[A/N: Hey! So... Sorry for a bit of a wait. What, two weeks? Oh well. It could be worse. This chapter isn't as long as the last one, I hope that's okay with you all. It's about normal length... on the long side of normal.

Recap from Chapter 23: Maia hooked up with Kinsley in a book store, James visited Lily demanding friendship, Sirius and Remus made up after Sirius was seduced by Greggor, Sirius came out to the Potters, and Helen sent letters to Lily.
What was happening this time last year: Remus and Allie were going out, Lily and James were not friends, Peter was just starting his relationship with Heather, Maia hadn't talked to Kingsley, nobody had died, Remus wasn't out as gay. So... basically, we've put our characters have grown and matured.

Just in case you guys care, to beta this chapter, FlameintheFlood and I read through it in British accents. So, you know...

Super thanks to Fun-Sized Kirk, RavenclawLupin11, SWaddict1986, photographwall, paulmcco, proudtobeatheatrekid, and xxMOONandPAWxx for the awesome reviews! Also, a big thanks to everybody who added this story to their favourites or author alerts. And, finally, thanks to everybody who read K&K and a Side of Summer!

Disclaimer: Reading aloud in a British accent doesn't make me JKR and so I still don't own these characters.]

Chapter 24

Sometimes you feel defeated
But it's okay
You're not the only one.
And all the complications,
Bad situations happen to everyone
It doesn't matter how it ended or began.
Sometimes the best that you can do is change your plans.
I hope you understand that
I will never let you down

Verve Pipe, "Never Let You Down"

"Look at you," Anne Evans said to Lily as they stood near the barricade to Platform 9 ¾. She turned to her husband, "Samuel, just look at our Lily. Look at our daughter."

"She sure has grown up well," Lily's dad agreed. He smiled at his daughter as she looked around anxiously.

Her parents had insisted that she wear her school uniform -- robes, Head Girl badge, and all -- for their last trip to Kings Cross. Her parents may have been too distracted by the fact that their now seventeen-year-old daughter was about to head off to her last year at school to notice the odd looks she was getting, but Lily wasn't. She could feel the eyes on her, could practically hear the confused thoughts of passersby.

"Six years ago she was a short and skinny little girl about to head into an unknown world," her dad continued, "and now she's all grown up and Head Girl."

"Mum, Dad," Lily said, trying not to blush, "You don't have to talk about me as though I'm not here."

"Of course not dear," Anne replied. "You know how we old folks are. We're reminiscing. If only Petunia were here to see you off…"

"Petunia," Lily cut in, "is too busy spending time with her oaf of a boyfriend to see me off for my last year at school."

"Come on, now, Lils," Samuel said, "I'm sure Petunia would be here if she could."

Lily resisted the urge to contradict her father, knowing that it would just upset him. She knew how much her parents hated that she and Petunia were no longer the best of friends that they had been seven years ago.

'Besides,' she thought, 'this is my special day and I will not let Petunia ruin it, here or not.'

"Well," Lily said, looking around at the staring people, "I think I'm attracting a bit of attention here with my uniform and all. I should probably get to the Platform and find my friends."

"Yes, of course, dear," Anne said. "We don't want you to be late."

"Bye Mum, Dad," Lily said, giving her parents one last hug. "I love you."

And, with one last wave at her parents, Lily pushed her trolley into the wall for the last time.

"James, I really hope that I don't have to tell you to behave yourself this year," Grace Potter said to her son as they stood a few meters away from the Hogwarts Express.

"Of course you don't," Sirius answered with a laugh, "Now that Jamesie here is Head Boy he has to behave. Pity, though. Hey, Prongs, do you think you could use your new-found power to keep us out of trouble?"

"Do you think you could scrounge up enough maturity to keep your trap closed?" James shot back.

"Probably not," Sirius answered with a wink.

"I think I have, once again, been overcome with respect for Remus," James said with a dramatic sigh.

"Okay, boys, settle down," Harold Potter said. "Grace and I have to get back to work soon. Have a good year."

"If you need anything," Grace added, looking both Sirius and James sternly in the eyes, "Do not hesitate to send us an owl. Come on, Harold, we really should be off."

"Go on, Grace," Harold said, waving his wife towards the barricade. "I'll be right out as soon as I give these two a bit of fatherly advice."

Grace rolled her eyes, but set off, leaving the older man alone with the two teenagers.

