Disclaimer: I own nothing.
A/N: Hey everyone! Finally, it's back! I updated this story for you guys in hopes that it will be clearer. While most of the plot is the same, there are some major plot changes so you may want to re-read it. Thanks for being so patient and thank you in particular to StillInLoveWithSirius for being my 700th reviewer!
In A Heartbeat
By LilyxJames4ever
Chapter 1 – The Dark Forest
"Why are we here, Severus?" Lily asks nervously. It is a few days before their O.W.L exams and Severus had sent Lily a message saying he wants to talk to her.
"I needed to talk to you and I didn't want to be overheard," whispers Severus. He hopes his friends are not planning on being here tonight. That would completely ruin his plan.
"Your friends aren't here tonight are they, Sev?" asks Lily sharply. She has always been able to read him like a book.
Severus shakes his head. It is not a complete lie. He honestly does not know if they are here or not. So technically he is not lying, he is just not telling the entire truth.
That is the problem with Severus Snape and Lily Evans' friendship. They have been friends for years but he never tells her the complete truth. He only tells her enough so that she will not be held accountable for anything and so that she will not get angry with him. She picked up on this early on and the thought that he does not trust her saddens her immensely.
He stops abruptly and she bumps into him. He catches her before she falls and helps her stand upright.
"So what do you need to talk to me about?" asks Lily puzzled.
Severus shuffles uncomfortably. He had rehearsed what he is planning on saying but it is different actually talking face-to-face with Lily. She has this effect on him that renders him speechless, especially if he looks into her deep, knowing, emerald oases.
"Well…lately I've noticed…well, I'm just going to come out and say it. It seems like we're sort of drifting apart as friends."
Lily bites back a sarcastic remark and instead nods sadly.
"I know," she replies. "It was easier when we were younger and naïve. The fact that we're in two different Houses that hate each other…and have friends who loathe the other's friends…"
"It makes it harder to stay close friends," finishes Severus. "And truthfully, you're my only friend at home on Spinners End."
He does not mention that Lily is the only thing that keeps him sane at home. If he did not have her he would be on his own when his parents go at each other. Not that he ever talks about that with her, or anyone for that matter. He would never subject her to that sort of pain. He cares too deeply for her.
"You're my only friend too," says Lily honestly. "All my other friends are now at secondary schools or have listened to Petunia calling me a freak and ran off." She looks away from him and her hair covers her face, disabling him from seeing the expressive eyes that he loves so much.
Severus' insides burn with anger. He knows Lily's elder sister Petunia is a Muggle and he despises her for always calling Lily names such as "freak". It is obvious to everyone that she is just jealous but this does nothing to console Lily. As far as Severus is concerned, Lily should just drop her but how could he ever tell her that? She would slap him across the face and rightfully so.
"Anyway," continues Severus. "You get the Daily Prophet, correct?"
"Yes." Lily has a feeling she knows where this is going but keeps silent.
"Well then I'm sure you have heard that the Dark Lord is –"
"Why won't you call him by his true name, Severus?" asks Lily. "Why won't you call him Voldemort." Severus winces. "'Fear of the name only increases fear of the thing itself'," she quotes.
"Where'd you hear that?" sneers Severus.
"Professor Dumbledore."
"Yes, well Dumbledore always did fancy himself not afraid of the Dark Lord."
"That's because he knows better than to be afraid of someone like Voldemort."
"And what exactly is the Dark Lord?"
"A coward and a bully." Severus narrows his eyes. "Don't look at me like that. Besides, I thought only his followers call him the Dark Lord." He gulps. "So it's true. You and your friends have been coming out here to be recruited."
"No, no we haven't," says Severus too quickly. "He doesn't accept those who are still in school."
"Hey Snape, what are you doing out –" begins his friend Erebus Avery. He stops short and sneers. "What is she doing out here?"
"She happens to have a name and I could ask you the same question," says Lily vehemently.
"How dare you speak to me, you filthy little Mudblood," spits Avery. Lily glares at him.
"Don't call her that," hisses Severus. His voice is so low though that over the winds Avery can pretend to have not heard him.
"No, it's okay, Severus," says Lily. "He can all me whatever he likes. He'd probably get in trouble with his Master if he didn't insult me and my parentage."
Avery's eyes widen. Lily rarely sees fear in any of the Slytherins eyes but there it is, as clear as day.
"What did you tell her?" hisses Avery to Severus.
"Nothing! I didn't even know you guys were going to be here tonight." He lowers his voice so Lily cannot hear them over the wind.
