Thanks for coming back, guys. Loving all your reviews, keep them coming.

Glad everyone liked the last arc with Sirius's development. And for the one or two of you confused by the reference at the end, FMA is the anime series Full Metal Alchemist. There's a scene where one main character's closest friend is murdered and after the funeral (in which there is a heartbreaking scene of the deceased's young toddler daughter not understanding why they're burying him and freaks out) the guy is standing in the cemetery with his second in command and he remarks that it is raining. His second in command is confused and is about to tell him it isn't raining, only for him to insist it is as a tear runs down his face and his second instead agrees with him. It's all a real tearjerker.

So there's a teeny bit of a time skip here to the end of summer. Thought I'd get the plot moving.

If Someone Cared Enough

Chapter 119: Return to the Usual

"I'm not whether to be jealous of you guys or not," Regulus confessed, "You get to leave the house and go to school…but you'll have to deal with junior Death Eaters and Potter."

Severus snorted, levitating his books into his trunk with a mere wand flick, "I might prefer the Death Eaters. They aren't as annoying."

"Oh, come now," Lily tutted, folding Severus robes, "I admit he is insufferable, but he's not completely irredeemable at this point. He at least had a conscience enough to not leave any of us to die in the Chamber last year."

"I suppose that's true," Severus conceded, "Just a few years ago he would have probably just grabbed Peter and Remus and run; probably stunned me and left me helpless down there for good measure."

"If he didn't go straight to the ministry and accuse you of having been the heir of Slytherin," Regulus added.

Lily rolled his eyes, "The point is, he's improving. Granted, it's infinitesimally small, but the progress is still there."

She placed the folded robes neatly in Severus's trunk.

"Still," she said with a frown, "Things would be a lot easier if he'd get over me."

Severus kissed her cheek, "He couldn't have picked a better woman to fall for."

Lily giggled, pushing him away, "Please, he didn't 'fall for me.' He's just smitten with the chase. It's an immature crush at best."

"You do realize he thinks you two are 'fated' to be together," Regulus pointed out, "Half the school has heard the spiel already. He thinks you are destined to be the Gryffindor power couple."

Severus barked out a laugh, "Power couple? There's a laugh for you. He certainly has quite the imagination."

"Did you know he was genuinely surprised he didn't get made a prefect?" Lily revealed, "Remus told me all about it. James apparently thought he was the ideal candidate because he has the most house pride or something."

It was Severus turn to role his eyes, "Doesn't surprise me at all. Potter seems prone to illusions of grandeur."

"You don't think he'll be made Head Boy, do you?" Regulus asked curiously.

Severus thought about it for a moment before shaking his head, "Impossible, he's hardly qualified for any position of responsibility. You'd have to be utterly barmy to pick him."

Lily snorted, gathering Severus's notebooks and parchment and tucking it in his trunk, "Can you imagine how big a head he'd get if they picked him?"

"It would be too big for him to even walk through the front doors of the castle," Severus remarked, drawing a laugh from Lily and Regulus.

"He probably only wants the position because Lily seems like the ideal candidate for Head Girl," Regulus said, "Kind of surprised you didn't get it."

Lily nodded, "Admittedly, I am too. But it's a relief' after all the drama last year and how far it put us behind in our work, I don't think I could handle so much extra responsibility on my plate. Just trying to stay on top of our grades is enough for me this year."

"Wonder who they did pick," Severus mused.

"Maybe a Ravenclaw?" Lily suggested, "Cynthia Pims is pretty reliable and she's a good prefect."

Severus shrugged, "It's possible. But being a prefect isn't a prerequisite for Head boy or girl. They just need to be an above average student who's hard working and has a good reputation with the school."

"Which is why my brother would never be Head Boy," Regulus pointed out, "Far too many detentions under his belt. Not to mention how many times he's been caught in broom closest with members of the fairer sex." He laughed at his own joke, but eventually the chuckle faded out and Regulus's expression clouded over.

Severus's felt a pang of guilt seeing the sadness in Regulus eyes. It was his fault Regulus had to hide himself from the world, because Severus dragged him into this mess.

