Saturday morning found Lily pacing in anxious circles in the entrance hall waiting for Severus to arrive. He was already fifteen minutes late and that wasn't like him at all. She didn't know if it was that or the idea of apparating for the first time that was causing her stomach to tie its self in knots. She only knew every day she had grown a little more apprehensive about the whole disappearing and reappearing at will thing, and for once Severus was less than no help.

He continued to treat the idea of apparating appallingly casually. This might be in part because, as he had finally admitted to her yesterday, he had done a side-along with his mother over the summer. She had begged, pleaded and cajoled for information on the particulars of what his mother had done, what he had done, anything really. The only thing he had told her was apparating felt like being squeezed rather tightly. And he honestly didn't know anything more about it and could Lily please stop distracting him because he was trying to work on an antidote for Veritaserum.

Lily had been so distracted her own antidote turned out to be a disaster. Though thankfully not as big of one as Pettigrew's, which ate through his cauldron and seeped across the floor, causing the entire class to scramble onto their tables to avoid the black goo oozing its way across the floor. In the end, Severus had saved her from getting a T on the project by thrusting a bezoar into her hand, telling her it would work in a pinch. Slughorn had laughed uproariously, praised her for her cheek and awarded her an O. Not surprisingly, Severus was the only person in class who had managed to turn out a perfectly brewed antidote. Probably because he was the only one in class who fully understood Golpalott's Third Law, which he had recited by rote when asked at the beginning of the lecture.

The whole way to lunch Lily had tried to get Severus to give her more details about apparating; instead he had tried valiantly to explain the principals behind the law to her. She finally became so irritated that she snapped at him to shut up about potions class, her annoyance dying when she saw the hurt in his eyes. Before she could apologize he had trudged off down the staircase towards the dungeons, Sirius Black's laughter echoing raucously behind him. Her nerves stretched to the breaking point, Lily had turned and unleashed her full frustration on the Gryffindor boy standing mutely before her. She figured Severus must have heard her because he said nothing when he sat down at her table in the library later that night. He had simply passed her a note with an I'm sorry and a sad face scrawled on it. Lily had taken his hand and squeezed it before scribbling me too on the note and passing it back to him.

He had not appeared at breakfast this morning, which was not that surprising because Severus skived off meals like crazy. For the thousandth time, Lily reminded herself to do something about that in future because it wasn't healthy for him to miss so many meals, but for now all she was more concerned with wanting him here. She anxiously turned the loop of forget-me-nots around and around her wrist.

"If you don't stop you're going to break that beautiful bracelet," Alice stated as she joined Lily. Lily pulled her hand away from her wrist with a jerk. "Waiting for Severus?" Alice asked.

"Yes. He said he'd be here fifteen minutes ago and it's not like Sev to be late."

"Maybe he had a lie in this morning, got a late start."

"Maybe," Lily affirmed though she doubted it.

Alice's eyes clouded as Lily began pacing again, almost running into Frank. "Lily, maybe we should just let him meet us there."

Lily shook her head, prepared to go down to the entrance of the Slytherin common room and pound on it. At just that moment Severus came stalking up the stairs. From the set of his mouth Lily knew he was furious. By the time he had reached Alice and Lily he had the semblance of a smile plastered on his face though his eyes were still dark and dangerous.

"Good morning, Severus," Alice said hesitantly.

"Good morning, Alice, Lily."

"Sev, what's wrong?"

"Nothing." Lily looked at him doubtfully and the slightest hint of a grimace crossed his face. "Can we talk about it later? After I've had a chance to…"

"Simmer down?"

"Something like that. Here, I brought this for you. My mum sent it to me, I thought it might help you." He passed Lily a musty, leather-bound book.

Lily took the book from his hand, which she noticed was still trembling, Severus really was in a strop. She carefully flipped through the brittle pages not understanding why he had given it to her until she saw a chapter on apparition. "How many times have you read this?"

His eyes flashed, maybe this wasn't the time to tease him. "None."

Lily looked at Alice and winked. "My best friend, the rock of self-restraint."

