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Word Count: 1147

there are worse legacies to have

They stumbled, pushing and shoving each other across the grounds to their favourite tree. Sirius was the first to slump down to the ground, his robes splayed around him elegantly despite the lack of grace in the movement.

He was always effortless. People tended to love him and hate him equally for that, but nobody could ever try and deny it.

James joined him, less elegant and yet no less attractive as he lay down on the grass, his elbows propping him up. Remus curled down onto the ground with his legs crossed in front of him, his back to the bark as he sat more in the shade than his friends.

Peter was the last to sit, and he dropped to his knees and then fell to the side, legs bent beneath him.

"I've been thinking—"

"Oh no."

"Oi!" Sirius scowled at Remus. "What's that supposed to mean."

"We're graduating tomorrow," Remus replied. "And you're trying to get us in detention before we leave."

James laughed. "Come on, Moony, one more detention could be fun. Though Lily would kill me, so actually—"

"You're so whipped," Sirius said, rolling his eyes. "And actually, Remus, I wasn't thinking about getting us detention, but I am now!"

"Uh huh," Remus replied, unimpressed.

"I was thinking," Sirius began again huffily, "that you should come live with me. You too, Peter."

"What am I, pickled flobberworm?" James asked, affronted.

"You're staying with mum and dad while you fix up the Hollow Cottage," Sirius replied. "And since my place is literally a few streets away, I figured it was a way for us all to be close still."

"Oh." James paused for a minute and then grinned. "Acceptable. Continue."

"Thanks ever so much for the permission," Sirius replied wryly, shaking his head. "So, what do you guys think?"

"I can't," Peter muttered, picking at the grass. "I'd love to, but my mum… she needs me at home as much as I can be."

"We get it, Pete," Remus said, reaching out to squeeze his shoulder. "And hey, we can all Apparate, so it's not like you'll never see us, right?"

Peter nodded, cheering slightly at the thought.

Remus turned to Sirius and twisted his lips, hesitant. "Are you sure?"

"If you mention your furry little problem, I'm gonna hit you," Sirius said, glaring. "When have I ever cared about that?"

"It's different—"

"It's really not," James said, shaking his head. "It's better that we're there anyway, right? We can help with being cautious and—"

Remus and Peter both let out shouts of laughter.

"Neither of you have ever met caution that you didn't immediately throw to the wind," Remus said when he calmed down, pointing at Sirius and James with a grin.

"I feel very unappreciated right now," Sirius huffed, shifting over to rest his head in James' lap. "Very unloved."

"Me too," James agreed, pouting ridiculously. "It's like they think we're idiots or something, Padfoot. Like we're morons!"

"Morons!" Sirius agreed sulkily. "Like we'd ever put them at any risk."

"As if we would!"

"Okay, okay, pipe down, the pair of you," Remus said, waving his hand at them. "If you're sure, Sirius, I'd love to."

Sirius grinned. "Cool."

"It's going to be so weird being adults," Peter commented, glancing up at the school. "Like… we're all going to be out there on our own and it's just… weird."

"We'll still be family, Petey," James said, a small but sure smile on his lips. "We've been family for seven years, right?"

"Can I be the Vodka Aunt?" Sirius asked

Remus laughed. "I'm never going to forgive Lily for introducing you to Muggle stereotypes."

"Hey! She's better at it than the Muggle Studies teacher. If I'd listened to her, I'd still be thinking women wore bras as necklaces!"

James blinked. "What?"

"That's what I said!" Sirius agreed. "I tell you, Prongs, the woman wouldn't know a computer from a microwave."

"It's so weird that you do," Peter said, laughing. "If I ever need Muggle help, at least I know where to come."

"Oh Merlin, don't," Remus said, shaking his head. "Go to Lily."

"I'm offended," Sirius stated. "Deeply offended."

"Of course you are," Remus agreed cheerfully. "You normally are."

"I knew I'd find you down here," a voice called, and James perked up immediately, smiling at his girlfriend.

"Hey Lils," he greeted, stretching his arm up to her as she reached them. He tugged her down on the grass beside him, pressing a kiss to her cheek.

"You never greet me like that," Sirius complained. "I'm—"

"Offended," the other three Marauders echoed.

Sirius pouted. "I was going to say hurt."

"You look beautiful," James murmured to Lily, paying Sirius no mind. He ran his hand over the royal purple dress she wore. "This colour is good on you."

She smiled at him. "Thanks. I just came to see if you were planning on getting some butterbeer for the party later."

"Already done, Evans," Sirius replied. "You'd think we were amateurs or something."

"Just make sure you keep the harder stuff from the younger years," she reprimanded, stretching out her arm to mess his hair up.

He wrinkled his nose at her. "Who said we have—"

"Black. Who are you trying to kid?"

Sirius paused for a moment and then conceded. "Okay, fair. And we won't let the babies have any. It's been planned with perfect precision."

"Uh huh." She shook her head. "I've gotta go meet Marlene and Alice, but I'll see you guys later."

She kissed James softly and then stood up to walk away.

"Hey Evans!" Sirius called. She turned back, raising her eyebrow. "Tell McKinnon to wear those sexy leather trousers, eh? Merlin but she's fine wearing them."

Lily shook her head. "She's going to castrate you one of these days."

Sirius grinned. "I'm sure she'll make sure I enjoy it."

"Lily's right," Remus said, shaking his head. "She's going to castrate you."

"She loves me," Sirius replied, waving off the comment. "We should head back up to the castle soon though. Given Evans won't play nice if we let the babies have the firewhiskey, we need to set up some age lines or something."

"I thought you had it planned with precision?" Peter asked, grinning. "Something that doesn't fill me with much confidence."

Laughing, Sirius pushed himself to his feet. "It's only gotta last 'til the Head Girl is drunk, then nobody will care."

James and Remus exchanged a look and shook his head.

"We're going to be the first students in the history of Hogwarts to spend the morning of graduation in detention," Remus pointed out.

James wrapped his arm around Remus' shoulder, even as he stretched out a hand to help Peter to his feet.

"It's all been worth it, though, right, Moony? Besides, there are worse legacies to have."

Remus smiled. "You're right. It has all been worth it. Every second."

Written for:

Bromance to Romance: 8. Found Family

Liza Loves: 1. A group of four

Angel's Archive: 16. Scabbers: Peter Pettigrew

Marvel Appreciation: 3. Found Family

Forecast: 28. Cheerful

Geek Pride: My Little Pony: Prompt 1: Friendship

Founder's Says: Godric Say's, 6: "I've been thinking…" / "Oh no." / "Oi! What's that supposed to mean?"

Brand Wars: 16. Hawkeye: Royal Purple / Precision / Close friends

365: 25. Caution