Disclaimer: How many times do I have to say it? Not mine!

… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …

Chapter Seven: Finally!

………

"Do you need help with that, Lily?" James asked.

"No thanks, I've got it." Lily hoisted her trunk above her head.

"Remus, we have a Prefect's meeting," she said as she walked into the Marauders' compartment a few minutes later.

"Oh, yeah. Give me a second. I want to see if Karen needs help with her trunk." He rushed next door.

Lily smiled. They are such a cute couple. I wonder when he'll get the courage to tell her about his lycanthropy.

"Okay, I'm ready." Remus had returned.

On the way to the Prefects' compartment, Lily brought up the subject of Heads. "So do you think you'll be Head Boy next year?"

"No. I bet you'll be Head Girl, but I doubt I'll be Head Boy."

"Why?"

"Well, there are people ahead of me grades-wise, like James for instance."

Lily snorted. "Let's hope that Dumbledore doesn't choose based on grades! James Potter, Head Boy! That'll be the day!"

"I guess you're right," Remus said with a chuckle. "But I still don't think Dumbledore wants to risk making me Head Boy."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, it's not really that good of an example to disappear every month. Plus, I bet with the spotlight on me, more people would figure it out. Like you did. And James and Sirius."

"James and Sirius figured it out? You didn't tell them?"

"No. I didn't want to question our friendship. But they figured it out for themselves in second year. They were actually really supportive. They even—never mind."

"They even what?"

"Nothing," Remus said quickly.

Lily eyed him suspiciously, but dropped it. "And about that too, when are you going to tell Karen?"

Remus sighed. "I don't know. I feel really bad for keeping it from her, but I really don't want to lose her."

"I think she'll understand why you didn't tell her at first, but believe me, she'll be really mad if you wait much longer."

"I know, I'm just really scared that she'll want nothing to do with me anymore."

"Remus, Karen's not like that. I think you should tell her today."

"Today!"

"Yes. Why worry about it all summer? Just get it over with."

"I guess you're right."

………

After the meeting, Lily and Remus made their way back to the two compartments.

When Lily went to open the door to her compartment, she heard her name from inside, so she stopped to listen to what her friends were saying about her.

"Do you think Lily will ever give in and like James?" Karen asked.

"I hope so. They would be such a perfect couple!" Corinne replied.

"What's sad is that everybody except her knows that," Leighna added.

Lily pushed open the door to the compartment. "Talking about me?"

"No," replied Corinne, Leighna, and Karen innocently.

Lily rolled her eyes. "Next time, I would put a silencing charm on the compartment before I gossip about my friends."

"Didn't think of that," Karen mumbled. Then she caught her mistake. "I…I mean…"

"So, Lily, how was the Prefect's meeting?" Alice said quickly.

Lily allowed the change of subject. "Okay. I wonder who the Heads will be next year."

"You, of course," said Alice. "And I'm guessing Remus."

Lily just shrugged, not wanting to expose Remus's secret. "Maybe."

………

When Remus approached the Marauders' compartment after the Prefect's meeting, he heard shouting from inside. Oh no, James and Sirius are at it again! he thought.

He slid open the door and walked inside. When they heard the door opening, James and Sirius fell silent. Remus sighed and sat down across from Peter.

Finally Peter broke the silence. "So how was the Prefects' meeting, Moony?"

"It was okay. Mostly we just talked about how we need to be there for anyone that needs us during the summer, since Voldemort is getting more and more evil all the time," Remus replied, glad that someone had finally spoken.

"I've heard that some people are starting to call him He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and You-Know-Who," Peter said.

Remus frowned. "Fear of a name increases fear of a thing itself." When everyone was quiet for awhile, he added, "Oh, by the way, I talked to Lily on the way to the meeting, and she thinks I should tell Karen about-"

"Your furry little problem?" James interrupted. "I agree. You're going to have to tell her eventually."

"She thinks I should tell her today though!"

"I think so, too. Why worry about it all summer?"

"You should definitely tell her today." It was the first time Sirius had agreed with James about something since the Snape incident.

Remus paid no attention to this comment, however. He was still stuck on James's. "Funnily enough, that's exactly what Lily said. About worrying all summer, I mean." James just smirked, causing Remus to be rightly suspicious. "You haven't used your Invisibility Cloak at all today by any chance, have you?"

"Er…" Remus raised his eyebrows. "Okay, fine," James relented. "I wasn't trying to spy on you and Lily, but I was on my way to prank Snivellus when I heard you guys talking. Then I heard my name, so I stopped and listened." He grinned. "Think I'll be Head Boy, huh Moony?"

