A/N: I apologize for the absence my lovely readers. Life has been a tad bit crazy and stressful, and while I had intended to give warning of a hiatus, before actually taking one, I was struck by writer's block. I barely managed to finish out the season of Quidditch (Bats didn't make the finals, but we weren't last in the ranks either. I'm proud them, truly). But with two bits of good news, and school about to start again, I'm hoping to be able to keep writing happily. 1) My grandfather who had been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer earlier this year, is better. The tumors had shrunk by 95% and last I knew, the doctors believed that what was remaining could just be scar tissue. I am beyond grateful for this. 2) I can actually type without being at school! I got a new surface Pro for Christmas. I am beyond grateful for this as well. So typing is much easier. I will eventually go about fixing my laptop (I think I might have an idea) but at least I am saved in this way! As I have kept you waiting for so long, I shall not deter you anymore.

Chapter Six

Sirius had been completely baffled at the sudden cold shoulder he received from Evelyn. Though he spent the week being late to his first class, and leaving most of them early simply to try and talk to her, she remained utterly silent in his company. Beyond that, she didn't even look his way. It was as if he were invisible and mute. And it broke his heart further.

It took only a week before he noticed that she was smiling and happy again. Happy because Severus was once again talking to her and being her friend. She had been forgiven and no longer needed a shoulder to cry on. No, she had Severus. And she sat with him outside, in the library and wherever else she could. Just once, he wished that her eyes would brighten when she saw him, instead of Snivellus.

"Sirius, mate, come on, we have practice. You can plot killing the greasy git later," James said, pulling Sirius out of his thoughts.

"Right, I'm coming."

The group walked out of the great hall, and Sirius dared one last glance at Evelyn before leaving. She hadn't even noticed their leaving, and remained completely engrossed in whatever Severus was discussing with her.

Lily sat in the abandoned classroom, waiting impatiently. She had given Remus all the time her heart would allow and he had agreed to meet her at five after 4. That way everyone would be at dinner, and they would not have to worry about prying ears. And of course, Lily had shown up thirty minutes early. She had tried to occupy the time with homework and reading, however her heart was racing too much for her to be able to focus on any task. So she settled for watching the clock, tapping her fingers on the surface of the desk.

The door clicked and Lily's head jolted up. She had to restrain herself from running into the arms of the tall slender boy the moment door closed behind him. Instead, She stood up and met his gaze, giving him a hopeful and nervous half smile.

"Hello, Remus," she greeted.

"Hello, Lily," he said, back. His tone was almost sad, and her heart fell quickly.

"Before you say anything, could I perhaps give one last argument?" Lily asked, needing to postpone what she feared was inevitable.

"I know that, regardless of your friendship with James, you have feelings for me. You and I both knew it in that kiss. The way you kissed me back, the way you reacted, and the fact that you even promised to consider us at all. And I've seen you stealing glances in my direction. I realize that your friendship with James is important. I know the importance very well. But you deserve to be happy with someone. And he can like me as much as he wants, but it won't change the fact that I do not feel that way about him, and doubt if I ever will. So you can turn me away, under the guise of protecting him, and deny us both of something we desire for something that will never be, or you can be selfish for once in your life and kiss me and we can both get what we want."

Remus looked at Lily, as if he were trying to find the right words, and she knew. She knew that even though he desperately wanted to give in, he never would.

"Lily, I came here prepared to turn you away. I thought I had steeled my heart against the pain that would come from seeing your face once I had. And your words have only made that wall weaker. But as much as I want to give in and see this-us through, I cannot. James is my best friend. He has done more for me than anyone might do for a friend. At this point, I would gladly call him my brother. With that means I cannot betray him, regardless of whether or not what he desires will ever be. He cannot ever know that this was an almost. He cannot ever know that we even kissed. Because while it is painful seeing your heart break and painful for my own breaking heart, losing my brother would be even more so. I could not bear the pain, anger, and betrayal that I would see on his face, should we be together."

