Petunia wasn't home yet, she will be arriving after three days. Was it a good thing or bad Lily didn't know. She had returned from the hospital two hours ago after meeting her aunt who was looking ill but nevertheless was chatty and was pleased to see Lily.

It was evening time during which Lily used to meet Aunt Charlotte or visit the park, the first option was not possible and she doesn't want to go to the park as she didn't want to meet Snape, the words still hurts her, it just wasn't just a single word, it was more than that.

So, Lily decided to spend the evening with her mum. Lily didn't leave the house a single time which was odd as her mother noted, she asked Lily to go out but she denied it. Rose thought that it was probably due to Charlotte, so she didn't force her. She thought of cheering Lily and entered her room.

"Hey Lily, I was thinking why don't you invite Severus to the dinner tonight, he hasn't come to our home since you both started going to school," said Rose.

Lily hadn't thought that Snape has just come to her home three-four times and that too before they went to Hogwarts, she has tried to invite him but he has declined each time and he hasn't introduced Lily to his parents ever, though according to him they weren't worth it. But does Snape decline to come to her due to the fact that her parents were muggle? She didn't know and neither wanted to. The thought of Snape reminded her of that word and humiliation.

Rose saw the sadness draw on Lily's face. Others cant see but Rose can see straight through her daughters. "What's wrong dear?"

"Nothing mum" Lily replied smiling but Rose wasn't to be fooled.

"So, how about inviting Severus?" asked Rose, in hope of cheering her.

"No" Lily replied.

"Why not?"

"Its just that we are no longer friends," said Lily.

"Okay, well Lily it's life, losing old friends and making new friends, life always goes forward and so should you."

"Thanks, mum"

"So why you are no longer friends?'

Lily couldn't lie to her mom even if she tries her mother has this power "Well he was involved in bad company, and I put forward him that either he can be friends with or them, he chose them and then afterwards he called me some racial abuse," Lily replied.

"Oh, sorry dear, now, do you wanna come and help me in dinner? Petunia and your father will arrive by 7" asked Rose and Lily agreed.

Lily was setting up the dinner table when her mum called her, she reached the kitchen, and sitting on the window was a blue owl with a golden beak, Lily suddenly felt happy and excited, she was waiting when one of her friends will write and now after nearly three days James has written.

"Hey, sage" Lily said as she took out the letter from its leg and then gave Sage some food, but Sage was still there and Lily knew why. "Mom I am going to my room to read and reply to the letter," she said happily.

Rose smiled for the first time since her return has Lily seemed so happy, "Who is it from?"

"It's James' owl and ... yes, his letter. Come sage we will go to my room." she said merrily, and skipped to her room up the stairs happily, the owl followed her. Rose smiled at the behaviour of her daughter.

Butterflies erupted in Lily's stomach as she sat on her bed and read the letter.

Dear Lily,
Hope you are doing well and your parents are well too. Hey, that's becoming formal.
Firstly I wanted to tell you that if I knew that you live in Cokewoth I would have visited you, though that's not a good idea to just show up to someone's house, my house is about an hour drive away from yours.
Now, I will be honest with you, I wanted to write to you on the same day in evening but Sirius has some advice about waiting three days, he has found some odd titled book by some 'Barney Stinson' , do you know him?, he says that according to book I should wait for 3 days before sending anyone letters. So I followed his advice but then Sirius started giving me more advice from the book and they were all ridiculous. So, I decided to write you. So what do you think when can I write you letter? Is 3 days rule correct? Please tell, though I would probably write you every minute, sorry that came wrong, but I hope you understood that.

Things here are good, I see less of Uncle Ben these days he has been super busy, my father has taken leave, forced by my mother to do so, who herself has taken leave. I and Sirius spend most of the days having fun or playing Quidditch.
I have read a few chapters of the starting and am amazed by the world setting of 'Shire', I showed it to Sirius but he isn't that interested in reading books out of study related.

How are things there? How is your aunt Charlotte? I hope she is well.
How are you? I know that you don't go well with your sister and now the other things. Well I will tell you to enjoy other things. Music has helped me and will help you too if . Continue reading amazing books like this so I can read it after you have read it.

