The Long Way

Chapter 2

The day of the Potions test came and went. The next class, all the students received their marks with the expected results.

Moira shook her head, looking at her paper. "Well, it's a fact. Bubbly brewing is not my forte." She glanced from hers to Evie's to Lily's. "At least Evie didn't embarrass herself."

Lily did not say anything, but continued gathering her books and quills in her arms, hoping to make a quick getaway and make it to the bathroom in time for the next class.

"Yes, and Lily led the pack, as usual," said Evie. "Good job, Lil."

"Thanks," she replied, relieved to have it over with. As she stood to leave, she knocked into the person walking past her desk, sending the books and papers flying from both their hands."

"Sorry, I wasn't -" She cut herself off once she realized who she had run into. Severus Snape was bent over, collecting his things while shooting her icy stares. Lily had not forgotten the incident the year before, when she had tried to stick up for him in front of others, and in return he yelled and cursed at her. Lily straightened up quickly to get out of his way, leaving a few of her papers on the floor.

Snape sneered at her, then whispered, "Don't cross paths with me, Mudblood." His face was very near hers now, and she saw a strange light flicker in his eyes, and it made her run cold inside. Suddenly, his face coloured and he briskly turned and strode away. Lily was stricken. It's not that she wanted everybody to like her, or even just Severus to be nice to her, but she hated the fact that he despised her simply for who her parents were.

Lily looked down at her scattered belongings and heaved a sigh. She bent to pick them up, when she saw a hand reach down and grab a couple of quills off the floor. She turned and saw the hand's owner standing face to face with her.

"Don't worry about him," Remus said through a small smile. "I'm afraid he'll never change." Lily gave a short nod as he handed her quills to her.

"Hurry up, Moony," came Sirius's voice as he put his hand on Remus's shoulder. "It's a beautiful day out. I think some outside recreation is in order." Sirius patted Lily on the cheek as the two shuffled past her, Remus giving her a last big smile, Sirius his most striking grin.

"Absolutely, Padfoot. Besides," James said, brushing a lock of her long hair behind her shoulder before continuing, "we have to defend our lady Gryffindor's honour against foul-mouthed gits." He gave her a brazen wink and walked on, followed by Peter yet again.

As they trotted out the door and into the hall, Evie and Moira came up behind Lily.

"Well, look who's the popular one," Moira grinned.

"Yeah, Lil," Evie added, "leave some for the rest of us, eh?"

"Shut up, you two." Lily was a deep crimson. How dare they just - just - like they have a right to or something. At least Remus knows how to act like a gentleman.

"I wonder what that was about," Lily said, as Evie bent to pick up the remaining item on the floor.

"I'll bet they're going to find Snape," Moira said giddily. "C'mon, let's go and see what they're up to."

"I can't," Lily said as Moira grabbed her arm and shoved her forward, while Evie tried to cram the rest of Lily's belongings into her bag. "I have to get to Arithmancy."

"Are you kidding?" Moira asked. "How can you pass this up? I'll bet it'll be a hoot. Besides, you're you. You'll catch up in no time."

They marched into the hallway, but the boys were nowhere to be seen. Lily felt relieved. "Well, since we can't find them, then I'll just be on -"

"Peeves!" Evie shrieked, looking at the figure floating around the chandelier a few feet away. "Peeves, which way did Severus go?"

Peeves snorted at them from the ceiling. "Snapesy's getting the pantsies cursed off him, he is."

"Right, we know, but where?" Moira said impatiently.

"Peevsey doesn't tell everything to naughty students who tattle to the Bloody Baron," he replied in a singsong voice, glaring at Lily. "So Peevsey isn't saying that Snapsey is about to be fed to the giant squid," he said haughtily as he floated upside-down to the end of the hallway and turned the corner.

"Ooh! Come on!" Moira said, Lily and Evie in tow.

They hurried outside and down to the lake, where they saw a small crowd gathered by the edge. Lily now felt guilty. She was angry that Snape had picked on her, but she was even more annoyed that the boys were using her as an excuse to give Snape a hard time.

Coming to the edge of the crowd, Evie and Lily bobbed up and down trying to look over the heads of those gathered. Moira, however, had a bird's-eye view.

"What's going on?" Lily asked.

Moira shook her head. "Nothing yet. Sirius and James have Snivellus backed against the water. Their wands are out."

Evie shrieked with delight. "I wish I could see what was happening."

"So do I," Lily said, less enthused.

Moira huffed. "We'll fix it. Excuse me." She pushed the few in front of them to the side, and the three girls quickly wormed their way to the front of the group, just in time to get a good look at the situation.

