Falls On Me: Chapter Four
The End of the Summer
The rest of the summer passed by faster then James could ever imagine. He and Sirius had a wonderful time swimming in the lake, playing Quidditch, and planning pranks for their next year. James was glad to see Sirius so happy...so free. He was absolutely thrilled to finally get away from his family, though James was sure that they weren't happy that he had left so easily. He really hoped nothing terrible would happen to Sirius in return.
Before he knew it, summer was over and it was the night before school already. He and Sirius were lying down on their backs on the roof of the house, looking up at the bright stars.
"Back to school tomorrow." mumbled James.
"No, really? I thought we were going to the moon tomorrow." replied Sirius sarcastically.
James just rolled his eyes.
"It's been a really great summer, mate." said Sirius. "I can't tell you how much I'm grateful to you for letting me stay here. I really had a wonderful time."
"This is your home, Padfoot." replied James. "Never go back to them."
There was no need to ask who "they" were. Of course they were Sirius' horrid family.
Sirius smiled sadly. "I'll have to face them someday, Jamie."
"Of course you will, we all have to find a way to triumph in out battles. But just know that you don't have to fight them alone, Siri."
He nodded. "So, looking forward to see Evans again?" he asked, changing the subject.
"Yes! She'll fall for me this year, I know it." he said confidently, ruffling his messy hair.
Sirius just snorted. "You've said that for the past few years and nothing's happened."
"Urgh! Stop killing my dreams, Sirius!"
"I'm not killing your dreams, I'm just bringing you back to Earth."
James rolled his eyes again. "No. This is my last year. I'm not going to waste it. I'll change for her Sirius. I'll make her love me just as much as I love her."
"And what are you gonna do to change, exactly?"
"Hmm...well, I'll have to stop hexing the Slytherins and Snivellus in front of her."
"What?!" yelped Sirius.
"Now, don't get me wrong, mate. Of course I'll still hex the Slytherins, how could I not?! I just won't do it in front of her. I guess I'll have to start being responsible, too, especially with my Head Boy duties."
"But Jamsie...you won't abandon us will you?" asked Sirius with wide puppy eyes.
James laughed. "How could I abandon you, you great shaggy dog?"
"Hmm...your right. You can't leave me because I'm just too good to be true." Sirius puffed his chest out.
"No, you're not. I am." James ruffled his hair again.
"Jamsie-poo, I hate to break it to you, but you're too much of an idiot to be true."
James smacked him upside the head. "You mean an absolutely charming idiot. And don't call me that!"
"Call you what, Jamsie-poo?"
"That!"
"What?"
"Jamsie-poo!"
Sirius just grinned mischievously. "Sure, Jamie-Waimy."
"What?!"
"Sorry, Jamie-Waimy, but it's either Jamsie-poo or this. Your pick."
"I pick none."
"Too bad. You'll always be Jamsie-poo to me!" He cackled insanely.
James knew that if he replied, this would carry on all night so he brought the subject back to Lily again. "Hmm...Sirius, you think that if I change, she'll fall for me?"
"If you change enough, Prongs. You know how stubborn she is. It'll be hard."
"I know...but I'll try my best."
Sirius smiled. "Good for you, Prongs. Don't give up. Oh yeah, and try calling her by her first name. It might help."
James nodded and sighed. "What do you reckon seventh year will be like? With all the attacks and everything going on?"
"I don't know. I just hope that everyone will be alright."
"Hopefully. The castle has all sorts of enchantments protecting it, so the students should be safe. It's everyone else I'm worried about."
Sirius just nodded and stretched out on the roof. "What time is it?" he asked James.
"Five to eleven."
"Well, I'm tired." said Sirius, and yawned to prove his point.
"Me too. Let's go to sleep."
"Alright, good night, Prongs."
"'Night, Padfoot."
James woke up the next morning, yawning and rubbing his eyes. He glanced over at the alarm clock beside his bed and was startled to find that the red digits read "10:00."
"Oh no!" he jumped out of bed immediately, and ran over to Sirius' jumping on him until he got up.
"Padfoot, we're late! It's ten o'clock!"
"What?!" yelped Sirius. He grabbed the alarm clock to see for himself. "I thought you were supposed to set the alarm clock!" he accused.
"Me? I thought you were gonna do it!"
Sirius slapped his forehead. "Well, that doesn't matter now, does it?"
James started throwing things pell-mell into his trunk. "No, it doesn't. Sirius, you get the bathroom while I pack, and then we'll switch."
