The Society of the White Rose

31 October 1975

Severus muttered several hexes under his breath as he warded the door to the empty classroom. He wasn't about to risk someone finding this place while they were using it. Turning around, he let his coal black eyes sweep over the other three in the room. Perched on the edge of a desk, his feet planted on a chair, was Regulus Black. To Regulus's right was his cousin, the pampered princess of Slytherin, Narcissa. And on the other side, the sole non-Slytherin of the group, her quill scratching across parchment as she made notes on what Severus had done. Lily Evans.

"Have enough hexes on the door, Sev?" Regulus grinned as Severus glared.

"Seriously, Severus," Narcissa sighed as she picked at her nails gently. "You act as if someone would be interested in what you're talking about."

From her spot where she was writing, Lily looked up at Narcissa, raising an eyebrow. "It's better to plan for the worst and hope for the best, Narcissa."

Severus inclined his head to Lily. "And, Narcissa, in case you've forgotten, it would be best that certain year-mates of mine and Lily's don't find us, as they have a habit of showing up where they're unwelcome."

"'Sides, Cissa, we wouldn't want Filch catching us at this meeting." Regulus paused, a smirk on his face. "Not that I'd mind a chance to hex the bastard."

Severus sighed, moving to sit in the four chair in the circle. "He's busy with the students snogging in dark corners up at the Halloween Ball, Regulus. I have no concerns that miserable Squib would find us."

"Hey, he may be a Squib," Lily spat back. "But, that doesn't mean he won't look around when he doesn't need to. And as for my year-mates..." Lily sighed. "I doubt Potter and his boys would really care. I heard something about Potter trying to hook up with that Davenport girl." Lily sighed in disgust. She didn't know for sure if that was the case, but at least Severus would stop talking about James.

Regulus rolled his eyes. "Hey, can we talk about what we came to talk about? I thought tonight's discussion was about making this a formal group, and all that rot."

Severus spared an annoyed glare for Regulus. "It's not rot, Regulus. A group is more likely to achieve their ambitions than any single individual." He paused, letting silence fill the room.

"Actually, though," Lily tapped her quill on her chin. "That's a good question. We're all together. Now we have a chance to completely discuss our aims." Lily paused. "Why are we here?"

Regulus shrugged. "I rather thought it was because we thought Dumbledore and his kind were all nutters for thinking that Muggles get to enjoy a protected and sheltered life, while wizarding folk have to bend over backwards for the ignorant twats."

Severus sighed. "And the idiot has a brain somewhere in that empty head of his." He leaned back in his chair. "We're here because we share a common view about the flaws in the structure of Wizarding and Muggle society, and the laws that demand we cosset Muggles and their stupidity."

"Yes, Muggles don't know everything," Lily sighed, thinking back to her own family. Her sister Petunia gave all Muggles a bad name. "But, maybe it's time that they learned."

"We should just throw them off a cliff," Narcissa simpered, and Lily turned, resisting the urge to poke her with her quill.

"They have a use, though."

Regulus nodded, grinning at Lily. "Like those automobiles, and motorcycles. And the box with moving pictures that tell stories. And cinema. Love the cinema." He paused. "And they did come up with you, Lily. Have to be useful somehow."

Severus rolled his eyes. "You're almost as bad as your brother. Is all you think about how to catch a girl's eye, Regulus?"

Regulus shrugged. "Not my fault you're about as sexual as the giant squid, Severus, chum. Besides, I don't want to catch any woman's eye. Just one."

Severus snorted. "You're hopeless," he muttered, before clearing his throat, and trying to steer the meeting back to the original topic. "They've also come up with some interesting ways to commit murder, and they're relatively easy to control. Certainly as good as house-elves, and useful in more public forums than house-elves could ever be."

"Wait, so we're equating them to house-elves?" Lily sighed, and she scribbled that on her parchment. "Somehow, I feel a little guilty right now."

Narcissa glanced over at her. "Oh, Evans, find your sense of humor, won't you?"

Severus snorted. "It isn't as if most of them have the intelligence to be used as anything else." His lips twisted in a sneer, remembering his own parents. "Those that aren't violent or insane."

Regulus shrugged. "So we cull those ones out of the population. It'll keep them docile, and make a better breeding stock."

