Chapter One - The Girl Who Cried Werewolf
She crept slowly and carefully down the dark hall, occasionally brushing a curl from her face. Lily Evans wasn't a Prefect for nothing; she knew something was up, the way they had been talking, huddled in the corner, whispering furiously about the Whomping Willow and tonight, how it had to happen tonight. They never talked seriously. What a fluke, what a grand piece of luck, that she had been practicing the Invisibility Charm at that moment, just a few feet from them, when the common room had suddenly gone quiet and she overheard Sirius -
'It has to be tonight. We might never get another chance, James- '
James ran a hand through unruly dark hair, an uncharacteristic frown on his face. 'It doesn't feel right, it's too soon, and we've only had a few months as ana-'
The rest had been lost as the noise in the common room had picked up and Lily quickly stepped into the relative shadow of the portrait hole as her charm flickered out. It only ever lasted for less than a minute at a time.
So, that was the reason she crept through the halls of Hogwarts, trying to make as little noise as possible. It wouldn't be a disaster if she met Filch, she could fob him off with some excuse about a younger Gryffindorian having forgotten a book and begging Lily to fetch it, it was just, Lily didn't want to be caught by Sirius, James or Peter. Remus, of course, was absent, something about his mother being ill again.
What really intrigued her was what James had been saying before he had been cut off. Could he possible mean . not anamagi? A chill ran down her spine at the thought . The trouble they could get into, unregistered anamagi running around. But she shook the thought off, there was no way they could handle such a complicated spell.
She reached a small side door leading out onto the grounds. To the side lay a tranquil fish pond and glancing at it her reflection beamed up at her in the bright light of the full-moon. Auburn curls, glinting green eyes and a petite pale face with the usual serious look glared at her and for a moment she stared at it, before continuing on towards the Whomping Willow, staying in the shadow of the school walls.
She knew she had beat Sirius, James and Peter outside; she had waited in the common room till just before midnight, when they had reluctantly headed up to their dormitory, then waited another hour before creeping off to her hiding spot, about fifty metres from the Willow, with a view of all exits from the castle. It came as a huge shock to her, then, when the three boys suddenly appeared at the base of the Whomping Willow.
How was it possible? She asked herself. Was there a passage from their dormitory? Impossible, Dippet would never have allowed it. Could they make themselves invisible? Her questions were answered as she watched James rolled a cloak up in his arms as he, Sirius and Peter began talking again. And invisibility cloak! She gasped in surprise, and was grateful she was out of hearing. But that still didn't explain what they were doing at one in the morning outside the Whomping Willow with an invisibility cloak. She was even more mystified, however, when another figure stalked from out the side door Lily herself had used and she recognised it instantly as Severus Snape, fellow sixth year and Prefect, but also, Slytherin. Her eyes narrowed as he crossed the grounds and she realised she needed to be within hearing if he was going to talk have a chat with James, Sirius and Peter. Pulling out her wand she pointed it at herself.
'Invisicindeo.' She hissed and immediately a cold shivery feeling came over her. She jumped up, praying the charm would hold and raced as noiselessly as possible to a small bush sitting only a few metres from the boys. She ducked down as she flickered back into sight, safe from notice. Silently thanking Professor Dumbledore, Charms teacher, who had praised her on mastering a charm only a few seventh years had ever managed. She could now hear everything Sirius and James were saying. Peter was saying nothing, only glancing nervously around.
'We can do nothing, James, sure, but we sure will look like idiots when Snape asks what we're up to.' Sirius was staring intently at James.
'Better that then having the whole thing turn into a complete disaster. Peter, are you sure you closed the trapdoor properly?' James asked, turning to Peter. His tall frame seemed tensed, once again Lily could see his face, Sirius and Peter had their backs to her, creased into a frown.
'Y-yes.' Peter stammered, seeming anything but sure.
Lily couldn't believe what she was hearing. Trapdoor? That meant there was a passage. James willing to look like an idiot in front of Snape .
The three boys turned as Snape walked up to them, James tucking the invisibility cloak out of sight.
'Well, well, what do we have here? Doesn't look like the school rules are being quite adhered to, wouldn't you say so?' He sneered.
Lily wrinkled her nose, she didn't mind Snape, in fact she almost pitied him for the amount of trouble James and Sirius gave him, but she detested the thought of anyone abusing their power as prefects.
