Chapter Text
I walked through the door with you,
The air was cold, but something about it
Felt like home, somehow. And I
Left my scarf there, at your sister’s house.
And you’ve still got it in your drawer,
Even now.
—Taylor Swift, All Too Well (10 minute version) (Taylor’s Version)
Chapter 1 — October 6th, Wednesday, 1976
Marlene McKinnon wouldn’t have realised James Potter was sneaking out if he hadn’t been cancelling their Friday morning training for two weeks straight.
The Great Hall was packed, dinner just starting. For her, eating at Hogwarts was… Nothing like home. No brothers laughing, or fights that start with giggles but end in shouts. Just good food and her friends was enough to make Marlene smile, even if she wasn’t the biggest fan of pasta.
Laughing over Sirius’ forced insults at James’ favorite team, Marlene had another bite of spaghetti, trying to understand not why Padfoot couldn’t even look in Remus' direction, but rather how everyone else seemed oblivious to it. Sighing, she didn’t even attempt to agree with Sirius, grinning at what Lily called “the worst arguments ever made”.
The conversation kept on for some more minutes, and before she could get up of the table, James added:
“Oh, and Marls” James looked her in the eyes, almost faking a casual tone, getting her to smile. “I can’t practice on Friday, got some homework to do before Charms class”
Sirius raised his eyebrows to the point where she wasn’t sure if they wouldn’t just pop out of his face.
“First of all, why would you cancel a Quidditch practice to do homework, and second, what homework?”
“I’ve already done it for both of us, Padfoot.” The words came out quickly from Remus' mouth. “Dont worry”
“Homework, huh?” Mary giggled “So there isn’t any lover out there?” said, completely exaggerating the word.
James’ face turned red.
“Oh no, James is so down bad for Lily I doubt he could even look at some girl” Remus thought out loud. Mary, fine with that answer, went back to her food and to making eyes with a Ravenclaw, but Marls did not miss the nod James gave to Remus.
Why was Moony covering him up?
Wait, she thought. Does this mean he is sneaking out?!? To see who?
Honestly, she had hoped Lily would fall for him at some point. But some gossip wasn’t wrong.
And then, it only took a night in the common room, and some history homework being done in the crimson couch, to see his shoes, not covered by his invisibility cloak, go past the fat lady’s portrait.
“Going somewhere, Potter?” The girl said, not looking up from her textbook. As if I actually cared for History of magic, she thought.
Cloak now on the floor, James sat in front of her, leaving the map next to him.
Regulus A. Black, Broom closet.
The second Prongs noticed her eyes, he enchanted and erased the map, with a simple “Mischief Managed”
”So” Marlene closed the book, dust escaping from it. How badly she wanted a cigarette, or something to hold on to. Anything that wasn't a stupid textbook would do. She sighed, and lifted her left eyebrow up, “What are you doing with Sirius brother at this hour of the night, if I can know?”
He chuckled, and, without losing her gaze, he answered, “What could I be doing? Why?” He looked away, rushing his fingers through his hair. “It’s not like we’re mates or anything. Plus the whole thing between him and Pad-”
“Blowing me off to see a Slytherin? Knowing it’d be two nights in a row?” Marls rolled her eyes. “Really?”
”Gosh, me Moony were planning on pranking him, fine?” He stood up. “Sirius doesn’t have to know. Satisfied?”
Marlene simply grew her smile as she said “So, where’s Remus then? I really need help with this homework” She shook the history book.
“Already. On. His. Way.” James muttered, lips locked together.
“Open the map, and show me that he isn’t inside the dorm, and I’ll believe you” she said, trying not to laugh, and failing.
James breathed in.
“Go to hell Marls”
“Gladly” she chuckled. “Go prank your loverboy”
“He’s not my loverboy!” Prong’s skin turned red, and the girl laughed.
“Fuck off, Potter. Or fuck a Black. Not that I care”
“For the love of god, marlene” james covered his hand with his face “Reg and I are not fucking”
Reg?!?
“I never said so anyway" She giggled
“I’m leaving” Prongs got up
“Loverboy is maddd” she teased
“Just shut up,” said James. He was laughing now.
When he left, she decided not to tell Mary. She’d only tease James, and there was a possibility that nothing was going on.
