Chapter 1
James Potter knew three things for absolute certain:
1. He was in love with Lily Evans
2. Sirius was in love with Remus Lupin
3. And Sirius hated Regulus Black and by extension so did he.
Sirius was going on and on about how Regulus had given him a dirty look and while he talked James looked over at the younger Black brother. In his opinion, he didn’t think Regulus hated Sirius one bit, but arguing with Sirius about that fact was completely off limits.
Lily leaned over and whispered in his ear, “Is it going to be like this every morning?”
“Only if Regulus looks at Sirius, which happens quite often,” James whispered back with a chuckle.
Lily nodded thoughtfully. She also had a strained sibling relationship and shared the same opinion as James on the matter of the Black brothers. James just wished there was a way he could help his best mate and Lily with their sibling issues.
“And Regulus thinks he’s all that just because Walburga and Orion hold him in high esteem. I wish I could knock him off of his high horse,” Sirius was still ranting. Remus was rubbing circles on Sirius’s back to try and calm him down, but there was no calming Sirius down when he was like this.
“Sirius, mate, it’s not even 10 in the morning,” Peter whined as he made himself another cup of tea.
Sirius whipped his head around to look at Peter, “You just don’t get it since you don’t have siblings, but Lily understands since she has a sister that’s a right git.”
“Sirius, do not bring Petunia into this. Your issues with Regulus and my issues with Petunia are completely different.”
Sirius shrugged, “I’m just saying. But since you all seem uninterested in this topic today, Prongs, how has quidditch practice been going?”
James was surprised by the sudden topic change, but eagerly followed Sirius’s lead, “Slytherin keeps hijacking the field with Slughorn’s permission and it’s starting to make McGonagall angry.”
“Bloody hell, I don’t know why anyone would want to make that woman angry,” Peter shuddered.
Remus finished his toast, “We should all start heading to class, we’re some of the last ones here. Mary and Marlene seem to be waiting for us Lily.”
Sirius groaned as Lily and Remus got up and walked over to the waiting girls.
“At least you’ll never leave me, Prongs.”
“Never ever, Pads.”
James and Sirius had dual Defense with Slytherin first thing in the morning. It was Sirius’s least favorite part of the day. James, however, found these classes intriguing because of Evan Rosier and Dorcas Meadowes. They were always having hushed conversations whenever they got the chance. Sometimes James would hear them mention Regulus and that always caught his attention. Sirius never cared when James would tell him that Dorcas and Evan were talking about Regulus. The teacher was an Unspeakable from the ministry, but even though he seemed to have an interesting job, Sirius still blew the class off.
“Prongs, we need to start focusing on our end of the year prank,” Sirius whispered in his ear as the Professor gave a lecture on the importance of defense spells for the millionth time that year.
“You know we can’t, especially with Remus and Lily as prefects,” James whispered back. At that moment, James caught Evan looking back at him with a curious expression.
James filed the moment away in the back of his mind where he kept things he considered to be related to Regulus in some way. Maybe one day it would help James reunite Sirius and his younger brother.
Dorcas answered one of the professor’s questions and then James zoned out for the rest of class as Sirius talked about possible prank ideas. James was thinking about what it would be like if Sirius and Regulus still acted like brothers.
When James walked into the potions classroom with Lily and Marlene he was assaulted with the smell of french cologne, broom polish, and some sort of flower. He winked his nose at the smell and walked with Lily to their station. Their potions class was a small group that Slughorn himself chose, and because of that Regulus and Barty Crouch were there, despite being fifth years.
“The room reeks of broom polish,” Lily whispered to him as students filed into the room.
James nodded, “And flowers.”
“I don’t smell flowers, but I do smell moss.”
Slughorn laughed at their quiet observations, “It seems like Ms. Evans and Mr. Potter have noticed that the classroom has a peculiar aroma. It will smell different to every student, why do you think that is Ms. Evans?”
Lily thought for a moment, “Is there amortentia in the room, sir?”
“Why yes, there is,” Slughorn affirmed with a proud laugh, “Mr. Black, what is amortentia?”
