A/N: The song for this chapter is "Sunday Morning" by Maroon 5. I may or may not have played it on repeat while dancing around and singing lol. It took 12 chapters, but I filled up an entire notebook for this fic! I'm excited to get a brand new one out for the next one xD

A Secret Place

October 1976

*.*.*.*.*

The start of 6th year proved challenging in one area: finding places where they could be alone together. Meeting in empty classrooms at night were hurried affairs, and not at all romantic. The only time they could enjoy themselves was on Saturday morning when Remus' dormitory was empty thanks to Quidditch practice. They usually had two hours alone, but on this particular morning, they only had one.

Lily was on top of Remus when the door burst open and James stalked in, expression murderous. She quickly ducked under the covers to pull her silk nightgown over her head.

"Prongs, what the hell?! Can't you even knock?"

James threw his broomstick at the wall. "I'm not gonna knock to get into my own room," he snarled. "Like two animals in heat, I swear…"

His comment set Lily off, who jumped out of bed and yelled: "Hey, you're the one who interrupted us! And don't get your wand in a knot just because you aren't shagging anyone!"

James turned a furious shade of red and averted his eyes from Lily's scantily-clad form. "Oh believe me, I am! I just know plenty of private places to take them."

Lily put her hands on her hips. "Is that so? Then why not tell us where they are?"

"Not a chance – find your own shag spots," he shot back, flopping down onto his bed face-first.

What a melodramatic git, Remus thought at the same time that Lily shouted: "James Potter, you are such an insufferable toe-rag!" A quote from Shakespeare immediately sprang to mind. 'Though she be but little, she is fierce.' Remus nearly laughed aloud.

Sirius entered the room and let out an appreciative whistle. "Looking good, spitfire! You know, Moony, I'm feeling a bit envious of you right now."

"You're such a pervert," she accused, slipping on her dressing robe.

Sirius chuckled and held up his hands. "Guilty as charged." He looked over at Remus. "Don't mind Prongs – he's just in a rotten mood because of his blazing row with the Slytherin captain."

Remus pulled a T-shirt over his head. "What happened?"

"The usual… interrupting practice just to bait Prongs into a detention. But I held him back and then hexed the prat for good measure." Sirius grinned wickedly. "Let's just say he won't be sitting on a broomstick for a few days."

He laughed. "Nice one!"

Remus tossed back the covers and joined Lily, who was sitting on the side of the bed. He draped his arm around her back and she gave him a little smile, but he could tell by her body language that she was still angry. I'll have to talk to James about his antagonistic attitude towards Lily. Their mutual animosity was starting to bother him.

"Moony, I know a good place where you and Lily can go."

That snapped him out of his musings. "Really, where?"

Sirius proceeded to tell them about a room in the seventh-floor corridor that appeared whenever people needed it.

Remus frowned. "I don't remember a room like that being on the map."

Sirius reclined on his bed. "Yeah, it isn't. I figure it's a castle secret. I only just discovered it last month when Prongs and I needed to hide some banned items from Filch. I've brought a girl there a couple times since and nothing beats it for privacy as long as you're really specific." He then explained exactly how to access the room.

"Thanks, Padfoot. We'll try it out later."

"No problem, mate. I should have told you about it sooner."

Peter entered the dormitory a short time later, carrying a basket full of Butterbeer bottles and delicious cinnamon buns. The snack improved James' sullen mood enough for them to receive a grumbled apology afterwards.

*.*.*

Lily and Remus walked by the stretch of wall three times, imagining the room they needed. Lily closed her eyes and thought: We need a place where we can be alone together… where no one else can find us. A cozy little flat where we can shut out the world.

"Lily, a door just appeared."

Remus turned the knob and they stepped inside. She gasped when she spotted the double bed tucked inside a nook lined with bookshelves. Lily plopped down on the pile of knitted blankets, gazing up at the twinkling red and gold fairy lights.

"Was this your idea, Remus?"

"Yeah. I've always wanted to sleep in a room surrounded by books."

"Well you've got your wish now. Let's see if mine have come true!"

They found their way into a kitchenette with an old-fashioned stove and a dining table decorated with small pumpkins of every color. Lily peeked inside the cupboards and was pleased to find them fully stocked with cooking supplies, dishes, and silverware.

"This is exactly what we need to make breakfast tomorrow morning. We'll have to get the ingredients ourselves though because food is one of the five Principle Exceptions to—"

"Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration," Remus finished, grinning.

