Lily
Regulus Black was an odd addition to the Potter household. On the sixteenth of December it had been over two weeks since Harry met his parents and he thought he was getting to know them, understand how they acted but Regulus upended that thought.
James and Regulus were weird around each other, almost like when Malfoy came for Winter break last year and was trying to be on best behaviour. At least Regulus was. Harry isn't sure what's up with his Dad.
"Hey Mum?" He asks while the two of them are in the library, Sirius and James are working on the Heist with Nia in the upstairs office and Harry hasn't seen Regulus yet this morning. Uncle Moony was still on mission for Dumbledore but he should be back tonight. Lily looks up with a smile. She's still hesitant but Harry knows she's warming up to him quickly. "What up with Dad and Regulus?" Lily purses her lips and blushes slightly.
"Oh, well. You know how your Dad has been in love with me since second year?" She says carefully and with a little embarrassment.
"Proposed at least twice a year and you hexed him every time." Harry laughs and Lily grins somehow equally bashful.
"The last time Moony hid my wand just in case. Well, Fifth year Severus and I fell out, Remus and Sirius weren't speaking to each other and that summer Sirius ran away from home. When we came back for sixth year the whole group was subdued. James actually left me alone the whole year, good thing too cause that was when I started to fancy him. I just wasn't the only one. Sirius asked James to look out for Regulus. He wanted to but it was too painful between them, James did of course and he and Reg, Uh bonded. They were dating from new years to about May and it ended messy when James asked Reg to run away and he refused. They hadn't really spoken since." She explains and Harry's eyes widen. That's, oh.
"Is everyone here kinda gay?" He asks and Lily laughs.
"It's the seventies my boy. Try everything at least once. I've played spin the bottle and kissed Marlene a few times but I don't swing that way. James is different. It's only ever been me and Regulus, I asked once why he never dated and he said there was no point. James always puts all of his heart into what he does so people are the same way. Sirius and Remus are soulmates, both are bi though so they do like girls but in their hearts they know that they're it for each other." She looks far away and nostalgic and Harry smiles at her.
"What about you? Nia makes it out like half the school was In love with you." Harry asks but she gives a short surprised laugh.
"Hardly. People clued on the the base of Sev and Jamie's rivalry early on, most of the boys in our year and the ones directly above and below had the rule never to ask me out. I found out about it on Valentine's day third year and ran back to the common room crying. Remus was the only one there because of his furry little problem and he gave me my first kiss to cheer me up. I had a crush on him till fourth year but in looking at Remus I saw James, his kindness, his honour pureblood values are old fashioned and weird but your dad. He's like a Disney prince charming with a personality, an arrogant attention seeking one but still." She shakes her head out of her thoughts and blushes. "What about you, you're too young to date yet but has anyone caught your eye, stolen a kiss?"
"Not really, I've been kinda busy. Nia says I have or will have four potential love interests all on their respective quidditch teams. So apparently I'll have a type." Lily laughs again. "Ron's sister Ginny is one. She's obsessed with me and Nia says she'll be a chaser when a spot opens up on the Slytherin team."
"A Slytherin Weasley. Is that allowed?" Lily laughs and Harry doesn't try to hide the smile it brings to his face.
"Is a Gryffindor Black?" He retorts
"Not really. There was a fair amount of uproar, Is Ginny okay? I doubt Molly and Arthur are as upset as Sirius's parents were but still."
"She's fine. Ron had a bit of a tantrum but Nia gave him an earful and he stopped pouting." Lily has that sad smile on again.
"You really love her." It isn't a question but Harry answers anyway.
"She was the first person since you and Dad died to ever show me kindness and all she wants is to protect me. Don't get me wrong, she's totally crazy but I wouldn't give her up for anything." He smiles and realises what he said as Lily's smile drops. "I didn't mean,"
"Yes you did and that's okay. You don't know me, I haven't really let you try either." She closes the book she was reading. A wizarding fairytale about the adventures of Merlin and Arthur. "My mum and dad were killed by death eaters last summer. I was alone and terrified and Petunia blamed me. She said if I wasn't such a freak they would still be alive."
Harry doesn't hide the flinch at the word Freak, somehow never losing it's impact no matter how long it's been since he heard it. Lily notices.
