Note: deep breath Hokay. So this is my first ever Lily/Severus fic. It's an AU, and a bit of a what-if that popped into my head after reading Deathly Hallows. What if Lily had dumped James and gone with Severus instead? How would have things been different--for both of them? I think these kinds of things have been done before, but I hope mine is a bit different. This first chapter (In Which Lily Says Yes) is shorter--a preview, if you will, to see how people receive it. If people like it, the next chapters will be considerably longer. Feedback is much appreciated and all taken to heart. The title of the fic (Green-Eyed Miracle) is borrowed from Stephen King's novel Lisey's Story, in which there is much talk about "blue-eyed miracles". Each chapter begins with an excerpt song and I include the artist's name, the song title, and the album information

In Which Lily Says Yes

Oh, when you go

It makes me sad

You said, no tricks up your sleeve

Now there's no one else left to leave

And idiots rule the world

And idiots rule the world

I've got no gal

--Ryan Adams, Idiots Rule the World (Suicide Handbook, track 2)

"Hi...hi, Lily. It's me. Severus. Well, er, you probably know me as Snivellus, now. Which is alright, you know. If you want to call me Snivellus, that's fine with me. But if you wouldn't mind asking James and his friends to stop...anyway, that's not why I'm talking to you. I...there's a...a ball...the Yule Ball...coming up, and I was wondering...if you might like to go with me?"

Severus Snape tugged at the edge of his dress robes and glared, scanning the throngs of couples and friends for Lily. There she was—cramped into the very back corner of the Great Hall with James Potter and his stupid friends. He noted—with no small satisfaction—that she looked about as miserable as he felt.

See, Snivellus?See what you get for not asking her? Now she's with James Potter, stupid bloody James bloody Potter, and she's as angry about it as you are.

"Shut up," he said to himself, ignoring the stares of other students. "Shut up. You had your chance, and you didn't take it. So you can't complain anymore."

Not that that had ever stopped Severus. He shot another glare in the direction of the Hufflepuff girls who were staring unabashedly at him, mumbled something about Hufflepuffs being Mudblood scum, cursed himself for thinking of them like that when his beloved was a Muggle-born and one of the most talented witches he'd ever known, when he himself wasn't even of purest blood, and stalked away to lurk in the shadows near where Lily and the Marauders sat, already engaged in conversation.

"Are we going to do it?" James was asking. "I still think it'd be bloody hilarious."

"And I still think it would be bloody cruel," Lily piped. "How you could treat another human being like that, James, I don't know."

"Aw, c'mon, Lil." James kissed the top of her head, she pulled away. "He's not a human being, he's just ol' Snivellus Snape."

Severus resisted the temptation to step out of his hiding place and deck that stupid bloody prat in the face. He knew Lily would stand up for him—she always did. There was a pause, awkward laughter from the other Marauders, and then, "He's more of a human being than you'll ever be, James Potter," and Lily stalked away. There were catcalls and jeers and "We-eeeeel, looks like you got yourself an independent woman!" from Sirius, and Severus slipped from his hiding place and went to find Lily.

She was sitting near the refreshment table, deep in conversation with Professor Slughorn. When she saw Severus, she smiled at him and said, "Excuse me, Professor," patting the seat next to her. Severus sat down, smiling gratefully back at her. "Thanks for defending me," he said quietly, staring down at her shoes, which were blue and embroidered and really quite pretty. "I like your shoes."

She laughed a little and reached to touch his shoulder, which caused Severus's heart to start pounding hard in his chest. "Thanks," she said brightly, and then, in a darker tone, "I hate him. They were planning to disrobe you in front of everyone, and then steal your robes so you couldn't get them back. They're horrible, stupid gits, and I don't know why I agreed to go on a date with him. He's...he's nothing but a bully, Severus, and I'm sorry. Is there anything I can do...anything to make you understand that I really do care about you?"

Severus was convinced he'd past red and moved on to purple, but he managed to keep his eyes trained on hers. "There is one thing you could do," he said nervously.

"Yes?"

"Would you dance with me? And make sure that James and his friends don't, er, disrobe me?"

Lily laughed, her sweet burbly laugh. "Severus, I would be honoured."