Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, as you should well know. I am, however, an avid fan.
Author's Note: I'm re-reading the series and decided that Lily, James, Sirius, and all the other deserved to have something written about them. So, this is my attempt. I wish to do them a great justice.
This story takes place after fifth year, when Snape called Lily a Mudblood (refer to Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix). Also, I include Alice and Frank Longbottom. If anyone knows Alice's maiden name, please, do tell me.
First and foremost, I am a writer. I willingly accept constructive criticism, not flaming. If you do not have an idea that could make this story better (such as wrong character portrayal, tension, obstacles), PLEASE HESITATE to review. On the other hand, if you simply wish to inform me that you would like to see more, do so. I would be thrilled to continue writing.
Lily Evans sat at her writing desk, toying aimlessly with her quill. She only needed a good paragraph or two to finish the Potions essay Professor Slughorn had assigned for the summer holiday. Everything else she had finished: Charms for Flitwick, and Transfiguration for McGonagall. Even her mapped star chart lay neatly folded in her school bag, ready to be handed in promptly when she returned to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in a fortnight.
Lily dipped her quill into the inkbottle and scratched away on her parchment. Sure, she had written more than Slughorn wanted, but she knew he didn't mind—he never did. Lily read through the essay once more before she tucked it away, quite satisfied. She pushed strands of her red hair behind her ears before finally setting her quill down.
Although she loved being at home, she missed Hogwarts. She would be going into her sixth year. Her O.W.L.s had come in a few days before, and she had received extremely high marks in both Charms and Potions. She had eight O.W.L.s in all. Her parents were thrilled, remarking how lucky they were to have such a smart daughter, while her older sister, Petunia, sat at the dinner table, acting as if there were an awful smell right under her nose. Lily, however, paid no attention. Petunia had always acted strange whenever Lily was home, and though Lily took no notice of it, she wished her sister would show some interest.
The summer had been rather boring she had to admit, unless you counted keeping yourself busy with homework thrilling. Lately, she had kept replaying the events of June in her head.
"Why did you do it?" Lily asked herself, staring out the window. She squinted, thinking she had seen something flying across the sky. Then she realized this speck in the sky was coming closer and closer to her until the dark speck became an owl which perched itself right at her windowsill, waiting patiently for Lily to open the window.
She leaned over her writing desk and opened the window, causing the owl to crawl in and set itself on her desk. She could have recognized this owl anywhere—it was Severus's. Lily debated about whether or not to take the letter. Just a few months before, Severus had called her a Mudblood. She remembered the feelings that swelled up inside her—rage and indignation. So what if she was Muggle-born? Everyone raved about how good she was at magic that no one cared that she had Muggle parents.
Lily remembered the look of outrage on James Potter's face when Severus had uttered those words. Quickly and resolutely, Lily had regained her temper and set to smarting off at James. Of course, she had insulted James, too, but it was what he deserved. He bullied people to no end, simply hexing them whenever he felt like it. Where was his tact? But then she remembered he didn't have any, and neither did his best bud, Sirius Black. At least, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew seemed to have some sense.
The owl nipped at her fingers, asking her to remove the letter from his leg. Lily did so slowly. She hadn't talked to Severus at all. She blatantly ignored him on the train ride home, although it pained her to do so, and simply chatted with her friends to keep her mind free from thoughts of him. Lily held the letter in her hand. Sighing, she opened it, and read.
Dear Lily,
I know you mostly likely didn't expect me to write you at all, and granted when I'm not doing homework, I'm thinking of some elegant way to apologize to you for the words I said last June. Unfortunately, there is no elegant way to say I'm sorry, so I'm just going to say it—I'm sorry for calling you a Mudblood.
Lily scoffed, but continued reading.
The words tumbled out of my mouth before I knew what was happening—you know how Potter and Black are, they rile up the worst in me. I know, I know, you've told me hundreds if not thousands of times to not let them distract or anger me, but truly, it cannot be helped. They're so arrogant!
