Make sure to follow the playlist for the story (strokeofmidnight - The wolf and the doe). Also, there is a TikTok page for this story as well (The Doe Patronus).
Oh and look up what Lily's owl name means in Latin, I used Latin to name Lily's and Severus' owls.
Chapter Text

The following day the train station at Hogsmeade was beyond crowded even with Lily getting there early to help with the first and second-year Hufflepuffs. It was chaos trying to get everyone on the train. Across the way as she was trying to get the students on the train, she saw Remus. She waved at him, and he started walking towards her.

"I thought you said you wouldn't be on the train today?" Lily asked.

"Ah, well, Professor McGonagall so kindly canceled our last prefect meeting for the term, so I figured I would come help out with Professor Sprout's "troubled Hufflepuffs". Remus and Lily both let out a small laugh.

"Oh, alright well thank you, Remus. I could use the help." After the two of them guided the students on the train, got them settled in, and explained how things would go she turned to Remus, "Well I have to go get settled in and look for a spot."

"Yes, I should do the same." The clock tower chimed signaling it was 11 and the train was off. Lily went looking for a compartment to settle in the prefect's cabin but to her surprise, it was already full. Walking into the next cabin she noticed an open space with Frank and Alice, and she went into the compartment and set her stuff down.

"Are you excited for break? It will be nice to relax before the OWL stress comes about. My body does not handle stress well." Alice stated kind of shy.

"I am excited about break, but I will probably just be studying, I mean we can't use magic so I should at least strengthen my mind," Lily said shrugging.

"You should look into tutoring some of the younger students. They could learn a lot from you." Frank chimed in.

"Yeah, maybe. Although on top of everything else, I would probably explode." Lily laughed along with Frank and Alice.

As time went by Alice started to doze off, and Lily really didn't know Frank well enough to be alone with him, so she figured she'd go for a walk and check on the Hufflepuffs. Walking past where she had settled them in, she didn't notice anything unusual. Not wanting to go back to the awkwardness of her compartment, Lily just kept walking through the train compartments checking in on other students.

"…so that is when Snape would come up to the shack and Moony would…wotcher Lily!" Sirius stopped Lily as he saw her walking by his compartment. Lily turned to see James, Sirius, and Peter sitting in their compartment all looking deep in thought.

"Well, well am I mistaken or were you three actually using your brains? What happened to Remus? Scare him off already?" Lily asked.

"Ha, like we could scare Remus!" Sirus said while James hit his arm. "Moony decided he'd be a 'good' prefect and sit with the others who have sticks up their arses," Sirius rolled his eyes.

"How rude of him". Lily said sarcastically causing James and Peter to chuckle.

"Are you looking for a place to sit, we do have room," James stated and Sirius turned to glare at him.

"As much fun as that sounds, I have a place to sit. I just needed to stretch my legs." Lily stated as there was an awkward silence. "Well as usual thanks for the wonderful conversation" Lily drawled.

"Careful Evans, you're starting to sound like Snivellus" Sirius scoffed.

"Sophisticated and Intelligent? Thank you, Black. How kind of you. I know your minuscule brain could not comprehend such levels." Lily jabbed starting to walk away.

"Ah. Good one but no. I meant lackluster and depressing." Sirius defended.

Lily turned back around. "As if I would listen to some bloke who barely knows him. Anyways I should get back." Lily stayed as she walked away.
Before she was out of sight, James spoke up loudly, "Have a good break, Evans!" And with that, Lily was gone. Sirius and Peter just looked at James and James shrugged "What?"

By the time Lily started walking the announcement was made that they were going to be arriving at platform 9 in 15 minutes and that everyone needed to prepare for arrival. Looking outside it was already dark and the moon was starting to peak out over the clouds. Everyone started changing into their muggle clothing. Lily hadn't seen Snape, but she was sure she'd see him on the platform. Getting the first years ready took the whole 15 minutes. When they arrived, the prefects went off first to guide the younger students. Lily and Remus were standing in front of each other saying goodbye and guiding the first years. When they were done Lily started to look for Snape.

"Well, I will see you bright-eyed and early when we come back," Remus said looking rather tired.

