ok I'm having a bit of a shit week (I'm aware it's Tuesday), so I have been retreating to my happy place, aka Hanging Out With James Potter.
In the spirit of maybe making someone else's shit week a little less shitty, here is me impulsively sharing a random TLE3 scene.
with the eternal caveat that everything I share could completely change in the final draft. đ
Excerpt from The Last Enemy: Maraudersâ End
The door swung open and James sauntered in. âAll right, very funny,â he said, dropping himself in the armchair and kicking his feet up on the trunk that served as Siriusâs coffee table. He gave them an amused, exasperated smirk that suggested they were all in on the same joke.
âWhatâs funny?â said Sirius.
âCome off it. I know it was you.â
Sirius and Lily exchanged a confused look.
âWhat are you talking about, mate?â
James rolled his eyes, dug into his pocket, and pulled out a crumpled letter. Then he cleared his throat and read imperiously: âDear Mr. Potter. We are pleased to inform you that you have been selected as Head Boy of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Despite your rather colorful school records â nice touch, that â the Headmaster feels that you have exhibited exemplary courage, creativity, and leadership skills â pah! â We are certain you willâŚblah, blah, blah, responsibilities, blah, blah. Very clever. Very authentic. Iâm impressed, really.â
Sirius gaped at him. Lily had covered her mouth in astonishment.
âSo what does this do, then?â James went on, heedless to the shock on his friendsâ faces. He held up a shiny red and gold badge. âWill it turn my hair green or piss at me if I try and pin it on?â
âYouâre having a laugh, arenât you?â said Sirius at last. âYouâre not really Head Boy.â
âOf course not, because you sent me a counterfeit letter.â
âNo, I didnât.â
âCome off it,â said James, whose amused expression had at last faded into something more closely resembling genuine alarm. âJokeâs up, I figured it out. We both know thereâs no way Dumbledore made me Head Boy.â
Sirius walked over and grabbed the letter from James, examining it closely. âDid you try any anti-counterfeit spells?â
âN-noâŚâ
Sirius began to poke the letter with his wand.
âMate,â said James, âjust tell me you sent this letter.â
âWould if I could, Prongs. Itâs legitimate. This letter came from the desk of Minnie McGee herself.â
âNoâŚno. Thereâs no way.â He turned beseechingly to Lily, who was still hiding her mouth behind her hand. âThereâs no way. Leadership skills? I mean, I wasnât even a prefect.â
âWell, you are Quidditch Captain,â offered Lily. âThatâs a leadership position.â
âBut thatâsâŚthatâs Quidditch. Head Boy should be a prefect. Remusââ
ââwas a bloody awful prefect and heâd be the first to admit it,â said Sirius.
âYeah, butââ
âTheyâre probably hoping a bit of you-know-what will sort you out,â said Lily.
âYou-know-what? I donât know what. What?â
âResponsibility,â she whispered in a conspiratorial hiss. Sirius let out a bark of laughter.
James, for his part, looked at them with dawning horror in his eyes. âOh, sweet Merlin with his knickers out to dry. Theyâve made me a figure of authority.â
At this, Lily dissolved into giggles, falling back into the sofa cushions. âItâs not funny. Evans, stop laughing!â
Lily sat up and gave a sharp salute. âSir, yes, sir!â
âNice,â said Sirius approvingly.
âWell, I learned from the worst,â said Lily.
James looked on with a sulky glare. âYou know, Iâm not sure I like you two being friends.â
âCheer up,â said Sirius. âIâll still be your mate even if you are Head Swot. I mean, not publicly, of course. And you probably shouldnât eat meals with us anymore, but you can still sleep in the dormitory. For now.â
âShut it.â James chucked his Head Boy badge at him. Sirius dodged and the badge hit the wall with a resounding ping. âThis canât be happening,â moaned James, sinking further into the depths of his chair. Then, he sat up abruptly. âOh, Merlin. Who do you think the Head Girl is?â
âProbably someone really awful,â said Lily with a commiserative grimace. âSorry.â
âYeah,â agreed Sirius. âProbably some stuck-up, frigid goody-two-shoes who â ow! â hits disturbingly hard for a girlâ he finished, glaring at Lily while he rubbed his shoulder.Â
âYou think itâs McKinnon?â said James, wide-eyed and appalled. âGod, youâre stupid,â said Lily affectionately.
Sirius tapped her on the shoulder. âShould we tell him? I think we should tell him.â
âBut heâs so cute when heâs terrified.â
âYouâre mean.â
Lily stuck out her tongue. âAnd you used to be fun.â
âWhat are you two on about?â
Sirius smirked and gestured at Lily. âHead Boy, meet Head Girl.â
âWhat? Youâre Head Girl?â
Lily shrugged. âThatâs what the letter says.â
Jamesâs entire demeanor was suddenly transformed. âBlimey, why didnât you say something? Letting me prattle on and on like an idiotâŚâ
âIt was much more fun watching you angst.â
âHey, if you two need a set of matching crowns, I know a goblin,â offered Sirius.
James and Lily both flipped him off in unison.
Sirius snickered. "Look at that. A united front. Just what Hogwarts needs."
















