Chapter 14:

A/N: Hey guys sorry for the super long wait, life has been hectic… well that and I've had no internet connection for like a month and then I was overseas and yeah you don't want to hear my sad stories so without further ado- chapter 14! :D

Classes had ended for the day and with it being so cold out the girls had decided to spend some time in the common room, sitting in front of the blazing fire and just catching up.

"What's everyone doing for Christmas this year?" Marlene asked.

"Well my parents are off to Romania, my dope of a cousin, Gideon, moved over last summer saying something about amazing dragon deals. Anyway mum and dad want to pay him a visit. So I'm going over to my cousin Molly's. she could really use my help with the boys, especially now that the fourth ones on its way." Alice replied with a smile.

"Oh Alice you and children! I swear you'll end up having about 10 of 'em." Amelia said, the girls all burst out laughing which caused Alice to blush a deep crimson.

"What about you Lils?" Marlene questioned.

"I've decided to stay at the castle this year. Petunia has a new boyfriend, it will really just turn out miserable if I end up going." Lily said with a sigh, "what about you Marly? Anything special planned?" She asked in attempt to turn the conversation away from herself. She couldn't stand the looks of pity she was receiving from her friends. Alas, it worked, Marlene looked practically giddy as she began telling them about her plans.

"Well I'm rather excited you see, the Potters are throwing a Christmas party, its going to be a wonderful event. Mrs Potter is absolutely amazing when it comes to throwing party's you know, anyway I'll have to go shopping for dress robes and not to mention gifts. Going to have to get something for James and Sirius I suppose. Oh how I wish you could all be there with me!" She finished in sad exclamation. Just as Marlene had finished the common room door burst open in came James Potter, his eyes quickly scanned the room, stopping when he saw Lily. His face broke into a wide grin as he began walking towards her.

"Alright Evans?" He asked with a lopsided grin, his one hand moving to his already-messy hair which he then began ruffling.

"What do you want Potter?" Lily asked with an exasperated sigh.

"I- uh... I need your help with something." He said in a tone which suggested he was quite sure she would say no, so he quickly added, "it's about Remus... " He let his sentence trail off knowing that she would now say yes, Remus was after all her friend.

She seemed to be thinking of the pros and cons of what her actions could possibly get her into, finally she looked up and said to him with a straight face, "alright Potter, but this better be about Remus or so help you God."

"Ofcos it is Evans, I would know better than to lie to you." He replied her with a wink, smiling even more at her outraged expression. "Well come on we have to go now."

"Lead the way Potter." She said simply. He smiled brightly at her and began walking out the portrait hole.

"What exactly does Remus need my help with Potter?" Lily asked in a tone which suggested she'd much rather be anywhere else. James had stopped in front of an empty class and motioned for her to enter it. Lily stared at him like he was out of his mind and began saying, "if you think you can ju- Hey! Let. Go. Of. Me. James Potter!" She screamed as he pulled her into the class, after she had refused to follow him. He let her go and turned around, performing a simple locking spell followed by a muffliato. Silencing spells were very necessary when dealing with one very vocally blessed Lily Evans.

James turned around and rolled his eyes at Lily giving her a small smirk. "Calm down would ya Evans. I just needed to speak to you." He told her simply.

"Speak to me? You wanted to speak to me! You better have a good explanation for locking me in freaken class Potter!" She screamed at him, her face turning a deep shade of crimson. James backed away slowly.

"Lily will you please just relax, I do need your help, and to speak to you, all regarding Remus. Now do you understand why I had to get us here? Or do you want the whole school finding out about his 'furry little problem?" He finished giving her a skeptical look.

"Oh... I um- uh go on then." She said to him, the anger on her face being replaced with embarrassment. James just stared at her for a while, taking in how gorgeous she looked with just that hint of bright pink on the apples of her cheeks. Embarrassment suits her much better than anger he thought to himself as he looked at her. Noticing his gaze Lily's blush deepened.