Sure enough, Snape was cornered, his back to the lake, and the rest of him surrounded by students not interested in helping him escape. He was red-faced, angry and tense, with his wand extended in front of him, hand shaking. James and Sirius were lazily holding their wands up as well, but were casually playing towards their audience.

"What should we do?" James held his free hand in the air. "Who want to see Snivellus take a bath?"

Sirius gave a barking laugh. "That'd be a nice change, wouldn't it, guys?"

The crowd laughed along. Snape looked from face to face, evidently deciding that he could not possibly curse one student without all the others turning on him.

Remus was at the front of the crowd, though some distance from James and Sirius. He was exactly three people away, Lily noted silently. Peter was hunched behind him, looking eagerly at the scene unfolding before them.

"Look, guys," Remus said, "why don't we just take a break on him today, eh? I mean, it was just an accident."

James shook his head, a satirically grave look on his face. "Oh no, Moony, we cannot let such offences go unanswered." He turned to Snape, a devious grin on his face. "Accosting the women of Gryffindor is unacceptable, Snivellus. It's time someone taught you some manners."

Peter giggled with glee as James raised his wand. "Wingardium -"

"No!" Lily and Remus moved forward at exactly the same instant. Remus saw Lily and stopped, his mouth open in surprise.

Lily ran next to James. "No, please. Don't do this. Not because of me."

James held his wand steady at shoulder level, and turned his head to look at her. Lily was standing right next to him, so close she could see the tips of his eyelashes. She noticed for the first time just how clearly hazel his eyes really were.

"Why shouldn't I? What are you talking about?" James's eyebrows pointed downward.

Lily took a gulp of air. "I just - I just don't want anyone to get hurt because of an accident, that's all."

Sirius walked up behind her and peered around her shoulder, looking Lily in the eye. "Luv, this is Snivellus. Need I remind you what happened last time you tried to stick up for him?"

Lily looked past the two of them towards nowhere in particular. "Well, that was last year, and I'm not sticking up for him. It was just an accident. It was my fault." She looked back up into those clear hazel eyes. "You're just looking for an excuse to fight, and I'm not going to be your excuse."

James raised an eyebrow. He and Sirius exchanged an inexplicable look. In a swift, simultaneous motion, James and Sirius broke away from sandwiching Lily and lowered their wands.

"All right, Snivellus," Sirius muttered, disappointed. "You have until the birds are gone before we change our minds."

Snape, who hadn't moved a muscle since Lily arrived, slowly moved along the edge of the lake. His gaze snapped back and forth between James and Sirius as he walked backwards, one foot behind the other.

It all happened in an instant. Snape misjudged his footing and fell into the water before anyone could move forward to stop him, had they even wanted to. The crowd burst into laughter, James and Sirius guffawing over the uproar. Lily pressed her lips together, determined not to laugh along, but it was a struggle. She turned to walk back to the castle, when Remus moved in front of her. The smile on his face freed her to show her own.

"That was good of you," he said, "but he didn't deserve it. You should have let them dunk him."

"Why? Weren't you trying to stop them, too?"

Remus jerked his head. "Yes, but not really. I mean, I enjoy a good Snivellus gag like the rest of them, but being a Prefect and all, I have to at least look like I'm trying to interfere."

Lily smiled and bent her head. For the second time today, she had been closer to Remus Lupin than she had ever been before, and here they were talking as though they did everyday. Lily took a deep breath.

"Well, I guess I'd better get back. I'm already missing Arithmancy."

"Right," Remus said, "it wouldn't look right for a Prefect to keep you from class." He smiled casually.

Lily smiled back, and took a step around him. She took another step before he spoke again.

"Listen," he said. She stopped and spun around so fast she almost lost her balance. She hoped he didn't notice. "Would you want to, you know, eat together tonight at dinner? That is," he added quickly, "I really need help on my Potions work, and I hear you're a natural."

Lily blinked, taking in what he said. "Uh, right. Uh, sure, sure. I'll, uh, see you ... there ... ."

"Great," Remus nodded. He turned and walked back to his friends, who were huddled back at the lake, muttering to each other.

Lily spun again and half-ran back to the castle, ignoring the calls of her friends behind her.

Classes for that day ended, and Lily was back in her room, standing before the mirror on the inside door of her dresser.

This is crazy, she thought. I can't look like I spent all afternoon primping. He just wants Potions help. That's all.

"Boo!"

