Arabella rushed over to the spot where Lily was sitting, and through all the hubbub, Remus picked up the letter and read aloud.
"Dearest Darling Stepdaughter Number Two (Lillian? Right?).. Most recently as of late, your father's problems with food have become worse and worse as our marriage began to deteriorate. Last night we had Creole food, and it must have been waaay to spicy for him, as he simply snuffed out. I want you home for Christmas to meet any young man who wishes to have your hand in marriage (I've placed an ad in the Daily Prophet and that Witch Weekly thing). Most likely I will send you off to a rich magical society family- Pack your best and be prepared to come home for Easter too. There has already been an offer- A young black-haired man about your age, he is your, er, Potions partner.. Kisses, Claire." Remus said, imitating the voice that Sirius said Claire had. He knew that the light, airy tone was probably how Claire had written it, but an edge got into his voice towards the end of the letter. He thought and thought, and Jackie was the first to realize it.
"SEVERUS SNAPE PROPOSED?!?!" She shrieked, which awoke Lily promptly.
"WHAT?" Lily shrieked, then fainted back into her chair.
Lily woke up in the hospital wing, with Sirius standing at a window, looking sadly out onto the drenched grounds, Remus sitting at the foot of her bed, comforting Jackie, who was sobbing like mad, Arabella was sitting in a rocking chair to her left, and Rafe stood at the door. Madame Pomfrey was trying her best to keep the other door from bursting open, as someone seemed to be pounding at it.
"What's going on? Jackie, Arabella?" She asked, her voice timid, but it squeaked in a worried way.
"Lily, lay back down. You are not going to like this." Arabella began. Sirius turned around and looked like he was going to burst.
"How is that a way to break it to your best friend that she has to marry a SLYTHERIN?!?!!" Sirius roared.
Lily started sobbing. Jackie rushed over to comfort her, Arabella got to her other side, and she shot glares at Sirius.
Finally, after an annoying repetitive pounding, the door burst open. Snape and James tumbled in.
"Oh, Lily, darling- The news of your father must be.." Snape began, cooing in a very realistic caring tone, but James looked ready to punch him.
"YOU HAVE NO RIGHT! YOU ARE NOT HER FRIEND! You, you, YOU! Get out. Just get out." James sputtered. Snape took a step backward. "GO ON! GET!"
Snape rushed out of the hospital wing and James collapsed into the spot where Jackie had been sitting.
"Thanks. It makes me feel a bit better.. But it isn't as bad as having a Death-Eater-in-training for a husband.. Their wives.. Once they get married- Don't get to go back to.. Hogwarts.. That means.." Lily whispered, running out of breath.
"You can't come back if you get married to him?" Sirius asked meekly. Seymour the duck squawked quietly, imitating his owner's tone.
"Come 'ere, Seymour." Lily said between sobs. He flew up into her open arms and she hugged him tightly.
"If I don't come back, how will I be able to be everything I want to be?" Lily asked him, as if she was all alone in the room. "I couldn't stand it if everyone grew up and got to do everything they wanted to do and I was stuck in a decaying mansion giving birth all the time?"
The boys in the room shuddered. Lily Snape.. Little Severus Snape Junior.. Eww...
"You know what I remember thinking? And saying? The first day that James got back, he would have been what Claire would have married me off to. I remember thinking that again.. Funny.. Now with my dad out of the way, he could've been.." Lily said, laughing hysterically. The laughter sounded like cans that had been piled up, falling onto the floor of an empty room.
"I thought I could mess her world up, look at Claire." James whispered quietly, not quite able to take it anymore. He left silently, sure Lily wouldn't notice. She didn't.
"Oh god." Lily whispered, erupting into sobs again. "I'm going to marry a Slytherin."
"Keep Seymour. He loves you more than he loves me." Sirius said with a weak smile. Lily tried to stop crying long enough to thank him. It was obvious to everyone in the room that it hurt him so much to give up his duck, but he was being very nice. "Maybe he can poop on your version of Madame Effex."
"Maybe." Lily murmured. She started sobbing again. "I'm going to marry a Slytherin. I'm going to marry a Slytherin."
A/N: I whipped this out at 5:00 central time, and I got home, reading your reviews, at 4:47, central time.. I hope you're happy.