"Look at this."
Remus handed Jamie the Daily Prophet, and Sirius leaned over her shoulder to read it.
'Ministry Blames Recent Muggle Attacks on Peter Pettigrew'Below the headline, a moving photograph of Fudge smiled reassuringly and spoke with reporters.
"Bullshit," Sirius muttered. He continued to smear large amounts of jam onto his toast.
Jamie's eyes narrowed and her mind wandered back to last year's Triwizard challenge. Curses and jinxes that had illuminated gravestones and Cedric's cold, empty stare flashed across her mind. Then, the grotesque form of Voldemorts reborn body rising out of the cauldron. Peter Pettigrew's nervous laughter. Those searing scarlet eyes.
Her scar suddenly burned and she clasped a hand to her forehead.
Remus pursed his lips and poured her a glass of pumpkin juice.
"Thanks Rem," she said distractedly.
"This is ridiculous. The ministry can't deny that he has returned!" Sirius angrily stuffed toast into his mouth.
"I don't know…Fudge just wants to believe he hasn't returned….and as long as he can still hold onto the lie, he can make everyone else think the same thing."
"But why? Doesn't it make much more sense to prepare while his forces haven't completely assimilated and gained more strength?"
"Don't you see Sirius? He is so afraid – many people are – that if Voldemort is back, what that would mean. It means that things will return to what they were like 15 years ago. Always having to look over your shoulder, wondering if your family and friends will be alive next week…," Jamie trailed off, leaving each to their own thoughts.
They continued to eat breakfast in silence, as they were the only ones at the single table set up in the Great Hall. Students would be returning tomorrow from their holiday, laughing and carefree, unaware of the forces gathering outside the castle walls.
The grim silence was broken by the flapping of wings as Sirius' owl landed with a 'thud' on the wooden table. He unceremoniously held out his leg and presented Sirius with a letter.
Sirius untied the letter and began to read to himself, "It's from home…from my mum…"
"Jay, did you finish your essay for Potions?" Remus turned to Jamie.
"Yeah."
"Could I take a look at it?" Remus asked timidly from behind the curtain of his ashy brown hair.
Jamie raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Is Remus Lupin the Second asking to copy homework?"
"No, of course not, I just want an outline to work off of. I'm too tired, and my focus is leaving me already," Remus said quickly in his defense.
"Calm down Moony. Of course you can," Jamie said. Remus gave a small smile as thanks.
"You're not feeling too bad, are you? Full moon tomorrow night, right?"
"Yeah. And I'm fine, just tired," Remus winced at the mention of the full moon.
"Guys, get a load of this. Read." Sirius slapped down the letter from his mother onto the table for the two to read.
Dear Sirius,
How are you feeling? I hope everything is all right. Your father and I were worried when we received your owl that you didn't want to come home for the holidays. Are you okay?
Father isn't enjoying work much. The Aurors are having a difficult time of tracking anyone that is a known Death Eater or anyone that may be associated with Voldemort. They've set up more protective spells on Muggle towns last week than they have in the past month. Voldemort is gathering forces. I can feel it.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed your Christmas. Did some of your friends stay with you? I can't tell you how important friends are right now, and how difficult it is to find people to trust. How is the Potter girl? She must not be feeling too well right now with what's being reported in the Prophet. Make sure to be nice to her, that poor dear. Did you know that your father and hers used to be friends? That was a long time ago. They also had another friend named Lupin. I believe he has a son at Hogwarts, too. He might be a bit of a loner, keeps to himself? Remember not to judge people based on anything you think you may know about them. I know your father has spoken poorly about the Lupins in the past, but please, remember to keep an open mind. It brings back memories of when your father and I were at Hogwarts.
Hoping you are well and keeping up your grades.
Love,
Mom
PS: I found this while cleaning that mess you call your room. Thought you might like to have it for safe keeping and away from any prying eyes here at home.
"What in the – ?" That was all Remus had time to say before Sirius shoved the photograph that his mother had included in the letter into his face.
It was a picture of Remus, Jamie, and Sirius in their fourth year, arms slung around each other, laughing and waving frantically.
"Nice job, doofus! Leaving that laying around your room!" Jamie smacked Sirius' arm.
"How was I supposed to know she would find it in that mess!" Sirius said defensively.
"Don't you guys see what this means? Your mother admits that our parents actually knew each other, that they were friends even! Look at the way she refers to how important friends are. She knows, not only from Sirius' stupidity of leaving the photograph lying around, but somehow she knows that we know something happened in the past." Remus reread the letter a third time.
"Hmm. Sounds like she doesn't mind that we know each other," Jamie mused.
"Yeah. She never said anything against Lupin. Then again, dad never said anything about Remus' dad in front of me either. I used to overhear them arguing. Always sounded like my mom would defend Lupin and get angry at my dad. I never said anything. Whatever it was, it really pissed him off."
