Note: Here's the happy ending!! Yay! It's a sweet way to end it, even though it's SO not cannon.

Chapter 7 -- Ending 2

Lily Evans sat in the Gryffindor common. A book was open on her lap and a half finished essay in front of her. Her quill was dripping a steady flowing of ink onto her paper, but she didn't notice in the slightest. Inside her mind a thousand questions and worries flowed by at speedy intervals. When James Potter touched her on the shoulder, she jumped, spilling ink all over her front.

"Oh no!" She frowned. James smiled at her apologetically.

"Sorry, Evans. Let me get that for you." With a flick of his wand the black ink stains faded away.

"Thanks, Potter." She said gratefully, "All right, then?"

"Yeah, I'm always fine, you know me…" He said huskily. "Look, I was just wondering… I overheard some people talking today… and I was just wondering if… anything was going on between you and Sniv-- I mean, Snape."

Two things went on in Lily's mind at once. Along with feeling embarrassed and perturbed, a strange sense of importance swept over her. She suddenly felt as if this moment would be very important to her life, somehow. With this disquieting sense, she considered two responses in her mind. Looking up into James' face she suddenly knew exactly what to say.

She knew James could be arrogant and downright mean at times, but the look on his face showed that he meant to help. Taking his actions as a sign of kindness Lily decided to give what he had to say a chance. After all, even if he was just blowing smoke, all she'd have to do was turn the other way. She decided to confide in him.

"There might be, now that you mention it… what's it to you?" She politely posed. James sat down beside her in his own chair and looked at her with seriousness, as if considering something. When finally spoke it was with precision.

"Look, I don't know much… All I heard was some people… some Slytherin girls… They were talking about keeping you and that… and Snape apart tonight. I'm not sure what's going on, but it seemed like they were planning something." James said with grim finality. One look at his face and Lily was sure he wasn't lying. A dull urgency began to swim in her chest. She suddenly felt as if she needed to run and find Severus at once and she got to her feet, her worry showing on her face. She was about to thank James for the information and hurry off, but he stood fast in front of her.

"Evans, stop. Wait for a second." His face was extremely serious. "I told you this not because I approve of your… of whatever's happening between you two. You know I don't. I hate Snape and I couldn't care less what happens to him. It's you I'm worried about. I told you this because I didn't want you to end up in a bad situation, so rushing off into something potentially dangerous isn't a great way to thank me." Lily stared him down.

"James, I really appreciate you doing this for me, but I have to go… I feel like something's wrong…I feel like-"

"Evans, please listen! They're Slytherins! You don't even know what horrors they are capable of! If you cross their paths, you could end up dead or worse. I want you to be happy, but I can't let you get hurt either." James grabbed Lily's shoulders and held her steady. She looked him deeply in the eyes.

"James, I love him. Please, let me go." The way he looked at her was almost too much to bear. He swallowed nervously, his hazel eyes studying her face. She felt a shock of humiliation and raw guilt to see that they were moist.

"But… Lily… I love you. Doesn't that… mean anything to you? Can't I change your mind?" He spoke with such heartbreaking truth Lily felt her throat tighten and a familiar burning sense in her eyes. She grabbed his hands and looked at them.

"It means… more than you can imagine… but… My mind is made up. I have to go… He needs me… Nobody else in the whole world will try and help him. I've got to go. Please understand, James." She held her tears fast. "Please."

Slowly but surely James released Lily's hands and let them swing back to her sides. The two looked into each others eyes for a moment longer and then Lily scurried through the portrait hole and out into the school, leaving James standing by himself.

Meanwhile, halfway across the school Snape was exiting the Astronomy classroom, looking haggard. Tired and worried, he decided to turn in early this evening. As he begun to descend the staircase that led to the main hall of the school, he heard a voice purr out of the shadows.

"Severus…" He turned to see Lily leaning alluringly against the wall, her hair twisted around her index finger suggestively. Snape nearly dropped his telescope in his alarm.

"Oh… hello Lily." He cleared his throat. "Did…er…did you get my message?" He asked. She stepped in his direction, her skirt twitching from side to side as she moved. She nodded, grabbed his arm and pulled him round the circular tower to the observation deck. Mouth dry and heart beating fast, he let her drag him into the cool and blustery night.

Outside the stars were blazing above head and the trees ringing Hogwarts were alive and dancing in the wind. The silvery moon was reflected on the surface of the lake and the world below was still. Lily went and rested her elbows on the stone railing. Severus thought he'd better say something.

"So, er-"

"I've thought a lot about what you asked of me, Snape…" She interrupted. Her hair billowed in the gentle breeze. She turned to look at him, green eyes ablaze even in the twilight.

"You have?" He pressed on apprehensively.

"And first…. I have to apologize to you, honestly…" Cold fear gripped Snape's throat. Oh no…oh please, no… "I didn't mean to give you the wrong idea, I really didn't." Lily's voice had a slight whine in it. Snape shook his head, looking for something to hang on to. "I thought you knew the reason I was trying to befriend you…" He looked up at her, his eyes scared.

