Something Like Deception
A/N: I wish I had the time to thank each and every one of you individually, but that would take away from my LIMITED computer time. (glares at no one in particular) ANYWAYS, there's just so many of you to thank . . . You guys really rock my world. I remember when I was about ready to give up on this story, but you inspired me to keep on writing. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH! (fights back tears of happiness) IGNORE ME! ON WITH THE HUMOR AND ROMANCE! (lol – I've just realized that peter is pretty non-existent throughout this story . . . heehee. Oops! That actually was a total accident!)
Disclaimer: not mine but if it was, my head would be even bigger than James's is.
lil'doxy: (gasp) are you a Seer??? heehee
The Notorious Madame M: Are they going to switch back, you ask? What will the final couple be, you ask? (snicker) wouldn't YOU like to know?
Chapter Eleven – problems big and small
James was on the verge of panicking. First off, Lily was supposed to fall for HIM. For HIM. For HIS body, and HIS dashing good looks! Not Remus! Remus was just supposed to be a pawn in this whole game, and James was King. HE was supposed to be the victorious one.
Since when did a pawn overthrow the King and run off with the Queen?
James shook his head. This wasn't right. This wasn't right at all. He stood up from the bleachers and started to make his way back towards the school.
He needed to fix this. He needed to be back in his body, so he could straighten out this whole mess, which meant that he needed to find Sirius and –
James suddenly gasped, doubling over. He stumbled, trying not to lose his balance as he clutched his body. His breath was coming in short puffs of air. James grimaced as he stood stock-still and waiting for the pain to pass, as he knew it eventually would.
James shuddered, straightening back up. 'It's getting worse now,' he thought, worriedly. He knew what was wrong with him – Moony's monthly ailment, the reason the poor bloke hadn't wanted to "trade places" in the first place. James had been experiencing these sudden pains for a few days now, and every time it happened it was worse than before. Luckily, it never happened around his friends. James knew they were already worried enough about things as it was.
He sighed. He was just grateful that he was a Quidditch player, and therefore able to handle pain a lot better than Moony.
At a time like this, the hospital wing was the last place he wanted to be.
---
Sirius glared as Remus approached his table in the library. "Where art thou fair lady?" he said, icily.
Remus stopped, feeling a little taken aback. He wasn't sure if Sirius was being serious, or if he was just joking.
"I suppose she's off somewhere torturing James," Remus admitted, sheepishly, as he took a seat at the table.
Sirius narrowed his eyes. "That . . . WITCH! You know, MOONY, if you were any kind of friend, you'd stop this cruel injustice towards Prongs."
Remus sighed. "Padfoot, it was Lily's idea, and you know she and Prongs have been on the wrong foot since they first – "
"So, what?" Sirius interrupted, rudely. "You'll side with that BANSHEE over one of your best friends?"
Remus's eyes flashed. "Don't call her names. Sirius, you know James had it coming to him – "
"For what!?" Sirius exclaimed. "For wanting to win over the object of his affections? Remus, the guy is head over heels for her – "
"WELL, SO AM I!" Remus exploded.
Sirius stared at him, and was surprised to see the faint shimmering of tears welling up in his friend's eyes. Sirius's own eyes widened. "Moony – "
"Don't!" Remus said, hotly, the tears threatening to fall. "Just don't say anything to me because, heaven forbid, we both know it's going to be about James! James this, and James that!" Remus wiped away a few tears that had splashed onto his cheek. "Well, I'm tired of it!" he continued. "What about ME, Sirius? Aren't I your friend as well? What about me? Don't MY feelings matter to you?"
Sirius opened his mouth to speak, but Remus interrupted in a quiet voice.
"I like her, Sirius. I'm bloody infatuated with her and I'm sorry it conflicts with what James wants, but I can't help what I feel," Remus said, wistfully. "Lily likes me, and I like her, and that's all there is to it."
"Bloody hell, Remus! Why didn't you just TELL me?" a pained-sounding James said from behind startling him.
"Indeed." All three boys turned with identical looks of terror on their faces. Madam Pince was staring at them sour-faced.
Sirius grinned nervously. "Madam . . . you're looking especially lovely today . . ."
Needless to say, after being literally thrown out into the hall, they all had very sore backsides for the rest of the day.
