So sorry for the absent, my computer has been hatin' on me, and as a plus I'm totally swamped in school, I'll do my best to get the updates out as soon as I can. An especially big apology to laura551, I will try not to keep you waiting so long for the next. J K is the genius behind the characters, I just try to do them justice. Enjoy!

Sitting next to Severus Lily didn't know what to do, should she say hello or was it better to just ignore him? Last time she saw him he had been crying and she had been screaming and even without the baggage that's an awkward situation to get passed.

"Hi Lils," Severus said in a quiet and unsure voice.

Still not having decided what to do Lily simply said: "Hi." without really looking at him.

Slughorn told the class to make the Sticking solution and then quickly headed towards Lily and Severus with a broad smile on his face.

"Oh how I've missed to see you sitting together! I suppose things happen in life but I figured this might be a good time to set whatever is bothering you two right."

Lily quickly wondered if Slughorn had known what had happened between them or not, she had never told any of the staff but maybe word spread around.

"We all know that you could whip up a Sticking solution in your sleep," Slughorn continued, "So I figured you two might want a bit of a challenge. I would like you to together make the levitation potion. If you manage to make it I think it is safe to say that you will both be awarded O's in potion without attending any more of the lessons if you don't feel like it. What do you think?"

Lily's mind was in uproar, the levitation potion took almost a month to brew and that was way more time than she ever wanted to spend with Severus again, but she would really like an O and the extra time she would get could really help her.

"I'm in, sir!" Severus said eagerly almost as soon as Slughorn had stopped talking.

"Good my boy, how about you Lily?" Slughorn said with a light in his eyes.

"Errh, I'm not sure, sir, do you really think we can do it?" Lily knew Slughorn would say yes but she needed a few more seconds to think it over.

"Of course my dear, of course, it was a long time since I saw a talent like yours last!"

Lily looked at her teacher and then quickly glanced at Severus, his pleading eyes begged her to say yes. 'Oh what the heck!' she thought to herself, 'how bad can it be?'

"Well if you really think we can do it then I'm in." As soon as the words were out of her mouth she started to regret the decision, what was she thinking!? A month with the boy that had stabbed her in the back!

"Splendid! You may keep the unfinished potion here and can be here when classes are over whenever you need. Good luck!" With that the potions master turned back to the front of the classroom.

Severus turned to Lily with an exited gleam in his eyes but Lily cut him off before he could open him mouth.

"Look Severus, I only accepted to this for the extra credit, this doesn't change anything, we're still not friends." Lily tries to sound harsh but it came out more pleading.

"Fine, if that's how you want it." Severus smile disappeared but the gleam in his eyes kept on gleaming.

"Yeah, uhhm… so, let's get started."

The two of them easily found a rhythm, they had done potions so many times in past years that they hardly needed to speak more than twice, a fact Lily was very thankful for.

When class ended Severus spoke up: "How do you want to do this?" He stood a little to close and the proximity to Lily a back. She staggered back a step and without looking at him asked:

"Do what?"

"This. When will we meet? How often?" Yet again he stepped to close, he couldn't help it, he needed to be near her, it was all he could do not to reach out and touch her beautiful face.

"Let's meet here Thursday at seven, alright?" Lily tried to sound calm but she was getting uncomfortable, the only remainders of the class were the two of them, two slytherins and Potter, and that particular group of people doesn't normally mix well.

"You don't think we should meet before then? I mean, the potions will take a lot of time to make Lils."

"Don't call me that. And Thursday will be fine, can you make it?" Lily added an edge to her voice.

"Don't say that." Severus pleaded, "I get if you don't want to be friends right now but we've been best friends for ten years, at least let me address you like I always have."

Lily chose to ignore that, only asking again: "Can you make it on Thursday?"

Severus nodded.

"Great, see you then."

Lily started to walk away but Severus grabbed her wrist.

"Wait."

"Let go of me." Lily tried to pull her hand away but Severus held on tight.

"Please, I just-"

The grasp around Lily's hand was gone in a second and a big figure was standing protectingly between them

"Don't touch her." James growled slowly. He had one hand slightly raised, like he had just shoved Severus. In fact that seemed to be what had just happened. Severus wore a shocked expression that turned into fury in under one second.

"Get out of my way Potter!" He spat out the name like it was poisonous.

"Then get out of hers." The disgust in James voice was just as evident as in Severus.

"Potter, it's fine, let's get out of here." Lily didn't like were this was going, both of the boys had their hands inching for their wands and the two slytherins, now standing behind Severus, both had their wands out as well.

"See, she doesn't want your help, she's fine." Severus growled.

"Maybe she doesn't want my help, but she wants my company, that's more than you can say Snivellus." James said this in a low, victorious voice and turned around to leave, leaving a furious Severus behind him, he was right about to take his wand out when Slughorn approached them.

"Is there problem here boys?"

"Not at all, Sir, we were just leaving." James said with a handsome smile. Ha placed a hand on Lily's back and escorted her quickly out of the classroom and up a few stairs before the slytherins could follow.

"That wasn't necessary." Lily said quietly but reproachfully.

"He grabbed you!" James exclaimed like it was the most horrific thing in the world.

"That doesn't mean you can push him!" Lily felt her temper rising up.

James opened his mouth, looking like he was about to argue, but closed it again. "I'm sorry, that was stupid, I know you can take of yourself, I just don't want to see you get hurt."

The answer completely took Lily of guard, Potter had done some very dumb things over the years, but not once could she recall him apologize.

"Thank you," Lily said, "I didn't need it but thank you."

"Why do you even talk to him?" James blurted out, "Don't you hate him?"

"Potter I really don't want to talk about it, please?"

James felt like there was nothing he had ever wanted to know more in his entire life than how Lily felt about Snape, but he figured begging wouldn't get him anywhere.

"Right, I forgot, no talking of Snivellus." James said, putting on a smile, "What's your next class?" Like he didn't already know it was ancient ruins.

"Ancient ruins."

"Mine's divination, I'll walk you."

There, another one up, just two weeks late, so sorry. I hope I will get some chapters up before Christmas and if not I will make sure to get them up over the holidays. Stay awesome.