James and Sirius faces turned into pictures of disgust, jaws set and fists clenched. Peter looked terrified, though Lily couldn't imagine why, though Severus was top of Potions and pretty quick with his wand, James and Sirius were also skilled wizards.
'Actually, I would disagree.' James said. His polite words had a steely edge Lily herself had never heard before. 'And, being a Prefect myself, I don't think you should concern yourself with business that has nothing to do with you.'
'Hmmm, I'm not sure. Perhaps Professor Pentium would be interested to hear you story explaining what you are doing out here at almost two in the morning.'
Once again, Lily wrinkled her nose; Pentium was a thoroughly disliked Professor of Dark Arts and Slytherin Head of House.
CRASH!
The loud noise coming from the Entrance Hall startled the group and they all turned their heads towards it. Lily suppressed a gasp.
Without hesitating, Severus strode off towards the castle, probably expecting everybody else to follow him. Of course, they didn't. Peter went a few steps, and then looked back to James and Sirius, who had now turned to the Whomping Willow.
'Peeves.' Sirius said with a chuckle. 'Once again, we owe him.'
They walked around the Whomping Willow, so they were out of Lily's sight. They were quiet, sombre and she was mystified, usually these were the two loudest, happy-go-luckiest boys in the school. Another figure, this one crouched and half hidden in the shadow appeared at the foot of the Willow and Lily stared, utterly confused until it dawned on her, this was where the passage was. She had no time to dwell on it though, as the figure stretched and she realised it wasn't human, but an over-sized dog. Her heart starting beating furiously as it turned towards her, and staring into a pair of wild eyes she scrambled back from the bush letting out a terrified cry. She had paid enough attention in Care of Magical Creatures to know what creature in front of her was.
It bounded towards her, eyes rolling, teeth glinting and saliva dripping madly. She had enough sense to whip her wand out and say the only curse she could think of.
'Reducto!'
A shot of green light rocketed towards the werewolf and it stopped momentarily. However, and this fact made Lily cringe plenty afterwards, she had used a spell made for the destruction of objects, not living beings and within seconds the werewolf was moving again. As it came nearer, Lily could smell the ravenous hunger in it and she whimpered, dropping her wand and trying to scrabble backwards more. It moved in and stretched out over her to take her neck in its jaws -
Suddenly a black figure came racing in from the side, bowling into the werewolf and knocking it off her. She recognised it as a dog and it and the werewolf became a teeth snapping ball of matted black fur, the dog fighting to control the werewolf, the werewolf fighting to get to Lily.
Lily watched in horror, perched on her elbows, her robes ripped and her hair uncharacteristically wild. The dog, though it was unusually large, could barely contain the werewolf, and suddenly a huge, gleaming stag appeared in the furore and skilfully pinning the werewolf down there was a moment of stillness, only Lily's ragged gasps and the panting of the werewolf and dog could be heard.
Her mind returning, Lily grasped her wand and looked over to where she had last seen the boys.
'James, Sirius!' She cried. As the stag looked over to her the weirdest sensation came over her. They can't have . It's not possible for school students . But then how .?
Then the dog and the stag roughly dragged the werewolf around the Willow, out of Lily's sight. She knew she must be mad, but she scrambled to her feet and followed them round just in time to her the werewolf pushed into a hole, followed by the stag and the dog.
The Willow covered the hole over and Lily stood stock still. A rat appeared near her feet and she watched as it grew slowly and steadily to become Peter.
They stared at each other. 'Lily, d-don't tell anyone-' Peter began.
'Don't tell anyone that there are four unregistered anamagi running around Hogwarts?! Who knows?! Dumbledore?! He's the smartest of the teachers, he must know!'
'No one knows-'
'Are you all insane?!' She finally lost it, throwing her hands into the air, looking so fearsome to Peter, he took a step back. She failed to notice James and Sirius appear. 'Do you realise how dangerous this situation is, how close I was to being killed! Tell me, Peter, what anamagi does Remus make? Is his mother even sick? Did you bring a werewolf into Hogwarts for FUN!!'
James stepped forward and as she stopped to take a breath got his word in.
'His mothers not sick. Of course we didn't bring a werewolf in for fun. Think about it, Lily.' He stared at her, dark brown eyes trained fixedly, testing her.
Suddenly she got it. Shivers ran down her spine as she said it out loud.
'Remus is a werewolf.'
She couldn't speak as a huge lump had appeared in her throat. Remus. One of her closest friends. He had never seemed that close though, unlike Miranda and Winter, he always had had something to hide.
