Edited 3/2/2022

Chapter Four, Returning to Hogwarts

The rest of the summer seemed to fly by for the Marauders. The necklace Fleamont had found for Josie helped with controlling her visions and she was finally able to get some much needed and uninterrupted sleep. When they had returned home from Diagon Alley Professor Dumbledore had sent back a reply which Josie had read straight away. He had promised that he would remove Peter from James' dorm and replace him with Frank to put her mind more at ease, that he thanked her for the information and would conduct some research into what the items were, and if she had any more visions about it then they could discuss it further in his office. He had stated he would like to meet as regularly as they could but would let her know at a later date.

The rest of the summer was rather peaceful for the teenagers at Potter Manor, apart from the Full Moon but even that was relatively peaceful, as Moony was calmer now that Peter wasn't there. It seemed the wolf could sense the disloyalty in his ex-pack mate. For the rest of the summer they spent playing Quidditch, reading in Remus and Josie's case, and Josie even introduced them to her Creatures. Luckily Remus and Josie had gotten Sirius and James to complete their summer homework at the start of summer so there wasn't a mad rush to complete it all at the last minute for the pair. However, as September 1st crept closer Josie became more quiet and subdued, black bags appearing under her eyes and she was becoming paler. Her parents and the boys were greatly concerned for her as they worried she had fallen ill once again.

Euphemia was luckily a Healer and ran tests on her daughter but nothing was indicating she was ill, which did nothing to lessen their worries.
"Starfall, are you sure you're alright?" Remus asked the wolf Animagus worriedly.
"I'm fine, Rem. Just tired." Josie said softly as she sat down at the breakfast table on the morning of September 1st. The pair were the first to arrive, as her parents were hurrying James and Sirius. "I think all the lack of sleep due to the visions and the stress has caught up with me." She added as she poured herself a cup of honey tea and a glass of orange juice.
"Josie, I promise you, what you saw for yourself and for us will never come to pass. I'll never let you feel the loss of...that." Remus said as he reached across the table and rested a hand on his best friend's arm. He knew it had often played on her mind.

How could it not? It often played on his mind let alone Sirius and James, all of them feeling guilty over it even if it hadn't happened yet. And after seeing yourself go through that and lose your children, he could only imagine how she felt. He will never let it happen to her, to Sirius and to James even if he died in the process.
"Thank you, Moony." Josie said, smiling softly at her best friend as everyone else joined them now.
"Darling, how're you feeling?" Euphemia fussed as she sat beside her daughter placing the back of her hand on her forehead.
"I'm okay Mama." Josie said, softly taking a sip of her tea before she helped herself to some weetabix and fruit and smothering it in milk. "Morning Papa, Jamie, Siri." Josie smiled softly at them.
"Morning Sweetheart." Fleamont kissed her forehead as he walked round to his seat as Euphemia greeted Remus.

All four of them were already dressed in their school uniform with their Gryffindor robes over the top. Due to them living in Scotland they used the Floo Network to get onto Platform 9 and 3/4 and they would be leaving soon to arrive dead on ten o' clock to make sure they got a carriage. "Now, I want you all to behave yourselves. Including you Josie, I know you're a prankster too." Fleamont told all four teenagers sternly.
"Your O.W.Ls are at the end of this year so you're to study hard. Jamie you are not to leave your homework to the last minute begging Josie and Remus to help you, you too Sirius." Euphemia said sternly not giving them any room for argument. Once they'd agreed and finished their breakfasts Fleamont and Euphemia sent them off to their rooms to double check everything and to put their pets in their cages.

***

Arriving on the platform they quickly found an empty compartment and stowed away their trunks and cages with the help of Fleamont.
"Dad, could you put a spell on the door to make sure no one has a mark or..." James asked not wanting anyone coming in their compartment that would upset Josie, especially Peter. As he knew he wouldn't be responsible for his actions, let alone Sirius and Remus. He didn't know how he was going to deal with the rat being in the same dorm as them.
"He's not in your dorm anymore." Josie piped up knowing where her brother's thoughts were going. "I wrote to Dumbledore and explained everything and he's moved Frank into your dorms instead."
"When did you do that?" Sirius asked as he kissed her cheek feeling grateful he wouldn't be committing murder at the age of fifteen.

"Before we left for Diagon Alley." Josie replied as her father cast the spell on the doorway.
"There we go all done." Fleamont said as he put away his wand. "Well done sweetheart." He said as he kissed her forehead. "Come say goodbye to your mother." He ordered as he saw the group off of the train and back over to his wife.
"Goodbye my darlings." Euphemia said sadly as she hugged Josie and James tightly and then Sirius and Remus who were like sons to her, well they had gained custody of Sirius thanks to Arcturus and Melanie. "Remus, you are always welcome in our home no matter what."
"Thank you Mrs Potter." Remus said abashed, his cheeks tinting pink.
"There's no need for that." Euphemia said with a wave of her hand. "Monty and I have told you, you can call us Monty and Mia." She said firmly as she pulled the boy into her arms.

During the trip to Diagon Alley Fleamont and Euphemia had brought Remus a whole new wardrobe and his school clothes as they knew his parents didn't have much and his father was a pious man, they actually wanted to take him in as well as Sirius but they didn't want to make him uncomfortable. Fleamont was even trying to work out a potion for him to help on the Full Moon.
"Sirius, I want you to behave yourself with Josie." Euphemia turned to the grey-eyed boy sternly. She and her husband may love him like a son but they loved their daughter and were fiercely protective of her.
"I promise Mrs and Mr P," Sirius said seriously. "I won't do anything other than treat Josie how she should be treated." Sirius said as he looked at Josie lovingly and kissed her cheek.

