((A/N: This was written before the last HP book so… yeah. That's why Lily and Snape are like enemies. I hope you like it. I'm up for constructive criticism, by all means. Thanks. Oh and by the way, the characters belong to JK Rowling.))
Lily Evans crossed her legs under the table. She was sitting next to her new potions partner, Severus Snape. As much as she wanted to see the good in him, every time she started a conversation he called her a mudblood or another equally sour name. When the new seating arrangement had been announced by Professor Slughorn, Lily had been delighted to not have to sit in front of James anymore. He was always throwing paper balls at her.
Dipping her quill in her ink well, Lily began to scratch down the instructions on the board before she got to work on their latest potion. Love potion. Taking a quick glance at the boy sitting beside her, she realized he was more of a man. He'd grown quite a bit over the summer, and seemed quite a bit more mature. Not that Snape had ever been immature.
Severus slumped in the chair next to Lily, his sallow face twisted into a sour scowl as if it were stuck that way. Two dark eyes narrowed and stared at the cauldron through a curtain of greasy black hair.
He couldn't stomach the sight of her, the stench of her dirty blood being so near him made his skin crawl. Although things could be worse, he could be paired with that arrogant Potter or one of his equally arrogant friends, Black, Pettigrew or Lupin.
He sighed as he looked up and saw the instructions on the board. Severus didn't bother writing them down. He twirled his quill idly over the desk between his sallow skinned lanky fingers.
As Lily finished the notes, she saw Professor Slughorn heading in their direction. "Well hello my two prized students! There was reason behind sitting you two together. I just know it will work out perfectly. Just know it. You'll make the most potent love potion ever been made in this class."
Severus' spirits rose slightly when Slughorn called him a "prized student," but then plummeted just as quickly when he realized that he was being put on the same level as a filthy mudblood.
With that, Slughorn headed back to his desk. Lily grimaced. This was going to be a long year.
"So... I'll go get the ingredients." Lily smiled lightly, trying to be civil to him. It was pointless, he was just going to call her mudblood again. This was going to be a horrible rest of the year.
Lily dashed over to the ingredients. Meanwhile, James was watching her. He went over to Lily and Severus' desk, and pulled out his wand. "You touch her with your greasy hands, and so help me Merlin, I will blast you into oblivion, Snivellus."
Severus couldn't be glad for a moment's fresh air from being in such close quarters of a mudblood. It was quickly quelled when James appeared in front of him. He looked at the wand in James's hand. He smirked evilly.
Turning around, ingredients in hand, Lily saw James harassing Severus. She sighed. That didn't help matters. Just as she was about to tell him to stop, Slughorn did it for her.
"Potter, go back to your desk." Slughorn called across the room. James just stood there, giving Severus a heated look.
His lip curled and rage flashed in his eyes at James's words. "Better listen to the teacher, Potter," Snape sneered. He glared at James as if in some sort of staring contest.
James didn't budge, but stared right into his eyes. Lily sat down all the ingredients on their table. "Go away, Potter!" She pointed back toward his desk, her emerald eyes were ablaze. He wavered, and gave her a smirk before going to sit by Sirius. Lily sighed. "I'm sorry about that. He's such a..."
Her words trailed off into whispered cursing. Lily was shaking with anger. Why did he even think that was necessary. Severus was going to avoid all physical contact at all costs. He wouldn't dare touch a filthy mudblood like herself. They had one mutual understanding though.
They both hated James Potter.
Severus was filled with rage. He didn't need that mudblood interceding for him. He sat up in his chair, ignoring her apology like the buzz of a fly. He took up the ladle and opened his book to the recipe. "Let's just get this over with" he drawled. He placed the cauldron on the fire.
Lily nodded, and opened up the first ingredient. Treating it like a baby she began to gently pour it into the boiling water already in the cauldron. After that, she lowered the flame, as instructed. Her every movement was precise, and well measure. Thrice checked before she acted. Pulling her long crimson hair back into a bun, Lily felt someone watching her. Slowly turning around, her hands still forming the bun, she saw James staring at her dreamily. Sirius elbowed him and whispered something quickly. James sat up and gave Lily a smirk before pretending to go back to work. Lily sighed.
"I wished he'd just leave me alone." She said this to herself more than to Snape.
Snape stirred as Lily added the ingredients, changing the direction after each step, not as the book said to, but as he knew to. He rolled his eyes in disgust at James and Lily.
It was beyond repulsive to be in either of their presences too long. He smirked to himself, as he watched the two of them, James and Sirius, "pretending to work." They were preparing themselves for low marks on their N.E.W.T.S., and all they'd be good for is being a barkeeper at Hogshead.
Lily beamed as the potion turned the perfect lavender color for their step. She went on to the next.
"This is amazing." She said as she began to chop some willow root. "Maybe Slughorn was right about us being a good team."
Lily waited for the insult she knew was coming. She chopped thin, even slices of the root as the book instructed. Her fingers moved expertly on the plant, deftly chopping at a speed that nobody else in the room could rival with. They were way ahead anyway.
Severus grunted. He curled his lip in disgust, "Well, just be sure you don't get any . . .mud . . . on anything." he drawled as he narrowed his eyes at the speed she was chopping. He started turning the potion in the opposite direction, despite what the book instructed to do. The potion slowly took on the beginnings of the mother-of-pearl sheen. He glanced down at James and Sirius who's cauldron contents looked a deep maroon. He smirked.
