Prophecies and Betrayals (sequel to The Marauders)

1

"James?"

"JAMES!"

The second yell jerked James out of his revere and he jumped up. Sirius Black threw his head back and laughed. "Hold up everyone, James won't be able to think for at least ten minutes after Evans leaves."

James felt the back of his neck heat up and willed himself not to blush. His traitorous face heated up anyways, causing his friends to laugh harder. "Shut up! I was thinking about Quidditch."

Remus snorted, looking up from his book. "More like when you play a dangerous game and almost die, only to catch the Snitch at the very last second and win the House Cup! And Lily Evans is so grateful for a Gryffindor win that she gives you a very warm congratulations-"

"Oi! There's kids here." Sirius gestured to the first years milling around the green fields of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

"Since when did you care?" James laughed. "Since a certain Brenna Meadowes told you off for swearing around them?"

"That has nothing to do with it." But now Sirius was blushing almost as much as James had when they mentioned Lily. Eager to repay Sirius for that embarrassing tease, James smirked and continued. "You guys talk a lot lately, I hardly ever see you without her."

"We're just friends." Sirius murmured.

"Yeah, why are you guys just friends?" Remus asked. "You spend every waking hour with each other. Come to think of it, you also send each other letters in the dead of night."

"Are you stalking me?" Sirius narrowed his eyes.

"No. I'm just very observant, and I happen to stay up late studying," Remus said . "Which you should try. It wouldn't kill you to do some studying."

"Oh yes it would." James and Sirius replied automatically.

Peter tried to cover his laughter, resulting in a very animalistic snort that caused his friends to laugh. He turned bright red. 

"C'mon, Remy!" Sirius turned back to Remus. "Since we're talking about girls, don't you have a secret crush you've been hiding from us?"

"I have better things to think about than girls," Remus turned back to his book to hide the sudden sparkle in his eyes as an unbidden image of her came into his mind. 

"No one has anything better to talk about than girls." Sirius laid down on his back and stretched his arms behind his head. Remus rolled his eyes, but found himself laughing. 

That was one of the last times Remus would laugh in the years to come. 

Unbeknownst to the four boys (or perhaps...one of them knew) there was a darkness rising. A darkness so powerful, even Albus Dumbledore, the Headmaster of Hogwarts and the most powerful wizard alive, was pacing in his office. But how could he be sure? This darkness coming...that he could feel in his bones...what was it?

Or rather..

Who?