So, here we go, part 3

So, here we go, part 3. Thanks to all my reviewers (you know who you are). You've made me feel so special. Also, I am now aware that lily's name is Evans, and that James' eyes are (supposedly) brown (I need to check). In this short part, the plot thickens, and Halloween brings some interesting events…

The next few weeks seemed to fly by for James. He was really beginning to enjoy school life. He was extremely surprised to find that despite their constant trouble causing, he and Sirius were the best students in the year. He and Sirius also managed Snape quite to embarrass well one Potions lesson, by pouring Swelling Solution onto his chair when he wasn't looking. The results had caused all the Gryffindors, especially Sirius, James, Remus and Peter, to choke with laughter for the rest of the lesson, and also for Snape's face to turn redder than a beetroot, before Professor Jackson sent him to the Hospital Wing, trying himself not to laugh.

One evening, at the end of September, Sirius and James were sitting in the common room doing their Transfiguration homework. Lily and Peter were playing Exploding Snap with Katie and Heather and Frank was playing chess with Sarah. Remus was visiting Hagrid again. James and Sirius decided to nick themselves some food from the kitchens (which they now did nearly every day) and then go down to Hagrid's hut and see him and Remus.

Twenty minutes later, they found themselves out in the grounds, heading for Hagrid's hut. The air was cold, and through the clouds, James could see a clear, full moon. Suddenly, a bone-chilling howl pierced the night air.

'Must be a wolf,' said Sirius nervously.

'Yeah,' said James. 'C'mon.'

They reached Hagrid's hut and knocked on the door.

'Just a sec',' came Hagrid's voice from inside the hut. 'Alrigh' Sirius, alrigh' James, how are yeh?'

'We're fine Hagrid, how're – Hold on, where's Remus? James asked.

'What're yeh talking about? Ain't seen Remus fer about a week. Why?

'He said he -' Sirius began, but James cut across him.

'It's not important, Hagrid,' he said, giving Sirius a warning look. They chatted to Hagrid for a while, before both heading back to the kitchens for a snack and then back to the common room.

'So, if Remus wasn't at Hagrid's,' pondered Sirius. 'Then where was he?'

'And where is he now?' replied James. 'Good question, we'll have to interrogate him when he comes back.'

Sure enough, after about half an hour, during which James and Sirius had entertained themselves by plotting tricks on Snape, Remus entered the room. He was very pale, as though he had just seen a ghost, and seemed to be shivering uncontrollably. James had only seen him like this once before, on the first day of term.

'Hi Remus, where have you been?' asked James innocently.

'Um, at Hagrid's, like I told you earlier,' answered Remus quickly, avoiding eye contact with either of them. James and Sirius raised their eyebrows.

'That's interesting,' said Sirius, with a touch of amusement in his voice. 'We were at Hagrid's just now, and he said you hadn't been to see him for about a week. Unless you were hiding, of course.'

'Oh all right,' said Remus miserably, and going a shade paler. 'I haven't been at Hagrid's, I've been- I've been-'

'Where exactly have you been?' said Sirius coldly.

'I've been visiting my mother,' said Remus quickly. 'She's really ill, and I have to go and visit her sometimes…' his voice tailed away.

'Why didn't you just tell us, you don't think we'd mind, do you? said James.

'No, no it's just that…'

'Just that what?' said Sirius coldly. His temper was starting to get the better of him. James noticed this, however.

'Look Remus, it doesn't matter. I think you should get to bed, you look like you could use some sleep. And you, Sirius.'

'Thanks, James, I'll see you in the morning,' said Remus, and he ran straight up to the boys dormitory.

'Interesting,' said James. 'Most interesting.'

'Irritating, you mean,' said Sirius suddenly. 'Visiting his mother, what a load of bull.'

'Look, Sirius,' said James sharply. 'If Remus wanted to tell us what the problem was, he would, but it's obviously private, so just drop it.'

'But he-'

'Sirius!' said James angrily.

'Alright, alright, it doesn't matter.' And they both went up to bed as well, where the other three boys were all asleep. As James was getting ready for bed, he glanced over at Remus, who looked deadly pale still, and his face was contorted with fear. James again got the impression that he had seen Remus before starting Hogwarts. However, before he had worked out where, his head had hit the pillow, and he was fast asleep.

***

Halloween was coming. Hagrid's pumpkins were growing huge for the Halloween feast, and Professors Flitwick and McGonagall could be seen putting up the Halloween decorations.

One Friday afternoon, James was on his way down to the kitchens to steal some food, when he heard a voice from a room up ahead; Thornheart's office

'Be patient, be patient. Lee has the formula now, it is only a matter of time.' It was Thornheart. 'The fool will never suspect a thing.' James stood there, frozen, as he came out of the door. Quick as a flash, James hid behind a suit of armour, and Thornheart didn't see him. James sat down for a moment, breathing deeply, and wondered what Thornheart could mean. Who could he have been talking to? What was this mysterious potion? What did it do? James stood up, and glanced into the room in which Thornheart had been. His heart missed a beat. Inside, was a coffin, and there was something inside it. Suddenly though, he could hear footsteps approaching. He dived back behind the armour, and saw Professor Jackson enter the room

'No, no, this cannot be,' he heard Jackson whisper. 'It is impossible.'

