Kassie Meyer had not planned to be in this position. Yet sometimes fate could be cruel. So cruel.

She had been in choir when suddenly she volunteered for the solo tryouts.

She sang beautifully, until the very end. Her voice cracked on the last note. The last one.

Everyone laughed viciously, harming her already weak self-esteem.

From then on, she planned for this to never happen again.

And so, she became silent.

"Kassie? You zoned out again." Severus Snape said, gently shaking her. He looked concerned. A pink tone creeped onto Kassie's cheeks. He grabbed her hands and told her there was nothing to be embarrassed about, that everyone does it sometimes, that she also should never feel embarrassed around him as he doesn't mind what she does.

He knew she loved him, since the met in 1971. Now it was 1982, 11 years past. What he didn't know was if he loved her back. Lily was dead, but she was still in the picture.

Kassie noticed a tear trickle down Severus's cheek and knew he was thinking about Lily. She grabbed her notebook, hoping to cheer him up. She found a page with Severus and Lily happy, as the best friends they were meant to be.

Kassie showed Severus the sketch, then drew a heart with her finger over him and an X over Lily.

"You love me, but don't like Lily?" Severus guessed. She nodded. He asked why.

She pointed to Severus, and then to Lily. Then, she crossed her fingers, symbolizing close friendship, then shook her head.

"Is it because we aren't friends anymore?" He asked. She nodded vigorously. He smiled sadly. Kassie embraced him in a hug. He hugged back gently, as if afraid of breaking her.

She then did something that surprised both of them: she pulled him in to a kiss. It started out gentle and delicate, then progressed into a deeper and deeper kiss until they both were drowning in each other. Their lips brushed in synchronization. Finally, they both broke apart, panting.

"That. Was. Amazing." Severus said, blushing scarlet. Kassie was blushing even more than Severus, if that was possible.

"Aww, you two have found love!" A voice said. Kassie and Severus looked around, only to see Lily's ghost floating around.

"Lily... I miss you. You were my best friend, and will be, always." Suddenly, Severus noticed a squeeze around him. He looked and saw Kassie hugging him sweetly.

"No, I think you're her best friend. You've always been remarkably loyal, and the only one to be loyal to her, even though she's mute. And she loves you for it. Keep doing what you're doing, Sev." And Lily was gone.

"Wait!" Severus cried, but it was useless. Lily was gone.

Another tear escaped Severus's eyes. Kassie decided to reveal her secret to him: she could sing.

Severus heard the sweetest song he had ever heard, perfectly in tune, every note on the right pitch, right time, come out of Kassie's mouth. He couldn't believe it! His friend, who everyone thought couldn't speak, could sing? And with the most perfectly beautiful, sweet voice too? Severus let her soprano voice wash over him and he fell asleep in her arms.

Kassie stroked his cheek tiredly. She thought he was the most adorable thing she had ever seen. 'I can get used to this,' was her last thought before she fell asleep on his chest.