Disclaimer: Ha, I remembered for this chapter. Anyway, I do not own Harry Potter or any of these characters.
Forever
"Oh, hi Lily," Remus squeaked nervously and then he cleared his throat, praying that it was a dream. "How are you?" he asked in the same squeaky voice.
"Who do you think you are?" She shrieked. Remus winced and then cowered as she continued. "Do you think you can just lie to me? Deceive me? I'm not some girl you can just use, Remus Lupin!" Madam Pomfrey walked in and wrinkled her nose in disapproval. She gave Remus one of her looks of pity, then closed the curtains and cast an Inperturbable Charm on the thin barrier inclosing the space in which Lily ranted.
"I didn't lie to you Lily," Remus mumbled refusing to meet her smoldering eyes.
"Then what happened?"
"I..." Remus struggled to think of what to say. 'Should I tell her?' he wondered. "I was attacked." Lily didn't say anything, so Remus felt he should continue. "By a big..." He fell deeper into the pit he had dug for himself. "Dog," he said lamely, desperately trying to incorporate some truth into his wild tale. "Yeah, that's right. A big black dog with yellow eyes came out and attacked me."
"A dog?" Lily asked incredulously. "You expect me to believe a dog came out to attack you?"
"Uh..."
"Well?"
"Lily, look, I can't tell you why I lied."
"So you admit it then? You lied." It wasn't a question.
"Yes," Remus admitted still refusing to meet her gaze. He heard her sigh and then there was a long pause.
"Why?" She asked reluctantly.
"You wouldn't understand, Lily." Remus looked up at her sadly.
"Try me." She pursed her lips and stared him down.
"It's complicated."
"Just tell me why, Remus."
"I just want to protect you, Lily."
"Protect me?" Lily chuckled. "From what, Remus? Vampires? Demons? Werewolves?" Remus bit his lip. Werewolves. That's exactly what. He looked back down. She sighed again and then surprisingly, took his hands in hers. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing's right, nothing's wrong, I just don't know," Remus muttered to himself then more loudly said, "Like I said, it's complicated."
"I'm not leaving until you tell me." She paused and then added, "I want the truth too."
"A little stubborn are we?" Remus chucked to himself.
"I'm trying to be serious here, Remus." She suppressed a smile.
"Okay fine, the truth is I can't tell you the truth."
"So we're back to square one then."
"I guess so." There was a long silence between them before Remus spoke again. "So then, not to rush you or anything, but can you just break up with me now? I don't think I can survive the torture much longer." Lily stared hard at him, looking slightly puzzled.
"Do you want to break up or something?"
"Of course not."
"Then shut up, Remus." They both grinned at each other.
"Okay, Lily."
"That's better." They were both silent for a while.
"Hey Lily?"
"I thought I told you to shut up!" Lily exclaimed.
"I just want to tell you one thing."
"Okay, just one thing. And then you have to shut up."
"Love you," Remus whispered.
"You're going to have to tell me this big secret sooner or later you know."
"I know."
"You don't really get how much this hurts me, that you can't trust me."
"I'm sorry, I don't know what to say."
"Does it have anything to do with, well you know, other girls?" A tinge of pink appeared on Lily's cheeks.
"No," Remus said, looking her straight in the eye.
"It's not life threatening or anything right?"
"No, not exactly."
"Fine."
"Fine what?"
"Fine, I'll stop bother you about it."
"Thanks Lils, I appreciate it."
"Lils?" She raised an eyebrow.
"Yes. Lils."
"Okay then... then I'll call you Remy." Remus made a face.
"Remy? That's a little like a girls name wouldn't you say?"
"Okay, fine. You'll be Remus then."
"Okay. "
Lily took a quick glance at the clock that hung on the wall. "I'm going to go eat some lunch. Leigh and Trace will start to wonder where I am."
"Yeah, you should go," Remus said reluctantly.
"You promise you're going to tell me right?"
"I thought you said you weren't going to bother me about it," Remus laughed.
"Just this last time."
"I promise I'll tell you." Then he added with an afterthought, "When the time is right, I guess."
"As long as that time is soon. I can't wait forever, Remus."
"I know, Lils."
"Good." She bent down and gave him a chaste kiss on the cheek. "Bye Remus."
"Yeah, bye Lils."
Weeks passed by without incident and before the Hogwarts students noticed, Halloween was upon them. The Great Hall was decorated with live bats and floating jack-o-lanterns and all the day long, the smell of pumpkin pie wafted through the castle. The four Marauders were making their way down the stairs to breakfast when Snape appeared and blocked their path. Peter's eyes widened in fear.
"Potter," he sneered.
"Sod off, Snivellus," Sirius snarled.
"Give me a reason to, Black."
"Don't tempt me Snivellus," Sirius warned, pulling out his wand.
"Oh, Black, I'm disappointed in you."
"You greasy slimeball," James hissed.
