Chapter 11

"So what do you two think about Animagi?" James whispered, draping his arms over his two best mate's shoulders. Sirius looked down at him, studying his face. Peter beamed.

"We gonna turn Snivulus into one as a prank?" He squeaked.

"No. We're gonna get him during his free period. I mean, what do you guys think about us being Animagi?" James asked again, lowering his voice in the crowded corridor.

"James! That's illegal!" Peter jumped.

"Peter! It'll be bloody fun. What for, Potter?" Sirius grinned.

"To help Mooney with his furry little problem." James laughed dropping his arms.

"What problem Potter? The great James Potter has a problem in his life? Why don't you just go play some Quidditch and make a first year cry? That's seemed to make you who you are now." Lily crossed her arms, frowning. Severus glanced between them, smiling. Jane sighed.

"Lily, come on. James isn't doing anything." She tugged at her fellow Gryffindor's green stripped sweater.

"No, I want to know what's gotten our wonderful Jamesie-kins in such a foul mood." Lily sneered, moving closer to him.

James smiled, turning to face her, his eyes drifting over her. "I'd love to play a match against you someday Evans." He smirked, moving toward her as well, his eyes locking on hers. They were almost the same height, but each kept trying to stand straighter than the other. "But that's assuming you know which house you're in. You're not him, Evans. You're not a snake; you're more of a birdie."

"A very pretty bird." Sirius added in, smiling.

"Don't you have a girlfriend to impregnate, Black?" Lily snapped at him, turning back to James, "I'm supporting the better team, and Severus is my best mate. It's the right thing to do either way, Potter. I'm watching you. You may have Professor Dumbledore thinking your some kind of saint, but I know better. You're up to something and I'm going to find out what. Watch me." She whispered her threat to him, narrowing her eyes. James smiled.

"I never stop." James whispered back, brushing her fiery hair out of her deep green eyes. She whipped her head back from him, glaring at him as she grabbed Severus' hand and stormed for their next class.

"James?" Jane asked, putting a hand on her brother's shoulder. "What are you planning? Is this about RJ?"

"Don't worry about it Jane Potter. It's strictly a need-to-know thing for non-Marauders." Sirius smiled, pulling James away from Jane. "Peter and I are in."

James hugged him quickly, "great! I'll be in the library!" James cheered as he rushed off.

"Sirius Black, if you're doing something to disturb my boyfriend's life I need to know about it!" She snapped, grabbing his tie and pulling him to her eye level. He smiled.

"We're not disturbing anything. 'Sides you're coddling again." He peeled her fingers off and left. Peter started to follow after Sirius, looking Jane over the same as James had Lily.

"Bugger off, Prick." Jane cursed at him, balling her fist. Squeaking, Peter ran after Sirius.

James spent every minute he wasn't in class or at Quidditch matches or practices in the library right up until Christmas Break rolled around. And then he checked the books he hadn't finished reading to read at home. Jane had tried sneaking around to find out what he was doing but was constantly stopped by Sirius and Peter or RJ—who kept pestering her to find out what she was trying to find out. She figured bluntly asking her brother was her last option. When they were at home, and he was alone.

Jane skipped into her brother's room, her hair pulled back in a pony tail and her skirt swooshed around her. "Hey James. What'cha reading?" She leaned on his head.

"Ah! Knock, brat!" James shouted, shutting the book quickly and pulling it to him to hide the cover.

Jane sighed, "James, come on, what are you guys up to? It's making me worried."

James frowned, looking down at the book in his arms. He never hid anything from her before. "You promise you won't tell? I mean anyone. Not even Mooney. Not until all of this is done and we're sure it'll work."

"Of course. What is it?" Jane asked, moving to James' bed. He turned in his chair, tossing the book next to her. She read the cover, "Advanced Transfigurations Class Two?" Jane looked up confused, slowly flipping through the book.

"Animagi. We're trying it." Jane admitted, moving to the bed as well.

"James…I…There's something I should tell you. Ear--" Jane fiddled with her skirt.

"Jane Marie Potter! Get your ass down here, now!" Their mum shrieked.

"What'd you do now?" James groaned.

"I didn't. I don't think I did…" Jane got up slowly and led the way to their angry mother.

"He's here. For you." Dora snapped. Her arms folded next to the open door. Jane knew exactly who her mother was talking about. She stared at RJ who was standing on their snow covered porch, smiling awkwardly.

"RJ! Come in!" Jane cried, running to him.

"He will do no such thing! I'm not having his kind in this house." Dora snapped.

Jane snapped her eyes toward her mum, "Mum! He's RJ! He's our neighbor! He's my best mate! My boyfriend!" She snapped.

"Janey, really, it's fine. I just wanted to bring you your present. I would've just owl-ed it but my dad doesn't like me sending stuff that way. He's just getting used to me getting stuff that way." He smiled, handing her a little box. "I'll see you later. Maybe when it's warmer. Happy almost three months." He waved as he started back down the road.

"RJ!" Jane shouted after him, starting for him as her mum grabbed her shoulders.

"Mooney!" James shouted running down the stairs to him. He tapped his scarf lightly. "Simple heating charm." He smiled.

"James Harold Potter! You get inside, now!" Dora shrieked, letting go of Jane. Jane ran to RJ, wrapping her arms around him.

"RJ…" She smiled, hugging him tighter. James smiled as he glanced back at them as he obeyed his mum. "I didn't get you anything yet…" Jane whispered.

"Don't worry about it." He smiled, "Now get back inside before your mum freaks out that you're hugging the werewolf." He laughed.

Jane hugged him tighter. "I don't care what she says about you, RJ. You're mine." He smiled, breaking their hug. She cupped his face, kissing him as her mum shouted for her to get back inside. RJ kissed her back, briefly before noticing her mum's angry glare at him. He pushed her back and left, without saying anything else. Jane's hands fell as her mother shouted again. "You already chased him off, mum! Just shut the fuck up!" Jane shouted back, storming into Potter Manor and up to her room.

"Watch your mouth or its back to Beauxbatons for you!" Her mother shouted after her. "And we'll talk about you and that thing when your father gets home!"

"His name's Mooney!" James snapped, brushing the snow from his hair. "And he's my mate too mum!"

"Not anymore, Jamesie-kins." His mother said, much softer with him.

"Mum!" James snapped.

"Not anymore James, not anymore." She shut the door and headed to the main room. James stared after her sadly. He was on his way to Jane when he saw it. Bold black letters in the front of the Prophet:

Werewolves Attack Muggle village, Wizards May Be Next

"Jane!" James shouted, grabbing the paper from the stand and running to his sister's room. "Jane! Read this! Mum doesn't hate Mooney!" He threw the paper at her.

"James, she's always hated him. How is anything in this rag—James! I…I have to go see Mad-eye! I have to go see dad!" She gripped the copy of the prophet, running for their closest fireplace in the network.

"Ministry of Magic! Auror Department!" She shouted as the green flames shot up around her.