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After that one day in fourth year, things had seemingly gone back to the pathetic excuse for normal life had turned into. Fifth and sixth year went by rather fast if you ask me. There were many fiascos that happened during these two years that made life hectic – for lack of a better term. I could literally write a book about all the things the marauders did within those years – a large book. Fast forward straight into our seventh and final year in Hogwarts and you'll find nothing really had changed for the most part where Lys and I were concerned. I still had a crush on Lys and every now and then we would have those conversations that made me smile.
What I have forgotten to mention was that over the years Lys would have a boyfriend every now and again. Nothing serious but still it caused for me to be concerned since most times they were a year or two older, and most times, rather good looking. I would become especially bothered when I would see her holding hands with said boy in the corridors, or sneaking kissing in the common room, it made me feel like my chance had come and was gone. But the boyfriends never interfered with me being drawn to her. There was just something about her, the way she would always smile at me when she would catch me staring at her in class, or the way she would always say hello to me in the corridors no matter how many friends she was with. Had I been more like James and Sirius I would have asked her to be mine after our first week at Hogwarts, but the thing holding me back - as always - was my tendency to be shy.
This seemed to be nothing major at my time in school but I had begun to notice that during our last three years at Hogwarts Lys had seemed less herself, especially around the holidays. I didn't know why and was not forward enough to ask her. I figured it was just that our time at Hogwarts was coming to an end and she was sad to see it go. It wasn't that she was suddenly unbearably mean or that she would throw a tantrum in the middle of class but something was not right. I don't know if anyone else had noticed it, I'm sure Sam and Lily had, but I never brought it up with anyone, it wasn't any of my business, really.
Lys was a private person to begin with, yes she was known throughout the school for being the nice girl that was kind to everyone. But being nice, kind, and known throughout the school does not mean that one is going to spill their life story to every person they met. She could often be found reading in the common room or studying in the library, keeping to herself. Most days I would just want to talk to her. Just a word would make me happy, just a syllable if I really wanted to get down to it. I would find myself walking a long way to the common room if I knew she was in the library in the off chance she would be walking out as I was walking by. I could count on my hand the times that actually happened.
Sometimes things hit you like lightning and then other times you don't know how you got to a certain state in life. The way I felt about Lys was the latter. I did not know why I felt so compelled towards this girl with the ice blue eyes and I didn't know if anything would ever happen between us. Sure we talked, and considered each other good friends but nothing more. I was getting worried that graduation would come and go and nothing would ever change between the two of us. We would go our separate ways in life and meet up someday in Diagon Alley after the relentless years would have changed us. But of course meeting up someday would only be if we were lucky.
Nevertheless fate has a funny way of working itself out, you imagine that there is nothing left and that the situation is out of your hands but then you realize just before you throw in the towel that maybe the situation was never in your control at all. Maybe time just needed to sort itself out. It seems to me, looking back, that that is exactly what it had done.
It was a crisp autumn day and the castle was enjoying the euphoria of knowing that a Hogsmeade weekend had just been scheduled. This was the day that changed everything. Sirius and I were in the common room as Sam and Lys had come in and sat down next to us. Sirius had always liked Sam and he was pretty sure the Sam liked him, a love hate relationship that had been since day one. Soon they began to talk about something or another, or argue more like it. Lys and I just sat there; both of us were smirking to ourselves since we knew this was bound to happen between them. All of a sudden she looked over at me smiling.
"How'd you do with that test in charms today?" She asked looking genuinely interested. When she talked to you she always had a way of making you feel like you were the only thing that mattered to her right now. It was nice.
"Well I think I did alright, it wasn't too hard." I said honestly, looking over at her smiling. "How about you?" Lys was a natural in charms, as well as potions, and transfiguration. She was remarkably bright and there was no doubt that she could probably go into almost any career field she wanted. I envied that. She could become whatever she wanted whereas I would have to scrounge for a job because people don't just hand out jobs to werewolves.
