After I'm done with the fifth book I'm going to take a little break and post a prequal fic of the Marauders years at Hogwarts entitled We Were. It'll only be seven chapters, one year for each, and then I'll get on to HBP.

Wheather readers want it to be Wolfstar or purely cannon couples though, I'll make a poll on my fanfiction profile and let you decide, or you can message me any way you like in general to let me know.

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The high pitched yowl of pain shook everyone out of their coughing and definitely drowned out the other general crashes as they all looked desperately around for the danger.

It was the Hog's Head, they all instantly recognized, even Regulus had popped in here on his second Hogsmeade trip thanks to a dare from a dormmate. The dare had been to order and drink a firewhiskey, but the bartender had shooed him away. He wondered if it was the exact same bottle he'd been eyeing at the time that had crashed down on Alice Smith's head upon her landing behind the register and now had her bleeding profusely from the crown of her short, dark hair.

The others had landed throughout the establishment in other, arguably safer spots on tables and chairs, Lupin right into a barstool, Regulus directly onto the bar, spilling more drinks right on top of him, though at least the glass tumblers didn't add to the mess, instead it just made the floor slippery as Longbottom and Evans did a fast headcount and tried darting around behind to the scene.

Lupin had been closer though, so he'd gotten there first and was already crouching in front of her drawing his wand with a kind smile she likely couldn't see due to the mixture of blood and alcohol already dribbling into her eyes, and her whimpers of pain and surprise keeping his voice a likely mystery. She reached up automatically to rub at her eyes, and then higher to where the pain was coming from, and he grabbed her wrists in one hand and pulled them towards him, out of the way to perform the spell.

Regulus cringed in regret he had no way to help her, he couldn't even name a healing charm yet, but then Regulus startled right off the bar on top of them all when Longbottom barreled into Lupin and shoved him so hard away, he sent several more bottles crashing around them.

The following shouting and shoving that ensued was utter chaos until finally two clear shouts of "Protego!" sent the eight of them slammed back away from each other as if they were landing all over again.

Lily dropped hers at once and immediately turned to Alice, her advanced Charms work may not have as much practical practice as the Marauders' but she still knew enough of what she was doing she at least sealed the deep gashes along Alice's head. Reaching blindly, she only spotted a dusty old rag and cringed at using it to wipe the rest of her up, before the rest of her brain kicked in and she used Tergeo to great affect, and a quick Aguamenti to dampen it, heart thundering and hands shaking regardless. She hated blood.

James waited patiently, chest still heaving like he'd run the Quidditch pitch four times, until Alice's bright yellow eyes were finally blinking and she looked around in recognition. She was still exceptionally pale, and they were all now covered in blood and alcohol from it. He'd seen Remus lose more blood before and not lose consciousness though, so he was semi sure she was okay enough he dropped his own barrier, but still vibrated in place with adrenaline.

Peter got to his feet slowly, more than enough experience telling him to be cautious before someone else pounced, but when no one stopped him he hopped up onto the bar and swung himself to the other side, but stopped short of dropping down to offer his hand to Regulus to do the same, who was more than happy to swim out of this mosh pit if that was what it took.

Sirius took the precious seconds it was worth to see Remus hadn't fallen into the exact same predicament, but there was no visible blood streaming from him anywhere, so he lunged towards Longbottom fist raised.

James caught him at the last second and had to physically haul him back to the other side of the bar, taking five times as long to fix the space in the struggle that Sirius had covered in a second flat. Finally though he wrestled him back to the floor by Moony's side and met him with a hard glare, the silence that passed between them spoke volumes.

Frank hadn't so much as flinched away as he stayed in between Lily and Alice, but when Potter turned back to glare at him it was damn near as terrifying as Black's murderous intent of bashing his face in. The cold, calculated expression was the exact same he'd held when speaking of how best to dispose of Umbridge.

Remus decided he should stay where he was and keep trying to pick glass out of the back of his shoulder until it was safer to move.

Finally Lily got her feet as well, turning her back on the lot and offering Alice a hand. She took it firmly, but her feet stumbled terribly, and Frank finally moved as well to place a hand on her back as they got her out from behind the bar. No one stopped him, but he felt the three glares daggering into his back with the first hints of shame, he didn't have to look back to know who wasn't.

The floor was already growing stickier with every step they took, which probably helped her just a bit when the crackling silence followed the three of them to the farthest back corner to the stairs.

Alice took the bottom one wearily, rubbing her fingers against her eyes for a few more moments and still not getting any color back, but she was the first to properly speak. "What the hell happened?"

Her heart, already trying to pump in double time to supply the blood she'd lost, nearly went into overdrive at the deranged noise she heard echoing from behind the bar she now sadly recognized as Sirius Black.

It was Frank who answered though, crouching down to see her gentle eyes and saying honestly, "I panicked."

"Is that all you have to say for yourself!" Pettigrew gasped. "You could have killed Remus and her with your stupid stunt!"

