James makes his way to the Gryffindor tower. He stands outside not knowing the password. "I want to go home!" He yells out. It echos down the empty corridor. The portrait swings open as a student exits. He enters before the picture swings shut. He just wanted to collapse into one of the over stuffed arm chairs. He plops down in the nearest one to the fire and sighs. He takes this chance to look around. There were several people in the common room. Most of them 7th years who didn't feel very social. He blinks when his eyes fall upon the pair sitting on the couch right beside him. It was Alex and Hermione.

Alex looks over to see who has just entered. Her eyes widen as she comes face to face with James. "James. What are you doing here?" She gives James a confused look.

He lets out a harsh laugh. "Well isn't it obvious, Alex. I'm a wizard. As is Luke. Snape was gracious enough to bring us here." He looks angerly into the fire.

Alex blinks. "Your both wizards. Why didn't you ever tell me or mom? She is literally freaking out. You just missed her. She is worried sick about you two."

James snorts. "We didn't tell you because we didn't want anyone to know. And what is Marcy doing here?"

Alex chuckles. "Mom is the new Divination Professor. She took over when the last one decided to quit. She actually had the nerve to tell us that she wasn't being appreciated here. Nothing but a fraud if you ask me."

James sighs. "She wasn't a fraud, Alex. She made two predictions in her entire life as a seer. Both predictions came true. That's why Dumbledore kept her around. He trusted in her." He says quietly as he turns his eyes towards the fire. He watches the flames dance around the logs inside.

Alex looks over to Hermione who was staring intently at James. "You know a lot about Hogwarts, James. Have you been here before?"

James stays silent. Not wanting to answer her seemingly innocent question. "So Marcy is the new Divination Professor. I hope I get her class."

Alex nods. "Not many people sign up for Divination. They feel that it's a waste of their time. But I can assure you that my mom is really a seer." She looks up as an owl swoops in through a slightly opened window. It goes directly to James.

James holds his arm out and the owl lands, gently. It was snowy white. "Hey girl. I haven't seen you in a while" He reaches up and strokes her feathers. She intern nips at his fingers, affectionately. He unties the letter that was bound to her leg. "Go on. Head up to the owlery and get some rest." The owl heads back the way she came and disappears out the window. He looks down at the letter in his hand and unrolls it. He then begins to read it:

Dear James and Luke,

Your situation has been brought to my attention and I can assure you that you will be back on American soil in no time. Charges will be pressed against the party who forcibly removed you from our protection.

On a lighter note, How are you two doing? I hope they are treating you well. If not there will be hell to pay. I promised your parents that I would look after the both of you and I intend to keep that promise. Your mother would be horrified to know that they kidnaped you. And your father would be ridged with anger. But you have to stay strong. Don't let them break you and write to me if they force you to do anything against your will.

With Love,

Uncle Erik

( Erik O'Reilly, American Minister of Magic)

James smiles. At least something was being done about their situation. He lays the letter down on his lap and looks back to Alex and Hermione. Their mouths are slightly agape in shock. "What?"

"What? Your Uncle is the American Minister of Magic. Wait until mom hears about this!" Alex stands and bounds out through the picture hole and in search of her mother.

James chuckles and shakes his head. He is beginning to feel awkward being around Hermione. "So...um. How do you deal with her? She is a heathen when she's at home. She must be ten times worse while here."

Hermione blinks and looks at her hands before speaking very quietly. Her voice is scratchy from not being used in a whole month. "I saw what happened during dinner. It wasn't very mature of you two"

James frowns. "Who are you? My bloody mother? Sorry but she died last year and I don't need another one." His anger was beginning to rise. How dare she call him and Luke immature?

Hermione looks up at him. Her eyes flash dangerously. "I wasn't trying to be your mother. But playing pranks is not the way to gain respect or friends around here."

James snorts. "I don't want respect and I sure in hell don't want friends. Luke and I take care of each other. We don't need anyone else to mess things up."

Hermione shakes her head. "It's always you and your brother. Aren't you an independent person or do you have to rely on your brother for protection."

James narrows his eyes as he glares daggers at Hermione. "You don't know me. Don't even try to pretend that you do. I don't want to be here. Luke don't want to be here. We were perfectly happy at home, living as muggles. Then your greasy haired Potions Master had to go and mess everything up."

"Why are you in Gryffindor?" Hermione's question is simple but the answer would hold many meanings.

James stops his rantings and blinks. "The sorting had said that we would do well in either Slytherin or Gryffindor. Slytherin didn't suit us because of Snape. So Gryffindor was the only choice that was left. Trust me when I say we are not to happy about being here. But at least it's better than Slytherin. Plus our parents were both Gryffindors."

"You have many excuses. Instead of dealing with the situation you have your Uncle trying to bail you out. Instead of trying to fit into Gryffindor house, you play a prank on the students who only wished to eat dinner. I think your selfish" Her voice is getting lower and lower.

James snorts. "I don't want to be here. So Uncle Erik can bail me out. My brother also feels the same way. We are twins after all."

Hermione looks up at him. Brown eyes lock with blue. "I want to tell you a little story about another boy who was selfish. He was one of my best friends. This happened at the welcoming feast. He found out than me and another of his friends went on vacation together and he flipped. He was only thinking of himself when he said those awful things. He never gave us a chance to explain. And we will never get that chance since he was selfish and left us when we needed him the most."

James stands suddenly. He was very very angry. "Maybe he felt betrayed by his supposed friends. Let me ask you a question. Did you or this other friend stop and think how it would effect this certain selfish person as you call him? Maybe he was overwhelmed with life. And maybe you two made it worse by not including him. Do you know what it feels like to be alone? Truly alone."

She nods. "I am alone right now. My other friend is in St. Mungo's suffered from the effects of a very painful spell. So I know what it feels like."

James glares at her. "Good. Because maybe now you can understand his point of view. Its only fair that you now be called selfish." He heads upstairs to the seventh year boys dorms and plops down onto his bed. He notices that a trunk with his initials was already sitting at the end of the bed. He glances to his right to see that his brother had the same thing but different initials. He leans back and doesn't bother to undress as sleep invades his weary mind.

Hermione stays where she is at, staring at the fire. Something about James made her feel alive. That is why she chose to speak to him. But he all but told her to leave him alone. But she wasn't going to do that. She was going to find out what James and Luke O'Reilly were hiding. She slowly lets her eyes close until she is lulled into sleep.