They were given Thursday off from class. It was the first truly beautiful day of spring. The sun was bright and warm. There were clouds, but they were huge and fluffy. Severus was sitting near a huge tree close to the water's edge. Sybil had promised to have Lily meet him there. His nerves were attempting to get the best of him, but he knew he had to talk to her now or run the risk of losing her forever.

He heard footsteps coming toward him. Severus put his hand against the tough bark of the tree to steady himself as he peered around. Smiling, he saw Lily walking towards him. Her hair was being whipped about by the warm breeze and she laughed as she made eye contact with him, her hand darting up to stop the strands from getting into her mouth.

"Hi," Lily smiled as she adjusted her muggle shirt with a rainbow on it before she sat down next to him.

"Thanks for coming. I was a bit worried you wouldn't." Severus shrugged.

"That's just silly! Why wouldn't I come talk to you?" Lily furrowed her brow and looked at him like she had no idea about what he was referencing.

"Lily…" He dropped his eyes to his shoes and began kicking up the dirt a bit.

"What is it?" Lily leaned forward a bit to get a better look at his face.

"You've been acting odd." Severus allowed the words to spill from his mouth as fast as he could form them.

"I have not! That's absurd!" Lily laughed as she shook her head.

"So you ignored Sybil and I for like two months on purpose then?" His eyebrows shot up.

"Oh please! You're exaggerating! It has NOT been two months, more like two days." Lily shook her head.

"No, I'm not exaggerating. You can ask Sybil, it's been two months." Severus couldn't believe she hadn't been phased by going so long without talking to the two people she boasted were her best friends.

"Well, I didn't mean it." Her shoulders dropped. "I've just been busy with homework and preparing for OWLS."

"You ignoring me hasn't had anything to do with the lies James Potter is spreading about me and dark magic then?" Severus rose one eyebrow. Suddenly she pulled her gaze away from him and her cheeks grew pink.

"I don't know what you're talking about." She began plucking grass up one blade at a time.

"Really? Then why do you look like the cat who ate the canary?" Severus was stunned she would sit there right in front of him and actually lie to his face.

"Okay, so I heard something about it." Lily shrugged. "But I know you so I know it's all lies."

"Really, Lily?" Severus' voice grew a bit louder. "So, you've been defending me then have you?'

"I don't have to defend you! Anyone with a brain in their head knows you aren't some dark wizard!" Lily laughed.

Severus forced himself to keep quiet for a moment. He had to. He lifted his eyes and scanned the scenery. Birds flying, bugs buzzing, the wind blowing over the rolling hills. Severus closed his eyes and inhaled deeply allowing the fresh air to wash over him and hopefully calm him down, at least a little.

"Lily, they're making my life a living hell here." Severus finally confessed.

"You're being a bit dramatic, Severus." Lily shook her head, smoothing some strands and tucking them behind her ear.

"Walk a mile in my shoes and then tell me that." Severus mumbled. "I'm trying, Lily, I really am. But they're always doing something to me. They're constantly threatening me. They want us to stop being friends."

"They don't care WHO I'm friends with, Severus. It seems like YOU are the one who has an issue with who my friends are." Lily pressed her mouth into a small circle.

"WHAT!?" Severus cried out in disbelief. "Were you not the one James left crying at the Halloween ball, or was that some other Lily?"

"Okay, yes, he did that. I'm not taking up for him. I'm just telling you he hasn't said one word to me about you. But YOU are always talking about him!" Her hands were flying about, he could tell she was getting angry at the turn of their conversation.

"Lily, please listen to me!" Severus begged.

"Severus, you need to get over this okay? I was sorted into Gryffindor. I can't help I wasn't sorted with you, and I know that's what you're angry about." Lily sighed.

"No, that isn't why I'm angry. I'm angry because one day we're best friends and the next you don't know I exist. I'm angry because I'm having lies spread around the school about me which is leading my stuff to be destroyed not to mention I keep getting hurt! I'm angry because you're defending him instead of standing up for me! I'm angry because I keep putting up with everything because I'm scared of chasing you away. I'm angry because I know that all of this is going to end up making me a person I don't want to be!" Severus stood up. "I'm not going to sit back and take this abuse for another five years here!"

"Severus, sit down!" Lily commanded. "You need to calm down." Lily's eyes darted around making sure no one had heard his outburst.

"I had to tell you. That's all." His anger was gone, and he was a bit ashamed of himself.

"You won't turn into someone you don't want to be unless YOU choose to turn. Do you understand me? I'm your friend, I will always be your friend. Okay? "Severus lifted his eyes and locked onto hers, then she said the words he had prayed he would never hear her utter. "You're like my brother, Severus."

"Yeah." His heart felt like it had dropped into his shoe.

"Anyway," Lily changed the subject with ease. "Sybil is still talking about your tea leaves. Has she told you?"

"Those stupid tea leaves." Severus grumbled. "No, I told her I didn't want to hear any more of that nonsense. I don't believe that she can see my future in some wet leaf flakes."

"She is pretty convinced, Severus." Lily shrugged.

"I don't care how convinced she is. She's my friend and all but I don't think she's right." He didn't want to hurt Sybils' feelings but he really didn't want to hear about some girl who hadn't been born.

"She's pretty convincing, Severus. I would hear her out. She knows a lot of details, the weird part is though after she told me she couldn't remember anything she said." Lily chewed her lip. "I don't know what that means."

"I don't want to hear her out, besides Professor Dumbledore said a man shouldn't know too much about their future." Severus crossed his arms over his knees as he drew them to his chest.

"Sybil said you met the girls' mother." Lily giggled.

"Oh, gods." Severus slammed the palm of his hand into his face. "Don't tell me anymore."

"Okay, I promise." Lily laughed.

He was glad he had the chance to speak with her and clear the air.