Remus the Romantic

Disclaimer: Rowling's work is not mine.

Chapter One: Feel Better, Remus

Lily Evans sat in the library doing her Charms work when the four Marauders made their entrance. Her presence was immediately noticed by James Potter, who met her gaze briefly with his signature grin. Lily quickly looked back down at her essay, pretending to ignore him. James grinned to himself and turned back to his friends as they made their way to one aisle. Lily was able to hear bits of their conversation by listening carefully.

"We might be able to find some help here," Lily heard Sirius Black say, "though the really good stuff will be in the Restricted Section." Lily was feeling distracted after hearing that. She looked over at the group out of the corner of her eye.

"We can't get in there until later," James said dismissively.

"Are you sure any of this will help?"

"Some of it will, and frankly, Peter—" Sirius was cut off by James.

"Not to be brutal—"

"But you need all the help you can get—"

"Even if you're trying to achieve a simple one."

"Oh, all right then," Peter muttered, somewhat pink.

"Here's something," Remus Lupin said as he got down a book.

Lily wished Remus would say the title of the book, but she was disappointed. It might have given her a clue as to what the boys were up to. Lily looked back at her Charms, but it wasn't nearly as interesting as what those four might be doing.

There was more murmuring from the aisle, but Lily couldn't catch any of it. A while later they became again as loud as possible without being noticed by Madam Pince.

"I can't just work with this!" Peter exclaimed.

"Not to worry," Sirius said.

"I'll bet you there's a gold mine in the Restricted Section," James added.

"The fact remains that we need a teacher's signature to get in there," Remus reminded them.

"But that's simple enough," Sirius replied confidently. "Any teacher will give you permission, Moony." Remus seemed unsure.

"I don't know," he said. "I'm not all that responsible. You can hardly call me a teacher's pet, and McGonagall probably thinks you lot are rubbing off on me."

"You say that like it's nothing to be proud of," James noted. Lily snorted to herself

"Well how are we going to get a teacher's signature if Moony here doesn't think he can do it?" Sirius mused aloud.

"We know that no teacher in their right mind give you permission to the Restricted Section," Peter remarked dryly to Sirius and James.

"Oh, shut up," Sirius told him listlessly as he scanned the shelves.

"Hold on," James said. "I think I know how we can get permission." His gaze, which the others followed, lingered on a certain redheaded girl at the library tables. Peter looked somewhat smug, and Sirius and Remus glanced at each other with a grin and also looked over at Lily. She kept her eyes on her homework, trying not to let on that she had heard them. The boys proceeded to whisper for a few moments before strolling over to her table casually.

Knowing she couldn't avoid their gaze any longer, Lily looked up with a goaded expression to give the four seemingly innocent boys the impression that she didn't particularly want to talk to any of them. She didn't miss James mess with his hair as he comfortably planted himself in the chair next to her. Sirius took the chair on her other side as he leaned back and propped a foot on the edge of the table, earning a disapproving look from Lily. Remus sat on the table's opposite edge with his arms folded as he faced Lily from the side, and Peter merely stood next to Remus with his hands in his pockets. They all smiled flatteringly at her.

"What do you want?" she asked, feigning annoyance.

"Just to chat, Evans," James answered. Lily raised an eyebrow: something she often did around him. "Lovely day, isn't it?" Lily glanced toward the window that showed, indeed, a cheery thunderstorm outside.

"Spiffing," she commented dryly as she returned to her work. Remus shook his head slightly with an amused look.

"So…" James said, looking away from the window that taunted his intelligence, "hard at work, are you?"

"Well, I was."

"Lucky we found you," Sirius said.

"Isn't it?"

"Yes," Remus answered.

"You see, we have a minor plight," James informed her.

"Oh, that's easy. A simple Shearing Charm should do it," Lily answered, looking at his hair. Peter tittered. James glared him down, and he suddenly looked meeker than likely so.

"You see, we need some information," Sirius said, drumming his fingers on the table.

"From the Restricted Section?" Lily asked with a sigh.

"Sharp! How'd you guess?" he asked.

"You aren't exactly inconspicuous," she muttered.

"Either that or you were the slightest bit interested what we were up to," James commented with another toss of his hair. Lily closed her eyes to keep from rolling them.

"But anyway," Remus broke in, "yes, we need a few things from the restricted section. And if it's not too much trouble, we'd like you to get a teacher's signature for us." James and Sirius frowned at his bluntness, and Remus responded with a look that said "what?". James looked back at Lily.

"Yeah. What he said."

"No."

"Oh, come on," Sirius said.

"No."

"Why not?" Remus asked imploringly.

"Well," Lily started, looking up. She was slightly caught of guard by the pleading sound in his voice. "From what's on your records," she looked from James to Sirius, "it probably involves something nasty or cruel."

"It doesn't," Sirius responded quickly.

"You expect me to believe that?"

"What do we look like, a lot of ruffians?" James questioned back.

