Sara is a metamorphagus. I forgot to mention that in the last chapter. Actually, I just decided I wanted her to be one while writing this chapter. =D I am so sorry about this chapter being so late. I've been done with it forever, but they just started accepting files from WordPad, and my Microsoft Word has been screwed up, so I wasn't able to upload it. But here it is!
Please review!
Lily, Sara, and Lauren sat in front of the fireplace in the Gryffindor common room, books and parchment full of notes strewn all around them. It was a Saturday night and students were around them playing games of Exploding Snap, chatting and laughing loudly. The noise was beginning to bother the three girls who were determined to finish their Defense Against the Dark Arts essay so they would have Sunday to do what they wanted.
"Crikey, guys. We need a book on the Unforgivable Curses to do this," Sara realized after ten minutes of trying to focus on her essay. "We can't do this tonight. Let's just finish tomorrow." She shut her book and put it in her bag.
"Okay, we aren't getting anywhere anyway with this noise," Lily added, closing her book as well. Lauren was lying on her stomach asleep on the couch, drool dampening her parchment. She was mumbling something about dinosaurs. Lily got up and poked her in the side.
"Save me from the dinosaurs, Remus," she murmured, fidgeting but still in a deep slumber. Hearing his name, he stopped and looked at her oddly before turning to Sara and Lily (who were almost out of their seats giggling so hard).
"What was that about?" he asked the two of them.
"Oh, I dunno," Sara answered, grinning. "Maybe you should go save her, Remus."
He looked startled and blushed a deep crimson, but didn't walk away. Instead, he stood there watching Lauren sleep until Lily poked Lauren's side again, and this time she woke up. She propped herself back up on her elbows like she was when she was working and grabbed her quill. She went to dip it in her ink jar on the floor and noticed that there was a third person along with Lily and Sara. Lauren looked up, saw Remus, and immediatley blushed.
"Hey, Remus," she said finally after staring at him awkwardly for a moment.
"Hi Lauren," he replied, smiling. "Hope the dinosaurs didn't eat you or anything..."
The color drained out of Lauren's face. She looked at Remus, then Lily, then Sara. "Oh my God, was I having the dinosaur dream again?" She asked the two girls in a hushed voice. They both nodded, trying to hold back laughter, but failing. Lauren looked humilated.
She took a deep breath and looked back at Remus. "Some sexy man saved me this time, but he didn't reveal his identity."
"Oh, I think I know who it was..." Remus replied, grinning. Lauren looked thouroughly confused. "Anyway, I'll talk to you later, okay? I'm a little tired."
"Okay," she replied, still confused. He walked off and up the staircase to the boy's dormitories. "'Oh, I think I know who it was...' What did he mean by that?" Lauren inquired.
"Well, when Lily poked you the first time, you fidgeted and mumbled something like 'save me from the dinosaurs, Remus', right as he walked by," Sara answered. Lily was now covering her mouth trying to hide her laughter. Lauren looked as if she could puke.
"You've got to be kidding me," she replied, staring at Sara as though she would come out and say, "No, I'm just pulling your leg!" But Sara didn't. Instead, she shook her head and replied. "It was really quite funny."
"Yeah, Lauren, it was," Lily coaxed. "And Remus said he'd talk to you later, so that's a good thing."
"But he's always going to remember me drooling all over my parchment and mumbling about him saving me from dinosaurs!!!!" Lauren was hysterical. "And you guys didn't wake me up! Hmmph." She crossed her arms and looked at the ground furiously.
"I tried! I poked you in the side, but you didn't wake up! Remember that time during the summer after fifth year when you had Sara and I over and we tried to wake you up so we could find a bed to sleep on, but you didn't wake up, so we had to sleep on the floor?" Lily reminisced.
"That was an accident! I've said I'm sorry for that a million times! I'm sorry again!" Lauren whimpered.
"No, no, no! I wasn't trying to make you feel bad! I was just reminding you how hard it is to wake you up! We forgave you about that ages ago." Lily replied. "Anyway, Remus is not going to think you're weirder than he thought you were before," she joked.
Lauren's jaw dropped, but they could tell she was laughing on the inside. "I think I'm going to go to bed now."
"Me too, all that laughing made my stomach ache," Sara replied and Lauren glared at her. They all began climbing the stairs to the girls' dormitories, but abruptly stopped when they heard a male voice calling up to them.
"Goodnight, Lily!" James yelled from across the common room.
Lily rolled her eyes and replied: "Night, Potter." They continued up the stairs to the seventh year girls' room, and Lily to her Head Girl room which was just down the hall. As Head Girl and Boy, she and James had the privilege of having their own room. Lily had taken the room, James hadn't.
