“Severus!
I got my Hogwarts acceptance letter!” As usual, Severus arrived beneath the old willow tree.
The moment Lily spotted him, she ran over without the slightest concern for appearances.
A bright, joyful smile lit up her face as she eagerly shared the happiest news she had received all year.
“Congratulations.” Severus smiled in return.
“It looks like we’ll officially be classmates soon.” Lily nodded excitedly before handing him her letter.
“It says Professor McGonagall will take me to Diagon Alley after I send my reply.” She tilted her head curiously.
“Do you think she’ll be very strict?” “Probably.” Severus answered honestly before adding, “But if you’d rather, I can take you instead.” “You’ve already delayed buying your wand for two years.” “There isn’t any reason to keep waiting.” “Really?” Lily’s eyes immediately sparkled.
Compared to traveling with a professor she’d never met, she naturally preferred going with her best friend.
“Of course.” Severus chuckled softly.
“And after two years…” “I think our friendship is finally strong enough to survive a little borrowed money.” His teasing tone immediately made Lily roll her eyes.
She was no longer the timid girl who had first met him two years ago.
Without the slightest hesitation, she gave him a playful slap on the back.
“Fine, then.” She deliberately dragged out her words.
“I’ll trouble you this once.” “When I earn my own money someday, I’ll pay back every Galleon I owe you.” “As you wish.” Severus nodded with a smile.
Aside from occasionally visiting Slug & Jiggers Apothecary to purchase potion ingredients, he hadn’t truly wandered around Diagon Alley in quite some time.
Taking Lily there before the school year began sounded like a pleasant change of pace.
A cool breeze drifted across the hillside.
The two of them lay side by side beneath the willow tree, quietly watching its long branches sway gently overhead.
Golden rays of sunlight occasionally slipped through the leaves, bathing them in a warm glow.
After a long silence, Lily spoke again.
“I was born into a Muggle family.” She stared absentmindedly at the sky.
“Will that…
affect my life at Hogwarts?” The excitement she’d been carrying all morning had gradually faded.
In its place came unease.
And a trace of sadness.
Severus remained silent for a moment before answering honestly.
“Yes.” “It will.” “Especially now.” He had no intention of comforting her with pleasant lies.
Instead, he calmly told her the truth.
“There are people in the Wizarding World who believe blood status determines a person’s worth.” “They’re proud of something they were simply born with because they have nothing else worth being proud of.” “If they learn you’re Muggle-born…” “They may call you a Mudblood.” Lily frowned.
The word alone sounded unpleasant.
Severus’s voice remained calm.
“If you ever hear someone use that word against you…” “Don’t waste your time arguing.” “Punch them in the face.” Lily froze.
“…What?” “Wouldn’t I get expelled for something like that?” Severus looked at her as though the answer were obvious.
“What do you think I’ve been teaching you all those basic jinxes and hexes for over the past two years?” “If someone refuses to behave like a civilized human being…” “Then teach them the lesson they deserve.” He shrugged matter-of-factly.
“Violence can’t solve every problem.” “But it can solve the person creating the problem.” For several seconds…
Lily simply stared at him.
Then she suddenly burst into laughter.
She laughed so hard that she had to clutch her stomach, tears almost forming in the corners of her eyes.
“So…” She struggled to catch her breath.
“That’s your advice?” “It is.” Severus answered without the slightest embarrassment.
“If you can’t beat them…” “Call for help.” “I doubt you’ll have trouble making friends after you’re Sorted.” Lily smiled warmly.
“But…” “You’ll always be my best friend.” She said it without the slightest hesitation.
The smile on her face gradually softened.
After a moment’s silence, she finally spoke the thoughts that had been weighing on her heart all day.
“Do you remember Petunia?” “Of course.” “When my Hogwarts letter arrived today…” “Mum and Dad were overjoyed.” “They kept saying our family had finally produced a witch.” “I was happy too.” She lowered her eyes.
“But…” “Petunia wasn’t.” “She’s started distancing herself from me again.” The cheerful atmosphere beneath the willow tree slowly faded into silence.
“Why aren’t you saying anything?” Lily turned to look at Severus with an aggrieved expression.
“Why don’t you give me another one of those wise speeches like you did before?” “I already gave you my advice two years ago.” Severus lay comfortably on the grass, his eyes following the willow branches swaying overhead.
“If you truly don’t want your relationship with your sister to end like strangers, then you’ll have to endure her unreasonable behavior for a very long time.” “But…” “She’s my sister.” Lily’s voice was barely above a whisper.
“We’re family.” “We have the same blood.” “Shouldn’t we be close?” “Then keep trying.” Severus answered calmly.
“Try not to talk about magic in front of her.” “Act as though nothing has changed.” “Keep enduring it…” “…until the day you can no longer endure it yourself.” He shrugged.
“As long as you don’t regret your choice.” “As long as you believe it’s worth it.” “Then keep going.” “But sooner or later, you’ll realize something.” “You don’t have to throw away your own dignity just to make someone else happy.” “Even if that person is your own sister.” Lily stared blankly at him.
She looked as though she understood…
And yet didn’t understand at all.
Her expression reminded Severus of someone else.
Juliet.
The raven always loved watching other people’s drama unfold.
The difference was that Juliet only pretended to be clueless.
Lily genuinely was.
The thought suddenly amused him.
Perhaps it was the excitement of finally receiving his Hogwarts acceptance letter.
Perhaps it was simply because Lily’s expression was too innocent.
Whatever the reason…
Severus unexpectedly laughed.
A genuine laugh.
The sound echoed across the quiet hillside.
Lily blinked.
She waited until he had finally calmed down before narrowing her eyes suspiciously.
“…You’re laughing at me.” “No.” “You are.” “I wasn’t.” “You definitely were.” Severus rolled his eyes.
There was little point pretending in front of someone who had known him for two years.
“Fine.” “I was.” The surroundings fell silent for a heartbeat.
The next instant— Lily lunged at him with surprising speed.
A mischievous grin spread across her face as she reached straight for him.
Unfortunately for her…
Severus had already expected it.
Before Lily could even get close, his wand was already in his hand.
“Wingardium Leviosa.” The Levitation Charm struck its target perfectly.
“Aah!” Lily gave a startled cry as her feet immediately left the ground.
She floated helplessly in midair, flailing her arms and legs without making the slightest progress toward Severus.
“That’s cheating!” She glared at him indignantly.
Severus calmly tucked his wand back into his sleeve.
“In a wizard’s duel…” “The weak don’t get to complain.” Lily puffed out her cheeks in frustration.
She wanted to argue.
Unfortunately…
She couldn’t think of a single rebuttal.
Severus casually reached into his bag before placing a familiar textbook onto the grass in front of her.
It was The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1.
Looking at the book, Lily immediately had a very bad feeling.
Since Hogwarts was only a short time away, Severus smiled pleasantly and said, “I’ve been keeping track.” “You still owe me thirty-four hours of study.” “I think it’s about time we settled that debt before school starts.” Lily slowly lowered her head.
Then she slowly looked back up at Severus.
For the first time in two years…
She noticed the devilish smile on his face.
At that moment, only a single thought remained in her mind.
So…
There’s no friendship left between us anymore, is there?