Chapter Two

Lily walked through the portrait hole into the Gryffindor Common Room with a relieved sigh. She'd managed to make it through the halls without a single incident.

Learning to live with the curse was difficult, to say the least. Just before she'd boarded the train, Lily had become overwhelmed with emotion at having to leave her parents and had very nearly attacked them in the middle of King's Cross. If it wasn't for the potion she'd been prescribed, she very well might have attempted to do… inappropriate things to her parents. As it was, she'd barely restrained herself from jumping Alice as soon as the girl entered the compartment where Lily was to spend her ride.

She was embarrassed to say that Alice had simply taken it all in stride when Lily's hug had been more suggestive than friendly.

After the day she'd had, she wanted nothing more than to curl up in her bed and sleep for the next twenty-four hours, but as soon as she entered the Common Room, she was swung up into a hug and spun around.

"Lily, thank Merlin! Where have you been? Do you have any idea how worried I-we've been?"

"Give the girl a chance to breathe, James."

Lily avoided eye contact as James placed her back on her feet. Maybe if she could just ignore them, she would be able to make it to her room without embarrassing herself further.

"Lily? What's going on? Why weren't you at the feast?" James asked, his hand warm on her arm.

His concern was doing weird things to her and she silently cursed the spell for making her want to lean into James' touch. She supposed it was better than getting into a screaming match with him, because as flustered and worked up as she usually got when she was around him, she wouldn't last five minutes with the way the spell worked.

"I have to go," Lily mumbled, trying to make a break for the stairs.

"Hold up there, Evans," Sirius said, blocking her way so she ran into his chest.

She had to curl her fingers into fists to keep from stroking across the broad, sculpted muscles.

"We just want to make sure you're okay," Remus said, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

She practically sobbed as desire sparked through her, everything within her wanting to just strip naked and have the three of them take her in any way they wanted.

"Lily?"

At Alice's voice, Lily let loose a muffled whimper. She couldn't do this. It was too much. She was going to give in if they didn't stop touching her immediately.

"Get away from her!" Alice shouted, shoving Sirius and Remus as far from where Lily stood as she could.

"Alice, what the hell's the matter with you?" Sirius snapped.

"Don't touch her!" Alice insisted, moving to place herself between Lily and the Marauders.

It didn't help. The fire had been started. There was nothing left to do but let it burn.

"Alice," Lily croaked, sounding nothing like herself.

"Just breathe, Lily. Do you need another potion?" Alice asked, taking a confident stance in front of her.

"Need… them," Lily gasped, her entire body shaking.

"No. No, you don't, Lily. You can fight this," Alice said, determined.

"Can't. Want it so bad," Lily moaned, her hands running over her breasts, down her stomach, and across her hips.

"Oh, Merlin," Alice muttered, backing further away from where Lily stood.

"What's going on? What's wrong? Lily?" James asked, trying to move closer.

She wanted it. She wanted it so bad and he was there, offering it to her. She could take it easily and he wouldn't even try to stop her because she knew he wanted it too.

"Peter, go get Professor McGonagall. Tell her it's Lily," Alice instructed, shoving the smallest Marauder towards the portrait hole.

It was the wrong move. As soon as Alice twisted to the side, Lily launched herself at the remaining three boys. She didn't know which one she grabbed first and she honestly didn't care. All she knew was that there was a fire inside of her and they were the only ones who could put it out.

Hands grabbed at robes and hair as she pressed her lips to the closest one. Her teeth bit at a plump bottom lip and her hips twisted against his, moaning in sweet agony. More hands joined the fray, grabbing her hips, her waist, pulling and pushing her, but she didn't care. She was caught up in the flames of desire, her passion building like a tidal wave.

Pulling on the robes in her left hand, she nibbled her way down a corded neck, licking at the salt of his skin and practically purring in delight. The one in front of her attempted to pull away, but with a swift tug, she had him right back where she wanted him. The one she was currently tasting trembled and she felt a hand fist in her hair.

Yesss.

Another body came up on her right and Lily turned blindly, attacking him with the same gusto as the other two. Her right arm wrapped around his neck as she hungrily feasted on his lips. Soft and sweet, slightly chapped, they were delicious as she licked at the seam to separate them. Desire ruled her and as she grinded against the one in front, she fondled the one to her left, glorifying in the feel of masculine hardness all around her.

