Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter

Chapter 37: Several Surprises

The water was a clear, crystal blue. James was beneath the surface and Sirius was stationed on the diving board. Mrs. Potter had been only too happy to let him live with her and James, and had taken him in as her own son. He was preparing to jump when Lily and Remus appeared with a pop. It was the last week of vacation and the first time the group was together. James and Sirius' feud had gotten in the way of earlier gatherings and after that everyone left for vacation with their families. Even now, Ylan and Peter were still absent; Ylan was in Italy while Peter was in France.

"Hey!" Lily called cheerfully. James' head emerged from the water.

"Hey guys!" he said, climbing over the side of the pool.

"Jenna here yet?" Remus asked.

"Nope!" Sirius called as he did a running dive into the water.

"Anyone want some lemonade?" James asked, taking out his wand.

"Sure – hey, want me to teach you to make it the Muggle way?" Lily suggested.

"Uh, yeah…sounds like fun," James said and let himself be led away. They entered the house from the back and, just as they were passing the fireplace, green flames erupted and someone came out.

"Hey. Can't wait to get my Apparition license," Jenna said, dusting herself off. She headed out to the pool with a wave. "You guys coming?" she called back.

"Yeah I'm just teaching James how to make lemonade the Muggle way," Lily said.

"Suuure," Jenna replied, grinning. "Making lemonade, mhm. Well, don't let me bother you." She turned the corner and they could hear Sirius' cry of "JENNA!!" as she stepped outside.

Lily smiled and continued into the kitchen.

"Okay," she said, heading for the refrigerator. "We're going to need lemons, sugar, and water." She got the lemons and water from the fridge and was reaching for the sugar when…

"Hey, Lily?" James said. She turned around.

"Yeah?" Suddenly he picked her up and placed her on the counter. "What are you doing?" she squealed.

"I have an idea that's much more fun than making lemonade," he grinned and engaged her in a long, deep kiss.

"So, how was everyone's summer?" Sirius asked, floating in the pool. Jenna and Remus were sprawled out on the lounge chairs. They didn't answer him. "Fine," he said with a pout.

"Here, Sirius!" Remus called suddenly and threw a tennis ball into the pool.

"Ball!" Sirius yelped and splashed after it. Jenna looked at him incredulously.

"Freak," she muttered, smiling in amusement.

"I resent that," Sirius said, spitting the ball out of his mouth. The glass doors opened and James and Lily came out holding a pitcher of ice cold, magically made, lemonade.

"Lemonade! Made perfectly the Muggle way!" James shouted. "Iiiit's good!"

"Sweet." Sirius got out of the pool and grabbed one of the cups Lily had brought out. He poured himself some lemonade, drank it up, and then cannonballed into the pool.

Half an hour later, after several cups of lemonade, Jenna announced that she needed to go to the bathroom. Sirius, James, and Lily were engaged in a game of "pass the beach ball around" in the water and so didn't notice when Remus sneaked into the house.

"Anyone want some food? I'm heading for some of that lasagna Mrs. Potter made last night," Sirius announced, climbing out again and drying himself off.

"No thanks, I'm good," Lily said. James nodded.

"Yeah me too."

"Suit yourselves," Sirius said and entered the cool house. It was as he was passing the pool room that he heard a noise. Mrs. Potter was still at work so he cautiously went to find the source.

He was in for the shock of a lifetime. Jenna was sitting on the pool table and Remus' hands were on her legs. They were tightly joined at the mouth.

"Oh my God!" Sirius shrieked. The two jumped apart. "I knew it, I knew it, I knew it!" he shouted, pointing and jumping.

"Sirius!" Jenna hissed. "Shut up!" But it was too late.

"What's going on?" James said as he and Lily came upon the scene. As they both took in Remus' hand placement and his and Jenna's general position they both shouted simultaneously. "Oh my God!"

"Okay, um, we were –" Jenna began but Sirius turned to James.

"That's what they've been doing in the Room of Requirement!" he told him. "I saw them in the Three Broomsticks together on Valentine's but I completely forgot!"

"Valentine's?" Lily said. "How long has this been going on?"

"We first noticed about a week before Valentine's Day," Sirius said excitedly.

"Hang on, how did you 'notice'?" Jenna asked, sliding off the pool table. Remus, however, had inkling.

"The Room of Requirement," he said, looking back and forth from James to Sirius. "It's not on the…is it?" They shook their heads. "So whenever we disappeared…you knew?"

"You dog," James said smirking.

"Why didn't you tell us?" Lily asked.

"I don't know," Jenna said, looking at Remus with a smile on her face. "We just kind of liked it being…secret."

"Ooh, kinky," Sirius said.

"Shut up," Remus replied. "But this is cool too. I mean, with everyone knowing and all we don't have to sneak around anymore." He snaked an arm around Jenna and gave her a kiss.

"This is kinda cool," she said grinning.

"Aw, now, wait a minute," Sirius complained. "Now I'm like the fifth wheel. What am I supposed to do, sit around and watch you guys fool around?"

"If that's what you really want, Padfoot. I gotta say, it kinda creeps me out though," said James.

"Wow, Sirius. I mean, I knew you liked to be close to your friends and all but…" Remus smirked.

"Ah, screw you guys. I'm gonna go find a date." Sirius stalked off and Disapparated moments later.

Five hours later, after the sun had set and everyone had left, Sirius reappeared.

"What's up, Padfoot?" James said amusedly as he watched his friend walk around with a triumphant look on his face.

"I," Sirius said, kicking off his shoes and lounging on the couch, "just had an incredible date with Holly."

"Fisher?"

"The very same. You see, that day in Charms something just…clicked. I knew it was meant to be."

"Sirius. You burned one of her eyebrows off." Sirius scowled.

