THIRD PERSON POV 

The common room was mostly empty during midnight. The fire was out, windows shut with the curtains drawn closely. Everyone was asleep, well mostly everyone. 

The area near the  couch was lighted dimly with the glow of a burning candle. The silhouette of a person glowed lightly under it's light. The sound of turning pages echoed every few minutes with the light tapping of foot on the ground. 

"You're awake" The voice caused Briony's attention to snape as she looked at the source of the voice. "Oh.... hey" She muttered softly offering a small smile. 

"What are you doing?" Sirius asked taking a seat beside her on the couch. "Just going through potions notes, there's a test this week" Briony replied skimming through the contents of the page. 

"There's a test?" Sirius asked, his brows shooting up in surprise. 

"It was literally announced in the last class sirius" She said not looking up from her notes. 

"I wasn't there in the last class" He said shifting a bit closer to take a look at her the notebook in her hand. 

"What? I saw you entering the class and sitting with James on the last seat" She said looking up at him only to find him closer than before, their faces inches apart. 

"Full moon, we left few minutes after the class started" He mumbled staring into her eyes. 

The light from the candle illuminated her face in a way Sirius had never seen before. Her brown eyes shined, almost turning into a shade of golden, glistening with brightness and glowing with happiness. Oh how he could sit and stare at her eyes for hours, drowning in the depths of the golden hue. 

Briony felt his gaze, the unwavering grey eyes gazing straight into hers. Her eyes flicker over his face coming to stop over his lips. Sirius noticed this, of course he did. Their faces involuntarily inched forward until their breaths fanned each others face and their nose almost touched lightly, as if testing the thread of patience and modesty. 

Sirius titled his face, his hands moving to cup her face...

"PADFOOT? ARE YOU THERE?" 

Their bodies  jerked back, scrambling away from each other until they hit the far end of the couch with maximum distance between them. 

"Hey there you- wait, what are you two doing here alone?" James asked groggily, clearly indicating that he just woke up from sleep. He walked towards them ruffling his already messy hairs and dropped on the couch opposite to them. 

"Where are your glasses James?" Briony asked as she saw him rubbing his eyes sleepily. "I didn't wear them, for your kind information, my eyesight is not as bad as my son, I can perfectly see without them too" He said now sitting with his full attention on them. 

"Yeah, say that to when you bumped into a wall after coming from shower yesterday" Sirius snickered as James scowled at him. 

"What are you two even doing this late?" He asked, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. "Studying" Briony replied, showing up her notes. 

"I just came, couldn't sleep" Sirius shrugged. 

"Ohhhh" James mumbled his eyes dropping lazily and in no less than a minute he dozed off on the couch, snoring softly as he his head lolled to the side. 

Briony's brows furrowed as she gaped at him. He slept? On the couch? Oh merlin, why did he even come down if he had to sleep? He could continue sleeping in his dorm, why did he had to come and interrupt them? Oh good gracious James Potter. 

"The whole day they stick on each other like some newly married couple in their honeymoon phase and when at night she finally gets some time with him, he comes and interrupts them and then sleep like nothing happened. He should get married to him already" She thought in her mind annoyed before shaking her head and focusing back on her notes. 

Sirius having noticed her reactions and expressions , chuckled softly and shook his head, his dark eyes gleaming with mischief. 

He reached forward and held her left hand forcing her to look at him with a frown, still annoyed with the previous disruption. 

Then with a small smirk adorning his face, he pulled her towards him in a quick motion, his hands wrapping around her waist and his lips capturing hers. 

This kiss was nothing like their first, there wasn't any hesitation, no embarrassment, no nervousness. 

This kiss was fierce, sweet and unapologetically real. It carried years of stolen glances, unspoken concern, and the quiet, relentless protectiveness. Everything they'd never said was there, pressed into the way they held each other. 

It tasted like love- the kind Sirius Black had never known how to give gently. 

His grip tightened around her waist, grounding, possessive, as if daring anyone to try and take her from him now. His other hand cupped her face gently, his tumbh softly caressing her cheeks.

Briony's breath hitched against his lips. 

