Lily sat by her trunk tapping her foot impatiently, Marlene should be here any minute and she just couldn't wait to get out of her house. The summer so far had been one horrible nightmare and now she hoped to spend the last two weeks of the holidays in peace. Her parents had to go back to work, so Lily was left alone at home to wait for her friends, but this was most peaceful she had been this summer. Petunia had finally married Vernon and Lily was the maid of honour but Petunia was as nice as a cranky cat. For some reason Petunia was convinced that Lily had cursed her to lose her baby, she was rather unpleasant with the idea that Lily had also saved her life. Her jabs about Lily being a freak were normal, but lately, before moving into Vernon's home, she kept asking about Severus. Lily sighed; Severus had tried to contact her once, when she was at the park. Lily had left immediately; to this day she couldn't understand the bizarre conversation she had with him.
Lily was sitting on one of the swings, her toe digging a hole in the ground. She had been here for some time; she needed time off to clear her head. A shadow sank on the swing next to hers, she didn't look up, she knew who he was.
"Lily." Severus said quietly.
"Severus."
"I would like to say something." Severus said, Lily was about to tell him that she didn't want to hear anything when he held his hand up and asked her to at let him finish what he was saying.
"I am sorry. I shouldn't have called you that word. I never meant it and I understand that I betrayed you and it would take you some time to forgive me. But Lily, you betrayed me too and I want you to remember that I forgive you already, because you matter to me, much more than the pain you have caused me. I know you are stubborn and you would not forgive me easily but Lily, I just want to let you know that I will not be here forever. By the time you decide to forgive me, I might have moved on. You should think about what matters to you, my mistake or our relationship."
Lily sat there, stunned into silence, trying to make sense of what just happened. "Err, what?" She asked flabbergasted. Severus gave her a weird look. "I mean, can you explain how I betrayed you? A betrayal I know nothing about and for which you have forgiven me so graciously." She added scathingly.
Severus stared at her aghast. "You don't even realize it, do you? That's rich, Lily. At least I know when, where and how I betrayed you." He said, his temper flaring.
"Sev-"
"No! Don't you dare call me Sev! You- you- don't even realize how you betrayed me. Well let me give you a hint Lily. Last night of the term, Astronomy tower, does that ring a bell?" Lily's brows furrowed but before she could say anything Severus continued, now pacing agitatedly. "You- You forgave James Potter. For five years! FIVE YEARS! That bastard did nothing but torture me, did nothing but make my life miserable and you forgave him, just like that." He raved. "But me? Oh no! I make one mistake, one slip of tongue which was unintentional and you ended 8 years of friendship. Do I mean nothing to you Lily? I knew it, all those times you kept saying you hated Potter, I could see it in your eyes that you liked him. You are such a liar Lily, you are so manipulative and you blame me for manipulating you." He finished breathing heavily. Lily couldn't hide the hurt she felt, but her temper flared easily.
"Severus Snape." She said with deathly calm. "You think forgiving Potter was betrayal? Potter hasn't been my friend for 8 years. Potter knows nothing about me, Potter and I fought as equals. He has had his fair share of hexes from me while I defended YOU. But despite all that, he had the decency to realize that he has been acting like a prat for all these years and I forgave him because he meant it. You! You don't even-" Lily stopped to take a deep breath. She got up from her seat and stood in front of him. "If that's what you think of me, so be it. I am not interested in explaining anything to you. You don't deserve it and you won't believe me. Goodbye Severus and Thank you." She said before turning on her heels and marching out of the park.
Lily broke out of her reverie when the doorbell rang; she sprang to her feet and ran out to open the door. On the other side of the door were a very haggard and upset Alice Prewett and Marlene McKinnon. "Alice! Marlene!" Lily exclaimed pulling them in a hug before noting the bags under their eyes. She quickly ushered them, "You guys look horrible. Is everything alright?" Lily asked as soon as they took their seats in her living room.
Alice shook her head, biting her lip as her eyes sparkled with tears. "Alice?" Lily asked, "Is everything alright?" Alice bowed her head, not saying anything.
"She is worried about Frank. His father contracted Dragon Pox at the end of our trip to Greece, along with both Mrs. Potters."
"Oh!" Lily said, "But it is curable, they will be fine."
Marlene shook her head. "Not at their age, no." She said. "We just got the news, James' Aunt Althea died last night, they are bringing her here tomorrow for her funeral. Frank's father doesn't look too good either nor does Mrs. Potter for that matter."
Lily sat back, feeling horrible. She couldn't even imagine losing her mother and Potter was on the verge of losing his. She didn't really know what to say or do in this situation. By this time Alice had already wiped her tears, as she stood up with a brave smile.
