Summary: James starts his second year at Hogwarts. He hopes that it will be pleasant, but a warning from a house-elf shatters his hopes. New members join Unity, as they decide to let first-years into the group. Things appear to be pleasant at first, but despite Unity trying to be careful, mysterious events start happening, which the group must deal with.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. It belongs to one the best authors of all time, J.K. Rowling, and I merely playing in her world.

This fic is dedicated to my friend Katie and all my reviewers for the previous fic, A Twist of Fate.

James was up in his bedroom in the Black family home, finishing his Potions homework. He really didn't care for the Hogwarts giving out summer homework, especially considering that his Muggle school had never done that. However, that was the only thing about Hogwarts that he didn't like, besides having a boring ghost teacher for History of Magic. Everything else was great, and his first year had been very interesting. He'd discovered his godfather and 'god-wolf', was made Seeker for the Ravenclaw Quidditch team, made twenty-seven friends that formed a group called Unity, faced Tom Riddle, aka Moldydork, stopped him from getting the Philosopher's Stone, and caused all four houses to be tied for the House Cup. Oh, and he entrusted the rest of Unity with his secret, which was that he was really Harry Potter, and so far, they were doing a good job keeping it.

A knock on the door startled him. "Come in!" James called, setting down his quill. The door opened and Stella, who was now his sister by adoption and not foster sister, came in.

"Neville and Ron just Flooed over," she said. "They're in the living room waiting for you, James. And Mari said she was coming as soon as she finished her Transfiguration essay."

James welcomed a break from homework, even if it was for one of his favorite and best subjects, Potions. He jumped up, thanked Stella for telling him, and then ran downstairs.

"Hi, James!" exclaimed Neville. "Gran says I can have a birthday party and invite all of Unity!"

"That's great," replied James with a grin. "It's strange how we almost have the same birthdays. My real birthday is only the day after yours, Nev."

"But the birthday the orphanage gave you is only four days from now," said Neville. "By the way, what do you want for your birthday? I'm in charge of buying your gifts and the rest of Unity will give me their two Sickles each."

"What I really want is no summer homework, or failing that, someone to do it for me," answered James. "But that's not happening, and I know 'Mione would have a fit at the mere idea that someone do my homework for me. Just because I'm in Ravenclaw doesn't mean that I like having summer homework. Maybe 'Mione and I should have switched houses."

Neville and Ron chuckled. "Well, since you can't have what you really want, is there any lesser desire we can grant?" asked Ron.

"Well, I would like books, something to do with Quidditch, and sweets. Oh, and a commonplace book. Stella suggested that I have one considering the events of my first year." Seeing Neville's and Ron's puzzled looks, he explained, "A commonplace book is essentially a notebook to write down information for your knowledge. But I don't think you'll have to get me one, since I have a feeling that Stella will, as she's the one that brought the matter up."

There was a flare of light from the fireplace and a second later, Mari tumbled out. She calmly got up and brushed soot from her shirt and jeans. "Hi, guys. I finished my Transfiguration essay. And you guys are so lucky not to have annoying younger relatives living with you. Sakura is nice, but she can be such a pain in the neck. She keeps chattering away, asking a whole bunch of questions, and to top it off, is rather smart and likes to show it off. And there's her whole pouting over not being able to attend Hogwarts until next year."

James couldn't help laughing. "Hello, kettle. This is pot. You're black. That's exactly what you're doing, Mari. Remember the pouting you did after Stuart and Stella told us about the wizarding world? You were so mad that you were only eight and couldn't attend Hogwarts for another three years!"

Mari smiled wryly. "All right, all right, I get your point." Seeing Neville's and Ron's confused expressions, she clarified, "There's a Muggle saying that goes 'A case of the pot calling the kettle black'. In other words, it would be accusing someone of something you've done or you are yourself."

The four of them began a game of Exploding Snap, which was interrupted halfway by the arrival of Kyle and Hermione, who both happened to live within an hour's drive away from London. Hermione had finished her summer homework already and was sternly telling Kyle that she was not letting him copy off her History of Magic essay, the one subject that he was not very good in, as he kept mixing up dates, places, and people.

After the greetings, Kyle said, "My parents say I can spend the night with you, James, if your godfather agrees."