"If we kill any of them, we'll send the rest of them into a state of panic." Lily scrunched her nose up. "Muggles are notorious for panic. No, it's best if we can do something that doesn't involve death."

"We need a spell that works similar to the binding spell on house-elves. Imperio would require too much monitoring, and would have to be cast individually." Severus drummed his fingers against his thigh. "And we would have to make sure children are checked for magical talent. No child should have to grow up with Muggles who has magical talent."

"Now, see," Lily smirked quietly to herself, "that would be something. That would take some serious effort, though. And time. And research. It sounds like a good short-term goal for the group." She scribbled furiously on parchment.

Narcissa chimed up out of nowhere. "Well, now, we must have a name for our group!"

Regulus nodded. "'Cissa's right. We do need a name." He paused. "Blimey if I know what to call us, though."

Severus sighed. "Something that conceals our purpose and our ends from those who would try to stop us, I would think." He frowned. "Perhaps an implication of purity."

Regulus snorted. "We're anything but innocent, Severus, old chap."

"You sound like you belong in a previous century, Regulus." Severus glared at the other boy. "Bloody prat," he muttered under his breath.

"Well, white's supposedly pure," Narcissa chuckled. "Although, considering what I do when I'm wearing white-" Narcissa began to laugh at herself then stopped when she realized no one else was thrilled. "Well, white's pure, so there."

Severus nodded thoughtfully. "White roses are symbols of purity."

"They are?"

Severus glared at Regulus again. "If you'd bother to learn a little sophistication, Regulus, you'd know that. Merlin forbid you ever try to give a girl flowers. You're likely to have her throw them back in your face in a fit of rage."

Regulus shrugged. "Red roses, I'd think. That's what father brings home when he's upset mum."

"That's because your father has all the sophistication of a stray dog."

"Oy!" Regulus's carefree demeanor vanished under a fierce scowl and angry glare. "You're a bloody bastard, Severus. My father's better than yours is, any day. At least mine has magical ability!"

Severus paled, his eyes glittering coldly. "You're beginning to sound like your brother, Black," he said, his voice silky and quiet. "Would you like a demonstration of what that would earn your brother?"

Lily sighed and grabbed her wand, swinging it up in the air. "Inflamare!" A small burst of fireworks caught Regulus and Severus's attention. "Girls, girls, you're both pretty." She sighed. "Now, can we get back to the task on hand?"

There were sullen murmurs from both boys, but they subsided back into their seats.

"As I was saying, white roses are a traditional symbol of purity." Severus studiously ignored Regulus. "They would make an ideal symbol for our group."

Regulus rolled his eyes, but said nothing, his arms crossed over his chest.

"All right, I'll agree to that." Lily turned as she wrote. "Narcissa?"

Narcissa licked her lips and nodded happily. "Oh, sure. That works."

Regulus shrugged. "Sounds fine to me. But what are we going to call ourselves? The Society of the White Rose?" he asked sarcastically.

"Actually, I could go for that." Narcissa said. "I mean, simple and elegant. And it's pretty ambiguous."

Severus raised an eyebrow at Regulus. "Perhaps you haven't inherited the lack of talent your brother appears to have. That name would suit."

"Really?" Regulus looked over at Lily. "What do you think, Lily?"

Lily shrugged. "Works for me. Like I said, it's the application that I care about."

Severus nodded. "Now that we've taken care of that, we can deal with other, more important issues. Such as what we intend to do. Codifying our plans for the world."

"Well, this spell that we'd like to use, that should be one of the first things we begin with. Also, maybe we should start planning. I mean," Lily looked between the others. "What exactly do we want to do?"

"Put Muggles in their place." Severus scowled darkly. "In the service of, and beneath the status of anyone born with magic."

"Getting rid of those who think Muggles ought to be protected," Regulus added. "Ensuring the rights of pure-bloods over Mudbloods and half-bloods. Present company excepted, and maybe a few others. But not all of them."

Narcissa stood and stretched, bored. "So, we can't kill them all, then?"

"I'd say not. But, yes, I'd say that it's logical that pure-bloods have more power. If nothing else, the powerful should be given precedence over others."

"And get rid of this Voldemort chap who's causing trouble." Regulus wrinkled his nose. "I mean, it's nice that he wants to get rid of Muggles and all, but he's going to make the reactionaries all the worse. And Muggles will get more privileges out of the deal in the long run."

