Chapter Forty-Eight: Accidently In Love

At eight the next morning, Remus still hadn't returned to the Common Room, which made everyone begin to worry. It was late March, but it was still freezing outside, and where all could Remus be inside the castle? And when their first class(potions) started at eight-thirty, the three remaining Marauders began to grow impatient.

"We're going to be late," groaned Peter.

"Who cares?" Sirius said, willing to be late. "Benford's got it in for us. I mean, every since he started this year, it's been nothing but essays and quizzes!"

"Doubt he'll be back next year," James agreed. "Maybe Remus will decide not to show up until eleven, then we'll miss defense too."

"Nah," Sirius said, "Remus is the master at Defense. He'd never miss it."

"This is just crazy! James said, taking a glance down at the Marauder's Map. "He's not even showing up on the map!"

"What?" Sirius cried, grabbing the map as the last first year rushed out of the Common Room. "How's that possible?"

"Maybe he's Invisible," Peter suggested.

James stared at him.

"Peter," he said slowly, "how many times have we used the Invisibility Cloak?"

"I dunno-"

"And how many times have we still shown up on the map?" James continued.

"Oh yeah..."

"Yeah," James nodded. "Unless, you don't think he..."

"What?" Sirius asked in a mock tone. "Remus ran away? Don't think so."

"He talked about it before," James noted.

"Hell everyone talks about running out!" Sirius exclaimed. "I bet you even Dumbledore has fantasy vacations every now and then!"

"Still," James said, unsure, "you don't think he did anything stupid do you? I mean, Aria looked pretty upset."

"Who's going soft now?" Sirius shot at the mention of Aria's name.

A door slammed nearby. The three looked up to see Remus walk in. He looked dull, exhausted, and frozen to the bone. Sirius threw an extra cloak at him, stopping Remus from going any further.

"Let me guess," Sirius said, "you found a time portal that threw you into the Ice Age?"

Remus sat down on the couch opposite from them, shivering so much he could hardly talk. It was then that the flakes of snow melting on Remus' head became noticeable.

"So is it cold outside?" Sirius asked, trying to make a joke.

"Shut up," Remus muttered.

Peter conjured up a mug of coffee, but James grabbed it before Remus could take it.

"We don't want to risk the dead ingredients," he said, making the mug vanish, and conjuring a new one.

Remus took the coffee, grateful, and took a sip.

"You're missing defense," Sirius informed.

"Thanks," Remus said, not sounding thankful at all.

"What's with you?" Sirius asked.

James glared at Sirius, and glanced down at his watch.

"We're seriously late now," James said.

So what? Sirius asked.

James glared.

"What? Since when do you care about being late?"

"Since McGonagall threatened to take me off the team if I got another detention this week."

"You say that like the team still has a chance," Sirius said.

"Yeah, well I'm still going to fight," he said as he grabbed his books, "you coming, Remus?"

"Cover for me," Remus replied.

"Whatever," Sirius shrugged, turning away.

James lingered.

"You're not going to go crazy in here, are you?" He asked.

"I'm fine," Remus lied, looking at the ground.

"Okay then," James said, following Sirius along with Peter.

They had almost made it to the portrait before Remus spoke up.

"I broke up with Aria," he said, still staring hard at the floor.

James and Sirius exchanged a glance. Sirius turned, acting as innocently as he could.

"What?" He demanded, part of him actually growing angry.

"We've been going out for a while now-"

"A while?" James interrupted.

"Third year," Remus sighed.

"Third year?" Sirius exclaimed. "So what, were you planning on having some sort of secret relationship forever?"

"What was I supposed to do?" Remus argued, looking up for the first time. "It was third year! Tell me you wouldn't have laughed about it every time you saw me or her."

"See?" James said quietly to Sirius. "You drove him mad!"

"Did not!" Sirius protested. "Hey, we were like what, thirteen? I wouldn't of cared!"

"Yeah right," Peter muttered.

"Forget it," Remus said, standing up, "it's over. Doesn't matter anymore. It's over."

He stood up and made his way to the stairs.

"Don't forget," he said, "cover for me. Tell them I'm sick or something."

"All right," James called back, but don't expect good notes!

The Quidditch practice that night was long and dreadful. Around twelve, the team returned back to the dorms. Sirius collapsed as soon as he was near a couch. Peter was determined to finish a twelve inch long defense essay that was due the next morning, and Remus was staring deeply into the brewing fire, not even aware that a mob of people had just entered the room. But the mob slowly broke up, exhausted, leaving only the Marauders in the Common Room. James pulled Peter aside, thankful when Remus didn't notice.

"So how's he doing?" James said, glancing towards Remus.

"I wouldn't know," Peter said in a low voice, "he hasn't moved. Passed on dinner. How's he supposed to be doing?"

"Wouldn't know," James said dully.

Lilly had just turned him down again only days ago. James walked back over, and sat in the chair near the couch.

"So," he said to Remus, "I'm about to go down to the kitchens. I'm starving, wanna come?"

No answer. Remus didn't even acknowledge the presence.

"So Peter, you wanna come?"

There was no answer.

"Peter?

"James looked over to where Peter was. He was asleep, with his essay half off the table and quill in hand.

"I can't believe you people," James said to a silent Common Room. "Fine then, I'm off."

James left the Common Room, and entered the just as vacant hallways. Or so thought. A figure was approaching in near distance. As it got closer, James could see it was a girl by her long hair, and as she grew even nearer, James could easily see that it was..

"Evans?" He asked, amazed. "What're you doing out here this late? Didn't think you were the one for breaking the rules."

"Could ask you the same thing, Potter," she said.

He could see she was clutching a book bag.

"Homework?" He asked. "This late?"

"I know a secret way into the library," Lily said, confident.

"You'll have to show me," James said, trying to sound charming.

She continued to walk towards the Common Room entrance. James followed, forgetting his hunger.

"Potter-"

Lily was interrupted by an older voice. Firm and strict.

"Mr. Potter!" It was McGonagall. "Ms. Evans? What are you doing out here at this time?"

James and Lily looked at each other. James looked around, trying to think of an escape. No way could he use that detention, especially when Quidditch was down to its last games. He did the only thing he knew.

Pushing Lily against the wall, James pulled her into a kiss. Pinned against the wall, Lily could do nothing but accept it.

"Oh..." McGonagall said, speechless, "very...well then. Just...back to your dormitories. Your separate dormitories, I mean of course."

Cheeks turning red in embarrassment, she turned swiftly and left. The kissed lingered for a moment, then when Lily was sure the footsteps were distant, she acted. She pushed James back, and slapped him across the face.

"You little-"

But she couldn't find the words. James, in a dream daze, wiped his mouth and stared at her. Lily glared and then turned in a huff and left.

Sirius and Peter were still asleep when James entered the Common Room fifteen minutes later. Remus wasn't there, so James assumed he went up to the dorm. He was in so much shock he wasn't able to walk straight. The only thing that processed through her mind was, I just kissed Lily Evans, I just kissed Lily Evans. It didn't even hurt when he knocked into the arm of the couch, but the slight sound woke Sirius up.

"What's with you?" Sirius asked, sitting up.

James sat down opposite him, out of it. Now Peter was waking up as well.

"What's with the face?" Peter asked, amused.

"I just kissed Lily Evans," James said slowly, surprised that any sound came out.

"What?" Sirius exclaimed. "How? When? Why wasn't I there?"

James smiled to himself.

"I just kissed Lily Evans." He repeated.

"Yeah, you did," said Sirius impatiently, "now tell me, how did it happen?"

James stood up, heading for the dormitory.

"I just kissed Lily Evans," he simply repeated over and over to himself.