Losing Lily

Chapter 5: A New Friendship

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Oh my gosh. Lily Evans thought as she lay in her bed. I can't believe it! Who would have guessed that Remus Lupin, who couldn't hurt a fly, was a werewolf! I mean he's always so shy and gentle. He's the last the last one you'd thinks a werewolf, but I guess it makes sense. He's absent every month or so and it's always during a full moon. I should have figured it out as soon as Severus had told me his nickname was Moony.

And that brought her attention on Severus, who was now in the hospital wing. I can't believe Severus was going to tell me the secret without asking Remus! You can't just go around telling everyone that someone's a werewolf! I mean, if the other students found out Remus couldn't go to Hogwarts anymore! How could Severus be so cruel? But in her heart Lily knew how much Severus hated the Marauders. It wasn't very hard to believe that Severus almost spilled Remus' secret.

And the plan to have revenge on Potter is no more. I don't want to cause any more trouble for Remus when he already has enough. So, I guess that means I won't be hanging out with the Marauders anymore. That's too bad I was beginning to enjoy their compa- WHAT AM I SAYING! I HATE THEM… don't I?

I don't know, maybe. But then again they can be pretty funny and even James can be okay. Well, I can think about that later. I've had a long day. Time to get some shuteye. And a moment later she was fast asleep.

Meanwhile in the common room the Marauders were having a serious discussion. James was sitting in an armchair still feeling guilty about Lily finding out about Remus's furry little problem. Sirius was asleep on a couch. Peter was standing; he wasn't quite sure what to do. Remus was sitting on another arm hair, staring into the fire.

"So," Peter said trying to break the silence. "Will Lily keep your secret?"

"Yes," Remus said in a gloomy voice, "she understands how important it is to keep it."

"Does the Headmaster know?" Peter asked.

"Yes, he also talked to Lily," Remus said.

"Look," James said, "I'm really sorry about today. I should have thought of a better excuse. I should have hexed Snape into oblivion. It's my fault tha-"

"No," Remus said. "It's not. Snape and Snape only is responsible for what happened. You didn't do anything wrong. I'm not mad at you at all."

"Okay," James said as he let out a big sigh. It was a good thing Remus never got mad. "Well, I am gonna hit the sack. See you guys tomorrow."

"Okay," Remus said as he drifted off to sleep. "Good night,"

"Mooooooooooonnnnyyyyy!" cried James as Remus opened his eyes. "Moooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooony! Wake up! It's time for breakfast!"

"Okay, okay," Remus said as he looked around. He was still in the common room, he must have fallen asleep in the common room. "I'm up! Sheesh!"

"Well, hurry up and get around! Qudditch tryouts are today!" James exclaimed and then in a sing-song voice he added, "And guess who's captain!"

"Why do I have to get up for it though?" Remus said. "I don't play qudditch!"

"But I'm the captain! You have to come!" James whined, "You have to show your support!"

"Oh, alright," Remus said, "I guess I'll come to support you."

"Good," James said. "Sirius will be there too. Now, hurry up and get ready!"

"Okay, okay," Remus said as he headed upstairs, "I'm getting ready!"

It took several minutes for Remus to find his clothes ("Sirius and James are such slobs!") and a few more minutes to brush his teeth and hair. When he finally was ready it was 9:00, good thing it was a weekend!

"There you are!" James exclaimed, "We were about to go without you!"

"Oh, no!" Remus said. "Anything but that!"

"Well let's go already!" Sirius said impatiently.

Once in the Great Hall the Marauders took their usual seats, at the end of the Gryffindor table. Remus and Sirius were discussing how to prank Snape after he gave away the furry little problem. Peter was wolfing down as much food as he could, and James was searching the Great Hall for Lily. Finally he spotted her coming into the Great Hall.

"Lily!" James called. "Hi, Lily!"

"Hello, James," she said trying to avoid his gaze. Now that her plan for revenge was out she didn't know if she should avoid the Marauders or not.

"You can sit here, Lily," James said as he motioned to the spot where she usually sat.

"Well, I um," she said awkwardly, "Okay." She couldn't see any way to avoid sitting with them so she sat down. "Hi, guys," she said gloomily. "How are you?"

"What's wrong, Lily?" James asked, "Are you okay?"

"What- oh yeah. I'm fine," she said. "How are you, Remus?" she said as she turned to him, but instead of seeing his usual expression of calm she saw one of sadness.

"Look," he whispered as so only she could hear him, "if you don't want to be friends any more because of my problem, its okay. I'm used to it."

"Oh my gosh," Lily said as she realized that Remus thought his condition was the reason she hadn't wanted to sit with him. "Tt's not that at all. I'm just a little down today, but it has nothing to do with you," she reassured him.

"Okay," he said looking relieved. "Then what's up?"

"Nothing," she lied.

"Alright," he said in a doubtful voice.

Well, I guess that wether I like it or not I'm now friends with the Marauders. Lily thought as she put some toast onto her plate. But, why is that a bad thing? Lily asked herself. Part of her wanted to be friends with them, but another part reminded her how much she didn't like them.

"Well we better get to qudditch practice," James said as he got up. "You coming, Lily?"

"Yeah," she said as she officially decided that from here on out she was a friend of the Marauders, "I'm coming."

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Editor's note: Well, there's chapter 5. Sigh Taylor hasn't quite seemed to grasp the concept of proper quotations. I think I've managed to edit all the mistakes, but it's getting tiring. Oh well. Review!