Chapter 4

James opened the door to the carriage and looked up at the main steps of the school. It had been a long time since he had last seen this place, a sad time and yet being here sent a tingle through his body. This was where he belonged. He knew that he was still needed at home by his mother but Lora and Thomas had promised they would keep her company. He needed to be at school, he needed to be with his friends.

"Oh come on Jamie move it will ya!"

He grinned as Sirius started to push him out into the night air. Dropping onto the floor he turned in time to see Sirius fall head first from the carriage with Peter falling on top of him. James laughed reminded of their first trip.

"Need any help up?"

Peter had already stood and Sirius was looking up at the building.

"Well it's nice to be home. Wonder when dinner is?"

James just grinned as a howl sounded through the air. He looked up at the sky glancing at the moon which stood at its fullest. With a small look at Sirius he nodded, this was it this was their year. He was determined that they would master the spell to help their friend by the time they were to return home.

Then the three friends began to move up into the building watching as those around them moved out of their way to let them through. It was strange James knew that this year was going to be different; people were going to be extra nice to him after the way the last had ended. Then there was the fact that this was their OWL year, then they needed two new players on the Quidditch team and it was going to be odd.

He entered the Hall and looked around. The roof was dark and stars shone down from it. A perfect night for their first back in the school. Walking down to the Gryffindor table James dropped into a seat half way down with Peter on his left and Sirius opposite. Five minutes later they were joined by Amanda and Ginny. James let his arm drop around his girlfriend's shoulders as Ginny dropped next to Sirius looking around.

"Guys wait till you see Lily and Branwen. They're so up themselves this year."

The boys looked at Ginny when she said this but it was Peter that spoke up.

"What you on about?"

Amanda carried on for Ginny.

"They're right little bitches. So far up themselves I'm surprised they can walk."

"What?"

The boys had said that one word at the same time and Ginny pointed down the table. James turned to look and felt like somebody had put a bewilderment spell on him. He had to look twice to make sure what he was seeing was right.

Lily and Branwen were standing there in extremely short skirts, shorter than he had ever seen the school skirts before. Their shirts were so tight they looked like the belonged to first years and the two girls had put them on by mistake.

James couldn't help but wonder what had happened to the pair. They had changed, grown through the summer. They were tall now and James was sure they would come up to his shoulders at least and he stood at six foot one.

"They got hot."

They all looked at Sirius but he shrugged, he was too busy watching the girls and he wasn't the only one. Most of the hall was staring at them as if not quite believing it. James knew that most of the hall was probably thinking along the same lines as he was. Ginny and Amanda had always been the lookers of the group, the confident ones daring to push the limits as far as they could. But now they had competition and from their own friends.

At that moment Frank walked passed the group looking rather red in the face and Alice didn't look very happy either. The pair followed by Joe didn't even look at them though and just walked further down the table taking a seat among the third years. James exchanged a quick look with Sirius.

"That was strange they didn't even say hello."

"Oh that's because I'm sitting with you."

The three boys turned to look at Ginny and she nodded.

"They're not talking to me because of what I did to Joe. I'm guessing that they won't be speaking to Remus either."

"You're kidding of course they're still talking to you."

Amanda made a funny noise after James' words and he turned to look at her. She shook her head.

"Actually Alice wants nothing to do with Ginny because she hurt Joe by being selfish. Then Joe is still not talking to her and Frank well he's being a good boy and following by his friend's rules. Trust me I had it all summer from Alice. How I shouldn't be speaking to Ginny either for what she's done."

Nobody had a chance to answer as the main doors to the hall opened and a group of scared looking first years entered the hall. They were making excited little noises but most were very pale. James couldn't help but relate, he remembered walking into the hall. Hey but he had been covered in dirt and then had to explain why there were people missing.

McGonagall was at the head of the hall in front of the sorting hat and when the students stopped they all turned to look at the hat.

"Another year is starting in this grand school

Everyone is excited about what is to come

Danger lays in the future of all unless something is done

Unite now and peace will reign.

Differences there are between each house

But in the founders day none were seen

Be thee Slytherin or Gryffindor, Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff

The same you will be.

If Slytherin is your calling you will be cunning

Ambition is key and your own goals your priority

But for Gryffindor you must be brave

Others are the key and success a must.

As for Ravenclaw you'll need brains

Books and learning will always come first

Then Hufflepuff want the rest

Loyalty is seen as the best quality.

