Chapter Eleven
Remus led Lily down a path she did not know, and it played so plainly on her shocked and excited face. He took her to the right, then another right, down a dark hall; which surprised her even more when Remus guided her down it without a single ounce of light from wand or window. He proceeded to go down a flight of stairs that she would have fallen down if he had not warned her seconds before they came to them. "Stairs…Watch your step." He smiled, as she grabbed his arm tighter, stopping before she broke her neck.
They descended the steps just before they disappeared from sight. "They do that sometimes." Remus laughed and continued to follow the torches along the walls.
How did they get to the dungeons? The question traced Lily's face as they came upon a large painting of a fruit bowl. In utter amusement, Remus lifted his right hand to the lone pear and tickled the fruit. Lily couldn't help to giggle along with the squealing food item, until it turned into a door knob.
Remus grinned and pulled open the door. "After you."
OoOoOo
Wow, Lily exclaimed. To think she would have gone her whole time at Hogwarts not seeing beyond the enchanted ceiling, moving pictures, or changing corridors. The room was as large as, if not larger, than the Great Hall. Shining brass pots and pans lined the stone walls, while four long tables and one adjacent littered the floor. The great brick fireplace at the end of her sight was what caught her breath.
The master piece hung high over the other items as a King's castle did over its land. A fire blazed in the hearth, illuminating Lily's emerald eyes even at the entrance to the room. Remus could not help having that goofy smile cross his lips; the look in his friend's eyes was priceless. He swallowed the lump in his throat to comment on the subject as a small figure appeared at their feet.
"Master Lupin." The house-elf squealed, beaming its sparkling purple eyes in his direction. "Would Master Lupin like his usual snack?"
Remus chuckled nervously, side glancing at Lily who seemed beyond amused. "Not tonight, Breeze. Just some hot chocolate...and maybe those cream puffs we had for dinner tonight, if there are any left. Unless you want tea, or something else, Lily?" The red head blushed, mumbling that hot chocolate was fine.
"Of course!" Squealed Breeze, and vanished before their eyes.
"Come here often, Master Lupin?" Lily teased.
"I don't encourage it." Remus protested, scratching the back of his neck. "Come on, the seats by the fire are better on the back."
"Lead the way, Grandpa." Lily giggled, following suit. Remus grumbled about gray hairs and darn kids ruining his lawn, as Breeze and a hand full of other house-elves appeared with drinks and dessert.
"Master Lupin, sir! Breeze has found cherry chocolates, sir. Ones sirs like, sir." Breeze happily beamed, as the tray was placed on the table between the friends.
Remus swallows the saliva pooling in his mouth. "Thank you, Breeze." He manages, as the house-elf disappears.
"You do know you have a serious problem?" Lily giggled, watching the misty look Remus' face held as the dark covered cherry melted out of existence.
"Mmm..." Was the only sound that escaped, as the victor savored the spoil.
Green orbs sparkled with amusement, then seconds later were hard like stone. "Remus? I want to ask...well, inform you about a problem that has been bothering me for some time now."
Holding his breath, Remus thought that phrasing sounded all too familiar. There is no way his life could be taking so many turns at once. What does fate take me for? A yo-yo? Bloody hell, the boy thought as warm fingers gently graced over his. Remus jerked his hand back so quickly the small tin of milk spilled its contents over the metal tray. "I'm sorry." A bit too nervous, as he cleaned the mess with a napkin.
"No, I'm sorry." Lily corrected, scooping his busied hands into hers. "I should have told you sooner. But I figured you would tell me when you were ready."
"W-what?" The boy stuttered. "What are you going on about, Lily?"
The tips of her red locks dragged along the table's surface as she leaned forward on her chair, her grip tightening on the others. "I know you're a werewolf, Remus."
So the Flower figured it out? What to do now, whelp? Think we should give her a reward? The wolf laughed, and Remus mirrored it. The chuckle had a hint of hysteria to it, which soon turned to a collection of dry eye sobs.
"Remus. Remus, it's all right. I've known since third year, but I haven't told any one. Or plan to tell any one." She patted his hand softly. "Please trust me."
"I do, Lily." Remus confided. With all my heart, his mind added. "Maybe we should finish our cocoa? I'm not sure about you, but I find the drink not as appetizing cold." The redhead nodded in agreement, and sipped at her hot chocolate. Silence fell between the two friends as the minutes ticked by. There were many thoughts buzzing through Remus' mind, but he could not grab hold of them to form a coherent sentence. He trusted Lily, without a doubt. And he knew she was the same way toward him. He also knew it was a matter of time that she would work out his...problem. "So, third year?" He ventured. "James and the others have one up on you, seeing they cornered me about it in second year. They said that, 'they didn't care'. How about you?" He reached for another cherry treat. "What's your view?"
