Someone knocked on the door,

"Come in." James shouted.

Sirius Black came inside. In normal circumstances, he would never even think of knocking on James's door, but right now…..it was a fragile time in his friend's life. For the first time in the history of their friendship, the power dynamic had changed. It had always been Sirius struggling and James swooping in to support and smooth things over as if it wasn't a problem. James had done everything for him, from buying him shoes to tending to his wounds when the Black Family abused him. But, now…..it was James who needed Sirius, and Sirius had no idea what to do or how to help his friend. Because, how do you help the person who is the rock in your life?

"You okay?" Sirius asked.

He turned back,

"Padfoot….Ask me if I am crazy. Ask me if I am dying. Ask me if I am deranged….." He told him, But, Padfoot, don't ask me if I am okay? Okay?"

"Okay." Sirius nodded. "Okay…."

His eyes fell upon the few stuffed animals on James's bed, he bit his lip but didn't say anything. He thought James was doing better, clearly he was wrong. Sirius had never had a loving family, so he would never ever know the pain of losing family.

"Where is Remus?" James changed the subject, before he asked more questions. "And, I haven't seen Peter since……."

He trailed off. He didn't remember the last time he saw Peter. He was there at the funeral, sure….but, since then Peter had disappeared. If it wasn't an emotionally challenged time in their lives, they would have noticed the obvious absence of their fourth friend.

"They are unpacking……I think." Sirius told him, throwing himself on James's bed. "Remus is……..preparing for next week."

James nodded, the full moon was supposed to come next week and James hadn't been there for the last few times but he was determined to be there for his friend.

"I brought his chocolates." James took out a box from his drawers, "And, the potions Madam Pomfrey couldn't find."

"I thought they were only in Peru." Sirius observed.

"I sent someone."

Sirius nodded. James was a businessman now too. He took a couple of hours each day to monitor his father's potions' business which was raking in more money than ever before. Needless to say, James Potter had inherited his father's business and his skills.

"We can play Quidditch after dinner." James said. "If Remus is up for it."

"I'll get Derek and Charlie."

"No…." James said, quickly. "Just the four of us…..like old times."

Sirius smiled. Peter and Remus didn't play Quidditch but it was nice when all four of them snuck out at night, riding around the Quidditch pitch and playing a rather harmful game of Quidditch.

James and Sirius went downstairs for supper and were joined by Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew. Remus, unlike the usual days, looked healthy and not at all pale and tired. Peter Pettigrew looked strained and scared of his God knew what. And, in that moment, neither Sirius nor Remus cared about the things that scared him. Perhaps, they should have.

"Come on, let's go," Sirius said, impatiently, "Before the chocolate pudding runs out and Moony comes to bite us all."

Remus feigned indignation but soon smiled when he saw James's face break into a brief grin. They all entered the hall after the Sorting had been done. Sirius had planned to stall him till the first years had settled down so James wouldn't remember…….well, how could he forget? But, he had to help his friend and this was the only thing he could think of. Sirius and Remus went in search of seats when they realized James was no longer behind them.

"Where did he go?" Remus whispered.

"I don't……"

He spotted James at the entrance of the hall, just standing there. Lily Evans had just come into the hall too and Sirius thought he had stopped to chat with her, but Remus knew better. Remus Lupin took fast steps to end of the hall,

"Oh, hi…Remus." Lily Evans threw a smile in his direction which Remus couldn't return.

"Hi…." He turned his attention towards James. "Prongs….?"

Remus Lupin and Lily Evans had become good friends after their fifth year when both of them had been prefects. And, Lupin was the only person Lily found worthy of any attention.

"Come, Prongsie…." Remus said, softly, "Let's get you something to eat."

James Potter didn't listen to him because he hadn't heard a word, instead, he stared right ahead. At the table where the first years sat, laughing and enjoying their first day.

"Shit," Sirius came up behind Remus.

"What happened, Potter?" Lily's friend, Alice, sniggered.

"Did your sister know what a snob you are at school?" Marlene joined in.

Everyone knew that James had a sister (though he never mentioned her name, he had casually mentioned her) who was supposed to attend school starting this year.

Some people laughed, but James didn't respond. He had asked McGonagall to say that the Potters had moved to France after Charlotte had been accepted as a student at Beauxbatons, since was born in France (the summer the Potters took a vacation Paris.) and Mr. and Mrs. Potter moved with her because James would be at Hogwarts the whole time. It was a plausible cover-up for what had happened in the summer and for some reason James wanted to stick with it. McGonagall, not knowing why, respected his wishes.

"Did they finally get sick of you?" This was Lily Evans, "Your sister couldn't get away from you fast enough, could she?"

She laughed and many others joined in. One thing Lily Evans enjoyed very much was taking down James Potter.

Tears welled up in James's eyes. Though, he hid them perfectly, there was no fooling Sirius or Remus who had seen them before he silently waved his wand and the water from his eyes dried up without anyone noticing.

"She just knew….. clever girl, your sister…." Lily continued, thinking she finally found a topic where she could hurt him.

James Potter was still silent as if he had no tongue.

"Shut up, Lily." Anyone would have thought it was Sirius who told the headgirl to shut up, but it was Remus.

"What?"

"Shut up." Remus's voice raised, "I said, shut up….Just SHUT UP!"

Remus screamed at her as several people stopped talking to see what was happening.

"Remus, I don't think you know who you are talking to…" Marlene said, haughtily. "She is the head girl,"

"Oh, I know." Remus replied, unlike himself. "And, I am telling the 'headgirl' to keep her mouth shut!"

Lily Evans was red in the face and tongue tied, she had never thought Remus would scream at her, she turned away and silently slipped into one of the chairs nearby.

"I…." Marlene started.

"And, you too." Sirius snapped.

"Come on, James." Sirius said, but James Potter had already gone.

"Where did he go?" Remus demanded.

"I think I know."

Sirius Black was followed by Peter Pettigrew and Remus Lupin towards the school ground where James was. He was thousands of feet above the air, standing perfectly balanced on the edge of his broomstick. It was very admirable that a man of his weight and stature could do that. Remus admired his skill, Peter admired his courage and only Sirius realized the thing his friend was about to do.

James Potter closed his eyes and let himself go. He fell down thousands feet feeling as if the fall would never end as his friends stood around, horrified. Sirius cursed and quickly cast a spell to catch him seconds before his body would have crashed to the ground and broken all the bones in his body.

"What the hell are you doing, Prongs?" Sirius shouted.