After James and Remus rounded the corner, they snuck off behind a nearby statue to look at the map of Hogwarts they had. This map was not just an ordinary map, no this map showed every nook and cranny of Hogwarts, and not just that, it also showed where every person in Hogwarts was and what they were doing.
In a just a few minutes of scanning the map, Sirius spotted Remus in the school library. He was tucked in one of the very back corners behind a huge bookshelf reading.
James and Sirius sprinted to the library, hoping that Remus would not move before they got there. People whispered as the pair ran down the hallway, obviously word had gotten around quickly about the fight in the Gryffindor common room. But, James and Sirius didn't care, all they cared about was finding Remus before anyone else did.
Just a few minutes later, the boys were in the library. They quickly walked to the back corner where they had seen Remus on the map, and to their relief he was still there.
"Remus, mate?" Sirius asked cautiously, not knowing how Remus had reacted to Peter's outburst.
"You found me." Was all Remus replied, not even bothering to look up from the book he was reading.
"Yeah, you know the map makes it pretty easy." Sirius replied as he dug his hands in his pockets. He was not sure how to handle Remus' nonchalant attitude.
"Oh, yes, I suppose so." Was all Remus said.
"Mate, McGonagall said that she wants the three of us in Dumbledore's office pronto." James piped up.
"I can't go out in the halls, now!" Remus hissed and looked around to make sure that the three boys were alone."
"Yes, you can," James said, while digging through his bag. "I always carry around my invisibility cloak just in case."
"Fine, but we all can't fit under this." Remus said while getting up.
"Only you have to, me and Sirius will walk."
"Fine." Remus said, and took the cloak, he flung it over his body and immediately was invisible.
The boys walked in silence to Dumbledore's office. Professor McGonagall was waiting impatiently in front of the gargoyle that blocked the entrance to Professor Dumbledore's office.
"Where is Remus?" McGonagall asked, wondering why the boys had come with out their friend.
"I'm right here, Professor." Remus said, while simultaneously taking off the invisibility cloak.
McGonagall took a step back in surprise and let out a small gasp, but did not say anything about the cloak. "Well, Professor Dumbledore is waiting for us, so licorice wand."
At the words, "licorice wand," the gargoyle sprang to life and moved to the side allowing the door to open leading to the staircase that led to Dumbledore's office.
The three boys walked up the magnificent gold staircase and stood before the large oak doors that led to Dumbledore's office. None of the boys had been in enough trouble to actually go to Dumbledore's office, so it took their breath away when McGonagall opened the doors.
Professor Dumbledore's office was decorated with a variety of different bronze, silver and gold objects; some let out strange sounds while others moved in odd ways. Behind his desk, was the sorting hat and more of the strange metal objects. Bookshelves covered the wall to the left of the doorway, while on the opposite wall hung pictures of every headmaster before Dumbledore. The pictures appeared to be sleeping soundly, until one of them woke up and left its frame. But besides the many objects, the giant bookshelves and the portraits, there was one thing that stuck out the most in Dumbledore's office and that was the red Phoenix, sitting in it's cage with the door wide open, starring curiously at the three boys.
"Thank you for joining me boys, now Professor McGonagall has already filled me in on the situation, but I would like you three to take a seat." Dumbledore said quietly, breaking the trance the boys were in. They quickly sat in the three chairs that popped up in front of Dumbledore's desk and waited for Dumbledore to speak again.
"Seeing as there is only a week before N.E.W.T. exams are to be taken, I don't see any reason why Mr. Lupin should have to leave the school. The next full moon is during summer vacation, so I believe I can convince any concerned parents that their children are perfectly safe. If this is okay with you, Remus."
Remus just nodded his head and looked down at his hands that were placed in his lap.
"As for the two of you," Dumbledore said, indicating James and Sirius.
"Physical fighting has been forbidden at Hogwarts for a number of years now, but in this case, I am willing to make an exception. I have talked to Professor McGonagall, and she has agreed to relieve the two of you from your detentions. Just don't let it happen again." Dumbledore finished with a slight twinkle in his eye.
