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Can't thank you all enough for the Follows, Favorites and Reviews for last chapter. You all are the best. Especially; pianomouse, Lemons2004, Calimocho, Raven that flies at night, xXMizz Alec VolturiXx, Navy Bow and Guest.

"You know, Amelia is going to kill you when she finds out you were completely sloshed like this," James almost giggled as he spoke. He had also had one or two too many drinks that night, and almost stumbled over his own feet.

Sirius waved his hand carelessly in front of him, "No, no, no. It will be fine. She'll understand it was to keep our cover. We were supposed to be following those two you-know-what's. It wasn't our fault that they ended up in a pub off in Muggle London."

Peter grumbled inaudibly. He had stayed mostly sober having extensively nursed a pint of dark ale, "Sorry to burst your bubble, Padfoot, but I agree with James. Your Mia isn't going to be very excited over the idea that you went after one of the people we were supposed to be gathering intelligence on." Peter quickly stepped under Sirius's arm and tried to steady his friend as they walked.

Remus didn't bother covering the snort that escaped him, "It's a shame you didn't get better marks than these two idiots, Wormtail. You're obviously smarter than both of them put together."

"Oi," James yelled directly into the werewolf's ear as Remus bore the bulk of James's weight as they walked, "I agreed with you and Wormy, why am I being lumped together with Pads?"

"Because you drank just as much as he did, when we all know how very little restraint you have even when sober," Remus stated as he shook his head and shared a knowing look with Peter.

The quartet had been following two specific potential Death Eaters; brother's in fact. It was almost certain that they were active followers of Voldemort, Hermione had confirmed it herself, but most of the Order still insisted on some kind of proof. Peter and Remus had originally been assigned to the brothers to expose some kind of evidence that they were Death Eaters. And they had been carefully following the siblings for a month now, but to no avail. They had enlisted the help of James and Sirius, hoping that they might be able to get a glance at the brothers' left forearms if a commotion was started. But it of course had gotten out of hand almost immediately…

The brother's had been joined by a few shifty looking friends. They were all dressed in dark or black robes and were comparatively quiet when taking in the surrounding pub atmosphere.

The Marauders had chosen a table close to the door and ordered a pint each. They began jabbering generic things about work and girls while Remus had set up a long-range listening charm. James and Sirius had ordered a few more rounds just to make sure that they blended in with the other patrons of the bar.

But after Sirius and James had downed five ales each, they were beginning to lose their patients. James had grabbed Sirius without a second thought and dragged him to the back of the bar. And just as they were about to reach the hallway with the loo, James yelled something about Puddlemere United and then promptly shoved Sirius into the table of dark figures.

Unfortunately several of them recognized Sirius, and the simple bar fight that James had been aiming for, quickly turned into a personal vendetta between Sirius and one of the idiots who had commented on his complete removal from the Black family.

They had been thrown out of the pub, and landed at the feet of an Auror, of all people. Apparently the seemingly ordinary muggle pub, had some magical connections. The Ministry Law Enforcer quickly directed the groups in opposite directions and watched them until thy disappeared from his view.

The only good thing about the whole debacle had been the fact that Sirius had punched both of their targets and torn the sleeve off one of them.

Remus had seen the bottom half of the Mark.

And so, despite the mess that the whole mission had turned into, they had at least one more confirmed Death Eater and a half dozen more suspects.

But Hermione didn't see it that way…

She saw it as Sirius putting his life at risk for a confirmation that they didn't need, "You did what?!"

Hermione had flooed to the Cottage at the request of Regulus. He had gotten word of an altercation in downtown London and was concerned when Sirius had been mentioned by name. She had immediately owled Lily and met her on the outskirts of the protection wards, right before the Marauders had arrived.

"Are you mad? Have you lost all sense?!" Hermione was screaming at the top of her lungs as Sirius cringed at each higher octave that she used. Though he was inebriated, he knew that the witch was only using such a shrill voice to torture him.

Lily quickly turned to her fiancé, "The Death Eaters have reported back to Voldemort already. You've exposed some of his prized followers apparently. They're probably going to come after you all now." The redheaded witch had taken a different approach to her own Marauder and simply used a flat monotone voice when addressing James.

