The Marauders and the Horcrux Hunt

by teenage.tradgedy

In an alternate universe where the Marauders and Lily finish reading the Harry Potter series, they set out on a journey to find the Horcruxes, and ultimately to defeat Lord Voldemort before it's too late. Will they be able to complete the impossible? SEQUEL TO THE MARAUDERS AND THE SORCERER'S STONE (taken down for copyright reasons).

13. Two Sides

Disclaimer: I am not J.K. Rowling, and I do not own any rights to the Harry Potter universe, including storylines and characters.

---

This chapter contains references to J.K. Rowlings' third Harry Potter book; Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

---

"This is such rubbish," James chortled, shaking his head as he looked at the book in Remus' hands. Sirius, Lily and Peter were laughing.

"A big supporter of You-Know-Who?" Peter wheezed, causing Sirius and Lily to further descend into splits of laughter. Remus turned to Sirius with a chastising expression on his face.

"I always knew you'd end up in Azkaban," he snorted, shaking his head fondly as Sirius took a mock bow.

"Front page of the Daily Prophet, I hope you're impressed," he winked, and Remus rolled his eyes.

"Wonder why you were put into Azkaban," Peter mused, scratching idly at the top of his head, as he looked at the other four, taking in their relaxed positions around the Marauder dormitory, "I feel like we should be a little more alarmed."

"Sod off Wormtail, it's probably some sort of mistake," James chuckled, grinning as Lily pinched Sirius' cheek affectionately, "Let's just read the book. Harry's only just gotten on the bloody bus."

"And it's really no surprise to me that Sirius broke the law," Lily sighed, grinning as Sirius threw his arm around her, sniggering.

---

"It's too quiet," Sirius grumbled, crossing his arms irritably as he sat at his dining table. Peter was lying on his back on his bed, throwing some balled up socks at the ceiling and catching them repeatedly, higher and higher each time. James sat cross-legged on the floor, frowning as he perused through one of the Horcrux books for some last minute research before heading to work, taking another bite of the toast in his hands as he did so.

When neither boy replied, Sirius sighed, looking down at his hands, doing absolutely everything he could to avoid looking at Remus' empty cot. It was the day after they'd left him at Mungos, and while they'd been allowed to visit with him for unlimited hours while in Hogwarts, Mungos' strict visiting hours only allowed them a couple hours in the morning and evening. This limited James and Sirius' time to two hours a day in the evening after work, and when they'd gone the previous day, they'd been too knackered to do more than collapse next to Remus' bed, forcing Remus to kick them out.

Lily had popped in on Remus multiple times the previous day, during any breaks she may have had, having decided to take a consecutive shift rather than go home. She'd taken their detention mirror with her when she'd visited him at lunch, so James and Sirius could chat with him during their lunch break as well, but a passing Healer had almost confiscated the thing, so they wouldn't be able to do so today. Peter would be going to Mungos to visit with Remus during this mornings visiting hours. They were unfortunately unable to do any of the Horcrux reading they'd had planned, on account of Remus' ward mate, so James had taken it upon himself to attempt to cover what ground Remus would have covered had he been in the flat.

James' other motivation to immerse himself in the books was Lily. Between her lack of sleep and the fall out she'd had with Petunia at the bridal store, she'd alternated between lashing out, not speaking, and crying; the reaction more intense for James, as the one person she felt comfortable enough to push away. She'd spent the previous night snapping at him, until he'd finally had enough and confronted her, leading to one of their biggest rows in months.

"Oi! Prongs, when do you want to head out?" Sirius asked, looking at James, who shrugged noncommittally as he flipped a page, "Five minutes all right?"

"Sure," James garbled out through another bite of toast, eyes not leaving the page in front of him, "Have to tell Lily."

When James made no move to get off the floor, Sirius rolled his eyes and pushed himself to his feet, muttering irritably about avoidance tactics and how impolite it was to not even look at someone while you were speaking to them, as he made his way towards the bedrooms, where he could hear Lily bustling around.

"We're leaving in five," Sirius said, poking his head into the bedroom, where he found Lily hopping on one foot, attempting to pull one of her shoes on. He guffawed, "what the bloody hell are you doing?"

"The stupid thing won't come on," Lily near-whined, collapsing on the bed with a huff. Sirius bit back a smirk as she glared down at her shoe.

"Need a hand?"

Lily rolled her eyes at his patronizing tone, "Go away."

"Where are you going?"

"It's none of your business, Sirius," she grumbled, and he smirked.

"But where are you-"

"Shopping,Sirius," she interrupted, rolling her eyes as he leaned against the doorframe.

"Does James know?"

"Yes."

"What are you buying?"

"A gift," Lily grumbled.

"You sound very excited."

"Oh, I am, truly," she said, "I may even break the gift, that'll be exciting. Or maybe I'll break your face, that'll be exciting too," she added, with a pointed look at Sirius, who smirked.

"I think you want me to leave."

"Caught on, have you?" she muttered, standing up and opening the wardrobe. Sirius sniggered as he turned and left the room before he pushed her too far.

Sirius sniggered as he made his way back to the living room. The boys still hadn't moved, except for Peter's hands, as they caught the balled up socks once more, "I told her, you almost ready?"

James nodded, closing the book and pushing himself up to his feet with a grunt, "When's she leaving?"

"Ask her yourself," Sirius snorted, grabbing the small rucksack he'd began taking to the office off the floor and slinging it onto his shoulder. James' eyes flickered from where he was brushing crumbs off his shirt to shoot Sirius a sardonic look, "did you two have a row or something?"

"Fuck off Sirius," James sighed, as he made his way back towards the bedrooms, ignoring Sirius' signature smirk, "When are you heading out?" he asked in a clipped tone. Lily had now successfully pulled both her shoes on and was pulling her hair up into a bun.

"In a minute. The store where they've registered doesn't open until nine, so I've got some time. Don't really understand why people register for engagement presents, Merlin knows we didn't think of it, but I suppose nothing Petunia does should surprise me anymore," she said, eyes focused on the mirror in front of her. James nodded and made to turn, when she spoke again, "Not speaking to me, are you?"

"Trying," he said, not blind to the way Lily's lips thinned, "You clearly are."

"James," she said, finally turning her gaze on his, a frown on her face, "That's not fair."

He shrugged, not wanting to get into another argument, and turned to head back to the living room. He paused when he felt her soft hand on his forearm, "I'm sorry," she sighed, resting her forehead against his shoulder when he didn't turn his head to look at her, "I'm trying. I just, I don't-"

Lily sighed again, closing her eyes. She knew she'd been unfair the night before, and had pushed a few buttons she knew better than to push, just to get a decent fight out of him. She always took it out on him when she was furious, and James always avoided her the day after a fight; he dealt with his anger in silence. Today, however, was the first time she couldn't afford to give him that space to cool off; she needed him too much. She couldn't afford to feel like she was losing him the way she'd finally accepted she'd lost her sister.

She took in a deep breath, breathing in his scent and absorbing the comfort of his warmth before she lifted her head and dropping her hand, "Have a good day," she said quietly.

James sighed, turning to look down at her, eying her skeptically, "Are you all right, Lily?" he asked, frowning as she met his eyes, "Last night, I mean," he hesitated, eyes flickering between hers. Lily shook her head, grabbing his left hand in her right.

"I'm coping," she said, reassured that he hadn't pulled his hand away, "are we okay?" she asked in a small voice. A small smile pulled up the corners of his lips and he leaned down to kiss her forehead.

"Always," he said, and Lily nodded, "I'm off to work," he said. She gave him a watery smile and nodded her head quickly.

"And you'll still come with me to Petunia's?"

"Already have my penguin suit ready," he nodded, and Lily giggled, grinning up at him.

"I'll tell you how dashing you look, I promise," she said, placing a quick kiss on his cheek, "Thank you for speaking to me."

"Thank you for not yelling," he said, and Lily rolled her eyes, shoving at him as his eyes twinkled down at her. She could still see the hints of irritation in the tightness of his jaw and in the depths of his hazel eyes, and smiled apologetically.

"I do love you."

"I know," he sighed, ruffling his hair, "See you later."

"Have a good day, dear," she called after him, smiling to herself as she heard his amused snort.

---

James hid a yawn behind his hand as Moody continued to yammer on about safety protocols and procedures to follow in case of a Ministry attack. Sirius was actively fighting sleep in the seat next to him; his head lolling forwards only to shoot back up, panicked, every few minutes. Moody had been reviewing this topic for over an hour now, though he'd covered the basic gist of it ten minutes in.

While Moody continued to speak, James let his mind wander, finding himself focusing on the dynamics of their group. He'd found it surprising at first that Remus' absence had led to such deafening silence in the flat, given that the boy was always absent during the full moon days at Hogwarts. The last twenty-four hours, however, had been awful. If he wouldn't speak, there'd be no conversation. He couldn't even count on Lily to start speaking, since she was so busy dealing with her own emotions.

He supposed it all came down to Sirius.

His eyes flickered to his best mate, now pinching at his thighs to stay awake, and he held in a sigh. He loved Sirius, truly, but even he could see that Sirius was not the easiest person to get on with. He had to applaud Lily, for somehow managing to wrangle the boy's friendship and affection, and for becoming a friend to Sirius in her own right, rather than just as James' girlfriend. It wasn't an easy task, he knew, and he'd been grateful. Sirius wouldn't be Sirius if he weren't a closed book. He hadn't even let Hestia in properly yet, and Merlin knew the boy was mad about her. He'd only let a handful of people in throughout his lifetime, just the Marauders, the Potters, and Lily.

He'd let Peter in, only to find out the boy had betrayed him in the worst way possible.

Even though it hadn't happened yet.

James knew the knowledge had hit Sirius the hardest. Sirius no longer trusted Peter, he'd put his walls back up against him; he wouldn't speak to him, nor would Peter feel he could speak to Sirius.

Thus, the silence.

James sighed, rubbing at the back of his neck. He knew he wasn't entirely comfortable around Peter anymore, but he'd acknowledged Lily's reasoning; that the future would be different now, that he couldn't be so angry about things that hadn't happened, that now, more than ever, they needed Peter to feel like they wouldn't abandon him. This last one had been the hardest for James to fathom, but he'd realized Lily was right; not only would Peter need a chance to prove and redeem himself, he also knew too much for them to risk his betrayal.

James felt sick thinking that.

He felt a kick on his chair leg, and jerked his head to see Sirius paying rapt attention, and turned his head to the front, where Moody seemed to have finished his speech (none too soon, James thought moodily) and seemed to have brought in someone else to address them.

"Who is that? Were you listening?" Sirius hissed out of the corner of his mouth. James, continuing to look forwards so as not to attract attention, simply lifted his shoulders in a shrug. He heard Sirius' muted swear.

Moody gave the room one last stern look, before turning on his heel and walking out of the training room, leaving in his wake a serious looking man with a thin mustache.

"As you know," he started, clasping his hands behind his back as he began to walk around the room, "My name is Bartemious Crouch, and I'm here to talk to you about the protocols of the wizard prison, Azkaban."

Sirius' jaw locked.

---

"A mass murder?" Lily said, alarmed, as she turned her head to look at Sirius, shocked. Sirius himself looked disturbed, staring down at the book with open-mouthed disbelief, "Thirteen people?"

"Come off it Lil," James chuckled, kicking his leg out to nudge the shock-still Sirius, "it has to be some sort of mistake, Sirius would never-"

"They can't have gotten it that wrong," Remus said uneasily, grimacing apologetically as Sirius' shocked gaze turned to him, "No offence mate, I mean, I don't think you would, but-"

"The Ministry makes mistakes all the bloody time," James insisted, cutting Remus off as he noted the infinitesimal shift in Sirius' expression, "let's just keep reading."

"Twelve years," Sirius murmured through numb lips, and James winced, "Twelve Prongs, what the fuck?" he breathed, dropping his head in his hands.

