Regulus found himself being slammed into something even harder than a wooden desk, though he hadn't thought that possible, but his ears still rung from the metal clang. When his eyes finally settled, he found himself face first against a locker. He didn't even know Hogwarts had lock- he gasped so loudly Peter looked over at him in concern as he kept rubbing at his own head until Regulus shouted, "we're in the Quidditch locker rooms!"

The captain of his team, Craig Sloper, had let him be a reserve Seeker this year, but so far he'd sat on the benches during practice while the actual Seeker, Aubrey Bertram, shot around perfectly managing to catch the Snitch every time; nobody had bothered letting him even get in the air for practice. They were all fifth year and above, and had shooed him away any time he tried to follow them into the locker rooms, now nobody was going to stop him getting a look around!

He opened the one he'd landed against eagerly to see the scarlet Gryffindor robes with Weasley on the back, though it didn't specify which one. There were three long, low benches and a chalkboard across from that on a wall, separating the two bathrooms, and he promptly took off to investigate those.

"Who gets that bloody excited about a locker room?" Lily asked, starting to wonder if she wasn't the only one getting hit on the head one too many times around here.

"I sure am," Alice said, getting stiffly to her feet once more, and like him making her way eagerly towards a hot shower. Lily followed at once in concern, but Alice's brief little rest seemed to have done her some good, she didn't stumble once over the small step into the girls' section and opened the first stall door without hesitation, so Lily politely turned away and began shucking her own clothes as she investigated the place. Across from the seven shower stalls were another set of stalls for toilets, and the same amount of sinks lining the wall where they'd entered. She got a funny laugh for a moment imagining all seven players and even seven reserve players all being in here at the same time as she turned on her own hot water.

By the time they stepped out they felt like singing, they were actually clean again, even if Lily's charm still had their school robes unsoiled at best. They stopped in surprise though to see Sirius Black and Lupin apparently hadn't joined the amenities yet, but were the only two in there still.

Black had apparently been trying to pace again and muttering something while Lupin held his hand, but the girls barely registered any of it as the two immediately shied away from each other upon seeing them. Then Black gave them a saucy smile and swaggered right up to them. "Evening ladies, sorry I couldn't join you."

Lily groaned in disgust and stalked away, as if she needed another Marauder idiot panting after her, but Alice laughed in surprise, she was absolutely positive he was joking.

Sirius Black seemed delighted at her response, and smiled winningly at Alice, only causing her to laugh harder until someone cleared their throat behind him.

Lily watched Black turn on the spot and glower at Frank once more, his blonde hair looking more brunet as it still clung in a wet plaster to his scalp, hands still itching to cause some kind of violence, even though the odd sight of Frank holding apparently every towel in this place and having to crane his head around the pile just to see was worth a question.

Lupin came up and grabbed the back of his shirt though, hauling him just slightly around Frank like a scolded puppy, and adding to the effect by saying, "come on Padfoot, bathtime."

They walked into the steam-filled room, only to find the others already wrapping up, James literally with a towel as he prodded at his grungy clothes miserably. "I think I'll burn these when we get back, should have grabbed a change of clothes like you did when I had the chance Sirius."

"I can't believe I actually managed a shower before him," Peter was still rubbing a towel in his hair, "when's that ever happened? You two feeling alright?"

The two stayed awkwardly silent, it had been a while since they'd had to realize how perceptive they knew Peter to be, and if he suspected anything.

Sirius stomped off without response, losing an article of clothing shamelessly with each step until he was at the last stall and slamming it closed behind him. Remus plucked uneasily at the hem of his sleeve and avoided eye contact. He'd never liked changing clothes in front of his friends even though they knew about the scars now, and especially with Regulus still in here, his long hair still dripping water onto his clothes.

