A/N: Many thanks again to Sindie and Rose (Alethea27) for taking time out of your busy lives to beta this fic. You guys are the best. All remaining mistakes are mine as I do the final edit. Also, thank you to everyone who is reading, alerting and leaving reviews.

Chapter 11

The large ornately carved doors opened with a screech as Severus stood in front of them. Lily stepped into the foyer behind him and looked around. The large circular room was lit by what looked like old fashioned Muggle gas lamps, but she was sure these ran on magically produced fire, like the torches at Hogwarts. The room was a brilliant white and had a huge fireplace with a intricately carved mantle and was directly across from the front door. It was surely large enough to easily accommodate Hagrid. The fireplace was flanked by two curving staircases that led up to the second floor. There were doors on each side of the foyer leading to unknown rooms. Lily glanced down at the floor and saw a distinct swirling spiral pattern in the marble. Runes were beautifully carved into the spiral pattern.

Severus followed her gaze downward, "Protective runes. It's like this in all the rooms or at least the one I have seen. They are around all the floo entrances also."

"Your ancestors weren't paranoid or anything, were they?" Lily asked cheekily.

"I think all the purebloods tend to err on the side of caution," Severus replied, shifting Harry to his other arm. "Bobbin! Stitch!" Severus barked, pushing Harry's hand away as the baby once again tried to grab his nose. There were two loud pops, and a pair of house-elves appeared at Severus' feet. Both were wearing clean, pressed cobalt blue pillow cases embroidered with the same crest that had been on the exterior gate.

"Master Severus!" The smallest house elf squeaked, practically dancing on the spot. "Master Severus has come back! And Bobbin sees Master Severus has brought Young Master also!"

Severus's dark eyes snapped to the baby in his arms, and he quickly placed Harry into Lily's hands. "No," Severus responded silkily, glaring at the house elf. "This is my friend and her son. She is to be afforded every privilege, and the both of you are to obey her as you would me."

The elves' large eyes widened, and they nodded emphatically, their large bat-like ears flopping in the air. The house-elves popped away.

"How many rooms are there, Sev?" Lily asked as she studied a spot above the fireplace that was slightly whiter than the surrounding walls. A picture of some sort had hung there. She looked around and saw several more vacant areas on the walls in the room.

"I have no idea," Severus said, walking toward the staircase, "Feel free to explore and let me know. There is a large library and a potions lab. I believe there is a pond somewhere on the grounds, several walled gardens, and a Quidditch pitch."

"The house-elves seem to like you," Lily commented, following him up the stairs.

"I suppose," Severus replied, stopping on the first landing in front of two large doors. "This is the library. I am sure you will enjoy it." He pointed to the other three rooms on the floor. "The one to the left is a study. I am not sure what is behind the other doors."

Severus continued up the stairs with Lily trailing close behind. "I know the house has three floors, plus a cellar and attic. The potions lab in the cellar." He stopped on the third floor landing and turned to Lily. "There are countless bed chambers; I am sure you can find something to suit you and Harry. My rooms will be at the end of this hall."

Lily scowled at the moody man as he continued down the hall to his rooms and slammed the door. Lily looked down at Harry in her arms. "Well, I wonder what has his knickers in a twist?"

Harry just giggled in reply, bouncing happily in his mother's arms.

"Well, we might as well find a room. I suppose I'll have to transfigure something into a crib for you and then we can get one of the house-elves to bring us something to eat," Lily said to Harry, tickling him under his chin, causing him to laugh even more.

Lily opened the first door on her right, made a face, and slammed it shut. It was decorated in various shades of purple and would not do at all. Lily had seen enough purple to last a lifetime. The next room was red, and Lily was quite sure it looked like the boudoir of an expensive French whore, but would hex her own mouth shut before she would tell Severus as much. The next was a pea soup green, reminding Lily of a swamp, and the wardrobe was rattling rather ominously, so Lily quickly shut that door and locked it with her wand. Lily moved down a few rooms closer to Severus' and cracked open the door. This room was a soft white with muted gold accents. The carved white canopy bed had beautiful gossamer curtains. Lily slipped off her shoes and let her tired feet sink into the fluffy white rug. A small fire sprang to life in the fireplace as she ventured farther into the inviting room. A set of French doors led out onto a balcony that looked out over a small pond surrounded by large willow trees. There was a door off to the right that opened into a matching bathroom with a large oval tub and a vanity. But what made the room even more perfect was what Lily found behind a door just to the left of the wardrobe. It was a nursery done in the same white and gold. A charmed mural depicted moving scenes from The Tales of Beetle the Bard. Hanging from the white canopy over the crib was a mobile consisting of several owls in mid-flight. Another door led back into the hallway. Magical toys sat along several shelves to the right. There was even a white and gold toy Hippogriff; it was very similar to a Muggle rocking horse, except that it could move on its own. Everything looked so unused, even the toys, Lily couldn't help but wonder whose rooms had it been. Harry squawked and reached for a stuffed white owl on one of the shelves. Lily pulled it down and examined the toy. It looked safe for Harry to play with, so she gave it to him. Harry grinned and grabbed the bird in a fierce hug.