"Now, I know you've been given this huge responsibility, James," Harold said. He ran his hands through his greying and messy hair, "But, do make sure you have some fun. I know you aren't thrilled about this position, either. Try to make the best of it. You will be a great Head Boy, James. I think Albus knows what he is doing. Take it seriously, but not too seriously. If we don't get any letters home this year about your misbehaviour, I'll come up there myself. Just, don't let your mum know. She'd kill me if she knew I were saying this to you."

"Of course not, Dad," James answered, smiling slightly.

Sirius sighed as he looked from his best friend to his surrogate father.

"You Potter men and your long, thought-out speeches," he said. "It's just... Weird."

"I suppose I should find some words to say to you, too, then, Sirius," Harold said with a laugh. "I don't want you to do anything too stupid, but have fun. Don't let James get too serious, okay? There are enough Siriuses in the Potter family already. If you need anything, anything at all, you can write to us, son. Have a good term."

"Yes... Yes, I'm touched," Sirius said, trying to hide how much Harold's comment had meant to him. "Thank you. Come on, Prongs. We have a compartment to claim!"

"Bye, Dad," James said, giving his father a brief hug.

Harold nodded and turned to follow his wife.

"He works too hard," James said as the two boys pulled their trunks to the train. "He's getting old. They shouldn't make him work so hard."

"He's fine, Prongs," Sirius said lightly. "You worry too much. You're starting to turn into Evans. Really, now."

"Oh, come on Padfoot. Let's get rid of these trunks before I have to do the Head Boy thing."

The train had just pulled out of the King's Cross station and the eight newly-seventh-year Gryffindors were sitting together all too aware that it would be the last time they took this trip together. Maia and Sirius were sitting next to each other on the floor. Sirius leaning back against Remus' legs while Maia sat, cross-legged, in front Allie. Allie was absentmindedly plaiting Maia's short locks while listening to Kate's telling of her most recent argument with Caleb. Lily and James, somehow, had ended up sitting next to each other, carefully avoiding any physical contact. Lily was finishing up The Catcher in the Rye (which had been a recent suggestion of Remus') and James was telling Peter about the new broom his parents had bought him.

"Hey, Remus," Lily said as she closed her book and looked across the compartment. "We should probably get going. Prefects meeting."

"Oh, right," Remus said. He stood up, ignoring Sirius' protests, and made his way to the compartment door.

"I wonder who Head Boy is," Lily thought aloud. "I was so sure it would be you, Remus."

A silence fell over the entire compartment at Lily's comment. Sirius and Peter exchanged a quick look and Maia suddenly became very interested in her chipped nail polish. Kate raised her eyebrows at Allie who simply shrugged. Remus cleared his throat and looked deliberately at the ceiling.

"I... that's what most of us expected," he said slowly, still not looking at Lily.

"What are you on about?" Lily asked sharply. "You all know something that I don't. Severus isn't Head Boy, is he? Oh, Merlin, I don't think I could-"

"Snape isn't Head Boy," James cut her off. "Even Dumbledore isn't that crazy."

"That's debatable," Sirius said in an uncharacteristically quiet voice, "Considering, you know, he chose you."

"Padfoot!" James hissed, "What did you say that for?"

"She would've found out sooner or later," Sirius pointed out. "Probably sooner, considering you have to go with those two for that Prefects meeting."

"Yes, but," James started, running his hands through his hair in frustration, "I thought that maybe I should, you know, tell her."

"Yeah, sure," Sirius replied, "And then when would she have found out? When you got up to make your speech at graduation?"

"I was going to tell her!"

"You know, I'm right here," Lily snapped. "You don't have to talk about me as though I'm not standing right in this compartment."

"Lily," James said, turning to face her, "I'm Head Boy."

"Yes," Lily answered through gritted teeth. "I gathered as much."

"I'm sorry," James said, looking at the floor.

"Can we talk? Alone? Now?"

Without waiting for an answer, she stormed out of the compartment. James sighed and followed after her.

"You know, I think I'll follow them in a minute," Remus said as the compartment door slammed. "I reckon that I have a couple more minutes and... well, there's no need to rush."

"Then I'll be all alone!" Sirius pouted.

"Oh, gee, thanks," Peter said as Kate and Maia rolled their eyes.

"What do you think they're saying?" Sirius asked, looking curiously towards the compartment door.

"Don't," Remus warned. "Stay out of it."

"But..." Sirius started.