Lily screamed and jumped. She hadn't seen Moira and Evie walk up behind her. Lily, now recovered from her shock, began to laugh with them at herself.

"Seriously, Lil," Evie said, "you're not going down like that?"

Lily stopped laughing. "Like what?" She turned back to the mirror.

"Like," Moira began unsteadily, "well, like normal."

Lily looked at Moira's reflection, downcast. "But, what's -"

"Nothing, nothing," Moira quickly said. "I didn't mean it like that. I just mean, well, he sees you every day, you know? But now you've got him in arm's reach," she grinned, "you should really try to knock his socks off."

Lily raised an eyebrow. This did not sound like a good plan. "Don't you think, I mean, it's just homework in the Great Hall. It's not like we're going to Madam Puddifoot's or something ..." Her voice trailed off conspicuously as she flushed a deep crimson.

Evie's expression glowed. "I can see someone's been giving this some thought, after all."

Lily just smiled in response. Sure, she had thought about it. And why not? It made for some good thinking.

Moira spoke, bringing Lily back into the present. "Whatever. Here's what we're going to do." She grabbed Lily by the shoulders and marched her over to her bed. "You sit here. We're going to fix you up and send you down, and just wait and see if you're not thanking us for it later."

Evie giggled. "If she can find the time."

Half an hour later, Moira and Evie sent Lily down to the Great Hall unaccompanied. Lily carried her Potions book with her, against her friends' advice.

What do they know? I'm going to look a right idiot as it is, even with the homework.

The truth was, though, she did not look bad at all, and she knew it. Moira had gone to town on her make-up, which was a bit more dramatic than Lily was used to, but made her feel something fantastic. Evie had waved Lily's hair so that it now fell in soft curls down her back, with a few thin spirals framing her face. Moira had also, against Lily's heavy protesting, made her take off her uniform tie and unbutton her blouse a few buttons down. When Lily tried to button it back up, Moira had simply ripped off the buttons.

"There," she had said, "I'm saving you from yourself, you know. Besides, you've got plenty of others."

And now Lily stood alone at the entrance to the Great Hall. She walked slowly to the Gryffindor table, her chin as close to her exposed chest as she could get it. Her eyes darted up and down the students seated there, but she saw no sign of Remus. Seeing a gap on one of the benches, she sat down, alone, hoping to draw less attention.

"Evans?" she heard someone say from behind her as she reached to grab a pork chop for her plate.

James and Sirius sat on either side of her, almost squishing her between them.

"Wow, Evans. When you tutor you really tutor, don't you?" James leaned on his elbow on the table to get a better look at her.

Lily froze. Oh no. Where is Remus?

"No doubt, Luv," Sirius added, "I think I may need some Potions help, as well."

"And Charms," added James.

"And Transfiguration."

"And Ancient Runes."

"You're not in Ancient Runes."

"So?" James smirked. "I'm an eager student."

Lily could feel her cheeks burning. This is Moira's fault. And Evie's. I'll kill them if they ever show themselves down here ... She tried to keep her gaze from drifting to either of the two attractive boys next to her. Again, here she was so close to the two of them, and for the second time in a day. Sirius with his dark, shiny hair. James, with those piercing hazel eyes.

She caught their gazes streaming across her body, and rather than being offended, she was oddly flattered. And, unwillingly, she had forgotten why she was there, and her mind wandered down a road it had not gone before ... one involving Sirius, then James, and not ...

"Remus," Sirius swore casually.

Lily whipped her head around and looked at the door. Remus had, indeed, just walked in and was headed towards her.

"Oh well," he continued, "can't invade a mate's territory."

Sirius and James started to back away from Lily. "Yes," James added, "pity. But better luck next time, eh, Evans?"

She couldn't think of a response fitting, but fortunately she didn't have to. Remus was now standing right behind them.

"Hi, guys," Remus said as Sirius slid to one side, offering him a seat.

He sat down slowly. "Hello, Lily."

"Hi" was all she could manage. Idiot girl. Say something ... smart.

Remus had not taken his eyes off her. She looked at him and noticed in the indoor light how tired he looked, as though he had just run a race. His face was very thin, and his hair slightly unkempt. But the light shining in his grey eyes was unmistakable. Moira and Evie had been right. She was going to write the next two History of Magic essays for them.

"How were your classes?" Remus asked.

"Oh, uh, fine," Lily replied, her voice almost steady.

"We've been guarding her for you, Moony," James interjected, tearing off a piece of a roll, about to stick it into his mouth, "although, I must say, you'd better be glad we're such devoted friends."

