Disclaimer: See the first chapter: it's not mine, even if I put it on my Christmas list.

Author's Note: This was originally supposed to be a one-shot story, but I may expand on some of my original one-shots, including this. At least, make them long enough to tell what happens between the different episodes of the Moonlight Series. There will be no future chapters to this story because I designed it to end with a suitable transition to another of the series: Fighting the Moonlight.

I don't plan on abandoning the series after I finish all the parts I'd originally planned out. If anyone has ideas for episodes of Remus and Lily's friendship, I'll take them into consideration when planning future stories or additions to current stories.

The Day After

It was just after dawn when Lily woke up. Though she was normally an early riser, she was awake earlier than normal.

Her sleep hadn't come easily, as her mind kept worrying about her friend, Remus.

The full moon had finally ended and Remus was coming back. She knew she'd have to listen to his excuses about his "sick mother," and pretend she didn't know.

Could she pretend she didn't know his secret?

Groaning, Lily thrust off her covers and started gathering her clothes. Without waking up her dorm-mates, she managed to get her skirt, socks and shoes on without a problem. It was after she buttoned up her blouse that she realized she what had gone wrong. One, she was off by a button and her shirt was now uneven, and two, it was inside out.

Lily found her way to the bathroom where she fixed her shirt. Furiously, she ran her heavy brush through her hair and nearly threw it into the mirror when she saw her hair was frizzier than normal.

Taking a deep breath, she wet the brush before running it through her hair again. This time, her hair complied and she formed a manageable ponytail.

She sighed, sometimes her hair was like her temper: long and out of control. Hopefully she wouldn't take any of it out on Remus today.

The thought of Remus reminded her of her predicament: how would she treat Remus?

She wasn't sure that she pitied him; she felt pity would be worse then anger. She supposed that she admired him for going through so much.

Lily grabbed one of her books before heading down to the common room; it was much too early for breakfast to be served.

After opening the cover of the book, she scowled. Here she was, trying to relax and Potter had to ruin it! Why did he have to write in her book? Just because he was taller than her and she was one of the shortest people in their class didn't give him the right to call her a midget!

Turning to another page, she immersed herself in the theory behind charms and spells. Charms was her favorite class; already, Lily found herself bored with the "easy" material and tried (successfully) working on third and fourth year incantations. She was currently learning about the theory behind the spells they covered in NEWT level classes; she wasn't magically strong enough to cast them herself, but she wanted to know how they worked.

Sometimes, when she couldn't cast the spells that were too advanced for her, she modified them so she could use them. She wasn't sure if it would be considered making a new spell, but she enjoyed changing parts of the spells she knew, just to find out what would happen.

She was just learning about the spell Evanesco when her book was grabbed out of her hands.

"What have we here? You shouldn't read so much, Evans, it's bad for your eyes."

"Then, why are you the one with glasses, Potter?" she spat.

"Come on, James. Let's get breakfast. I'm hungry," Sirius, James' partner-in-crime, interrupted.

"Yeah, I think that we're supposed to have bacon today!" Peter, the slightly-plump friend interjected.

Condescendingly, James quipped, "Well, who are we to stand between you and your breakfast, Peter?"

Sirius pointed towards the door, "Breakfast is this way, James. Just give Evans her book back and save us the grief Remus will give us when he gets back."

James laughed, "Remus couldn't hurt a fly if he tried."

He tossed her book back at her, nearly hitting her on the head. Lily glared at their retreating forms. How dare they underestimate Remus?

But she knew they were right.

Remus would never want to see anyone hurt. Ever. Maybe it was because he was afraid of the werewolf? What would it be like, to be afraid of yourself?

Why couldn't Remus trust her with this secret? Was he afraid she'd stop being his friend? Lily scoffed, that was completely ridiculous, but did Remus see it that way? She groaned and decided to worry about that later.

"Come on, Lily. Breakfast!" Alice yelled in her ears, "You know, the "most important meal of the day," the one you keep telling me not to miss?"

Lily pouted, "Stop using my words against me,"

"But it's so much fun!"

"Can you be not so hyper this early?"

"You've been up for hours. Aren't you awake yet?"

"Spoilsport," Lily muttered as she followed Alice to breakfast.

"You ready for the charms test today?" Alice asked.

"Yeah, do you need me to help you study?"

"I think I'm good, but if you could just quiz me over a few things…"

"No problem."

Their leisurely breakfast continued with Alice searching her brain for answers and Lily helping Alice to think through the problems.

Theirs was a unique friendship, just as special as her friendship with Remus, Lily thought. Lily helped Alice with Charms and Alice helped Lily in Herbology. They mixed well and could sit in comfortable silence for hours, though they often got bored and talked about senseless things. While Lily looked to Remus for sensible conversations, Alice helped Lily relax.

She tried not to compare her two friends. They were both her family away from home, her chosen siblings.

Breakfast passed all too quickly and the girls headed to their charms class, both feeling confident about the exam. After Professor Flitwick passed out the anti-cheating exams they got to work. Lily finished her exam well before time was up and was sent back to her seat to work quietly until the bell. The next class was transfiguration: Remus always came back during that period. She used to think it was because he disliked charms, but now she suspected that he needed to rest and have Madame Pompfry look at him.

Alice dragged Lily out of Charms as soon as the bell rang, relief evident on her face, "That wasn't too bad, was it? At least McGonagall isn't giving us a test before the holidays."

"I can't wait to go home and see my parents again, you?"

"I would say I miss my brothers, but I see them everyday. I'm excited about having no school and eating my mom's cooking again, not that Hogwarts' food is bad it just-"

"Isn't home." Lily finished.

Transfiguration was the one class they were never late for, not because they chose to be early, but because they had to. Other teachers would let a few stray minutes slip by, but McGonagall never let anyone miss her class.

Remus was already there, waiting for class to start when the two girls arrived. Potter, Black and Pettigrew weren't there yet, so he was all alone.

"Remus!" Lily practically squealed and threw herself at her friend.

"Hi Lily," Remus asked, puzzled by his friend's strange behavior, "did something happen?"

"Nope! I'm just glad to see that you, I mean your mother, is all right." Lily rushed, blushing faintly at her slight slip.

"She's doing better. I'll probably visit her again next month," and Lily bet she could predict the day, all she had to do was find a lunar chart…

"It's a shame you missed the Charms exam, it was really easy,"

"You have a different idea of easy, Lily."

"So?"

"Never mind. Have you seen Sirius, James or Peter today?"

"Yeah, they'll probably show up any minute now. I still don't see how you can stand them."

"With lots of practice."

Lily grinned then followed Alice to their favorite seats: away from the trouble-making Gryffindors.

Right as the bell rang, three boys rushed in with Professor McGonagall right behind them. They rushed towards the seats Remus had saved around him and welcomed their friend back.

McGonagall's roll-call brought some order to the chaotic first years, but not enough to temper Potter and Black's enthusiasm.

Alice and Lily exchanged looks when McGonagall finally gained control with her patented displeased-teacher glare.

Everything was normal, Lily thought as she began taking notes, except it wasn't. She now knew for certain that one of her best friends was a werewolf. How would that change their friendship?

Would it change their friendship? All Lily felt when she saw Remus wasn't pity; she felt concerned. Remus had to bottle up this secret. She could see how tired he was and she was worried, again.

But she didn't fear him. He was still her almost-brother. He was still Remus, and even if he thought she wouldn't understand if he told her, she did. She just hoped that his friends would react as well when the inevitable happened and they found out.