Chapter 11: So Much For Breakfast

When Remus woke up that morning he was feeling exhilarated and refreshed. He quickly got up, showered and finished dressing. He even ran a comb through his sandy hair.

"James should I have shaved?" Remus asked looking into a mirror on the wall next to Sirius' bed.

"Remus it's only breakfast. Sheesh." James laughed as he finished with his tie.

"If you ask me Mione Crane is the kind of girl that likes rugged men. I think a little stubble would turn her on." said with bark like laughter.

"I should have shaved." Remus moaned as he put his things together into his school bag.

Now he was nervous. But, why? He was eating breakfast and not only with her but with the entire Great Hall and her two friends, not mention all of his.

Perhaps it was how close they were last night. Arms length apart of course but he couldn't help but think they were so much closer.

"Hey Moony wipe that dreamy look of your face and let's get going." Sirius laughed patting him on the back as he moved by on his way to the door.

"Yea I'm hungry, let's eat." Prongs commented as they walked down the stairs leading to the Great Hall.

"Yea starved." Peter added lamely but as usual he was to busy trying to copy Sirius and James to watch were he was going. Peter lost his footing but saved himself with the railing but not before knocking someone the rest of the way down the stairs.

A scream was heard and than nothing.

Hermione and Ron were just beginning to walk down the staircase when they heard the scream and saw a witch get pushed all the way down the stairs. The culprit was Peter Pettigrew.

"Oh my god." James said aloud as they all just stood and stared for a moment in complete shock for the witch wasn't moving. In a matter of seconds they were being pushed out of the way but Mione Crane and the Plaths. Remus watched as Mione ran past him the rest of the way down the stairs and to the fallen witch.

Taking a closer look at the witch from the distance at which they were frozen he audibly gasped. He knew her and he knew her well.

"Peter…" Remus whispered. "Run."

With Remus's encouragement Peter ran back up the stairs and back to the dorms to hide. Remus was only trying to protect Peter for he knew the moment everyone found out who that witch was, he was doomed.

Peter was a good friend and it was an accident but others might not see it that way. It was not always the best idea to run but soon Remus could not even protect him from his own friends.

Hermione and the others raced past the Marauders to the fallen witch. Ginny who was preparing to be a mediwitch told Ron strictly not to move her to run and get Madam Pomfrey. Ron readably a bilged and ran off to the Hospital wing to fetch the nurse.

Hermione looked up and saw Peter begin to run away. She almost stood to take off after him but decided against it. She watched as Ginny checked the unidentified girls pulse by her hand to make sure she hadn't broken her neck.

Hermione moved the girl's hair from her face and let out an audible gasp. "This is Lily Evans." She whispered to Ginny who nodded.

Ginny looked up at James sadly and nodded to Hermione.

"James!" Hermione yelled running back up the stairs with gusto.

James took a step back afraid he was in trouble but when he saw the look on Mione Cranes face he knew something was wrong.

"What is it? Is that girl alright? Do you need any help?" James asked quickly.

"James…its Lily Evans." Hermione said quietly.

Suddenly James froze and felt as though he were going to die and fall down the stairs himself. He has loved Lily Evans ever since he met her six years ago.

"Is…is she okay?" Sirius asked the question for James who seemed unable to move.

"I don't know." Hermione said softly.

Remus looked at James a look of pity on his face. He knew how James felt about Lily. He always wished he could feel that way about someone also one day. Of course Lily did not love James Potter but to let oneself love someone at all is a gift. Remus did not even love himself so how could he even begin to love another?

Madam Pomfrey arrived quickly and levitated Lily onto a stretcher to be brought to the Hospital Wing. James followed behind her in a zombie-like fashion.

In minutes Lily was awake and talking. All the worry had really been for nothing. She had broken her arm and hit her head a little hard knocking her unconscious. She blamed no one feeling as though it were probably an accident.

No one said anything about it being Peter, not even Ron. They all just smiled and said they were glad she was going to be fine. Soon Hermione feeling a moment coming up ushered everyone out of the room with the pretense of collecting Lily's things while Madam Pomfrey seed to her arm and the few cuts and bruises she received. James stayed with Lily on Hermione's insistence that someone stay with her.

At their exit Ginny and Hermione both winked at James while Sirius muttered a 'good luck mate' in his ear.

