Hiya there everyone! ^^ Not much to say at the moment, so I'll keep it short :)

As always – Read, Review, and Enjoy!

EDIT: For a better reading experience, all review replies and old, unimportant ANs were removed. Any questions, just PM me

Disclaimer: I do not own, nor claim to own, anything pertaining to Inuyasha nor Harry Potter. Just the ideas that pop into my mind ;)

—Year I; Part IV: Winter Whirlwind—

December

It was the start of December as they dined in the Great Hall for breakfast one early morning. Already, white doused the castle grounds as snowflakes sprinkled the terrain; through the foggy, frost-lined windows the students and the professors could admire the winter wonderland outside, the former eager for the inevitable snowball fights to come.

And there could be only one thing to do to celebrate such a wonderful, beautiful thing.

James whistled innocently as he lazily strode towards the Great Hall with his friends at his side. And as he did so, said friends stared at him as if he grew another head.

"No - that is it," Sirius declared as he suddenly took a few quick steps ahead and whirled around, stopping to block James' way. James lurched as he stopped short, blinking at his best friend.

"Alright, out with it," Sirius demanded, making sure to keep five feet between James and himself - just in case.

James peered at Sirius innocently, his head tilted to the side in blatantly fake curiosity. "Whatever do you mean, best mate of mine?" he wondered drawlingly.

Kagome snorted, not believing him for even a second. It made James twitch ever so slightly.

Remus moaned tiredly. "We're going to get in trouble today, aren't we?" he said to himself in resignation.

Peter sniggered. "Yeah, most likely."

Kagome reached over to pat Remus' shoulder sympathetically. "At least the company's good during detention?" she offered, trying for optimistic.

It coaxed a twitch to the lips, at the very least. "Well, there is that," Remus admitted, albeit grudgingly.

Sirius stomped his foot, eyes narrowing. "I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what you're going to do," he laid out bluntly, pointing at James with an accusing finger. "You're whistling. Whistling means bad, no - horrible things!"

James let out a wild gasp. "Can't a man whistle without getting charged with such hurtful accusations?" he bemoaned dramatically, touching the back of his hand to his forehead in a dainty gesture.

The mere fact that they were unfazed spoke volumes.

Peter was staring at him blankly. "Last time you started whistling," he began slowly, "We ended up singing folk songs," he stated with revulsion. "Off key folk songs," he emphasized. "On a roll, mate. On. A. Roll."

Sirius shuddered, remembering the horror of that day. "I better not be singing folk songs today…" he threatened, growling.

Shucking his dramatic pose, James only sniggered at the memory. "It's not like I meant for that to happen, y'know. I was aiming at the Ravenclaws…" He bit his lip sheepishly. "You just kinda got in the way…" he trailed off.

Sirius pinned him with a sharp glare that meant he wasn't going to budge. He wanted assurance dammit, and he wanted it now!

James huffed now, throwing his hands up. "Merlin! Okay, look, there won't be any singing, or even spells for that matter, alright? I have something planned but it's a surprise, and I swear none of you are involved."

Kagome raised an eyebrow, arms crossing. "And if, by some slip of genius of yours, we do get involved somehow?" When James glared at her, she just smiled brightly. "Just making sure!"

James groaned. "Then you guys get a free pass to pull a prank on me, and I won't get mad or get revenge – okay?" he caved reluctantly.

Remus' lips curved into a smirk. "I'm sure we can all agree to that," he said, uncharacteristically sadistic. He didn't forget the folk song incident either.

He hated folk songs…

And he wouldn't want to wish Sirius' singing on anyone…

The others agreed with fervor, making James roll his eyes. "C'mon," he muttered unhappily, pouting. "Before it gets too late."

Shrugging, they walked with him to the Great Hall and made their way to their tables without incident.

Except, no one noticed James lagging behind when they passed through the entrance to the Great Hall. Nor did anyone notice when he tipped a flask, letting an unknown black substance on pour onto the ground behind him as he walked.

"So?" Sirius prompted once they sat down, Remus and Peter on one side, Sirius, Kagome, and James on the other.

James turned to him, grinning. He tipped his head to the Great Hall entrance. "Just wait for it," he said eagerly, as they fixed his plate.

Kagome's eyebrows furrowed. "When did you-" her inquiry was cut short by a wild shriek.

All their heads snapped to see one Lily Evans, and watched as her feet gave out from under her, slipping as if she was walking on ice, before she finally fell on her arse with a yelp.

They all cringed at the sight.

James groaned, burying his face in his hands. "Why does this always happen to me?" he asked no one in particular.

Kagome was gaping in shock as Lily studied the ground as she struggled to get up. Her feet slipped this way and that, before finally giving out from under her. When she managed to rise once more, she steadied herself before finally gliding her way off the ice.

