The Moment Is Now
Hey all! Just want to say this is my first ever fanfiction story so please give me advice! I have most of the story planned out but if you have any idea please feel free to give it to me in a review, or email me at
Here are all the chapters yet to come, I have from chapter 2 part 2 to chapter 3 part two on this right now, so the next time I put a story it will be chapter 3 part 3 and most if not all of chapter 4..
Chapter one- Hogwarts – fun is optional unless your name is Sirius Black
Part one – Nightmares and colored kitties
Part two – Talking to the outsider
Part tree – Polka Dotted Norris and Sandy brown wolves
Chapter two- Gregory and Angelica Lukos – evil… or good?
Part one- the meeting
Part two- Remus' suspicion
Part three- get over it
Part four- John and Naomi Potter – James remembers
Chapter three- Truth – Do you swear to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth… hello?
Part one- Angry
Part two- Lukos and Lupin
Part three- Confrontation
Chapter four- Gifts and Greetings
Part one- Lily
Part two- the death
Part three- first mum… Gone…. Second mum…. goner
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Chapter 2- Gregory and Angelica Lukos
Part 2 Remus' suspicion
For the next few weeks, Remus never did understand why he felt so nervous. He wrote James everyday asking him if he was ok. James said that maybe Remus should get more sleep. Sirius had laughed at that when James told him, but Remus was still nervous about Luk. What if… somehow James gets bit? He doesn't know he's a wolf. Remus thought about it. Angelica isn't a wolf… that's good. She won't let James get hurt. She really wants James to like her though he just won't. He got pretty vicious yesterday. Remus felt a sharp pain on his head. The train bumped up and down causing him to hit his head on the window.
"Moony Stop hitting your head on the window!" James exclaimed.
Remus grinned slightly. James, being as troubled as he was, could easily sense what people's moods were. Remus never figured out how, but he did.
"Remus? What's wrong?"
Remus looked at James. "Could I talk to you for a moment? Alone?"
James shrugged. "Sure." He glanced at Sirius who was basically hanging on their every word wanting to know what they're talking about.
After a few moments of staring, Sirius let out an exasperated sigh. "Fine. I'm goin', I'm goin'…" As he trudged out after the others into the next compartment.
James looked to Remus expectantly.
"James, do you know how I met Greg?"
James shrugged and grinned, being in the good mood he was in he decided to play a small game.
"Maybe I do maybe I don't."
"James…"
"I said maybe!"
Remus glared at James, clearly not amused. James raised his hands defensively.
"I was just playing Moony! Stop shootin' daggers at me!"
James laughed.
Remus rolled his eyes slightly. "Well, do you?"
"Well, no I don't, but I am awfully curious!"
Remus thought for a moment. If I were Luk I wouldn't want James to know… maybe I shouldn't tell him… No James is my friend… There is something dark about Luk and I'm not sure if I can trust him… I am going to tell James.
"James, he's a werewolf." Remus said quickly.
James looked stunned at first; his eyes wide and an odd look on his face. Then it lightened to a neutral look.
"I should have known. I told Sirius that a while ago I felt something odd about him…" James furrowed his brows. "But I don't feel that around you… it's almost a dark feeling… like a cant trust him…"
Remus stared at him. "I felt that too… That's the only reason I told you… I'm afraid that maybe… He's… I don't know, like evil or something…"
James nodded. He smiled his bright mood coming back.
"Oh well!" Remus felt a little sick. Oh well? That's it? He's crazy…
"Remus get that look of your face! Jeesh! I cant do anything about it if he's evil or not or whatever! Plus I doubt he'll do anything to me."
Remus shrugged then grinned feeling relieved. James has a point. Now enjoy this moment when everyone's in a good mood!
Part 3- Get over it.
James walked down the corridor, whistling happily. The day was great, birds were singing, first years were sleeping… What could be better?
He walked into the great hall. Not many people were up yet, only himself, the head boy and head girl, and a couple 6 & 7 years.
One of the Gryffindor 7th years came and sat down next to him.
"Hey. You don't know me… My names Rigel… My uncle sent me a note over the summer… HE said he adopted a kid that comes to Hogwarts here with me… you…" HE said. He grinned slightly then put out a hand.
