Chapter sixteen: The Truth Unfolds

James ran down the corridors, ignoring the shouts from the portraits he passed. Sliding to a halt, he rushed into the library but immediately slowed down when he saw the strict librarian, Madame Pince, give him a look. Sneaking around the library, he finally found Remus near the back immersed in a book.

"Remus," James said coming from between the book shelves, making Remus jump. "Thank god I found you."

"James," Remus whispered, "what's up?"

"It's Sam. I overheard her talking to Bellatrix and Narcissa and I heard her say that she's just using you."

Remus sat there, eyes wide, in shock. "But, Sam loves me. Why would she use me?"

"To get to me and-"

Remus scoffed. "Stop being so full of yourself James, it's getting old."

"What?" James asked confused.

"Just because you're Head boy and Quidditch captain doesn't mean that everyone wants to get with you."

James was stunned. What was Remus talking about?

"No, you've got it all wrong Remus-"

"Oh, do I?" Remus asked getting angry. "Look James, I thought you loved Lily but I guess I was wrong. You're just an ass-"

"NO! Remus, listen to me! You've got to hear me out! Sam wants-" But he was cut off by Madame Pince.

"That's it! Running through the library was one thing, but shouting is another. Both of you out!" With that she ushered the two of them out of the library. When she had closed the library doors on them Remus rounded on James.

"Thanks a lot James!" he said angrily. "The library was the quietest place for studying and now I have no where!"

James laughed. "You were actually studying, eh? That's amazing!"

"Just because I've been skipping class every now and then doesn't mean I've quit studying all together!"

"Remus, please just listen to me! Sam is-"

"Hey Remus!" They spun around and saw Sam walking towards them. "What happened to spending the day studying?" She asked when she was standing next to them. Remus glared at James and said, "I've had a minor set back is all." Offering his arm, she grabbed hold and the two walked away down the hall and out of sight together.

James entered the Gryffindor common room a few minutes later dragging his feet.

"Did you find him?" Sirius asked running over to him. James nodded his head miserably. "Well? What happened?"

"He didn't believe me."

"What!"

"Yeah, he said that I was just being full of myself and that I wanted her to myself."

"What? That's crazy! You love Lily!"

"I know but, I think that's the problem. I hurt him to get Lily and I think he thinks I'd hurt him again for someone else."

They were silent for a second when Sirius said, "I bet if you two 'broke up', Sam's whole plot would unfold."

"What are you talking about? Lily and I would never-" James stopped. His eyes got wide with comprehension. "Oh, I see what you mean." James looked around to see Lily sitting at a table across the room amongst a large pile of books. Getting up, he and Sirius ran over to her. Sitting down at the table, Lily asked, "How was practice?"

"Not now," James interrupted. "We have something to tell you." Then he went into the story that he told Sirius. When he was finished Lily's face went from shocked to triumphant.

"I knew it," she said. "I know that little...I knew she was up to something!" Then she looked worried. "How did Remus take it?"

"He didn't believe me," James replied.

"And we believe that it's because James took you from Remus, so he thinks that James is doing the same thing again," Sirius informed her.

"That's ridiculous," Lily said. But then sounding worried, she asked, "You aren't, are you?"

"No, Lily. I love you," James grabbed her hand.

Ignoring Sirius' gagging noises, Lily said, "Well, that's good cause I love you too, James. But what are we going to do about Remus? I don't want to see him get hurt like that."

"None of us do Lily, but in this case he's going to have to," James told her. "And Sirius has a plan."

The next morning James, Sirius, Lily and Peter were sitting at the Gryffindor table, James and Lily waiting for Remus to enter with Sam so they could perform Sirius' plan. Lily was just digging into her scrambled eggs when James coughed very fake and loudly, which was the sign that Remus had just walked in. Slamming her fork down with a clatter she shouted, "Geeze James! I'm sick and tired of it!" She noticed how quiet everyone got but continued. "You're really getting on my nerves with this. Do you even care that I cry over you every night?"

"Lily," James said, just as loud, "I'm sorry. I just- I can't help it."

