AN: The whole bit between Walburga and Sirius was inspired by a prompt from tumblr

Monday 1st August 1977

Potter Manor, 10:00

James looked down at his letter in complete disbelief. He wasn't entirely convinced that this was a fake but who would fake a letter from Hogwarts? Could you even fake the seal? Was there magic that prevented that? There were for family seals. Surely there would be for Hogwarts as well.

Which meant that this was real. Very, very real.

Mr James Potter, we would like to extend to you the opportunity to be Head Boy of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Of course, there was a lot more to the letter than that but that was the important paragraph. Sentence, really. The rest was just waffle and telling him he needed to either accept or decline by a certain date. Within three days, actually. Was that enough time? Or was he making too big a deal about this?

He didn't want to go ask anyone or tell them. He didn't want any other options to sway his. Even if he didn't have one at the minute. His parents would be so proud and that would be awful to deal with if he turned it down.

But why was he even getting offered it? He was in no way the best-behaved student; he was pretty sure he had a record number of detentions. He wasn't even a Prefect. Did you not have to be a Prefect? Enjoy enforcing the rules and all that?

Sure, in the back of his mind he was somewhat aware that the Head Girl and Boy didn't necessarily have to be picked from the selection of Prefects. It could literally be anyone. But they usually were two of the Prefects, another two people being promoted to Prefect in their place. That way, there wasn't such a big jump from the responsibility being Prefect to Head Boy or Girl.

But if he took this, and it was an if, he would be going from normal student to Head Boy. A troublemaking student at that. Did that not take him off the list for being Head Boy? Obviously not. But still...

Did he take it? Did he become Head Boy? Who would be Head Girl with him? Would Evans have been offered it? Where there any other girls in his year that were as brilliant as she was? He didn't think so but the Professors might think otherwise. James kind of wished the letter said but of course it couldn't. Whoever was being offered the Head Girl position would have to accept or decline before he knew anything about it.

He chewed on his lip some more. He would have to make a decision too. What would his friends think? Would they be happy? Supportive? They were the best sort of friends a person could have and James didn't think they would actually hate him for something like this but...

James shook his head. Now he was just being silly. He was starting to sound like Remus when he was brooding (and, yes, Remus did brood. So much). No. This was good news. Happy news. No brooding allowed.

Making a decision, James grabbed his favourite quill and dipped it a bit too far into his ink bottle in his eagerness.

Dear Professor McGonagall,

I am writing in response to your gracious offer and I have come to the decision that-

Evans Home, 10:30

"Lily, a letter came for you from Hogwarts," was what she was greeted with as she entered the house.

She had been sent out for some emergency toilet roll because apparently, they had none, which was never a good thing.

"Book lists must have come."

This was a bit on the early side for them but she wasn't going to complain. Diagon Alley was much more enjoyable when you didn't have to rush about like a headless chicken. She could maybe actually savour her ice cream as opposed to using it to cool herself down.

"I didn't get one," Chryssie disagreed.

"Probably something to do with Prefects then," Lily said, putting the bag on the counter. "Whoever's going up next, can you put the toilet paper in the bathroom?"

"Do they tell you early about new rules?" Rosemary asked her daughter. "And leave it at the bottom of the stairs to remind people."

"I don't know," Lily said, picking up the bag to do just that. "There haven't been any new rules made over the summer in all the time I've been a Prefect. They have changed during the year, due to events happening at school."

"I suppose that's caused by the Marauders?" Chryssie guessed.

"Mostly," Lily said with a roll of her eyes.

Though, and she would never ever admit to this, it was quite impressive that the Marauders managed to get around the rules so much. Of course, they still broke a good many of them but they also were extremely good at finding loopholes.

"Are those that group of boys in your House that like pulling pranks?" asked Rosemary.

"Causing chaos," Lily corrected though with less venom than she would have in previous years. "But yes."

"Maybe they left a timed prank for whoever stays over the summer?" Chryssie guessed as Lily tore a finger along the envelope.

"I wouldn't put it past them."

Lily didn't hear whatever er her sister or her mother said next as she was too busy reading the letter. And then she had to read it again. Nope. Still the same words. She stared disbelievingly at it. What on earth?

Chryssie waved a hand between her and her letter. "Hel-loooo, earth calling Lily?"

Lily pushed her hand away to stare at the letter again. She couldn't even reread it; she was in that much disbelief. So much disbelief, in fact, that she didn't even see Chryssie reach over and snatch the letter from her until it was out of her hands.

"Hey!"

"Dear Lily Evans, we are writing to inform you of -" Chryssie muttered, quickly scanning through the letter. And then she stopped right where Lily had stopped and looked up at her. "You have got to be kidding me."

