Author's Note:

Hello there everybody, I'm back again. I just want to take a moment to let you all know about some other stuff I'm working on. I just posted a new one shot about James/Lily/Sirius from Sirius's point of view. It's pretty cute but sad too. If you have the time, check it out. I'm also starting a new story that I plan to start posting at the end of the summer. I'm going to write the whole thing before I post it so that I can go back and change things I earlier chapters to fit the plot. I haven't picked a title yet so just keep your eyes open come late August/early September.

Disclaimer: NOT MINE!

Ch. 7 Danger

Serena trailed the crust of her toast through the left over maple syrup on her plate. Her head was tilted to the side and resting on her fist as she scowled at the sticky, sickeningly sweet smelling liquid. She looked at the ceiling, frowning yet another overcast late January sky. As she lowered her eyes she glanced with worry etched on her features at the pale boy sitting across from her.

Remus Lupin had huge bags under his eyes and a sickly whitish tint to his skin. He pushed his food around his plate, making it look as though he had eaten a bit of it. He shivered involuntarily as he felt someone's gaze upon him. Looking up he met Serena's steely eyes unwillingly. She looked as though she was reading his mind and wondered fearfully if she was an occlumens. He shuddered again at the thought of someone at Hogwarts seeing into his mind even as he smiled at her.

"Something wrong?" he asked Serena as neutrally as he could manage.

"No," Serena lied, her eyes falling back to the light brownish substance on her plate. Remus silently sighed in relief. Serena's breath caught halfway through a deep sigh. Coward, she accused herself. "Actually yes," she looked back up at Remus, "there is."

He frowned slightly, his gaze level although he was panicking on the inside, "What is it?"

"Well," Serena glanced up at him through her purple bangs and then reverted her gaze back to her plate, "You always seem really sick, and you have to go to the hospital wing a lot, and you always have illnesses in your family too, and you're always tired, and—" she paused to gauge Remus's reaction; if possible, he looked paler. "And I just worry about you," she finished.

Remus was silent for a long moment, causing Serena to believe that she had somehow made him frustrated or sad. She risked a glance up to his eyes and saw that he looked both worried and, if possible, a bit flattered. "You're very observant," he noted quietly although she could still hear him perfectly. "I just—" he paused, searching for something to say, "I have a weak immune system, I suppose. And my family has just had a bad year."

Serena nodded slightly but she noticed that he fidgeted when he answered her and wouldn't meet her eyes. Her eyes followed him as he stood and walked out of the hall, returning to her plate once he was out of her line of vision. He's lying to me, she realized, I don't know why, or about what, but there's something he's not telling me, and I'm going to find out what.

Tucking her resolution away in the back of her mind, she stood and threw her bag over her shoulder. Her hips swayed when she walked and betrayed none of her unease as she approached the Ravenclaw table. "Hey Huck," she tapped her boyfriend on the shoulder, "Wanna go for a walk?"

He grinned expectantly, knowing they weren't just going to walk, "Sure." Serena smiled and left the hall with him; glad to have something to distract her from those haunting, tired eyes.

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Lily wasn't paying attention as she walked towards the lake. She reread the letter for what seemed like the thousandth time and her brow furrowed even farther. She rubbed the creases on her forehead and ran a hand through her hair restlessly. Without glancing up she sat at the foot of the oak next to the lake and read her sister's letter yet again. It was surprisingly civil, Lily suspected because of Petunia's apparent happiness.

Lily,

I've written to tell you the good news. Just a few days ago Vernon proposed. I know you never liked him very much but I do, and obviously you must agree that my feelings are a bit more crucial.

Lily blanched just as she had in the first reading at Petunia's use of sarcasm.

The date is set for June 12 and I'd really like it if you came. I'll be inviting mostly friends of Vernon's and mine that you haven't met, so, although I'm worried to make this invitation, you're welcome to bring a few of your school friends as long as you're sure they'll act normal. Please write back to tell me how many people you plan to bring, preferably not more then six, including yourself. Write back soon.

Your Sister,

Petunia

Lily found herself fighting back tears as she gazed at the glasslike surface of the lake. She was surprised and touched that Petunia had invited her at all let alone five of her friends. She wiped away a single tear from her cheek, smiling slightly at the memories of her and Petunia's childhood friendship.

"Are you okay?" someone asked from behind her.

Lily peered around the tree trunk to see a nervous looking Severus Snape standing uncertainly a few feet away. "Oh, Severus," she genuinely smiled at the boy, "You startled me."

He seemed consoled by her obvious welcome and walked forward to sit next to her beneath the tree. "Sorry about that," he told her quietly, also gazing at the glassy water. "Are you okay?" he repeated.

Lily smiled at his concern. "I suppose so. My sister's getting remarried," she glanced at the letter although she already knew it by heart, "on June 12."

"And you don't like the man." It wasn't a question.

"Well," Lily shrugged, "I don't like him very much, but I don't really like my sister that much either, usually."

"How come?" Severus was politely interested but not pushy.

"It's a long story," Lily warned.

"I've got a while," Severus told her, meeting her eyes with a steady gaze.

