Disclaimer-The wonderful and talented J. K. Rowling created, and therefore owns, Harry Potter and his world, not I.

Chapter 4- A Change?

Lily looked at the picture he was staring at and read the headline beside it, 'Aurors Murdered by Voldemort's Death Eaters.' She met his pain-filled eyes with her own terrified ones.

"James, I'm so sorry," Lily said in a small voice filled with emotion. Then she gave James something she never thought she would give him, a hug.

"It-it's not yo-your f-fault," James sobbed into Lily's shoulder. He was filled with so much angst, that he didn't realize Lily Evans, the love of his life, was giving him a hug.

While Lily held James, Sirius snatched the Daily Prophet from its forgotten place on the table and read the first sentence of the article before dropping it in shock. "The respectable Marie and David Potter were murdered in their London home by Voldemort's Death Eaters earlier this morning..."

Remus saw the shock in Sirius' face and looked at the paper. He was about to offer James and Sirius some words of comfort when a cold voice spoke from behind him.

"Did poor little Jamesie's parents bite the dust?" Snape snickered. After McGonagall had undone the hex put on Snape, she sent him on his way. He had already known about the attack on James without having to see the Daily Prophet this morning. Even though James had hexed him earlier, he didn't care because he knew James would be sorry when the owls brought the mail.

James didn't hear Snape, but Sirius did. "You knew about this, Snivellus?" The anger upon Sirius' face was also evident in his voice.

"Of course. All of the Dark Lord's faithful servants know of his plans," Snape replied proudly.

Sirius stood up. "You mean killing innocent witches and wizards because of their bloodlines? Not a very good plan if you ask me. What do you think, Mooney?"

Remus stood up and snarled, "I think they are all like Snivellus, stupid and outnumbered." Then he drew his wand and pointed it at Snape. Sirius followed suit.

"You're right," Sirius laughed. "Snape is stupid and already outnumbered."

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At the teacher's table, Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall were having a hushed conversation about what they had read in the Daily Prophet about the Potters.

"Why would you-know-who have his followers kill two pureblooded wizards?" Minerva McGonagall asked.

"People like Voldemort are out for power. They will murder anyone willing to oppose them, as well as those in their own ranks, to gain that power, Minerva," Albus Dumbledore replied.

"What about Potter? Do you think he knows?"

"I will talk with him in my office after breakfast and excuse him from all his classes for the rest of the week."

"Make sure you tell him not to worry about that detention I gave him today."

"Sure thing," Dumbledore said and called a Ravenclaw fifth year over to go and tell James Potter to be in his office after breakfast was over.

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"Back off," Snape snarled.

"Are you scared, Snivellus?" Sirius grinned.

Jennifer leapt up from her seat. "Are you two mad? James' parents just died and all you two can do is hex Snape to the next century?"

Remus looked at Sirius and then back at Snape. "Leave or else we will hex you into the next century!"

Snape looked from Sirius to Remus and decided it wiser to heed the warning and went back to the Slytherin table.

Sirius glared at Jennifer. "Did you not hear what he said? He's a freaking Death Eater!"

"Your friend needs you right now," she replied and sat back down.

"She's right, you know. We can get Snivellus another time." Remus rationalized and sat down in his seat.

"Excuse me," a nervous-looking boy said timidly.

"WHAT?" Sirius roared at him.

"Pr-Profess-ssor D-Dumbledore wa-wants to s-see J-James P-P-Potter in h-his off-office after br-breakfast-t," the boy trembled.

"Well, I'll make sure James gets that message because," Sirius looked over at James still wrapped in Lily's arms, "he's a little wrapped up right now." The boy darted off as soon as Sirius was done speaking. "What was the matter with him?"

Sirius tapped on Lily's shoulder. "Do you think I could get a word in with James before breakfast is over? He's kind of got somewhere to be in," Sirius glanced at his watch, "oh, about three minutes.

Lily stroked James' cheek and softly said, "James, breakfast is almost over and Sirius needs to talk to you about being somewhere in three minutes."

James lifted his head off of Lily's shoulder. She saw the tears on his cheeks and brushed them away with the tip of her finger. Then she gave James a weak smile, stood up, and walked over to the empty seat beside Remus.

"Dumbledore wants to see you in his office after breakfast," Sirius informed James.

"Thanks," James mumbled.

Students were getting up all around them. "Come on. I've got class to get to and you have to go see Dumbledore." Sirius stood up and motioned for James to do the same, but he wouldn't.

Lily listened to what Sirius said and saw that James wouldn't get up. "Sirius," she paused, waiting for him to turn around, "let me take James to Dumbledore's office."

Sirius looked at Lily unsure. "But won't you get in trouble for being late?"

"I'll just say I had to discipline some students for...fighting in the hall."

Sirius nodded and walked off.

"Come on, James," Lily said softly and held out her hand.

James stared at it for a moment before grasping it. Lily smiled at him and they started walking towards Dumbledore's office, still holding hands.

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A/N- This is not my favorite chapter!!! It took me forever to decide how to write it-lol! But I hope you guys enjoy it.

Do they have bells at Hogwarts? Please tell me if they do-lol!

MissMrprk-whimper I know!! But this chapter made it a little better.

Czarina-Kathryn- Thanks for being so nice! I hope you enjoy the rest of the story!

Blind-Sight- I'm glad you liked it. Sorry about "knocking off" his parents but something tragic has to happen!! Lol

Hyper-Shaman-Girl- Yeah that was a little bad. Thanks for reviewing.

The-power-of-love- It'll work out in the long run.

-ilovecaptainjacks