Dumbledore’s Office

The start of the following week was full of excited whispers as the third years and higher years were thrilled about the Hogsmeade trip that would be held that upcoming weekend. All the students seemed to be in high spirits except for the Prefects, who all bore dark expressions including Remus Lupin. Lupin poked at his food with dread as Peter Pettigrew stared at his friend with pity and offered him a foil-covered sweet.

"Thanks, Pete," Remus muttered with a genuine, but weary smile as he accepted the foil-wrapped chocolate from his friend.

"Why aren't you excited, Remy?" Sirius asked as he stuffed a mouth full of food into his mouth that had many a pureblood sighing considering this was the firstborn heir of the Black household. That and plenty of pity filled glances were sent Regulus's way, who merely shrugged and mumbled, "He's a Gryffindor," as if that answered everything.

"This year as usual one of the Prefect's of each house has to stay behind to watch over the first and second years," Remus grumbled, before casting James a dark look. "And James asked Lily out already, so naturally I am stuck here while Mary and Lily head off to Hogsmeade."

James sheepishly smiles back at Remus, who only glares back. "Sorry, Moony," James apologetically said, before shooting a glance at Lily, who was seated further down the Gryffindor table. Lily's emerald eyes sparkle as she chats with Mary and Willa causing James's stomach to twist and churn with pain and pleasure.

Wrenching his gaze away, James turns back to Remus, who was still glowering at him. Innocently shrugging, he says, "What about the other Prefect's?"

"I know that Rowan is patrolling in Hogsmeade and Severus is staying at Hogwarts, and last I heard Pandora and Andrew are having a coin toss with the other Prefect of their house to see, who gets to go to Hogsmeade," Remus sighed dejectedly, before taking a bite of food.

Taking a sip of his pumpkin juice, Peter mumbles, "What about you, Sirius? I haven't heard the usual gossip nor rumor mill about your date. Have you truly not asked anyone yet? I mean you're busy being Quidditch Captain and all, but you're not that busy!"

Sirius, who was mid-bite begins to wildly choke as Remus pounds on Sirius's back until Sirius ceases to choke. "Why do you ask?" Sirius stammered as he wiped his face red face clean.

The three Marauder's pointedly stare at the fourth marauder, who only turns even redder. Arching his brow at his handsome friend, Peter dubiously says, "You've always gone to Hogsmeade with a girl, Sirius. So, does she have a sweetheart or is she engaged? Or maybe, she is not giving you the time of day?"

"No, of course not," Sirius snapped. "And it's not like I like her, so there!" Before stomping off in a huff back to the Gryffindor dormitories.

James, Remus, and Peter all just blankly stare at each other as if failing to understand, what had just transpired before them. "So, he must really like her?" Peter muttered out loud in bewilderment.

"I think so, since he got all huffy with us," Remus mumbled back in surprise. "Huh, I wonder, who she is?"

Peter loudly snickers and says, "I bet it's a Ravenclaw. They usually turn him down after one date cause Padfoot can only talk about Quidditch."

Remus chocked at the remark but was unable to refute the statement of his friend. It was tragic but true. And especially to Walburga Black, who was at her wit's end when it came to betrothing her firstborn son.

Seeing that Remus and Peter are both arguing about Sirius's unknown romantic partner, James sneaks away and heads to the Headmaster's office. With dinner in full swing, his departure would largely go unnoticed, and which gave him enough ample time to meet with Dumbledore in private without being seen.

James has been wrestling with the idea ever since he awoke as to whether to contact Dumbledore or not. But finally, he had come to the solemn conclusion that it must be done. Dumbledore had been right all along in requesting to be their secret keeper. And none of the tragic events of that night would have occurred if he and Lily had simply not put their faith in the wrong person, Peter Pettigrew.

Lost in his own thoughts, James walks down the stone corridor leading to the Headmaster's office. A pair of voices and footsteps caused him to abruptly come to a halt. He intently listens and hears a familiar smooth velvet-like voice say, "Well, I suppose it's the thesis paper, isn't it?"

"Yes," snapped a similar female version of the same voice. "Except Dumbledore is trying to bloody drive us crazy!"

A choking sound can be heard as the male voice says, "I doubt it."

"Really?" The female voice scoffed. "We're taking N.E.W.T's and O.W.L.'s in the same year. Not to mention Prefect duties, but we also have to propose two research proposals by the end of next summer as our mastery projects. Tell me, what part of that does not imply a high tense stressful situation!"

There is a short abrupt pause, before the male voice teased, "Are you hungry, Rowan?"

"Yes!" Rowan snapped. "But that's not the point, Severus."

"You always get downright cranky, when you're hungry,' Severus murmured out loud. "Here, I've still got a half-eaten muffin in my pocket." He grabbed the said muffin and offered it to her.

"Thank you," Rowan grumbled as she snatched the offered muffin and stuffed it into her mouth without so much as another word.

"Better?" Severus asked.

"No," Rowan mumbled with a mouthful of food causing Severus to snicker, and Rowan to further lower at her twin.

Severus's lips twitch to hide a smile at his twins his expression. It is difficult to feel intimated when said individual is glaring with a mouthful of food and is still chewing the mouthful. Rowan must have sensed Severus's thoughts because she aloofly cleaned her face of crumbs with her sleeve before they turn the corner to almost bump into someone.

Severus and Rowan hastily step back as the unruly haired dark-haired boy with bright solemn hazel eyes and round glasses says, "Sorry about that."

Blinking both Rowan and Severus exchange pointed glances before Rowan turned to say, "Dinner is that way, Potter. I should think you'd know that by now regardless of any memory loss."

It would seem that they were at an impasse. And James did not believe despite his blooming friendship with Severus and the rest of the Marauders that he would be permitted to continue without so much as an explanation. They were the Slytherin Prefect's after all…...