A/N: Thank you all for reviews, and I'm sorry to those who haven't read 'The Lord of the Rings'. That little reference is going to be used later in the context to the plot, so you must forgive me. 

Bed of Roses

Part Three

***

"Party!" Daisy moaned. "I want a party! I want music! I want dance! I want FUN!"

Lily and Daisy were sitting in an almost deserted common room. The weather was too nice for most to stay indoors, albeit little cold. The boys were out playing Quidditch. With the Quidditch season having started a month earlier than normal they did a lot of extra training while cursing professor Teiresias for his weather predictions. Lily was glad to have some time for herself, to read a trashy romance novel, to eat chocolate frogs and to listen to Daisy's ramblings.

"I heard that Rolly and Ange were going to throw a party for Andrew's birthday next week."

"Only for our House. And if any people from other Houses come... I cannot be expected to dance with fifth-years!"

"You're terribly prejudiced. The fifth-years can be fantastic dancers."

"I didn't mean dancing and you know it. I want the thrill of the possibility of a romance!"

"What romance has to do with age?"

Daisy rolled her eyes, bend over, took the book out of Lily's hands and closed it, looking at the back-cover.

"Charlotte de Treville, a beautiful orphan freshly out of Hogwarts but not yet eighteen is placed under the care of Adrian von Strassen, a man driven by dark passions. Will the fiery and unpredictable witch conquer the broken heart of hard and distanced Adrian, who has lost all hope for love? Or will the secrets of the past and a powerful Dark Wizard keep them apart?" Daisy read. "Again, Lily? Merlin, I would say it suits Laura or Julie, but you?"

She reached to get her book back. "Why does everybody think that a Head Girl should read only philosophy essays? I wanted some time off and read something easy and uncomplicated."

"You should go and shag that handsome boyfriend of yours instead reading this rubbish. The real experience is better than theory." She put a chocolate frog into her mouth with suggestive slowness.

"Glad to hear that," Lily muttered, "Oh the greatest of experts on the subject of sex."

"I will be an expert one day," Daisy said with conviction. "All I need is training. Which I'm not going to get at Andrew's birthday party!"

"Why not? Sirius Black is currently free." Lily prepared herself for an outburst of anger, which usually followed every mention of the name. She wasn't disappointed.

"Sirius Black?" Daisy looked offended. "Do I look stupid to you? Sirius Black... please. I may be an airhead, but I didn't lose my mind. I wouldn't last two weeks. Poor Lizzie. She has it hard for him."

Elizabeth Riley was the sixth-year Gryffidor Chaser, yearning for Sirius' attention practically since she started Hogwarts. Puppy love, her friends called it, but deep enough to keep her away from anyone else.

"Maybe he would notice her," Lily mused. "She does look very adult with long hair."

"But she still is faster on broomstick than him and he would dump her after a month. I know you like him, Lily, but face the reality: he's a playboy. He would break Lizzie's heart."

"He's not a Casanova. He hasn't broken anybody's heart yet." Lily felt compelled to defend her friend. "His girls don't take relationships too seriously."

"Exactly. And Lizzie does. Lizzie wants love, not the position of the girlfriend of the most wanted male at Hogwarts. Otherwise she might as well fixate on James. Actually I think James would be good for her." An excited gleam entered Daisy's eyes. "Do you want to play a matchmaker?"

Smile died on Lily's lips. No! To match Elizabeth Riley and James Potter? Never! Wait... where did this thought come from? "Lizzie is in love with Sirius," she said coolly.

"So what? She would change her mind, James is great. I should know, I was his girlfriend."

Lily cleared her throat. "You wouldn't be jealous?"

"No, why would I? It was long time ago and not true..." Daisy laughed. The best thing about Daisy's character was her ability to laugh at herself. "Okay, so I was hurt and mad as hell when he broke up with me."

Yes, she was. Lily remembered Daisy's tantrums of the last year all too well, as well as having to listen to her cursing her ex and providing a shoulder to cry on.

"I thought it was something permanent," Daisy continued, "But I got over him. Not the love of my life, I suppose."

"Why did he break up?" the redhead asked bravely. Last year she didn't think Daisy would have taken that question well and Daisy has never volunteered the information.

