<div style="text-align: justify;">Unlike Severus, Lily was having a good time at the Gryffindor table. She had come from a stable home, and had good friends, after all. Her life could be better if her sister wasn’t so hateful towards her, but even that wasn’t as bad as what other people faced. People like Severus Snape, for instance. <br/><br/>Having lived not too far from the Snape family since her childhood, Lily knew that things weren’t happy in their home. She knew full well that Severus was severely abused in that house. If if had been up to her, Lily would have done something about it years ago.<br/><br/>The problem was exactly that it wasn’t up to her. Lily knew she couldn’t simply break into the Snape’s house and take Severus home with her. If she could, she would have done it already. But she had to wait for him to want to go with her, to allow her to do something. And knowing Severus, she was sure he would never accept her help.<br/><br/>While understanding that Severus was a proud boy - now a proud young man -, Lily couldn’t help but feel infuriated at the fact that he would not let her help. If only he would accept a helping hand once…<br/><br/>Lily’s line of thought was broken when she saw Severus growl something and Lucius Malfoy and take off. The red haired girl hesitated for a moment. Should she try to talk to him? Or would she get the same reaction Lucius had?<br/><br/>Deciding that she couldn’t just sit there and hesitate, Lily stood up. With a quick glance to her friends, she left the table as well, following in the direction she had seen Severus go. She would exit the Great Hall and look around, trying to figure out where he had gone to, until she could finally see the already well known figure.<br/><br/>Taking a deep breath, Lily walked to Severus and stopped right in front of him. “Severus. Tell me what happened”, she asked, or demanded, depending on what he could gather from her voice. What was clear was that she would not go anywhere until she got an answer.</div>