Disclaimer: I refuse to repeat what I have repeated again, repetitively.

Short chapter, but you will possibly get a lot out of it. Plus it has a pleasant cut-off point. READ ON, FAITHFUL READERS, READ ON!!

Chapter 10

He turned to run.

"I thought Gryffindors were supposed to be brave? Come talk to me. Er—please?"

He stopped. He sulked. He looked at her. Then he nodded.

As he walked back over to her, the stag changed into the ever-so-familiar James Potter. The enormous antlers seemingly shrunk into his jet-black head, his spine changed from horizontal to vertical, and the rest of the graceful body became human; the only thing that didn't change was the eyes.

When he stopped in front of her, Lily realized something. The more she thought about it, the more he really did resemble a stag. As ashamed as she was of thinking that "whoever this was must be bloody gorgeous as a human", it was true. The blatant obnoxiousness must've made it slip her mind.

James was doomed. She knew. How could he have let her know? YARGH.

And yet, she was looking at him as if through a new light. He decided he liked new lights.

When she met his eyes, she paused. "When?"

It was now that James realized the complete crap-ness of this situation. It was near impossible for her to know this now without finding out about Sirius, Peter, and ultimately, Remus. He couldn't tell her without consulting the Marauders. Until then, vague would work.

"Third year. You?"

"Second year. Read about it and thought it would be amazing to be one, so I did it." At second thought, she added, "None of my friends know, though."

James was surprised. "You were twelve, and you didn't have help?"

"Well—no. What, did you?"

"Er . . ."

"Look, if this is about Remus, I already know. We were both prefects together, and I happened to put two and two together with his symptoms. You're not exactly telling me anything I don't know."

Now James was really surprised. Damn, that girl was smart; but that was one of the many reasons he stal—er, followed her. "But how did you relate this to his . . . um . . . situation?"

"Well, it makes sense. Werewolves only hurt humans when they transform. Wait—so you did this all for him?"

She had a half-disbelieving, half-admiring look on her face. "Well . . . yeah." Might as well. He looked at the ground.

"Perhaps you aren't a heartless bastard . . . hmm . . ."

When he looked up at her in shock, she had a grin to rival Sirius' when he thought of a new prank. "Watch it, Evans. You'll pay for that."

He made to chase her and possibly tackle her and land in an altogether pleasant heap, but before he could, she had transformed while still wearing the grin and scampered off into the woods. Laughing to himself, and thanking every one of Merlin's garments and undergarments that this had gone well without him giving up too much information, he transformed and took off after her.