A/N: Yay! Another happy chapter! Sadly, it all goes down hill from here, but I have changed my mind, thanks to a wonderful vacation full of brain storming, and this story will eventually end with Remus/Lily AND be book compatible without Lily having an affair. I'm a genius! Anyway, enjoy this chappie! It's one of my favorites.
Disclaimer: Don't own it.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Chapter 11: Sexy Remy
The day before the ball, Prongs started to ask questions. Remus knew that James would eventually ask who his date was, and it was almost a relief when the raven-haired boy cornered him while he was playing chess with Sirius.
"So, tomorrow's Christmas Eve, huh boys?" James said, lounging on the famous couch by the fireplace. He looked down at his two friends as they watched Sirius' knight jostling Remus' rook.
"I guess so," Sirius answered casually. James turned around in his seat to look at Lily, who was arguing with Amy over spaghetti straps. "Who are you bringing, Prongs?"
"Some ravenclaw chick, I forgot her name." He didn't notice Remus snort in disgust. "So who's bringing Evans?" Sirius shrugged, but glanced at Remus from the corner of his eye. "I swear, if that Hufflepuff Quidditch captain got her to say yes I'm cracking skulls."
"Easy there, Prongs. I dunno who she's going with, but I assume she'd choose brains over brawn." Remus scowled at him, before attacking his king.
"Check mate, Sirius." James snickered. "And I don't think Lily's got a date, she wanted to go alone." The lythrocamp quirked his eyebrow at James' delight. "Don't bother asking, she has a boyfriend," He added out of spite.
"WHAT!" James yelled, attracting the attention of the entire common room as he stood up. "Who!"
"Sit back down, James. It's no one at Hogwarts." Reluctantly he settled back down, sending an obvious glare in Lily's direction. She didn't notice.
"Who is it?" Remus gulped and did some very quick thinking, as Sirius flexed his hand joints, snickering devilishly at his friend's predicament.
"Some muggle guy from her hometown. The one she… mentioned at breakfast the other day." James glared at the back of her head again. "Chill James, it's not like she's interested."
"Excuse me, Moony? She's plenty interested!" James exclaimed, standing up. "I'll prove it to you." Remus didn't get the chance to ask what he meant, for James yanked him up off the carpet and dragged him across the common room, having a steel grip on his arm. He tried to get away but James yelled, "Hey Evans?" Lily looked up suspiciously, as did Amy. She shared an unnoticed puzzled look with Remus.
"What do you want, Potter?" she asked in a bored tone, pulling her hair up into a loose ponytail, as Amy pulled a muggle magazine from her backpack.
"Who would you rather date, Evans, me or Remus?" he asked, as his friend returned to being part quaffle. Amy snorted and excused herself to the bathroom, dropping her reading material. Lily raised an eyebrow.
"Remus probably, seeing as your head is bigger than my potion's cauldron." Remus chuckled and James shot him a death glare. She smirked, "not that you have anything to worry about. Remus is far to in love with Black over there to put the moves on me."
"Hey!" Remus exclaimed, as Lily flashed him an evil grin.
"Sorry I spilled your secret, Remus. Can you ever forgive me?" She gave him a puppy dog pout and he found it was hard to stay mad at Lily Evans.
"Right, now I am so confused," James said, releasing his friend.
"I'm kidding Potter. Now go play with your snitch while the grown ups talk." She waved him off and he wandered back to Sirius with a bemused expression before he pulled out his stolen game equipment.
"Nice save Lils," Remus said, collapsing on the couch next to her. "His head is bigger than a cauldron, I can't believe I never noticed that before."
"I've won awards for my biting wit, Remy. And don't pretend that you haven't been giving Black the eye all day."
"Remy? That's new. I was only paying close attention to Sirius because he didn't realize his fly was open." He put his feet up on the footstool in front of his armchair and Lily blushed.
"I like the name Remy, it has a boyish charm to it. And I only watched Sirius because he's so damn sexy!" He gasped in mock outrage.
"You think Sirius is sexy?"
"Not as sexy as someone I know." She winked at him and he growled seductively. She laughed.
"Hey Remus, cut the playful banter and play me again!" Sirius yelled across the room. Lily giggled as he stood up.