James had heard enough. Straightening himself up, he tiptoed quietly past the room and off towards the kitchens, his mind racing. Jackson had said that it was 'impossible'. He must have been referring to the thing in the coffin, but what was it? If so, the thing in the coffin may have been a dead person. James shuddered at the thought. But why would it be in Thornheart's office? And why would Jackson be so upset? James abandoned his trip to the kitchens and turned back, walking in the direction of the Gryffindor common room. As he entered, he wondered whom he should tell. He spotted Remus and Peter playing chess and walked over to them.

'Where have you been?' asked Peter, looking up, 'Sirius went to find you.'

'Never mind that, wait 'til you hear this,' he said breathlessly, and he proceeded to recite the events he had just witnessed. When he had finished, both Peter and Remus looked equally shocked.

'You mean to say,' said Peter, in a strangled voice, 'that Thornheart's killed someone?'

'And someone close to Jackson, obviously, but I don't see the connection,' added Remus. 'I mean, what's Thornheart's motive.'

'Good question,' said James. 'I think we need to do a little investigating.'

'But how do we get into Thornheart's office?' asked Remus.

'We could apparate,' said a hopeful voice from behind them. It was Sirius. 'Where have you been Jamesy? And why do you need to get into Thornheart's office?'

'Let the whole world know, why don't you,' said Remus angrily. 'Sit down!'

'Er - have I missed something?' asked Sirius. The others then explained to him what James had seen.

'Jesus Christ!' exclaimed Sirius, when they had finished. 'Thornheart's a murderer?'

'Wouldn't put it past him,' said Peter.

'Yes. And now we need to find a way to get into his office,' prompted James.

'Why not apparition?' asked Peter.

'Use your brains, Pete,' said Sirius. 'Firstly, you need a license, secondly, you can't apparate in the castle, and thirdly, Thornheart's bound to have some locking charm on his office door. We need to somehow get in there whilst he is.'

'And how do you propose we do that?' asked Remus.

'I really don't know,' said Sirius.

'You don't know?' said Peter, in a tone of mock surprise. 'Sirius Black doesn't know something?' he added. James and Remus laughed.

'Very funny,' said Sirius. 'And I suppose you have some brilliant scheme?'

'Well, the only thing we could do is become invisible,' answered Peter.

'That's brilliant, Pete,' said Sirius. 'How?'

'I think,' said James, sensing violence, 'that is what we must find out.'

'You mean we have to pay attention in Potions?' Remus moaned.

'Unfortunately, yes,' said James quietly. 'We need to listen in case somebody mentions it when we're throwing things at Snape.'

***

So, in the last few days they had before Halloween, the four boys paid as much attention as possible in their Potions and Charms lessons. However, the work they were covering in Potions was to do with antidotes, and in Charms they were practising making things fly. They avoided asking their teachers about invisibility, as they might get suspicious – why would four first-years want to become invisible except to cause trouble? – That was the way then four friends looked at it, so they began to start researching in the library. The library was a vast place. Thousands upon thousands of books, and they had no idea where to look.

The day before Halloween, the four boys were in the library, when Lily walked in. They hadn't told her or anyone else about their adventures, though they figured, that as she was good at Charms, she might be able to help them.

'Hey, Lily,' James called, beckoning her over, and earning himself a reproving glare from Madam Pince. Lily smiled as she saw them, and made her way over.

'Hi,' she said cheerfully, 'what're you doing?'

'Researching,' said Sirius, and he then told her the whole story. At the end, she looked thunderstruck.

'I don't believe it,' she said, breathlessly. 'I just don't believe it.'

'Neither did we,' Remus said. 'Now we're trying to work out the link between this and their first conversation, you know, when you two found the kitchens,' he added, pointing to James and Sirius.

'This mysterious potion, that's the key to the mystery,' said Lily. 'But you didn't hear what it's called?'

'No,' replied James, 'but it can't be for anything good.'

'I'd just like to know who Thornheart was talking to,' said Peter grimly.

The next day was Halloween. The Gryffindors had no lessons that morning. Remus and James were working together in the common room, and were silently discussing the Thornheart situation. James couldn't help noticing that Remus looked very pale, though he seemed cheerful enough. Later that evening, the whole school filed into the Great Hall for the Halloween feast. All the third-years and above had been to Hogsmeade, the local village, and he could see groups of them chatting happily about their day. As Sirius and James went to sit down, James noticed something (no prizes for guessing what).

'Hey, where's Remus?' he said quietly to Sirius and Peter.

'Oh no! He hasn't gone walkabout again has he?' replied Peter.

'Maybe his mum really is sick,' added Sirius.

