Thank you to MrsBates93 for beta'ing

It didn't matter that she was sitting underneath a tree; the sun kissed her red hair, making it stand out more than it usually did.

She had her knees pulled up to her chest and her head bent down, probably reading. Her hair fell over her shoulders, covering her face.

He didn't want to disturb her, but he found himself walking over towards her anyway. As he drew closer, he saw that there was no book on the girl's knees and that her hands were tangled in her hair. He sat beside her, gingerly reaching out to touch her arm.

"Lily?"

She looked up; he could see silent tears running down her face, she frantically rubbed them away. "Hey Severus."

"Why are you crying?"

She shook her head. "I don't know," she sniffed. "He makes me so mad, everything he does just annoys me."

"Potter," Severus said, a hint of anger in his voice.

"He's such a pompous, arrogant jerk. He's always running around pulling pranks and he doesn't care who he hurts or upsets in the process. Ugh. He even has me crying over him and I hate that, I hate how he makes me feel guilty for not going out with him. As if I ever would."

Severus took Lily's hand and rubbed her fingers affectionately. "You're too good for him. You deserve someone who makes you feel special and loved."

"Someone like you, you mean?"

And then he was smiling. "Yes." Severus moved closer to her, entwining their fingers together. "I know what Potter does to you. I know he'd only hurt you." He gently lifted Lily's face to look into his eyes. "I would never hurt you Lily, I would never do that to you, and I will never stop loving you."

Lily was smiling too. "You're my best friend," she whispered.

Severus woke up. He blinked a few times and sat up, seeing that he was in his Dormitory.

A dream, it was all just a dream.

He punched the mattress in anger and frustration. He knew the dream would never become a reality; he would never have the courage to tell Lily how he truly felt about her. Even if he did, she would only break his heart by telling him that they were only friends.

He knew that he would never be anything more to her than just her best friend.