For a heartbeat, she forgot how to move - forgot the world beyond the warmth of his hands. Her fingers tightened at the fabric of his shirt, her knuckles brushing his collarbone as if anchoring herself to the moment. 

"So much for studying eh?" 

Sirius groaned breaking the kiss while resting his forehead against hers, both of them breathing hard. Meanwhile James sat with his legs propped on top of the other, both of his hands joint at the back of his head, as he leaned against the couch in a relaxed position with a huge grin plastered on his face, enjoying the moment in front of him. 

"Weren't you sleeping" Briony mumbled, her cheeks red in embarrassment as she tried-and failed- to put some distances between them, Sirius' hand refusing to let go of her waist. 

"I knew what you two were upto, I am not an idiot" James replied rolling his eyes. "And you thought spying on us would be a better idea?" Briony retorted glaring at him to which he just shrugged as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. 

"But.... I'll just say, please refrain from bringing Adalyn early in this world, you know she and harry are going to marry....so for the sake of it" He snickered as Briony got up in a flash and threw a cushion at him. "James f*cking Potter, I am going to kill you" She screeched as the boy just laughed wiping the fake tears from his face. 

"At least wait for your son-in law to be born, besides Voldemort does your work" He said waving his hand as Briony gaped at his statement and looked as if he just murdered her pet cat. 

"Stop being influenced from Sirius, oh for Merlin's sake I can't deal with you two" Briony said holding her head while pacing in the common room.

"What's happening here?" A new voice came from the staircase as the three turned to look at the person. 

"Lily flower" If James was grinning widely before, his smile had somehow became more wide at the sight of her. 

"What are you all doing?" Lily asked walking towards them while eyeing each of them suspiciously. 

"Bry and Padfoot wer-"

"Look what your boyfriend was saying a minute ago" Briony said cutting him off while her eyes shooted daggers at him. 

"What?" Lily asked turning to look at James, but oh she wish she hadn't, because currently James was looking like the definition 'hot'. His hairs flying in every direction, his red t-shirt fitting perfectly at his biceps and waist, and oh his quidditch sculpted body. 

God should kill her right now, because why does she gets turned on whenever she sees him without his glasses? Is that even a thing? 

 Maybe in the last six years, James should have asked her out without his glasses on, she would have maybe said yes in a state of haze. 

"I know my best friend looks like a hot meal, but maybe not drool over him in front of us Evans" Sirius' voice brought her out of her sluggishness as she blinked rapidly and turned to look at him. 

"I wasn't staring at him, I was waiting for his answer" Lily said trying to cover up for her previous actions. 

"Relax Lilypad, I wasn't saying anything" James sighed scooting away signalling Lily to take a seat beside him.  

"Sure" Briony grumbled rolling her eyes. 

"What were you all doing?" Lily asked leaning forward with her elbow braced on her knees, chin resting on her hand. 

"Me and Padfoot were making out" James said causing the three to turn and look at him blankly. 

A few seconds went in silence as James blinked looking at them, "I framed it wrong didn't I?" He mumbled as Sirius snickered shaking his head. 

Lily and Briony looked at each other and rolled their eyes simultaneously. 

"Let's go and sleep bry, let them continue with their makeout session" Lily scoffed as James pouted looking at her with puppy eyes. "I framed it wrong lily flower, me and padfoot weren't making out, pad-"

"Have you studied for the potions test?" Briony said cutting off James in between as he frowned at her. 

"I was saying som-"

"Oh f*ck, I completely forgot about it" Lily said her eyes widening in panic and surprise. '

"We'll fail together" Sirius shrugged looking at them as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.  

"No we won't" Lily and Briony snapped looking at him with narrowed eyes causing him to raise his hands in surrender, "Ohk we won't, Me and Prongs will" He said looking at James who rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. 

"Actually, I kinda knew about the test so I studied before" He mumbled as the three of them stared at him as if he just admitted that slytherin has a better quidditch team than gryffindor. 

"I'm leaving, this person here is under polyjuice potion, I'm pretty sure it's a death eater" Sirius said getting up from the couch while eyeing the boy warily. 

"After reading about this moody's case, even I have my doubts now" Briony said staring at James though her lips twitched upwards after seeing the boy's expression. 

