn't protest being dragged off. Lupin went too with a small smile, catching Frank's eye one last time without dropping it as he followed them.

Pettigrew and Regulus offered to help Frank collect more ingredients, and she smiled softly and turned away to go find that book. It really was nice to understand why he was such an ass.

Mercifully the door opened onto the cobbled streets and James finally released him properly so he could take off for the ice cream shop.

"I wasn't going to do anything," Sirius could hear the lie in his own voice as he followed more slowly behind than usual. He well knew if both hadn't scolded him for trying last time he would have in a second.

"We know Padfoot," Prongs sounded a tad pandering, but his smile was genuine as he teased. "Better safe than sorry though, if we had shoved that vile up his nose, it might have gotten stuck there! He'd be even more of an arse!"

"I don't think he's that bad," Remus rolled his eyes, but Sirius could hear the hesitance in his own voice, vouching for him. He was still rubbing absently at his palm, it must be tingling something awful still. "We never have bothered to try."

"Maybe I don't want to," Sirius huffed with the stank eye at Moony, not exactly feeling better when he flinched. He wasn't even sure how a stupid accident like that could happen, but it sure as hell wouldn't have if Remus wasn't being such a ponce right now and he'd been there! No way in hell would Remus have just casually grabbed that, and he would have made sure of it if that had somehow been foul play.

Moony jogged up next to James to try the door to Florean Fortescue's Parlor, which did not open, but they all lounged around in the warm chairs outside anyways.

James still watched between the pair for a moment, rapping his knuckles to his own beat on the table, but when Sirius didn't start humming a tune along, he stopped and offered, "listen Padfoot, better he forget sometimes than be a raging arse about it the rest of this, right? He's eased up a lot since you kept Moony off him."

"I suppose," he agreed more out of obligation than anything. He did relax up some when Moony finally stopped rubbing at the now completely faded mark and closed his eyes in the warmth. Tipping his chair back with one foot, using the other to mimic the beat Prongs just had, he forced himself to unwind too. James grinned at the challenge and started tapping a fast pace on the table he was sure he'd fall over trying to copy, but the two managed to keep the game up the rest of the chapter while Remus listened, smiling softly in the bright light.

Alice gave her boyfriend a quick kiss before going along with Lily, the two stopping to collect a few more ingredients and dumping them in her selected cauldron before stuffing it into her now bulging bag. She summoned the book to her, but Alice caught her arm before she could start.

"Hey Lily, I just want you to know, um, well Frank told me you were really holding back telling me what you thought about my involving with those Marauder boys, and I just want you to know you don't have to do that."

Lily flushed in embarrassment, she hadn't said that to Frank, or out loud at all.

"Look," Alice said soothingly, "I don't know what it's been like with you and Snape, but I promise I'll listen. I won't always agree, but please hun, don't hold back like that. It's what I'm trying to get through to those idiots, feelings fester."

"Thanks," Lily told her sincerely, she'd hated feeling so insecure and biting her tongue before, but she'd been very put-out with herself since she started all this. It wasn't just trusting Frank to help her with collecting ingredients, normally a task she could do blind, and by herself. She didn't trust herself anymore.

She knew she needed to get confidence back in herself somehow, she just wasn't sure where to start, it felt far too overwhelming while still constantly dealing with every other problem going on. She knew how she would have done it, make a few remedial potions to get herself back on track until she was back to her advanced level more confident than ever, but none of that was available to her during all this.

Her independent streak was going to leave her feeling very alone though if she didn't fix that now. "I want to help now though," she told her honestly. "You were right to do so, couldn't hurt to try." She finally glanced down at the chapter title just as Alice smiled and plopped down on a step stool to listen with her, so she jumped up in concern when Lily flinched in surprise at the chapter title.

"More of Snape's shit huh?" Alice easily deduced from that now common reaction of him.

"A nickname he gave himself," Lily quietly agreed. "I thought it was lovely at the time, him embracing his half-blood heritage like that. I can't imagine how Harry's going to hear about that, clearly he despises everything to do with lower forms," she finished bitterly.

Lily sat down on the wide stool in exhaustion and Alice sat next to her, holding her in a half hug as they found out how this came to be. She found herself smiling at the end it was something as silly as his potions book, she had her own copy of course and she denied finishing the chapter for ages as she sat around telling Alice of their wild experiments and many failed attempts because of them all with some hilarious results Madam Pomfrey had taken ages to fix in the two.