"I know, I know my uncle didn't tell you about me, he told me to tell you during school… He thinks you hate him." He said seeing James surprised look.
"So, How'd you like it, spending time with them over the summer?" James looked past Rigel to see Dumbledore, at the teacher's table smiling at him, his eyes twinkling.
James looked back to Rigel. "I don't know. Angelica's ok, I guess… Greg gives me the creeps…"
Someone calling Rigel cut off James.
"Sorry, I got to go, I'll talk to you later then, eh? Bye!" He waved and jogged back to his table. James shrugged and continued eating till Sirius Remus and Peter showed up.
"Hey James!" Peter said quietly as he slipped into the seat next to him. Sirius took the other side. "Yo Jamsie what's happenin'?!" Sirius sound very over-enthusiastically.
James raised a brow. Remus took a seat next to Sirius.
"So, why are you up so early James?" Remus asked.
James shrugged. "Woke up early." Sirius shot a look at James who mouthed "what?" Sirius just shook his head and looked to Peter.
"Hey, Peter, could you tap Beth's shoulder for me? Yeah, ok thanks." Sirius said. Lately Sirius had been picking on Beth. Getting people who she did or didn't know to go up and tap her shoulder then walk away, and even sometimes Sirius would do it himself. James sniggered. Sirius and Be-eth sitting in a tree K-I-S-S-I-N…James glanced up as a shadow spread over him.
Severus Snape glared down at him, a smirk plastered on his face.
James, who hadn't slept at all that night, made a face.
"What do you want Snape?" he spat.
"Oh nothing… I just got news that today's the glorious anniversary of yours and Blacks parents… All the Slytherins are going to the common room to celebrate later…" He drawled smiling at the look of rage that had over come James' (and Sirius' but Snape wasn't watching him) face. James stood up knocking a few chairs over as he did so.
Remus held Sirius down as he struggled to get up and punch down Snape. Remus attempted to get James to stop too but both of them were too much. James suddenly spat a large wad of spit into Snape's face. Numerous Gryffindors cheered at this but it stopped when more Slytherins walked over.
"James, stop it… just ignore them…" Remus started but Snape urged James on.
"What, Potter, ya chicken? A whimp? Like your parents.." Snape laughed tauntingly "…They died in a fire! I measly fire! Haha, those wimps." James had tears streaking his face, which had turned red with anger.
Sirius pulled hard but Remus being what he was, was much stronger and held him back. Peter had left sometime during the earlier taunting, obviously afraid of what was going on. James yelled out in anger and swung his fist into Snape's surprised face.
The room had gone silent. James turned and ran out of the Great Hall, Sirius had stopped struggling and looked fairly surprised.
Remus looked at Snape who was clutching his nose
Rigel ran over and pulled James back—he had seen the whole thing as everyone else did and decided to try and stop it from getting worse.
"Potter hit me!" Mcgonagall walked up to Snape and began to lead him away. "Professor! Did you see that? Potter hit me!" Snape said with a totally fake shocked look on his face.
"I'm sorry to say you disserved it." She said loudly so everyone could hear and dragged him away. A few kids in the great hall laughed. Others stared, outraged, at the door Snape and Mcgonagall left through, and others… continued eating.
~*~ Sirius' POV ~*~
At first, the rage of the moment had blinded me… I was considering getting up and running after Mcgonagall and Snape just so I could give him a punch on the nose, but then I reconsidered. Remus gave me a look that clearly said 'leave it alone'. I did, even though I had no idea what he meant. The boy who was holding James back let him go and nodded to him after walking away. I just continued eating. I didn't see James for the rest of the day and got quite worried. Peter, who had always liked James best considering James was the only one that made an effort at being nice to him, was quivering slightly and kept asking if they should go try to find him.
Later on I decided I was going to go find James.
---
"Look, I don't know where he is but I have a good idea of what he might consider or do to himself. I am just going to find him and make sure he's ok then I'll leave him alone."
"Fine. But, Padfoot, if he lashes out at you don't say I didn't warn you." Remus said clearly annoyed at Sirius' lack of senses. "He obviously wants to be alone!" He exclaimed as he walked away.