---
"Well, now that we've gotten everything sorted out, what do you propose we do?" Lily asked, matter-of-factly, after shooting multiple dirty glances at James in Remus's body. The Marauders plus Lily were holed up in the common room as far away from the rest of the students as possible.
"We?" Sirius interrupted, nastily. "I suppose you want Remus's body back just as much as he does?" Lily and Remus both blushed, and James just sighed.
James was being oddly quiet about all of this. After Remus had finally explained that he and Lily were indeed dating, he had responded with a simple, "Oh," and then hadn't said a word for the longest time.
"Sirius, where exactly in the library have you been looking?" Remus asked, trying to change the subject. Awkward silences weren't exactly to his liking.
"Curses, potions, and spells gone wrong," Sirius answered. "I figured IF there was a solution to any of this, it was probably there."
"And if not?" Lily asked, looking worried. "What if there isn't a solution?"
"Then, I guess you'll have to look for a new boyfriend, won't you, Evans?" Sirius responded, through gritted teeth.
Lily blushed again. "I'm just trying to help, Black," she said, quietly.
"Well, we're fine without you. Just go on and do what you were doing BEFORE you decided to date Remus, and completely ignore James – "
"Sirius, stop!" James interrupted, speaking for the first time all afternoon. Sirius gave him a surprised look.
"But, mate, she – " Sirius started, but James silenced him.
"Evans has a right to date whoever she wants, Sirius. Just drop it, okay?" James glanced at an equally surprised, and relieved, looking Remus. "Besides, I think this whole situation is a bit more impor – "He abruptly stopped speaking and a look of complete, and intense pain came over his face.
"Prongs!" Sirius exclaimed. "Prongs, what's wrong!?"
"It's – " Remus started, then he stopped as he realized that Lily was in the room. Lily still didn't know about his secret.
She was giving James a look that was somewhat concern, somewhat surprise, and somewhat curiosity. "What's wrong with him?" she asked, looking a little worried.
Sirius, however, had caught Remus's eye, and sucked in his breath with understanding. "Hospital wing?" he asked Remus, giving nothing away.
Remus nodded immediately.
"Evans, clear out," Sirius said, his voice leaving no room for argument.
"But – " Lily started to protest. She locked eyes with Remus in a silent plea.
"Evans!" Sirius sounded exasperated.
"Lily, I'll . . . meet up with you in a little while, alright?" Remus said, trying to avoid her gaze.
Sirius already had levitated James through the portrait hole, and needed help blocking the tons of wailing girls who had spotted his body and had managed to jam up the doorway.
"Remus!" Sirius cried.
Throwing one last look over his shoulder at a rather suspicious-looking Lily, he left with Sirius.
---
Remus paced back and forth, trying not to stare at James, who was biting his lip, pale, shaking, and sweating. Remus shuddered. No wonder his friends avoided his gaze when they sat with him in the hospital wing every month. He looked horrible.
"Boys, m-maybe you should leave, now," Madam Pomfrey said, casting a concerned glance at James on the bed. She leaned down and whispered so that Remus and Sirius couldn't hear. "He seems to be even worse off this month than usual. I'm thinking of going to Dumbledore if he keeps up like this. He still has three days to go before the full moon."
Sirius and Remus exchanged identical looks of horror. "Madam, no! I mean . . . he'll get better, right? He always does!" Sirius argued.
"There really isn't any need to call the Headmaster," Remus insisted. "Honestly."
Madam Pomfrey simply shook her head. "I just don't know. It's just . . . I've never seen him this bad off." From the bed, James let out another audible moan of pain.
"Please, let us stay," Remus pleaded, attempting to give her James's puppy dog look.
Sirius clasped his hands together. "Please, Madam Pomphrey! We won't disturb him, or anything. We promise!"
The nurse sighed. "Fine, but you'll leave when I say. Without another word."
"Yes, Ma'am," they both said in unison.
As soon as she had disappeared, the boys rushed up to James's bed. "James, I'm so sorry!" Remus said, looking almost as horrible as James felt.
"Not your fault," James managed. "I'm . . . okay. Really, I am. Just a little pain, Moony. Can't be that bad, right? You . . . you go through this . . . every month, don't you?" He winced.
Sirius gave Remus a look of pure terror. "Moony, we need to find something to switch your bodies back before the transformation!" he hissed, frantically. "I'm not saying I want you to be the one in pain, but it's just that you know how to deal with this and James doesn't! It's going to be ten times worse for him as it's his first time."