"Oh, I thought it was easy, I mean Professor Flitwick's class is always an easy one. Don't get me wrong he's a great professor but I just think he tends to be easier on us." Lys said with a shrug.
"I feel the exact same way, especially now that we are seventh years." I said smiling. Lys smiled over at me with a nod of her head. "And I don't think Professor Binns is that bad. I mean yes he gets a little tedious but it is interesting." I said not being able to keep my mouth closed now that a conversation had developed.
"The class is an interesting one, no doubt about that." Lys said moving a bit closer to me and away from Sam and Sirius. I was in an armchair and she was on the couch but still it had its effect on me. It pretty much was making me feel on top of the world. There was a pause where we just smiled at each other. I cleared my throat.
"So…" I said trying to think of something that we could talk about because I did not want a conversation to be that short.
"So?" She reiterated. "We haven't really talked in awhile, how are you?" She said tilting her head to the side. It was true; we hadn't talked in quite a long time. She had just broken up with a recent boyfriend over the summer and I was trying not to worry about classes. There hadn't been much time to just talk to one another.
"I'm doing well, you?" I could not seem to wipe the smile off my face. For some reason I felt different today. More optimistic than I would normally be, more bold than I would normally be.
"I'm alright; did you see that they posted the first Hogsmeade weekend on the board?" She asked nodding over to the Gryffindor notice board. It was slightly hard to miss since everyone was so excited about it. The third years were swooning over what they would do first and the first and second years were grumbling because they were too young.
"Yes, actually I just noticed it. I don't know if I plan on going though." I said honestly. I didn't see a need to go, I had been to Hogsmeade before and it just didn't seem like a thing I felt obligated to go to. I would rather spend the time studying or reading. I saw Lys' spirits drop a little.
"You should go, it'll be fun." She said smiling even though her eyes showed she was upset. I didn't like that.
"I don't know…" I trailed still not really wanting to go. I saw Sirius behind Lys looking at me like I was insane 'GO FOR IT' I saw him mouth at me before returning his attention to Sam.
"C'mon, Remus! We'll hang out there together." She looked over at me. I had been waiting for a reason to spend time with Lys from day one. I thought of no better way then at Hogsmeade. I must have taken too long to reply since I was stunned she offered. "Unless you don't want to in which case…" I cut her off.
"No, no I want to; I think that would be a great time." I said rather fast since I was so excited that we would actually be spending more time together. "Umm, Lys, would you like to go to the library with me?" I asked knowing I had to go there and knowing I wanted her with me. This is where the boldness came into play; the boldness I had never had before.
"Of course, I needed to return a book tonight anyway." She said smiling as I stood and then extended my hand to help her up. Lys smiled and took it, getting up, she held onto it for a moment longer then I expected which made me feel good. She let go and looked up at me. "I'll be right back I have to go get the book."
"Alright, I'll be right here waiting." I said confidently. I watched her go up to the girls' dormitory. Mentally I did a little happy dance. She came back down a few moments later, book in hand. "Ready?" I asked as she came walking back up to me.
"Yes I am" She said looking as happy on the outside as I felt on the inside. We walked to the library enjoying each others company.
"What were you reading?" I asked interestedly. I was not one to turn down a good book, nor was I the person to ignore one. I had always been an avid reader, and that was something that James and Sirius felt the need to tease me about, always.
"Oh, a muggle book, A Tale of Two Cities, have you heard of it?" She asked looking over at me seriously. That was something I had found out about later; Lys' love for classical muggle literature.
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." I quoted watching her smile towards me. I had always been interested in muggle literature. Shakespeare, Dickens, Austen, Melville, they all were wonderful; they all had those things that made them unforgettable. I suppose that would be why they are considered the "classics".
"So it was...Do you like muggle books?" She asked her smile still on her face. I felt like we were getting somewhere.
"I do. One of my favorites would have to be A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by..." I had started and then was cut off by Lys.
