Sorry for the delay. I've been sick and busy with school. Thank you for the reviews though! They cheered me up. This chapter is based on Lupin's two quotes about the Whomping Willow incident and about Lily being there for him when no one else was. I decided that meant before the Marauders discovered his secret.

Chapter Eleven- The Whomping Willow

1971

As the fiery shades of red, orange, and yellow began to fade with October, a new excitement brewed with the arrival of November.

It was called Quidditch.

Severus was the only one who was not bubbling over with anticipation. Ever since the bucking broom incident, he didn't care much for flying. Especially since Potter never shut up about it.

Severus had other things to look forward to, mainly his and Lily's secret visits to the Hogwarts glade. Sneaking out to the Forbidden Forest was becoming surprisingly easy. They would sit there for hours, watching the stars and talking about anything imaginable. There were a few occasions when they were convinced they were about to be eaten by a wild beast or caught by Hagrid, but such events only added to the thrill.

"Gryffindor will win. We've got Vance and Bones," Potter's authoritative voice rang throughout the Potions dungeon. Severus was becoming irritatingly familiar with the ever-present sound. He distracted himself with his usual way: dreaming up hexes that he would invent someday.

"And we've got Lestrange. Not to mention the better brooms," Mucliber called out superiorly.

Potter was unperturbed. "Like I said, we have Vance and Bones. We don't need brooms to make up for talent. Speaking of brooms, has anyone seen the Nimbus One Thousand Ten?"

Severus gritted his teeth, carefully chopping his cockroaches into perfectly equal slices. It would have to be a humiliating hex. Something that would deflate Potter's massive ego.

"Sev?"

The sound of Lily's sweet voice interrupted Severus's thoughts, and he looked up guiltily. "Yeah?"

"Could you pass me the knotgrass?"

Severus did so.

"Thanks. Can you believe we'll finally be able to see our very first Quidditch match?" Lily said, her green eyes lighting up with animation. She carefully added the knotgrass, her Forgetfulness Potion instantly darkening from translucent lavender to a reddish tinge.

Severus watched her for a minute, silently admiring her brilliance. Lily was the only one other than him who had managed to achieve the precise shade. It was no wonder she was Slughorn's favorite. He then realized that she was still looking at him expectantly. Just as he was contemplating a tactful response, Peter Pettigrew's poor attempt of the potion provided a convenient distraction. Shrieks rang out as the pale lilac fluid exploded everywhere.

"Everyone, really, calm down," Professor Slughorn said rather anxiously. "I just need to figure out how…"

"That's strange," Severus said quietly, noting his classmates' reactions. Bright purple boils freckled their features, resulting in a minor panic.

"What is?" Lily gasped as she suddenly ducked down. Her hair flew above her in a cloud of red, just in time to escape the flying liquid.

"Look at their boils. It shouldn't have any effect-" Severus's voice abruptly stopped as hot potion splashed onto his cheek. His hand automatically flew to his face as he caught sight of Potter and Black cackling in the back of the dungeon, with Lupin shaking his head despite being visibly amused.

"If you've been affected, see me for a Restoring Draught!" Professor Slughorn bellowed over the screams. His face was red with exertion and he was twirling his mustache at a rapid rate.

"Be right back," Severus muttered to Lily, irritated with the Marauders for being the Marauders, and with himself, for being splashed.

When the Potions lesson had at last concluded, the Marauders paraded from the dungeon smugly. Or rather, Potter and Black paraded. Lupin had already fled and Pettigrew remained a good few feet behind, frantically trying to catch up.

Suddenly, Severus was very anxious for Slytherin to win the Quidditch match.

"Do you want to work outside instead of the library?" Lily sounded wistful. "It's such a nice day for November."

Severus didn't care much for the sun sparkling outside, but he knew Lily did. "All right."

Others seemed to have the same idea as Lily, as the grounds were more crowded than usual. As they settled under the shelter of a leafy tree, Severus glanced around to check for a lurking Marauder. The only one he found was Lupin, who was sprawled out comfortably over a grassy patch, reading serenely. Not far away, a group of first years lurked by the Whomping Willow, daring each other to approach the trunk.

Severus had never seen one manage.

"What idiots," Severus commented, taking out his Potions book and quill. They fell to his lap with a heavy thump.

