Snivellus Snape walked up to Lily Evans nervously, books gripped tightly in his womanly hands.
Lily was busy being oblivious and chatting animatedly with Remus.
"It's perfectly okay to be metrosexual Remus, but I don't think you're just metro, if you catch my drift..."
Snape sniffed, staring at her back for five seconds before realizing that he was in public, not behind a bookshelf, so everyone could see him. He stepped back into the shadows, gulping, knuckles white from gripping his books so hard.
"Well no Remus, I'm not saying you come off as gay, but think about it. You and Sirius seem to spend A LOT of time together, don't you?"
What if she doesn't like me? What if she laughs at me and says that Potter's ass is nicer than mine? Potter. Snape's eyes narrowed at the word. Stupid Potter with his sexily uncombed hair, his lopsided smile, his perfect charm...
"No Remus, I didn't see you and Sirius in the Trophy Room at midnight. I was asleep, I promise. I don't even know what you're talking about..."
Snape licked his hand and ran it through his hair, slicking it back. He realized that eventually he would have to either talk to her or go away, and this time he knew he was going to ask her out. One foot in front of the other, he told himself, dropping his Potions book and picking it back up quickly, hoping she hadn't seen.
"What do I possibly have to blackmail you with? Everyone knows, Remus! Be that as it may, I'd NEVER blackmail a fellow prefect. Never..."
Snape steeled his nerve and took a step forward, his thin body contorting from the wind. Four paces from touching her, three paces...
Snape raised his hand, holding his books against his chest with the other, about to tap her on the shoulder.
"Oh hi, Evans! Didn't see you there!"
Almost at once Snape was knocked down, his head slamming against the floor painfully. He let out a soft groan and rubbed his head with his palm, looking up with burning eyes to glare at the person who assaulted him.
James was standing there with his stupid smile, a mischiveous gleam in his eyes. He held out his hand and did a mock curtsey. "So Evans, would you care to accompany me to Hogsmeade say...right now?"
To Snape's horror, Lily giggled and blushed, turning away. James' grin widened. He shot a triumphant glance at Sirius Black, who was currently standing beside him, arms folded over chest.
"Well..." Lily pretended to think about it. "I suppose, Potter, but as nothing more than friends. If anything of you touches me I will hex it off."
James just bowed. "As my lady wishes."
Lily blushed again, turning once again and starting torward the distant town. When her back was turned James winked at Sirius and muttered "Challenge accepted," under his breath, just loud enough for Snape to hear. Sirius grinned wildly.
They both set off after Lily, stomping over Snape and crushing his weak bones. Snape could hear their distant laughter as they became closer to the village and farther from Hogwarts.
It was then Snape realized that none of them had even noticed him, and that no one would ever care about what he had to say.
It would never end. No one would care. It would always be like this.
always.
