“So how was the year?” the senior Potters asked.
“Oh it was good,” Sirius said, a little too enthusiastic. “James, how was your year?” he encouraged.
“It was great,” he said, smiling goofily.
“HE GOT A GIRLFRIEND!” Sirius yelled, laughing.
“Oh you did not just tell my parents that,” James hissed, pulling out his wand and poking Sirius in the arm with it.
“OUCH!” he exclaimed, rubbing the spot he poked, “you zapped me!”
James laughed, “oops, sorry, didn’t mean to,” he said sarcastically.
“Is it Lily?” Mr Potter asked.
“Yes, it’s Lily. Lovely Lily Evans.”
Sirius pretended to vomit.

“Owls are here, boys,” yelled Mr Potter.

The boys ran down the stairs.

“I forgot it was NEWTs this year,” Sirius muttered, unfolding his seventh-year book list.
“How did you forget?” James asked, laughing.
He unrolled his book list too, and something fell out. Something gold. Something shiny.
“What-What is that?” Sirius asked, pointing at it.

“H-head… boy,” James replied, stunned.
“OH MY SON! HEAD BOY! OH, LOOK,” she beamed at her son, who had put the pin on.
“Someone is overly cheerful,” Mr Potter joked with Sirius.
“You might need to widen the doors. James’ head might grow larger.”

“There she is,” James muttered to Sirius, ditching him and running up to Lily.
Sirius rolled his eyes and followed after.

Once she had pulled herself away from James’ embrace, she gave Sirius a hug, but was too excited to ask them about their holidays so far.

“GUESS WHAT?” she squealed happily, leaping into his arms for a hug and kiss. “Guess what came in the mail?” she asked, pointing to her chest.
“HEAD GIRL!” James yelled, swinging her around.
“Oh, it’s a match made in heaven,” Sirius joked.
“GUESS WHAT?” James squealed, mocking Lily, pointing to his own chest.

The goblins had taken them to the Potter’s vault, deep under London. Although the Black vault was full, to the point of bursting, Sirius hadn’t seen inside the Potter’s, and was surprised at just how full it was.

James flung one heavy pouch at Sirius and pocketed the other pouch.
“What’s this?”
“Money.”
“This isn’t my money.”
“Mate, you’re part of the family. Of course it’s your money.”
“Thanks,” he said softly. He had always thought of himself as part of the Potter family, but never really understood how much the Potters thought of him as part of their family.

“That’s the one, I want that one,” James said, pointing to the newest broom on display.
They both had their noses pressed against the glass, and were both excited.
“Oh it’s a beauty, mate.”
“I’m going to get it!”
“You should! Captain and head boy! You definitely need the latest model. You’re head must weigh a tonne now,” Sirius joked.
James pushed him, and he stumbled over, laughing.
“It’s not that big, come on! You must just be thinking about my giant brain.”
“I wouldn’t brag about that mate, with a brain that big you’d think you would be smarter.”

“Oh, Peter… what’s going on, mate?” the marauders asked him.
He looked terrible. His eyes were sunken, he had lost about half of his hair, his robes were hanging off him, and he couldn’t hold eye contact with any of them.
“N-nothing, wh-why do y-you ask?” he squeaked.
James was really worried.
“You look awful. Maybe we should take you to the Hospital Wing when we get to the school,” he suggested.
Peter flinched violently.
“You look so depressed Peter. Tell us what happened during the holidays.”
Peter shrunk down his seat and looked out of the window, not talking.

“Careful, careful,” James said softly, grabbing Peter around the middle just before he fell to the ground getting off the train.
“S-sorry,” he squeaked.
“Come on, I’ll help you onto the carriage, careful now, just take it slowly.”
Sirius has climbed into the carriage first, and helped pull Peter up by his hands, whilst James was pushing him up from the ground.
“That’s it,” James said, making sure he was sitting securely in his seat.
He still wasn’t talking much. Wouldn’t tell them what he was so worried about.
“Peter, we’re all here for you, buddy. If you need us.”

The Marauders were walking back from the Great Hall when they spotted Snape just ahead, walking towards them.
Peter cowered.

“Hello,” Snape muttered, maliciously.
“What do you want Snivellus?” James asked, puffing his chest out.
Snape looked at it, a smirk washed over his face.
“Oh, how lovely. Head boy and girl, together at last.”

Peter started murmuring to himself, and Remus put his arm around him.
“What have you done to Peter?” Sirius asked.
Snape smiled, “I haven’t done anything to him. He’s not fearful of me,” he said with emphasis.
“Who is he fearful of then?” James asked.