Frank flinched, he was very aware that any of that raining glass could have nicked someone in the neck, eye, or any other arteries on the way down, he was pretty confident he had something lodged in his thigh, but all he kept seeing flashing back in his head was a werewolf bent over his girlfriend, bleeding a fountain of blood to boot.

It was not lost on him though, that it was still Lupin who had not done a thing in retaliation.

Frank got slowly back to his feet, taking the time to see the destruction he'd caused before turning back to face the others properly. He wasn't afraid of Black and Potter, but for the first time he felt like drawing his own wand in defense for himself at the looks they gave him. He swallowed that impulse and ignored it until he could see just slightly over the bar again, Lupin's green eyes were still painfully startled like he hadn't quite caught up to what had happened yet any more than Alice. He was reaching blindly over his shoulder, and his wince at finally pulling out a jagged bit of glass drew his friends' attention back to him.

"I'm sorry," and Frank sincerely meant that. He didn't know if the impulse would ever leave him entirely, but he wouldn't let anyone say he couldn't be the bigger person here.

Now the werewolf actually blushed, stammering on anything to say like, like a regular teenager. Frank almost wanted to laugh, but didn't think that would be of much help as he went back to Alice's side. She scooted over and took his hand at once.

Lily got up abruptly then and exited through a door, to everyone's surprise. Nobody moved until she came back with a platter of food.

The last time they'd had food was Umbridge's poisonous house nobody but Regulus had dared take so much as a snack from, and long before that the school kitchens. He was pretty sure the Marauders had scraped some food together back in the Potters' manor, but they hadn't exactly shared that abundance. Regardless, the rations had run out by the time they'd started this book. Even this drafty bar's old cheese and slightly stale bread felt like a feast. She'd given Alice the largest portion and set the rest on the bar without comment for the boys to help themselves.

Frank had immediately given the share she'd offered him to Alice as well, but she only nibbled down a few bites before surprising them all by drawing her own wand, and summoning the book to her.

"You should eat more-" he instantly tried to protest, she was still as pale as ever, but she shook her head so softly and even that made her look a bit green.

"My stomach's feeling," she stopped, and didn't need to elaborate. "I just, let's move on."

He did not agree, likely when they were wrenched from this place she'd just throw up what little she had at the next location, but she squeezed his fingers back and gave him a brave smile as she read the next chapter title as the location of this place.

What she really wanted was a chance to talk to him again, somewhere that wouldn't be overheard in this quiet room. The Marauders were not going to be a lively distraction, and while there was no guarantees the next place would be any better, she certainly didn't want to linger in here as the strong smells of copper and alcohol lingered in the air.

The whole thing touched her deeply as she tried to imagine it from his point of view, but even his bodily defense wasn't as warming as his immediately apologizing for it. Still, she wanted to talk to him about the initial reaction, she'd been delicately avoiding the subject but it clearly wasn't going away.

Peter didn't know what to think of the whole thing as Alice read about Hermione broaching the subject of Harry being DADA teacher again, and a chance to see how many people would take up that offer in the coming Hogsmeade visit. He found himself desperately wanting to turn to Regulus and reminisce about all the secrets of the village the Marauders had learned from all their times creeping about here, both during a full moon and regular nights. He didn't think stories like that would go down well in here right now though, and instead the heavy silence lasted as Hermione started spreading word around the school of 'Harry's' intentions about starting this group and they headed out to this place.

It was an, interesting meeting to be sure, but still nobody cried nay for these actions. To his amazement, nobody in here would still claim not to join Harry's group in a heartbeat against Umbridge's tyranny. He and Regulus exchanged a look as they just had to figure out a way to get them all to realize same as them, they all wanted to be on the same side here.

James smiled to himself as the meeting adjourned, and things were officially set in motion with twenty-five people all believing in his son. Harry went to go around Hogsmeade for a bit though, and he found his mind wandering more. What he would give to start boisterously laughing about Harry being a teacher of all things again, which he'd barely had a chance to do when it had been brought up. He'd made a few theatrical jokes just for his friends' amusement about how insulting to his bloodline that would be for Harry to do any such thing, he'd swear Evans had even laughed for a moment before they'd been zapped in here.

Now he was shifting in unease and entirely unsure of himself as Sirius kept his glowering glare alternating between Longbottom, and him.

He still didn't regret stopping Sirius though, all that had flashed through his mind upon seeing Sirius about to do that was when he'd hit Peter, and even before that when he'd egged Snape on and he'd found out about Moony. He'd really thought Sirius was going to start trying to control his temper, James certainly wanted to take a swing at the racist arse! He just hadn't because the past two consequences still had their marks all around them.

Peter was still standing closer to Regulus on that side of the bar. Remus was now watching the steady drip of the amber liquid onto the floor rather than looking at Sirius for yet another impulsive action of his.

Then his heart skipped a beat and his mind managed to scatter in half as he saw Evans watching him. Openly, curiously, for the first time in his school life like she wanted to come talk to him other than the other way around. His entire insides shut down rather than leap at the opportunity like the idiot he was, and then it was too late as they were torn from here.