September First [A collection of Harry Potter drabbles and oneshots]

Reality

James sighed as he looked down at his summer essay, blinking away tears. He heard footsteps and looked up to find Sirius next to him. The concern in his eyes was unmistakable. "You alright, mate?" Sirius asked.

James took a deep breath and shook his head. "Not really. Not yet."

Sirius just nodded and sat down next to James, not talking, simply being there.

•°•°•°•

The journey to Hogwarts was subdued that year. Remus read, as usual, but without James and Sirius joking around, the compartment was quiet except for the pages of Remus's book and the occasional rustle from Peter's sweets.

James was thinking. He had gotten the letter that he was Head Boy this summer, only days before his parents had passed away. The Head Girl was Lily Evans. Not that it mattered. He was still hopelessly in love with her, sure, but there were more important things to do.

What was he going to do now?

He was seventeen, legally of age, so he and Sirius were fine, and he'd inherited the house, so it wasn't like they were homeless.

He had NEWTs to pass this year. Even without studying too much, he had gotten all Es and Os on his OWLs, but the NEWTs were supposed to be harder, weren't they? He would study, then, and try to make his grades even better.

And what about You-Know-Who? What about this war that was coming? He knew there were people who were fighting, so he would fight, wouldn't he?

But he still felt lost. He knew his parents were older than most of his friends parents, but he didn't expect this. He thought that when he had graduated and had to move out, he would have someone to help him, at least for a few years. Now what? He felt like he was thrown into the lake without knowing how to swim.

He was brought out of his thoughts by the sound of Remus's book closing. "Sirius, Peter, you'd better get your robes on. It's only twenty minutes until the train arrives."

And James noticed with a start that the lamps had already been lit. Sirius and Peter started rummaging though their trunks to find their uniforms.

•°•°•°•

The year started with fewer pranks than usual, and James could tell the teachers were slightly surprised. They hadn't expected his fit of responsibility from the second half of last year to carry over into this one (Merlin only knows why Dumbledore made him Head Boy, but then again, he was a mad genius). Full moons were carried out as usual, but aside from that, the amount of pranks were more than halved.

Even Lily Evans was surprised, James noticed, and perhaps slightly impressed.

Halfway through October, James sent Lily a note.

I know you're tired of hearing this question, but will you go to Hogsmeade with me? Meet me at the Three Broomsticks at three o' clock if the answer is yes.

James

She met him.

As Christmas approached, the realization that the full moon was on Christmas day hit the four boys hard. They sat in silence for a few moments, then James shrugged. "We'll spend it here, then. At Hogwarts. Like we usually do. Strangely fitting, really."

And the others shrugged and agreed.

It was only the five of them staying in Gryffindor tower that year for Christmas, and they were all sitting together in the common room when it happened.

"Come on, Padfoot, really?" Remus laughed.

"Sure!"

"Nope. Not buying it." Remus pounced on Sirius, knocking him into the arm of the couch. Sirius laughed and struggled for a few moments, then turned into a large black dog. The dog leapt on Remus and started to lick his face.