Chapter 28 Saying Goodbye

Over the next few months following Severus' temporary tenure as DADA Professor, he and Lily spent much of their time split between the castle and their home. Cornell as expected returned to his teaching duties three weeks after he was bed-bound with the curse, and thankfully he'd retained just enough of his magic to continue teaching to his loftily high, self-imposed standards. Now that Patrick had grown some more and was nearing six months old, Merope started assisting Albus full time, with the house elves under Albus' stewardship responsible for raising the youngster during the day, sometimes with assistance from Severus and Lily if either of them was free. Patrick was proving to be quite the inquisitive young boy, already babbling away in his basic brand of English much to Lily's delight, it seemed her attempts at helping him learn to speak were paying off, he truly was a bright boy.

As they had been doing since the beginning of their new lease on life, Severus and Lily continued to keep a close watch on the youngster through bi-daily castle visits to take care of him whilst Merope taught. A few times a month, they were even allowed to bring him out to Muggle London to get the young boy familiar with Muggle Society as a whole from a young age. Lily reasoned it would help to overcome his Anti-Muggle tendencies that drove him in their previous life. Due to Merope's now full-time job as Albus' assistant, Severus and Lily no longer had to fight tooth and nail to find an excuse to bring Patrick out of the castle on a 'Godfather and Godmother Excursion' as they liked to call it. Patrick loved it every time they brought him out of the castle, and he always came back smiling and giggling away; so try as she might, Merope couldn't argue the results of Patrick's 'Godfather and Godmother Excursions.'

Before long however, term ended on a sunny Mid-June day, and with it, came an end to the tenures of Cornell Bracket and Marjorie Williams as Professors of DADA and Charms at Hogwarts. The happy-go-lucky DADA Professor and the stern, yet warm Charms Professor were honored by Headmaster Dippet at the leaving feast, with their replacements also being invited along to spend one last meal with the outgoing Professors. Severus sat on the far right-hand side of the hall with Cornell, overlooking his Ravenclaws, all of whom were sad to see their Professor leave, but were looking forward to Professors Oswald's promotion to being their head of house, and also Severus' assumption of the DADA post come their return to school next year.

Lily meanwhile sat on the far-left side of the hall with Marjorie, the two women enjoying one last good-spirited debate on charm application whilst overlooking Marjorie's Slytherins. Horace Slughorn would soon be elevated to the role of Head of Slytherin House and thus he was sitting near the outgoing and incoming Charms Professor in an attempt to make inroads into the insular House he was a part of as a student. Despite the portly man's attention being fixed on the regal, haughty students sat below him at their table, he was growing rather weary of the two Charms Mistresses' increasingly intense debate.

The two outgoing Professors' last meal was certainly one to remember since as the end of year feast was winding down, and food and goblets draining from the five tables, Dippet, ever the strict Headmaster(but just this once, he'd be slipping out of character), decided to have a little fun with the students at Marjorie's and Cornell's expense. Dippet got to his feet and in a rare public display of humor and apparent comedic wit, he guided the students in a self-composed farewell song for the two longtime Professors. The students sang in time for the most part, the only issues being the numerous octaves that separated the first and seventh years and the intentional out of key singing from a large contingent of Gryffindors(a trio of Fifth year troublemakers Severus had earmarked as a problem during his three weeks of teaching).

Cornell and Marjorie were far too busy singing along with the students to care for the trio of lions' off key singing so Severus shot them a stern glare that worked miracles in improving their singing. As the song died down, the entire hall erupted into raucous applause for the two professors, although Lily and Severus both felt more of the applause was directed at the universally popular Cornell. Marjorie, while beloved by the Slytherins under her charge, had built up a reputation similar to Severus over the years, and despite being loved by a good portion of the school, there were certain groups that loathed her teaching style and methods. The soon-to-be Professor Evans whom they'd acquainted themselves with as a result of her guest lectures seemed to be far more warm than the brusque Professor Williams.

When the song reached its conclusion and the farewell applause for the two professors had died down, the students began filing out of the hall with the Professors, current, outgoing and new hanging behind. As the stragglers left the hall, guided by their prefects; Dippet rose from his throne-like chair and tapped his goblet with his knife. "Might I have all of your attention please?" He asked, his eyes glancing over the rest of his seated colleagues.

"You already have it Armando, why don't you go on and tell us what you were going to say?" Marjorie asked sardonically.

