Chapter 14

Interesting Meeting

James was walking around the grounds holding hands with Lily. They were dressed warmly, as it was almost Christmas. They were by the lake. It had frozen over and looked very peaceful covered in snow.

"Hogwarts hasn't changed very much has it?" Lily said.

"Nope, not really. Lils, I want to talk to you about something."

"Yes?"

"Well, I had a dream in St. Mungo's. It was really weird. It almost seemed real. We were on this dirt road and I asked Sean—"

"Sean?"

"That's the boy's name. Well, I asked him if he knew where we were and he had said we were at the end of our lives. He asked me all these questions and I told him about the wizarding world because he thought it was fascinating that I could do magic. He also asked about Harry. I told him what I knew, which wasn't much. He kept wondering why I didn't like Harry very much. That's what got me thinking. His doctors started to save him so he disappeared from the road and I had promised to visit him if we both got out."

"Do you want to?"

"Yes, but do you think it's a good idea?"

"No, I don't because I think it was just a dream and even if it wasn't, Sean might think so. I think we need to stay here."

"I was afraid you'd say that," James said, smiling.

"Now I want to talk to you about something. Did you know that Harry's a Parselmouth?"

"What!" James exclaimed. "How?"

"I'm not sure. Ron and Hermione said something about it in Voldemort's place."

"We should ask them about it."

"I already did. They didn't want to talk about it, really or about the prophecy I mentioned to you. They wouldn't tell me about it. Have you noticed they're always in the library or in Dumbledore's old office?"

"How could you notice that already? We've only been here three days!"

"Well, they have been doing that and they always say it's for a project, but Ginny's with them and she's not in their year."

"Hey guys!" Sirius called from behind them.

"Hello, Sirius," Lily said. "I thought you were going to do something with Ron and Harry today?"

"Well, I was, but they said they had to study for something. And do you know where they're studying? Dumbledore's old office! Odd place to study, don't you think. Also, I don't remember any professors telling us we have a test any time soon."

"They could be studying for N.E.W.T.S," James suggested.

"No, I think something's up. Remember what I just told you, James? They're hiding something from us."

"Yeah, but what?" Sirius said.

"Well, it's not like they're ready to confide in us and I don't think I'm ready for another surprise from the future, so I'm perfectly fine with this." James said.

"Prongs, are you feeling alright? Usually, you hate it when you think people are keeping secrets from you."

"Well, maybe it's time I put my curiosity to rest. I just made peace with Harry and I don't feel like ruining it just yet."

"Well, I for one want to know what is going on with those four," Lily said.

"Me too."

"Figure it out without me."

"All right, James, we will," Lily said. "But if you ever get your curiosity back, we'd be glad to have your help." Lily and Sirius walked back up to the castle, leaving James by himself. He walked along the grounds, looking at the students walk around having normal lives and he felt a twinge of jealousy. It quickly passed as he neared Hagrid's hut. He thought about going to see him, but found two problems with that. One, Hagrid didn't know he was here, and two, Hagrid was dead. James sighed and decided to walk back up to the castle when he heard voices from behind Hagrid's cabin. He moved closer to hear what was being said.

"You're not a professor anymore and are not in charge over me. I can call you what I want."

"If you do, you may find my help will become even more limited." James listened and thought both voices sounded familiar. One sounded like Harry's but the other was difficult to place.

"Do you want the Order to trust you again?"

"If I recall correctly, it was because of you they don't trust me."

"Look, you don't have to like me, but please help me or I'll tell McGonagall where you are."

"Fine. Here. This might help. Don't let anyone else see it except for the people we've discussed."

"Don't worry I won't. I don't want anyone to know what we're doing."

There was a pause, and then the stranger gasped. "I have to go." James stared after the retreating figure, but could not make out who it was. He then saw Harry appear on the other side of the cabin. James followed him. Harry stopped by a tree and opened what looked like a letter from the stranger. He read it rather quickly, closed it, and ran up to the castle. James had to run to keep up with Harry. He saw him go to the head's dorm. James followed him in. In Harry's haste to show his friends the paper, he hadn't noticed James at all.

Harry was by Hermione, Ron, and Ginny, whispering. He heard Hermione gasp and Ron ask, "That's impossible!" James then cleared his throat and the four turned around.

"Oh, hi, James," Ginny said, noticing that his hair was pulled back into a low ponytail so that Sirius and James could be distinguished.

"So what are you guys doing?" James asked.

"We're working on a project," Harry said.

"Oh, alright. Do you need any help?"

"No, no, I think we're good."

"Well, then, have you seen Lily or Sirius?"

"Yeah, they're in the library, at least that was where they were earlier," Ron said.

"Thanks," James said, turning quickly and leaving the room. He walked briskly to the library and saw Sirius watching Lily look quickly through book after book in the back of the library.

"Hey, what are you looking for, Lils?" James asked.

Lily looked up suddenly and asked rather abruptly, "Do you know what a horcrux is?"

"No," he said slowly, then jumped back when Lily growled and slammed the book shut. "There isn't anything in this entire library that has anything to do with horcruxes!"

"Why do you want to know about horcruxes?" James asked.

"We overheard Harry telling Ron…Oh right. You don't want to know, do you?"

"Actually, I changed my mind," he said as he sat down.

"Why the sudden change of opinion, Prongs?"

"I overheard Harry talking to someone over by Hagrid's old cabin. Whoever it was used to be a professor here and apparently, they hate eachother, but must want to do something about something. He gave some sort of letter to Harry and after Harry read it, he ran as fast as he could to his friends. Hermione had gasped when Harry told them and Ron said it was impossible. I couldn't hear what the letter was about, though."

"My curiosity is at its peak," Lily said. "This wasn't the first time I heard one of them talking about horcruxes. They also said something about having to finish before Christmas Break. If so, they only have three more days to get what they want."

"What are they going to do over Christmas? What are they going to do with us?" Sirius said. "They can't possibly think we'll be gone by then do they?"

"Whatever it is, we have to figure it out. Maybe Remus will know what a horcrux is," James said.

"Let's go ask. I don't think we'll find anything in these books about it," Lily said, standing up. The three left the library and headed for Remus' office.