Though Lily I am very much shocked that how much you hate our dear Professor Binns, and I also found out that you just faked concentrating in his class, and were reading this book, tut,tut.
Also Lily I never thought that you pass so many notes with Mary and Marls in between classes, and I was 'hurt' mind you 'hurt' by finding what you think of me, though one note was there where you agreed to others that I am quite handsome, the word was 'dashing', I guess. I am flattered. ;)

I would recommend you to focus in classes.
I wanted so much to write but didn't know how much to write.
Please do tell anything you want to tell freely, I promise no one else will read my letters to and from you, Saige will make sure of that.
Waiting for your reply.

James.

P.S.: I have asked Saige to wait there so you can reply to me.
=========

Lily was happy after reading the letter, though she cursed herself for not removing those notes from the books. She immediately grabbed a parched and quill and answered to the letter.

Dear James,

I am so glad that you wrote to me and don't listen to any advice from Sirius or that book, I haven't heard his name before. You can write to me whenever you want, I wont mind.

Things here arent that interesting, I spend my time inside the house, I want to go out to the park, but I don't go in case Snape will be there. I am really in no mood to see him.
Aunt Charlotte is good but still in hospital not much improvement. My sister hasn't arrived yet, so I don't know how will she behave with me.

I will be honest with you, I am feeling lonely and sad, having mum around is great, dad is usually at his office and comes home at dinner time and leaves for the office by the time I wake up. I go to bed determined to wakeup early but all determination is overcome by laziness in the morning. I just want holidays to be over soon, yes I know that its been only three days but I am bored.
I am glad that you like the world of Shire, it really is amazingly written. And give Sirius a kick from me for not being interested in the book.

And speaking of books I would ask you not to touch my things, they are personal or I will never give you my another book.

I forgot about the notes in there and about the stuff about Binns, but we all hate him for his teaching style, his classes are boring so it's not my mistake that I don't pay attention in his class. And hark who is speaking the person who never pays attention in class.
Sorry about that comment that hurt you but I am not taking it back but I will take back agreeing that you are 'dashing'.

Do you have any news of what is going on? I have cancelled my subscription as sometimes my parents and sometimes my sister read the prophet and I didn't wanted to put them into worry.
Will be waiting for your next letter.

Lily

She tied the letter to Saige and opened the window so that the owl could go.

Petunia arrived and she wasn't either harsh or friendly towards Lily at first but slowly started talking to her, Lily told Tuney about Snape, and they both spend good 10 minutes talking shit about Snape, which Lily enjoyed.

James and Lily continued writing letters on regular basis now, Lily sometimes received letters from Mary and Marls and once or twice from Alice and Hestia.

July was coming to an end, and Lily has gone out of the house and even to the park and neighborhood thanks to Petunia who agreed to accompany her, both sisters had their fingers intertwined as they walk around. Lily was very thankful for Petunia's this gesture. Petunia for the first time since Lily has received the letter has started talking about her own life at college to Lily and has listened eagerly as Lily told her about her time at Hogwarts. Though Petunia jokingly said that she was jealous of Lily, but continued to be nice to her. When Lily has written about this to James he simply said 'she is your sister, she loves and cares about you though she might be jealous.'

Lily was thankful that she hasn't seen Snape and came to the conclusion that he was off to some of his friends' house. So, instead of bothering Petunia who was asleep in her room, Lily decided to take a walk alone to the park and a nearby shop to buy some food for herself and Petunia. She has brought the foods and was walking back to her house happily, when a greasy-haired boy appeared in front of her. Lily's smile disappeared and a thought stuck to her brain, he must have been following her and Petunia and didn't dared to come to her when Lily was with her sister, he must have been waiting for Lily to be alone.

"Hello Lily," he said.

"You were following me and Petunia, didn't you? and you followed me today?" she asked her brows furrowed.

"I didnt want to follow you, I just wanted to talk to you alone," replied Snape.

"But sorry Snape I don't want to talk to you." she replied coldly.

"I have said sorry before and am saying sorry again for calling you that." Snape said.

"And I have said that I am not interested in your apology and I will say again I am not interested in your apologies, I don't want to talk to you" she tried to move but he blocked her path.

"It was just one word Lily, and you are angry at me for that and can't forgive me? It was just one word." he pleaded.

"Just 'one word, you really think that it's just one word? You want me to forgive you just because it was 'one word'? You really dont understand do you? About the depth of that word." said Lily angrily and tried to walk but he blocked her way again.

"Potter provoked me to say that word and you know it, you saw it, if he hadn't done that then I wouldn't have said that word to you. But you forgave Potter but not me, Why?" asked Snape angrily.