"You play the part well," she snapped. "And do you mind?" She pulled Sirius's foot off the table. "You don't own the place." Sirius looked disgruntled, but not at her last remark.

James tried a different route. "Look. We promise we're not out to bully anyone. We just need you to do us this favor, seeing as how responsible of a student you are." Lily raised an eyebrow once more. James caught Sirius's eye.

"Not to mention bright—"Sirius added.

"Oh please." Lily reddened a bit and lowered her eyes.

"—Charming," James said, causing Lily to blush a deeper shade or two. She once again tried to busy herself with her Charms essay.

"—Kind," Remus inserted. Lily could hardly bear the flattery coming from him.

"—Trustworthy," Peter piped up.

"Enough!" Lily slammed her hands on the table, making a loud noise that brought over Madam Pince.

"Quiet in the library!" Madam Pince hissed before returning to her desk.

The Marauders could not keep the smirks off their faces. Lily looked as if she would give in. She had no idea what they were up to, but it seemed as though they weren't planning anything horrible. And it had to be important, from the way Remus had sounded when he asked her Why?.

Lily looked up at him. Remus's look became hopeful, without a trace of arrogance. But she turned her head to James, who still sported a maddening smirk, and her insides suddenly boiled with anger. That arrogant look was more than Lily could bear.

"No."

The smirks were wiped from their faces. James suddenly became dead serious, and that only angered Lily more. Too late, she thought. James leaned over and looked her square in the eye.

"Lily. Please."

Lily returned his glare, but she was losing her resolve. James hardly ever called her by first name, and he never had said "please" to her before, or anyone else as far as she remembered. She continued to glare at him, ignoring the other three boys. Lily could feel Sirius's glare, Remus's hurt look, and Peter's disappointed gaze, but she kept her eyes on James, trying to stay angry.

They were all silent until Peter sneezed. He gave a mild look of apology and quickly glanced back at James and Lily.

Lily felt that she had said enough. She stood up and gathered her things, then stepped behind Sirius and walked out of the library without another word. The Marauders watched her go. James scowled and turned to Sirius, but his friend was busy studying Remus. The latter was clearly trying to not look disappointed but failing miserably. Peter looked at the floor sadly. James stood up.

"Come on mates. We'll ask someone else to get it."

They were all quiet walking out of the library. James somehow felt the true reason for everyone's gloom was not that they had to look elsewhere for assistance, but that Lily had refused them. Up until this point she had not been so unfriendly for quite a while.

That Evans, James thought irately, she thinks she's so much better than us, thinks she knows everything, understands everything, but she just doesn't get it.

…

That night the mood had lightened considerably among the Marauders, but James still felt mad at Lily for her obstinance. Remus was absent for some reason, and no one knew were he was. Remus had just told them that he was going out for a walk.

James ignored Lily when doing homework in the common room as the others did, but not because he had nothing to say as they did. It was because he had everything to say to her. A couple of times James thought he caught Lily scowling at him, but he never looked long enough at her to be able to tell.

As the four trooped up to their dorm, James gave a final glance over his shoulder to catch Lily looking at him with a blank expression. He locked his gaze with hers, then abruptly turned on his heel and left.

Lily had made barely any progress on her essay, too absorbed in thought. She felt an urge to go back and tell them that she had changed her mind and she would get them the signature. This was mainly because it seemed so important to Remus, but it couldn't be that important if James and Sirius had difficulty keeping a straight face while asking for her help.

"Argh," Lily grumbled as she picked up her school stuff. She turned at the sound of someone coming through the portrait hole and found Remus stepping through it. He briefly glanced at her before continuing across the common room. Lily tore her gaze from him as she snatched up her essay. Unfortunately, in the process she upset her ink bottle and it toppled over the edge of the table, shattering on the floor. Lily looked up at the ceiling in silent frustration.

"Brilliant," she muttered. Remus, only halfway across the room, turned his head at the noise.

Lily sighed and pointed her wand at the shattered pieces, but before she had said the incantation Remus had walked over and said, "Reparo." The ink bottle was again in one piece. Lily looked up at Remus, but his eye was still on the ink mess. "Scourgify," he said, pointing his wand at the dark puddle, and it was gone. Lily stooped down to pick up the ink bottle, then stood up and looked at Remus.

"Hey," she said uneasily.

"Hey," he answered blankly.

Silence.

"Where were you?" Lily asked.

"Just out. Didn't feel like being in here."

Hesitating, she asked, "Did you get a signature?"

"Well, I was going to ask Flitwick for his, but I just…chickened out." The corner of Lily's mouth turned slightly.

"You? A Gryffindor?" This didn't amuse him as she thought it might.

"Well, not really chickened out…Just kind of got lost in thought."

"About what?"

"I guess about why it matters more than it should. And then I just wandered about and lost track of time. By then it didn't seem worth it." He was suddenly unable to meet her eye, so he turned his gaze to the fire.

