A/N - DON'T SHOOT! I am alive, I come bringing a new chapter, I know that it's been almost a month (just one day under) I really hope you all enjoy it. Still Not Beta'd still looking.

This chapter covers a large time area and brings us into 1969. A lot happens I couldn't figure out how to flush it out more. James and Sirius have a bit more 'fights' (A term I use loosely) between James and Sirius.

Marley Busy

June 29, 1968

Sirius Orion Black

Sirius stared at the sky quietly, as he thought of how to thank his Uncle for allowing him to spend the night. He was glad he got to spend time with Marlene and found he quite liked Peter, James, however, did not like him but Sirius could deal with that. Though he did wonder what he did to insult the boy. But He did find it possible to insult a lot people by just simply breathing.

Or at least that was what he heard his grandfather discussing with Great Aunt Cassie a few months prior.

He located stars that his relatives were named after. It was an easy way to make himself fall asleep when his brain was too active. He was relishing his solitude when he heard a small sound from the door he turned to see a sheepish looking James Potter. It was late enough, Sirius thought, that James had probably already went to bed and got up again for something trivial like water. Sirius wondered how often the Potter boy was there. He seemed really relaxed at the McKinnon house. Sirius knew he probably wasn't even that relaxed with his Uncle yet.

He turned back to see James dragging hands along the carpet. A glimmer a few feet away from the boy caught Sirius' eye. James must have lost his glasses. Sirius uncurled from the desk chair placed in the window to see the stars and took the glasses.

"Here, I think you dropped these." He said giving the best smile he could muster. James stretched them from his hand.

"What did you do to them Black? Hex them," the boy asked arms not putting the glasses on yet.

"No, I just thought that you would like them returned to you; seeing as you are quite blind without them." Sirius explained.

"Likely, I know exactly who you are, we don't need your kind here." James said and Sirius despite himself became quite angry at that comment. He stepped up and pushed James back slightly.

"What exactly is my kind James."

"I've met Bellatrix."

"I am nothing like her."

"The point is, we don't need your help, Black,"

"I never said you did James."

"Marley doesn't either."

August 30, 1968

Marlene Mary Anne McKinnon

"Ryan, you do know that people walk on the ground for a reason. Right," Marlene shuttered as she watched the easy grin of her friend. He heald his broom in one hand and held his hand out for Marlene. Peter had decided to keep his feet firmly on the ground. Sirius had accepted the boys reasonings but turned a deaf ear to Marlene's protests. Today was day he would get to spend with his new friends until next summer. He was getting Marlene on a broom.

"Brooms are perfectly safe." He nodded streaching his hand out slightly more. Marlene shifted back slightly. James had taken her up on a broom before and it was less than an enjoyable experience. James took to much pride In hearing Marlene squeal In terror than to make sure his friend was having fun. Marlene had no idea how Sirius would fly but found the ground to be much safer.

"Come on Mary- Annie I know exactly what I am doing." He said and something in his eyes made Marlene take a step closer.

"Famous Last Words." Came the response from Peter who was digging in the nearby dirt.

"OY, don't be a spoil sport Petey." Sirius called taking Marlene's hand before she moved away. "It is perfectly safe. I know what I am doing." He smiled.

"Jamie said that too." Peter butted in once again making Marlene pull away.

"Enough from the Peter gallery ay'. Really Marlene I know I can fly better than James Potter." He spit the boy's name in venom. Marlene looked up with a reprimanding gaze. She opened her mouth but Sirius cut her off.

"I won't pull any tricks. Don't you trust me?" He said with wink. Marlene sighed and took his hand with a smile.

"I will tell Mum to put a healer on call." Peter chided but Sirius just rasberried back at the younger boy but tightened his grip so Marlene could not pull away. Sirius mounted the broom and tugged the younger girl on with him. He then slowly rose and began flying in lazy circles. Marlene yelped into his ear hiding her face in his button down dark green shirt. Her arms tightened considerably round his waist and Sirius wiggled ever so slightly.

