A letter from the Black cat

James sat on his bed, studying the more that had been left in the common room just a few days back. He couldn't figure out for the life of him who sent it as it was simply signed 'r&l'. It was the only thing out of place run the whole room, which had been tidied even though nobody has been in the common rooms since that morning, or so James thought.

He has his suspicions on who cleared up the chaos but he wasn't sure. He just knew that it was two people working together so they had to be friends that not only knew each other but him. This was going to be harder than it needs to be as Remus was out with Lily in the library and Regulus had been in lessons and in the Room of Requirements. How was this possible. Sirius not only didn't fit the initials but he and been with James and Regulus for the day.

Peter, as Wormtail for some strange reason, scurried over to him to inspect the note with him. Even he looked confused. Great. The handwriting looked familiar but he couldn't place who he knew it from. The image of the night sky seemed to place itself in his mind, almost as a hint but he waved it off.

He noticed the faint hint of tulips and sea salt, amongst other things, coming from the parchment. Strange. why hadn't he spotted that before?

"What do you smell Wormy?" Peter just started at him. "Right, yes. You're still a rat. Forgot about that. James laughed, sorting the rat's head. He only got a small squeak for a laugh before Wormtail scurried off, returning as Peter.

" What did you smell?" James asked. "Now that you are a human again you can actually tell me now."

" I smelt burnt parchment, whiskey, cigarettes and my grandmother's kitchen. Strange. " Peter laughed. James thought for a while but it didn't make sense how they smelled different things. Strange indeed. "Why, what did you smell?"

"Tulips, cats, sugar cookies as well as broom polish. Why did we smell different things?" James asked now more confused than ever. Peter's eyes lit up.

"It might have been Amortentia. We learned the potion a few weeks ago dispute Ol' sluggy setting the homework late."

"Makes sense. Good job Petey."

"Thanks Prongs. But the real question now is who did we smell?"

" I mean what you smelled seemed to coherent and I know one of them is Regulus but he doesn't smell of flowers or sugar cookies.

"I don't know but maybe Lily?" Peter suggested. "She seems like she could smell of flowers."

"Fair point. Why didn't I think of that?"

"Maybe because you're not the one who found and performed the main spells for the map? Remember I did most of the work and you only did the basic charms. "

"Ok ok. I regret asking now."

Sirius entered, more like burst into, the forms, for shit eating grin plastered on his face.

"Hey Pads. Did Remus ask you out of what? " James laughed

"Well, yes but I have something even better." Sirius cackled. " I saw Regulus chasing Barty and Evan around the courtyard to get back  into the Slytherin dorms. You should have seen it. He was pissed. "

The three of them continued laughing at the thought of Regulus running after Barty and Evan to get them inside. Peter and James glanced at each other as the giggling died down.

"Hey Sirius, smell this."

"What is it? " Sirius asked, sceptical of what he was being handed.

"It's a perfume strip." Peter lied, saving James from a heavy interrogation .

"Right and why are you making me smell it?"

"Just smell it for Merlin's sake."

"Alright fine!" Sirius out his hands up in defence before bringing the paper to his nose. "Smells of chocolate, old books and worn sweaters. Nice."

"Well this confirms it."

"Confirms what, Prongs?"

"That somebody dipped the paper in Amortentia."

Sirius turned over the piece of parchment and examined the now slightly faded ink. "I remember this. Didn't you find this when we came back from the Room of Requirements? You refused too show me it, didn't you?"

"Yeah."

"Dumbass."

"Fuck you. You're not much better than me."

Peter sighed, rolling his eyes at their usual antics.

"Well do you recognise the handwriting?" James asked .

"It's my brother's." Sirius huffed . "Honestly with the amount of time you spend with him you should know this by now."

The image of the stars finally made sense. There was a reason they had popped up in his mind. If only he hadn't dismissed it as nonsense.

