"I don't need help from-"

The words tumbled from his mouth before the dreadful realisation of what he was about to say hit him like the curses he and Potter often threw at each other. Severus paused, concentrating his will in order to calm down and not let any more of the foul words pour out.

'I don't need help from filthy little Mudbloods like her', the thought echoed faintly through his mind like a drop of venom splashing in a caudron.

Would he really do such a thing? Call his best friend a Mudblood of all things? Severus shuddered. How had he let such a thought worm its way to his brain and almost to his lips? He was disgusted with himself. To call her such a name, and in front of her, not that it would matter any. He could not bear the possibility of him insulting her like that, whether she heard it or not.

"I don't need help from anyone", he managed.

Still shaking from the shock and shame, he felt around, trying to find his wand. Finally his fingers clutched it and he pushed himself up, glaring at the gathered crowd. Always ready for a show, weren't they. Their jeers "Snivellus Greasy" filled the air, causing Severus to curl his lip in derision. Five years and they still hadn't come up with anything more original. No matter. They would pay now for all the humiliation. He noticed that some of them were already pointing their wands at him. He would still take down more than one, of that he was certain.

Just as he prepared to conjure his signature curse, Lily barreled through the students, shoving Potter and Black aside, and rushed to him, clutching his shoulders.

"Sev, are you alright?", she panted. "Please tell me you're not hurt!"

Severus saw Potter gawk, his eyes bulging like those of a house elf. But then suddenly Lily was all he had eyes for, separated from the rest as if by a veil. He honestly wondered how she was sharing a universe with scum like Potter and Black. Or, for that matter, himself.

"I'm fine, Lily, thanks", he muttered, "there is no need-"

He tried to tell Lily that she didn't have to sully her reputation by defending him in public, but Potter's sneer interrupted him:

"There, Evans, for once I agree with the greasy git, he's fine on his own."

"Brave man you are, Potter", she shot back, "bullying people, four against one, the epitome of House Gryffindor. You'll leave him alone or you'll deal with me."

"Oh, Evans, some on", the bespectacled Gryffindor continued sleazily, "don't tell me you have it in yourself to stand up for old Snivelly. I mean he is miserable, no denying that, but to act like this just because you pity him..."

He had to say it, didn't he. Severus ground his teeth. The prat. And right he was - Lily was only doing this out of pity. That was the best Severus could hope to ever receive from her, anyway. But to hear his sentence from James Potter's mouth and in front of the girl he loved was unbearable. He dipped his head and closed his eyes, wishing to sink into the ground. To become blind and deaf so as to not hear Lily's confirmation, and invisible. Would that he had an invisibility cloak now, like the one Potter and company used so often to terrorise him.

A loud, resounding smack caused him to look up. The owner of the cloak in question was clutching his cheek, shifting his weight from one leg to the other as Lily had whirled, facing him, and was now pinning him in place with a murderous stare.

"His name", she said icily, punctuating every word, "is Severus. He is my friend and I'll have you know, Potter, that standing up for their friends is what normal people do in this world. Of course I do not expect you to know that by yourself, because you have no real friends, only idiots like you who just follow you around because you play Quidditch, ruffle your hair and hex people for fun. Pick on my friend again and I will personally make sure you can never fly a broom for the rest of your life."

All the students were standing still, listening to her deceptively quiet tone, and no one dared to break the stunned silence which followed.

"What are you looking at, all of you?", Lily's voice was five octaves higher now. "GET LOST! NOW!"

One by one they obeyed, terrified by seeing the normally calm and cheerful Gryffindor prefect so furious that she was wailing like a banshee. Potter finally moved to leave the scene as well, looking utterly dejected and leaning on Black for support as if he was physically hurt. The prat had some nerve. He had to make a sham out of it, didn't he. Always looking for attention. Though for a brief moment their eyes met and Severus saw a flash of something beyond mere indignation. If he didn't know any better, he would say the git was sincerely ashamed of himself. But he banished the thought, wishing to waste no brain power on James Potter. Lily was there, with him, and if there was anything he wanted right now, it was to take her in his arms and kiss her and bask in her presence. Yet somehow Severus sensed indignation simmering inside him, like a snake hissing in defeat. He had looked so powerless in front of Lily, helpless, weak. How was he to ever touch her or tell her what he felt if she made him look so pathetic merely by being there?

He was still standing with his head bowed, unable to look at Lily and hiding his face beneath jet black locks. A surge of satisfaction coursed through him as he thought of Potter walking away in defeat. Lily's tone was the same vindictive one she had used before, when she had tried to convince him to abandon the companionship of Avery and Mulciber. Finally she was seeing them for the rotten bullies they were, finally she was taking his side, standing together with him. But in the shadow of his triumph, guilt started to creep. How was he himself worth Lily's effort if he would call her something so revolting, had she not declared their friendship for all to hear?

"Sev", Lily's voice, now worried, pulled him out of his grim thoughts. "Sev, why are you not saying anything? Are you cross with me? I only wanted to help."

"Lily", Severus said, gazing into her emerald eyes which never failed to mesmerise him. "I could never be cross with you. I-"

I love you, he wanted to tell her, but felt that after what he had almost said, it was anything but appropriate. Before he knew what he was doing, Severus lifted his arms and put them around the girl's waist in a clumsy, hesitant embrace. Then he froze, biting his lip in panic. He was most certainly not supposed to be doing something like this. What if Lily got scared by their proximity, or worse, deduced his feelings for her? Severus was absolutely convinced that whatever happened between them, his friend would never care for him the same way he did for her. Most likely she would run away in horror and never want to look at him again. He had to conceal his feelings until they died away, though Severus was doubtful that they ever would. So as much as he pained him, he started to withdraw, feeling like he had stolen that moment of closeness.

"Th- Thank you, Lily", he stammered, blushing. He hadn't thought that further embarrassment was possible, yet was again being proved wrong.

Not half a second later, he felt himself being pulled to Lily as she wrapped her hands around his neck. Severus' breath stopped. It wasn't possible. It was a dream. He was being hugged back. By Lily Evans no less, the girl he was in love with. Friends though they were, rarely if ever had he dared to be so close to her, for fear he might fall apart. Severus was overwhelmed with happiness, he, the filthy and unclean, being touched by that angelic being. All the same, he gave in to the sensation of the girl's body so close to his own that he was certain she was feeling his heart thumping wildly, as if to break his ribs.

Finally, after what seemed an eternity, at least to him, Lily released the boy, though keeping her hands on his arms.

"Anytime, Sev", she beamed. "Now, I have some doubts about what I wrote at the OWLs, care to discuss?"

So that's what it was. Just a friendly hug. What had he been thinking? Lily would never be attracted to the likes of him. Severus mentally berated himself. Every second spent with her was a moment of perfection to cherish and appreciate.

"Come on", the girl elbowed him in the chest. "Second one to the lake shore is a Crumple-Horned Snorkack!"

Crumple-Horned Snorkack. Severus snorted. Wherever had she picked that up? Sounded an awful lot like the ramblings of that creature-obsessed unkempt weirdo, Xenophilius Lovegood. Regardless, it didn't seem to be a title he was eager to earn. Severus chuckled and raced after Lily.