Enjoy! Still one more chappy to come tho!
Phase Sixteen- Trials and tribulations
Unfortunately 2 days before graduation was home to a full moon. Now on a full moon the castles four hellions all disappear. On a full moon the rest of the school gets a well-deserved break and most don't even realise it. However on this particular full moon, Someone did notice. A red headed someone.
James, or Prongs as he would be known tonight by his mates, had arranged to meet this red head- his girlfriend. And there she was sat in the heads common room all night waiting. A horrific transformation took place, a dog and a stag fought the werewolf as the rat sat watching. As they roamed the dark forest making the werewolf's pain more bearable, the red head sat waiting, silent tears falling down her cheeks as she made the final plans to her "Perfect leavers ball" alone, exhausting herself into a restless sleep.
This is how James found her in the early hours of the morning, wet cheeked and asleep on the couch. When he had remembered that he had arranged to meet with her, he had ran straight there, not bothering to heal the cuts and bruises which he had received as Prongs, nor did he bother to take the pepper up potion to make him less tired. He ran straight there knowing he had hurt the person whom he loved the most.
He bent down over her sleeping figure and kissed her forehead, effectively waking her up. At first she smiled, but then she remembered that she wasn't happy with him.
"Where were you last night?" She asked almost furiously. James didn't know what to say. He couldn't tell her- it was Remus' secret to tell.
"I was helping a friend. Listen Lily I'm really sorry. I was asked to help with something really important and I completely forgot that we had arranged to meet. Please forgive me?"
"What were you asked to help with?" Lily asked looking at him, she could hardly fail to notice the state of her boyfriend.
"I can't tell you right now. But I promise, someday soon I will."
"You and Sirius got into a fight didn't you? Who was it? Snape again? I know you still prank him. I'm not stupid."
"We weren't fighting." James said trying not to get angered. Lily laughed hollowly.
"You weren't? So what were you doing? Playing chase with the whomping willow?" She mocked.
"NO! FOR HEVANS SAKE LILY! CAN'T YOU JUST TRUST ME? I WAS HELPING A FRIEND. IT WAS A DIRE SITUATION!" James shouted.
"I think perhaps it would be better if we found different dates for the leavers ball tomorrow." Lily said calmly. "I don't want to be stood up again." She got up and left the common room, leaving James just standing there speechless. How could she leave him? He suddenly gained composure and thumped the mirror on the wall. It went smashing to the ground. The skin on James' hand was shredded and bloody, but he didn't care. He was numb to the pain. All he wanted was Lily back, he needed her back and now.
After an hour of pointless moping he made his way back to the hospital wing, Remus would be there by now. When he entered his mates immediately knew something was wrong. They would have even if they hadn't noticed James' mangled hand dripping with blood. As Madame Pomfrey rushed him to a bed muttering something darkly about fighting. Remus staggered over to him slowly.
"What happened?" He asked in a 'was it my fault' kind on tone. James shook his head.
"Lily left me." He let out painfully. Madame Pomfrey forced Remus back into a bed. But immediately Peter and Sirius rushed over.
"Why?" Sirius barked.
"I forgot to meet her last night and then I couldn't tell her where I was. She thought we'd been picking on Snape."
"Ow." Sirius said understanding. Peter and Remus looked at James curiously.
"I'm sorry." Remus said from his bed, bowing his head. "It's my fault."
"No Moony, it's my fault, I should have remembered."
"You two leave, I must attend to my patients." Madame Pomfrey said shooing the two UN injured boys from the room. She then advanced on James with a potion, which she poured over his hand making him flinch from the pain. "You can go too now." She said ushering him out the door where Peter and Sirius stood.
"Not got great bedside manner that one has she?" Sirius smirked.
Seeing James' face, he decided that they needed to go to Hogsmeade so they could have a good chat with out being over heard and where they could drown his sorrows.
Lily spent the day brooding. She couldn't believe James. He had stood her up as wasn't even able to supply a plausible as to why. She was so mad at him yet somewhere deep inside she wanted to trust him. Even just hours of being separated, she missed him. He hadn't been around all day and she wanted to know if he was safe. What if something had happened to him and she didn't get the chance to tell him that she really did love him? That she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him. Wait did she? Lily smiled to herself when she realised she did. It was at that point that Remus entered the library.
"You're happy then?" He asked surprised at her facial expression. "Happy that you're not with James?" Lily's face darkened. "Whats it to you?" She shot.
