Over the Edge [ Lupin x Evans ]

Chapter 21: All Hallows' Eve

"Do you actually know where you're going, Potter?" Lily snapped, stumbling once again over the exposed roots.

"In contrast to you, Evans, I've been here a million times," James muttered, equally tired of the whole trek.

It had been dark for a while, and the trio of Marauders, along with Lily Evans, were navigating an unfamiliar thicket that was supposedly a shortcut to Remus Lupin's house. As the wind gusted once more, Lily seriously regretted not bringing something warmer to wear. Their plan had worked out perfectly. On Halloween night, they had slipped out of Hogwarts unnoticed and, by some miracle, managed to bypass the school's protective barriers.

Everything (unfortunately for Lily) was thanks to James. He had discovered that on this particular night, additional patrols made up of volunteer parents were coming to Hogwarts. Then, Peter, having transformed into a rat, sneaked into the staffroom and overheard McGonagall. The teacher revealed the hours when the barrier surrounding Hogwarts would be down. That's how they managed to escape the castle, and with the help of an open fireplace at The Hog's Head, they reached the nearest Floo point near Yorkshire. After that, they had to manage without using wands to avoid detection. So, here they were, wandering through the dense forest late in the evening, tripping over everything hidden by the darkness. To make matters worse, it had started pouring rain.

At one point, Lily sneezed uncontrollably and slipped on the soft mud. She nearly twisted her ankle, but James's quick reflexes saved her just in time. He held her arm, his gaze sharp. There was no cocky grin on his face, nor was he putting on any exaggerated display. Lily looked at his tired face and the water dripping off his glasses.

"Thanks," she muttered, quickly pulling ahead.

"Anytime," he whispered, though she didn't hear him.

"Are you coming, or not?" Sirius called out, puffing out a cloud of cigarette smoke. Even the heavy rain couldn't interfere with his habit.

⤝°♦°⤞

They walked through the forest for some time, which was gradually becoming less dense with each step. Eventually, they emerged from the thicket and a small village appeared before them. James knew exactly where they were. They only had to walk through the settlement and climb the hill. At the top stood the Lupins' modest house.

As they reached the correct address, Lily thought that Potter's holiday home looked uncomfortably luxurious compared to what lay before her eyes now. But it didn't put her off. She smiled slightly as she looked at the rustic wooden building. Her eyes scanned the yard, spotting vegetable patches and rose bushes. It was probably much prettier during the day. She smiled again, seeing a few geese running for cover behind the house, trying to escape the rain. Everything seemed to reflect Remus perfectly — this house suited him. You could feel his energy in it.

The Marauders, with wide grins on their faces, headed for the front door. Lily's smile faded in an instant. What if Remus didn't want to see her? After all, they hadn't reconciled after that argument, and now she had the audacity to show up at his home, his sanctuary — the place he'd chosen to escape to. She suddenly felt awkward, guilt hitting her twice as hard. You should have thought about this before running off to him from Hogwarts, she thought bitterly. Now, there really was no choice. She was here, standing in front of Lupin's door, and yet, she hesitated.

"James, Sirius, Peter?!" Remus called out, spotting the familiar, though somewhat worn-out faces of his friends. The Marauders were already inside, and Lily was still standing on the porch. From the doormat, she could hear the genuine joy in Lupin's voice. Maybe he wasn't angry after all?