Reconciliation

As the last week of term arrived, the Daily Prophet ran article after article about the sudden increase in attacks on Muggles by Voldemort's followers. Though not only Muggles were targeted. Several wizarding families with ties to the Muggle world were also targeted and some were killed. Lily nearly panicked at the thought that her parents might be next, and she wrote a letter to Eileen, asking the witch if she could please set up wards about the Evans house and property and not tell anyone. Eileen sent back a letter reassuring the young witch that it had already been done weeks before. Lily breathed a huge sigh of relief and took her finals with a merry heart. She was still playacting that she was James' girlfriend, but soon the charade would end and things go back to the way they were meant to be once school was over. She could hardly wait for that to happen. James had been polite and acted like a gentleman for the most part, but he was no substitute for Severus and never would be.

She still longed for his familiar touch and ached to hear his voice say her name in that soft velvet toned voice of his that made her tremble all the way down to her feet. She marked the days off on her small desk calendar, practically counting the minutes till she boarded the train home. She knew as well that Severus missed her just as much, because Regulus passed messages for Lily from Severus onto Cindy. Lily had saved all of them and kept them hidden in the bottom of her trunk.

Severus, too, was counting the hours until he could leave Hogwarts as well. He was sick and tired of having to make nice to clods like Avery and Mulciber and Goyle, who only thought about kissing Voldemort's arse and how great it would be to wear the Dark Mark and start torturing Muggles—the parasites. Severus and Regulus had both attended another Iron Mask meeting, which had been filled with propaganda concerning the need for purity among wizards and the need to stamp out insurrection from rebellious half-bloods and Muggleborns and blood traitors.

Both he and Regulus were sickened by the messages that Lucius was sending to the members of his secret society, and they wished they didn't have to endure participating in the club anymore. But it was far too late to back out, even if Lucius would have permitted it.

Lily reported that as Zoey, she had been witness to Bellatrix and a few others using an Imperius upon a grasshopper, as well as a Nerve Wrack Curse, which was a weaker form of the infamous Torture Curse. She too loathed what she saw, but she knew it was paramount that she attend the meetings, so she could inform Dumbledore of any new recruits and spells they developed and what they might do next.

But at last meetings and finals were done with, and there was only a week left to wait for results to come in before term ended. The three spies reported back to the Headmaster, who wrote down their observations in a secret black book hidden in a secret compartment of his desk. He praised them for their diligent work and wished them well over the summer.

Regulus was looking forward to going home as well, though he feared what his parents would say when Sirius returned to Potter Manor. The two brothers were on speaking terms, but because of Regulus' duties as a spy, Sirius had accused him recently of cozying up to vipers. "Someday, little brother, those so-called "friends" of yours are going to turn and bite you in the arse, and don't come crying to me then, because I warned you."

"Fine, Sirius, you did your good deed for the decade. Will you be coming back to Grimmauld Place?"

Sirius shook his head. "No. I'm not welcome there."

"Sirius, bloody hell! It's your home still, Mum and Dad haven't disowned you yet."

Sirius scowled at his younger brother. "Leave off, Reg! I'm going to the Potters' and that's that. If Mum doesn't like it, she can kiss my arse!"

"She'd kick your arse, is more like it, if she ever heard what you just said." Regulus predicted. They were standing in the stairwell leading to the dungeons.

"Ha! She'll never know. Unless you tell her, baby brother," Sirius teased.

"I'm no snitch, Sirius!" Regulus snapped. "I think you're making a huge mistake."

"No, I'm not. They wanted it this way." Sirius said and turned and walked away.

Regulus just glared after his brother and wished he could beat Sirius senseless. He didn't want his summer holiday to start out with another family quarrel, but Sirius seemed bound and determined to have one. There were times when he very fervently wished he had been born an only child, like Severus.

Then he caught sight of Cindy making her way to the Entrance Hall for lunch and hurried to catch up with her. She was always able to make him feel better. He fell into step beside her and whispered, "Hello, pretty lady! Miss me?"

She turned and hugged him, grinning up at him. "Hiya, starboy! What kept you so long?"

He shrugged. "Nothing important. Just a stupid argument. Let's eat, I'm starved." He kissed her lightly on the lips.

She giggled and hugged him tighter. "Me too, but what I want is not on the menu."

"Oh? And what's that?"

"You," she replied wickedly, and then skipped into the Hall.

Remus Lupin was already at the lunch table, eating a steak and crispy potatoes, and Pettigrew was whispering something into Sirius and James' ears. Regulus thought they looked like trouble and wondered what they were planning. When Sirius got that look in his eyes, he was up to no good.

