Disclaimer: I do not own any of JKR's magnificent make-believe world; I just want to be part of it.

Look At Me

The hot sun shone down on Hogwarts that lovely May afternoon and every student decided to spend the weekend outside with their friends. Most students went swimming in the lake, splashing each other to a cooler temperature. Having no friends of his own, twelve-year-old Severus Snape leaned his back against a nearby tree and studied for exams. The itchy bark and his sweaty robes were not the only factors causing him discomfort – he could see Lily Evans getting friendly in the lake with her fellow Gryffindors.

Severus could not take his eyes off of the group of them. He needed a distraction, so he slid his hand through his long, black hair and kept on studying. His greasy mane was harder to control, due to the sweat trickling from his brow. It also demonstrated just how nervous he was. Lily had always been the closest thing he had to a friend, but the others...

"Snivillus!" the tallest of the boys shouted as he placed his glasses at the edge of his nose.

Severus' voice quivered. "What do you want, Potter?"

James Potter stood upright and made his way toward Severus, followed by three other boys and Lily. All of them were wearing bathing suits in various shades of red. "What are you doing all on your own, mate? Got no friends?"

The three boys laughed along with their leader. Lily gasped as she slid back into her robes. "Leave him alone, James!"

"Leave him alone? I'm providing him with valuable company! Snivillus will remember this moment as the most human contact he's ever had!"

Severus couldn't hide his depression any longer. Tears filled his eyes but refused to fall. He quickly wiped them away with his sleeve, hoping James and his friends wouldn't notice. They did. "Look James," the one named Sirius called. "Snivillus is crying!"

"What's wrong Snivilly? You crying for your mummy?"

"Stop it, Peter!" Lily cried, using what little strength she possessed to try and pull the boys away from their prey. "Please, just leave Severus..."

"Severus?" James mocked, pulling his wand from his swim trunks. "Lily, do you feel bad for Snivillus, here?" She hesitated – too long. "That's what I thought. James sneered and flicked his wand at Severus, causing his hand to reach up and slap its owner.

"Stop hitting yourself!" James cackled, moving his wand side to side. Severus' hand followed.

"Stop it!" Severus' prepubescent voice whined. "Sto-ahp!"

"James! Cut it..." Lily shouted and knocked the wand from his hand. "...Out."

"Fine, Lil. Go hang out with the wimpy wittle Seve-wuss!" The four boys laughed loudly, as did the audience they'd attracted.

Severus looked hopefully at Lily. She grabbed him by his arm and tugged him away from the mocking second years. He had to grasp his bag quickly or it would have easily been left behind.

When they finally stopped running, the pair of them sat down on a lone step in a secluded corridor; they were both out of breath and feeling awful about what they'd just experienced.

"Thanks Lily."

"I had to do something," she sighed and fixed her robes. "James is horrible."

He nodded slowly. "Well, thank you."

Lily pushed her wavy, red hair out of her face and turned to Severus. "Are you okay?"

His hooked nose stay pointed to the ground. "I'll be fine."

"Listen," she placed her hand delicately on his shoulder. "Look." He didn't want to – he felt too embarrassed. "Severus, look at me." His eyes locked with hers and his heart skipped a beat. Her eyes were spectacular – green, speckled with brown – home to warmth and comfort. "I will always be here for you."

"Thanks, Lily – me too." She wrapped him in her arms and they both sighed. Lily smelled like lavender and vanilla, and Severus wished he didn't ever have to let go.