Daisy shrugged. "He said it was his fault and that he realized we are not best-suited to each other. But it was another girl if you ask me. That's why I was so hurt. To be replaced by someone else... urgh." She put bit the head of the chocolate frog off with a healthy dose of anger.

"I didn't see him with anybody else."

"I don't get it either, but I could feel it. Maybe she didn't want him"

"Fat chance of that," murmured Lily under her breath.

"It could happen. Some girls don't go for all that Quidditch celebrity thing."

"Like Lizzie?"

"Right. No, wait! Ahh, Lily, you sneaky creature!"

"Don't blame me for your leaps of logic."

"My wit is getting dull," Daisy moaned. "I need to practise... I need a party!"

Lily gave up. "All right. I'll tell you a secret. But if you breathe a word, just a word, so Merlin help me, I will turn you into an ugly hag."

"My lips are sealed." Daisy snuggled closer, almost trembling with excitement.

"There's going to be a ball on Halloween Night. James and I begged al Heads of Houses and they agreed. We've been preparing everything since the beginning of the term."

"A ball? At Halloween?" gasped Daisy. "But it's not even two weeks away! Oh yes! YES! Thank you Merlin, it's fantastic! FANTASTIC!" she shouted and began a victory dance around the common room, attracting several surprised glances.

"Will you sit down?" Lily hissed, annoyed. "We're not exactly alone here!"

"Sorry," Daisy grinned, apparently not sorry at all.

"It will be announced this Friday," Lily said, "so that everyone has time to prepare. Don't tell a soul until then!"

"I won't, I won't.  We need to get new dress robes!"

"It's almost two weeks away!"

"Exactly! So little time! You need to get something special so that Remus' jaw hits the floor. This time I'm choosing your robes. No high necklines and long sleeves..."

With resignation Lily put the book away. When Daisy was at the helm, it was better to sit back and enjoy the ride.

***

After a long walk with Remus Lily was no closer to discovering the big secret about the anti-Snape campaign than when she went out in search of her boyfriend. He was terribly tight-lipped about the new prank. Then she gathered all her courage and asked about James and his break up with Daisy.

"It was strange," Remus admitted, as they stopped at the lake, hoping to get a glimpse of Giant Squid. "He seemed perfectly happy with her, not sky-high happy but they didn't argue or anything, they had fun. And suddenly he began to be forgetful about things, he started to daydream. It didn't last long, but it might have been another girl."

"You don't know who?"

"No. Why?"

She gulped. "Daisy wants to play matchmaker."

He laughed. "She certainly doesn't hold grudges, does she? I hope she would find someone for James."

Lily shivered at that.

"Are you cold?" Remus started to take his cloak off. "Here, put it on."

"No, it's not necessary—"

"It's cold today. You can get ill if you're not careful." He wrapped his big cloak around her slender form.

"Thank you, Remus." Standing on her tiptoes she kissed him warmly. Who would want James Potter if could have Remus Lupin? Not Lily Evans.

Or would she?

***

Daisy wasn't at the dinner. Picking at her food Lily watched the infamous quartet. They were smirking and shooting sly glances at the Slytherin table. She followed they looks, but could see nothing out of ordinary – except Lestrange's bruised face. He was eating his soup with extreme care. Avery and Rosier, their backs to Lily, were talking to each other. Opposite them Snape and Wilkes, together as usually. 

The mystery cleared when the door of the Great Hall opened and Daisy appeared with a bouquet of slightly withered flowers. She rushed to the Slytherin table.

"Severus! It's so sweet...!" She stopped at the prefect's side and looked at him shyly, pressing the flowers to her heart. "I'm touched! Had I known earlier..."

Snape's usually bland face seemed to radiate confusion. Entire Hall sniggered. "What are you talking about, Johnson?"

"Don' make such face!" the blond beauty sniffed, tears suddenly appearing on her eyelashes. "It's nothing to be ashamed of, Sev!"

"Sev!" Sirius choked out into his spoonful of mashed potatoes. "Isn't she brilliant? Look at his face!"

Incredulity mixed in Snape's features with absolute fury. Anabell Wilkes looked stunned at his side.

"Love is beautiful, Sev!" Daisy continued with feeling. "Even though I don't like daisies. But that 'Daisies for Daisy' poem was so cute..."

