Special thanks to all who reviewed: puppyluver12, RA, Darkwing731, SerentiyRose016, Biabe Tendou, and Dongwoo, Pokeman Trainer, and ur bf () (love you too!). You all made my day. Also, HUGE HUGE HUGE, unbelievable thanks to my amazing beta, Kate: TheScarlettSecret. After abandoning fanfiction for awhile, she has recently resurfaced and is writing a fic called Seventeen Secrets. If you want to read an excellent story, go and read that one.

And in response to some of my reviewers complaining that the boys don't talk like boys really do: I need suggestions then. Should I have them calling each other fags every other sentence? XD Next chapter I'll try and make 'em seem like real boys.

Chapter 15: Betrayed

Lily awoke the next morning to the sound of her alarm clock buzzing noisily in her ear. Groaning, she sat up and switched it off, yearning to murder the birds twittering incessantly outside the window. Groggily, she got out of bed and stared at her reflection in the mirror across the room. A huge sigh escaped her lips and she ran her fingers helplessly through her mane of tresses; helplessly tangled and spilling haphazardly everywhere. Only a shower and a blow dryer could fix them… and Lily didn't feel like doing either of them. She really needed to get more sleep.

Screw it she thought. I'll just put it in a ponytail. And she did just that and was proud when she was ready in 20 minutes instead of her usual 40.

"You're ready already?" Olivia asked in surprise, emerging from the bathroom with a towel wrapped securely about her.

"Mhmmm," Lily replied, dabbing a bit of blush on her cheeks.

"And yet, you still look beautiful," Olivia said wistfully, her hair dripping and leaving a trail on the stone floor as she made her way over to her vanity.

"Oh Olivia, you're beautiful too."

"That's what you always say," she said, grabbing her brush and running it through her hair.

"You are," Lily persisted. "It's just that all the guys are dicks and haven't realized it yet!"

"Except for Frank and James," Alice cut in, sitting up in her bed, grinning, her blonde hair frizzing about her face.

"Yes, Alice," Lily replied, blushing, "except for Frank and James."

"Meh, I'll just grow up and become a spinster," Olivia said dejectedly, waving her wand casually at her bed. It made itself, but the pillow ended up at the foot of the bed. Olivia threw it against her headboard, resulting in a soft bang against the wall, and glared at herself in the mirror.

"Is someone PMSing?" Lily asked softly, going over to stand behind her best friend. Olivia nodded grimly.

"It's that time of month, Lily, dearest." Lily laughed and spun Olivia's stool around so they were facing each other.

"Want me to help you with your makeup?"

"Sure," Olivia replied, "not that it'll do much good. But, it's worth a try, I suppose." Neither Lily nor Alice were phased by Olivia's comments… they knew she didn't mean them.

"Oh Olivia, sweetheart, don't be so hard on yourself. Life isn't all about boys anyways."

"Ha! And that's coming from you?" Olivia shook her head in exasperation.

"Stay still," Lily reprimanded, brandishing an eyeliner pencil. "Or I'll have to hurt you."

"You wouldn't dare." Lily grinned.

"Oh, you'd be surprised."

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"Oi, James! You coming to breakfast or not?" James shook his head.

"I'm going to wait for Lily." Sirius sighed, shaking his head.

"The man is madly in love, I swear! Peter, Remus, let's go." James flopped down on one of the couches and watched his friend's retreating backs, a bemused smile on his face.

Sirius has no idea how in love I am.

Just then, there was a loud laugh from the top of the stairs, followed by several shouts and squeals. James furrowed his brow. He could hear Lily's laugh above the rest: loud and sure, light and quick.

"Oh, Olivia, come on! It's alright. Here, stay still." Lily said, and James heard a groan from Olivia.

"You sure you have the spell right this time?" Olivia asked. Lily laughed.

"Yes, I'm sure." Did Lily just screw up a spell? Whoa!

"Yes! Thank God! I'm saved!" Olivia yelled. The voices were drawing nearer now.

"It wouldn't have been that bad if you'd have had to walk around like that. The stain wasn't big… before Lily messed it up." James recognized Alice's high voice immediately and shook his head. It was amazing what girls thought about. Didn't they realize that no guy cared whether they had a stain on their robes or not?

Finally, the trio reached the bottom of the stairs and Lily's face broke into a huge grin as soon as she spotted James waiting for her. She rushed into his arms and he held her tight.

"Good morning, Lily," he murmured into her hair.

"Morning to you too! You look tired, are you alright? Where were you last night?" Lily asked. The questions came in such a rush that it took James a few moments to comprehend them, tired as he was from their Midnight Escapade. But when he did comprehend them, his eyes widened and he felt his heart drop to his knees. Lily saw the expression on his face and furrowed her eyebrows.

"H-how'd you know I was gone?" James asked, hardly daring to breathe… had Wormtail told her?

"Peter told me you were at the Shrieking Shack… with Remus and Sirius," Lily responded and James breathed a sigh of relief. He could make a little white lie out of this, no big deal.

"Oh, yeah… we were there planning a prank. For… for Valentines Day."

"Oh, really?" James could tell he hadn't fooled her. Damn! For once he wished she wasn't so smart. "Why'd you have to go to the Shrieking Shack? Wouldn't the Common Room have sufficed?"

"Well, it wasn't private enough and-"

"James, you can't even get in to the Shrieking Shack unless it's through Hogsmeade… and you can't do that! That's … that's… trespassing!"

"Yea… but we had to. The Shrieking Shack is way more private and safe and-"

"James," Lily demanded, her hands on her hips, "is there something you're not telling me?" James gulped.

