A Warrior's Path

Chapter 1: Changed

----

It was September 1, 1977. Many would have been happy on this day, for it was the day that they went back to Hogwarts. But not James Potter. Not the person who'd lost so much in such a recent amount of time. Not the direct descendant of Godric Gryffindor himself.

If you had seen James on this date, you never would have guessed that at the end of the previous June, he was indeed a joker, a prankster. He was now Head Boy of the school, angry, and a warrior. Sure, that joker was still in there, under layers of pain… great emotional pain. For just that summer, his parents had been murdered, by the very person that they opposed… and from that day on, he hadn't quite been the same… he'd changed.

--

Lily Evans's POV

YAY! I'm Head Girl! All my dreams are coming true. I am slightly sad, though, that this will be the last time I shall go to Hogwarts. I must quickly get to the Head's compartment! When I got there, I found James Potter, the Head Boy. He looked downcast, angry, his black hair, trailing into his face. I of course knew what had happened to his family. I mean, who wouldn't have heard about the death of the Potters, who were so very high in the Wizarding Social Status? What surprised me, was not the downcast, angry look in his eyes, that were so full of vengeance, but what was on his lap, and next to him. Also, he was wearing battle robes, while polishing a sword! Next to him was a battle axe, daggers, knives, a bow, and a quiver of arrows, among other weapons of war. I looked at him incredulously.

"James… where did you get this… stuff!" I yelled at him.

"Family heirlooms. I swore to avenge my parents' murders." He said simply.

"But, you can't bring this to school!" I yelled. "And what are you doing here?" I should have guessed then.

"I'm Head Boy." James said, gesturing the badge that I had failed to notice on his chest. He went back to polishing. I was too flustered so I ran out of the compartment.

--

Though she did not here it, James at this point said "And I'm fighting for you, Lily Evans."

--

Sirius Black's POV

Gah! I'm losing Prongs, I'm losing my best friend! I'm really worried about Prongs, he's been rather distant since his parents were murdered.

We had been out at a club that night, and when we came back to Potter Manor, the house was all dark. We cautiously went into the house so that we didn't wake up anybody. We went into the Living Room, and saw all of the House Elves. I mean ALL of them. (The Potters had about 500) they were all gathered around two figures. When James fought through and saw his father (who looked just like him) and mother on the ground, dead as a doornail, he ran forward and sank to his knees. On the ground, next to them, was a piece of paper:

Potter,

Heed this warning, Potter. If you do not, you will see each person you love WILL die.

Under this was a picture of the Dark Mark. There was no mistaking who wrote the message. Voldemort Himself had come to dispose of the Potters. However under this was another piece of paper, and I noticed that it was blank. However, underneath it I saw another blank piece of paper, only with Mr. Potter's signature. I knew that this was charmed so that only Potters could read it.

"What's it say"

Dear James,

I'm sorry to say this, but If you have this letter, we (your mother and I) are dead. You know that room which you've tried to get into time and time again… the one we've told you never to enter? Go in there and place your hand upon the mirror. Use everything in the adjoining room that opens to fight evil.

Use it well,

Christopher H. Potter

We then went into the mentioned room, and James followed the instructions. There was a flash of light, and the wall sunk into the floor. We entered the opened room. Inside were many weapons. Knives, daggers, swords, battle robes. Most importantly, on an alter, in a stone, strangely similar to Excalibur of King Arthur, was a sword. James went up and pulled it out with extreme ease. I then noticed that inscribed was:

Only a true Gryffindor may lift this sword. Use this against evil of any kind.

Under this was a list of names, apparent 'true Gryffindors' and James' name was flashing red. Under it was MY name! James began to whip around the sword, while explaining that it was Gryffindor's sword. I sat awed. He then went around collecting weapons. That was the night my best friend changed, and the light of anger and vengeance has not gone out since.