Chapter Three: The Problem


"We have a problem."

Remus looked up from his homework. "We do?"

James sat down across from him. "I think, well Padfoot thinks, that Lily is seeing someone. I told him that's stupid. I mean, if Lily was seeing someone, we would know about it, right?"

"Uh, probably," Remus replied. He suddenly wished for some toast or a bagel to eat. Something to give him an excuse for not giving direct answers.

"But if Sirius is right - and that's stupid in itself because Sirius is never right - why would she keep it a secret?"

"Well, Prongs," Remus said slowly and carefully, "I'm sure that if Lily wanted to tell you who she was dating, given if she even is dating someone, she would tell you. But otherwise, I don't think its any of your business. Lily's our friend, but it's not as if she were, heh, dating any of us and was dating someone else on the side."

James considered this for a moment. He nodded. "You're right, Moony. I'm glad you're the one I told you this about. She's probably just busy with some girl thing, anyway. Sirius said -"

"You take too much on Sirius' opinion," Remus said sharply. "He likes to think that he knows everything about everyone, when in reality, he knows very little."

"You - you really think that?" James asked. His eyes were open wide in shock.

"Sometimes. Don't tell him I said that, will you?"

"Of course not. Your secret is safe with me."

Remus swallowed. "Thanks."

James stood. "I have homework to do, too. Did you make any sense out of Binns' lecture today? It sounded like Latin to me. Then I fell asleep."

"It was partially in Latin," Remus replied. "Which is probably why it sounded that way."

"Oh. That would explain it...Moony?"

"Yes, Prongs?"

"If Lily was dating someone, it would probably kill me. Just the thought of her not even seeing me. If she is and I find out who he is, I might just rip him from limb to limb. And no one would be able to control me. Or stop me."

*

"Lily," Remus said the next day, pulling her off to the side in the corridor as she went to walk into the Great Hall for breakfast.

She turned and smiled. "Remus. Good morning." It had been a week since Halloween and she still had a glow to her.

"James and the others are starting to suspect something."

The color drained from her face. "About us? How could they?"

"Not about us. About you. They think you're dating someone. They haven't brought me into the mix yet."

"Do you suppose it's time to tell them?"

"Uh, no. James mentioned something to me that if you *were* dating someone, that he would probably kill him."

"James? Our sweet James? I doubt that," Lily said, shaking her head.

"He seemed pretty set in it. I tried to make mention of how it would hurt you if he killed your boyfriend. I was only guessing that it would."

"Of course it would. Besides, he'd be thrown into Azkaban over a crush. I seriously doubt that he would kill you if he found out."

Remus nodded. "You're right. But I think telling him is a bad idea. At least not until he's gotten used to the idea that you might even be dating someone."

"Should I drop hints that I am? Not hints that it's you, of course, but hints that I am seeing someone?" she asked. "Just so he can get used to the idea."

"That might be a good idea."

Lily looked around and saw no one. She reached up and gave Remus a quick kiss. "See you later, then." She hurried away.

He reached up and brushed his fingers over his lips. There was something about the taste she left...

Not the time to be thinking about that now, Remus thought, bringing himself back to reality. There are more important matters to attend to.

He pushed the door open into the Great Hall. He went over and sat next to Peter. "Where's Prongs?"

Sirius shrugged. "Probably up in his room having a fit."

"...why?"

"He's depressed. Obviously, you told him that Lily was dating someone and that he should just leave it alone. He's saying something about how Lily's business is his business."

"Who's saying that?"

Sirius turned and saw Lily standing behind him. He blinked. "No one."

"Sirius."

"James is saying that. He's awful depressed because he thinks you're dating someone."

Lily kept eye contact with Sirius. Her eyes flashed away for an instant to look at Remus, but they went back to Sirius. "Well, you can tell James that if he wants to be depressed he can be, but my business is *not* his business. If I am dating someone, and I chose not to tell him, it's only because I feel that he, and even you, Peter, and Remus, will over react. Something else you have no business doing."

