Summer ‘73
#12 Grimmauld Place
Something wasn’t right, Walburga and Orion had not had meetings all summer but they were constantly off to take care of “important business” leaving Sirius and Regulus with their house elf Kreacher most of the time. Kreacher didn't like Sirius as per their mothers request, one of her many ways of dimming Sirius was to treat him like a stain to their family, he was treated like a mistake and Regulus was the solution. With their parents away the Black brothers spent almost every minute in each others company, the minutes they spent apart Regulus spent writing to Grace and Sirius spent writing to James, Remus and Peter.
“Oye” a knock tapped onto Reg’s door followed by Sirius’s sudden intrusion, “Reckon we can take our brooms out today?”He asked flopping onto Reg’s bed in his dark red shorts embroidered with a lion, Sirius had made it his mission to spread his “stain” on his family to another level by flaunting his hogwarts house. The first time he wore red socks he was dragged into the living room and the door was shut in Regulus’s face before he could follow in after his brother. There was a silencing spell cast on the room and Regulus knew better than to wait outside. But when Sirius found his way into Regulus’s bed that night with red eyes he still had a soft smile on his face and had put on his gryffindor shorts, Regulus didn't ask questions but his brother's resilience to whatever his mother had done amazed him every time.
“Father didn't tell Kreacher to prepare them dinner so i'm sure we can” he said sealing his letter to Grace, “Think I can make the team?”
“Hell i made the team, you’re significantly better than i am” he chucked pulling their brooms out of Reg’s closet. “Think Grace will make the team?”
“Unless she miraculously learns to fly a broom, no” he sighed
“James is teaching her.” He said and regulus stopped in his tracks
“What?”
“Yeah, going to their house today with Remus”
“Lily said yes?”
“Crazy huh, she didn’t tell you?”
“No”
“Anyway, ready?”
“Yeah”
The Evans Home
Petunia had been more open to spending time with Lily and Grace, but Everytime Hogwarts was mentioned she disappeared for a few days. It was a relentless cycle but it was way better than nothing. Lily had profusely refused allowing James to come over but Grace had pleaded and begged and Lily finally agreed under one condition, James had to bring Remus, a condition Grace happily agreed to, she had missed him and wanted to make sure he was fine over the summer. A few hours later that day Remus and James were on their way over, they had to stay the night since it took a few hours to get to the Evans house, surprisingly Mr and Mrs Evans were completely okay with it as long as they slept downstairs, Lily hated the fact that James would be sleeping over at her house but was excited to spend time with Remus again. At around four in the afternoon there was an abrupt knock on the door followed my a muffled “Ow”. Grace eagerly ran to the door and swung it open to see a smiling James Potter holding two brooms and Remus rubbing his arm.
“Hey Grace” beamed James, Lily was coming down from her room in a red gryffindor crewneck and baby pink sleep shorts,a sudden clank caught her attention and she drew her eyes to the door where James had stood blushing after dropping both brooms. Lily had just turned thirteen, she had grown out her hair getting rid of her bangs, she kept her hair pulled back in a loose ponytail with a few hairs to frame her face, she had always been naturally pretty, but now the awkwardness of her chubby cheeks were pushed away by an exposed jawline covered in neat freckles each just the right color, her bright green eyes complimented her bright ginger hair, Grace had just turned twelve and was quickly becoming aware of how boys looked at girls like Lily but no one looked at Lily the way James did and she had wished someone looked at her the way James looked at Lily. She watched as Remus picked up the brooms and as James tried to form a clear sentence.
“Hey Lils” said Remus from the doorstep
“Oh shoot, you're here, um come in.”She smiled awkwardly glancing at James which rapidly reminded her what she was wearing and she quickly ran back up the stairs to change.
