Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. I don't make money from this fic.
January 5, 1977 Hogwarts, Scotland - Charms Corridor, Third Floor
Hermione sat with Sirius in an empty classroom, knowing it wasn't being used this term. They'd picked here to meet with Regulus, since it was the most convenient, unnoticeable place for the three of them to be. Sirius was pacing and Hermione was perched atop the teacher's desk, reading while she wait.
"He's late." Sirius said, looking down at his watch. "What if he's not coming?"
"Sirius, relax. We said five-thirty, right? He's a fifth year, he's got Care of Magical Creatures on Wednesday. He's probably on his way up from the grounds." Hermione said, checking her own watch. They'd snagged a bite from the great hall, bringing some extras with them for Regulus, knowing he wouldn't be able to eat and meet with them. Sirius paced the length of the classroom again, wringing his hands.
"I say we give it ten more minutes before-" He was cut off by the door opening and Regulus slipping inside. Hermione looked up at the sound and marked her place in her book, setting it aside. She smiled at Regulus and handed him the little tray of food. He took it with a smile, and pulled a chair up to the desk and sat the food down. Before he sat, though, Sirius walked up to the pair, standing beside Hermione.
"Hey, Reg." He said, awkwardly, shifting his weight.
"Hey, Sirius." Regulus said. He looked up and locked eyes with his brother and Hermione felt the air in the room go tense for a moment.
"I'm sorry." Regulus said.
"Me too." Sirius told him, not breaking eye contact.
"I-" Regulus sighed. He took a deep breath. "I miss you."
Sirius nearly tackled his brother in a hug. Regulus hugged him back just as tightly.
"Merlin, I miss you, Reg." Sirius murmured into his brother's shoulder. He held the younger boy at shoulder length, looking over his features. They really were a lot alike.
"I…" Regulus opened his mouth, before closing it could see that he was trying to figure out his words, trying to figure out what to say without making matters worse. "Things have been bad since you left," he said quietly. Sirius's shoulders dropped. He'd known it would have gotten worse on Regulus, their mother was known for taking her rage from one son out on the other. He winced, remembering the last fight they'd had before Sirius had fled to the Potters'.
"Yeah. I'm sorry. Mum must have had a fit. But Dad usually doesn't let her go too far, right?" He asked hopefully.
"Sorry?" Regulus spat, stepping back from Sirius. "Sirius, I… Dad hasn't tried to stop her. She's that bad, you're blasted off the tapestry," he informed him. "It's been hell, she's trying to keep up with appearances. She wants me to join the Dark Lord."
"She's wanted that from the beginning. She wanted that from me. I told her she could shove it, but you? You're her little Death Eater in training. The perfect son. I reckon even if you didn't want to be that, she's made you that." Sirius quipped back, but then he sighed. He was angry at the situation, he told himself, not his brother.
"I'm a student member of the Order." He told Regulus.
Regulus chewed on the inside of his cheek, looking down at the floor. "Right, well, good for you!" He snapped. "I'm not perfect though, Sirius, I couldn't be if I tried. I don't want it, you're right. She's made me that, and I hate everything about it. You know, you didn't once think about the consequences of your actions. You've always been selfish."
Sirius stared at the younger boy. He was right. He had been selfish all along.
"Reg, I-" Sirius started, but he knew apologizing would do nothing. "I want you to know that, no matter what you get yourself into, no matter what problems you end up facing down the road, if you get yourself in a bind, I'm here." he said.
Regulus was silent for a good long while, wringing his hands together. Sirius knew that his brother was standing on the edge of the deep end, waiting to be pushed off into the darkness - but he also knew just how willing he was to pull him back up. It was clear that Regulus saw that, in that moment, as well. He hugged his brother tightly.
"I'm here, too."
Hermione shifted her weight on the desk behind them and the boys broke apart, suddenly reminded of her presence. She looked them over with a slight smile that Sirius couldn't place.
"Regulus, eat. Your food will get cold." She said. Regulus grinned at her.
"Roger that, Miss Potter," he responded, grabbing a plate and digging in. Hermione chuckled and it warmed Sirius's heart to see his brother and his girlfriend interacting so freely. He shook his head and sat down next to Regulus.
"So there was a reason I told you I was in the Order, you know." He said. "A couple, really."
"Is it 'cause she's in the Order and you don't want to be left out?" Regulus asked, shoving a forkful of food into his mouth. "Or, ooooh! You wanted to impress her. I mean, bro, I get it. You've always been a grower, not a shower, after all."
Sirius looked around for something to throw at Regulus, but Hermione put a hand on his arm to calm him. She smiled at him gently and he nodded, knowing what she meant. She knew this was just Reg baiting him, so he took a breath to steady himself before continuing.
"No. I didn't join the Order to impress her. I joined to protect her. She's a target, Reg. A pretty big one, if our sources are to be believed." Sirius informed him. Regulus dropped the smirk.
"If they're after her, you're gonna need more than just you protecting her. Potter, and Lupin, they're in on this, too?" He asked, his whole demeanor changing. Sirius nodded.
"They're not members, not yet, but we've all been sticking pretty close to her. Peter, too." Sirius said. Sirius noticed Regulus's eyes flashed down at the mention of Peter, and his eyebrows pulled together, but he didn't question it.
"You've got to be careful, Sirius. I'll try to keep you informed if I hear anything in my circles, but please, keep her safe." Regulus said. Sirius looked from his brother to Hermione, questions swirling in his mind. He nodded.