"Just relax," James said, clapping Sirius on the shoulder. Peter smiled encouragingly as Sirius looked up at him, nodding his head.

"I'm sure it's nothing. Besides, now you can prevent it. We'll even physically restrain you from being in the area at the time," he shrugged, and Sirius snorted, causing the other four to chuckle, before letting out a loud sigh.

"Let's just read the damn thing."

---

"What is this supposed to be?" Lily murmured under her breath, lifting what she assumed to be a crystal jumble off the shelf in front of her. She turned the piece over and gaped, placing it down immediately.

'1500 pounds? Are they mad?' she thought, scurrying away from the shelf as subtly as she could. She pulled the list of registered items out of her purse once more, scanning down it for the cheapest item on it. She snorted reading the title, 'petunia says yes'. Only Petunia would register for bloody ENGAGEMENT gifts, Lily couldn't even rationalize registering for such a thing. She didn't even want bloody wedding gifts, but she supposed it wouldn't be the worst thing. But an engagement? It seemed fairly over the top to her. Though why she found this behavior in petunia surprising, she didn't know.

Sussing out the cheapest looking item on the list, Lily headed towards the appropriate shelf for the salad bowl. She turned over the price tag on the (frankly) gaudy bowl, and she breathed a sigh of relief. 26 pounds. Much more reasonable. Though still 26 pounds more than she was willing to pay.

After all Petunia had put her through, surely her very presence would be gift enough

Not because Petunia would appreciate it, Lily wasn't naive enough to believe that, it would save Petunia the telling off she'd get from their mom.

Chuckling at the thought of such a confrontation, Lily grabbed the ugly bowl and followed the signs pointing towards the cashier. She handed over the Muggle money she'd exchanged specially for this trip before grabbing her purchase, smiling politely at the shop assistant who wished her a pleasant day, and turned away.

A pleasant day, Lily snorted, wouldn't that be something.

Shucking her jacket back on to protect against the nippy Autumn air, Lily pushed open the door of the shop to be greeted by crisp autumn breeze. She smiled in spite of herself; she'd always loved the wind. As her eyes focused on the crowds, her eyes narrowed in on two little girls dressed as ballerinas. They were holding hands, the older pulling the other to a halt so she didn't barge right into a passerby, distracted as she was avoiding the cracks in the pavement.

Lily felt a ripple of pain shoot through her as she watched them, her mind filling with memories of her golden childhood with her sister; the two dancing around their living room, playing with dolls, competing on the swings, laughing as they watched old movies together, binging on popcorn as they did. Then they took a turn, reality seeping in.

Petunia calling her a freak for the first time.

Petunia refusing to receive and send her off at Kings Cross.

Petunia and her screaming at each other every time she came home.

Her mother weeping in the kitchen when she didn't think anyone was watching.

Her fathers pained expression when Lily said she didn't have a sister.

Petunias returned letters.

Lily in her wedding dress, Petunia screaming at her.

How had it all gone so wrong?

---

Peter lifted his hand to knock gently on the doorframe of Remus' ward, pushing open the door as a voice called for him to 'come in'.

"Aren't you a sight for sore eyes," Remus smirked, as Peter made his way in, holding a paper cup.

"I'd be flattered, but I know you're speaking to this," Peter chuckled, handing the cup to Remus, who immediately lifted the cup to his lips, "Where's your friend?" he asked, nodding towards the empty bed across Remus', usually occupied by Remus' ward mate.

"A Healer wheeled him out a while ago, I think he went for some tests, or something," Remus shrugged, nodding towards the seat next to his bed, which Peter proceeded to sink himself into, "What's new?"

"Nothing," Peter sighed, pulling one of his legs up to rest his ankle across his knee, "The flat is unnaturally quiet without you."

Remus cocked a brow, "I wasn't aware I'd become one of the noisy ones," he mused, frowning, "I don't think I like that," he added grumpily, and Peter snorted.

"You're not," Peter said, sighing as Remus turned to him, a curious look in his eyes, "Nobody is in a particularly chatty mood I think. I mean, Lily's obviously been a wreck-"

"She has?" Remus asked, bewildered, "Why? What happened?"

"Oh, right," Peter snickered, "you missed it all."

"Shut up, tell me what happened," Remus demanded, taking another sip of his hot chocolate, his eyes alight with concern, "She and Prongs didn't-"

"No of course not," Peter snorted, wriggling in the chair to get more comfortable, "some rubbish went down with Petunia when she went for her wedding dress, turns out Petunia is having an engagement party that she uninvited Lily to, by telling their mum Lily had said she wasn't coming," he said.

Remus let out a low whistle, shaking his head, "Explains why Lily's been sullen the last few times she's come in," he said, taking another sip, "Poor Lily," he added, and Peter grimaced.

"Poor Prongs," he said, and Remus frowned, "they've been fighting almost constantly."

"Explains her silence," he said, giving Peter a pointed look. The blond boy sighed.

"What do you want me to say, Moony? It's just awkward. Sirius won't talk to me, Prongs is too angry to speak, Lily's brooding. There's just not a lot of speaking in the flat without you anymore," he finished with a grimace. Remus shook his head solemnly.

"If you'd told me this would happen in sixth year, I'd never have believed it," Remus sighed after a moment, dropping his head back to the wall. Peter grimaced, "Life wasn't supposed to look like this."

"Whose? Yours or everyone's?"

Remus rolled his eyes, turning his head to shoot Peter an irritated look. Peter smirked, "Give Sirius time," Remus said, turning back to stare up at the ceiling, his head still lolling against the wall. He missed Peter's wince.

"I don't think he's ever going to come around," Peter murmured after a moment, looking down at his jeans sadly, "I keep waiting for him to attack me."

"At least if he does you'll have enough to talk about," Remus said after a few awkward moments. Peter shot him a sarcastic look as Remus, smirking, took another sip of his hot chocolate, "Any more luck with the, er, project?" Remus added.

"Project?" Peter asked stupidly, frowning at Remus, who rolled his eyes.

"Obviously I can't say the bloody H word out loud in case anyone is listening in," he said, his voice dripping with impatience as Peter continued to look befuddled, "what we've all been researching?"

Recognition lit up in Peter's watery blue eyes, "Oh!" he gasped, his eyes wide. Remus resisted the urge to roll his eyes as Peter shifted in his seat, "No, actually. Prongs was doing something before he and Sirius left for work this morning, not entirely sure if he found anything though," he said, scratching at the top of his head.

"Because of the not-talking, right," Remus grumbled, taking the final sip of his drink before reaching forwards to place it on the tray at the end of his cot, "We really need to be getting a move on with it."

"I agree mate," Peter sighed, stretching his arms above his head, "shame we can't bring any books here."

"Tell me about it," Remus snorted, looking around at the bare walls of the ward with distaste, "A person could die of boredom in here, it would have been nice to have had something to do."

"Maybe when you're in a private ward," Peter shrugged, and Remus shrugged unhappily, "How's your foot by the way?"

"Healing," Remus shrugged, nodding towards the large lump under the blanket, his bandaged foot, "I can't move it in these plasters, but the Healer came and checked it a couple hours ago, it looks much better, thank Merlin," he said, and Peter smiled.

"That's great news, mate."

Before Remus or Peter could utter another word, the doors to the ward opened, revealing a put out Bernard Lovett, Remus' ward mate.

Bernard Lovett was someone Remus had truly come to enjoy spending time with, given he was the first adult werewolf Remus had spent any degree of time with in his life. He was short in stature, well built, standing at 5"6, with platinum blonde hair and ice blue eyes. He was, like Remus, facing bouts of unemployment following a successful school career. He was a few years older, and had graduated from the Welsh wizarding school, Ysgol hud.

"What's the matter with you?" Remus asked, resting his pounding head against the wall again as a brown-haired Trainee Healer wheeled Bernard into the room.

"He's just pushed me around the entire fucking floor in this bloody thing like a Merlin-damned gimp," Bernard grumbled, before nodding at Peter, "Hey."

"Hi," Peter said, hiding a chuckle, as the Trainee began to help Bernard, who had severely damaged his right hip during his last transformation, into his cot.

"Thanks," Bernard grumbled reluctantly, earning a smirk from the Trainee, "this is Owen," he added, nodding at the Healer, who waved at Remus and Peter in greeting, "He knows how fucking sick we are of this place."

"It's true," Remus confirmed. Owen chuckled.

"Sorry mate," he said, in a thick Scottish accent, and the two werewolves shrugged. Bernard sighed and closed his eyes.

"C'est la vie. Where's your redhead lady friend, by the by?" he asked, peeling an eyelid open to look at Remus, who snorted.

"She's not here today, night shift," he said.

"Oh good, at least we won't be bored," Bernard said with a smirk. Remus shook his head fondly; Bernard, it seemed, had taken a liking to Lily. Innocent or not, Remus couldn't help but be entertained by it.

"You know Lily?" Owen asked with a polite smile, as he used he updated Bernard's chart. Peter frowned.

"Do you?" Peter asked.

"She's a friend," Owen shrugged, leaning against the wall.

"So you must know Alma as well, then," Peter said politely. To their surprise, the Scottish boy's face reddened. Bernard cocked a brow at him.

"You're Alma's boyfriend," Remus stated, smiling, and Owen jerked his head awkwardly, avoiding eye contact with Bernard, who was eyeing him with a calculating expression on his face.

"Well it's very nice to meet you," Peter said with a wave, and Owen nodded, before clearing his throat, still avoiding looking at Bernard, and scurrying out of the room, "seems a bit jittery if you ask me," Peter added, and Remus snorted, "Reckon a bird like Alma could do better."

"Have a thing for her, do you?" Remus sniggered, earning an shove from the blond boy. Remus smirked, noting the faint blush on Peter's cheeks, "Lily's going to love this," he sniggered, and Peter rolled his eyes, shoving again.

---

"Why would they think you escaped to kill Harry?" James snorted, rolling his eyes as he watched Sirius cackle from where he was sprawled across the Common Room sofa. Lily was seated on the floor beside him, leaning against the base of the sofa as she read the book. She was delicately giggling, her trembles causing James' lips to turn up in the corners, and he reached over to ruffle her hair.

"Escaped Azkaban to kill Harry," Lily giggled, shaking her head, as she dropped it forwards to rest her forehead on her knees, "Sirius, they know you so well."

"Why would they think you were after Harry?" Peter asked, scratching his chin stupidly as he looked over at Sirius, who looked gobsmacked. Remus smirked at him.

"With his insanity, probably. Thought he'd want to reawaken Harry's inner James," Remus said sardonically, smirking as both Sirius and James shot him sarcastic looks.

"I resent that," Sirius said, and James scoffed in agreement. Lily continued to giggle, "And what is the matter with you?" he asked, exasperated, as he addressed Lily.

"I just, I can't believe it," she giggled, lifting her head off her knees to grin at him. Sirius rolled his eyes, "I mean, what happened to you Sirius? Azkaban, stalker of young children-"

"Oi!" Sirius barked, cutting her off as the other three burst out laughing, "Stalker of young children is not one of my crimes!"

"Apparently it is," James sniggered, winking as Sirius turned his glare on him, "that also my child. I'm flattered Padfoot, really."

"Fuck off Prongs," Sirius snorted, pushing his dark locks out of his eyes.

"It's Lily's child he's after," Peter snickered, and Sirius winked at Lily, who rolled her eyes.

"James, he's doing it again," Lily whined, and James chuckled, kissing her atop the head.

"You know I can't control him, love. He's always been this way around attractive women," he added, and Lily chuckled.

"Flattery will get you nowhere, Potter."

"Not even the Seventh Floor broom closet?"

Lily paused, stroking her chin thoughtfully, "Maybe there," she conceded after a moment, and James chuckled.

"Really Evans, I thought you were supposed to be the well behaved one," Sirius tutted, smirking at her condescendingly as she stuck her tongue out at him.

