Chapter 7: Back to School

"I'll see you tomorrow." James said to Harry.

"Bye Dad." Harry said hugging his father then his mother. "Bye Mum."

"Have a good year." Lily said.

"I'll see you at Christmas if not before." Harry told her. He knew he was going to see his father before the holidays.

0000

On the train,

"I wonder what will happen this year." Ron sighed after the prefect meeting.

"My baby sister will be born." Harry stated.

"You know what it is?" Hermione asked.

"Mum got it checked out." Harry told her. "Mum and Dad have decided that her middle name will be "Lily" since mine is "James"."

"I was talking about what big suicide mission we'll be going on in June." Ron said. "You know. When at least one of us puts his or her life in jeopardy."

Everyone turned to Harry.

"I have no intention of doing that this year." Harry said. "Voldemort's gone and I have my family, AND a girlfriend. No suicidal thoughts."

"Anything from the trolley?" the trolley witch asked.

"Four of everything." Harry ordered for the car.

0000

After she left,

"It's going to be great." Ron said. "A nice, quiet year."

He opened his chocolate frog and looked at the witch or wizard he got.

"So," he said quickly as he tried to hide the card, "Who wants to sneak out of Hogwarts and look for Death Eaters?"

"Who is it?" Ginny asked trying to glimpse the card.

"No one we know." Ron said trying to keep it away.

"New one?" Harry asked. "Let's see."

"You don't want to." Ron said holding the card out of reach.

"Ron!" Harry said as Ron stood on his seat. Luckily for Ron, he was much taller than Harry.

Hermione and Ginny laughed at the scene the boys were making. They were acting like six year olds instead of sixteen year olds.

Suddenly, the card flew out of Ron's hand and into Harry's outstretched hand.

"Harry!" Hermione gasped. "You…you…wandless."

Harry wasn't paying any attention. He was reading the card.

"No one we know?" he questioned.

"I was trying to knock out that option." Ron explained.

"You knew this would happen." Ginny said reading the card over Harry's shoulder.

Harry Potter

Boy who Lived

Harry Potter is best known for defeating He-who-must-not-be-named twice and surviving him five times. He also tied for the title of Tri-Wizard Champion with Cedric Diggory. He made his house Quidditch team his first year thus becoming the youngest in a century. He enjoys flying and Defense Against the Dark Arts.

"How did they get the information?" Harry asked as he threw the card at the wall.

"Word of mouth?" Ron suggested picking it up and pocketing the card. "I bet a few people who work at the Chocolate Frog Company asked around."

"At least they said that you tied with Cedric." Ginny pointed out.

"How long have you been able to do wandless?" Hermione asked still on that subject.

"I didn't know I could do it." Harry told her. "Let's keep this a secret for now. Something tells me that more powers may come later."

0000

While Harry was having a good time at Hogwarts (aside from Malfoy taunting him about the card), in London,

"SPICA!" Sirius called when he came home to their flat. "I'M HOME!"

Silence.

"SPICA?!" He asked getting concerned.

More silence.

Sirius ran to the bedroom. Lately, Spica hadn't been feeling too well. For the past week, she had been feeling worse than Lily during the days of morning sickness.

He found her on the bed crying.

"Love?" He asked.

"I lost it." She whispered.

"Lost what?" He whispered praying that it was her wand or her ring. ANYTHING but…

"The secret." She sobbed.

"Oh no." He gasped as he went to her side and embraced her. "Shh. It's okay."

"I'm sorry." She cried on his shoulder.

"It's not your fault." Sirius said as he comforted her. "I'll take the day off tomorrow. We'll go see a muggle doctor so that the rumors won't spread. I be with you the entire day."

"You'd do that?" she asked.

"Anything for my girl." Sirius said.

"But…what about the still loyal death eaters?"

"I'm not the only auror."

"So…you still love me? Even though…"

"I've loved you for over 16 years Spica. I haven't nor will EVER stop."

"I love you, Sirius." She said as she embraced him and cried on his shoulder. "I'm sorry I lost it."

"I love you too. We'll get everything figured out tomorrow. In the meantime, get some rest. You had a hard day."

0000

The next day,

"Good afternoon class." James said in Harry's DADA class. "As you all know, I'm Professor Potter. Of course, last year you knew me as Professor Jarter. I'll also answer to Professor Prongs or even Professor James."

Harry rolled his eyes. His father was having way too much fun.

"I'm assuming you all know where Professor Lupin is." James continued, "So I won't go into detail. Now today, I'm going to teach you how to turn someone's hair a different color."

Hermione raised her hand.

"Yes Miss. Granger." James said.

"How will we use that in real life?" she asked.

Harry turned to Hermione and gave her a look.

You're asking a Marauder? Harry thought.

"Valid question." James said. "One: it's distracting to the victim. Especially if that person has a thing with hair. Two: it's entertaining on your part."

Suddenly the door opened and Sirius walked in.

"What do you want?" Sirius asked. "I promised I'd spend the day with Spica."

"Is she here?" James asked.

"Yes. She's waiting with Pomfrey."

They had already gone to see the doctor, and were now getting a second opinion.

"Good." James said waving his wand.

Sirius' hair turned bright pink.

"Very funny." Sirius said sarcastically. "You'll pay for that, Prongs."

He whipped out his wand.

"Cash or check?" James joked as Harry buried his head in his hands.

The two Marauders started pranking each other in front of the class.

"Eh HEM!" a female voice said from the door.

The two Marauders stopped and saw McGonagall and Spica standing in the door way.

"Hi Bushtail. Hi Minnie." James said. His hair was now a light blue.

"Two GROWN men. Having a prank duel in front of a class." McGonagall said. "What is this world coming to? And DON'T CALL ME MINNIE!"

This got half the class snickering. Harry was watching Sirius and Spica talk to each other with their eyes.

Well? Sirius asked Spica mentally.

I'm just fine. I guess it just wasn't meant to be.

Don't think that! It will happen someday.

"Thank you for the demonstration." James said to his best friend while interrupting the silent conversation.

"Is THAT what you wanted?" Sirius asked as he changed his hair back.

"Of course."

"Guys." Harry whispered to Ron and Hermione.

They leaned in.

"I just read Spica and Sirius' minds."

"You're a natural Ligilimens?" Hermione said

"Wicked." Ron said.

"No talking in class." James told them.

"Listen to the pot calling the kettle black." Spica said to her husband.

TBC

Tomorrow (or whenever the next chapter is posted):

"OUCH!" Lily yelled.

"What's wrong?" James asked.

"James. It's time."

"For…?"