Disclaimer: You all know the drill

AN: Okay, I have no idea at all what a real Arithmancy class is like. This is just my own perception of it, so forgive me if it's too "Muggle-y"

Chapter 3: It Was You

Remus and Lily headed out of Arithmancy together the next day. Lily's head hung, and eyes were gloomy.

"What is wrong with me this year?" she burst out. "This is the third practice test I have failed so far!"

"They were rather complicated," Remus offered in comfort.

"Yeah sure, it was. You perfected all of them."

"You don't stink at it, Lils. You just have a lot of stuff to attend to. The pressure is just getting to you."

"Why on earth did Dumbledore even make me Head Girl?"

Remus placed his hands on her shoulders. "Because you are the only girl in this school who is capable," he said firmly, looking her straight in the eye. "He knows you can handle it. Just stay relaxed and calm, and it will all come to you."

Lily's mouth dropped open as she stared into his eyes. Remus felt his face heat up from the intensity of her gaze.

"Of course!" she exclaimed.

"What?"

"You could tutor me!"

"What?!"

"It's perfect!" Lily spoke quickly, her eyes never leaving his face. "You're averaging an Outstanding so far in class. You can really help me!"

"I can't¡X"

"Please?"

Remus thought about it. Lily did need some coaching. And who was he to pass up spending time with her? "OK, I'll do it."

"Excellent!" Lily stood on her tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek. Remus felt dazed as he lifted a shaking hand to his face.

"Let's meet in the library after dinner. We'll have our first session tonight."

Sirius could practically see the steam coming out of James's ears as Remus told them he wouldn't be able to hang out with them after dinner, "since he would be tutoring Lily". The Head Boy was trying to hide it, but it was as clear as day to the Sirius that he still really loved Lily. James managed to rein in his envious expression as Remus turned to them, Arithmancy tome in hand.

"Well, what are you people staring at? Let's go eat."

Lily was deeply absorbed in a Charms book when Remus sat down beside her in the library. Using his quill, Remus poked her in the arm to get her attention.

"Oh, hi." She smiled and pushed the book away. "What took you so long? You guys goofing off again during dinner?"

"We-ell, James and Sirius asked me to join in," Remus mumbled sheepishly.

"It's cool." Lily took some parchment and a quill out of her bag. "Shall we begin?"

For the next four hours, Remus made Lily solve practice problems over and over again. When it got late, Madam Pince, the librarian, shooed them out of the library.

"You're doing a good job," Remus quipped as he and Lily walked back to Gryffindor Tower.

"I am?"

"Yeah. You're picking everything up pretty quickly."

"Thanks. I have a great teacher."

They climbed through the portrait hole into the common room, where they dumped all their study materials. Remus accompanied Lily to the stairs leading up to the girls' dormitories.

"Good night, Lils," Remus said when they got there.

"Good night, Remus. And thank you so much. I can't think of anyone who would stay up until midnight just to tutor me." Lily reached up and hugged him. "I truly do have a friend in you."

Remus blushed. "It was nothing."

Lily placed one foot on the first step, then paused and turned. "Tomorrow night, then?"

Remus was still recovering from the supernova effect of that hug. "Um, yeah."

"OK. Good night again." Lily went up the stairs and let herself in her dormitory.

Remus had a huge smile on his face as he made his way to his own. As he snuggled under the covers of his four-poster bed, his hand flew up once again to his cheek, where the feel of Lily's kiss had yet to dissipate.

AN: Thanks to Laughing Fountain, MutantJediBauer, Pannikittypiggyphant, who is my real-life best friend, and Carmel March for reviewing! :) I feel so very appreciated.