A/N: I want to take this time to thank Anika for, as always, being so encouraging with this story and offering advice when I need it. You are the best, Yami!

The tour ended up taking most of the morning. The Potter's manor was surrounded by the hedge, which was itself surrounded by fields.

"We're the only wizards for miles," James had explained, "we don't want any Muggles snooping around."

Sirius had loved the mostly hidden field James said he used for Quidditch Practice, but it only made Regulus wish he'd brought his broomstick. What was going to happen to all their things at Grimmauld Place? Would they be able to go get some of it?

Regulus's favorite was the library. Bigger than even the library at Grimmauld Place, there were more books than Regulus thought possible to ever read.

Seeing his eyes light up, James had asked if they'd ever see him again. Sirius had laughed, but Regulus had said nothing. Almost more than his parents, something about James put Regulus on edge. Possibly it was that James was the one who had given Sirius the courage to rebel. It could also have been the fact that something about James both fascinated him and terrified him. He couldn't name exactly what it was, but there was certainly something in James that no one else Regulus had met had.

Their tour finished, they were now stamping the snow off their boots. Mrs. Potter had been right. James's snow things had fit him fine, but Regulus didn't think they could be that old. James was only a few inches taller than he was.

"Some owls came for you while you were out," Mrs. Potter said, holding out two envelops. "Honestly, you'd think we'd been attacked."

"Thanks, Mum," James said, grinning at her while he took the letters. "I'll bet one is Moony's move. We'll be up in my room if you need us."

"Well, don't get too involved. Lunch is almost ready."

"No worries, Mum," James laughed, dashing up the stairs with Sirius right behind him. Regulus lingered behind a bit, and instead of going upstairs instead turned and followed James's mother into the kitchen.

"Mrs. Potter?" He asked hesitantly. She turned to look at him, a soft smile on her face.

"Yes, dear?"

"Can I…May I help you prepare lunch?"

She seemed to ponder this for a moment before smiling and handing him a bowl and wooden spoon. "There you go. Why don't you just sit on that stool behind you and stir that?"

Regulus did so obediently; hopping up onto the seat in a manner similar to what James had done earlier. They were silent for a bit before Regulus gathered up his courage to speak again.

"Mrs. Potter?"

She looked over at him, her arms buried up to her elbows in some kind of dough. Her voice was light and teasing. "What is it dear? Bored already?"

"No, it's not that," Regulus explained hastily. "I was just wondering what James meant when he said that one of the letters was Moony's move. What's a Moony?"

"Oh, that," she chuckled, turning back to her dough as she continued to speak. Regulus watched her kneading it with some curiosity. "James and his friends all have nicknames. You heard him call your brother Pads earlier, didn't you?"

Regulus had to think about it for a moment, but he did remember it vaguely so he nodded. "Yes ma'm."

"Well, that is short for Padfoot. Moony is his friend Remus. The two of them have an on going chess game that they play over vacations. If it's James's turn, he will make a move with the chess set he has in his room, write it down, and owl it to Remus. Remus has two days to respond, and James will move Remus's pieces so they match the instructions on the owl. He then has two days to respond with a counter move, and so on."

"Oh," Regulus said, trying to imagine doing something like that with one of this Slytherin companions. "That takes trust."

"Yes, it does. James trusts all of his friends indefinitely."

Regulus was silent for a while; looking down at the mixture he was stirring. He wasn't sure what it was, but it smelt like chicken. He looked up at her again. "Why are you doing that? Can't you just use magic?"

She smiled at him again, her wrinkled hands continuing to roll the dough back and forth. "I've found that with some things, magic leaves a bit of an after taste. Kneading dough and stirring that particular mixture are some of them."

"What is it, exactly?"

"The base for the chicken noodle soup we're having for dinner."

"Chicken noodle soup?"

"Have you never had it?"

Regulus shook his head. "Chicken isn't usually something we eat. If we were going to eat fowl at home, it's usually duck."

Mrs. Potter smiled again, "well, you just wait. I've been told I make a mean chicken noodle soup."

Regulus smiled too, returning to his rhythmic stirring. The silence was considerably less awkward this time, and Regulus had relaxed considerably before Mrs. Potter spoke again.

"Do you know James from school? Why didn't you come with Sirius last time?"

Regulus felt his face getting hot and didn't look up. "No. I don't see James or Sirius very often. I'm…I'm in Slytherin, so we don't have much time to talk."

There, he'd said it. He was a Slytherin and let her exploded at him and get it over with. He closed his eyes and waited for the yelling to start, and he was genuinely surprised when instead she started to laugh.

"Well isn't that a pleasant change!"

Regulus opened his eyes and looked at her, blinking several times. "Pleasant change?"

"Well, sure! All this house has ever seen is a Gryffindor influence. I think it could use some variation in what it sees. Slytherins aren't bad, no matter what James seems to think. They're just different."

"James dislikes all Slytherins?" Regulus wasn't sure why this information upset him so much. "I always thought it was just Severus."

"Well, he doesn't really know any Slytherins does he?"

Regulus shook his head. He knew that both James and Sirius had jumped to a lot of conclusions about Severus that hadn't always been true, but that were becoming true because they'd believed them so long.

"My best friend was a Slytherin girl," Mrs. Potter said with a smile, more to herself than to Regulus. "Her name was Emily. Some Slytherins aren't as bad as they are painted to be. I think the same is true for you."

Regulus didn't respond. He didn't think he was a bad person, but then he didn't think Severus was either. Regulus just knew what was expected of him, and he tried to measure up.

"Oi! Reggie! Where'd you go?" Sirius voice yelled from the top of the stairs.

"He's in here with me," Mrs. Potter responded as Regulus winced away from the sound of Sirius's voice.

Sirius poked his head in the door, a rather goofy grin on his face. "Buttering her up already, huh Reg?"

Regulus frowned but didn't respond. He did, however, look up as Mrs. Potter put a gentle hand on his shoulder.

"As well he might," she grinned. "You never know when it might come in handy. As it is, Regulus here gets to chose what we're having for dessert tonight."

Sirius's mouth dropped open, and Regulus grinned. He looked up at the kindly old woman. "Can we have strawberry tarts?"

"Reggie!" Sirius groaned, but she just laughed.

"Of course we can."