A/N: Sorry once again for the ridiculously long wait. This chapter does a bit of backtracking in order to follow the other characters for a moment. But now that everyone's story is caught up, we can finish up this lovely story in the next chapter (hopefully). Hope you guys enjoy!

Quick side note – I know there is a lot of disagreement over when Sirius played his prank on Severus, but for this story alone, I'm assuming it took place in late November to early December of their fifth year.

Despite the fact that Hogwarts would be talking about this night for years to come, Severus couldn't help but wish he were anywhere else. Instead of joining the frolicking mass of bodies around the food table or dance floor, he sat in a darkened corner near the back of the room sulking. Lily was still mad at him. Again. She'd made that perfectly plain by coming to Slughorn's party with the bloody werewolf. It could be worse, he assured himself, she could have agreed to come with Potter. Yet judging from the glares the messy haired boy was shooting his friend, it seemed as if Potter had also been shafted.

Severus still wasn't entirely certain why he decided to even show his face. Without Lily by his side, he had absolutely no one to talk with. If he was honest with himself, the only reason he could provide for coming was in hopes that he would be able to catch her alone and apologize once again, but he was so rarely honest with himself. And thus far, he hadn't had the opportunity to talk with her.

"Hey Severus," an odd voice said drawing the lone boy from his thoughts.

"Oh, hey Reg," Severus replied as the other sat down in the chair next to him.

"Didn't expect to see you here," commented Regulus Black leaning back in a bored fashion.

"That makes two of us," Severus snorted. "I'm surprised you showed."

Regulus shrugged. "Slughorn promised to introduce me to the head of the Auror department if I showed up. Figured it couldn't hurt to start rubbing elbows with all the right people."

"How'd it go?"

"He's a real tosser," Regulus smirked.

For the first time that evening, Severus found himself with something close to a smile on his face. "Lucius has mentioned him a few times. Never anything good."

A long moment of silence passed between the two. Severus found himself watching Lily dance with Lupin. A thick feeling curled in his stomach as she laughed at something the werewolf said. How had he managed to screw things up this time? He'd done everything he could to make Lily happy. He'd distanced himself from the Slytherins she believed to be so bad, he'd refrained from egging on Black and Potter all semester, he'd even stopped his frequent discussions with Lucius concerning the youngest Malfoy's benefactor.

He might have sat brooding for the remainder of the evening, but it seemed as though silence was too boring for Regulus. "So why are you brooding alone in the dark?"

It was Severus's turn to shrug, he certainly didn't want to discuss this issue with Regulus. Unfortunately, Black was more observant than he'd have liked. Noting Severus's gaze, a knowing look pulled its way across Regulus's face. "You and Evans fighting again?"

Closing his eyes tightly at the intrusion of privacy, Severus gave the smallest of nods.

"Tough break. Want to talk about it?"

"Not particularly."

Apparently undaunted by Severus's dour mood and snappish comments, Regulus continued. "You know something is going to have to give before long," the younger boy said sternly. "You can't follow him and continue pursuing Evans."

Severus refused to respond for several beats as Regulus's words gnawed at his heart. In the end he settled on a sneer. "You're one to talk Black. Haven't you spent the majority of this year following your worthless brother around like a lost puppy."

Regulus bristled. "Unlike you I have the benefit of being a pure blood. You don't even have that much going for you. And without Malfoy's good word no one in Slytherin would give you the time of day. So, before you go around insulting those trying to help you, it might behoove you to remember where you stand."

With that the proud boy walked away leaving Severus feeling even worse than he'd originally imagined possible. Regulus wasn't a bad sort, but mentioning his brother usually resulted in souring the young man's mood. Placing his head on his arms Severus fell even deeper into his depression. He hadn't meant to anger Regulus like that, he just didn't want to hear the truth concerning his relationship with Lily.

He knew one day he would have to choose between her or the Dark Lord and the choice was an obvious one. Severus simply hoped he would be able to find some power and make a name for himself before he chose her. Because if he didn't have anything to offer her then why would she want him?