"Are you not going to wait for the rest of yourpack? You guys are usually inseparable." Lily asked jokingly. Remus was too stunned to speak at the use of her word doesn't know, does she? Did someone tell her?He stood there stunned and awkwardly staring at Lily. "Uh...Remus? Are you alright? Did I say something wrong?" Lily asked concerned after Remus said nothing and just stared. "It was just a joke I didn't mean to offend you…um well, you look a bit tired maybe you should head home."

"What? Oh. Yeah, um yeah. No, I'm good, you didn't offend me. I got lost in a thought I suppose. I actually am feeling a bit fatigued, all the excitement I suppose." He tried to laugh it off.
"Go get some rest then. I hope you have a happy Christmas." Lily said calmly.
"Terrific idea, You also have a great Holiday Lily. I will see you after the break." Lily just stared at him confused but smiled and nodded in return as he walked away with his stuff. Everyone was off the train and Lily was heading out to find her family, they usually came to pick her up, minus Petunia who always stayed home and never came to greet or say goodbye to Lily. Suddenly as she was walking and lost in thought, she noticed Severus who was also one of the last ones waiting as well.

"Sev?" Lily asked confused.

Severus turned around with a jump and then looked worried. "Somethings wrong...My mother knows when to pick me up. She is always here on time. You know that she prides herself on never being late. What if something happened to her, Lily? What if..what ifhefinally...?" Snapping him out of that train of thought Lily chimed in.

"Why don't you come home with me? We can drop you off. I'm sure your mother just got caught up with making the house and everything else look great for you for the holiday. You know how detail-orientated Eileen Prince can be. I'm sure this break she just lost track of time. Come on" Lily stated gently grabbing Severus' hand. Severus nodded uncertainly and started walking with Lily until they arrived at her parents' car.

"Lily! Oh, our sweet girl! How are youflower?" Lily's mom called out to her and ran up to hug her. Noticing Severus, she turned to look at him and then again at Lily and back at him. "Severus. It's so good to see you dear. I hope you've been well." Lily's mom pulled Severus in for a hug as well. Severus went stiff and looked at Lily over her mom's shoulder extremely uncomfortably, while Lily just chuckled slightly.

With a small sigh and giving in Severus replied,"It is good to see you too, Mrs. Evans. I have been well." He lightly patted her back trying to form a hug.

"He needs a ride home, and I figured we could give him one since he lives a few blocks over."

"Oh, of course. Not a problem, we enjoy having Severus with us, he's a great conversationalist." Lily's dad joked causing Lily and her mom to laugh and Severus to smile ever so slightly. "Hop on in." Lily's dad stated nodding toward Severus who nodded back.
After putting all their stuff in the back, the drive home was pretty uneventful. Lily's parents asked all kinds of questions about her schooling, what she learned, how her prefect duties were going etc. Occasionally, they would ask Severus something but he was too distracted to carry on a conversation longer than a few words. When arriving at Severus' house, the mood instantly got darker. The air seemed to get colder as if something had happened. Everyone felt it and Severus could tell something was seriously off about his house and Lily could tell something was off in Severus. He thanked Lily's parents for driving him and told them they didn't need to wait. He grabbed his stuff from the trunk, noticed his owl was just arriving, and started walking only stopping to look back at Lily. Lily had an encouraging smile and he started to walk again. Lily called out to him as he approached the front steps, "Hey Sev! I will come check on you in a few days, okay?" With barely a nod from Severus, the family drove off.

When Lily got home, she could not shake the feeling that something was wrong with Severus but as she brought her stuff up to her bedroom she was quickly snapped out of her thoughts about Severus and moved on to a more current issue…

"You didn't want to come pick me up with mum and dad? I haven't seen you in weeks." Lily asked knowingly. Just as her owl flew to the window and Lily opened it to let him in.

Petunia, who was lying in her bed reading a book answered, "I have better things to do with my time than going to pick you up or drop you off all the time".

"I just thought you'd want to see me. But no matter. I have so much to tell you about school and the things I'm learning. I wish I could show you it all, but rules are rules, maybe I can try to explain it. Oh and guess what? My one friend Alice is trying to manipulate a plant it's super neat to witness, really something I've never seen before. There's also this odd group of blokes that I'm kind of in charge of, it's a grey area. But my goodness they drive me bonkers. Though, between you and me, they're kind of good-looking. You'd fancy Sirius I think." She joked with Petunia as Lily set up Almitas' cage while Petunia started talking.

