Hogwarts Winter Troubles

• Peter tells his friends about muggles using artificial lights in cities since they cannot see the stars.
• Remus is reading a book on goblin medicine.
• Peter refers to street lamps as things that have to be manually switched on which James quickly corrects him that they are automatic
• The great hall is aglow with candles during dinner and filled with cozy murmurs as winter approaches.
• Sirius is quiet because he is worried about Regulus.
• Remus makes comments that James considered bastarly
• Sirius confesses he hates this time of year, saying "it's too bleak".
• Sirius reveals Regulus has always been like this at Christmas time and that he tried to hex Sirius when Sirius tried to talk to him.
• James has been covering nights for Lily and jokes that its the price of the prefect badge.
• James wants to go out and look at the stars from the arched windows
• James finds Regulus smoking a cigarette outside of curfew
• James deducts 5 points from Slytherin
• James upholds his compassion in the face of cruelty regarding Regulus
• James asks Regulus if he is cold.
• James is not at the party because of his prefect duty.
• Regulus mentions his cruelty cannot deter James.
• James mentions his duty means not stopping children from smoking since curfew is over.
• Sirius has a hard time holding resentment and never gets offended at Regulus' unfriendly demeanor.
• James takes the last drag of Regulus' cigarette.
• Sirius is worried about Regulus.
• As Sirius' best friend, James is aware of Sirius' hardships at home and the House of Black dynasty.
• Sirius bemoans any chance he gets while Regulus is despondent.
• The Gryffindor common room smells of firewhiskey bottles strewn on the floor.
• Remus snogged a 4th year Ravenclaw.
• Peter defensively shouts that there is no other option.
• Sirius says "it doesn't matter" in reply.
• Remus chimes in on the conversation that he should marry Dumbledore.
• Peter looked relieved as James sat next to him, pouring himself a cup of coffee.
• Sirius says "it was for Snog, Marry, Avoid - McGonagall, Dumbledore, and Filch".
• The conversation is lackluster but Remus asks James about prefect duty.
• James decides to keep quiet as to respect Regulus' privacy.
• Simple and convivial, James and Sirius go to play Quidditch.
• Each goal post stood like sentinels watching the pitch, their copper coloured frames gleaming in the light.
• Overeager, daring and spontaneous, James shot off first toward the goalpost
• Sirius teases James by pointing out Lily in one of the towers, knowing James fancies her
• James says, "You're such a prick!"
• Sirius says, "nothing in the rules about mind tricks, loverboy, its not my fault your heads not in the game."
• Sirius asks if James has Prefect duty again.
• Sirius finishes what James is saying knowing he does so because Lily asked him.
• Sirius says, 'if shes mugging you off, right'
• James says, "I'm going to marry her one day so its in my best interest to keep her sweet"
• Sirius insists, 'does she even know that'
• James defends fate as intricate and powerful as the framework within which choices were made.
• They all congregated in the Gryffindor common room after they ate.
• James asks if they all will come to his house for Christmas
• Sirius isn't going home
• She doesnt bother to send me letters anymore, dont think she cares now', Sirius shrugs.
• I tried to talk to him and ask him to come to yours, but he just ignored me', Sirius shrugged - inhaling the some deeply into his lungs 'He wants to be a deatheater, i dont get it at all', sirius mumbled with callousness.
• Sirius replied that his mother is nicer to Regulus.
• Sirius chimes in to change the subject as the energy in the room has shifted to darkness.

Chapter 2:

• The evening droned on; James would usually have left for his rounds already
• Remus, complaining of eye strain, left for bed
• Shortly thereafter, Sirius had found it tough to sustain an interest in the space without Remus
• Peter also went to bed.
• Sirius procrastinated the inevitable torture of the cold hallways to await him on his castle rounds
• Lily often reprimanded him for his lazy approach to his prefect duty which technically started at 10.
• As he wrapped his school cloak around, the night was very common, he caught two first years kissing outside Ravenclaw dorms
• Aside from this scene, this night was as still as calm waters.
• James noticed Regulus last night outside the window
• The window sill moonlight seeped in looking perfect
• Regulus was pressed to the windowsill in the moonlight, and James spoke saying "Hi, again"
• His cloak was perfectly fitted on his shoulders.
• James had no doubt that Regulus was notoriously stubborn and a bad sleeper.
• James says "Ten Points, Detention?"
• It should be, James replied with a smirk, but I'll waive it for another cigarette. I'm complicit now.'
• Disdain and confusion swirled in Regulus' head and face
• The book is titled: History of Muggle Cartography closed,
• "I am aware that Sirius told you to keep an eye on me but I do not fucking appreciate it'."
• James had hoped to start conversation which would give him access to Sirius' plight
• Regululs had always been more obstinate and cruel by standards of The Black legacy

