Disclaimer: I do NOT own the Harry Potter series. That credit goes to the brilliant mind of J.K. Rowling. Go Jo! I also do not own some of the material used. Again that belongs to Jo and Warner Brothers.
Chapter 25 Shift in Attitude
September 25, 1977
Sirius, James, and Remus had noticed Peter was acting a bit off lately.
"What's up with Wormtail?" Sirius asked.
"I think the whole idea of there being a war is starting to get to him," James said.
Lord Voldemort was becoming more and more of a treat. Many people and been killed or were now in hiding.
"I feel bad for him sometimes," Remus admitted.
"Yeah, I know what you mean," James said.
They had no idea where Peter was at the moment.
"So, James, how does it feel to be Head Boy?" Remus asked, trying to lighten the mood.
"Great, but I don't understand why Dumbledore chose me," he said. He thought for sure Remus would get it. "I wasn't a Prefect. It should have been you."
Then something came to Sirius. "Remus, did you…"
"What?" he asked definitively.
James's eyes grew when he realized what Sirius was trying to get at.
"Did you tell Dumbledore to give it to James?" Sirius asked.
'No! I'm just as shocked as you are," Remus said.
"Remus?" James asked.
Remus sighed. James's voice told him that would not be mad if he had told Dumbledore.
"Of course, I didn't. Though I will admit if Dumbledore would have wanted to make me Head Boy, I would have turned him down," Remus said.
"Why?" James asked.
"I just don't think I'd be the best person for the job," Remus admitted sheepishly.
Sirius laughed and threw an arm around Remus.
"Of course, you would be," he said.
xxx
September 28, 1977
Neither Sirius nor Regulus had really spoken to each other since Sirius had run away.
"Reg," Sirius gasped.
In that moment, he realized how long it had been. A year seemed to have gone by so fast.
"Sirius…" Regulus began.
"How are you?" he asked.
"I'm all right," Regulus replied.
He then twitched a little and pulled on his left sleeve.
"What was that for?" Sirius asked.
"Nothing," Regulus replied.
"I might not live with you anymore, but you're still by brother. I know when something's bothering you," Sirius said.
Regulus step back as Sirius tried to step closer to him.
"I said it's nothing," he snapped, causing Sirius to stop.
"Reg…" Sirius began in shock.
"Leave me be," Regulus yelled.
James watched as Regulus stormed off.
"What was that about?" James asked as he walked to Sirius.
"I don't know, but I'm going to find out," Sirius said.
xxx
September 29, 1977
James had not seen Sirius since then until now. He figured he had been following Regulus around until he retired to the Slytherin dorms.
"Have you found anything out yet?" James asked.
He and Lily were not going to let Sirius leave the Great Hall until they got answers.
"No," Sirius said.
"What are you trying to find, Sirius?" Lily asked.
"My brother acted off yesterday," he said.
"You don't suppose he…" James began to say, but Lily covered his mouth because he was being loud.
"Well, we know he wants to join You-Know-Who," Sirius said.
"Sirius, what if he already has?" James asked.
It was at this time all three of them spotted the boy in question. Sirius went running after Regulus.
"Sirius," Regulus gasped as his brother tugged him out of the Great Hall.
"Show me," he demanded.
"Sirius, have you gone mental?" Regulus asked in shock.
"I think it's you that has gone mental if you have that damn mark on your arm. Now show me," he said.
Sirius took hold of his brother's left arm.
"Please, Sirius, just let go," Regulus begged.
James and Lily were at the entrance of the Great Hall watching.
"Regulus, as your brother, please prove me wrong," Sirius said, loosening his grip.
"I'm sorry," he breathed.
Making sure no one else was watching, Regulus lifted up his left arm and exposed his forearm, which was tattooed with a skull with a snake coming out of its mouth.
"Mum and Dad must be so proud," Sirius said.
Lily and James had not seen what Regulus showed Sirius, but they knew by the look of Sirius's face.
xxx
October 3, 1977
Professor Dumbledore smiled brightly when he spotted James and Lily.
"There's my Head Boy and Girl," he said.
"Hi, Professor Dumbledore," James and Lily replied.
"I wish to have a word within my office," he said.
When they walked into Dumbledore's office, Remus, Sirius, and Peter were already there.
"What's this all about?" James asked.
"You are all of age now and free to make your own decisions. I was wondering if you all would join the Order," Dumbledore said.
Their eyes grew.
"The Order of the Phoenix?" Remus asked.
He wanted to make sure he was not hearing things.
"Naturally," Dumbledore said brightly.
"Of course we're in," Sirius replied.
James than began shaking his head. For a moment, the others thought he was backing out.
"No, not Lily," James said.
Lily turned to him with a crossed look.
"I beg your pardon?" she asked.
"I'm not going to have you risking your life," James said.
Lily opened her mouth, but she did not say anything.
"Mr. Potter, I believe that's for Miss Evans to decide," Dumbledore said.
Lily bit her lip as she took James in her arms.
"Thank you, James, but I can take care of myself," she said.
xxx
October 14, 1977
James and Lily were walking down the corridor after lunch.
"I still don't like this," James said.
Lily rolled her eyes. James had made this comment every day since they had joined the Order.
"Of course you don't," Lily said, and then she gave a little laugh. "You'd rather have me at home with a baby."
"Lily…" James began, and then he realized what she had said. "What?"
Severus was around the corner in shock. He slid down the wall.
"That should be me," Severus muttered under his breath.
He lifted his left arm, pulled back his sleeve, and looked down at his Dark Mark.
AN:
I thought I told you all to tell me never to take summer classes again! Sorry for the late update, but I have been taking summer classes and it has been real time consuming. Check back with you all after Orlando. Going to the Harry Potter theme park finally!