"Prongs!" he heard from another corner of his room and as he was deep in his thoughts it first made him wonder what the hell was happening "Why the hell would you put me in the trunk, I swear I can see all your underwear!"
James laughed under his nose, realising that indeed he stuck a two-way mirror into the trunk totally forgetting about it till now. This summer was different since Sirius was not spending it fully with him. They would still see each other at the Sunday dinners, one would be a fool thinking that he could refuse his mother, but it wasn't the same as having him here. He had visited Sirius a few times in his flat with the rest of the guys, which felt as if they were back in Hogwart, what might be the reason why he felt so relieved that they are going back. It took him a few minutes to find the mirror and straight away he could see Sirius' face.
"Sorry, house-elf must have packed it" he teased with a smile "All ready?"
Black nodded shortly on the other side of the mirror.
"On my way, I was actually expecting you to be already there" he added "You know… Head Boy duties"
"And here we are back to this topic" James signed. Head Boy's duties were chasing him since the moment he received Hogwart letter. The amount of pride emanating from his parents overwhelmed him since Head Boy was the last thing that he would be expecting to happen this year. "You will not let it go, right? It will be the same as with Moony during the fifth year"
"Man, it's going to be way better, my sense of humour is now on the next level. Besides, we all knew deep in our hearts that Remus will be prefect. You know… you basically took his place so he might join me on that one" Sirius laughed "On the other side spending so much time with Evans, well… I am not sure it will be healthy for you"
Lily Evans. It was well known to everyone that he fancied Evans, and that was of course truth since he remembered. He wasn't the proudest of his ways back then, but he just wasn't used to being disliked by anyone and the end of the fifth year was a cherry on the top of everything. Now he liked to think that he wasn't the same person anymore.
"I am waiting for the moment that my Head Boy pin will safe your sorry ass, my friend" mumbled James, giving his room the last look "I see you in train and please find some decent spot. Now… I really have to go if I am supposed to have any chances to survive these duties…"
"You should really be up to your game this year and finally use this temper of her to your advantage" Black giggled "I hope you know what I mean…"
James mumbled a few words under his nose, but Sirius didn't even try to get anything from it as now he was able just to see the darkness of what he assumed was the pocket of his friend's jacket.
He levitated all his baggage to the hall next to the entrance and went to the kitchen where his parents were enjoying breakfast like they like to do every morning. He leaned nonchalantly against the doorframe and observed them for a few minutes. His father – Fleamont was reading the newspaper on the counter of the kitchen when his mother was preparing his morning coffee. Dark, strong, and just pained with two spoons of warm, foamed milk. She passed him the cup of coffee and in return, he gave her a prolonged kiss.
They were married for many decades and James was truly jealous of how much in love they still were. He hoped one day he would be able to find the same as they had.
"Oh, Jamie dear," said Euphemia Potter and he could swear there was a very subtle blush appearing on her face "You up to go, aren't you sweetie?"
He nodded, coming closer and giving her a strong hug. He knew how every goodbye is difficult for her even though it was not the first time he was leaving for school.
"I will be writing every day, mom" he promised "I always do"
She nodded, but her eyes were already full of tears that she hardly could hide. Fleamont stand up and patted James on the back.
"We are very proud of you, son," he said looking straight into his eyes "I want you to remember that when you will be thinking of doing something very stupid…"
Euphemia laughed "He won't be doing anything stupid this year, right Jamsie? With a Head Boy badge, you cannot disappoint Dumbledore, my dear!"
James nodded, letting them know that he is completely aware of what that badge has meant "I really have to go now, otherwise, Evans will kill me before I manage to pin that badge to those new robes of mine"
"I really wish I could meet this young lady that is able to put you in order like this" Fleamont giggled "We would be able to work together on a few Potions projects just fine, I have that feeling"
"You and those Potions" Euphemia rolled her eyes "James is right, the first impression is everything, please be nice to this girl, Jamie"
She placed the last kiss on his cheek and tried to tide up his hair before letting him go. He grabbed his baggage and disappeared with the wave of his wand.
"I hate when he is not at home" she whispered cuddling to the arm of her husband that embraced
When his mom was still struggling with the thought that she will only see him during Christmas break, James already apparated in some scratchy corner just next to King's Cross. He was very used to Apparition as his father brought him many times with himself when James was still minor. The railway station was as busy as ever, he packed all his baggage on the trailer and mastered omitting rushed Muggles that were trying to catch his train. He still had a bit more than ten minutes before the train departure.
