and nothing but the truth
chapter ten
Lily collapses onto her bunk bed, staring at the wooden frame of the bed around her. After James walked her to her dorm, she threw her bag on the floor and kicked her shoes off, head spinning.
Now she closes her eyes, thinking everything over. He was such a gentleman, holding the door open, not even going for a kiss on the cheek like many strange boys have. Certainly, Lily hasn't paid much attention to "the dog guy" before, but he is…extraordinary.
"Lily? Back so early?"
It's her roommate, Elle Goldeir, a Muggle who moved in from Scotland. She's not a really nosy girl, but highly observant and never misses a thing despite being asleep all day – it's all Lily can do to keep from being discovered as magical. Granted, it wouldn't matter much, but she would get a rather nasty letter reiterating the Statute of Secrecy.
"Yes, Elle," she says, sitting up on her bed. "I hope I didn't wake you."
"It's alright," the girl says from the top bunk, peering over the side sleepily. "I should get ready for work, anyway. I just wasn't expecting you to return from your date until later."
"It – wasn't a date," Lily protests, blushing, though it's really a futile effort.
"That Potter," Elle sighs, crawling out of bed and climbing down the little ladder. "He's very mysterious."
"What do you know about him?" the redhead asks curiously.
"Well, let's see," she replies as she pulls on a fluorescent green T-shirt, "he's trying to get an architecture degree, but he's already horribly failing most of his basic requirements this year, so it's unlikely he'll make it…"
Lily makes a hmm noise to encourage her to continue.
Elle scratches her head. "He got that dog of his recently, I think, because he didn't have it last year. And he's up at odd hours of night; I passed him on my way back from work at one in the morning, a couple weeks ago. Just said hello and kept walking."
"How odd."
"No doubt. I think he might have insomnia. It was a rather frightening experience for me, though." The girl places her hands on her hips. "I really must get going, Lily."
"Right, right." Lily falls back on her pillow. "Thank you, Elle."
There is no response except the click of the closing door.
Lily lies there for what seems like hours, eyes wide open. Although it's dark out, it's still early in the evening – the sun sets earlier as the weather grows cold.
Around eight o' clock, someone knocks on her door. Lily rises, straightens out her hair, and opens the door – it's Remus, looking jaunty in dark slacks and a polo shirt. Tips of his brown hair poke out from beneath a cap he's pulled half over his eyes.
"What are you doing here, Remus?" she asks in wonder. He grins despite the tiredness that has come to show on his face, and leans in her doorway.
"Taking you out for a night on the town," he says, reaching out to ruffle her hair. She scowls. "C'mon, throw on a coat, and we'll get out of here."
Though pretending to be exasperated, Lily complies, grabbing her green jacket off the back of a chair and pulling her dark red hair into a hasty ponytail. "What's got you in such a good mood?" she wants to know.
"I've no earthly idea," he says, holding open the door. "Blimey, your dorm hall is damp. I thought you were lying when you said it has no heating."
She sticks out her tongue, and they make their way out of the building, blinking and shivering in the frosty air. "How do you expect to go anywhere on a night so c-cold?" Lily chatters.
"I rented a car." Remus nods in the direction of the large student parking lot, and her eyes bug out.
"Can you drive?"
"Yes," he replies defensively. "I've got a license, you know. And I've been practicing all week for good measure."
Lily sighs. "You had better be telling me the truth, Remus John Lupin."
"I'm telling you the truth."
They make their way to the parking lot, and after some confusion over which car is the rental – after all, Remus explains, embarrassed, it is pretty dark outside – they find themselves on the road.
"Where do you want to go?"
"I rather thought you had something in mind," Lily shot back, "seeing as you're the one who drove all the way over here from your apartment just to pick me up – not knowing, I might add, if I would even be home."
Remus slows the car, one hand on the wheel, and gives her a looong look. "Why wouldn't you be home, Lee?"
She blushes fiercely, realizing her mistake. "Er – no reason."
"New boyfriend?" he suggests, grinning slyly. "Lily Emily Evans, what would your mother say -"
She turns even redder. "Shut up!"
"What's his name? Will I have to have a man-to-man with him- ?"
"REMUS!"
He breaks down laughing, nearly steering the car right into a sidewalk. And soon, she's laughing, too.
Author's Note: The official song for this chapter is "Animals" by Nickelback. It has nothing to do with the chapter. I just like it. XD
Erm, so I realized that I hate the first... twenty or so chapters. But maybe you might like them. If not... erm... sorry?
Please please please review. 3