"It was really… only pity." Snape felt as if the world around him was being torn to bits. He felt as if the very walls around him were imploding, crashing down upon the ground, crushing ever soul beneath them. Her words sounded distant and unreal. "I mean, I don't want to be rude, but honestly. Don't you think you were being a bit presumptuous? I'm Lily Evans! I can have any boy in the school, what makes you think I'd settle for… someone like you?" Her tone was scathing as if she were scolding him. Snape's throat began to burned and it took all the effort inside of him to keep from sinking to his knees in despair. "I'm sorry, but don't you realize how ugly you really are? Maybe you should think about that next time you put a respected lady in an embarrassing situation, hm?" She walked automatically towards the door. Snape's shaking legs gave out for under him.

Oh God… no… please don't let this happen… please…

Lily walked beside where Snape kneeled, tears streaming from his eyes. She put a dainty white finger on his chin and forced him to face her. He looked back up at her, looking utterly wounded and broken with his mouth hanging open and tears staining his chalk white face. She gave him a half-hearted grin as she let her emerald eyes pierce his dark ones. Without the slightest bit of self-control Snape reached out for her.

"Lily, please!" She howled. She drew back with out warning and slapped his face forcefully. She grabbed the front of his robes and looked into his face, seething.

"Don't you ever touch me." She snapped. Remorseless, she threw him to the ground nonchalantly, then continued on her way, stroking her hair into place. Snape lay on the cold stone, his face stinging and his heart aching. A great and terrible numbness seemed to devour him from the inside out.

You knew this would happen… How could you have been so stupid?

As he sat with his back against the jagged stone wall, he was sure that a large, gaping hole had been carved into his chest. The world was becoming a black pit of tortuous agony. A great pounding and grinding of metal and bone ripped at Snape's ears. He could hear himself weeping, but it seemed so far off and unreal…

Lily was following the steady line of Slytherins who were slowly making their way into the lower parts school from the astronomy tower. She flew up flights of stairs, a knot in her chest aching as she did. Every breath she took stung her throat and lungs, bur something in her knew she couldn't stop. As she climbed up and up towards the tower the number of students thinned out. She could her the sounds of her heavy footsteps echoing around the staircases and corridors she sped through. Every muscle in her body ached, but still she would not stop. As she threw open the door leading into the astronomy wing, she tripped suddenly. Rolling onto her back and she saw a collection mobiles and models of the planets an stars used for astronomy lectures. The whole ceiling of the hall was glittering and spinning as she sat up and struggled to get to her feet.

"Oh, miss Mudblood. Did you fall and hurt yourself?"

At once the door behind Lily closed and the room became eerily dim. The girl with her hands on the door had elegantly curly black hair which draped into her sunken eyes. Lily was immediately on guard, putting her hand into her pocket and grabbing her wand. She was ready for anything.

"I'm quite all right, actually…" She stood up, keeping her eyes on the girl with the dark hair. "I'll just be going now, thanks." Lily turned to go but another girl blocked the end of the passage. She resembled the black-haired witch but her hair was a sleek and shimmering white-blonde. She held her wand delicately in her pale hands. The model stars and planets hovered and glowed above them, offering a dull light unto the three that stood below. "Um, excuse me." Lily said to the blonde girl, trying to inch by her.

"Not so fast!" The blonde witch grabbed Lily's arm. "Where do you think you're going? You're not supposed to be wandering the school at this time…" The girl purred. Lily narrowed her eyes and faced her unblinking.

"What do you care? Who are you anyway and what's this got to do with you?" Lily shouted. The witch behind her made a clucking noise with her mouth.

"Sassy, sassy." She shook her head incredulously. The blonde witch tightened her grip on Lily's arm. "What we care about is of no importance to a Mudblood like you. You couldn't possibly understand it anyway. You best be off to bed, child. No need to worry… your darling Sevvy will be just fine." She finished darkly, flashing her wicked smile as she prowled closer to Lily.

"So this has got something to do with him!" Lily bellowed struggling with the blonde girl. "Let me through, NOW!" Lily bellowed right in the blonde witch's face. When she raised her wand to retaliate Lily pulled hers out twice as fast.

"Expelliarmus!" Lily yelled, disarming the girl that held her and breaking free of her grasp. She made a mad dash for the door at the end of the hall, feeling quite scared.

"Bellatirx, she's getting away!" The blonde witch shrieked. A flash of light flew up past Lily's ear and crashed above her. A shower of miniatures orbs and sparkling stars crashed on Lily's head, stopping her momentarily. She turned to face her advancing opponents bravely.

"Rictusempra!" Lily commanded her wand. A jet of red light short out and hit the witch called Bellatrix in the chest. At once she fell to her knees, shrieking with laughter and grasping her sides.

"Narcissa…. Ha ha ha… Don't let her… he he he… ESCAPE!" She gasped, sounding madly hysterical. Narcissa aimed another blast at the ceiling causing another shower of flashing and tumbling objects to stop Lily's escape. The stars exploded with great flares of light in her face. She screamed as she felt a pair of arms grab her around the middle and pin her to the floor. Lily fought back, throwing stunning curses randomly into the air.