Peter and Regulus thankfully left in the awkward silence regardless, Regulus had agreed with the other two when they'd decided against going out to see what the holdup of Sirius and Lupin following in was considering he'd almost been caught in the future again and he probably hadn't wanted to show to anyone he was worried about it. James still wanted to check on him, but now honestly worried he'd just get brushed off again, but wanting to check on him somehow, he lowered his voice as the water squeaked on and the steam doubled. "Is everything alright with him?"

James hated he was having to ask someone else that, he was usually the leading expert on Sirius, but Padfoot wasn't talking to him?!

"Not really," Remus whispered, ruined slightly by cringing away from even Prongs, it only just occurred to him why James looked so defeated at having to ask this. Sirius had been avoiding him a bit lately, and he leaned closer to try and vaguely explain this instead. "He's, had a lot on his mind lately, you know that, and well, he's trying to find a new way to cope with it."

He was really hoping the room was actually as hot as his face was at the end.

James seemed to find this a reasonable enough answer at least, but still gave one last dejected look to the seventh stall before finally changing into his grungy clothes, but just tucking his glasses into his pocket as he left. They weren't doing any good in this steamed room.

Remus slowly peeled off one layer at a time, down to his boxers, and dithered if he should do what his mind prompted him to. They could be back any minute...nope. He definitely wasn't.

He couldn't make himself turn on the shower yet though, and instead found himself just leaning against the door Sirius had hid himself behind and tapping his bare feet impatiently. Finally, after starting and stopping several times in his head, he just did as he always did around the Marauders, and got out what was on his mind.

"Would hitting him have really made you feel better?"

"Yes," Sirius instantly replied.

"Really?" He stressed the word, trying his hardest to keep the accusation out of his tone. "Think about the last two times you did something without thinking first Sirius, has that actually made anything better?"

He couldn't actually see Sirius, but he'd swear he could actually feel him twitch uncomfortably.

"Look, I'm not happy with Longbottom either," he continued when no response seemed to be coming for that. "Merlin knows I'd love it if nobody ever assumed I was some bloodthirsty animal again, but Sirius did you ever think, maybe he actually doesn't know better?"

"That's ridiculous-" his biting words were already edging towards incredulity, but Remus cut in insistently.

"Sirius, you know better than anyone what others think of me, but you three actually got to know me before you found out."

Sirius mulled that over for a moment before he retorted, "wouldn't kill the guy to ask then rather than treating you like that!"

"Have we really given him the chance?" Remus asked in exasperation. "I know I haven't exactly stepped up and offered to be their guinea pig if they have questions, I doubt you lot have." He thought for a moment and amended, "maybe Peter's been saying something to Regulus, but I kind of doubt it." At least, he wasn't vain enough to think that's what they were talking about now.

Sirius went so long without answering again, Remus got off the door and sighed in defeat. He had his hand on the next stall door though when Sirius spoke, "alright Moony. He, well, you're the one wronged here. If you really think a lecture is the punishment he deserves, well, I'll back you up on that. It's probably worse than what I could do to him anyways."

Remus's heart stuttered in surprise, and then he abandoned such a thing as caution as he went back and pushed his stall door open before closing it firmly behind them.

Regulus yawned and cracked his eyes open, and immediately began shuffling around uncomfortably. Evans had done them a kindness by embedding a cushioning charm into the hard marble floor, but still he woke up cradling his head on his arms instead of a pillow and it wasn't exactly comfortable. Peter was a few paces away, on his side and snoring. Potter was half hanging off a bench and grimacing even in his sleep at that awkward position.

On the other side of the room, Longbottom had built Alice a little mini bed out of towels and all the Quidditch robes, but she'd half pulled him on top of that and the two were tangled up together in a sickening display of affection. Evans had herself propped up in the corner, likely to have a crick in her neck for that, directly under the light switch where she hadn't bothered to move from once they'd all agreed a nap even in this uncomfortable place was better than nothing.

He didn't spot his brother or Lupin though, which was odd as he'd swear he heard the water turn off about the time he was falling asleep. Stretching uncomfortably he made his way back towards the showers, plus he really had to take a piss.

