Oh! I'm sooooo tired! Softball tryouts today! well, this chapter is short, but I think you all will like it! Okay. Thanks all of you for your wonderful reviews! Isn't it just wonderful to be told thank you for something I've never asked you to do? hehe! Don't I owe you all cookies? Well, I can't make them now, my mom's making a cake for my dad to take to work for some thing going on there! I think that's enough babbling for now! Read on!

Chapter 30

Defense Against the Dark Arts

James walked through the empty halls of Hogwarts as he tried to remember everything he had seen in his dream, not that he would call it a dream…it was a nightmare. Who was that boy who had been killed by Voldemort? Why did he seem so familiar? What was James doing dreaming of him? When did this or is this going to happen, if it is real? Did it have anything to do with the missing month of his life? James shuddered at the thought.

"If that was what my month was like, I'm glad I don't remember any of it!" James said firmly, yet, something inside of him was craving to know more about what had happened and what that nightmare was all about?

"You should have been there! It's your fault I have this stupid life and this scar on my head! It's your fault I have the most feared wizard trying to kill me!" What was that about? Why was it his fault? Suddenly, a clearer picture of the boy appeared in his mind. He had emerald green eyes, messy black hair, and a scar on his forehead shaped like a lightning bolt. Could he be related to me? James thought. I know I've seen him before! I know I have! But where? James kept wondering about the boy and his feet led him to the Great Hall. There were a few people there. James looked at his watch and noticed he had been pondering his dream for an entire hour. He sat down at the Gryffindor table, but did not eat. He was not hungry, so he stood up again and walked out of the room.

"James! Wait up!" James turned around and saw Lily, Sirius, Remus, and Peter running up to him. "I brought your books, Prongs," Sirius said, handing them to James. He smiled a thank you.

"Are you alright?" Lily asked. "Remus told me about your dream." James sent Remus a glare and said, "I'm fine. Let's just go to class now, okay?"

"Uh, sure." James walked ahead of his friends so he wouldn't have to see their worried glances they were bound to be giving him. He turned into the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom and sat near the back, which was unusual in this class, as he liked the teacher and the class. When everyone had seated, the teacher, Professor Crawford, commanded the class's silence.

"Today, class," he said. "We will be reviewing for our N.E.W.T.S. again." There was a loud groan at the subject of what would be happening in class today, but the professor continued as if he hadn't heard. " Who can tell me what Oneirogenic Mud is?"

James stared at the professor. Something was nagging at the back of his brain. He had heard that name before. Where? What was it?

"Sirius?"

"Huh? What?" he said. James turned to look at his friend.

"Your hand is raised. Do you know the answer?" Sirius looked up at his hand. It was indeed raised. He hastily put it down again. "Er – I think it's some sort of mud that causes you to have your worst nightmares."

"Very good, Mr. Black. Now can you tell me why it's so deadly?"

"You can't get out of it and the longer you're in it, the lower into it you sink, when your nightmare is over, you pass out and suffocate…" the entire class was staring at him. Sirius gulped. He never volunteered information. James' mouth was hanging open and Lily and Remus were dumbfounded that Sirius knew something they hadn't.

"Excellent! Very Good, Mr. Black! Ten points to Gryffindor. Now Oneirogenic Mud is most commonly found…"

Sirius tuned the professor out as he sunk into his chair.

"How did you know that, Padfoot?" Remus asked.

"I…I don't know! The words came out of my mouth before I knew what I was saying."

"That's odd. How could that happen? Do you think it has anything to do with the missing month?" Remus asked.

"Doesn't everything?" James asked. "Every strange thing that has happened has to do with that month!"

"There has to be some way we can figure out what happened to you guys!" Remus said.

"I hope we can find out soon because this is getting very annoying!" James said.

"Mr. Potter, would you kindly come up and demonstrate for me?"

James looked up. "Sir?"

"Yes, I thought I heard you talking. You really must be paying attention, as you have been absent from class for a month. Now, please come up here and demonstrate how to get rid of a boggart."

"A boggart? But a third year could do that!" James said.

"I know that, Mr. Potter, but it is my job to prepare you for anything on the exam and since you haven't done anything with boggarts for quite some time, I suggest you practice it now. Come to the front." James reluctantly walked forward. He hated his boggart shape. It was really a rather irrational fear, but it was his greatest fear at the time. After all, he had worked for almost six years to date Lily. James readied himself for the boggart. Professor Crawford opened the cabinet and out walked Lily. James heard some sniggering behind him and turned around to glare, but the boggart stopped him. Lily had dropped to the ground. There were gasps going around the room. James looked terrified. He could not tear his eyes from the form on the ground. His precious Lily, dead. He couldn't bear the thought. Just then, the boggart transformed into another body. It was Sirius.

"Sirius?" James whispered. He felt himself shaking. This was not what he had expected. When had his greatest fear become dead people? He felt his wand slipping out of his hand, but caught it.

The boggart had changed once more. It was a baby. Why am I afraid of a baby? Others were wondering that as well, but all murmering ceased as the infant grew up into a mirror image of himself. There were only a few differences: their height, his eyes were green and he had a scar on his forehead. "The boy from the dream!" James whispered. He dropped his wand as the boy walked up to James and pushed him to the ground. "You should have protected me better!" he called. James stared as the boy towered above him. "You should have been there! It's your fault I have this stupid life and this scar on my head! It's your fault I have the most feared wizard trying to kill me!" The boggart kicked James in the gut. James cringed and rolled up into a ball. The boggart picked James up by the collar and punched him. "IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT!" he cried, throwing James through the air. He landed with a thud on the ground. James looked up, waiting for the boggart to attack again, but Professor Crawford had snapped out of his daze and had taken care of the boggart. Sirius, Remus, Lily, and Peter were now next to James on the floor, blocking the other curious students. Lily was talking but James wasn't listening. He was watching the flashes passing in front of his eyes. When the scenes finished, he looked up at Lily. His eyes were wet as the tears bordered on falling. His face was contorted into so much pain and sorrow. He opened his mouth and said one word.

"Harry."