James had to spend another night awake before it was weekend. His mum sent him his blanket on Saturday. He unwrapped it before bed time. Grinning, as he touched the familiar texture. Removing his other blanket from the bed, he dumped it on the ground.

"You can't sleep without your blanket?" asked Sirius, snorting.

James's ear turned a bright shade of red. "It – it's because –" he stammered. "You whimper in your sleep!" James exclaimed.

"I don't!" Sirius cried. His jaw dropping to the floor. Now it was his turn to go the colour of beetroot.

"Yes, you do. Remus heard you too the other night," said James. He turned to look at Remus. He was putting his clothes in a tiny suitcase, whose lid he closed with a loud thud. It made Sirius jump. "Didn't you Remus?" asked James, smirking.

"I don't!" Sirius retorted, speaking from between his teeth.

"You do!" James's brows creased together as he exclaimed again.

"What proof do you have?" asked Sirius, crossing his hands in front of his chest.

"Can you both shut up?" asked Remus, his index finger massaging his temples. "Yes Sirius, you whimper in your sleep. And you're loud might I add," He continued. James let out a light chuckle as Sirius turned even redder! "And you James, you're just a 11-year-old who cannot sleep without his blanket." Remus's words made James drop his smirk. His face and neck turning the same shade as Sirius's face.

Darting towards the door, Remus yanked it open. "It's not that big of a deal. Get over it!" he bellowed. Shutting the door with a loud thud in his wake.

The three boys stood in the middle of the room dumbfounded. Their eyes stayed fixed on the door. It was still vibrating because of how hard Remus shut it.

"He's scary," mumbled Sirius, breaking the silence.

"Something must be bothering him," said James. His lips settled in a frown.

"Or he can be moody?" asked Sirius, shrugging. "He's been like this ever since he came."

"He does seem like the angry type," James agreed.

"He's not," Peter squeaked, shaking his head. James and Sirius turned towards him. Looking at him as if he was out of his mind! "He was very polite when I met him on Hogwarts Express."

"Maybe, he doesn't like us," mumbled Sirius. He pushed his lower lip in a pout.

"No, I don't reckon that is it," said James. "Look, he is packing his suitcase." James pointed towards the small suitcase lying near Remus's bed.

"I reckon James is right," Peter started, his fingers playing with the hem of his jumper. "He does seem bothered about something. I saw him going to the Headmaster's office yesternight."

"Is he in trouble?" asked James, his eyes widening the size of a saucer.

"He can't be," replied Sirius, lowering his brows. "He has done nothing but earn us house points. If anything, you and I should be in trouble mate."

"You're right," James nodded. They had already lost Gryffindor 50 house points combined in last three days!

"He might tell us on his own," said Peter, giving them a tight smile.

"Does he seem like the type to speak on his own?" asked Sirius, scoffing.

"So, what will you do? Put your finger in his mouth to get the words out?" James asked, rolling his eyes.

"Let's observe him – from a distance," said Sirius, shrugging.

"I like that idea," Peter agreed. James had no choice but to nod in agreement too.

On Sunday, Remus had his suitcase standing near the door. He shrugged inside his coat, buttoning it up. He looked like he was going to burst into tears. His fingers trembling. He couldn't even get one button in place.

James glanced over to Sirius and then Peter. Everyone looked melancholic. Their lips curved towards, eyes studying Remus. James jumped out of his bed and Sirius's eyes widened in alarm.

"Mate," asked James, ignoring Sirius's shaking head. He trailed over towards Remus.

Remus had given up on trying to button his coat. His shoulders slumped and head hanging low. James had a sudden urge to engulf Remus in a warm hug and ask him what was bothering him.

"What happened?" James's voice was low and soft. Just like his mother's when she would try to comfort James.

"I- I," Remus stammered in his strained voice.

"Are you going somewhere?" asked James, now standing in front of him.

"My – M – Mum is sick," Remus's lower lip trembled as he spoke. "I'm go – going – home."

James felt his heart clench at Remus's words. No wonder Remus was on edge this whole time. He must've been worried sick about his mother.

"She's going to be fine, I am sure," James assured him with a sad smile. Remus looked at him with glassy layer of tears. "Let me help you," James extended his hands towards Remus's coat.

