Hello everybody!

I must say this is not something I decided to do all by myself: I was asked by a guy named StupidStory to make up a story in which Remus and Bellatrix are together. When I first read the proposition I thought it was quite impossible. But then, I did what I always do when something annoys me: I talked about it to my twin sister: the incredible and beautiful Tanya (you might come across her once or twice during this story)

So, this story was written by us both, and wholly imagined in one morning in Rome (on holiday, just before coming back home) and, though it is a bit far fetched sometimes, do not blame me, for the only responsible for it is Stupid Story who triggered the whole mess!

Let's make things straight: I do NOT own Bellatrix, Remus, the Marauders, Lily, Yoda, Artemis, Gimli or any all too well known characters you may come across (and you all know very well that I make no money by mentioning them). I can only say that the character of Tanya belongs entierely to my beloved sister.

Remember, I love reviews, and flames also, so do not hesitate!

Lives apart

The Gryffindor common-room was quite empty. Most of the students were enjoying their very last day of the year in Hogwarts School of witchcraft and wizardry. The summer sun was shinning outside and some sixth and seventh years were swimming in the lake, alongside with the giant squid. Cheers and laughs could be heard from the grounds and on the quidditch pitch, on which the common room windows were looking some players were flying wildly.

Fifteen year old Remus Lupin was sitting on a wooden tool by the window, facing the stairs leading up to the girl's dormitories. He had held this position for thirty seconds. Then he took a deep breath and got up to the centre of the room. He began to pace the circular carpet up and down. What on earth was she still doing upstairs? He had checked the Marauders Map before the others went. She had to come down, for Heaven's sake!

He stopped walking and picked up a book from a nearby table. Whether it was a school book or a muggle novel, he couldn't tell. He tried to read but the words ran meaningless across the pages. After reading for the forth time the same sentence where a ghost earth man and a ghost Martian were not understanding each other, he gave up and shut the book. He felt ill. Something in the air was wrong. He went to a window and flung it open.Fresh summer air hit his face. He took deep breaths. He was feeling as badly as on the eve of full moon. Curse were-worlves! In rage, he kicked the bottom of the wall, which resulted in a sharp pain in his left big toe.

"God damn it!" he burst out.

"God damn what?" called a voice from the top of the stairs.

Recognizing the voice he had been waiting for, he closed the window hastily and turned around, to face a pretty young witch wtih dark hair and almond shaped sparkling green eyes.

"Err... nothing" he answered, trying his best to sound pleasant. "I mean... never mind..." Is there anything more stupid you could have said?

"Are you going down to the grounds?" the girl asked, breaking the awkward silence. "it looks like a brilliant day."

"Oh yes it does" he said hurriedly. He cleared his throat. "Erm... by the way, Lily, are you going anywhere?"

"Well, I don't know yet. I'm not sure I want to go down, I really don't feel like enjoying myself with the others. The news are just so awful... But you don't read muggle press, I forgot..." she blushed slightly.

The awkward silence fell again upon the common room.

Well, it's now or never!

"Lily, will you..."

He was interrupted by the sight of one of the quidditch players who had just left the pitch and was now flying like mad toward the windows of the griffindor tower. Only seconds away from colliding with the wall, Remus recognized Sirius, and re opened the window, just in time for the jet black haired boy not to crash through it.

"Can't you walk in through some door like anyone else?" shouted Remus, who was growing more and more crimson, with very dark unusual patches on the cheeks.

In a very elegant, supple motion, Sirius had got off his broomstick, and was now nurrying away to the boy's dormitory.

"Can't!" he shouted back "Too slow a way!"

There were some rattling sounds at distance, then Sirius, soewhat less messy than ten seconds previously, went back in a furious pace to the common room.

"I'm only passing by, don't mind me, I'm almost late" he said "besides, pal" he added Remus's shoulder "I'm not anyone. See you!"

He left the room.

"Honestly!" groaned Lily "how he never got sacked, I'll never understand!"

Remus cleared his throat again. He fancied a good old song, something from the roaring twenties, to dance, some good jazz piece, so as to calm down just a bit. Talk to her, you stupid big git!

"Well... I guess he alwys managed to stop at the edge..."

She took a sceptical breath. Well, Lily, be nice, they are his friends... don't ask me why, though...

"Well" she began, not wanting the silence to setlle again "What are you doing for the holidays? Has your mother recovered?"

"Err..." He hesitated, then remembered his last lie to her about his poor dear Mum being ill and him having to visiting her mponthly to check on her. "Yes, quite well... she is out of st Mango's by now."

"Well that's great new! Have you planned anything? Going somewhere?"

"I... kind of planned to go on a bike trip in Ireland during the summer, you know, in the country side, the southern coast, WestCork, Kerry, Galway... There are really nice spots and one can meet amazing creatures..."

"Fantastic! how long will you stay there?"

"something like... I'd say three weeks on a bicycle..."

"Wow! That is just great! And the irish people are so nice, you're going to have a really good time!"

"Lily" he said, interrupting her, and then stopped suddenly. He cleared his throat again nervously. "Err..."

"Yes, Remus?"

"Well" he said, wishing he were able to aska girl out as easely as James. It seemed so casual to him... "Erm... How would you like to com along?" he felt as if all his blood had rushed to his usually peaky-looking face. This is completely loosy and she is going to think that I'm just not right in my mind.

Lily also began to blush profusiously.

He thought very quickly. I'm going to make a fool of myself if I don't ask her out now. This is the time!

"Well, Remus, it's very kind of you to have thought of me but I... I can't. Not this summer." then seeing utter dismay spring on his face "-but it doesn't mean that I don't like you... Oh no, please, don't go... You're like a brother to me, the brother I never had..."

He didn't quite understand what she said after that. He just knew it was pointless to say anything anymore.He barely listened to her. Something about her sister or something. His mind had somehow turned numb. He heard himself mutter that it didn't matter, and that she shouldn't mind. Then he noticed her eyes growing wet. Casually, he held her in his arms. How long had he been waiting for this? Holding her in his arms, one hand in that sweet dark red mane of hers, the other around her slender shoulders. And yet so far from it...

Two hours later, alone again, all he could think of was how it had been to hold her, and how horrible her nice, friendly words had been afterwards.

"We'll be friends forever, Remus, I swear to you..."

So! How did you liked that? I know I have been a bit long to write, but then, I do have reasons: I was having my exams, and then long holidays, very far away from civilisation, but at least, I had time to do this. Besides, nothing is good like a love failure for a young mind. (I experienced it, and it made me write, so there must be somthing positive about it, dont you think?)

I''l be back with chapter 2 very soon now, I promise. And then, you'l meet young Bellatrix. But be careful: I decided when I began to write this stuff that women were heartbreakers! You'l see more of Sirius too, but not much more after this next chapter, sorry, but I do have a story to write!

Please, dont forget, I only live through reviews, even if they are flames, it better than silence, anyway! Love you all!