Nonetheless, I'm sorry a hundred million times over. Please forgive me. Perhaps we could meet up in Diagon Alley? I'll be there two days from now, on Friday. I'll buy you an ice cream. Again, I apologize.
Sincerely,
Severus Snape
Lily tossed the letter aside. The owl was waiting for her to write something in return. She debated whether or not she should. Quite frankly, she didn't want to. She rolled her quill around on her desk. Her inkbottle was still uncorked. However, there was a knock at her door and it opened to reveal Petunia.
Petunia wrinkled her nose when she saw the owl. "Can't you tell that thing to stay outside or something?" Lily didn't say anything. "Mum says dinner is ready." Petunia left, slamming the door behind her. Groaning at her sister's insolence, Lily stood.
The owl hooted and attempting to nip at Lily's finger again. "I'm sorry, dear. You'll have to return empty-handed." She gestured the owl back outside. Once on the windowsill, it took back off into the early evening sky.
Lily's parents dropped her off in London on Friday with great reluctance. They loved going into Diagon Alley with her, thrilled to see all the gizmos and gadgets that Muggles like themselves lived without. Her mother often claimed that magic would certainly make life a bit easier to live. Petunia, however, stuck up her nose. And unfortunately, Petunia was with them, and she needed to get some things for school, too. Knowing that Lily could handle things on her own, Mr. and Mrs. Evans went with their eldest daughter
"How about we meet back at three o'clock?" Mr. Evans said, looking at his watch.
Lily nodded. "Right then, Dad."
Mrs. Evans kissed Lily on the cheek and crawled back into the car.
Lily stood, waving goodbye until their car was out of sight. Then she stepped into the Leaky Cauldron. Fumes met her nostrils, tinged with something strong and pungent. The bartender, an elderly man with thinning hair and moustache, greeted her warmly.
"Sixth year, Miss Evans, sixth year!" he said.
Lily smiled. "Aye, what a great year it will be!" She stepped towards the back and opened the door, faced with a giant brick wall. Lily pulled her wand from her shoulder bag, tapped the bricks left to right, and watched as the bricks moved side to side, clearing a path, to reveal Diagon Alley.
September 1st was two weeks away, and Diagon Alley was filled with an assortment of witches and wizards, bustling around. Stepping in, Lily breathed in, relishing the familiar smells that reminded her of Hogwarts. Tucking her wand away, Lily pulled out her school supply list. She was thrilled to see there would be a new Potions book, and wondered what Professor Slughorn had in mind for the coming year.
After she went to Gringotts to get some money, she made her way to Flourish and Blott's. Although Lily hadn't told any of her friends she would be at Diagon Alley, she met her dear friend, Alice Reeves, accompanied by her boyfriend, Frank Longbottom. They were both delightful people. She wasn't as tall as Lily, and had thinned out over the summer. Her round face, however, was still notable. Frank had always been thin but he was at least a head taller than Alice and just a few inches taller than Lily. They greeted each other warmly.
"Our final year!" Alice said excitedly.
"I'm thinking it'll be quite dreadful—with N.E.W.T.s and all," Frank said, although he, too, looked excited. Both wanted to become Aurors after they left Hogwarts, and becoming an Auror took a lot of work.
"You'll both do splendidly," Lily said, smiling.
Together, they walked into Flourish and Blott's to buy their books. The list was surprisingly short, which gave Lily more time to skim through the new release section. Not seeing anything she wanted, Lily bought more parchment, a quill, and two inkbottles.
"Good to go?" Alice said.
Lily nodded. After they paid for their things, Alice meandered around in Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. Lily wondered if Severus were around, but then quickly rejected the thought. Was she cruel not to meet him and allow him to apologize in person? Quite frankly, he had tried to catch up with her the week before the summer holiday, attempting to apologize, but she had avoided him.