"Whatever, shut up. It's good now."

James just grinned and threw an envelope at Sirius.

"Our Hogwarts letters came," he explained. Sirius opened his casually.

"Haven't you opened yours yet?" he asked, eyeing the untouched envelope on the desk.

"Nah, they just got here. Besides, it's just another book list."

"Really?" Sirius said, glancing over his own. "Yours looks a little bulky there." James looked at it and saw that Sirius was right.

"That's weird. Wonder what it could be?" He slid a finger under the seal and pulled out his letter. Something fell out. "What the –"

"It's a badge," Sirius said, coming over. "Maybe you got a new Captain's badge or something?"

"No, I don't think so, it's…holy shit it's the Head Boy's badge!"

"What? Are you kidding? Jeez, I know you're smart and all, Jamie, but Head Boy? Is Dumbledore on crack?"

"I know!" James looked over the letter that had come with the badge. "'Dear Mr. Potter, I am pleased to inform you of your appointment as Head Boy…' This has got to be a joke."

"James, Sirius? Did your Hogwarts letters come?" Mrs. Potter called.

"Uh, yeah," James answered. She entered the study where they were standing.

"What's the matter?" she asked, looking at their shocked faces.

"I'm…Head Boy," James said, still staring incredulously at the badge.

"Oh, congratulations! That's amazing! Oh, wait until Clarissa finds out! She was so sure Gregory would get it but I told her, I told her my son is brilliant!" Planting a kiss on James' forehead she rushed away, presumably to write a letter to Clarissa Thomas, who had been boasting the entire summer about how she had spoken to Dumbledore and ensured Gregory would get the badge.

"I'm Head Girl!" Lily popped in with a shout. "Can you believe it? Head Girl! I get to use the bathroom and the lounge room thing and everything! I'm so exci – wait, what's going on?" she asked, for the first time noticing their expressions.

"I'm Head Boy," James repeated.

"What!? Oh, that's great! We can patrol together and stuff! This year is going to be great!" Lily said happily. Then she kissed him on the cheek and Disapparated with another pop!

A week later found James and Sirius pushing their trunks through the barrier to Platform 9 ¾. They looked confusedly at the students milling around them.

"Who are some of these people?" James said. "I've never seen them before in my life."

"I know. And some of them look like they're our age," Sirius added.

They piled their trunks on the train and, with a final goodbye to Mrs. Potter, climbed aboard. The scarlet engine lurched into motion as they walked through the corridor. Finally they found their usual compartment, where the rest of the group had already assembled.

"Have you guys seen the random people walking around?" Sirius said as he and James sat down. "Anyone know who they are?"

"Oh they're from Italy," Ylan said. "Although some of them are British, which I don't really get. But anyway they're students from the magic school in Venice. The place where the whole magical community has their own world underneath the canals. While I was there we heard that the school closed. The students are being split between Hogwarts, Beuxbatons, Durmstrang, and the school in America until a new one opens for them in Italy."

"So we're stuck with these Italian freaks all year?" Sirius asked.

"Some of them are really nice," Ylan said. "Others…well, let's just say they'll be going straight to Slytherin."

"Aw," Peter groaned, "do we have an extra long Sorting Ceremony because of them?"

"Probably," Ylan answered.

"That blows," Sirius said. "Anyway, I'm gonna go find Holly. See you kids later." He left the compartment and Ylan followed his lead.

"I guess I'll go find Matthew, haven't seen him all summer. See you!" she waved and left as well.

Lily, James, Jenna, and Remus were engaged in an intense game of Exploding Snap when the compartment door slid open.

"Excuse me," said a voice. "Do you mind if we join you?" They all looked up. There were three people standing there. The girl, who had spoken, had long blond hair and brown eyes. She was flanked on either side by two boys; one with neat blond hair and piercingly blue eyes, and the other with brown hair and brown eyes.

"Sure," James said, scooting over on his seat. "Are you some of those people from that Italian school?"

The girl nodded as she sat down.

"We're all from Britain originally though," she said.

"What are your names?" Jenna asked.

"I'm Ron Tile," said the brown-haired boy. "That's Hermione Mack." He pointed at the girl.

"I'm Harry Morris," said the blond-haired boy. "What are you guys' names?"

"I'm James Potter," James said. "That's Lily Evans, Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, and Jenna Mills." He pointed to each.

"So do you guys just hang out with each other or are there other people in your group?" Harry asked. He looked around at everyone, but his gaze seemed to skip over Peter.

"Actually, yeah," Jenna said. "There's a girl, Ylan Chang, and Sirius Black."

"Who says he's a guy, but I remain unconvinced," James grinned. The three newcomers laughed.

"So how'd you guys end up at Hogwarts?" Remus asked.

"Well since we're all originally from here anyway, they decided this would be the place we should go," Ron said.

"What year are you guys in?" Hermione asked.

"We're in seventh. Top of the food chain," Jenna said.

"Oh, us too."

"You know, I think I'm going to go find Janice. I'll see you guys later," Peter said. Ron, Hermione, and Harry didn't pay much attention to him and didn't look at him. A confused look crossed his face and he left the compartment.

"We better get to the Prefects' compartment," Lily said to James and Remus.

"Oh come on," James groaned. "That's the most boring thing ever. 'Okay, no wandering at night, no banned items, blah blah blah.' Like anybody cares."

"It'll be quick, let's just go," Lily said, pulling James to his feet. Harry grinned up at them.

"We'll see you guys later," Remus said, crossing the compartment to the door.

"Yeah, see you," Harry said, and his gaze never left them as they walked away.

I've had the ending planned out before I even began the story so, even though it's not my favorite anymore, I'm sticking with it. Plus I can't think of another one that isn't really boring. Lol, anyway, I hope you like it.


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