1Oh, hello all my dear, faithful readers! I'm soooo sorry I've kept you waiting for this. Bad me, bad. But I have been out of town for about three straight weeks, and I'm leaving again in the morning for mexico, but I have decided that I owe all of you a new chapter.

This one, if I remember correctly, I haven't really re-read it in a while, is mostly centered on James. There's only so much I can do with Sirius sitting at home, but James has stuff to do. Yes he does. He's a productive little thing. Too bad he dies...I love him almost as much as Sirius...anyways...

Brennqt: yeah, a bit worse. I can't tell you exactly considering it would ruin future chapters. Yes, I know witch shouldn't really be an insult, but I'm really not a fan of the word wench. It just doesnt roll right with me, and that was the other word I would have used. Oh, well. Haha, its ok, we always give the ones we love the hardest time. It does make for a better story.

Goldenlioness4: oh, A Child Called It! That book was so good. I read it in an hour. That really means a lot to me that you'd compare this with that book. Thank you so much. God, I haven't read that book since fifth grade I think. In fact, I found it the other day when I was cleaning out my bookcase. I might just go re-read it...

EsScaper: yeah, that's pretty much it. They don't want the law to know what they've done to Sirius, but they also can't allow themselves to have a failure running around. The Blacks–as I see them–are perfectionists, and since they view Sirius as imperfect, they feel they have to get rid of him, not just from the tree. Also, they care more about him as a mistake than Andromeda because he was so much more important to the family.

Maraudering-siriusly: Hahahahaha! Are you joking? I named him an ER character? Hahah! That's really funny, especially considering I don't watch that show. In fact, I don't watch tv...just movies.

Sun Kissed Rose: hehe...I liked that little convo. Let Sirius know I'm sorry he was scared.

U don know mi: oh, chips! Haha I'm sorry you were so bored, but I'm glad the new chapter was there waiting for you. And look at me making you wait for this one. Tsk, tsk. Well, I do highly recommend reading POA when bored. I mean, its not like I haven't read it over ten times...(I swear I'm exagerating...ok, thats a lie). Haha, trust me, the longer the review, the happier I am!

Emmys: oh, you know that nose you make when you stick your tongue between your lips and blow? Thats called blowing a raspberry. I'm glad you like all my stories so much, and sorry the elf one hasn't been updated in so long. I'm just at such a loss with it, and this one I had much more planned out and its flowing better. The other one always seems like me getting out some hyper session chapters. Perhaps one day...

And thank you so much to everyone else who reviewed! You all are the lights of my life. Well, please review this one, and remember, feel free to ask me any question at all. It can be stupid too, I promise I wont laugh. But I'm sure yall're bored with me talking. You want Sirius...even tho he isn't in this chapter much. So james is here to entertain you! Enjoy!

Chapter 8

The next morning, Healer Carter came over. After the usual check up, he decided that it would be unwise for Sirius to see James off at the train station. Sirius secretly was relieved. Of course, the whole school would be there, and Sirius wasn't ready to see all of them. Then again, he wouldn't be ready in a week. Also, he didn't want to chance running into one of his family members. Kaelin would also be staying. She refused to let Sirius be alone in the house for a minute.

Carter, as promised, brought a charmed wheelchair for Sirius. After two weeks, Sirius was finally able to get up and move around. Other than the fact that it provided him with mobility, Sirius hated the thing. It made him feel very weak and dependent, not at all like his usual self. He had tried standing. That was fine, but then he tried to hop-walk. That's were it went to not fine. His ribs screamed in protest. So, Sirius was forced to contend with the chair.

The Potters, Sirius, and the healer made their way down the stairs. Carter suddenly stopped in his trek to the fireplace. "I almost forgot," he said. "Sirius, do you play Quidditch or any thing like that?"

Sirius raised a dark brow. "I'm assistant Quidditch captain, a Beater, and head of the Dueling Club."

Carter nodded. "Now listen, Sirius, because these are strict orders. Do NOT play Quidditch or duel for the rest of the year. By next term, you should be fine to play, but not until then."

The faces of James and Sirius dropped considerably. "WHAT?" they screamed.

