James and Bellarltrix walked from the apperation point of platform 9 3/4 hand in hand. Over the summer, the pair had found themselves growing close to each other. While they hadn't gone all the way, they were comfortable around each other. They had been on several dates during the summer, including a move and dinner in the muggle world. James had explored the town a few times before so he knew his way around.

"Are meeting them on the platform or on the train?" Bellatrix asked. Ignoring the looks they still got due to members of two of the most prominent families in magical Britain.

"On Platform. It's easier to find each other out here." James answered. "Do you want me to ask Slughorn to see if he knows anyone who can help you with your mastery?" Bellatrix wanted to find a tutor to help her achieve her ruins mastery but didn't know where to look and who she could trust.

"You can try, but knowing Slug he'll drag it out to keep you in his little club." Bellatrix answered. While there was nothing evil about the potion master, he would use the odd dirty tactic where it suited him.

"I'll live." James shrugged. They shared a smile and a quick kiss. The other marauders soon joined the couple. Bellatrix and James embraced each other and kissed goodbye to one another. James would sneak out of Hogwarts to see her every Saturday and meet up on Hogsmead weekends.

"I can't remember the last time Bellatrix was touchy-feely." Sirius commented as they looked for a compartment.

James shrugged in response. "I gotta say, things are going pretty well for us." He bragged. The group found an empty compartment and piled in.

"That's good to hear." Remus commented as he sat next to the window.

"Before we go any further, I want to ask you something." Sirius said to James with a focus that was rarely seen from the wild Marauder.

"Sure, what is it?" James asked as he sat next to him.

"How do you feel, about Lilly Evans?"

The other three Marauders' eyes widened at the question and they leaned back into their seats.

James looked at the roof as he thought about his . James' life had changed drastically from the beginning of summer and he has a long with it. Before he was a single prankster, who chased a muggleborn and was wary of the future. Now he was dating a pureblood, who would become his wife and felt a impending sense of doom when he thought about the future.

But how did he feel about Lilly Evans? And how did he feel about Bellatrix Black? Both were smart and beautiful witchs, but that's where the similarities ended. Apart from the obvious physical aspects, there was the fact that Lilly was a muggleborn. Practically a foreigner. Bellatrix was born and raised in the magical world like he was. While Lilly never enjoyed his sense of humour. Bellatrix would challenge him to step it up, with her own wit. Lilly would have to learn a lot. Bellatrix already knew it. So his answer? "Honestly. I don't feel much for . Weird, I know. But I just... don't."

Sirius continued to look at James in silence. "Huh. Who would of thought?" He spoke up, as he relaxed into his seat.

"I guess it's partly because she's actually given me a chance to prove myself." James thought aloud.

"Well, you're about to be able to put your money where your mouth is, Progs." Remus spoke up.

"Huh?" James responded before the door was opened. Turning around, he saw none other than Lilly Evans.

"Can we talk James?" She asked. The Marauders all looked to one another in surprise. She hadn't called him James since the beginning of their third year.

"Erm, yeah, sure." James answered and walked out of the compartment to meet her. James shut the door behind him. "So what did you want to talk about?"

"This." Lilly answered as she offered him an envelope that was addressed to her.

"I think that's for you." James joked as he scratched the side of his head. Hiding what was actually doing. As his fingers brushed over his wire-frame glasses, he activating the mage sight rune cluster. He doubted Lilly anything cursed, but certain enchantments would do that for her.

"Just read it." Lilly glared at him.

James shrugged and took the envelope, reopened it and read the letter inside.

Dear Lilly Evans

Thank you for being stupid enough to have always turned down James' advances.

From Bellatrix Black.

The future Lady Potter.

James was confused. "Didn't the girls tell you, me and Trixie were betrothed?" He asked surprised.

"They did mention it. But what I want to know is how you ended up in a marriage contract to such an awful woman?" Lilly questioned.

"Because I wanted to be." James shrugged. At Lilly's questioning look, he elaborated. "Well she's smart and sexy, two things a Potter always looks for in a witch, not related to me, that's a more recent addition, cheeky and one hell of a duelist among other things I like about her."

Lilly was surprised that she had blushed when James had indicated that he found her sexy. "But what about her family? And I thought you hated Slytherins?"

"Well, Sirius, Andromeda and Arcturus are alright. We've agreed that the rest can't be trusted. And I've never hated Slytherin. I hate a lot of the people in that house sure, but I've never hated them as a whole." James answered without pause.

