Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all related titles, characters, plots, or settings are property of JK Rowling. No money is being made off of it.
I would like to dedicate this story to my best friend and my beloved sister, Kassie; the golden Light that helps to brighten my daily Dark.
James Potter and the Amulet of Gráchadh
Chapter 1: Responsibility
James Potter rolled over on his side and determined to drown out the constant tapping from the general direction of his window. At least, he thought it was his window. He was too occupied with the daunting task of attempting to get a solid eight hours to really care where the stupid noise was coming from, though. He buried his head full of wild, messy black hair under his pillow and prayed silently for quiet. He wanted to finish his dream. Each time he managed to doze off, however, another firm TAP! brought him back, kicking and screaming, to consciousness. Squinting at his bedside table, James moaned gently and patted around for his glasses.
"Prongs!"
"Bloody hell," murmured James as an altogether too happy Sirius Black strolled into the room and shook him roughly on the shoulder.
"Did you realize that there's an owl at your window?"
"Owl? Wha?" James finally found his glasses on the floor under his bed. "Sirius what.." Before he could finish his sentence, a great tawny owl swooped over his head and dropped a heavy letter on top of the rumpled bedclothes. It turned with a graceful dipping of its wings and flew into the gold-streaked morning, a long low 'hoot' the only legacy it left.
Sirius, ever as observant and obvious as usual, pointed at James' lap. "You've got a letter. From the owl. At your window."
"Good morning to you too." James peeled back the thin blanket and slid out from under the sheets. He stood still, the thick letter clutched in his hand, while Sirius patted him on the back, grinning like an idiot. Sirius had come to live with James and his parents after leaving home. He didn't agree with his parent's political views, and that, along with many other (and decidedly more disturbing) differences was the reason that Sirius had come to live with the Potters. Not that James wasn't happy with that arrangement, of course, since they were practically brothers.
"Prongs." Sirius was calling James by his nickname. James blinked groggily. He wasn't up yet. "Oi! Open the bloody thing, already. I want to see the badge!" Sirius let out a bark-like laugh and grinned insanely again. There was something definitely wrong with that look...Only insane people looked like that.
"What badge?" Insane...
"Your Head Boy badge! James!" Sirius sighed heavily at James' look of confusion and his smile slipped slightly. "You can't tell me you haven't figured it out yet?"
"Figured out what?" James was thoroughly mystified.
Sirius growled. "Open it."
James rolled his eyes to the heavens but obeyed quickly. As soon as the letter was opened a silver badge fell out to rest in his palm. His knees felt strangely weak. "No way in bloody hell. Sirius did you mess with my Hogwarts letter?"
"That's against Wizarding Law and you know it."
"Padfoot...since when have you cared if you broke Wizarding Law or not?"
"Oh..." Sirius grinned again. "'Round about the time they actually started enforcing it."
"Right." James stared hard at the small piece of cold metal resting in his large hand. "Right," he repeated.
"Jamie Boy. Snap out of it! You know what this means don't you?"
James swallowed and tore his hazel eyes from the tiny badge. "You can get away with more things now that I have Head Boy duties and patrol the halls. I can, er...vouch for you."
"Other than that."
James screwed up his face in concentration. "Er...I'll have influence with the Prefects and you won't get in any more trouble."
Sirius rolled his eyes. "James. Having that badge means you're supposed to have intelligence under all that messy hair of yours." Sirius tapped a broad finger on James' forehead. "Well, it is early. You get to spend time with Lily."
"Lily," James repeated dumbly. Sirius was right. It was early.
"Merlin's Beard! Evans! Lily Evans. You remember her, right? Long luxurious red hair, startling green eyes? Amazing, brilliant, beautiful...the one you're hopelessly in love with? The one who hates you with a passion and would rather sacrifice herself for Dark Magic than get caught conversing with you?"
"She would be made Head Girl. Naturally. The Great Grand Gorgeous Genius, Lily Evans." James ran a hand through his hair and looked at Sirius; his eyes almost pleading. "Mate, if I didn't believe I could be Head Boy, what is she going to say?"
