“Lily, we need to talk.” James and Sirius rushed towards her in the common room.

“Sure what’s up?” She glanced up from her book.

“We need your help.” Sirius spoke first.

“Help with what?”

“Y/N, she’s spending more time with Snape again. We need to get her away from him. Him and all his Slytherin friends are rubbing off on her. She threatened to hex us earlier. Please Lily, I don't want my sister getting herself into trouble because of them.” James begged.

“James, if she won’t listen to you, what makes you think she’s going to listen to me? She doesn’t even like me.” Lily told him.

“I know but she’s mad at me because of what we did to Severus. Besides, we don't need her to like or listen to you for what we need you to do.”

“And what is it you need me to do?” She arched an eyebrow.

“Well since we all know Severus is in love with you we need you to flirt with him. Make him think you don’t like me and you want to start over and be with him instead. Then flirt with him in front of Y/N and make her think he’s falling for you again too.” Sirius explained.

“She will be hurt but in the long run this is better for her. Getting involved with the wrong people now could screw with her life later down the line.” James explained.

“So let me get this straight, you want me to flirt with Severus and basically break your little sister's heart. Don’t you think that’s a bit cruel? I mean it’s not like this is going to go anywhere serious with them. Severus graduates this year and Y/N has another 2 years. They won’t make it past graduation can’t you just let her learn on her own?” Lily pointed out.

“Y/N is doing well in all her classes so she could possibly graduate early. Either way I don’t want him soiling her mind for the next however many months until graduation. She’s already acting differently and I don’t want it to get worse. We need to get her out now. Please Lily.” James begged.

“....Fine, but you owe me.” She sighed. “I’ll go talk to Severus tomorrow during study period.” She added.

“Perfect, we’ll bring Y/N at the end of the period and when we get there start flirting with him. Get touchy, maybe kiss his cheek. Just make it look like you and Severus have been meeting for a while.” James told her.

“They are on a break so technically Y/N shouldn’t get mad that he’s seeing someone else.” Sirius added.

*************************

The next day started out like any other day. You and Severus met up by your tree to eat breakfast together before he walked you to your first class. You both agreed that you would meet him in the library then walk to the great hall for lunch.

You were both happy with the way things were progressing. Severus couldn’t wait until Dumbledore announced that the school would be having a Yule ball this year so he could ask you to be his date. He had been planning how to ask you for weeks. After talking with Narcissa about it and maybe having her ask how you would want to be asked he came up with a plan. Dumbledore should be announcing the ball any day now.

After walking you to your first class he left to go to his. You two didn’t have advanced potions today so you wouldn’t be seeing each other in class which meant you wouldn’t be seeing much of each other until lunch. You did have a study period with Narcissa after your second period class. You had both been sitting in the library talking.

“So things seem to be going pretty well between you and Severus. He’s been very open and trusting, not just with you but with me Lucius and Regulus too. Do you think you and him will get back together anytime soon?” She asked. Neither of you were really working on anything. Your homework was all finished for the day and you had no interest in studying today.

“I agree things are going great. I’m glad that he’s changing for the better and I am very glad it’s not just with me but also with the people closest to him. But honestly I don’t know. I don’t want to push it. I want him to be ready to move forward and start again. I’d rather him take his time and not rush it. I’ll wait until he’s ready.” You smiled. “I want to be with him but I want things to work this time.”

“I understand that. I think he might be waiting for you to mention it. Maybe you both should talk about it instead of waiting for the other one to mention it. Otherwise you might be stuck in this break forever.” She advised.

“You’re right. I guess I never thought of that. I just want things to work this time.”

“I know you do and I honestly believe it will. You’re both doing better and have each other to continue to get better everyday.”

“Do you think he’d stay with me after graduation?” You asked out of nowhere. Narcissa looked at you in shock.

“Well yes. Why wouldn’t he?” She furrowed her brow.

“You always hear stories of couples who break up after they graduate. Some don’t go to the same school, others move to different places or get jobs somewhere they can’t be together. I don’t want that to happen to me and Sev, especially when he’s going to be off doing well whatever he’s doing and I’m still going to be here.” You explained.

“I don’t think Severus would leave you just because you're not in the same place. Besides, Professor Slughorn offered to let him come back next year to be his assistant. He keeps saying he’s going to retire soon. I think he’s grooming Severus to be the next potions master which means he’ll be here next year if he decides to accept Professor Slughorn’s proposal. I think he will because let’s face it, what else is Severus going to do? He won’t want to be an aurora or work in a shop at Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley. He’s not a people person.”

“No but he’s also someone who will want to deal with these idiotic students. You know how these kids can be. Plus the first year students, Merlin, he'd kill one of them.”

“He cares more than he lets on.”

“I know he does but still.” You both laugh. “Let’s start packing up, the study period is going to end in a few minutes.” You took a deep breath after the laughing fit.

“Yeah you’re right.” She agreed. You both packed up your things and headed to your next class.

***********************

Severus was currently finishing up and heading to the library to study for an upcoming test when he heard someone calling his name.

“Severus.” He turned with a confused look on his face. He knew who the voice belonged to but he couldn’t figure out why it was calling his name.

“Lily?”

“Hey. I was wondering if we could talk.” She said once she reached him.

“I’m actually on my way to study for a test.” He replied.

“Transfigurations?”

“Yes, that would be the one.” He answered plainly.

“I was going to do the same. Would you like to study together?”

“Well.. I suppose it couldn’t hurt.” He said hesitantly. He couldn’t figure out why she was talking to him but he figured you would ask once they got to the library.

“Great, let's go.” They both started on their way to the library and found a table to sit at.

Severus started getting out his things and Lily did the same. They spent most of the class asking each other questions based solely on the test. The class was almost over and they had already put away their things when Severus finally asked her.

“Why are you talking to me Lily? We both know how you feel about me?” Severus looked at her waiting.

“Because I’ve been an idiot.” She sighed. “I should have forgiven you for what you said. You didn’t mean it and I know you didn’t. I guess I just… Thought that James and the others would think less of me if I stood up for you. But what they think isn’t important. You never meant to hurt me and I should have put some stupid crush aside.” She reached across the table and held his hand in hers.

“I like you, Severus. I really like you and I never said anything because I didn’t think you felt the same. But someone told me the other day that you had feelings for me. I have feelings for you too and I want to try and make things work. I screwed up but I’m hoping you can give me another chance.” She pleaded.

You came in to walk with Severus to lunch but when you saw Lily you decided to hide behind one of the shelves of books. You couldn’t believe what you were hearing. She abandoned him, she left him. She was an awful person and made him out to be an awful person. He couldn’t really be falling for this. Could he? You stood there waiting for what he was going to say.

“Lily I.”

“No one has to know if you’re not ready.” She reached up and caressed his face but once it registered to Severus that she was touching him he backed away.

“No. Lily I may not be with Y/N right now but we are very much exclusive to one another. I did have feelings for you but I don’t anymore. You showed me where your loyalties were and they weren’t with me. I won’t throw away everything me and Y/N have built and accomplished for someone who threw me aside without a second thought. Now please leave me alone. I have to meet Y/N.” He walked right past her without another word. You turned the corner and pretended like you just walked into the library.

“Hey, ready to go?” You asked with a bright smile, knowing he just rejected his first love for you.

“Absolutely.” He smiled and hooked his arm with yours.