"Oh, well. I should get going . Bye James." Lilly responded awkwardly, before rushing back to her friends.

"Bye?" James responded in confusion before re-entering the compartment.

"What was that about?" Sirius asked.

Soon.

"I don't believe it." Remus said shocked. While Sirius laughed like a mad man. "You took her into the muggle world for a date! And she actually liked it!?" Remus' response spurred Sirius into another bout of laughter.

"Yeah! We even met up with Ted and Matt came over, and she was fine!" James responded enthusiastically, before turning to his best friend. "You alright, Padfoot?"

"Yeah. Yeah. I was just thinking about how the rest of mine and Trixie's dear family would react." Sirius answered once he calmed himself down. "So does she know about Ted and Andi?"

"No. That's the only thing I haven't told her." James answered.

"What!?" Remus all but yelled in shock.

"Relax, would ya, Moony? She already figured out your furry little pressure problem. Besides, that's one of the smaller secrets I told her. I've told her stuff I've not even told any of you!" James answered back. "I'm even teaching her to be an Animagus."

"So how come the whole school doesn't know?" Remus questioned.

"She said it was good blackmail if she ever wanted us to do something." James responded with a shrug.

Later in the week.

The Gryffindor and Slytherin sixth years were just packing up from their first positions lesson for the year. "We'll wait outside for ya." Remus informed James.

"Alright." James nodded. The other Marauders already knew what James was up to so there was no need to answer any questions. Lilly caught the interaction and decided to stay behind. The first few days back at Hogwarts had been fairly eventful for the Potter heir. By now his betrothal to Bellatrix Black was well known, and some of his fellow housemates hadn't taken the news well. Some of them had stupidly decided that meant he was turning dark. James did his best to point out the flaws in their logic, and those he didn't listen to him learned he still wasn't someone to mess with. "Professor Slughorn, I need a favour!" James announced.

Slughorn's face illuminated as he turned to face his student. "Oh, and what might that be my boy?"

James ignored the 'my boy' comment and answered. "Well it's not for me. It's for Bellatrix. You see, she's studying for a mastery in ruins before becoming a unspeakable. But we don't know where to look. We were hoping that you might know someone who could help."

Slughorn was silent for a moment, then he answered. "Yes, I do believe I know the perfect person to help Bellatrix. But I am afraid I will not be able to introduce them until little Yule celebration. In the meantime why don't you join my little club? It can't hurt to know some of the guests beforehand, and Bellatrix a chance to catch up with those she met during her time here."

It was plain as day what Slughorn was trying to do, but James felt it would be best to comply. "Sounds good professor. What's the dress code?" James responded in a polite manner.

"Semi-formal. I have the upper years on Sundays." Slughorn answered with a bright smile.

A few months later.

Both James and Sirius were dressed in robes with the crest of their respective houses over their hearts. "Got your invite?" James asked.

"Right here." Sirius answered as he showed James the letter with the broken Gringotts seal.

Last week James, Sirius, Regulus, Andromeda and Narcissa received invites to the will reading of Arcturus Black at Gringotts bank.

The pair quickly made their way to the headmaster's office where they would be flooing from but were wary of being ambushed. The blood purists had been more aggressive this year than the years before. Unsurprisingly, they arrived before the Slytherin members of house Black. They would have gone straight ahead, but Dumbledore refused to open the floo connection until they were all there.

James and Sirius shared a look that said: "What is he playing at?" They looked back to Dumbledore who wore an innocent, grandfatherly smile, that looked irritatingly smug to the two lions. It wasn't long before the three Slytherins arrived.

"May we go now, Headmaster?" Sirius all but spat.

"Aren't you going to greet your family Sirius?" Dumbledore questioned.

"No, I'd rather get going." Sirius answered.

Dumbledor let out a tired sigh. "Very well."

Once the floo was activated, Sirius threw in some floo powder shortly flowed by his invitation, before stepping through. The rest of the group quickly repeated the process.

They arrived in a meeting room within Gringotts. All the chairs were removed and replaced with a large pensive, but the desk where the goblin would sit was still there. Orion, Cygnus, Druella, Walburga and Bellatrix were already there. Bellatrix was wearing a black dress with the Potter family crest and was stood by herself when they arrived. James and Sirius quickly made their way over to her. James greeted his betrothed with a toe-curling kiss, which repulsed the others, much to Sirius' enjoyment. "We'd have been here sooner but Dumbledore was being a pain." James told her.