"I know," Remus said. "I understand, Sirius. I-I want to be back in my body just as much as James wants to be back in his."
But as he said the words, and looked back once again at James on the bed suffering, he suddenly wasn't so sure if he wanted to be back in his body after all.
---
"I found something! I think I've found something!" Lily Evans came rushing up to Sirius in the Great Hall the next morning.
Sirius had gone down to breakfast alone because James was still in the Hospital Wing and Remus had dressed at the crack of dawn to go visit him. Sirius wasn't eating, however. He was gathering food to take back to the Hospital Wing with him, so he could sit with James, too.
"What?" Sirius said, staring at her. "And keep your voice down!"
Lily grinned, sheepishly. "Sorry. Are you . . . are you heading to visit Potter?"
Sirius looked at her, curiously. "Yeah."
"Is Remus there, too?" she asked, eagerly.
Sirius scowled at her. "Yeah," he muttered.
"Good! I have something I need to share with all of you. Let's go!"
---
"Potter, you look terrible," Lily said, looking shocked. "I thought Madam Pomfrey was supposed to help you get BETTER."
James growled at her, causing her to jump back in surprise. "I WILL get better, after all of you buggers go away and leave me alone!" he snarled.
Remus winced. It was the werewolf. It was taking over James's rational thought. 'Is that what I usually sound like?' Remus thought, miserably.
For a moment, Lily was rather stunned that Remus was speaking to her this way, until she remembered that it was Potter with the nasty attitude, not Remus. She glared at him. "Is that any way to talk to your friends?" she asked, coldly.
"YOU are NOT my FRIEND, Evans," he retorted. "You don't even like me, remember?"
"Regardless of whether I like you or not," Lily said, her voice rising. "I came to help you!"
"Oh, look! It's MUDBLOOD Evans to the rescue!"
Lily froze. Remus froze. Even Sirius froze.
"J-James," Sirius stammered. "You . . . you d-did not just say that . . ."
"What's wrong, MUTT? Scared of the big, bad werewolf?" James sneered.
Lily's eyes widened. "What?" she whispered.
"James, stop!" Remus cried. Obviously, his werewolf temper was getting the worst of James. Normally, James wouldn't dare say those kinds of things. He looked around to Sirius for help, but Sirius was speechless.
Lily looked terrified. "Oh, did I let the cat out of the bag?" James said, coldly. He laughed, the sound of it sending a chill up everyone's spine. "Who's going to save you, now, Evans?" he taunted. "I don't like you, Sirius doesn't like you . . . and your BOYFRIEND . . . ha! Your boyfriend is a MONSTER!"
"No," Lily whispered. "No, it's not true. It's NOT true! He would've told me! He would've . . ." She stared at Remus, her eyes welling up with tears.
Remus felt his heart constrict. What was he supposed to say now? He couldn't very well deny it. James had the proof. James WAS the proof.
Lily must've taken Remus's silence for confirmation because she suddenly burst into tears, and ran out of the Hospital Wing.
Sirius stared at James, shaking his head. "Prongs . . . how could you?" he asked, dejectedly. "How could you say things like that to Evans!?" James merely gave one last laugh before he doubled over in another round of nauseating pain.
"Let him alone," Remus said, softly, his face in his palms. "He's not James, anymore. The werewolf has taken over."
---
Lily ran until she was sure she could run no more, and she then flung herself down beside the lake and cried. They were heart-wrenching sobs filled with so much grief that Lily felt as if she were being torn in two.
'How?' she asked herself, silently. 'How could he keep something like this from me? How?'
"Evans! Uh, Lily!"
Lily sat up, looking around. With a jolt, she spotted Sirius jogging toward her. He looked relieved that he had found her. If it wasn't so sad it might've been funny: Imagine. Sirius Black. Looking relieved to see her. It was laughable, really.
"Thank, goodness," Sirius said. "Moony is so worried about you."
Lily just stared at him. "So?" she said, defiantly. "I don't care."
Sirius sighed, impatiently. "Evans, we really don't have time for this. James is – "
"I don't care about that . . . that hot-headed, pompous jerk!" Lily cried, heatedly. "He can burn in hell for all I care!"
