Disclaimer: I don't own HP and anything you recognize is not mine.
Reviewers:
Thanks Char/Char's cousin…so is wow a good thing? And don't worry, I will send more on Infatu…I'm just struggling for time right now…this little fic is meant to blow off steam. Aww, y'all think I'm sweet? I feel really loved! Love to see your emails every now and then, been missin em. I'll try to write more, I swear
LeilaRose! How can you love sweet Remmie injured? Well, since you seem to like the idea, I think you'll be pleased with this chapter…
PWeatherby- thank you! And Snape always looks evil, am I right? No, I actually love the idea of him pretending to be a hardass when he's really a softie!
. ---um, interesting name there…odd how? I'm curious now and I hope you follow up!
Willow Myst- do I agree! They're simply adorable!
Rynne Lupin- yes yes, I am going to finish Infatuation, not to worry! I love that story, its just, any and all installments that I've put up are left over from last summer! With the majors I take so long and I need the relaxed time of the summer to really concentrate and plot or I send myself in circles. Sorry about the exclamation points, I was trying to be interesting…notice they're not HERE anymore, eh? Anything for the readers…
Frodo- don't be too hard on the poor fellow! He's too busy being dark and brooding to work on his hair, that's all!
Mai Black- thank you! I appreciate your review greatly…is my writing style truly understandable? Because sometimes I catch myself writing the way I think and I think in a long, continuous line of disjointed subjects, so…yeah
Bronfelen- hope you're still intrigued when you're done! And promise, I WILL get Infatu up and running soon.
And to savannah- thanks for the emails, I updated sooner just because you were so persistent
And now, the epic question! Er…make that story…
BOXERS OR BRIEFS?
refresher:
Nodding, Snape reached into the folds of his robes and pulled out a small box, which he quickly enlarged to original size. Rummaging through the various containers, he pulled out two bottles containing a translucent potion each, both without labels. Biting his lip, he gazed from one to the other, a small bit of uncertainty hovering in his chest. Finally, the boy shoved both potions into Lily's hands, eyes filled with dark malice.
Chapter Two: Please, Kind Eyes
Lily glanced up, appreciation on her lips, when she noticed the look in her friend's eyes. Narrowing her own emeralds, she scowled at him, before examining the two potions herself. "Mr. Black, Mr. Potter, could you do me a favor?" she asked innocently, still observing Snape.
"Anything," Sirius responded quickly, James nodding in turn.
"Will you please go explain to Professor Tuppleton why the six of us are not present in her class? I'd be ever so grateful." At their show of hesitance, she added, "You two are, after all, the most persuasive students in the school." The two boys nodded, heading off in the direction of the dungeons. Lily turned to face Peter, who was busily tending the task she'd given him. "Is Mr. Lupin still awake Mr. Pettigrew?"
"Yes Lily, he's hanging in there."
"Good. You're doing wonderfully Mr. Pettigrew. Keep up the good work." Turning to Snape, she pulled him aside, far enough away that neither Peter nor the half awake Remus could overhear. "Severus Snape! I trusted you to help me out here! What is the meaning of that smirk and these two potions?!" Lily half-whispered, half-shrieked, looking absolutely pissed.
"Look, Lily, it's not a big deal. The thing is," he explained with a heavy sigh, "the labels on these bottles fell off and these two potions are exactly alike in all delectability tests. There is no way to tell a difference, except in taste. And by then, it's too late."
"Too late? Severus, what exactly do these potions do?"
"Well, one of then, Painus Revictus, takes away any and all pain for up to 48 hours. And the other…" he paused, amusement painted all over his face.
"The other…" Lily coaxed, looking only slightly murderous.
"The other is a potion called Bono Projectus."
Lily's eyes widened immediately as the light went on in her
mind. "If you're saying what I think
you're saying…oh, god Severus, you've got to be kidding me! What the hell do you use this potion for
anyway?"
"I was planning on slipping it in Professor Flitwick's goblet, actually. And maybe Professor Dillings' too." At Lily's disgusted look, Snape frowned. "What?"
"Ugh, never mind. Tell me, if these two potions are consumed together, what's their reactivity level?"
"So low it's almost imperceptible. But there's only one problem…"
"What might that be?"
"Bono Projectus contains a large amount of moonflower."
Lily looked confused. "So?"
"You know, moonflower, the opposite of wolfsbane?"
"And?" she huffed, aggravated.
"In some males…" he trailed off, watching her nose crinkle in distaste. "Oh, never mind! If you can't figure it out, then I'm not going to tell you."