Once on safe ground, she peered at the slippery spot, studying it.

That was when her dark look of realization dawned on her face and she whirled to the Gryffindor table and set her eyes right on James, eyes flashing.

Kagome let out a resigned groan and let her face lightly slam into the table.

Remus winced at the loud thud of the impact.

"Pot-ter!" came the tell-tale roar.

Letting himself cringe one more time, he composed his face before looking up. "Ahh, Evans, everything alright?" he wondered, trying with all his might not to grin at the sight of her as she stalked up to them.

Pale cheeks flushed red with either embarrassment or anger, hair messier than even his own, and clothes at disarray. It sure was a sight, but he'd have to laugh about it later since he didn't want to get hexed by her.

"You," she breathed out angrily. "It was you! Admit it!" she practically snarled, pointing to the Great Hall entrance.

"Bloody hell," Peter breathed out in horrified awe, squeaking when Lily turned her fiery gaze on him.

"Everyone, back away slowly," Sirius said, a mix between joking and actually being serious. "Please don't hurt me!" he yelped in his usual overdramatic fashion when she stepped towards him.

Lily snorted, but turned her sights back on James, the true source of her fury.

Wisely, Remus and Kagome kept to themselves.

James licked his lips, realizing they were suddenly dry. "I – uh, I don't know what you're talking about…"

"I know it was you!" she bit out lowly. "It's the same bloody potion you made months ago when you mucked up the assignment!"

James faltered, not expecting her memory to be that good.

Lily took a threatening step forward, her eyes narrowed. "I'll be watching you, Potter," she swore vehemently.

James, the little fool, grinned boyishly and eagerly leaned forward. "I didn't know you like me like that, Evans," he said slyly.

Lily went ramrod straight, eyes widening in horror. "You know what I mean," she hissed furiously.

But James only winked. That is, until Lily lunged at him to grab his robes and pull him close. He let out an unmanly squeak when that happened.

"If I step into one of your stupid pranks you little prat, so help me, I will make your life a bloody-"

Just then, a group of Ravenclaw third years walked in only to slip and fall on their behinds.

Lily turned at the sound of screams and gasps, and her lips twitched unbidden at the sight of the pile of 'Claws.

"No!" James sucked in a wild, disbelieving breath of air, a grin spreading across his face. "Merlin! You think it's funny too! Don't you dare deny it!" he needled, gasping in laughter.

Lily forced down her smile in a split second, and huffed. "Not when it's me slipping and falling on my arse," she said primly. And her eyes narrowed. "Remember – I'm warning you," she snarled at him, before turning on her heel.

"You know what!" James exclaimed, eyes trailing after the fuming red-head stalking away.

Amused, Kagome merely reached for her goblet. "What?" she said, humoring him like she always did. She tipped her cup.

"It's decided – she's the girl I'm gonna marry one day!" James declared with the utmost determination.

Kagome choked, spitting out her pumpkin juice.

From across the table, Peter sputtered as pumpkin juice was sprayed all over his face.

Sirius and Remus shared looks and promptly burst out laughing loudly.

James however pouted while Kagome, who was still coughing, tried to apologize profusely to Peter as she reached over to help dry him off.

"I'm being serious! I think I'm in love!" James exclaimed dazedly.

Sirius snorted, "No, I'm Sirius," he could help but interject, and then snickered at the goofy look on James' face. "You're eleven mate – do you even know what love is?" he wondered in exasperation.

"It doesn't matter!" James argued fervently. "I just know it – I do!"

Kagome's lips twitched as she shook her head amusedly.

Her brother was such a masochistic sap…

—o—o—o—o—

"Hey Pete – you mind latching up that window while you're over there? Bugger won't keep close and it's getting cold." Sirius called out, trying to bury his face into his pillow.

Remus snorted. "Should've watched where you were aiming that hex, then," he muttered grumpily, burrowing deeper into his blankets.

Nodding, Peter sleepily padded over to shut them.

That is, until he saw something flash outside the window, lighting up the room. "Bloody hell! Dragon!" he shrieked, reeling back. He fell to the ground, face stark white as he skittered as far away as possible.

Fully awake and alert, all the boys scrambled up and raced to the window, only to be disappointed with a clear sky and a waning moon. "I don't see anyhing..." Sirius mumbled, looking.

"I swear! I saw it!" Peter shouted adamantly. "It flew right past me, and I saw fire guys! Fire!" he repeated in a drastically dramatic whisper.

Remus continued to stare at him as if he had gone crazy, but James and Sirius had suspiciously gone still. The only thing that could fly, was armed with fire, and could possibly be mistaken as a dragon was Kirara, and they had yet to tell them the feline's special 'ability'.

