There's always a moment, when something that you've been kind of dreading happens, and you realize that you're almost relieved. Because at least, now, you don't have wonder when and if it's going to happen.

Lily feels that way when she comes around the corner on her way back to Gryffindor Tower Wednesday night and sees Severus Snape, leaning against a wall, clearly waiting for someone.

Clearly waiting for her.

"Lily."

She stops walking, but she doesn't look at him. "What do you want, Severus?"

"Why him?"

Lily's sigh is exasperated. "I'm not going to talk about James with you," she says, and starts down the corridor again, away from him.

"Why him?" Severus repeats. Louder. Insistent.

Lily stops again, and turns back to face him. "I like him. He likes me. Isn't that the usual reason?"

"But you know what he's like," Severus says. "You know."

"Better than I used to think I did," Lily says.

But then, James Potter is hardly the only person she could say that of.

And not everyone improves on further acquaintance.

"I don't have to justify this to you, Severus."

"Please, Lily, I can't stand to see you -- "

"No one is making you watch," Lily says. "Anyway, you gave up the right to express your opinion and expect me to care about it. We're not friends any more."

He takes two steps closer to her. "I will always be your friend."

"We both know that's not true," she says. "Don't try to talk to me about this again. Any of it."

"But -- " he says.

"Leave me alone, Snape," she says.

His expression changes at her use of his last name, into the sort of surprise she'd expect if she'd reached out and slapped him.

Lily turns and walks away, leaving him standing there, silent and staring after her.

And even after she's turned the corner, she can still feel his eyes on her.