"The Dark Lord had a change of plans," replies Avery shrugging. The next part Lily is able to hear. "Bellatrix tipped us off that He decided to come here to plot on how to infiltrate the –"
Whatever Voldemort is planning though, Lily does not find out, because at that moment four people appear out from behind a tree. It is James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew. Peter, however, is in the back behind Remus.
"Why if it isn't Potty, Loopy, Pettigrew, and Black," sneers Avery. "Black, how does it feel to be a disgrace to your family?"
Sirius growls and James and Remus have to restrain him from attacking.
"You'd better watch your arse, Avery," warns James. "Sirius here doesn't need a wand to mess up your already ugly face."
"Oh, I must've touched a nerve," jeers Avery adding fuel to the fire. It is at that moment that James and Remus cannot hold Sirius back any longer. He breaks free from their grasp and to their horror, attacks Avery Muggle style. His wand lies on the forest floor forgotten.
"I (PUNCH) WOULDN'T (KICK) WANT (JAB) TO (PUNCH) BE (KICK) RELATED (JAB) TO (PUNCH) THOSE (KICK) BLOODY (JAB) BASTARDS (PUNCH) IF (KICK) I (JAB) HAD (PUNCH) THE (KICK) EFFING (JAB) CHOICE!" growls Sirius. Lily is absolutely horrified. She has never seen Sirius so angry before and result to this sort of violence. It makes her sick to her stomach.
He gets up stiffly and straightens out his robes before casting another dirty look at Avery. Avery is now sporting a broken nose, jaw, and several bruises around the neck area. Not to mention being kicked in the groin is going to leave some marks. All Sirius has to show there was a struggle is a split lip.
"Come on Evans," says James curtly. For once she listens him and follows the four out without another word to Severus. He had not said a word through the whole encounter with the Marauders but is glaring at James' retreating figure.
Once out of the forest, James turns on Lily.
"What the bloody hell were you doing in there, Evans?" he cries furiously. "Are you cruising for a bruising?"
"Ha, that's funny Prongs," laughs Sirius, back to his old self. James glares at him. "Right, sorry. I'll shut up now."
"It so happens that I was talking to Severus when Avery showed up," says Lily angrily. "Not that it's any of your business."
"Like hell it isn't my business, Evans!" cries James. "Damn it, Evans, Voldemort is loose in the Dark Forest – it's everybody's business!"
"Not the fact that I was meeting Severus there, it isn't!"
"Why do you still meet with him, Lily?" asks Remus quietly. She almost forgot his presence. "You guys are drifting further and further apart as friends and you both recognize it. Don't you think it's time to end it before you get in too deep and get hurt?"
Lily contemplates what he said and knows he is right. However…
"Remus, I know that you guys don't like him, but –"
"It's not a matter of like or dislike, Lily. When it comes down to it, Snape is getting in way over his head with supporting Voldemort."
"Merlin Evans, if he sticks his head any higher up Voldemort's arse he'll come out of his throat," cries Sirius. Lily makes a face. "You should listen to Moony. He knows what he's talking about. Siriusly."
The other four groan at Sirius' attempt at the pun. It had grown old four years ago when he used it for the first time.
"Merlin Black, I don't think I've met anyone less serious," smirks Lily as they walk through the castle's front doors. "What, was the name jackass taken already when your mum was choosing your name?"
Sirius snorts. "She was saving it for my brother. We all knew it would fit him perfectly."
Everyone laughs, including Lily. Sirius always knows how to lighten the mood.
"So, what were you guys doing out anyway?" asks Lily.
The four exchange a look saying "say nothing." Whatever they were doing, Lily assumes, is strictly prohibited. All the more reason for her to find out.
"It's not like I'm going to tell anyone," says Lily earnestly. "I'd reluctantly abuse my power as Prefect out of curiosity. Plus, you basically saved my life so I owe you one."
James snorts. "Should have known there was a catch. Like you said earlier though, it's none of your business."
"But you didn't drop it," persists Lily.
"Quit while you're ahead Evans, I'm not going to tell you," says James grinning his charming smile that makes most girls swoon.
Lily is not like most girls though.
"Black?"
"Sorry Evans."
"Remus?"
Remus shakes his head sadly. "Sorry Lily." She goes to her last resort.
"Peter?"
"Well…we were actually out so we could –" begins Peter but Sirius claps his hand over his mouth.
"Darn, so close," says Lily disappointed. James smirks. "You're an arse Potter."