Alice laughed as they made their way out of the castle. "Should I ask why he wasn't allowed to read a book?"

"Because I am a very wicked best friend who wanted him to learn something with me for once instead of being light years ahead. Plus, this way I don't have to be a nervous wreck all by myself."

"What is there to be so nervous about?" asked Alice.

"I think the two of you underestimate what an advantage you've had growing up with all this knowledge. There are times when being a muggleborn is a serious drawback and this is one of them."

"Lil." Severus' voice had grown gentle and the anger was slowly fading from his eyes. "Alice and I don't know any more then you do, honestly. So stop worrying so much. You'll be fine."

"What's Lily fretting about now?" Remus asked as he fell into step with them.

"Apparating." answered Alice.

"Can't say I blame her. What if you splinch yourself?" Peter Pettigrew chirped nervously.

Severus turned his head to snap at Pettigrew, but stopped when he found, to his surprise, he was surrounded by a group of sixth years, most of whom were Gryffindors, though Tattington's Ravenclaw boyfriend was trailing along at the end of the procession having a rather vehement discussion with the dark haired girl.

"What's splinching?" Lily whispered.

Severus leaned very close and whispered in her ear, "something you're too smart to do, so don't be concerned about it."

She was looking at him very anxiously, normally he would have squeeze her hand or hug her but they were in the midst of this pack and he still wasn't comfortable with public displays of affection so instead he mouthed, "you'll be fine, trust me."

Lily nodded determinedly, her hand brushing his lightly. For a second he allowed his index finger to wrap around hers before Black jostled him from behind causing Lily's hand to slip away. Severus glared at the boy and probably would have retaliated but he wanted Lily to be as relaxed as possible and he knew that his getting into a row wouldn't help her.

The group finally entered the quidditch pitch and stopped. Ranged out before them were dozens of old fashioned wooden hoops. At the front of the pitch stood all the heads of houses, Professor Dumbledore and a short, rather wispy man.

"Come on let's find a good spot," boomed Potter racing towards the middle of the pitch. "I hope we don't ruin the field for the next match."

Lily followed after the rest of the Gryffindors and while Severus didn't want to learn with Potter and the idiots who followed him he wasn't about to leave Lily when she was in such a state. From several rows away he could see Avery and Mulciber eyeing him speculatively. He ignored them and took up a place near Lily, trying to take no notice of the fact that Potter had planted himself firmly on her other side, or that he was assuring Lily, she was sure to do well. In front of Severus, Pettigrew was whispering feverishly to Lupin. Oh Merlin, was he surrounded by marauders? His eyes found Black flirting horribly with Olivia Stanton, a Ravenclaw, on the other side of Potter.

A hush fell over the crowd as the small man stepped onto a platform erected at the end of the field.

"Good morning. My name is Wilkie Twycross and I shall be your Ministry Apparition instructor for the next twelve weeks. I hope to be able to prepare you for your Apparition Tests in this time. While the next twelve weeks will require a great deal of effort and concentration on your part I feel confident that at the end of our time many of you may be ready to take your tests." 1

May be Lily thought, wasn't that supposed to be a given? Her heart was fluttering rapidly. She tried to calm herself and pay attention to what Twycross was saying now.

"As many of you know, it is usually impossible to Apparate or Disapparate within Hogwarts. The headmaster has lifted this enchantment, purely on the Quidditch Pitch, for one hour, so as to enable you to practice. May I emphasize that you will not be able to Apparate outside of the confines of this pitch, and that you would be unwise to try.

"I would like each of you to place yourselves now so that you have a hoop in front of you."

Every student that had not already done so raced to stand in front of a wooden circle. Lily swallowed the lump in her throat and centred herself in front of her hoop. She could do this; after all, she had been able to do everything else at school.

The Heads of House all yelled, "Quiet!" and the pitch became miraculously still. All eyes were focused on the Ministry wizard waiting to hear what he would say next.

"Now then, the most important things to remember when Apparating are the three D's! Destination, Determination, Deliberation!"

Lily could see Severus muttering the words under his breath as if to fix them in his memory.

