A/N: Hi there! My dear silent readers. Don't worry, I appreciate you anyways. I was a silent reader too. Please enjoy, read and have a nice day!

This world belongs to JKR

CHAPTER 8 "Lost"

October ended with a cold Halloween morning. That morning, Lily noticed the Hall was extra silent when she walked in looking for her breakfast. She looked around and noticed a gloomy atmosphere, a couple of girls were crying over at the Hufflepuff table.

"What's going…" she stopped because she noticed Phyllida and Meredith's sad faces. Mary was the one to look up and hand her The Daily Prophet. She took it in her hands, looked at the moving pictures, and read:

Mass Murder In Muggle Town

On the evening of Friday, Jadentown was found completely destroyed. The town was mostly known for the high density of muggle families. Nevertheless, a family of wizards was also found victim to this terrible tragedy. It is believed that it is the work of a certain wizard that is at large. With the help of magical creatures…

Lily stopped reading. It felt like a story from a book, things that don't happen in the real world. She swallowed as she felt fear in the pit of her stomach. A loud slam shook Lily out of her deep thought. She looked up and saw Potter, he had stood up and dropped his bag on the floor. For the first time since she had met him, she saw James with a grim expression, it completely changed his features, it didn't look like him at all. He left without a word leaving his bag behind on the floor behind. Lily looked towards his friends bewildered. Neither looked shocked at his reaction but were completely devastated.

"The family that was killed, you know the wizards?" Remus explained to everyone, "It was his aunt and uncles, he was really close to his cousins."

Lily didn't see Potter again, his parents had picked him up. A girl had also left, she was a Hufflepuff muggle-born whose family lived in that town. The whole week was a sad one, even the Halloween feast wasn´t enjoyable. Lily wanted more than ever to go home, home, to her parents' protection and where nothing bad happened.

James was back a week later, while the other Hufflepuff girl never came back. Lily was surprised to feel a little glad he was back when she saw James walk into the common room. She was alone catching up on some reading.

"Hi," she said, he only grunted a response, "How are you?"

"Like crap," he said and sat next to Lily on the Lawson sofa she was on.

"I'm really sorry," she said as she looked at his face. His eyes were sad and a little misty.

"Yeah, I know," they just sat there in silence, James looked at his clenched fists. After a few breaths, he stood up and left towards his dormitory.

When James opened the door to his dorm he saw his friends Sirius, Remus, and Peter playing cards. They looked up as he entered.

"Hey, mate!" Sirius said with a smile.

"How are you holding up?" Remus asked.

"As well as I can. My dad is really bad, my uncle was his only brother."

"I'm really sorry James," Peter said "These things shouldn't happen."

"I've come to a decision," James said and took a breath, "I've decided that I'm going to fight this war with every single cell in my body."

"And we'll be right beside you," Sirius said and reached towards James to place his arm around his shoulders.

"Yes!" Peter said and raised a fist in the air.

"There is no doubt in my mind that we'll fight," Remus said.

"On other news," Sirius said and walked towards his nightstand and opened the drawer to take out a plate full of chips, olives, cheese, and different types of hams. Sirius smiled and showed it to James.

"We found the Kitchens!" he said.

They stayed up late talking and eating, this cheered James up considerably. After a while, James remembered Remus's adventures, he had left the day Remus was back, so they never really got to talk. He nudged Sirius and looked at Remus, he caught on immediately.

"I'm glad your back Remus," James said.

"How's your mother?" Peter asked innocently.

"She is doing okay, I guess," he said and looked at the piece of cheese he had in his hand.

"So, what were you doing with Madam Pomfrey and Professor McGonagall?" James asked directly.

"What?" Remus looked shocked.

"We saw you on your nocturnal date last week," Sirius said winking.

"I don't know what you're talking about," said Remus.

"Come on, we saw you. We were there when Professor McGonagall caught the slimy Slytherins," said James.

"Well, that cloak really works," Remus said with a nervous sigh.

"Well? Aren't you going to tell us?" James insisted.

"We saw you looking sick with Madam P.," Sirius stated, "I'm not totally sure it's your mother who's sick," Remus kept silent and fidgeted with the cheese.

"We're your friends Remus," James said. "You can trust us. We're here for you."

"You're not dying, are you?" Sirius asked and made Peter squeak, "I mean, you wouldn't come to school if you were."

"I am not dying," Remus exasperated, "If you must know, yes, I'm sick. I have a chronic illness, and every now and then I go for my treatments," he was still looking at his cheese.

