Severus Snape sat himself down at the table, looking around anxiously for someone, while caressing a beat up copy of a Potions textbook, one in which had several scrawled notes and ideas in the margins. He was hunched over the book, about to open it, perusing it for the nth time, when a cry made him look up.

"Sev! Over here!"

Snape's narrow face broke out into an earnest grin, and he even waved slightly to Lily, who laughed good-naturedly as she ran over. Madam Pince shot the two a fierce glare, before going back to organizing the spell section.

"Am I late?" Lily said breathlessly, sliding into her seat, simultaneously setting down her schoolbag.

"No. As a matter of fact, we're a little early." Snape smiled shyly at his companion, fiddling slightly with the spine of his timeworn tome. "So, what should we start with?"

Lily pondered thoughtfully for a few minutes, before gently prizing the textbook from Snape's hands, causing a slight flush to rise in his wan face when their hands touched. Lily, entirely oblivious to her friend's adore, flipped through the battered book.

"Wow, Sev, how'd ya expect anyone to understand this handwriting of yours?"

Snape muttered something that was completely indistinguishable.

"What was that?"

"I said…no one but teachers see my handwriting anyways."

"Oh, c'mon Sev! Surely you've written letters! I send one home almost every month. Mother despairs over my scrawl. She used to be a teacher, and she hated peering at her students' work."

"No one reads my letters. Dad used to tear them to shreds and burn them. I finally stopped sending owls." Snape glared down at the table, as if to incinerate it.

"Severus…" Lily suddenly went around the table, leaned over, and hugged Snape around the neck.

"Lily! What…?!" Snape's whole face turned red, and his whole body stiffened with unfamiliar human contact.

"It's okay, Sev. It really is. He's a horrible man, but he's just dust on your shoes. You'll do great things Sev, I know it!" Lily hugged her friend tighter, much to his flustered chagrin. "I know how much you miss her Sev. I know you have pictures of her. She's proud of you, with or without the letters."

Lily was truly a marvel. She knew what his mother meant to him. She knew how much he despised his father. She knew that he wanted his mom's approval, and he wanted her worries about him alleviated by his letters. It didn't matter how Lily knew, she just did. And for that, he was eternally grateful to her.

Finally, Lily sighed, letting go of Snape. She smoothed out his hair in a motherly manner, not caring about the ever-present oil in it, not caring that this action only embarrassed him outwardly. They both knew that he appreciated the gesture, despite the affronted look he managed to adopt.

"So! Potions!" Lily settled back into her seat, not noticing the vague air of disappointment around Snape when she let go. "What about…Veritaserum! We haven't gone over that one yet!"

Snape nodded, already flipping pages, getting an eager look into his eyes.

One long study session later, and the two were exhausted, but happy.

"I'm gonna ace my Potions OWLs, I know it! And it's all thanks to you, Sev."

"I-it was nothing!"

"I'm still really grateful that you'd help me out. You're the best." And with that, Lily leaned across the table and chastely kissed Snape on the cheek. Beaming at him, she flounced out of the library, vivid red hair dancing behind her, schoolbag bumping against her hip jovially.

Snape's eyes were somewhat glazed over, as he put a hand to his cheek. Inside, he was thrilled that she'd even be willing to touch him. Outside, his cheeks had flared up again, his textbook had dropped out of his hands into his lap, and his mouth was half open. He felt like shouting for joy, but deep down he knew that it was a kiss between friends, a kiss to show thanks.

Maybe he'd invite Lily to study Charms with him too.