"I wasn't ready to lose them. I was too young and they were my Parents I needed them, even if they didn't understand my Dad, David taught me to drive and My Mum Rose used to listen to me rant about School and Sev and James while we tended the garden." She's crying and Harry's not far off. "Then you show up, and you don't get any of it. I know you can't say anything past before school but I know how you look at me so I'd wager we don't have long. Do you even remember me? Am I your mother or am I just the woman who gave birth to you?"
Harry's absolutely not crying at all. The headache forming is from eye strain not dehydration due to tears soaking his face.
"I remember the night you died. Not all of it but pieces. I remember a flash of green light and the cold, I remember Hagrid flying across England on Sirius's motorcycle. Then I woke up in Nia's arms as she sang to me." Lily is holding her breath as she listens. Harry pauses before he continues. "That's all I knew until I met a dementor this year, I have a stronger reaction to them than most. I hear a woman screaming, I hear you screaming. The last time, I remembered when he came. I didn't see it. You must have had me turned so I wouldn't. But I heard, you kept saying please not Harry to take you instead, he told you to stand aside because Snape asked him to let you live but you wouldn't just kept saying not Harry. You begged him for mercy and he laughed and then the light."
Lily looks like she's going to be sick, hell Harry feels like he's going to be sick, he's never said it out loud, he knows Nia's read it and that's why she didn't punish him for acting like a brat when she asked Cedric to catch him. But saying it outloud. He always knew he was witness to his mother's death, but he didn't remember until this year and it made it all the more real.
"I'm sorry I know that's a lot. But you're right. That's the only memory I have of you and this may not be comfortable and you didn't raise me but when I think about you now I can picture your voice when you aren't begging for my life. I can remember your laugh and know you have the same reading face I do. It hurts to be here and it'll hurt to go home but at least I get the chance to know you. I'd hoped you'd feel the same." Finally Lily stands and pulls Harry into a bruising hug.
"I'm so sorry." She sobs into his shoulder and he sobs right back. Harry doesn't know how long they sit there in eachothers arms but he never wants to leave.
At some point the door opens and Padfoot runs down the stairs at inhuman speeds, probably because he's a dog. Remus looks tired but otherwise healthy as Sirius sniffs him all over to make sure that's the case before turning back into himself and Kissing his boyfriend deeply.
Lily and Harry make their way into the foyer to greet Moony each with a hug, moony ruffle Harry's already messy hair and doesn't mention the tear marks on his and Lily's faces. "What have I missed?" Moony asks just before Regulus walks down the stairs to see what the commotion is. "Nevermind. Regulus."
"Remus," Reg responds with a nod before walking back upstairs.
"So the heist is on then?" He asks with furrowed brows.
"After Christmas, You James and Hope are headed to the cave while Reg and I make sure the Noble house of Black and their master are thoroughly distracted. Lily's on babysitting duty. The notes are in James' office if you want to go through them." Sirius agrees quickly and Moony nods.
"I will tomorrow, tonight I just wanna turn my brain off. I could go for a drink and a swim." He sighs and Padfoot grins.
"Brilliant as always Moony. Prongs!" James' footsteps race down the upstairs hall and stairs and he grins upon seeing Moony.
"You're back!"
"We're having a party downstairs to break out the firewhisky! And I guess apple cider for Lily and the Harrys." James nods quickly and runs to the kitchen returning with several bottles of booze just as Nia follows them down dragging Reg behind her.
Nia of course doesn't ignore Harry's tears and leaves the younger Black brother alone to give him a one armed hug and Lily a wary look. Harry smiles at her hoping to silently convey he's okay and her shoulders relax.
They follow the Marauders into the basement past Lily's potions lab and further down a corridor Harry didn't know existed. They emerge in a cave with glowing balls of light illuminating a beautiful underwater cave with natural hot springs.
"Woah." Harry says and Nia shares his look of astonishment.
"This is gorgeous, why do I feel like this is where Harry was conceived?"
"Ew Nia!" Harry shouts as Padfoot laughs.
"it's a possibility though there's about a dozen other spots in the house and across the grounds that may share that honour. I do believe this is the longest I've gone with seeing them naked one way or the other." Sirius ignores Harry's request and continues the tradition of traumatising Harry.