After lunch that day, Severus had told Regulus about his run-in with Sirius. Needlessly to say his friend was understandably upset. Though no longer close, the attachment between Regulus and Sirius was still there. It was hard for Regulus to sit here knowing his 'death' had caused his brother pain.

But they had very little choice. Sirius was a wild card, impulsive and oftentimes irrational when it came to his emotions and actions. There was no guarantee that he would keep it a secret if he found out his brother was still alive. He could blurt it out to his friends, maybe get drunk and tell it to a stranger. There was also his reckless tendency to run headfirst into danger. He could very well end up in enemy hands and then any vital information he had would be forfeit.

It was too risky to let Sirius know the truth.

Severus gave Regulus a sympathetic look, "I'll keep an eye on Black for you."

Regulus smiled slightly in relief, "Thanks. I know I shouldn't worry; Potter at least cares enough about him to look out for him. But people in my family tend to go to a very dark place in times of grief. My great-great grandmother went mad after a stillborn child. My third cousin drowned his children when his wife died. My mother was already of questionable sanity; I can only imagine how she is now. Last thing I want is Sirius to do something crazy or fall in with the wrong crowd."

"There are probably some Slytherins that would love to manipulate Black when he's at his lowest," Severus agreed.

Regulus nodded, "I can only hope Sirius is stubborn enough on his whole stance against our family to not be talked into joining them. I wouldn't put it past some of the Slytherins to try and convince him that he was killed by someone of the light just so that they can get him to fight for their side."

"He'd have to be crazy to think someone of the light killed you," Lily interjected, "I mean, even with the strict laws the ministry is putting in place against You-Know-Who's supporters, they still have morals. They wouldn't kill a teenager. The Death Eaters are the ones slaughtering people indiscriminately."

"Yes, but when people are hurt, they look for others to blame," Severus stated, "Something to point the finger act to make sense of senseless loss. It's the crux of grief; it isn't always rational. Sometimes people just need someone or something to be mad at to distract them from the pain."

"The light side is held back by morals and laws," Severus explained, "By playing fair. Sirius won't find much support legally for pursuing justice for his brother unless it is by the book. The other side doesn't play by the rules; they could offer him the opportunity to pursue his own sense of justice for Regulus."

Regulus sighed, "I only hope Sirius is okay. It was hard just being put in separate houses; I don't think I could handle it if I thought he died, so I can't imagine how he's doing."

"He's got his friends to help him," Severus pointed out. He spared a glance at the encouraging look Lily gave him, "And…us, I suppose."

Lily took Severus hand, "Even if we have to do it from the sidelines, we'll look out for your brother. And Remus will be there for him; I think Severus can attest from experience that love makes any hardship easier."

Regulus raised a brow, "What does love have to do with Remus?"

"You do realize those two are dating, right?" Severus asked.

"They're what?!" Regulus squawked.

{page break}

"Are you sure you have everything?" Eileen asked for the umpteenth time, "Did you go over the school list."

Severus rolled his eyes, though it was with fond exasperation than annoyance, "Yes, mum. I checked it six times. I have everything I need."

"Well, do you have your cauldron?" Eileen asked persistently, "Your dragonhide gloves for Herbology? The syllabus said you would be working with more carnivorous plants."

"I have both," Severus replied, "As well as a back up pair of gloves and my special salve for poisonous sap."

Eileen nodded along nervously, "Good, good. What about a jumper? And a back up jumper for in case you misplace the first one. It gets cold in the castle, evening at the end of summer. Oh! What about a wool blanket?"

"Mum," Severus chided gently, placing a hand on her arm to still her wringing hands, "Mum, stop worrying so much. I went over everything; I've got what I need. Besides even if I forgot something you could always bring it to Hogsmeade during the first school trip and give it to me then. We could go for lunch and everything."

"Well..." Eileen twiddled her fingers, "That would be nice."

Severus smiled, patting his mother's hand. It was honestly sort of nice to have his mother's focus and attention. She had never been a doter before. All his other returns to school were quiet, stilted affairs his mother never one for conversation. Mainly her fear of earning Tobias's wrath by not getting home fast enough kept her mind far from the joyous occasion of seeing her only child off to school. The most Severus usual got from his mother was an awkward goodbye, a halted pat on the shoulder and she'd be off before he even boarded the train.

