Hello Fam :)

So, I have realized that I haven't made the Gryffindor's practice Quidditch even though James is the captain this year. So, here it is. :P

Happy Reading...

Sirius was sleeping when James poked him in the arm until he was awake before his Quidditch jersey was thrown on his face. "Padfoot, wake up. We have practice."

Sirius groaned. Whoever thought James being a Quidditch captain was a brilliant idea, was taking revenge against every Gryffindor. The boy was already obsessed with the game and him being a captain only pushed it to the extreme. "Jamie", he whined, letting his displeasure known, "can't I just bribe the captain and let me sleep for a few extra hours?"

James pulled him up. "I am your captain and if I let you sleep, the others would accuse me of playing favourites."

"But I am your favourite", said Sirius.

"I know. But they don't need to know about that."

Sirius grinned. "Trust me, Prongs. Everyone knows."

Get the hell out of the room or I am going to eat you two alive during the next moon.

They turned their heads and heard Moony's muffled voice from under his pile of blankets.

"Looks like Moony finished his book last night", muttered James.

Sirius nodded. Their resident werewolf would ignore his sleep until his book completes before going to sleep for hours. It's better not to antagonize him during this time. Silently, he took the jersey James offered before going to the washroom.

XXX

Sirius's heard James's heart doing somersaults when they spotted Lily Evans in the stands with her book open. James didn't give any reaction, the boy was holding himself back this year but his Jamie boy's heart was all his so Sirius knew everything going inside it. To prove him right, their Quidditch teammates even wolf-whistled but James glared them into silence. It wouldn't have worked until last year but as he said, since the start of this year, James was serious, without any pun, and it scared people to see the ever-grinning marauder in that state. Jay was normal with the marauders, even taking extra care of them, and Sirius knows the reason behind the change in Jay's attitude. He sighed. If this is what his family was doing to his best friend, he wouldn't regret killing all of them.

He was pulled out of his thoughts when he felt someone pulling him close and glanced up to find James with that soft smile of his. "Whatever going inside your head, don't think about it, okay?"

"What do you even know about what's going inside my head?", he asked, defensively.

Jay chuckled, ruffling his hair. "I know the face you make when you are plotting murder of your family or something equally dramatic."

Sirius tried glaring at them but it was ruined by the grin that threatened on realizing how well his Jay knew him.

Merlin, are they going to romance instead of practicing? Come on, guys, if you are winning the Quidditch cup, we would have chance of winning the house cup.

The team turned around and found Lily smirking at them. The Gryffindors smiled at the prefect before waving at her.

"Evans, do you now realize what we have to endure all these years? They have been like this ever since Black joined the team as a beater."

The redhead shook her head sympathetically. "At least, you didn't see them before he joined the team. Imagine me taking every class with them?"

Their team laughed at her. It consists of people from all the years so, for some, the marauders were stories from when they were younger.

Their keeper, a seventh-year girl, snorted at them. "Evans, if you think you had to bear that, trust me, it was even worse when Black didn't join the team. He used to accompany Potter and sit in the stands to cheer up when Potter scored a goal. When he didn't, Black used to sing poetries on how amazing Potter's Quidditch skills are, or his techniques. One time, he has even outdone himself by singing how amazing his hair is. Come on, it's a bird's nest."

"Really?", asked Lily.

James turned to him. "Did you really do that?"

Sirius groaned. "Martin, shut up. Jay, I wanted to cheer you up on your bad days."

"By reciting poetries on my hair?"

"Well, I love you, bird's nest or not", he offered, in his defence.

Because James could say anything, Lily groaned again. "And I love my house cup. So, guys practice."

Martin clapped her hands, laughing when both James and Sirius spluttered identically. "Evans, please be the referee and keep them from romancing on the Quidditch pitch and I promise you to win the house cup."

"Guys, I am the captain here", said James, finally, glaring his teammates before giving them instructions.

Sirius saw the opportunity and smirked at Lily, stepping further away from the team. It's not like he doesn't know the instructions by heart. Jamie would even recite it during his sleep. Also, their heart-to-heart connection. "Hey, Lily-flower. What are you doing here this early in the morning on Quidditch pitch?"

"I came here for some fresh air. The morning breeze is bliss."

Sirius smirked. "You sure, it's not for our Quidditch captain?"

Lily snorted. "As if he tells me when the practice is. I am not on the team, Black."

"What are you speaking, Evans? Jamie boy here is making us practice every other day since the start of the year. Who the hell even thought him to make a captain is clearly not thinking enough?"

"You bitching about the love of your life behind his back", she teased.

Sirius huffed. "You and I both know about his obsessions."

She nodded in agreement until James called Sirius to mount the broom and he left her alone.