"I'm sure Uncle Padfoot will say yes." James had gotten into the habit of calling his godfather the same thing he had done as a one-year old, albeit not in baby-talk anymore. He left the living room briefly to ask Sirius and came back with permission and a tray of drinks and some snacks.

The Exploding Snap game resumed and after it ended with Kyle winning, something startling occurred. There was a small crack and a house-elf appeared in the middle of the room. Hermione was gaping, as she had never seen a house-elf before, as Kreacher, the Black family elf, hadn't shown himself during her visit a week ago.

"Erm, hello," said James when he'd recovered from his shock. "Who are you, and why are you here?"

"I is being Dobby the house-elf," said the elf, bowing deeply. "Dobby is here to -" He broke off and stared at James, who had not assumed his guise of Stella and Stuart's brother since he was with people that knew his secret. "Is you being Harry Potter?"

James silently cursed and said, "I'm a Metamorphmagus, so I can change my appearance to whoever I want. Why can't I decide to look like Harry Potter? This is my real look." He quickly moved his scar to his back, turned his hair red, and changed his features to look like the Lydell twins.

Dobby didn't look completely convinced, but didn't pursue the matter, instead asking, "Is you being James Lydell? The one that is facing He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and stopping him from returning to power?"

James nodded and Dobby then turned to Mari and Kyle. "Then Dobby is guessing that you is Mariko Kishi and Kyle Melling, who is helping James."

"Yes," said Mari. "Dobby, why are you here? Did the family you're working for send you here?"

The house-elf shook his head. "No. Dobby's family is not knowing about this. Dobby must punish himself most greviously for coming here to warn you."

Mari completely ignored the fact about a warning to demand, "Punish yourself? And what kind of punishment would that be?"

"Dobby will be shutting his ears in the oven door to-"

"You will not!" snapped Mari, while the other five looked horrified or shocked. "The two house-elves my aunt and uncle have never punish themselves like that. If they do something that they feel deserves punishment, they go to my aunt and uncle, who either lets them off or assigns them a chore to do."

"Dobby's masters are not like that," said Dobby sadly. "They is expecting -" He broke off and began banging his head against the wall.

James pulled him away and said, "Please don't do that. Just sit down, please, and explain why you are warning us."

Dobby promptly burst into loud tears, saying that no wizard had ever asked him to sit down before like a equal and that he had to punish himself as he'd almost spoken ill of his masters. James couldn't help comparing this behavior with Kreacher, who had no problem with muttering that Sirius was a bloor-traitor and disappointment to his mother and other uncomplimentary things, though Kreacher never said anything bad about James and his siblings as they made a point of being nice to him.

Hermione looked indignant, as what Dobby said implied that he was not well-treated at all. Ron, who hadn't liked Kreacher the one time they'd met, had a different opinion of Dobby based on his expression, and asked, "What family do you work for, Dobby? If you can tell us."

"T-The Malfoys," stammered Dobby, hiccuping.

At that, the six preteens in the room looked angry now, other than Mari, who was too busy calming the elf down to show her anger. Once Dobby had regained his composure somewhat, he explained that he was warning them about a plot that would happen at Hogwarts. Mari was the main target, as the Malfoys weren't too happy with what she had started in Slytherin, and hoped that it might discredit her and her prominent relatives. Dobby couldn't go into any specifics without having to punish himself, but he did say that Mari, James, and Kyle shouldn't return to Hogwarts. He added that it wouldn't be safe for the rest of Unity, either, but admitted that it would look odd if thirty second-years were absent.

James and Kyle said firmly that they had no intention of not returning to Hogwarts, and Mari added that she would be extra careful. Dobby tried to argue with them, but the sound of footsteps scared him into disappearing. A few seconds later, Sirius and Remus walked into the living room. "What's going on?" asked Remus, seeing the expressions.

James hastily explained about Dobby and the warning he had given. Remus frowned and said that he speak to Dumbledore about it, while Sirius cautioned the preteens to be careful and to pass on the message to the rest of Unity. He added, "While I am proud of what Unity did in the matter of the Philosopher's Stone, it was still a dangerous and reckless thing to do. Please try to stay out of trouble this year. I mean, trouble that doesn't involve pranks."

The six promised and then James got out his notebook to write the rest of Unity about Dobby and the warning.