Chapter Ten: Detention, Black

Sirius is worried about his brother Regulus. James and Sirius have a much needed heart-to-heart.

After his night with Lily, James woke up with a spring in his step. He was starting to feel like he might actually have a chance with Lily Evans. He had begun to feel that way last year when they first became mates. He loved being friends with Lily, and as much as he wanted to be more, he didn't want to ruin what they had. He had accepted his fate as Lily's friend, but he had never given up, and now he was starting to hope. This is either going to end horribly or amazing, James thought as he made his way to breakfast.

"Someone seems chipper this morning," Remus noted as they sat down at the Gryffindor table.

"Do I?" James asked. "Well, it's a beautiful day; it's our last year at Hogwarts; I've got my best mates with me. What else do I need?"

His friends stared at him for a few moments before Sirius asked, "What happened with Evans?"

"Nothing," James said innocently. They gave him a look that they were clearly not buying him.

"Speaking of Evans," Peter started while looking up and down the table. "Where is she? Isn't she usually here already?"

The boys looked around to confirm Lily Evans was, in fact, missing in action from the Gryffindor Table. "You're right, Pete," Remus agreed. "She's usually one of the first ones here."

"Maybe she's having a rendezvous before class," Sirius said, wagging his eyebrows suggestively.

James just gaped at him.

"Really, Padfoot?" Remus said.

Sirius howled with laughter at the troubled look on James's face. "Relax, Prongs. I'm just fucking with you. Besides, Evans is right there."

Sirius gestured behind James, and all four boys turned and watched as Lily Evans made her grand entrance. They were not the only ones either, James noticed bitterly. Several heads turned in her direction as she made her way to the Gryffindor table with Marlene, and it didn't take a genius to figure out why.

She looks stunning, James thought as he watched Lily approach the table. Did she do something with her hair? And look at those lips. Damn, that skirt is definitely not regulation. She looks amazing.

"Wow," Peter said, breaking the silence as the Marauders continued to gawk at Lily. "She looks—"

"I know," James said, cutting him off. He really didn't want to hear his friends objectify Lily. "Shit, she's coming this way. What do I do?"

James whipped his head around back towards his friends while trying desperately to act like he was not ogling Lily.

"Just be cool, damn," Sirius said. "So, Evans looks fit today? That's nothing new. Just relax, and try not to remember that every guy in here is definitely thinking about shagging her—"

"Hello boys," Marlene said brightly, sitting down next to Remus. "Who is everyone thinking about shagging?"

"Uh, McGonagall," Sirius lied effortlessly. "Obviously."

"Yup!" Peter practically shouted. He had always been a terrible liar. "We were definitely talking about shagging McGonagall."

"For fuck's sake, Wormtail," James hissed. "Keep it down."

"Why doesn't it surprise me that you have a thing for older women, Black?" Lily joked. She sat down in the empty seat next to James, and he nearly stopped breathing. "Good morning, James."

"Hi," James said, somewhat breathlessly.

"Jealous, Evans?" Sirius asked with a smirk.

Lily laughed while pouring herself a cup of coffee. "Yes, Sirius, I am wildly jealous. Simply green with envy. For the record, though, I think McGonagall is way out of your league."

Sirius gasped. "I resent that!"

"She's got a point, Padfoot," James joked.

"Traitor!" Sirius exclaimed. "I could easily seduce Minerva McGonagall."

"Prove it," Lily challenged. "She's coming this way."

Sure enough, Professor McGonagall was making her way towards them as she passed out timetables.

"Fine," Sirius said through gritted teeth. He shot James a look that read, I'm only doing it for you, which made James feel a little guilty. After all, Sirius was only continuing this façade because Lily and Marlene overhead him talking about how bloody fit Lily looked. Hmm, James thought. Maybe Padfoot does deserve this for speaking about Lily in such a crass way.

"Good morning, Minerva," Sirius greeted as Professor McGonagall approached them. "You look absolutely ravishing this morning. Is that a new hat?"

McGonagall just simply glared at him, so Sirius continued talking. "New glasses? Something's changed."

"Detention, Black," McGonagall responded. Everyone at the table howled with laughter. "Now, let's discuss timetables."

James, Lily, Sirius, Remus, and Marlene made their way to Transfiguration after breakfast. Peter didn't scrape a high enough O.W.L. to continue in N.E.W.T. Transfiguration, so he went back to the Common Room.

As they walked into the classroom, Lily pulled James aside. Sirius and Remus shot him a curious look, but he simply waved them off.

"I just wanted to say thank you," Lily started. "For the chocolate."

"It wasn't a big deal," James said, blushing.

"It was very sweet, and the absolute perfect way to start my day. So, thank you," Lily smiled at him. She reached up on her tiptoes and planted a light kiss to James' cheek.

He was so stunned; he didn't even notice that they were still standing in the doorway until someone cleared their throat. Lily and James jumped and turned around to find themselves face-to-face with none other than Severus Snape.

"Do you two mind?" Snape sneered. "You're blocking the doorway."