Severus knew there was some resentment behind his mothers actions all that time; Severus being able to leave their hellish home for the year must have felt like some sort of abandonment. Each year he got to return to the world she'd been torn away from by a loveless, painful marriage. It hardly mattered that Severus time in school was hardly sunshine and roses; he still was spared his father;'s fist for nine months, a luxury Eileen wasn't granted.

Now with his father dead and buried, Severus saw his mother able to bask in his achievements and happiness without any lingering jealousy, no lingering wistfulness to be in his place. It allowed the affection she'd long hidden to emerge, free to celebrate both her son's life and her own.

Ponderosa placed a hand on Eileen's shoulder, "He'll be fine Ellie. This isn't his first time at school."

"Two years in a row now he's nearly died at that school," Eileen said petulantly.

"Technically one of those incidences wasn't at school," Severus pointed out, "It was on the train."

Eileen stared him down sternly, making Severus falter.

"Please let me ride the train," he pleaded weakly.

"Eileen," Lily cut in, back from getting her trunk on the train's luggage compartment, "Security has double if not tripled on the trains since the end of fifth year. There won't be anymore incidences like that one."

"Plus I'll have my friends with me," Severus added, "Safer in numbers and all that."

Eileen still didn't look entirely convinced, "I don't know."

"Mum, please," Severus groaned, "At first this was sweet, but now I'm actually starting to get worried. You have to let me ride the train in. It's my last year at Hogwarts, one of my last times to do this journey with my friends. Please?"

"Well..." Eileen was interrupted by a now all too familiar loud and brash voice.

"Oh let him go, Eileen," Augusta said, hands firmly on her hips, Vulture hat sitting proud atop her head, "The boy has taken on worst things then a couple of pea-brained classmates by now. He's outclassed them at this point."

Lily nodded, "It's true, we've come along way since then. Whatever enemies remain in school, they haven't had the experiences we've had, nor the practice fighting that we've gotten."

"Plus, none of them have ever invented spells like this boy has," Augusta added, slapping Severus on the back proudly.

"Eileen, Severus is going to be fine," Ponderosa tacked on, rubbing Eileen's back comfortingly, "Let him enjoy his last year."

Eventually—reluctantly, Eileen nodded.

"Okay," she said, "But you have to come home for Christmas."

Severus smiled, "I wouldn't miss it for the world." He truly wouldn't; it would be the first holiday he and his mother spent together without Tobias to dampen their cheer. And knowing his mother and he could share it with friends, real family and friend, meant more to him and than anyone could ever know.

Lily wrapped her arms around Severus from behind, resting her chin on his shoulder, "We'll have a big dinner and presents around a tree and everything. It will be great."

"It will be wonderful," Willow added, walking up with Hank and Petunia, "I think the trains just about ready to leave, kids."

"Bye mum," Lily said, kissing her mother on the cheek, "Bye daddy."

"You two be good now," Hank said, hugging his daughter, "Get good grades."

"Study hard," Willow added, capturing Severus in a hug.

Augusta placed a hand on both teens shoulders, "Give Albus a hard time for me; lots of trouble."

"Augusta!" Willow admonished, scandalized.

Augusta waved her off before turning to the stoic young man at her side, "Anything you want to say to your friends, Thatcher?"

'Thatcher' stepped forward, his chestnut, curly hair hanging down into his eyes.

Augusta pushed him forward, "Go on."

The boy came forward and offered Severus a handshake, "Have fun, Severus."

Severus pushed the boy's hand aside and drew him in for a hug.

"Take care, Reg," he whispered.

Regulus blinked away some tears before stepping back, turning to Lily.

Lily wasted no time in drawing the disguised boy into her arms, "We'll write to you, okay? Let you know how things are at school."

"Thank you," Regulus said sincerely.

"Good luck being Frank's second cousin," Severus joked, "His distant, formerly estranged, twice removed cousin."