"Come on Lily, let's take you home. We can wallow in misery there." She said with a laugh, as she pulled Lily's trunk.
"Are you sure? I mean, I wouldn't want to intrude on anything, especially at such a time."
"Rubbish." Marlene said, pulling Lily's hand. "If I know anything about Sirius and James, meeting you would probably cheer them up. They have been absolute wrecks for the past week."
Lily had never been to Marlene's home and was awed by the vastness of it. Her home was more of a castle. Lily knew Marlene had two elder brother Damien and Charles and a younger brother Lukas. She had never met anyone apart from Lukas who would be entering his third year. The house looked empty on arrival. "Mum and dad are at work, what with Voldemort waging a war, the ministry cannot spare anyone. Damien and Charles must be at work too and Lukas is visiting a friend." Marlene said with a shrug, as the three girls made way to the guest room prepared for Lily.
The three girls talked about their summers, trying to get Alice's mind off from Frank. Lily told them about her last conversation with Severus. Alice was about to finish her monologue on what a ridiculous, idiot Severus was when someone knocked on the door.
A man in his early twenties stepped in, Lily knew this was one of Marlene's brothers, they had the same eyes and jaw line. "Hey Mars. Alice." He said nodding towards them, "And you must be the famous Lily Evans." He said extending his hand towards her. "I have heard so much about you. Damien McKinnon." Lily shook his hand.
"Now that we are done being charming." Marlene said, "What are you doing here, Damien?"
"What apart from welcoming our guest you mean?" Damien asked innocently, "Well, Remus is here. He says James and Sirius refuse to budge from Mrs. Potter's side and have stopped eating or sleeping. Mr. Potter is worried; they think you might be able to knock some sense into them."
Marlene and Alice jumped from their beds and ran out of the door with Lily and Damien on their heels. If Remus was surprised at seeing Lily he didn't say anything, he smiled at her and after a few quick words with Marlene, he jumped into the fireplace and was gone.
"Lils, have you ever travelled by the floo?" Marlene asked.
"No."
"Well, you will have to now. Just watch Alice and me and then come along. Damien would be right behind you."
"Marlene are you sure? Should I even come along?"
"Lily" Alice snapped. "Now is not the time to think about this. Sirius is your friend and the only person closest to his mother is really ill. He needs you."
Lily stepped into the green flames and choked on the smoke and ash, falling back out of the fireplace.
"Are you alright?" Damien asked he helped her up.
"Yes." She wheezed, coughing a little.
"Travelling through floo needs getting used to; you know what, let's go together. Just hold on to my arm okay?"
Lily nodded, holding her breath as she stepped in the fireplace beside Damien. The world spun in emerald green flames, making her feel sick and wobbly. She fell out of the fireplace into the softest rug she had ever seen. The room was big enough to fit half of her home and it was tastefully decorated. Damien gave her a hand and pulled her up before brushing the ash off his clothes.
He passed the brush to Lily, who quickly brushed the ash off her clothes before following Damien. The entrance hall they had stepped into was big enough to fit her little home and then some. Lily was surprised by Potter's humility, he was a prat alright, but he was proud of his talent, he never showed off his money, and right now, his home made Marlene's home look normal sized. Marlene was right when she told her that Potter was practically royalty in Magical Britain.
Damien led her through three flights of steps and stopped in front of large double doors, which were thrown open, on the right side of the staircase. He walked in while Lily hesitated at the door, she didn't want to intrude on anyone's privacy. Damien shook his head and pulled her in.
Lily was surprised to know that she was not in anyone's bedroom but rather in a large sitting room with bay windows and couches on either side, curtains fluttered around the cavity right in front of her and she could hear voices from inside. Damien stepped in while Lily stood on the verge, peeking in curiously.
Damien had bent down to kiss someone on the cheek, while Potter and Black were hovering over this person. Alice and Marlene were lounging casually around the bed on couches with Remus and Peter. When Damien moved, Lily gasped at the woman she was looking at. She had never really met or seen Mrs. Potter. But the woman even with ugly green boils on her face was exceptionally beautiful. She looked like a princess and her movements were so fluid, so graceful, even in her sickness she looked like a ballerina.
Everyone turned to look at her when she gasped loudly. Lily blushed. "Lily!" Sirius exclaimed, before running over to her and picking her up. "Its so good to see you!" He said setting her down, after he had twirled her around. Lily smiled at Sirius, she could see the strain in his eyes, despite his attempt at being light hearted. She looked over at Potter who was looking at the ground, and then her eyes slipped to Dorea Potter. The woman smiled at her and extended her hand, beckoning Lily to her. But before Lily could take a step towards her, Damien stepped in and held out a blood red potion for her.