Sirius nodded and ran to the bathroom. After a short while, he came back out again, toweling his hair dry. James snapped his trunk shut and glanced at the clock again. Ten past ten. They had to hurry to be out of the house by ten thirty. They would get a train to get to Kings Cross.
"Are your parents awake yet, James?"
"I don't think so. They would have woken us up by now if they were." he frowned.
"I'm gonna wake them up then. Get in the shower, Jamsie."
James stuck his tongue out at him. He went into the bathroom and quickly got ready. His attempts to make his hair lie flat obviously failed. When he came out again, he found Sirius' trunk packed and next to his on the floor. He dashed downstairs to the kitchen and saw Sirius sitting at the table.
"Where's Mum and Dad?" James asked. "Did you wake them up?"
"Yeah. They're getting ready. There's you breakfast." he pointed to some mushy yellow goo on the counter.
"What in the name of Merlin is this?" asked James, disgusted.
"Scrambled eggs!" Sirius replied.
James tentatively took a bite. "Yuck!" he spit it out on his plate.
"Well, sorry that my cooking doesn't meet your high standards." said Sirius in affronted tones.
"Sirius, I hope you know that you're not supposed to put the egg shells in."
"Aaah, so that explains the crunchy-ness."
He shook his head; Sirius was unbelievable. He grabbed his and Sirius' plate and threw out the mushy stuff that Sirius called scrambled eggs.
"Hey!" protested Sirius. James ignored him and popped a few waffles in the toaster.
"Padfoot, you're better off eating something that won't make you sick." he put a plate of waffles in front of him. Sirius stuck out his tongue and James grinned.
"Good morning, boys." greeted Richard Potter, appearing in the kitchen.
"'Morning, Dad." they both replied.
"Here." James shoved a plate of waffles under his nose. "Where's Mum?"
"Getting ready. She should be down soon."
And sure enough, Emily Potter came running into the kitchen, fixing up her hair.
"Right on cue." muttered Sirius, putting his and Richard's dirty plates in the sink.
"It's ten twenty five! We have five minutes to get out of the house!" said Emily frantically. "Richard, dear, can you get the boys' trunks from upstairs?"
He nodded and ran up the stairs two at a time.
"Here, Mum." said James, giving her some waffles wrapped in a napkin. "You can eat it on the train."
"Thank you, darling. Now, you two go outside. Your father and I will be out in a sec."
Sirius and James grabbed their jackets and walked out into the chilly autumn air. A few minutes later Richard and Emily both joined them and they set off to the train station, which was only a few blocks away.
"Where's our trunks?" asked Sirius as they ran.
"I shrunk them. They're in my pocket." replied Richard.
"Time." demanded Sirius.
"Ten thirty. The train leaves at ten thirty five." said James.
They finally reached the station caught their train just as it was about to leave.
"That was close!" said Sirius, panting.
"Now, I want you two to study hard for your N.E.W.Ts this year, understand? You'll need good grades to get into Auror Training." said Emily sternly.
"Yes, Mum." both boys replied as the train slowed to a stop a Kings Cross station.
"Ten fifty six." muttered James as they reached the barrier to Platform 9 3/4. They slid through, unnoticed by any Muggles.
Most students had boarded the train already and parents were waving to their children, who were hanging out the window.
"Alright, be safe. Stay out of trouble. Oh, why did I even bother saying that? Write often." said Emily, hugging James and Sirius at the same time. She kissed the both.
"What your Mum said pretty much summed everything up." said Richard Potter, smiling. "Have a good term." he clapped each of them on the shoulder.
The train's whistle blew and Richard quickly took their trunks out of his pockets and enlarged them while the Hogwarts Express slowly started to move.
"Wingardium Leviosa!" cried Remus' voice from the train. Their trunks soared up, and James and Sirius dashed over to the door, which Remus was holding open for them.
"Thanks." panted Sirius, dropping into a seat. "Hey Peter!" he said, thumping him on the back.
"What would we do without you, Remus?" asked James as he ruffled his friends' hair. "Thanks, mate."
"No problem." Remus grinned. "Why were you so late?"
"There was some confusion with the alarm clock." replied James.
Remus nodded.
"Oh, Remmy, guess what?" said Sirius, grinning.
"What?"
"Jamsie-poo is Head Boy!"
James groaned. "Please, not that chant again."
Remus smiled. "Congratulations, Prongs!"
"Thanks, Moony."
"Hey, but aren't you supposed to be in the Head's Compartment now? For the meeting?"
James slapped his forehead. "Oh no! I totally forgot! Aren't you coming? You're a Prefect?" he asked Remus, who nodded. He jumped up and ran out the door, Remus not far behind.