Abnormal ?James Potter?

Chapter 6: Loyalties Divided

Sirius navigated the vibrant corridors of Hogwarts, trying to untangle his thoughts from the knot of frustration and worry they'd become. As he rounded a corner, he skidded to a halt just in time to avoid colliding with Marlene McKinnon, who was surrounded by a group of Gryffindor girls.

"Sirius Black," Marlene said, her voice sharp but not unkind. "You've got some nerve disappearing like that. What happened?"

The lively chatter of the group dimmed, all eyes turning to Sirius, expectant and curious. He managed a smile, though it quickly faded under their scrutiny. "Marlene, sorry. I saw Remus with Rosier, and I—" he gestured helplessly, as if that explained everything.

"Rosier?" Marlene echoed, her eyebrows arching. "Sirius, come on, Rosier's not the devil."

Lily Evans, nearby, regarded him thoughtfully. "You know you can't judge everyone by their house, right? You're not being, well... very fair."

Sirius met her gaze with a familiar defensiveness. "It's not just Rosier. It's the company he keeps—like Cassie, and all the drama that follows her. Not to mention his dear old mum who works at the ministry     wants to ban muggleborns from Hogwarts."

Lily sighed softly, her expression firm yet understanding. "Sirius, people can surprise you. You know better than most how complicated things can be, right?" Her words seemed to glimmer with meaning, touching briefly on his family life.

Sirius hesitated. Memories of Regulus flashed through his mind—his brother's earnest face, the way their paths had diverged so completely. What if he was seeing similar patterns where there were none?

"Yeah, maybe," Sirius murmured, uncertainty tugging at the corners of his mind. "But with Cassie... I just don't trust it."

Marlene stepped forward, softening her posture. "We've all got our suspicions, Sirius, but Remus isn't naive. He can handle himself around Rosier or anyone else."

Peter Pettigrew, who'd been lingering on the edge of the group, piped up, offering a small nod. "We've seen Remus pull through before. He's got us, too."

Alice Fortescue joined the conversation, her presence calming as always. "We're all here for each other, Sirius. We're not fighting these battles alone."

Sirius nodded, their words—simple yet meaningful—an anchor in his internal storm. "Alright. I'll fix this, sort it out with Remus." He paused, then added with a lopsided grin, "And I promise I'll make it up to you, Marlene. Chocolate frogs all around."

Marlene laughed, some of the tension easing away. "Glad to hear it, Black. Next time, maybe think twice before dashing off into the unknown?"

As the group moved back into the flow of their day, Lily laid a hand on his arm. "Faith in each other, Sirius. We all need it, whether we realize it or not."

He nodded, feeling the steady support of his friends. They reminded him of what truly mattered: loyalty, understanding, and the courage to confront the biases that sometimes clouded his judgment.

James Potter lounged in the Gryffindor common room, though his mind was far from the warmth of the crackling fire opposite him. Today's competition had unveiled a side of Cassiopeia Black that lingered in his thoughts—a vision starkly different from the icy Slytherin queen he'd known.

Through the winding maze of the competition, he'd watched her maneuver with precision and cold grace, every step calculated, every word a measured dose of power. She had always seemed like a queen of destruction, weaving shadows and ambition into an untouchable armor.

But then there was Bellatrix—looming, caustic, reveling in her dominance—and James had seen the cracks. In Cassiopeia's eyes, for the briefest of moments, he saw not the reigning monarch but a young woman shackled by expectations, her formidable façade stretched thin by the weight of someone else's ambitions.