"Potter you know you don't have to stay I'm completely fine." Lily said a bit awkwardly. She knew James was arrogant and hot-headed most of the time. But to show concern for her just derailed her all together. He was always harassing her with a cocky expression or calling her by her sir name adding comments with sarcasm. But to see him actually care for her well being was awing her.

"No, Lily. I want to stay." He practically yelled at her with his urgency which made her smile a bit.

"You know this is the first time you've ever called me Lily, right?" She smiled teasingly.

"Than perhaps you should call me James more often." He responded coyly which made her raise an eyebrow but brighten none the less.

No one in the world could surpass Lily Evans kindness. It was , like Justice, blind to whom it touched. She really was a beautiful person inside and out which made him love her even more.

"Alright, James." Lily smiled.

Once they had all gathered Lily's things and brought them into the Great Hall on Lily's instruction Hermione spoke.

"Where is Peter?" She asked Remus in particular having seen their exchange.

"I don't know." Remus replied already getting uncomfortable.

"Why did he run than?" Ginny asked.

"He ran? What a coward." Ron said through clenched teeth.

"Hey mate that's my friend." Sirius said to Ron speaking up.

Hermione knew were the real problem was.

"Remus? Why did you tell him to run? You knew it was Lily didn't you. How could you tell him to run away?!" Hermione was outraged. Speaking to Remus as though he lead Snape into the shrieking shack on a full moon.

It was nowhere near that serious but the act itself was wrong.

Sirius turned to Remus slowly and with disappointment. "Moony?" he asked.

All eyes were on Remus which made him very uncomfortable. What he had done was wrong but he did it to protect a friend. Does that make it right?

"I thought once James found out it was Lily he might try to hurt Peter." Remus said sticking up for his actions like a man as supposed to do.

"Well he did push her." Ron said coldly.

"No he didn't. Peter tripped into her." Sirius said now also sticking up for the boy who was one not present and two could not stick up for himself.

"That's not what we saw." Ginny snorted.

"Enough." Hermione said calmly stepping in the middle.

"Look what's done is done and Lily is alright. But Remus…" Hermione said now turning on the young man.

"Here it goes." Ron and Ginny said in unison which made Sirius seem to feel the need to take cover. He backed up with Ron and Ginny.

Remus himself swallowed and took a step back.

"You guys spend so much time being big shots. You're smart and poetic. The mysterious type that girls go for. And Sirius he's the Romantic ladies man that every girl here wants and every guy here wants to be. And James he's the jet setter. He's handsome and popular and good at sports. Courageous. But where does that leave Peter in this group of Marauders? He's the loser." Hermione said heatedly.

"You see here." Remus tried to start to defend himself or at least Peter but was instantly cut off by Hermione.

"Let me finish Remus John Lupin! You think you are protecting him? How ignorant can you be? So much for being the smart one! If you continue to baby Peter and take responsibility for his actions he will NEVER learn! If you keep standing up for him or telling him to run away what does he learn. To be a COWARD! You trying to save Peter in the end is only hurting him worse. Help him when he needs it but let him become more than the rat he is nick named after!" Hermione said poking Remus in the chest every so often with emphases.

By now most of the Great Hall had noticed the fight and was paying close attention, especially Dumbledore. Hermione with a huff flipped her hair and walked over to the Ravenclaw table she grabbed herself and muffin and stormed out to her next class passing James and Lily on her exit.

"What was that about?" Lily asked clearly confused.

"I think…Mione Crane just helped Peter…" Sirius said in awe sitting down on a bench.

Ginny and Ron looked at each other before glancing at a pale Remus Lupin.

"I think we better get to class." Ginny mumbled grabbing a muffin.

"Yea, don't want to be late." Ron added also getting something to eat before following Ginny out of the hall.

"See you later." James said happily obviously not picking up on the awkward atmosphere.

Remus finally sat down next to Sirius embarrassed.

"Well so much for breakfast." He sighed bowing his head slightly.

"At least she called you mysterious." Sirius wiggled his eyebrows.

From the head table Dumbledore clapped softly in his lap whispering the whole time "Bravo Miss Granger. Bravo."

A/N: Hey two chapters in one day am I good or what? Please R&R I really need help with the Quidditch scene. Any suggestions?

I would like to take a poll as to wither or not I should introduce Snape soon or not? Let the Poll begin:

Should Snape appear?

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