Dippet's lip twitched into a brief smile at his colleague's wit. "I think…if we are all in agreement of course, that we should retire to our lounge. Perhaps one last round of drinks is in order to send off our soon to be missed colleagues," he announced. "Severus, Lily, you two are also more than welcome to join us, of course. We shan't be excluding you from our celebration," he added, glancing at the two youngest professors in his company.

"I think that's a wonderful idea Armando," Marjorie said, standing from her seat and knocking back the rest of her wine after toasting the Headmaster.

"I too, agree. I have yet to see Severus drunk so I insist that he attend as well!" Cornell added, standing from his own chair whilst grinning cheekily first at the Headmaster to his right, then turning to face Severus on his other side.

"Keep dreaming old man, I refuse to inebriate myself around you or anyone for that matter," Severus returned dryly, a smirk of his own etched on his face as he stared up at his mentor from his seated position.

"An old man can't help but hope though can he? Besides…it's your last night before your tenure as a fully-fledged member of the staff, you should let your hair down…so to speak, it'd do wonders for you Severus."

"Now now Cornell, don't pressure young Severus into drinking the night away," Dippet interjected, reprimanding his Deputy with a hint of mirth in his tone. "Merlin knows he may only be twenty two but he's got maturity that you my friend, sorely lack," he chuckled.

The rest of the table burst out into a polite spurt of laughter, their eyes finding the seated and standing duo of current and future DADA professors. Cornell smiled sheepishly back at his friends, whilst Severus pursed his lips and averted his gaze.

"Now you know that's not fair. Besides, out of all of us I'd say Professor Evans is the most Irish of us all. She drank like a bloody sailor at our end of term Yule party if you lot remember," Cornell retorted, grinning at the young redhead at the far left of the table.

She raised her glass in acknowledgement, "Yep that's me, the Irish drinker," she said, grinning. "But I have no intention of making Severus play babysitter again if we decide to get sloshed tonight so there shan't be a repeat performance."

"I appreciate the gesture of good will," Severus replied, raising his half-full goblet in a mock toast to his fiancee. "Taking care of a drunk Lily is not an experience I would wish upon even my greatest of enemies. Some might consider it…a fate worse than death, even."

The rest of the table descended into chortles of decidedly not polite laughter at the sudden appearance of Severus' dry wit, although the woman in question did not. She merely pursed her lips, lifted her nose in the air and looked away; doing her best impression of an unbothered pureblood snob-type look. Severus smirked at her reaction, having seen it many times before due to his close friendship with one Narcissa Malfoy. If he was being honest, Severus would admit that look unsettled him, bothered him even; and Lily was doing a particularly good job of emulating it.

"Hmm, yes Severus, I have no intention of finding out what an experience like that would entail," Dippet said as the chuckles died down. "Now I saw we adjourn to the teaching lounge, I know Cornell has been saving a few bottles of Ogden's finest for this occasion and I have something to contribute myself as well," Dippet announced.

With murmured agreements, all the teachers stood from their chairs and headed down from the high table towards the staff entrance at the rear of the hall. Cornell and Marjorie, despite sitting by Severus' and Lily's respectively were swamped by their colleagues as soon as they'd stood from their chairs. Severus spotted her familiar head of red hair in the crowd and made his way towards her, ignoring the annoying voice of Teresa Sapling as she attempted to call him over. Merlin that woman is insufferable sometimes. A lot like Septima in some ways, Severus mused as he made his way to Lily.

Lily, who moments prior had been discussing something with Stephen O'Toole, the Arithmancy Professor, swung her head towards him as she sensed his approach. The two newest additions to Hogwarts' teaching staff hung back slightly and allowed the rest of their colleagues to file out of the now nearly empty Great Hall ahead of them. The fiancees fell into step with one another, their hands clasped between them as they trailed after their colleagues.

"Ready to get sloshed Severus?" Lily teased, grasping his hand with hers as they sauntered from the hall behind the chattering trio of O'Toole, Burke and Oswald.

He sighed, although the smirk tugging at his lips conveyed his amusement to Lily, "sometimes I forget you still have the mind of a twenty one year old. There is little appeal to me in getting drunk."

"Ah yes, I forgot you left your…shall we call them, baser tendencies behind a long time ago," Lily whispered, grinning up at him salaciously.

"Where they belong," Severus replied swiftly with a grin of his own forming on his face.