"Touché."
They finally reach the Gryffindor Tower where the Fat Lady is snoozing. At their footsteps she wakes up agitated.
"What are you five doing out at this hour?" she asks angrily. She never has liked being woken up. Then again neither does Lily at this hour so she is not one to talk.
Lily and Remus show her their Prefect badges and once they give the password she allows them in.
"And you three?" she asks James, Peter, and Sirius.
"Erm…" begins Sirius.
"Looks like you're finding the comfiest part of the floor out here."
Lily and Remus crack up laughing. Remus because he feels sorry for his friends and Lily because she is enjoying the image of James' disgruntled face in the morning.
"We should really let them in," says Remus, and Lily sighs.
"I suppose you're right." She opens the door for them and the three of them scramble into the common room before they can be told off.
"Am I right in assuming that Evans was all against letting us in?" asks James to Remus. Remus shrugs.
"She caved pretty easily," he jokes, and Lily sticks her tongue out at him.
James' eyes twinkle in a way that Lily does not like.
"Does that mean you'll reconsider going out with me?" he asks hopefully.
"Not a chance in hell, Potter," she says annoyed. "My answer still stands." With a disdainful look at him, she runs off to bed trying hard not to relive the night's events.
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The week's O.W.L's testing are a breeze in both Lily and James' opinion. Lily, like Remus, has studied like crazy beginning all the way back of the end of their third year. James on the other hand, like Sirius, has not bothered studying at all and still passes with flying colours. This is one of the many things that Lily finds annoying about James. He does not seem to give a damn about his grades and he is still one of the top students of their year. Now it comes down to their second to last test. The written portion of Defense Against the Dark Arts.
Once again, it is the last day of the exams (finally) and everyone is starting to breath easily again. However, with the stress of their second to last "make it or break it" test, the Great Hall is completely silent as they take their Defense Against the Dark Arts Test. Sunshine is streaming through the high windows onto the bent heads, which shine chestnut and copper and gold in the bright light.
"Five more minutes!" squeaks Professor Flitwick.
James yawns hugely and rumples up his hair, making it even messier than it had been. Then, with a glance towards Professor Flitwick, he turns in his seat and grins at Sirius who is sitting four seats behind him.
James gives Sirius a thumbs-up and laughs as he is lounging in his chair at his ease, tilting it back on two legs. James turns back to his seat and starts doodling on a spare bit of parchment. He draws a snitch and then traces the letters 'L.E.' in it. He cannot get his mind off her no matter how much she infuriates him. She has him running in circles constantly questioning his actions and he wishes she could see that he is not the arrogant jackass she thinks him to be.
"Quills down, please!' squeaks Professor Flitwick. "That means you too, Stebbins! Please remain seated while I collect your parchment! Accio!"
Over a hundred rolls of parchment zoom into the air and into Professor Flitwick's outstretched arms, knocking him backwards off his feet. Several people laugh. A couple of students at the front desk got up, take hold of Professor Flitwick beneath the elbows and lift him back on to his feet.
"Thank you…thank you," pants Professor Flitwick. "Very well, everybody, you're free to go!"
James hastily crosses out the L.E. he had been embellishing and stuffs his exam papers messily in his bag and stands waiting for Sirius. Out of the corner of his left eye he notices Severus a short way away, moving between the tables towards the doors to the Entrance Hall, still absorbed in his own exam paper. Round-shouldered yet angular, he walks in a twitching manner that recalls a spider, and his oily hair is jumping about his face.
"What a git," thinks James with a smirk on his face.
A gang of chattering girls separates Severus from James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter as they walk out.
"Did you like question ten Moony?" asks Sirius as they emerge into the Entrance Hall.
"Loved it," says Remus briskly. "'Give five signs that identify a werewolf.'"
"Excellent question," the other two say in unison with a smile.
"Do you think you two managed to get all the signs?" says James in tones of mock concern.
"Think so," says Remus seriously. "One: there's one in my chair. Two: there's one wearing my clothes. Three: his name is Remus Lupin…"
Peter is the only one who does not laugh.
"I got the snout shape, the pupils of the eyes and the tufted tail," he says anxiously, "but I couldn't think what else –"
"How thick are you, Wormtail?" says James impatiently. "You run round with a werewolf once a month –"
"Keep your voice down," implores Remus.
James and his three friends work their way over to the beech tree and sit down calmly underneath it.
"Well, I thought that paper was a piece of cake," says Sirius. "I'll be surprised if I don't get 'Outstanding' on it at least."
