I don't own Harry Potter.

Thank you to everyone who reviewed this story: TheDarkCorner, Saramagician, Loveandpower, and guests.

I'm glad everyone convinced me to continue with this story, because I'm having a lot of fun with it, and I'm happy how the story is playing out.

Lily tried to apologize, but the two times she went to Severus' house, he didn't answer her knock. Either he wasn't home or he just didn't want to talk to her, which she could understand.

Lily stood in the dark on Severus' stoop for a moment, listening to the insects buzzing, then she sighed. She needed a drink.

She appeared in front of the little muggle pub that she had grown to love these past few weeks. It's name was simple and explanatory: The Bar.

Lily pushed open the door and plopped into a stool at the counter, and gave the bartender her order.

While he made up her drink, Lily looked around. She always liked observing muggles. She watched three men who were playing cards arguing for a minute, then her eyes landed to a man in the corner in the shadows who was obviously very drunk. He was talking to the chair opposite him as if it contained a person, babbling mindlessly.

Lily gave a little gasp of surprise as she recognized him; the reason Severus didn't answer the door was not because he didn't want to talk to her, but because he was here drinking his mind out.

She leapt up from her stool, and went over to him. He looked at her, but was apparently so drunk he didn't recognize her. There were many shot glasses on the table in front of him, and there was a wet spot on the front of his shirt that indicated that he had missed his mouth when he was bringing a glass up to his lips.

"Severus, I want to talk to you," Lily said, pulling a chair over and sitting next to Severus.

"You know," Severus slurred. "I did a really bad thing."

"Yes, and so did I," Lily said quietly, but Severus wasn't listening.

"I am going to kill myself." Severus stated matter-of-factly. "I don't deserve to live. I tried to talk to Lily, and then I cursed her."

Severus got to his feet, stumbled, and fell to the ground. Lily jumped up and bent besides him. She grabbed his arm, and pulled him up.

"Severus, you DO deserve to live. You are the bravest person I've ever met."

"I'm going to kill myself."

"No, you're not!" Lily said.

Severus pulled his arm out of her grip, then fell to the floor, where he passed out.

"You need help with him?" the bartender smirked as he watched Lily drag Severus to the front door.

"No, I got it," Lily panted.

"You want me to call a cab or something?"

"I said I can take care of it," Lily snapped.

"Alright, alright, I'm just trying to help."

When Lily got Severus outside onto the sidewalk, she dragged him into an alley where no muggles could see them in the deep shadows, and apparated to Spinner's End, where she had just left about half an hour ago.

Lily was relieved to find Severus' front door open, and pulled in through the door. When they were inside, she used her wand to float him into his bedroom. She pretty much remembered the layout of the house from the one time she had come when she was a child.

She hadn't seen Severus for a few days, and she was worried about him. They were twelve. When she knocked on the door, a plain sallow faced woman answered the door, and Lily cowered under her cold gaze. The woman, Severus' mother, had directed her to Severus' room. Lily knocked on the door, and Severus asked, "Who's there?"

"It's Lily," she had said. "I came to see you. Where have you been?"

"Lily, don't come in!" Severus had said hastily.

"Why not?"

"Just go, please." Severus sounded strained.

Despite Severus' pleas, she opened the door, and saw Severus sitting on his bed with a book in his hand. He quickly covered his face, but Lily pulled his hand away. His face was bruised, his lip swollen and his left eye sported a brilliant purple-blue color.

"What happened, Sev?" Lily asked softly, but Severus didn't answer. Instead, he turned away from Lily.

"Tell me, Sev," Lily demanded. "Was it those boys again, who always make fun of you?" she pulled him around to face her, and saw tears winking in her best friend's eyes.

"Sev. It's okay. I'll beat them up." Severus gave a small smile, and Lily hugged him tightly.

"Now come on. Let's go to the woods." Lily grabbed Severus' hand and pulled him up, leading him out of the dreary house and into the bright sunshine.

His room looked exactly as it had all those years ago; the same dark heavy oak furniture, the same old curtains.

Lily landed him on the bed, pulled off his shoes and tucked him in. She looked down at his tired face; he looked at least ten years older then he was; worry lines ran across his face, and Lily even saw a grey hair or two. But beneath it, she could pick out the old Severus. The laughing, smiling boy who played with her in the woods, who only showed his true self to her. To everyone else, he was just a strange, quiet boy who wore weird clothes and loved books too much.

Lily closed the door behind her, and headed toward the living room. She laid down on the couch, and tucked her knees up to her chin. She was determined to stay the night, and make sure Severus was okay in the morning. Then she would talk to him.

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