I just finished this after like a week of reading. This has been THE BEST fanfic I’ve ever read and I must say there have been times when all I wanted was to cry and stop reading and I’m glad I didn’t because even though I’ve laughed and cried while reading and delayed reading some parts of this fanfic I loved the entire experience. This is written so well and professionally that if were an actual book I’d pay to read it. Thank you for writing this beautiful story.

I do hope Lily gets around to learning some healing spells-this won't be the first time she will need to patch Severus up. I expect Dumbledore will be ever so happy to learn how Voldemort is torturing him-he can get his jollies by proxy without having to lift his wand.

I hope Moody is listening-and willing to take over when it becomes apparent that Dumbledore isn't God after all.

Lily is supposed to be good with Charms and not too bad with Potions-I hope she remembers that someday and uses both for Snape's good and for her own protection.

Plus, you know that Dumbledore is somehow spying on them both and trying to figure out how to break them up to deliver an adoring Lily to James to fulfill some bogus prophecy...

That was absolutely lovely. Thank you for writing it.

Lily better enjoys this as long as it lasts, Dumbledore and Potter between then are almost certain to set Severus up to die one way or another. Even with a secret identity, Dumbledore could betray him to Voldemort or to Potter at any time.

But at least they're talking to each other, and yes, a double bed would be for the best.

Oh, yes. Snape is used to struggling against disdain, despair, cruelty and hardship-he has no idea what to do with love.

I feel for Severus here, when I imagine to be in his shoes.
It’s one thing to watch someone you love with all your heart fall for another, it’s going to be painful, but it’s entirely different to watch her fall in love with the man that made your life hell. That’s a permanent scar. That’s something most likely can’t be repaired no matter what. You made him strong, so strong to overcome that grudge and choose to stay instead of leaving. Had he been just a bit weaker in the mind and heart, he would have left.

Up until this point, Lily had done everything right as she fought for the Light, and Severus had done everything wrong as he fought for Voldemort. But love isn’t just about these big pictures, it’s too personal. She could love him after realizing who he actually is, could do what she regretted that she didn’t do the first time around. He still loves her, and he probably always will, but I seriously doubt if he could fall in love with her at this point. A person’s heart could only take as much, and if I were him that point of total collapsing is long past. She only felt a glimpse of what he felt when he walked out the door, and it made her heart split. He endured that gut wrenching pain, with the knowledge she chose his tormentor, for years. I don’t know what kind of happiness could ever levitate the pain and grief he felt where Lily is involved. I’m very glad that he seems to found that happiness after getting together with Lily. But I think may be, just may be, the best option would have been for him to move elsewhere and Obliviate himself to forget about Lily, so he would no longer suffer from it. That would have set him free.

Ok, now they both know that the other loves them, though it had to come the hard way.

Granted, it was just a little bit satisfying to have Lily go through about 1% of what Severus has gone through over the years.

Well, I hope that Lily finally realizes she missed a bullet when she dumped James; you know he would have worked his way around to her eventually once her cheekiness lost its charm. "Don't make me hex you, Evans"-that was his warning rattle.

And Moody let James do it. That should tell Lily all she needs to know about Moody, too. No doubt Dumbledore will be pleased to know that he can unleash his wolves any time he wishes to keep both Severus and Lily in line.

Except one of these days both of them really are going to cross the Channel and let both sides play with their wands.

Of course they've made up their minds. Lily is a traitor, too, and I'm sure the offer is a trap-if Lily helps Severus escape, *she* will be the one going to Azkaban.

In spite of Lily's reaction to Severus becoming a Death Eater, I don't get the impression she's doubted him for a minute. She seems to be working from an assumption that he's an ally with no hesitation at all. Maybe it's her trust in Dumbledore, but mostly it feels as if her trust is in Severus himself, like their friendship was never in doubt, let alone ended.

Lily is still a little blind to nuance. She hoped they'd become friends again, but said that she was done with Severus and started dating the guy who tormented him. She dated a guy who threatened to hex her, but wouldn't speak to the one who called her a cruel name while being tortured. She seems nice enough, but I think she tries to see the positive side in everyone. James is sweet and thoughtful to Lily, but spent a lot of time bullying other students. Including the boy she called her best friend.

Oh, dear, Lily still trusts Dumbledore to be reasonable. I bet she figures out how silly that is after a while, the sooner the better.

"Dealt with appropriately"-ok, they plan for him to be Kissed as soon as they get everything they think he's got.

So Dumbledore wished Snape would shape up and make something of his life? You mean, stick around and let the Marauders drive him into suicide? And we all see how Remus waltzes out of having to do anything.

Lily, you are on your own.

But if they want to move you out of the way, they won't hesitate one second to Stun you and kick you out.

Good promises there, Lily, let's hope you can come through. Otherwise the Order will send him to Azkaban (though if he survives that, his lifespan should be longer than in canon. Being pledged to Dumbledore tends to shorten it).

Anyway, good chapter.

Oh, come on, Dumbledore. You just don't like being called out on what you plan to do-you would rather Lily graciously offered all of her 'visions' voluntarily, and then maybe they might let Snape live. But being called out on your plans? That gets you angry. Especially if Lily put her finger on your exact plan.

Plus, Lily knows how the Marauders work very well indeed (so does Dumbledore, but he prefers to turn a blind eye and pretend everything is just fine).

But of course Voldemort is so much worse, that the Order can do any damn thing and still be better.

AMAZING! Absolutely beautiful.
I loved your Severus & Lily.