Author's Note: Not quite so many people reviewed this time…oh well!

GryffindorGoddess28: I was thinking about what you suggested for your second idea. That's sort of what I'd been planning…but Shhh! Don't tell anyone else that! Thanks!

Susan D: Glad you like how I ended it…in fact, I'm glad you like it at all! Thanks!

Windowseat Wonderer: Not filler? Yaaay! Thanks so much for everything else you said too!

Shanksy: Yes, suspense…I love it. Thanks!

catlover: You love it! Great! Thanks!

Chapter Six

James stepped through the portrait hole into the Common Room. The noise in the room was almost deafening compared to the dead silence that he and Lily had walked back in. He saw Sirius, Remus, and Peter sitting around a table. Sirius was entertaining a few girls; every so often they would throw their heads back in laughter. Remus was bent over a piece of parchment, frowning slightly in concentration. Peter was gazing into the fire and biting his lower lip. Though he'd seen them like this thousands of times, it was rather heartening to know that people were still laughing and acting normal, even with a mass murderer on the loose.

He slumped down in the last chair around the table, which had been reserved for him, probably to the displeasure of Sirius' audience, who were all standing or sitting on the floor.

"…and so he said, 'Awright, you, price has gone up, see? Used ter be a galleon, now it's ten Sickles!'" Sirius said to the girls, who giggled, "And so after some negotiations, we actually brought it down to five Sickles. It was the best price we'd ever gotten on Filibuster Fireworks, wasn't it Prongs?"

Sirius turned his head to face James, who was still lost in his thoughts.

"Er…yeah, yeah, it sure was," He replied, trying to sound engaged. Sirius saw right through his put-on response, and turned back to the girls only momentarily, telling them that he needed to finish up some homework. They were disappointed, but soon enough they were gone and Sirius turned his chair around to face the rest of the group.

"I see that Comedy Hour is over," Remus said sarcastically, not looking up from his paper. Sirius rolled his eyes.

"Don't be a git, Moony, something's wrong with Prongs," He said. Remus' eyes flicked up to look at James. After surveying him for a moment, he set down his quill and leaned back in his chair.

"What did Dumbledore say?" Peter asked, his voice a bit higher than normal. James rubbed his forehead, sighed, and tried desperately to concentrate.

"All these funny disappearances lately," He began slowly, "They were sort of…together. But not really, it was just they were because of the same person. And they're all dead, he killed them, just like everyone thought. And now he's out in the open, this Voldemort guy, killing people all the time. He took Frank's dad to…to…show us that he could take away important people."

Every one of them was looking at him like he'd just sprouted three tentacles out of his head.

"Are you sure you're not feeling a bit…well…" Remus drifted off.

"Loony?" Sirius piped up and finished for him.

"No, I just…it's all really confusing, Evan's could tell you," James said, and realized he was still sounding insane. Silence fell around the table for a bit. Finally, Remus spoke up, sounding thoughtful.

"Okay, I've really given a thought to the stuff you said. And though it came out like a pile of rubbish, I think I get your general meaning," He said, "D'you mean that all these people who have disappeared are dead, first of all?"

"Yes," James replied. Remus nodded slightly.

"And that they all disappeared because of the same person, and were all killed by this same person?"

"Yes."

"And now this person's declared some sort of…open war on everyone, and he's killing other people too?"

"Yes."

"So the reason that he killed Frank's dad was because Mr. Longbottom was important?"

"Yes."

"And this guy's name is Voldemort?"

"Yes," James said finally with relief, happy that someone had understood what he'd meant, especially since he couldn't figure it out himself. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Peter shifting in his chair ever so slightly, but Remus drew his attention back to the conversation at hand.

"Well I can't see how Lily got pulled into this, but I'm sure that it'd be a bit easier to understand," He said, grinning wryly. They stopped talking for a moment, in which Sirius took the opportunity to seize Remus' parchment.