He'd relieved himself and was walking back before he spotted the two, propped up in a corner as well, but tangled up like the couple. It was the most bizarre thing he'd ever seen, and he'd once watched Davey Gudgeon try to swallow an ostrich egg whole.

It's not like he could blame his brother wanting to use someone else as a pillow, and maybe the two really had been as exhausted as everyone and barely decided to get dressed before dropping to sleep where they were. He eyed the two for a few moments more before just walking off, Sirius had always been the odd one, and he'd been given the impression long before now werewolves could sleep in any environment, and they weren't to be woken up under any circumstances.

He cringed at his own thoughts as he stepped back down into the locker rooms, now thoroughly understanding better than ever why Sirius had flat out refused any more of their parents' lectures this past summer with a friend like that.

He went snooping, quietly, through the rest of the lockers proper now before finally coming across the book in Harry's. Appropriate enough at least, but he didn't feel like waking anyone else up yet as he settled back down on the floor and thought through the blank pages.

It was surprising, thinking back, that there was no 'mystery' going on in Harry's life this year, unlike the first four where attention had frequently been captured by trying to figure out who was attempting to murder this kid. Instead, that weapon had not been mentioned once since Grimmauld Place, so it was likely not at Hogwarts or Harry would have stumbled into some way to investigate that by now. Instead they'd been dealing with the horrid effects of Umbridge, and no matter who plotted what, nothing they said or did was getting rid of her.

Instead, his eyes wandered back to land on Alice and Longbottom curiously, and his stomach tightened in unease. He'd never really talked to girls, though there were a few in his year he thought pretty enough he would, but Regulus also knew his parents already had an arranged marriage set for him. As far as he knew they hadn't picked anyone yet, but it had been brought up once or twice and he hadn't asked further.

Sirius had already made it very clear he'd have no part in that, not that Regulus could really blame him when they'd made mention of him and Bellatrix at one point. That had made his skin crawl so bad he'd almost thought about excusing himself from dinner before just putting his spoon down and cringing at the following fight. He'd hide in the attic for a week after that one.

His eyes switched to Potter and Evans, any first-year knew the first had a huge crush on the latter, but also of the results. Regulus huffed and squirmed, now eyeing the book in his hands in distaste, he blamed this stupid thing for where his thoughts had jumped to. Harry's crush on Cho had been mentioned so often this year, and it was just confusing.

He momentarily considered going back in and kicking Sirius awake, but he still wasn't even sure if he wanted to talk to Sirius. It was starting to feel like he wasn't going to get much of a choice though. He liked talking to Peter, he'd actually say with confidence now he was probably the first friend he'd ever had considering he could barely talk about Quidditch with anyone from his house without someone inevitably trying to bring up the Dark Lord. He didn't know how Severus could stand his apparent double life where he'd so smoothly discuss this and then apparently go hang around Evans where they talked about Merlin knew what, but surely not that.

Peter was two years older than him though. Would it be too odd to ask him about something like this? It still felt like a question he should ask his brother, if he could stand talking to him again, he still wasn't sure of that. He still didn't want Sirius to just start talking to him just because they agreed on the Dark Lord now, he wanted his brother to talk to him like old times back before they'd even been to Hogwarts. That was still probably a childish dream he was clinging to.

Potter startled and crashed to the floor out of his own dream, groaning and cursing loudly enough everybody else began murmuring and looking around blearily for this disruption. It must have been loud enough to wake up Sirius and Lupin too, because the pages he'd been idly flipping through suddenly had a chapter title that caught his eye almost halfway through the book. Dumbledore's Army, how strange.

"You alright Prongs?" Sirius came bounding in, awake and aware as if he'd been there the whole time. "Sounded like someone was cutting your toes off."

"I'll get a pair of shears and do it to you, arse," he huffed, but his upside-down smile held no hint of a threat. Sirius at least seemed in a better mood today.

