How special-Severus gets into trouble because Lily uses him to keep from getting lonely while waiting for James. Why am I not surprised?

And Snape is walking into the darkness again, just on the off chance it might save Lily.

Why did he bother coming back, just so he could get hosed again?

The old man is an utter fool. Perhaps, he does not get wiser, until after I leave Hogwarts. My story isn't believable anyway. But the man would take a chance. He is a bloody Gryffindor! Who am I kidding? That man is a perfect balance of all houses. Sly—like a Slytherin, brave—like a Gryffindor, wise—like a Ravenclaw, and fair—like a Hufflepuff. But he is a coward as well.

-Bingo! Why else would he have Snape kill him after he nearly killed himself by putting on that cursed ring? Oh, wait, that was the only way to make sure the Order would try to kill Snape, if Voldemort didn't get around to it first.

But I am *really* glad that Snape isn't going to be Dumbledore's spy this time.

However, I am sure that Albus will find a way to force Severus into taking the Mark anyway.

"You shouldn't keep turning people away. It isn't right." She had entered dangerous waters. She knew it was not a position she should place herself in, but the wellbeing of her friend concerned her.

-Sure it does. James might need Severus' skill again. Besides, she needs to have her doormat around, and still keep James.

As for losing Severus, she's doing that herself. But of course nothing is ever her fault.

What is Snape's game now? I do hope he isn't taking the Mark just because Lily is in love with James. He's better than that, and it would be easier to save Regulus if he himself stayed out of it.

But I expect he's planning on doing something especially suicidal and dramatic, because he feels he has no life here.

If he steps one toe out of line I'll drop him.

-Sigh. That's how she really feels. Regulus is right, Severus needs to let her go and find her own way. Maybe she won't like being married to a bully. And one of these days Sirius will brag to her about what *really* happened at the Shrieking Shack.

One day I will be able to tell her everything. That day I will know whether she returns those feelings or not.

-Oh, Severus, you already know, you just don't want to admit it. Poor guy.

"Where do we stand now Lily?" It came out of nowhere. "You confined that we were friends, but where are we exactly?"

"Just friends Sev, that's all."

-Sigh. And that is all. Oh, and he'll be useful putting Potter back together, too. Lily just doesn't want to lower the boom right now, not when James might need him.

"Lily, you have nothing to be sorry about. I drove you away. It was my mistake. I shouldn't have done that. I hurt you."

-Yes, it's always his fault, and Lily never does *anything* wrong. But James will get well soon, thanks to him, and I wonder how long it will take till she goes back to him?

Wouldn't it be nice if someone, oh, say, Madam Pomfrey noticed that Severus threw out his back bringing in James? But no. Snape does all he can to save James Potter, and he almost gets hexed for it.

Being a healer is certainly a good alternative to what I'm sure is being planned for him by both sides.

Frankly, he should give up on Lily by now-if she's not impressed by how much a of a doormat he is for her now, she never will be.

"Okay Lily, but only because you say it won't get any worse. You're lucky I love you." It was evident that he was still furious, but it didn't matter.

-Ah yes. Lily had better watch out once she marries him. Bullies don't stop just because they get what they want.

Even now, she loved James more than anything. He had no chance with her, even if he came back for the sole reason of being with her. Dumbledore had tricked him.

-Pretty much. But with his knowledge of Horcruxes and such, the Albus of this time can sacrifice him with a clear conscience, saving his valuable Gryffindors to celebrate the victory.

As for Lily, it's pretty clear that to make her happy, Severus has to lose. Plus, his fellow Slytherins aren't going to be too happy he blew the game to help the Mudblood's sweetie-pie.

"Ever since fourth year things have been different between us. In fifth year when everything collapsed, I felt lost without you. James came to my rescue. He was like a hero to me—a real live superman. He fancied me, he always did, and then I started liking him back. Things went far, maybe even too far, but I was overjoyed at the time."

-Rescued her from what? James' own threats? i guess she really is impressed by people who can beat up others and have the staff back him up.

But Severus is really trying to save Regulus, and I wish him luck. I just wish Severus would realize that Lily is going to dump him no matter what, and look for someone who will actually love him back.

She laughed and smiled with the Marauders, she would sometimes even touch James. It sickened him seeing her with Potter—even now, when he knew she was happy. She wasn't with her other friends. Come to think of it, she hung out with the Marauders the entire seventh year, and no one else, if memory served him right.

-Yup. She married the lot when she married James.

"I don't know…" her voice trailed off as turned away from him and walked away from the astronomy tower.

-After Sev ripped out his heart for her. Smooth move, there.

What would James say about this? If Severus and I were friends again he would bully Severus to no end.

-You mean he ever stopped?

Was all of this a waste of time? No, of course not. It was fun while it lasted. Now, it's just something that used to be.

-Yes. Besides, seeing Severus uses up valuable time that she could spend forgiving James Potter for saying "Don't make me hex you, Evans!". Oh, wait, she's forgotten about it already.

But more than anything she felt hurt, because after all this time he had chosen to act differently.

-No, he's *always* been her doormat and person to blame for things.

Hagrid sure is nice for someone who thinks all Slytherins are Dark Wizards. But the Fat Lady is a *perfect* Gryffindor, she says sarcastically-anytime Snape gets beaten up, he deserves it, of course. Because he exists.

Hope? He'd be better off dumping both sides and finding his own.

But why—he would ask himself. Why would Dumbledore, the man he always knew to be manipulative give him a second chance?

-So he could enjoy watching how disappointed Snape is from 'heaven', I expect. Albus is so good at that.

He would fight, even if it killed him. He died once for her, and surely, he would die infinitely for her if it meant he could have her, just once. This time he would be on the side of light, not dark. This time he would do right, not wrong. This time he would do what he thinks is right, and not what anyone else tells him is.

-And die sooner, I expect. Though I expect that this time he'd blow Dumbledore off and find out what the afterlife is actually like.

I'm loving this story so far! Hope you're feeling better and get well soon. Whenever the next chapter is up, I'll check back and read it :).