So Chryssie saw the exact same thing she did. Then she wasn't seeing things. It was real. The whole thing was real. Lily nodded mutely.

"Wow. I mean wow. This is... well, this is amazing!"

Lily was suddenly engulfed in a massive hug.

"Oh, well done, Lily," Chryssie squealed as she pulled back.

"Are either of you going to let me in on this?" Rosemary asked.

Lily hadn't forgotten she was there but she still hadn't regained the ability to speak.

"Lily..."

"Lily got offered the Head Girl position!" Chryssie blurted out.

"What!"

"I got offered the Head Girl position," Lily repeated faintly.

Tuesday 2nd August 1977

Paris, France, 14:00

Frank sat back and relaxed, a cup of coffee between his hands. He wasn't a big fan of coffee (he was a proper, tea-drinking Brit, after all) but it seemed to be the right thing to do when one was in Paris. Especially when you were in a cafe right by the Eiffel Tower. This had to be the best start anyone could have to a tour around Europe. Sure, his was more of a tour around Italy and France but he was making a quick detour to Vienna - to listen to a performance of the Boys Choir. It was meant to be a magical experience. Not literally, of course. They were muggles, after all. But still, it was meant to be very good. Not something to be missed. So, he wasn't missing it.

It was a pity that Alice hadn't been allowed to join him. Their parents (hers, really, but his had voiced their concerns too) had decided that it would be improper to allow them to be together without a chaperone. Especially in France of all places.

Well, they would just have to come here together once they were married. Maybe even this time next year. Wow, he was going to be married in a year. That still hadn't sunk in.

He would be spending the rest of his life with Alice. Definitely not a bad thing. A very good thing. The best thing. They would be able to do stuff like this together all the time.

But there was plenty of time ahead of him to be thinking of things like that. Anyway, Alice would like to be included in the planning, he was sure. But Frank would have to make sure this little place got included when they did do such planning.

Saturday 6th August 1977

Blackpool, 11:00

"Aren't you a little old to be digging a hole in the sand like that?" Lily asked, standing over her younger sister.

Chryssie put her spade down and stood up from her crouched position.

"You're never too old to be digging massive hole on the beach." She said cheerfully.

"You aren't burying me in that," Gavin informed them over the top of his newspaper. "I got enough of that when you were younger."

Both girls giggled. They had enjoyed doing that. All three of them. Especially when he would break out of the sand like some sort of monster and chase them up and down the beach.

"Do you remember that, Tuney?" Lily asked her older sister hopefully.

Hopefully because, well, she wanted to have a nice conversation with her for a change.

But Petunia wasn't having it. She just turned up her nose and looked away as if she hadn't heard anything. Lily's face fell but she immediately forced it to brighten. She didn't want her parents to be annoyed at Petunia. There had already been enough of that. Petunia hadn't wanted to come along on the holiday, so she hadn't. She had just finished her last year at school and she didn't want to do anything for a few weeks (and then she was going to look for a job Lily thought- Petunia still didn't want to go to university).

"I remember that," Chryssie assured her. "I also remember you two trying to actually bury me."

"It took an age to get all the sand out of your hair," Rosemary reminisced.

"Stupid curls," Chryssie muttered, shaking her head.

Her curls bounced; the bright summer sun glinted off them. Lily was momentarily jealous until she remembered the tangles Chryssie had had to brush out of then this morning.

Monday 8th August 1977

Potter Manor, 18:00

"Here you go, Mr Head Boy," Sirius said, far too happily handing James the salt he requested.

James did not appreciate this at all. In fact, he positively glowered. Oh, this was way too fun.

Oh, he was happy for James - he really and truly was. A bit shocked at first but extraordinarily pleased for him once the shock wore off. How could he not be? This was like the highest honour the school could bestow on you. Of course, it would go to James. Who else would it go to?

But that didn't mean he would tell James that. Or pass up on the opportunity to tease him.

"How is the homework for the Head Boy going?"

Even Mr and Mrs Potter were getting in on it, though they said the words with proud smiles every time. He exchanged a grin with Mrs Potter.

James sighed and rolled his eyes but Sirius saw that he swelled a tiny bit with pride every time they referred to him as that.

"It's fine."

"You've started?" Sirius asked in shock, dodging James' swipe at him.

"Oh, ha, ha, ha. I'm not that bad."

"You're worse," Fleamont said in a deadpan voice. "Have you started your summer work?"

"Er..."

"I thought so."

Friday 12th August 1977

McKinnon Farm, 08:00

"I did it! I got in!"

Teagan came barrelling into the kitchen with a letter held aloft.