"I'm sorry Remus," Peter said.

"Why hide it?" Sirius asked suspiciously.

"There's more to it," James analyzed, "There's something you're not telling."

"That's all of it," Remus said and stood up.

"You can trust us!" Sirius said.

"We can help with the treatments and stuff," Peter said.

"Just drop it," Remus went over to his bed and pulled his pajamas on.

"You just wait, Remus," James said. "We'll find out."

"One way or the other," Sirius said, reaching with his hands to the side.

Remus looked at each one in turn and laid down under his blankets and closed his poster bed's curtains.

James's return meant the Gryffindor boys got back to their pranks. Lily realized by now that not only were they responsible for some mischievous actions, but they were the authors of every single practical joke that wasn't crafted by Peeves. It wasn't going to be too long before the teachers caught on, in Lily's opinion. She wasn't as annoyed as she usually was because it was really good for the school's spirit, even hers. Filch's cat had been dyed pink this morning and Lily thought she looked amazing. Someone even said that they had seen Filch actually cry, Lily couldn't even imagine him in that state.

Quidditch season was officially here. Lily couldn't stop herself from feeling excited. At supper the night before the first match, everyone was talking about it, Gryffindor versus Slytherin, the eternal rivals.

"Thomas is going to cheer on our side," Meredith said proudly.

"Thomas?" Lily asked.

"Thomas the Hufflepuff Quidditch player?" Mary said giggling at Meredith's hurtful expression.

"Oh right," Lily remembered. "So you've talked to him?"

"Of course," she said and flicked her hair aside. "That Sonia girl is no competition. We're going to the match together."

"Like a date?" Mary asked.

"Well no," Meredith said sadly, "He's also going with his team."

"Of course he is," Phyllida said, "Quidditch isn't for dates."

"She's got a point," Marlene Mckinnon said, who had been listening next to Phyllida.

"There's always the exception," Alice interjected, "It could work if both are superfans."

"Quidditch is not for dating," Sirius said with finality.

"Couldn't agree more," James said. "In Quidditch, distractions aren't allowed."

"I'm getting the feeling that this was a bad idea," Meredith said worriedly.

"Sorry, but he's not going to take his eyes off the game," James said.

"That's because you're not into girls," Marlene said. "It's different for a fourteen-year-old boy."

"Girls are annoying," James looked at Lily and rolled his eyes.

"You're annoying," Lily said, and Meredith giggled.

"We've got to go," Alice said, "Last practice before tomorrow's game."

"See you later," Marlene waved as both girls left the Great Hall.

"Are you girls going to the match?" Sirius asked.

"Wouldn't miss it for anything," Lily said excitedly, "It's my first match."

"I'm not," Phyllida said. "I like the common room for myself"

"You're so boring Phylli," Mary laughed. "I'll go with you Lily."

"Sam Swanson is the Gryffindor captain," James explained.

"I heard he was an excellent basketball player before Hogwarts," Remus said. James and Sirius looked at him with a frowned, "It's a muggle sport. I live in a muggle town."

"You bounce a ball and throw it through a hoop," Lily explained, giggling.

"Cool," James said. "He must have excellent aim then. Let's go, mate," he nudged Sirius who nodded and followed.

James and Sirius left everyone behind and headed towards the Quidditch pitch, they wanted to watch the practice. When they arrived, there wasn't anyone on the grounds.

"We'll have to sneak into the changing rooms," James said, pointing ahead.

The boys trotted towards the changing rooms where they suspected the team meeting was being held. They arrived and sneaked through the back and when they heard voices they stopped. They were behind the chalkboard where Swanson was explaining their tactics and moves.

"Finally, Mckinnon, like always, everything depends on you," Swanson said with a deep voice.

"Yes, yes, the keepers receive all the heat," sighed Marlene.

"Seekers do too," Alice rolled her eyes.

"Don't forget we are a Team," Swanson said to the girls specifically, "This is Swott and Allens last year. We don't want them to leave with a loss."

"Thanks for reminding us," Allan said, a little annoyed.

Sirius had been getting restless in his spot and started fidgeting. James made a motion for him to stop, but instead, Sirius made to sit back and pushed the chalkboard with his elbows.

"What?" Swanson yelled when the board hit him on the back.

"SPIES!" yelled Swott.

"We're not spies!" James said as he stood up and walked towards the players with his hands held high.

"What are you doing here?" Swanson said, "Who are you?"

"Relax Swanson, their Gryffindors," Alice said.