"Need to breathe Mary-Annie." He said just loud enough for her to hear and the arms slacked. A bit her head however not resurface. He smiled and continued his circles with his feet just barely off the ground. Wondering how James Potter had made Marlene so scared of flying.

September 1st

Frank Jasper Longbottom

"Enough Mum," Frank groaned hitting his mother's ever tweaking hands away from himself. He had been readjusted brushed off kissed and hugged much more than any self-respecting eleven year old boy he knew and he was done.

"Frankie just one more spot." His mother said and he just accepted his fate. From across the platform he could see other children laughing at him. He tried to straighten his back to look more proud but it did very little in the long run.

"Mum, okay I am good, all done. Can I please get on the train now before I miss it? It's already five till," He sighed and Augusta Longbottom pulled her son in for one more hug.

"Oh hush Frank. Let me look at you. Merlin, when did you grow up?" She asked in a soft voice.

"Oh it has been a gradual occurrence over the past eleven or so years." He answered back and was hit upon the head for his trouble. The train whistle sounded and Frank was very glad that someone already helped him with his trunk so he just had to find a compartment, once his mother let him that is. A horrible thought crossed his mind; he was going to miss the train.

"Oh, the train is leaving. Time flies, off you go, write." She called after him. He ran to the train and plopped down in the first seeming empty compartment with a sigh.

Alice Gail Prewett

Hogwarts, Alice really could not believe she was on the train for Hogwarts. She had boarded at 10:30 in fear of not finding a compartment. This was an ill placed fear seeing as practically every compartment was empty. Except for the odd couple that wanted to snog or do other things, Alice shivered she was never, ever, ever, boarding the train early again. To pass the time she read the two overly long letters she had gotten from Marlene in the past few days. Apparently Marlene's friend Ryan was leaving the area and had taken her flying. It was quite clear in the tone of the letter that Marlene was less than amused. As time ticked on and it got closer to 11 am no one entered Alice's compartment and the girl wondered if she would be all alone on her very first trip to Hogwarts.

Her fears were quenched however when she was almost sitting on by a boy who practically ran into the compartment and threw himself into a seat closing his eyes. Alice managed to dive to the other side of the compartment at the last moment to avoid crushing. She glared though her bangs at the boy who had yet to apologize and cleared her throat. The boy jumped and clutched his chest in surprise. Alice may or may not have enjoyed his reaction.

"Sorry I didn't notice you…." He rambled and Alice huffed. Clearly.

"I am Longbottom," A raised eyebrow met his statement.

"Alice Prewett, Longbottom."

"Frank, I mean I am Frank. Frank Longbottom."

"Hi Frank, I am still Alice." He took her hand and kissed her knuckles in the proper manner he was taught.

"Enchanted," He smiled and Alice broke out in a fit of giggles that confused Frank to no end. However, he found he liked the brown haired girls laugh so he didn't mind.

December 30 1968

Marlene Mary- Anne McKinnon

Marlene groaned as she flopped at the top stair of the second stairwell as she discarded her shoes that she now saw as only pinchy. The New Year saw the girl at the mature age of eight Marlene and James were subjected to three hours of dance lessons every Tuesday and Thursday. Sirius who had taken dance lessons every day since the age of four sent back replies to his new friend's letters in a knowingly sarcastic tone. Apparently he found their situation nothing more than humorous.

Marlene saw Peter appear from his room and trek up to sit next to her. While Marlene and James had dance lessons Peter had extra lessons in History which so happened to be his favorite subject. Peter loved goblin rebellions and potions, something that Marlene or James never had much mind for. Marlene was much better at arithmetic and James at English. The last was something that Mrs. Pettigrew always lamented because Jamie constantly did not pay attention to lectures seeing as if he grasped even the basic concept his papers on whatever the lecture was would be perfect. As Peter sunk into the steps he smiled up at his friend.