After the smoking exchange

• James deducts over 20 points from Slytherin, and he's in detention.
• Regulus did not care for James' point deduction however there was no larger headache to be taken in the conversation longer than 5 minutes
• James was pleased he raised Potter to his Indigny because all else have to be obedient
• When Regulurs stood there was a moment revealing lacerations to James on his legs and James imagined the swift hand movements of his mother as the cuts on his legs
• James makes his way back to his room.
• James does not sleep and it was rare for a nice december morning as he would hear Lily in his chamber
• He went downstairs and threw his hair out of his head.
• Remus was there first, his scarred back to James
• Lily was sitting on him cross legged wearing a pink tank
• James greets lily his voice still caught with sleep
• Lily's nose crinkled as James arrived giving her a smirk
• Then, her tone turned teasing
• ‘Although, Remus mentioned you were back early. Did you even do the rounds properly?'
• A familiar sense of guilt started to dawn back on James
• James decided he would lighten the mood and spoke with a grin
• It’s hard work doing mine and Lily’s duties,’ James said finally, plastering on a grin. ‘Takes a toll on the body, you know?’
• Of course,’ Lily said with exaggerated seriousness, her eyes sparkling. Then, softer, she added, ‘Thanks for doing it.’
• With out warning she would lay a kiss on James without him knowing

Love

• James could pinpoint the moment he fell in love with Lily, when he finally believed in soulmates or fate Lily smiled and waved when they walked to the Gryffindor
• At breakfast James spoke up his mind cleared
• Christ, what are you gonna do when she snogs you?’ ‘When who snogs him?’, Peter asks walking in from the breakfast hall Lily’, Remus replies, ‘He’s gone non verbal on me from just a kiss on the cheek’
• James finally laid down to nap, however his eyes were stuck on the ceiling
• James recalled his mother and what sage advice she would give.
• On Lily. How do you talk to girls you really love and how to tell when they might love you back?
• On Regulus too. How to support when unwarranted. How to be good to someone who had no choice but to be bad How could everyone act so happy
• James heard commotion when he fell asleep
• lily was distraught James went and stood in the corridor and went to Lily

Chaos strikes

• James shot out of bed without the slugishness of sleep, pulling on his red dressing gown and jumping down the spiral concrete steps.
• In the fiery glow of the common room Lily paced back and forth, the small ornate mirror which sat in the corner of the room was horizontal across the floor.
• Lily?'" James said softly, 'You alright?'
• Lily's hair had started greying at the roots, disintegrating in large clumps of ash as she ran her fingers to the ends.
• 1′That ass- that absolute idiot hexed me!", lily cried, 'he shoved me into a wall and hexed me!'
• -What?', James asked confused, 'Who?'
• She stared at her hands which were now coated in the ashy remains of her perfect hair. Her face paled as she realised, eyes widening with disbelief as she collapsed on the couch with an intense stupor.
• 'Whats happened?'," Remus asked, standing tall on the concrete stairs one hand in his hair in boyish sleepyness.
• 'Mate, i dont know - i heard a loud bang and just found her like this', James replied honestly.
• Whats with all this commotion - cant a boy get his beauty sleep', Sirius chimed in standing behind remus.
• You!'", Lily shreiked surging toward him as her hair fell out behind her unceremoniously
• Sirius jumped back, hiding behind remus who in turn had hidden behind James.
• You've brother hexed mel', -Huh?', Sirius asked, pointing to himself innocently. "Mine?' '‘Dont you dare act innocent,’ she snapped, stalking toward him.
• -What did I do?" Sirius asked, his hands raised in mock surrender.
• -You're his brother!'
• Sirius groaned.' Merlins beard, Evans, what do you want me to do? Write him a strongly worded letter?
• -I want you to explain why he’s such an insufferable, entitled brat!" Lily's voice cracked, and she turned away, her hands fluttering uselessly at her sides. Sirius shrugged, clearly unimpressed. 'lt's called growing up in the House of Black. comeswith the territory.'
• Sirius" James said warningly, his gaze flicking to Lily, whose shoulders had begun to shake.
• She moved around the room like a caged bird, crashing into the sofa, and thrashing ber arms to break free from reality.
• 1'iy", James said, gently placing his hands on ber shoulders calmingly, :Hers sit", he continued as be guided ber to the red sofa.
• Why would he do that?", Remus asked Sirius who had perched on the end of the sofa.
• Beats mem", Sirius threw his hands up in frustration, ‘nasty little shit'
• Lily sobbed softly, "1i-I die was tell him to go back to bis dorm" all i -i Passed curfew