'Oh no.' She gasped. Her feet suddenly gave way and she fell plum onto the ground. Sirius and James came forward and crouched beside her.
'The teachers know he's a werewolf. But they don't know we're anamagi. Listen, Lily, they must not find out.' James said, still staring at her so intently she looked away.
'We're careful, Lily, this has never happened before.' Sirius said, talking about the close call she just had.
'I bet.' She breathed, still finding it difficult to breathe properly.
'Lily, think about Remus. You know about werewolves, how painful it is. Think about how much we mean to him, as anamagi.' James tried to reason
'James, this is insane and ridiculously dangerous.'
'You know how hard it is for him.' James replied, his voice with that steely edge it had had with Severus. 'We will do anything to make sure our identities are protected.'
Sirius put a hand on his sleeve a warning look in his eyes. Lily, at James' words, was suddenly furious.
'How could you?! Of all things - to, to threaten me! Don't forget, I was Remus' friend too! All you care about, James Potter, is having your fun. I was almost killed and you threaten me!' She jumped up glaring at the two as they rose. Peter stepped even further back.
'He didn't mean it like that, Lily, and we understand, we just want you to help us.' Sirius said hastily, putting a hand on her arm.
She took a deep breath.
'I can't do anything till I've talked to Remus.' She said resolutely, and suddenly feeling totally exhausted she turned to leave, but as an afterthought turned back to James.
'I will never forgive you for what you said, James.' She said in a low voice. She nodded to Sirius and Peter, then strode off towards the castle.
There was silence as they watched her, then James took his cloak out. Sirius, most unlike him, seemed thoughtful.
'I think she's the type to hold a grudge, James. Why did you have to say that?'
'To rile her, make her defensive about her friendship with Remus and less likely to fear him. I think it worked. She's strange though, anyone else would want run at the sight of him, she's willing to 'discuss the situation' with him.'
He through the cloak over his shoulders and Peter and Sirius joined him under it.
'She's brave, she managed a curse in the face of a werewolf.' Peter said, as they set off towards the castle, finished with their adventures for the night.
'That's Lily. It takes near death to upset her and she probably figures if she sleeps on the disaster of finding out her friend is a werewolf she'll find an answer to the problem, like it's an exam.' James snorted. 'Give me a girl with a little life any day.'
She crept slowly and carefully down the dark hall, occasionally brushing a curl from her face. Lily Evans wasn't a Prefect for nothing; she knew something was up, the way they had been talking, huddled in the corner, whispering furiously about the Whomping Willow and tonight, how it had to happen tonight. They never talked seriously. What a fluke, what a grand piece of luck, that she had been practicing the Invisibility Charm at that moment, just a few feet from them, when the common room had suddenly gone quiet and she overheard Sirius -
'It has to be tonight. We might never get another chance, James- '
James ran a hand through unruly dark hair, an uncharacteristic frown on his face. 'It doesn't feel right, it's too soon, and we've only had a few months as ana-'
The rest had been lost as the noise in the common room had picked up and Lily quickly stepped into the relative shadow of the portrait hole as her charm flickered out. It only ever lasted for less than a minute at a time.
So, that was the reason she crept through the halls of Hogwarts, trying to make as little noise as possible. It wouldn't be a disaster if she met Filch, she could fob him off with some excuse about a younger Gryffindorian having forgotten a book and begging Lily to fetch it, it was just, Lily didn't want to be caught by Sirius, James or Peter. Remus, of course, was absent, something about his mother being ill again.
What really intrigued her was what James had been saying before he had been cut off. Could he possible mean . not anamagi? A chill ran down her spine at the thought . The trouble they could get into, unregistered anamagi running around. But she shook the thought off, there was no way they could handle such a complicated spell.
She reached a small side door leading out onto the grounds. To the side lay a tranquil fish pond and glancing at it her reflection beamed up at her in the bright light of the full-moon. Auburn curls, glinting green eyes and a petite pale face with the usual serious look glared at her and for a moment she stared at it, before continuing on towards the Whomping Willow, staying in the shadow of the school walls.
She knew she had beat Sirius, James and Peter outside; she had waited in the common room till just before midnight, when they had reluctantly headed up to their dormitory, then waited another hour before creeping off to her hiding spot, about fifty metres from the Willow, with a view of all exits from the castle. It came as a huge shock to her, then, when the three boys suddenly appeared at the base of the Whomping Willow.
