Disclaimer: Lily, James, and all other characters you know belong to JK. Rowling, I just played with them a bit.

A/N: Sorry this took so long, I've been so busy with school. I want to give a big thank you to my beta reader: Gareth also known as Merlyn Britainnicus. Happy reading.



Chapter Eight

Breakaway

James jumped off the Hogwarts Express, feeling relieved. He had survived, actually more then survived, he conquered his first year at Hogwarts. Not only had he passed all his exams with flying colors, second only to Princess Lily and a little ahead of Remus, to Remus's dismay. But on top of that, he had made friends! Three wonderful friends, though he would never admit it to them, they had helped him survive this year. Yet, he was looking forward to summer. He longed for a place where everyone accepted him, or at least didn't insult him every time they saw him.

"Hey guys, c'mon and meet my mum," James yelled at Remus and Sirius, Peter already said goodbye and walked off with his two very porky parents.

"Introducing me to your mother Jamie? I didn't know we were this serous," Sirius joked, putting an arm around James and pretending to kiss him on the check and giggle very girlishly.

"Get off," James muttered, shrugging his friend off and waving at his family.

"I'll be over in a sec," Sirius said, as he spotted a red head in the crowd, "I just have to say goodbye to someone."

James felt a pang of jealousy as his best mate walked away to say his goodbyes to the red-haired princess.

"James," a voice yelled and James looked down in time to see his sister engulf him in a hug. "I missed you so much!"

"You just saw me a few months ago though," James exclaimed laughing. He had come home for the Easter holidays to be there for Harry and Ginger's wedding.

"That was too long, I can't wait till I go to Hogwarts, then we'll be together all the time," Sarah said, bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet.

"She's been talking about going to Hogwarts since you left," James's mother said, "but that isn't for another three years. And who is this young man?"

"Oh, I forgot," James, said sheepishly, pointing to Remus, "this is my best friend Remus Lupin, he's on scholarship too."

"It's nice to finally meet you," Margaret Potter exclaimed, shaking Remus' hand, "James is always talking about you and Sirius Black and that other young man, I think his name was Peter?"

"Peter Pettigrew, yeah, he had to leave," James explained, "but here comes Sirius."

Sirius was indeed walking over to them, smiling. He became his usual charming self and within minutes had been invited to visit anytime he liked. Then, it was time to say goodbye, James promised to owl the two soon, waving goodbye as he and his family walked out of the station, to the grungy car his mother had borrowed for the trip.

"So," Harry said, once they got in the car, "how was it?"

"Hogwarts?" James asked, "Okay I guess, they gave a lot of homework."

"I meant how was it, living with all those nobles and half-bloods and muggle-borns?"

"Well, there weren't any muggleborns, but they half-bloods were nice? The nobles are all annoying though, well except for Sirius. Why?"

"Oh, no reason, not that I care or anything," Harry said, offhand, waving his hand to dismiss any thought, "it's just you don't get many of that kind around here, I was just wondering…"

"What's the princess like?" Sarah asked, jumping up and down, making them all laugh.

"Annoying," James said truthfully, "she's so stuck up, I would have been top of the class if it wasn't for her."

"Oh, looks like someone's got a crush," Elizabeth teased, ruffling his hair, "that's so cute."

"I do not have a crush," James said indignantly, why was it that he always seemed so childish around his family? Well at least there was Sarah. She was still the baby, and that night before they all went to be, she proved it.

"Jamie, tell me a story," Sarah bagged him that night.

"Don't you think you're a little old for stories," James asked her, looking up from his Charms book.

"No," Sarah argued forcefully, going over and sitting on his lap, pushing aside his charms book doing so. James looked down into her eyes and realized he had no
say in the matter, he couldn't resist his little sister.

"Okay, but just one, then I have to go to bed, I'vegot a big day tomorrow."

"Just tell the story!" Sarah exclaimed.

"Fine, but you have to promise not to laugh," James said, putting his arms around the girl.

"I wouldn't," Sarah promised, laying her head on his arms.

"Okay, once upon a time in a kingdom far, far away, there lived a beautiful princess with hair as red as fire and a heart of gold. This princess has always dreamed of true love and her prince charming, but sadly, he had not shown up. She waited and waited, hoping one day, her prince charming would come and rescue her and take her away on his white horse. But well she waited, she met a handsome boy who lived in the village and worked in her favorite bookstore. Then one day, and evil wizard come to the castle and put the princess under a spell, she became horribly ugly, and would stay that way till she had her true love's kiss. After her family and friends saw how she looked, they shunned the princess, and she became lonely, thinking she would never be beautiful again. The only
person who didn't shun her for her looks was the boy in the bookshop. The princess spent ever day there, then one day, she was talking to the handsome boy, he leaned in a kissed her. The spell was broken, and the princess was beautiful again!"

