H is for HISTORY

"Let me get this straight," Sev said as they walked around the Black Lake. "You spent all year long studying your arse off to be a Healer."

"Yes."

"Because you're afraid for your brother-in-law."

"Brother-in-law-to-be, yes."

"Because he's the fattest man you've ever seen?"

"Yes."

"And even though he doesn't like you - "

"He'll like me plenty when I'm saving his life!"

" - and even though your sister doesn't like you - "

"This conversation is getting me down, Sev."

" - you still sacrificed your entire magical education to help them?"

"Not sacrificed. I still learned loads. And I'm taking OWLs in every subject, anyway, so I can change my mind later if something changes."

Sev snorted. "Like what, your fat brother-in-law dies of a heart attack before you make it out of school?"

Lily groaned. "That's not very tasteful, but yes, I suppose that was my thought process."

"What did you want to be before you met Fat Vernon?"

"Hm." Lily stopped to kick a small rock out of her way. "A long time ago, before I knew I was a witch, I wanted to be a writer."

"What kind of writer?"

"Any kind. Novelist. Journalist. Didn't matter." She giggled. "Tuney and I - I'd forgotten all about this - we used to publish our own family newspaper. I wrote the articles, she did the illustrations. And we'd interview Mum and Dad for the cover, and write about Tuney's football matches for the sports section, and I had a little nature column where I'd report the weather." She trailed off. "It wasn't a serious option," she said finally.

"Your eyes sparkle when you laugh," Sev said quietly.

"What?"

"I said, what was your first serious option?"

"Oh." She bit her lip. "Huh. I wanted to be a shop owner when I was ten. I wanted to sell clothes."

"I meant your serious option after you met me."

"After I knew I was a witch, you mean?" Lily conjured a bench - she was getting quite good at Charms - and sat down. Sev sat beside her. "I sort of wanted to work in Diagon Alley, I suppose. At Gringotts."

Sev snorted. "You're much too pretty to work at Gringotts."

She laughed. "It wouldn't have worked out anyway, I'm rubbish at keeping secrets."

"What was next?"

"Next. Hmm. I wanted to be landlady at the Leaky Cauldron. And after that I wanted to play professional Quidditch - that was before James pointed out I'm terrible at flying." She shrugged. "I've wanted to be just about everything. What about you?"

"Professor," he said.

"Ooh, I didn't know that! Which subject?"

He shrugged. "Defense Against the Dark Arts."

Lily bit her lip. "Are you sure you meant to say Defense?" she said, and suddenly everything was heavier.

"Of course I meant to say Defense."

"Hm." She didn't look convinced. "I know what goes on in those secret dungeon meetings, Sev."

"No, you don't."

"I do. You're going to join You-Know-Who. Don't you dare deny it."

"I'm thinking about it," he corrected.

Lily stood. "I think that's a cowardly thing to do," she said in a low voice. "And I think you know better, Severus Snape." She began to walk away.

"You could join, too, you know," he said, hurrying to follow her. "You're not like other mudbloods, you're talented, I'll vouch for you."

She froze. "Don't call me a mudblood. Don't do it ever again."

"Why not? You've never cared before."

"Well, before I didn't realize exactly how offensive it was. But I've since been enlightened."

"Who - "

"Oi! Evans!" James was waving at her from across the lake. "You up for some Quidditch? I'll play blindfolded, so it's fair!"

Severus cursed under his breath. "It was Potter, wasn't it."

She didn't look at him. "Why does it matter?"

"He's against me, he's always been against me, you know that."

"Well, maybe he's got the right idea about some things."

Sev looked like he'd swallowed a mouthful of ink. "What?"

"You're not very nice, Severus."

"What do you mean?"

"You call me names. You belittle my life choices. You're thinking about joining bloody You-Know-Who. You've changed."

"That's just because - "

"Evans!" James hollered again. "I'll go blindfolded and tie my hands behind my back!"

"Later, Potter, give me a minute!" Lily called back.

Sev's eyes narrowed. "You've changed, too. You're hanging out with Potter. You're basing your own life around your sister's."

Lily closed her eyes. "I have nothing left to say to you," she said, but after only a few paces she whirled around to face him again. "You know what I used to want to be when I grew up?" she asked.

"Yeah, a writer or whatever you said before."

"I wanted to be something worthy of the Great Severus Snape's praise. I wanted you to be proud of me. But you never will be, will you. Because no matter what I do, no matter who I am, I will always be a mudblood to you before all else."

And she walked away from him.

[So You Think You Know Your Character Competition: Lily Evans - what were your goals for the future, and why did they change?]