Summary: Begins at the start of the Marauders' last year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and continues on until that fateful Halloween night. James Potter finds out more than one secret that was hidden from him and also discovers that his feelings toward a certain Lily Evans are changing from spiteful rivalry to something...more.

Author's Notes: *jumps around in glee* Yes! Yes! I will have this thing finished! *jumps around some more, laughing and clapping her hands* You guys are absolutely wonderful! I feel like just hopping around all day! But I won't because I have a fic to write! *spins around in her computer chair, pointing in a vague directions* Hit it!

Dedicated to: lena-jade! *bounces in her seat* Yes, yes! You deserve this one because you really made me happy with that review of yours! *glomps* THANK YOU THANK YOU! For telling me why you love this fic so much ^.^" THANK YOU THANK YOU! I really needed to hear those reasons and not just an "I love it!" (plus telling me I write like JKR really made my day ^.^") Congrats! ^.^"

Dislcaimer: :P No comment.




Of Hidden Truths
(Lord Voldemort)





"How was the testing?"

James looked behind him to see Remus quickly lengthening his stride to walk beside him. James, in turn, slowed his pace slightly as he shrugged. "Easier than I thought it would be," he simply said, much to Remus' amusement.

James had just finished with a three-hour testing session that could have been just as bad--if not more so--as the N.E.W.T.s. Since the testing had been finished, he had had time to look around Hogwarts, to see what had and had not changed since he had last been there. Nothing really seemed to have changed from what he saw. However...

"It feels different," said James, looking around the hall they were presently walking down and catching Remus' attention once more, "walking down these halls..."

Remus gave a small smile. "Perhaps it's because we're not mischievous students sneaking around under an invisibility cloak," he said with mild humor.

James also smiled at the thought. "That must be it," he agreed as they passed by a Hufflepuff-Slytherin Defense Against the Dark Arts class.

"...to remember that in order to block this curse that..." the professor, someone James did not know, was lecturing the class as James turned his head to look in on the classroom. Half of the students--the Slytherin half--were all somewhat bored looking while the Hufflepuffs paid attention, obviously aware that this lesson was important.

James, however, frowned at this as he and Remus continued on down the hall.

"A second year class learning to block curses," he said, more as a statement than a question.

Remus sighed. "They've advanced the material. With the attacks that occur all over the country during the holidays, the ones in charge of underage use of magic allowed the use of magic if it is for an emergency."

They turned a corner and were met with the sight of two professors discussing lesson plans for the next week. Neither of them noticed James and Remus as they politely stepped out of the way. What they had planned for their lessons didn't escape James' ears.

He paused where they were at and sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly. "It's only been two years," he said despairingly, looking to the floor before looking quickly to Remus, who was patiently waiting next to him. "How could all of this happen in two years?"

Remus shook his head. "It hasn't been just two years, James," he said, stuffing his hands into his pockets as he continued while keeping a leveled gaze on his friend, "This has been slowly building for years. Remember in First Year? When we kept hearing about a dark lord like Grindelwald coming again?"

James remembered that well as the stories had caused a great stir among those wizards old enough to remember Grindelwald's reign of terror.

Remus continued, being the one to walk forward once more with James following, "It went from rumors to actual attacks in a span of almost five years." He glanced to James out of the corner of his eye. "You should already know this. Sixth Year...your mother--"

"I know," interrupted James quickly, sullenly.

"In Seventh Year, we weren't allowed to Hogsmeade because the attacks had been becoming more of wizard attacks than Muggle." Neither said anything for a moment after this, letting the silence reign as they passed the suits of armor and yet another classroom, this one an empty one.

It was then that Remus stopped, standing just in front of the door before turning to James. "It was only a matter of almost a decade that he finally started open battles," he concluded.

"But..." said James hesitantly, still not understanding, "the fear of his name..."

"All it took," explained Remus as he opened the door and stepped in, "was the words 'he knows all' from a Death Eater at an attack to cause that." He gestured for James to enter and, when he had, closed the door before finishing with a serious expression, "They wiped out the Vansenburgs."

James could feel himself become cold at this information. "You're not serious..."

The Vansenburgs had been an old and very prosperous wizarding family that lived on a secluded island in Wales. All wizards knew of them as they were the ones that had a hand in the Ministry for centuries, keeping it stabilized and such with their wealth as well as their family members...

Remus shook his head. "Since then, people have been too scared to go anywhere anymore," he said, walking over to the desk to lean against it.

James was still shocked at the news he was being given. He didn't look up from the ground as Remus continued, "He's making a big move...killing wizards and Muggles. Gindelwald did the same but he had a war to cover it."

At this, there was a brief pause in which James looked over to his werewolf friend who was grimly watching him as he finished once more, "He also must be very powerful to think he can do this...especially since Dumbledore is still around."

Again there was a pause, this time longer in which the two of them carefully watched one another. Then James released a sigh, taking off his glasses to rub his eyes.

"So was that all I had to do to join?" he asked before replacing his glasses.

"Not really," answered Remus, who cocked his head to the side as his friend gave him another disbelieving look. He explained, "Honestly, we need a bit more people involved at the Ministry--"

"Wait..." said James, interrupting, "you want me to be a double-agent?"

Remus was beginning to look slightly uncomfortable at this question. "Not a 'double-agent', per se..." --he hesitated-- "...an...inside influence."

"Does the Ministry know about this Order?"

"No." Remus shook his head. "It's best to stay that way as well. Anyway," he continued, swiftly changing the subject, "Sirius is already working in the Ministry--"

"You're kidding," said James in surprise.

"No, I'm being serious. He's an Auror, and he's been reporting that it's a mess in the department."

James frowned. "So he's said..." --he paused-- "...wait--is that how he found me?" he demanded.

"Focus, James," said Remus, not answering. "Now, even though you're not active, you can still keep an eye and ear out for us."

"Where at? As what?"

The werewolf hesitated before slowly answering, "Lily has informed us that you once said you'd join the Aurors..."

"What?" exclaimed James. "When?"

"While you were taking your test," replied Remus before he stood away from the desk, joining his hands together behind his back as he watched James closely. "So how about it?"

"You want me to become an Auror...?" asked James dubiously, still not understanding why this conversation was taking place.

"It pays well," said Remus, still not quite answering his question. "The Order can't pay its members, so you can say the spying bit is a perk really.

James frowned once more. "I'm not sure," he said uncertainly. "Don't I have to take a test for that?"

"You just did."

He stared at Remus for a long time, trying to process those three words. When that didn't work, he shook his head. "...I'm confused," he confessed.

"You took an Auror admission test while taking the re-entry test," said Remus carefully, making James realize why Remus had been acting hesitant and uncertain.

"This was all you, wasn't it?" he asked in a mumble, irritation slightly apparent.

Remus shrugged, refusing to confirm or deny it and merely said, "It was hard to convince McGonagall to do it. She thought it was wrong, but..."

James sighed. "I suppose I don't have any choice then."

