Disclaimer: Harry Potter is owned by JK Rowling and I am not profiting from this in any financial way possible. I, however, am just getting some relaxation and this story is meant for pure pleasure so please don't sue me. Besides, I am a college student and it is really hard financially as it is anyways. Well, this is my lecture, happy reading, or bash me to the ground if you want, don't really care. Actually I kinda do, if you have like it and want me to continue, then say so, I really am wanting to do this until 7th year but we will see.

Close Call and Betrayal

"Stupefy!"

A red bolt struck Francis as he was feeling Lily and stunned him before he could go ay further. Lily saw the shock oh his face before he collapsed in front of her. After she realized what had happened, she too was worried that she might be a target.

When Lily realized that it was Remus, she breathed in relief as he released Lily from her magical binds. When he was about to check on James and Francis, he was unsuspectingly hugged by a certain red head.

"OhmygoshRemusifyouhadn'tcameasyoudid," Lily quickly said while hugging Remus tighter.

"Whoa, Lily calm down and speak one word at a time," Remus said putting some distance between them to breathe a little.

"I just want to say thank you Remus, you saved me from a fate worst than death tonight," Lily said guessing that Remus knew what happened to her.

"Don't mention it, besides, you help one of my best mates there," Remus said pointing at the unconscious James, "I should be the one thanking you, if you hadn't taken him away from his blasted secret stash of tonics, a teacher might have found him and given him…" Remus started to say.

"What, you thought James was drinking tonight and got wasted?" Lily put it together and asked.

"Why yeah, because he is looking pale and is obviously passed out. Don't dub me as a fool Lily, James started drinking and he and Sirius has been doing that all summer. Anyways, if you hadn't picked him up, a teacher would've had his ass," Remus said thanking Lily.

"Wait Remus, you got it all wrong," Lily said as Remus had a face of disbelief, "But lets not discuss it here, first we have to get Potter to the hospital wing so his wounds can be treated,"

"What wounds?" Remus asked puzzled looking at Lily with disbelief.

"Battle wounds, he dueled. Not with just one, but basically the entire Slytherin gang. Snape really beat him up with his final curse which was a powerful poison that really drained James and made him pass out in under a minute,"

"HE DID WHAT?" Remus asked louder than intended.

"Calm down, I will tell you what happened after we get this arrogant jerk to the hospital wing, he might have some wounds that may need immediate attention and I am afraid I only stop the poison, not healed the damage it did. And with the encounter with Emerson," Lily shuddered as she recalled the cursed name.

"Alright, let's go," Remus said projecting James up and leading Lily and James to the hospital wing.

When the two arrived to the infirmary, a young nurse was soundly sleeping on a chair next to a bed with a sleeping patient. She woke up when she heard the two walking closer to her and she bolted up a bit startled.

Miss Poppy Pomfrey was a young healer who started working at Hogwarts a year before the Marauders' first year. She was fresh out of St. Mungo's Healer training before she came and ever since then, she was Hogwarts' official nurse. She was a strict woman who was adept with healing charms, potions, and herbal remedies. She treated her patients with utmost care and followed the healing process by the book. She was a tall woman, in her early twenties who had a black robe with a white apron on. She had a white beret on, covering her short brown hair. Her eyes were brown as well, with a kind smile to encourage the healing.

"Good evening Miss. Evans, and how are you Mr. Lupin, wait, you are not feeling ill are you?" the young healer asked with a concern face.

"I am fine miss, I came here because of this loser," Remus said while pointing at the youth on the stretcher.

"Oh my, what in heavens name is wrong, he looks pale and he got some awful bruises too," Nurse Pomfrey said as she examined James. She took him to another room and magically levitated him to a bed and gave him a dark potion. Lily told her that he was poisoned and Nurse Pomfrey immediately asked what happened. She said the poison was a dark magic and it was a forbidden spell that was not allowed in the school. It was called the viper strike and it was well known to be a rodent and pest killer before it was banned in England by the 1930s. She brewed an antidote for him and while she did, she asked who and what stopped the poison.

