Snape was barely visible in the small yard, with his black hair and black cloak; he blended in with the dark sky. Music floated to him softly from inside the festive little house. He hated the sound. Inside there, a large group of witches and wizards are celebrating the marriage of Lilly Evans and James Potter.

Snape warned himself not to come. He knew it'd do him no good, but he convinced himself that any negative consequences would be worth the risk if he could only see how beautiful Lily looks in a wedding dress…

But as he stepped toward the nearest window to peak inside, someone shouted a curse and he fell, paralyzed, onto his back.

Snape could only look up. The pretty face of Sirius Black came into view. Black looked down at him, then, turned his attention to someone else in the yard.

"Go get James," he said. There was a sound of someone scurrying away. From the heavy footsteps, Snape assumed it was Pettigrew.

For a while, Snape simply looked up at the starless sky and damned himself for letting Sirius curse him.

He heard some voices and then he was free. He could move again. Snape felt relief, but this feeling was quickly overcome by hate and disgust as he saw James Potter drawing near.

"Yours is the last face I hoped to see tonight, Snivellus," James spat.

Snape was on his feet. James's wand was pointed at his chest. He withdrew his wand in return, but was there to be a duel, Snape knew he'd be out numbered. Black and Pettigrew were on either side of him, ready to curse, and Lupin stood, cross armed, behind James.

"Evening, Potter. I see you still rely on having your buddies around, instead of risking facing me alone."

"Risk?" laughed James, "I could kill you right now."

"That'd make Lily rather sad," said Snape calmly.

"why would you care! I thought she was just a mudblood to you!" roared James.

"Any woman would be upset to learn her husband is a murder, or that her former friend was savagely killed."

"She'd be happy," said James, "to know that there is one less Death Eater in the world."

Snape glared at the wizard and wanted nothing more then to kill him. Actually, there is one thing he wanted a lot more….

"I've come to see Lily," said Snape. He hadn't planned out talking to her, but she'd learn, eventually, that he had come. Might as well hear her voice.

"Never," said James.

But it didn't matter what James said, because the next moment Lily came strolling into the yard.

"James? There you are! What are you doing…"

Silence.

And then, "What is he doing here?"

Snape couldn't form words. The sight of Lily standing there, white dressed and perfect, left him speechless.

"He says he came to talk to you," said Lupin.

"Okay, then talk," Lily said, glaring at Snape.

"… Alone," said Snape.

For a moment she said nothing. "Okay, boys, go back inside."

"Lily," said James. Then he turned away from Snape to face her. "I'm not leaving you alone with him."

"I can take care of myself," she said, and her word was final. Then, Snape watched her pull out her wand. She did it so confidently that it reminded him how much he loves her.

Snape looked away when James bent down and kissed Lilly's lips. Then, all the Marauders left, leaving Snape and his love alone.

"What is it? What do you have to say that's so important?" asked Lily, anger in her voice.

"I'm sorry." The words flew out, because he had nothing else to say.

For an eternity-long five seconds, Lily just stared at him stone-faced. Then, the sides of her mouth twisted into a smile. The next thing he knew, she was laughing.

"That's what you came over here to say? That's what you called me away from my reception for?" She didn't sound angry or happy either. She just sounded… amused.

"I know you're sorry. And I can forgive you for calling me a mudblood, but I can't forgive you for becoming a Death Eater, Sev. I'll never be okay with you working for Him."

Snape opened his mouth to say something. Then he closed it again.

"Is there anything else?" Lily asked.

"I'm a member of the Order Of the Phoenix." The lie came to him instantly. "I'm a double agent, working for Dumbledore. I just thought you should know."

Her face brightened instantly, "really?"

His head did a jerky nod, and then Lily dove into him. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, squeezed him tight, and buried her face into his neck. "I'm so happy to hear that, Sev."

Snape hugged her back. He felt bad for lying, he really did. But he swore then that by the time Lily returned from the honey moon, he'd be a member of the Order.