Chapter 11

A/N I feel bad saying this but we only write if people read and if we aren't getting reviews or feedback then I don't know how much we will write. But, just because we love those of you who do read, here is a happy chapter :).

Christine Dalen: A late review is still a good review :). And you basically got our goal spot on: we want this story to be long and interesting so people will just sit there and continue to read it. Maybe someday that will happen and with support from people like you, I know it's possible. Also, congratulations on your first state competition. You marched so well I am so proud of you. :)

Amar 2: When we decided to write this story, those thoughts were some of the first we had. Snape has always been an interesting character to us and his past is only ever explained briefly, so we are pretty much left in the dark. While this story may not match up perfectly with what happened in JK Rowling's version, it's still our "what if".

Sage Q: Thanks for the follow!

Rain dripped off of the cold windows as the wind continued to blow harder and harder. This rain storm was the first of it's kind all season and Severus welcomed it with open arms. With weather like this, it allowed him time to be completely alone and think.

He knew it was torturing himself, but he took out Dumbledore's letter once more and read it over. Why hadn't Dumbledore told him the precautionary measures taken to save Li-the Potters? Was it because she still didn't trust him? While Severus was still in thought, a quick, angry nock beated on his door. He stood up swiftly-laying the note down on his side table- and went to open the door. Not a moment after he undid the lock, Lily stormed in.

"Didn't I tell you to stay out of this?" she yelled as she stormed her way inside.

"Lily?" Severus asked, taken aback by her presence. She hadn't been here in years. "What are you doing here?" Out of the corner of his eye he saw books left on the table and floor from where he had left them. Shit. He hadn't been expecting company.

"Did you really think I wasn't going to find out about you going to Dumbledore?"

"I, Lily, um-" he mumbled as he hurried over to pick up the books on the floor.

"Did you think that I couldn't handle this myself or something?" she asked, pacing the room. Severus opened his mouth to respond when she continued to talk. "I had a plan I was going to work things out but then you-you had to go to Dumbledore as if I wasn't responsible enough. I am married, I have a child, I think I am responsible enough to deal with my own issues," she exclaimed exasperatedly.

"Lily, that's not why I did it," he interjected. She stopped walking for the first time since she has arrived. Her face was red and flushed from yelling and she was panting slightly.

"Then why did you, Sev?" There it was again. Sev.

"Because," he started, rubbing his hand through his hair nervously like he used to as a boy.

"Because why?" Severus took a deep breath before continuing.

"Because when we were younger you protected me every day and I never was able to repay you." Lily was silent and the sound of the rain echoed louder than before. He sighed to himself and motioned for her to sit and she did:in the exact spot she did when they were kids. "Lily, you were the only one I told as a child about my father and how my parents fought and I haven't forgot about how you helped me. Without you, I don't know what I would have done or how I would have been able to cope with everything."

"It really wasn't that big of a deal, Sev," Lily countered, but Severus stopped her before she could say another word.

"Yes Lily, it was. And that's why I am going to do whatever it takes, whatever you need to keep you and your family safe." Lily looked him in the eyes for a moment and then looked around for the first time. Severus felt himself blush with shame at the mess in his house.

"Hey, what's this?" She rose up from her seat and grabbed the letter from Dumbledore. Severus rose up to grab it from her but he was too slow. He stood silently as she read the letter, her face growing solomon.

"What is Dumbledore making you do?" Severus' hands began to fidget at his sides. Lily noticed and she tucked pieces of her hair behind her ear in concentration. "I'm sure we can find a way for you not to do-"
"No," he exclaimed loudly, startling her. "I mean, I want to help the Order." She nodded slowly and then looked at him again, but with a completely different look on her face that Severus could not place.

"What?"

"Something is different about you, Sev. I can't put my finger on it, but something is different than our last years of Hogwarts." For the first time in weeks, he smiled and to his relief, she smiled back. A silence fell over them, but Severus didn't even mind. Lily was at his house, talking to him and most importantly, she wasn't mad at him. He would do anything to keep that smile on her face.

"So, how is Harry?" Her smile broadened and he sat down across from her and silently cast a lumos spell to brighten the room.

"He is doing so well," she replied and then she started laughing to herself. "We bought him a toy broom and he will not get off that thing."

"And," he hesitated slightly, not wanting to talk about him, but knowing he should. "And how is James?" Lily looked at him, surprise sprinkled on her face.

"He's doing wonderful, thank you for asking." Immediately, Severus knew that that had been the right question to ask. Her entire demeanor became even more comfortable than it had been before. "You know," she continued slowly, "I wonder if Harry would like to meet you." Wait, was that an invitation to see her again?

"I would like that very much," he said with a smile. Lily nodded and then stood up, Severus following her lead. "Well, it's getting very late and Harry and James are waiting for me."
"Of course," he said, walking her towards the door. Once they reached the entrance way, the both stopped.

"Well, goodnight," he said. This would be the time where he should hug her. That's what friends were supposed to do.

"Goodnight." She smiled one last time before walking out the door and he closed the door softly behind her. When he turned around to look at his house, he found it much lighter and brighter than it had been an hour ago. Her mere presence had made his house shine.

"You should have just hugged her, you fool," he mumbled to himself. "No wonder you weren't in Gryffindor."