"To do that, we'll need someone on the inside. And someone to infiltrate and undermine the Muggle-loving fools as well." Severus pressed his lips together. "We'll need pawns and covers, so we appear to be legitimately on one side or the other."

"And I would suggest we have someone tailing Potter's group." Narcissa growled. "Someone who can simply steer them away from anything we might be planning."

Lily snapped her fingers. "Davenport. She's close to the boys. She'd be perfect."

Regulus was looking thoughtful. "Hepzebah Morgan could work on the Voldemort angle. She's got this boyfriend, Warren Nott. You ought to know him, Sev; he's in your year. I hear his father's a follower of this Voldemort."

Severus nodded. "And I know someone who could be of assistance with the Muggle-lovers." He paused. "Though we might, in the end, have to take up these missions ourselves. If we think the risk will be worth the reward."

"I'm not getting close to any of them." Narcissa spat.

"You're such a great person, you know that?" Lily sighed sarcastically. "Anyway, I think the next move should be recruiting these people. I mean, four people won't be able to change the world on our own. We need at least three or four more people."

Severus nodded. "And researching the spell that binds house-elves, and finding ways to modify it to use it on Muggles."

"I imagine that will take a while." Lily stood, and then shook her head, slamming her hands on the table before her casually. "But, I'm afraid that we all have some obligations. That stupid ball is going on right now, and we have to go. It is a requirement, and our House Leaders will notice."

Severus's lip curled up in a sneer. "A pity, that. It's a complete waste of time. A frivolity I could well do without." He stood, his wand dropping in his hand. "But as you have said, Lily, our Heads of House are likely to notice our absence if we aren't attending soon. Not to mention other, less savory persons who could notice our absence."

Regulus sighed, jumping off the desk he'd been using as a seat. "Then unhex the door, Sev, and let's get up there." He offered his arm to Lily. "If I may, Miss Evans?"

Lily sighed and rolled her eyes. She didn't mind humoring the charming brother of Sirius. "Oh, very well." She chuckled, and she slipped her arm around Regulus's.

Severus shook his head at Regulus's antics, and turned, taking the hexes off the door before pushing it open, and striding out without a backwards glance.

Regulus grinned, sauntering out with Lily, leaving Narcissa to follow when she wanted.

Narcissa watched them leave, and she shook her head, grabbing her nail file. "Good god, Evans and Regulus. Gross."

~ ~~ ~

Angela Davenport sat at the far end of one of the tables in the Great Hall, watching others dancing around in costume. Her own costume, a bright costume of a Muggle hippie, seemed out of place in the room of witches and wizards. She looked around, noticing that James Potter and his group were walking around and socializing. Her eyes laid on him... and Angela blushed. God, she couldn't talk to him. No way.

Hepzebah Morgan snorted as she watched Angela. "You know, he's never going to notice you if you don't go over and talk to him." She turned her head to scan the room again, as she'd been doing since the ball began, looking for Regulus, even though she knew Warren hated her doing it.

"Hepzebah, would you quit doing that?" Warren Nott pulled her closer to him. "Leave the little Mudblood to pine after that fool Gryffindor, and come dance with me." He hoped it would distract her from looking for her friend. He knew she wasn't interested in the Blacks, either brother, but it didn't look good for him to have his girlfriend looking for some other boy at a dance.

"Whatever, Warren." Hepzebah looked over at Angela again. "I can talk to Regulus, and have him introduce you to his brother, if you'd like," she offered.

Angela looked up at Hepzebah, and her cheeks flushed a bright red. "Um, n-no, that's okay. I'm fine, really. I'm okay. Whose brother? What are you talking about?" She stuttered, cursing every word leaving her mouth.

Hepzebah chuckled. "Oh, it's like that, is it?" She leaned closer, giving Angela a conspiratorial look. "I promise, I won't tell anyone your secret." Anyone except Regulus and Narcissa.

"Hepzebah!" Warren gave her an annoyed look, and Hepzebah sighed.

"I have to dance with my boyfriend before he gets bloody rude, Davenport. See you in the common room some time!" She waved cheerily, tucking her arm into Warren's, and allowing him to lead her onto the dance floor. She spotted Regulus as he came in with Lily on his arm, and giggled. "Oh, that's precious. His parents will go through the roof when they hear about this."