"Locomotor jupiter!" She heard Narcissa call. Bright patches were blocking Lily's eyes and making it hard for her to see what was happening. She felt a grip release and saw a huge model of Jupiter careening towards her. She put her arm up for protection and felt the two fore collide. With a sickening snap and an explosion of glass and smoke, Lily was thrown back against the wall. Her arm felt as if it were on fire. She doubled over and gripped it, knowing it was surely broken. She saw Narcissa advancing through the smoke towards her. Lily felt her back on the door and was positive she could make it.

"T-tarantallegra!" Lily squeaked, watching as Narcissa's legs erupted into uncontrollable motion. She howled in rage as Lily escaped through the doors and sealed it behind her.

Lily stood panting with her back to the door. As her instincts were wearing off she wondered what she had gotten herself into. She wanted to know desperately what was going on, if she could stop it, and how much trouble they'd all be in after it was over. Her eyes followed the staircase to the top where a collection of doors led to the observation decks. She felt a sharp rush of adrenaline as careful footsteps began to resonate through the spacious room. They echoed off the marble floors rhythmically as a person came into sight at the top of the stairs. Nothing could have prepared Lily for who she saw staring down at her.

It was herself.

She choked as the person that was her descended the steps with a still face, staring back at her with her own green eyes.

"How in the world? Who… who are you?" Lily sputtered, wondering desperately if this was a dream. Her arm still pounded with unbearable pain. She couldn't ready herself for another fight so soon. Vaguely, Lily could hear somebody who sounded as if they were in terrible pain on one of the observation decks.

"Me?" The other Lily posed, raising her eyebrows. "I'm Lily Evans." She said with Lily's voice. She flashed her Lily's smile and giggled with Lily's laugh.

"I'm Lily!" The girl with her back to the door screamed. She felt as if her sanity was slipping away by the moment.

"I'm Lily!" The other red-head mocked derisively as she reached the bottom of the stairs. She suddenly smiled at her twin with a very unkind smile that was foreign to Lily Evans' face as she raised her wand and grazed it gently against the other girl's cheek. "Since it's just the two of us now… I thought I'd show you a new trick I learned the other day… are you ready…?"

An ear-splitting scream rang from the hall below Severus. At once he lowered his hands from his face and sat very still. The hot tears still fell from his chin, but a new feeling had surfaced in his chest. As the tortured shrieking continued, he recognized the voice. He stood up, heart racing. Despite his anguish and sorrow, he couldn't bear to hear Lily Evans screaming in agony. Throwing caution to the wind he flew through the door to see what was going on.

At the bottom of the stair well a shocking scene was taking place. Lily Evans held her wand in her hand and was cursing a writhing and screeching girl on the floor.

"Does it hurt…?" She cooed mockingly as her curse faded away. The other girl whimpered pathetically, clutching her arm to her chest. "Hm? I can't hear you. Well, it must not hurt enough then. Crucio!" At once the bloodcurdling screams echoed painfully through the hall again. Lily had a twisted smile on her face and looking fascinated and gleeful. Severus moved, horror-stricken and dazed to try and stop the monstrous deed but when he saw the face of the girl being tortured, he nearly fainted. It was Lily. Lily Evans.

How could there be two?

Confusion gave away to the look of absolute agony written on her face. Tears streamed from her eyes and the sound that came from her suggested she was being slowly hewn to bits. Severus could stand it for another minute. He grabbed the standing Lily and ripped the wand from her hand and broke it with clean precision over he knee. She looked at him, stunned. Severus knocked her aside, feeling no qualms. He didn't know what was happening, but it was apparent that no Lily he knew would ever hurt another person and smile.

Snape dropped to his knees and gently picked up the sobbing and whimpering girl from the floor, resting her head in the crook of his arm. The Lily behind him had her back against the wall and was breathing deeply.

"Are you all right?" Severus asked the girl in his arms with a kindness he'd never spoken with before. She opened her emerald eyes and looked up at him, totally vulnerable.

"S-severus?" She whispered, showing a shadow of a smile. At once there was a yelp behind them and both looked over at the Lily who was backed against the wall. Her appearance was beginning to change. Her hair was getting progressively darker and shorter and her face more and more pale. As she grew taller and her features changed, Snape suddenly came to a full realization of the satiation. He propped Lily gently up against the wall and stalked over to the girl against the wall, who now had sleek, shining black hair and a round, pale face.

"Cleo." Snape growled, every tone in his voice suggesting unbridled fury.

"S-snape!!" She cried, shrinking backwards. "This is not what it looks like…! You… you don't understand… I…"

"No, I understand…" He backed her into the wall and snarled into her face. "…PERFECTLY WELL…." He glared at her with animosity as he grabbed her shoulders with a vice-like grip. "You've been calculating this whole stunt for a while now, weren't you? You stole my Polyjuice potion, poked your nose into other people's business, tricked me… tired to destroy all that was important to me, and ruthlessly tortured the girl I love. I understand all to well…" Snape's voice was dangerous.

"It had to be done! You knew too much! I couldn't have you sneaking around with Mudblood filth!" Cleo protested. Snape's eyes filled with fury.

"Don't you dare speak about Lily like that…" His hands closed around her throat involuntarily. Cleo choked and struggled against him, kicking her legs and trying to draw breath desperately.

