Gryffindors' Bet

Peter sits in the Gryffindor common room, with girls, when he sees Ted going towards the dorm. He waves to him, but Ted doesn't notice it, so Peter lowers his hand. He catches Emmeline's condescending gaze and feels a little embarrassed, now, that he waved to someone, that didn't wave back.

"I can't with her," Marlene says, and Peter looks at her, probably slightly red. "Why can't she just talk to us?"

Peter sighs. He has no idea what Marlene is talking about, knowing exactly what Marlene is talking about at the same time. "You shouldn't force her to do anything, she is her own person, you know?"

He doesn't know if he is tired of Marlene's constant talking about her cousin, or her constant forcing her to become someone she is not. The look Marlene gives him, though, is oddly sad, and conflicted, so Peter doesn't say anything, waiting for her response.

"I know, it's just…" Marlene massages her temples. "She is so often alone. I know she has a friend, but her friend is also friends with other people, so Elspeth is often alone, and I just want her to know, that there are a lot of people she can talk to, only if she tries. She literally talks only to me beside her one friend."

"I actually caught her talking to James, a lot of times…?" Mary cuts in.

And since Peter knows, that Marlene is only worried, he decides to take her side.

"Well, but that's James. He can talk to anyone."

"Truth," Lily says. "He even chats with Sirius on Charms."

Apart from a few surprised looks, no one seems to care that James manages to talk with Sirius. It's James.

"Marlene," Peter gathers courage. "I think Elspeth would have more courage to talk with us, if you weren't so…"

"So what," Marlene's voice is sharp and makes Peter want to shrivel.

"Overbearing," he finishes.

"You say I'm bullying her?"

"No," Peter denies. "I'm saying you're pressurizing her."

"She is shy, she needs to be pressurized to do something," Marlene scoffs, and Peter suddenly feels his irritation grow.

"She's shy, not a child," he says a bit too loudly, and takes a deep breath to calm himself. Mary sends him an encouraging look, and he tries not to roll his eyes. Do they think he is stressed? He is annoyed. Peter decides to just tell what he believes in, even if it might be bitter to his friend. "She doesn't need your help," he states plainly. "Encouragement? Maybe. Some shy kids need help to make friends, and they want someone to approach them, but in Elspeth' case, I think you're just forcing her, pressurizing her, and she might be more discouraged than motivated."

What Peter doesn't add, is that Elspeth seems to have had enough of her cousin.

"Then what should I do," Marlene asks after a few beats of silence.

"Don't force her into anything. Be her friend, not her superior."

After his words, no one says a thing. It's quiet, almost as if there are no loud Gryffindors sitting and talking with each other. Peter wonders if he said too much, but no, he doesn't want to take back words, that he believes are appropriate. He didn't attack anyone. He criticized someone's wrongdoing, and what's most important, he knows Marlene didn't act with bad intentions.

But maybe he did tell too much?

"Oh, Pete," Mary says, breaking the silence. What surprises Peter, is that she looks pleased, not annoyed or like she is in an arguing mood. "Two years ago, you wouldn't have told us any of these things. You would have just kept it to yourself. I love, how you're more confident, you know?"

And it hits Peter. It hits him to a large extent. When he was worried that he said too much, girls were thinking about how much more than usual he said. They think he is more courageous than earlier, but at the same time, he is a coward, wondering if he shouldn't retreat. But maybe they are right? Isn't that true, that two years ago, he would just listen, and allow others to tell things he wanted to tell? While he still is anxious and unsecure, now he can speak his mind. And it is a development. And it's a bit unreal, that it's not him, that noticed it, but his friends.

It's making him a little warm, though, knowing they care about him enough, to notice things like this. And that they encourage him to not be afraid. He glances at Emmeline, but she seems annoyed, so he looks back at the other girls. All of them have smiles on their faces.

"Ew, Mary," Marlene says. "Don't say sappy things like that, I feel like crying, now."

Mary and Peter laughs.

He wants to look around, remember their faces, the expressions they all are making at this point, and fix it in his head, so when he is afraid again, he will only need to remember this moment.

Peter reflects on his past and how much he changed, but they all changed, really. When they met, they were only children, who wanted to be adults already. Now, they are all their own people.

And he thinks of Lily, the girl, who once arrogant and a know-it-all, is now becoming an intelligent woman, who everyone can depend on. Or about Mary, that was sometimes cold and distant, but now is someone strong and welcoming. Dorcas, too, used to be mean and cocky, but she became a loyal, mature person, quick-witted at the same time.

Marlene… well, Marlene stayed mostly the same, annoying brat, but it's her charm, really.

"I think every one of us grew up," Peter thinks out loud.

Marlene gets up instantly, and spread her arms.

"Group hug, everyone!"