"Lily! Get a grip!" Sirius said. He looked as if he wanted to shake her. "Listen, Evans . . . I know you're probably, uh, hurting right now, but . . . James is hurting a LOT worse than you are, believe me. He didn't mean those things he said. You know he didn't. We studied werewolves in class remember? You know how they tend to lose rational thought whenever the full moon is close. And it being his first time, it's probably affecting him way more than it would affect Remus."
Lily shuddered. "I don't want to hear about James OR Remus right now," she said, stubbornly.
"Lily, we need to change them back!" Sirius said, desperately. "You said you'd found something! Now, what is it?"
Lily narrowed her eyes at him, suspiciously, then her eyes suddenly widened. "You! You are a HORRIBLE friend!"
Sirius stepped back in surprise. "What are you talking about?"
"You'd rather Remus go through this transformation than James!" Lily accused. "You don't care about him at all, do you!?"
Sirius's eyes flashed in anger. "That is NOT true!" Sirius exclaimed. "Lily, James is NOT used to being a werewolf! He doesn't know how to handle it, and Remus does! He's been a werewolf since he was a very little boy, and he's learned a few things about controlling himself, but James doesn't know any of those things. Lily, we need to know!"
Lily shut her eyes tightly, a worried look coming across her features. "Well, I suppose he'll have to learn, then, won't he?" she finally said.
Sirius just stared at her. "What does that mean?" he asked.
"It means that what I've found . . ." Lily sighed. "I was looking in the library and I found this book. It says that if you rush something, like a POTION, that shouldn't be rushed, the effects could either be permanent or last as long as they were originally supposed to be brewed for."
Sirius collapsed onto the ground beside her. "So . . . so it'll last a month, then? That's two weeks from the full moon."
Lily nodded. "And if they don't switch then . . ."
"They'll be this way forever," Sirius finished, looking horrified at the very thought. "Poor James!"
Lily shook her head in annoyance. "Of course," she said, sarcastically. "Because everything is about JAMES."
Sirius gave her a weak grin. "Evans, everything is ALWAYS about James."
---
A/N: Of course! Everything IS always about James! (shakes head impatiently) When will they all learn? Tsk, tsk. heehee. PLEASE REVIEW! THE NEXT CHAPTER IS GOING TO BE ROMANTIC, and much lighter! Lotsa fluff, for all of you fluff-lovin people!
Ariana S.
A/N: I wish I had the time to thank each and every one of you individually, but that would take away from my LIMITED computer time. (glares at no one in particular) ANYWAYS, there's just so many of you to thank . . . You guys really rock my world. I remember when I was about ready to give up on this story, but you inspired me to keep on writing. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH! (fights back tears of happiness) IGNORE ME! ON WITH THE HUMOR AND ROMANCE! (lol – I've just realized that peter is pretty non-existent throughout this story . . . heehee. Oops! That actually was a total accident!)
Disclaimer: not mine but if it was, my head would be even bigger than James's is.
lil'doxy: (gasp) are you a Seer??? heehee
The Notorious Madame M: Are they going to switch back, you ask? What will the final couple be, you ask? (snicker) wouldn't YOU like to know?
Chapter Eleven – problems big and small
James was on the verge of panicking. First off, Lily was supposed to fall for HIM. For HIM. For HIS body, and HIS dashing good looks! Not Remus! Remus was just supposed to be a pawn in this whole game, and James was King. HE was supposed to be the victorious one.
Since when did a pawn overthrow the King and run off with the Queen?
James shook his head. This wasn't right. This wasn't right at all. He stood up from the bleachers and started to make his way back towards the school.
He needed to fix this. He needed to be back in his body, so he could straighten out this whole mess, which meant that he needed to find Sirius and –
James suddenly gasped, doubling over. He stumbled, trying not to lose his balance as he clutched his body. His breath was coming in short puffs of air. James grimaced as he stood stock-still and waiting for the pain to pass, as he knew it eventually would.
James shuddered, straightening back up. 'It's getting worse now,' he thought, worriedly. He knew what was wrong with him – Moony's monthly ailment, the reason the poor bloke hadn't wanted to "trade places" in the first place. James had been experiencing these sudden pains for a few days now, and every time it happened it was worse than before. Luckily, it never happened around his friends. James knew they were already worried enough about things as it was.
He sighed. He was just grateful that he was a Quidditch player, and therefore able to handle pain a lot better than Moony.
At a time like this, the hospital wing was the last place he wanted to be.
---
Sirius glared as Remus approached his table in the library. "Where art thou fair lady?" he said, icily.
