A/N: I do not own the Harry Potter franchise, all credit goes to J K Rowling. Thank you once again for your support and love, I know I keep saying it but it's true! Thank you to my sister, who's stuck with this and given me the motivation to carry on. Also, thank you for reviewing, that too gives me motivation. Anyhow, I'm rambling. Enjoy and have a nice day!

SEVERUS' P.O.V

Narcissa and I are sitting on a bench outside in the grounds of Hogwarts. Narcissa is crying, again. This time, it's about this job Lucius has to do for the Dark Lord. She's scared he won't be able to do it and that he won't come back alive if he does succeed.

"…I just m-miss him. H-he's the only boy I've ever loved and now he could be gone f-forever," she sobs into her hands.

"Don't say that, Narcissa. You know Lucius, he might be the world's biggest ignoramus but he has some basic survival skills and a brain. If he used his brain more often perhaps he wouldn't rely on you so much."

Narcissa laughs a little through her hands.

"He's not an ignoramus. He's smart, just last week; he got 80 out of 100 on his Transfiguration test. If he can do that, then I'm sure he'll be able to do this."

I don't have the heart to tell her he cheated, not when she's getting positive and happier.

"Thank you for being here, Severus. I know it's hard, what with Lily and all but if she can't be bothered to be your friends then that's her loss."

I smile weakly. "I don't know, Narcissa. I said some pretty disgusting things, if I could; I'd take them all back."

"But you can't," she points out.

"No, but I still have a choice. I can't give up on her, Narcissa. I love her and somewhere, deep down, I think she knows. I think maybe she could love me back. I never meant her any harm but… it's that Potter. If he wasn't always there, like some chivalrous knight with his ostentatious ways and theatrical performances, maybe I'd stand a chance."

"You can't blame one person for everything, Severus. Hate is an awful flaw to have, you know. Holding grudges… it won't get you anywhere good."

"Yes but Potter –"

"Let's not talk about him," Narcissa interrupts. "I don't like him any more than you do, but channelling all my energy into hate towards one person is exhausting."

We sit in silence for a while.

"Why do you stay with Lucius? I mean, it's your dream to have a family. Can you see him as the sort of guy who'd make a good father?"

"Actually, yes," Narcissa says, quite certain. "I told you, you don't know him like I do. Nobody does. He's a good man, a little controlling perhaps, but he wouldn't try to oppress me. He respects me."

"Really? He respects you enough to give you bruises?"

Narcissa narrows her eyes at me.

"That's none of your business, Snape. I wish you'd leave him alone, what's he ever done to you?"

She gets up and leaves. I know she's upset, otherwise she wouldn't have called me 'Snape' which is always what Lucius calls me. I worry about Narcissa, despite what she says, I don't think Lucius is a good man. He's way too controlling, Narcissa can hardly get a word in. He doesn't respect her at all and she just doesn't see it. Bellatrix strides toward me, people move quickly out of her way and scatter.

"Snape," she scowls at me. "What did you say to my sister?"

"Why are you taking this out on me? It's Malfoy's fault!"

"What's that good-for-nothing son-of-a-bitch done now?"

"Hell if I know, I don't like him, he hurts her."

"Me neither. Merlin, there's something we can agree on."

"Statistically that was bound to happen."

"Watch it, Snape. I still don't trust you."

"Gee, thanks."

"Watch your back, Snape. You really don't want to make enemies."

"We're all on the same side, though."

Bellatrix laughs. "Is that what they tell you?"

She walks away, still cackling maniacally. Over in the distance, I can see Lily wrapped in about a dozen layers, sitting on a bench laughing at something Marlene said. I'm surprised she's out and about so quickly but she's tough. I watch her as she pulls her hat over her head. It's the hat she spent ages knitting a couple of years ago; I have a scarf made by her in my draw somewhere. I remember that Christmas very well. I feel my heart pounding against my chest, emptiness exploding inside me.

