Hi guys! Sorry if I haven't been able to reply to your messages until now! I've been busy with my exams… The good news is that… my last exam was last Tuesday! So that means regular updates, most likely on a Friday or a Saturday afternoon. Sorry it took me a while to write this chapter, had a holiday and also it took me a while to get back into this. I really appreciate your reviews and you guys sticking with me throughout my lack of writing! Hope you enjoy this chapter!

Disclaimer - I own nothing.

Chapter 11: Secrets

Lily felt so much more vulnerable after the incident, and of course 'her guys' understood this. Everywhere she seemed to go, one of them would ...happen to pop along with her. Most people would find that irritating but Lily just found it heart-warming that they cared so much. Lily just felt warmth flowing from her friendship… something she hadn't felt in a long while. James … he was a different matter. He'd always been there for her whenever she needed him, and that meant so much to her. The boys did feel very protective towards her, and would pack a punch or a mean spell if anyone so much as hurt a hair on her red head. She felt she could never repay him for doing such a thing. Lola also seemed to be even more of a fiery friend than usual, her confidence making up for any lack of Lily's.

A while after the incidient, Remus had started to become suspicious to the others. He seemed to disappear once a month without a valid reason as to why. Lily had often worried about the boy, and had always insisted that she were there for him. Remus had just smiled at her and told her what an amazing friend she was. Lily couldn't help but think he was avoiding the situation. However Lily just took a back seat to this information she had acquired, and decided to wait for him to come to her. She didn't want to be considered annoying or intruding – she had finally gained friends and she didn't want to lose any of them. Besides recently Lily had gained problems of her own. She'd been receiving horrible messages from someone. She didn't know who… but someone seemed to want to her hurt her. Lily wasn't too shocked by this. She'd been a victim of bullying for most of her life – so it didn't really bother her. What bothered her was the fact that she didn't know who was behind the hate mail. She was scared not only for herself… but her friends. She couldn't let anyone hurt them, but she soon became slightly worried that Remus was being brought into her situation. However Lily decided to keep the rest of her friends out of it… she could get to the bottom of this herself.

Lily didn't count on one thing though… friends often make themselves involved! Particularly Lola, who fancied herself a secret detective. She'd sneak around after Lily, her nose in a book Lily had just read and constantly tracing Lily's steps. With her fun loving, bubbly personality she could find out information off others using her persuasive skills. She'd gain a lot of attention during her exploring from the boys, and let's just say that Sirius had been looking very closely at Lola lately! He liked her bold as brass attitude as it matched his. She also would die defending her friends as would Sirius. Even at eleven they knew about the prejudices in the world and they would always be there for their friends. As all of the boys sat together on the sofa in the common room, Sirius watched Lola tapping her fingers off the wall in concentration as she tried to figure out Lily's troubles. He so wanted to go up to her and tap her on the back. He just wanted to ask if she was alright. He didn't have to though, because she came to him. Approaching the guys in order to continue the investigation for her friend and to find some answers.

"Lads. Have you noticed anything odd with Lily lately?" Lola asked, as she approached the good looking lads.

"She's acting a bit shifty." James mumbled, worried that Lola had also noticed something.

"I have a theory." Lola announced proudly, chucking her bottom onto the sofa.

"Which is? Who are you detective clue-so?" Sirius asked cheekily.

"Well... Maybe I am! I think... That Lily has a crush. A real one this time. Not a slimy Slytherin! She has a crush on Remus! She's always watching him! Then again, she seems to be constantly looking at the door. My guess is that she's hoping he'll walk in, and kiss..."

"Woah! Woah! Hold on a minute! Lily doesn't fancy Remus!" James spluttered, giving Remus the evils.

"I agree." Remus mumbled, and then walked off.

"James! You've made it sound like no one would ever fancy Remus!" Lola yelled, hitting James over the head with a newspaper.

"I'm just saying… Lily shouldn't be crushing on guys at the moment! His reaction more says that he likes her too, and wishes to avoid the subject."

"Stop accusing people. You accused me of liking Lily before." Peter squeaked as everyone looked at him.
"That's true. I guess it must be something else that's making Lily act strangely." Sirius pondered.

"We just need to work it out…" Lola sighed, abruptly leaving the room with Sirius quickly following after her.

Remus felt terrified at the thought of his secret getting out. He didn't want his friend to know about him being a werewolf. They'd treat him differently, they'd hurt his feelings and then once again he would be lonely. He knew that Lily was on to him, and he didn't know how to get her off the scent. He just didn't understand that his friends would still care or that Lily had deeper problems then just his own… She didn't know how to make sure her friends were all alright, without revealing her troubles. She didn't know who to confide in, she didn't know if it would make the situation worse. So she decided to leave it. Keep her fingers crossed for now and hope for the best.

The night of the full moon… Remus always hated it. As he headed to meet Madam Pompfrey in the hospital wing he felt like something was following him. He could hear the treading of feet on the marble ground behind him. He didn't like it, but he didn't know how to react. He was feeling ill, and he couldn't fight off an attacker. So as he glanced around quickly he made a bee line for the hospital wing. He was about to walk up to shadow of Madam Pomfrey in front of him, when he saw a new figure sweep past him. The figure started to attack her with an object that he couldn't quite make out. Remus quickly turned on the light and started yelling "STOP!" at the figure rather loudly. He soon discovered the figure to be a girl. Lily. Lily Evans… She abruptly stopped hitting Madam Pomfrey on the head as soon as she realised who it was.

"Lily? Why are you attacking me?" Madam Promfrey asked in a rather shocked and offended voice.
"I thought y..you were someone att..tac..cking Remus! I know it's the hospital wing… but I thought you were the one behind the messages." Lily stuttered, collapsing into tears on the ground. Remus quickly put him arms around the thin girl, despite his tired state.

"Lily, you need to explain and quickly. I don't have much time to talk." Remus told Lily, while soothingly rubbing her back as a way of comforting her.

"I've been receiving hate mail from someone, telling me I'm a worthless mudblood. I thought they were trying to hurt me by getting to you. You were acting so strange. Oh Remus, I thought they'd hu..urt you." Lily sobbed, grabbing onto him and pulling him close.

"No Lily. I promise I'm alright. Well I'm not… but Lily. Oh, please don't hate me when I tell you this. I'm a werewolf. I've been acting strange lately because I have to sneak off once a month. So I don't hurt anyone. Lily… I promise I'd never hurt anybody. Promise-"

"Remus, shut up. I'm your friend. I'd never judge you. I thought you'd been hurt because of me. I don't like the thought of you having to suffer at all though. I'm guessing you have to go now then? Where will you go?" Lily whispered, hugging him tightly.

"I go to the Whomping Willow. It's safe there. Look Lily, I have to go… but I need you to go back to the dorm. We need to go to Dumbledore tomorrow though. We'll keep you safe Lily, we'll always keep you safe." Remus whispered back, stroking her hair comfortingly.

"You too Remus, we'll find a way to dull the suffering you have to struggle through. Goodnight Remus, and good luck."

Lily walked into the distance, and back to her dorm. Bursting into tears as soon as she entered the common room. She thought he'd been hurt because of her, although she was relieved to initially see him safe. She knew he was still hurting, and he still wasn't safe. A werewolf, but still the same scared and kind hearted boy on the inside.

When it hurts to look behind you, and you're scared to look ahead, you can look beside you and your best friend will be there.

Sorry it's still quite a short chapter, but I wanted to post something! Sorry for keep you guys waiting for so long!