"So we're tailing Lucius?" asked James.

The four boys were sitting by the lake with Peter skipping stones. It was a few weeks before Christmas break and they had just gotten out of their final detention. 

"Yeah." said Remus. "Though we can't be too sure. There aren't many people with limps in this school but a limp can also be very easy to disguise. Dad showed me how to do it when I broke my leg after a...after I fell off a bike."

"We could try getting a look at his wand." suggested Sirius. "Ollivander said every wand is unique."

"That's actually not a bad idea." said Remus.

"What's kind of scary is that we still don't know what he's trying to do or why he wears a mask." said Peter.

Remus frowned. "He hasn't done much from what we've seen. Too bad none of us can stay behind for the Christmas break."

There was a disgruntled noise of agreement.

"Speaking of Christmas..." started James. "Mum wants to know if you and your families can come over for Christmas Dinner."

"I'm in!" said Peter.

"I'll have to ask." said Remus. "But I think I can."

"I'm not sure about my parents." said Sirius a plan already racing through his mind. "But can I bring my little brother Reg?"

He didn't want leave his brother to his parents. Never again. But he knew that wasn't entirely possible.

"Yeah sure he can." replied James.

"Sweet." said Sirus leaning back against a tree. His sleefs ruffled and rolled up, his tie loose, a lazy grin splayed across his face. James noticed with his own smile that the posh refinement that had been so characteristic of his at the beginning was slowly ebbing away and he seemed much more relaxed about almost everything.

"Say you know Lily's a mudblood." said Sirius.

Remus winced while James tensed. Peter had stopped skipping stones.

"Please don't say that." pleaded James.

"What? Mud-"

"Yes that word don't say it!"

"Why?"

He wasn't being insolent James realised. Sirius genuinely didn't know.

"It's like if I called Kingsley the n-word." explained Remus. "It's racist right? Sames goes for that word."

They hate me. Thought Sirius. 

"Sorry I didn't..." there were tears in his eyes now. "Mum and Dad use it all the time. I didn't realise it was that bad."

Peter was the first to break the stunned silence by shrugging and saying.

"Mum says we all make mistakes."

Briefly Remus wondered if he admitted to his...condition, if they'd accept it just as easily. 

"I didn't know she was muggleborn." prompted James. "How did you find out?"

"She was talking to Dorcas about it." said Sirius. "And apparently Snivellus is a half-blood." 

"So much for his pureblooded nonsense" scoffed Remus picking at the grass beneath him. "Though I thought only pure bloods got into Slytherin."

"Those with cunning and ambition get in." said Sirius, the words that had branded within him during childhood falling easily from his tongue. "Honestly they are just a bunch of pricks, I'm glad I'm in Gryffindor."

James smiled at this.

It was at this moment a furious Snape stormed up to them.

"Give it back!" he shouted.

"Give what back?" came Sirius's defensive response stepping quickly in front of his friends. They hadn't doen anything to his this whole week. Heck they only played on prank this week and that just setting Lucius's hair on fire.

"My book The Dark Arts: Breaking Magical Defenses." said Snape vehemently. "Give it back!"

"As strange as this my sound Snivels old pal." came James's voice from behind Sirius. "We don't have your ruddy book."

"Liars!" Snape hissed and raised his wand to Sirius's neck.

"Honest to God Sev." said Remus. "We don't know where it is. We don't know anything. Please don't hurt him."

The sincerity in Remus's voice caused Snape to lower his want. Without a words he stalked back to the castle.

"What's he doing with a book like that anyway?" asked James.

