Gossip circulated Platform Nine and Three Quarters like wildfire on September the first, everything from haircuts and who had grown half a foot, to summer romances, summer break-ups and summer weight loss. These did not usually interest Severus Snape at all. For the first five years of his schooling, Severus Snape had spent the train ride back to Hogwarts with Lily. Last year, he'd brooded about seeing Lily Evans again after a summer of agonizing, only to find she was spending the year abroad. This year, gossip had caught Severus' attention.
Lily Evans is back at Hogwarts. Lily Evans is the new Head Girl. James Potter is Head Boy. And the two most popular seventh-year students at Hogwarts are now a couple.
There was relief that Lily was back in Britain after a year studying abroad, but the relief was short lived. He still believed he was the catalyst for her leaving; calling her an unforgivable name was a betrayal that ended their secret romance that had been made fragile by his destructive behaviour with his friends. He had feared she'd stay in Australia for good and he'd never see her again. After all, she'd fantasized about her mother's homeland ever since her mother's death a decade ago.
Apparently, Lily was now seeing James, a relationship kindled over letters exchanged over her stay in Australia, and James' frequent visits once she'd returned home two months ago. Was this revenge, thought was only with Potter to get back at him. Spend a year without contact and then get back in his face with Potter. But Severus knew Lily. If she wanted revenge, she wouldn't do something as elaborately public. The hope of the rumours being silly gossip was the only hope Severus had left.
Then it happened. Lily Evans walked past his carriage window with a group of friends. The chatted as they walked along the platform, finding a empty carriage close the one Severus occupied. He so badly wanted to go over, to just talk to her. Surely she'd allow for just a few words?
"We were supposed to be at the Prefects carriage five minutes ago, Evans."
Severus looked up at the sound of James Potter's voice, just in time to see the kiss between James and Lily. There was a wolf whistle from Black.
This was going to be a long year.