Updated 12/7/15

Once again, previous readers, please be aware that the events in this chapter have changed due to what the note Draco leaves Lily at the end of the last chapter which has also changed.

/ Lily /

I woke up glad to be home again.

Two days ago, Severus finally came home looking even more worn out than usual, but still fine. I guess if he's safe that's all that matters, right? So, when I heard more than one strained voice downstairs I got a little worried.

Slowly, I made my way out of my room careful not to make any noise. I walked down the end of the hallway, praying that none of the floorboards would creak to reveal me, and knelt down against the wall. Here, I could just barely peek over my shoulder and see the living room below me and hear everything anyone said.

"He's just a boy," someone whispered. A quick glance over my shoulder showed me that it was Narsicca Malfoy, Draco's mum.

"I can't change the Dark Lord's mind." The owner of that deep and melancholy voice obviously belonged to Sev.

A short pause followed before he says, "But, it may be possible for me to help Draco."

Draco? Oh, merlin, what's happened. Does this have to do with the other night?

I hear someone get up. "Severus-"

"Swear to it."

I have to stop myself from screaming right then and there. That, THAT was Bellatrix Lestrange.

There's another moment of hesitation before she continues.

"Make the unbreakable vow," she says.

Another pause. Bellatrix's breath becomes ragged.

"It's just empty words. You'll give it it's best effort when it matters most. He'll just slither back to his home. A coward," she hisses.

Then, the steady voice of Severus: "Take out your wand."

No. No. What're they making him swear to?

I hear her voice again. "Will you, Severus Snape, watch over Draco Malfoy as he attempts to fulfill the Dark Lord's wishes?"

"I will."

"No," I breathed.

"And will you, to the best of your ability, protect him from harm?"

"I will."

I can imagine them holding onto each other's arms as if holding onto dear life, grasping the other's sleeve tightly. I bet they're staring at each other now, searching for the truth that lay behind their eyes.

"And if Draco should fail, will you yourself carry out the deed the Dark Lord has ordered Draco to perform?" Her voice was barely audible, hardly a whisper.

"I will."

Running down the stairs, I already knew I was too late. But it didn't stop me from screaming my protests all the way down. The delightfully twisted look on Bellatrix's face was all the rage I needed. The pleasure she took in the events that just played out made me lunge at her.

I could see them let go of each other. Like pulling your hand back from a hot stove.

Everything happened so slowly, everyone was yelling things, but I couldn't hear them. Severus took hold of my arm, yanking me just short of reaching Bellatrix. As he held me back, I struggled to break out of his grasp, just dying to wipe the wicked smile off of her face. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Narsicca looking horrified. I thrashed around some more, vying to get loose, but eventually I gave up.

"What is she doing here?" hissed the evil witch.

There was a moment of silence before Severus spoke. "I'm her guardian."

The only sound that followed was the heavy breathing of Sev. Another couple of seconds went by before Bellatrix took two careful steps towards us. She took one of her claws and placed it beneath my chin.

"My Lord will be pleased to learn this."

I immediately ripped free from her grasp with a glare. With one last smile, she turned to exit, Mrs. Malfoy not far behind. And after a few seconds, I hear the front door slam close.

As soon as they were gone, I collapsed within Sev's arms, sobbing hysterically. "You can't let him do it. You can't-You can't let him. You can't. He told me, he told me, but I didn't understand."

I stayed there with Severus, letting it all out as he slowly rocked the two of us back and forth.

"I won't. I promise he'll be fine," he says quietly.

"But what about you? I can't let you do it either," I cried. "What will they do? I need you Sev, I need you."

He continued to hold me, but he didn't say anything more.

Later that day, the house and the parental figure inside it are like a stranger to me. What happened this morning phased us both, taking pieces of ourselves I'm not sure we'll get back. To compensate for the loss, we went about our plans for the day, pretending that things might be even the slightest bit normal.

I don't tell Severus about my engagement and he doesn't suspect anything. Yet, when I receive my OWL results, you can tell he's having a difficult time focusing.

"And, how did you do?" asks Sev.

"Oh," I say, skimming over the paper. "I got an O in everything but History of Magic. I got an E in that."

I set the papers onto the table after viewing my grades and watched as Severus took another sip of tea.

"What are those other papers for?" he asks.

"Just my supplies for this year and a letter informing me that'll I'll be returning as Quidditch Captain."

I didn't mention my letter of congratulations of being chosen as prefect. Severus, of course, was in charge of that decision, so it wouldn't be of news to him.

He nods. After finishing his drink, he excuses himself from the table and leaves. I hardly get a chance to speak to him and even when he's home, he keeps the conversation small to keep it from reaching unwanted topics.

"Severus," I stop him on his way out.

"Yes?" he says turning to me.

"Is it alright if I go out to Diagon Alley with Harry to get my things?"

Severus ponders this for a moment like he wasn't sure he wanted me gone. "Yes, you may go."

As soon as he says this, I rush my plate to the sink and hurry to get ready to go.

I'm with Harry, Ron, and Hermione when we step onto the streets of Diagon Alley. And what we see shocks us.

The alleyways are nothing but long shadows with walls littered with ministry warnings. Every other shop was vacant or shut down and some look like they've even been broken into. And despite it being time to get ready for school, the whole place was deserted.

We walk down the street for a while until we get to Madam Malkins where I see Draco and his mum getting fit for new robes. I try to catch his attention, but he doesn't look our way. I also notice that when Madam Malkin touches his left arm he jumps.

Only when she makes him turn does he see us.

"What're the lot if you doing here? Didn't think the Weasel could afford new clothes," Draco says with narrowed eyes.

