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"Mooney, what in the blazes is the universal sign for 'vegetarian' vampires?" Sirius threw down his quill and rubbed his brow as though in physical pain.
James, Remus, and Sirius were lounging around the fireplace in the Gryffidor common room, working on a particularly difficult D.A.D.A essay on the vampire community. Peter was upstairs writing a letter to his parents, having given up on the essay after realizing he knew nothing about the norms and rituals of vampires and would have to go to the library to research. James had offered to help him, but Peter pointed out that James didn't know anything about vampires' bathing habits either. The truth was that James knew very little about vampires in general. He distinctly remembered the lesson in D.A.D.A. about vampires, but what he remembered was losing Exploding Snap four consecutive times at the back of the classroom. Typically, James tried to pay attention in his classes, but really, vampires weren't nearly as interesting as muggles thought them to be.
"Padfoot, how will you ever learn if I just tell you?" Remus smiled at his mate's frustration.
"I did ninety-seven percent of this essay on my own, just tell me, Lupin!" Sirius cried hysterically.
"Who did the other three percent?" Remus asked curiously.
"Peter."
"Fine." he sighed, sliding his completed essay to Sirius.
"You're the greatest, Mooney." Sirius gave him a grateful grin.
"I'm not 'Lupin', anymore then?" Remus grinned back.
"Hello my dear boys." Alice interrupted Sirius's reply, Frank Longbottom by her side. Frank was a lengthy sort of bloke, tall and trim, with light brown hair and a serious demeanor. James knew he was exceptionally focused on his studies and aspired to be an Auror one day. When they had first come to Hogwarts together, James had tried to involve him in the Marauders' early day mischief, but he had never seemed interested in wreaking havoc. Frank was somewhat a quiet person, easy to live with, and thoughtful. James thought that he was most like Remus. "James, Professor McGonogall told me to tell you that Professor Dumbledore wants to see you." Alice raised her eyebrows at him suspiciously as she said this.
James stiffened."The Headmaster wants to see me? Why?" Had he done something? Relatively this term, in contrast to, say, third or fourth year, the Marauders had been pretty low-key, only pulling a few harmless pranks.
"That's just what I was told." Alice shrugged. "It sounded pretty serious, but McGonogall can make anything sound serious, so who knows." The headmaster was easily James's favorite adult at Hogwarts. Not only was he exceptionally talented, but quirky, slightly mad, but he rarely ever docked points from anyone unless they truly did something malicious.
"He wants to see me right now?" James asked disbelievingly.
Alice shrugged again.
"Well, I'd better go see." James stood up, nervously mussing his own hair.
"Good luck Prongsie." Sirius said to him with faux sobriety. "If you get expelled, I'll see at your place in June."
"Thanks for the support, mate." James punched Sirius in the arm. "See you guys in a bit."
"Maybe, maybe not." Sirius called absentmindedly after him.
James strode out of the portrait hole and headed to the third floor, where the Headmaster's tower entrance was located. He strolled through the corridors at a slow pace, absorbing his surroundings. He loved Hogwarts. It was like a second home to him, not just a school. He greatly enjoyed unraveling the mysteries of the castle. Something new seemed to pop up every day. A new hidden staircase, a new enchanted room... the castle was ever-changing and he loved every part of it. He thought of the Marauder's Map that he, Sirius, Remus, and Peter had thought they'd finished last year. Merlin, had they been wrong. Already this term they had added multiple things to it, discovering in awe just how complicated the castle really was. James just hoped they could finish it before they left school. He would love to pass it down to his son or daughter one day. As he passed the familiar classrooms, broom cupboards, paintings, and relics, he thought about the fact that this was his last year at Hogwarts. It was really quite sad to think that he would probably never come back after next term. He would just have to make the best of this school year. James arrived at the ugly stone gargoyle he had stood in front of one too many times. He tried to flatten his hair apprehensively. Last time he'd been here in trouble was in sixth year, after he and Sirius had blown up Greenhouse three... but he'd just been here a couple of weeks ago, at the start of term, when the headmaster wanted to talk to him about being Quidditch captain. What had the password been? Ah, yes.
"Licorice wands ." James told the gargoyle, which sprung aside to let him pass. As James stepped onto the moving, winding staircase he thought nervously about what he could have possibly done to be called to the headmaster's office. When he reached the top, he knocked on the door politely.
"Who is it?" called the warm voice of the professor.
"James Potter, sir."
"Come in."
James opened the door. He had been in the headmaster's office many times, but it never ceased to amaze him. There was the brilliant red Pheonix, Fawkes, sitting on his perch, gazing with his head cocked at James intelligently; there was the incredible number of paintings, all portraits of previous headmasters; and a very large and odd collection of magical gadgets for who-knows-what.
"Alice told me you wished to see me, sir?"
"She was correct. How is your school year going so far?" the long-bearded headmaster asked politely, gesturing to a chair. James sat down across from him.
"Quite well, sir, thanks."
"You are probably wondering why I wished to speak to you." The headmaster peered at him over half-moon spectacles.