"SEVERUS, NO!!" Lily shrieked behind him. Snape looked back at Lily, then turned to Cleo and released his grip on her throat. She collapsed into a heap at Snape's feet, gasping and clutching her bruised throat. Severus shot her a disgusted look and turned his attentions to Lily. She was shaking as Snape turned to look at her.

"Lily… are you hurt?" He asked imperatively. She shook off the image of Severus strangling Cleo and responded. "My arm… I think it's broken…" She grimaced, testing it to see if it could move.

"Do you think you could make it to the hospital wing, if you can-" The sound of the door crashing open stopped Severus in mid-sentence. Bellatrix, now cured of her insane laughter, and Narcissa burst through the door, shooting Stunning Spells rapidly and running right past Lily. A red jet of light hit Snape in the chest and he doubled over, unable to move. Lily retaliated by quickly and effectively immobilizing Cleo and jumping to her feet.

"Hold it right there!" She approached Narcissa from behind and jabbed her wand into her throat.

"Back away, Mudblood, or I'll make you pay for it!" Bellatrix faced Lily, brandishing her own wand flamboyantly.

"Petrificus Totalus!" Lily shouted and Narcissa instantly became rigid and began to topple to the floor. On her way down she collided with Lily's broken arm, causing Lily to double over in pain.

Bellatrix shrieked triumphantly and sent Lily flying back into the wall with a blast of light from her wand. Lily smashed into the hard stone and lay still. Bellatrix stepped over to her looking superior.

"Poor little Mudblood…" She teased, kicking Lily to the floor with cruel pleasure. She started to laugh as Lily opened her eyes and terror crept over her face once she realized her situation. "In trouble, aren't we?" Bellatrix cackled. Suddenly, Lily expression changed.

"Seems that way." Lily said as-a-matter-of-factly. Bellatrix swooped around to see Snape standing behind her with his wand at the ready. He gave her a quick, humorless smile and stunned her where she stood. As she clamored to the floor, Snape hurried over to Lily and offered her a hand.

"Thanks." She said shortly, taking his hand. They began to make their way back through the ruins of the astronomy corridor with utmost speed.

"We've got to find a teacher." Lily said urgently, but as the two looked around they found not a soul was in sight.

"Let's go to Professor Dumbledore, his office is this way, I think. Come on." Without thinking Snape grabbed Lily's hand and pulled her down the corridor to the left. She trailed behind him slowly, her body shaking with weakness. As Severus urged her on she lost more and more strength. She began to stumble and trip and pant with exhaustion. He stopped and looked at her. "Are you going to make it?" He asked, studying her trembling form. She took a moment to catch her breath.

"Hey… I've been through a lot…" She heaved, clutching her side, her broken arm hanging lamely at her side. Severus stooped down slightly.

"Hurry and get on already." He said grudgingly. "We haven't got much time before the other Slytherins arrive." Lily looked puzzled for a moment, then walked cautiously forward and climbed shakily onto his back. He rose immediately and sped down the hallway with haste. She held close with her strong arm and rested her tired head on his shoulder as he supported her legs. They weaved through the corridors and staircases with silence and purpose for nearly five minutes, searching for the gargoyle statue that would lead them to the safety of Professor Dumbledore's office.

"I think we're nearly there." Snape breathed, looking down a rather familiar looking corridor. "Its just beyond this-"

A stone statue beside the two suddenly exploded into a heap of rubble. Snape jerked backwards to see Malfoy, Avery and Nott accompanying the Slytherin girls that had attacked them before. They all looked livid and full of dark purpose. Snape set off at a run, Lily weighting him down some. He ran with all his might, feeling spells zoom past his ears. When it became apparent that he was barreling down and dead-ended hall with a great glass window at the end his pace slowed and his heart sank horribly. When he reached the end of the hall he let Lily down beside him. She stared into his dark eyes, petrified. He bit his lip and put a protective arm around her, still facing the oncoming death eaters and backing slowly against the large panes of glass.

"At the end of the road now, Snape!" He heard Avery's shrill tone echo down the hall. Their thundering footsteps were growing closer by the moment. He'd given up hopes of Filch coming along by now. Snape knew that this was it… unless….

The group of six Slytherins slid to a stop a few a yards away from the cowering couple, all breathing with frenzied might. Snape jumped forward and did a quick about face, shattering the crystal-clear glass with one mighty curse from his wand. He shot an imperative look at Lily, then took a great lunge out of the window. The wind blew in cold from the blustery night. Lily screamed as she watched Snape leap out and ran to the jagged edge, staring out after him. The grounds were completely black and she couldn't see a thing. She turned, spinning with terror, to the advancing group. She leaned away, shaking as they drew ever closer. She couldn't stop her trembling. Suddenly through the whispering winds came a voice that could've come from Lily's own head.

Lily JUMP!