"Remember, we're going running in the morning, rain or shine!" Lauren half-shouted to Lily. "I've got to get in shape for Quidditch if we're going to win the Cup this year!"
"Yeah, I'll see you guys in the morning!"
"Night!" They both chimed, walking into their room.
"Goodnight," Lily replied. "Bertie Botts," she stated to the portrait of a mermaid that guarded her door. It was rather large for only one person, but that's what you got for being Head Girl. Lily was unusually tired for a plain Saturday, so she changed into her pajamas and crawled into bed. However, the second she laid down, she was forced to think about what challenge tomorrow brought.
Since third year, Lily had known about Remus's Lycanthropy. However, at the end of fifth year, she began to notice that not only was Remus tired after the full moon, his three best friends were as well. She didn't give it much thought. Then during September, she had seen something and had yet to tell the marauders. She wasn't required to tell them by any means, but she felt that if she didn't, it wouldn't be fair to them. Lily remembered what she saw like it was just yesterday...
Flashback
Lily sat in the windowseat that her Head Girl room was equipped with. She was reading the muggle novel Little Women for about the fiftieth time. Lily looked out the window and recalled first the many nights that Petunia had sat up with her reading it to her, then (when she finally learned to read), the many nights she stayed up reading it herself. She treasured the moments with her sister because after she had found out about her wizarding abilities, Petunia took an extreme disliking for her. Petunia called Lily a freak at every opportune moment, which really hurt Lily when she was younger. Now, however, Lily couldn't care less. She knew that Petunia was just jealous, so Lily took every opportunity to mention or use magic around her, in order to pay her back for her name-calling. Lily just smiled at the thought of Petunia's face when she would pull out her wand and mutter nonsense words under her breath, making Petunia jump out of her skin.
Finally coming back into focus, Lily looked at the moon. It was full, and she knew that poor Remus was probably having a hard time in the Shrieking Shack. The moon was casting a bright light down over the grounds, illuminating the Whomping Willow, Hagrid's hut, and the Forbidden Forest. She thought she saw something move, but she figured it was just Mrs. Norris or an owl, and looked back down to her book. Out of her peripheral vision, she saw something move again, and this time her curiosity got to her. She began searching the grounds for any sign of movement, her eyes falling to the Whomping Willow. There she saw three animals, a dog, a rat, and a stag, and a smile came to her face.
The marauders, she thought, not knowing how the thought entered her mind, but for some reason knowing it was right. I wonder how they managed becoming Animagi under the teachers' noses. She went back to her book and read for a while, eventually dozing off.
Of course, at that time she hadn't been thinking about telling them that she knew their secret. Honestly, I don't know why I'm so nervous about telling James. I guess I could tell Sirius...but he might freak out. Or Peter...but he's just...Peter. It will be easiest just to tell James after a meeting, or something. I'm sure he wouldn't pass up the chance to stay after a meeting with me. Tomorrow's Sunday, there's one scheduled, so I can tell him then. No big deal! Really, Lily...why are you getting so worked up about this? Lily continued into the early hours of the morning arguing with herself, finally falling asleep around two a.m..
Lily was woken up early by a loud banging on her door. "Come on, Lily!" She recognized Sara's voice almost instantly. "We're going for a jog this morning, remember?"
Note to self: Don't stay up until the wee hours of the morning debating with yourself over something stupid and expect to be eager to run, Lily thought.
"Lily, are you coming? Or should Lauren and I go without you?" Sara asked, exasperated.
Lily sat up, threw her legs over the edge of the bed, and rubbed her eyes. "I'm coming," she said simply, stifling a yawn.
"All right, then. We'll be in the common room waiting. Do try and hurry," Sara added, walking down the stairs.
It was mid-October, so Lily decided on a sweatshirt, sweatpants and trainers. She put her hair into a ponytail. Then, she grabbed her wand and watch that she was rather attached to. It was a sixteenth birthday present from her parents, and it reminded her of them when she wore it. Putting it on, she yawned and walked out of her dormitory.
Downstairs, Sara and Lauren waited impatiently for Lily to come. Both girls had decided on the same kinds of clothing. Today, Sara had long, dark brown hair that she pulled up into a ponytail. She was one of the few Metamorphmagi in the wizarding world, which had proved to be a blessing...and a curse...many times. Sometimes when she got really mad, her hair went very red and spiky, but that didn't tend to happen too often.