"Still though Sev, you should try to let your hair down a little tonight. I don't think I've ever seen you more than slightly tipsy, have I?" Lily asked, casting him a sidelong glance through her curtain of hair.

"That may be so," Severus agreed, with an inclined head. "But have you ever wondered why that might be the case?"

Lily's eyes widened in surprise, the blush rising on her cheeks one of shame. "Right…I'd forgotten. Anyways, the point of tonight isn't for that is it? It's to say good bye to Marjorie and Cornell."

"Yes, but judging by how their time is currently being monopolized by our more senior colleagues…I doubt we shall be able to spend as much time with either of them tonight as we would have liked."

He nodded his head forward, with Lily following his prompt her emerald eyes fell upon the back of her mentor, Marjorie Williams, she was currently surrounded by a gaggle of professors that usually didn't spend much time with her. "Look at Marjorie, she's not the social butterfly Cornell is at all, yet she's already attracted her own crowd there from the looks of things, Sapling, O'Toole, Oswald, and May."

"So it seems," Lily agreed, her gaze still following the tall Charms Professor and the others that vied for her attention.

Her lip curled, and her hand tightened around Severus' as she turned to glance at him with a coy look. "I guess that means more time for just us tonight then. And I don't think either of us would object to that," she murmured, leaning against his side.

Severus glanced down at her, eyes softening as he saw her adoring look. "I wouldn't complain about that at all. Since when have I ever complained about spending time with you? I don't recall ever being miffed at you being in my presence."

She chuckled lightly, leaning into his side as she replied; "how about the time when I accidentally ruined our potion in fourth year by adding too much fluxweed?"

He appeared pensive for a moment, but his eyes then shone with a spark of recognition. "That is true, a regrettable occurrence, but it really was rather dunderheaded of you to have done that. For the most part you were nearly as good as me at Potions, so how you could have made such a boneheaded decision was beyond me," he chuckled.

Lily frowned, as she expelled a quiet huff. "Even the best of us make mistakes Sev, not even you are immune from that. remember that time in Second Year when you blew your Cauldron sky high because you added too many Frog Eyes to your wit-sharpening potion?"

"That only happened once," Severus huffed, tiredly. "I have never destroyed a cauldron since I'll have you know. I learn from my mistakes. Unlike someone else I just so happen to know…"

"Now you wouldn't be referring to your's truly would you?" Lily asked, mock flattery lacing her tone as she placed her fingers on her chest.

"What would ever have you think that?"

"No reason…just a suspicion, you could say," she replied nonchalantly.

She didn't miss the subtle smirk that curled Severus' lip, nor did he miss the grin that formed on hers. They continued down the corridor hand in hand, following the laughter of their colleagues; some of whom may have already had a little too much to drink just from the end of year banquet alone. Before long, they arrived at the entrance to the staff room, a nondescript dark spruce wood door that was guarded by a pair of enchanted gargoyles not unlike the one that guarded the Headmaster's office. Dippet at the lead of the group muttered the password and with simultaneous bows, the two gargoyles leapt out of the way and the dark door swung open. The teachers filed into the room, with Dippet entering last after his two newest colleagues. The door behind Dippet swung shut with a thud and with a casual wave of his hand, the torches mounted along the walls all lit up in sequence.

Lily and Severus, along with the rest of their teaching colleagues had their attention drawn to the middle of the room where Cornell was clearing his voice loudly.

"May I have your attention please?" his sonorous voice carried over the room, echoing off the high ceiling and walls.

His colleagues spun on their heels to face him, expectant looks on their faces as the bombastic DADA Professor grinned back at them.

"Carry on my dear friend," hollered O'Toole from the back.

"Indeed I shall. I'd like to first say a few words…then I'm sure Marjorie would like the same courtesy, and then we can start with what we're really here for. I'm sure Lily is all rearing to go."

"That is not true," Lily retorted hotly. "I am drinking responsibly tonight, as should all of you."

The rest of the room burst out into laughter with Cornell adding; "Who are you and what have you done with Lily Evans?"

The laughter increased, with even Severus contributing with a subtle snort; all that earned him was a none too pleased whack on his arm from an indignant Lily. "Anyways, to get back on track, what I wanted to say was that I am truly honored, and blessed to have called this place my home for the past twenty years. I wasn't sure if another institution would take me after the mess at…Durmstrang I was embroiled in, so I was over the moon when you decided to hire me, Headmaster. Thank you Armando."