For once, everyone was in there and they all looked up at her. Tierney even looked up from the newspaper. Which was some feat for first thing in the morning.

Running out of places to run to, Teagan started jumping up and down in the same spot, the smile never leaving her face.

"I did it! I did it! I did it!"

"Can we ask what you managed to do?" Ciaran asked, setting his cup of tea down.

"I got accepted into the Wizarding Relations Office," she said proudly.

Marlene looked around and saw that they all looked how she felt.

"I didn't even know you applied," she said to her sister.

"I didn't tell anyone," Teagan admitted. "I didn't think I would get in."

"Stuff and nonsense," Mary told her. "Of course, you'd get into wherever you'd try."

"That's not how it works, Ma."

"Well, you did well."

"What department does that office come under?" Ciaran asked.

"It's a part of the Department of International Magical Cooperation but has ties with the Department of Magical Transport and Department of Magical Games and Sports." Teagan explained. "There's a lot of overlap."

"Sounds like a lot of work," Patrick commented.

"Yep!" Teagan agreed excitedly. "It means they are always hiring, always looking for people. And there are so many opportunities..."

"We're glad for you, Teagan," Tierney congratulated her, putting his newspaper down so her could stand up and engulf her in a hug. "Well done."

That was everyone's cue to also give her a hug and soon the middle McKinnon was literally in the middle of seven McKinnons.

"Can't breathe, guys, can't breathe!" Teagan complained but she was laughing.

"That's what you get for getting a cool job," Patrick told her.

"Any job," Tierney corrected, looking at his eldest daughter with pride. "Getting any job is worth celebrating."

Teagan grinned, even eider if that was possible.

"With any luck, I'll get to go all over the world!"

"Sounds awfully busy," Marlene said, scrunching up her nose.

And it sounded like a lot of paperwork. Yuck.

"I know," Teagan said breathlessly, eyes shining and clutching the letter to her chest. "Doesn't it sound wonderful?"

Unknown Location, 19:00

Pain. So much pain. He wasn't aware of any other thought except for he was in pain. But he had to suffer through it. He had to. This was not something he could fail at.

This meant that Regulus had to keep his arm outstretched and steady. Allowing the pain to flood through him. A gasp left him and dark red eyes bored into his very soul.

Was this getting drawn out on purpose? The others that went before him surely hadn't taken this long. At least he wasn't screaming like most of them did. He refused to. Even though he had gotten himself so worked up. Being kept for last tended to do that to you. Too much time for thinking.

But he had been deliberately held back until last. Like a particularly delightful sweet to be savoured. Tortured in this case but the Dark Lord seemed to revel in that sort of thing.

He clamped his teeth down hard on his lips so je wouldn't Disgrace himself and cry out. No. That wasn't going to happen. Not when the best thing that would ever happen to him was happening right now. Even if it didn't feel like it. It would be worth the pain. It had to be. It would make everything better.

It had to.

Monday 15th August 1977

Diagon Alley, 10:00

Was this stupid? He was feeling kind of stupid. There was no reason for him to feel nervous. No reason at all. And yet here he was. A stupid bundle of nerves. In the middle of Diagon Alley of all places. The Potters thought that they may as well all do their school shopping and then let him go off with the Tonks'.

Sirius had to admit that this felt better than him just being passed over to them.

Yes, he was aware of how ridiculous it was for a seventeen-year-old to feel this way. But it didn't stop him from feeling it.

It was only for one night too! Not like a week or something. And he liked Dora. They were cousins. Friends even. There was no reason for him to be so nervous going to her house. Talk about stupid.

Sirius pulled his leather jacket closer around him. It was his favourite piece of clothing and for more comfortable than robes but maybe he should have worn robes. They would make a better impression or at least a normal impression. The Potters were, though only the adults. James was wearing a casual blazer. And they said they didn't mind him wearing his leather jacket.

He found himself relaxing as he got immersed in his school shopping - only feeling a bit awake and when the Potters paid for his stuff just like they did with James'. Their reassurances of "You're ours, now, Sirius," just confused him but he went with it. It wasn't like he had any other way to lay for his school supplies. Had he really grown that much over the year? Those were some awfully long robes. But they fit him perfectly. Huh.

Then they got their books and then Mr Potter spent far too long at the Apothecary discussing the befits of the preparation and storage of ingredients, much to James' embarrassment.

So, yes. It was turning out to be a nice day. Fun, almost.

Of course, something had to go wrong today. Of course, it did. Nothing could go smoothly for him, could it? And it went wrong in the worst possible way.

Yes. His parents appeared. Right in front of him too. Well, more like they swung around the corner he and James bad been racing to. Sirius had been in thread and everything which meant that he was the one who nearly crashed into his parents.

