Thanks to all of you who reviewed. Keep it coming, it makes me write faster! Sorry this one's really short, but I promise that when tennis and school calm down a little bit I'll update a lot faster! Remember, I love to hear from you! --MoaninMyrtle

Chapter 8: Hidden Truths

"This is your last night as Amos. I hope you remembered that James. Furthermore, I hope you didn't do anything stupid to screw it up!" Remus whispered furiously upon learning James had taken Lily to the Astronomy Tower. The Astronomy Tower, for God's sake!

"I—" James began.

"Just tell me one thing," Remus interrupted, "Will she be expecting to receive kisses from Amos tomorrow?"

James' face bleached.

Sirius, who was leaning back on the couch suddenly propelled himself forward for James neck.

"YOU BLOODY GIT!" he screamed with his hands wrapped around James throat.

"Gaaah…!" James choked meekly.

"Let him go. Let him speak," Remus muttered. Sirius threw James' head against the couch one last time, muttered something under his breath and walked away.

"What's your problem!" James softly asked, testing if Sirius squeezed his voice box into nothingness.

Sirius looked at Remus, with the same glaring eyes. Remus shrugged in response. It was as if they were communicating silently and James didn't like it one bit.

"What? What! Wha—"

"Shut up, Potter! You sound like a squawking turkey," Sirius growled.

What's up his ass! James stared at Remus. Instead of shrugging, Remus sighed and looked at Sirius, as if asking his permission to speak. Sirius, with his black mood, grunted, got up, walked into the Boys' Dormitory and slammed the door behind him.

"What the hell!" James shouted at the ceiling.

"Calm down, James. There's something that I should tell you. I wonder why he never told you anything about this, and it'll be quite a treat for you. But, I think you might want to sit down," Remus scratched his head, trying to weave himself out of telling James, but not succeeding.

"I am sitting."

"Then you might want to lie down," Remus offered.

"Just tell me," James stared at Remus. Never had it taken him so long to get to the damn point.

"Um, well you know how Sirius was kicked out of his house for accusing his dad of raping his sister?"

James nodded.

"Do you know how his family tree goes?"

James shook his head.

"Okay, well…his sister isn't his real sister. I mean, it's his real sister but she's from a different dad," Remus blabbed.

"What?"

"His step-sister was raped by his father. But he couldn't prove it," Remus clarified.

"Why didn't his step-sister just confess?"

"Because she was threatened by Sirius' father that he would murder her mother if she said anything," Remus sighed. This was so hard to get out.

"What does this have to do with him being an ass," James motioned towards the door that was slammed not too long ago.

"He's not an ass, James. That step-sister of his…that's Lily."

Everything in James' world seemed to collapse in an instant. He suddenly felt like he never knew Sirius or Lily. How could he not know this! Why hadn't Sirius ever told him about her?

"I don't understand," was all James could say. And he didn't understand, that much was true. There was this whole gap in Sirius' life that James never knew until now and Sirius had lived with James for over six years.

"They hate each other," James said marveling at Sirius and Lily's connection.

"She hates him for revealing it and he hates her for not defending him," Remus stated.

"Six years of not knowing," James whispered, "Ever since we got to Hogwarts…they've known and they never once mentioned the relation."

"I know," Remus said.

"Why didn't he tell me about her! It must have killed him every time I said her name! I've been dogging after her for the whole six years they hated each other!"

"He didn't want you to know."

"So why did he attack me just now!" James felt the bruises forming on his throat.

"You took her to the Astronomy Tower," Remus said as if it explained everything.

"And what!"

"Well, assuming what usually happens in the Astronomy Tower…" Remus slightly blushed.

"We didn't! And even if we did, why would he care if he hates her so much!" James jumped up.

"The last time he heard from Lily, she was raped. The last thing he needs to hear is she was raped by you."

"THAT'S BULLSHIT!" James exploded, leaping off the couch.

"James!" Remus tried to shush him.

"NO! THAT'S BULLSHIT! I WOULD NEVER FORCE LILY TO DO ANYTHING! NEVER! DO YOU UNDERSTAND! NEVER!" he roared completely outraged that his best friend would one: not tell him that Lily was his stepsister, two: not tell him that Lily was the one that was raped and three: accusing him of raping Lily!

"I understand," Remus sighed, receiving the verbal outburst without complaint. This is what he got for staying in a room with hot-tempered Gryffindors.

"I don't think you understand! I love her damn it! I LOVE HER! I would never force her to love me physically or emotionally! Never!" James collapsed on the couch with his head in his hands recovering from everything that had happened today.

"I got her to realize what feelings she has for me, Remus…and now this," James swept his hand down his face in frustration and then rustled his hair.

"She likes you then?"

"Yeah, she likes me. But I can't do this to Sirius," James turned away from Remus, got up and grabbed the spare blankets and a pillow from the closet.

"I'll sleep on the couch tonight. I can't be in the same room with him, he'll kill me in my sleep," James patted the pillow into the couch and wrapped himself in the blanket.

Remus attempted to get up and leave but James called him back.

"I'm not done," James told him.

"What else is there for you to know?" Remus looked at the clock. It was already past two and everyone was sleeping.

"Voldemort's back," James said.

"No…" Remus gasped. Hogwarts was in grave danger if he regained strength.

"He attacked Lily, but I got to him first. Do you think she's safe?"

"Why wouldn't she be?"

"She broke his wand."

"Oh shit." Remus covered his mouth with his hand. Was Lily really that stupid to break the Dark Lord's wand? How did she even break it?

"She did it to protect me. Well, Amos actually. I would have died tonight," James stopped after that and shuddered.

"James you have to tell Sirius. Now that you know, you have to tell him!" Remus insisted.

"I can't, right now he wants to kill me. You have to explain everything to him," James shoved Remus off the couch with his legs.

I can't believe this! I'm a fucking messenger boy! Remus rolled his eyes when James smiled up at him, cuddling in his blankets.

"Please and thank you!" James smiled as he closed his eyes.

"You little brat! You better be thankful that you're my mate, else I would have thrown you to Fluffy!" Remus wagged his finger at James.

"Fluffy's a puppy," James said, with his eyes still closed.

"A puppy with three heads, mind you!" Remus slightly laughed at James who suddenly opened his eyes with a You wouldn't, would you? look.

So, as if he was walking into Hell, Remus turned the knob to the Boys' Dormitory to have a little chitchat with Sirius.