James' Favorite Holiday

October 31st, 1971

“It’s the best holiday there is!” Sirius watched as Remus furrowed his brow in confusion, while James enthusiastically tried to explain the concept of Muggle Halloween to the group. His explanation wasn’t exactly… clear. He kept referring to it as “the best day ever,” but somehow kept forgetting to mention what made it so great. Peter, however, was half-listening, nodding along with a grin at the mention of sweets.

“I don’t get it, mate,” Remus said, raising an eyebrow. “If you grew up a wizard, why do you celebrate it if it's a Muggle thing?”

James placed a hand dramatically over his chest, feigning shock. “Why wouldn’t I celebrate the greatest day ever?” he grinned. “It’s a blast, I swear—candy, decorations, and best of all… costumes! You can be anything you want!”

“Why would you want to wear a costume?” Remus asked, looking genuinely puzzled. It was the same way he reacted to most of their ideas, come to think of it.

Sirius couldn’t help but smile at James’s enthusiasm. James was the natural leader of their becoming group. His creativity and willingness to live without boundaries had been drawing Sirius in, even if his family had talked poorly of the Potters. From the moment they’d met on the train, James’s free-spirited nature had easily captivated Sirius, and before long, the two were inseparable. Their mischief was easily on the way to becoming legendary, and James loved dragging Remus into their schemes, even if Remus was usually the one to raise skepticism.

Then there was Peter, who had latched onto them without hesitation. He was quieter than the others but just as eager to be part of the fun. He’d never once said no, and after getting to know him better, Sirius was surprised to admit that Peter was a loyal mate.

James, ever the problem-solver, suddenly reached into his bag and pulled out a pile of odd bits and pieces. “Here, just look! My mum sent some stuff we can wear.” He dumped the contents on the floor; a jumble of colorful glasses, rubber noses, and fake facial hair.

Sirius grinned. “I think I have a better idea.”

James whipped his head around, eyes wide with anticipation. Sirius nodded toward the pile of costume accessories and then to Peter, who was absentmindedly playing with a red nose.

James’s face lit up. “You're a genius, Black,” he said, before raising his wand. “Crinus Regrao!”

In an instant, Peter’s face was adorned with a thick, blonde beard that looked completely out of place on him. Sirius couldn’t help but burst into laughter, jumping to his feet and ready to repeat the spell on Remus.

“Nice one, James!”

--------------------

“Hurry! I’m starving!” Peter urged, his stomach grumbling as he nudged them toward the Great Hall. Sirius didn’t blame him, he was pretty hungry, too. Normally, Peter and Remus would have gone ahead to grab a seat, but today was different. James had insisted they all make a dramatic entrance, beards and all.

James was, by nature, chronically late. Always in a rush but somehow always just making it to class, meals, and other appointments by the skin of his teeth. Sirius, although growing up had been taught to be punctual, had gotten used to waiting for James. Every time James was running behind, he would be the one to hang back. Today, however, James had made it a point to keep Remus and Peter waiting, too. They were going to make an entrance—together.

As they reached the double doors of the Great Hall, James and Sirius each took a side and pushed them open wide. The room fell silent for a moment, and almost every head turned toward them.

“This is horrible,” Remus muttered under his breath, but Sirius could see the corners of his mouth twitching.

James grinned, linking his arm with Sirius’s as they made their way to their usual spot at the Gryffindor table. No one else was in costume.

“What’s going on here, lads?” Frank Longbottom asked from down the table as they sat.

“Halloween!” James said with a wide, goofy grin.

“I meant the beards,” Frank replied with a raised eyebrow.

Sirius chuckled. “I thought wizards didn’t do costumes,” he heard Lily Evans, a Muggle-born in their year, say from across the table. James froze, staring at her like a deer caught in headlights. Sirius nudged him with his elbow.

“They don’t exactly,” Sirius said smoothly. “James convinced us.”

Lily’s gaze shifted to James, who flushed a deep red, looking sheepish. Sirius raised an eyebrow at Remus and Peter, who only shrugged. Lily hummed, clearly unimpressed, before turning back to her friends.

--------------------

October 31st, 1972 

“You think we could make it so it affects the entire student body at once?” James whispered, his eyes gleaming with excitement as he glanced at Sirius.

Sirius nodded, his gaze flicking to Slughorn for a moment to make sure the professor hadn't noticed their lack of focus. “Definitely. But we should make it worse for the Slytherins. Can’t let them off with a decent costume.”

James grinned. “Agreed. But what could we do? It’s gotta be extra bad for Snivellus.”

Sirius resisted the urge to laugh at the newly coined nickname. In a prank that had technically gone wrong, they had accidentally coated Severus Snape with pigeon feathers they had meant to hit Filch’s office with. It ended up working in their favor, given Snape was apparently allergic and couldn’t stop sneezing for weeks. James had taken to calling him Snivellus after he had gone and bashed the group of them to Lily Evans. James wasn’t too happy about her new found hatred for him in place of her usual indifference. 

“Should we just hit them all with the feathers?” Sirius asked, absentmindedly stirring the potion as James cut up and finished putting in the Wiggentree bark. 

James shook his head as he leaned over the caldron. “If we did feathers they’d be able to pin it on us too easily.”

Sirius glanced over at Snape across the room where he sat with Lily Evans. He was leaning over their pot with clear infatuation on his face. His tongue stuck out the corner of his lips as he focused. Sirius resisted a grimace. “Maybe we should just paint them in scales. Play into their snakelike tendencies.”

James’ head snapped up. “Oi you’re a genius Black!” 

“Black! Potter! I do hope you’re not too busy planning your next prank to remember what’s in front of you!” Slughorn’s voice rang out, sharp and disappointed, as he gave them a pointed look. Sirius and James exchanged a quick glance before both turning back to their cauldron.

“We’ve actually finished, Professor,” James said smoothly, his tone as casual as if they hadn’t been doing just that. 

Slughorn raised an eyebrow and hummed as he approached their workstation, taking his time to inspect the brew and run a few diagnostics. “Hmm. Let’s see… Well, I’ll say this, it’s nearly perfect. Potter, Black, you two are far too talented to be wasting your potential with distractions. You should immerse yourselves in your studies more fully.”

Sirius couldn’t help glancing at Snape again as Slughorn walked away. Snape was glaring at them from across the room, his expression full of hatred and jealousy. Lily Evans rolled her eyes dramatically from beside him. 

James noticed it too, his posture stiffening slightly. “So, how are we going to turn all of Slytherin into snakes, Black?”

--------------------

“Here, look at this,” Sirius looked up just in time to see James slam a massive textbook onto the table in front of them where they sat researching in the library. The cover read Mass Potion Creation in bold, dark letters.

“We can’t exactly slip everyone a potion, Potter,” Sirius said, raising an eyebrow at the sheer size of the book.

James shook his head, undeterred. “I know that. But hear me out. It says here that for simpler appearance altering potions, you can use duplication charms instead of doing a continuous brew.”

Sirius leaned in, squinting at the page where James was pointing. The information was buried beneath an image, easy to miss if you weren’t paying close attention.

Sirius snuck a glance at James. His hair stuck out in every odd direction, his glasses were skewed, and he had his tongue stuck out in concentration the same way Snape’s had been. It didn’t make Sirius want to grimace on James though. Sirius found it more endearing on his friend. “So, the spell for scales should be straightforward enough. You think we can combine it with a duplication charm to make it work for everyone?”

James nodded, his eyes lighting up. “Exactly. And I’ve got another idea too.”

Sirius raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Oh? Do tell.”

James met his gaze, the familiar glint of mischief in his eyes. “Well, first we’re going to need to recruit Moony.”

--------------------

Remus rolled his eyes from where they sat at their usual spot in the Great Hall, eyeing the rest of the students settling into their seats for the Halloween feast. Getting Peter on board with their latest prank had been easy enough, but convincing Remus had taken a little more persuasion. “I just don’t get it,” he grumbled. “You two could be the best students in the school if you put half this effort into actual studying instead of using the library as your personal prank headquarters.”

James waved a hand dismissively, clearly unconcerned. The tables were nearly full now. “It’s important to have hobbies, Moony. Think about it. If we didn’t find ways to entertain ourselves, how much more often would we be bothering you?”

Remus shot him an exasperated look, though the corners of his mouth twitched in reluctant agreement. 

“Attention!” The room fell silent as Albus Dumbledore stood at the podium, his voice carrying easily across the hall. “As always, I hope you are all enjoying a wonderful start to the year.”

Sirius nudged James under the table as they waited for Dumbledore to drone on and then wrap up his speech. Their eyes met in shared anticipation. 

“Let the feast begin!”

As Dumbledore’s voice rang out their cue, Sirius discreetly pointed his wand at the Slytherin table across the hall. He muttered the incantation under his breath, and his eyes lit up as rows of Slytherins suddenly sprouted snake-like scales across their arms and necks, their skin turning a mottled green. Gasps and a few startled screams erupted from the room.

Sirius chuckled quietly, his gaze sweeping the hall. Peter had been assigned the easiest task. His spell had transformed the Hufflepuffs into a sea of black-and-white hair, no matter their original color. Remus had tackled the Ravenclaws, and now they all sported sleek black wings sprouting from the backs of their robes.

Sirius' eyes darted to James across the table. The Gryffindors were all sporting thick golden manes around their faces, with small triangular ears poking out from the top of their heads.

The four of them couldn’t help but share a satisfied grin. Even Remus, usually the more level-headed one, looked pleased. “I don’t know how we’re ever going to top this,” James muttered under his breath, his voice tinged with awe.

“Alright, alright!” Sirius’ gaze snapped back to Dumbledore, who had returned to the podium with his usual calm demeanor. “No need to fret,” Dumbledore added with a knowing twinkle in his eye. Sirius could have sworn he was looking right at them as he spoke. He raised his wand and pointed it to the center of the room. “Finite Incantatem!”

With a quiet pop, the enchantment lifted, and the transformed students returned to their original state, as though nothing had happened. The hall was filled with murmurs, many of which were clearly speculating about who was behind the prank. Sirius noticed his brother, Regulus, and their cousin, Narcissa Black, glaring at their table from across the room. He couldn’t help but smirk.

“Now, please, enjoy the feast!” Dumbledore finished with a flourish.

The four of them couldn’t stop giggling as they dug into their food, relishing the chaos they’d caused. Whispers spread through the room, with students exchanging theories on who was responsible. Most of the attention was on the Prewett twins. Apparently, no one suspected that a group of second-years could pull off such a stunt. Sirius felt a swell of pride. 

As they finished their meals, however, their laughter faltered when they reached the doors of the Great Hall to make their way back to the common room. Professor McGonagall was waiting for them, her arms crossed and her face stern.

“Potter. Black. A word?”

--------------------

The two of them sat side by side across from McGonagall at her desk. Sirius should have known better than to think they were in the clear. At least McGonagall was typically lenient with detentions for the two of them.

“Now,” she began, folding her hands in front of her, her gaze fixed firmly on them. “Do you boys have anything to say for yourselves?” Her tone was stern, but Sirius noticed the faint twinkle in her eye. 

Sirius and James exchanged a look. In a silent, unspoken agreement, the decision was made. Deny.

“I’m afraid we’re not sure why we’re here, Professor,” James said innocently, his voice a pitch-perfect display of charm. Sirius had to fight back a grin.

McGonagall raised an eyebrow, but didn’t respond immediately. Instead, she reached under her desk and placed a thick textbook in front of them with a soft thud. Sirius’ stomach dropped when he saw the cover: Mass Potion Creation.

“Madam Price said you checked this out today, Sirius?"

Sirius sighed, deflating. There was no way out now. “Okay, yes, it was me. I did the spell.”

McGonagall held up a hand before James could even open his mouth. “I know exactly what you’re about to say, Potter. And don’t worry, I already know you were involved as well.”

“No,” Sirius interjected quickly. “It was just me.”

McGonagall fixed him with a knowing stare. “You cannot fool me, Black. Since the moment you two arrived at Hogwarts, I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve seen either of you without the other.”

“It was my idea,” James piped up, finally managing to get a word in.

McGonagall sighed and shook her head. “Listen closely, because I will only say this once. As your head of house, I’m sure I don’t need to explain why it’s not acceptable to mess with someone’s appearance without their consent.”

