Chapter 10: The letters

Once on the train she sat down and started to read her book, she didn't know where Sev was. He turned up about ten minutes into the journey apologizing and muttering about first years. They spent the rest of the journey talking about nothing in particular.

When they got off the train they separated and went to find their own friends. Lily met the boys just inside the entrance hall and saw Severus head towards the dungeons where his common room is located.

Lily and the boys' spent hours discussing the holidays. "Lil, what's this I've been hearing about your sister writing to Moony here." James asked inquisitively. Lily looked shocked and taken aback "She what?" "Yeah, she um wrote to me on Christmas day. Thanking me for the book, wishing me a Happy Christmas and sending me a lovely quill. She'd borrowed Felix." Remus said.

"You sent her a Christmas present Remus", enquired Sirius. "Yep, a book on dementors, she was interested in them" Lily said. "Anyway what did you lot do over Christmas", she added trying to steer the topic away from her Christmas.

"Well, we um, um mucked about a bit", Sirius said. "Did some homework", he added when he saw the look in Lily's eyes. "Anyway, thanks for the fireworks, kept Filch out of our way." Sirius chuckled. "No probs", she said, "Night boys, I'm going to bed", she added leaving the room.

"James, stop staring and close your gob your putting me of my frog", Peter squeaked. "Yeah Prongs, it is kind of off putting you staring at her all the time" Sirius added "She thinks of you as a mate, mate. Get over her she's going out with Snape, she's not gonna dump someone she loves for a mate"

"He better not hurt her" James began "Or – or I'll kill him"

"James, he does treat her right he loves her" Remus spoke giving the others a start. "I've seen them together and they're happy, so leave it. I never really thought I'd agree with Padfoot but I do."

Just then an owl dropped a letter on James' head as the girls' dormitory door opened. Invisible, Lily moved across the room and out of the portrait hole. She arrived to meet Severus about midnight. Knowing that the boys cared about her and the fact that she was happy. Would James really kill Severus if he hurt her?

Back in the common room James showed the others the letter he just received.

James,

I need your help to protect Lily. Mr. Malfoy wants me to join the Death Eaters and because I wont he says he'll kill everyone I love so in the end I'll join Voldemort. I know you care about Lily and as you are in all of her classes I was wondering if you could watch her and help to keep her safe. This is not what I'd normally do ask you for help but if Lily's safety is an issue, my pride isn't top priority. If you don't want to help fine, but I thought I'd ask.

Severus Snape

The group sat in silence for what seemed like an age before Sirius asked "What you gonna do mate". "I'm going to help keep Lily safe but not for Snape for her" James retorted. "We'll help too", the others said.

Lily entered the room of requirement looking for Snape but couldn't find him. She sat down in a chair and about ten minutes later he arrived. He had a very somber look on his face when he sat down. "Lily, we need to talk. This has to stop, we can't see each other anymore. It's not working between us. I don't love you."

"What do you mean it's not working between us you weren't saying that earlier. And I thought you'd always love me" she said between sobs. She just sat there crying for hours without saying anything, whilst Severus ignored her completely. "I know you still love me, even if you are too stubborn to admit it. If we're breaking up, I want all the stuff from our relationship put in here, so that no-one who doesn't already know finds out and so the things can be a lasting memory of our love for each other."

"Fine" he said with an expressionless face, "Consider it done".

She left running along the corridors back to Gryffindor Tower. She ran past the boys who were studying a piece of paper and up to her dorm. Having seen her on the marauders map James followed to check if she was ok.

"Lil, are you ok" James asked tentatively. "Go away, I don't want to talk" she said through sobs whilst she packed a box of photos and things Severus had given her. She threw the bracelet she had been wearing in the box along with the cloak. James had turned to leave when she called him back. "Sorry James I didn't mean to snap, can I borrow your cloak please".

He came back with the cloak which she hastily threw over herself and took the box to the room of requirement, then left without a second glance at the room in which she'd spent so much time with Severus. By the time she had reached the common room James had told the others his suspicions that Snape had ditched Lily.

When Lily sat down she handed James his cloak with a mutter of thanks. "I'm sorry for ignoring you lot, cause I know I did when I started going out with Snape", Lily said.