“I can’t believe there’s no counter spell, or potion that can reverse the effects. All we can do is sit around and hope that my brother didn’t cast the spell correctly, and even then who knows how long until the effects wear off.” Regulus sighed as they all sat in the library wondering what to do next.

“At least your brother’s not the best wizard.” Remus commented.

“He’s supposed to be your best friend.”

“Yes so I know that Sirius doesn’t focus when he casts spells 99% of the time.”

“This says that reenacting meaningful events in this person's life can make their memories come back sooner.” Lucius commented while he read from a book in the library on memory spells.

“You heard Severus, he doesn't want to help. He thinks it’ll only hurt her.” Regulus reminded him.

“Once he realizes how much he misses her he’ll come to his senses and realize that he wants her in his life. This is all we can do today so I suggest we all get back to our dorms before we get in trouble for not only being in the restricted section but for being out past curfew.” Lucius explained.

“Good idea. I need to get back before they all realize they’ve been drugged.” Remus replied.

“Night. Thank you Remus.”

“You’re welcome.”

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

“What are you still doing awake?” Lucius asked when he walked into their dorm room to see Severus wide awake.

“I’m thinking.” He muttered, not paying his friend any mind.

“You want to fix this. You miss her already and you know it’s only going to get harder.” Lucius pointed out while he changed out of his clothes and into his sleep clothes.

“It’s hard to think with you babbling.” He groaned in annoyance.

“Well it’s hard not to babble when I know you’re full of shit. You miss her, you can tell me over and over again that you think this is what’s best for her but I know you don’t believe it and even if you did believe it it’s killing you. It’s only going to hurt worse tomorrow when you have to sit next to her in class and she doesn’t remember a thing about you other than the bullshit James and the others have been telling her.” Lucius snarled. “I don’t want to see you get upset but this is ridiculous. I know you love her, the fact that you're giving up on her so easily is scary because it’s not you.”

“Everytime I think I have this figured out they come back with something worse, Lucius and 9 times out of 10 it’s used on Y/N not me. When I kissed Lily, that hurt Y/N more than it hurt me. When Lily flirted with me, that hurt Y/N more than it hurt me. I don’t want to keep watching her get hurt just so I can be happy with her, it’s selfish.” Severus spat.

“And if Y/N knew what you were doing what would she say? She would hate what you’re doing and do you know why? Because she’d think that you were giving up on everything the two of you have built, do you really want to do that? If she wakes up from all this, are you going to want her to know that you sat there and did nothing to help get her memories back.”

“What do you mean when she gets her memories back. You know something I don’t Lucius what is it.” Severus asked, standing from his bed.

“Me and Regulus did some digging along with Remus and found the spell that Sirius and James used on Y/N. There is no way for her memories back unless the spell was not cast strongly or properly and considering Sirius is the one that cast it there's a good chance he did it wrong. Even Remus said that Sirius doesn’t focus when casting spells so there is a good chance that this could wear off. Remember that because when she finds out you were even thinking about giving up on her she will have your head on a platter and I will help her! Now get your head out of your ass and go get your girl Severus Snape!”

Severus stood there stunned, Lucius had never spoken to him like that before. He knew he was right. He didn’t want to give up but he didn’t want to be selfish either. But what they’re doing to you is wrong, it’s against your will and he couldn’t just sit back and pretend like you and him weren’t in a relationship together.

“What do I have to do?”

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

“Okay class we have an exam tomorrow but it will be a table exam meaning you and your potions partner can work together. Now I want you all to sign out on this sheet when you will be meeting with your partner to study for this exam together. After you do that you can spend the rest of the period studying together or alone. The paper you need to fill out with answers will be on the table with the sign up sheet. There's only a few questions you have to fill out that will just show me that you did meet with your partner.” Slughorn explained the next day in class. The class erupted with whispers while people tried to agree on a time to meet.

“How about we meet outside after dinner?” Severus suggested. “There’s a tree by the castle, it’ll be quiet.”

“That’s fine, just don’t try anything or I will hex you.” You glared at the boy.

“I understand. I’ll let you study.”

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

“I see you’re here early.” You heard a deep voice from behind you. “Didn’t you go eat?” He noticed how thin you were, he himself has had many instances where he didn’t eat. Whether he just didn’t want to or he was busy studying and forgot. He knew what being starved looked like.

“I wasn’t hungry.” You lied. He raised his eyebrow and you knew that he knew you were lying. You just weren’t sure how he knew. “Anyway let’s start working on this assignment before my brother starts to worry.”

“Ah yes. Potter.” He sneered.

“You know he’s still my brother right?”

“Yes, and you realize that doesn’t mean I have to like him or you?”

“You don’t have to be so rude to me, you know. I haven’t done anything to you, just because you and my brother don’t get along doesn’t mean you need to take it out on me.” You huffed. He looked at you for a moment as if he was trying to see through you. As if he was debating something.

“You’re right. But if I find out you're in on any of his pranks or if you start messing with me.”

