Ness: Wow. I'm... back.

Sirius: Feel free to disembowel her and smack her with her own innards.

Remus: Through we wish you wouldn't.

Ness: I have no excuses. Absolutely none.

James: So we implore you to forgive her.

All: Please!

Chapter Fifteen: Tears

When the Marauder's and Ness returned from Hogsmeade, Remus was still exhilarated from the day's events. He was just managing to convince Ness to come away with him to the Room of Requirement to show him some of her new robes (or, perhaps, none at all) when they were interrupted.

Lily, who had been reading a book in an over-sized armchair by the Gryffindor fire, had jumped up in anger at the sight of them and was now making her way, just as angrily, toward them.

"What are you still doing here?" Lily asked, stopping in front of Ness and glaring at her angrily. Even James, whose hand had jumped up to ruffle the back of his hair, hesitated at the anger in her voice.

"Um... What are you talking about, Lily?" Ness replied, glancing at her in confusion. "I live here, remember? Or have you completely forgotten that we share a dorm?

"That's not what I mean," Lily said, stomping her foot, childishly. "You were supposed to be expelled!"

"Expelled?" Remus asked, shocked and confused at the redhead's exclamations. "What are you–" but suddenly Remus realized what Lily was going on about, and the next second James and Sirius had to hold him back from attacking her. "It was you!"

"What...?" Ness asked, looking confusedly between the struggling Remus to the somewhat ashamed looking Lily.

"Maybe we should discuss this where there are less ears," Peter squeaked, glancing nervously at a few first years that were staring unabashedly at them.

Sirius and James took charge of the situation, Sirius grabbing hold of Lily while James and Peter took hold of Remus and they headed toward the boy's dorm, Ness following timidly behind.

Once she closed the door behind her, Ness locked it and put heavy silencing charms around the room.

Remus barely controlled himself as Ness cast her charms, but the moment she had finished he lashed out.

"How could you?" Remus shouted, his whole body shaking with barely suppressed anger. Lily looked terrified. Remus suddenly felt a tentative, but loving hand on his shoulder and a moment later he was staring into Ness's imploring eyes. He turned back to Lily and forced himself to swallow his anger and said, much more calmly, "How did you even know?"

"Well–" Lily began, gaining a little of her courage back, "well, it's like Vanessa says, we share a dorm, don't we? I would notice, wouldn't I? And I know what you are, Remus - Oh, I haven't said anything to anyone, don't worry," she added quickly as Remus opened his mouth to interrupt. She continued, "And I know that every full moon Vanessa sneaks out to be with you, though how she manages to without being bitten is beyond me. I know she does it because she loves you, but I never thought someone could love another as much as she does you, especially after last full moon."

"What do you mean?" Sirius asked, taking a seat on his bed. "Ness hasn't been with him the last two moons."

"Lily," Ness said suddenly, shaking her head in warning. "Don't."

"'Don't?'" Remus repeated, looking between Lily and Ness. "Don't what? What is going on?"

"She doesn't want me to tall you that she's been suffering for you," Lily said, ignoring Ness's protests. "She doesn't want me to tell you that the life she carries is afflicted with your curse and that last full moon it started reacting–"

"Lily!" Ness shouted, trying to drown out Lily's rapidly rising voice, but she continued nonetheless.

"– and she doesn't want me to tell you that she was able to feel its transformation and that she cried and screamed in pain all night and the next morning there was so much blood everywhere that I'm surprised she's still alive!" During her speech, Lily's voice had risen to that of barely controlled shouting and when she finished, her breath was shaking and labored.

"That's not true!"

"You're lying, Evans!"

"Ness would tell us if something was wrong!"

Remus, ignoring his friends shouts, turned to Ness. It only took a single glance at her tear-stained face to realize that what Lily was saying was true.

"Why -why didn't you tell me?" Remus asked Ness, as the shouting around them died down and all eyes turned to the two of them.

"I couldn't," Ness replied, barely able to speak, her emotions choking her. She gasped as more tears made their way down her cheeks, "I couldn't. I - I want this baby. I want us to have him and I don't care how much pain I have to go through to give him life. I want him. Please, I want him..."

Remus took Ness into his arms as she collapsed into uncontrollable sobs. He looked to his friends and Lily and then to the door. They seemed to take the hint and Lily, for the first time in her life, allowed James to take her hand and lead her from the room, Sirius and Peter following.

When the door closed behind the others, Remus sighed and gently kissed the top of Ness's head, her body shaking in his arms, "No one will take him from us, I promise. I promise."

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Ness: Okay, yes, it's a short chapter, but I'll try and update again soon. Who know, maybe my writing has gotten better in my year's absence. Please review! Especially those who are kind enough to come back to me. THANK YOU!