Really, James thought, how does one go about telling that his sister's sweet, little, adorable cat can actually turn into a frightening beast ten times its size that can not only spit fire like a dragon, but is actually on fire...?

Besides, it would be fun to get their two friends first, before revealing this little gem of a secret...

It took him a moment, but James managed to compose himself. "Don't be silly Peter – it probably wasn't a dragon. You'd know if it was a dragon," he went on, but faltered at seeing his friend's expression crumble. "I mean," he scrambled to say. "You probably saw something else. Who knows what's in that forest over there," James consoled, jabbing a thumb over his shoulder.

"Yeah," Remus continued, ever the logical and realistic one. "Be happy it isn't a dragon – if it was, you'd probably be a crispy firstie by now."

Sirius snorted. "Crispy firstie…" he chuckled sleepily, his exhaustion getting to him. "Has a ring to it," he muttered to himself, ignoring the looks it got him.

Peter, relaxed, nodded to himself. "Yeah, that makes sense..." he muttered, grinning lopsidedly.

—o—o—o—o—

Just outside, at that very moment, a long, exhilarated squeal broke through the night.

"Hahahah - wooo hooo!"

Perched upon Kirara's back, fists gently clutching the feline's fur, Kagome shrieked wildly as Kirara suddenly dived.

Adrenaline pumped through her veins, just like it did that one time during her first flying lesson... just like it did countless of times since she began flying with Kirara.

It was like a roller-coaster, except, you never knew when the drop was coming - there was no path to follow, no warning when she'd spin or drop, and it was just freaking amazing. The freedom that overwhelmed her, it was simply indescribable and she loved every second of it.

Kagome grinned as she surrendered to the feeling, the feeling of unrestraint, her eyes tearing and her cheeks numbing as the wind blasted against her face.

Just as she approached the ground, Kirara pulled back at the last second and Kagome let out a breathless laugh as they leveled with the field and coasted slowly, the feline's paws lazily skimming the grass.

One thing was for certain - she would never get tired of this...

—o—o—o—o—

"Ah, crap!" Kagome exclaimed as a small gust of wind blew her parchment right from her fingertips. She scrambled up, her things spilling over, but she didn't care.

She left the boys snickering after her, and blindly made a rude gesture from behind as she ran off. Bloody prats.

"Get back here!" she demanded. "I don't want McGonagall to give me a T!" she moaned, running after the flyaway piece of parchment with her nearly done essay written on it.

As expected, the parchment didn't listen and went on its merry way as the breeze carried it along.

Right towards the lake.

Eyes widening in panic, she redoubled to catch it. "No, no, no - don't you dare!" she shouted after it… only to pause in dumbfounded shock when it suddenly froze in mid-air.

Kagome was pretty sure her mouth dropped to the floor as she watched in astonishment when it started to back away from the lake, slowly but surely. A loud snigger caught her attention, and she looked to the right to see Lily and Severus standing not more than fifteen feet from her.

Severus a small smirk playing at his lips as held out his wand, maneuvering the parchment over to him until it was close enough to grab.

Closing her mouth, Kagome let out a huge sigh of relief. "Merlin, thank you!" she exclaimed. "The last thing I wanted was to write that thing all over again!"

"Considering how horrible your grammar is…" Lily murmured wryly, trailing off to snicker at Kagome's mock glare.

Rolling her eyes, Kagome jogged over to the pair, muttering, "Meanie…" under her breath.

As Severus handed over her essay, their eyes locked. "Thank you, again," Kagome repeated, genuinely sincere as she pulled away, parchment in hand.

Severus studied her silently for a moment, before giving her a small nod as a curious glint flashed through his eyes.

The moment gone, his lips twitched slightly into a small, indulgent smirk. "You're a witch, are you not?" he taunted good-naturedly. "It may be useful to cast a hovering charm next time, if only to save you the effort," he couldn't help but needle.

Kagome blinked, a slight blush forming as she let out a small, sheepish cough. "True, but hey! On the upside, I got some exercise!" She rubbed her neck, mildly embarrassed. "But… I'll remember that for next time though…" she muttered quickly.

Snorting, Severus shook his head as Lily giggled at her.

Taking a step back, she peered at the two almost apologetically. "I best be heading back before someone sends the search party… who knew boys were so over protective?" she joked.

For half a second, Severus frowned before it passed, as if he just realized who she was related to and who her friends were. This time, he gave her a curt nod.

"Yeah, we should probably get going too," Lily said rather tentatively, glancing between the two. "I'll see you later at dinner, Kagome!" she told her fellow Gryffindor.

