Moonlight

Moonlight--Chapter 3:

...Then...

WHAT?

The others are so shocked that they don't notice the identical look of shock on my face. That, I assume, is a good thing.

Women are insane. They must be. What must the lack of the Y chromosome do to the brain so that Lily would say something like that? I mean... Lily? Yes, she was smart, and pretty, but... Lily Evans?

"Really?" Sirius eventually says. He looks at me, and I flush so badly that I think my robes are scorched. "Evans and Lupin. That's classic, that is."

I want to say "No" but then I'd have to say the real secret, and the fear is even more raw now. Though God knows it has to be easier than this...

Have I spoken a word in the past minute?

"How cute," Sirius says. "A regular puppy love romance." He pretends to gag. Peter is just staring in disbelief.

"That's just.. amazing," James says. It's the first thing he's said. James, quiet? Something must be wrong. "I mean.. wow."

Lily turns and smiles at me. I flush more; I figure I must be red by now. God, the whole school will know soon.. What is she thinking? "Yeah," I say. Is my voice that strained? Oh, God.

People start exiting from the Great Hall; it's time for Defense. Thank God, I don't think I could stand another minute of having Sirius cracking jokes and James being quiet and Peter just staring in amazement. I lag behind and make sure to grab Lily.

"What, are you insane? What was that?" I sound like Severus did when his voice broke in Potions last week. "I can't believe I trusted you with this. God..."

She looks offended. "You didn't want them to know, so I made something up. You weren't doing too hot yourself, Remus, so don't blame me. Don't worry, we only need to hold this up for another week or two."

"What?"

"What's wrong, Remus?" she says with a grin on her face. "Afraid of having to pretend to date a girl?" She lowers her voice. "You're a werewolf, you have worse things to worry about." She grins again and I'm struck dumb. "See you in Defense," she croons, and blows me a kiss. She giggles--Lily Evans, giggling!--and runs off to find the others.

I heft my bag up to my shoulder and run like hell to class, worrying like mad what I should do.

"This girl," I say to myself, "is going to drive me mad."

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This is hell. This is complete and utter hell.

"You know, this explains a lot," Sirius mutters to me in Defense. "You and Evans always studying in the library together. Funny, I always thought it'd be James and Lily, but here you go... it's so cute."

"Would you shut up?" I hiss at Sirius. I must be completely red now. "Please. I can't concentrate."

"Sorry," he says. "I'll let you talk to your cuddle monkey in peace." I could kill him, I really could. I lean over to Lily.

"You know, you're intolerable."

"Remus, you really know how to compliment a girl."

"You know me, Lily, I'm a ladies' man." I cast a dark look at her. "I can't believe I'm in this situation."

"Not to have a big head but there are a few who'd like to be in this particular one." She flicks a piece of hair from her face and gives me this wonderful smile and I can't respond at all, sarcastically or not. "You're a lucky guy, Remus."

At this moment, I really can't refute that.

There is suddenly a woman standing above us with a stern look on our face. The new Defense teacher, quite young compared to the others; Professor McGonagall. "Well!" she says. "Mr. Lupin, if you could please stop wooing our dear Miss Evans and pay attention to this lesson, it would be greatly appreciated."

Sirius can't stop laughing right now. I think I'm flushing so much I'm purple now. Lily saves my life, luckily, with a "Sorry, Professor, he was just helping me with the spell."

"Likely," McGonagall says. She turns away and begins to lecture again. I shoot Sirius a look.

"Please, Sirius, it's not that funny!"

I look back at Peter and James. James is sniggering like mad and Peter has a quirked smile on his face that shows he is obviously trying not to laugh. "Come on, it's not that funny," I whisper.

They just laugh harder in response. I turn back to Lily and hiss, "You owe me for this."

"On the contrary," she says. "You owe me. How about a date at the lake?" She gives me a devilish grin.

I was right before. I am in hell.

But it certainly could be worse..