A.N. Ok, so I had started writing a Snape/Lily fic before book seven, but I wasn't counting on it becoming canon. I had to scrap it and start again. This is what I wrote instead.

A.N.2. I know Snape's a bit nice in this, and a bit too willing to give in to Lily, but he's not yet been destroyed by her marrying James Potter, the cruel bastard who made his life hell. I honestly have no idea why she would ever do that. So Jo: Fine, give Potter the magical ability, the popularity, the sports ability, the friends, the money, the parents. I'm giving Severus Lily, just to balance out the universe.

Dedication: For everyone who has ever had to put up with a James Potter.

Disclaimer: I am confiscating Harry Potter from Jo until she regains her sanity and stops being so damned mean to poor Snape.

After 'Snape's worst memory'.


Severus and Lily were walking side by side along the edge of the lake. Severus was kicking stones moodily into the water. Lily looked miserably at him occasionally, sighed and continued walking in silence. Eventually Severus muttered 'Listen, sorry about calling you a Mudblood before. That bastard Lucius was watching. He's got a thing about muggleborns at the moment. He's joined some club against them, or something. He'd have cursed me if I'd let you help me'. Lily nodded gloomily 'I thought it'd be something like that. It's not that big a deal. I didn't even know what one was before I started here, it just sounds silly really. Actually, if anything it's funny how seriously Potter took it'.

Severus looked at her with a raised eyebrow. 'Funny? So you didn't see the bit where he choked me on soap bubbles?'. 'Oh' Lily looked ashamed 'I forgot. Sorry, Sev'. He grunted and continued kicking angrily at stones until they reached a grassy patch under a large oak tree, where they flopped down and dumped their rucksacks. Severus laid back and stared at the gorgeous blue sky through the leaves. Lily copied him, resting her head on his chest and idly making pictures out of the fluffy white clouds. It was rare to have such good weather this far north even in the height of summer, so when they got some, they didn't waste it. Despite common belief, Severus rather liked sunshine.

Lily allowed herself a small smile at how peaceful they were now. They had both finished their last exam, but had another few days before the summer holidays, of nothing but free periods and (hopefully) nice weather. Her upper torso was rising and falling as Severus breathed deeply and slowly. He was absent-mindedly stroking her hair, occasionally twisting a lock of it around his finger without looking. Lily would quite happily have passed the rest of her Hogwarts years like this. She refused to let herself think of moving, until another thought forced its way into her reluctant mind.

She frowned at the idea, and raised herself to look at Severus. He sat up, startled. 'Lily? What's wrong?' he asked concernedly, noticing her grimace. 'I'll do it' she said, not looking at him. 'Sorry? You'll do what? Have you been daydreaming again, Lily? You have to let me know if you've had a random idea, I can't just know about it'. Lily shook her head. 'No, it's not that…wait, aren't you a legimens?' she asked. Severus shrugged 'Yeah. But I thought it'd be rude to pry without asking'. Lily smiled at him briefly. 'Aw, Sev. Anyway, um, I had a point. What was it…oh yeah. You know what Potter said earlier?'. Severus scowled 'Which bit?'.

'The bit where he was harassing me again. He said he'd stop attacking you if I went out with him. Well, I'll do it. One date with that toe-rag's got to be better than you ending up in the hospital wing twice a week'. Severus looked horrified. 'Lily, you're mad. And not in the good usual way. Trust me, I'm not worth it. I'll put up with a few broken bones and there's plenty of me without scars still. I'm fine'. Lily shook her head stubbornly. 'He's a complete bastard, but he's a Gryffindor, I know he'd keep his promise. One evening in Hogsmeade can't be that bad. Besides, he's a pureblood; he's got pots of money. I get a great dinner; you get to walk the corridors without looking behind you every few steps. And I know you'd do the same for me'.

