Under strange circumstances

Chapter 15

Lily

I sit down next to Sirius and pull him into a hug. 'It's okay, we'll find him.' He shakes in my arms and pulls away, wiping the tears that are falling down his face. 'I k-know we'll find him, that's n-ot why I'm up-set.. I'm just so f-fucking pis-sed at myself because Remus is ri-ght. It's all my f-fault.' I rub his back soothingly and help him up. 'Come on, let's go back inside. It's freezing out here, and If we want to go look for him we had better at least get some warm clothes on so we don't all freeze to death.'

'Lil-yy.... What if he h-hates me?' I don't know if he's shivering from the cold or from the crying, but I keep rubbing his back either way. 'He doesn't hate you, Sirius.' I turn as we reach the front door and go inside. 'Where's James?'

'Right here.' He appears beside me with a torch. I smile at him, but my smile is short-lived, because that's when I notice it.

The great big silver disc in the sky. 'Fuck,' I whisper. James turns and see his figure stiffen. 'Well, this just got more complicated.'

Remus

I really regret this decision. I wish I'd just stayed inside. But I also know that if I'd stayed inside, that would have been worse. When Lily walked in on Sirius and I, I noticed that outside, it was dark. I knew I needed to get out of there. It's not that I'd forgotten that tonight was a full-moon night. It was more than time had run away from me with Sirius.

Fucking Sirius. I can't stay mad at him.

I bed over in pain as I feel the wolf breaking out of me.

Lily

A long, high howl pierces the night as James, Sirius and I frantically put on our warmest clothes and pack warm blankets, food, and tea (in a flask) into a backpack. James and Sirius hurry outside with me behind them, the backpack flung over Sirius' shoulder. 'Woah, wait, you aren't coming with us, Lily.' I frown as James pushes me back softly, a protest forming in my mouth.

'James, we need to go-'

'Go ahead, Sirius. I'll catch up.' The other boy nods, then runs off, his clothes and the bag morphing with him as he turns into Padfoot. 'James,' I begin, 'What do you mean I have to sta-' He cuts me off with a kiss.

His arms find the small of my back and my hands find their way to his neck as the kiss deepens. James quickly breaks away; 'If you come you'll be in danger, and I don't want you to be in danger, Lily.' He leans his forehead against mine and kisses me softly again. I feel dizzy as he breaks away. 'Don't stop.' I blush as I realise what I've said, and he grins, his cheeks pink. 'Normally I wouldn't, but I've got to help Moony and Padfoot.' I grin and move a stray curl away from his eyes. 'What are you then, Prongs? I'm assuming something with horns or antlers?' He smiles and kisses me one last time before breaking away from me and walking backwards towards the woods behind him. 'You'll find out one day.' Then he winks and turns, running towards the forest into the dark. I stay outside for a minute longer, my fingers on my (still tingling) lips, before rushing inside when I'm sure he's gone. Like hell I'm staying behind and not doing anything when my best friends need help. I'm already bundled up warmly, so the only thing I need now is the torch. I grab it, and look around the house once more. I'll be back later, I tell myself. Hopefully.

Sirius

James doesn't take long to catch up to me at the pace I'm going, but once he's by my side we both increase speed as I track Moony's scent. As we proceed through the woods I notice every little movement in as Padfoot. I also can't help but notice that James seems somewhat distracted as we follow Moony's trail. What's up with you? We (sadly) don't have the ability to read each other's minds, but we can read each others expressions. Prongs only shakes his great head and looks away from me. I frown (which is hard to do as a dog) and then realise that the Moony's scent has disappeared. I pause in my tracks and feel James stop behind me. We both look around, all senses alert, while I try to pick up Remus' scent. That's when we notice a river; and leading down to the river? Great big footprints.

James

Fuck. We've lost him.