Chapter 5: For all the Jily lovers out there.

Petunia Evans was glad to be able to breathe freely again. Lily had finally left for Hogwarts. It was summers like these she wished she had been an only child. The family dinner the night before Lily had left was almost unbearable. Vernon had been invited around, her parents now viewed him as being part of the family. So she could not believe how Lily had treated him. The arrogant comments, the hidden meaning behind everything about her abilities all night was horrendous from Lily. Petunia thought that the needle that broke the Camels back was her saying, 'I'm looking forward to school. I fly through some classes.'

This is what caused Petunia to scream at her sister and let her know she was a freaky witch who needed to leave the house.

It was the truth yet she some how ended up being in trouble for revealing secrets she shouldn't to Vernon. Lily had been the one making suggestions all night. She only joined the dots for him. Yet, Vernon had been forced to leave, and she had been told off. Her keys were taken from her until she apologised. This is what lead her to go through Lily's things. She had been beyond embarrassed in front of Vernon. She was going to humiliate Lily. It took her all morning searching, but eventually she found it. It wasn't even locked with magic to Petunia's great delight.

Petunia didn't miss a trick. She couldn't remember the last time Lily had spoken to her freakish friend Severus. She found an old entry about him, and gave a shrill laugh at the level of embarrassment she was going to cause.

It read:

Dear Sev

I remember the day we met. You were wearing an oversized blazer, and button up shirt. It was s hot summers day. When you told me I was special, I felt it all the way down to my toes. I remember you jumping off the end of the swing with me, then floating to the ground landing gracefully. You looked at me and grinned, and I knew that I loved you then. I think I loved you all the way through school until now. I think that you loved me too.

I wish I could go to the park to talk to you. You would have laughed so much hearing about Petunias new lover. It feels strange to be home for the summer and not be with you. I miss the person that you were. Why did you have to say those words that ended it all?

You were my one constant that never changed between home and Hogwarts. You understood me at home when no-one else did. You told me you would be there for me no matter what. I feel like I don't belong any where now. My sister thinks I'm a freak and the Wizarding World thinks I'm a Mudblood.

I'm never actually going to send this letter so I'll say this here. Good bye Severus. There it is. I loved you once, but I've been through too much pain to ever be back with you. I hope you find someone of the correct blood status and have a good life.

Love,

Lily your ex best friend.

Apart from being offended about the Vernon sentence, Petunia wore a vindictive smile. This would be perfect. Lily confessing her love for someone she doesn't talk to any more. She knew it would reach Hogwarts, much like her letter to Dumbledore. Feeling like the world had been righted, she addressed it to Severus Snape, and sent it. That will teach her she thought. Best she hope she's in her flying class when this letter arrives Petunia laughed to herself.

Lily sat in the relatively empty library pairing up prefects for patrols, as part of her head girl duty. James sat to her left and looked over the scheduling chart. Working together for the first time was going much better than either had expected. They talked shop the whole time and got through what they needed to really quickly. James hadn't tried to ask Lily out yet this year, or show any hint of mischief or tom foolery. Lily could hardly believe it. She was actually looking forward to this year from what the last couple of days had shown. James had been the first to round up the first years to show them the way to Gryffindor Tower out of all the prefects. James had even backed Lily up in their first meeting on the train when she talked about going in pairs for duties because of the increased risk of safety. The threat of war had gotten worse over summer and while they were heading back to school, there was definitely a sense of having increased responsibility to protect, and fight back against the evil that was rising out there. While James was still happy to have a joke with his friends, he had matured a lot to rise to the challenge of fighting for what was right. Lily couldn't help but feel impressed instead of the normal disappointment at him chasing pointless pranking goals with his high level of talent.

Being lost in thought about all of this made Lily startle slightly when she heard fast paced walking and somebody come to a halt by the door. She looked up to see who it was. When she saw it was Snape she went to look back at her paper but caught a glimpse of what was in his hand. Lily's stomach dropped to the floor. She knew that pink and floral paper from her notebook at home. Lily's face flushed red as she looked in horror at Snape searching the room for her. "Oh no", Lily whispered. James looked up to see what Lily was staring at. He didn't have the chance to respond before Lily then did the only thing that she knew would make Snape leave her alone. Without thinking she jumped onto James lap, pulled his tie so his face was down to her level, and kissed him.

"Lily Evans out of my library now! I would expect better from the head girl" Madam Pince shouted.

Lily jumped in shock at the shouting and ran out of the Library, head spinning, and found the nearest girls bathroom to hide from both boys. Lily sat with her face in her palms as she replayed over in her head what had just happened. Each time she thought about it, it gave her a fresh wave of uneasiness. After a short time when she was sure the boys would have given up looking for her near the Library, Lily decided to head to the Prefects bathroom. No-one ever used it so it was the best place to be alone. Lily was far too embarrassed to go and see her friends yet and face further humiliation.

James Potter could be seen in the library looking off into space with a dazed look. What had just happened? He sat there in shock and day dreamed about what had happened. The more he thought about it the happier he became. He was snapped out of his thoughts when Madam Pince came past and said, "look sharp Potter." Madam Pince had always found Sirius and James charming. While James probably should have been kicked out too, Madam Pince couldn't bring herself to do it.