"I did, I used the venom subjugator charm, before that I used several other antidote spells I could think of. I was afraid by the time I used it, it would have been too late, but his pulse was there. It was a little weak, but it was still beating," Lily replied.

"Well, Miss. Evans, you could do well to look into healing when you leave Hogwarts, you can become a fine healer," Lily blushed when she heard the praise. "Well, I am glad you did something. That poison is no ordinary poison and it could have killed Mr. Potter if it was not stopped. Mr. Potter should be more wary, still, who could have known that spell. It is outlawed. I should speak with Professor Dumbledore about this. How did you find Mr. Potter, Miss. Evans?" Miss. Pomfrey asked.

"Well you see," Lily started to say but was completely off guard. She forgot to make up a story and now that she tried to think of one, she could not.

Remus sensing it said, "Well you see, I found him. He was lying near the fifth floor boy's bathroom while I was doing my prefect duties and Lily was nearby so I got her because my knowledge in antidotes were dim,"

"Oh I see, well you two should be very proud of yourselves, you both saved a classmate and I know what Mr. Potter means to you Mr. Lupin. I have to say good job and you are fulfilling your roles as prefects perfectly,"

"Thank you," both said at the same time.

"Now I want both of you to go, I know Mr. Lupin, you want to stay but I don't let the others disturb you do I when they beg me to let them in? James needs his rest and it would be best if you went to bed as well. Prefect runs are well over by now and you should rest. Both of you are growing up and you need it so now go and no buts," Miss. Pomfrey said sternly pointing at the door.

Remus looked defeated but complied with her wishes and he and Lily left the infirmary and walked up toward the Gryffindor Tower.

Lily had some lingering questions, how did Remus come at the right moment that he did? Was it a coincidence or is the Marauder holding back some information? It was probably the latter. And Lily knew like most Gryffindors that Remus got sick often. Now that she thought about it, it was about once a month that he spent some time in the infirmary. But she asked about his sickness before and Remus merely pushed the question aside and she was pretty sure she won't get an answer from him now. But being the curious girl she was, Lily started up a conversation.

"So Remus, how did you know I was in trouble? You came at the right moment and it is kind of suspicious. I hope you don't mind my asking, because I really appreciate what you have done," Lily said while walking a little faster than Remus so she could face him and stop him from walking so he can give her a clear answer.

Remus stopped understanding what Lily was doing and looked at his feet for a moment before he looked at her and replied, "Lily, I really can't answer that. I don't know, I heard some noise when I was on my patrol on the fourth floor. I was heard some struggling in the stairs which I walked up when I saw a girl being assaulted by someone when I reached the source of the commotion. So, I sent the first spell that came to my mind and got him off you. I have to say, I am really glad I was there in the vicinity," Remus finished his made up explanation without a flaw and for average listeners, they would totally believe him. However, Lily had been around the Marauders for way too long and knew that about three quarters of the stuff coming out of a Marauder's mouth were lies and deeds done were without an ulterior motive. She suspected that Remus knew that she was in trouble and was there as soon as he could somehow. Marauders somehow knew the castle too well and they are rarely caught for doing pranks that amateurs would screw up or get caught. Maybe that is why they are so popular along with their extremely good looks. However, because she was exhausted from her endeavors today, she let the subject go even though she knew Remus was lying to her. Remus was the only Marauder she actually was quite friendly with and she knew his habits. When he lies to people he care about, he looks down for a moment before lying. This was a pattern she picked up because she and Remus were really good friends unlike her relationships with James and Sirius. She also realized that Remus won't tell her what is causing his ailment and so she let that go too.

"Well, I thank the heavens that you were there in time. Thank you again Remus, and if I can trust you to keep this incident to ourselves, please?" Lily tiredly asked Remus in which he nodded to.

When they reached the Gryffindor Tower and went inside, they exchanged good nights at the common room before they went to their separate dormitories.

