Remus swallowed nervously, unable to make a coherent response. Kat continued to stare, as though expecting something. Finally Remus was able to regain his mind, and his speech.
"Werewolves? That's a very interesting topic. Unlike most other transfigurations, it is actually a more painful transformation from human to beast and vice versa." He blanched, "Or so they say. Boggarts on the other hand..."
He attempted to change the topic but Kat wouldn't have it. "How old were you?" Her voice had a dangerous edge to it, a scowl sketched upon her face.
Remus stared at her quietly. Wondering if he was hated, wondering if she would tell others, wondering, wondering, wondering. "Eight." He said finally, knowing Kat was not one to give up easily. "I was eight." He began to pack up his books, casting his eyes downwards. Kat said nothing. He took one backwards glance at the girl, whom had resumed working on her paper. He dashed out of the library without a second thought. 'Damnit!'
He ran as fast as he could to the Gryffindor tower, and quickly threw himself onto the common room couch. He felt devastated. 'Now how can I face her and her friends. I imagine James is about to tell Lily something similar, and being a girl she will definately tell her best friends. Damnit! Damnit!' He couln't even focus back on his homework, instead he decided to go to bed early. Ridiculously early.
-------------------
"Mr. Lupin!" Professor McGonagall huffed, "If you could kindly focus on the lecture, it would be greatly appreciated."
Her shrill voice brought the daydreamers to attention, including Lily. She had been thinking about the weekend, and everything she had learned. It was frightening how much the marauders developed on their own, and what they had already accomplished. 'I never realized they were actually so smart. I thought it was always dumb pranks and goofing off.' McGonagall continued on with her notes, and Lily couldn't help but drift back into her daydream.
"Animagus?" Lily spluttered, spilling tea onto the table. "That's not possible."
"Oh it's possible."
"You need all sort of regulations, and approvals. They never would...the stag? Was that you?"
James grinned and pointed his finger, "Bingo." He went on to explain how the werewolf would be less alone and generally less agressive to animals than it would be to humans. Also, less of a chance of hurting himself if focused on other creatures. "Moony, Prongs, Wormtail, and Padfoot...They're nicknames to our other identities."
"So Sirius, Padfoot is..."
"A large ferocious, or loveable, black dog. Peter is Wormtail, a rat. We needed someone to freeze the whomping willow..." His conversation lead to so many revelations. The truth about the whomping willow, the shrieking shack, how they spent so long researching and developing into animaguses, and many strange instances over the years. James even told Lily about the prank they played on Severus in fifth year. "That's why we haven't pranked him much since then."
Lily was flabbergasted. Apalled, shocked, too many emotions to think. 'Potter has lived a secret life, that only his friends, and now me, have ever known about.' She thought to herself, speechless. Her jaw was dropped open and she quickly gathered her things.
"It's nearing seven Potter, I want to return." She would not look at the Head Boy in the eyes.
James did not say anything, but lead her away. They didn't speak until they returned to Hogwarts grounds, where James apologized.
"I'm sorry, Lily."
"F-for what? You're not going to memory charm me are you?"
He smiled weakly, "For overwhelming you, I guess. Maybe, if you'd like I can show you around the forest sometime."
She blinked. "James." These words surprised her, having never actually said his name before. "I have to tell you something now. I know you've been after me for some time, and I really do like you as a friend. But I can never like you more than that. I'm sorry."
He looked crushed, absolutely horrified. "Yeah." It was all he said before he walked away, leaving Lily swarming with their conversations, and mixed emotions about the whole ordeal.
Kat nudged her side roughly. "I have something to tell you guys afterwards. It's important." She hissed.
Remus looked up at the girls a few rows ahead of him. They were whispering, and it could only mean one thing. 'They are talking about me...' He cringed but continued to copy notes. James, who was sititng beside hRemus, couldn't help but stare at the back of the red-headed female. 'I guess we really will never be...' His hazel eyes scanned the room, sadly, looking for anything else that might distract his busy mind.
Classes seemed to drag by, but soon Kat had Melody and Lily in their bedroom. They made sure that the other year girls would not be able to hear, by casting a charm on the door. She paused for dramatic effect, a grimace drawn across her face.
"Remus is a werewolf."
"I know." Lily responded as Melody gasped slightly.
"This is terrible." Kat continued, "I can't believe Dumbledore would allow for such a monster to go here."
"It's Remus. He's our friend, not a monster." Lily was dumbfounded by Kat's comments.
"You're okay with a werewolf living amongst us? I think it's a crime! It shouldn't be allowed."
"Werewolves are terrifying creatures." Melly added.
"See, she agrees!"
"No, no, but Remus wouldn't hurt a fly." She added quickly, "I see no reason to turn our backs on him."
"Are you both blind?" The blonde shrieked, "He's a beast, a monster!"
"He's our friend!"
"It's not his fault he was bitten."
"That doesn't change the fact that he kills, maims and destroys. He should be killed; put out of society's misery."
"Do you even realize what you are saying?" Lily shrieked back. "You are telling us you would rather have Remus dead!"
"I would." She snarled. "I can't stand the thought of that thing being around me."
Lily couldn't stand it anymore, so she reached out and slapped the girl across the face. "Don't you ever speak like that ever again!"
Kat stormed out of the room, followed by a furious Lily. Melody was much too upset and stayed behind. Unfortunately, the marauders were sitting around the common room tables, working together on an assignment. Kat rushed forward, eyes filled with hate.
"Beast! Monster!" She hissed at Remus, "You should be put down."
"Bitch!" Sirius stood up, wand ready and a glare sketched across his face.
