Hello, here is another chapter! I have the next chapter written and about ready, I just have to type it, so I would think before Monday rolls around Chapter 22 will be posted! I hope you enjoy this chapter, and like the character, I am introducing! Please R/R! Thank you to all those who have reviewed, 201! WOW! Thank you!

I don't own Harry Potter or any character in the books, well unless they aren't in the books!

**

Spring was coming. The days were becoming longer and warmer. The four first year Gryffindors watched spring approach from the windows of their dorm. They all anticipated spring eagerly, they were sick of being prisoners of the castle's walls. They longed to sit outside by the lake and feed the giant squid. To walk outside without five layers and smell the clean, fresh air was testing the patience of the first years. They also wished to escape their new rival, a certain Slytherin first year. Inside the castle, a war was quickly brewing between the Gryffindors and Severus Snape, who walked around insulting Muggle borns like it was his job.

One morning was February was ending the first year Gryffindors were walking to breakfast. However, they were stopped by the soft crying of a girl from a classroom not far from the stairs where the Slytherins ascended.

"Ten galleons this involves a Slytherin," Sirius muttered to James.

"I'd rather not take that bet," James looked at Sirius, "don't have ten galleons."

"My cousins or Snape?"

"Um, that is a tough one," James shook his head.

With a look at each other, they took out their wands and together walked into the classroom. James and Sirius were in front, with Remus and Peter supporting them.

Sirius as in these cases was always right. Severus Snape was standing over red haired, Lily Evans who seemed to have sunk down to the floor. She was crying openly, but as far as the boys could see, it was just out of fear.

"Leave her Snape."

A Slytherin boy on Snape's right started to laugh.

"Make me Potter." Snape snarled.

"We have many ways Snape as you should well know," Sirius smiled. "Now why don't you two idiot bullies go away and pick on someone your own intelligence. I'd suggest the giant squid." The other Gryffindors laughed.

"Four on two Snape," James shook his head. "What chance do you think you have?"

"Leave."

The two Slytherins looked at each other, and then at the wands.

"This is not over," Snape hissed at James and Sirius.

"I'd be glad to end it right now," James glared back at him. "Are you scared?"

They left without another word.

James walked over to Lily and extended his hand out. She took it with a small 'thank you'.

"I'd be careful if I were you," James warned her.

"I wouldn't walk alone," Sirius agreed. "Stupid Slytherins."

"Come on, let's get something to eat," James suggested and with Lily between them they

left.

Lily Evans was one of those girls that the Gryffindors paid no attention too. She was

always studying, surrounded by mounds of books. She started studying early and finished late. She knew every answer in every class and could always be seen with her nose in a book several chapters ahead of the class. She did not seem that friendly with the other girls who liked gossip and make up more than school and books.

Why they had never noticed her before was beyond them but it did not matter to them. They never considered not helping someone whom was in trouble, even if they didn't know them. Although they were first years, they acted as guards for other students no matter the age. They were the only ones who would stand up to the Slytherins and especially Lucius Malfoy and his gang. They always got their revenge and it was rumored that they knew more magic than all the seventh years combined.

"Is it true… the rumors?" she asked them.

"Which ones?" James grinned.

"The ones that say you know more magic than the 7th years? That is how you stand up to

Malfoy isn't it?"

James looked at Sirius, "What do you think?" He turned his attention back to Lily. "There are somethings you have to figure out for yourself."

She blushed and went to sit father down the table. James watched her.

"That Snape really is an idiot," Sirius started to take food. "I mean what's the point in picking on muggle borns? We always get him don't we?"

James continued to watch Lily.

"James?" Sirius looked over. "James."

No response.

"JAMES!" Sirius yelled in his ear.

"WHAT?" James jumped and turned to look at Sirius confused.

"What were you looking at?"

"Nothing… nothing at all."

However, Remus smiled and turned to his food, Sirius might not have noticed, but he did. He smirked, he foresaw trouble. Big trouble, and it was in the form of the small red haired girl who liked books too much.

**

The four Gryffindors always seemed to arrive in the Great Hall at 7:30am, the same time as the owl post. On the first morning of March, though there was an exception.

They entered around 8:00am after staying up most of the time exchanging Snape's clothes with girl clothes. They were interested to see if he would make an appearance at breakfast, but not even the prospect of Snape coming to breakfast in either girls clothes or borrowed ones could make them wake up that morning. They arrived, looking

anxiously around for Snape but did not see him.

What they did see disturbed them as much as seeing Snape is girl's clothes. There was not the usual low chatter that could be found as students were half asleep or dreading class. Girls were crying, boys shaking their heads, boyfriends comforting their girl friends, and even the teachers were looking sad. Only students at the Slytherin table were eating, undisturbed by the events of the morning.

"What happened?" they went to their seats, and Sirius asked a second year.

Instead of answering, she handed him the Daily Prophet. He opened it eagerly and read it out loud to the other boys,

"10 Ministry of Magic employees found dead in front of Ministry!"

