These characters do not belong to me. They were created by the amazing J.K Rowling.
This story is rated: M. Due to language and sexual content

AN: Quick update! Bet you thought I wasn't capable of one of those! Well, you can thank the fact that I'm on summer break! Enjoy!


CRAVE

"Rule breaking is never permitted here at Hogwarts, Freddie. You're in second year; you should know that well by now. I have no other choice."

"That's not even fair, he was the one who keeps hexing me and I'm getting in trouble for retaliating?"

"Mr. Lloyd will also be receiving detention with a span much longer than yours, if you must know. Hasn't anyone ever told you that you shouldn't fight fire with more fire?"

"Yes…"

"And do you know why that is?"

"Because you only get burnt."

"Exactly. If it's such an issue, take it up with your head of house. Though, I doubt their opinion will differ."

Freddie Newport marched down the corridor after getting that earful, he returned to his group of friends looking sour as possible. I sighed after his figure vanished with them. I couldn't help but feel guilty, knowing I would have done the same as him and I have in the past against a group I now found myself spending an awful lot of time with.

"Harsh, Evans. You could've let him off with a warning."

Spinning around brought me face to face with the self-proclaimed: Padfoot, accompanied by the one they called Moony. I stopped wondering about the story behind those peculiar pet names a long time ago.

"Rules are rules, Black. You know that."

"If I remember correctly, you used to hex ol' Prongsie every other day in fourth year. Don't remember you serving any detentions."

"You forgot to mention how he would harass me with declarations of love every other day in fourth year."

"Alright, Lily?" Remus greeted with a small smile, a cut on his cheek stretched in the process.

"Alright." I assured with a smile, his presence was a hell of a lot more tolerable. The other side of Sirius – the one I witnessed a week ago – was like a total solar eclipse; one hardly caught sight of it.

"Oh, come off it. It wasn't harassment! I'd call it expressing one's devotion to an extreme and eye catching level." Sirius extended his arms to the ceiling, continuing to waste my last bit of patience for the day.

"Are we done talking about Potter yet? I already see him enough of him as it is."

"Isn't that so." Sirius covertly reminded with a triumph in his voice. I attempted to remain cool due to Remus' perceptive senses accompanying the two of us. If we were alone, I would've gladly ripped his head off. His comments were getting under my skin.

"You thinking of heading to Hogsmeade this weekend, Lily?" Remus served a change of subject much to my satisfaction. Anything was better than discussing my many interactions with James Potter.

"I hadn't thought of it. Are many going?"

"Hell, yeah. Got to pay a visit to see my girlfriend." Sirius said while puffing out his chest concealed in his thick sweater.

"Girlfriend?"

"Don't get him going." Remus begged, placing a hand over his forehead.

"I'm talking about Rosmerta. Y'know who Rosmerta is."

"Yes, we're all familiar with Rosmerta." I muttered to his feet, sounding completely unimpressed. Rosmerta was The Three Broomstick's barmaid that every single bloke under the sun ogled at like hungry, drooling dogs. I even caught Sev gawking at her cleavage once in Third Year. I shook my head, hoping the memory would recede out of my bleeding conscience.

"Merlin's beard, she has the most amazing rack." Sirius recollected with stars in his grey eyes.

"How very charming of you, Black. I wonder what Marlene would say to that."

"She'd say nothing. She's too busy shacking up Aidan Toulson this weekend." Sirius shot the words out of his mouth like they were darts. He wore a neutral expression while meeting my eye.

"He asked her to Hogsmeade?" I muttered in disbelief. It did make sense, though. Marlene was a looker. Despite her hard shell, boys were pulled in. Why was I the last to know everything?

"I don't know and, on top of that, I don't really care." Sirius uttered in a genuine matter. His eyes showed no hint of jealousy. Though, the way one side of his mouth twitched lead me to believe there was more to it than just that.

"Sure sounds like it."

"I really don't. She's public goods." Sirius sniggered victoriously, his stare now focused on the ground.