Mary laughs, but is first to hug Marlene, pulling Peter with her. Dorcas just looks at them, sitting comfortably on her seat as before, with a small smile. Lily joins in, too, and the four of them are holding each other only for a moment, before Remus and James are entering the Gryffindor common room.

"What's going on?" James asks.

"Group hug," Mary says, her voice muffled.

Marlene sticks her head out. "Join us!"

James does so without hesitation, and Remus does not do the same, though he still pats Peter on the back, with a soft smile. Peter catches a sight of Emmeline, leaving the room and a feeling of anxiety breaks into him, but Peter tries to stifle it and focus on the warmth of having a group of people that care about him. He feels stronger, now. He knows he should try to talk with Emmeline, soon, and maybe, just maybe, he has now more courage to do so. 

---

James knows something is definitely wrong, when his team lose their first Quidditch match this year. And when he has not much to say to encourage his teammates, because he feels that most of their loss is his fault. And that's because he doesn't exactly know what really happened during the match.

The most difficult task, for James, to do on the Quidditch pitch, is to pay attention to what is going on with other players, and on the balls flying in all directions, at the same time. James has difficulties to focus on everything that's going on, during the match, but he is also trained to cope with it. For him, it's more instinctive than conscious, now, after all Quidditch practices he attended or led. So he has dealt with multitasking during the game without real problem.

That is, until he started to pay attention to Regulus Black.

Because, why, oh why, James must have realized he has a crush on Regulus Black, when he saw him in his Slytherin Quidditch uniform? Well, James is not sure, if he can call it a crush, but he surely understands the rules of physical attraction, and he knows that Regulus is fit.

The problem is, this fitness, caused James to face difficulties with finding balance on the field.

So he feels greatly ashamed about their loss, and can't really look into the eyes of his teammates, when he is leaving the pitch, surrounded by disappointed students of Hogwarts.

The only thing that comforts him, is that Slytherin also played really well.

And maybe it's because of his sense of loss, or his need to retreat as fast as possible, but when he is sneaking out, he doesn't notice the shape that follows him behind. So when a hand grabs his shoulder, he involuntarily pulls out his wand to defend himself.

"Go ahead, Potter, see what you can do with the little tricks of yours," Sirius says, standing nonchalantly with crossed arms, acting like James isn't pointing his wand at him. James realizes that little tricks meant his prank spells and though it annoys him somehow, he decides to put his wand in his robe.

"What do you want?" James asks, feeling a bit hurt.

Sirius laughs, but doesn't sound amused.

"First, I would like you to stop ogling my brother," he says.

James is actually shocked.

"Ogl… Ogling?" James utters.

"Yes, especially where everyone can see."

"I wasn't ogling your brother!" James cries out.

Sirius closes his mouth and studies James carefully. All his behaviour seems cautious and alert and James can't shake off the impression that behind the scornful cover, there is fearfulness and unease.

"Why are you so unwilling to admit it?" He suddenly puts on a sinister face, "Do you think Regulus is not worth your attention, huh?"

James stills.

"I'm not saying I'm superior to Regulus Black!"

"Now, you try to act like you're not a hypocrite?"

"I didn't say your brother is not fit! I'm saying I wasn't ogling him! I was… eyeing him up in terms of appreciating him."

"Stop, you disgusting Gryffindor," Sirius pulls out his wand to point it at James. "Don't say things like that about my brother."

James looks at Sirius, flabbergasted. He wants James to admit that he finds his brother attractive, but at the same time, he doesn't want James finding him attractive?

"You need a therapist."

Sirius furrows his eyebrows. "Therapist?"

"Yeah, you know, the person, who treats your mind."

"You mean Legilimency," Sirius scoffs. "I have enough therapists in my house," he mutters, but James hears everything. And he truly feels confused, but then, when he understands what Sirius meant, James is genuinely scared. And it must show, because Sirius, seeing James' expression, squeezes his wand harder. "Are you trying to get inside information about my house?" But really, does it mean, that behind Black's manor's walls, there are frequent use of Legilimency? What does it mean to treat your mind with mind-reading? Do they tell Sirius that his mind is broken and that is why they need to go inside his mind? Or is James misunderstanding? 

"What?" James loses himself for a few seconds, forgetting the question. "No!" He raises his hands without thought. He had no idea that the older Black is so mistrustful, but it makes him anxious. "But if you want to talk about it sometimes, we can always chat a bit," James says, meaning hopefully helpful and unlikely talk about Sirius' problems. "Remus would offer the same thing," he adds as an afterthought.

"What would I say?"

Both, Sirius and James jumps in their places and turn around to look at Remus standing next to the door. He crosses his arms and quirks an eyebrow.

"Nothing," Sirius says, sounding resentful, and storms off.

"I saw you leaving through the back exit, and then Sirius following you, so I did the same," Remus explains after the door is closed, still looking at the place where Sirius' silhouette passed from the sight. "Peter went to our room, already."