"Not play Quidditch," Sirius exclaimed while James wailed miserably, "My unity!" The three adults gave them stern looks.

"No," Carter said firmly.

James sulked thoroughly for the rest of the morning, and he barely muttered his good-byes to his mother and Sirius. Jacob, however, found his son's misery most amusing and was chuckling for the better part of the trip to the station.

"Are you still muttering," Jacob asked with a smile as he helped James with his bag.

"Dad, I need Sirius to play. I've never played a game without him! And the next game is in a month. I can't train another Beater to the same skill level as Sirius in a month. And my unity!"

Jacob laughed heartily as they passed through the barrier to the platform. James bided his father good-bye and climbed aboard the train. He quickly found Remus and Peter and settled into the compartment with them.

Remus raised a brow when James entered without Sirius, but he didn't say anything about it. He merely greeted his friend and asked about his holiday. James plastered a false smile on and chatted with the other two Marauders.

It wasn't long before the train jerked to a start. It pulled away from the station. Yet Sirius wasn't in the compartment yet. Remus was slightly concerned. After all, this wasn't Peter he was thinking about. After about ten minutes, Remus decided to voice his concerns.

"Where do you suppose Padfoot has got to?" he asked. Peter's eyes widened.

"You don't think he missed the train do you?" He seemed very worried.

Remus shook his head. "I saw Narcissa with her sister at the station." The werewolf looked over at James, who had yet to speak. "Prongs," he asked. The other boy's hazel eyes lifted to meet Remus's golden ones. "Where is he?"

James sighed. "He's not coming back yet."

Remus raised a brow, and Peter asked for an explanation. James shook his head. "He'll be back next week. That's all I can say." James shrugged as if he himself was not entirely sure why Sirius was absent.

Although Peter was easily convinced, Remus did not seem satisfied with James's answer, but he knew better than to press him. James and Sirius were fiercely loyal to each other. If there was something that Sirius did not want people to know, not even the Dark Lord Voldemort could make James tell.

Remus usually knew when people were keeping secrets. He was keeping a great one himself. Sirius had always seemed to have a secret, though he hid it much better than even Remus. There were times when Remus thought he was just over analyzing his mysterious friend. If Sirius did have a secret, it was likely to be closely connected to his home. Sirius was very vague regarding his home life when anyone asked.

Remus recalled an instance when the four boys had been talking about their families' Christmas traditions. Sirius had not shared any and had seemed taken aback by the cheerfulness the other three experienced. Even without Sirius's short tales of his family, the others could tell what they were like having seen Bella shortly while she was either collecting or dropping off Sirius and Narcissa at the train station.

A slight frown line appeared between Remus's brows. What was really going on?

James wasn't nearly as talkative on the trip back to Hogwarts as he would have been had Sirius been there. Peter and Remus were great, sure, but they just weren't Sirius. He stared through his glasses at the grey British skies. It would probably snow sometime soon.

How were he and Sirius going to hide what had really happened to the Black heir during the holidays? The brace around his ribs was hide able, but there was no way people would not notice the wheelchair and leg cast. A broken leg was easily fixed be magic, and especially if it would interfere with Quidditch, Sirius would certainly heal it that way. St. Mungo's healers almost never healed the Muggle way.

What sort of accident could they make up? Car crash? A dark wizard attack? No, that would be stupid. It was common knowledge that the Black family was dark and not to mention powerful. Not many would dare to consider crossing them. Sirius was better at this sort of thing than James. Perhaps he would have something by the time he got back. James would owl him when he reached to castle to remind him about it.

The train was probably about two-thirds of the way to Hogwarts. The snack trolley had come and gone. Remus had attended his prefect meeting and had gone on three different prowls through the corridors. James was even more bored at being left alone with Peter. The shorter boy meant well, but he was a bit overbearing at times. James was about to nod off when the train began to screech to a halt.

Peter glanced down at his watch. "Wait," he said slowly. "We can't be there yet..."

James frowned. "I wonder what's going on," he said standing. The tall boy made his way to the door, and just as he was sliding it open, the lights fizzled out. "Bloody hell," he proclaimed a few seconds later when a body collided with him.

