DISCLAMIER: I do not own the characters, the setting, etc. I just hope that you will enjoy the story and tell me what you think. Thanks.

Misplaced Memories

Chapter 1

Blink, Breathe, Bleed . . .



Branches pushed aside. Twigs crack. Rustling among the old, tattered autumn leaves, which lingered on the forest floor. Sweaty palms, footsteps splash in thick mud. The night's air is ice cold. The warm breath quickly disappears as it makes contact. Rushing, escape, hunted. Heavily breathing, faster and strong. Breathe, breathe, breathe. Mouth becomes dry and gets harder to inhale and exhale. Almost choked-like, wanting to stop yet cannot. A quick glance, looking behind, an unknown distorted figure is becoming closer. Crimson liquid soaks the black fabric of the cloak. Injured, pain, suffering.

Running faster, a quickened pace. A rapid blow hits head. Falls, hits the darkened surface and looks up, seeing a large luminous school and a crystal- like lake shimmering from the beams of light from the moon. The visions get fuzzy and blurred. Blink, blink, blink. Breathe, breathe, breathe. Bleed, bleed, bleed. All is consumed with darkness. Blacks out.

A classroom with students about the age of sixteen sat in rows, a few hands rised.

"Ms. Evans," the teacher called out.

"The answer is wolfsbane," a red haired girl answered.

The classroom's clock ticked away. The teacher turned his head slightly to peer at it and then rezoomed viewing at his pupils ahead of him.

"Listen up everyone! You will have homework to do tonight."

There was a long moan of disappointment that echoed throughout the classroom.

"Yes, yes, yes...I know how much you all love homework," he replied sarcastically. "Please read chapter five, on fungi."

The school bell rang and the students left their once filled classrooms and entered into the now crowded hallways. The first to leave the classroom was a group of boys. First, a black shaggy haired young man with black glasses, then another with a book in front of his face, followed by a short, roundish fellow. They were known as James Potter, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew. James turned to Remus, "Hey, you seen Padfoot lately?"

"No mate haven't seen him since dinner last night before he headed off for his detention," Remus answered, looking up from his book. James sighed.

In the hallway, a group of girls walked by accompanied with a red head with emerald green eyes. James smirked and called out, "Hey Lily!"

The teenage girls were consumed with giggles. But Lily Evans didn't seemed amused at all. She simply rolled her eyes and kept walking along.

"Why must you torture her, Ms. Evans, like that?" Remus asked, holding his book at his side.

"Oh, you know she likes it." James smirked, gleefully.

Remus rolled his eyes and made such a face that stated, ya . . . right. Lupin was once again lost in the pages of his book and continued to follow.

"Hey lads, how 'bout we get our hands on some first years?" James didn't wait for a reply. He simply led the way to the giant wooden door and stepped outside onto The Hogwarts School's grounds. There was a slight chill in the air but the day was still filled with a warm, calm sense about it. The trees began to lose their once lush green leaves, which were now transformed into a ray of colours: yellows, reds, oranges, browns and golds. James took in a deep breath.

"Ah! Lovely day ain't it?"

Lupin merely mumbled from his book as Peter nodded in agreement, waddling along trying to catch up to the others. The small gang strode across the leaf-covered grounds. James came to a sudden halt. Lupin bumped into James, lifting his head from the intriguing book. Remus was the first to speak from the three.

"What is it, James?"

"You ok?" Peter asked.

"Sure. Just wondering what that is, up ahead, that's all."

"Where? What is it?" Peter questioned.

"Over there," James explained, pointing to whatever it was, "just off the out skirts of the Forbidden Forest. Let's go check it out!"

"Fine by me." Lupin said. "Are...are...you sure it's safe?" Peter stuttered.

"Oh, c'mon Peter, don't be a baby," James teased.

"I'm not a baby," Peter argued.

"Fine, then let's go see what the mysterious object is," James grinned.

There was a sense of wonder and puzzlement about what laid ahead. What could it be? The group of three curious boys walked up the grounds towards the edge of the forest to find in what they seeked. As they drew closer and closer their answer soon became more revealed. It was someone or something covered in a black cloak. They got closer. The black cloak seemed to be covered in...what was it? Oh...no. It seemed to be blood. Blood? Why is there blood? They started to get into the motion of running to the unknown being. Who or what? How? When did this happen? Faster and faster they ran. Their feet almost floating above the chilled grounds. 10 feet away. The cloak seemed to be muddy as well as cover in small broken twigs that were tangled in the black fabric and more blood. 6 feet away. Is it safe? 3 feet. The boys slowed down, jogging then returned to walking, getting closer. 1 foot away.

James stepped forward. He touched the figure's ice cold shoulders and the blood stained his hands. James rolled over the cloaked figure on its back and slowly removed the owner's hood. James Potter's eyes went wide and his face almost pale white like one of the school's ghosts. Remus Lupin had altogether retreated from his literature and stared down at what laid before him. Peter Pettigrew was shaking out of pure horror and disbelief. The three young men were speechless, without words to speak. James fell to his knees and whispered, "No..."

AN: Enjoy it? I hope so. Review please and tell me what you think. More will be on its way... ; )