"Something is happening," James said quietly. "This along with the attack before Christmas."

"And the disappearances," Remus bit his lip.

"Something big is happening," James said again.

They looked up at the teachers. McGonagall was talking to Dumbledore, and Professor Salmon was reading the paper with a spoon halfway to her mouth. Professor Flitwick was shaking his head as he too read the paper, but the other teachers just sat there dazed.

"They are hiding something from us," Sirius agreed his eyes on Dumbledore. "Something big."

"What though?" Peter asked.

"Now I know something is happening," James pointed to the Great Hall doors, were a man stood. His messy black hair resembled James' hair, and he too had glasses. He stood tall, around 6 feet, and his robes, a bluish color were of fine material.

"Uncle Henry!" James got up and ran to his uncle. Sirius, Remus and Peter followed.

"Uncle Henry!" James called again and upon seeing his young nephew, he opened his arms and James flew into them.

"How are you James?"

"I'm fine Uncle!" James smiled, "Why are you here?"

"Ah well, I decided to come and see you, and to give you a Christmas present that I couldn't trust an owl with," He grinned. "I also need to talk to your Headmaster, and what do you think? Should we spend lunch together?"

"Of course Uncle!"

"Right, you and your friends run along, you can introduce me to them later," Uncle Henry laughed and ruffled James' hair.

James left with Sirius, Remus and Peter. Sirius noticed that James had a frown on his face and seemed to be thinking hard as his Uncle shook hands with Dumbledore and together they left.

"Something big is happening, my uncle is nervous," James told them. He knew that Sirius had been looking at him.

"There is something significant about the deaths?" Remus asked.


"Yes." James turned back to where his Uncle and Headmaster had stood. "And I want to know what it is."

"They went to Dumbledore's office!" Sirius guessed. "I'm sure they did!"

"Is there any secret passageway up there?"

"We have to get in."

"We could skip class!"

"We can't skip class!" Remus interrupted the planning of Sirius and James.

"You won't skip class," Andromeda came up behind them with her hands on her hips looking at them.

"Andromeda something is happening!" Sirius protested.

"The world is safe, go to class! I'll tell your Head of House!"

"You know something," Sirius pointed a finger at her.

"Yes I do… I know that everything is safe!"

The bell rang. Andromeda took Sirius and James' arms, "Come on, I'm escorting you to class."

Remus told her they had Transfiguration, and so with a hand on each of their arms to make sure they didn't get away she led them to the Transfiguration room. She didn't leave until they were inside, and under McGonagall's watchful eye.

"They can't keep it from us forever," Sirius sat down angrily.

Class started, and James and Sirius looked at each other. They weren't that young anymore, and with the appearance of Henry Potter, things were not 'okay.'

Sirius raised his hand, "Professor I feel dizzy and sick, may I go to the hospital wing?"

"Yes Black," McGonagall nodded going back to teaching, "Potter make sure he gets there."

James got up and Sirius who was holding his stomach got up much slower. James took hold of his arms and led him out. Neither dared to look back at Remus.

Outside and well out of McGonagall's hearing they exchanged a high five and ran off, "Nice, we did it."

They ran down the hall excitingly. "Where do you think they are?"

"Let's take your guess first," James told him and they hurried to Dumbledore's office.

"Come in Henry, I don't want anyone to hear this conversation… not even the portraits." They heard Dumbledore's voice from around the corner. They stopped dead in their tracks and threw themselves against the wall. They walked slowly to the corner of the hallway praying their shoes wouldn't make noise. They looked around the corner slowly, and saw the robes of Dumbledore entering an empty classroom. The two boys crept closer and when the door was shut they put their eyes against the door and listened in.

"Tea Henry?"

"Of course."

"Now what is the news from the Ministry?"

"There was a note on one of the bodies… 'I'm coming."

"Um," Silence in the room. Then Dumbledore's voice again, "Is there any connection to November murders?"

"The Aurors think so," they heard Uncle Henry's deep voice.

"Any news on who is responsible?"

"No."

"I don't like this Henry," there was nervousness in Dumbledore's usually calm voice.

"The Ministry is not prepared. Thankfully, the Minister is willing to do anything to stop this madman. The wizard who is Head of the Aurors though is an idiot though, that could create problems."

"Can he be replaced?"

"That is a possibility, but with who?"

"I wonder… what about Thomas?"

"My brother Thomas?"

"Why not? I can see him doing very well," they heard Dumbledore's voice now back to normal, "He's been an Auror for some time, they respect him, and his opinions."

"He has not been approached by anyone about it, I could talk to him about it," Uncle Henry said.

"If this madman rises, the world will need a hero, a leader. Your brother would give the people the hope and support they need," said Dumbledore.

"I will talk to him."

"Thank you, tell him I will be in touch."

"Of course."

"Now, will you take a walk with me around the grounds? There are a few more issues I wish to discuss, and I fear if we continue here, young ears will hear our conversation."

Sirius and James looked at each other and before the two men reached the door, the young Gryffindors were far away.