While standing in front of the wall passage he realised that this will be the last time to enter and then all of them will return one day accompanying their own kids just as his parents did.
He still remembered enthusiasm on his father's face probably even higher than his own, when he was putting him to train for the first time.
Inhale, exhale. He ran through the wall, closing his eyes and just a second later the familiar sound of the Hogwart express hit his ear.
"Already feels like home," he thought "there is no better feeling than this."
He rushed to the front of the train, which was very unusual for him, as they always liked to find a compartment somewhere at the very end. She was already there, sitting just next to the window, frowning while she was scratching out something on the paper.
"Potter," she said, as soon as he entered and placed his things at the top "what are you doing here?"
He took his badge out of his pocket as if he had to prove to her that it has really happened. James Potter, a Head Boy.
"Was as surprised as you are now" he added shortly, looking her straight into the eyes.
Lily's hair got darker the last time he saw her. There were only a few intensive red highlights remaining whereas the rest got a more chestnut shade. Her green, almond-shaped eyes looked even more intensive right now and they always made him lose his brain.
"Had a good summer?" he asked finally to break the awkward silence, as she did not a world which was not very Lily-like. Lily Evans had always something to say.
"Bearable" she pouted her lips "Not everyone lives in the Manor with house elves, Potter"
He laughed. There she was. "True, Evans, however, I am not the biggest fan of house elves, they keep mixing my socks."
She rolled her eyes straight away and let him take a sit in front of her. He was observing families that were saying goodbyes to each other and she was observing him.
He looked to get more even higher than last year. His face seemed skinner, although she could see that his body got more athletic, as she could see muscles definition under this shirt of his.
She felt that her face is getting red, so she quickly got back to her notes, thinking that as long as he let her do her thing this all Head Boy thing will be doable. The door opened slowly, and she could see Remus, entering with his usual shy smile.
Her reaction was immediate.
"Remus!" she squeaked louder than expected and before he realised, she was already hugging him "I missed you so much! Gosh, you look very tired!"
"Didn't have a good sleep last night" he answered, and she thought that Remus' eyes always seemed a bit sad even when he was smiling "Congrats, Prongs, heard all about that good news from more than one source"
He patted him on the back and took a seat next to him. Lily raised her eyebrow as if she was waiting for an explanation.
"What?" James asked "My mom might have got too excited about this"
She shook her head disapprovingly, cannot be imaging how spoiled he was, being a bit jealous as her family was not fully aware of what being a Head Girl is. Even though they were proud of her academic achievements.
"What can I say" he sighed, his hand automatically went to his hair to make it messier "I am a Golden Boy, Evans"
Remus giggled, knowing how true it was and how special a relationship James had with his parents that would let him do anything that he wanted. The train has already departed from the station and more and more Prefects were filling the compartment. Regulus was the one to join as last.
Lily straight away saw a grin on Potter's face at the same moment as he appeared but she stayed silent letting her lead the meeting. She smoothly went through all the topics that were on her lists and as there were no questions, she turned away to pack her purse.
"Good to see you, Captain," she heard suddenly and out of the corner of her eye she could see that Marlene was already hugging "cannot wait for the season to start!" she squeaked full of enthusiasm
Marlene McKinnon was one of the girls that James Potter knew very well, and he still remembered the first time he met her, as their parents used to attend a lot of parties that they were dragged to.
"Marl" he answered "hope you did not lose the skills through the summer"
"You wish, Potter!" he smiled "Lily Evans! You little devil, you didn't care to write a single letter through the whole summer!"
"Petunia is suddenly allergic to owls," Lily signed "and her fiancée even more. Mom asked me to keep a low level throughout the whole summer. In the end, I did not even know where my own wand is."
"Good to be back, Lil" she hugged her "we are just a few compartments away from here. Sirius and Peter have joined as well since you abandoned them, Jamie"
Jamie. She already forgot that it was always the way that Marlene was referring to him and Lily was quite sure that it's exactly the way how his parents are calling him.
Sirius Black was beloved by all the girls in the school. There was something about those curly hair and grey eyes or maybe his piercing stare that would intimidate you within ten seconds. You will forget what your name is and agree to anything he wanted from you.