"No," he replied, his heart cringing at the lie. Lily's eyes narrowed.

"Fine," she said tartly, "I'll trust you." Her eyes softened and she laid a hand on his shoulder. "I just want to make sure you're safe." James laughed.

"Oh Lily, you know I'd never do anything stupid."

"Heh, I'm not so sure about that." James gave a roguish grin and wrapped an arm around Lily's waist.

"Now, why would you think something like that?" Lily narrowed her eyes and playfully stuck out her tongue.

"I have my reasons."

"I'm sure you do." And together the two lovebirds set off for the Great Hall.

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Peter glanced over at the rest of the Marauders who were playing a game of Exploding Snap. He watched as the tower of cards burst into flames… immediately dowsing James in a pile of soot.

"Yeah!" Sirius crowed, jumping up, knocking a bunch of his books onto the floor. "I win!" Spitting, James wiped his face with the sleeve of his robe and glared at his best friend.

"Shut up, Padfoot," he grumbled. "I've still won more times than you!"

"At least you've won," Peter murmured bitterly. As always, no one heard him.

"James! What happened to you?" Lily came over and Peter could see she was having trouble stifling her laughs.

"I lost," James mumbled.

"And I won!" Sirius yelled, spinning around with his arms in the air. Lily grinned at her boyfriend.

"Did James Potter lose? The James Potter? My goodness," Lily exclaimed, her hand playfully over heat heart. "I don't think I can take the shock!" She burst into laughter as James lunged for her, trying to grab her arm. She pulled away and winked at him.

"Later, dear. I have to tutor!" James frowned.

"Fine. When you come back, Sirius will be covered with this… stuff!" He stood up and shook out his hair like a dog, his glasses flying askew.

"Oh, of course… of course. See you!" Lily called, heading out of the portrait hole.

"Bye!" James called back, his face falling as soon as she disappeared from sight.

"Oh, come on Prongs. Why the long face? I'll play you again!" Sirius said.

"Alright, and I'm going to win!" The two friends then sat down immediately to resume another heated (literally) game.

Peter watched the whole scene, his heart filled with envy. There sat James and Sirius, the two most popular boys in all of Hogwarts… and the best looking ones too. Then there was Remus, every teacher's pet. He got all his assignments in on time and was always on his best behavior… most of the time. He too, was good looking, and found attractive by many girls throughout the school.

Then there was him, plain old Peter Pettigrew. Ugly dumb Peter Pettigrew. He was failing nearly all his classes and was deathly afraid to ask for help. James was too lazy, Sirius was too impatient, and Remus was too busy studying and doing his homework. And if there was a spare moment where he wasn't doing those two items, he was too tired. No one cared about him; Peter had convinced himself of that by now. To the Marauders, he was just someone they could trod upon and be better than… 100 of the time. He was their puppet. He showed the school that the Marauders were better than everyone else. He was nothing but the rat that helped freeze the Whomping Willow every full moon.

Oh, how he longed to show them that he was powerful. How he longed to show them how he could do some magic without help. But no, if he told them he'd joined in supporting Voldemort they'd cast him out. He'd never be a Marauder again. Not that he enjoyed being a Marauder, but it did give him a bit of status in the school, being "best friends" with Remus, Sirius, and James. But Peter had decided to take matters into his own hands. He was 17 years old for God's sake! He could make choices for himself. And his choices were made. Looking at the scene before him, Peter's last regrets and worries evaporated immediately.

A fire of hatred welled up in Peter's heart so suddenly it scared him to think of it… but it sat there and burned brighter and brighter until he felt it might explode like a volcano. His mind made up, he went up to his dormitory to drop off his books and then out of the common room to the library where Lily was tutoring… of course, as usual, without being noticed.

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Peter entered the library and took a seat in the corner of the room where he could still see Lily working patiently with a young girl. Now if only the Marauders could have patience like her… then maybe Peter wouldn't be so scared to ask for help. But he knew that Lily probably didn't have time to help him… even if she wanted to. They worked for quite a long time. Peter feared he'd doze off, tired as he became. But finally the girl left, a bright smile on her face and Lily stood up to leave. Here was his chance.

"Hey, Lily!" he called, his voice cracking. He blushed and made his way shyly towards her. She smiled warmly at him.

"Yes, Peter?"

"Um… well, there's something I wan-need to tell you." Lily raised her eyebrows.

"Yes?"

"It's about James… and where he and the rest of the Marauders were last night."

"Oh really?" She frowned, shifting uncomfortably from foot to foot. "James told me they were planning a prank… for Valentine's Day."

"He's lying," Peter blurted, surprised at how easy the words came out.

"What?" Lily asked incredulously.

"They… they were helping Remus." Peter grew more confident as he went. He'd never felt this confident before. It empowered him. Being mean isn't as hard as being good, he thought.

"Helping him do what?" Peter could tell Lily was worried.

"Transform…" he lowered his voice, "into a werewolf." Lily drew a sharp breath.

"Remus is a-a- werewolf?"

"Yea," Peter breathed, bending closer. "Every full moon, Sirius, James, and I go and help him through his transformations in the Whomping Willow… so he doesn't get consumed by his wolfish mind. I didn't go last night because I was too tired. But that's what they were doing." He leaned back and was filled with satisfaction at Lily's face. Her mouth hung open slightly and her hands clutched tightly at her books as she comprehended what Peter had just said.

Good job, Peter. You just betrayed your friends. Do you feel better now?

In fact, Peter felt only worse… but only by a little bit. Quickly, he forced his guiltiness out of his heart and with a wide smirk, walked out of the library and down to the Slytherin Common Room.