Last Dance

Chapter 2

Lily waited in the corridor outside of Professor Minerva McGonagal's class. When the last of the first years filed out of the room looking overwhelmed by their Transfigurations finals review, Lily popped her head around the door jamb.

"Professor McGonagal, do you have second?"

"Of course, Lily, come on in," the professor waved her forward. "Is something bothering you." Professor McGonagal had noticed that something had been off about Lily the past few days. She couldn't quite put her finger on it but she felt it might have something to do with Severus Snape. She'd caught the two stealing glances at one another all week.

Lily approached McGonagal's desk then just stood there stiffly and nervously.

McGonagal sat back in her seat and waited.

Still silence.

McGonagal steepled her hands, raised an eyebrow, then leaned forward once more. "Lily?"

"Yes, sorry. It's just . . ." Lily bit her bottom lip.

"Oh for Heaven's sake Lily, is this about you and Severus?"

Lily's face turned beet red, her breathing hitched. How had McGonagal known? Did the other professors know? Was there some kind of recording device in their secret room? Had Severus told someone?

"Wha-wha- what?" Lily stammered.

"I've seen you two all week sneaking peeks in each other's directions. Are you having boy trouble? Need a woman to talk to?"

"What? No! It's nothing like that." Lily insisted. Lily was mortified. Did she look so lovesick that her professors were willing to offer her dating advice? Well, at least McGonagal didn't know about the sex! That would have been horrific.

"Well then, what do you need?"

"Well, I mean Severus and I were are just friends, or were friends. I suppose we aren't even that anymore. And anyway, James complicates the whole thing now. I mean even if Voldemort weren't involved. I've messed things up by. . ." Lily shook her head. She was rambling. She needed to shut up before she went too far.

"Lily, it's okay to harbor feelings for two men. However, it is not okay to deal with them deceitfully. If you have feelings for the both of them, then you need to be open and honest with them."

"I don't have feelings for them both," she could feel her own toes curling as she lied.

McGonagal grimaced incredulously. "Lily."

"Look, it's not even about that. I mean, what I'm here for. I came about the dance," Lily grinned awkwardly.

"The dance?"

"Well, really the dress. See, I don't really have anything nice to wear. I need to make a trip to Hogsmeade and was wondering if you'd be so kind as to issue me a special pass to visit outside of normal visiting hours."

"Who have you asked to the dance?"

Lily couldn't believe the gall of the professor. What was more was that she couldn't believe that McGonagal had missed James' overt announcement of Lily's choice in the Main Hall. Lily was certain that the whole grounds had heard him.

"Does it matter?"

"No, of course not. When did you want to go, dear?"

"As soon as possible. I may have to send off for a special order. Not sure if Gladrags will have anything suitable."

"Oh, I'm sure they've got wind that there's to be a dance. I'm certain they'll have plenty of frocks to choose from. You're not the only Belle who's been asking permission for a shopping trip." McGonagal's old twinkle was back, for which Lily was grateful.

"Here you are," McGonagal slid a note across the desk.

"Thank you," Lily slipped the note into her robe pocket and turned to go.

"Lily?" McGonagal called softly.

Lily turned. "Yes."

"Be gentle with the boy. He's not as tough as his exterior would have you believe. His heart is bigger than he lets on."

"I only wish it were bigger than his ambition," Lily frowned.

"Aw, and that is the problem isn't it? Many a Slytherin has been lured down that dark path. Immense power can be a tempting mistress."

"How can a mere mortal compete with that?" Lily whispered.

"Unconditional Love," McGonagal answered simply then turned and put her nose in a book.

Lily considered the professor's words. Did she have the courage to love Severus unconditionally? Apparently not, she'd already demanded he leave the Death Eaters. His friends scared her. Hell, he scared her when he talked about power, the Dark Arts, and Voldemort.

"Thank you, again, Professor," Lily said as she stepped out into the hall.