"James?"

"Remus?" James asked. "What's happening?"

"I don't know," the prefect answered. "I was just on my way back when the lights went out. You think the train's malfunctioning or something?"

"How does a magical train malfunction," James snapped. Remus shrugged, but due to the darkness, James missed it. James let out a silent snort through his nostrils. "I'm going to find out what's going on," he said heading for the door.

Just then, a high pitched scream filled his ears. Instinctively, James pulled out his wand and leapt into the corridor. The windows of the corridor let in a dark, greyish light. It was with this light that James could see an odd black mist slowly creeping along the floor. "The hell?"

Remus appeared by James's side and also stared oddly at the approaching mist. He took a curious step forward. Slowly, it spread over his feet. Remus merely blinked down at it. "What is this," he asked softly.

James was about to open his mouth when the mist hit him. It seemed to halt for a few seconds, and then a jolt of searing pain shot through James's head. He cried out and clenched his jaw tightly. It felt like a troll was beating his head with its club. James hardly registered the mist creeping down the rest of the train. Several shocked cries later, it reached the end and disappeared, taking James's pain with it.

James rubbed his face under his glasses and blinked at the harsh light of the train's lights coming back to life. He looked up to find Remus staring at him with worry. "Are you alright, James?"

"It–it didn't bother you?"

"What–that black stuff?" Remus asked. James nodded. "No," Remus answered. "It just kind of passed over. It was a bit cold, though."

James frowned. Why had that strange substance only hurt him? Everyone else had just been surprised by its presence. In fact, what was it to begin with? James around the corridor. The train was starting back up again, and several students were sticking their heads out to see what was happening or to speaking with their neighbors.

Looking towards the engine, James saw Narcissa and Regulus Black staring at him. Narcissa's face was emotionless as ever, but Regulus was glaring rather forcefully at the Gryffindor. James looked back over to the elder Black, who was now trailing her dark eyes over the corridor, studying every detail. She muttered something to her cousin entered her compartment. Regulus remained for a few more seconds–staring distrustfully at James–until Narcissa's sharp voice called out.

James glared hatefully at the spot they had just occupied. The Blacks...

It was lightly snowing when the train pulled into the Hogsmeade station. The students pilled into the horseless carriages for the short ride back to the castle. They entered the Great Hall for the return dinner. Dumbledore informed the students to be unconcerned with the incident on the train. James snorted.

Lily blinked at the three Marauders as they took their usual places at the table. Several students noticed the odd occurrence of James Potter being somewhere without Sirius Black. James, even more oddly, barely took any notice of Lily. He sat down, leaving the space between him and the red headed girl open. That was where Sirius usually sat.

"Potter," Lily said briskly. James did not answer her. He just sat poking at his chicken. "Potter," she tried again. James placed down his fork and glanced over at her. "Where's Sirius?"

"Not now, Lily," he said.

Suddenly, Lily looked very concerned. Remus and Peter were looking at James incredibly. James had not used Lily's first name since the beginning of their first year. Lily slid down the bench closer to James. "Did something happen?" she asked, her bright eyes almost in perfect circles.

"He'll be back in a week," James said. "That's all," he said when Lily's mouth opened again. Lily looked at Remus and Peter, hoping that they would have the answers. Seeing as they were just as in the dark as her, they both shrugged. Lily's shoulders fell dejectedly, but she placed a hand softly on James's arm before sliding back over to Alice.

"I think the only word for that encounter is odd," Peter whispered to Remus, who nodded in agreement.

After Dumbledore waved the students off to their dorms, the Gryffindors headed for the doors. "James Potter," an elegant voice called out. James and the others around him turned to see Narcissa Black standing there, a large group of Slytherins behind her. James frowned at her.

Knowing that she had his attention, Narcissa quickly said to her housemates, "Go back to the common room. I'll be there shortly." Seeing as she was a Black, they quickly obeyed her. "That includes you, Regulus," she added to her lingering younger cousin. Sirius's brother shot a quick glance at the Gryffindors, but he also obeyed his older cousin.

