#regulusblack

The cottage hums with life.

Your children weave around you in a blur of motion, laughter spilling into every room, their voices overlapping and echoing off the walls. You sit near the window with a mug of coffee cradled between your hands, watching sunlight stretch across the wooden floor. It’s warm. Familiar. Safe.

When the noise drifts elsewhere, you stand, more out of habit than intention. You wander through the cottage, stepping over toys, straightening things that don’t need fixing. Your fingers trail along shelves and cupboards you rarely touch anymore.

You pause near the back room.

There are boxes stacked there, half-forgotten, tucked away like they’ve been waiting. You kneel down, absently rummaging through them, moving lids, brushing off dust, not really looking for anything in particular. Just passing time. Just existing in the quiet between moments.

From the other room, your children laugh again, loud and bright, pulling you back to the present even as your hands linger among things you haven’t thought about in years.

You take another sip of your coffee and keep searching, unsure of what you’re hoping to find.

Your hand stills on a box tucked slightly behind the others.

It’s heavier than you expect when you pull it free, dust clinging to the edges as you set it down. You don’t overthink it. You flip the lid open and peer inside.

Videotapes.

Neatly stacked, row after row, their black cases worn at the corners like they’ve been handled a hundred times over. Some have small scratches. Some are labelled in faded ink. All of them look old.

You glance back at the lid.

A strip of tape runs across the top, your handwriting slanted and familiar despite the years that have passed.

“Marauders, as We Were.”

For a moment, you just stare.

From the other room, your children’s laughter spills down the hallway, bright and unbothered, while you sit there on the floor, coffee forgotten, staring into a version of your life you haven’t touched in years.

Your fingers hover over the first tape.

. 📼 Ｖｉｄｅｏｔａｐｅ 1

– 𝙻𝚊𝚝𝚎-𝙽𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚂𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚐𝚊𝚣𝚒𝚗𝚐

The video opens on darkness. Footsteps crunch softly on gravel, blankets rustle, and a muffled “Ow, Merlin!” echoes as Peter trips over absolutely nothing. The camera tilts wildly before settling on the night sky, ink-dark and scattered with stars so bright it almost hurts to look at them. Sirius’ quiet laughter cuts through the air, hushed but impossible to keep in.

“Don’t drop it, Prongs,” James whispers, nudging Sirius with his shoulder. “I’m not dropping it!” Sirius retorts, voice far too defensive, before breaking into another laugh.

The camera finally steadies, capturing a pile of rumpled blankets and sweaters on the grass. Everyone is lying close together, shoulders brushing, knees tangling in that perfect chaotic pile of friends who have known each other for only a few weeks but feel like forever. You’re tucked in between Regulus and Lily, smiling at the way Remus’ long legs stick out awkwardly, while Marlene and Mary whisper jokes at each other from the edges.

A hand suddenly points upward. “That one’s a constellation,” James declares proudly. “Which one? That one looks like a… potato,” Sirius murmurs. “It’s a swan, not a potato,” Lily protests, rolling her eyes but laughing. Peter groans, “You all are ridiculous.”

The conversation drifts lazily, hopping from classes to embarrassing stories from the train ride to whispered dreams none of you dare say too loudly. Sirius nudges Regulus, who groans but smiles, trying to hide it. You lean your head back against the soft grass, eyes tracing the stars, listening to the gentle hum of voices around you.

For a while, no one speaks. Just quiet, except for the soft rustle of blankets and the occasional whispered joke. Then Marlene pipes up, voice small but full of wonder: “I wish nights like this could last forever.”

No one argues. James nudges Sirius, Sirius nudges Peter, Peter snorts, and Regulus squeezes your hand lightly without looking. The camera tilts back toward the stars, showing only the sky for the last few seconds of the tape, vast and calm, as if it’s promising to hold onto this moment forever.

. 📼 Ｖｉｄｅｏｔａｐｅ 2

– 𝚃𝚛𝚞𝚝𝚑 𝚘𝚛 𝙳𝚊𝚛𝚎

The camera wobbles a little as it sits on the edge of the common room table, catching James leaning back with that “I’m about to make trouble” grin. “Truth or dare,” he announces, voice low and teasing. “And none of your boring answers this time.”

