Chapter 42: Lupin

NEWTS were quickly approaching, as Lily continually reminded everyone. James managed to get off with just one detention with Flitwick, and only had two a week with McGonagall for a few weeks, but because of the upcoming match she was going easy on him. And what he had done wasn't really that bad.

It was Thursday and Lily walked along the halls with Remus. James, Sirius, and Jamie were in detention. Lily wasn't even sure what Jamie had done. They had just found each other and started to walk in the same direction so Remus decided to start up a conversation.

"We haven't talked in a while," Remus said. "I mean, really talked."

"I miss this," Lily agreed.

"You miss talking to me?" He asked doubtfully.

"Believe it or not, I have. I miss intelligent conversation."

"And what, you don't get a lot of that with James?"

Lily laughed. "That's not what I meant," she said looking at her shoes slightly embarrassed. "He's just...I don't know... not what I expected, I guess."

"What were you expecting?" he asked. They were heading toward one of the bridges that lead to part of the grounds.

"Like I said, I don't know," she shrugged. They walked in silence for a minute, stopping to look out over the lake from the bridge. The sun was just setting, glinting off the water, ready to hide below the horizon.

"Remus?"

"Hmm?"

"Thanks."

"For what?" he asked.

"Do you remember, back on the train, when you told me not to give up on him?"

"James you mean?"

"Yeah."

"Yeah. I remember. Why?"

"You told me not to give up on him," Lily repeated.

"No, I think I said that they'd probably never grow up, but I wouldn't give up on them yet," Remus corrected.

"Yeah, but still. I did listen to that advice. And he did grow up, a little bit."

" He's also using O.W.L. level spells as pranks," Remus reminded her making her laugh.

"I don't want him to grow up completely," Lily told him. "Then he wouldn't be James."

"And Sirius would get lonely," Remus pointed out.

"Exactly!" Lily smiled. The sun was dipping under the surface slowly throwing everything around them into darkness. "We should go in. It's getting late."

"And Jamsie will be meeting you in the common room?" Remus guessed. Lily looked over at him, a smile on her face.

"We haven't seen each other all day," Lily said. He had slept in that morning missing breakfast, they didn't have any classes together, at lunch she had to talk to Sprout about a plant she was having a hard time writing about for an eleven inch essay due soon, and then their free period that was before dinner James had used it to get in a little scrimmage game with Sirius. It ran long so they missed dinner altogether. After supper he had detention, the day before she had spent catching up on work with Ambre, Ivy and Mary. Basically, the whole week had been busy for both of them. Limiting their time together. When they were together, it was spent quietly studying or as partners in Defense Against the Dark Arts.

"I have to say, I didn't think you and James would last this long," Remus admitted.

"I hear that a lot," Lily told him. It was a bit irritating. When they weren't together everyone was saying they should be, but when they did get together, no one expected it to last. As they walked back, Lily watched as the moon slowly rose up to take the place of the sun, reminding Lily of something James had said about Remus.

"Remus?" Lily asked. No one was around, so she had to do it quickly before someone overheard her, since there was always that chance at Hogwarts.

"Is something wrong?"

"No. I was just...James...."

"Yeah?"

"Is it true," she asked suddenly. They stopped to look at each other.

"Is what true?"

"That you're a...a....werewolf?"

His face paled, eyes widened. He managed a stiff nod. He led the way, extending their walk.

"Who told you?"

"No one in particular." Lily said.

"James?"

"No."

"Sirius?"

"Remus, James only hinted at it, but I didn't get it. The moon just reminded me of something Severus said and James saying that he wasn't far off," Lily told him. "You're not mad are you?"

"No. I'm not mad. You don't hate me do you?" Remus asked.

"Why would I?"

"I kept it from you."

"I'm not mad."

"I don't get it. I keep this from people but they never care. Do they not realize what it makes me? I'm a monster! I can never have kids. I could hurt people. Dumbledore's an idiot for even letting me come here!"

"Dumbledore's not an idiot. Remus, you're a smart person. A brilliant wizard, and you won't hurt anyone. I know how careful you are when it's that time of month." Lily argued, taking his arm. "You can't help it."

"I'm hurting Ambre," He said.

"What do you mean?" She dropped her hand letting it wrap around her to keep warm.

"I want to be with her. She's great. But, I know it won't last. She won't accept it. Or she'll be like the other Marauders and want to help. She'll get hurt. I'm stupid for letting it get this far."

She does like you, Remus. For you, just give it a chance. A real one," Lily advised. "She's afraid you don't like her. Ask her out sometime for a real date. Not just to study."

"Really?"

"Yes. And your furry little problem doesn't make it illegal to date. Or have a girlfriend, maybe even a wife one day,"

Remus still seemed shocked that Ambre wanted to be with him at all. He was always so shy and surprised when people did like him. It was one of the biggest reasons he could never get after James and Sirius for breaking rules. He just wanted to be accepted, and yelling at the friends he had wasn't a good way to keep them.

"Ask her out?"

"Yeah, go for it. And I promise, I won't tell anyone about your bunny," Lily smiled.

Remus laughed and the absurd nickname."Let's get back to the castle. It's getting cold," He suggested.

Inside the castle Lily bumped into Jamie. She looked a little disheveled, her hair hanging across her back instead of held in a pony tail on her head. Her skirt was a little crooked and her blouse was untucked, her school robe hung off her shoulders as if she'd thrown it on just recently

"Hey, Jamie. Aren't you supposed to be in detention?" Lily asked waving to Remus as he continued up the stairs calling a quick good-bye. Jamie slammed the broom cupboard door behind her once she caught sight of Lily.

"Lily! Hi. Um, I was just there. I, er," She closed her eyes trying to concentrate on something, "Had to clean a broom cupboard. And I, ah.. It was messy. I kinda got it all over me." She explained leaning against the door. "See, I even got a black smudge, I don't know what that is." She pointed to a spot on her shirt. Lily wasn't sure whether or not to believe her, but there wasn't really a better explanation, and if there was, Jamie was not offering it.

"Huh." Lily said. "I was just going to meet James in the common room. Are you coming?"

"I would, but I have to tell McGonagall I'm done. Then, I think I'm going to take a shower." Jamie said tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. She folded her arms as Lily nodded.

"Alright. See you later then."

"Yeah. See ya," Jamie said waving to her. Lily laughed without humor.

"See ya," she said waving back.

Once Lily was out of view, Jamie leaned against the wall sighing and opened the broom cupboard to get her bag.

Review. You've seen this a million times, so please, just click the button and do as your told. Maybe tell me what you think, or your favorite color, or yell at me for not updating everyday like I used to. Or even tell me what you think of Jamie.