Chapter 11
James glanced around the platform. He was hoping to see Regulus or Pandora. He had barely heard from Regulus after he had left Potter Manor and James was afraid for the worst. He was terrified of what Walburga and Orion had spent a month doing to his Regulus.
“Prongs, why are you acting so odd?” Sirius asked as they walked to their compartment.
James just shrugged, “This year is going to be different. You heard my parents talking about You-Know-Who.”
Peter shuddered, “Don’t bring him up. It’s not like we’re going to be the ones fighting him.”
“Merlin, Wormy, of course we will! We have to protect our friends from those slimy Death Eaters in Slytherin,” Sirius announced. James cringed slightly, but covered it up with a quick nod. His thoughts returned to Regulus.
Marlene, Mary, and Lily were already in the compartment. James sat between Marlene and Lily, causing Sirius to pout until Remus kissed his cheek.
“I know who the butterbeer girl is,” James muttered to Marlene, who subsequently turned a bright red.
Marlene stuck her finger in James’s face, “You will tell no one.”
James held his hands up in surrender, “Wouldn’t dream of it, Marls.”
Lily leaned against James and he felt a pang of guilt shoot through him. He glanced at Remus. The werewolf was giving him a peculiar look.
“This is it! Marauders, ladies. It’s our final year at Hogwarts. After this, everything changes!” Sirius declared with bravado.
James couldn’t help but think of Regulus and Pandora. Nobody in his compartment knew that things had already changed. For just a moment, he let himself imagine what life could be like if Regulus and Pandora were in their compartment with them.
He imagined Sirius having his little brother back and he imagined Pandora and Peter being friends. He even let himself imagine Evan Rosier and Barty Crouch Jr being there with them all. He imagined Regulus being happy.
He felt a little piece of him break as he imagined something he knew was impossible. He knew war was coming, he just hoped he could save Regulus from it.
They got off the train and James scanned the crowd to see if he could find Regulus again, but he had no luck. He didn’t even see Evan and Pandora’s white blonde hair. For just a moment, James worried that maybe Regulus hadn’t been able to return to Hogwarts. He shoved the thought from his mind and got into a carriage with Remus, Sirius, and Peter. The girls going to their own carriage. James made eye contact with Remus again. James knew he would have to talk to Remus about what to do about his feelings soon.
During the sorting feast, James tried to look for Regulus, but Remus had gotten a letter from McGonagall that told them to go to the headmaster’s office straight after they brought the first years to their houses. Remus brought the first year Gryffindors to their dorms while James and Lily quickly made a stop at the Head Boy and Girl tower. Their stuff was already there.
“I have to go meet with Headmaster Dumbledore now,” James told Lily as she walked towards her room.
She kissed his cheek, “I’ll see you for rounds then.”
James walked up to the eagle that led to the headmaster’s office. Sirius and Peter were already there and Remus walked up right after James. The eagle spun around to reveal a staircase and they all walked up.
“Hello boys,” Headmaster Dumbledore greeted them and gestured to a candy bowl, “Feel free to help yourselves.”
Remus took a step forwards, “Good evening, Headmaster. Why have you called us here today? James has Head Boy duties to fulfill and I am a Prefect.”
“Straight to the point, as always, Mr. Lupin,” Dumbledore chuckled, “I have reason to believe there are members of Voldemort’s inner circle inside of Hogwarts. He had been recruiting the Sacred 28 for years and I fear he has gotten to their children.”
“Headmaster, what does that have to do with us?” Peter asked timidly.
Dumbledore looked at them each in turn, “You have all expressed interest in fighting against Voldemort. I want you to be my eyes and ears among the students and then when you graduate I want you to join the Order of the Phoenix.”
Sirius went as stiff as a board and James immediately thought of Regulus. Fear gripped his heart and he knew he needed to see Regulus as soon as possible.
“Our plan was always to join up after Hogwarts,” Sirius said calmly. James wondered if he was also worried about Regulus.
“Keep your eye on those that are part of the Slytherin house,” Dumbledore advised.