The tears were streaming down Lily's face, despite her attempts to stop them. To his credit, Remus looked truly upset by having to say everything he did, and he looked as if he wanted nothing more than to hold her in his arms and comfort her. But James, that stupid ignorant arse was in the way. Because if he didn't have feelings for her, then Remus and her would be free to be together. And then an idea struck her.

"What if he didn't know?" she asked through her tears.

"What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean, Remus," she said, managing to find strength enough to stabilize her voice. "What if we were together and he didn't have to know?"

"No," Remus said, shaking his head. "It would be lying to him. I couldn't do that. It would be an even worse betrayal."

And that was it. Her last hope was gone, out like a light. She moved towards the door and walked out, pulling herself away when he tried to put a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

Evelyn was grinning ear to ear as she walked to the library that Friday. Severus was her friend again. Even better, they were closer than ever. In his endeavors to avoid Mulciber and the likes, Severus had gone out of his way to find her and spend time with her. She didn't care why he was, she only cared that he was looking for her.

He had told her that he had made the decision to respect Lily's wishes and leave her alone after he made one last attempt, similar to Evelyn's own. Evelyn only admired him even more for this.

"How did you do on the transfiguration test?" Evelyn asked sweetly while they were pulling out their books, parchment, and quills.

"Apparently my technique is flawed," Severus snidely remarked.

"That's okay, Sev. I could probably help. Though I doubt you really need it."

"How are you so bloody good at everything?"

"I don't know. Perhaps it's my lack of ability to make many friends? So I have a lot of spare time? Could also be that I simply adore learning and magic."

"Yeah, well, your skills in transfiguration are terrifying. You could turn a man into a snail and keep him as a pet and he'd never be able to undo it himself."

Evelyn found herself smiling at the compliment to her skill. It made her long to show him the skill that she had mastered in her fourth year, the skill that allowed her, very much like Professor McGonagall, to turn into a cat. She wondered how he might react.

"I like the idea of being able to change something at will. A useless blade of grass could become a valuable tool."

"I wouldn't be surprised if McGonagall decided to bring you into the advanced class where they learn how to be Animagi. You'd probably be the only student who stood a chance at completing it successfully."

If you only knew, Sev.

"Well, I heard that they were doing away with that. Students are going to have to personally apply to the ministry if they want to have a chance at learning. I'm not sure it's really worth the effort."

"No?"

"Nah, I can think of better ways to spend my time."

They had finally become situated at the table and opened their books when they fell into a comfortable silence. But it wasn't long before her curiosity kicked in.

"Are you staying over break this year?" she asked softly.

"Yeah. Mum finally gave me a choice. Though, honestly, I was going to ignore her anyway. I don't really feel like spending my break listening to more fighting. At least here I'll be able to get some peace and quiet. What about you? Where's your family going on vacation this year?"

"I think they mentioned Romania, to see the dragons. But I am probably staying behind. I really don't want to spend my holiday with the narcissistic pair that is Sirius Black and my brother. I already wrote to my mother about the possibility and while she's not happy about me missing out on time with family, she said she would be alright if that's what I decided to do. And that next year, I get to pick the vacation."

"Make it something that James and Sirius will hate."

"We'll see. I have really been wanting to go to China and see some of the magic markets there. I hear they're simply incredible, and you can find a lot of things that the ministry here prevents the sale of."

"You could probably find some interesting potions ingredients. And new objects to transfigure."

"Probably. I also plan on exploring the tombs. If you can get into a new room that no one else could previously, you get to keep a treasure from it. That could be interesting."

"Most definitely."

And so they fell once again into a comfortable silence, only the sound of pages turning and quills marking the parchment could be heard. And Evelyn wouldn't have changed a single moment.

A/N: I hope you all enjoyed. I am going to try to keep up, but you know me. That can be scattered. For those of you reading Choose to be a Savior, I am putting that one on Hiatus, and I'll be adding a note there too.

As always, thank you for reading and your reviews are always appreciated. Love, Lily