Lily grinned, as if that answered any and all his questions.
"I know what you are thinking." He partly accused.
"And what might that be, smarty?"
"You only sport that grin when you believe I turned a simple conversation into a business meeting. Or James is acting like a brat."
"Well, since James always acts like a brat, because he is one, I'm going to go with the first. Must you always be so formal?"
"Yes, actually." Remus stared into his empty mug.
Lily sighed. "I accepted it."
"Excuse me?"
"I accepted your condition." She repeated, rising one eyebrow over the rim of her own mug. "Haven't you?"
The pale boy swallowed away the lump in his throat caused by those words. She accepted...my condition? "I'm not sure." He admitted, stuffing another chocolate in his mouth. "I just remember being told that this was what I am. And there was nothing to cure it. My parents tried, best they could, but there is only so much you can do with a helpless goal in mind."
"Is it really that hopeless?"
"Please, Lily."
"I think you should stop eating those." She commented, catching his plea to change the subject. "You're going to eat yourself into a chocolate coma."
"Well, I wouldn't be stuffing my face so much with them, if you would eat one or two."
"What! And have them go straight to my thighs? I don't think so."
Remus rolled his eyes. "I highly doubt that will happen. Your metabolism is too high, but it won't be for long. So enjoy the freedom when you can still move with grace." The boy concluded, failing to suppress a snicker, and receiving a cherry treat to the forehead. "Oi! Poor little guy." He gasped, picking the damaged treat from the stone floor. "It's okay, I'll nurse you back to health."
Lily exploded with laughter as Remus cradled the cherry in the palm of his hand. The chocolate was slowly melting to his finger tips, and before long the treat had disappeared altogether. "Some Healer you are."
"I'm sorry, Madam. We tried all we could. He was just beyond saving." Remus said, after he cleared his throat. "Is that really the time?" Remus stared at his wrist watch.
"Yep, quarter to eleven."
"I think we should head back now." Remus suggested, pushing to his feet.
"Do you have to be somewhere?" Lily asked, reflecting his moves.
"I kind of said I would help Sirius with his Charms essay. Although, he does not need the assistance. I'm just an excuse to get him distracted, so tomorrow I'll feel guilty, and let him copy mine. I'm disappointed to report; I fall for it every time." Lily shook her head as they both left the kitchen, waving good night to Breeze and the rest of the elves.
oOoOoOo
They got back the Common Room with no one in sight to stop them, thanks to Remus. The two stopped at the foot of the stairs leading off to the girl and boy dormitories.
"Good night, Remus. Thanks for the hot chocolate." The redhead smiled.
"Good night, Lily. You're welcome." The werewolf offered back. "Sweet dreams." They both locked eyes, as if sealing the trust between them, before disappearing to their own rooms.
Remus crept as quietly as possible into the dorm room. He figured the rest of the Marauders would be sleeping due to the fact that they had Divination at eight tomorrow. And as he began the process for bed, Remus rejoiced that he dropped that class. He loved to learn new things, but he was still choking on that stifling warm and sickly perfumed air. The wolf couldn't think straight in that tower at two in the afternoon, his mind expanded at the thought of eight in the morning. He shivered slightly at the idea and began to stuff his bag with the books he'd need tomorrow; lucky for him his first class was at ten and Runes was a much better subject hands down.
The boy was pulling the covers loose on his bed when he heard the clearing of a throat behind him. "And where have you been?" It inquired.
Remus turned slowly, "I was in the kitchens with Lily Evans." He answered.
Grey eyes flashed in the dark. "Why were you there with her?"
Remus grinned, he couldn't help himself, as he sat on the edge of Sirius' four-post. "Duh, isn't it obvious? We were on a date." Sirius' left eye twitched a little, as Remus burst out in silent laughs so he wouldn't wake the others. "You are so gullible." The other opened his mouth then closed it. He looks so adorable, Remus thought. He wanted to run his hand through his hair, to see if it was still as silk smooth as before. He reached forward, stopped, held his breath, and then drove his finger tips through the glorious black mane.
His breathing gradually returned as the moment relaxed in his mind, and he realized it could be better. Body and mind lost control over the other and Remus found himself leaning forward and claiming Sirius' lips with his own. Oh, his mind shuttered, this is bliss. His thoughts began to gather as he floated away, back to his own mattress. "Good night, Padfoot." Remus smiled in the dark, slipping into the sheets and then flipped onto his stomach.
There was silence, then a small voice replied with. "Good night, Moony."