"Betty Smith...I love that novel. My dad got it for me when he was in America for one of his trips with work and I feel in love with it." She said with sincerity in her eyes. Her father was an Auror, by the way, a very popular one as it were. He was old enough to retire but kept going for some years. He was extremely talented and used that talent to catch dark wizards. A most admirable thing to do.
"It is amazing. Most people find it odd to be reading muggle literature, especially American muggle literature, but I can't get away from it." I admitted honestly, knowing that she wouldn't judge me because of it. She wasn't the type to judge and it just felt right to be talking with her like this.
"I know what you mean. Not a lot of people understand how reading things by muggles can be rewarding, but they are. All of these authors, create their own kind of magic...they make these worlds that you just dive into...I love it." She said seriously.
I felt like I was on cloud nine and all I could do was go up. We kept up our discussion about books all the way to the library. I felt like she understood a part of me no one else did. It was nice to be able to talk to her like this. Lys and I spent the better part of the afternoon in the library, completely skipping dinner. Every now and then we would talk about something or another, and then we would go back to our reading selection. It was comfortable silence, words weren't really required. It was lovely.
We took the long way back to the common room that night, not wanting our time together to end. This was the last Friday in September and Hogsmeade would not be until the second Saturday in October, we knew that we couldn't wait that long to spend time with each other again. It was endearing to know that due to one day together in the library we were starting to actually come together. I was trying to work up the nerve to take her hand in mine, but it didn't get that far that day.
We planned that we would study together the next Saturday morning out by the old oak tree and that we would meet each other in the common room at night where we could talk. It was great that we were starting to become closer. I found myself sitting in class and not being able to wait for the bell to ring because I knew that the sooner that happened, the sooner Lys and I would be seated by the fire, talking. By the time the Hogsmeade weekend rolled around we were officially a couple. It happened on a night that I'll never forget.
I could tell you the exact dialogue of that day like I could tell you what I am currently wearing. It was a Wednesday night and we were walking around the corridors talking as usual. For some reason the common room was slightly cramped that night and we wanted to be alone so we decided to go for a walk. We got to a window that overlooked the lake and grounds. Stopping we stood looking out the window, we were rather close to each other, I remember. It was quiet when Lys looked up into my eyes.
"Remus?" She said quietly. I couldn't really read her tone that well. I was slightly nervous by what would be coming next, but I tried to hide it.
"Yes, Lys?" I said looking down at her. She was slightly shorted than me, the perfect height for her to be able to put her head right under my chin, or so I guessed at this point.
"I really like you," She said looking out the window. "And not in the friendly way either, in the way that I feel I can tell you anything and have full trust in you to keep it between us. In the type of way that I don't want to spend time with anyone but you. I think you are a great person, Remus and I feel like we really have a good time when we are together. If you don't feel the same way, I respect that but I just wanted you to know that I do like you." She paused. "A lot..." She never looked away from the window and I think she was scared of rejection.
I had been waiting to hear something like that come from Lys' mouth since the day I met her seven long years ago. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I didn't know how to really respond to that because I would have totally spilled everything I was feeling about her out; appropriate or not. I did the only thing I could think of doing nonverbally. I slowly wrapped my arms around her, bringing her close to my chest.
That single act started our whole relationship. That single act that I had wanted to do since I had first set eyes on her was the thing that made us a couple. By me wrapping my arms around Lys the way I did that night everything changed for us. I have never felt a stronger attraction to anyone before. Lys later admitted to me that she had liked me from day one too, and that the other boyfriends she had really meant nothing to her, that she only went out with them because she waiting for me to ask her out. You can imagine how much of a prize idiot I felt like after hearing that. From that moment on we were seen holding hands constantly, sneaking kisses between classes, and never really being away from the other.
Now the story could just as well end there. It is the ultimate plot of a love story. Boy meets girl, boy looses girl, and boy gets the girl. But this is not the way our story ends, far from it. There is more to this particular story then meets the eye. Most would think we went off after graduation and got married and lived happily ever after. If that were only so. The day of the Hogsmeade trip literally changed my life. I had planned to take Lys somewhere to talk; I was planning to tell her about my condition.