Hey guys! Chapter six is done…as you all can see! This marks the tiny beginning of the plot. Voldemort has finally come into the open and the wizarding world got a taste of what he can do. I want to thank my beta reader mellyone for helping me out and also I want to say that I'm not JKRowling. Heck! I'm not even a woman, I don't live in Edinburgh, I don't have children and all my money goes away with a bag of chips but I heard they delete stories if the owners don't repeat it enough.
Chapter six: The dark sign
Four weeks had passed since James stepped foot in Hogwarts. With the start of October, the autumn cold came and everybody was freezing. Eating breakfast in the Great Hall, James saw many students coming with more than two sweaters covering them. Even some of the professors were constantly placing heating charms even before the last spell's effects wore off. When James wanted to talk to Remus about the sudden cold, he saw him staring at the paper.
"What's wrong?" James asked.
He had to repeat the question to get Remus's attention.
"Read for yourself!" Remus said pushing the Daily Prophet in front of James.
The cover had a moving picture. James learned from Lily that muggle images stayed still all the time. He wondered what the point of that was. The picture in front of him had a ruined house glowing with a greenish color. Above it, in the sky, was a green skull with what seemed like a snake coming from its mouth. The title said: MUGGLE ATTACK IN LONDON. FAMILY OF THREE KILLED BY EVIL DARK LORD, DETAILS ON PAGE FIVE.
"Did you read it?" James asked.
Remus shook his head "No I just got it. We'll read together."
James nodded and opened the newspaper.
THE DARK LORD STRIKES!
Last night a muggle family was attacked and killed by the new Dark Lord. Neighbours say five people popped out of nowhere on the street. The attack was fast and lasted no more than ten minutes. The cause of death was the killing curse. It seems that after killing them, one shouted some word and a green flash came out of his stick (known to wizards as wands) and a skull drawing with a snake appeared on the sky. Aurors didn't find out what spell was said although no curse like this has ever been heard of before, not even the great Albus Dumbledore could figure it out.
"Hey did you see Dumbledore at the table last night?" James asked.
"No but I didn't think much of it because he always seems to go to the Ministry." Remus replied.
James looked at the professor table where McGonagall was saying something to Dumbledore and pointing at her own newspaper but he said a few words and continued eating without looking. James turned to read the rest of the article.
Witnesses say one of them, he appeared to be the tallest, came in the middle of the street making a threat. Aurors helped us out and we can tell you exactly what those words were.
"The time of the Dark Lord has come. Behold the first victims! Along with them will come many more. Those who stand in his way will suffer the same fate. Those who want to join us will be welcome as long as his blood is clear. Beware enemies of the Dark Lord!"
We will keep you in touch as we get news. If you have any leads on the new Dark Lord please send them to us.
James looked at Remus when he finished reading. Remus had his usual pale face he had when something was wrong.
"So these guys just come and say "Hey, the Dark Lord sent us. We want to say that you all will be killed but good news! You still have a week to live. See you then!"? I mean that's sick!" James said frustrated.
Remus nodded "And not only muggles are targeted, muggle borns, half bloods and others too!"
"I'm sorry! I know your mom is a muggle so that puts you on the list too."
"Yeah." Remus whispered "I can't believe this!"
"If it makes you better, know that I'm on the list too. My parents may be pure-bloods but everybody knows how connected to muggles they are."
"How exactly does that make me feel better?" Remus said annoyed.
"I don't know! Maybe because I can understand you better."
"No you can't! No one can!"
Just then Sirius's laughter was heard from the other side of the table. Peter's hair had been transformed into green. He was holding his cup of pumpkin juice so Sirius must had slipped a potion in while Peter wasn't looking.
"Look how happy they are! They don't have anything to care about! All they do is have fun, fun and more fun." Remus said disgusted.
"I don't know. Black already has three howlers and he still didn't move to Slytherin. And if I heard right he won't ever move. Every time he sends a request to the governors, the owl gets lost. I think Dumbledore has something to do with this."
"Yeah but he could go there or put his parents to do it."
"Maybe but Dumbledore sure as hell won't allow him to move!"