"You finished with this? Already? We only just got it today!" He yelped, scanning the page. Remus snatched it back from him.

"Sirius, has anyone ever told you the definition of 'procrastination?'" He asked, rolling it back up.

"No, but I'm sure we can't all be as procas--porcras--"

"Procrastination."

"Yes, we can't all be as procrastinate as you, now can we?" Sirius asked. Remus just goggled at him and shook his head.

"Sirius, I don't procrastinate--you do," He said, "I'm going up to bed." After he'd been gone, Sirius turned to them, beaming.

"Hear that? Moony said that I'm pocra--praco--"

"Procrastinate," James finished for him.

"Yeah, he said that I'm procrastinate! Maybe I'm not as dumb as we all thought!" James and Peter took one look at each other before bursting into laughter.

"No, Padfoot, we never thought you were dumb," James said.

"Until now," Peter joined in, still wheezing with laughter.

James and Peter got up and began walking up the stairs to the dormitory, Sirius following. They all got into bed, cracking jokes about Sirius and how procrastinate he was. James had almost drifted off to sleep when Sirius' voice rang through the room.

"Will somebody please tell me what the bloody hell is so wrong with me being procrastinate?"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

As soon as Lily got back, she wasn't surprised to see that Anna wasn't in the Common Room; in fact, she hardly ever was in there. She said that it was too noisy and all the younger kids were annoying her to death. She hurried up to the dormitory, prepared to resign herself to the worst: talking about James Potter with Anna.

She rushed in and stood at the foot of Anna's bed. Anna looked up, seeming only mildly interested.

"Anna, listen, I need you to get in a major philosophical and good advice mode right now," Lily demanded. Anna raised her eyebrows.

"Okay, now that you've given me time to think about it," She said sarcastically.

"No, no, no, I have no time for you to be the sarcastic, friendly Anna. I need you to be the smart, unbiased Anna."

"Okay, Lily, calm down," Anna replied, "And now sit down and tell me what's wrong."

Lily sat down on the end of her bed, and took a deep breath. She opened her mouth to speak, and…

Nothing came out. She couldn't say it. She knew she had to do it, or else Anna would force it out of her, which was liable to turn out badly.

"Oh Lily…" Anna said, her mouth slightly open.

"What?"

"You…oh, this is wonderful! I know exactly what this is about!" She shrieked, looking absolutely gleeful. Lily really hoped she knew what it was, because she honestly didn't think she had it in her to say it aloud.

"Oh…great!" Lily said, smiling half-heartedly, "So…er…what do you suggest I do about it?" Anna sighed exasperatedly.

"You don't even know what I'm talking about, do you?" She asked.

"You don't know what I'm talking about!"

"Of course I do, don't be ridiculous. It's been obvious for a while now that you're taken with James."

Lily sat there shocked. Her mouth hung open, and her face was getting increasingly redder. Anna, on the other hand, was smiling triumphantly.

"No I--what in the world would make you think--I'd never, ever--" Lily sputtered, searching for words. Anna rolled her eyes.

"Say whatever you want, deny it all you can. I know everything about you, Lily, I and can see through every lie that comes out of your mouth," She said, "But in the meantime, I will give you a bit of advice--that is, if you want it."

Lily slowly looked at Anna, not exactly knowing what she was going to say.

"You need to talk to somebody who knows him better than anyone."

"If you're talking about Sirius Black, I--"

"No, but if you didn't notice, that's not his only good friend," Anna said slyly, "You're smart Lily. C'mon, you can figure it out."

Lily sat for a few seconds, staring into space thoughtfully. Anna finally stood up.

"Okay, you think on it, and I'm going to see if Remus finished the Potions homework," She said, and walked out of the room.

Then, all of a sudden, Lily figured it out.

Author's Note: Hmmmm…suspenseful! Do you know who it is? You should, I gave enough clues. If you didn't, maybe go back and reread it…or just wait until the next chapter! Thanks, and remember, reviewing only takes a minute or two!!