The incident with lily and regulus

• James clenched his jaw. He knew all too well Reguluss inclination to resort to hexes at even the slighted provocation. ln the few years James bas known bim, and the even fewer times they had interacted, James bad learned that Regul responded best to gentle guidance and consistent patience.
• And, whilst James loved lily for her unwavering principles, be also knew that Regulus harboured a blatant disregard for student authority and haughtyness. It was entirely a possibility that Lily had expected total compliance from Baby Black, and been caught off guard when be responded irrationally with a bex.
• "Hey, its okay", James said comfortingly, Yadame Promfrey will bave a potion to grow it back, Lils'
• IHer brown doe eyes were red around the edges with the sudden influx of fat, salty tears, 'it won't be the same'," she whispered gently
• ``Course it wi!’, James replied, 'it will be even more beautiful if you ask me'.
• They stared at eachother in the softness of fledgeling devotion as fleeting butterflies flew in circles around James' stomach.
• Was, and ways would be, rare that lily reciprocated public displays of affection. She was far too beadstrong and haughty to be seen to actually fall for aloof, inane James Potter - but to all who could see it was inevibie, it was destiny
• Maybe be needs a taste of his own medicine," Sirius suggested, bis grin sharp.
• 1 ou know, something subtle. eacb him not to mess with our lot.' To bis surprse, abe nodded. 'Im no one beaes and gets away lirtle -to do Im
• ‘but hes Sinus brother Peter reason to, eh,?", Sirius smirked, elbowing James mithcievously

Dorcas

• 
Lily made ber way to Yadawe Promfrey at first ligbt with Dorcas and Yary eagerly comforting ber and equally critisising tbe noble House of black for Regulus bebauiour. Your beautiful bair, il's’, Yary lamented, “do you tbink it will grow back Dproperly?'
• course ib will yar
• Liiys bair id back with a potion, just as James said in time for thursday they plannel there anck on segulus
• Remus bad said and with the mess Sirius will do tbe deed tast too long, or be painful - af most will be embarrassing", Sirius reasoned turning. bis wand in bis ingers.

End of that topic

• Yeah, Plus you Know what be did to liry, James added, equally pilling bis plate with food.
• But.slugs'*, Peter asked softly, leaning closer to the others, what if be
• look, lornba dont get involuedif you’re scared be b needs to be taken down a few, "Sirius said quiedly.
• James’ love for Lily had been growing deeper as tbe days passed, and bias growing resentment for Reguius‘ acons bad become rooted with a deslre for revenge.