"Speaking of well behaved," Remus cut in, his voice laced with amusement, "Why are we not more concerned about Sirius' delinquency?"

"I think we've all gotten too accustomed to it, Remus," Lily sighed, grinning as Sirius flipped her off.

"In all seriousness," James chuckled, watching as Sirius aimed a kick at Remus, who winked back at the boy, "It's all bollocks. I mean, this is a world where he's on You-Know-Who's side, so I think we can fairly say its bullshit. Sirius wouldn't even be in Azkaban, as we've established," he said, and Sirius blew him a kiss, "Cheers," James said, nodding his invisible hat at Sirius, who flipped him off, causing the others to chuckle, "And if by some ridiculous twist of fate he has-"

"You sound very romantic saying things like 'twist of fate'," Lily mused, and James rolled his eyes, otherwise ignoring her. Sirius sniggered, reaching over to hi-five Lily.

"-done all this rubbish," James continued, as if the exchange between his girlfriend and best mate hadn't occurred, "I reckon he'd only want to explain the misunderstandings to Harry, since there's no bloody way he was on You-Know-Who's side. I doubt he'd want to off him."

"Yes, that I would want to do," Sirius nodded, and James snorted, "Being his godfather and all, you know."

Lily groaned, dropping her head back against the sofa, "not this again," she whined, pouting up at James, who grinned down at her.

"I agree with Lily, what makes you qualified to be godfather?" Remus countered, and Sirius sneered at him.

"Considering this future Azkaban-going You-Know-Who-supporting Sirius we've just learned of, I reckon you ought to properly consider who'd be your best option," Peter said, and Sirius turned his sneer on him as Lily and James laughed.

"I agree with Peter," Lily said, looking at James earnestly from her perch, "I know he's your best mate and all, but he's probably a risky choice."

"He's only after Harry to befriend him, I think we can allow it," James said, winking at Sirius, who blew him another kiss, "It's all bollocks anyway, so can we continue reading this ridiculous book?" James chuckled, winking back at Sirius. Lily laughed and turned the page.

---

"How was your day?" Lily asked, smiling timidly as James entered their bedroom. He looked deadbeat, she thought, noticing the tired slump of his shoulders, the slight limp in his step, and his half-closed lids.

"Terrible," James grumbled, throwing himself down on the bed and placing his hands over his face, fingers rubbing his eyes under his glasses as he yawned hugely, "More dueling practice, Moody gave lots of speeches on formations and procedures, Barty Crouch-"

"Actual Barty Crouch? From the books?" Lily squeaked, turning to face him, alarmed.

"He's as stodgy as we thought," James said, and Lily gaped. James peeled one eye open and chuckled, "His son isn't in Azkaban yet though, so he didn't seem so bloody miserable."

"What was he doing in your office?" she asked, turning away to continue braiding her hair. She was to be leaving for the night shift in twenty minutes. She was already wearing her trainers and the Muggle clothes she was going to change out of when she got to work.

"He came to give some speech on Azkaban," James grumbled. Lily froze, dropping her braid and turning to look at James, her eyes wide. She walked over and crouched down next to him. He popped his eye open to look at her again.

"How did Sirius take it?" she whispered, not wanting the boy in question to hear. James bit back a smile- it still astounded him how quickly she got onto his wavelength, without him having to give her anything but a vague clue.

"Not good," he mouthed, and Lily grimaced, "sensitive topic," he added, and Lily sighed, running her fingers through her hair to undo the now-unraveled braid, "I basically spent the day talking to a wall."

"This wall being Sirius, I hope," Lily said, smiling slightly, and James sent her a sarcastic look. She giggled, leaning forwards to press a soft kiss to his cheek.

"What was that for?" he grumbled, and Lily shrugged, kissing him again.

"It's both apology and statement of affection," she said, kissing him a third time. James chuckled.

"I didn't think either of those could be fulfilled with a simple cheek kiss," he said, and Lily giggled, stretching slightly to kiss him on the lips. He reached out and wrapped his arm around her waist, smiling as she squealed as he pulled her on top of him.

"James," she hissed, reaching around to try and push his arm off her. He grinned and wrapped his other one around her as well, "Stop," she giggled, giving up and placing her hands on his cheeks, pulling her face away from his and making sure his didn't follow, "I have to go to work."

"You were in the middle of an apology, stop now and your efforts will have been futile," he said, and she sent him a hard look. He grinned, "I'm the one who had a bad day, why are you being difficult?"

"Because one of us has to be the adult," she scolded, and he chuckled, "Your arms, please?" she said after a moment.

"They're already around you, what more do you want?" he teased, and she rolled her eyes, before sighing and resting her forehead against his chest, "All right?"

"No," she sighed, wrapping her arms around his neck and burying her face in his chest, "I'm a wreck."

"You're not giving yourself enough credit. You've got too much fight in you to be a wreck."

"Stop poking fun," she whined. James chuckled. They continued to lie in that position, her on top of him, resting her forehead on his chest, his arms around her waist, head resting back as he closed his eyes. Lily let out a big sigh, and James' eyes flickered open, his hand going to stroke her head as she sniffed.

"Lil?"

"Sorry," she whispered, clearing her throat slightly, not lifting her head from his chest. James frowned, his eyes sparkling with concern behind his wire rimmed glasses, as he scratched absentmindedly at her scalp, "I just. It's- I mean, I don't-"

"It's Petunia," James said after a moment. Lily nodded her head, and James sighed, placing his hand gently on the back of her head, holding her to his chest, "What is it Lil?"

"Is this my fault?" she whispered after a moment.

"No," James said instantly, pulling her head off his chest. Her green eyes were red rimmed and she wasn't looking at him, "No, Lil."

"I have to go to work," Lily said, still not meeting his intense gaze. James tightened his arm around her, and she shook her head frantically, "I can't talk about this right now," she said, pushing at his chest. James continued to gaze at her face, "James, come on, please," she sighed. James waited as she took a few deep breaths, and finally, she met his gaze.

"You haven't done anything wrong," he said steadily, and Lily nodded, a few tears seeping out of her eyes as she continued to hold his gaze, "You understand?" She nodded her head again, and James sighed, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead.

"I have to go to work," she said, and James released her, pushing himself up into a seated position as she scrambled to her feet, grabbing her bag and scarf.

"Try not to think about it," James said, and Lily let out a water chuckle.

Having gathered her stuff, she turned and leaned down, pressing a quick kiss against his mouth, before pulling away, "Now I have to go," she said, and James nodded, smiling up at her. She continued to stare at him, and he frowned.

"What?" he asked after a few moments under her uncomfortable gaze, and she flushed.

"Um, we're, I mean, we're okay…right?" she said, looking away from him as she blushed further, focusing on a piece of lint on her scarf. She jumped as she felt his hands on her face, and looked up to see him standing over her.

"Go to work," he said, giving her her favourite crooked smile, before kissing her tenderly. Lily rose onto her tip toes, pushing her mouth more snugly against him, and felt him chuckle.

"Snogging again, are we?" a bitter voice sounded from behind Lily, and she whined against James' lips as Sirius stomped into the room, throwing himself down on the bed adjacent to where James had been sitting, looking up at them, "By all means, don't stop on my account. It's not like Moony is in your place of work or anything. Who knows what could happen while you're snogging."

"And that's my cue," Lily sighed, pulling away from James and smiling up at him shyly. He winked.

"See you in the morning," he said, and Lily smiled, kissing him again before sticking her tongue out at Sirius, who saluted, and turning on the spot.

"Living room," Sirius said, and James chuckled, shaking his head.

"Shower," he said, grabbing his towel from the back of the door. Sirius shot him a dark look, "Go read some Horcrux books, I'll be there soon," he said, and Sirius rolled his eyes, pushing himself to his feet and miserably trudging into the living room, where Peter was sitting atop his bed, scribbling on a piece of parchment, routinely glancing back at an open book to the right of his parchment. As Sirius walked further into the room, Peter's head snapped up.

"Oh, hi," he said, by way of greeting, gulping as Sirius didn't respond, simply throwing himself into one of the dining tables' chairs, grabbing the first book he could get his hands on, and opening it up to a random page, "er, what are you looking up?" he continued after a moment, wincing as Sirius simply turned the page, "Um, Sirius?"

"More destructive properties," Sirius said tersely, standing up, ignoring Peter, and striding towards the bookshelf. He grabbed the stack of parchments dedicated to the topic and walked back to the table, placing it down next to the book he'd been looking through. Peter nodded mutely, before biting his lip awkwardly. When he was sure Sirius would say nothing else, he sighed, and looked back down at what he had been writing.

Sirius looked up dubiously as Peter continued to scribble, and frowned. Not wanting to speak to the boy, he attempted to gather what Peter was writing about based on the book he knew he was looking in. It was the one Remus had summoned on advanced defensive magic.

"What the fuck are you scribbling?" Sirius finally asked, disgusted in himself for having broken and asked the question. Peter's head snapped up in shock, and he cleared his throat awkwardly.

"Er, spells on how to conceal magic," he squeaked awkwardly, huddling in on himself under Sirius' harsh gaze, "I figured if we could figure out the theory and how they worked it'd be easier on finding magic that wasn't visible to the naked eye."

Sirius looked back down at his book, biting in the inside of his cheek. He was grudgingly impressed that Peter had thought of that, "Good idea," he muttered grumpily. Peter sent him a tight-lipped smile before looking back down at his notes.

"I figured it'd be best to remain loyal to what we know," Peter said, failing to notice that Sirius had near frozen, and was now glaring at him with open hostility, "that You-Know-Who had concealed some of his Horcrux with such magic, that way it'll be easy to trust ourselves in making choices," Peter continued. He stopped short as Sirius let out a bark of derisive laughter.

"Trust?" he scoffed, slamming his book shut and leaning forwards in his seat, his gray eyes piercing into Peter, who frowned, "Loyalty?"

"Er, yes?" Peter said uncertainly, after a few moments where Sirius didn't continue. Sirius' eyes flashed.

"You are going to sit there, in my fucking flat, and talk to me about trust and loyalty?"

Peter winced, settling his book down gently on his bed and clearing his throat, turning so his legs hung off the side of his cot, so he was better facing Sirius, "Listen, Padfoot, let's just-"

"Don't you dare call me that," Sirius spat, pushing his chair back and getting to his feet, returning the stack of parchments he'd picked up to the bookshelf, "You're not really one to talk about things like loyalty and trust, and while we're at it," Sirius let out a crazed laugh, turning to glare at Peter, who shrunk back slightly under the larger boy's fierce gaze.

"Sirius, we're friends," Peter said quietly. Sirius rolled his eyes, and snorted disdainfully, before lifting his hand and jabbing a finger in Peter's direction.

"No, we're not," he near-growled, glaring at Peter, "I am so fucking done with you," he spat. Peter winced.

"Sirius, I don't understand, why are you-"

"Azkaban!" Sirius roared, slamming his hands against the dining table, "Fucking AZKABAN, you bastard!"

Peter gaped. There was a loud bang, and Peter looked over to see James stood in the corridor, still dripping wet. He was pushing his glasses onto his face, his hair plastered to his forehead from the shower, his towel wrapped haphazardly around his waist, as he took in the scene. Peter had never been happier to see him.

"I heard yelling," James said, his tone accusatory as he took in the scene before him. His expression shifted from bewildered to wary, as his intelligent eyes took in Peter, sitting prone on the bed, a distinctly terrified expression on his face, and Sirius, who was taking heaving breaths, his furious gaze focused on Peter, "Sirius?"

"Just fuck off Prongs," Sirius snarled. James stood his ground, crossing his arms as Sirius turned his furious gaze on him, "Go away."

"No," James said, taking a step forwards so he was equidistant from each of his friends, "What's going on?"

