Carve Me Open / r.l. + s.b. /

Up to No Good

Marlene left after a hurried farewell, telling Remus and Lily she'd swing by the Gryffindor table for a talk during the feast. In reality, Remus was aware that Marlene accepted their buffoonery for Dorcas' sake. She appeared to be in a rush to leave the meeting, either not seeing or not caring about Lily's untidy look. He didn't have time to interrogate her, and he didn't think it was his place to ask her such private questions. Did he even want to find out?

"So, would you mind explaining this new 'necromancer' look you've got going on for me?" she teased, pulling his jacket hood down to show his face. "No, no, no – can I guess?" She didn't bother waiting for him to answer. "Are you trying to hide from them?"

"Have you met James Potter and Sirius Black?" Remus asked, ducking a whizzing paper aircraft along the corridor. Just act normal. Pretend everything is normal. "Better still, have you ever been in the same room with them?" Lily giggled, her previous rigid attitude melting in the familiarity of Remus. "Of course, I'm avoiding them. I'll be branded a traitor as soon as they see the badge, and I'll be blacklisted."

"Honestly," she sighed as she walked passed a group of first-years playing explosive snap, "it's beyond me how you can endure James."

"Why James in particular?" Remus shrugged, the corner of his mouth pulling downward.

Lily's neck flushed, turning the tips of her ears pink. "There is no cause. He simply appears to be the worse of the three."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, really," she snapped, skillfully opening the door to her cabin. She shifted her eyes to meet Remus's, an icy scowl spreading over her face.

Remus' mind flashed to the moments before the debrief—Julienne's desperate grabbing and Lily's fervent whispers. Arousal did not overwhelm him, but betrayal, and he cast her a look of disbelief.

"Are you just saying that to make yourself feel better," he asked, genuine.

Lily glowered at him, "Why would I need to make myself feel better? About what?"

"Whom."

Lily shook her head, "What do you mean, 'Whom'?"

"It's not about what, but about whom," he stressed, his brows furrowed in thought. "Look, this isn't my business. I've never meddled with your private affairs or the people you socialize with... She is an amazing young woman who deserves more than this. If you're bored, pick someone who can deal with being a side piece, who can tell between having a bit of fun and being committed to you. Because she fucking can't, and you're taking advantage of her inability to understand."

Remus' remarks were now seemingly benign, a total inversion of his former tone, but his cadence had taken on a seething drawl that sunk down into Lily's stomach and twisted within her. She had the distinct impression that Remus was suggesting something that he should not have been aware of.

"Is there a point to your gushing poetic monologue, Remus?" Lily asked, cold and distant.

"Not exactly," Remus said. With a little sigh, he straightened up and stretched out his back. Lily's eyes followed the man's hands as he lifted them above his head. "I'm just making dialogue and reminding you that you can't have it both ways."

She turned to face him, eyes narrowed, "I don't want it both ways. James Fleamont Potter is the most obnoxious, irresponsible, snarky, improper, devious, vulgar nails-for-brains wizard I've ever met. It's not my fault that he has the mental ability of a nugget!"

"Chicken nuggets?" chirped a voice from behind Remus's large figure. He took a step back, displaying a distraught James holding a bouquet of flowers in one hand and a card in the other. Sirius trailed close after, yanking a timid Peter away from the candy cart. "That has to be the nicest thing you've ever said to me, Lily."