James opened the book.
"Werewolves, werewolves. Hmmm. Okay, here…. 'Polyjuice Potion and Side-effects with Half-breeds.' Half-breeds? That sounds kind of rude…Blah, blah, blah. 'Polyjuice Potion is intended for human use…Half-breeds cannot turn into humans.' Well, that's great, but I want to know if I'll turn into a werewolf. So, that's it. I'm dead."
"Maybe we should ask Remus already, or find another book. I don't know," said Sirius. "We can't risk you being cut into ribbons again. If not for my excellent healing abilities..."
"We need to tell Remus," James stated firmly.
"But what about Lily?" asked Peter. "What if she finds out?"
"Ugghhhhhhhh!" James groaned frantically. "I can't do this. I don't want to be a werewolf. Werewolves are monsters."
Right on the "Werewolves are monsters" Remus walked in. He turned on his heel and immediately left.
"Remus, mate. I'm sorry. I didn't mean that! Remus, stop!" yelled James.
He tried to go after him, but his cuts, now magically erased, felt like weird pains inside of him. For a second, he worried if it was a side-effect, but then he decided he didn't care. He had gotten himself into this stupid mess just to hear a stupid secret from Lily Evans. He deserved to feel horrible, especially after what he had said about werewolves.
Also because he found himself thinking: Now, I have to go get another book.
He trudged to the library miserably. He had to act fast before the library closed. Plus, it was also Remus' full moon tonight. Maybe it would also be his own…
James looked for a book about Polyjuice, but it had already been checked out. and he didn't feel much like getting gashed open again. He moved to the book-drop to return Snivelly's book, but the girl at the counter looked at him with raised eyebrows.
"You didn't check this book out…Severus did, right?"
"How am I supposed to know?" he said. Even though he did know, it was still a legitimate question.
"Okay, then let me check the log. Severus…Severus. Right here. Severus Snape. He's checked out: A History of Spells, Potions: Amortentia, Hogwarts: A History, Mythical Beasts: Experimental Tragedies," she mumbled, with emphasis on the title to show she was right.
"Big deal. It's called doing a favor… Hey what- what was the second book you said?"
"That's confidential!"
"But you already told me! It's kind of an emergency."
"Potions: Amortentia. I don't see why-"
"Okay, thanks." James said, running off.
He didn't know why this information was vital, but maybe it provided an explanation to Severus' behavior. Maybe he was jealous of James making a move on Lily when he had gone to the lengths of making Amortentia. Maybe James had spoiled his plans… The only thing James was certain of was that he had to warn Lily, but with his level of credibility…And James also had to show Lily that Remus wasn't a werewolf. Remus! Bright, innocent, Remus, that Lily always believed…
"Peter, get me Remus' clothes or anything with his hair on it. And, Sirius, leftover Polyjuice please?"
James had decided, that after all of this, he would put himself last. It didn't matter if he did become a werewolf forever, or murdered more owls, but he at least wanted to make sure Remus' secret remained hidden. Maybe Lily Evans' secret should also remain hidden.