How was it possible? She asked herself. Was there a passage from their dormitory? Impossible, Dippet would never have allowed it. Could they make themselves invisible? Her questions were answered as she watched James rolled a cloak up in his arms as he, Sirius and Peter began talking again. And invisibility cloak! She gasped in surprise, and was grateful she was out of hearing. But that still didn't explain what they were doing at one in the morning outside the Whomping Willow with an invisibility cloak. She was even more mystified, however, when another figure stalked from out the side door Lily herself had used and she recognised it instantly as Severus Snape, fellow sixth year and Prefect, but also, Slytherin. Her eyes narrowed as he crossed the grounds and she realised she needed to be within hearing if he was going to talk have a chat with James, Sirius and Peter. Pulling out her wand she pointed it at herself.
'Invisicindeo.' She hissed and immediately a cold shivery feeling came over her. She jumped up, praying the charm would hold and raced as noiselessly as possible to a small bush sitting only a few metres from the boys. She ducked down as she flickered back into sight, safe from notice. Silently thanking Professor Dumbledore, Charms teacher, who had praised her on mastering a charm only a few seventh years had ever managed. She could now hear everything Sirius and James were saying. Peter was saying nothing, only glancing nervously around.
'We can do nothing, James, sure, but we sure will look like idiots when Snape asks what we're up to.' Sirius was staring intently at James.
'Better that then having the whole thing turn into a complete disaster. Peter, are you sure you closed the trapdoor properly?' James asked, turning to Peter. His tall frame seemed tensed, once again Lily could see his face, Sirius and Peter had their backs to her, creased into a frown.
'Y-yes.' Peter stammered, seeming anything but sure.
Lily couldn't believe what she was hearing. Trapdoor? That meant there was a passage. James willing to look like an idiot in front of Snape .
The three boys turned as Snape walked up to them, James tucking the invisibility cloak out of sight.
'Well, well, what do we have here? Doesn't look like the school rules are being quite adhered to, wouldn't you say so?' He sneered.
Lily wrinkled her nose, she didn't mind Snape, in fact she almost pitied him for the amount of trouble James and Sirius gave him, but she detested the thought of anyone abusing their power as prefects.
James and Sirius faces turned into pictures of disgust, jaws set and fists clenched. Peter looked terrified, though Lily couldn't imagine why, though Severus was top of Potions and pretty quick with his wand, James and Sirius were also skilled wizards.
'Actually, I would disagree.' James said. His polite words had a steely edge Lily herself had never heard before. 'And, being a Prefect myself, I don't think you should concern yourself with business that has nothing to do with you.'
'Hmmm, I'm not sure. Perhaps Professor Pentium would be interested to hear you story explaining what you are doing out here at almost two in the morning.'
Once again, Lily wrinkled her nose; Pentium was a thoroughly disliked Professor of Dark Arts and Slytherin Head of House.
CRASH!
The loud noise coming from the Entrance Hall startled the group and they all turned their heads towards it. Lily suppressed a gasp.
Without hesitating, Severus strode off towards the castle, probably expecting everybody else to follow him. Of course, they didn't. Peter went a few steps, and then looked back to James and Sirius, who had now turned to the Whomping Willow.
'Peeves.' Sirius said with a chuckle. 'Once again, we owe him.'
They walked around the Whomping Willow, so they were out of Lily's sight. They were quiet, sombre and she was mystified, usually these were the two loudest, happy-go-luckiest boys in the school. Another figure, this one crouched and half hidden in the shadow appeared at the foot of the Willow and Lily stared, utterly confused until it dawned on her, this was where the passage was. She had no time to dwell on it though, as the figure stretched and she realised it wasn't human, but an over-sized dog. Her heart starting beating furiously as it turned towards her, and staring into a pair of wild eyes she scrambled back from the bush letting out a terrified cry. She had paid enough attention in Care of Magical Creatures to know what creature in front of her was.
It bounded towards her, eyes rolling, teeth glinting and saliva dripping madly. She had enough sense to whip her wand out and say the only curse she could think of.
'Reducto!'
A shot of green light rocketed towards the werewolf and it stopped momentarily. However, and this fact made Lily cringe plenty afterwards, she had used a spell made for the destruction of objects, not living beings and within seconds the werewolf was moving again. As it came nearer, Lily could smell the ravenous hunger in it and she whimpered, dropping her wand and trying to scrabble backwards more. It moved in and stretched out over her to take her neck in its jaws -
Suddenly a black figure came racing in from the side, bowling into the werewolf and knocking it off her. She recognised it as a dog and it and the werewolf became a teeth snapping ball of matted black fur, the dog fighting to control the werewolf, the werewolf fighting to get to Lily.