"No need for name calling, I just wanted to speak with your darling friend over there." He pointed at Remus.
"Me?" Remus asked coolly.
"Yes."
"What do you want, Snivellus?" Sirius growled angrily.
"I just was curious, where do you go every few weeks? Because I know it isn't your mother's."
"Wouldn't you like to know, you greaseball?" Remus replied mildly. Snape's face clouded with anger, he raised his wand.
"Petrificus Totalus," James muttered. Snape's arms and legs snapped together and he fell to the ground with a dull thud.
"Mr. Potter!" The four Marauders whirled around and saw Professor McGonagall shaking her finger in anger. "Potter! I have never met anyone so deliberately disobedient in my entire life. Fifty points from Gryffindor! And you are forbidden to go to Hogsmeade today, instead you will serve detention with me. Be at my office by nine o' clock, or you'll be very sorry indeed. Do I make myself clear?" James merely nodded in response. She took out her wand and muttered the counter spell and immediately Snape's arms and legs sprang open again. Professor McGonagall took one last look at James and then stormed off. Snape smirked and went off to breakfast.
"No Hogsmeade again," James moaned as soon as the Professor was out of earshot.
"Bad luck, Prongs," Sirius commiserated.
"Sorry, James. It was my fault," Remus murmured.
"No it's okay. Snivelly deserved it," said James.
"I'm still sorry, that's the second Hogsmeade in a row."
"Don't worry about it Moony. I didn't even ask Lily to Hogsmeade this time." James gave Remus a smile, and he meekly returned it.
After James had gone off for his detention, Remus went off in search of Lily and found her in the Library.
"Hey Lils." Lily turned around and saw Remus. She broke into a smile.
"Hi Remus! I just needed to finish some Defence homework," she said loudly, and then in undertone, she added, "Meet me at the clearing, 'kay?" Remus nodded and left. He made his way to the front entrance to get onto one of the carriages when he ran into Sirius.
"Hey, Moony, where d'ja run of to?" He asked.
"Uh, I needed to find someone," Remus answered rather awkwardly.
"Oh?" Sirius asked and then nodded in comprehension.
"You were always the slow one," Remus chuckled.
"I resent that comment, Moony," Sirius retorted as seriously as was serious with Sirius.
"Yeah, I thought you might."
"So, you going to Hogsmeade?"
"Yeah."
"Let's go then."
"What about Peter?" Remus asked concerned.
"Oh, he's off snogging that third year, don't worry about him." Both Remus and Sirius made a face. The very thought of Peter... "Yeah, don't try to think about it." Sirius said, noting the expression of Remus' face.
"Good idea, let's go." They walked in silence to the gates of Hogwarts to board one of the horseless carriages. After a view minutes, Sirius looked at Remus.
"Oy, Moony, he's going to find out sooner or later."
"I know."
"I think you should tell him." Remus looked at Sirius wondering whether he had finally lost it.
"You've gone mad, haven't you?"
"I think he'll appreciate it more if you tell him rather than him finding out from someone else."
"You have gone mad."
"I haven't, I'm not joking."
"We're talking about the James Potter, you realize."
"I know."
"Padfoot, you know him better than the rest of us. You know how he'll get. He'll rip me to shreds and..."
"Or he'll be really grateful that it's you and not some Slytherin," Sirius interrupted.
"No, he'll be even worse if he finds out it's me."
"No," Sirius said thoughtfully. "I don't think he will."
"Arg, I'm not listening Padfoot."
"Fine, don't, but remember, I'm looking out for the both of you."
"Thanks, I appreciate it."
"Is Lily worth your friend—"
"—ship with James," Remus finished. "How many times do I have to tell you I don't know?"
"As many times as it takes to get a different answer than 'I don't know.'," Sirius told him.
"I love her," Remus stated simply. Sirius stared at him intently.
"As many times as it takes."
"It may take forever," Remus sighed.
"Don't worry, we'll be around for that long," Sirius joked. Remus smiled slightly.
"That's right. As long as you can wait that long, Padfoot."
"Of course I can, Moony. I've gone longer without food! Speaking of which..." Sirius' stomach growled. "You want to go to The Three Broomsticks for some food?"
"Can't. Um, prior engagement." Sirius smiled.
"Moony, old boy, I do believe you're all grown up."
"Thanks, Padfoot."
More silence passed between the two friends. It wasn't an awkward silence, but just a silence in which both were appreciating the company without having to speak. They rode the rest of the way in silence, and when the carriage finally slowed to a stop, they nodded and parted ways.
A/N: Okay, so yeah, not so good at this keeping promises about updating. I need to work on it, I know. The past view chapters haven't exactly been up to scratch or anything, this is solely because my free time is limited, not that I'm a bad writer or anything.. I hope. Anyway...This story has turned out to be pretty fluffy, not really my intent, but I guess I'll just keep it that way, unless anyone has any objections. Thanks to all who reviewed. -Jezy.