"I won't be surprised if you don't even have an injury," Snape kept going, raising his voice so everyone in the Great Hole will hear him. "Madam Pomfrey can cure everything in a second. Your team probably threw you away because you suck at Quidditch."
Many of the students' mouths opened wide. Some of them started to whisper among themselves and wonder if it was true, and some of them were just shocked from Snape's insult. After all, everyone knew James Potter was one of the best, if not the best Quidditch player at Hogwarts.
Remus noticed James was about to get up and hurried to kick his leg under the table. Don't say anything, he ordered soundlessly.
"See, Potter? If you don't have anything to say, it must be true then."
Remus turned again, looking at the Snape's arrogant smile. He smiled to himself and got up, "That's a lie, Snape," he said in his calm voice, "and even if it wasn't, I don't think it's in your concern." He saw how Snape's mouth started to get wide in surprise from his reaction. It wasn't a normal James Potter's reaction.
"And now I would be most grateful if you could let me get back to my lunch." He said and sat down back in his chair with a satisfied grin. He started to eat again, sensing how all the eyes were focusing on him. But all he wanted to see was one person's reaction- Lily's.
Like all the other students, she stared at him, not believing in what she had just seen.
Remus could see the shock in her eyes for a second before she turned her back to him and started to eat as well, ignoring him and Snape completely.
Snape sent him one more hostile glare and then walked away while mumbling, "This isn't over, Potter."
During the next week, Remus tried to stay away from Lily as possible and gave her space. He didn't try to act like James and hit on her every minute he saw her, and just smiled at her when their looks had crossed each other during classes or meals.
"Your hair looks nice today, Lily," he told her while passing by her on his way to Potions on Thursday. Only two more days left before the Hogsmeade trip and Remus wasn't planning to miss the opportunity. He only hoped his plan would work.
When evening arrived Remus decided it was time for the next step in his plan. In the middle of his conversation with his friends about their plans for the next full moon (Remus reminded himself to hurry and find a solution to this issue as soon as possible), he noticed Lily going out of the common room, holding a notebook in one hand and a quill in the other.
"I think I'm going to bed," he told his friends with an apologetic smile, and got up to their room, making sure no one followed him. As soon as he entered the room he ran to his trunk, pulled out the Invisibility cloak and covered himself from head to toes. He returned to the common room quietly and waited for a chance to stick out.
He didn't have to wait long; some third-year students entered and Remus hurried to exit the room through the fat lady's portrait.
His legs carried him to the library, where Lily had gone to. He saw her sitting next to one of the tables, reading a thick looking book. He took off the cloak, shoved it into his bag and moved to stand next to Lily.
"Hey, Lily," he said. The redhead girl jumped in surprise, then turned around in her chair and raised her gaze.
"Oh, hey, James," she mumbled distractedly, and it seemed like she realized what she'd just said, since she hurried to correct herself, "Potter."
"Can I sit here?" he asked her politely. He knew James would have sat without asking.
Lily looked surprised, but then said in an annoying voice, "I'm kinda busy," she pointed at her book.
"Maybe I can help you," said Remus with a smile. Lily stared at him.
"Are you serious?"
"Sure," he sat in the chair next to her and looked at the book. It was a copy of 'One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi'. Herbology wasn't his best subject, but he knew a thing or two. "So what is your essay about?"
"The Whomping Willow," said Lily, sending him a suspicious glare.
"You won't find anything on it in this book," said Remus, while chuckling to himself. Oh, the irony. Damn, I'm really starting to sound like James, even in my head!
"And how do you know that?"
Remus shrugged, stood up and started to look through the shelves. He arrived at the Herbology section and looked for a certain book he knew had all the information they needed. When he'd arrived at Hogwarts he'd tried to find anything he could on the tree that was supposed to keep the other students from finding out his secret. He found the book and pulled it off the shelf, then got back to Lily.
"There," he gave her the book and sat down. Lily went through the pages until she found the part about the willow and then raised her gaze to Remus.
"How did you know?"
Remus shrugged again, "I just... knew."
"Are you sure you're James Potter?" asked Lily and put the book down on the table. "You're acting weird lately."
"Eh, yeah..." Remus smiled, nervously, "I guess I just matured."
Lily seemed sceptical. "I don't know about that," she said, but then added, "Although the way you answered Severus a few days ago was more... mature than usual."
"Thanks, I think." He smiled. "Why did you decide to continue with Herbology?"
Lily blushed, "I want to be a healer."
"Really?" asked Remus, amazed. She'd never mentioned it before, and he was sure she told him everything like he'd told her. Well, almost everything. "I'm sure you'll be very good at it."
Lily blushed again and smiled, "Thanks."
There was a short silence between them. Remus knew what will be the next thing he was going to ask, but wasn't sure if that was the right time. After a few moments of thinking, he decided this was a good time as any other time. "Listen, you're... look, I know I'd asked you this a lot of times before, and to all of them, you said no... but I would be really glad if... if you could give me a chance, even one little chance. It's our last year and I want to know I used it properly and tried at least, even if it's my last chance." He felt like he's losing himself, therefore he lowered his head and said quietly, "What I'm trying to ask is, will you go to Hogsmeade with me this Saturday?"
The silence that came after that question was so burdensome and long that Remus was sure the answer would be no, and that he'd failed. That's why he was very surprised when he heard Lily's quiet reply.
"Okay."
Remus stared at her. "Really?"
"Yes," she said and blushed. "I'll give you one little chance."
A huge smile spread across Remus' face. "Great! So I'll meet you on Saturday morning?" he asked, and when Lily nodded his smile got bigger. "Good night," he said happily, waved at her and left the library. It'd been smoother than he'd expected, and he struggled to realize he really did it. She really said yes, he thought, James is going to love me.
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