Sirius stared at her.

She nodded. "Right, then." She turned, her hair spinning behind her, smacking Sirius in the face, and walked away.

"Well, she got you," Peter said, looking down at his fried tomatoes. Sirius smacked him on the back of the head and told him to shut his trap.

"I never told Prongs that Lily was dating someone. I told him exactly what Lily just told you. If she is, it's not his business," Remus defended himself of what Sirius had said earlier.

"Fine, fine. But don't come crying to me when James blames you," Sirius said. He picked up a piece of toast and began buttering it.

"Blames me for what? Blames me for the fact that Lily's dating someone?" Remus tried to sound an incredulous as possible. He had the sinking feeling that he was failing and should have probably just kept his mouth closed.

"No, but, well - yes."

"It's not my fault," Remus grumbled, lying through his teeth.

Sirius got up and left. Probably off to get James out of bed. Peter sat there, looking over at Remus.

"What?" Remus snapped, finally.

"Nothing. It's just, uh, time for Herbology," Peter said in a timid voice.

"Oh. Sorry, Wormtail."

"It's all right. Come on."

They walked out of the hall and down the corridor. They walked to the Herbology room and as they went to go inside, they ran into Sirius and James.

James looked as if he hadn't gotten any sleep. He had dark rings beneath his eyes, and his eyes were bloodshot. His eyes looked to be a darker brown than usual; darker in every way, to be exact. It also appeared that he had slept, or at least laid in bed, wearing the same robes he was wearing now.

"Morning, James," Peter said.

James nodded in his general direction.

Lily walked down the hall with a couple of her other "breakfast friends." They stopped and looked at James.

"Oh my God, James, are you all right?" Emily asked. She looked at him with concern. Lily looked over at Remus with questioning look. He only shrugged.

"Fine," James muttered at Emily. He looked over at Lily. "I'm fine," he said pointedly.

She looked at him. "You don't look fine. You should probably go take a shower." She walked into the Herbology room with a firm stride. Emily and the other girls followed quickly.

"Prongs, I'm sorry for whatever I said," Remus apologized quickly. "I didn't mean to...break anything."

"It's not what you said, but it was just that you were right. You were really right. If Lily's dating someone, it's not my business. I should butt out," James said. He pushed up his glasses from the bottom and wiped at his eyes.

"I'm glad you see things that way," Remus replied.

"But if I find out who the bugger is, I'm going to hurt him."

"But you just said -"

"I'll butt out, but...I love Lily."

"Do you really think that Lily would want you to? James, you're being awful possessive of someone you don't even have."

"Whose side are you on, here?" he asked nastily.

"Sides? James, there are no sides here! You're talking about a person like they're property? Lily's not your wand or your broom. She's a human being. You can't rule someone like that!"

"God, Remus, you're acting like it's you! Like you don't give a shit about Lily, but you're just trying to save your own ass!"

"I'm not doing anything of the sort! You're the one who doesn't seem to be giving a shit about Lily." Remus began to feel extremely angry. Unlike had in years. "She is my friend and I will see to it that you don't try to control her where you have don't have the right!"

"You really think that? Moony, old buddy, you are wrong." James' voice had grown very calm and forced. His eyes narrowed.

"James, you are acting insane and completely not like yourself. I ask you to go away before you say or do something you're going to regret," Remus said, calming down.

"Oh? You ask me that? Wow, Moony, that's a great idea." James stared at him for a long moment before he jumped forward and gabbed Remus by the collar of his robes. He pushed him up against the wall. "Is this what you mean? Regret this? I don't regret this! Moony, I think you better figure out which side you're on, because you aren't on my side here. You're sure as hell not acting like it!"

Remus stared at his friend. He wasn't sure if it was his pulse that he felt pounding in his throat or the super high blood pressure of James, pulsating through the fingers that were pressed tightly against Remus' throat.

