From James Potter's journal:
I lost my journal.
The Potter Manor is unrecognizable. I can't believe how much damage happened in the two weeks since I was here last. Everything's covered in dust, since the house elves all left. All of them. My step dad clothed them, if you catch my drift.
There is a lot of old furniture around the house, all kind of things that just reminded my mum of my dad. And so, my step dad destroyed them. Ripped them to pieces. All the memories. Everything I thought will be here forever.
Gone.
I can see my dad's favorite chair from here. It's big, with red, soft cloth covering it. The wood is real and thick, colored gold. My dad used to spend hours on that chair. It was a Potter heirloom for the past 4 generations. I remember him telling me bedtime stories on it, even before I could fly. Reading the paper. Talking to my mum. Laughing. Staring into the hearth, deep in thought.
It's on it's side now, lying there like a dead log. The cloth is cut and covered with food spilling. One of the legs is broken off. I can see the white staffing coming out of the ruined cushions.
I don't want to look at it. I don't want to.
I can't turn away.
My blood is getting in my eyes. I can't see anything, anyway, since my glasses are… somewhere. They're broken. I could hear them break when he punched me. Some glass got in my eyes, but I couldn't feel it. I couldn't feel anything by then.
And my mum just stood there. In the doorway. Staring into space. Seeing but not seeing it all.
She just stood there.
I wonder how much blood you have to lose- how much hours you can survive without water or food- how long do you have to hold your breath in case your ribs get in the way of your lungs- how long can you feel this much pain all at once- how long does it take, before you die.
I hope it's not too long.
xxx
From Remus Lupin's POV:
"Padfoot, let's go."
"Moony, he'll only be back in two hours, at the least. You heard him, didn't you?"
"Padfoot, let's go!"
"Ok, Ok, already! Don't have to get all moody, Moony. " Sirius stood up, stretching. Remus looked at him with frustration. Or hysteria.
"Come one!" he urged, pushing Sirius out the dorm's door. Didn't he get it? The full moon was over. James had to be back. If Remus was right, that is…
"Where're you going Rummy?" asked a voice behind him. Remus turned around, seeing Coral looking at him with concern. Just great." I thought James was only coming at eight."
"Yeah."
"It's five thirty," she looked at him pointedly.
"I'll talk to you later, Coral. We really have to get going."
He didn't wait for her to answer, instead following the two others out the door. He didn't want to think that he might have to break up with her soon. If he was really that kind of monster… He couldn't put her in that situation. It was way to dangerous.
He didn't want to see James. He didn't want to see the damage. It was so obvious! How could he have not seen it?!
"TV!" he said to the ballerina portrait. She just giggled, twirling around. "TV!" he screamed at her. Her giggles increased. He felt like punching the wall. He didn't have time for stupid pictures!
"They must have changed the password, Moony," said Sirius, looking at his friend with worry. Remus nodded quickly, turning back to the portrait. Changed the password. Right.
"Radio! CD! Computer!" –giggle giggle. Remus stared at her with a determined, insane expression spread on his face. Thank Merlin for the class of Muggle Studies. "Car! Airplane! Telephone-"
"Remus?" the portrait opened, revealing a surprised looking Lily. She looked at them with confusion, holding a quill and a piece of what looked like a beginning of a potion's essay in her hand. "Potter isn't here yet, he's supposed to come-"
"See, Moony?" Sirius, reached out to put a hand on Remus's shoulder. "He's not back yet. And I bet that when he is, he'll come to the common room. So let's just go back and get you some relaxing potion-"
"I AM RELAXED!"
"I didn't say you weren't!"
Sirius backed up. Danger zone. Remus ignored him.
"Y-you can wait here if you want, " shuddered Evans. He looked at her straight in the eye, before getting in. behind his back he could practically feel her exchanged looks with Sirius, who just shrugged.
Prats.
He turned around, scowling their way.
But right then, the fire turned green.
xxx
From Sirius Black's POV:
James looked like hell.
He seemed like he just finished taking a very hurried bath. His hair was wet, and seemed to be… missing some patches. He had black circles under his eyes, which, by turn, were glasses- less and looked like they have something in them. Something sharp, that didn't belong there. His left pant leg was wet, also. But it was definitely not water.
"Hi," James said, looking at his 4 classmates with surprise. His cheeks were slightly redder. Very slightly. "What are you guys doing here?"
"Prongs," jumped Sirius, looking at James with horror. "What- how- who-?"
"That stupid stair," said James, finally getting away from the flames. He was leaning on the wall, trying to look casual. Sirius didn't buy it. Not even close. " Slipped on it. Again. Can you believe it?"
"Where're your glasses? Can you even see anything?" demanded Evans. Sirius rolled his eyes to her. Was that the only thing she was concerned about at the moment??
"They- err, they broke." James swallowed. He turned his back to them, heading towards his room. "Listen, I'm gonna change my cloths before dinner-"
"Prongs, what the hell is wrong with you back?" asked Sirius, looking at the bleeding mess with terror. James looked behind him, and then grimaced.
"I told you. I fell."
There was silence.