“Severus I won't, that’s not who I am.” Severus remembered having this conversation with you months ago when you were first assigned your potions partners. He was reciting the same questions the best he could. Your replies were obviously different but he needed you to hear the conversation you had before and hopefully it would spark a memory.

“Alright what’s the first question?” Severus mumbled to himself.

“Why do you like potions so much?” You asked out of nowhere.

“I like it because it’s something I’m actually good at.” He replied, still writing on his parchment.

“I’m sure you’re good at lots of things.” You said under your breath, but still loud enough for him to hear.

“Yeah sure. What do you think I’d be good at?” He scoffed.

“I think you’d be a good artist. You strike me as that type.”

“Are you good at art?” He asked, finishing his writing.

“That’s not one of the questions on the paper.” You smirked. “But yeah, I really like to draw and paint, but I feel like I could see you sitting here during the day with a sketchbook.” You looked up from your paper as well and saw just a pinch of a smile on his face. “So do you? Draw?”

Your replies were starting to get more and more like the replies you gave the first time you spoke. Severus took that as a good sign.

“A little, I’m not very good at it.” He confessed.

“I don’t believe you.” You said plainly.

“Yeah, yeah. What do you wanna do after you graduate?” Severus asked, remembering that was a question on the parchment from that day months ago.

“I’m not sure. I always thought about being a teacher.” You shrugged.

“I could never, I can’t stand people.” He commented.

“Okay grumpy what about you?” You nudge his shoulder. “What does the grumpy Severus Snape want to be when he’s a big bad adult?”

“You realize I’m 2 years older than you.”

“I’m wise beyond my years.” You joked, holding your head high. You saw his shoulders make a couple movements that looked like he was laughing but you didn’t want to look in case he’d stop. “What do you wanna be though?”

“I don’t know. Maybe an aurora. Maybe I’ll flip burgers in the muggle world. I have no clue.” He shrugged. The lack of self esteem he had made your heart ache. It hurt mostly because you knew what that felt like.

“I’m gonna write down aurora because I give you more credit than being a fast food worker in the muggle world.” You shook your head.

“Do you play quidditch?” You asked.

“That’s not one of the questions.” He smirked, using your prior words against you.

“But? Come on, I still answered yours.” You whined and this time he couldn’t hide his chuckle.

“I don’t. I prefer it that way.”

“I might try out this year. Tryouts will be in a month, my brother said.”

“Hmm.” He nodded.

“Do you have any other hobbies? I can’t imagine there’s much to do around here if you don’t play quidditch.”

“Is this 20 questions?” He sassed.

“What’s that?” He rolled his eyes.

“It’s a muggle game where you ask someone 20 questions. You can ask me one more question.” Severus explained.

“What did you see in the mirror?” Severus’ eyes went wide; he never mentioned the mirror. Then it hit him, Sirius and James didn’t know about the mirror. Maybe any encounters you and him had that James and Sirius didn’t know about were spared from the spell. Sirius isn’t the best spell caster which could lead to loop holes.

“What mirror?”

“I saw you in a room looking at a mirror. I don’t remember how or why, it seems like it was so long ago but I remember it. Why can I only remember certain little things about us? They told me you and I weren’t close but I have memories of us hugging and laughing with no memory of why.”

“I don’t think you’ll believe me.”

“Try me. I like to hear both sides of the story.”

“You and I were dating. Are dating? I don’t know. Your brother and Sirius didn’t like that we were so they have done everything and anything they could to break us up the past few months. Yesterday they cast a spell on you to make you forget our relationship. That’s why you remember us laughing and smiling and hugging but you don’t remember why.”

“For some reason I believe you. But without proof how can I…”

“Ask Remus, he’s your best friend, you know he wouldn’t lie to you. He’s also your brother’s friend so he has no reason to side with me over your brother. If he does then he must be telling the truth.” Severus cut you off, his voice almost pleading with you to believe him.

“I’ll ask.. The mirror, why do I remember the mirror?”

“Because you saw me looking in the mirror of Erised which shows you your deepest desire. That was at the beginning of the year when we were assigned to be potions partners. Then later that night we had almost this exact conversation we had today. I tried to make our conversation today as close to the one we had that day as I could so it would spark some memories maybe. It seems like it worked a little.” He explained.

“What did you see in the mirror?”

“I didn’t tell you last time I don’t think I should.”

“Severus, if you want me to believe you tell me what you saw in the mirror.”

“You! I saw you! It didn’t make any sense I had just met you. I still cared for Lily Evans so I didn’t know why I was seeing you in the mirror all of a sudden instead of Lily. Now I see why, because we were meant to be together and the mirror showed me that before I knew it myself. Before I believed it myself. I saw you in the mirror. Please believe me, please you have to remember. Please remember us.”

“I believe you. I will talk to Remus but it’s not my fault if I can’t remember.”

“I know…. I want my Y/N back.”

“If everything pans out. If Remus tells me what you’re saying is true you’ll have me.”