"Wow, so now you've declared me as a death eater, might as well call pettigrew to get the details" James scoffed leaning back against the couch. 

"James" Lily hissed eyeing him, her eyes flashing in warning. 

 Sirius eyes suddenly lost the sparks of mischief and fun he had, the small smirk falling off from his face.

"I'm going to bed" He mumbled turning over his heels ready to ascend the stairs but was stopped by the firm hold on his wrist. 

(A/N You all can listen to Back to friends, and sailor.... just to get the vibe, don't go to the lyrics, it's not relatable. I listened to these two songs while writing the next part)

"Padfoot" James voice rang out in his ears as he clenched his jaw, staring at the wall in front of him. 

"These books" James started with a deep sigh staring at the back of his head, "They sent these books for us to know what happens and change it. I don't know how it will happen, even if it will happen or not, I don't know what happens if the future changes, we have no idea padfoot, but at least we can try. We can try to talk an-"

"Go talk to Lucius Malfoy and Barty crouch jr then" He turned around, his grey eyes blazing fire as he looked in his eyes. "If you want to change the future, go talk to barty crouch and tell him there's no need to polyjuice himself as Moody and bring that killer back" He said through gritted teeth. 

"Padfoot you need to understand, the sole purpose of reading these books is to amend and make our future better, we have to talk to peter, we can't leave him alone, yes I know we won't be able to trust him completely now, but that doesn't mean-"

"It means everything, I won't ever trust him again, I won't ever talk to him again, TO HELL WITH IT. I DON'T EVEN WANT TO SEE HIS FACE AGAIN" Breath came in short gasps for him as he stared at James, his hands shaking in anger and resentment. 

The common room held it's breath, the sound of the ticking clock as if dimmed on it's own. The small bright light coming from the candle flickered nervously. Lily and Briony scrambled to stand together, holding each other's hand, eyeing the two boys in panic. 

"Don't shout padfoot" James said, his own eyes twitching in irritation and annoyance at the lack of his understanding . 

"What do you even want to do with him? Do you even remember what he did? Do yo-"

"I think I clearly remember who was the reason behind my death Padfoot" James said, his voice oddly calm, his hands firmly holding hid. 

"Then why the f*ck do you want to walk straight to your death?" Sirius gritted his teeth inching his face closer to his. 

"I am not walking straight to my death padfoot, I am walking on the path of trying. Trying to prevent it, trying to prevent what will happen-"

"HE F*CKING KILLED YOU, YOU GETTING THAT SH!T IN YOUR HEAD OR NOT? HE F*CKING RUINED OUR CHILDRENS LIVES. BECAUSE OF HIM I WAS TWELVE YEARS IN AZKABAN. DO YOU GET THAT OR NOT?" He shouted, chest heaving in anger as his palms fisted tightly. 

There was sound of footsteps coming downstairs causing Briony to glance at the staircase nervously. What if it was some student coming down? What if they heard them shouting and fighting? 

"What's happening here? Why are you both shouting?" Remus stood at the end of the stairs, looking as if he sprang out of the bed in hurry and panic. Peter stood behind him, looking at James and Sirius standing there, facing each other or more like glaring at each other. 

"And why don't you get it? We have to stop all of that from happening-"

"And how do you guess you'll stop it? What didn't we do for him? Where did I lack in my friendship with him? If he has already decided you can't stop him prongs, you can't stop him from being a death eater-"

"HE'S NOT A DEATH EATER SIRIUS, SHUT UP!" James roared, the hold on sirius hand turning bruisingly tight. Peter standing near them, flinched at his voice looking at them fearfully. Are they fighting because of him? Is this what's happening here? And....and... is, he gulped looking at James, his eyes shaking in fear and nervousness. Is James defending him? 

"He will be. If not today then one day" Sirius said under his breath. 

"Then we'll save him, if he has to become a death eater today, we won't let him, if he has to become a death eater tomorrow, we won't let him, we'll save him" James said, speaking each word slowly and pausing to mark it's  weight. 