Narcissa looked back to her house's enemies. "If I might have a private word, please."

"Can't you say it in front of us," Peter asked.

James stepped forward. "No," he said over his shoulders. He jerked his head towards the hallway. "Follow me," he said coolly. James quickly led her to the Room of Requirement, which for this occasion simply had two large armchairs and a small table with two goblets of water. James motioned to the green chair for the young woman and seated himself in the red one. "You needed something," he asked.

"Where is my cousin," she asked bluntly. "I did not see him at the station nor in the Hall."

"Wouldn't you like to know," James said nastily. He didn't care that Sirius always said he was fine with Narcissa. She was just another Black to James, and right now, James was not too fond of that family.

Narcissa looked greatly offended. Her dark eyes blazed much like Sirius's as she snapped, "I beg your pardon!"

"No thanks," James said leaning back in his chair.

The blond girl drew herself up even straighter—no small feat—and said, "I understand that you are dear friends with Sirius, but I am his cousin—his blood!"

"Fat lot of good that is," James said harshly.

Insulting blood was a very big deal to the Old Families, especially the Blacks. Narcissa looked very much like she would love nothing more than to slap James across the face. However, she drew in a deep breath and calmed herself. Her body took a more casual position, and she said sincerely, "I'm worried about him."

James looked at her suspiciously. She continued, "He got himself into a great deal of trouble during the holiday. On Christmas Eve, his mother and father were particularly furious with him, and the next morning, he was no where to be found in the house.

"Yesterday, they came home from an outing absolutely seething. My Aunt was screaming about filth, blood traitors and her son louder than I have ever heard." She hesitantly added, "Even Bellatrix was shocked."

James could not stop his jaw from dropping. Sirius had told him that Bellatrix was his mother's favorite niece, perhaps favorite relative. Bella was very dark and very much a woman after Mrs. Black's own heart. In confidence, Sirius had told James that he was positive she was in league with Lord Voldemort.

Mrs. Black must have been furious if Bella had reacted like that.

"Please, James," Narcissa said, "Sirius has always spoken so highly of you to me. You are his best friend, more family to him than any of us. I know that he went to you. Please tell me what happened to him."

James wasn't sure if he should tell her. After all, he had not even told Remus and Peter. But Narcissa was Sirius's cousin. She obviously didn't know what Mr. and Mrs. Black had been doing to their elder son. But Sirius had said that he didn't want anyone to know. Did this include the only member of the Black family tree that Sirius cared about?

"Listen, Narcissa," he said leaning forward, "It really isn't my place to tell you what's been going on. Sirius is at my house, but he'll be back next week. I'm sure once you see him you won't have any doubt as to what happened."

Narcissa's eyes widened. She brought a slender hand to her mouth. After a few seconds, she clenched her fist and opened her mouth, but James interrupted, "I'm not going to say yes or no to any guesses. If Sirius wants to talk to you, then he will."

James eyed her for a few seconds before asking, "What was that on the train? I know you know."

Narcissa did not avoid an explanation. "I have never seen it used before, but I believe my Aunt sent it. She wants Sirius back, you know." James nodded. "It was a detector to see if Sirius was on the train. I think somehow they would have taken him off, had be been there."

"When it passed over me, my head felt like it was about to explode. No one else felt that at all."

Narcissa blinked at him. "That is odd," she said.

"You don't know why that happened?" She shook her head.

James looked at her suspiciously before deciding that she was not lying. He glanced down at his watch and said, "We need to get back to our common rooms. The prefects and teachers will be prowling."

Narcissa glanced down to her chest, where her Slytherin prefect badge was pinned. "You seem to forget this," she said. "All Blacks are prefects."

"Except for Sirius," James pointed out.

"Too many detentions," she justified as he quickly pulled out the Marauders' Map and quickly checked it, obscuring it from her view.

He held the door open for her as he said, "The way to your common room is clear, just in case any teacher stops you, and Peeves is more in my way than yours." She thanked him. "You know," he said as she began her way down the hall, "being a prefect isn't really our thing."

Narcissa then did something that James had never seen a Black, other than Sirius, do. She smiled.