James was seething. Of course, Snivellus interrupts my moment with Lily, James thinks. That fucking twat.

James is about to open his mouth to say something when Lily tugs his arm. "Come on, James. Let's go find a seat."

The class is mostly full at this point, with only a few seats open. Lily drags James to a table right in front of Sirius and Remus, who continue to give the two of them a curious look. James glared at them, and they pretended to read while clearly still eavesdropping on his conversation with Lily. Fucking gits.

"Do you mind sitting with me?" Lily asked as they started to pull their books and quills out. "I'm rubbish at Transfiguration, and it looks like my usual partner has abandoned me."

She glanced over at Marlene, who was sitting with Dorcas Meadowes and appeared to be in full flirt mode. Good for you, McKinnon, James thought. Get it.

"Of course, I don't mind," James assured her. "But you're not rubbish at Transfiguration. I don't think you could be rubbish at something if you tried."

Lily laughed. Their conversation was interrupted by Professor McGonagall, addressing the class.

"Good morning," she greeted the class in her usual crisp manner. "Well, this is a very significant year for you. You will sit for the most important exams of your life in just a few months. We have a lot of material to cover, so we best not waste any more time."

James found it very hard to concentrate on what Professor McGonagall was saying because he was so distracted by Lily's thighs. As Lily crossed her legs and adjusted her position, her skirt hiked even higher up her leg. Why does she have to be so bloody fit? James was trying so hard to concentrate and not gawk at her thigh. But as it was, all he could think about was running his hand higher and higher up her leg until he reached her knickers –

"Mr. Potter?" Professor McGonagall's sharp voice dragged James out of his fantasy, but not before his pants become noticeably tighter. "Is sitting next to Miss Evans too much of a distraction for you?"

"What?" James glanced at Lily and noticed she was trying very hard not to laugh. At least she's not mad at me,James thought. Sirius and Remus were making no such attempt and were laughing loudly behind him.

"Pay attention, or I'll be forced to assign you a new seat," McGonagall warned.

He chanced a peek at Lily once Professor McGonagall had returned to her lecture. He was surprised to find she was already looking at him. She offered him a shy smile before returning to her notes. Yeah, I'm not going to learn a damn thing in this class.

Lily and James walked out together at the end of class. His friends, for once, had made themselves scarce, for which he was very grateful.

"You know, Lily," James started nervously. "If you ever need help revising for Transfiguration, I would love to help."

She smiled at him. "Thanks, James. I might seriously take you up on that offer. Well, I should go catch up with Marlene. See you later."

James watched as she ran up to Marlene. Lily always looked beautiful, but something about her today was different. Besides the hair and her shiny red lips, she was carrying herself differently. Lily seemed to be radiating self-confidence and poise, something that she had been missing the last few times James saw her. It was great to see that side of Lily again, and James thought she had never looked sexier because of it.

Apparently, I'm not the only one who thinks so, James noted bitterly as he watched several heads turn in her direction as she walked.

"You do realize that every straight man in Hogwarts is picturing shagging Lily Evans right now?" Sirius clapped James on his shoulder.

James glared at him. "Shut up, Padfoot."

Unfortunately, Sirius was right. Throughout the rest of the day, James couldn't help but notice just how many guys were checking Lily out. It's disgusting, James thought while watching a pair of fourth years try and look up her skirt as she walked by. Does she always get this much attention? James knew other blokes fancied Lily, but he had never really given much thought as to just how many other blokes fancied her, or at least thought she was fit.

"Check that out," Remus said, dragging James out of his own thoughts.

Blimey, not Remus, too! "Yes, Evans looks fit. Must you all rub it in –"

"I'm not talking about Lily," Remus cut him off. "I'm talking about that."

He gestured towards the Slytherin table. The four Marauders turned to find Severus Snape eating at the Slytherin table, and he was in deep conversation with Regulus Black.

"That is a bit strange," James acknowledged. "I don't think I've ever seen them speak to each other before. I mean, they don't exactly run in the same crowds, do they?"

Sirius's grip on his fork threatened to break the utensil in half. "What is that Death Eater doing talking to my brother?"

"We have no proof he's a Death Eater," Remus pointed out.

"Do we need any?" James retorted. "He's a slimy git who hates Muggleborns. That's enough proof for me."

"Maybe it's nothing," Peter suggested. "I mean they are in the same House, it's not that weird for them to talk."

"It doesn't look like nothing," Sirius hissed. He wasn't wrong. Whatever Snape and Regulus were talking about, it was most certainly not nothing. "He's fifteen years old."

"I know, Padfoot," James said reassuringly.

Sirius had been particularly concerned for his brother's well-being ever since he ran away from home last summer. Regulus, while not a bad person, was always over-eager to please his parents. Leaving his brother behind had been the hardest part for Sirius, and he still felt guilty about it. He would occasionally try and catch up with Regulus at Hogwarts but had so far been unsuccessful. Regulus took Sirius leaving home as a personal slight and wanted nothing to do with his brother.

"Why don't we head to the Quidditch pitch tonight? Flying always clears your head," James suggested. Sirius grunted in response, which James took to be a yes. "Brilliant!"

