I'm so grateful for all the reviews I'm getting. I just had this big nightmare that everyone would leave and stop reading after the fifth book came out, but the reviews actually sped up!!!!
My friend gave me this idea that Hogwarts used to be full of bad stuff right up to James' sixth year. Don't point the blame at me if it's dumb.

Chapter # 24

"You said WHAT???!!!!!!!" Severus screamed up at the taller man.

"You heard me the first time, I told her I have a little brother." James stared at Severus, knowing he could stare down a hippogriff if he wanted to.

"If it gets out, James, that you have a brother, then you're in trouble." Severus growled.

"Relax, man." James answered calmly. "I'd trust her with my life."

"Don't think you and your little lover gave me the slip, James. I know what you and her have between yourselves." Severus answered rather snidely.

"You can't tell anyone, Severus. They'll take me away from her, I just know it!" James sank dismally into the chair he was sitting on. Severus stared at the man, for he had taken on a dismayed look.

"It's no wonder." He said bitterly. "She's twenty years younger than you."

"I know, but still, I really love her, Severus. You have to understand." James whispered. Severus blinked. Were those tears in the other mans' eyes?

"James?"

"What?" The man sniveled quietly.

"Your secret is safe with me." James lifted his head out of his hands, eyes shining with unspilled tears of happiness and sorrow.

A/N: don't know 'bout you, but all this poetic justice and righteousness and tears and shit is makin' me sick..

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The Halloween feast started as usual, with the students cheerfully chattering as supper was served. Hermione sat down beside Fred and George, as there was no other place to sit. Harry and Ginny were talking amiably about quidditch, and Ron was occupied with a fourth year from Ravenclaw. Hermione sighed, feeling strangely like an outcast. Everybody seemed to be having more fun than her at the moment. Fred noticed the gloomy girl and grinned, hoping to cheer her up.

"So, what's new for you?" Hermione looked at Fred oddly.

"Nothing much." She said with a sigh. Fred chuckled.

"You look a bit under the weather, Hermione. Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, thanks. Just really bored." Hermione said absentmindedly. George turned around and looked at Hermione in surprise.

"Why aren't you with Ron and Harry?" he asked.

"Well, Ron's rather preoccupied at the moment." Hermione answered through gritted teeth. "And Harry is flouncing around like a love-struck 12 year old, so I decided to sit with you. And if you have a problem with that, I'll leave."

"Whoa, I didn't know you were so peeved right now, or I wouldn't have asked." George replied in surprise. Then, trying to think of a way to cheer her up, George pulled out a fake wand. It crackled momentarily, then turned into something that looked suspiciously like a condom. "Oops." George muttered. "That was NOT meant to happen."

"Oh, darn." Fred mumbled, picking up the latex condom and handing it to Hermione. "Here, your Romeo might want this." Hermione stared at the two embarrassed twins, then burst into laughter.

"You guys are so weird. " She said as the laughter died down.

"Oh yeah?" Fred mumbled. "Man, I can't believe you made one of them turned into a condom. That should have been saved for Harry and Ginny." He added to George, who snickered.

"Ahem." Everybody stopped talking as the headmaster stood up. "I have a very important announcement to make. Because of the rise of the dark lord last year, third years and above will go to Hogsmeade only three times, rather than six. And even then, they should not wander the streets alone." Dumbledore said gravely. Everyone from third year to seventh started to protest angrily, muttering to their friends.

"What? That means only three trips to stock up on pranks!" Fred muttered angrily. "How could they do this to us?"

"I will, however, have something extra for third years and above." Dumbledore added. The hall went quiet. "Before the fall of the dark lord, eighteen years ago on this very day, Hogwarts had more extra things than they do now. However, these things were cancelled for a reason, and not just because it was safe to go to Hogsmeade when the dark lord was still around, but for reasons I'm sure you will find out. The parties thrown in the great hall back then were fun for third years right up to seventh years. They weren't too childish, or too adult." Dumbledore shifted his gaze from the students to Snape.

"What's he on about?" Ron whispered.

"We have a professor in here who has seen the worst of the aftermath when there are dances at Hogwarts. The worst is unknown to me, as the students gave no clue of what they did after their parties, but I can assure you, I have quite the list of baddies. For example, drugs, and alcohol. Two things Hogwarts neither needs nor wants. Rape, and sexual assault, and prostitution, just to name a few." Dumbledore stopped. "After the feast, third years and up will stay behind, and we will discuss these issues." The students immediately started to chatter.

Severus smiled grimly. Oh, he remembered, and Dumbledore was right, nothing good came out of those whacked out dances. And Severus had seen many things that not a lot of people knew about. Drugs and alcohol? That was putting it lightly. Nobody had known how the muggle drugs got in the school, and nobody cared. Really, you went to a party and someone slipped in some L.S.D, and the first time you try something it could kill you. But it had been like that.

"So, Harry asked uncertainly. "What do you think Dumbledore has in store for us?"