'Hey, Lily,' said James, leaning over to talk to her, 'you haven't seen Remus, have you?'

'Er – no,' she replied. 'Last time I saw him was with you earlier, in the common room. Why?'

'No reason,' he said, and sat back down.

At that point, Dumbledore stood up and said a few words, before announcing the start of the feast. James, Peter and Sirius ate happily, whilst talking (in low voices) about Thornheart and about Remus.

'Jackson doesn't look too good, does he,' said Peter. He was right, James noticed, because Jackson didn't look his usual cheerful self, and seemed lost in deep thought, staring up at the bewitched ceiling. James looked up as well. The sky was cloudy, though he could see thousands of stars littered across it. The moon was hiding behind a cloud. Just then, Remus entered, his face bloodless, and blanched with absolute terror. Dumbledore stood up so quickly that James saw Professor McGonagall start. Remus approached the table.

'Oh my God!' he said, looking at the ceiling, and then at James. 'I overslept – Oh my God!' The whole hall had now gone silent, and everyone was staring at him. Suddenly, however, Dumbledore grabbed his arm and pulled him out into the Entrance Hall. The whole hall was deadly silent for a minute or two, until the usual wave of babble broke out again.

'What the bloody hell was all that about?' said Sirius. Everybody shrugged.

'Did you see his face? Looked like he'd just killed someone.'

'I hope he's alright,' added James, 'whatever's wrong with him.'

James couldn't, however, get Remus' terrified face out of his head. He continued his meal, talking quietly to Sirius and Peter.

The feast ended, and after McGonagall had said a few words (Dumbledore hadn't returned) all the students were sent to bed. James walked up with all the first-year Gryffindors except for Remus. He wondered where Remus was now, and remembered the terrible look on his face as he had entered the Great Hall.

James couldn't sleep that night. He was just considering waking Peter up for a game of chess, when he heard a scream from somewhere around him. He got out of bed, and crept down to the common room on his own. There was another scream. It had come from the girls' dorm. Slowly and quietly, he opened the door, and a very strange sight met his eyes. Sarah, Katie, Heather and Michelle were all standing around Lily's bed, and Lily herself was lying on her bed, asleep, but she was writhing and squirming. Sarah motioned to James to come in.

'She woke us all up,' Heather explained. 'She's having a nightmare.' At that point, however, Lily began to speak.

'No, no, not Harry! Not Harry!' she said. 'Please – I'll do anything, please! Not Harry!' James looked around. All four girls were staring at Lily in disbelief and horror. Suddenly, she jerked awake.

'Wha- where am I?' she spotted James. 'Oh James, you're alive! Thank God! Thank God!'

'Lily, what -'

Heather had grabbed Lily's arms and shaken her. Lily opened her eyes properly and looked around at the five people surrounding her, each with an identical look of shock. She couldn't help it. She burst out laughing.

'What's going on?' she said, between giggles, 'has someone died?'

'Who's Harry?' said Michelle quietly.

'What?' Lily replied.

'Who's Harry?' repeated Michelle. 'You were talking about him just now. You said "Not Harry! Not Harry!" who is he?'

'And why were you so relieved that I was alive?' said James.

'What are you all talking about?' she said.

'You just had a nightmare, Lily, we heard you,' said Katie.

'Yeah, I heard you from my dorm, what was it about?'

'I can't remember,' she said. 'Though I do remember a flash of green light.'

'Well, if she can't remember, there's not much point in worrying about it,' said James, taking charge. 'Let's all just try and get some sleep.' And with that, he got up and headed to the door.

'James?' said Lily quietly.

'Mmm?'

'Thankyou.' James smiled at her, bade the other girls goodnight, and made his way back to his own dorm. It took him a while to get back to sleep, as he kept hearing Lily's screams in his head. Eventually, however, the visions faded, and he fell into a deep sleep.

That morning, James woke quite early, the reason being that he wanted to talk to Remus. He found, however, that Remus' bed was empty, and therefore made his way down to breakfast. He spotted Remus sitting on his own at the far end.

'Hi,' said Remus in a casual way, as James approached. However, his voice shook slightly as he said it, and there was still a pale tinge in his cheeks.

'Hi Remus,' said James, and thinking he might as well get straight to the point, said 'so, what was the problem yesterday?'

'Oh that, said Remus, oh, it was just that I was supposed to be visiting my mum, you know, she's ill,' James nodded. 'But I overslept and missed the train. I was just annoyed, but Dumbledore managed to calm me down.' He said all this with great sincerity in his voice, such that James believed him.

'Anyway, don't worry about it, we've got History of Magic to look forward to now,' and he said this whilst doing an accurate impression of Professor Binns, causing Remus to snort with laughter.

'Yeah,' said Remus, still laughing. 'Thanks, James.'

And there we go. I've managed to develop the plot a bit further in my head, at least until the end of this year, so I should hopefully have that finished soon. Thanks again for all the lovely reviews. R/r. Ciao!