A/N: Yo! I'm listening to Rent right now. I LOVE THAT MOVIE! Later I will be playing a selection from the Lion King.
Disney is my life.
Anyway, it is officially Midterm Mango Monday (don't ask). I feel the need to express my love of mangoes through the days of the week.
For those of you wishing for a little magical mischief, I will be taking advantage of some potions and spells shortly, have no fear. This chapter will be shortish, but a longer one is coming up, I promise.
PLEASE REVIEW! I really want to know what you think of the story. Feel free to suggest a direction for the story or even a plot line. I am open to suggestions.
REMUS AND LILY FOREVER!
Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER! I wish desperately that I did, because then this story would not be fiction, IT WOULD BE TRUE! But sadly that is not the case so I am stuck doing my frickin' math homework. Anyway, onward with the story!
Chapter 2: Remus's Stupid Grin
That same day, Remus sat down at lunch, a stupid grin set on his face.
"What did Lily say? Are you two going to the party together?" James asked desperately.
"Yeah, we're going together," Remus said dreamily. As soon as James heard the answer he wanted, he and Sirius continued to scheme and plan, leaving Remus alone in his daze.
I'm going to the party with Lily Evans, he thought happily. The devastating effects of this fact had not yet sunk into Remus's mind. They were starting to seep through now.
Shit! I'm going to the party with Lily Evans! Remus thought suddenly, jerking out of his dream world. I'm going to the Christmas party with her, and I'll have to sit there and watch while James sweeps her off her feet!
Poor Remus was having a very confusing day. One minute he was in ecstasy, the next in utter despair. He knew had feelings for Lily, feelings that were very hard to ignore. But he also knew that he could not get involved with her. He had to save her from his secret; he had to keep her away from that part of his life and all the danger he could put her in. And there was also the fact that James, Remus's best friend, was irrevocably in love with her. Remus was a very loyal friend. If James wanted Lily, Remus would try desperately to back off. In fact, Remus had decided on numerous occasions to do just that. But then Lily would smile at him or accidentally touch his hand and Remus would feel his legs go numb again. He knew he had to get away from her and leave her alone, but he couldn't. He just couldn't.
The result of all these thoughts was a stalemate. Remus couldn't move forward because of James, but he couldn't step back because he couldn't leave Lily alone.
Damn James! Remus thought savagely. Maybe if James backed off, Remus could find someway around the werewolf issue. But James would never give up on Lily. And James always got his way in the end.
As James and Sirius chattered on, Remus sat picking at his food, brooding.
Lily sat at a table the courtyard, watching Remus. He seemed to be concentrating obsessively on shredding his food to pieces. Suddenly, his looked up and stared strait at her. The intensity in his gray eyes scared her. Is he trying to tell me something? Lily wondered frantically. Well, if he was, the message didn't get across. Remus stood up quickly, mumbled something to the Marauders and left the courtyard. What was that about? Abruptly, someone interrupted Lily's wonderings, causing her to fall backwards off her seat.
"Oh my God, are you okay?"
"Hi, Ella," Lily said smiling, recognizing the voice of her friend.
"Lily," Ella Dawson said, back to business now that she knew Lily was not seriously injured, "Are you going to the party tonight with Remus Lupin?"
How did she find out? Lily wondered, as her friend helped her back into her seat. Ella loved to voice her opinions, good or bad. This was always a good quality to find in a friend, but Lily was scared of what Ella might think of Remus. She nodded an affirmative to Ella's question.
"I'm so proud of you!" Ella stated happily, her short, blond-streaked hair swaying with the breeze. "I was afraid you'd just go mooning over each other forever and never do anything about it!" She rolled her eyes, her impish grin lighting up her face.
"What are you talking about?" Lily said indignantly.
"I've always thought you two would make a great couple," Ella declared. "You two are perfect for each other. I used to think you'd match up well with James, but Remus is a much better guy for you. He's really quiet and kind. You need that."
She's right. Remus is perfect for me, Lily thought with surprise. She thought about his kind eyes, clear like crystal. She thought about his long fingers, the gray-streaked hair that fell almost to his eyes, the curve of his lips when he smiled. His wolfish grin, his quiet nature, the way he curled the corner of the page when he read a book, all of that somehow fit into Lily's idea of the perfect person.
Why did I never notice that before?
Remus sat in the astronomy tower, having fled there after that moment during lunch when he'd looked straight into Lily's eyes. They had been an intense green, both light and dark, changing and sparkling in the late afternoon sun. He had felt her staring at him, and had felt something that had scared him out of his mind. He had felt a moment of complete wildness, a loss of control. He had felt like he was becoming a werewolf. He had left that instant, wishing the feeling away, and finally, it had subsided.
That cannot happen around people, especially not around Lily.
That had never happened before. If Lily did that to him with one look, what would happen if she kissed him?
It took a moment for Remus to get back on track. The thought of kissing Lily had sent pleasant shivers up his spine.
The more Remus thought about Lily, the more he realized how perfect she really was. Her flaming hair and magical eyes made his heart beat loud in his ears. Her smile made him melt. Her crooked hand writing made him grin. Even when she was angry, she was beautiful. Her face got all flushed and her eyes sparkled as her words came flashing out like a whip, tearing to pieces anyone foolish enough to argue with her. He loved her passion and conviction, her need to make everything right. He loved everything about her.
If only I could love her without worrying that I might kill her.
"Remus, what happened down there?" asked a voice.
Remus started and looked up at the approaching figure. Sirius had entered the tower. He strode over to where Remus sat and dropped down next to him. "Why did you leave lunch so quickly?" Sirius spoke with concern, his eyes full of worry.
"I… uh… didn't feel well," Remus answered truthfully.
"You sure that's all it was?" Sirius asked suggestively.
"Yeah, I'm sure," Remus said a little too quickly.
"All right, well, I've got to go do my Charms homework. I'll see you back in the dorm." He started to leave. But, as he reached the door, he turned and looked Remus in the eye.
"Remus, if you need to talk, I'm here." Then he quickly left.
Sirius wasn't good at moments.
"Thanks," Remus whispered and smiled.