Before Bellatrix could respond the doors to the room were opened by a pair of goblin guards, revealing another goblin, Cassiopeia Black and her nephew Alphard Black. James' entire went ridged. While he knew the other Blacks were more bark than bite, these two weren't. Both of them were announced as infertile early on in their lives and as such were seen as ill-suited to marry in the pureblood circles. So they had served the house of Black by gathering information and blackmailing other families. They could cause them some real trouble if they wanted to. While Sirius liked them and spent most of his time out of Hogwarts with his uncle Alphard, this was something different entirely. Cassiopeia and Alphard gave the pair a nod and James sighed in relief. And so did Bellatrix.

The third goblin who was wearing a suit approaches the large pensive and poured a memory in it. "This memory is the last will of Arcturus Black the third. Come to me once you have viewed it." The goblin announced. James gave a slight smirk when he realised that he had been invited while Lucius wasn't.

The humans in the room entered the memory.

Inside the memory was a room exactly like the one they were currently in. Arctirus stood before them while a man in a suit stood at the back.

"I, Arcturus Cygnus Black, make this my last will and testament.

To Orion Black. I grant you headship of the most ancient and noble house of Black, until your oldest son, Sirius reaches his twentieth birthday." Sirius was stunned, but if the reactions of the more zealous members of the family were anything to go by. It wasn't universally agreed upon.

To Cygus Black. I leave you my books on business deals. Read them." James and Sirius had to stop themselves from showing their amusement at the remark.

"To Bellatrix Black and her betrothed, James Potter. I leave you my personal house elf Monty and my private collection of books on ruins and rituals. You are a brilliant witch Bellatrix. James has enough intelligence to allow you to thrive." Bellatrix smiled as she remembered the times she pull a random book off of one of his shelves and try to read it. Occasionally asking Monty to explain a word to her. She would sit on the floor so they could read it together.

"To Alphard Black. I leave you my home of The Black Adder. It is a far more appropriate house for a member of the house of Black than that hole you currently live in." Alphard smiled as he shook his head. "I have also set aside a vault of two thousand gallons for you to give to a Black you feel has appropriate need of it."

"To Cassiopeia Black. I leave you the potions I keep for my old age." Cassiopeia simply nodded.

"To Sirius Black. I leave you my notebook on being head of house Black and this piece of advice. Never ignore good advice because you don't like it, or the person giving it." Sirius gave a begrudging nod.

"To Regulus Black. I leave you my books on dark magic and curses. Remember to head the warnings." Regulus' remained blank like usual.

"To Andromeda Black. I leave you mine and Ursala's wedding rings. I feel like you may need them in the future." Andromeda had to stop herself from gasping, but she faintly jumped. Something that Bellatrix noticed.

"To Narcissa Black. I leave you the emerald bracelet that you have always had your eye on." Narcissa gave a composed smile.

"Toujours Pur. Always pure. The motto of the house Black can mean many things. For my father, it meant to act purely in the best interests of our family and its members. For myself, it meant to put all my focus into anything I do. For my sister, Dora, it meant to act purely for the health of others who did not deserve to be . Stay smart and stay strong, and the house of Black will always prevail."

"This is Matthew Snyde acting as witnesses." The man at the back announced.

With that, the memory ended. They all got what Arcturus had left them. As everyone began to filter out, Andromeda held Bellatrix and James back. Once it was only them and the goblin guards she spoke. "I need to tell you both something." She said nervously.

"What is it?" James asked concerned.

Andromeda took a deep breath and answered. "I'm pregnant."

"Shit." James quietly said to himself as he ran his hand through his hair. "Oh shit."

Bellatrix knew that since the start of their relationship that James was keeping a secret for Andromeda. When she asked him about it James said it wasn't his place to tell and wouldn't say anything more about it. But now she knew it was a relationship, it all fitted together for her as it had for her grandfather. "Tonks is the father. Isn't he?" Bellatrix's tone was emotionless. It caused the pair to look directly at her. Andromeda could only nod. "You're both stupid."

"I wasn't intentional!" Andromeda retorted.

"Are planning on keeping it?" Bellatrix questioned with a piercing gaze.

Andromeda immediately shifted from nervous to defiant. "Yes. We are."

"So he already knows?"

"He does."

"Then I better see a ring on your finger before it is born! No godchild of mine will be born a basted!"

"Godchild!?" Andromeda repeated in shock.

"Can you think of anyone better to be their godmother?"

"We were actually thinking about asking either you or James."

Mat is short for Mattew Bell and I'll get into why that is important later, as well as seeing Arcturus' final moments.