Chapter 10: Remus
I own nothing, nobody, not even the Gryffindor Common Room.
"And what about the part where Lucy couldn't leave her dad because he was the only family she had- so sweet!" Mary squealed turning to Lily. "And did you know we have the entire series here? I didn't think the Hogwarts library would have the collection but apparently Dumbledore ordered that there be a muggle books section. That Dumbledore is one great man I tell you."
"Oh, that's amazing!" Lily said. "I could hardly put the book down last night- at this rate you're going to have to read all of book two by tonight so I can get it."
"I'm a fast reader." Mary smiled. "Deal."
Lily smiled as they climbed through the portrait hole and entered the common room. The warm fire was inviting and Lily just wanted to snuggle against a couch reading...
"Hey little one."
Lily looked up to see one of the redheads from Christmas.
"Oh hey Fabian," Mary smiled. "Off to prefect duty?"
Fabian Prewett, the Gryffindor boy prefect beamed down at them. Lily eyed the tiny yet important prefect badge on his chest that she one day hoped to get for herself. She had read so much about prefect's and all the responsibilities they had. She'd have to get top grades of course and show her head of house that she was ready for the job but Lily couldn't wait until 5th year when she could finally have that title.
"He sure is. My amazing just fifty nine seconds older brother." The other red head grinned. "Say what do you think about joining us?"
Mary dropped her book, her hazel eyes widening. "Really? You mean it?"
Fabian nodded. "I'll have to bring you back by ten but sure why not. Gideon always manages to tag along as it is."
"But Fabian I thought you wanted me there." Gideon pretended to look upset.
"Only because you're fifty nine seconds younger than me." Fabian smiled then added. "And you cover for me when I'm too sick or too tired."
"Oh wait- was I not supposed to hear that?" Mary grinned. "Next time you're walking around I'm going to have to guess which one you are."
"I doubt you'll ever know." Fabian smiled glancing at his twin.
"Want to bet?" Mary smirked. The twins immediately started arguing about who had the better hair as they left the common room with Mary. Lily bent down and retrieved Mary's forgotten book. She tried not to feel to dejected that her best friend had left her for two upperclassman and hadn't even bothered asking her if she had wanted to come. Sighing she headed to the comfiest couch in the common room. The Gryffindors had dubbed it "The seat of Godric Gryffindor' because it bared his lions and it was indeed the best seat in all the common room. The couch was comfy, directly in front of the fire and was save for the cackling fire, the quietest place in the common room.
And it was occupied.
"Do you mind if I-?" Lily asked beckoning the couch.
"Please." The sandy haired boy said scooting over so Lily could take a seat.
"Thanks." Lily said. Remus nodded and turned back to his book. Lily peered at the particular passage he was reading. Something about potions and new findings in the Potioneers Society.
"You're into potions?" Lily asked staring at Remus Lupin. She had often seen him with James and Sirius but unlike them he wasn't outwardly mean towards anyone.
"I just like to know what's going on and what new potions are out. Staying in the know, you know?"
"How are you feeling now?" Lily asked suddenly remembering Remus had been sick the week and had only just come back. How had she forgotten to ask about him! Stupid Lily!
Remus put his book down and turned to her confused. "W-what?"
"Sorry. It slipped my mind earlier, so silly of me. " Lily said quickly. "I just wanted to know if you were feeling better. You still look so awfully pale."
"Oh." Remus smiled. "Much better. The worst part is over anyways."
"Worst part?" Lily asked. "Is there a good part to being sick?"
Remus laughed. "According to Mary there is." He looked at Lily. "The resting, no homework and lots of food part."
Lily giggled. "That does sound like her." She turned to him seriously. "I hope you've talked to her. She's been coming up with silly reasons of why you left."
"What do you mean?" Remus asked quickly.
"Well at first she though you transferred to another class because she's a terrible potions partner. And then she thought you dropped out of school entirely because she's that bad at potions."
"Oh." Remus looked down smiling slightly. "I shall let her know immediately that is not the case at all. Mary's wonderful. I think we managed an 'E' on the wart removing potion we did too."
"That's good." Lily smiled. Remus nodded and they both went back to their books once more.
Lucy couldn't look at Edward the same way. Not after what she had seen. He was a monster- but somehow a monster that made her heart beat faster, her pupils dilate, her desire for him greater. Others might have described it as fear but Lucy didn't. She saw him as a human. A kind caring beautiful human who was marred by a stereotype forced upon him by society.
Lily put the book down. She couldn't concentrate on reading-not when she had so many questions.
"Why are you friends with James?" She asked suddenly. "He's always so- ugh and you're not?"
Remus looked at her knowingly and asked. "Why are you friends with Severus?"
This took Lily aback. "He's my- friend."
"And James is my friend." Remus looked at Lily. "Do you remember the first week of school after the sorting?"
Lily nodded. "Sort of."
The first week was a blur of new friends, awe at the idea of a school of magic, moving staircases, classes where she would be able to use a wand, something she had for the longest time imagined to be impossible.