"Will it be detrimental to his health?"
"No."
"Then we're administering both potions, end of story."
"Fine. But when Black and Potter try to kill me, you better be there to save my ass."
"Pft, what a Slytherin."
Turning, Lily walked over to Peter and Remus, kneeling down next to
them. "How's he holding up, Mr.
Pettigrew?"
"Fairly well," the other boy whispered, staring avidly down at his friend.
"All right, Mr. Lupin-"
"Loony," the other boy moaned faintly.
"Loony?" Lily asked, puzzled.
"That's what everyone calls me here."
"Where's here, Mr. Lupin?"
"That's my dad. I'm Loony. Everyone here at Gaila calls me that. Didn't you know?" he peered up at her, his eyes wild and fearful. "I'm Loony Loopy Lupin. Are you from around here? No, no, you must not be. Your eyes are too kind."
"Too kind?" Lily choked.
"Don't tell him I spoke to you, please, Kind Eyes. Don't tell anyone, I swear, it was only a loaf of bread, and I promise, I'll never speak to you again. Please, please don't tell him!"
"Tell who?" she persisted, tears in her eyes.
"Oh, Kind Eyes, I can't tell you who. Just don't tell him."
"I promise. Now, Mr. Lupin, I-"
"No!" Remus yelled, whimpering uncontrollably as his body began to tremble. "You said you wouldn't tell him," he moaned, over and over again, eyes blind with terror. "You said you wouldn't tell him!"
"Oh god," Lily gasped, her hand flying to her frozen lips,
her heart breaking in two. "Oh god no."
"Merlin," Snape whispered, his eyes filled with dusky memories.
"Move out of the way, you greasy git! What did you do to him?" Sirius howled, running up to them. "What did you do?!" He lowered himself to his friend's side, trying to comfort the writhing boy. James charged at Snape, his eyes filled with unchecked murder.
"James!" The boy froze, turning slowly to look at the girl who had never once called him by his given name. "James, no, it wasn't Severus, it wasn't anyone, he just, he's delirious, and when I called him Mr. Lupin he went hysterical. He told me-" her voice cracked perceptibly. "He told me to call him Loony, everyone does. He called me Kind Eyes, and begged me not to tell 'him'…I think he was talking about his dad."
Meanwhile, Sirius was trying to calm Remus, arms wrapped around the struggling teen, trying to restrain him, soothe him. Snape procured a calming potion, handing it to Lily, and with the help of James and Sirius, she shoved it down the frantic young man's throat, soon followed by the other two potions.
Remus stopped flailing, collapsing limply into Sirius' arms, the ebon haired boy looking slightly panicked by his position. "Is he dead?" Peter whined, looking queasy.
"No, Pettigrew. Just knocked out." Shock overtook the venom normally present in Snape's tone.
"Did you three know about this?" Lily demanded
"Know about what?" James asked, startled out of his anxiety.
"Know that Mr. Lu- that Remus was abused at home," the girl rasped, still hearing Remus' cries in her mind, echoing over and over. She shuddered, knowing she would never call him 'Mr. Lupin' ever again.
"N-no," Sirius stuttered, somewhat cradling his friend. "I had no idea."
She shifted her gaze to James who shook his head, still looking stunned. Finally, she turned to poor trembling Peter, who stared at the ground avidly, muttering softly, "Yes."
"WHAT?!" two enraged shouts filled the air. Peter squeaked and ducked his head even more, wanting to disappear.
"How long have you known, Wormtail?" Sirius exploded, looking ready to kill.
"I-"
"Siri, why you yelling s' loud?" a barely audible voice queried. Five pairs of eyes flew to the conscious Remus, the owner of the delicate childlike voice. "It hurts my head."
"Remmie, oh Remmie, are you alright?" Sirius bombarded him with his concerns, quickly jerking his arms from around the small frame. "I'm sorry I yelled."
"It's okay," he replied, staring up at all of the others. "Miss Evans, what're you doing here?"
"I just, um, was going to speak with you about something, but now doesn't seem like a good time."
"Sure it is," the other slurred, already drifting off to sleep again. "Now's…" he yawned. "Now's perfect."
"Later, Lupe. Later." With that, Lily turned and walked down the hall, Severus in tow, leaving the other three to deal with their slumbering friend.
~!~
Ta-da! I updated.
Okay, it's only 1180 words, but still, aren't you just a bit pleased? Cause I am!
I love reading reviews…too bad I don't feel the same way about A Farewell to Arms…I mean, really, Ernie, did you have to be so DULL?
-the author