Warren followed her gaze, and scowled. "What is he doing with that Mudblood Evans?"

"Warren!" Hepzebah gave him a sharp look. "That's rude. You don't want to get in trouble with the professors, do you?"

Warren grumbled, but subsided, sweeping Hepzebah into a waltz.

~ ~~ ~

Regulus smiled as he stepped into the Great Hall, looking around for his friends. He grinned when he saw his brother. "Hey, Lily, want to see how red in the face we can make Potter and my brother get?"

Lily looked over at Regulus, and realized that she had other people she wanted to associate with. Besides, this way she could keep Regulus guessing for the future. "Actually, Regulus, I'm afraid that I have a few people I need to speak to. But, I'll save you a dance for later, all right?" With that, Lily turned and pecked Regulus on the cheek, then turned and sauntered over towards a group of girls.

Regulus sighed, grinning. I am sooo lucky. Heh. Just wait until I can tell Zee and Cissa about this!

He took off towards the refreshments table, spotting one of his friends along the way. "Hey, Jaxon!" He grabbed the Gryffindor around the shoulders. "You seen 'Zee tonight?"

Jaxon snorted. "She's dancing with Warren, what else? What do you want, Reggie?"

"Oh, nothing." Regulus glanced over to where his brother was talking with his friends. "Just wondering if you'd help me with a little something."

Jaxon followed his gaze. "Christ, Reggie, what are you up to? And why do I have to help you?"

Regulus shrugged. "Just refill their drinks, Jaxon." He pulled out a small bottle that claimed it was Ogden's fire-whiskey. "Say you got your hands on a little extra flavor for the punch, and offer to share."

Jaxon sighed. "You're going to get me in trouble again. Bloody hell, Reggie, why can't you leave Sirius alone? He at least does you the favor of ignoring you most of the time. Unless you provoke him."

"So? He's my brother, it's my job to annoy him."

~ ~~ ~

Remus looked down at his cup, contemplating going to get another cup of pumpkin juice as he listened with half an ear to Sirius and James talking.

Sirius looked over at James, then looked up as he noticed his brother's presence. "Oh, just bloody wonderful, Reg is here."

"What?" James stopped slurping his pumpkin juice and looked around. "Why do you care, anyway? He's just a stupid git." James caught sight of Lily, and he immediately sat up straight, running a hand through his hair. "Oo, Evans."

Remus rolled his eyes at James. "You're obsessed, James." He sighed as he looked down at his empty cup again. "Anyone else want more pumpkin juice? I'll get refills this time."

Peter held up two cups. "Could you refill Bertha's too, Remus?"

"Sure." Remus looked at the other two Marauders. "Sirius? James?"

"Yeah, yeah, sure, pal." Sirius handed Remus both his and James' cups, the latter still locked on Lily's visage. "Prongs looks like he's going to be a bit bereft of vocal capability for the next few minutes."

Remus snorted. "No doubt," he said dryly, turning towards the refreshment table, trying to juggle the five cups.

"Here, let me help." Someone plucked two of the cups from his arms, and Jaxon, one of the fourth year Gryffindors, grinned at Remus. "You looked like you were about to have catastrophic failure of capacity there."

"Thanks." Remus set the cups down on the table, refilling them from the bowl. "If Peter didn't have Bertha with him, it probably wouldn't have been a problem."

Jaxon shrugged, picking up the two glasses he'd filled. "It's not a problem." They made their way back through the crowd, and Jaxon handed the cups he was carrying to Sirius and James. "See ya back in the common room."

Remus frowned as Jaxon all but bolted, vanishing into the crowd. "Wonder what has him spooked." He shook his head, taking a sip of his pumpkin juice, and watching Sirius and James again. I really need to get a new hobby.

As Sirius took his cup from Remus and handed the other to James, he took a long swig and grimaced. "Woah, this one's a little bitter." Regardless, though, Sirius downed the whole glass and then stood, looking over at Remus. "So, Moony, wanna go help me troll for females?" He said with his roguish grin.

Remus weighed the possibilities of going with Sirius or staying put, glancing over at Peter. Raising an eyebrow, he decided to go with Sirius. At least if Sirius is going to snog, he chooses someplace better than the middle of the bloody ball.