Severus looked slightly sick. 'You think I'd date Potter for you? You're over-estimating me, Lily'. She giggled. 'No, oh, you know what I mean. Anyway, it's not your decision. I'd be a terrible friend if I didn't do all I can to help you'. Severus leaned against the trunk of the tree in despair. 'Lily, don't be stupid. You're a great friend. And it's not worth it. He threatened to curse you today! What makes you think he'd be a gentleman? Apart from anything else, his mate Black's bound to have taught him something, and you know what his reputation's like' he said darkly.

Lily sighed. 'He's a Gryffindor. You're judging him by Slytherin standards. We don't mistreat our housemates, no matter what else we're willing to sink to. He'll be good'. Severus still looked sceptical. 'Come on, admit it, it's a brilliant idea. And ok, he's an evil git, but it's one date and you're free. Besides, he's not bad looking if you ignore the whole personality thing. I've always had a soft spot for black-haired boys' she smiled cheekily, giving Severus' long locks a gentle tug. He blushed, his pale cheeks staining light pink, then sighed deeply. 'You're determined to do this, aren't you? The Giant Squid will be disappointed' he said in a resigned tone. 'Yup' nodded Lily cheerfully.

Severus nodded glumly. 'Fine. One date. Ugh, I'd be happier if he was going out with my teenaged daughter'. Lily grinned at him, confused. 'You don't have kids'. Severus rolled his eyes. 'I know I don't. But when I do, I'd be happier if he was taking her out than you'. Lily smiled at him. 'Aw. What do you reckon she'd look like?'. Severus shook his head, startled 'Um, who?'. Lily swatted his head, mock-impatiently. 'Your daughter, of course'. 'Oh, right'. He was used to rather obscure discussions with Lily. 'Well, I don't know. I've never thought. What do you think she'd look like?' he asked. Lily looked thoughtful for a moment, then announced 'I hope she has your eyes, for her sake. And your hands. And your brains. But she'll get those from me, anyway. She'll be brilliant at potions, won't she?'.

'I'm sorry, what?' gulped Severus. Lily looked at him. 'I said she'd be great at potions. Come on, Sev, don't be modest' she glanced at her watch 'Oh, god, it's half eight! We've missed dinner! No wonder I'm hungry. We'll raid the kitchens. Last one to the castle's got to support the opposing Quidditch team on Saturday!'. She grabbed her rucksack and was running before it landed on her back. Having no wish to wear red in the upcoming Slytherin-Gryffindor match, Severus did likewise and tore after her. They were both laughing and out of breath by the time they got to the warm light of the Great Hall.

Unfortunately, as they were sprinting along the corridor to the kitchens they heard the step of a group coming in the opposite direction. The Marauders were laden with Butterbeers, presumably to celebrate the end of the OWLs. Upon spotting Severus, Potter and Black shoved their bottles into Lupin and Pettigrew's arms, malicious grins spreading over their faces. 'Alright, Snivellus?' growled Black, drawing his wand. Severus sighed and whipped his wand out too. At least it was two against one this time. Better than the usual four against one, anyway.

James looked less cheerful. 'Why the Hell do you hang out with this greasy bastard, Evans? You know what he called you earlier, don't you?'. Lily smiled sweetly 'I'd rather be called a Mudblood than a…what was it? A perfectly screwable piece of ass'. Potter scowled. 'Why are you all messed up, anyway?' he said suspiciously. 'Because we've been shagging wildly all afternoon, Potter. I'm surprised you didn't hear us, actually. I was pretty loud' she smirked. Severus blushed and groaned as he was hit with a slashing curse across his jaw. 'We were running, Potter' he spat, brushing the blood away with his sleeve 'Now move'.

'Don't be bloody stupid, Snivellus. Shut him up, Padfoot' said Potter, rolling his eyes. Black grinned and placed a full body-bind on Severus. The blood tickled as it dripped off his chin. 'Now, Evans' said Potter in what he clearly believed to be a suave tone 'You only have to say the word. Place, date and time. You know you want to'. Lily glanced at Severus, whose collar was beginning to stain red. The sight toughened her resolve. 'Hogsmeade, tomorrow, eight PM'. Potter blinked, surprised. 'Really?' he asked, excitedly running a hand through his hair. She nodded. A huge grin broke over Potter's face and Black slapped him on the back. 'But' exclaimed Lily 'You have to leave Severus alone. That includes your friends too. One hex, one mean word, and it's off. I hear of you doing one single thing to him and you're dead to me. Got it?'