Remus stopped, feeling a little taken aback. He wasn't sure if Sirius was being serious, or if he was just joking.
"I suppose she's off somewhere torturing James," Remus admitted, sheepishly, as he took a seat at the table.
Sirius narrowed his eyes. "That . . . WITCH! You know, MOONY, if you were any kind of friend, you'd stop this cruel injustice towards Prongs."
Remus sighed. "Padfoot, it was Lily's idea, and you know she and Prongs have been on the wrong foot since they first – "
"So, what?" Sirius interrupted, rudely. "You'll side with that BANSHEE over one of your best friends?"
Remus's eyes flashed. "Don't call her names. Sirius, you know James had it coming to him – "
"For what!?" Sirius exclaimed. "For wanting to win over the object of his affections? Remus, the guy is head over heels for her – "
"WELL, SO AM I!" Remus exploded.
Sirius stared at him, and was surprised to see the faint shimmering of tears welling up in his friend's eyes. Sirius's own eyes widened. "Moony – "
"Don't!" Remus said, hotly, the tears threatening to fall. "Just don't say anything to me because, heaven forbid, we both know it's going to be about James! James this, and James that!" Remus wiped away a few tears that had splashed onto his cheek. "Well, I'm tired of it!" he continued. "What about ME, Sirius? Aren't I your friend as well? What about me? Don't MY feelings matter to you?"
Sirius opened his mouth to speak, but Remus interrupted in a quiet voice.
"I like her, Sirius. I'm bloody infatuated with her and I'm sorry it conflicts with what James wants, but I can't help what I feel," Remus said, wistfully. "Lily likes me, and I like her, and that's all there is to it."
"Bloody hell, Remus! Why didn't you just TELL me?" a pained-sounding James said from behind startling him.
"Indeed." All three boys turned with identical looks of terror on their faces. Madam Pince was staring at them sour-faced.
Sirius grinned nervously. "Madam . . . you're looking especially lovely today . . ."
Needless to say, after being literally thrown out into the hall, they all had very sore backsides for the rest of the day.
---
"Well, now that we've gotten everything sorted out, what do you propose we do?" Lily asked, matter-of-factly, after shooting multiple dirty glances at James in Remus's body. The Marauders plus Lily were holed up in the common room as far away from the rest of the students as possible.
"We?" Sirius interrupted, nastily. "I suppose you want Remus's body back just as much as he does?" Lily and Remus both blushed, and James just sighed.
James was being oddly quiet about all of this. After Remus had finally explained that he and Lily were indeed dating, he had responded with a simple, "Oh," and then hadn't said a word for the longest time.
"Sirius, where exactly in the library have you been looking?" Remus asked, trying to change the subject. Awkward silences weren't exactly to his liking.
"Curses, potions, and spells gone wrong," Sirius answered. "I figured IF there was a solution to any of this, it was probably there."
"And if not?" Lily asked, looking worried. "What if there isn't a solution?"
"Then, I guess you'll have to look for a new boyfriend, won't you, Evans?" Sirius responded, through gritted teeth.
Lily blushed again. "I'm just trying to help, Black," she said, quietly.
"Well, we're fine without you. Just go on and do what you were doing BEFORE you decided to date Remus, and completely ignore James – "
"Sirius, stop!" James interrupted, speaking for the first time all afternoon. Sirius gave him a surprised look.
"But, mate, she – " Sirius started, but James silenced him.
"Evans has a right to date whoever she wants, Sirius. Just drop it, okay?" James glanced at an equally surprised, and relieved, looking Remus. "Besides, I think this whole situation is a bit more impor – "He abruptly stopped speaking and a look of complete, and intense pain came over his face.
"Prongs!" Sirius exclaimed. "Prongs, what's wrong!?"
"It's – " Remus started, then he stopped as he realized that Lily was in the room. Lily still didn't know about his secret.
She was giving James a look that was somewhat concern, somewhat surprise, and somewhat curiosity. "What's wrong with him?" she asked, looking a little worried.
Sirius, however, had caught Remus's eye, and sucked in his breath with understanding. "Hospital wing?" he asked Remus, giving nothing away.
Remus nodded immediately.
"Evans, clear out," Sirius said, his voice leaving no room for argument.
"But – " Lily started to protest. She locked eyes with Remus in a silent plea.
"Evans!" Sirius sounded exasperated.
