Hello Fam :)

A/N: As I said this is one of the turning point of the story. 

Rishana_ I am unable to add your name in the dedications but it's you who had put the idea of a part of the chapter. You would know which one. :P

Happy Friendship Day :)

Happy Reading...

Sirius met James in front of three broomsticks along with Remus, the girls, and a couple of 7th-years. There were only a couple of students left, most of them gone home for Easter. "Jay, what's going on?"

"Voldemort is pacing in the village. There are kids all over. We need to save them at least until help arrives", said James.

Sirius nodded. He can feel the people around them at varying levels of fear and tension but when there was a war, you are always prepared. "What's the plan?", he asked. If it's up to Sirius, he would go head-first, raining curses on the Dark Lord, consequences be damn.

As if sensing his thoughts, James wrapped his hand around Sirius's wrist. "Stay alive", he told and gave a moment to sink the words into Sirius before turning to Remus. "Remus, take the kids and go to the castle. He hadn't started yet but it's only time when he starts screaming curses. Take them back to the castle through the Honeydukes tunnel. If there are any villagers, scared and afraid, take them too. It's the safest for everyone right now. Inform any adults, anyone. Professor Dumbledore isn't in the castle."

"But I would be more helpful here", he protested.

"We can argue all night but listen to me on this one."

Sirius exactly knew Jay's reason and hence he didn't argue, choosing to remain neutral.

"You are the prefect, Remus. The students trust you", said Lily.

There was a look of betrayal on his face but he clamped his mouth shut and left with a nod. Peter was nowhere. Jay would have sent him earlier with the kids. He glanced at the rest of the students. "Guys, how good are you with shield charms?", he asked.

A couple of students nodded. "Those who are good, stay with us. Others, take a step back. You could be our backup. Help would arrive but it would be taking time for them to come crossing the apparition points and if my guess is right, he would have set up anti-apparition wards around Hogsmeade too. I don't know what he wants and there is a motive because he hasn't started anything yet."

This a social call, students. I just need to talk to Mr. Potter and Mr. Black. Others can leave.

They all turned their heads towards the sound and then looked at the two horrified. "He came here for us?", said James.

"Don't tell me you two already started world domination without telling any of us", muttered Lily.

And James just grinned at her even though there was tension in his posture.

Five more minutes and I will hunt them down myself. So, if any of you have seen them, drag them here. Otherwise, you will face the consequences.

"Guys, change of plan. I think you should stay here. Let us go and have this social talk with him", said Jay.

"Don't be stupid, Potter", said Marlene. "Knowing you two, you would piss him off before the help arrives. We are sticking together."

Sirius felt himself smiling even if he readied himself to face the most dangerous person since Grindelwald. James shook his head before jogging towards the sound, Sirius beside him and the others followed.

XXX

Sirius thought he would be surprised to see some of his relatives along with the Voldemort but after last summer, it wasn't that new. He saw his uncle Cygnus Black and Abraxas Malfoy, Lucius's father among the crowds.

"What's up, Voldy? Couldn't you find a better time for your social call? We have assignments to submit. Don't you care about our education at all?", said James, faking a grin.

Sirius choked a laugh. Jay would totally show Voldemort what social call means. "Hey, Uncle Cyg. Does grandfather know you are associating with him? Remember what he said about him at our last family party."

Both Voldemort and Cygnus ignored the boys turning to each other. Sirius felt his ego bruised. Slightly.

"These are the idiots you told me about", hissed Voldemort.

"He is calling us idiots, Jay", said Sirius.

James pouted. "I am hurt, Volds. You come here for a social call and neglect all societal manners. Why break my heart like this?"

Voldemort glared at the boy but James only grinned back. Sirius was ready with a wand to pull up a shield charm around his idiot of a best friend.

"Sirius, if you value your friend's life, keep his mouth shut. The Dark Lord wants to talk to the both of you", said Cygnus.

"Is this about what happened last summer?", asked Sirius. "You know what my answer is."

Voldemort almost smiled and it was the creepiest thing Sirius has ever seen and it was saying something since he had lived most of his life in Grimmauld's place. "You were right. The boy is smart."

"That's what we are worried about, My Lord. The boy is getting wasted in the company of them", said Cygnus, looking at the Gryffindors with disdain.

Sirius hated the direction this conversation was going. It was exactly the way last summer went and he wasn't a fan of it.

"Mr. Potter", started Voldemort, "I have been told that Mr. Black follows you. Hence, I would repeat the gift that Mr. Black was offered a few months back but which he has immaturely refused. I believe you are smarter than him and would listen to me."

James nodded, tightening his hand around the wand.

As Voldemort repeated about his pureblood mania, Sirius tuned him out to actually look at the man in front of him. Sirius thought, Regulus was pale and it was also the reason why he caught cold so quickly but Voldemort was one of the palest people he had ever seen. Where Regulus looked like a Fae prince, Voldemort looked deathly pale as if there was hardly any life left inside him. His nose looked broken, more like someone had cut it off and he didn't know how it was even possible but Voldemort's head looked hollow in some parts like some dented utensils. Sure, there was a face that looked like it has seen better days but right now Voldemort looked like a hollow remnant of a once handsome face.

"So, what do you say, Mr. Potter? Would you be smart and join me along with your friend?", said Voldemort.

Sirius mentally shook his head to the present. "Jay, do you think I should cut my nose too if I have to join him?"

