Lana
Looking back on the morning of January 25th, 1978, it was the hardest day of Severus' and Lily's life. Knowing what she was going back to, knowing they would never truly be able to celebrate their relationship, knowing Lily's fantasy life with him wouldn't come true, at least for a long time, was hell to them. 'What if?'s kept running through Severus' head, the each more impossible but fearful. What if he died and James was the one to comfort Lily? What if she was pregnant and didn't know it, how would they explain that? What if she gave James a child and when the time came for him and Lily to be together, for her child's sake, she didn't leave James? Or even worse, she completely ignored him for the rest of their lives? What if she died, leaving him all alone in the world? He was certain he wouldn't be able to love anyone else, even if he tried. What if that bastard beat her so bad she was forced to leave him, leaving her alone in the world? Severus wouldn't be able to take care of her, not without the Death Eaters finding out. Once the Death Eaters found out, he was certain either himself or Lily would die.
Before the sun was up, the two laid together for hours, just thinking. Both had tried to execute a conversation, but failing miserably.
"Lily, if he lays one hand on you ever, come to me and I swear I'll make sure I'm the only one able to give you babies. If he threatens you, makes you do something you don't want to, or even looks at you the wrong way, tell me. Ok?"
Lily nodded, a tear running down her cheek. "God, this is so hard."
"I know baby… I know."
The two walked down together to the Great Hall and gave each other one long, single kiss before entering the Hall. Watching her walk off to the Gryffindor table, knowing what she was about to do made Severus feel just about as helpless as he had ever felt. He made his way to his own table silently, tearing his eyes off of her for a moment. When he looked back, he saw her sitting next to James, and from the look of it she was telling him she and Severus had broken up. Confusion washed over James' face for a moment before a look of relief set in. With rage boiling inside his chest, Severus looked away to endorse himself in a conversation with his fellow Slytherins.
"I see you and Evans broke up." Lucius Malfoy, a Slytherin seventh year commented.
Severus nodded, confirming his suspicions. "It didn't work out."
"You two were together for a year, you were engaged, and all the sudden, things didn't work out? What'd she do, cheat on you?" Crabbe commented, taking a bit of bacon.
"Of course not. We just decided it wasn't for the best."
"So you're letting that Potter fool take her now?" Malfoy sniggered, looking at the Gryffindor table.
"Not by choice, believe me."
"I wonder if the rumors were true… Him beating her and all. Then again, this is Lily Evans we're talking about… No one in her right mind would touch her. Would you believe she's related to Dumbledore? I guess she's not as Muggle as everyone though." Malfoy said through a mouthful of eggs.
"Of course I knew." Severus snapped, "I've known for six months."
Malfoy didn't looked fazed at all by Severus' small outburst. "Of course, the little bitch had it coming to her… F-cking with Potter, then moving on to you. She might as well take on the role as the school slut, it suits her well enough."
A loud scrapping sound was heard as Severus stood up and knocked Lucius off his chair. Around two hundred pairs of eyes turned to look at the two as Lucius toppled to the ground, landing on his knees. When he looked up with startled eyes towards Severus, he immediately regretted his words. Severus was positively fuming, Lucius was sure if it was possible smoke would be coming out of his ears. His fists were balled up and his upper body was stiff, ready to fight.
"Don't you ever talk about her like that, you hear me?" Severus hissed so only Lucius could hear him. Lucius nodded weakly, clamoring back up to the table.
"I would have thought you, of all people Snape, would have enjoyed that comment, seeing as how seeing people in constant misery is what you're destined for. I heard about your contacts with the Inner Circle. My father instructed me to treat you with more respect this year; everyone knows what you're capable of."
"I'm only capable of what I want to do." Severus said stiffly, sitting back down in his seat and avoiding Lily's gaze he could feel from across the room.
"Keep telling yourself that, Severus, and one day you might die trying to pull it off. Our Lord takes no weak Death Eaters; where we're going, only the strongest survive." Malfoy pushed up his sleeve under the table between them, showing him the Dark Mark burned into his upper forearm. "Don't you see? We're on the same side. Trust me, Snape. You and I have one hell of a future together."
Severus was distracted once more; Lily was walking out of the Great Hall with James' arm around her. Following closely were Sirius, Peter, and Remus, only one of which glanced towards him; Remus.
Severus nodded in his direction, confirming Remus'
suspicions .He knew their kind of relationship would not end that abruptly,
and Severus was grateful for having someone on his side, especially a friend
of his now-proclaimed enemy, James Potter.