A/N: I'M SORRY! I know I said this would be a long chapter and I would finish out sixth year, but I didn't. I apologize, and it just goes to show you shouldn't believe everything you read. Unless, of course, JKR wrote it. Haha, just kidding, I'm not that obsessed. Thanks for those of you who reviewed and I will write up a storm tomorrow, I'm just exhausted tonight.
Disclaimer: It's all someone else's
I sat up in the common room with Peter waiting for James to return. Peter went up to bed around one and I fell asleep on top of my essay on antidotes around three. James still hadn't come back.
"Lily."
A voice was speaking gently into my ear and someone was shaking me lightly.
"Lily! Lily wake up."
I groaned an opened my eyes. Marlene was standing over me looking frightened. "Lily you never came to bed last night, we were so worried! Where were you? What have you been doing?" A look of sudden realization spread across her face. "Lily Evans! I never would have thought you would be the first! So, who's the guy?"
I didn't comprehend what Marlene said. "James." I mumbled. "James."
Marlene's jaw dropped open. "James? Are you serious? What, did he force you or something, because if he did, I swear Lils, I kick his—"
"Where's James?" I asked urgently. "Where's James?" I grabbed Marlene's arm. "Where is he? He could be hurt!"
"Since when do you care whether James gets hurt or not?" Marlene was looking at me like I had suddenly sprouted another head. "Who are you and what have you done with Lily?"
"I am Lily!" I said impatiently while Marlene felt my forehead for signs of a fever. "And we need to find—"
I could hear the faint sounds of James yelling. With a squeak I pulled Marlene with me behind an armchair in the corner.
"Lily!" Marlene cried. "Why are we hiding?"
"We're going to eavesdrop." I whispered back.
"On who?" Marlene hissed. "It's five o'clock on a Saturday morning, no one else is awake!"
"Shush!" I said as the portrait hole slammed.
"Why Black? Why? Why did you do it? Please actually tell us now instead of just dodging the question like in Dumbledore's office!" James had lowered his voice, not wanting to wake the entire house.
Remus moved into sight and sunk into the couch in front of the dying fire, his head in his hands, saying nothing. Black came and flopped into the chair beside Remus, looking livid. James sat down beside Remus gingerly and hesitantly placed a hand on his back in a consoling manner. Remus shied away at the contact and scooted farther away from James. James looked at him in pity and then turned angrily to Black.
"Well?" He asked heatedly.
"Snape's a git." Sirius growled at James.
"So what? That was such a cowardly thing to do, I can't believe…"
"Oh like you haven't thought about it." Sirius spat at James. "Evans isn't around Potter, you don't need to pretend to act so noble—"
"Keep Lily out of this." James said slowly.
"Snape, Bellatrix, Narcissa, Lestrange, they won't leave me alone James! I just couldn't take it any more!" Sirius whined.
"So you sunk to their level?" James said in disbelief. "You used your friend? You lied, you almost killed someone." He paused, shaking his head. "Merlin Sirius as much as you hate Snape there is no excuse for showing a complete disregard for his life!"
Sirius was ignoring James. Instead he was looking at Remus. "Moony…you forgive me right? I'm sorry Moony. Really, I am."
Remus raised his head from his hands, tears in his eyes. "I could have killed someone. I trusted you. I trusted you with my secret and you told Snape of all people. You know what I'm like. I could have killed someone." Remus said in a hollow voice.
"I didn't tell Snape you're a werewolf." Sirius mumbled.
I heard a sharp intake of breath from Marlene. My head was spinning. Remus was a werewolf? But…how? Wait, I had Prefect patrols with him almost every night, what if he…transformed during our rounds? How could Dumbledore let him go to school here? Through all these thoughts I barely heard Remus' next words.
"Oh yes, by the time he found that out he'd be dead!" Remus said weakly. "I need to go to bed." He stood up abruptly, turned, and climbed the stairs to the boys' dormitories.
Sirius and James watched him leave. A few moments later James stood up roughly.
"I'm going for a walk." He said and left, not making eye contact with Black.
Sirius sat, staring at the glowing embers in the fire for a few more minutes before going to his bed as well.
Marlene and I extracted ourselves from our hiding spot.
"I had no idea." Marlene said softly.
"Nor did I." I replied. "Look, I'm going to find Potter."
"Why?" Marlene asked, perplexed.
"I don't know. Because I can." I said, and ran out the portrait hole.
How did James suddenly lose his uncanny ability to appear wherever I was? I tried to avoid him for years with no success, and now, the one time I look for him, he's disappeared! Think Lily. Think, think, think. If you were James where would you go?
…
Nothing? Thank you keen, inquisitive mind for your assistance.
Where would he be? Come on, do you know nothing about this boy? He's only been obsessed with you for the past three years…you have to know something about him!
Quidditch.
Of course.
I reached the Quidditch pitch and could see James soaring in circles around the giant goalposts. Gathering as much air as I could, I shouted as loudly as possible, "JAMES!"
He glanced down at me, but continued flying.
"JAMES!" I cried again. "JAMES I HEARD YOU IN THE COMMON ROOM!"
James paused in his flight pattern and suddenly pointed his broom towards me. He dove, flat against the broom, gathering speed, spiraling, hurtling towards the ground. I covered my eyes, not wanting to see the inevitable crash.
It didn't come. Instead I heard James' strained voice.
"You heard?"
I nodded silently.
Sighing, he sunk down to the ground. Tentatively I sat beside him.
"Why did it have to be Padfoot? If I lose him I'm not losing a friend as much as I'm losing a part of myself. Sometimes I just think we're extensions of each other. Why did he have to be so stupid?" James said, pounding his fist against the ground.
"I-I-I don't know." I stuttered. "You need to forgive him I suppose."
"So this is what rock bottom feels like." James said, a slight glimmer of the usual mischievous spark back in his eye. "Lily Evans is telling me to forgive someone. At least I didn't send you on a quest to tango with a fully grown werewolf."
I smiled at him, feeling like the biggest hypocrite in the world. "Yes, I can at least be grateful for that."
"I really am sorry for third year Lily." James said softly, squeezing my hand.
I took a deep breath. "No, I'm sorry James. I should have forgiven you years ago. But thank you for apologizing…again. I forgive you."
"Really?" James breathed.
"Really." I responded.
A/N: (Ducks things being thrown at screen.) Like I said, I'm sorry! Really! I know it's awful, but I am so tired. I'll be better tomorrow…hopefully. Thank you for reading!