Twycross continued, "step one: Fix your mind firmly upon the desired destination. In this case, the interior of your hoop. Kindly concentrate upon that destination now."

Lily glanced sideways and was hardly surprised to see Severus was staring unblinkingly at his hoop. Oh Merlin he would do it in the first try. She quickly looked around to see what everyone else was doing and briefly caught James' eye. He winked and flashed her a bright smile before gazing at his own hoop. For some reason this made Lily feel a little calmer. She smiled back at him before taking a shaky breath and concentrating on the space in front of her.

"Step two," said Twycross "focus your determination to occupy the visualized space! Let your yearning to enter it flood from your mind to every particle of your body!"

This part was no problem, she had determination, which was why Severus was standing next to her and not across the pitch with the Slytherin prats. She smiled a little; everything was going to be fine.

"Step three," called Twycross, "and only when I give the command…Turn on the spot, feeling your way into nothingness, moving with deliberation! On my command, now…one – "

Panic flooded back into Lily. Wait, they hadn't learned anything yet! Surely this insane man couldn't expect them to apparate already! Oh, she should have let Severus read his stupid book because even he looked thrown by the complete lack of instruction.

" – two – "

Oh God, oh God I don't want to apparate yet! What am I meant to be doing? The hoop, just concentrate on the hoop.

" – THREE!"

Lily spun around, and landed flat on her backside. For a moment she was humiliated until she realized Alice was in a similar position in front of her, and Pettigrew was planted nose down in the grass. James had barely remained upright, while Sirius had merely stepped calmly into his hoop causing many people around him to laugh. Severus, on the other hand, looked perfectly calm and collected, and Lily wondered if he had even attempted to spin around. Somehow she doubted it. Even as she wondered this, he held out his hand and helped her back to her feet.

From the front of the pitch, Twycross smiled jovially and said, "never mind, never mind. Adjust your hoops and back to your original positions please."

Sighing, Lily returned to her spot in front of the hoop. Twycross repeated his instructions over and over until Lily was sure she would scream if she ever heard the words destination, determination, and deliberation again. Still no one had managed to apparate, not a single Ravenclaw not even Severus, who looked as determined as Lily had ever seen him.

Then, ten minutes before the end of the lesson, it happened, from just in front of Severus came a horrific scream. Dizziness instantly claimed Lily when she saw Peter Pettigrew standing in his hoop with no arms, those limbs were still in his original spot five feet away. She clasped her hands over her mouth, trying to stifle her own scream. All the professors were rushing towards Peter, as were his three friends, a loud bang and a puff of purple smoke later and Peter's arms were back in their proper place. Lily wondered if she looked half as aghast as Peter did.

Twycross looked completely nonplussed as he said, "splinching, or the separation of random body parts occurs when the mind is insufficiently determined. You must concentrate continuously upon your destination and move, without haste, but with deliberation…thus."

Giving an elegant pirouette Twycross vanished from in front of Lily and reappeared at his previous spot at the front of the pitch. "Remember the three D's. Now let's all try again…one – two – three."

Lily didn't make the smallest attempt to do anything this time. She just stood looking around at her classmates, some of them were muttering and spinning clearly still trying to apparate, but many more were staring slack jawed at Pettigrew, who was sobbing and jabbering frantically to his friends. Lily was amazed to see how gentle James was being with Peter; it was usually the type of behaviour one expected from Remus.

The three boys were leading the smaller one away when Twycross announced that the lesson was over for this week and that until next Saturday they should all concentrate on the three D's. The only thing Lily wanted to concentrate on was the lanky boy standing next to her. She rushed to his side.

"You – you – you…" she sputtered. Severus raised an eyebrow at her questioningly, but for once Lily didn't find it endearing. "Prat!"

Up ahead the marauders slowed. Severus took Lily gently by the elbow and tried to steer her away from the rest of the students but she would not be deterred.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

Severus gave a little sigh and shut his eyes briefly. When he opened them again Lily saw a mixture of concern and amusement. "I thought it would be better for you."

"How so?"

"Because you get fixated on that sort of thing."

"Do not."

"What about the dementors?"

