The seven teenagers entered the newly built café near Twilfitt and tatting's where Lily kept receiving glares since the place was in the upmarket section which was mainly dominated by pure-bloods. They strode over to one of the larger tables where the seven first settled comfortably first before James couldn't help and ask and the others followed.

''How do you know him!''

''Where were you Severus!''

''What's a death eater?!''

''Are you a death eater?''

'''Are you really a werewolf?''

''Why are you friends with Severus?''

''Who's Ophelia?'' Severus sighed as he watched them throw around their questions.

''Shut up…''he whispered ''SHUT UP!'' he whispered much louder but not enough to get the attention of other people at different tables. They all turned to look at him.

''One question at a time you idiots'' James and Sirius glared daggers at him.

''Fine…Remus how do you know him'' He gestured over to Sweeny who leaned back comfortably in his chair.

''Well…my mom heard from a cousin whose husband has an uncle whose wife has a brother whose daughter was bitten by a werewolf whom she married and they had a son…'' The others looked at Remus a bit baffled trying to get it into their head ''my mom's cousin was gossiping about them so she didn't know I was also…bitten but my mom found Sweeny's parents and contacted them they agreed to meet in the summer…You know the usual stuff''

''Hey wait a bloody second why didn't you tell us about this?!'' Sirius asked leaning over the table to get closer at Lupin.

''My mother told me there could be a possibility I would move to America since they have a much better tolerance towards Werewolves , I didn't want to worry you…''

''Blimey man…you could be moving?! Tell your parents hel-'' James was cut off by Sweeny and an enraged Severus.

''As you all know I am horrified and absolutely disgusted by werewolves!'' Sweeny rolled his eyes ''but you two are absolutely unbelievable by thinking of ever keeping your so called 'friend' here when he could have a better life over there , get married and have children rather than die jobless and unloved here in England !'' Severus crossed his arms as James and Sirius looked a bit embarrassed and annoyed since Snivelly had been right in a way.

''Well get that out of the way what is an Ophelia?'' James asked trying to forget his blindness towards one of his best friend's health and life.

''it's a she'' Sweeny and Severus said in unison and looked at each other, Sweeny gave a full on snort while Severus's lips twitched at the edges.

''She's our friend, we're trying to buy the perfect Christmas gift for her, and it's very difficult choose between quidditch gear, dueling gloves or books on magical creatures…She's a very nice girl , a bit odd in a head but aren't we all ?'' Sweeny answered half truthfully, as always it seemed with the Werewolf.

''why on earth would you get a girl any of those things it's a girl or do you need glasses Severus…'' James said for the first time in years calling him by his real first name.

''she isn't any girl, she's Ophelia Daae!'' Sweeny said back a bit an offended ''She's our schools best keeper! Every morning she wakes up at 5 to train even though she comes to breakfast seeing visions of her death, she's in the dueling club and choir !'' Sweeny sounded a bit protective of his friend as Severus nodded along not wanting to seem that much in front of Lily.

''Wait Daae? With two aa's and it looks like you would pronounce it as 'day' but it's actually 'die'?'' James asked looking at Severus and Sweeny, he sighed and slumped down in his chair.

''What's wrong mate?'' Sirius asked placing a hand on his friends shoulder and glancing over at the others.

''That bloody girl is my cousin, mum's side of the family but we're more like second cousins but I've heard of the Daae, their evil!'' James snapped at Severus and glared at him.

''You aren't here for a present! You have something to do with the dark lord don't you?!'' James stood up and pointed a finger at him.

''What?! Ophelia wouldn't hurt a fly!'' Severus said still sitting with his legs crossed as calm as could be.

''Well remember that time she didn't have quill so she plucked out one of Bert's feathers? She almost lost a finger for that but I guess it's a win-win to be honest'' Sweeny said relaxed as well.

''WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!'' James said angrily and finally whipped out his wand, Sirius stood too with his wand out while Remus sighed and tried to pull James back down into his seat.

''He's saying that a very vicious cannibalistic bird attacked our friend, it almost bit off her finger'' Severus said and looked at the clock on the wall.

''Oh look at the time! We already missed breakfast hour, come Sweeny we'll find another place'' Severus said looking at his friend as he stood putting up a cool and calm face, Sweeny followed and waved at the others.

''Have a jolly good Christmas and wonderful new year !'' he put on a fake English accent as they walked out leaving the others baffled but Sweeny stuck his head out once more before he left through the door and winked directly at Sirius making him shiver uncomfortably.