It was all so delicious.

Until a set of hands – wrong hands – pulled at her from behind. She snarled, a feral sound, and tried to get back to the strong, wonderful hands that had just begun stroking her, petting her, pleasuring her.

"Lily, snap out of it!"

She didn't want to snap out of it. She wanted more. She needed more.

"Open your mouth, Lily!"

No. She didn't like this voice, she didn't like these hands. She wanted warm, masculinity surrounding her.

"Open your mouth, Lily."

Oh, yes. She liked this voice. Obediently, she opened her mouth, prepared for silken skin to slide across her tongue. Instead, she got cool glass and a potion poured down her throat. She gagged and choked, trying to dispel the unwanted object, but the wrong hands were firm as they held her down, forcing her to swallow the potion or drown in it.

The potion was like being dunked in an ice bath and, while it dowsed the flames, the embers still glowed brightly, just waiting for another chance to burn.

Lily opened to eyes to find five concerned faces staring down at her.

"What happened?" Lily asked, feeling lethargic and heavy.

"You had an episode," Alice said meaningfully.

Lily groaned, letting her head fall into her hands as she remembered through the haze of lust attacking the Marauders. Well, three of them, anyway.

"I'm sorry," Lily mumbled into her hands.

"Hey, Evans. Don't be sorry. You're not the first bird to lose her head over this smoking body," Sirius teased.

She glanced up at him and managed a small smile, but the potion had affected her more so than usual and she found herself letting her head drop back down.

"What was that, Lily?" James asked, sitting across from her, but careful not to touch her.

"Alice," Lily sighed, hoping her friend would understand.

Sure enough, her small friend jumped right into an explanation.

"Lily was hit with a curse over summer and it causes her to have physical reactions whenever her emotions ramp up. It's why she was separated from everyone else on the train. If she gets too excited, it… well, it causes what just happened."

There was silence for about half a minute while the three remaining Marauders processed this news. Remus was the first to break the silence.

"How long will the spell last?"

"Until the caster can be found and remove it," Alice said reluctantly.

"So... she could be like this for years," Sirius mumbled.

"Yes. It's why she's had to give up being a Prefect. It's too stressful and if she were to have an episode, well… Slughorn has managed to create a potion to help, but, as you saw, it's more a reactionary solution than a preemptive one," Alice explained.

The couch dipped beside her and, wary, she leaned away from the body heat.

"Lily?"

She opened her eyes and looked up at the boy who had claimed to love her for the past five years. Worried hazel eyes peered at her through rounded spectacles and Lily felt the embers flare dangerously. She had to close her eyes against the sensation.

"Lily, please. Tell me what I can do to help," James pleaded and Lily could hear the desperation in his voice.

It was so strange. A year ago, she never would have imagined having this conversation with James Potter, or any of the other Marauders for that matter. Granted, this wasn't exactly a conversation, but still. James was being down right sweet and it unnerved Lily. She needed normal.

But normal for her and James was screaming matches and angry glares. If they were to slip back into that now… Merlin, she'd be jumping him at every turn.

"Lily," James pressed.

"There's nothing you can do. I have to learn to live with this," Lily mumbled to the floor, unwilling to chance looking at any of her friends for fear of the repercussions.

"You can't just hide from this. Let us help you," James said, sounding so worried and hurt.

"I'm sorry, but the only way to help is… well, you know, and I'm just not willing to try that with you. I don't even really like you," Lily sighed.

"That's because you never give me a chance. You'd like me if you got to know me," James insisted.

"I can't risk it now. If Alice hadn't been here tonight, I wouldn't have stopped. Would you?" Lily asked, steeling herself enough to meet his gaze.

James stared at her for a long time, as if deciding the best way to answer her.

"I don't know. It was so strange. I've never seen you act like that. At first, I was just so thrilled to be touching you, but I think… I think I would have stopped you before we got too far," James decided.

"I had my hand down your best friend's pants, James, and was practically dry humping the other," Lily pointed out, trying to get him to see the harsh reality of it.

Because this was her life, now. She would never be able to go back to who she was. She was going to constantly crave sex, but she could at least have some dignity about it. She was going to try to restrain herself enough that she didn't jump the first guy to come along, but she was also honest enough with herself to realize it was a good possibility.

