Title: Transforming Thoughts
Author Name: DarkForest214
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: none really…
Summery: Another full moon, a difficult decision, a surprise answer. It's the Marauders at their best!
Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters or Hogwarts School. I did not write this to try and make money. I am not stealing from JKR and the publishing companies and whatnot… I own nothing!
Author's Note: Here's the next one... Enjoy!

Chapter Seven

"Please let me see him, Madame Pomfrey. He would want his homework, he hates being behind in class," a girl's voice drifted to Remus's ears as he awoke to the sun filled Hospital Wing.

"I don't want him to be bothered, he's still asleep and needs his rest," Madame Pomfrey insisted.

"Then I'll be especially careful to remain nice and quiet while I place his homework on is bedside table," the girl said eagerly. Remus smiled as his groggy mind shook off the hold of sleep and recognized the girl's voice. 'How thoughtful of her,' he thought.

"Miss Evans, I said no. Why don't you hurry along and go outside. It's such a lovely day."

"But—"

"You can let her in, Madame. I'm awake," Remus called out as he sat up and swung one leg over the edge of the bed.

"Oh no you don't, Remus Lupin," Pomfrey snapped as she hurried to his bedside, leaving the doorway unguarded and allowing Lily to slip through.

"I feel fine," he protested as he watched Lily hide behind a bed. Trying not to smile he continued with his plea for exercise. "Can I at least stretch my legs?" he asked, looking ever so innocent.

Madame Pomfrey gave in with a resigned sigh. "All right, but only for a short while and your feet cannot touch the floor."

"Thank you Madame," he said with his most genuine smile. She shrugged him off and shuffled back to her office. Remus tried to get out of bed again, but Lily stopped him and pushed him back down.

"Just lie back down," she ordered as she placed his books on his bedside table. "I don't want you overestimating your strength and end up crumpled on the floor."

"Can I at least sit up, Mommy Dearest?" he asked mockingly. She glared at him, but he used his most charming smile and her glare turned into a giggle.

Remus took pride in his ability to control is facial expressions. He had learned by watching James and Sirius when they tried to get out of trouble. But unlike Sirius and James, Remus learned from their mistakes.

"Go ahead, have a seat," said Remus as patted the bed. He tucked his legs under him and sat cross-legged as she moved from the bedside table and sat down facing him on the bed. "It's nice to see that the world continues to turn without me," he said sarcastically as he sized up the large stack of books.

"I wish a certain friend of yours understood that," said Lily.

"How many times has he asked you today?" Remus asked with a sigh, understanding immediately who she was talking about.

"Four, and that was all before breakfast!" said Lily, a disgusted look on her face. "I managed to escape him before he was able to do it a fifth time…"

"To be honest with you, guys like it when a girl plays hard to get," Remus said with a nonchalant shrug.

"Really? So if I threw myself at him he'd leave me alone?" she said eagerly.

"No, that wouldn't work with James," said Remus, suppressing a laugh. "He'd believe you…once he got over the initial shock…"

"Then what am I supposed to do?" she asked him earnestly. "he's been asking for years and no matter how many times I tell him no he won't leave me alone!"

"Maybe you should say yes," Remus said quietly. "I mean, really say yes."

"What?!" Lily exclaimed while staring wide-eyed at her best friend. "Did you fall and land on your head? Is that why you're in here?"

"Lils, hear me out," Remus said quickly. "He's never been so persistent about anything like this before," 'Except perhaps learning how to be an animagus,' Remus thought. "He's serious about you, Lils."

"Then why is he always joking around?" Lily asked quietly, unable to hide her interest in the topic.

"He doesn't know how else to act," Remus said simply.

"But he's—"

"He's just trying to get your attention," Remus interrupted. "I promise, if you give him a chance and he blows it I'll curse his arse around the world several times over."

"For me?" said Lily, smiling sweetly.

"Just for you," he replied. "Besides, what would life be like if you never took any chances?"

"Boring."

"Exactly," agreed Remus. "Trust me, with James there's never a dull moment."

"So it may seem," Lily said sarcastically. Remus laughed and grabbed the list of assignments from the top of the pile of books.

