Aimee
The half moon was waxing; with each passing night, Lily grew increasingly nervous and bitter. She began to spend more time around Severus, even following him to his classes and observing.
The week before the full moon, Severus brewed the Wolfsbane potion for her. Her first taste left her heaving in the middle of the room, but she soon learned to bear the disgusting, boiling liquid.
During the day of the full moon, the tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Lily was constantly jumping at the slightest noises, while Severus snapped at anyone within ten feet, including his own children. Dumbledore met with Lily during lunch, checking up to see how she was doing.
"Sev, I'm scared." She admitted as he locked the portrait hole, then walked over to where she stood, in front of the window.
"I know, love." Severus sighed, wrapping his arms around her. "It's only for one night though."
"It's going to hurt." Lily said quietly, "I'm sure of it."
Severus nodded slightly, "Yes, Remus did often comment on the pain. However, the potion will dull the pain, and I'll be right here with you."
"I know." Lily sighed as she leaned back into Severus. "The sunset's beautiful."
"Yes, it is." Severus said quietly. "Although I prefer the sunrise."
"But you're never awake to see the sunrise!" Lily exclaimed softly, "I always wake up before you."
"Yes, but the sunrise means new chances, new hope. A fresh start."
"And the sunset means you've lived through another day." Lily finished.
"Yes." Severus said, kissing the top of her head. "I'm going to be right here, nothing's going to happen to you."
"What if the potion didn't work?" Lily asked quietly.
"I brewed it as exact as humanly possible; perhaps more than humanly possible. I can guarantee you it will work. If I wasn't positive, I wouldn't be in here with you." Severus insisted.
Lily was silent for a minute. "I never thought I'd be so nervous about seeing the moon."
"You won't, love." Severus said, "I'm going to close the windows once the transformation takes place."
"Why?" Lily asked, "It won't make any difference."
"Are you sure?" Severus asked, "I wouldn't want to make you more uncomfortable."
"Who knows?" Lily smiled, "Maybe I'll like being a wolf."
"I must admit, it would be nice to be able to turn into a creature as powerful as a wolf." Severus sighed, "Perhaps not being forced to, but on any other occasion."
"I hear you." Lily nodded, "But maybe the moon will be relaxing. I'll tell you if I want it shut."
"And how do you plan on telling me?" Severus asked, a bemused expression on his face.
Lily grinned, "I'll find some way."
The sun slowly set over the horizon, disappearing into the Forbidden Forest. The dark blue sky was streaked with pink, orange, and finally purple, the colours reflecting off the clouds lingering in the sky. Severus and Lily stood there watching until Lily started trembling and couldn't stand up any longer.
As the last strip of pink gave into the dark blanket of stars, Lily's body started making involuntary movements, her limbs thrashing out. Finally, she bent her head over and screamed as loud as she could.
What Severus saw next would stay with him forever; her bones started moving beneath her skin and he heard many of them crack to work into their true form. Lily hurriedly threw off her robes, leaving her naked on the bed.
She screamed once more; gray and white fur sprang up over her body, her face elongated and her nose turned into a black snout. Her hands and feet turned into paws, her legs into powerful hindquarters. From her tailbone came a real tail, covered in fur.
Her screams ceased in less than ten seconds; she finally dared to look up. Her human body had turned into a wolf body, with few exceptions werewolves possessed. Instead of her human voice, a whine came from her throat as she tried to speak.
Severus stood with his mouth agape. He slowly walked to the bed where Lily's wolf body now lay. Lily whined once more, looking up at Severus.
"Oh God, Lily…" Severus said softly. "Are you ok?"
As strange as it looked, the wolf nodded. Standing up, she jumped off the bed and went up to Severus' hand, then started licking it.
"What am I going to do with you?" Severus shook his head, "At least the potion worked.
Sev? Can you hear me?
Severus looked down at the wolf in surprised.
Lily?
It works!
Severus could almost see the happiness protruding out of the wolf's features.