"Like you can talk Padfoot. Moony's never been a more accurate nickname. I see more of his ass than you do." Nia blocks Harry's ears and scolds them for being so vulgar around the kid. Why she bothered blocking his ears when he can still hear Harry doesn't question.
"Yeah guys don't be fucking inappropriate." Harry retorts when he's ears are free again earning a light slap up the head from Nia.
Sookie has already laid out towels and a bonfire surrounded by a circle of rocks that seem to be naturally forming, though Harry's fairly sure they were made with magic given how comfortable they are. James sets the bonfire alight without a spoken spell and undresses down to his boxers before Kissing Lily and diving into the crystal clear glowing water.
"Magic is amazing,'' Harry says to Nia who's grinning as the rest of the Marauders strip and jump into the water. Harry keeps his t-shirt on, a little insecure that he's not nearly as muscled as any of the others. He thought he was in good shape, skinny but not as scrawny as he used to be but his dad looks like those statues of Greek gods. Sirius and Remus are distracted as they look toward the fire where Nia is taking off her pants and Harry splashes them both in the face.
"That's my Mum you pervs." He states and Nia jumps in still wearing her undershirt. Even if it is now see-through and the guys are still staring. James thankfully only has eyes for Lily and helps her into the water, for which she repays him by dunking his head under. Regulus just rolls his eyes and opens his book on his stone seat.
"Why did you not say this was here earlier Pads? I'm going to spend every summer here from now on." Nia sighs lying back in the warm water.
"Maybe old Sirius is insecure, fourteen years is a long time." James teases his best friend and Sirius goes to tackle him in protest.
"He has nothing to be shy about. My Sirius has a bunch of sexy Tattoos on his chest." Nia responds and Harry groans.
"Can you wait to flirt till I go to bed please?"
"It is getting late," Sirius looks at his bare wrist as though there's a watch there and Harry splashes him again. They swim around for an hour or so till it actually is time for Harry to go to bed according to Sookie. Who is very strict about it across all of time apparently. Hugging everyone goodnight Harry lingers while he watches them wrap in towels and Padfoot pour drinks, laughing about something Harry can't hear and he smiles. He turns back up the stairs and pulls out his wand holding onto the feeling as he casts.
"Expecto Patronum." The stag is identical to his dad's Animagus form and Prongs trots around him playfully nuzzling to Harry's side and he grins. This is worth it.
Harry thought he was asleep when Lily stepped into his room, a flash of red hair is all he can really see without his glasses so he shits his eyes against, if she's really here she'd be embarrassed if he was awake and might leave. She's silent, magically so probably there's usually a squeak on the floorboard. She sits on the foot of his bed and tries to look like he's actually asleep. Lily brushes his hair back lovingly, fingers lingering on his scar. Harry feels the shuffle of her moving and then soft lips against the scar along with a drop of water.
"I'm sorry," she whispers before getting up to move, no she can't go yet. Harry opens his eyes and lightly but quickly grabs her wrist.
"Mum?"
"What is it Harry?" The way she says his name, he'd dreamed about it for so long and then with the dementors. This is what he wanted.
"You don't have to be sorry. You did everything you could. You saved me. The killing curse doesn't leave a scar, I read about it. It's instant, nothing stops it except you for me. The scar is the one thing I always have that reminds me you loved me, you will love me. I know how confusing this is," he doesn't finish he sappy speech because Lily is hugging him.
"I love you Harry. I'm sorry it took so long to understand but I love you. I'm afraid but when the time comes I won't change anything I won't risk you." She promises and he sobs. They fall asleep in eachothers arms.
The sun is just rising when Harry wakes, despite the late night Harry's body clock is still set to go. Gently as possible Harry slips from his bed careful not to wake his mother and gets his running shoes tiptoeing out the door. The door opposite belongs to Sirius and Remus but the figure that emerges is entirely too small and feminine.
"Harry!" She whispers as they make eye contact and there's panic in her eyes. "I had an idea about the heist and needed to discuss it with them." She says quickly. Too quickly especially given it's five in the morning and her hair looks worse than Harry's.
"I'm going to pretend I believe you and we will never discuss this again. Deal?"
"Deal, see you at noon Hero." She wanders off to her own room and Harry shakes off the ick.