She frowned at him for a moment, she had no come back for that one. They had finally caught up with the Gryffindor boys who fell in behind them, probably in the hopes of hearing the best friends row.

"Okay, fine. But as my best friend…"

"As your best friend, I thought that reducing your stress levels would decrease the likelihood of splinching."

"Did you read that somewhere?"

"I already told you no." He sounded vaguely annoyed now.

"Well…maybe you'd better."

Severus laughed, not his normal at school chuckle, but a loud, deep-chested laugh, the sort she usually only heard during the summer. When Severus laughed like that she couldn't help but laugh along with him. She gave him a light shove and he staggered a step sideways before looking at her with dancing eyes.

"Seen the light have you?"

"Yes, you were right and I was wrong."

"What was that? I'm not sure I heard you properly."

"Sev! Being smug is not attractive on you."

Behind her Sirius muttered something to his friends, causing a small burst of laughter. Severus' eyes narrowed slightly but instead of retaliating he smiled at Lily and held out his hand. "Does that mean I can have my book back now?"

Lily reached into her pocket and pulled out the brown leather bound volume. "You can only have this back if you promise to help me and not hold anything back this time."

"As if you even have to ask."

"Well, it is you."

"You wouldn't not teach Lily? Would you?" queried Alice.

"Oh no, it's the not the teaching part we're debating. Severus is more than willing to share his brilliance with others. But he has this tendency to not tell me things if he thinks they'll upset me, and it's gotten him into a lot of trouble in the past. I think he's getting better now though."

"See, she blames me but it really is all her fault."

"How so?" Alice asked.

Severus cleared his throat and began, "it all started one summer day…"

"You are not going to tell this story!"

"Why not?"

"You know why."

"I can leave that bit out," he offered with a wicked gleam

"Sure and maybe I'll forget the story about you by the river and the old…"

Severus clapped his hand over her mouth, laughed and shook his head. "Never mind! I was wrong. Entirely my fault, just forgot for a moment is all."

Lily laughed and pulled his hand away, casting a speculative look his way as if trying to decide if she was going to continue the story or not.

Severus shook his head no again and Lily responded with another laugh. "Okay, you win this time."

Alice looked on at them bemusedly before shaking her own head and saying, "you two are peculiar."

"What makes you say that?" Lily inquired.

"You have all these bizarre conversations. I don't think most of us know what you're talking about half the time."

Lily gave Severus a questioning glance and he shrugged his shoulders slightly, her response was to smile and shake her head almost imperceptibly.

"See, there." Alice waved between the two of them. "You've just had a whole conversation without any of the rest of us knowing what was going on. How do you do it? Is it leglimency or something?"

Lily's brow wrinkled in confusion. "No, I guess we can do it because we've known each other so long. We just know how the other thinks now. Isn't that how all best friends end up?"

Alice gave another shake of her head, this time apparently in disbelief and entered the castle door. Lily watched as the others entered the castle. James Potter was the last to pass them, eyeing the two speculatively. Once he had passed through the door Lily turned on her heels and walked around the corner of the building, knowing Severus would follow her. She walked down the length of the wall, running her hand along the worn stones.

Her mind was racing, Petunia had once said a similar thing about her and Severus and their conversations, though she had called them freaks. Lily had run all the way to the spot, wanting to ask Severus if he thought there was something wrong with them but he had been in a peculiar mood that day and so she hadn't asked. She smiled a little to herself remembering how she had tried to teach him a silly song instead, trying to cheer him. She softly began to sing under her breath.

She heard the smile in his voice when he spoke. "I don't think I've heard you sing that since we were about ten."

"Eleven. I haven't done it since we came to school. Do you remember that day, Sev?"

"Yes, you tried to get me to sing and I tried to tell you I can't carry a tune in a bucket. But you didn't believe me, in the end I had to do it just to get you to stop pestering me."

Lily smiled and slid down the wall. "You really were terrible, though I'm still convinced you sang so badly on purpose."

"Not me."

They sat in companionable silence for several moments, smashed into the corner and huddled together to stay warm.

"Do you know, when you use to tell me about Hogwarts I always imagined we'd be in the same house."

