Disclaimer: Don't own HP.

It's almost Christmas and I'm currently super obsessed with Harry Potter. Again.

Hope you enjoy :)

Lily was walking down a corridor. That seemed ominous. It was less ominous that she was reading Pride and Prejudice. Barely anyone was still in the castle for Christmas this year. She herself hadn't wanted to go home and face Petunia.

Potter had gone home, thank Merlin! Black had insisted he spend the holidays with his family after Remus announced he was staying. The part of the conversation she'd overheard had gone something like this:

"Well I'm staying this Christmas. My Dad's caught the flu and might have given it to Mum. They don't want to chance me getting sick considering how often I'm ill anyway."

"That's brilliant, Moony! Er, not the your parents being ill part, I hope they get better soon. But this means we can finally get rid of Prongs!"

"I'm sitting right here you know."

"Oh shut up! You know you're my best mate but you should be with your family for the Christmas hols. You're leaving, it's final!"

"Did you seriously just order me to leave?"

"Yes, I did. It'll be good for me to stay here with Remus and his books. You are a terrible influence on me James Potter!"

"I'm a terrible influence on you?"

"The two of you are terrible influences on each other. And on me. And on everyone else whose path you cross."

"You're the terrible influence on us, Moony! You keep trying to make us study!"

Black had been getting far too dramatic at that point with the exaggerated shudder so Lily had stopped paying attention. As she was doing now. She was so absorbed in her book she wasn't watching where she was going and almost fell on her backside when she collided with something. Or someone.

"Ow!" two voices said.

She looked up and saw a dark head of hair bending down to pick up the book the person must have dropped.

"Watch where you're go…" he started grumbling after he'd straightened up, voice trailing off as their eyes met.

"Well it's not like you were paying attention either!" she snapped, clutching her book tighter. She noticed Snape was doing the same.

"I'm sorry, Lily." he said quietly.

That took her by surprise. They hadn't spoken in ages and she never heard him be polite to anyone any more. Not that he was that polite to begin with.

"I… I'm sorry too. I should have been looking where I was going."

"I should have been as well." he said quickly.

They stared at each other awkwardly for a while.

"Um… so I should, er, get going." It wasn't like Snape to stumble over his words.

"Me too."

They did the awkward sort of dance where two people didn't know which way to go but eventually managed to walk past each other.

Lily made it a few meters before biting her lip and turning around. What could it hurt?

"Snape!" she shouted.

He turned around and raised an eyebrow at her, looking hopeful.

"Severus," she amended. "merry Christmas."

He did what for Severus could be considered a smile. "Merry Christmas, Lily."

She smiled back slightly before turning around again and continuing the walk back to Gryffindor Tower. With the book closed this time.

Well, she thought to herself, it was Christmas.

It didn't mean she had to be nice to Black though.