"Excuse me, that's still my best friend you're talking about." I stepped forward; ready to make a hypocritical scene in front of the impressionable first years that scampered past us.

"Last weekend was fun, we should all do it again sometime." Remus shot in to defuse the tension – he obviously knew that the topic could only end in disaster.

"Didn't I tell you the Head Dormitories are key for parties? Next time we'll invite more birds." Sirius rubbed his hands together quickly in excitement. I rolled my eyes at the thought; he acted like he lived there too.

"Hey, Lily!"

"Great..." Sirius bellowed as Alton appeared out of virtually nowhere. Remus elbowed his arm to keep quiet as Alton approached the three of us. Alton met them with an untroubled smile.

"Alright, Remus? Sirius?" He questioned lightly without a shred of fear. Remus nodded at him in salutation. Sirius stared at him as if he sucked on a lemon prior to his arrival.

"Alright."

"Alright, Wesley? Rubbish at Potions, are you? What a shame. I always found Potions extremely easy." Sirius said with a smile that matched his friend. The condescending sound that left Sirius Black's lips erased Alton's chipper mood.

"We all got our weaknesses." Alton said, which I could vouch for. He was growing some stature through his stance as he pulled his shoulders back. Sirius looked at him up and down, seeming unimpressed with what he saw.

"I thought you got a Troll last year in Potions." Remus pointed out. "You're lucky Sluggie let you back in this year." Remus groused to his longhaired friend with a click of his tongue. It earned him a fist to the gut.

"So, what's it that you need, Wesley?" Sirius trilled, ignoring Remus as he rubbed his stomach.

"Nothing from you, Black." Whatever sweetness Alton usually had in his speech earlier was entirely gone. He turned to me.

"Do you have a minute, Lily?"

"Sure." I answered in hopes of saving him from Black's condemnation. We strolled behind a pillar out of Remus and Sirius' field of vision. When I looked over my shoulder, I could see that they were still there.

"Let's just get this out in the open. Will you go to Hogsmeade with me?"

"Hogsmeade?" I acted as if I never heard the place before. I was more surprised that he even asked me.

"Yes, are you free?"

"I'm not really…" I didn't know what excuse to offer him. The fifth year version of myself was belting a conquering anthem. I soothed myself with one, quiet, exhale. I was unable to meet Alton's buoyant eyes. I couldn't go to Hogsmeade with him. That would breach the arrangement.

"I'm not really sure." I began again.

"C'mon, Lily! You know we'd have a blast. We'll go anywhere you want." It saddened me watching him plea. It wasn't that long ago that I would've swallowed every foul tasting Bertie Bott's for such an opportunity. Things, however, were complicated.

"I just have a lot of homework and – "

"Homework can wait! Please, Lily. I'm dying to take you out." His remark brought a strong heat through my pores. How could I tell him that I couldn't go with him because of James Potter and a stupid, immoral arrangement?

"It's really important that I –"

"Alright, alright. I know better than to rush a girl. I'm not taking that as rejection, though. I'll be there at The Three Broomsticks on Saturday and I hope I see you there."

"Erm, alright. I'll try!" I finally got a sentence in and the answer seemed to please him.

"Good! I'll see ya!" He turned back in the direction where we left Sirius and Remus behind but I leaned against the pillar for a few moments, trying to collect and organize my buzzing thoughts.

"You're getting quite popular with the blokes these days." The voice stunned me in place like a lightening bolt. I thought for a second that my mind was playing tricks on me but when I turned the corner, I found Sev with a book in hand.

The hairs on my arms stood up stiff, just as the rest of my body went rigid. Of course, he would be eavesdropping. Some things never changed. I adjusted my composure, hoping my expression didn't reveal too many emotions. Even I didn't know what to feel.

"How are you?" He asked, his black eyes bolted upon my own. He possessed an air of someone who actually cared how I was. I could barely remember the last time we had an interaction similar to this.

"Fine." I kept it short. He nodded, looking as though he was happy to hear it.

"That's good." He toyed the spine of his Potions textbook, breaking contact with me for a few seconds.