"Here drink this. It will prevent you from contracting the pox."
After Lily had taken the potion, Lily moved towards Mrs. Potter, who smiled at her before patting on a seat near her.
"So, you are the famous Lily Evans?" She asked, her voice was stronger than Lily had expected for someone so delicate, Lily blushed in response. "I am Dorea Potter." She said, extending her hand to grasp Lily's "Mother of that arrogant toerag over there and Sirius, over here." She said with a mischievous grin.
"Ha. Ha. Mum. You are so funny." Potter muttered darkly as Sirius and the others laughed.
"Don't feel jealous, Jamie. It has been a known fact that Aunt Dorie loves me much more than she loves you." Sirius said cheekily.
"And me." Remus said with a lazy wave from his couch.
"Me too." Peter added with a grin.
"Well, I am her healer, she absolutely adores me." Damien added.
"And there is no doubt that she loves Alice and me, seeing that she preferred our company throughout the trip."
Dorea Potter laughed as James stuck his tongue out at everyone but soon she was overcome by a coughing fit. James and Sirius got into action, as James patted her back, Sirius rushed forward with a glass of water.
After the coughing fit had subsided, James rubbed her back soothingly.
"Mum!" He murmured softly, "I think that's enough for today, you should rest a little."
Dorea Potter gave him an annoyed look. "I am fine, Jamie."
"But Aunt Dorie, maybe you should-" Sirius quailed under the look Mrs. Potter gave him.
"Mum, seriously, just rest for a bit."
"James Potter. The last time I checked I was the mother in this relationship."
"You know he gets it from you." Lily said suddenly, and both the boys looked at her. She suddenly noticed that the others had already left the room already.
"He gets what from me dear?" Dorea Potter asked.
"Being the worse patient any healer could ever have. If he is awake you just cannot get him to rest." Lily said, her voice getting bolder with every word.
"Do you want to be a healer, my dear?"
"As a matter of fact, yes. I do. And I know that patients with Dragon Pox need plenty of rest. So, maybe you should listen to the two nutters here and get some rest." Lily didn't like speaking to anyone like this, but she had learnt through various internships at the children's ward in her community hospital, that difficult patients listen to you if you order them to. She was terrified of using this tone with Mrs. Potter, but she could see how exhausted, Mrs. Potter really was and how worried the two boys were.
The boys looked at Lily, with their mouths hanging open. No one, not even Charlus Potter had talked to Dorea Potter like this, ever. The two boys watched flabbergasted as Mrs. Potter settled in her bed. She held Lily's hand for a moment and said, "No wonder, the two nutters over there and the other two hanging by the door are afraid of your temper. Not even my mother has ever had the gall to tell me off. I am glad these four nutters have you, to keep them in line. If I ever had a daughter Lily, I would have wanted her to be like you. Just make sure they eat something" She said, patting Lily's hand before settling in.
Once she had fallen asleep, James walked out into the balcony. Lily looked at Sirius and narrowed her eyes, Sirius avoided her eye but could not mistake her determined stance, he frowned and called a house elf softly. After instructing the house elf to get some sandwiches and pumpkin juice, he followed James into the Balcony, leaving Lily to go join the others in the sitting room.
"Are they eating anything?" Remus asked as she reached them.
Lily nodded. "Sirius asked a house elf to bring some sandwiches for them."
Remus nodded. "I will go check on them." He said getting out of his seat.
"Me too." Peter muttered before walking away with Remus.
"Where are Damien and Alice?" Lily asked noticing for the first time that they were missing.
"Damien got called back to St. Mungo's. It's Frank's dad, he is recovering, but he is still too weak. Alice went with him." Marlene explained.
"Oh!" Lily said, "So, why are Sirius and Potter not eating anything?"
"His aunt died, last night Lily. Remember, we told you about it when we came to pick you."
"So, were they close? Potter and his aunt I mean."
"Yes. James adored Mrs. Potter and she adored him back. She was a magical historian you know, with the most amazing tales about ancient magic. You would have loved her. She was always so nice and warm to all of us. She was like a second mother to him."
"That must have been hard on him, losing her so suddenly."
Marlene nodded. They sat in silence for a while. "So, what do you want to do for today? We can go back and I can show you the library." Lily smiled before walking away with Marlene.
AN: Okay, I would admit, this is not my best work to date. I would go to the extent and say it is lousy, but I really couldn't think of anything more. This kind of is the basis for a lot of the story in the next chapters.
Anyway, I will leave the reviewing bit to you. Please read and review and if you are new here, don't forget to favourite and follow the fic.
Happy Reading.
Much love,
The fishes