"I was alone the first week. No one wanted to talk to the skinny nervous looking scarred boy."
Lily wanted to tell him no one cared about the scars or appearance much but she knew better.
"But James did. He wanted to know who I was. He wanted to be my friend because he looked inside and saw a boy, someone dying for someone to talk to him, to notice him. He didn't care if I was scary looking or that I was a loner. And later he introduced me to Sirius and later to Peter. For the first time I had friends- all thanks to James."
"But Remus-" Lily started.
"I'm not defending him. James can be careless-"
"And rude." Lily added.
"And rude and inconsiderate-" Remus agreed.
"But he's a good friend." Lily said finally realizing Remus's point.
Remus nodded. "Tell me about Severus then."
"He's sweet and kind. Although you might not think so." Lily started. "He's had family issues so that's why he's a bit rough around the edges but he's really good friend. I don't think I would be as half as good in potions if Severus hadn't helped me."
"Is Severus the one helping Mary too?" Remus asked raising a brow.
Lily nodded. "Yeah and I think she's-"
Remus jumped up. "Yes! I knew it! She owes me 5 galleons now!"
"Remus!" Lily said. "You little minx! You just made me sell out my best friend!"
"Sorry!" Remus said. "I won't say you told me."
Lily sighed falling back. "Mary is going to kill me."
"Nah." Remus said. "She might not talk to you for a week but it will be fine."
He took his seat once again. "So what are you reading?"
"Just a book Mary and I like." Lily said "It's actually pretty-"
"REMUS YOU'RE HERE!" Sirius Black shouted jumping suddenly onto the couch between her and Remus, and giving Remus a giant hug.
"REMUS!" Peter attacked him from the right. "WE MISSED YOU!"
"YEAH!" Sirius agreed.
"We did." Peter said. "My aunt sent this essence thing that should help you from getting sick again. It does wonders although it smells like rat piss.."
"And James and I went to Pomfrey to tell her that whatever she was giving you wasn't working and hear this- she's banned us from the Hospital Wing!" Sirius said. "I mean how unfair is that? What if we get sick- does that mean we won't be able to go inside to get help? ames and I thought that we should get hurt and just lay outside the Hospital Wing- then maybe she would lift the ban- Remus?"
Remus had covered his face with his two hands.
"REMUS LUPIN ARE YOU CRYING?" Sirius Black shouted trying to pry Remus's hands from his face. "PETE HELP ME. GET JAMES."
As if on cue James strolled right in. "I was summoned."
Lily rolled her eyes. He was so dramatic.
"Remus is crying." Peter explained. "We don't know why."
"I'm not crying!" came Remus's muffled reply. If Lily didn't know any better she would have said that yes Remus was indeed crying.
"HE IS!" Sirius said. "MY HANDS ARE WET!"
"REMUS I FORBID YOU FROM CRYING!" James said plopping next to Lily on the couch and immediately started helping Sirius with Remus. All five of them fit perfectly on the couch. Lily at the end, James next to her, then Sirius trying to pry his hands from his Remus and Peter.
Lily watched them all try to get Remus to move his hands away from his face. Sirius tried to pry his hands away while Peter continued talking about his grandmother's essence potion. James continued his rant about Pomfrey and how he would make sure that she took better care of Remus. It touched Lily's heart and she realized she was interfering in a private moment.
"Lily?" James turned to her realizing she was there. "Oh-L-"
Lily stood up abruptly. "I hope you feel better Remus." and with that she ran up the stairs and collapsed on her bed.
"Lily?" Dorcas called. She and Marlene were sitting on their beds playing cards and eating pixie strings. "You okay?"
"Did you get a 'A' on your last test?" Marlene snickered.
"I'm fine." Lily sighed. She turned to her left where Mary's dark hair was visible underneath the red covers of her bed. "When did she get back?"
"Oh about 10 minutes ago. She literally dropped and was fast asleep." Marlene answered. "We even used the candy trick but she didn't wake."
Lily laughed at the sleeping face of her friend and an idea came to her.
"I'm waking her up." Lily decided.
"What? Why?" Dorcas asked alarmed. "She just collapsed."
"She'll want to be awake for this." Lily said confidently.
"For what exactly?" Marlene asked folding her arms.
"Lily's makeover."
Marlene's arms dropped to her side. "Really?" Marlene and Lily didn't get along much but sometime as a collective group they did agree on things.
Dorcas shook her head. "I'm dreaming right. I'm dreaming Mars. I'm totally dreaming!"
"NO WAY!" Mary had awoken courtesy of Marlene whispering in her ear.
Lily nodded. "Now what are we waiting for? Makeover me up before I change my mind!"
Marlene grinned and grabbed her makeup kit. Mary rubbed the sleep out of her eyes, and dived under her bed grabbing a bucket full of 'emergency' candy. Dorcas picked up all the magazines she could find and Lily shut her eyes as they grinned at her evilly.
"Do your worst."