Looking at him, Lily realized that he seemed somewhat worn. He looked drained and tired.

"…Remus?" He turned back to her.

"Hm?"

"…Are you alright?"

Remus blinked at her before answering with a sort of tired smile, "Yeah, I'm alright."

"You sure?"

"Well, I'm not feeling great, but I'll be better soon." Not wanting to be bothersome, Lily didn't ask again. It was a few moments before he spoke again. "Thanks for asking, though." Lily smiled in answer, not sure what to say. She then stopped and tightened her lips.

"Remus…why does getting into the Restricted Section matter so much?"

Remus stopped smiling and adopted a thoughtful look. After a few moments he looked out the window up at the night sky, exhaling deeply. A scowl overtook his face, but it disappeared when he looked back at Lily.

"It…it's not all that easy to say…but really, we aren't going to do anything to anyone," he told her quickly. "Well, we are, but not to anyone besides them—"

"So you're tampering with dangerous magic," Lily stated.

"It's for…sort of a project. And we're going to be careful. But actually it's more for the others, not me…though, they're kind of doing it for me…"

Lily found his answer so stuttered and choppy that it was nearly comical, but she didn't laugh at her friend. She realized that whatever they were doing must be really important somehow to Remus. With that in mind, she looked at James, Sirius, and Peter in a different light. It was almost…sweet.

"You know, it might be easier to explain if you said why they were doing it." Remus locked his gaze with hers. He searched her eyes as if taking time to make some decision.

"…The most I can say is that they want to help me…and just make a hard time easier for me. I can't really say any more than that."

Lily looked at him, disappointed. "Alright." Remus stared at her, looking very sorry.

"Look…today when we were shooting off compliments at you…I meant what I said. And I think what Peter said was true also. I know you're trustworthy…I just can't tell you this. I wish I could."

"Yet you can tell them," Lily said. She felt better after what he had just said, and her remark bore no resentment. It was curiosity eating at her now.

"Well, actually I didn't tell them. They found out."

"Ah. I can see that."

"Yeah…they have their gifts."

"They certainly do," Lily agreed, her expression turning sour. "Especially James and Sirius…I really don't know how you stand them." Remus leaned against the edge of the table.

"Ah, Lily…as far as Sirius goes, I can't deny he likes showing off. As does James, but…well, we both know why."

Lily turned pink. "Do we?"

Remus raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Yes, I think we do…and tell me, do you find him amusing at all?"

"I think it's perfectly clear that I do not!" Lily returned defiantly.

"Perfectly clear…yes…"

"Stop it!"

"I'm sorry, but you could hardly be any redder, and I'm not talking about your hair—"

"Shut up!" Remus shook his head with a smile. "I swear, I'll wipe that gleeful look off your face!" She drew out her wand and pointed it at his face. Remus merely looked at it, then ignored it.

"Not what I'd say is the trait of a responsible student; in fact…going a little James-and-Sirius there."

"Will you please shut up about those two?"

"Oh, come on. Which one do you find more annoying?"

"Well…James. No—Sirius. Wait…oh, I can't decide."

"Which one do you find more attractive?"

Lily's eyes traveled to the ceiling in thought and returned before she briefly stated, "Sirius."

"Hm. Yes, I suppose the glasses and hair don't help James much. And to think that he doesn't know how ridiculously girlish he looks playing with his hair all the time."

"Now that I agree with."

"But, of course you notice." Lily quickly opened her mouth to respond, but thought it best to just shut it again. "Moving on…I think you'll like this one: most arrogant."

"…Sirius."

"Nicest when he wants to be?"

"I'm afraid that only you fit the category of 'nice,' Remus."

"Well, I am somewhat moved, Lily." He put a hand to his chest and bowed his head. He raised it again and said, "Alright, so tell me…are you passionately in love with James Potter?"

"No!" Lily declared readily, though Remus caught the smallest trace of a smile on her lips.

"Well, alright…it was quite a personal question anyway…" He tried to keep a straight face, but he was failing just as Lily was. "Now, I think it's time for bed."

"Yes," Lily agreed. The clock read ten after eleven. She put her books and essay in her school bag, knowing that she would be extremely tired in the morning. At the moment though, she didn't care.

"Greatly enjoyed our discussion. Good night, Lily," Remus told her.

"Good night." Lily turned toward the stairs to the girls' dorms and then turned back around. "Remus." He had nearly made it to the stairwell to the boys' dorms when he heard her. Remus looked over his shoulder at her. "I hope you feel better soon."

Remus gave her a smile that showed every sign of appreciation and gratitude. "I do. Thank you, Lily."

Beaming, she turned around and made her way up to her dorm wishing that James Potter could be just a bit more like Remus Lupin.

Author's Note:

Thank you for reading the first chapter of Remus the Romantic…now I would love it dearly if you all could be so kind as to leave a review with any constructive criticism you have to offer. Please say specifically what you liked or didn't like about the chapter, and why you did or didn't like it.