'It's beautiful,' Lily said truthfully. The couple stood on the astronomy tower in the warm June air.

'Thank you,' said Remus, genuinely pleased. 'I made it myself.' Lily smiled, reaching to put the pendant round her neck. It was a sunny evening, but Remus didn't really notice. He couldn't couldn't believe that he'd kept it up so long. The going out with Lily.

Mind you, now, he didn't have to pretend, he realised, as he held her and pulled her to his chest. She was warm and he could feel her breathing, the rise and fall of her chest and the tickling on his neck. Her green eyes met his, soft and doe-like, and he inhaled. A slight breeze made their hair tangle, and Lily laughed, leaning back in his arms. He laughed too, supporting her back, and then, still holding her, leaned in and kissed her deeply.

Remus was in love. Over time, he hadn't realised this fact, but it suddenly came to him now like a tidal wave.

Lily was in love, too. She'd thought she was before, but this was something entirely new. She let Remus kiss her, absorbing the pressure on her lips and pushing back with hers. Her hands found his hair, and ruffled it. She vaguely felt his hands round her waistline, and let her hands trail down to his.

'Lily?'

'Don't stop,' she whispered, eyes still shut.

'Lily, I don't think we should.'

'Should what?'

'Do this. Why are we doing this?'

'You started it,' Lily murmured, trying to find his lips with hers.

'So I did,' Remus said with a sense of defeat, and kissed her again.

The sun was low in the sky by the time the two returned to civilisation. They had missed dinner, so Remus lead the way to the kitchens. Lily stood by the painting of the fruit, bewildered.

'Tickle the pear,' Remus hinted. Lily did and the painting swung open.

'Master Lupin! Welcome,' came a voice near her feet. She looked down and squealed.

'Awww! House elves?'

'Yes. Hello, Blonkie,' Remus said, smiling at the small house elf. 'D'you think we could grab some food?'

'Anything, anything for Master Lupin and his friend,' Blonkie said, bowing over and over.

'Stop the master stuff, Blonkie!'

'But -'

Remus smiled at the elf. 'Don't worry.'

'Food for master,' she muttered, running off. Lily looked at the elf's retreating back.

'You come here often?'

'Yes, James and Wormy can't get enough of the food. Sirius likes it too.' Remus sighed.

'It's so interesting! And these elves . . . they're adorable!'

From the far side of the kitchen, a tray was emerging. On it were piles of sliced persimmon and blueberries, a full selection of antipasto and assorted breads.

'These are my favourites!' Lily exclaimed. Blonkie smiled.

'Yes, Miss Lily, ma'am,' she squeaked. 'Master Lupin specially requested -'

'How did you know, Remus?'

'Magic,' he joked, squeezing her. She pecked him on the cheek.

The two of them then proceeded to eat in silence. Lily popped a blueberry in his mouth and he ate it slowly, watching her vaguely.

'You close your eyes when you chew,' she said.

'Really?'

'Yeah.'

The two finished their food, and Remus thanked the elves.

'Come on, let's go,' he said.

'Alright. Thanks, Blonkie!'

'Anything for Miss Lily, anything for Master Lupin's friends,' the elf gushed as the pair of them left the busy kitchens.

Remus and Lily were in the entrance hall when Remus stopped walking abruptly.

'What day is it?' he asked suddenly.

'It must be the 23rd . . . why?'

'Moon.'

'Damn.'

'Worse than damn, Lily.'

'Shit.'

'I think that's still an understatement. Lily, run.'

'Remus?'

'Run!' he barked. Lily didn't hesitate, she remembered the last time she'd encountered him in this form.

Remus disappeared out of the front door, twitching slightly, but she wasn't looking. She was running up the stairs - and collided head-on with what seemed to be nothing.

'What the hell was- Evans?' the nothing said, shocked.

'Oh God,' Lily muttered. 'Potter, let me past.'

'Prongs, move, you're on my foot. Lily! What are you doing?' Sirius exclaimed. They were still invisible.

'I could ask you the same,' she said. 'Levicorpus!' The pair of boys shot into the air, held up by one ankle by some invisible force. Potter's invisibility cloak fell the the ground.

'We were going for a walk,' Sirius said calmly. 'Let me down, Lily, this is embarrassing.'

'What were you really doing?'

'Nothing!' Potter said irritably. 'What are you doing?'

'I was escorting Remus to the entrance hall,' Lily lied confidently. 'Now, I want to go to bed.' That shut them up.

'Let us down first . . . and why were you escorting him?'

'Because he asked,' she lied, again.

'We'll ask him when we see him,' Potter muttered.