"I, err, I think I should go…" said Lily, backing up. She practically run to the entrance, pulling the portrait open so suddenly it screamed. They could all hear her hurrying up to the Gryffindor common room. Her steps sounded like thunder in the impossible silence.
"Now lets try the truth," said Sirius dangerously. Outside, that is. Inside, he wanted to run to James, grab him, and push him to the infirmary, not letting him out of his sight for about a millennium.
"I- err, I fell." repeated James, looking tiny and unsure. How could this happen? Sirius thought. It isn't Prongs. How could he change so much in such a short time?
Everyone was so happy about this new James. He was a good student. He was dateable, not stalking Evans anymore. He didn't pull any more pranks. He didn't fight with the Slytherins.
And he was miserable.
He didn't even know it.
"James?" asked Remus suddenly. James turned around towards them, looking guilty. Sirius retained himself of yelling.
"Yeah?"
"During those last few days in school last year."
James looked up, hopeful at the change of subject.
"Yeah?"
"When Sirius was off arranging staff for his flat, and Peter went along with him. "
"Yeah?"
"And it was a full moon, and you were the only one helping me."
"Yeah?"
"Did I… bite you?"
Silence.
Shock.
"No," James stared at Remus, opened mouthed. "No, of course you didn't."
"Are you sure?" Remus looked at James pleadingly. Sirius swallowed. No wonder Moony was so tense lately…
"Yeah, positive," James tried to smile. It came out as a grimace. "You'd never bite anyone, Moony. Never."
"So how come you left on the full moon?" Remus demanded. His eyes showed panic. "How come you came back like- like this?"
James looked down at his deformed figure.
"My step dad wanted me to get home, " he explained, quite, not looking at them. " I thought maybe my mum was… sick, or something. And then I fell on the stairs."
"No you didn't!" Sirius yelled suddenly. "You didn't! Why are you lying to us?!"
"I'm not!" James was looking scared now. He backed up. "I, um, I'm-"
"You're lying! You've done nothing but lie since we got back to Hogwarts! Ever since we met up with each other!" Sirius stared down at the crouched boy below him. He knew he looked terrifying. He didn't care. He was mad enough to kill someone. Maybe he would have, if he didn't feel a hand on his shoulder.
Peter was looking at him seriously, wordlessly passing a message. Peter could do that. He could get them all under control, just by making the sense he always made. Sirius swallowed again, and turned away from James, walking towards the exit.
"Pads…" He heard the weak voice from behind him. He looked down at the floor of the portrait.
"When Prongs is back, you know were to find us."
They left, leaving the once marauder in the empty heads common room.
Okay. First, I didn't mean to do that. It wasn't supposed to happen for weeks. But it just… flew out my fingers, I guess. Oops?
Second, Sorry about Peter being like that. I know a lot of you hate him, but I think that in school he was still a good guy. I have my own theory of why he turned, and you can find it in the small one shot called "that bloody love' on my portfolio. If you're interested enough. Which you probably aren't. lol
And now for reviews:
Queen Alexander-I'm glad you like the story. There are so many typos on the second half because I wrote that part later, and didn't' have time to spell check and what not. Spelling isn't my strong side.
Brolly-ann-miller- I like Aly too. She's so alive… powerful and… you know? I'm glad you liked the chapter. Did you like this one? I did…
x. by yours truly .x- why do you guys hate Jessica so much? She's a Slytherin but still… oh well. I guess we all hate anyone taking Lily's place, right:-)
james- s2- lily- thanks for forgiving me, lol. This is early! Yay!!!
Hpisthegreatest- did you expect that? I bet you didn't. I didn't even expect that. It throws off my whole schedule…
The-Lily-And-Her-Stag-92- you figured it out! Not everyone did, congrats! Don't you just love Lily? Such deep denial…
Gryffincri-this just pushed it to a whole new level of craziness…
Lexy Granger-I'm glad you like all my characters! Makes me so proud… but what can James do? His dad is the public's hero… and there will be something else stopping him from telling next chapter, also.
DogStar'n'LionHeart-155 is a very respective number. LOL. I hope you like this chapter, anyway… :-)
librastar-I can't wait either. If I do it right, and it comes out as good as I want, it'll be very romantic… and sad. But I'll say no more. I might write some other category in the future, I don't know. I want to concentrate on the 3 unfinished stories I have, first… (THREE!!!)
infiniteternity- thank you! Lily won't wake up for a LONG while. Sorry! ;-p
Black Blood Dragon Goddess- welcome back! How was India?
Dementedtearz- your luck- this is a fast update. 6 days instead of the usual seven. You joined us right in time! (I mean all the readers)
Lunababe-I'll tell you. The idea was that James said it, because, you know, he just left, and Remus was thinking about him while reading that book, (don't read if you didn't read chapter yet-) about 'how to tell if your friend's a werewolf'. See?
1Malone- thanks for the reviews. All three of them. I'm getting the feeling that you liked the fic? LOL
Beck- thanks. I hate when the Internet's down. In my computer, that's about 50 of the time. :-( Sirius won't find out until the next full moon. Like, a day after. I'm not saying anything else until then!
You're all amazing!
This update was faster then usual. Don't get used to it, though. ;-p