Correction, his mother. Because of course it had to be his mother.

"Mother."

He couldn't very well ignore her, could he? No matter how much he wanted to. No. Manners had been drilled in (beaten in) far too firmly to allow him to do that. Though, he did manage to say it through gritted teeth to demonstrate his displeasure at this whole situation.

"Disgrace."

Oh, it looked like actually acknowledging his existence was one of the last things she wanted to do. That definitely worked in his favour. He could have fun with this. It would help make him ignore the sting of that word. Sure, she had called him that before but never in public. Too much of a chance of losing face.

What had changed to make her feel safe to say that in public? Not him leaving, she never called him that at all in public the past few times he had seen her over the last year. Which wasn't much but still.

She was staring expectantly at him too. Was he supposed to say something else to her? What was he expected to say? Why did he stop? It would have been better if he had just kept on walking but it was too late now.

"Uh..."

"As moronic as usual, I see," Walburga sniffed, giving him a disapproving look up and down.

James chose this moment to catch up with him.

"Hey, Sirius, that wasn't a fair race," he panted out as he was bent double. "This massive crowd came out of Flourish and Blotts, oh, good morning, Lord and Lady Black," James finished in a far more formal tone as he straightened up and saw just who was in front of him.

"Potter."

James flinched at the tone, not used to it like Sirius was. Hey, the surname Potter almost got as much disgust as his name did! Who would have thought?

Mr and Mrs Potter weren't far behind. They also immediately stiffened when they realised who was in front of them.

"Orion. Walburga."

"Fleamont. Euphemia."

And even a dagger would be unable to cut through this tension.

"Where is your youngest?" Euphemia asked, looking around. "Regulus, isn't it?"

Sirius was very grateful that she did because it wasn't like he could exactly ask after his little brother, could he?

"Yes. Our son is at the Quidditch Supply Shop, making sure that the broom he is ordering has the correct specifications."

Was it just Sirius or was there pointed emphasis on the word son, there? Mother didn't say youngest son or second born there, like she usually did. Just son. Like Regulus was her only one.

"Indeed."

The two families stared each other off, making everyone else in the street go awkwardly around them. It was rather embarrassing even though Sirius knew that neither woman could look away without losing face.

Thankfully, neither had to because a small child broke loose from her parents and ran between the two of them giggling. The spell was broken and now neither set of parents were looking at each other.

"We need to finish our shopping before the riff raff completed take over, Walburga," Orion said.

"Indeed." Walburga sniffed, drawing her cloak around her.

Neither of them bothered to say goodbye as they left, though Fleamont sent a sarcastic, "Nice talking with you," to their backs."

It got Euphemia and James chuckling but Sirius could only smile as he followed his parents'' backs. Was that all that was going to happen? No further acknowledgement? Nothing?

Of course, he hadn't been expecting anything. He hadn't.

But why did it still hurt

12 Grimmauld Place, 17:00

Her wand tip lit up red. A hot red. Was there any other kind of red? It looked like the end of a cigar. Or one of those awful cigarettes. Regulus couldn't help but flinch as she spun around with that crazy look in her eyes. It had never been directed at him but that didn't mean that it wasn't unnerving. There was something almost inhuman about it. Regulus didn't like looking at it for very long, it made every hair on his body stand on end.

"That's it. This was the last straw," Walburga hissed, pacing up and down, her wand still glowing red.

"I'm contacting your grandfather to make it all official but there is something I can do without his permission."

Regulus didn't twig to what she was talking about until there was a hissing noise and then the smell of burnt tapestry filled the air. It invaded his nostrils and it was all he could smell. It felt like Walburga's wand was pressed against the tapestry forever but in reality, it was only a few seconds.

The wand was pulled away and suddenly Regulus was their only child, according to the tapestry. Well, a scorch mark was also their child but that wasn't the point.

"Much better," Walburga said in satisfaction. "Just how our family should have been."

She gave it a happy look before leaving the room. Regulus stayed.

He waited until the door was closed behind her and her footsteps faded away before he approached the tapestry. Curls of smoke where still drifting away from it. They hung in the air just like that acrid smell.

Sirius' picture was no longer there, just to the left of his. Just a hole and some blackened tapestry. Just like the one to the left of Narcissa and Bellatrix.

Thursday 18th August 1977

Hogwarts, 11:00

"Okay, you have to admit that this is weird," Potter said as soon as the door closed behind Professor McGonagall.

She left, allegedly to retrieve some parchment work but more than likely to give the two of them a chance to talk without an adult present. And yes, Lily still didn't really think of herself as a proper adult. She might be seventeen but she was still in school and there was no way a teenager was an adult.

