A/N: Here's the next chapter. It's quite a lot shorter than the others, but I like it :) I planned out everything I was going to put in the story the other day and got up to 57 chapters. I have a feeling that I'm going to be putting a sequel up. I will probably do that at the end of fifth year. I started to write chapter 20 yesterday which is by far my favourite. I just need to write all the chapters in between now haha. You hopefully wont have to wait long for the next chapter. Maybe tomorrow or thursday. I have a maths exam on Wednesday so I need to study. Reviews would be lovely because they make me smile :) Enjoy.
It was lunchtime the next day and Lizzie, Lily and Severus were sat out in the clock-tower courtyard. It was quite quiet as the only other people in the courtyard were people passing through to another destination. No one gave the three friends a second glance. There was no point really. They were just three friends spending some time together. Birds chirped from a nearby perch and the late September sun shone down onto the stone courtyard. Everything seemed perfect as it usually did at Hogwarts.
The three friends were talking quietly so no one would overhear them; not that anyone was around to hear them though. They were talking about the latest gossip that was going around the school. It wasn't something they did often, but Lily had insisted they talk about it. Well she and Lizzie talk about it. Severus was just listening in and commenting every now and then whilst reading a book. He never really participated in their little discussions, unless it was something that was really important.
''Lily for the last time it's not true, I mean how can it be?'' Lizzie asked, thinking her friend had gone slightly insane with all this gossip.
''There's no other explanation for it though. And have you seen how big she is-''
''-Just because she's 'big' doesn't mean she's pregnant. Blimey Lil I thought you had more sense than to believe every single little rumour.'' Lizzie said in an exasperated tone. She saw Lily scowl at her and knew she had won the argument. She gave a big grin at her friend and peered over Severus shoulder to see what he was reading. He hadn't seemed to notice her so she turned back to Lily who was trying to get her attention by poking her in the arm.
''Anyway, about that nightmare last night. You want to talk about it now?'' Lily asked her.
''Alright, I know you'll keep asking anyway. It was about the argument in first year.''
This made Severus sit up a little straighter. He took his eyes of the words on the pages and turned to Lizzie who was sat in between him and Lily. She had had a nightmare about it? She had never told him before about that. Was it a reoccurring one? What was it mainly about in the first place?
''What was it about?'' He asked, his voice a little dry after having not spoke for a while.
Lizzie sighed and turned to Severus. She could see worry etched in his face. She had never told either her friends about the full extent of the memory/nightmare, nor was she going to. The only other person who knew what had happened was Sirius himself. It had seen he had not told anyone about it. Little did Lizzie know, that Severus did know what had been said in the full length of the argument. He had never had the courage to tell her that he'd listened to it all. Not after he had seen how upset she was.
''Oh you know, I was just recalling the memory, although it was more terrible then I remember it being. It's like the memory projects itself bigger and louder every time I go to sleep.'' She said sighing. All happiness and amusement from the conversation before seemed to have gone now.
Severus pulled her into a hug almost instantly. He knew how much the subject upset her, although he didn't know why. Could it be possible that she didn't like not being on good terms with Black? 'No 'he thought. 'She hates him; she doesn't want to be friends with him.' Sev knew he was being slightly over-protective of Lizzie, even if it was in his thoughts, but then he couldn't help it. He had to look after his friend and protect her from Black. He would only hurt her again if she gave him another chance and that was something Severus couldn't let happen.
''Don't worry Lizzie. It's only a memory after all. It can't hurt you now. I won't let it.'' He said to her softly. He could see Lily smile out of the corner of his eye. Oh how he loved both the girls sitting with him. They were the ones who filled him up with light and happiness after everything dark and sad had been pressing up against him, trapping him from everything else.
Lizzie felt a few butterflies flutter around her stomach. Maybe Sev really did like her. She had always made the assumption that he liked Lily and not her, but now she wasn't too sure. Maybe what she had heard yesterday in Potions had been true. If so that meant that the boy who was holding her had feelings for her and almost instantly Lizzie knew that she shared some of those feelings with him. She smiled to herself as he held her.
''Thanks Sev, I'm sure it will go away once you sort it out.'' She said joking lightly. Lizzie pulled away and smiled at both her friends. ''Thank you, both of you for helping me.'' She said. At once Lizzie was buried under both Lily and Severus hugging her.
''You should be thankful, you'd be nothing without us.'' Lily said jokingly. Laughing, they almost missed the bell for the end of lunch. They got up and started to walk towards their designated lessons. As they did Lizzie's thoughts dwelled on the last thing Lily had said. It was true in her opinion; she would be nothing without those two by her side. They had both rescued her from when she had really needed it and she would never be able to repay either of them. Sirius had been right. She had be selfish and a coward, but not anymore. Because Lily and Sev had saved her from herself.