Author's Note: Another new chapter that I just threw into the middle of the fic.

Title: Role Reversal

Rating: PG

Spoilers: There aren't too many spoilers in chapters 1-12. The whole story has some spoilers, but how else do you write a fanfic? The chapter with major spoilers is "Old Friends".

Summary: James and Lily make a bet. Lily has to pull a bunch of pranks and James can't do any.

Disclaimer: I, of course, do not own Harry Potter or its characters. If you're reading this, you should already know whom it belongs to anyway.

Setting: This story is set in MWPP years. If you don't know what that means, you probably shouldn't be reading this fanfic.

!!! = setting change

italics = emphasis

-Beautiful-

"Isn't she beautiful?"

Sarah stared at the large black object in front of her. "Beautiful," she repeated, trying to see what Sirius saw.

Sirius smiled happily and mounted his new motorcycle. "Want a ride?"

"I'd rather Apparate, thank you very much."

And… there it was! Sirius Black's famous pout. "Oh, come on. You're my girl."

Sarah frowned. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"I actually don't know," Sirius said, "but I want you to come with me. Please?"

The blonde witch shook her head. "No."

"I'll take you out to dinner."

"No," she stated flatly.

"You're not hungry?"

"Sirius, I am a grown witch. I can make my own dinner, or I can take myself out."

"Hmm." Sirius paused to consider what his fiancée had just said. "You'll have a fascinating conversation partner then."

A smile tugged at Sarah's lips. "Yes."

Sirius ran a hand through his hair. "Wouldn't I be more interesting?"

"Of course not, darling." Sarah tried not to laugh. "You're the only person who has ever thought that you were at all interesting."

"I'm not afraid to hex you, you know."

Sarah walked forward until she was standing right by the dangerous-looking contraption. "Yes, you are," she said, giving him a light kiss on the lips. "If you're not back by nightfall, then you are not getting in the house." She turned and began walking away.

Sirius called after her, "I am rather skilled with a wand, you know. Trust me, I'd be able to get in."

"True, but would you really want to face me after not complying with my wishes?" Sarah continued toward the house.

"You're smirking, aren't you?" Sirius said loudly.

"My, you're perceptive!" Sarah laughed. "I love you, you pompous lunatic."

The dark-haired wizard replied in mock puzzlement, "You love James?" The phrase Sarah had used was certainly an apt description of Mr. Potter.

"Who loves me?" asked a voice from behind him.

Sirius looked over his shoulder at his best friend. "Why, I do, of course." He laughed. "What do you need, Prongs?"

James pushed his glasses up his nose and smiled. "I need to borrow your fiancée."

"Oh? And why would that be?"

"We have an assignment."

"I'm not invited?" Sirius said. "How rude."

"You'll be doing something else soon enough, mate. And it'll be plenty dangerous." James patted his friend on the shoulder. "This mission is only for Remus, me, and Sarah." He looked into Sirius's eyes. "Yeah, I know," he said softly. "I'll take care of her."

"Dangerous?" inquired Sarah, having just crossed the lawn. "Exactly how dangerous is his assignment going to be?"

Sirius grinned cockily. "Sarah dear, I live for danger."

"I know." Sarah grinned in a very good imitation of her fiancé. "You live with me, don't you?"

James raised an amused eyebrow. He coughed. "She's got you there, Padfoot."

"Oh, shut up."

"Will I be back in time for supper?" asked Sarah.

James smiled. "Yes, but you'll have to leave again at midnight."

Sarah nodded. She Apparated to the headquarters with James, leaving Sirius alone. He leaned his head back to look up at the sky. It was beautiful, a lovely shade of blue. Some puffy clouds drifted around aimlessly.

He revved up his beloved motorcycle and took off.

!!!

"I wish you didn't have to leave," Lily murmured, her face buried in James's shoulder. "I want to go with you."

James smiled, rubbing her back gently. "Love, you know you can't leave Harry alone."

"He looks like you more and more every day."

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing."

Lily gave a short laugh. "Bad, James. Definitely bad."

"Lily, it's almost midnight."

"So?" Lily stubbornly refused to let go.

"Lily Evans Potter, you cannot be selfish right now." James pulled back so he could look his wife in the eye. "You want Voldemort gone, don't you? You want to destroy him so that Harry won't have to deal with him in the future, right?"

Lily was staring at the neck of his robes. "Promise I'll still have a husband in the morning?"

"Always." James pried Lily's fingers from his robes and walked through the doorway to the bedroom.

Lily leaned in the doorway and said, "I love you, you prat, and don't you forget it."

"I won't," James replied. "See you in a bit." He walked over to Harry's crib. "Hey, Harry. Daddy's going out for a little while."

Harry stared up at his father with his large green eyes.

"Oh, come on, don't look at me like that. I promise I'll be back. After all, I still have to teach you that trick I told you about."

The child was still looking up at James with an expression that made James feel very, very guilty.

James picked up his son and gave him a little squeeze. "Honestly, you're as bad as her," he said, looking at Lily.

"Promise him that he'll still have a father in the morning." Lily gazed steadily at the pair. "You can break any promise to me, but you cannot break a promise to Harry."

"Lily." James set Harry back into the crib. "I promise I'll be back tomorrow."

Harry blew a spit bubble at him.

"Yes, of course I'll tell Uncle Padfoot he's a prat." James smiled. "Goodnight, son."

TO BE CONTINUED…

Author's Note: I like it, although I'm wondering if my characters are consistent. After all, it has been quite a while since I started this fic.