I was beginning to wonder if this was such a good idea. The bushes were rustling ominously, and I was worried that the Death Eaters would hear us. They hadn't yet, thank goodness. But it was only a matter of time before they did...

Regulus tugged nervously on my sleeve, and nodded towards something. I glanced in the direction he was nodding, and paled. Voldemort was pacing in the camp, red eyes gleaming. If he saw Sirius... I nudged Sirius, who nearly gave a shout of surprise at seeing Voldemort, but I covered his mouth with my hand. A couple of Death Eaters glanced our way, before shrugging and turning away, obviously thinking they had been hearing things.

"I told you this was a bad idea," Regulus hissed. "We're all gonna get killed!"

"Shh!" Sirius hissed back. "They'll hear us!"

"We've gotta get out of here," I muttered. "If Voldemort sees you, Sirius-"

"We've still gotta figure out what they're after," Sirius replied. "If Voldemort sees me, we'll scram. But he won't."

"Shh, they're talking," Regulus said.

"Milord," said Bellatrix, kneeling before Voldemort. My crinkled my nose in disgust, and I could see that Sirius and Regulus had similar expressions. "We have not yet found what you seek."

"Must she be so cryptic?" Sirius grumbled.

"Search harder," ordered Voldemort. "And the Black boy?"

Regulus and I both looked at Sirius, who shrugged, obviously unperturbed by Voldemort's interest in him. I didn't understand it... if Voldemort wanted me dead, I'd be pretty scared. In fact, the fact that he wanted Sirius dead scared me a lot more than if he'd wanted me dead. Regulus seemed to be thinking along the same lines.

"I haven't seen him, milord," said Bellatrix. "But rest assure, I will kill him at first chance."

"No," said Voldemort. "I think I've changed my mind."

"Again?" grunted a Death Eater. Voldemort's eyes flashed, and, with a flash of red light, the Death Eater was writhing on the ground, screaming. The Cruciatus. I almost, almost felt bad for the Death Eater. Almost.

"Think before you speak," growled Voldemort. "At any rate, you will bring him to me. He is stubborn, and that could be a good quality. He would do well in our ranks."

Sirius paled, obviously unhappy with the idea of Voldemort trying to recruit him.

"But, milord," piped in a Death Eater who I recognised as Lucius Malfoy. "Sirius Black would never join our ranks."

"Darn right I wouldn't," muttered Sirius furiously.

"Think of it this way," I said. "If he wants to recruit you, he won't hurt you."

"I can break him," said Voldemort, and my optimistic hopes were crushed. "You'll see; there's only so much torture a person can take before they bend to my will-"

"Or die," Bellatrix pointed out. I cringed, grabbing Sirius's arm.

"Or die," Voldemort agreed. "In the meantime, we must find the Heart."

"The what?" Regulus whispered.

"Milord," said a random Death Eater. "How do we know it's even real?"

"It is," Voldemort said. "You'll see. I will take any measure to become completely immortal."

Regulus, Sirius, and I exchanged nervous glances.

"We've heard enough," I decided, and we started to leave.

"I think," said Voldemort, and we froze, "we should welcome our unwelcome guests."

I cursed under my breath as a spell came from one of the Death Eaters and hit Regulus, who gave a surprised shout and crumpled forward. I caught him before he hit the ground.

"Regulus!" Sirius exclaimed, distressed and angry, turning to stalk up to the Death Eaters.

"He's just stunned," I said quietly, but Sirius edged his way out of the cloak to stand defiantly in front of the Death Eaters. "Sirius!"

Voldemort's lips twisted into a smile. "Sirius Black. Just the person I wanted to see."

"Too bad, if I'd never seen you again it would have been too soon," Sirius replied. There was nothing I could do while holding an unconscious Regulus, and I hardly wanted to leave him, but Sirius was going to get himself killed if he wasn't careful. Making up my mind, I placed Regulus carefully onto the leafy ground, and threw the cloak off, arranging it so it hid Regulus.

