Chapter Two
Operation Hell

Hey, what happened, buddy? Apperated a bit off your mark? James blinked, his blue eyes seeing fuzz and blur. A blurry thing reached down to help him up, and James faintly felt his glasses, broken in two, on his chest. The blurry mess suddenly stopped short, and picked James' glasses off of his chest.

What in the... kid, I really don't think you should be Apperating while you're still in Hogwarts... never the matter you can't ACTUALLY Apperate there. He handed James the two broken pieces and James grabbed them, slipping them on--only to come in focus apon his best friend, Sirius, who was growing... a beard?

.. Sirius? The man blinked, then his green eyes widened in horror.

... What in Godric's name.. James? How the hell did you get out of Azkaban? James raised an eyebrow.

Azkaban? Uhm, Sirius, I think you bumped your head a bit too hard. Your name is Sirius. You live in Dorm Seven at Hogwarts. Today is May the 31st. We graduate in two--

James, do you think I'm an idiot? We GRADUATED three years ago. Well, you actually didn't graduate. After murdering Remus the night of the ball, did you really think you'd graduate? Honestly, you worthless, driveling, scum, you should be goddamned ashamed. Sirius interrupted.

James was stunned. He said absolutely nothing, for fear that the next thing out of his mouth would be a sob or a yell. This was all a big joke, he tried to reassure himself. Just a joke. Remus was hiding behind this recreation of Hogsmeade, and he'd jump out and congratulate Sirius on thoroughly spooking James. But the look on Sirius' face said nothing of a joke, and James had known his friend long enough to know that Sirius couldn't hold a straight face that long. James finally spoke, so quiet Sirius could barely hear him.

I didn't do it, Sirius. I'd--I--I'd die before hurting Remus, you know that. Sirius looked into his friend's eyes, and he scoffed.

Let's see your arm, then. James blinked, but did as he was told, pulling up his right sleeve. Sirius raised an eyebrow as James' skin was clear and smooth.

The other one. James raised the other one, which mirrored his right. Sirius narrowed his eyes.

Some kind of trick, then? All right, where's it got to? James shook his head.

Where's WHAT got to? First you accuse me of murdering one of my closest friends, and now you strip search me? Dammit, Sirius, what's the matter? Sirius blinked.

How old are you, James? James raised an eyebrow.

You know that Siri--

How old.

18. I turned it three days ago.

Where do you live.

At the current moment I take my residence in Dorm Seven of the Gryffindor Tower, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The rest of the year I live at 1652 Precent Drive, in Hogshead.

What were you doing before you came here?

Getting ready for the Graduation Ball. You had just walked out the door, and I went to look in Peter's trunk for some flattening spray for my hair, which somehow brought me to this prank you've all set up. Sirius' eyes softened slightly.

Well, you certainly look like the old James I used to know, though this is no prank. Sirius helped James up from the wall he was slumped against, which, James noted, was the alley wall of Honeydukes. James turned to Sirius, blinking at the fact that his friend was a good few inches taller than him now.

.... Re.. he's...Sirius, he's not. Sirius nodded, grimly.

James, three years have passed since the night you supposedly killed... him. But... if it wasn't you, who was it? And how the hell did you get zapped three years into the future, although it would explain where you had gotten to.. Due to the whole space/time thing, but how did they convict you, if you were here? Minister Crouch just sent you away without a trial, without a public appearance, nothing.. It was only Peter that supposedly saw you... Sirius trailed off.

James nodded slightly, glancing around the deserted alleyway. Sirius caught his eye, and nodded.

We should probably get you inside.. Shrieking Shack's closest. You can still transform, right? James nodded, not bothering to point out that where he came from, he had transformed only a week ago. Sirius transformed with some diffiuclty, cringing, and padded down the cobblestone alley towards the forest, with James following, now as a stag.

Meanwhile, back in the past...

Peter gulped as he made up some half-lame excuse to Mona Xanavo, a Ravenclaw and his date, about going to the bathroom. He waved goodbye, and headed towards the exit when he was blocked by Lucius Malfoy.

Peter, he says it is to happen tonight. Your initiation. You just have to relax, and get it over with. It's really not that hard your first time, you've practiced, right? Peter nodded, remembering the chickens that he had carelessly forgotten to put away, and how James and Sirius looked when they had found them in the common room. Peter subconciously rubbed his right arm, still feeling the slight stinging of that night, a week ago. Lucius smiled, his yellow teeth shining dimly in the light.

Go now, Peter, it will all be over soon. Peter nodded. Just kill the wolf, that was all he had to do. Just kill the big, bad wolf that had befriended him the first day of school. Just kill him. Just kill. Malfoy moved out of his way, and Peter exited through the grand hall doors.


A/N: Sorry for such a short chapter, it will be longer next time, I promise. These are just the building the plot' chapters, so expect to see longer ones soon. If you review, I will praise you and thank you and review your stories, so it's all good..