XXX

Lily was reading and glancing up from time to time when she was bored. As Sirius said, James Potter was really serious about the whole ordeal. She had never thought she would see the marauder to be disciplining a bunch of his fellow students. But she saw the softness behind the tough exterior when he instructed the second-year seeker on how to hold the snitch, or when he asked the other beater to take a break when the girl was having a bad day. And of course, the one time, Sirius misbalanced a little because his concentration was on the bludger, James flew beside him instantly, halting the game, and talking softly before he ruffled the boy's hair.

She was startled when a figure loomed beside her and saw Regulus standing with his broom. Regulus can't talk to Sirius openly, but he could always talk to her. Hence, when she patted the place beside hers, he sat down without any hesitation.

"Are they still all over each other?", asked Regulus, looking at the boys for a moment.

Lily chuckled. "What do you think?"

There was a slight uptick on his mouth, just a little. "It was the same whenever we used to practice during childhood. Sirius would be reckless during the game and James would simultaneously concentrate on his game, his surroundings, and on keeping Sirius safe."

"Looks like he has long-term experience."

Regulus nodded. "I don't trust Sirius to be reasonable. He was always reckless, jumping into troubles or arguing with fully grown wizards. But with James, he is the safest."

"Is that the reason why you hated James?", she asked. Because when Regulus said the relationship between the two Black brothers was complicated, Lily thought it was some sort of love-hate bond. But years of hatred wouldn't evaporate during a single conversation involving James Potter.

"I never hated James too", said Regulus, proving her right. "I was jealous because he was the best brother, he was allowed to stay in Sirius's room, and he could talk to him whenever he wanted. Sirius came back from Hogwarts during his first year on Christmas break and said, James was the only family that mattered to him. I was 9 and stupid and thought we lost Sirius. I believed my mother when she announced loudly to our relatives that we lost Sirius to the Potters. After coming to Hogwarts, I saw how they were inseparable. I thought hating James would make everything bearable because I wanted to be in his place. I thought he took my place in Sirius's life."

"What about now?"

Regulus glanced away from where he was glancing at the two Gryffindors before realizing he was the one talking all along before composing himself. "James never replaced me. James was there all along as an elder brother to both Sirius and I. I was the one who pushed him away and lost Sirius in doing so."

"You won't do that again?", she asked because even though she didn't know the bond Regulus shared with James, Sirius didn't deserve to lose his brother again.

"No", said Regulus.

She shrugged. "That's all that matters."

Regulus blinked his eyes. "Thank you, Lily."

Came here to steal our strategy, Black?

They turned their heads and found a fourth-year yelling at Regulus. He was in Reg's year. Regulus rolled his eyes in answer before picking his broom up. "If you are staying till the end, tell them I am flying at the back side. Sirius would know the location."

When Lily agreed, the boy masked his emotions before leaving from the ground. The fourth year's words grabbed the attention of both James and Sirius and she saw another mental conversation between the two of them.

XXX

James knew something was wrong the moment he saw Regulus coming to the ground with his broom. Everyone knew Gryffindor was practicing in the morning. When he glanced at Sirius, the boy shrugged. James nodded and resumed the game. When the fourth-year yelled about stealing Gryffindor's strategy, James stopped himself from rolling his eyes. They grew up playing together and Regulus was smart. He would know James's strategies, at least how to read them. He envied Lily a little bit when she could talk to anyone without a care in the world. It was really endearing to see how she had cracked the shell around Baby Black's heart.

After the match, Lily gestured them towards her. James asked the team to go ahead to the castle before going himself to the stands, Sirius following behind him. "Regulus is flying backside. Said Sirius would know the location."

Sirius nodded and left towards the said direction.

"Thanks, Evans."

"You look worried?"

"It's Regulus. I guess something's bothering him. Do you want to come and meet him?"

He saw the redhead thinking before she shook her head. "If something's wrong with him, I don't think he would appreciate me being there."

"He trusts you enough to show his softer side to you", said James. Regulus and Lily were friends ever since the younger boy came to Hogwarts and he never knew how did she do it.

Lily shrugged. "I don't want to push it. Maybe some other time?"

James nodded. Maybe this was what makes her special. She thinks about the others before herself. He gave her a smile before walking towards the castle.

XXX

"Reg, come down", said Sirius when he reached their place. It has become their place now.

Regulus flew down before throwing his arms around Sirius, abandoning his broom.

"Hey, baby. What's wrong? Did someone hurt you?", he said, before subtly running his hands over Regulus to check for any injuries but the younger boy was already breaking the hug.

"Full moon is this week."

"Reg, we talked about this."

"I don't want to lose you. I don't want him to eat you while he isn't in control of his own mind", he muttered.