Remus's sob was caught in his throat when James buttoned his coat for him. "Don't worry mate, she'll be fine," James assured him again. "And don't worry about school. It's only the first week."

"Thank you," Remus mumbled. Wiping his eyes with the back of his hand.

"I'll copy notes for you," James promised, a tight smile on his lips. "Let's drop you to the gates."

Remus opened and closed his mouth like a fish, but there was no sound. He stayed planted to the floor. He shook his head as James took his suitcase in his hand. "I – I'm not – supposed to go to the gates," he said.

"Oh?" asked James, cocking his head to one side.

"Headmaster's office," Remus blurted out.

"They have special arrangements for you?" asked James.

Remus nodded fervently; James wondered if his neck was okay. "Alright, let's at least drop you till the common room entrance."

Sirius and Peter were on their feet at once. The four boys made their way out of the room. James leading their way with the suitcase. Everyone in the common room eyed them with suspicion. Remus shrunk back, hiding behind the other three. The portrait hole opened and James's mood soured at the sight in front of him.

That greasy git and what-was-her-name Evans were standing outside. They were giggling. But they stopped once they noticed the four boys. They looked the them in confusion and James turned his back towards the duo.

"Are you sure you don't want us to accompany you?" asked James. Remus was quick to shake his head.

"Alright then," said James, smiling. "Take care of yourself. Send us an owl if you get time. And tell your mother we've send her our best wishes."

"Don't worry too much, she'll be fine," Peter assured him.

"Yes, take care of yourself," Sirius added.

"Thank you – so much," Remus's voice wobbled as he gave them a tight smile. Picking up his suitcase, Remus dashed away. The three boys watched him disappear around the corner.

"I told you, something was bothering him," said James, as they returned to their room. "I would worry too if my Mum was sick." James felt sympathetic towards Remus.

"I wouldn't be," Sirius said under his breath. James raised his brows, his lips pressed in a straight line. "C'mon! What am I going to do if she's sick?"

"Help her?" asked Peter.

"Oh! She'll help herself," Sirius snorted. James could hear resentment in Sirius's voice. He reckoned it had something to do with the Howler.

"Well, everyone has a different way of showing affection," said James. He gave a tight-lipped smile.

After finishing their History of Magic homework, the three decided to leave the room. They were touring the grounds when they came across the Willow. The one the headmaster warned about.

"It looks harmless to me," said Sirius, eyeing it up and down.

"5 galleons to whoever touches it first," James smirked.

"We're not allowed to go close to it," Peter reminded them. He was glancing around. His mouth remained open in an O shape.

"You can be the referee if you don't want to play," Sirius offered, patting him on the shoulder.

"What if someone sees you?" Peter squeaked, shaking his head.

"Oh, live a little!" Sirius grinned. "What's the worse that's going to happen?"

"I don't know? Getting expelled?" Peter replied in disbelief.

"No one is going to expel us for being curious," James grinned from ear to ear.

"They'll if they see you," Peter warned them. "You could die!"

"We'll all die one day mate!" Sirius exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air.

"Can that day not be today?" asked Peter. A crease formed between his eyes. James and Sirius scoffed.

"We're not dying," said James, raising his brows. He turned towards Sirius, "In 3 –" Sirius stood facing the Willow. "2 – 1."

James pushed his feet off the ground. He bolted towards the Willow; his eyes fixed on it. He could hear Sirius's giggles right next to him. He didn't turn to look, but it sounded like Sirius was catching up to him. Breathing steady through the nose, James couldn't help but giggle too.

It happened before James could stop himself. A long branch of the Willow twisted like a snake. James was about to reach the tree. His hand stretched out to touch it. The branch twisted and curved, bolting towards him. His eyes widened in their sockets. James tried to come to a halt but he was running too fast. His ankles gave out and his knees buckled. James covered his head with his hands as the branch hit him on his forearm. He heard the tear of his jumper and a stinging sensation on his arm.

"JAMES!" Sirius shouted. He felt a pair of hands wrap around his leg, dragging him away from the tree.

