Disclaimer:  I still don't own anything and will probably never own anything of real value, so please don't waste your time suing me for nothing!

Author's Note:  Eeek!  I'm so sorry!  I broke my promise...I didn't do any writing over my break!  Instead I caught up on a lot of my fanfic reading!  And I actually had something resembling a life over my break!  Imagine that!  Anyway, I'm sorry it's been so long since I've updated!  I tried to update yesterday, but my stupid computer refused to let me on the Internet!!  Thank you so much for sticking with this story!!

And now:  on with the story!!!!

"Let me get this straight," Severus said silkily as he stepped closer to Lily.  "You, a Gryffindor, want to join Voldemort (A/N: does Sev actually say his name?  I can't remember), an evil dark lord?"  Severus raised his eyebrow at Lily and studied her intently for a few moments. 

The moments seemed to take hours for Lily.  She stood up straighter and hardened her eyes.  "Well, what do you say," Lily demanded, trying to take control of the conversation. 

"I say," Severus said, stepping ever closer to Lily so that she could smell his breath, "why?  Why would you of all people want to join the dark side and leave your friends behind?  Ahhh.  I see.  I see it all so clearly now."  Dawning came upon Sev's face. 

Lily grew even more nervous but tried to hide it.  "And just what do you think you see?" she asked.  He couldn't actually know...could he?

"You overheard us talking in the dungeons before," Severus accused, pointing his finger in Lily's face as she backed up away from him. 

She merely raised an eyebrow up at him.  "So?" she said coolly. 

"So," Sev hissed, "you heard us talk about Potter and your friends!  I know exactly what you're doing!  You want to join just so you can spy for your friends!  Well, it won't work!"  Severus spun around to go find Malfoy. 

"Wait!" Lily cried desperately.  She ran to catch up with him and spun him around only to kiss him passionately while searching frantically in her robes for her wand.  As soon as her hand grasped her wand, Lily pushed Severus away and pointed her wand at him.  "Obliviate!" Lily cried.  She wiped out Sev's memory of her overhearing his and Malfoy's conversation and the conversation, including the kiss, that she and Sev had just had. 

Severus looked at Lily blankly for a moment before saying, "What are we doing here?" with his brow furrowed. 

"Oh!" Lily said brightly while quickly gaining her composure.  "I was just running after you.  I was wondering if we could talk," Lily said sweetly. 

"Oh.  Well, about what?" Severus said suspiciously.  Lily Evans never wanted to just talk to him. 

"About everything!" Lily blurted out.  Severus looked at her, bewildered.  "It's James and Sirius and –oh!  Just everything!  Nothing's going right!" Lily started to cry as she finished her tirade. 

Severus just looked at Lily for a moment, utterly confused. 

"James wants to get too serious with me and I'm just not ready for that!" Lily exclaimed.  Her mind searched frantically for a reason to be angry with Sirius.  Lily silently cursed herself for not thinking of these reasons earlier when she could think clearly and analytically.  "And Sirius is always joking around and is never considerate of anyone else's feelings!"

Severus contemplated Lily for a while and rashly made a decision. 

*            *            *

"Hey," Lily said softly, stretching in the doorway to Harry's room.  "Let me take over for awhile.  You go back to bed and get some sleep.  You hardly sleep anymore," she gently accused. 

James smiled ruefully at Lily while thinking the same about her.  Nevertheless, he pulled himself out of the rocking chair and stood centimeters away from his wife. 

Lily caught her breath as she locked eyes with her husband.  He was still as handsome as ever, she thought.  Even though one could see in his eyes that he had seen terrible things that no one should ever have to.  No matter how haunted his eyes might look, she silently reflected to herself, anyone could see how much he adored and loved her.  Before James and Lily each leaned in for a good night kiss, she felt, for the umpteenth time, horrible for keeping such important lies from her husband, her very best friend, who would do anything to protect her and their son. 

A/N: (again, I know!  I'm sorry for always putting in so many of these!)  I'm really sorry this is so short, but this story isn't really going where I want it to, so I'm going to try and outline it first before I actually finish it!  (what a new/weird idea!! lol)  Thanks for sticking with this story and putting up with my long delays!  Please keep reading!  I promise I'll try and update again soon!!  Thank you all who have reviewed! 

DragonMaiden:  my first reviewer...*sigh* I danced the happy dance when I saw someone had reviewed my story!  Lol  You're awesome!!  Are you going to finish editing The Mage?  I really liked that story.  And Foul Fumes was absolutely brilliant! 

raven-gal2002:  I really try and make my chapters longer, I promise!  But somehow, it just doesn't work out that way.  :(  Thanks for being such a faithful reviewer!!  BTW, I love your stories!  When are you going to update?  (Like I'm one to talk!  Lol)

sarah/amber:  thanks for reviewing!  Is your sister reading this, too?  Wink wink, nudge nudge!  Lol

Becca Black:  Draco is pretty cute!  I wish I was younger so I could have a crush on those adorable kids!  I love Ron and of course Wood!  I saw the movie three times.  How many times did you see it? 

K-da-great:  Thanks!  I'm trying to keep it coming, but the story isn't being very helpful by hiding somewhere in my head! 

LeopardDance:  hmmm Lily getting the mark, huh?  You know, that never actually occurred to me until I read your review...Somethin to think about...heeheehee

LUvINg EmIn3M:  You are so nice!  *blushes*  I didn't even really think this story was going that great, but your review definitely made me feel a lot better about it.  Thanks so much!!  I give you a pile of warm chocolate chip cookies for that!  Heehee (btw, what's your penname?  The LUvIng one?  Or the evil penguin one?)  And I'm definitely trying to kick the butt of my writer's block! 

K-Dawg:  You are so cool!  Thanks for reviewing my story!  I'm still going to try and pull you into writing fanfics!  Lol  I love ya, man!!  BTW, you need to post that story about Antarctica!  heeheehee