{1} The Marauders and the Whomping Willow ✔️

Chapter 13: Regulus's Revelation

"So we're tailing Lucius?" asked James.

The four boys were sitting by the lake with Peter skipping stones. It was a few weeks before Christmas break and they had just gotten out of their final detention. 

"Yeah." said Remus. "Though we can't be too sure. There aren't many people with limps in this school but a limp can also be very easy to disguise. Dad showed me how to do it when I broke my leg after a...after I fell off a bike."

"We could try getting a look at his wand." suggested Sirius. "Ollivander said every wand is unique."

"That's actually not a bad idea." said Remus.

"What's kind of scary is that we still don't know what he's trying to do or why he wears a mask." said Peter.

Remus frowned. "He hasn't done much from what we've seen. Too bad none of us can stay behind for the Christmas break."

There was a disgruntled noise of agreement.

"Speaking of Christmas..." started James. "Mum wants to know if you and your families can come over for Christmas Dinner."

"I'm in!" said Peter.

"I'll have to ask." said Remus. "But I think I can."

"I'm not sure about my parents." said Sirius a plan already racing through his mind. "But can I bring my little brother Reg?"

He didn't want leave his brother to his parents. Never again. But he knew that wasn't entirely possible.

"Yeah sure he can." replied James.

"Sweet." said Sirus leaning back against a tree. His sleefs ruffled and rolled up, his tie loose, a lazy grin splayed across his face. James noticed with his own smile that the posh refinement that had been so characteristic of his at the beginning was slowly ebbing away and he seemed much more relaxed about almost everything.

"Say you know Lily's a mudblood." said Sirius.

Remus winced while James tensed. Peter had stopped skipping stones.

"Please don't say that." pleaded James.

"What? Mud-"

"Yes that word don't say it!"

"Why?"

He wasn't being insolent James realised. Sirius genuinely didn't know.

"It's like if I called Kingsley the n-word." explained Remus. "It's racist right? Sames goes for that word."

They hate me. Thought Sirius. 

"Sorry I didn't..." there were tears in his eyes now. "Mum and Dad use it all the time. I didn't realise it was that bad."

Peter was the first to break the stunned silence by shrugging and saying.

"Mum says we all make mistakes."

Briefly Remus wondered if he admitted to his...condition, if they'd accept it just as easily. 

"I didn't know she was muggleborn." prompted James. "How did you find out?"

"She was talking to Dorcas about it." said Sirius. "And apparently Snivellus is a half-blood." 

"So much for his pureblooded nonsense" scoffed Remus picking at the grass beneath him. "Though I thought only pure bloods got into Slytherin."

"Those with cunning and ambition get in." said Sirius, the words that had branded within him during childhood falling easily from his tongue. "Honestly they are just a bunch of pricks, I'm glad I'm in Gryffindor."