Chapter 16: Acquaintances

As they walked out into the Entrance Hall they saw Professor Dumbledore talking with someone who looked like an older version of James. He had thin grey hair that seemed to stand up on end exactly like James' did and Hazel eyes that were filled with worry for his wife.

"...a heart-attack is what they're saying. This is her second heart-attack and things aren't looking too good. They're even considering bringing a muggle specialist in to look at her. Frankly I'm not bothered about how they are curing her as long as they are curing her."

Dumbledore nodded sadly, his blue eyes had lost their twinkle as he glanced at the five teenagers by the doors.

Charlus Potter glanced over at where Dumbledore was looking. "Sirius, Marlene." He said walking over to them and giving them both a fatherly hug. He turned to the others and shook their hands in turn. "Peter, Remus it's lovely to see you again and you must be Lily Evans. My son has told me so much about you." He leaned forward and lowered his voice; "Although he tells his mother much more." Lily blushed as Charlus stepped back and a small, sad smile appeared on his face.

Both Marlene and Sirius, being the two of James' friends to know Dorea on a more personal level then the others invited him back into the hall where they could get him a cup of tea. Charlus politely declined the offer for James had just hurtled down the stairs his school bag on his back. The bag was devoid of books and instead contained some clothes including a bright pink pair of boxers that hadn't been packed properly and were hanging out of a side pocket.

He skidded to a halt next to his father and faced his friends. They could tell he had been crying. Marlene pulled him into a friendly, sisterly hug and muttered a few words of encouragement in his ear. Sirius, Peter and Remus all gave him brotherly hugs and Sirius transfigured a couple of quills into a bouquet of roses. James nodded his thanks, glad that he had such great friends. His father put a reassuring hand on his shoulder and they both turned towards the doors.

"Wait." The words were out of her mouth before she even had time to think. She knew she didn't know the family well enough to say anything without embarrassing herself, and although she still thought James was an arrogant toe-rag, no matter how annoying they can be nobody deserved what James was going through. Her steps resounded of the walls as she ran to catch up with them. James turned around and watched the redhead run towards him. Suddenly her arms were around his neck and she was whispering in his ear. "I'm sorry." She said and James wasn't sure if she was crying.

Marlene grinned inwardly at the sight of her best-friend and her childhood friend hugging. She resisted the urge to congratulate the two. She knew this wasn't the beginning. Lily had been tolerating James a lot more since September and Marlene knew now that they had just closed the gap and become acquaintances.

Lily dried her hair and flopped down on her bed. Marlene was finishing up on her Herbology homework her legs crossed and her tongue stuck out, her short hair was tied in a ponytail that looked more like a stump than anything else. "I hope Mrs Potter is going to be all right."

Marlene marked a page in her text book and smiled at Lily. "Dor's a tough one, she broke her leg once, and although it was healed straight away, the Healers told her to rest it and not do anything strenuous. Next day she was down at the Ministry protesting about Goblin Rebellions." Marlene smiled at the memory. "I have a picture somewhere." She jumped off her bed and ran to her wardrobe where she searched her trunk for what she was looking for. "Here." She brandished an old newspaper clipping and spread it out on Lily's bed. "This was taken when we started Hogwarts."

Lily looked down at the newspaper clipping and read the headline.

"The Next Generation." Under the headline was a dated picture of seven adults and four children. Three of the children were in Hogwarts robes and held their wands grinning proudly towards the camera. The caption under the picture read:

"From left to right. Top Row: Walburga and Orion Black, Michael and Joanne McKinnon, Charlus and Dorea Potter. Middle Row: Regulus Black and Martyn McKinnon. Bottom Row: Sirius Black, Marlene McKinnon and James Potter." The story under the picture was long and rather detailed.

"Three of the greatest wizarding families arrived at Platform 9¾ today to wave the next generation of witches and wizards off to Hogwarts. Walburga and Orion Black arrived via side-along apparition to wave off their eldest son Sirius Black. Ten year old Regulus Black (who will be starting Hogwarts next year) also came and waved his brother off. Famous Auror and celebrated Healer Michael and Joanne McKinnon arrived via hired ministry cars and also brought their eldest son, Martyn McKinnon (18) who graduated over two months ago and will be starting a tour around the world with his school friends starting in Russia then heading south through Turkey, then over to Greece and Albania. Charlus and Dorea Potter also arrived via ministry car having shared with the McKinnons. All three sets of families have been looking forward to this day for a while as it is very rare that three of the Wizarding Worlds most powerful families all have children attending Hogwarts together. Wouldn't it be astonishing if all three ended up in the same house? "Sirius will be in Slytherin." Walburga Black told this Daily Prophet Reporter. When asked why, her answer was: "Every single child who bares the Black name has been in Slytherin." The McKinnon's weren't at all bothered about Marlene's placement. "Although I was in Gryffindor and my wife was in Ravenclaw. I don't really mind where Marlene gets placed as long as she lives up to the McKinnon name." Marlene – when asked had this to say: "My brother was in Slytherin and I have an Uncle on my mother's side who was in Slytherin, I had a great aunt on my father's side who was in Hufflepuff. The McKinnon's have spread out over Hogwarts and like the Black family we have had a McKinnon as Headmistress, wherever I am placed I hope to live up the McKinnon name." Charlus Potter had this to say; "Where I was in Gryffindor and my wife in Slytherin, there is no doubt in my mind that James will be placed in Gryffindor." James agreed with this statement. It has recently come to this reporters attention that two of the next generation are related. Dorea Potter nee Black is Walburga Black's Aunt."

