AN: This is supposed to take place right after Snape's Worst Memory, if you couldn't figure that out. =]

Chapter One

Remus Lupin trudged through the Gryffindor common room, heading for the boys' dormitories staircase. That afternoon's events swam through his head – sitting by the lake, peacefully, too, until Snivellus came along. And then James had to hex him, as always. It was funny at first, but sometimes things just got out of hand.

The other Marauders were still downstairs in the Great Hall, boasting about their performance at the lake. But Remus had slipped away from the crowd to escape to his dormitory and get some studying in, since he obviously hadn't earlier today.

"You!"

Remus stopped, having just reached the bottom of the stairs, to turn around. Surprisingly, he found the speaker was talking to him.

"Lily!" he said brightly. "Um… hi." But she did not return his smile.

Taking a step closer, she screeched, "You loathsome little prat!" jabbing his chest on the last word.

Remus was taken aback. "W-what?"

"Why didn't you stop them?" she cried, her face glowing red. Lupin glanced over Lily's shoulder to survey the common room. It appeared that only first- and second-years were present, but each and every one of them was watching the superior fifth-years with great interest.

"Who, now?" he asked, adjusting the book bag on his shoulder.

"You know who!" bawled Lily, and she turned around and paced back into the center of the common room.

Remus followed her nervously, and she whipped back around.

"Potter!" she said. "And-and Black and Pettigrew. Why didn't you stop them? Why don't you ever stop them? They're so horrible. Mostly Potter, but Black is always his right-hand man and little Peter acts like they're the greatest wizards alive and-and it just makes me sick," she spat.

Remus' gaze was fixed on the fireplace.

"So why," she breathed in slowly, "don't you stop them?"

Remus brought his hand to the scars on his face absentmindedly. "They're my friends."

"I thought I was your friend, too!"

Snapping out of his trance, Lupin spoke again. "You are, Lily." He sighed. "It's just that teasing Sniv- er, Severus has been our little joke for the past five years and they'd think I was crazy if I suggested we stop."

She crossed her arms over her chest. "Well, I think you're all crazy for doing it in the first place."

"It's not my idea." He shrugged.

"But you could make them stop," she said eagerly. "They would listen to you! Merlin knows you're the only sane one in that little gang of yours."

"Why do you even care about Snape?" Lupin asked flamboyantly.

"He's my friend! We were best friends, Remus, and now I'm the only real one he's got."

"And yet he called you a- a-" he hesitated.

"A Mudblood. Yes, I know. But that doesn't mean I don't care about him still. And so… if you could just talk to James-"

Remus shook his head. "That's not going to work." He paused. "But I've got idea that I think might."

"What?"

He hesitated. "Well… I'm not quite sure you'll like it. But if you, er, made a deal with James. That if he stopped being mean to Snivel- Severus… you would go out with him." He braced himself.

"That is ridiculous! Why would I ever agree to that? You know very well I hate the boy."

"Just a suggestion."

"I still say you can talk them out of it."

"No, Lily! You don't understand. It's not just friendship, we're like brothers. If they ever thought I was on Snape's side and I lost them, I don't know what I'd do. You don't understand…"

"I think I understand pretty well," argued the girl. "You think no one notices when you all sneak out of the castle during the full moon? Severus has had a theory about you lot for a while, and I'm starting to believe it."

Remus gulped. "I don't know what you're talking about," he said, knowing very well that he was a horrible liar.

She rolled her eyes. "You do too. Werew-"

Frantically, Lupin leaped forward and threw his hand over her mouth. "Lily, don't!" he pleaded, glancing over at the younger Gryffindors, a few of whom were still watching them intently.

"You know what?" she said hysterically, prying off his hand. "I think I will! Unless you make James and Sirius stop, I will tell everyone your secret."

"Okay, okay," he agreed desperately. "I will."

"All right, then." Lily smiled sweetly and walked past him up the stairs to the girls' dormitories.