Authors Note: Finally a proper update. Chapter 10 is up and it's a lengthy one for me. I believe it would be my longest. I also happen to think it is one of my better written chapters, but I have a favor to ask of you readers:) I would love some constructive criticism. Anything that you don't like, I could improve upon etc. Please let me know. I would love to improve my writing and any suggestions you have would be greatly appreciated! Thanks for reading!

Chapter 10- Secrets Revealed

"Come on flower! It's part of being a Marauder! You have too."

"No Sirius! I will not tell you my biggest secrets… The whole school will know by tomorrow!"

"Lily… Sirius is right. I told them my secrets, and I think I'm ready to tell you, so that we can truly be the Marauders."

"Oh Remus, why do you always have to be right? Alright, alright I think I can tell you guys. But this doesn't leave the room correct?"

"Yes future bride-to-be, we keep it all in the group. So what does our lovely resident good-girl have to hide? Detention with McGonagall? Flings during the summer?"

Not for the first time, I Lily Evans, have gathered with the Marauders. In its entirety this time… Peter decided to grace us with his presence. And for some reason, I'm obliged to reveal all secrets I have to the Marauders… Brotherhood (and now Sisterhood) requires it. The only upside, actually there are a couple… are the fact that now I don't have to be so secretive about already knowing Remus's secret, and I get to know the deepest darkest secrets of Sirius and James. I don't think much Sirius says will surprise me, considering we are pretty tight, but you never know.

For a few minutes, we all went around sharing insignificant secrets we had kept, but after a few times around, the secrets got a bit juicier. Some of the things those boys got up to catch me by surprise.

"Alright Prongs, you've been stalling time to tell Lily about the dates…"

"Padfoot, I was waiting for the opportune moment… and now you ruined it!"

I cut in out of curiosity, "So Jamesie, what's this about dates… summer flings?" I laugh aloud at James's expense. Silence descends upon our small group while James contemplates his words for a few moments. Now with burning curiosity, I ask more urgently, "Come on James… I won't laugh… much."

"It's not laughing that I think you might do… my life is in danger."

I meet him with a more somber face than before, and nod for him to continue.

"Well… Lily, I um. Well you know in 5th year, when you went on a few dates with a couple of Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws?" I nod once more. "Well, you see, I was--- looking out for you. You know making sure they didn't try anything. So I sort of… well I followed you on your dates." He finishes hastily, "But I was doing it in your best interests!"

It takes a few moments for this revelation to really hit me, and as I sit contemplating the latest development, I can't decide what my reaction to this should be? Should I be angry? Happy that he cared so much? I suppose a mixture of many emotions would fit properly. I search my mind for the answer I know the boys are expecting, but I'm hitting a wall. I mean, I am somewhat pleased he cared enough to do this, and was honest enough to admit it. But I don't want to admit that! I am also a bit angry considering he either didn't believe I could take care of myself, or he was acting on jealous feelings. I suppose my silence has extended about as long as I can drag it out, so I had better get these feelings in check.

"Well James," I speak slowly giving myself a few more moments to consider my answer, "I'm flattered you actually cared enough to do that, but in the future, I think I can manage taking care of myself on dates okay? Really though I appreciate your concern. And your jealousy…"

Disbelieving faces all turn to me. I suppose it was somewhat shocking, but I've become a bit of a softy when James is involved.

"That's it Lily? No shouting match, slaps across the face? Angry yelling? Wow Prongs, you got off easy!" Remus exclaimed incredulously.

"Not this time Remus, if he tried it now, he would get a bit more than a slap across the face. But now that you mention it James… I seem to recall some crying… at least it sounded like crying, when I kissed that boy that left a couple years ago… Amos Diggory. Now why would you be crying Jamesie boy?" I laughingly inquire.

His face flushes dark, although my question isn't serious. "That was NOT crying, I had a cold and I was sniffling." He replies indignantly.

I can't contain my laughter any longer, and I finally allow my self to succumb to it. Between my gasps of laughter, I manage to get a few words addressing James's reply, "I was (laughter) just kid (laughter) kiddi (laughter) kidding! I didn't really hear anyone crying! (More laughter)"

His face deepens to a shade of red I didn't think existed as he reflects on my confession. And much to his dismay, we all burst in to fresh bouts of laughter at his expense. It seems we've been doing this quite a bit lately, but hey, payback for 6 years!

After minutes of this raucous laughter, we continue on with our confessions as if nothing happened. Next up for confession: Sirius Black. The real mystery for me… What does he have to hide…? Well maybe if I could stop thinking and start listening I'd find out!

"Well, you actually don't know this yet Lily, but um," He reddens a bit, "I'm, well, I'm a virgin."

Shock enters my face as I ponder the new development on Si. I thought… back a couple years ago… "But what about that older girl, Patricia. It went around school that something happened there…?

His blush deepens, "Well, she wanted a 'reason' to tell her friends why she dated a younger guy, and well what 16 year old guy is going to deny that claim?"

As I fully process this information, I laugh merrily at Sirius. "Don't worry Si! You're among virgins!"

"Umm… actually… last year... Slytherin 7th year. Well… you know." Pete confesses bashfully. Now that's really hilarious… The one Marauder that isn't… Peter Pettigrew…

"Aww Peter! Congratulations… I guess?" We chatter for a few more minutes about nothing until confessions proceed as they had been. We've made our way around the circle to Remus. And I expect his confession will lead to a couple of mine…

He seems worried as he contemplates his words. If only he knew that I already had his secret figured out. Well he would find out soon enough. I do want to see him struggle a bit though. Be sure he's willing to confide in me.