James looked over at Regulus as he answered, “Amortentia is the most powerful love potion in existence and it has a different aroma for each person that represents the things the person finds most attractive even if the person is unaware of it.”
“And what do you smell, Mr. Black?” Slughorn asked curiously.
“I smell broomstick polish, some type of spice, and some sort of animal musk.”
Evan and Barty chuckled softly from their station. Pandora glared at them from her spot next to Regulus.
Slughorn turned his attention to Lily, “And you, Ms. Evans?”
“I also smell broomstick polish and spices, but also moss and parchment.”
Slughorn laughed, “Very interesting, it seems like you and Mr. Black have similar tastes!”
Slughorn then began to talk about how to brew amortentia. James listened closely to the old man.
“Now for this project, I’m going to randomly pair you up by turning your cauldrons different colors,” Slughorn explained.
Lily’s cauldron turned purple and James’s turned green. When they looked around the room they saw who they were paired with. Pandora’s cauldron was also purple and Regulus’s was green. He was never going to hear the end of it when Sirius found out. Everyone moved their seats to be next to the person with the matching coloured cauldron. James and Regulus, Lily and Pandora, Dorcas and Marlene, and Barty and Evan.
Regulus turned to James, “Do not talk to me about anything but this project. We don’t need to get along to complete this potion.”
“You got it,” James agreed. He was already gonna get an earful from Sirius about this and he didn’t need to make it worse.
“Since we need to recreate the potion, it will probably do good for us to both know what the other smells,” Regulus proposed softly. It wasn’t a tone of voice that James had ever heard from the boy before.
“I smell French cologne, broomstick polish, and flowers,” James whispered. He was confused about the smell, but he knew that the flower he smelled must be lilies. He’s been in love with Lily Evans from the moment he met her.
Regulus nodded, “You already know what I smell.”
“Let’s just get started.”
For a moment, James debated not telling Sirius about the potions project, but Lily told Remus and Remus told Sirius.
“I can’t believe Slughorn paired you with my bloody brother,” Sirius whined at dinner that night.
“There’s nothing to be done about it,” James shrugged, “How is Pandora, Lils?”
Lily smiled, “She’s actually quite nice, very different from her brother.”
James looked back at Sirius. Remus was whispering in his ear. Beyond Sirius, James could see the Slytherin table. Regulus was staring directly at him. James looked away quickly, refocusing on Lily and Marlene.
“Dorcas is actually wicked smart, she already has a whole plan for our potion,” Marlene was saying.
James glanced back at the Slytherin table and saw that Regulus was gone now.
“We should head to the library and see if there’s a book with more information on amorentia,” Lily suggested.
Marlene grimaced, “Unfortunately, Captain James has an after-dinner quidditch practice scheduled.”
James nodded, “Slytherin and Ravenclaw keep reserving the mornings.”
James and Marlene said their goodbyes to everyone and then walked out of the great hall.
“So, Marlene, what did you smell today?” James asked as they walked towards the pitch.
Marlene glanced at him, “Butterbeer and grass.”
James nodded thoughtfully, “Interesting. Does this have anything to do with the mystery girl you kissed on New Year’s that you said tasted like butterbeer?”
Marlene went a bright shade of crimson, “James Fleamont Potter! You swore you wouldn’t bring that up again!”
“I’ll keep bringing it up until you tell me who she is. You only told Peter!”
“Peter is a gentleman! Unlike you!”
James laughed as they went their separate ways into the locker rooms.
Regulus was in the boys locker room. James froze in place.
“Relax, Gryffindor still has the pitch, I’m alone,” Regulus told him.
“Sorry, I just wasn’t expecting anyone to be here yet.”
Regulus shrugged. James waited for him to say something, but they just ended up staring at each other for a few minutes until they both heard laughter outside the door. The rest of the Gryffindor team. Regulus grabbed his bag and walked out the second exit, leaving James staring at the spot Regulus had once stood.
“What an odd interaction,” James whispered as he changed into his quidditch kit.