A/N: Happy New Year everyone! I probably should have updated more frequently. I'M SORRY. And I wasn't home over break so this next chapter is long overdue. Thank you to everyone who favorited/followed/reviewed. It means so so so much. I wish I could hug you all. I wish you all a very merry new year. Also a dozen virtual cookies to anyone who can name all of the Books/Phrases/Poems that the titles from my chapters come from.

Best of luck/May the odds be ever in your favor.

Chapter 9: James

James had woken up the following morning to the sound of purring and something soft touching his leg. He groggily woke up and felt around the bed to find the source of the annoying sound. At the time he had suspected one of Lily's stupid pygmy puffs that had gotten stuck to one of his books, but he found something scratchy lick his hands and James Potter shot up ten feet in the air.

"What the hell?" he shouted.

Luckily Fred, Aaron, and Alex were enormously heavy sleepers and Alex only let out a soft grunt before turning on his side and settling back to sleep.

"It's a bloody cat!" he exclaimed quietly. He threw his legs over the edge of the bed and let out a large yawn before rubbing his eyes. He turned around to face the creature which had taken quite a fancy with him. The small figure rubbed its head against the palm of James' hand and meowed loudly until James stroked its head.

He recognized the distinct leopard print pattern on its fur, "Blimey Eva, how'd you get in here?" James asked.

It was still awfully dark outside, James check the time. About half past three. "Damn it," he yawned again.

James scratched the back of his head and further messed up his already messy hair before quietly slipping on a sweatshirt and heading towards the door of the dormitory. He turned back around before grabbing a piece of parchment from the foot of his bead. He heard a loud creak as he stepped on a loose floorboard and winced. But his roommates kept right on sleeping.

He scooped up the cat who now purred in his arms. "You don't really deserve that," James muttered half conscious. "Waking me up at the ungodly hours of the morning." He made his way down the stairs where there were a few stragglers finishing up last minute papers.

"I solemnly swear I'm up to no good," he yawned. He touched the yellowing piece of parchment with the tip of his wand as he shifted the cat in his arms in a manner that would allow him to do so. Black lettering spiralled across the parchment and in a familiar spidery font the message from Mssrs Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Progs appeared presenting to James the Mauraders' map.

James looked behind to see that the last of the students were now wandering up to bed. "Lumos" he muttered as he carefully unfolded the map as he headed out of the common room. The door creaked slightly as he made his way into the corridor. Besides the light from his wand it was pitch black. Fortunately it seemed as though Augustus had taken to patrolling near the Slytherin dormitories in the dungeons so his tiny footprints could be seen pacing back and forth. Unfortunately, James would need to walk to the west end of the castle and go down two flights using the changing staircases.

He found Emma's name scrawled in the Ravenclaw Tower. James silently cursed her for being able to sleep as he dealt with her cat. "Do not make a sound," he warned Eva who began to squirm under his arm.

She looked up at him with big golden eyes that James could barely make out in the dim light.

"I always hated cats."

James expertly navigated the school, only glancing at the map every so often in order to determine if Augustus in fact, was moving towards the fifth floor. It was evident to James that he was content sitting in his office at this moment, presumably sleeping. So when he got to the fifth floor and climbed the spiral staircase of Ravenclaw tower leading towards the common room and the knocker spoke, he hadn't expected it and he jumped.

"If something is invisible, is it also intangible?"

"Goddamn," James said to no one in particular, he had forgotten that Ravenclaw required an answer to a riddle to get inside the tower. He pondered for a few moments before answering. "Invisibility is a state of mind, perception more than tangibility."

"Very well," the knocker said.

To his surprise, a passageway was open to him, and with that James whispered "Nox" and "Mischief Managed," before heading into the common room while balancing a purring cat under his arm and jamming the parchment along with his wand in the pocket of his sweatshirt.

He hobbled into the Ravenclaw common room, and though he had been there before, he was struck, every time with how different it was from Gryffindor's. The homey crackle of the fire was missing as were the large comfy chairs and the warm tones of red and gold. Instead Ravenclaw dawned multiple arched windows, decor graced the walls in blue and bronze. Rather than an open ceiling expending upwards it was domed, midnight blue with dozens of bookcases. James shuddered; it distinctly reminded him of a study room or a library. And as in a library, there were indeed students studying, even at this hour. Sitting at tables, filling out charts and scribbling furiously. There was a third year boy whose head rested lazily on his fist as he struggled to stay awake.

