Remus scanned the faces of the crowd, jostling and mingling amidst each other in the crowded train station. He turned to face Sirius, who was standing beside him, a similar look of anxiety upon his face.

'Do you think he's coming?' he asked tentatively, flicking his eyes towards the enormous clock, ticking away precious seconds.

'We better not be late.' was all Sirius said in reply, turning his gaze to the clock also.

'We won't.' said Remus, though he wasn't so sure. 'Do you-'

'Don't worry, Remus. He'll be here. He'll come.' said Sirius roughly. 'I know.'

'Remember last time you "knew"? You "knew" he was fine? You-'

'Shut up, Remus!' said Sirius, a little too roughly. Remus stared down at his feet. 'Sorry.' muttered Sirius. 'It's just...'

'I know, Sirius. I know. I'm sorry too.'

They stood there in an awkward silence for a while, shuffling their feet and ticking over the many faces, as the minutes went by. Finally, Sirius looked up at the clock and turned to Remus.

'Look, we gotta go. We'll miss the train. Come on.' he said, tugging on Remus' arm. Remus frantically searched the crowd again, but there was no bob of untidy black hair, glinting glasses, mischievous grin or enormous trunk in sight. Remus sighed.

'Alright then.' he said, hauling up his trunk reluctantly.

'Forgetting something?' said a faint but familiar voice behind them. Remus turned, and saw James standing there, not grinning like an idiot, like usual, but still smiling weakly.

'James!' he cried, pulling James into a warm embrace. James patted him on the back awkwardly, and Sirius laughed at his friend's uncomfortableness.

'Good summer?' he asked, and immediately regretted it. Someone who had tried to... well, do what James had tried to do probably hadn't had a brilliant time. Sirius could still remember his friend's tear stained face as he opened his bloodshot eyes in the hospital wing, that hollow, anguished, sickened look as he stared around the room, and the way he had looked down at himself in disgust, before he retched up the feeble remains in his stomach. James hadn't written anything over the break; the only letters Sirius had received from the Potter's owl were ones from his mother, kindly informing him not to 'intrude' on James, as he was 'in a poorly state' and 'wasn't up to entertaining guests'. Though he was, of course, 'welcome to lunch with her and her husband on Sundays.'

'It was...well, it was a break.' said James shortly. Sirius nodded slowly.

'You didn't...I mean, there wasn't...it...your...mother... is good?' Remus fumbled, ending feebly. James snorted.

'She's fine. Probably relieved to have her annoying fuck of a son out of the house.' Sirius and Remus exchanged glances. 'Shall we go? We don't want to miss it.' they nodded, and started moving towards the barrier.

'How did you get here, anyway? We didn't see you in the crowd.' said Remus.

'I apparated.' said James.

'You what?' said Sirius and Remus in unison.

'Got my license over the summer.'

'But...' spluttered Remus, 'Your mum said...and this is a crowded...you...she...'

James shrugged, and continued walking. The came to the barrier, and feigned leaning against it, talking nonchalantly, casually slipping through when no one was looking, and they found themselves looking upon a familiar sight.

'Ah, the Hogwarts Express.' said Sirius, grinning. 'My lovely friend, my brilliant exporter, my fantastic mode of transport to a better place, my-'

'I wonder who's Head Boy?' mused Remus, interrupting Sirius' spiel. James snorted, and the other boys turned to him, and found him grinning, a sight that was extremely familiar to them, but something they had almost forgotten. They hadn't seen it in a long time.

'What's so funny?' asked Remus.

'I was just thinking about the new Head Boy.' said James.

'Oh yeah? Who is it?' asked Remus, who was interested to know who had been given the title instead of him, whom he thought deserved it more.

'Oh, this hot Gryffindor.' muttered James vaguely.

'Sorry, James, but you're wrong. I didn't get it!' said Sirius, grinning. Remus, however, was staring at James.

'We're talking about Head Boy here, James.' he said. James smiled.

'Yeah, I know. I'd fuck him in an instant.' he said, and looked away. Remus gaped.

'You...you think he's hot? A...a boy?' he said.

'Who is it?' asked Sirius, his fingers itching as he looked from James to Remus.

'Yours truly.' he said. Remus gaped, and Sirius laughed.

'Very funny, James.' Sirius said, relaxing his fingers, glad to see his friend back into joking mode, but thinking he had far too much faith in their gullibility.

'No, I'm serious. Look at the badge!' he said, reaching into his breast pocket. He pulled out a flash, scarlet badge, with 'Head Boy' embellished boldly in gold. Sirius gasped.

'Oh my fucking God! You little smarmy bitch!' he said, punching James in the shoulder playfully. Remus was still staring.

'You?' he said.

'Me.' said James, still grinning. Sirius laughed, and pulled him into a hug.

'Well done, mate.' said Sirius.

'Thanks. I didn't really deserve it, though, did I? Sometimes I wonder if Dumbledore only gave it to me because...well, because of what I did...because he felt sorry for me.' said James, a little sadly. Sirius was unsure what to say.

'I don't reckon he did. You're a good guy, James.' said Remus.

'Yeah, James. You did deserve it, even if you're an arrogant little-' Sirius cut off with a look from Remus, but James gave a short laugh.

'Yeah. Shall we get on the train?' said James, moving towards the vehicle.

'Sure.' said Sirius, and they hauled their trunks over to the enormous Hogwarts express. They got in, and began looking for a compartment.

'Damn, they're all full!' said Sirius. 'All thanks to you, James, we're late, and we're not going to be able to get one for ourselves.'

James smiled. 'I've got to go up to the Head Boy and Head Girl carriage, so I'll see you guys later.' he said. Remus gaped, and felt a twinge of envy as he watched James walk to the end of the carriage, open the door, and slip away. It was not the swaggering strut he was used to seeing, though, he noted.