"Of course. I'll protect her with my life." He vowed. Regulus finished his meal and stood, preparing to leave.
"If you need me, send me an owl at breakfast. Mum's been sending a lot of mail recently, it'll go largely unnoticed. Just try not to do it too often, yeah? Keep up appearances and all that." He said. Sirius nodded. Regulus stuck out his hand to Sirius, smiling at the shocked look on his brother's face. Sirius shook his hand, finishing the embrace with a hug. They pulled apart and Regulus's eyes searched for Hermione. She had hopped down from the desk and was gathering her things to leave after having vanished the plate with the scraps of Regulus's dinner. Regulus spun Hermione around and hugged her tightly. She was shocked at first, but hugged him back just as firmly.
"Thank you for helping me get my brother back." He said to her. Then, softer, clearly not meant to be heard by Sirius, thought he heard it anyway, Regulus spoke again. "Take care of him. I can't lose him." She nodded, and he released her, nodding to them both before slipping out of the room.
January 30, 1977 Hogwarts, Scotland - Gryffindor Common Room
Sirius sat in his favorite seat by the fire, watching Lily and Hermione giggle over the butterbeer that he and James had snuck in from Hogsmeade for Lily's birthday. He and James had gone to Hogsmeade the previous weekend, which was the first visit of the new term, to procure party supplies while Hermione and Remus distracted Lily. Sirius knew that Hermione knew it was mostly for her protection, but it also gave her a sense of purpose, and for that she was grateful. Hermione had give Sirius a short list of things they needed for the party, including what sort of present she wanted to get for her. Sirius and James obliged all of her requests and James even saw an opportunity to woo Lily once again.
"Presents!" Hermione called, picking up the three bags very near the couch where the two girls sat. James perched himself on the back of the couch, and Remus took a seat in the chair across from Sirius, all the boys watching with anticipation. Hermione pulled out her gift to Lily first.
"This is from me, but Sirius helped." She said, handing her the box. It was heavy, Sirius knew, as he'd had to carry the blasted thing up from Hogsmeade. Lily unwrapped the present quickly, opening the box Hermione had placed it in for wrapping. She pulled out an ornate, cherry wood jewelry box. She looked it over with a big smile on her face. She set the present aside and hugged her friend.
"It's gorgeous, thank you!" She said. Hermione hugged her back, smiling. When Lily resumed her seat, Hermione handed her a little bag.
"That's from Remus." She told her. Lily opened the bag and smiled, pulling out two books. The first was a leather bound journal with "Lily" embossed on the cover in gold. The second was a book on ancient runes, one that Lily already owned. However, Lily was constantly complaining about how shoddy and rundown her copy was, and her face lit up seeing the new copy before her.
"Where did you find it, Remus? I thought they'd stopped printing it!" She asked, looking over to the lean, pale boy. He chuckled.
"I have my sources. Dad had to search half of England for it, though, so take care of that copy, would you?" Remus said. She leaped up and hugged her friend.
"Thank you!" She said, then returned to her seat and replaced the two books in their bag and sat them aside.
"Last one." Hermione said, picking up a small box from the floor. "Three guesses who it's from, and the first two don't count." She giggled. Lily took the small box wrapped in red and gold and Sirius watched James grin broadly from his perch on the back of the couch. Lily opened the box carefully and gasped at what she saw. Sirius knew it was a necklace. The pendant was a flower, five cut garnets forming the petals, set into sterling silver.
"James, this is too much." Lily said, admiring the gift, but trying to hand it back to James. James merely shook his head, trapping her hands under his and pushing the box back toward her.
"No such thing as too much." He said, then let the grin slide off his face. He looked into her eyes, a hand caressing her shoulder. "I'm not trying to buy your love, Lily. Don't think that for a second, alright? I'm just trying to show you how I feel about you."
"By buying me nice things?" Lily giggled, rolling her eyes
"By giving you something just as beautiful and brilliant as you." James said, running a hand over her cheek. Lily blushed and Sirius watched Hermione grin. She'd been part of this set up from the beginning. Sirius could see the aloofness Lily usually had with James melting.
"James…" Lily started with a sigh. She looked to Hermione for support, and she nodded encouragingly. Lily looked up to James with a smile. "If you're gonna try asking me out again, I'd suggest doing it now." She chuckled. His eyes lit up and he brushed a stray hair off her face before speaking up.
"Would you go on a date with me, Lily Evans?" He asked. "On Valentine's day?" Sirius thought for one gruelling moment that she was going to say no.
"Pick me up at noon in the common room?" She asked, a twinkle in her eye. Sirius and Remus broke out in triumphant grins as James launched himself off the back of the couch in celebration.
"One date, James Potter. You get once chance to show me why I should date you." Lily said smugly. Sirius grinned. He knew James had been planning the perfect first date for Lily since he started pining after her. James grinned ear to ear.
"Yes ma'am." He told her, dropping a wink in her direction.
"One last thing." She said, biting her lower lip.
"What's that?" James asked, unable to stop smiling. Lily leaned forward and kissed his cheek. She giggled when he blushed bright red.
"Thank you for the necklace." She murmured. Sirius wolf-whistled at his best friend and Hermione and Lily fell into a fit of laughter.
Sirius met Hermione's eyes across the room, and he took in the love and light in the room. It was a good night.