Thinking about his next prank, I'll bet, the silly mutt. When will he ever grow up? Anybody who didn't know better would think I was the older brother. He invited Cindy to sit with him and she accepted. Not one of the Slytherins protested, for which Regulus was grateful. He had no wish to go through the hell his best friend was going through.

James Potter was feeling a bit bored. And when he was bored he tended to get naughty. He had been behaving himself remarkably well this past term, considering his past track record. This was partly because of Lily, who insisted he not get up to anything wild while her name was attached to him, and he had agreed to that partly to make her feel better and because a part of him just didn't feel as comfortable as he used to pulling pranks. But he had to admit that he missed the adrenaline rush he always got when planning and executing a successful prank. He missed it a lot.

So when Peter suggested the prank, he paused for about two minutes to think it over and calculate the risk of Lily getting ticked off at him (not a prospect he wanted to look forward to, given her smoking temper) or getting caught. Abruptly, he decided it was worth the risk. After all, he was still a Marauder, and pretending to be Lily's beau didn't change that. Grinning, he nodded at Peter, who turned and whispered something to Sirius.

Lupin lifted his head from his lunch and said tiredly, "What in Merlin's name are you up to now?"

"Aww, lighten up, Moony!" Sirius said, slapping him on the back. "You sound like my dad."

Lupin sighed, for there were some days he felt like one. A father to three hellions, who were so out-of-control that Merlin himself probably wouldn't have been able to make them mind. "What are you doing?"

James told him. "You want to help? C'mon, Moony. One little spell. For old time's sake."

Lupin groaned. This was how it always began. He shook his head. "No. I don't fancy having my arse reamed out in front of the whole school. This was your idea, Prongs. You execute it and you take the consequences."

Sirius made a face at him. "Hell, Moony, when did you become such a stick?"

Remus' eyes flashed. "When your stupid prank nearly got somebody killed—using me as the mechanism."

Sirius went pale. "Moony, that wasn't meant to happen."

"No? Could have fooled me, Padfoot." Remus turned away, giving the other the cold shoulder.

"You're no fun anymore, old man," groused Sirius, then he turned back to his other two partners in mischief.

The staff was eating their lunch calmly, talking quietly among themselves, when it began.

First one first year noticed and began to giggle uncontrollably, then a Hufflepuff looked up and saw it, and he nudged his neighbor, who started laughing into her hands hysterically.

Two Slytherins glanced about to see what was so funny over in the corner, and they too started to snicker.

Even the normally studious Ravenclaws had set down their books long enough to observe this once in a lifetime phenomenon.

The Gryffindors were howling like a pack of demented werewolves after the first glance, and it was only then, as the noise trebled, that the teachers chanced to wonder just what had the entire hall in stitches. They looked out over the hall, at the sea of grinning laughing faces, trying to determine what unfortunate student had become the butt of a practical joke.

Only to see several fingers pointing up at them and all gazes fixed upon them.

"What on the earth?" Professor Sprout began, then she gasped in horror. "Oh, Mother Earth preserve me!" She made a futile attempt to cover herself.

For she and all the other staff members present in the hall at that time had been stripped of the bottom half of their robes, leaving their underpants quite noticeably exposed.

Half the female faculty went scarlet. McGonagall turned the color of a ripe plum, both mortified and furious at having her tartan bloomers on display. She drew her wand quickly and rectified herself, making a new green skirt of heavy fabric grow right over her legs in about two seconds.

Trelawney fainted, nearly falling out of her chair, and making the watching students get an even better view of her lacy silver panties.

"Pomona! Catch her!" Minerva called, and then the Herbology teacher moved, grabbing her colleague before she could nosedive right into the floor.

Flitwick quickly averted his gaze while speaking a hasty Covering Charm. He did not seem to care that the whole school saw his smiley-face boxers. He flicked his wand over Pomona, and no one could see her ivy patterned briefs any longer, then he did the same for the other witches, saving himself for last.

"Albus!" Minerva growled, she was very unamused. "You had better find out who is responsible for this!"

"Hmmm?" The Headmaster looked up from his perusal of the raisin bread he'd been buttering.

"Albus, wake up!" she hissed. "For Merlin's sake, cover yourself, you old duffer, or do you want them to think you're an . . .an exhibitionist?" She thrust a large tea towel at him, blushing.

"Oh, yes, of course, you're quite right." Albus said, and then he waved his hand and restored his purple robes over his bright lemondrop underwear. He didn't seem the slightest perturbed, but the rest of the staff was out for blood.

