JOnly about a month left when Regulus will have to meet the Dark Lord. Each day the face of was coming in his nightmare, he didn't want to go there, he wanted to run but a voice would say you are 'brave' each time, he would stop and face the horrible snake-like face. He can't just run away, he wasn't a coward. Fuck, he thought, why wasn't he in Gryffindor like Sirius. 'Don't curse your fate to have disadvantages in your life... Try to make your disadvantages, your advantages' said the voice in his mind it belonged to his father. How can he though? 'Spy' said the voice now belonged to Dumbledore, but he didn't trust the Headmaster. He has to tell someone about all the things to someone, the full story, not half. But how can he do that with all the Slytherins always around him? What if the Dark Lord suspects him?

"Reg"

"Reg" someone shook his shoulder and then a warm hand was placed over his. He looked up he was in potions class, and Julia was looking at him with a worried look.

"Hmm," he said and his voice shook a little.

"Are you okay? Your face has gone all pale," said Julia in a worried voice.

"Yeah, just got lost in thoughts," replied Reg.

"You know, you can tell me, you can trust me Reg," she assured him.

He smiled and looked at her he can but it will not help and she will only worry more but he can tell some parts, she has helped him before, and he trusts her. He flicked his wand and muttered "Muffiliato."

"You have to swear not to tell anyone, or we both can and will die," said Reg. Julia gulped but nodded.

"I swear,"

"I. . . . I was introduced to The Dark Lord over the summer, I met him," he choked and his face got pale. Julia took a deep inhale, her eyes wide in horror, and she tightened the grip on his arm. "He looked horrible, like a snake, it makes us all afraid."

"Oh God!" she gasped.

"His intentions are not good Julia, I am afraid, I am having difficulty sleeping since then."

"What did he want?" asked Julia recovering.

"He. . . . he wanted to hire us. . . . make us a Death Eater," he said. Julia's eyes widened and she has to use all her strength to stop herself from shrieking.

"Are. . . are you?" she asked.

"No. . . . but I don't know how long I can prevent it. My mother wants me to join them asap, to prove our loyalty to him," he said.

"And, do you want to join him?"

"Don't be stupid Julia, you know how much I hate him and his ideas, but I can't run away because he might punish my family if I do so."

"Go to Dumbledore, he will protect you and your family too,"

"Don't you think I have done that, I hinted about it to him secretly, and do you know what he suggested?"

"What?"

"A spy."

"No, it's dangerous, they say you know who can read minds," gasped Julia.

" I am an Occlumens and so is my brother, we were taught it by our father, no one can read our mind," said Reg.

"But it's still dangerous," protested Julia.

"I know and I have thought about it, but it seems the only possible option," said Reg.

"I don't like this idea Reg," said a worried Julia.

"I know, listen you have to ask my brother to meet me in front of the charms class, he can help me, he knows half of this. Julia, you pass my message and ask him to bring James too." Julia nodded, "And you will not tell about this talk to anyone, okay?" Julia nodded.

Dumbledore sat in his office the past few days had been hard for him, rest was the word whose meaning he no longer knows. 'The Diary' was all in his mind, sleeping, walking, eating, talking his mind was on the diary only.

A diary has been given to Malfoy and was kept in The Malfoy Manor was confirmed after he has done a lot of interrogation and mind reading, he has come face to face with Malfoy, he got lucky, 5-second eye contact was enough to prove that diary was indeed in The Malfoy Manor. Dumbledore has noticed pain in Lucius' eyes, and a lot of pain and fear, along with prejudice and anger.

He has been doing his study in Malfoy Manor now, sure he was powerful but not good at sneaking and stealth and this job required the best at this job because power will not help in this. He can't alert Voldemort or his plan will fail.

No one in the Order was capable of this, but he knows a person and his gang who are masters at sneaking and stealth. It was a risky job and could end up in death, but he has to take the risk.

But will they agree to help? If the leader agrees to help then the others will agree too.

"Marls I need your help," jumped James happily in front of her and she shrieked.

"About what?" she asked.

"Lily," said James grinning and Marls smiled.