Marls fell asleep on top of her history book, still smiling.
-
James was walking down the hall, smiling. Because Marlene would never tell Sirius. Because then, Sirius would either assume or ask Lily.
And Lily could never never figure out that he had been failing potions.
James’ crush on her had started when they were just eleven years old, and Sirius went screaming around that Prongs had told him she’d end up marrying him, someday. Soon, it became tradition not for James to ask Lily out every single day, if not for her to always say no.
See, after a childhood of always getting what he wanted, James didn’t really understand ‘no’ for an answer. He would wait, and he’d become a better man for her. Lily deserved a better man, and James could be it.
But well, failing potions wasn’t on the to do list, let’s just say. And the only person he knew wouldn’t care enough to gossip about it, yet was good at potions, was Regulus Black. James had expected, well, not an easy person. Actually, this time around he was expecting no for an answer, but after some convincing, it was done.
James turned around a couple of times, and got to the closet. Opening the gate, he found a boy with dark hair sitting on the floor, reading.
“Hellouuu” Prongs ducked his way into the closet, sitting next to Regulus.
“Are you always so loud?” He didn’t even look up from the book.
Skipping the joke Sirius would’ve said, James answered “Sorry, but yes” and closed the little door.
It was tight inside, and he couldn't even push the gate with his legs.
“Great” Regulus rolled his eyes. “Nexyt unit is-”
James began to do a drumroll, making him stop.
“What?” James smiled.
“Why’d you do that?”
“For… fun?” He grinned.
“Of course you would.” Regulus faked a smile, and James didn’t catch the sarcasm at first. “Anyways it’s Amortentia, no drumroll needed.”
“Got it”
“Knowing Slughorn, he’d waste time and will take up extra time, so I’m guessing it will last about three, maybe four months?” Regulus was almost faking uncomfortableness, but James didn’t mind. “Anyways, let’s run through the basics.”
He started to explain what the potion was, focusing more on its history and creation than the actual ingredients. It was funny how much he got into it; didn’t really fit the indifferent personality he always seemed to have.
“We can check on that next week”
“So there is a next week,” James said.
“Don’t push it Potter, I just pity your need to enter Slug’s club”
“I was in it, dropped out after a couple of pranks” James laughed at the memory of Sirius ruining the elegant dinner. “I’m doing this for love”
Regulus rolled his eyes deeper this time, and James missed the boy’s blue iris while they were gone.
“Right”
“Lily is amazing”
“Didn’t she turn you down multiple times?” Regulus was finally interested in what he had to say. “In front of everyone”
“Doesn’t mean I’m going to give up” He said, stating the obvious.
“So you’re going to… What?” Regulus looked at him “Waste time trying everything?”
“Well, isn’t love good enough to try everything?” James smiled.
“People don’t fall in love at sixteen, Potter” Regulus went back to the book.
“Maybe not now, but definitely at eleven” He remembered it all too well.
Regulus didn’t answer, and kept explaining a detailed backstory on Amortentia’s creator, just in case Slughorn chose to do a written test instead of only practical ones.
The lightning was warm, and James was tired. He was only closing his eyes, swearing he could still listen to Regulus’ voice, when he fell asleep.
He woke up around two hours later, and found Regulus asleep. James tapped on his shoulder, not moving even a little away from him. It’s not like he minded being that close anyways.
The boy had a relaxed face while sleeping, and he didn’t look uncomfortable in the small space. Actually, James thought it was the most calm he had looked the entire night.
“What the-”
“We fell asleep, thank the boring subject you like.” he smiled.
Regulus reacted a lot more quicker than his brother would’ve, and got out of the closet. “Goodbye Potter”
James left the books there—he doubted Regulus would’ve chosen a closet that was actually in use—and got under the invisibility cloak.
He crept into the Gryffindor tower, just to find Marlene sleeping on the couch.
James didn’t wake her up, worried if the boys had noticed he was missing. And, he did have to check on Sirius.
But when he got closer to his bed, he found a spell on the curtains, plus a silencio charmed in the air.
“Padfoot” said James, afraid his friend would be crying alone. “It’s me. You alright?”
He had no answer, and went back to his bed, not even trying to speak with Peter or Moony. It was late, and he was tired.
James went to sleep without any idea that Sirius was not alone.