A/N: Thank you for your lovely reviews, they keep me going!

This is the new Revised Version of the chapter as previously I had accidentally deleted a chapter so I've popped the missing section here! Sorry if I've confused anyone!


"Oh please!" Sirius sneered. "Do you really think that we're going to fall for that when Lily and I are sitting right here?"

The two Mimicks stepped into the glow of the fire. Perfect copies of Sirius and Lily looked down at the sad group of glued and dirtied teenagers.

"Oi! Prongs! Are you seeing this? They think we're real stupid!"

"Actually, no I can't." James replied evenly facing what he thought was Sirius but was in fact a tree stump. Sirius was actually crouching next to Rosie a little further away from the stump.

"Oh, right. Sorry mate." He turned back to the Mimicks. "What a bunch of opportunistic bastards!" The Mimicks probably felt insulted because they pulled wands and advanced on them.

Lily gasped. "Cheats! I don't even have a wand and she has a wand!" she would have pointed at her copy were her hands not glued to James'.

"Immobulus!" Yoanna flicked her wand and the Sirius Mimick dropped to the floor. Seeing that they weren't as helpless as they'd appeared the other Mimick turned to flee leaving her partner behind.

"Hey! We're not done with you yet!"

Rosie gave him a shove and he fell onto his butt. "Will you shut up!"

"Don't let it get away!" James ordered.

Yoanna reacted immediately and cast a Locomotor Mortis spell onto the Mimick, it landed with a thud, its legs bound tight.

"Say hello to our Guide." James grinned in despite of himself.


The group made their way awkwardly. Yoanna was in lead with her wand trained onto the submissive Mimick. James and Lily came next and Sirius and Rosie brought up the rear bickering all the way.

"Will you watch it!" Rosie hissed at Sirius after she tripped over a root for what seemed like the hundredth time. "You'd think that you were the one who couldn't see!"

"Have you got some kinda of hate quota to fill or something?" Sirius replied tersely and heaved Rosie back into her feet with his free hand.

"No, I've just got issues with you!"

"Bloody brilliant!"

Lily hid a smile and returned her attention back to helping James along. In front of her she could see the back of a red head. Every now and again the Mimick would turn around and look at her in the most peculiar manner. As if she didn't feel rough enough as it was! She had a living counterpart of a mirror to remind her that she also looked it all the way.

"Can't you change into someone else?" she asked disconcerted as it looked at her again. The Mimick did noy look at her again although it continued to lead them through the forest as Lily.

"I trust you all have reasonable excuses to be out of bed and in the Forbidden Forest." Everyone froze and stared unbelievingly at McGonagall, they had reached the edge of the forest!

"I thought not." The collective shock of the sad bunch must have been provoked some sort of sympathy from her because the corners of her mouth softened ever so slightly and she motioned for them to follow her.


Madame Pomfrey had quite a job cleaning them up and it wasn't made any easier with the constant flow of chatter between her patients. The continual stream of visitors was not making her task any easier. She had already thrown Remus and Peter out several times but they always managed to sneak in again once her back was turned.

"It could have been worse...three hundred points isn't that bad..." James tried convincingly but gave up because three hundred points were a heck of a lot of points. "We'll make up for it by winning the Quidditch cup." He determined.

"Sirens? I can't believe I missed the Sirens!" Peter wailed still unable to get over the fact that he didn't get to meet one. He was leaning with his elbows propped up on James' bed where James and Sirius sat propped up. James still had his eyes bandaged and Sirius was technically not hurt but he kept insisting there were hidden pains just so he could stay for a while longer. Remus was on a chair beside the bed. Lily, Yoanna and Cerise were also sitting comfortably on the next bed that the boys had pushed closer so they could join in on the semi reenactment. Madam Pomfrey would pull out her hair later when she found out that they had rearranged nearly all the furniture in her small ward but for now they were safe because she was on her lunch break.

"We finished that conversation five minutes ago, Wormtail. Next time I'll make sure I send you an invite." Sirius unconsciously wiped at his mouth again.

Yoanna laughed. "Like Lily said: you guys deserve it." She laughed again as Sirius gave her a mock look of grief. She had become surprisingly chatty and loud after their return to the school. Yoanna let out a huge sneeze before she could stop herself. "Excuse me!" she sniffed and wiped her nose. Since they had gathered she hadn't been able to stop her sneezing. "I think I must be allergic to something." She explained to them. "Do you have a pet? Maybe a cat or a dog with long hair?" she asked Remus because he was sitting nearest to her.

Remus blushed and shook his head. The other Marauders and Lily burst into laughter which Remus smiled sheepishly at.