James was enraged, "You said you wouldn't tell!" He snapped at Lily.
"I didn't, she figured it out on her own."
Remus was hurt, but not overly surprised. People tended to turn their backs on him all the time. It was a reason why he never had a steady girlfriend. He could never tell them the truth. Remus hated lying, but most of all, he hated rejection. Gathering his books, Remus stood in front of Kat. He towered over the girl, but her fire made him feel small.
"Kat, I know you may not like who I am because of my condition, but we were once friends. Perhaps, you can remember that and know that I have never hurt anybody in my time here. Afterall, it took seven years for you to figure it out. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to write a letter to Dumbledore."
Sirius scowled, "I feel the right to smack you across the face."
"She already did that." Kat spoke in a softer tone, referring to Lily. "I'm going downstairs."
So Lily was left with the three remaining marauders. James felt awkward around Lily and quickly announced that he was going to visit his new girlfriend. Sirius figured this was a good idea, and decided to go visit whats-er-name. Peter quickly scampered away to see if Remus was alright, and Lily was on her own. 'New girlfriend...? That was rather fast.' She thought to herself, her mind drifting away from the events that just occurred.
-------------------
Halloween snuck up fast, and soon Lily found her self at the great feast filled with special holiday foods. She smiled sadly as she spotted Kat sitting at the opposite end of the table with some sixth-year girls. They hadn't talked since the other day. It was quite strange being in a room with someone you ahd known forever but were no longer friends with. James quickly swooped down beside Lily wearing plastic fangs and a cape.
"'Ewwo devishoush." He spoke in a strange voice for the fangs were rather large and speech impairing.
Chloe quickly dashed up and gave Lily a glare before whining in a flirty voice, "Jamesee come sit at my table."
"As vuu vish my wady"
Sirius and Peter joined up with Lily and Melody, each wearing a silly costume. Peter had cut two holes in his sheet to make a poor attempt at a ghost, while Sirius had dressed up a little more elaborately. Face painted green and had two bolts secured to his neck.
"Hey lame faces, how come you guys don't have a costume?"
"Because I'm not seven anymore, Sirius." Lily joked, "How come James' girlfriend who I've never spoken to, hates me?"
"How do you know she hates you?" Peter questioned, slightly muffled by the sheet.
"She gave me the look. The one girls give. You know what I mean. Up and down scan with the eyes followed with either a grimace or a snarl."
"Ah, the look. See Peter, females are a peculiar brand, they hate for no good reason. Well my dearest Lilikins, it's quite obvious. You are Mr. Potter's Evans. You are his dump to his dumpster, the sea to his boat, the sky to his cloud. You are the one he's been chasing forever, so she feels competition against you."
"For once, you actually make sense, although your analogies could use some work."
"I think they're quite brilliant myself."
Rebecca soon strolled up to the Frankenstien look-a-like and waited for him to say something. Perhaps even introduce her.
"Oh Lily, this is...Ronnie."
"Um... Ronnie?" Rebecca questioned, suddenly scowling.
"Short for Veronica?" He guessed.
The girl quickly burst into tears and dashed away. Melody shook her head in mock disgust.
"You ought to break up with that girl if you can't even keep her name straight."
"Yeah, yeah. I think she will anyways. I'll be back kids. Don't do anything I would do."
Lily slumped down in her chair, watching Chloe and James from a distance. He was twirling a long strand of her black hair in his hand and pulled her into a kiss. 'She's not right for him. He needs someone sensible and smart. Not just a pretty face.' Melody turned to Lily's gaze and grinned knowingly.
"Well if it's any consolation they will have beautiful black-haired babies." She twirled a short piece of her own black hair.
"I don't care."
"You do, and it may not be too late to make things right."
Lily and Melody were tired of all the surrounding drama and decided to ditch the feast early; leaving before dessert was most unheard of by anyone. They made their way down random passages, no real destination in mind. They started talking about everything that had happened and all the recent revelations. Lily avoided certain areas of conversation. Especially involving any Marauders. She was glad to have Melody at her side, but it was a little sad to be missing Kat. A cloaked figure rushed passed them, and Lily whispered to Melody.
"Not a very classy halloween costume."
Both girls quickly realized it hadn't been a costume.
"We if it ain't a couple of mudbloods. What makes you think you are allowed here?"
Lily pointed her wand at the figure. "You might want to be careful. I am the Head Girl." The figure just laughed and prepared to cast a spell, but Lily was faster, "Petrificus Totalus!" The figure immediately froze in the boy-binding spell.
"Let's see who it is..." Melly suggested, ripping back the hood.
"Regulus Black! James was right afterall, scum." They turned to leave, the Slytherin would be left, bound by the spell until someone rescued him. "Oh, and ten points from Slytherin." Lily added cooly.
-------------------
It was Kat who found the spell-bound Slytherin. As she noticed the colours of his robes, she was tempted to keep walking, but his face was familiar to her. 'He has the same nose and jaw of Sirius.' She paused and stared down into his dark face.
"Don't just bloody stare." He moaned, "Let me free."
Reluctantly, Kat removed the spell with a simple flicker of her willowy wand. Instantly the boy began rubbing his sore shoulders from lying in on spot for so long. "Thanks." He mumbled, practically ashamed for talking to her. "What's your name?"
"Thompson." She responded, knowing what he was after.
"Pureblood then, though I suppose you are a mudblood lover." He sneered.
"Not so much anymore. They'd rather hang out with disgusting excuses for human beings, let alone wizards."
This seemed to bring a smile to his lips. "Regulus Black, nice to meet you..."
"Kat. Call me Kat."