"Just think Marley two days till the New Years Ball. Isn't Sirius going to be there too?" Peter said Marlene let out a sad sigh. It had been months since Marlene had seen Sirius, and though she missed him she would much rather be having him come over for tea than meeting him at a ball. It was Marlene's first ball and she was not sure she wanted to go at all. Jamie was of the same thought process. You see, Peter was not allowed to attend the ball; he was not of the correct status. Marlene and James, being quite close to Peter, found this fact appalling. James had even complained to his parents saying that if they always told him Peter was no different than he was then why was he not going. Now maybe James was trying to get out of going rather than get Peter invited but the thought was there. Marlene felt especially bad because despite Peter not getting an invitation his mother had one. She was to accompany Marlene and make sure the girl did not 'make trouble' as the girl was prone to do. That would leave Peter alone in the house for the night. This was a rare and amazing thing to the boy. An entire night to himself, seeing as he was at the impressionable age of eight and every kid he knew was attending the party, his plans consisted of staying up late listening to the wireless and consuming a plethora of candy for dinner resulting in a blissful sugary coma.

"Just because the Ball is coming up doesn't mean that dancing lessons will stop. Jamie stepped on my toes at least a hundred times today." Marlene whined and Peter smiled. The Potter's had only recently decided it was time to have a harder hand when it came to Jamie. Seeing as the boy was more spoilt than any other child Marlene could name. However Jamie rebelled against this act first by complains, then by tantrums, now by acting as if he were inadequate. Marlene would be fine with the boys plan if they did not consist of him purposely stepping on her feet. Marlene was a small girl, with very small feet. Jamie had humungous clown sized feet, which he would grow into. However the small girl doubted that at six feet Jamie would grow into his clodhoppers.

"A package came from your Father, and a letter from Sirius, they are both up in your rooms." Peter explained and Marlene pushed herself up two or three steps till she was on the third floor landing where she proceeded to flop ungracefully onto her back.

"Petey," She said rolling her head to look at the boy who had joined her in the act of staring at the ceiling. "If that dress is green," She began and the blonde boy chuckled.

"You know it's green Marley. It will always be green."

"I hate green."

"Really, I will alert the Prophet. This is front page news." Peter said before being assaulted by weak slaps to the arm. Though none hurt he made a show of running away.

December 31, 1968

Regulus Acustus Black

Regulus Black saw that in the months since his brother returned from his 'punishment' Sirius had become much happier. As if he enjoyed being sent away. This fact was unfathomable to Regulus. He had heard stories from Bellatrix how Uncle Alphard was nine thousand times worse than Grandfather Pullox who despised each and every one of his grandchildren equally. He always said there as a pride, an honor, an effortlessness, that came with being a Black and none of them carried it. Regulus who was always praised on his effortlessness by adults other than his Grandfather did not like the man all that much and attempted to get out of every moment he would be left alone with him.

An adult who was worse than his Grandfather would have to be horrible. And Sirius was alone with him for two months. Yet the boy seemed happy, ecstatic even when talking to his brother about his summer. He was smart enough not to mention it to his parents though. The boy also seemed to have 'learned how to act properly', as their father said, and rarely got in trouble for the trivial things he used to. Regulus Black was quite confused.

His brother was now apparently acting correctly but seemed not to care. He knew that before last summer the boy cared a lot about what their parent's thought of him. Something changed over last summer. Something that probably had a lot to do with all of the letters Sirius supposedly 'sent to Frank'. Yes, Regulus knew something was different when it came to his brother.

Something dangerous, and the newly eight year old wanted nothing more than or it to change back, he wanted his foolish older brother back and he had a plan.

James Charlus Alexander Potter

James Potter felt as if he were constantly in the way of something happening around his Grandfather's house. This was not a feeling he had a few days ago. This was of course attributed to the group of healers that had rushed Potter Manor in the early hours of the morning waking James up long before the sun began to rise over the horizon of the distant hills.

Unfortunately the eight year old had yet to fall asleep again. Meaning that the young boy was running on about five hours of sleep versus the ten to eleven he usually got. This made him quite tired as he sat in the parlor with a plate of cookies and a cup of milk very uninterested in the chess game his father had started with him. Then and again Charlus was not very interested either. The older man was jumping at every sound as if it held either hope or despair.