James packed up his things and Lily's, as she had been too flustered to remember to take her gear. James pulled out his map and found where Lily ended up. He hadn't been into the prefects bathroom yet, but was now able to to his great delight. He went and grabbed his togs before making his way there.

James walked into the bathroom (that was actually more of a pool) with a towel draped over his shoulder in his board shorts and a plain white t-shirt. Lily was staring off into space deep in thought, sitting at the edge of the pool and hadn't noticed him enter.

James cleared his throat and awkwardly said, "So, what're you doing here?" with a grin on his face.

Lily stared and gave a nervous grin back, "If I ignore it, will it go away?"

"Ignoring me wasn't exactly how we got into this situation," James responded with a chuckle.

"I always come here. What're you doing here?" Lily asked.

"Actually I stopped by the common room to drop your gear off and Alice said you'd probably be here," James lied not looking at all guilty about it.

"Just to be clear James, I'm not really interested in dating you," Lily blurted out.

"Well you see your mouth is saying one thing, but back there it was saying something completely different," James said smiling.

"Yeah.. about that, my sister sent Snape a love letter that I wrote years and years ago (slight exaggeration) yesterday. Her and I don't get on. Clearly," Lily grimaced.

"Wait, did you like Snape! I thought he was just your friend you felt sorry for!" James replied incredulously.

"Yeah, well he introduced me to magic and was always a good friend to me. You know he didn't try and bargain or make a bet to get a date with me," Lily Laughed and said pointedly.

James laughed along with Lily too and said with raised eye brows, "yeah sorry about that. It seemed like a good idea at the time. Haha oh to be 12 years old again. It feels like everything in our lives is so intense now with a looming war and decisions about the future this year. It was a simpler time back then," James sighed.

"Yeah it really was. My biggest concern was trying to get better grades than you," Lily said shaking her head.

"Well, that you did. Mind you I was too busy writing twelvie love letters of my own, if it makes you feel any better?" James said giving a nervous laugh.

"Yeah no. Not really," Lily replied quickly looking embarrassed.

"So what did it say exactly?" James prodded.

"Nope, no way. I'm not having this conversation with you," Lily said quickly avoiding eye contact.

"Hey come on Lils, I'll tell you what mine said," James replied teasingly with a slight blush.

"Oh, I already know what yours would have said,' Lily chuckled and said with a mocking tone. "Lily is the best person ever. I'm so jealous of how she is better at magic than me and so on."

"They did not! Better at magic? Puh lease! Just ask McGonagall! And I'm actually quite the romantic. Come on tell me!" Jame continued to prod.

"You just ask Slughorn and no way," Lily countered.

Out of nowhere James tackled Lily into the pool fully clothed sending water in every direction. Lily looked shocked, then with a mischievous grin, jumped on top of James forcing his head underwater and pinning him down. James splashed and wrestled under water for a couple second before he wrapped his arms around and completely lifted Lily off the ground.

"James," Lily shouted trying to sound annoyed but couldn't hold in her laughter.

At that moment the door banged open and both Lily and James turned in shock to see Snape walk into the room. Snape's face turned red at the scene in front of him and said vehemently, "lock the door next time," and trudged out the door with a loud slam.

James put Lily down slowly and they sat on the edge of the pool and chatted.

"Bit of an angry streak that ones got," James said to lighten the mood.

"Yeah I think he gets it from his Dad. They don't get on real well," Lily replied awkwardly looking at the water.

"Or its just part of who he is. I mean there aren't too many good Witches or Wizards that have come out of Slytherin. Speaking of have you heard about the new girl being a parsel mouth?" James changed the subject.

"Yeah but I wouldn't worry too much about her, seeing her performance in class," Lily snickered.

"Still, we need to be careful. The last time a parsel mouth was at school, a muggle born student was murdered. It was blamed on Hagrid, but I don't believe that for a second from what my parents said. Just be careful Lils, don't go out by yourself. If you need someone to go any where with you, I'm happy to," James said giving Lily a serious look.

"Thanks James, I should be fine though. She's probably one of those pure blood girls who won't think for herself and relies on her looks. Honestly, it was kind of funny James, watching her attempt to cast basic spells. I feel bad for laughing at her now though," Lily admitted.

"Yeah, she might not have much talent, I wouldn't trust her though still. We saw her walking round by herself earlier. Mustn't play well with others. I guess she didn't get put in Slytherin for no reason is what I'm saying. I just hope she didn't get too much inside information from Fabian and Gideon," James sighed. She was staying with them for the summer. They work as Aurors with my parents. The department really doesn't need any more leaks going out to the dark side," James said dejectedly.

"Yeah, its not a great time to be a muggle born is it? The stories were bad this past summer," Lily matched James' tone.

"We'll win this war Lily," James said with determination. "You'll see."

James and Lily sat in silence thinking about the future and how they would contribute to the war being a blood traitor and a muggle born. Lily also realised how at ease she felt with James compared to last year. Things had definitely taken a turn for the better in their relationship.