"I know who's behind this!" Professor Vector snarled. "Those bloody Marauders!"

Minerva looked ready to spit. "I fear you are right, Michael. This has all the earmarks of one of their little jokes!" She stood up, her face hard as stone and cried, "Silence!"

The laughter cut off as if someone had shocked all the children into stillness.

"Now then, I want to know who is responsible for this . . .this tasteless prank. You have five seconds to tell me who cast those hexes or else everyone will be getting ten Houses points taken away . . .each! And have detention for the rest of the term!"

Then, as if by a silent consensus, all the other students look towards the Gryffindor table, where Peter, Sirius, and James were sitting.

McGonagall's eyes narrowed to slits. "Mr. Potter, Mr. Pettigrew, Mr. Black, and Mr. Lupin, come up here please."

"We didn't do anything, Professor!" whimpered Peter, always the first to cave under pressure.

"That remains to be seen. Hold out your wands."

They did as they were told.

"Priori Incantatum!" she chanted.

All the wands save Lupin's showed their owner's guilt.

Severus walked into the hall a few minutes later, accompanied by Dickon, he had been helping the professor grade some homework, and they were only now just taking a break. Lily had come into the hall just before they had, she had been reading in her room, and so they had missed all the excitement of the "Great Underwear Caper" as that prank later came to be known.

"For once, I'm grateful for my students' messy handwriting," Dickon remarked to his colleagues as he joined them.

"Lucky you," Charity Burbage said sourly, smoothing her skirt.

"Oh come now, Charity, there was no real harm done," began Dumbledore, then he froze as all the witches gave him a glare that should have set him on fire. He coughed and mumbled, "I shall be going now, have to speak with the Minister." He quickly excused himself and beat a hasty retreat.

"Humph!" sniffed Eliza Merriweather, the Arithmancy professor. "No real harm done indeed! Maybe not to him, but what about the rest of us? I hope Minerva punishes those wretched scamps good!"

There were murmurs of agreement all around.

"What just happened?" Dickon asked. "Or don't I want to know?"

"You don't, Dickon. But we might as well tell you anyhow," said Pomona gamely.

Down by the Slytherin table, Severus was asking Regulus the same question.

"Give you three guesses," Regulus said, shaking his head.

"It had to do with your brother?"

"Yes. That's one."

"And his lame friends," Severus concluded.

"That's two."

Severus looked around. He couldn't see anyone with an obvious deformation or something. The Marauders were absent, which could only mean that they had gotten caught or were hiding. McGongall and the Headmaster were conspicuously absent from the head table. "They pranked someone in front of the teachers? Are they bloody daft?"

Regulus nodded. "Yes, but Sev, they didn't just play a prank in front of the teachers. They played one on the teachers!"

"How brainless are they?"

"Very."

"What did they do?"

Regulus told him. "That took balls though."

Severus nodded, torn between chuckling and being disgusted. "And now they'll pay for it. About time!" He slid into the seat next to his best friend. He wondered when, if ever, Potter would grow up. His second thought was to be grateful that this time it wasn't him.

Later on, they all learned of the punishment of the Marauders, minus Lupin. Mcgonagall gave them detention all the rest of the week, and took fifty points from them and made them write letters apologizing to each staff member. Sirius and Peter grumbled through their detentions, but James took his without a murmur, for he knew he deserved it. Still, it had been a glorious prank, and it would long be remembered in Marauder history. Though Lily had declared him a blithering insensitive jerk and refused to speak to him, James did not mind. For soon he would be going home, and free to see the Evans sister he really cared about, and he could weather Lily's temper till then.

Spinner's End

Yorkshire:

Severus stepped out on the front porch to wait impatiently for Lily to get home. He had gotten to Floo home with Dickon instead of taking the train like the other students, it was one of the perks of having a staff member who knew where you lived and happened to be your mother's fiancée. He felt bad, though, leaving Reg alone, but Regulus told him to quit being noble and just go home. "I'll sleep on the train, like I always do," he said firmly. So Severus went home with Dickon.

Once he had unpacked, however, he was at loose ends until suppertime, which, from the looks of things, wasn't going to be put on the table anytime soon. His mother and his professor were looking at each other with that intenseness common to those in love and Severus could tell that the moment he was out of view they would be cuddling and kissing each other. Not something he needed to witness.

So he retreated to the porch to give them some privacy, he just hoped Dickon remembered to ask Eileen the Big Question before getting down to other things. It was starting to get pretty hot, though not as muggy as it would be in August. He sat down on the stairs and contemplated his shoes and a caterpillar inching along the pavement, wishing that King's Cross weren't so far away from Spinner's End. He mopped sweat from his brow, counted to ten forwards and backwards and then over again in Latin.