"No," Remus repeated.

"But... James left his trunk in here! I'll be right back!" Sirius exclaimed, grabbing a silvery cloak out of James' trunk and sprinting off before Remus could stop him.

"He's a crazy one, Sirius is," Sirius heard Maia mutter as he shut the door behind him and slipped the invisibility cloak over himself.

"This isn't a joke, James," he heard Lily say as he snuck through the open door to the next compartment. "Being Head Boy is a serious position. It's important."

"I know that, Lily," James answered.

"That means you can't blow it off! You can't abuse the power you have. You are supposed to be a role model for the Prefects and all the other students. You are important."

"I've always been important," James said cheerily.

"That's exactly what I mean," Lily countered, her voice rising in volume and pitch. "This is just one more thing you'll add to your Why-James-Potter-Is-The-Best-Person-In-The-World list!"

"I do not have any such list. God, Lily. We've been over this. I'm not the same kid I was. I thought you accepted that. I thought you realised that I had grown up a little. I thought you said that we were friends. "

"We are friends, James. I don't know what that has to do with this though."

"Because," James said. His voice was rising now as well. "If you're going to call yourself my friend, then you're going to have to trust me. You're going to have to realise that I am capable of this. Hell, I didn't bloody ask for this position, Lily. I was just as shocked as you were when I saw this badge in my annual letter. But, by Merlin, I am not going to fuck this up. Have some faith."

'Those Potters and their long-winded rants,' Sirius thought to himself.

"I do have faith in you, James," Lily said, her voice dropping in intensity. "I just... This is really important to me. I don't want to mess it up."

"You won't," James assured her, giving her a small smile and putting his hand on her shoulder. "We won't. I promise."

"Thanks, James," Lily said, looking up at his face and seeing the absolute sincerity with which he spoke. "I... I'm sorry. Let's go."

"Oh, and Lily?" James asked as she turned to leave for the Prefects meeting.

"Yes, James?"

"If I, you know, mess up... Don't... Don't hate me. I wasn't a Prefect. I don't know how this works."

"Like you said, we won't mess it up. I've got your back." Lily smiled as she led him out of the compartment to the Prefects meeting.

"Whoa," Sirius muttered to himself once he was sure the Head Students were out of earshot. "Lily having faith? James being insecure? What is this world coming to?"

When Remus returned to the compartment after the Prefects meeting, Peter and Kate were gone, presumably off finding their significant others. Allie was still playing with Maia's hair as Sirius and Maia discussed the finer points of Bertie Bott's Every Flavoured Beans.

"Hello," Remus said as he pushed the door aside and entered into the compartment.

"Remus is back!" Sirius exclaimed, pulling his boyfriend onto his lap. "Where are the Heads?"

"Doing Head stuff, I would presume," Remus answered, sinking back into Sirius' arms.

"I would like to take this opportunity to point out that I am not making a crude joke," Maia said with a wink.

"Oh, come on," Allie said, rolling her eyes at her friend. "That statement undermined any possible pride I previously had in your self control."

"Yeah, well," Maia said, standing up. "I'm hungry. Let's go find the food cart and leave these boys alone."

"You sound like an old lady," Sirius said cheekily.

"Yeah, well, it's my attempt to not be crude," Maia retorted as she pulled Allie out of the compartment.

"How's Prongs gonna be as Head Boy?" Sirius asked quietly as he rested his head on Remus' neck.

"Oh, he'll do fine. He was surprisingly nervous, but he hid it pretty well. Let Lily do most of the talking. I've never seen him so quiet."

"Yeah, they had quite the explosion before the meeting. Typical Lily and James, really. Except for the ending. I guess Lily really meant it when she told James that they could be friends."

"I guess so."

"So... James is Head Boy."

"Yes, I believe that has been discussed ad nauseam," Remus replied with a sigh as he wrapped Sirius' arms tighter around himself.

"Somebody sounds... bitter."

"No, not bitter. Surprised."

"Surprised?"

"Yes, surprised. It's hardly an unexpected reaction, Sirius. But, no, I'm not bitter."

"Did you expect to be made Head Boy?"

Remus didn't answer for a moment. He turned around in Sirius' lap so that he was facing his boyfriend.

"No, I didn't expect to be Head Boy. I'm not enough of a leader. I'm really not the right person for the position. Besides, the first werewolf Head Boy at Hogwarts? I'm lucky enough just to be here."