"What's going on?" Sirius let out a bark of laughter, "What's going on? How about the fact that nobody's talking about how Wormtail over there sets me up, hm?" he said. James froze, "we've all pretended to forget that that, that, that he," Peter flinched as Sirius pointed at him, a sneer in his voice, "brought You-Know-Who back to life to save Harry, that he sold you and Lily to the fucking devil himself, that-"

"That's enough," James snapped, cutting Sirius off as the boy started to near vibrate with anger, "You're out of line, mate," he said, glaring at Sirius, who glared back at him, "Ever since Crouch came in this morning-"

At the sound of the name, Sirius sneered at James and turned, pulling open the front door with crackling force and slamming it behind him as he left the flat. The silence that followed Sirius' exit was deafening. James turned his gaze on Peter, who was still sitting shock still on his cot, looking down at his feet. From the telling shudders of Peter's shoulders, James was sure the boy had succumbed to tears.

James cleared his throat, his eyes focused on Peter, who had started to sniffle, "Wormtail-"

"Good night," Peter said, turning away from James and pulling the covers over himself. His tug on the blanket caused the parchment he'd been working on, and the book, to slip onto the floor, landing with a thud.

James opened his mouth to try to say something else to comfort the boy, but Peter's tone had rung with finality, and frankly, James could find nothing to say.

---

James lay in bed that night, staring up at the ceiling, waiting for Sirius to come back to the flat. At a quarter past two in the morning, James heard voices from across the hall. He hurriedly pushed himself out of bed, however reluctantly, and after pulling on his dressing gown, tip toed to Sirius' room. Light shone through the crack underneath Sirius' bedroom door, illuminating the small hallway.

James gently twisted the knob, pushing the door slightly and peering in. Sirius was across the room, facing away from James as he toed off his trainers. There was a woman's bag on Sirius' bed, and from Sirius' en-suite, James could hear running water. James' eyes narrowed in on a pair of orange high-heeled shoes near the bed.

His eyes met Sirius' as the boy turned to throw his t-shirt in the vicinity of the cupboard. Sirius froze, t-shirt in hand.

James cocked a brow. Sirius saluted.

With a small smile, James shut the door and headed back to his room.

---

Lily's voice shook as she finished the chapter, letting go of the book quickly, as if it had shocked her. Nobody had interrupted her in over five minutes, as she read out the conversation between the Professors in the Three Broomsticks. She couldn't believe what she had just read, but as she lifted her head to look at Sirius, she found herself unable to see him the same.

Sirius turned to meet Lily's eyes as he felt her looking at him, but she turned away as soon as he'd made to make eye contact. He felt as if there was a rock in his stomach, as if his glands no longer dispensed saliva and tears but dust, as if his heart had plummeted into his intestines. He felt like retching, like attempting to heave out this awful feeling, this insanity. Nobody was speaking.

He turned to Remus, the calmest, the most level headed, but even he couldn't bear to meet Sirius' eye. Peter, Sirius noticed, was looking down at his fingers.

…all that was left was a finger…

Sirius jumped to his feet, not wanting to believe that this was his future, that this was something he could possibly do. Had his parents gotten to him? Had his family's nonsense sunk in? No, Sirius shook his head; he couldn't imagine that was possible. His family made him sick. His eyes shot to Lily, and he knew for certain his family was wrong. He'd never believe it. It was bollocks, the entire story was bollocks, and James knew it. Sirius would have never joined You-Know-Who. He'd have never betrayed James. He had to know that. James would know this was rubbish. James wouldn't believe it for a second.

Desperate, Sirius sought James. But James couldn't look at him either. James looked as sick as he felt.

Before he had consciously made the decision, his legs had carried him out of the Marauder dormitory, his own dormitory. As he descended the stairs, he didn't need to look behind him to know nobody had followed.

000000

"He still hasn't left his room," Lily said to Remus, who shook his head sadly, "He's put up Silencing charms and locked the door."

The two were down in the Great Hall eating lunch three days later. James had stormed out of the dormitory after Sirius that day, and had locked himself in his room in the Heads dormitories and hadn't left; not to attend lessons, not for Quidditch Practice, not for meals. He wasn't speaking to anyone either, not even to Lily.

"Wormtail and I went to the kitchens last night, turns out the House Elves have been bringing him food in his room," Remus said, and Lily sighed, twisting her fork in her spaghetti dejectedly.

"How is Peter?"

"Surprisingly all right," Remus said after a moment, taking a sip of his Pumpkin juice as he stared straight ahead, "Prongs has got at least a months' detention waiting for him. McGonagall is furious."

The two sat in silence for a few moments, before Lily cleared her throat.

"And Sirius?"

"He has detention too," Remus said, his voice sharp. Lily winced at Remus' anger, before taking a breath to ask her next question.

"Where is he?"

"No idea."

"He hasn't come back to the dorm? Not even to sleep?" Lily asked, alarmed. She turned to look at Remus, who continued to look resolutely ahead, the skin around his eyes tight with anger. She gasped as he shook his head, "Did you check the map?"

"James has it."

The conversation ended as Lily's friend, Dorcas Meadowes, sat down across from them, and began serving herself large helpings of rice, "Either of you cracked the Charms questions yet?"

000000

Lily's head snapped up from where she was doing her Charms assignment in the Heads Common Room as the door to James' bedroom finally opened. It had been a week since she had last seen him. He looked ragged. His usually smooth face looked haggard with stubble, his eyes were bloodshot, surrounded by dark circles, his hair stood up at angles more dramatic than usual. He didn't seem to have changed his clothes in days.

His eyes scoured the room until they met hers, and Lily took in the dried tear tracks down his cheeks and the chapped of his lips. He walked over to her and she stood up in time to catch him in a devastated embrace.

"Are you all right?" she choked, pulling back and placing her hands on his cheeks. His facial hair tickled her palms. His hazel gaze was piercing her, through the dirty, fingerprint covered glass of his spectacles. Despite his disheveled appearance, there was a steadiness in his eyes that soothed her at some deep level.

"Yes," he said, his voice cracking, no doubt from a general lack of use, "Though I think I'm going to fail my N.E.W.T.s," he added. Lily released a watery chuckle, wiping at her wet eyes

"I've got notes," she said. James pressed his lips against her forehead, enveloping her in a hug, "You've got detentions."

"I'm sure," he murmured, closing his eyes and breathing in the scent of her, "I need to schedule Quidditch too."

"I booked the pitch all of next week."

James smiled into her hair, wrapping his arms more snugly around her, "You knew I'd be out?"

"I was going to blast the door open tonight if you didn't come down," she grumbled, and James chuckled, releasing her and placing his hands on her cheeks.

"Sorry I worried you, love," he said.

"I did your half of the rounds schedules, Prefect reports and points calculations as well," she sniffed. James chuckled, kissing her forehead once more as she wrapped her arms around his waist, burying her face in his chest, "Don't do that again."

"Sorry," he repeated, resting his chin on top of her head. They stood like that in contented silence for a few minutes, Lily breathing in the comfort of his presence as she felt herself relax after a week full of stress.

Eventually, James broke the silence.

"How are the lads?"

"Remus is furious all the time, doesn't speak much," she sighed, shaking her head, not removing her face from his jumper, "Peter seems all right. A little jittery if anything."

James hummed but didn't otherwise respond to what she'd said. Lily took a deep breath and scrunched her eyes shut tightly as she prepared herself to ask her question.

"Are you all right?" she asked again, breaking the silence. James sighed in her hair, and she pulled back to look up into his face.

"I've decided I don't believe it," he said after a moment. Lily raised her eyebrows, and James shook his head, "It's not possible. Not Sirius. They made a mistake."

Lily grimaced, "Are you sure?"

"Yes," he said, and his tone indicated that he wasn't to be argued with, "It's wrong. He has as much reason to hate You-Know-Who as you do, love. And we're his family. Sirius would never."

Lily continued to gaze up into his determined expression, before nodding her head, "Okay," she said, releasing her arms from around his waist, "I trust you."

"Where is he?" he asked. Lily sighed and shook her head. James frowned, "Nobody knows where he is? It's been a week."

"He's not been showing up to lessons or meals either. And he's not in the dormitory," she sighed.

"Why didn't you check the map?"

"Remus said you had it," she said, bristling at his accusatory tone.

"I don't," James said, running his hand through his hair, looking distressed.

"Calm down," Lily said after a moment, as James began to look around, his eyes wild and full of worry, "You know him best. Where would he be?"

James looked met her steady gaze for a moment, before taking a deep calming breath. His expression morphed into what Lily had come to recognize as his thinking face, and she let out a relieved breath, "Shrieking Shack," he said after a moment. Lily blanched.

"All week?"

"Probably," James grumbled, ruffling his hair, "Hogsmeade is close enough, food isn't expensive there either."

"He should come back to the castle," Lily said, and James nodded, before turning away and hurrying towards his room, "where are you going?" she called, rushing to keep up with him as she followed him into his room.

"I need to go get him."

"You can't go outside right now!" she protested, watching as he pulled on his cloak and reached for his scarf, "James! Get him to come here, he's probably freezing out there as it is," she said, and James cocked a brow at her over his shoulder.

"How?"

000000

Sirius took a deep breath as he stood outside the Heads dormitories, Lily's note James' owl had delivered clutched in his shaking hand.

We're waiting for you. Come home. L x

Murmuring the password, Sirius lifted his hand, his knuckles torn bloody from having hit the walls of the Shrieking Shack, and pushed the private Portrait Hole open.

Lily was in the kitchenette, busying herself with a cup of tea. She froze as the portrait swung open, and turned to catch his eye, her expression one of genuine relief as she took in the sight of him. Sirius knew he must look a right state. He hadn't changed his clothes since he'd stormed out of the dormitory, save for a few Scourgify's when he felt particularly rank, nor had he shaved for over a week. The Shack had been filthy, as usual, so he was probably covered in dirt. He suppressed a humorless chuckle; he probably resembled the version of himself Harry had seen in The Prophet.

Lily gave him a small smile, before gesturing for him to come inside with a cock of her head. Sirius took a step forwards and shut the portrait behind him. Before he could open his mouth to talk to her, to tell her anything, James' bedroom door swung open.

James met Sirius' gaze straight on, and for a few seconds, nobody in the room seemed to breathe. He deliberately started to make his way over to Sirius, who felt a faint flicker of panic as James' determined gaze focused on him.

Without stopping for pause, James threw his arms around Sirius in a brotherly embrace, holding the shaggy boy to him with no small amount of force.

Lily watched on as Sirius, whom she'd never seen to express any genuine emotion, broke down in front of her eyes. The boy seemed to fold in on himself, his body shaking with heart wrenching sobs as he clung to James, who for his part, continued to hold on to the sobbing boy.

"Come on," James said after Sirius had calmed down slightly, patting his best mate on the back, "let's go find Moony and Wormtail."

---

Remus smirked as the redhead made her way into his ward once more, her fourth visit in an hour. Her eyes were wide with worry and hair was piled on top of her head in a messy bun, various strands falling out and giving her the look of a woman who hadn't slept in days.

"I'm still fine, Lily," Remus chuckled, as she made her way towards him and her eyes anxiously scanned his face, "Same as I was the last time you came in."

"Don't annoy me, Remus," Lily sighed, as she began to examine him with her wand, eyes darting between his foot, elevated and covered in bandages, and the large scars on his right arm. Remus chuckled, and dropped his head back, closing his eyes, "What's the matter?"

"For Merlin's sakes," Remus laughed, not opening his eyes, "I'm tired. Last I heard, that's not fatal."

"Quiet," Lily said, rolling her eyes, before she picked up one of the charts at the end of Remus' bed and read through it, brushing her hair back out of her face.

"Someone's grumpy."

"Thanks Bernard," Lily snorted, shaking her head as the boy sharing Remus' ward snickered.

"I'm fine as well, by the way, Healer Evans," he said with a smirk, absentmindedly scratching the top of his head. His scalp, visible due to his buzz cut light blond hair, was covered in self-inflicted scratches from the full moon, a healing pink now, compared to the large gashes they had been a couple days ago.