"I'm on Lily's side," Remus said in a choked voice. When James just looked at him, Remus couldn't help but add, "Lily. Do you remember her? Or did you forget her along with your sense? Now please put me down."

James stared at him and then threw him down. Remus hit the ground and gasped at the sudden hardness of the floor. James ran away, down the hall.

Remus looked up at the entire Herbology class standing in the doorway. He caught Lily's eye. She looked at him apologetically. He nodded at her. He then looked around. Both Sirius and Peter had followed after James.

No one moved to help him up, so he stood by himself. Without thought, he walked into the Herbology room and sat down. Everyone stared at him. He looked up at them.

"What?"

They all shrugged and sat down as the Professor walked into the room.

*

"I don't know what got into him," Remus said, pacing. "I just can't figure it out!"

"He's probably just jealous even of the idea that I'm seeing someone," Lily said. "It's a flattering thought."

Remus turned and stared at her. "He could have killed me this morning, you know that, right?"

"I know that, but he didn't. He wouldn't. Even if he *did* know. He's depressed and edgy."

"Well, when McGonagall found out what happened, she pulled thirty-five points from Gryffindor on his behalf. She said that fighting in the halls wasn't accepted."

"Well, I could have told you that."

"This isn't good, though."

"Maybe," Lily said, "we should make it look as if it's someone. Just so he has someone to push his anger towards."

"So he can kill them?"

"James won't kill anyone. You know that and I know that."

"Well, you know that," Remus muttered.

She looked at him with a slightly annoyed expression. She sighed. "Believe me, James wouldn't kill anyone. Fight them, rough them up a bit, but he wouldn't *really* hurt anyone. Just like you wouldn't."

"I was about to pummel James today," Remus said, sitting down next to Lily. "I just don't know what got into him. Why he was acting like that. He was seriously acting like some sort of crazed, possessive lunatic."

"I know he was. I simply don't think that he would kill anyone, especially you, if he found out. Not saying that I want to tell him right now. Right now, he probably would send you about to the hospital wing. But under normal circumstances, on a normal day, he wouldn't," Lily said.

Remus nodded. "You're probably right. I don't think telling him sometime within the next week is a good idea, though."

"Oh no. Not even for a month."

"At least we're agreed on that."

"We could make it look like I'm snogging with that irritating Slytherin Lucius Malfoy and then James would attack him. That might make you feel better," Lily said, a smile sneaking across her face.

The thought made Remus smile, but then reality struck. "We can't do that!"

"Of course not." She sighed. "I wish this was easier."

"I wish we had just told him in the first place. It would make things so less complicated."

"Yeah, but you might be in the hospital wing, even still, with a broken collarbone," Lily said with raised eyebrows.

"You really think so?"

She shrugged. "Perhaps."

"That's reassuring."

*

Over the next few weeks, things were strained between James and Remus. James felt ashamed, so there forth kept his mouth closed when Remus was around. Remus, on the other hand, simply ignored James, so even if he did say something, it wouldn't have been mentioned.

"Trouble in paradise?" Lucius Malfoy said one morning at breakfast. "Look, Severus, the Gryffindors are being their usual, perky, brave selves."

Snape only snickered at them.

"Why don't you sod off, Malfoy?" Sirius asked with a growl.

"Psh. You think you can fight me, Black? Or do you want to leave it up to your Mudblood loving friend Potter?" Malfoy replied. His silver-grey eyes were narrowed and his lips were curved into a thin smile.

James sat, staring at his food. His eyes seemed to be boring holes into his toast.

"Potter, aren't you going to say something?" Snape asked. "Stand up for yourself? Or are you going to let me win? Like you let that wussy Lupin win."

"Good God, you two, leave them alone," Lily said, walking over.

"Oh, so, the little Mudblood is going to stand up for her wussy friends," Malfoy said. He eyed her, appearing to be sizing her up. "Say, for a Mudblood, you're not to bad. Perhaps you and me could get together sometime for a quick a snog. Nothing more, of course. Can't have my reputation slandered by a *Mudblood.* But you know, use is use."