Anyway, that was besides the point. What was the point was that she had been left alone with Potter of all people? Which wasn't as bad as it could have been - he was different than he was at thirteen, after all, but still. They didn't exactly have a lot in common, did they? Certainly not enough to fill in the silence.

"What's weird? Being Head Boy and Girl?"

Because that definitely felt weird to Lily. It still hadn't quite sunk in. It wasn't real yet. She didn't feel old enough for it. There was no way she was going into her final year of Hogwarts, was there?

"I bet I wasn't what you were expecting at all?"

Why did he have to wear that stupid smirk even though he was just talking normally? Urgh. It was completely unnecessary. Lily shook her head but didn't bother replying. Yes, he wasn't what she had been expecting but, to be honest, she wasn't sure what she had been expecting.

"I mean," he began. "You don't exactly have a high opinion of me, I'm the worst behaved student in the year, I mess around all the time and I don't put any effort into my studies. Definitely the last sort of person to be Head Boy."

And now Lily couldn't help but frown. She didn't respond which Potter took to mean she agreed with him and he stood up.

"I'm going to see if McGonagall is coming back."

He turned as if to leave and now it was Lily's turn to stand up.

"James," she called after him and thankfully he stopped.

"Yes?" He asked, turning around.

She stared at him a minute, taking in the hair that was standing on end and the defensive stance.

"I think you'll make a good Head Boy."

Monday 22nd August 1977

MacDonald Manor, 19:00

Alice couldn't help but sighed as her best friend brought out a whole stack of wedding catalogues. She had even made notes on their contents!

"Oh, not you too, Mary."

Her best friend gave her a reproachful look.

"It's your wedding, Alice."

"Yes, but it's not until next year."

"You need to be prepared."

"Yes, but I'm not going to obsess over it," she huffed.

Mary gave her a weird look.

"What is with you? Why aren't you excited? When we were thirteen you had this all planned out right down to the rings the napkins were held in.

"Thin, gold played with an F and an A intertwined," Alice recalled with a small smile.

"See! It was that important to you! What's changed?"

Alice sighed. "Nothing's changed, Mary. It hasn't. But, my wedding. It's going to happen and it's going to be lovely but it's also a year away yet that's all people can talk about around me."

"It's the most important event of your life! Of course, it's going to be talked about!"

"I'm more than a bride to be, Mary!"

"But it's the most important thing you'll be. You know, except for Lady Longbottom."

Alice sighed; Mary just didn't understand. No one did.

"Come on," Mary urged. "You have to look at these table decorations. They're just so elegant."

Alice couldn't help but smile. "Mary, you think peacocks are elegant."

"They are!"

"Everybody knows they're unnecessarily ostentatious."

"The Malfoys have them. I heard they're even breeding white ones."

"Exactly!"

Wednesday 31st August 1977

Longbottom Manor, 15:00

"You're what?"

Frank winced; he had been unaware that his mother's voice could go that high. She wasn't usually the shrieking type. Unlike some. But the shriek or anything else wasn't going to change his mind. He was going to do this and no one was going to stop him. His mind was made up.

He had just returned from Italy this morning, full of determination. And also, tiredness. He had practically fallen asleep during the floo journey back.

"I'm going to become an Auror."

It was the most logical choice; Frank had determined after all his thinking. He was worried about what was happening with this Dark Lord, he felt restless about not doing anything to help so why not do something to help? He didn't want to be a Healer so Auror was obviously the best choice.

Not according to his mother.

"But surely you've missed the deadline? Don't they open their recruitment early in the year?"

How on earth did his mother know that? But it didn't matter because although she was right, she was also wrong.

"I have but they have their training twice a year. August and January. I got in for the January slot."

He would be just half a year behind Kingsley. That would be pretty cool. His mother didn't seem to think so.

"Trevor, talk some sense into him!"

Potter Manor, 20:00

Sirius watched James run back and forth with more than a little bemusement. He always was when he was confronted with James method for packing. Which wasn't exactly a method, just a lot of madness. And running about. And confusion.

"Why do you do this to yourself, Prongs?" He asked as James tried to dump all his robes into his trunk without folding them.

That was never going to work. Sirius lifted them out.

"Hey! I'm trying to pack!"

"Not very well. Look, get them folded and they'll go in easier."

Sirius did a quick fold of one set. It wasn't anywhere as neat as a House Elf's but it was still neat. And definitely better than what James had managed.

"Oh."

James was staring at his now folded cloak like he had never seen it before. Sirius gave him a shove.

"Idiot."

"Says the one who folds his clothes!"

"You're supposed to do that, James."