A/N: What's up, everyone? Miss me?
I'm sorry for the wait, but I have a good excuse. For those of you who don't know, I've started on another fic called Swept Away: The Life and Time of a Pirate Girl. (Sway, for short.) It's L/J, of course, but now that I have that, here's my update schedule: one chap of Twises, two of Sway, but only because Sway's chapter are shorter. So it may take me a bit longer to update than usual, but please bear with me, ok?
I burned my lip drinking incredibly hot tea. Don't ask me how. It made half of my upper lip go a lovely shade of magenta and several people asked me who'd punched me. (-Laughs- Right, like anyone could punch me and get away with it.) So for three days I looked like a...I don't know what. Fun, huh?
Alright, just a heads up, 'cuz I know you're gonna wonder about it. Lily's not a scared little girl. There's a very fine line before simply fearing and fearing because one doesn't understand. Lily's standing right in the middle of that line. (Ok, I know I lost you, but you'll see.)
Ok, to those of you who only read this because of the Marauderers' parts, I'm sorry, but I must disappoint you again. James' part is short in this one again, but like I said before, Lily's part is more important. So to all of you James/Sirius/Remus/ Peter lovers out there, (Does anyone here honestly like Peter?) I'm sorry, but the Marauderers don't have a huge part in this one.
Once again, I don't like this chapter. I had a horrible case of writers' block at first, so this is the result, I guess. Please read with an open mind, ok?
Thanks to Ulitheal, Akt5us, rubberband11, Mahazzy, Prongs76, Briee, Tayler,DRACOSGiRLxx, persona, sarah is kooky, -Scp-, The all mighty and powerfulM, Sarah-Lily-Potter-Kavanagh, Daisy Pixie, Noelle, Zemmie, morgim110, and iluvsinging333. Love ya' all!
Well, onto chapter seven!
Disclaimer: Honestly, if you don't know by now...
James Potter was just leaving the Hospital Wing after a short visit with Emmica Traversy.
After asking her how she felt, how things were going (Aside from the fact that she nearly killed herself), and telling her that he'd always be there if she wanted to talk, he left and hurried down the sun-filled corridors. He needed to get back to his dorm, because for the next three days, he and his fellow Marauderers were going with Remus to 'visit his sick mother'.
In reality, what they were doing was far from going to see some elderly woman in a hospital, because the Marauderers had a secret that they couldn't let anyone find out, lest the lose one of their numbers.
For you see, Remus Lupin was a werewolf. And no one, except for James, Sirius, Peter and select members of the Hogwarts staff, knew.
At first, Remus hid his secret from everyone. He'd leave every month, always gone from the school on the day before, during, and after the full moon, always claiming to be seeing his mother, who was ill with some unknown disease. But it didn't take long for a pattern to form, and in their third year, James, Sirius and Peter confronted their friend with the evidence they'd acquired.
Remus had seemed very sad when they told him of what they knew. He'd told them that he understood that they didn't want to be friends with him anymore, and asked them to please keep his secret.
But the others hadn't wanted to abandon him as a friend. Instead, they helped in a way Remus would have never imagined. They illegally became unregistered Animangi - James a stag, Sirius a great black dog, and Peter a rat. The four of them romped around the school grounds at the full moon, having fun while at the same time allowing Remus the joy of knowing that not everyone hated him for being something he couldn't help.
They had also come up with nicknames for themselves; James was Prongs, Sirius Padfoot, Remus Moony, and Peter Wormtail. No one seemed to have guessed what they were up to or why they all seemed to disappear once a month, so the Marauderers looked forward to the full moon as if it was a holiday. And at the moment, James was eager to get to his dorm and his waiting friends.
"Hi, guys," James said, slightly breathless as he entered the sixth-year boys' dorm.
Sirius was playing a game of Exploding Snap with Peter, who seemed to be losing, as one of his eyebrows looked slightly singed. "What took you so long, mate? I didn't know you were so interested in anything Evans had to say. Perhaps you were doing something other than talking...?" Sirius asked, waggling his eyebrows as he collected up the singed cards.
