Lily watched her quiet friend as he worked on his essay. He would occasionally glance up, and did not know that Lily had noticed him peering over a few tables away, where Claire was huddled with a group of Ravenclaws, a few fifth years such as herself and what appeared to be first or second year Ravenclaw students that were needing extra help. Lily had to smile at the younger witch, she was a compassionate girl, patient and kind. Wholly different than her brother was mostly known for being until you knew him better. Lily cleared her throat at Remus to catch his attention. "Go talk to her."

"What?" He pretended not to understand. Lily nodded toward the other table.

"Claire. Go talk to her." Remus turned back to his books, not even bothering to acknowledge her suggestion. Lily stood up and moved around the other side of where he sat, and she gently reached over and shut his book. "Remus?" He voice was soft, like she was scared he'd get mad at her. After all, Lily had a pretty good idea why Remus didn't want to bother with his feelings for Claire. Like he always ignored his own feelings.

"Drop it, please, Lily." Remus said quietly. He continued to stare down where his schoolwork had been.

"Is it about James?" She ask, hand laid on his shoulder. Remus looked baffled at this thought, shaking his head not as an answer, but in disbelief. He gather his books and papers and made to leave the library; Lily stayed on his heels. "Remus!" She called after him, even as he moved faster. "Remus, stop!" Abruptly, he turned to face her.

"What, Lily?" He snapped at her, and Lily blinked back. It was not a tone she'd heard from him before.

"Why won't you talk to me?" She looked so offended. Remus sighed.

"Because, there is nothing to talk about it." He said simply. There was an underlying pain to his reply.

"You care for her, and it is a bit more than obvious she fancies you. I don't-"

"Because I can't. I know it, you know it, and I recently had the misfortune of finding out that Claire knows also. So please, Lily, leave it." He tried to move past her, but she blocked the way.

"She... Knows?" Lily tilted her head to the side. Remus sighed and stepped to the other side and moved away- but this time Lily let him go.


James was not hard to find, nor was it hard for Lily to convince him to leave whatever he and Peter were doing to kill time while Sirius was in detention and come for a walk with her. She lead him out into the courtyard and away from the others. "James?" She ask after a while, taking his arm and snuggling in close.

"Babe?" He replied, kissing the top of her head.

"I need to ask you something, but you have to promise me, no matter what, you won't mention it to either person I ask about?" She stopped and turned so they were face to face. James appeared to be utterly confused. Lily smiled. "Please?"

"Fine, I suppose for you, I can promise..." He took her hand and continued to walk.

"I- Well, Its just... You remember a few weeks ago when Remus lent your sister his outer robes when she was cold?" She ask, and James nodded. "Did you think anything of it?"

"I don't really..."

"What would you do, or should I ask, how would you feel about them?" Lily ask. James stopped walking.

"About... Moony... and Claire?" He seemed confused, or maybe even troubled. "Why? What?" Lily sighed. James could be so dim sometimes.

"Remus has feelings for her. Like, a lot. He is always sneaking glances at her. And she... knows. And I know that she feels the same, but because he's your friend..." Lily shook her head, then continued. "He doesn't want to say or do anything about it, because he's Remus, and he feels like he's not good enough and..." Lily stopped rambling and faced James. He looked ashamed, and was now facing the frozen earth rather his girlfriend. "James... You don't... agree... Do you?" He heart stopped. James lifted his hazel eyes, which were watery, but whether with emotion or the icy wind, Lily could not be sure.

"Lils..."

"Seriously?" She screeched. James looked down again. "How could you?!"

"She's my baby sister, Lily. I just want what is best for her- and in a war like the one we'll graduate to, a girl like her has no place with someone like Moony. It'll paint a target on her back. A pureblood girl with a werewolf..."

"Would be like a pureblood boy and a muggleborn?" Lily ask, her voice breaking. James tried to step toward her, but Lily backed away.

"No Lily, its not the same..." He tried to argue, but she turned and ran, and though he tried to race after her, she got inside the castle and up to the girl's dorms before he could catch her. That night, in her own heartbreak, Lily decided that it no longer mattered what James thought about the two of them. She loved Remus, his gentle soul, and wanted his happiness; a happiness which to Lily seemed to rare.


Lily found Claire early the next morning in a window seat in the library she knew the younger witch had a habit of claiming. She'd already been to the Great Hall and had a bowl of fruit by her side and a book spread across her lap. Lily walked quietly up and sat down next to her. "I saw my brother made you cry..." Claire said when Lily didn't talk for a moment. "Do you need help with that?" She looked up from her reading at the redheaded girl next to her. Lily shook her head.

"No, I was hoping to talk to you about something else..." Lily waited for a second. "About... Remus..."

"Okay?" Claire ask, closing her book and turning to face her company.

"You fancy him, don't you?" Lily ask. Claire shrugged.

"So?" She did not deny this fact at all, which surprised Lily. She blinked a few times, processing the Potter girl's honesty.

"So... I really don't know where to go from here..." Lily said. "I saw this going differently." Claire laughed.

"I assume you thought I would deny your accusation and you'd have to chisel away at my resolve until I emptied my heart about it. But it's not a secret, really. Most people in my house know, they all tend to tease me, since he's in Gryffindor- though I'm sure you'd agree he'd fit in well with us as well. But if he returns affection, it is not something he wishes to act on, and its for reasons I assume you know. I don't really know what to say about it, and he doesn't seem comfortable talking to me about it, so..."

"I wish I could help, really." Lily said. "I had planned to try and sort of... match make..." She laughed nervously. "I'm no good at this."

"Lily," Claire said, hopping down from her seat, "Yes, I do have feelings for him. And yes," She paused and looked around the library, "I know about the issue... But if he doesn't want to even speak to me... Then what can I do?" She smiled again and gathered her fruit bowl as she left the library. Lily waited for a moment then headed down to the Great Hall for a bit of breakfast herself.

When nearing the Gryffindor table, Lily saw that James was sitting closer to Remus than normal, and the two young wizards where speaking in hushed tones. Remus looked annoyed, then as he looked up and saw Lily approaching, exasperated. James clapped Remus on the back and moved around the table, offering Lily a muffin. "Chat a minute?" He guided her from the hall before she had time to answer, and once they were out of sight of their friends, James explained. "I felt like absolute hippogriff shit, Lils, I did. I went straight to the dorm and told Remus. Everything. Including that he needed to do something about this..." He gestured in the air wildly, and Lily fought back a snort. "Whatever the bullocks it is that he and my sister have. Because let's be real- I couldn't find anyone better. Moony is the best. We'll just have to protect her harder if something comes of it, that's all." James took a deep breath, the looked into Lily's eyes, brushing her hair aside. "So do you forgive me for having my head up my arse?" Lily laughed out loud this time, but stood on her tip-toes and kissed James' cheek.

"No, but don't ever change." She replied. "So what did Remus say?" This question, however, made James look saddened.

"He... yelled at me. Told me that i was an awful brother for wishing someone such as himself on my sister, said that he'd never be what she'd deserve or need..." James swallowed. "I- He's stolen quite a bit of time with her, or had been before we started interfering... I think he may actually be in love with her..."

"Oh." Lily said quietly. "Changes things a bit, doesn't it?" Lily said. James nodded.

"We will just have to see if we can't make situations that will help them along, I believe." James said. "I've talked to Padfoot and Wormtail, and we think we have a plan..."


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