DISCLAIMER: All rights to Rowling.


"Hello, Snape," came the bored voice of Mulciber.

Snape nodded his head curtly.

"You haven't been talking to us lately," said Avery.

"I've been busy."

"Indeed, I've heard."

Snape looked questioningly at the two boys before him.

"I've heard you've suggested a way from the young Black to join us after school."

Snape smirked, "I may have opened up an alley."

"Do you trust him?"

"Does it matter?"

"Of course it matters, if it means putting the Dark Lord in danger –"

"You're afraid Black will pose a threat to the Dark Lord?"

At this, Avery sniggered and Mulciber tightened his jaw.

"He's a blood traitor's brother. He may be – "

"He's no brother of mine," came the cool voice of Regulus Black from behind them.

Mulciber and Avery turned around towards Regulus and started intently at him.

"Very well, I'll leave you to your business, Severus," said Mulciber throwing a snide look at Regulus.

Again, Snape nodded.

Regulus sat down casually at the seat opposite him, the grin on his face reminding him sickeningly of one of his enemies.

"What do you want?"

"What's her name?" asked Regulus casually.

"It's none of your business," muttered Snape.

Regulus smirked. "Very well. Not a mudblood again, is it?"

Snapes' eyes flashed and his knuckles paled he clenched the table with his fingers. His nostrils flared and his lip curled as he said coldly "I am not aware of her descent."

Regulus was about to ask another question when there was a huge commotion from the other end of the hall as a dozen Gryffindors entered it, laughing and talking, like they always were."

"Who's that?" snarled Regulus pointing to the blonde accompanying his brother.

Snapes eyes narrowed " Marlene McKinnon, why?"

Regulus shook his head slightly and walked out of the hall, but Snape couldn't help but notice that his eyes lingered on the girl he had just mentioned.


Slughorn was droning on and on about a particularly boring potion that could turn someone into a flea for an hour. 'Why would anyone even want to be a flea,' thought Lily. She too had lost interest in the class, like the rest of the people in the room.

"James," she said softly.

The bespectacled boy didn't turn around.

"James," she said a little louder than before.

The boy tilted back his chair and asked "Yes?"

"How's the dog?"

"The dog?" he asked visibly confused.

"Yeah, your cousin's dog."

"Oh, oh right. It's great. Just great."

"Can I come by and see it sometime?"

James almost fell off his chair. He gulped and looked slowly at Sirius who was grinning at him.

"Woof," said Sirius amusedly.

James rolled his eyes and tilted his chair back slightly before whispering "Sure you can."

Lily smiled delightedly at him and James felt his stomach explode.


"Reg, you don't know what you're getting into. It's a lifetime of service."

"I'm sorry, do I know you?" asked Regulus bitingly.

"Reg, I know we have our differences. And I know you hate me. But this...this is ridiculous. This is not what you think—"

"I don't remember asking for your opinion," he said coldly.

"Reg, please, don't make me—"

Regulus sneered "I've made my choice. Like you made yours."

"No, that was different. I needed to get out of there. What you're doing – "

"No, it's not different. When you made your choice, you didn't think about me. Not for one moment. So don't you think you can come in here acting like you can tell me what to do."

"Of course I did. You're the only reason I stayed in that hellhole for 16 years," said Sirius softly but Regulus was gone, his cloak flapping behind him.


"Have you made your choice?" came a raspy voice.

"I have."

"Who will it be?"

Regulus gulped slightly before responding clearly, "Marlene McKinnon."

The only sound was the scribbling of a quill on parchment and the fluttering of leaves with the cool breeze. Regulus closed his eyes and inhaled the scent of the air around him. Lemongrass, perhaps.

"Descent?"

"Half-blood," said Regulus.

The man in a cloak looked at him curiously before shrugging and writing that down as well.

"There are only 3 rules. You must use an unforgivable. It should be made sure, that no one but one witness knows what you perform. You must not tamper with either your' or the witness' memory, as it will be used as proof."

Regulus nodded.

"You must be prepared to give your all to the Dark Lord. If, there is even the slightest trace of disloyalty or treason, you will be punished most severely. Is that clear?"

Regulus nodded almost imperceptibly.

"You're young," said the man.

"I've been told."

The man didn't smile, but the corner of his mouths turned up slightly. "Good Luck. You have seven days."

Regulus didn't reply, there was no point, the man was gone with a pop, and he walked back to the castle, his mind reeling with ideas and his brother's pleading voice.


There was a small knock and James got up from his bed groggily to open the dormitory door. Remus rolled over in his bed and pulled the pillow upon his head to try to go back to sleep while Sirius and Peter continued snoring. James was always the lightest sleeper.

"Lily?" he asked sleepily when he saw he standing before the door.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realize you guys weren't awake."

James shook his head, and stretched a bit before inviting her in. She tiptoed in and wrinkled her nose. "Gosh, you guys certainly give the house-elves a lot of work to do."

James grinned sheepishly and pulled out a carton from below the bed. He turned it over and sat down on it and gestured for Lily to sit down on his bed. She looked sceptical for a moment before shrugging and sitting down with her legs tucked beneath her.