"I can just see you when you get home like I am now. Why must I go all the way to London just to see a bunch of other freaks who are running around aimlessly as if they don't come home for EVERY break? And I truly don't think I would like them, I can barely stand the creep a block over…who on the topic, I heard needed a ride home. What's his name again? Sevarious? Severious?"

"It's Severus, which I know you are aware of. Honestly, just leave him alone. He has enough trouble," Lily replied putting her trunk on her bed listening to Petunia ramble.

"What kind of trouble could he already have? I truly don't understand what you see in the git or how you can be friends with him. I mean even going to his house is like going to a haunted mansion." Petunia shivered at the thought. "All he does is wear ghastly clothes, never washes his hair, doesn't smile, and makes everyone around him miserable." Petunia stated putting her book down and sitting up.
Almitas started chirping and Lily took some food out of her trunk and fed him. "Sounds like someone else I know," Lily murmured under her breath to Almitas while she used the back of her finger to stroke his head. "Really, Petunia must you be so dramatic? You two actually have a lot in common." Lily stated matter of factly as she laid some hay at the bottom of Almitas' cage.

"Doubt it." Petunia rolled her eyes and watched Lily. "Can't you keep that smelly bird out of the room?" Petunia retorted.

"You don't see the side of Severus that I do so stop judging him. And he doesn't smell Petunia, don't be so juvenile." Lily rolled her eyes closing the cage.

"I don't need to see the side you see. If you ask me, he seems more like a threat than a friend." Petunia shrugged.

"Just because someone is miserable, doesn't mean they aren't deserving of love or friendship, sometimes that's all they need." Lily moved over to sit on the end of Petunia's bed. "Anyways, moving past him, want to hear about how the final quidditch match went? It was riveting."

"Lil, I really do not need nor want to hear about what goes on at that school. Can't you just keep that life separate from this one?" Petunia sat back on her bed and crossed her arms.

"What's got your knickers in a twist? I have been waiting to tell you all my stories. I thought you'd want to hear how everything's going." Lily asked defensively.

"Pardon me if I am the only person who doesn't want to hear everything about your magical school, your magical friends, and your magical sports. Truthfully, I don't care about anyone or anything associated with that ridiculous school."

"Are we doing this again? I thought you'd gotten over all that envy. I'm sorry you weren't born with magic and I'm sorry for the hundredth time, that Dumbledore rejected your letter. I was born with magic, and I couldn't help it. I love being who I am, both wizard and mug— I mean normal, and you aren't going to take that away from me."

"I told you to stop mentioning that! You are not normal Lily, and you can't even pretend to be. You have no idea what it's like for me to actually be normal... ordinary...not special." Petunia said quietly. She spoke up louder getting angry. "I live with and in the shadow ofthe chosen one. The perfect golden child who just was lucky enough to be a witch. Lucky enough to be the one in the family who everyone adores for her talents. Who they all praise and favor. It's always 'Oh Lily's coming home I can't wait to hear about all her magical adventures, her friends, what she's learned, who cares about what Petunia's done'. You know I get straight A's and only get high marks on all my assignments? I play the viola quite well and I am the head of 4 clubs at Academy. I am also a prefect of my class. I may not have 'groupies' like you, but I have the same amount of responsibilities. But that doesn't matter because you come home and who cares about ordinary me? All the stars just align for you, always. Perfect school, perfect friends, perfect girl, perfect life. And I'm stuck here alone being 'just me' living in YOUR shadow, despite me being older." Petunia pulled her feet to her chest and stared toward the window. After a few moments of silence, she continued. "This room is the one place I can still control and where I feel like me because it's my room too; and mainly mine when you're not here. You come home and take that all away from me. And I'm expected to just go along with it."

"Petunia, I'm sorry, I mean I thought this was all in the past. I thought we came to an agreement before I left for term. You are not ordinary. You are gifted as well, just in different areas. I'm excited to share my other life with you that's all. It's not so I can brag and make you feel inferior." Lily said as she put her hand on Petunia's knee. Petunia moved her legs away and stood up.

"Well, it does and I don't want to hear about it. Any of it. I can't move past it because it is a recurring issue. And I guess I'm stuck with this smelly thing in the room, yet again." Petunia remarked as she walked towards the cage and looked at Almitas who just cocked his head towards Petunia.

"I don't get it" Lily started as she also got up from the bed "Why, all of the sudden, are you being such abintabout this?"

Petunia stared at Lily and before asking "What did you call me?"