"Moony," Sirius said slowly, looking into Remus' eyes, "Don't be like that. You know it has nothing to do with you and everything to do with James. As much as it pains me to say so, it will be good for him."

"That's true," Remus answered. "I'm happy for him. Really, I am."

"You sure?"

"Yes. He'll be wonderful."

"You're wonderful," Sirius smiled as he pulled his boyfriend in for a kiss.

The rest of the train ride was exceptionally unexceptional. Much to Lily and James' relief, the Prefects meeting went without too many mishaps and nobody (with the exception of the Slytherin prefects) seemed too put out that James had earned the position of Head Boy.

After the feast, the 7th year Gryffindors sat in the Common Room for several hours talking about their summers and joking about the coming year. Allie and Remus were both excited for classes to start again and were eagerly discussing what they thought would be on the NEWTS while James and Kate talked vehemently about Gryffindor's chances in the Quidditch cup and their dire need for a new Seeker. To everybody's surprise, and relief, James and Lily seemed to be at complete ease. For the first time, the year did not start out with any of the eight at odds with each other. None of them were the little kids they had been even a year ago.

Before any of them knew it, classes were back in session. It seemed as though every professor was dead set on reminding them that it was, in fact, NEWT year and that they would, in fact, have to study harder than ever before. Transfiguration and Potions became, as McGonagall and Slughorn warned them on the first day, more difficult and dangerous, requiring the upmost attentiveness in class. Even Charms required a new level of mindfulness.

Professor Mansfield had completed his sabbatical in England and had returned to his school in the United States. The new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, Douglas Hewn of Southampton, was a no-nonsense professor, keen on rules and silence in class. Remus found himself missing the caring Professor Mansfield even though he'd known that he wouldn't be returning.

The unprecedented amount of work combined with Quidditch try-outs to replace Angela Miller, Quidditch practices, and Head Duties kept James so busy that, before he knew it, nearly two weeks had passed and his first patrol as Head Boy was just two days away.

"So, what are our plans for Thursday?" Peter asked as the boys lounged in their dormitory, taking full advantage of the brief lull in homework.

"Thursday?" James asked as he caught the Quaffle he'd been tossing in the air and looked over at Peter. "I have to patrol on Thursday. First patrol of the year!"

"You have got to be kidding me, you wanker," Sirius said, sitting up on his bed and staring at James in udder disbelief.

"What?" James asked. "Why would I kid about patrols?"

"Thursday? September the fifteenth? The first full moon of our seventh year?"

"Bloody hell," James groaned as he sat up and threw his Quaffle down on his bed. "Please, please, please tell me that you're kidding."

"He's not," Remus said apologetically.

"Merlin," James exclaimed. "Lily is going to kill me. Things were going so well. Have you noticed? We talk! We're friends! It's amazing. Bloody fucking hell!"

"You know," Remus said quietly, "You don't have to come. It's fine, really."

"Bugger that!" Sirius exclaimed, "Of course he has to come."

"No," Remus argued, "This is import-"

"No, Moony," James sighed, "Sirius is right. You are more important than some stupid patrols. Even if it is with Lily bloody Evans."

"Prongs," Peter said, "You're going to play on to his guilt complex if you keep swearing like that."

"Bugger," James said. "No, Remus, really. It's fine. You have no say. I'm coming. When we found out, we made a promise. When we became animagi, we made a promise. A promise between brothers-"

"And lovers!" Sirius interrupted.

"A promise," James continued, ignoring his best mate, "That we cannot go back on. I'll be there. I've already missed a full moon once this year, and I have no intention of doing it again."

"Okay," Remus sighed. "If you say so."

"I do," James said sternly.

"Just don't blame me when Lily castrates you," Remus teased.

"Do you think she'd really do that?" James said, his eyes widening.

"Of course not," Peter said. "She'll probably just hex you into next year and yell a bit. Nothing new, nothing to worry about."

"Hey, Lily," James said as he walked into the crowded common room around eight o'clock that night.

"Yes, James?" Lily answered, looking away from the conversation she'd been having with Maia, Allie, and Kate.

"Can I talk to you for a moment?" James asked.

Lily looked at him suspiciously. He seemed a bit... nervous, as though he'd rather be anywhere but there.

"I guess so." She stood up.

James gestured towards a less crowded corner; she nodded and followed him.

"What's up?" She asked once they were more-or-less alone.

"I... Well... About Thursday," he started.

