A/N: hi everyone! sorry, i thought i would be updating sooner than this! the last few weeks have been the craziest ever... gigs, my 16th birthday, first boyfriend, first kiss, work, reading, seeing friends and all the rest of it, gosh. i got a new camera so have been going all photographer mad, and i also had a patch where i was really uninspired writing-wise, i dont know why. its been crazy. but hey, i'm back now anyway, and its summer! (no one told the english weather that though...) hope everyones gooood, im sure a lot of you are on summer break too now, if not, its probably not too long now for you :) i'm planning my own little harry potter marathon this summer... i want to try and watch as many of the films in a row as i can manage! i dont know if any of my friends will join me though, none of them love hp like i do :(

anyway, enjoy the chapter!

Disclaimer: I own zilch~


Chapter Fifty Three

"I worry about you so much…" Reg whispered, leaning over my shoulder, his lips tickling my cheek.

"I'm fine. Not even a scratch." I replied, turning round to face him. Sirius had been out of hospital just hours and had already gone off to find James. Not that I minded however, I was forever waiting for opportunities to visit Reg, however brief the visits might be. Apart from that, there was still important matters Sirius and James needed to discus regarding the Potters' hiding…

I'd explained to Regulus what had happened the other night, the fighting, Voldemort's appearance and all the deaths, after I let slip that I'd spent the night at St Mungo's.

"I know… but what about next time…?" he worried. I leant my head on his chest and put my arms around his waist.

"Stop worrying." I said, almost smiling. He didn't say anything else, but his bottom lip stuck out defiantly. I reassured him, but of course it couldn't be easy for him stuck here alone while I was doing goodness knows what and getting into trouble left right and centre.

"Since I'm with you… I suppose I could put this on…" I said, changing the subject and pulling my wand from my pocket to remove the Invisibility charm I'd placed on the chain around my neck.

Regulus' hands moved to the back of my neck, unclipping the now visible chain and letting the ring slide off and fall into his palm.

"May I?" he smiled, his worry melting from his face.

"Go ahead." I put out my left hand and let him slip the ring onto my finger.

"Perfect." He commented, placing a light kiss on the back of my hand. We both admired the beautiful ring for a few moments. Not long and I would be able to wear this every day and never have to hide it again.

"Reg… do you remember that locket you gave me?" I asked, the feeling of his fingers clasping a chain round my neck stirring old memories.

"Mm, yeah." He answered, still looking down at the beautiful ring and now our entwined fingers.

"I lost it… that day in the Hospital Wing… I looked for it for days, but I never found it. I'm sorry. I never got a chance to tell you… I felt awful about it though." I admitted looking down at the ring too, not wanting to catch his eye. He didn't say anything for a few long moments.

"Err…" he mumbled. I looked up eventually and was surprised to see he had the same expression of guilt as I must've done.

"What is it?" I asked softly, feeling more than a little confused.

"I took it… that day when I left you…" he said. I stayed quiet as he continued.

"I needed something – a part of you and of us – that I could take with me. It was spur of the moment really… I just grabbed it from the table next to your bed before I left. I wore it everyday after that…"

"Oh…" I said. I wasn't sure what to say. I certainly didn't feel guilty anymore, but I was still a little confused. "I haven't seen you wear it?"

"I don't have it anymore." He said quietly, looking away.

"What? Why?"

"It doesn't matter anyway. I'll get you another one." He said briskly with a smile, stepping backwards.

"Reg…?" I held his wrist as he tried to walk away. He stood still for a second, looking at the floor before he turned to face me again.

"I… when I left the Death Eaters there was a few things I did that I hoped might weaken Voldemort…" Reg began, then finished shortly. "I lost it then."

"Okay… never mind." I said, then shrugged. "This ring is a lot better anyway." I added, and he cracked a small smile.

"Damn right it is." he moved close to me once again and placed a sweet kiss on my lips.


SIRIUS' POV

The Potter's cottage was in an uproar. Boxes and bags were hurriedly being filled with their possessions. Alice was in the kitchen, shoving tins and jars into an empty laundry basket while Remus Apparated backwards and forwards with armfuls of boxes he was depositing at the new house.

