The Time Before

The Prank

This first part is a flashback

Lily Evans sat across from her friend, for the time being, Severus Snape. Both were revising for their O.W.L. examinations coming in two months.

As much as she liked to pretend, things weren't the best between the two friends, and Lily knew that. She asked Severus to stop playing with the Dark Arts. She warned him about the people he hung around with, but he didn't appear to care.

"What are the signs to identifying a werewolf?" Lily questioned, reading from the study sheet Severus had given her.

As her green eyes read the answer, fury bubbled from within her veins.

"Why the bloody hell do you have 'Remus Lupin' for the answer?" She demanded.

"Lily, he's a werewolf-"

"He is not!"

Lily knew Remus is a werewolf. She figured it out years ago. However, something told her Snape wouldn't treat Remus or act the way Lily had upon hearing the news. Besides, it wasn't her secret to tell.

"Don't be stupid!" Severus hissed.

"Don't call me stupid!" Lily said lowly. One didn't insult Lily Evans's intelligence. It was one of her pet peeves, you don't treat her like some dumb and ignorant child.

And you definitely don't call her stupid.

"I'm saying you're being stupid!"

"It doesn't matter!" Lily snapped. "I'm not being stupid! Besides, what's the harm if Remus is a werewolf?"

"He's a filthy halfbre-".Snape stopped mid-sentence. His long hooked nose was pale and looked like it would be rather fun to punch.

"He's a what? He's a what, Sev? Go on. What were you gonna say?" Lily glared.

"I- nothing."

The redhead pursed her pale lips.

"I have to go," she stated before standing and gathering her things. 

"What? Why?"  Severus demanded. 

"I have to meet Marlene," she stated. 

Lily didn't have to meet Marlene. She didn't have anywhere to be. She simply did not wish to hear his theories. She did wish to be around him. 

"You know I'm right, Lily," Severus insisted. "Lupin is a werewolf. Why else would he look sick around the full moon?"

"It's call Moon Sickness," Lily gripped her textbooks closer to his chest. "It so happens to occur because there are more parasites in the air. Perhaps Remus is more prone to it."

Lily knew this was nearly impossible, but it's what she researched. It's what was close enough to what actually happened. 

"Is that what he told you?" Severus hissed. "That's not even a real thing-"