Chapter: Suspicions In The Shadows

Shalan's Say: Okay… the plot thickens… ALINA AND REMUS ARE CUUUTE! Sorry… anyways on to the next chapter.

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She stared at the wall blankly as the Divination teacher droned on. She had decided to finish the N.E.W.T. level just because it was a simple class. She glanced over at the five other students in the room: all of who appeared to be paying rapt attention to the professor.

"Alina, will you please tell us your card reading?" Alina looked up at the teacher then flipped over her two cards. "What will be happening in the near future?"

"Upright Fool and reversed Lovers," she touched 'The Lovers' thoughtfully. "It would appear that something is going to change, however it might be different from what we expect." Alina pursed her lips. 'Or it's talking about Remus.' Her eyes darkened.

"So how was your lesson?" Lily asked as she waited at the bottom of the stairs. Mariette stood off to the side, reading a book that she had in her hand.

"It was interesting…" Alina seemed somewhat distracted. Mariette even noticed and looked at them over her book.

"Something happened… didn't it?" Mariette's eyes narrowed, the red head shot her a look and Mariette shrugged noncommittally.

"Mariette is right, something's bothering y-"

"LILY!" James bounded into view, followed by Sirius who seemed to be a little more reserved than normal. "I missed you yesterday! I'm glad I caught up with you!" He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and dragged her away from the other two girls. Mariette stared after them, tilting her head as Sirius walked over to the glumly.

"What's got you upset?" Alina looked over at him, lifting an eyebrow.

"I dunno, I guess it's because I've not had detention in three weeks… I've been trying to find something to do…" Mariette rolled her eyes at Alina as he leaned his head against her shoulder.

"Oh, gosh… I'm sure I could think of something to get you a detention if you'd like," Alina smiled. "Take a card." She held out the deck to him. "The Wheel of Fortune." She smiled as he turned it around in his fingers. "Effortless success."

"Well that cheers me up a bit I guess," he watched her shuffle the card back into the pack. Mariette chuckled.

"I'll see you after lunch, okay?" She kissed his cheek, squeezing his hand. "We have Potions!" She disappeared into the crowd. Sirius frowned.

"I hate Potions," he looked over at Alina. She shrugged. "It's been a while since I actually spoke to you…" he blinked, making her laugh as they walked to lunch.

A little ways away James glanced both ways around himself then turned to Lily. She raised an eyebrow about all this secrecy. "Lily, I have a question to ask you."

"Great, couldn't you ask it over there?" She folded her arms over her chest.

"No, I wanted to ask you away from them but you're almost never alone." He laughed and she broke her frown with a bit of a smirk. "I wanted to ask you if you wanted to come to my place over the Christmas holidays."

"Ja-James," she blinked at him blankly. "I don't know what to… I mean I'd love to… I'd have to ask my parents. You would have to meet them I think," she seemed too flustered for words.

"Well ask them and let me know," James smiled brushing hair out of her face. "I would love for you to come and visit." He brushed his lips against her eyebrow teasingly then drew away from her. "Lunch?"

"With you?" She blinked.

"I was under the impression that we were dating," he offered her his arm. She smiled and took it.

"So is everyone else you've told that," Lily rolled her eyes. She noticed Severus out of the corner of her eye and stuck her nose in the air as they passed him. She looked at him over her shoulder as he jerked a blonde haired figure to the side.

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"SEVER-US!" She protested as he dragged her down the corridor. "Severus Snape if you don't let me go I'm going to make sure that you-OUCH!" She cried as he slammed her against the wall, causing her to crash to the floor.

"What are you thinking?" She looked up into those black eyes. His beaklike nose was nearly touching hers as he leaned in threateningly. "I know your parents wouldn't be pleased with what you are doing!" He hissed.

"What do you have to do with my parents, Se-ver-us?" She pronounced his name with emphasis on every syllable.

"You know perfectly well what." He furrowed his brows. "Black is a blood traitor, you shouldn't be seen in his company." He scowled at her. "I tried to stop you, but you continued."

"Just because Lily doesn't want you isn't my fault! I can date whoever I want!" She slid away from him. "I know he has a spot for you when you get out… but I don't care. Stop acting like you're on his orders! You're not even a part of them yet!" She scrambled to her knees, picking up her books.

"Shut UP!" He pressed the tip of his want to her forehead.

"What are you going to do Severus? Kill me?" She lifted an eyebrow. "You would never get in if they found out you killed a Pure Blood."

"I would if they found out I killed a Blood Traitor," his eye twitched.

"Fine then, go ahead and kill me, see what hap-"

"MARIETTE!?" Severus jerked away from her as they heard the voice from around the corner. "MARIETTE!"

"Remember what I've told you," Severus hissed and disappeared around the corner.

"MARIETTE!" Sirius ran up with James, Lily and Remus at his heels. "Mariette I saw you get dragged off!" He dropped to his knees beside her. "Are you alright?" She nodded breathlessly. How had he known where they were?

"Yes-yes I'm fine Sirius," she smiled as he crooned over her, touching the side of her face where a nice blue and purple bruise was beginning to form.