"Why do you have to bring James in between all the time?" Lily said angrily.

"So now it is 'James'? What do you see in that bullying arrogant that you forgave him and not me? When it was all his mistake and I just said 'one word '?" asked Snape.

"You know what I am glad James did that to you, at least it showed that what you really are," said Lily. " And I see a good man inside him, I used to see that in you too but since last summer you have been burying it. James' doesn't hangs with people like Avery and Mulciber, he has friends who are all good, be it Sirius ,Remus or Peter."

"His friends are more worse than mine Lily, I will tell you what that Remus Lupin he is ..." Snape looked around to make sure no one was in earshot, Lily knew what he was going to say but wanted tosee how much can he fall, Snape looked at Lily again and said in slow voice " he is a Werewolf, Lily" Lily didnt say anything, she was shocked he has just broken his promise to Dumbledore. Snape got excited by the shock on Lily's face, "and you know he along with Potter and Black tried to kill me."

"Uh-huh" was all Lily said to see how more Snape could fall.

"Yes, Lily now you see they all are just bad people. Potter is rich and somehow all the teachers and Dumbledore are soft toward him otherwise all of them would have been expelled." Snape said delightedly, his patience had worked out, his plan has succeeded now he has just to go one step more and Lily will be his friend again. "Now, Lily I will accept your friendship, you dont have to be with them, I have the power to even protect from werewolf now. I can offer you protection from them, you can be my friend again."

"So, Lupin is a werewolf" said Lily, Snape nodded trying to hide the smile but Lily could see it, stopping every nerve of her from yelling at him or hitting him she said "How the three of them tried to kill you?"

"You see they lured me into the willow where that Lupin was in his werewolf form ready to attack me, somehow some sense came into that Potter and to save his neck he entered and closed the door before that evil creature could attack me." said Snape, and there was a triumphant smile on his face when he saw the anger on Lily's face. "That's why Lily you should stay away from them, they can harm you, be my friend and I will protect you, I know more spells and magic than any student at Hogwarts."

"And what about Mulciber and Avery?" asked Lily shaking with anger, he was now trying to manipulate her.

"What about them? They will never lay a hand on you if I ask them to," said Snape happily, asking Mulciber and Avery to leave Lily will be easy, he will help them with some school work and tell them some spell and they will leave Lily.

"So, I will be dependent on you?" asked Lily in as quiet voice as she could because all she wanted was shout at Snape.

"Well ... No, ...I don't mean ... but yes. Now come Lily let's go and have fun like old days" said Snape happily, turning and walking but Lily didnt moved, he turned to see her eyes watery "Lily dont cry I know what Potter did, you wait I will make him pay for it once we are back at school. Now, come we should ..." he tried to grab Lily's arm but she jerked behind. "Lily what ...?"

"You, how ... " she was so angry that she couldn't speak, Snape tried to grab her hold again but she moved back again.

"Lily what happen ... " he tried to move closer to her confused, but someone shouted from behind him.

"You git stay away from her," shouted Petunia and she came and stood next to Lily.

"What are you doing? I am friend of Lily and you hate her and Lily hated you too, so you should stay away from her." said Sanpe angrily.

"YOU THOUGHT WRONG THEN!" shouted both the sisters together and Snape took few steps backward.

"You are so thick Snape, you really dont understand other persons feeling, you only care about how you feel. Tuney is my sister and I can never hate her in my entire life, I love her," said Lily angrily.

"But she is jealous of you, she hates you how ... how can you love her ?" asked Snape, what has just happened in a few moments, he was so close to Lily and then her sister came and everything turned.

"I maybe jealous of Lily, infact yes I do get jealous of Lily, but she is still my little sister I care about and I love her. You better stay away from her after all the pain you have given her or I will not leave you, I dont know magic but I know how to hurt and kill people," said Petunia in an angry voice.

"You should leave now Snape and think about what have you just said to me, there's something wrong inside you and I would say that you get it fixed. And don't you dare to tell anyone else about Remus' condition or you will see how bad I am," said Lily.

"You ... You are not bad," said Snape.

"Oh yeah I am, now leave before I do something I regret," said Lily and with a last look at Lily, Snape left.

"Why did you came alone?" asked Petunia.

