Chapter One

"I'm proud of you, James," said Harrington Potter, putting his hand on his son's shoulder. "You'll make a good Head Boy, no matter what this twit says." He rolled his eyes at the black-haired boy standing next to him with a crooked grin.

"I think it's brilliant," said Sirius, laughing. "As long as he doesn't put me in detention."

James punched him in the arm. "I'll do what I have to do to keep you in line, Black."

"That's what I thought," said a quiet voice next to them. Remus Lupin appeared with a smile, set down his trunk, and shook Mr. Potter's hand. "It's far easier said than done, however."

"That's right," said Sirius, throwing an arm around Remus's shoulders. "Take it from Moony, he'll tell you how it is. I'm a force of nature."

"Interminable," murmured Remus.

Harrington Potter laughed as he guided the boys toward the train. "Maybe Peter can keep you three out of trouble, then. He seems like a decent sort—" He was interrupted as the fourth member of their group came running up then.

"Are you guys ready for the—" he started, only to stop abruptly when he saw James standing behind his father, waving desperately at him to stay quiet.

"Never mind," mumbled Peter, his face flushed. "Hi, Mr. Potter. It's good to see you again." He stuck out his hand, and Harrington shook it with narrowed eyes.

"I take it back," he said. "You lot are definitely up to something."

Sirius began to push Peter toward the train. "Of course we're not, Mr. Potter. It's our last train to Hogwarts. We're not going to ruin it." He was grinning so broadly, however, that it was obvious he was lying.

James's father snorted as he shook his head and motioned them away. "I know you four—last trip back means all the more reason to pull off something big. Well, go on—just don't get the Head Boy in trouble—too much trouble."

Sirius, Peter, and Remus waved goodbye and headed toward the train. James stayed behind, reluctant to leave. It had been a difficult summer, and though he had missed his friends and was glad to see them, he was not quite ready to head back to school. He had barely had time to deal with the dramatic events of June when his mum, battling illness for most of his sixth year, had finally passed on in July. It had been a hard six weeks since the funeral, and though his father seemed well enough, James felt guilty for leaving his dad alone at such a time. He was all James had left now. He felt like he should stay home and make sure things would be all right now that his mum was gone.

He was fairly certain his dad was thinking the same thing, because Harrington once again put a hand on his son's shoulder.

"It's all right, James," he said softly. "Go on, join your friends. I'll be fine. It's you I'm worried about."

"I'll be fine," said James, glancing behind him as his friends climbed aboard the train, laughing loudly. He knew that his father wasn't talking about school or his friends, but he didn't need to address the real concern for them both. It had been on both their minds all summer. "I can handle them."

His father raised an eyebrow. "I seem to recall you saying that last year when you got on the train, and yet I also remember getting an owl from Dumbledore that very night."

James grinned in spite of his mixed feelings about leaving. "Sirius had a good idea, Dad. We couldn't let it go to waste."

"And this year was Peter's turn?" asked Harrington, an amused look in his eye.

"No, this year was my—" James stopped and shut his mouth. "Never mind. It probably won't happen anyway." He tapped the badge on his jumper and rolled his eyes.

"I hope not," said his father. "I'd hate to see you get in trouble your first day on the job. You're a leader now, James. Especially after what happened in June. You're going to have to act like one."

"I know, I know," mumbled James, slightly embarrassed, even though he knew his father was right. He still couldn't quite believe it: James Potter, Head Boy. The only person he would have thought more unlikely to get the badge would have been Sirius, given his slightly longer track record of detentions and deductions. Yet the letter was still in his pocket; he kept it there to remind himself that it was real and not a prank…

Dear Mr. Potter,
I am sorry for the loss of your mother this summer. She was both a talented witch and a kind and loving woman who will be greatly missed. Please let any of us know if there is anything we can do for you.

I am writing because I am happy to offer you the position of Head Boy this year. While you may be surprised, I assure you I am not. You have done increasingly well over the years and have proven yourself to be an exceptional student, a strong Quidditch player, and a loyal friend. The incident last June in Hogsmeade demonstrated leadership abilities I never doubted. I hope you will accept this badge with my fullest confidence in you.

I also hope that you will refrain from releasing any pixies, bowtruckles, or fire crabs in Professor Kettleburn's office this year.

Please report to the head car on the Hogwarts Express on September 1st. I have included the duties and expectations of the Head Boy of Hogwarts. Read them well, as you will be expected to begin your tenure at the first prefects' meeting on September 1st.