Regulus rolled his eyes, "Shut up, it was the only way Augusta would let me come to see off the two of you."

Severus wagged a finger, "Uh-uh, where's your accent? You're from Durmstang, remember?"

Regulus glared at him, "I hate you."

"Chestnut isn't really your color," Lily giggled, tussling Regulus transformed hair.

Regulus slapped her hand away, "Knock it off."

"Okay you two," Willow called, "Better get going."

"Right," Severus hugged his mother tightly, surprising the woman, "Take care of yourself, mum."

Eileen returned the hug, resting her head on top of her son's, "You two, sweetheart."

Giving Ponderosa a nod, Severus coaxed Lily out of Petunia's embrace and the pair boarded the train.

"It feels weird to know we won't be seeing Simone and Thea so much this year," Lily remarked as they walked down the hall searching for an empty compartment.

Severus nodded, "Indeed. I've grown quite accustom to Serapeum's blunt brand of vulgarity and knack for barging into everything. It will be quite boring with no one to banter with."

Lily nudged him with her elbow, "You didn't banter, you snarked."

"Forgive me if you do not see the intellectual value of my sarcastic wit," Severus drawled.

Up ahead of them, a compartment door opened and a familiar, round cheeked face poked out into the hall.

"Severus!" Nesme said excitedly, "I knew I heard your voice. Come on in you guys, we saved you a seat!"

{page break}

Sirius and James raced through the platform as fast as they could, leaping over suitcases and trunks and weaving into throngs of people.

"It's fine, mum," Sirius said mocking, mimicking James voice, "We don't need you to see us off this year. Go on your trip, we'll be fine."

He scoffed, "It took half an hour to get your ass up, Prongs."

"Well who spent fifteen minutes hungover and puking in the loo right as we were halfway out the door?" James shot back, "Next time lay off the firewhiskey."

"Next time set your alarm!" Sirius yelled, glaring at James.

Not looking where he was going, Sirius found the wind knocked out of him as he collide with something small but solid, sending him backwards onto his rear end.

"Ow..." Sirius groaned, rubbing his smarting bottom, "Anyone get the driver's name for the Knight Bus that hit me?"

James came up behind him, "Man, you really beaned each other."

Looking up, Sirius saw that the force he hit was a curly haired young man, maybe a head shorter than him, who stared at him with wide, startled brown eyes.

The way he stared at Sirius was odd. A deer caught in headlights sort of look, worried even. Deeper still, it was like he was looking right into Sirius soul, like he knew something.

It was...disconcerting.

"Sorry, mate," Sirius apologized, "Didn't see you there."

That seemed to shake the boy from his stupor, "Uh...iz no problem..."

"That's a weird accent," James said, ever the blunt one. He cocked his head, "You from out of the country or something?"

"Uh, yes," the boy said, "Romania. Visiting family, short visit. I go to Durmstang."

Sirius stood up, dusting himself off, "Seeing someone off then, huh?"

The boy nodded, "Yes; a cousin, close cousin. Very sad goodbye."

"That sucks; going to different schools and all," James remarked.

Again the boy nodded, "Yes, very unfortunate."

"Thatcher!" called a woman's aged and shrill voice, "Hurry up!"

"I's must go," the boy said, "Iz grandmother calling."

Suddenly, the boy lunged forward and hugged Sirius, startling the Gryffindor.

"Safe journey," he said, pulling back after a few moments. In a flash, he vanished into the crowd, following the voice of the yelling woman.

"That was...strange," Sirius said, blinking.

"Must be some foreign custom," James suggested, "Come on, we can't miss the train!"

He dragged Sirius onto the train just before it took off, one of the train attendants giving them a dirty look for nearly bowling him over.

Remus was waiting in the hall outside their compartment, "Took you two long enough."

"Sorry," James panted, "Overslept."

"He overslept," Sirius corrected.

Remus rolled his eyes, "Bet you were drunk, right?"

Sirius looked away embarrassed, telling Remus all he needed to know.

Remus sighed, opening the compartment door, "Get in and put your stuff down."