She froze, hesitating what was to be done. One last look at Bellatrix readying her wand was enough to motivate her to stand on the window sill. As she as she looked down she wished she hadn't stood up at all, but a great breath of wind caused her to loose her footing and she tumbled out of the window and into the air. She found that she couldn't even scream as lighted windows whizzed by her with a dizzying speed as she fell, face up, towards the grounds below. Heart hammering, she nearly fainted with fright until she felt the biting air that whistled past her calm down to normal pace. She floated down slowly and landed softly into the outstretched arms of Severus Snape. She could hardly believe what happened and could only stare at him, jaw-dropped. He laughed a bit sheepishly.

"Impediment charm. Stops falling objects." He explained simply. She nearly broke into laughter as he laid her gently on her feet, smiling nervously.

"Severus, you're simply amazing." She smiled, still shaking madly from careening hundreds of feet towards earth. He blushed slightly and coughed.

"Erm, thanks…" He scratched his head slightly. "But, we've got no time. We've got to hide somewhere. Those thugs will be down here in no time so there's no chance of us escaping back into the castle without meeting them somewhere on the way. If we can bide our time until morning then they won't be able to do a thing in front of the other students." Lily nodded in accordance and the two streaked off across the grounds and into the night.

"Wait!" Lily shouted, stopping suddenly. "We can go to Hagrid!" She pointed to the gamekeeper's hut. The windows were dark, but it was rather late after all. They ran towards it and hammered on the door, praying that Hagrid would open it soon. After nearly five minutes of knocking, still no answer came.

"He must be doing some business in the forest… Come on, let's get out of plain sight." Snape shooed Lily into the trees that bordered the Dark Forest. As they were making their way into the thick of the woods, footsteps and hushed voices crept through the stillness of the night. Snape turned to see the doors that led to the castle ground being opened. With silent worry, he pushed Lily farther into the trees and they both disappeared from view.

"Hurry, they're coming!" He hissed at her. They both plunged deeper into the forest the trees closing in on either side and the brush growing thick underneath. Above their heads a full moon peaked in and out of the openings in the trees. After they crashed through the trees for about thirty minutes, the forest enclosed them and they were sent into darkness. Lily slowed down and collapsed into a heap by a tree, breathing heavily. She looked pale and weak and was shaking slightly.

"Tired?" Snape asked her as he sat beside her. She nodded, still breathless. They both stared at each other for a moment and the full effect of the evening's events crashed down on them. They were running from a group of malcontent Slytherins who most likely wanted them both dead. Lily was severely injured and losing strength and for some strange reason, no one was around to help them. They had cheated death more than once and would most likely have to do it again. Snape looked at the ground, feeling very odd indeed. "Look, maybe you should sleep. You don't look so well. I'll watch for them."

"Thanks…" Lily breathed. Snape removed his cloak and handed it to Lily. She took it gratefully and curled up on the ground, her broken arm resting lightly on her stomach. Snape sat with his back against the tree as the forest whispered around them. The leaves and grasses whipped back and forth in the gusts of wind and strange sounds and animal calls echoed through the night. Keeping his wand at the ready, Severus was sure not to let his weariness get the better of him. A few hours on, the wind had kicked up to an unbearable velocity and the air was heavy with mist. Shivering, Severus struggled to keep awake. He turned his gaze to Lily. She was sleeping soundly, her face untroubled and relaxed. Snape's face broke into a small smile, but he realized something slightly disquieting. He'd almost lost her today… more than once, in fact, and he still hadn't told her exactly how he felt and what she had done for him. There was no guaranteeing that they were both going to make it out of this… He stared at her sleeping form, longing to tell her all the things that had been going through his mind for the last few years. He almost did as well, but he felt it an awful shame to wake her up. She must be in such pain… he couldn't bring himself to disturb her moment of peace.

It very well could be the last she ever has…

The thought was sickeningly grim. Severus reached across gently and stroked Lily's hair. It was smooth and silky even after the rough night. Suddenly an idea overcame him. Reaching into his pocket he pulled out a quill and piece of parchment he'd begun taking astronomy notes on. He smiled a bit, thinking how far off that class seemed, how trivial his nerves had been. He spread out the paper and thought for a moment, then began to write hurriedly. He was afraid the sharp end of the quill might poke through, but it seemed to turn out fine. After about fifteen minutes, the letter was complete. He tucked it safely into her pocket, hoping that wherever she was after this was all over she would find it. He glanced at her at smiled.

Where would I be without you, Lily?

Suddenly a great amount of noise came flowing in from near them in the woods. Severus could see the faint glow of wand light in the distance. He immediately shrunk down in the grass and clovers and shook Lily awake. He put a finger to his lips to alert her of the approaching danger, then lifted his own wand. At once it went oddly quiet and Lily and Severus both breathed into the darkness, looking around for a sign of movement or light.

"Are they gone?" Lily breathed, shivering and looking about.

"I… I don't know…"

There were a few moments where nothing but the pounding of their hearts could be heard. Then a drawling voice broke the terrified silence.

"Well, well, well…" Severus felt an arm clamp around his neck before he could do anything else. "Petrificus totalus!" Several voices shouted. Lily and Severus were completely frozen. The cackling laughs of the Slytherins rang out in the deathly still forest.

"Oh no We've gotten ourselves in big trouble this time, haven't we?" Bellatrix stepped forward, putting a foot on Lily's chest. "Poor little things." Snape felt utterly defeated. This couldn't be it, there had to be some way out. Cleo stepped forward and looking at the two.

