This chapter really doesn't further the plot in the slightest. I just had lots of nonsense ideas ... –N

Since Lily was no longer speaking with Severus – something James had noticed almost right away – she sat with him, Remus, and Sirius in potions, where they were currently brewing Amortentia. Things had been politely strained between them since the end of fifth year, but Sirius insisted they sit next to each other. "So I can sit next to Moony," he said with a wink to James.

"Ten minutes left," Slughorn called, but the Gryffindors were already done. James sighed and leaned back taking a deep breath.

"You good, Prongs?" Sirius asked, but his eyes were a bit unfocused and his grin a bit lazy.

"Very," he said. "What are you smelling?"

"Uh, the forest I think," he said. "Butterbeer. Chocolate and cigarettes."

"So Remus," Lily said. "You're smelling Remus."

James laughed and Remus grinned. "Sirius smokes more than I do."

"A lie," Sirius said, kissing Remus swiftly on the cheek. "What about you, Love?"

"Uh, ginger," he said. "Lavender. Leather and soap."

"Sirius," Lily and James said together.

"Well, since no one asked," James continued, "I smell parchment and the ocean and – er – that's it." He could see the other boys stifle grins through the pale gold steam. He also caught a faint whiff of vanilla – Lily's perfume – but he didn't want to embarrass her if he could help it.

"No vegetables, then?" Sirius teased.

James rolled his eyes. He'd become a vegetarian earlier that year, something Remus attributed to his animagus form and Sirius attributed to him being a weirdo.

"What about you, Evans?" Sirius asked.

Lily shook her head. "Ask no questions and I'll tell no lies."

"Oh, c'mon," Sirius whined. "Even Remus shared."

"It's true," Remus said. "Sirius must've drugged me."

Sirius swatted his arm as Lily said, "Still."

"Time's up," Slughorn called, and he wandered over to the Gryffindor table first, awarding them 30 points when he saw their – well, mostly Lily's – work.

XXX

The boys met up with Peter for their break spent in the corridor outside the Room of Requirement. They'd been debating starting Sprout's Herbology assignment and whether or not to go to the party Ursula Myers – a fourth-year new to the Quidditch team – and some of her friends were throwing this weekend.

"Can't," Remus said. "The moon."

"Re, it's like half a month from now," James said.

Remus shrugged. "Can't help it if I can't be social."

Sirius laughed reached for his bag, then froze. Peter looked up and saw a group of Slytherins heading their way, including Regulus Black.

"You going to move?" Evan Rosier asked, kicking his foot in Remus' direction when they got close enough.

Sirius made to stand up, but Remus pulled him back down. "Wasn't planning on it," Remus said.

The Slytherins just laughed. Thorfinn Rowle pulled out his wand. "What if we make you?"

James stood then, his own wand pointed at Rowle. "Threaten him again. I dare you."

Four of the other boys – half a dozen in all – moved to stand behind Rowle. Regulus stood a bit off to the side, looking at the floor. Remus was still holding fast to Sirius' arm, frowning.

"You gonna join them, Pettigrew?" one of the other boys said, a seventh-year Peter didn't know.

"Back off," Sirius said, his teeth bared in a way that reminded Peter of Sirius' animagus form.

"Defending your friend?" Rosier asked. "Fucking useless. I'll never get why you let him hang around." Rowle rolled his eyes in Peter's direction and smirked.

Remus had his wand out now, and stood so that he was blocking Peter. It took Sirius a second to realize he was free of Remus' grip, but once he did, he also sprang forward.

"C'mon, guys, they're not worth it." Regulus had spoken up, taking a step closer to the others.

The seventh-year Slytherin spoke: "I'm not busy."

"Really," Regulus said, eyeing Sirius' wand. "Let's go."

"Ugh, Reg, you spoil everything," a fellow fifth-year whined.

Rowle narrowed his eyes. "You're getting off this time because Reg has a soft spot for this one," he said, nodding at Sirius. "Next time, you won't be so lucky."

The Slytherin gang turned and stalked off the way they'd come.

XXX

For a while after their confrontation with Regulus, Sirius sulked. He was short with the girls and snapped at Peter a few times. He wouldn't talk to any of them about it. It wasn't until Remus announced that the Marauder's Map had been completed that James saw Sirius smile for the first time in weeks.

"Bloody brilliant, Moony," Sirius said, leaning over Remus to study the map as Hogwarts unfolded on the page.

"Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs," James muttered. "Why am I last?"

"Because remember Padfoot's birthday?" Peter said, coming to join them. "You got drunk and bet Remus first place on the map that you could get your antlers in and out of the moving staircase without any help."

Sirius snorted. "Yeah, and lost spectacularly."

"Oh, yeah," James said. "Well, I still don't need to be last."

"Yeah, well, Peter annoys me the least," Remus said. "And, you know, Pads is the love of my life, so he comes next."

Sirius grinned and James rolled his eyes. "Honestly, at this rate I'm lucky I'm even on the map," he said.

"We'll try it out tonight?" Sirius said, and Remus nodded. "Hogsmede, here we come."