Lily watched in horror, perched on her elbows, her robes ripped and her hair uncharacteristically wild. The dog, though it was unusually large, could barely contain the werewolf, and suddenly a huge, gleaming stag appeared in the furore and skilfully pinning the werewolf down there was a moment of stillness, only Lily's ragged gasps and the panting of the werewolf and dog could be heard.
Her mind returning, Lily grasped her wand and looked over to where she had last seen the boys.
'James, Sirius!' She cried. As the stag looked over to her the weirdest sensation came over her. They can't have . It's not possible for school students . But then how .?
Then the dog and the stag roughly dragged the werewolf around the Willow, out of Lily's sight. She knew she must be mad, but she scrambled to her feet and followed them round just in time to her the werewolf pushed into a hole, followed by the stag and the dog.
The Willow covered the hole over and Lily stood stock still. A rat appeared near her feet and she watched as it grew slowly and steadily to become Peter.
They stared at each other. 'Lily, d-don't tell anyone-' Peter began.
'Don't tell anyone that there are four unregistered anamagi running around Hogwarts?! Who knows?! Dumbledore?! He's the smartest of the teachers, he must know!'
'No one knows-'
'Are you all insane?!' She finally lost it, throwing her hands into the air, looking so fearsome to Peter, he took a step back. She failed to notice James and Sirius appear. 'Do you realise how dangerous this situation is, how close I was to being killed! Tell me, Peter, what anamagi does Remus make? Is his mother even sick? Did you bring a werewolf into Hogwarts for FUN!!'
James stepped forward and as she stopped to take a breath got his word in.
'His mothers not sick. Of course we didn't bring a werewolf in for fun. Think about it, Lily.' He stared at her, dark brown eyes trained fixedly, testing her.
Suddenly she got it. Shivers ran down her spine as she said it out loud.
'Remus is a werewolf.'
She couldn't speak as a huge lump had appeared in her throat. Remus. One of her closest friends. He had never seemed that close though, unlike Miranda and Winter, he always had had something to hide.
'Oh no.' She gasped. Her feet suddenly gave way and she fell plum onto the ground. Sirius and James came forward and crouched beside her.
'The teachers know he's a werewolf. But they don't know we're anamagi. Listen, Lily, they must not find out.' James said, still staring at her so intently she looked away.
'We're careful, Lily, this has never happened before.' Sirius said, talking about the close call she just had.
'I bet.' She breathed, still finding it difficult to breathe properly.
'Lily, think about Remus. You know about werewolves, how painful it is. Think about how much we mean to him, as anamagi.' James tried to reason
'James, this is insane and ridiculously dangerous.'
'You know how hard it is for him.' James replied, his voice with that steely edge it had had with Severus. 'We will do anything to make sure our identities are protected.'
Sirius put a hand on his sleeve a warning look in his eyes. Lily, at James' words, was suddenly furious.
'How could you?! Of all things - to, to threaten me! Don't forget, I was Remus' friend too! All you care about, James Potter, is having your fun. I was almost killed and you threaten me!' She jumped up glaring at the two as they rose. Peter stepped even further back.
'He didn't mean it like that, Lily, and we understand, we just want you to help us.' Sirius said hastily, putting a hand on her arm.
She took a deep breath.
'I can't do anything till I've talked to Remus.' She said resolutely, and suddenly feeling totally exhausted she turned to leave, but as an afterthought turned back to James.
'I will never forgive you for what you said, James.' She said in a low voice. She nodded to Sirius and Peter, then strode off towards the castle.
There was silence as they watched her, then James took his cloak out. Sirius, most unlike him, seemed thoughtful.
'I think she's the type to hold a grudge, James. Why did you have to say that?'
'To rile her, make her defensive about her friendship with Remus and less likely to fear him. I think it worked. She's strange though, anyone else would want run at the sight of him, she's willing to 'discuss the situation' with him.'
He through the cloak over his shoulders and Peter and Sirius joined him under it.
'She's brave, she managed a curse in the face of a werewolf.' Peter said, as they set off towards the castle, finished with their adventures for the night.
'That's Lily. It takes near death to upset her and she probably figures if she sleeps on the disaster of finding out her friend is a werewolf she'll find an answer to the problem, like it's an exam.' James snorted. 'Give me a girl with a little life any day.'