"Why do you spend so much time with that awful crowd, Sev?"

"Lucius is head boy! What am I supposed to do, turn him down?"

"Yes! Why not? He's a snob and a berk and I can't stand him or his girlfriend or any of the rest of them."

"C'mon Lily, say your friend Garland makes head girl next year. Are you telling me that you wouldn't spend time with her and her crowd if she asked?"

"That's different! We're friends, it's not like that."

"Like what?"

"Like…like you're using each other!"

Peter leaned back against the big tree, closed his eyes, and let the argument wash over him like the softly lapping waters of the Black Lake. Severus and Lily were sat on either side of him, probably by now glaring daggers at each other. He'd already heard this conversation half a dozen times, though it wasn't yet Halloween, and they were no closer to any sort of resolution than they'd been at the start of term. Which is to say that they would soon move on to chatting about potions as if the argument had never even happened.

"It's Slytherin, okay? That's just how things go in the dungeons, how things work. You have to play the game—their game. I'm only halfblood, you know that. I can't draw attention to myself by taking a stand, it would be suicide down there."

"I hate the Snakes, Sev. It's true! I'm sorry! Before you say anything, I swear it's not this big Gryffindor rivalry thing everyone's always going on about. I don't give a fig about Gryffindor, really, I care about you. They treat you horribly, and then they turn around and try to make you into one of them, and all it does is make you worse! But I won't let them!"

"I appreciate it, really I do, but try to be realistic. Slytherin's been this way for yonks. All the purebloods sorting in every year make sure nothing ever changes."

"No, I mean it. Swear to God. I'll get Alice to teach me some nasty hex out of N.E.W.T. Defence. Or Frank, he would go for it no questions asked, just to stick it to Slytherin. Or else maybe I could tell Slughorn that I'm not making any more potions until he puts his house in order. Like a protest or a strike or whatever."

"Slughorn would never go for it, and you'll get yourself killed if you try to duel Lucius. Please, just let me handle this."

"Slughorn's always crowing about how amazing we are! He'd go his whole dumb life thinking about how he let—what was it?—'the two most promising young potioneers in decades' quit on him and take up, I dunno, divination instead."

"Lily, we're just second years. There are loads better potions students, just at Hogwarts. Lucius"—Peter didn't need to open his eyes to see Lily sticking out her tongue at the mention of his name—"has got Slughorn supervising him on some independent research project that's post-N.E.W.T. level. Or what about your friend Gideon Prewett? I heard he's somehow got Dumbledore to take him on as apprentice for alchemy! You've got to understand that not everyone always means exactly what they say."

"Well, they should. The world would be a better place without all the plotting and the secrets and the backstabbing."

"Would it? I dunno Lily, I mean, don't you ever tell a fib here or there, just to smooth things over? 'Why yes professor, I found the leadership failures of Elof the Aloof absolutely fascinating. I can't wait to learn about the next goblin rebellion.' This isn't even a Slytherin thing!"

"No, you've got it backwards. If people stopped telling those sort of lies about Binns, we could get History of Magic abolished by the end of term."

"Alright, it's a bad example. But you get what I mean."

"Sure, but there's still a big difference between a few little fibs and all this Slytherin business of saying one thing while meaning something else all the time. What's even the point anyway? Great, you've mastered this amazing technique of manipulation! And now no one can be your friend or trust you or believe you—about anything—ever again!"

"Okay, but what am I supposed to do about it? If you don't play along, you're just a sitting duck. Urgh! It would be so much easier if I hadn't sorted into Slytherin. I should have just taken Ravenclaw."

"You could have got Ravenclaw? Really?"

"The hat kept going back and forth over Slytherin and Ravenclaw. Finally, it offered to let me choose between them."

"Why'd you pick Slytherin, then?"

"I didn't."Severus exhaled loudly. "Told it I wanted Gryffindor. Then the stupid hat kicked me straight to Slytherin."

"Oh rats! I could have taken Ravenclaw! But Gryffindor seemed more fun. If only you had gone first instead of me."

"If only… We were both under the hat for quite a long while, thinking back on it. I don't think many students get options like we did."

"Actually, Peter was longest by far, wasn't he? Hey, Peter…Peter? Earth to Peter!" Lily swatted him on the shoulder, and Peter mimed a yawn as he cracked open his eyes. "Weren't you under the hat for ages? What did it tell you?"

"I was, yeah. It was so embarrassing. You know, being up there with everyone watching and all, whispering about you. The hat kept saying how I didn't fit in any of them. That's probably why it took so long for me. What was it… 'A little wit, but no brains for books', something like that. Then it told me if I wanted friends, Hufflepuff could get me friends, but also that my friends would hate me? About Slytherin, it said something about not being 'snake-y' enough. I didn't get it at all, to be honest. Of course, it didn't even bother to tell me I had no daring, just some nonsense about 'the courage of the heart'. Apparently that was enough for Gryffindor…"

"Hey! Who was it that bamboozled old McGonagall with that story about an escaped snitch just so Marlene could sneak out those butterbeers before dormitory inspections?"