"I don't think so, Malfoy," Lily replied. "But you know, if you wanted me to tell Dumbledore about that time last week when I saw you copying off of Della Salamini's Arthimancy paper because you hadn't studied, I'm very willing to do so."

"You little bitch. That's not true."

"Of course it is. And even if it wasn't, anyone in this school would believe my word over yours," Lily said. She stood her ground firmly. "And not just because I'm a Gryffindor and you're a Slytherin. I just happen to be more trustworthy than you are."

"I should kill you right here and now, Mudblood," Malfoy said, no longer smiling.

"Lay off, Lucius," Snape said. James' head shot up.

"Are *you* standing up for the *Mudblood,* Severus?" Malfoy asked.

"Of course not. She's just not worth our time. Let's go," Snape said. He turned and walked away.

Malfoy glared at Lily. "Sodding Mudblood." He then walked after Snape.

"Wow, Lily, that was great," Peter said.

"A true bloody Gryffindor if I've ever seen one," Sirius said.

The other Gryffindors started applauding for Lily. Even a few Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff students joined in the applause, while the Slytherins simply glared.

Lily, on the other hand, stood with her arms crossed across her chest and she had a determined look upon her face.

"That was, uh, really cool, Lily," James said meekly. He jumped up from the table and rushed away.

She then turned and looked at Remus, who shrugged. She shrugged as well and stalked out of the Great Hall.

*

It was suddenly nearing Christmas and Hogwarts was covered in snow. Things between Remus and James had patched up over time. They were back to their normal selves. James rarely mentioned Lily at all, and was perfectly civil when she was around.

Remus and Lily's relationship was still secret, but besides that, things were going well. They had the wonder of their passage, where they had a sudden habit of screwing like bunnies, as Sirius would have put it if he knew.

"Come on, we're going down to Hogsmeade. Do you boys want to come?" Lily asked the four as they ate their breakfast.

"I just went - uh, sure," Sirius said with a fast grin.

"We're in," James said. Peter nodded his agreement.

"Remus?" Lily prompted.

He nodded. "Yeah, I'm for it."

She grinned. "Great. You guys can come with us," she said, motioning to a group of girls. "I know more than one of them would like to hang out with the four most eligible men at Hogwarts."

Sirius jumped up. "When do we leave?"

Lily laughed. "In an hour. Relax, finish your food."

"Psh. Seems like we're always eating breakfast."

"Listen, we'll meet you guys out front. We'll go down together, okay?" Lily asked.

"That's fine," James replied.

She frowned at his short answer. She had been going out of her way a little to be more sensitive towards James, but he had been treating her like she was just an acquaintance. She was beginning to feel a little uncomfortable around him.

During their time in the passage, Lily and Remus discussed their friends a lot. Trying to look past their outer shells and into the deep of their psyches, as Lily had done the night she fell into the lake.

"I thought I had James pegged," Lily had said one night. "You know, the confidant leader, the one with the answers. But now, after that scene in Herbology, he just seems so reckless to me."

"But he's not," Remus replied. "He was reckless once, but now it's like he's gone into his shell. He barely talks to anyone. He just does his homework and goes to bed. It's not like he's depressed or anything. It's more like he's in a trance. He does what he has to do and not anymore. He goes to Quidditch practice and everything, but Dameon Cull, the Gryffindor team captain, told me that James is doing poorly. And it's not that he's doing poorly. It's more that he's not into the game. He finds and catches the Snitch just as fast as ever, but he doesn't seem to care."

"And that's not like James at all!" Lily said. "He's the biggest Quidditch fan I know. He's probably the biggest Quidditch fan at Hogwarts!"

"I know. Something really needs to be done about him. But I don't think we can do anything. I really think that he needs time."

"And maybe a little bit more attention. It's our fault it happened in the first place, you know that, right?"

Remus nodded. "Yeah, I know. And I feel guilty about it, but it's not like I can go up to him and say that I'm sorry for dating you."

