May, 1978
They all sat there on the grass, for this time, just this once, there was no conflict, no war, no grudges. Marlene held the bottle in her hand, tracing the lid with her chipped nail.
“The sun is rising,” Peter announced. “Thank you for stating the obvious,” Regulus replied, lazily. Despite being up all night, he still had it in him to be unkind, Peter observed. “Is it also obvious that anyone can stumble upon us, underaged drunken students, any moment now?”
That shut the young Black up. Of course, before his brother decided to join in. “What are they gonna do? Send us to Dumbledore?”
Regulus, James and Marlene all chuckled. Dumbledore left abruptly mid dinner the day before, Mcgonagall following afterwards. Lily, who was laying down, her head on Mary’s lap, sat up. Her ginger hair was uncharacteristically out of place, but that is to be expected, given the events of the past few hours. “Peter’s right. Slughorn would give us a right earful if he found us here.”
Peter gave her an thankful look, she smiled back, softly. “Lily, please. We’ve already gotten detentions this year, relax!” Sirius said.
Dorcas scoffed, “speak for yourself.”
“Don’t start, Dorcas, you know well why you haven’t gotten any detentions,” Remus gave the girl a knowing stare, for which she replied with a grin.
“Meadowes… Tell me your bloody secret.” Sirius demanded.
The entire group anticipated her reply. “Go on Dorcas!” James said.
Marlene’s eyes turned stone; “don’t tell me…”
The blonde girl gave Remus a fixed look, he confirmed with a nod. “Oh my days you absolute slag!”
Dorcas exploded into laughter. James, Sirius, Regulus, Mary and Peter all remained confused. “What?? Whaaaaatt??” Mary asked, not liking being left out.
“She’s snogging Pandora to get out of detention!” Marlene revealed, receiving a collective gasp in return.
“You’re having an affair with a prefect?!” Lily gasped, part of her was almost impressed.
Regulus turned red, “and I didn’t know?! Two of my best mates! What the fuck! This is why Crouch and Rosier are better than you.”
“I was gonna tell Peter but—“ Dorcas began. “PETER?!?” Regulus replied. “Why didn’t you?!?” Peter asked, ignoring the death stare Regulus was giving him. She shrugged, still giggling.
Sirius and James almost synchronously turned to Remus. “How dare you not tell me!” Sirius yelled. “And me! You’re best friend!”
“I wasn’t sure! I thought it was James at first—“
“ME?!?”
“YEAH!!! Everyone has kissed you at least once it made sense!”
Dorcas shot him a confused look, “wait what?”
“… Yeah? We’ve all kissed James, right?”
The group all nod, all except Dorcas.
“What?!” The confused girl says.
James smiles, proudly.
“But— how?!”
“Well I was pissed so you can’t hold it against me,” Remus said. “And I— well I actually can’t say anything..” Peter added, his face went red. She frowned, and so he elaborated.
“I used to fancy him”
“YOU DIDN’T SAY THAT!” James’ eyes widened. He glanced at Regulus, who was throwing daggers at Peter using his eyes. The boy frowned in confusion.
Sirius put his arm around his best friend, “oh poor, naive little Jamie..”
“I’m not phased by Peter and James it’s a simple concept — but Sirius?? Mary?? Marlene?? And most of all… REG??”
“And do I not exist?” Remus chipped in. Dorcas tilted her head, “who haven’t you kissed, Lupin?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know!”
“Whatever,” she rolled her eyes. Regulus has gotten noticeably more quiet, she poked his rib. “Oi!”
His whole body shook, as he finally took it upon himself to glare at his friend, “what”
“Ooooo I’ve heard Regulus’s one!” Marlene said, excited. His face scrunched up, “how do you know?!”
“Well James told Sirius who told Mary who told me,” she explained. Regulus rolled his eyes, once again. If they had a shot every time he did that they’d be drunker than they already were, which seemed impossible.
“So I’m the only one who doesn’t know?!”
“It was at the Slytherin win afterparty a few months ago, when you won against Ravenclaw. We were pissed, it didn’t really mean anything.” James explained, rather quickly. Regulus bit his lip, tension growing in his jaw.
“Oh god the alcohol was awful at that party!”
“It was a good kiss!!!” James argued, “right Reg?!”
“I’ve had better,” Regulus replied. To which, was returned with an offended scoff. “As if!”
“I’m taking James’ side on this one! Women are usually better kissers than men but James is in my top three!” Marlene began twisting her blonde hair into a braid, using long, ripped out grass as a ribbon. “Oh please, your top three are your only three and I bet they’re all with us right now,” Regulus said.
“Wait— Marls aren’t you a lesbian??” Dorcas furrowed her brows. “It was second year!!!” She replied, her face going pink. “And Mary?”
“Ugh, don’t even,” Mary rolled her eyes, scrunching her nose. She gave Sirius a dirty look. He avoided her eyes. James laughed.
“I blame Professor Abbott for that!”
“For Merlin’s sake elaborate,” Dorcas demanded.
“We brewed a wonderfully successful potion—“ James started. “No, I brewed a wonderfully successful potion!” Remus corrected. “Fine. Remus brewed a wonderfully successful potion,” Remus raised his eyebrows, “so that Sirius could take my Defence Against the Dark Arts test.”
“Sirius impersonated you??”
“Yes. And I impersonated him. Which led to…”
“The kiss.” Mary dreadfully said.
“You say it as if it’s a bad thing you’ve kissed me!” James accused.
“It was!”
He looked wonderfully hurt, she observed. “Why is it bad?!”
“Because I didn’t want to kiss you, James!”
“Don’t say that to him, he’s under the impression everyone wants to kiss him,” Peter rubbed James’ arm. “Oh please, as if you’re one to talk!” Mary said, “you fancied him for months”
“Pardon— Months???” Regulus’ eyes almost bulged out of his head, the greyness peaking as the sun brought out the spark in them.
“Why do you care?!”
“It’s pathetic, that’s all”
“Agreed,” Lily said.
“Wanna start a James hate club?”
“I’d love to!”
“Can I be included?!” Sirius asked, excited.
“SIRIUS?!?” James put his hand on his chest, right over his heart, dramatically.
“He meant if he can be hated on to..” Remus clarified, disappointed.
“Oh, makes sense”
“Anyways, in James’ defence, he has wonderfully soft lips,” Remus said.
“Awww thank you!”
They all murmured in agreement. “What chapstick do you use?” Mary asked.
“I use sirius’s one”
“What???” Regulus practically screamed. “You mean that pleasant cherry flavour is Sirius as well??? Ew”
“This is the closest to incest we will ever be, I bet mum and dad would be proud” Sirius joked.