Lily turned around and started walking towards her house, expecting someone to call on her or something, but there wasn't even a soul outside because of the sun. She smiled weakly and quickened her pace. She turned on a street, and before noticing, saw Snape sitting on a chair in the front steps of his house. Just then she looked over her head and saw the sign over her head: "Spinner's End". That path home was so familiar that she'd taken it without notice, and she debated a little over if she would continue that way, or turn around and take the next street. But then she saw Snape staring directly at her, standing up and walking towards her. Accepting the unavoidable, she continued walking forward, but apparently oblivious to the approaching Snape.
"Lily!" He called. "Lily! Please stop." Louder. "Can you just try and listen?" Scream "I didn't mean to!" Yell "Please!" He fell on his knees, right in front of her, a sob trapped on his throat. Lily might be too angry with him, but she didn't have a stone heart.
"Please, Lily, please try and listen, please..."
"Severus, don't... Please get up." She spoke softly. Snape stood up slowly, always looking at Lily directly in the eye. When he stood up, Lily's head barely reached his neck, but she never let go of the gaze.
"Lily, you know I'm really, really sorry for what I did, I know you must be tired of my apologies but I won't give up until we-"
"You're right Severus. I've had enough apologies for the summer. And I've learned not to trust Death Eaters at all, especially after the Moody's..."
"How can you be so sure that I'm one, Lily?"
"I feel sorry for you Severus. We've been friends for so long, I think you know me better than my sister. But I don't know you. At least, not anymore. The good friend that you used to be, no longer exists, and it has been replaced by a guy I haven't met before. I feel sorry for you, and for your lack of sight."
"Lily, don't do this to me."
"I didn't do it to you, it was done all by yourself. You did it when they put the Mark on your skin."
"Lily, you don't understand. My mother-"
"That I don't understand? I understand good and evil. What is morally correct and what it isn't. I'm a Mudblood, you said it yourself. What if your friends kill me for fun, as they do with Mudbloods every day? Would you mourn me? Would you laugh with your friends because the filthy little Mudblood screamed before she died? Would you kill me yourself to please your Lord? I know it's hard, Severus, but you've taken your path and I've taken mine. As I said before, I'm really sorry for you."
"Don't- don't say that. I would die before anything happened to you, I needed to do it, my mother was dying. He healed her. He said that the least he could receive from me was a lifetime service, or he would kill her, her and everybody else I once cared about."
"If you think I'll believe this story, then you're completely nuts. There are ways, Severus. I am tired of telling you this: but you always have a choice. You already did. I had mine. Good bye, and please, please stop trying to get to me again." She turned and started walking away from him.
"And have you told that to Potter?" She stopped without turning.
"What has James got to do with any of this?"
"Ask him under the mistletoe."
"Gods Severus, don't be a jerk and just leave James alone."
"Now standing up for Potter, are we? Yeah, and on first name basis. When did you two become so friendly? What's it now, you never seemed to be able to stop Potter from bothering me."
"Don't act the victim. Whatever it is between James and me is our business, not yours. Have a good day." She never looked back. Snape stood there, tears streaming down his face. To see Lily holding hands with James was too much for him. He would pay.
The sun was still high in the sky when Lily reached her house, her family was having lunch, and she joined them.
"Where were you all morning, Lily, dear?" Asked her mother.
"I was with some friends, mum."
"Well, you should pack now. We'll leave early tomorrow."
"Yes, mum."
Then she got up and went to her room. She didn't have an owl, her family wouldn't allow it, but Mary's was as good as her own. She saw the parchment she had wrote the first day back and threw it away. Her life was a weird knot now. She had a few hours until she would be too sleepy to actually do anything else. She packed automatically, without thinking what she was doing until night had already closed in. So much for her last day of summer. It was so weird, she even forgot to eat. Her mind was somewhere else, but she only needed to remember James's arms around her to make her smile. About ten p.m., her sister Petunia entered her room.
"So what's his name?" she asked.
"Beg your pardon?"
"You were all dreamy at lunch, tried to eat your steak with your spoon, and I saw Snape crying his eyes out when I was walking home. That guy fancies you. So, what is his name?"
"Potter, James Potter."
"How cute. Then you'll name your kids Harry and Anne."
"Why is that?"
"Because it sounds cute, and the surname combines, Mrs. Potter. But let me ask, how can a jerk be so good looking?"
"He is not a jerk. And how do you know him?"
"Oh Jesus, I guess, you know, my girls and I know every mildly good looking guy in a ten block wide area. For example, there is Sirius Black, five blocks from here, just gorgeous. If you want a great body, there is this Max Alvarez with his stunning abs. Just saying you're goddamn lucky, James' six pack can be seen from the moon also. I guess Arianne will hate you now." Lily smiled at the mention of 'hot' Marauders.
"Gods, you are insufferable."
"I know I am. My professional advice is: don't get drunk until you know him better and keep his hands away from your bra. That's more than enough."
"I'm sixteen."
"I know, and?"
"I don't get drunk or have guys near my bra."
"That is what everybody says. Just live your life, and remember you are only sixteen once." With that she exited the bedroom. Even though her sister was very different from her, guys were always a topic they could both chat on. Petunia was surprised, James Potter was in fact the hottest guy ten blocks around. How had she managed...? Unless he went to... no, that was not possible. He was way too good for that.

xXx

After all the weirdness of the day, James reached home. He was still shaken from this sight he had had of Snape screaming at Lily. He had seen everything from his corner, and he had been upset, but strangely pleased, to see his girlfriend (Gods, that was weird) standing up for herself. He liked her strong personality. Anyway, his mother opened the door and told him an owl had arrived for him. She told him she was very proud of him because after five years of mayhem, the headmaster had seen fit to make him prefect. "Finally you're following the right steps." she had said. He had told Lily about OWL's, but he had honestly not seen his results, he was so bloody scared. Resigning, he opened the parchment envelope and read:

James Potter has received:
History of Magic P
Potions E
Transfiguration O
Charms E
Herbology O
Arithmancy A
Study of Ancient Runes E
Defense Against the Dark Arts O
Astronomy O

Bloody hell! That was way much better than he expected. His career options were not so dark after all. He decided that he would go into as many N.E.W.T.S. as Lily. Or at least, as many as he could. But there was another letter next to the now broken envelope.

Dude,
what happened? You made us stay put for five hours and a half and you didn't even remember! Your problem? Spelled Lily. If she said yes, why didn't you tell us? Anyway, come over. Peter lost his school robes and Remus needs help with his problem. Oh, and sweetheart, don't bring her along.
Sirius, Remus, Peter, and Max.

James sighed and headed for Sirius'. But he was thinking, Lily had given in too much easily. It was not possible that an attempt five years old would get itself done in a week, because that was the truth as they hadn't seen each other in months. He wasn't complaining, but holy Hera, the girl was causing him trouble. When he did all of that, part of him was expecting rejection. The part of him that wasn't in the clouds when she said yes was thinking, how the hell? Anyway, that did not stop him from humming a happy tune while he walked, packing could be done later.