"No idea." replied Remus.

~~~

"James Fleamont Potter!" came the shrill voice of Euphemia Potter. "Get youself downstairs right now and help me!"

"But Mum!"

"I'll take away all you Zonko products!"

James groaned and ran downstairs plucking the fruit-pies from his elderly mother's hands and placing them on the table, before turning to run back upstairs.

"Not so fast young man. I still need help with everything else."

James grimaced but none the less helped her with the food with mild complaining. As soon as he finished helping her the doorbells rang. Quicker than a snitch during the Quidditch world cup he raced to greet the guests at door.

The first to arrive was Remus.

He was wearing a festive red, green and white hand-knitted sweater. While it fitted him height wise it was far too big for him laterally, giving it the impression that it was oversized. Behind him was a pretty blond woman with blue eyes, she was holding a large platter of chocolate pudding. Beside her was a tall lanky man holding a large bag of wrapped presents, he looked very much like Remus except for the face. Remus's face was more like his mother's. James took this all in in one glance.

"Remus!" he cried as soon as he saw the boy before pouncing on him, practically tackling him to the floor with a huge hug.

"I'm so sorry!" exclaimed Euphemia from across the floor. "James has been very excited for the past few days. We couldn't keep him still. James get off the poor boy!"

Hope laughed, and it rang throughout the house.

"That's alright, Remus has been quite the same."

James sheepishly got off of his friend, helping Remus up before straightening his glasses.

"I'm Hope and this is my husband Lyall." said the young woman brightly. 

"I'm Remus!" said the young boy shaking Mrs. Potter's hands.

"I'm Euphemia." she said sweetly before shrilly shouting. "Fleamont guests are here!" She turned towards the young couple and their child "Do come in."

No sooner were they inside that Mr. Potter came downstairs smelling suspiciously of lavender shampoo.

"Good evening." he said his hazel eyes twinkling merrily behind his horned glasses, shaking hands with Lyall and Hope. "I'm sorry about the smell I have been working on my new product. Pleasure to meet you please call me Fleamont."

"I'm Lyall and this is Hope."

"You young lad must be Remus." said Mr. Ptter with and indulgent smile clapping young Remus on the back. "I've heard quite a bit about you."

"Look at how skinny he is." tittered Mrs. Potter. "Oh don't worry you'll be nice and plump once I'm through with you."

As soon as they settled for tea, with Mrs. Potter plying Remus with extra treacle tarts, Peter and his mother showed up with a large platter gingerbread cookies and of course more presents. Mrs. Pettigrew they soon found was a magnetic woman with a personality that was almost larger than life.

"Ah Fleamont Potter!" she said once they had been introduced. "I should have known I use your haircare products all the time. They are absolutely splendid."

"Thank you Millie, it shows. Really your hair is quite lovely."

"Where's Sirius?" asked Peter while the adults chatted on about things that seemed quite nonsensical to the three boys.

"I haven't heard from the him the whole break." said James. "Have you?"

Both Peter and Remus shook their heads.

It was a whole half hour later before there was another knock on the door. Mrs. Potter stopped the three boys from rushing to the door.

"You'll knock some one over." she reprimanded before walking briskly to the door.

She opened it to be greeted by a sullen faced Sirus and a younger boy beside him. 

"Hello." said Sirius shakily. "Sorry I'm late. My parents couldn't come but they sent their best wishes.

Mrs. Poetter noted the bruise on his cheek, another peaking through what was visible of his collarbone, and a slight cut on his lip. She was glad that his parents couldn't come. She wasn't sure she was able to receive them.

The younger boy handed her a plate of cakes.

"I made them myself." he said smiling up at he proudly.

"Thank you dear, I'm sure they'll taste lovely." she gave him a winning smile before pinching his cheek.

"You're welcome Mrs..."

"Potter." she supplied proffering her hand for a handshake. "What would your name be?"

The young boy too her hand and kissed it. Causing Mrs. Potter to cock her head in surprise

"I'm Regulus Black." said the young boy. "This is my big brother Sirius."

Sirius also took her hand and kissed it.

"Pleasure to meet you Madame."

Black. Of course. The Noble and Ancient House of Black. They were as she had heard from Fleamont forever stuck in the Victorian Era.

"Quite the charmers." she said. "Well come on in. The other boys have been worried sick."

~~~

Sirius Orion Black was still shaken. Over the holidays he had received the worst series of beatings in his life. So much so that he had trouble getting out of bed, eating or even sleeping. Simple menial things became unachievable. He hadn't felt all toegther alive. Even after Regulus helped him, (brushing his teeth for him, changing his clothes, forcing food through him, tucking him in bed) he still didn't feel all together whole, or even human. An empty chaotic space wearing the skin of a boy.

His friends almost knocked him over as a greeting and took to Regulus instantly. The adults greeted him heartily enough. But contact send the bad memories coursing through him, he flicnhed constantly. It didn't go unnoticed by the anyone, and the bruise and the split lip was a glaring red sign. Though they didn't say anything about it.

Instead Hope gushed over Sirius and Regulus, telling them how pretty she thought they were and announcing she wanted to adopt them. This warmed Sirius significantly. The sight of his brother talking to an equally charming Mrs. Pettigrew relaxed him further. If Reg was enjoying himself then all was well. But it was Mr. Potter and Mr. Lupin who really helped Sirius out of his deadly stupor. 

The young boy had been sitting beside his friends not really taking in what they were saying and merely offering half hearted replies when Mr. Lupin beckoned him over. Sirius walked over.

"Sit down lad." said Mr. Lupin. So Siris sat down by the empty space near Mr. Lupin. "Sirius isn't it?:" 

"Yeah" he replied.

"Do you remember, we met at Diagon Alley."

"I remember. Sorry about my parents Sir."

"You should never have to apologise for them." said Lyall pouring himself a drink. "My father always said, we can't choose our ancestors but our legacy is a whole other story."