It appeared as though the others were having fun directing his life since he had come home.




Sirius, indeed, found this to be amusing. "That was rather mean of you, Moony."

Remus looked over to him mildly from his seat in the old armchair before turning to pick up a book sitting on the small table, merely commenting, "You would have done the same and you know it."

Sirius sniffed. "Not as subtly though." He frowned with some indignation in his expression before looking to James. "Well, James, looks like we'll be partners!" he said with a quick grin.

James had barely had time to think about all of this, in all reality. Right after his discussion with Remus in the empty classroom, a Hogwarts Professor--none other than McGonagall--chased them out and they were forced to return to Remus' cabin in Sherwood as they had nothing more to do at Hogwarts for the time being. James was still thinking about what Remus had said about Voldemort and his careful building of power.

Sirius' comment, however, turned his thoughts away from that. "Don't they assign partners?" he asked incredulously.

"James," said Sirius seriously, "that place is so messed up, they don't care. I'm telling you that the acceptance tests are easy, they could care less if it used to take a person three years to get into the Aurors or that the Aurors are supposed to be the Elite. Not with Voldemort beginning a war that we're not prepared for."

A weary sigh escaped James before he could stop it. "I feel like I've lost control of my life," he muttered distastefully.

Sirius shook his head and stood, heading toward the kitchen while saying, "Don't go all you-know-what. I don't feel like casting a Cheering Charm."




"I thought you said this was going to be easy!"

Sirius paused for a moment. "...well...I did join over two years ago," he said slowly, turning his head only to see the back of James'. "This captive thing seems ridiculous really. Death Eaters Crucio or Avada Kedavra a person. Not tie them up..."

James grunted in obvious displeasure as he tried to move his hands which were bound by ropes to Sirius' hands. The two of them were in a bare room with nothing but a small door. They were positioned back-to-back and in the exact center of the room as if putting them closer to the walls would make this easier for them.

"Okay, let's see," said James, who had had enough of just sitting there, tied up to his friend. "We're tied back-to-back. We have no way to stand--"

"And there's help outside," put in Sirius, remembering what the Auror who was watching their progress had said.

There was a long pause.

James sighed and hung his head. "...this is so stupid," he muttered with annoyance. If he had known that they would be asked to do something so ridiculous as this to join, he would have just suggested that he work in the Muggle Department.

"Hm..." hummed Sirius in agreement before suddenly straightening his posture and saying loudly, "Hey! We can stand!"

"Now what are you babbling about?"

As Sirius' idea formed in his mind, he began to pull at the binding on their hands, making James wince slightly. "We push against each other," said Sirius, not noticing what he was doing, "and then stand! Simple!"

James thought about it for a moment and nodded before remembering Sirius couldn't see. "Okay," he said, "but we have to time this right. On three. One--" He prepared himself.

"Two--" Sirius did the same.

"Three!" they shouted together before pushing against each other--only to have Sirius fall onto James' back as James squatted, nearly doubled-over by the other man's weight.

"Ow!" he cried in pain. "Sirius! Are you trying to crush me?"

"Why didn't you put more into it?" asked Sirius, quite upset.

"I did!"

It took a few moments, but soon they were back to their old positions, and James was less keen to the idea of having Sirius' heavy weight on his back like that again.

"...this may present a problem," said Sirius with some seriousness.

James didn't say anything to that.

"Wait," he said after a moment of thought. "Sirius. When we do that and you lean on me, get your feet in a position where you can push off the ground easier. Then I'll lean against you and do the same."

"I get it," said Sirius, now more eager to finish this than he had been before. "To three?"

"How 'bout just three?"

"Okay. Three!"

This time James was ready for the weight to come but it was still more than he thought it would be. He grunted, "You weigh a ton."

"Suck it up," said Sirius distractedly as he got his feet in a better position. "Okay. You ready?"

"Yeah," said James, eager to get out from under his weight. "Three!"

Now their roles were switched.

"Man, you're bony!" complained Sirius as James corrected his footing.

"Ah, be quiet," he muttered. "Okay, I've got my footing. Now. We lean into each other at the same amount of pressure."

"Got it," said Sirius, readying himself yet again.

"Ready?" Sirius didn't answer so James shouted, "Three!"

They both managed not to fall on top of the other and slowly was able to raise themselves off of the ground. One problem was quickly noticed, however...

"Straighten your legs!" shouted Sirius as their fragile balance was about to break.

"I'm trying--umph!" They had tipped over to the side and both landed hard to the left. The two of them silently cursed whoever had thought up this stupid test before attempting to sit themselves up right once more.

"Okay..." said James angrily, "this is annoying."

"Come on," said Sirius grudgingly. "Sit up and let's go again."

It took them several minutes to sit themselves back up and then-- "Okay. Ready? Three!"




"Forty minutes," said the Auror that had been watching them from a see-through wall gruffly after the pair of men finally got their hands free from each other's. "Not bad, you two."

Sirius looked over to the older Auror, who looked as if he had been in several battles in the past from what the amount of scars on his face told. The withering look didn't seem to intimidate the old man much, however, for he merely tucked the watch he had been looking at into his pocket before getting out a hip flask and taking a swig from it.

"What's the record on that thing anyway?" asked Sirius once the Auror had replaced his flask.

"Fifteen minutes," he answered shortly. "A pair of men were in there for almost two hours once."

"Hurrah for us," said James blandly. "What's the point of that test anyway?"

The Auror looked up at him and that was when James noticed that one of his eyes was different from the other. In fact, it was quite apparent that that eye was a fake as it kept moving to the back of his head at odd moments.

He then answered, "Team work."

James stared at him while Sirius shook his head in amusement, having gotten an inside joke. "...that's it?" asked James in disbelief.

The Auror gave him a sour look. "If you can work together with this, you two are fit enough for partners," he said, though it was apparent that he didn't like the thought of not going through the proper three years of work. "Most of your time was because you two kept distracting each other."

"Ah..." said James blankly. "Well..."

Sirius smirked. "How 'bout it, Mad-Eye?" he asked the Auror, whose fake eye looked over to him. "He an Auror?"

The man known as Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody frowned as his real eye studied James. "He'd better be. I don't want that Pettigrew to be tested again." With that, he turned and left, though James had a suspicion that the fake eye was facing in their direction.

Sirius shook his head and headed in the opposite direction, muttering a "Don't ask," when James opened his mouth.




"Well, congratulations, James," said Remus when he opened the door that evening and found that his friends were still in one piece. He allowed them entranced before closing the door and then, with a light smirk on his face, looking to James and asking, "How were the tests?"

James eyed him with distrust and muttered something that sounded suspiciously like "Evil Incarnate."

Sirius grinned at this, putting an arm around his bespectacled friend's shoulder. "Ah, cheer up. It was fun!" He paused before sniffing the air and then himself, his nose scrunching up in disgust as he lowered his arm. "I'm going to take a shower," he announced before disappearing.