"Two essays, one star chart and a chart for Arithmancy, two new spells, three new charms and one potion…" he read off. "Can I borrow your notes from Binns' latest lecture?"

"I don't have them with me, but of course you can borrow them. I'll also help you with those new spells, the one is rather tricky," Lily said with a smile.

"Thank you…What would I do without you?"

"Struggle with your classes every time you got sick," Lily teased. Remus leaned forward and gave her a quick hug.

When he sat back he looked at Lily and laughed. "What?" Lily asked, wondering why he was staring at her like that. Remus shook his head and laughed again. "Come on, tell me you great twit or I'll take your books back to the common room," she said sternly.

"It's nothing really, I just—"

"Tell me."

"I'm just trying to imagine James' face when you finally say 'yes,'" he laughed.

"I never said I would," Lily snapped. "I only said I'd think about it," she glared at Remus when he didn't wipe that silly smirk off his face. "Do you need me to give you even more of an excuse to be here?"

"No," he said, managing to calm down. All but the merriment in his eyes left his expression.

"You're insane, you know that right?" Lily asked with an eyebrow raised.

"Certifiably," said Remus proudly. "Sirius has rubbed off on me a bit these last few years."

"So I've noticed," said Lily, rolling her eyes. "You end up in here at least once a month!"

The amusement quickly left his eyes as he tried to smile and shrug it off as nothing. But it looked like a light bulb had gone off over Lily's head. The room had certainly gotten brighter, but maybe it was just the sun as it ascended into the sky.

"Now that I've mentioned it…Remus, I've been reading," said Lily, watching him cautiously, knowing she was bringing up a possibly sensitive topic.

"When aren't you reading?" he asked sarcastically to cover up his anxiety.

"Seriously, Rem," she said, catching his blue eyes with her green. "I've never asked you why you're always in here. Why you're always sick once a month, but—"

"You've finally figured it out?" asked Remus. He knew this day would come eventually and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't have prepared for this moment.

"I'm sorry, it's not like I tried to find out…But it all adds up," Lily said quietly. "You always get sick around the full moon, you come back tired and all scratched up. And…well, I once overheard Sirius call you 'Moony.' Are you…er…I mean…" she hesitated, avoiding his eyes. "Please don't be mad or offended, but are you a werewolf?"

"If I said yes, would that change how you see me?" Remus asked quietly. The thought that worried him the most was that he'd lose his best friend and favorite study partner/

"Oh, Remus no! I'd see you as the same friend I've always seen you as!" Lily said earnestly as she leaned forward and placed a hand on his knee. He squirmed a little at her touch, but she didn't remove her hand. "You know you can tell me," she said softly.

Remus looked up and held her gaze. "Then, yes. I am a werewolf," he said steadily. He sat up straight and held out his arms. "Now that you know the truth…what do you think?"

Lily threw her arms around his neck and said "About what?" in his ear.

Remus let out a relieved laugh and closed his arms around her. "Thank you," he whispered.

"You secret is safe with me," she replied quietly.

"And now that you know I can give you the best reason to say 'yes' to James," He said as he pulled out of the hug, a mischievous look in his eyes.

"We're back to that again?" Lily said, rolling her eyes.

"Yes, but hear me out," said Remus.

"Fine," Lily said with a nod

Remus continued, "James has always been so supportive of me and can be rather sensitive when he needs to be."

"But he can be such a prat sometimes," said Lily.

"Tell me about it," Remus muttered. "Just give him a chance," he said again.

"If I do agree to give him a chance, and if I agree to say yes...?" she asked.

"Then I'll make you promise to do it when I'm around, because there is no way I'd miss the look on his face!" he said excitedly. Lily playfully punched him in the shoulder. "What?!"

"Boys," she said, rolling her eyes, "you're all the same…"

"Really?" Remus asked, eyebrow raised.

"Yes. You're all the same."

"Now really, you don't believe that about little ol' me, do you?" he asked, giving her his most innocent look.

"You're such a tease," said Lily.