"So, what do you need my help with?" This time she asked him in a soft sincere tone. All traces of bitterness gone.

"Right," said James coming out of his trance, "umm- oh yeah uh right. Well he, um told me what happened last night- in the Forrest, he said that he almost attacked you."

"He didn't, well I don't think he was going to. I mean he hesitated for a while..." Lily said in a rush.

"Yeah he mentioned that, see the thing is Evans. Remus is beating himself up about this. Having almost attacked you. He wants to leave Hogwarts." James told her, his head hung down.

"What? No! He can't do that, Dumbledore won't allow it... Will he?" Lily asked, shock and sadness radiating off of her.

"He can't stop him if that's his wish. This is why I need your help Evans. Help me convince him not to leave, Hogwarts is his home. He belongs here, with us... All of us." James said now looking directly at Lily, his eyes pleading with her to agree.

"Of cause I will. How could I not... What can I do?" She asked him, determination in her voice and face.

"You need to convince him that his not a monster. He thinks that's what he is and it's killing him." James replied simply.

~000~

Lily made her way down to the hospital wing later that evening, she went alone as per agreement (mind you a lot of convincing on her part) with James. Lily wasn't sure what she would say to Remus. He didn't hurt her obviously, but that was because of the dog and stag who rescued her... Still she had to let him know that she cared.

Madam Pomfrey had allowed her in, quiet unwillingly, telling her to 'make it quick'. Walking in she saw Remus laying on one of the beds at the far end of the hospital. Cautiously, Lily made her way towards him knowing that he wasn't asleep.

"Remus, are you awake?" She asked, merely as a polite gesture.

"Aah... So James went to get you." He said softly.

Lily moved closer and seated herself at the foot of Remus's bed, "he thought I might be the only one who would be able to get through to you." Lily said to him, mimicking his soft tone.

"Lily, no offense but I really want to be alone right now." He said, his back remaining towards her.

Lily sighed deeply, "Well too bad Lupin, I'm not going anywhere."

Remus let out and irritated sigh and turned to face Lily at last. "What do you want Lily?" He asked bluntly.

Lily looked slightly taken aback for a second before managing to compose herself. Casting a mask of indifference upon her face she said to him, "just thought I would spend some time here with you, we do after all have rounds together and I'd rather not do them by myself tonight..."

"Lily," Remus started in a strangled sort of voice, "I'm- I- I can't tell you how sorry I am. Last night, I could have hurt you- I could have killed you!" He finished, dropping his face and letting out a small sob. Lily moved her position on the bed and put her arm around his shoulder.

"Remus John Lupin... If you ever say such a thing again, I will cheerfully beat you to death- no wait, let me finish," she said as he tried to get a word in, "you did no such thing, I went out last night, knowing full well what night it was. I was we'll aware of the risk; I also knew what would happen to that young girl if I hadn't. I figure there would be less of a chance of you hurting me then the girl, and so I went to save her. It was not your fault! You didn't attack me remember, and you had enough time to as well before those animals came around. I know you Remus." Lily said to him as she moved again, this time placing her hand upon the left side of his chest, "this heart. This heart is where you truly live, never forget that. It's what stopped you last night, you would never hurt me, in any form you take. I know that and I believe that." She finished softly.

Remus looked up at her with tears in his eyes. She smiled, her brilliant, perfect smile, and leaned in to give him a hug. Remus was her brother, she knew him. He knew her, they shared a special bond that others would find difficult to understand. To them though, it was simple, he was the attentive listener she needed when things got too tough, and she was the comfort and strength he needed to help see the good in him when he found that he could not.

A soft rustling of a cloak could be heard leaving the hospital wing. Remus, with his keen senses, knew that his friend had been present the entire time. He smiled into Lily's hair, knowing how hard it must have been for his friend to watch. He really, truly did have the best friends anyone could ask for.