Lily stepped back into the main bedroom, sat Harry on the fluffy carpet, and began pulling things out of her bottomless bag, grateful she'd had the foresight to pack some of the things she and Harry might need if they had to leave Godric's Hollow suddenly. The Undetectable Extension Charm had certainly proven itself useful.

Several hours later, after a tasty dinner provided by the very excitable house elves, Harry was sleeping soundly in the nursery, and Lily was taking advantage of the beautiful bath, which had some of the same faucet options as the prefects' bathroom at Hogwarts. She lay back in the bathtub, letting the thick aromatic bubbles surround her. She left the bathroom door open halfway so she could hear Harry if he woke, which was unlikely because he was a rather heavy sleeper. Lily jumped, splashing water and suds onto the floor as she heard movement in the bedroom.

"Lily?" Severus voice called out.

Lily relaxed back into the bathwater, closing her eyes. "In here, Severus."

Lily heard the bathroom door open farther behind her, and the cooler air from the bedroom billowed into the steamy room. She heard Severus halt suddenly when he realized she was in the bath. Lily didn't have to see him to know his cheeks were likely glowing red as he stammered a nearly inarticulate apology.

"Oh, Sev, don't be silly, I'm covered up to my neck in bubbles. Could you please sit and talk with me? Pull out the stool from the vanity."

"I came to apologize for being so short with you when we first arrived. I should not have acted that way toward you. It had nothing to do with you or Harry."

Lily glanced over her shoulder at him; he was hunched over, elbows resting on his knees, looking completely miserable.

"It's okay, Sev. I'm accustomed to your mood swings," Lily said, smirking at him.

They sat in silence for a few moments, Lily absently chewing on her bottom lip. Lily turned slightly in the tub to see Severus. "What did Dumbledore say about James and Sirius leaving Godric's Hollow?"

Severus quirked his eyebrow at her abrupt question. "Only that they had volunteered for a mission for the Order."

"Dumbledore didn't tell you whole truth about why James wasn't at Godric's Hollow. I asked him not to because I wanted to tell you." Lily said as she leaned back in the tub again, clenching her hands around the sudsy bath sponge. She glanced over at Severus, who was looking at her with a puzzled expression.

Lily turned away from him and pulled her knees up to her chest. "Things have not been exactly great between James and me for a while now. Not since before Harry was born, in fact, and having a near omnipotent, power hungry, dark overlord hounding us hasn't helped." Lily sighed, "James and I decided to go our separate ways for awhile. That's why he was never home and then took the Order mission, knowing he would be gone for a bit, and it would have raised less suspicion than if we suddenly took to living in separate houses."

Lily heard Severus shift slightly on the stool and clear his throat, "Whose idea was it to separate?"

"It was a mutual agreement. We argued constantly and made each other miserable. I know James loves me in his way, but things have changed for both of us. I'm not the trophy wife James thought he was getting. He can be unintentionally condescending, telling me what to do as though I can't think for myself. He and Sirius can be just as hurtful as Death Eaters, just with different opinions." Lily sighed, resting her chin on her knees. "He was also involved with Harry as little as possible. Sirius put in more time with him than James. I thought at first he was seeing someone else, but that wasn't the case."

"Did he ever hurt you?" Severus asked sharply.

"No, James would never lay a hand on me," Lily answered, shaking her head.

"I am sorry you were unhappy, Lily," Severus said softly.

Lily turned to him and smiled wryly. "I'm much happier now that I have my best friend back. I'll always have you, right?"

"Always," Severus replied, his lips curving upwards slightly.

To be continued...