Cardigan

The morning of September 1st, the Potter household was filled with rushed footsteps, the loud thuds of trunks, and loud, excited chattering.

James was absolutely elated for many reasons, one being that he would be able to be around all of his friends daily, and another that he would be able to play for the Gryffindor team in quidditch again.

Since last year, James had been appointed as the Gryffindor leader, which everyone had already expected.

James wasn’t vain, but he knew his talent.

Ever since he was a kid James was always on a broomstick, even though his parents had always been drawn to the more academic hobbies.

Sirius also shared his love for quidditch, in fact he was Gryffindor’s keeper.

Him and Sirius were always on the same wavelength, James knew he would never find someone more compatible.

The two could know what the other was thinking from one glance, and that made pulling pranks effortless when they worked together.

Having that connection also meant that James could read Sirius like a book, with his defences up or not.

So when Sirius put on a shiny smile and laughed along with Effie and Fleamont, James could immediately tell something was up.

It was very strange, because he had been so excited last night, in fact Fleamont’s ear was ready to fall off from his rambling.

As everyone was heading out the door, James grabbed Sirius’s arm, which made him almost fall over from the sudden pull.

“ Prongs, watch it! “ Sirius looked at him in shock.

“ Only when you tell me what the hell’s going on “ James responded firmly, his hand still holding onto Sirius’s arm.

Sirius scoffed and looked away, but James knew he wasn’t really mad.

“ Padfoot. “ James repeated, softer.

“ I don’t want to talk about it “ Sirius snapped, pulling away from James’s grip, but he didn’t walk away.

What could’ve happened in those few hours when James had been sleeping?

Who?

Oh…

That’s when it hit him.

The black brothers really couldn’t leave the other alone.

The silence was deafening before James sighed “ Regulus. “

Sirius looked down awkwardly, as if James mentioning Regulus had made him uncomfortable, and muttered“ just drop it, please? “

James wanted to say so much more, he wanted to tell Sirius to walk over to Regulus and just talk, he was sure that if they could do that then things would be a lot easier.

But James needed to respect his friend’s wishes, however terrible they were.

“ Okay, but you can’t let whatever happened ruin your first day back “ James declared, which made Sirius smirk.

“ Never “.

….

Platform 9¾ was packed with families waving to their kids as they boarded the Hogwarts Express.

The Hogwarts Express was gorgeous, it was a bold scarlet red, and it truly set the scene for what was to come for the next seven years.

James never failed to get a warm feeling whenever he saw the little first-years off their face with excitement, huddling around with their friends.

He looked over to Regulus, who was predictably stone-faced, and he watched his eyes scan the area for his own friends.

Regulus was friends with Barty, Evan and Dorcas from Slytherin, and Pandora from Ravenclaw.

Barty and Evan seemed inseparable, much like James and Sirius, and they acted almost like bodyguards of their friend group. Any time James’s eyes had drifted over to the group, Barty or Evan would give him a bone-chilling stare, as if he had just seen something he shouldn’t have.

Dorcas was actually not too bad, that’s at least what Marlene proclaimed after working with her in potions, but James wasn’t too sure. One time he had tried to talk to Regulus after he’d had an explosive argument with Sirius, and Dorcas had pushed him away and swore she’d kill him if he ever followed them again.

Pandora was extremely different from her friends, if James had to talk to any of them it would be her. Pandora was clearly extremely smart, and devoted most of her study into making her own spells. She was usually wearing a soft smile, and always seemed to be glued to Regulus’s side, which James had always thought was sweet.

“ James “ Regulus’s voice snapped James out of his thoughts, and he realised he’d been staring at Regulus the entire time.

“ Oh, hi, “ James smiled.

Regulus seemed to be taken aback for a second, before immediately collecting himself, which seemed natural at that point.

James thought for a moment before asking,

“ Are you okay? “

Regulus' eyes widened slightly, and he stared at James for what felt like an eternity.

Thinking he had said something wrong, James quickly added “ it just seemed like maybe you and Sirius had a disagreement of some sort “

Regulus swallowed harshly, before looking back into the crowd of students, “ I’m fine “.

Liar.

James sighed quietly, finding the whole situation quite frustrating, and looked into the crowd as well to find Remus and Peter looking back over.

James and Sirius said their goodbyes to Fleamont and Euphemia, and the two hurried over through the sea of parents.

“ Moony, Wormtail “ Sirius smiled fondly as they all gathered.
“ Hey “ Peter smiled “ the girls are already on the train, apparently Lily’s parents dropped her off before it even got here “.

James chuckled, Lily’s parents were muggles so they weren’t completely aware of little things like timing.

They were really nice though, Lily would rave about how adaptive they had become to her abilities, though her sister Petunia was quite the opposite.

“ I’ve got to board soon, prefects meeting, “ Remus reminded the group.

The four made their way through the train and into their usual compartment, only to find Pandora sitting there by herself.

The four exchanged confused looks, before Pandora looked up at them with a soft smile.

“ Oh hello, have you come to sit with me? I’m afraid my friends are coming any minute now “

Sirius scowled, “ no, you’re sitting in our compartment “.

Pandora gave Sirius a mischievous smirk, though it still looked friendly on her face, and said “ I wasn’t aware students could own compartments? “

“ Yeah well you can, and we own this one “ Sirius lied quickly, as if that would prompt Pandora to leave.

“ Since when did you become a compulsive liar? “ Dorcas’s voice came from behind the four.

“ Since he was born, “ Regulus added, wearing an unimpressed tone.

James watched Sirius go tense at his brother’s presence.

“ Look, just leave it, they’ve got some weird tradition of sitting here “ Regulus held his hand out for Pandora, which she hesitantly accepted, clearly dissatisfied about this outcome.