"Lily, I'm the reason James wasn't with you last night, he was helping me."
"He got you to come and tell me that did he?" She replied sharply.
"Can we discuss this some where more private please. I'm going to tell you something which only a few people know." Lily looked at Remus curiously, she knew somehow that this was important, that this could change her whole out look on life.
They reached the heads common room to find a broken mirror shattered over the floor, the cushions torn apart feathers scattered recklessly all over, the chairs had been over turned and the desk was covered in blood.
"Oh my gosh, what happened. James is he all right? Remus you've seen him, is he alright?" Lily asked concerned. Remus smiled, she did still care for him after all.
"James is fine, we took him to the hospital wing with a bloodied up hand and a broken heart. Sirius and Peter have him at the moment, they can handle him." Picking up the couch and pushing a pile of feathers to the floor Lily sat down, and motioned that Remus did the same. He did.
"So what did you have to tell me."
Remus sighed and with a deep breath he told Lily his life. How he got his bite as a young boy, his struggle for life after it, how his father had tried to drown him, then left when his mother stopped him. How painful every transformation he had suffered was, his disappointment of not getting offered a place at any school, then his excitement when Professor Dumbledore had personally invited him to Hogwarts. Being shunned by every doctor, teacher and friend who ever found out. Then how his three mates had found out about him, how they had stuck by him and how they made a great sacrifice for him. How he had the most loyal friends in the world and how James hadn't meant to stand her up, that she meant more to him then anything in the world. Lily flinched as Remus proved the whole thing to her by showing her the fang shaped scar, which was engraved in his lower back.
"Ow, Remus I don't know what to say?" Lily started.
"It's ok, you don't have to say anything, I'm used to peoples reactions by now. If it was me I don't know how I'd react. I just wanted you to know the full story before you left James. He made a mistake, everybody makes mistakes. Don't punish him for something which wasn't his fault."
"Well, I'm not going to stop being your friend over something petty, I mean I know that a lot of pure bloods distrust werewolves." Remus flinched as she said this. "But they also believe that Muggle borns are worthless and I certainly don't believe that. Remus you have shown me kindness and friendship. What right do I have to judge you because of your blood."
"Thanks Lily, but what are you going to do about James? You love him don't you?" Remus pushed.
"Yes, yes I do love him." She said looking around. "I hate that he did all this because of me. He just upset me, I was worried about him, I wanted to go and find him, but then I was scared what I would find, so I was going to go and see Dumbledore, but I didn't want to get him in trouble. I didn't know what to do, so I just worked and cried..." She broke off her voice wavering. "And then he just turns up and at first I'm relieved, then I think we he just forgot about me... and... and then you tell me all this... and I feel bad, and I feel relieved, and I feel mad and... and..." She lowered her head into her hands.
"Shh." Remus said stroking her back. "It's ok, he was wrong and you over reacted. You've both made mistakes, and as per usual the problems all evolve around my problem." He hung his head. "Sirius' suspension last year was ultimately my fault. It always comes down to me."
"Don't say that Remus. The fact that you're a werewolf shouldn't shun you, it should make you stronger, there are things which you have lived through that no one your age could ever imagine, the fact that you survive it sets you apart from the others, it makes you outstanding."
"You know what Lil, you are the greatest girl I have ever met, and James- he is the greatest friend I have ever had. I think the fact that you have met, you have fallen in love, the two greatest people I know, you're made for each other. Like soul mates."
"I don't know." Lily shook her head. "We're always just fighting."
"You challenge each other and thrive on the passion. You're both very clever passionate people. And you can't possibly tell me that you don't love James."
"I do, I love James, I'm just scared if he were to say to me marry me, spend the rest of your life with me. I think I would. How can we be moving this fast when we've only just started?"
"Love works in miraculous ways Lily, Have you never looked back on your life? How many memories do you have of James? Good or bad. Bet you have quite a lot. And I know that all that juvenile picking on you was not just for fun, he's been in love with you longer then you could ever imagine. Now ask yourself how long you've been in love with James." Remus nodded at the realisation which he saw dawn on Lily's face. "Now I think you should make it up with him. After all, tomorrow we leave. Lets let our last memories be good ones."
"How do you have such a good way with words?" she said punching him lightly.
That night they went in search of James, but James was at the three broomsticks with Sirius and Peter getting wasted. Remus told Lily this and she just had to accept it. She felt partly to blame for it. Remus told her that if she went to bed and got some rest, he promised he would go and retrieve the other boys and make sure that James was in bed safe and sound within the next hour. He said that she should think about what she would say to James and then in the morning he would be in a much better state. And that's what happened.