She stood on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. "I'm so glad you pay attention in class. Now, let's find the last place!"

Lily led the way down a hallway and into a spacious room with a round tub sunk into the floor. It was a smaller version of the Prefects Bathroom: it even had the same kind of bubble taps. She glanced over her shoulder, giving him a sly smile. "I've always wanted to take a bath with you."

He reached for her hand. "I'm certainly looking forward to that."

"But first, may I suggest continuing where we left off this morning?"

"An excellent idea, Miss Evans – ten points to Gryffindor," he said in his official Prefect voice.

Lily giggled as she pulled him out of the bathroom and back towards the bed.

*.*.*

Later that night, once they were freshly washed and tucked under the covers, Remus plucked The Hound of the Baskervilles from the shelf and read a few chapters aloud. Lily drifted off first; steady breaths warming his chest. Remus turned on his side to admire her peaceful expression in the flickering firelight. "I love you, Lily," he whispered. Her lips formed into a smile as though she had heard him. Within minutes, his own lids began to close, and he fell into a dreamless slumber.

He awoke on Sunday to a sleep-flushed Lily stretched across him like a cat – one leg thrown over his – and a hand resting protectively over his scars. Remus tried not to stir, but she somehow sensed his conscious state and roused herself.

"Good morning," he greeted, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear.

She pressed herself against him. "Morning, Remus."

They took their time and made love slowly. When the couple rose from bed an hour later, Lily was wearing Remus' flannel shirt instead of her nightgown. She pulled on a pair of knee-socks and padded over to the kitchenette to get out the pots and pans. They had brought back most of the ingredients last night. He summoned a bottle of milk and a dish of butter from the Hogwarts kitchens, while Lily used her wand to light the stove.

"I'll toast the bread and make the scrambled eggs," she announced. That left Remus in charge of the hot chocolate and porridge, which he sweetened with a generous helping of cinnamon sugar.

They sat down to eat ten minutes later. A crisp autumn breeze drifted through the open window as shafts of sunshine fell over Lily's hair. The scene filled Remus with blissful contentment. These were the kind of mornings that he wanted to experience for the rest of his life.

Lily looked up from buttering her toast. "You're smiling. What are you thinking about?"

"Oh, just that I could get used to this kind of domestic life with you."

"So could I. This is exactly what I want when we're married: a cozy cottage with a big bathtub and plenty of books to read."

His heart skipped a beat. "You want to marry me?"

"Of course I do," she replied with certainty. "So you better ask me in a few years, Mr. Lupin."

He grinned. "I'll be sure to, Miss Evans."

She paused to take a sip of hot chocolate. "About that… I'd like to hyphenate my name once we're married. Lily Evans-Lupin. What do you think?"

He nudged her knee under the table. "I think it has a very nice ring to it."

Lily smiled at him. "Being here makes me feel as though we're already married."

"I know, it's great. We're definitely coming here every weekend."

"That goes without saying. I can't do without you now that I know what living together is like."

Remus rubbed his foot against hers. "How are we going to get through the other five nights in our dormitories?"

"Well, I always imagine you there beside me. And if we get lonely, we can always meet in the common room for a cuddle like we used to."

"Yes, I suppose that will have to do."

They went out for some exercise in the early afternoon. The gusting wind blew against their backs, propelling them down the hill. They had no choice but to run. Lily shrieked the whole way. The couple strolled along the Forbidden Forest, admiring the autumn foliage that shimmered under the sun. Remus picked up a vibrant leaf and held it against Lily's long curtain of hair.

"Beautiful... nearly the same exact color."

She wrapped her arms around his waist. They held each other close until a friendly voice interrupted them. "Would you lovebirds fancy a cuppa?" Hagrid called out from his pumpkin patch.

They gratefully accepted his offer and Hagrid disappeared inside his hut, emerging a minute later carrying a tray of chipped mugs. Lily and Remus leaned against the split rail fence as they drank their spiced cider.

"This reminds me of our first Care of Magical Creatures lesson," Lily commented. "Hagrid, you gave us cider then too."

"Ah, that I did. And I remember thinkin' how nice the pair of yeh looked, and here yeh are, still together." Hagrid winked at them. "I knew how it would be."

Remus could still vividly recall the happiness he had felt when Lily shared her scarf on that blustery autumn day. It amazed him how far they had come since then – and how much they still had to look forward to.