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Chapter 10: Your Smile

Lily decided to retreat to the Astronomy Tower to think as Sirius had asked her to. She started breathing deeply, trying to block out her feelings.

But how do you think in that way? Lily wondered. How did you decide who to love consciously? She wished she'd asked Sirius before she'd left the common room.

Suddenly, the door cracked open. Upon seeing who else was in the Astronomy Tower, Remus started to back out.

"Remus!" Lily called.
Her closest friend cautiously stepped back in. "Lily."

Lily motioned for him to sit beside her.

"Lily, I want you to know that I'm sorry—" Remus began.

"If this is about last night, Remus, I have no regrets."

"You don't?"

"I'm still confused about it, and it may take me a while to give you an answer. But I don't think of it as a mistake or anything of the sort."

"Oh."

They were quiet.

Then Remus spoke up. "Lils, no matter what happens, you will always be my best friend."

Lily smiled. "And you'll always be mine."

Sirius was just rolling up his finished essay when Lily and Remus, laughing away like old, prekiss times, came strolling in.

"Hey," Sirius called. "You two are certainly chatty."

Lily sat down again in the seat she had vacated half an hour ago.

"So, are you two finally together?" Sirius asked matter-of-factly.

Remus turned red. "Padfoot, you know?" he squeaked.

"Please. I've known this was going to happen since you announced that you and Lily were best friends."

"Hey, I never announced."

"You might as well have."

"Alright boys, enough. Sirius, we're not a couple yet. We have just renewed our vows of bestfriendship," Lily stated.

"Darn, I can't tease you."

"Good morning!" James boomed as he swaggered into the common room.

The three fell silent.

"Um, hi?" James ventured again. "Alright, who died?"
"Oh, no one." Sirius smiled widely. "It's lunchtime! Good. I am starving. Let's go." He pulled James away.

Remus turned to Lily, carefully looking at her expression. Her face was indecipherable. Without warning, she turned around and ran for her dormitory.

Lily collapsed onto her bed, her heart thudding. She knew what was happening.She knew all of a sudden where her feelings were going. It had become clear when James entered the common room.

She had felt nary a twinge of anything.

Memories began flooding her mind. Back in fifth year, she and Remus had first become friends after she confronted him for allowing Sirius and James to mercilessly tease and humiliate Severus Snape. Then she remembered begging him to tutor her and how he had finally agreed to do so. Her happy triumph and the pride in his eyes and smile when she'd perfected the Arithmancy test. Him offering to help her get James, even though, as revealed, he was in love with her. Most endearing of all, she remembered his eyes alight with love as he kissed her. And Lily realized that she was feeling a responsive love growing in her heart too. Lily bounced off her bed, energy filling her as she finally found her answer.

Sirius had returned to the common room. Remus put down his book and looked up as his friend swaggered into the room, casually flicking his black hair from his eyes.

"Where's James?" Remus asked.

"Out on the field. Flying. Where's Lily?"

Remus sighed. "She took off to her dormitory after you dragged James off. She hasn't come down yet."

"Hi."

"Lily!" both boys exclaimed.

Lily lit up. "OK, Sirius, you're here too. That's good."

"Why?"

Lily grabbed Remus's hand. "I have to talk to you. Sirius, wait here a while."

"Oh, no problem." Sirius grinned. "Take your time."

AN: My thanks to:

Alcapacien: Thanks! I'm glad you thought Sirius was wise…that's the effect I was going for. :)

Miss Lady Padfoot- Aw, thanks :)