Lily smiled and began her story. Half hours passed like minutes as she explained her entire childhood, her friendship with Petunia, her mother's departure, her father's suicide, even her mother's affair although she didn't tell him that Sirius was her half brother. She told him about Chris and her struggle to support her grandfather as well as his funeral. Once again she left something out, James's involvement. Disregarding her few edits, Lily found it easy to talk to Severus. He didn't try to persuade her to explain the more shadowy parts where she left out embarrassing or personal information and didn't interrupt her. Finally she reached Petunia's letter.

"I don't know what to think, it's somewhat bittersweet," Severus waited for her to explain. "I'm glad that she's happy and I'm glad that she's at least being friendly about accepting my school friends but she's still marrying a—a, well a walrus!"

Severus fought back a snort of laughter. "A walrus?" he questioned.

Lily smiled. "Well yeah," she shrugged, "He's overweight and he doesn't have a neck and he's snobby and obnoxious and I just can't stand him!" She sighed, "I suppose I won't be seeing much of him anyways." Severus didn't say anything but his gaze was questioning. "He's a very practical, realistic sort of person. Once they're married and Petunia tells him what I am he'll probably convince her never to see me again."

"That doesn't seem fair. Would he hurt her?" Severus prompted, his face darkening.

"Oh, God no," Lily quickly assured. "He'd never hurt her but she loves him and if he asked her not to talk to me she'd probably agree. We aren't close enough for her to really care that much about losing me." They sat in silence for a moment. "And what about your family," Lily questioned cautiously, "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, but…" she trailed off nervously. "I hope you're not offended."

"It's alright," Severus sighed and studied the dry, cracked skin of the palms of his hands. He was silent for so long that Lily thought he wouldn't answer. "My mother was an ugly, unintelligent, boring girl and the only child of a rich, pureblood family," he started, "Tobias Snape was a poor, dirty, useless muggle. They started dating when my mother left Hogwarts. I think she only dated him because she knew he would drive her parents mad. At one point they told her she needed to end the relationship; they had a nice, pureblood marriage prepared for her. She was too stubborn," he sighed, pausing briefly to look at the fading sunlight," and she eloped with my father. She married him even though she knew that she would be disinherited. When he discovered that she would, in fact, inherit no money whatsoever he was furious. He was even further disgusted when she learned she was a witch. My earliest memory was of him beating her," Severus's voice broke off and he was silent for a long moment. When he continued, his voice was barely a whisper, "He was rude, demanding, and constantly drunk. She was too cowardly and in love to use magic on him. She believed that one day he would love her back. She was wrong. Once I could legally use magic, I stopped him from hurting her or my sister anymore, but once we went to school I couldn't stop him." His voice was filled with anguish and self blame, "I wasn't there, and he killed her."

Lily watched a silent tear slide down Severus's cheek. He was still staring at his hands with a dejected air. She didn't think as she leaned over and wrapped her arms around his shoulders comfortingly. She didn't say anything and she didn't move; she just sat there holding him until she didn't feel any more tears falling onto her hand. They gazed silently at the lake, both lost in their own maelstrom of sorrows.

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Lily couldn't sleep. She tossed and turned and pounded her pillow into more comfortable positions. She rolled over to check her clock; 2:47 it read. She sighed and rolled out of bed. She paced across the room restlessly, looking at the clock over and over. Finally she pulled on a sweatshirt and her sneakers. She knew she shouldn't be out of bed but she needed fresh air.

Lily was surprised at how easy it was for her to sneak out. She was through the corridors and into the entrance hall within five minutes. Maybe we give those Marauders more credit then they deserve, she thought to herself.

The doors open silently to the grounds outside. Lily sighed in relief when they closed behind her without a squeak. Lily felt chills run up her spine and she blamed the cold, winter air although she felt a certain foreboding as well. She could see as well as in the daylight under the full moon. Everything appeared silver in the moonlight. She sighed as she walked aimlessly past the greenhouses, her thoughts going over the same information again and again.

She was feeling much more tired and calm after just fifteen minutes of walking. She turned towards the school and began trudging slowly back. She jumped slightly at a bone-chilling howl from somewhere deep in the Forbidden Forest, another shiver running up her spine.

"Just some harmless little animal. My imagination's making it worse then it is," she reassured her self but she sped up anyways. She heard paw steps, slow and calculating from somewhere in the underbrush, the steps of something trying to keep hidden. With a frightened glance at the dark trees, Lily broke out into a full-fledged sprint.

She had hardly run a few steps when she heard a dog barking angrily just some thirty feet behind her and something much more fearful snarling in response. She tried to run but she felt like she was in a nightmare where each step is weighed down and you just can't run fast enough. She tried to scream but she couldn't find her voice. The snarling was closer and closer; she was still twenty yards from the school; she'd never make it.

Lily then did the most natural and the most foolish thing she could have done. She looked back. What met her eyes terrified Lily beyond any other emotion. A colossal, hungry, horrifying wolf was racing towards her, the look of a predator in its eyes. She vaguely noted the massive, shaggy, black dog running almost parallel to it. She tripped and tumbled to the ground, rolling several times. She looked up to see the wolf almost upon her. What a bad night for a case of insomnia, she thought sarcastically to herself. Her eyes closed and she held up her hand as a last defense.

