Chapter 4

James Potter was wandering down a long, winding lane with many twists and corners. It was dark, around midnight. A glimmering full moon was hidden by grey wisps of cloud. In the distance, a wolf howled. James broke into a run, not completely sure why he was doing so. Rounding a sharp bend, he skidded to a halt abruptly, stopping before a shadowed mound in the middle of the lane. Bending down, he discovered it was a dead fox. There was no sign of any injury at all. In fact, the creature could have been sleeping. Drawing his wand, James slowly turned on the spot.

"Jaaames…?"

James whipped around.

"Jaaames…"

It was the fox. It was still very much dead but the mouth was moving and James' name was coming from it in a loud whisper.

"Jaaamesey…"

This was a strange fox.

"James!" Louder and angrier this time. "JAMES!"

Crouching down, James poked the animal in the stomach.

"OW! JAMES! For God's sake, wake up!"

James' eyes flew open to see Sirius Black hitting him on the arm and holding his eye with the other hand.

"At long last. Honestly. I'm in pain, here." Sirius rubbed his eye.

"Sorry, mate." James yawned, stretching. "I was dreaming."

"Evans again?"

"Actually, no."

"That's a change." Sirius said, looking genuinely shocked.

"Shut up." James grinned. He rolled over and looked at his watch. Five a.m. "Sirius!"

"What?" replied Sirius, innocently.

"Five in the morning?"

"I was worried we'd miss breakfast" Sirius said, sheepishly. James groaned and pulled his scarlet hangings round his bed, blocking Sirius' face.

"Anywaaay," came Sirius' voice. "You have Head Boy duties. And, if you ask me, I bet you anything Evans is already down there, in the common room, organising all her duties into a nice little timetable. All. By. Herself."

James opened one sleepy eye and pulled the hangings slightly to one side. "Nice try, Pads. I'm not falling for that one." He rolled back over. "You just want me to throw Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans into your mouth from under Wormy's bed and after the last time, we are never doing that again."

Sirius grunted and marched back over to his own bed. James turned over and fell back asleep.

He awoke an hour and a half later to find Sirius standing across from Remus who was squashed underneath Peter's bed. Jelly Beans were scattered all over the floor at Sirius' feet.

"Padfoot."

"Sorry James, you've been replaced by Moony. He's a superb thrower."

James looked scathingly at the beans littered all over the dormitory. "Yeah, it looks like it." he said, sarcastically.

"Oi!" cried Remus. James smirked at him and got dressed.

"Somebody wake Wormtail, he'll sleep until Christmas otherwise," said Remus, struggling out from under the bed. Sirius took the liberty of jumping on the scarlet lump that was Peter. He was rewarded with a loud yell. The three of them fell about laughing as Peter stumbled out of bed and pulled his robes on.

The common room was empty except for one person bent over one of the tables beside the fire. James' face brightened as he realised who it was. "Morning Li-Evans." he said.

"Where have you been?" Lily cried, jumping to her feet. Sirius broke into silent laughter at her face. "I have been up since half-four this morning, working out prefect duty timetables."

James' mouth opened and closed, his face turning steadily redder. Sirius was now laughing openly.

"I...I told...I told..you so! I TOLD YOU!"

"Shut up, Padfoot" James muttered as Lily looked at him questioningly. "Sorry Evans. Won't happen again." He grinned and ran a hand through his hair. Lily rolled her eyes. "Come on, I'm starving," James said. He strode quickly toward the portrait hole.

"Now." said Sirius, as the Marauders and Lily walked down the staircases and jumped the vanishing step. "The start-of-term prank. I was thinking-"

"No." James said quickly, catching sight of the disapproval on Lily's face. "I mean-" he hurried on. "Lets not do something too...big. It's our last year. I'm Head-... we wouldn't..we..." he trailed off. Lily seemed to be looking at him differently, as if she was seeing him in a new light. Or was it his imagination? However the look on Sirius, Remus and Peter's face was one of disappointment and shock. Sirius raised an eyebrow. James shrugged and walked swiftly ahead of the group, into the Great Hall.

Lily stared after him. He had disproved a prank. A prank. James Potter. He had stood up to his friends. His fellow pranksters. Wow. Lily wouldn't have believed it if she hadn't been there. She slid onto the bench beside Marlene.

"Morning?" Marlene said, jokingly.

"Lily?" Alice sat down across from her. "Liiiily?" she snapped her fingers and Lily jerked out of her daze.

"Sorry!" she said "just thinking."

"Yeah, we see that. What about?" asked Mary, leaning over Alice to grab the toast rack.

"Nothing." Lily said, hurriedly, shaking her head. "Pass the sausages."

Marlene, Mary and Alice exchanged knowing glances.

"How was Potter?"

Lily's head flew up from her plate. "Um..you know, the usual."

"Yo bushink" Marlene said, her mouth full of toast.

"Excuse me?" Lily laughed.

"I said-" Marlene swallowed her mouthful heavily "You're blushing."

"I am not."

"You so are."

"I'm not."

"You are, Lily." said Mary.

"I'm just stressed. That's all. I'm Head Girl remember?" Lily snapped.

"Of course," Alice agreed "And we also remember who the Head Boy is," she winked playfully.

"Shut up!" Lily said, and caught James' eye as he looked up from his mountain of bacon down the table, in surprise at the raised voice.

Lily blushed harder and gave him her best death glare.

James just laughed and rumpled his hair.