"Honestly!! I'm getting older by the minute!" Lauren said, eyeing the stairs hopefully.
"She'll be here in a second." Sara added. "Probably just tying her shoelaces."
"There are spells for that!" Lauren tended to get antsy in certain situations.
"But she's Muggle-born, she likes to do things the old-fashioned way."
"Yeah, I do," Lily said, walking up to the couch her two friends were sitting on. "Well, come on then. I'm here!"
They walked out the portrait hole, made their way down to the entrance Hall, and began their run.
James woke up rather early to an insufferable snoring coming from Mister Sirius Black. Why didn't I take the Head Boy room? he questioned himself. Oh yeah, because Sirius begged me to stay because he couldn't live without his Jamsiepoo.
James got up and went to sit in the windowsill, which he did on many mornings before the other marauders awoke. Grinning, he anticipated the night, for it was a full moon.
The sun had barely risen, but the rays were glistening on the lake. James looked away to the mountains, but then realized what he had seen. A smile came to his face. Helping Lauren train for Quidditch? How nice! he thought after seeing the three seventh year girls jogging around the lake. I think I fancy a run.
James hurried out of the windowsill and went to his best friend's bed. "Padfoot?" He shook Sirius's shoulders. "Padfoot??" He pulled the covers off of him. "PADFOOT?" He got up onto his bed and began to jump. This was the Marauders' favorite way of waking each other up. Sirius's eyelids finally fluttered open.
"James Henry Potter, what in the name of Merlin do you want?" he mumbled.
"Quidditch training. We're going for a run!" James said enthusiastically.
"Sod off, Prongs," Sirius mumbled and went into another stupor.
James shook Sirius's shoulders again, and the sleepy boy opened his eyes. "I'm Quidditch captain, therefore I can force you to come out there with me," he grinned.
Sirius rolled his eyes and sat up. "Fine," he complied. "Moony likes to run, too. Should we wake him?"
"Nah, full moon's tonight. He's probably tired," James answered, changing his clothes.
Sirius grinned. "I forgot about that," he said, walking over to James's window that faced the lake. He noticed three girls jogging around the lake, and his face lit up. "Ah, I see why you want to go out there," he realized. "Don't want to miss a chance of seeing Evans, do you?"
James grinned. "Well, she hasn't been as awful to me lately, if you can imagine. She actually looks me in the eye at prefect meetings, and she smiles at me at mealtimes, and she helped me that one time in Potions when--"
"Shut up, Prongs."
"Okay," he looked out the window, still smiling.
"Let's go!" Sirius said, running out the door and down the stairs before James even had his left shoe on.
Wonder who he's so keen on seeing?
"Guys, do you mind scooting out a little bit? I'm getting squished in between the two of you!" Lauren pleaded with Lily and Sara.
"Sorry," the two of them huffed and moved over a little. It was the first sunny day since the start of October. The grass was damp, and every now and then they would hit a muddy spot.
"Why don't we walk a lap or so?" Sara suggested at the beginning of their fourth lap, and the three of them slowed their pace.
James and Sirius had just got out to the lake to begin their run, so they sprinted to catch up with the girls. James ran a lot faster than his companion.
"Getting tired, are you, Evans?" James asked, slowing to a jog by Lily's side. She rolled her eyes.
"Fancy seeing you on such an early morning, Potter," Lily said with mock happiness. "It just makes my day a little brighter," she added.
"Wonderful to see you too, Evans," James replied with no hint of sarcasm. "Padfoot and I just thought we'd join you three in your morning run."
Before Lily could reply, Lauren asked a good question. "Where's Remus?"
"Oh, he's tired," Sirius gasped, coming up beside Sara. "Bloody hell, Prongs! You run like a freaking deer!" he grinned, slowing to a walk.
"So I've been told. Anyway, Lauren, what'd'ya think about morning Quidditch team runs? With everyone, not just the three of us?"
"Whoa! What about us?" Sara asked.
"You can join! We're having try-outs for keeper and another chaser," James suggested.
"No thanks. I'm not one for broomsticks, they go too high." Sara's stomach churned at the thought. She hated heights.
"Me neither. I've got too much to do already. Plus, you need to get some younger students so you can teach them all your strategies," Lily added.
"Well, no one would mind if the two of you came along on a run, I'm sure," Sirius added, looking at Sara. Oh God, I'm blushing. Good thing my face is already red, she thought. "Maybe Remus'll come," he coaxed, eyeing Lauren. She looked away grinning.
"Come on, Sirius, we need to get some more running in, and I believe these ladies are about done," James smiled at them and ran off, wondering if the smile he "saw" on Lily's face was real.