Sirius and James both lowered their eyes, a little ashamed. They hadn’t intended to cause real harm, even if McGonagall was right. 

“However,” McGonagall continued, her voice softening just a bit, “as your Transfiguration professor, I will tell you what an impressive bit of magic you two, and I’m sure Lupin and Pettigrew pulled off today.”

Sirius and James exchanged a glance and then grinned.

“Maybe try applying that kind of talent to your assigned studies, hmm?” she added, her tone more pointed now.

Both of them nodded solemnly, accepting the reprimand.

“Detention for two weeks. Black, you’ll report to Slughorn. Potter, you’ll join me.”

“What?!” They both shouted in unison.

McGonagall’s lips twitched. “Fine. Both with me. But for three weeks.”

James nudged Sirius under the table with his foot, and Sirius couldn’t help but chuckle. McGonagall shook her head in mild exasperation as she waved them off.

Sirius stood up, feeling a warm sense of pride despite the detentions. 

“I think we might be Minnie’s favorites,” James said with a grin, his tone teasing.

Sirius snorted. “What else do you think we can get away with?”

--------------------

October 31st, 1973

"I’m afraid it might be a lost cause, mate." Sirius clapped James on the back and exchanged a knowing look with Remus. He gave him a half-hearted shrug, as if to say, Well, what are we supposed to do?

Since the end of their second year, James had finally started admitting, out loud, that he had a crush on Lily Evans. And once their third year kicked off, he’d resolved to act on it. Or, at least, that's what he thought he was doing. Yelling compliments at her from across the room and hexing her best friend seemed like a foolproof plan to him, which is what he had decided to do after their shared Charms class today. Remus looked as if he shared Sirius’ same doubts.

"Maybe you should stop hexing Snivellus, James."

James froze, his head snapping up at Remus’ words. His hair was still a chaotic mess, sticking out in every direction, and his eyes were wide behind his round glasses, as if Remus had just suggested he quit breathing.

"Stop hexing Snivellus?! Moony, have you gone mad?" Sirius laughed, but Remus just rolled his eyes—again.

"I know better than to try and talk you out of it," Remus said, exasperated, "but maybe—just maybe—not in front of her? If you ever want her to see you as more than a bully, that is."

James’ face darkened. "I’m not a bully."

Remus raised an eyebrow. "To Severus Snape? Yes, you are."

Sirius burst out laughing, but Remus wasn’t finished. "And stop snickering, Black. You’re just as bad."

Sirius pressed a hand to his chest in mock horror. "Moony, how could you say such a thing to me?" he gasped dramatically, flipping his middle finger at him as he turned to head out of the dorm. Sirius didn’t miss the familiar eye roll from Remus. And apparently, neither did James.

"I’m shocked his eyes aren't stuck in the back of his head by now," James mused.

Sirius grinned. "Ah, you know Moony," he said, hopping onto James’ bed so they were sitting side by side. "He may roll his eyes, but deep down, he finds us endearing."

James nudged him playfully, knocking their shoulders together and then tossing his legs over Sirius’ as they settled into their usual easy banter.

Sirius had been uncomfortable when they first met with how touchy James was. Always throwing an arm over his shoulder, sitting particularly close, or even linking their hands on occasion. Now it was like second nature. He loved the feeling of being in close proximity to someone else. It was something he couldn’t help but feel he had missed out on with the way he grew up. Regulus would have never even let Sirius hug him. With James, it was just easy. 

"You know," Sirius began, his voice taking on a mischievous edge. James perked up immediately, sensing Sirius’ tone.

"Maybe Filch shouldn’t be the target of our Halloween prank today?"

James' grin was so bright it could have cleared up a rainy day. "You know what, Black?" he said, his eyes gleaming. "I was thinking the exact. same. thing."

--------------------

“Shh Pete! Keep your voice down!” Sirius peaked over his shoulder to make sure nobody had heard them from where they stood outside the Slytherin common room. 

“I just don’t understand,” Peter whined. “You said I could go under the cloak this time.” Sirius resisted the urge to roll his eyes and left James to re-explain it to him. James had always been more patient with Peter than Sirius was in this situations. 

“I know Pete, I swear you can next time. The stakes are just way higher now than they were before. And Moony was supposed to be look out so now it has to be you.” Peter still looked hesitant to agree.

“And why isn’t Remus here again?” 

James scratched the back of his neck sheepishly. “Well, he didn’t agree with the change of plans. He was all for messing with Flich, but unfortunately Moony seems to think that maybe Snivellus has had enough for the day.” Peter sighed but finally caved. 

“Fine, I'll keep watch. But I won’t let myself get in trouble for this so you’re on your own if you get caught.” James smiled wide even though secretly Sirius thought if it were him in Peter’s shoes, he would never let his friends go down without him. 

“You’re the best Pete! Just Accio the coin if you see Snivellus or his dorm mates.” Peter waved a hand and walked around the corner as James shoved the Sickle he was holding back into his pocket. 

“Ready Black?” James was practically vibrating with excitement. 

“Ready Potter.” Sirius matched his shit eating grin. 

--------------------

James draped the invisibility cloak over them both as they slipped into the Slytherin common room. They’d been fortunate. One of the first years had wandered by without glancing over his shoulder, allowing James and Sirius to hold the portrait door open just long enough to slip through undetected.

Sirius shuddered as they entered. They’d only been just two times before now. The Slytherin common room was a far cry from the warmth and light of Gryffindor Tower. There were no windows, only the dim glow of fireplaces and enchanted candles flickering in the shadows. The decor was dark, dominated by shades of evergreen and black, and to Sirius, it felt colder than any place he'd ever been.

Luckily, the room wasn’t crowded. Dinner was still in swing, so the common room was mostly empty. They navigated carefully, sidestepping a few stragglers as they made their way down to the boys' dormitory. The cloak was a bit harder to manage now, as they had both grown taller since their first years. It was lucky they were still the same size. Their growth spurts seemed to be happening simultaneously. 

James led them to Snivellus’ dorm, and once they were inside, he pulled off the cloak.

“Ugh, reeks like grease in here,” James grimaced, wrinkling his nose. Sirius snickered and reached into his pocket to pull out the dungbombs they’d been working on.

“You sure this is going to work, Potter?” Sirius asked as James took a handful of the modified bombs.

“As long as we get the wand motion right, it’ll be perfect,” James replied, demonstrating the fluid, swirling motion with his finger. “The ones we put under Filch’s desk didn’t go off properly because we were too rigid with the technique.”

Sirius nodded, absorbing the explanation. The plan was simple enough: shrink down a few dungbombs and alter them so they would set off at timed intervals. Then, they’d sneak them onto Snivellus' robes, where they’d be practically invisible and the smell would follow him all day.

It was a silly yet impressive bit of magic. Sirius couldn't help but feel a surge of pride when he thought about how he and James could bounce ideas off each other to create new spells. Multi-spell incantations weren’t even taught until sixth year, but they'd figured it out on their own plenty of times already. 

“How do you want to time them?” Sirius asked, eyeing the bombs with a grin.

“About one every hour should do,” James said thoughtfully. “We’ve got enough to cover three sets of robes, just in case he decides to change.”

Sirius grinned. “Let’s get to it, then.”

James quickly rifled through Snivellus’ closet and pulled out three sets of robes, laying them out on the floor. He stuck eight dungbombs to each robe, then started casting the modified spell. He held the wand motion steady for a full minute before moving on to the next.

“The longer you hold it, the longer it takes for them to go off,” James explained, his voice low as he worked. “We’ll need to time it so they start to go off in the morning, then adjust by shaving off a few seconds with each one.”

Sirius followed suit, repeating the steps with the next set of robes. By the time they were done, they’d made sure the dungbombs were properly disillusioned and neatly tucked back into the closet. Not a moment too soon, either—the second the last robe was returned, the Sickle coin flew from James’ pocket and out the door with a soft clink. Their eyes locked in alarm.

“Shit!” They scrambled to hide under the cloak just as Edward Mulciber, Snape’s roommate, walked into the dorm. The two boys held their breath, not daring to move until Mulciber passed by, completely unaware of their presence.

With a shared exhale, they snuck back toward the common room. The space had gotten busier now that dinner was over, and they had to be extra careful to avoid detection as they made their way up the stairs.

They reached the portrait hole just as it was opening. But then, as the door creaked back, both froze.

Regulus Black, his nose buried in a book, walked through the entrance, not paying attention to anything around him. He took a few steps, heading toward a group of second-years by the fire, before pausing, suddenly looking up as if sensing something. He swept his gaze across the room, his eyes moving over the space like he was searching for someone.

Sirius felt a tight grip on his hand as James’ fingers linked with his. A silent reminder that Regulus couldn’t possibly see them, not under the cloak. But as Regulus' eyes swept over them, Sirius could have sworn his younger brother’s gaze lingered for a moment too long.

“Regulus, come on!” called someone from across the room. Regulus turned, his eyes narrowing as if in irritation. But just before he walked away, he caught Sirius’ eye. It was impossible—he couldn’t have seen him, but for a brief instant, Regulus seemed to know exactly where he was.

Sirius felt a cold shiver down his spine as his brother rolled his eyes and turned away.

--------------------

October 31st, 1974

“It’s fine, Pete. You don’t need to freak out. That class is a joke anyway,” James spoke in a reassuring tone and Sirius leaned up on his forearms as him, Peter, and Remus made their way back into the dorm. Sirius had skipped class today, having woken up with a stomach bug. He was feeling better by now, but still hadn’t felt like going back for Divination.

“Peter’s right, though,” Remus said, frowning. “She shouldn’t be saying things like that, even if she is wrong.”

“Thank you!” Peter said with a sigh, flopping onto his bed. James rolled his eyes and jumped up onto the foot of Sirius's bed.

“What’d I miss?” Sirius asked, looking up at James. He waved a hand dismissively.

“You shouldn’t have flunked off Divination, Black. I paired with Pete today instead of you, and he had to listen to all the rubbish Professor Windemere feeds me.” Sirius laughed as both Remus and Peter's eyes went wide.

“Wait—she always says that stuff to you?” Remus asked, shocked.

Sirius jumped down from the bed, mimicking Professor Windermere's voice in a high-pitched, dramatic tone. “Oh, Mr. Potter, you must be careful. Don’t keep secrets from your elders. Don’t be opening the door to strangers. Oh, my, Mr. Potter, your lifeline indicates a personal betrayal.” James burst out laughing at Sirius’ spot-on impersonation of their Divination professor.

“See? Sirius knows! Windemere picks one poor student each year to give the bad prophecies to,” James said, shaking his head with mock sympathy as Peter continued to look a bit fearful. He clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Trust me, Pete. They don’t mean anything. I would never open the door for a stranger.”

Sirius doubled over in laughter, and Peter shoved him playfully. “Divination isn’t all a joke, guys! You should take it more seriously.” Remus groaned in response, shaking his head as he walked off toward the bathroom and shut the door behind him.

“I do take it Siriusly!” Sirius called after him, causing James to collapse onto the floor, cackling loudly at the age old joke. Sirius and James were officially now the only two who found it funny. 

--------------------

“I can’t believe you didn’t have a costume ready to drag us all into this year,” Remus said, tossing his bag onto his bed after they returned from the feast.

James shared a mischievous look with Sirius and wiggled his eyebrows.

“Oh my god! He said yes!” Sirius jumped up and down and James nodded so enthusiastically that his glasses nearly slipped off his face.

“Do I even want to know?” Remus asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Oh, yes, you do,” James grinned. “I’ve been talking with Frank, and since it’s a Friday and his last year and all, he agreed that Gryffindor should have a party tonight!”

“A party?” Peter squeaked in disbelief.

“That’s right! And check this out!” James tossed a bag to Sirius, who caught it effortlessly. Sirius opened it and pulled out a bottle of firewhiskey. A wicked grin spread across his face.

“Where did you get this?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

James smiled sheepishly. “Ah, well, you know how Madam Rosmerta adores me.”

“Let me see that.” Remus snatched the bottle from Sirius’s hand before he could protest, twisted the cap off, and took a swig. Without a grimace or hesitation, he drank deeply. The other three boys stared at him in awe.

“Now that’s the spirit, Moony!” James cheered, slapping him on the back.

Remus nodded. “Finally a Halloween tradition I can get behind.”

--------------------

None of them had ever drunk before and, clearly, they’d overestimated their tolerances. Peter had retreated to bed hours ago, Remus was in the corner chatting with Lily Evans, claiming he needed to sit down, and James was dancing entirely off rhythm as always with Marlene McKinnon in the middle of the room.

Sirius sank into a couch, feeling the warm buzz of the firewhiskey as James eventually plopped down beside him.

“You know,” James said, hiccupping slightly, “Frank will be gone next year. Which means we can do anything we want when Moony is Prefect.” Sirius smiled.

“Just don’t let him hear you say that,” Sirius warned, but James shook his head and glanced over at Remus, his gaze softening. His eyes went a bit glassy, and Sirius could tell it was Lily Evans who had captured his full attention.

“Moony will bend the rules for us. He just doesn’t know it yet.”

“I don’t think Moony will be a problem,” Sirius said with a grin. “Let’s just hope the other Prefect isn’t Evans.” James smiled dreamily, still lost in his own thoughts.

“Oh, it absolutely will be.”

--------------------

October 31st 1975

“Come on, Frodo, faster!” James bounced up and down on the balls of his feet, grinning like a kid on Christmas morning, completely ignoring the annoyed look Sirius was sending his way from the edge of the room.

Sirius rolled his eyes. “Ugh, I will absolutely not be responding to Frodo.”

Ever since the Marauders had become animagi, they’d been trying to come up with aliases for each other. Sirius had been proud of coming up with Prongs, something about it feeling right. He'd also been the one to coin Moony back in their first year, and now Remus had just come up with Wormtail out of nowhere a few nights ago. James was set on being the one to come up with Sirius’, which was now resulting in James trying out every dog related term in the book. So far, none of them had quite stuck.

“Whatever, Fluffy, but please hurry up!” James shot him a teasing grin, clearly enjoying word play too much. They had their first Quidditch match of the year against Slytherin, and of course, James made an exception to his usual tardiness for today. Sirius should’ve known better than to sleep in.

Sirius gave an exaggerated spin as he finished getting ready. “Alright, I’m good,” he said with mock flair, as James gave him an approving nod.

“I don’t like Fluffy either,” Sirius muttered, grabbing his broom.

“Oh, don’t worry,” James winked, his grin widening. “You’re many things Black but Fluffy is not one of them.”

--------------------

“Alright Gryffindors, huddle up!” James called, his voice commanding the room. The team quickly formed a tight circle around their team captain. 

“Now, I know it’s not ideal to play Slytherin first game of the year,” James continued, voice loud enough for the entire team to hear, “but that doesn’t mean we have an excuse to not wipe the floor with their pretentious asses.” There was a round of whoops and cheers from the group.

“This game isn’t just for us,” James said, his tone suddenly quieter but no less intense. “It’s for all of Gryffindor. When we’re out on that pitch today, I want you to each think of every single awful thing anyone in Slytherin has ever said to you or one of your friends. This is where we fight back for the whole school. For everyone who’s ever had to take their shit. For everyone who’s ever been made to feel small. We don’t let them get away with it. Not today.”

The team murmured in agreement, their fire rising.

“Mckinnon, Black, keep an extra eye on Nott. He likes to try and go unnoticed. Rosier’s new this year, but he’ll try a similar tactic. Keating, Brown, their beaters don’t hold back. Remember our formations and go for the left side. Crabbe’s not as strong there. Edwards, you know what to do. Try not to get too distracted by Regulus, he likes to play mind games.”

James gave each of them a firm look. “We got this, guys. The past two months of training have all been for this moment. Don’t let them get in your heads. We’re Gryffindors and that means something.” He paused, waiting for their eyes to lock with his. “Hands in!”

On the count of three, the whole team shouted “Gryffindor!” Their collective energy crackled in the air as they dispersed, heading out to the pitch.

“Hold up a second, Spot,” James called, his voice taking on a more serious edge as he caught Sirius before he could head for the door.

Sirius tried to shrug it off with a smirk. “That’s not good either,” he joked, but the smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. James wasn’t playing around, though, and his expression made it clear.

“Don’t let him get in your head like this, Sirius,” James said, his voice low but firm.

Sirius gave him an annoyed look. “I’ll be fine, Prongs. I played Reggie last year, and it wasn’t a big deal. Why are you making such a fuss all of a sudden?”

James shot him a knowing look, one that made Sirius’ stomach drop. It wasn’t the usual teasing James, it was the look of someone who could see straight through him. “Don’t play dumb with me, Black. You can get away with it around Remus and Peter, but not with me.”

Sirius swallowed hard. The memories from the summer hit him like a brick. Sirius had been on the outs with most of his family for a while, but Regulus had always been the one in his corner, even if silently. Things changed last summer when Regulus had chosen a side. And it wasn’t Sirius’s.

“It’s not a big deal James.” Sirius wanted to throw up at the expression in James' eyes. He so clearly displayed everything he was feeling. His face was a mixture of pity, anger, and sadness. 

“It’s okay that it’s a big deal, Sirius,” James said softly, his voice tinged with concern. “I just don’t want it to get to you. Especially not today.”

Sirius’ breath caught in his throat, and he felt a surge of anger bubble up. “Don’t worry Potter,” Sirius spat. “I won’t ruin the match for you.” He turned to walk away, but James roughly grabbed his shoulder. 

“Listen here you git. If you need to take your anger out on me that's fine. Do it. But don’t do that. You’re not allowed to pretend I’m the bad guy. You’re mad if you think I care more about a bloody Quidditch match than you.”  

Sirius felt a lump form in his throat. “I’m sorry,” he muttered, trying to shrug off his misplaced outburst. “I’m just… angry.”

James nodded. “Well then it’s a damn good thing you’re a beater.” He smirked, the mischief returning to his voice.

Sirius looked into James’ eyes and saw the silent understanding there.

He cracked a smile, a dark one. “Let’s go,” he said, more determined than ever.

--------------------

“Shots!” Sirius turned with a goofy grin to see James standing atop an armchair pouring fire whisky into the mouths of anyone who passed by. 

“He’s gonna fall,” Sirius turned back to Remus who was speaking to no one in particular. 

Lily Evans, sitting beside him, shook her head, her green eyes already glazed from her own cup of Witches Brew. “I can’t believe I let you talk me into this, Remus,” she muttered, raising an eyebrow as James continued to fling shots around.

“There’s no way you could’ve stopped a Halloween party from happening, Evans,” Sirius replied, a hint of mockery in his tone. “Besides, Halloween and the Slytherin match? Classic combo for a legendary night.”

Lily rolled her eyes dramatically. “To be fair, Black, I absolutely could’ve if I wanted to,” she said, addressing Sirius with an exasperated glance. “But your dear friend Remus easily convinced me. That doesn’t change that I knew it was a recipe for disaster the minute I agreed.”

“Oh Moony, have I ever told you how wonderful you are?” Sirius fluttered his eyelashes dramatically at Remus, who responded by pushing his face away with a sigh.

“Please,” Remus groaned, laughing. “Just—try to keep the damage to a minimum tonight, yeah?”

Sirius waved his hand dismissively, still grinning. “And nothing bad has happened yet. You two need to stop being so pessimistic.”

As if on cue, a loud thump echoed through the common room. Sirius turned just in time to see James, missing from his armchair and now sprawled out flat on the floor, looking up at the ceiling in a dazed stupor. The glass in his hand was now lying half-empty on the carpet.

Lily raised an eyebrow and smiled smugly at Sirius. “You were saying, Black?”

“Yeah, yeah,” Sirius said, waving it off with a grin, already hopping to his feet. “I’m going to save the prat from himself.”

“Prongsie?” Sirius called out as he approached, a teasing smile on his lips.

James smiled dopily up at him, eyes half-lidded. “Hello, Sirius,” he said in the most nonsensical voice Sirius had ever heard. “I was just... testing gravity. Seems solid.”

Sirius laughed, shaking his head. “Are you gonna get up off the floor, or are you just gonna keep testing the limits of physics?”

“Oh, I was waiting for you to come and help me,” James said, beaming up at him.

Sirius extended a hand, pulling James to his feet with ease. “Lily Evans said you were a disaster waiting to happen.”

“What?” James gasped dramatically, clutching a hand to his chest. “Evans said that? Me? A disaster?” His face was one of mock horror.

Sirius couldn’t help but laugh.

James smirked, brushing himself off and marching back to the couch where Remus and Lily were still sitting, now barely stifling their laughter. “Evans, you think I’m a disaster?” he said, leaning over the back of the couch, giving Lily a playful grin.

Lily raised an eyebrow, glancing at James with a wry smile. The team had decided to wear their Quidditch jerseys as their Halloween costumes this year. James’ jersey was stained with the dried blood of a particularly hard beater hit to the nose. Sirius suddenly thought maybe wearing their dirty jerseys hadn’t been their best idea.

“That’s not exactly what I said,” Lily replied, clearly amused, though her expression was hard to read. “But I don’t think I disagree.”

James gave her a full-on grin, leaning closer with exaggerated charm. “Ah, Evans, when are you gonna go out with me?” he asked, as though they hadn’t had this exact exchange a hundred times before.

Sirius rolled his eyes, looking over at Remus, who gave him a tired, but fond, look. It always shocked him how each new time Lily Evans insulted James, he seemed to respond with even more enthusiasm than the last. His friend's optimism was something to behold.

Just as Lily opened her mouth to respond a voice cut through.

“I’ll go out with you, James,” said a confident voice, and the group turned to see Angela Reese, a seventh year, walking up with a sly smile. Her friend Melissa Travers appeared beside Sirius, nudging him with a playful grin.

Sirius noticed James glance back at Lily. She wasn’t looking at him, though. Instead, she had walked away and was chatting with someone near the drink table. James sighed, turning back to Angela. “Okay,” he said, his voice suddenly low and casual. “Sure.”

--------------------

The four of them had somehow ended up in an empty classroom. Sirius was having a hard time remembering how exactly they had gotten there. Perhaps it was the alcohol, or maybe just the constant chaos that seemed to follow him and James wherever they went. Either way, he was suddenly very aware of Melissa Travers' mouth very close to his neck. 

“Will you teach me how to fly sometime James?” Sirius overheard Angela drawl. 

Melissa’s lips were now on his. A hand tangled in his hair. 

“What would I get in return?” James asked, his voice full of confidence and charm. 

Angela giggled. “I think I could find some things to teach you in exchange.”

Sirius shivered as Melissa’s hands slipped under his jersey and their kiss deepened. 

“Like what?” James asked. 

Sirius didn’t hear a response. Or rather there wasn’t a verbal one. He wasn’t sure if there was anything to hear or he was just too busy to now bother with whatever James was doing across the room. 

--------------------

It was well past curfew as James and Sirius made their way across the Hogwarts lawn after a quick stop at the greenhouses. The two of them were having a rather difficult time making it more than a few feet without doubling over in laughter. 

“Why would someone ever keep their nails that long?” Sirius questioned. “I think I might have permanent scars on my back.” James gasped. 

“She kept biting my tongue. Look, it's bleeding.” James grabbed Sirius by the shoulders and stuck his tongue in his face so he could properly see. 

“Oh no!” Sirius grabbed James' tongue so he could properly examine it. “James. You’re bleeding!” 

James' eyes went wide. “Am I?” 

“We need to get you to Madam Pomfrey.” 

James nodded. “Okay get on my back it’ll be faster.” 

Taking a longer than normal amount of time, James spun on his heel and transformed into a giant stag. Sirius climbed onto his back, but they didn’t make it more than three wobbly steps before he fell back off the otherside. 

“Ugh,” Sirius groaned. “Prongs! Give me James back.” 

A weight hit Sirius’ back as James fell back on top of him, a boy once again. 

“Potter you better get off me!” 

“I’m trying, it's not working.” 

“You’re not even moving.”

“Yeah that's what isn’t working.”

Sirius huffed and transformed into a sleek black dog. Barking at James as he easily slid out from under him. James ignored him and just shifted to be flat on his back, staring up at the sky. 

“Look Sirius, the sun is rising.” Sirius glanced at the sky. It was more muted with his dog vision, but still he could make out the yellow of the sun as it came up over the horizon. “Let’s watch it.”

Sirius remained in his dog form, nudging James with his snout and cuddling up in a ball next to his side. James began to pet him absentmindedly. 

“I love these little pads on your feet when you're like this.” James gave his paw a slight squeeze. “They’re so squishy.” 

Sirius, his eyes half-lidded in contentment, lifted one of his paws and tapped it against James' face playfully.

“Padfoot. That's kinda good, no?” James smiled at him.

Sirius liked it. He really did. Padfoot, however strange, seemed to be exactly how he felt when he was in this form. He licked the side of James’ face. 

He somehow grinned wider. “I love you too, Padfoot.”

--------------------

October 31st 1976

Sirius sprinted through the hallways, the ticking of the clock signaling the end of his detention. He’d missed the feast this year, but there was no way he was going to miss the Gryffindor Halloween party. Last year had been one of the best nights of his life, and he was desperate for a repeat.

He rounded a corner at full speed, but came to an abrupt stop just before he ran straight into the person standing on the other side. The instant he saw who it was, his stomach tightened.

“Curfew ends soon,” Regulus said flatly, his tone as cold and emotionless as ever.

“Had detention,” Sirius muttered, trying to sidestep his brother. Regulus scoffed, his eyes narrowing with disdain.

“Don’t know why I’m surprised.”

Sirius swallowed hard as the silence stretched between them, the weight of Regulus’s gaze crawling over him like an unwanted touch. His brother looked him up and down with open disgust. They hadn’t spoken since the train ride to Hogwarts at the start of term, when Sirius had walked away without a second glance, heading to their usual compartment to meet James. It was almost as if Regulus didn’t even exist anymore: except when Sirius caught himself looking for him sometimes. In the Great Hall, in the hallways, wherever Regulus might be patrolling as a prefect. Sometimes Sirius didn’t even realize he was doing it, until Regulus’s eyes would snap up, and the scowl on his face would be enough to make Sirius look away.

“Well?” Sirius cleared his throat, shifting awkwardly. “I’m going.”

“I’ve been meaning to find you.”

Sirius blinked in surprise at his brother. Despite their eerily similar appearances, Regulus looked every bit the opposite of Sirius. His green robes were impeccably neat, while Sirius's maroon were a chaotic tangle of wrinkles. His hair lay straight and meticulously combed, in stark contrast to Sirius's unruly curls. Regulus looked every bit like a true Black. Sirius supposed he must take more after a Potter. 

“Find me for what?” Sirius asked, his voice flat. It was the same dull tone he always used when speaking to his family. Whenever they were around, he couldn’t help but feel as though all the charm had drained from him.

“You’re expected home for Christmas this year.”

“No.” Sirius shook his head and tried to move past him, but Regulus blocked his path.

“It’s not really a request, Sirius.”

Sirius stared at him, dumbfounded. For the first time, there was something in Regulus’s eyes, something that might almost have been... sympathy. It threw him off balance.

“They don’t want me there.”

“They said they do.”

“They just need their heir.”

“Yeah, well,” Regulus said with a sigh, “unfortunately, that happens to be you.” Sirius scoffed, his frustration bubbling to the surface.

“They should just make it you.”

Regulus blinked, the tiniest flicker of surprise crossing his face. Then he sighed, rubbing a hand over his eyes like he was exhausted. “Just say you’ll come home, Sirius. I told Mother I’d tell you. Please don’t make me have to tell her you wouldn’t listen.”

Sirius ran a hand through his hair, his chest tight. Regulus almost sounded scared, and Sirius knew that feeling all too well. It was the kind of fear that came from knowing exactly what awaited him at home, from knowing he didn’t have a choice in the matter.

“Okay, fine. I’ll be there, Reg.” Regulus nodded, though he didn’t look entirely relieved. He fidgeted with his fingers, like there was something else he wanted to say but couldn’t quite get out.

“I’m sorry, Sirius. I’m just the messenger.” His voice was softer now, almost really apologetic.

Sirius nodded stiffly, too choked up to say anything more. Without another word, he turned and walked away, the knot in his throat tightening with every step. He didn’t run again until he was out of Regulus’s sight, but he could feel his brother’s eyes on him the entire way.

--------------------

“About time!” Peter jumped down from his bed as Sirius stumbled frantically into the dorm.

“Holy shit, Wormy! You look awesome!”

This year, they’d all decided to dress up as different Muggle artists for the Gryffindor party they were throwing. James had insisted it be a costume party. Peter had gone all in with a Kiss costume. None of them were particularly fans of the band’s music, but there was no denying their iconic look. Peter was decked out in a black wig and full stage makeup, looking every bit the part.

“Thanks, Padfoot! I’m going to go find Remus. James is in the bathroom.” Peter gave him a thumbs-up and dashed out the door, leaving Sirius to make his way to the small bathroom connected to their dorm.

“Oi, McKinnon, you’re gonna stab my eye out!”

“Hold still, Potter. Honestly, you’re impossible.”

Sirius pushed the door open to find James seated on the toilet with his head tilted back as far as it could go. Marlene McKinnon was standing between his legs, a makeup pencil in hand as she carefully drew around his eyes.

“Yeah, be careful, McKinnon. We wouldn’t want to mess up his vision or anything,” Sirius teased, leaning against the doorframe.

Both of them snapped their heads around, and James’s face instantly brightened when he saw Sirius.

“Freddy Mercury would be proud, Prongs.”

“Don’t I know it, Pads,” James grinned, clearly pleased with himself. “It’s fitting, too. Did you know Bohemian Rhapsody was released a year ago today?”

Sirius rolled his eyes, though he couldn’t suppress a grin. “I do, but only because you’ve reminded me about fifty times.”

James beamed. “Hurry up and get dressed, Pads! Marlene can do your makeup once she’s finished with me.”

--------------------

Before long, Freddie Mercury, Gene Simmons, Elton John, and David Bowie were all dancing around the Gryffindor common room, their costumes a colorful blur. Sirius couldn’t help but wonder if these four legendary artists would have ever crossed paths in real life. But really, he thought, it couldn’t have been better than this.

He threw an arm around James’s shoulder as they both collapsed on one of the couches, passing a joint back and forth as the night wound down.

“I think this was better than last year’s, Pads,” James said, the firelight flickering in his eyes.

“Each year gets better, Prongs. Just imagine next year.” James grinned, his head resting against Sirius’s shoulder, his body relaxed and at ease for a change, rather than his usual inability to sit still. 

“There’s no such thing as a bad Halloween!” James said, his voice full of warmth and optimism.

Sirius couldn’t help but agree.

--------------------

October 31st, 1977

“This is it, Prongs! Our last Hogwarts Halloween!” Sirius shouted, bouncing around the room, practically vibrating with excitement. Remus was already gone, most likely in the library, and Peter had been monopolizing the bathroom for the last hour with one of his legendary, record-breaking long showers.

James groggily sat up, rubbing his eyes. Sirius handed him his glasses before James could make a mess of blindly searching for them. James gave him a tired but grateful smile, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes.

Sirius bit his lip, eyeing James carefully. Lately, James had been acting… off. It was the most un-James thing ever. In all the time they’d known each other, Sirius could count on one hand the number of times he’d seen the boy actually frown. But today, Halloween, his favorite day, Sirius was determined to bring back that trademark grin. 

“Alright, that’s it,” Sirius declared, stomping over to his trunk. He pulled out his broom, grabbing James’ on the way. “Let’s go.” 

James blinked at him, still half asleep. “Go where?" 

“For a ride, mate. Come on, up you get!” Sirius shoved James’ broom into his hands and pulled him to his feet. James continued to blink at him, clearly still trying to figure out what was going on.

“We can’t go for a ride,” James said, his voice thick with sleep.

“Oh yes, we can. It’s Saturday. The pitch is free today,” Sirius said, flashing him a grin. He hopped onto his broom, giving James a look. James looked at him warily, but the twinkle in his eye told Sirius he knew exactly what was coming.

“I need to brush my teeth,” James muttered. 

“Well, tough luck,” Sirius said with a smirk and nod towards the bathroom door, “Blame Peter.” With a flick of his wand, the window in their dorm flew open. Without another word, Sirius planted his feet on the broom and zoomed out the window, heading straight for the Quidditch pitch.

Within seconds, James was following him, the wind tangling his messy hair even more. “What are you playing at, Black?” he shouted. 

Sirius didn’t answer. Instead, he dove towards the ground in a reckless, untidy spiral, just for the thrill of it. He loved flying, and he was proud to be a pretty skilled Beater, but James was something else. James was made to fly. He was better on a broom than most people were on solid ground. Every trick Sirius pulled, James replicated with ease, laughing and trailing just behind, not because he couldn’t catch up, but because he was enjoying the challenge of mimicking Sirius’ wild moves. 

They spent about an hour racing, swooping, and darting around the pitch. Eventually, Sirius slowed down to catch his breath, hovering mid-air. James glided smoothly next to him, looking much more relaxed than he had that morning. 

“So, you gonna tell me what that was all about now?” James asked, raising an eyebrow.

 Sirius had to bite his lip to keep from laughing. James was still in his pajamas and wasn’t even wearing shoes. It really was impressive how easily he’d kept up with Sirius.

“It was about you,” Sirius said, looking over at his friend. “So maybe now you can tell me what the hell’s going on with you?”

James' face fell, and for a moment, Sirius thought he might’ve pushed too hard. But then James sighed and turned his face to the sky, his expression distant. The cold wind suddenly hit Sirius, and he waved his wand to cast a warming charm on James. James looked back at him and smiled gratefully.

“I’ve gotten offers from the Chudley Cannons, Bulgarian National, and the Magpies,” James said quietly. Sirius’ jaw nearly hit the floor.

“Wait, what?” he gasped. “Prongs, are you telling me…?” James blushed, looking away.

“McGonagall reckons Puddlemore might make an offer too, after the season ends.”

Sirius blinked in disbelief. “Prongs, that’s amazing! Congratulations, mate!” But when their eyes met, Sirius froze. There were tears in James' eyes.

Sirius grabbed him by the arm and guided him down toward the pitch. They landed on the grass, and Sirius tossed his broom aside, taking James by the shoulders. “Mate, what is it? What’s wrong? I’m missing something here. Isn’t this everything you’ve dreamed of since the moment I met you?”

James wiped his eyes and sighed. “I’m turning them all down.”

For a second, Sirius couldn’t even process the words. His jaw dropped again. “Mate, are you mad?”

 James met his eyes, serious now. “I’m joining the Order.”

“What?” Sirius was confused for a moment, then the realization hit him like a punch in the gut. “You’re—what?”

“I’ve thought this through,” James said quickly, his words spilling out in a rush. “McGonagall and my parents both tried to convince me to take the offers. And trust me, Pads, I considered it. But I can’t just go off and play Quidditch when the entire Wizarding World is at war. I’ve got to fight. For Evans, for Moony, hell even for you. We can’t let them win. And the Order needs all the skilled fighters it can get. I know I don’t have tons of experience, but I got an ‘O’ in Defense Against the Dark Arts. I’m not gonna let that go to waste. So when we finish the year, I’m gonna…” 

Sirius didn’t let him finish. He cut him off with a firm squeeze to his shoulder. “Okay. Let’s do it.”

James stared at him, utterly dumbfounded. “Wait—what?”

“I said, let’s do it. When we finish the year, we’ll join up.” James shook his head in disbelief.

“Pads, you can’t just say that because I said it. You have to…”

“James.” Sirius smiled, stepping closer to him. “You’re mad if you think I wouldn’t follow you into whatever fight you walk into. I’ve already proved that plenty times. And you said it yourself: For Lily, for Moony. For everyone. Hell, I bet Wormy and Moony will be right alongside us anyway." 

James blinked rapidly, clearly struggling to process. Then, his face broke into a grin. Sirius almost sighed in relief at the sight. Before he knew it, James pulled him into a tight hug. Sirius hesitated for a second, then wrapped his arms around him, forgetting for a moment that the world was anything but perfect.

“You’re right, Prongs. You do need to brush your teeth,” Sirius teased, pulling back. James shoved him playfully but smiled brighter than he had all week.

“Come on, Pads. Let’s get ready for tonight.”

--------------------

“Are you sure this won’t be too obvious?” Remus asked, readjusting the fake ears on his head.

“Trust me, Moony. Nobody will think anything of it,” Sirius reassured him. Remus shot him a skeptical look. 

“You telling me to trust you isn’t exactly reassuring.” 

“This is too good of an idea for us to pass up,” James chimed in, a mischievous glint in his eye. “Plus, Evans is giving me grief for it, so now we have to do it. She wanted to do a costume together.”

Sirius laughed at Peter, who made a gagging gesture behind James’ back.

“Just put your bloody ears on, Prongs, so we can get to the party already.” James dug through his messy bed, finally pulling out a headband with brown ears and antlers and placing it on his head. 

“Good?” he asked, turning toward the group with a lopsided grin. 

Sirius stepped up and fixed the ears, which he had put on backward. “Perfect,” he said, flashing a grin. 

The four of them made their way downstairs, and the moment they stepped into the common room, a cheer erupted. Sirius grinned at the applause, his heart swelling with pride as a series of praise followed them to the middle of the room. Their Halloween parties had become sort of legendary. They had made this one an even bigger deal given it was the last one. 

 “This was the genius idea you had that didn’t include me?” Lily Evans asked, pouting as she walked over and slung an arm around James’ waist. 

“What, don’t like it?” James said innocently, but his grin was anything but.

“I just had so many better ideas than you being a deer, a dog, a rat, and a wolf with your friends.” 

“No, no, Evans!” James clutched his heart in mock shock. “I’m not a deer. I’m a stag.” 

Lily rolled her eyes and made her way to the drinks table. James laughed and gestured for the others to follow. “Come on, boys! Let’s make this a Halloween to never remember!”

--------------------

October 31st, 1978

“Does everyone understand what they’re supposed to do?” Alastor Moody’s voice was gruff as he scanned the four boys standing before him. All of them nodded in unison. Sirius and James, who were frequently paired for missions, were now being sent out with Fabian and Gideon Prewett.

“Good,” Moody grunted. “Potter, you’ll go in first. I’ve heard you’re quite impressive on that broom of yours.” Sirius glanced at James, who nodded without a hint of hesitation. There wasn’t a flicker of fear on his face. It made Sirius a little jealous, if he was honest. James seemed to throw himself into these missions without a second thought, leaving Sirius to have to worry for the both of them.

“Once you’re sure the coast is clear, signal the rest. You’ll take the smallest bag, in case you’re caught. Fabian, you take the largest. It's the most important not to lose.” Fabian nodded and grabbed the heavy sack, the weight of the responsibility clear in his expression. Sirius tried not to let Moody’s words unsettle him. The thought of James getting caught was too much to imagine.

“Send a Patronus when you arrive,” Moody added, turning on his heel and making his way towards the wooded area behind the house where he’d apparate from. He left the four of them standing awkwardly in the middle of the safe house, the tension hanging thick in the air.

The mission itself was straightforward. The Order had been struggling lately with getting potions and healing supplies delivered, thanks to Voldemort’s tightening grip on the country. St. Mungo’s and Diagon Alley were under heavy surveillance, making it too dangerous to apparate into. The four of them were tasked with getting the supplies to Cecelia Diggory, an Order healer and potion brewer, who would then distribute them as needed. Cecelia was being closely watched, which was why they had to keep the magic to a minimum. That’s why they’d all been chosen, four people who could move skillfully on a broom. 

James had been the first person they asked.

 “Alright,” Fabian said, taking charge. “Whenever you’re ready, Potter.” He handed James the smallest of the bags. “We’ll need a signal so we know when it’s safe.”

 “Red sparks?” Gideon suggested, glancing between the group.

 Fabian shook his head. “Too risky. Could attract the wrong kind of attention if we really are being watched.”

“What about the coin trick?” Sirius said, his gaze locking with James’.

James grinned. “Pads, that’s genius!”

 Fabian raised an eyebrow. “What coin trick?”

Sirius explained. “Back at Hogwarts, whenever we pulled pranks, we’d keep a coin in our pockets. The one on lookout would use Accio to summon it if things went south, so the other person would know to bail.”

Fabian and Gideon exchanged looks. “Alright, I can see that working,” Fabian said. 

“Here,” James said, reaching into his jeans pocket. He pulled out a Galleon and a Sickle, the latter unmistakably the same one from their school days. “If there’s trouble, I’ll Accio the Sickle. If it’s safe, I’ll do it for the Galleon.” 

Everyone nodded in agreement. 

Sirius stepped closer and placed a hand on James’ shoulder, pulling him in so their heads nearly touched. James took the moment to slip the coins into Sirius’ pocket. 

“Don’t try to be a hero, Prongs,” Sirius murmured, his voice low. “If there’s trouble, get out. Just like Moody said.” 

James chuckled softly and pressed a kiss to Sirius’ hair, a brief moment of affection that made Sirius’ heart tighten.

“I love you too, Pads. Trust me—I’ll be fine.”

Sirius nodded, stepping back as James grabbed his broom and headed for the door. He turned briefly before stepping outside, giving Sirius a wink before launching himself into the sky.

--------------------

Sirius’ pocket felt unnervingly heavy as the minutes dragged on. Fifteen had passed since James had gone, and still no signal. The two coins in his pocket seemed to weigh more with every second. Unable to stand still, he started pacing the small room.

 “Relax, Black,” Fabian muttered from the corner. “Moody told him to be thorough. He’s just following orders.”

“Yeah, I know,” Sirius snapped, his frustration bubbling over. “Doesn’t make it any easier, though.” 

Gideon’s gaze shifted to Sirius, an almost curious expression crossing his face. “You two are really close, huh?” 

Sirius froze mid-step, suddenly aware of how his chest tightened at the question. He stopped pacing and turned to face the twins. They were identical, but Sirius had known them long enough to tell them apart easily.

“Yeah, so?” he said, his voice sharper than he intended. He didn’t know why he was feeling so defensive all of a sudden.

Gideon held up his hands in mock surrender. “Mate, I’m just having a conversation. You just seem closer than best mates, that’s all.”

Sirius hesitated, not sure how to respond. He wasn’t entirely sure what Gideon was implying, but the weight of the question made his thoughts spiral. He’d known for a long time that James was more than just his best mate. In fact, a life without James Potter was a life Sirius didn’t even want to imagine living. James was his anchor, the reason he’d made it through the darkest parts of his life. Sirius had only ever even come close to feeling this way for one other person and that person was long gone, out of his life for good.

“He’s more than my best mate,” Sirius said slowly, his voice hardening. “He’s my brother.”

He locked eyes with the twins, trying to gauge if they understood. “I’m sure you two can understand that.”

Gideon’s face softened slightly. He exchanged a glance with his twin, and for a moment, it looked like they might say something more. But before they could, there was a sudden movement. A coin flew from Sirius’ pocket with a soft whoosh. His heart skipped a beat as he froze, eyes following the glinting coin as it flew out the door.

He held his breath.

 Reaching into his pocket with trembling fingers, he pulled out the remaining coin and unclenched his fist. The Sickle lay flat in his palm, its familiar weight a small but welcome relief.

 Exhaling sharply, Sirius tucked it back into his pocket and gave a short nod to the others. Without another word, they grabbed their bags and brooms and launched themselves into the night sky, the darkness swallowing them whole as they searched for James. 

They found him easily, hovering quite a ways above the safe house. He nodded at them upon their arrival. “The sky and ground is clear for at least ten miles. There’s a small Muggle village towards the end of where I scouted. No suspicious activity. I suspect they wouldn’t expect us to fly through Muggle populated areas.” 

Fabian nodded. “That’s what I was expecting. Let’s get off then. Don’t know if we’ll be able to match your pace Potter, but if we all stick together it should still be doable within two hours.” 

They all nodded and began to fly. James took the back since Fabian was right, he would be too fast for the rest of them. Gideon led while Sirius and Fabian flanked the two sides. They’d made it an hour and a half without any trouble. Sirius should have known better than to start thinking they were in the clear. 

A flash of red streaked past Sirius' face, a bit too close for comfort. He whipped his head over his shoulder and saw three figures tailing them. He signaled to the others, but before they could respond, a second burst of red struck Gideon in the back. Whatever the spell was, some sort of stunner, it knocked him off his broom. He began plummeting through the sky.

Fabian was after him instantly, while Sirius started firing spells over his shoulder. 

"Stupefy!" he shouted, but his aim was off. He kept casting, determined, while James engaged the other attackers. The angle was too sharp for either of them to land a solid hit. Sirius caught James' eye for a split second, and they shared a brief, wordless understanding.

Without hesitation, James dove first, plummeting toward the ground with lightning speed. The Death Eaters seemed taken aback, giving Sirius the opening he needed. He mirrored James' descent, following him closely. They hit the ground hard, denying the Death Eaters any opportunity to retaliate before they could regroup.

 In a flash, they were in a duel: three against two. It was impossible to tell who they were up against, the Death Eaters’ faces hidden behind their masks. For a moment, Sirius realized this was his first real duel, not just practice, but the real thing. James and he had trained for this, but now they were in it together. And it felt almost... easy. A spark of exhilaration shot through him as they moved in sync, as if they were reading each other’s minds. 

Their spells were seamless, each one complementing the other. Sirius would focus all his energy on a stunning curse, confident that James would handle any incoming threats. They were two halves of a whole.

Sirius landed a direct hit. One of the Death Eaters crumpled to the ground with a final, muffled cry. But before he could take a breath, a flash of green hurtled toward him. He hadn’t had time to react, but James’ Protego shielded him just in time.

“Bombarda!” James roared, a flare of raw fury in his eyes as he cast the explosive charm. The spell hit the Death Eater square in the shoulder, the force of the blast sent them crashing to the ground, screaming in pain. Their arm had been blown clean off.

 "Nice one, James!" Sirius said, despite the obvious gnawing guilt rising in James’ face. 

“James Potter.” The last standing Death Eater’s voice was cold, rasping from behind the mask. James and Sirius both whipped their wands back up in an instant. The other two lay motionless, one groaning on the ground, the other completely still, struck by Sirius’ stunning spell. “The Dark Lord has an interest in you. Join us. You clearly have what it takes.”

James’ eyes narrowed, and Sirius couldn’t help but admire the sheer defiance in him. Even disheveled, hair wild and unkempt, James looked every bit like someone to be afraid of. Sirius was glad he would never be on the other end of James Potter’s wand.  

“You’re mad if you think I’d ever join you,” James spat.

The Death Eater chuckled, low and taunting. “Because of your blood-traitor friends? Or your Mudblood girlfriend?” They clicked their tongue with distaste. “The Dark Lord is... merciless. And he might make an exception for the redhead. He’s heard her magic is special, even for her kind. As for you, Black, well, I’m sure some family members of yours would be thrilled to have you returned to them.”

 Sirius’ hand twitched, his wand itching to fire, but before he could act, the Death Eater on the ground began coughing up blood. The remaining one quickly erected a shield around them.

“I’m sure we’ll see each other again,” the masked figure said, head tilting slightly. With a flick of their wand, they disapparated, taking the injured and motionless Death Eaters with them. 

Sirius and James were left standing in the eerie quiet, their wands still raised.

Suddenly, a fox-shaped Patronus darted into the air in front of them, a message from Fabian. "Gideon and I are safe at the location. Do you need help?"

James quickly conjured his own Patronus, a shimmering silver stag that appeared in a flash. "We’re fine. We’ll explain when we get there." 

With a nod to each other, they grabbed their brooms and soared into the sky, cutting through the night air. Sirius, faster than the others, kept pace with James, and together, they closed the distance at a faster pace than before.

They landed at the safe house, barely dismounting before Fabian and Gideon appeared at the door. Wands aimed directly at their throats. 

“What’s the first thing your mother said to me when we had dinner at your house?” Gideon asked, voice cool and unflinching.

James didn’t hesitate. “That she wished her son would take better care of his hair, like you.”

Fabian turned to Sirius. “And what did you say in his defense?”

Sirius smirked, exhaustion heavy in his voice. “That surely she must’ve realized by now it’s a lost cause.” 

Fabian and Gideon lowered their wands with matching nods and stepped aside to let them in. Fabian took the sacks from their shoulders, motioning toward the back. 

“We’ll get these to Cecelia in the village. You two can sit tight before we call for Moody. You both look like you need a minute.”

James and Sirius collapsed onto the couch, side by side, their bodies heavy with the adrenaline crash. Sirius took James' hand.

“His arm,” James murmured, his voice tight. 

Sirius shook his head. “It’s okay, James. You did what you had to.”

James let out a long sigh. “It’s not okay. He tried to kill you, Sirius.”

“And you let him live,” Sirius said softly, his gaze distant. “We’re at war. You did what you had to. We all do.”

James ran his free hand through his messy hair, rubbing his temples. The weight of the moment hung between them, a bitter reminder of how much they’d aged in the last few months. They weren’t boys anymore. 

“How does he even know me?” James asked quietly, his brow furrowing.

“I don’t know,” Sirius replied. “But we need to tell Moody about it. Someone might be talking too loudly.”

James nodded, his jaw setting. He took a deep breath and then, as if to shake off the tension, nudged Sirius’ shoulder. “But that was fun, right? We’re pretty good at this.”

Sirius smiled, a genuine grin. “There’s no better team, Prongs.”

--------------------

October 31st, 1979 

Sirius groaned as the sunlight filtered through the curtains, dragging him from sleep. He’d been up late on another stakeout, the kind that always seemed to end in disappointment. No action, no excitement, just long hours of waiting and watching. It wasn’t that he wanted trouble to find them, but lately the war had slowed to a maddening crawl. Since the beginning of August, he hadn’t even needed to cast a single defensive spell. It made him feel... almost useless.

 He wasn’t being sent on secret missions like Remus, and he didn’t have any specialized skills like Lily and her potions. No, Sirius was stuck with the dull, repetitive stakeouts, the quiet, thankless part of the job. The only silver lining was that, more often than not, he got to do it with James. 

Speaking of which, Sirius dragged himself out of bed and stumbled downstairs, following the unmistakable smell of bacon. For the past few months, James had taken it upon himself to make breakfast for the two of them every morning, while Lily spent her days in the Order’s potions lab. Sirius suspected it reminded James of his mum. 

The thought made Sirius’s heart twinge. Effie and Monty had been like parents to him, their passing last December still raw despite how inevitable it had seemed in their old age. It hadn’t shocked him, but it hadn’t hurt any less, either. Watching James stumble through the early days of grief had been painful.  

For a while before, Sirius had been considering leaving the Potters’ cottage now that James and Lily were married. But after it had happened, Lily had asked him to stay. She didn’t think she could be what James needed in his grief. And she was right.

It had been Sirius who stayed up with James that first month, holding him when he cried, getting him to smile, and eat breakfast again. That’s when the routine had started. And now almost nine months later, they eat breakfast together every single day.  

"Good morning," Sirius mumbled groggily as he collapsed into a chair at the kitchen table, rubbing his eyes. 

James glanced over his shoulder, a grin spreading across his face as he finished plating the eggs, bacon, and toast. "It is a good morning, isn't it?"

Sirius raised an eyebrow. James was practically glowing with mischief, something that hadn’t been this visible since their Hogwarts days.

Sirius shoveled a forkful of eggs into his mouth as soon as James placed the plate in front of him, chewing quickly as he eyed him. "What’s got you so chipper, Prongs?"

 James’s grin only widened as he dug into his own breakfast. "Oh, you know... just thinking it’s high time we had some fun."

Sirius huffed, giving a half-hearted shrug. "Tell me about it." 

James leaned in a little, lowering his voice with an air of dramatic secrecy. "I mean, it seems like a sign from some higher power that none of us eight have assignments tonight." 

Sirius blinked, raising an eyebrow again. "All eight of us?" 

James nodded, casually taking another bite. "Yeah, just me, you, Moony, Wormtail, Evans, Drocas, Mary, and McKinnon."

Sirius paused, eyeing James carefully as he took small bites, his face betraying all of the excitement he was clearly feeling. Sirius couldn’t suppress his own smile. “Am I thinking what you’re thinking?” 

James’s grin stretched wider, and for a moment, he looked like the same reckless, excited friend Sirius had known since their school days. "I think it’s time we had another Halloween party, Pads." 

Sirius laughed, shaking his head in disbelief. "Prongs, I was thinking the exact same thing."

--------------------

The party had turned out to be the best idea they’d had in ages. And judging by the looks on everyone’s faces, they all had definitely needed it. Sirius hadn’t fully realized how distant they’d all become over the past few months. With everyone so wrapped up in their own assignments and missions, it had become harder and harder to make time for moments like this, when they could all just be together. 

James had quickly recruited Marlene, Peter, and Dorcas into a heated game of Exploding Snap, while Sirius found himself twirling Mary Macdonald across the makeshift dance floor. Remus and Lily were off to the side, deep in conversation. Sirius caught a glimpse of Lily’s face, a mixture of concern and something that bordered on fear. His gaze lingered, wondering if Remus was finally telling someone about his secret missions, the ones he’d been so tight-lipped about.

A pang of jealousy twisted in Sirius’s chest. He couldn’t get Remus to tell him a thing, not a single detail. Remus had always been the most guarded of the group, and the Order’s rule of secrecy only made him more determined to keep everything under wraps. Sirius didn’t like it. Especially not when he and James shared everything with each other. Even Peter liked to share what the Order was having him do: Although to be fair wasn’t much.  

Trying to shake off the sour feeling, he laughed, spinning Mary in a graceful circle. The music of David Bowie flowed through the room, and Sirius let himself be swept up in it. He was well on his way to forgetting the night, when Dorcas suddenly called out for a round of shots. Sirius didn’t hesitate for a second. He grabbed Mary by the hand and dragged her with him to the counter, where the rest of the group was already gathered. Dorcas had eight shot glasses lined up, filling each to the brim with fire whiskey. She made a point of making sure everyone took their glass as she pushed it in front of each of them. 

 “Potter,” Marlene took hold of her glass. “A toast if you will?” 

James grinned as everyone turned towards him. Sirius noticed a frown on Dorcas’ face as she didn’t look away from Lily.  

“Alright Gryffindors,” James' voice became somber. “I know this year hasn’t been what we expected. But I don’t think it’s a coincidence that we’re all here together tonight, on a night that has always meant so much to each of us.” 

Sirius felt his heart tighten. James had always been one for speeches back in their Quidditch days, and it showed in the way he spoke now. 

 “I’m proud of all of us," James continued, his voice steady. "For being on the right side of all this. I know things seem dark now, but I believe we’ll win this. Even if it takes twenty years, everything we’ve lost, it won’t have been for nothing.”  

Sirius met James’s eyes across the table, and for a moment, all the fear, uncertainty, and pain that had been hanging over them these past months felt just a little lighter. It was easy to  trust James. Sirius thought of Fabian and Gideon Prewett, who he and James had been the last ones to see alive, he thought of Benjy Fenwick, who Marlene hadn’t been able to heal in time, and he thought of Caradoc Dearborn, who had disappeared right before an assignment with Peter. In that moment, Sirius truly believed it when James said their deaths wouldn’t be in vain.  

James raised his glass, his eyes flickering to each of them in turn. “No matter what happens, we’ll get past it,” James said, his voice full of quiet strength. “I love you all. Cheers!”

"Cheers!" came the chorus of voices, each person raising their glass and clinking it with the others. Without hesitation, they all downed their shots in one go. The firewhisky burned as it slid down Sirius’s throat, for a second it felt like something inside him was being cleansed. He swallowed the warmth and tried not to let the tears threaten. James’s words had stirred up emotions he hadn’t known he was holding back.

He looked back towards the others, only to find he was clearly missing something. Dorcas and Lily were both staring at each other, both still with shots in their hands. Everyone else looked just as confused as he felt. 

“What’s going on?” Sirius was shocked to hear Peter be the one to speak up. Neither Dorcas or Lily directly answered him though.

 “Are you gonna take your shot Lil?” Dorcas questioned. Her tone was a bit accusatory. 

“Hey,” James spoke up. “You don’t have to if you don’t want Evans.” 

 Lily’s lip began to tremble as she avoided James' eye and continued to look at Dorcas as she set down the full glass. Dorcas' gaze softened to pity. “I’m sorry,” Lily whispered. 

 James moved from beside Peter to be next to her. “Hey baby,” James took her face gently in his hands. “Look at me.” Silent tears began to flow down her face. It made her eyes somehow seem even more green. “It’s okay. Whatever’s wrong it’s okay.” James' face was laced with pure concern. It made Sirius’ chest sting. 

Lily let out a shaky breath. “I’m pregnant.”  

The room went still as it filled with the sound of everyone’s quiet gasps. Sirius noticed Remus didn’t look very surprised. James' face of concern had transformed into full shock. 

“You’re… you’re… what?” 

Lily pulled away and stepped back from James. She looked to the whole room before back to him. She repeated, “I’m pregnant.” 

James' mouth was still wide open in shock. “I …uh,” he turned to Sirius, his eyes now filled with worry. Lily made a sound almost like a whimper and fled to the nearest bedroom. “No Lily wait,” James followed right after her and locked the door behind them. Sirius took Lily’s shot and downed it. 

--------------------

At some point the remaining six of them had all moved into the living room, where they were all now sitting in an uncomfortable silence. It had been over an hour since James and Lily disappeared into the bedroom. None of them had dared to say anything until the two of them shared their feelings first.

Finally, the lock to the door clicked and they all glanced over as Lily stepped out. Her face was still stained a bit with the remanence of tears, but as she made her way to the center of the room, her face cracked into a smile. The room seemed to sigh in relief. 

“Ah Lil I’m so happy for you!” Mary jumped up and pulled her into a hug, Marlene and Dorcas joining in as well. 

Sirius heard Dorcas beginning an apology as he looked back to the bedroom where James still hadn’t emerged. 

“He’s waiting for you,” Sirius turned to see Lily addressing him, something unreadable in her eyes. He nodded and made his way to him.  

James was sitting on the king sized bed, somehow looking small in comparison. Ever since they had left Hogwarts, Sirius found himself constantly noticing the aging of his friends. For the first time, he noticed the opposite. At just nineteen years old, Sirius realized that maybe they really were just kids.  

Sirius shut the door and James looked up at the sound. His shoulders visibly sagged in relief when he saw it was only Sirius. Their eyes met, and James’s began to well up with tears. 

Without a word, Sirius crossed the room and pulled him into an embrace. They stayed like that for a long moment, the silence heavy, the only sound being James's heavy breathing against Sirius’s shoulder.

“I’m scared Pads,” James whispered. 

Sirius pulled away just enough to be able to see his face. “James, you’re going to be a great dad.” 

James let out a small, humorous chuckle, whipping his nose with his sleeve. Sirius brought his hand up to take care of the tears.

“How are we supposed to bring a baby into this? I thought we were being careful.”

Sirius led them both to sit side by side on the bed. “Mistakes happen, Prongs,” he said quietly. “But you said it yourself tonight—no matter what happens, we’ll get past it. And trust me, this is going to be a good thing.”

James shook his head, his voice heavy with doubt. “You think a baby in the middle of a war is gonna be a good thing?”

Sirius grinned, nudging him with his shoulder. “Maybe not the war part, but yes, you and Evans having a baby? That’s gonna be a good thing. Let’s just hope it doesn’t get your hair.”

James chuckled through his tears, his head falling onto Sirius’s shoulder, the tension slowly easing from his body. For a moment, it felt like they were back at Hogwarts, staying up late, talking by the fire in the common room. It was a fleeting comfort, but it was enough to make everything feel, just for a second, like it might be okay.

“She’s worried about you, you know?” 

Sirius shifted to look at James. “Lily?” 

James nodded against his shoulder. “She’s afraid you’re gonna think she’s stealing you from me.”

 Sirius barked out a laugh. “That’s ridiculous.”

James shrugged. “That’s what I said. But she said it’s not a good feeling to feel like she’s coming between you and me.”

Sirius shook his head and stood up, offering James a hand. “As long as I get to be godfather, there won’t be any problems from me.” 

James grinned and took Sirius outstretched hand. “That’s exactly what I said.”

They made their way back out to the others. Everyone stared as they walked in and Sirius dropped James’ hand that he hadn’t realized he was still holding. He made his way straight to Lily and brought her into a hug. 

She squealed and he picked her up and spun her around. “Mrs. Prongs! I’m so proud of you!” 

She laughed as he set her down. “Oh thank god.” 

“I can’t believe it!” Mary shouted. “We’re having a baby!” A series of laughs floated around the room as she brought the eight of them in for a group hug. 

--------------------

October 31st, 1980

“Merlin his hair really does grow every time I see him,” Remus dangled a baby reindeer plush above baby Harry as he cooed with awe. It was the first time they had seen Remus in a while. He was becoming more and more important within the Order as his secret missions grew with urgency. He was still being as tight lipped as ever, which put Sirius on edge given it was now going around there was a possible spy in the Order. 

“Ugh I know,” Lily sighed, taking a seat next to James on the couch. “I found some old baby pictures of James and it's almost uncanny how alike they look.” 

 James grinned proudly and winked at Sirius who smirked back. “Strong genes.” 

“These eyes though Lil,” Remus continued. “If he had to get one thing from you I’m glad it was these. They stand out even more with the dark hair.”

“Til he has to hide them behind some giant round glasses,” Sirius joked. “Merlin knows Potters can’t see for shit.”

“Hey, language,” Lily muttered.

James chuckled, nudging her side. “He doesn’t understand yet, Evans.” 

She slapped James playfully on the shoulder. “I know that I’m just practicing.”

“Alright,” Remus scooped up baby Harry and went to place him in Lily’s arms. 

 “No me!” Sirius interjected, his arms outstretched. Remus walked over and carefully transferred Harry to his arms. He gave a toothless smile to Sirius upon seeing him. He was the most well behaved baby Sirius had ever encountered. He hardly ever cried and was already showing signs of magic, early even for purebloods. 

“Do you have to leave already, Remus?” Lily questioned with a frown. “You’ve hardly been here an hour. I just put a new pot of tea on.” 

Remus gave a small smile as he put on his jacket. “Yeah, sorry. I have a meeting with Moody.”

“About?” Sirius questioned, looking up from Harry for the first time since receiving him. 

Remus frowned at him. “You know I won’t tell you that.” Sirius sighed, not pressing further for once.

James stood and started digging around in his pocket. “Wait. Here Remus.” He held out a small gold key. “I made this for you.” 

Remus frowned but took the key. “For the house? Does this place even lock?” 

James laughed. “We redid the wards so nobody but the four of us are keyed in. Anybody else needs one of these. We had one made for you, Peter, Marlene, Mary, and Dorcas.”  

“Thanks mate,” Remus nodded gratefully. 

“If anything is wrong with the flat you can stay here. It’ll just be Sirius until it's safe for us to come back and you know we have plenty of bedrooms.” 

Remus smiled sheepishly. “Thank you, James. Really. For everything.”  

James nodded and pulled him into a hug as Lily stood to walk him to the door. 

Once they were out of earshot, James turned to Sirius with a small grin. “I have one for you too.” 

“I’m in the wards, Prongs. Did you forget?” Sirius joked.  

“No, I mean for the cottage. In Godric’s Hollow.” 

Sirius’ eyes widened in shock. “Dumbledore said not to do that.”

“No he said not to key anyone into the wards. This is different.”

“Hardly,” Sirius resisted the urge to roll his eyes. “You can’t make exceptions, James. Not even for me.” 

“I think I can make an exception for my brother Sirius. Besides, you'll be over all the time anyways. This will make it easier for the both of us.” 

Sirius continued to frown at him. Harry babbled and Sirius refocused his attention back to the baby. He heard James sigh. 

“Just take the key, Sirius.”  

With a resigned sigh, and without looking away from Harry, Sirius held out his hand. James placed the key into his palm, and he pocketed it without a word.

“Thank you,” James said softly. Sirius wasn’t sure what for. 

--------------------

“I can’t believe how cute this place is, James. Why have you never brought me here before?” 

Sirius glanced over at Lily who was happily lining pictures up along the mantel above the fireplace as their cat sniffed around at her feet. James shrugged from where he was leaning against the entryway, frowning slightly.  

“We used to come for part of the summer when I was a kid. My dad’s parents had a place up the road, but we haven’t really been back since they passed.” 

Lily hummed as she continued to decorate. James wasn’t doing anything to help.  

“Hey Lil?” Sirius asked. 

“Yeah?”

“You good for a bit if we take a quick ride?” Sirius grabbed two brooms from where James had set them against the wall. James instantly perked up.  

Lily turned to him, confusion clear on her face. “Yeah Harry's sleeping so I’ll be okay. Just be careful.” She looked pointedly at James. “And there’s muggles in this town so make sure nobody sees you.” 

Sirius nodded and headed for the door. “Will do.” 

He handed James the better of the two brooms as they walked down the rest of the road. Their house was the last one on the street so they didn’t have far to go. Once they were in the clear, James immediately shot into the air, soaring over the woods up ahead.  

Sirius mounted and took off after him. James wasn’t holding back right now. He made no effort to slow so Sirius could keep pace with him, giving only brief chances to close the gap by throwing himself into risky turns and sharp maneuvers. 

It reminded Sirius of their times playing Quidditch together. Sirius had always been a decent beater, his natural aggression serving him well when it came to getting physical, especially when he was angry. But when it came to James and being a chaser, what made him stand out was his complete lack of fear when it came to his own safety. He’d do whatever it took to score a goal. It’s what made him such a threat in a duel as well. It really was a shame he never got to go to the professionals.  

It took a while, but eventually James slowed down and hovered midair above the trees. Sirius halted next to him, thankful for the break and wishing he had thought to throw on his leather jacket.  

“I don’t want to stay here,” James mumbled. 

“Yeah, you’re making that quite obvious Prongs.”

James rolled his eyes. “Well it’s ridiculous. Voldemort would have to be mad to go after a baby.” 

Sirius sighed. “I know James. But we have to trust Dumbledore.”

“Yeah I know. I’m just frustrated. And not looking forward to being cooped up here.” He looked pointedly at Sirius. “Or not living with you.”

Sirius kicked at James’ feet. “Yeah, I can’t believe I’m somehow not looking forward to living in your giant mansion by myself at all.”  

James smiled. “We’ve lived together for almost ten years, Sirius.”  

Sirius laughed. “Don’t worry, Prongs. As soon as this bloody war is over me and you are getting a big house by the sea.” 

James laughed as they slowly descended back to the ground. He slung an arm over Sirius’ shoulders as they walked back to the house. “Don’t worry Sirius. You’ll get your house by the sea if it's the last thing I do.” 

--------------------

Albus Dumbledore was waiting for them when they walked back into the cottage, looking utterly at home in the armchair by the fire, his eyes twinkling as always.

“Professor?” James asked, his tone a mixture of curiosity and caution. “What brings you here?”

Dumbledore’s gaze shifted to the two of them, that familiar glint in his eyes. Sirius couldn’t help but shiver, it was the same look Dumbledore had worn when he was about to scold them for some prank back at Hogwarts.

“I wanted to see how you were settling in,” Dumbledore said, his voice calm and warm. “As well as discuss another matter.” He made a point of looking directly at Sirius. “Alone.”

“There’s no use, Professor,” Lily interjected as she returned to the living room, carrying a tray of tea. “James will tell Sirius everything the minute you leave anyway. You might as well just let him listen.” 

Dumbledore’s eyes lingered on Sirius for a beat, and he gave a small nod of agreement. “Very well. How many are currently aware that you’ve relocated?”

Lily, setting the tea down on the table, answered as she worked. “Well, all our friends know, Professor. But we haven’t told any of them where we’re going. Only Sirius knows that.” 

Dumbledore nodded thoughtfully. “That’s good. Now, I wanted to raise another possibility with you.” James and Lily exchanged a quick look. “As you know, the prophecy doesn’t explicitly say Harry, so we aren’t yet sure if he will be a target. However, if I do receive word that Voldemort has chosen him, I think it would be wise to place your family under the Fidelius Charm for protection.” 

James frowned. “Are you sure that’s necessary?”

 “Well, not yet,” Dumbledore replied, his tone thoughtful. “But I think it’s something to keep in mind. If it comes to that, I’d be happy to offer myself as your Secret Keeper.”

James immediately shook his head. “Sirius would do it.”

“James!” Sirius stared at him in shock. The most powerful wizard in the world was offering to be his Secret Keeper, and James would rather trust him?

“Isn’t the whole point of the Fidelius Charm to choose the person you trust most?” James sounded genuinely confused, like it was the most natural thing in the world for him to pick Sirius.

“In theory, yes,” Dumbledore agreed, his voice measured. “But many are wary of agreeing to such a burden.”

“I’ll do it,” Sirius said, his voice steady and determined. “If it comes down to it, it should be me.”

Dumbledore regarded him thoughtfully, his piercing gaze shifting between the three of them. “And you, Mrs. Potter?”

“Just Lily is fine,” she answered with a small smile, looking up from the teacups she was arranging.

“Yes,” Dumbledore replied with a soft smile. “Would you be okay with Sirius as your Secret Keeper?”

Lily didn’t hesitate. “Oh, of course. James trusts Sirius with his life, therefore I trust him with mine.”

Dumbledore fell silent for a moment, his expression thoughtful. “Very well. What other precautions are you taking?”

“Should we be doing more?” Lily asked, her voice laced with concern.

Dumbledore shook his head. “I was just curious. You’ve done well so far.”

“I also have my invisibility cloak just in case,” James piped up. 

Dumbledore’s attention snapped to James and Sirius could see the shock in his expression. None of them had ever seen Dumbledore look quite like this. Their eyes went wide, and the air seemed to thicken with unspoken tension. “You have an invisibility cloak?” Dumbledore’s voice was low, full of awe.

James blinked, clearly caught off guard by his curiosity. “Um, yes. It’s been in my family for generations, according to my dad.”

Sirius could feel the sudden shift in the room. Dumbledore’s face lit up with the kind of gleam comparable to Harry when he was handed his favorite toy. "May I see it?" he asked, his voice almost reverent.

James blinked again, then seemed to snap out of his daze. “Yes, yeah, of course.” He quickly scrambled around the room, his movements a little clumsy, before pulling out the shimmering fabric from a box against the wall.

Dumbledore stood up immediately, his hands delicate as he took the cloak from James, as if it might crumble under too much pressure. “Absolutely extraordinary,” he murmured, inspecting the fabric.

James looked stunned, as if he couldn’t quite believe that he had impressed Albus Dumbledore. 

“Do you mind if I borrow this for a bit?” Dumbledore asked, his eyes gleaming with a strange eagerness.

James froze and glanced at Sirius. He could see the hesitation in his eyes. He knew how much the cloak meant to James. It was practically an extension of him, something he’d had since his first year at Hogwarts, a gift from his father on the day he got on the train. 

For a long moment, James and Sirius spoke through their eyes. There was an unspoken understanding between them, a quiet communication that said everything about how much James valued that cloak. But how could he possibly say no to Albus Dumbledore?

“Yes, that’s okay,” James said, his voice resigned, though it still carried the weight of reluctant agreement. “Keep it for as long as you need.”

“Thank you,” Dumbledore said, his voice soft with gratitude. He folded the cloak carefully, as though it were fragile, and gave them all a nod. “I’ll check in every now and then.”

The three of them watched in silence as Dumbledore floated out of the cottage, the cloak folded neatly in his hands, his eyes never leaving it as he stepped through the door.

Lily exhaled slowly, the tension leaving her shoulders. “Well, that was weird.”

“Tell me about it,” Sirius muttered, still blinking away his confusion.

James shook his head, his mouth slightly ajar as if he were trying to process what had just happened. “Happy Halloween, I guess.”

--------------------

October 31st, 1981

“Are you sure you can’t come, Moony?” Sirius asked, his eyes lifting from the half-empty cup in his hands to meet Remus’ gaze. He was seated in the armchair opposite him, quietly sipping his tea.

Remus sighed and set the cup down with a soft clink on the end table. “I’m sorry, Sirius. Full moon’s tomorrow, and… well, Moony needs to talk to me.”

Sirius’ face tightened, his nod stiff. “Right.”

It had been just over a month since James, Lily, and Harry had officially gone into hiding under the Fidelius Charm. Remus hadn’t visited them yet, not since the spell was cast. Lately, he was harder to read than ever, his distance growing with every passing day. The change in him was subtle at first, but now it was impossible for Sirius to ignore. Since Remus had started those special assignments, he’d only become more and more withdrawn. It was a change Sirius hated—one that made his mind go places he didn’t want to think about.

Only a few days ago, Sirius had slipped up and told Remus that he was James’ Secret Keeper, not Dumbledore. Remus’ reaction had been sharp, his anger spilling out as he ranted about how Dumbledore was the better choice. Sirius had felt a cold weight settle in his stomach. Afraid of what Remus’ anger meant, he’d convinced James to switch the secret keeper to Peter. James had questioned him at first, but Sirius had managed to calm him, convincing him it was the right decision. James trusted him easily. 