He gave a deep bow to the imperious looking Headmaster who despite his usually severe expression, was now sporting a small grin. "One of the best hiring decisions I've ever made. The honor was all mine, Cornell. You have served admirably as Hogwarts' Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor and the school and all of us that call it home wish you nothing but the best."

"Well you know me Headmaster," Cornell chuckled. "Since when have I ever not given teaching my all?"

His colleagues chuckled in response, more than happy to share a few more laughs with their beloved Deputy Headmaster.

"Now that's enough about me, I'm sure Marjorie would like to share a few words herself. Won't you, Marge?"

Marjorie smiled, moving from the periphery of the crowd that had gathered around the boisterous DADA Professor to stand by his side. The Charms Professor cleared her throat, and the attention of the room's occupants shifted from Cornell to her.

"First things first, I'd like to thank Armando, for…hiring me all those years ago, and helping me find employment. Being a charms mistress back in the day as I'm sure you're all aware wasn't the most desired occupation. So you, Headmaster, helped me in ways I can't repay. And for keeping me on in all the years since, I thank you. The last thirty years of my life have been the best, and I can't emphasize enough just how much I shall miss all of you," Marjorie said.

Her eyes fell on Lily, her replacement, and the woman that had been one of the few people to have thawed her heart. "To Lily, I wish you the best of luck in your tenure as Hogwarts' Charms Professor. I know you will do exceptionally well and leave the stamp of your own legacy at this illustrious institution just as I have."

A glint appeared in Marjorie's deep blue eyes, and Lily recognized it right away. A smile tugged at the corners of Lily's lips in anticipation of what Marjorie was about to say. "I know you shall do well, and I believe the students shall enjoy your tenure far more than they did mine, my dear. After all…we all know that you have quite the easygoing and cheery demeanor in regard to your students. So you might want to change that so they don't try to have their way with you," she chided teasingly.

"She's right you know Evans," hollered a voice from the back, it belonged to Stephen O'Toole, the Arithmancy professor. The raven-haired Northern-Irishman had his hands cupped to his face in an effort to amplify his volume. "You're just setting yourself up for trouble. Young Professors like yourself have got to lay down the law, otherwise the students'll start taking advantage of your easygoing nature!"

"You're one to talk Stephen!" Shouted another voice, this time from Hogwarts' Quidditch and Flying Instructor, Caroline Burke. "From what I recall, your students walked all over you for months when you first started! Remember that time when Potter and Gaspard nearly—"

"There's no need to recount that, I believe all of us are well aware of what happened already," O'Toole interrupted hastily, using a sonorous charm to drown out Burke's words. "The point being, Evans is too much of a softie to—"

"Last I checked this evening was supposed to be a goodbye to two beloved Professors who have spent decades of their life in service to this school and its students, wasn't it?" Lily interrupted, shouting back at O'Toole. "So enlighten me as to why it has devolved into a 'let's make fun of Lily' evening?"

"Snape got the same treatment you did. If you were here a few months ago we all had a go at him when he was just starting!"

Lily whirled around to face Severus, leaning up on her toes, she whispered; "is this true? They had a go at you as well?"

"It's tradition," Severus whispered back, smirking at her.

"And you didn't think to tell me?"

"That's part of the tradition," he deadpanned.

Lily huffed angrily and released a pent-up, exasperated sigh. "You're simply impossible, Severus."

"Yes I know," Severus said more loudly, causing several of the adjacent staff members to turn around. "But you should've thought of that earlier before you agreed to marry me."

Once more, the room descended into laughter, even Marjorie and Dippet, the two most serious people in the room except for the joke-teller himself couldn't restrain a few laughs at Severus' quip. Even the butt of the joke herself couldn't hold back the ear-splitting grin that formed on her face. Determined not to have the last laugh, she leaned up on her toes, threw her arms around his neck, and before he could voice his shock or surprise, kissed him soundly on the lips in plain view of all their colleagues. The reception was rather mixed to say the least. Some of the staff members erupted into raucous applause, others released a gasp of shock and surprise. It was common knowledge amongst the staff that Lily and Severus had been engaged for the past two to three months and had planned to wed over the Yule Break, but so far the couple had remained from any public displays of affection.

His lips tasted as soft as velvet, as they always did, and Severus felt her smile into the kiss for a brief moment before she pulled away, a faint blush on her cheeks. Severus too was sporting a blush of his own, but it appeared far more pronounced owing to his paler complexion. As Lily opened her mouth to speak; a shout from Cornell from across the room, drew everyone's attention back to him.

