Title: A Time For Change
Author Name: DarkForest214
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: "Transforming Thoughts"
Summery: Sequel to "Transforming Thoughts." Follow Lily and James in their new relationship while keeping an eye on their mischievous friends Remus Lupin and Sirius Black.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters or Hogwarts School. I did not write this to try and make money. I am not stealing from JKR and the publishing companies and whatnot… I own nothing!
Author's Note: The next chapter might be slow in coming because I've got some more writing to do. But fear not, the story shall go on! Lemme know what you think!
Chapter Nine
The sun filtered through a crack in the curtains around Remus's bed and hit him square in the eyes. He let out a moan as he rolled over and tried to go back to sleep. It was no use. He was awake now, and already his mind was running circles around him.
Halloween, Lily, full moon, James, homework, Lily, breakfast, the library and Lily. Argh why Lily? No. It's nothing. Just a passing fancy. What about that Ravenclaw girl he ran into in the library the other day? She was cute, and she had checked out one of his many favorite books. Yeah, her…he liked her. What was her name again?
"I don't wanna wake him. You do it," said Sirius, his voice interrupting his thoughts.
"I don't want to do it either, but somebody has to," said James. They were arguing in increasingly louder voices and it wasn't hard for Remus to guess about who.
"That's why you should do it," said Sirius. "She asked you."
"Oh yes, and I love being the bearer of bad news this early in the morning," said James. Remus lay on his back in his bed and could picture James rolling his eyes. He suspected that deep down his friends knew their bickering would rouse him from bed eventually. Might as well let them go at it for a bit longer. He didn't think he was ready to face the day just yet.
"Just remind him of the old saying," said Sirius.
"Oh yeah? And what's that?" snapped James.
"Don't shoot the messenger, but—"
"Gee, thanks. You've been a big help," James spat sarcastically. "How would you like it if I woke you up on the morning of a full moon to tell you some girl fancies you and would like to speak with you tonight at the feast?" Remus felt his heart skip a beat.
"You could have told her he wasn't feeling well last night and didn't think he'd make it to dinner," suggested Sirius.
"Once again, oh Smart One, it's a bit late for that."
"Do you two ever stop?!" asked Peter in a rare moment of courage. "He's probably been awake for the last five minutes or so listening to you two arguing."
"He has a point you know," said Remus without moving.
"Remus?" asked James.
"Look, Moony we're sorry. It's just that—"
"And I'm sure the whole of Gryffindor tower is awake thanks to your shouting," Remus added as he sat up and opened the curtains. "Tell me what happened."
"Are you feeling all right? You're looking pale."
"Don't change the subject James," Remus interrupted sternly. "I'm fine. Now start from the beginning and tell me what happened."
James sat nervously on the edge of his bed and looked mournfully at Remus. "I'm sorry mate, really I am, but I went down early to go to the library." Remus raised an eyebrow in questioning. "I was carrying a stack of books back for Lily," he explained.
"She likes her books," Remus nodded. "Carry on."
"When we went to leave this girl stopped us in the hallway to talk," said James.
"Oh really? What house?" Remus asked, trying to sound uninterested.
"What? Oh, Ravenclaw I think…" said James. "Anyway, she wondered if Lily and I were dating because she thought that Lils was with you. 'Cause she always saw you two together in the library."
"She thought we—? But we're just friends!" said Remus.
"That's what I told her. Lily laughed it off but I think she was a bit shaken by the question," James added darkly. "Lils offered to introduce her to you some time, but she um…she wanted to talk to you tonight. Something about holidays being romantic or whatever," he added rolling his eyes.
"It'll be a wee bit difficult for me to meet her tonight," said Remus, a regretful look in his eye.
"I know," said James. "Lily told her we'd talk to you about it."
"You'd have been better off telling her no," said Remus with a sigh as he flopped back on his bed and stared at the ceiling. A sharp knock at the door brought his gaze in its direction as James got up and crossed the room to open it.
"Lily, this is a surprise!" said James, his eyes lighting up.
"I was wondering if… is Remus awake yet? Have you told him?" she said softly.
"Aye, he's awake and as miserable as usual," Remus called out.
"Why don't you come in," said James, propping open the door for her.
"Come to see me get dressed this morning?" Sirius joked. "I don't usually entertain someone else's girlfriend, but since Prongs apparently isn't doing his job…" he said suggestively.
"Bugger off, Sirius," snapped Lily. "The world doesn't revolve around you."
"Cold, Lily. You struck me right here," said Sirius, his hand over his heart.
"Shut up and put a shirt on will ya?" said James.
"Spoilsport," muttered Sirius.
"Remus are you all right?" asked Lily as she crossed the room — stepping over James and Sirius's mess to get to him. She sat on the edge of his bed and placed a hand on his forehead. "You look pale, are you sure you're all right?" she asked again.
Remus resisted the urge to blush and shrugged it off. "I'm fine," he said as he tried to sit up.
"You lay back down and I'll get you some water," said Lily as she gently pushed him back into bed.