Lily was already leafing through her History of Magic textbook. "Hm?" She followed his disdainful eyes. "Oh. I don't know why they decided to plant a tree that hits back."

"It's Hogwarts," Severus said, as if that explained everything. In a way, it did.

"Someone told me that it was planted this year," Lily mused, drumming her fingers against her chin as she watched the first years.

"Lucky us."

For a while, they worked in peace. Only the scratching of Severus's quill and the sound of pages turning could be heard. Severus occasionally stole a glimpse of Lily, enjoying the way her sharp green eyes flashed intently as they devoured new information.

"Sev," Lily said with dismay, effectively shattering the silence. "What are you doing?"

Severus had been crossing out notes in his Potions book and filling the margins with his untidy scrawl. He laid down his quill. "Working."

"By ruining your textbook?"

"No, by making improvements," Severus lifted the book to provide her with a better view. "I don't know what dunderhead decided you should stir clockwise. It should be counter clockwise." When he looked up, he saw that Lily was watching him with a small smile. He suddenly felt conscious. "What?"

"Nothing," Lily shook her head, still smiling. "You're just one of the cleverest people I know."

Severus's cheeks grew hot, and he hurriedly picked up his quill once more. "Oh."

A loud shout echoed through the grounds, followed by several more shrill screams. Lily jumped, startled at the piercing sound. Her elbow jolted into Severus's, causing him to splatter ink across the page he had been editing.

"Sorry, Sev!" Lily sounded distressed as she leapt to her feet. Almost automatically, she inhaled sharply, her pretty face blanching. "Oh no."

Pushing aside the book and quill, Severus pulled himself up, curious. "What's going on?"

Lily didn't answer. She didn't have to. Her eyes were fixed in horror at Davey Gudgeon, a first year Hufflepuff. The Whomping Willow's heavy branches curled around his waist, waving him triumphantly in the air. The blood gushing down his face, glistening like rubies, could be visible even from a few yards away.

"We have to help him."

A wave of alarm surged inside Severus as he gaped at Lily, wondering momentarily if she had gone mad. She would only hurt herself, or worse. He grimaced, not wanting to imagine her fragile body dangling in the Willow's lethal grasp. Severus couldn't understand why she would want to risk her life, especially for someone she scarcely knew. "Lily-"

"I'll-"

But Severus never found out what Lily was planning to do. At that moment, the Whomping Willow released the tiny first year midair. Davey's mangled form flew through the air before landing on the grass with a sickening thud. There were more squeals as Davey groaned aloud.

Someone must have alerted Madam Pomfrey. Severus hadn't even heard her quick steps. In a blink, she was kneeling at Davey's side, fuming loudly. The disapproval on her lined features was unmistakable. "Honestly. I've never seen such foolishness…"

Severus refrained from grinning at Madam Pomfrey's words.

"He looks horrible," Lily covered her eyes as the unfortunate Davey Gudgeon was ushered into the castle. "All that blood... How could he be so stupid? Why would you ever want to go near a tree that hits back?"

"Madam Pomfrey can fix him," Severus reassured her, but he wasn't too sure himself. There had been an appalling amount of blood. Unlike Lily, he was not concerned for Davey. If the Hufflepuff had been foolish enough to take the dare, then as far as Severus was concerned, he deserved it.

Lily slowly looked up, blatantly uncertain if it was safe to look or not. Her lips were drawn together in a small frown. "Poor Remus. He doesn't like blood either."

That was an understatement. Lupin had cast aside his book and was even more waxen than usual. His face was distraught, his features a combination of nausea and fright. Severus was certain that any moment he would vomit, faint, or both.

"I hope he's all right," Lily said worriedly, wringing her hands together.

Severus wasn't too fussed. After all, Remus Lupin was a Marauder.

"He'll be fine," Severus began to gather his ink-stained supplies. The spectacle had drawn a flourishing crowd, and the noise was beginning to irritate him. "Let's go inside. We'll never be able to study here."

Lily knelt down on the grass to do the same. Her face was still puckered and it was clear that the incident was still fixed on her mind. It was enough to distract her; she was absentmindedly flinging rubbish in her book bag such as dandelions and a broken quill of Severus's. "Oh, Sev, I ruined your book."