James knew Pandora and Regulus were close, but he didn’t know they were this close.

It made a lot of sense though, they were both around sixteen, and opposite gender.

Not that that defines a relationship, but it did make sense if it were the case.

James suddenly felt very awkward, which he never felt, or at least made sure not to be obvious about it.

Regulus just walked straight past the four, Pandora trailing behind him, and the rest of his friends seemed displeased at the lack of fighting, James presumed.

Barty and Evan just walked right after Regulus, eyeing Sirius in particular.

“ Regulus is too nice to you guys “ Dorcas grumbled, which almost made James burst out with laughter at the thought.

Once they had left, the Marauders finally packed into their compartment, the one they’d sat in every year, the one they became friends in.

James sat next to Peter opposite Sirius and Remus, which made it easy for him to view how tense Sirius still was after that encounter.

“ Nothing can ruin our first day back, remember? “ James gave Sirius a small smile.

Sirius looked up at James with a chuckle, loosening slightly, “ never “.

Remus had left soon after the train started moving to his prefects meeting, so when the sweets trolley came by the three made sure to get enough for their missing member.

“ Get a chocolate frog, you know how much Moony is obsessed with them “ Sirius reminded James as he admired his own stash of goods.

Peter chuckled when he had finally gotten his own hoard, “ this’ll last the rest of our school life “ he remarked.

James pretended to think for a moment before shaking his head, “ nah, I give us a week “.

Sirius barked “ make that a few days “, which he followed by immediately tucking into a cauldron cake.

“ Please Sirius, have some grace! “ James put on a fake posh accent, before devouring a pumpkin pastie within seconds.

The two looked at James in awe.

“ That’s a world record for sure Prongs“ Peter smirked, which Sirius backed up with a nod.

James laughed as he dusted himself off, “ if I tell Lily I now hold the world record for eating a pumpkin pastie the fastest, she’ll definitely go out with me “.

“ I would “ Sirius declared, “ that’s bloody impressive “.

“ Too bad you’re already spoken for, Pads “ Peter reminded Sirius offhandedly, which made James sit up straight in his chair.

“ You WHAT? “ James gawked at his friend.

Sirius sighed and turned to glare at Peter, who was suddenly very interested in the floor.

“ It’s nothing Prongs, me and Mary just snogged a couple times “ Sirius quickly assured James.

What was with everybody dating now?

James processed this new information, Mary was a friend of his, and her and Sirius would likely be good together.

But James never thought they’d ever be an item?

Mary was pretty obvious she was into Sirius, but Sirius had never shown any actual interest in.. well anyone really.

“ As long as you don’t start going girl-crazy, I give you my blessing “ James said sarcastically.

Sirius rolled his eyes with a grin, “ what, opposed to you with Lily? “

“ That’s different! “ James protested.

Sirius raised an eyebrow, before grabbing Peter by the shoulders and reciting “ oh Lily, I’m so helplessly in love with you! Please notice me! “

Peter gave his best rendition of Lily’s blank stare James was always on the receiving end of.

Loud clapping was suddenly heard from the door of their compartment, and James snapped his head around to see Mary, Marlene and… Lily.

Mary and Marlene were practically on the floor with laughter as they clapped, while Lily was red with embarrassment.

Sirius turned around and began bowing, and Peter was wiping fake tears whilst saying his thanks.

“ They were joking, I’m not actually like that “ James quickly defended himself.

Lily looked at James with a slight smirk “ well… “

“ You’re absolutely like that “ Marlene cut in.

James gasped and held his heart, “ you all wound me “.

“ Poor James, anyways “ Mary put her hands on her hips “ we came to tell you that we’re almost at Hogwarts, and you’re all still not in your robes yet “.

“ Oh Mary, what would we do without you? “ Sirius grinned.

“ Oh Sirius you’re too sweet “ Mary responded sarcastically.

The two were stopped by Peter making a loud gagging noise, and everyone fell into laughter.

It wasn’t long before the train arrived at Hogwarts, and the hundreds of students were all crowded into the great hall. Now that Remus had finally caught up with them, the four made their way through all the excited first years and to the Gryffindor table.

Once every student was seated in their correct tables and the first years were lined up neatly by the front, the sorting ceremony began.

“ That one’s going to be in Slytherin, for sure, “ Sirius remarked as a small, dweeby looking kid walked up to the sorting hat.

“ No way “ James sniggered, “ Slytherin would eat him alive “.

Sirius shrugged, “ he’s in the sacred 28, he’s definitely a Slytherin “.

James raised an eyebrow in response, “ aren’t you a part of the sacred 28? “

Sirius rolled his eyes, “ yeah right, I was never really a black. He was “, Sirius glanced over at Regulus, who was sitting among his fellow Slytherins.

James knew Sirius still resented Regulus for how he had always followed along with his parents and their beliefs, and how Regulus likely resented Sirius for not.

They were both valid for feeling that way, though the two would never understand that notion.

“ SLYTHERIN “ the sorting hat roared after a minute of almost silent discussion.

James wanted to peg that hat’s mouth shut.

Soon the sorting hat ceremony concluded, and James smiled fondly at all the new Gryffindor first years that had joined their table.

In a blink of an eye, the table was suddenly filled with all sorts of delicious food, and all the hungry students couldn’t help but admire the view before tucking in.

It was truly magical.

It was home.

James found himself wondering if Regulus felt that way too.

He didn’t know why he was.
He also didn’t know why his eyes found Regulus’s from across the hall.

Or why he felt himself become slightly giddy at the way the boy couldn’t seem to look away.

But eventually he did, when Pandora nudged his arm, as if pulling him out of a haze.

Oh that’s right.

Pandora.

What was James doing?

James shook his head slightly, before falling into a conversation with his friends, after all he was just tired.

It was nothing.