Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, obviously and this is just a fic that is a response to a challenge.


Chapter 2

Forgivenness

Severus was immediately taken to the hospital wing, upon arrival back at Hogwarts. Everyone looked to Sirius for answers and Peter seemed certain that Sirius had hexed him. Sirius shook his head no, he had no idea what was wrong with Snape he seemed fine while they were in the museum, then he was running a fever. Sirius was not worried about the boy, but he was worried that if Snape did not become better before the next trip, he would be without a partner and wondered if he would even be able to go.

Sirius went to Professor Dumbledore to talk to him about what would happen if they had not figured out what was wrong with Severus before the next trip, but Dumbledore stated he was sure Severus would be fine. Sirius pestered the man a bit more over the next few days, until he finally said if need be then he would partner, to make a third with another group. Sirius was ecstatic about this and really hoped he would be paired with one of his friends, or two cute girls.

A full week went by without any sign of Severus and Lily, whom had not spoken to Severus since the end of fifth year was beginning to voice her concerns.

"I wonder what is wrong with Severus. He has not been seen and has not been to any of his classes. Madame Pomprey will not let anyone in to see Severus. He is even in a private room. However she did ask me if I could take notes for him," Lily explained in the hallway to Remus.

"I don't know what is wrong with him, but whatever it is, it must be bad. To miss a whole week of classes, quite frankly, I'm not sure Snape has ever missed a class. If you want I can help you take notes as well. I have many of the same classes as Snape too. We could split the note taking down the middle. You take half and I take half." Remus looked to Lily as the made their way down the hall toward the courtyard.

"How do you know I accepted? I could have told her I was much too busy with all the N.E.W.T. level work of 7th year and with preparing for the next trip. Even though the next trip is not until the end of October, just before the Halloween feast," said Lily as she stepped out into the courtyard and proceeded to make her way across it.

"I know you did because you're a good person, a Gryffindor and you are worried about Snape, despite not being his friend anymore." Remus followed Lily across the courtyard and along the shortcut to the quidditch pitch. Gryffindor was playing Hufflepuff today and both Sirius and James would be upset if Lily and Remus missed the game.

Lily thought about what Remus had said for a moment. She knew things about Severus that no one else knew and she was afraid that maybe something had happened over the summer while he was at home. Merlin only knew what could have befallen him with the parents that he had. Lily felt a little guilty, she had over-reacted at the mudblood comment and deep down she knew he did not mean it, but she just could not make herself forgive him.

They were not to far from the quidditch pitch and they could hear the loud and excited chatter of the students waiting for the game to start and making their way into the pitch. Lily stopped and turned to Remus.

"You're right I did accept. He was my friend for many years and I am worried that something very bad has happened to him. I would really appreciate the help Remus." She turned and started toward the pitch again, but the turned again walking backward now. "Thank you Remus, I appreciate it."

"You're welcome Lily," he said and he watch her turn back around, then made his way into the stadium searching for Peter, who had saved them seats.

The game was very exciting and unexpectedly close, but the goal James scored before the Hufflepuff seeker caught the snitch clenched the game for Gryffindor and they won by 10 points. Gryffindor was ecstatic and a party was planned for later in the common room to celebrate their victory. Lily had other plans on her mind, plans that involved weaseling James out of his invisibility cloak for a couple of hours. She had not known about it long, but she figured James would not mind her borrowing it. After all he was head over heals for her.

She wanted to sneak into the infirmary to visit Severus, if he even wanted to see her. The had not spoke in over a year and Lily felt as though she sick up all over the common room floor from nervousness. She decided not to wait until the party started to ask James, as her and Sirius had already started celebrating early with a little firewhiskey. She had not the slightest clue how they smuggled it into the castle and she was sure she did not actually want to find out. Lily watched from across the room as James took a gulp of firewhiskey and coughed slightly. She moved toward him and Sirius, who was currently patting James on the back.

"Hey James, Hey Sirius. Where's Remus?" Lily looked around and noticed the boy was not with his the two on the couch.

"Hey Lils, Remus is up in the dorm. He said something about extra homework or something. Really homework over celebrating." James spouted appalled at the very idea.

Sirius rolled his eyes before taking a swig of the firewhiskey, "Remus is a bookworm. If he weren't so brave, he'd have been in Ravenclaw for sure. I shudder to think Remus could have not been a Gryffindor, but anyway he should be done soon."

