'Are you sure we won't be late?'

Remus Lupin sighed. 'Lily, the first bell hasn't even gone yet. We'll be fine.'

Lily laughed, swinging her bag over her shoulder and picking up her coat, plus a heap of scrolls. Why had she brought that coat with her? It was May, and the sun was warm on her red head. When she tried to stand, the parchment fell to the floor. Remus rushed to pick them up for her, but Lily stopped him.

'Come on, let me carry something,' he insisted. Lily paused, watching the scrolls slowly unfurling. He only wanted to help.

'Hold this,' she said, passing her coat to him. He took it and wrapped it around his shoulders.

'Look, I'm Lily Evans!' He took off the coat and draped it over his arm as Lily laughed - again - dropping the scrolls she'd just picked up.

Remus carefully put down the coat and grabbed up some of the scrolls, stuffing them inside his heavily darned cloak. Sirius was always teasing him, calling him gay and feminine, because of his amazing abilities to fix anything fabric, but James always joked that it was useful.

'You know, you're much funnier than Potter,' Lily said, oblivious to the crimson blush that was creeping over Remus' face. 'His humour is crass and stupid, but yours is . . .' She searched for the word. 'Classic, I guess.'

'You mean, childish,' Remus said, passing her the scrolls. Their hands met for a second, making Lily blush this time; Remus was tactful enough to pretend not to notice. But he was blushing a little too.

Remus Lupin had never before thought of Lily Evans as anything but a good friend. She was intelligent, good looking, and a little bit of an outcast since she had been friends with 'Snivellus' Snape for her first few years at Hogwarts. When they'd both become prefects, they'd started to talk a whole lot more. He'd found her a bit like himself; apart from the good looking bit. Remus thought that he was a sickly being, with his darned clothes, wild hair and scars. Lily was an amazing person, but, no. They were just friends, no matter what anyone said. Remus liked that Lily didn't judge him like everyone else. She didn't ask where he went every full moon, either. James should give her a break, he thought. She doesn't want him.

Or was he just saying that because he didn't want them together? The truth was, though Remus had no idea, Lily had fancied him since fourth year, even though she rarely let it get to her; Remus was a very friend to her and she liked it that way. Lily looked up at the boy who was holding the scrolls she'd dropped. He had always looked slightly ruggedly handsome; but it wasn't that he was handsome that she had befriended him. The fact that he was in the 'cool' crowd, yet kind of nerdy, made him extremely similar to her. Lily smiled at herself. Cool and nerdy, she thought. What will I think about myself next?

Remus Lupin picked up the remaining two scrolls, then noticed that Lily had started walking. She was probably worried about being late for potions with Slughorn - why? He was lenient, and adored Lily. Surely she could afford to be late

'Remus?' Lily tilted her head to one side. She had started to walk, but had noticed she wasn't being followed by her friend.

'Coming,' he said, striding up to her with satchel over one shoulder. No. She and Remus could only be friends, Lily decided.

'Now we're gonna be late,' Lily said anxiously.

'No we're not,' Remus said calmly. 'It's another 2 and a half minutes until Potions.' He held out his arm slightly limply. 'I still have your coat,' he added. 'And your History of Magic essay.'

'You can keep it if you want; the coat. It suits you,' Lily laughed. Remus laughed too, and in that moment, Lily forgot that she had ever liked Remus as more than a friend. They were just two Hogwarts pupils enjoying the early spring sun, walking up the sprawling Hogwarts lawns towards the warm darkness of the castle.