There was nothing significantly different about Kings Cross or Platform 9 ¾ this year. It was packed with Hogwarts students, as it always was on the first day of September, and their tearful parents, double-checking to be sure they had packed all of their belongings, reminding them to write home and saying their final goodbyes. It was all the same, familiar routine, James thought, but somehow it felt very different.

"Can you believe this is our last year?" Sirius voiced James' exact thoughts, clapping him on the shoulder. "Our last trip to Hogwarts. We should make it special! I've got some of those extra strength dungbombs still, we could toss 'em right into Bella and Lestrange's compartment and lock them in there-"

"Not to spoil your fun," Remus interrupted with a wry smile. "But James is going to have to attend the Prefect meeting on the way in. Headboy, remember?"

Sirius' face fell and he looked at James as if he had personally betrayed him. "Prongs! It's our last-"

"Sorry, mate." James gave him an apologetic smile. "We'll still have the whole year to dungbomb your cousin, I promise."

Sirius huffed, crossing his arms and not looking at all mollified. "It's our Last First Day and you two are running off to be all responsible. What about Marauder traditions? Is nothing sacred? You're going to leave me all alone-"

Peter snorted and rolled his eyes. "'Alone,' he says. Have I gone invisible?"

"-to die of boredom while you go and have some stuffy meeting about 'the rules'." He shook his head, scowling. He turned to Peter. "It's just you and me this year, Pete. They've gone and turned Prongs and Moony into swots. They'll be no fun now."

Remus quirked an eyebrow at him. "A swot, am I? I'll remember that when you try dragging me off for a snog behind a tapestry."

James chuckled and threw his arm around Sirius' shoulders. "Enough theatrics, Sirius. This isn't going to change anything. Moony's been a Prefect for two years and it hasn't hindered his marauding about, has it?"

Sirius grumbled something in response, folding his arms across his chest and pouting even while they said their goodbyes to Mr. and Mrs. Potter and boarded the train. He kept the mood for so long that James actually began to take pity on him.

"Don't give him the satisfaction of feeling bad for him," Remus told him, sounding a little exasperated as he and James closed the door to the compartment and headed towards the back of the train where the Prefect's meeting was held. "Let him throw his tantrum until he realizes what a git he's being and he comes 'round with his tail between his legs to apologize. That's what I do anyway."

James nodded. "And what's that gotten you?"

Remus shrugged. "Laid." He smirked. "Though I suppose that's not quite the outcome you're hoping for."

James grimaced and shook his head. "No, I think I'll leave you to that, Moony." He ran a hand through his hair, ruffling it up a bit and sighing. "I do feel a bit like I'm abandoning him in a way."

The werewolf shook his head. "Your codependency on each other never ceases to amaze me. He's not going to waste away from not having you at his side for a few hours a night. I'm sure Peter and Marlene will keep him plenty occupied and when I don't have rounds I can assure you he won't even realize you're gone." They both stopped for a moment and Remus frowned when James didn't respond with his usual gagging at what he was alluding to. "Although perhaps Sirius isn't the only reason you're feeling less than thrilled at the position?"

James jumped slightly at the accusation, blinking rapidly and momentarily debating whether he should deny it and come up with some other excuse. He sighed in resignation, Remus would see right through that, of course. "It's not that I'm not happy to do it. It's a lot like being Quidditch Captain and I'm honored that McGonagall and Dumbledore have enough faith in me. But-"

"Don't you have faith in yourself?" Remus asked, his head tilted slightly to the side and his eyes filled with concern. "You're a natural leader, Prongs. I know I made some jokes about it before, but I do think you're-"

James shook his head. "No, it's not that - I mean, thanks mate, but-" He froze. They were standing in front of the Prefect's compartment now and his eyes fell immediately on Lily Evans, who had her back to the door as she talked animatedly with a Hufflepuff Prefect. Then Remus' hand was on his shoulder and he turned to see the werewolf smiling comfortingly at him.

"You won't screw it up, mate," Remus said. "In fact, this may be the start of a whole new James Potter, as far as some people are concerned."

James smiled weakly at him and nodded. "Thanks, Moony."

"Of course." Remus gave him a small shove forward. "Now, let's see that Griffindor Courage, Mister Headboy."

He grinned at that, giving a relieved laugh and opening the door to the compartment. There was some light chattering among the small group, which dimmed only a little when the two Gryffindors entered and Lily turned around, smiling excitedly at Remus who she immediately threw her arms around.

"Remus! How was your summer? I meant to write to you after I received my Headgirl letter, only I assumed of course that you got your-" Emerald green eyes grew to the size of tea saucers as they landed on James and the excitement drained from her face, replaced with a look of sheer panic. "Potter?" She dropped her arms from around Remus' neck and frowned, looking between James and Remus with confusion. "What- what are you doing here?"

