James stood in a dark room with a single source of light, a lamp, Tom Riddle was sitting there, surrounded by bundles of books. There was a muffled moan coming from somewhere near, James turned and walked towards the source of the sound, there was a man tied to the wall by ropes, and his lips were sealed.

James walked back toward Tom and saw there was a photo frame, he recognized Aisha in it, James then looked at the books, they were all about death and after death and bringing back the dead.

Tom shut the book hard and stood and walked to the tied man, he looked at him for a few moments, in deep thought, and then raised his wand and killed him with the same green light.

"Now, we will see how correct Dumbledore was or he was just a stupid foolish," muttered Tom and then pointed his wand at the corpse and began speaking some chants in an ancient language, Latin probably.

James watched as Tom continued speaking, Tom's eyes were red, blood coming out from the side of his eyes and then from his nose, his hands shook but he continued speaking, and soon blood started falling from his mouth, his head jerking every now and then.

And then saw the corpse of the man give a jerk, then another jerk, Tom started reading the chants loudly and the corpse struggled as though wanted to break free from the ropes holding it, then there was a bang coming from Tom's wand and the spell broke as Tom was thrown back and the corpse become limp again.

"So close yet so far," said Tom angrily.

James saw the memories changing and Tom killing more and more people and using the same magic, trying to awaken them, he was not making inferi, James was sure, he was bringing them back to life.

"If only I would have part of her soul," said Tom through gritted teeth after he has killed a woman.

James couldn't believe that Tom was killing so many people just to get back at Aisha.

"If only I could talk to her and tell her what I have become," said Tom to himself and the captive in front of him groanes, Tom looked at her and raised his wand and killed her, this was the 8th kill. "Don't worry dear your death will not go to waste."

And then Tom began speaking again but James noticed this time the spell he was saying was different than previous spells and he kept saying 'Aisha Khan' while he held her photo in his free hand. The corpse of the lady began shaking violently and then stopped, her mouth opened. Tom stopped yet his wand at pointed at the corpse, he then began saying another spell a black thread of gas released from his wand, andstretched to meet the corpse's temple and then entered into it while the other end stayed connected to Tom's wand.

"Aisha Khan?" asked Tom hopefully.

"Yes," said the corpse without moving her mouth, chills went up James' spine. " You made a mistake, a grave mistake, you are breaking the law of nature."

"But I wanted to talk to you," said Tom desperately.

"Release me," said the corpse in a very dangerous voice. "This is not the correct means."

"Then tell me, what is? How can I bring you back?"

"There's no way to bring back people from death, and you will know about the means when the right time will come," said the corpse. "Now, leave me, release me, because you can't hold a free soul."

"I can't, I want to talk to Aisha," pressed Tom.

"Leave me," said the corpse in a dangerous voice.

"No, first talk to me," said Tom.

The corpse began shaking violently, Tom stepped back but didn't let her go, there was a loud explosion and the corpse exploded and burst into flames.

It was very horrible and James couldn't stand it anymore.

Tom shrieked in agony or in anger, the door to the room opened a bald man entered.

"What it is my lord, do you want any help?" asked the man.

Tom spun towards the man and without looking at him pointed his wand at him, "Avada Kedavara!" and the men fell to the floor.

James sat up with a bolt, panting and sweating, it was a scary nightmare, very scary, the magic that Tom Riddle has used shook him to the core, Tom has killed about 10 people just for his experiments, and then used their bodies, so he could talk to a girl and bring her back to life. And the last magic where the corpse spoke was the most darkest thing and scary too, James was shaking.

James looked around he was alone tonight, he wanted Lily but she was not there, he looked at the clock, it was 2 in the morning. James laid back in his bed, and closed his eyes to sleep but instead the flashes from the memory flashed in front of him, James turned in his spot and tried hard to sleep but failed, his heart was still beating fast and the failure to sleep was making it hard for him.

He wanted Lily, but she is in her dorm, and he couldn't go up the stairs to the girls' dorm, then an idea came to him, he took his cloak, and map, wore his glasses, took his broom and entered the balcony, he climbed on his broom and flew, but found a barrier around the castle wall so he flew close to the wall, and started moving near the windows to look which was Lily's dorm window and then saw Felix sitting on a window, he moved there, thankfully the window was open, he prayed to all the gods and entered the room, nothing happened and he released the breath he didn't know he was holding.

It was just like a boys' dorm but even in the dark James could see that it was much cleaned and organised, he took a step forward and stepped on a book, he picked and opened it, it was Mary's so, she really was bad at this. Now he looked at the four beds, hangings were drawn on each bed.