"So where's the dog?" she asked excitedly.

James almost jumped up in shock. Why did he keep forgetting about that? His mouth opened, but no coherent word came out. He was pretty sure he looked like a constipated fish. He smiled slightly at her before looking frantically around.

"Yeah, sure, lemme call her."

Lily nodded her head and looked around the room.

"Here doggy, doggy," said James a little too loudly.

Remus who was half awake, got up grumbling " Merlin, James, it's 7 in the morning. What the hell do -"

Remus had seen Lily. He smiled at her. "I didn't know we had a visitor."

He then proceeded to whack Peter with a book to quieten his loud snores, but instead succeeded in waking him up. Peter slowly aroused, his hair ruffled, drool dripping slightly from his chin. He rubbed his eyes and when he saw Lily, he gasped a little. She had hardly ever been in their dorm, voluntarily, at least. Lily smiled at him and gave a little wave which he reciprocated. Sirius, however, was too sleepy to care and being at the farthest corner of the room, hadn't even stirred yet.

James strolled over casually to Sirius' bed, Lily's eyes following his path. This time he said, "Here doggy!" louder than before.

Lily was a bit startled at the tone he used but didn't comment. The 'dog' however didn't come, it was a bit too busy sleeping. James smacked Sirius lightly, trying to make it subtle but ended up tripping over a pair of shoes Sirius had left near his bed, causing the lamp on the side table to fall to the floor with a loud crash. Lily cringed and Remus sighed and with a wave of his wand the lamp was fixed.

"You know what, Evans? Doggy likes to give everyone a surprise, so close your eyes."

Lily looked at him like he was crazy and he grinned at her confidently. He pouted a bit, and she felt her tummy do weird things. She reddened slightly, though James wasn't sure why and closed her emerald eyes. James turned around rapidly and whacked Sirius with a pillow. "Get up!" Sirius groaned and turned over.

James proceeded to shake Sirius shoulders and whispered loudly "Get up, you big oaf. Now! Now! Now!" Sirius almost awoke and James heard Lily say "James?"

All of a sudden, James was struck with an idea. He tickled the bottom of Sirius' foot and he was up with a jolt. His eyes were alert and he was suddenly wide awake.

James, thoroughly tired of the smacking and whacking and whispering, panted "Dog. Now." and tossed him his wand. Lily was getting restless. Sirius took a minute to realize what was happening before his eyes flashed understanding and he turned into his animagus form.

He leaped over to James bed and tackled Lily as she giggled.

"Oh, she's so cute," she cooed.

James rolled his eyes at Remus who chuckled and he swore if dogs could wink, Sirius would be winking.

"What's her name?" asked Lily.

"Pa-" started Peter but stopped when he received a double glare.

"Paris. Like the city," he said nervously.

James visibly relaxed but Lily looked confused. "Paris?"

"Uhhhh...yeah, my cousin is fond of France. Loves the veelas, you know. I prefer redheads, but you know to each his own," said James casually.

Lily giggled and reddened for the umpteenth time that day. Her dark red hair fell onto her face and she blew it off as she watched James and the dog play.

"You like dogs a lot, don't you?"

"Dogs and kids," he replied cheerily.

Lily grinned as she looked away from his penetrating hazel eyes. Her eyes roamed the floor and she caught sight of a letter wedged under one of the beds, clearly forgotten. She bent over and picked it up.

"What's this?" she asked.

The four boys shrugged as she read what was on the envelope.

"To Gizelle. From S.S," she read.

"Gizelle? Who's Gizelle?" she asked clearly bemused.

She would've sworn on her life that it was Severus' handwriting but didn't want to ask, because she knew the Marauders and Severus hated each other, letters were out of the question. She didn't for a moment think that it could be prank. Perhaps, it was the way James' shirt was unbuttoned slightly and his cheeks were a little too flushed and his grin was a little too lopsided, or perhaps it was nothing at all, but today Lily's brain was not functioning properly.

"Gizelle is Sirius' code name," said Remus suddenly.

The dog looked up at Remus and James' eyes widened in shock.

"SS is the secret service. Sirius has a fetish with all things detective and muggle. He pretends he's Gizelle, a secret agent," said Remus while grinning.

"The poor boy, childhood problems," added Peter.

For some strange reason, Lily felt she heard the dog yelp in indignation, but she shook it off with a shrug.

"It's lovely that he has you guys as friends," said Lily.

Remus felt that she was looking pointedly at James.

James grinned at her. "We do what we can."

"I heard he stays at your house now," said Lily.

James shook his head. "He stays at our house."

Lily smiled brightly. She loved how they were closer than brothers. Sisters too, she thought bitterly. She loved how they were so casual with each other, and how they were always there for each other, no matter what. She smiled brightly at him.

"You're a good guy, Potter."

With that, she got off his bed, pet the huge dog and exited the room silently, leaving James with a goofy grin on his face.


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Happy Birthday, James Potter. (: