Lily (in the common room) looks up when she hears someone say, “Lily” in a strange tone. She and looks up to see James face which doesnt have a smile on his face, not of his best friends by his side, and suddenly everything feels off. He didn’t call her Lily-flower, or Lily-pad, or Fire-Lily, just “Lily”. She closes her book and starts to stand up to Marlene’s bewilderment, and rushes to James.
“James, how can I help?” (She has only heard him this serious, when one of his friends is in danger- 3rd year, James asking for ditity with the same voice for Remus or that one year where Peter caught Dragon Pox or when they staged a intervention for Sirius in 2nd year- so yes she has heard that tone & he have never done it in public, never like this.)
James replies in a cold tone, “Sirius fucked up big time, with Remus, and in return us. ” (Lily’s eyes widened, Sirius who is as loyal as a dog, who has heart eyes for Remus, who-) “Remus needs me & Peter more than ever at the moment. I need you to keep an eye on him, watch his drink habits, make sure he eats & drinks water. Alright? I’m going to make the same request to Regulus, but…” (Lily sees a lot of burning hurt in James eyes, as he speaks and wonders what happened for James to be basically abandoned Sirius on her footstep? What Sirius did to his twin, his brother, his soulmate. For James to make this decision.)
James shakes his head, and mutters to himself in a downtrodden tone, “…that’s going to have to wait a while.” before continuing, “So can you keep an eye out for Sirius?”
Lily comments, “I will, and James?” James stoped by her question turns his notice back to her. “I know you’ll be taking care of Remus & Peter the best as you can, but don’t forget to take care of yourself, alright?”
With his head still running circles, trying to focus on solutions to his problems, hums out a half agreement, “Mm mmm” then off he goes to his dorm room.
—
Sirius pacing right in front of the door inside the boys room, turns around as he hears James steps approaching. Sirius turns his whole focus toward James as he speaks, “James, I’m s-“
James interprets him as he goes straight to direction to his bed looking for the map, a few sweaters he had stolen from Remus, & some easily carried chocolate, “Sirius. I love you. You are my brother and you’re still welcomed into my home, but I am so, so angry with you. Why did you give Remus secret away? What was your goal? You broke his trust as well as mine. After all that time of convincing Remus that we just see him as our friend, not a monster and then you turn around and use him as a weapon. Against Snape, who almost died. I almost died, saving him. You almost made our friend a murder, and not one his own choice.” James stops a take in a breath, pulling back his feels of anger & betrayal and snatches up his wand that he set on his bed so he could collect what he came here for, and turns to Sirius to finish his speech, “I love you dearly Sirius, we both are going to need space, after you betrayed us, all of us. Now, please let me go so I can make sure Snape keeps his mouth shut, then join Peter and be with Remus, who shouldn’t be alone.”
James starts walking out before pausing at the door frame & commenting, “I believe Lily wanted to talk to you about something today, Sirius.” Then walking away like he wasn’t waiting for Sirius, his other half. Like there was no time for Sirius to be by his side. It felt like being left behind… (was this what Reggie felt as he left that darkened-haunted house?)
—
James walks out of the dorm looking like a Lord that no one thought he could be, but a pissed off lord, with wrath in his body but cold order in his eyes. Everything controlled unlike the normally warm chaos that is felt & flows. Students, Ghosts, & even teachers part as James walks back to the hospital.
—
Once James arrived outside the hospital doors, with no one watching he takes a breath and walks in and talks to Madam Pomfrey to make sure everything will go to plan, “Madam Pomfrey, I am here to inform you that Peter and I will stay the night with Remus. I heavily request not to let any other students besides Lily Evan & Regulus Black in to see him.”
Madam Pomfrey is surprised by James acting like a formal Heir of Lord House, but burries it and responds, “I can agree, but are you sure on just yourself, Peter, Miss. Evans & the younger Mr. Black?”
James confirms with no room for disagreement, “I am sure.” Then asks for another agreement, “After talking to Remus, I still have some business to deal with but I can retrieve lunch for the four of us and whoever else vists, on the way back if that is agreeable, Madam Pomfrey?”
Madam Pomfrey who is worried for her charges, but also notices how James eyes are cold & focused agrees hoping this will have him more like himself, when he takes care of his brothers friends, voices her agreement and softening her voice at the end, “I will send a owl right before lunch time come around, James. Now how about you go see Remus, Mm?” James eyes soften but he still embodies being an Heir as he nods he head with a slight bow with his body before he disappears behind Remus curtains as a chocked sob slips out of the gap, before it’s cut short as the curtain closes.