"That's nice, Bernard," Lily sighed, shooting him a small smile over her shoulder before turning back to Remus as the boy chuckled.

"Leave her alone, she has a good reason to be crotchety today," Remus teased, and Lily shot him an annoyed look before placing his chart down on the edge of the bed as Bernard started to cackle about how 'he could tell' and that there may be 'trouble in paradise'.

"You're a rubbish friend," Lily sniffed, tucking one of her free strands behind her ear and crossing her arms.

"When can I get out of here?" Remus asked, and Lily sighed, shrugging her shoulders and looking down at her watch.

"Not yet. If you ask me, you were ready to leave this morning, but I think it's their policy to keep you lot in here for at least three days," she said, and Remus groaned, dropping his head back.

"I was always let out of the Hospital Wing sooner than this, and I swear Poppy healed me faster," he whined, and Lily chuckled.

"Well, I don't think you did this much harm to yourself in school," she said with a pointed look, and Remus smirked.

"Wonder why," he said, and Lily rolled her eyes, turning away to head towards the door, "I take it you're off to go to your party?"

"Yes and I'm very excited," Lily drawled, her voice layered with sarcasm, shaking her head and waving to Remus. Remus laughed.

"I take it I'm in here for another day as well then?" Bernard called after her, and Lily shook her head amusedly as their cackles followed her out

---

The boys sat silently as Lily abruptly got to her feet. Her hands, hanging limp at her sides, were trembling as she took in a shaky breath. The word 'Animagus' hung between the five of them like a blade, suspended in mid air, ready to strike at any moment.

Without so much as a glance at any of them, she turned and stormed out of the Heads dormitories, their private portrait hole shutting with a resounding bang.

"Maybe Moony should talk to her," Peter said after a moment, looking at James, whose expression remained frozen, eyes focused on where Lily had been standing. Before Remus, who'd seemed to agree with the sentiment, could rise to his feet, James sprung up and sprinted after her.

He made it out in time to catch the flicker of her red locks as she turned a corner to his right, and hurried after her, "Lily!"

Hearing his voice, she only quickened her pace, hurrying around another corridor to her left and down the Grand staircase, "Lily, just, wait a moment," he called, running to keep up with her. He could tell now that her intended destination was the sixth floor girls bathroom, so he quickened his pace until he managed to catch her around the waist, "Lily, just-"

His voice cut off as she snatched her arm away from him, turning to glare at him with furious eyes, pinning his voice to the back of his throat. Her cheeks were wet with tear tracks, and as she continued to wordlessly glower at him, another escaped her left eye and drifted slowly down her cheek. She turned away from him and made her way towards the doorway, but, quick as his reflexes were, he wrapped his hand around her wrist once more and began to drag her backwards into an empty Transfiguration classroom.

"Let go of me! Stop it! Let go!" she yelled, shoving at him as he continued to drag her. She seemed of no mind to pay attention to her volume, and James looked around frantically to make sure nobody would hurry over to see what she was yelling about, "James! I mean it! Stop!"

He shoved her into the room, none too ceremoniously, and shut the door behind him, locking the doors and flicking his wand to put up a Silencing charm. He took a deep breath, before turning to face his outraged girlfriend.

"Open the door."

"No."

"Let me go James."

"No," he said, taking a step towards her. She pulled out her wand, and pointed it at his face.

"Let me out of here James. I'm not joking."

"No," he said again, taking another step towards her. Her eyes narrowed and she took a step back, "Not until we talk about this."

She let out a derisive laugh, wiping at her cheek as another tear poured out of her eye, "Talk about what? Talk about you committing an illegal act? About you now making me complicit in it if I don't report it? About the complete and utter stupidity of your actions and what on Merlin's green earth possessed you to make such a thoughtless decision?"

James winced, "I know what we did wasn't technically right-"

"TECHNICALLY RIGHT?" Lily screeched, shoving her wand in her pocket (James let out an internal breath of relief at this) and taking a step forwards, jabbing him in the chest with her pointer finger, "Technically? What you're doing is illegal! You could go to prison! Not to mention your idiocy, running around with a bleeding werewolf once a bloody month-"

James grabbed her wrist as she jabbed him once more, his eyes blazing as he looked down at her. Lily continued to glare up at him, her green eyes narrowed dangerously, "Werewolf?" he spat, squeezing her wrist tighter. The knot in his chest released infinitesimally as she faltered, "Not just a sodding werewolf. Remus," he said, and Lily huffed, attempting to push him off her. He wouldn't budge, "Your friend, Remus."

"Don't make this about that," Lily sneered, lifting her other hand to attempt to peel his off her wrist. His hand tightened, "It's not about Remus, of course it's awful for Remus, but you don't' need to get yourself arrested-"

"You going to turn me in?"

He smirked down at her, but the smile didn't reach his eyes.

"It's not- I mean- It's dangerous and it's against the bloody law!" she yelled, bringing her hand up to wipe at her face once more, "What were you bloody thinking?"

"What was I thinking?" James roared, looking down at her, eyes wide, "Merlin, it's like I don't even bleeding know you."

"What's that supposed to mean?" she hissed, dropping her other hand to look up at him, her green eyes narrowed into slits.

"It means I didn't realize you were so bloody prejudiced," he spat. Lily gasped, her hand falling slack in James' wrist. She gaped up at him. His expression didn't' soften, "A compassionless shrew who judges people because of things they can't control. You of all people, you're Muggleborn. You face this shit all the time. Can't even break your precious morals once, can you? Why? Because he's a werewolf?"

"What?" she said, her voice coming out as a whisper as she continued to look up at him, taken aback, "Is that really what you think of me?"

James blinked as her eyes once more filled with tears, and she looked away from him as she attempted to hide her face. He was instantly flooded with a wave of guilt as he saw her bottom lip tremble, and the words he'd thrown at her repeated in his head. He felt her begin to tug her wrist away insistently, more desperately than she had before, so he held on tighter.

"Lily, no, I mean," he sighed, wincing as she sniffed, blinking back her tears, "Wait, look at me," he murmured, bringing his hand up to place it under her chin. Lily turned her face away, "Please, love," he said again, placing his hand against her cheek. She turned to glare at him through her tears, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it, I was just, I was angry," he said, and she narrowed her eyes, pushing at him.

"Spilt out rather quickly for it to have been something you weren't thinking already," she accused, and James narrowed his eyes at her.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"That you meant it," she said. James gaped at her, "Why else wouldn't you have thought to tell me about your big secret before? You don't trust me with it. What? Did you think I'd judge? Because I'm, what was it, a compassionless shrew?"

"I already said I didn't bloody mean it, and that's not why I didn't tell you. For Merlin's sakes Lil-"

"Then why didn't you?" she challenged, wiping furiously at the remnants of her tears, "You made a bloody fool out of me, James! Every month, telling me it was fucking tradition for you all to sit together in the dormitory and watch Remus on the map. What, did you all laugh at how stupid I must have been to buy it?"

"I didn't tell you because it wasn't my secret!" he squawked, and Lily scoffed, "Of course nobody was bloody laughing at you! It wasn't about you Lily! It's Remus' secret, you know that."

"No!" she said, glaring up at him, "Remus' secret is the lycanthropy. Your being a, a, a bloody Animagus is your secret."

"All right, maybe you're right about that. But it's not just my secret. It's mine, Sirius' and Peters," he said, finally dropping her wrist to cup both of her cheeks. He looked into her eyes, pleading, "Can't you see that, love? That I couldn't have just told you?"

"No," she said, crossing her arms, "It's dangerous, not to mention against the law. Are you honestly suggesting I shouldn't report it? What if you were a Death Eater? That's illegal as well, isn't it? Why shouldn't I treat this the way I'd treat that?"

James sighed, dropping his head. He knew she had a point. Of course she had a point.

"Tell me it's the wrong thing to do, Lily," he said after a moment, opening his eyes and looking into her faltering ones, "Tell me it was a reckless, pointless decision, that it had no merit."

"James," she sighed, shaking her head, "It's not a bloody prank. It's not like breaking the rules in school. It's serious-"

"Don't you think I know that?" he cajoled, taking a step closer to her. She steadied herself, before meeting his eyes, "It's not like taking the Dark Mark, Lil. It's, it's not a black and white situation. There's no right and wrong here," he said. She continued to hold his gaze, and he took that as a positive sign, "Remus was hurting. He needed us. He needs us still. He, I mean, how else could we show him, without any doubt, that we didn't care what he was, except by being there in every way we could?" he asked.

Lily continued to look up at him, not speaking. James sighed and dropped his hands, "I don't expect you to be okay with this, I know you," he said after a moment, "and if you want to end this, I'll understand that too. I just, Merlin Lily, how can you tell me we did something bad?" he asked quietly into the silence.

Without another word, he turned away from her calculating gaze and made his way back to the door. He stopped short, hand on the knob, when she finally spoke.

"I won't report you," she murmured. He turned quickly, not ready to believe his ears. She stood skeptical, biting the inside of her cheek, her arms crossed. Releasing a tired breath, she took a few steps forwards until she was standing next to him, "Come on, let's go and read that bloody book."

"You're not angry?" he asked, his voice hopeful. She rolled her eyes.

"I'm bloody furious," she said. She met his eyes, and smiled slightly, "But I'm also charmed. As idiotic and irresponsible as it is, I have to admit it's maybe, slightly, a little brave, and frankly nothing less than I've come to expect from you," she said. James' face softened as he beamed down at her and leaned in to press his lips against hers, only to pull back, surprised, when his lips met her hand rather than her mouth.

"Still furious," she said, shaking her head as she pushed his head away from hers.

With a loving smile, James threaded his fingers more securely around hers and squeezed, "All right love, take as long as you need," he said. As he unlocked the door, he felt her place a feather light kiss on his cheek, "What was that?"

"Don't let it get to you," she said bitterly, unlocking the door, "By the way, what exactly are you?" she asked suddenly, turning to look up at him. He smiled sheepishly.

"A stag. Peter and Sirius are a rat and a dog," he added. Lily continued to look up at him, and he felt rather hot around the collar at the intensity of her stare.

"Prongs," she said after a moment, and James felt a faint blush grace his cheeks as her eyes lit up with understanding, "That's why they call you that." He nodded awkwardly, and she rolled her eyes, "hardly witty when you know what it's referring," she added.

James visibly bristled. Lily smirked, her eyes twinkling.

"Excuse me? Incredibly witty, I'll have you know. Did you ever guess what it was? No, no you didn't, you bought the rubbish Patronus story. Not to mention how intelligible and clever we had to be to pull it off, and keep it a secret for all of three bloody years. I'd like to see you master becoming an Animagus, with all the transfiguration and charm work it requires, not to mention the bloody discipline, without any instruction from-"

James' tirade was cut off as Lily pulled him down by the back of the neck and pressed a hard kiss against his lips. She pulled away with a giggle as he attempted to stay latched on for longer.

"There you are," she sighed, "I was wondering, it seemed unnatural that you wouldn't brag a little."

She threw him a wink over her shoulder and sauntered out the door, leaving him standing a gaping fool in her wake.

---

"How's Hestia?" James asked, as he strode into the kitchen, rubbing at his eyes underneath his glasses.

"You should already be dressed," Sirius snickered, as James hopped up onto the kitchen counter in his underwear and a t-shirt, "If Lily gets home and you're still like this-"

"She's coming in her Healer robes, I don't see the difference," James yawned, stretching his arms above his head, "Pass me a coffee will you, mate?"

"Make it yourself," Sirius smirked, sliding an empty mug at James as he continued to make his breakfast, "You're lucky Lily was on night shift tonight."

James snorted, "Lucky? She's been crotchety for days because of Petunia's engagement party, she'll be even worse today given she's had no sleep. I needed the bloody break," he scoffed, and Sirius sniggered.

