It was evening by the time Madam Pomfrey let us all out of the hospital wing. Regulus, Peter, and Lily were waiting for us in the boys' dorm.

"You okay, now?" Regulus beamed. "Great!"

"We were never not okay," Sirius replied, flopping down on his bed. "Right, Prongs?"

"I seem to remember blood," I said. "A lot of it. That classifies as 'not okay' in my books."

Sirius pouted. "It wasn't even that bad."

"Sirius tends to play down his injuries," Regulus declared. "He'd say he was fine even if he was bleeding to death. That's just how it is with him."

"Believe me, I know," I muttered. "He barely even flinches under the Cruciatus."

Regulus grimaced. "He doesn't scream either."

"Are you still on about that?" Sirius asked crossly. "It's over."

"We'll stop," said Remus. "Oh! Open the window, there's an owl."

Lily walked across the room and opened the window, and a large, black owl flew in, carrying a bright red envelope. Sirius and I glanced at each other.

"EVIL LETTER!" Sirius shouted, tackling the Howler, which the owl had dropped on Regulus's bedside table. He only succeeded, however, in knocking the table over, losing the letter, and hitting his head. I made a grab for the letter, but it slipped just out of my reach. Sirius and I made a mad scramble to grab it, but it kept floating away from us. Suddenly, there was a loud ripping sound from behind us. Sirius and I both turned slowly to see Regulus was holding half of a Howler in each hand.

"Sirius said it was evil," he declared innocently, completely clueless about what he'd just torn in half. "I destroyed it for you."

Lily smiled bemusedly, Sirius and I continued staring, and Remus burst out laughing. "You are the only person I've ever met who's torn a Howler in half."

"That was a Howler?" Regulus gaped, looking between each half of the torn letter, then staring at the irritated owl. "Oh... that is Mum's owl, isn't it...?"

"Yep," Sirius grinned. "Don't know why I never thought of that."

"Regulus is just smarter than you," Lily said cheekily.

"I didn't even know you could destroy a Howler," said Peter. "Wish I had."

"We should have a party," Sirius declared. "James, you and Lils stay here with Reg. Me and Moony and Pete are gonna head to Hogsmeade and get some stuff."

"Okay," I said, perfectly content with not going to Hogsmeade. Sirius grinned, and he, Remus, and Peter left the room. I blinked, contemplating the strange foreboding I felt as they left the room. I shrugged it off, and turned to Regulus and Lily. "Let's go visit Mum and Dad. Regulus, you can probably see your new room."

"Okay!" Regulus beamed. Lily laughed. "Let's go see my new room! I bet it's awesome!"

"James, what brings you by?" Dad asked as soon as I fell out of the fireplace. I stood up, brushing myself off. "Nothing bad, I hope?"

"Nah," I smiled widely. "Sirius and Remus and Peter are at Hogsmeade, and Reg wanted to see his new room. I figured I'd take him."

As if on cue, Regulus tumbled out of the fireplace. "Hi, Mr. Potter."

"Call me Uncle Jacob," Dad said warmly, and Lily walked gracefully into the living room next. "Hello, Lily."

"Hello, Mr. Potter," Lily replied. "I hope you don't mind us dropping in unexpectedly."

"Not at all," Mum said, walking in with a plate of cookies. "See, Jacob, I told you Jamie was coming over today. Mother's instinct. I made cookies for you, kids."

"Thanks, Mum," I beamed, grabbing a cookie. "Mmm, nothing like Mum's homemade chocolate chip cookies."

"I agree," Lily laughed. "Although Blinky makes some really good brownies!"

"These are really good," Regulus declared, grabbing another cookie. "Thanks, Aunt Carol!"

"It's no problem, Regulus," Mum smiled kindly. "Your room is right next to Sirius's. And, Lily, there's a room for you too if you ever want to stay here."

"Thanks, Mrs. Potter," Lily replied. Mum grinned at her. "Why don't you boys go check out Reg's room?"