Remus rolled his eyes. "No! I happen to agree with Lily that Dumbledore would have to be completely crazy to make you Head Boy!"

"Hey!" protested James.

………

"Let's go visit the guys," said Karen later that afternoon.

Leighna rolled her eyes. "Why don't you just say 'Let's go snog Remus'?"

"Because I probably won't be snogging Remus. I think he's been avoiding me lately. Besides you guys definitely aren't going to snog Remus!" Karen said.

Lily giggled. "Come on you guys. We might as well try one last time to get James to forgive Sirius." Their many attempts over the last month had proved unsuccessful.

"You know, it's funny that only a few months ago you would do anything to get out of seeing James but now you're talking to him on purpose," said Corinne thoughtfully.

Lily didn't even blush. She shrugged. "He's not so bad anymore. This whole thing with Sirius has made him grow up a lot."

………

A few minutes later they were all crammed into the Marauders' compartment. "Let's expand the compartment," said Remus.

Lily shook her head. "You can't expand the compartments on the Hogwarts Express. Otherwise we would all have been in here before."

James grinned. "We Marauders have our ways."

………

After an hour of talking about random stuff and watching Sirius and James pointedly ignoring each other, Remus said, "Hey, Karen, can I talk to you?" Lily and Remus exchanged glances and she gave him a small, encouraging smile.

Karen looked confused. "Er…yeah, sure." They left, quietly shutting the door behind them.

Everyone was quiet for a moment, but then Lily spoke. "So, are you guys ever going to be best mates again or are we going to have to put up with you ignoring each other all next year, too?" She glared rather pointedly at James.

He glared right back. It was the first time anyone had said anything that direct about it. "You know, Lily, I don't think that's any of your business."

Sirius sensed the rising tension in the room, and, having been present at many of Lily and James' fights over the years, decided to excuse himself. "Er…you know, I think I'll just go and see if I can find the snack cart."

After Sirius left, Corinne decided to step in. "James, you really should forgive him."

"How can you just throw away almost six years of friendship?" Leighna added.

"You've been through everything with him," said Alice.

"Pranks," said Lily.

"Chasing Lily," added Peter.

"Sneaking out at night."

"More chasing Lily."

"Breaking the detention record," continued Lily, a slightly annoyed look on her face now.

"And even more chasing-"

"Okay, Wormy, we get the idea now," interrupted James, noticing the annoyed look on Lily's face.

"Anyway," Leighna continued. "The point is, we all think you're just being stupid by throwing away all those good times just because of whatever Sirius did."

"Especially since I've even forgiven him. I definitely think you should." Everyone jumped at the sound of Remus's voice. Lily shot Karen a worried look. Karen looked as if she had been crying, but was now smiling slightly. When she saw Lily looking at her, she smiled wider and firmly grasped Remus's hand. Lily understood and smiled back.

James opened his mouth as if he was going to speak, but suddenly the door of the compartment burst open. Sirius came in, munching on a chocolate frog. Lily shot a glance at James and noticed the others were doing the same.

James looked at Lily, who gave him a reassuring smile, and made up his mind. "So, Padfoot, care for a game of Exploding Snap?"

Sirius paused mid-munch and looked at James in disbelief. Finally Corinne elbowed him and he was jerked out of his daze. "Er…sure, Prongs."

………

June 30, 1977.

Dear Diary,

James has finally forgiven Sirius! I'm so glad that we no longer have to put up with so many uneasy silences!

Also, Remus has finally told Karen about his 'furry little problem' as James puts it. She told me all about it afterwards. Apparently, she took it really well. She was a little bit mad that he hadn't told her earlier, but I think she understands why he didn't. Remus is really glad that he finally told her. I haven't talked to him much about it, but you can just tell.

My plan for this summer is to completely forget about my feelings for James. I have a boyfriend after all! Speaking of Joe, I haven't seen him at all today. I wonder what he's been doing.

Oh, we just pulled into King's Cross Station. I better go. Wait a second…who are my parents talking to? Is that James's parents? Oh no!

Better go,
Love always,

Lily Marie Evans

… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …

Sorry it took me so long to update! I was at camp all last week, and then it was my cousin's wedding, and then my grandma got her knee replaced…well, you get the point! Just be glad I finally got this chapter done! I had writer's block for most of it, so sorry if it's not really that good. I kind of have the next few chapters planned out, so hopefully it'll get better.

blvd, youkaigirl64, PixieDust319, WhiteCamellia, Mariann, TrubySCS3, Trashcan, dee023, and PotterSnitch7…thanks for reviewing!

The next chapter will hopefully be up soon! Please review!