"Oh good," Sarah exclaimed, "she did get her prince charming then!"

"In a way, in the next day, everyone was back to loving the princess. Suitors lined her doorstep and she could wear pretty dresses again. Then one day she married a handsome prince from the next kingdom. She became Queen and ruled her country with a kind heart
and profound wisdom. The end."

"That's not right," Sarah, said, indignantly, "she's supposed to marry the boy in the bookstore and they should have lived happily ever after."

"But Sarah, in the end the beautiful princess always marries the handsome prince. That's just how it goes," James said sadly, "her parents would never have
allowed a commoner to marry their daughter."

"That's not fair!"

"Who said life was fair?" James muttered, half to himself, then added, "now I'm off to bed, night."

He left, Sarah staring after him, muttering angrily about how he had messed up the story. That night James dreamed of a red haired princess and a boy with hair as black as his name waltzing, their eyes locked. He stood by the side, his arms full of books, watching
them, silent tears falling down his cheek and forming a puddle that turned into a pond. Then he was drowning in a sea of tears as the red haired princess and black haired noble laughed at him.

The summer passed too quickly for James. His reading, hanging out with siblings, and just plain being lazy, seemed to just fly by. One moment he had the whole beautiful summer ahead of him, and the next it was the night before school again.

"Jamie, please don't leave," Sarah wined that night, as she sat on his lap.

"Ah, Sarah, I have to go. But I'll be back for Christmas," James promised, hugging the girl.

"Hey, why are we all moping around like this?" Jane asked, jumping up and trying to be cheerful, though everyone could tell she was heartbroken at the thought of losing James for another year. Nevertheless, she turned on the radio, and helped lighten the mood. Soon they were all dancing, even their mother, who was doing a kind of salsa next to the couch with Sarah.

Not for the first time in his life, James wished that a song that would never end. That everything would stay like this forever, him and his family, just dancing. No politics or classes, just music.

The next morning, James boarded the Hogwarts express to nasty looks and unflattering whispers.

"Hey Rose, how was your summer?" James asked the perky third year he had meet on his first train ride.

"Oh, okay I guess. My mom's new boyfriend made me get a job said I wasn't pulling my weight, yeah right. Who do you think cleaned up after him all summer? But it wasn't all that bad, the place I worked gave me a discount on all their robes and I got some really
slamming outfits."

"Cool, the robe shop my sister worked at did that too," James commented.

"Did what?" Remus Lupin asked, boarding the train and entering the conversation.

"Employee discount," James explained, "how was your summer?"

"Boring, my grandma wouldn't let us do anything, my parents used to let us go out most of the day but she wouldn't let us out of her sight ever since-err… so it was boring.

"I though you said your grandma died," Rose commented, not needing what happened to Remus's parents.

"Err… it was my other grandma," Remus said verily and went off in search of a bathroom.

"You know, I think Remus is hiding something," Rose said to James looking thoughtful.

"You think," James said sarcastically.

"Yeah, I think he's a werewolf."

"What?"

"I think he's a-"

"No, I heard that part," James said impatiently, "it's just why would you think that?"

"Well he's always gone on the full moon for a start," Rose explained, "and he keeps making up people who died, but his stories never match, and it's not like he has a bad memory or something. So, it just seems like the best reason."

"You seriously think Remus is a werewolf?" James asked.

"What!" A voice said from behind the two, and they turned to see Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew standing there.

"Rose thinks Remus-" James begins.

"Yeah, I got that part, I just thought it would be a great way for an entrance," Sirius said, "you know, I've actually been thinking that myself."

"What!" Peter exclaimed, "but he's so nice."

"You know, that word is getting really old," Rose, exclaimed, "and you don't have to be mean to be a werewolf, they only get mean on the full moon."

"Oh," Peter said stupidly, "well why don't we just ask him?"

"That would be a pleasant conversation Pete, hey Remus do you happen to turn into a man-eating monster ever month."

"I wondered how long it would take you," a somber voice said from behind them and the four turned around to see a depressed looking Remus standing there.

"You mean you are a werewolf!" Peter squeaked, hiding behind Sirius.

"Yes," Remus said sadly, "if you never want to speak to me again, I understand."

"Oh come off it, why would we never want to speak to you again?" Sirius asked, honestly amazed, "I don't care if you turn into a slug every month, you're still the best friend a guy could have."

"Aw, can this get anymore cheesy?" Rose asked, whipping a fake tear from her eye. "But, seriously I'm with Sirius, I couldn't give a rat's ass about your 'problem' as long as you keep tutoring me in potions."

