Half way through the holidays and after a very late night, or early morning, Lily awoke to golden sunlight streaming through her window and onto her bed. The covers were slightly rumpled; thrown back as she slept. She grumbled and rolled out of the glaring rays. She pulled the covers over her head and tried to go back to sleep.
The sun was too warm on her back. Lily groaned again, her hand sneaking out from under the covers, grabbing her wand and magicking the window open, congratulating herself on such a clever move. She had almost forgotten that she was now of an age to do magic out of school. The cheery breeze blowing through the shutters took the heat out of the air, and Lily settled down for a nice nap.
To be woken up as something landed on one of her legs. Lily jumped; startling whatever it was off her. She turned her head to glare at the owl. School owl part of her mind registered, and suddenly Lily was wide-awake. "Ooooh!" she squealed and snatched at the letter attached to its leg.
It fluttered it wings, landing on the chair nearby and hooting indignantly at her. Lily remembered her manners, "I'm sorry," she told it, "Can I read the letter?" she reached out and gently took the letter from it. It hooted at her again, and took off with a dignified rush of wings.
She undid the letter, with the wax seal of Hogwarts with shaking fingers. She read the letter, then smiled to herself. She vanished with a 'pop'.
"Mum!" she yelled as she appeared in the kitchen, "Mum!"
Her mother spun around, a foot from where Lily had appeared, and jumped, "Did I know you could do that?" she demanded fondly.
Lily shrugged, "I would walk but," she threw her hands into the air, "Saves time."
"You're going to get lazy." Her mother said warningly, "Not to mention fat."
Lily smiled at her mother, "Time is of essence, mother." She patted her shoulder, "You're just jealous."
Her mother smiled back at her, "My own little witch." Her eyes strayed down to what Lily was holding in her hand, "What is that? Your school list? That's early."
"Not really, but Mum!" Lily regained her excitement, her eyes sparkling, "I got Head Girl!"
Her mother patted her shoulder, "That's nice dear, but put some clothes on. Think if your father came down. Your too old now to wander around half naked."
Lily rolled her eyes, "I tend to think of it as half dressed." She vanished with another pop.
As soon as she was out of the room, her mother smiled and danced over to the stove, "I'm going to cook something marvellous for her!" she said to herself, "Think of it; my little Lily, Head Girl of her school!"
Ten minutes later, Lily, fully dressed now, ran down the stairs again and into the kitchen. "Happy now, Mum?" she asked, with laughter in her voice.
"What are we so happy about?" Petunia, her sister, demanded as she stalked into the kitchen. She was in her normal early morning temper, Which, Lily thought to herself, generally lasts all day. She turned to her sisterand smiled brilliantly, "I made Head Girl at Hogwarts."
Petunia showed her horse-like teeth in what might have passed for a smile, but was more like a grimace, "Bully for you." She muttered and sat at the table, spearing some of the food and relocating it on her plate.
Lily sat down and pulled a plate towards her as her mother deposited a fresh load of chocolate-chip pancakes onto the table. Startled, Lily looked at her mother, who smiled, "I know that they're your favourite, and I know we don't have them often, but Head Girl! I'm so proud of you, Lily."
Lily beamed at her mother, "I didn't think you really understood." She swallowed a tear, then, to disguise it, "Now you really will make me fat, Apparating or no."
She looked at the breakfast before her, I wonder if James likes Choc-chip pancakes? She thought and blinked, mentally shaking herself, Who cares? I certainly don't. she speared a piece of pancake on her fork and munched on it. Another part of her mind came in, Lily, you are thinking of him here, so be serious with yourself. Her mental attitude softened for half a second, Sirius is one of James's friends. Then she shook herself again, Snap out of it!
She looked up at her mother, "Can we please go to Diagon Alley tomorrow?" she asked; "I need to get my school stuff."
Her mother hugged her around the shoulders, "'Course we can, sweetie." Her mother picked up the empty plate of pancakes and bustled it away to wash it.
Lily turned to Petunia, "Are you coming with us?"
Petunia shot her a look of contempt, "Why would I bother? What's for me with a bunch of freaks?"
"Petunia!" Lily's father strode into the room, "Don't speak to your sister that way."
Lily smiled long-sufferingly at her father, "It's okay, Dad." She said, "I'm used to it."
Remus looked down at the parchment on the table, then back up at his parents.
"No." he muttered.
His father nodded.