"What happened in Hogsmeade? Lils told me that it was the best Hogsmeade visit of her life and not even the encounter with Slytherins and their comments spoiled her day. Instead, it got even better after that, but she didn't tell us the whole story," said Marls smiling. And James told her the entire conversation he had with Lily.

"Do you think she was talking about dating me?" asked James with a worried look.

"Yes, definitely you. I am sure that she is talking about you, she talks about you all the time to me and Mary, and not to forget the time she is spending with you these days," replied Marls honestly.

"So, what do you think? Should I ask her out?" James asked.

"Well, you have definitely matured since you came for advice to me and not your three dumb friends," Marls chuckled then continued. "I will suggest to you to continue whatever you are doing and then ask her in a few days' time, but continue showing your affection towards her."

"Thanks, Marls," he grinned and hugged her," You are the best."

"That I know. But I will recommend you that whenever you ask her, ask her privately. You both must have got closer and become the best best friend but I have still spent more time with her than anyone and I know her better than anyone, and I can say for sure that she is a private person unlike you, and that thing about Petunia and Snape just makes it more important for you to start things slowly and prove to her your liking and trust as a lover," Marls explained to him.

James took a minute to think about it and then spoke, "Yeah, you are right don't worry I will take things slowly."

"That's good."

"So, how is Benjy Fenwick?" he asked.

"He is nice, and kind, though not my type, he's .. . he is. . a ." she trailed off.

"A gentleman" James offered.

"Yes, he is very much gentleman and that's not my type," said Marls going red.

"That's what happened when you have me as a cousin and had to spend a lot of time with Marauders," laughed James

"Huh, you are a gentleman, at least to Lils," chuckled Marls.

"That's right."

Sirius and James were sitting in their dorm, the door was locked and 'muffliato' was cast on the room.

"You can remove the cloak now, Reg," said James and the boy appeared from beneath the cloak.

"What happened is everything okay?" asked Sirius.

"Till now it is, but not for long," replied Reg and then explained everything to them, about Voldemort, about him trying to recruit more students and about Rosier being tasked to persuade students and finally about him being forced to join him and about Dumbledore's offer.

James and Sirius exchanged alarmed looks.

"And what do you think of the offer?" asked James.

"Are you out of your mind Prongs? He is just a kid," said Sirius angrily.

"Let Reg speak, he is mature enough to make his decisions," said James in a strict voice.

"I think I can do it but I don't trust Dumbledore much," said Reg looking up at the two boys for their protests regarding Dumbledore. Sirius looked at James who nodded before speaking.

"I know what you mean, he seems kind of mad and his decisions can be stupid and end up wrong but his intention is right, he can look like a manipulative man, and his actions can make others and even himself suffer, but his intentions are right, I trust him wholeheartedly," said James.

"Are you listening to what you are saying, mate?" asked Sirus wide-eyed, he can't believe James saying these things.

"I know what I am saying, I have heard these before but didn't trust them at that time but then I started noticing things and I trust these things now, he has done the same thing when he fought Grindlewald, but that's sometimes needed, we need to be strong," said James.

"I agree with James," said Reg looking at his brother who was looking at James open-mouthed, before turning to him and nodding and pressing his lips together.

"But it's dangerous," said Sirius "You can die. Why don't you just run away?"

"And what will happen to mum and dad after I did so? And how long will I survive?" asked Reg.

"We all have to face it one day, Sirius and we know it, there's a war going on and people dying and if we will not do anything more will die," said James.

"I know that but. . . . "Sirius trailed off looking at Reg.

"Reg, who all were there that day, do you know their names?" asked James.

Reg nodded and told him about all names. James sat on his bed, thinking deeply as his hand moved up and down his face in tension.

"Well that's a lot of names and maybe there were more whom we know not of," he said after a minute.

"It's possible," said Reg.

"Do you know Occlumency? I can help you it's easy just yo-" James began but Reg cut him.

"Very well then, perfect," said James as he got lost in his thoughts. "Do you want to do this?"

Regulus thought about it then his father, mother, Sirius and Julia, what will he live for if he just kept running, and by spying he can solve it all or at least help.
"Yes, I want to do it," he said with determination.