Finally, he heard the sound of a car turning down the street and then he saw the Evans' car pull up and Petunia and Lily get out and start putting Lily's trunk and bags into the house. Well, the girls had the bags and Henry was going to get the trunk, when Severus came down the stairs and said, "Can I help you with that, Mr. Evans?"

"Why, hello, Severus!" Henry greeted the seventeen-year-old. "If you wouldn't mind grabbing one end . . .I swear this trunk gets heavier every year," he grunted as he heaved one end up. "What does she put in here anyhow? The entire school library?"

"Pretty much," Severus said, picking up the other end. He murmured a wandless Featherlight Charm and together they carried the trunk inside and up to Lily's room.

"You can just set that down anywhere, Dad," Lily said, without turning around.

Henry did and then he left, winking at Severus, who came and put his arms about Lily and murmured, "Merlin, how I've missed you, little oracle."

"Sev!"

Lily whirled about and grabbed him about the neck, pulling his head down, her evergreen eyes glowing with such joy she felt as if she had wings and was going to float right through the ceiling. Their mouths met and fire consumed them.

Neither knew anything save the other until Petunia interrupted their intense session to exclaim, "Good Lord, you two! Get a room!"

Lily pulled away long enough to say pointedly, "We've got a room. If you don't like it, Tuney, leave."

"What? And take the blame when you get pregnant?" she hissed, crossing her arms over her chest.

Severus turned his head and looked at the older Evans sister. "Kissing doesn't make you pregnant. Thought you knew that."

Petunia blushed. "Severus Snape, you know what I mean!"

"Uh huh. And you'd be doing the same thing with James, if he were here, so don't act all self-righteous." He released Lily and stepped back, regaining control over himself. It was hard, he wanted her so much, he craved the touch of her hands upon his skin, like a plant craves water after a drought.

"That's different. I'm of age."

"We are too, according to wizarding law," Lily stated. She frowned at her sister. "Lighten up, won't you? It's not like he was taking my clothes off. It was one kiss."

Petunia raised an eyebrow. "I know where one kiss usually leads, little sister." She shook her head. "Anyway, Mum wants to know what you want for lunch, so you'd better come down and tell her. Speaking of James Potter, did he give you a message for me?"

Lily pursed her lips. "He did. Told me to tell you he'd be dropping by later and take you flying. Or something like that."

Petunia's smile lit up her whole face. "Ohh, I can't wait!" she squealed. "I'd better go get ready." She turned and shot off for the bathroom, muttering something about trying out a new hairstyle.

Lily turned back to Severus. "God, I've missed you, Sev. It was driving me mad, to see and never be allowed to touch you."

"Same here. And Potter better hope he never kissed you this way, or else I'll kick his arse."

"No worries, Sev. If James had tried anything like that, I'd have kicked his arse. He didn't do anything to me except hold hands and hug me a little. He didn't really enjoy what we did anymore than us. I'm glad it's over now, so we can stop pretending and just be ourselves."

"Me too, Lil." His hands tangled in her hair and he drew her close for one more kiss before they went downstairs. "Oh, and you know, I think Dickon's going to ask my mum to marry him soon. If he hasn't already."

Lily's eyes lit up. "Sev, that's wonderful! I'm so happy for them. Eileen deserves to have a man like him. He's sweet. Are you okay with that?"

Her boyfriend nodded. "I like Dickon. He's a good guy. Much better than the sperm doner," Severus said. "Dickon, I can respect. He knows how to treat a lady. And he really loves her. When she's with him, she kind of . . .glows. I just want her to be happy."

"I think she will be, Sev. I've seen how they look at each other. He makes her happy just the same way you do me," his redhaired beloved said sincerely.

Then they went into the kitchen for lunch, Polly had made fresh bread and a chicken pot pie.

"My goodness, Sev, you've gotten so tall!" exclaimed Polly upon seeing him. She came and hugged him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. She now had to stand on tiptoe to do so. "How was school? Better than last year?"

"Yes. Much better," he lied blithely. He bent and hugged the small woman back.

"Good! Well, you look like you're starving," she gave him a pat on the shoulder. "Sit down and eat, Sev. You too, Lil. You can't live off air, you know."

They exchanged secret smiles before sitting down to a fabulous lunch. It was good to be home at last, and able to show their true feelings.