Remus shook his head in amusement but his attention was caught by a sigh from James' direction.

"This is all ridiculous," muttered James.

"How so?" asked Remus, though he knew that he was most likely talking to himself.

He was proven correct when James jumped slightly, noticed that Remus was still in the room, and adverted his eyes before muttering a "I don't know..."

Since James had returned, he had been having various moments where he was more withdrawn from his friends, though it seemed obvious to Remus that he really did want to have everything as it had once been: no secrets, no holding back any emotions, and only the solid foundation that had been their friendship. That foundation, however, was severely damaged by truths being hidden from them and from James' escape out of the Wizarding World...

It was likely that their friendship wouldn't be quite the same again.

"You know, James," said Remus quietly, knowing his had his friend's attention, though he refused to meet eyes with him, "I am here to listen."

At this, James' weariness only seemed to increase and Remus frowned at him. He wasn't going to let James pull himself away again. "I know you didn't run because of anything that I know about," he said with a quiet, yet firm tone.

Just as he thought he would, James tensed at those words; so, knowing he was on the right track, Remus continued as if he hadn't stopped in the first place, "Including you being the Heir of Gryffindor. I know Sirius" --he nodded his head toward the back of the house, where the sounds of water running could be heard-- "already knows the reason, and I know he must have made you tell him, but still--"

He wasn't able to finish his sentence for the scowl on James' face surprised him much too much to add another word.

"Well, you're right that he dragged it out of me," said James, disgruntled, "and I--" He faltered, as though he couldn't keep up the angered look, which was soon replaced by a slightly pleading look. "I really don't want you to know, Remus. I don't want your opinion of me to change."

The werewolf's brow furrowed in thought. "Mm..." he murmured wryly. "I remember saying the same thing in Third Year."

James flinched at that reminder. Of course...Remus deserved to know, didn't he? He gave up his closest darkest secret to them when they had cornered him in the dormitory. Remus had, James remembered, looked just how he felt now. Frightened because of what they might think, and saddened because of what they thought they knew would happen.

But was this like Third Year?

James shook his head. "I'm sorry, Remus...you have a right to know," he admitted aloud. "I just--" He stopped himself and looked to his friend for a moment before looking away, stuffing his hands in his blue jeans' pockets, having been wearing the Muggle clothing almost all the time thanks to his time away from the Wizarding World.

"I don't want to say it," he finally said to Remus' surprise. "It's like...whenever I say it aloud, hear someone else say it's true...it gives him more power over me and--"

He stopped again when he felt a pair of hands descend on his shoulders. He looked up to see Remus looking at him with a gravely serious face.

"James..." he began slowly, his eyes meeting with James', "the name Lord Voldemort is just that. A name. Whatever you're talking about is the same way. He can only gain power from your fear of him."

Feeling awfully childish, James muttered, "I know..."

"Well," said Remus, his tone lighter as he removed his hands from his friend's shoulders, "unlike Sirius, I don't pressure people to tell me something."

James gave him a small smile. "Thanks, Remus."

"Any time," replied the werewolf before he cocked his head to the side, winced, and shouted, "Oy! Padfoot! Lower the volume!"

James smirked at this. "He had more fun than I did at the tests."

"Not surprising," said Remus with a light sigh as Sirius' voice raised instead of lowered just as the door opened and closed, which caught Remus' and James' attention as it turned out to be Peter.

"Hallo, Peter," greeted Remus kindly with a welcoming smile. "Busy day?"

"Pretty much so," said Peter with a sigh as he scuffed his way into the living room, James and Remus following him.

"What is it that you do, Peter?" asked James curiously as he had never been told. Peter sat himself in one of the old chairs while Remus took his regular seat by the fire and the small table with his book lying on top.

"Nothing as exciting as an Auror," said Peter gloomily.

Remus sent him a slightly sympathetic look before turning to James. "He works at Diagon Alley."

"Ah," said James smartly, not knowing what else to say to that as he recalled how Mad-Eye had said he hadn't wanted Peter to be tested again.

"So how was your day, Prongs?" asked Peter, seeming to be determined to get himself out of the slightly-depressive state he was slowly working himself into.

"Long," said James with a snort. "With Sirius as a partner, I doubt I'll survive."

Remus chuckled, picking up his book again. "Oh well," he said lightly. "We tried anyway."

James gave him a mock-withering look. "Are you saying Sirius will be the end of me?" he asked, running with the joke.

"I think you'll be the end of each other," said Remus simply as he opened his book to his page.

"Such dry humor from you, Remus," said Sirius' voice from behind Peter. James and Peter turned to see a very wet, very under-dressed Sirius Black standing behind Peter's chair with his hands on his hips, frowning at the werewolf, who didn't acknowledge his presence save for a simple, "It counters yourself just fine."

Sirius' frown deepened. "What's wrong with myself?" he asked, mock-indignant.

Remus peered at him from above the book with his own withering gaze. "You're dripping wet and standing in only a towel," he said as though he was stating the obvious--which, of course, he was.

"Your point?" asked Sirius with a grin.

Remus then gave a light smile as he closed his book and replaced it on the table. "We have a guest," he said, gesturing behind James, where Arabella Figg stood with a smug look on her face.

"Criminey, Ara!" shouted Sirius as he jumped out of her view. "Don't you ever knock?"

The young, blonde-haired witch smirked. "And miss this?" she asked, gesturing to him, making him smirk and come out into view. She then looked to James, who was standing nearly in front of her and said, "Ah. I see you've finally made it back."

"And my punishment is seeing you again," said James sarcastically, making Sirius snicker.

Arabella rose an eyebrow at that. "I'll let that one slide on the account that you grew some--"

"Be civil," interrupted Remus in amusement, "and watch your tongue please."

The witch gave the werewolf a confused look. "Watch my tongue? Why? Is it blue?" She stuck out her tongue and crossed her eyes to see if it had, in fact, turned colors.

James shook his head. "Potatoes for brains because you're Irish?" he asked with a smirk.

"Irish?" asked Arabella in actual confusion. "Me? Nope." She shook her head. "Don't think so."

James blinked in surprised. "But you--"

But she had already brushed passed him to go over to Sirius, who continued to smile playfully at her, still only in a towel. "Are you just going to stand there, Sirius?" she asked him, placing her hands on her hips.

Sirius rose his eyebrows at this. "Would you prefer me to strike a pose?"

She hit him on the shoulder. "Grow up," she said with a scowl.

A smirk appeared on his face. "Do you really want an answer to that?"

Arabella's face flushed at that and she opened her mouth to retort when Remus interrupted, "Sirius, go get dressed."

Sirius looked as though he was going to object but, instead, stuck his nose in the air and began to walk off with a "You're not the boss of me" over his shoulder at Remus, who merely shook his head in amusement.

James blinked again. "How come you can control him?" he demanded, wanting to know the secret.

"I've always threatened to force him to do things," said Remus dryly as he stood up to bend over the fireplace and stir the ashes slightly, "and once, I really did."

