Chapter 45-A New Head Boy
"Move over Sirius, I can't hear," Halle said, pushing Sirius.
"Hold on. He just asked her," Sirius said. There was a long silence. A very long silence. Halle was trying to peer over the bush they were concealed behind. Poor Katy and Remus were waiting patiently, letting Sirius and Halle fight over the view.
"Oh my god, I can't believe it," Sirius said.
"What? Did she accept? When are they getting married?" Halle asked excitedly.
"Oh, Hal, you can be maid of honor. It would only be right since Sirius is best man," Katy said.
"How about we both be?" Halle suggested.
"Doesn't Lily decide who the maid of honor is?" Remus asked.
"Girls, let's go back to the castle. There will be lots to discuss," Sirius said sadly. He made his way to get up before Halle pulled him down.
"What's wrong? You really think James won't pick you for best man?" Halle asked.
"I honestly don't mind, Padfoot," Remus said.
"No, let him talk," Katy said, slapping Remus' arm lightly.
"It's over. She said no," Sirius said.
"Oh my god," the other three said.
James Potter was sitting in a comfortable looking office, apparently waiting for someone. He looked around while adjusting himself uncomfortably in an armchair. He saw a beautiful phoenix, which he would normally go and visit. Not today.
An aged man came into the room, and James sat up straight. Professor Albus Dumbledore was the man he had been waiting for. This was his office, his phoenix, his school.
"So James, I understand there is something urgent you need to talk to me about?" Professor Dumbledore asked as he sat down upon his large desk.
James nodded his head.
"So what would this be, Mr. Potter?" the old man inquired.
"I sadly have to inform you that I am no longer fit to be Head Boy of this school. I just can't handle it anymore, Professor," James said, pulling a scarlet and gold badge from his robes. He set it on the Professor's desk.
"I want you to accept my resignation as Head Boy of Hogwarts," James said.
"I'm afraid I don't understand why you're doing this," Dumbledore said.
"I can't handle the stress any longer. My parents have been killed, Voldemort is after me, and I have so much schoolwork," James said. It was true; he did have a lot of stress.
"Miss Evans doesn't seem to have that problem and I believe she shares the same dilemmas as you," Dumbledore said.
James balled his hands into fists, hiding his discomfort as Lily's name was mentioned.
"Maybe she is more suitable for the job," James said.
"I can't allow you to permanently resign, James," Dumbledore said, picking up the badge and tracing his fingers over the word Head Boy.
"And can I ask why?" James asked, becoming frustrated with Dumbledore.
"Let me tell you something James. I was once Head Boy," Dumbledore said.
"Somehow that does not shock me, sir," James said.
"Well, I am old, I know. Yet, Hogwarts was around when I was younger. I was chosen to be Head Boy. At first, I reacted as you did. I didn't think I was the right person for the position. Yet, my Headmaster saw potential in me. He thought if I stuck to it, rewards would be offered. Of course at seventeen, I was not thinking much about the future. I was just thinking about all the things I still had left to do during my time at Hogwarts. I had many times when I wanted to hand in my badge, but I stuck it out. And today, I can be proud of something I did. Something I stuck to. I choose to believe that you are similar. Your father was Head Boy along with Venus Adams. They stuck to it. Not to say that she was my wisest choice, but all the same. She fulfilled her duty. I think you can too," Dumbledore said.
"But sir, I am nowhere near as great as my father, and certainly not as great as you are," James said modestly.
"But James, I see potential for greatness. You have many of the same passions and abilities as the great Godric Gryffindor did. I understand he is in your gene pool, but all the same," Dumbledore said. "Think about it."
"I would not have come here if I didn't think about it," James said stubbornly.
"I still can't allow you to permanently resign. I will put someone in your place as long as you see fit to ignore your duties," Dumbledore said.
"Thank you, sir," James said, exiting the office.
He left Dumbledore there, shaking his head and looking at the badge.
"Have you seen Lily?" Katy asked.
"No. Not since James proposed. She's been in bed all weekend. She'll have to come out tomorrow for classes," Halle said.
"And of course the house elf won't let us in," Katy said.