Sirius walked down the corridor. He heard a noise from behind a door. The door happened to be one in which no one but the teachers and the Marauders knew about. He knew James was in there immediately, but suddenly, as he reached to get his wand a hand was on his shoulder. He spun around to face the person.
"Well, hello, Sirius. What are you doing here?" Dumbledore asked. The normal twinkle was gone from his eyes but he was smiling.
"I-… I was…" There was a small thud from inside the room Dumbledore nodded knowingly.
"-going to find James." He finished for Sirius. Sirius nodded.
"Well, Sirius, I am here to calm him down, he just hurled a chair at a teacher…" Dumbledore chuckled the normal twinkle in his eye.
"I told Filch not to but he just wouldn't listen…" Dumbledore laughed again then looked back to Sirius. "Just leave him be, Sirius. I am very glad that at least you seem to have relatively gotten over that experience…"
Sirius nodded slightly. He couldn't help asking Dumbledore…
"Did he really chuck a chair at Filch??"
Dumbledore laughed and nodded. "If you'd like, he's in the hospital wing now, I believe Madame Pomfrey is out for a bit collecting some herbs…" Sirius raised a brow Dumbledore is soo cool! And darted off.
Dumbledore shook his head and opened the door once Sirius was out of view and stepped in, dodging a book, which came hurtling at him, he then shut the door.
~*~
Later, When Sirius returned to the Gryffindor common room, Remus walked up to him. "Find James?"
"Yes." He said with a grin still plastered on his face. "He chucked a chair at Filch."
Remus stared at Sirius. "He attacked a teacher?"
"Well, you make it sound so bad… this is Filch remember."
Remus shook his head and shrugged. "What ever… I don't want to know why he threw it at Filch or what damage he caused on him, just let me go to bed and absorb this information…" He said as he trudged up the stares.
"Well, he's not in a good mood!" Said someone behind Sirius' back. Sirius turned his head to peer over his own shoulder.
"Oh, hey Lil'. You startled me."
Lily couldn't help but laugh "Since when do you use words like 'startle' I would think you would say something plain like 'scared'."
"I just finished actually talking to Filch. I think his talking manner rubbed off on me."
"You talked to Filch? Dear god…"
Sirius laughed. "No, no, James chucked a chair at him… I wanted details!"
"James did what?!?" Sirius put on a funny face.
"I thought it was quite brilliant… of course if it hadn't only been because Filch was bothering him in a depressed and angry mood it would have been much better… I wonder when James'll be back."
Suddenly Lily thought of something.
"Is it true?" She spat out before she could stop herself.
"What true?"
"About… about yours and James' parents…?
Sirius shifted his weight awkwardly. "Yeah… if you want to know about it ask Remus… I don't feel to well talking about it right now… I'm goin' to bed… 'night."
"'night…" Lily said. She felt bad. Maybe she could help. She heard footsteps outside the portrait hole and then someone yelling the password ("Nemigarliti"…don't ask) She quickly hid behind a couch praying it wasn't a teacher… (the time was far past midnight and she'd be in big trouble)
She heard footsteps walk by and some voices. She listened from her hiding spot.
"-James, I know its hard but look at Sirius, he's moved on! You need to overcome it. I understand how Severus made you mad but you shouldn't have let him get the best of you!" It was Dumbledore.
"I-I don't know how Sirius is like he is. He doesn't seem to care that his parents died… but I know he does… HE always puts other people first… to put off his own feelings… I don't think its good for him…"
"Well, what are you doing right now? You are putting Sirius before your own feelings, and you're right, it isn't good. He will eventually come to his senses, but for now, you work on getting over it. Yes, it will always hurt, but you can make it better."
The voices were drowned out as Dumbledore led James up to James' room. Then as he left he said.
"Good night Lily." Lily was too startled to speak as Dumbledore left the room. She jumped up and walked to bed.
Part 4- John and Naomi Potter ~ James remembers
James lied in his bed. He grinned slightly as he remembered the last summer with his parents. They had a great time. He remembered the laughing faces of John and Naomi Potter…
~*~
The small six-year-old boy looked around. He was outside in his backyard. It was a beautiful summer day and flowers were everywhere. He loved flowers. They smelled so good and whenever he felt bad he would just smell one… their tender smell helped him.