"She really has been crotchety," he smirked, flipping his omelet. James shot him a stern look, "Don't look at me like that," he tutted, pouring himself a glass of orange juice, "I can hear you two fighting."

"She's upset," James muttered irritably.

"Justifiably," Sirius added, looking pointedly at James, who sighed and rolled his eyes.

"Yes, I mean, obviously," he grumbled, pulling at a loose thread on his boxers, "And they're just pointless squabbles really, but fuck they're exhausting," he added, and Sirius smirked.

"I'm still not making you that bloody coffee," he said with a smarmy grin, and James rolled his eyes.

"You're hardly one to talk about being crotchety as it is," he said, and Sirius snorted, turning away from him, "You didn't need to lash out at Wormtail like that."

"Shut up Prongs."

"That was fucking embarrassing last night," James added.

"He was pissing me off," Sirius said, and James sighed.

"Seems he doesn't have to do much to piss you off," James said, eyes roaming Sirius' face as the boy continued to focus on his breakfast, "This wouldn't have anything to do with Crouch's speech on Azkaban, would it?" Sirius ignored him, pulling a plate out of the cupboard above the hob. James was silent for a moment, before sighing hugely and hopping off the counter.

"Fine, I'll live without coffee," he sighed, shaking his head miserably as Sirius snorted.

"You're the laziest person I know," Sirius muttered. James shot him a wink before turning on his heel and heading out of the door.

"Stop distracting me, I have to get dressed," he called. Sirius snorted once more, flipping his omelet onto a plate. The front door opened, and he craned his neck to see a very knackered Lily enter, still dressed in her Healer robes.

"How's Moony?" he called, turning back to his breakfast, gathering the necessary utensils and heading back towards the dining area. Peter was, naturally, still asleep, and Sirius paid no attention to being quiet for his sakes.

"Sirius," Lily hissed, placing her bag down and shooting an anxious look at the still-snoozing Peter, "Keep it down, for Merlins sake."

"Merlin doesn't mind," Sirius smirked, and Lily rolled her eyes, reaching up and pulling her hair out of the bun she'd had it in. Sirius' smirk widened as her hair practically stayed in place, a red cloud on top of her head, "Think you need a shower, Evans."

"Think you need a lesson in manners, Black," Lily sniffed as she reached down to untie her trainers. Sirius barked a laugh, throwing himself down in one of the chairs and putting his feet up on the table. Turning to face him, Lily's face contorted with disgust, "Really, Sirius? You have to put your smelly feet up where we eat?"

Sirius shrugged, and Lily rolled her eyes, muttering about hygiene and a distinct lack of manners before walking past him into the kitchen. Sirius smirked to himself and took a bite of his omelet, looking up as James entered the living room, dressed in his Muggle suit, a sour expression on his face.

"What's eating you?" he garbled through his mouthful of food. James' eyes twinkled.

"No-one right now mate, but give it a few hours," he quipped, looking entirely too pleased with himself. Sirius smirked as his eyes swiveled towards the kitchen door, where Lily stood, an amused twinkle in her eyes.

"I beg your pardon," she scoffed, crossing her arms, adopting an annoyed expression. Sirius sniggered as James froze, his expression transforming into one of panic, undoubtedly expecting her to start shouting, as his eyes turned on his fiancée.

"Er, hello love, how was your shift?" he said weakly, and Lily smirked. She walked over to him and thrust a mug of coffee in his hands.

"Saw the empty mug," she said, and James beamed down at her. Sirius rolled his eyes, stuffing some more omelet into his face as James leaned down to kiss her.

"Oi!" he squawked, when the couple had yet to disconnect after the socially acceptable length of time, "I'm eating here. Take that," he gestured to their snogging faces with his knife, "somewhere else."

"Put your feet down and I'll consider it," Lily giggled, pushing James away to grin at Sirius. Sirius snorted and turned away, "and to answer your previous question, Remus is absolutely fine. His foot is still bandaged and he'll have to stay at least another day, policy reasons," she added, as the two turned to her, alarmed, "but he's well enough to annoy me."

"Then he's fine," James said, smirking as Lily smacked him in the shoulder.

"Suicidal, maybe," Sirius added, sniggering as Lily's expression turned sarcastic as she glared at him, "We all know about the legendary Mount Lily temper."

"Stop calling it that," Lily whined, as James and Sirius laughed, "I was giving you an update."

"Thanks," they said in unison, exchanging a wicked grin as Lily rolled her eyes, pushing away from James to go shower.

"Oi! You didn't tell me how dashing I looked," James pouted, and Lily turned to shoot him a grin over her shoulder as she left, "I put on this shit and that's all I get," he sniffed, and Sirius rolled his eyes, "It itches."

"You're pathetic," Sirius snorted, leaning back in the chair, arms behind his head. He let out a huge yawn. James pulled a face at him, taking a seat and sipping his coffee, "Shame about Moony, thought he'd be back by now."

James shrugged, "At least he's fine. Gets on with the bloke sharing his ward," he added, and Sirius scowled.

"I don't like him."

James snorted, "Because he said you had a feminine air."

"What a dick," Sirius agreed, and James smirked, shaking his head fondly as the other boy crossed his arms moodily. James paused as the mug was halfway to his mouth, his eyes flickering over to where Peter was lying in bed in alarm, "Figured it out have you?" Sirius said with a humorless chuckle, "don't think I've been alone in a room with him since we read that third bloody book. Your doing, I'm sure," he added with a snort.

James' eyes flickered over to Sirius, to see the boy's dark gray eyes, full of their usual bitterness, staring disdainfully at Peter's bed, "Padfoot-"

"Does this look all right?" Lily asked, entering the living room area, smoothening her hands down the pale yellow dress she was wearing, her red tresses still on top of her head in a towel, "It doesn't make me look too wide, does it?"

Sirius guffawed, pushing his dark locks out of his grey eyes as they turned on her, instantly concealing the bitterness that had coated his expression as he grinned, "Wide, love?"

"Yes, wide," Lily said, sending him an exasperated look. James' head was angled down into his coffee mug, a slight frown on his face as his calculating eyes flickered between Peter's sleeping form and Sirius' now smirking face, "You know, in the hip area," she mused, placing her palms on either hip as she examined her reflection in the glass of the window.

"Lily, you're the size of my leg," Sirius snorted, and Lily rolled her eyes, aiming a dainty kick in his direction. Sirius didn't even bother to flinch.

"Be serious, please," she ordered. A wolfish grin spread across Sirius' face and Lily groaned, dropping down onto the chair beside James, his head snapping to attention the movement, "don't do it, please," she whined, dropping her head onto her folded forearms as Sirius grinned gleefully.

He cleared his throat and pushed himself up so he was standing on his chair. He placed one foot on the table and spread his arms, "I am Sirius, love."

"I hate those bloody fucking puns," Lily grumbled, and James laughed, patting her on the shoulder as Sirius, the beaming buffoon, slid effortlessly down into his previous position; bum on chair, heels on table.

"Speaking of crotchety," Sirius smirked. Lily lifted her head to glare at him from under her towel.

"What is that, the bloody Marauder word of the day?" she demanded.

"We should start Marauder words of the day," James snickered, and Lily turned to him with a smarmy glare. He simply smirked back, "Also love, I think you'd better be getting dressed," he reminded, fingering the towel atop her head, and Lily huffed.

"I am dressed," she whined, dropping her forehead back to her forearms, and Sirius sniggered, eyes flickering back to Peter for a moment as he snorted in his sleep. James noticed Sirius' jaw tighten, and cleared his throat.

"Er, Lil? We do actually have to leave soon," he said uneasily, scratching the back of his neck. Lily raised her head to glare at him, "I mean, er, we'll be late if we don't."

"I don't even want to go."

"Then don't," Sirius shrugged, and Lily huffed, turning to him in a manner so exasperated Sirius' couldn't help but smirk.

"I can't not go," she spat, wanting very much to lean across and slap the smirk off the boy's face, "Merlin, you're annoying," she grumbled, pushing herself back up and heading towards the bedrooms as Sirius snickered under his breath.

"There's no need to insult Merlin, love," Sirius said, guffawing as she flipped him off over her shoulder, "And you do look wide!" he called after her. James heard her shriek of indignation, followed by the slamming of a door, and shook his head fondly.

"I'll be paying for that," he said, and Sirius sniggered.

"Better you than me, mate."

The two fell into an uneasy silence as James continued to watch Sirius, who pretended not to notice. Finally, Sirius huffed, turning annoyed eyes onto the black-haired boy, "What?"

"Just, I mean, do you want me to stay? Or, well-"

Sirius rolled his eyes as James continued to awkwardly shift in his seat, "Fuck off Prongs," he grumbled, turning away and tilting his chair back, so it was balancing on two legs.

James grimaced, "Padfoot, maybe-" Sirius cut him off with a loud groan, covering his face with his two hands as he continued to scream dramatically. James rolled his eyes as Sirius continued to scream and pushed himself off his chair so he was leaning over Sirius. He held his coffee mug above Sirius' face, and smirked as he waited for Sirius to inevitably stop screaming.

"What are you doing?"

James jumped, accidentally spilling coffee all over Sirius as he dropped the mug in shock. Sirius squawked and attempted to jump out of the chair, his heels clipping the end of the table and forcing the chair to fall over backwards, leading to more screaming on his part.

"What, the bloody fuck are you sodding playing at?" Sirius roared, pushing himself up to his feet and glaring at James. James, however, had doubled over with laughter after taking one look at Sirius' position, sprawled on the floor in stained clothing. The boys' hair was sodden with bitter smelling coffee, which dripped down his forehead, onto his face and off his chin onto the fabric of his t-shirt. His sodden hair was dripping the brown liquid onto the back of his shirt and down his arms, and his furious eyes were wavering as they regarded James' cackling form, his façade finally cracking as he joined in with the snickers, "You're fucking mental," he laughed, shoving at James.

"It's not, my fault," James wheezed, attempting to straighten himself as his body continued to shake with sniggers, "Wasn't going to spill. Wormtail fucking scared me," he coughed, turning his eyes to the blond boy, who was indeed awake, sitting up and watching the pair of them as if they were barmy.

"Bastard," Sirius mumbled under his breath, and James shot him a warning look as Peter continued to frown.

"What are you doing?" Peter repeated, and James shrugged, picking his now empty coffee mug off the floor just as Lily made her way into the living room, dressed and ready to go. Her green eyes flitted from James, bending over, to the coffee stains on Sirius' shirt. Sirius smirked as her eyes narrowed, swiftly turning back to James.

"Did you really think this was the best time to douse Sirius in coffee, James?" she scolded, and James rose, baffled, as he turned to look at her. Peter smirked into his lap as Sirius openly sniggered.

"I didn't do this on purpose!" James countered, placing his mug down on the table a tad more aggressively than he'd originally intended.

"James, just don't right now," Lily said, rolling her eyes as she looked at her reflection in the mirror. Sirius smirked at the back of James' head as he saw the boys' chest puff out angrily, and sat back down, crossing his arms as he prepared to enjoy the show, "I really don't have the time or patience-"

"I didn't do anything," James gritted, eyes narrowing as they zeroed in on her eye roll, "Stop being so fucking condescending."

"He's covered in coffee, have you got a better explanation?" she taunted, raising her brows and turning to face him, arms crossed. James' jaw tensed. "There's a time and there's a place, minutes before I have to go for this Merlin-damned party isn't either."

"Well maybe it's the perfect time, given you've been so bloody moody about the whole thing," James shot back. Lily turned her head towards him, her eyes narrowed.

"That's not fair James."

"And this is?" he chuckled derisively, cocking a dubious brow at her, "You jumping down my throat for no reason, like you've been doing ever since you found out about this-"

"Well what did you expect me to think?" she hissed back, gesturing towards Sirius, who shrunk back into his seat, "I come out here to see him covered in coffee and you picking up a cup which I know for a fact was full a few minutes ago. What would you have thought, hm? Given your history?"