James winced. "Ouch."

Arabella frowned. "How'd you do that?"

Remus gave her a wry look before turning back to the fireplace. "I'm stronger than I look," he simply said before standing up straight again, dusting off his hands as he replaced the poker. "So, Arabella, what brings you here?"

Arabella glowered. "Remus," she said shortly. "It's Ara or Bella. Not both."

"Right, sorry."

"Anyway," she continued, once again with her cheerful demeanor, "I came here because one: I have a letter for you from my aunt" --she held up said letter-- "and two: I have a letter for James from Lily."

James immediately turned to see that she was also holding out the second letter. "What?" he asked, surprised, before walking over with his hand reaching for the letter. "Let me see--"

She quickly jumped away. "Oh, no you don't," she said before handing Remus his letter. "Remus, here's your letter."

"Thank you, Bella," he said, lopsided smile on his face as he tried to not laugh at James' situation.

"Come on," said James as he chased after the blonde witch. "Let me have it."

"Better watch what you say, Potter," said Arabella mischievously as she put Peter and his chair between herself and James. She held up the letter again when she knew he could get to her immediately before rubbing the edge of it against her cheek. "Why should I give this to you anyway?" she asked him, looking out of the corner of her eyes curiously.

"Because it's addressed to me?" suggested James before diving for the letter, only to land on top of Peter, who made a squeaky sounded like a mouse that had been treaded on.

Arabella danced over to the kitchen doorway. "Hm..." she hummed innocently. "I don't know...you've been very rude to me."

"Because you're evil incarnate!" shouted James as he got off of Peter.

"There goes your title, Remus," said Sirius as he entered the room again, this time fully dressed.

Remus gave a mock-sigh. "Easy come, easy go..."

"Figg..." said James warningly as they were once again separated by a piece of furniture; this time it was the small coffee table that sat between Remus' and Peter's chairs.

"Ask me nicely," said Arabells cheekily, not seeming to be worried about the look she was getting from him.

"Would you please--" gritted out James.

"Come on," said Arabella, interrupting. "If you really want it, you'd get on your knees and beg for it. Worship me!"

"Not bloody likely!" shouted James before he slid himself across the table, grabbing the letter before she could snatch it away. "Ha!"

"You--!"

As the fight over the letter continued, Remus quietly sighed again with a smile on his face. "I'm stuck once again with crazy roommates," he said fondly.

"Hey!" objected Sirius, who frowned at him.

Remus nodded, ignoring him. "I restate what I said: I am stuck once again with crazy roommates."




Do you know where the sky is clear, the grass is green, and no trees are seen?
Meet me there by using the enclosed directions.

James stared at the letter. It was slightly disappointing, though he shouldn't have been surprised. What could he have expected? He hadn't ever sent her a letter in the past two years, had he?

Still, he turned over the letter half-heartedly, only to see a blank page. Sighing, he put the letter onto the desk where the envelope was sitting before leaning back and looking up at the ceiling with his fingers joined behind his neck. He pursed his lips together for a moment in thought before looking back at the envelope and letter that stared back at him...mocking him.

With a bit of a scowl, he grabbed the envelope--for it no longer had a use--and crushed it into a ball, only to freeze when he felt something inside of it. Surprised, he quickly straightened the envelope slightly and turned it upside-down over the desk only to have something fall out of it with a cling, followed by a small piece of paper.

He snatched the paper out of the air before it could touch the ground.

Do not touch it directly.

He frowned at the small note before looking to the object that had fallen out of the envelope. Resisting the urge to pick it up to examine it, he bent closer and studied it.

"What is this?" he muttered to himself, not really realizing there was no one there to answer his question. "One of her rings?"

It was then that he noticed that his letter was gone. He sighed and leaned back in his seat, not looking to the other person in the room, knowing that they knew he knew they were there.

"So when are you going?" asked the person, letting the letter drop down slowly in front of James.

James followed it with his eyes. "Tomorrow night," he answered before finally turning to Sirius. "What are you doing standing there anyway?"

Sirius shrugged. "I was going to talk to you about the Order but saw you reading that note," he said, pointing to the small note that had fallen out with the ring.

"'Do not touch it directly'...what is that supposed to mean?" asked James curiously, mostly to himself.

"You know Lily--"

"No, I don't," said James firmly before he looked to Sirius with narrowed eyes, "and that's the point."

Sirius rolled his eyes. "Don't even start, James," he said with exasperation before moving to stand next to the desk. He snatched the note from James and read, brow furrowing. "Does she mean the ring?"

"Maybe..." muttered James, studying the ring from afar. "I can't think of what she wants me to do with it."

Again Sirius shrugged. "I have no clue," he said, tossing the note back onto the desk. "Just leave it there or slide it back in the envelope."

"Good idea," said James before choosing to do the latter. Taking a quill from a small glass that was filled with them, he carefully held the envelope near the edge of the desk top and carefully nudged the ring into it.

Sirius watched this quietly, taking in everything. It was obvious that James was very willing to do whatever Lily had requested, though there wasn't any clear explanation why except...

"Actually," began Sirius after the ring had fallen into the envelope and James had folded the envelope to where the ring couldn't fall out again, "I only came here to apologize."

James looked to him suspiciously. "For what?"

Sirius crossed his arms and looked away. "Lying. Well...not lying, just not being entirely truthful--"

"About Dumbledore?" asked James incredulously. "You don't have to apologize for that...you were right. I needed to choose a side, and even though I don't want to risk it...I'll...stay with the Order." He looked up to Sirius and met his eyes before finishing sincerely, "You won't have to worry about that."

Sirius' lips slowly pressed themselves into a thin line. "...well," he said slowly. "I hope you didn't choose that because I want you to. It's your life, James--"

James shook his head. "It isn't because of you, Sirius."

"All right then," said Sirius quietly. "Dinner's ready if you want--"

"I'm not especially hungry, thanks," said James just as quietly, looking down to the letter.

"...all right then. Goodnight, James."




The next day was met with some excitement at the Ministry. As it would be James' first day on the actual job, he wasn't quite sure if things were always so hectic or if it was just because of the reason why Sirius was eagerly rubbing his hands together...

"Ah!" said Sirius, very much enthusiastic. "The Tournament's coming in November!"

"Tournament?" James tried to keep up with Sirius, who was heading further and further down the Department's hall, but it seemed as if every witch and wizard that had something to do was trying to separate him from his friend.

"Yeah," answered Sirius, slowing down when he realized James was getting left behind. "It's thrown every four years. This year is the year it comes again."

James' brow furrowed in thought as he counted back the years. "So this last Tournament happened when we were in Sixth Year?"

"Seventh, actually," said Sirius smartly with a smirk. "It's always held in the fall."

"Why is that?" asked James, curious to know about this Tournament that had his friend acting as though Christmas had come early this year.

