A/N: Wow! Two chapters in one day! I was on a roll and decided to keep going. I really enjoyed writing this chapter, especially the second half of it! I really hope you like it too!

Disclaimer: Again, all rights and characters belong to Queen Rowling.

"How the bloody hell are we supposed to get into Malfoy Manor, somehow manage to find the diary, and get out, all before Malfoy or someone realizes we are there?" Sirius asked in the Room of Requirement. They had returned to school after Christmas holidays, and Lily had just told them what she had seen and heard. She had told James later that night after the party, but they decided to wait and tell the others when they got back to school, so as not to raise suspicion to Peter.

"You know who would be able to do it?" Marlene said, looking at Lily.

Lily sighed and said, "I know, but how do I get him to switch sides?"

"Dumbledore said something to him that night you were hurt, and it must have scared him, because he was even paler than usual," Dorcas said.

"Wait, who are we talking about?" Sirius asked.

"But how do I know how much to tell him about?" Lily asked.

"Hello?" Sirius asked again, trying to get someone to answer him.

"Talk to Dumbledore and ask him what he said to Severus, maybe-"

"What the shite, we are not asking Snivellus-"

"Sirius, shut the hell up! There is more at stake here, than your hatred of Snape!" Remus exclaimed causing everyone to stop talking. Dorcas smiled and grabbed his hand.

"Remus is right," she said. "In the future Severus does switch sides-"

"Only because Lily is marked for death," Sirius ground out, his arms crossed.

"-and he saves Harry," she continued, as if Sirius hadn't spoken a word. "We all," she said while looking directly at Sirius and glancing at James, "need to give him a chance. He may be our only hope of getting that diary."

James looked at Lily who was sitting beside him with her elbows on her knees, her hands clenched together. "Lily, if anyone can get him to switch sides, it's you. You have to try."

She looked at him and knew he was right. Nodding, she looked at everyone in the room. If they didn't get the diary, and the other horcrux's, everyone sitting here would be dead—they'd have no future. True, she didn't know about Marlene or Dorcas in the future, she didn't exactly have time to ask anyone. But Sirius, Remus, James and her—they all would be killed for sure. She still had nightmares of seeing Remus lying on the floor dead.

"It's time to grow up," she said, looking sharply at Sirius. "Yes, we are technically still kids, still in school. All we should be worrying about are our classes and grades, and quidditch practices. But there is a war starting out there. What James and I saw in the future, it was terrifying! But our s-son had had no childhood! He had been fighting Voldemort since he was 11! For Godrick's sake, he started an underground defense army, so he could teach other kids to fight and to defend themselves against what was coming!" Her friends' eyes widened. They hadn't been told that. "We have to get over our petty hatred of people who we desperately need right now! If we can't do that, then what is the point of all of this?"

No one said anything, letting Lily's words sink in around them. "Well said love," James said, rubbing her shoulders and kissing her head. "Alright, Lily will talk to Dumbledore and hopefully have a chance at talking to Snape."

"What about these 'plans' Malfoy and the other death eater were talking about?" Marlene asked.

"I'll tell Dumbledore all I heard. Surely he'll tell others to be on their guard. He's got the Order of the Phoenix, so maybe they can somehow get the word out."

"I don't know, you never know who you can trust anymore," Sirius said.

James looked at Sirius sadly. "Padfoot, have you been able to talk to Regulus anymore?"

"No," he said sternly, looking into the fire.

"Keep trying Sirius," Marlene said, reaching over and grabbing his arm. "He's your brother. It may not seem like it now, but if anyone can get him to listen and to help us, it's you."

Sirius looked at her, and seemed conflicted. He nodded and said, "Yeah, I'll keep trying. The prat's gotta listen to me sooner or later."

Remus rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Alright, let's head to bed. We've got a big day tomorrow. Er, at least, Lily has a big day tomorrow," he said almost sheepishly.

Lily smiled at him. "Thanks Remus."

oOo~oOo~oOo

"You showed him everything?" Lily asked, dumbstruck.

"I did. I realized after seeing your memories of the future and those of future Mr. Snape, that he would do anything to protect you, keep you safe, including in this time." Dumbledore's eyes were twinkling again, and Lily couldn't help but think he was enjoying this.

"But, if he is a follower of Voldemort, won't he dig into his mind and –"

"Ah, we are taking care of that," Dumbledore interrupted her. "I am personally giving him occlumency lessons, so we do not have that issue, and he is doing remarkable! Also, he is not, as of yet, a death eater. He believes he is close to becoming one, but for now, he is not."

Lily was in shock. "So, so he is a spy for us now? I don't have to talk him into it?"

"Oh I think you should still talk to him. After learning of what happens to you in the future, and knowing he had a hand in it, he is still struggling with it all. I think it would do him, and you, a great deal of good if you talk to him."

Lily wasn't sure if she felt dread or excitement. To get to talk to her best friend again. But then to be able to talk to him when he knows everything that will happen. That there won't be a chance for him and her to be together, not that she had ever thought that way of Severus, but she knew now that he had those thoughts. "Ugh," she sighed heavily, while rubbing her temples hard.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door, and Lily's head shot up.

"Ah, right on time, do come in," Dumbledore said.

