Hogsmeade

Two and a half hours earlier, at The Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade, James and Sirius spoke quietly at a table in the corner.

The Marauder's Map lay spread between them. Every few minutes, James turned it around to make sure the other patrons could not see the moving dots on it.

James poked a dot on the map with his finger and grinned. "Slughorn's still in his office. I reckon he's rummaging through everything looking for his missing treasures. For your Miss Lucretia, I nearly emptied out his storage cabinet."

Sirius nodded, but his gaze kept drifting toward the tavern door.

Noticing his distraction, James's lips curled upward. "Say... if you keep staring at the door, Rosmerta's going to think you're waiting for a date."

Sirius instinctively snapped back, though there was little heat in it. "Shut up, Fork. I'm not waiting for anyone."

James set down his Butterbeer and made an exaggerated expression of realization. "Of course, of course. You've simply developed a profound interest in Hogsmeade's doorframes. Want to buy one and carry it home to give her too?"

Just as Sirius was about to retort, a soft crack of Apparition came from the corner of the tavern.

Kreacher appeared in the shadows, hunched over, his bulging eyes fixed tightly on Sirius.

He held a crudely wrapped little box in his hands. Every step he took was agonizingly slow, his feet dragging across the floor with a harsh scraping sound.

He slammed the box heavily onto the table. "What the young master wanted."

James's Butterbeer jumped.

Then Kreacher began his denunciation. His voice was not loud, but every word carried clearly through the quiet corner.

"Traitorous young master... disgrace to the bloodline... how heartbroken Mistress would be..."

Sirius's hand tightened on the tabletop, and his expression immediately darkened.

"Stealing family treasures... precious things from Black old mansion taken to outsiders... poor Kreacher... what can Kreacher tell Mistress..."

Sirius pointed at Kreacher. "Enough. You can go back now! Remember my order. You are not allowed to tell anyone."

Kreacher bowed reluctantly, his body nearly folding at a right angle, then vanished with a pop.

But his voice still lingered in the air.

"Disgrace to the bloodline... tarnishing the noble family's name..."

James raised an eyebrow. "Oh, is the atmosphere in the Black family always this friendly?"

"Family tradition. You get used to it."

Sirius's voice was flat, but his hand lingered on the edge of the box for a long time.

A very long time, before he finally took a deep breath and opened it.

An ancient Silver Compass lay nestled in dark blue velvet, every star set with the tiniest diamonds.

The lines linking the constellations were as fine as hair, yet they still sparkled beneath the tavern's dim lights.

Sirius lightly touched the mechanism at its center with his index finger.

The Star Chart began to turn, emitting a faint hum.

Silver light shone out from within, casting shifting patterns across his face.

He stared at the spinning Star Chart for a long time.

James leaned over, only to be stunned by its exquisite craftsmanship. "Merlin's... how many Galleons must this be worth? Got your gift-giving speech ready?"

Sirius's finger rested on the Star Chart, bringing it to a stop.

Then he closed the box. He was silent for a long while before speaking.

"I hope she won't think it's too valuable and refuse to accept it. It isn't an ordinary ornament."

There was less teasing in James's tone. "Of course it isn't! This is a treasure from the Black family's collection cabinet."

Sirius slipped the Compass Box into the inner pocket of his robes and pressed his hand against the fabric. "I'm going to get something. Keep an eye on the map."

James nodded and turned his attention back to the Marauder's Map. "Wormtail's still in the Hospital Wing, but we'd better hurry. Slughorn seems to have given up, but two prefects are patrolling the fourth floor."

Sirius crossed the tavern and headed toward the bar.

Madam Rosmerta was pouring a drink for a customer. When she saw him approach, she smoothly took out a clean glass.

"A whiskey, Mr. Black?"

Sirius shook his head and paused. "No. A Butterbeer, to go." Then he added, "Could you put some frosting around the rim?"

Madam Rosmerta's hand stopped in midair, and her eyebrows rose.

The Black family's boy had never made a request like that before.

She poured the Butterbeer into the glass, the foam rising perfectly to the brim.

Then she raised her wand and traced a perfect circle around the rim with its tip.

The frosting formed bit by bit, twice as thick as usual, like white lace beneath the lights.

"Special occasion?"

As she spoke, she cast a Warming Charm on the glass, tapping the side several times with her wand.

Sirius picked up the glass, the frosting glittering in his hand.

He looked it over, making sure the frosting was thick enough, then placed several silver Sickles on the bar.

"Just a promise."