"What should we do, Lucius?" She asked. She seemed disturbingly exhilarated. Lucius crept over, looking down his nose at Snape, who was snarling silently at him.

"Let's make quick work of this. We can transfigure the bodies into stones and leave them here. Tomorrow we'll tell everyone that they ran away together while everyone was asleep."

Snape's heart was racing. He was about to die… about to be murdered…

"Can I kill the girl?" Cleo asked with breathless anticipation, her wand ready. Lucius nodded without the slightest sign of being bothered. He withdrew his own wand slowly, the dark wood shining in the moonlight. Lily struggled the effects of the curse beginning to wear off.

"Please, no!! Why are you doing this?" She screamed, tears streaking down her face.

"Incarcerous!" Lucius hissed, cruel bond shooting from his wand and wrapping themselves around Lily's neck and arms. She sobbed through the ropes that cut into her face.

"Lily! NO!" Snape roared, trying with all his might to fight off the curse.

"Why are we doing this?" Narcissa repeatedly softly, gliding forward slightly. "Because Snape knows much too much about the Dark Lord and he knows who his loyal servants are. We know it'll only be a matter of time before he'll tell you and we know a nice little Mudblood wouldn't let that secret lay quiet. So you can thank Snape for this." Her pale lips curled into a smile.

"P-please…" Lily shuddered, weeping for her life. Cleo grabbed her wand and stuck it into the soft part of Lily's neck with fierce enjoyment.

"STOP!!" Snape bellowed. Avery still held him fast, but he did his best to fight against him. "She's innocent! She doesn't need to die!" He seemed to have gotten their attention. He looked at them frantically. "Kill me if you must, but let Lily live. You can… erase this memory from her mind… She won't know what happened…" Lucius considered this. "Please…" Snape implored him, his eyes piercing Lucius'. "Please don't kill her…" Lucius breathed through his nose.

"Narcissa." He said and Narcissa floated to his side. "Take the Mudblood to the lake's shore and destroy her memory completely. Leave her there and maybe someone will find her in the morning." She nodded and grabbed Lily by the hair and tugged her to her feet. Tears were still pouring from her eyes.

Lily and Snape's eyes met for one moment that seemed eternity. Those beautiful, emerald eyes. They stared at each other as Narcissa dragged Lily off into the darkness of the forest, unspoken truth communicated from their gaze.

I love you.

Snape couldn't stop the tears that leaked from his dark eyes. Goodbye Lily.

Lily could still see the ring of Slytherins around Snape. She was whirling in a torrent of sickness and utmost despair. She could still make out Avery throwing Snape to the ground then standing up quickly. The group was becoming shrouded in darkness. Lucius lifted his wand.

"Come on, you!" Narcissa spat, wheeling Lily around so she faced away from the group. She felt as if she would be violently ill. She knew was what about to happen. And then it came faster than she could handle. Even from so far away Lily could hear Lucius' cold tones split the cold, windy night.

"Avada Kedevra!"

She heard a howl of pain and a burst of triumphant laughter. Inside her, something was screaming. Her head spun with terrible force. They've done… they killed him… She felt all life leaving her limbs and stumbled along with Narcissa jerking her forward. There was a great amount of noise resounding from the clearing. Were they laughing? A terrible numbness grasping her body. The noise behind her was becoming muted. Her and Narcissa stumbled through the dark woods for what seemed like an eternity in the tunnels of the underworld. Lily's heart felt as if it were being torn into pieces over and over again. When she emerged from the trees, she didn't even feel a hint of fear. In what seemed like a dream, she was wrenched towards the shore of the lake. The waves looked like cold steel. As Lily was thrown unceremoniously to the rocks and pebbles below, nothing stirred in her but terrible pain. She wanted the curse. She wanted it to come and erase all the pain from her heart. A thought came into her mind as Narcissa slid her wand out from her robe pocket, looking pale and grim.

She remembered seeing a poor skinny boy being tormented by James Potter. She remembered the way he scrambled off nervously when she tried to help him. Suddenly memories flooded into her head as she saw Narcissa whip her wand back and take a breath. She remembered standing in the shrieking shack beside him, knitting the scarf for him in the evenings before the Christmas holiday… She could still feel him holding her in the empty classroom…

It was all about to be stolen… stolen and smashed into a thousand pieces. She looked at Narcissa wildly as she opened her mouth to speak.

"Obliviate!" She commanded, her gray eyes mad with power. Lily barrel rolled out of the way just in time and tried to crawl away desperately. "Come back, idiot girl. Snape died so that you could live, is this how you treat his sacrifice?"

"I'll get the lot of you locked up in Azkaban!" Lily shrieked, trying with all her might to fight the ropes that bound her. Narcissa advanced with a smile that had a hint of pity. "That's how I'll treat his sacrifice!" Narcissa gave a soft chuckle and put her foot on Lily's chest, pinning her on the ground.

"It'll be fine, Mudblood. In a moment you won't even remember who Snape was…" She lifted her wand again. This was it.

