A/N: No…I take that back. THIS is my favorite chapter.

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It was the last day of school. Lily could feel the ring on her finger like it weighed a dozen pounds. People all over the school congratulated her as she walked down the halls.

Damn Sirius, she thought as she smiled at yet another student congratulating her, I'm going to kill him.

She finally escaped the cool entrance hall and gazed across the sunny grounds. Her belongings were packed and sitting in her room, waiting for James to come and lug them down the stairwell. She inhaled deeply and felt a sense of sadness surround her. This was her last day at Hogwarts…she would not ever be back. She rested her hand against her stomach and smiled, but a Potter would defiantly be back. Hopefully not as rebellious as its father…though she wasn't all that sure she would mind.

As Lily gazed out across the grounds, a shadow caught her eye. It was sitting with its back to her, but even after years of not talking to him, she would know that head anywhere. Unsure of what she was doing, Lily walked forward until she was right in front of it. She gazed down at Severus Snape with tears in her emerald eyes.

"Hello Lily," he whispered, not looking at her.

"Hello Sev," she replied softly, sinking onto her knees in front of the seventeen year old. He smiled gently at her before returning his gaze to the lake.

"I've missed you," she said, staring at his face.

"I've missed you too," was the reply she received.

"Will you be joining the hunt for HQ?" she asked cautiously in case didn't know about the Order.

"No, I have other plans in mind, actually," he replied, looking back at her with a sad little smile.

"Oh Sev! I shouldn't have ever said those dreadful things to you! Now we're going such different paths and I don't think I could stand not being in touch with you anymore!" she cried out, a few tears stealing down her cheeks. She wiped them away impatiently as she stared at his face.

"Don't be like that Lils," he sighed, "We'll be okay."

"Please, Sev. Don't do this to us. Don't do this to me," she begged, grabbing hold of his hand.

He looked down and saw the little band around her finger. He looked back up at her but she didn't seem disturbed that he had finally seen the truth. She had gone back on her promise to him…she was going to marry Potter. He tried to hide his hurt, but he could never really do that with Lily. She threw her arms around him and started crying into his shirt. He patted her back gently and whispered softly to her that everything was going to be all right even though both of them knew it was past that point.

"This might be my last memory of you Sev," she sniffled, "I want it to be a good one."

She rocked back on her heels, scrubbed her eyes, and smiled at the young man before her. He took hold of her hands and smiled warmly back, willing to make a good memory for her; for himself.

"I'm sorry for everything I've done to you this year," he finally said, "I've been a pretty bad best friend and that doesn't deserve you at all. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me."

"Of course I can. Only if you come to my wedding. It wouldn't be one without you," she gave him a watery smile.

"I dunno about that one, Lils. Potter wouldn't want me to be there," Severus spoke bitterly. Lily tossed her head impatiently,

"James doesn't pick everything. I want you there and that's what matters." Severus smiled. This was the Lily that he would always remember. Lily Evans…not Lily Potter. She would never be Lily Potter to him. She would always be innocent, beautiful, loving little Lily Evans.

"I'll try my best," he promised. She threw her arms around him again thanking him repeatedly.

"Lils! Come on! It's time to go!" James called.

"Coming!" she yelled back to him.

She looked back at Severus with sad eyes. The two of them stood up together for final goodbyes. Lily had tears in her eyes again and she let them flow down her cheeks without bothering to stop the flow. They both knew she wouldn't be able to.

"Thank you for being my friend," they whispered at the same time.

"I don't know where I would have been without you. You're my everything, don't you ever forget it," Severus went on in his low voice.

"Its me that should be thanking you," Lily choked, "I would have come here to Hogwarts and had no idea what I was doing. I owe you so much, Sev. You're so amazing."

He smiled and they embraced one another tightly. Lily didn't want to let go but she could hear the Gryffindor house being called together to head down to Hogsmede. They pulled back and she kept her hands on his shoulders. She looked him sternly in the eye (as sternly as she could with flowing tears) and said,

"Remember to come to my wedding. I don't want to be pledged into forever without my best friend there."

"Make sure it's not on a full moon," he joked.

"I'll try my best," she smiled.

"Miss. Evans, if you will!" McGonagall called over to her.

Lily stood on tiptoe and kissed Severus gently on the cheek. Before she turned away, she whispered,

"I love you, Sev. Forever and always."

As she hurried away, Severus stared hungrily after her, wishing her could tell the bride to be everything that he felt for her. He watched with sorrow as James kissed the love of his life softly and put his arm around her waist. A few moments later, the Gryffindor house clambered into the carriages and they drove off towards Hogsmede leaving Severus alone. As he watched the last carriage, which he knew carried Lily, he whispered,

"I love you, Lils. Forever and always."

He turned away and didn't bother brushing away the tear that fell as her carriage bounced out of sight.