Entering the room was none other than Severus Snape. He looked excited for a moment until he closed the door and realized Lily was there also, and his face immediately registered shock and surprise.

"Erm, I can come back. I thought I had, a - "he stuttered, trying to think of a reason as to why he would be in Dumbledore's office.

"No, please sit-down Mr. Snape. There has been a new development, and we believe you will be of some assistance, if you are willing. I will let Miss Evans explain to you. I have another appointment, but we will still have your lesson, Mr. Snape," Dumbledore explained, before he walked out of his office, leaving the two teenagers staring at the door, both hoping he would come back.

Finally, Lily broke the silence. "Sev, could you please sit down? You're making me nervous."

Severus sighed, realizing he wouldn't be able to get out of this conversation, and sat down, still avoiding looking at Lily.

"Sev, can you please-"

"What is the development?" he said instantly.

Lily looked at him sadly, realizing he really didn't want to chit chat. Well she didn't either, but she had hoped—Sighing, she said, "Voldemort gave Malfoy the diary."

Severus' head snapped up and he looked at Lily. "How could you possibly know that?"

"I saw it happen. Someone, I don't know who he was, was talking to Malfoy in one of the rooms at James' house and –"

Severus snorted. "Of course! Of course you were at the Potter's big Christmas celebration!"

"Will you shut it and let me tell you what I heard?"

"I know, okay so he gave Malfoy the diary, and you all want me to get it. What makes you think I even want to help you?"

"Because you love me!" She said, instantly stopping his shouting. He looked at her wide eyed and shook his head.

"Just because you saw some memories from someone who was supposed to be me in the future, doesn't mean it was me. I doesn't mean I feel that way!" he said firmly. She wasn't sure if he was trying to reassure her of that or himself.

"Severus, I know you love me, and I know you always have," she said softly, trying to keep her emotions in check so she didn't start crying. "I know I have hurt you, especially since I am with James, but-" she continued seeing he was about to interrupt her "-I'm going to tell you the same thing I told him and my friends last night. If we don't stop with our petty hatred towards each other, nothing is going to change! That future that I saw - that I witnessed, is going to happen! You will give information to Voldemort, and he will think it's James and I! I will be marked for death, and be killed! You will blame yourself for the rest of your life! My son's will have to fight for his life, and the life of those he loves for 7 years!" She started choking with emotion, tears rolling down her face. "So many people will die! You will die! Sev, I am sorry I hurt you, and I'm sorry that no matter what I say, it will not take that hurt away, but I will not apologize for being with James."

"You're only with him because of what you saw!" Severus jumped out of his chair at her. "If you hadn't gone to the future and saw that you had married him and had a son, you wouldn't be with him!"

"Yes I would!" she stood and shouted back at him, her words causing him to step back. She sighed and said softly," Sev, I have had feelings for James for a year or so, I just never wanted to act on them. One reason is because he was such a prick to you, but mainly because of you. I kept holding on to that string of hope that one day you would stop hanging out with Malfoy and the others, and you would want to be my friend again. This trip to the future just kind of jump started it for us." She sat back down and waited for him to say something, but she didn't dare look at him.

"Lils, why him?" he asked softly, sitting back down and moving his chair closer to hers. "I mean, of all people, why him?"

Lily shrugged. "I'm not with him because you hate him Sev. I love him." He realized her tears were falling off her face and onto her hands now. "I can't explain it, but seeing those images, those memories of us, hell even the memory of us—of him dead, when I saw that, I felt like my heart had been crushed and, I felt like a piece of me had died. I don't know when I realized I loved him, if it was then or what, but I do. I love him."

Severus sighed heavily. "Look Lily, I saw the memories, everything you saw, and I can't even imagine actually being there while he was attacking the school. It tore me up seeing that it was essentially because of me that you were targeted and killed, and seeing you lying there dead – I, I guess I can only say I felt like you did when you saw Potter. My heart felt crushed, like my whole world had ended." Lily looked at him and saw he was having a hard time finding words. "After we left the pensieve, Dumbledore talked to me, and had asked me about becoming a spy, like I supposedly will in the future, after your d-death, but I don't want to wait till your k-killed. I don't want that to happen!"

Lily smiled softly at him and wiped the lone tear that escaped down his cheek. "Sev, with your help, we can save so many lives, including ours. I can't promise James and Sirius will always be cordial towards you, and I know you can't promise you will either. But for the sake of our lives, I am truly thankful you're willing to help us."

Severus rubbed the back of the neck. "You do realize I am risking my life for people who hate me?"

"And they know that, and believe it or not, they truly appreciate it, just like I do."

He gave her a small smile. "Lils, I have missed you."

"I've missed you too Sev," she said while reaching forward and wrapping her arms around him. She held him tightly. "I've always thought of you as my best friend, even after what you said to me. And you will always be my best friend."

He pulled away and looked into her eyes. Her bright emerald green eyes, eyes he had always loved. He knew she would never be his. If there ever had been a chance, he burned that chance when he called her that terrible name. It was no one's fault but his, and he had to live with it. But if it meant having her in his life, alive, he would accept it. He had to. He was going to do all he could to make sure she lived a long life, even if it was with Potter.