I walk over to a closer bench and watch Alice and Marlene have a snowball fight, Lily doesn't join in, but she shouts encouragement. I'm smiling with her; she always had that effect, when she smiles you smile too. When she's upset, you want to make it right. Yet another thing I miss about her.

Just at that moment, the Marauders swagger over to where the girls are. Potter leading, as per usual. My smile instantly fades but Lily's remains. Potter sits next to her and she slides away but he just drags her back again. I can practically feel my eyes go green. How dare he? How dare he trick Lily into thinking he cares about her? He doesn't, she must know that, he's kisses loads of girls; she's just another one of his conquests. And yet, there's something so off about him. He's blushing as Lily re-wraps his scarf and she blushes right back when he pushes her hair away from her face.

Black, well ex-Black, since he's been disowned but I don't like calling him by his first name. Like I respect him or like him. Anyway, he throws a snowball at Potter and yells something vulgar at him. Potter springs up and chases him, throwing a dozen snowballs at Sirius' back. Lily is joined at the bench by Mar and Alice. She flushes some more at what they're saying and protests. I walk away because the scene makes me too sad. She was once my friend but she is still my only love. If only she felt the same way.

LILY'S P.O.V

"Oh, you love him, admit it!" Mar says.

"I do not."

"What was that then?"

"I don't know what you're on about."

"That, just then! You blushed, aw, I don't know why you two don't kiss."

I play with the loose threads on my homemade scarf, the stiches coming loose. I fiddle with them because the truth is that I want him to kiss me but he's technically got a girlfriend. Melanie Clearwater and he can be seen walking the grounds and kissing. It makes me a little wary when I'm around him. It's all I can do not to strangle him when he's kissing her.

"He has a girlfriend, Mar."

"Details details," she dismisses. "As if that even matters. May I remind you that both Sirius and I were in several relationships when we hooked up."

"You're such a player, Marlene!" Alice scolds her, smiling.

"What can I say? Guys are just drawn to me," she jokes.

"And girls," I say.

"Something you wanted to tell us, Lil?"

"Well…"

We crack up with laughter, it's not even that funny but Marlene and Alice have a way of making me hysterical.

Melanie comes over and drags James behind a tree and they start snogging. We all turn to watch them, they cause quite a scene when they're together. They don't care who sees what. Which is… brave, I suppose? Sirius retches in disgust, Remus lifts his eyebrows, Peter watches, transfixed and Alice and Marlene pull faces of contempt. James finally comes up for air and sees us all looking at him he hastily wipes lipstick off of his face and says goodbye to Melanie. Melanie blows a kiss before leaving.

I look at the floor. Maybe I was wrong about James. It's just that he was asking me out for so long and the stuff he does makes it look like he likes me but he does that for all his girlfriends and generally all girls so I can't be that special. I thought we could have been something. I don't know, it's too confusing but most of all I'm feeling anger – at Melanie and at Potter and there's another emotion I can't quite place, one I've never felt before.

"Nice to know you love your girlfriend, Prongs," Sirius says.

"Excuse me," I mutter as I leave the grounds, anger the other emotion I can't put my finger on bubbling inside me.

JAMES' P.O.V

"Well done, James!" Marlene says, scowling.

"What did I do now?"

"For the love of Merlin! Boys are so blind."

Marlene and Alice run after Lily, leaving me utterly bewildered.

"What did I do?" I ask.

"Seriously? You just kissed Melanie Clearwater right in front of Lily. Don't you think that speaks for itself?" Moony says.

"Yeah, but she doesn't care, right? I'm an 'arrogant toerag' according to her."

Moony shakes his head, disbelievingly.

"Don't you see it, Prongs?"

"No!"

Moony shakes his head again and walks away. Padfoot follows and Wormtail scurries after them. I still don't get it. Women - always so cryptic. All I did was kiss Melanie, so why is everyone making such a fuss? I turn to find Molly Prewett (cousin to Alice Prewett who is together with Frank Longbottom) standing behind me. I don't know her all too well, but I do know her brothers.

"Do you really have no idea?" she asks, her arms folded. Her expression says that she is completely unimpressed by me. I've never had such a negative reaction from a girl before – other than Lily Evans but that's different because she's my soul mate.