Severus looked at them equal parts horrified and impressed. "When was this? Where'd you get it?" He hesitated for a half-moment. "How'd it taste?"

"Oh, end of last year, after exams,"Lily said casually. "Mary got her older sister to take some back for us from Hogsmeade. They're good! Next year's going to be so much fun. I can't wait to visit Three Broomsticks with everyone."

Now Severus looked a little put out. "I'm not sure my parents will give permission, to tell the truth."

Lily shook her head with especial vehemence. "Never mind about your parents. When has your mum ever told me 'no' about anything? I'll get her to sign before you can say 'Honeyduke's'."

Peter noticed a significant look pass between the two of them. There's probably more to the story here, he thought. But he was used to the private way Lily and Severus talked about their life outside Hogwarts, so he resisted the temptation to pry into their affairs.

"Can someone do a tempus?" Severus asked suddenly. "I left my wand back in the dungeons with the rest of my supplies."

Lily checked her watch while Peter fumbled his wand out of his robe. "Nearly eight. Should we head in for breakfast? There's still plenty of time before we have to go to Potions."

Severus stood up, giving his robes a shake that failed to dislodge much of the loose grass that had attached itself to his backside. "You've started that essay for Slughorn, haven't you? Want to compare notes once we get in? I'm having trouble understanding how you balance the pufferfish intestine against the rhododendron blossom."

"Right!" Lily returned with her usual exuberance, springing to her feet. "That made no sense to me either! I was thinking the reason for it probably has something to do with counteracting the poison. But figuring out exactly how much rhododendron to add and then getting the timing right while brewing is so fiddly. There's gotta be a better way." She paused, reversing the half-step she'd already made toward the castle into an elegant turn back toward Peter. "You coming with?"

Peter sighed. There was no stopping the two of them when they got like this. He really didn't care that much about perfecting his brewing of the strengthening solution, to say nothing of the theory. He certainly hadn't done anything more than skim through the appropriate section of their worthless textbook. And the essay wasn't even due til Friday! "No," he answered, "I think I'll sit out here a bit longer. You two go ahead."Peter gave the pair a little smirk. "Mondays are bad enough without having to talk about potions."

"You'll regret saying that next time you want my help in class!" Lily mocked back, while an exasperated Severus rolled his eyes. "See you in the dungeons, then?"

Peter nodded, and the pair hurried off. Slytherin and Gryffindor. Gryffindor and Slytherin. An odd duo to be sure. Severus was not exactly popular, even in his own house, whereas Lily had instantly assumed command of the girls' first year dormitory. Still, watching his messy dark hair bob along beside her sun-burnished red, it was impossible to deny that they were indeed close. Peter was happy to tag along on the occasion that Lily pulled him into it, which he'd come to suspect was intended rather more for Severus' benefit than his own. He had a hard enough time making friends—and Lily was, of course, in her effervescent way, quite impossible to resist.

It was a fine morning, very welcome after their long spell of cold, though a brisk wind could be heard coursing through the Forbidden Forest. Thinking such conditions ought to have the Whomping Willow in excitable form, Peter turned his eyes from the castle over toward the Black Lake. He was astonished to find the willow completely still. And was that a student emerging from under the branches? Peter focused his attention closer on the lanky youth rushing furtively across the far side of the grounds. It was…Remus Lupin?

Peter leapt to his feet and scurried up the path to the castle. He couldn't wait to tell the others. Was this the answer to the long-standing puzzle of Remus' mysterious sleeping habits? Not even James or Sirius had been able to get a clear explanation as to where their roommate spent those periodic nights away from his four-poster. What in Merlin's name could it possibly mean, though? The forest? The willow?

His thoughts were still a-jumble by the time he burst into the second year boys' dormitory. Peter found Sirius and James, neither early risers, still in bed. (It was hard to blame them. Potions first thing Monday morning was simply cruel.)"James! Sirius!" he called, slamming the door behind him. "Wake up!"

James bolted upright. "Wha's'a'matter P'ter?" He yawned widely, not covering his mouth. "We sleep through Potions or something?"

Sirius grunted something that might have been "Hopefully," and turned over in his bed.

"It's Remus! I saw him, just now, coming out of the forest. It was the strangest thing."

This got even Sirius' attention. "Remus, you say? The forest? The Forbidden Forest?"

James considered Peter's news. "He was missing again last night, wasn't he?"

Sirius confirmed what Peter also suspected. "Definitely. It's obvious when he's gone, since you can actually get some sleep. That boy snores like an animal. We can't learn the silencing charm fast enough."