"Just checking out my future teammates," he said grinning.

"Cocky," said Allan.

"Are you going to practice or what?" Sirius asked.

James was proud of his team. He had only seen a couple of professional matches with his father, and knew by comparison, that the Gryffindor team was excellent. He had no doubt that they would crush the Slytherins the next day.

Practice ended when there was no more light. Swanson sent everyone to bed immediately for a good rest. James and Sirius stole a pair of school brooms and flew around for a couple more minutes until they couldn't stand the cold fall breeze anymore. It was way past curfew when they both headed back to their common room.

"Listen," James said and stopped Sirius before they took the stairs up to the tower. The two boys turned quiet, they could hear some murmuring coming from outside. When they saw some movement they jumped behind a lion statue that was wide enough to hide them both.

"She can't expect us to be able to do it by now," it was a third-year Slytherin boy. He was walking silently with two other Slytherins.

"Well, that idiot first-year boy has done it," said the shortest of the boys.

"He does everything on his second try," said the first boy annoyed.

"That's because he already knows stuff, even before Hogwarts," said the third Slythering, "Anyways, he's not going anymore, it seems."

"Coward," laughed the second Slytherin.

Sirius made to follow, beckoning James. But James shook his head, "We don't have the cloak," he mouthed. Sirius rolled his eyes and flicked his hand and started walking towards the Slytherins. "NO" mouthed James, "let's go," he whispered and grabbed Sirius's sleeve and pulled him up the stairs.

Next morning the boys were up and about really early. Their eagerness made them first at the breakfast table. When the team arrived they moved towards them to listen in. Their nervousness was visible, Marlene Mckinnon didn't touch her breakfast and Alice was biting her nails. They were relatively quiet until Swanson called them to the changing rooms.

James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter all got their Gryffindor colors on and headed towards the pitch, early to get good seats. James' heart pounded in anticipation, his whole Hogwarts experience started with this match. The stands slowly started to fill with students and even teachers. James saw Lily and her friends sit behind them.

"Ready for the best day of your life, Evans?" James couldn't leave her well enough alone.

"You're here, so no," Lily said with a sarcastic smile and moved as far as she could from him. James smiled to himself.

The quaffle was finally in the air, the six chasers flew at each other and the match started. The rivalry between the two teams was clearly explicit. The bulgers were doing their job, hitting their mark most of the time. McKinnon was almost pushed off her broom and Gomez, one of the Gryffindors' beaters, had a bloody nose. The Slytherins weren't that bad, every time Gryffindor was 10 points up they would follow and tie the score.

About an hour had gone by with no sign of the snitch. The score was eighty to seventy, Gryffindor in the lead, and the viciousness had not dimmed.

Swanson made his fifth score, when the Slytherin seeker, Lebedev, was the first to see the snitch and dived towards it. Wood, super conscious of her surroundings, only took two seconds to dive after him, she was incredibly fast. As she reached Lebedev, he slammed his body against her. He evidently expected her to waver because he was pushed to a side by her strong and steady flying. She was slightly rocked to the side but didn't lose her momentum. The Gryffindors all cheered as Wood took advantage of Lebedev's small detour to reach and catch the snitch.

The Gryffindor common room was full of energy, joy, and especially noise. James and Sirius had brought food from the kitchens and someone put music on a magical radio. A couple of girls were dancing and the rest were eating and talking about each play of the game.

"It's incredible how you can be aware of everything around you," James pointed out to Alice.

"It's my hyperfocus mode," she smiled proudly.

"Have you seen Swanson?" Marlene asked Alice.

"The last time I saw him he went to send a letter," Marlene said. "He wanted to let his father know how Gryffindor had done as his first match as captain."

"Yeah, me too," Alice said. "Haven't seen him since."

"We'll go look for him," Sirius offered and beckoned James and the other boys.

The four boys searched for Swanson starting at the Owlery and then the common spaces of the school, but with no success. They had gone back to the common room thinking he might be back by then but he wasn't.

"Weird," James said.

"He might be celebrating with some bird," laughed Sirius.

"But who puts a girl before Quidditch?" James wondered.

"What if the Slytherins got him?" Remus asked.

"Uh-oh," Peter looked frightened. "Swanson is a muggle-born, isn't he?" the four boys looked at each other.

"Let's go to Professor McGonagall," James said.

A/N: There you go. Chapter 8. I can't believe I've gotten this far.

Review if you like, but know, I will appreciate it if you do.

Saludos