James Potter was never a prefect, so ever wonder how he became head boy? How that conversation between Dumbledore and the other Professors went? What the reactions of him, his friends and Lily were? This is how I think it went down.
Professor Dumbledore steepled his hands, elbows resting on his desk as he faced the four heads of houses. "Brilliant," he said, in relation to the matter they had just been discussing, "Now all that's left for us to do is choose our head girl and head boy."
"Well," Professor McGonagall said, "I think the choice of head girl is obvious, Lily Evans." There was unanimous agreement, despite the fact she wasn't in the others' houses.
"Very well," Dumbledore agreed, "and what about head boy?" This was really the matter he was most eager to discuss, and he watched as the Professors all assumed pensive expressions.
"Well, Remus Lupin makes a good prefect," Professor Sprout said.
"I'm afraid due to extenuating circumstances, Mr. Lupin has already informed me he will not be able to take the position," Dumbledore said, making no mention of Mr. Lupin's 'furry little problem' as James Potter had gotten so fond of calling it.
"Well then," Professor Sprout spoke again, "How about Benjy Fenwick from my own house?"
Dumbledore hummed in a non-committal manner as the others gave their opinions.
"Mr. Fenwick?" said Professor Slughorn, "I don't think so, he's not exactly... well... head-boy material. What about a member of my own house?"
"In these times?" asked Professor Flitwick, "I say not. How about young Fabian Prewet from Ravenclaw?"
"Now really," said Professor Sprout, "You're only choosing him because he's in your house, you know he isn't the best choice."
"Well who is then?" asked Professor McGonagall.
"I have a suggestion," said Dumbledore, and they immediately quieted to hear him speak.
"What about James Potter?" There was a moment of shocked silence, then both Professors Sprout and Flitwick let out small chuckles, as if they thought Dumbledore was joking. When his expression remained serious, they all stared at him.
"Really, Albus?" Professor McGonagall said at last, "Potter? I know he's grown up somewhat in the last year but he wasn't even a prefect."
Professor Slughorn made a sound of agreement.
"True," Dumbledore agreed, "but I have faith in Mr. Potter. He's shown us in the last year that he is very capable of acting mature and reasonable. He's a hardworking student, even if it doesn't seem so on the surface. I've seen with my own eyes the unyielding loyalty he has for his friends. I believe the extra responsibility will do him good, I do not think he'll shirk from it, I think he'll go above and beyond, which will be good for both himself and the school. And I also think he and Ms. Evans will work better together than they themselves might think." Dumbledore smiled at this last comment, then paused, his expression darkening a little. "In these times we need as much help keeping this school from falling into dark hands, keeping our students safe from what is happening outside these walls. Both Mr. Potter and Ms. Evans have shown very little tolerance for the dark arts or the prejudice of those who believe in blood purity. They have also shown to be willing to stand up and defend the less able against such things. I want a student I can trust, and I do not believe Mr. Potter will let us down."
Dumbledore observed their nods of agreement, knew his words had swayed them. Professor McGonagall especially, was looking rather proud of the student in her house.
"Very well, Albus," she said, "I agree with you. Godric knows I never would have thought I'd say this, but James Potter will be head boy. Though, I can't imagine he himself will take it very well, I think he's rather looking forward to spending his last year pranking his fellow students."
"Well," said Dumbledore with a smile, "perhaps that's not such a bad thing, a little extra laughter in the school will do us all some good."
So, with final nods of agreement from his heads of house, it was agreed.
Like every year, the Hogwarts letters arrived at the end of July, a tawny owl delivering both James and Sirius' to the Potter's home.
Neither James nor Sirius were in any particular rush to open them this year, James already knew he'd be quidditch captain and really what else was there after that? Still, as they lounged in the Potter's living room, both boys began lazily opening their envelope without halting the conversation they were having about whether they'd rather face a vampire or a werewolf, using poor Remus regularly as an example.
James absently noticed his letter was a little heavy this year, though it didn't consciously register straight away.
"Nothing important this year," Sirius said, throwing his letter unceremoniously onto the coffee table, "just the usual, book list and stuff."
James nodded, beginning to tip out the contents of his own envelope, his quidditch captain badge came out first, to which he grinned happily, though unsurprised.
"So as I was saying," he heard Sirius continue their previous conversation, but he didn't catch any words after that, because something else had fallen out of the envelope, another badge, and this one definitely did not evoke the simple joy and pride he'd felt when he got the quidditch one.
He simply sat there, staring at the badge in his hand, unsure what to do or think. He was unaware of Sirius saying his name until he felt a kick on his shin that snapped him out of his shock.
"Oi, Prongs, I've been trying to get your attention for the last five minutes. What has you looking like that?"
With a heavy gulp, feeling the same as one might when they're being led to the Gallows, James slowly held up the badge so Sirius could read it.
If James wasn't so conflicted, he probably would've found the way the emotions played across Sirius' face amusing. There was confusion at first, then shock, horror, disbelief, back to horror, then a little bit of betrayal and no small amount of amusement.
