Chapter 6 – Layers of Meaning

Poor Remus, and that's all I'm gonna say.

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"Hey Remus! Wait up!" yelled Lily as she raced down the hall to catch up with Remus, James and Sirius.

Remus turned around, "Was there something you needed Lily?"

Sirius and James snickered at the word 'needed'. Remus flushed, "Not like that!"

"Yes actually," Lily replied, "I do need you for something."

James looked scandalized while Sirius had to lean on the wall so he wouldn't fall on the floor from laughter.

Lily grinned at James and Sirius, "You two are utter perverts. I need to talk to Remus about something."

"Alright," said Remus, "What is it?"

"Let's go talk outside, where it's more, private," Lily told him. James was again positively shocked at this side of Lily and Sirius actually did fall on the floor this time.

As Lily and Remus left, Peter walked up to his friends, "Did I miss something?"

James still couldn't get his mouth to work, and Sirius was still rolling on the floor, laughing like a hyena.

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Remus and Lily walked outside until they reached the path that lead to Hagrid's hut, figuring that no one was likely to bother them.

Lily turned to Remus, "Alright, well, now I'm not sure what to say."

"Well, what is this about Lily?"

"I've figured it out Remus."

Remus blanched, "Figured out what?"

"Oh Remus, it's alright. I have nothing against it or you."

"You don't?"

"No, of course I don't."

"But how can it not bother you? I mean, I-"

"It's a part of you Remus, there's nothing to be ashamed of."

"How did you figure it out?"

"All I had to do was watch you."

"Just that?"

"You're not exactly the best person at hiding things Remus."

"I know."

"Do the boys know?"

"Yes, they figured it out a few years ago."

"I didn't think they were that observant."

"Actually, Sirius originally thought that I was girl."

"He what?"

"Sirius honestly thought I was a girl pretending to be a boy. It was a rather amusing conversation now that I think about it."

"Of course he would think of the most unlikely scenario possible."

"If he didn't, he wouldn't be Sirius."

"Good point."

"So you really don't have a problem with this? It not always easy to be around someone who's been ostracized from society."

"Remus, you are not ostracized. All of your friends don't care. To us, you're still Remus John Lupin."

"I know, but it's still hard to believe that none of you have any problems with this."

"Well, we don't. Maybe others will, but it's not like you have to tell anyone unless you want to."

"That is true. But people are likely to find out Lily. I mean both you and the guys all figured it out. There's bound to have been others."

"Maybe there are, but even so, they haven't told anyone."

"I can't figure out why not."

"It's because people like you Remus."

"Again I haven't figured out why yet."

"Remus John Lupin, you will stop feeling sorry for yourself this instant!"

"Sorry."

"Good."

"At least I can always count on you to yell at me when I start doing that."

"Glad to know I could help. Maybe I'll upgrade to walloping you when you start becoming self-depreciating."

"There's no need to get physical now Lily."

"Of course there isn't."

"I'm glad you talked to me about this Lily, it makes me feel a lot better."

"Well, your welcome. Now, the juicy details."

"What?"

"Now that we've had this talk, I want to know if there's someone who's caught your eye."

"No one."

"You're sure?"

"Well then, what about any previous crushes?"

"There aren't any."

"Well then, how did you figure it out?"

"Figure what out?"

"You know, what we've been talking about."

"I've known since I was very little. I've had this for most of my life."

"That seems a little, well odd, don't you think?"

"Not really."

"Hm, you're sure there's no one you would want me to set you up with?"

"No, I'm quite happy single."

"It's not one of the-oh my, it is, isn't it? And that's why you're not telling me!"

"It's one of what?"

"The boys."

"What?!"

"Don't be shy now Remus. It's not like you can't tell me."

"I don't fancy them."

"C'mon Remus, don't lie."

"I'm not lying Lily."

"Maybe you don't fancy them."

Of course I don't."

"Well, alright it does make sense, they are like brothers to you."

"Well, yes. They are definitely brothers."

"Are you absolutely sure you don't want me to set you up? I know this great Ravenclaw who would love-"

"No. And why are you so set on getting me a girlfriend?"

"Girlfriend?"

"Yes."

"So you like both?"

"What?"

"Well I didn't see that coming."

"Lily, tell me in simple words what we've been talking about for the last ten minutes."

"Well, at first I thought you were gay, but now I see you're bi-"

"I'm not gay!"

"What? Well then what have you been talking about?"

"I'm a werewolf."

"Oh."

"Yes."

"Oh, well that makes sense to, I guess."

"You guess?"

"Well, everything I said earlier still applies. You're still me friend and I don't give a damn."

"You really don't care?"

"Yes actually. This is easier to accept than the fact that I thought you had a crush on Sirius."

"I do not have a crush on Sirius!"

"Well I know that now."

"I can't believe you thought I was gay."

"At least I didn't think you were a girl."

"Good point."

"Well at least we know one thing."

"If you're closest friends didn't figure it out, no one else has."

"That's not exactly comforting considering what you all thought you 'figured out'."

"Oh, you'll get over it."

"I'll probably have emotional scarring."

"Oh, don't be dramatic."

"Ow, you hit hard."

"Sorry."

"That's alright."

"Uh, Remus?"

"Yes."

"Can we not tell the boys about this?"

"About you thinking I was gay?"

"Yes."

"Sure. Besides, they would just tease me more."

"Let's go back. James might have collapsed from shock of my earlier behavior."

"Fine. I still can't believe it."

"Stop whining."

"But I'm either a girl, or I'm gay. It's not fair."

"Get over it."

"Hey, stop hitting me."

"You asked for it."

"Fine. Let's just go back."

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"Hey!" exclaimed Sirius, "they're back!"

"What did you two talk about for that long?" asked James.

Sirius waved his hand, "Oh I know! They were talking about us!"

Lily and Remus blushed, remember their conversation about crushing on Sirius.

"Holy Merlin, I was right?" said Sirius.

James asked, "Why are you two blushing?"

"None of your business James Potter," said Lily.

"Oh c'mon, like you said anything bad."

Lily got a glint in her eye, "Actually, we were discussing our sexuality and how we express it."

James choked, Peter blushed, and Sirius fell to the floor laughing.