"That's enough of that. I think Marge and I have said all we have to say in regard to you lot. Whaddya say we get the celebration underway?" He hoisted two bottles of Ogden's finest into the air, one in each hand as the rest of the room cheered in approval.

In the far corner of the room by the door, the Potions Master of one year, Horace Slughorn heaved a heavy sigh and shrugged his shoulders.

"At least save a glass or two for me would you? It's the least you lot could do for me since you stuck me with patrolling duties tonight," Horace sighed.

"Sorry about the patrolling Horace," Cornell replied in sympathy. "But don't you worry, we'll save you a few drinks for when you get back," he promised, throwing the rotund young man a wink.

The Potions master sighed, before pushing open the door and heading from the lounge to begin his rounds. Whilst Horace dawdled about the castle, ensuring no students were breaking curfew on their last night of the year, the remaining staff members enjoyed several rounds of drinks. Dippet's mystery drink, a bottle of Muggle-made rum was a huge hit, even more so than Cornell's fire-whiskey. Staying true to her word, Lily carefully moderated her drinks, although Severus kept a close eye on her regardless; needless to say, he had no desire to repeat his duties as a glorified baby-sitter. As the night wound on, Severus and Lily meandered around the teachers lounge interacting with a few of their future colleagues, well…more so Lily than Severus, but he at least made an effort to strike up conversation with Oswald and Albus. As the pair headed over to the fireplace, Lily spotted Marjorie and Cornell waving them over from their seat on the couch. Severus, who hadn't seen them just yet felt Lily tug on his hand and saw her incline her head over to the two outgoing professors who were currently nursing their glasses of rum.

"Ah, Severus, Lily, we've been meaning to talk to you," Cornell greeted as they neared.

"Please have a seat," Marjorie added, gesturing to the opposite couch.

Severus and Lily both dropped onto the couch as requested. "So what did you want to speak with us about?" Severus ventured.

The two professors exchanged a look, then glanced back to their younger counterparts. "We wanted to personally wish you both the best of luck as our replacements come next year," Cornell began, his gaze flickering between them—eyes shining with gratitude.

"We know you're aware…but we've been searching for a while to find suitable replacements for our posts. And both of you…you've surpassed our expectations by leaps and bounds," Marjorie added, an almost never-seen smile on her face.

"That's why, we've decided to donate a significant portion of our own personal libraries to both of you," Cornell finished.

"But they're your books!" Lily blurted out, unconscious of her volume that attracted a few stares from their nearby colleagues.

"We know. But the two of you represent the youngest professors Hogwarts has ever hired. You in particular Lily, are the youngest by—"

"Twenty one days," she finished, grinning at her fiancee. "I know, but we get your point, we're young and relatively inexperienced and have plenty to prove."

"Exactly. Although compared to others that are twenty-two, I am sure your experience would trump most. Still, having some books to peruse over the summer break should hopefully assist you both on your path to becoming valued and well-learned Professors at Hogwarts."

"This is most generous of you—both of you. But we can't accept. These tomes are rightfully yours, it wouldn't be right for Lily and I to take them off of you," Severus replied.

"Are you sure that's what you want Severus?" Cornell asked wryly, "either way. Marge and I are getting rid of these books, so they'll either go to you and Lily, or to the Hogwarts Library. It's your choice. We just thought that they would be put to greater use with you two."

"So you don't want these books at all then?" Severus asked flatly.

"We have no use for them," Marjorie replied with a shrug. "So wouldn't they be better suited with you and Lily rather than collecting dust in the restricted section?"

"I suppose not," Severus agreed.

As Cornell opened his mouth to reply, he was interrupted by a loud yawn ringing out from the slightly tipsy Lily, a yawn that she was either too out of it to cover up or too tired to even care.

"Forgive us, Cornell, Marjorie, but I think it's time that Lily and I take our leave. We would be delighted to have you over to our home soon, but…it's getting rather late as you can see, so—"

"We understand perfectly my boy, still, we will see you both tomorrow morning for our farewell, yes?"

"Of course, Cornell," Severus replied assuredly, making to stand from the sofa.

He extended a hand for Lily, which she used to pull herself to her feet. She wobbled slightly, her sense of equilibrium already affected slightly from Fire-whiskey. "Yeah…I think we'd better head on home. I think I've already had enough to drink…or at least Sev would say that," Lily chuckled, clutching at his arm to steady herself.

