A/N: Hey guys! I have a new update for you. Thanks to all that favorited, followed, and reviewed. It always gives me a rush of happiness when I see them. I would love to hear from you guys on how I am doing and where you would like to see this fic go. I am always open to fresh ideas.
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Disclaimer: I Don't own Harry Potter. Wish I did. I would be a billionaire!
James Potter opened the last door on the right in the hallway of Potter Manor as silently as he could. After all, it wouldn't do to wake up the sleeping, unsuspecting occupant of the room's only bed, or at least before it was time. The duvet completely covered the sleeping man, under which soft snores could be heard. Perfect.
"Oi, Padfoot! Wake up or we are going to be late!" James shouted gleefully. James's smile dimmed slightly when the only reaction he got from Sirius was a snort-snore and a mumbled "go away Prongs. Sleepin." The smile returned full force when a devious idea struck him. "AGUAMENTI!" James intoned.
"AHH!" Sirius shouted; now awake as the ice-cold water from James's spell soaked him and the bed he was sleeping in. He ripped the duvet off of himself and sat up abruptly, looking around the room in search of the soon-to-be-dead Prongs. "OI! What the bloody hell was that for?!" He asked incredulously.
James grinned. "Rise and shine buttercup! It's the day we go back to Hogwarts!"
Sirius took a quick glance at the clock on his nightstand. "It's only 8:00 a.m., Prongs! We still have three hours before the train. Two and a half of which I could use for beauty sleep!" Sirius grumbled good-naturedly. It was good to see James so excited about something. He had seemed so serious the entire summer. Sure, he had smiled and laughed with Sirius when they spent time together, which was daily given that Sirius was a permanent resistant with the Potters; as well as the other two members of the Marauders when they came to visit. Sirius had a sneaking suspicion he was contemplating what to do about a certain beautiful red-head, but he let James have his space. Prongs would come to Sirius in time, he always did.
"Not today, Pad. Mum made this huge breakfast, quite impressive really. She was going on and on about how this would the last before pre-Hogwarts breakfast she will get to make for her boys." James said. If one thing was absolutely true, Dorea Potter loved taking care of James and Sirius. They both held onto the theory that his mother would adopt half of Britain if Charlus would let her get away with it.
Sirius smiled at James's words. It still amazed him how easily Dorea and Charlus Potter had accepted him into their home. He would always be grateful for that. "I bet Blinky is in a right state about that. I can just picture her tantrum over someone else defiling her beloved kitchen." Sirius said with a playful smirk.
James chuckled. "I think the only way Mum got away with that was she promised Blinky she could clean up afterword. Given all the pots and pans she used, Blinky seemed to accept that, surprisingly enough."
"Ok Prongsie, I'll be down in a minute. I need to get dressed out of these wet clothes." Sirius said with a glare. Both boys knew there was no real heat in it though. Indeed, a sparkle of mischief could be seen in Sirius's eyes, and James knew that look well. It was Sirius's "nice prank, now I'm going to get you back tenfold" look.
James laughed. "Ok Pads, just remember to wear something decent this time. Wouldn't want Mum to scold you like last year for looking like some roguish vagabond I do believe she said."
Sirius scoffed. "Please, as if I ever look anything less than fabulous. Now away with you, unless you want to see the show." Sirius smirked.
James held out his hands in a placating manner. "No thanks, I'm out. See you in a few."
20 minutes later, Sirius walked downstairs into the dining room where James sat at a large table with a truly impressive spread covering almost every inch of the table. James was spreading butter over a piece of toast, and gave a grin when he seen Sirius. "Told you it was impressive." James said with a chuckle, seeing the widened eyes of Sirius.
"Merlin above, the woman's gone mental. It's as if she believes we are never going to eat again or something!" Padfoot exclaimed, taking a seat across from Prongs and helping himself to a nice big plate of porridge.
"Mmmm, porridge." James teased.
"Oi, you leave my porridge alone. It is the king of all breakfast food!" Sirius said defensively.
"Honestly I don't know why I ever bothered. I could make everything known to man and he would still pick that damned porridge." An amused feminine voice said. Dorea Potter stood in the doorway with a pitcher of orange juice and a beaming smile. Both boys smiled in return with a murmured "morning Mum."
"Are Remus and Peter still joining us this morning?" James asked.
"Remus floo called me about ten minutes ago, saying he would be by in a moment. Peter, however, owled last night and said he wouldn't be able to make it, his mum had a similar idea as I did for making breakfast." Dorea explained.
As if on cue, the sound of the Floo being activated in the living room was heard by all in the adjacent dining room. Dorea set the pitcher on the table and left the room, only to return a moment later with a smiling Remus Lupin. He was dressed in what appeared to be a new pair of form fitting muggle jeans, trainers and a dark grey t-shirt. He looked much improved over his usual impoverished hand-me-down look.
