A/N: Okay, so I said I wouldn't update very soon...but now I've updated on the same day,mainly because I hate the last chapter, it doesn't do the story justice.

Happy reading, writing and, if you're like me, procrastinating!

CHAPTER THREE – UNTOLD TALES

"…We didn't start the fire, no we didn't light it, but we tried to fight it…"

– Billy Joel, "We didn't start the fire"…somewhat appropriate

And so, the contrived monotony of life at Hogwarts continued…though things were stirring inside and outside the castle which would impact their lives indefinitely…

"Urrrrrrrrrrgggghhh," This Neanderthal-reminiscent groan could be heard throughout the sixth and seventh year Gryffindor dormitories. Sirius Black, professional womaniser and unofficial Gryffindor Party Captain, rolled over and promptly fell on the hard floor. Rolling onto his back again and opening his eyes, he registered that he was in the common room, bottles of strange concoctions resting on every horizontal (and non-horizontal) surface and the familiar, pungent smell of alcohol in the air…What a night

Sirius had decided that there was a need for a party, a "we've-been-back-at-school-for-a-month" party and everyone else had happily agreed, sending disgruntled fifth years and below to bed, "We don't need them to be exposed to this," James decided. Lily rolled her eyes, though she didn't argue – a testament to the times and her character, she thought.

Sirius rose rather unsteadily, moving in the general direction of the staircase to the dorms, rubbing his eyes and scratching his (bare!) chest…How did that happen?

Reaching the landing, he heard a girl walking down from the girls' dorms. Raising his eyes, he vaguely recognised her as an attractive sixth year and inclined his head, raising a hand in greeting…or defeat. The girl, an Eva Carmody, raised an eyebrow in return and waltzed past.

Ah, no matter, I know I've still got it and he promptly collapsed on that spot.

A breeze blew softly through an open window of the Marauders' dorm. Peter's dark curtains were drawn around his bed, moving gently with the breeze. Sounds of water could be heard from the bathroom where Remus was showering, while James lay on his back, staring up at the canopy of his bed. He had stuck photos up there with a non-perturbable charm, so that photos of old girlfriends were covered up with photos of the Marauders, his family and, during a fifth year obsession, Lily Evans.

It was odd how different a person could become over the relatively short period of two years. Back then, he was a bigoted immature prat and she was a self-assured prude…now he was a tolerant, insightful prat and she was a compassionate, confident…well, he couldn't call her a prude anymore…not after sixth year anyway. He had heard about her escapades when she had dated Gideon Prewitt.

They had been rather indifferent to each other over the past couple of years, with their feelings, of like and dislike, diffusing. Though he had imagined being Head Boy with her this year, him walking tall and strong amongst the students, her at his side, her glorious red hair brushing his shoulder, her hip jutting into his side as they walked, talking about philosophy, Quidditch, politics, their future, school work, their friends and life…and arguing about it all.

Damn it all to hell, he didn't like her again, did he? Well, maybe he was in with a chance this time. She didn't seem to resent his presence anymore. Now, he just needed an opportunity…

"Isn't he utterly dreamy?" Crowed one girl that Lily and Carmen had termed the Mushrooms, after the effects of the popular Muggle drug on the brain.

Lily and Carmen were walking to breakfast and had inadvertently got stuck behind these girls who were always talking about some boy.

"Who do you reckon it is this time?" Whispered Carmen, "Sirius? A Prewitt? That fool, Amos? Julian? William?" Lily just smiled.

"I know!" Continued one of the Mushrooms, "I can't wait until the Quidditch season starts!" And at this statement, they all sighed, thinking of buff Quidditch players.

"James Potter," Lily answered to Carmen.

"Yes?" Asked a voice behind them. Speak of the devil.

"Oh, um nothing," replied Carmen.

"Don't worry, James," Sirius smiled, slapping him on the back, "They're just in giggles over your ahem personality, I'm sure."

Lily rolled her eyes and turned to a grinning Sirius, "You know, Black–"

"Regulus, you smirking bastard, what the hell?" Interrupted Sirius, looking over Lily's shoulder where his brother had emerged from the Great Hall, "I thought you had run away to join that circus they call death eaters."

"And I thought you had run away to be a Muggle. You certainly surround yourself with the right type," Regulus spat back.

"Oi, I'd stop right there. That talk is what gave you that," Sirius responded easily, gesturing to Regulus' still black eye, "Mind you, I'd be happy for an excuse to give you another."

At this comment, Regulus growled and reached into his robes for his wand.

Lily and Carmen had moved back by this stage. They wanted to stop the fight, but no one involved themselves in a fight with any Black. James and Remus, however, stepped forward to a smirking Sirius, who had also drawn his wand.

"You were lucky you weren't expelled last time," reminded Remus.

"That was at the station," corrected James, "they couldn't have expelled him, it's not school –"

"Not helping, James," hissed Remus.

Regulus was walking towards Sirius when Snape entered the scene and ran up to him. He grabbed him by the shoulder and whispered in his ear, while Regulus had his wand and eye trained on Sirius, ready to strike. After a while he nodded and said to Sirius, "You aren't worth the dirt on my shoes, let alone my breath," and he turned to walk back into the hall. He hesitated and then added, "By the way, I was coming to tell you: My parents have taken you off the will and your dear old Uncle Alphard died. Well, that's what they're telling the press anyway," and with a shallow smile he entered the hall.

They all stood there awkwardly with Sirius until James broke the silence, "um, does that mean –"

"That he was murdered by death eaters? Yes," answered Sirius and he walked down the hall and went outside.

Lily, Remus, James and Carmen all looked at each other.

"But, uh," began Lily, "why would they kill his uncle? Was he an auror?"

"No, they just didn't like him. That's all. He was the only good guy in Sirius' whole family, save a few."

"They were pretty close, Sirius and his uncle, I think," said Remus, "I mean he never talks about his family, but when he does, he's fairly blunt about his feelings."

"Should one of you go after him?" Asked Carmen, gesturing outside.

"You're welcome to, if you want. I think it's better that he's left alone though."

They all stood awkwardly again, until Lily slowly walked into the hall.

The others followed and they were shocked at what they saw inside; an eruption of fighting. James and Lily drew their wands and hurried over to help the teachers who were trying to separate two large groups of Ravenclaws and Slytherins. Some of the benches were turned over, food and broken plates littered the tables and the floor, younger students were beginning to move out the hall. Students were yelling and hexes were being hurled violently, and though most were fairly tame, there was a heavy, electrified feeling of panic and anger.

Carmen and Remus stood there for a few minutes while they took it all in, until a fifth year went flying past them and hit a Gryffindor table. They exchanged a glance and ran over.

Meanwhile, Lily and James had helped to get most people under control again. There were a few with torn robes, bleeding lips and wands drawn, though many just looked furious.

"What on Earth happened?" Lily questioned James, somewhat rhetorically.

"They've heard," replied James, surprisingly Lily, "a pack of death eaters attacked the Ministry and killed lots of Ministry officials. The aurors turned up and then killed lots of death eaters. People are angry on both sides," he paused to catch his breath, since he had just tackled a Slytherin over one of the tables, "Someone must have said something and then, well, everyone's so tense," he added, gesturing to the mutinous hall of students.

"Are your parents okay?" Asked Lily quietly, then sent an Imperius at a Ravenclaw who was about to attack a peaceful Slytherin behind his back.

James looked at her sharply and answered, "I hope so, I don't know yet. Would you come with me later to find out?"

Lily nodded, aiming another hex over his shoulder.