"James! Come on!" he looked at his dad and grinned, running to catch up with him. They were on their way to have a picnic. James loved picnics too. They always held so much joy in James' life. Having fun with his parents. He loved his parents a lot.
"Hey James! Catch!" his father yelled as he threw James his favorite toy created by muggles, a Frisbee. He just barely caught it in his right hand then he flung it back. His aim wasn't too good. His dad made a leap to get it and slammed into his mom's side. They both fell over laughing.
"PIGPILE!" as he ran over and Jumped onto them.
He immediately regretted that as his dad lifted him up.
"Now you pay!" he said in a joking voice. He carried James over to a trash bin. James was begging him not to do it while choking on his laughs. Soon his voice was muffled as he was dunked into the trash.
"JOHN! GET JAMES OUT OF THERE!" his mom screamed. John mumbled something and chuckled to himself as he pulled James out. James ran to his mom and hid behind her, still laughing.
"Mum! He's gunna get me!!" Naomi smiled
"No he wont I wont let him… come on this looks like a good spot."
"Right near the trash can! My favorite spot!" John said with a wink to Naomi.
Suddenly the whole dream changed. James felt a chill run through his body as a storm blew up. Suddenly he realized he was in a bathroom… washing his hands for dinner… He looked around as if waiting for something to happen. He knew this dream well, but was still petrified of it… Suddenly a large piece of wood fell through the ceiling, flames licking at it. James screamed and yelled out as he ran to the other side of the room.
"Sirius? Mum?? Dad?!" he yelled out. He listened intently.
"James?" he heard an answering call. It was Sirius. James ran towards Sirius' voice but found himself in a flame-ridden room he didn't recognize. "Where are you!?" Sirius yelled from a room on the other side of the house.
James felt the hot tears pouring down his face. "I don't know! Where is everyone?" he called out but James didn't hear an answer, he felt a scorching heat on his back and a tremendous force flatten him to the floor. He watched as the world around him glowed white then suddenly darkened. He saw nothing but black as he went unconscious.
Chapter 3- Do you swear to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth? … hello?
Part 1- Angry
James woke up in a cold sweat. He glanced over at Sirius, who, for the first time since their parents died, was still asleep after James had a nightmare. He doesn't have nightmares as much as me anymore…James thought sadly. He didn't have Sirius to talk to anymore. Sirius was getting over it. Not James. No. He would never forget about his parents. That's all 'getting over it' means. Forgetting about it. Well I wont. I won't forget them or how they died. I won't ever forget. James thought bitterly. He looked over the next few beds. He saw Peter stir slightly but being half-asleep Peter didn't notice that James was awake. James looked to Remus' bed, almost preying he were awake. He wasn't. James felt alone all of a sudden… like no one in the world gave a fuck about him. He found himself getting angry at with them all for sleeping. He hit himself hard on the head, for doing that. Then he got up and made his way down the stares to the common room.
He stepped into the common room and froze as he saw someone sitting there. She looked just as surprised to see him.
"James! What are you doing up?" Lily Evans asked in a startled voice.
"I-I couldn't sleep." He nearly hit himself for stuttering in front of her.
She looked at him and opened her mouth to say something but stopped herself. She looked into the fire.
"Wait… why are you up?" James asked.
She shrugs. "I dunno. Couldn't sleep I guess… or maybe I never tried…"
He grunted and sat down on another chair, leaning back in it comfortably.
~ Lily's POV ~
He sat down on the chair on the other side of the fire. The fire flickered and danced in the fireplace, reflecting off his pale skin. I noticed tear stains but decided to keep quiet. He's had a tough day. I didn't know what to say. I wanted to get some conversation, as the silence was scaring me slightly. I looked over at him thinking of something to say. He had his eyes closed and looked very sad… and almost angry… I wonder what the real reason was that he was up.
James glanced up at me. I didn't bother looking away… I mean he already knows I was looking at him… why make things difficult by looking away? He wanted to say something. I could tell by the tenseness of his jaw muscles. I could see him struggling not to talk. I raised a brow expectantly. He seemed to have gotten the idea. He sighed and sunk low in his chair.
"I keep having these nightmares…" he said.