Potter rolled his eyes but nodded. Black growled. Potter nudged him in the ribs and he nodded too, albeit somewhat unwillingly. Lily blushed when he muttered 'You'd better get laid out of this' to Potter, taking the curse off Severus. They left, Potter jabbering madly about what he would wear and where he would take her, oh Merlin, he had less than twenty-four hours to prepare! Lily dashed over to Severus and ran her fingertips lightly over the cut. Her face crumpled 'Oh, Sev, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that. I just wanted to upset him. He's so damned arrogant'. Severus grasped her hand and held it away from his face. 'It's nothing. His expression was brilliant, I have to admit' he smiled painfully.

Lily grimaced as a fresh trickle of blood came from the wound, stretched by Severus' attempt to smile. 'Come on, I'll wash that out and see if I can remember that charm we learnt a few months ago. Um, you know, the one to stitch skin back together'. Severus reached up to tickle the pear and open the kitchen door 'Reparo epidermi?' he smirked.

'That's the one. What, are you going to beat me at charms, now? That's my speciality. Apart from potions, anyway' she pouted. Severus laughed. 'I'd never dream of it. You know I can't get that bloody wand waving thing right. It's just the names I can do'. Lily pretended to scowl at him 'Make sure it stays that way' she warned, wagging a finger in front of his face. 'Now hold still and I'll do it'. She swirled her wand in a complicated spiral and Severus' skin merged together, with no sign of ever having been broken. They made their way into the kitchens and were instantaneously mobbed by a dozen house-elves, who gasped when they saw Severus' shirt. 'Oh, Master Snape, we must have your shirt at once, please sir!' squeaked one 'Blood is the most tough of stains to get out, we can't let it set. We were unable to clean your robe last weekend, it was all dried and we failed, but not again!' said the elf, looking thoroughly ashamed of itself.

Hesitantly Severus removed his shirt and passed it to the eager creatures, who submerged it in hot water, scrubbing briskly. Lily was looking at him, half angrily, half despairingly. 'Why didn't you tell me they got you last weekend?' she demanded. He shrugged, and tried to turn away. Lily reached out to stop him, noticing the massive scar running across his chest from his collarbone to his hip. She clapped her hands to her mouth, her lip quivering. 'That wasn't there when we went swimming a fortnight ago' she said accusingly. Severus laughed mirthlessly 'You see why I don't want you dating him?' he asked. Lily was clearly fighting back tears. She launched herself into his arms and sobbed 'Don't you see, this is exactly why I couldn't let it go on. Why didn't you tell me?'. Severus sighed, inhaling the unseasonal scent of cinnamon from her hair 'You'd have worried about me, and I wanted you to concentrate on studying'.

Lily stood back, horrified. 'Don't you dare do that again' she hissed 'You're more important than any sodding OWL. I'll worry constantly about what you're not telling me if you don't' she warned, her voice shaking. Severus snorted. 'I can't win with you, can I?' he asked, attempting a grin. 'Get used to it' she laughed. She reached out her hand. 'May I?' she asked tentatively. Severus nodded. She ran her palms over Severus' slender chest, tracing the smooth skin of scar from near his neck to where it disappeared under his trousers. 'Oh, shit, Sev' she said sadly 'I don't care if I have to marry the bastard, I won't let this happen ever again'. Severus frowned, worried. 'Don't say that. I'd rather be disembowelled properly than see you unhappily married, especially for my sake'.

