CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE

The days that followed were fairly normal, and James had been absolutely wrong about Professor Pinwall. She was one of the best Defence Against the Darks Arts teachers that they had ever had, but of course, Herbology was still Jane's favourite class; she doubted that that would ever change.

Of course, after Herbology, Art was Jane's favourite subject. When she had signed up for it during her second year, she hadn't known she would love it so much or that she'd be as good as she was at it. All throughout the previous school year, Jane would tell the boys about what good marks she was getting in her Art class. Of course, Sirius would then shoot her down by saying that none of the marks she got in there counted because it was an extracurricular. But she just consoled herself by saying that he probably couldn't carve a ball out of anything, let alone make the projects that she was able to produce.

That Thursday, after her Ancient Runes class, Jane met up with Remus, and they headed to Hogsmeade. James, Sirius, and Peter, who were all three working on their very complicated potion (not that Jane knew that), had decided to stay at the castle. After getting a couple of Butterbeers at the Three Broomsticks, Jane and Remus walked to the spot on the edge of the forest and sat down with their schoolbooks and notes.

Jane looked up at the little white cottage occasionally and smiled when she saw the little boy outside on his toy broomstick or the father when he Apparated home from work to be happily greeted by his wife and son. Jane vaguely wished that they were her own family. She imagined what it would be like to live in a magical household, with a little brother and with a mum that wasn't sick. With parents that didn't fight. Of course, she had to force herself to stop because not only did it make her feel guilty, it made her feel sad as well.

Jane and Remus talked, and as hard as they tried to focus on their Charms assignments, they kept getting distracted. Jane claimed it was because it was absolutely too gorgeous outside to focus on something as dull as homework. Therefore, they gave up on trying to do anything productive and just sat in the grass, playing Exploding Snap with the deck of cards that Jane kept in her purse. However, this was short lived because Jane, who was dreadful at the game, became easily frustrated and deemed it boring.

"You're just saying that because you can't ever win," Remus said as she packed her cards back up.

"Maybe, but they're my cards, and they've done enough exploding for one day," she said.

Remus rolled his eyes, and Jane stuck her tongue out at him. They laughed at each other. Jane lay down on her back and placed her head in Remus' lap as he rested against a tree.

For a while, they were silent. Remus was thinking, and Jane was enjoying the fact that he had absentmindedly started to play with her hair. He and James both did that; she loved it. She had frowned when he stopped, but she didn't say anything.

"Did you read any of the Daily Prophets over summer while you were at James'?" Remus asked.

"One, but other than that, I didn't really see any more," Jane answered. "Why?"

"It's just that there have been some bad things happening lately," he said.

"Yeah, I know, but it'll get better soon," Jane said.

"How do you know?" Remus questioned, looking down at her.

Jane shrugged.

"James reckons it will, and if he's not worried, then I'm not worried."

"You think he's right?" Remus asked.

"Yeah," Jane said, "and besides, everybody is looking for this guy. Someone's bound to get him."

"It's gotten so bad that people won't even say his name anymore," Remus said.

"Yeah, I know. I had to ask James what his name was. He said it used to be Riddle, but now he calls himself—well, you know," Jane said.

"You won't say it either? I thought you said you weren't scared."

Remus had a good point.

"I guess I'm a little scared," Jane admitted.

"Me too," Remus said quietly.

Jane sighed.

"I don't understand how James is so brave all the time," Jane thought aloud. "I mean, he just says You-Know-Who's name like it's nothing, and even the Daily Prophet won't print his name."

"Yeah, him and Sirius both," Remus added.

"I'd like to believe that James is right about this though," Jane said.

Then, her brow furrowed as she thought about something else.

"I think he's not telling me something," she said. "Sirius and Peter too. I think they're hiding something."

Remus stiffened a bit.

"Why do you think that?" he asked.

"Well, they're always whispering to each other, and sometimes they'll try and hide stuff when I walk up to them. I don't know; maybe I'm just being paranoid," Jane said.

Remus relaxed a tiny bit.

"You don't know if they're doing something, do you?" Jane asked.

"No," Remus said, almost too quickly.

Jane started to chew on the inside of her lip. Maybe they weren't hiding anything, maybe she was just letting her imagination get away from her. But she still couldn't help but feel left out, and it kind of hurt. It had been going on for quite some time now.

However, Remus started to play with her hair again, and she relaxed, forcing herself to stop worrying. After all, they were her friends; they didn't keep secrets from her.