Disclaimer:

Harry Potter and all its characters belong to J.K. Rowling.

I own nothing except the original characters I create.

Dialogue:

"Dialogue"

'Thoughts'

-Author notes-

It was the first weekend they had and the group just wanted to relax for a few hours at Hogmeade and drink some butterbeer.

"As usual, the Slytherin had to prove to everyone how far they were above the rest. " Sirius said with a bitter tone.

"Shh!, they are going to hear you," Peter whispered.

"I believe they are too preoccupied with something else at the moment," Remus added.

"Not everyone in that house is bad..." Lily commented. Of course, she was thinking about her friend.

"Maybe not everyone," Alice responded. "But that group in particular has quite the reputation. Especially the Lestrange brothers...everyone knows to stay clear of those brutes."

Back at the other table nearby, things were heating up.

"What are you waiting for? He told you to leave." Lucius spoke coldly at the couple, his expression one of complete indifference.

"We're not leaving just because you told us to!" The boy stood up, ready to say more, but Rodolphus grabbed him by the collar and lifted him into the air.

"If we tell you to do something, you do it… You mudbloods don't have the right to question us!" Rodolphus' eyes burned with fury.

"Hey!" A young woman carrying a tray rushed toward the group.

"I don't want any fights in my bar!"

"Good, Madam Rosmerta is here. She'll put an end to this."

Peter sighed in relief.

"We were merely making a simple request. It's best if you don't get involved." Lucius stared directly at Rosmerta.

"My father could have this place shut down by the end of the month if I so much as ask."

Rosmerta frowned, clenching her fists, but said nothing as she knew it was not an empty threat when coming from Malfoy.

"Please, let him go. We'll leave!" the boy's girlfriend pleaded, tears in her eyes.

"Hmph! At least this one knows her place." Rodolphus sneered, using a single hand to toss the boy to the floor. "Go on, get out of here. This table is ours now."

The boy stood up, teeth clenched in anger as he glared at Rodolphus.

He was about to lunge forward when his girlfriend grabbed his arm, whispering something in his ear. She practically had to drag him out of the bar.

Rodolphus and Lucius watched with amusement.

"It seems he still wanted a fight after all," Lucius said mockingly.

"Ha! Let him try… I'll wipe the floor with his face. I don't even need my wand for that one." Rodolphus chuckled.

"Are you two done drawing attention to us? Can we eat now?" Bellatrix, unlike the two boys, did not look amused by the spectacle. In fact, she looked irritated more than anything.

"Bella…be nice." Narcissa gave her a disapproving look before sitting next to Lucius.

"What are you complaining about, woman? I got us seats. Now bring that pretty butt over here." Rodolphus grinned, showing his sharp teeth while tapping on the chair next to him.

Bellatrix ignored his request and sat opposite him, next to her sister.

That made Rodolphus furious. "You won't be that disobedient for long…" he muttered the threat.

"Now, now… Let's have our meal in peace." Lucius turned toward Rosmerta. "Server! What are you waiting for? Attend to us."

"Tsk! Bunch of pricks…" Sirius huffed.

"Poor Rosmerta, they should not talk to her like that," Peter said.

"I feel sorry for that couple," said Alice. "I've spoken with the girl a few times. She's a seventh-year Hufflepuff, and she is always really kind to everyone."

"They think anyone who isn't a pureblood is beneath them," Lily said with disgust.

James observed the group with interest, wondering if they had already been recruited by Voldemort.

He hadn't heard anything about Death Eaters yet, so perhaps they hadn't started their activities.

But he was certain Tom had begun gathering followers, and those four at that table were prime candidates.

James hadn't thought much about the Dark Lord in a long time.

'It feels like it's been several lifetimes since I fought him…'

He had only been in his late teens when their final battle took place. After that, he had lived on for many more decades.

He had experienced so much that, eventually, Voldemort, his war, and everything about him had faded into a distant memory.

'But now he's alive once more… and it's something I will need to deal with eventually.' James reminded himself.

This time, however, he wasn't the child of prophecy, so Voldemort wouldn't come after him directly. But that didn't mean he could ignore it.

'Technically, I could just move to another country…' The thought crossed his mind.

Not that he would ever take that option and abandon his family and friends to suffer a terrible fate.

'I'm not afraid of him or his followers… Let them come, and I'll show them what I can do.' His eyes sharpened.

Then, he noticed Bellatrix. She had glanced at him, and for just a second, he saw something in her eyes…

'She looked sad… but why?' It didn't make sense to him.

As far as he recalled, that woman had been one of Voldemort's most devoted and fanatical followers. More involved in his affairs than the rest.

And yet, looking at this younger version of Bellatrix… It was strange.

She had the same strong personality and the same violent tendencies.

'But then… why do I feel like there is more to it.'

"James, come on!"

Remus' voice pulled him from his thoughts.

He looked up. His friends were all standing.

"Come on, mate, wake up. We're leaving," Sirius told him.

"You've been spacing out a lot, James," Alice said. "Last year, it was hard to get you to stop talking. You were almost as bad as Sirius."

"Hey! Everyone loves to hear my voice," Sirius said, grinning.

"It's true. You're… different," Lily said, looking at him in a way he couldn't quite decipher.

He couldn't tell if she was disappointed or relieved that he was no longer the same James Potter.

James shrugged and chose to not comment on it, simply unfazed by their reactions as he already expected them.

It wasn't like he didn't care what they thought, but at some point, as long as he was consistent with his actions, they would get used to his new self and stop looking at him like that.

Before leaving, James cast one last glance at Bellatrix. She looked bored and annoyed while listening to Lucius speak.

With the last image of the black-haired girl, he walked out of the bar.

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