A/N: Mk…I was little down after I got a grand total of ONE review…Please, please, if you're reading this (which I KNOW some people are) PLEASE give me a review! It doesn't have to be much! Just a 'hey great story,' or 'hey, I think your story sucks' kind of thing. Please?

Disclaimer: James and Natalie are mine…and erm…well no one else is or any ideas or anything so…basically I own nothing.

Chapter 2

Alone and Afraid

James and Natalie found themselves landing in The Leaky Cauldron. It was nearly empty, except for a few witches and wizards, and, of course, Tom. He spotted the pair immediately and rushed over.

"Mr. Potter! Ms. Weasley! What are you doing out at this hour?" Tom asked.

"It's my fault, Tom. I didn't mean to end up here…I was trying to go to Ana's house, but I guess her dad set up the boundary Floo tonight."

"What, you try to Floo to her house and end up here instead?" Natalie asked in amazement.

"Basically, yes. He doesn't trust me; see, so he sets this up every night. Waste of his time if you ask me."

"Oh?" Natalie said.

"Yes, not that it's any of your business Ms. Prissy, but I could get around any charm if I wanted to see someone badly enough."

Natalie shivered. There was some sort of angry passion in James's eyes that she had never seen before. Tom mistook her shiver for chill, and ordered them to book two single rooms for the night.

"You can't go back out now, its past curfew."

"But Tom, I've never held any regard for that curfew." James protested.

"That's a right nice thing of you to do, James, since it was your Granddad that passed it."

"James never held much regard for laws, Tom, an unfortunate trait that was clearly shown tonight."

"Hark, who's talking? Are you to be the kettle or the pot, Ms. Weasley?"

"The kettle." Natalie replied imperially as she took her key from Tom and started up the staircase.

James stared after her, his mouth hanging open.

"I'd not play with Ms. Weasley, Mr. Potter. Ms. Natalie's got a sharp tongue on her when she wants to." Tom said, chuckling as he gave James his key.

"I'll keep that in mind, Tom." James said, as he followed Natalie up the stairs.

She was halfway through her door when he caught her by the arm and pulled her into his room.

"What are you doing? Get off me!" Natalie cried and jerked away.

"Shh! People are sleeping, Nat, geez…I only wanted to talk to you."

Natalie softened.

"I'm sorry. What did you want to talk about?"

"Here, sit down."

Natalie sighed, but sat down at his desk.

"I---what are we going to do about this whole prophecy idea?" James asked, sitting in a chair.

"I don't really know," Natalie said slowly, "I was trying to pretend it hadn't happened."

"What, is marrying me that horrible of an idea?" James asked, affronted.

"No, but I…we…well I suppose we aren't really cousins but it will look awfully crazy, and besides, I can't just cast William aside like that."

"No, of course, the poor fellow would never get another date."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Natalie asked.

"He's not exactly known as Hogwarts' bachelor of the year, if you know what I mean."

"What? Just because he's not outrageously handsome, or incredibly talented at a stupid sport like Quidditch he isn't a good person that loads of women would love to be with?"

"I wouldn't put it quite like that, but yes." James said.

Natalie stiffened.

"What about Ana? Wouldn't you feel badly about casting off such an amazing girl like her?" She asked.

"What was that?" James asked.

"What was what?"

"The way you said that, it was almost as though you didn't like Ana."

"Oh, I don't personally have anything against her, but she does have a nasty track record."

"Says who? Hogwarts' gossips?"

"Everyone knows she's a…a party girl."

"Oh, a party girl! You mean, everyone says she sleeps with every male that moves?"

"Hey, you said it, not me!"

"You implied it!"

"You implied that bit about Will!"

"I…" James stopped. He and Natalie had both stood up and were about an inch from each other's faces, but were yelling as though they were across a Quidditch stadium. "I think we're taking our feelings out on each other."

Natalie deflated and sat back down.

"We are…and I feel horrible. I'm sorry, James, I don't mean to say these things. It's just that I'm so confused. Nothing that I thought was true is real anymore…it's been a depressing night for me. I've been lied to my entire life and now they tell me because I suddenly have to do what they want."