Regulus watched the two for a few more beats with longing, Sirius never joked around with him like that anymore. As he started reading about the trio's worry of Umbridge getting ahold of Harry's mail though and Sirius looked genuinely touched at their worry for a moment before loudly brushing that off, Regulus still felt more like getting up and kicking him in the shins for still being an idiot.

At least he and everyone cheered the Gryffindor team was officially back in action, even if it was ruined only moments later by that arrogant little muggle-born accusing Sirius of living vicariously through those teenagers.

"Hey," Sirius looked genuinely hurt for the snub, and Regulus had to remind himself Sirius was glaring at the book like that, not at him, again.

"It's not as if you discouraged them," Evans huffed, rubbing her neck in the corner. "I don't blame her for thinking like that."

Regulus looked to her in confusion, turning her words over in his head as he realized, did she not think that of him? She actually hadn't been yelling and telling them off nearly as much lately now that he thought about it.

He still avoided the argument as much as he could, or at least didn't want to live through two at once, as Harry properly defended his godfather and the whole thing was interrupted by Peeves and Katie Bell starting a miniature war.

Even as he kept going though, right into this locker room and the boys preparing for a practice, Regulus kept absently watching the three and saw none of them had really taken Hermione's comment to heart. It was heartening they really did seem to not be judging Sirius anymore, especially after that last awful thing these books had implied he'd done.

Remus finally came out of the bathroom himself, waiting until Regulus took a pause for breath before flushing the toilet, and having splashed around the water in the sink far longer than he needed to, but still rubbing the heel of his hand into his eyes like he'd only just crawled off the floor. Sirius and James were now snooping through the rest of the lockers and had come across the little orange pill that had apparently put boils where no human would want them.

"Dare you to eat it Moony!" Sirius said as if he'd been there the whole time.

"I'm sure my physiology isn't so unique I wouldn't get those boils too," he grimaced in disgust.

Regulus looked at him in surprise, but it was Evans who piped up in confusion, "what's that supposed to mean?"

He went a little red around the face again, even his smile looked more forced than friendly, but he also didn't immediately shy behind Sirius or Potter like usual as he tried to answer, "ah, some things don't affect me like they do others, I don't get common colds, and certain potions have strange effects on me."

Sirius reached over and popped him on the neck, but lightly, there was no force in the gesture or in his teasing tone. "I thought when you threatened to lecture them, you were going to start with something more interesting than that."

Peter's mouth was hanging open slightly, and Potter was watching the two like someone really was fixing to go at them with garden shears.

It wasn't having much of a good effect on their intended person anyways, Frank scrunched up his face in dislike that apparently some of the texts were true then and werewolves really were other. What else was so different about him that half-breeds needed post scripts about potions?

Lily though found what he'd said fascinating, she'd never have guessed at such a thing and now burned with the desire to ask just how many potions, which exactly, and what quantities he'd taken to know such a thing? She suddenly recalled that wolfsbane potion all the way back from the third book, and her eyes lit in delight as she half asked, half accused, "that wolfsbane potion though, did you know what that was?"

"No," he said honestly, "I've never heard a thing about that, but I also said it was something new in that time."

She nodded in fairness, but was already formulating a list of ingredients in her head, she'd have to ask him specifically if he knew which did and didn't have this effect on him. Was this why he was such a lazabout in potions? She would have wanted to know every detail of this if it were her.

James shifted about uneasily, when had Remus and Sirius decided on this approach? He didn't like the way Longbottom was still looking anywhere but at Remus, and now Evans was apparently going to start scrutinizing him like she would a potions text.

Regulus exchanged a bewildered look with Peter, who merely shrugged. Remus had been comfortable with them for years though to discuss this, but seeing him try to do it with the others was bizarre and he had no idea what to make of it. Regulus went back to reading rather than letting the awkward silence linger, all the way up to something thoroughly distracting, Harry's scar burning once more, and he knew it to be because the Dark Lord was angry about something.