"New threads Moony?" Asked Sirius surprised. He'd had known Remus to have new clothes exactly twice in his entire Hogwarts existence, during their third and fifth years.
An embarrassed smile crossed the Werewolf's face. "Yes, Mrs. Potter bought them for me." Moony said, shooting a genuine smile of thanks to Dorea. She smiled in return. James and Sirius shot each other a knowing look. Lupin could deny James and Sirius buying him new things as much as he wanted, but he was no match for the stubborn Lady Potter. If she wanted someone to have something, he or she was damn well going to get it. Honestly, the woman was as mothering as she was elegant.
"Think nothing of it dear! Come sit down. Plenty of food left and you are looking a little thin, young man." Dorea said. Remus gave no complaint as he sat down and quickly loaded a plate full of sausage, rashers and ham. All of the occupants of the table gave a tiny amused smile at each other at the oblivious werewolf's well known proclivity for meat.
After all the food they could eat was consumed, Remus began the conversation. "So Mrs. Potter, will Mr. Potter be eating with this morning?"
"He had a floo call early this morning asking him to come a bit early. Honestly ever since he was made head of the Auror Department he has spent more time at the ministry then here." Dorea sighed. The boys all shared looks at that. The war must have had another flare up. Seeing the looks, Dorea quickly changed the conversation. "So, are you boys all set for Quidditch?"
James smiled eagerly. "This is our year. I know it! We are going to train harder, play harder, and we are going to take the cup from those blasted cheating Slytherins!" James vowed.
"Prongs here has been pouring over strategies all summer. He practically has the team picked out." Sirius said.
"True. Me, you and Marlene for chasers, the Prewett twins for beater, Longbottom for keeper and Mclaggen for seeker." James said, although his voice dripped with distain at the last name.
Sirius groaned. "Prongs you can't put Mclaggen on the team, he's bloody awful!"
James nodded sadly. "I know Paddy, but unless there is some amazing second year seeker, he's the best we are going to get."
"I thought there were try-outs. At least there were when I was still in school." Dorea asked.
"There are." Remus confirmed. "But these two have analyzed everyone in Gryffindor at least a 100 times. Plus the people he named already have at least one year of experience."
"Yeah. What we need is a bloody miracle!" Sirius said, although it was clear that he believed there was no possibility for one.
"Oh cheer up Sirius; we will put Mclaggen through the wringer if we need too. We will make him decent enough to win!" James said.
"Yeah, I have more hope for the most bloody awesome seeker ever will just appear in the middle of the Great Hall and save us all!" Sirius snorted. Everyone chuckled at the sheer impossibility at that occurrence.
"I tell you what; I'll give you 20 galleons if that happens Padfoot." James said, trying to placate Sirius. Remus nodded in agreement. Sirius just shook his head sadly.
"Well, it's getting about that time boys, we should be heading off soon. Are you all packed and ready?" Dorea asked. At their nods, everyone got up from the table to collect their things and head out.
On the platform, Dorea turned toward the boys to give them all a goodbye. "My handsome Head Boy and Quidditch Captain. I'm so proud." Dorea said fondly, holding James face in her hands. "Have a good year, and try not to get into too much trouble." She added. There was a warning in there somewhere.
James smiled in response. "I will Mum." With a kiss on the cheek and a warm, loving hug, she turned to Sirius.
"The same goes to you too young man." Dorea said just as fondly. She gave Sirius a kiss on the forehead and a hug. Sirius merely smiled surprisingly shyly back at her.
Last but not least she turned to Remus. She wrapped Remus in a hug just as warm as she had the other two boys. "Write me if you run out of Wolfsbane. " She ordered. Remus smiled back at her and nodded. Wolfsbane had been invented the previous year, and although it didn't cure Lycanthropy, it helped him keep his mind and it dealt with the worst of the symptoms. It was quite expensive, however. Remus gave up arguing with her in the middle of last year when he kept finding supplies of the potion waiting for him with a note from her saying not to worry about the cost and to drink up.
Releasing him, Dorea took a step back and waved at them, as a sparkle of mischief entered her eyes. "Goodbye boys! And remember the charm, I don't want any grandchildren before you lot graduate!" She said loudly. Several people stopped and gave her a range of looks, from disgusted to amused. She gave a hearty laugh at the blushes on all of their cheeks.
"Every bleeding year she has to embarrass us in some way." Grumbled Sirius good-naturedly to James.
After the boys had boarded the train and stowed away their trunks in what was dubbed "The Marauder Compartment," James turned to the others. "You lot have fun, I get to go play Head Boy now." James joked. Although he said it as a joke, both Sirius and Remus knew that James was actually excited to be Head Boy and was going to do the best he could to honor the position.
"I wonder who the Head Girl is this year." Remus wondered aloud.
