Chapter 1
The train back to Hogwarts the fall of their fifth year was packed. Incoming first years scrambling to find seats, sixth and seventh years claiming the seats they have sat in every year and everybody tripping over everyone else as they tried to get into their little seat compartments. Most of all, it was just loud. Kids yelling and bags falling. Friends catching up from over summer, doors slamming shut as the train began to move and random spells being cast by the upperclassmen to scare the first years. To most people it was a living nightmare, but to James Potter, all the sound and people never bothered him a bit. All it did was remind him that he was going back to school with his friends for another year. It was a good feeling. It was a very good feeling.
James was sitting right next to Peter, legs stretched out, right in between Sirius and Remus on the opposite seat. Sirius was going on and on about how great it was to spend the entire summer at the Potter’s after running away and how he would never have to go back to Grimmauld place ever again. Anyone with brain cells didn’t have to see the infamous Grimmauld place to know it was a place of nightmares. The stories Sirius would tell would make anybody’s skin crawl. James has never seen it for himself and he’s not so sure he would ever want to.
“You’re coming over for Christmas break right Moons?” Sirius hummed, twirling his wand between his fingers. Sirius was always a big fan of muggle music, but over the summer he began his new obsession with Led Zeppelin. More specifically, John Bonham.
“Sure. As long as it’s okay with James’ parents.” Remus hummed, not looking up from his book.
“Of course it’s fine Moony. You know they love having you over.” James smiled, nudging Peter. “You too Pete. I expect to see both of you for Christmas.” He said as the door to their compartment slid open, all the girls smiling and sitting down saying their hellos. Lily, Marlene and Mary were always late when it came to getting on the train, which always confused James. Lily and Mary were always known for being on time for literally everything else. He always just chalked it up to them spending too much time catching up on the platform or Marlene just being Marlene and slowing things down from being unorganized.
“Hello boys!” Marlene yelled, plopping down right next to Sirius, swinging her legs across his lap. Lily and Mary just giggled to themselves. Marlene and Sirius were always a strange duo. All of third year they did nothing but snog in the hallways and the common room and when they weren’t snogging they were screaming at each other for god knows what. Third year was a nightmare for everybody. Remus always liked to joke that it was what he called “The dark times”. The times before Sirius and Remus and before Marlene came out. Fourth year was like a breath of fresh air. But even after they broke it off they were still good friends. James just thinks they were both too confused for their own good.
Everyone else said their hellos to each other and James smiled over at Lily who had sat next to him. “Hello Evans. Good summer, yeah?” He asked. Things with James and Lily were good. After all the years of chasing after her and her just hating him, he realised he was being childish. Lily clearly didn’t like his grand gestures so he stopped. After a few months they realized they had more in common than anyone thought they did and were starting to be pretty good friends. It was nice.
Lily smiled back and nodded. “Yeah it was fun! My family took a trip to America and I got to see New York. Brought back some stuff for you lot.” She said, Sirius' ears perked up at that and Lily just laughed and nodded. “Yes, Sirius. I have something for you too. I’ll hand them out after dinner so everyone be in the common room at eight sharp!” She announced to everyone. “What about you Potter? I heard from a little bird you took in some homeless git this summer.”
“OI! I can hear you Evans! And for your information, James can not be without me for more than a few days, so I just thought me moving in would be easier. You’re welcome Prongs!” Sirius exclaimed, crossing his arms over his chest. Everyone just laughed and went on, catching each other up with what they all did over the summer. Besides Lily’s trip to America, Marlene went on and on about the new girls she met. Mary and her family went camping. Peter and Remus had a pretty slow summer for the days they were not at the Potter’s house. James and Sirius went into detail about how James’ dad set up a mini Quidditch pitch in the garden so they could practice for this upcoming year for the rest of the train ride.