"Given my history," James sputtered, frowning at her, "What the fuck is that supposed to mean?"

"Don't act stupid," Lily scoffed, rolling her eyes, "You lot always pulled this rubbish in Hogwarts, I don't know why I expected you to be any different-"

"Because I routinely threw coffee at my friends," James snorted. Lily huffed, picking up her bag and placing it on her shoulder, "You know Lily, you could act the least bit grateful that I'm coming with you to this bloody thing after you've been acting like a fucking child-"

"Well don't come then!" Lily exploded, turning on James, her face red and her emerald eyes gleaming, "If it's such an inconvenience to you then just stay here! Throw more coffee at Sirius for all I bloody care! Don't do me and my childish self any favours!" she cried.

"Well maybe I won't!" he yelled back, throwing his arms up in frustration, "Merlin knows you'll only be sulking at the bloody thing as it is-"

"Well if it's such a trial for you then I don't want you to come!" Lily yelled, blinking quickly as her eyes began to fill with tears. When James didn't say anything, only continued to glare at her, she sniffed, muttered a quick, "Bye guys," to Sirius and Peter, who awkwardly gestured in her direction, before she turned on the spot without so much as a glance at James.

James threw himself back into his chair with a huff, ignoring the wary glances he was getting from the other two in the room as he glared down into his lap, muttering angrily to himself. He looked back up at where she'd been standing for a few moments before letting out a big sigh. Shaking his head, he pushed himself out of the chair, ignoring Sirius' smirk, and turned on the spot.

---

The second Lily's feet touched down in the dark alley down the street from her parents' house, the safest point to apparate without being noticed, she regretted having left. Smoothening out her dress, she took a deep breath and turned out of the alleyway.

As she made the journey down the street, past the three or four houses she needed to cross, she scolded herself for her behavior. James was obviously right, she knew she'd been incredibly difficult to live with the past few days, what with constantly picking fights and lashing out at the poor boy. He didn't deserve it, Merlin knew she knew that, but ever since the day she'd found her wedding dress- something that arguably should have been accounted for the perfect day- and her older sisters' outburst, she'd been fighting a constant urge to burst into tears.

"You're an idiot," Lily murmured to herself, shaking her head as she turned onto her parents' driveway, thinking that James was probably right and she really was going to spend this entire party sulking. However now it would mostly be because he wasn't there. She took a deep breath as she raised her hand to ring the doorbell.

She couldn't bring herself to push the button.

She just couldn't.

Lily glared at her finger hovering over the doorbell of her own house, as if the offending appendage itself had started to retaliate. She was being stupid. Of course she could do this. It was only her family, for Merlin's sakes.

Press the button, she urged herself, before sighing and lowering her hand. She closed her eyes and took another deep breath, feeling the lump rising once more in her throat as the reality of the situation bore down on her.

She was going to her sisters' engagement party

To a man she didn't like, who hated her

She wasn't even invited.

Petunia didn't want her there.

That last part was what stung the most, she thought. The fact that Petunia had actively made sure that she wasn't invited, and that when it came to her parents' attention, Lily would be the one blamed. Clever bitch. Lily chuckled as Alice's eye roll and muttered indignation floated through her head.

I suppose this just means it'll probably never get better.

Those words hadn't helped either, even though she'd been the one to say them. But it had felt better when she had said them.

That's because you knew James would understand.

"Stupid brain, stop reminding me," she grumbled, lifting her head with newfound purpose. It would ring this time, she thought, glaring down at her finger.

Before she could, a hand shot out from behind her to press the button.

"Pathetic," James snorted, as the chimes of the doorbell rang inside her house. His jaw was still tense and she could see that he was still annoyed, "I saw you try before, honestly Lil if you're this reluctant to be here maybe we should-"

But what they should do Lily never found out, because at that moment she grabbed him by the front of the shirt and pulled his mouth down to hers. She could tell it had taken him by surprise, but as ever, he adapted quickly, and she felt his hand on her lower back, pressing her body closer to his, "Let's not fight," she said breathlessly, pulling away from him and gazing up into his wide eyes.

Naturally, he smirked, all traces of his previous anger having vanished from his expression, "I think it'd be more accurate if we just agree that you should stop-"

"Shut up," she chuckled, grinning as she shook her head at his antics, "I'm sorry. I just-"

"I know," James murmured, kissing her once more, a gentle press of his lips against hers, "I'm sorry too."

"Thank you," she mouthed, squeezing his hand, "And I do think you look dashing, for the record," she added, and he guffawed.

"Finally," he sniffed dramatically, reaching out the press the doorbell again despite her flapping hands and the 'stop it James someone's coming', "I've only been waiting a half hour to hear that."

"Well you haven't told me how pretty I look so you've no leg to stand on," she quipped. James snorted.

"First of all, no leg to stand on my arse, or have you forgotten the frequent attacks I've been under?" he said, and Lily flushed, "And secondly, you always look ravishing love, so forgive me for not being a complete ponce who says it every time you put something on…or take something off," he added with a wink, and Lily rolled her eyes, shoving him with her shoulder as her face turned about the same shade as her hair.

"You have an entirely one-track mind," she muttered, and he snickered.

"Well given the past few days I'd say I've earned-"

"That's enough," Lily chuckled, and he grinned, "I really am sorry, I know I'm taking it all out on you, it's just-"

She hummed in content as he kissed her again.

"Take it out on me as much as you want, love," he chuckled, "That's what I'm here for. And Merlin knows you've never held back before." His eyes glinted mischievously as he hid a smirk.

"A simple 'you're forgiven' would have sufficed," she grumbled, as the boy sniggered at her deepening blush.

"Is anyone going to answer this bloody door?" he squawked suddenly, making her jump as he reached forwards again.

"James leave it, Merlin you've no patience, someone's coming-"

"We've rung it twice, it's been five minutes Lil, no one is-"

The door opened, and James' mouth shut quickly, repositioning itself into a friendly smile as a finely dressed Andrew Evans opened the door, a curious frown on his face.

"Were you two arguing?" he asked by ways of a greeting, and Lily rolled her eyes as James smirked.

"Always, Mr. Evans," he said, reaching his hand out. Andrew let out a short laugh, shaking James' hand and turning to smile at his daughter.

"Suppose you'd better be used to that," he said, putting his arm around his daughter and pulling her into a hug, ignoring her squeak of indignation, "This one's always had the most fiery temper. Must be the hair, my mother was the same," he shrugged, and Lily rolled her eyes, pushing past her father as he and James snickered like schoolboys about redhead tempers.

Lily froze, realizing the entire bottom floor of the house was full of well-dressed guests she didn't recognize, and turned back, reaching for James' hand. His hand was warm.

"The house looks great Mr. Evans," James said, and Andrew rolled his eyes.

"Save that one for Jane," he snorted, and James laughed, "and I swear James, if you call me Mr. Evans one more time-"

"James, darling!" Jane exclaimed, appearing from nowhere, dressed in a satin pink cocktail dress that complemented her blonde hair, "How wonderful to see you," she said, happily pulling him into a hug. Lily exchanged an amused look with her father, "Oh, and Lily dear!" she said happily, letting go of James to pull her youngest into a loving embrace, "You look beautiful," she said, pulling back to beam at Lily, "And the hair? Did you do it yourself? It looks professionally done, really Lily, if you're this talented you can just do everyone's for the wedding!"

"Which one?" Andrew snorted, and Jane sent him a scolding look.

"You know where everything is, darling," she said, ignoring her husband and beaming as her eyes landed on James and Lily's connected hands, "Everyone is here, even Aunt Margaret!" she said, her smile seeming slightly forced at the mention of her estranged sister-in-law. James covered up a laugh with a cough, "and James dear, you just have to meet Vernon's side of the family, I've told them all about Lily's future husband!"

She turned at a distant call of her name, and sent a quick smile at the couple before hurrying away towards it, "She's been like this all day. It's maddening," Andrew grumbled, groaning as she turned, gesturing for him to come with her, "Careful Lil, most people here are Dursley's and Vernon's friends, so watch your mouth."

He sent her a stern look before making to follow after his wife. Lily gaped after him, affronted, as James sniggered freely, watching as Andrew trudged over to his overexcited wife.

"Really Lily, that mouth," James tutted, and Lily shook her head fondly, fighting off a smile as she led him into the mass of humans in front of her.

---

Remus smirked, looking up from the Daily Prophet as Bernard let off a loud groan. He cocked an eyebrow at the boy, earning another groan in response.

"I'm sick of sitting here," Bernard said tersely, crossing his arms as he glared at the doorway. Remus chuckled and shook his head amusedly, looking back down at the newspaper, "You know their rule to keep us in here this long is absolutely bogus, we heal significantly faster than normal people."

"Three times faster," Remus put in, smirking as Bernard rolled his eyes.

"You'll get killed if you keep correcting people," he said, flicking an invisible lint on his blanket before sighing once more, turning his head to look at Remus, whose eyes were still scanning the Prophet, "what are you reading anyway, that's so interesting?"

"Nothing," Remus sighed, folding the paper and grimacing, "This thing is useless now," he said, nodding at the paper. Bernard snorted, "I swear not a single piece of actual news gets printed in it."

"That's the best part, mate," Bernard snickered, reaching for his wand on the bedside table, "Accio Prophet!"

"Oi!" Remus squawked, attempting to grab the paper. Bernard reached out and seized the paper as it came flying towards him. Ignoring Remus' glare, he cleared his throat and opened the paper.

"Let's see, well, this one looks interesting," he snorted, eyes widening with mirth as they took in the headline, "'Celestina Warbeck is the latest star to promote Sleekeezy's'," Bernard sniggered, "Their standards really have fallen, callin' her a star," he grinned at Remus, who rolled his eyes, "This is proper entertainment mate, don't know what you're sulking about," he added, turning the page and clearing his throat, "Knockturn Alley store closed down for dark object possession'."

"What?" Remus scoffed, cocking an eyebrow at Bernard, "It doesn't say that. It can't actually say that," Remus groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose.

At this, Bernard burst out laughing, head falling back so his crown rested against the wall, paper folded in his lap. Remus shook his head, fighting a smile as the other boy continued to lose it, "That is by far, the best headline I've ever read," Bernard wheezed, smirking at Remus.

"You've a rotten sense of humour," Remus snorted. Bernard grinned.

"Thanks," he said, turning the page of The Prophet, "You going to be here next month, mate?" he asked nonchalantly, and Remus rolled his eyes.

"What do you think?"

"Good," Bernard said, turning the page once more, "We'll have so much to talk about."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Remus asked, cocking a brow. Bernard smiled enigmatically.

"Ha! Look at this one, 'Gladrags clothing store recruits half-vampire as model'," he sniggered, "There's a first for half breed employment, eh? It'll be our turn next."

---

Sirius walked out of what felt like his hundredth detention to find Remus standing outside the door to the dungeons, waiting to receive him.

"This is a pleasant surprise," Sirius said, and Remus rolled his eyes, pushing himself off the wall and taking a step closer to Sirius. Sirius knew what was coming, he could sense it in Remus' body language, and cleared his throat, bracing himself, "Fancy a stroll in the grounds too? Something a mite more romantic?"

"Listen," Remus said, ignoring Sirius' nonsense as only Remus could, "I know what Prongs said," he said, and Sirius stiffened, his jaw tightening as Remus met his gaze. Sirius was surprised to see the open hostility in his expression, and he faltered slightly. He'd never expected to end up on Remus' bad side, "He and Lily don't' believe what the book says, and Wormtail was naturally happy to follow their lead," he added with an eye roll.

When he didn't continue, Sirius cut in, "you think they're wrong," he stated, and Remus sighed.

"I hope they're right," he said, meeting Sirius' eye once more, "I think they're right, but I wanted to make this clear," he said. Sirius nodded for him to go on, and Remus' gaze hardened, "If you do anything to betray their trust, and I'm not saying you will, I won't be there to stand by you," he said.

