A/N: Is really starting to like Severus now! Damn you Hikari!

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"Have any of you seen James recently?" Remus asked, walking down to the common room. It was late, getting close to curfew, and the boy had been missing all day.

When it was clear no one had, Remus walked out of the portrait hole. He really hoped nothing was wrong, but given the days events, he wasn't very confident. Remus knew that James was the kind of person who took rejection to heart, and if James had confronted Regulus and been turned down, and then it was likely that James would be hiding for a while. He might not even show up until tomorrow's classes.

"Lily, have you seen James?" Remus asked, pausing in the hallway where the girl was walking back to the Tower.

"No, why?" Lily stopped walking, standing in front of Remus.

"No one has seen him for hours. Not since right before lunch." Remus shook his head. It probably wasn't the most sensitive thing for him to be asking Lily for help, but they needed it.

"I'll help you look," Lily said, turning and heading in the same direction Remus was going. "I know he talked to Regulus earlier. Don't know what about, or when."

"Great," if James had talked to Regulus again, than it was pretty fair to assume that he was hiding.

Remus led the way outside and to the lake. Sometimes James had an addiction to the outdoors, and Remus hoped that his friend had chosen now as one of those times. Unfortunately, the only person by the lake was currently Severus Snape. Remus was about to turn and walk away, when he noticed Lily walking over to the Slytherin purposefully.

Remus followed the girl, wondering why she was going to talk to Snape of all people. Snape hated James, and even if he did know where James was he wouldn't tell.

"Hi," Lily smiled, sitting beside Snape.

"What do you want, Evans?" Snape didn't even turn his gaze away from the lake. Remus was about to pull Lily away when one thing made it's way into his mind. Snape's voice had sounded tired, even sad. He hadn't said that with his usual I'm-better-than-you-stupid-mudblood voice.

"James is missing. I was wondering if you've seen him?" Lily smiled kindly at the Slytherin.

Remus stood behind them, afraid to intervene. The Marauders hadn't exactly been kind to Severus over the past years, and Remus knew that Snape hated them. Snape had never been overly rude to Lily, however. He made it obvious that he didn't like her, but he was never hostile to her.

"I don't keep track of Gryffindors, especially that one. If you can't find your boyfriend, it's not my problem."

"We both know he isn't my boyfriend," Lily looked out across the lake, and Remus was tempted to leave her there. Snape wasn't going to be any help, and Lily could probably use some time talking to someone who hadn't been best friends with James for years.

"You want him to be," Snape turned and pulled a book from his bag, obviously trying to end the conversation.

"I did," Lily nodded. "But not anymore. I do…but I don't want to be someone anyone settles for." Lily gave a small laugh, "That sounds so self-involved when said aloud."

Everything was quiet for a moment and Remus almost left, when Lily spoke again, "Can I ask a favor of you?"

Snape froze, but didn't say anything.

"I know you are friends with Regulus, and I know you hate James," Lily looked down at her hands, "but they really do need each other, I think. James really loves him, and I think that Regulus feels the same."

"And what is it, exactly, that you want me to do about it?" Snape turned cold eyes on Lily.

"Just…look out for him. Even if Regulus does love someone you hate. Just try and keep him safe, because it this gets out…" Lily looked up at Snape and sighed, "You know better than I what would happen. I just don't want to see either of them hurt. Much as I hate to admit, I'm kinda starting to care about that little Slytherin." Lily gave Snape a small smile, before standing. "Just…think about it."

Turning, Lily and Remus started to walk away. Remus had to hand it to Lily, she had a big heart. He didn't know that he could be so understanding if their places were switched.

"Evans?" Lily and Remus turned at the sound of Snape's voice. Snape wasn't looking at either of them. His posture was stiff and his voice was cold as he continued. Remus knew that what Snape was saying now was costing the Slytherin a lot. "If it is in my power to do so, I won't let anything happen to either of them."

"Thank you," Lily whispered.

Remus stared at both of them. He had never thought that Severus would say anything like that, but Lily seemed to have known. Lily seemed to have seen something there that Remus never had, and Remus wondered if Regulus wasn't the only Slytherin who wore masks.

"Come on," Lily pulled Remus away, toward the castle.

When they were out of earshot of Snape, Remus had to ask, "How did you know he would help?"

"I didn't," Lily glanced back at the figure by the lake. "But everything that's happened today…I just wondered if there was any decency in him. I think he's probably a Death Eater, and if anyone could protect Regulus and James it would be someone inside You-Know-Who's circle."

"But, what made you think that he would help?" Remus pressed again.

"I don't know. I saw him in the library earlier, and he had heard me and Sirius fighting. He knew about Regulus and James, and I figured we had nothing to lose by asking for his help. At least now I know that I don't have to be scared that what he heard will get them killed."

Remus knew there was more, but didn't press Lily. She sounded just as stunned as he did about what Snape had said. Maybe, like him, Lily was wondering who else was wearing masks. They had considered so many at this school as enemies for so long, but now it seemed that, under the mask, they really were all just kids trying to do what they had to.