"If you don't mind," I said. "We'll be leaving."

"But I do mind," replied Voldemort, and he sent a nasty curse flying towards Sirius. Acting without thinking, I ran in front of Sirius. I fell to the ground screaming; purple flames danced across my chest where the spell had hit. Sirius shouted angrily, and used aguamenti to put out the flames, leaving me panting painfully. I hazarded a glance at my torso; a long strip of my shirt had been burnt to ashes and my chest was burnt badly. It hurt like heck, but I was glad it was me and not Sirius.

"Brave," noted Voldemort calmly as Sirius seethed.

"You- you-" Sirius evidently couldn't find the words to describe Voldemort, and settled instead for rushing forward and punching him in the face. I groaned exasperatedly.

"Sirius," I called, though it made my chest ache horribly. "Stop it!"

"He's hurt both of you now!" Sirius exclaimed, gesturing towards me and Regulus (whom he couldn't see and, quite frankly, neither could I). "I can't let him get away with this!"

Voldemort laughed. "Is that so? You, Black, should know more than anyone what I can do. Didn't you like my delayed curses?"

"I'm not scared of you," said Sirius defiantly.

"You should be," Bellatrix hissed. "Stupid cousin. Crucio!"

Sirius gritted his teeth and glared. It still amazed me that he could take that curse without screaming.

I pulled myself to my feet. "We're leaving."

"You're not," said Voldemort.

I narrowed my eyes, and inspiration struck me. "HELP! HELP! IN THE FOREST! VOLDEMORT!"

Voldemort and the Death Eaters looked startled. I held up my wand and shot red sparks in the air, as many as I could. Someone would hear us, I was sure. "QUICKLY! QUICKLY! HE'S GOING TO KILL US! COME QU-"

A sudden spell hit me in the side, and I toppled to the ground with a shout of pain. My hands found my side, and I gave a hiss of pain, pulling away to see glistening red blood.

"James, shut up!" Sirius said. "You're making him mad."

"And you aren't?" I retorted painfully.

"Let's finish this," said Voldemort, pointing his wand at Sirius. A blast of purple light hit Sirius in the chest, and Sirius flew backwards, landing heavily beside me, just as thundering footsteps reached us, along with a few softer ones.

"Expelliamus!" said a loud voice. I didn't look up, eyes focused on Sirius. His eyes were squeezed shut, and his breathing was laboured, but I couldn't see any external injuries.

"James! Sirius!" a feminine voice cried. Moments later, Lily knelt down beside us. "Are you okay?"

"Where's Regulus?" Dad boomed, holding several wands. He had apparently caught the Death Eaters by surprise. I nodded my head towards the general area I'd left him. Dad rushed over and pulled off the cloak.

"Yeh lousy snakes!" roared Hagrid, who had come as well. "What d'yeh want in the Forest?"

"None of your business," Voldemort said stiffly, wandless and very, very angry.

"Yeh'll get out if yeh know what's good for yeh!" Hagrid growled. "Dumbledore's gonna stop yeh!"

Voldemort narrowed his eyes and held out his hand. Amazingly, his wand shot out of Dad's hand and back into his. The other wands clattered to the ground. Dad frowned deeply, and gathered me in his arms, quickly conjuring bandages around my bleeding side. Hagrid grabbed Sirius in one arm and Regulus in the other. Lily hovered worriedly beside us, and Dad beckoned her to hold onto his arm. Hagrid pulled out something I recognized as a Portkey. Dad grabbed it as well, and moments later we disappeared and reappeared in St. Mungo's.

Sirius forced his eyes open, looking around. "Not here! Not again! I'm fine!"

But his voice was strained and he seemed to be having trouble breathing. My chest was burning horribly, and my side was bursting with pain. To be honest, I felt a lot better at St. Mungo's. But there was something more important than healing...

"Dad," I said. "Dad, we found out more about what he's after."

Dad looked at me. "That can wait. You three need healing."

"Mum's gonna kill us," I groaned.