Sirius flops onto the floor dramatically, hair falling over his eyes, and mutters, “I should’ve stayed in bed.” But the twitch at the corner of his mouth gives him away—he’s not going anywhere. Remus sits cross-legged nearby, pretending to read a book, but the way his eyes flick toward Sirius makes it obvious he’s paying attention.

The first few rounds are simple—favorite sweets, silly confessions—but then James’ gaze lands on Sirius, sharp and mischievous.

“Dare,” Sirius says instantly, voice confident, maybe a little too confident.

James grins. “I dare… you to lean over Remus and whisper one thing you’re actually embarrassed about… and make him squirm.”

Sirius freezes, a flash of mock indignation crossing his face. Remus raises an eyebrow, trying not to laugh, but it’s impossible. Sirius leans over anyway, voice low, teasing, and Remus’ cheeks tint pink almost immediately. The camera shakes slightly from laughter as James and Lily exchange triumphant, quiet looks, Marlene and Mary giggling into their hands.

Then it’s your turn. Lily points, voice sly. “Truth or dare?”

“Dare,” you say, trying not to let your grin get too wide.

James leans forward, eyes sparkling. “I dare… you to make Sirius say something embarrassing about himself without him pretending he’s perfect.”

Sirius’ head snaps toward you, eyes narrowing in mock horror, smirk tugging at his lips. “Oh, so it’s you now?” he hisses softly, leaning back just enough to play it cool.

You shrug, eyes glinting. “Just trying to keep the game… interesting.”

Sirius groans, but the corners of his mouth twitch in that way only Remus notices. The room hums with soft, playful tension—laughs, murmurs, gentle nudges, teasing touches here and there. Even Regulus watches from the side, arms crossed, lips twitching into the faintest smile, amused in that quiet, understated way he always does.

By the end, no one wins, no one loses—except for stolen smirks, flushed cheeks, and the kind of mischievous warmth that only the Marauders can create. The tape ends on the blur of laughter, soft whispers, and a shared glance or two lingering a little longer than it should.

. 📼 Ｖｉｄｅｏｔａｐｅ 3

– 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙵𝚒𝚛𝚜𝚝 𝙿𝚛𝚊𝚗𝚔

The video starts shaky, clearly handheld, laughter spilling into the frame before anyone even speaks. Sirius leans close to the camera, whispering furiously, “Okay, remember the plan. You do not screw this up.” His grin is impossible to take seriously, and James immediately snorts.

“Too late for that,” James murmurs, elbowing him gently. Remus sits nearby, arms crossed, eyebrows raised, the picture of reluctant participation—but there’s a twitch at the corner of his mouth that betrays him.

You’re crouched behind a trunk with Regulus beside you, both of you barely containing giggles as Sirius tiptoes toward the unsuspecting target: Peter, nose buried in a book, utterly oblivious. Lily hovers just behind James, trying not to laugh, whispering, “Do we really have to involve him?”

Sirius glances back at you, eyes sparkling. “Do you trust me?”

You roll your eyes but can’t hide the grin. “You’re the problem, you know that, right?”

The next few seconds are a blur of whispered instructions, quiet tugs, and too-loud snickers. Suddenly, Sirius lunges, and a small puff of glitter—or maybe flour, it’s hard to tell—explodes over Peter, who jumps up, coughing, and flailing. The entire group bursts into uncontrolled laughter.

Peter glares, wiping his face, sputtering words that make the rest of you laugh even harder. James collapses onto the floor, clutching his stomach. Sirius shoots a triumphant look at Remus, who shakes his head but hides a smile. Regulus just leans against the wall, arms crossed, trying to look unimpressed, but the faint upturn of his lips gives him away.

Lily, standing at the edge of the chaos, shakes her head, chuckling softly. “Honestly, you lot are impossible.”

