New Plan

The marauders were slowly and painfully getting used to the idea of loosing those around them. 

It began with Regulus. Poor, naive Regulus. He was only 18 at that time. 

When they found out, when they saw a skull in place of his portrait on the family tree, Sirius lost it. He screamed and shouted at his insane mother, crucio'd her for a change. Remus had to stop him, even when he really didn't want to, but he couldn't let Sirius turn into them. What surprised all of them was Walburga's reaction. She was silent, deadly silent, and when she was relieved of her torture, she stood up and said 2 words before going to her bedroom; my fault. She was, after all, the one who made Regulus join (not that the group knew how she did it). 

Sirius repeated those words to himself at times. He wished that he could go back in time and take Regulus' hand and run away to the Potters with his brother. He wished he never ignored him; his biological brother became a constant and painful reminder that he was not strong enough to save both of them. He wished he never told Regulus that the only brother he had was James- that was the last time he saw Regulus. And 6 months later, he was dead. No body to bury.

Then, another tragedy struck in the form of Dragon Pox. They lost Euphemia and Fleamont Potter. 

The strongest wizards, the ones they respected the most, the ones that loved them the most. The marauders' official parents. They were cremated, and just like they wished, their ashes were poured into the Ocean as the group prayed for them and sent them off in white attire. It was the perfect funeral. They deserved the best, after all.

Slowly, people in the order started dying out. Especially newcomers. James found it harder and harder to befriend newcomers, as they all ended up dying anyways. Oh how he wished that he could convince them not to join, to be safe and leave it to them, but he couldn't. 

James and Lily grew apart in the war. They weren't connecting as they did before. 

They broke up.

Soon after, Lily found someone to love her; she found Mary. James was happy for them. He was ready to move on and find his own soulmate.

Then, at the age of 20, James and Sirius were sent on a mission. Normally, Remus and Peter would join, but Remus was undercover as a member of Greyback's pack, and Peter's parents were apparently deathly ill, and he had to be the good son and take care of them. 

The two of them were captured during their mission and taken back to the mansion that Voldemort resided in. The Death Eaters continuously taunted them, laughed at their failure and misery, laughed at their inability to contribute successfully for their side of the war. When they were dragged in front of the throne on which Voldemort sat, they were forced on their knees and made to look at the enemy's King. 

Voldemort smirked, a devious plan forming in his head. "Keep them in the cells-" he said, "they know what that dimwit of a leader is planning, they'll have valuable information we could pry out." Bellatrix's laughter rang on. Voldemort turned to the side, facing a particular Death Eater, "Take off your mask and drop them off, now."

That's when the two realised that they had another loss to face. Not of their own, but of someone who they considered a brother by all but blood. They lost the sweet, innocent little Peter Pettigrew, their fourth marauder, and in his place a vicious traitor had taken over.

There were talks of a possible traitor in the order. But no one thought it could be him. 

Sirius fought against his restraints with tears in his eyes and curses on his tongue. He couldn't believe it, couldn't forgive him, could never forget this. 

As they were dragged by their arms by someone they once considered their own family, the two realised what was in store for them. Pain, undoubtably, mind bending curses, and in the end, demise. They would go out knowing who the traitor was that walked amongst them, knowing that the others would never realise, and that they could all end up dead. They failed. 

And the traitor? He had a blank look on his face. He refused to listen to them. He refused to even look at them as he dragged them to the pits of hell. 

Lucius was the one that chained them. Only he and the traitor were in the room. He was surprisingly gentle with them, as if unwilling to hurt them. He noticed their questioning looks before sighing and ordering Peter to leave them. As he did, Lucius turned to them and sneered, "It brings me no greater pleasure than to know that the two people here would have the information we need to take down the order, but it hurts my wife to know you're down here. Don't mistake my kindness for something akin to nicety, I have no problems with you down here. Cissy, however, loved you Black, you are still her family, and it seemed that Potter brought out something good in you. Cissy doesn't have the heart to be a death eater, so I never force her to. She loving you as family is the only reason for my little mercy. And should you find a way to escape, I won't help or hunt you down for it." With that, he stormed out in a very Malfoy-like manner. 

********

It had been a torturous day. The two were locked in a cell, their magic unusable due to the chains, and both were tormented with their future and near death. They were worried about what to do, about how to deflect the penetration of a legilimency. The day turned to night and neither knew what would happen, but agreed on one thing; say nothing. 

At 3.33am, someone opened their cell door. The two gulped, ready to face (and bite) whoever came through. The cloaked and masked death eater who did come through softly shut the door behind him, as if worried to alert someone. Then, facing the two captives, the death eater removed his cloak and mask.

Peter Pettigrew 

"Are you here to take us to your new best friend, the dark-fucking-Lord-" Sirius mocked, at least he still had his wits "Tell me Pettigrew, what did he offer you to join? Little parties where you all dress in colourful princess-y robes and serve each other tea? Or is it something else? Does he let you have him? Were you so desperate and lonely that you didn't mind having a little snake-human partner? Or is it the other way around, do you like presenting to him? Do you serve yourself up in these parties?"

James was trying really hard not to laugh at the mental images conjured up in his brain. Peter, however, was stoic. Calm. It irked Sirius more.

"Trust me Pettigrew, even in death I will haunt you. I will never ever let you have a moment of happiness after what you have done to us. You are no longer my brother!"

The silence was loud,  but the words that followed after were louder.

"That's the second time you've told me that."