"Oh probably that the order was signed by the Giant Squid, or that you are the only prat in the entire British Isles too immature to be a Prefect but too bloody smart to not be the Head Boy." Sirius plunked down in a chair and put his feet up against James' desk, tipping the legs back in a balancing act. "No, actually she'd never admit you were smart. She'd die first." He nodded knowingly. "She'd just mention the immature bit. Often."
"Thanks." James walked over to his bed stand and started to put away a box.
"Ok James. What is it?" Sirius held out his hand expectantly while James instinctively drew the box closer to him in a protective embrace.
"Nothing."
"Really? Looks like a box to me. Hand it over, dammit, Prongs."
"It's just something I got in Diagon Alley is all. At Durden and Stilton's" James lifted his chin defiantly and placed the box in an open dresser drawer. "It's nothing that concerns you."
"I can see that, James. It's a jewelry box. I'm pretty sure it's not for my birthday, because the day you buy me jewelry is the day I remove you from this earth. May I please see the bloody thing?"
"NItsprengsfaliysbiday."
"What?"
James sighed and spoke slowly. He acted as though this was the moment of his death. "No. It is a present for Lily's birthday."
Sirius took one look at his friend; standing in the middle of a sun-streaked room in rumpled pajamas, wild hair, and lopsided glasses, and spoke carefully. "When is her birthday?"
"May twelfth."
"And you've bought her a gift. In Diagon Alley."
"Yes. It's...special. I picked it out. Paid for it myself and all." Sheepishly looking around the room, James felt his hand jump convulsively to his hair.
"How many Galleons, James?"
"A hundred and three. But it's worth it. Honestly."
The two floating chair legs hit the floor with a very loud bang. "That's half of your summer allowance!"
"It's worth it. She's worth it, dammit. But I don't even know why I bother. She won't ever love me." James forced a laugh. "Don't look so surprised, Padfoot. I'm not exactly Kosher in her eyes. I'm a prat.. A bullying toerag with a broomstick and a cocky attitude. The sad thing is," James spat as he threw the drawer shut, "that she's perfectly right. What have I done for the last seven years, Sirius? I've called her Evans, I've played more pranks than I can remember on the poor girl, I've insulted her, and I've asked her out one thousand, seven hundred, and fifty two times. One thousand, seven hundred, and fifty two times in seven years, Padfoot. I've counted. And that's how pathetic I am. I've had to count the number of times I've talked to her."
Sirius shook his elegant black hair out of his eyes. "She's not exactly poor. I don't remember 'poor' being one of the adjectives used to describe her the last time she kicked you."
James narrowed his hazel eyes. "I was bleeding. I clearly wasn't thinking straight," he said in a very majestic air.
"Yes indeed. Your brain must have been affected. Especially since you nearly got murdered by a girl. A small one at that, too, Prongs. That had to be a very traumatic experience." James gave out a small yelp of protest and spun to look at his friend, but Sirius was too busy looking innocent to care. His handsome face suddenly turned somber. "You love her James. Go after her. Show her you can change for her. Show her what's inside that big heart of yours, Prongs. She'll love you, if you'll prove you're worth her love in return."
"I tried that. Last year. I tried to show her that I was better than she thought, and she ended up yelling at me again."
"James, you hexed Snivellus the second week back. Up until that point, you were doing great."
"He deserved it! He called her a...a..." James dropped his voice to the point where it almost attained a husky quality. "A Mudblood."
Sirius nodded gravely. "I know he deserved it, but leave the bastard to me. You concentrate on getting the girl and riding off into the sunset. I'll concentrate on making sure that Slytherin Snake gets what he deserves."
James nodded as though formulating a plan. "Right. Right. Get the girl. Lily."
"Besides, James, no one would dare to date her anyway. They aren't brave...I mean stupid enough."
James looked at him in shock. Lily was beautiful. Who wouldn't want her? "What do you mean?"
"They don't have a death wish. They think that if they come near Evans, you'd kill their families and place a hundred year curse on them and their spawn." Sirius smiled and left the room, leaving James to wonder what the hell just happened.
oooooo
"Seventh Year students will require: A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot, The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 7 by Miranda Goshawk, Advanced Transfiguration by Moira Pericula and Emeric Switch, An In-depth Overview of Ancient Runes by Professor Faber MacPherson, Complex Curses and Counter-curses, Second Edition by Professor Vindictus Viridian, N.E.W.T: Magical Drafts and Potions Textbook, Standard British Edition, Level Seven by Adrian Fortis, Magical Beings: Care and Maintenance of Unicorns and Other Useful Creatures by Professor Kassaundra Norton, A Thousand-" James stopped his recitation when Sirius poked him in the arm. "Ow!"
