Watching
He watches her out of the corner of his eyes.
He watches as Potter sidles up to her with a smarmy look on his face, his hand outstretched to stroke her hair. He watches as she leans into Potter's arms, smiling. He watches as the intelligent, self-possessed look, she wears when alone, disappears. He watches as Potter rushes off, without a backwards glance towards the Quidditch pitch, leaving his flame-haired girlfriend to trail behind.
As he watches, indecision flickers in those piercing green eyes and he decides it is time to strike. He moves closer. "I've been watching you," he murmurs, reverently.
Lily blinks, faintly flattered but also faintly disturbed. "Severus, is it not?" she tilts her head back and looks up at the Slytherin who towers over her.
He inclines his head. She does not say his name with fear and for this he is glad for even the teachers now whisper his name. Silently, he holds out his arm.
Hesitation. Lily stares at the proffered arm. Consequences. One does not take the arm of a Death Eater lightly. Lily wonders what James would say. She breathes in slowly and takes his arm.
He smiles, a gentle smile that shocks her. He does not stroke her hair. He does not run off with his friends, leaving her alone. He has no other friends. He does not take her for granted.
His attentive gaze never leaves her face as they walk down to the Quidditch pitch together. A hush falls over the crowd as they enter.
Lily winces. She can feel James' gaze upon her back. Accusing. Hurtful. Surprised. Angry. She wonders whether she should let go of Severus' arm and run away. Instead, she tightens her grip, lifts her chin and walks on.
Severus smiles down at her and she smiles back. Their smiles warm each other against the cold frosty gazes of their fellow classmates.
High up over the Quidditch pitch, James Potter watches this. He watches as Severus Snape leans in and kisses his girlfriend in front of the entire school. He watches Lily blush and for a second there is hope. For that split second, James hopes that she will pull away and run back to him like she has always done.
But Lily doesn't. She merely pulls herself up straight and surveys the school with the arrogance of a Slytherin. And then, with a smile on her lips, she turns and kisses Severus back.