Sincerely,
Professor Dumbledore

James gave his father another nod, his throat tight. To his surprise, his father pulled him into a strong hug in return. "Make your mother proud, son," he said softly, with one last pat on his back. "Write when you can. Floo-call if you need to. And just do your best—without getting into toomuch trouble."

"I will, Dad," said James, and he meant it. He finally understood the importance of seventh year—of N.E.W.T.s, of being Head Boy, even his last Quidditch Cup. It was all he had thought about all summer. He knew now it was time to grow up; the last few months had forced him to accept that, from the attack in Hogsmeade to the death of his mother. It was overwhelming, and yet he had no choice. In some ways he was glad for the new responsibilities of seventh year, because it kept him from worrying about the future—or from thinking about the past. He would relax and have fun every so often—it was inevitable with the company he kept—but he would make his mother and father proud.

As he walked toward the train, James casually tucked the Head Boy badge into his pocket. He was acutely aware that the majority of the student body would be as surprised as Sirius had been to see the badge on his chest. For some reason, he did not feel like being stared at; he had had quite enough of it over the summer at his mother's funeral. A year ago he might have enjoyed walking through the train cars shocking everyone, relishing the startled whispers, but after all that he had been through, now he just wanted to start the year quietly.

Well, except for one more prank.

James dragged his trunk onto the train and turned to wave at his father. He swallowed the lump in his throat, telling himself that his dad would be all right, that he would be all right. As the train finally pulled away under a dark, cloudy sky, he hurried to find his friends before he had to begin his Head Boy duties and start the prefects' meeting in the forward car.

Sirius and Peter were huddled together, talking softly. Remus was watching with an amused but exasperated look on his face. He practically jumped up when James entered the train car.

"Finally," he said, sounding relieved. "Let's go before we become unwilling accomplices."

James laughed as he put his trunk on the rack above them. "Okay, but let me at least drop off my stuff."

Remus moved into the corridor. "You are Head Boy—you can stop them, you know."

Sirius looked up from his conversation with Peter. "Of course he can't. It was his idea."

James glanced back and forth between Sirius and Remus and sighed. It was sure to be the first of many complicated clashes between his friends and his new responsibility. "What if we wait a bit? Save it for back at the castle rather than the train ride?"

Peter fell back in his seat and groaned. "Come on, Prongs. You can't be backing out already!"

"Of course not," said James, shrugging nonchalantly, even though the comment bothered him, since it was probably true. "I just don't want to get a detention my first day as Head Boy. It's a bad way to start."

"It's going to be a long year if you skiv off all the fun just because you don't want a detention," said Sirius, shaking his head. "A long, lonely year."

"Don't worry," said a voice behind them. "He'll get at least one detention this year, I'm sure."

James turned around to find Remus embracing Lily Evans. He grinned as she raised her eyebrows questioningly and nodded his greeting instead. Even after everything that had happened the previous year, for some reason a hug between them now felt awkward.

"Potter," she said, then stuck her head into the car and waved at Sirius and Peter. "How's the arm, Black?"

Sirius flexed his hand and arm a few times, grinning broadly. "Still attached, thank you very much."

"That's good. I was worried you might come back with a hook."

Sirius frowned, obviously missing some sort of reference that James did not quite understand either. "Not sure how I'd hold my wand, but it sounds interesting."

"Never mind," Lily said as Remus laughed with her. "It's a Muggle thing. Come on, Remus, let's get to the meeting." She turned and headed toward the front of the train. Remus gave James a wink and followed.

James popped his head back into the compartment and whispered, "At least wait until we get back," then hurried after them.

Lily turned and frowned at him. "Where are you going?" she asked. "New prank or new girl?"

"Neither," said James, rolling his eyes. "I'm heading the same way you are: prefects' meeting at the front."

"That would be for prefects only, Potter," she said, pointedly.

"As well as the Head Girl and Boy," James added, placing special emphasis on the latter. In front of him, Remus was covering his mouth and stifling a laugh. James had to admit he was looking forward to her reaction.

Lily stopped and turned abruptly, her eyes wide. Remus crashed into her and murmured an apology as he watched with a highly amused look on his face. "But you're not—you can't be—" she stuttered.

"What's that, Evans?" James asked, trying to sound glib as he pulled the badge from his pocket and pinned it on his robes. He wasn't in the mood to really play it up, but he could do that much, at least. Her mouth dropped open, and he shared a grin with Remus; it was exactly what he had hoped for.

"You nicked it from someone, didn't you?" she asked, eyes narrowed. "Admit it. You just want to crash the meeting."

James snorted, although the implication that he would actually steal the Head Boy badge was slightly insulting. "'Course I didn't. I got it with my letter, just like you."