"Well maybe you'd be able to help it if I wasn't around. Maybe you'd start thinking with your brain and not your...your penis!" Standing up she said, "Good-bye James. We're through!" With that she walked away from the Gryffindor table, right past Remus and Sam, and out the doors while everyone watched her go. Almost immediately after she left people started talking, some with excited whispers, others with worried expressions but James knew that Lily was standing right outside the Great Hall waiting to hear the aftermath.

"What is Lily talking about?" Peter asked. "All James did was cough."

Sirius looked at him with pity. "You are so clueless, Wormtail."

Remus met up with Sam at the bottom of the marble staircase. They kissed and Remus hugged her and asked, "How are you feeling?"

"I'm good," Sam replied and they pulled apart, held hands and walked into the Great Hall. Before they could say goodbye and walk to their separate tables, there was a loud clatter and yelling from the Gryffindor table. They looked to see Lily yelling at James.

"Geeze James! I'm sick and tired of it! You're really getting on my nerves with this! Do you even care that I cry over you at night?"

Remus thought of what they could possibly be talking about as James replied, "Lily, I'm sorry. I just- I can't help it."

"Well maybe you'd be able to help it if I wasn't around. Maybe you'd start thinking with your brain and not your...your penis!" Remus felt himself grow red hearing that. Obviously it was something private that they were talking about, and the talking just seemed to get too loud. He saw Lily's flaming red hair as she stood up. "Good-bye James. We're through!" He watched, silently, as she walked right past them and out of the Great Hall. As talking resumed, Remus let out a breath.

"Wow that was weird," Remus said looking at Sam.

"Yeah, uh..." Sam looked up at Remus and said, "We have to talk. I don't think this is working out."

Remus was confused. "What's not working out?"

"Us, our relationship is-"

"I thought it was going fine."

"Yes, but I feel that there's something missing."

Remus was confused and crestfallen, "Something missing?"

"Yeah, but you understand right?" When Remus didn't reply she said, "Of course you do." She kissed him on the cheek and walked away. Remus watched her go and realized she was walking towards the Gryffindor table, so he decided to follow.

Standing a little ways away from her, he was able to hear what she was saying.

"Hey James, sorry to hear about you and Lily. She just couldn't handle you I guess."

"And you could?" James asked disgusted.

"Well, I could do more than she could."

"Aren't you with Remus?"

"Well, no. We just broke up." Smiling, Sam leaned forward and said, "So what do you say we get together later tonight?"

James caught Remus' eye and smiled. "I wouldn't go near you with a ten foot long pole."

Sam gasped, disgusted. She leaned even closer so their faces were mere inches apart and whispered menacingly, "You wait Potter. I'm not finished with you yet."

"Yeah, whatever," James replied, "Oh, hey Remus."

Sam jumped and turned around to find Remus standing right behind her with his arms crossed over his chest. Glaring, she pushed past him and stormed off.

"Welcome back to reality, Moony." James said with a smile.

"Thanks." After an awkward silence Remus said, "I know you're going to get tried of hearing this but, I'm sorry. I was being-"

"A complete ass. Yeah, but I forgive you. Girls can easily seduce the best of us."

Just then Lily came back in. She ran the length of the room and threw her arms around Remus, giving him a hug.

"We did it!" She said pulling away. "Oh, I'm so sorry Remus. I was happy for you, I was, but there was just something about her."

Remus nodded. "I just wish I had seen it," he said gloomily. "Thanks you guys."

"Hey, you were blinded by sex," Sirius said obnoxiously. "Anyway, that was way worth losing a few points from Gryffindor."

Lily's face lost its smile and color. "What? We- we lost points?"

"Well, Lily you did have colorful language there," Sirius scoffed. "You should've seen McGonagall's face!"

Lily glared at him for the improper use of a professor's name, "Yes, but I didn't think we'd lose points for that."

"Lily, just be glad we don't have detention for causing a disturbance in the Great Hall or something," James pointed out.

Lily sank into her seat that she had abandoned earlier, hands over her mouth.

"Oh my- that's right. I could've gotten detention for that! My first detention! How could I have been so stupid!"

At that point, realization shone on Peter's face, "Wait, you mean to tell me that that was all an act?"

"Took you long enough, Wormtail," Sirius said rather rudely. As Peter's face turned red, Remus sat down in an empty seat next to Lily and smiled. How could he have not trusted these guys, his best friends? He knew from now on he would believe them, no matter what they told him.