The sorting ceremony went by just as slow, if not slower than it does every year. It was almost painful to go through. Once all the first years were sorted and seated, dinner finally began. It was the same as it always had been. Loud and full of laughter and jokes and Sirius trying his hardest to make Remus laugh so hard water came out of his nose. It never worked. Except for that one time in first year but it never happened again. Sirius refuses to accept the fact Remus will never let it happen again. Except halfway through dinner, the eldest Black brother got quiet. No more jokes were pouring out of Sirius like word vomit. James looked over and followed Siriuis’ gaze across the great hall to the Slytherin table to where a very cold looking Regulus Black sat. Sirius frowned a little bit, watching his younger brother talk to Barty Crouch Jr, not showing any emotion on his face which was usual. “He’s getting better at healing charms. The night I left she hit him so hard it cracked his forehead open.” James frowned and looked back over at Regulus and tried his best to find any form of a scar. He found nothing. Not a scrape or a bruise. His skin was as pale and smooth as porcelain. “Don’t get me wrong, I still can’t stand the sneaky little git. But I can’t help but worry sometimes ya know?” Sirius mumbled, just soft enough only James could hear before Sirius shook away the feeling of guilt James knew started to creep in. He knew Sirius felt guilty for leaving Regulus in that house. But it’s hard to get someone out of a situation and a place they don’t necessarily want to leave. Which Regulus didn’t. He didn’t want an out. As far as Sirius or James or anybody else was aware of, Regulus Black was very content being the Death Eater in training he was. The “perfect son”. The new Black heir. He was content with it all. So there was no use in trying to save a boy that simply did not want to be saved.
The rest of dinner passed by in a breeze, and they all gathered around the fireplace per Lily’s request. She beamed at them all, grabbing a bag she geniusly charmed to be bigger on the inside. “Okay! First for Marlene!” Lily said, reaching her arm into the bag and pulling out the first gift. “I saw it in the window and it just screamed your name.” She said, handing Marlene the leather jacket she pulled from the bag. Marlene’s face lit up in shock, instantly pulling Lily in for a hug and a million thank yous before pulling it on.
“This is so badass Lils! I can’t thank you enough. I bloody love it.” Marlene said, pulling the jacket on and instantly doing a mini runway walk for everyone.
“Okay, Remus the books are all the same in America, but I got you some American chocolate and a new jumper.” Lily smiled, handing Remus his things. Remus smiled and got up, pulling Lily into a hug.
“You didn’t have to get me anything Lily. Thank you.” Remus said, giving her one final squeeze before letting go. Lily just laughed and shrugged.
“I didn’t HAVE to get any of you guys anything. You are all gigantic pains in my ass, but youre my friends and I love you all, so you get American gifts anyways.” She giggled before reaching into her bag and handing Peter a small box. “Here you go Pete.” Peter opened the box and pulled out a small gold ring with a lion's head on it. “I thought it screamed Gryffindor.” She said, giving him a little kiss on the head. Pete just smiled, also giving her a hug and saying his thank yous before sliding the ring onto his thumb. James knew a lot of people gave Peter a lot of grief for being sorted where he was. He never understood it though. He thought Peter was very brave and very loyal to his friends. He wouldn’t have been sorted into Gryffindor if he was anything less. “Now, for mister Black.” Lily said, handing him a new vinyl for his record player. Led Zeppelin, of course. But, before Sirius could do with all the hugs and thank yous Lily stopped him. “Turn it around.” She practically squealed.
“ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?!” Sirius screamed once the record was turned over. “IS THIS REAL?” He yelled again, everyone else just traded similar confused looks before Sirius turned the record around to face the rest of the group. “It’s fucking signed by John! John Bonham signed this fucking record! Lily how the fuck did you even get this!?”
“I met a group of boys while I was in New York and they took me to one of their shows! We bumped into him after the concert and I bought the album for you earlier that day so I asked if he would sign it and he did! I told him all about my friend Sirius and how you’re a huge fan of the band and he said you had the most badass name ever!” Lily squealed. Sirius put the album down before fully picking Lily up off the ground and twirling her all around the common room.
“You are the fucking best person I have ever met Lils! Thank you so so so so fucking much! JOHN BONHAM THINKS I’M BADASS!” Sirius yelled before putting her back down. Lily just laughed, giving him a peck on the cheek before digging around in her bag again.
