Everyone in the castle noticed. While only a select few actually knew the circumstances surrounding the rift in the Marauders, it wasn't difficult to tell that something had happened, and who was at fault. Sirius was rarely seen anymore, and when he was, he kept his head down, only spoke when spoken to, and shuffled out of the room as quickly as possible.
On the occasions he happened to walk into the same room as the other three Marauders, the tension in the air was palpable. Upon seeing them, Sirius would freeze and what little color he had in his face would drain. The chatter in the room would cease, all the students watching the impending interaction with bated breath. James, Remus, and Peter would notice the sudden silence and glance up, noticing their former friend. Remus would drop his gaze quickly, a fierce blush creeping up his neck, and he would hunch more tightly over his book or parchment. Peter's eyes would scan Sirius' face, his expression a strange mix between frustration and pity, before turning to Remus in an attempt to distract him. James would glare defiantly at Sirius, as if daring him to approach them and try to talk. Sirius would then duck his head, shoulders hunched, and he would leave the room without retrieving whatever it was he came in for. Then the whispers would start.
There were several theories circulating about what could have possibly created a schism in such a tightly-knit group of friends. Some believed that Sirius had insulted Lily Evans and James had thrown a fit, but that didn't explain why Remus and Peter were so angry. Others thought that Sirius had tested out a new jinx on one of the Marauders and it had gone awry, but that had happened before—several times—and had never caused any lasting tension. The prevailing theory was that the falling out in itself was a prank the Marauders were playing on the school, though no one could work out what the end result would be. But that idea was eventually thrown out as well; the row had been going on for much too long and each boy looked far too upset for it all to be a rouse.
While it was concerning, the lack of pranks and other antics was actually somewhat welcome at first. The students—and the professors—all knew too well what it felt like to be the butt of a Marauder prank, and the row between them dispelled any and all pranks for its duration. For the first few days, it was pleasant only having to be wary of Peeves. After a week, it was suspicious (this was during the height of the rumor that the fight was a prank).
After two weeks, it was clear that the Marauders truly did have a falling out, and it didn't look to be mended any time soon. A general air of melancholy fell over the castle.
Lily Evans was determined to fix it.
While Lily was often reproached for being nosy and inserting herself in affairs that weren't hers, there was one group she refused to involve herself with more than necessary, and it included one pig-headed arse named James Potter. However, as loathe as she was to admit it, Hogwarts needed the Marauders. The war was getting more and more serious by the day, and their silliness and pranks helped lighten the mood and distract the Hogwarts inhabitants from the turmoil raging outside its walls. The idea that the Marauders, the most tightly-knit group of friends in the castle, could disintegrate left no hope for the rest of the students. Lily knew she had to talk to Sirius, as he was the one who had clearly been ostracized; the problem was that he was impossible to find. Years of dodging Filch, professors, prefects, and Head Boys and Girls had worked to his advantage. Sirius Black was proficient in the art of avoidance.
Lily was patrolling the seventh floor one night—in quite an irritable mood, as she'd caught at least four couples snogging in alcoves and broom closets and one Ravenclaw had given her an attitude when she ordered him back to his Common Room—when she heard a quiet shuffle down the corridor to her left. Huffing, she followed the noise, preparing her usual speech for the student out of bounds. She rounded the corner and immediately jumped back to hide herself, hoping she hadn't been seen. Peeking around the stone, she saw that Sirius was still pacing back and forth, his brow scrunched in deep thought. What on Earth is he doing? she wondered. She was about to reveal herself when she heard the stone wall shifting. Sirius opened his eyes, sighed, and stepped toward the wall and out of her line of sight.
Once sure he was gone, Lily stepped out from around the corner, and found that a large oak door had appeared in the wall. She blinked several times, trying to remember if a door had ever been there before. She was fairly sure it never had; she had patrolled this corridor many times before, and there was only ever stone across from the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy. Hesitantly she approached the door, hoping that it wasn't cursed. She lightly touched the doorknob, and when nothing happened, she gripped it, turned, and pushed the door open.