"Oh do shut up," Sirius muttered as he swept his grey gaze up and down the street. Diagon Alley was bustling with people passing in and out of the colorful shops, most with a Hogwarts letter in one hand and a student in the other. The sun was high in the bright blue expanse above them; a slight breeze played with James' hair in a caress as he stood next to his friend, feeling the rhythm of the day. Sirius tossed his head, making his curtain of hair flip, and started walking towards Florish and Blotts. "We can just give them the list and get our books that way."
"Right." James followed Sirius into the cozy shop and walked up to the lady behind the main desk. "I was wondering if you could help us, ma'am. Ws have some school things we need to get."
"Yes of course, Ducks. You'll be from 'Ogwarts, then, eh Dearie?"
James nodded and handed her the course list. "We'll need two of each, if that's not too much trouble."
"Rig'. Back in a moment, Luv." The older lady walked out from behind the desk, piece of parchment clasped firmly in her withered hand and limped off towards a bookcase on the far side of the shop.
"She's not the normal woman who takes our lists," Sirius observed absently. "She's... Well, she's..."
"Cockney." James wasn't paying attention. His mind was somewhere else at the moment. Where is she?
"Yeah. That."
"Doesn't matter." James inspected the store, his hazel eyes searching for a glint of red among the sea of brown; color among the grey. She should be here. She would have gotten her Hogwarts letter (and that badge) at the same time James did. Why isn't she here?
"Prongs. She isn't here. You've looked five times."
"I know but I-" He stopped as the woman retuned with a pile of books wrapped in paper.
"'Ere. That'll be twenty Galleons, chaps. Pay 'op." James dug in his pockets and pulled out a small pile of gold. Counting out twenty and laying them on the counter, he turned to pick up his stack of textbooks. After thanking the lady and holding open the door for a woman with two struggling, whining children, James and Sirius found themselves out in the open once more.
They walked down the beautiful road towards Knockturn Alley, chatting and buying as they went. Sirius was going on about some girl from school he saw at the Leaky Cauldron the other day. Apparently she was beautiful and smart and a damn good kisser. James wasn't listening again.
"So I told her that if she ever wanted to commit mass genocide and needed a partner in her attempts to destroy the world, she could always count on Sirius Black."
"Umhm," James tipped his head down and shoved his hands in his pockets.
"James." Sirius stopped walking and placed a hand on James' shoulder, his handsome face concerned. "James?"
"What? Oh. I-" James stopped suddenly. He was squinting over Sirius' shoulder. "What the-"
Sirius turned in time to see what James saw: a husky man in large, blood-red robes sweeping past a tall, black-clad wizard and walking into Durden and Stilton's. James felt as though all the wind had been knocked from him. Something was wrong. Why did it feel like he was falling?
"James!" A yelp escaped Sirius as he caught James in a bear-like grip. He had pitched forward, his face oddly blank, his eyes glazed. "Bloody hell," Sirius muttered as he righted his friend.
"I'm ok. I just...lightheaded. Did you see that guy?"
"See what guy? The tall one with messy hair and glasses falling towards me? Yes, definitely saw that one. Gave me a bloody heart-attack!"
"No, the one in the red robes. Red like blood." James felt sick again.
"No. I was too busy saving your neck. You need to eat, Prongs. What did you have this morning?"
"I'm fine."
"'Fine' my arse. 'Fine' people don't spontaneously faint. You have blood sugar problems and we both know it. What did you eat?"
"Toast." James hastily pushed his glasses to his face and shoved his hands deep in his pockets again.
"We're eating lunch now. My treat," Sirius coaxed. "Come on. I know you want some Cauldron Cakes. If you're really good, I'll buy you Muggle food. Cheeseburgers!"
James scuffed the pavement with the toes of his sneakers. "Thank you, mummy. Afterwards, can we go on the ponies? Please mummy? I wanna see the Unicorns! I wanna ride the- What was that for," James asked, rubbing the back of his head to relieve the pain and only succeeding in making his messy hair worse.