As they split and moved away in different directions, Severus turned to Lily as soon as they were out of hearing distance and asked, "How can she be related to Potter?" he muttered, tone faintly tinged with incredulity. "They're nothing alike!"

Lily felt her lips twitch, as not even a month ago, Severus was singing a different tune, arguing the opposite and that Kagome was just like her brother.

Sighing happily, Lily shook her head indulgently and simply told him, "It's called genetics, Sev…"

—o—o—o—o—

It was the faint snoring that caught her attention.

Looking up and over from her idle doodling of what suspiciously looked like a transformed Kirara with a stick-figure Naraku being ruthlessly crushed under her paws, she saw her brother at the desk next to hers and snorted.

Overhearing her, Sirius looked up from his masterpiece and winked at her, a wide boyish grin on his face. He tipped his quill, still wet with ink, in a jaunty wave in her direction.

Like her, he took to doodling during Binns' monologue about something of the second Goblin war or another.

Unlike her however, he took to doodling on James' face instead of a spare piece of paper.

Prepared he may not be, but he was nothing but resourceful. Kagome had to give him credit when credit was due.

Egged on by the grin threatening to spread across her face, Sirius went back to work and scribed 'I heart L.E.' blatantly on James' cheek in large, bold, black ink.

Kagome started laughing mildly.

The sound jostled Remus, her desk partner, from the daze he slipped into over twenty minutes ago. Her laughter startled him so much that his hand, which he was using to prop his head up, slammed into their desk as he straightened.

The loud, echoing 'thunk' cut through the monotone droning of Professor Binns, garnering looks but otherwise went unnoticed by the Professor himself.

However, that sound was enough to wake up James, who was half sprawled across the desk and drooling with funny drawings all over his face. Sirius swiftly turned away to feign attention to the Professor.

"I-I've got the quaffle!" James shouted out randomly as he jerked awake.

This time, Professor Binns took notice.

Silence weighed heavily in the room as the lecturing came to a halt and everyone turned to look at James. Some people stared. Others began snickering.

James blinked. "W-what?" he stammered, wondering why in the heck everyone was staring at him. "Something on my face?" he muttered, and rubbed at his cheek.

Remus choked. Sirius' shoulders heaved with the effort not to laugh. Peter, who sat at the desk behind the two boys, let loose a string of sniggers, when set eyes on James' face. Kagome couldn't help it any longer.

She fell to the floor, and started laughing.

Fortunately, or rather unfortunately for James, he rubbed the other cheek with only random squiggles and a snitch drawn upon it. He smudged the drawings, and looked down at his palm when he felt something wet.

Mind still fuzzy from just waking up, his eyebrows drew together in confusion at the black marring his palm and the sight of his sister rolling on the ground, roaring with laughter. Beside him, Sirius' face was red as he tried not to laugh, all the while inching away just in case.

In front of him, Lily held out a small mirror for James with an impish smile. "You missed a spot," she pointed out with barely concealed amusement.

James let out a strangled sound of horror and embarrassment, and swiped at his face as he whirled on Sirius, glowering with fury and promising revenge once out of the eye of a Professor. "Black!" he growled threateningly.

Sirius grinned broadly. "Have a nice nap?" he asked cheekily.

It sent Kagome into another fit of side-splitting giggles.

—o—o—o—o—

It was the day before winter break that Kagome woke up to the firm, yet soft voice of Professor McGonagall as she was shook.

"Miss Potter, dear? Please, wake up. I must speak to you."

Normally, Kagome was a heavy sleeper when she was out, but… it was the low, urgent undertone that roused her from her dreams.

Blinking blearily, she peered up at her Head of House with confused eyes. "Pr'fessor? She mumbled sleepily, confused. "Wha's goin' on…?" She yawned widely.

"Come, Miss Potter," Professor McGonagall implored, a small, yet sympathetic frown on her face. "Your brother is downstairs, waiting. If you will, pull on a robe and come downstairs. I have… urgent news…"

That woke her up easily enough. Concerned, Kagome opened her mouth to ask just what kind of news, but Professor McGonagall held up a halting hand.

"Please, Miss Potter. I will tell you soon enough."

The moment Professor McGonagall slipped out from the dorm, Kagome scrambled off the bed and snatched the first robe she saw out from her trunk, not even bothering with slippers as she dashed out the room after McGonagall.

—o—o—o—o—

Moments later, they were left alone in Dumbledore's office, standing before his insanely large, claw-footed desk as Professor McGonagall went to fetch the Headmaster.

The office was enormous, circular, and particularly noisy. Portraits lined the walls with snoozing old people, dressed in clothes common to decades upon decades beyond current times.

Tables spotted the room, with numerous, random instruments that Kagome had no idea of what they were, perched upon the tables as they made whirring sounds and little balls of smoke.