"Me too," says James. He puts his hand in his pocket and takes out a struggling Snitch.
"Where'd you get that?" asks Sirius.
"Nicked it."
"Won't you get in trouble for that?" asks Remus.
James shrugs and he starts playing with the Snitch, allowing it to fly as much as a foot away before seizing it again; his reflexes are excellent. Peter watches him in awe. The sunlight is dazzling on the smooth surface of the lake, on the bank of which the group of laughing girls who have just left the Great Hall are sitting, with their shoes and socks off, cooling their feet in the water.
Remus pulls out a book and starts reading. Sirius stares around at the students milling over the grass, looking rather haughty and bored. James is still playing with the Snitch, letting it zoom further and further away, almost escaping but always grabbing it at the last second. Peter is watching him with his mouth open. Every time James makes a particularly difficult catch, Wormtail gasps and applauds. After certain periods of time James ruffles his hair again as if to make sure it does not get too neat and keeps looking over to where the girls are by the water's edge.
"Put it away, will you," says Sirius finally, as James makes a fine catch and Peter lets out a cheer. "Before Wormtail wets himself with excitement." Peter blushes and looks away from the pair.
"If it bothers you," he says, stuffing the Snitch back in his pocket.
"I'm bored," says Sirius. "Wish it was full moon."
"You might," said Remus darkly from behind his book. "We've still got Transfiguration, if you're so bored you could test me. Here…" and he holds out his book.
But Sirius snorts. "I don't need to look at that rubbish, I know it all."
"If you're so bored Paddy," says James excitedly, "Over there…" he points to a clump of bushes, "…is our favorite entertainment."
Sirius's head turns. He becomes very still, like a dog that has scented a rabbit.
"Excellent," he says softly. "Snivellus."
Severus is on his feet again, and is stowing the OWL paper in his bag. As he leaves the shadows of the bushes and sets off across the grass, Sirius and James stand up.
Remus remains sitting: staring down at his book, though his eyes are not moving and a faint frown line has appeared between his eyebrows.
"All right, Snivellus?" asks James loudly.
Severus reacts so fast it is as though he has been expecting an attack: dropping his bag, he plunges his hand inside his robes and his wand is halfway in the air when James shouts, "Expelliarmus!"
Severus' wand flies twelve feet into the air and falls with a little thud in the grass behind him. James smirks and Sirius let out a bark of laughter.
"Impedimenta!" he says, pointing his wand at Severus, who is knocked off his feet halfway through a dive towards his own fallen wand.
Students all around have turned to watch. Some of them have gotten to their feet and are edging nearer. Some look apprehensive, others entertained.
Severus lay panting on the ground. James and Sirius advance on him, wands raised, James glancing over his shoulder at the girls at the water's edge as he goes.
"How'd the exam go, Snivelly?" says James.
"I was watching him, his nose was touching the parchment," says Sirius viciously. "There'll be great grease marks all over it, they won't be able to read a word."
Several people watching laugh; Severus is clearly unpopular.
Sirius lets loose another laugh and James smirks again. Severus is trying to get up, but the jinx is still operating on him; he is struggling, as though bound by invisible ropes.
"You – wait," he pants, staring up at James with an expression of purest loathing, "you – wait!"
"Wait for what?" says Sirius coolly. "What're you going to do, Snivelly, wipe your nose on us?"
Severus lets out a stream of mixed swear words and hexes, but with his wand ten feet away nothing happens.
"Wash out your mouth," says James coldly. "Scourgify!"
Pink soap bubbles stream from Severus' mouth at once; the froth is covering his lips, making him gag, and choking him.
"Leave him ALONE!"
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"That last Exam was dreadful," moans Lily's best friend Alice Prewitt. "I'm dreadful at D.A.D.A and I know I failed it."
"That's what you say every time you take the exam and then you end up doing better than me," smirks Lily, taking off her shoes and socks so as to dip her feet in the water. "Besides, we have Transfiguration next and that I know I'm going to fail."
"Maybe you should get a tutor," suggests Lily's other friend Marlene McKinnon. She is a quiet girl who can be boisterous when just in the company of her friends but gets shy and puts up barriers when people like the marauders come around.
"Ha, the only person who knows Transfiguration better than Lily is –" begins Lily's friend Margaret Smith (A/N: Not related to Zacharias Smith).
"– Potter," Lily scoffs. "And there's no way I'd ever ask him to tutor me. He would never let me hear the end of it."
