This chapter starts off with Peter, Remus, Lily and Severus (them hanging out), Sirius, and then James and Demi (they will take the longest to write)

Peter

"But mum, everyone else is allowed to go!" whined Peter, his Hogsmeade permission form dangling loosely in hand. He trailed after his mother, who was in the kitchen setting a pot of tea.

"I know sweetheart, but, I'm worried." She bent down so as to look him in the eye. "I know that you are frustrated, but believe me when I say, it's for your best interests that you do not stray out of the castle's boundaries. Especially in times like these," she added, peering through the window over the sink.

"Meredith, you're forgetting one very crucial fact" said Peter's father, shutting the front door from whence he came. He walked over to his son and wife giving each a hug and kiss. "They've Dumbledore."

"Yes, but-" Meredith began.

"He's not exactly young?" said Paul, making himself comfortable at the table, as Meredith poured out the tea. "He may not look it, but he's the owner of a keen and penetrating mind. He's smart, agile, and quick as a phoenix. Trust him, and should you find it difficult, you will be hard put to trust another." He took a sip of tea and sighed. Looking at his son, he asked, "Where's the slip, m'boy?"

"Here," said Peter, sliding in towards his father, who promptly pulled out a quill and a pot of ink. With a flourish, he signed the parchment and handed it back to his beaming son. "You'd better not blow anything up." They all began to laugh and began making dinner. Somehow, the little family had managed to forget the problems of the world, and faced another, what to eat for dinner.

Remus

"Dad, I trust them" said Remus.

"Yes, but, they're children Remus," his father said exasperatedly.

"I'm a child," said Remus, eyeing his father. They both knew that was far from true. The young lad had experienced far more than a grown man ever would, his eyes said it all. The grey flecks in Remus' green eyes resembled that of cracking glass. The boy had been broken, from a young age. Lyall bent down looking his son straight in the eyes, "do you trust them?" he asked.

"Yes" he whispered.

Lyall looked more closely. As though it were a sign of the foursome's unwavering loyalty, he could see the grey beginning to fade. Perhaps the boy was becoming a man, "alright."

Hope walked in on the two, and was tactful enough to pretend as though she hadn't heard a word of their conversation. "Where's the slip Remus?" she asked, a quill and ink in hand.

"Oh, right here mum," said Remus, sliding the piece of parchment across the table.

With a scribble, Hope signed the page and handed it back to her son, "Don't blow anything up" she begged, making them al laugh. "So, James invited you over to his house did he?" she asked.

"What? Where the hell was I when this happened?" asked Lyall, looking from his wife back to his son, a bemused look on his face.

"This afternoon, while you were at work" said Hope. "Well, then, have you decided to accept his offer?"

"Well," began Remus. "What with the full moon happening in a few days, I don't think I can risk it." His head dropped slightly. His mother wrapped her arms around him, "It's fine sweety. Oh, perhaps you can meet up with them on the weekend when we go to Diagon Alley. You three can go off, and we'll talk with the Potters."

"That's a brilliant idea mum, why didn't I think of that?" said Remus, grabbing the abandoned quill and ink from the table and heading off in search of parchment.

"I can do more than just cook, you know" she laughed, settling down at the table, across from her husband.

"I married you for a reason, didn't I" Lyall laughed.

Lily and Severus

"Really Lily, she's been adopted by the-the – Rotters?" said Severus as he paced around the park agitatedly. Lily managed to catch up with him. Severus had grown in the last month. Three of Lily's steps were the equivalent of one of his manly strides.

"Oh, don't pull your hair out, Sev. And they're the Potters" she said.

"Oh, come off it. You know just as well as I that they're going to corrupt her. She's one of the only other Gyrffindor's I like," he added as an afterthought.

"Meaning you don't like Kiaria, Alice, Remus, Peter, or Frank?" asked Lily. She knew well enough not to bring up Sirius or James' names. The mere thought of the two boys sent her and Severus into rants. Many started with "how could the school let them in?' to 'how long till they get kicked out?' They wandered around towards the park, lying in the shade of a gnarled oak tree. "this is where we first met' said lily, leaning back.

"Yeah, it was a disaster. Remember what happened?" asked Severus.

Flashback

Lily had flown off the top of the swing. "Lily, don't do it!" screeched Petunia.

Slowly the red haired girl flew into a high arc and had literally launched herself skyward with a great shout of laughter, and soared into the ground, landing softly on the asphalt.

"Mummy told you not to!" shouted Petunia as she ground her swing to a halt. She lept up, hand on her hips, eyeing her sister. "Mummy said you weren't allowed, Lily!"

"But I'm fine," said Lily, still giggling. "Tuney, look at this. Watch what I can do."

Petunia glanced around. The playground was deserted apart from what they thought was themselves. Lily plucked a fallen flower from the bush behind which (she didn't know at this point) Snape lurked. Petunia advanced slowly, torn between curiosity and disapproval. Lily waited until Petunia was close enough, and held out her palm. There sat the flower, it's petals opening and closing, like a bizarre creature.