" Do you even know if he wants to be saved? Do you even know if he truly wants to be with you? How do you know he doesn't wants to be with them? Why do you even need to save him?" Sirius said, his voice hollow of all the emotions. 

James paused and looked at him, really looked and broke out in a humorous laugh. "So that's what we've come to. Friendship of seven years, you treated him as your brother and now you don't feel the need to save him? You feel he's not one of us? You feel he wants to be a death eater? How do you know that Sirius? You want to discard him now?" James said and before Sirius could reply or say anything in his defense,

"Well, you belong to that family after all" 

He shouldn't have said that. No matter if he felt Sirius was wrong or not understanding him, but he shouldn't have said that. 

Lily and Briony gasped looking at James with their eyes wide in horror, his family was a sensitive topic for him, and if James had only used it against him.... 

Remus stood, his hands suddenly freezing on the wall, his breath hitching in his throat. Oh f*ck no. 

Peter's leg slipped on the stair from the shock of what unfolded in front of him as he stood  with his mouth agape,  James Potter taunting Sirius Black for his family? Impossible, not at all. He couldn't believe his ears. It felt like he was having a dream of a parallel universe. Because James Potter would cut his tongue before saying any of that to Sirius. 

And James realized what he said. The moment the words were out, his heart stammered wildly against his ribs. His mouth went dry as he felt thorns growing in his neck. Oh for merlin's sake, what the f*ck is wrong with him? Why the f*ck did he say that? He didn't mean to, he doesn't even consider those wretches as Sirius family. It's him, he's his best friend's family. But he said that, out of spite, in the heat of the moment. But it doesn't justify for what he said.

"Right" Sirius voice brought everyone out of their thought as James looked, his eyes already filling with guilty tears. "Pa-"

"It's getting late" And with a sharp tug, he pulled his his hand out his grasp and calmly walked outside the common room, as if he was going to the great hall for morning breakfast. 

The room was silent. Pin drop silence. The ragged sound of their breaths was the only sound that echoed in their ears. 

James stood in the centre of the room, his hands trembling, the floor blurring due to the tears filled in his eyes as his own cruel words rang in his mind. 'you belong to that family afterall' 
No he doesn't. Sirius Black belongs to James Potter, he doesn't belong to anyone else. Not those f*ckers who don't even consider him human let alone family. 

He took heavy steps towards the staircase, and ascended them without sparing a glance at anyone else. What will everyone think? That James Potter, who protected Sirius Black from everyone else, now stabbed him himself ? 

Lily and Briony shared a wary glance, not knowing what to do at the moment.

"Should I go behind him?" Lily whispered, her breath shaky as if breathing loudly would break something unsaid in the room. "I don't know lils, they'll want to be alone right now" 

The walk down the corridor should have been peaceful, he should be able to block out the voices with the cold wind slapping his face painfully. But it felt as if he's gotten numb to the physical pain, the only thing echoing in his mind were his words. 

He didn't mean it. Sirius Black knew the hell would freeze but James Potter would never mean those words. A few words from his mouth won't be enough to make him angry or hate James. But..... it doesn't mean it didn't sting. It doesn't hide the fact that all he could hear was his voice, that slight taunting voice with his eyes narrowed as if accusing of him being like them. Rotten. Cruel. Mad. Evil. 

He took a sharp breath, the coldness seeping into his bones and still doing nothing about the fact that his bestfriend, even in anger, had compared him to his family. He wished for it to be a dream. A nightmare he wished to be washed out of his brain completely. Maybe someone should obliviate him, so it'll make it less painful. 

He's used to it. Hearing other people's taunts, how they talk behind him, hell, how they spat those cruel words to his face too. But it doesn't bother him, a stroll in the corridor at night, and he forgets all about the day. But it wasn't the same case today. 

His breath shuddered as he leaned against the huge window at the end of the corridor, staring blankly at the half moon shining light all over the darkened sky. His friends were like the moon. Shining light in his dark, cruel world. 

"Never thought we'll see Black being so philosophical about a moon" A voice said, but it wasn't the voice from his mind .. no.. it was a new one. Somewhere from behind him. Slowly he turned  and saw Avery, Mulciber and one of their minions he didn't recognize. 