Lily nodded and took the opportunity to swing the conversation towards James' invisibility cloak. "Actually I have to do some studying in the library. I need a certain but to finish my ancient runes essay, but I have had to help a student out recently, so I have not had time to finish. School has been a bit hectic lately." Lily hoped they would not catch her in her lie, she had finished the essay several days ago, but Lily figured both would be to trolleyed to notice.

Lily was right in her assumption. James instantly gaped at her, "Ah Lils, forget about it. You grades are perfect. You should relax and party with us."

Sirius instantly agreed with James, nodding his head, "We all need a little relaxation. You know takes our mind off a school. Besides it is almost curfew, you wont make back in time. It is not your night to patrol and I know you don't want to be caught out after curfew."

Lily was about to admonish the boys for their attitudes towards studying, but before she could open her mouth Remus spoke, and absolutely terrified Lily, fore she had not heard him coming.

"Lily really ought to get her homework, done then she could come back and party with us and as for being caught, James I'm sure you can help her with that." Remus said giving James a slight wink.

It took a few moments before James mind mulled over what Remus had said and comprehended what the boy was suggesting. He trusted Lily but he was a little unsure about just lending the cloak his father gave him, his cloak, out. He thought it over for a few seconds more before Remus spoke again becoming more aware how anxious and on edge Lily seemed to be. "I will do with her and that was it will be easier to look out for patrolling prefects and teachers, not to mention she will get her work done faster."

James caved after the small bit of prompting from Remus and smiled, "I'll go get my cloak and you two can slip off to the library finish up Lil's homework and get back her without being caught."

James rose a bit wobbly from the couch and headed towards the dorm with Remus following close behind, while Lily waited nervously. She wondered how she would be able to ditch Remus. It did not seem possible but she figured she actually would be making that trip to the library to accomplish it.

James and Remus returned a moment later, James carrying the cloak and Remus carrying some parchment. Lily had completely forgotten she would need parchment while pondering the Remus situation and quickly scurrying up to her dorm to grab her parchment, quill and Ancient Runes text. She met Remus in the common room and both headed out into the hall while no one was looking.

Lily was instantly fascinated after Remus threw the cloak over them remembering the text she had read about the enchantments used on an invisibility cloak. The cloak seemed very well made and she wonder if a different spell, other than the ones described in the book could have been used on it.

She was however brought out of her thinking by Remus' voice. "Why did you lie to James and Remus? I can tell you were lying." Remus could actually smell it, but that did not need to be mentioned.

Lily looked taken aback, "I you knew I was lying then why did you help?"

Remus just shrugged, "I figured you must have had a good reason for doing it, but I would like to know what that reason is."

Lily was relieved not to have to lie to Remus and she figured he would know if she lied anyway. "I am going to see Severus," she said with a sigh, "I did not think James would take that news so well, even slightly faced. I want to make sure he is okay, I would feel awful if I were him and no one was allowed to visit. I also feel bad that we are not on good terms and if something happened to Severus and we weren't all right. I do not think he would be okay if something happened to me and we were not all right as well."

Remus nodded his understanding; he knew James most likely would have refused Lily if she mentioned Snape. No one wanted to hear that their friend was going to go visit their enemy. "It's a good thing that where I thought you were going." Remus smiled, holding out the parchment, "Notes for Snape."

Lily could not help but to smile at Remus, he was a good friend and seemed to be less adverse to Severus that James, Sirius, and Peter were. She noticed that while they were talking they had been on course to the hospital wing all along. She now stood outside the door of the hospital wing praying Madame Pomprey had gone to bed for the night. She reached out and placed her hand on the doorknob, turning it and pushing the door open slightly. She looked around to make sure it was empty, then signaled for Remus to follow her. She made her over to the private room where Severus was being kept. She knew what ever he had was bad, if he was being kept isolated, but that was not going to stop her from seeing him. She turned to Remus and asked him to wait for her to go in first and she would let him know when to come in.

Lily turned and slipped out from beneath the cloak, before disappearing through the door and leaving Remus alone on the other side. As soon as she entered Severus spoke, "Madame Pomprey, I really do not need another the potion. I feel fine really."

Lily giggle softly at Severus stubbornness, "It not Madame Pomprey, Sev. It's Lily."

Severus knew Lily's voice, even if he was sick, not even hallucinations could reproduce her voice. "Lily, um, why are you here?" Severus breaths were short and a little raspy, as he forced the words from his tired lips.

Lily sighed, "I was worried about you Sev. I kept thinking that I did not want something to happen to you and us not be all right. I've missed you a lot especially our Sunday afternoon flying. I have not flown on Sunday afternoon since we stopped being friends." Lily could feel the tears washing over her eyes; she knew they would spill soon.

