Hogwarts Clock Tower, 28 November 1976

[lilium_evansiae]

Techinically speaking, the top of the Clock Tower is off limits to students.

Then again, technically Lily is a prefect, which means that those kinds of rules don't exactly apply. Sort of.

But there is probably something at least a little hypocritical about telling off a pair of Ravenclaw fifth years for doing something that is exactly the thing you're about to do yourself.

Of course, if Delilah Quaint and her boyfriend are not even going to try to be quiet or sneaky, but instead come giggling around the corner without making so much as a token check for a prefect in the hallway, they probably deserve to get caught.

But in light of the fact that Lily is on her way to meet her boyfriend at the top of the Clock Tower when she catches them on their way there, she lets them off with a warning.

James is waiting when she reaches the top of the last staircase. (And she is willing to bet he didn't even come close to getting caught on his way here.) The note he handed her at lunch (L - Clock Tower, 2pm - JP) is still in her pocket.

"Hello, James."

Comments

[lilium_evansiae]

Sorry, James.

Lily's pretty sure this is a big deal.

"Because you turn into a stag so that you can keep your best friend, who is a werewolf, company at the full moon.

"James, that's ... that's utterly mad. And really dangerous. And incredibly loyal."

It's all very James.

And not a little bit terrifying.

[alotofgood]

"If you were in my position, wouldn't you do that?"

It's really, as far as he's concerned, a pretty non-issue.

"If I was Remus, and he was me, I know he wouldn't hesitate to do it for me. All of us, really. We'd all go through it for each other."

[lilium_evansiae]

"I don't know. I don't know what I'd do.

"I mean, I know I'd want to do something, but ...

"What if he hurts one of you?

"It's not like he knows who you are, is it?"

[alotofgood]

Maybe it's best not to tell her that Remus did, in fact, try to kill them all in the early days.

"Actually, I think he knows who we are now," James says. "He seems to recognize our scent, anyway. We're — I suppose we're all a pack, now.

"That's the proper wolf term, isn't it?"

[lilium_evansiae]

"I don't think there really is a proper term for this."

Never mind the fact that Remus isn't really a proper wolf.

"I can't like this. I'm sorry, I just can't."

Lily takes a deep breath and exhales very slowly.

"Please promise me that you are as careful about this as you possibly can be."

[alotofgood]

James reaches forward to take both her hands in his.

He offers her what he hopes is a reassuring smile.

"I promise," he says. "I know this is an incredible amount to take in, and I don't expect you to like it. I'd probably think you were a bit mad if you did like it.

"But we're careful. We've always been careful. We're always going to be careful."

For the past year and a bit, they've never taken it lightly.

[lilium_evansiae]

"You'd better be," Lily says, letting him take her hands.

"I should take you straight to Dumbledore, you know," she says. "I won't -- it's your secret, not mine -- but I should."

[alotofgood]

"Lily ..."

Hand-holding doesn't feel sufficient enough to express how grateful James is for Lily's concern.

He pulls her towards him, then wraps his arms around her in a hug.

"I wish I never had to tell you. But at the same time, I knew I couldn't exactly keep it from you either."

[lilium_evansiae]

"No, I'm glad you told me."

She's not sure she's glad she knows, or that there was something to tell in the first place, but she's glad he told her.

[alotofgood]

"Sort of ruined the whole possibility of a rendez-vous bit, didn't I?" he says a little wryly.

[lilium_evansiae]

Lily leans up to kiss his cheek.

"So you'll just have to owe me one."

[alotofgood]

James goes in for a real kiss.

To seal the deal, as it were.

"I think I can manage that."