A/N: Here you go! I've got quite the background on lycanthropy in this one (lots of note-taking) because, as you will find out, Lily makes quite the decision, here. Secrets are ferreted (Draco Malfoy reference, yeah!) out, friendships are…well, not rekindled, and you get more of Sirius-Lily, Remus-Lily and James-Mum.
Previously: James is mad at Lily, Sirius and Remus. Dorea and Charlus Potter (James' parents) are irritated with James because Sirius told them James cheated on Lily with Arlene Duff. Sirius also asked if Lily could stay at the Potter Mansion over the summer holidays, because earlier in the story her parents were killed and her sister, Petunia, is really quite mean to her. The Potters said yes.
Summary: Lily Evans. James Potter. And it's always easier to write your feelings than say them.
Disclaimer: This is hard for me to say, too. But…I'm not JKR. And…I don't own Harry Potter. HOWEVER, I do own some of the characters, i.e., the ones not in the books.
x.x.x
JAMES POTTER! I HAVE DECIDED IT IS TIME FOR YOU TO LEARN ABOUT (dum, dum, dum)…SEX! YOU MUST ALWAYS HAVE SAFE SEX, SO YOU DON'T GET DISEASES, AND YOU DON'T GET YOUR PARTNER PREGNANT! REMEMBER, IT IS YOUR FAULT AS WELL IF SHE GETS PREGNANT! AND WE WILL DISOWN YOU! THERE ARE PLENTY OF METHODS OF BIRTH CONTROL – CONDOMS, POTIONS, SPELLS – YOU NAME IT! REMEMBER, DON'T BE SILLY, COVER YOUR WILLIE!
Oh, and give my love to Lily, Sirius!
Mum
x.x.x
Mum-
Dammit, Mum! Why did you have to send that howler?
[James]
x.x.x
James-
Language, Jamie-boy. And, you want to know why? Lily is a sweet, sweet girl, and you, my dear boy, did not behave like a gentleman for her. By the way, your father and I have decided to confiscate your brooms for the Easter Holidays, should you decide to come home. If you do not, that punishment will be transferred to the summer holidays.
x.x.x
[a list written in the hand of a certain red-haired witch]
x.x.x
Reasons Why He Is
- always "ill" around full moon, or "visiting family"
- looks sickly and pale before and after
- sometimes has wounds afterwards
- the rest of the Marauders do too, sometimes (especially Sirius and Potter) (but why?)
- Potter says he has a "furry little problem"
- his nickname is "Moony"
Reasons Why He Isn't
- how could he have hid this all this time?
- he acts normal…but that wouldn't mean he's not…
Oh. My. God.
Is he okay? Oh god, oh god. This is…
Oh god.
Remus is a werewolf.
x.x.x
Sirius-
So I have a question…about Remus. And…the Marauders. Kind of.
Don't get mad. Please?
{Lily}
x.x.x
Love-
You'd be better suited to ask Moony.
No offense, but…I think I know what you are getting at, and it's his secret.
●Sirius●
x.x.x
Moony-
Lily suspects. Will you tell her?
●Padfoot●
x.x.x
Remus-
Before I ask you this…please keep in mind that if I am wrong (and I sincerely hope I am, for your sake) don't take offense. And if I am right…I am in no way prejudiced against people like you. So what if you can't control yourself one night a month? That's a lot better than most people.
Here goes.
Are you a werewolf?
{Lily}
x.x.x
Padfoot-
I can't tell her! I can't! I can't lose another friendship!
-Moony
x.x.x
Moony-
Since when did you lose the first?
And, Moony dear, Lily is one of the least prejudiced people I have ever met. I'd tell her.
●Padfoot●
x.x.x
Lily-
Um…
I'm not sure how to say this.
I…am.
Please don't run away!
-Remus
x.x.x
Remus-
Of course I won't!
That explains your injuries…but why the others'?
They're not werewolves too, are they?
{Lily}
x.x.x
Lily-
Um…no.
They are…I'm not sure if I should tell you this…but they're illegal animagi.
James is a stag – therefore "Prongs" – Sirius is a dog – "Padfoot" – and Peter is a rat – "Wormtail."
-Remus
x.x.x
Remus-
That's where you got the nicknames! So, they go out with you on the full moon?
{Lily}
x.x.x
Lily-
Yes.
So…you won't tell anyone, right?
-Remus
x.x.x
Remus-
Of course not! I'm actually going to go to the library right now. I want to check out some books on lycanthropy. I'd like to see if I can create – or alter – a potion for you.
When were you bitten?
{Lily}
x.x.x
Lily-
You don't have to do that!
And…I think I was…five, maybe?
-Remus
x.x.x
Severus Snape-
I don't know why I'm writing to you.
Well, I do, it's just awkward.
You…you were right. He is.
And…you're the best potioneer I know…and I was wondering…do you know any potions or ingredients to ease or cure lycanthropy?
I've checked out from the library Lycanthropy Through the Ages; So Now You're A Werewolf: A Manual On Life Hereafter; The Complete List of Potion Ingredients and Their Uses, Edition XII; Full Moon: When A Werewolf Transforms, and Werewolfry: A Memoir.