"About what?" I asked, although I had a pretty good idea.
"My parents death. It always starts out nice… but then it gets horrible…" He choked as a sob tried to force its way out. Ah, boy toughness. Thinks he can't cry in front of me because it'd ruin his ego. Boys. Sheesh.
He took a deep breath. I leaned forward as he continued.
"I-it starts with us… the summer before they died… just replaying the same picnic in my old backyard. Just them smiling and everything… then it starts to get cold… I-I find myself at Sirius' old house… In the bathroom, washing my hands for dinner…" Tears streamed down his face. I wished I could tell him to stop, but telling this to someone else might help…
"A piece of wood falls through the ceiling… I call for help… F-for Sirius…. My mom or dad…" he paused "Then Sirius answered… I-I ran out into a big room… I think it might've been the ballroom… and a tried to get to Sirius… B-but the roof caved in… T-the dream always ends there… but when I wake up I keep seeing what happens next…" Tears were coming down his face so rapidly Lily felt as if the room would be flooded soon. Only then did she notice he had left behind his strong composure and was now leaning forward, his face buried in his hands. He was sobbing quite loudly. Lily went over and tried to comfort him but he pushed her away and ran up the stares to his room.
Lily felt a little confused at first but then considered it. Well if I was an ego freak boy and I had just totally revealed all my feelings to someone I would do that too.
Lily felt pretty good. She knew she helped him in a way. She suddenly felt very tired. She looked at the clock. 3:54 am. Well I have a good few hours… she thought as she headed up to her room.
~*~
The next morning James seemed slightly lethargic, but perfectly cheerful. He got a little quiet whenever Lily came by. Sirius found this suspicious and was bugging him and Lily whenever the chance came up… which was all the time.
"so, James, I woke up last night and you were gone… Now suddenly I hear Beth found Lily out of bed too, might I ask what was…" Sirius started, for the millionth time to tease James but this time, James blew up.
"You wanna know what happened? Nothing you sicko. I spilled all my inner feelings to a girl. I feel stupid and embarrassed that I ever did it and now with you teasing me it doesn't feel ANY better! So go on and tease me, making me feel more horrible than I've ever felt since my parents died. Go on you… you… " But James suddenly felt as though he were going to burst into tears. He stopped. Sirius looked shocked and stared at him, along with the rest of the Great Hall.
--
James usual 'care-free' day and 'be sad' night thing had been ruptured. And that left Sirius feeling horrible. Remus thought to himself during DADA. Remus looked to James. His head was down on his desk and most of the class was nervously glancing at him as if he were a bomb ready to go off… technically he was… and Sirius, was unusually quiet. He kept glancing at James too. Remus sighed. Nobody was like himself or herself today. Peter had been ganged up on by some Slytherins on his way to Transfiguration this morning and has been in the hospital wing ever since.
"…and an example of this is the Werewolf…" Remus caught that line. He glanced around the room again. Nobody was really paying attention. The professor, Esmeralda McKinnon, didn't seem to notice her student's lack of attention. Remus was very thankful to leave that class. HE never liked hearing the Professor saying how to kill a werewolf, and today was even more difficult with everyone's bad mood. Well… Sirius doesn't have a bad mood right now… Just feels a little bad.
"Hey Padfoot."
"Hey Moony." Sirius said grimly.
"Don't worry James'll get over it." Remus said almost immediately.
Sirius raised a brow. "You really have everyone figured out don't you?"
Remus grinned slightly. "Yes basically. I keep an eye on everyone. I usually know what's going on."
Sirius slowly improved, soon Remus was helping him find out how to make everyone's pens explode in history of magic.
Part 2- Lukos and Lupin
Lily, Beth, Remus, and Sirius were sitting at the normal table when James reentered the room. He glanced at Sirius as though considering apologizing but then continued walking. He walked to Rigel and his friends who were motioning him over there.
"What?"
"Hey James… well, we just heard that you were mad at Black and decided till things got better you could hang with us if you'd like?"
Remus was watching them and listening, whispering what he heard to the others. James glanced over at them and turned back to Rigel.
"Ok. Thanks." He sat down in the chair they got for him.
