Seventh Year

"Is it true? Did it really happen?" was what Lily heard all morning. It had seemed that the night with James had gotten around before she even woke up. Lily was expecting to have a casual morning where she would talk to her friends and hopefully James, but she got more than that. Everyone wanted to know if they were going out, did she hate him, did she like him, were they going to have more nights like these, was this a one night thing. Lily wanted to put a wand to her head.

"I AM HUNGRY!" Lily shrieked and ran past the questioning students. She sat down next to Remus and sighed.

"Are you alright?" Remus asked.

Lily looked over and smiled. "You're a great friend, Remus."

Remus looked back at her. "Thank you, but why do you say that?"

"You're the first one who hasn't asked me about James today," she said.

Remus nodded and took a bite of his sausage. "Well, I heard the whole ordeal last night."

"Typical James," Lily chuckled.

Remus laughed. "Are you kidding me? I swear, even when you look at him, he makes a huge deal out of it. 'MOONY MOONY! EVANS JUST GLANCED AT ME AND I SWEAR SHE WINKED!' I'm pretty sure you were probably blinking."

Lily laughed with Remus. "Merlin... So what's new with you? I haven't seen you in awhile so something must have come up."

"I have just been reading. Did you know that although the Thestral's appearance is quite frightening, their personality is merely the opposite. Once trained upon meeting a witch or wizard that has seen death or something ghostly, the creature can become very obedient and will take flight to wherever the witch or wizard desires. Interesting, huh?" Remus asked as he raised up an old book that had a small sketch of a fully grown Thestral.

Lily grimaced at the picture. "That's what they look like? I'm glad I've never seen anyone die before..."

Remus chuckled. "So really. How do you feel about James? The last time we talked, you seemed to be growing fond of him. You even claimed 'acquaintances' as your status. Or did you say that 'acquaintances' was perhaps an insufficient word to use for your relationship with James?"

"I believe 'friendship' is a good way to describe our relationship at the moment," Lily added. "But just between you and me-"

"You know it always is."

"I recently admitted the growing feelings I have been feeling lately for James to him. Well, you probably already know that, but we should acknowledge that information first. Last night, I agreed to go on a date with James. I thought maybe last night was an appropriate time so we both had all night to think it over. I think the time overnight has given me full confidence that I meant the words I spoke the night before. So I say that the relationship between James and I is growing and maturing into something more than friendship," Lily concluded.

Remus smiled. "I believe you deduced that situation very well."

"It's only natural," she said and they laughed.

"Merlin, I swear it's like you two are speaking a different language," Sirius groaned and grabbed three, clean plates.

"It's kind of like when you and James talk. I can never keep up with the nonsense," Lily retorted.

Sirius rolled his eyes. "We are understandable when we wish to be."

"So how are you, Sirius? Have a late night again?" She asked, actually wanting to know how he was doing.

"Last night was a bit strange. Peter and I were talking about a girl he met the other day when James came bustling into the room. He was speaking so fast, I couldn't keep up. We finally got, 'Lily' and 'kiss' so we assumed you two shared a goodnight kiss. It's only natural to swap spit before drifting off to your dreams," Sirius said in a mocking voice.

Lily frowned. "Gross! Don't say that. 'Swap spit' just makes it sound so much worse."

Sirius shrugged. "James was so overwhelmed, he slept like a log. We all agreed not to wake him of any wet dreams he might have had so we all hit the hay. It was so boring."

"But I hear James isn't the only one with the potential of having wet dreams. A certain McKinnion has recently found a new partner she has taken great interest in," Lily winked.

"Okay! We shag! That's all!" Sirius exclaimed.

Remus chuckled because he knew there was something going on with Sirius just like he knew there was something going on with James a few years back. He saw these things pretty early and it makes him laugh when he watches it all play out in front of him. Remus just wished he could experience the same thing. Yes, Remus has had crushes but he knew he could never really become serious with someone. A burden like his would scare any girl away. Single is what Remus planned to stay forever. It's not the fact that he doesn't want to fall in love. He couldn't unless he wanted to put that girl in danger for the rest of her life. He didn't want that for anyone. He decided that the phrase 'lone wolf' was easily directed towards him. And a lone wolf he would stay.