"No, you didn't. I can fix it later," Severus wasn't too bothered considering a few ink blots were hardly a disaster compared to his disorderly scrawl. He reached over to pluck a shred of grass from her bag.

When they passed by Lupin, Severus's fathomless dark eyes swept by, as thorough as they were fleeting. There was something lingering among the sickly boy's features. Something resembling guilt. Why it was there, Severus didn't have the faintest idea.

He would uncover that particular mystery. Sooner or later.

1971

No one was surprised to learn that the Whomping Willow had become forbidden territory overnight. The news didn't have much effect, considering the next day was the day that everyone had been waiting for. Even Davey Gudgeon nearly losing an eye couldn't dampen their spirits.

The Gryffindor common room was an electrified blur of red and gold. Shouts and cheers echoed throughout the overflowing space. Bodies were anxiously pushing against each other in a frantic race to leave for the Quidditch fields. The avidity was intoxicating. Lily's heart was pounding with excitement.

But something made her halt abruptly, causing clumsy Peter Pettigrew to stumble back. Without noticing Pettigrew, Lily began weaving her way across the room, ducking through a horde of frenzied third years.

"Lily, what are you doing?" Marlene demanded with startling volume as she spotted Lily's hasty departure. She, Alice, and Mary McDonald were already by the portrait hole where Lily had been moments ago.

"Be right there. Go ahead without me," Lily called over her shoulder, continuing to move against the swarm of boisterous Gryffindors. It took longer than she had expected, but finally, she reached her destination. Near the fireplace, Remus Lupin was slumped in one of the squashy armchairs, tiredly transfixed by the flickering flames.

"Aren't you coming?" Lily asked hesitantly, wondering why he had stayed behind. Potter and Black had been the first ones to leave, and Lupin rarely strayed far from their group. She didn't know why it mattered so much, but something about his forlorn figure tugged at her heartstrings.

Lupin slowly turned around to face her. He looked worse than he had the day before. The circles that were constantly etched under his eyes had darkened. "No, I don't think so."

The idea struck Lily as odd. Everyone went to the Quidditch matches. Even Severus. "Why not?"

"Have you ever been the reason for something bad happening?" Lupin hugged his knees tightly to his chest, appearing even smaller as he hunched over.

Lily was silent as she thought back. She could think of several things, but none of them seemed right. The longer she took in Lupin's sad state, the more they faded into insignificance. "Not that I can remember."

"Bad things follow me wherever I go," Lupin said quietly.

"I don't believe that's true."

"It is," Lupin spoke miserably, sinking his chin into his thin knees. "Even when I'm not doing anything, something still happens."

But Lily was shaking her head, refusing to accept his glum tone. "Then it's obviously not your fault."

"It's…complicated. But it is. I bring bad luck to everyone."

"You haven't done anything to me," Lily pointed out, eager to prove him wrong. She couldn't understand what was bothering him, but she didn't want to see him upset. Something about his manner reminded her of Severus when he was in one of his vague moods.

"I'm making you miss the Quidditch match."

"You haven't yet," Lily smiled slightly, satisfied that he couldn't disagree. "We can still make it."

"I don't want-"

"You can't just sit around, waiting for bad things to happen," Lily said firmly, tugging at his arm for him to stand up. As frail as he appeared, he was stronger than she had expected. He hadn't budged an inch. "You make your own luck."

Lupin looked at her strangely before moving upright. Then he smiled back. It was an uncertain smile, but a smile nonetheless. "Let's go."

To Lily's relief, the match had only just started. The masses of red and gold would have been conspicuous even on a rainy day, so she and Lupin had no difficulty finding their seats. Even if the banners had been absent, Lily was sure that she would have recognized Potter's frantic shouting from the castle.

"We were worried that you would miss the match!" Alice finally noticed Lily's appearance as the Gryffindors broke out in a fresh cheer.

"I wouldn't dream of it," Lily assured her, trading glances with Lupin. She was happy to see that his melancholy expression had been replaced with the eager anticipation that everyone else wore.

"FOUL, YOU DIRTY-"

James Potter's voice could be heard throughout the stands.

"And foul! Penalty to Gryffindor!" The announcer exclaimed, echoing Potter's sentiments in a more respectable manner. Lily had a feeling that Professor McGonagall had something to do with it. She was lurking over the sixth year Ravenclaw's shoulder with a rather hawkish demeanor.

