Hi, it's James. James Potter.

catching up - year 1

"I don't want to go in."

"It'll be alright, we can fetch the others and get away in our dormitory or something."

Dominique pulled a face and turned towards the Fat Lady: "Eucalyptus."

She swung open, and they climbed in.

Once they had entered the Gryffindor common room, deadly silence surrounded them.

Dominique swallowed, and James looked over the students, searching for their friends.

It wasn't late yet, dinner had ended only an hour before, so almost everyone was still up and in the common room.

"Mini!", a cry broke through the silence and Victoire stormed towards her sister.

With this, everyone started muttering like it was some sort of secret sign.

"Vicky!", Dominique said back, a tear rolling down her face while they hugged each other.

"Oh, I'm so happy you're okay.", Victoire told Dominique, looking very pale.

"James, mate!", a voice behind James said.

He turned on the spot, grinning towards the dark-blonde boy whose voice he had recognized immediately.

"Luc!"

"So we have to put up with you again. It was just getting cozy.", Lucas grinned.

Instead of an answer, James hit him playfully.

"So you're alright then?", Lucas inquired, looking more serious now, "They didn't tell us a thing."

"Alright, I guess."

"James!", Leo and Alice emerged out of the crowd, pushing through the students that were standing everywhere, discussing everything.

"I'm glad you're back again.", Alice sighed, pushing the last third-year away.

"We were so worried.", Leo told James.

"I say we get out of here, so we can talk. All they can do is gawk and gossip.", Alice said with an annoyed glance to the students around them.

"Mini, we're getting out of here. You coming with us?", she directed at Dominique.

Dominique sniffed and let go of Victoire, who hugged her once again and said, "We'll talk the next days, 'kay?", before turning away and pulling out a tissue.

"Let's search for an empty classroom and have our quiet there.", Alice took one of James' and Dominique's arms each and pulled them out of the common room again, Lucas and Leo following.

Once the portrait had swung back into it's position, the buzzing of the common room was completely shut out, and silence comforted them.

Alice continued pulling them with her and then entered the first classroom they came across.

It was an alternate classroom that wasn't used often and only had a chalkboard and desks and chairs in it.

She sat down on a table, and the others seated themselves so they sat in a small circle.

"Okay, tell us everything.", Alice demanded.

-----

"Wow.", Lucas said when James had finished retelling their adventure, leaving out the Cruciatus Curse though.

"That was really smart of you, Mini, the secret message.", Alice told Dominique.

"Hm.", she answered, looking down to the floor.