AN: Hello! How've you guys been? Hope the weathers being nice to you wherever you live.


The sun shone its brilliant golden rays on her red hair as Lily sat at the edge of the lake, dipping her feet in the cool water. The N.E.W.T.'s were done with which meant life at Hogwarts was almost over too.

"Hey, Evans!" someone called out.

"What do you want, Potter?" she shot back, turning around with a disgusted look. The Head Boy was strutting toward her, shirt untucked, tie hanging loosely around his neck, and The Smirk playing on his lips. The remaining Marauders were walking a little behind him, cheering him on. Merlin! they were so immature.

"Fancy a swim?" James asked Lily, grinning crookedly at her, his dark as night hair standing up every which way. Lily smiled up sweetly at him and fluttered her lashes.

"Never even in your wildest dreams," she almost purred. With a lazy flick of her wand, the six foot tall boy went flying into the lake. Sirius, Remus, Peter and Marlene roared with laughter at the sight of James sputtering and gasping for air. "But maybe you should ask the Giant Squid."

Alice made her way over to them along with Frank Longbottom. Lily had always liked Frank; he was a sweet boy with kind eyes, whose love for Alice showed clearly. They were the cutest pair around and it was almost certain they were made to last. Lily grinned up at her best friend who was shaking her head mock condescendingly at her.

"Play nice, Lily," she said, helping James over the edge of the lake. James crawled over to Lily, shook his hair dry at her and proceeded to lay himself across her lap, dampening everything he touched. From the corner of her eye, Lily could see a rowdy group of Slytherins walking past them and she got the unshakable feeling that she was being watched. She turned her head ever so slightly and caught the eye of a greasy haired boy with a hooked nose. She felt her heart plummet at the sight of him. He looked just as pasty as he had when they first met; but there was a difference. There was a look of remorse and almost sorrow etched onto his features with a mix of clear envy aimed at the boy reclining on her. Lily strengthened her resolve and looked away; she was past that now.

Lily and James were on one of their last rounds at Hogwarts that night. Lily was leaning out of a window, waiting for James to get back from the washroom.

"I don't know what you see in him," a nasal voice said from behind her. She smirked, recognising it all too well.

"Oh piss off, Snape," she said, turning around.

"What's gotten into you, Lily? Since when are you on his side?" Severus asked, sounding incredulous.

"His side?" Lily scoffed. "I'm not on anybodies side, Snape. I'm my own person but of course you don't see it like that. For you I'm just a pitiable, little mudblood."

"Lils..." he whispered, looking lost.

"Don't call me that. My friends call me that," she practically growled.

"Friends? Like Potter, you mean? That nasty toerag-"

"Well, aren't you one to comment on the company I keep?," Lily cut in. "You with your Deatheater friends. You make me sick," she hissed. She crossed her arms over her chest to stop her from reaching for her wand. Behind Snape she could see James walking toward them, glasses glinting in the candle light.

"What are you doing out of bed Snivelly?" he snarled, making Snape whip around. She could see him falter for a second at the sight of the Head Boy but he composed himself just as fast.

"I'm a prefect," he replied, failing at portraying confidence. James looked at him with disgust.

"Oh, is that so? Unless my memory is failing me, you're not on duty tonight," he said in an innocent voice. "Ten points from Slytherin," he said with a smile.

"You can't do that," Snape almost shouted indignantly.

"Ten more points for misconduct and just generally being such a fart," James was grinning now. If looks could kill, James would no longer have a pulse. Snape gave him one last glare before stalking off back into the darkness. James slowly walked over to a beaming Lily and pecked her softly on the lips.

"What?" he asked, looking a little puzzeled by her unconcealed happiness. Lily laughed and shook her head.

"I'm just very surprised by how well you handled that. I was positive he'd leave here with at least one broken limb."

"Nah, the trouble isn't worth it," he smiled, leaning forward to rest his forehead on hers. Lily kissed him once more before dragging him along to finish off their duties so that they could get back to the common room sofa quicker.


AN: Was that okay? The Snape-Lily chapter needed a little more closure which I hope I managed to achieve. Let me know what you thought in a PM or a review! It's deeply appreciated.

Take care of yourselves. Respect yourselves. Be nice to animals.

xx

Hunting Horcruxes