James shrugged, without once wavering his eyes or wand from the person who called himself Dark Lord. "Who knows? If that's the criteria, I am not ever allowing you to join him. He is not worth enough to lose your handsomeness."

Sirius smiled to himself, pleased. At least, Jay and his thoughts were aligning.

Behind them, he heard Lily groan. "Merlin, could you two go at least two goddamn seconds without flirting with each other?"

Even though Sirius smirked at the redhead, a retort on his tongue, James ignored her completely. "Voldemort, what does it say about yourself if you are recruiting high school students to join your madness? Are you that desperate?"

It was the first time when Jay spoke the words with the seriousness that was so rare to be seen inside the Hogwarts walls and every instinct in Sirius's brain screamed alert. Jay had completely pissed off the Dark Lord. A split second later, there was a curse he screamed and Sirius conjured the shield charm around them. Charles asked Sirius exactly not to try the shield charm against Voldemort but well, it's the situation. Something entirely different was happening behind them because there was a scream and someone bleeding but Sirius didn't want to waver his gaze from Voldemort or his other cronies as they tried to penetrate through the shield charm. Sirius held up his wand to keep the shield in its place, Jay right beside him, conjuring his own charm, adding to his magic.

Voldemort asked everyone to stop the curses as he walked toward them, touching the thick magic with his pale bony fingers. Seriously, without any pun, he looked like a walking corpse at this point. There was a rustling behind him and someone walking away but Sirius held his gaze with Voldemort. Never turn your back to your enemy, his grandfather had drilled it inside his head during his first training class as the Black heir.

"This is one of the strongest shield charms", said Voldemort. "How did you conjure it?"

Sirius felt someone intruding his mind and tightened his occlumency shields. Voldemort looked somewhat impressed. He turned his gaze to James and he knew Jay did the same when he saw the surprised look on Voldemort's face. Jay was a pureblood heir too. His training might not be as strict as Sirius, but he too had a toned-down version of an heir training.

Voldemort took several steps back to look at the two boys. "You both are better on my side than rotting away here."

"Are you sure, you are not the one rotting away? What with you looking like death warmed you all over", said Sirius. He couldn't help it. He had to say it. Sirius blinked his eyes to check if what he had seen wasn't his imagination because he thought he had seen Voldemort's eyes red. It reminded him of the slits of a snake and Sirius thought it was the moment, he would die. He didn't want to die looking into those eyes and hence, he took a step towards Jay such that they were touching shoulder to shoulder, never once lowering his wand.

Voldemort raised his wand but too soon the Aurors were crossing the anti-apparition wards, Charles Potter leading the group and they could hear the teachers coming from somewhere behind them. Voldemort and their cronies removed the wards and they apparated, clearing the village.

"Check the perimeter", barked Charles. "Check if there is anyone hiding." He ran just in front of the boys. "Don't lower the shields yet", he said. Once the Aurors informed Charles about none of the Dark Lord's people being present, Sirius dropped the shield on Charles's insistence and everyone around them. "Those who don't have their kids at Hogwarts, check on the villagers. Others make sure your kids are okay."

"Where are the rest of the kids, Auror Potter?", asked one of the Aurors.

Charles raised an eyebrow at the boys. "Boys?"

"Anyone who isn't here is at the castle. They are safe", said James.

Charles motioned the bunch of them to the kids while the teachers from Hogwarts checked upon the rest of the kids, leaving James and Sirius to Charles. Once everyone cleared off, the controlled mask on Charles fell off and he knelt down on the ground pulling both his boys into a hug. "Oh, Merlin, my babies. I was so scared when I got the call. We tried to apparate but there were wards preventing any of us to come in. I didn't know what to do. I was so scared."

He broke the hug only to kiss both of them on top of their heads before hugging them all over again. None of their friends made any teasing remarks only explained how scared everyone was. Facing Voldemort at sixteen was not an idea that crosses any of the kid's brain. It was finally James who broke the hug, leaving Sirius still in Charles's arms. The boy wasn't ready to leave Charles and that was okay given how it went during last summer.

"Dad, you could have used floo", he pointed.

Charles raised one arm to cuff James on his head, the other hand around Sirius, grounding him. "Smartass. Do you think I haven't thought about it? Aberforth wasn't responding and something blocked us from getting into Rosemerta. We landed in absurd places, trust me."

"So, you were on an adventure instead of trying to save us", teased James.

Charles didn't bother responding to that as he rubbed his arm around Sirius's back. "Hey, kid, you feeling okay?", he whispered near Sirius's ear.

"I thought I would die", whispered Sirius.

And in an instant James joined the hug, sandwiching the boy in between the two Potters. "I would kill him or die trying before he could reach you."

Charles broke the hug and cupped the cheeks of both boys. "Boys, no one is dying under my watch. Okay?", he said, before looking around only to find none of the students or teachers around them. They might have gone to the castle. "Why don't we go to the castle?"

Sirius nodded and was thankful when Charles put an arm around him as they walked towards the castle. With James on his other side, he felt as safe as he could minutes after facing the Lord who wanted to brand him. 

A/N: Somewhere in the book it was mentioned that Harry's parents have defied the Dark Lord thrice. I am planning something around that. 

Voldemort makes an appearance. And Sirius makes a comment about his appearance. James gives him a nickname. @Rishana_ Remember something about this conversation :P