James

James sat in The Three Broomsticks with Sirius and Lupin. He gulped down his drink and then beckoned for another. Wiping his brow he leant against the table and looked over the Daily Prophet.

" Anything interesting?" asked Sirius casually.

" Not really...unless you have a fondness for Backfiring Broomsticks and Goblins gone wrong stories."

" I'll pass " muttered Sirius. " Hey look at that " he said suddenly.

" What?" said James lazilly.

" On the front cover " cried Sirius. " How could you have missed that?"

James turned over the paper and looked at the heading.

Murder of Muggleborn Wizards and Witches. Ministry fear a rising power beyond their control.

" Yikes " said Sirius. " Read that out James."

Last night...Aurors discovered the bodies of three Wizards and Witches who are believed to have been Muggleborns...this latest murder comes as no surprise to the Wizarding Community as reports had been made of an increasing dislike of the non pure blood of the wizard and witch race. "For some time" reveals an insider from the Ministry of Magic..."we have been aware of a certain wizard who has been recruting followers as part of a group. Calling himself Lord Voldemort...this Wizard has succeeded in terrifying the Wizard community and put some of the promising wizard families in our society in great peril. We do believe that these are not the only recent people murdered here this night... there could be many more and we expect ... there have been many in the past." The Murdered three as they are now known were three very sucessfull Wizards and Witches...we believe they were in fact oposing against this Lord Voldemort and were murdered for that reason. The dark Mark was in fact cast above the scene and Aurors are now attempting to trace it back. The Ministry of Magic ask's the whole Wizarding community not to panic in these difficult times... they ask that everyone remains calm of the situation and wishes everyone to know that they have it under control...Turn to page three for a full statement from the Minister of Magic.

" Have it under control " muttered Sirius. " Yeah right."

" If it's that Voldemort again " said James. " Well then they dont have it under control. He's a racist maniac."

" Dont you see " said Lupin looking up at them. " They are asking the public to remain calm because they know they dont have it under control...Voldemort could be anywhere...and that's what frightens them."

" Dad told me about his followers...they call them Death Eaters."

Sirius nodded...his face was pale.

" Are you okay?" asked Lupin.

" I know this already...my Father...my family...they support...well it doesn't matter now..."

" We know you are good " said James smiling. " You cant change who your family are...as long as you are good...thats all that matters."

" Regulas is one of them " cried Sirius. " I know...he...wants..."

James looked at him. " He's a death Eater? Since when?"

" This year...he...Father introduced him...they have a symbol...on their wrists and it burns...Oh James...he...my Brother..."

James looked at him. " What could you have done Sirius. You cant expect them to feel the same way you do...and you cant blame yourself for their mistakes..."

Sirius nodded. " I only discovered this...before I went to back to school...I heard it from my cousin Oriane...who heard it from my Mother..."

Sirius wiped his face with his hand. " Well thats enough of my moaning. I'm sorry...look at me...runing the day."

" Nah ..." said James. " I can see your worry..."

Lupin picked up his drink and sipped...tilting the glass downwards he looked at James.

" Well here's something that might brighten your mood."

Arthur Weasley , Frank Longbottom , Peter Patil and Kingsley Shaklebolt walked in and sat down at the table.

" Why the happy faces?" asked Sirius as he looked around.

" We drew with Slytherin " cried Frank.

" What?" cried James.

" Thats right! " cried Arthur. " Slytherin have the same amount of points in Quidditch as us...they slaughtered Hufflepuff and so did we...there's going to be a final and we're in it...against the Slytherins...winner get's the cup Potter."

James smiled. " Well then we'll have to do better than our best. That means training tomorrow."

" Cant " said Kingsley. " The ball is tomorrow."

" The next day then " said James.

The lads smiled.

" Drinks all round then " said Sirius brightly. " I cant wait to see the light go of on the Slytherins faces."