"Don't ask me," answered Sirius with a clueless shrug, loosing his smirk for but a second before he then said, "I'm gonna win it this year."

James stared at him for a moment. "Right," he said before heading off.

Sirius chased after him. "You don't believe me?"

"Oh, please," said James, rolling his eyes. "Your Charms aren't going to win it."

Again, Sirius smirked. "Lucky then it's an anything-but-Unforgivables Tourney."

"Just don't embarrass yourself."

"Very funny," said Sirius dryly just as they reached Mad-Eye, who was drinking from his hip flask once more. "Hey, Mad-Eye."

Mad-Eye's normal eye went to Sirius while his false eye swiveled over to James. "You got a message for me?" he asked Sirius suspiciously.

"Sure," said Sirius with a very over-bearing cheerful tone. "'The east likes cheese.'"

"'And the mouse has been caught,'" responded Mad-Eye so seriously that James didn't know whether to laugh or not. He was saved from any embarrassment as Mad-Eye made his way to a fireplace.

"Erm..." said James, looking confusedly over to Sirius.

"I just told him that Dumbledore wanted him, and he said he'd get Peter," answered Sirius with a slight laugh, giving away that he had not been the one to come up with the odd call sign.

"Why?" asked James, still confused.

"We've got a meeting today," said Sirius.

"Now?"

"No, later." Sirius then lead the way to a door, which he then opened and entered with James following close behind. "Anyway, back to the Tourney..."




Just as Sirius had said, a meeting of the Order was taking place that night, and as James was not yet a full member, he knew it was best to stay out of the meetings, as he had been told he would. Remus, however, seemed somewhat concerned about him staying behind by himself.

"You're certain you're going to say," said Remus as a statement, not a question as he watched James. Sirius had already gone ahead, saying that Remus shouldn't bother, that James was a big boy and could take care of himself.

James merely shrugged in return. "I'm not an active member yet, so I'll stay out of the meetings for a while."

Remus still seemed uncertain, but shrugged off whatever it was that was bothering him and gave him a small smile. "All right. See you later this evening, James," he said before exiting the small cabin.

James decided that there was nothing else to do to pass the time and headed to his room to study Lily's letter as well as her ring once more. He was still trying to understand why she had given it to him...

Seating himself in his desk chair, he grabbed the envelope and tipped the opening to the desk; the ring slide easily onto the desk top with a cling. He frowned the moment it was lying still on the desk, studying it yet not finding anything that could give away why she had requested such a thing.

He leaned back in his seat, feeling somewhat dimwitted. "I don't get it," he said with a frown as if hoping Lily would hear him and give him a sign as to what he should do with it.

Outside the window, a large black bird gave a choke-sounding crow.

"'Do not touch it directly'," muttered James to himself again, frowning heavily at the ring.

At the window, unnoticed by James for the moment, the large black bird landed on the outside window sill, cawing and pecking at the window slightly, as if to catch the attention of the man who was alone in the room. Cawing again and fluttering its wings to remained balanced on the small sill, the black bird then cocked its head to the side and, as if it had just received an unheard order, suddenly slammed its beak into the glass, putting a hole through it and causing it to crack.

"What the--?" said James, having heard the noise. He turned to the window just in time to see the bird, who had freed its beak, leave the window. Puzzled, he continued to watch the window, not sure what to expect.

What he really hadn't expected was the bird to come flying back at startling speed and slam itself into the weak point in the glass.

He immediately went for his wand, while the bird came flying at him with its talons ready to attack. It didn't make it very far as James then pointed his wand at it and shouted, "Petrificus Totalus!"

The bird froze in mid-flight and then fell to the ground like stone. James eyed the bird suspiciously before looking to the destroyed window. Glass was everywhere and it was likely that it would be a long while before the window would be replaced.

It was then that something caught his eye. A piece of white within the black plumage of the bird.

A letter.

A chill found its way down James' spin at this, for it was well-known that large black birds--ravens--were the messengers of warnings. Warnings of Dark things to come...

Slowly while holding his breath almost the whole time, James bent over and detached the letter from the bird's foot. He hesitated for a long moment before summoning the courage to open the letter. He nearly dropped it in horror.

I congratulate your wit and speed upon stopping my messenger.

"Voldemort..." breathed James, his hands shaking as the message then changed to become another:

Speak my name and I shall come.

This couldn't be. How could Voldemort have found that he had come back? Did he have influence inside the Ministry? Was that why it was so chaotic? Or was there someone else? A spy somewhere?

Nothing seemed to make sense as James read this message numbly, his hands trembling, nearly ripping the parchment into halves. It probably would have ripped too, if another message had not appeared, replacing the last one:

Welcome back, Son...

Before he could do anything and as soon as he read the line, the parchment burst into flames and was quickly dropped by James, who--by this time--was paler than most ghosts. As the parchment burned on the floor beside the fallen raven, a cloud of thick, green smoke rose from the fire and continue up to the ceiling where it seemed to stay.

When there was nothing but ashes left, James slowly looked up to see a grinning green skull smiling down at him with a snake crawling through its laughing form. Stumbling over the desk chair he had been sitting at, James stared in fascinated fear and horror at what this meant before he turned to the desk and quickly gathered everything, not forgetting not to touch the ring, and raced out of the room, slamming the door behind him.




"No mistaking it. It's the Dark Mark." Mad-Eye didn't look away from the green smoke-stain on the ceiling as he said this, intent on knowing every curve and outline of the skull and snake.

"And a Petrified raven," added Remus, who squatted down to look at the still-frozen raven on the ground.

It was only minutes after the event had happened but it was long enough to have what seemed to be the majority of the Order quickly come to James' urgent call. Mad-Eye, Remus, Sirius, Peter, Frank Longbottom, and Frank's wife Alice had all come to the cabin by Apparating just five meters from the cabin, where James was standing, still shaken and not willing to go back into the cabin. In fact, it wasn't until Frank had pointed out that it was safer inside than outside as the raven had come from outside that James finally allowed them to lead him back into the cabin.

He still, however, refused to enter the room again.

Mad-Eye studied the Dark Mark a moment longer before turning to look at James, who was standing just outside of the room, though his false eye stayed on the Dark Mark. "You say there was a letter?" he asked suspiciously as if he expected James to say that he had done it all. "What did it say?"

That seemed to be the question that was bothering the others as well--except Sirius.

"That doesn't concern you, Moody," he said firmly, stepping in front of James as if to shield him from a possible attack.

Mad-Eye's eye narrowed slightly. "Why doesn't it, hm?" he asked. "Do you know why someone would send a message like this?"

"As a matter of fact," said Sirius lowly, "I do. Just forget it, Moody."

Mad-Eye didn't seem to want to give up the case and merely said, "Fine, but you had better--"

"I will," said Sirius before turning away from him and looking to James. "James--"

"No," said James sharply, knowing he had caught everyone's attention once more. "I don't...I don't want to talk about it."

