Chapter 9: Visiting Skeletons
Sunday, September 12, 1977

Shit, oh, shit.

Why, McGonagall? No, it's Slughorn's fault. He picked second. You were supposed to like me, you arse! I'm your Lovely Lily!

I was standing before my childhood best friend. Someone who was always there for me growing up near each other who was "different" like me. Things started to decline a little during school, being in two different houses, but everything fell apart in our fifth year when he turned on me after one of the routine "visits" by James and his friends. He turned to me, called me something I dare not repeat, and the rest was history.

We bowed at each other, then held up our wands.

"Lily," Severus sneered.

"Sev," I said, softly. I will not show malcontent.

"So you're dating Potter," he said. I could hear the disdain in his voice.

"Yes," I replied, keeping my tone low and lowering my wand to my side. I wanted to get this started.

"Pitty," he said, lowering his wand to side. "You really could do better you know," he said, his tone softer than before. He turned on his heal and started walking away.

I turned as well, taking my ten steps. Keep your head level, Lily. Don't let him get to you, I told myself.

I turned around and we were facing each other, the duel was on.

"Expelliarmus!" I yelled. I didn't want to hurt him, just get my point and finish it. Unfortunately, my head wasn't all there and I missed. "Damn," I muttered.

I barely saw Severus twitch his arm when suddenly I felt myself get pulled to the floor as if I was magnetized to the platform. Shit, I thought to myself. I forgot Sev mastered non-verbal spells... This is going to be difficult, but I will keep going! With much effort, I pulled myself to my feet. I could see James in my peripheral, and he was gripping his wand tightly. Please don't, I thought. Please don't interfere... "Locomotor Mortis!" I said, barely audible, twitching my arm.

Severus struggled in place a little, but with a wave of his arm he had removed my Leg-Locker curse within a second of my casting it. It's like he knows... Dammit... I remembered. Sev is a master at Legilimency! Going to just have to be quick. Quiet and quick.

I started throwing every legal jinx, charm, and hex I could think of, ending it with a strong Knockback Jinx. He stumbled a bit on that last one, but caught himself.

I glanced at James again, he looked like he was going to jump up. He caught my gaze and I gave a slight shake of my head. He relaxed a little, but his grip on his wand never wavered.

Severus saw this quick exchange, and I saw his eyes narrow. He suddenly looked like he was growing angrier with my decision to be with James. He flicked his wand again, just a small flick.

I gasped from the pain. I looked at my left arm. There was a cut about the length of my thumb, freshly made. That must have been the twitch, I thought.

I flicked my wand, thinking Levicorpus, and suddenly Severus was hoisted up by this ankles. He flicked his wand again, just slightly, and I felt another cut appear across my leg above my knee. "Shit, that hurts," I mumbled to myself. Can't let him do a bigger wand movement... that wouldn't be good for me.

I pointed to my wounds and whispered, "Episkey." Nothing happened, but it stopped it from hurting. That should have closed these up...

I looked at Severus, still hanging from his ankles in the air. "Liberacorpus," I said, flicking my wand. He felt to the floor. I don't want to hurt him but I do want to make it out of here in one piece.

These wounds on me. They must be that curse he told me about in fourth year. He was getting sick and tired of how James and the guys were treating him, so he made a curse to use against them if he had to. This must be it.

Severus got back to his feet, He raised his wand, getting ready to give it one good swipe.

"Finite Incantatem!" I yelled, pointing my wand at the same time he slashed his wand. I felt the cut form across my chest, but I think my counter-spell took the blunt of it, even though it was still painful enough to blur my vision a little. Clutching my chest, I fell to my knees and cast one last Knockback Jinx at Severus, knocking him over.

I saw the red sparks from Robertson right before everything went black.

I woke up in the Hospital Wing a short time later. My friends were there, which was a comfort. It also meant no one was chasing after Severus. Then I noticed Peter was missing. I sat up and my head started spinning.

"Oh! She's awake!" Dorcas said, sitting at the foot of the cot. James was at my side, holding my hand. My leg, arm, and chest were all bandaged. The top three buttons of my shirt were undone, exposing the bandage. A little blood was starting to show through the bandages, as well. My jumper was folded on the table next to me.