"Don't use that tone of voice on me young man. About face," Turning James by the shoulders, Sirius hid a snicker. "March!"
oooooo
About a month later, James and Sirius found themselves packing for school. The trip to King's Cross station was short since the two could Apparate; but it was also tearful, since Mrs. Potter was very sad to see her 'boys', as she liked to call them, leave her for another year. James' father patted them both roughly on the back and shook their hands, telling them to stay out of trouble, keep their noses clean, and to be respectful to authority. It was his usual parting speech, one that James had heard ever since first year, and he cheerfully chose to acquire selective amnesia and forget everything after shaking hands, as he had ever since that same first year. The routines of life are most comfortable to those used to them. His mother hugged him twice (making James wonder why he ever could have thought her fragile—that woman had a grip on her!) and slipped another pumpkin cake into his pockets. Sirius got the same treatment and the two boarded the scarlet and black steam engine, grinning and waving at the Potters.
As soon as they had their trunks stowed away, Sirius grimaced and rubbed his arm. "Prongs, mate! Your mother could strangle a hippogriff with a hold like that."
"Who's nearly getting murdered by a girl now? A small one. A small old one!" James grinned wickedly.
"Oh wait 'till I tell your mother that you called her old!" Sirius let out laugh that rang through the train's hallway at the sudden scared look on James' face.
"Funny, Padfoot. Funny. One of these days I'm going to absolutely-" He was cut off as a boy in somewhat frayed looking robes walked up behind Sirius and placed a finger to his own lips. With a twinkle in his eyes and his wand pointed at Sirius' back, Remus Lupin motioned to James for silence.
Sirius opened his mouth and tried to goad James on. The only problem was nothing seemed to be happening. He stood there, opening and shutting his mouth frantically before he finally spun around and locked Remus in a bear hug. Remus removed the spell quickly and more of Sirius' laughter filled the compartment. "Moony! Mate! How are you?"
"I'm well. How are you and James?"
"I'm good, good. Excellent really." Sirius patted Remus on the back and grinned like an idiot once more.
"I'm doing good Remus." James pulled the werewolf into a quick hug before turning to the other member of the Marauders, as the called themselves, Peter Pettigrew. "Peter, how are you?" James also drew him into a brief hug.
"I'm doing really great, James. Thanks for asking. How are you and Sirius? The summer was really boring without you guys!" Peter had a tendency to squeak when he spoke, and James was never reminded more of the fact than right now. The boy was like a door hinge in need of oil. When was he going to hit puberty?
Remus spoke before James had the chance. "Why are you here," he asked quietly.
"Er...because this is the Hogwarts Express and I'd love to finish school. It's my life ambition." James looked at Remus oddly, as though his friend had finally lost it. Why the hell wouldn't he be here?
"Why are you here," Remus repeated calmly, pointing a finger at the floor, "when you are supposed to be in the forward compartment with the Head Girl in preparation to give the Prefects their duties?"
"Oh bloody HELL!" James raced out the open door and flew down the hall towards the front compartment. He opened the door hastily and muttered to himself. "Hell...Am I capable of doing anything right?"
"I'd say not, Potter." That voice. That beautiful voice—that sounded absolutely disgusted with him. James tilted his head.
"Eva- Lily. How are you? How was your summer?" James was polite, his voice rich and deeper somehow. She had always had this effect on him; he couldn't help it. It was a reflex now.
Lily blinked, but she maintained her composure even if she stammered a bit though her reply. "My summer was fine. Why the hell are you in here Potter? Shouldn't you be torturing a first year or something?" She snarled and flung this at him like an insult.
"I'm," James faltered, sighed heavily, and plowed on. 'I'm Head Boy."
Lily laughed cruelly. "You can't be. You were too irresponsible to be a Prefect." She looked at his chest with those startling eyes of hers and saw the badge. "Give it back to Remus."
"I can't. It isn't his," James whispered tightly. "And being a Prefect is not a prerequisite to being Head Boy. There is nothing in the school Handbook which says that a Head Boy or Girl has to be a Prefect or vice versa." He saw a brief flicker of...was that astonishment in those eyes of hers? James realized that she would never have thought that he'd actually sit down and read the Handbook. "I know I was irresponsible. I'm not now."