Sirius laughed as the comment Moony made while they were talking in the morning surfaced in his mind. A sleep-deprived Remus was more dangerous than Moony. Moony was practically a fluffball to his pack.

"Sirius, it's not funny", scolded Regulus.

"No, sorry. I was laughing for something else. Reg, I told you, we are safe. Remus wouldn't do anything to us."

"I find it difficult to believe you", said Regulus.

While Sirius thought about how to reassure the boy without actually revealing the secret, Regulus was shifting his weight from one foot to another. "What?"

"I think you should tell James."

"What? That Moony's a werewolf?", he asked. "James knows. We live in the same dorm."

"No, you prat. That I know about Remus's secret."

Sirius felt the color draining his face. "Are you mad? The last time I told someone about Remus's secret, James didn't talk to me for a month. I almost died." It was not his brightest idea to take his own life but James was his only family except Regulus and if James wasn't in his life, he didn't want to live that life.

"I think James would understand. He loves you the most", muttered Regulus.

As if on cue, James came towards them. Before Sirius could come up with an excuse, Regulus pulled James into a hug, distracting the boy from him. "Hey, Reg. Something bothering you?", said James, carding his fingers through the younger boy's hair.

Regulus broke the hug before staring at his shoes. "Everything's fine."

"Don't lie. Tell me, what happened?"

"It's stupid."

"It's not stupid to me if it makes you wake up early in the morning for flying. Come on, what's wrong?"

"I was missing you. I know you are here but I just", said Reg before sighing. "I don't understand why."

James ruffled his hair, forcing the boy to glance up at him. "You are my brother, Reggie. You are allowed to miss me."

"But we see each other every day?", asked Reg.

James shrugged, pulling both the boys down to sit on the ground. "You eat everyday and yet you feel hungry after few hours, right?"

"Stupid logic, Jay", muttered Sirius.

James shushed him before looking at Regulus. "I miss you too, Reggie. I wish we didn't have to pretend and could talk whenever we wanted."

"I am sorry", said Reg.

"Why are you sorry?"

"For being in Slytherin?"

James sighed. "You don't have to. You are fine. Your family and the stupid purebloods should be sorry for creating these circumstances", he said and looked at Sirius. "Help me take over Hogwarts a few years later and I would end the house enmities."

Sirius grinned but Regulus frowned in confusion.

"You have a plan to take over Hogwarts?"

"Since he was eleven", said Sirius.

Regulus rolled his eyes at the two of them before taking his broom. "I will go for breakfast. Don't follow me."

James waved at him obnoxiously before bumping into Sirius's shoulder once Regulus was far enough. "Is everything okay with you? You look down."

Damn James and his observation skills. "I am fine. Just tired."

"Sirius, tell me to shut up but if you are not ready to talk about it, I will wait but just talk to me if something is bothering you."

Sirius smiled at him, hoping it was as reassuring as he wanted to. "I would, Jay."

XXX

Sirius and James joined Lily and the girls at the Gryffindor table. Marlene was murdering the eggs and mutilating the toast which meant she got another pureblood letter from her parents. They were not as blood supremacist as the Blacks but pureblood enough to get on her nerves. James raised an eyebrow at him on seeing her, implying Sirius being upset because of Marlene's. When Sirius rolled his eyes and concentrated on his food, he chuckled.

"Hey, Mars. Are we murdering food today?"

"I would murder you if you talk to me today, Potter", muttered Marlene.

"Hey, what did I do?"

"You have the best parents."

James, because he could be a prat sometimes, grinned at the girl. "Hey, my parents are Sirius's too now. You don't want to say anything to him?"

Sirius glared at him and Marlene was about to throw the juice at him when Lily saved the day, pulling the jar from her hand. "Where is your other half of the marauders today?"

James winced. "Peter is sleeping because it's a weekend. And Remus would murder us if we wake him up."

"Why?", asked Lily, confused.

"He stayed up for days to finish his book. Catching up with his sleep today. If we are interrupting him, he would downright murder us", explained Sirius.

Marlene brightened at Sirius's words. "Brilliant. I am sleeping with Remus today", she announced and left the Great Hall.

Sirius blinked his eyes. "What just happened?"

James patted his back. "Your crush just abandoned everyone to sleep with Moony."

Lily chuckled when Sirius glared at the boy. When they reached their dorm, Marlene really snuggled up with Remus and the marauders left the room, so as not to get murdered by two sleep-deprived individuals. 

Yeah, so, Regulus knows about Remus's condition but only Sirius knows that Regulus knows. There was a discussion among the brothers but I haven't finished that plot. 

Also, I imagine the girls are genuinely comfortable with Remus enough to platonically sleep with him because it's Remus. :)