"Lily, I'll . . . meet up with you in a little while, alright?" Remus said, trying to avoid her gaze.
Sirius already had levitated James through the portrait hole, and needed help blocking the tons of wailing girls who had spotted his body and had managed to jam up the doorway.
"Remus!" Sirius cried.
Throwing one last look over his shoulder at a rather suspicious-looking Lily, he left with Sirius.
---
Remus paced back and forth, trying not to stare at James, who was biting his lip, pale, shaking, and sweating. Remus shuddered. No wonder his friends avoided his gaze when they sat with him in the hospital wing every month. He looked horrible.
"Boys, m-maybe you should leave, now," Madam Pomfrey said, casting a concerned glance at James on the bed. She leaned down and whispered so that Remus and Sirius couldn't hear. "He seems to be even worse off this month than usual. I'm thinking of going to Dumbledore if he keeps up like this. He still has three days to go before the full moon."
Sirius and Remus exchanged identical looks of horror. "Madam, no! I mean . . . he'll get better, right? He always does!" Sirius argued.
"There really isn't any need to call the Headmaster," Remus insisted. "Honestly."
Madam Pomfrey simply shook her head. "I just don't know. It's just . . . I've never seen him this bad off." From the bed, James let out another audible moan of pain.
"Please, let us stay," Remus pleaded, attempting to give her James's puppy dog look.
Sirius clasped his hands together. "Please, Madam Pomphrey! We won't disturb him, or anything. We promise!"
The nurse sighed. "Fine, but you'll leave when I say. Without another word."
"Yes, Ma'am," they both said in unison.
As soon as she had disappeared, the boys rushed up to James's bed. "James, I'm so sorry!" Remus said, looking almost as horrible as James felt.
"Not your fault," James managed. "I'm . . . okay. Really, I am. Just a little pain, Moony. Can't be that bad, right? You . . . you go through this . . . every month, don't you?" He winced.
Sirius gave Remus a look of pure terror. "Moony, we need to find something to switch your bodies back before the transformation!" he hissed, frantically. "I'm not saying I want you to be the one in pain, but it's just that you know how to deal with this and James doesn't! It's going to be ten times worse for him as it's his first time."
"I know," Remus said. "I understand, Sirius. I-I want to be back in my body just as much as James wants to be back in his."
But as he said the words, and looked back once again at James on the bed suffering, he suddenly wasn't so sure if he wanted to be back in his body after all.
---
"I found something! I think I've found something!" Lily Evans came rushing up to Sirius in the Great Hall the next morning.
Sirius had gone down to breakfast alone because James was still in the Hospital Wing and Remus had dressed at the crack of dawn to go visit him. Sirius wasn't eating, however. He was gathering food to take back to the Hospital Wing with him, so he could sit with James, too.
"What?" Sirius said, staring at her. "And keep your voice down!"
Lily grinned, sheepishly. "Sorry. Are you . . . are you heading to visit Potter?"
Sirius looked at her, curiously. "Yeah."
"Is Remus there, too?" she asked, eagerly.
Sirius scowled at her. "Yeah," he muttered.
"Good! I have something I need to share with all of you. Let's go!"
---
"Potter, you look terrible," Lily said, looking shocked. "I thought Madam Pomfrey was supposed to help you get BETTER."
James growled at her, causing her to jump back in surprise. "I WILL get better, after all of you buggers go away and leave me alone!" he snarled.
Remus winced. It was the werewolf. It was taking over James's rational thought. 'Is that what I usually sound like?' Remus thought, miserably.
For a moment, Lily was rather stunned that Remus was speaking to her this way, until she remembered that it was Potter with the nasty attitude, not Remus. She glared at him. "Is that any way to talk to your friends?" she asked, coldly.
"YOU are NOT my FRIEND, Evans," he retorted. "You don't even like me, remember?"
"Regardless of whether I like you or not," Lily said, her voice rising. "I came to help you!"
"Oh, look! It's MUDBLOOD Evans to the rescue!"
Lily froze. Remus froze. Even Sirius froze.
"J-James," Sirius stammered. "You . . . you d-did not just say that . . ."
"What's wrong, MUTT? Scared of the big, bad werewolf?" James sneered.
Lily's eyes widened. "What?" she whispered.
"James, stop!" Remus cried. Obviously, his werewolf temper was getting the worst of James. Normally, James wouldn't dare say those kinds of things. He looked around to Sirius for help, but Sirius was speechless.