1010101010

''That went horribly…'' Severus muttered as they walked down Diagon alley trying not to slip on rouge ice.

''Well I certainly like that Sirius guy, nice looking to be honest?'' He turned to see Severus staring at him disgusted.

''Who on earth would like Sirius Black? Of all the men in England you could have picked it had to be him? You could have liked Dumbledore for all I care!'' Sweeny rolled his eyes.

''Are you jealous?'' Sweeny asked quietly with a raised brow.

''I prefer not to answer that '' Snape rolled his eyes as Sweeny let out a blood stiffening laugh, he doubled over trying to regain his breath , Severus turned to help him when he did he noticed Lily a few feet behind them clearly following the two. Severus looked down at Sweeny and sighed.

''Come on Wright…its cold'' Severus shifted his eyes over to the leaky cauldron. ''I have to do something Sweeny , go buy Ophelia's gift while I'm busy'' He let go of the boy and unhooked a small bag he hid underneath his thick cloak and placed it in Sweeny's hand as he wiped a couple of rouge tears of mirth from his pink frost bitten cheeks.

''What, you can't hold your bladder?'' Sweeny raised a brow as Severus nodded quickly.

''Do I look like I'm holding it my hands? Go and stop irritating me'' Severus rolled his eyes and swiftly made his way towards the Leaky Cauldron. Sweeny watched him disappear through the strange entrance but shrugged it off before going on his own exploration. Lily on the other hand watched Sweeny himself and thought about him as she walked towards the wall separating diagonally and the leaky cauldron. The boy was a strange laid back person it seemed, he himself seemed to have all the qualities of the Marauders even by just this brief meeting she knew it. He seemed to keep his quiet demeanor to him like Remus but when given the chance he spout some of the most ridiculous things like Sirius and James, but mostly he was loyal like all four of them , he stuck next to Severus like Peter to the group. She was happy for him but somehow felt a twinge of jealousy. Lily made it inside the toasty warm Leaky Cauldron, she rubbed her hands together as she scanned the place in search for Severus. Finally Lily spotted someone with long dark greasy hair looking, covered head. She walked over not calling out to him and seated herself in front of him. Severus calmly sipped a cup of tea not looking up at her.

''You have something to say…'' He whispered raising a brow and Lily sighed.

''Look I'm sorry if James and the others where a bit rude back there about your friend, what's her nam-''

''Ophelia…'' Severus interrupted.

''Yeah she seems very Mary Sue'' She gave a friendly chuckle but Severus looked up at her.

''She has her own flaws , but she must meet up to her families expectations '' Severus answered and saw the look Lily gave him , he had no way out now ''She isn't the prettiest girl unlike you , her skin is worn out by the sun and she has her own set of scars from her dangerous club activities even though I have told her plenty of times , her fashion sense is disastrous as is with most American wizards but she's too good for her own go-'' Lily watched him with a soft smile before interrupting.

''You're in love…'' she whispered softly and breathed out, he looked at her confused he hadn't really thought of it before. To be in love with the oddest girl in all of the school and yet she was too good for him in every sense. Her smile was too bright, her eyes where to kind. Though he couldn't deny every time she saw her waving wildly at him his spirits lifted a bit.

''Of course not, she's my friend, she has other love interests and I'm not one'' Severus crossed his arms but she scoffed.

''Severus don't you think I would know?'' Lily raised a brow as his cheeks reddened ''Look Severus, I know perhaps you're too proud to let go of the past and forget about your incident, you think I hate you but I'm just sad about you…You're so lonely Severus'' She placed her hand on Severus's cold cheek and warmed it with her hand ''I know the look of jealousy in your eyes…'' Severus stared at her for a moment before down casting his own eyes.

''I always thought you'd come back tell me all you found was heart break and misery…it's hard for me to say me to say I'm jealous of the way….you're happy without me…I'm so selfish Lily'' But Lily smiled.

''Truthfully…I'm more jealous of you, you have friends, a girl who could be head over heels for you, adventures in America! It's boring over here without you, but I forgive you Severus…'' He finally looked back up and sighed.

''Severus…Tell her you love her…go your own way and leave me, leave us Severus and you will find something you never thought you would have in this gloomy war filled place, so I wish you the best of all this world could give Severus…good luck'' She whispered and stood up looking around before leaning over and ruffling his hair up. But he stood silent contemplating her words.