He turned around, watching Sirius hover over him. In the distance, he saw Peter running over to them. Peter looked like a ball. His head bouncing up and down as his short thick legs tried to carry him.

"Thanks mate," mumbled James. Sirius offered his hand to James, helping him stand up.

"You're bleeding," said Sirius, pointing towards James's right arm.

"That –," James spat, looking at the tree that now stood as still as ever. " –hit me!"

"I saw," Sirius nodded.

"What in merlin's name is that?" James cried. He narrowed his eyes as he glared the tree.

"I thought you were going to get squashed under its branch," said Sirius as he shuddered.

"I would've if you hadn't dragged me out of there," James beamed. "It was brilliant!"

"I told you it would be dangerous!" Peter cried. His eyes almost popped out of their sockets when he noticed James's bleeding arm.

"Don't tell me you didn't find it brilliant?" asked James. He was grinning from ear to ear.

"I'd like to keep my body in one piece," mumbled Peter, shaking his head.

"WHAT'RE YEH DOIN' THERE?" A voice bellowed behind them. The three boys froze in their spots. Their eyes widened as they looked over at each other.

They turned around, and in front of them stood the half giant. Rubeus Hagrid – the keeper of keys and grounds. He accompanied them to the boats on their first day at Hogwarts. He must've heard them as his hut was visible from where they stood.

"Are yeh bleedin'?" asked Hagrid, lowering his head to look at James. James stretched his neck as high as he could. His mouth hung open as he studied Hagrid's expressions.

"He fell," Peter blurted out, pointing his finger towards James.

"Fell?" asked Hagrid, he narrowed his eyes at them in suspicion.

"Y – Yes, James and I were running around and he fell," Sirius nodded.

"Not runnin' towards that tree I hope," Hagrid remarked. He raised his bushy brows as he jerked in the direction of the beating tree.

"No!" the three boys exclaimed in unison.

"I tripped on my own feet," mumbled James, gulping in hard.

"Well, run along then. Yeh shouldn't be headin' in that direction," Hagrid told them. He gestured with his hands for them to return to the castle.

"Let's go," Sirius whispered, pulling James by his left hand.

"Go to Madam Pomfrey," Hagrid instructed as the three boys rushed back to the castle.

"That was close!" Sirius exclaimed. He looked behind himself when they were near the castle.

"I thought he had seen us," said James, shaking his head. He couldn't believe his luck!

"Let's go to the infirmary," said Peter, huffing out loud. He had noticed James holding his forearm tight, as if to subside the pain.

"And answer several other questions?" asked Sirius, raising his eyebrows.

"Then what should we do?" asked Peter, the three boys coming to a halt as they reached the castle. Sirius pulled them to a corner by their collars, hiding behind a wall.

He peeked out, his grey orbs scanning if anyone was coming their way. Satisfied with what he saw, he turned around to face the two confused boys. Sirius pulled out his wand with a grin.

"I know a simple spell that can heal that," Sirius whispered, his eyes scanning James and Peter's face.

"Have you ever tried it before?" asked Peter, his eyes glistening with excitement.

"I've had several injuries. My mother used it on me," Sirius whispered, pushing his lower lip in a pout. "But I've never tried it," Sirius shook his head.

"Well," James started as he pulled up the sleeves of his torn jumper. The gash on his arm had stopped bleeding. Though it still stung. "There's always a first time for everything."

He held out his hand towards Sirius and Peter squealed with excitement. Bending over James's arm to get a good look, Peter was bouncing on the balls of his feet.

"Ahem!" Sirius cleared his throat and held his wand over James's wound. James watched in wonder. The wounds knitted with a song like incantation Sirius was whispering. The only proof of James's injury was the small white scar and his torn jumper.

"That was bloody brilliant!" Peter exclaimed, his brows raised as he scanned James's arm.

James was tongue-tied, still studying his own arm. He squinted his eyes, to look for his wound. But it was gone! His jaw dropped to the floor, and he looked at Sirius. He was smirking as he put his wand away in the pocket of his trouser.

"You might still need dittany for the scar," said Sirius, gazing his index finger over the white line on James's arm. "On a second thought, I don't reckon you would."

"How do you know so much about healing?" James breathed. Sirius was brilliant! James's jaw was hurting from grinning so wide.