Now, he realized why it was bad to break into the girls' dorm, it could end badly but thankfully hangings were drawn, but it made it difficult, which bed was Lily's?

Felix was awake now, she tapped on his leg, and he looked down, and the cat moved to a bed and pointed at it, James didn't understand, the cat returned to him, held his pyjama with her teeth, and pulled him towards the same bed and James understood, he moved toward that bed, and Felix released him, he stood beside the bed and looked at Felix who's bright eye retina's nodded and James removed the hanging and the same smell he could recognize anywhere reached him and he entered and saw Lily sleeping in the middle of the bed, he poked her two times, she opened her eyes and was about to shriek when James closed her mouth.

"It's me, James," whispered James, still not removing his hand, after a minute Lily nodded and James removed his hand, "Make space for me."

Lily slid and James lay next to her, he pulled her into him and held her tightly, and relaxed, Lily too without asking any questions hugged him tightly.

"Can I stay here with you?" he asked after three minutes.

"Yes, you can," said Lily kissing him. "Did you see another nightmare memory?"

"Yes," replied James.

"Was it really bad?"

"Really really bad and dark," replied James. "I tried to sleep but couldn't so I came to you."

"Now, you are here with me, everything is okay, focus here and sleep, love," said Lily running her hand through his hair and face.

"Thanks," said James as he buried his face into her neck and inhaled her scent, his insides felt warm and he closed his eyes and fell asleep with Lily's arm around him and his around her.

Both of them were woken up by a shriek, James opened his eyes to find Lily pulling the blanket over him and before it was put over his face he caught a glimpse of Mary looking at them.

"What is he doing here?" asked Mary.

"And how he got here?" asked Marls.

"What happened guys?" came the voice of Hestia as she came running from her bed.

"You all don't have to shout so much," groaned Lily rubbing her eyes.

James didn't come out from under the blanket as the girls continued arguing.

"For the last time, I don't know how he got here, okay?" shouted Lily.

"Now, James, explain it," said Marls. "How did you get past the staircase?"

"I came through the window via my broom," said James from under the blanket.

"And how did you know it was this dorm window?" asked Mary.

"Felix was sleeping there," answered James.

"And how did you know that this was my bed?" asked Lily.

"Felix told me," said James.

"Aww, good girl Felix," said Lily.

"You broke the rule James," said Mary.

"I know, but it's unfair, you lot can come into ours and I can't come here?" protested James as he sat up and looked at the girls.

"No, it's not," said Hestia.

"And you are not allowed to tell it to other boys," said Mary.

"Wasn't going to," said James.

"Can't you control yourself for a night?" snorted Marls, Lily smacked her.

"We just held each other and slept," said Lily.

"Whatever, now get out, James," said Mary.

"Okay, okay, I am going," said James shaking his head and then kissing Lily, "Will see you later."

"Yeah," replied Lily.

The Marauders were all sitting in the Hogwarts ground in the evening, a week has passed since the time travel, and tonight was the night about which Dumbledore has said they will enter the Chamber of Secrets, along with a few Aurors and other skilled people.

"Why can't we go?" complained Sirius.

"Padfoot, it isn't necessary that each time we go on some dangerous adventure that you have to join," said James shaking his head.

"It is necessary, Prongs, I don't want to miss out on watching a big snake being killed," said Sirius.

"You have FOMO," commented Remus.

"What's that?" asked the other three boys.

"Fear of Missing Out," said Remus.

"So, what, I like action, I live for action and girls," winked Sirius.

James shook his head, "Dumbledore will not allow it."

"And Padfoot you should focus on Marls and not actions, she was really angry," said Peter.

Sirius looked at him with a warning look but the damage was already done.

"Why is Marls angry?" asked James, when he saw her in the morning she was normal, but he didn't get to see her after that and now he comes to think of it he hasn't seen any of the girls.

"Padfoot might have kissed someone," said Remus.

"We were on a break," protested Sirius. (A/N: Ross is here ;)

"What I don't understand," asked James looking at Sirius.

"We had a fight two days ago, and then there was this girl and she has gotten angry since then," said Sirius.

"You are really an idiot Sirius," said James, his brother's instinct rising. "You don't go kissing a girl after having a fight with your girlfriend."

"We had an intense fight, okay? And she said she doesn't want to talk to me," said Sirius. "So, I thought it was over, and I went to Hogsmeade."

"You just didn't stop at the kiss, did you?" asked James, and Sirius looked down. "I think she saw you there, didn't she? She has asked for the cloak that day."

Sirius didn't said anything. "I thought it was over, why wasn't she clear about it."

James shook his head, "You may be good with girls but you don't understand them, you act stupid."