Raising his head back up he saw that the wolf and Potter had disappeared, leaving Lily to sit and laugh with Sirius Black. Anger and despair filled Severus unlike anything he'd experienced before. She'd rather spend time with that travesty of a human being that with the person who was supposed to be her best friend.

He knew that he'd screwed up more times than he deserved forgiveness for, but had he really sunk that low in her view? That she'd rather spend time with the boy who'd almost killed him for a laugh – not that she knew that of course. However, she did know that he and Sirius harbored a deep dislike for each other. Yet there she sat, joking around with yet another Marauder.

For the briefest of moments her gaze fell on him and Severus's breath caught in his chest. Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly letting him know she was still mad, but it was the pity he caught in her expression that officially pissed him off. He loved Lily Evans with every piece of his heart and soul, he would never question that, but he was done catering to her every whim.

Finally fed up with the evening, Severus strode from the party. In the empty corridors he decided that she could stay mad this time. He had no idea what he'd done wrong and until she was prepared to meet him halfway, she could hang on to that anger. Fuming as he was, he didn't notice the dangerous direction of his steps until it was too late.

Needing time to clear his head, he'd taken the long way back to his dormitory. Which took him to the stairs leading to the seventh floor, which meant he'd stepped right into the path of Sirius Black and an irate James Potter.

"Well this should make you feel better Prongs," Black sneered. "Look who's decided to join us."

Potter's expression darkened into something feral that made Severus's knees shake. If he was lucky, he might be able to make a break for it. Then again, luck had never really been his strong suit.


"Well that could have gone better," Lily sighed sinking down into the seat beside Sirius as Remus made to chase after James.

"Do you mean it went poorly?" her companion quipped making her wonder why she'd attempted talking with him in the first place.

"Is everything a joke to you?"

Sirius put on an affronted look as he leaned his chair back on two legs, "I'm serious all the time."

Rolling her eyes lily let out another sigh, fearing that she might be expressing herself in such a manner several more times before this was over. "Is Remus going to be in a lot of trouble over this?" she asked as worry for their mutual friend overrode her previous discomfort.

Sirius's confident expression faltered for the briefest moment before returning in full cocksure force. "Ehhh James will call off in a day or so. It's one of his better qualities. He's loyal to his friends regardless of how mad he can get."

"James Potter with a positive trait? Those words don't go together at all."

Letting out a bark like laugh, her almost friend responded. "Ahh come on Lily underneath all that arrogance he's actually a pretty good guy. Especially once you get to know him." The disbelieving glare she fixed on him forced serious to concede, "Okay so maybe he's no prince charming but hey we can't all be perfect. Some people have flaws or, so I hear it."

"Some people excluding you," she smiled.

"Obviously. Other people have a flawless I have endearing quirks."

The infuriating wink that followed his words did little to stem the smile she didn't want to appear on her face. Instead of giving in to her laughter, Lily attempted to redirect his ego. "Tell me, is it your huge ego weighing you down that keeps you from playing quidditch?"

"Intriguing theory, but no." A lazy grin spread across his face as he delivered another ridiculous answer. "Way I see is that I show everyone up at everything else, so I have to allow room for other people to shine. It's really a public service."

"I didn't realize you were such a good Samaritan."

"There's a lot you don't realize about me Lily I'm a complex man."

"You're unbelievable that's what you are."

"Don't I know it," He quipped with a wink. "Unbelievably handsome?" he attempted. "Or perhaps just unbelievably charming. Funny?" he tried once more after receiving little more than an eye roll from Lily. "Come on admit it Evans, you love me."

"I tolerate you there's a difference."

"Probably for the best," Sirius said with an exaggerated sigh. "You and I we can never be Lilly. The world is not ready for a love like ours."

"Go away."

"And leave a despairing damsel like yourself alone in her despair? Really I'm better than that."

To his credit he did actually manage to look offended at the mere idea. But she had just about reached her limit of how much Sirius she was able to take. "Now I know why I am normally so grateful Slughorn is unable to coerce you into coming to these things."