"Okay, but I promise that if you will ever need any help of any kind we will be there for you, we will do our best to protect you," James said and looked at their sad face of Sirius. "The war is here my friend and we can't always ignore it we have to face it better start now than later. And I promise we will do our best to protect Reg or anyone."

"I know Prongs" smiled Sirius. "You have matured and changed."

"That I have, it was the need of time," smiled James.

"All the best Reg," said Sirius hugging his brother. "You are such a brave person, you belong with Gryffindor."

"I should better inform Dumbledore then," said Reg

"Come let's drop you there," said James, and all three of them left.

Regulus knocked at the headmaster's office door after James said the password( he learned from Remus).

"Enter" came a tired voice. "Welcome, Mr Black to what do I owe the pleasure?"

" I am ready to spy," said Regulus, and Dumbledore sat straight.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, Professor."

"Who else knows?"

"Julia, Sirius and James,"

"What did they say when you told them about this?"

"Julia and Sirius weren't up for it, but James was, he explained to Sirius too, that it was a need of time and that we can no longer ignore the war, we have to face it soon better face it now." Regulus saw a gleam of something like pride in Dumbledore's eyes.

"Well said by Mr Potter, now continue as usual and take these feathers, if you need to tell me something write it on a piece of paper and fold that paper around them, and burn it, I will receive the message instantly."

"Thank you, Professor," said Reg and he left.

Dumbledore looked at the door for a few minutes and then a smile appeared on his face, "The boy is a leader," he said to no one in particular.

"That he is Albus," said the portrait of Armando Dippet.

Dumbledore wrote something on a piece of paper and gave it to Fawkes who held it in his beak, "Fawkes, you have a message to pass when he is alone." The Phoenix flew out of the window, the old man tapped his wand on a large piece of paper on his table and ink lines appeared on it, a map of a big manor.

James closed the curtains around his bed as he was moments away from sleeping when blinding yellow light appear in front of him and a parchment dropped in his lap, he opened it and read it, this was odd, was it related to Reg?

He got up from his bed and moved to the headmaster's office and knocked on the door and entered. Dumbledore was looking with concentration at a map on his table.

"Sorry, for summoning you this late at night James, but as I said in the paper that everything is alright so no need to worry, I just needed your help," said Dumbledore looking up.

"My help?" asked James shocked, the greatest wizard asking for his help.

"Yes, I need your help."

"You must be joking," snorted James.

"I do like joking but this time is not right perhaps tomorrow I will tell you one that I heard from the Minister herself," chuckled the Headmaster. "Firstly thank you for giving support to Regulus and helping him choose the difficult task."

"I did what was right and it was the only option," James replied.

"Indeed. Now, come here James, look at this map properly," James moved and examined it, "If you had to hide something very important where would you hide it?" James examined the map for 5 minutes and then pointed at three points.

"That's what I think too," said Dumbledore looking at the map with more concentration.

"It's a map of a Manor," said James "But why you asked about this professor?"

"I need help to break in and steal something very important without anyone knowing and that's where I need your help."

"How can I help you with that? And why do you have to steal it?"

"It's important and guided by death eaters and string magic, I suppose. I can't let the owner know about the thing being stolen or everything will go to waste. I am not so good at sneaking but I know you and your friends are. I want you to plan the robbery, so we can steal the thing," said Dumbledore.

"I can do that, but I will need as much detail as possible." Dumbledore nodded and gave him a book. "Can I come along in the robbery?"

"I will not deny it but I warn you that it will be dangerous, you can die," said Dumbledore looking at the boy who was studying the map and working on it. "If you want you can bring along one of your friends or an animal."

James looked up at the Professor in panic, does he know about them being Animagus? He considered it for a moment, the only person who can help is someone who can easily sneak without being noticed and that was a rat, Peter.

"Do you know about. . . ." he trailed off in horror.

"Don't worry James, I like to hear everything about my students, I hear the gossip and keep an eye on them, then how I could ignore three people trying the hardest transfiguration in the school? Of course, I know and I knew about it since starting too, I even slipped my notes and books and Minerva's notes that she used so that you could have easy access to the materials. I was very proud when you three did it successfully."