"James," Lily said. "What were you even doing in the forest?"

"Trying to figure out what Voldemort-" anyone near enough to hear me gasped dramatically- "is after."

"Oh," said Lily. "Jamie, love, I want you to be more careful- and less adventures! I miss spending time with you."

I smiled at her. "Alright; tell you what, first Hogsmeade weekend, we'll go together, kay?"

Lily beamed, just as my mum entered the room. She hadn't noticed us yet... until Dad cleared his throat. She turned to face, and her face turned pale, before it quickly turned bright red in anger. I gulped. Here comes the yelling.

"JAMES CHARLUS POTTER! SIRIUS ORION BLACK! REGULUS ARTURUS BLACK!" she screeched.

"Erm, Carol," Dad said. "Regulus is unconscious."

Mum paused, then resumed shouting, leaving Regulus out. "WHAT DID YOU TWO DO THIS TIME!? WHAT WERE YOU THINKING!? YOU'RE HURT! YOU COULD'VE GOTTEN YOURSELF KILLED, WITH THE MAGNITUDE OF THESE INJURIES! AND, JACOB-"

Dad paled.

"-YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO WATCH THEM! I SWEAR, YOU'RE JUST AS BAD AS THE BOYS-"

"Mum," I said. "Heal now, yell later."

Mum softened. "Right. Bring them to the Spell Damage Ward, room 216. And- hmm, it looks like Regulus is just stunned."

She brandished her wand. "Rennerverate."

"Huh? What?" Regulus shot up, looking around. His eyes landed on me, bleeding and burnt. "James!" he then saw Sirius, who seemed to be unconscious and was very pale. "Sirius!"

"Be glad you were stunned," I said, chuckling wryly.

"I told you it was a bad idea!" Regulus groaned. "I told you, but did you listen!?"

Mum gave Regulus an appraising look as Hagrid put him down. "You can stay or go back to Hogwarts. But you can't come back with James and Sirius."

Regulus pouted. "Are you sure?"

"They'll be okay," Mum said. "You too, Lily."

Lily nodded, and put an arm around Regulus's shoulder, guiding him towards the fireplace. She turned back to me just after Regulus went through. "Don't forget your promise, mister!"

"No worries, I won't," I smiled back, winking.

Lily laughed. "That'd be so much more attractive if you weren't covered in blood and burns."

"Battle scars," I replied arrogantly. Lily shook her head fondly, and stepped through as well, disappearing in a burst of green flames.

Dad and Hagrid carried Sirius and I to the room Mum led us to. There were two beds, and Sirius and I were both situated in separate ones. They left the room. Mum immediately got to work, diagnosing both of us.

"Ah," she said furtively, frowning deeply. "James, I should probably work on Sirius first-"

"Go right ahead," I said, despite the ache in my chest and side. From Mum's tone, it sounded like Sirius needed more health. I leaned back into my pillow.

What was this Heart Voldemort wanted? It must be some sort of pool in the forest, and it must have something to do with immortality- why would Voldemort want to be immortal? Immortality sounded pretty dull to me. Imagine: all my friends and family would die and I'd still be stuck here, never to see them again.

My side was hurting horribly, but Mum and now a team of Healers were working on Sirius and I really didn't want to disturb them. I was rather light-headed, and the room seemed to be fading in and out of focus. Suddenly, there was a sharp pain in my chest and I let out a shout. Mum and a couple of Healers turned to look at me, Mum's face full of fear and worry. The room seemed to spin, and my world went black.

A/N: Oh no! What's happened to James? Sirius? Will they be okay? What does Voldemort want? Why am I asking you all these questions when I already know the answers? You'll just have to wait and see- except for that last one, even I don't know the answer to that. :P Big thanks to my reviewers, Jeremiah123, N. E. Person, Red Moon Lollipop, sk8boards4ever, and potterhead934! A cute Lily/James drawing done by yours truly for you (er... imagine it, I'm not that great... XD)! Hope you enjoyed!

I still don't own Harry Potter.