"Sirius panicked and we couldn't help but follow him. He said something about Sniv-" James caught a dirty look from Lily. "Snape." He corrected.

"So we ran down right away," Remus put his wand back into his robes as Sirius helped her to her feet. "What was going on?"

"Oh, nothing… Severus is just upset he lost to me in our last fight," she shrugged. "C'mon we have a free period after lunch, all of us right?" Sirius seemed dissatisfied by her answer as he watched her link arms with Lily and walk off.

"It's bothering you too, huh?" James said from his elbow. Sirius nodded, his brows furrowed.

"If you two wouldn't have used the map I bet you never would have found her," Remus glanced off to where the girls had just disappeared.

"I'm afraid that if we wouldn't have used the map we might not have gotten here in time." Sirius sighed, running his hand through his hair. "Let's go and find the girls," he walked off, definitely distracted.

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"I solemnly swear I am up to no good…" Sirius muttered, watching the map come to life. His eyes searched the student's names. "Mariette…" he whispered softly as he saw her little nametag walking down the hallways of the school. "Alright… here we go," he leapt out of his bed and slipped into his shoes.

"Wharoogoin?" James slurred, more than two thirds asleep.

"Go back to sleep Prongs," Sirius stole off into the common room.

His heart pounded in his chest as he followed the little dot through the hallways, keeping an eye out for her as he turned a corner. He drew back, hiding behind a tapestry as he caught up with her. Her long, silvery blonde hair was down, hanging to her waist. He hissed slightly as she turned to look over her shoulder to check if she was being followed.

"What is it you want?" She muttered to someone he couldn't see. "I'm afraid I can't stay long."

"I wanted to continue our conversation in private," Sirius bristled as he heard a voice that he didn't want to hear. "Without any of your nosy little idiots around."

"They aren't idiots, you know that Severus." Her tone darkened. "I should like you to stay out of my business."

"Your parents are proud of their family, of what they've accomplished."

"They're all going to die Severus, get that through your head. One day… he will fall…" A resounding 'CRACK' made Sirius flinch, whipping out his wand.

"You shut your mouth! You filthy little blood traitor!" Snape hissed. Sirius felt his blood run cold. "He will never fall, he will one day command you just as he commands us!"

"Stop acting like you're a Pure Blood Severus, you know you're not." She took a step back. "Ever since Lily rejected you, you've been acting more and more violent. You know you shouldn't have called her a mudblood," Sirius watched in horror as she recoiled once more.

His curse slammed into the place where Severus had stood several seconds before. He ran forward, sending another stunning hex in his direction. Mariette stared at him blankly as he scanned the area for Snape again. "Mariette!" He grabbed her shoulders. "Don't tell me… your parents… are…" he searched her eyes. She cast her gaze to the side. "You're kidding me…"

"Just drop it Sirius," her eyes darkened. "One of my best friends is Muggleborn." He watched her for a moment then yelped in surprise as she pummeled into him.

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"C'mon! You can do it!" James laughed as he whirled her around to the upbeat jazz that played from the record player.

"James!" Lily let out a peal of laughter as she twirled into his arms. "You have to stop that! I'm getting sick!" She was breathless, her cheeks flushed. Her smile was brighter than anything he could imagine.

"So have you decided if you're going to come with me for Christmas?" he asked as he spun her in place, pulling her back into him again.

"I think I'm going to, my parent's don't really care I don't think." She leaned her head against his shoulder as he wrapped his arms around her.

"Your sister probably really doesn't care, huh? Maybe we can go see them too? I mean you want to introduce me to them don't you?" She laughed as he spun them in a circle.

"Of course I do, but your head might be too big to fit through the door," she had never thought that she would be like this with James Potter, she had never thought that she would ever feel this amazing in all of her life... but most especially about James Potter.

"I'm sure you can shrink it for me again," he kissed her neck, making her laugh again. "I love it when you laugh." He whispered.

"You do?" Her cheeks flushed. "Well you make me laugh a lot so I guess that must be why," she finished just before he kissed her.

There, in the sunlight flooded classroom, dust rising in the air around them, sparkling like faeries in the beams of light. There, in the unused Charms room of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Lily Evans fell in love with James Potter.

She tangled her fingers through his hair as his lips trailed down her jaw, making his way down her neck. She let her robe drop from over her uniform as he kissed his way to her collarbone, unbuttoning as he went.

"James I-" Sirius stopped dead in his tracks as he saw his best friend worshipping Lily Evans' clavicle, her blouse drawn down over her shoulders.

"SIRIUS!" Lily jerked her shirt back over her shoulders, buttoning furiously as the black haired man stared at a particularly interesting spot on the floor.

"Sirius." James said, very nearly crossly. Sirius couldn't help but snort at his bad luck, covering his mouth with his hand. "What is it you want?" The Black glanced up at his best friend, his eyes shining with tears from attempting not to laugh.

"Oh, I… you know…" He chuckled. "I had something to talk to you about… but I guess it can wait…" He bit his bottom lip, his eyes delighted. James knew all too well that Sirius was just dying to go and tell Remus and Peter.

