A.N.: I wish I'd thought of these characters but I didn't. They're not mine, they all belong to their creator J.K. Rowling.

'Til the Fat Lady Sings

1

Walking on Sunshine

I love the start of a new term. Love it, the pranking opportunities are priceless. It's Marauders policy, I don't care if they're 11 and away from home for the first time. The moment the Sorting Hat makes them a Slytherin is the day they become prime game. Ask Padfoot, he agrees with me. Unlike Evans, she would wrap them in cotton wool if she could. They're Slytherins. They don't need sympathy. If you can't take the heat kids, you should get out of the kitchen. That's Moony's motto. Wormtail doesn't have a motto, at least, I don't think he does. It also means that I get to see Evans again. I hadn't seen her for six weeks and I was getting withdrawal symptoms. I can't wait until she shouts at me. Strange but true. I don't care what she's saying or how she says it as long as she talks to me. The stint on the train back didn't count. I wouldn't be walking on sunshine until she actually spoke to me.

"Hey," Sirius nudged me in the ribs, "Get a load of this." He shook his head towards the other end of the table where Evans was apparently in deep discussion with the new Head Boy, Dean Weatherby, a Ravenclaw who couldn't catch a Quaffle if his life depended on it . Their heads were so close that they could be magically attached and she was laughing, laughing with him. What was so funny about him? I ran a hand through my already messy hair. I hadn't bothered to brush it today. This year was the year of the rugged look. I was hoping Evans would fall for it. She hadn't even noticed or said 'hello'. I'd made a point of finding her on the train only for her to look me up, down and then raise an eyebrow at me before walking off. I'd sworn over the summer that I wasn't going to chase her anymore. I hoped that by being rugged, handsome and completely not interested it might make her take more notice of me. She had always said that I would have to grow up before she even considered going on a date with me. Being aloof counted as acting grown up didn't it? I had the Quidditch Captain badge too this year so she would be seeing at lot more of me around the school as that gave me the same privileges as being a Prefect.

"So what are we going to do to him then?" Sirius waggled his eyebrows at me menacingly. I grinned wickedly, thoughts of poisoned Pumpkin juice which would turn his skin itchy and green floated through my mind. No, no, NO! I scolded myself quickly. I couldn't do that. That counted as showing interest which was something I was determined not to do.

"Nothing." Remus put down his fork forcefully, speaking for the first time since we got into the great hall. It was close to full moon, his face was pale and drawn and he looked ill. We hadn't planned our first expedition of the year yet and I wanted to get back out of the castle again at night. Nothing beat walking round Hogsmead and the Forest in animal form. Everything was louder, clearer and so much more of an adrenaline rush.

"What? That's no fun. Just because you're a Prefect doesn't mean you can cop out on us mate." Sirius said wisely between mouthfuls of chocolate gateau. The house elves had outdone themselves this year, they'd even made bramley apple pies in the shape of broomsticks.

"I'm not copping out. I just think James should try a new approach." Remus said defensively.

"I'm not trying any approach this year." I said. Maybe if I just drop it into the conversation they won't notice.

"What?" All four of them looked at me shocked. OK, so they all noticed. Peter even looked up from the trifle he was eating. Whipped cream surrounded his mouth making him look like a young version of that Christmas muggle. Santa? Was that his name? After having a thoroughly dodgy shave. I made a mental note to listen more in Muggle Studies. I'd taken the class in the hope that it might help me understand Evans more but I'd have been better off taking Divination for all the help it's been. How can they survive without Quidditch? I know they play some silly game where they kick around a ball to try and get it into some nets at opposite ends of the field but seriously, that's boring. Sirius and me went to one of them games in the summer and spent most of it laughing. They even held up little colored cards in the players faces when they broke the rules.

I stretched and ran my hand through my hair again. Now I had their attention I wasn't going to rush to tell them. I glanced over at Evans again. She wasn't talking to Dean anymore. Instead she was sat there picking at her food and smiling at all the right moments in the conversation she was having with Abby. I knew she wasn't listening to her, six years of watching her had taught me all of her little tells. Her hair had gotten longer over the summer and it seemed to have gotten deeper in auburn color. Her eyes were still the brightest emerald green but they weren't sparkling like they used to. Something was wrong. She didn't ever not eat a pudding. She didn't have to worry about putting on weight, she burnt all of the calories doing her daily exercise of shouting at me. You wouldn't think a body that small could hold a voice that was so loud. In my dreams though she didn't shout out of anger. Other emotions, yes, but never anger. Keep dreaming James...

"I thought over the summer…" I started to run my hand through my hair again but stopped halfway remembering that Lily didn't like it when I did that. I'd learnt that in Fourth Year.

"Watch it mate, you know what happens when you start thinking." Sirius scoffed. He hadn't started eating again. This was a bad sign, it meant he was actually listening.

I scowled at him. "I was thinking that she's not worth it." I shrugged lightly, like it was no big deal. Lair, she's worth it and you know it. "You know, I've been chasing her for what, four years now,"

"Five and a half." Remus interjected. Six actually, but we're not counting are we James? No, we're not counting at all.

"And it's just not working." I continued. Because you can't behave like a normal human being in her company.

"I always thought being shouted at and bossed around fried your egg." Peter piped in feeling brave in the crowd. Being bossed around? Now there's an idea. Focus James. You must focus.

"So I'm letting it go. I'm not going to chase her this year, if she wants me she can do the work this time." I said it as calmly and convincingly as I could.

They weren't buying it. Their faces screamed liar, liar, broomstick on fire.

"Right," Sirius said slowly, he smacked his lips in thought, "OK, ummm…" He looked up and down the table dramatically, stopping when he got to Remus and Peter. "Five galleons says he lasts two days."

"I can make it five at least." I stared at him insulted. "I did let you live with me all summer."

"Oh, yeah, no offense mate, your mum's cooking is great but I couldn't wait to get out."

"Why?" He'd always seemed like he was having a riot of a time. He'd even taken over most of my bedroom with his stuff and I hadn't complained. When you've been sharing a dormitory with someone for six years you learn how to be tolerant. Sharing a dormitory is like being married, one of you is always going to want more wardrobe space and you're just going to have to make do with one measly draw.

Sirius turned to face me. Remus and Peter were watching the exchange with barely concealed grins. "Because it gets boring when you're the only one to talk to and you're constantly going "Ooh I wonder what Evans is doing now?, Ooh I wonder what she's having for dinner?, Do muggles have pumpkin pasties? Should I send her some? Padfoot, should I?" and I had no one there to dilute you so I could keep my sanity."

"You seem fine to me." I observed dryly, "It was a valid question," I growled at them when I saw them smirking, "I know they're her favorite." The words fell out of my mouth before I could stop them.

They all roared with laughter now.

"You'll see. I won't chase her, I swear. Marauders honor." At least I won't chase her where you can see me.

"Oh ho! This should be fun." Sirius smelt victory.

Ahh shit, he's really going to hold me to that isn't he? I stuck my spoon moodily into my third helping of ice cream. I silently cursed Evans and her hair and her smile and the way my heart went tha-thump when she walked past me and my complete and utter inability to behave anything like a normal human when I was in her company.

Sirius, Remus and Peter were whispering gleefully next to me. They were one step away from rubbing hands together plotting my punishment if I didn't keep my promise. Marauders don't break their honor without consequences and I bet they weren't going to forget it. I glanced up at their faces as I swallowed a spoonful of chocolate chip ice cream, the cold feeling in my stomach nothing to do with what was slipping down my throat. The look on their faces was terrifying.

God, please, I swear on the Nimbus 500 I got for my birthday please let me get through this.

Please.