Lily rolled her eyes, and finished chopping. Setting the knife down, she read the instructions on how to put the root in and how much. Carefully measuring it, Lily put one in with each stir of the ladle. It was time consuming, but it became the mother-of-pearl as instructed. "Do you want to switch jobs? Are you getting tired of that?"
Lily knew she shouldn't care if his arms were tired, but she was trying to be the bigger person.
"Why? We're nearly finished, don't tell me your sludge-filled arms can't withstand adding two measly ingredients more?" Snape sneered giving her a look of disgust, his lip curled so far it pushed his hook nose closer to his narrowed eyes.
"Do you have to be a complete prat about everything? Ever thought this might be easier if you were civil to me, not nice, but civil? And no, I was worried about your arms falling off, but apparently none of that matters." Lily began chopping furiously, her elegant face twisted into anger. She could only be patient for so long. Lily then added in the chopped dragon heart. Soon she finished grinding up doxie wings, and began to sprinkle them in slowly. Her wrist moving in a circular motion over the cauldron, she made sure not to get any on Snape. Or touch him because Merlin forbid she should get some of her mudblood disease on him.
"Believe me, mudblood, this is civility," Snape sneered as he continued to stir.
He found himself laughing at her renewed ire. She was so easy to vex! He found it entertaining. She was too nice for her own good to properly curse him, because she hated the dark arts that he so lovingly embraced. Potter was such a dunce that he couldn't come up with any good spells against him so he started using Snape's own spells on him. Snape's stomach began to bubble with rage at the thought of Potter. He quickly focused his attention on the potion. It was becoming the final product, a few more stirs and it would be complete.
Lily put away their extra ingredients, her bright green eyes shimmering with anger. Why this was getting to her like it was, she had no clue, but it was nonetheless. Slughorn saw her putting everything away, and went over to their cauldron. He let out a long sigh of satisfaction. "I don't think I could have done better myself!" Professor Slughorn pulled out two vials of Felix Felicis and handed one to each of them. "Well earned my prize students. Well earned."
Snape smirked. "Thank you, sir." he said as he took the bottle and put it in his bag. He looked over at James and Sirius and their cauldron of steaming maroon liquid.
Severus shook his head at them. They had obviously forgot to turn the heat down after step 2, added the doxie wings too soon and most likely didn't add them while stirring, knowing them they probably just dumped them in the pot. Also due to the sheenless goop they called a potion they had apparently chopped everything into chunks instead of finely chopping them to a near mince. He smirked as Slughorn examined their potion, evil glee flashed in his eyes knowing they were getting low marks.
"I think you two would do go with Remedial Potions." Slughorn said quietly, but Lily and Severus still heard. Snape snickered slightly at the thought of Potter and Black suffering in Remedial Potions. Lily couldn't fight back a very Severus grin sneaking onto her face. Even though now Lily really couldn't blame James for threatening Snape. He really did deserve all that attack.
Or did he?
He was just a sour angry boy who thought he was better than everyone else. Why give him the satisfaction of showing that you care? Then it hit her, by getting angry, she was letting him win. Though Lily doubted she could stop it.
Slughorn passed to the next group, who managed a meager acceptable with their sheeny peach like concoction.
"Low marks again, eh, Potter?" Snape sneered, "Has all that Quidditch air has blown all your wits out your ears?" Snape said with a lip curling grin.
James leaned forward, and shrugged. "Looks like you don't have a life, Snivellus. Oh wait... potions is your life. Stupid git. Probably doesn't even know what a date is."
He and Sirius snickered. Lily, on the other hand, shook her head. "You two are immature."
"Oh... so why is it that when he says something rude, it's okay, but when I do, it's wrong?" James crossed his arms. "You're always standing up for him. Why do you insist on standing up for someone who hates your guts, Evans?"
Lily thought for a second. "First of all, Potter, that wasn't standing up for him, and it was directed at him as well. Second of all, most of the time he's minding his own business when you attack him. Now, call me stupid, but that's hardly fair, Potter. Not to mention you've got your cronies with you every time. So talk to me when you feel like you can handle Snape here all by yourself."
With that, Lily turned around angrily and headed for the door as the bell had just rang.
James stood dumbfounded and slightly hurt at Lily's words. "Lily wait!" He called out after her. He hustled to grab his things to follow her.
Snape scoffed. "Pathetic Potter, my life may be potions, but yours is chasing after worthless little mudbloods. I'd say you definitely got the short end of the stick. At least my life will prove to be productive." Snape sneered as he gave a smirk.
Lily didn't stop. Her legs carrying her as fast as they could for her petite frame. The long red hair was falling out of the make-shift bun, and down her back again. People tripped over each other to get out of her way, knowing Lily Evans would knock them over if they didn't. Especially in this mood she was in.
Potter was such a jerk, and he expected her to stop and talk to him. To give him the time of day? He was totally beneath her. Maybe he'd have a chance when he grew up a little.
James bumped into Severus as he rushed his way out. Severus spun around taking out his wand, he pointed it at James locking his legs so he fell over.
Severus then left the classroom, stepping on James' hand before he could reach for his wand.
James let out a cry of pain as he heel dug into his hand. "Bloody--! I'll get you, Snape."