"Padfoot, Mary and I had fought too, and we were clear about it, but that didn't mean I go and shag another girl," said Remus.

"I don't understand all these things, okay?" said Sirius. "And you can't blame me, I had said at the start to her that I am not interested in a long-term relationship."

"I don't have time to give you a class on these things, I have to go and check on Marls and then go to Dumbledore," said James standing. "But it seems like you are afraid of commitment, Pads, you are afraid of the past, and that is a stupid thing."

James took out the Map and found Marls alone near on the other side of the ground near the lake, Lily and Mary were in Gryffindor tower. James pocketed the map and ran to the lake, and found her sitting on the edge with her legs half dipped in the water, he pulled up his jeans and sat beside her in the same way.

"Oooh, the lake is cold, I think the merpeople would have made it cold to face the heat," said James.

"Nah, I think it's work of the giant squid," said Marls.

"Or maybe Dumbledore would have fancied swimming and made it cold to get rid of heat," chuckled James.

"Or, he might have done it for Minnie," said Marls.

"It's possible, but I would be really disappointed if Minnie came to swim in the lake and I didn't know about it," said James and Marls laughed.

"So, you found out about it?"

"Yeah, just talked to others and found out," sighed James. "He is really stupid at these things."

"Looks like our roles have changed," said Marls.

"What?"

"Before, Lily, my best friend would use to turn you down or break your heart and I would use to help you but now, Sirius, your best friend breaks my heart and you are here to help me,"

"Marls, you are my cousin, and you are the most important part of my life, don't tell Lils, I said the same thing to her in the morning," James said and Marls chuckled. "We both are closer than even siblings, and I will be there for you."

"I know, you are the best brother," said Marls.

"So, you forgive me for breaking into the dorm today?"

"No, I am not forgiving you for that,"

"You know that Sirius is afraid of commitment, he thinks he will fail, he is afraid of it because of his family, his past," said James.

"I know James, and that's why we fought too, I was not angry at that but then I catch him with another girl just the next day, and I am not forgiving him for that," said Marls.

"He is stupid at those things," sighed James.

"Look, James, I know but I will deal with it my way," James nodded.

"I am here for you," said James and Marls hugged him, James patted her back. "You are just as stupid as Lily, holding all that pain inside you, and putting on the brave face."

"Like you do differently," said Marls.

"Hmm, we all suck at it, don't we," smiled James. "And my shirt is wet again."

"I have given you my shoulder to cry on before when you were hurt by Lily's rejection," protested Marls.

"Hey, don't bring me in between," said a voice near them. "And I never hurt James."

Marls scoffed as she pulled away from James to look at the approaching figure of Lily, a mischievous look in her eyes. "She is such a big liar."

And the next thing they know James was in the lake, wet from head to toe, and he had held Lily as she pushed him, bringing her with him, and Lily held to Marls and thus the three of them were all wet, laughing.

"I didn't plan to get myself wet too," said Lily shaking her head and wiping her face.

"Thanks to me, I made you wet and that too here," snorted James, Lily hit him playfully but before she could pull back he has caught her wrist and pulled her and then lifted her above him. "Tell me I am wrong."

Lily turned red, "You are wrong," she said with a smirk, James raised his eyebrows and gave a kiss on her neck.

"Liar," he said.

"You didn't understand me," said Lily and then whispered something in his ears,"You always make me wet no matter the place or time," which widened his eyes and he grinned widely.

"You both are gross," said Marls and James and Lily just smiled at her.

James let go of Lily, as he saw two elder people going towards the castle, Lily and Marls followed his gaze.

"You nervous?" asked Lily.

"A little," replied James.

"Don't worry, Dumbledore will be there," said Marls and James gave her a smile.

James stood in the girl's bathroom in front of the sink, Dumbledore beside him, along with 5 aurors and 3 people who knew all about Basilisk and know how to defeat it, one of them was holding a cage with 5 big roosters.

"You ready, James?" asked Dumbledore and James nodded.

He took a deep breath and made the sound he had heard Tom Riddle make, the sink opened

"In here, Professor," said James, Dumbledore went into the pipe first, then the 3 basilisk specialists entered, and then James, who was followed by the Aurors.

Soon, James landed on a damp floor of a dark stone tunnel large enough to stand in, the others around him.

James and Dumbledore lead them, James was familiar with the path so he walked without worry while the people behind him talked about Slytherin and the chamber.

Dumbledore suddenly stopped James and others stopped behind them, James know what Dumbledore has seen.

"It's just the shed of the basilisk, sir," informed James and Dumbledore nodded and began walking through the tunnel again.

