Chapter Two:

James Potter strode into the library. His eyes glistened back and forth looking for the girl he adored. She continually rejected him but no more. He shoved his glasses to an appropriate position with a push from his pointer finger and immediately grumbled loudly. He readjusted his long gowns and gently tugged at his red and yellow scarf. Sirius Black appeared behind Potter and gave him a shove. "She is right there you fool." James shooed the comment away. He grinned to himself and replied loudly.

"Why isn't it Snivellus Greasy?" The words echoed across the corridors with a resounding shout. His words bounced off the walls.

Lily's red hair fluttered upwards as she turned and exclaimed back to her fellow Gryffindor. "You aren't funny you bullying toerag! Leave us alone Potter!"

James became excited to hear her reply and Severus turned to view what was going on. His dark eyes gave a chilly glare that was meant to kill any hope Potter had to get closer. Snape stood to his feet and took a step towards the Maruders leader.

"Leave Potter." His voice was cold, calculating and a little bold. Severus positioned his wand to be ready at any moment waiting on either Sirius, or James, to take another step. James gave a huge guffaw at Snape's reaction. "Look at old Snivelly here! Got a back bone finally?" Potter took out his wand and flicked his wrist casting a stinging hex on Severus.

Snape instantly deflected the spell and gave Potter a taste of his own medicine. With a sudden flick of his wrist, a white light appeared from the tip of his wand. The flash suddenly gashed itself across James Potters cheek. Blood began to trickle down his face and James was stunned in place. Did Snivelly just injure me? The spell was, however, inaccurate. Unsaid and with Snape's aim, he slashed the side of Potter's face but missed his intended target. Severus would have preferred to hit the annoying Gryffindor's heart but was satisfied at the result nonetheless. Sirius pulled James away, tugging on his loosely fitting robe. Black's voice was low, "Let's go. We will get him later." Potter remained stagnant for a few moments unable to fully comprehend what had happened. His body was tugged towards the exit by Sirius and James held on to his cut letting the blood flow down his fingers. His eyes were blank and he bolted out of the library waiting for a chance to return the favor to Snivelly for the injury on his cheek.

Snape's voice was filled with anger and bitterness, "Run away Potter! Black! I will see you expelled this year! You and your little gang of 'Marauders'!" They went out of sight and with confidence he turned to Lily. He wasn't sure what to make of her face. There was a combination of confusion and worry. Her words came first.

"Severus, what was that spell you just used?" Her jade eyes were fraught with cautiousness.

He gritted his teeth and cursed himself in the back of his mind for using the spell openly in front of her. The dark arts were something he studied heavily over the break. It was impressing but Lily never wanted to see what they could do. Snape never understood her hate for the Dark Arts. They were spells; that is all he thought of them. How bad could they be? All of Slytherin house were able to have a taste of the Dark Magic.

"It was something I saw in a book. That is all." Snape turned his eyes towards the open potions book and hoped she wouldn't follow his intent gaze. The word 'sectumsempra' was written at the top inked in his own handwriting. His own spell.

"That was a Dark Art wasn't it Sev? What did I tell you about those things? I don't want you doing them. Your Slytherin friends are getting to you; aren't they?" Lily's words were sharp, precise, and honing in on his weakness. He had friends. His only friends were the few in Slytherin house and the girl he loved in Gryffindor. The girl standing in front of him.

"Lily. These are powerful spells that will help me become a greater wizard. They have nothing to do with my fellow Slytherins. They helped me defend myself as you saw just now. Dark Arts or not they-"

"That's the point Severus! They are Dark Arts. You shouldn't even be using them!" Her voice was high and angry. She was packing up her things and slamming each book in her grasp. Snape didn't understand what to do other than try and stop her from going. He couldn't let the only angel he had ever seen leave his presence. Not now; not after his small triumph.

"Lily, spells are spells. Whether Dark or not, they are an attempt to defend one's self. You cannot honestly be upset for my choice. Potter was going to hex me yet again. Do you wish it for my knees to be turned around or for my voice to disappear until you begged Potter to give it back?" His reply was accurate and logical but held no emotional sway. Severus shook his head back and forth trying to understand her upset nature and could not fathom it.

"Sev, I do not wish it but you cannot think that these Dark Arts are sending you to a good path. Can you?" Lily was slowing her process of leaving. She lightly folded and unfolded her potions book on the corner. She fiddled in place hoping to find the answer she was looking for; she was hoping to hear a no.

"Can you say it is sending me down an unfulfilled barren one?"

Lily stood up infuriated and grabbed all of her belongings in sight as quickly as she could. She was furious with Snape. How could he honestly believe what he was doing was right and just? She retorted to him with a fierce sigh through her nostrils. She stomped off towards the exit with everything in toe.

Severus let her go. He did not want to argue the same subject with her over and over again. That was pointless and unproductive.. He gathered his potions book, quill and ink, and Lily's' delicately wrapped present into his black robes, tucked his house scarf in, and walked quietly out into the corridor and down to Slytherin common room regretting every step along the way.