This seemed to sober the wizard up quickly and he made sure to choose this words carefully, "I realize the night got out of hand. But the Order needed proof of them being Death Eaters… we did achieve that. And the rest of that group are basically confirmed as well."

A glare marred Lily's pretty features, "That's not the point, James. If you really want to be in the Order, you're going to have to stop acting like children. There's a war brewing, we need to be prepared. We can't afford mistakes."

That night, Hermione begrudgingly patched up James and Sirius. She did most of this in silence, only speaking when she had to ask things of the boys; like 'is the bandage too tight?' or 'how does your jaw feel now?'

She hugged and thanked Remus and Peter with genuine gratitude and prepared to leave just as James and Lily had departed.

"Stay," Sirius muttered as he stood in the now empty kitchen; his roommates had retreated to their respective rooms. His left arm was wrapped in a makeshift cast and a few bruises were beginning to color his face, "Please?"

Hermione shook her head, "I won't stay here and watch you put your life at risk for nothing." She grabbed her forehead and rubbed her temple in an attempt to numb the now shooting pain that had surfaced. The time sickness had not gotten any worse recently, but every once in a while, it would reappear just to make sure Hermione hadn't forgotten that her time was limited here.

Sirius closed the gap between them and gently cradled the witch's head, "How bad is it this time?"

"Not terrible; but Lily believes it will get much worse. There's really no question of that. She's trying to find a stability potion to help with the pain," Hermione said through clinched teeth. But just as she was finishing her statement, the pressure disappeared and her mind felt clear again. Hermione sighed deeply, "there's so much to do before I have to leave. I need to make sure that Harry is safe and taken care of. I need to make sure that Lily and James are alive, as well as Regulus, Marlene, and everyone else on that list on the timeline…"

"You know that you won't be able to save everyone," Sirius pressed his lips to her brow and then leaned his own forehead against hers.

Hermione nodded as a silent tear streamed down her cheek, "I... I know… but I have to try. I can't sit by and just do research. I can't wait any longer. I have to tell Peter… and Lily and James…I have to warn Alice and Frank."

And suddenly Hermione pushed Sirius away and beat her closed fist against his chest, "And you! You cannot do these reckless things! That's why you end up in Azkaban; that's how you died. You leap before you think, and that's only an endearing quality to a certain point. Sirius, I need you to be there when I go back... Harry needs you if Lily and James don't survive…"

The witch looked so young; so small as she crumbled to the floor. Hermione covered her face and sobbed as she thought of all the darkness and death that was supposed to descend upon these people that she had grown to love so dearly.

Sirius sat on the floor beside her and pulled her close to him with his good arm, "I'm sorry… I'm so sorry Hermione. I will try to be more careful from now on."

He didn't promise that everything would be alright, that somehow everything was going to work out perfectly and no one would have to die… because Sirius knew better than to make promises that he could not keep. He knew that Hermione wouldn't want just empty words for comfort, so he said the only thing that he knew would always be true, "I'll be right here, beside you. No matter what happens… I'm here."

He hadn't been summoned for a meeting for almost three months now, but when one of his dorm mates mentioned something about a bar brawl that involved his brother… Regulus had a sinking feeling that he would be called upon. He had discretely sent word to Hermione and asked that she check in on his brother.

As soon as his left arm flared up with pain, he wrote a brief note to Marlene as well;

'M, miss you nine times over. –R'

Whenever they owled it was usually at great lengths about every subject under the sun, so Regulus hoped that such a short letter would get the point across without raising suspicion. And they had agreed beforehand that a time needed to be stated for Regulus to get back in touch, that way Marlene would know if he was safe or if she needed to take action.

Regulus tucked his black robe and silver mask under his blazer and sneaked out of the castle and down to the edge of Hogsmeade. It was dinner time, so most of the castle and the village were too occupied to notice an out of bounds student. He apparated away without anyone seeing him.

The old manor was dreary and unwelcoming as Regulus threw on his cloak and mask and stepped over the threshold. He had been called before the Dark Lord before, but this time felt very different… it felt personal. He was quickly led to a dusty library.

