A/N: You know, I've had 12293 hits on this story? Yeah, and 88 reviews. 44 people have this story on their alert list. So how come I'm getting an average of about four reviews a chapter? It's depressing. I need more reviews. They're like candy.

Meant To Be

"Couldn't stand your parents anymore, could you, Sirius?" Jessi smiled at the boy.

"What do you think?" Sirius grinned and leaned against the doorframe. "Can I come in?"

Jessi pretended to ponder this for a moment. "Hm…no, I don't think so."

A pounding on the stairs caused both children to turn. James appeared, looking slightly disheveled, his hair uncombed and sticking out even worse than usual. His shirt buttons were off, causing the right collar to turn up unevenly. He was only wearing one shoe, and his glasses were crooked on his nose. The sight caused both Sirius and Jessi to laugh hysterically.

"What?" James asked, oblivious. Jessi, still laughing, pointed down to his shoes, then to his shirt, and his glasses.

James looked down and flushed. He quickly re-buttoned his shirt, pulled on his other shoe, and straightened his glasses. He then walked over and pushed his twin out of the doorway, beckoning to Sirius to enter.

"Hey!" Jessi yelled. She pushed James, hard, and he fell back into a wall. He lunged at her, grabbing her knees and pulling her to the ground next to him. She grabbed the back of his hair and pulled up sharply. James's head was thrown back, and in retaliation, he bit his sister's hand.

"Ow!"

"Hey!"

"Stop it!"

"Jessi!"

"James!"

"Both of you, cut it out!"

The two immediately stopped wrestling and stood up. Mrs. Potter stood before them, a look of bemusement on her face.

"What's going on?"

"He pushed me!"

"She wouldn't-"

"I didn't-"

"But you-"

"Nuh-uh!"

Mrs. Potter sighed. "Hello, Sirius."

"Hello, Mrs. P." He closed the door and smirked at his friends.

"Jessi, dear, please do tidy up your room, your friends are coming today."

Sirius widened his eyes. "They are?"

James nodded and smirked. "Danica, Sabrine, and Lily."

The two shared identical, mischievous grins and ran upstairs.

Mrs. Potter gazed after them, looking faintly scared. "Jessica, dear, whatever is your brother planning?"

Jessi shrugged. "Who knows, mum. Who knows."

IIIIIII

"Jessi!"

"Sabrine!"

"Jessi!"

"Danica!"

"Jessi!"

"Lily!"

"Sirius!"

The four girls laughed. James hit Sirius over the head, and he pretended to be hurt. He clutched his head and walked around the room in mock-agony.

"It hurts! Oh, it hurts! Jessi, will you kiss it and make it better?"

Jessi smiled sweetly and leaned down. She punched Sirius in the shoulder.

"Ow! Sweet Merlin, that hurt! Gosh, I'm so abused…"

Jessi stopped laughing and glanced at James worriedly. He shook his head, clearly saying the 'abused' comment didn't bother him. Jessi could tell that it did, though. Why'd her father have to be like that? He had probably scarred James for life now…

"So, how's your summer been, Jess?"

Jessi shook her head and turned towards her friend, trying to forget about her father.

IIIIIII

She could hear him. He was walking closer, closer. She could practically smell him, the combined stench of alcohol and sweat filling her nostrils. She could feel James trembling next to her. What would he do if he found them? They were well-hidden, huddled in the miniscule spot between the big sofa and the wall. But what if he did find them? What if-?

His footsteps stopped now, heavy and threatening. She could see the tips of his boots from the crack underneath the couch. A low, threatening growl erupted from his throat, and he threw the sofa back, revealing the two children crouched, waiting.

He picked up the boy now, knocking the glasses of his face.

"Stupid kid!" he yelled, punching the boy in the stomach and throwing him to the ground.

"No!" The girl yelled. "Daddy, stop it! Please!"

The man turned to look at her, a menacing scowl plastered on his face.

"Stop? Excuse me? Whatever should I stop doing?"

"Daddy, please-"

The man laughed and pulled at his wand, pointing it at the boy, but looking at the girl.

"Crucio!"

IIIIIII

Jessi woke up screaming.

She quickly stopped, glancing at the three forms of her sleeping friends, and began to tremble. Seconds later, James rushed into the room, and over to his sister.

"Jess, Jess, what is it?" He pleaded, stroking her hair.

"James, it was horrible!" Jessi whispered. "You, and dad, and you were-"

"Jess, calm down! It was just a dream. Just a horrible, bad, dream…"

IIIIIII

When Lily, Danica, and Sabrine woke up the next morning, Jessi wasn't in her room. They glanced at each other before getting up and walking across the hall to James's room. The door was open, and Sirius was tying his tennis shoe.

"What's up?" He asked tiredly.

"Have you seen Jessi?" Lily asked him.

Sirius nodded. "Yup. Last night, me and James were talking about something, and all of a sudden he stood up and ran out of the room. I heard a scream, and he came back a few minutes later with Jessi. She was crying about something, a nightmare she had had, I think, and she fell asleep in here. They're probably downstairs, now."

The four went downstairs. They saw James and Jessi in the kitchen, talking seriously about something. When the two saw their friends, they sat up and smiled.

"Hey guys, what's up?"

The other four simultaneously, silently decided not to mention the events that occurred last night. They didn't want to embarrass Jessi. They all sat down to breakfast, joking and laughing like nothing had happened.

A/N: Short, I know, sorry. I'm just trying to finish this, because last night I had a dream that became what will eventually be the epilogue of this story. Let me tell you, I've never cried so much in my life…It's sad.

Reviews, please!!!