A chorus of high pitched, deafening yelps reached her ears. Lily opened her eyes, shocked that she was still alive. A huge white stag was standing in front of her protectively. Peering around it she saw the black dog chasing the wolf into the trees, barking madly as it went. The stag turned to look at her and she met its calming, hazel eyes with her own terrified, emerald ones. She was instantly pacified, breathing calmly once more. She sighed in relief and thankfulness, tentatively stroking the warm, smooth neck of the beautiful animal.

She sighed again in contented way; then the shock registered, and she fainted.

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When Lily came to she was lying on the couch of the Head's Common Room with someone calling her name.

"Lily, Lily," the voice insisted, "Come on Lily, wake up."

She shook her head and opened her eyes wider. "I'm awake," she announced groggily to a very worried James.

"Oh thank goodness," James grabbed her shoulders and hugged her tightly. Lily froze at the sudden embrace and then relaxed, hugging him back as her memory returned. "What were you doing?" he demanded, "Out there in the middle of the night. Think of what could have happened! Think of what did happen! Why if I hadn't gotten there fast enough—" He stopped abruptly as though he had said something he oughtn't of.

"If you hadn't gotten there fast enough?" Lily questioned. "You weren't there, it was a white stag," Lily frowned at her words. "How odd," she whispered to herself. She met James's eyes and recognized their hazel depths immediately, having seen them just a few minutes before. "It was you," she accused softly.

James looked down sheepishly, glancing up to try and predict her feelings, "Yes."

"It was?" Lily seemed shocked for all she had predicted it. She sat bolt upright, her head spinning at the sudden change in altitude. "But how?"

"Now Lily," James started cautiously, "Don't be mad."

"Stop beating around the bush and tell me," Lily commanded. She was so caught up in her anticipation that she didn't even notice how close they were, or that her hand still rested in his.

James took a deep breath. "I'm an animagus."

"You're a what?"

"I was afraid of that," James muttered quietly, "An animagus, a person who can—"

"I know what an animagus is," Lily interrupted, "But when? Are you registered? Is Sirius too? And Remus? And Peter? And what about that wolf?"

"Whoa, whoa," James held up his hand to quiet her. "One at a time. I became an animagus in fifth year. I'm not registered; the ministry never would have let me try if they'd known what we were up too. Sirius is also an animagus; he was the black dog. Peter is a rat, and Remus, well he's sort of the reason we became animagi." James chewed thoughtfully on his lip. "He may be mad if I tell you, but it's necessary to explain," he said mostly to his self.

He glanced uncertainly at Lily's rapt gaze, "Tell me. You needn't tell him that I know."

James gulped, "Remus is a werewolf," he explained, holding his breath.

"And he's the one who tried to kill me?" she asked quietly. James waited for her to run screaming to Dumbledore but she was completely calm.

"Well," James searched for a nicer way to put it. "Yes," he failed.

"Okay," Lily nodded, her eyes serious and contemplating. "How?"

"How what?" James tried to get her to meet his eyes but she was oblivious to his attempts.

"How do you become and animagus?"

"Well it's a sort of long process," James started.

"How long?"

"It took us three years," James admitted, "But we had to do all the research and we only had a few years of magical training to work from."

"What about four months?" Lily finally met his eyes. "Could someone do it in four months?"

"That would be damn near impossible but if the person was determined enough," James was confused.

"I want to become one, too."

"I can't let you do that." James's answer was final.

"You need someone to warn you if there's a human close by, I could do that," Lily encouraged. "I want to help. Remus is my friend too and it should never be as close as it was tonight."

"Lily," James shook his head firmly, "It's too dangerous. If you got hurt…"

"Then what?" Lily prompted. "If I got hurt it would be my fault for putting myself in harm's way. Besides, you're not the only animagus I know. I could ask Sirius, or worst case ask McGonnagall a few questions."

"I won't let you, Lily," James told her but his voice wavered slightly.

"Don't make me threaten you, James," Lily warned. "I now know that you and two of your friends are illegal animagi and that Remus is a werewolf. I can very well blackmail you with that."

"You wouldn't dare," James told her although his voice was uncertain; Lily sounded completely serious.

"And I could always purposefully put myself in harm's way, going out and wandering the grounds at every full moon…"

James sighed in defeat, burying his face in his hands. "Don't—do—that," he forced the words out. "I thought I was too late, and that you'd be…" he couldn't say it. "Promise me you won't ever, ever consider looking for Remus when he's like that," he looked up to meet her gaze, his eyes bright with unshed tears.

"I promise," Lily whispered, "But you have to promise me something in return."

"Anything," James cringed after he spoke at the unconditional vow.

"You have to help me become an animagus."

A/N: I really, really liked this chapter. Sorry I sort of sprung Serena's boyfriend on all of you. I couldn't find any other way to introduce him so I just squished him in. Anything off canon in Snape's history I'm sorry about. I'm only human. I can't wait to write the next chapter, exciting stuff coming up.