Reguluns alone again

• Keguius sat at ibe iberyin cable, aloue. lbis eyes fixed on ibe gentle floating stars on the ceiling with a soft, trance-like mind. tbis igers delicately iracmg tbeedge of bis butter knife.
• at was be ibinlgmg about?. James ibougliras be watcbed bim past ibe crowd of busy edrS,
• Slyberin dso seemed to bc keeping a dose, dari. ese on ibe younget liagi diotbei SeveiUS
• the Marauders‘ encounters with ihc dadedy the for the best, yet lbis presence in iba bad Was dvays lon and it Wan iten lbat somebody would to the darms Mith a bad io tel

Severus arrives

• e ibat Severus was appioaclung thel table, snape bad had on bemus’ sboulcer lbis pale face appearing fiom tbe sdadow of bis bair and bods iihe the iioon bebmd ibe ngbbiime clouds.
• -wbal is ib', Pemus uas ibe tisi ineak snape's cold, dariug and ask.
• 1 bead that regulus id bo lily liosv areyou7 snaped - -

Sirius returns

• beueue bib", Sirius asdcd ben Snape bad retured to the Slyberin cable.
• *1 Say we do', James 12- that we.
• 
ao prank "Simus Sad
• -Snnueus basnt oot friends, Pete’ Sims added indly, think it 1 be 1une'

Simus aas rigbo 1t - was ne. at itst.

Regulus is stalked

• Peter bad morpbed into nis fat, grey ratform and tollowed flegulus irom bis dorm to ibisack 01 books so bigb be could bate seet trem as be
• wasni euilew vet, so tbe ball; Mere sun doned mill! "Mii" :2\‘u1'uu'.g around :dlbougbl" many of ibem bad to to the reipices m iteir
• "251& ibem braee ibe cold 01 ille shone. bigbaeiiinged baliwa-S in decembet

Sirius finds him

• Simus and james bad taken couet bebind one of tbe sbelues shielded by tbe misibihty dod and shouded the candlebt daidness 01 ilie quiet, "2d, S'uu" uoraiy.
• -As regulus entered es glossed over m despondent reverie pie of sooth on he large maboganv cable Now7 Sims ased guietl watching regulus beginto sot trougtzbe Pages 01

Interrogation

• back Was turned uuloowmgl to ihose bebmdbuu, Dis 1111'1ders slumped m mess but bell iiidd by years of eute ttitong.
• Simus bad once lield bitseut in ibe sathe was his auce dnd Dis posute bad Sinec tigbtcned as tbe Weigbt 01 tbe House 01 hlaek Was sunpped .iwav fioin blm Regulus‘ light voice 131011";:1 3:; back 1ni0 be 100m
• hello, it. "ii, be said -
baulv a wbtsper-
• He Ioeit, reucuing out a delidue, d pale bund bwaid Petei, wbo dided under a me" 01 dans 01a tut beulul iet m: bund Iingeut 4 moment beuie
• s face tingeod ith qutet sonuw ibat seemed too raw to belong
• Simms impeiuence snapped fames fiom Dis thoughb 17:1““";00" mumgl bu 11meod uew olf tbe cloak revealing tbem bolb uo ille cum “il, bily
• Simms Said immly, itartung tbe lounger boy auo turued guicklv and "a it t‘wumily tot m" Wind
it seemed Sims too bad bad a cbange oi beari, cbousing to speak beioie bedng

Reguluss turn

• Regulus uihed, "Sou7 be asked slowly tepiaauou iadtug tiom Dsiiaiuies, .uu u replued quicllv 1:iut I" e and d 3’ to tell" 3“i7" uut I" e.
• b is beud uliied quesuoumg as be aiepped imwazd,
i1u"I' 01 you'"i'" "i" aihd' 1’\e 4"e 3d" iiih all ill ol coniusiou .l5 be looed uemeeti tbe :w‘o The gjeal l"17::a115’
• Black cibamplau 01 ube d0wll00dden Mudiuods sueered, hp: cmhng m (oillempl - \nil D5 imibful Sidelcick le", Potter, do you ever do anwbmg "llhoul bit?"

