Chapter 9: The Plan

All Remus could think of that day was what he overheard the girls say that morning. He had never pictured calm, collected, practical, poised Lily Evans as pained and desperate before. This shook him, but what shattered his concept of Lily was what she told him that evening.

It was right after a prefect meeting. Lily loitered in the conference room long after the meeting was over. Remus, coincidentally, left his Charms homework in there. He was startled to see Lily staring at him when he entered. She was sitting with her chin nestled on her hand. Her elbow was set on the table, and her legs were crossed.

"I left my charms homework." He said, pointing to the parchment on the table.

Lily didn't say anything, but her eyes followed him around the room. He took his homework, and when he was near the door, he asked, "Aren't you going to bed?"

"You know, I'm sick of this," was her reply.

"Sick of what?" he asked as he moved closer.

"This! So Tami hurt Andrew! That's not my fault, right? I mean, they both had the choice to not hurt each other. So, they made the wrong choices! I shouldn't have to care about that." She said, uncrossing her legs and crossing her arms over her chest.

"But you do care. And you know what, it's ok to care. You were hurt, too." Remus replied, pulling a chair close to where Lily sat.

"No, it's not right. I was blind. I didn't see what was right it front of me. I deserved to get hurt. I mean, all I wanted was to be with Andrew again. But he was in love with someone else, and I hurt him by trying to pull him away from Tami."

While she paused for air, Remus took the opportunity to cut her off. "No, Lily, no." He took her hands in his, the parchment left to fall on the ground. Lily's eyes trailed it until it reached the hard stone floor.

"Lily, look at me." He raised her chin so that her eyes met his. "It's never wrong to love someone. And it's not your fault that Tami made a wrong move and that Andrew got hurt in the process." She looked away at this.

"Lily, Lily. If you really love Andrew, now is the time that he needs you most. You don't have the time for self-pity. Andrew needs you. Go to him."

"You're right." Lily pulled her hands away, and stood up. She straightened her clothes while saying, "You're right. Andrew needs me right now. Here I am feeling sorry for myself when someone else needs me. And I don't care what anybody else thinks. He needs me, and I should be there for him."

She closed the space from the table to the door. Remus smile to himself. Lily turned around and smiled at him. She heaved a huge breath before turning around.

"Lily, don't forget that it wasn't you fault. None of it is your fault." Remus almost whispered. But Lily heard it and turned once more.

"Don't worry, I won't." She smiled her usual warm smile. Finally, she walked out the door, and out of sight.

"James, come on! She might not exactly be your best friend, but she never actually harmed you." Remus argued.

"Remus, you're not getting this. She is Lily Evans. I am not going to work with someone who enjoys giving me detention!" James countered.

"She does not enjoy giving you detention. She's just doing her job. Plus, you know you deserved those detentions."

"That's not the point! The point is that she's Lily Evans, Miss Prefect, and I refuse tpo work with her."

At that point, Sirius and Peter walk into the boys' dormitory, interrupting them.

"Sirius, tell James that he's being unreasonable." Remus said exasperatedly, waving his hands in frustration.

"James, Remus says you're being unreasonable." Sirius obliged. Turning to Remus, he added, "Why is he being unreasonable again?"

"Because he refuses to include Lily in the plan." Remus answered.

"Wait, Lily, as in Lily Evans?" Peter asked.

"Evans? In the plan? I'm sorry I have to ask this but, why the hell would we include Lily Evans, Miss Prefect, in our plans? And are we talking about the plan about Tami?" Sirius practially yelled.

"Yes, we are talking about Lily Evans, my fellow prefect-"

"Who loves giving us detentions!" James butted in.

"And yes, we're talking about the plan about Tami." Remus continued as though he didn't hear a thing.

"Like I said, why the hell would we include Evans in our plans?" Sirius asked, still lost.

"Because, she was involved, too. And she was hurt, too." Remus reasoned.

"And that concerns us because…" Peter was perplexed.

"Because! Think of it as an added bonus! She could help us." Remus said.

"How? How can Evans, of all people, help us?" James inquired.

"She could help get Andrew out of the picture. She wants him anyway, so it's a win-win situation." Remus answered.

"Okay…" Sirius drawled, "But even if you have a point, what makes you think she'll agree to help us?"

"Because you will tell her that you will go out with her friend, Natalie. Everybody knows she fancies you-" Remus said without skipping a bit.

"What? Hold on, I'm going out with Evan's friend?" Sirius asked, eyes-wide.

"Oh come on, Sirius! You and I both know that the only reason you haven't already gone out with her is because she is Lily's friend. Now you have a chance to go out with her. And admit it, she's hot!" Peter sarcastically answered.

"Well, if you put it that way, I'm in!" Sirius quipped.

"What? Wait, you're in? You're letting Evans the prefect in on the plan? I can't believe you!" James, who was looking smug until now, pointedly asked Sirius.

"Well, Remus has a point and Peter is right, that Natalie girl is hot. So yes, I'm letting Evans in on the plan." Sirius coolly answered.

"Three to one, what do you say James?" Remus inquired.

"Fine." James said, knowing he lost the argument.

Something from me:

Sorry for the long wait for the update and sorry for the short chapter. But stupid exams are coming and everyone and everything's pressuring me to study, study, study. So I probably won't be able to update until another two weeks from now. So, sorry but keep on checking here for updates. Oh, and review! Thanks!