DISCLAIMER: See first chapter.

A/N: Thanks again to HPFanFicLuvr. I really appreciate it. And to my reviewers. Thanks! But only two? Come on people, it's not too exerting to review, just click the little 'go' button. Please?

Kateydidnt: I'll think about that, thanks.

MerlinHalliwell: You'll just have to see, won't you?

James sat on his bed. He couldn't sleep. Hermione's words echoed in his head.

'Hey James, you're gonna die at the hands of Lord Voldemort because one of your friends betrayed you to save his own life.' Who would betray him? Sirius, his best friend, whom he had known since childhood? Peter, timid, shy little Peter who wouldn't hurt anyone? Peter, who thought of James as a mixture between best friend, big brother and protector? Or Remus? Clever Remus, shunned by the Wizarding World because of what he is? But no, Remus would never turn to the Dark Side!

Or would he, said a small voice in James's head. You know how he has always longed for friends. And Voldemort is happy to offer places to people whom the Wizarding World fears in his army. Perhaps Remus would fall for promises of acceptance?

But it was impossible!

He was going to die. The impact of those words finally hit him. Everything he had wanted to do in his life. See the world, be an Auror, have seven kids… Where did that thought come from?

'It made me realize how easy it is to shatter dreams.'

He gulped. She has sounded so … resigned. She was obviously close to Harry. Harry, yes. James was practically sure Harry was his son. But who was the Mother? It couldn't be any of his girlfriends, could it? The pretty, air headed bimbos he used to date? But if it wasn't, who was it?

When Remus came down to the Great Hall for breakfast, he found the three new students engaged in a very absorbed, very private discussion. Ron was gesticulating intensely. He sat down next ot them. Fragments of their conversation floated out to him.

"If not we'll… Dumbledore… It won't … James… We need to fix… Can't we … Harry… die… Lily… James… Lily… Harry… How can we… James… Harry…"

He wondered whom this Harry was they kept talking about. It seemed as though he was a close friend of theirs.

Lily sat down between him and Hermione.

She cleared her throat. Ron, Hermione and Neville looked up.

"Where were you last night?" asked Lily to Hermione.

"Oh, you know, talking to Ron and Neville," replied Hermione vaguely.

Lily raise an eyebrow, but said nothing. Her next question startled everybody, even herself.

"Who's Harry?"

The time-travelers all went red, and Ron's pumpkin juice spluttered all over his plate.

"Um… er… see… well…" Ron began, but Hermione cut in.

"Harry is a friend of ours. Ron, Neville, why don't we go finish that Charms essay?"

Remus and Lily looked at the retreating backs.

"They finished that essay yesterday," Lily stated.

"I guess Harry must be a touchy subject," Remus replied. "I wonder what they're hiding."

Severus took a long look in the mirror before entering the hall. Nothing was wrong with him so far. He hoped a certain gang of Gryffindors would not be in the hall. He was scared. Yes, scared. Scared of Potty and his little sidekicks. He knew that they had a very fertile imagination. The day dragged along. He came three minutes late for potions. Professor Clevis took off ten from Slytherin. Hermione was working with her brother, so he had to pair up with Blake, their friend. He hadn't noticed Blake too much before. But now he noticed the bright red hair and freckles. If he hadn't known better, he could have sworn that Blake was a Weasley. But Professor Weasley was shy and timid and a dork. Blake was one of Potty's sidekicks.

"Well, I won't do everything," snapped Blake. "You're supposed to be so good at Potions."

Severus almost laughed right in Blake's face. But that would not be such a smart thing to do, since Blake and Potty were so close. If it was one person Severus feared, it was James Potter, although he'd never admit it, even to himself.

"Me? Good at potions? Then why would Hermione have to tutor me?" he snarled.

Professor Clevis bent down.

"Trouble, boys?" she asked in that honey-coated voice Severus hated. Professor Clevis was so biased. She was head of Hufflepuff, but hated anyone from Slytherin.

"Ten points from Slytherin, Snape," she said sweetly.

At that moment the door burst open and Potty and his sidekicks entered, almost ten minutes late.

Professor Clevis smiled.

"Take a seat boys. We are working on the Dreamless Sleep potion. Why don't you get everything ready, and I'll be there to help you in a minute."

Severus scowled. Potions was his worst subject. He turned to Blake, who was trying his best not to smile.

"Don't bother," Severus said. "Make fun of me if you want to."

Hermione gathered her books for extra potions with Severus. She had never thought that she could get along with Severus Snape.

"Will wonders ever cease," she asked aloud.