“Why don’t you pull out that little map of yours and ask it?” Snape said, his lip curling.
James gulped. Did he really know about their map? How did he know?
“JUST TELL US!” Sirius yelled, angrily to him.
Snape smiled and turned on his heel, heading off towards the dungeons.
“OHH THAT PRAT! THAT SODDING GIT!” Sirius was yelling. He was really angry.

“What is it?” Lily asked, running towards them. “Oh, Peter, what happened? What is it?” she asked him, embracing him.
Sirius shook his head, “He won’t tell us anything. But it’s something to do with Snape.”

“What do you mean it has something to do with Severus?” Lily snapped at Sirius. “What could he have possibly done to Peter in three days?”
“Don’t get snappish with me, Evans, you should have seen him! As soon as he came up to us, Peter was cowering just like he is now.”
“Well maybe he’s scared of a fight. That wouldn’t be unreasonable would it? You’re always looking for reasons to fight him.”
“That’s because he’s a super special slimy GIT!” Sirius snapped back at her.
Lily scowled at him and walked off.

Sirius rolled his eyes.
Great start.

“I dare you! Go on!” said James.
The others laughed.
“Okay, fine. When?” Sirius asked.
“Now. She’s over there!”
Sirius rolled his eyes and stood up, walking over to Gretta.

“Hey Gretta,” he said softly.
She turned around.

He looked over his shoulder and winked at James and Remus, then grabbed her, dipped her, and kissed her on the mouth.
She was SHOCKED!
“Sirius…” she said, dreamily.
“What can I say? I’m feeling a bit… daring today. What do you say? Be my valentine?” he asked, a handsome grin on his face.
“I… I… Oh Sirius, of course!” she squealed.

“Goodbye common room” James said, walking out for the last time.
“Goodbye staircase,” Sirius said, walking down the staircase from the Gryffindor Tower.

“YIKES!” they both shouted together, lunging for the handrails.
“Oops, it’s moving,” Sirius said, stifling a laugh.
“Remember that time in first year when it moved, and we got off and started following Mrs Norris?” James asked, laughing.
“Ha-ha YES! And she ran away and we couldn’t find her, and when we turned around, there she was, with Filch!”
They both laughed, waiting for it to stop moving.
“I’m going to miss this place,” Sirius said, sadly.

“CONGRATULATIONS TO GRYFFINDOR FOR SECURING THE HOUSE CUP, AND THE QUIDDITCH CUP!” There was a deafening cheer from the Great Hall. “AND CONGRATULATIONS FIFTH AND SEVENTH YEARS FOR COMPLETING EXAMS. TONIGHT WE BID A SAD FAREWELL TO THE SEVENTH YEARS. DESSERT IS SERVES!” Concluded Dumbledore.

All around them, sweets erupted. EVERYWHERE!
“WHOA! I knew Dumbledore had a bit of a sweet tooth, but I didn’t know it was THIS sweet,” Sirius yelled, excited.
They all laughed, and pigged out on their sweets until they felt sick.

And soon it was time for them to bid farewell to the Great Hall.

“Oh James!” Gushed Mrs Potter, pulling her son in for a hug.
James pulled away, looking slightly pink, Sirius was standing there. He looked sad. James knew his mother wouldn’t be there to pick him up.
“Mum, dad, this is Sirius,” he said, introducing his best friend to his parents.
“Hello Sirius,” his father said, clapping him on the back, “We’ve heard all about you! Know all about your family myself, though.”
“Hello dear, it’s so good to meet you finally. We would love to invite you over during the summer holidays if you would like that,” Mrs Potter said.

The Marauders had a carriage to themselves. James had to go on Prefect rounds with the others, but he wanted to spend some time with his friends, in the Hogwarts Express for the very last time.

“I can’t believe this is it,” he said sadly.
“I know. Seven years, and I never thought it would ever be the last,” Sirius said.

They sat there silently for a while, enjoying each other’s company, and thinking about their separate memories from the past seven years.

A knock, and the door opened. Lily.
“Come on James, we should do rounds,” she said apologetically.

“How are you going to do it?” Sirius asked his best friend.
They were both looking at the shiny ruby ring James was holding
“Midnight, instead of kissing her a happy new years I’m going to get down on my knee and propose to her,” he said. It was planned.
“Nice!”
James beamed. He was so happy. “You’ll be my best man, of course. You have to be,” he said. There was no question.
“Wouldn’t say no,” Sirius said, giving his friend a bear hug.
“Does she have any idea?”
“I don’t think she will be expecting it so soon.”

“You may now kiss the bride,” Dumbledore said, and James kissed his bride.

Later, at the reception, after the couple had cut their cake and fed each other a piece, Sirius walked up to James.
“Hey James, open your mouth,” he said, mischievously.
James opened his mouth, which was soon completely full of something.