After dinner, James and Sirius made their way to the Quidditch pitch. James real reason for suggesting this activity to Sirius was because he thought it would be a good place to talk about Regulus.

"You're really worried about Regulus, aren't you?" James asked as they walked.

Sirius nodded. "He's just so young and impressionable. You know how badly he wants to please people. I worry if he starts hanging out with Snivellus and Mulicber, and that lot, he will start to get ideas. He doesn't have anyone to provide guidance or give him advice. You know my parents; they are all aboard the Voldemort train. Regulus becoming a Death Eater would probably be the proudest day of their lives."

"You've got to talk to him," James said.

Sirius waved him off. "You know he won't listen to me. I've been labeled public enemy number one since I moved out."

"You've got to try," James insisted. "This is bigger than your differences and your shitty parents. This is Regulus's soul we are talking about. You know he's a good kid. He's just misguided sometimes. He needs his big brother right now."

Even though he won't admit it, Sirius loves his brother deeply. James knows it. He also knows Sirius will regret it for the rest of his life if he doesn't try to talk to Regulus.

They were quiet for a moment. When Sirius finally spoke again, James was surprised to hear his voice trembling. "What if it's too late? What is he's already done it?"

James grabbed Sirius's shoulders and forced him to look at him. "You have got to try. If there is still a sliver of hope for Regulus, you cannot give up."

"But what if I did this?" Sirius asked. "What if by leaving home, I pushed him in this direction?"

James wanted to cringe at the pain he heard in Sirius's voice. But he needed to be strong for Sirius right now. My brother needs me, James thought.

"Sirius, you cannot blame yourself for Regulus's actions," James said. "You had to leave that house. You know it wasn't safe for you there."

For years, Sirius suffered mental, physical, and verbal abuse at the hands of his parents. His dear mum even blasted him off the family tree after he ran away. James knows the only reason Sirius stayed as long as he did was for Regulus. His parents had never treated Regulus with the same distaste as they did Sirius. Of course, Regulus didn't actively try and act out against the Black family name. He was always trying to please dear Walburga and Orion, which easily made him the favorite child. While Sirius had a hard time leaving his brother, he knew deep down that Regulus was never in as much danger as Sirius himself had been.

James knew Sirius still carried scars from his time at Grimmauld Place, both physical and psychological, and he was grateful every day that Sirius got away when he did. But if there was a chance to save Regulus, James knew Sirius would go to any length to help him.

"I'll talk to him," Sirius agreed. "Will you help me keep an eye on him?"

"Of course," James said. Sirius grabbed James roughly and enveloped him in a fierce embrace.

"Thanks, mate," Sirius said. James didn't say anything; he didn't have to. Sirius and James would go to the end of the Earth for each other, and they both knew it.

"Flying?" James asked after a few moments.

"Flying," Sirius agreed.

With that, the two boys spent the next several hours flying. While James knew the matter of the battle for Regulus's soul was settled, for now, it was by no means over.

James and Sirius made it back to the Gryffindor Tower ten minutes past curfew, and there was still a handful of people milling about in the common room. One of them being none other than Lily Evans. She was curled up in what James knew was her favorite armchair reading a book.

Usually, James would take this opportunity to flirt with Lily shamelessly. However, he didn't want to give her any reason to take points since he was a few minutes past curfew and Head Boy. James and Sirius tried to stealthily slip by her and up to their dormitory unnoticed.

As he placed his foot on the first stair, he thought they were in the clear, until – "You're late, Head Boy."

James whipped his head around to find Lily standing behind them with her arms crossed. Dammit, why must she look so hot when she's angry?

"Evans didn't see you there," James said while ruffling his hair nervously.

"Yes, you did. Don't lie, Potter. It's not very becoming," she responded.

"Are you going to take points from me?" James asked doubtfully.

She thought about it for a moment before breaking out in a broad grin. "I guess not this time."

James couldn't help at smile back at what felt like an inside joke between the two of them. It would be pretty hypocritical of her to take points from me when she was out past curfew as well just last night, James thought.

"Right," Sirius said, reminding James that he and Lily were not alone and were, in fact, in the middle of the common room. "Well, I feel like I'm intruding here, so I'm just going to go to bed."

He slapped James on the shoulder before heading up to their dormitory. Lily made her way back to the armchair to continue reading. James hesitated for a moment before turning away from the staircase and plopping down on the couch next to her.

"Business or pleasure, Evans?" James asked while nodding at her book.

"Pleasure," Lily answered, flashing him the cover of her book.

"Pride and Prejudice," James read. "Never heard of it."

"It's a Muggle classic. Jane Austin is a literary genius," Lily gushed.

"What's it about?" James asked curiously.

"Oh, just your typical boy hates girl, girl hates boy, girl and boy fall madly in love," Lily explained.

"Hmm, that sounds oddly familiar," James mocked while staring at Lily pointedly.

Lily blushed deeply. "Yeah, I guess it does." She offered him a shy smile, and James felt his heart grow three sizes.

Oh yeah, there is definitely hope.