I wonder when I first started to feel this way? When I look down Spinner's End and see the black hair of my best friend bouncing along toward me, I get this feeling in the pit of my stomach, like I need to tell him something. But what on earth is it that I need to say?

"Hey Lily!" he says, stepping onto my street at last, a smile set firmly on his face despite the things that were said at school last year.

That's another confusing thing. He called me a mudblood, the worst thing you can call a muggle-born witch or wizard, yet I still consider him my best friend? I smile as well as I can through my thoughts and answer him before he can get suspicious. "Hey Sev."

"You're alright?" he asks, as though he knows I was thinking about that. Or maybe he's thinking about it.

"Yeah. I'm fine. Why?"

I wonder if he realises this is the first time we've spoken since that incident…

"J-just wondering… I mean… I said some pretty awful things last time we spoke…" He flushes a bright red and I almost laugh because it's so cute.

Wait, cute?

When did I start thinking Sev was cute!

"No… It's okay, Severus. I'm fine."

"Okay." He smiles a little easier now and I'm glad. I hope he won't worry about it anymore.

"Why did you call me here?"

"I just… I had something I wanted to say, actually."

"A week before we leave for school? What could possibly be important enough that it couldn't wait?"

"Well… I wanted to tell you… I really like you."

"W-what?"

"I like you, Lily. More than just a best friend would."

"O-oh… Ummm… Severus… I…" I'm not quite sure what I'm supposed to say in this situation, but I feel my face break into a huge smile without me.

"So… I wanted to ask…"

"Stop. Of course I will, Sev." I laugh a little, finally able to place the feeling that had been confusing me before. I hadn't even considered the possibility that it might be love.

"Really?" Sev seems as surprised by my response as I am.

"Yeah. Of course." I smile and take a step forward, giving him a small kiss on the cheek. "So… I'll see you on the train?" I say, backing away again.

"Y-yeah…" Severus smiles wider than I've ever seen before. It looks nice on him, a smile like that.

I smile back and start to turn around to go back home, but am caught by the arm before I can get very far. "Yes?" I ask, turning back toward Severus.

"Thank you." He says before kissing me right on the lips, not something I would have expected from him this soon, but I suppose he really wanted to get those feelings out there.

When he pulls away, I see that he's as red as I am, and just as shocked.

"Good night, Sev." I say, finally able to head back down the street to my own house.

Good night indeed…