A cold and heavy rain was pounding down the empty, late night streets in the shabbier part of town. A single cloaked figure navigated her way purposely, yet still carried on a fear as she was checking her over her shoulder every so often. She gripped her hood tightly when a gust of cruel wind attempted to reveal her wavy red locks. A lively debate was taking place in her mind on whether she should be here or not. Part of her reminded itself that in times like this no man or woman should be wandering empty streets this late. The other half was so angry and distraught on what happened before that all it wanted was to reach its destination and come clean. At last she reached the familiar brick home and knocked on it loudly a few times. She heard some muffled footsteps before a tall man with dark long hair opened the door.
"Lily," he said in complete shock as the school friend he hadn't seen in two years stood there, shivering on his doorstep.
"Sev," she replied hoarsely.
"Lily, what's wrong?" he asked, immediately recognizing the look on face that ment that something was not right. "You must be cold, tell me inside." After Lily nodded, he steered her onto the lumpy sofa across from a warm roaring fire and withdrew the drenched cloak from her shoulders and placed a blanket around her instead.
"T-thanks, Sev,"
"God Lily, I've never seen you like this." Severus recalled. "What happened?"
"It was him, Sev! You were right all along! That lying git!" she cried and Severus knew who it was right away. James. Enemy no.1, air-head, player boy.
"What did he do?"
"That James! Had me on love potion since our seventh year! I only found out a week ago when one of his brewers bought it to the door while he was out."
At times like this, Severus knew exactly what to do: "Oh Lily," he put his arm around her and conjured up two cups of steaming, sugary tea and handed one to her and took one for himself. After she was finished, he risked asking the question. "Did you love him after you were off the potion Lily?"
"NO! No! I called him on it and he said he'd love me but over the week I saw that all I was…I was his possession. Like a mere Qudditch Cup. Just there to make him look good. It was very evident during a dinner with the other members. 'Lily's got the most beautiful eyes in the room. Oh, her hair is the nicest colour of rouge. Don't you wish you'd married someone a lovely as my Lily, guys? As nice as the house cup we've gotten every year in a row right?'"
"And people said he changed…"
"He didn't! He's as big of air head now as he was when we'd first started! I couldn't take it no more. I couldn't go to Petunia; she wouldn't let me set foot in that clean house of hers. My mother would be hopeless, wanting me to go back to that jerk as soon as I go there. You're my only true friend, Severus. I know I could count on you, even if I was a stupid idiot influenced by a love potion and never talked to you until now. Forgive me, won't you?"
"You know the answer, Lil'." He smiled slightly and wiped her tear-streaked face with his sleeve.
"I'm so lucky to have a friend like you, Sev," she said, settling her head down on the arm of the sofa and drawing her wet feet up.
"And you're the charms girl," he said sarcastically as he drew out his want and flicked it over her wet clothes, drying it instantly. "That potion is strong, Lily," he reminded her as he knew she didn't feel quite convinced at her answer. Severus stroked her hair soothingly as she spoke.
"Yeah, I should've said something, anything though. I know I've must've tried. James was there to crush any chance though, knowing you'd think of an antidote. Stupid James, stupid potion! I have wasted years on him!"
"Shhh, Lils…It's okay. I've got an idea, I need your help though?"
"What is it?" she said, getting up and wiping away the excess angry tears.
"In the broom closet, the two sticks and that long green sheet…"
"Oh yeah," Lily remembered and easily found the familiar articles that they had used as young children…or at fourteen; she didn't know exactly. When she returned, the chairs and sofa was pushed back and a large, king-sized mattress filled up the area in front of the fire instead.
"Really Sev?" she laughed as she handed him the materials, even though she was very happy with this childish idea.
"Tents are always fun, aren't they?" he smiled as he assembled the tent in and instant. Lily laid out the sheets on the mattress and placed two old, yellowing pillows on them; facing the fire. The both of them slithered in on their hands and knees and giggled at the fact of how old they were, yet how a childish thing they were doing."
"You were right Sev," she said, toasting her silver cup of tea to him.
"I always am," he smirked and clinked his cup with hers.
"It seemed so long ago since we've done this,"
"I know,"
"But nifty all the same,"
"Yeah,"
"Severus, have you got a girlfriend now?" she asked cautiously.
"Not with that reputation James built up for me,"
"Did you fancy any one though?"
"Only one girl,"
"Really, who?"
"I dunno if I should…she's married after all,"
"Severus Snape, I'm your best friend you know! You can trust me!"
"Oh, I know I can trust you,"
"Please, Sev?"
"Promise not to laugh,"
"Have my word,"
"Promise not to judge,"
"Now your being silly-"
"Promise?"
"Yes, Sev."
"You, Lily. You were the only girl I loved. I've always have and always will."
"Oh Severus," Lily sighed sadly. He loved her! All this time, he was the one who truly loved her and she had been too blind to notice it! How could she not have? He was always kind to her and respected her everyday. A true gentleman he was and all she saw him as was a friend. But he was the bestest friend anybody could have. She glanced at his slightly embarrassed face that was flushed pink and gave him a reassuring smile that reached her those emerald eyes he loved so much.