"Sure, Sirius." He raised one hand, gesturing for Sirius to precede him. "After you."

Sirius laughed and clapped his hands together, rubbing them and then looking around. There were plenty of good-looking birds at the ball, but most of them weren't all that interesting. "Remus, my dear, dear friend, what year are we?"

"Fifth, Sirius. Even you ought to remember that." Remus watched his friend warily. "What does that have to do with what you're planning?"

"Right! We are fifth years, Remus!" Sirius continued, blowing though the last half of Remus's statement. "And in the five years we've been here, I have yet to find any bird that is in the least bit entertaining for more than an hour or two!" Sirius looked over at Remus and looped his arm over Remus's shoulders. "Doesn't that just depress you?"

Remus shrugged. "It doesn't appear to be depressing you, Sirius."

Sirius paused and glanced over at Remus, sighing. "You're killing the mood, chap." Sirius cleared his throat and let go of Remus, throwing his arms in the air. "The point is that I think I've been limiting my exposure! I mean, all of my pursuits have been after Gryffindors, or Hufflepuffs! I think I need to broaden my horizons!" Sirius looked over to Remus. "What do you think?"

Remus shrugged. "I could introduce you to a Ravenclaw and a Slytherin I know, but I doubt they're your type." He paused, regarding Sirius critically. "And somehow I doubt you'd appeal to them." Camilla would fall over laughing at being propositioned by a guy, and Addison would be smirking like the cat who got the cream.

"Yes, yes, you shall! I will not be defeated!" Sirius triumphantly cried, and he watched as Remus led him towards the punch bowl.

Camilla spotted them first, and waved Remus over. "Remus! Come sit with us, please?" She gave him a brilliant smile, patting the seat beside her. "Who's your friend?"

Addison, sitting next to her, snorted. "Cam, if you don't know who that rapscallion is, I'm going to find a way to put snow in your bed all winter." She set her quill down, and closed the book she was writing in. "Did you have to bring the biggest twat the school has ever seen over here, Remus?" She gave him a pained look.

Remus shrugged. "He insisted, Addy." He turned slightly, so he could make the introductions. "Sirius, the one who hates you already is Addison Mallory, and the one who has the smile that passes for a lumos spell is Camilla del Drago. Ladies, as you already know, this is Sirius Black."

"Charmed, ladies, charmed!" Sirius chuckled, even though Addison had already managed to put him off slightly. But, Sirius Black would not be discouraged. "So, did either of you ladies come here tonight with a date, or may I have the honor of dancing with one of you beautiful women?"

Camilla exchanged a look with Addy, trying to suppress a snicker. "Sorry, Mr. Black. I don't dance with boys." She gave him another brilliant smile. "Didn't Remus tell you?"

Sirius's smile faded slightly, and he looked over to Remus, growling and chuckling at the same time. "Remus, you little bitch. I can't believe you." He shook his head. "Well, then, in that case, sorry to bother you girls."

Remus shrugged, grinning at Sirius. "I told you you wouldn't be their type, Sirius."

"You could've told me just a little bit more than that."

"You have to be the most oblivious person in existence, Mr. Black." Addison was shaking her head. "The whole bloody male population of this school knows not to come near me or Cam asking for a date."

"And the female half just avoids us on principle." Cam giggled.

"Well, apparently, not the entire male population. Remus, pal," Sirius practically vice-gripped the back of Remus's neck, "Let's go talk over here, shall we?"

Remus pulled free of Sirius's grip, and rubbed the back of his neck. "You don't have to drag me, Sirius," he grumbled.

"I can't believe you." Sirius growled, and he grabbed Remus by the shoulders. "I'm trying to have a good time, and you're trying to humiliate me!"

Remus raised an eyebrow. "You were the one who set yourself up for that, Mr. Irresistible." He brushed Sirius's hands off his shoulders. "And if you'd been a bit more observant, you might have noticed them break off snogging shortly before Cam waved us over."

"Regardless of what you think I should've seen, that was below the belt. I'm looking for a few birds, and you're sending me after - after - " Sirius turned and waved off Remus, pitching sideways slightly. " What was I saying?"

Remus frowned. "Are you all right, Sirius?" It wasn't like Sirius to forget what he was saying, and it looked like someone had spiked the pumpkin juice. Except that I'm not feeling any ill effects.