"Remind me, Peter, what was your theory again?"

"I thought maybe he was always going off to stay with family. Maybe visiting some relative who's ill?"

"Right, right."

"But I'm not sure that fits anymore. You'd think he'd go through the floo, probably, or maybe side-along with a professor. But he looked secretive this morning, like he didn't want to get caught."

Sirius barked out a laugh. "Good on Remus! I've always said he had it in him, haven't I, James? There's a little rule-breaker hiding inside our teacher's pet, after all."

"Yes, Sirius," James replied with put-on condescension. "Aren't you ever so clever. Was there anything else you noticed, Peter?"

Peter went over the scene again in his head. The wind… The willow! "Now that you mention it, there was something else. I only noticed him because I was looking out at the forest. It's real blustery out there today. So you'd figure the Whomping Willow would be in good form, right?"

"Love that thing," Sirius interjected with a wide grin. "All crazy and wild and menacing."

"Well, that's the weird part. It was completely still. Have you ever seen that before?"

James seemed to be taking the matter rather more seriously. "No, can't say I have. Come to think of it, why do the branches wave like that in the first place?"

"Because it's a tree, James. Are you stupid?"

"Oh, shut up. I mean it. Those branches swing around in all kinds of weather, don't they?"

"Because it's a magic tree. I really must ask again: are you stupid? Maybe it's being haunted by those nasty ghosts Frank was telling us about, the same ones they've been hearing outside Hogsmeade."

"I still don't buy that whole story about the ghosts," James retorted. "Ever heard of a ghost that only comes out once a month? I bet Frank's just trying to scare us. Even the Bloody Baron's not half so bad as what they're saying about Hogsmeade."

"Maybe you have a point. Uncle Alphard had to shut off his whole east wing because some ancient relative decided to stick around and bother all his visitors. If she only came round once a month, he'd probably just try to play it off as a sort of joke."

"You know what would be great," added Peter, thinking of his earlier conversation with Lily and Severus, "is if Binns only showed up once a month."

"See, now there's an idea."

"You wish. History of Magic isn't going anywhere, so the sooner you accept it, the better."

"Not even Remus likes history, you stupid swot."

"Don't even think about asking to copy me this week for Binns, then, if that's how you're going to be."

Sirius glared at him. "You wouldn't."

"Would too."

"Be that way. You'll still give it to Peter, and then Peter will just give it to me. Accept it already, James. I've won this argument every week since we started Hogwarts, and I'll keep winning it every week until McGonagall finally lets me drop the course."

"Stuff it,"James shot back irritably. "Forget the ghosts and forget the willow. What else did you say, Peter? He was coming out of the forest? What could he have been doing? Did either of you notice anything out there last night, by any chance?"

Peter considered for a moment. "Not really. I guess I had a bit of trouble sleeping? The moon was awfully bright last night. Maybe he decided to go for a stroll and got lost or something?"

"The moon… THE MOON! Peter! You are an honest-to-Merlin genius!"

Sirius guffawed. When he noticed James' look of complete earnest, he had the grace to look a bit guilty. "What'd you mean?"

"The moon, Sirius! How often is Remus gone? Every month! What was last night? The full moon! Where was Remus? The Forbidden Forest!"

Every trace of humour vanished from Sirius' face. "No way. There's no way. Absolutely no fucking way."

"There's absolutely no other explanation. Remus Lupin is a bloody werewolf. Everything fits so perfectly. It has to be true." James looked the other two boys in the eye, with an unexpectedly decisive maturity. "So now the question is: what are we going to do about it?"

Peter fainted dead away.

~xxxx~

A/N: Lily's spitfire confidence is such a joy to write.

Pufferfish is highly toxic in real life. If you compare the recipe for strengthening solution set by Slughorn here with the one we're given in CoS, you might guess that the Half-Blood Prince doesn't keep all his innovations to himself. Snape and Lily are already on the path of collaborative research. However, the later bravery he displays as Dumbledore's spy doesn't exist yet, so Snape isn't given the option of Gryffindor. How much different would the story have been if he'd taken Ravenclaw?

The bit about sneaking butterbeer would have fit better two or three years later, when they're old enough to start thinking more seriously about trying firewhisky. That said, even if butterbeer's non-alcoholic, you can imagine that it might have some magical additive or other that you're supposed to stay away from until you've reached a certain point of development (like, say, thirteen years old). I can see enough similarity with liquor consumption as to make Snape (and Snape's mum) nervous about the example of his (probably) alcoholic father. Or you can just let them be little children, nervous about breaking the rules.

We also get to meet two of the future Marauders. Learning your roommate's a werewolf seems like a pretty good occasion for a twelve year old to break out the 'f-word' for the first time.