I started this story about four days after Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was released. It's been a long haul and a lot of work, but it's finally done, and I even came up with a title (something that does not come easily to me!!) This is my first multi-chapter story, so I'll be posting a chapter at a time as often as I can.

I've always loved the Maruader era, and Deathly Hallows gave us so much great information about Lily, James, and the others!! I hope you enjoy!!

It seems I need to put this explanation here, at the beginning, as I've had about five people comment on this in the last week: Lupin was the prefect out of the four Marauders (Sirius says so in OotP, page 170), and so he naturally would have been Head Boy. I know Hagrid says Lily and James were Head Boy and Girl in SS, but I've always chalked that up to Hagrid's usual exaggeration and somewhat faulty memory. But that's why we love Hagrid!!

Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling is a genius and created nearly everyone and everything in this story. If you recognize it, it's hers.

One last thing: I must thank my incredible friends and betas who gave me advice and encouragement throughout this whole process. Jordan, Carie, Brian, Emily, Lauren, Maddy, Curtis, Mel, Tawni, Ann, Helen, Brandi, Jackie, Megan, Nate, and Phish, I love you!!

The Makings of Forever

~Chapter 1: The Last First Day~

Lily Evans slid open the compartment door and looked around. It was completely empty except for a chalkboard on a seat in the corner. With a swish and a flick of her wand, the board was gently floating in midair.

She smiled, recalling her very first Charms lessons, in which she and her classmates had waved their arms wildly, shouting, "Wingardium Leviosa!"

That was so long ago, she thought, and I was just beginning to find my place in this world.

She jumped as the compartment door opened again, bringing her back from her memories. She turned to see a boy entering. He was of medium height and build with brown hair. His face looked much too careworn to belong to a seventeen-year-old, but his broad grin was reflected in his eyes.

"Hello, Lily!"

"Hi, Remus! Congratulations," she replied, nodding at the scarlet and gold badge on his chest that bore the letters "HB."

"You've got one too, you know," Remus Lupin reminded her. "You could put it on."

"Oh, yeah. I forgot," Lily said, but she reached into her pocket and pulled it out immediately. She stared at it a moment, tracing the "HG" with her index finger and trying to convince herself that Petunia had not meant all the awful things she had said. Then Lily shook her head resolutely, determined not to let her jealous older sister ruin her final year at Hogwarts, and pinned the badge proudly to the front of her robes.

She heard a tapping sound and looked up to see Remus prodding the chalkboard with his wand. Letters appeared, as though written by an invisible hand, until the board read "Hogwarts Prefects 1977-1978."

Lily shook her head, amazed. "Can you believe they picked us to be Head Boy and Head Girl?"

"I know," Remus agreed. "You being a Muggle-born who'd never even heard of Hogwarts, and me being a...well, me being me," he finished hastily. "Crazy isn't it?"

A loud whistle filled the air, and the Hogwarts Express began to trundle slowly out of the station. Lily looked out the window, feeling both sentimental and excited as she watched platform nine and three-quarters disappear for the last time. Then the compartment door burst open and the prefects began to file in.

Lily looked at Remus, wide-eyed. "Are you ready for this?"

He smiled. "Don't worry, we'll be great!" Then he turned to his fellow students. "Welcome, everyone, welcome!"

- - - - -

Half an hour later, the twenty-two prefects filed out of the compartment, the fifth years excited, the sixth years looking bored, and the seventh years looking sullen that they had not been chosen for Head Boy or Girl. "Thank you everyone! I know we're going to have a great year!" Lily called after them. She turned back to Remus, who was Vanishing the words on the chalkboard. "Well, that seemed to go pretty well," she commented.

Remus chuckled. "Don't sound so surprised. Dumbledore wouldn't have picked us if he didn't think we could do the job."

Lily nodded. "I know. I just get nervous."

"I get nervous too." He started for the door and then paused, thinking it would be nice to start the school year with something to hold over James's head.

"James, Sirius, Peter, and I have a compartment about halfway down the train. Why don't you come sit with us?" he suggested.

"Thanks, Remus, but I promised Alice Nordin and Claudia McKinnon I'd go sit with them after the prefects' meeting." She paused a moment. "But maybe I'll come join you in a while."

"Okay. I'll see you later, Lily." Remus stepped out into the corridor and headed down the train, passing compartments of haughty Slytherins, giggling third year girls, and nervous-looking first years. Finally, he found his friends.

As Remus entered, Sirius stood and cried, "All hail the illustrious Head Boy!" and James bent into an exaggerated, sweeping bow. Peter, sitting in the corner, rushed to bow as well, bumping his head on the wall in his haste.

"Ha, ha, ha," Remus said sarcastically. "You lot can just stuff it."

"But Moony," James protested, straightening up, "we want to hear all about the first meeting under your leadership!"

"Mine and Lily's," Remus corrected. "And you just want to hear all about her."

"I don't know what you're talking about," James said firmly.

Remus rolled his eyes. "Whatever. Maybe I won't bother telling you that she's as pretty as ever and she didn't say a word about you. However, I invited her to come sit with us, so if she turns up later, you owe me."

"Why should I care where Evans sits?" James asked rakishly.

Sirius laughed. "You're not still mad that she gave you the brush-off at King's Cross last June?"

"I didn't care," James said, betrayed as his face flushed slightly. "I just thought it might be a lark to get together over the summer...give us both something to do..."

"Which is why you sulked the whole first three weeks of the holidays," Sirius chuckled.

"You and Lily live at opposite ends of the country, Prongs," Remus reminded his friend.

"Drop it, will you?" said James, and he picked up a piece of parchment from the seat next to him and began staring at it intently.

"What are you doing with the map?" Remus asked, recognizing the weathered paper.

"Planning our next adventure," Sirius said, his eyes sparkling excitedly.

"Do we have to do that now?" Remus sighed. "I know you three live for our monthly excursions, but they're no picnic for me."

"We always have a plan, though!" Peter piped up, eager to contribute to the conversation.

"I know, but we've got loads of time. The next full moon isn't until the twenty-seventh. We can plan later. Let's just enjoy our last train ride to school," Remus suggested.

As if on cue, the compartment door opened and a little, kind-faced witch peeked in. "Anything off the trolley, dears?" she asked, and the boys dug into their pockets and extricated their moneybags. As they loaded up on pasties, sweets, and bottles of chilled pumpkin juice, the Marauder's Map and plans for the full moon were driven from their minds, at least for the present.

-.-.-.-.-

Thanks for reading!! Please let me know what you think. I love reviews!!

--A Chocolate Frog