After New Year, they were back at the Hogwarts. The Marauders were lounging around in the common room.

"Close your eyes and concentrate," read Peter from the book of Animagi for about the fiftieth time.

Recently, the three of them had been trying this out quite often. They did it now.

After five minutes, James opened his eyes on hearing the common room door open.

"Alice, Professor McGonagall is calling you to her office," said Fabian, coming in.

Alice, who had been chatting with Marlene and Lily, shrugged and got up.

James closed his eyes his eyes again, after glancing enviously at Sirius, who hadn't moved. After some time, Remus gave a cry of amazement. James and Peter opened their eyes hastily. Then they saw that Sirius had gone strangely rigid, and he was shaking slightly. For once, the Marauders were speechless, and could only stare at their friend, their eyes wide open.

Remus vaguely remembered that this was supposed to be a secret—no one was supposed to see Sirius turn into a dog.

"Alice, what's the matter?" cried Lily in a high voice suddenly.

Sirius came back to earth with a start. "What—" he began in a hoarse voice, but then he stopped.

The common room was silent, every person staring a white-faced and teary Alice.

Frank and Lily simultaneously rushed to her and supported her from either side.

"What is it, Alice?" asked Frank gently.

Alice leaned into Frank, sobbing openly now. "My parents are—dead. Voldemort killed them."

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Till then, Voldemort had been a distant dangerous concept. But that night, as they tried to comfort poor Alice, Voldemort became a reality to every person in the Gryffindor common room.

When Lily and Marlene led their friend into the dorm, Frank faced the others, white and furious.

"We'll all fight him, won't we?"

At least a dozen voices shouted, "YES, WE WILL!"

Before going up for the night, Remus glanced around the room, trying to sum up who would actually fight the most evil dark wizard of the century.

Frank Longbottom, sturdy and dependable, was looking unusually grim as he studied a Daily Prophet.

Fabian Prewett, his normal cheerful face grim, was cracking his knuckles, no doubt waiting to join his brother in the Order of the Phoenix.

Edgar Bones, still looking awed and disbelieving, but with a look of determination under it, was staring into the fire.

Marlene McKinnon, tomboyish and brave, looked furious and terribly sad at the same time.

Lily Evans, epitome of good behavior and keeping rules, her fiery hair flying around her face, was trying, and failing, to concentrate on her studies.

And finally, his friends...

James Potter, brave, a true Gryffindor, though a cheerful and mischievous one, had a glint in his hazel eyes.

Sirius Black, reckless, bold, desperate to live down his family name, was quietly staring at his feet.

Peter Pettigrew, loyal, true, who would do anything for his friends, was staring at James and Sirius in turn.

Whatever happened, Remus was sure that these people, at least, would be willing to give up their lives for the cause of defeating the Dark Lord.

He wondered how many would actually have to.

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Every person in Gryffindor tried in their own way to make Alice forget her dreadful loss.

The Marauders had heard her say one day that she liked custard creams. So, the next day they sneaked down to the kitchen under the Invisibility Cloak (which was now becoming increasingly uncomfortable as Sirius, James and Remus were growing taller every month) brought a heap of custard creams of various flavors for Alice.

Frank, who had steadily refused to go to Madam Puddifoot's, a mushy shop at Hogsmeade, cheerfully agreed to go there with Alice on the next Hogsmeade visit, which took place on that Saturday.

On Sunday night, the Gryffindor team went up to Alice and promised her that they would win this year's cup, starting with tomorrow's match against Slytherin.

"Remember what Professor McGonagall told us in our first year, Lily? That over our years at Hogwarts, our house is going to be something like our family? Well, I may have lost one family, but I still have one," said Alice to Lily in the dorm, half-laughing, half-crying.

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The Gryffindor Quidditch team kept their word, and thrashed Slytherin 390-10.

Sirius and James were the stars of the match. When Gryffindor was just 30 points up, Sirius hit a well-aimed Bludger at Regulus, the Slytherin Seeker, who had been two feet away from the Snitch.

James shot a record 21 goals in the match.

"Naturally talented," was the general verdict.