"Look at the way he's staring at the moon. In love with the moon Black? Is someone waiting for you there? Because sure as hell no one does on the earth" Avery snickered along with his friend as Sirius slowly turned away from them, going back to stare at the moon. He had no energy, nor the mood to entertain these jokers, who get bored out of their mind suddenly and come to him for free entertainment. 

"Oh now you have the guts to ignore us Black?" Mulciber sneered grabbing the collar of his jacket and tugging him forward harshly, causing him to almost trip on his own feet. 

If it was any other day, he would have dig three graves on the spot for these f*ckers for even touching him with their filthy hands, but today, he was not in his mind. So he stared at them blankly, his grey staring at the far long corridor behind them, as his hand lay limp beside him. 

"What happened Black? Don't have the courage to face us? Oh wait, avery look, he doesn't have his chicks with him, that's why he's a scardy cat" The laugh that echoes in the corridor was cruel, mocking and drumming in Sirius ears. 

"So that's why he's so silent today, where are they Black? Oh wait, did they finally realize what a piece of trash you are and finally threw you out?" Avery said snickering, high fiving the other. 

If it was any other day, he would have brush past them with a wave of his wand. But today, the taunt lingered like a painful reminder of what happened a few minutes ago. Was it really the case? No, no it wasn't. But.... he said those words, that means, at some corner of his mind he still thinks that he's just like them. 

"What's happening here?" A sharp voice rang in the corridor as the three slytherin stopped with their mocking laughter and turned to the new source of voice. 

"Oh dear Regulus, look what we've got. Your big brother without those chicks following him, looks like they finally knew their worth and left him behind" Mulciber crackled looking at Regulus whose eyes snapped to the hands on the collar of his brother and how he stood still and blank in their hold. 

"Get those hands off and leave Mulciber" He sneered talking long strides towards them, his wand clutched tightly in his hands. 

"Don't spoil the fun Regulus, come join us, try to take some stress out" Avery said, lazily waving his wand between his fingers. "Should I go with the first?" Mulciber smirked, his wand pressed to  Sirius neck painfully . 

He didn't had his wand with him, it was in his dorm. He didn't feel the need of taking his wand just to the common room. But, maybe he should have. 

Before he could utter a spell, the wands was snatched from his hand. 

"Fifteen points from slytherin for being out of bed during curfew, now run along before it becomes fifty with a detention" Regulus said now standing in between them, his grey icy eyes shooting daggers at the three of them. 

"Protecting him now Regulus?" Avery sneered staring at Sirius loathingly, his palms fisting into a ball.

"Twenty points" Regulus said, looking at him sharpy, causing his jaw to set firm as he turned and walked away with the other two, their shoes squeaking purposely. 

The corridor turned silent as the three disappeared round the turn, leaving the two standing alone. 

Regulus turned sharply and looked at him in the eye. "What are you doing?" He said, his voice barely above a whisper. 

Sirius didn't answer, rather he sighed shaking his head brushing past him to the path he just came from. But before he could take a step further away from him, Regulus hand shot out to claps his wrist firmly. It was the same one James held in a bruising grip minutes ago. He hissed slightly at the contact, his finger recoiling as he closed his eyes for a second. 

Regulus noticed this, oh he noticed everything about his brother. His grip loosened as his gaze went to the slightly red marks on his wrist, causing his eyes to narrowt at his face. 

"Who did this?" He asked, his voice a low grumble. "How does that matter?" That was the first few words that came out in rasped voice as Sirius stared at the ground. 

He let go of his wrist as if the touch suddenly burned him. "Of course, it never did , did it?" Regulus answered in the same rasped tone now looking away from him and towards the same moon he was staring a few minutes back. 

Then Sirius did something that shocked the younger boy to the core, his body went rigid as he froze, his eyes blown wide as he felt his brother's forehead coming to rest lightly on his shoulder.

"I think I get what James was trying to say" Sirius whispered his hands gripping regulus left arm- the one which held the dark mark- lightly, as if anchoring both of them out of the situation of the wizarding world. 

