1976

"Oh Moooooony," Sirius sang. "You've got a visitooor." The floppy-haired Marauder opened up the curtains by Remus' bed, a stream of light flooding right into the sleeping werewolf's line of vision.

Remus groaned. He truly didn't know it was possible to feel so horrible after a night of not turning into a bloodthirsty animal.

"Rise and shine mate, it's nearly noon," James cooed.

"He looks worse than after the full moon," Peter whispered. James smacked him on the back of the head. "Ow!"

Remus pulled his pillow over his head, muttering into the cushion. Merlin, how long had he been sleeping? The three boys sitting at the foot of Remus' bed snickered.

"Mm not taking guests," Remus mumbled. "Come back later." Sirius rolled his eyes.

"Sorry, mate. The lovely lady is already here." Remus bolted upright, throwing his pillow to the side.

"Oh, god…" He muttered, feeling a sudden pang of nausea. "Marlene…" His eyes widened, and he instinctively grabbed at his abdomen. "Oh, Merlin, please don't tell me—"

"It's not Marlene," James assured him. "Don't worry, we'll fill you in later, but you didn't do anything with 'ol Marley to be worried about." Remus felt his heartbeat return back to its resting state.

"Oh, then who…"

"Hello, Remus," Lily said softly, coming into the bedroom, quietly closing the door behind her. "I brought you some muggle medicine—aspirin. It helps loads, but you should take it with some food and water." Her green eyes sparkled, and she held up a bar of chocolate. She walked over to his bed, perching on the nightstand.

"Lily…thank you," Remus said slowly. "What…what happened last night?"

James scoffed, Sirius snickered, and Peter turned a bit red. Remus turned to Lily. It looked like she would be the only one to give him a serious answer.

"Well," She began, "You had quite a bit to drink, and hit it off with Marlene—she won't stop talking about you, by the way," Lily smiled, and Remus turned positively red. "You had loads of fun, gave a grand speech about partying and missing class—"

"—No," Remus gasped. "Really?" He asked, couldn't believing what he was hearing. "That doesn't sound like me at all."

"You were also practically eating Marlene's face off, and when we asked her to leave you went off about wanting to shag her—" Sirius started, but was cut off by James' hand over his mouth. Remus felt hot with shame.

"Oh…no…" He muttered, burying his face into his hands. "This is why I don't drink."

"Well, anyway," Lily continued, shooting the boys a glare, "You finally let us put you to bed and I volunteered to take your prefect shift today and next Friday." Remus froze.

"Next F-Friday?" He asked, nervous, coughing a bit. "Why ever…"

"Well, I didn't think you'd be up to it," She began calmly, "Seeing as you've got to turn into a werewolf and all."

Remus froze. He should've said something, anything, but the word wouldn't form, and his throat went dry.

"Oh, blimey," Sirius whispered. "He's gone catatonic."

"Remus," Lily said softly, taking his hand. "It's okay. I've known for years, really—ever since we learned about werewolves in third year. I put the pieces together, but it didn't change anything. You're my friend. Always have been, always will be."

Remus turned to the ginger witch. Years? She had known for years, and never said anything? Remus thought back to all the times they had studied together, walked the halls as prefects together, talked between classes…it all had been perfectly normal. He had no idea.

"You still—I mean, you don't care that I—"

"Turn into a werewolf?" Lily suggested. "No, not at all. You're far more tolerable—"

"No," Remus whispered. "I don't turn into a werewolf. I am one. Every minute, of every day, I'm—"

"Remus John Lupin," Lily said forcefully, gripping his hand. "Do you have a snout? No. Are you furry all over? I assume not. And I'm sure Marlene would have told me if you had a tail," Lily chuckled "No, as far as I can tell, you're a boy—sorry, a man—who just happens to let loose every once and a while." Sirius snickered.

"And not only on the full moon, as it turns out," Peter added.

Remus shook his head, not believing what Lily was saying. Yes, he had accepted that the Marauders had accepted him. But he had also accepted them for all their quirks. Lily, though? What had he done in return for her?

"But, Lily…" Remus began. "I don't think you fully grasp the situation at hand. I mean, you didn't grow up…" Remus gulped. He was swimming into rough waters. He cleared his throat. "I just mean to say…er…"

"That I didn't grow up hearing about 'the dangers of lycanthropes?'" She suggested. "No, I didn't. You're right. But surely you know by now that I've got a decent head on my shoulders and I've figured out that gits in this world just don't understand that you're nothing to be afraid of. People in the muggle world have their own intolerances too, I'm sure your mum could tell you that. She's muggle-born, is she not?" Remus nodded his head. He hadn't really thought about that. It was different to learn about something when it affected your son, but at the end of the day it wasn't all that different.

"All I'm trying to say is, nothing's changed. I'm still Lily, you're still Remus, and we're still friends."

Still friends. It was music to Remus' ears.

"Thank you," He said. "For everything. Including the aspirin and chocolate," Remus added with smile. "I am never, ever, getting that drunk again."

"Sure mate," James grinned. "Sure. So Evans: you, me, Moony and Marley? A double date would be quite fun," He teased. Lily rolled her eyes.

"Not in a million years, Potter. I'd better get going. Take care of yourself Remus," She said kindly, giving his hand a squeeze before standing up, heading out the door. But before she left, Lily turned around.

"Oh, Marlene wants to shag you too," She winked, and left the same way she came. Remus sat, motionless.

"Moony," Sirius cooed, "You bastard. You've got a lady friend!"

"Sod off, Sirius," Remus said sharply, though it was hard to take the red-in-the-face boy too seriously, especially grinning like he was.

"Let's get you some water," James suggested, "And you can take the…what did Evans call it again?"

"Aspirin," Remus chuckled. "So, I gather I was a right mess last night?"

"Mess is putting it kindly," Peter squeaked. "I thought you'd hurl."

"Nah, he's got a stronger stomach than that, mate," Sirius replied. "But Wormy's got a point—you definitely had a blast. Still, only low-level nonsense. Just like we promised." Remus sighed.

"Good." Then, his eyes flashed with a bit of excitement. "I still can't believe it," He said.

"What, Lily? Come on mate, like she told us earlier, she's known for years," James insisted.

"No, not Lily," Remus responded. "Marlene. She fancies me. Me!" Remus exclaimed, giddy as can be. The boys laughed, and the banter of normal teenage boys once again filled the room.