He shivered through the following exchange between Harry and Ron over this, feeling like he needed another shower already by the end. The idea of having to deal with someone else's mood because of a cursed scar was just creepy, let alone who exactly Harry was connected to!

Regulus's stomach continued to swill with unease as Harry continued to brood over everything this could mean. At least whatever that weapon was still seemed to be out of the wrong side's hands, but as he fell asleep over his homework worrying about this, and Sirius, and even that strange dream of a locked door again, and the entire confusing mess of his life, it was almost a relief to get interupted by Dobby turning back up with Hedwig.

He stopped at the small interruption and glanced up to see nobody looked very distracted. This, thing, between Harry and You-Know-Who was just plain weird, and kept getting more so as time went on. Regulus's eyes flitted to Lupin and back to the book though as he decided they weren't doing any good sitting around worrying about it. This had been done to Harry, the poor guy was just suffering through the consequences.

The house-elf was admittedly a very good distraction, as Harry confessed his problem of spacing issues with his group, and the elf seemed to have an answer for this? Muttering broke out amongst all the older students, but Regulus watched carefully and saw it was all amazement and curiosity, no recognition though, so kept going loudly and even bouncing a bit at the end as Harry got a message to where this would be taking place, and finally described how to get in.

"This is amazing!" Potter squealed, dancing on the spot like he was fighting the urge to wrench that away from him now, and Regulus held it a little tighter to his chest. "I can't believe, how did we never, Merlin's pants!"

"You never knew about this either?" Evans looked genuinely astounded he was admitting such a thing.

"You just heard Harry check the map, of course we didn't!" He seemed so stunned at this new development, he seemed to miss the one going on right in front of him of Evans actually asking a question directly to him.

"The Room of Requirements, can you imagine all the possibilities?" Sirius was practically drooling at the notion of this.

"It's even right on our floor, around the corner from our dorm apparently!" Peter bemoaned, leaning over his shoulder to get a look at this himself.

Nobody could stop themselves muttering in delight at this new discovery right in Hogwarts they could actually go to right now if any of them had still been mad enough to bother trying a door. Regulus sighed as he glared at it again for the first time in ages, wishing he had free rein so he could sprint up there right now, but finally conceded and read out over everyone to keep getting as close as he could to this place in the meantime.

It was of some mild comfort to the Marauders the twins were even in their seventh year now and apparently had never come across this place either as anything other than a one-way broom cupboard, according to them anyways as Filch hadn't been able to get it open but they'd left, and the four exchanged hopeful looks maybe in their last two years something similar would have happened to them as well by then, it was driving them nuts they'd have left the school and never even gotten a hint of this.

James pulled his map out and eyed right where he'd put it in, then he paused and considered to himself if they even should. Since they now knew exactly where it was, it would function the same as the rest. He'd have to add the charm telling how to activate the location, but that would take seconds. He smiled and rubbed his thumb over the spot as he listened to Harry in there, being a brilliant teacher he wouldn't deny, and how his boy was doing so much good for his fellow students.

He glanced up to see Remus and Sirius with their heads close together, laughing at how the name of this group came about. He looked over and saw Peter and Regulus laughing about mock dueling each other later, and then Frank and Alice beaming and cooing at Neville's first disarming charm on Harry.

Finally he looked up and saw that even Evans was enjoying all of this, laughing quietly at Harry's misjointed interactions with Cho while combing out her hair with a brush she'd clearly nicked from one of the Chasers.

He tried to tell himself this was an improvement, it seemed the first time since all of this had started they were all feeling good about something. He still sighed and tried to brace himself as much as he could when Sirius's little brother warned the chapter was almost done.

HPHPHPHP

Sorry I'm not sorry, I've been rereading Text Talk by merlywhirls again for the twelfth time so wolfstar was on my mind, and that brought up some of the other couples, and a kids reaction to said couples. I regret nothing and hope you've been enjoying! Some more drama and trauma to come, promise.

I've definitely got a few locations coming up you guys won't see coming, but as always feel free to guess, it makes my day!