Forever

Forever

Year two

Part 1/

A/N - I would really appreciate some comments or criticism it really helps me a lot. The review ratio for this story is 1/36. ONE review, I KNOW all of you can do better than that, so please... pretty please review? :'( see I've resorted to begging! Do you all see what you've done to me?? OK I'm done, just read it!

Lily Evans boarded the Hogwarts Express with a smile. The hour had not yet reached 10:00 A.M. and yet so far today she had had a fight with her new owl Narcissa (she hadn't wanted to go in her cage), had a bacon war with her twin sister Petunia, and walked through a wall. To top it all off she been called a mudblood by a particularly nasty (in more ways than one) Slytherin named Severus Snape. Never the less a smiled adorned Lily Evans decidedly pretty face. Nothing seemed to be amiss; after all she was going home. Hogwarts had become her real home, replacing where she grew up in her heart and in her head.

Lily gazed around the train searching for a familiar face. Finding no one she recognized she walked to the compartment she and her friends usually sat in. She pushed open the door to reveal Anna and Tina two of her best friends talking animatedly. Pleasantries were exchanged and before long their other friends started to trickle in; first Peter and Remus, then Sirius, then Roslyn, and last James who was mumbling about killing someone and shaking his head darkly. The conversations started innocently enough, about James and Sirius' trip to the world cup, Lily's sister and Roslyn's brush with 'death' at the mall. Gradually though, as the sky turned darker the talk followed suit. Apparently a wizard in Austria, Lord Voldemort, was slowly gaining power. He was like a shadow, whispered among students and parents alike, but never outright discussed in public in fear he would show up and make everyone wish they had never mentioned his name. In fact most people had taken to calling him He-who-must-not-be-named, or something of the sort. Lily shivered when James mentioned that Lord Voldemort used a killing curse that couldn't be countered and left no distinguishable mark. Sirius was just about to get James to spill about his parents' new job and just how he knew so much about this Voldemort guy when the train came to an abrupt halt.

Lily and her friends stumbled out of the train and into the rain. They headed toward the carriages carefully avoiding the ever-growing puddles. Above the sky howled and threatened, all the while Lily fought her way to the nearest one along with Sirius, Tina and James. Lily had reached a carriage relatively dry, and was teasing James about his little "dip" in the puddles courtesy of Remus when James shoved her playfully backwards into a pool of rainwater. She stood up sputtering and soaked. Lily plopped into her seat glaring at James. Sirius had to ride with Professor Ashputtle though because he blew up a first year's trunk. Remus climbed in the carriage in his place.

The creaking of the wheels beneath the coach made Lily very uneasy, and she was glad to step into the Great Hall. The sight that greeted her made Lily gasp with delight. She had forgotten how beautiful the ceiling was even though currently it displayed a thunderstorm. The lightning was amazing when viewed with such clarity. It's brightness alone was enough to light up the entire room. On the stage in front of them forty or so nervous first years were lined up. Lily smiled as she remembered her own sorting barely a year ago. The poor kids were giving each other thumbs up and occasionally glanced at the crowd gathering below them. One little girl with blond braids and dimples looked as though she would throw up at the sight of them. Another first year who Lily later identified and Gilderoy Lockhart, was grinning cheekily at the older students.

Lily chose a seat next to Peter and waited impatiently for the sorting to end. Her hunger was nothing compared to Sirius though, who looked like he was this close to killing one of the new Gryffindors Thomas, Carrie, and eating her for dinner. The poor girl who had unfortunately chosen a seat next to him was inching away from his hungry stare frightened.

When the sorting had ended, announcements had been made, the food was served. Lily hadn't remembered eating this much since Christmas of the previous year, and she stuffed herself with Jell-O, turkey, chicken, potatoes, all sorts of vegetables, fruits, and every kind of pie imaginable. That night she lay in her bed with a feeling of complete and totally serenity.

The next few weeks were spent getting back into the routine, and were basically mishap-free. One Saturday afternoon in mid-September Lily was in the library searching for another copy of Quidditch Through the Ages. She was going to try out for the team, and wanted to know everything about the sport imaginable. She hated doing anything half way. Finally she spotted it on the top shelf and reached for it. Her hand wasn't even close. Sighing, Lily dragged a chair over to the shelf. She climbed on top of it and attempted to reach the book again. It was still too high, and after a few more tries she jumped up in a last ditch venture to seize it. Lily sighed with frustration, and threw her hands up in a sign of defeat. Suddenly she found herself atop the shelf. It was as though she had flown up there. She shook her head; it had been a long time since anything like that had happened to her. In fact it had been over a year and half. The question was how was she going to get down. The shelves were to high up for her to jump, and she didn't know the levitation charm. With a defeated shrug, Lily decided to wait for someone to come along. She surveyed the scenery around her. To her left was the Charms shelf. Directly below her was the History of magic books. She yawned, boring. She glanced behind her and quickly looked away only to do a double take. The restricted section. Lily had always to go there. It was whispered among the students that the only reason Professor Dumbledore had defeated Grindlewald was because of a book he found there. Lily had always wanted to look in there but it was just what the name said, restricted. Suddenly voices could be hears approaching. Sirius, James, Remus, and Peter came around the bend. They sat down in a circle. Lily opened her mouth to call out but thought better of it. If they were discussing a new prank to pull on her and her friends she would listen and then spoil it. Her mind was already full of ways to burst their bubble! She leaned in to heat better what they were saying.

"You guys, I have something to tell you." James said looking somber. His normally mischievous brown eyes were bleak, and the usual tell-tale grin was replaced with a set of pursed lips. It looked like he was going to his own funeral.