"Think you're better than us? Just because you have a bit of money in your pocket?" Ron fires at him.

"Yes, in fact I do. That and a bit of blood. I think I'll be going. I don't want to be shopping at the same place as a mudblood, like Miss Know-It-All over here," he says back while stepping off a block.

"Malfoy, you little-" Harry says rushing up to Draco, wand drawn.

"Stop!" I yell at them, wrestling myself between my brother and best friend. "Harry, leave him alone."

I nab Harry's wand before he does anything drastic and see that Draco's is down at his side still. I look up at him with pleading eyes, but he turns away.

"Draco," Narsicca says.

I stare at her, playing out the scene at my house from this morning. I search her face for any sign of the desperate woman she was this morning, but she's hiding behind a wall.

"Let's go now."

I watch them as they leave making sure that Harry and Ron stay where they are.

"How could you defend him like that, Lily?" Ron asks once they're gone and Madam Malkin returns to the back.

"They're just words, Ronald," I say.

"Just words? He flat out insulted her!" Harry exclaims.

"Yes, that's all they are," I say to Hermione who's been quiet through it all, hoping she understands that it's not a label. Then, I turn my glare back at Harry. "You know he just likes to irritate you and he knows exactly how to do it. You just add fuel to the fire. Stop letting a little name calling turn into a full out duel and learn to be a little less childish."

Normally, I wouldn't go out of my way to stand up for Draco like that since he is typically the one to start it, but after what I know...

Harry doesn't say anything to me and just lets my words hover in the air. To get rid of the tension, Hermione suggests we go Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes. Today's their grand opening.

Approaching the shop, I can't help but smile. The whole place was practically a ray sunshine on a stormy night. The bright purple building was topped with a mechanical version of one of the twins on top doing magic tricks. Walking through the door proved that it was just as fun inside as it was out.

Everywhere kids were trying out various WWW's products, some throwing up due to puking pestals where as others walked across the walls while wearing sticky trainers. I laughed as I watched a doll made out to look like Dolores Umbridge unicycling across a tightrope and miniature fireworks that burst everywhere in the shop. And while Harry was examining some dark art charms, I saw Fred and George teasing Ginny about having a look at their love potions. It really was fantastic.

"Well, hey, babe," I hear Fred say as he comes over and slips in arm around my waist. "So, how do you like it?"

"Aw, Fred, it's amazing," I said looking up to him. "You and George did an incredible job with it." Despite everything going on, the place was packed with customers.

"Thanks, Lil," he says. That's when Angelina Johnson comes up to where we were and steals George away for a second. We watch as they talk together, smiling and laughing.

"So," I ask, motioning towards them, "how longs that been going on?"

"Those two? If you ask me, I think Georgie over there has had eyes for her ever since she roughed up some Ravenclaws on the Quidditch pitch our second year. But as of right now, I think they've only been on a couple dates since schools been out."

"I think they'd be a great couple. What's she doing now?"

"Don't know. She always wanted to stay involved with Quidditch, but for now, she's at home figuring things out."

"Yeah," Right now, finding a job in the wizarding won't be too easy.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Harry, Ron, and Hermione pointing at something outside.

"Hey, so I was wondering-"

"Whoa!" I let out as I'm whisked away and pulled under a cloak. "What're you doing?" I ask Harry who's pulled me under along with our friends.

"It's Draco. He's looking awfly suspicious, so we decided to follow him."

"Harry, give it a rest! Who's to say he's up to something?"

Instead of an answer, I get shushed by Ron.

Reluctantly, I follow them as they chased Draco around Diagon Alley all the way to Knockturn Alley until he stops at Borgin and Burkes, a sketchy sort of pawn shop that buys and sells rather interesting things.

"We can sneak in through the back," one of them says.

I laughed. "This is ridiculous. I'm staying right here."

Harry shrugged and said that they'll be back before setting off.

It's only a matter of a a couple minutes before I see the trio running around the corner.

"It's happened. Draco, he's done it. He's one of them, a death eater," he pants.

Behind him is Ron. "No way. He might be a bad guy, but he's not evil like that."

Hermione agrees with him. "It was a bluff. He's not that stupid."

Harry shakes his head. "You were there, you heard what he said."

I had a moment to keep myself from looking so shocked. "Oh, come off it. You know he's not. I would know. A death eater, really? He's only sixteen."

"Oh, yeah?" Harry challenges. He looks over Hermione and Ron. "They saw exactly what I did. When Borgin didn't do what Draco wanted, he shoved up the sleeve of his left arm and threatened him. He SAID that he was one of them."

I then put myself in Harry's face and as calmly as I could told him this: "Voldemort would be stupid to turn a mere boy into one of them; Draco'd be to busy bragging about it anyway. You know how easy it would be to fake a little tattoo like that? Very. Now, if you'd be kind enough to stop coming up with such childish accusations, and just try to get along with him, I'd be extremely grateful. Draco's said he'll try and be civil. Can you do that? No, of course not. And unless you can change, I guess I'll have to decide who I'll be spending my time with."

"You're saying you'll just drop me like that? For HIM? While I've been busy trying to protect the whole of the wizarding world, Draco's being inducted into his daddy's secret club."

"Get over yourself. You may be the one who lived, but so am I. You haven't been doing this alone. And concerning Draco... he's not a death eater." My voice came out steady, but I couldn't help but notice my voice shake on that last part.

Behind Harry, I saw Hermione figuring out what to say while Ron looked for an intelligent solution to all this. Then, I turned to leave. I was done with my so called brother.