"Yeah, yeah, fine." He stood up straight, his eyes a little more predatory than normal. "Hey, what's say you and I go find ourselves a few skirts for the night?"

Remus gave Sirius a concerned look. "Um, Sirius, I don't think that's such a good idea. You don't look well. Why don't I take you to Madam Pomfrey, and have her make sure you're all right?"

"What? I'm fine!" Sirius turned and pushed away from Remus, catching site of Angela Davenport, who was still sitting and writing. "Angie!" He shouted, strolling over and sliding to her. He plopped down next to her on the bench and threw an arm over her shoulders. "Angie, it's been a while! How are ya?"

Angela simply looked at Sirius, beet red, unable to speak.

Remus trailed after Sirius, feeling a need to keep his friend out of trouble. He smiled weakly at Angela. "Hello, Angela." His eyes slid over to Sirius a moment, before meeting her gaze again. "You know, if Sirius is bothering you, just let me know. I think someone spiked his pumpkin juice." And I'm beginning to suspect it wasn't with something as simple as fire-whiskey.

"Um, r-r-really, Remus." Angela cleared her throat, trying to sound casual, even though he was snuggling up against her as she spoke. "Um, I think it'll be okay. But, I think that he's a little..."

"I'm fine!" Sirius leaned in close to Angela, and he chuckled. "C'mon, Angie, let's get out of here."

Remus shook his head, scanning the room for a couple of younger students. He could see Jaxon in a corner, banging his head lightly against a table, and beside the fourth year was Regulus. Remus's eyes narrowed at the broad grin on the Slytherin, and he looked back at Sirius. "Come on, Sirius, you're going to the hospital wing. Now," he growled, when Sirius opened his mouth to argue, his face a carefully expressionless mask.

"God, you bloody kill-joy! I've got her! Why do you have to spoil all my fu-" Sirius was lifted off his feet by Remus, which was surprising to say the least. "Oy!"

"Remus, is he gonna be okay?" Angela asked her voice actually returning.

Remus looked grimly at his struggling friend. "I hope so, or I'm going to take Regulus out and beat the little snot within an inch of his life." He hauled Sirius towards the door, ignoring the professors who were converging on him and Sirius.

~ ~~ ~

Regulus sighed as Remus pulled Sirius to his feet, and dragging him towards the door. "Blast. Lupin would have to ruin my fun. Too bloody observant for this to become amusing, wouldn't you say, Jaxon?" He looked over at his friend. "Oy. Stop banging your head against the table, and watch! It's going to be fun when Potter starts showing the effects, at lest."

"What?" Jaxon turned, rubbing his head. "I would've thought Potter was more of a lightweight than your brother, though."

Regulus shrugged. "Apparently not. I wish you could have gotten the potion into Lupin and Pettigrew's drinks, too, though." He sighed wistfully. "It would have been really nice to see how they reacted to it, too."

"Yeah, well, Pettigrew would've probably pissed himself. He's barely handling anything."

Regulus looked over at the blond boy, and shrugged. "True enough. Maybe some other time." He switched his gaze to where James was sitting. "Oh, this ought to be good." So long as he leaves Lily alone, anyway. I'll give him a ruddy good fight if he tries anything with Lily.

~ ~~ ~

"Oy, Pettigrew!" Bertha turned and smacked Peter's hand away from her thigh. "What the Hell's the matter with you?"

Peter smiled weakly. "Sorry, Bertha?" He hoped she'd just let it slide, and he could enjoy the rest of the evening with her. And maybe... Maybe I'll get to find out what Sirius and James think is so great about taking a girl on a date to the Astronomy tower late at night.

"Sorry? You're not sorry, you bloody git." Bertha stood. "What do you think I am? How dare you treat me like that?"

Peter winced, ducking down. "Really, Bertha, I'm sorry!"

Angela cleared her throat and packed up her things. She figured that since Remus had left in such a hurry, she should probably tell James what was going on. God, she hated this. She could talk around him, but she couldn't really say two words to Sirius. As she walked over to James, she realized he looked a little... off.

"James? You all right?" She smirked, and James looked up at her.

"I'm hopeless, Davenport. I should just give up now."

"Um..." Angie took a seat down next to James. "About what?"