"Listen, Nat, I'm not one to stay silent about my opinions, so I'm going to tell you mine. I don't think that what your parents did is such a horrible thing. It was obviously something that caused a huge rift between them, and I think that it's amazing that they overcame it and decided not to tell you until they absolutely had to. I know this sounds harsh, but your real dad died, and while I'm sure he did love your mum, he's not the man that raised you. Uncle Ron is a great guy, and he really loves both you and Aunt Mione. Now, as far as this having to do what they want thing, who says we do?"

Natalie looked up. James's face was flushed and he looked excited.

"Well, how can we get out of it? I mean, the entire future of the wizarding world depends on us getting married."

"Oh, come, on. You listened to your dad that time he came in to our DADA class to tell us about prophecies! He said that you can always choose whether or not you want to fulfill the prophecy, but it can't be one of those 'I'm in two minds about it' things. It's one way or the other. That's why your dad went with his. He didn't want to have to be either murderer or victim, but more than that, he didn't want everyone to be terrorized when he had the chance to stop it. We can stop this, but it has to be true. We can't act one way about it while we doubt our decisions. Now, if neither of us can do that, well, we'll just have to think of something then, but how's this sound…we're leaving for Hogwarts in two days time anyways, and its not like they can keep tabs on us while we're there, so how about we just keep on dating Ana and Will, but every time they're around, we'll pretend to be all mushy and love birdish?"

Natalie opened her mouth then paused.

"You know, James that sounds like such a stupid plan that it has to work."

"Erm…ok I'll take that at face value and pretend I only heard 'James that sounds like a plan that has to work.'"

Natalie laughed.

"Sooo…we're agreed?" James asked, holding out his hand.

"Agreed to what exactly?" Natalie asked.

"That we'll stick to our decision, whichever it may be, about this prophecy. No going back."

"Agreed." Natalie said, and shook his hand.

At once, a ball of light surrounded their clasped hands, and, no matter how hard they tried, they couldn't release the other's hand. Natalie whipped out her wand, but she had scarcely taken aim at their hands when the light quickly faded away. James jerked his hand away at once.

"What the bloody hell was that?" He asked, rubbing his hand.

"I don't know!" Natalie said, looking panic stricken.

"Well, I think we'd better find out!" James said.

"Look, James, don't get all high and mighty with me, okay? I'm just as scared as you are, and just because I don't know what that thing was, that's no reason to snap at me."

"Sorry, Nat, I just don't have a good feeling about that light thing."

"Well, there's really nothing that we can do about it now, so I think it would be best if we just tried to sleep and then we can figure this thing out in the morning."

"What do you propose we do in the morning?" James asked impertinently.

Natalie glared at him.

"You're a real jerk sometimes, you know that?"

"I know. It's fun." James shrugged.

Natalie sighed.

"Well, I don't know about you, but I plan on going home."

"Really? Even after what they did to you? Two minutes ago you were still burning with 'righteous' resentment."

"I'm feeling differently now." Natalie said stiffly, walking to the door.

"You don't want to spend your last night before seventh year being angry at them, do you?" James asked, in a satisfied tone.

"No, I don't. But when you think about it, you don't either."

Natalie smiled as she shut the door, leaving James feeling confused.

o---------------------------------------------------o

When James woke up the next morning he went downstairs where Tom told him that Natalie had already left.

"Thanks, Tom, here's my pay for the night." James sighed. He'd hoped to be able to catch Natalie before she went home. Their conversation last night had left him confused, a feeling that he didn't like at all. However, Natalie had left, and he planned to go home as well. He knew that his Mum would still be at home, probably helping Ella pack, and that his Dad would be at the Ministry working, so he didn't really need to worry about being confronted about his actions. Of, course, thinking back on those thoughts once he got home, James realized that he should have known better. He'd scarcely gotten through the fireplace when he was bombarded.

"James! You're here! I got terribly worried when Hermione called to say that Natalie was home and you weren't here yet! I called your father at work and he said that we needn't worry, and of course Nattie wouldn't tell us where you were, she said she didn't know, and Hermione said she and Ron didn't want to force her because of the situation, and oh don't you dare do that again!" Ginny was done with her rant and was now looking positively angry.

