It was Severus' fourth school year. He watched the other pupils meet their friends and enjoying the weather. It was very warm for an April day.

His eyes looked around the school ground and finally landed on one certain redhaired girl. She was sitting with her friends at the sea. Severus could her them laugh.

He suddenly wished he could sit there beside them, laughing about some stuff and holding Lily's hand. It was impossible, though. She was his friend, yes. But she had no idea how important she was to Severus. He couldn't tell her. She was the only real friend he'd ever had.

A shout made him look up. Of course it was James Potter. Severus couldn't stand him, since their first day of school when he tried to flirt with Lily, even though she was sad and didn't want anyone around her. Except for him, Severus thought. She had been sad about her sister Petunia's behavior, which was absolutely understandable. Severus couldn't stand Petunia either.

He realized there were many people he couldn't stand. But he could stand Lily.

Now she looked up and actually waved at him. Severus pointed at himself to ask if she meant him. She nodded and smiled.

Severus moved over to them and sat down. Lily's friends watched him suspicously; they were some of the people Severus couldn't stand. They were too girlish. And they made fun of him when he wasn't around. Lily had told him, and she said that she didn't approve. She did care for him.

One of the girls turned towards him. "You are Severus Snape, aren't you?" she asked in an arrogant way. Severus just nodded. The girl's eyebrows rose and she said quietly to Lily, but too loud for Severus to overhear: "Why are you even hanging out with him? He's so..."

"Shut up" he heard Lily say. "He's nice, sweet and certainly not a arrogant prat such as James Potter over there."

She pointed at he blackhaired boy and grimaced.

Her friend shrugged. "Whatever. But look at the Snape boy's hair, it's greasy and messy." "So is James Potter's", Lily snapped. "Would you please stop talking about him like this? It's annoying."

Severus felt his face flush and turned away so nobody could see it.

Carefully he touched his hair and realized, blushing even more, that his hair was greasy. He should wash it more often.

The girls talked about some exams they had passed and Severus stopped listening.

He was surprised when they suddenly stood up. "Where are you going?", he asked. One of the girls answered. "Back to school. Got to study."

They took their stuff and turned towards the school. Severus looked at Lily. She glanced at him, apologizing.

"See you then, Sev", she said, too quietly for the others to overhear. Severus nodded. "See you." Lily gave him a smile. "And by the way: I think your hair looks cute today." She touched his cheek shortly and turned around.

Severus watched her join the others and go up to school. He softly laid a hand on his cheek and then he started smiling, first slightly, then brightly.