"You're joking, right mate? It's obviously going to be the perfect and beautiful Lilykins." Sirius said, looking pointedly at James with a smirk. James didn't disappoint, and a somewhat dreamy expression crossed his face.
"Oh no, just what we needed, James and Lily sharing their own private quarters. How will Hogwarts ever survive? Dumbledore must have finally gone senile to pair up those two." Remus said, grinning.
"More like playing matchmaker I'd wager." Sirius stage-whispered to Lupin.
"OI! I can hear you both!" James grumbled at the laughing boys.
"Go on Prongsie. Wouldn't want to be late meeting your lady." Sirius said laughing, pushing James out of the compartment.
James straightened the tie of his school outfit. He wanted to look perfect. A Head Boy needed to have a certain look after all. At least, that was the reason he gave himself. He had donned robes shortly before leaving Potter Manor, the Head Boy bad and the Quidditch Captain badge both proudly pinned onto it. He was honestly shocked that he had made Head Boy. Quidditch Captain he had fully expected to make, but not Head Boy. He had never been a prefect like Remus had been after all.
James entered the compartment where the Prefect meeting was to take place a little early and with his usual grin on his face. The room was cleared, except for one person. And that person took his breath away, as usual. Lily had apparently grown a couple more inches, putting her at the model height of 5'9. She was quite tall, but not as tall as James, who was 6'2. She had also developed a slightly curvier figure than she had last year.
James's mouth went dry.
Lily looked up as she heard the door to the compartment open. 'It must be that time already' she thought to herself; however, the prefects were not the ones entering the room, but instead was James Potter, wearing his admittedly heart fluttering, roguish, innocent troublemaker grin. That wasn't the only thing he was wearing.
He had the Head Boy badge on his robes.
Lily's mesmerizing green eyes widened in surprise. 'No, surely not. This is just another one of his attempts to woo me or it's some prank.' She rationalized to herself. "This is the prefects meeting James." Lily said. "If you are here to bother us, or pull another one of your jokes, leave now."
James's grin widened, if that was possible. "Oh, I'm not here to cause trouble Evans." James said easily. "Haven't you heard?" He asked.
"Heard what?" Lily questioned, although a part of her feared what he was about to say, and another was secretly, secretly, hoping she was right.
"I'm the new Head Boy." James stated. Odd, usually a statement like that would be full of smug, arrogant pride on James's part. It was completely absent this time.
Lily gave a melodious laugh. "Stop joking, James. I'm Serious."
"No, that's my best mate." James joked. "I'm, not kidding though Evans. I got the badge and everything, see?" James said, unpinning the badge and handing it to Lily.
She took it and inspected it, and compared the badge to her own. They were identical. "I'll be damned." Lily said, surprised, offering his badge back to him.
"Looking forward to working with you Evans." James said, smiling. He took his badge back from her, and couldn't help but feel a tingle when his hand grazed hers.
She felt it too. "You as well." She found herself saying. They both turned when they heard the compartment open, and several prefects entered.
The feast was spectacular as always. The awestruck looks of the tiny first years, the glorious amount of food, and the friendly atmosphere of friends catching up after a summer apart. It was one of James favorite days at Hogwarts. It was also nice that they started on a Friday this year, and had the weekend off right off the bat.
Headmaster Dumbledore rose from his throne and raised his hands for silence. He gave a warm, grandfatherly smile to all in the hall. "Now that we are fed and watered, I would like to say a few words. To our first years, welcome to Hogwarts!" Dumbledore said. There was a smattering of applause. "And to all others, welcome back!" He continued. "Before I send you on to your warm beds, I have a few announcements. The Forbidden Forest is exactly as its name suggests. Students found within it, or wandering about the castle after dark shall face punishments by way of detention and a loss of house points. Schedules will be given out tomorrow, and classes shall start Monday morning. Quidditch tryouts shall be held beginning next week. Quidditch Captains, please book the Quidditch Pitch with your Head of House. Mr. Filtch has asked me to remind you that there is a list of banned items, and said list will be posted on his office door." Dumbledore said.
"Prefects, if you would, escort your first years-" Dumbledore began, but was cut off. A loud noise filled the hall, as if someone had conjured a windstorm within the Great Hall. A large, oval orange and black ring appeared in the center of the hall, between the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables. The staff all rose from their seats, wands drawn to face whatever this phenomenon was. Suddenly, a bespectacled boy with messy black hair wearing all black clothing rolled out of what was now apparently a portal. The portal disappeared as soon as the strange boy exited it.
The boy slowly rolled off his side and onto his knees with a grunt. He glanced up and looked around the hall, to find several wands pointed at him. The hall was completely silent.
"Uh… hello." The boy said.
A/N: Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Still taking recommendations on the pairing for Harry.
The Sirius and his porridge bit is a shout-out to Muggledad. It was a recurring theme in his works and it made me laugh every time I read it. He is one of my favorites in the Fandom. You should check him out!