"I was not," James retorted childishly as he began searching for his invisibility cloak. They'd need it to get out of the castle.
"Leave him be, Padfoot," Remus, who was lying with his eyes closed on his bed said.
"Why do ya' care anyways?" Peter asked, rubbing his fingers over his eyebrow.
"I just find it funny that our dear Prongsie is getting it on with a total geek," Sirius replied, shrugging.
"I am not getting anything on with Evans!" James exclaimed loudly, causing Remus to open his eyes.
"Oh really?" Sirius asked innocently. "Well then, let's see." He held up his hand. "You are suddenly staring at her all the time." He counted off on a finger. "You get all red whenever anyone mentions her, and you leave your friends to go spend unguarded time with her. Face it, mate, either you've officially become her stalker, or you've just jumped on the I Love Evans Express."
"Why would I like her?" James demanded, his voice raising. "Look at her. She's as big a' geek as they come! Since when have I ever liked nerdy little bookworms? As if I'd be so...so..." James searched around for a word to name the affliction that he might possibly be suffering from.
"So...what?" Remus asked, sitting up. A frown was glued to his pale face.
"...I don't know," James replied, angrily running his hand through his already unruly hair.
"Lily Evans is really nice and very cool to be around," Remus said in Lily's defense. "To think that the only reason you don't like her is because she wears glasses and likes to read makes you look like a horribly shallow git."
James snarled slightly and looked down at the ground, his hand still in his hair. Remus had a very annoying knack of making everything James said and did seem like a bad thing. "Fine," he said stubbornly, though sighing in defeat. "Fine..."
Remus lay back down on his bed, his eyes closed once again. The days before the full moon were always difficult for him.
"So..." Sirius said, looking between James and Remus. "Shall we get going then?"
"Thought you'd never ask," Peter said, grinning up at Sirius, who was still looking between his formerly feuding friends.
"Once James admits that he's a horribly shallow git, I'll go." Remus said, not opening his eyes.
Sirius and Peter looked at their messy-hair friend. "Jaaaaaaaaaames?" Sirius said, moving closer to James so that their faces were very close together.
James looked away from Sirius, then, greatly annoyed, said, "I'm a shallow git."
"I'm a horribly shallow git," Remus corrected, still not getting up from his bed.
"I'm a horribly shallow git," James repeated, a bit louder.
"That's all I needed," Remus said, standing up from his bed and stretching. "Shall we go then?"
"Yup!" Sirius said, linking his arm with James. "Won't we have fun, my dear Prongsie?"
"Sirius, you're scaring me," James replied, trying to shake his insane friend off.
"At least it pays the rent!" Sirius said in a singsong voice, letting go of James and twirling around the room.
"We don't pay rent, Sirius," Remus said, crossing his arms and smiling.
Sirius stopped spinning and pouted. "You guys spoil all my fun."
"That's what we're here for, Pad," James said, grinning.
"Hey guys, can we get going?" Peter asked, slightly impatiently.
James rolled his eyes at their short friend. "Keep your pants on, Wormtail."
Lily Evans was worried about Remus Lupin.
He hadn't showed up to their study session, and he had never missed one before. Ever.
Lily knew after the first half hour that he wasn't going to show up, but still she stayed there, sitting at their usual corner table in the library, waiting for Remus to come.
How bloody pathetic am I? She wondered silently, glancing at the clock suspended on the wall across from her. It was 8:47. If he hasn't come by now, he's not coming at all, Lily told herself. She sighed, gathered up her books and exited the library.
This doesn't make any sense, Lily thought as she headed back to the Gryffindor common room. We always study together on Wednesday evenings at 6:30, so he couldn't've forgotten. And he would have told me if he couldn't make it. I know he would. But then why...?
Lily stopped and glanced out the window opposite of her in the corridor. The full moon was casting a shimmery silver light over the Hogwarts grounds - a very pretty sight. Lily set her books down on the window ledge and placed her elbows on the space next to them. She rested her chin on her palms and cupped her cheeks with her cool hands.
