The Petals of the Moon

Though it slowly came, Remus could see that Lily was acting differently. She was more quiet, and even when she smiled at Remus, he could tell that it was a nervous smile and behind her shining emerald eyes was vulnerability.

She even began acting different to James and Sirius' mischievous activities, and Remus just didn't understand why.

"Make it electric green!" shouted Peter.

The Marauders were outside on the grounds and James and Sirius had hidden behind a tree with Snape bound to it. Snape had been silenced, and now James and Sirius were enjoying their moments of fun while Peter sat in awe and Remus didn't do a thing. James and Sirius were currently changing the color of Snape's hair.

"Electric green?" asked James. "Why electric green?"

Peter shrugged.

"Well, let's see how he looks in it!" James waved his wand at Snape and Snape's hair became electric green.

"He's not much better looking, is he?" said Sirius. "There's not a single hair color out there that suits his greasy hair and abnormally large nose." He looked at Snape and sniggered. "Didn't you enjoy being a blonde, Snivelly? Though really, it just made your nose look much bigger."

Snape glared at him and struggled to get out of the tree, but he couldn't budge.

"Change it again!" said Peter.

"Yeah. Now what color shall it be?" James pondered. He turned around to Remus. "Hey, Moony, do you want to suggest a color? Come on, it's fun!"

"No, no, I'm fine," said Remus, turning the page in his book.

"If you say so then," said Sirius, looking at Snape maliciously. "Here, Snivellus, just for you. The most beautiful pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty pink!" He waved his wand and Snape's hair changed from electric green to pink.

"Aw, look at him!" James mocked. "Aw, wittle Snivellwy is so adorwable."

"You know what he's thinking though, don't you?" asked Sirius.

James shook his head. "What? Why don't you tell us, Padfoot?"

Sirius cleared his throat and acted as Snape.

"I feel pretty!

Oh so pretty!

I feel pretty and witty and gay!

And I pity

Any girl who isn't me today!"

"La la la la la la la la, la la!" added Peter.

James laughed and continued.

"I feel charming!

Oh so charming!

It's alarming how charming I feel!

And so pretty

That I hardly can believe I'm real!"

"La la la la la la la la, la la!" added Peter.

James and Sirius began to skip around and snicker at Snape. Remus fought down a snigger and tried to ignore them and continue reading. James and Sirius made elaborate twirls and continued singing.

"See the pretty girl in that mirror there?

Who can that attractive girl be?

Such a pretty face

Such a pretty dress

Such a pretty smile

Such a pretty me!

I feel stunning!

And entrancing!

Feel like running and jumping for joy!

For I'm loved

By a pretty wonderful boy!"

"STOP!"

Lily had come marching over to the four, and personally, Remus was glad because James and Sirius were horrible singers.

"What are you doing?" she demanded.

"Is it such a crime to be giving Snivellus a makeover that he's been needing?" asked Sirius.

"Yes! Now change his hair back to normal!"

"Come on, Evans! There's still some more verses to the song!" said James.

"Just change his hair back to normal and untie him! Please, James!" Lily realized what she said right after she said it. "I mean, Potter! Do it now!"

"'James'?" asked James. "Are you going to start calling me 'James' now?"

Lily ran her hand through her hair frustrated. "Don't bother me, Potter,"

"Alright, alright, I guess not. That's okay." James reverted Snape's hair back to the filthy black color and had the ropes untied and took the silencing charm off. "There, Evans. Happy?"

Lily nodded and walked off.

While James and Sirius were busy telling Snape not to tell a word or they would do something worse and Peter watched excitedly, Remus watched Lily exit. She had called him 'James'. That was a first. It didn't mean anything though, right?

It wouldn't have bothered him if she didn't do it more frequently.

James, Sirius, and Peter had another detention one night (this time for unleashing a million dungbombs in the hallway containing the entrance to the Slytherin Common Room) and so Lily and Remus sat silently in the Gryffindor Common Room.

