A/N: Important: I added a bit extra onto the end of the last chapter, so if you read it on the first day, you may need to check back and just read the last few paragraphs, Sorry.

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Chapter 10 ~ Remus?

I was vaguely aware of a savage barking in the background, and a pained howling that threatened to penetrate my daze, but I brushed it off. Such noises had no place in my dream.

I felt something soft but urgent nudging my foot and I shook it off.

The howling was becoming louder, and the incessant barking was coming from just behind me.

There was another heavy push on my foot followed by a pained whine.

I froze, suddenly scared stiff, and slowly built up the courage to open my eyes.

'Potter?' I asked, sitting up and rubbing my eyes, sure I must be seeing things. But no, there he was James, standing in front of me, the dog I had heard barking earlier pawing at his legs and shaking his head vigorously toward the castle, obviously trying to tell Potter something vital.

Taking a deep breath Potter seemed to decide something, nodded his head and walked to my side.

'Lily' his voice sounded strained, as if he was in pain. 'I need you to come inside with me. Please' he asked, and hearing the note of panic in his voice I agreed with a small nod of my head.

Potters mouth visibly dropped as he stared at me in surprise. I looked into his eyes and knew that no matter how much he annoyed me, my life was empty without him.

James jumped into action when the dog snapped angrily at him. He pulled me up from my position on the ground and I quickly moved away from the grim like dog. Its hair was long and shiny, and I'm sure really soft, but it looked like the kind of animal that would hump your leg given half a chance.

James grinned widely when he saw this before the howling tore through the air once again, throwing him into action.

'Let's go.' He commanded, and we began running in the direction of the castle.

I was stumbling like crazy; I really wanted to look back and know what I was running from, but I didn't want to trip over and get eaten.

Obviously realising that I was having difficulty, James grabbed my hand, helping me keep my balance and keeping the pace up.

My legs were whirring as fast as I could make them go, but I was still lagging behind James, so that he was basically dragging me along.

I was nearly bent over double; the stitch in my side was stabbing at me, my breathing ragged and painful, only fear pushing me forward.

Most annoyingly however, was the fact that Potter looked like he was taking a stroll in the park. Stupid quidditch.

Suddenly deciding I was too slow, Potter grasped me tightly around the waist, and flung me softly but firmly over his shoulder, barely breaking his stride.

I squealed in surprise as Potter suddenly changed direction, leading us into the forbidden forest.

I clamped my eyes shut, partly out of fear of seeing the mystery monster, but mostly because James was now full out sprinting, and I was being thrown about like crazy, but his hands remained firmly around my waist, keeping me somewhat in place.

Once Potter had taken a few steps into the forest, he swung me down, before once again grabbing my hand and pulling me behind the nearest tree.

I allowed him to curl me into him, so that his rapidly moving chest was pressing against my back.

He was fumbling with something in his pocket with one arm, the other on wrapped around my middle and pulling me tight against him.

He retrieved whatever he was looking for, and threw a soft material over the two of us.

I stood there, my heart beating so hard I was sure it was going to break through my chest, breathing fast and absolutely terrified of the crunching footsteps that were coming ever closer.

Then I saw it, my heart stopped, and my legs buckled, leaving James to hold me up. He pressed a warm hand over my mouth to muffle the scream that my dry throat would never release.

Even though I was terrified, I could not pull my eyes away from the beast, knowing that in a few short seconds it would see us and kill us.

It turned its head until its beady yellow eyes were looking directly at us. I tensed myself for the pain, but the werewolf turned away, his eyes having passed over us like we weren't there. I let out the breath I didn't know I had been holding and felt James's hand quiver softly, making the see-through cloak covering us tremor slightly.

The wolf was sniffing wildly, following an invisible trail that would lead right to us.

The growling was getting louder, the beast speeding up with excitement as it got closer and closer to its target, and I spun my head around to bury it in Potters arm as a ravaged barking cut through the night joining the werewolves snarling. The growling and snapping gradually become quieter, the animals moving away from us, deeper into the forest.

I realised the danger must be gone when James dropped his hand from my mouth and slowly withdrew his arm from its death grip on my waist, and took a cautious step away from me.

I didn't understand the immense feeling of depression that coursed through me, until I felt the tear trickle softly down my cheek and realised the deep, gut wrenching feeling of rejection.

I took a sharp intake of breath as I realised that James would feel like this (or maybe worse) every time I heartlessly put him down for asking me out, even when it he asked really nicely.

I smiled weakly at him.

'Sorry you had to see that' he gestured toward the forest the werewolf had run into, having missed the tear I hastily wiped away.

'It's not your fault' I whispered quietly.

'Let's get back up to the castle' James suggested, turning back to the grounds and leading me silently out of the forest.

I am sure that if I had been coherent the walk up to the castle would have been unerringly awkward, but as I ambled along I was in a world of my own.

Does James till like me? I never expected him to ignore me so completely back when I froze him out, and from his little display back in the forest it's quite clear where he stands.

It's weird, since third year I'd wished that James Potter would like somebody else, follow around and annoy someone else. But without him I felt empty. I hated it. And I didn't know how to get him back.

'James' I started once we reached the portrait of the fat lady.

'Don't worry, I'm not going to ask you out' he smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes, it barely reached his lips.

'Actually, about that...' I tried to start but he cut me off.

'I really am sorry, I was nervous, my mind was jumbled and the next thing I knew I had said that.' He rushed out quickly, afraid I wouldn't listen to him long enough to hear him out.

'I forgive you. Everyone makes mistakes' I grinned. 'I shouldn't have frozen you out like that. I...over reacted.'

James pulled a face at 'over reacted' as if that were an understatement. I swatted his arm.

'That was Remus.' I made it sound like a question, motioning back down the stairs.

Potter contemplated me with his large hazel eyes and then silently nodded his head.

Wow. Severus was right. Once he told me I had looked onto it, and thought he was right. But it was still a shock to hear it for certain, even if it was just confirmation.

'Okay, well 'night' I bade James good night, but before I could walk more than a few paces he caught my wrist lightly, spinning me back around to face him. I couldn't help but notice the goose bumps that soared up my arm at his touch.

'That's it? You're not creeped out? Scared?' he questioned, clearly confused but happy at my reaction.

'It's just Remus' I said pulling my hand from his touch and escaping through the portrait hole.

JPOV

How could I have been so stupid? Allowing Moony out of the shrieking shack? Stupid.

I almost got Lily killed. And Remus would never have been able to live with himself of he had hurt someone. We are supposed to look after him when he's turned. I'm a terrible person.

I've already hurt Lily once this term and nearly had her killed.

I thought about what I had overheard earlier, when she thought she had been sitting in the common room alone, and I had been hiding like a coward under the cloak; 'Giving him the opportunity to break my heart'. I couldn't let myself do that to her. I have to forget how much I love her, for her.

Well, I couldn't ever forget, I would just have to admire from a distance.

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