~ Keep holding on 'cause you know we'll make it through

Just stay strong 'cause you know I'm here for you. ~

***

According to Alphard's will, all of his assets were equally divided between Sirius and Felicity. She had been right when she had told Sirius that he thought of both of them as his own kids, for even in such a case he didn't make any difference between them. Both of them were now the rightful owners of the house at Magnolia Crescent and the vault 576 at Gringotts.

The start of Seventh Year for Felicity, was not how she expected, to say the least. Even though she had never been a very expressive person, still she was always glad to go back to Hogwarts. That once, the case was opposite. She was dreading every second which propelled her closer to the first day of term.

She dreaded that she would have to pretend to be perfectly fine in front of others, because no one would be aware of what she was going through except for Sirius and Remus. She would have to keep going on, no matter what, because the sad truth is that life doesn't stop by the passing away of a person. Life goes on and those who are alive have to do the same.

Esther accompanied her to the station, she too knew how difficult it was for her daughter to deal with such a lot. But she also knew that Felicity was much stronger than she seemed and she would eventually make it through.

Alicia and Lily greeted her and took her off to their compartment. She silently followed, turning back once to look at her mother, who held her hand up in farewell with a sad look on her face.

Throughout the train ride, she was painstakingly silent which was quite immediately noticed by the girls. Marlene even attempted to ask her what was wrong, but got no satisfying response. They exchanged glances for they had realized that there was something off with her, but Lily gestured them not to push the matter further. She knew that Fel wouldn't like them to bother her and she hoped that her mood would get better when they reach Hogwarts.

***

The last compartment of the train which was always a center of ruckus and hazards in the Hogwarts Express, as it was unofficially registered to the Marauders, was also lacking the mischievous atmosphere.

The three boys were crowded around Sirius, huddled together in a silent agreement of comfort and compassion. It was one of their sincere ways which the other students weren't aware of. They were not just a group of friends, they were family.

And if one of them would be feeling down, like Sirius was at the moment, they would not try to distract him and cheer him up. They would offer their silent support, which was much more effective whenever any of them would be emotionally stressed out.

"Guys, I have to tell you something," Sirius spoke up finally after a while of complete silence. He had been analyzing the situation in his mind, thinking that no one except him and Remus knew exactly what was wrong with Felicity. And now of all times, she needed the support of all her friends. So he had decided to disclose the secret within his group, just so they would all be able to look after her.

Over the past few months, Sirius had realized that even though he might not fully admit it, still his feelings for Felicity and Regulus were one and the same. In both cases, he felt extremely protective, as if he was somewhat entrusted with their responsibility. The sad thing was that Regulus had distanced himself and they were no longer on the same level of brotherhood like they had once been.

But he wanted to be a better brother to Felicity, he didn't want to repeat all his mistakes. Because to him, it seemed as if fate had given him a chance to redeem himself, and he couldn't take it if even Fel left like Regulus.

Remus looked at him with a questioning look in his eyes to which Sirius subtly nodded, confirming him that he was indeed going to tell them the truth.

"I told you that my Uncle had a daughter, right?" he was a bit reluctant at first but seeing them all silent as if encouraging him to continue steadied him, "well, she... She goes to Hogwarts and..."

James knew what he was trying to say but pretended as if he genuinely didn't have a clue about it, "explains why she was so familiar. Go on, Siri, we're not going to judge."

"Even if she's a Slytherin," Peter added, "it doesn't matter. She's your cousin and any family of yours is as important to us as they are to you... Except your mother, yeah, except her." He shuddered at that remark, remembering the Summer Break of 1973 and how Walburga had yelled at them when she had found out that her son had invited a bunch of wizarding scum to her noble house.

"She's not a Slytherin, rest assured, and I hope you reconsider what you just said about my family, Pete," he remarked, "she's in Ravenclaw." 

James nodded and it was a miracle that he had managed to act so convincingly that he was quite unaware of Sirius's secret, "alright then, enough with the suspense."

"She is Felicity."

There was eternal silence in the compartment. Sirius had probably not been expecting that reaction. He waited for a while for any of them to speak but they were all simply looking at him with no possible expression on their faces. He was most surprised that James had not jumped out of his seat. As far as he knew, out of them four, James Potter was the one who always dramatized everything. Much alarmed, he voiced out his surprise, "are you guys not going to say anything?"

"Nope. Because I'm speechless," Peter replied, "isn't that obvious?"

"Bugs me how on Earth can you still be so calm, Prongs," Sirius was eyeing him quite suspiciously.

James looked over at Remus, then faced him, "well because... Technically, all that you revealed today was no longer a secret to me."

"What do you mean?" he asked, quite taken aback. But he recovered from the shock and turned to Rem, "I told you not to let it slip, do you have any idea how furious she's going to be if she finds out that James knows!"

"Hold it, Padfoot, it's not his fault," James intervened knowing full well that Sirius would make a huge fuss out of it, "I guessed it and he just confirmed it."

"You guessed it? What? I don't believe you."

Remus, who had kept quiet throughout, butted in the conversation in his characteristic no nonsense voice, tackling the situation in a rather mater-of-fact manner, "well to be honest, he spied on you after the funeral because he was so eager to find out why your cousin looked familiar and afterwards I had to drag him away so that he would not create a scene then and there. So in other words, Sirius, you should be grateful to me instead of boiling up in much unwanted rage."

Sirius looked down at his feet, not knowing what to say to that, "I... I'm sorry. I didn't... I didn't mean to scream down on you like that."

"We understand," Remus patted his back soothingly, "and if James hasn't let it slip any further for this long, I think he won't go straight up to her and confess. You really don't have to worry."

"What I don't get is," Peter spoke up just as the tension diffused, "why would she be furious if James found out?"

Sirius shrugged in reply. He seriously had no clue why she wouldn't want James or for that instance any of her other friends to know about her relation to him. But then maybe she wouldn't want her personal life to be discussed in such a way, maybe she would still officially be a Latvia and let things take its course.

"I don't really know," he replied after pondering on it for a while, "but my guess is that she would be mortified if someone discovered that she was related to a walking nightmare like me." 

It was a halfhearted attempt on a joke from his side but it did put smiles on their faces. James gently encircled him in a one armed hug, "you know what, mate, we are all going to make sure this year won't be a disappointment to both of you. Guaranteed."

Sirius looked at the three of his very close friends who were more like brothers to him, and he felt as if he was most blessed to have them in his life, "thank you. Thank you for everything."

"Look at this fellow getting all sentimental," James remarked nudging him slightly, "we've done nothing yet. I would gladly lay down my life for you, mate."

"And I would lay down mine," Sirius's grey eyes shone with relief, indicating that he was not alone in his worries. He had the Marauders to make everything alright.

"I wouldn't refrain from doing so either," Remus too joined in what now looked a lot like a solemn oath taken by the four.

Peter observed the three of them and when he was sure they were done being emotional, he added, "but it would be better to live for one another, right? I would gladly live for all of you and with all of you."

"Well said, Wormtail," James nodded, "we solemnly swear to live for and with one another."

"No matter what the circumstances are," Sirius continued.

"No matter what the consequences may be," Remus added.

"No matter what the war brings on," Peter concluded.

The four of them lit up their wands together, sealing the oath and held hands as the time had come for their signature closing statement, "Mischief Managed."

***