"Yeah, just because you have a were-… furry little problem doesn't mean that we would stop being your friends," James exclaimed.

"Yeah," Peter chimed in, coming out from behind Sirius, apparently under the impression that for some reason Remus was safer now then he was ten seconds ago.

"You mean you really don't care?" Remus asked astonished.

"Not really," James said, looking around, "now if you had a family full of evil Slytherins we might mind."

"Hey! I can't help who I'm related to," Sirius said, acting offended.

"Well I don't remember you throwing away any presents you got from them last Christmas," James pointed out.

"Well, evil Slytherins or not, you don't throw out presents, that's got to be some type of sin."

"Right," James muttered.

"Besides, how would it hurt them to throw out presents? I would just be hurting myself, not being able to enjoy them."

"Just keep telling yourself that Sirius," James joked, "now c'mon, let's find the compartment."

Second year started off better then the first had, with the news that Prewett and Peasegood were being moved into a different room because of all the complaints their parents had filled. The bad part of this was that Peter had also been moved; because his
parents were worried the other three would be a bad influence on him. Privately James was a little glad, Peter was nice and all, but he tended to get annoying if you were forced to spend a lot of time with him. He was a tad to clingy for James's liking, and the room
was a lot cleaner without him.

This year also brought a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Apparently Professor Pinkstone had been caught making out with a seventh year and had resigned
to escape the embarrassment of being fired. James was devastated after hearing the news, he had really liked Carlotta (as she had told him to call her, out side the class room), she was a really good dancer. James had broken down halfway though the year and invited her to the room the scholarship students hung out in, called the Dance Room.

The loss of Carlotta was enhanced when they meet their new DADA teacher Professor Crumb. He was a tall black man who loved telling stories of his days as a policeman in Haiti and tested his students by firing curses at them randomly. By the end of the first month James's reflexes had improved so much, the captain of the Quiddich team, Ted Wood, asked him to try out as Chaser because of his instinctive ability to avoid the
bludgers.

Sirius had also made the team, as a beater, and spent most practices 'testing' James on his wonderful ducking abilities until James hexed him. The only one not happy about the two making the team was Princess Lily, who huffed and grumbled every time she looked at
the two in uniform. Sirius told him privately that she loved Quiddich, but her father had forbidden her from trying out, because she might break a nail. Apparently his main argument had been was that Quiddich was not a game for twelve year olds, which explained Lily's annoyance at seeing her classmates playing the game.

The year also showed the Marauder's new magical abilities in a series of unforgettable pranks. This included, though was not restricted to, the appearance of glue on all the professor's chairs that somehow would not be vanished with magic and caused professors
to walk around with bits of wood stuck to their various robes for most of the morning. And for some reason all the mandrakes Professor Sprout had been growing came over with a particular like of singing songs from 'The Sound of Music' during every second
year lesson so that Sprout could not yell over the noise and they had to relocate to a different, and easier, greenhouse. There also appeared a change in Mrs. Norris, the caretaker's mean kitten, who was somehow dumped in a paint can full of pink paint that would not come out even when magic was used.

None of these horrible acts had been linked to the second year boys, but for some reason Professor McGonagall cornered them after class and told them that she was "keeping an eye on them." When Sirius kindly pointed out that they had all been innocently down in the kitchen taunting the house elves during all these offensive pranks, she became horrible flustered for some reason and gave them all detention for 'cheek'. Though Sirius told them afterwards that she must been having her 'time of the month' for she was usually a charming, easygoing women.

It was during this detention that Sirius, amazingly, turned serious.

"James?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you think we're best friends?"

James looked up at Sirius, surprised at his seriousness.

"Oh course," he said in all honesty.

"Well, can I ask you a favor? See I really like Rose, you know the third year?"

"Of course I know her, so what?"

"Well it's just we're never together, her being a year above us and I just though- well if you got me in that room, you know were the scholarship students always go. Well, then maybe I could spend more time with her. So what do you say?"

"Err… we I guess, it'd have to clear it with the others first."

"Thanks mate, you're the best!" Sirius exclaimed happily.

"No way!" Jack Gold, a sixth year Ravenclaw exclaimed the next night after James had asked if Sirius could come to the dance room with him and Remus. "He's a Black!"

"So what?" James argued, "he's cool."

"I'm with Jack," Ella Jones, a sixth year Gryffindor said, "how do we know he's not trashing us behind our backs or something.

"Sirius wouldn't do that," Rose chimed in, "Like James said, he's cool."

"Look, let's vote," Javier Toledeo, this year's head boy and a Hufflepuff declared, "all in favor of letting Sirius in raise your hand, I guess that's the majority, he's in. But you'd better be right about him Potter."