"I'm sorry, Remus, but we tried to object to the law. Unfortunately, we didn't get any support."
Remus swallowed hard, his throat heavy and rolled back the sleeve of his jumper. His werewolf registration branding number was still a raring, red welt.
"But I went through with the werewolf registration act! Miss Umbridge promised that I wouldn't have to put up with anymore laws as long as I was registered."
Remus's mother gulped back tears.
"I'm sorry sweetheart. I know you wanted the badge."
Remus swallowed again as his mother continued, "I know you thought you could really help the school."
"It wasn't just the badge, not the position, either. I thought I could repay some of his kindness. Dumbledore's, I mean," Remus choked. His father squeezed his shoulder, then removed his hand, moving around the table to stand opposite his son.
"I'm sorry, son. But the law is laid down."
Remus looked back down at the parchment and unconsciously rubbed his forearms weal. It still hurt.
Remus's mother wrapped her slim arms around his shoulders. She was shorter than him, so it was quite a reach.
"I really hate that woman." Remus's father sighed, rubbing his forehead.
"She lied." Remus growled, his voice suddenly tight, "She lied."
Remus's mother started to cry, her tears coming unabated.
"I know, honey, I know."
Remus gulped. He hated it when his mother cried.
"It's ok, Mum." He said quietly, "At least I still have prefect…"
Remus's father's eyes flamed in rage.
"No, Remus." He commented, his normally quiet voice surprisingly strong, "Never settle for second best. Just because you are a werewolf, doesn't mean you are any lesser than normal wizards. Otherwise, you are just playing up to You-Know-Who's plans."
Remus's mother squeezed her seventeen-year-old son tight and then let him go. She looked up at him with amber eyes, something they both shared.
"Listen to your father, Remus. And never let that Umbridge tramp get you down. I have a feeling she is going to be a thorn in your side for the rest of your life."
Remus's hands clenched. Sometimes he wished he would lose all his self-control and go after Umbridge.
But then he would be no better than an animal…
Remus sat up in his study, an eagle feather quill in his hand.
"How should I tell the others?" he thought, "I mean, they will be wondering what is going on."
Suddenly, a handsome tawny owl, one that Remus identified as James's, rapped at the window. Remus opened the window to admit the owl.
"Hello Bran." Remus remarked as the owl settled on the windowsill, "Let me just see what I can find for you."
He walked over to his desk and pulled out a few owl treats. He poured some water into a dish from his water jug and set them out for Bran, who began to eat like there was no tomorrow. Remus chuckled as he opened the note, "You're just like your owner," he told the owl, and began to read;
Dear Moony.
What's going on with the Head Boy position? Since when do I get your mail? I think Dumbledore has finally gone nuts. I mean, how hard is it to tell one Marauder from the other?
Really, it's a bit scary. I cannot be Head Boy! I have a reputation to uphold!
Could you please write back with an explanation? I tried to send your badge (yes, it is your badge as I cannot possibly be Head Boy) with this letter, but it kept disappearing and reappearing in my room. Strange huh?
See you soon, wolf boy.
James
Remus suddenly grinned. He had a sneaking suspicion of who the Head Girl was.
Oh deary me. He thought, laughing, She is going to get one hell of a surprise. Although she may not appreciate the irony.
He stretched his hands and looked out the window. The sun was just setting and the moon was just rising. It was still a little while away from full moon so Remus was feeling happy at night.
He lit up a desk light and put his quill to paper.
My deer compatriot,
It gives me rather extensive humour and good emotions to inform you that yes, you are Head Boy. You see, the letter that says 'congratulations to James Potter' does not lie.
On a more serious note: why I am not the one in your, somewhat marvellous, position. You see, a rather horrible woman by the name of Dolores Umbridge has brought to the Ministry's attention a recently passed law that has prevented any sub humans (like werewolves for example) from holding a position of power over their peers of the same age group. This includes the Head Boy position.
However, earlier this summer, I went through the Werewolf registration act, enabling me to have the rights of a rather lower class human, rather than the foolishly bad guidelines of a non-human. I can still keep my prefect's badge, on the provisor that I am restricted to doing the books and minutes at the meetings. This I do not mind, as with you as Head Boy, the meetings shall be rather… interesting
I look forward to working with you, compardre
Yours truly, RemusRemus signed the letter with a flourish and a grin. The upcoming year was shaping up to be really interesting.