"I told you. My mother healed me a lot of times," said Sirius, shrugging. "Now, let's get out of here before someone sees us."

It was after dinner; the three boys were sitting near the fireplace to warm their feet in the common room. There was a shuffle of footsteps that stopped near them. They turned their head to look at Susan Walker a second year Gryffindor student.

"Is Remus okay?" she asked. Her lips pulled down in a frown.

"Remus?" James questioned back, blinking his eyes. Why did she care about Remus?

"I saw him in Madam Pomfrey's office," she replied, nodding her head. Her brown tresses bounced on her shoulders.

"That cannot be Remus," said James, glancing over to Sirius and Peter. "He's gone home."

"No, he's at Hogwarts," Susan told them. "He looked agitated."

"What were you doing in Madam Pomfrey's office?" asked Sirius, straightening up.

Susan shot a sharp look at Sirius and mumbled, "I was in the infirmary – for my – stomach ache." It seemed like Sirius had asked her something he shouldn't have. She turned around on the balls on her heels. James could see her cheeks turning pink and he wondered why was that?

"I hope you're feeling better," said James. Susan made an odd sort of noise before rushing away.

"Did I say something wrong?" asked James, bewildered at her reaction. He turned towards his roommates.

"No," Peter replied, shaking his head. His eyes were still fixed on where Susan stood a few seconds ago. "I think it was Sirius."

"Me? I only asked her why she was there," Sirius scoffed, his lips pressed in a straight line in disbelief.

"Seems like a sensitive topic," said Peter, shrugging.

"But what was this about Remus?" James whispered, leaning close to the two boys.

"She must've seen someone else," faltered Sirius. "He's gone home, he said so himself."

Then why didn't it make any sense? There was no reason for Remus to lie. Not to mention that he did look stressed about his mother. James couldn't put his finger on it. Something about this whole ordeal seemed off.

The first half of the next day was as boring as it could be. There were classes after class and nothing practical to learn in any! The three boys had finished their lunch fast. They decided to go around the castle to look for things they had heard from their parents. That is how they found themselves standing inside the Trophy Room.

There were heaps and heaps of Awards, trophies, cups, plates, shields, statues, and medals kept in crystal glass displays! James scanned through as many as he could with his mouth hanging open. He had never seen something like this.

"Do you reckon we can have our names displayed here?" James breathed, his eyes taking in as much as he could.

"That would be brilliant!" Sirius agreed. He bent over to look at the plates in one of the lower glass displays.

"Who is Tom Marvolo Riddle?" asked Peter. James turned around to look at him pointing towards a trophy.

"Special Services to the School," James read what was written on the trophy. He tried to think of any famous wizards with that name but he could think of none.

"What do reckon he'd have done for the school?" asked Peter, as Sirius joined him on his other side.

"Probably kicked Mrs Norris, I know I would," Sirius mumbled, studying the trophy.

James snorted, and Peter giggled, their eyes turning towards Sirius, who was smirking. "I'd join you on that adventure anytime," James commented.

They heard a loud meow from behind. James snapped his head back, his eyes widened. The dusty coloured cat came into James's view. Her yellow, lamp-like eyes peered at the boys.

"Let's go before Filch comes here," said James. He picked up his bag and rushed out of the Trophy Room. Looking behind himself, he saw Mrs Norris sitting guard outside the Trophy room door.

Thud!

James collided into someone, causing him to tumble backwards. "Watch where you're going Potter," the unpleasant voice spat. James looked ahead and his eyes met a pair of black orbs, hidden behind greasy black hair.

"Ew! Now you'll have to bathe," Sirius spat back, making James snort.

James hadn't been fast enough to see it, not that he would've been able to do anything about it if he'd seen it. Severus pulled out his wand and pointed it towards James's knees.

There was a sharp pain and a clicking sound. James's eyes grew wide in horror and his hand immediately reached for his knees. But he couldn't feel it in the front of his legs! His legs buckled but rather back facing.

Severus smirked at the screams of the three boys as he walked away, pleased with himself. That was how James and Sirius earned their second detention. And Peter earned his first detention for being late to Professor Binns' class.