"Me too."

"I can't believe some stupid hat decides."

"It's not a stupid hat, Lil."

"Of course it is. Some silly hat decided in some arbitrary way my best friend and I didn't deserve to be together."

"I'm not sure that's actually a consideration when the sorting hat places you."

"It should be!"

"Maybe it should." His voice became gruff, "so, if you were going to resort us, where would we go?"

"I think you're a natural Ravenclaw, so we could be there together. I wonder, if I had asked to be with you or you with me what would have happened?"

"It never occurred to me to ask."

"Me either. Do you think it would have mattered?"

"I doubt it. Besides, I don't think I would have been a good Gryffindor. You, on the other hand, would fit in perfectly where ever you were placed."

"Even Slytherin?"

"Lil, any house would be lucky to have you."

"You know, Sev when you put your foot in it you do it in a big, bad way." She saw him frown a little at that. "But when you say the right thing, you really say the right thing."

"Well, you were bound to rub off on me sooner or later."

It was several more minutes before Lily said anything else. "Do you think we're strange, aren't all best friends like us?"

He looked over at the head now resting on his shoulder. "You're the only best friend I've ever had so I don't think I'm qualified to answer. But it does seem like we are a little different."

"Oh."

"Does that bother you?"

"Actually, I think I feel sorry for everyone who doesn't have this. It must be sad not to know your best friend so well you can't tell what they're thinking."

"Must be – Guess we were pretty sad there ourselves for a while."

"But we're perfect now. And I'd rather be a little odd with you then boring with anyone else."

"Good to know – So, are you feeling better now?"

"About apparating?"

He nodded his head, his cheek rubbing across her hair.

"Not totally. I still can't believe you didn't tell me you could just leave body parts behind." she gave a little shutter, her body pressing closer to his.

"I knew if I did you would fret like anything. But I'll read up this week and I'm sure by the next lesson we'll be in perfect form."

"You promise to tell me everything you learn?"

"Absolutely."

"No matter how bad it is?"

"I promise splinching is as bad as it gets."

"Okay…so, have you finished simmering down yet?"

"I suppose. Avery and I had – words this morning."

"About?"

"The amount of time I am spending with – people he considers to be less than desirable."

"Meaning blood traitors and mudbloods."

"Don't use that word, Lil."

"Why not? I think if I am one, at least as far as that lot's concerned, then I should be able to use the word."

"You're not, so please stop. It's hard enough to hear other people use that term, it's unbearable coming from you."

Lily sighed, "is that all that happened, you had words?"

"Meaning?"

"He didn't do anything to you, did he?"

"No. He just made it clear I had better readjust my priorities."

"What about the whole trying to become head boy excuse?"

"I don't think they're buying it anymore."

"Well, this is what we wanted, isn't it?"

"Yes, I'm just not sure if this is merely Avery's opinion or an official warning."

Lily raised her head and looked him in the eye. "Do you think he and Mulciber are already…?"

"No, neither of them is of age yet, but I'm going to guess they've gotten an offer similar to the one I did."

"And?"

"Yes, they'll both join as soon as possible."

"That means there'll be Death Eaters at school. Sev, you have to go to Dumbledore and tell him."

"What would I say, Lily? I have no proof."

"And you don't want him to know you thought about joining."

"I'm pretty sure he already knows. I just – it's one thing to try and get out and another to become a turncoat."

"So, you're protecting them?" There was a spark of anger in her eyes.

"No, I'm protecting me. If they decide I'm not Death Eater material that's them rejecting me and that's how they'll see it, but if I tell on them I'm little better than a traitor and traitors don't survive. Besides, I think there's very little that goes on in this school and Hogsmeade Dumbledore doesn't know about."

"If he asks…"

"Then I'll tell him what I know. Otherwise I'm keeping my very limited knowledge to myself."

Lily's brow creased with worry. "Sev, what did you tell Avery?"

"I'm trying to become head boy, that you've been my best friend since I was nine, the usual."

"What did he say to that?"