{Lily}
x.x.x
Lily-
First of all, Werewolfry is completely useless. It's a joke book, essentially. Potions Ingredients is good, but Edition XII is out of date. I've enclosed Edition XVI. So Now You're A Werewolf has almost no information on the actual transformation, it's just a guide to one's career and social life. Lycanthropy Through The Ages is a decent explanation on the social aspects of being a werewolf, but as with the other, it's rather useless for curing it. I suggest checking out One Night A Month, Danger to Society: How to Protect Yourself, The Fangs of a Wolf, and Furry Little Problem: A Guide to Being a Werewolf.
How do I know this? Side project on lycanthropy. I don't exactly agree with your method of curing it (they're horrid beasts, really) but...for old time's sake. Here's a list of ingredients.
Antimony
Armadillo Bile
Asphodel
Horn of Bicorn
Dittany
Dragon Blood
Dragon Claw
Dragon Liver
Fluxweed
Flobberworm Mucus
Honeywater
Lacewing Flies
Lionfish Spine
Leeches
Moly
Moondew
Moonstone
Nux Myristica
Octopus Powder
Runespoor Egg
Salpeter
Scarab Beetle
Sopophorus Bean
Starthistle
Syrup of Hellebore
Valerian
Wartizome
Wiggentree Bark
Wormwood
Wolfsbane
You owe me.
-S. Snape
x.x.x
Severus Snape –
Thank you.
{Lily}
x.x.x
[notes taken by Lily Evans while researching lycanthropy]
x.x.x
- Spread on contact between saliva and blood
- When a werewolf bites in human form, the victim is not a werewolf and may only gain lupine tendencies
- lycanthropy is not genetic, not passed to children
- werewolf attack on any animal (whether it be a true animal or an animagus) will not turn the victim into a werewolf
- all scratches, whether human or wolf form leave scars
- Ministry classified XXXXX (when in wolf form)
- if two werewolves mate at full moon – real wolf cubs are born, can only be distinguished from real wolves by their near-human intelligence
- such wolf cubs live in Forbidden Forest at Hogwarts
- transformation is painful
- often self-inflicted scars and premature aging in werewolves without things to attack or occupy it, because it will attack itself
- silver does not affect a werewolf, but it is not healthy for them to have a long exposure to it
- some say to call it werewolfry because lycanthropy can be the condition of wanting to be a werewolf
Antimony - clarifies things
Armadillo Bile – sharpens wit
Asphodel – puts to sleep
Horn of Bicorn – duality
Dittany – healing – maybe from lycanthropy?
Dragon Blood – potion strengthener
Dragon Claw – sharpens wit
Dragon Liver – potion strengthener
Fluxweed – when picked at full moon, transformation
Flobberworm Mucus – potion thickener
Honeywater - calming
Lacewing Flies - transformation
Lionfish Spine – wakes up
Leeches – easing passage
Moly – wakes up, increases awareness
Moondew – puts to sleep and wakes up
Moonstone – soothes anxiety and agitation, represents full moon
Nux Myristica – nutmeg in Latin, calming
Octopus Powder – potion strengthener
Runespoor Egg – increases "mental agility"
Salpeter – eases transformation
Scarab Beetle – sharpens wit
Sopophorus Bean – puts to sleep
Starthistle – puts to sleep
Syrup of Hellebore - calming
Valerian – calms, puts to sleep
Wartizome – sharpens wit
Wiggentree Bark – wakes up, increases awareness
Wormwood – eases anxiety, puts to sleep
Wolfsbane – puts wolfish tendencies to "sleep" and/or kills them
- maybe divide into three parts: sharpening wit, putting to sleep, and waking up after the problem passes?
x.x.x
Moony-
Have you seen Lily today? Or yesterday, for that matter?
●Padfoot●
x.x.x
Padfoot-
I haven't…I told her, and I'm afraid that she decided to try to invent a potion to cure lycanthropy. She's probably in the library right now.
Sorry 'bout that, mate.
-Moony
x.x.x
Moony-
Sweet Merlin. The library. I'm pretty sure we were banned after that stunt in our third year.
●Padfoot●
x.x.x
Padfoot-
I know I wasn't. Maybe you were.
But go, find her, and get her to eat something.
-Moony
x.x.x
Moony-
I'll see if I can.
●Padfoot●
x.x.x
[27 minutes later]
x.x.x
Moony-
After braving Madam Pince's stares, I made it to a back corner where I saw my very-conspicuous-red-haired-quite-inconspicuous-really girlfriend…sitting at a table with Snivellus. Yes, Snape. So, of course, I sat down and kissed her. He…freaked. (It was hilarious.) He left after miming puking (do you think that's why his hair is so greasy?) and then Lily chastised me, but I got a good look at what she was writing, and later she told me she had some good leads to a potion. She had written (on that page, which was all I saw):
Wiggentree Bark – wakes up, increases awareness
Wormwood – eases anxiety, puts to sleep
Wolfsbane – puts wolfish tendencies to "sleep" and/or kills them
- maybe divide into three parts: sharpening wit, putting to sleep, and waking up after the problem passes?
and she had said that Snape had started a project like hers and had given her his notes. Then, I showed her the kitchens and we ate, and then she went back to the library and I want back to my detention.
●Padfoot●
x.x.x
A/N: Ahhhhhhh I'm doneeeeeee yayyyyyyyyy
By the time you'll read this, I'll have finished chapter XI. I won't be able to update as much, because I'm being a counselor at a bunch of camps, but I'll try.
Next: A secret meeting in Dumbledore's office, some more angst amongst the Marauders and Lily's continual working on the beginnings of a Wolfsbane Potion.