By the end they were laughing spiritedly and Lily already felt better than she would have thought possible.

Chapter Text

They were once again plunged into utter darkness. The sounds of pots and furniture breaking had nothing on the rank smell of unclean rising to all of their noses. Peter squealed in genuine fright upon something slithering across his face as the others lit their wand in time to see the tail of a snake vanishing into a filthy armchair. James had landed dangerously close to a curdling fire, the smoke still in his face making him cough terribly.

The walls were a gray, dirty stone. There was a boiling pot on a grimy stove in the corner Sirius tipped over, the very air hanging in here made them all wish desperately to be anywhere else at once.

Alice summoned the book to her to get started on that.

"Gaunt eh?" Sirius asked in complete disgust for the house still, though something tickled the name in his memories he'd tried to repress. "Hey Reg, help me out, why do I know that?" Surely he could still talk to the kid without being hated further.

"Morfin Gaunt, tenth branch, line died out with him," he repeated on autopilot.

"Right, thanks," he grumbled, no clue why he'd asked, it helped nothing to make this feel better.

"What's Harry doing here?" James demanded, taking careful steps across the room to be back by Sirius, wand held at the ready for every disgusting pile he passed. "Can't be Dumbledore's lesson to bring him here, what's the point?"

"I suppose there's only one way to find out," Alice sighed as she reluctantly turned back to the book.

Remus came out of one of the rooms with such a look of disgust on his face nobody wanted to ask what he'd found in there. Lily came out of the other soaking wet by her own wand she stowed away, like she'd actively tried to rinse this place from her before they even left.

Everyone but the girls continued laughing enthusiastically about Harry's little cheat sheet of a potions book, until Alice leaned up and whispered in Frank's ear and he stopped abruptly with an annoyed frown. The others didn't pay it much mind, shifting around impatiently to find out what the point of being here was even if they gave the place more life than this dung hill likely ever had as they continued whispering about getting their hands on that in their own time to breeze through their OWLs.

Lily bit her lip hard to stop herself falling to the filthy floor for laughing at that. The idea had never occurred to her she would ever want to help the Marauders, but the idea of inventing that Wolfsbane potion herself was still heavily on her mind and she wished now more than ever she had her own copy on her to take notes in. The tempting idea to inform them they were currently muttering about wanting Severus's help even in proxy was just a bit of a bonus she'd privately enjoy.

Regulus' smile slipped a notch though when he heard of some of the oddly specific spells being addressed in the margins of this book. He'd told Lily the truth, he did not hang out with Snape nor really know what they got up to on a regular basis, mostly he just hung around in his room alone looking at the excellent view and doing his homework, reading, or exploring the castle alone, if not on an errand. Even if he did turn a rather blind eye and ear most times to not hear what they were laughing about too in ignorance, what little he had heard made him wish there was an attic at Hogwarts.

Some of those spells though, he'd swear he recognized them coming from Snape himself, who often spent his times writing in a potion book. He shared his ideas with Mulciber and Avery all the time, and they often taught others if they were satisfied with Snape's new ideas.

He watched Evans for a few moments and felt his suspicion all but confirmed when she kept watching the book as if it were personally hitting her in the face. He didn't want to risk missing a word of what Dumbledore said though, and if Evans wasn't telling them he wasn't going to do it for her, so kept his mouth shut.

Alice did indeed have all attention as Harry arrived for Dumbledore's lesson, and explained what exactly Harry was going to be doing with him this year.

"That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard!" Sirius groaned loudly when Dumbledore made to put the first memory in like that was all the explanation needed. "Hearing of his past, are you kidding me? Who the hell cares what he did before he started murdering people for fun?" He could personally speak from experience he wanted no part in someone looking into his past, Harry doing that to them had been awful enough, he couldn't imagine the value of doing so for anyone else, even Voldemort.

"I think it's brilliant," Lily said to him stiffly. "How else are they supposed to learn about their enemy, clearly whatever method everybody else is using isn't working."

Sirius retaliated with grace, but there was a smile on his face as he began hotly going back and forth. Lily even began to relax as well as she shot back for everything he said.

