"Sev, did you hear me?"

He startled and looked at the redhead next to him. "Sorry, what?"

"It's good to know you pay attention to me," Lily said, but the teasing lilt in her voice gave her away.

"I was just thinking," Severus said.

"Again?" Lily deadpanned.

"Yes," Severus quipped. "It's something one ought to do frequently."

"Ah, I see. I would have never thought so," said Lily. "Here I thought it was a rare privilege."

Severus rolled his eyes.

"Can I ask what's had you distracted?" Lily inquired, more seriously.

"Just some odd dreams I've been having for a while," Severus explained. There was no point in lying. "They've been getting worse the last couple weeks since everything that happened in Hogsmeade."

They had been. The dreams were becoming more graphic and unpleasant. They were also occurring with a much greater frequency. He had mostly just chalked it up to stress, but they were still unnerving.

"Nightmares?" she inquired.

"No," said Severus. "Not entirely." A pause. "I'm not precisely sure how to explain it."

Lily frowned.

"I'm not sure what you mean?" she asked.

"It… I don't know… it just feels more real than a typical dream," said Severus. "That being said, most of them aren't exactly pleasant."

Lily gave him a searching look.

"Like a repressed memory or something?" Lily inquired, her full attention focused on him.

"I'm older in most of them, so that's rather unlikely," said Severus, frowning.

He had been put under Imperius. One of the side effects was memory charms collapsing. In this case, though, it seemed to be extremely improbable. Like he had told Lily, there was too much of an age difference in the dreams for them to have happened. There was no way he was divining anything either because he'd be joining the Death Eaters when hell froze over.

"What are they about?" Lily asked, curious.

"Mostly about the war," said Severus. "The Deatheaters. Dumbledore. Me."

"I think the war's been getting to everyone," said Lily, sighing, "especially the older students."

"That's certainly true," said Severus. "Everyone's worried about their families, or when the next attack is going to be. Then there's the fact that the seventh-years will be leaving Hogwarts before long."

"I'll give you that. Though, I can't say I've dreamt about it much," said Lily, "and certainly not in the way you've described. You said it's become worse? It was happening before? How long?"

Severus shrugged.

"On and off since the end of fifth year," said Severus. "It started right about the time when Potter and his cohorts decided to hang me upside down by my trousers."

Severus couldn't help but feel the colour rush to his face. It was still completely humiliating. People still made comments about it from time to time, but most had backed off when Severus said, under no uncertain terms, that he'd hex them to next week if they didn't leave him alone.

Plus, it had been quite some time since then, and most of the students had forgotten it, or no longer cared. For once he was happy with teenagers and their complete lack of an extended attention span.

Changing his look, and attitude didn't hurt either. Looking back, his life at Hogwarts was worlds away from what it had been. So much had changed. Some for ill, but the better part for good. He certainly wasn't going to complain about finally dating Lily.

A small smile creased his lips.

"Care to share?" she asked.

"Just thinking," he replied.

Smiling, she shook her head. "Never change, Sev. Never change."

So much had changed in the course of the last few years. Whether things would ever be normal again Lily couldn't say. The most noticeable change was with James. Both Severus and Lily could tell he was trying his utmost to respect their relationship. He did get a sad sort of look on his face when he saw them together though.

Lily was inordinately proud of how Severus was behaving in regards to James as well. This was the kindness that he had kept carefully hidden away for so long. Both, it appeared, had taken their promise of peace to heart. Once Lily heard about the conversation in the Room of Requirement, that right there had earned the broken-hearted Quidditch Captain a chaste hug.

Things with the other Marauders had changed as well. Remus Lupin had never particularly agreed with what his friends were doing, and so happily put everything to the side. Black still was standoffish, but seemed to hesitantly follow James' lead, and give Severus a chance.

Peter Pettigrew could be seen watching Severus in class, with almost a look of… reverence was the only way to put it.

All in all, it seemed everyone was growing up. War tended to do that to a person.

Unfortunately, not everyone was following suit.

Tuesday, after Alchemy, Severus was making his way to the Great Hall for dinner. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary until he was cornered by Peeves into a classroom off the Entrance Hall. He immediately found that Evan Rosier was waiting for him, accompanied by Lestrange and Stebbins.