Remus laughed and shook his head, an awkward silence fell over them. Their thirst for knowledge had brought them together and their friendship had grown and strengthened over the last few years. They fought like siblings but cooperated like the best of friends. The only thing that had kept him from her was James. He couldn't betray his best friend, not after everything he'd done for him. Luckily their silence was broken by the last person Lily wanted to see at the moment; James.

"Lily, my lovely flower! Checking in on our dear Remus here?" James asked, his face glowing. "How sweet!"

"It really is," said Sirius with a cheeky grin.

"She was just bringing me my homework assignments," Remus said in her defense. Secretly he hoped James wouldn't blow it before things even began.

"How can you think of homework at time like this?" James asked loudly. "You get to sit in here and relax, there's a Quidditch game this weekend, it's a lovely day outside and our next class doesn't star for another twenty minutes!"

"I just don't like being behind, that's all…" muttered Remus.

"Thanks for the advice Remus. I promise I'll think it over," Lily sad as she stood to go. Sirius gave Remus a questioning look while James blocked Lily's attempt to leave.

"Going so soon? But I just got here!" said James.

"James, don't," warned Remus.

But as usual, James ignored him and continued. "Why don't you stick around for a while?"

"Because I really should be going," said Lily, trying to keep her temper in check. Did Remus seriously think that she and James would work out?

"But…oh all right," said James, looking disappointed. "So I guess I can take that as your fifth 'no' of the day?"

Lily looked thoughtful for a moment "Yes," she said, casting a glance at Remus over her shoulder.

"If only that 'yes' was on answer to another question," said a rejected James as he backed off.

Lily started to walk away but hesitated. "You never know," she said, turning to James with a sly smile. "Someday that answer might change." And with that she turned and walked away, leaving James open-mouthed and wide-eyed amongst his friends.

"Pull yourself together man," said Sirius, closing James' mouth with a tap on the chin. "What kind of advice did you give her?" he asked Remus.

James turned and looked at his bedridden friend. "Yeah really, what did you tell her?"

Remus shrugged, "Nothing, you'll just have to wait and see…"

"C'mon Remus!" said James, practically begging. Sirius remained silent but gave Remus a knowing smile and sat down at the foot of his bed.

"How are you feeling?" Remus asked him, ignoring James.

"Pretty good," said Sirius. He still favored his left arm and was very cautious with his injury. "A little sore, but the swelling has gone down and the bleeding has stopped."

"That's good," said Remus quietly. "I'm really—"

"Sorry?" Sirius finished for him. "Yeah, I know. Don't worry about it. I'll be fine."

"So, what were you two talking about?" James asked again. He tried hard not to appear jealous, but he knew he was failing.

"Homework," said Remus with a shrug. He looked around to make sure no one would overhear—a natural reflex—and lowered his voice. "She knows," he said simply.

"What? How?" said Sirius, sitting up and staring wildly at Remus.

"She's smart, she figured it out," Remus said quickly. "I'm surprised she didn't figure it out sooner."

"But how?" said James with a look of disbelief on his face.

"I'm always sick during a full moon, I come back scratched or exhausted and," he hesitated, "she overheard you guys call me 'Moony' one time," he finished.

"I'm surprised it took her so long," said James.

"She doesn't know about us, does she?" Sirius asked.

"Not that I know of," said Remus. "The only secret I told her was my own to tell."

"Can she be trusted?" Sirius asked suspiciously.

"Of course she can," James snapped. Sirius looked to Remus who nodded in confirmation. James glared at Sirius, but he didn't care. He knew James would get over it eventually.

"Why don't you two run along and get to class. Doesn't Defense Against the Dark Arts start soon?" said Remus, trying to relieve the tension.

"Right, well we'll see you around," said Sirius.

"Have fun with your homework," said James.

"You know I will," Remus said with a smile. "Pomfrey might release me by dinner time, but we'll see."

Remus watched the two leave the room and tried to imagine Lily walking beside James with her hand in his. He shook his head and laughed, it was a silly idea trying to convince her…

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A/N: DD you're lucky...you have a fall break? We don't get off until Thanksgiving... I hope you'll enjoy. And for all you other readers out there, I'd be overjoyed if ya actually reviewed for once... I'll take any kind of reviews, even slams...(Okay, now I'm starting to sound desperate...I should just give up...)