"Were my wounds really that bad?" I said, once the room stopped spinning.

"No, actually," Emmeline said. "Just wore yourself out."

"You've only been out about twenty minutes," Remus added.

"Where's Peter?" I asked.

"Pomfrey sent him to Slughorn," Remus said. "Slughorn is getting the counter-curse out of Snape."

"He's good," Marlene said. "Really good. But you got the point because he isn't supposed to use curses that cause damage like this," she continued, pointing at my bandages.

"It's a curse he made up himself. I think he called it 'Sectumsempra.' Pretty much turns your wand into a knife or sword. It can cause much more damage, but he held back," I told them. "I think he created it in fourth year."

"Merlin," Sirius said. "He's mad, but I can't deny he has talent. Developing a spell like that during fourth year?"

"I know. Same when we were kids."

"Can't believe Snivellus would do that," James said. I could see the anger in his eyes.

"He was upset about us," I admitted. "Really, I don't hold it against him. I know what this curse can do, and this is just a couple of paper cuts and a cat scratch in comparison. He seriously held back," I smiled at him, and that seemed to relax him a little.

I looked around at all my friends there. "I better not hear of any of you doing anything. This was dueling club, after all. Things happen."

"Not even one teensy-weensy little hex or jinx?" Dorcas said. "One that isn't a big deal?"

"If I say no, will that matter?" I asked.

"Not really, no," she said, smiling deviously.

"If I hear about him getting hurt I'm coming after all of you," I said, crossing my arms. They all laughed and Dorcas rubbed her hands together.

That's when Peter entered the room. "Vulnera Sanentur," he said, catching his breath. "Said you may have to cast it a couple of times, but that will clear up the wounds."

"Did Slughorn have a hard time getting it out of him?" Marlene asked.

"Actually, no," Peter said, shocked. "Snivellus actually walked up to Slug as soon as James carried Lily out of the Great Hall and told him the counter-curse and the instructions. Slug said that he 'looked worried,' too."

Madam Pomfrey emerged then, walking up to the cot. "Okay, that's enough. Shoo, all of you! She'll be out of here soon. Go on! Get!" They all reluctantly left, James giving me a quick kiss on the head on the way out.

She removed the bandages one at a time, each time taking her wand and passing it over each cut. It only took one to clear up the one on my chest, two for the ones on my arm and leg. All that was left was a light pink scar. "That should clear up in a couple of days," she said. "I put some Dittany on it before I bandaged it."

"Can I go, then?" I asked her, smiling.

"Yes, you may. No point on keeping you here if it's all cleared up."

"Thanks for everything, Madam Pomfrey."

"Take it easy, you. I don't want to see you back here today because you overdid it," she said, waving her finger at me.

"Yes, ma'am!" I said, saluting. I grabbed my jumper and left, finding everyone waiting outside for me.

"So, when's dinner?" I said, smiling.

"Yeah, she's fine," Dorcas said.

"The counter-curse work?" James asked.

I held up my arm for him to see the pink scar. "Pomfrey said it should clear up in a day or two. If it doesn't, it isn't a big deal. It's barely noticeable." I smiled at him. "No pain whatsoever," I assured him, tapping it.

"All right, as long as you're okay," he said, taking my hand. "To dinner?"

"Let's eat!" I said, enthusiastically. And we all headed to the Great Hall.

After dinner, as we all got up to leave, Severus walked over to me. "Lily? Can we talk?" he asked. Then he eyed James, who was standing behind me with a hand on my shoulder. "Alone."

"Sure, that's fine," I said, turning to James. "I'll meet you in the common room, okay?" He nodded, kissed my head, and left with the rest of the group. I sat back down and Severus sat next to me.

"Look, I just wanted to-"

"Apologize?" I said, cutting him off. He nodded. "Don't worry about it, really." I pulled up my sleeve, "See? No harm done."

"I let my anger get the better of me. I shouldn't have used that curse. Not on you."

"Why were you angry?"

"Because you're with him, Lily," he sneered.

"So?"

"I thought you hated him," he said.

"I wasn't fond of him, no, but I didn't hate him. But things changed. We got to know each other and things clicked. He's not the same guy, Sev."