"Ok, guys this is James Harold Potter. James, these are my friends—they'll introduce themselves…"
The girl with fluttery blond hair, sparkling blue eyes, blue eye shadow and glistening lips from lip-gloss smiled at him and put out a hand.
"Hi James. I'm Danae Venedictos. Everyone calls me Dani."
He shook her hand and looked to the next person—a girl with short cut curly brown hair. Her hazel eyes glowed as she looked at him.
"I'm Channel Agate. Nice to meet you." (name pronounced
Shan-el Ah-Ga-t)
He nodded hello and looked to the last boy. He had died purple hair which was spiked above his head and had many necklaces on. He grinned and put out a hand covered in rings. He spoke with an American accent.
"Yo. I'm Jayson. Jayson Vespia."
He nodded and sat back in his chair. Rigel nodded to him and asked Jayson about his new necklace.
"Oh, yeah I like it… its from America like all the others…" He looked to James. "I'm an exchange student. My mom sends me all this shit." He said with a grin. James liked him. He seemed nice with a punk-like attitude.
"So, James, got any pranks in mind this year?"
"Um… I don't know… I usually do my pranks with them…" He said gesturing to the other table.
Jayson smiled. "Well, you can teach us some good prank styles…"
James smiled slightly. "Just remember—getting caught is the best part—after you succeed with the prank of course."
Jayson sat back and they discussed any ideas for pranks.
After a few days they were all good friends with James. Jayson liked him especially.
One day he confronted James and pulled him into the secret room James told him about.
"Hey, I wanted to ask you somethin'…"
"Ok, what is it?"
"Well, my sister was sent here too… she isn't doing too good on the popularity scale… I was wondering if maybe you could hang with her or something… maybe help boost her popularity? She's in your year…"
James shrugged. "Sure. Can I meet her?"
"Yeah actually I brought her here she should be waiting outside. Hold on…"
He walked and opened the door "Sis?" and then he pulled back leading a girl James' age in. She smiled. She was pretty. She had brunette colored hair and her face was perfect. Every little detail was perfected with some sort of make-up but it suited her. A curly lock of hair fell into her face as she giggled. A small dimple appeared on her cheek.
I can't see why she isn't popular! She's gorgeous!
She was wearing a short skirt under her robes, which were dangling open, and a very shape revealing tube top belly shirt.
"Hi. I'm Mali. Mali Vespia…"
"James Potter. Pleasure to meet you."
She seemed to have been holding back something—which came tumbling out momentarily. "Are you gunna make me popular?"
He couldn't help but grin. "I'm going to try…" He looked her up and down then met her eyes with a mischievous glint. "Shouldn't be too hard!"
Jayson chuckled and said. "Alright James no more. Mali, get to lunch, James, you too."
They both walked out. James called to her retreating back, purposely to the whole school. "Mali! Sit with us at lunch! Ok?"
"Ok! I just need to go grab something! See you there!" She said with a smile and wave.
James backed away. He slammed into someone. Great… all I want is to get some food and I slam into something smelly… He looked around to be face to face with Snape.
"Oh, that's what smelled so bad!" A group of nearby Gryffindors stopped to watch as they laughed.
"Shut up Potter. Where do you think your going?"
"To lunch… but I think I've lost my appetite…" He said as he pinched his nose and waved the air in front of him as if it smelled horribly—which it did.
Roars of laughter were heard from the Gryffindors in the corner.
James felt Snape move his hand to James' neck. "You little…"
"Snapey! Calm yourself! A teacher's coming!"
"Yeah right you little--,"
"Severus I wouldn't do that if I were you."
Snape let go and turned around slowly. Howls of laughter came from the Gryffindors as James quickly said good bye to Snape and walked away, receiving a quick glare from Mcgonagall as she led Snape away.
James took a quick look at the watching Gryffindors. It was all of his friends—and ex-friends. Sirius, Peter, Remus, Beth, Lily, Danae, Mali, Jayson, Rigel, and Channel were grinning at him. Of course Rigel was pushed as far away from Sirius as possible—he liked having James as a friend and if James was mad at Sirius.. so was he.
Mali ran up to him smiling. "That was great! You are so good at dissing him! Where'd you think up insults like that?"