The tape ends with all of you lying on the floor, gasping for breath, cheeks hurting from laughter, glitter (or flour) still stuck in hair, and the warm, infectious chaos of friendship echoing in every frame.

. 📼 Ｖｉｄｅｏｔａｐｅ 4

– “𝚂𝚊𝚢 𝙾𝚗𝚎 𝙽𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝙰𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝙴𝚊𝚌𝚑 𝙾𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛” 𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚗𝚐𝚎

The camera wobbles slightly as it sits on the table, catching everyone sitting in a loose circle on the common room floor. Sirius leans back with his usual cocky grin, James sprawled dramatically next to him, Lily perched on her knees with a knowing smirk, and Remus sitting quietly, long legs crossed. You and Regulus are tucked near the edge, Evan and Barty fidgeting slightly, Peter squirming as usual, and Remus… well, he’s pretending not to grin, but you know him better than that.

“Alright,” James announces, leaning forward with exaggerated importance, “we’re doing something serious for once. One nice thing about each person. No cheating. No sarcasm—well, mostly.”

Sirius snorts. “Good luck with that.”

“You start, Prongs,” Lily says softly, voice light, but eyes sparkling.

James clears his throat, dramatic as ever. “Okay… uh… Sirius. You… are ridiculously loyal, even when you drive us completely insane.” His grin cracks, because Sirius is already smirking at him.

Sirius raises an eyebrow. “That’s… surprisingly accurate.” He glances at Remus, voice softer than usual. “You, Moony… you make everyone feel like we’re not screwed up beyond repair.”

Remus hums, a small smile tugging at his lips, then points at Lily. “Lils, you always know how to calm everyone down without even trying. You just… know when we need it.”

Lily blushes faintly, reaching over to nudge James, “And you… well, you make sure no one takes themselves too seriously. Ever.”

Evan leans forward, voice quiet but earnest. “Peter… you notice things no one else does, and you’re… braver than you think.”

Barty chimes in next, voice cracking slightly as he nods toward Evan, “And Evan… you’re steady. You make the chaos feel safe sometimes.”

Regulus grins, glancing around the circle. “____ _____… you always notice the little things. You pay attention in a way that makes everyone feel important, even when you act like you don’t care.”

Regulus’ lips twitch into the tiniest smile, looking away briefly, but his shoulders relax.

Finally, you turn to yourself last, a little chuckle escaping. “And me… I think I just… like being part of this mess, with all of you. Even when it’s ridiculous.”

There’s a pause, a quiet, warm silence as everyone looks around at each other. Sirius leans closer to you under the pretense of whispering, “Cheesy, but… I’ll allow it.”

The tape ends on the circle, soft laughter mingling with gentle teasing, flushed cheeks, and the kind of warmth that doesn’t need words—just shared, unspoken understanding.

. 📼 Ｖｉｄｅｏｔａｐｅ 5

– 𝙵𝚒𝚛𝚜𝚝 𝙺𝚒𝚜𝚜

The camera jitters in James’ hand, held far too close to his face. Sirius crouches beside him, whispering excitedly, “This is perfect! Absolute perfection!”

The footage is shaky as they sneak across the grounds, moonlight glinting off the frost-covered grass. “You think they’re here?” James hisses.

“Shh! Quiet!” Sirius says, tiptoeing toward the Quidditch pitch. “If we get this on tape, we can blackmail them forever.”

The camera finally steadies enough to capture a glowing scene. You and Regulus are seated on a blanket, little lanterns and scattered snacks surrounding you like a tiny, magical picnic in the middle of the empty pitch. The cold air makes your breath visible, soft curls of fog rising as you laugh quietly at something Regulus just said.

James nudges Sirius, whispering so low only he can hear, “Ohhh… this is too good.”

The camera zooms slightly, careful to stay hidden behind a goalpost, capturing you both without your knowledge. You lean toward Regulus, his hand brushing yours across the blanket, fingers intertwining instinctively. He laughs, soft and unguarded, and your heart flutters in a way that makes the night feel impossibly still.