"Exactly. And Sirius isn't being help at all. He's being the ever helpful best friend by trying to *find* whoever it is I'm supposedly seeing. Even now that James has dropped it, Sirius is still after it."

"It's possible that he's trying to look for some approval from James."

"You suppose?" Lily asked.

"I told James this; Sirius likes to think that he knows everything, when he doesn't. And you really can't confide in him, you know, talk to him about things that involve a lot of feeling. So James doesn't talk to him about it, and Sirius tries to make up for his lack of verbal communication by trying to get what he thinks James wants," Remus explained.

"That makes sense. And then poor Peter, lost in the shuffle. He just agrees with whatever they say, trying to make them feel better. You can tell, though, that he's not sure who he wants to make feel better more, James or Sirius. He'll tell James that I'm not worth it or tell Sirius that we'll catch the guy I'm dating. But James doesn't want to hear it and Sirius doesn't want any help. Peter just can't do anything right. I feel bad for him." She shifted uncomfortably.

"Did you really hear him say that you weren't worth it?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact, I did."

Remus wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"It's all right, though. Peter's just trying to make James feel better. I have to take that into retrospect when I want to feel bad for myself," Lily said. "He doesn't really mean it."

So, on the day they went to Hogsmeade, Lily was set on making James feel more comfortable. It was also her only chance to go Christmas shopping, and she had no idea what to get any of the boys.

"Do you suppose I should buy something for Lily?" Peter asked, blushing furiously. He asked Remus, who didn't seem to be dead set on finding Lily's secret or wasn't talking about her.

"If you want to," Remus replied. "I'm sure she would appreciate it. I've...gotten the impression that she's feeling bad because neither you, Sirius, or James is speaking with her much."

Peter nodded. "I think she overheard me when I was talking with James about her the other day. Maybe I should buy her something for Christmas. To sort of make up for it."

"I'm sure she'd like that."

"Moony, what do you buy for girls?"

"Maybe you shouldn't think of Lily as a "girl" and think of her as your friend," Remus advised. "She's probably going to appreciate something from the heart more so than something you thought she'd like because she's a girl."

Peter blinked. "Maybe I'll just get her a box of chocolate frogs and leave it at that."

Remus hid a smile. "That's a good idea."

Lily ran up next to Remus and Peter. "I don't know what to get for James. He's in a real funk and I don't know what to do. I don't want to default on something here. This is important."

"We'll help you," Remus said. "Won't we, Wormtail?"

Peter nodded.

"Thank God I have you two," she replied. "I don't know what I would do. But then I'm going to have to go ask James and Sirius what to get you guys."

"Well, I can tell you what to get me," Remus said with a grin.

"Oh, shut up," Lily said, grinning as well. "None of you are going to know what I've gotten you until Christmas. I am good at keeping secrets."

Remus snickered, but luckily Peter didn't hear. Lily did, though, and she glared at him.

He smiled innocently.

"So, getting back onto the subject," Lily said. "Where do you suppose I should buy something for them?"

"They'll like anything from Zonko's," Peter suggested. "Even if they already have at least one of almost everything there."

"I'll keep that in mind," Lily replied. She looked up ahead and saw a few of her female friends waiting for her. "Looks like I'm wanted. I'll see you guys later." She trotted over to them.

"Lily sure is nice," Peter said.

"Don't tell me you're falling for her too," Remus said with a smile.

"No...I like this Ravenclaw girl."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. Pauline Ranbler. She helps me in Transfiguration. I just think it's nice of Lily to get gifts for James and Sirius when they're treating her so badly."

Remus nodded. "So, uh, tell me more about Pauline..."

*

"Okay," Lily said as she sat down at a table in Three Broomsticks. "I've got gifts for everyone except you. You're hard to buy for."

"I'm hard to buy for?" Remus asked curiously.

"Yes. I'm clueless. And when I went to ask James and Sirius to help, Sirius gave me the cold shoulder and James acted like he had no idea who any of us were. So, I'm going to have to figure this one out on my own."