Lily looked up from reading she could see the similarities between James and his mother but she could also see some of Sirius' mother in her as well. "I didn't know Sirius and James were related."

Marlene nodded. "Second Cousins or something like that I don't know if you ever get a chance to research the Black Family Tree take a headache potion or something as it's really confusing. I think the Blacks have connections to the Potters, Longbottom, Malfoy, Lestrange, Weasley, Bulstrode, Crabbe, Crouch..." She ticked off each name on her fingers. "There's probably loads more but I can't remember them all. It's the reason why we are dying race. There's not many Pure-Blood Families left that haven't merge with the Blacks."

"Can you add McKinnon to that list?" Mary laughed from her bed, she and Bex had arrived when Lily had been reading the newspaper clipping. Marlene blushed. Mary patted Lily on the shoulder. "You're not corrupting our little Lily-kins with talks of pure-bloodiness?"

Marlene shook her head smiling, "Nah Sirius is just a faze until I settle down with a nice Muggle Boy who had a degree from Oxford or Napier."

Lily smiled but she couldn't help thinking about the complicated politics of Pure-Blood families.

"Trust me on this, if you turn around and come towards it we can trap it, then at least one of us will get it, I don't know about you but I'm starting to get really uncomfortable after sitting on this broom all day."

"Trust Me." Normally if someone from the rival Quidditch team said "Trust Me" Regulus would've laughed and done exactly the opposite but because it was her... Regulus sighed and shook his head. He tried to focus back on his Potions. He had his OWLs coming up in a couple of months and he didn't have time to dwell on things that happened in the past. What mattered now was getting through his OWLs and telling his parents of his decision.

The bell rang signalling the end of his potions class and he gathered up his books and bag and followed the rest of the Slytherin's up to their Transfiguration class. She was in there talking to Professor McGonagal about something or other.

McGonagal gestured for her next class to take their seats whilst she continued her conversation. Regulus groaned how could he try and concentrate on his life when she kept popping up. He had always found her fascinating and he wasn't sure if he was attracted to her pure-bloodline or her power. He remembered once in the Duel club, he had been in first year and she in second. Unfortunate for her she had been partnered with Lucius Malfoy, a sixth year at the time surprisingly it was a really good fight and Professor Livingston often paired them up just to demonstrate things. He had been fascinated that a second year could hold her own (and defeat a sixth year). He buried his head in his hands in attempt to drown out her voice. He knew what his mother would say if he told her of his feelings. They start drawing up a marriage contract on the spot. He groaned, he'd just be happy with being acquaintances but his parents always have to write things down, more often than not in blood.

"Mr Black kindly refrain from sleeping in my class in nine weeks you will be starting your exams, there is no time for slacking." Regulus looked up she was gone and McGonagal was staring down at him her eyes narrowed, the Hufflepuff's they shared their class with were trying to hold back their laughter.

Without James, mealtimes and lessons were a fairly morbid affair, no-one could really think straight. Peter, Remus and Sirius still went out on Monday night – James had left his cloak – but they didn't enjoy it as much as they would have, they didn't want to explore anywhere new with one member of their group missing. Even Lily was missing his smile and his practical jokes – even though she didn't admit it aloud.

Tuesday was even worse as it was James' seventeenth birthday the was a huge party planned that night in the Gryffindor common room, only it didn't feel right celebrating in the end every single person in Gryffindor from the youngest 1st year to the oldest 7th year held a two-minute silence praying for James' mother to have a speedy recovery.

The news they had been waiting for arrived during lunch on Friday. It was addressed to them all – including Lily and was delivered by the Owl that delivered the first letter.

"Sirius, Peter, Remus, Marlene and Lily.

Thank you for your kind words and wishes and please know that they will always be with us. My mother has always had a weak heart and we knew after the first heart-attack last year that we would need to prepare for the worst. It has happened. My Mother passed away peacefully in her sleep last night, both father and I were there as was Marlene's Mother. Joanne has been a rock both for me and father and we are eternally grateful. I will not be returning to Hogwarts until after the Easter break as there is a lot to do here and I need to help my father with the arrangements. I would like all five of you to be there for her funeral and father will get in touch soon.

Thank you once again and I know that no matter how sad I am, I always feel you guys there for me.

James Prongs Potter."

Marlene cried softly and buried her head in Sirius' arms. Lily sniffed and stared down at her food, she felt awkward for being there and being classed as a friend. Peter pushed his plate away refusing to eat another bite he blinked hard trying not to cry. Remus brought out his wand and with a nod from Sirius who followed suit held it into the air and lighted the tip of it creating a candle. Everyone at the Gryffindor table knew the sign and they all stopped what they were doing, stopped their talking and laughter and joined in the silent salute.

Professor Dumbledore looked down at the lighted wands and knew immediately what had happened, he added his own and felt his colleagues beside him add their own lighted wands.

Soon word had spread around what the Gryffindors were doing and the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs joined them. A few Slytherins added their wands but mostly they just stayed silent in respect.

The whole School gave a silent prayer for James and his family.

A/N: This one is quiet short but I couldn't think of what else to write that didn't ruin the mood I had just made. (Or hoped I made I mean I cried when I wrote James' letter but then again I cried at the Simpsons Movie) All facts about Dorea Potter and Walburga Black I got off the Black Family Tree and on the Harry Potter Wiki site, It isn't confirmed if Charlus and Dorea Potter are actually James Parents but I just went with it. I've started to add Regulus a bit more because I have plans for him *evil laugh*.