Beside her, James was gazing around the office in open awe, fascinated with all the various trinkets the Headmaster had in his collection.

Kagome, while also looking around, wasn't gazing with awe, and neither was she staring at the same set of trinkets either.

Her fists clenched as a painful dose of flashes overwhelmed her.

.*.

As McGonagall left her behind in the office, she looked on in captured fascination, her bubbling fear and worry twisting into wonder as she stepped further into the grand room.

The trinkets were nothing she'd ever seen before, but she was mesmerized gazing upon them nonetheless, watching them spin and murmur and blow out smoke. She took in the portraits hung along the wall, taking in what she knew to be the previous Headmasters and Headmistresses of Hogwarts, all sitting back, sleeping.

And she turned, a sound she knew she heard but didn't really hear, startling her. She whirled around and stumbled back in shock as she watched a majestic, but nonetheless, sick looking bird – a phoenix of all things! – burst into flames and be reduced into a pile of ashes.

Horror and panic ensued, and her vision spun, blurring, until she heard chuckling echo the room and a small bald head popped up from the ashes, letting out a soft, soothing trill.

.*.

Her second visit to the office. It was the same as before, as grand as it was, with its portraits and trinkets, with Fawkes on his golden perch. The sorting hat set on a shelf. A silver sword, magnificent and ruby encrusted laid within a case; memories of years ago of that same blade sinking into the maw of a huge, terrifying basilisk flickered.

But something new. She turned and saw a sliver of light, silvery and faint, but drawing her in nonetheless.

Curiosity got the better of her, and she snooped. She stepped towards the black cabinet, its door left a sliver of the way opened. It revealed a shallow stone basin, odd runic carvings and symbols lining the edge. The light came from the basin's contents, and whether it was liquid or gas, she could tell. The water rippled, like wind cast upon water, but it was also wispy, moving and swirling – confusing.

There was something in it – a moving picture, like on the television. But it was muddled, and she leaned closer and closer to see it clearly until she leaned in much too far and suddenly, something was sucking her in.

.*.

Back in the office, but with people she does not know, has never seen, but still knows. Standing, waiting, apprehensive. An ugly lady, pudgy with the face of a toad, face twisted in satisfaction, stood beside him gloating. Beside her, an also pudgy man with a bowler hat. Both spitting words.

Words, words, words being spoken – twisted and turned and suddenly Dumbledore was smiling a wry, slight smile, before he brought his hands in a loud clap, fingers grazing the feather tips of Fawkes, before he disappeared in a column of churning fire.

And he was gone.

She felt abandoned, but she also felt relieved. Dumbledore wouldn't be going to Azkaban, for the Army she named after him.

.*.

Yelling, and yelling, and yelling – crippling hurt and grief that all but made her knees buckle. Rage surging, words of comfort gone ignored, and suddenly she took a random, silver little instrument and chucked it against the wall with all her strength, taking immeasurable pleasure watching it shatter into hundred tiny pieces, scattering the ground. And soon, it wasn't' enough – words meant to calm only goaded, and she snatched up another instrument and threw it into the fire before taking the table it was on and used all her strength to toss that too.

"You do care." The interjection was said calmly, and she glared furiously at the wizened wizard sitting calmly behind his desk, watching without a care in the world as she went about raging and demolishing his office.

"I – DON'T!" she screamed, so loud that her throat burned – but it wasn't her voice. The voice was much deeper, male, and so very anguished.

And later, she was turning, sick of the words, sick of the attempt to understand when no one could, sick of smashing everything within her grasp. She wanted out, away, left alone from those calm, clear blue eyes that bored into her with that damned knowing twinkle.

But the doorknob wouldn't budge, no matter how hard she twisted and turned and yanked, it just wouldn't give. He wouldn't let her leave.

Not until they talked, not until he explained, not until everything – or what she assumed at the time was everything – was out in the open.

So she turned back and took a seat and listened, and argued, and yelled some more, but ultimately listened, as there was nothing else she could do as she all but drowned in guilt and despair.

Her godfather – but no, not her Godfather, Sirius, her friend, her best friend, as Kagome knew him better as now – was dead.

And just the thought of that alone, the thought of that bright, grey-eyed boy who made her laugh so effortlessly and who was such an easy, kind, yet fierce friend despite how little the time they knew each other as dead, lifeless with dull grey eyes , broke her heart so easily.

.*.

Back in the office, another vision. Dumbledore – so tired, eyes so drawn, that stupid, irritating twinkle now dimmed.

On his desk was his hand. Black. Wizened.

Cursed.

Beside it was a ring. Small and dainty and unassuming, set with a square jewel – in the middle, a crack split it.