"Come on Lily, cut the boy some slack," says Alice. "Sure he's conceited and all but he can also be a really good guy." Lily looks doubtful. "Plus, he's crazy about you."
Lily snorts. "Yeah, right. I don't care how 'nice' you claim he is, I'm not asking him for a favour. I don't need to be in his debt." She has not told her friends about the other night in the forest.
"Sometimes Lily you are so –" begins Marlene. "Hey, what's going on up there?" There are several flashes of lights.
"Looks like a fight by the way everyone's forming a circle," observes Margaret.
"No, really?" teases Alice. When Alice is not looking, Margaret cups some water in her hands and pours it on her head.
"HEY!"
"Hey! Lily, where are you going?" asks Marlene inching away from her loud friends. Lily is now struggling in putting on her shoes and her socks since her feet are soaking wet.
"I'm a Prefect! I have to stop whomever is dueling," says Lily. "No doubt it's Potter and Black terrorizing some Slytherin."
"Isn't it always?" snorts Alice. "But anyway, I'm sure the Slytherin deserves it."
"What is it with you all and House prejudices?" cries Lily. "I swear you're getting as bad as Potter and Black."
"It's true though, Lily," points out Margaret. "All Slytherin's are vile and cruel."
"Not Severus," says Lily, tying her shoes. "He's nice…"
"…Only to you," finishes Marlene. Lily ignores her and begins marching up the hill.
"What are you planning on doing?" the girls cry up the hill.
"I'm planning to put a stop to this madness," calls back Lily. "I'll see you lot later in the common room."
She walks up and sets her eyes upon an unfolding scene. It is not a duel. It is Potter and Black ganging up on Severus again.
"Leave him ALONE!"
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James and Sirius look around. James' free hand immediately jumps to his hair.
"Hey Evans, what's up?" asks James.
"Leave him alone," Lily repeats, ignoring James' comment all together.
"Yeah we heard you first time Evans," says Sirius coolly. James glares at him.
"What's he ever done to you?" Lily questions.
"It's more the fact that he exists, if you know what I mean…" James finally adds after a long silence.
Many of the surrounding students laugh, Sirius and Peter included. Remus, however, does not and continues staring intently at his book.
"You think you're funny," she says coldly. "But you're just an arrogant, bullying toerag, Potter. Leave him alone."
"OI!" shouts Sirius.
But it is too late. Severus has directed his wand straight at James; there is a flash of light and a gash appears on the side of his face.
James' face spatters his robes with blood. James whirls about: a second flash of light later, Severus is hanging upside-down in the air, his robe falling over his head to reveal skinny, pallid legs and a pair of graying underpants.
Many people in the now very large crowd cheer. Sirius and James roar with laughter.
Lily, whose furious expression had twitched for an instant as though she was going to smile, says, "Let him down!"
"Only if you go out with me," James challenges.
Lily stood with her hands on her hips, "I would rather date the Giant Squid. Let him down," she orders again. She cannot believe he has the audacity to ask her out after everything's he has done to her and her best friend. James Potter is without a doubt the most conceited and insufferable boy on the planet.
James sighs. With a flick of his wand at Severus, he falls to the ground. "Petrificus Totalus!" and Severus keels over again, at once, rigid as a board.
"LEAVE HIM ALONE!" Lily shouts. She has her own wand out now.
James and Sirius eye it warily.
"Ah, Evans, don't make me hex you," says James earnestly.
"Take the curse off him, then!"
James sighs again, deeply, then turns to Severus and mutters the counter curse.
"There you go," he says as Severus struggles to his feet again. "You're lucky Evans was here, Snivellus –"
"I don't need help from filthy little Mudbloods like her!"
Lily's heart splits in two. He had been her friend! She had helped him and he responds by calling her a Mudblood? Well, if that is the way things have to be then she will just need to accept it.
Lily blinks. "Fine," she says coolly. "I won't bother in the future. And I'd wash your pants if I were you, Snivellus."
"Apologize to Evans!" James roars at Severus, his wand pointed threateningly at him.
"I don't want you to make him apologize," Lily shouts, rounding on James. "You're as bad as he is…"
"What?" yelps James. "I'd NEVER call you a – you-know-what!"
"Messing up your hair because you think it looks cool to look like you've just gotten off your broomstick, showing off with that stupid Snitch, walking down the corridors and hexing anyone who annoys you because you can – I'm surprised your broomstick can get off the ground with that fat head on it. You make me SICK." She turns on her heel and hurries away, too upset to remember to dock points from both Houses.