James spotted a fourth year witch who was just about packing up her things to head off to bed.

"Excuse me," James said. The girl turned to face him.

"James Potter?" she squeaked.

"Ah yes," he said, "could you do me the utmost favour and bring down Wood—uh Emma Wood for me?"

"As in our—,"

"As in your quidditch captain Emma Wood," James nodded and fiddled with Eva in his arms.

"Yeah, um sure, she'll have my head though" she said wide eyed. She must have been in shock. He wasn't a Ravenclaw he wasn't even supposed to be roaming the halls at this hour. She stumbled up the staircase towards the dormitories.

"Don't worry," James shouted up the way to the girls' dormitories, "I'll make sure she doesn't."

James sat himself at the nearest table and stroked Eva who affectionately rubbed her head against his chin. Five minutes later a sleep-ridden Emma stepped foot in the common room. She was wearing a Puddlemere United t-shirt and matching sweatpants. Her hair was thrown up into a messy bun and a she'd worn her familiar glasses askew, as if she'd just put them on without a care in the world, which of course—she had.

"What in the name of Dumbledore are you doing in my common room?" she practically shouted those first words to him.

"Shut up Wood, do you want to wake up the entire House?"

"I could deduct points you know?"

"But you won't," James said smirking.

"How can you possibly be so sure, it is a quarter to four in the morning, what are you doing with Eva?"

James at this point was slightly irritated, "Next time," he said, standing up, "mind your cat."

"Wait what?"

"Your dearest Eva showed up in my dormitory and woke me up at bloody half past three in the morning."

"You're joking."

"Do I look particularly thrilled to be up at this hour?"

Emma went over to James and lifted Eva out of his arms. "Thank you," she said to him.

James yawned. "Yeah, no problem love."

"Hey Potter, do you think she's put on a spot of weight?" Emma asked inspecting her feline. The leopard spots on her skin stood out in contrast to the grey. James hadn't particularly noticed anything different, but then again, it wasn't his cat.

"Maybe she ate someone's rat."

"Not funny."

"I dunno, she looks fine to me. In fact, she wouldn't leave me alone."

"Oh Merlin no!" Emma exclaimed.

"What now?"

Emma was currently feeling Eva's stomach, it definitely looked pinker than what James was accustomed to, but he didn't think much of it. Emma, on the other hand was nearly having a panic attack. The only thing James could think of, however was the nice warm bed in his nice warm dormitory that was awaiting him. Emma seemed to be speaking but James hadn't registered anything until the word "pregnant" grounded him back at Hogwarts.

If James had been drinking something he would most certainly have spit it out. However, instead, James was now wide awake.

"You're WHAT? How? Who? When? Scratch that I do not want to know. My Emma Wood? How on earth, you're a prefect! Was this Evans because I could have a word with him. Don't you know about protection Wood! Bloody Hell I didn't expect you two to begin shacking up this fast!" James began rambling.

Emma shoved his shoulder, "Not me idiot! Eva!" she shouted at him but didn't quite meet his eyes.

"Thank Merlin Wood! Blimey, you're cat's being shagged more often than you."

"Shut up you arse, but evidently she hasn't been shagged as much as you."

And with that James opened his mouth to say something, but closed it again. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"Exactly what it sounds like," she smiled sarcastically at him.

"You," James pointed at her, "are a terribly awful person."

"I know. Although, I actually have no idea how to take care of a pregnant cat."

James shrugged, "You could try Hagrid. He's owned loads of animals. I'm sure he'd be thrilled to take care of Eva. Dad once said he found a dragon and tried to raise that, I'm sure a cat would be much easier."

"You don't say," Emma said. "I suppose I'll head up there before breakfast."

James nodded in agreement. "And I won't be showing up for our jog this morning for your lovely information."

"I wouldn't want to interrupt your sleep, princess," Emma teased. She gathered Eva and took her up towards her room. James was now seated at the table, his eyes half closing and nodding off barely awake. "Although you might want to head to your own tower," Emma advised.

"Tread lightly Wood," said James. He watched Emma shake her head as she disappeared around the bend in the staircase.