James looked over towards a group of girls. "Lily!!! I love you!!!" He randomly shouted to the girls, and Angie gasped, clapping her hand over his mouth.

"Oh, James, you're going to hate yourself in the morning." She whimpered.

Peter's head whipped around when he heard James shout. "James?" he asked, his voice quiet. He looked over at Angela. "Um, Angie, what's with James?"

She looked over at Peter. "I don't know! I haven't been here all that long." She gasped as James ripped her hand off his mouth. "Lily Evans!!! I love you!!! I confess that I love you with all my - " Both of Angie's hands clapped over his mouth this time.

"Oh, my God. He's lost it. He's gone." Angie whimpered, and then gasped as she watched Lily turn.

Regulus's eyes narrowed, and he rose from his seat, ignoring Jaxon's yelp, and attempts to keep him in his seat. "You bloody prat," he snarled, stalking towards James.

Lily gave James a contemptuous glare. "You'd say that to any girl just to get under her skirts, Potter." She reached out without even looking, and rested a hand against Regulus's chest, stopping him in his tracks. "Leave be, Regulus. Potter's not worth the energy of giving him a bloody nose."

"He's a bloody prat who needs to be taken down a notch." Regulus gave James a murderous glare. "Bloody hell, Lily, you said it yourself. He'll do anything just to get a lady into his bed."

"Not quite my words, but still, Reggie." She gave him an amused look. "Potter isn't worth the energy."

"Hey!" Angela yelped at their words, and she stood, motioning for Peter to keep James quiet. "Listen, James may not be the best of people around here, but you have some gall to hang all over Regulus and then call Potter cheap! He's a nice guy!" Angela turned and looked at Peter. "C'mon, let's him to the Infirmary. I'll bet the same thing's wrong with him that was wrong with Sirius."

Lily raised an eyebrow. "I didn't say he was cheap, Davenport. I said he was a gormless, irresponsible, immature prat not worth spending much energy on. Now, if you'll excuse me, I was enjoying the ball." She turned away, back to the girls she'd been talking to, and motioned that they ought to move further away from the table James and company had been at.

"Bloody prissy bitch," Angela whispered, and she grabbed James, putting one of his arms over her shoulders while Peter grabbed the other. "Good lord, James, you're gonna hate yourself in the morning."

"But, I love her..." James sing-songed and Angie shook her head.

"Well, she can't stand you right now. So, I'd shut up if I were you."

Peter nodded. "Let's get you to the hospital wing. And what was wrong with Sirius, Angie?"

"He, um," Angela cleared her throat and shook her head. "Just, nothing. He was... being a little too friendly. Friendlier than normal."

"Oh. Ok." Peter still looked confused, but he didn't ask any more questions as they walked James to the hospital wing, where Remus was perched on one bed, nursing a black eye, and Sirius was on another, scowling.

Madam Pomfrey bustled over, taking one look at James, and then at the other two. "Sit him down on the bed over here, and I'll bring an antidote." Se stalked back towards her office, shaking her head, and muttering, "Bloody teenage boys and their pranks. Who in Heaven's name would be foolish enough to feed them this..." Her voice trailed off as she stepped into her office.

Remus snorted as he watched them sit James down. "Why am I not surprised?"

Peter looked at Remus, and shrugged. "I don't know."

Sirius looked over at James and the others. "God, I feel more hung-over than that one time at the Three Broom - " He looked at the expression on Remus's face. " Nevermind."

Angela cleared her throat, looking over at the group. "Well, um, since it looks like James is going to be all right, I guess I'll go."

Sirius looked over at Angela. "Oh, hey, Davenport. Nice seeing ya. Thanks for bringing genius to the infirmary."

Angela stared at Sirius, unable to really speak, and she looked to the ground, mumbling a "You're welcome" and bolting off.

Sirius looked up at Remus. "Does she hate me or something? What did I do to her?"

Remus grimaced. "Other than treating her like you do any of the numerous one-night stands you've had?" He glared at Sirius through his good eye. "And being a complete and utter prat?"

"What?" Sirius looked over at James. "James, do I?"

"Don't you get it? I love her, Sirius! I want to marry he -" Peter clapped his hand over James's mouth again.

Sirius glanced at James and then looked back to Remus. "Since when did I treat her like that? She's barely spoken two words to me since last year!"