"Evans!" James shouts after her. "Hey, EVANS!"
But she does not look back.
"What is it with her?" says James, trying to make it look as though it is a throwaway question of no real importance.
"Reading between the lines, I'd say she thinks you're a bit conceited mate," says Sirius.
"Right," says James, now looking furious, "Right –" There is another flash of light, and Severus is once again hanging upside down in the air. "Who wants to see me take off Snivelly's pants?"
The whole crowd jeers except for Remus, who to James, Sirius, and Peter's surprise; closes his book and gets up. He walks over to James.
"Prongs, do you want Lily to ever go out with you?" whispers Remus so the crowd cannot hear.
"What? What'd he say?" they all ask.
James turns bright red and looks at Remus and nods.
"Well, as a friend, I suggest that you stop picking fights with Snape," says Remus. "It would prove you don't hex people for no good reason and give her one less reason to hate you."
"But –"
"Prongs," warns Remus. "Let it go."
James sighs and waves his wand to let free Severus. The crowd groans.
"Sorry, maybe next time," says James. "Can't have too much of a good thing."
Remus laughs and runs inside after Lily with every intention of apologizing to her about not helping her defend Severus.
"I can't believe he thinks he's the King of the Castle," thinks Lily angrily. "He thinks the whole world will melt at his feet, especially the whole female population."
Lily thinks these angry thoughts as she stomps through the sixth floor corridor.
"And Severus!" she exclaims. "Nothing more or less than a mean spirited person. How dare he call anyone a Mudblood!" It tears her up that she is no longer friends with Severus, but she will not associate with people who talk to others like they are their inferiors.
"The bloody jerk," she thought then reprimands herself but in vain. She walks up another floor and sees Peeves sticking gum in a broom cupboard where Filch keeps his cleaning items. As much as she dislikes Filch, she starts to tell Peeves off.
"Peeves! Stop that this instant! If you don't I'll go report you to the headmaster!" Professor Dumbledore is the only one who can get Peeves' respect, along with the Bloody Baron but Lily was in no mood to talk to anyone in Slytherin right now.
Peeves, who has been placing the gum in the lock upside down, flies right side up and blows a raspberry at her.
"PEEVES!" she repeats. "STOP THAT THIS INSTANT!" He is like a floating version of Potter and Black. Yelling at Peeves is giving her an annoying sense of déjà vu.
"Oo, ickle redhead seeing red?" taunts Peeves, turning upside down again to resume putting in the gum. Merlin, can she not catch a break today?
Lily brandishes her wand and mutters, "Waddiswasi", making the gum fly up Peeves' nose.
Peeves shrieks and floats away letting out a string of vulgar slang, not fit for anyone to say or write. Lily looks after him with slight triumph but before she can start off walking again someone taps her on the shoulder.
"Hi Lily," says Remus as she turns around.
"Oh, hi," she replies coolly. She is irritated that he, being a Prefect, did nothing to stop his friends even if they had been terrorizing a prat.
"Neat trick," says Remus, making conversation as they head towards the Gryffindor Tower. "Maybe you could teach me?"
"Maybe." He sighs and turns to face her as they walk.
"Listen, Lily," he begins but she stops him.
"No, you listen," she says more forcefully than intended. "I understand Potter and Black are your friends. But that does not give you the right to just sit there passively while they bully someone. Even if that someone is a prat," she adds when he raises his eyebrows.
"I know."
"And another thing…wait, what?"
"I know I should have stopped them," agrees Remus. "I reckon that's one of the reasons Dumbledore appointed me Prefect. But I couldn't."
"Why?" He looks at her for a long moment before responding. It is almost as though he is calculating her.
"I wouldn't want to ruin our friendship," he replies simply. Lily has a feeling there is more to it but does not pry…too much.
"I know they're bullies but I doubt it would ruin your friendship," says Lily.
"You'd be surprised how many people want little to do with…well me."
"Remus, that's not…"
"Don't lie, Lily," says Remus seriously. "They're the best friends that I've ever had. I don't want to do anything to ruin that."
Lily nods. She does not know what she would do if she did not have Alice, Margaret, or Marlene. Even though they sometimes have different views on things, like the Marauders do, they still bring out the best in each other.
"How about the last Hogsmeade we get together and talk some more," suggests Lily, smiling at Remus.
"Sounds great, and you teach me the theory of that spell you used on Peeves," adds Remus. "Something tells me I'll need it one day." Lily laughs and agrees.
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A/N: Please review!