Potter Manor:

James whistled as he changed out of his uniform and into something more casual, but still in good taste. He chose a nice shirt of thin cotton of crimson and over it a black and red jumper with stylized reindeer on it. Matching black trousers and boots completed his outfit and then he ran a comb through his messy hair, trying somewhat to tame it down.

Sirius wandered in, his hands in his pockets, looking bored. "Hey, Prongs, you want to—oh, you going out on a date with Lily, mate?"

James turned to him. "No. I'm going out on a date with Petunia. There's nothing between Lily and me, Sirius."

"Nothing between—but you won her away from Snivellus!" Sirius cried. "James, are you sure you're not sick?" He reached out to feel the other's forehead.

"Knock it off, Padfoot," James shoved Sirius' hand away. Then he said firmly, "I'm going to tell you something, Sirius, and you have to swear to me upon everything you hold dear that you will never tell a soul what I'm about to tell you, or else you can go back and live at Grimmauld Place again."

Sirius gaped. "You'd . . .kick me out?"

"I wouldn't want to, but if you start blabbing . . ."

"Okay. I'll swear. I, Sirius, Orion Black, swear to never tell what you are about to reveal, upon my life and my magic and our friendship. There! Now tell me what the hell's going on, Prongs!"

James drew in a deep breath. "There was never anything between me and Lily, not since I met Tuney. What you saw in school—it was an act. We staged that fight—me, Severus, and Lily. . . " he quickly explained what they had done and why.

Sirius listened and then said, a bit hurt, "Oh, and you couldn't have told me before this? Do Lupin and Pettigrew know?"

"No. They don't. You're the only one and you can't tell them either. I only told you so you wouldn't think I was cracked dating two sisters, and so you didn't just blurt out that I was with Lily during school when Petunia's around. Because she'd be upset and hurt and I don't want that, Sirius. All right?"

"Understood. You always did have a crazy lovelife, Potter."

"Tell me about it. You sure you want to stay here for the summer? Not going to change your mind and go visit the folks?"

"No way! Not after last time." Sirius shook his head vigorously. "They can all go to hell. I'm better off here."

"Siri, they're your family—"

"Leave it alone, James! I've made my choice."

"Your mother didn't disown you. You can still go back."

"No. I've burned my bridges, mate. It's better for everyone this way. Less fights, less misery."

"If you say so," James sighed. He knew he wouldn't get anywhere trying to convince Sirius to mend the rift in his family and so decided it was best to just let it go. "How do I look?"

"Smashing. She's gonna fall down," Sirius declared.

James grinned. "Then I'll have fun picking her up," he said. "See you later, Padfoot." He grabbed his broom and went downstairs.

He paused and summoned Blink. "Tell my parents I'm going out for a bit on my broom with Petunia. I'll be back in time for supper."

"Right away, Master James."

That done, James hopped on his broom and went over to Spinner's End. He hoped Petunia had missed him as much as he had her.

Petunia Evans considered herself a practical person, with both feet on the ground. But when she saw the roguish James Potter land his broom in her backyard, she felt her heart stutter and her feet barely brush the grass. Even now, after nine months apart, she still felt that heated glow when she saw him. He might be her sister's age, but Petunia regarded him as her equal, and he had matured considerably since leaving for Hogwarts. She could tell in the way he carried himself. She could also tell that he was dying to take her in his arms.

"Hello, Tuney! How's tricks?"

"Better now that you're here." She came willingly into his embrace. "I missed you so much, love." His arms about her reignited the old flame between them, and she could feel it sweep her off her feet. "How about you? Did you miss me, or did you find some hot young thing to replace me?"

"Never." He kissed her, long and slow, until they were both breathless. "Want to go flying?"

"Thought you'd never ask, fly boy," she purred, then she threw a leg over his hovering broomstick.

He mounted just behind her, cast a quick Sticking Charm just in case, then put his arm about her and pulled her back against him.

He kicked off from the ground, soaring into the sky, Petunia laughing in delight.

Severus sat with his back against the oak wall of the tree house, his knees half bent, because it was damned cramped in there now that he'd grown another two inches. But he endured the lack of leg room because Lily was curled in his arms, on his lap, and this was the only place they could go to that was semi-private that didn't involve leaving their home. They had much to discuss, to catch up on, but right then Severus was content to just hold his beloved oracle.

His breath misted into her hair and tickled her ear and she let hers out slowly, because he was doing things to her insides that she was sure weren't entirely legal. And he didn't even know it. At least, she didn't think he did. She loved it, and yet another part of her, the guilty part, was telling her she so didn't deserve this. Or him. At all. Memories of that awful fight crashed into her idyll, and all of her pleasure in the moment turned to ash. You said you didn't love him. In front of half the school. You said you didn't love him.