Remus's gaze suddenly went to James, his smile gone.

James was not fazed. "I think Evans here is part Veela. We were that close to unleashing all your deep, dark secrets in order to promote ourselves as more apt students."

Remus looked uncomfortable. Lily was surprised, but tried not to show it. What on earth could he have to hide?

Sirius laughed loudly and clapped Remus on the back. "Oh, don't worry, Moony. We're only joking. Well, that is," he looked around Remus at Lily, "about the secret part."

Remus chuckled softly with Sirius and James, and appeared to shake off whatever they had been talking about. Lily hated this feeling of walking into the middle of a private conversation.

"So, Potions work, eh?" James said, a mouth full of chicken.

Lily nodded as Remus replied, "Oh yes, I've, um, been having a bit of a problem, um ..."

"Sure you have, Moony." Sirius rolled his eyes. "You're the last one in class - maybe besides Evans here - who'd need help on class work."

"Hey now," James interjected. "I'm not too bad off myself."

"You were just saying you needed help in Ancient Runes."

"But - you're not in Ancient Runes," Remus said, a puzzled look on his face.

"Don't worry about it, mate," James replied. He then leaned in to Lily and whispered, "My offer still stands, though." Lily blushed, hoping Remus wouldn't notice.

Peter suddenly ran up to the four of them, holding a crinkled Daily Prophet. "Have you seen this yet?"

"What, you've finally learned to read?" Sirius retorted, gaining snickers from James.

"No, no, no," Peter was spitting, he was talking so fast. "I mean, yes, of course I can read, I am sixteen, you know, I've been reading for quite a long time now and, I mean, I do still have some trouble with joined-up letters--"

"Wormtail," James snapped, "we know what you meant. What were you going to tell us?"

"The Daily Prophet!" Peter burst. "It says there's rumours of someone - some wizard - being behind all the giant attacks in the north!"

"What?" Remus turned to look at the paper.

"Oh come on, Wormtail," Sirius said lazily, "you don't believe everything that old rag tells you, do you?"

"It's the news," Lily said weakly. "I mean, if the Prophet says it happened, it must've, right?"

Sirius shook his head. "So blessedly naive. Pity you saw it first, Moony."

But Remus wasn't paying attention to Sirius, or any of the others. He was now as engrossed in the Prophet article as Peter. "It says here," he began, "that some wizard, referring to himself as some sort of wizard noble, can be traced to the pillaging and murders in the northern mountain villages."

"Wizard noble?" James said curiously. "There isn't any wizard nobility."

"Depends on who you ask," Sirius replied darkly.

James and Lily both looked at him as Remus continued, "And it also says that some of the more respected heads of wizard households have already started supporting him, though it doesn't say who."

"Rumours, rumours," James said. "What can you do with a rumour?"

"But the Prophet -" Peter spit again.

"The Prophet needs to learn idle gossip isn't news," Sirius responded, silencing Peter at last.

"Well, anyway," James said, pushing back from the table, "I suppose we'd better leave you to it."

"Right," Sirius said. "I'm sure Moony here has a couple of things he'd like to bring up to Lily."

"Absolutely, Padfoot. And, Moony ..." James bent his head between Remus and Lily, looking at Remus. "You be a good boy, now. I don't want to hear about you getting a bit too practical with those aphrodisiacs in the back of the book. However," he lowered his voice, "if you do, then I definitely want to hear about it, eh mate?"

Lily turned a bright red and looked the other way, pretending to be reorganizing some page markers in her Potions book, as James and Sirius chuckled at Remus, who was now leaning his forehead on his hand, looking straight down at his plate.

James and Sirius laughed heartily as they strode to the door, pushing a second year onto a bench as they walked by. Peter followed close behind them, his nose still pointed down at the copy of the Prophet.

Lily didn't turn around for a few seconds. Maybe if I act like I didn't hear, or didn't understand ... But one thing was certain, she realized with a guilty pleasure. What James and Sirius had said almost confirmed that Remus was interested in more than her mind, and she was not at all unhappy about that.

"Ahem," Remus cleared his throat. Lily turned back to look at him. "Sorry about them."

Lily just nodded. "Right." She was glad to have her hopes confirmed, but she did not appreciate being the butt of their vulgar humour.

"You know, they're really all right," Remus continued, now keeping a noticeable distance between them of only a few inches. "They just like to have their little joke now and again."

Lily nodded. She didn't want to think about those two at the moment.

Remus took a deep sigh as though to remove the tension that had now settled on the table. "So," he said, his normal, comfortable smile back in place, "hungry?"