"Yeah, but Rosie said that there was some strong stuff in their spells. And us boys being mere mortals, how can we not fall in the trap?" Sirius said drawing attention away from the hairy subject. "Talking about her, where did she go?" Apart from the group the ward was completely empty. Nobody had a clue.

"So what's been happening during our absence my dear old Moony? Anything interesting while we've been having fun with the live counterparts of every beast and plant we've learnt about in our lessons?" The Forbidden Forest was truly magical in every sense from its bestiary to botanical content. The group was also shocked to learn that they hadn't been in there for hours but for just under two days! It had an entirely different continuum altogether.

Remus nodded. "There is something rather interesting."

"Oh?" James raised his eyebrow.

"We have a new student in our House." Now this was new news. It was very rare for students to transfer to a different school even in the early years and it was almost unheard of for one to join in the last year. "There's more. He's a Squib."

"Kind of defeats the purpose coming to a School of Magic doesn't it?" Yoanna scratched her head.

"Must be more to it." Lily agreed.

"Sure is. He's pureblood. His parents are some bigwig wizards. And rumor has it that the only reason he's here is because he needs protection." Peter nodded as Remus explained.

"The Dark Lord?" James ventured.

"That's right. You-Know-Who." Remus nodded. "He's got some sort of amulet embedded in him. Quite gross really, I saw it when he was showing it off to some girls." He made a face at the memory of the green jagged jewel lodged just under the skin. He tried his best to describe it but nobody could imagine what it looked like.

"How many times have I told you?" Madam Pomfrey screeched from the doorway surprising them all. She was an amazing when it came to healing and one of the nicest and most loving members of staff yet she was also one of the most dangerous and none dared to cross her path if she were in a bad mood. Everyone was moving at once, Remus, Cerise and Peter got up hastily and began to back out whilst Lily and James tucked themselves back in bed. "You, young Mr. Black. It's about time you went back to classes." She neatly hooked a finger around his collar and began to tug him towards the main door.

A pained expression filled Sirius' face. "But I'm feeling shaky still-"

The doors of the Infirmary flung open and guy with long sandy hair limped in, his arms circled around his stomach as he doubled over in pain. "Ma-Madam Pomfrey!" he called weakly. Madam Pomfrey's nurse instincts kicked in straight away and she released Sirius and went straight to him.

"That's him." Peter mouthed to James and Sirius. None of the group moved as the guy was led onto an empty bed.

"It's hurting!"

"Aw, poor you. Here, just lean back while I go get some herbs. It will ease your pain." Madam Pomfrey hushed before running off.

"Is he all right?" Yoanna tried to peer over.

"Hel-lo!" the sandy haired boy sat up, propped up by an elbow. "Actually, I'm fine but I was feeling a tad stifled with all the attention." He tossed his head back to clear the hair that had fallen in his eyes and pointed beyond the doors of the Infirmary where they could hear a faint chatter of girls. "I'm Brent Weston." He introduced with a very white grin.

"That wasn't very nice you know." Lily said ignoring his self- introduction. "Madam Pomfrey doesn't deserved to be lied to, she genuinely does care for students."

"I'm sure she does, especially for the one who'd been chosen." He said offhandedly while giving her a once over look and then moved onto Yoanna and then Cerise. James could tell that this guy wasn't going to end up as his best mate.

"Chosen?"

"Yes, Chosen. Chosen to carry the Amulet." He said marveling at his own importance. To show them what he meant he untucked his shirt and exposed his stomach to them. As one they all flinched at the abnormal glow of something green just below the surface of the skin above his belly button.

"What's going on?" James reached up to undo his eye bandages hoping he could see but Lily reached over and slapped his hand away.

"Well, as much as I would love to stay ladies...& gentleman, but I think the people may have cleared off now and I really must get going." He gave them a casual wave and slid off the bed and was gone.

"Absolutely spiffing he was wasn't he?" James said copying his accent and demeanor. James had grown up in a well off upper class family and those brief words with Brent had made even he feel extremely unrefined. "That guy hasn't got a clue." Lily's mouth twitched like she was about to smile and she was glad that he couldn't see her responding to his imitation.

"What's his name again? Bent West?" Sirius cracked a grin.


A/N: Not much happens in this chapter I know but there is a new character and I'm sure he'll prove to be interesting. And just in case it seems like I'm jumping all over the place adding random bits to the story...I am! But rest assured it does all tie up...eventually. Would it be blackmail to say that if you review more then I'll write more??? Hehe! Nah, I'm just kidding, being silly and looking for a blame for my writer's block. xXx

Next chapter will have a bit of temper in it I think; high time James did something to earn a little of Lily's favor!