Remus nodded, “We will, but now James and I have to do rounds.”
Dumbledore dismissed them with a smile. Remus sent Sirius and Peter back to Gryffindor tower and then James and Remus were alone.
“You’ve been acting weird, Prongs.”
“I’ll talk to you about it, Moony, I promise, but not today. There’s something I need to check first, but I think I’m in love with someone that isn’t Lily,” James whispered. Regulus was his first priority. He remembered what Walburga and Orion had done to Sirius in that house and he was terrified of it happened to Regulus. His sweet, beautiful Regulus.
James had gotten the map from Remus when they went their separate ways for rounds. He had immediately gone to the seventh floor corridor to wait for Regulus. A door had appeared shortly after he had gotten there.
“I solemnly swear that I’m up to no good,” James whispered as he opened the map. He searched for Regulus’s name and let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding when he saw the name heading towards him.
James closed the map as he heard Regulus’s footsteps, “Mischief managed.”
Regulus saw James and smiled. James wondered if Regulus had thought he wouldn’t be there.
“Head Boy? Really, James? They decided to inflate your ego even more?” Regulus teased as he stopped in front of James.
“Well, you’re a Prefect, Reggie,” James grinned, grabbed Regulus’s hand and pulled him into the door that had appeared.
Regulus froze as he took in the room, “What is this place?”
“It’s called the Room of Requirement. It becomes whatever you need. I wanted it to become a place you were comfortable,” James explained softly. It was Regulus’s room at Potter Manor.
Regulus sat down on the bed and smiled, “I’ve missed this place.”
“I’ve missed you, Reggie,” James admitted quietly as he sat down next to Regulus.
“I’ve missed you too,” Regulus replied softly. He was looking at the pictures on the walls, “Does Sirius know I was at the manor?”
James shook his head, “The door to your room is locked and disillusioned and he doesn’t ever look at the pictures on my walls.”
“I wish I could’ve stayed. I would’ve even gotten along with Sirius if it meant I didn’t have to go home.”
“How bad was it?”
Regulus shrugged, “Oh, just the usual except that Bellatrix is getting married and so the whole family is preparing for that.”
“Who is she getting married to?”
“One of the Lestrange brothers. I don’t remember which one; they’re both idiots. It’s not like Bella actually likes him either. It isn’t like Cissy and Lucius.”
“Narcissa actually likes Lucius Malfoy?”
“Her other option was Sirius and we both know how that went.”
James laughed, “Oh yeah, I remember him being so mad about it. Didn’t she make an Unbreakable Vow to marry Lucius?”
“Yeah. She’s smart like that. Cissy is good at getting what she wants.”
“Who do they expect you to marry?” James asked tentatively. Regulus froze.
“No clue, but if it comes down to it, me and Pandora will do the same thing Cissy did. I’m not interested in women, James. Pandora knows that. It wouldn’t be a traditional marriage.”
“But wouldn’t you have to have kids?”
“It would be illegitimate. Pandora is going to meet her soulmate one day and they’ll have a daughter. Our plan was always to do a blood ritual to make her a legitimate Black.”
James chuckled, “How do you know she’s going to have a daughter?”
“Pandora is a Seer. The girl will be named Luna. It follows the Black tradition. There’s only four people that will ever know she isn’t mine. Pandora, her soulmate, me, and now you.”
“I’m honored to be let in on the secret, Reggie.”
Regulus smiled, “Doesn’t Luna Black have a nice ring to it?”
James and Regulus talked for another hour and promised to meet there once a week. Regulus would decide when. They promised to use the journals whenever they could.
James put his forehead against Regulus’s, “To get into the room, just think of Potter Manor when in this corridor. The door will appear. Only us two can get in. Well, maybe Pandora could too. Give her my regards.”
“I will. She’ll be happy to hear from you,” Regulus whispered as he opened the door, “Goodbye James.”
And then Regulus was gone. James looked at the pictures of them one last time before slipping into the hallway.