"Hello ladies," Sirius said, sitting down next to his wife and kissing her quickly on the lips.
James had been gone for quite awhile and Sirius had gotten bored. Remus had been called down to Dumbledore's a couple minutes ago, and Merlin only knew where Peter was. So, Sirius knew he should find out what the deal with Lily was. No one had heard anything from neither Lily nor James.
"Seen my dear Lilykins lately?" Sirius asked. Both girl shook their heads.
"Why would she decline? She knows how much James loves her. He must be heartbroken right now," Halle said.
"He is. He loves her," Sirius said. "Whoever thought Lily and James' relationship would be butterflies and rainbows must have lied. So far they have not had the smoothest sail in Relationship Rodeo."
"Relationship Rodeo? I am not going to ask," Katy said, shaking her blonde head. "How do you put up with him?"
"I have no idea. I have a feeling his mental conditions will rub off on me one day," Halle said, laughing. She laughed into Sirius' chest as he pretended to wipe a tear.
"You know I love you," Halle said.
"But I'm mental? How do you do it?" Sirius asked.
"I just remember that you've got a good arse," Halle said.
"Ew. Too much information," Katy said, putting her hands over her ears. "I thought we were talking about Lils and James here?"
"We are," Halle and Sirius said together.
"Does James still have the ring?" Halle asked.
"Nope. He returned it yesterday," Sirius said.
"That is so sad," Katy said.
"They were so perfect for each other. What happened? Has Lily gone mental?" Halle asked.
"Halle, I kind of see where she is coming from. Lily is not as spontaneous as you two are. She thought of her future. Marriage doesn't come before school is over in Lily's books. She plans everything. You know her," Katy said.
"Oh yes I do. She wants to establish a career before she gets married. I forgot about the ten-year plan," Halle recalled, rolling her chocolate brown eyes at the mere thought.
"What?" Sirius asked.
"Lily has a 10-year plan. Graduate. Become an Auror. Then get married. Then have kids," Halle explained.
"What does it matter? She could mix up the order," Sirius said.
"We're talking about Lily Evans here," Katy reminded him. "Nothing is ever that simple with Lily."
The Portrait Hole swung open and Remus Lupin entered.
"What happened? Was it a question about Moony?" Sirius asked.
"No, Moony's under control. I just was told that I got Head Boy," Remus said.
"You what?!?" Katy, Halle, and Sirius all screamed.
"James turned in his badge. I take his place for awhile I guess," Remus said. He didn't seem too happy about it. He took the badge out of his pocket.
"Why would Prongs do this?" Sirius asked.
"To avoid Lily," Remus, Halle, and Katy all answered as one.
"Oh yeah," Sirius said. "Why do I always not get the point?"
"How should I know?" Halle asked.
"Poor James. I feel so bad for him. Losing Lily, giving up the badge. Head Boy meant a lot to him. He wanted to prove to his parents that he could do it. He doesn't even have Quidditch anymore," Katy said.
"His parents are gone now. Now he can only live for himself. He has no other family," Sirius said.
"I have to move my stuff to the Heads Room. Dumbledore said the room should accommodate to my personal preferences. Whatever that means," Remus said.
"Moony, it's not going to be the same," Sirius said.
"You'll have Prongs," Remus said.
"Speaking of, where is he?" Sirius asked.
"He never came back after he left Dumbledore's office. Who knows where he went," Remus said.
Lily rubbed at her eyes, knowing that they were red and puffy. She hadn't left her room other than to go to the bathroom and shower. Food seemed to just appear within her room. She hadn't seen James since Friday.
She knew she should leave the room to go see her friends, but questions she didn't want to answer would be asked. She couldn't talk about it, not yet.
She pulled on her fluffy robe over her pajamas and went to go sit out on the couch. She opened her door and saw James' door. The bold writing was normally a comfort to her, but now it only depressed her. She saw something move on the door and wiped her eyes to make sure she wasn't hallucinating.
The letters JAMES were morphing into an untidy scrawl that read REMUS.
Lily gasped. She knew what that meant.
James Potter was no longer the Head Boy to her Head Girl.
A/N: Please review. There will be a total of 60 chapters in this fic.The sequel will be 27 chapters.