I don't own Harry Potter. But maybe I'll get the rights for my birthday? I will be turning of age in the wizarding world, after all…

The Christmas holiday went by faster than James and Sirius would have thought possible. They invited Peter and Remus to stay at the Potter's for the New Year, but Remus insisted on staying home with his ill mother.

"Wonder what she has that he's always got to stay with her," Sirius mused, reading the owl which Remus had sent back almost immediately with a reply.

They thought about this only fleetingly, as Peter arrived via Floo Powder. The rest of the night was spent running around the house, and delicately sipping Firewhiskey, provided by Mr. Potter.

Before they knew it, the four Marauders were back at school (Remus looking as though he had just gotten over being ill), with piles of homework and adventures almost every weekend. The four boys slipped back into schedule without a second thought, and it wasn't until late April that anything changed.

There was what seemed to be a hailstorm of owls coming from every direction during the morning post, with letters and newspapers being dropped everywhere. James, Remus, and Peter all got something from their parents. Sirius looked determinedly at his bacon as they began to read.

Dear James,

Something terrible happened last night. I wish that I were there to tell you in person, and I'm sure Dumbledore will address the matter…

James looked up at Dumbledore, who was deep in conversation with Professor Slughorn. Dumbledore, calm as always, seemed to be trying to ease the nerves of an extremely worried Slughorn.

… sometime today, but I've decided to write anyway.

Yesterday, two employees of Dervish and Banges were found dead in their shop in Hogsmeade. The Auror Department was summoned immediately to address the matter, and they discovered no less than three proclaimed "Death Eaters"—followers of the so-called "Dark Lord." I know you never knew them, but you must remember that they were people just like anyone else, with families and friends. This war that we are in right now is moving in on everyone and everywhere, and people are beginning to get nervous. I trust Dumbledore and the ministry to protect you students, but I want to make sure you understand the seriousness of this, and do not, under any circumstances, go wandering about by yourself. Keep safe, listen to your teachers, and don't go sneaking around at night.

Love,

Mum and Dad

"Do yours all say the same thing?" James said, peeking over to look at Remus and Peter's letters. Remus stuffed his in his bag rather quickly, but Peter was more than willing to share. Apparently, Peter's parents had known the editors in question when they went to Hogwarts.

"What do they say, anyway?" asked Sirius, trying desperately to sound nonchalant.

"I guess a couple of Dervish and Banges employees were killed by Death Eaters yesterday," James said. The entirety of the Great Hall seemed to be discussing the same topic in the same tone as he was—hushed and confused.

"Oh, that explains it," muttered Sirius, stabbing at his breakfast murderously.

"Explains… what?"

"Well, my parents wouldn't care about their deaths—you just wait, the Prophet'll come and they'll have been muggle-borns. So my parents wouldn't bother informing me. We're purebloods—we would never be murdered by Voldemort. He's our savior." He scowled.

Everyone seemed to be quite lost for words for a few minutes. Finally, Peter asked what they were all thinking about, with at least a small part of their minds.

"So does this mean… no more, er, Maraudering?"

"Maraudering isn't a word, Pete," said Remus kindly.

"Well, you know what I mean…"

But he was cut off by Dumbledore, who had stood up with his arms out, signaling the students to quiet down.

"Judging by the tone of the Great Hall, many of you have already heard the terrible news which I feel obligated to pass onto you. Rather than standing here trying to protect your delicate selves from the pain which comes with war, I am going to simply jump into this and lay it all out for you. Sugar-coating a matter like this would be disrespectful to those involved."

James could almost feel the whispers as they coursed up and down the four house tables, passing the news to those who hadn't yet heard the news.

"Yesterday, two outstanding citizens and residents of Hogsmeade were killed by a group of Voldemort's followers who call themselves 'Deatheaters.' They had no reason to be hunted by these people besides bitter hatred and racism—things which should not be tolerated by anyone. The three men—two of which have been identified as Rodolphus Lestrange and the werewolf Fenrir Greyback, had no personal quarrel with these people, but were acting on the commands of someone whose hatred for those different from him knows no bounds."

Whispers were flooding up and down the tables now, and it looked like an the Slytherins were arguing amongst themselves. A small group of them had all gathered at one end, heads together, paying no attention to Dumbledore. James could see Snape hovering on the outside of this group, half trying to pay attention to Dumbledore and half intrigued by the conversation going on beside him.

"It is most important now that no one go stray off the school grounds without express permission from myself or one of your professors. The Ministry has placed Dementors at all entrances to Hogsmeade, but I have made the decision to cancel all trips to the village regardless—"

At this there was a swarm of protest from the older students. The younger ones, who were not yet allowed into Hogsmeade anyway, simply began picking at their breakfast as Dumbledore tried to calm the crowd.

"I understand how disappointing this may be to you—but my first priority is to keep you safe, and under the present circumstances I do not feel that trips to Hogsmeade would be in your best interest. Now before this gets out of hand, let us go back to our breakfast and think calmly for a short while." And with that, he sat down.

James looked around at his three friends. None of them spoke for a while. Then Peter spoke up again. "So… no maraudering?"

The four boys looked uneasily around at one another. "I… I dunno," Sirius let out.

"I don't care either way," said James. "I mean, what are the odds they'd find us down there, in the dead of night? And I don't know… do you really think they'd hurt us just for being there? We're just kids…"

"Don't be so naïve, James," Remus snapped, letting his fork clatter to the table and gathering his books in a rushed and frustrated manner. His hands fumbled with the strap on his bag as he stood up and strode away without a glance back at his friends.

"Well… what… what was that about?" James spluttered, a bit insulted by Remus' cold attitude.

"Nothing, probably. He's going to go visit his Mum again soon, I think… he's probably just worried about her or something."

"Worried, yeah…" Still, there was something nagging at the back of James' mind, something that he felt he should know but didn't.

"I say we keep it going," said Sirius. "We've got the cloak—if worst comes to worst we'll just bolt. We'll be more careful about wearing it now, too, you know? Keep it on in the basement and everything. They won't catch us."

"True…" James mused. "Alright then, we'll go again this weekend. Not out of the basement though—we probably shouldn't be wandering around the store if they've got Dementors guarding everywhere now, right?"

"Right," Sirius said as Peter opened his mouth to speak. "Well, I'm going to go see if I can't get Remus to let me copy his Transfiguration homework before we head off to class. See you in a few."

He got up from the Gryffindor table and walked across the Great Hall towards the open doors, passing the Slytherin table as he went. For once, his cousins did not jeer and taunt him as he left. They were too busy clipping the articles from the Daily Prophet.

Sorry it's been so long since I last put something up… School's started and I've had a lot going on. It should be better from here on out, though. I've got my schedule all figured out and everything, so hopefully I'll be posting once every week or two. Thanks for reading :)