"A zebra can't change its stripes."
It was James' turn to blink. "What's a zebra?"
Lily sighed and rolled her eyes. "Never mind. I still think you stole it. It's unher-" She was cut off by the Prefects streaming into the compartment. They settled down on the benches and glanced from Lily to James, an expectant look etched on each face. Remus sat near James; he was attempting, and failing, to be rather angelic looking.
"Right. Yes. Well. Potter, pass these out." Lily snapped and unceremoniously shoved a large sheaf of parchment in James' hand without looking at him. With a small shrug toward Remus, James did as he was told. He was determined to show her that he had changed, after all. "Welcome new and old Prefects alike. With a little hard work and determination, we can have a very productive and unified school year. Please take a look at the lists Potter is handing out. They are the schedules for patrolling the halls. Naturally, each House will have their own Prefects watching the halls. Potter and I will generally patrol around Gryffindor Tower, but there will be nights when we help out in other areas. Those times are at our personal discretion or the discretion of the Heads of House. If there is a reason that you can not perform your designated patrol, then James and I will take over. Please do not abuse the offer, as it is a personal favor. The schedules are subject to change of course. If you have any questions, see an older Prefect or come see me." Remus coughed slightly, but Lily got the point. "Yes, or Potter I suppose." A few Prefects hid a smile. The feud between Potter and Evans had all the makings of Hogwarts legend.
"If no one has any questions, then you are dismissed. You'll all need to patrol the train from time to time, but understand that you are there to encourage good behavior as well as stop or prevent general unruliness. If that's all..." Lily motioned to the hallway and most of the Prefects rose as one to flock to the door. Some of the Slytherin Prefects, however, stayed put. The largest and most moronic-looking of the group, Phildan Paisley, rose and advanced on Lily.
"We were wondering who- excuse me- what you did to become Head Girl, if you know what I mean."
Lily's emerald eyes narrowed dangerously. "No. I don't know what you mean. Enlighten me."
Another large Slytherin called Montiel stood shoulder to shoulder with his House-mate. "We don't see how you could possibly be Head Girl, Evans. You're a Mudblood." James noted that this big moron had his wand clamped in his fat, ham like fist. He also noted that the idiots seemed to have forgotten the fact that he, James, was still in the room. He felt his blood start to boil. How dare that bloody git start talking to Lily like that? James felt his own hand clench around his wand. He looked down and noted absently that his knuckles were pure white.
James knew that Lily was choking back a look of pure hatred. That girl always was very calm in the face of danger...or insults. That was part of the reason he loved her. "What does that have to do with anything, Montiel?"
"Mudbloods don't deserve to go to Hogwarts to begin with, Evans." The Slytherin was acting as though Lily was a small, petulant four year old who couldn't understand something simple. "Mudbloods aren't worthy enough to wipe mud of a Pureblood's shoes." His broad face loomed closer to her. "You aren't fit to breathe the same air, you filthy Mudblood. And you," Montiel had apparently not forgotten that James was in the room. "You are a Blood Traitor, Potter. You are as much of a scum as she is.
James wasn't really sure what curse she threw, but she was extremely fast and quite accurate. Montiel hit the ground before his friends could pull their wands, but he managed to get in a hex from the floor. Lily's eyes widened in surprise and her hands flew to her throat, struggling against invisible bonds that were choking the life from her.
Whipping out his wand, James threw four perfect jinxes with impressive speed, knocking the stiff Slytherins into each other. Satisfied with his handiwork, he turned quickly to Lily. "Finite Incantatem." He waited a moment for her to catch her breath before leaning down to scoop up her wand. She snatched it from him as though he were on fire. James forced a grin and leaned against the doorframe. It wouldn't be a good idea to let her know how frightened or angry he'd just been. "That was pretty."
"Is that your professional opinion, Mr. Potter, or are you just minding my business," she snarled and stalked out of the compartment, leaving James to wonder what he'd done wrong now.
oooooo
James walked back to his usual compartment feeling rather dejected. He strode in and flopped down on the nearest bench, ripping his glasses from his face and pinching his nose in a feeble attempt to stop the pounding headache he's managed to get.
"Remus told us Lily was er... her usual self," Sirius muttered, voicing an unspoken question.