"Stop it!" shrieked Petnia.

"It's not hurting you," said Lily, but she tossed the blossom aside.

"It's not right," said Petunia, but her eyes had followed the flowers flight to the ground and lingered upon it. "How do you do it?" she added, a sense of longing in her voice.

"It's obvious, isn't it?" Severus could no longer contain himself, but had jumped forward from the bushed. Petunia screamed and ran back towards the swings, but Lily, startled nonetheless, remained where she was, eyeing Severus with great interest. Severus blushed as he looked at Lily.

"What's obvious?" asked Lily.

Severus glanced at Petunia. Lowering his voice he said, "I know what you are."

"What do you mean?"

"You're-you're a witch," whispered Severus.

Lily looked murderous.

"That's not a very nice this to say to somebody!"

She turned away, nose in the air and marched off towards her sister.

"No!" said Severus, blushing furiously and flapping his arms, the coat making him look suspiciously like a bat. He watched as Lily and Petunia clutched at the swing poles. "You are," he said to Lily. "You're a witch. I've been watching you for a while. But there's nothing wrong with that. My mum's one, and I'm a wizard."

Petunia's laugh was high and cold.

"Wizard!" she shrieked, her courage returned as she recovered from Severus' appearance. "I know who you are. You're that Snape boy! They live down Spinner's End by the river," she told Lily, and it was evident that she loathed anyone from that area. "Why have you been spying on us?" she added.

Haven't been spying," said Severus, hot and uncomfortable. "Wouldn't spy on you anyway," he added maliciously, "you're a Muggle."

Though Petunia hadn't a vlue what the word mant she could hardly mistake the tone in which it was said.

"Lily, come on, we're leaving!" she said shrilly. Lily obeyed her sister and glared at Severus as she left.

"Wasn't exactly the way I had planned it" said Severus, putting his face in his hands.

"Me neither. I was so mean to you. I didn't even give you a chance to explain. I feel so stupid about that" she added, looking at her friend.

"Well, at least you gave me a chance to explain it after," he laughed. "So, how was your grandmother?" asked Severus, eager to change the topic.

"She's fine, but-" lily stopped her voice slightly shaking. "She- she hasn't been feeling well exactly." Her eyes went red slightly.

"What do you mean?" asked Severus gently.

"It's just, she's getting old." Suddenly, Lily burst into tear. "And –and- we don't think she'll be here, much longer" her voice waivered off.

Severus shoved hi hand sin his pockets, pulling out a wrinkled handkerchief. He quickly brushed it off before handing it to a grateful Lily, who wiped her eyes and blew her nose (rather loudly).

"It's just that, I haven't seen her in so long, and to know that she won't be here for too long . . " she blew her nose again.

Severus patted her on the back rather awkwardly. "It'll be fine Lils, it'll be fine." He spent the rest of the day helping Lily relax and soon, they set off for home.

Sirius

"You bastard" Walburga snarled, backhanding her son.

"What did I do wrong now?" gurgled Sirius, blood in his mouth as he enraged her further.

"You bloody fool, need you ask?" she spat.

"Well, yes, because I personally do not see where I erred," Sirius responded, earning another whack around the head.

"Room, NOW!" his mother screamed.

Ducking another one of her wayward punches, he stalked upstairs, leaving his mother fuming in the living room. He'd only been home for 6 weeks and his mother was already going to kill him (if she didn't disown him first).Only the first day back he received a thrashing from her. Not daring to ask what he had done, he took it quietly and headed to his room the moment he'd gotten home. A few weeks later, during one of their muggle "rights" lessons, Regulus had defended the muggles. His mother, enraged by the response was about to thrash him, until Sirius stepped in stating that he had planted the idea in Regulus' mind. He received another beating. Only two days later, he had 'accidently' called his mother a banshee and received two plates to the head. He shut the door and laid down on his bed, looking up at the ceiling. "Why is the break so long?" he asked.

He watched as the shadows in the room faded, hinting that it was night. He looked around his hellhole of a house, and wondering if it had been long enough, unlocked his bedroom door. His stomach growled, aching to be fed. Tiptoeing down the staircase, he turned the knob on the door leading down into the kitchen. Pushing it open he noticed the light was on at the bottom, hinting that perhaps his parents were still awake. Shutting the door, he knelt down to the ground and listened through the gap between the door and the floor. Concentrating, he could make out the conversation taking place.

"He's gone to the dark side, he's not coming back!" snarled Walburga.

"He's forgotten his heritage" said Orion. Sirius could hear him pulling out a chair to seat his agitated wife into. "There's nothing we can do" continued Orion.

"Perhaps disciplining the child would be beneficial" said a voice. Sirius' blood froze. He'd heard that voice on one other occasion, over a year ago when Bellatrix had invited You-Know-Who to their house. "Maybe subjecting the boy to the Cruciatus Curse would help him redirect his focus on where it ought to be."

"Perhaps," said his mother, consideration in her tone.

