I paced down the hallway quickly, knowing that at any moment that I could be caught by Filch and his pesky little demonic cat. As harsh as it is, that cat being dead in the future saved a lot of hassle.

I came to a halt in front of the library, knowing that if I were caught in the next few moments then I would be expelled. I carefully pulled open the heavy wooden door, too paranoid to use Lumos to light the way.

"Fucking hell Lupin, get in already," a voice growled at me, sending shocks down my spine.

"Fucking hell Black, get over it and stand there patiently whilst I assess the situation."

"We're going to a secret party in the library, not fucking burning down the castle," he snapped, shoving me forward through the entrance.

I stumbled through the doorway on brown ankle boots, catching my footing with assistance from a sniggering Regulus.

"You're so mean to me," I pouted in the dark, no longer feeling suspenseful.

"You don't want to see mean, Sunshine."

"Aye Black!" Someone shouted over the pounding bass, walking over to us slowly with two cups clutched in his hands.

"Flint," Regulus acknowledges, any previous hint of a genuine smile disappearing.

"Didn't think that you were going to make it," the captain of the Slytherin Quidditch team hummed, looking over at me in appraisal. "Looking good, Lupin."

Regulus grinned coldly at him, taking the drinks from him with mumbled thanks. "See you around," he nodded, subtly dismissing him.

He watched Flint strut off in amusement, waiting for him to gain a fair distance before pouring the drinks in a potted plant near the window.

I shot him a questioning look only for him to reply with a shrug, shoving his hands into the pockets of his dark blue jeans, replying, "they were spiked."

"Oh," I mumbled out, feeling stupid for not noticing.

"I only knew because I overheard him joking about it in the common room earlier," he smiled softly, seeming to know exactly what I was thinking. "How about we go get a drink, yeah?"

--

Tuesday morning and my head was killing me.

Who has a party Monday night? Fucking Slytherins that's who.

I sat at the table with James, Sirius and Remus, as awkward as it was. According to Miss Trelwaney, we are unable to move seats now that she has gotten a good feeling from the classroom.

If only I could get high before every class as well.

I noticed that James had yet to sit down, chatting with Peter over at his table across the room. Not that I minded, the less time spent with him the better.

Peter.

Should I still do anything about him? With James and I no longer together, Harry will not be born so we won't die and Sirius won't be sent to Azkaban. Hopefully.

He still was a rat though, no amount of love or mercy would change that.

"Lilah?" A voice broke me out of my thoughts.

I turned my head to face a remorseful looking Sirius, also feeling guilty that I had caused him so many issues even though he was against the legilimency in the first place.

"Yeah?" I replied softly, yet to break eye contact with the man who had done so much to help me in the past. The man that was once also in love with me.

"I didn't mean to come off as a selfish brat the other week, I'm really sorry about that. I'm also sorry that I didn't tell you about James' idea, I guess I just didn't want to hurt you."

And that there I guess was truly the difference between the two brothers – Sirius wanted to protect me from the truth, to hide me away from reality. But Regulus, Regulus was blunt about it, not protecting me from it but rather the effects of it. He let me stand on my own two feet, supporting me in the decisions that I make regarding it rather than choosing for me and assuming that he knows best.

"I forgive you, Sirius, I really do, but things can't go back to the way they used to be. I hope you know that." I smile softly at him, reaching across the table, grasping his hand in sign of forgiveness and comfort.

"I know," he breathed out with a laugh, "I think my brother would kill me if I tried to patch things up with you and James." He shot a look over my shoulder, smirking at a glaring Regulus. "I really don't know how you stand him and the rest of the snakes."

I withdrew my hand, mustering up my best Regulus glare that he had attempted to teach me over the months, "This isn't going to work if you continue to insult my friends and he really isn't that bad, not with me anyway."

Sirius nodded in acknowledgement to my comment, choosing to let the topic drop rather than continue to antagonise me.

I could still feel Regulus' piercing eyes watching me, assessing my body language in case I was uncomfortable in the presence of his brother. Assessing if I had 'succumbed to my pesky emotions'. Sometimes he really was a git.

But he was my git.

I don't think that I could pinpoint exactly when our friendship changed and evolved into something more, something that was a little, or perhaps a lot, more than just friends.

I don't think that he could tell you either.

He never brought it up though, content to stay where we are, for now, allowing me to breathe and take my time to fully get over James. He wasn't forceful or demanding, just accepting that some things take time and he was alright with that.

I could feel the moment that Regulus' eyes shifted away from me, an unusual action that left me feeling cold and tense.

"Fucking hell," I heard him mutter, as did those in his surrounds, their attention snapping towards the doorway.

"Hello, Sweetheart," a familiar voice greeted, sliding into James' vacant chair next to me.

Chocolate brown eyes clashed with malicious blue, a wicked smirk tugging at his lips, impeccable blue tie hanging from his neck.

"Nicholas."