"What's going on James?" Remus asked with concern at the sight of his friend's face. Above them Lily leaned forward to hear better, nearing the edge.

"I have an idea." James continued business-like as always Everyone perked up at this news. James having an idea usually meant a new way to torture some poor soul, most likely Filch or Snape. They all looked at him expectantly. "No guys not like that. It's to help Remus." He continued. Suddenly as if by magic all four boys wore identical grim expressions. Lily inched forward to hear more, she could barely hear him. "We can become animagus to help Remus and be with him when he turns into a werewolf. You know during his you know, conversion." He whispered. Lily's mind reeled and she jumped in surprise. Suddenly she fell over the edge and landed on Sirius with a thump.

"OW!" He yelled.

"Sorry Sirius!" Lily bit her lip and climbed off him only to be confronted be a very anxious James.

"How long were you up there? More importantly, are you alone?" James demanded.

"Long enough, and yes." Lily said brushing herself off and avoiding James' gaze. She was always a little shy and James often made her uncomfortable when he got intense like that.

"Are you sure? Tina and Anna aren't with you?" Sirius asked regaining his wits.

"Of course I'm sure. I think I would know if someone was with me!" She said looking slightly aggravated.

"What did you hear?" James interrogated still trying to catch her eyes as though he wanted to read her soul. Lily shifted uneasily under the weight of his stare.

"Everything." Lily said quietly. Remus looked up alarmed and made a motion to get up but Sirius grabbed his arm.

"NO. Sit down Remus. You're our friend and we're going to talk about this." He said firmly. If the situation hadn't been so grave Lily would have laughed. She had never seen Sirius so… serious. Obviously reluctant Remus took a seat watching Lily anxiously.

"Remus, I don't care that you're a… It doesn't matter." Lily finished hastily. Looking her friend in the eye for the first time/

"You mean you still want to be my friend even though I'm a…." He cut himself off. This time it was Remus' turn to avoid looking in Lily's eyes and he suddenly became very interested in reading the titles of Transfiguration books.

"Of course." Lily spoke as though he were being silly. Remus grinned with relief but still looked away.

"Well now that that's cleared up, what are we going to do about Ms. Brown- noser here?" Sirius asked James pointing at Lily as though she wasn't even there.

James shrugged. "I guess swear her to secrecy and send her on her way." He looked as though she wasn't of the slightest importance.

"No way! I want in!" Lily cried looking hurt that they had just assumed she wouldn't be up to it and passed over her. Everyone looked at in Lily surprise, even Peter. Lily rarely spoke up against anything. She was definitely one of the more easy-going members of their 'group', and was known to be very mellow.

"It won't be easy." James warned reminding Lily a lot of her father.

"If he can do it, so can I!" She said pointing to Peter her temper fiery. "No offense." Lily added as an afterthought. Peter nodded at her, showing that she was forgiven.

"You don't even know what a Animagus is!" Sirius cried.

"Oh and you do? James hasn't even explained what it is! Besides it doesn't matter. I KNOW I can do it. Besides if you let me do it to I promise not to tell anyone anything. Of course if you don't let me…" She trailed off for effect. Of course Lily wouldn't dream of telling anyone ever, but that wasn't the point. Besides, they didn't know that.

"You're in!" James said quickly looking very alarmed at the prospect of the whole school knowing about Remus' condition. Sirius started to protest but one look from James shut him up. Lily grinned with satisfaction. She'd show them.

That night in Lily's dorm

I just can't believe it! Remus? A werewolf? No way, it just doesn't make any sense. Then again he is sick a lot, and he does always look tired. I really should to talk to him.

I pulled open my curtain; Tina was playing cards on her bed with Anna. I slipped on my shoes and headed downstairs to find Remus. He wasn't there, but James was. James was curled up in a ball on the couch. His glasses were askew and his hair had fallen into his eyes. He must have fallen asleep without meaning to. Without fully realizing what I was doing I brushed the hair out of his eyes and gently picked up his glasses and set them folded aside next to the table. He actually looked quite cute like that, almost angelic. With a second gaze at James I proceeded to the boys dorms. Remus' dorm was on the second floor and I walked up there nervously. The climb had never seemed so short before, and facing his door I realized that I was scared. Scared of one of my best friends, and scared of what I might say.

You're crazy Lily, this is Remus! Remus Okay? Same old Remus. Right?

I slid the door open

Remus' POV

The door creaked and there stood... Lily! She had said that she was fine with me being what I am but still there must be something wrong. Lily never breaks rules and yet here she is standing in the boy's dorm wringing her hands nervously. She's really quite cute when her eyebrows are all knit together like that.

"Remus can I talk to you?" She asked. I nodded, already knowing what was coming. "Tell me about it." She sat on the edge of my bed. "The transformation I mean. What's it like?" I took a deep breath. I hated this part. Everyone always asked that first.

"Terrible. It hurts more than anything you can imagine." I paused; Lily was looking at me as though I were going to blow up. "First my hands and face grow a lot of hair. Then the pain starts. It envelops me from the inside slowly turning me into a something less then human. My legs get shorter and my knees relocate, as do my arms and elbows. The worst though is my mind. I don't think like Remus, all I can think of is killing something, anything," I shuddered with the vision of my transformation and the thoughts that inevitably follow it. A glance at Lily showed nothing but absolute horror. I sighed as she started to get up, still speechless. Just when she reached the door, Lily turned around and her emerald eyes lost the coldness that had inhabited them for so long, and were replaced with something else. Was it pity, because I sure didn't need to be pitied. No not pity, understanding. A smile slowly grew on her face and she tucked her auburn hair behind her ear. Suddenly she ran at me and wrapped me in a hug. Maybe everything would be all right after all.