Hate Is A Strong Word (A Jily Fanfic)//FINISHED!

Confrontation

I needed to add to the story, but I honestly hated writing this chapter. Oh well. Tell me what you think of it.

Lily
Lily was sitting at breakfast when she felt the tap on her shoulder. She turned to see Severus Snape standing behind her. He looked as if he had barely slept, red under his eyes. His greasy hair was a mess.

Lily felt herself flinch back from him. He looked angrier than usual.

"Lily," he spat out.

"What is it Severus?" she asked coldly.

"Potter tried to kill me!" he exclaimed. She let out a sour laugh. Was he joking?

"That's really not funny Snape," she said. She tried to stand up, but he put a hand on her shoulder to hold her down.

"Listen Lily!" he begged her. His breath was sour and hot. His eyes were opened wide. She didn't like him anymore, but she saw the truth in his eyes.

"I'm listening," she said quietly. She at least wanted to hear his story.

"Potter and his friends have been going down to the Whomping Willow after hours every month. I questioned them about it and Potter and Black told me that the tree stopped moving when you touched a root at the base. I went to figure it out, not knowing that I wouldn't have enough time to reach the roots before the tree would attack me!"

"Why did you listen to them?" Lily asked him, her voice without emotion.

"I'm not sure," he said quietly. "But that's not the point is it."

"How are you not hurt, then?" she inquired.

"The Marauders were there. They were there to watch me get beaten, but Potter seemed to realize that he'd get in trouble for my injuries and pushed me out of the way at the last minute. They are all sick," Severus spat.

"Why are you telling me this?" Lily asked quietly. "What if I don't believe you?"

"I'm telling you this because I see that you've befriended them," Snape said bitterly. "You shouldn't be friends with people so cruel."

"You were cruel," Lily said to him.

"And look how fast you dropped me," he said with a shaky voice. "Besides, it would be a stupid choice for you to not believe me, and I know you're not stupid Lily."

He took his hands off of her shoulders and walked away. Had James actually tried to hurt Snape like that?

Sometime during breakfast, Peter, Sirius, and James sat next to her. She noticed that they all seemed exhausted and beaten. She wondered if it had anything to do with Snape's story.

"Where's Remus?" she asked.

"In the Hospital Wing," James informed her. "Because of his cold," he added.

Lily looked across the Great Hall to see Severus staring at her. When their eyes met, he nodded. She didn't trust Severus, but she also knew that James was lying. He had been for a long time.

"James, can we talk for a second?" Lily asked him. He furrowed his eyebrows in confusion.

"Sure, Evans," he said. He followed Lily out of the Great Hall. She checked to see if there was anyone around before whirling around to him.

"What were you doing last night?" she asked him.

"Woah, Evans. What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean." She saw a nervous look pass over his face.

"I don't."

"Then why don't you say that to Severus!" she shouted. His expression instantly darkened.

"What did Sniv...I mean Snape say to you?" he asked.

"Does it matter?" she asked him. "I'm asking you."

"It was nothing," James said coolly. Lily's face went red with anger.

"Don't lie to me, James Potter! Because nothing to you could have been Severus' life!" she shouted angrily. Did he take her as a gullible fool? James looked shocked for a minute before his own expression turned to an angry one.

"And do you believe everything Snape says?" James asked her.

"I just might. It's better than the garbage excuses you give me!" she argued.

"He lies to you because he's jealous," James said hotly.

"This is about you, not him. What's the truth, James? What happened? What were you doing out after hours?" she asked desperately. Her hands were shaking from anger.

James looked torn. Lily tightened her hands into fists at her sides and was breathed heavily. The silence lasted for an uncomfortable amount of time. James kept running his hands through his hair over and over.

"No. I can't tell you," James said after a moment. Lily felt as if she'd been slapped. Severus had been right. James didn't trust her enough to tell her.

"I guess Snape was right," Lily said. The emotion had left her voice completely.

"No, Evans, you don't under..."

"Just stop, Potter!" she commanded him. "If you don't trust me enough to tell me the truth or think that it's okay to just keep secrets from me, then I'm afraid that..."

"That what?" he asked in a shaky voice.

"That this...that we aren't going to work out. I'm sorry."

The effect was instant. James just stared at her with an expression that made him look as if he'd been punched in the gut several times. He looked dumbfounded, as if he couldn't believe what she'd just said. She couldn't believe it either. Part of her told herself that she was being irrational,  it she held her ground. Before he could say anything to change her mind, she turned on her heel and walked to class.

James
No. No. No. This can't be happening.

James returned to breakfast looking as if he were going to be sick. Sirius noticed instantly.

"You okay?" he asked. James could only shake his head.

"What is it?" Peter asked.

"Apparently Snape went to Lily and told her what happened at the Willow. He made it sound like I only saved him because I was trying to save our own skins."

"Did you correct his story?" Sirius asked.

"I couldn't!" James said miserably. "If I correct the story, I have to explain what we were doing there. She accused me of not trusting her and hiding things. We are...we are..." James couldn't get the words out.

"You're what?" Peter asked.

"Done," James said. His voice sounded lifeless in his own ears.

"No!" Sirius said. "I'll get that Snivellus!"

"No you won't!" James said abruptly. "Look where your pranking Snape has gotten me."

Sirius looked at the sorrow filled eyes behind James' glasses. He looked uncomfortable.

"I'm sorry," he said. James only shook his head.

"It's not your fault."

"Then what can we do?"

James looked down at his food.

"I can only hope," he said quietly.