“James transfigured a baby deer onesie for Harry,” Sirius said after a long, awkward silence.

 Remus chuckled softly. “Of course he did.”

 The words hung in the air, but the silence that followed was heavier than before. Sirius glanced around Remus’ flat, his eyes taking in the disarray: books, gadgets, and clothes piled up in corners. It was a stark contrast to the meticulousness Remus had always maintained back at Hogwarts. Sirius had invited him more than once to come stay at the Potter’s mansion with him, but Remus had always insisted on staying in the flat that James was still paying for.

Remus looked worn down, his eyes heavy with exhaustion, red-rimmed from sleepless nights. There was only one person in worse shape than him these days and that was Peter, whose fear seemed to be getting the best of him mentally. 

Sirius stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor. “I should go. I told James I’d stop by the store and grab some candy for Harry.”

Remus nodded absently, rising from his chair as well. “Wait here.” He disappeared into the kitchen, only to reappear moments later with a small bouquet of flowers. “For Lily,” he said quietly, “for her parents.”

Sirius took the flowers from him. “Right,” he said, swallowing the lump in his throat. “I’ll see you then, Moony.”

 Remus gave him a small, tired smile, slumping back into the chair. “Take care of yourself, Sirius.”

--------------------

Sirius tapped his foot anxiously as he waited for Peter to arrive at the house. He was itching to get over to James’ and Lily’s more so than usual today.  

James had been practically bouncing with excitement the last time Sirius had seen him, eager to celebrate Halloween with Harry. He hadn’t been old enough to remember last year, and it was likely he wouldn’t this year either. But James wasn’t about to take any chances. He was determined to make this Halloween special, even if the baby had no memory of it at all. So, Sirius had a bag full of candy and costumes ready to take over to the Potters’ house, whenever Peter finally showed up. 

The clock ticked away as the sun began to set. Peter was an hour late. Sirius was beginning to get annoyed. Not just at Peter, but at the whole bloody thing. The war. Voldemort. The inability to see his best mate, his brother, his godson whenever he wanted. By some cruel trick of the world he was forced to wait for Peter just so he knew where to go. 

Sirius huffed and picked up the letter off the table. It had taken her longer than James, but when Lily started to grow restless in their hiding, she had taken to writing letters to their friends. It was silly to write to Sirius, when he still saw them so frequently, but there weren’t exactly many people left to write letters to these days. It gave her something to do so Sirius happily obliged. This one had been his new favorite, given the picture of baby Harry inside. Sirius felt a twinge of pride at the fact he had enjoyed the broom he gifted him so much.  

He smiled and set the letter back on the table next to his wand. He was only giving Peter five more minutes before Sirius went out and found him for himself. He was always pulling things like this lately. His mind was never on the right track anymore. Sirius wanted to cut him some slack, but really why couldn't he just suck it up like the rest of them had been doing. 

Sirius didn’t wait the five minutes. He stood abruptly, muttering curses under his breath as he threw on his leather jacket. He went to reach down for the bag, but halted. 

A sudden stillness filled the house. It shouldn’t have been so strange, Sirius was usually alone here, especially now that Marlene and Dorcas were gone, but the silence felt… wrong. Too deep, too heavy. Even the ticking of the clock had stopped. 

Sirius froze, every muscle in his body locking into place. His heart seemed to plummet in his chest, as if it knew something he didn’t. The air felt thick, suffocating.

He wasn’t exactly sure how he knew. But he did. The certainty was undeniable. He felt it in the deepest parts of himself. It was impossible. 

He ran for the door. 

He was momentarily aware of the fact that his permanently tied boots were now unlaced. James had done that spell for him back in sixth year. 

Running for the wards would have taken too much time. He hopped on his motorbike that he had left leaning against the side of the house. 

He knew exactly where to go. He wasn’t secret keeper. He shouldn’t have known where to go. 

When he cleared the wards and disapparated into Godric’s Hollow, bike and all, his heart stopped beating. 

The roof of the small cottage had been blown clean off, leaving nothing but a hollow shell of what had once been a home. Debris littered the front garden, the lilies James had planted nowhere to be seen. 

Sirius barely registered the devastation before a sound pierced through his numbness. A baby’s cry. Harry.

His heart hammered in his chest as he jumped off his motorbike and bolted toward the house. Every instinct screamed at him to run, to get inside, to make sure Harry was—

A fleeting thought crossed his mind. He should call for help. He could barely think through the fog of panic, but he forced himself to act.

“Expecto Patronum!”

The silver stag erupted from his wand, its elegant form momentarily cutting through the chaos around him.

“Find the closest Order member,” Sirius commanded, the words feeling distant, disconnected. “I need help at the Potter’s in Godric’s Hollow. Something has happened!”

With a sickening twist in his gut, he turned and sprinted toward the house. His feet barely touched the ground as he shoved open the door, rushing inside. His heart pounded in his throat, the urgency in his chest growing with each step.

He barely noticed what he tripped over as he stumbled through the entryway, his mind consumed by a single thought: Harry. Where is Harry?

The nursery door was open. The room was in shambles—furniture upturned, walls scorched, shattered beyond recognition. But there, in the middle of it all, was a crib, untouched. 

Harry.

Sirius' breath caught in his throat as his eyes moved to Lily. 

Her body was crumpled at an unnatural angle, her lifeless, piercing, green eyes staring blankly at the ceiling. Her red hair pooled around her face like a puddle of blood. 

A sob tore from Sirius’ chest. He couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. He felt paralyzed, his legs threatening to give way beneath him. 

The baby stopped crying for a brief moment as he saw Sirius, his wide eyes filled with a mix of fear and recognition. Small arms reached out to him. 

A long, jagged scar marred Harry’s forehead, making anger rise in Sirius’ chest.  

He rushed to the crib, hands shaking as he scooped Harry up, pressing him close.  

“Shh, it’s okay,” Sirius whispered hoarsely, his voice cracking. He tucked Harry’s face into his shoulder, desperate to shield his eyes from anymore.  

He didn’t look back as he moved swiftly toward the door. He had to get Harry out of this house. 

He almost made it, but froze on the last step. 

He stopped breathing in that moment. He’d known. Something within him had known the second it had happened. But seeing the confirmation forced him to realize what he was hoping he could ignore. 

Sirius Black could divide his death into two moments. One part was when his body died. When his lungs inhaled their last breath of air and he disappeared into the veil. The other part was this moment right here. He would take another breath, but he would no longer be living. As far as he was concerned, Sirius Black died on October 31st, 1981. The only thing that remained after that was half of a soul in the same body. 

He forced out a shaky breath as his vision went dark at the corners. 

Big brown eyes were somehow fixed on him from the floor. Sirius knew they weren’t actually looking at him. No, James couldn’t possibly see him without his glasses on. 

“Hello?” Sirius snapped his gaze away. A voice called out from the front lawn. “Is anyone here?” 

It took everything Sirius had to step over the body and walk outside. 

 “Hagrid?” His voice was hoarse as if he had been screaming. 

Hagrid looked to him with concern. “Are you alright Black? What’s happened here?”

Sirius shook his head. “I don't know. Lily. J-James. They’re gone.” 

Hagrid’s face fell. “How’s Harry alright?” 

Sirius shook his head again. “I-,” a moment of clarity struck him. He’d been skittish lately, always on edge, more afraid than the rest of them. He had kept Sirius waiting for an hour. “The bloody rat.”

“What?” Hagrid looked to Sirius with confusion as he shoved Harry into his arms. He began to cry again. 

“Get Harry somewhere safe. You can take my bike, I’ve charmed it to grow to its users size.”

Hagird looked alarmed. “Where are you going?”

“To kill that fucking rat.” 

--------------------

Sirius let his feet guide him away from the house as he walked up the street. There was a group of bystanders talking amongst themselves. All muggles. 

He’d meant to ignore the group, but quickly did a double take. Towards the back, obviously trying to hide himself from view, was a short head of ashy blonde hair. 

Sirius let out a snarl. “PETTIGREW!” 

Peter jumped, panic flashing across his face. He squealed in fear, trying to duck further into the crowd, but the Muggles—sensing the tension in the air—backed away in alarm, exposing him completely. His boots were unlaced. 

“Expelliarmus!” Peter pointed his wand at Sirius, but nothing happened. 

Sirius let out a harsh laugh, the sound bitter and cold. His wand—left behind on the coffee table at Potter Mansion—was useless to him now. “I don’t need a wand to kill you, you bloody rat,” he sneered, stepping closer. “I’ll enjoy using my hands.”

“No!” Peter’s hands shook as he continued to aim his wand at Sirius. “You won’t Sirius!”

“Why?” Peter’s face morphed slightly into confusion at Sirius’ question. “How could you Peter? He was your friend!” 

Peter shook his head. “You think I wanted to? He would’ve killed me Sirius! He was going to…”

“NO!” Sirius moved forward. “You don’t get to make excuses! Not when it’s James!” 

“Stop!” 

Sirius didn’t stop. He moved forward, arms beginning to outstretch, ready to grasp Peter’s neck in his bare hands. He was less than three steps away when Peter grew some sense. 

“Reducto!” 

Sirius fell to the ground, shielding his head with his hands as the explosion shook the street. The muggles on either side of him were crushed under the debris. He forced himself to stand.  

Peter was kneeling, blood dripping from his arm, a severed finger lying in a pool of red at his feet. His eyes were wide with panic, his voice barely a whisper. “I’m sorry, Sirius… Forgive me, James…” 

Sirius’ heart twisted painfully in his chest. But there was no time for pity. Peter had already begun to shrink, his form warping into the rat he truly was.

“No!” Sirius shouted, lurching forward, but Peter scurried toward the sewer, disappearing into the darkness before he could be caught.

Sirius stood there, frozen, the weight of what had just happened crashing down on him. The grief hit him like a physical blow. He didn’t even remember walking, but somehow he found himself in front of the cottage. Hagrid was gone, but voices drifted out from inside the house. 

Sirius stumbled through the door, his legs buckling beneath him as he collapsed just inside the threshold. He didn’t fight it. He didn’t care who saw. The sobs wracked his body as he clutched James’ lifeless form to his chest, the cold body pressing against his burning skin. 

“Black?” 

The voice came from somewhere far away, but Sirius didn’t look up. His hands tightened around James, as if holding him could undo the horror. He rocked James back and forth, a futile attempt to convince himself it wasn’t real.

Sirius barely registered the voices swirling around him.

James Potter—the boy whose smile could light up a whole room, the boy who’d offered Sirius not just a home, but a family when he had none, the boy whose mind was always racing, always late for everything, but who’d showed up early for his death.

The sobs wracked Sirius’ chest, shaking him to the core. He was faintly aware of people surrounding him. He made to look, but halted, he couldn’t tear his gaze away from James’ face. His round brown eyes stared into nothing, his hair, once a reflection of the life inside him lay dull. His heart lurched violently in his chest as the images flooded his mind—once a source of comfort, but now they felt like blows to his soul. 

James wearing fuzzy antlers, spinning around the Gryffindor common room with Lily, laughing like a carefree child. James dragging Sirius from sleep for a pre-dawn broom ride, his goofy grin lighting up the cold morning. James charming Sirius and Peter’s boots to keep them laced after they wouldn’t stay done. James slipping money into Remus’ wallet when the other wasn’t looking.

James. James. James.

The only person who could’ve brought Sirius any comfort in that moment—was gone.

 “He was their Secret Keeper.”

“Are you sure?” Severus Snape’s voice cut through the fog of grief. Sirius forced himself to look.  He stood over Sirius, his face streaked with tears, his eyes wide with disbelief.

“Dumbledore just confirmed,” someone else said. “Grab him.”

Rough hands grabbed Sirius, trying to pull him away from James, but he snarled, refusing to let go. 

“No! Leave him alone!” he shouted, his voice raw. “He’s mine!”

But they wouldn’t relent. The hands tugged at him, prying him away. 

“Jamie!” Sirius screamed. They could do whatever they wanted to him. But they couldn’t take him away. He wanted to die right here with him. Sirius only thought of one thing before everything went black: And it would be the same one that would linger in his mind every night for the rest of his life…

James.