Chapter 15
James kissed Lily’s hand as they approached the Hogwarts Express. It was over. They had graduated. They all piled into their compartment. It was more full than it had been in the past. Sirius was sitting in Remus’s lap and Marlene was sitting on the floor between Dorcas’s legs. Mary and Peter were chatting next to Remus and Sirius. Lily sat curled up against James.
“We did it! We made it through seven years and none of us failed! Thanks to Moony, of course,” Sirius was laughing. James smiled while everyone laughed. Everyone was coming to Potter Manor for the summer. They would be joining the Order now and wanted to stay connected as best they could. All the rooms in the Manor would be filled. All but one.
They got off the train at Kings Cross and James’s parents were there waiting for them.
“We’re home forever now, mum,” Sirius announced as he hugged Euphemia.
Effie laughed, “You’re going to have to move out eventually.”
They went home to Potter Manor. Everyone was lively and excited.
Fleamont pulled James aside when they walked inside, “Help Treacle with the rooms? You can pick which room everyone goes in.”
James nodded and went upstairs with Treacle. He stared at the hallway of rooms. There were eight doors.
“Master James, where is you wanting Treacle to put the girls?”
James thought for a moment, “Dorcas and Marlene can share. Put Lily across from Regulus’s room. Mary can be across from Marlene and Dorcas. Put them at the end of the hallway.
Treacle nodded, “Treacle will make sure Master Regulus’s door stays locked.”
James smiled at the elf, “Thank you, Treacle.”
He went downstairs and joined the others in the kitchen. They were all helping Effie cook. James smiled. Lily and his mom got along great, but it was different from how Regulus had gotten along with his parents. James froze at his line of thinking. He shook his head and pushed thoughts of Regulus away.
“Are you guys having fun without me,” He joked as he walked right into the fray and began to help.
But in that kitchen, even surrounded by his friends, it was like Regulus was right there next to him. It was like Regulus had never left that morning. But Regulus was gone, and James could only talk to his star now.
The eight of them walked into the Order meeting and James looked at each person in the room. The Prewetts, Frank and Alice, Mad-Eye Moody, Dumbledore, and James lost count. They were a small army. James knew Dorcas would be the only Slytherin there and he knew that there would be some pushback.
James didn’t pay attention during the meeting. All he could think about was the fact that one day Regulus would be at the end of his wand. He nodded along when people addressed him, but he wasn’t paying attention. He was thinking about the boy he had barely known, the boy he would’ve given up everything for.
He only focused on the meeting when he saw Sirius starting to get annoyed.
“I should be paired with Moony, not Prewett,” Sirius was arguing.
Remus patted Sirius on the shoulder, “Pads, you’re going to be with Prongs. I’ll be okay.”
Dumbledore watched the interaction and James noticed how the old man seemed to be very thoughtful about how Sirius and Remus reacted to one another. Peter nudged James and gestured for James to calm them down.
“Pads, Gideon is fully capable of watching Moony’s back,” James butted in, Lily nodded enthusiastically. Sirius crossed his arms and sighed but nodded and fell silent. Remus shot James a grateful look.
Moody began explaining assignments, but James didn’t care. He didn’t care about much these days.
As August of 1978 came to a close, Potter Manor was still home to Mary, Marlene, Dorcas, Remus, and Lily. They had all decided that things were too dangerous for them all to go home, especially the girls.
Skirmishes with the Death Eaters were whittling the Order down slowly but surely and Muggle families kept going missing. Lily was terrified that her family would be next. She had nightmares about it almost every night and James wound up in her room most nights. The war weighed heavily on Potter Manor.
On the morning of September second, James snuck into Regulus’s room in the manor and pulled out the copy of the Marauder’s Map he had made. It had a few adjustments however, it was charmed to only show Regulus. For his own peace of mind, he needed to know that Regulus was back at Hogwarts. Safe from the war and safe from the Order.
James searched the map, but he couldn’t find find Regulus. He felt sick. Regulus wasn’t at Hogwarts.
“Maybe you’re in the come and go room,” James whispered to the picture of him and Reg on the wall.
James pulled out his journal and hesitated for a moment before opening it.
Reggie Regulus,
I am begging you to let me know if you are at Hogwarts or not. I need to know if you are safe from this war or not. I would rather turn my own wand on myself than have to turn it on you if we were to meet on opposite sides.
I miss you. Please be safe. I need you to be safe. I am going to find you after this war is over. Even now, I would run away from it all with you.
He hasn’t said anything, but I see Sirius outside some nights talking to the sky. Both of us dread the possibility of crossing wands with you. I am right where you left me, Regulus Black.
I still have to meet Luna one day.
James.
He closed the journal and left it on the bed. Silently, he snuck downstairs and walked into the kitchen. Treacle and his mum were making breakfast. Quiet music floated through the air.
“Mum, I miss him,” James whispered. Euphemia Potter stopped what she was doing and hugged her son tightly.
Effie kissed his forehead, “It’s all going to be okay, James.”
“Treacle can go check on the young Master Regulus at Hogwarts,” The elf suggested happily.
James shook his head sadly, “It’s better if you don’t, but thank you for offering, Treacle.” James heard someone coming down the stairs and busied himself with helping make breakfast. Sirius walked into the kitchen and grinned.
“Put him to work, Treacle.”
“Treacle will, Master Sirius.”