James nods. "I will tell you in somewhere private."

"Sirius said so?" Remus asks, with his eyebrows furrowed, when James finishes telling his story in their room. James nods, and his friend stays still for a moment, seemingly contemplating something not known to James. "Well, it actually is something good, I guess."

"Something good?" Peter asks, understanding Remus' way of thinking, as much as James. And James has real problems knowing what's in Remus' mind.

"If you say it's good he threatened me, because it means he is not afraid of interacting with me, I'll…"

Remus laughs. "You can stop, now," he waves his hand and looks at James with a smile. "I meant, how could he notice that you were ogling his little brother? He must have…"

"I wasn't ogling Regulus Black!" James exclaims and hides his face in the pillow.

"Alright," Remus says, but James can't see what look he gives him. He can only imagine. "Then how could he notice you were looking at his brother so intensely?" Remus asks, and Peter huffs out a laugh. If James could, he would roll his eyes. "Sure, he is on every Quidditch game, so he probably likes the sport, and if so, he surely pays attention to players and how they play. But shouldn't he focus mostly on Regulus? And he is a seeker, so yours positions are in completely different parts of the field. Regulus must be everywhere. You? Not exactly."

"Are you trying to belittle my position?" James asks, looking at his friend again, from above the pillow. Remus rolls his eyes.

"I'm not saying that you have less to do, or your role is less important. I'm saying that in Quidditch, it's hard to pay attention to all the players, all the time. It's hard to even watch all the balls, because there are too many. So spectators focus is actually everywhere. And here is Sirius, who knows you were ogl… eyeing up his brother? He must have been watching you, especially."

"Rather keeping an eye on me…" James mutters.

 "And that means he is interested in you," Remus finishes.

Peter quirks an eyebrow. "And that's it? No act of jealousy?" he asks, and a moment later a pillow hits his face. After the fall of the pillow, it reveals Peter's grinning face.

"I'm not saying he is interested in James romantically," Remus says exasperated. If possible, Peter's grin only grows.

"So you're admitting, if it was romantically, you would have reasons to be jealous?" he asks. James is watching their interactions with fond amusement.

"Oh, shut it," Remus says and looks at James, seemingly unbothered, but James, and surely also Peter, can see how his ears turn pink.

It's James turn to furrow his eyebrows. "So you're saying, Sirius isn't interested in me romantically?" he asks, trying not to show, that he is only teasing Remus. "Shame, what a life it would be to have both Black brothers so close to me."

Remus rolls his eyes. "What I'm saying is, that Sirius must have been watching you, to notice you ogling his brother."

"I was not-" James starts annoyed, but stops, when he sees the smirk on Remus face. "Arsehole."

Peter laughs, but his laughter fades, when he notices James' irate face. After this, he has to hold back his own smile.

"But, you know, mates," James says, and his friends are stopping their bickering, after seeing James got serious. "I think, when Sirius was talking to me, he was mostly afraid?"

"Of what?" Peter questions.

"I'm not sure," James sighs. "But he looked like it would be dangerous for Regulus to be connected with me." He watches his friends, and there is a weird look on Remus' face. "Moony?"

Remus bites his lip. "Well, I can't be sure, but…" he ponders, and James presumes that Remus is wondering if it isn't some secret he should keep. "Once Bellatrix was really nasty about Sirius spending his time with a peasant like me, and we all know that Blacks are really into blood supremacy, right? Potters aren't known for being superior with their blood status, and I don't think it makes the Blacks happy."

"You're saying that Blacks might be discontented with Prongs approaching Regulus?" Peter asks.

"Especially, since James is befriended with everyone, no matter if they're half-bloods or muggle born."

"So I'm a danger to Regulus, because he is a Black?" James asks, feeling uncomfortable.

"You're not dangerous to Regulus, James," Remus is watching his hands, before looking straight at him with a sad expression on his face. "I think the Blacks are the ones that are dangerous to Sirius and Regulus."

James gazes at Remus, because he thought about it, too, a few times. About Black brothers being reserved and averse to human touch. And if it meant there is much more going on in their house, than just Legilimency. 

"What should we do, then?" James asks, searching for an answer.

Remus shrugs. "I would say to be the support they need, but in their situation we can be more inconvenient than helpful."

For a few minutes, no one says anything. It's Peter that breaks the silence.

"So you're not supposed to talk with them? I mean, it could be dangerous not only for them, but for you, too."

"No," Remus answers, leaning the back of his head against the bed that he was sitting next to. "I believe it's more dangerous to them."

"So you're not going to approach them, anymore?" Peter inquires. James is watching Remus, probably far more curious of the answer than Peter is.