"It must be a giant snake!" James heard one of the Aurors.

And then, at last, as they crept yet another bend, James saw the same solid wall ahead on which two entwined serpents were carved, their eyes set with great, glinting emeralds.

"This is it, we should be alert now, though the snake will be in the mouth, but we can't take the risk," said James, and others nodded, he then made the same sound again.

The serpents parted as the wall cracked open, the halves slid smoothly out of sight, and Dumbledore, walked inside, the others following him.

They were standing at the end of a very long, dimly lit chamber. Towering stone pillars entwined with more carved serpents rose to support a ceiling lost in darkness, casting long, black shadows through the odd, greenish gloom that filled the place.

Dumbledore walked ahead, James just behind him, and the others following and gasping but not speaking. Then, as they draw level with the last pillars, a statue high as the Chamber itself loomed into view, standing against the black wall.

"The basilisk is just inside the mouth," said James and looked at Dumbledore who was looking at the statue with amusement, James suppressed his smile.

"Are you all ready?" asked Dumbledore to others who all nodded, "Remember not to look into its eyes, and avoid its fangs. Now, James, you can open Slytherin's mouth and be ready to turn and run and not look back."

James nodded and made out a little different hissing sound, and he prayed that it works, and it worked, Slytherin's gigantic stone face was moving. Horror stuck, James saw his mouth opening wider and wider, just like in the memories, to make a huge black hole.

And the basilisk was stirring inside the statue's mouth, it was slithering up from its depth to see the cause of the opening of the entrance of its home.

"It is coming, be ready," James said loudly.

"Go back James, now," said Dumbledore and James followed his order, he could hear the hissing, it was angry hissing, the basilisk has realised that there was no Heir of Slytherin, so he was now going to kill them all, and then he heard music, it was eerie, spine-tingling, unearthly, and as James ran, he saw flames erupted ahead of him, the hat, the sorting hat falling to the ground and Fawkes appeared and flew towards the basilisk.

James picked up the hat and ran to the entrance and stopped there he heard a loud, explosive spitting sound from behind him, and the crows of the roosters and angry hisses of Basilisk and its body hitting the floor and the wall hard and wildly, again and again.

He turned with eyes barely opened and saw that the phoenix was attacking the enormous snake's eyes and had punctured both the bulbous yellow eyes, blood was streaming to the floor, and the snake was spitting in agony.

"It's very strong, Albus, the crows of the rooster are weakening him but not able to kill him," said a man as he ran around holding a rooster and escaping being hitten by the snake who was hitting as it heard more crows.

Dumbledore was attacking the snake with many spells but of no use, the Aurors were protecting the roosters and attacking the snake from time to time, but the snake was still strong, though the crows were weakening him.

"It will take ages to kill it by just crows of roosters and these tiny spells," shouted a man who was skilled in Basilisk, "It's ancient and very strong."

And then the phoenix flew over James and started circling him, and James felt something long and hard in the hat, James saw a gleaming silver sword had appeared inside the hat, its handle glittering with rubies the size of eggs.

James pulled out the sword, and Fawkes flew lower and extended one of his legs for James, who understood and grasped it tightly with his free hand and the next moment he was flying in the air, towards the snake.

"Stop hitting the snake with spells," shouted Dumbledore as he saw Fawkes carrying James.

The Phoenix landed James on the head of the Basilisk, James held the snake's head tightly with his legs as it shook beneath him, James then hold the sword with both hands, acting on instinct, raised the sword high in the air and hit the top of the snake's head with the tip of sword with all his strength, moving his entire upper body with the sword.

The sword pierced the snake's head, and warm blood started flowing out from the spot, James pulled out the sword again as the snake made a painful hissing noise and then attacked a different spot with all the force he could gather and the sword pierced the snake's head at a different spot and blood started flowing.

And then the snake was falling and hit the floor with a loud thud.

James breathed as though breathing for the first time since taking off with Fawkes, he got off the snake and pulled the sword with him.

He looked at Fawkes flying nearby and smiled, "Thanks, Fawkes."

"Well done," beamed Dumbledore.

"What will we do of its body, Albus?" asked one of the men.

"We will leave it here because otherwise it will raise the suspension and I don't want Voldemort to find out the Basilisk is killed," said Dumbledore.

"And later it can be used as proof of Hagrid's innocence later," added James.

"Excellent point, James," smiled Dumbledore. "Now, you do deserve an award for this, so take 50 points for Gryffindor and we will award you later when we will announce it to the world, and now I need a good sleep, I haven't been able to do anything but think about this since evening."

James entered the common room to find Lily and Marls there, sleeping in a sitting position next to each other on the couch, by the looks on Marls' face she had cried and that broke his heart, Sirius, he thought and shook his head.