Inside was a small, sparsely furnished room. It contained a four-poster bed, a small fireplace, a desk and chair, and one Sirius Black. "Evans!" he started, jumping up from his seat on the bed, "how did you get in here?"
Lily was still gazing around herself in wonder—magic never ceased to amaze her—and answered absently, "I followed you."
Sirius huffed, leaning back against the four-poster again. "Figures. I've gotten too used to the cloak," he muttered to himself. Looking up, he asked, "Why're you here, Evans?"
Lily shifted her gaze to Sirius. He hardly looked like himself anymore; he was pale and skinny, his cheeks and eyes somewhat sunken in. His hair was disheveled, but not in his normal I-rolled-out-of-bed-like-this-look-how-sexy-I-am way, more in an I-could-barely-bring-myself-to-get-out-of-bed-let-alone-take-care-of-myself way. His lips were tightly pursed, and his eyes wary. This was not the Sirius Black she knew.
"I want to help," she said softly. She didn't know what to do with her hands; they felt heavy by her side, awkward on her hips, and confrontational crossed over her chest. She eventually settled for clasping them in front of her.
Sirius scoffed. "And how, exactly, do you plan to do that?" he sneered. Lily was vaguely surprised he hadn't tried to deny it. Though, to be fair, she had just caught him sleeping in a secret room rather than his dorm room—it wasn't exactly something he could deny.
Lily opened her mouth and then closed it with a snap. She hadn't exactly thought that far ahead. "Well," she started, waving her hands in an effort to force the right words out, "what did you do?" Sirius just shook his head, and frustration bubbled up inside Lily. "Look Black, I can't help you if you won't tell me what caused all of this!"
"That's what started all this in the first place!" Sirius yelled. Lily jumped, caught off guard at the sudden outburst. Sirius had been so reserved lately, and she hadn't expected that kind of emotion from him. He began to pace around the room, talking more to himself than to her. "I wasn't able to keep my stupid mouth shut, and now my friends hate me. James glares at me constantly; I can feel his eyes burning through me anytime I'm anywhere in his line of sight. Peter looks at me like I'm this pitiful thing, like a half-squashed flobberworm or a kicked kneazle. And Remus…Merlin, Remus won't look at me at all, and that's the worst by far." Sirius collapsed back onto the bed facing away from Lily, as if all his energy had been sapped. He remained quiet, fingers clutching at his hair, and ignored Lily's presence.
Lily was at a loss. She sat lightly on the other side of the bed and placed a hand on Sirius' back. He jumped, startled, but didn't pay her any attention otherwise. "I'm sorry," she said quietly.
Sirius dropped his hands to his lap and turned slightly, so half his face was visible but he wasn't really looking at Lily. "Why do you care?"
Lily removed her hand from his back and said honestly, "They're your friends, and it's awful to see you all like this. I mean, I don't know what happened, and I'm not pushing you to tell me," she rushed when Sirius opened his mouth in protest, and even though she did desperately want to know, "but you shouldn't have to hide from them all the time. It just seems like they're punishing you unjustly."
Sirius just shook his head and looked away from her again. "No, they're not. I deserve every bit of it."
Lily thought for a moment. "Have you tried talking to them?" she asked, well aware that it was probably the stupidest question she had asked in all her time at Hogwarts.
Predictably, Sirius nodded. "It didn't go well."
"Have you tried talking to them individually?"
"Evans, please, they're never not together. Merlin," he laughed humorlessly, "were we always like that?" Lily nodded, though he couldn't see. "Anyway," he continued, "they don't want to hear it. They don't want anything to do with me."
"You can't keep living here," she insisted.
"I have been for quite some time and will continue to do so, thank you very much," he responded tersely.
Lily sighed and stood. "I don't know what else to tell you, Black," she said. She started toward the door, but stopped short and turned back to the slumped boy. "Listen, I know they're your best friends, but they're not your only friends. If you ever need to talk or anything…Well, I don't mind."
Feeling sufficiently awkward, Lily left. As she was closing the door behind her, she heard Sirius' quiet voice. "Thank you, Lily."