A.N.: Thank you for reviewing NoSoAwry, I'm glad that you like it! I am planning to write a R/Hr chapter, which will probably be quite a bit longer than most, so there will be something for you! :) And I agree, given his father and grandfather, I just can't imagine Scorpius being the nicest of characters, I always pictured him to be just like Draco, perhaps the evil toned down a little.

It was two weeks until the next full moon, so Remus Lupin felt as relaxed as fifteen year old self would allow as he floated on his back in the steaming water in the Prefect's bathroom. He loved his three best friends very much, but sometimes he needed a break from James and Sirius' constant plotting, and Peter's constant agreeing with everything they said in order to fit in. Tonight James was trying to decide whether it would be a good idea to slip his long-time crush Lily Evans a love potion. Remus, of course, had protested and told him it was highly unethical, and that she wouldn't truly love him, she would simply think she did. James considered this for a few seconds before eschewing this opinion and instead asking Sirius the best way to slip it into her drink. At this point, Remus took his leave.

He was trying to decide whether or not he should tell Lily, and warn her to be wary of any drinks given to her by James or Sirius, when the lady herself walked in.

Sixteen years old, warm red hair, and a fiery temper to match, Lily Evans was often considered one of the most attractive and popular girls in school. Remus could see the attraction himself, but knew that he could never love a woman, for he never wanted any to have to bare his curse. He planted his feet on the floor of the bath as she walked in.

"Good evening Lily!" he called out to her. Unlike the other three Marauders, he actually got on rather well with Lily. They were both of a studious nature, and could often be found sitting at opposite ends of the same table in the library, sharing books, ink pots, and the occasional illicit box of Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans. At the start of the fifth year they had both been given the position of Prefects of Gryffindor house.

"Mmmm lavender, my favourite! Good evening Remus," Lily gave him a warm smile, "Do you mind if I join you? I'm not disturbing anything, am I?" she asked, a flicker of concern on her face as she looked around the room. Perhaps she thought lavender was too girly for a man to enjoy by himself in a bath.

"Not at all Lily, as long as you don't mind sharing a bath with a naked werewolf," he said with a shy smile. Lily, along with the other Marauders knew his secret. She had figured it out alone in the first year, when she noticed that he kept disappearing at the full moon. She never told anybody, but was always extremely sympathetic when the full moon rolled around. She could sympathise, she told him, girls have a time of the month too.

"Not at all, Mr Lupin," she fluttered her eyelashes at him in an over-the top way, "As long as you don't look as I get into the bath too!" Remus turned to face the opposite wall and only turned around again when Lily told him he could do so. She waded through the water towards some of the taps, "Do you mind if I add some more lavender? I like it to be "explosion of the nasal cavity" strength smell." she asked, reaching out for her favourite tap.

"Be my guest," Lupin replied, also wading towards the row of taps, "May I add some more foam? Of the rainbow variety?"

The pair spent the next twenty minutes or so discussing various pieces of homework, occasionally adding more water, bubbles or scents to the tub. Remus decided to bite the bullet and tell Lily about James' plan. Much to his amazement, she burst out laughing,

"Does that moron really think I would drink anything he offered me?" she asked, "Why does he like me so much anyway?" Remus couldn't help but notice that she had edged slightly closer to him the last time she had added lavender to the mix.

"Well, you're very charming," Remus wondered why it was so difficult to list the wonderful things about Lily, there were so many of them, "You are astoundingly bright," Lily blushed slightly at this- within their year group, Lily and Remus were considered the two bright sparks. James and Sirius' intelligence though vast, was often overlooked due to their troublemaking, "And you are incredibly beautiful," he concluded with a smile, knowing that there was much, much more, but unsure of how to say it, "Does that answer your question?" he asked politely.

"Yes, it does," she answered quietly, edging slightly closer to him again, "But why does HE like me?"

"I'm not sure what you mean, Lily," Remus said, confused, but a horrible sinking feeling was engulfing his stomach, "Do you not think he is your type?" Lily snorted at this.

