(A/N): Hey Guys! So, sorry for not updating, but I've been having a lot of personal problems lately (including an identity and gender crisis, eep!) And I'm still doing NaNoWriMo, plus I've been writing chapters in my books now that I'm back at school. This is actually one of my favourite chapters so far, I think.

Disclaimer: I own nothing you recognise.

Leo

The next night, the Marauders, Elaine and I met in the Room of Requirement.

"Have you decided to help us after all?" Sirius asked us at the beginning of our little session, and the boys, other than Remus, looked hopeful.

"No." Was all I said, and they frowned.

"We're just here to make sure you don't cock it all up too badly." Elaine elaborated, and I forced myself to keep my smile small.

"'Course you are." Peter muttered, rolling his eyes.

"Why else would we be here?" She demanded, and Peter shrugged.

"Well, judging my how close you're sitting, I figured you were going to fu-" Remus slapped a hand over Peter's mouth and Elaine let out a low growl, both of us subconsciously moving further away from each other.

"Oi, mate, I have a girlfriend." The others looked surprised.

"So it's official?" Remus asked, the only one seeming even somewhat happy for me.

"As of last night... yes." I told them, flushing slightly before glaring as James rolled his eyes. "What?" He scoffed.

"Don't even try to fake having feelings for her-" I cut him off, having used vampire speed to have him pinned to the wall in a split second.

A loud crack resounded as my fist struck his face.

"Leo!" Elaine cried as they turned towards the noise, and she saw the blood dribbling from both his nose (most likely broken) and the split in his bottom lip.

"You hit me!" James exclaimed, sounding shocked and hurt.

"You're lucky I didn't kill you." Although my tone was deathly calm, I could hear my voice shaking in fury.

"Leo..." Remus murmured, and after a second of hesitation, I released James, letting him drop the foot to the floor.

"Don't think for a second that I feel the need to fake my feelings for people James." Was all I said before I left the room using vampire speed, slamming the door behind me.

My feet led me to a corridor not too far from the Room of Requirement, and I sat down with my back against one of the walls.

A few minutes later, I heard the group leave the Room of Requirement and head to the Hospital Wing, except for one person who slipped away and was currently heading in my direction.

I couldn't be bothered getting up at this point, so I let them come, and a few minutes later, they sat down next to me, heartbeat perfectly even, except for one slight irregularity...

"Part veela don't move like that." Peter stated, and I nodded, dreading what was coming.

"No," I said. "They don't." Peter didn't look at me, nor I at him.

"So what are you?" He asked, and I hesitated for a second.

"I'm half-vampire." I told him, squeezing my eyes shut, waiting for a gasp, for disgust- but his heartbeat remained even.

"Relax Leo. Unlike James, I believed what you told him in first year." My eyebrows shot up out of surprise.

"You- you did?" He nodded in confirmation. "You've known as long as Remus has." I muttered, stunned, and Peter shrugged.

"I see more than I let on." I stared at him for a second.

"Why didn't you say anything?" He gave me a half-smile.

"Someone had to stay with Lily." I frowned deeply and Peter sighed.

"Look, Leo, I know you don't want to tell Lily, but she honestly won't care." He said, placing a hand on my shoulder.

"I know." I conceded, pulling my knees up to my chest and wrapping my arms around them.

"But I bet you still won't." I sighed heavily.

"Where is she?" I asked, and he raised an eyebrow.

"Common room, last I checked." I nodded, rising to my feet using vampire speed.

"Join the others, they're only a few corridors away." He hesitated for a second before nodding.

"Good luck." I heard him say as I used vampire speed to reach the hallway before the grand staircase and making my way to the Gryffindor common room.

Lily didn't look up when I entered, obviously not expecting me.

The common room wasn't packed, but there was a healthy amount of people there, and so there were no chairs free. I took a seat on the floor in front of her arm chair.

"Leo?" She asked out of surprise, closing her book. "What are you doing here?" I winced, biting my lip.

"I punched your boyfriend." She seemed confused for a second before her eyebrows shot up.

"You did what?!" She exclaimed, and the people around us turned to look.