As if, Sirius thought. There's no way in hell I'd ever give in. They're tosspots if they think I'm giving up on Gryffindor. I'll be forever loyal to Hogwarts.

"I think it would be in your favour, seeing as he has a certain penchant for listening at doorways" said You-Know-Who.

Sirius jumped back as the basement door swung open. He stood up shakily as his father, Walburga, and You-Know-Who walked up the steps. His hood was down, and Sirius saw his face again. Chalk white, with slits for a nose and blood red eyes. His father looked down darkly. His mother plunged her hand in her robes, pulling out her wand.

"Nonsense, Walburga. Allow me" said You –Know- Who, pulling out his wand stowed in the folds of his cloak. With a wave, the curse swept over Sirius. The most pain the young boy had ever experienced washed over his body, as if a thousand swords were running his flaming body through.

"STOP" he screamed, his lungs fit to burst. Suddenly it was over, He opened up his eyes slowly. He was lying on the floor 5 feet from where he was before.

You-Know-Who, swept over him and locked his red eyes with the boy's grey. "Tell your dear, tainted, Demitria I said hello." With that he opened up the front door and swung it shut. Sirius sat up shakily and looked at both his parents, who half-dragged, half threw the young boy up the staircase, and back into his room, which they locked shut.

Bruised, battered, bloody, and tired, Sirius pulled himself onto his bed. Reaching under his bed, he pulled out one of the several phials of clear liquid that Demi had given him before he left the train. He applied them to his body and watched as the scratches and bruises healed. Quietly, he clambered into bed and shut his eyes, praying for the day this would all be over.

James and Demi

"Have you heard anything from Sirius or Remus?" asked Mrs. Potter, placing the plates of breakfast onto the already food laden table. The golden rays of the sun poured in through the long line of windows along the wall facing the backyard.

"Remus can't come, he's ill" said James swallowing a mouthful of pancakes.

"Aw, poor boy. What about Sirius?" asked Mrs. Potter, helping herself to some pancakes (well, the ones that James and Jack hadn't devoured yet).

"I dunno, haven't heard from him all summer. I sent him about three or four letters. Demi sends him one every couple of days" James added cheekily, glancing over at Demi.

"No I haven't heard from him either," she said. "I've sent him quite a few letters, but he never seems to respond." She looked over at the Potters and added, "I think something's wrong."

"What do you mean?" asked Mr. Potter.

"Well, last year when I sent him letters throughout the summer, I thought he wasn't replying to them because I was on the other side of the world. When we met on the train, he told me that he got them, but wasn't able to respond because he'd never be downstairs long enough to reply to any of them," she explained. "James, you were there when he explained it all" she said.

"I was?" he asked.

"Yes, it was right after you and Sirius had rigged all of the pumpkins at the Halloween dance to explode," she chided.

"Hey, you helped."

"No, I gave you the idea, you and Sirius made them explode. I was busy that night."

"Yeah, eating loads of spicy food and dancing with your boyfriend," James said, making the Potters do a double take.

"Aww, who's this young man?" asked Mrs. Potter.

"Yeah, who is he? I have to intimidate him," said Mr. Potter waving his fork in the air, causing a strawberry to fly off the end of it and hit the windows, where it slid down to the ground, unnoticed.

"He's no one," said Demi looking down and blushing furiously.

"It's Gilderoy Lockhart for Ravenclaw house. He's a year older than us," James said, selling his sister out.

Demi shot him a dark look, as the two parent laughed. "I've met his father once, thought he was a pompous jerk" reminisced Mr. Potter.

"His mother's not that bright though," interjected Mrs. Potter.

"He doesn't fall far from the tree" added James, laughing.

"He's a nice person, James. You just haven't met him properly yet. I'll introduce you two," said Demi brightly.

"So, how do you like it here so far?" asked Mrs. Potter, walking into the room, they'd cleared out for Demi. She looked around the dark red walls, her eyes eventually setting on the gold pouffe the girl was perched on.

Demi stood up "It's really nice." Walkign over to her bed, she placed the book on the pillow and turned towards Mrs. Potter. "You know what I am, don't you?" she asked.

Mrs. Potter walked over and wrapped the girl in a hug, stroking her blue hair, "yes."

"And you still accepted me? Knowing fully well what risk I pose over yourself, your husband, and your son?" she asked in disbelief.

"Yep" Amie said, lying back on the girl's bed.

"Why?" Demi asked.

"Because, you are a good hearted, intelligent, and beautiful girl. Not a monster" Mrs. Potter replied.

"I don't creep you out?" Demi asked.

"Quite the contrary. I find your condition quite, interesting."

"James has an amazing mother and father" said Demi observantly.

"Not just James, you do too" said Mr. Potter, who'd been standing in the doorway. "James is outside, wondering if you want to play Quidditch."

"Sure" said Demi. Turning back to the two Potter she said, "Thank you mum and dad."

"Anything for our daughter" said the two, and they walked out to the backyard to watch a game of one on one.