Peter was in the living room ferrying the sofas and large furniture, which did seem like a job slightly too big for the little guy, but he insisted on helping. Lily was in the next room packing Harry's stuff more quietly than the rest of us while he slept soundly in his cot, and James and I were piling the last of their clothes into sacks and bags.

"Dumbledore wasn't lying when he said he'd sort you somewhere fast." I commented, nodding my head towards the last drawer I hadn't emptied – Lily's underwear drawer. No way was I going there. James rolled across the bed and took over.

"I know. It's a nice place too apparently. Lily went down there to check it out, but I haven't seen it yet. Nice little cottage in Godric's Hollow." James said, and I moved another full bag to the door, ready to be transported.

"That's good. Us lot'll be over to visit you just as much as ever."

"Please do! Someone will have to bring us news of the outside world, since we're not allowed out and about." James frowned, shutting the last drawer and closing the wardrobe.

"Course we will mate."

"You won't get rid of us, Sirius especially." Remus appeared at the bedroom door with a smirk on his face.

"Lucky us." James grinned.

"We're done downstairs anyway. Just these rooms up here to do. How's in here going?" Remus asked. Peter loitered in the doorway just behind him.

"Almost finished. All that lot is ready to go." I said, nodding towards the pile of bags and boxes at the foot of the bed.

"Cheers guys." James added as Peter and Remus grabbed onto as many things as they could and prepared to Disapparate.

"S'alright." We heard from Peter's direction before they both disappeared with a crack.

"Shall we give them a hand? It's about time you saw your new house anyway." I grinned. James nodded and we both Disapparated.

We appeared outside a stone cottage with a rickety gate and a narrow garden path. The front door was open as Remus and Peter heaved their armfuls of stuff into the house.

"Well it's… quaint." James commented, pushing open the gate and heading inside.

"It's bigger than your other house." I said, "And it's got a nice garden…"

"It'll do I suppose." James shrugged, stepping through the front door and peering around. Despite him and Lily not being there, the house was buzzing. Frank was carrying one end of the sofa into what must be the living room, and through a door Alice could be seen unpacking the baskets of jars and tins into cupboards. Remus and Peter's heavy footsteps could be heard heading up the stairs.

"Honey I'm home!" James called out to no one in particular. I looked at him strangely.

"Just practicing. I think this house'll do fine." He nodded approvingly, looking around.

"Right…" I said, not sure whether to laugh at him or not.

"Let's check out upstairs…" James said, bounding up the stairs two at a time. I followed after him into the first bedroom where Peter and Remus were setting down all the boxes and bags.

"Two bedrooms, this is the master bedroom, so yours." Remus said. James nodded and went to lean against the windowsill.

"Nice views too…" Peter added. James nodded again, not saying anything.

"It is a nice house, yeah. I need to thank Dumbledore for this. I'm grateful of course, I just wish that this wasn't necessary… why does Voldemort have to pick on my son?"

"Who knows." I sighed. We all stood there for a few moments in silence, pondering over the gravity of the Potter's situation.

"Let's get back, Lily will go mental if she thinks I'm slacking off." James said, stepping over a few bags and slapping Remus on the back as he passed.

"Oh. One more thing." James paused at the door. All three of us looked at him.

"I had a thought. Secret Keeper-wise… is Sirius – sorry mate – is Sirius the best idea? I mean everyone knows he's my best friend, isn't it obvious?" he said, keeping his voice low.

"James is right." Remus said slowly, looking at me.

"Oh fine then." I pulled a face.

"Er, I'll do it. No one will suspect me, will they." Peter piped up. We all turned to Peter this time.

"Eurgh, fine, let Wormy do it. He's probably right." I shrugged, leaning against the wall. Remus chucked a bag of clothes at my head.

"Shut up, Pads. Peter's actually on to something here." He said.

"Fine."

"Would you do that Pete?" James asked seriously.

"Of course I would." He nodded fervently.

"Okay… good. Well I suppose I have my Secret Keeper. We'll have to let Dumbledore know, he needs to cast the spell as soon as possible."

"Dumbledore said he'll be here this afternoon." Remus told him.

"Right. Great." James nodded, looking around at the three of us. Four best friends, the Marauders, still watching each other's backs after all these years.


A/N: starting to tie up loose ends and prepare for the end now...dun dun dunnnnn...

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