"OH MY GODS WHERE DID YOU GET HIM?"

"Her," Lily said, as Marlene Mackinnon descended upon Patti the Pig with squeals of delight. She knelt down on the courtyard stone and reached out a palm for Patti to snort and snuffle against. "She belongs to Sirius Black. Well, he made her, at least. Ownership is still pending. He wanted to make her into bacon when he first made her, so I say she's mine."

Ali said, "What does Sirius Black want with a cute little piggy anyway?"

Marlene tickled Patti's chin and the pig tilted it's head up and practically melted into Marlene's hand. "Oh bloody hell, I've fallen in love," Marlene said. Then, "Hang on. Sirius Black made her?"

"From a lamp," Lily nodded.

"Wow," Marlene looked impressed as she stood up and adjusted her blue-and-bronze robes. "That's very good magic, honestly. Pigs are positively horrid to try to transfigure."

Lily nodded again. She didn't mention that Remus had finished the transformation off. She figured she'd let Sirius have this one. "He's come quite a way from missing his Transfiguration O.W.L."

"Good for him," Marlene said, smiling.

Ali nodded, "Yeah, good on him. Wish I  was good enough that I could miss my bloody Transfiguration O.W.L. and still pass the next year." She laughed nervously.

"You'll do spiffing," Marlene offered kindly, patting Ali's shoulder. "Really. You're very good."

Ali blushed, "Frank says so, too. And he's studying for the N.E.W.T.'s and everything already, and we've been sort of studying together..."

"See?" Lily said, tossing a bit of toast with extra butter smacked on to Patti, "You're already learning things for N.E.W.T. and you're only on your O.W.L.! You'll do splendid."

Marlene elbowed Lily, "Oi, did you sign up for the Spring disapparation lessons?"

Lily nodded, "Oh yes, months ago. So did James Potter and Remus Lupin."

Ali spoke up, "I wish I could disapparate."

"Next year," said Lily.

"Yeah, I know." Ali sighed. "I hate being a year behind you lot! Stupid autumn birthday!"

Lily gave Ali a half hug. "Look at it this way, it's a whole extra year you don't have to go and try to figure out how to be an adult that you've got on us."

"I am not looking forward to that," Marlene Mackinnon said, shaking her head, "It sounds positively awful. They say university is terribly hard, but you can't do much without it."

"What are you thinking of doing, then?" Lily asked.

"Dunno, I thought of maybe furthering in potions a bit. You?"

"Dunno, really. I mean we did that assesment with McGonagall and all, but it wasn't really clear to me what I want. I mean, I love doing magic and everything, but I really would like to travel and see the world, and I want to have a family someday when I meet the right boy..."

Ali cleared her throat, "Or perhaps just get your act together and finally get with the one you've already met?"

"Oh hush," Lily snapped.

Marlene laughed, "James Potter, you mean?"

Lily looked horrorstruck as Ali laughed and squeaked, "I told you everyone knows, Lil."

"Stop!" Lily swatted at Ali, then, to Marlene, she said, "I don't fancy James Potter."

Marlene shrugged, "Wouldn't blame you if you did. You'd be the only one in Hogwarts that didn't."

"Yes, well." Lily looked down at Patti and handed the pig the last of the toast, the butter all over her fingers. "Even if, he doesn't fancy me."

Marlene snorted. "Since when? James Potter has fancied you since first year."

Lily shook her head, "That was when he was a kid. He's stopped by now. Too much has happened. Moved on."

"Well he wasn't going to hang around on your hooks forever, was he?" Ali said, "Doesn't mean it wouldn't be easy to catch him again!"

Lily blushed. "Yes, well, I'm not fishing for James Potter, so."

Marlene looked down at Patti Pig, as did Ali, and they all watched her press her nose into a small bit of snow still left under one of the trees in the courtyard. It left a funny button-like impression.

"Can't wait for Spring," Marlene mused.

"Nor can I," Lily agreed. "It's been a terrible winter. I'm ready for summer so we can all start fresh."

Ali nodded. "Although I'm not looking forward to Frank leaving Hogwarts."

"Don't worry, Ali," Lily said. "You're engaged, after all. You'll be married to him one day. You'll have plenty of Frank then!"

Ali smiled and looked at the ring on her finger. "I could never have enough Frank, though."