She half turned in his arms, so she was nearly facing him, and there were tears in her deep green eyes.

"Lily? What's wrong?"

She gave a sort of laugh. "Wrong? After what I said to you—you can ask me that? God, Sev, what are you, some kind of saint?"

"Me? You know better, Lil. Never happen." His thumbs caressed her cheek, wiping away the tears gathered there.

More fell. "I didn't mean it. Didn't mean any of it," she sobbed raggedly, desperate to tell him, to exonerate herself of the awful burden of guilt that was weighing her down. "I'm so sorry I ever said it, I don't even know why I did, it just . . .happened . . .I'm so sorry . . .! I do love you, Sev!"

"Hey . . .it's all right . . .I know you didn't mean it . . ." he soothed, trying in vain to stem the waterworks. It didn't work.

"I hurt you. Don't try and deny it."

He sighed. "Yeah, you did. But I'm over it. Lily, please."

"Don't do that. Don't just brush your feeling under the rug like they don't matter," she whispered. "You can be mad at me. You don't have to . . .cover it up."

He stared at her. "I'm not. What do you want me to do? Scream at you and call you a bitch?"

"If it'll make you feel better."

"It won't. It's done. I survived. It's over. Now just . . .let it go." He pressed her to him, his hands tangling lovingly in her hair. "Shhh . . .I forgive you . . ."

She began crying harder, and he was helpless, he didn't know what else to do or to say. So he simply held her, running his hands through her hair, rubbing her back, giving her what poor comfort he could until the tears and guilt had run its course.

Finally, she stopped crying and lifted her face to him. "Do you really forgive me?"

"Yes. How many times am I going to have to say it?" he asked, a faint note of exasperation in his tone. "I know you didn't mean it. I know. Stop feeling so guilty."

"I can't. I never should have said them."

"Look. We all say thing we don't mean when we're angry. I know I do. My mouth works independently of my brain when I'm mad. Not much I can do about it though, once I've said something. Except say I'm sorry. If I am." A small smile curved up his mouth, making him look very sweet . . .and very sexy. "You already did that, Lil. Apology accepted."

She sniffled and blew her nose on the tissue he handed her. Had they put tissues in the treehouse? She couldn't remember, but then again, she wasn't really up to recalling details like that now. She knew she looked a fright—her eyes were puffy and red and her hair was probably a wreck and she was hot and sweaty and sticky. Definitely not kissable right now. Definitely not.

But then his mouth captured hers.

And all her thoughts about her appearance flew right out of her head.

The warm damp pressure of his mouth upon hers raised something wild inside of her, something elemental and primal, something she felt only with him, an irresistible chemistry that overrode everything. She dug her hands into his silky black hair and pulled him closer. He was a good kisser—focused, intense, devouring her lips hungrily.

Then he broke free, sighed, and rested his forehead against hers, his hands stroking and combing her hair. Dark eyes met green and sparks burned in their depths.

Lily inhaled a great gulp of air before saying, "Why'd you stop?"

"Had to. If I had kept going . . ." his eyes said it all. "Not that I don't want to, because I do, but . . .I don't think either of us want a shotgun wedding. Or to be parents just yet."

"No. Although, when you kiss me like that, Sev . . .it's real tempting to just . . ." her hands trailed down his back and he shuddered.

"Lily, Jesus . . ."

"Sorry. Did I hurt you? You look like you're in pain."

He laughed, a rough chuckle. "Not something you can fix, sweetheart." He shifted a bit and sighed again. "At least not yet."

She made as if to get off him. He pulled her back. "Stay. I'm fine."

"You're sure?"

"Positive." He settled her against his chest and concentrated on just breathing. He would endure a thousand times the pain for her. "You know what was the worst thing about the whole bloody charade? Having to watch him put his arm around you and people approving of it. I just wanted to knock his damn teeth out and kick his arse."

"He didn't do any more than that, Sev. Trust me. We never—"

"I know. But I'm a jealous bastard."

She laughed then. "You're lucky you didn't have to pretend to like another girl. Because then you'd see just how much of a nasty bitch I could be. I would have wanted to tear her eyes out." She leaned her head against his chest. "The hardest part for me was having to pretend I hated you. And to act like I loved Potter. When he touched me, I had to remember not to slug him one. And sometimes I pretended he was you, so I could smile convincingly."

"Bet that must have hurt," he whispered teasingly into her hair, resting his chin on the top of her head.

"It wasn't fun. But if I had to, I do it all over again. Minus the I don't love you part. I'd do anything to keep you safe."