"Sirius wouldn't betray me," James said laughing, "He's like my brother."


That night, James, Remus, and Sirius went up to the fourth floor and stopped across from a tapestry of a wizard teaching trolls to dance.

"Who would want to teach trolls to dance?" Sirius asked, looking at the tapestry, and why are we stopping here?"

"Because I like staring at this blank wall," James said sarcastically, "what do you think?"

Then he proceeded to walk up and down in front of the spot three times thinking of the Dance Room, as the others had taught him to.

"Wow, that is so cool!" Sirius exclaimed when the door came into view.

With out answering him, James pulled open the door and led the way inside. Most of the others were already there, and the room was filled with music. Rose came up to them and Sirius asked her to dance imminently, giving her a little bow and kissing her hand before
leading her off onto the floor. James laughed to himself, then headed over to the drink table to get a soda before falling into one of the many soft arm chairs positioned along the walls. He lay there for a while, letting the music soak in around him, and tapping his feet to the rhythm, before going over to Ella and asking for a dance. On the dance floor he felt at home as he swayed and bobbed to the beat. With a little encouragement from Ella he started to break dance, like Harry had taught him at home, back in the Rosa Negro when times were simple. When he was just James Potter, another street rat going nowhere, and
who could only dream of meeting red haired princesses and enchanted castles.

Slowly the seasons changed around him as he danced. The leaves fell from the trees and snow covered the ground. He enchanted snowballs to chase girls who held tight to their hats as they ran screaming. The library glowed golden at night as exams neared, and then the spring came in all its green glory and with it summer. In the dorms they packed their bags and tried to sort out whose clothes were who's in the piles upon piles of clothes that covered the floor. Then the scarlet steam engine was loaded with spirited kids on their way home for another lazy summer. And before he knew it, he was in his mother's car again, crammed in between his siblings on the way home. Yet, it felt strange, like he wasn't really going home, but merely leaving it for a short time. But that was ridiculous;
his home was with his family, wasn't it?

There was a strange feeling in the air though; like the alley had somehow gotten darker and dangerous well he was gone. Though he tried to push it away, he wanted to see the other students again, to feel the comfort of their bright colors and happy faces. For here it seemed everyone was solemn and ready to attack anyone who crossed them. Even his family was changed, Sarah no longer wanted to sit on his lap, she said she was a big girl now, she was nine after all. Edward had quit school although and had taken a job at some dark and musty bookshop, James didn't feel comfortable in. His mother had lines on her face James had never noticed before and her hair hinted at gray. And Harry, well Harry was all grown up with a family of his own, a little girl, Rebecca, who was already one.

James was beginning to feel like an outsider in his own home, when Harry suggested to two of them spend some time together. To bond, like they use to, before James had left.

"So, where are we going?" James asked his brother the next day as the two of them walked down the alley together the next day.

Although he would never admit it out loud, James had always really admired Harry. He had basically raised James and his siblings. Harry had always been so cool and collected, working full time at sixteen to support the family and giving up so much for them. Now he was had a family of his own, and with James gone at school, James was beginning to think they would never get to spend time together anymore. He had been overjoyed when Harry had suggested the two hang out.

"I want you to meet some friends of mine," Harry said, "I was telling them all about you and how you go to Hogwarts and they want to meet you, oh, here it is."

Harry pushed open a slightly rusted door and lead James up a rickety staircase and down a hallway lined with apartments. They stopped near the end, at apartment #223 and Harry knocked.

"It's open," a voice yelled from inside and Harry pushed to door open to revel a very smoky, dingy room. About twenty people were crowded into the small room, they were all guys, and most of them were Harry's age, though James did recognize a lot of his old friends standing against the walls. It seemed to be a meeting of some kind. James looked questionably at Harry but kept quite.

"Hey, Harry, ya made it," a tall boy in the middle of the room, who seemed to be the leader said, "and ya brought your brother."

"Yeah, everyone, this is James," Harry announced, putting a hand on James's shoulder, "he's the brainac I told you about, who got the scholarship to Hogwarts."

This seemed to catch the attention of the other boys in the room, who all turned to look at the two.

"Did you tell him?" The leader asked Harry.

"Na, he just got home," Harry explained.

"Tell me what?" James asked curiously, being completely lost.

"About what this meeting is all about," the leader told him, gesturing around the room at the other boys, "about our philosophy and way of life."

James shook his head, being completely lost, though he had a suspicion he knew what was going on.

"We," the leader said, gesturing around the room again, "are the proud followers of the Dark Lord."

A/N: Sancontoa dissolves in evil laughter.

Oh, and I'd like to point out that they do live in Knockturn Alley, what do you expect?

P.S: Please Review!