"I thought that he might be not here, but he was hiding and following us. I came to buy us foods and then when I was returning he came in my way. And oh the food must have gone cold now," groaned Lily.

"Did you got a cheeseburger too?" asked Petunia.

"Of course I got it I know you loved it," smiled Lily handing the bag with cheeseburger to Petunia who smiled "Why did you came out?"

"When I woke up, you weren't at home mum said you were going to food shop, so I followed in case that boy came and he did come," said Petunia "What he was talking before I couldn't hear as by the time I came I only saw the last bit you boiling with anger, and ready to burst, what he did to make you that angry?"

"Probably the fact that he exist" smiled Lily, she cant really tell Petunia or anyone at home about what happened, she was still angry inside and in pain too but she was controlling it, she knew only one person she could tell about this, but should she tell him? she wasnt clear yet.

Petunia laughed at this comment " It was a nice one."

Lily sat on her table parchment in front of her and quill in her hand, Saige has arrived ten minutes ago, she has felt quite happy after reading James' letter. She stared at the parchment than decided to write down only main parts leaving behind the one regarding Remus. She tied the letter to the owl who hooted happily and left.

James' reply came way earlier than usual, and she smiled at the letter.

Just 4 days left.

"Why are we planning this trip, again?" asked Remus, who has arrived at Potter's Manor today along with Peter.

"So, that all of us can have fun," replied James.

"And where are we going?" asked Peter.

"Godric Hollow, Marlene's idea and than to other places.

"Who all are we inviting?" asked Sirius.

"Well the four of us, Marlene, Mary, and Lily," replied James.

"So this is about Lily, huh?" asked Sirius smiling, James didn't say anything.

"Honestly Prongs, what happened after the lake incident? It was very bad, and then you two were absent for rest of the day, then you don't talk to each other much, but then play in lake, it's odd," said Remus

"Yeah, and you are trying to avoid the question regarding Lily, now tell us or we will not leave you," said Sirius.

"Well we sort of became friends after that incident, she was first angry than she calmed, okay?" said James,

"How come she became friend with you?" Sirius asked confused "Lily hated you!"

"Nah, she didn't," said James.

James looked from Sirius to Remus to Peter who were all wearing the same expression. Peter spoke when James looked confused.

"Well, Prongs whoever was there and whoever has seen you both will say that she hates you," said Peter.

"Does it looked like she hated me?" James asked dumbly. He knew Lily was angry but he was so caught in the moment to notice anything clearly, so hearing from others was new. He looked at Remus, the one with the sense.

Remus looked at confused James and replied, "Yeah James it was clear, she said 'you make her sick' and other things, it was clear that she hated you." Remus then continued, "I would say that you should stop asking her out now, just leave her, she is a nice girl but she was really angry at you. I would recommend leaving her."

"Yeah there are other ones, and you can get any," said Sirius.

Really, James thought, his friends are really bad at this sort of thing, even Remus now. They are the least supportive friends ever.

"Well thank you for all your advice, but I am ... " James began to say but was cut off by Remus.

"If you want anything, you should just try to be friends with Lily and try to move on," he said and the other two nodded. At least the first part of this was useful and James was already on that path, but the second part of the advice was really bad, James had dated 3 girls in the last few months of Fourth-year trying to move on, but had failed, it was at that time he had realized he was really falling for Lily and it was not just some hormones.

And his friends didn't know that James has been writing Lily all over the summer and she has been writing him back.

"Well I will try, okay?" said James "but now we are going to plan the trip."

James was angry at snape and sad for Lily, that she has to face that git, he was thankful to Lily's sister for being there. He came to the conclusion that the best way to cheer Lily would be a trip with all seven of them in it.

This was turning out to be the worst summer for Regulus Black, till last year his big brother used to be here at least fo most of summer but now he is not here for even a single day. And Regulus doesn't like the company around him, he would have ran from the house too but his love for her mother was stopping him. Regulus was doing everything to impress her mother. Was it a mistake?

"You will make the Black name proud, next summer will be a great day for you, I wanted you to join it this year but your father disagrees with me." said Regulus' mother Walburga, " your brother has brought enough shame to the House of Black, I don't want any more of it."

Regulus thanked his father with eyes only and his father understood and gave him a smile. Regulus knews that if will also abandon the Black and go against the dark lord like his brother than there will be a great chance that he will try to attack his parents, so for the sake of his parents Regulus has to go through this hell.

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