Yes, love. It did work. Are you ok?
I'm fine, Sev.
How does it feel?
Nice, almost. Like it's second nature.
Did it hurt?
Imagine all of your bones breaking at once, then mending in an abrupt way. Then think of your muscles stretching, your limbs shrinking, and sharp teeth cutting through your tongue and gums.
I'm sorry, love.
You have nothing to be sorry for, Sev. If this is how it feels with the potion, I'm terrified to find out how it feels without.
Ask Remus; I'm sure he'll tell you.
Yes, I'm sure he would.
Suddenly, the wolf laid down and rolled over onto her back.
Can you feel the babies?
Surprised, Severus touched the wolf's stomach cautiously.
Yes, much better than when you're in your… err… human form.
Amazing, isn't it?
Aren't you scared?
Terrified out of my wits, love.
Severus watched as the wolf rolled back over and jumped up next to him. He smiled and automatically started petting her.
Severus, I'm not a dog.
Yes you are, love.
Am not.
Lily, love, the wolf is a species of dog.
I am NOT a bitch!
Severus threw his head back and laughed at the thought.
Literally, dear, you are.
Am not.
Yes, you are Lily. It's not a bad thing, at least from my perspective.
Yes, and you're six feet tall. Meanwhile, I'm – what? – two and a half feet tall.
At least it's better than two feet, love.
Point being?
You're a beautiful wolf, Lily. Absolutely gorgeous.
I wish I was pissed.
Well, wouldn't that be interesting? A pissed wolf.
A pissed werewolf, at that.
So now you know what it felt like for Remus all these years.
I feel bad for the poor chap; Thirty years of this is how many times?
Thirty times twelve is three hundred and sixty, love.
Three hundred and sixty? Poor man… That's nearly once every day for a year.
Yes, it would be quite painful, I imagine.
Yes, you, Severus, can only imagine. I can only imagine, because I'm sure you'll never allow me to transform without taking the potion.
You've guessed correctly, love.
You enjoy calling me that, don't you?
What else would I call you, love?
I'm not complaining; I like it.
I know you do, Lily. That's why I call you love.
I don't have anything to call you by, though.
Sev works just fine, Lily.
It feels impersonal though.
No, nobody else calls me Sev.
True.
So it's not impersonal.
After seventeen years, you would think I would have come up with something different.
I like Sev, love.
If you say so, dear.
Dear's a bit too…
Old lady-ish?
Quite, love.
So call me a bitch in heat and
I'll call you a liar
And we'll throw stones until we're dead
There you go again you cut me off from talking
You bask in the glory
The center of the circle
All our friends think you're a comedian
So kind and generous
But i am suffering
Away from here
I wanna be
Away from here
Away from here
Away from every little thing
Every little thing
I used to love your every little, every little thing
Now you call me a bitch in heat and
I call you a liar
And we'll throw stones until we're dead
You're the puppeteer and i'm the puppet
You manipulate me with your (real) catholic shit
Everytime i try to talk it through
You turn it around and make us out to be
David and Goliath
Away from here
I wanna be
Away from here
Away from here
Away from every little thing
Every little thing
I used to love your every little every little thing
Now you call me a bitch in heat and
I'll call you a liar
And we'll throw stones until we're dead
Your arms beneath me
Your lying inside me
I used to love your every little every little thing
Your eyes blue stars
Your hand in my purse
And now I hate your every little everything all day
Oh momma
I didn't know life was this hard
Oh momma
My innocence has been torn
My inner vision, dulled and darkened
I keep myself away to you
I fuck my sorrow humblely
And throw my crown upon the ground
It's you I hope for
And us I pray for
And me that I believed was wrong
But now my anger is my best friend
Be careful may bite your head off
Liar
So call me a bitch in heat and
I'll you a liar
And we'll throw stones until we're dead
So call me a bitch in heat and
I'll you a mother fucker
And we'll throw stones until we're dead
*Paula Cole, Throwing Stones
(Lily...James...Yes.Good.)