"Me too. I'd walk through fire for you. Or give up my magic."

"You shouldn't say things like that."

"It's true," he answered huskily.

"I know, but . . .it's too much. This love that we feel, it's like a bonfire. So strong."

The sheer intensity of her feelings for him and his for her scared her a little. But not enough for her to give him up.

"That's because we're not giving into it. When we do, it'll be different."

"How do you know?"

He shrugged. "I just do." He shifted again, the wood was digging into the small of his back. "It'll be okay. Trust me."

"Always." She shut her eyes, breathing his essence, it surrounded her and encased her and she fell asleep in his arms, despite the afternoon heat.

After a moment, so did he.

They woke just as dusk fell, right before James and Petunia returned from their flight. Severus wriggled out of the treehouse and climbed down, thinking that it used to take much longer for him to reach the ground.

He gave Lily one more kiss before saying, "Got to go, love. Mum will be waiting supper on me."

"Go," she gave him one last hug and then released him.

He waved once before turning around and heading across the lawn to the drive.

She watched him go and wished she had thought to ask him to stay for dinner.

A moment later, there was a roar of displaced air and James landed his broom on the ground some ten feet away, Petunia in front of him.

Lily turned to look at them.

Both looked extremely reluctant to get off the broom, or to quit holding each other. There was a tender look upon James' face when he gazed at Petunia, a look Lily had never seen upon him before ever. I think he really does love her. I've never seen him look at any girl that way before. As if she was the only person in the world that mattered.

Petunia whispered something in his ear, smirking. James laughed, low and husky.

Lily turned away, blushing.

"So . . .when can I stop by and see you again, hun?" James was asking.

"Saturday. I work the rest of the week, remember? Ten to seven, and afterwards I'm beat. Not very good company, unless you like watching me sleep."

"I wouldn't mind."

"She snores," Lily put in.

"Shut up, brat!" Petunia ordered. "Don't listen to her. She doesn't know what she's talking about."

"Do too. We shared a room for years."

"And you talk in your sleep, Lily!"

James started laughing. "I don't care, really. Merlin only knows what I do when I'm asleep."

"Dream of me, I hope," Petunia purred, then she looked pointedly at her lower half. "James, remove the charm, please."

"Aww, do I have to?" He asked, pouting adorably. "I like your derriere right where it is."

"I know but . . .nature calls."

"Ah." He muttered something and waved his wand. "There you go. I'll owl you, okay?" heasked as she climbed off the broomstick.

"Fine. Bye!" she blew him a kiss and then hurried inside.

"Have fun, Potter?" Lily asked.

"A blast. See you around, Evans." He waved once and then he was shooting up into the sky.

Lily turned and headed inside, thinking it was a lovely start to what she hoped would be a very good summer.

When Severus got back home, he found the house was too quiet. Upon entering the kitchen, he saw a plate of fried chicken, mashed potatoes with gravy, buttered beans and rolls steaming on the table. He recognized a Warming charm when he saw one, and the note next to it confirmed his suspicions that Eileen and Dickon were absent.

Sev,

Forgive the short notice, but Dickon and I went out to Sylvia's to celebrate. He asked me to marry him and I accepted. Talk to you later, son. I left you a plate, or you could go and eat at Lily's, you know you're always welcome there.

Love,

Mum

Severus smiled. He was glad Dickon had finally asked her. They belonged together, much like he and Lily. He considered going back over the Evanses. His mother was right, Polly would never turn him away. But he felt awkward going back without being invited. He didn't want to look like a street beggar asking for a handout. Besides, there was food here, and he had never liked wasting good food.

He pulled out a chair and began to eat hungrily. Polly Evans was a good cook, but nobody could make fried chicken like Eileen Prince.

Sorrel appeared and rubbed about his ankles, meowing shamelessly. He picked her up and fed her some chicken, which she gobbled like a glutton. Then he set her down and Summoned a water bottle from the fridge. It felt so damn good to use wandless magic at home.

He finished his dinner and rinsed off the plate in the sink before going into the den and turning on the TV. He fell asleep watching some detective flick, he had already figured out who the murderer was, and was awakened two hours later by the sound of Eileen entering the house.

He sat up quickly, he had been dreaming of Lily and they had been doing some rather wild things that he was sure his mother didn't need to know about. Ever.

Eileen closed the door behind her and took off her cloak, hanging it up in the closet.

"Sev, I'm home!" she called softly.

"In here, Mum."

Eileen entered the den, she was wearing a killer dress that made her look ten years younger and Severus' mouth hung open. He had never thought his mother had nice legs before, and he flushed just thinking it, but the truth was that his mother was, as Muggles would say, one red hot Mama. "Wow! You look great. Nice dress."