Marlene made a gagging motion, and they all laughed. "Does Frank have a job lined up for after he leaves here yet?"

"He's applied for the auror program," Ali said.

"Wow," Marlene said, "That's spiffing! Tell him I wish him luck."

"Yeah," Lily agreed, "Tell him we both do."

"I will," Ali smiled, and petted Patti on the head. Then, "I'm hoping to apply for it also." She looked up at them. "Is that silly? A girl in the auror program?"

"No! Not at all!" Lily cried, "I think it's brilliant!"

"Same," Marlene said, grinning, "Girl power and all of that."

Ali's grin widened. "Yeah, girl power and all of that." She laughed. "Imagine if all three of us --"

"Oh no," Lily shook her head, "I'd be terrible at that."

"Not according to Maryrose," Marlene said.

"Maryrose?" Lily looked surprised, "What did Maryrose say?"

"Said you faced Voldemort in Havmork over holiday rescuing James - says you told him off good and that you and Sirius Black are the only reason James Potter is alive today," Marlene said. It was clear by the look on her facet that she'd been simply bursting to ask about this, but hadn't quite found the way to do it, even in the three months since it had all happened. Even Ali looked eagerly up at Lily.

Lily shook her head, "No, no Sirius Black and I aren't the only reasons, that's a terrible exaggeration. I barely did anything, honestly. James Potter is alive today because he is the bravest, strongest --"

Marlene smirked to Ali, laughing, "And she says she doesn't fancy the bloke!"

Regulus was waiting outside the Gryffindor Common Room at dinner time, sitting on the stone steps that led up to the top of the tower. When the commotion of Gryffindors came barreling out of the portrait hole, he stood up and searched the mess of them for his brother. Being Sirius, he wasn't so hard to spot - even with his long black hair knotted at the back of his head. What confused Regulus most about the sight of his brother was the squirming pink piglet that was fighting to be put down from Sirius's grasp.

"Calm down, Patti!" Sirius cried, "Bloody hell, it's not as though I'm actually going to eat you. I was only joking. Blimey, you'd think this blighter understood what I was saying."

"It doesn't," Remus said quickly from behind Sirius. "Pigs are the least magical creature there is, you know. That's why it's so hard to transfigure them."

Sirius held the piglet out at full reach of his arms - it let out a great deal of squeals as it's little hooved legs kicked and squiggled about - "Don't listen to the big bad wolf, Patti. You're magical as fuck to me."

"Sirius."

All four Marauders turned to look as Regulus jumped down from the stairs and started over, looking very apprehensive. 

"Regulus," Sirius said.

Regulus stared at the pig. "What the hell is that?"

"It's my pig. Patti Smith. She used to be a lamp. What do you want?"

Regulus seemed keen to ask more questions about Patti-Smith-the-pig-who-used-to-be-a-lamp, but he refrained and said, "I wanted to talk to you about mother."

Sirius looked around while the other Gryffindors were streaming by. "Here?" he asked. "Now?" James, Remus, and Peter gathered around Sirius and Sirius shoved Patti Pig into Remus's arms, who quickly pushed her on to Peter, who coddled her close and kissed her snout while Remus made a face of disgust behind Sirius's back. (He wouldn't dare to if Sirius was looking at him, of course.)

"No, in Egypt next Saturday," Regulus replied, rolling his eyes, "Yes here and now."

"Well ferfucksakes, don't get your panties in a wad, I was only asking a bleedin' question." He nodded for Regulus to follow and started toward the steps.

James cleared his throat, "You need us? Sirius?"

Sirius looked at Regulus, appraising him, and shook his head, "Nah, you lot go on to dinner. I'll be down in a mo'."

James nodded and waved for the other three to follow him as the brothers went on up the steps.

Peter clung to Patti's leash and let her down so she could walk, but Patti took it more at a run and tugged at the end of the leash ahead of them as Peter struggled to keep his gait as slow as Remus and James's. 

Remus looked over his shoulder, "You reckon they're alright?"

"Yeah," James said. "Sirius seemed to think so anyway..." He asked, "So what's happened with his mum? He didn't really say much in the dormitory?"

Remus's voice was low, "Seems she was poisoned..." and he proceeded to whisper to James and Peter everything that Sirius had told him McGonagall said.