Immediately the tension was so thick you could have cut it with a knife. Rosier smirked.

"That worked like a charm," Rosier said.

Severus immediately moved to leave, only to find Adrian now blocking the door.

"Let me out," hissed Severus.

"No," Rosier deadpanned. "I do believe it's time we had a little discussion."

"Don't be stupid," Severus said through gritted teeth. "There are over a hundred possible witnesses right outside that door."

"How dare you call me stupid, you filthy half-breed!" hissed Rosier. "I do believe Snape here needs to learn how to talk to his betters."

Severus turned slightly. "As though you're my better in any form." There. He'd done it. They were angry enough that they weren't paying attention to his subtle movements. He had snuck his wand into his hand.

Adrian found himself stunned and on the ground. Stebbins as well.

Then Severus found his own trick turned on him.

When he was paying attention to Stebbins, Rosier made his move.

"Alarte Ascendare."

Severus immediately found himself flown towards the wall. He also felt a searing pain as his arm collided with the stone.

Rosier smirked when he heard the distinctive crack.

"Aqua Eructo."

Severus's face was immediately covered in water.

Rosier laughed as Severus sputtered, and tried to block the water with his other hand.

"Not so tough now, are we, you little traitor?" Rosier was oozing mirth

Now Severus was seeing red. He had taken this type of thing for years, and he wasn't about to start this all again. Suddenly a breeze swept through the room. Severus smirked as Rosier paled.

Then the helmet from the suit of armour near the door rose, flew, and swiftly hit Rosier in the head.

While Rosier was getting back on his feet, Severus had seized his chance and recovered his fallen wand. He quickly made his way to the door.

Rosier grabbed Severus's, likely broken, arm. Severus winced.

He wasn't stopped long, however, as he quickly cast a nonverbal ascension charm. Rosier got a taste of his own medicine when he roughly flew across the room.

Severus quickly ran from the room before Rosier had a chance to recover.

He then made his way down the corridor to the Great Hall, and quickly took a seat beside Lily at the Gryffindor table, gladly in plain sight of any Professors. It wouldn't be long before Rosier undid the spells on Adrian and Stebbins if he hadn't already.

His arm kept bothering him throughout dinner though, and he got careless. Lily had noticed he was uncomfortable and had shot him curious looks throughout. She wasn't the only one.

Then he went a stupidly rested his left arm on the table. The sleeve of his robe then pulled up just far enough for her to catch a glimpse of a dark black mark on his arm.

"Sev, what's that?"

Not bothering to look up from his plate, he returned, "what?"

"Your arm. What's wrong?" Lily inquired.

He glanced over and swiftly pulled the sleeve down, trying not to wince again. "Nothing."

Lily had enough experience with Severus to know that this was the only answer she would get unless she forced the issue. So, she reached out and pushed the sleeve up before he could get out even a word of protest, not that she would have heard him over her gasp. Severus' entire forearm had started to turn black and blue.

"How did this happen?" Lily inquired.

"It's nothing, Lily. My trunk lid fell on it last night," he declared as he pushed the sleeve back down.

"Why didn't you go to Madame Pomfrey?" asked Marlene.

"For a little bruise?" said Severus, trying to feign indifference. "It'd hardly be worth the effort to walk up there."

"It looks broken!" Lily stated.

"Lil, can we not…" he pleaded.

Remus spoke up from a few seats down.

"She's right, mate. That looks awful."

"Lupin..." Severus started.

"Was it Stebbins?" Lily guessed. The very fact that he didn't respond let her know she had guessed correctly. "Did you tell a professor? Slughorn?"

"I… My telling will only make it worse."

"He wasn't alone, was he?" Lily asked quietly.

Severus shook his head.

"After dinner, you are going to see Madam Pomfrey," said Lily. "I'm not watching you go through sixth year all over again."

"Lil…."

"Severus Tobias Snape," said Lily, "you WILL go see Madam Pomfrey, even if I have to stun you and drag you there myself." Her tone gave no room for argument.

"Fine. I'll go," he grumbled. He then reached out and squeezed her hand.

She offered him a small smile.