“Hey boys!” Mrs Evans shouted from the kitchen, the familiar scent of chocolate wafted through the house causing a visibly warm smile to spread across Remus’s face, Grace had requested her mother make her favorite chocolate cupcakes for Remus, she had made the right choice because the more she looked at Remus the darker his eye bags seemed to be. They all made their way to the kitchen and ate while James delightfully talked with Mrs.Evans and she happily listened to Quidditch and Hogwarts and how brilliant Lily was.
“Who are they?” Petunia stood at the kitchen door completely avoiding eye contact with the boys and looking directly at her mother.
“Lily and Grace’s friends” she answered warmly
“You let them bring them here, they don’t belong here you know that you know that is unnatural!” She warned her voice heightened at the mention of the boys.
“Petunia” said Grace sternly standing up from her chair
“Sit down Grace I wasn’t talking to you was i?”
“Bloody hell shut up Petunia!”screamed Lily from the stairwell, she barged her way into the kitchen with her wand and pressed it against her sisters chest, “You can be a brat to Grace and you can be a brat to me but for god’s sake, you’re 16 you still have manners right?”she spat in her sisters face.
Grace sat speechless along with Remus and James whose jaw was wide open.
“Lily, language and put your wand away” said Mrs.Evans sternly and Lily quickly put her wand into her pocket, Petunia had tears in her eyes and looked away from the group of kids watching her. “Petunia, upstairs, now, i'm so sorry boys” she grimaced, pulling Petunia by the hand upstairs.”
Lily brushed off the event like it never happened and grabbed a cupcake, “So, you two gonna do something here other than eat?”
James sat at the table gaping at Lily, “You said bloody hell”
“Shut it Potter” she said, shoving the rest of her cupcake in his mouth and heading outside.
“Ok so one leg over and keep the other one slightly above the ground, stabilize yourself with one leg.” Directed James as Grace fidgeted on the broom, Remus and Lily sat on the grass while Lily taught Remus how to make a flower crown.
“If i fall, im gonna kill you James”
“You can ride a bike right?”he asked
“Yea”she replied
“Ok then perfect, lean into it like its a bike there’s just no peddling”
“Yea, yea that makes sense”said Grace rolling her eyes.
“Ok, now take your feet off the ground, the broom will keep you balanced as long as you lean slightly forward” Grace raised her feet off the ground and the second she hovered on the broom the rush of being in the air brought a smile to her face, she took James advice and leaned and pushed her body the way she would if she were riding a bike, she circled the backyard without going to high to stay by the gate so that the neighbors wouldn’t get suspicious, James caught up to her with his own broom quickly after.
“Hell, you're going to Sirius a run for his money as seeker next year for Slytherin” he smiled, “ you're a natural”
“Funny, im not making the team” she laughed
“Hey if we keep at this for the rest of the summer there’s no way you won’t” he smiled as they landed by Lily and Remus.
“I don’t know how you enjoy that” said Lily tossing a flower crown at Grace.
“I don’t know how you don’t.”smiled Grace putting the crown on and sitting next to her sister.
“What? I dont get one Evans?”Smirked James taking the crown off Remus and putting it on his own head. Lily blushed a little and made a new one for Remus, “shut up potter” she muttered under her breath.
Dear Grace
Sirius told me that James and Remus came over to teach you how to fly a broom, why didn't you tell me? How’d it go? Sirius and I have been running drills all summer, im trying to make chaser this year, think you’ll be able to join the team with me or is James a crappy quidditch coach?
Regulus
Dear Reggie
I only convinced Lily a day before the boys were able to come which is why i didn't tell you, but all i have to say is watch your back or I’ll take your spot on the team, James is a spectacular quidditch coach.
Gray
From that day forward Petunia had stopped hanging out with Lily and Grace but to replace the empty feeling that gave the girls, James and Remus came by every other week and they spent two days outside making flower crowns and playing small matches of quidditch. Lily still wasn’t the happiest James was at her house so often and she would often go to Severus’s house when James got too flirty, Severus hadn’t come over all summer because of what Grace had said to him, but Lily still hung out with him anyway. When it was just James, Remus and Grace, they desperately missed Sirius and Regulus completing their group