He attempted to retreat but ran into Alice, who apologized quickly. She seemed to notice his odd behavior, however, for she looked to Frank in curiosity. Frank didn't respond to her and was carefully watching James as though he knew he was hiding something...something big...something dark.

He couldn't stand staying in there much longer. All of them watching him with that same suspicious-curious gaze. Only Sirius seemed to know how James was feeling and was shooting harsh looks at everyone, though it didn't seem to work.

"James--" Remus attempted to say as he stood from his position in the room, but James violently shook his head.

"Just forget it!" he shouted before quickly racing out of the cabin. He needed air. He needed to get away from those looks. He needed...




That was how he ended up at the meeting place well over five hours before he was supposed to. It was a quiet place with nothing but hills and lush green grass with a beautiful view of a near-by lake. The whole time he had sat there, he had thought about nothing but the messages he had been sent, about how Voldemort knew he was back home, about how he would have to choose soon between Voldemort and Dumbledore--the two conflicting sides.

It was as twilight came, however, that someone finally approached him.

"It's quiet, isn't it?"

He didn't bother to uncurl his legs which were drawn to his chest and hugged by his arms. He didn't bother to raise or turn his head which was resting against his arms as he stared out at the lake. Instead, he merely replied, "Calm before the storm."

There was a tense silence between the two of them, and James found that he hadn't expected anything less.

Then she broke the silence, "So you came."

He sighed, closing his eyes. "You asked me to," he simply said.

"I asked you to listen to me before you left," she said with some anger before quickly suppressing it and adding quietly, "and you didn't."

"Don't hold that against me," he pleaded, raising his head to look to her. She, however, didn't look to him and tightened her jaw slightly, her green eyes obviously bright with a harsh emotion. "I'm sorry I couldn't listen, but I'm listening now."

There was a long pause, and for a moment, James thought that she would never accept this and would just leave.

Then--

"...did you get my message?"

He nodded, looking away from her and toward the lake once more, allowing his legs to stretch themselves out some. "Arabella delivered it. That's why I wrote this for you." He held out a folded piece of parchment.

She looked to him for a moment before looking to the parchment. "What is it?" she asked carefully.

"Something that can help you understand," he merely answered without looking over to her.

She, however, continued to watch him for a moment longer before taking the parchment and tucking it away. It was almost strange, the way they were acting with one another but just as it was with James and his friendships with Remus, Sirius, and Peter, their relationship had changed in some way.

For a moment, there seemed to be nothing to be said. Then she said, "...I heard about what happened."

He tensed at that, turning his gaze to the ground. "I knew he's find out sooner or later," he murmured quietly.

"...are you afraid?" she asked, still having not turned her gaze away from him.

He then raised his eyes to hers. "I'm terrified," he answered truthfully.

"Of what?" she asked, wanting to know, to understand.

"Losing," he merely said before looking away again. "Losing everything to him. My friends, my will, my life...my humanity. I'm terrified at the idea that I'm his pawn, that he plans how I'm going to do something and it will benefit him without my knowing."

"I told you once that you couldn't run," she said quietly.

"You were wrong about why he would be," he countered somewhat coldly. "He's after me for different reason."

"Maybe I was right," she said, still watching his actions closely. "He's after you because this reason makes you uniquely powerful."

He tightened his jaw before shaking his head. "I don't want to think about that."

She seemed to understand that much and said nothing more on that topic, bringing the two of them back to silence.

He closed his eyes again, sighing at it all. So many things were happening lately that he wasn't sure if he could keep up with it all. And Lily...how could he ever get her to understand what he was trying to do...or not to do...?

"...did you ever miss..." she began to ask, startling him from his thoughts, "your friends, your home?"

He looked to her for a long while before quietly replying, "All of the time."

Now, for the second time in that meeting, she raised her eyes to meet his and he could yet again see the raw emotion in her emerald green eyes. Conflicting emotions were primarily what they shone with during these both times.

Then, the inevitable question came, "Why did you run?"

He tried to keep eye contact with her...but just couldn't. "There's...a lot of reasons," he murmured, looking to the ground once more.

"You don't trust me."

He immediately snapped his head up to look to her. "Are you kidding?" he demanded, upset that she would accuse him of such a thing. "I only told you things--let you know things about myself because, for some reason, I trust you.

"I can't understand...how I could..." he said, his voice softening somewhat before he shook his head, "when we weren't exactly friendly toward one another throughout Hogwarts."

This, if anything, was not what Lily had been expecting. "You trust me?"

"For some reason I don't understand," he answered, "yes I do. It's just..." He trailed off, not knowing what to say, how to say it.

"You're afraid," she said slowly, as if just realizing it.

He gave her a wry grin. "I'm still an open book, right?"

The smile must have been contagious, for a small smile appeared on her face as well. "Only to me," she assured him.

He gave a snort of laughter before going quiet and saying softly, "I see."

Again there was another pause, but this time they didn't look away from one another until she shifted slightly and hesitantly asked, "...will you ever tell me the reason you left?"

He couldn't answer that right away. "...I don't know."

"You said that you trust me," said she, and he opened his mouth to insist that it was true when she continued, "Well...I must admit that I...trust you, too."

She paused, letting this statement sink in.

She trusted him? he couldn't help but wonder in surprise and confusion. It was odd, that they would both confess such a thing after two years of being apart, after him leaving her and his friends.

Before he could think about this further, she continued, "It's funny that I trust the man who used to be the boy who hexed kids because he could, who infuriated me with how he treated some of them and annoyed me with how he messed up his already messed-up hair on purpose." She laughed quietly at the memories, as if they were all absurd now.

Perhaps they were, he realized. "So what changed?" he asked, wanting the conversation to stay on this topic.

She looked to him, her dark red hair shifting to frame her face, enhancing her brilliant green eyes. "You did," she answered simply before amending, "Maybe I did, too. All I know is that in Sixth Year, you started the same as before, but when it was the end of the year...you'd changed. I noticed it then, but I didn't know why..." --she looked away again-- "until the Express ride to our last year.

"I'm sorry."

Again, he froze but this time for different reason. Why was it that everyone else had apologized to him yet he had barely managed to say apologies for what he did two years ago?

He barely understood why his temper flared at those two small words before he asked her coldly, "Is that an apology?"

Her eyes widened in surprise at this, but only slightly before he turned away from her once more. "If it is," he continued, still with his cold tone, "I don't need it. I'm tired of people apologizing. I'm tired of being the one making the mistakes. I'm tired of thinking that Voldemort's breathing down my neck, waiting for a chance to catch me off-guard. I'm tired of always being on-guard, of being strong when I don't have any strength left. I'm tired--"

"Of everything happening." He looked to her in surprise only to see her watching him grimly, her green eyes narrowed. "Of nothing being in control, of the changes never stopping."

He watched her for a moment before shaking off the surprise and snorting, looking away again. "You can read my mind easy enough."

Yet another silence found its way to them, and half of him wished that he could just leave while the other half wanted to just stay with her and never leave again. The conflicting sides didn't soothe his temper at all, and only served to fuel the fire.

