Disclaimer: I have never experienced abuse and don't own the characters you recognize.

The Truth Can Hurt part one

Alan watched in discontent as James picked himself up.

"That was awfully low, is that what you do to all of the girls you've been with?" he asked, dusting his shirt off.

Alan deigned not to reply, but his expression told James that he was hitting the spot.

"Fine, don't answer; but I will get the whole story and then I will tell everybody what you've done," James replied to Alan's silence.

This time he made sure to eye Alan as he walked away.

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Lily looked up nervously that evening, when Alan came to sit with her at dinner.

"Oh come on Lily. You know I didn't mean anything by that earlier today. I just let my temper get away with me," he said, placing an arm around her shoulder. She jerked, but let it stay.

Down the table, James watched the whole scene with distaste. "How can she… let him touch her, after what he did to her?"

Remus looked up, and noticed that James was watching Lily and Alan leave the hall. "James, maybe you shouldn't get yourself involved with this. Didn't you get hurt because of him?"

James was rubbing between his shoulder blades unconsciously when Remus brought it up. He stopped and looked at Remus. "I'm not going to take this to the headmaster, Remus, I'm going to deal with it on my own, with or without your help."

Remus shook his head as James got up and followed Alan. Leaving a deep silence in his wake.

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Dumbledore watched in interest as James, Lily and Alan left the hall, each wearing a different expression.

Wondering what was going on, he followed the movement of Lily. Her body was shaking and she wasn't walking like she wanted Alan to hold her at all.

Something must be happening that he didn't know about.

A/N: okay this is as long as I can get it without losing the place where I am going with it. I hope you forgive me for not updating sooner!

Serindraxx