A/N I apologize for the long wait for Chapter 3. For the most part, I'm going to try to update every week, with some exceptions depending on how busy I am. But, if I'm going to be late, I'll put two chapters up. Like I'm doing today.

Hopefully, you like the story so far! I'm going to try to keep the author notes short, so if there's something else I have to say, it'll be on my profile. This is my first fanfic so any news on it will be up there.

As always, Read and Review!

Chapter 4 His POV

I lay down, my head resting lightly on the bedroll, trying to will myself to sleep. Mel was right next to me, so close that I could touch her without extending my arm. Rolling over to face her, I raised my elbow, leaning my cheek on my palm.

Gazing at her perfect profile, I shook my head silently. I rolled over yet again. Attractive yes, but no more than that. I didn't have the time or patience to get involved with someone, friend or otherwise. There were more pressing matters to consider. A girl like her could never survive in the world I came from. She was so isolated from politics, war, and those other ugly ideas inherent solely in man. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't answer her questions. I didn't care that it would be more than unfair for her, I couldn't put my new acquaintance in danger.

I struggled to avoid the guilt that was threatening to overwhelm me. How could I try to protect this girl when I had only just met her? Who was I to judge her capabilities?

Still, that world was cold and unforgiving especially to newcomers. She would be forced to probe that she belonged. Even if I did tell her as much as I was allowed, prior knowledge could only get you so far. Without any connections of her own, there was an even smaller chance that she would survive if she managed to be accepted. Hauling her into a society like that was a death sentence. The fighting wouldn't kill her, the politics would.

I tried to get comfortable. Raising my arms, I placed them behind my head. Why was I even thinking about her in relation to where I was from? It didn't matter in the slightest. If I had any say in the matter, she would never even hear of it, let alone have to survive it.

Sleep tugged at my eyelids, pulling me down into a restless slumber haunted by dreams.

My breathing was ragged, my heart pounding a mile a minute. Adrenaline pumped through my veins, urging me onward. Lungs burning, I fled the blacksmith's shop.

I ran without looking back. The man would be after me in a second. Once he started chasing me, I would lose all chance of escape.

Pushing my hair out of my eyes, I spotted the path leading into the forest. My eyes lingered on the "Do not enter!" signs before I sped past them. Even braving the forest was better than being caught.

That man thought I stole from him. The imbecile still didn't realize that I was being framed? What use did I have from those rusty weapons he claimed were from the Weasley's long forgotten stock? They were obvious fakes, but the rest of the town would never believe me. Why trust my word over that of a longstanding citizen?

Why trust the traveler indeed? I scoffed. If I had any say in it, I wouldn't be the one who had to pay for their mistake. They would be continually robbed since they accused the wrong man.

My feet led me into the welcoming cover of the trees. Despite what people said, it didn't look dangerous. The trees were beautiful shades of green, not like the murky swamp-like tones, I had been told.

Pushing the thought aside, I listened for footsteps behind me. Sure enough, they stopped at the end of the path.

"Boy! Get back here. Even someone as crazy as you wouldn't dare to enter that place. You may be nineteen but you can't even fight, let alone survive there!"

I grinned in amusement. He really thought I was useless. I spent the last few days bumbling about the town, making an utter fool of myself. Apparently, I was a convincing actor. All the better. There was no reason for the town to know my skills. They didn't need to know where I came from before I walked into this place.

Twisting around, I ran a little farther into the forest and sank to the ground. The rough bark of a tree was cutting into my back, reminding me of my location.

I couldn't return to the town. They wouldn't let me in, let alone accept me as one of them. Then again, that was a good thing. If they made me leave, at least they would be safe.

That man chasing me was the least of my concerns. What if the hunters found me? I had narrowly escaped them to enter the town. God forbid they find me so close to those ignorant townsfolk.

Thump. I silently jumped to my feet. Pushing myself away from the tree, I stepped back away from the source of the sound. Thump.

So I underestimated the hunters. They were already here. Thump. Thump, thump. Not only were they here, they were twenty feet away.

I looked around for anyplace to hold my ground, but found none. There was no room to fight in this undergrowth. Thump. That was a clever thought on their part. If I couldn't fight, they could just end the hunt in the forest.

Thump. I grinned in anticipation. It looked like I had two choices: kill or be killed.

I woke up with a start. Frowning, I pushed the hair out of my eyes. Why did I wake up? It wasn't a bad memory. If I had stayed asleep, I would have relived the beating I gave them. All twenty-five of them. Not too shabby, although I had clearly become rusty.