"I know for a fact he's not my type! He's so obnoxious, and he bullies Severus so much that I could never like him!" Remus nodded,

"Despite that Lily, although I can completely understand why this would put you off, he really does care for you. A lot. He talks about you a lot, and not in a derogative way, he genuinely cares, he just doesn't show it too well..." he trailed off.

"But I just don't like him!" Lily sounded frustrated now, "Jesus, Lupin, for a smart guy you can be really thick sometimes!" Her fiery temper was emerging now. Remus had often seen this directed at James, and Sirius, and occasionally at Severus, but he himself had never been the recipient, and was finding the experience nothing short of terrifying.

"I'm sorry Lily, I really don't mean to be awkward, I just really don't understand what it is that you're trying to say," he said, although he had a feeling he may be able to guess, but he wanted to make absolutely sure.

"Remus," she calmed herself, inching closer once again, "Of you boys which do you think I am the most like?" she asked, her eyes searching his face with an intensity that he both enjoyed, but felt slightly guilty about.

"Well, I'd have to say me..." he replied, holding her gaze. He found himself sliding forwards slightly, unconsciously, as Lily did the same. There were mere inches between their faces.

"Can you honestly say that you think me and James would be better together than me and you?" Lily asked, her eyes staring emploringly into his. He knew it was a mistake before he did, the guilt biting at him as he lifted his left hand out of the water to gently move a stray few strands of hair from Lily's face to behind her ear. As she did so, he lightly brushed her ear with his hand, and found himself being pulled uncontrollably towards her, his hormones for once speaking louder than his conscience. The kiss lasted all of ten seconds, which were both the best and the worst ten seconds of Remus' life. There was no denying that he was incredibly attracted to Lily, and that he would love for her to be his girlfriend, but he wasn't the only one, and James would never forgive him if he were to swoop in and steal the love of his life, having proclaimed it so often.

"I'm sorry Lily," Remus instantly waded away from her. Internally, he was rather happy to see she looked disappointed at he strode away, "But I can't do this to James. You may not like him, but he's one of my best friends, and this would kill him... Or make him kill me..." Lily had a resigned look on her face,

"Is it because you don't like me?" she asked, sounding more rejected than Remus had ever heard.

"No, Lily, don't you ever tell yourself that," he found himself wading back through the water towards her, so they were within arms distance of each other again, "Don't you ever think that I don't want this," the guilt in his chest subsided slightly. This was something that he really wanted that he was giving up for James, "Don't you ever think that I don't want you. Lily Evans, you are the most amazing woman I know," Lily blushed, a smile playing across her face, "But this would be so unfair to James, he's still convinced that you two are going to get together and have a baby boy named Harry,"

"Why Harry?"

"I really don't know, it's just one of those things he has already sorted out about your relationship before it has even started," Remus shrugged, "It's getting late, I should really get back to the tower, got some reading to do before bedtime." He turned and was about to walk away again when he felt Lily's arms wrap around his waist.

"One more kiss?" She asked, "Please, Remus?"

"One more kiss? How many kisses have you two been having? Jamesey-Wamesey will be most disappointed Lupin," Severus snarled nastily from the doorway, an emerald towel tucked under one arm. Remus reacted the fastest. He jumped through the water to the edge just as Severus turned and ran from the room. Luckily, he had brought the newly perfected Marauders Map with him. He hastily pulled on his bathrobe, tapped the parchment with his wand and muttered "I solemnly swear I am up to no good,". He watched as Severus ran down the corridor to a thin spiral staircase.

"Lily, I'm going to go after him, wipe this from his memory, please take my things back to Gryffindor tower with you, but watch out for Filch, he's up on the floor below the common room," he said hastily, forcing his feet into his shoes and bolting out the door.

Lily watched him go and sighed deeply. She was not used to not getting what she wanted, and right now, she really wanted Remus Lupin.