Lily went to bed and Remus managed to drag the other three boys back to the school.
They woke up the next morning to a spinning room and thronging headaches. Remus stood before them smiling widely.
"Now you all know how I felt yesterday morning." He barked. Sirius and Peter covered their ears.
"Shhh!" James glared. "Why are you so happy anyway?"
"It's graduation. We're leaving today." He grinned.
"Bah." James replied. "It's alright for you, you have a date."
"And whats to say you don't?" Remus said all to cheerfully.
"Lily refuses to go with me, I look like crap and even if I could get another girl this short notice I wouldn't want one anyway."
"Stop feeling bloody sorry for yourself. Have fun!" Sirius sneered. "And Moony what are you trying to do, kill me? Shut that Fucking curtain."
"Well I suggest you three take that pepper up potion, I want to make it to graduation tonight you know! And Prongs, Here is a note which arrived for you at breakfast this morning. I believe I saw it was sealed with a Lily on the crest."
James jumped up much to quickly, falling back down again as a result. He downed the pepper up potion in one and tore the envelope off quicker then you could say "Wild cat Wendeline went walking one wonderful winters morning."
"It's from Lily." He jumped up saying. "James, if you still want to go to the ball with me then I would love to go with you. I would like to talk to you before hand so maybe we could meet in the great hall earlier, we need to go through final preparations anyhow. Please send me a reply. Forever yours, Lily." James was grinning by the time he finished.
"Doesn't sound to mad if you ask me." Sirius said grumpily. James didn't listen he was too busy scrawling a reply. Sirius grabbed it off him before he got the chance to fold it. "Lily, of course I still want to go with you. I'll meet you outside the great hall at five thirty. All my love Jamie poo. Kiss kiss kiss hug hug smoochie smoochie..."
"Shut up Sirius, your adding things now!" James roared. The other two just sat in hysterics.
That day went slowly. James couldn't wait for the chance to see Lily again. He wanted so badly to make up with her. He loved her and even only a days separation had passed and he missed her. She wasn't at lunch, nor at dinner. The feast had been taking place that evening before the ball, Gryffindore won the house cup and also the Quidditch cup, so the great hall had been decorated in red and gold. James went up to get ready at five. And at five thirty he waited eagerly outside the great hall. Only ten minutes late Lily arrived.
And my did she look fantastic.
She wore was a stunning lavender dress with tiny silver diamonds sewn into it spiralling out like a spiders hair was pulled back from her face in a gorgeous tiara, and curled in spirals down her he make up was done simply, giving her a very pretty yet natural look. All James saw however was he smile. That smile sent him off his rocker, he thrived on that smile.
"You look fabulous, Lily. I'm really sorry about yesterday." He said, lightly touching her chin and lifting her face to look at him. "I honestly can't tell you though..."
"That Remus is a werewolf and you, peter and Sirius illegally transform into anigmagi to help him and make it more bearable. That you promised him, you'd be with him and forgot we'd arranged to meet at the same time. I know. He told me. And yes it's bad that you still forgot, but we've been really busy recently, you were bound to forget something. I came out of my dorm the other day and got all the way to the third floor before I realised my shoes were missing. It happens. And I completely forgive you for not telling me what you were up to. I understand you couldn't tell me about Remus' condition. Now will you forgive me for being such a bitch? For making you completely destroy the heads common room." She finished with a smile.
"What did I do to deserve you? I should be the one apologising."
"You didn't do nothing, you're just dam good in bed." Lily laughed. James gained a cocky smile.
"Oh really." He grinned.
"Yeah, but I think Sirius is slightly better."
"No way, I'm better then he is, I'll prove it to you... wait, you haven't, with Sirius?" Lily started laughing hysterically at the concern etched on his face.
"Of course I haven't you big banana." He poked his tongue out at her. "My you do clean up nicely." She said looking him up and down. "I could rip that dress robe right off you." She said licking her lips.
"Well my offer still stands," Lily glanced at his nether regions.
"Literally." She said softly.
"I will prove it to you, even if there is nothing to prove." He finished huskily.
"I think..." Lily started slowly and uneasily, "That we are going to have to work now play later. The hall won't decorate itself."
"Dam, being head boy sucks."
"play your cards right and the head girl will too." Lily smiled innocently.
