Note: Sorry, everyone. I've been trying to upload for weeks and it wouldn't let me. :x So, here ya go :hides from the mobs:

"Look at this," John said, throwing himself onto James's bed. It was Sunday, and there hadn't been quidditch for Gryffindor this weekend, so James had spent most of the weekend in bed. John held up the paper.

James read the headline: "Death Eaters Strike Again."

"Yeah, there are more of them. They keep coming out of everywhere."

Are those the same death eaters that my dad fought? James thought, remembering all of the memories he watched. They have to be. They worked for that bad guy…. What was his name?... Does that mean he's coming back?

"The aurors are going insane. They're all over school. Did you hear? We're not allowed out of the common rooms without one." He took the paper back and read it for a second. "I'm surprised they're letting us go to Hogsmeade. They canceled the first one. You'd think they'd cancel this one too, since it's gotten worse."

"Maybe they're trying to make everything appear normal, so no one gets upset. I'm sure if it were really dangerous, they wouldn't let us go."

"Well, it's next weekend, and they haven't said anything yet."

"Oh, next weekend?

"Yeah. Aren't you going?" John asked.

"Well…"

"Don't tell me you haven't asked yet."

"My dad has been very busy. I haven't had the chance to ask him."

"You have to go!"

"I will… If my dad signs the papers…"

"Come on. You're going to ask him right now." John grabbed James's arm and pulled him up.

"But I – wait – I'm not even dressed yet."

"Who cares?" John was already heading for the door.

"I do. Just give me a second."

A few minutes later, they were hurrying up the stairs. James yawned several times. He was still tired. When they reached his dad's office, they found him busily grading papers. There were stacks of them everywhere. Some of the tests were being magically checked by floating quills. James went in, while John waited outside.

"Ummm… dad?" James said quietly, approaching the desk.

"What is it?" His dad asked, not looking up or stopping checking.

"Uh, could you sign this paper?"

"For what?"

"Hogsmeade," James mumbled

"No."

What? "But -"

"No, James. You're not going."

"But everyone else is going. I'll be the only one here who isn't."

"Too bad."

"Why can't I go?"

"It's complicated."

James clenched his jaw. Complicated? What's that supposed to mean? "It's those death eater people, isn't it?" His dad didn't answer. "That's why you don't want me to go, isn't it? You don't think I could protect myself?"

"No," his dad said, finally looking up. "You can't. The other parents might like to let their children run around where there are murderous hordes swarming, but I don't. You're not going anywhere."

"I could protect myself just fine," James said meanly.

"Really?"

"Yeah, I could, if I had to."

"James, some of the spells they use you haven't even heard of yet. They've invented some new ones that even I don't know. There is no way you could protect yourself from them."

James clenched his jaw again, but was quiet. He realized that there was no point in arguing; his dad was never going to sign that paper. He turned and left, walking straight past John.

"Wait," John said, running to catch up with him. "What happened?"

"He won't let me go."

"Why?"

James sighed. "It's complicated."

"Oh."

"Yeah."

"Well, once my parents find out about this death eater thing, they won't let me go either. So I'll be here with you. Maybe we could -"

"I'm not staying here."

"You're – but -"

"I'm going to Hogsmeade, whether he wants me to or not."

"They'll never let you out of the building without a signed paper."

"I don't care. I'll sneak out if I have to." When they got back to the common room, they were stopped by a group of Gryffindors, angrily staring at a piece of paper on the wall. "What is it?" James asked.

"They've changed the year that you can go to Hogsmeade," a girl told him. "Only sixth or seventh years, and they must have an auror with them at all times."

"What?"

"I know. It's so stupid!" The girl stormed off.

"Well, I guess we wouldn't be going anyway," John said.

A few hours later, they went down for dinner. The food did not appear on the table. Instead, the headmistress called their attention.

"Quiet please," McGonagall said. The hall became quiet. "Now, I know all of you are upset about Hogsmeade. Understand that we are doing this for your safety. I consulted with the aurors on our staff, as well as the ones protecting the school, and we agreed that only the upper level students should go. If the threat is decreased, the other years will be allowed to go on the next trip. Anyone who tries to sneak in will be severely punished, understand? You can eat now."

The food appeared, but James didn't take any of it. Aurors on the staff? There was only one of those. He looked up to where his dad should be sitting, but he wasn't there.

"You don't think he told her not to let us go?" John asked, seeing where he was looking.

"Who else would… He's supposed to be the best auror on the continent. She would go to him before anyone else. The others just agreed with him because they think he's so awesome."

"Aren't you being a little too dramatic about it?" Chris asked.

"I'm tired of him dictating every little thing that happens."

"He's just trying to protect you," Molly said quietly.

"Yeah, he is your dad. That's what he's supposed to do," John pointed out, but James wasn't listening to them anymore.

"I'm going."

"What?" Molly said, almost spitting out her pumpkin juice.

"I'm going to Hogsmeade."

"You can't. It's not safe. Both mum and dad will kill you."

"I don't care. I'm going."

"James, please, be -"

"And if you say anything," James said, turning on his sister, "I'll make the rest of your school year filled with pain and misery."

Molly shrunk back. She was almost in tears. "Don't be stupid. You're going to get yourself killed."

"Don't get yourself involved and you'll have nothing to worry about." James got up quickly and left without eating anything.

"James!" John called, following him. "Wait!" He caught James on the stairs. "Listen! Don't do this. You don't need to prove anything to anyone. Don't look at me like that. I know that's why you're doing this."

James sighed dramatically. "You don't know anything. I'm going because I want to."

"Alright, whatever. But -"

"Just stay out of this. I don't need anyone's help."

"No, I'm not letting you go out there on your own. Even if it means me getting expelled, I won't let you get killed." James started to walk away again, but John grabbed his arm. "There's no need to be like this now. Hogsmeade isn't until next weekend. You don't have to skip dinner tonight for -"

"I'm not hungry."

"James…"

"I'm going to bed." James broke away from him and walked quickly to his dorm.