Lily just stared at him. "What, because you cast a few decent spells in Hogsmeade last year? That was a one-time burst of testosterone-fueled heroics. It doesn't make you Head Boy."

"No, Dumbledore did," said Remus, stepping between them. James was glad, because he probably would have said something defensive and hurtful. Never mind that she was putting him down for he had done in Hogsmeade; it still gave him nightmares. "James took charge out there, and if I recall, he saved your life as well as mine."

Lily gave Remus a withering look. "Don't remind me. You should be wearing that badge, though, and you know it."

Remus shrugged. "Perhaps. But there's a reason for everything."

Lily turned and began to walk back toward the front of the train, ignoring them both. "Yes, apparently Dumbledore's gone mad."

Remus turned and gave James a look that clearly said, "I tried." James nodded his thanks and followed silently, thinking about what they had said. Lily was right, that Remus was far more qualified to be Head Boy than he was. Remus had been prefect for two years and was far more likely to follow the rules than break them. Yet it was also obvious that his lycanthropy would interfere with his duties every month. James just wondered why Dumbledore hadn't chosen one of the other seventh-year prefects.

As they neared the front of the train, James leaned toward Remus and whispered, "Do you know who's the Head Girl?" A head of red hair whipped around, green eyes flashing. Remus crashed into Lily again, this time with an annoyed grumble about letting a bloke know when to stop ahead of time.

"No," said James, shaking his head in disbelief as the look on her face spelled out the answer. Remus glanced back and forth between them, then slowly moved out of the way.

"This will be interesting," he murmured, heading into the front car and leaving James and Lily alone in the corridor.

"Are you really?" asked James, for some reason hoping it wasn't true. Her sour reaction to seeing his badge bothered him, and he wasn't sure he wanted to work with her when she obviously didn't think he should be there. When she showed him the badge, pinned to the front of her jumper under her robes, he just shrugged, trying to accept the inevitable.

"Looks like we're working together, then," he said flatly. "After you." He motioned her forward into the train car. Lily didn't move; she narrowed her eyes at him again.

"Don't mess this up, Potter," she said softly, so that no one could hear.

"I won't if you won't," he murmured back, not sure whether to be offended or amused; he was mostly offended.

"I'm supposed to be here," she replied. "I worked for it. I earned it."

"I earned it, too," said James. "Dumbeldore said so." Whereas a year ago he might have had some fun antagonizing her, now he was feeling too defensive to bother.

"Dumbledore's a barmy old git, then," she snapped, opening the door. "Just let me handle it."

"Hell, no," he said, shutting it again and staring down at her. "You're not Head Girl of the universe, Evans. We work together."

"I don't want to work with you!" she hissed.

James frowned, surprised at her unexpected vehemence. She had often had harsh words for him in years past, but the antagonism between them had calmed down significantly over the course of sixth year. After the incident in Hogsmeade, he thought she might have actually started warming up to him. Yet apparently saving her life and their near after had meant nothing. It bothered him that she was putting down him for no reason, especially after all that had happened over the summer.

Still, he tried to stay calm. They had a history of bloody rows, even if it had been a while, and he didn't want to begin his seventh year with one. He really wanted to start off right, make his father proud. So he just shrugged to hide his feelings, burying what he really wanted to snap back for another day. "Well, you're stuck with me. And I have just as much right to be here as you do."

"I doubt it," she said, opening the door again. This time James let her through.

"Get off your broomstick, Evans," he said, following her in. "Whether you like it or not, I'm Head Boy."

Every face in the compartment turned and looked at him in shock. Fortunately most of them relaxed into smiles; a few even cheered, and Jackson Robertson—usually a total git—stood and offered him a hand in congratulations. Anastasia Harrison, the seventh- year Ravenclaw prefect, tossed her hair and gave him a sly smile. James glanced back over his shoulder at Lily with a smug look on his face, but was stopped cold by what he saw on hers.

It was indeed going to be a long year.

End Notes:

This story has nothing to do with any of my other James/Lily stories, particularly the longer ones. I just wanted to approach them in another way, with a bit more biting antagonism than clever banter and a bit more plot and development. I was also inspired by a gorgeous piece of fanart to write a scene that appears much later on, and from there had to flesh out the story surrounding that scene. I'll share that all in time. And yes, I do borrow my own characters. They are becoming like real people to me now, so if you recognize anyone from my other stories—or if you see them again—that's why.

Many thanks to mugglegirlmarauder for letting me throw ideas at her and for reading this over as my alpha beta. Your comments and support are so very much appreciated, my dear!

This story is long, but it is complete, so it will be updated quickly. Enjoy!