Chapter 4 – Whose Friend?
Lily was on her way to the library when she heard someone calling her name from the top of the stairs right behind her.
"Lily, can we talk?" She saw Remus running toward her. She waited for him to join her thinking that his last trip home must have been exhausting.
She was already used to his continuous absences. His mother had been very sick ever since they were in their first year, and he had to go see her every once in a while, but it seemed like every time he went home he got sick too. He had returned this morning and was looking very pale and tired.
When he finally reached her at the bottom of the stairs, she spat at him.
"Don't you even talk to me, Remus Lupin." He froze on the spot with a look of confusion in his face.
"What did I do?"
"Is not what you did, it's what you didn't do. When are you going to start acting like a Prefect in front of Black and Potter?" She glared at him. "It's bad enough that they think they rule the school without you forgetting your Prefect responsibilities and allowing them to do whatever they want."
"Aren't you overreacting?" He asked cautiously.
"Oh yes! Since none of you had to go to the Hospital Wing, I must be overreacting."
"Anyway, thanks about that," he said obviously amused, but trying hard not to smile.
"Don't thank me! I should have let Snape hex all four of you. And I'll do it the next time, I swear. Maybe that way you will learn to stop Black and Potter when they step out of line. You should be the one rubbing off on them Remus, not the other way around."
"Well, I did stop them," he said with a shy smile. His eyes were begging her to stop arguing with him.
She was trying to come up with a very harsh remark. Then, without any warning, she started laughing so hard that a couple of tears ran down her cheeks. Remus' confusion was now at its highest. He didn't seem to understand Lily's sudden outburst of laughter, but after the initial shock he looked a lot more comfortable.
"So, what is so funny?" he finally asked.
"Did you see Snape's face?" she asked him, trying to catch her breath.
Remus started laughing too.
"He couldn't believe it when his own hex hit him in the face. You were just great."
"Thank you. But still, you deserved what he tried to do, especially that Potter." She felt her face heat up when she thought about James.
"He's not that bad, you know?" Remus said looking away from her flushed face. "You should give him a chance."
"A chance?" She tried to make her voice sound casual. "What are you talking about Remus? The guy is insufferable, so full of himself… Why would I want to be friends with someone like that?"
"Because he is a good friend, and he really likes you." That last comment startled her. She looked at Remus with her eyes wide open. "I know you don't trust him, but you should. Just give him a chance and let him be your friend. If you definitely can't stand him, at least you tried."
"I'm just not sure if I want to try at all," she muttered, suddenly very interested in her shoes.
"And here I was, thinking that Lily Evans was the bravest girl I knew," he said with a fake note of disappointment in his voice, but when she looked up, she could see a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.
"I have to go Remus," she said plainly.
"Are we up for studying tomorrow?" He asked as she started to walk away.
"Yes. The Library, after lunch," she said without looking back.
"Can we meet under the beech tree?" She stopped and turned around to look at him. "It's just that it would be great to spend the afternoon outside, don't you think?"
She considered the possibility and said.
"It's fine, whatever you prefer." Lily started to walk away again.