Watching Sirius and Lily's argument escalating, Peter and Remus kept glancing significantly at James like they expected him to step in. He, however, was merely examining his fingers with far too much fascination.

Remus finally cleared his throat awkwardly and asked, "ah, Prongs, you going to...do something about that?"

"Nah," James shrugged without concern, "neither's even pulled their wand out yet, let them sort themselves out."

It was honestly just a nice refresher to James she wasn't yelling at him for once, and Sirius even seemed to be enjoying himself. Considering how well he'd just done not starting a fight, and only guiltily realized out in that shop he'd done it for him again, this felt like old hat! Finally some kind of balance, if Sirius needed to get it out of his system this was probably the best way to do it, neither held any real heat in their argument. She gave some pretty witty retorts, and he was almost curious to see how many different ones she could lob at him before someone gave in.

Instead Prongs pulled Remus back a step and whispered quietly to him, "hey mate, everything okay with you two?"

Remus flushed in the dull lighting and tried not to shift around like a twit, maybe Sirius hadn't spooked off Prongs as well as he thought. "Fine, nothing new to speak of."

"Uhhu," James muttered, clearly unamused. "Look, whatever you two keep going off to do, you're starting to annoy him Remus. I don't know if it was the love potion thing or something else, but could you cut him some slack?" Sirius hadn't been saying anything outright, but ever since he'd come back from the garden he could tell something had sprung up between the two that was bothering them that hadn't been there this whole time. As if they needed another mess to be dealing with!

Remus bit his lip and fought the urge to tell James to stay out of it before reminding himself there was no 'it.' This was his mess and he did need to deal. "Right, sorry," he apologized, thinking ironically James wouldn't blink next time he dragged Sirius off for the opposite reason of why they normally did as he promised in his head to fix this once and for all.

Alice finally cleared her throat to stop the two, watching in a vague sort of amusement as she asked, "regardless of our opinions, can I please get to it? This place isn't getting any more cheerful."

Sirius gave a long, exaggerated sigh and turned in surprise to see James and Remus muttering something, both instantly stopping when they realized the same. "Am I interrupting?" He grinned. "Do you two need some alone time?"

"You think Evans would fall into my arms if I swept Moony off his feet first?" James happily teased back. "She's obviously his favorite."

Remus made his eyes go as widely innocent as possible. "Yes, I'm so sure the multiple attempted murders has just warmed her right up to me."

"Worked on me didn't it?" Sirius smirked.

"You're too easy to please," Remus shot back.

Peter snorted from across the room and James didn't bother to hide his laughter.

Alice was smirking just a bit too when she giggled at Lily, "that wasn't at all what I thought you meant when you said you'd start talking to them."

Lily huffed a bit of hair out of her face and chose not to respond, not exactly wanting to admit how good it had felt to get a little fire out of her system, and Sirius had happily returned.

She finally turned back to the book though and began describing the memory in vivid detail. They all startled in surprise to find themselves back in Little Hangleton, and Remus was first to the door trying to open it in hopes they'd be free of at least this smell.

Blessedly, they were stepping into such a tall, dark grove of trees the bright sun shining down hardly hurt their eyes through the foliage. The snake nailed to the door swung and the house was no more pleasant to view on the outside, but at least it didn't smell as much out here!

The idea being offered that they could make a trip to the haunted mansion in the distance or the graveyard appealed to no one.

Alice sighed in relief to catch her breath out here and sat down in the grass to keep going, but Lily started wandering around in true curiosity what this place had to do with Voldemort. It certainly seemed his type, and now it turned out Tom Riddle's mansion was indeed in the distance, so the connection had a clear line being drawn.

"Oh, horses!" She shouted gaily.

Only Remus went to the edges of the trees to see her delighted shouts as the two grazed in boredom with no clear riders in their saddles.

"They shouldn't be dangerous, look like normal ones, if you want to have a closer look," Remus said off hand, still watching closely. This didn't exactly seem like the kind of house for illegal breeding, ironically, but he still watched carefully just in case.

She needed no further invitation and walked cautiously but openly towards them. Neither creature gave a care to her approach, they were clearly well trained and tamed as she started stroking one's glossy chestnut neck and listening with the first hints of sorrow to leave the house behind her as the gray began nosing her curiously for sweets.