"Its all the truth—whatever I'm thinking… you wont mind if I don't eat anything at lunch will you? The smell of Snape is lingering…" He said loudly. The others laughed. Sirius frowned and walked up to James. James glared at him. He felt silly still being mad at him—but he couldn't help it.
"James I'm sorry…"
"I forgive you." James said before Sirius could finish. Sirius looked surprised and grinned slightly.
"So you'll eat lunch with us?" He asked. James had been eating lunch with Rigel and them.
"No. You guys will come with me, and eat lunch with us!" He said nodding to Rigel who had been trying to signal to James using his hands.
"ok!"
~-~-~-
The little boy opened his eyes lightly. He saw black. 'my eyes must be closed.' He thought as he attempted to open them… but they were already open… still everything was black. 'What's going on?' He tried to move… then he remembered… the fire… The roof had collapsed. He struggled to move. A searing pain went through him. He cried out in agony.
"Hey! I heard something!"
he heard a voice say. He felt a large weight being lifted from his back. He felt the light pouring over his burnt back.
"I found 'im! Oy! Palmer! He's o'er here!"
James felt himself being lifted up, the pain was excruciating. He cried out as tears of pain ran down his face.
"S'okay James. We'll get yer some help soon… hold on…"
James passed out from the pain in his back.
James sat up abruptly. He looked immediately to Sirius' bed. He was asleep. He looked to Remus' bed. Empty…full moon tonight. Peters bed? Asleep.
He got up. He walked to the mirror across the room. He pulled off the baggy shirt Jayson had given him and turned around, peering over his shoulder into the mirror.
His back was covered with large brutal scars. Most of them from being burnt—but a few were from wood sticking into him. He had never told anyone how badly he was hurt—not even Sirius knew for he wasn't allowed to see James till he was fully healed. James had never shown this to Sirius—or anyone else.
HE heard the door open and he quickly struggled to put his shirt back on—big mistake… he turned his back to the door while pulling the shirt over his head. He heard a gasp and pulled the shirt on the rest of the way- spinning around.
Lily stared then after a pregnant pause spoke "I-I heard something moving… c-came to see w-what it was…" She said in shock. She stood there for awhile then decided to ask.
"Is that from the fire?"
James looked to the floor and nodded. "When the ceiling fell on me… did you know… that the thing that started the fire… was the stove? It was perfectly fine… I know that wasn't what started it. It was dark magic. Someone purposely blew up the stove to make it look like an accident… I know it was murder…"
"James--," She said "Don't think about it. Go back to bed. We can talk about it tomorrow. It's a Saturday."
James blinked and nodded he turned and lied back down in his bed. Lily stood there for a little longer. She glanced at Sirius. He was peering from under the covers. A look of shock on his face. Lily mouthed goodnight and walked out.
---Remus' POV---
I smelled it again. The wolf… Luk. I heard a distant howl.
Moony?
It said. I howled back. I am here. I raced forward to the spot we met before he stood there and stared at him.
He grunted Is James all right? HE seemed worried.
Remus let out a low growl. He's ok I guess… Why do you ask?
There is evil in these woods… they want someone you know… Not James but it is endangering James too.
Who is it?
I mustn't tell… Luk looked up at the stars, figuring about what time it is.
It is about eleven now. It has taken me three hours to get here. I can stay till about three… my mate shan't mind.
Remus nodded. He liked his company when the others couldn't come with him. It kept him sane.
I have a question. Remus snarled.
What be it?
Are you evil. I feel an evil presence when I am around you—of course I'm not sure if its just a werewolf thing—I've never been around another before…
No… I am not evil but it is not a werewolf thing… my grandfather was the one that bit me… he led me to do cruel things… he was my master the one that bit Me.. I had to listen to him. I was given this aura of evil around me because of what I had done… I am glad he died.
He barked mournfully. Remus didn't know why, but he believed him. He could sense his gladness and sorrow at the same time—it was the truth.
They talked for hours—Moony told Luk about James' and Sirius' fight and how James turned to Rigel and his friends. That was when Luk told him that Rigel was his nephew and that's how James knew him. Moony hadn't known that. After a few hours Luk said he had to go. They bade farewell and Remus quickly went to the shack.
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