Disclaimer: I admit it, I don't own Harry Potter. I merely borrow JKR's wonderful world, and am obliged to give it back once I've finished with it.

A/N: This came to me very shortly after finishing 'Home is Where the Heart Is'. Yes, it is a sequel. You don't have to have read that one to understand this, but it's helpful. This again centres on James, but features much more of Remus and Sirius in it! Fun? Let's hope so...

Chapter 1

"James! James, come back!"

James Potter didn't stop to say sorry as he knocked a waiter over in his bolt for the door. He didn't stop for anything. All he could think about was the answer his mother had just given to Daniel's proposal. The answer she obviously hadn't stopped to think about. The answer she must have known James would object to.

Daniel seemed a nice enough person, but James was still raw from what had happened over the summer, and he wasn't about to trust anyone he didn't know well. And his mother? It was only five months since she'd divorced James' father. How could she just forget about it that easily, and re-marry so soon? James couldn't understand it. He hadn't understood anything about his mother since he had come back from Hogwarts that December, only to find that she was dating. Seriously dating. Without a thought to mention it to any of her children before they had come home from school.

James slowed down, breathing hard, realising he was at least five blocks away from the restaurant, and near the outskirts of the town. What was he going to do? Go back? Not likely.

He flopped down on the snow-covered ground, not caring that snow was beginning to fall around him, settling in his hair. How had Tom and Rosie taken it so well?

Because they weren't the ones Dad directed his anger at when he was drunk, James realised. They-even at fourteen and twelve years old-were too young to even begin to understand what had taken place during the summer. They had been told what had happened, but neither of them had seen anything; James had made sure of that. And they had accepted Daniel straight away-to them, he was someone to replace the father they had lost to alcoholism.

James, on the other hand, had no desire to get another father. And he had no desire to lose his mother either.

Back to the point here, James, he thought, leaning his head wearily against the nearest lamppost. What the hell are you going to do? You're sixteen years old, you don't have a license to Apparate, and even you did, where would you go? Sirius'?

Sirius! His best friend's name flickered in his mind. Sirius knew exactly what had gone on with James' father last summer, and all about Daniel. In fact, he had practically told James to go and stay with him for the holiday. James drew from his pocket a piece of parchment he had received only two days before from his best friend.

Prongs-

Daniel sounds wonderful. Not. He's a git if I've ever heard of one. And your mum's going out with him? Urgh. Especially after what happened over the summer...mothers are so thoughtless.

But speaking of thoughtless mothers, mine's gone and taken Vega away for two weeks to visit my old Auntie Fanny. I was allowed to stay here, under the condition Moony stayed too. She wanted to leave you with your family- although maybe that's not such a great idea under the circumstances. If you feel the need, come over to my place; we've got it to ourselves! And no, we haven't trashed it yet...

Hope you're okay,

Padfoot

P.S. Moony says hi.

"If you feel the need," James repeated, under his breath. If he ever felt the need, this was the time.

He glanced at his watch. Half past ten. If he ran, he'd be at Sirius' in under an hour. And he and Remus would definitely still be up, watching that muggle invention called a 'television' or something...

Standing up, having come to his decision, James looked around to check no one was watching. No one was about; if he took twenty steps to his right, he would find himself in the forest, and everyone knew how dangerous the forest was, even the muggles.

But it was only dangerous to humans.

Seconds later, a beautiful chestnut-brown stag stood exactly where James had been. The snow falling thick and fast around its handsome form, it turned and bolted into the direction of the forest.

* * *

"Nobody puts Baby in the corner."

The girl sitting in the corner stood up, accepting the man's open hand, smiling. Her father looked ready to refuse, but his wife stopped him.

Sirius Black wrinkled his nose in disgust. "She's not even that pretty. What's this rubbish we're watching anyway?"

His friend, Remus Lupin, laughed, taking another handful of popcorn from the bowl on the table. "It's called Dirty Dancing-you're the one who picked the video out for us to watch on the television."

"I just like the sound of it." Sirius grinned. "I personally prefer that girl's sister, although she can't sing to save her life."

The two friends lapsed into silence, watching the television intently. Both of them had agreed that a night slumped on the sofa in front of the muggle invention, with a bowl of popcorn, was a good idea, especially as there was no one to stop them watching whatever they liked.

Sirius fidgeted slightly as the song started playing on the video. On impulse, he leapt up, attempting to copy the man's moves. Remus started choking on his popcorn at the sight. Sirius offered his hand to his friend.

"Remus, may I have this dance?"

Remus recovered himself, and batted his eyelids. "Why, Sirius, I thought you'd never ask," he said, in a falsely high voice. He stood up, taking Sirius' hand.

Both of them tried to dance to the music, whilst keeping their eyes on the people on the screen. Sirius took a step backwards to see better, and tripped over the table. Remus fell backwards, and hit his head on the corner of the sofa, holding his sides in laughter. Both teenagers were still laughing when the credits started to roll up on the screen.

Sirius attempted to stand up, weakly holding on the sofa for support. He collapsed with a sigh into the soft cushions.

Then there was a knock on the front door.

Both teenagers froze, all smiles gone from their faces. Uneasily, Remus drew his wand. Sirius picked up his own from the table, throwing a quick glance at the clock on the wall. Eleven twenty-five. Who would be coming to the door at that time?

"Y-you don't think it's Death Eaters, do you?" Remus' voice sounded nervous, and his wand shook.

"Only one way to find out." Sirius disappeared out of the lounge door, and made his way down the hallway, his wand still gripped tightly in his right hand. With a shaky hand, he reached out and opened the front door.

He didn't like what he saw.

James was leaning heavily against the side of the doorframe. His face was almost white, and his lips were an alarming shade of blue. Snow had settled in his hair, and he was shivering. He smiled weakly as Sirius lowered his wand.

"Planning to kill me, Padfoot?" His voice was hoarse. "I'm sorry for turning up without any warning, but my mother...Daniel..." Without warning, his eyes closed, and he collapsed to the floor, unconscious. Sirius dropped down next to his best friend.

"Moony!" he shouted. "Moony, I need some help, here!"

Remus appeared out of the living room, his wand in his hand. When he saw James, he dropped his wand and ran over. He held James' wrist, feeling for a pulse. Sirius watched him anxiously. Remus nodded.

"I think he's just exhausted, Padfoot." He gestured to the living room. "Come on, let's get him inside, and then we can decide what to do."

A/N: Well, everybody? What do you think? Good? Rubbish? Should I never write again? Please review!