"All right. What did you get the other guys?"

Lily pulled a canvas bag onto the table. "For Peter I got a quill that has a little light at the top so you can write in the dark. It's like an eagle feather - something with enough charm power to work for a few months. You can trade it in for a new one when the old one runs out."

"That's cool."

"I thought so. I got Sirius X-ray glasses. They look like Muggle sunglasses, though. They're kind of - what's that look for?"

"You got...Sirius Black X-ray glasses?"

"Yeah, why are you looking at me - oh. Don't worry, it's walls only."

"You...got Sirius Black X-ray glasses?" Remus repeated.

"I thought about that and I asked. They can't penetrate the walls of Hogwarts. Hogwarts has special security things. Besides, these glasses are sort of bottom of the line. What? I am a little upset with him for being such a jackass. He's lucky I got him something at all," Lily said, sounding a little indignant.

"Good point. I agree with you."

"And then I got James something - I hope I'm not overdoing it. I mean, I want to be nice, but I think I might look like I'm just trying to hard." She bit her lip as she pulled a small box from her bag. She handed it to Remus. "What do you think?"

He opened the box and looked inside. It was a thin gold chain with a golden Snitch charm. He looked up at her. "It's really nice."

"Is it too much? Does it look like I'm going overboard?"

"No, of course not," Remus said, staring at the charm. He shut the box and handed it back to her. "It's nice."

She jumped up, looked around and then gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you so much. I'm going to go look for something for you. I'll see you back at Hogwarts okay?"

"Sure. Here, don't worry about your bill, I'll get it," Remus said with a smile.

"Thanks," she replied as she hurried out the door.

He sighed as he took a drink from his butterbeer. Maybe Lily liked James more than she thought she did. It was one thing to get him a nice gift, but that had to cost her a fortune. It had to be real gold - wizards didn't use anything less. At least ten galleons. He sighed again.

He looked over and saw Peter walking in with James and Sirius. Remus waved at them to come on over.

"Today is my revolution," James announced as he sat down. "I am going to stop this pointless pining and get back in shape. Gryffindor needs me! I'm the bloody Seeker! I need to stop this and I'm going to do it. Right now."

"Good going, Prongs," Sirius said with a grin. "A round on me."

"So...does this mean you're getting Lily something for Christmas now?" Peter asked carefully.

Sirius glared at him. "Don't say that name."

Remus had the sudden urge to slap Sirius upside the head. He kept his cool.

"It's fine, Padfoot. I don't mind if you guys talk about or with Lily. I just...I'm over her. I'm going to try to be her friend. And yes, Peter, I am getting her a gift. I don't know what. Probably just something small. So she doesn't think I'm trying to win her over or something," James said calmly.

Well, that should be interesting, Remus thought.

*

Christmas morning, Remus awoke to the sound of thundering feet around him. The full moon was two days past and he was sleeping more than he was awake, trying to regroup. The thumping made him roll over in his bed and cover his head with his pillows, trying to drown it out.

"Gah! Moony, wake up!" Sirius yelled. He pulled the pillows away and threw them on the floor. "It's Christmas, you idiot! You're going to sleep through Christmas!"

"I don't give much a shit," Remus muttered. He closed his eyes tightly to block out the light. He grabbed around for his pillows, but, of course, they weren't there. "God, Sirius, give me those back."

"Not until you open your presents. Then you can sleep the rest of the day away for all I care."

Remus opened his eyes to see Sirius standing above him, grinning like a maniac. Remus sighed as he rolled out of bed, almost not catching himself before he hit the floor. "Where are my gifts?" he asked, wiping sleep from his eyes.

"Here," Sirius said thrusting a pile of gifts at him. "Open mine first."

"Fine, fine," Remus muttered. He grabbed one of the boxes and held it up. "This one yours?"

Sirius nodded.