"Severus, that's the nicest thing I've had said to me. And it means a million more because it is coming from you," she replied. His face was a deep magenta now from her soft, lips brushing against his cheek.
"We're never going to be separated now, Sev," she said and brought his hand up with hers and intertwined their fingers together. "We'll live just like we wanted to when we were younger remember! With both of our beds being tents of course, magical birds that are like our alarms, you cooking all the meals since you are a wonderful cook, I'll plant lots of Lilies in our yard and…"
As Lily raved on about their imaginary home, all Severus did was listen half-heartily. He gazed at her with admiration and was more than pleased with the kiss he'd receive. Any trace of the anger he had for neglecting him had vanished because now-without any magic at all-he had his closest and dearest friend back. She was irreplaceable and he could not blow this chance again.
"You know McGonagall taught me how they bewitched the night sky at Hogwarts," she said and turned over from her belly to her back and Severus copied her. "Laquearia ad caelum!" she exclaimed as she pointed her wand at the top part of the tent. Once the light blue sparks cleared the top of the tent showed a clear night sky with dazzling stars and a plump moon.
"That's beautiful Lily," Severus complemented.
"Thank-you," she said as she scooted over to closer to him for warmth. "Do you remember all the constellations we learned in Astronomy?" she asked.
"Not everything," replied Severus. "But that one I'm pretty sure it's Orion," he pointed up at an array of stars and connected the dots with his fingers.
"Right you are," she smiled. "Hey, didn't you want to be a professor?"
"Dumbledore told me to give it another year,"
"Potions, I'm assuming?"
"Yeah, or DADA."
"Really?" she said bluntly.
"Yeah! It's actually an interesting class to teach,"
"Could you make a partronous?"
"Hmmmm," he conjured a slivery blue doe as he muttered the spell: Expecto Partronum.
"You're a doe too?"
He nodded shyly, "It appears so,"
"That is unbelievable. You're a Gryffindor man through and through!" she said. "How James and Sirius and Peter weren't in Slytherin, I haven't a clue. Just like how you weren't in my house!"
Severus shrugged but beamed at the complement. As much as he enjoyed his Slytherin companions, he felt a great difference between him and Lily because of the rivalry between houses.
"Can I ask you something?" Lily said casually.
"Sure,"
"Are you still a death eater?"
Severus's hand subconsciously touched his left forearm where the Dark Mark was embedded. "So you are? Severus, we're working to fight people like you and you're on his side?" she said angrily and her emerald eyes gave a look of full furry.
"I-I," he sighed and decided to tell Lily the truth. "I've got to tell you something Lily, but don't you dare tell anyone this. Only Dumbledore knows,"
"You better have a good explanation,"
"I do! I'm Dumbledore's man! I'm-" he lowered his voice so significantly that Lily had to strain to hear. "-I'm spy for him. Tell him everything the death eaters do."
"Don't the death eaters know though? They can't be that stupid." Lily said in a mock whisper.
"Dumbledore tells me what I can say to them," he told her as patiently as he could.
"Impressive, secret-agent,"
"Double agent,"
"Shut-up, same thing," she giggled and smacked him playfully on the arm. "But seriously, are you?"
"Li-ly, I wouldn't lie to you?"
"Hey you've never told that you loved me before!"
"That was a secret, not a lie,"
"What a techie you are!"
"Don't judge me!" he laughed.
"Honest to god you're on our side?"
"Yes, Lily Arielle Evans. I am on your side. Always with you!" He raised his pinky and seized hers with his.
She knew that he was not lying because the pinky-swear was one muggle thing they had in common. Severus would never use the pinky swear if he lied anyways. Once he had broken Petunia's tea set and Lily tried to clear his name by doing the pinky swear in front of him but he couldn't bring himself to do it. "Just making sure."
"Sev, you think…when will this all be over?" she asked nestled her head onto his chest.
"When you-know-who dies."
"Well obviously,"
"I don't know," he told her. "I don't know,"
"No one does." She replied sadly.
"You can't be sad Lily, you've got to stay strong!"
"Sorry Severus, but this is crazy. We cannot keep going on like this! How I wish he'd just die."
"Oh he will, good will always conquer evil. Remember all those muggle stories your father read us? How all the princesses and creatures and everyone good had a happy ending."
"But isn't always like that. This is real, this is legit!"
"Believe me on this Lily. Whatever happens is for the best okay? We will win this war. One way or another. You-know-who, he's told me something that'll give us hope."
"What is it?"
"Someone got information about a prophecy or something. It was between Dumbledore and some Trelawney. It says a child born at the end of July would be the one to vanquish him once and for all. But he baby…he doesn't know which one it is. I've told Dumbledore and he says that you-know-who is clever enough to find out and when he does…"
"Let's hope that child will be safe." She prayed. "Severus this is amazing, I-I missed you so much. More than I realized." Sighed Lily.
"I've missed you too," he replied. "So much time apart! You don't know how glad I am to have you back, Lily," he replied. "Goodnight, Lily,"
"Goodnight Severus,"
Thanks for reading! I would just like to add that the 'Mudblood' incident never happened and it was the Love Potion that drove them apart. I know my James sounds like a jerk and wait until you read the next chapter! Sorry, I like James but for the sake of the story…Anyways please review and constructive criticism is welcomed!