"Well we shall just have to resume this playful banter tonight during prefect's rounds. Remember, it's Friday night!" He groaned and gave her a final wave before joining his fellow marauders. How could I forget? "Oh, and Remus?" she yelled across the room and the trio turned to face her.
"Yeah?"
"Button your fly."
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Couples attached at the lips were everywhere, and Remus was starting to get really pissed. After breaking up the sixth couple of the night he turned to his girlfriend and said, "I can't take it anymore!"
"Chill Remy, you know what it's like to be young and in love." She trailed a finger down the small of his back.
"Sure, but why does everyone feel the need to song in public view in the middle of the hallway?"
"Relax, be glad that we don't have to patrol tomorrow night. The Slytherin's have to." She grimaced and they turned the corner and began to climb the steps to the astronomy tower.
"That's just great. You know that no one's going to have any fun with Malfoy and that Narcissa woman out there." She shuddered.
Luckily, the astronomy tower didn't house any Slytherin couples, though Lily did have to take on the pleasure of separating two frisky Hufflepuffs. Once the two had been herded out of the tower, Lily and Remus were alone. "Um… we should head back."
"I suppose so," she said, but instead of heading toward the stairway she walked to the edge, holding onto the stone railing. He joined her reluctantly, and did his best not to look down. "Afraid of heights?"
"Little known fact." She wrapped an arm around his waist and lent against him.
"No need to be afraid, Remy. I'm here." Lavender aroma relaxed him and he pulled her closer before wrapping an arm around her shoulder. "I'll always be here." He kissed the top of her head and ignored the sinking feeling that Prof. No's reading had given him.
"As will I, Lily. As will I." She snuggled closer to him, watching the waning moon.
"So you're a werewolf?" she asked softly, causing him to pull away. "I'm sorry, Remy, come back." He sighed and sat down on the railing facing her.
"Yes." He looked over his shoulder at the moon behind him. "That's why I've been such a mess this past week." She perched on the stone next to him and brushed some hair back from his eyes.
"I suppose that explains a lot. You've had so many dead uncles and aunts that I thought your grandparents had had a litter!" He laughed lightly. "Do they guys know?"
"Yeah. They're great about it. You have no idea what they've done for me to help." She nodded. "And being what I am is a curse, but they make it hurt so much less." His hand found hers and she gave it a small squeeze. "I never thought anyone would understand, but they give me so much understanding. And now I've got you. I never thought life could be this good."
"Now I understand why you have to hide us. If Potter found out he might spill."
"Exactly. I need my friends, even though they are all dumb-asses." She chuckled and they snuggled together in the moonlight, each at complete peace with each other.
"I love you, Remus," she whispered as quietly as the falling snow that started to twirl around them.
"I love you too, Lily."
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Sirius was the only one awake when Remus returned from his prefect duties. The boy looked so peaceful and so happy that Sirius thought his friend had discovered muggle weed. The man didn't even notice him, and instead just pulled off his trainers and curled up on the bed like a cat, fully clothed.
"What happened to you, man? You look like you've just won Slughorn's full stock of Felix Felicis." Remus adopted a lazy smile and sighed wistfully, closing his eyes.
"Lily loves me." Sirius wasn't sure whether to be scared or relieved.
"Congratulations! Does she know about your furry little problem?" He had expected a guilty frown but instead Remus gave a slow nod. "That's great, Remus. Really."
"She loves me. She really truly loves me," he said before drifting of into a calm sleep. It was then that Sirius understood his friend's palm.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
A/N: Dun dun dun. Don't we all love Sexy Remy? Anyway, the next chapter is the Yule Ball, and it's awful close to the full moon. Remus gets a little testy to say the least. Just trust me when I say it's good. More reviews will help me update faster. Wink You know you love me!
Next on A Well-Kept Secret (AKA A Hogwarts Soap Opera):
Potter was smiling gleefully, staring up at something above her as he galloped toward her. She tilted her head to see the most horrifying sight she could ever see: mistletoe.
Then in the chapter after that:
"Because you have me." She lent in and kissed him softly. "You will always have me."
Anyway, I'll see you all later. REVIEW!