"Erm…hi Mum. Listen, I know you're upset, but I don't want to talk about this right now, and I kind of need to pack so if we could just continue this later---?"

"No." Ginny's eyes were fairly crackling with rage, and her face was turning red. "You are not going to go anywhere until we talk. You are just like your father, do you know that? Of all the insolent things to do, and the irresponsible thing at that! You didn't stay here and try to talk about your problems, you ran. Your father did it, so I really don't see why I was surprised when you did. Maybe I thought the Weasley side had influenced you a little, but I see that I was wrong. James, what happened? You always used to talk things out with us. Your dad and I made it clear that it was important to talk about these things, not to keep them bottled up and run away from them."

"I panicked, ok, Mum?" James rubbed his forehead, "I was scared. I don't want to be in a prophecy. I don't want to have to marry Natalie. I love Ana! Ana's a great girl, Mum. Everyone knows we're practically engaged! Besides, think of how it will look when Nat and I get engaged. We're cousins! I know, I know, not biologically, but still! That's just weird!"

Ginny sighed deeply.

"I know, believe me. I was so against it when I first heard about it, but it's been seventeen years and your father and I have been through every single book, every possibility, and there's no way around it, well, I mean, unless you and Natalie want to have terror reigning over the world, but, darling, if you do, that's okay! I—well I'm not going to say that I'll be happy about it, but I don't want to make this choice for you. This is something only Natalie and you can choose and I don't want to push you, but I had so hoped that you would make the right one."

James sighed. His mum looked so hopeful.

"Listen, Mum, Nat and I talked last night, and we decided that…that we'd give it a try. We don't know how we're going to, seeing as how the entire school thinks that we're cousins, but hey, what are a little rumor mongering and whispers, and ruined reputations compared to a Voldemort freak?"

"I know it doesn't sound very bright when you look at it like that, but I'm glad you and Natalie are going to try. I'm really very sorry about Ana, James, I know how deeply you feel for her, and she's a very nice girl. Okay, okay, interrogation is over. You can go pack now. Help Ella too, won't you? I've got to go over to chat with Hermione about some things. Nothing regarding to this, don't worry," Ginny said hastily. "She just needs a friend now."

o---------------------------------------------o

James trudged upstairs, and stopped by in Ella's room to see how she was doing.

"Hey Elephant." He leaned casually against the doorframe to her room.

"James," Ella sighed, "I told you to stop calling me that. That was years ago and Mum fixed my nose right up."

"Yeah, yeah. I'll just never forget the way you looked with an elephant nose. It was so cute."

"You would think so, since you were the one that gave it to me. I don't think I've ever seen Mum that mad. I can still hear her screaming at you about leaving her wand alone."

"Oh, I think I've seen her madder." James said darkly.

"Yeah, I heard." Ella said, folding her robes.

"Heard what?" James asked, standing up straight.

"The whole prophecy thing. Mum's kinda loud when she forgets I'm still upstairs."

"Ella!" James swore, and crossed the room in two strides. He pulled her around by the shoulders until she was facing him "Promise me that you won't spread it around! Please, Ella, this is serious! If anyone finds out---"

"Jeez, James, lighten up. I can't believe you'd actually think that I would tell. I'm not a little tattle tale, James. I know how important this is."

James saw how upset Ella was, and quickly felt guilty.

"Sorry, Ella, I'm just kinda freaked. Actually, you might be able to help me."

"How?" Ella asked.

"I'm not sure yet…but Nat and I came up with a plan…let me talk to her for a bit and then I'll get back to you when we're at school. Oh hey, by the way, do you need any help packing?"

"Um…" Ella looked around her room, "No, no, I think I'm pretty much done. Go pack your own stuff; I know you haven't even started yet."

James laughed.

"You know me too well, sis. Sometimes I think you know me better than I know myself. Hey, thanks for not telling anyone, and I'll let you know if you can help me, k?"

"Mk." Ella watched as James left, then sighed, "I think I know you a little too well James."

o--------------------------------------------o

A/N: Ok, chapter two. Nice little teeny cliff hanger there. I'm gonna shut up now, just PLEASE review? I'd even welcome another 'EW! They're cousins!' thing about now. Lol I'm that desperate. PLEASE!