"What about Thursday?" Lily asked, her eyes narrowing dangerously. "You do remember that we have our first patrol that night, right?"

"No, no. I didn't forget."

"Then, what is it?" Lily demanded.

There was a brief silence in which James ruffled his hair and stared at the floor.

"See, the thing is... I can't patrol on Thursday."

"I'm sorry, what?" Lily asked, looking at him with complete incredulity. "I'm sorry, I must have misheard you. Did you really just say what I think you said?"

"I can't patrol on Thursday night," James repeated.

"You had better have the world's best reason for this, Potter," Lily said in a quiet, but threatening voice.

"I do," James answered. "And since when are we back on last-name terms?"

"Since you decided that you can't patrol on Thursday," Lily shot back.

"I didn't decide I can't patrol!" James argued.

"I'm waiting for the world's best reason," Lily said, crossing her arms and glaring at him.

"I really do have a good reason, Lily," James said slowly. "But... I can't tell you."

"What!" Lily yelled. The entire common room fell quiet at this outburst and dozens of eyes fell upon the two Head Students. "What do you mean you can't tell me?"

"Well," James tried, "I could make up some excuse, some lie as to why I can't-"

"No," Lily interrupted loudly, "You promised you wouldn't mess this up. You promised you would take this seriously."

"I am taking this seriously!" James responded, his voice rising to match hers. They were both well aware that everybody was watching their fight but neither of them cared. "I've never taken anything so seriously in my life!"

"Except for obviously whatever you have to do on Thursday!"

"I didn't plan it that way, Lily. It's one of those things that you can't control."

"Oh, really? Really? So it's not your fault at all? Typical!"

"It's not! Really! I would skip it if I could, but I can't."

"Well what can't you skip?" Lily demanded. "What is so bloody important that you can't skip it? That you had to break a promise to me about?"

"I made a promise to somebody else, Lily."

"Who?"

"I..." James said, dropping his voice again, "I can't tell you. Please, Lily. Don't do this."

"Don't you dare 'Please, Lily' me!" Lily exploded.

"This isnt' breaking my promise!" James screamed. "I'm not messing this up! I know it's important, but it's just one patrol."

"Our first patrol! How do I know this isn't going to be a pattern? How do I know that you're not going to make me look like an idiot? How do I know that I can trust you to not ruin this for me?"

"Because, Evans, the world doesn't revolve around you. I'm sorry, but there are some things that are more fucking important than a bloody patrol schedule. There are some things that actually matter. This has nothing, nothing, to do with you, Lily. So get off your high and mighty thrown and stop fucking acting like you're the queen of the England."

"So, what, I don't matter?" Lily demanded. "And you're one to talk about arrogant. If I'm the queen of England, you must be the king of the universe. So high and mighty that you can't even tell me the truth? That a poor little girl like me doesn't even deserve to know the truth and can have promises broken?"

"Right now? No, you don't matter. You and your stupid patrol don't matter compared to this."

"Nice, Potter, real nice. Once again you show yourself to be the arrogant, self-centred toerag that I knew you to be. How could I possibly think you'd ever change?"

"You have no idea what you're talking about," James said, dropping his voice once again. But this time it was not the quiet of pleading but of bitterness and cold anger. "Don't try to talk about things you can't understand."

"You didn't even give a me a chance to understand, James," Lily said, her voice and tone matching his. "How am I supposed to trust you as my partner if you won't trust me enough to tell me what's going on?"

"I can't tell you. I'm sorry, but I can't." With that, James turned on his heel and stormed off towards the boys' staircase.

"Fuck you, Potter!" Lily yelled after him and shot a stinging hex at his back. It hit its mark, causing James to flinch and swear, but not turn around.

"Fuck you, James," Lily whispered to herself. The common room was deathly quiet. Lily felt all the eyes staring at her, eagerly awaiting her next move.

"Stop bloody staring at me," Lily yelled to the room at large, trying her hardest to hold back the tears that were forming in her eyes. "Stop bloody staring or I'll give you all detention!" Before waiting to see if anybody would heed her warning, she turned and ran up the staircase and flung herself onto her bed and closed the bed hangings, showing her friends that she wanted to be alone.

"Fuck you, James Potter," she said before succumbing to her sobs.

[A/N: So... Lily finds out about James! They fight, make up, fight again.

Preview for the next chapter: more of Sirius/Remus, more of Helen, more of Maia.]