Lily smiled, pleased 'Well, I guess you're just going to have to make sure I'm happily married, aren't you?'. Severus looked confused. 'What do you mean by that?' he asked. 'Come on, let's sit by the fire, you're going to be freezing without a shirt' she said suddenly, not meeting his eyes. Severus followed to a couple of seats and a table that had been drawn up to the fireplace by the elves, laden with food. Lily began ripping off hunks of meat from a joint with her fingers. Severus stared. 'What? It's just us' she shrugged when she caught his gaze 'Here, it's really good' she said, her glistening fingers holding out a strip of lamb. Severus raised his hand to take it, but she slapped it down again. Severus gulped, meeting her fiery gaze. Nervously, he leaned his head closer. Lily smiled, brushing her thumb against his lower lip. When it involuntarily opened, she pressed the meat into his mouth, drawing her fingers past his lips to clean them.

'I told you it was good' she said happily as Severus grinned against his will. He watched, hypnotised, as she tore a piece for herself and licked her fingers clean, still wet from his mouth. He shook his head, refusing to watch anymore, focusing on the food in front of him. He cast his eyes around for something Lily couldn't make seem an aphrodisiac. He inwardly admitted that this small category as basically limited to toad stew, and he wouldn't put it past her to make that seem like a good idea.

Nevertheless he grabbed an apple and ate it defiantly, daring her to say anything about how cheeky she was being. She didn't, just stripping the joint to the bone in a rather animalistic way that had him shuddering, and not because of her abysmal table manners.

Both relieved and disappointed, he allowed himself to stare absent-mindedly into the flames which reminded him so much of Lily's hair, thinking angrily about her date the next evening. 'I'm really not happy about this' he muttered, finally breaking the silence. Lily didn't reply. He turned to look at her properly. She seemed in another world. She had a spoonful of chocolate mousse halfway to her lips, and her mouth open ready for it. Severus presumed it must be good; she was drooling slightly from the corner of her mouth.

He followed her gaze downwards to his pale torso, streaked with bone-white scar tissue and lit by the reflection of the fire. She was obviously just staring into space. He waved a delicate hand in front of her green eyes, and she snapped out of her reverie. 'Oh, er, what?' she mumbled, wiping the saliva from her lip. 'I said I'm not happy about you going out with Potter, even if it is just one date' he repeated. Lily nodded 'Me neither, Sev, but I don't have much of a choice, do I? Come on, I'll be fine as long as I know you're waiting for me at the end of it'. Severus scoffed 'As if I'd be able to wait until the next morning to see you're ok'. Lily's expression softened, and she glanced at the large bowl of creamy chocolate on the table in front of her.

'Dessert, Sev. You're not getting away without trying this, the elves have outdone themselves today' she said determinedly. A few paces away a small group of elves looked ecstatic. Severus reached for a spoon, but Lily knocked it off the table with her elbow. 'Whoops' she said happily. Severus cracked a small smile. It quickly disappeared when she stuck her index finger through the bowl and drew out a mound of chocolate. With careful deliberation she reached out and stroked the tip of his long nose, leaving a mound of the whipped pudding behind it. Severus grinned. 'Oh, I hope you realise this is war, Miss Evans'. Lily stuck her tongue out at him defiantly. In the instant she had her guard down, he had scooped up a handful and smeared a trail down each of her cheeks.

Lily grabbed a bottle of treacle sauce from a nearby shelf and squirted it straight at Severus's chest. He stared as it slithered down, following the groove of his scar. He looked back up at Lily and received another squirt in his face. Laughing, he snatched up the bowl of mousse and they raced around the kitchens, chortling recklessly, tossing every dessert they could reach at the other (followed by several elves clearing up after them and muttering under their breath). This continued for about quarter of an hour until, having lost sight of Lily, Severus sneaked forwards holding a tub of whipping cream, only to be ambushed from behind with a fresh bottle of sauce. He slipped, startled, on the mousse he had spilt earlier, luckily landing on a fairly thick rug.

Lily collapsed, giggling madly at the sight of him covered in all manner of sweets. She landed heavily on his chest, then swung her leg over him so she was straddling his hips, raised her bottle of butterscotch sauce threateningly and said 'Admit defeat or be drenched. You have one minute to decide or I cover you in this'. Severus pretended to be panicked, though he kept laughing despite his attempt at terror. 'I give in!' he gasped, struggling for breath he was laughing so hard. Lily appeared to be considering his case. 'Too late!' she smirked, and squirted Severus on every inch of exposed skin. They sat (or in Severus' case, lay) until they could both breathe again. They fell silent.

