A/N: See, this is what should have happened, honestly.

…"Take the curse off him then!" Lily said shrilly, seeing red. James looked helplessly from her to Severus, and then muttered the counter-curse with a heavy sigh.

"There you go," he said as Severus struggled to his feet. "You're lucky Evans was here, Snivellus… "

"Shut up, Potter, you horrible arrogant prat!" Lily screeched, and Severus snapped his mouth shut, swallowing back his words. The redhead was advancing on James like a mountain lion, red sparks shooting from the tip of her wand. James stumbled back, looking frightened. "Severus didn't need my help – or, he wouldn't if you weren't on his case all the time! He's a far better person than you are… messing up your hair because you think it looks cool to look like you've just gotten off your broomstick, showing off with that stupid Snitch, walking down the corridors and hexing anyone who annoys you just because you can – I'm surprised your broomstick can get off the ground with your fat head on it. You make me SICK."

James had fallen to the grass and Lily was pointing her wand at his throat. The other three Marauders were watching like the rest of the crowd, wide-eyed but immobile. James looked nothing short of terrified. Severus couldn't blame him – if anyone, especially Lily Evans, looked at him with that much cold fury and hatred in their face, he would shy away too.

Probably.

Lily's arm jerked as though she were going to jinx James, who flinched. "Lily no!" Severus called, and suddenly all eyes were on him. "As much as I'd love seeing you turn Potter into a toad or something, it's not worth you getting detention," he mumbled. Lily looked at him and the fire in her eyes died away. Carefully, Severus went up to her and took her hand. "Come on, let's leave these idiots alone…" he said quietly, and Lily exhaled loudly. She turned around and glared at James, who was half-sitting and watching what was going on with confused shock.

"Stay away from us, Potter," Lily said, her tone icy and her gaze poison-tipped. "You and your little friends, just leave us alone or I will hex you." She turned on her heel and let Severus lead her away from the group, who were now whispering intently. James was flushing furiously.

"Bad luck, Prongs," Sirius said again, but he was smiling faintly as he turned back to look out at the lake.

Once they were away from the Marauders, Severus had fully expected Lily to drop his hand, but she kept it. They wandered aimlessly down to the lake shore and meandered along it, Lily keeping her warm hand in Severus's. Severus cast a sideways glance at Lily, who was looking out across the lake with a carefree smile. With a guilty jolt, he realized what he had almost said in his fury, what he had almost called the only girl he loved.

"Severus! Hey, Snape!" a voice called, and a number of others joined in. Both of them looked up the hill towards the castle, and instinctively dropped each other's hands. A number of Severus's Slytherin friends were loping down the hill towards him, including Mulciber and Avery. Beside him, Severus could almost sense Lily stiffening; she hated every one of his friends.

"Hey, Sev… what're you doing with the Mudblood?" Avery demanded, earning a round of laughter from the other boys.

"Don't call her that," Severus said harshly, stopping the boys in their tracks. For the first time he saw them through Lily's eyes, saw how evil they really were, and he despised them. Despised himself, for ever being one of them.

"Touch-ey," Avery said, smirking cruelly. His eyes danced between Severus and Lily, and it was obvious he had seen them before they saw him. "Don't tell me you're in love with that, Sev!" he said disbelievingly, and there was a general murmur of shock from the boys.

"Oh, go suck a bezoar, Avery," Lily snapped. Avery's eyes narrowed to slits.

"How dare you talk to me, you filthy little Mudblood?" he hissed. Severus moved for his wand but Lily was faster; seconds later Avery was reeling backwards, his hand clapped over his bloody nose and his black eye. Lily's hand was still curled into a tight fist and her jaw was taught.

"I'm done dealing with James Potter's bullshit and I'm not taking yours either!" she snarled. "Now go!"

"She's a madwoman!" Mulciber cried, but Avery was already scrabbling back up the hill, the other boys hot on his heels. Lily was breathing through her nose like an angry bull. Severus stared at her, his face showing plain bewilderment.

"I'm sorry, Sev, I know they're your friends, but I couldn't… I can't take anyone's crap anymore, I'm sick of it," Lily said after she fought to get her breathing back to normal. Severus just stared at her a little while longer.

"I love you," he said softly. Lily smiled weakly at him.

"They had that coming… just make sure you get real friends next time, Sev, I don't know what I'd do with myself if you got into the Dark Arts as much as they had," she said. Severus's heart fell a little; she hadn't understood.

"Lily," he said as she turned to continue along the bank. She looked back, her red hair shining copper in the sunlight. Severus swallowed, searching for his voice. Lily smiled kindly and reached back, taking his hand.

"I know," she said, her voice soft and caring. She squeezed his hand and pulled him towards her, kissing him on the cheek before following the lake shore northward, towing a punch-drunk Severus behind her.