At this point in the summer james was usually able to say that it had passed rather uneventfully, but that was because sirius wasn't usually here yet. This summer had been… one to remember to say the least. His parents had been home less than usual because of the war, which wasn't great, but it was definitely understandable. Now sirius and james were just waiting for their hogwarts letters. They had talked about not going and just joining the war effort against voldemort, but the most effective way to do that was to become an aurors, and you couldn't become aurors without N.E.W.T.S. so today they sat at the kitchen table eating the breakfast they had helped the house elves prepare and waiting for their hogwarts letters to arrive. They were planning a trip to get their materials tomorrow and meet up with remus and peter in diagon alley.

Sirius and james had already decided that if remus wasn't head boy they would but the biggest, most expensive ice cream sundae they could find. It was kind of a win-win situation. Even though the both of them were one hundred percent sure he would be. As was every other gryffindor they had talked to.

"So," sirius prompted, his word obstructed by the large piece of biscuit in his mouth "who do you think will be head girl?" james's mind immediately snapped to lily but he wasn't sure if he was biased or not so he just shrugged.

"You think it's gonna be lily don't you?" sirius read his mind.

"I mean, you don't?" james asked trying not to be that bloke always talking about his girlfriend. According to sirius he did that enough already.

"There's quite a good chance. Quite the academic poster child, that one. I'm surprised she didn't rub off on you, mate."

"It's not as if i'm failing. You're so dramatic. My grades are rather good, if i don't say so myself." sirius made a haughty motion with his right hand before stabbing part of his omlette with the fork in his left.

Just then a large barn owl flew in through the kitchen window, large parchments grasped in its talons. it landed gracefully on the table, somehow avoiding all dishes and food, releasing the letters as he did so. James and sirius reached for them.

"mate, this one's yours," sirius said trading envelopes with james. "Oi, why's yours bigger than mine?"

"That's what she said." the comment was only greeted by a groan and the sound of a ripping envelope.

"I dunno." he finally answered seriously before grabbing a clean butter knife off the table and opening his own letter with it. He merely skimmed it like always but his eyes slowed when he saw the words "congratulations, Mr. Potter" his eyes widened as he took in the rest of the text. He shook his envelope upside down and sure enough a shiny little badge fell out. He picked it up carefully. This had to be a mistake. He looked at the letter again, but sure enough it said "Mr. Potter" not Mr. lupin or some other much more deserving bloke.

"What's that?" sirius asked reaching across the table and grabbing the badge "no. no way. you're head boy?" he asked incredulously.

"Suppose so."

"Remus must be so confused." he probably was. Remus wasn't big headed or vain in the least but pretty much anyone who had ever come in contact with him assumed he would be head boy. James included. Why would anyone in their right mind make james head boy? Did they even know him? James potter the trouble maker. James potter who had an assigned desk in detention. He was admittedly a pretty great quidditch player- and team captain- but he somehow got the feeling that was beside the point.

….[...[]...]...

"Hey!" james greeted remus and peter in diagon alley. he hugged peter and sirius hugged remus. It was good to see them after that long summer.

"So…" james started a bit awkwardly "sorry you're not head boy."

"It's fine," he brushed it off "wait, how do you even know that?"

"Well, our boy here," sirius said slinging an arm around remus "our james has stepped up to the plate and by either a severe lapse in judgement or an even more severe clerical error he was made head boy. Will it end in disaster? Probably. But he did it."

"I do not know what to say." peter said, sounding stunned

"I do appreciate your faith in me." james clapped a hand over his heart "so much."

"Sorry," peter shook his head "i just did not see that coming."

"Well neither did i." james agreed putting his arm around peter mimicking sirius and remus

"Come on, marauders. Let's go buy some bloody school supplies."