Voldemort sat in a high back red velvet chair, casually skimming through an untitled book. The Death Eaters who had guided him to the room, bowed to their master and disappeared.

There was an extended pause as the Dark Lord finished the page he was looking over and tucked an elegant ribbon into the book to save his place, "My dear Regulus. Thank you for arriving so promptly when summoned. I do appreciate punctuality."

"Of course My Lord," Regulus bowed his head and made sure to use his most gracious voice, "It is always an honour to be called upon."

Voldemort smiled, if you could call what he did such a thing, and rose from his seat. He slowly paced in front of the young wizard, surveying him, "I'm sure you have heard about the… incident this evening. I am afraid it involved your brethren as well as your actual kin."

"Yes, My Lord. I heard some rumors of such an occurrence. I am relieved to say that the kin you speak of has been disowned by the Black family and my brilliant mother burned him from our family tapestry over two years ago," Regulus forced his his lips slightly upward as he said the words; he felt the bile churning in his stomach as he denounced Sirius and praised his mother.

"Ah yes… Walburga Black, a witch after my own heart," Voldemort placed his long pale fingers over the spot on his chest where his heart should have been, "Your mother is a shining example of what the Pureblood family should be."

"Thank you, My Lord," Regulus bowed his head again.

Voldemort stared into Regulus's eyes with such determination that the boy felt sweat drip down his neck, but the walls around his mind remained intact, "Such a loyal and well taught wizard you are, Regulus. So unlike your brother…" There was a flash of something over Voldemort's eyes that made Regulus anxious to leave. He quickly pulled tighter at the walls around his mind. Occlumency had actually been one of the staples in his pre-Hogwarts learning at his mother's demand, so Regulus was well prepared to protect himself.

"He will forever be a blemish on the Ancient and Most Noble House of Black," Regulus stuttered slightly as he gently reminded Voldemort of his lineage. Sometimes lineage could save you…

"Would you know why, your brother attacked our comrades?"

"No, My Lord. I have not had contact with that man since he graduated. And even during his Hogwarts years, it was only brief exchanges in unpleasant passing," Regulus squared his shoulders and cleared his throat so that the shakiness was gone.

"Are you sure? You know nothing of your brother's involvement in an organization that is rumored to be run by your Headmaster, Dumbledore himself?" Voldemort continued his slow pacing in front of Regulus.

"I'm sorry, My Lord. I know nothing of that except for the rumors you yourself have heard."

"I see…" The Dark Lord withdrew his wand and twirled the innocent looking length of wood between his long fingers, "And you would not change your mind, under any form of duress?"

"Of… of course not, My Lord," Regulus saw the flash again behind the Dark Lord's eyes. He willed his legs to remain still… he couldn't show weakness. No matter how much he wanted to flee… he couldn't show unfaithfulness.

"I am sorry, my dear boy… but there are a few skeptics in our midst. Some are unsure of your absolute devotion to our cause. There are rumors surrounding your pending betrothed; members of her family are said to be involved in the very organization that your brother is apparently a part of. And so…" Voldemort raised his hand and waved his wand effortlessly. A chair appeared out of thin air and Regulus was forced to sit down, "I'm afraid that I will have to test your loyalty."

Regulus clenched his teeth together to prepare himself for the pain he was about to experience, "Do what you must… My Lord."

A brief look of confusion fluttered across Voldemort's expression. But it was quickly replaced with a look of smug determination, "Let us prove those doubters wrong; Crucio."

Aaahhhhh! I know, I know... you all hate me... cliffies are the worst... I am truly sorry.

Things happen sometimes though, that can't always be helped. I needed Hermione to finally explode, needed Sirius to realize that he had to change his ways if he wants a chance to survive and I needed Regulus to show old Voldy that he was a loyal follower... so we'll see how all this plays out. What do you all think is going to happen next? =)

I promise, no swear, that the next chapter will be uploaded on Wed next week. New update day for the new year. Please stay tuned!

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***Reviews are very helpful things...

Always,

Misha

Ps. Check out the other stories by me: 'Begin Again' (which is complete!), 'The Bookworm and The Prankster' and 'Penelope Jackson: The Lightning Thief.'