Beside it was a diary, but destroyed, ruined, with a gaping, jagged hole. The edges were soiled and stained.

Beside that was the brilliant, jewel incrusted, silver sword she'd seen once encased.

What it meant, she didn't know. But the feeling that it was important struck her, twisted her gut.

Why would a ring and diary be so damned important? Especially destroyed as such? Why?

A whisper in her mind, tiny but potent, pregnant, and grave - Horc-

"-Kagome?"

Kagome jerked, startled as her brother interrupted her flashbacks before they were even finished, and her eyes shot open, bloodshot.

James' face swam into her vision and she shook her head to clear it, rubbing at her eyes. "Mel?" her brother asked again, so concerned that he fell back on using a nickname he rarely uttered nowadays.

"It's nothing – I'm just tired," she muttered quickly, trying not to grimace from the way her head pounded.

James peered at her suspiciously, shaking his head softly to himself as he let his eyes flicker across the room.

"Bloody hell," James blurted out suddenly as he pointed wildly, catching Kagome's attention. "That's – that's a phoenix!"

'Fawkes,' Kagome breathed out silently.

The flashbacks didn't do the majestic bird justice. His feathers were bright and silky smooth, and he looked far from his burning day.

Fawkes chirped curiously as he peered between the two, and his gaze landed on Kagome, his dark, intelligent eyes boring into her. Fawkes chirped once more, and this time, it seemed oddly concerned.

And then, a soft, low, lilting trill swept through the room, and Kagome's eyes closed as the stress and her headache was suddenly washed away.

"Whoa…" James breathed out, stunned. "That was…"

Kagome nodded silently, agreeing with him fully.

A click caught their attention, and the pair turned to see the door open to reveal Headmaster Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall.

"Ah," Dumbledore murmured, oddly somber. "Mister and Miss Potter. I am sure you are curious as to why we have gathered you here this morning," he murmured as he strode into the room, towards his desk. Professor McGonagall followed after him, and took her place beside his desk.

Kagome frowned as she fidgeted nervously. "You could say that, yes," she said, concern tangible in her voice.

Dumbledore settled behind his desk, but did not stand. He peered at her, curious.

James licked his lips, and swallowed lightly. "Are we in trouble?" James began, fingers twitching nervously. "Because, we uh… just to make this clear, but we didn't do anything…" A silent 'Yet' was left hanging, but was still heard by all, if Professor McGonagall's exasperated sigh was anything to go on.

Dumbledore let out a soft, short chuckle. "No, it is nothing like that… instead, it is rather more… serious," he murmured carefully. "It is about your parents, in fact," he stated gently.

The twins straightened, looking at the Headmaster imploringly.

With a heavy pause, Dumbledore began carefully. "There has… been an attack-"

James and Kagome froze, grasping each other to keep steady while any and all color drained from their cherubic faces. "Merlin, no…" they gasped, cutting him off.

"They're not-" Kagome broke off, unable to finish, eyes beginning to water.

James' arm tightened around her as he finished for her. "Dead – are they?" he choked out.

"No, they are not!" McGonagall said quickly, giving them a sympathetic glance. "They are quite alive," she said reassuringly.

It did the trick as the twins relaxed.

"Then?" Kagome prompted, eyebrows furrowed.

"They are, however and unfortunately, injured," he finished calmly. "We have just received notice from St. Mungo's of what happened, and while they have yet to wake up, they are in no danger of passing."

"Thank Merlin," Kagome muttered in relief, James nodding with her sentiment.

"Do you know when they'll wake up?" James wondered worriedly.

"A week, at least," McGonagall informed them gently. "With both your parents in recovery, I believe it is best that you two spend the winter hols here at Hogwarts, until your parents are up and fit to take you home. Unless you have some other family…?" she trailed off suggestively.

Kagome and James shook their head. "No, not that we know of," the latter murmured.

"What kind of an attack was it?" Kagome asked seriously, staring straight at the Headmaster. "Were our parents targeted?"

Dumbledore's eyes blinked, before narrowing slightly at her out of curiosity and intrigue. "Why would you think that?" he murmured, leaning forward as his fingers steepled together.

"We know things are happening," James interjected before the adults could just brush them off. "People are disappearing, dying even, and have been for years. Something's coming. Dad's an Auror, but Mum was with him, so that means he wasn't on duty."

While McGonagall's face grew tight, Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "And your father discusses these things with his children, does he?" he murmured wryly, an eyebrow raised.

James' eyes widened, realizing for one, as an Auror, their father was duty bound not to discuss these kinds of things in the open, nonetheless to his kids; and two, if their parents learned of their tendency to eavesdropped during 'important meetings' that were increasing in number in the last few years, they would be killed.