"That's it, I can't take it any more!" Lily yelled suddenly. She turned to Remus. "Remus...I...I love you, but...there's something else. And...and...we just have to end it."

"What?" Remus asked. "No, no. It's alright. We'll be fine. Just tell me."

"I can't," she said.

"Please, please tell me."

"I can't," Lily repeated. "It's over."

"No!" Remus said. "It will be okay....

Hold my hand and we're halfway there

Hold my hand and I'll take you there

Somehow

Someday

Somewhere..."

"Remus...I just can't be with you anymore," said Lily.

Remus looked at her, shocked, searching for words to say. Before he could say anything, Lily slipped the emerald bracelet he had given her and held it limply in her hand.

"Please take it," she said softly.

"W-what?" Remus could feel his voice breaking.

"Take it please."

Remus didn't take it, and Lily just let it fall to the ground, and ran up to her dormitory.

Remus sat there, overwhelmed with sadness and pain.

And that was it. That was the last time he had spoken with her about their relationship...

The older Remus, sitting in a room at James and Lily's house, could feel tears streaming down his face. Slowly, he got up, went to his bag, and pulled out the emerald bracelet, which he did eventually take, not knowing why. Maybe just to remember her. He held the bracelet in his hands, just remembering...

There was a click at the door, and it opened. Remus tossed the bracelet away, and turned his back toward the door, pretending to be fumbling with his bag.

"I knew you were in here!" said Sirius. "What are you doing?"

"Er...nothing."

"Come on out, we're all outside."

"Oh, yeah. Okay," said Remus. Though he didn't move.

"Are you coming?" Sirius asked.

"Yeah. I'll be there in a moment..."

"Okay then. But hurry up. It's very nice outside and if you take too long you'll be looking at the moon instead of the setting sun." He closed the door.

Remus wiped his tears off on a handkerchief and looked in a mirror to see if he looked like he was fine. Well, with the exception of his ill and pale face. Satisfied, he slowly walked out of the room and went outside onto the patio.

James and Sirius were flying on brooms, singing random crazy songs, and Peter was on the grass beneath them, eating something. Lily was watching them, and when she saw Remus come out she walked over to him.

"Hey," she said.

"Hey," he replied.

"They're something, aren't they?" Lily asked, referring to James and Sirius.

"Yeah," Remus said. "You...er...look nice."

"Thanks. Um...you do too."

Remus couldn't help feeling that he and Lily's lives slightly resembled the lives in Splendor in the Grass. Here was Lily, like Deanie, looking great with the whole world ahead of her and sure to have great things. And here was himself, like Bud, probably no future ahead of him. Just existing. Nothing too special. "So...I'm sure that you and James will be very happy."

"Yes," Lily mumbled. "You will come and visit again, won't you? After you and Sirius and Peter leave?"

"Of course," Remus said.

"Hey, Lily, come here!" James called, who was apparently done singing random songs with Sirius and flying around like a nut.

Lily looked at Remus. "Well...I guess I'll go see what he wants." She ran over to James, and he began to start some kind of dance with her. Lily laughed. The laugh Remus used to here when she was with him...

"James and Lily. Who would have thought?" said Sirius, who was now standing next to Remus to watch them with him.

"Who would have?" Remus said tonelessly.

"Now those two are sure to make some sort of impact on our lives," said Sirius. "With all their wild dancing!" he laughed.

"Yeah," Remus agreed.

Sirius' attention was removed to look at Peter. "Peter! Come back here with my broomstick!" Peter had taken Sirius' broom and was flying around on it. Sirius ran over, grabbed James' broom, and flew up. He and Peter began to have some sort of joking broom fight.

And that left Remus, still watching them all. He watched James and Lily now spinning around. That was the end of her, Lily Evans, forever to be Lily Potter. He loved her; he had never stopped loving her. But inside he knew that he must carry on. After all, it would not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.

But he would never forget her.

What though the radiance which was once so bright

Be now forever taken from my sight

Though nothing can bring back the hour

Of splendour in the grass, of glory in the flower

We will grieve not, rather find

Strength in what remains behind...