"Not here." Was all I said, and she instantly stood.

"Alright, let's go." I raised an eyebrow, but followed her out of the common room and down the grand staircase into the grounds.

We sat by the edge of the Black lake, Lily with her back to the trunk of a tree, and me on the lowest, most sturdy branch.

"Why would you punch James? Not that I'm complaining, but..." I sighed, letting my eyes slip closed in order to compose myself.

"He suggested that just because I like Elaine that I was faking having feelings for Brooke." Lily blinked, and I could feel her surprise.

"Okay, one, you admitted it and I shall never let you forget it," She said, wearing a small smirk. "And two, James is an pillock, who needs to keep his big nose out." My lips quirked up into a smile.

"I broke his nose, I'm pretty sure." She raised an eyebrow, giggling quietly.

"He deserved it! What business does he have in questioning your feelings?" I nodded sharply, crossing my arms over my chest.

"Exactly!" Lily was quiet for a second.

"Do you feel the same way for Brooke as you do Elaine?" I hesitated for a second before shaking my head.

"I love Elaine... But I still like Brooke, and I care about her a hell of a lot." Lily froze for a second before turning her head to look me in the eye.

"You- You love her?" I flushed bright red, and she let out a squeal. "Leo!" She exclaimed, and I shushed her furiously.

"It's never going to happen though Lily!" She raised an eyebrow at me, and I winced. "Part veela, remember? ... Among other things." She waved it off.

"Forget about that for a moment Leo. This is the girl you love. Indulge yourself for just a second." Reluctantly, I agreed. "What do you think your wedding would be like?" I blinked in surprise.

"Why?" She rolled her eyes, sighing in exasperation.

"Indulge!" She cried, and I pursed my lips, thinking.

"Well... I don't know a lot about weddings, so... small, I guess, with only close friends and family. Me in silver, her in white, obviously. You and Brooke as her maid of honor and bridesmaid respectively, wearing a sort of plum dress, Remus as my best man and the other boys as my groomsmen." Lily raised an eyebrow.

"You've put a lot of thought into this." She remarked and I shrugged.

"Jay walks her down the aisle, and, ideally, my dad as the minister." She raised an eyebrow.

"Oh?" I blushed slightly.

"Just a thought, you know." She rolled her eyes playfully.

"What about kids?" I hesitated.

"I want lots of them, but... It's probably not a good idea." She frowned, before shrugging.

"Who gives a flying fuck?" I raised an eyebrow at her curse before shrugging.

"Right, right, indulging..." Lily grinned, punching me lightly in the shoulder.

"So, what do you want? Boys, girls?" I shrugged, biting my lips.

"See I want boys, because I feel I'd be able to relate to them better, but I would also love to have daughters just so I can spoil them rotten." Lily giggled quietly, pursing her lips slightly.

"I can totally see you doing that." She said, and I sighed heavily.

"But sadly..." I said, trailing off as I threw a hand in the air. "None of this is going to happen."

"It could if you wanted it to." She reminded me, but I half-glared at her.

"I'm not going to put her in danger." She raised an eyebrow at me.

"Why would she be in danger?" Lily asked, and I rolled my eyes.

"Lily, I've been saying it since first year: I'm dangerous." She crossed her arms, not angry, but pouting.

"Then why are you still putting us all in danger?" She asked, probably rhetorically.

"I tried to put distance between us Lily, remember?" She hung her head, clearly remembering.

"We forced you back." She murmured, but I shook my head.

"I'm not strong enough to leave you guys, not yet." She gave me a weak smile.

"That's a good thing Leo, trust me." She whispered, leaning over her to wrap her arms around my waist.

"Love you Lily." She froze for a second.

"Love you too Leo." She said, squeezing me tighter, and I felt her grin.

(A/N): What do you think? Too soap-opera-y?

Also, this story now has over 200,000 words! WOO!

Please review and/or check out my other stories!

This chapter has had minor edits made to it on 5/2/23 - I changed it to Leo wearing silver, so it's vague as to whether he'll be wearing traditional dress robes or a muggle suit.