"Nothing really. Just…" Severus' face flushed though she couldn't tell if it was because he was embarrassed or angry. Whatever had been said was clearly weighing on him, far more than he was letting on, so she decided the best course of action was to not press him further for details.

"What are you going to do now?"

"Carry on, try to avoid them as much as possible. Maybe you can show me how to sneak into the kitchen and I could eat somewhere else. That would help minimize my time with them."

"Don't you think if you don't go to meals and spend all your time avoiding them it implies you're somehow intimidated or scared of them? Wouldn't it be better to keep going to meals and spending just as much time in your dorm, that sort of thing, almost pretending as if it didn't happen?"

"I suppose that would be the shrewd thing to do."

"Then that's what you should do. Come on, let's go inside and if any of those idiots try to hurt you, I'll protect you."

It was funny how a year ago Lily coming to his defence was embarrassing. Now Severus felt proud she was willing to stand up for him. "Going to take on all of Slytherin are you?"

"If that's what it takes. You're my best friend and the only way anyone is hurting you is if they come through me." As if to illustrate her point, Lily rose to her feet, hands clenched by her side.

Severus looked up at her in awe "How did I manage to get such a great best friend?"

She held out her hand to him with a smile. "Maybe it's because you're a wonderful best friend yourself… Now, best friend of mine, what do you say about heading to lunch?"

Taking her hand firmly in his, he hoisted himself up. "I say that sounds good."

As the two of them headed back to the entrance, Severus hoped one day he would manage to absorb even a fraction of Lily's courage.

For the next several days Severus tried to ignore all of Avery and Mulciber's pointed stares and whispered conversations and focus on learning to apparate. He thought he was making good headway, though Lily still seemed to be a little hesitant. He really wished Pettigrew hadn't splinched himself in front of her. By the end of the second lesson, she still hadn't managed to apparate. Severus so desperately wanted to make her feel better about the whole situation he hadn't even tried. Which was probably just as well, since Potter had once again positioned himself on the other side of Lily and was making all sorts of broad hints about Valentine's Day and the Hogsmeade trip the following Saturday which made concentrating quiet difficult. Lily had finally snapped at Potter and told him to shut up before changing places with the Hufflepuff girl on the other side of Severus to get away from Potter.

Severus had dreaded this Valentine's Day, in part because Potter was being so persistent and over the top and in part because he didn't know how he was meant to behave this year. He knew things were shifting between himself and Lily but wasn't sure if that shift extended to how they celebrated holidays. He debated back and forth on whether or not to get her something, flowers or chocolates, but they had never even acknowledged this particular holiday in the past, so in the interest of taking things slowly and giving her space he decided to let it pass. A choice he regretted the moment he saw James Potter holding a large bouquet of roses at breakfast Wednesday morning.

The sight only added to the annoyance he was already feeling, annoyance that started when he had been way laid by Urania on his way up to the Great Hall. She had presented him with a card that spewed confetti all over him and sang a love song in a loud screeching voice; even he sounded better than that. The girl had then bounced up to breakfast holding fast to his arm and yammering about Merlin only knew what.

He really hated this stupid holiday. A hatred that only grew now that Lily appeared to be graciously receiving the red flowers from Potter, who tousled his hair in response, grinning cockily around the room. Well fine, two could play at this game, he had all day to come up with something, all he needed was an idea. Slinging his bag over his shoulder he stalked from the hall, already deep in thought.

Lily paused with a fork of eggs half way to her mouth as her best friend stalked by. She noted with some amusement there were several pieces of red and pink confetti caught in his hair. He certainly seemed to be in a foul mood, which she bet stemmed from the acquiring of that confetti. Chuckling slightly to herself, she turned to speak to Alice, only to see the girl was staring tearfully at the flowers James had given her moments before. It was only then Lily realised she hadn't seen Frank and Alice spending much time together recently. She quickly looked around for the head boy and saw him sitting at the end of the table, looking grumpy and moody, picking at the mess on his plate.

"Alice, why aren't you and Frank sitting together?"