"No Lily, I'm fine," he protested and as she stood to fetch him some water he reached out and grabbed her wrist. "Seriously Lils, I'm fine."
She sat back down and held his hand in hers. "I'm sorry Remus. Maybe I'm over reacting, but I'm scared for you."
"Better scared for me than scared of me," said Remus.
"Oh Remus, I'd never… you know I'm not—"
"Ahem," Sirius cleared his throat. Both Lily and Remus blushed slightly and looked away from each other. James was eying them both suspiciously.
"Look Lils, he's been through this dozens of times," said Sirius, trying to ease the growing tension. He didn't want to have to deal with an outburst of jealous rage from James.
"I-I forgot, I'm sorry. It's just that this is the first transformation he'll go through that I'll know about," said Lily, her hand still wrapped around Remus's. "And I know that once he's transformed he'll be different, that just makes me worry about you," she said, looking to James. "I'm sorry, but I don't think I'll ever look at a full moon the same…"
"I can't make promises for my wolf self," said Remus. "But I know Sirius will be there to keep James safe," he said with a reassuring squeeze to her hand.
Lily let go of his hand with a smile and stood. James was still looking at them suspiciously as she walked over to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. "James Potter if you come back with so much as a single scratch on you I'm blaming him," she said, indicating Sirius.
"Hey! What'd I do?!" exclaimed Sirius.
Lily rolled her eyes and continued. "And I'll take care of your wounds myself," she said with a smirk. "No more playing healer for you. It's my turn."
"If you ask me that's just giving him incentive to get hurt," said Sirius to Remus.
"In that case you have my permission to use me as a scratching post," James said to Remus as he wrapped his arms around Lily's waist.
"You do not!" said Lily, trying to pull away.
"I was only teasing," said James, holding her closer and lowering his head to meat hers.
"In that case…" she said and their lips locked.
"A scratching post? What does he think I am, a house cat?" said Remus to Sirius, ignoring the display of affection going on in front of him.
"Well you are pretty docile and laid back, except when it comes to homework of course," said Sirius.
"Docile? My wolf is anything but docile," said Remus.
"How would you know? You barely remember anything," said Sirius.
"Because I've seen what I've done to you. Or don't you remember that nasty little scrape I gave you last month?"
"Little scrape? You nearly took off me arm!"
"It wasn't that bad, Padfoot. Now do you mind, you're killing the mood," said James.
"James!" Lily exclaimed, blushing heavily as she backed out of his grasp.
"Sorry," he muttered sheepishly.
"Now, if we're going to convince that girl that you've fallen ill without having her feel like you stood her up, we better get to work," said Lily.
"I'm sorry, what?" said Remus.
"If you unexpectedly don't come to dinner tonight she'll think you're avoiding her. I've got it all planned out," said Lily.
"What are you talking about?" asked Remus, still utterly confused. He looked to James and Sirius who just shrugged.
"Why don't you get dressed while I go and gather a few things from my room," she said as she headed toward the door.
"She's lost her marbles," said Sirius, the moment she was gone.
"No she hasn't," said Remus. "She's a girl."
"Isn't that what I said?"
This time it was Remus who received an eye roll from James. "Well, you heard the girl, get dressed," said James, turning away from his werewolf friend.
"Wait, James… You do know I'd never do anything to interfere with you and Lily, right?" said Remus.
"I don't know what you're talking about," said James as he dug through his trunk without looking at Remus.
"I understood that look in your eyes James. We know each other to well to lie…"
James gave up on his search with a sigh and sat back on his heels. He was right. Remus was always right… "All right, I'm sorry. Yeah, I was a bit jealous. So what?"
"She'll never cheat on you and you know it. Just like I'd never do anything to hurt you," said Remus. "That's why I never told you — but feel you deserve to know now — that I use to, er…fancy her…"
"Really?"
"Yes."
"But you don't anymore?"
"Correct."
"And you fancy this Ravenclaw girl now?"
"Actually, yes. I know of the girl you were talking about. We've made eyes at each other from across the library before," said Remus.
"Well, good luck with her then, mate," said James. "Even if it's short lived." James meant no offense and Remus didn't take any. It was a bitter but known fact — for Remus — that he rarely dated a girl for more than one moon cycle. It's not that he lost interest or was a player that went through a girl a week. He was just the opposite.
Remus usually broke up with a girl when he was in a funk just before a full moon. That way the girl thought he was too heart broken to come to dinner that night. In reality he was trying not to hurt her, and he feared growing attached to someone who might freak out and leave the instant she learned what he was. Or worse yet, tell others of his secret.
That's why dating was such a sore subject with Remus. Sirius had no problem with dating a different girl every other week or so, but Remus… Remus wanted love. 'Reading so many books and stories has ruined me. I have a definition of love that does not exist. And because of it I'm bound to remain broken.' Remus thought. Maybe someday that would all change, but for now he wasn't about to get his hopes up.
A/N: As always, R&R...(it makes my day)