"Apparently, none of us are. Hanging with those four is going to get you hurt, and I mean that literally. You're risking your life. If you want to be a stupid Mudblood, fine. Don't let me get in the way. Just don't come crawling to me if they let their dog out next Full Moon." With that, he got up and stormed out.

Even now, his words sting me. I could feel my eyes burning with the tears that were emerging. I got up and swiftly walked back to my dorm, whispering my password and entering.

The common room was mostly empty, inside was just James, Sirius, Peter, and Remus. I just went straight to my room, closing the door behind me. As soon as I flopped on my bed, I felt the tears running down my face. No sobs, just silent tears.

I heard a small knock on the door, then the quiet creak of it opening. James came in, shut the door behind him, and laid down on the bed next to me. "Talk to me," he said softly.

I turned to him. "It just still stings, how his mood changes so quickly. I think the old Sev is coming through, then it's a complete 180 and it's Avery and Mulciber's Sev all of the sudden."

"What did he say?"

"Well, he tried apologizing, but I told him not to worry about it. 'No harm done,' and all that. But then he called me a 'stupid Mudblood' because I'm 'risking my life' by hanging out with you four."

James didn't look surprised, "I had a feeling that you'd be upset leaving a conversation with him."

"Look, I know about Remus," I said. James suddenly looked surprised.

"You know?"

I nodded. "He told me in secret fifth year when we were Prefects. That way I could cover for him when the moon was full. I promised not to tell anyone I knew, and I mean I've told no one. Marlene of course knows of Remus, and she doesn't even know I know, unless Remus told her. But how does Sev know?"

"That's... a long story."

"James... tell me. Why does he think that I am still risking my life with the rest of you? I know Dumbledore and Pomfrey take Remus's condition seriously and act appropriately. What does that have to do with the rest of you outside being his friend?"

"Give me two minutes," he said, getting up and gong back downstairs. I heard muffled talking, then James came back. "Come on. We have to talk as a group here. It isn't just my secret to tell."

I joined him and walked downstairs. The two of us took the couch, Peter and Remus each had a chair, and Sirius was laying in his usual place on the floor in front of the fireplace.

"Now, what's going on?" I asked.

Remus spoke first. "I told you about my, how do you put it, James?"

"Your 'furry little problem,'" he answered quickly, a proud smirk on his face.

"Sounds like a badly behaved rabbit," I said, trying not to laugh.

"Yes. Anyway. I told you about it in our fifth year because of prefects duties. That way you'd be aware on why I couldn't do my duties during the full moon. Ever since I arrived here, Madam Pomfrey would bring me to the Shrieking Shack via the passage under the Whomping Willow when it was close, so I wouldn't harm anyone during my transformation."

"Wait," I stopped him. "Two things. One, is that why it's called the 'Shrieking Shack?' All that stuff about it being haunted is just rubbish?"

"Yes. Dumbledore helped fuel that one, actually," Remus said.

"Okay, so that leads me to question two," I turned to James. "Is that why you said you were 'one hundred percent certain' about it not being haunted?"

"That it is."

"Okay, things are slowly making since," I said. "What else?" I said, turning back to Remus.

"Well, as of our fifth year, these three were tired of seeing me come back covered in self-inflicted scratches and bites all over me, so they decided to study. Now, Lily, who's safe from werewolves?"

I sat and pondered a minute, thinking about that long Defense paper on night creatures, "Animals?"

"Correct," he said. He just looked at me, waiting.

I stared at him for a minute when it hit me. I looked at the other three, "No way! You guys? This young? What?"

"Yeah, they became Animagi when we were fifteen. That way they could keep me comfortable during the full moon without being at risk of injury."

"At fifteen?" I asked in confirmation.

"Why is that so hard to believe?" Sirius asked from the ground.

"It's just not something you hear about teenagers doing, is all!" I laughed. "I'm really impressed actually." James pulled me back closer to him, his arms around my waist.

"And before you ask, no, we aren't registered. So this is all top secret, hush hush stuff, okay?" he told me, his chin resting on my shoulder.

"I've kept Remus's secret all this time. Why would the rest of yours be any different?"

"I told you we could trust her," James told the guys with pride.

