Werewolf

Fifth Year - (continued from previous chapter)

"At least Dumbledore was nice about it," said James reassuringly.

"What was going through my head?" groaned Sirius. "I'm an idiot!"

"No you're not!" said Peter. "Not at all!"

James glanced up at Remus, who didn't speak, simply looking at each of them in turn. He had been shocked, hating himself, when he had heard about Snape's close encounter with him the night before. Thinking about how close it had come to him killing a student, or affecting him with lycanthropy, in his mind even worse, had made him, for the first time since James had met him, lose his temper with Sirius.

The whole affair of Snape venturing out, trying to get to the Shrieking Shack, and James saving his life had also, although none of them knew how, slipped out and it was the gossip of the school. And, because of this, James's popularity had rocketed, although to his pleasure or annoyance he did not know.

Sirius suddenly straightened, elbowing James out of his reverie.

"Evans at twelve o'clock!" he hissed.

James looked up. Lily was walking towards him, looking uncomfortable, fiddling with a strand of dark red hair.

"Potter," she said, and seemed to falter, perhaps wondering whether it would be best to sit down on the grass beside him or to stay standing. "I just… I came to say…"

He held his breath, expecting the worst.

"Thank you," she finished.

His breath escaped in a gush of astonishment. "What?"

"Don't make me repeat myself," she said, a crease of irritation appearing on her forehead.

"Did you just… thank me?" he said, taken aback. "For what? I haven't done anything!"

She crossed her arms. "Did you, or did you not, save Severus's life last night?"

"Well, yes, but–"

"So I'm thanking you, because he's my friend and I'm just so glad he isn't… well… dead," she said in a quiet voice. Beside James, Remus flinched.

"Oh," said James. "Well… er... They were only spirits, although really violent ones and so I had to–"

"Drop the pretence, Potter," she sighed. "I know."

And Remus spoke for the first time, his voice a lash of horror. "You know what?"

She attempted a smile at Remus. "I know that you're a werewolf."

The four Marauders froze. Sirius was the first to react.

"Was it Snape?" he snapped. "Did he tell you? I'm going to rip–"

"No," she interrupted. "I've always known, or suspected. Sev did, too."

James gaped at her. "And you didn't tell anyone? Snape didn't tell anyone?"

"I told him not to," she said. "And I didn't feel it was my secret to share. I assume Dumbledore knows?"

Remus nodded numbly.

"Well," she said, shrugging. "If Dumbledore knows, then there's nothing for anyone to worry about. It'd be Sev's own fault if he got himself killed, but he didn't and so everything's fine."

"You've…" began Remus, his voice sounding strangled. "You've… Always?"

"Well, since about halfway through second year," she said.

"Aren't you afraid of me?" asked Remus bitterly. "Don't you think I'm dangerous?"

"Moony!" said James quickly, warningly.

"No!" said Lily. "No, of course not! Remus, you're my friend!"

How James wished the words were directed at him. Lily looked at him, awkward again, and gave a little nod.

"Well, I have to go," she said. "I… er, that's all I had to say, so…"

She turned to walk away, back up to the castle, leaving behind the four stunned Marauders in her wake.

Remus turned to James at once.

"Lily Evans is much too good for you," he said, breaking into a smile for the first time since he had heard about what had happened the night before. "Marry her."