Apparently, I don't mean as much to Remus as I thought... Lily leaned her forehead against the cold glass panes and stared out at the grounds. I mean, he didn't even warn me that he wasn't gonna show up. He could have at least said something. God, I'm such an idiot to think he even though of me as a friend. Honestly, Remus Lupin? How could I even imagine us being like siblings, much less going out? I mean he's so handsome and smart and kind and - huh? Lily's mental ranting was cut off suddenly when she saw movement at the edge of the Forbidden Forest.
As Lily watched, three figures emerged from the dark tangle of trees - three big figures. But they didn't look like humans. No, they were definitely animals, but were there any animals that stood up on their hind legs, flanked by two animals of different breeds? For the other two were both on four legs and different heights from each other, much less the other of the three.
The one on it's hind legs seemed to be struggling against the other two, as if trying to escape their company, but the two kept pushing him back towards the forest. Lily stared at them as the drew further from the school. Then right before they fell to the shelter of the trees, the animal on its hind legs lifted its head to the silvery, round moon and let out a loud, long howl.
Lily gasped and leapt back from the window instantly, out of both shock and fear. It was a werewolf.
Lily took a deep breath and calmed herself. She was safe inside Hogwarts. Nothing could touch her at school. She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, then opened them and looked out at the grounds. The animals were gone. I probably just imagined the whole thing. I just need to go to bed...
Lily rubbed her eyes beneath her glasses and checked her watch. It was9:07. Damn, Lily thought picking up her books quietly, so as not to draw attention to the fact that she was out after curfew. She sprinted silently to the portrait of the Fat Lady and gasped out the password.
"Cutting it a little close to curfew, aren't you young lady?" The Fat Lady remarked, eyeing the redhead. Lily nodded meekly and crawled through the portrait hole, her eyes adjusting to the warmth that suddenly overtook her. She quickly scanned the common room, searching for a sign of Remus or even his friends, but none were there. Lily frowned slightly, then headed up the girls' staircase.
When Lily opened the door to her room, she was met by the sight of Emmica - Emmy - Traversy sitting on her bed, reading a red hardcover book. At the sight of Lily, Emmy sat up and, setting her book down, smiled. "Hey, Lily."
"Emmy, you're out of the Hospital Wing?" Lily asked, putting her own books on her nightstand and sitting down on her bed.
"Well, obviously," Willow said, startling Lily slightly with her monotonous voice. She too was lying on her bed.
"God, Willow, don't do that. You know it creeps me out. So you're feeling well, then?" Lily asked, turning back to Emmy.
"Mm-hm," was the reply.
"I was thinking, Lily," Willow said, sitting up. "That we could introduce her to Dathan. I think it'd be good for them to meet. "
Lily didn't miss the hint of foreboding in Willow's voice. She gave her a what-are-you-up-to? look before replying, "Um, alright. I mean, since we're friends now, it'd probably be good for you to get to know each other as well."
"My thoughts exactly," Willow said, standing and sharing a meaningful look with Lily.
"So, Dathan's your brother, Willow?" Emmy asked, also standing. She slid a pair of slippers onto her bare feet and looked expectantly at Lily and Willow. "Shall we go, then?" She asked uncertainly.
"To answer your first question, yes, Dathan is my brother," Willow said, leaning onto the baseboard of her bed.
"You'll definitely notice the similarities," Lily said, laughing a bit as Willow raised her eyebrow. "Then, for your second question, yes, we are going, but first, we need you to swear that you will never tell a soul about what we're gonna show you. It's a secret that only Willow, Dathan and I know about."
"I promise I won't tell anyone," Emmy said, raising her right hand in the air as if she were in a Muggle court.
"And promise that you won't take anyone there," Willow said, examining Emmy through her curtain of brown hair.
"I promise."
"Alright then," Lily said, jumping off her bed and walking over to the third tapestry from her previous position. She hesitated for a moment. "You promise not to tell? We could potentially get into trouble for this."
"Cross my heart on penalty of having my eyes gouged out with my wand," Emmy said, a very serious expression on her face.
"Nice," Willow said, her eyes smiling. "Got an imagination, this one has."