"Jeez Lil, at this rate I'm not gonna make it to the ball, I'm gonna need a cold shower."
"Come on lover boy, we have a hall to decorate." Lily said taking his hand and leading him in. They worked for the next hour setting up and making the hall look presentable. Lily stood in the middle and spun around slowly, they hadn't done bad. The buffet table looked delicious, the small tables looked comfortable, the dance floor looked groovy and the stage looked stunning. As she turned back to the direction she started she came face to face with James once more.
"Hey." He said not waiting for a reply, he kissed her softly on the lips. "I missed you, you know." He said against her lips as she parted them. "Don't leave me again."
"I won't." She breathed. "Hows your hand?" She asked still not pulling away.
"Mmmmm" He replied holding it up, letting her take it in her own hand. She pulled away briefly to examine it.
"Madame Pomfrey is good." She said. "The amount of blood on the floor in the heads room made me worry." She kissed it, sending a shock up James arm, then she met him at the lips once more.
"I still can't believe it." Professor Mcgonagal whispered to professor Dumbledore. "Those two couldn't stay in the same room without arguing before Christmas, and now look at them."
"Well, the heart chooses in mysterious ways. Sometimes, it hides it's decision from even ourselves until the perfect moment to reveal it." Dumbledore spoke wisely.
Lily and James didn't notice they were no longer alone until the band had set up and had begun their warm up.
"Hello professor." James said brightly putting a hand round Lily's waist protectively as Lily blushed.
"Mr Potter, Miss Evans." Dumbledore smiled merrily. "Lovely job you've done here."
"Thank you sir." Lily said gaining composure. "Is it time we took position?" She asked.
"Sure is." James replied. He led Lily to where they needed to stand. And at seven o'clock, the big doors opened and the 7th years filed in. Lily and James greeted everyone, then introduced the band and started off the dancing.
Books were being signed and photos taken, this was their final good bye. The dance was lasting well into the night. Lily had danced with all four Marauders, but mainly James. She was surprised when Severus came up to them and asked for a dance.
"Ow, ok then Severus." She replied a little taken back. She looked back at James who was glaring. "Don't worry Jay, He won't break me." She said. James didn't reply, he just glared some more.
"Listen Lily, your dad wants to know where you are going to stay now you're finished school." He asked. Lily looked at him.
"I have my own house now Severus. I'll stay there. Tell my father not to bother coming round to visit."
"So this is good bye?" Snape asked. "You're not coming back to ours?"
"No, I most certainly am not. I can't stand it any longer." She snapped. "Listen, I know what it's like and I know that we haven't seen eye to eye all the time. But if they get too much for you, and you can stand being near James, then come round for a bit."
"You and Potter will be living together then?" He asked.
"Well no, but I know James and he will most probably be round everyday anyway. He's very loyal and very possessive."
"Well, even if you are a muggle, I think you could do better." Snape replied. "He hangs around with a rough group."
"Well I like them."
"Can I have the head students up here please." Sirius said from up on the stage. Lily and James looked at each other confused. This wasn't part of the plan. "Get you're asses up here now!" Sirius laughed and Lily and James obeyed. "Now, I know you're thinking what the hell is happening. So let me inform you. This is where we embarrass you and say thank you for doing all the bits and bobs we all take advantage of... and more." He added cheekily. The student body laughed, Lily blushed and James winked putting his hand back around her waist. "Also all this crap you've done tonight, and Lily someone finally needed to get James into line. I just do not want to know what you did to get him to. Anyway On behalf of the teachers, students and not so much the marauders, thank you. You have been wicked and I think you should marry each other." The rest of the hall laughed including Lily and James, who were looking at each other.
"I'm game." James whispered. Lily smiled at him and poked him in the shoulder.
"Thank you. We have had a great time here, I know I personally have enjoyed the learning, meeting new and completely different people... and falling in l...ove." As she said the last word, she realised how much she really meant it. And in the space of one year how she had been totally changed and brought out of her spell, how James had rescued her from her burning tower. She loved him, she needed him.
"James Marry me." She said turning to him, looking into his eyes. The whole hall gasped, this was so spontaneous- something which the head girl was not known for.
"What?" He asked standing right infront of her.
"James Potter will you marry me?" She asked again.
"Lily are you serious?"
"I'm more serious then I ever have been in my entire life."
"Of course I will marry you. I love you." He said kissing her and receiving a loud cheer from everyone there.