A/N: Okay, basically this is the first of a bunch of random, disconnected blurbies about Lily and Severus, only it's far more ideal (in the sense that James Potter drowns in a lake or something and Lily and Sev live happily ever after.) Hope you enjoy!

"Sev! Sev, I need to show you something!" a familiar voice called, eager and excited. Severus turned and saw Lily pelting up the corridor toward him, beaming, her dark red hair flowing behind her. It was hard to hold back a smile.

"Problem?" Severus asked once Lily had reached him, putting on a vaguely amused expression.

"Oh shut up, Sev, you need to see what I made… I've been trying for weeks and I only just got it!" Lily said, breathless. Severus already had a pretty good idea what Lily was talking about, but followed her nevertheless.

They were in the middle of their fifth year; a dreary mix of rain and snow lashed against the stained-glass windows, making the mood inside the castle less than cheery. But nothing could dampen Lily Evans's attitude – except, perhaps, the ever-arrogant James Potter. The weather didn't whisk away her smile, or the sparkle in her green eyes, or the musical tinkle of her laughter. It was one of the many things Severus loved about Lily – optimistic, cheerful, kind Lily.

"Come on, come on!" Lily laughed as they descended a tightly winding staircase. Excitement was bubbling up inside her; for ages she had tried to make this potion, ever since Professor Slughorn suggested she try it. It wasn't until this morning she had managed, and the second she realized she had done it she had run for the person that would appreciate it the most.

Well, maybe not right that second. After all, the potion's unusual effects were enough to stall anyone.

Deeper and deeper into the castle they went, until Lily led him through a passage pretending to be a wall and they emerged into the Potions corridor in the dungeons. Severus smiled – this was where he felt at home, in the dungeons with Lily.

Lily ran ahead to the classroom Professor Slughorn always let her practice in. Severus ran after her, and the second he stepped in the room he got a face full of bliss. A flowery scent, like lavender but sweeter… of a forest with nearby water… the smell of gravel and rust, of the tiny playground in his hometown… they were the smells of Lily, and instantly he knew what she had made.

"Amortentia," Severus breathed, still inhaling the scent greedily. Lily beamed and nodded, her red locks bouncing.

"It took ages, but I got up this morning and thought to myself, this is the day, Lily, and came right down here… and as soon as I was done I came right to you!" she said proudly.

For a moment the two of them stared down into the gently simmering cauldron, the smell of Lily swathing Severus and making him a little light-headed. "What do you smell?" Lily asked quietly.

Severus hesitated. "Lavender… and water lilies," he said after a moment, hoping desperately that Lily would catch the hint. "And home, the park where we first met," he added, though as soon as the words were out of his mouth he regretted it. He eyed her apprehensively, waiting on her reply. Lily was looking at him with those almond-shaped eyes, the ones he loved so much. "What… what do you…?" Severus asked tentatively.

Lily's lips actually formed the word you, and already the rest of the words were swelling inside her, she was ready to burst and tell Sev everything… and then the classroom door opened and Professor Slughorn walked in.

"I say, I thought I smelled whiskey!" he said, chortling. Lily snapped her mouth shut, turning red, and Severus's face grey stony. "Miss Evans, I see you've finally succeeded in making Amortentia!" he boomed, looking happily from the cauldron to Lily. "And a year below grade level too… twenty points to Gryffindor, I'd say!"

Lily smiled bashfully. "Thank-you, Professor," she said, though in reality she wanted nothing more than for Slughorn to leave. With a sideways glance at Severus, she added, "But I really don't think I could have done it without Sev, he helped."

"Oho!" Slughorn said, turning to Severus. The boy's black eyes flicked to Lily, questioning. Slughorn clapped Severus on the shoulder. "Fine job to both of you then! Ten points to our own Slytherin then, eh Severus?" he said in his loud voice.

"Uh, Professor, have you marked those moonstone essays yet?" Severus said quickly. "Only, I'm not sure if I did any good, see, what with all this work for our OWLs."

"Oho!" Slughorn said again. "You're right, dear boy, I should be getting on with those… though I doubt either of you have anything to worry about, you're my best students!" With an affectionate pat on the shoulder for each of them, Slughorn lumbered across the classroom and into his office.

Lily and Severus were silent for a moment. Severus was burning to ask Lily again, he was aching to know what she smelled, but he knew it would be tactless to push her. "D'you want to go to the library or -"

"You," Lily blurted.

There was silence, except for the soft burbling of the potion between them. Severus's heart was doing stunning acrobatics in his chest, but his face betrayed no emotion but shock. Lily had turned crimson, staring determinedly at the floor and biting her lip the way she always did when she was nervous or embarrassed.

"Library," Lily said after an eternity, her voice choked. She turned towards the door but suddenly Severus's arm shot out, grabbing hers, pulling her across the table. Lily leaned over and through the cloud of Severus's scent, while Severus leaned forwards through a cloud of Lily, and they met in the middle.

A rush of triumph coursed through Severus. In Lily there was only shock – overjoyed, ecstatic shock. They came apart for a moment, their faces still close together and engulfed in each other's scent. Severus's black eyes locked onto Lily's green ones, and a small smile spread across both faces. Lily leaned forwards and pressed her lips to Sev's again, fireworks exploding and dancing inside her.

The door to Slughorn's office opened and the man waddled out, clutching both the "O" grade papers of Lily and Severus. He paused in the doorway and stared at the teenagers for a moment, neither of whom took any notice of him. Then, smiling to himself, he backed up into his office again and closed the door silently.