James felt his face heat up before he quickly shook himself, plastering on a cocky grin, hand shooting to his hair. "Headboy at your service, Evans."

Lily blinked owlishly a few times. "I- I'm sorry, you're what now?" She looked at Remus for confirmation, or really in hopes that the taller boy would crack a smile and confess they were only joking at her expense, but Remus merely coughed and awkwardly side-stepped out from between the two of them to make his way to sit among the other Prefects.

"I… B-but…" She shook her head in disbelief, her brow furrowing as she narrowed her eyes at James. "You know you'll actually be expected to follow the rules, don't you?"

James smirked and shrugged his shoulders. "Job description says to enforce them, technically."

The comment made Lily's face grow red and she glared. "And to lead by example."

"And I plan to be nothing short of exemplary. I'll be on my best behavior." He chuckled and took a step closer to her. "At least as far as anyone can prove, anyway."

Lily opened her mouth to argue, but then Remus cleared his throat loudly, pointing to the watch on his wrist to indicate their argument's ill timing. Lily bit her lip and James grinned triumphantly as he watched her shuffle distractedly through papers to find her outline for the meeting, only to lose her grip, sending notes flying all over the compartment. James frowned, raising an eyebrow at Remus who pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head. James then reached into his pocket and took out his wand, flicking it at the fallen bits of parchment so that they came back together in a neat, orderly stack which then flew into his outstretched hand. He held them out to the clearly flustered redhead, who mumbled a short, "Thanks," before turning to address the rest of the compartment.

Lily cleared her throat. "Right. Well then… erm… I'm Lily Evans, your Headgirl and this is your Headboy, James Potter," she raised her eyebrows, still in disbelief. "I suppose we'll start off with addressing a few rules that have been added - no doubt the direct result of something your Headboy had played a part in," she mumbled the last part and James raised an eyebrow at her. She looked back at him, challenging him to disagree, but James only shrugged.

"You flatter me, Evans." He smirked and he swore he saw the corner of her mouth twitch up slightly before she continued on, going down the list of newly prohibited items and behaviors, most of which James and Remus nodded along to, smiling and knowing that yes, they were the culprits.

At the end of the meeting, most of the Prefects filed out of the compartment to return to their friends, leaving only James, Remus, and Lily.

"Was that alright?" Lily asked nervously, watching the last of the other students disappear past the door. "I didn't sound like a complete nag, did I?"

Remus smiled reassuringly and shook his head. "Of course not, Lily. It was great. You'll be great… Both of you will." He nodded pointedly to James. "Anyway, I'm going to head back to the compartment before Sirius drives Peter completely mad. James?"

"I'll catch up with you, Moony. Go save Pete." He smiled, rubbing the back of his neck and watching Remus leave. When he was gone, James turned back to Lily. "Hey, Evans, look-"

"I'm sorry," Lily cut him off quickly. She sighed, looking ashamed and tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "I shouldn't have spoken to you that way, or made those comments during the meeting, in front of everyone… undermining your authority. I just…" She laughed nervously. "Who would expect James Potter to be Headboy?"

James chuckled and shrugged. "Maybe not the old James Potter. I assure you, the new James Potter is totally Headboy material."

Lily's eyebrows shot up and she eyed him suspiciously. "The New James Potter?"

He nodded. "That's right. Responsible, authoritative, still roughishly handsome of course-" Lily snorted and James grinned. "Who knows, you may even learn to like him."

"Not if the New James Potter's pickup lines are still as bad as the Old James Potter's." Lily bent to pick up her school bag, hugging the stack of meeting notes to her chest.

James snickered. "Hey, I can't make any promises. But remember, I told you last year that you'd eventually say yes."

Lily laughed. A genuine, twinkling laugh made James appreciate the dimples on her cheeks and the way her nose crinkled up a bit. She shook her head. "In your dreams, Potter." But she was still smiling and James held up his hands in surrender.

"Alright, if you say so," he conceded, opening the compartment door and gesturing grandly. "After you, Headgirl."

A light flush rose to Lily's cheeks and she licked her lips. "Thank you," she muttered, stepping past him and starting to head down the length of the train.

"Hey, Evans?" James called after her, and he watched as she hesitated before turning to look back at him.

"Yes, Potter?"

James smirked. "You're pretty when you blush."

And she blushed even more.

Happy New Year, Guys! What better than to start 2024 with the beginning of year 7 and could it possibly be the beginning of Jily? Who knows? Oh yeah... I do. I wrote it :D

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