Peter and James were in the Great Hall for lunch. When they saw Remus and Sirius, James waved a hand at them. The Hall wasn't crowded but the Gryffindor table was full. Even Lily was there, which was a surprise because she usually had lunch with Snape outside school.

"Where were you guys?" Peter asked when Remus sat next to him. Sirius stared at the food. He was starving. "Potions," he lied without looking at Remus. Remus just nodded and started eating.

"Oh," James murmured, eating his dish. "What are you going to do with your O.W.L.s? I know you're not good at Potions, mate."

"I have no idea," Remus replied. "Maybe Sirius can help me about that."

Sirius glanced at Remus. "Yeah," he said. His mind was somewhere else and Peter seemed to notice. "What's with you?"

"What?" Sirius looked around. "Me?"

Peter nodded, grinning. "Are you in love or something, man? Where's your head?"

James laughed. "He's just what he is," he said. Then glanced at Sirius secretly, the communication system only the two could understand. What happened, he mouthed to the boy. Sirius looked at him and shook his head, just firmly. Nothing, he did the same as James. Just thinking.

Thinking what?

Remus was already eating. Minding his own business, more correctly. He probably didn't even realise James and Sirius were secretly talking. Peter, however, looked like he was reading a magazine— the Muggle News, but his focus was on James and Sirius. When James realised that, he said, "Ugh, I forgot my robe in the dorm."

Peter immediately replied. "Oh?" he said nervously. "We can go and get it."

"Nah," James stood up. "I can go get it. Sirius, want to come?"

Sirius looked up to see James' face and understood that there was something to talk with him. Then he glanced at Remus and Peter— Remus was still focused on his dish, but was looking at James. Peter was looking at Sirius, at his reaction. He was being Peter as always. Even though he was a Marauder, too, there was something he admired about Sirius. It wasn't in a romantic way though, Sirius knew, because Peter was into a girl from the Ravenclaw house. Yet, he always admired Sirius, always copied whatever he did— not in a bad way, but in an idolising way. Sirius always laughed at that. "We'll be back in ten."

When they were out of the Hall, Sirius looked at James. "What happened, man?" he asked. "You never like robes that much."

James giggled. "Yeah, I don't." He kept walking. "Come on, let's walk outside."

They walked outside school. When they arrived near Hagrid's Hut, James stopped and sat on a rock. "What's it with you?"

Sirius looked confused. "What?"

"C'mon, Sirius," James drew his wand out. "You're acting ridiculous. The others don't know but you weren't like this in summer."

"No— you know what happened this summer, James."

"Yeah, that's what I'm telling," James' blue eyes shined. "So many things happened, yet you still laughed. This mood you have— it's not about your family."

Sirius rolled his eyes. "There's no 'mood I have'."

James rested his back to the stone behind him. "Man, I know you. There's something."

"There's nothing."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean," Sirius sat next to James. He rubbed his forehead. "I can't tell you, James."

"You can," James whispered. "Of course you can tell me."

"Hey!"

James and Sirius both looked at their lefts. Lily was there, quiet far away, waving her hand to the boys. Sirius suddenly trembled and stood up. "Go say hi," he grinned to James. James looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "Are you really sure you don't want to talk about it?"

Sirius nodded and smiled. "I'm sure, James," he said. "Besides, there's nothing to talk about."

James considered this answer for a second. Then, he looked at Lily and shrugged. "If you say so," he stood up and started walking. "I'll see you later."

—-

Sirius didn't go to the Hall again. He could explain to Remus and Peter later that Lily was with them and James couldn't stop but go with her, and Sirius felt a little sick. Peter would buy it. Remus wouldn't, but who cared.

The boy was walking around Hagrid's Hut but was still close to school so he could go back to class in ten minutes. When he saw Regulus and his friends, he turned back to path another direction.

"Sirius!"

He rolled his eyes and stopped. That voice belonged to Regulus, his younger brother. Regulus was always a better son to Blacks. Even though their heir was Sirius as the older one, Blacks always loved Regulus much more and told the two that when the day would come, Regulus would be the ruler of the Black family. Sirius didn't care about that, too. If he could, he would change his name to anything else but Black.

"What do you want, Regulus?"

Regulus supported You-Know-Who's idea of muggle-borns and half-bloods. To You-Know-Who, to Blacks and to all Voldemort supporters, half-bloods and muggle-borns had to die and the world was supposed to be ruled by pure-bloods only. Sirius didn't agree with this ill-thinking, neither did so many others. Yet here was Regulus. What a cunning snake he was. "I see you're still hanging out with that gross half-blood, brother."

Sirius tried not to frown. He looked relaxed. "That's none of your concern."

"Well, you're still a Black," Regulus grinned. His grin was nauseous. "Of course it's my concern. You're disrespecting our family name."

"It's not my family name."

"How can you say this," Regulus spat. "When you're so lucky to have this name?"

Sirius shook his head and looked at Regulus. "Leave, Regulus. Leave me alone."

"Or what?" Regulus giggled. "Your boyfriend will be mad?"

Sirius walked to Regulus. Now they had only a few inches between. Sirius was taller, so he looked down to face the boy. "Shut up."

"I can," Regulus took a few steps back. He was indeed afraid but he had the high ground. "Only if you stop hanging out with the half-blood and mudblood."

"They're my friends," Sirius drew his wand out. He touched his wand to Regulus' neck for a second. "And don't ever call them like that."

"Oh, they have names? They're sub-wizards. Sub-muggles, too. They're nothing. They shouldn't have names."

"Shut up!" Sirius shouted. Regulus' friends behind looked so threatened that they ran away. Now it was only him and Sirius. "If you ever call them that again—"

"What's going on?"

They both looked behind. It was Remus. He seemed to have just arrived. Regulus immediately laughed and took Sirius' wand in a second of distraction. "Look who's here," Regulus spat out the words. "Our beloved half-blood."

Remus shyly came closer. "Are you okay, Sirius?"

Sirius nodded. "I'm good. You can go."

Regulus laughed again. "Leave? Why?" he turned to Sirius. "Why would he leave?" As he came closer to Remus with Sirius' wand, Sirius was on alert. If Regulus was to do even a little harm to Remus— Sirius would immediately cling to his throat. "Stay away from us."

Regulus looked at Remus with hatred. "You people make me sick."

Remus blushed. He acted as if he didn't hear Regulus' very unkind words. "Sirius, let's go."

Sirius nodded and walked to Remus. Whilst walking, he looked at Regulus with a disgusted face. "If you ever come to talk to me about my friends—"

Regulus shook his head and laughed. "What, Sirius? What will you do?" he said. "I'm just trying to warn you." He pointed Remus with his finger. "If you keep hanging out with that, our beloved parents will be gladly notified."

Remus was about to say something but Sirius held his arm and walked. Whilst walking to school, he looked behind to see Regulus, but he was already gone.