"Is there something you want?" I snarled like a dog with raised hackles. It didn't scare him away, much to my distain. His free hand got lost in his trademark oily locks, trying to find the best answer he could put forward.

"I was just standing here when I overheard that –" He noticed my unimpressed condition and decided to correct himself. "I overheard Alton asking you to Hogsmeade." I bent a brow at him, unsure what I was supposed to reply to that.

"He looked like a right sod." Sev broke out into a grin. "Doesn't know when to shut up."

"I have to go." I ripped myself off the wall in a hurry but his cold hand caught my arm.

"Please don't go." The words sounded like sinking ships. I turned to take in the gesture of his face. Most days, when I would see Sev, those black eyes were joyless. He looked at things as if he was disappointed, he found nothing worthy through his gaze – but these eyes implored me to stay.

"What do you want me to say to you, Sev? We've been over this. We have nothing left to talk about."

"There's plenty to talk about. You know I'd do anything to have things back the way they were. I'm sorry I called you … a..."

"I'm not really sure why you decide to censor yourself around me when you and your friends talk about bloodtraitors and mudbloods on a daily basis." I scoffed, relaxing in his grip.

"Lils, you know I don't see you that way." He said with wide eyes, trying to force the truth of his intentions. I shook my head, feeling overwhelmed with the interaction. I had not prepared myself for this when I woke up today.

"That has nothing to do with this." I informed through a clenched jaw. He was never going to get it.

"Lils, please." He tried to pull me in closer, I kept my feet fused in place, I raised my forearm to eye-level, reluctant to his wrenching.

"And it's nice to know you notify your friends of our falling out." I shouted behind the barrier of our arms. I couldn't ignore the last time I saw him. The memory was as fresh in my mind as if it was still happening in front of me.

"How kind of Severus Snape to ignore my dirty blood ways." My parroting of the scene made him flinch. "Though, I am clearly undeserving of friendship, I push him away. Oh, the irony!" A panicked laugh left my mouth without consent. He squeezed my arm tighter.

"That's their point of view, not mine!"

"I don't care!"

He shook his head, looking exhausted with the conversation. "As if you've never talked about it with anyone." The snide laugh made the blood in my veins jolt.

"The funny thing is, I haven't. I don't waste my time." I clarified slowly due to the lack of brain cells he possessed. "Muliciber must be a great listener. " I underlined sarcastically. He was struck dumb. Strands of his shiny black hair draped over his face, as he grew more frustrated.

"I'm sorry." He stressed the apology, his grip continuing to tighten.

"I'm sure Avery gives the best advice on the matter."

"Can you please just talk to me?" His ashen colored fingernails pressed against my skin. The desperation was brimming over his black-orbed gaze. His persistence became exasperating.

"No." I refused, looking down at the tips of my dress shoes. My disappointment was apparent with the road he decided to walk down.

A rush of footsteps grew louder and louder until James wedged in between us. "Let her go." He demanded like a growl from a predator. Snape paused briefly, shocked and crossed with his arrival.

"Potter, for once in your miserable life, could you just butt out?" He snapped his mouth up and down like a nutcracker; the frown he wore seemed to fit easily into his face.

"Let go of her arm, you moron. I won't hesitate to knock you on your greasy arse." James warned before I could get a word in.

"Are you sure you can handle that task alone, Potter? You don't need your simpleminded friends? I know you prefer a four against one duel."

"I don't need my friends or a bloody wand to fuck you up."

James launched a fist directly at Sev's hooked nose; the action caused him to release his potion's textbook and me. He cradled half of his face with one pale hand while the dog-eared book slid against the stone tiles. There was a medley of my gasping and the shuffling of three pairs of feverish feet.

Severus ran straightforward, appearing similar to a high-speed train. The two of them collided, and then they meshed roughly. There were many swings but it was mostly pushing and shoving– It was happening so fast I could only make out two blurs.

"James, stop!" I bellowed for his attention. The two of them paused. Sev looked the most surprised.

