Severus had been waiting for this moment. Ever since he met her, he knew that he would ask her. If ever he needed a moment to redeem himself, now was his chance. Lily had been angry at him for temporarily cursing the ridiculous James Potter, but in hindsight, thought Snape, he very much deserved it. What on earth did she see in him anyway? Lovely Lily, he supposed, always accounting for other's misfortunes. Nevertheless, he would make peace with her.
He found her in The Great Hall. There, with her fiery red hair and glowing blue eyes, gosh, she was beautiful. Nervous, but persistent, he whispered a spell under his breath and in his hand grew a bouquet of flowers.
"Lily," he managed to croak. She swung around, slightly irritated by his presence, but the flowers stopped her from making any insulting remark.
"I was wondering…if you would…" his breath halted and suddenly an embarrassing coughing fit overcame him.
"Yes?"
"Um, th-the ball," he spluttered, managing to catch his breath.
"The…what?" honestly, he thought, this really isn't going to plan.
"Would you like to go to the ball with me?" he could feel that the flower stalks were wet, but he clamped them only tighter in his sweaty palm.
Lily was taken aback. The corners of her lips sagged, but her eyes sparkled. He thought she was going to say yes. That was the worst part, because he couldn't help but smile in anticipation.
"I'm sorry, Severus. J-James…asked me, and I said, well…" she stuttered.
"Right." And to add to his embarrassment, he noticed. He caught sight of the drooping flowers, the falling petals, and burst out a horrendous laugh. To this day, Snape still remembered such a dreadful, heart-wrenching cackle. The way Potter pointed at him; registered his blood-red cheeks and tormented him for it.
"It's never going to happen, Snape!" James shouted.
Severus threw the flowers in front of her, although they had magically been reduced to a dead stalk, and flounced down the length of the Great Hall as students roared with laughter at such an embarrassing excuse for a desperately lonely teenage boy.