"Also no. We've got no rights to decide what's the best for Sirius and Regulus. I believe their family is doing enough of deciding. We should let them have their own choice." Remus says, but he hesitates, and that is what worries James. "Or I hope it works this way, and it's not me, that don't want to stop," he mutters, but everyone hears him perfectly. It leaves James with a taste of gloom and uncertainty. Because he feels the same.

Oh, boy, he feels just the same.

---

Later, James finds Regulus in a secluded place near the library. He does so only by chance, and isn't sure, if he should approach the boy or not. Could it be unsafe to him? Should James just avoid him for the time being? Or maybe he should talk with Regulus about it? Or should he observe how the boy acts around him to decide? To see if Regulus finds him troublesome?

After not even thinking much about it, James steps closer to the younger Black. Regulus is reading something, completely engrossed in the book, not even noticing that someone is standing next to him. It actually makes James wanting to stay this way a few more moments, because it's not so usual to see Regulus so separated from reality, not wary of his surrounding. Not, when he is alone.

It wouldn't be fair, though, to just stand here and watch.

"Regulus Black," James greets.

Regulus' book falls, and he looks at James startled, with hand on his chest. "James…" Regulus says, with something in his tone that surprisingly sounds a lot like a relief. James has a sense of déjà vu, but it doesn't make Regulus' voice less soft, or his eyes less intense, or his name in Regulus' mouth less captivating. Oh. James feels so... So animated, so electrified. Isn't it the first time Regulus said his name? Without any addition, just James. James wants to melt into his name on Regulus' lips. He wants to feel the way his name felt like, being spoken by a boy with raven hair and strong eyes. He feels how his name turns into the clenching feeling in his heart, the way Regulus' strenght could make James' heart flutter with just one word. There is also the relief from hearing the boy's voice, hearing the welcome in the sound. Maybe James doesn't have to be so wary, maybe Remus was right to leave the choice to the right person.

Isn't James feeling too intense, too fast, though?

"You're blushing," Regulus notes.

And James doesn't know why is he so surprised by it, since how could he not blush, after the historic event of Regulus calling his name for the very first time? It's odd, though, because if Regulus' first reaction is to call James by his name, does that mean, that he thinks of him as James, not as a Potter?

He also doesn't know what else to do, so he bends down to pick up Regulus' book. Just to refrain from fidgeting too much.

"Here," he says, giving the book back to Regulus. James notices the author and is amazed to observe that Remus has read the same one. And James borrowed it from him, so he read it, too. "I've read it," he blurts out.

Regulus looks up at him, and James can see a surprise on his face, before it's quickly concealed.

"Great to know," Regulus answers with a sarcastic tone. It's interesting, actually, that you never know, with Regulus, in what mood you will find him. He tries to be polite, of course, but at the same time, his politeness can be sarcastic or just straightly mean. It's a little bit like a gamble, finding out how Regulus will react. James needs a more than that, though, to be discouraged.

"Yeah, it's one of Remus' favourite."

"You've read it, because it's one of Lupin's favourite?" Regulus asks, but in a tone that doesn't need answering. And Regulus is right, but James has no idea how he came to this conclusion. Regulus has to be really intelligent or just extremely lucky and hazardous. But before James can say something, Regulus mutters under his nose something that sounds like, "Of course, you did."

"Sure?" James responds, not certain if he's heard correctly. "He's my friend."

"Yes, Potter, because reading your friends favourites is undeniably natural."

"It is," James shrugs and when Regulus looks at him with a sigh, he feels defensive. "It really is!"

"Yes, maybe for those, who also read their own books."

"You don't know if I'm reading books of my own choice. I might have been reading books on the daily basis all this time," James crosses his arms.

Regulus looks at him blankly. "Did you?"

"No," James admits.

Regulus scoffs and gets back to reading his book. James watches him for a few moments, before he gets up and walks away, because he really doesn't want to disturb someone else, and what's more, he doesn't want Regulus to feel annoyed by him. So James doesn't risk it, wanting to stay friendly with the boy, who reads.

He just hopes, that Regulus looks up from his book, to watch how James walks away.

Because James has a genuine need to look back, but doesn't do so, just in case. 

Later, it's Remus that meets Regulus. Only by chance, outdoors, where he was having a nap under the tree. And he doesn't really know it's the boy, not at first. He observes a black cat, that reminds Remus of something, that he can't recall. Though, even without it, the cat seems very curious, looking around, as if trying to spot someone. Remus finds it more entertaining, than strange, until the cat turns into a wizard, that Remus knows not exactly well, but well enough to recognise him.

And Remus has a great control of his body, his reactions, his expressions, his almost everything, so he has no idea, why would the word slip out of his mouth.

But it does.

"Regulus?" he asks, and the boy stills, then slowly turns his head to face Remus.

"Lupin," Regulus says, and Remus has an actual difficulty understanding the Black brothers, because why in the world, would Regulus sound relieved?