"I wish I wasn't so terrified of heights! I would love to be on the team and see Sirius in Quidditch trousers at every practice!" Sara exclaimed when the marauders were out of earshot.
"It's a lovely sight," Lauren joked. Lily continued walking, looking somewhat dazed and deep in thought. Maybe that Potter isn't so bad, she thought to herself, but he'll hate me after I tell him tonight.
"Penny for your thoughts?" Sara asked, and Lily came back into focus.
"Nothing," she lied. "Let's pass the guys!" she exclaimed, and the three girls sprinted off to pass James and Sirius, laughing the whole way.
Lily walked through the dark rows of the Restricted Section looking carefully for a book on the Unforgivable Curses for her Defense Against the Dark Arts essay that she, Lauren, and Sara had failed to finish the night before. She finally found one and made her way back to the table where Lauren and Sara were discussing if they could resist the Imperius Curse.
"I doubt I could right now, but when I get the training I think I would be able to," Sara concluded. "Hey Lils-you find one?"
"Yeah, but I gotta go. I have a prefects' meeting!" Lily started stuffing quills and books into her bag. "Take notes for me."
"Of course," Lauren replied. "Go on and see James, why don't you?"
Lily stared at her with a pensive look on her face. "Okay," she said simply, and walked off.
She walked out of the library and began debating with herself. I have to tell him tonight, or I never will. Seriously, Lily, you're acting as if this is a HUGE ordeal.
THUD! To Lily's great disgust, she realized she had bumped into Snape.
"Ugh, Mudblood. I need to go wash my robes. I might be a little late for the meeting," he sneered. Lily just glared at him for a minute, and then strode off without a word.
Snape just stood there watching Lily, then turned and started a different route to the meeting room. Lily continued walking and still not watching where she was going, bumped into the Head Boy. She looked at him, and negating thoughts immediately entered her mind. I can't tell him tonight! What if he hates me after I tell him? He probably will, this is his secret, he'll think I spied on him and...and...
"Nicely done," he said.
"Thanks," she replied, and surprisingly didn't quicken her pace or try to lose James in any other way. I just have to do it. I'll tell him what I really think of it. Come on Lily, you're not in Gryffindor to be a coward!
"I need to talk to you after the meeting." She hesitated. "Alone."
"Oh," James was dumbfounded. Alone? She wants to talk to me alone? It must be the full moon, he thought. "Of course, after the meeting," he confirmed.
All the prefects had departed and the Head Boy and Girl were left alone. Thankfully, no one except James and Lily had noticed that Remus was missing from the group of prefects.
"All right Evans, what did you want to talk about?" James asked, sitting on the round table.
Here goes nothing. "I know your secret," Lily said simply.
James kept his vacant expression. His mind, however, was flooding with questions. How could she know? When did she find out? Who the hell told her? "What secret?" he said aloud.
"You know...Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs," she said. "And of course I know about Remus."
"I don't know what you're talking about. Those are just nicknames," James said, shrugging his shoulders. I guess it really is the full moon, he thought.
"Stop playing dumb, James." He smirked at this. She actually called me James. She was staring at him now. "I've known about Remus since third year, and I picked up on you guys last month."
James ran a hand through his hair making it stand up. "Tell me what you know," he stated.
She sat on the table beside him and began. "Well, I started noticing Remus' absences every month, so I looked into it. That was pretty easy. But then at the end of fifth year, I started noticing the other three of you were also very tired after the full moon. Then about a month ago, I happened to see a dog, rat and a stag walking out to the Whomping Willow. I don't know why, but I knew it was you three," she looked at him. "And instead of giving you the lecture the mature person in me says you need, I'm going to tell you what I really think." He looked very interested in her opinion. "I think it's wonderful. Awfully dangerous, but wonderful."
James was stunned. She really did know their secret. And she doesn't protest! "Wow. That took a lot of thinking. You're clever, Lily. Very clever."
"Thanks." Did he just call me Lily? I know he fancies me, but it's usually 'Evans'...oh well.
James got up and stood in front of her, and grabbed her hands. "You can't tell anyone," he pleaded. She has really soft hands, he thought. They're very nice.
"Oh, I can," she grinned at his bulging eyeballs, that looked three times bigger through his glasses, and tightened grip on her hands. I like his hands, they're rough but...nice, she thought. "But I won't. You better go, Sirius and Peter will be waiting..." she said, looking out the window at the rising orb.
"Thanks, Lily," he said, pulling her into a hug. And to both of their surprise, she hugged back.