Lily let out a breath and pushed the tapestry open and pushed the detached section of the wall away, revealing the staircase. Emmy's eyes widened as she stared at it. "Has this been here the whole time?" She asked, almost breathlessly.
"Yeah," Lily replied quietly.
"Where does it lead?"
"You'll see." Willow turned the handle and proceeded up the stairs, closely followed by Lily and Emmy.
When they emerged in the round room, Emmy full on gasped. "Oh my...when did you find this?" She asked, taking in the sloping ceiling and ornate furniture.
"First day of first year," Willow replied, waving her wand and lighting the extinguished candles. "Wake up, Dathan," she said to the canopy bed.
Lily and Emmy turned to it, and, much to Emmy's surprise and Lily's expectation, saw Dathan sit up in it, grumbling about being woken up at such an ungodly hour.
"Stuff it, Dath, it's 9:30 pm. You shouldn't spend all night out if you're gonna crash so early in the evening," Lily reprimanded, shaking her head.
"Oh come on, how could I not stay up all night? You do remember who I room with, don't you?" Dathan said in his defense.
Lily looked at him for a moment, then said, "Why, oh why must you make me picture that?"
"Whoa, there, Lils, you of all people should know I don't swing that way," Dathan said, stretching his arms high over his head.
"Dathan, could you get up off your lazy ass and come over here? There's someone we want you to meet," Willow said, interrupting their bickering.
Lily turned to Emmy, who had a strange, dazed look on her face as she watched Dathan stand up and walk over to Willow. "Emmy, this is Dathan. Dathan, this is Emmica Traversy," Lily said.
"Nice to meet you," Emmy said, her former dreamy look gone. She smiled at him in an almost superior way.
"And you," Dathan said, bowing to her. He'd noticed the challenge she'd given him. "Hey, are you the one those rumors - " Willow elbowed Dathan in the stomach, cutting him off.
"So, this is your brother, Willow?" Emmica asked, ignoring Dathan's last comment.
"Although I'd rather not admit it, yes," Willow replied, giving Dathan a disgusted look.
"What? I was just asking a question. And why is she up here, anyways?"
Willow let out an exasperated sigh. "Could you explain this one, Lily?"
"Dathan, Emmy's our friend. She's been living in our dorm for the past six years and this room is as much hers as it is ours," Lily said calmly, putting a hand on Emmy's shoulder.
"Fine, but what you're saying is that since there's an entrance to this place from the guys' dorm that this is as much the Marauderers' place too?" Dathan asked, contesting Lily's statement.
"Did I say that?" Lily asked. "If you let the Marauderers in here, you'll never get a good nights sleep again, considering that they'll be doing...whatever it is that they do in your room in here too. Do you really want to walk up here and find something unpleasant going on in the bed you were just in?"
Dathan shuddered. Emmica, who had been staring at Dathan as he was saying all of this, laughed. The other three looked over at her, startled.
"You guys - have no idea how funny you are when you argue, do you?" She gasped out, laughing harder at their bemused expressions. It wasn't long before Lily and Dathan joined in to laughing as well, though they weren't quite sure what was so funny. Willow, who never laughed anyway, just brushed her hair out of her eyes and watched the three of them, an unnoticed and small smile on her pale face.
"Welcome to the family, Emmy," Lily said, putting an arm around Emmy's shoulders.
"Family?" Willow asked, leaning back against the desk. "Don't you mean nuthouse?"
"There's a difference?" Dathan asked.
Emmica and Lily looked at each other for a moment before replying together, "Nope."
James Potter was sitting tiredly in Muggle Studies two days later, looking much worse for wear.
He'd of course, been out for the past three days, romping around the school grounds with his friends. And while he was tired, he wouldn't have traded what he'd been out doing with staying inside and doing homework for anything.
After all, when it comes down to it, who do you really have, aside from your friends and relatives? No one, was the answer James had come up with, but to him, there was only one name to call all of the people who cared about him.
Family.
A/N: Not my best work, huh?
Well, review anyways!
Hugs and fuzzles
MM360