"What was that?" she jumped and turned around to face James. She breathed.

"James, you scared me. I was getting ready to tutor Severus."

James scowled a bit at the name. Bloody great. As soon as I get my eyes on a girl, she has to go and fall in love with Snape, or no, Sevvie. The wonderful, sweet Sevvie Snape.

Hermione must have caught the look on his face. She laughed.

"You don't think," she managed to say between fits of laughter. "You don't think I fancy Severus, do you." She laughed so hard tears were rolling down her face. "That must be the best joke I've heard so far!"

He breathed out a sigh of relief.

"I'll walk you there. Come to think of it, I might stay with you, because… er, well, because…"

She shook her head.

"No. You can walk me there, yes, but I'm afraid that having you and Severus in the same room would be impossible."

James had to agree with her. Besides, he still hadn't figured out what to do with him yet. Well, he could always ask Ron. Ron seemed very keen on pranking Snape.

Hermione smiled as she watched Severus. He was really improving at potions. She had joked about him turning out to be a Potions Master when he grew up. It had given her a lot of secret amusement.

"Hermione, I know Potter and Black are going to do something to me. They always change the colour of my robes before doing some major prank."

The smile faded off her face. She couldn't believe Severus had just asked her for help.

"Severus," she said seriously. "If they do anything they're not supposed to do, they'll have to deal with me," she promised. The smile retuned to her face as she said: "And that's not a very pleasant experience."

Professor Weasley eyed the group at the back of the classroom warily. Last lesson, Potter had tried to blow up the entire classroom. Potter and Black were talking in whispers with each other.

Suddenly Black raised his hand, in the middle of Professor Weasley explaining telephones.

"Professor, I was wondering," he said in a silky voice, "about your family, how poor are they really? Because I've never seen a wizard in such bad shape as you."

Professor Weasley looked at him.

"Mr. Black," he said firmly. "At least I have the pleasure of knowing that my family loves me. Consider your own family situation before making fun of mine."

"Ouch," James whispered in the back of the class. "That must have hurt."

Sirius looked at the man with outright fury in his face.

"How dare he insult my family," he snarled.

"Well," said Hermione matter-of-factly, "you did insult his, you know."

Sirius glared at her.

After the lesson, Hermione and Lily stayed behind, and to everybody's surprise, so did Ron.

"I must say Professor,," he complimented, "that was bloody brilliant."

Professor Weasley smiled.

Hermione and Potter were alone at the Gryffindor table. It was too early for any of the others to be up yet. Severus watched the pair. It was clear James had feelings for Hermione, just as he had. But what about Hermione? She seemed to like him, but he couldn't decide if they were just friends or something more. Hermione was much more relaxed around him. She seemed to think him funny. Severus glared at Potter. Who was he to think he had any right to play with Hermione's heart? She was too good to be dumped the way he usually dumped girls.

James found that he actually admired Hermione for her courage and kindness. He could hardly believe she took Diggory under her wing. Amelia Diggory with her big glasses and pigtails. Nervous Amelia who stuttered. Nobody had ever taken to Amelia before, apart from her brother. James scowled. He hated that goody-goody Amos Diggory. Hermione looked at him. Her eyes twinkled.

"Careful that scowl doesn't get glued to your face," she laughed. God, that twinkle was just too beautiful. James was in love with Hermione. Not the usual like the crushes he had on other girls, but love. He sighed. James Potter, he reprimanded himself. You know this can't last. She's a friend of you son, for goodness sake. The son you will have one day. Before you die that is.

She looked at him. What is he thinking? He looks so sad. She put her arm on his shoulder.

"I'm here if you need to talk," she said gently, although she didn't expect him to spill. He had his pride to think of. She was pretty sure he was every ounce as proud as his son.

"Harry's my son, right?" he asked.

Hermione looked at the table. Should I lie? He'll probably know, anyway. She sighed.

"Yes, he is."

"And what about me?"

"I can't tell you that," she sighed. If only I could tell him. Tell him that Wormtail is going to sell his life. If I could save his life.

"Do you have a photograph of him?"

What harm could it do? Harry looks just like James, anyway. But what if he sees those eyes?

Students began dropping in.

"I really don't know," she said. He gave her a pleading look. He looks so cute when he does that. She quickly shook the thought off her. He was her best friend's dad, for goodness sake!

The rest of the gang joined them, Lily following a bit behind. When most of the students had arrived, Dumbledore stood up.

"Students," he said. "I have an announcement to make. We are going to have a ball. A Spring ball."

Hermione smiled to herself. She was already working on how she should get James to go with Lily.