"Thanks. Dickon liked it too," she said, smiling.

Yeah, I'll just bet he did, Severus thought. "Congratulations, Mum."

She held out her hand to show him her ring. It was a beautiful heartstar pink diamond, rare and precious and almost a carat, set in a gorgeous platinum filigree band. "Well? What do you think?"

"It's beautiful. Classy. Like you."

Eileen beamed. "Oh, Sevvy! I'm so happy. I haven't felt like this since . . .I don't know when." She hugged him, drawing him up from the couch. "Dance with me, Severus!"

"Mum, you're being ridiculous! I can't dance." He protested.

"Then it's about time you learned, son." Laughing, she twirled him about with her.

He felt like a newborn giraffe, all long legs and tangled up feet. "Mum, are you . . . drunk?"

"Severus! I only had two glasses of wine!" she scolded, giving him a playful swat on the bottom.

"Sorry, but you usually don't act like this," he apologized.

"It's not every day the man I love asks me to marry him either," she returned. "Here, put your arm about me, like this. You're a boy, so you have to learn to lead."

"I feel like an idiot. Mum, please!" He could feel his face heating with embarrassment.

"Sev, pay attention. You need to learn how to dance at my wedding, you'll be dancing with me for one song, at least."

"When's the wedding?"

"July 20th."

"In three weeks!" he yelped, trying to follow her in a circle.

"Yes, I know it's sudden but why should we wait? It's not going to be a large wedding, just close friends and you, Sev. I'll ask Polly if she knows a good caterer, and maybe Walla Black knows a place that we can rent for a few hours, she's always had good connections when it comes to halls and such."

"Sure, Mum. Whatever you say."

"Severus, don't get cheeky."

He smirked at her. "I wasn't. Much. Picked out a dress yet?"

"No. That's the next thing. Going shopping." Her eyes took on that animated glow particular to women when the shopping gene gets turned on in their brains.

"Have fun."

"Oh, I will. And you get to go shopping too."

"What for?"

"You need new dress robes for the occasion, Sev. Dickon will take you to Madam Malkins."

Severus groaned. He hated formal wear. "Can't I just wear my old robes Glamoured?"

"Certainly not! You're getting new ones and that's that."

He rolled his eyes. "Whatever, Mum."

She gave him another swat, and said warningly, "Severus Snape, don't you sass me."

He smirked even more. "I wasn't, ma'am." Then he picked her up off her feet and spun her around, laughing. "Now that was sassing you," he said impudently, after he had set her down.

"Impudent brat!" She was laughing, however.

"I love you, Mum. And I'm glad you finally found a man that makes you happy and doesn't treat you like a piece of trash. But if he ever does . . .count on me to stomp his arse good."

"I will, son." She brushed his hair back from his eyes. "You need a haircut."

"Mum, for Godsake! I'm not the one getting married."

"Haircut, Severus. No arguments. Or else no potions lab."

He gaped at her. "But Mum, that's . . .you'd ground me over a haircut?"

"No, I'd ground you over embarrassing me by looking like some punk kid the cat dragged in." She returned crisply. "The hair gets cut, Severus."

"How much?"

"Three inches."

"Three inches! No way! I'll be bald."

"Don't exaggerate. You'll have it almost shoulder length."

"I don't look good with short hair. I look like a geek."

Eileen gave him a Look.

"Fine! But don't expect me to look good in any pictures." He snapped.

"Sev, stop being dramatic. It's hair, it'll grow back."

He sighed. "Any other ways you want to torture me for the wedding?"

"Be careful, young man, or I'll make you dance more than once with me."

"Then your feet will suffer," he pointed out. "Is Lily going to be invited?"

"Of course. Lily and Petunia will be in the wedding party. And so will you and Dickon's brothers."

"Oh. Wonder what they're like?"

"I'm sure they're decent people, son. Muggles though, except for one, so watch the magic around them."

"Yes, Mother."

She kissed his cheek. "I love you too, Sev. Now why don't you go to bed? You'll have to get up early tomorrow for your fitting."

Severus bit back another groan and then he bid his mother goodnight. This wedding business sounded like a huge pain in the arse. When it came time for Lily and him to marry, they were eloping to Scotland, he decided. At Gretna Green you could get a license and get married in five minutes and avoid all the fuss.

He undressed and fell on his bed, Sorrel came and curled up on his chest and purred him to sleep.

Hope you all enjoyed this one.

Next: the wedding and some more surprises!