Fleamont along with James and Remus looked at Sirius shrewdly for a moment - getting an eye roll from Josie in the process - before they nodded their heads satisfied.
"Good." Fleamont said as he shook Sirius hand and pulled him into a manly hug then Remus and James -who grumbled good naturedly about being last- before Josie was pulled into a hug.
"Saved the best for last." Josie teased her brother who nudged her arm with a mock scowl on his face. "Really Jamie? Dad made a potion that helped tame hair and you chose not to use it but make it messier." Josie teased sticking her tongue out at him while everyone laughed at the twins banter.
"Well it suits me." James said with a shrug.
"If you like the constant just rolled out of bed-look, sure." Remus drawled, eliciting another round of laughter.

"Everyone hates me!" James cried dramatically, throwing his hands up in the air. "You still love me right Mum? Dad? Padfoot?"
"Whatever helps you sleep at night Jamie." Euphemia and Fleamont teased laughing at their son's pout as he turned to Sirius with expectant eyes.
"Sorry mate, I'm agreeing with Josie."
Sirius teased.
"Traitor!" James shouted pointing at Sirius. "Your hair is curly too! How could you do this to me? It's all Josie's fault, she has you whipped already." James faked sobbed.
"There's a difference as I brush my hair." Sirius sassed stopping James' fake sobbing as he looked at Sirius with his mouth open wide and pointing at him before he jumped on Sirius and they started play fighting.

The play fighting didn't last long however as the whistle sounded breaking up the fight.
"Have a good term and we'll see you all at Christmas." Euphemia said as she went round hugging them all and cleaning Sirius and James' uniform with a tut and a shake of the head.
"Boys I want you to look after Josie and darling. If you start to feel worse I want you to let us know and go straight to the Hospital Wing." She said sternly, holding her daughter at arms length assessing her health and whether she'll be truthful when she answers.
"I promise Mum. I love you. I love you Papa." Josie said, as she hugged and kissed her parents.
"We love you too sweetheart." Fleamont said, hugging her tighter for a moment before releasing her so she can join the boys on the train.

He wrapped an arm around Euphemia's shoulders as they waved goodbye to the four of them as the Hogwarts Express started pulling out of the station.
"I'm sure she'll be fine, Mia." Fleamont kissed his wife's temple lovingly but even he had a niggle of fear and doubt at his words. They could only hope it was only Josie's lack of sleep and stress affecting her and she wasn't falling ill again. But only time would tell. In the meantime he'll get started on some potions.

***

The journey to Hogwarts and the Sorting Feast seemed to pass by rather slowly for Josie who wanted nothing more than to go to bed, and rather quickly for everyone else. They had a slight confrontation on the train when Peter tried to enter their compartment but Remus told him in no uncertain terms that due to his choices he was no longer part of the pack, was no longer a Marauder and was no longer their friend. Of course the rat had tried to blame it on Josie which had set James and Sirius off - who had both cursed him rather badly sending him whimpering scurrying off down the corridor - other than that the journey had been rather peaceful as they planned on finishing the map and what pranks they were gonna pull this year (Remus and Josie having to rein in the other two a few times).

Once they finally reached the Gryffindor Common Room Josie slumped onto the sofa with a content sigh as she continued her conversation with Alice Fortescue and Marlene McKinnon (she had a frenemy relationship with the blonde Fifth Year but it had started to ease into more of a teasing banter). James looked over at his beloved sister - as he spoke with Sirius, Remus and Frank (they wanted to get to know their new dorm-mate a bit better)  - and saw she was looking more tired than she did this morning. He'd made his decision. Maybe it wasn't a very smart one but he was concerned for his sister, his twin, his other half and he didn't want to isolate her more by asking Alice or Marlene by interrupting them so that left Lily Evans. A Prefect.
"James, what are you doing?" Sirius hissed at him as he stood and walked towards Lily who sat alone reading.

"Lily..." James started but she interrupted him.
"For god's sake! We've been here for not even ten minutes, and you decide nows the perfect time to ask me out, Potter!?" Lily shouted attracting everyone's attention and not even noticing James wasn't acting how he usually did, hadn't asked her out and had called her Lily and not Evans. As she continued to shout and not listen to him James finally had enough.
"Will you shut up!" James shouted interrupting her shouting about how he was an arrogant toe-rag who cared for no one but himself, etc. "If you had just let me speak instead of shouting you'd know I wasn't asking you out but in fact I was going to ask you something concerning my sister." James said coldly.
Lily scoffed and crossed her arms obviously not believing him. "Right. Your sister." Lily drawled.

"Yes, Josie." James said, lowering his voice so the whole Common Room didn't hear. Josie would definitely not appreciate that and it would not help fix their relationship either. "I was going to ask you to keep an eye on her as we think she's getting sick. If you were truly her friend you'd know that just before our First Year she was gravely ill." James snapped. "But you know what. Don't bother. I'll ask either Alice or Marlene as Josie and I are such an inconvenience to you." James hissed walking away from her and over to his sister who was being checked over by Sirius and Remus. So he pulled Marlene to the side and asked her. Throughout his conversation his concerned gaze kept drifting back to Josie not once looking at Marlene as he spoke, while Lily Evans just stood there feeling unsure of herself and her actions for the first time in her life.