Snape felt himself being thrown to the floor. The shapes of Lily and Narcissa were disappearing into the darkness. He could just see her struggling to come back to him. Lucius Malfoy stepped forward.

"Oh Snape… If only your loyalties lay in the right place… you could've been a great asset to use… oh well… Goodbye…" He lifted him wand and his eyes flashed with untamed fierceness. A sudden movement in the shadows made Snape turn his head.

"Avada Kedevra!" His cold voice rang out just as a large dark shape lunged at him from the brush. The creature collided with his chest just in time to knock the jet of green light off course. It exploded with a sinister hiss next to Snape's ear as he watched the beast tearing at Lucius' who was yelling with surprise and pain. Avery, Bellatrix, Nott and Cleo stood stunned. At once the muscular form of a huge gray stag exploded through the brush and plowed into Avery and Nott, knocking them to the ground. Confused, but ready, Snape leapt to his feet and pulled out his wand.

"Stupefy! Stupefy!" He stunned Cleo and Bellatrix as they were watching the wild animals attack their comrades. The shaggy black animal snarled and bit Lucius Malfoy over and over. Snape bound Cleo and Bellatrix and took their wands, leaving them against a tree. The stag was trampling Avery and Nott as they tried to crawl away. These animals were absolutely mad. Snape darted out of the clearing and ran for it before they could turn and start savaging him. He heard voices and spells being cast behind him, but he didn't dare stop. Lily was in serious danger, there was no time to loose. As soon as he thought he had made it, a thundering gallop resounded behind him. He turned to see the huge stag barreling straight towards him, it's eyes blazing. Near its heels was the shaggy black creature, it's lolling tongue hanging out of it's jaws. It was an enormous black dog.

The Grim!?

Snape cried out, the all too familiar sense of impending doom closing in on him. He felt the strong antlers of the stag flip him up into the air and he crashed down painfully onto the creature's back. Holding on for dear life, Snape could feel the powerful muscles of the beast working underneath him.

The dog and stag erupted through the trees and tore down to the side of the lake where they could see Narcissa above Lily's crumpled form, her wand drawn. The stag jerked Snape violently off its back and he tumbled to the ground, aching all over. When Snape sat up he looked around for the charging team but found them nowhere. Instead he saw two tall boys running towards Narcissa, who had turned on them and began firing curses. They blocked skillfully and Snape jumped to his feet and raced towards Lily who was laying unconscious on the ground. When he slid down beside her, he felt a great sense of dread.

Snape severed the ropes that were cutting into her skin. A ways off the two boys dueled with Narcissa, who was putting up quite a fight. Snape scooped Lily off of the ground but soon he was preoccupied with a new realization. Potter and Black. It was Potter and Black who were battling Narcissa. In disbelief, Snape picked Lily up and took her to safety a few feet away by a large beech tree. He then rushed over to the fray and shot a well aimed stunning spell at Narcissa, who blasted off her feet and fell to the ground in a vanquished heap. Snape, James and Sirius stared at each other, all of them gasping for breath.

"STUPEFY!!" Screamed a maddened voice from the forest's edge. James fell beside Naricissa. Lucius Malfoy, covered in blood and ravaged looking, emerged from the trees and shot another stunning spell at Sirius who also collapsed. Snape raised his wand.

"Expelliarmus!"

"Protego!" Lucius deflected the curse, his voice mad with rage. His white hair was tangled and stained with his own blood. The moon came out from behind the cloud, bathing the two in icy moonlight.

"EXPELLIARMUS!"

"AVADA KEDEVRA!"

There was an explosion of light and the two rolled out of the way. At once a piercing howl came from the trees behind them. Snape immediately turned and ran without stopping to think. Lucius laugh as high and cruel.

"You think you can escape from me!? AVADA KED-" Snape could hear a vicious ripping and snarling sound behind him as Lucius Malfoy screamed in pain. Snape didn't stop running until he was beside Lily, who was still laying unconscious underneath the tree. Snape could see the body of the werewolf Remus Lupin slashing at Lucius cowering form. Suddenly, the large dog and stag trampled into sight and pushed the werewolf violently aside. They both worked at pushing the beast back into the trees with their teeth and antlers until all was quiet.

"Oh my goodness!" Came a shriek from across the grounds. Professor McGonagall, dressed in her night gown. Peter Pettigrew ran along beside her as they came to aid the students who lay crumpled and bleeding. It was over… they were safe…..

"Will she be all right, professor?" James Potter asked Professor Dumbledore. James, Sirius, a very tired looking Remus, Peter, Severus and Dumbledore were all grouped around a bed in the hospital wing. Lily Evans lay in the bed, dark bruises on her neck where the ropes had strangled her. She looked pale and terribly weak as she slept. Madam Pomfrey was able to med her arm in a moment, but until she awoke they couldn't tell whether she'd been cursed by Narcissa's memory charm.

The group of Slytherins were being held in the top tower of Hogwarts awaiting they escorts to Azkaban. Professors Flitwick, Dumbledore and Slughorn had arrived shortly after McGonagall and helped clean up the mess and collect the unconscious and bound Slytherins. Up in the hospital wing Severus had explain the entire situation and Lily's ailment to Dumbledore. He had tried his best and succeeded in not bursting into hopeless tears. Soon after the Slytherins were patched up, questioned with the help of some Veritaserum and imprisoned in the dark tower. Near dawn the four Gryffindor troublemakers came to the castle, looking exhausted but crazy with worry. They'd been waiting and watching if Lily would make some sign of life.