"Ohh, it was you and Sirius and I thought that we got lucky," chuckled James.

"Now, who would you like to invite?"

"Peter, he is a rat and will be very helpful. Though, he gets nervous in such situations but he is brave enough to help us."

"Well, then it's settled, don't talk about it to anyone not even Peter yet, though you can ask for your friends' help if you need it, but without telling the truth to them and when your plan is ready, come to me," said the headmaster, "Now, you can go and sleep, you have big work to do, take your time. And thank you for agreeing to help. Good night."

"It was my pleasure professor," said James, "Good Night." He took the map and book and left.

Effort in agreeing to make the plan and actually making it was poles apart, it was harder than he has to do it alone as usually plans like this were made in their dorm room with four of them sitting around, but they used to do for fun and this was serious and he was trying hard not to go to them, not until he has read and understood about everything from the book. He was working on it on the balcony, today. He was so lost that he forgot about dinner, he was in there since the classes ended.

"What are you studying?" said a voice behind him and he jumped and fell from the chair he has conjured. "Ohh, I didn't mean to startle you, sorry."

He looked up and saw Lily looking at him worriedly her hands stretched to help him, he took it and stood up. "I . . . I was doing nothing just some study."

"And you were so lost that you forgot to have dinner?" she asked with her eyebrows raised. He looked at his watch it was 10, dinner ended an hour ago.

"Shit," he said.

"Don't worry, I have some toasts with me if you are hungry," she said taking it out and offering him. He took it and ate it as he sat back in his chair, he flicked his wand at his chair and it transformed into a cushion, he patted the place next to him for Lily to sit, and she sat.

"Thanks, time flew really fast and I forgot about dinner," he said eating another toast.]

"Why isn't it cold here? As we are in the open," asked Lily looking at the snow-covered grounds.

James smirked, "Because I am a wizard and I know magic, a heating charm dies the job and another charm for these 3 light balls."

"Yeah, I forgot so silly of me," she said hitting her head with her hand.

"Silly Lily," chuckled James and received a playful hit on his hand from Lily, who then rested her head at his shoulder and currently ran through his body.

"What were you studying James and what is this big paper?" she asked, James remembered Dumbledore has allowed asking friends for help, so he can tell little about this to Lily.

"It's a map I am working on, a puzzle kind of for. . um Auror training, my father gave me to solve it, and I wanted to do this in a peaceful place so I came here," he said and Lily nodded.

"Do the boys know?" asked Lily.

"No, I didn't want to include them, not yet, first I wanted to read all details from this book and then make the plan, then I would verify with them, they didn't aspire to be in Aurorship so I just kept it to myself," said James.

"Can I help? As I also want to be an Auror," she said looking up at him with pleading eyes, he smiled at her.

"Sure, but promise not to tell anyone else as I don't want others to know about it yet," he said.

"Promise, and thanks for including me," she said excitedly. "So, what do we have to do in this?"

"Aurors are required to break into houses for raids and some raids are to be done without anyone knowing, kind of a Heist. In this circumstance we have 3 Aurors: a most experienced and powerful wizard, he is the leader, the mastermind of the plan he is a normal wizard and a witch who is an Animagus, a niffler." He then showed her the map. "This is the blueprint of the house and we have to find the thing without anyone knowing or we die."

"Well it sounds exciting, let's study about the house first then we will plan how to get the thing, so it's just a heist where we have to make sure no one knows about it, so I will. . . . .um. . . .. hide the diamond. .. . .. . . here or here.. . . ... or maybe here. . . . .. . or here," said Lily.

"That's what I thought too," said James handing her the book, and they spent a good 3 hours learning about the place, and then they called it night. James folded the map and put it in the book and hid it there on the balcony with a flick of the wand.

"You are good at these sorts of things," admitted James to Lily.

"Well thank you, but reading Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie does help," said Lily.

"Who is Agatha Christie?" asked James.

"A writer she wrote detective books, she died in January this year," said Lily, "I will give you some of her books, you will enjoy them." and they both left for their dorms.