"Yes, I did wonder." James said truthfully. "Am I in trouble?"Dumbledore gave a soft chuckle.
"No, my boy, quite the opposite, though I do not blame you for wondering so." His eyes twinkled when James grinned sheepishly. "I wished to offer you... a position."
"What kind of a position are we talking about, sir?" James asked curiously.
"How would you feel about being head boy?"
There was a pregnant pause.
James said something that sounded strangely like "Garboglooko."
"Pardon?" Professor Dumbledore cast him a slightly concerned glance.
"Er," he replied. Head boy? Was Dumbledore being serious? "I'm not sure, Professor. May I ask you why you would offer that position to me? And why now? And what about Daniel Smith?" he asked, referring to the blonde Hufflepuff who currently occupied the head boy position.
"In the past years, I have chosen head boy and girl, mostly based on appearances." The headmaster said, his eyes scrutinizing James with incredible awareness. "High grades, clean record, steady contribution to their house and to the school. This year, I did the same, but I seem to have made a mistake in choosing Mr. Smith." Dumbledore grimaced, his gray eyebrows joining together to form a worried line.
This honestly did not surprise James, who had never liked Daniel Smith since second year when he had been unjustly jinxed by the bloke.
"Mr. Smith was suspended earlier today from the school for taking part in illegal activities including Felix Felicis, Veritaserum, and the Imperius curse." James recognized the strictly regulated potions immediately, and he had, of course learned about the Imperious curse in D.A.D.A. as well as heard about it on the Wizarding radio networks and in the Daily Prophet. James raised his eyebrows.
"Merlin." he said. He wasn't exactly flabbergasted about the potions, (he and the Marauders had used those on more than one occasion outside of the Potions dungeons) but the Imperius curse? Didn't Smith know he could go to Azkaban for that?
"So I wanted to appoint a new head boy, not just based on appearances, but someone I know who truly cares about the student body and will do his duty because he loves this castle." His looked at James keenly. James had a very strange feeling that he was looking right through him.
"Why me, though?" James was still mystified.
"Well I believe in your character, James." Dumbledore's light blue eyes twinkled. "I am not unaware of what you did on the first day of term last year." James racked his brains, trying to think of what he could have done.
"Ms. Tonks." the headmaster reminded him. Nymphadora was a wild little second year with a fiery ever-changing appearance and an attitude to match, also the Gryffindor Quidditch team's seeker. "When she was attacked by Peeves on her arrival to the Sorting Ceremony, the student body was heartily amused, but you, James," Dumbledore smiled kindheartedly at him. "You saw that she was in discomfort, and went to her aide immediately."
"She was being pelted with ink wells!" James exclaimed. "Of course I helped her; she could've gotten seriously hurt!"
"And that, James," the graying professor leaned forward slightly, "is why I am offering you this post."
"Because I did one nice thing?" James asked skeptically.
"Not only that, my boy. Also, sadly, because I know who your adversaries are in this school." James's thoughts immediately went to Snape, Mulciber, Avery, Lestrange, and Bellatrix Black. "To my great displeasure, your oppositions are also mine." Dumbledore said quietly, his wise face filled with sorrow. James knew it must've aggrieved the tender headmaster to be against his students. "Dark times are upon us." Dumbledore rose from his desk, paced to the wall, and gazed out the window. "I need people I can trust in. I trust you, James." he said mildly, his eyes distant.
"What about Remus?" James asked fairly. "He's someone you can trust, and he has a well, not a clean record, but a cleaner record than I do. "
"The heads have duties that would be difficult to complete with his condition." James nodded as rage swelled in his chest, as it always did when Remus's condition prevented him from living life to the fullest. It just wasn't fair. James hated whoever bit Remus with a burning passion. He struggled to keep his face appear normal as Dumbledore continued, "I have spoken to Remus about this, and he understands." James nodded, showing comprehension. "So, James. Will you accept?" Dumbledore looked at him mildly. James thought for a long moment, and decided: why not?
"Yes, sir," he replied. "I would be honored."
"I'm glad." Dumbledore smiled, and handed James a roll of parchment. "This parchment lists your duties, instructions, and privileges as head boy." his eyes twinkled. "If they clash with you Quidditch captaincy, please come see me. "And," he handed James a badge with the Hogwart's crest on it and a large HB in the center."your badge." James grinned and pinned the badge onto the front of his robes, then accepted the roll of parchment.
"Also, one more thing." James cocked his head as the headmaster added,"You will be sharing a dorm area and private common room with Ms. Evans."
James worked to not let his jaw drop to the floor, but could help the ruddiness that rose to his cheeks.
"This is for the convenience of the heads, seeing as they must work together frequently, and are often in different houses." The professor smiled at him knowingly.
"I'm not sure if you're aware, Professor, but if Lily-"
"Has any problems with my new appointment, she may come see me." Dumbledore completed James's sentence for him.
"I won't disappoint you, sir." James recovered.
"I don't doubt you."
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