Remus rolled his eyes. If it weren't for the fact Sirius honestly didn't remember, he'd give his friend a black eye to match his own. And maybe a bloody nose and a concussion while I'm at it. He shook his head. "Just tonight, Sirius. I don't think it's you that's got her all shy otherwise." Hah. She just thinks you're wonderful, despite all the evidence that supports the other conclusion. I will never understand that.

Madam Pomfrey turned with a steaming potion, and handed it to James with a stern expression on her face. "Drink up, Mr. Potter. All of it, mind you. No spilling, and no dribbling."

"But, I love her!!" James shouted, and Peter grabbed the potion, pouring a bit down his throat while his mouth was open. James tried to spit it out, but Peter shut his mouth and kept his hand over his mouth.

Sirius blinked. "God, James, manic enough?"

Remus snorted, amusement writ clearly across his face. "You weren't any better before Madam Pomfrey and I got the potion down your throat." He paused, looking at James. "Though at least James is only trying to spit it out. Not socking his friends in the eye."

"Yeah, well, I probably had good reason." Sirius grumbled, still wondering what the Hell he'd done at the ball.

Peter poured more of the potion down James's throat once he was sure he'd swallowed the first dose. He pinched the other boy's nose shut this time, as well as keeping his mouth covered, forcing him to swallow sooner. He kept repeating the actions until the potion was gone, then handed the goblet back to Madam Pomfrey.

"Ugh!" James finally managed to vocalize his disgust with the potion. He stuck his tongue out. "Oh my god, taste like I just licked arse."

Madam Pomfrey tutted. "Serves you well for not keeping an eye on your drink, Mr. Potter." She swept over to Remus, checking his eye a moment. "You can all go now, but I expect you to return to your dorms directly, and you two get some rest, to allow the antidote to take full effect." She fixed James and Sirius with a stern glare. "No strenuous activity or further excitement tonight."

"Dammit!" Sirius spat, and he stood slowly. "There goes my night. No girls, and a bloody hangover."

Remus stood once Madam Pomfrey had gone back to her office, and headed for the door. "Don't worry, Sirius. I'm sure you'll be back to normal tomorrow."

"Yeah, well, let's hope so. I don't know if I can take the lack of sex."

~ ~~ ~

Lily watched as Davenport helped Potter out of the ball, and she turned to her group of friends. "Girls, I'll be back. I've got business to take care of." She turned and walked back over to Regulus, noticing the odd look on his face. "All right. What'd you do?"

Regulus smiled innocently. "I just asked Jaxon to spike their drinks."

"Well, I saw that much, you git!" Lily snarled, and she leaned on the table. "What'd you spike it with?"

Regulus's smile faded. "Just a little potion I got Severus to make up. I didn't ask for specific reactions, just something to loosen them up, and embarrass them. Preferably something that would make them look really foolish in front of the ladies." Since that would humiliate them the most. Knowing from experience.

"Yes, well, the next time you decide to make them foolish enough to shout at women who hate them, how about you think first?" Lily's cheeks were flushed, and even she was surprised at how angry this had made her. "I didn't appreciate being shouted at like I was a piece of property. Christ, Regulus, do you even think before you do it?"

Regulus winced. "Not well enough. I'm sorry, Lily." He glanced over to where Severus was lurking in the darkest corner of the Great Hall briefly before looking back at her. "And next time I decide to spike their drinks, I'll ask for your help instead of Severus's. Please don't kill me?"

Lily sighed and took a moment to lick her lips and breathe. Once she had calmed down a little, she looked over to Regulus again. "I'm not going to kill you, moron." She chuckled ruefully.

Regulus relaxed slightly. "At least I have that much." He paused. "I'd ask you to dance, except I doubt that would be the best idea." He traced random patterns on the tabletop with one finger. "Not after something I did ended with you being embarrassed as well as Potter."

"Well, under normal circumstances, I would accept an invitation. However," Lily smirked, "the music's stopped, and you were a git." She finally let a full smile grace her lips. "I'll see you tomorrow, Regulus."

Regulus grinned. "Of course. Library after classes, as usual? I'm still not understanding what I'm supposed to do with the Arithmancy project, and it's due next week."

"Of course. Good night, Regulus," Lily said kindly, and she patted him on the shoulder before leaving.