Fight

to do", Sums dsked igoimg bis Comments and stepping uwaid
um be praciaally umeted over bis sruder brotbet". ‘Do what' "Dont play dumb", Situs responded poinung bis finger to reguluse face, “You know what’

• Regulus teclb clencbed as be stared up al Simus ibrougn bis dari eve lasnes. 'l Mas a detaant stare but neitber would bock clown both Were far too 11lhlbbOrll to consider a be, botb equally cared about eachotbet 101 ibe beu

James and Sirius

• James lett beipzesss, cauglit in ibe iuidale of b brotherly Spat.
• I bave no iden arat you are aolng about, lroiberm", legulus Puilted our bis ches. Now go sway"

James and Lil

• "to in James cbiued in, uog coser to tbe couhoibon You need Lo 3"10", 1"1", 1‘9"1" Regulus looked up berused al James" dimosi simpleuinded request. Apology Regulus smiled incredulous. She desenu 0ne”, James answered On :De co"u, regulus remarked, four giriliiend does m: be"3 not James sigbed running bis uugers trougn bis angled, curly biown bair, Hesbe does"
• ilhal Mudoiod desemed what be" go, legulus uumiied bis s were clencbed aud be flood bp bigo bis nose tuned bpwayds iull of detioe, vet lbe wonis be spoke seemed weak

After a fight

w is 12:: brotbe. U1S°llled by the way 13",1:

• Doni Say mal, Regulus said gendly, D0nl Say what you dont mem". Regulus eyes widened bis soft, furrowed brows angeled in coniusiou He seatcbed Simus" eyes beioie sleeping back and inouung I menu ii, She is a uudoiodi be repealed she 19 rude too. Aud coudescending so aooganoir”, Sims usb, voice laced mith souetbilg clone to grief “ You weren't dwavs like tbern Vou loveduggie stotes used catcb vou sneaking Shalspeare boo when you thought n0 one uas looking.’

Sirius is frustrated

11 ‘i’ke Back What 90" Said started iomaid, gtaboing .15 Will bi: long, pale bunds berore 0 . pushing lihn bcknmds mith cuse Regulus bnsieads sumbled buokaaids bis Small tired name morib lie :he agalilsi gmus peune but older inn. But be mas astute .md before uld everu 18",3] 3\ step ionwaid be bud reeneved bis wand irom bis I" his btocbet.. "ao Swzv, Regulus said inari", smoothing out bis robes mith bis iree bund, ot mil you aotogde’

• sinus searcbed Ieguus face tor a sign itm ibe purebiood rbelanc only runs starlice dee" itm1 there is some semblance of goodness mull dlie cote little broihel he ha been in that boule- too long o regul bad been .ilooe in iltal bouts" loo long

Sirius reaches out

4‘ . Please eegie’ Simus .offered - ms vuice thick with emouon, and .com: to b thn Christinas - it will do you good .mwzy .lort whme’.

• 'James heud .snapped toward Sinus. bere the had inlenbed to prank bi teach hln .1 Itssoti bul sinas bad a"‘ettd bit .tbn brancb am sae haven "gulus eyes mdened and his cheeks filled mith a soft colouring of pnk: James ibtnbs be mgb1 be aboul 110 cry bur wben he sbales b5 bea his vulnerable look 18 replaced milt: stutlacel level distrust and ange".
• 4‘, Regulus asked. cannot the bodesnt uud does she’ Sinus tumed to James his tyes in
• lames Said quieldy

James talks

“It's not that it: —you'll die in that house" if you dont leave now’ Srius takes & step tonward,i weanmg mm brother. "m. I lmw that, it is ]lISL* You can share my toom, and We call slay ltp lute 1"3‘ ju5 We Used tolSinus Mas iambmg guickly nov We can be brothers agau"

• as Watcbes as regulUS race twisted mith - wheibal ‘13'"’i‘ii"'1 i’i 3"3’ 114 0
• mes spared a thought for how distinct eacb brotbet that tbeil t be bough IY more simple regulus laee more cauuouily oreutv s a wuey 3.19; ‘W‘uu""'" 1.3 the lase the cast deer sbaclows agamsi lii‘s pae 11i""i.lusiiei Puke beld nune 01 Sinus’ Casv cockv stmks mbeto 'i'" 88 striking 11 the way diew atteuuoo withoul Inmg. dil angular chiei all .md etotuesi magnetism Reguins Was sometbing quuletet, sometbing fine". sometbing alinbsl unbearably oomposed.e,
• I cannot have you bave 514, said cool and unaveritg 1 Want you :11 1:mue been good 16 me Since vou Ieh uugulus detended bail “ ==