Lily laughed. "Yes," she said, and they both filled their plates and ate and talked, Lily never once opening her Potions book.

An hour or so later, the enchanted ceiling above them indicated that the sun had almost completely left the sky. They decided to walk outside around the lake for a while. As they walked out of the room, Lily noticed Moira and Evie seated on the bench close to the door.

"Oh." She touched Remus' arm, noticing the firm, lean muscles underneath his sleeve. "Just one second."

Remus nodded and Lily walked quickly over to her friends, who were smiling so wide she would have been annoyed had she been in a normal mood. But now she was so euphoric that nothing, not even James and Sirius's dirty jokes, could pull her down.

"Well, you little minx," Evie said in a mock accusatory tone, "I'll bet you never once opened that old textbook."

"As a matter of fact," Lily said haughtily with a broad smile of her own, "we've already finished with it. Do you mind taking this with you when you go up?"

Moira's eyes widened. "Well, well!" She looked past Lily to Remus, who was standing next to the door, fingering the doorway impatiently. "Fine then, you little hussy. But don't do anything I wouldn't do."

Lily smirked in return. "I'm fairly certain that won't be a problem."

Moira and Evie gasped in delighted shock, and Lily turned and walked back to Remus.

"Ready?" he asked.

"Absolutely."

They walked out of the castle and onto the grounds, which now were practically empty. Most of the students by now had gone to their respective common rooms and were likely beginning on homework or playing Exploding Snaps or Wizard's Chess. The faint twinkle of starlight combined with the fire glow coming through the castle windows reflected on the lake's tiny waves. Remus and Lily walked down the path leading to the greenhouses at the back of the castle. They were still talking, though not as loudly as before, with only the insect noises in the background. Lily was telling Remus about her family and her beginning at Hogwarts six years ago.

"So, anyway," she concluded, "mostly it's been just wonderful. I miss my family during the year, of course, but it's so nice to be here with other wizards and witches, people who understand me. I feel so ... so 'not out of place' for the first time."

Remus nodded. "I know what you mean."

"Oh?" Lily said as they stopped and sat beneath one of the dogwood trees along the path. "But I thought all your family were magical."

"Well, yes," Remus hesitated, "but there are more ways than one to feel, well, left out."

Lily nodded, but didn't really understand what he meant.

They sat there for a few moments in silence, as the sky turned from crimson to violet to indigo. Lily was leaning back on one hand with her legs curled under her skirt to shield them from the soft night breeze.

"Lily," Remus said softly, "I - I'm glad we've got to talk."

She turned and looked at him. He had moved closer to her, so that now his arm was behind her, his face only inches from hers.

"So am I," she answered quietly, her breath shallow.

"I - that is, I like talking to you." He paused. "I like you."

Lily blinked down at the ground. "I like you too, Remus."

She looked back up at him just in time to see him close his eyes. She closed hers too, but instinctively knew he was leaning forward. She felt him kiss her gently, and fought not to squeal with delight, while at the same time feeling a warm, comfortable sensation fill her from the toes up. As they continued kissing, he put his free hand on her cheek, and she covered his hand with hers.

Afterwards, she didn't know how long they had sat there together, but when she finally kissed him goodnight in the common room and walked up to her dormitory, the others were asleep. Thankful that she didn't have to answer any questions tonight, she changed into her nightgown and slid under the heavy covers into her bed that had never felt so warm and soft, though at that moment, she would have traded it in an instant to be back on the hard, cool grass under the dogwood tree.

She fell asleep calmly and easily. As sleep fell heavily on her, she began to dream.

She was in a room, a dark room.

Her head began to hurt. She looked around her and could see people everywhere: someone right behind her, someone further behind her, and some others off to the side, but everyone was a strange blur of colour. In fact, she wasn't even sure they were people.

But right in front of her was Remus. At first, that warm, safe feeling came back, but quickly she was cold, afraid, and her head hurt worse.

He was looking at her, but he wasn't smiling. He was ... he was in pain. She was sure of that, but she didn't know why. He was standing there, writhing in pain.

She screamed, but no sound came. She tried to run to him, but she couldn't get to him. It was like there was an invisible wall between them.

Suddenly, she fell to the ground, and she saw a flash of green light.

She screamed again, but this time awake.

She sat bolt up-right, and panted. Moira hadn't been stirred, but Evie was moaning about the next day and slowly fell back asleep. Lily took her head into her hands. It ached so badly that she could do nothing but lie with her eyes closed. It was more than an hour later before the pain subsided, allowing her to rest.