"Why though? I would love it if he moved!"
"He knows Black is better than this. I feel it too."
"And Pettigrew?" Remus said irritated.
"He's just Black's pet. Wherever he goes, "Petty" goes with him."
"Alright so what if he can't move? What then?"
"Didn't you hear his mother barking in the whole Hall? I bet they disown him."
"Come on, James! He's still their son" Remus said looking at Sirius who was still laughing at Peter "Acts like one too!"
"I guess! I still want to break him though, make him see the truth."
"Why is it so important to you that he changes?" Remus asked frustrated.
"The hat said something to me that made me think. It's like if Black changes there will still be hope for me."
"Eh? Hope?" Remus asked.
"Never mind!" James replied going in his own little world again.
Ten minutes later James felt Remus crushing his feet.
"Remus please stop killing my feet." James pleaded.
"Sorry but look!" Remus said pointing at the girl running out the great hall.
James gasped. That was Corinne crying.
"I wonder what made her cry." He said turning to Remus.
"Go find out!" Remus said.
"Now?"
"Now!" Remus yelled exasperated "Be her friend! Take care of her! Hug her or something!"
James nodded although Remus could see from his face that he wasn't actually thrilled with the idea.
James ran out after her and the moment he left the Great Hall, Sirius came looking like it was Christmas to him.
"Did Potter run out to comfort her?"
"Yeah why?" Remus asked curious.
Sirius laughed for a while, tears almost coming out of his eyes.
"Was this your idea?" Sirius managed to ask.
"Sure" Remus shrugged.
"Dear God Lupin! I judged you wrong! You are brilliant!"
"Huh?" Remus asked puzzled.
"Potter is the most horrible person with women. He can't even talk to them right. I heard him yesterday talking to Evans about buggers. Two weeks before he almost set her on fire!"
"He what?" Remus asked shocked.
"Not really but Evans thought so. He just wanted to make a horse!" Sirius said laughing.
"And yesterday?" Remus inquired
"He was telling her that it was so cold he was glad that his bugger kept his nose warm. Then he started telling her a joke about them."
"Dear God!" Remus said shocked.
"Lupin I know it's not my business but I suggest you keep Potter away from girls." Sirius said shaking his head laughing going back to Peter at the other end of the table.
Remus turned shocked to the door hoping James came out saying he changed his mind.
When James spotted Corinne crying by the lake he still didn't know what to do. "Be her friend" he thought remembering Remus's suggestion. He walked behind her hoping to scare her. "That's not right!" he said shaking his head. He let go of his idea and decided just to go see what her problem was.
"Hey!" James said awkwardly when he got to her.
She stopped crying and looked at him. Her eyes were red and her hair was all over her face. James smiled and gently pushed it out of her face. Well, not so gently because he accidentally hit her nose.
"Sorry!" he apologized.
She laughed a little already familiar with his clumsiness. "It's ok!" she said.
James grinned a little "So why are you crying?" he asked.
She sighed "Here! Read this!" she said giving him a letter.
"Dear Corinne,
I'm sure you read by now in the newspaper about the attack. What you don't know is that a while after it happened, we received a dark letter with that horrible dark sign on it. It came from one of the Dark Lord's followers. He or she said that our family is targeted and that we have to choose between joining him or die. You know how against evil I am so I refused him. Don't worry; I've already spoken to a Ministry official so we'll be relocated somewhere safe. I don't want to pressure you but I'd like you to think about leaving Hogwarts and come live with me. I sent a letter to your father and he says it's a good idea. Please think about it and give me your answer. I love you sweetie! Mom."
James looked up to her. She was washing her face with the water from the lake.
He tried to think of something a friend would say. "You shouldn't use lake water. Somebody could have done something in it."
Maybe he should think more about what he says before he says it…
"Corinne," he quickly said "I'm really sorry!"
She shrugged "It's not your fault!"
"What are you going to do?" he asked her.
She looked at him for a minute trying to decide "I don't know! I guess I'm going to stay!"
"Yes!" he said happy.
She raised an eyebrow "Why are you so happy?"
"Well, because you get to finish school! That's the most important thing!" he lied.
