Word count: 1,319

Interlude 11: Lily Evans

No More Secrets

As Remus disappeared back up to the castle, Lily let James take her hand as they began walking around just the two of them.

"Whose idea was it to become animagi?" she asked as they went.

There were many questions left to be answered, and adrenaline rushed through her as she anticipated the answers.

"Me and Sirius thought of it at the same time," James said.

Coming to a stop at a low stone wall, he cast a warming charm on the rock and motioned for her to sit down beside him. She pressed herself into his side, fitting easily underneath his arm.

"We were in Transfiguration class," he continued. "McGonagall was giving a lecture about how hard work would pay off, and she transformed into a cat to show us what we could achieve if we worked hard enough. Sirius and I looked at each other right then, and I knew he was thinking the same thing I was. We'd just pieced together that Remus was a werewolf the week before, and we'd been talking about how we wanted to help him somehow. It was like the universe gave us the answer."

Lily smiled. She thought she remembered that particular lesson, but there was no telling if it was actually the same one. McGonagall showed them her animagus form at least once a year when she wanted to give them pep talks that might make them study harder before exams.

"It must have been difficult," she said with a sigh. "There have been times when I thought about how cool it would be to become an animagus, but I know I could never actually do it. It must have taken you years."

"Three," James confirmed. "We read every book the library has on animagi after that class and started trying right away. That was second year. We didn't manage to transform until about halfway through fifth year, and it wasn't for a lack of trying. Even though Transfiguration is my best subject, I wanted to give up a lot of the time. Sirius was probably what kept us going. He was determined to do it, and he wouldn't let us give up."

Lily smiled at the thought.

"He cares about Remus so much," she said with a short nod of her head. "I can only imagine how dedicated he was. But I bet it was hard on Peter. I wouldn't have thought he could pull it off."

James frowned.

"To be honest, it wasn't any harder for him than it was me or Sirius. Sirius actually struggled the most. If we hadn't been doing it for Remus, I don't think he'd have managed it. Peter transformed for the first time the same day I did. It took Sirius another month after that."

"Really?"

James smirked at Lily's surprise, leaning down to press a kiss against her cheek.

"People always underestimate Peter," he said softly. "He's not actually bad at most magic. It's just his self-esteem that gets in his way."

Lily's smile turned gentle, and she reached up to cup James' cheek, stroking his skin with her thumb.

"One of the things I admire about you is how much you believe in your friends," she admitted. "I know you're right. Especially if Peter managed to become an animagus. That's some of the most advanced transfiguration there is."

"The most," James corrected. "At least in terms of an individual skill. There's harder stuff you could do, but it's mostly about scale, like transfiguring all of Hogwarts castle at once even though, on a technical level, it's the same as transfiguring any of its individual parts."

"James," Lily said with a smirk, nudging him in the side. "Your nerdy side is showing."

James laughed, reaching up to ruffle his hair.

"Transfiguration is an art form," he said with a shrug. "I'd argue that it's some of the most beautiful magic there is when pulled off correctly. I know you have a soft spot for Potions, Lils, but you have to admit that it all looks the same once you're finished."

"It does not!" Lily exclaimed.

She pushed his arm off her shoulder and stood, placing her hands on her hips.

"A potion's appearance tells you so many things about it. No two potions look the same. See, this is why you never would have made it in N.E.W.T.-level Potions."

"I wouldn't have," James said, conceding the argument easily.

He rose and put his arm around Lily's shoulder again. She didn't protest as she wrapped an arm around his waist. They stood there for a moment taking in each other's presence, with Lily digesting everything she'd learned.

"Can I see your stag form?" she asked quietly, her eyes not quite able to meet his.

It shouldn't have been a big deal. She was sure James was dying to show off, and there was nothing inherently personal about the transformation. Still, knowing she would become one of only four people who had seen him him as a stag felt significant.

"Of course," James said, doing his best to keep his voice confident.

He reached up again to mess with his hair, and Lily smiled as she waited patiently. It took a full minute of James bracing himself before there was suddenly a stag instead of her boyfriend.

No, it was her boyfriend as a stag, Lily corrected herself. James was still inside the animal. His mind hadn't changed, and neither had his eyes. She kept her gaze on the hazel irises that were the only part of the animal she could connect to James.

"Wow," she breathed, taking a cautious step closer.

No matter what she kept telling herself, she couldn't shake the feeling that the stag was a wild animal that would flee if she got closer, but it didn't. James stepped forward too, lowering his head to appear less threatening. Lily had to admit that his antlers were larger than she'd been expecting.

"This is strange," she said to herself, as if James couldn't hear her.

Reaching out a shaking hand, she touched his snout, jumping a little at the snort James gave in response. His fur was like velvet beneath her fingers, but touching him in such a way was strange. She couldn't bring herself to pet him as if he were a real animal, even if it was just his face. There wasn't any proper etiquette to follow when your boyfriend was in the form of a stag. At least not that she was aware of.

She let her hand fall to her side, unable to do anything but look at the stag. James transformed back into himself without warning, prompting her to scurry backwards several steps. She placed a hand against her chest, adjusting to having a fully human James in front of her again.

"Too much?" he asked, a frown on his lips.

Lily shook her head, though she wasn't sure if it was the truth or not.

"I'm just not used to it," she said, being careful to smile. "I don't know what's appropriate for me to do and what isn't."

James laughed, stepping forward to rest his hands on her hips.

"You didn't touch me anywhere you haven't touched me before," he pointed out, his grin turning into a smirk. "You weren't doing anything wrong."

She nodded absentmindedly, staring into James' eyes and doing her best to connect them to the stag that had been before her. There was still a disconnect between her boyfriend and the animal.

"Thank you for telling me all this," she said. "It's a lot to take in, but I'm glad you trusted me with it. That means a lot."

His smile grew soft as he cupped her face.

"Of course I trust you. I trust you with every secret I have."

He leaned down to capture her lips with his before she could respond.