Disclaimer: I do not own the world of Harry Potter. I'm just borrowing for a while. I will return them but I can't promise they will be whole.

Chapter Two

It had only been a few hours, but it had been the longest and most terrible day in Lily's whole life. Sleep was proving elusive. She slipped out from her bed and pulled on a nightgown over her nightdress. The quarters Dumbledore had given them were small but cosy. There was a bedroom and a living area. All the necessities were provided for and if she had been there for more pleasant reasons she really would have enjoyed returned to the castle she had regarded as home for seven years. In an attempt to distract herself from her waking nightmare she pulled out a dusty tome from the bookshelf in the corner. She settled herself down on the most comfortable looking armchair and started to read. The words just swam in front of her eyes and a half an hour passed without her getting passed the third page. She couldn't bring herself to return to her bed and her husband. Instead, she resolved to wander the corridors of the castle in search of the kitchens. She could just summon an elf to provide a warm cup of cocoa, but she fancied the walk. She couldn't bear the idea of tossing in her bed again. The corridor was deserted and she made her way slowly to her destination. The Headmaster had placed them near the Gyrffindor common room and the kitchens were the far side of the castle. She smiled wistfully at the portrait of the Fat Lady, who was snoozing. Hogwarts was the same as it ever was and that was a comforting thought. Her world had changed overnight. The world had seemed such a magical place when she had begun Hogwarts at the age of eleven. It was hard to leave her family behind, but she had her best friend with her. Friends forever, they had promised. She should have known it would all turn sour when they were sorted into different Houses. She had just turned a corner when she nearly walked into the Headmaster. He gave her a quizzical look.

"I couldn't sleep," she explained.

He looked concerned and a little sad at her revelation. "That's to be expected I suppose. I can get Severus to whip up a sleeping draught for you in a jiffy," he offered.

Her forehead wrinkled in confusion. "Severus Snape is here?" It was odd, she had just been thinking about him.

"Haven't you heard?" Dumbledore gave her a kindly smile. "He is our Potions master."

For the first time in the last terrible twenty four hours she couldn't help a snort of laughter. The thought of her former best friend having the patience to teach "imbeciles" Potions was too much.

Dumbledore' eyes were twinkling and he raised a brow.

Lily gave a little smile. "I'm sorry. I'm just surprised. He's brilliant, but not really a people's person." Her face took on a more serious expression as she reflected on the differences that drove them apart. A polite cough from the Headmaster brought her from her reverie.

"Would you like me to get a potion for you?"

She shook her head. "I'm going to get some cocoa from the kitchens. I could do with the distraction to be honest. If I still can't sleep tomorrow night I might take you up on the offer. I know I could make one myself but I can hardly concentrate at anything at the moment and besides nobody makes a potion like old Sev."

Dumbledore excused himself and Lily continued on her way thinking about the idea of being in the same building as her old friend again. He mustn't have joined the Death Eaters after all, if he was hired by Dumbledore. With the benefit of hindsight she could see she had been a little harsh with him despite her uneasiness about his choice in friends other than her.

Lily was tired when she awoke the next morning. She only managed two hours. Their breakfast was delivered with a note from the Headmaster. Dumbledore had guessed rightly that neither she nor James would be able to face the whole school. They sat down at the table together but they exchanged barely more than a couple of words. She could hardly look at him. She knew rationally that he was hurting just as much as she was. Nevertheless, she could not help but wonder what would have happened if he had been there. She knew that even if James had been there more than likely the result would have been the same. Voldemort would just have taken out the whole family but the question was still there in her mind and in his mind too.

"It's not your fault," she whispered.

James ran his fingers through his hair. "I should have been there."

She couldn't argue with that.

It was well past midnight and Dumbledore was awating news from the Death Eaters. His spy had been summoned hours earlier and he had heard no word yet. Dumbledore was about give up and retire for the night when Severus Snape stumbled in the door.

"Headmaster." Severus looked terrible. "The Longbottom boy is dead too. The Dark Lord brought word but he didn't mention the parents."

"Oh Tom, what have you done?" Dumbledore had seen this coming but he had hoped that all precautions taken might save the child. It was unlikely the family had survived. He turned his attention to the broken man in front of him.

The young man was clearly shaken. "I don't want to do this anymore."

"You have to." Dumbledore tone brooked no argument. "You owe those poor children that."

Snape bowed his head. "I know, but it's hard."

To be continued.

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