Even those, whose hearts he has already broken, were ready to forgive him within a few seconds. His nonchalant smile was making more than half of them giggle nervously, blush and run away but Marlene wasn't one of them.
"Gosh, you cannot help yourself, can you?" she grinned, when he sent his best smile to one of the girls on the corridor. Marlene knew her from sight, she was a fifth-year Hufflepuff student.
"Easy, McKinnon," Sirius commented, "you will get yourself some wrinkles and if you have to protect half of the girl in the school from me then well, I guess it's already too late."
Marlene rolled her eyes. It wasn't that she was not affected. She just knew his type too well and back in time she promised herself that she will never be one of his trophies. Even though her knees softened many times when he was getting too close to her.
"Lily, finally!" he waved energetically, seeing Evans going through the corridor. She was already dressed in school robes; the Head Girl badge was pinned on the level of her breast. "Please, please you have to join us before Black brings here all his admirers."
Lily stopped and nodded silently in the direction of Sirius and Peter, acknowledging their presence. "I really have to go first till the end of the train, to check if everything is in order" she signed "It would be way faster if Potter wasn't spending fifteen minutes in each compartment with his admirers" she complained, "And you should change to the robes, it won't take long from now on."
Marlene blinked and the only thing that she was able to see was the flowing end of Lily's robe. Not even fifteen minutes passed when the doors opened again and James with the biggest smile ever occurred at the entrance.
"You are definitely enjoying yourself, aren't you?" Marlene asked when Potter dropped on the sit in front of her "She will kill you if you continue like this."
James was quite certain she would kill him right away if she just knew that he took the opportunity to sit down and eat the last of the Chocolate Frogs that Sirius had in the compartment.
"Yeah, I am pretty sure she already reached the last compartment and it's coming back" Marlene pointed "You should at least change with us, it's getting dark, which means we are almost there"
"Are you sure you aren't this year Head Boy, Marl?" Sirius smirked "You certainly sound like one, more than Prong does."
"I am telling you Dumbledore was not feeling well when he made that decision" James commented.
They changed to the robs and James decided that indeed he should not stretch his blind luck anymore and look for Lily. He did not have to search long for her.
"WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN?!" she jelled making a few first-year students jump up. "I am not able to handle all of those new students on my own!"
She had this look on her face as if she was terrified with the fact that dozens of eleven-years-olds is staring at her constantly
"They have more questions than I can handle right now" she added whispering and looking at him begging for help
"Don't tell me that you cannot handle new babies" he laughed "That does not sound like you at all, Evans."
He looked at the bunch of not disciplined eleven years old that made more noise than the train itself.
"Silence!" he shouted and suddenly he saw a row of scared eyes looking straight at him "James Potter" he introduced himself "I and Lily will be taking care of you all the way up till the castle" he continued calmly "you might want to behave and listen what we have to say and make sure your robes are cleaned up as seeing Hogwarts for the first time will be the best memory of your life."
Lily blinked twice to be sure that she is not dreaming, first-years were still standing looking at Potter with their mouth half-opened.
"Nice speech, Potter" she commented "I didn't know you had it in you."
"Please, Evans" he smirked, "I am Quidditch Captain, I need to handle a bunch of flying, sweaty guys, train them and make sure they won't kill each other even when one sleeps with another's girlfriend."
She wasn't sure if she wants to know if what he described had happened.
"I have Sirius in the team," he explained, "that makes things complicated in the girl area."
She laughed. Of course, Sirius Black was well-known for complicating the life of poor girls.
The train has finally stopped and with the gesture of her hand, she showed new students to follow them.
"We see you in the Great Hall Prongs, enjoy the ride" shouted Black from the distance and Lily could swear that at least two first-year girls gasped at his look, and she simply rolled her eyes.
He saw it very clearly. Lily Evans was always annoyed when girls sighed for them in public.
"Oh" he signed with excitement when Hogwarts occurred to them "it's just as I remember it" he whispered
Lily smiled, as it was the same look on his face that he had seven years ago when they shared the boat together with Snape and Sirius. Back then she already knew he was trouble, but just did not know how much it will escalate between them.
"You look the same as all of them" she giggled, nodding at new students. Their mouth was mostly wide-opened, eyes sparkling with excitement and amusement.
"It's because it's the last time" he mumbled as if he just realised that it was true.