"You sure that wasn't given to you by mistake?" Sirius finally asked, saying out loud what James had been wondering. Sirius snatched James' envelope from his hand before James could say anything and started pulling out the sheets of parchment inside. He threw James' booklist roughly onto the coffee table alongside his own, and unfolded another letter. James watched as Sirius read the letter, his mouth beginning to gape slightly, his eyes bugging. When he had reached the end of the page, he threw the letter at James then turned his entire body away from him, as if he could no longer stand the site of his best friend.
James picked up the letter and began to read it warily.
Dear Mr. Potter,
As you can see, the head boy badge has been sent to you. No Potter, this is not a mistake or a revenge prank, though I daresay you'd deserve it if it was. Professor Dumbledore believes you would make a good head boy, and against my better judgement I find I am in agreement with him. You've shown great development in the last year in regards to your maturity, and despite your childish antics you've also shown yourself to be hardworking and responsible, when you choose to be at least.
The position of head boy is not one to take lightly, especially these days. Professor Dumbledore is putting great faith in you, and so am I, Potter. I ask that you work hard this year not to let us down.
You are well capable of this position, we would not have given it to you if you weren't. You have shown us many times in your years at Hogwarts that there is very little you cannot achieve once you set your mind to it, so I ask that you face this responsibility with the same determination you do your most elaborate pranks.
You will be working alongside Ms. Evans who has received the position of head girl.
I do hope you take this seriously, Mr. Potter,
Yours Sincerely,
Professor McGonagall.
James returned to his state of shock as he finished the letter, McGonagall's words replaying in his mind. Sirius still wasn't looking at him, and after a few moments, James spoke to him warily, unsure what was on his friend's mind.
"Padfoot?" he asked carefully.
Sirius lifted up his hand without facing him and made a ssshing sound, accompanied by a flap of his hand.
James brow knit in confusion. "What-?"
"Im trying to decide if I should laugh at you first, or let out my immense hurt at this unforgivable betrayal."
"Betrayal?" James said, which finally caused Sirius to turn around and look at him.
"How could you Prongs?" he practically howled.
"I didn't ask for this," James argued, but Sirius didnt want to hear it.
"A maurader as head boy," he cried, "If it was Moony, I might be able to accept it, he's always been the good one, but you, I dont know how we can ever move passed this."
"Padfoot, come on-"
"No," Sirius cried, "don't speak to me, I can't even look at you," he turned away again, "this is the end of an era, the end of our friendship."
James sighed at his friends dramatics, deciding not to bother playing his game. He reread the letter, pausing for a few moments on the line about the head girl. He'd be working with Lily... of course, he was friendly with her now, she'd forgiven him for all the times he'd made her life difficult in the past and she'd actually hung out with him and his friends a lot this year gone, but this meant they'd have to spend even more time with together... he couldn't help the smile that spread across his face, but he wiped it away quickly as Sirius whirled back around.
"All right," Sirius said, frantic urgerncy in his voice, "I'll still be your friend, but I have one condition."
James raised an amused brow.
"You have to swear James, solemnly swear not to stop getting up to no good. You have to promise me you'll still act like a Maurader. You're still going to help me with all the pranks we've planned for next year."
James considered his friends words carefully, and those of McGonagall about not letting down her or Dumbledore.
"Okay," James finally agreed, "I solemnly swear if you agree to support me in still being a decent head boy and the pranks dont interfere in that."
Sirius looked at him intently for a few moments, reading how important this was to him from his expression. Finally, he sighed. "Alright," he agreed.
They lapsed back into silence for a few minutes, James once again returning to daydreaming about working with Lily. They'd have to spend a lot of time together... probably a lot of late night patrolling...
Sirius' loud, barking laugh snapped him out of these thoughts. "What?" James demanded, a little annoyed.
"I- I- I can't bel- believe," he started to say through fits of laughter, "you, of all people, got head boy."
James grumbled.
"Dumbledore must be off his rocker," Sirius continued. "Still," he said, his laughter fading, letting out a relieved sigh, "better you than me." He shuddered at the mere thought.
James couldn't help the smile returning though, and this time Sirius noticed.
"Oh wipe that disgusting smile off your face," Sirius said, "I know its only there because you're thinking about how much more time Evans is going to have to spend with you."
James didn't bother denying it.
Lily Evans looked up from her own letter, her own shock and delight mixing inside her. Of course, she'd expected to get head girl, that was no surprise, but what was a surprise was who she'd be working alongside.
James Potter, she thought, thinking of the messy haired boy. She hadn't expected to see his name there, and yet, she wasn't actually as surprised as she should be. A year or two ago, the mere thought of it would've made her faint, but now she could admit that James wasn't a bad choice. And, though she wasn't yet ready to admit it to anyone, after a year of becoming more friendly with him, she felt a small blush spread across her cheeks at the thought of spending all that extra time with him... just the two of them... Yes, she thought, maybe this wouldn't be a bad thing at all.