Or at the very least, their brooms and all things prank related would confiscated, which was just as bad.

Kagome stiffened as well. "We don't need our Father to read the Daily Prophet and connect the dots," she commented quietly instead. "The Ministry can play it down all they want, but everyone knows we're in a Wizarding War, and have been for at least a year."

It was funny how the tension in the room could spike at the drop of the hat.

James fidgeted nervously, feeling it all too keenly, and chanced an uncomfortable glance at his sister.

Dumbledore's eyes sharpened at her words, for she was right.

It had been about a year since the elusive dark wizard who had been terrorizing the Muggleborns and their sympathizers in the pureblood elite came out into the open and made a name for himself, known as Lord Voldemort.

And he did so with a bang by boldly deploying an open attack on Little Haven, a small wizarding community composed mostly of half-bloods and muggleborns, with a few purebloods and their families. The purebloods and most of the half-bloods were left unscathed.

All the Muggleborns and their families were murdered.

One casualty was notable in particular. A popular half-blood witch working on a law supporting muggles and muggleborns was murdered in broad daylight, and with her death the attack ended with a green, smoky symbol of a snake-tongued skull cast into the air. The symbol was known as Lord Voldemort's 'Dark Mark'.

The murderers in question called themselves 'Death Eaters' and were lead under the banner of pureblood supremacy.

Lord Voldemort had not revealed himself until the very end, and was the one to send the deadly precise Avada Kadavra at the half-blood witch and his now popular symbol of death. And as he sent that symbol to the sky, all the Death Eaters that had attacked and murdered in his name called out "For Lord Voldemort!" for all to hear and fear before Apparating away.

Of course, with the Ministry's influence in the Daily Prophet, the papers print out that there was no cause to worry. For the Ministry was putting its 'full force' into 'taking care' of this Lord Voldemort, who, while dangerous, was 'neither no real threat nor a match for the Ministry's might'. With the articles the Daily Prophet was printing, you'd think the Ministry was only days away of catching him.

Even if she didn't have Harry's memories of the future, Kagome would still be able to see that for the utter bullshit it was.

McGonagall's lips pursed. "This topic isn't a discussion to be had with two eleven year olds," she said sharply with finality.

Kagome held her chin up defiantly, cutting her a gaze that was nothing but serious. "It's our Mum and Dad, Professor."

James nodded firmly with her assent. "We deserve to know!" he exclaimed. "This isn't the first time someone's come after our family!"

Before they could argue more, Dumbledore cut in and acquiesced. "I do not believe so," he said carefully. "The attack itself was not direct. A shop in Diagon Alley was destroyed. Your parents were near the store in Diagon Alley when it happened, and were caught by the blast."

Kagome's eyes fluttered shut, somewhat relieved. At least it wasn't her family that was being targeted specifically.

James blinked and glanced at her. "That's... not really an attack... is it?" he mumbled, puzzled.

Dumbledore gave a deep sigh, the expression on his face grave. "Not long after the blast, a symbol of a snake-tongued skull was cast into the sky. The Dark Mark."

—o—o—o—o—

It was a tumultuous moment, waiting outside the door.

Right behind the slim panel of wood was their parents. And, of course, they wanted to see them! It's their Mum and Dad for Merlin's sake! But…

They were more afraid of what they would find waiting for them behind the door...

Simultaneously, Kagome and James looked at each other, eyes locking. A silent message passed between the two, and they both nodded, steeling themselves before James reached out and opened the door.

They were Gryffindors - and they weren't about to let a little bit of fear stop them from seeing their parents.

Behind them, McGonagall looked on with pride at her two lions. "Take your time, you two. When you are done, ask a healer to escort you to the Floo. Just call out 'Hogwarts - Professor McGonagall's office'." She reached out to squeeze their shoulders, and gave them an encouraging nod.

"Thank you, Professor," they echoed, and she nodded as she turned away.

"C'mon," James murmured gruffly, reaching to link hands with Kagome and tug her along.

They padded into the room, closing the door behind them, and approached the beds.

At first it seemed they were both unconscious, but Ella's eyes fluttered open at the sound of their footsteps. "Hello, darlings," she murmured tiredly, and she held up both her arms. "Aren't you two a sigh for sore eyes?"

One of her arms - her left - was bandaged up as far as they could see; the bandages themselves disappeared underneath the sleeves of her hospital gown. Another bandage patched up her cheek, and a bruise colored her temple. Other than that, and the dark circles under her eyes, she looked fine.

"Mum!" they cried out, scrambling to her side, Kagome on one, and James on the other. They wasted no time to hug her, but they did so gently.

"Shh," Ella murmured comfortingly to her children, arms tightening around them. "It's alright. I'm fine, your father is fine," she murmured softly.

