A/N: I don't own Harry Potter or any related characters
Word count: 613
He only said her name, watching as she ignored him, watching as she smiled at the enemy. Severus knew Potter had done something to her, had done something to make her fall in love with him. He refused to believe that his best friend, who had hated James with a passion only the day before, was suddenly in love with the boy. He didn't think it could be a potion. Potter's potion's scores were miserable at best. No, it had to be something else. A love charm maybe? That thought had promise and Severus knew he had to at least look into it.
Love charms were not taught at Hogwarts for many reasons. That didn't mean Potter hadn't found one on his own, or more likely, he'd had his friends find him one. Everyone knew the Blacks were into Dark Magic, and even though love charms weren't labeled Dark, it was still something the Black heir might know about. Severus found himself standing in the library, looking at the shelves of books wishing he could just summon the answer to the whole problem .
"Wait, accio last book James Potter touched," he said. He wasn't sure it would work, but it couldn't hurt. Suddenly a brightly colored tome flew at his head. Severus ducked, letting it hit the wall behind with a 'thud'.
"Shh!" Madame Pince hissed from her desk. Severus scurried over and picked up the booking, giving her a sheepish look.
"Sorry," he muttered, looking at the book. "How to Ensnare the Witch of your Dreams," he read softly, his heart falling in his chest. So this was what James had done, used a charm to make Lily love him. Severus flipped open the book, reading it quickly. All he needed was to find a way to break the charm, to set Lily free of James' influence. Once he'd done that, well, she had made her feelings about him perfectly clear. She didn't want him, hadn't wanted James, and Severus, in all honesty, now only wished to see her happy.
"How to break a charm," Severus whispered, skimming the table of contents. He smiled upon reading the solution. It was so easy, so brilliant at the same time. Love charms couldn't create real love, he'd already known that. Amortentia was the same way. These charms however, had a built in clause, that if the charmed person kissed the charmer and did not return the feeling at all, the charm would be broken. Severus sighed in relief. Yes, Lily would have to kiss James, but since she already seemed ready to do that because of the charm, everything should be back to normal soon.
Severus stared at Lily and James. He'd watched her kiss him several times now, the charm should have been broken. Maybe it had? She wasn't clinging to his every word now, but she was still laughing at his dumb jokes, still touching his shoulder with her long fingers.
"If there is any romantic feelings, the charm will dilute until it is gone, giving real love a chance to grow," Severus read, tears forming in his eyes. Lily did care about James, did feel something towards him. It was real, the charm only having brought it to the surface. He shoved the book into his bag, stormed out the Great Hall. Severus had only wanted Lily to be happy, but not like this, not with him. No, he couldn't be happy for her, couldn't let this go. He reached the owlery, writing a quick letter to Lucius, asking him the offer to join Lord Voldemort was still open and if they were still interested in his potion making skills.