Marauders Rewritten

The war against Voldemort had taken a different path.

Peter Pettigrew was dead before he ever had the chance to betray the Potters. Sirius Black had never been imprisoned, his innocence known from the beginning.

James and Lily Potter were alive. Their son Harry was growing up surrounded by both of them, and Sirius was still the chaotic godfather who appeared whenever James needed an excuse to cause trouble.

Even Regulus Black had survived. After secretly turning against Voldemort, he had escaped with his life and eventually began rebuilding his relationship with Sirius.

For once, the Marauders had been given something they had never expected.

A future.

That evening, the Black household was unusually lively. James was sitting at the kitchen table while Sirius argued with him over something completely ridiculous. Lily was preparing dinner, occasionally telling them both to stop behaving like children.

Regulus:"I still don't understand how either of you survived Hogwarts."

James:"Talent."

Sirius:"Charm."

Lily:"Pure luck."

Regulus laughed quietly.

Regulus:"I'll agree with Lily."

Sirius:"Traitor."

The laughter filled the kitchen, warm and familiar.

For a moment, everything felt almost normal.

Then the conversation slowly turned toward the past.

James:"Do you ever think about how different things could've been?"

Sirius's smile faded slightly.

Sirius:"Sometimes."

Regulus looked down at his hands.

Regulus:"Peter would've hated seeing us like this."

The room fell silent.

Peter was gone, but his absence was still felt.

Lily:"We don't have to talk about him tonight."

James nodded, and Sirius leaned back in his chair.

Sirius:"She's right."

He looked around the room, his expression softening.

Sirius:"We're here. That's what matters."

For once, nobody disagreed.