"Yeah, my mom always seemed to get more angry with my dad than anything else. Said he was acting childishly, especially at a 'time like this' or whatever," Remus added.
"Hmm…I wonder then…it sounds like your mothers would have known each other since they both went to Hogwarts as well…you think they might have kept in contact? Secretly, that is?"
Sirius and Remus looked at each other.
"Dude. What if they had?" Sirius asked, slightly amazed.
"You have to write your mother back. Right now. But you have to be subtle. As subtle as she was. Damn, your mother's smart." Remus smiled at Sirius.
"Well, she was a Ravenclaw after all," Sirius said smugly.
"Whatever! Come on! Write!" Jamie looked excited.
For the next half an hour, the three poured over several pieces of parchment, crossing things out and rewriting letter after letter, paying close attention to how things were worded.
"There. I think we've finally got it."
Dear Mum,
I'm doing fine, jeez, stop worrying about me. Yeah, I just took some time to hang out with my friends over break, especially since one of them can't go home during break, and the other I can not see during the summer holidays.
Sucks about the Ministry. They're all idiots there. It's been especially hard for Potter (her name is Jamie, by the way) because she knows first hand that Voldemort is back. Can't believe that the country is eating up the crap Fudge is feeding them.
Friends with Potter you said? I've asked her, but obviously she doesn't know much about her parents' past. Anyway, she is a really nice person and has taught me a few tricks when it comes to dueling. There is a boy by the name of Lupin, his name is Remus. He's been a real help with homework, he's one of our year's top students. He tends to get sick often, but he's a really cool guy to have around.
Did you ever stay in touch with Lupin? Just a random thought, it seems like dad and he must have been pretty close then at one point.
I am keeping up with my grades, by the way.
Your loving son,
Sirius
PS: Hope dad doesn't see half the things in my room, especially the stuff under my bed.
"Can't believe you actually keep all of those photos under your bed," Jamie commented.
"Right next to my porn, but our memories are of course more important to me. But only by a little," Sirius said reassuringly.
"Why do I get the feeling that he's not joking?" Remus asked, as they watched Sirius' owl fly off through the window again.
"Ew."
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"Expecto Patronum!" Remus shouted the words as a silver wolf burst from the end of his wand and silently ran around the classroom.
"Well done Mr. Lupin!" Professor Todd shouted. "Black, your turn!"
"Expecto Patronum!" Sirius said casually, with his usual swagger. A giant dog erupted from his wand and charged Remus' patronus, and the two playfully pounced on each other.
"Oooh, it's so pretty Sirius!" one of the Ravenclaw girls swooned as Sirius threw her a small smirk. She blushed bright pink and the other girls gathered around her and giggled.
"Oh god…," Jamie moaned and rolled her eyes.
"Ms. Potter, you'll be the last one for the day."
Jamie turned away from the group of chattering girls, raising her wand, determined.
"Expecto Patronum!"
A silver lioness charged from her wand, sprinted to the end of the room, separating Sirius' and Remus' patronii and caused them to disappear, turned, and charged the group of girls.
Shrieks erupted as the lioness playfully growled and bantered the congregation of teenage girls, pushing and shoving to get away from the patronus.
"That is quite enough." Professor Todd made Jamie's silver lioness disappear as it gave one last growl.
Sirius and Remus and half of the boys from Ravenclaw and Gryffindor were caught in a fit of laughter. Jamie smiled satisfactorily.
"Never again, Ms. Potter," Mrs. Todd said harshly.
"Of course not professor, I have no idea what came over it," she said innocently. Profesoor Todd pursed her lips.
"Homework is to summarize the different ways in which to defend oneself against a dementor attack. To be on my desk by Monday. That will be all, class dismissed."
Sirius, Jamie, and Remus left the class together, still snickering.
"That was nice Jamie," Remus laughed.
"I can't stand girls like that. Sirius, you only encourage them!" Jamie said.
"I can't help it! With looks like these?" Sirius said smugly.
"Oh, I'm sure you think that's just hilarious Ms. Potter." A voice greeted them coldly from behind. The trio turned around to face the attacker.
It was the Ravenclaw girl, Jenny, that had given Sirius the compliment during class.
"You think you're so great, being able to conjure up a patronus and hanging around Sirius all the time. He doesn't even like you, you know, he probably only uses you for one thing, you little slut!"
Jamie's mouth actually dropped open and she nearly lost grip of her bag. Remus was stunned into silence. Sirius seemed to be the only one that could find words.