Lily looked terrified. "Oh, did I let the cat out of the bag?" James said, coldly. He laughed, the sound of it sending a chill up everyone's spine. "Who's going to save you, now, Evans?" he taunted. "I don't like you, Sirius doesn't like you . . . and your BOYFRIEND . . . ha! Your boyfriend is a MONSTER!"
"No," Lily whispered. "No, it's not true. It's NOT true! He would've told me! He would've . . ." She stared at Remus, her eyes welling up with tears.
Remus felt his heart constrict. What was he supposed to say now? He couldn't very well deny it. James had the proof. James WAS the proof.
Lily must've taken Remus's silence for confirmation because she suddenly burst into tears, and ran out of the Hospital Wing.
Sirius stared at James, shaking his head. "Prongs . . . how could you?" he asked, dejectedly. "How could you say things like that to Evans!?" James merely gave one last laugh before he doubled over in another round of nauseating pain.
"Let him alone," Remus said, softly, his face in his palms. "He's not James, anymore. The werewolf has taken over."
---
Lily ran until she was sure she could run no more, and she then flung herself down beside the lake and cried. They were heart-wrenching sobs filled with so much grief that Lily felt as if she were being torn in two.
'How?' she asked herself, silently. 'How could he keep something like this from me? How?'
"Evans! Uh, Lily!"
Lily sat up, looking around. With a jolt, she spotted Sirius jogging toward her. He looked relieved that he had found her. If it wasn't so sad it might've been funny: Imagine. Sirius Black. Looking relieved to see her. It was laughable, really.
"Thank, goodness," Sirius said. "Moony is so worried about you."
Lily just stared at him. "So?" she said, defiantly. "I don't care."
Sirius sighed, impatiently. "Evans, we really don't have time for this. James is – "
"I don't care about that . . . that hot-headed, pompous jerk!" Lily cried, heatedly. "He can burn in hell for all I care!"
"Lily! Get a grip!" Sirius said. He looked as if he wanted to shake her. "Listen, Evans . . . I know you're probably, uh, hurting right now, but . . . James is hurting a LOT worse than you are, believe me. He didn't mean those things he said. You know he didn't. We studied werewolves in class remember? You know how they tend to lose rational thought whenever the full moon is close. And it being his first time, it's probably affecting him way more than it would affect Remus."
Lily shuddered. "I don't want to hear about James OR Remus right now," she said, stubbornly.
"Lily, we need to change them back!" Sirius said, desperately. "You said you'd found something! Now, what is it?"
Lily narrowed her eyes at him, suspiciously, then her eyes suddenly widened. "You! You are a HORRIBLE friend!"
Sirius stepped back in surprise. "What are you talking about?"
"You'd rather Remus go through this transformation than James!" Lily accused. "You don't care about him at all, do you!?"
Sirius's eyes flashed in anger. "That is NOT true!" Sirius exclaimed. "Lily, James is NOT used to being a werewolf! He doesn't know how to handle it, and Remus does! He's been a werewolf since he was a very little boy, and he's learned a few things about controlling himself, but James doesn't know any of those things. Lily, we need to know!"
Lily shut her eyes tightly, a worried look coming across her features. "Well, I suppose he'll have to learn, then, won't he?" she finally said.
Sirius just stared at her. "What does that mean?" he asked.
"It means that what I've found . . ." Lily sighed. "I was looking in the library and I found this book. It says that if you rush something, like a POTION, that shouldn't be rushed, the effects could either be permanent or last as long as they were originally supposed to be brewed for."
Sirius collapsed onto the ground beside her. "So . . . so it'll last a month, then? That's two weeks from the full moon."
Lily nodded. "And if they don't switch then . . ."
"They'll be this way forever," Sirius finished, looking horrified at the very thought. "Poor James!"
Lily shook her head in annoyance. "Of course," she said, sarcastically. "Because everything is about JAMES."
Sirius gave her a weak grin. "Evans, everything is ALWAYS about James."
---
A/N: Of course! Everything IS always about James! (shakes head impatiently) When will they all learn? Tsk, tsk. heehee. PLEASE REVIEW! THE NEXT CHAPTER IS GOING TO BE ROMANTIC, and much lighter! Lotsa fluff, for all of you fluff-lovin people!
Ariana S.