Sirius blinked, slightly taken aback, before letting his face fall into a grateful grin. Remus cocked a brow at him, "Thank you."

---

It wasn't until Petunia saw them there that James realized attending the party had been an exceptionally brilliant idea. The blondes expression was the purest expression of shock he'd ever seen, it was almost worth all the fighting of the past couple days

Lily noticed the smirk growing on James's face and elbowed him in the side, "James."

"But look at her Lily," he sniggered, leaning his head down to whisper in her ear, "she looks absolutely appalled that you had the nerve to show your face!" He sounded almost giddy at the thought.

"And you said coming wasn't a good idea," she whispered back. James was unable to hold in a guffaw, earning him irritated expressions from one of the Dursleys.

"If I'd have known we'd be here, surrounded by these people," he whispered, after directing a pointed sneer at the offending Dursley, "back when we read that first bloody book…"

"Thanks, I'm flattered," Lily deadpanned. He smirked down at her, "always a pleasure to know your fiancé wouldn't have dated you because of who your bloody sister chose to marry."

"As long as we're clear," he hummed, grabbing two chutes of champagne off the tray of a passing waiter, "I'm pleasantly surprised by how roomy this event is. I'd imagined bodies mushed together"

Lily snorted, "where did you think we were going?"

"Oi," he snickered, handing her one of the glasses, "just meant because of how large the groom to be is."

James grinned as Lily choked on the champagne. He looked around, amused, eying the Muggle clothes with an air of superiority. He snorted as he noticed a woman wearing a large pink hat.

"What now?" Lily sighed exasperatedly, and James nodded towards the lady. Lily rolled her eyes, fighting a smile, "That's rude James."

"What's rude is her choice of headgear," he quipped. Lily shook her head fondly, grabbing onto his hand, smiling as she began to maneuver them towards the canapé table, "If I'd have known I'd be so offended at this gathering I'd have adjusted my own outfit accordingly."

"I'm sure," she deadpanned, reaching out to pop a cocktail sausage in her mouth, "This is really good," she added, handing him one, "Besides, just what do you own that would be as offensive as that hat?" she asked, cocking a suspicious brow at him. James winked, popping the sausage in his mouth. Lily rolled her eyes, "of course you'd suggest coming in the nude."

"I said no such thing," he smirked, tugging at his tie. Lily slapped at his hand, and he dropped it with a scowl, "You're the one obsessed with me in the nude."

"When have I ever said that?" Lily squealed, giggling as he scowled at another large hat in the room.

"I mean, why are they even wearing those?" he said after a moment's silence. Lily giggled, "We're indoors."

"It's fashion, James," she said airily, waving her hand nonchalantly.

"You're not wearing one of those to our wedding, are you?"

"No," she scoffed, and James let out a sigh of relief, "Why? Would you refuse to marry me?"

"You bet, I mean, look at that one," James scoffed, sneering at the back of another hat-adorned head. Lily knocked him with her elbow.

"You'd better behave," she warned, looking around the room to make sure no-one had seen James' behavior, "Besides, I think Mum's going to try and throw one of these for us, so you'll see your fair share of ugly hats," she grimaced. James' jaw dropped.

"What? Why?" he squawked, looking completely bewildered by the very suggestion that he should be made to tolerate such an event. Lily took one look at him and giggled, grasping his tie and pulling him towards her, "Evans, please, remember what I said about obsessed-"

Lily pulled his head down to hers, her lips meeting his smirking ones, effectively cutting off his useless tirade.

"Now, Evans, if you're not careful I'll drag you to your room," he murmured against her lips.

"Lily," a voice hissed, and Lily jumped away from James, face red as her hair, as she turned to face her stern mother, "If you could please behave yourself, we have company," she nodded towards the rest of the room, none of whom seemed to have noticed the embracing couple, a manic look in her eyes.

"They're not the voyeuristic sort like you apparently are, Mum," she said, grinning cheekily at her mother as she released James' tie. James bit the inside of his cheek to stop himself from grinning.

Jane pinched the bridge of her nose, making a visible attempt to refrain from yelling, before turning a stern eye on her youngest, "Have you come and said hello to your sister yet?" Jane asked. James squeezed Lily's waist as the redhead stiffened, her chin tilting up defiantly, "It is her engagement party Lily, what will people say?" she scolded. Lily opened her mouth (James, having no doubt that she was going to tell her mother exactly what she thought of this suggestion, winced) but before she could say a word, Jane placed a comforting hand on her cheek, "I know, do it for me," she added with a soft smile, before turning and heading away from them. Lily bit her lip, looking up at James, who shrugged.

"Unfortunately visiting with your sister may be unavoidable," he said, and Lily groaned, before allowing James to tow her in Petunia's direction, "Don't worry love, we can tour the other hats."

"Oh shut up, James," Lily said, fighting off a laugh as James gestured towards a large purple one closer to the bride, "Besides, that one's probably my favourite of the lot," she added. James snorted, and Lily grinned, "It goes shockingly well with my wedding dress, actually."

"Not on your life," James chuckled, throwing his arm around her shoulders and pressing a kiss to her temple as he guided her towards her sister.

---

For the second time, Lily dropped the book the pages had burned her. It seemed James had been right. Sirius would never have betrayed them.

She just hadn't expected that someone else in the room would.

Her eyes flew to James, to find he was already looking at her, his face frozen, his jaw clenched tight. She opened her mouth to find something to say, before shaking her head, turning to look at the others.

She saw Remus first. His expression was one of utmost disgust. At some point during the scene Lily had read in the Shrieking Shack, Remus had placed his hand on Sirius' back; an apology and forgiveness, encompassed in one gesture. It was the first time she'd seen Remus make contact with Sirius in days; he hadn't even done so much as shove him. Remus' eyes met Lily's for a split second, before he warily turned to regard Sirius, who was trembling as he looked down at the floor. Lily could see the muscles in his back were tight from the way he was leaned forwards, his elbows resting on his knees as he stared at the carpet.

Peter simply looked…confused. There was no other word for it, she felt. He was gaping down at the book, his mouth opening and closing like a fish as if searching for something to day, some justification, but unable to find any. The book was almost over, there was little room for redemption; and he knew it.

Before anyone could say a word, Sirius made a noise that caught her attention. She didn't think the others had noticed, lost as they were in their own emotions; James had surpassed anger and now looked ill, Remus seemed to be searching for some sort of rationalization or piece of comfort, and Peter was still lost in his own despair. Listening closely, Lily thought it resembled a snarl. A threatening, dangerous sound that an animal would make before it attacked.

She was on her feet a split second before Sirius pounced. He let out a hoarse roar, a noise of the blackest anguish, as his gray eyes, so full of betrayal that Lily felt her breath catch, pierced into the blond boy who now sat frightened on the floor; the perfect prey.

Lily hurried to place herself between Sirius and Peter before Sirius could hurt the latter. Placing her small hands on his chest, she began to push him backwards, towards to the exit of the Heads dormitory. To his credit, Sirius allowed himself to be steered as he screamed profanity at the blond boy.

The last thing Lily saw as she exited the room was Peter crumble in on himself, burying his face in his knees and succumbing to agonized sobs as Remus and James turned away from him.

---

It was late evening by the time Sirius got back to his flat. Hestia, having heard of Sirius' spat with Peter when he'd gone to see her the night before, had invited him to spend the day at her place. She had received a pay rise the previous week for agreeing to take on the article of Voldemort (a topic she and Sirius resolutely avoided discussing), and had decided to redecorate her flat. What Sirius had thought to be an incredibly sweet and selfless act by his girlfriend, in reality turned out to be a clear case of being taken advantage of, as Hestia spent the day instructing Sirius on where to place various items of furniture. When he'd finished setting that up, she'd coerced his help in painting her walls. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Sirius had flickered some paint in her direction. Safe to say, they'd never finished painting the walls.

Nevertheless, Sirius found himself in a rather upbeat mood as he got home, shutting the door behind him and turning towards the living room with a smile on his face. It was five in the evening now, a half hour after Lily and James were due to return.

Sirius' face fell as he saw only Peter, seated in his twin bed with the same book in his lap, was there to receive him. Peter looked up at Sirius and attempted to give him a timid smile, but the expression turned out more a pained stretch of his face. Sirius resisted the urge to gnash his teeth.

"Where's Prongs?" he asked sharply.

"They're not back yet," Peter answered, sounding apologetic. Sirius scoffed, his good mood vanishing as he realized he was alone in the flat with Peter. A first. As far as he could remember, the last time he'd been alone with Peter was the day they'd found the third Harry Potter book; approximately a year ago.

Peter placed his book down on the bed, and cleared his throat. Sirius narrowed his eyes, "Listen, Sirius, I, um, I, I'd just like to talk to you about-"

"No," Sirius growled, toeing off his shoes and picking them up in one hand, storming towards the bedrooms. Peter pushed himself off his cot and hurried after Sirius, keeping a careful distance between them.

"I know you're not thrilled with me, I don't blame you at all, if it was me I'd be ex-exactly the same," Peter tittered after Sirius, following him into his bedroom. Sirius threw his shoes in the direction of the cupboard. Peter winced as they hit the wood with two loud bangs, "We have to talk about this though or-"

"Or what?" Sirius scoffed, glaring at Peter, "Talk about what?"

Peter took a deep breath, "I, er, I mean, listen I can't, I can't change what we heard in those books."

Sirius froze, and Peters eyes widened as he realized what he'd said, "No! No! I didn't mean that!" he squeaked, taking a few panicked steps backwards away from the glowering boy, "I just meant I can't change what happened last year, or all of this year as well, I suppose, I, er, I was just as shocked as you were to hear it, mate-"

"Don't call me that," Sirius snarled, and Peter gulped, shaking his head as Sirius stormed out of his own bedroom and back towards the living room. Taking a determined breath, Peter hurried after him.

"That's fair Sirius, it is, I just," Peter cleared his throat again, stopping as turned to glare at him. The two now stood in the middle of the living room, on either side of Remus' bed, "I wanted to apologize, to move past it."

Sirius paused, holding Peter's wavering gaze with his own hard one. Peter looked away, down at the floor.

"I'm sorry, but I can't change what we heard. I'd never do that to you-"

"But you did," Sirius snapped, "And you would have if fucking fate hadn't interfered and we hadn't found those Merlin damned books. And that's the reality."

Peter shook his head frantically, and Sirius' gaze turned harsher, "It's not reality, it's not how it is. Everything is different-"

"Everything is different now," Sirius said harshly.

"Well now is what we have to focus on, isn't it?" Peter squeaked hopefully, "I mean, all that with you in Azkaban isn't reality, Sirius, you have to face facts and try to move on, if not forgive-"

Sirius fist hit Peter's jaw with such force that it knocked the blond boy over. He fell backwards onto his bed, and slid down to the floor, clutching at his wounded cheek, as he looked up at Sirius, terrified. Sirius stood over him, his breath heaving as he glared down at Peter, his fist still raised, his body angled to the side from the swing.

"I'll never forgive you," Sirius hissed. One look into his eyes and Peter knew Sirius had meant what he'd said. Their friendship was over, and it was time for Peter to accept that and move on.

"I forgave, when it was you," Peter murmured, meeting Sirius' stormy eyes with his watery blue ones. Sirius' eyes flashed. With one last remorseful look up at the boy he considered to be one of his best friends, Peter turned on the spot and disappeared.

---

Sorry, this is very long overdue, as is becoming the norm with this story, it seems. I've given you a mammoth chapter (with flashbacks!) to make up for it though, so I hope there won't be any hard feelings!

I'm not going to make any more promises about how I'll be speedy etc etc, but I promise I'll keep writing and updating this story. I hope you'll be there to keep reading when I do!

Happy New Year to everyone out there! I hope your 2018's are the best year yet.

t.t xx