"Well, let me tell you something, Jennifer," he began. The rest of the class had gathered behind Jennifer and looked interestedly at where this conversation was going. "Jamie Lily Potter is one of my best friends. And just because you're jealous of her talent and the fact that she can hang around guys without giggling half the time and playing with her hair and fixing her make up doesn't give you the right to call her out. She is one of the bravest, caring, and most loyal friend anyone could ever ask for."
It was Jamie's turn to blush.
"And if you're really that curious, I've never slept with Jamie. But I'm sure she would definitely prove worthwhile in bed."
The Ravenclaw and Gryffindor boys began laughing again.
"But-but…why do you hang around such a filthy little liar? She's the one that started the rumor that You-Know-Who is back! You don't actually believe that, do you?" she whined pathetically.
"Jamie saw him return. Yes. I believe her. And anyone who continues to deny that Voldemort is back, needs to open their damn eyes and realize what's going on out there!"
This comment quickly sobered Sirius' audience.
"I believe he's back. So does my father," a dreamy voice drifted from the crowd.
"Thanks Luna," Jamie smiled weakly at her. Luna's huge blue-gray eyes smiled reassuringly.
"Let's go," Remus nudged the enraged Sirius in the back, and the three turned and walked down the corridor. They seemed to move as one.
Not a word was passed between them, but none was necessary.
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The end of January was nearing, yet there was still no reply from Sirius' mother.
"Maybe we pushed her too far," Jamie said and scooted closer to the dying fire in the Gryffindor common room.
"Yeah, maybe…"
Remus sighed and shifted uncomfortably. There was silence in the room for several minutes save the scratching of Sirius' quill on parchment.
"Oh crap. I gotta go see Snape," Remus said suddenly.
"You're right," Jamie looked down at her astronomy chart spread on the floor and noted that the full moon would be the night after next.
"I'll go with you, c'mon." Jamie and Remus got up as Sirius grumbled something about finishing his essay.
Remus and Jamie made their way through the almost empty corridors, meeting only one or two people and the occasional ghost. Jamie shivered.
"Cold?"
"No. Just thinking. Our parent's walked these halls. Caused their fair share of mischief in their day. Our teacher's probably walked these halls. Death Eaters. Voldemort himself. Think about all the secrets this castle has hidden for centuries."
The torches along the walls flickered to life. Occupants of several portraits began to shift around in their frames, attempting to find more comfortable positions for the night. Only their eerily echoing footsteps could be heard.
"What do you figure Voldemort is up to now?"
"I dunno. Probably recruiting werewolves and stationing them around the Hogwarts entrance."
They both laughed a little and before they knew it, they arrived outside of the dungeon and Professor Snape's office. Remus raised a hand to knock tentatively on the door.
There was a pause, then a cold voice drawled from inside.
"Enter."
"Good evening Professor," Remus said politely as they entered the tiny office. Jamie gave Snape a curt nod.
Snape only glanced at them and put down the black leather bound book he had been flipping through before he turned away and proceeded to fill a flask from the steaming cauldron of Wolfsbane potion. Jamie glanced down at Snape's desk and saw the Hogwarts crest engraved on the cover with the year 1978 in gold lettering below it. Jamie quickly looked away as Snape returned his attention to them, his black cloak billowing about him. He looked down his hooked nose at Jamie and Remus with particular dislike.
"Finish this by midnight, and return tomorrow for another dose," he said coldly.
"Yes professor, thank you," Remus took the potion from Snape. Jamie gave the old book one last glance before they quickly left the room.
"Did you notice the book on his desk?" Jamie asked immediately.
"No? Why?" Remus swirled the potion around the flask distractedly.
"It had the Hogwarts crest on it, and the year 1978 printed below it."
"So?"
"So…I don't know. It reminds me of those muggle books that students can order at the end of a school year. They call them yearbooks."
"Yeah, thanks, I took Muggle Studies too, y'know. So what?"
They climbed another staircase and out of the bowels of the castle.
"I dunno. It's just strange. Does Hogwarts keep records like that? I mean, I'm sure they must, in some form or another. What do you think Snape was doing with it?"
"Who knows. Probably not reminiscing all of the great Death Eater friends he had that are now in Azkaban," Remus said.
Jamie stopped.
"What's wrong?" Remus asked.
"If Hogwarts does keep records…what do you think we'll find under James Potter? Or Remus Lupin? Or Sirius Black?" she asked, an idea forming in her head.
Remus stopped as well and turned around to face his friend, reading her mind.
"If they do keep records like that…they'll be in the Restricted Section of the library…," Remus mused.
"I think it might be time to pull out my dad's cloak again…" Jamie grinned.
"All right. But it will have to wait. Right now, I don't feel up to any midnight escapades."
Remus eyed his potion grimly, uncorked the flask, and downed half the bottle. He screwed up his face.
"Disgusting."
Jamie barely noticed, wondering what they could find with a little help from Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs.
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A review or comment would reeeeally make my weekend.