Chapter Ten: Truths and Lies
For the next two days there was tension around Lily and Remus, a tension that was quite obvious. Lily was embarrassed because Remus saw up her skirt and Remus was nervous because every time he was around Lily now he got a boner. On the morning of James and Sirius' return Lily, Remus and Peter were in the Great Hall; Peter was shoveling down his food while Lily and Remus picked at theirs, every now and then taking embarressed glances at each other. Peter stopped eating and stared at them.
"What's with you two?" he asked. "You guys have been acting weird for two days now."
"Two days?" said a voice from behind them. They turned around to see James and Sirius standing there, James with a stern look on his face. "You haven't forgotten about me and got with Remus instead, have you Lily?" Lily's face turned red with embarrassment and Remus tried to make himself disappear. But then a big smile spread across his face and him and Sirius started laughing. "I'm only kidding you guys! Don't be so up tight!" Lily let out a breath she seemed to be holding ever since James made his presence known and Remus smiled slightly.
"Oh James," Lily said standing up and giving him a hug. "I missed you so much," and she gave him a kiss on the cheek. James looked her in the eyes and giving her the puppy look he said, "What, only a kiss on the cheek?" Smiling, Lily gave him a long passionate kiss on the lips.
"Gross! C'mon guys, I'm trying to eat here," Sirius said. He had taken Lily's seat and was eating the food that she had left forgotten.
"Hey," Lily said, "That's my food!"
"You weren't eating it," Sirius said.
Before Lily could reply James grabbed her by the waste and kissed her passionately again. As Lily was getting happier and happier by James' return back to Hogwarts, Remus was getting sadder and sadder by the minute. He was happy that his two best friends were back at school, but deep down inside there was a part of him that wished they had never came back, that he could be alone with Lily forever. But that, he knew, was all just a dream.
Just that second Dumbledore stood up and cleared his throat. The whole hall went silent, and stared at him. Dumbledore smiled and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, I have an announcement to make. This Halloween, I am happy to say, we will be hosting a Halloween ball for fourth years and up, however you may invite a younger student if you wish." The hall broke out into excited whispers. Dumbledore held up his hands and the hall quieted down again. "The required attire for this night would be a costume of your choice. Thankyou," Dumbledore sat down and the hall broke out into excited whispers again.
"Wonder what made them think of that idea?" Lily wondered aloud.
"It's because this is our last year," Sirius said in an isn't-it-obvious voice. "Their making sure out last Halloween here is exciting and fun, not to mention they'll miss us."
Remus snorted with laughter. "Them miss us? Are you nuts? The teachers will probably throw a giant party after we leave."
With the excitement of the up coming ball no one was really paying attention to the activity outside of Hogwarts. Though most conversations held amongst the students was who was going with who and what everyone was wearing James, Sirius, Remus and Peter stayed away from those specific topics and paid more attention to what the newspaper, The Daily Prophet, had to say. Lord Voldemort, or more commonly know as You-Know-Who, was the most feared dark wizard in the wizarding world. He had been at large for the past years and most of the children at Hogwarts grew up hearing and fearing him and his minions, more commonly known as Death Eaters. Sirius, James and Peter watched eagerly as Remus' eyes zoomed through the Daily Prophet. Remus sighed as he finished the last page and closed it.
"Well?" asked James, "Anything new?"
Remus shook his head, "It seems to me that all dark magic has stopped for this period of time."
James shook his head, "I know that he's not finished yet." They all watched James carefully as he stared angrily at his breakfast; they all knew why James was so fascinated with the whereabouts of Voldemort and his followers. James' family had almost diminished entirely, except for him, his father and a few relatives they didn't speak to, all thanks to the Death Eaters. But as none of them had suffered as many losses, none could begin to imagine how he felt. Not sure what any of them should say Sirius, Remus and Peter were greatful of the arrival of Lily.
"Hey," Lily said sitting next to James and giving him a swift kiss on the cheek. Coming out of his thoughts James said moodily, "Hey."
Lily looked to the other three in a questionable way but, seeing the newspaper in front of Remus, fully understood what James was being moody about. When they all got their schedules Lily said, "Today seems to be a busy day. No break at all. At least Potions is first period."
Sirius laughed and said, "You only like Potions because Slughorn loves you! And what are you talking about no breaks? Not all of us took up Ancient Runes like you." Sirius took a gulp of pumpkin juice but coughed on it at Remus' and Lily's glare. "Oh sorry Remus. Forgot you took the smart subjects." Knowing an argument was brewing, and not wanting to hear it, James said, "C'mon, let's get going." Grabbing his stuff he walked away from the Gryffindor table. As the others followed him out of the Great Hall a few paces back Lily whispered, "Look James is already in a bad mood so don't make it any worse."
"We know how to handle James, Lily. We've known him all out lives." Sirius said.
"Yes I know, that's why I wasn't talking to them. I was talking to you."
"Me?" Sirius practically shouted, very offended. "But I'm his best friend!"
"And you're a complete idiot." But before Sirius could say anything back Remus cut in saying, "Lily does have a point there."
"Thanks Remus," Sirius said angrily.
"I mean it to both of you though." Remus corrected getting a glare from Lily. "No, not that you guys are idiots. Just lay off jumping down one anothers throats for at least today." By this time they were outside Professor Slughorn's classroom with the rest of the class, including James. Lily walked over to him and slipped her hand into his and when Sirius noticed that James was quite distracted he said waspishly, "Nice to be on Lily's side Remus but if you haven't realized she's not interested in you and never will be." With that he walked over to James, Peter in close pursuit, leaving Remus all alone.
For the rest of the day Sirius had the cold shoulder towards Remus but, trying to keep James in a good mood, he didn't confide in anyone and stayed by himself until Ancient Runes. Remus had just sat down at his desk and was pulling his books out when he looked up at the open door and saw Lily and James hugging. They kissed for a brief moment in which Remus looked down at his book and started to flip to the page written on the board. Lily took her usual seat next to him and said, "What's up with you?"
Pretending to be interested in what he was reading Remus said, "Nothing, why?"
"Oh don't lie Remus. I know there's something wrong. I mean I know you don't include yourself in most of their jokes and conversations but not so much as today."
Remus was determined not to answer and to stick with the story that everything was fine but found it hard to do when Lily kept pestering him apparently just as determined to find out what was wrong. Finally, still not looking and her, Remus gave in asking, "Lily did you ever like me?"
Lily looked taken aback. "What do you mean Remus? Of course I like you! If I didn't like you we wouldn't be friends-"
"I mean did you ever like me more then friends?"
"Oh," apparently this wasn't what Lily had in mind. "Well, of course. If you don't remember in sixth year we went out-"
"Yeah for like two days. But I mean after that?" When Lily didn't answer, Remus looked up at her for the first time since he saw her kiss James. Watching her intently he saw a tear roll down her cheek and felt angry with himself. 'You made her cry idiot! Nice going!' his mind yelled at him.
"I'm sorry Lily, I'm an idiot. You don't have to answer. It was a stu-"
"No, it wasn't." Lily said wiping her face. "To tell you the truth there were times when I actually thought of breaking up with James and going back to you. But, I'm sorry to say, these thoughts have ceased to exist after I realized how true James was about his feelings for me. Oh, I'm really sorry Remus. I really am." Lily gave Remus an unexpected hug and when they pulled away he gave a small smile and said, "It's alright Lily. At least your intentions were always good."
For the rest of the lesson there was silence between the two as they did their work, but before they left Lily asked if he was alright and, surprised to find he really was, Remus replied, "Yes."