Severus' lip twitched into a grim smile. "I'll see you both tomorrow morning. And thank you. For the books and well—everything, really."

"It was our pleasure Severus, Cornell and I are just happy to have found suitable replacements for our posts in yourself and Lily. We'll see you two bright and early tomorrow."

"We wouldn't miss it for the world," Lily replied, smiling at them, before she and Severus headed over to the fireplace to floo home.

Upon arriving in their homely cottage, Severus and Lily wasted no time in shedding their outer robes and depositing them onto the nearest possible piece of furniture. Holding each other tightly—more so Lily holding Severus than the other way around, they went upstairs into their room. As they ascended the stairs, they were practically shoving their underclothes off each other in their haste to disrobe. Stark nude, the two lovers stumbled over each other in their semi-tipsy state and practically fell on top of one another into their bathtub. Their water slick bodies laid bare against one another, they lovingly bathed each other, using copious amounts of soap and shampoo to lather each other up. What started as simple, yet gentle caresses soon giving way to much more. Before long, they were in need of yet another bath, one they were only too happy to partake in…until the hot water ran out.

Soon after their nightly rituals had been performed and laid to rest, they slipped in under the sheets, Lily curled up like a cat against Severus' chest. With a lazy wave of his hand, the lights in their room dimmed, and the window cracked open to relieve the stuffiness of the room. As he laid there, he noticed a certain tenseness in Lily's back as she laid against him, bringing his hand to her side, he gently pulled her against him.

"Is something wrong Lily?" Severus murmured, his lips hovering by her ear.

"No…nothing's the matter," Lily muttered quietly, her eyes unseeing and seemingly staring blankly into the darkness of the room. "Just doing a bit of thinking," she clarified.

"About what?"

"Next year."

All of sudden, she twisted around his arms, flipping from her right side to her left so that she was facing him, their noses almost touching. In a frantic tone of voice, she asked; "Do you think I'm ready?"

"Of course," Severus said simply, in such a calm tone of voice almost anyone would believe him. Lily didn't buy into it.

"Don't just say that because you like me Sev. I'm being serious. Do you think I'm ready?"

"I do," Severus said firmly, yet reassuringly. He brought his hand up to his unsure fiancee's face, and cupped her cheek gently. "I'm not just saying that because you're my fiancee nor because I love you. I genuinely believe that. You could even…legilimens me if you wish and you'll find nothing but truth in my words."

"Severus you were able to fool one of the most powerful wizards in all of history, what chance is there of little old me being able to tell a lie from a truth?"

Severus flashed her a fond smile, his hand moved to brush a lock of hair away from the eyes he loved so dearly. "Have I ever been able to lie to you? You see right through me, you're the only person who can legitimately say you can see right through Severus Snape. And I…am one of the few that can say the same of you. Believe me when I say that you're more than ready. All you have to do is just…be yourself. Everyone loves you Lily, I'm not like that. Just be you and it will all work out."

"I don't think I can be myself to a tee exactly though Sev," Lily murmured, her voice uncannily unsure of herself. "I mean…I'm sure I'll have to be strict at times, and I'll have to learn how to…take points, give detentions, that sort of thing too. So I can't exactly be me. More like me but…twenty percent stricter."

"Thirty percent," Severus grinned, leaning across the gap to kiss her.

"Twenty, Sev, don't push it," Lily teased back, her finger upon his lips halting his advance.

"Alright twenty it is," he surrendered, his lip twitching upwards against her finger.

She pulled her digit back, only to replace it with her lips seconds later. Despite herself she smiled, knowing Sev always loved that feeling of her lips curling against his just as much as she did, perhaps even more. Feeling him smile against her lips was only a symptom of what she loved though, for what she loved was her ability to bring happiness. That feeling of knowing that she of all people could send Severus' soul into an oblivion of bliss was unlike any other. The fact that she could make him happy made her happy, she knew just how much misery had shrouded Severus' past life, and being able to bring him happiness was a gift she cherished and had no desire to relinquish. Still locked at the lips, they drifted off into a restful slumber soon after, pleasant dreams awaiting them. Whatever the future may bring, they'd face it together.

A/N: Time-skip coming up for the next chapter, and numerous Time-skips coming up after that. Next up, Lily and Severus are out for a date night. Thank you for reading, any feedback or reviews are appreciated!