Disclaimer: Not my toys; just borrowing them for a bit.

A/N: Here it is—the last chapter of my little story. Thanks to all who reviewed and added it to their alerts/favs list(s).

Chapter 4

That night when an elated James finally returned to the dormitory to get some sleep, Remus was lying awake staring at his canopy; however, he feigned sleep when James quietly called his name. After a few minutes, he heard James climb into his own bed. It was some time before the sound of his quiet snores told Remus his friend was sleeping. Realizing that sleep was not coming to him this night, Remus climbed from his bed, threw on a dressing gown, and padded, barefoot, down to the common room. A glance at his bedside clock had told him that it was almost four in the morning, and so he knew no one else would be down there.

Remus sat on a cushy sofa directly in front of the dying fire. He stared into the remaining flames, which seemed to get lower as he became more depressed. Remus did not hear the approach of the seventh year girl and, in fact, was so immersed in his own misery, he did not realize she had sat beside him until she put a hand on his shoulder and said, "Thanks, Remus."

Remus looked up. The woman he loved was sitting beside him dressed in her school robes. Her hand was on his shoulder. Remus shook his head, sure she was a vision conjured by his imagination. When he looked again, she was still there. His shoulder burned where her hand rested. "Wha…? I mean, what did you say?" he asked.

Lily smiled at him. Merlin, he loved that smile. "I said, 'thank you,'" she responded. "James told me that it was all your idea. Without your help, I would still be hiding from James and myself. So I just wanted to say 'thanks.'"

Remus felt himself flush. He was thankful the only light was from the dying fire. "Oh, yeah," he muttered. "er, you're welcome, I guess."

Lily's smile grew wider. She leaned closer toward him. Something telegraphed her intention just before Lily's lips brushed his. "I must not respond," Remus told himself, but the feel of her lips against his was too much on top of everything else that had happened that day. Remus put his arms around Lily and deepened the kiss. Her surprised intake of breath jerked Remus back to his senses. "I'm sorry, Lily," he said pulling away from her. "I shouldn't have done that; please forgive me and forget it happened."

Remus could not see Lily's expression, but something about the way she held herself told him that, although surprised, Lily was not offended or frightened by him. "I'm really sorry, Remus," she said shakily. "I didn't realize…oh, God, what a mess."

Remus stood up suddenly. The urge to put his arms around Lily to comfort her was so strong that he knew he must put some distance between them. "Lily, there is no mess. You and James are meant for each other. There's no room for me in your relationship. If you will just forget this ever happened, I swear, I'll keep my distance in the future."

Lily stood as well. She walked over and put her arms around Remus and enfolded him in a strong hug. "Remus, I'm the one who should apologize. I've ruined your friendship with James."

"No, Lily," interrupted Remus almost desperately. "As long as James never finds out how I feel, we will remain friends. I only ask that you never, ever tell him. Let me stay away from you for a couple of days, and I'll be fine."

Lily hugged Remus again. "I'll never forget what you did for us. Thank you."

Remus returned the hug. He knew this would most likely be the one and only time he'd ever be able to hold Lily in his arms and he wanted to savor it. The feel of her warm body against his triggered a response Remus needed to suppress. Abruptly letting her go, and hoping she had not noticed his instinctive reaction to her, Remus said, "You're welcome. Now, go to bed." He turned away from her to sit back on the sofa.

Lily walked to the doorway that led to the dormitory stairs. She paused before going up them and turned to look at Remus once more, "Good night, Remus," she called quietly.

Remus did not answer. He sat on the sofa with his face buried in his hands. His shoulders shook as he miserably contemplated what might have been.

The end.