His body mechanically made its way back to his own common room. Unfortunately he had woken up the Fat Lady who was now in a sour mood because James had disrupted her so early in the morning. And she didn't know what in Merlin's name he was doing up at this hour.

James waved her off before dragging his living corpse and collapsing on the bed.

Two hours later, sure enough James woke up, on schedule and headed for the prefect's bathroom, took a bath, and headed towards the Great Hall.

As per every Halloween it was James' most favourite holiday. He completely forgot about it before then, but the sight of floating Jack o' lanterns in the Great Hall jogged his memory with a start. He had grand plans this Halloween. Bats flew across the enchanted ceiling and candles flickered eerily even during the morning. The pumpkins glowed and cauldrons were placed sporadically though the tables.

"Morning James," Audrey waved as he took a seat.

James smiled, "Audrey," he nodded. Aiden and Emma hadn't arrived yet, James assumed that she was keeping the team late for practice.

He piled his plate with scrambled eggs and bacon and he dug his fork in and started shovelling food into his mouth. Audrey watched with disgust, "you're such a bloke."

James smiled with his mouth full of food.

"Honestly Potter, have a bit of class," James heard someone say from behind him. He quickly chewed and swallowed to find Emma Wood standing behind him. He craned his neck to find a boy with light brown hair standing behind him.

"Chambers!" he exclaimed.

"Potter!" Aiden shouted back. "Are you ready for today?"

"As always."

Emma turned to Audrey, "What am I, plum pudding?"

Audrey laughed. "They simply have eyes for each other."

"Evidently so," Emma muttered. "Anyhow Potter!" she directed to him.

"Ah morning my oriole."

"I took her to Hagrid, he sends his well wishes and said something about tea?"

James nodded, "Yeah, this Sunday, I think."

"He's very kind."

James smiled, "That's Hagrid for you."

"Why'd she go see Hagrid?" Aiden asked biting into a slice of toast.

"Oh, get this," James laughed, "Wood's cat got knocked up and found her way into my dormitory."

"Seems about right," Aiden shrugged.

Emma nearly spit out her pumpkin juice and started coughing. "You're awful."

The three of them laughed.

"Who spilled something in your pumpkin juice Wood?" James asked.

"Shut up. Or should we recall this morning."

"What happened this morning?" Audrey piped.

Emma recounted the story of how exactly James stopped by the Ravenclaw common room and dropped off the beloved cat.

"You know where it is?" Audrey asked.

Aiden was appalled, "What the hell is wrong with you mate?"

James shrugged.

"At least he didn't think you were the one that was pregnant," Emma grumbled.

"It was too early in the morning!" James snapped.

"You WHAT?" asked Audrey.

"I might or might not have thought that Evans knocked her up at half past three in the morning."

"Oh Merlin," Aiden buried his face in his hands. "I can't even."

Audrey snorted. "Oh Merlin Em, your face must have been priceless."

"I hate you lot."

"No, you love us," Audrey countered. Following which none other than Luke Evans joined the table to greet Emma good morning.

James greeted him kindly as did the rest of the lot. He figured that Emma would like to have a conversation with the bloke and as a result he kindly excused both himself and Aiden from breakfast.

"Shall we get going then Chambers?" James asked.

Aiden gulped down some scrambled eggs before kissing Audrey quickly and jumping up out of his seat. "I'll see you Audrey."

"Have fun Aiden," she responded. To which he replied with a charming smile.

"You're such a sap."

"Oh sod off Potter, one day you'll know."

"You reckon?"

"If you'd ever settle for one, then yes."

"Oh shut up."

James and Aiden hurried out of the Great Hall. "It's finally happening!" Aiden said excitedly.

"Uncle George will be so proud."

They hurried down the corridor before being stopped by a cold presence. "Morning boys," said the bluish silvery light of a ghost.

"Morning Nick! And- er happy death day!" James said.

"Oh you remembered how wonderful. Thank you!" he said excitedly.

"Well, we must be off," Aiden interjected.

"A new day, a new prank to pull," James smiled.

"You know you remind me quite a bit of your namesake, James. So carry on!"

And with that the two boys turned and climbed a flight of stairs and entered the out of order bathroom on the first floor.

"Now about that toilet," James said with a wicked grin.