Astoundingly, Alice's response was to burst into tears and run from the hall. Lily grabbed up both their bags and raced after her, leaving the roses behind her on the table. Lily sped past countless other students and was running out of breath when she saw Severus up ahead of her. Taking the bags from her shoulder, she thrust them at him and asked him to take them to the Potions room for her. With the weight removed she was finally able to catch up with the tearful blond.

"Alice, wait! For heaven's sake, Alice, I can't breathe!" Lily panted.

Alice slowed and turned down a little used corridor, sinking to the floor and bursting into hysterical sobs.

Lily sank down next to her. "What is going on?"

"Frank hates me!"

"I'm sure that's not true."

"It is and it's all his mother's fault!"

"Alice, you need to calm down and tell me what's going on."

Alice wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, sniffling a little. Lily dug in her pocket and fished out a tissue. "Here."

"Thank you."

"So what's happened? You and Frank seemed perfect before Christmas holidays."

"We were, but then, just as we're getting off the Express, he told me he wanted me to meet his parents. I thought he meant someday, far in the future, but he meant right then. I panicked and made up some incredibly stupid excuse. He seemed a little disappointed but told me we could do it some other time. And Lily, he meant some other time during the holidays. I kept coming up with all these reasons not to meet the Longbottoms and frankly none of them were particularly well thought out. So now Frank's angry with me. He hasn't even spoken to me in three days." Alice wailed and put her head down on her knees prepared to unleash another storm of tears.

"Oh, Alice, I'm sure you can fix it."

"No, it's over and all because I wouldn't meet his mother. Lily, I love him, really I do, but have you seen his mother?"

"No."

"She's scary. Absolutely terrifying and his father…" Alice gave a little shutter. "How those people managed to produce someone as warm as Frank I have no idea."

"I understand."

"Do you?"

"You should see Sev's parents, total nightmare." Lily gasped and covered her mouth with her hand. "You can't tell anyone I said that."

"My lips are sealed. What do I do? I don't want to lose him."

"Well, the fact is, if you're going to be with their son, you'll have to meet the Longbottoms one of these days."

"I know. I just need more than thirty seconds warning. It's a really big step, meeting your boyfriend's parents and I'm not sure I'm ready for that."

"Then you need to tell Frank that."

"You think?"

"Yes, he can't fault you if you're not ready for such a big step."

"What if he does? What if he wants to break up with me?"

"Please Alice, he looks miserable. Go tell him you're sorry for being so silly but you're just not at the meeting the parents stage yet."

"Yes, you're right. I have to go get my bag anyway so might as well talk to him then."

"Oh, I grabbed your bag for you."

"Where is it?" Alice asked, looking around.

"I gave it to Sev, he'll take it to class. And if you don't make it, I'll bring it up to the dorm afterward."

"Thanks, Lily. Wish me luck."

"You don't need it, the boy's crazy about you."

Alice got up and after smoothing down her skirt and straightening her hair she left to find Frank. Lily clambered up after her and headed down towards the dungeons. She was a hall away when she came upon Sabrina, who, like the girl she had just left, was crying. Remus Lupin was trying to calm her and failing utterly.

"Sabrina?"

She instantly turned and threw herself into Lily's arms. "Oh, Lily!"

"What's wrong?"

Sabrina only sobbed harder; Lily could feel tears seeping through her robes. Her eyes met Remus' and he shook his head in response.

"Come on, let's go in the ladies – Remus, can you tell Professor Slughorn we're going to be a little late?"

"Of course."

Lily steered Sabrina into the toilet down the corridor. Once they were in the room, Lily locked the door. "Sabrina, what's wrong?"

"Nathaniel. That stupid, shagging…I can't believe I was so stupid – honestly, I am such a mug."

"What did he do?"

"You know I told him I wasn't ready to have sex with him."

"Yes."

"And he said he was fine with that. And of course he was! Because he's shagging Lydia Redmill!"

"The Hufflepuff prefect?"

"Yes!"

"How do you know?"

"I caught him. He was coming out of a broom closet with her this morning."

"Well maybe…"

"Don't even try it, Lily! His trousers were still half undone and her top was miss buttoned."

"The wanker."

"No, clearly not what he's been doing."