Soon Daisy's voice drowned in the general outburst of hilarity. Snape's normally pale face, now the colour of the Gryffindor banner, was making the situation even funnier. Finally, having expressed her understanding at Snape's infatuation, the girl returned to the Gryffindor table, flowers still in her hand like the most precious of gifts.

"Wasn't I good?" she asked proudly as she seated herself opposite Lily, reaching for a spoon.

"Brilliant! Bloody brilliant!" howled Peter.

"And it's only a start," James said, wiping tears from his eyes.

"I'm writing a really horrible poem," Remus confessed, his arms shaking with suppressed laughter.

"We will crush him," Sirius promised.

"Is it fair?" Lily asked, trying to regain her breath. "I mean, it..." giggle, giggle, "It may break him up with Anabell."

"Who cares?" Peter shouted, raising a glass of pumpkin juice. "And even if, she should be grateful! To Daisy Johnson, the best actress in wizarding world!"

"To Daisy!" they toasted.

It was long after dinner when Lily and the four Gryffindor boys were the only ones left in the Great Hall, the boys describing how they had talked Daisy into their prank.

"She thought I wanted to ask her out! Honestly!" Sirius exclaimed.

"And she said no, so you had to bestow your Gryffindor sense of humour upon my humble person?"

Lily looked up. They were so involved in their conversation that they failed to notice Snape. Silent as snake he stood behind Peter and Sirius, who immediately rose to their feet.

"Snape! What do you want?"

"You have three guesses," Snape sneered.

"We have no idea!" Peter said, picture of innocence.

"You probably think it was very funny."

"Yes, actually we do," James sniggered. "We didn't know you're such a Don Juan."

"I told you to watch it, Potter."

"Or what?" Remus challenged.

"Lupin, you're the last person who should be asking that question," the Slytherin prefect retorted huskily.

"Are you threatening me, Snape?" Remus asked, getting up slowly.

"Salazar forbid," Snape flashed him a nasty smile. "You probably still cannot hold up a wand. You shouldn't get upset, in your condition..."

Lily had enough. Nobody was going to tease Remus because of his health!

"Shut up, Snape," she snapped.

"Evans... sitting so close to the beast... aren't you afraid?" Snape's tone was one of polite curiosity, with just a hint of menace underneath.

"Why should I? He's not a leper! Just because he's a little ill doesn't mean he wouldn't hex you into next week!"

The boys paled.

"Lily—"

"Snape—"

"Little ill...? You don't know?" Snape asked, astonishment and glee mixed in his tone.

"Know what?"

"SHUT UP!" James, Sirius and Peter yelled.

Snape ignored them. "Your lover boy's delicate condition. And I thought you're such a smart girl, Evans. So good at Astronomy and DADA..."

"Snape, please!" Remus said pleadingly.

"And that Lupin didn't have the gall to tell you. Where's your Gryffindor courage, Lupin? Tsk, tsk. Keeping your little secret from your girlfriend. Figures. Gryffidor love. Roses outside, dirt inside..." The sight of three wands stopped him from talking any longer. "But don't let it stand between you." Not daring to infuriate his opponents any further, he walked away.

Lily tried to collect her thoughts as Snape's back disappeared behind the door of the Great Hall. "What was he talking about, Remus?"

There was no answer.

Sirius sighed. "Tell her, Moony."

"Tell me what?" She shifted on the bench so that her arm was touching Remus. "Look at me."

He didn't. He kept staring at his lap, his hands trembling.

"Or I will go after Snape!"

"Lily, don't..."

"Shut up, James. Remus?"

His facial muscles twitched. "Lily, I..."

A moment of silence and she felt a wave of panic. What was going on? "Yes?"

He raised his head, looking straight into her eyes, a solitary tear rolling down his cheek.

"I... I am a werewolf, Lily."

The world came to a halt.

"I beg your pardon?" she whispered.

"A werewolf," soft, gentle voice, suddenly so eerily dispassionate. "I'm a werewolf."

Solemn looks from Remus' friends confirmed that this was no joke.

***

A/N: Please, please review the chapter. I want your opinions on the way the characters are turning out. It is my first attempt to write the Marauders, so I'm practically in the dark here.