Pairings Challenge: Making It Work (Severus/Lily)
Author/Artist: articcat621
Title: Making It Work
Pairing and number: 2 - Severus/Lily
Prompt: 23 - marriage law AU
Rating: T
SummaryLily finds Severus to talk to him about their impending nuptials.
Notes Unbeta'd, pardon any lingering mistakes.
Read on A03.
“I figured I’d find you here,” Lily said, peering around the large oak tree. "You haven't been answering any of my owls." She frowned when Severus didn’t acknowledge her. “Sev,” she said with a sigh. Coming around the tree, she took a seat next to him.
The two of them used to meet up here during their childhood. When they were home for the summer, the two of them frequented the small park that wasn’t too far from either of their homes.
“You know, we’re going to have to talk about this eventually,” Lily said, taking a seat next to Severus.
He turned and looked at her, a guilty expression in his eyes.
“What’s wrong?” she immediately asked in concern.
Severus’s eyes widened in surprise. “What’s wrong? How can you even stand to look at me?” he asked softly.
“Because you’re my best friend, even though we haven’t really talked the past year or so.”
“I’m sorry.”
“We were pulled in different directions, Sev… It happens. Of course, it seems like we’re meant to be after all.” Lily frowned. “I just can’t believe the Ministry passed this marriage law. I mean, I’m glad I’ve been paired with you - at least you’re someone I know and I’m comfortable with.”
“Aren’t you upset that you had to break up with James because of this law? That you’re being forced to marry me?” Severus looked at her, his eyes wide and pleading. He hadn’t slept in days and it showed.
Lily reached out and took Severus’s hand. He tried to pull away, but she held onto him tightly. “Severus, listen to me. Am I sad that my relationship with James is over? Yeah, a little, but if the Ministry ran their arithmancy and determined we are a better match, I’m not mad about it. Yes, we’ve drifted apart, but I’m not concerned that things between us are too far gone.” He squeezed his hand. “I’m willing to give us… this a chance if you’re willing to.” She looked at him firmly. “Are you? Severus?”
“I… Yes,” he said, a small sigh of relief escaping him. “I was worried that you would resent me.”
“Nope,” Lily said gently. “If anything, I resent the Ministry from passing this ridiculous thing. But as it stands, I’m going to make the best of it. As I said, this could have been worse. Imagine if you had been paired with Alecto?” Lily let out a laugh. “She’s crazy about you.”
Severus let out a visible shudder. “No, she’s just crazy,” he corrected her.
Lily laughed. “Too right. But, I wanted to tell you that my parents want you over for dinner tomorrow night. They want a chance to catch up before we get into the thick of wedding planning.”
“Do you want a big wedding?” he asked.
“Not really,” Lily admitted. “Maybe just your mum, my parents, and Petunia? We can do something small… At the Ministry and then at my parents’ church, if you wouldn’t mind?”
Severus let out a relieved exhale. “Nope, that sounds perfect to me. The fewer people, the better. You know I hate attention.”
“I know.” Scooting closer, she pressed a kiss to his cheek. “We’ll make this work, Severus, don’t worry.”
He nodded, taking comfort in both her words and the lingering feeling of her lips on his cheek.
Title: Making It Work
Pairing and number: 2 - Severus/Lily
Prompt: 23 - marriage law AU
Rating: T
SummaryLily finds Severus to talk to him about their impending nuptials.
Notes Unbeta'd, pardon any lingering mistakes.
Read on A03.
“I figured I’d find you here,” Lily said, peering around the large oak tree. "You haven't been answering any of my owls." She frowned when Severus didn’t acknowledge her. “Sev,” she said with a sigh. Coming around the tree, she took a seat next to him.
The two of them used to meet up here during their childhood. When they were home for the summer, the two of them frequented the small park that wasn’t too far from either of their homes.
“You know, we’re going to have to talk about this eventually,” Lily said, taking a seat next to Severus.
He turned and looked at her, a guilty expression in his eyes.
“What’s wrong?” she immediately asked in concern.
Severus’s eyes widened in surprise. “What’s wrong? How can you even stand to look at me?” he asked softly.
“Because you’re my best friend, even though we haven’t really talked the past year or so.”
“I’m sorry.”
“We were pulled in different directions, Sev… It happens. Of course, it seems like we’re meant to be after all.” Lily frowned. “I just can’t believe the Ministry passed this marriage law. I mean, I’m glad I’ve been paired with you - at least you’re someone I know and I’m comfortable with.”
“Aren’t you upset that you had to break up with James because of this law? That you’re being forced to marry me?” Severus looked at her, his eyes wide and pleading. He hadn’t slept in days and it showed.
Lily reached out and took Severus’s hand. He tried to pull away, but she held onto him tightly. “Severus, listen to me. Am I sad that my relationship with James is over? Yeah, a little, but if the Ministry ran their arithmancy and determined we are a better match, I’m not mad about it. Yes, we’ve drifted apart, but I’m not concerned that things between us are too far gone.” He squeezed his hand. “I’m willing to give us… this a chance if you’re willing to.” She looked at him firmly. “Are you? Severus?”
“I… Yes,” he said, a small sigh of relief escaping him. “I was worried that you would resent me.”
“Nope,” Lily said gently. “If anything, I resent the Ministry from passing this ridiculous thing. But as it stands, I’m going to make the best of it. As I said, this could have been worse. Imagine if you had been paired with Alecto?” Lily let out a laugh. “She’s crazy about you.”
Severus let out a visible shudder. “No, she’s just crazy,” he corrected her.
Lily laughed. “Too right. But, I wanted to tell you that my parents want you over for dinner tomorrow night. They want a chance to catch up before we get into the thick of wedding planning.”
“Do you want a big wedding?” he asked.
“Not really,” Lily admitted. “Maybe just your mum, my parents, and Petunia? We can do something small… At the Ministry and then at my parents’ church, if you wouldn’t mind?”
Severus let out a relieved exhale. “Nope, that sounds perfect to me. The fewer people, the better. You know I hate attention.”
“I know.” Scooting closer, she pressed a kiss to his cheek. “We’ll make this work, Severus, don’t worry.”
He nodded, taking comfort in both her words and the lingering feeling of her lips on his cheek.