"Thank you, Professor," Said Remus, as he got up to leave.
"Wait, what about Peter?" Asked James curiously.
"I am afraid there is nothing we can do to punish Peter, you entrusted him with a secret and he betrayed you. Although, he did a horrible thing, the school cannot punish him." Dumbledore replied the sparkle in his eyes vanishing.
"That's complete bull-" Sirius began, but Remus punched him in the arm to stop him from cussing in front of the head master.
"Thank you again, Professor." Remus said while taking a hold of Sirius arm and dragging him out, James silently followed.
When the boys got back to the Gryffindor common room, Remus dashed up the stairs and Sirius followed straight on his tail. James was about to go up too, when he felt a small hand grab his. He turned around to find it was Lily's hand and he squeezed her hand lightly.
"James I heard what happened, how could Peter do that to Remus?"
James' face got serious and he dropped the hand that held Lily's to his side. "I don't know, Remus had nothing to do with this whole thing. I guess Peter just snapped. Wait, how come you don't seem surprised about Remus', uh, condition?"
"Oh, I have suspected it since the end of second year, I just never brought it up." Lily replied. "Come on James, let's go for a walk, you need to cool down.'
"Alright." James agreed, taking Lily's hand and walking out of the common room.
After a few minutes of silence, Lily began to speak again, "James, I don't want to upset you more, but…"
"What is it Lily?"
"We'll I talked to Severus about our relationship this afternoon and uh, he didn't take it that well."
"What happened?"
"Well, uh…" Lily began as she thought back to what happened just a few hours ago.
--
"Severus, wait up." Lily yelled, as she spotted Severus walking down the hallways. When she caught up to him, she noticed he had a horrible scowl on his face. "What's wrong?"
"Don't play stupid Lily, you know what's wrong." Severus hissed while looking away from Lily's worried green eyes.
"No, I don't tell me." Lily pleaded.
"You, Potter, together."
"Oh, that's what I wanted to talk to you about, you see-"
"You know I hate Potter and I think he is a piece of scum, he's not right for you Lily."
"Sevy, you know that you are my best friend right. I really care about you and I know you don't like James but you will come to like him once you get to know him."
"I never want to get to know him, Lily."
"Not even for me." Lily said, her eyes tearing slightly.
"Lily, you don't understand."
"Than explain it to me."
"I can't!"
"Why not."
"Fine, I don't want you to go out with Potter because I love you, Lily." Severus said in a quiet voice.
Lily just starred at Severus in awe, she never saw this coming a million years. When she finally found her voice she said, "Uh, Severus, I'm flattered, but I like James. I hope this doesn't affect our friendship."
"I'm sorry, Lily, but I can't be friends with you when you are going out with a scum bag like him and to know that you don't feel the same way, it just wouldn't work."
"But, Sevy-"
"No, Lily it won't work. Bye, I love you." And with those last words and a quick hug, Severus talked to Lily for the last time.
--
"I am so sorry Lily," James started.
"No, no, it's not your fault." Lily said before James could apologize more.
"Well, uh, I think we should head back it's getting late."
"James, I don't want you to leave me." Lily pleaded, while wrapping her arms around James' waist.
"I'll never leave you, Lily." James said, before smashing his lips into Lily's needing to feel her love in all of this disarray.
James wrapped his arms tightly around Lily, in the deserted corridor, not willing to stop kissing her, even if he was running out of air.
Lily finally broke this kiss and put her head on James chest.
"I should really get back to Remus." James stated, but didn't move from Lily's embrace.
"I know, he needs you right now and you should be with him." Lily sighed while breaking apart from James.
They walked back the common room holding hands and when they got to the staircase James gave her another long kiss good night, before heading up to his dormitory.
A/N: The next chapter will be my last, and I am very sad about it, but the story has to end sometime. I just want to say thanks to my friends for some good ideas and thanks to my reviewers! The last chapter should be up soon, so please read and review!