"Lyall don't you start filling his head with your Welsh Boggarts!" said  a joking Mr. Potter as he came up to sit beside them."

"I'll have you know Fleamont. We are have a very adult conversation which does not involve boggarts of any kind." his eyes narrowed in mock enmity. "Or...hair products."

Mr. Potter roared with laughter. Sirius found himself smiling.

"As I was saying." continued Lyall. "I know your parents aren't exactly pleased with you being a Gryffindor."

"That's an understatement." said Sirius touching his cut lip.

"Even so." continued Mr. Lupin. "Fleamont and I certainly very proud of you."

"Only the brave at heart dwell in Gryffindor." said Mr. Potter. "Don't you ever think you're any less of a wizard because the hat didn't say Slytherin."

Sirius felt the last dregs of icy sadness ebb away he found himself smiling. Lyall and Fleamont found themselves returning the smile at the sight of his crooked grin.

"Now that's what I want to see." said Lyall. " Don't you dare let that smile leave your face young man. Run along now, you probably don't want to hear old men drone on about meaningless things."

Sirius went back to his friends visibly mroe cheerful.

"Mum can I show my friends my room?" asked James.

"As long as you all come down in time for dinner."

The five boys ran upstairs, they sound of their footsteps not far from that of a herd of elephants.

James opened the door to his room. Sirius was inundated by the Quidditch posters, stuffed toys and books. All of it was brightly coloured.He'd never seen anything like it.

"Do you think we can discuss our plan?" asked James glacning at Regulus.

"Reg" started Sirius.

"Yeah?"

"What we're about to discuss is very important and top secret you're not allowed to tell anyone."

"Alright."

The five of them seated themselves on James's bed.

"Reg would you like to a be a fifth member of our gang?" asked James.

"What your gang name?" asked an excited Regulus.

The smiles on the faces of the boys fell. Remus sighed.

"We don't have one yet." he said lamely.

"Oh!" the excitement in Regulus dimmed a littled. But he smiled and said "I guess I can still be a memeber."

"Okay Remus what's our next move?" asked James

"Our usual, terrorise the Slytherins, especially Snape and Lucius. There's also a few staff pranks. But when its time to act we need to initiate prank war."

"Against each other?" asked Peter.

Remus nodded.

"That way," he explained. "We can practice more hexes and jinxes without getting into too much trouble. We're going to have to face him sooner or later."

"Who is he?" asked Regulus.

So Sirius explained to his little brother their predicament. He saw the colour leave Regulus's face.

"Does the mask have slits for eyes?"

The boys looked at Regulus.

"Yes." James finally said. "But how did you....?"

"Siri. Mum told me to never tell you or..." he stopped himself. He wasn't allowed to speak of beatings outside their home. "But they've been taking me to meetings. There's this man named Lord Voldemort. His followers, the death eaters, they look exactly like the man your talking about."

It was then that they realised they were dealing with something far greater and far more dangerous than they had expected.

"Reg do you remember any names?" asked Sirius.

"The Le Stranges were there, as well as the Carrows and Malfoy..."

The four boys glanced at each other. Yes it seemed that Malfoy was the one they were looking for.

Then Regulus started trembling, the tell-tale signs of waterworks that were sure to ensue. Sirius wrapped his arms around his brother and held hi stroking his hair, like he did every night since the beginning of the Christmas break. What had happened during those meetings?

"Reg did they do anything to you?" asked Sirius

"You can tell us." encouraged James. "You're a part of our gang now."

"They use the Cruciatus curse, not on me but on other people."

No wonder the kid was in tears. Being tortured was one things, but seeing others being tortured that was worse. Sirius knew that these Death Eaters would haunt Regulus's dreams for a while yet. So held his brother close, stroking his hair even venturing to kiss his forhead, somethng he only ever did in private. All this time when Regulus came to comfort him he had thought at least his brother was sheltered. How wrong he was. And he hated himself for falling into the death like stupor while his brother suffered.

"They are talking of a way of getting into the school." said Regulus. "I can remember that much."

He stopped talking and clung to Sirius. Sirius was glad in that moment that his brother could still be a child, he was glad he himself had sheltered him all these years.

"It's more dangerous than I thought" said James. "If anyone wants to back out you can tell me now."

No-one said a word.

~~~

Peter was the first to leave, followed half an hour later by Remus who filled with more food than he had eaten in his life had fallen asleep and was carried by his father. Sirius and Regulus was the last to leave. They had been tempeted when Euphemia asked them to stay the night, but Sirius had refused. 

The sleeping potion would have worn off by then.

The got off the Knight Bud and went back to 13 Grimmauld place. Quietly Sirius and Regulus crossed the threshold where their parents lay fast asleep. They went to bed without a word.