This is a short first chapter for a story I've been playing around with in my head for awhile now. When expanding this to a full story I'd like to stay in canon as much as possible, and character representation is really important to me. Please let me know your thoughts and if you'd be interested in reading more - and feel free to discuss any narratives/debate canon! I always like hearing different perspectives.

Gratuitous disclaimer: I am not J.K. Rowling and I don't own any of these characters or stories.

October 20, 1975.

Normally full of somber students studiously pressing their noses into their books; the library was peculiarly full of chatter that Monday afternoon. This was due to upcoming festivities for Halloween. The potions master of Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Professor Horace Slughorn (an appreciator of the frivolous and fanciful) felt it was high time for adding just a little more magic into their regular Halloween feast. While not a full ball, this would extend the regular dinner and added a little dancing and music for the students in third year and older. Lily sat alone at table with her books trying to not pay attention to the idle gossip and commotion around her. She was able to do so successfully until Eleanor Summers, a Ravenclaw in Lily's year, appeared next to the table where Lily had stacked her study materials and stood waiting for her to acknowledge her presence.

When she didn't, Eleanor started to speak, "So do you have a date for the Halloween party yet? I would have thought you would by now."

Lily ignored the obviously irritated and petty tone that Eleanor had taken. Everyone know Eleanor was a gossip, whose victims were normally people she found a threat to her social position: as a pure blood witch (although not as pure as some), and talented (although never top of a class), and pretty (although never most popular). This of course is a difficult position for someone as competitive and insecure as Eleanor most apparently was.

"Um, no," Lily said clearing her throat in a bid for time to think of how to escape any potentially hazardous topics. "No one has asked me to go and I'm not sure I want to go, so I haven't bothered looking for a date." This wasn't the truth, Lily had been asked by a number of boys but she hoped saying otherwise would discourage Eleanor to go further.

Instead, to her dismay, Eleanor raised an eyebrow in interest.

"Really? Maybe it's because all the boys are afraid of what Potter would do to them?"

She said this clearly and loudly for the purpose of catching the attention for a group of marauders lounging in armchairs by the fire. It was well known in the school that James Potter was her current since the beginning of the school year.

She succeeded in not only getting their attention but the attention of the other students in the room, whose chatter had died down to listen on the drama unfolding. While Lily had noticed James' attention from the start of their first year at Hogwarts, his interest in her had exponentially increased, parallel to the usual emerging hormones that occur at fifteen.

"Pardon?"

Eleanor contrived a look of shock and disappointment, "Don't tell me he hasn't asked you out yet – he's been tripping over his feet staring at you since the start of this semester."

Lily could see James in the corner of her eye awkwardly shift and return to face the fire. Realizing Eleanor wasn't just trying to get a scoop on any potential romantic interest, but rather was trying to embarrass her she started to move to pack her bags.

"I'm afraid to disappoint you but, no, he has not asked me out or to the party and I'm sure he would if he had wanted to. But like I said, I'm not sure I'm going."

Before Eleanor could add another comment Lily grabbed her bag, and excused herself in the most courteous manner she could muster.

She kept a quick pace as she walked through the corridor with her head down. Really, how did everyone become so nosey and rude over summer?

Deep in her thoughts she didn't notice the shadow that had followed her out of the library that wasn't her own.

"Hey, Lily!"

She turned to see Severus catching up to her. They had both grown considerably over the last summer but he had now definitely surpassed her, standing a whole head taller. Now on the brink of being a young man Lily saw that it was apparent he was shaking off the air of innocence that children carry. It was to be expected she supposed, with a home life like his and sort of people he associated with. She couldn't help but worry about on what path he was heading, but she tried to keep it to herself – no point in making accusations and further alienating him.

"Sorry, didn't see you there."

"It's fine – just wondering if…," he paused, "if you'd be willing to finish studying the last herbology lesson with me? Since Sprout has that quiz due tomorrow."

"Er, I already finished my herbology revision…I was just going back to my dorm for a bit before dinner."

"Oh I see..."

He seemed to understand she didn't want to speak to him. Lily wished this needlessly awkward exchange would end.

"Well maybe I'll catch you after dinner?"

"Yeah, that'd be great. See you around Sev." She gave him a small smile before turning around and continuing her retreat to the Gryffindor common room.

She had felt like a bad friend for her recent persistent questioning of his loyalties while simultaneously not making any effort in their friendship. While able to clear her mind in solitude, sitting in the window of the tower of the girls' dormitory, she decided that she would make a point to find him after dinner and check in on how he was doing. Goodness knows he needed it.

Of course things never happen as planned, especially not in Hogwarts. Following dinner, Severus could not be found in or around the great hall. Lily didn't have time to look for him but when she did her patrol that night with the other school prefects she kept a look out for any sign of him. It was not as though he never disappeared, but she had an intuitive sense that something more was at play. While making her way back to Gryffindor tower she looked up out of one of the many large windows to see the bright pale light of a full moon flooding the castle. Perhaps, it wasn't intuition. Perhaps it was only the full moon causing the strange unease, she thought half-jokingly.