Sirius pushed opened the door that led out to the little balcony, far up the very top of Gryffindor tower. The wind was whipping and it was a grey, rather dismal day out, though not raining. Regulus clutched his robes about him, though Sirius was stoic in his heavy leather jacket. "This is surely the highest point in the entire castle?" Regulus asked, looking over the side of the balcony at the roof of the Great Hall far, far below.

"Nah, the astronomy tower is," Sirius replied. "But we're taller than Ravenclaw tower anyway." He smirked to himself, then cleared his throat. "So... what do you want to talk about mother?"

Regulus pulled himself back from the ledge and looked at Sirius. "I reckon that McGonagall told you about the Wartcap Powder?"

"She did," Sirius replied. "Old bat had that rubbish laying about in that old snuffbox she says belonged to Phineas Black. Why you'd keep a bloody thing like Wartcap powder laying about is beyond my comprehension, but when you're a dark witch, I suppose --"

"I think she was poisoned on purpose," Regulus spat the words out, swallowing back the explosive defensive feelings he was having inside as Sirius bad-mouthed their own mother. He stared up at Sirius imploringly. 

"Poisoned on purpose?" Sirius asked. "I'd ask who would want to poison mother but I reckon the list is so long we'd be here a year or two while you rattled all the names off." He laughed.

Regulus said, "I think it was Bellatrix."

Sirius looked surprised. "Bellatrix? That bleedin' hag wouldn't have the smarts to --"

"She would," Regulus interrupted. "Don't forget who her mother was."

Sirius hesitated; he couldn't really argue that point. And beside that, Wartcap powder was a fairly easy one. It wasn't some complicated potion that needed to be brewed, but only an ingredient. It was naturally dangerous. He thought for a moment. "Alright, premise accepted. But why?"

Regulus said, "Because of me. Because of Havmork."

Sirius squinted.

"She - among many other of the Death Eaters at Voldemort's command - saw me there with you, and yes, I ended up going with the Dark Lord from Durmstrang, but none the less, they've done two and two and they've figured out that the only people who could've brought you there was me or else Severus Snape, as we were the only ones involved in rescuing James that had been to the castle before. And seeing as they know how Snape got there - well. I'm sort of the suspect."

"What's that got to do with mother?" Sirius demanded.

Regulus said, "Because that's how they work, isn't it? They punish people by messing with the people they love?"

Sirius frowned.

"I already warned Maryrose to be careful."

Sirius's eyebrows went up.

"Just - just you be careful, too, alright? And maybe tell your -- your boyfriend, too."

Sirius nodded slowly. Then, "Are you in trouble, Reg?"

"Not yet," Regulus replied. "I don't reckon."

Sirius leaned closer, "If you are - you can tell me."

Regulus said, "So you can laugh at me? Tell me you told me so?"

"So my mates and I can help you, like you helped us save James, alright?" Sirius's voice was sincere.

Regulus felt his insides warm up and sort of puff out, filling him up. "Thank you."

"Of course," Sirius said. "We might not see eye-to-eye, but you're still my brother."

Regulus nodded.

Sirius asked, "Is that all?"

"I've silenced her."

"What?"

"I took away her voice until she's well again," Regulus clarified. "Just so you know. In case you hear anything funny."

Sirius gave him a curious look. Then, "So that she doesn't tell the healers all of Voldemort's secrets, I suppose?"

Regulus wanted to tell him everything - wanted to say that it wasn't just him that was coming around to being good in the core - that their mother was, too. That there was a chance for redemption, that maybe they could work together and figure out what had happened in the cave, what the meaning of the nightmares he'd had ever since was... 

But Regulus couldn't. 

He felt sick as he nodded his assent, "Yes, that's it."

Sirius said, "Fuck Voldemort."

Regulus stared at Sirius.

"For real, Reg. What do you see in that evil, nasty old blighter anyway? He's a bloody demon."

Regulus didn't have words. He couldn't form anything, anything at all, and he just stared at Sirius, willing his brother to feel the tearing in his soul - the split where the darkness had such a great grip on him, and the light fought so desperately to be seen.

See me, Regulus thought, desperate.

But Sirius couldn't.

"Alright." Sirius said, "Since you know exactly what it is you're fighting for and everything." And he turned and opened the door to the tower, waving for Regulus to head on inside, out of the cold wind, and ending their conversation.