A rough cough reminded them that they weren't the only two people in the room. Lily looked up to find Remus looking more than a little uncomfortable and Sirius looking like the cat who ate the canary.

"I think it's pretty obvious what we have to do here, mates," Sirius said.

"Oh, Merlin. Don't tell us," Remus groaned.

"No, really. It's a good plan and it'll satisfy everyone involved," Sirius insisted.

"I already know what you're going to suggest and I'm telling you right now, it'll never work. Besides, could you really do that to Lily? Everyone would turn against her," Remus said.

"They're going to turn against her anyway when they find out what's going on. At least this way she won't be alone with it all," Sirius argued.

"Hey. Best friend here. Do you really think I'd leave her alone to deal with this?" Alice snapped, jumping back into the conversation.

"Of course not, Prewett, but then you can't really give her what she needs, either," Sirius scoffed, waving her off.

"Padfoot," James drawled in warning.

"Look, Prongs, the potion obviously isn't working. I mean, look at her. She already looks like she's ready to eat us all alive," Sirius pointed out.

Sure enough, Lily could seem to tear her eyes away from the sliver of Remus' collarbone beneath his button down shirt. She could just imagine licking that expanse of skin over and over, tasting the salty perfection in the dip between bone and neck.

"Lily," Alice snapped and it took all of her concentration to focus on her friend instead of the boys in the room.

"It won't work," Remus repeated, shaking his head.

"It will. Who better to do it than us?" Sirius insisted.

"Pad, you know I love you guys but… I don't know if I could share her," James said, shifting uncomfortably.

"If it meant you got a chance with her, if it meant she didn't have to leave Hogwarts, if it meant she didn't have to stay in a weird catatonic state from potion after potion? I think you can, Prongs," Sirius said, sounding incredibly sure of himself.

"You're honestly suggesting sharing my best friend as some sort of… what? Sex slave?" Alice asked, narrowing her eyes dangerously.

"Look, Prewett, it's not ideal, but it'll help Lily. Besides, she'd be using us, not the other way around," Sirius defended himself.

"But you're taking advantage of her. She would never agree to this if it wasn't for the spell," Alice argued, taking a dangerous step towards him.

"Accept the fact that perfect Lily Evans is dead. Until this spell gets removed, she's going to be focused on sex twenty-four seven. It would take the three of us to keep her anywhere close to satisfied," Sirius said.

Finally, the conversation going on around her penetrated the cloud in Lily's mind and she snapped to attention.

She expected Sirius to look downright delighted at the thought of getting to have unrestricted sex with a willing female who would never say no, but he looked almost somber as he watched her. He truly thought this was the best solution for all of them.

"You're serious," Lily gaped.

"Of course I am. Look, Lily, we may not always get along, but all of us care about you. It's no secret that Prongs has been in love with you since day one. Remus and you get along and I like you well enough. We wouldn't hurt you, we wouldn't take advantage of you. It'd all be on your terms, Lily, but I'd rather you come to one of us than go sex up some random git in the hallway when you have one of these episodes," Sirius said.

Unbidden, unwanted, tears sprung to her eyes and she felt a relief like she'd never know spread through her limbs. It wasn't the most ideal of situations, but it was better than taking potions for the rest of her life. And maybe, one day, the person who casted the spell could be found and the curse would be removed.

Sirius was right. She liked the Marauders well enough and it certainly wouldn't be a hardship to be with them in that way. It's not like she'd fall in love with any of them. This whole situation was based on mutual caring. The Marauders were worried about her and this was the best way they could think of to take care of her while still giving her some say in her life.

"What do you say, Evans?" Sirius asked, holding out a hand for her.

She stared at that hand for a long time debating all the pros and cons. She looked at James, who looked as though he was torn between wanting her to accept and wanting her to run away screaming. She looked at Remus, who was trying so hard to remain stoic, but she could see an almost wistful look in his eyes. Finally, she looked at Alice, her best friend, who was watching her with an unreadable expression.

"I'm with you, Lily. Whatever you choose," Alice promised her.

And that was all the encouragement she needed. Without a second thought, she slipped her hand into Sirius', sealing her fate as the Marauders' girl.