But as the houses are divided

Each lacks a certain quality

Only when you act as one

Will the end of the war be seen."

The hall fell silent looking at the hat and James began to clap slowly as those around him followed. The hat was getting strange this was the second year it had talked about uniting the houses which really would be something that could never occur while the prejudice of pure blood and muggle blood was still at large.

"That was strange wasn't it?"

They nodded at Ginny as Amanda spoke up.

"We do get on with other houses Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw."

James smiled looking down at her.

"And what about Slytherin?"

"I've tried getting along with them! They want me dead so that hat can forget that."

They all laughed and their noise brought the attention of McGonagall.

"Have you got something to share with us? Or do you just not want to have dinner tonight?"

They all fell silent looking at each other, she didn't seem happy in the least. James began to wonder if maybe she had lost somebody else that could put her in a bad mood, or maybe she was just hungry.

She began to call out names and every so often the hat would call out Gryffindor and the group would clap while the person joined their table. When it was over they watched as Dumbledore stood up, he looked tired and old James noticed for the first time.

"Welcome back everyone and for our first years welcome to Hogwarts. I'd just like to say how good it is to see you all back safe and well. Now I believe that my stomach is talking so we will have food and announcements will follow. Tuck in."

Food appeared and James did just as Dumbledore said tucking into it. He pulled fish and potatoes and carrots runner beans and anything else he could reach onto his plate. Around him the others too were happily stuffing their faces and when the dessert finally disappeared he was full to the tips.

Dumbledore climbed back onto his feet and looked around the hall at everyone. James was sure that his eyes lingered on him for a moment but then they had passed on.

"So rules now then. Mr Orge our caretaker has kindly asked me to remind older students that Dung bombs are not to be used and that magic in the corridors will lead to detentions."

James noticed McGonagall mutter something and Dumbledore moved closer to her as if to catch what it was she was saying.

"Oh that's right. Professor McGonagall would also like to remind the fifth years in her house that detention is not given for your entertainment and you should not be trying to get it. Although I must say that at least three of you are on track to break the record of detentions held by a single student at the rate you are going."

James saw the twinkle in the man's eye as he winked at him. Sirius meanwhile put his hand forward for Amanda to high five, causing the old man to laugh lightly.

"Yes and I believe that this year there are a few spaces on a few Quidditch teams and so Quidditch tryouts will take place in the second week of September. For the actual date please check your house notice board found in the common rooms."

"Next is the Forbidden Forest, I would like to take this time to let our new students know that it is off limits for your own safety. We don't want to lose any of you yet. Now for our third years up, there will still be Hogsmeade visits for you if permission has been given. However due to problems in the outside world these will now be supervised and you will find Professors in the village if you need their assistance."

"Another announcement is a new member of staff. As some of you will know and others can tell from looking Professor Malfoy is no longer with us. She felt that her time would be better spent in another area."

James saw a darkened look in the headmaster's eyes and he got the feeling that their professor had joined her husband in the aid of the new dark wizard Voldemort. Amanda's movement caught his attention as she looked over to the Slytherin table, but he ignored it as Dumbledore continued.

"So as a replacement we are lucky enough to be able to bring back an old colleague of mine, the potion master before Professor Malfoy, please may I introduce to you all Professor Slughorn."

James watched as a short man with blonde hair with a large bald patch in the middle stood up. He looked alright but then again so had Malfoy until she had opened her mouth. A slight disappointment took over though, they had lost their best prank target, looked like they would be looking for somebody else to get now.

"Yes, yes we are lucky to have him back. Lastly I would like to give my sympathies to everyone who has lost somebody over the summer. We are in dark times now but I promise that while you are here you are safe from what is out there. That is all, so off you go to bed now and lessons start bright and early in the morning goodnight."

The room seemed to come alive and around them people were standing quickly. James watched as Amanda ran down the table to Frank and then back up to them

"Why'd you do that?"

"To find out that the password is Felix Felicis."

The five friends then started to make their way up to the common room. James watched as Ginny and Amanda joined hands and pushed their way through the crowds.

"I thought you'd be the one holding Mandy's hand not Ginny."

"Sirius you almost sound jealous."

"I am!"

James didn't know if he should laugh or shout as Sirius grabbed his hand, while using his other to grab hold of Peter's.

"Now that's better."

"Sirius!"

The boy just laughed as he pulled them through the crowds and up to the common room for their first night back in Hogwarts.