"I'm sorry, what?"

"Now this is something I thought I'd never see. The infamous James Potter messes up with a girl."

"Are you going to tease me or are you actually going to help me?" I demand.

"If I'm feeling nice, I'll help you," she says, finally.

Her whole body radiates back-off waves, but I'm not unaccustomed to these – Lily does this all the time and yet I'm not discouraged from loving her.

"So are you feeling nice?"

"Maybe, but I'll help you on one condition."

"What's that?"

"You don't hit on me and you don't tell Arthur I helped you."

"That's two conditions."

"I'm sorry, do you want my help or not?"

"Fine. I agree."

"Good. Firstly, if it was your plan to make Lily jealous, then it worked. Secondly, I must say that –"

"What? She can't be jealous! I mean, it's Lily. She hates me."

"Boys," Molly rolls her eyes. "Of course she's jealous. She likes you and she thinks you like her so when she sees you kissing Melanie, she confused. She wants to kiss you but Melanie is instead, so she's jealous. Lily's not used to misreading signs so she's frustrated for having wasted time thinking about you and she's ashamed for letting the whole thing happen. Not to mention that she's really pissed about not hating you, she's out of her comfort zone and she keeps trying to open up to you but you keep going out with girls, which made her back off a bit and now she's upset because she thinks the whole thing's pointless."

"You can tell all that just by looking at her?"

"Yes, but then again, I'm used to feeling emotions." She narrows her eyes at me. "Unlike some."

"Hey! I'm a very emotive person."

"Sure, and I'm Dumbledore. Anyway, I wouldn't recommend finding her and apologising because she'll just bite your head off –"

"Don't worry, I'm used to it. She always forgives me in the end."

"I wouldn't be so cocky, if I were you. Lily isn't like the girls you date and then dump. She doesn't like being brushed aside like that. I would advise that you try not to be such a prick and maybe she'll come around."

"So I bring her flowers or what?"

"Merlin, no. Just stay out of the way, that's enough. If she wants to talk to you, then she will."

"I don't know if I can do that –"

"Then try," she snaps, "otherwise, you'll get damn near nowhere with her."

"Okay, no need to yell at me."

"Sorry, it's just you're so easy to shout at, very dislikeable."

"Thanks."

"Not meant to offend!"

"Don't worry about it," I mutter.

"I'm just used to saying what I think, normally it isn't that rude but I don't really like you."

"Then why help me?"

"Because I think you could be good for Lily and I care about Lily."

"I didn't know you were friends."

"We're not, but I care a lot about people."

"Why?"

"I'm not sure; my mother says I've always been hospitable and overly friendly, I welcome people into our home like they're family."

"Real friendliness you just showed me."

"I'm friendly to people I like."

"Why don't you like me?"

"You hurt people's feelings and you don't put it right."

"Oh come on! People are too sensitive."

"You shouldn't put people down so much, it's not nice."

"Well I don't have time to be nice to people."

"Don't give me that crap, anybody can be nice. I don't like and yet I helped you, didn't I?"

"Yeah, but you told me all that. I wouldn't say that was particularly nice."

Molly scowls at me but doesn't shout or contradict me.

"You mentioned something about Arthur?" I say, not wanting her to get angry with me. She can be fierce and rather scary when she wants to be.

"Oh, he's just um, well, he's erm…"

"You like him don't you?"

She blushes. "Not really."

"Are you –?"

"No! He doesn't even know I like him."

"I could subtly tell him, if you like."

"No, that's okay. I want to do this myself."

"If you're sure."

"I am, it was good talking to you, James. You're not as much of a prick as I thought."

"Thanks, Molly."

She smiles as she walks away and I think over what she's said. Lily's jealous. Wow, there's something I never thought would happen. Could this epiphany be working it's magic that well already?

A/N: Sorry, me again. I realise this is a bit of a 'filler' chapter. This is probably the last of the sixth year. Next chapter: seventh year! Get ready for Jily!