Then it happens. A moment of hesitation, and then— Your lips meet. Just for a heartbeat, shy and unpracticed, sweet and soft. Regulus leans in slowly, and you smile into it, eyes closing, completely unaware of the camera rolling a few yards away.

James whispers something low, half-amused, half-jealous, and Sirius stifles a snicker behind his hand. “Ohhh… caught it. Perfect.”

The camera shakes slightly as James tries—and fails—to contain his laughter, Sirius whispering, “This is going in the vault. Forever.”

The footage ends on the two of you sitting back on the blanket, cheeks pink, hands still brushing, a small, shy smile shared between you that says more than words ever could.

. 📼 Ｖｉｄｅｏｔａｐｅ 6

– “𝙼𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚊𝚐𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝙾𝚞𝚛 𝙵𝚞𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚂𝚎𝚕𝚟𝚎𝚜”

The camera wobbles slightly as it sits propped on the common room table, catching everyone arranged in a loose circle on the floor. James leans back against a trunk, elbow propped up, smirk already forming. Sirius sprawls beside him, hair messy, fingers twitching with excitement. Lily sits cross-legged, notebook balanced in her lap, eyes warm and teasing. Remus and Regulus sit quietly near you, arms crossed but relaxed, while Evan and Barty fidget a little, Peter shifting constantly as if the floor itself is too hot.

“Okay,” James says, voice dramatic as ever, “we’re making a message for… ourselves. Future us. Let’s see if we survive this.”

Sirius snorts. “Future us? More like past us, James, we’re doomed either way.”

Lily rolls her eyes but grins. “Fine. We start with who’s holding the camera. You go first, James.”

James clears his throat. “Right. So… future me… remember to keep causing trouble, but, uh… also don’t forget how lucky you are to have these idiots around. You know who I mean.” He gestures vaguely toward Sirius, who gives him a fake bow and a wink.

Oi! My turn!” Sirius leaps up and leans closer to the camera, voice lowered conspiratorially. “Future me… don’t let anyone ever take life too seriously. And… keep looking out for Moony, even when he pretends he doesn’t need it. Also… maybe finally tell him how you really feel, yeah?”

A collective laugh ripples through the circle. Remus, trying not to blush, leans forward. “Future me… remember that it’s okay to be tired, or scared, or messy. And remember that we have friends who would walk through fire for you. Also… maybe take more naps. Definitely take more naps.”

Peter shuffles nervously. “Uh… future me… remember you are braver than you think, even when it doesn’t feel like it. And… don’t let the small stuff get to you.”

Evan clears his throat quietly. “Future me… don’t ever stop being kind. Even when everyone else is loud or stupid… remember the little things matter. Oh… and check on Peter sometimes.”

Barty, fidgeting, mutters softly, “Future me… remember that friendship is weird and loud and messy, but that’s exactly why it’s worth everything.”

Lily smiles warmly, glancing at you before speaking. “Future me… don’t forget this. Don’t forget how alive it felt, even in the smallest moments. Don’t forget to laugh, and to love, and to care fiercely… because you always will.”

Finally, it’s your turn. You look around at everyone, heart full. “Future me… remember all of this. Remember the jokes, the chaos, the secrets, the little touches that only we understand. Remember Sirius’ stupid grins, James’ ridiculous plans, Remus’ quiet smiles, Lily’s warmth, Regulus’ calm… and all of us together, for better or worse. Never forget how it felt to be part of this, even when it’s impossible to explain.”

Regulus leans a little closer, whispering so only you can hear, “We’ll never forget.” You squeeze his hand, soft and unspoken.

The camera catches the group quietly smiling at one another, cheeks flushed from laughter or embarrassment or just the warmth of being together. Sirius reaches over, pretending to adjust James’ hair, James yelps, Lily nudges Marlene to stop giggling, Peter fidgets, Barty and Evan nudge each other… and somehow, even in the chaos, it’s calm.

The tape ends on all of you looking around the circle, soft murmurs of promises, laughter lingering in the air, and the kind of memory that feels like it will stick forever.