Remus went up five flights of spiral staircase before he arrived to his dormitory. There were six boys in the fifth year; four of them were the Marauders. The others were Frank Louis Longbottom and Allan Everett Earl. The room was circular and six beds symmetrically placed around the room with the center of the room which consisted of junks of the occupants. For each bed, there were a dresser, a desk and a drawer. The room was cozy even for six people and there were never any room space disputes. Remus carefully went to the Marauder's half by passing both Frank's and Allan's bed and the large pile of belongs in the middle. He made it to his bed and lay down before he decided to tell Sirius what had happened. Remus went up to Sirius and poked him with his wand. Sirius mumbled about before he snored again as he did before Remus poked him. Remus decided to use the awakening charm. The charm is like a wizard's version of an alarm clock in which only the one who is charmed is affected. It can be charmed so the volume and time can be set; however, it can be a bit unreliable sometimes because when exhausted, people forget to charm themselves before they fall asleep. But for Remus's case, it was perfect as he set the volume to full blast. A moment later, a sleepy Sirius was up, with red eyes crawling into his eyeballs completely oblivious to his surroundings.

"What in the dragon's curse are you doing up and above all, waking me up you prick," Sirius mumbled as soon as he started to gain consciousness. He stretched a bit and dropped backwards to his bed, grabbing his blanket, and trying to end the short conversation.

"Not so fast you bear, listen. James dueled and he was poisoned badly by Snape," Remus said but by the silence of his companion, he guessed that he was fast asleep again. He cast the awakening charm again and this time an angry Sirius was up, "Let me tell you what happened during my prefect run…"

"I could give a rat's ass to what happen, tell me in the morning if it's so important," Sirius said while dropping back to his bed again.

"Are you saying James's life is not important enough for you to wake up?

"WHAT! What happened to Prongs? Tell me now you git. You should have told me sooner. What were you thinking trying to keep this away from me. If anything happens to Prongs, blood will be spilled, chaos unleashed, and Slytherins will be chopped, boiled, mashed, and fed to Wormtail's friends,"

"Prongs is ok for the moment, but listen, he got into a duel with Snape and his gang,"

"WHAT! What a moron, going off by himself and getting the crap beaten out of him,"

"Sirius calmed down, let's go down to the common room. Wake up Peter while I put away the map,"

Five minutes later, the three sworn friends gathered around their usual spot in the common room and Remus told them everything but the part that that Lily asked him to be silent about and instead of rescuing her, he merely bumped into her as she was taking him up to the hospital wing on the fifth floor and helped her to get to the infirmary.

"Damn Prongs, why did you decide to go by yourself?" Sirius said while pounding the table, "Knowing him, he clearly planned this out and decided not tell us. Did he think we would interfere or get in his way, or maybe in wanted to bask himself in all the glory. Prongs went too far. I will not forgive him for trying to fight those dirty gits by himself,"

Peter yawned after Sirius gave his speech and then said, "Umm, I want to go see him. I want to make sure he's alright,"

"Alright, first of all, I wish he got banged up real good. Maybe that will teach him a lesson. For his sake, he better be in bed for a while or I might just slip and end up choking him to death. Screw hexing, he asked some physical pain, the old fashion muggle way,"

"Padfoot, just relax, just be glad Lily was there to save his ass," Remus said trying to calm his friend's fury.

"Calm down, when he abandoned us to have all the fun? NEVER," Sirius replied angrily.

"I still can't believe Lily would help him," Peter stated, seemingly oblivious to Sirius's fit of rage.

"Wormtail, he was mortally in danger, why wouldn't she. Lily isn't the sort of person to let people die just because she does not like them," Remus started to say.

"Hate," Peter corrected.

"Dislike considerably," Remus retaliated.

"Whatever makes you sleep at night," Peter said, while holding up his hands in the air in sign of defeat.

"Wormtail shut it. Anyways, let's just be thankful that Prongs is ok,"

"For the moment, wait till I am through with that bastard," Sirius gritted his teeth.

"Just forget it and sleep you prat. Maybe waking you up wasn't such a good idea," Remus muttered while getting up to go back to the dormitories.

"Hey what is that supposed to mean?" Sirius asked suspiciously while trying to get an answer out of his friend. Remus ran for it while Sirius chased. Peter yawned again and shook his head in amusement. He too got up and climbed up to the stairs to get more sleep before breakfast.