"I'm so sorry, Sabrina but if that's what he's like then you're better off without him."

"Why do people always say that?"

"Because it's the truth in this case."

"I can't believe I've broken up with someone, on Valentine's Day and when I go to Hogsmeade this weekend they'll be there all gross and kissy and I'll be pathetic and alone."

"Why don't you come with me and Sev?"

"I don't want to intrude."

"You wouldn't be."

"Won't that make me look more pathetic?"

"Oh, I'll figure something out. Until then, don't let Nathaniel know that he's gotten to you."

"You're right." Sabrina crossed to the tap and splashed some water on her face. "Let's go to class."

Lily nodded and unlocked the door, following the other girl down the hall and into the potions room. With a sigh she slid into her seat next to Severus. He looked at her questioningly and then quickly scribbled a note on a piece of parchment pushing it towards her.

What the hell is going on?

Alice had a fight with Frank.

About?

Meeting his parents. I think they'll be fine now though.

And Tattington?

Found out Nathaniel is shagging someone else.

Prat. She's well rid of him.

That's what I told her.

Good news for Lupin anyway.

"You can all begin now," Slughorn boomed.

"What do you mean about Remus?" Lily whispered under cover of the noise from rising students.

"Look at him, he clearly fancies her like mad."

Lily looked surreptitiously over her shoulder and saw Remus was making a fine show of pretending not to look at Sabrina. "When did you figure that out?"

"A couple of weeks ago."

"I wonder why he hasn't said anything."

"Probably because she had a boyfriend until two minutes ago."

"He'd be better for her."

"Hmm," Severus intoned noncommittally.

"Sev, do you care if Sabrina comes with us on Saturday?"

"What, to apparition lessons?"

"No, to Hogsmeade silly."

"I didn't know…That's fine."

"What about Remus?"

"Lily."

"What?"

"She just broke up with her boyfriend, you can't set them up already!"

"I'm not!"

Severus quirked an eyebrow at her and shook his head in disbelief.

"It'll be better if we all go in a big group. Then it doesn't look like she'd just tagging along with us."

"Oh, and you, me, her and Lupin looks perfectly normal does it?"

"What about Alice?"

"What about her?"

"We could ask her too."

"I'm sure she'd rather go with her boyfriend."

"I told, you they're having a row."

"And if they've made up by then?"

"Then Frank can come too. And I know you like Frank and Alice."

"Tell me how is it in the space of two minutes we've gone from just you and I going to Hogsmeade to dragging half of Gryffindor with us?"

"Four people is not half of Gryffindor and you can invite anyone you'd like."

"Who would I ask?"

"I don't know, ask Clive or Ametus."

"How about we just ask Sabrina and not worry about trying to get her a replacement boyfriend?"

"Hmm, I don't know, besides if it's just the three of us, word may get back to Urania that you were escorting two ladies and I wouldn't want Sabrina to have to deal with the wrath of Burke. Speaking of which, I have to assume she's the reason you have flecks of confetti in your hair."

"Damn." Severus exasperatedly ran his hand through his locks. "I thought I'd gotten all of that out."

"Nope." Lily pulled several small pieces of sparkling paper from his hair and threw them on the table.

"This really is out of hand now."

"Me or Urania?"

"Both. She's practically stalking me and you appear to be channelling Emma Woodhouse. Leave Sabrina and Lupin alone. Besides, if you ask Lupin then his mates will want to tag along."

"So?"

"So, you're my best friend, Lily but I'm not spending an entire day with Potter and Black."

"Oh, Black'll spend the day off snogging someone so you won't have to deal with him."

"Just Potter then, ever so much better."

From behind them, came a huge bang. Like the rest of the class, Severus and Lily quickly dropped to the floor and clambered under the table. "If I were you, I would worry more about Pettigrew than Black or Potter."

Severus moaned, "I had forgotten about that idiot."

"Sev, just say you'll go and let me take care of the rest."

"Lil…"

She beamed at him as she scrambled out from under the table. "Everything will be perfect – trust me."

"Famous last words," Severus grumbled as he rose to join her.

1 Half Blood Prince American edition pages 382-385