She couldn't help but giggle "And because you're such a good friend and care for me right?" she asked winking at him.
He blushed a bit "What are friends for eh?"
Remus was going crazy searching for James. He went all over the castle but still couldn't find him.
"Where could he be?" he asked frustrated to nobody in particular.
"Who?" A person behind him asked.
Remus turned around and saw Evans. He remembered the kiss on the cheek she gave him on the train ride. He didn't like her but her presence always unnerved him.
"Lily." He greeted.
"Remus." She responded "Who are you searching for?"
"Oh! I'm looking for James."
"Why?"
Remus answered with the first thing that came to his mind "Because I lost him."
"You lost him?" She asked incredulous.
"He went after this girl but I think he'll do something stupid." he said.
Lily thought for a moment "The blonde one?"
"Yes, how do you know?"
"I saw him at breakfast running after her. She seemed upset." She said worried.
"Never mind that now! Do you know where he is?" He asked.
"Did you check outside?"
Remus smacked his head "I knew it!" He screamed then took off.
"Wait! Can I come?" She asked.
Remus stopped and looked at her "You mean with me?"
Lily stared at Remus "Well, yes! Can I?" She pleaded.
Remus shrugged "Sure. I guess you could come along." He said shrugging again.
"Good! Let's go!" She hurried him off.
Remus looked like he just awakened and ran off to find James.
James stared at the beautiful lake. It felt so peaceful, so quiet something that will be rare in the future with the new Dark Lord coming. He looked to his right and saw Corinne lying down on the grass. It took him a while to calm her down but he did it. Now more than ever he felt nervous around her. Her father told her she's going to die in three years now this happens? He felt so sorry for her. Sorry and attracted too.
"James?" She called.
"Yeah?" He responded.
"Aren't you cold?"
He smiled. He offered to take off his robe so she could have something to lie on the cold ground. Sure he was freezing but it was worth it.
"Nah! I have thick skin!" He said.
"As thick as a feather!" He thought. All his willpower was going into not shaking.
"So what are you going to do when you grow up?" She asked
"Honestly I didn't think about it yet. I just want to live to get there you know?"
So it had been to perfect to be true…
As on queue, her eyes began to water and tears came down on her face.
"I'll never have a future!" She cried.
"Sure you will!" He said encouragingly "You will have a wonderful life with a husband and three kids. You won't die!"
Strangely, she began to cry more when James said that.
Luckily, Remus and Lily found that time to come rescue him.
"It's alright! It's alright!" Lily said going to calm down Corinne, which left Remus and James to talk in private.
"James what did you do?" Remus questioned.
"Nothing I swear! We were just talking and I mentioned death and she began to cry!" James replied running his hand through his hair "I just don't know how to talk to them!"
"James it's ok. You just have a lot of bad luck. Sorry mate!"
James sighed and looked again at Corinne and Lily "Why did you bring Evans?" He asked.
It was Remus's turn to run his hands through his hair "Um…she didn't give me much of a choice!"
James seemed to understand and smiled "Yeah…that's Lily!"
They both grinned at each other in a mischievous way.
"Now that everything is fine," James said checking on the girls who were hugging "let's go to the castle. I heard that third year, Mundungus I think, brought a big spider in his dorm. Want to check it out?"
"Yeah, maybe we could threaten him with telling the professors and get him to walk in his underwear in the common room or something." Remus proposed.
James liked the idea and laughed. Then after saying goodbye to the girls they headed back into the castle.
At the entrance Remus remembered something "Why was she crying in the first place?"
James's expression saddened "Her mother got a letter from that Dark Lord. Her family is targeted." He said not noticing Remus pale "I'm really sorry for her. Just imagine getting a letter that said how much more you're going to live! Her mother wants her to quit school and come live with her but Corinne wants to stay. I feel so sorry for her. If only there was something I could do but I can't! Not yet!"
"Yeah." Remus replied quiet. "What did the letter look like?"
"I think it was a black letter with the skull sign on it. Why do you ask?" James interested.
Remus shrugged "No reason." He said putting his hands in his pockets. In the right pocket he felt it. The dark letter lay there unopened.