Rated [M] for language, magical violence, and sexual situations

Genres: AU, romance, drama, angst, adventure

Summary: Recently back from a year of studying, Lily Evans is set to start a new job. It is an exciting time in her life. Unfortunately, the war is escalating. As the proverbial noose tightens around the Order of the Phoenix, circumstances will set her on a path that will change her life forever.

Note: This AU is a post-Hogwarts story set in the early 1980s.

Thanks go out to shyfoxling for beta reading. I really appreciate it.

Prologue – Crossing Paths

November, 1980

It was late in the afternoon, and the clouds were gathering fast. Looking to the skies, Lily Evans grasped the collar of her black, double-breasted coat and held it shut. Autumn had arrived, and the wind had a definite bite to it. As it stirred her hair and the brim of her poor-boy hat, she contemplated her surroundings, and drew an extended breath.

The park, she noted, was exactly as she remembered it, from the trees and the manicured lawns to the beautiful, circular fountain alongside the walking path. With the crunch of dry leaves beneath the soles of her brown leather boots, Lily neared the water feature, and looked down at the rippling surface, thinking.

It had been a good while since she had stood here, in this very spot. Fifteen months, to be more precise. Has it really been that long? she mused, thinking back to the night she and James had decided to break off their engagement.

…

"So you really want to do this." A statement rather than a question, James' words reached her as she threw yet another blade of grass in the fountain.

"I have to, James." Sitting on the circular edge, Lily looked up at him. "This isn't working anymore." There was a weighty pause, and then, "We both know that."

She hated this, hated that she had to be the one to tell it like it was. But things hadn't been right for a long time now.

The deaths of her parents, the stresses of war, James' penchant for needless risk-taking, and the realisation that she didn't want to be a housewife… all of those things had taken a toll, putting much strain on them. Simply put, she was tired of the arguments, tired of pretending that everything was alright when, in fact, it wasn't. For both their sakes, it had to be this way.

His features bathed in the bluish patterns of moonlit water, James merely stood there, apparently unable to return her gaze just yet. Finally, after a long moment, he sighed and looked at her, his expression one of disappointment and resignation. "I'll always love you, you know."

The breeze picked up, causing the leaves to rustle. She remained silent.

"So… what now?" James asked as he sat next to her.

Lily shrugged, certain only of this: she needed time to center herself, to find a new path, and figure out what she wanted to do with her life. "We figure it out as we go along."

Nothing was said after that.

…

Though difficult and conflicting, the decision to part ways had been the right one. And while James had been reluctant at the time, he had come to accept it. Oh, the transition had not been an easy one. After all, they had been together for a good while. But they had ultimately found their own paths.

In Lily's case, the search for professional fulfillment had led her to Galway, where she had spent twelve months under the tutelage of Tiarnan Byrne, a well-known wizard who had dedicated his life to the study of advanced and experimental charms. The experience had been challenging and rewarding, exactly what she had needed in the wake of her breakup with James.

Now that she was back, Lily felt content with her life, and was looking forward to starting her new job at Griffiths & Young, a wizarding company whose products were geared towards new and expectant mothers.

Having lingered in the park for a few minutes, Lily decided it might be best to go. After all, it was supposed to rain later, and she had yet to walk the shop-lined street of Diagon Alley.

When she finally got there, it felt like a home-coming of sorts. It had been too long. Eyeing the window displays, Lily walked at a leisurely pace. Despite the ominous weather, it felt good to be out and about like this. She had missed it, had missed the sights, the smells, and the sounds of this place, so very near to her heart.

Eventually, the cobbled street yielded to a busy flight of stairs, beyond which was a side-street lined with pubs and a few more shops. Since rain was imminent, people were hurrying about, their eyes darting to the roiling skies every now and again. Not wanting to bump into anyone, Lily kept to the left side, her hand skimming the stone railing as she went.

About halfway up the steps, a particularly strong gust of wind threatened to steal her hat. With quick reflexes, she brought a hand to keep it in place, but in doing so accidently brushed against someone's arm or shoulder. "Sorry," she said, casting a sideways glance as her foot rose towards the next step.

For a fleeting instant, her eyes caught glimpse of a pallid face framed by a curtain of wind-whipped hair as black as night. While this was enough to spark something in her memory, it was the eyes—dark and deeply familiar—that made her slow to a stop.

The air rushing out of her lungs, Lily hesitated for a moment. A part of her wanted to turn around. The other part didn't.

Is it really him?

How long she stood there, Lily could not say for certain. It might have been three seconds, it might have been more. As her mind supplied memories both good and bad, she looked over her shoulder—though not far enough to see if he was still there—and held her breath.

Maybe she was mistaken. Maybe it wasn't him at all. But if it was, then what? She had already closed the book on their complicated story, on that painful day, so long ago.

"I never meant to call you Mudblood, it just—"

"Slipped out? It's too late. I've made excuses for you for years. None of my friends can understand why I even talk to you. You and your precious little Death Eater friends… You've chosen your way, I've chosen mine."

Merlin, had it already been… what? Five? Six years? She couldn't remember anymore. Torn between looking and walking away, Lily bit her bottom lip. In the end, her curiosity won out, and her feet started to move, slowly turning on the spot until her gaze fell on…

Severus.

Besieged with a myriad of conflicting emotions, Lily contemplated her childhood friend. Clad in a black travelling cloak, Severus Snape stood several steps below, his gaze fixed firmly onto hers. Tall and slender, he looked older than the last time she had seen him. Older, and… she searched for the word, but it eluded her.

Though his features betrayed very little, the look in his eyes suggested that he was surprised to see her. Time stretched on, and they merely stood there, looking at one another through the continuous flow of pedestrians. Not knowing how to feel, Lily thought about the boy he had once been, and how she had truly cared for him. Then, with a definite heaviness in her chest, she allowed her gaze to fall to his left arm.

The Dark Mark, the vile brand given to Voldemort's most faithful and elite followers… If the rumours were true—and they usually were—he would have had it for a few years now. The notion troubled her greatly. But more than that, it saddened her, too.

Oh, Severus. Why?

Somehow, he must have known what she was thinking, because he soon grasped the edge of his cloak, his arm finding refuge beneath the flowing fabric as though he was ashamed of what lay beneath the sleeve. Remembering his fascination with the Dark Arts, however, Lily recognised that last observation for what it was: wishful thinking. Severus wasn't ashamed. He was a Death Eater, something he had aspired to be.

A second flitted past, and their eyes met once more. Despite the wind and the many passersby, the space between them was heavy, laden with a dull kind of sadness. Their paths had diverged long ago, and there was no going back.

Remembering the last words she had ever said to him, Lily regretfully turned away, convinced that this would indeed be the last time she would lay eyes on her former friend.

Thank you for reading. The next chapter should be posted within a week or so.