"..you know what I'm tired of?" she asked quietly, breaking the silence once more. When he didn't say anything, she continued, "I'm tired of waiting, waiting for what seems to be forever to say something. I'm tired and sick from things I can't control."

"What can't you control?" he asked, barely managing keep his voice and tone neutral.

"My feelings," she said, causing him to turn to her with a furrow brow, not understanding until she continued her eyes piercing into his with such sadness that he felt his heart clench, "James...when you left...I was in tears for a long time. Sirius, Remus, and Peter were there trying to help me get through what you'd done to me--"

"What could I have--?"

"You broke me, James," she said loudly, silencing his question sharply. He could only watch her in mute disbelief, not sure what to say about all of this when she continued yet again, "My heart, my mind, my soul was broken when you brushed me away. When you left before I could tell you..."

She trailed off and looked away before he realized--

She was crying.

"What...?" he asked, not knowing what to say, what to do. Had he really--? Could he have really hurt her that much?

"I trust you, James," she said, her voice shaking but still unbelievably strong, "but I'm afraid of that trust...that trust that told me that you would come back. Can I trust you to understand how I feel?"

For a moment, his mind couldn't think of anything to respond with. Somehow, though, words found their way to his mouth and he said quietly, "You can trust me to try."

She didn't reply, and for a horrifying second, he thought he had said the wrong thing.

"...will you promise me," she began quietly, making him jump slightly; she still wouldn't face him, "to tell me why you left? Promise to tell me everything?"

Again, it felt as if his mind was betraying him by keeping any thoughts of what to say away from him. He quietly cursed it before he once again realized what she was asking of him. Dread seem to fill him at that moment, but he still managed to ask her, "...would you do the same?"

She turned to him, her eyes now determinedly looking into his. "I would."

He was taken aback by this answer. "...I-I'll need some time," he stammered out before regaining his composure and looking away yet once more. "I can't just say it now. Not here when..."

"If you need time, you'll get time," she said firmly. "How long?"

How long? Did he just make a promise about telling her? Merlin's beard...how was he going to do this?

"I don't know," he said quietly.

"I'll wait a week," she said, her voice still firm and determined. "I've waited two years already. I don't feel that I can wait any longer."

He looked to her, ready to take back what he had said, ready to say that he couldn't tell her, ready to say anything that would get him out of this arrangement, but instead, he couldn't manage to get a single word out. She was watching him as though she somehow understood his dilemma without actually knowing it.

That was part of the reason he said, "...all right, I'll try," before he could think of anything else to avoid it.

Her somewhat-stony expression melted at this and she gave him a small smile. "Thank you, James..." she said and, much to his surprise, leaned against him. It was more of an attempt at comfort than anything; though it made him more tense and nervous than anything, it did help push all of the negative thoughts from his mind for a moment.

Then--

"I want you to know..." she spoke quietly and he almost missed what she had said, "since that time in the Common Room...when we actually spoke to one another...I've cared for you and--"

He didn't hear the rest of what she said; once again his thoughts had crashed to a halt. She wasn't...saying this, was she? She couldn't be...

He looked to her with what he knew was an expression very much worthy of his stag persona. She noticed his behavior and slowly moved away, uncertainly watching him.

"But..." he managed to say in a slightly panicked tone, "that was just a crush. You couldn't have--"

This was the wrong thing to say.

Her eyes narrowed at him. "Even when you tried to push everyone away. It wasn't a crush. It isn't a crush."

He shook his head, lifting a hand rub his suddenly sore temple, which was stopped half-way to his head. He looked over to see her hand holding his and could barely make a sound.

"Since you left..." she said painfully, making him look up to her face again, "everything felt broken. My heart, my mind, my soul...why, then, does it feel whole...why did it feel whole the minute you returned? The minute you stepped foot back on the land you called home, everything fixed?"

There was a dull buzzing sound in the darkening night, a painfully loud sound that was only accompanied by his heart's racing beat and his quick, uneven breaths. Silence, as many well know, is the loudest sound of all.

"You can't be serious," he said weakly, not knowing what else to say, just wanting the silence to be broken again and knowing that he would have to be the one to break it. "You...Lily, please don't say this."

"Why?" she demanded, clearly upset about all of this. "Because it's true?"

"Yes!" he exclaimed, jumping to his feet, feeling her hand slip from his. "This...Lily...I--" What should he say? What should he do? This situation was impossible. How? How did this happen? "I can't say the same to you..."

It was the worst lie he had ever told in his entire life.

"You can't or you won't?" she demanded, not letting it finish like that.

"Lily," he said, looking back to her, pleading with her, "if you knew, if you understood--"

"But I don't know and I don't understand."

"Lily, please," he pleaded once more, "I'm trying...I really am! I just..." All excuses seemed to be blocked from his mind whenever he looked at her, so he looked at the ground. "I don't want you to..."

"To what?"

"To...turn me away." He lifted his head once more to look at her, needing to see her face, see how she would take this. He was floundering and it seemed as though his only life-line was barely inches from his reach. "I've been wrong about Sirius turning me away, I've been wrong about my dad turning me away, but...I'm afraid of you being the one to turn me away."

Nothing seemed to move at that moment. Her face remained hard and angry, though it looked on the verge to fall.

"Why?" she asked quietly.

He avoided her eyes, knowing that that would be his weak point. "I can't," he said just as quietly. "I can't say what you want to hear."

Silence...

"...all right," she said and he flinched at the sound of her voice. "I suppose that's all then--"

Without thinking, his hand reached out and grabbed hers as soon as she had stood and tried to walk away. She didn't move and he knew that she was watching him still, taking in every motion.

"...a week," he finally said, looking to her and swallowing the lump that had formed in his throat, dread filling him. "Give me a week and...I'll tell you...I'll tell you why I left...why I can't say anything."

She continued to watch him silently with those brilliant green eyes, barely seen in the darkening night. "A week?" she asked for confirmation and he nodded. "Fine." She jerked her hand from his and turned to walk away. "You have your week, Sir Knight."

For a long while, he stood there, staring into the darkness in the direction she had left. Thoughts buzzed within his mind, and for some reason, the hand that had caught Lily's felt icy cold.




Author's Notes: Longest Chapter! And I love it so much *glomps her chapter* So, people who were waiting for Lily...how do you think of this? ^.^" Personally, I don't know what to think *thinks* @.@ Ow...thinking cramp *winces* Eh, oh well...BTW: this thing took two and a half days to write! WHOO! Ah, sorry about not getting it out sooner, but I had a lot going on. Band, Swimming, School...and then I had State Swim Meet just this weekend...but I DO have this whole week off! WHOO! So I MAY (I refuse to promise anything anymore) have the next part out soon. ^.^" Okay, time for replies!