For the duration of the day his parents had been taking shifts keeping an eye on their son. Thirty minutes James spent his father and an hour and a half with his Mother. This skewed time schedule made James uneasy.

But you see James had a sickening feeling he knew what was happening, but he couldn't bring himself to voice his assumptions. It couldn't be his Grandfather, he had deducted in his childish mind to try and reassure himself of the unknown fear he knew both of his parents felt.

"It's your turn Dad," James said offhandedly not that he was really interested in the game anyway.

"Oh yes, sorry Jamie, queen to e5." He said though he did not venture a look at the board to do so.

"Dad, I took your queen three turns ago." James huffed clearly becoming quite annoyed. Attributed to both his father's distance and his own exhaustion.

"Wha..." Came the unintelligible sound from Charlus Potter as his attention was brought back to the board.

"So you did. Good play Jamie. um... Hum... let me think,"

"Dad," He said trying to pull the man's attention away from the game.

"I almost got it Jamie, just a few more seconds."

"Dad, stop." Jamie said a bit louder pulling his father's eyes from the board.

"Jamie," His father began.

"Dad, look is it okay if I go lay down for a bit, I'm a bit tired?" He asked. Charlus' eyes widened before he nodded softly.

"Sure Jamie, I will see you when you get up?" Charlus said with a soft smile and James nodded standing up and moving to go down the hall.

" Maybe we will have Garlow make us some treacle tart." His father said his voice still distracted not noticing James leaving the room already.

"Maybe," James said sending his father a half hearted smile before disappearing toward the room he always stayed in when at his Grandfather's he entered the room and walked to flop onto his stomach on his bed. He was completely drained and was asleep in minutes.

Alice Gail Prewett

"Frank Longbottom I…. I…. I…. I Hate You!" Came the loud screech from Alice Prewett as she stood soaked from head to toe in snow. She attempted to wipe the fine white snow from her robes but failed miserably as she huffed.

"No you don't Ally." Frank said from his place lying down in the snow. He reached his hand up for hers. She reluctantly took it and made to pull him up. Frank was quicker and more muscular so instead of him standing she ended up landing once again in the snow. She rolled to her back and made to get up once again but Frank stopped her. For the umpteenth in the two's short friendship Alice wondered what in the world was going on in her fellow Gryffindor's head.

"Frank," She questioned.

"Just relax Ally. Haven't you ever just played in the snow?" Frank asked, rolling over to raise an eyebrow at his friend.

"Well of course I have, I was unaware Pureblood Princes such as yourself played in the snow." Alice jibbed and Frank though his hands over his heart in mock outrage.

"You wound me Alice Gail Prewett," Frank exclaimed in mock hurt. Faking a large and overdramatic death that ended with his head on Alice's stomach.

'Really Frank, I am going inside and drying off." Alice pushed him off of her and sat up. Frank grabbed for her arm, his eyes pleading.

"Alright Ally I'll stop. You want the truth right. Well you see Sirius and I did this every winter. Lie on our backs and try to find shapes in the clouds, or have snowball fights." Alice sighed and leaned back onto her elbows.

"You miss him don't you," Alice asked.

"Who Sirius, nah, I hope he's okay though, needs better friends around him than his little brother." Frank shrugged as Alice twisted to lay her head on Frank's chest. Frank opened his mouth to protest but was cut short.

"If I have to stay out here in the snow for Merlin knows how long I am taking a hot shower afterwards, and I would like not to be shivering until I get there so my hair Is staying out of the blasted snow." The twelve year old huffed. Frank let out a laugh.

"It's not going to do anything Ally." He pointed out.

"Humor Me."

James Charlus Alexander Potter

A hand on his shoulder and a slight jarring motion opened the sleepy hazel eyes of the young boy. His hand shot up to rub his eyes as he let out a childish groan. A choked sob sounded above him making him open his eyes wearily. Above him he saw his mother's eyes heavy with tears and her face seemingly much older as it was devoid of a smile. He sat up quickly and thought of a million things to say. A million questions to ask, but as he opened his mouth to voice any of these thoughts it came out as a soft and broken.