When she stepped out of the robe shop with Alice and Frank, they chatted happily about their upcoming year and what would happen after they left Hogwarts. All the excitement from them caused a stir in Lily. She had two more years of Hogwarts left, and the professors had stressed the seriousness of the O.W.L.s because it would affect their career choice. Granted, Lily shouldn't worry about the N.E.W.T.s now, but being about Alice and Frank, she couldn't help it.
"Lily!" a voice called. She recognized it right away and debated whether not to turn around.
Alice, however, didn't. "Who's that?" she asked, peering behind them.
"My, I do think it's Severus Snape," Frank muttered.
Despite the noise in Diagon Alley, Lily clearly heard his footsteps and the faint swishing of his robes. When she turned around, he was at least two feet away from her, and breathless. He seemed to have run in order to catch up with her.
"Hello, Severus," Lily said coolly. He looked as pale as ever.
He could tell she was still displeased with what had happened. Glancing at Alice and Frank, he said, "Could we talk somewhere private?"
Before Lily could answer, Alice said, "We'll be in the Leaky Cauldron, Lily. See you there, yeah?" And she and Frank walked off.
Severus looked relieved to see them go. Lily adjusted the books in her hands while Severus led her over to an awning over a shop.
"Severus, please—" Lily began.
"I know I was horrible to you," he interrupted. "I just want to ask for your forgiveness."
It took everything in her not to sigh heavily and roll her eyes. "I thought I was your friend, Severus. You can't necessarily go around calling friends Mudbloods—even if I am one."
"But James and Sirius—"
"You can't blame your action on what they did to you."
"But you know how they are—what they did!"
"Are you going to blame everything you do on them?" Lily asked. "I've told you before you need to get a grip on yourself and ignore what they say to you. You cannot base your life on how they treat you."
"I'm not!" Severus said through gritted teeth. He looked like he was seething and Lily somehow regretted the words she said.
"I'm not saying that you are basing your life around them," she said quickly. "It's just… you know…" She thought about how she could say this easily. "You're dappling in things you shouldn't."
Severus raised an eyebrow. "Like what?"
Lily bit her lip. She hated when this topic came up, and was determined to stir him away from the route she knew he was bent on taking. "The Dark Arts, Severus," she said softly.
He flinched. "Nothing else has ever worked for me," he said firmly.
"And so you think the Dark Arts will give you something in return?"
"It's something I am good out—something James and Sirius would never—"
"Oh, you know full well those two don't care for the Dark Arts one bit! Why do you think they torture you so?" Lily said, exasperated.
Severus was silent. He looked at her with deep brown eyes and wondered what she ever thought of him—to look at him twice as a friend. Now he felt as if he was losing her. "I just—I think that—" Quite honestly, he didn't know what to think, and staring at Lily resolutely into her bright green eyes, his words were caught in his throat.
Sighing, Lily said, "I'm sorry, Severus, but I cannot do this. I do not regret standing up for you in any way. You are heading down a path, and I prefer not to follow you. You called me a Mudblood." Somehow, she knew she wouldn't get over that.
Severus simply looked at her, waiting for her to say more, and trying to muster the strength to save himself. Unfortunately, he didn't have to.
"Oy! I found him!" a familiar voice rang out.
Severus and Lily both turned to see James Potter side-by-side with his best friend, Sirius Black. The two looked dreadfully happy, and Lily had a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach. Lily turned back to Severus who looked apprehensive but had a determined look on his face.
"What makes you think you have a right to hang around Lily?" Sirius said to Severus. He brushed his dark hair away from his face.
"Oh, James, stop—" Lily began.
"He called a—a you-know-what!" James said, his voice clearly full of rage. His hazel eyes flashed to meet Lily's.
"Just stop it!" Lily nearly yelled. She didn't want to bother with them now. She would have more than enough of it at school. "As if he doesn't get enough of you two at school, you have to pester him here!" She stormed off, fuming, and decided to walk around, away from the three of them in order to clear her mind. "He'll never cease being an idiot," Lily muttered under her breath.