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Remus looked down in shame, but after a few silent moments he had to see Lily's reaction. He glanced at her and his eyebrows creased in confusion. She was smiling brightly a tear rolling down her face.
"I know Remus. I've known you since first year and I'm not that stupid. I'm actually quite smart."
Remus was stunned.
"How long have you known?" He asked quietly.
"Since 3rd year," she said smiling sweetly.
"And you didn't say anything!" He said, incredulous.
" I thought it was your choice who found out. I'm so glad you trusted me enough to tell me. I assume the boys know?"
"Yes, I still can't believe you didn't say anything Lils," he said shaking his head slightly.
"I didn't know you were only 4," she said, tears rolling down her face again. "You must've suffered so much."
Remus smiled. "It's fine, I've coped and honestly, I don't know anything else."
She smiled sadly and turned to look him in the eye. "Is this why you can't ask Alanah out?" she asked quietly.
"Yes. I could never put her in that danger and I wouldn't know how to tell her anyway."
"I'm so sorry Remus."
"Me too," he sighed. "C'mon we better get going back to the common room everyone will be wondering where we are."
"Okay." Lily said, smiling.
Lily and Remus walked into the common room to see their friend sat near the common room fire. Lily was pleased to see that Alanah was with them but she couldn't see Marlene anywhere. She must have gone up to bed, she thought. She was a little upset, she was looking forward to a chat with her best friend.
As they got closer to the group, Lily and Remus noticed that everybody was silent. They were all just staring at the fire.
"What's wrong?" Remus asked everybody. They all looked at him. Nobody seemed to be able to speak. Finally Alanah said, "Marlene's in the hospital wing. The Slytherins cast some sort of curse on her. Madam Pomfrey doesn't know how o fix it."
"Oh gods," Lily said sitting on the sofa next to James. She began to cry and James put his arm around her, for once she didn't protest, she just leant into him. "What sort of curse, will she be alright?"
"We don't know the curse, he cast it silently. It was a purple slashing movement, right across her chest. We don't know if she'll be okay. She's unconscious." James said quietly.
At that moment Professor McGonagall walked in with somebody behind her. The woman was tall with long bright blonde hair, James recognised her straight away.
"Mrs.Mckinnon," he said standing up. "Have you seen her, is she okay?"
She smiled at him gently. "How many times have I told you to call me Amy? And she's doing alright now, madam pomfret just woke her up. She'll be in the hospital wing for a few weeks.. She has a lot of potions to take, but she'll be fine."
The whole group breathed an audible sigh of relief.
"I have to go, I have work tomorrow and Professer Dumbledore assures me she's in good hands. James, your mother wants you to write to her asap. Bye everyone."
"Oh gods, I'm so glad she's okay," said Lily.
"Me too," James said.
Remus looked at him. "I always forget that your families are close."
For the next five minutes nobody said anything. Slowly, one by one, everybody drifted of to bed.
Lily couldn't sleep. She needed to see Marlene.
Lily got up silently and pulled on some clothes. She walked, as quietly as she could, down the stairs and out of the common room. She glanced around nervously. She had never snuck out after curfew before, but she was pretty confident that her record would mean she would only have a small punishment. Especially when they found out why she was sneaking out.
She walked the short way to the hospital wing, she walked as fast as she can. When she reached the Hospital Wing, she knocked on the door quietly. She knew that it was locked after 10pm, she just hoped Madam Pomfrey was still awake.
The nurse came to the door and opened it pushing her head outside. She saw Lily and pursed her lips.
"Aren't you a prefect?" she asked.
Lily cleared her throat. "Yes, I am. I'm sorry Madam Pomfrey, I wanted to see Marlene. I've been so worried about her."
Madam Pomfrey's face softened at her words. "Of course you can see her sweetheart, she already has one visitor though." Her mouth turned down into a slight frown. "He refuses to leave."
Madam Pomfrey walked back towards her office and Lily went over to the the only occupied bed. She pulled the curtain back to find Marlene on the bed looking extremely pale and Sirius with his head resting on the bed, snoring.
Lily smiled a little to herself. This was such a sweet thing for him to do. She walked over to him and gently shook his shoulder.
"Sirius, wake up."
"What?" he said stupidly looking around. "Lily? What are you doing here?"
"She's my best friend I didn't want her to be alone."
Sirius looked down at Marlene's pale face with a frown. "Me either," he said quietly.
"Well, I'll stay with her. You should go and get some sleep."
He stood up and stretched out his arms. "Thanks Lily."
She smiled at him and he turned to leave. Before he reached the exit he turned back.
"Lily?"
"Yeah..."
"Lease don't tell anyone I was here. Especially her."
Lily's eyebrows creased in confusion. "Why?"
"Because..." He rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "I really like her and I don't want her to feel like she has to date me. If we go out I wNt it to be genuine."
Lily nodded her head. "Okay, I won't say a word."
Sirius smiled at her then he turned and left. Lily turned her attention back to Marlene and a tear ran down her face. She was so pale, she didn't even look alive. Lily held her hand and lent her head down next to her.
At least she hasn't been alone. lily smiled at the thought and slowly drifted to sleep.
