James Potter and the Half Blood Hallway

Twenty - Nine

It had been three days since Jackson had left Hogwarts and things seemed to have fallen down hill termendisly. Students were brought home, those who weren't whispering in frightend mutters. (Honestly, if he were going to do something he would have done it! They all knew he was from America, why did it matter now?)

"So," said Route, when he had thought he figured it out. "That's what all that was about? Sorry, mate. I didn't know..."
"What?" barked James irrdebly. The voice figure had been accuring more often than not now that Jackson was out of the way.
"That Jackson was, you know, threatening you..."
"What the Bloody - That's not it at all! God, why are you - Why do you even care? It's none of your businees, so just stay out of it!" snapped James. Route backed away, a look of fear on his face.
"Sorry..." he mumbled.
"Sorry!" shouted James."Sorry! You've been harrassing my brother and I for weeks, now! And you even intericated my cousin! And you have the nerve to be sorry! Face it, Route! The only reason you ever cared was because Al started haning out with Malfoy and he's in Slytherin! But say he was in I don't any other house would you have thought it supicous? No! You would not have! So excuse me if I want to hang out with my brother and his friends, and my cousin! Havens forrbid they be working with Voldemort! He's dead! Stop fearing him! It was before your time!" Route stared at James in shock.
"I, uh, James, look - "

But James had already slammed the dormitory door behind him, leaving a shocked Micheal and stunned Route behind. James was storming through the halls now, muttering to himself darkly.
"Stupid Route..." he growled. "Always butting in...." Then the rational part of his brain kicked in.
"But he is your best friend...Ah, well....I guess I had better go apolligize for snapping at him like that...I'm talking to myself. This is a new all time low for you, James..."
So, he began making his way back to the common room when, oddly out of character one might say, he had the urge to go into the library. Disgusted with himself, James went up to Madam Pince behind her desk. She gave him a once over glance.
"What do you want?" she asked, a bit rudely. (Well, she was Roman.)
"I...I'm not sure..."
"Then, don't waist my time! Get out!" James just looked at her.
"Are you deaf? Get OUT!"
"You're a daughter of Trivia right?"
"Excuse me?" She seemed taken aback.
"You knew who Jackson really was, didn't you?" Madam Pince blinked. She straightened up, trying to recollect herself.
"I might have seen him once when I was visiting some relitives."
"You've got to stop them! They can't send him to Azkaban!" The librarian hestiated.
"I might be able to delay the matter, but I don't reckon there's much I can do. Now, what book do you need?"
"Book?"
"You're in the library, boy!"
"Oh! I - I don't know....I just....I got a feeling..." James wondered, absentmindly, away from the desk. Madam Pince rolled her eyes a little, turning back to her work. Meanwhile, James walked through shelves and shelves of books. He picked up ten without really thinking about it, without reading the covers.
"Heavens me! Are you going to read all of those! " shreiked Rose from somewhere beside James.
"I - er - uh, I...." stuttered James. She looked worried.
"Are you alright? You look pale!" James suddenly felt light headed. The next thing he knew, Rose was easing him to the floor.
"James! James are you alright?" she cried out. James shook his head.
"What happened?" She looked at him, worry deep in her eyes.
"You fainted," she said. "I think. Are you alright?"
"Fine...."
"James, you really scared me for a minute. Are you sure you're alright?"
"Yeah. Just hungry is all. Time for lunch right?"
"Right." She didn't seem convinced.

On their way to the Great Hall they stopped at the Gryffindor Common Room to ditch the books. James saw Route and was going to apolligize, when he hurriedly went out the portiat hole.
"That was weird," commented Rose.
"Yeah, what should we do with all these books?" said James.
"Whoa," said Al, suddenly appearing at their side, reaching out to help carry. "Either Rose is making you help her or you acctually went to the library without having to be forced! I bet not the latter..."
"Ha. Ha," said James. James got his first good look at the books, when they set them down in front of the fireplace. The covers of five read:

Percy Jackson and the Olympians : The Lightning Theif

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Sea of Monsters

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Titian's Curse

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Battle of the Labyrinth

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Last Olympian

And five more read:

Heroes of Olympus: The Lost Hero

Heroes of Olympus: The Son of Neptune

Heroes of Olympus: The Mark of Athena

Heroes of Olympus: The House of Hades

Heroes of Olympus: The Blood of Olympus

James sucked in a breath.
"Are these Ancient Runes books, James?" asked Rose, examening the covers. James stared at her for a long moment before realising she somehow couldn't see what he saw.
"Yes," he said quickly. "I got a detention and now Professor Binns is making me read these. Alright, let's go to the Great Hall, I'm starving!" Without waiting for an answer, James hurried out of the common room. Albus and Rose exchanged a look before following.

At lunch McGonagall stood to make an announcment.
"Students," she said, calling for attention. "Due to the current misfortune - " There was muttering at this, which really made James angry.
" - Quiet!" continued McGonagall. "Due to the current misfortune, we have been forced to loose one of the best Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers Hogwarts has ever seen or ever will see. I will spare you all the details, as I'm sure you're parents will tell you their version of the truth when you get home. Now, all exames have been cancled, but for now Professor Longbottom will take the roll as Defense teacher as well has in own post as Herbology teacher. "

Afterwards, Scorpius had found James and Al, giving them some news that shocked them both into silence.
"We have to go back into the forest. Tonight."