Lily crossed her arms and stared back at Petunia "I'm not trying to be cheeky and piss you off but why must you be so hostile all the time, Petunia?"

"Watch your tone, I am two years older than you! Just because the world revolves around you there doesn't mean it does here. You come home and act like the world is supposed to be revolving around you instead of the sun." Petunia accused.

"Two years older and you act two years younger. I haven't even done anything except come home!" Lily said confused anger also rising.

"I know that's the issue, you're home so it's all about you again," Petunia stated crossing her arms, looking away from Lily.

Lily dropped her arms and just looked at Petunia, "Tuney-" she started gently.

"Don't call me that we aren't 10 anymore!" Petunia remarked walking away from Lily and back towards her bed where she picked up her book trying to ignore Lily.

"You're right we're not, we are 15 and 17 years old and you still act like you're 10. You know one of these days I really hope you do change. We're not always going to be here. I don't want us to be 85 on our deathbeds and still hate each other like Grandma and her sister! I sincerely thought you've matured and changed."

"I'm not the one who needs to change, Lily. You never see the other side of things because like I stated it's your world. Just leave me alone," Petunia expressed as she started reading again.

Lily sighed and took a deep breath to calm down. "Look, I can't change being a wizard. I'm sorry you feel, I don't know, not special? Ordinary? But there's no need to be rude to me for something I had no control over, and still don't. So, you're going to have to deal with it." Lily snapped back. "I want a sister. I want someone I can share all aspects of my life with. I'm sick of having this conversation with you over and over!"

"So then stop talking. I always try, Lily. I always am the one who has to put in the effort and go along with it or deal with it. It's not just jealousy, I'm so fed up with you always needing everyone to think or see things the same way you do. I don't want to hear your stories, I don't want to talk about magic, I want a normal sister. I want a sister I can do normal things with and have similar interests as. You never ask about me, how I'm doing, my friends because it's not as wonderful or magical as yours, so you don't care."
Lily could not help but think of Severus. She is always trying to make him see her side and go along with her, but maybe that's what pushes him away. He has a way of doing things as well and maybe his way is also a good I'm too hard on him and perhaps I don't accept him for who he is the way I thought...Lily thought. "I'm sorry you also don't feel like you have a sister. I know I am not 'normal' per se, but I can put the magic part of my life aside, sometimes, if it means having a sister I can be close to." Petunia put her book slightly down and looked at Lily who just shyly smiled. Petunia then put her book back up to cover her face which was seconds away from tears. After a few moments of being ignored by Petunia, Lily continued to unpack and stay silent when their dad walked into the room and noticed they were giving each other the cold shoulder.

"What, already? It's a holiday break. You haven't even been home for two hours. Just one break I wish you girls would get along" he looked at Petunia and Lily.

"Not my fault you have the 'queen of England' as a daughter who everyone must drop everything for on a whim." Petunia spoke up as she scoffed. Lily just glared at her.

"And it's not my fault you had the world's most immature, stubborn, and selfish child," Lily stated, both girls clearly not talking to their dad.

"I'm selfish? Me? You've got to be joking." Petunia stepped in.

"Well, at least you admit it, that's the first step." Lily said pridefully. Petunia stood up.

"Ugh, you are so-"

"GIRLS," Mr. Evans stepped in cutting Petunia off. "You are both growing up and turning into two strong and brilliant young women. I would suggest you BOTH start acting like it. Petunia, your mother and I are just as proud of you and your accomplishments as we are of Lily and hers. We see you every day and only see Lily during holidays or summer vacation; so naturally we would like to catch up on her life. You both won't be home much longer, Lily will graduate from Hogwarts, move out, and get a wizarding job, as you will also graduate and leave, moving up in the world. Despite what you think you both will miss each other. Now, I am begging you, can you at least TRY to get along for the time that is left for the Holiday, please." He pleaded.

After a pause, the girls looked at each other and begrudgingly while rolling their eyes said "Yes."

"Splendid. Now wash up, supper is ready." And he left the room.

Lily settled in and unpacked the rest of her stuff in silence and then shared more silence at dinner. She tried not to discuss more magic or what she was learning at school with her parents while Petunia was around because she did want to get along with Petunia like she thought they had been. Lily got ready for bed and as she lay there watchingAlmitassettle in for bed, she thought about all the events of the day and was so exhausted she started drifting to sleep.