"Okay!" I said, leading Regulus up the stairs. "Watch out coming down these, they like to trip you."

"Really?" Regulus asked, looking back at the stairs. "Why would you have stairs that try to trip you?"

"I have no idea," I shrugged. "Ask whoever built this place- well, I guess you can't, they're probably long dead by now."

"Oh," Regulus frowned. "Alright."

Regulus's room was bright and airy; a huge window occupied most of one wall, and his bed, a simple twin bed much like my own, was on the wall adjacent. The walls were a pale blue that seemed to reflect the sky itself. On the other wall, there was a large wooden dresser, adorned with little glass lion figurines, and a large, white Gryffindor lion painted above it. Regulus walked over and picked one of them up carefully, a small smile playing across his lips.

"I like this room," he declared. "It's so much... lighter... than my old one."

"I bet you anything the walls of Sirius's room are bright red," I grinned.

"Anything?" Regulus replied cheekily. "I might just take you up on that offer."

"You are Sirius's brother," I chuckled. "My room has light green walls. No huge window, though. A couple smaller ones."

"Why green?" Regulus asked curiously.

"I dunno," I mused. "Lily's eyes are green."

Regulus snickered. "That does explain it. You are so in love with her it's funny."

"We've been together for two years," I said. "I really do love her."

"Would I sound like a girl if I said that was cute?"

"Yeah, probably."

It wasn't until after dinner that anything exciting happened. In fact, I'd been childishly hoping nothing would go wrong for a while. The universe just loves to prove me wrong.

"James, you and the others need to get back to Hogwarts," Dad said, walking in the room and looking very pale. "Did you say Sirius, Remus, and Peter were at Hogsmeade?"

"Yes," I replied nervously. "Are they hurt?"

"I don't know," Dad answered. "There's an attack. I've just been called over to help."

"An attack?" I asked, dread settling in the pit of my stomach. Lily paled, and Regulus turned white, eyes huge. "And I'm not there to stop Sirius from doing something stupid!"

Regulus looked especially worried. "What if Siri gets hurt- or- or worse?"

"Or Remus ad Peter," Lily added nervously.

"They'll be fine," I said, sounding a lot calmer than I felt. "He and Peter, at least, have some common sense. Sirius, however..."

"Doesn't," Regulus completed.

"James, you Floo to Dumbledore's office, not the common room," Mum suggested. "Tell him that Sirius, Remus, and Peter went to Hogsmeade. He'll know to look for them, then."

I nodded gravely, and grabbed a handful of Floo powder. "Here's hoping nothing goes wrong. Dumbledore's office!"

I stumbled out of the flames, luckily not landing on my face, to see Dumbledore and McGonagall, looking unusually pale, obviously about to go to Hogwmeade.

"Professor!" I exclaimed. They both turned to stare at me in surprise. "Sirius, Remus, and Peter are at Hogsmeade!"

If possible, the two professors went even paler.

"And what are they doing there?" asked Professor McGonagall faintly.

"Regulus destroyed a Howler," I explained. "And Sirius decided that was party-worthy, so, of course, they went to get supplies."

"We're heading out there now," Dumbledore said. "James, I'm going to ask a large task of you."

"Okay, sir."

"Do you see that amplifier?" he asked. I nodded. "I want you to alert the students of the attack. Tell them to remain in their common rooms- they are not allowed to leave under any circumstances. When there is an attack on Hogsmeade, Hogwarts goes into lockdown. This is a lockdown. And, James? Do stay here."

I nodded, pale and nervous. I suppose this happened in the last timeline as well. Dumbledore and McGonagall swept out of the room, and I grabbed the amplifier.

"Students of Hogwarts," I declared, unsurely at first, surprised when my voice rang out across the room and outside. I looked out a window- all the students had frozen. "Return to your common rooms immediately. Hogwarts is going into lockdown. This is not a joke."

I heard several students scream, and one portrait left for a moment and returned. "They're taking you seriously."