"Like he's ever had a party that was this much fun," Sirius objected.

Hating herself with every fiber of her being Lily had to admit that he was right. Slughorn's parties usually consisted of people milling about and eating a little small talk and then everyone heading in early. Tonight, people hadn't yet to stop dancing and everyone was having a fantastic time. She among them. Well almost everyone.

Glancing across the room she noted her best friend sulking in a dark corner completely alone and looking downright miserable. Something remarkably like guilt began to spread through her chest. Had he been alone all evening? She honestly wasn't certain. She'd been so absorbed in everything that was going on that she'd forgotten to be mad at him. And yet she couldn't force herself to go over and talk to him. As she watched him pull his head out of his hands, their eyes met. His despair meddled into something close to anger as she watched him turn away from her.

Keen eyed as always, Sirius noted her gaze. "You and ole Sniv still fighting then?"

"Don't call him that," Lily warned, her voice serious for the first time that night.

"Yes ma'am," Sirius responded with a salute.

"You're not nearly as funny as you think you are."

"And you're entitled to your wrong opinion. Look Lils, you're the decent sort and despite your attempts to blackmail me, your constant need to berate my remarkable sense of humor, and your blatant dislike of me, I rather like you."

"Thank goodness, now I can sleep easy at night."

Sirius continued as if she hadn't spoken at all. "But the thing is, you associate with some unsavory characters and by some, I mean one in particular."

"Is this the part where you admit to being a bad person and promise to leave me alone?" She asked wistfully

Again, he ignored her interruption. "And by one in particular I mean Snape." He winked at her as he said the other boy's name and not their horrid nickname. "Thing is you're better than him in pretty much every way."

"Shut it Black," Lily responded as she rose to her feet, but a hand on her arm stopped her.

For the first time ever, Lily saw something like actual concern and maturity reflected in Sirius Black's expression. It startled her so much that she allowed him to finish speaking. "Seriously Lily," he continued without a hint of humor. "The people he hangs around with, the agenda they want to push... Its dangerous stuff for you. They might not bother you too much right now, but if he keeps going down that road..." Sirius let his voice trail off as his words soaked in.

Floored by the fact that Sirius Black was worried about her, Lily could do nothing but nod in response.

Anything she might have said in return was lost as James Potter came stalking angrily back into the room. "Hey Prongsy," Sirius attempted. But his smile was met by nothing but a scowl. "Where's Moony?"

Obviously, James hadn't noticed Lily standing right beside Sirius, because he let loose an exceedingly uncharacteristic (at least around her) stream of swear words at the mention of Lupin's name. "I don't know where the thieving bastard ran off to."

"Whoa whoa Prongs," Sirius interjected. "Let's settle down and not get carried away. Moony did Lils here a solid and there's no reason for you to be a total prick about it."

"So, you're taking his side then?"

"I'm not taking sides, but you don't get to be a complete ass to Moony just because you can't hold your liquor," Sirius hissed desperately trying to keep James from flying off the handle in front of everyone else.

"Whatever," James huffed. "Thought I could at least count on my best friend." With that the angry teen turned on his heel and walked from the room once again.

Running his fingers through his hair, Sirius sighed and shot a sheepish grin at Lily. "I promise that the good stuff is there, it's just buried."

"Very deep apparently," Lily replied. "So, do you want Remus or James?" Before he could answer she through a finger to her nose and shouted "not it. Looks like you've got James!"

With that she fled from Slughorn's party as well. She didn't notice the lopping grin across Sirius's face or the bark like laugh as he took off after her. But as she went in search of the thoughtful Marauder, Lily couldn't help but admit to herself that perhaps Sirius Black wasn't as bad as she'd always thought.

A/N: Thank you so much for reading! The next chapter should be the reconciliation of all plot lines and the end of this story. I don't exactly know when that chapter will be published, but hopefully it will be up within the next month or two. (Sorry again, I know that's quite the wait. But this story is one of like five so time issues and all that)! If you enjoyed please feel free to leave me a comment/review below. See you guys in the next chapter!