Peter waved to them as they walked in, "Off to a great start, aren't you, James?"

James threw his bag to Peter, smirking at the 'oof' it drew from the stouter boy, "Stuff a sock in it."

"He's right, James," Sirius teased, throwing himself down into the seat, "This isn't exactly a good look for the new Head Boy."

James smirked proudly down at the badge already pinned to his chest.

"Looks good doesn't it?" he asked happily.

"It still mystifies me that they picked you," Remus said.

James flashed him a cheeky smile, "Jealous?"

Remus shook his head, "Merlin no. I just want a nice quiet year. But it's anyone guess while they chose you instead of someone more...responsible."

"Hey I am plenty responsible," James insisted.

Remus fixed him with a blank stare, "Like yo were with your fish tank?"

James blinked, "I had a fish tank?"

"Case and point," Remus said wearily.

"Well, hate to leave you, oh ye of little faith in me," James said, depositing his bags o a seat and sauntering towards the door, "but I am needed in the prefect's compartment to meet the new batch of prefects. And of course, the Head Girl."

"We haven't heard from anyone over the summer about it," Peter pointed out, "Are you sure it's Lily?"

James nodded, "Who else would it be? She's the best for the job. And this position is the perfect opportunity for us to get closer."

"You'll see," he said, opening the door, "By the end of the year, she and I will be walking hand in hand."

He strode out into the hall, flashing an award winning smile at a passing group of fourth year girls, making them giggle.

Yes indeed, things were finally looking up for James. Head Boy, star seeker of the Gryffindor quidditch team, and future auror destine to take down dark wizards. Things had been rough the past year; losing Remus's friendship, losing Sirius's friendship too, Peter's possession, it had all been just awful.

Nearly as awful was the distance between him and Lily growing even greater after the fight in the bathroom. He thought she'd never want to look at him again, she was so infuriated. It was the first time one of his plans to win her affections had backfired so explosively and spectacularly.

But then he and Sirius had swept in and saved the day down in the Chamber. Sure he hadn't really known Lily was there—he'd only heard Peter was in danger before he'd taken off—but that was really just a bonus, showcasing how selfless he was, that there had been no ulterior motive, no scheme to impress her.

Surely after seeing how much he cared about his friends, Lily would see he wasn't the terrible, insensitive jerk she always insisted he was. And now with them being tasked as Head boy and girl together, the time spent in each other's presence was sure to bring them closer. Add into that his plan to befriend and make amends with Snape and Lily would see him for the kind and caring person she always wanted.

"Sorry I'm late," James announced, all but strutting into the prefects compartment, "Head Boy reporting for duty."

"Nice of you to join us," Lily said in annoyance, "We've been waiting on you to start our duties."

"You can't rush perfection, my dear," James said, turning on the charms as he faced Lily. The dashing smile slipped off his face though when he saw the regular prefect 'P' on Lily's robes.

Lily raised a brow at James gobsmacked expression, "Something wrong?"

"But you," James stammered, "You were supposed to be…if it isn't you, then—"

"How kind of you to grace us with your presence," came a decidedly impatient and unimpressed voice to his left.

James reeled back in surprise, "Mary? What are you doing here?"

"Same as you," Mary replied, raising her hands to make finger quotes, "Reporting for duty."

"You're a prefect?" James asked, genuinely surprised. It was a little late in the game to make her a prefect. Usually they chose you in fifth or six year for the position and even when one messed up enough to warrant replacing, they picked another fifth year instead of a seventh year.

Mary cocked an unimpressed eyebrow, "Guess again."

She tapped her chest her finger striking a golden badge.

James's eyes practically bulged out of his head, "You're head girl?!"

"No need to sound so surprised," Mary drawled, hands on her hips, "We're going to be spending a lot of time together. So shape up."

In case anyone is wondering, I never had any intentions of making Sev and Lily head boy and girl. Frankly I don't think Severus would want to be in such a position because it would seem like a shallow reward from the authority figures who failed him in the past. It would come off as "hey, sorry we treated you as worthless. But since you nearly died just to prove you weren't the sack of shit we thought, he's a gold medal!"

Review please :)