"No,"

"He was happy Jamie, so, so happy." His mother said tears running down her cheeks.

"No" This time the word held more force as he practically ran out of the room and through the house. Taking the familiar path to his room. Arms shot out to restrain him from entering as he reached for the door.

"James, don't," That was his Mother again. How was she so close.

"You're wrong," He said softly tears now freely rolling down his cheeks. "I saw him not a week ago. He was fine, he was fine." James cried collapsing in the

"I know Jamie." Dorea Potter sighed tears streaking own cheeks. "I know." Soon James cried himself back to sleep and his mother carted him back to his room.

Marlene Mary - Anne McKinnon

"Ouch, that hurt." Malrene exclaimed pulling her head away from Mrs. Pettigrew who sighed and looked up to catch the girls' eye in the mirror.

"If you hadn't been rough hosing with Peter there wouldn't be as many knots." The woman chastised as she then returned to unwrapping the pre-wrapped curls disregarding the cloth as she went.

"Ouch, Jamie doesn't have to do this stuff, oww." The girl complained. Having been running around with Peter the curls had come ever so loose and knotted over the tightly pulled cloth.

"No he does not, that is because Jamie and his parent's are not attending." Mrs. Pettigrew smiled and began to work on the next curl. It was a slow process but it kept the two buy. Idle hands do Grindwals work and all that.

"Even if he was he wouldn't have to do this." Marlene retorted.

"Well dear, Jamie is a boy."

"I wish I was a boy." Marlene frowned.

"Why dear,"

"Because it seems like it is much easier. They don't have to get their heads attacked by cloth. Owwwww," Marlene wailed.

"Sorry dear, big knot, we're almost done now, just a few on the front." The woman explained as she the girl to face her. She undid the last handful of curls as quickly and painlessly as possible then raked the curls down and took her wand for a quick setting harm.

"There" she whispered placing her hands on Marlene's shoulders as she turned the girl back around and let her see.

"Much prettier than a boy right dear," Mrs. Pettigrew asked as she began to style the hair.

"I still think boys have it easier." Marlene complained before turning around with a soft version of what was supposed to be a hard glare. She crossed her arms to make her point but all Mrs. Pettigrew wished to do was scrape the girl into her arms and never let her go. The elder woman knew that the Minister's ball would change the simple world this child knew and wished to protect her from it. She moved to lay out the green dress robes and patted the girls head.

"I hate green," The child grimaced.

"I know dear," The woman nodded, "now be quick, we must be leaving soon and I have yet to finish your hair." She added, leaving the room and shutting the door behind her. Marlene sighed and moved to grab the dress. It was fairly simple with a white bodice and a silk green straight skirt. She slipped it over her head slowly making sure to catch the thin straps. It was delicate and held a softness to it that the majority of tea length robes the child wore. She ran her hands down the sides and moved to look into her mirror. There was a knock on the door with a question of entrance. Marlene answered back softly straightening her back the door opened to reveal Mrs. Pettigrew. Marlene slumped ever so slightly as if releasing a pent up breath.

"Marlene," The woman's voice was soft and delicate and Marlene stiffened once again. She knew that tone. The I am sorry, but tone. Marlene hated that tone it never preceded any news the girl wanted to hear.

"Come sit," The woman pressed and Marlene did as asked carefully not to wrinkle her dress. Even though she knew a quick spell would take away the wrinkles. Sitting at her vanity at finding Mrs. Pettigrew pulled a blue rounded box from inside her simplistic dress robes.

"Your father was supposed to be here to tell you this weeks ago. But seeing as he has become overwhelmingly busy he asked if I would mind. I do, but that is not the point. You see Marlene, well." Mrs. Pettigrew stumbled. Marlene looked back question evident in her eyes. Mrs. Pettigrew attempted to try and explain politics to an eight year old.