—
Regulus is in the Great Hall when he started to hear the whispers, rumors of James. How he as he walked he felt like a Black or a Malfoy, how he didn’t seem like James but Pureblood. How he was acting right before The ‘Incident’ of James 3rd year. There were a few other times, the most memorable to the school was in his 2nd year and it was a revenge for 3rd year named Mary MacDonald, muggleborn who had been assaulted by Mulciber and others in his group. He remembered two years previous and what almost happened to Mulciber, if he hadn’t stepped in and reminded James that his friends still needed him at Hogwarts, remind him that he was the only Heir, and had his parents to think of. So Regulus rushed to Evan to gain more information, who didn’t ask too many questions probably remembering when Regulus stared to gain more political power with the Slytherins after The Incident’. When Regulus pulled back Potter, who almost committing brutal murder the first time, and came back covered in blood but no wounds. So Evan stated James was going to the hospital, so he settled into area next to hospital doors and waited for James to come out. Preparing for talking him down, bloody knuckles, or just holding his neck.
*As Regulus set into wait he remembered the first time James had felt like a Heir to him, It was when ma mère was dropping Regulus off for his first year, and Sirius for his second. He was on ma mère right, & Sirius to her left, and Sirius eyes lit up as soon as saw the youngest Potter. Sirius’ shoulder muscles untensed, he straightened up, and his foot that was tapping stoped and he almost started bouncing. When I first looked at Potter, he was getting a forehead kiss from his mother, then started waving ridiculously at Sirius, with a warm smile on his face. Then as mère stepped in fount of his gaze to give Sirius a public reminder of what was expected from him at Hogwarts (that he would most likely ignore) his honey brown eyes slide to ma mère… It almost seemed to focus, to frostbite/the sun on a winters day or a raging fire. He settled into a proper formal stance but his hands curled into fists, and his mouth firm. He seemed like a perfect Pureblood if you decided to ignore the violence that was hidden in his body & shined though his eyes. Regulus looked to see if the Lord & Lady Potter noticed Potters Presence and the only he noticed was that Lady Potter hand was frimer, held like an order, and that their stances had also shifted with their Heir. Both of them were still talking with (Lupin?) scar boys parents, trying to peer at Sirius. Potters eyes slide to Sirius & softened and in return his parents relaxed as his focus turned on my brother. As soon as Sirius was able to slip away, He did, and mère started on my own reminders.
—
James pulled the curtain back & heard Remus’ choked sob, and almost ran into Peter’s chair. He noticed as soon as he stepped through Peter straightened, and Remus seemed to relax. James locked eyes with Remus & spoke, “Remus, I have a few of your sweaters from my trunk, and here are some of Peter Hogwarts made chocolates from a couple days before.” James hands over his satchel with Remus sweaters and filled the chocolates to Peter with a glance then puts his hand on Peter’s right shoulder then continues, “Now, only the two of us, Regulus & Lily with be able to vist you, but Peter and I are staying the night. There are a few more things I need to do, before I come back with lunch. So if you two want something from the dorms tell me now or with Madam Pomfrey owl telling me what you want for Lunch.”
Peter slowly recognizing James tone & formal words, turns around and reconfirms that James is in Heir mode, and quickly asks, “James, you’ll go see Regulus before you start your business?“
Remus hearing the control-concern in Peter’s voice real looks and sees the reason why Moony listens to Prongs most of the time, a stag, the Prince of the forest. And really hoping the answer is yes.
James eyes shift to Peter once he hears his name, but his whole body shifts once he Regulus’ name, “I will.” A pause, “I promised after what I did to Mulciber, I would come to him first so I wouldn’t be separated from you three, and leave my parents without a son or Heir.” Remus and Peter share a look at that statement, then glance back at James clean knuckles for a moment, before agreeing not to bring up other reasons until later.
Remus voice more then a bit rough hesitantly questions James, “… hey, Janes? What is your business? If you don’t mind telling us?”
James eyes lock back to Remus with his name stated and respond, “Keeping Snapes Mouth shut before the meeting, and potentially after it.” Remus eyes widen a bit with James goal, then James pulls the map & his cloak out of his satchel, both disappearing into his pockets.
James looks at Peter and says, “Look after our Moony, alright?” And after Peter’s nod, glances at Remus before turning and disappearing behind the curtain, then hospital doors close. Leaving the two of them alone.
—
Regulus hears James footsteps then the whoosh of the huge hospital door open, and James about to stride somewhere so I call out, “Potter.”
His stride smoothly turns into a turn his total focus towards me, then once our eyes lock he responds, “Black.”
Then he is walking to me with presence & purpose with violence in his eyes, but not directed at me. Then he stops half a step closer than culturally appropriate, finally realizing there are other people here to watch a show he crosses his arms. His knuckles clean, but clenched looking almost white, but his nails barely drawing blood.
I glance back up at him and tell him, “Let’s go get your Quidditch Gloves, tell me on the way,”
James resorts, “…Thinking on the way.” with more than a little hesitation. Now to others that may be planing in our heads, but for us that means I use legilimency on James outward thought flow and conveys what he wants me to know but not be overheard. So he walks, clearing the path, while I follow while listening in. I settle my mind, and create a wind like glass for my Occlumency shield. I start feel a James overwhelming coiling anger, with fear, most importantly, betrayal fueling it so I start to settle in as the James gets ready to tell me what happened.