"You'll talk now," Lily turned off the record player, pulling her robes back on. "What is it?"

"It's nothing to concern you Lily~" Sirius sang. She glared at him then stormed past him out the door.

By the time Sirius had explained to James what had happened the bespectacled man was staring at him with rapt attention. James ruffled his hair as Sirius folded his long legs onto the top of one of the desks.

"So basically He's trying to recruit her?" James furrowed his brows.

"I guess, it's probably because she's a Pure Blood." Sirius leaned his face into his palm. "It's kind of like Him trying to recruit us."

"Perhaps… have you spoken to Remus about this?" James tilted his head.

"Nah, Moony seems… odd lately, I wonder if something happened that's bothering him." Sirius furrowed his brows.

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Remus stared at the page of his book blankly as he sat in the library. Shortly thereafter he became frustrated and slammed his book shut. He just couldn't concentrate with her on his mind. He scowled at his unfinished essay then bared his teeth as a book came dangerously close to his head.

"Remus," he jumped out of his skin as he heard her voice. They hadn't spoken in nearly two weeks, not since he had kissed her in front of Dumbledore's office. "I'm sorry did I startle you?" She touched a hand to his shoulder and he turned around to face her.

"It's okay… I was just," he looked over his shoulder at the essay. "Finishing homework. I'm sorry I've missed you lately I was… uhm…"

"I was avoiding you." She cast her gaze to the side. He swallowed hard.

"Because of what-"

"No! No! Never that!" She shook her head vigorously. "I have just been a little worried is all, I guess I was afraid that if I spent too much time around you you'd begin to think me annoying." The icy hand of rejection finally loosened from around his heart. Instead of her rejecting him… she was worried about what he thought of her? It was just too rich. He felt a chuckle rise in his throat, then a manic giggle, finally a full belly laugh escaped him as he threw his head back, laughing his head off at the thought of her being worried about what a werewolf thought of her. "Wha-What's so funny?"

"It-you!" He wiped tears from his eyes as he righted himself, still laughing between gasps for air. "You make me laugh," he shook his head, trying to catch his breath. "Ho-okay…" he finally seemed to regain his composure.

"What did I do?" She tilted her head, the look on her face a cross between anger and confusion.

"Come on with me," he tossed his book and essay into his bag and took her hand, leading her out of the library.

"REMUS!" She commanded. "What did I do?"

"It's just something you said, I could never think that you're annoying Alina!" He chuckled. She flushed scarlet as he dragged her around a corner. "Here, this is good." He pulled her into the classroom with him. "I wanted to talk to you in a place where no one could hear us."

"Because you don't want anyone to know…" she pursed her lips.

"It was just funny, you said that you were afraid I'd think you annoying." He leaned against one of the tables.

"Why is that funny? It's true!" She folded her arms across her chest.

"Because, I am what I am… am I not?" He lifted an eyebrow. "For someone to be worried about what I'd think about them… it seems hilarious."

"Well why shouldn't I be worried about you liking me I am in lov-" she cut herself short. "I mean I do really like you," she looked down, tracing a circle in the dirt.

"Alina, falling for me isn't a good idea." He pursed his lips. "I apologize for what I did that night, I shouldn't have let that happen…" his brown eyes softened as she walked closer.

"Remus… I don't really care… what you are," she reached out to touch his face. He closed his eyes against the cool, soft skin of her palm. "I wish you'd give me a chance to prove that to you," she shrugged.

"Alina, I'm a danger to myself and to others… most especially those that I am close to…" he took her hand in his, pulling it away from her face.

"I…" her voice broke and he put a hand on the back of her head, pulling her face against his shoulder, wrapping his arms around her in a hug.

"I'm so sorry Alina. I'm sorry I've had to do this to you." He whispered, stroking her hair as she cried softly into his chest. "I'm sorry I ever let you kiss me. I'm sorry… for everything."

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Leaving for Christmas Break was one of the hardest things that Remus had ever done. He avoided Alina for the next few weeks, even avoiding her through the last Hogsmeade weekend of the semester. When he finally boarded the train to leave for home for the vacation he was feeling awful. He guessed he would probably feel awful for the entire vacation.

"Remus!" James exclaimed as he dropped down next to him. Lily joined him a few moments later. James had noticed that something was wrong but had either failed to ask or simply was waiting until Remus told him.

"Yes?" The brunette looked over at them sullenly. "I'll send your presents by owl this year I guess…"

"You should come over for a while! You know come for a visit? We're going to visit Lily's family!" James grinned as Sirius entered the compartment, Mariette in tow.

"It's going to be exciting! All sorts of Muggle things to see!" Mariette folded herself up, her long silvery blonde hair spilling over her shoulders.

"I'm hoping to get a look at their cars, I love cars! I hope I can get a motorbike when I'm done with school." Sirius said thoughtfully.

"Motorbikes are pretty dangerous though…" Mariette furrowed her brows.

"Yeah, for people who can't cast cushioning spells," Sirius and James laughed.

"I suppose you have a-Remus?" Mariette looked up at him with the other three as he stood and disappeared out the door.

"Is that a 'no' on visiting then?" James called after him, to no response.

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