"Thought so. The 'Daily Prophet' wrapping paper gave it away," he said, starting to wake up a bit. He ripped open the package, feeling bad for a moment at ripping a picture. The wizards in the photo began running around and into other photos.

Remus turned back to this gift. He opened the box and peered inside. He blinked. "A kaleidoscope?"

"Look at it! Look into it!" Sirius seemed absolutely giddy.

Remus held the kaleidoscope up to his eye and saw a thousand images of Sirius dancing around. Not only that, but each image seemed to have a mind of it own. One was running about carelessly, another was reading a book, and another seemed to be playing with himself. Remus brought the kaleidoscope down quickly.

"Quite cool," he decided, a little wary.

Sirius nodded. "I got one for everyone. Except for Prongs. I got him a penknife. Thought he could use one. Since you already have one. And Wormtail would kill himself on one."

Remus nodded as he sorted through the gifts. One from James, one from Peter, and one from his Great Aunt. Probably something he couldn't very well use. Like a used Muggle toaster oven. There was even one from James' younger sister, who was quite fond of Remus.

What puzzled him, though, is that there was no gift from Lily. Maybe she hadn't found something for him at all and just gave up. Well, that didn't sound like her at all. She was the type who would run through the rain just to get one something. Even someone who wasn't her boyfriend.

He opened the rest of his gifts and found them to be quite enjoyable, even the electric can opener that he couldn't use from his aunt. But still...the absence of a gift from Lily bothered him. Was this some sort of sign? Or maybe she got him something so...romantic (he tried to push the word "embarrassing" from his mind) that she didn't want anyone else to know about it.

So, after he had showered, he ran down to breakfast where he found Lily. He gave her a questioning look and she mouthed 'passage' at him. He nodded and turned right around. He almost ran into James.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Prongs," Remus said distantly.

"Uh, no problem," James replied. "Have you seen Lily?"

"She's in there," he replied gesturing towards the Hall he had just exited from.

"You okay, Moony?"

"I'm fine. I'll see you later."

"Yeah. Happy Christmas, man."

"Right. Happy Christmas."

Remus wandered down to the passage, opened it and closed it behind him. He was expecting Lily at any moment, but was sure she was being held up by James.

He went to sit, when he saw a box a little up ahead. He walked up to it and flipped up the tag right away. In Lily's neat script it said, 'To Remus, From Lily.'

So, she hadn't given up. He picked up the box and shook it gently. Light. He then wondered if she counted a box of air as a gift.

"Remus?"

He turned around, and saw Lily standing there with her arms crossed. "You weren't opening my gift, were you?"

"No, I was just shaking it a bit," he replied with a smile. His smile dropped off as he asked, "What did James want?"

"He wanted to thank me for the gift. He seemed quite...taken with it. Oh, Remus, you should have told me I was going overboard! James got me a rainbow pen. You know, the ones that changes ink colors as you write with it. It's nice, but it's not a gold necklace."

"I wasn't going to tell you that your gift was bad," Remus said. He set down the box. "You were so happy with it."

"I suppose so. Come one, let's sit. Open your box. And thank you for your gift. It was lovely."

"I should have thought of giving it to you in private. Hopefully, you weren't too ridiculed."

"Well, the rumors are flying and Emily was kind enough to dispose of the tag before anyone saw who it was from. They just assumed that it was from my mystery lover. Which is closer to the truth than they knew," Lily replied. "Now, open yours!"

Remus quickly pulled at the wrapping paper and then pulled at the flap on the top of the box. He stared at the contents.

Lily paused. "You don't like it?"

He pulled the small, stuffed wolf from the box. "I like it, I do. I just - not what I was expecting."

"I didn't know what to get you, and I saw the wolf and he just reminded me of you. I was tempted to just him for myself. But I thought you might like him better."

Remus leaned over and kissed her. "I love it."

"I'm so glad."

He looked down at the wolf and nodded. "I love it."


A/N: I know, this is sort of filler. Don't worry, the next chapter things are going to get insane. The things you've been asking about will come to pass.