A/N: I must give the deepest apologies to all of the readers/followers of this story. I could ramble on about how busy I've been - and I have, I promise!- with NaNoWriMo and everything but...honestly? I lost interest in this story. I felt like it wasn't really going anywhere. BUT, I've gotten a plot twist and now I know exactly where this story is going! Again, apologies for taking literally a century to update. Here's the newest chapter. Please let me know what you think!


James glanced at Peter again before he turned back to me.

"We think that you're training with someone." He said.

My mouth fell open. "What?"

Peter nodded. "It's ok, we're not mad."

"No, what are you guys talking about?" I asked.

"You're training with someone to get better at Defense against the Dark Arts." James added.

I shook my head, wondering how they'd come up with that one.

"I…guys, I'm not training with anyone." I told them.

Sirius raised an eyebrow and gave James a shove. "What the hell were you thinking? Remus training with someone…"

James shrugged. "It was Peter's idea."

Peter opened and closed his mouth, then gave a shrug. "Sorry. It was worth a shot."

Sirius rolled his eyes and turned back to me. "It's obvious that you're being abused."

I shook my head and took a drink of my pumpkin juice. "I'm not."

James shoved some food into his mouth. "Look, we're not trying to jump down your throat or anything. We're just worried about you."

I looked down at my plate as the guilt formed a knot in my stomach.

"Do you understand?" James asked.

I nodded, my eyes still on my food. "Yeah. I understand."

Conversation resumed, and I took a deep breath, grateful that James steered the conversation in another direction.

Sirius kept looking at me during the meal though.

I couldn't really eat with my friends staring at me so I eventually left the table, even though I was still hungry.

I went to the library instead and sat at a small table in the back, where I completed my potions homework.

After only a few short minutes, I looked up and I saw Sirius standing in front of the table, glaring at me.

I gasped and dropped my notebook onto the floor, my hands shaking.

"What are you doing? Trying to give me a heart attack?" I demanded.

He crossed his arms. "I know that something's going on with you."

"Great going Sherlock." I snapped. "Now how about you go solve another mystery, huh?"

He lowered his eyebrows. "Remus, I'm concerned for you. I don't know what's going on with you yet, but I know it's something."

"That's wonderful." I replied. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have some more homework to do."

I grabbed my notebook from the floor and stood up from the table.

"You're always doing homework." Sirius pointed out.

"I know. It's what you do when you go to classes." I snapped.

He raised an eyebrow. "You're acting weird."

"Thanks." I replied and pushed past him headed for the privacy of the Hogwarts grounds.

It was Saturday, so there was a Hogsmeade trip planned.

I automatically figured that my friends were going, so I thought I'd stay home to get some peace and quiet.

But fate wouldn't have it that way because the first group of Hogsmeade students left, then the second and my friends went with neither.

Resigning myself to my fate, I went over to the lake and sat down.

I took off my socks and my shoes and I let my feet dangle into the cool water.

Leaning back, I closed my eyes and let the sun warm my skin.

I'm not sure how long I stayed like that, but I heard James call my name and he sounded far away.

Resisting the urge to groan, I sat up and grabbed my socks and shoes which were lying beside me.

My bag was still on my shoulder so I stood up and walked over to my friends in my bare feet.

By the time I'd gotten over to them, the heat from the ground had dried most of the moisture on my feet so I started to put my socks back on.

"What's up guys?" I asked.

"We're going over to Knockturn Alley. We wanted to know if you wanted to come with us." James said.

I glanced behind him as I put my shoes on. I could see Sirius and Peter talking.

"Why?" I asked, not even really caring that going to Knockturn Alley was forbidden to students.

"Because it's fun." James replied, finishing up a licorice wand. "You coming?"

"I don't know yet. You guys just missed the last group going out to Hogsmeade." I told him, standing up right after I finished tying my shoes.

"Yeah, we know. We waited on purpose." He replied.

I gave a shrug.

"So are you coming?" He asked.

If I didn't go, my friends would probably worry about me. But if I did go, Sirius would probably bug me.

With a final sigh, resigning myself to this, I nodded. "Yeah. Just let me put my bag in my room."

"Great." James replied and stepped out of my way so I could go into the castle.

I walked up the stairs to the Gryffindor common room and I stood in front of the fat lady painting.

I whispered this week's password.

"Remus!" Someone called.

I turned around to see Professor Slughorn waddling over to me.

I let the painting swing shut again as I waited for Slughorn to make his way over to me.

He gave me a grin and I returned it with a small smile.

"Have you seen Lily Evans?" He questioned, coming to a stop a few feet in front of me. "I'm afraid I haven't seen her since she disappeared from the library with Severus."

My eyebrows rose. Snape? James was going to have a field day.

I shook my head. "No, sir, I haven't."

"Oh. All right then. I suppose I'll ask Minerva." Just before he waddled off, I decided to be curious for the sake of my friend.

"Professor?" I asked.

He turned around toward me and I cleared my throat.

"Do you know where Lily might have been headed?" I asked.

He shook his head. "No, I don't. If I knew, I'd check there first, Remus."

He chuckled and his double chin wobbled.

I gave him another smile. "Well, thank you anyway."

After saying the password again, I walked through the portrait hole and into the Gryffindor common room.

I went up the stairs and stowed my bag on my bed.

On a last minute decision, I took my cloak off. It was actually too hot out for my long sleeves but…I didn't have a choice anymore .

With one last sigh, I exited my room, descended the staircase and left the Gryffindor common room through the portrait hole.