Severus had explained Quidditch to her, several times, but it was different, seeing it played out. Lily had never especially cared for football, but Quidditch was the opposite in every way. When she was not shrieking out with the rest, she was holding her breath, anxious to see what would happen next.

"Chaser Vanity with the Quaffle…Dodges a Bludger, damn it! Joking, Professor! Ten points to Slytherin!"

For once, Lily was happy to have Potter drowning out the cheers of the Slytherins. The clamor of the silver and green seemed to be louder with every ten points.

"Vance has the Quaffle… Ohhh. Saved by Lestrange."

There was a chorus of sighs.

"No sign of the Snitch yet. Bones is circling the field. Oh! Longbottom has the Quaffle!" The Ravenclaw perked up.

Sure enough, a figure in Gryffindor colors darted toward a gleaming hoop. He lifted his arm, preparing to aim…and there was a sudden crack. A Bludger had rammed into him. Even from the stands, Lily could see the two Slytherin Beaters' leers. A Slytherin Chaser eagerly caught the Quaffle as it flew from Longbottom's grasp.

"Crabbe and Goyle. No surprise there," The Ravenclaw said sourly. "Vanity has the Quaffle and Longbottom has a broken arm."

"They broke his arm?" Lily cried out in horror.

"That's Quidditch, Evans!" Potter had momentarily paused from his furious tirade. Lily was shocked that he had even heard her. She didn't have time to contemplate; he had immediately returned to his blustering.

"THE SNITCH IS OVER THERE, YOU PRAT. STOP FLYING AROUND IN CIRCLES."

Lily stifled a groan. She didn't know much about Quidditch, but she knew enough from the score and Potter's shouts that the Gryffindor team was doing poorly.

"Another ten for Slytherin," the Ravenclaw muttered, obviously not eager to broadcast the news.

The Slytherins roared with glee, nearly unheard in the midst of Gryffindor grumbles.

"Slytherin Seeker has his eye on the Snitch!" The Ravenclaw continued, barely masking his irritation. "Seeker against Seeker…" Lily's wide eyes never left the two Seekers as they dived together in graceful acceleration. Both arms were stretched out, fingers desperately clawing at the air…

"Damn." There was a heavy sigh. "One hundred fifty points. Slytherin wins the match. Again." The Ravenclaw's crestfallen tone was drowned out by the furious cries of Gryffindors, which blended thunderously with disgruntlement from a staggering amount of Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs.

Lily was no Quidditch fanatic, but she couldn't help but feel more than a twinge of disappointment. She and the rest of the Gryffindors had been so excited… And it was over.

Potter was outraged. He was too absorbed in his rant to ruffle his hair in his usual manner. He didn't stop raving once, not even to catch his breath. Even when they were approaching the castle, his voice remained deafening. "SLYTHERIN SCUM- OF ALL BLOODY-" He let loose a fresh string of curses.

"Potter!"

Professor McGonagall had evidently heard him. Lily only wondered what had taken her so long. "Five points from Gryffindor. I've never seen such poor show of sportsmanship."

"But, Professor! You can't-"

"I assure you I can, Mr. Potter. Don't let me hear you speak that way again."

Potter crossed his arms sullenly across his chest, his chin drooping down. "Once I'm on the team, things will be different."

"Once?" Lily couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at his audacity. She should have been accustomed to it by now, but he never stopped surprising her. She had never met anyone so…infuriating.

Potter brightened at her attention, apparently cheered enough to begin rumpling his hair again. As his hand brushed his dark mop back, it remained just as unkempt as it had been before, unflappable, much like Potter himself when he wasn't sulking over Quidditch. "Once," he confirmed. "I'll make the team next year. Chaser. I'll have the new Nimbus…And the Quidditch Cup…."

"Getting ahead of yourself, aren't you, mate?" Black grinned.

Lily immediately tuned the both of them out. She hadn't forgotten their constant cries of "Snivellus" and she wasn't planning to. She glanced over at Lupin, hoping the loss of the match hadn't brought him down again. To her relief and shock, he was watching the other Marauders with amusement. He caught Lily's eye and shrugged good-naturedly.

Lily simply shook her head, knowing that she would never understand the Marauders. Slipping through the crowd, she hurried off to find Severus.