Potions lessons were now most exciting but difficult too, they were brewing Amortentia for the past 10 days, and Slughorn has promised to give them a very special gift, another potion, Felix Felicis, or the 'Liquid Luck', which is worth more than 50 gallons per vial, but worth every penny, so this excited the students even more.

"On the 11th day your Amortentia, the love potion will be finished, it is a very difficult potion to brew and the pair to brew this potion perfectly will receive a very special gift from me a vial of Felix Felicis " Slughorn had said on the first day and the whole class gasped, "I used it twice in my life and it converted those to ordinary days extraordinary," and he got lost in thoughts for few minutes. "Now, start brewing if you want to win it."

Today was the 11th day, James and Lily had worked hard on their potion, to win this and now on last, they were working with the same concentration both covered from sweat due to the heat coming from the cauldron.

With 30 minutes left in class, Slughorn announced that their motion should be complete by now. James looked in his cauldron it had a mother-of-pearl sheen, and the steam coming from the cauldron had one of the most seductive scents he had ever inhaled, he closed his eyes and inhaled: it reminded him of treacle tart, the smell of his broomstick handle and of jasmine, a lot of Jasmine, he opened his eyes and saw Lily's eyes closed and she was very near to him as she inhaled too.

Lily closed her eyes at the smell and leaned and inhaled: it reminded her of the smell of Gardenia flower she had in her room in Cokeworth when she used to share it with Petunia, a smell of pumpkin juice and a woodsy forest scent, a lot of woodsy scents, she opened her eyes and saw James very close to her, both of them breathing slowly, they both smiled for a second, then Lily pushed him away slowly.

"Let me smell the potion, you have used a lot of that woodsy forest scent," she said and inhaled again no change. "Ugh... it's not proper."

"If you wouldn't have used that much Jasmine scent, then I could have been able to smell it properly, but your Jasmine scent is blocking it," he said moving her aside and inhaling the same things again with a lot of Jasmine.

"It's your woodsy forest cologne scent that's blocking it, and I have not used my perfume in a week as it's finished and I forgot to buy it on the last Hogsmeade visit because I was with you," she said frustratedly. She had worked hard and now it's not working properly.

"Stop blaming me, I haven't used my cologne today, I wasn't able to use my cologne today as when I was about to put it Moony and Wormtail started fighting and I had to rush out of the bathroom as fast as I could to stop them, and by the time they were calm, we were late so we rushed to the Great Hall. So, not my mistake," said James he himself was frustrated.

Lily shot him a look and their eyes locked as realization hit them both of them turned red and looked away, blushing. Slughorn approached their cauldron and examine it for a few minutes.

"The clear winner, perfect potion, Mr Potter and Ms Evans, here take the vial and use it wisely and legally," he said smiling at both of them, James took the vial and the professor moved to the front to discuss the next class work.

James turned to Lily, "Sorry, I was just frustrated that our potion failed after so much hard work."

Lily looked at him her face matching her hair, "I am sorry too, I myself was frustrated."

"So, what did you smell?" asked James sheepishly.

"I am not telling you, first you tell me," she said blushing.

"Um. . . treacle tart and my broomstick and Jasmine," he said blushing. "You?"

"Pumpkin juice, a smell of my room which I shared with Petunia and. . . .um. . " but before she could say the bell rang and she hurriedly collected her things and said "Woodsy forest scent" before running out. James watched her in shock, it was his cologne, he couldn't believe this.

He moved out of the Potions classroom happily and saw Lily talking to Marls, and when she looked back and saw him she blushed again and looked forward the whole time, Siriu joined him.

"What did you smell?" asked James

"Well. . . .um Butterbeer, Patrol or grease-like smell I had smelled when I was near a muggle motorbike repairing shop and a smell I smelled on the day we visited Godric's Hollow but I can't remember where I had smelled it but it was very sweet," he said and got lost in his world.

"What did you smell Marls?" asked Lily.

"Books, my quidditch gloves, and a smell I smelled on the day we visited Godric's Hollow but I can't remember where I had smelled it but it was attracting me to it," she said and got lost in her world.

Please review!

HEY! IF YOU'RE READING PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT AND REVIEW IT. JUST WRITE ANYTHING.

Am trying to improve my grammar and writing.