"James now?" The question dropped out of his mouth like a wine glass hitting hard ground. I swallowed hard after sealing my lips. He took my silence harshly. "Is that right?" He attempted to confirm, a hysteric smile spreading across his face in cynicism.

"What the hell is your problem, Snivellus?" James spat; sounding almost identical to the bully he used to be.

"Sev, just leave." I breathed, as I motioned my eyes in the direction I wished he'd take.

"So, what I've been hearing is true." He murmured inside a laugh I could only compare as foul as acid. "You've become one of his secondhand tarts." He looked at me, shocked in his own revelation.

"Are you fucking mental?" I screeched. He already turned on his heels, grasping desperately for the book he lost. Clenching it close to his chest, he gave me one last glance before storming down the empty corridors with his shoulders hung heavy.

All I could see was his hunched back and his clenched fists before he whirled around the corner. My heart thumped shallowly in my chest when his dark figure vanished, seeing my best friend transfigure into a complete stranger.

The contact of warms hands around my arm brought me out of my despair. "Are you alright?" James' fingers were gentle when they traced the red marks Sev had left on me. The graze of his soft fingertips relieved the stinging for an instant. I craned my neck to eye him carefully, the concern in his vision made me anxious. I pulled back from him.

"I'm fine." I croaked unconvincingly. He tilted his head, displeased with my response.

"What?" I grumbled while rubbing my arm.

"I should kill that idiot." James stared down the path Severus had taken moments ago.

"You've done enough." I muttered under my breath. "Why the hell would you start a fight with him, Potter? Is it so hard to just walk away?"

"What?" His head snapped back in my direction. "He was holding you against your will. You think I'm just going to stand back and watch? Besides, you're the one who told me you liked when I kept Snape at bay." He justified with crossed arms, the frames of his glasses glistened playfully from flames of the wall torches.

"I don't like you punching him in the face." I informed sourly. "All he was trying to do was talk to me."

"You didn't want to talk, he wasn't listening, and thus, he gets punched in the face." Potter put it for me simply. He was tiresome to argue with so I sighed in retaliation. The stinging rose again, I stroke

"…Can I see that?"

"No."

"Looks red to me."

"Potter…"

"Just trying to help. Any other girl would be happy to have a bodyguard and a doctor all rolled into one. Do you? No."

I gave a short laugh before letting my arm drop. It wasn't like I was about to go to The Hospital Wing over a sore arm. I knew it wasn't Sev's intention to hurt me.

"Well, I'm different." I beamed a grin to relief the worry in him.

"Mm, you're special." He corrected loosely with a fond look imbedded through those hazel eyes. James' reached for my chin and stroked the side of my face lightly, after a few seconds; he moved my hair out of my face. I trembled with quaint bliss; he changed the mood entirely within a short time span. Fear evaporated into thin air and the incident was almost forgettable when I shared a gaze with him.

"Are you going to Hogsmeade?" He asked. His hand brushed off some unwilling, red strands off my cheek while he waited for my answer. His brown eyelashes framed over his bright eyes behind prescribed glass. God, he was handsome, I couldn't help from thinking. I parted my lips slowly while thinking of the most appropriate feedback.

"There's a possibility." I answered.

"I see." He said, the sides of his mouth tugged permanently in my presence.

"Are you asking me?"

"Would you say yes?" There was a tinge of hope strained in his slick voice.

"Nope."


Hope you guys enjoyed this quick update! The drama will only continue to unfold next chapter. I'd like to take the time to answer a recent question I've received!

Question:

Why would Lily be able to say the first L in "Lily" but not the second.

Answer:

It's easier to pronounce the first L in 'Lily' because the name and word LILY has two syllables with different pronunciations of the letter L. The beginning possessing a 'Le' sound and the ending holding a 'Lee' sound. Due to the 'y' at the end of the name, it could throw a young child off, especially one with a British accent. Thus, explains why Lily pronounced her name Licky as a child. Maybe I should've clarified this in the beginning.

Anyway...

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Thank you!