“You, Mr Potter, are a very hard boy to shop for. But I know how you are about eating enough calories or whatever for Quittitch.” She chuckled before handing James a bag full of American muggle snacks. “I tried some of them myself while I was over there and they’re pretty good.” She shrugged. “And I got you this.” She said, hanging him a small box. James gave her a questionable look before opening the box and a small snitch flew out of the box. “Dumbledoor told me where to find their version of Diagon Alley. Apparently in America they use silver snitches or whatever.” She shrugged. James knew Lily knew nothing about Quidditch. Or any sport for that matter. Considering the fact that he wasn’t even a Seeker. James smiled, snatching the snitch from the air and putting it back in the box.
“Thank you Evans.” He said, pulling her into a quick hug. Yes, they were now friends but he didn’t want to push it. Lily just smiled and hugged him back. The rest of the night was spent with everyone around the fire, laughing and drinking the muggle drinks Lily had managed to sneak back home and to school. That night, James decided he did not like muggle alcohol.
The next week of school went by as it always had. Full of homework, pranks, detentions for said pranks and the rest was a blur. Everything was going on like normal. James was on his way back to the dorm after serving yet another detention for flooding the Slytherin bathrooms, which was Sirius' idea, head in the clouds in his own thoughts when he ran straight into someone else. James stubbled back, while the other person fell straight on their ass, book thumping next to them. “Oh Merlin, I’m sorry I wasn’t loo- Regulus?” James asked, already bending down to grab the book he knocked out of the other boy's hand. It was stupid really. Phrasing it like a question when he knew exactly who he had knocked over. There was no missing that mop of curly black hair and glaring grey eyes. “Sorry.” James mumbled before holding a hand out to help the boy up. Regulus just stared at James for a moment before ignoring the outstretched hand and standing up on his own, brushing some dirt and dust from the floor off his robes. James just frowned and dropped his hand, staring down at the younger boy. He doesn’t think he’s actually been this close to Regulus since his first year. Regulus rode in their compartment on the train to Hogwarts that year. Sirius was so excited his little brother was finally going to be able to come to school. The excitement didn’t last very long though, until the other brother was sorted into Slytherin. James was now noticing a lot about Regulus he never noticed before. Mainly how short he was compared to James. James always did forget he was a bit taller than most people, considering he was always around Moony who might as well be a tree. Remus was 6’3 and James was 6’0. If he had to guess he would say Regulus was probably 5’8. Regulus and Sirius Black grew up hearing how similar they looked, but now that James was looking he realised they didn’t really look the same at all. Same hair and eye colour but besides that, not really. Regulus’ features were sharper. His eyes a bit wider and less smile lines in his face, more refined overall. James was pulled out of his thoughts when the younger Black brother sighed, holding his hand out.
“My book, Potter. I’d like it back.” Regulus said plainly, staring up at James with a seemingly unready expression. James nodded, handing Regulus his book back before letting out a soft chuckle.
“Less… floor? Do mal?” James read out loud before the book was ripped from his
hands.
“Les Fleurs du mal.” Regulus repeated back to him before shoving the book into the pocket of his robes. “It’s French you git.” He mumbled before stepping around James and heading off down the hall. James frowned and watched him walk away before yelling after him.
“You can read French?”
“It was our first language you fucking moron.” Regulus replied in a normal tone and turned the corner out of sight. James frowned and stood in the hallway for a moment, trying to figure out what just happened. He bumped into Regulus Black. Regulus Black he has not spoken to more than a handful of times in the four years the other boy has been at this school. Regulus Black, his best friend’s little brother. Regulus Black the Slytherin. Regulus Black the Slytherin who didn’t shoot a hex at him, or any threats for any of the horrid pranks. If you saw the interaction from an outside perspective you would see nothing truly wrong with it. James frowned to himself a little bit. Regulus Black. The boy made of porcelain and moved like the wind. The boy who was destined to be a Death Eater has caught the attention of one James Potter.