"I'm sorry Lily," Severus rasped, "I never meant to say that word. As much as I do not like my muggle father, deep down I know there is nothing wrong with muggles and especially nothing wrong with being muggleborn."

That was all it took for Lily to come undo, her tear spilling over her lower lid and dripping into her lap. Severus sounded very weak and he was apologizing to her even thought it was she who really owed him an apology. He had apologized her before, but she had not wanted to hear it at the time and she had allowed her friends opinion cloud her judgment.

"I am so sorry Sev," she cried, "I should have listen to you that night two years ago and I should not allowed myself to believe what my friends spouted off about you. I knew you long enough to know they were false and I should have accepted your apology long ago, but I didn't. Can you forgive me Sev? Can you?"

Severus turned to Lily who had moved to the side of his bed. He smiled a tired smile, closing he eyes slightly and reaching for Lily's hand. His hand felt very warm to the touch, but Lily was not about to let go. She gave his hand a small squeeze before speaking again.

"I brought you notes from all the class, but I think I will have to bring them back when you do not have a fever. You are in no condition to study just yet." Her thumb gently ran across Severus hand as she spoke, "Do you know what is wrong with you?"

Severus nodded slightly before speaking, "Madame Pomprey said I have pneumonia, which is not at all common among wizards, especially wizards our age. I would not tell her how I think I got sick; she does not need to know. My chest hurts and my head aches. My fever won't break and I coughed up blood a couple of times."

Lily frowned, "Oh Severus, It was your parents, was it not. I am sorry Severus."

Severus pulled a small frown and he attempted to squeeze Lily's hand but he did not have much strength to put into. "Stop apologizing Lils. I am glad that we are friends again. Right?"

Lily smiled, albeit a bit sadly. "Right Sev. We are friends." For good this time, she added in her own head. "Well it is a getting very late Severus and you need your rest, so I will leave you to sleep. Do not worry though, I will be back to pester you about your studies soon," she said lightly joking.

It produced a laugh from Severus, which turned into a coughing fit. Lily helped him by patting his back to help free up what was in his lungs, before tucking him, saying goodnight and slipping out quietly.

"Remus," she looked around for any sign Remus was around, "Where are you?"

Remus looked around cautiously before pulling up the cloak and whispering, "Right here." He reached out and pulled Lily's sleeve. Lily had to quell her urge to scream before she quickly allowed Remus to pull her back under the cloak. The two snuck out of the hospital wing and began the walk back to their tower.

Remus looked to Lily, "So what happened? How is he?"

Lily gave Remus an odd look and was about to tell him before she thought of something. She stopped, causing Remus to stop with her, then turned to him. "I will tell you, but you must swear to me that this will stay between us."

Remus frowned at this, but he would not tell James, Sirius, and Peter anyway because it would have meant that he'd lied to them. He really did not want to cause a row. He let out a small sigh before swearing not to tell anyone.

Lily and Remus resumed walking, but at a quickened pace because they were talking and might be heard. "Alright, Severus is very sick, but he will get better. He has a muggle disease called pneumonia and it took a bit to figure out what it was because it's not common among wizards. He a bit weak, so he cannot do much studying, but he will need to all the notes we can get for him for when he gets better."

Remus eyes went wide at the mention of pneumonia; he was suddenly very worried for Severus. He thought maybe it was because of Lily; she obviously cared for the boy, even if she had stopped talking. Remus did not have the heart to tell Lily that out of the 12 reported cases of pneumonia he knew of all, all except one young witch did not make it.

"I'm sorry Lily this must be hard for you to take." He placed a hand on her shoulder in an attempt to comfort her.

Lily looked at him with a tear rolling down her cheek. "Thank you, I know rationally that he might not make it. You did not see him, he was so pale and so warm." Lily sighed and stopped in front of the Fat Lady's portrait. She looked to Remus, who had stopped beside her. "I have to hope though, I have to be strong for him. If I had of stuck by him, this would not have happened. It would have been caught before he came back to school."

Remus did not understand what Lily had meant by her last statement, but he just let it slide. He wiped the tear from he cheek, "Lily you will be strong, and don't worry. Severus will make it. If he can contend with the marauders for six years, he can beat this."

Lily gave a small smile and nodded at Remus, "Thank you," she said before looking to the Fat Lady, still under the cloak. "Heartstring."

The portrait swung open and allowed entrance, but called after them, "One day you children are going to get caught, even if I can't see you."