012. may 1976.

May 19, 1976 — afternoon.
Hogwarts, Scotland
Corridor of the Transfiguration Courtyard


Remus has arranged a study session for their OWLs this afternoon, while they've all got a spare period.

"We'll meet at the Transfiguration courtyard," he said. "We've got loads to do."

Sirius whined, saying something about him doing his best studying the night before a big final, and James concurred with the sort of enthusiasm that Peter usually sported.

Peter looked from James to Sirius, then shook his head.

"I need it," he said a bit hopelessly. "I could really use the extra studying time."

So, it was done.

Except the other three are late and James is left without a single Snitch or ink rubber-stopper to play with in the meantime. All he can do is watch idly as other students pass by every now and then, some pausing to wave at him, others calling out a friendly, "All right, Potter?" before heading to classes.

It's after a few excruciating moments that the sound of shuffling in the nearby hall gets James to his feet, but then he hears their voices and he knows it isn't his friends.

Regulus Black and Severus Snape emerge, looking to be deep in conversation. They are like one conjoined gloom-cloud, with sheets of far-too-long, greasy hair to share between them. Snape's nose sticks out like a sail. And Regulus, for all his physical similarities to Sirius, looks severe and (honestly) a bit sallow.

They don't even notice anyone else around them, because James' repulsed scowl, as far as he's concerned, is pretty effing hard to miss.

"— the likes of what you did," Regulus says, "it's disgusting."

"It was just a joke."

"Oh, not that. No, that was funny," he says with a laugh. "The Silencing Charm was a nice touch."

James tenses, slowly slinking back behind the door by the corridor entrance. A Gryffindor in plain sight may deter them from further conversation if they notice him. And he wants to hear this; Remus' version of the events had been far too ... brief.

"Thank you," says Snape.

James is pretty sure he can hear pride in his voice, and suddenly wants nothing more than to hex him with a Silencing Charm right now.

"But your intentions. What were you thinking? Acting the 'hero' like some ... Gryffindor." Regulus practically spits the word out, like it's beneath him. "You know, you hang around that Mudblood any more, people are going to start to wonder about you."

Snape lets out a far too indignant snort. "I am not —"

"You're a Slytherin, Severus," Regulus interrupts, waving a hand to silence him. "Or have you forgotten where the Hat Sorted you?"

"I know my place," Snape says with a certain amount of conviction.

"Besides, what exactly do you see in her? She comes from filth. She's worth nothing. And the way you follow her around, like that Potter does. It's a bit pathetic."

"Potter?" Snape scoffs, his usually narrow eyes widening like a bug's.

James' hands tighten into fists at his sides.

"You know, Potter and my brother could have had it all," Regulus goes on with an air of superiority that grates on every single one of James' nerves. "Good family, pure blood, but instead they decide to consort with blood-traitors and rubbish. They're a disgrace to our kind. And you would do well to remember that, lest you become like them. My family have practically disowned him, my brother. Maybe he can take the name 'Evans' or 'Potter'."

He starts to laugh.

"You bloody — fucking —" Before James is aware of it, he's launched himself at Regulus Black, forcing him back against the large concrete pillar behind him.

"Potter," Regulus says, a small smile reaching his lips. But in his eyes — oh, James can see the flash of panic in them. "A pleasant surprise."

"Yeah. Fucking pleasant."

"So, I take it you heard everything?" His smile is a little more certain now. Daring. Like, 'Oh, you wouldn't actually hurt your best mate's younger brother, would you?'

James wants to wipe that smile off his smug, revolting face.

Snape takes several careful steps back as James balls his hand into a fist and swings it at Regulus' face. The first punch does nothing but bruise the other boy's cheek, a satisfying red welt blossoming against his pallid skin. The second one, however, meets Regulus' nose. But the sudden crunch of cartilage and bone, and the sound of Regulus' surprised and painful cry are not enough to draw him back to reality.

James aims another punch for his face, but someone quickly grabs him from behind. Several someones, in fact.

"James!"

Regulus sags to the ground.

"Come on, Prongs. Let's go."

James recognizes Remus to his left, holding him back. Peter grips him to his right.

No, it's not over. This is no where near over.

"You're the fucking disgrace to the Wizarding World!" James shouts. He notes Snape stepping forward again to help Regulus up. "And you — how could you do nothing while Gibbon —"

He wrestles against Remus and Peter, wanting to get a good punch or five at Snape. "Oy, let go of me!"

"James," Remus says far more sternly than he's ever heard him speak to him before. James stops struggling. "Come on. Let's go before McGonagall wonders what's going on out here."

As they half-drag him out, their grips on either side of him firm, James spares a glance over his shoulder.

Snape stares at him, while Regulus winces in pain, his expression unreadable.

But the hatred in his dark eyes is very clear.