"Yeah, yeah, she's amazing. Blah blah blah. We've heard it before," Sirius said. "Now to the question I know you're dying to ask."

"Why do you each transform into?"

"There it is," he said with a smile. "Remus, would you like to do the honors?"

"My pleasure. Well, Peter turns into a rat, since that way he can easily hit the knot in the tree that exposes the passage. Sirius turns into a giant, black, scruffy-"

"I'm not that scruffy!" Sirius said, cutting off Remus.

"You're scruffy," said Remus, James, and Peter in unison, the same flat, matter-of-fact tone coming from all three as if it's something they've said countless times before.

"He turns into a black dog," Remus continued, "and James is a stag. Both are large enough to control me, if necessary. Which is also how we got our nicknames. Peter is Wormtail for obvious reasons. Padfoot is Sirius-"

"Again, obvious," Sirius cut in.

"Could you stop that?" Remus said, throwing a small pillow at him. "James is Prongs because of the antlers, and I'm Moony because of the full moon."

"You follow so far?" Peter asked.

"Actually, yes," I said. "Just curious on how you guys can sneak out at night when it's time for the full moon. You all can't fit under the cloak, even if Peter's a rat. James and I barely fit."

"That is where this comes in," Peter said, reaching into the pocket of his robes. He pulled out the same piece of parchment James had on our date yesterday. "I solemnly swear I am up to no good," he said, tapping his wand on the parchment. He waited a moment before putting it on the coffee table in front of me.

It was a map of the school.

I looked closer. I read the top to myself, Messrs. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs; Purveyors of Aids to Magical Mischief-Makers are proud to present the Marauder's Map. Then I looked over the map. It was the seventh floor of the castle, but then I noticed the dots. There were five over our common room, each labeled with our names.

"Does this seriously tell you everyone's location in the castle?" I asked.

"Every," said James.

"Single," said Remus.

"One," said Sirius.

"It also changes between floors when you do, and show the passages we found, including the seven to Hogsmeade," Peter added.

"Brilliant..." I said in awe, watching the little dots move around the page. "How do you hide it?"

James took out his wand, "Mischief managed," he said, tapping the page. The ink dissolved into the plain sheet of old parchment. "It can't be tampered with, you can't use anything besides the proper incantation to view it, and it will actually insult anyone that tries to view it without the incantation. That was Sirius's idea. You can't trace anything untraceable, but besides that I think we did a pretty good job."

"It was a pain in the arse," Sirius moaned. "So many hours in the library."

"Completely worth it," Remus added.

"Now that she knows," Sirius said, "can she please swap the information, now?"

"What is he talking about?" I asked James.

"He asked what was in it for him if we told you. I told him you'd tell him where you hid the crystalized pineapple you got yesterday," he admitted.

I glared at him for a moment, then sighed. "I guess that's a fair trade."

"YES!" Sirius said, jumping off the floor. "Where is it?"

"Calm down, dude, or I'll make you sniff it out," I joked.

"I will if I have to," he said in all seriousness.

I got up and went to the bookcase. I pulled a large volume about Astronomy and opened it. It was hollow and my tin of pineapple was inside. "Charmed it myself, since I'm not taking Astronomy this term." I took the box out and handed it over. "You eat it all and I will hurt you, got it?"

He wasted no time diving in. I pulled out another volume off the shelf, a large Herbology text. Inside was the bag of salt water taffy. I tossed it at Remus. "Share," I told him.

The box that held my Cauldron Cake was just sitting on the shelf, but I cast a Bedazzling Hex on it so it blended in with the bookshelf. I took the box off, removed the hex, and returned to the couch.

James broke off a small piece. "You know that deserves a death penalty in some cultures," I told him, trying to pull back my giggles.

"You took a chip off my plate yesterday," he reminded me.

"That was a chip. This is chocolate. Completed different," I said, taking a piece.

"Right on," Remus said, pushing his fist in the air without looking up from the bag of taffy.

"We need to initiate her," Sirius said, laying back in his spot on the floor, the open tin of pineapple on his stomach.

"Initiate?" I ask, unable to hide my worry. I noticed the others were a little confused, too.

"Yes," Sirius said, grinning. That grin made me nervous. "So Lily, ever think about casting a Patronus?"