I nodded. "There's been an attack on Hogsmeade. Do not leave your common room under any circumstances. Remain calm, don't panic, and don't leave."

I put the amplifier down, and waited a few moments for the man in the portrait to return again. When he did I gave him a worried look. "Did they listen?"

"As far as I can tell," he confirmed.

"You're that boy who hangs out with my great-grandsons," declared Phineas Nigellus.

"I am," I replied, unfazed. "Should I go back to my common room?"

"I don't think so," said a man- Armando Dippet, I think. "After all, this is a lockdown. Did Albus remember to put up the lockdown wards? No, I don't think he did. Can you?"

"I'm fifteen," I deadpanned. "Almost sixteen. I don't know a thing about Hogwarts wards."

"Oh," Dippet frowned. "Well... sit down then. Albus left you in charge."

"No he didn't," I retorted. "He told me to warn the students."

"He effectively left you in charge," Dippet argued. "I'm surprised; most kids your age would jump at the chance to be in charge."

"I'm not," I said stubbornly. "Besides, what could I do? Dumbledore wants me to stay put. I'd rather be out at Hogsmeade, helping out. I fell useless."

"You aren't useless," one lady said kindly. "Look, see those monitors?"

"I do."

"They show the whole school," another man added. "You can keep an eye on everyone."

I glanced over, and, sure enough, the monitors showed all of Hogwarts, switching briefly between places. I caught sight of Lily and Regulus talking nervously in the Gryffindor room. In fact, every student, even the Slytherins, looked nervous. I understood why; we'd never had a lockdown before.

It was a while before Dumbledore and McGonagall returned to the office, and when they did, they looked very grave. McGonagall had a few scrapes, as did Dumbledore. I bit my lip. Where were my friends?

"How did it go here?" Dumbledore asked.

"Good," I replied. "Everyone listened."

Dumbledore nodded, and picked up the amplifier. "Students, the lockdown is now over. Return to your normal activities."

He then put it down, and gave me a solemn look.

"Where are they?" I asked urgently. "They weren't hurt, were they? Nobody died... did they?"

"There were thirteen fatalities," Dumbledore said sadly. "Thankfully, none children. Countless others were injured."

"Not," I gulped. "Not Dad?"

"No, Jacob will be fine after a short stay in St. Mungo's," Dumbledore assured me. I nodded slowly. "I wish I had seen this coming."

"I do too," I muttered. "I hadn't anticipated- I mean, they didn't dare attack Hogsmeade until my fifth year, and, even then, there was only one death."

I lowered my head for a moment, before looking up fearfully at the professors. "Sirius and Remus and Peter... are they alright?"

Dumbledore seemed to be contemplating what to say. I immediately feared the worst. "Mr. Pettigrew is under the care of Madam Pomfrey at the moment. Only minor scrapes and bruises."

I nodded. At least Pete was okay. Dumbledore paused.

"What about Sirius and Remus, sir?" I asked nervously.

"Mr. Black will be just fine after a short stay in St. Mungo's, as well," Dumbledore said slowly. I clenched my fists so Dad and Sirius were hurt. "And Mr. Lupin..."

"What? Did something happen to Remus?" I frowned worriedly. "Professor?"

"Remus was taken," Dumbledore answered sadly. I felt my heart sink, and I sat down heavily. "By Bellatrix Black."

A/N: Okay, evil cliffhanger. Shortish chapter. And Remus has been kidnapped. I contemplated making Sirius get kidnapped... but, you know, he needs a break and you lot would probably be even more angry at me. Big thanks to my wonderful reviewers, jeremiah123, N.E. Person, Guest, Theta-McBride, Lady Loophole, sk8boards4ever, Accalia Silvermoon, and potterhead934! I think, let's see... you can have Dumbledore plushies (with lemon drops)! I hope you enjoyed, despite the fact Moony was kidnapped.

I still don't own Harry Potter. I never will.