He poked Lily and shook her before she was awake, she saw him and a little blood which he hasn't cleaned and gasped but nevertheless jumped on him, and he caught her though was a little shocked, she wrapped her legs around his waist and kissed him deeply.

After that when James could no longer hold her, he put her down, "Why are you both here and was Marls crying?" James asked.

Lily explained to him that both of them had waited for James and fallen asleep, and the others were here too, but soon Sirius and Marls started fighting and Sirius didn't accept his fault fully until Marls said that now their relationship is over, Sirius was both sad and angry and left, the boys followed him and Mary too went with them to explain Sirius, Lily had stayed here with Marls.

James flicked his wand thrice, and the couch expanded so that Marls was comfortably asleep and had a blanket over her and the couch was moved to a corner.

"So, how did it go?" asked Lily.

"Let's go to bed and then talk, okay? And I have to change and shower too," said James, and they both entered in boys' dorm which was filled with the boys' snores, Lily settled herself on James' bed while he went into the bathroom.

James returned and explained everything to her, Lily wasn't that worried because she knew Dumbledore would never let James get harmed.

James woke in the morning, and he noticed a letter on his side table, unopened, Remus or Peter must have taken it from Sage and put it here because Sirius usually opens all James' letters, despite James' warning. He took the letter and started reading it, and his heart sank.

Lily sat with Marls for breakfast, Mary was sitting on the other side of Marls, the exams for the sixth years were to start tomorrow, they weren't that worried about it as the exams were only to check their preparation for the N.E. next year.

The marauders bar James entered the great hall, Marls ignored Sirius who was looking sad, Remus sat beside Mary and the other two boys beside him.

"Where's James?" asked Lily after five minutes when James didn't arrived.

"He said he is not hungry and will see us in Charms," answered Remus.

James was in charms class but was quiet, and Lily didn't get the chance to talk to him as Flitwick told them important spells and questions for exams.

The whole day passed like that as students revised for their exams.

Finally, in the evening Lily found James in the corner of the common room studying potions notes, she sat beside him, and he gave her a smile before turning back to his potions book.

"James, what's wrong?" she asked softly.

"Mum and dad are in St. Mungo's," he replied, Lily got tensed. " I found a letter by Eugemia, my mum's sister, Marls' mum and she told me that my parents came across a dark artefact while a raid and were injured and their old age didn't help, they have dragon pox too, it surfaced after their immune was weakened by the dark artefact.

"They are admitted in St. Mungo's for three to four months as the dragon pox is contagious, so they need to be there before it can be made non-contagious," James grimaced.

"I am so sorry James."

"It's okay, it's just that they are old, and dragon pox at this age is bad," said James.

"Both of them are fighters, they will fight it and win," assured Lily.

James nodded, "Yeah, it's just I will not be able to meet them till the dragon pox is contagious, so I have to wait."

"Did you know what kind of dark artefact it was?" asked Lily.

James shook his head, "It had dark magic for sure, it is being examined by the ministry."

The next week took forever to pass, Peter was the most nervous as he didn't like exams at all, but who actually like them, well one can say, Mary and Remus, they were being called 'the nerdy couple' by Sirius, Marls smiled at this but she instantly covered the smile.

James found the exams quite tough, especially the written part, and the most difficult exam was Herbology, having not prepared for it properly. The reason being he was more focused on other stuff, and then there were extra lessons with Dumbledore.

He was happy and relaxed when the charms exam which was the last exam was over.

They were all in the Transfiguration class and Minnie was giving out their results, when the turn of James arrived she stopped and looked at him with disappointment.

"Only an 'E' in transfiguration, Potter, I am disappointed you should focus on the written parts, as N.E.W.T.s include both written and practicals. And you have barely passed Herbology, Mr, Pettigrew has done better than you," she said shaking her head.

"Sorry professor, will do better next time," said James apologetically

"That's why you should not associate with a mudblood," someone said from behind where the Slytherins were sitting, James jerked his head towards them they were all snickering.

"No one will use that word in my class or in the castle grounds or it will be detention," said McGonagall angrily. "Mr Fenwick, here's your result."

James was still looking at the Slytherins angrily, Lily put her hand over his he turned to her, "Don't let them get to your head," she said.

"A few pranks before the holidays will not hurt, right?" James asked.

Lily smiled at him, "Don't overdo it."

James kissed her forehead, "I never overdo anything."

"Yeah, you underdo it," said Lily kissing his cheek.

"Please refrain from doing these kinds of things in class," said Minnie.

"Sorry Professor," giggled Lily.