"I don't know, James." Dumbledore said softly, "We'll have to wait until… oh…" Lily stirred in her bed and opened her eyes. She looked at everyone with a glassy expression.

"Lily?" Severus asked, his voice shaking. She looked over at him after a moment but remained silent. She looked slightly surprised. James let out a pathetic wail and great sniff.

"Oh Lily…" He moaned, putting his hands over his face. Sirius and Remus looked at Dumbledore. His expression was grim and he shook his head ominously. Remus stood up and went to the corner of the room, breathing heavily. Lily stared around at everyone. She had a very black and confused look on her face. Sirius sat horribly and stared at the tile covered ground as Peter blubbered miserably beside him. Severus felt stunned and his eyes began to burn. They had destroyed the Lily he knew… the Lily he loved… she was lost forever… torn to pieces… scattered to the wind…

He grasped her hand forcefully, staring with genuine sorrow into her lost-looking countenance.

"Lily…" He said with anguish. "Oh, Lily…" The tears he'd been holding back all night long poured out, floodgates of misery opening in his heart. Her brow furrowed as she looked at everyone around her.

"Lily! I'll stay with you until the end!" James howled, "I'll help you remember everything!"

"We'll take care of you Lily, honest…" Pettigrew practically screamed.

"I still love you, Lily. No matter what happens, I'll always love you!" Severus told her forcibly, taking her shoulders. He didn't care who heard it anymore, the life of worrying about who knew he loved Lily Evans seemed like eons ago. Lily blushed a bit and looked at her bed sheets.

"I love you too, Severus." She said shyly, her cheeks red. Everyone fell very silent and she looked around. "What's the matter with everyone? Why're you all crying? Is somebody hurt?" She looked out of the window at the bright morning light. "Did you catch the Slytherins?"

It was an absolutely beautiful morning. The lake reflected the merry light of the sun and it was already starting to warm up. A light breeze played in the leaves of the trees that surrounded the lake. The sounds and smells of spring were in the air. The powder blue sky and puffy white clouds above were enough to put ideas of adventure and inspiration into the hearts of anyone.

Lily and Severus walked through the deserted halls. It was too early for anyone else to be walking to ground, which is the exact reason they'd agreed to meet at this time. For the last week everyone had been talking about them and their daring escape from Lucius and his gang of Slytherin. It had been an exciting week leading up to the first day of O.W.L.S, which happened to be starting later that day. They had decided they didn't want anymore talk starting about them… or any interruptions.

"I still can't get over the fact James and the others are Animagi!" Lily piped as she strolled down the hall, her skirt swaying above her knee. "They could get in a lot of trouble if the ministry found out, you know…" Severus gave her a crooked smile.

"Good thing Dumbledore likes them, eh?" He said a bit sardonically. Lily giggled.

"I'm proud of you guys! Putting aside your differences, like that. Very admirable. I think one day you could be good friends if you keep this up." She smiled. Snape scoffed.

"Agreeing not to battle each other and being friends are two very different things, you know." He said a bit harshly. Noticing the look on her face he stopped. "…erm… but you never know what will happen…" He said grudgingly. Lily broke into another smile and was silent for a long time with her back to the wall.

"You know… I read that letter." She admitted, looking him right in the eye. He felt his face grow hot. He'd completely forgotten about its existence and now it was coming back to mock him.

"Oh… did you? Well, that's good…" She wouldn't break his gaze.

"Did you mean it?" She asked confidently. Snape looked at her with a meaningful stare.

"Every word…" He breathed. The silence was suddenly palpable. The twittering birds and gentle breeze spoke softly from the open windows. Snape bit his bottom lip nervously. Lily stepped over to him, her green eyes shining with affection and longing.

"Have you really loved me… for all that time?" She said softly. He nodded, trying not to looked surly. She beamed at him, looking absolutely beautiful in the soft morning light.

"Ever since I first laid eyes on you." He spoke, his words not sounding like his own. "I'll always…. I'll always be here for you… If you're lost… or scared…or maybe just lonely. You could choose anybody else and I'd still be content just knowing you, you know that right? No matter what you do, I'll always… be there to catch you…" He looked at his feet, thinking of their daring plunge through the window on that terrifying night. She looked up into his face, patches of pink on her cheeks.

"You know who I've chosen." She said sweetly, grasping his hands softly.

"James Potter?" Severus wondered aloud, his expression darkening slightly. She giggled again.

"No, not James Potter." She leaned in slowly and pressed her lips to his, the sweet sounds of the birds in the courtyard echoing through the marble halls. It was indeed a very beautiful morning.

Lying in my bed
I hear the clock tick
And think of you
Caught up in circles
Confusion is nothing new

You say
Go slow
I fall behind
The second hand
Unwinds

If you're lost
You can look
And you will find me
Time after time
If you fall
I will catch you
I'll be waiting
Time after time

The End