Lunar Writer: Oh, he's a big softy once you get to know him ^.^" And he's not so much as arrogant anymore. His head deflated A LOT since Hogwarts. ^.^" Thank you for that small compliment! FP...FictionPress? Well, I'm more of a FF person, myself ^.^" Though I do have some random poetry and short stories over there (note to self: remember to take down Senii) ^.^" Well, I hope you enjoy this chapter! ^.~!

lena-jade: More quotes? ^.^" Wow. Most of my good quotes aren't really one liners, either ^.^" Wise? Dude, that's a first to me. ^.^" I liked the Boogey-man quote the best myself ^.^" Best chapter? Well, you might want to reserve judgement. I'm telling you that it will get loads better (only SEVEN more chapters! WHOO! Then I can start the sequel! *cheers*) Confused? Well, if you're still confused by the end of the fic, I'll put up a question and answer chapter as the very last chapter of the fic. Oh! That's the BEST compliment! Me write like JKR does! ^.^" I think I may burst from all of these compliments. *face goes very red* Yeah, I hear a ticking noise...I'm about to explode with joy ^.^" Thank you so much for these wonderful compliments! ^.~!

Kel6: Hey, it's no problem is don't review right away...you just have to review ^.^" Just kidding ^.^" Aw, you liked the goodbye? Personally, I hate putting in goodbye scenes *sticks out tongue* Friends NEVER say goodbye! They always act as though they will see each other again! *nod, nod* ...Oh, jeez...I made myself depressed with that...*sniffles* I want Sirius back! Oh, yeah...I didn't want James to destroy Dumbledore's office. James' different from Harry in that area. He's a lot more controlled than Harry is in OotP, though not much so. He just doesn't destroy someone's office...*shrugs* But it is true that he hasn't...lost...anyone (that's right! I'm saying Sirius is LOST not DEAD! *sobs!*). *hem hem* You will have to keep reading before I get into that bit with the packing. Heh. I knew I was going to love OotP. ^.^" It helps supports some of my ideas. Eh...she doesn't YELL at him, per se...but I think she was plenty mad, don't you? ^.~!

Glumfrog: O.O *falls out of chair sideways* Ow! *gets back into seat again, red faced* In love with it? It's amazing? Fav authors and stories? Best fan fic in ages? *hides face* Oh, dear...too many compliments in one reading right there ^.^" Oh, wow...you actually comment on *sniffles* Why you love it? WAH! *glomps Glumfrog* Thank you for telling me why you love it so much! So many people tell me that they love it and they completely forget to tell me WHY they love it so much. And yes, I've been closely proof-reading the chapters since I've discovered the wonders of Front Page with can be an HTML code helper, a website builder, AND a typo fixer! ^.^" Most talented? *blushes again* Oh, don't worry! When I finish (and I WILL DAMN IT ALL! *bangs head on table, remembering past failures*) there WILL be a sequel...three of them in fact and a possibility for a prequel for this fic (which I am going to go back and revise somewhat later on). O.O You read my fic in an hour? DUDE! That's a record! ^.^" Anyway, thanks for the wonderful review! I hope you enjoyed this chapter as well! ^.~!

Ariana15: Howdy? O.o Ariana's a cowboy? Now that CRAZY! ^.^" Sorry, Danny was saying that all through the trip in New Orleans for the State Swim Meet. Clint picked it up later too. Blast him *glares at computer screen before realizing it isn't him* ^.^" Heh...*hem hem* The 15 came from what FF said they were going to do. Since there's so many people with the same name sometimes, they decided to number the many same-named people from oldest user ID to newest. You happen to be 15th. Lol, please let's do that ^.^" I keep forgetting about my promises...*sweatdrops* Heh ^.^" Yeah, I know. I like Neil and Jess. They were very amusing to write, especially Jess ^.^" Erm...no, James' dad was in the first chapter, Dude...O.o Well, it has been a while, so of course you've forgotten about that chapter...(note to self: remember to revise first 4, chapters). I know how you feel about homework...but I'm a slacker in my math class because I'm in all regulars...I'm supposed to be in all HONORS! DAMN IT ALL! *looks around innocently* Well, you shouldn't put off your homework like that! EEK! I sounded like Hermione! Someone! Please tell me I'm not Hermione! AH! *runs around* ^.^" Thanks for reviewing! ^.~!

shadow64: And so he has! Hope you enjoy this chapter!

Reluxi: Ah, my favorite reviewer! ^.^" Lol, yes, I am doing it on purpose, but mind you, this is not Harry, so it is very possible that the situation may changer (not saying if it will or not *whistles innocently*). Heh...the father taking after the son...that is funny. Oh, I love all of these metaphors! ^.^" Next year?! Heck no!....just next MONTH! MWAHAHA! *sweatdrops* I don't there's going to be anymore one-post-a-month thing, though. I don't have swim practice or band rehearsal after school, so I get to just head home ^.^" Yeah, and jump on the computer and write loads *looks mournfully at Chapter 21 of the sequel* I skipped the first 20 Chapters and wrote that part because I wanna write the sequel *pouts* Ah, only SEVEN more chapters left *celebrates* Then I will FINALLY finish a fic! WHOO! Oops...getting off-topic ^.^" Gomen! Watching me? *looks carefully behind her and falls over will a scream* AHHHHHH--! *stops when she realizes it's just her cat Boo* -.-' Stupid cat...*huggles Boo* ^.^" *sweatdrops* Dude, I don't need that many people watching me...it makes me nervous *looks around and squeezes Boo* ^.^" Thanks for the review! ^.~!

LJstagflower4e: Brought Lily in...do I get a treat? *pretends to wag her 'tail'*

welshlili: "Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi...you're my only hope!" ^.^" Heh...I think it's already too late. You do kind of scare me, but that's a COMPLIMENT! ^.^" It's hard for another person to scare me. ^.^" Hope you didn't die before I got this out!

Leigh: Heh, aren't we all happy that he finally got some sense into him? Well I've updated! Hope you remember about this fic. People tend to forget and come back every-other chapter ^.^"

Itnikki: Yes he can! He LIVES I tell you! *nods along with Itnikki's words* Yes, it is very close to what happened to Harry, but remember that circumstances may change. In this fic they tend to do that often...I think *scratches head* I dunno...I'm not allowed to think for myself anymore. ^.^" Well, that's cool that you like Years Past, but let's see what you think of this chapter! ^.~!

mooncancer: The moon gives you cancer? O.o? ^.^" Just kidding ^.^" Scary thought? I thought it was kind of funny ^.^" But that's just me, I guess. Don't worry, there will be more L/J here on out. ^.^"




Wow! That was a lot of responses! ^.^" Yes, I have one last announcement before I go this time!



Announcement: As I have told lena-jade, I will have a question-answer session at the very end of the fic. If you still do not understand something that happened in the fic and want to know about whether or not it's going to explained in my sequels, this will be your chance to ask it. I suggest compiling a list of questions that you have now and check them off one by one as you continue to read and ask me the questions you haven't seen answered.




That's all for now! Ja! ^.~!