"I always said she was a ray of sunshine." James leaned back further. "As far as our usual conversations go, it wasn't half bad, actually. She only insulted me twice and there wasn't any blood involved." He settled his glasses on the bridge of his nose and sighed. "At least the hexes weren't aimed at me."
Remus sat up straighter, his body language showing his concern. "Hexes? What hexes? There shouldn't be any hexing."
James stared into his friend's grey eyes and spoke one word. "Slytherins."
"Bloody hell."
James nodded at Sirius. "Exactly." He went on to tell them everything that happened from the moment Remus had reminded him to when Montiel called him a Blood Traitor.
Remus' eyebrows furrowed in concentration. "He called you a Blood Traitor?"
"Yes. I suppose I am one, though. But it doesn't matter. If all Purebloods are supposed to act like Slytherins, then I'd rather be a Muggle or a Squib."
Remus was looking blankly at the wall, the look on his face suggesting that he'd just put two and two together. He spoke to himself. "She didn't attack them until they called you a Blood Traitor."
Before James could answer, the door opened to reveal four fellow Gryffindor Seventh years: Aslyn McGahey, Cosmia Walsh, Maichina Wright, and Lily Evans huddling in the hallway. Aslyn, the girl with short, pixie cut chestnut hair and golden eyes spoke first.
"Hiya guys. Everywhere else is full. Do you mind if we... " She motioned to the empty seats near the Marauders.
"It is not full everywhere else," Lily muttered before being silenced by a look of death from Aslyn. Maichina wove her way through the compartment, flipping her thick, black locks before sitting next to Sirius, who didn't look as though he minded her company at all. Aslyn took the seat next to Remus, her bright eyes sparkling, and immediately started talking about Wizard's Chess. Cosmia plunked down next to Peter, pulling a book out of her bag and munching on a bag of Muggle potato chips she'd brought with her. She tucked a long strand of blond hair away from her face and promptly began to ignore him, even when he spoke to her.
James felt his stomach do a back flip. All the other seats were full. Lily would have to...
"I think I'm going to go-" Lily never got to finish her sentence.
"You should stay. Moral support, you know," Aslyn said cryptically, her gaze skimming over to Maichina. "James won't do anything bad, will you," she asked, looking at him firmly, her studious gaze seeming to say 'He bloody well better not try.'
James supplied a blinding smile in response. Lily sighed and flopped down next to him, looking very irritable with her arms crossed tightly over her chest and her eyes staring straight ahead. Sirius caught James' eye and shrugged lightly before returning to his conversation.
There was a problem with this though. Not only was James very distracted because Lily's knee was touching his own, and because she was so close, and because her hair smelled so good, and because she was so beautiful when she was angry, but he had no idea how to act. Should he feign sleep and let her ignore him in peace, or should he attempt to strike up a conversation and show her how mature and witty he was? The best way would be the last, but the sleep idea was the only way to make sure he wouldn't get kicked again. Nodding to himself, telling himself that he really did have good ideas, James leaned back once more, closed his eyes, and started to breathe deeply.
After a time, though, listening to the other's conversations without actually participating started to bother him. James was very comfortable, with the side of his face resting against the seat and his legs stretched out, and real sleep had already claimed him twice. He pried open his hazel eyes and nearly jumped back in shock. Lily Evans was staring at him. Or was she? As soon as he moved, she resumed her previous habit of looking at the wall, or at her friends, or at the floor, or at a book—anywhere but at him. James swallowed and stood up, stretching.
"Are we there yet?"
"No, Prongs. We will be soon though. Isn't there something you and Evans have to do? Head Boy and Girl stuff?"
James laughed and pushed his glasses, which had slipped when he was stretching, further up his nose. "If you want us to leave then why not say so?"
Remus and Sirius looked at each other, both turning to face James. "Leave," they coursed together in a sing song voice.
"Right," James said with another smile. "I get the hint." He held open the door for Lily and bowed her out. "M'lady," he crooned with a flourish.
Lily looked like she was trying to swallow a laugh and couldn't make it. "Potter, you idiot," she muttered, but she curtsied in return nonetheless and strode out of the room. James raised an eyebrow at Sirius, who gave him a huge thumbs-up, and shut the door behind himself.
Copyright, Marshmellin: 2005