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Chapter 42:

"What did you get up to at Lestrange's house?" Lily asked Severus as they sat on the roundabout at the park. Severus was using his wand to make it move and they were gradually becoming dizzier.

"Not much," Snape lied, "just hung out. He introduced us to some of his family…"

"I see…" Lily had a feeling that he was lying to her.

"Did you have fun?" Lily asked, prying slightly.

"Yes! I learnt several new spells. Really cool ones…"

"That's good." Lily was no longer paying attention. Instead she watched the clouds; trying to work out if there was a picture that she could find… "Look there's a hot air balloon!"

Snape laughed, "There's a cauldron!"

"A tree…"

"A snake…"

James couldn't believe what had happened at the ball. The days that followed seemed meaningless. James and Sirius spent their time together flying and trying desperately to enjoy themselves. However, nothing seemed to distract them. His father had been working tirelessly trying to get the captured deatheaters charged. However, the wizengamot seemed unsure about charging so many of the pure-blood families. Dumbledore had apparently supported Charlus but the rest of the council had seemed less than happy about it. They were unable to come to a decision and so the seven individuals who had been caught were given a month in Azkaban and a slap on the wrist as the muggles would say. James was incredibly frustrated, as was his father. Every evening, for the rest of the holiday, the family would discuss what had happened in that day's case. By the time of their return to Hogwarts, both James and Sirius had seriously lost hope in the wizarding judicial system.

James had written to Emmie to check that she was ok after the attack and she had replied saying she was ok although still slightly in shock about the whole thing. James felt bad for having got her involved in the entire debacle. James packed away her letter in his bag with the rest of his things. "Come on Jamsie boy, it's time to go," his mother called up the stairs.

"Yeah, come on JAMSIE!" Sirius called, laughing slightly at the nickname.

James ran down the stairs and joined his mother and friend at the fire place. Because of what had happened at the ball, certain students were allowed to return to the school by floo. Sirius said a quick goodbye to Mrs Potter and called goodbye to Missy and Milly before throwing powder into the fire, jumping in and shouting; "Professor McGonagall's fire, Hogwarts." James turned to his mum, a tear in his eye.

"I'm sorry your dad couldn't be hear Jamie." Mrs Potter said as she hugged her son.

"It's ok mum. I understand." James smiled.

"We are so proud of you James." She cupped his face and pulled it up so he was looking directly at her, "I need you to know that we are so proud of you. There is nothing that you could do that would amaze me anymore than you already have. You are a true Potter; a gentleman, a leader, a friend, an encourager, an advocate, and to top it off you're awfully good fun. Don't ever change James."

"I love you mum," he said quietly, tears falling freely now.

"I love you too son," she replied. Milly and Missy walked into the room. As James pulled away from his mother's embrace he felt a gentle tug on his robes.

"Master James," Milly said quietly.

James leant down and smiled at his two remaining elves, "thank you, Master James. You is a good master. You is giving us a choice when you is not having to." Milly whispered.

"Master James, is going to make a good head of the house of Potter and we is proud to be his servants." Missy said, looking up at James. James pulled them into his arms and held them, he didn't have words.

James jumped out of the fire in Professor McGonagall's office. "Potter, may I have a word?"

"Yes Professor," James replied.

"I understand that the holiday has been somewhat traumatic but I must ask that you do not use this as an excuse to duel in the corridors of this school. I don't mind your pranks so much – but don't tell anyone I said that, especially Mr Black – however, I really can't have you fighting in the corridors."

"I understand Professor." James smiled. He quickly exited the teacher's office and found Sirius waiting outside. "Do you want to go straight to diner?"

"Yeah, I'm starving," Sirius answered.

James laughed, "how can you be starving? My mum fed you up a treat."

"Yeah exactly, now Hogwarts will never measure up…"

The boys found their friends at the Gryffindor table and quickly settled into a normal conversation. More than anything they wanted to talk about the party but James had kicked anyone who tried to bring it up, "Not here!" Instead, they talked about the other things they had done over the holidays and ate as much food as they could stomach. After the feast they made their way up to the common room as a group. The boys suddenly felt slightly responsible for the girls' safety. Lily didn't notice a difference. She just thought they were being as annoying as ever.

When they reached the common room, Lily made her excuses and went to bed. She partly expected the other girls to follow but they didn't. Instead they all fell into chairs by the fire and started a serious, hushed, discussion that Lily for some reason didn't feel privy to. She tried to sleep, but failed miserably. An hour and a half later her roommates made their way into the room. She overheard them whispering, "I'm glad we spoke to the boys about it. I feel so much more at ease now that I know what Dumbledore is trying to do – although it doesn't sound like he's having much joy." Alice said as she got into bed.

"Yeah, me too. It was so awful," Marlene began, "It's just nice knowing they feel the same."

"I've never seen James so mad," Kate commented.

"You should have seen him at the ball… he was incredible." Marlene replied, honestly.

"I still can't believe it happened. You poor things." Mary sighed, "Voldemort just… oh I don't even want to think about it."

Here you go... a nice little chapter for you...

So I'm thinking that I'm going to do about another twenty or so chapters for their first year.

I was thinking this because J. has 76,944 words for Harry's first year...

I've got about 53,000 words of actually story so far... so I'm thinking another twenty chapters and it'll be about the same...

Which will just be cool, lol. ;)

Please review...