Shrugging, I snuggled down into the bedroll, waiting for sleep to overtake me once more.

I ran home, proudly slinging the dead deer on my back. Father would be proud. He always praised me when I brought food home. Said I was the best son one could ever ask for, and gave me a bone-crushing hug.

When I reached the house, I pulled open the door, and walked down the hallway.

"Mama? Father?" I called out.

No answer. I shrugged, thinking they were probably out back preparing the meal. Pausing a second to adjust the deer on my back, I started down the hall.

As I got closer to the kitchen, I heard sobs echoing against the cabinets. Peering through a crack in the door, I saw my father wrap his arm around my mother, trying in vain to comfort her.

"What, hic, are we supposed to, hic, do now?" she sobbed into his tearstained shirt.

"Shhhh, dear. They can't do anything yet," he muttered under his breath.

She covered her face in her hands, trying to stop the flow of tears. After a final shudder, she wiped the tears away and stood up straight.

"No use crying. We have to prepare. Even if they can't do anything yet, we have to be ready for the worst. I'm not going to sit by and watch it happen."

My father smiled down at her, and hugged her tightly. She smiled back, and stood on tiptoe to kiss him lightly on the lips. His smile widened for a second, before he leaned down and deepened the kiss. Her hands wrapped around his neck just before I looked away.

Ew, I didn't want to see that. My eleven-year-old self shuddered at the thought. They would be disappearing off to their room shortly. Sure enough, five minutes later, the back door to the kitchen closed. I heard my father's footsteps down the hall until he reached their room. The door opened, and closed with a bang.

I pulled open the kitchen door, and put the deer down near the rest of the meat. I would gut it later. My eyes surveyed the room until they landed on a piece of yellowed paper sitting on the table. Picking it up, I began to read.

James and Lily,

I'm sorry. We're going to be attacked. They're coming. Soon. Don't bother to try to help us. We're not even going to fight. As soon as they come to attack, we're running. All of us. Just thought you should know. Don't worry about us. We'll be fine.

All my love,

Sirius

I sat down on the chair. My mind was a whirl of thoughts. They couldn't be attacked. No wonder Mama and Father were going to help them. Sirius needed them. Everyone needed them. But, they would be alright. They were only thirty-two. I wouldn't lose my parents because of this. They couldn't die because of this.

I rolled off the bedroll, and landed with a bump. Rubbing my back, I sat up.

It was ironic really. That the last thought was that they wouldn't die. That they couldn't die. A week later, they had kissed me goodbye and left. I never saw them again.

I received a note from Sirius saying that they had been killed. He came down to visit me, and helped me pack. We left the next day, locking up the house, and swearing we would avenge my parents' deaths. The vow was an empty one, and we both knew it. How could we track down the killers? What difference would it have made? My parents were dead.

Sitting up, I shrugged. It wasn't that I didn't care about them. I loved them, and I loved Sirius. They were the only three people I cared about in life. But, they weren't a part of my day-to-day life. Two of them were now gone, and the third was wandering the countryside. He had been my parents' best friend. Before leaving, he told me that he would see me soon. He kept the promise. Every few weeks, we would get together somewhere and compare our efforts.

It was funny how slowly our motives changed from revenge to revolution. We hated the society that killed James and Lily. And we were now willing to risk everything to change it. The last year or so, we had been working behind the scenes. Surprisingly, I found a new side to Sirius.

When I first met him, I thought he was a player through and through. I couldn't have been more right. I suppose people said he rubbed off on me.

He was tall with long dark curly hair that he normally left down around his face. His eyes were a stormy gray that always held a mischievous gleam. The well-known prankster always had something up his sleeve. It was hard to take him serious especially when he denounced politics and refused to associate with the "big-headed fawning pigs" as he affectionately called the courtiers, including his own family.

After James and Lily died, he had taken me under his wing. Once I reached fifteen, he introduced me into society. He excused his absence by explaining he wanted to travel with me. After establishing he was back for good, he threw himself into politics.

I never thought he would be good at it. He always seemed too fun loving to be willing to engage in the court. But, truth be told, he was perfect. Once I too, had settled down, we set our plan in motion.

We were demolishing the court from the inside out. The court would go down with all of its politics, style, and verbal battles thrust in its face.

I lay back down on my bedroll. Visiting the Weasleys was all part of the plan. I couldn't allow Mel to be a distraction. Too much was at stake.

I twisted yet again. Introducing Mel to the court might not be a bad idea. I would have to watch over her like a hawk to keep her out of harm's way, but she would undeniably shake up the court.