He chewed it. It was pleasant.
“What is it? Cake?” It wasn’t his cake; Lily had chosen strawberry cheesecake. This was… chocolate sponge.
“I hate strawberry cheesecake, so I made a chocolate sponge. Here, feed me some,” he said, howling with laughter, handing James a piece.

“Was the chicken not good, Lily?” Sirius asked, almost upset. Lily had just vomited all his roast chicken up. It was the first roast he had ever cooked, and it wasn’t good.
Well, he liked it, and James seemed to like it.
She looked over at James, questioningly.

“What would you say if I asked you to be our child’s God-father?” James asked, smiling brightly.
Sirius looked between the two. They were having him on. It must have been bad chicken.
“I’d say I cooked a good roast chicken then!” He boomed, jumping up to congratulate his two closest friends.

“James, it’s Sirius,” Lily yelled.
“Hello handsome,” Sirius cooed, taking Harry from Lily and cuddling him. “How are you my favourite little god-son? Oh giving mummy and daddy some sleep I hope?”
“James isn’t happy today. He’s stuck himself upstairs in that study.”
“What’s wrong?”
Lily shook her head, and then shrugged. “I don’t know. I think he’s allergic to following Albus’ rules. He wants to go and help find you-know-who.”
Sirius bit his tongue; he could tell she wouldn’t appreciate a laugh.
“I’ll cheer him up,” Sirius said confidently, and went up the stairs to find his best friend.

Thwack!

Sirius looked around. What in Merlin’s beart?

Thwack!
This time, whatever it was hit his face.

He looked down to see the remnants of a snowball.

“JAMES!” he hissed, leaping over the fence and looking for the footsteps. He gathered up two fistfuls of snow and threw his snowball as hard as he could at the space he was sure James was concealed.

“OUCH!” he heard, and then a foot appeared.
Sirius walked over and ripped the cloak from James, then threw another snowball at his face.

“MERRY CHRISTMAS!” he said loudly, and helped James back to his feet.

“Oh... thanks guys. Socks, just what I wanted,” Sirius said sarcastically, laughing. They were a pretty good pair of socks, though. “I should have knitted you an extra scarf!”
James and Lily laughed, “It’s hard finding gifts when you’re in hiding,” James muttered.
“I’m just joking guys, thanks. They’re great.”
They were white, with black dogs covering them. Remus got a yellow pair, with brown wolves, and Peter got a black pair with grey rats.
“H-how’s it g-going, h-hiding?” Peter asked James.
“Oh, you know. Gets a bit boring, but it’s not too bad. At least I have my family.”

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JAMESSSSSSSSSS,” they all sang, and applauded.
James, who wasn’t in the mood to celebrate, pasted a smile on his face.
“Oh, come on. Gifts time!” Sirius said, trying to break his friend out of his rut.

James took it with a smile and opened it. “Oh… thanks. It’s a… dictionary,” he said. Sirius laughed.
“But not just ANY dictionary, my friend.”
James opened it and a smile spread across his face.

The pages had been glued together, and a chunk was missing from the middle, replaced with none other than his lost piece of the two-way mirror.

“What are you guys all doing in your pyjamas?” Sirius asked, entering the house Halloween afternoon.
“No jammies,” Harry said, cross with his Uncle Sirius for being silly. “Cossume,” he said, matter of factly.
James laughed, throwing him into the air.
“They’re werewolf pyjamas. We’re dressing up as werewolves!”
Sirius nodded slowly and laughed. “Well Happy Halloween Harry!” he boomed, handing him a chocolate frog.
As soon as he walked away, Sirius could see the fear in James’ face.
“What is it?” he asked quietly.
James shook his head, “I don’t know. Something. I can’t put my finger on it.”

“Why do you say that?” Sirius asked, feeling a chill down his spine.
“I don’t know. I was cleaning out my trunk the other day and I found my old sneakoscope.”
“Oh those fraudulent things,” Sirius said dismissively.
“Well that’s it, I thought they were too, but I saw… I saw him, Sirius. I saw you-know-who. Here.”
Sirius felt his heart stop. “What do you mean here?”
James exhaled slowly, “I think he found us, Sirius. The only way we will ever find out, it will already be too late. I’ve sent an owl to Albus but haven’t heard back.”

They sat, enjoying the silent company.

Sirius had to be going but he didn’t want to. For some reason he wanted to stay at the Potter’s house. He shook his head. He’d go to the Order Headquarters now and tell them.

“Sorry, mate, I have a lot of homework to do. You know, department of law enforcement is hard work.”
James stood up and walked with him to the door. “Well, I’ll see you soon soon.”
“Yeah, of course,” Sirius said, pulling his best friend, his brother, in for a hug. He took one last look at him and left.