"Lily… about 10 years ago, my father had a bit of a bad business deal with a man he occasionally did business with… Fenrir Greyback. Greyback felt cheated by father, when really he was just following Ministry protocol. Late one night when I was about 6 years old, I went outside as I normally did in the evenings. To play near my house. However, this night my parents had told me to stay in. I didn't listen. It was a ritual of mine, and I wasn't about to break my nightly escapades. As I got farther and farther from the house, I heard a howl. I looked up and noticed the full moon. By that age I had heard werewolf stories, but it still didn't prepare me for the sight of one. My parents heard me screaming and rushed outside, their worst fear of the time confirmed. I later learned my father was able to get Greyback off of me. I woke up about a week later in St. Mungos. My mother and father had to break the news to me, although I had already realized the consequences of my actions. Since then, I turn in to a full fledged monster… every single month."

I sit in shocked silence. I knew he was a werewolf, but the whole story? I never really associated Remus the person with Remus the werewolf… What it must be like turning in to that monster every month, fearing every time he wakes up that he harmed another, gave them the curse he himself lives with every day of his life. The full realization of Remus's tragic situation hits me. Despite my new found respect for this great young man, I still am not getting out of admitting my own secret.

"Well… Remus, I have a secret of my own. I've known about your lycanthropy since first year. So do Alexis and Ashley. I'm sorry Remus we just happened to notice your absences and were curious. None of us think any differently of you, so don't you dare start acting any differently. I mean even Alexis still has that crush on you! I'm really sorry for butting in to your life, but we were worried about you and … well yeah. That's my secret." I mutter under my breath "One of them…"

Now its Remus's turn to sit in shocked silence. It's a lot to process… your crush of years knows he is a werewolf. I'm just happy she doesn't care. He would be crushed…

"I, well I don't know what to say Lily. I'm so relieved it doesn't bother you but… but you and the girls all know, and have known? Thank you for not telling anyone, I wish you had told me you knew so I wouldn't have to hide it anymore. And wait… Alexis has a crush on me?" A smile spreads across his face at the news (news only to him) I've let slip.

"Well I didn't want to tell you about Alexis knowing, because I thought you would give up on her. And well you shouldn't!"

At last, no more hiding secret knowledge of Remus. We can finally be a bit more upfront than we have been.

"So my dear Lils, now that THAT particular secret is out, we have one more for you. And then you have to share your other secrets… I heard when you said one of them."

"Ahh Si, you heard that? Alright, alright. You first boys." Before my eyes, I no longer see three teenage boys, but three animals. I look between the three creatures, first at the majestic, nearly-black stag with antlers sprouting messily reminiscent of James's untidy hair, next to the large black dog with steely grey/blue eyes looking back at me, and finally the small beige rat with beady brown eyes. After studying the peculiar group of animals surrounding me, I finally glance up at Remus, "All for you? Wow… they are incredible aren't they?"

When I look again towards the creatures, I meet the stares of once again three adolescent boys. Sheepish looks spread across their face and Peter surprisingly speaks first, "He was our mate. We couldn't leave him to face the full moon alone. And this was the only way we could be with him. You won't report us will you?"

"Three illegal animagi… roaming Hogwarts. Could get expelled, not to mention thrown in Azkaban. All out of friendship? You boys never cease to amaze me. The things you do for your friends, and the bond between you four is just astounding. I'm absolutely flabbergasted by this. And no you don't have to worry about me turning you in. Please don't make me regret that decision boys."

Now that they are out of the woods identical impish grins emerge, and I know what's coming. They're waiting for MY big secret. I mean its no werewolf or illegal animagi, but I suppose I can hold my own among them.

"So Mrs. Potter, what's this deep dark secret you're holding in?" James asks mischievously.

"I am not your mother James, and it isn't THAT deep and dark. I mean I only had so much control over the situation…" I reply scathingly albeit with a bit of humor in voice.

"Alright Lily, spill! You know all of our secrets, it's your turn!" Remus says with a smirk on his face.

"Okay okay… I hope it's worth the wait boys, because this is as bad as it gets for Miss Lily Evans. So, before Hogwarts, I went to a public Muggle school. Up until I was 11 and got my letter, I went to this school with my older sister Petunia. As a matter of fact, I attended the school after I received my letter, but only for a short time. Well in one of my classes, my teacher was horrendous. I was just as much of a know-it-all then as I am now, if not more so. So I'm sure you can imagine my response when this teacher repeatedly made mistakes throughout the class, marking my grade down when I was in the right. So, one day she was making the same mistakes, and I finally corrected her in front of class. Well she didn't much like that, and she gave me a horrible lecture about children knowing their place etc. And by the end of the speech I was so angry with her… Well, inadvertently, I made her… she umm… Well she started to inflate. Accidental magic at its finest. I was barely aware of this world, and it all came as a great surprise to me when several men and women in robes apparated in to my classroom! Anyways they modified memories to make it seem as if I simply bad mouth the teacher… Well it all ended with me being expelled from my Muggle school. Not that I minded at the time, as I was getting ready to attend Hogwarts, but it WAS the first time I had been truly in trouble at school…"

By the end of my story, all four boys were laughing uncontrollably at my expense. They proceeded in teasing me for the remainder of our Marauder session. I mean honestly is it that funny? I suppose it is humorous to imagine over-achiever Lily Evans inflating her teacher. But honestly, unrelenting mockery? Does it really deserve that? Well you never can predict what will happen next with these boys…

The joys of being a Marauder.