At the mention of their father, Kagome and James looked over at Charles, who was still unconscious despite all the noise.

He was obviously the worst off. Not only were bandages wrapped around his head, making a mess of his already unruly hair, but up the length of his left arm, and his right hand and forearm. They could also see the white of the bandages peek out from above his collar, meaning they were wrapped around his torso as well.

"What happened?" Kagome whispered, burying herself into her mother's shoulder.

Ella pressed a swift kiss on the crown of her daughter's head. "We were just doing a bit of shopping in Diagon Alley. That foul man and his followers, they destroyed a shop just as we were passing by. We heard them call out that ridiculous name of his, giving us a moment's notice before the blast hit us. Barely had enough time to cast a shield charm, though it only helped so much." Ella sighed. "Then that man had to jump in the way and take the brunt of it as well, that old, chivalrous fool," Ella tutted fondly.

James' fists clenched. "He was trying to keep you safe. Like any good wizard should," he murmured with conviction. It was one of the many lessons his father taught well over the years - a wizard should never hit a witch; instead, he should do whatever it took to keep her safe, especially if it was his witch.

Kagome's lips twitched and Ella's lips quirked slightly. "I know, I know. It could have been worse, and I'm not ungrateful," the Potter matriarch murmured wryly. "It doesn't mean I like seeing him injured as such, however."

James pulled away, glancing at their father. "Has Dad woken up yet?" he murmured.

Ella's lips pressed together tightly. "No," she admitted, voice tinted with concern. "Not yet. The medics said it'll be another day, two at most."

"So you'll be staying here for the whole break?" Kagome inquired solemnly, peering at her mother. "Will we get to visit you often?"

"Maybe not all," Ella murmured, threading her fingers through her daughter's hair. "Not if we can help it," she muttered more to herself than anyone, making her children snort. "Only as long as it's required. But you, my sweets, are free to visit, as long as you've permission from the Headmaster," she said wryly and lightly tapped her twins on the tips of their noses, laughing gently when they wrinkled them out of reflex.

"We could always try to sneak out?" James suggested eagerly, his hazel eyes bright and hopeful.

Ella shot him down with a flat stare. "No."

Kagome snickered.

They stayed for thirty more minutes, talking to their mother, as well as standing by their father's bedside, murmuring hopes of him waking up soon, only leaving when their mother's eyes began drooping and one of the medics suggested they leave so she could get rest.

Like McGongall asked them to, they had a medic escort them back to the Floo.

Kagome remained silent as they padded after the medic, lost in her thoughts but ultimately relieved that their parents would recover soon, and that Voldemort had yet to single out their family.

James kept to himself as well. However, his thoughts were slightly darker and more tense then his sister's. His jaw clenched, his eyes flashing darkly with fury.

Dark magic did this. Dark wizards attacked their parents, and put them here.

Years ago, those dark wizards tried to take Kagome and him. They tried hurting his sister. And now, they've hurt his parents as well.

As they left St. Mungo's, James silently vowed that he would do whatever it took to protect his family, his sister especially, from those dark wizards and their foul magic.

Words- 6,946

I had fun with this chapter ^^ My favorite part? It's a tie between the Great Hall scene and the History lesson scene XD

What's yours?

Anyways, here's a few shout-outs of gratitude for the people whose ideas I used in this chapter:

First off to ArmyWife22079, for not only on the whole for helping me with this chapter, but for inspiration and co-writing the Lily/Severus/Kagome scene by the lake. XD

A nod to Venas, for suggesting a history lesson – it probably wasn't what you had in mind, since it wasn't much of a lesson, lol, but I hope you enjoyed it. ;)

And for the beginning scene, with the Great Hall prank, a thanks to Valleygoat, for the idea of using the potion James concocted a few chapters back as a prank ^^

Hopefully, I got them all lol. If not, my apologies and my thanks to all that I failed to mention!

Till laters!

RainLily^^

A big huge honking thanks to these awesome reviewers!

CrescentMelody, Lorem tenebrae, KagHieiLuver, Sergeant major Kululu, WraithReaper, Tenshi' Gome, darksilvercloud, animelver14, green-eyed beauty, cherry-888, TsukiyoTenshi, kakashixangela, ObsidianFrost, Scrawny Scrivener, Ophelia, xXKillorbeKilledXx, Cassie, CrazyMikoHanyouKagamineRin, aura, JollyLoser, Kitsune Kalys, Speedykitten1643, Maxeyn, Natsumi Tsuchi-Ookami, angelfire123, Bunny.W.K, InfiniteWhiplash, Cristine44, Mirabar, Valleygoat, Anake14, Bishonen'sFoxyMiko, Venas, grimmich, theotherone