'You know, butterscotch is my favourite' said Lily in a non-committal tone. 'I know' said Severus, snorting 'You never choose any other type of ice cream. I bought you a chocolate cone once and you hexed my hair gold'. Lily laughed at the memory 'Wasn't that brilliant? We were the Gryffindor house colours when were stood side by side'. Severus thought detachedly of the beating he got back at Slytherin. 'Sure. Just don't do it again'. Lily grinned. 'Now, now, you're not in a position to demand anything, are you?'. Severus tried to sit up, and was prevented by her pressing him back down. 'I suppose not' he admitted.

Lily was once again silently staring into space. Again, it seemed to coincide with the space occupied by his chest. 'I finished off the butterscotch on you' she said sadly. Then a glint came to her eye. 'Hmm. As victor, I refuse to let you deprive me of my favourite sauce'. Before Severus could say anything, she had lowered her head and licked the golden syrup out of his scar from his prominent hipbone to his shoulder blade where it ended. 'Mmm' she murmured happily, catching a drop with her finger and sucking it off. Severus laid completely still, his eyes like saucers. She dipped her head once more to suck a stray trail from his jawline. Severus desperately wished she would stop, forcing himself to think of Lucius, of what would happen if Potter caught them, of Dumbledore. He also wished this would never end. It was very confusing.

Lily eventually stood up, licking her lips, clearly satisfied with herself. 'You need a shave, Sev. Your face is all stubbly' she complained 'I think I cut my tongue'. Severus ran a hand over his chin. It was indeed covered with short, wiry black hairs. 'Sorry, Lily. Here, let me have a look at it for you' he offered. Lily obligingly came forwards and stuck her tongue out. He leaned closer to have a look when it darted out further, snatching the chocolate mousse that still resided on the tip of his nose. Lily pelted off out of the kitchen, laughing hysterically. Grinning, he launched himself after her.

They eventually stopped running when they reached the Gryffindor portrait. The Fat Lady smiled at the sight of Lily. 'Well, you're way after curfew, dear, but well done on making Mr Potter so happy. He's such a nice boy, don't you think?'. Lily glared at her. 'Shut up' she snapped. The Fat Lady humphed at the rudeness but fell silent. Lily turned her attention back to Severus 'Night, Sev. See you tomorrow, we'll go for a picnic' she said, yawning slightly. Sev smiled at her sadly and turned to leave. 'OI!' yelled Lily. Severus turned back in alarm. 'Where's my hug?' she demanded. Severus smiled and engulfed her in his arms, her cheek resting in the crook of his still-sticky shoulder. Just as he was about to pull away she stood on tiptoes and licked a last drop of sauce from behind his ear. 'I knew I'd missed a bit' she grinned. Severus walked away to the sound of Lily in a bellowing match with the Fat Lady, hating every step that took him further from her.

Lily eventually persuaded the Fat Lady to let her in, pleading that she'd look a mess for her date tomorrow if she didn't get any sleep. She was grudgingly allowed to enter, which she did, cursing Potter. His bloody charisma even had the Fat Lady smitten. Funny, she was apparently one of the very few it failed to work on. She rose the stairs to her dormitory, treading as lightly as she could to avoid waking up her roommates. Unfortunately, they were wide awake, waiting for her with expressions a mixture of curiosity and vague horror.

'And just where do you think you've been?' demanded Mary. Lily sighed. 'I was just getting some dinner. I missed it, as you probably noticed. So?'. Jennifer, who had always slightly resented Lily because of James, snorted. 'As if we have to ask who with. James was ranting about you saying you'd slept with him'. Lily laughed 'Stupid git, it's no business of his if I have'. She cut the girls off as they jumped forwards with eager yet sickened looks 'I haven't, for the record' she sighed. Her roommates looked relieved and slightly disappointed. Their excitement quashed, they retired to bed, missing the guilty grin that flitted over the redhead's face.


A.N. Well, there you go. Reviews equal cookies.