When he returned to the table, James glanced at the drink. "Oh, frosting around the rim? Since when did you start noticing details like that? So when I was getting beaten up before, you were helping that Crouch pin me down while staring at someone else's cup?"

Sirius did not answer directly. He set the drink down and checked the temperature of the Butterbeer.

They were silent for a while before James checked his Pocket Watch and spoke. "Twenty minutes left. Enough time for you to think over how you're going to bring it up."

Sirius feigned ignorance. "Bring up what?"

James gave him a knowing smile. "Miss Lucretia's baking? Your beloved Little Pastry Chef? The huge matter that had you sulking around the dormitory for half the day."

Sirius gave a soft snort. "If an opportunity comes up, I'll consider it."

"Don't be nervous. Just do what I usually do when I ask Lily about Charms homework. Just stand there."

Sirius shot James a sidelong glance and shook his head in mock pity.

"At least my plan is better than your terrible ideas for pursuing Evans, Prongs. Remember those dancing Snowflake Sprites you conjured in the Great Hall that year? They were supposed to spell out 'Lily Evans, go out with me,' but they ended up spelling 'Evans and I want to eat,' then all fell into her pumpkin juice and splashed her from head to toe. Our Head of House nearly turned you into a stag and mounted you on the wall."

James seemed to remember it too. He laughed loudly and slapped the table.

"Hey, I was only in third year then. Being able to conjure Snowflake Sprites was already pretty impressive, all right? Besides, I could feel Lily's Burning Gaze on me that whole week. At least it was better than being ignored."

Sirius rolled his eyes, and then the two exchanged a knowing smile.

James raised his glass. "Good luck, Padfoot. Hope you get to taste pastries better than the ones from the Hogwarts kitchens."

Sirius added, "Most importantly, don't let Crouch catch you. I don't think he even used his full strength during that Disarming Charm incident. After all, we were all using basic spells she could understand."

James grinned. "Then I'll definitely appear at a safe distance to watch the moment our brave Padfoot gets taught a lesson face-to-face by the little princess's knight! Maybe if I put you back together quickly enough, I can rush you to Madam Pomfrey for treatment."

Sirius waved him off dismissively, though there was a smile at the corner of his mouth. "Just wait and see. When the time comes, it's hard to say who'll cry the hardest. I'll definitely make you take the hit for me."

James laughed, folded up the Marauder's Map, and put it in his pocket. "Plan stays the same. I'm heading back to the tower to watch the map. You go to the East Tower. Moony will find an excuse to leave at eight thirty."

Sirius nodded and took the Two-way Mirror from his pocket, making sure it worked properly. "Stay in contact at all times. Use the code word if anything happens."

They left The Three Broomsticks and stepped onto the streets of Hogsmeade.

The night air was cool and clear, while Hogwarts Castle glimmered in the distance.

James gave Sirius's shoulder a heavy pat. "Relax, Padfoot. Just be yourself."

Sirius slipped a hand into his pocket, touching the edge of the Two-way Mirror and turning it unconsciously. "Yeah, because being myself has always gone so well. I thought you'd already learned that from the Foolish House-elf at our house."

James laughed, hooked an arm around Sirius's neck, and pulled him closer.

"This time is different. Don't forget, I want a complete report when you get back tonight. Details, Padfoot. I want every last detail. Especially after that subtle expression you made when you swapped names between our Moony and Miss Lucretia within three sentences. So spare me that 'it just happened naturally' nonsense."

Sirius answered with a cold snort.

The two bumped fists in tacit understanding, then parted at the edge of the village.

James headed toward the main road leading to Gryffindor Tower, while Sirius chose a less-traveled path.

It was one of the shortcuts back to the castle.

Sirius avoided several patrolling prefects and quickly made his way through a secret passage they knew well at a corner of the seventh-floor corridor.

When he reached the East Tower stairs, he stopped on the final step and leaned back against the cold stone wall.

Sirius unconsciously smoothed the wrinkles from his robes, then pressed a hand against his inner pocket.

The Compass Box was still there, its shape neat and solid.

He held the Butterbeer in his other hand. The glass was still warm, and the frosting remained intact.

Normally, he never cared about such things.

If his hair was messy, it was messy. If his robes were wrinkled, they were wrinkled. If mud splashed onto his boots, it did not matter.

Gryffindor boldness did not require a perfect appearance.

But tonight, he had fixed his hair.

Checked his robes.

Cleaned his boots.

He had even checked them once more before the door.

Sirius raised his hand and held it before the door for a long time.

Then he took a deep breath and knocked softly.