"I'm assuming that the 'l' is Lily she does have a thing for helping Regulus. Reminds me of you, twat."

"Sirius stop insulting James for once he did nothing wrong."

"Fine. " Sirius glared at James and made his way to his own bed, rummaging through one of his trunks, seemingly looking for something important. None of them could figure out what he was searching for until he came back with a small item hanging from his hand. 

"What is it?" James asked, looking at small silver chain the chain dangling in the air. It looked fairly old but still in good shape. It had small little stars on some of the links near the centre but the thing that caught his eye was a small crystal hanging down, a wire twisted around it.

"What I came in for and it's also on of the things that Regulus gave me." Sirius stated, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Why did you take it out? What do you need it for?"

"Well Remus asked me out earlier today remember. Put two and two together dipshit." 

"What did I say about insulting James?"

"Right. Sorry Worms."

"Don't apologise to me, apologise to James."

"Who are you? Moony?"

"Speaking of which have you seen him recently?" James sat up suddenly, now realising that he hadn't seen him since dinner.

"Yeah, he got a letter from Regulus this morning. Remember?"

"Oh yeah. I am so slow today."

"You're slow everyday." This time Peter didn't bother to scold him and just laughed in agreement.

"Pads! Why aren't you doing anything Peter. He's insulting me again."

"Oh shut up." Peter said, regaining his breath and calmed down.

"Ok. I assume Remus is in either the Astronomy Room of Requirements right now. When is your date Sirius?"

"Around midnight."

"It's 6pm Siri. You have 6 HOURS."

"Ok and? It takes time to look perfect."

"I'm sure Remus wont care. He seems obsessed enough already."

"Yeah but I know what he likes best." Sirius waved vaguely with his spare hand, leaving the meaning of the sentence up to the boy's imagination 

"Shut up."

"Never." Sirius sat down on his bed, pulling out a mirror from Merlin knows where and flipping off James and Peter. 

"Self-centred bitch."

"I heard that James."

"Good."

"Thank you for the compliment, though." Sirius moved the mirror so that he could see James's confused face and Peter holding in a small burst of laughter. "Maybe next time try be a bit more original."

Just normal activities of the Marauders common room. 

Sirius fiddled with the pendant that was now around his neck. It was a small round garnet, barely bigger than his iris, hanging on a silver chain. It was one of the only gifts that Regulus had ever given him as it was his parting gift. Sirius knew that Regulus had a similar one stashed somewhere but he didn't know if he wore it or not so he just assumed that he didn't. He had no proof but it was an awkward thing to ask. 

He wondered what Remus was talking to Regulus about, not that he should be asking that type of thing. Remus had been in an iffy mood the past few days. Sirius had asked him if he was alright, so had James and so had Peter but he just left the question in the air, not answering and waving it off. Sirius knew that it had something to do with him, to some extent. 

"Sirius."

"Hm?" Sirius turned over to James now that he got his attention.

"You good there? You were out for a good 5 minutes, didn't even blink."

"Oh yeah I'm fine. Just thinking."

"About what?"

"Remus." Sirius admitted, avoiding James's eyes, he knew how guilty he sounded.

"You two are so in love I swear."

"Yeah well. It was more about how he was acting the past few days. I know it was the whole.. Situation."

"Well at least you're thinking now."

"James." Peter warned him, hinting for him to stop.

"I mean you didn't do a lot of thinking that night."

"I know."

"I know you fucking know. I also know you play victim far too often."

"James! You fucking knobhead listen to me." Peter finally shouted, grabbing their attention. "Get your fucking shit together, both of you. Sirius, you play victim far too often, I agree with James but most of us have forgiven you." Peter glared at James, "And James, you believe you're in the right but if Remus can, partly, forgive him so can you."

"Sorry." The boys muttered, not daring to look at Peter who was practically death staring them. 

"Knobs." Peter rolled his eyes, walking off to find a near by book to bury himself into. 

How was he friends with them?