Regulus breath hitched as he felt his hold on his hand. He wanted to jerk back his hand and shout at him, to scream and push him away, that he shouldn't do this, not after years of staying silent and ignorant to each other. 

But he couldn't.. he couldn't push back the warmth he was craving for six years. He couldn't scream at the face he wanted to cry in front of. He couldn't jerk back from the hold he wanted to be in for years. 

(I am crying... these siblings always make me cry) 

He shouldn't do what he's about to do, he'll regret it, he'll be ashamed of himself for doing this. But the human emotions when suppressed for a long time, blow out with such a force sometimes that it shakes the person to their core. 

He lifted his right hand to remove his hold on his hand. 

Don't do this. Don't do this. Please don't do this. 

The voice chanted inside the slytherin's head, begging him to stop, begging him to stop making it worse. 

Sirius lifted his head sensing the hesitation in his body, but before he could move away from the younger boy, the heavy weight of something crashing into him sent him tumbling two steps back before he supported himself. 

His hand stayed limp at his sides for a few seconds as he comprehended what happened. His eyes shook before he stared down at the mop of black hair resting against his neck. He was always an inch or two taller than him. 

Regulus had his arms wrapped around his torso in a tight grip, that letting go wasn't even an option for the moment. His face was hidden in the crook of his neck, his body pressed into his trying to hide from the world. Sirius hands shook, his legs trembled as if he would fall down any second. He breathed in the scnet of him, it was the same. Same as six years ago when they would run away to their secret room and cuddle each other to sleep. 

His hands, as if afraid he would break the hug any second, tightly wrapped around his waist and the other coming to rest at the back of his head. His eyes closed as he rested his cheeks against his head, the memories of the summer breaking in. The mark, the news of him getting the mark and-

"I hate you" Regulus voice was muffled but he heard it loud and clear causing a broken chuckle to break out his lips. 

They stood there in each other's embrace for what felt like hours, before Regulus loosened his grip and lifted his head to stare at him. "You're crying" He whispered staring at the slow drops of tears tracing their way on his cheeks. 

"Shut up" Sirius mumbled but he made no effort of wiping the wet streaks off his face. 

Regulus lifted his hands as his tremblings fingers gently brushed of his cheek. Oh he's so going to drown in embarrassment and self loath the morning for doing this, but for now, it doesn't matter. The morning is in a long way. 

Sirius eyes opened slowly as he stared at him, his grey eyes meeting another pair of identical orbs, which were drowning the ocean of his tears which refused to drop down. 

"Ouch! What a crybaby" Sirius whispered in a tone that was to tease him, just like how they used to when they were kids. 

Regulus narrowed his eyes at him causing the tears to finally spill on his cheeks, "You were crying before me" He said, his hand retreating from his face and fisting into a ball beside him. 

"Crybaby's brother is naturally a crybaby" Sirius snickered slightly as if he cracked the joke of the century. Even Regulus lips twitched a bit, which was not exactly a smile but close to it. 

"Go back Reg, to the people who actually cared for you and stood beside you in your difficult time. I am just a coward, I just know how to run" He whispered taking a few steps back from him. 

"Then don't run" A broken voice, that's what Sirius heard from his brother who lightly grabbed the sleeves of his jacket, causing his jaw to tremble. "I'll always be there, in the shadows, you just have to turn off the light to find me" He said, his hand moving to the back of the younger's boy neck and joining their heads together. 

"There's no light in the world Sirius, it's already too dark. Maybe you're in the light, shining brightly and just thinking that you're part of the shadows" He whispered, his eyes closed, not wanting the moment to ever end. 

"You aren't trying to find me then Reg, you've already believed that I'm in the light and stopped looking out for me" Sirius whispered, his hand travelling to his hair and ruffling them harshly making it stand out in all directions. 

"Not my hairs Sirius" Regulus said breaking out the contact and glaring at him causing Sirius to chuckle, "You're speaking like Adalyn" Sirius spoke causing a small smile, that was barely there, to grace his face. 

"Good night Sirius, have a nice sleep" Regulus said and walked out of the corridor before he would finally break down in front of him. 

Meanwhile Sirius stood there staring at the corridor, with a ghost of smile present on his face.