LSLSLSLS

Lily's took the first flight of stairs toward Gryffindor tower but the stairwell that she stepped on started shifting when she was halfway up. When she finally reached the other side she had to turn right away from Gryffindor tower. After seven years she knew the castle like the back of her hand. She knew in order to make it back to the tower she have to make three lefts and then take another staircase up. The route was so routine for her that her mind wandered to McGonagal's warning about Severus. She knew she was breaking his heart but in fairness, he'd broken hers first.

In her haste to get back to the dorm, she took one of the corners absentmindedly and slammed hard into a familiar black-clad figure. The books he was carrying popped into the air before slamming hard onto the stone floor.

"Sorry Sev," she cried and hurried to help him pick up the books.

"In a hurry?" he asked as his hand fell gently over hers as she reached for his Advanced Potions textbook.

"Sort of, I'm making a trip to Hogsmeade." Why was she nervous? What was this magic he held over her?

"Hogsmeade's that way," Severus arched an eyebrow and nodded down the stairwell. Severus wondered why she'd lie to him? It was out of character for her. She was almost always forthright with him, or so he'd thought. She didn't even bother to hide her emotions for him, not that it would have mattered since he'd become so adept an legilimens.

"Yes, but I was going to the dorm to dress for the trip."

"What's wrong with you school robes?" He took Advanced Potions from her and resituated his books under his arm. The both stood, their breaths rapid, their hearts even more so. Severus noticed the color in her cheeks and the way her teeth pressed into her bottom lip.

"Nothing, not that it's any of your business . . . but . . oh nevermind," she pushed past him. Being close to him was torture she needed to be as far from him as possible. "Bye, Sev."

Severus wasn't sure what had gone wrong but something clearly had. Her arousal had been evident and then suddenly she bolted. He knew he should leave her alone but he couldn't. He nudged gently at her mind.

Who does he think he is anyway? I don't need his approval on what's appropriate to wear anywhere. Sometimes, I think he is as bad as James.

Her last thought infuriated him.

He turned and snapped, "Don't you ever compare me to him! I am nothing like him."

Lily rounded on him, Her bright eyes gleaming with pure rage. "Were you in my head?"

This time she knocked his books from his hand purposefully. She grabbed his robes and fisted them in her hands. "Stay out of my mind! You really are one of them!"

"Control your emotions," he ordered.

"Don't order me around. No one order's me!"

"Someone needs to! Look at you," he said calmly.

"You were the one just railing about James. How can you stand there and lecture me when you don't have control of your emotions?" Lily pushed him as she talked. His mouth parted in a gasp of breath when his back hit the stone wall and her knee slid ever so skillfully between his thighs.

"Lily," he growled.

"Don't you deign to tell me to control myself, Severus. Not when you can't control your own mind or emotions." She felt his cock stiffen against her thigh. "Or body for that matter," she smirked.

He leaned in and whispered. "Bodies are easy to read. I'm not the only one aroused right now."

She pulled back and smacked him hard across the cheek.

He laughed. And then reached into her head again.

Why is he laughing? I know it hurt. I can see the tears in his eyes? God I wanna kiss him.

"Then do it," he called.

She shook her head. Desire and fury warred in her green gaze. Just as she was about to give in Nearly Headless Nick came floating down the corridor.

"My my," the ghost looked at Lily shamefully.

"Get lost," Severus ordered.

"Hmph," Nearly Headless Nick turned his nose up. "Not behavior befitting a Gryffindor," he muttered as he drifted away.

The spell was broken. When Severus looked back the desire and fury had be replaced by shame and she was mentally castigating herself. He didn't want to listen to internal monologue anymore.

Lily pulled away. He didn't move to stop her but before she turned, he suggested, "You should find someone to give you Occlumency lessons."

"Fuck off, Sev."

"I'm serious Lily. For your safely."

"Am I in danger?"

"There's a war coming, Lily. You should learn to protect yourself. You need to take things like that more seriously."

She shrugged.

"If you won't do it for yourself. Do it for James."

"How do you mean?"

"If a dark wizard ever needed to prod you mind for information about him, you wouldn't be able to close your mind. You like the discipline."

"And I suppose you are adept!"

"I've been practicing for years."

"I'm surprised to learn that their is information that you would choose to hide from your master," she sneered.

"There is one I love more than him, though he will never know it."

"Oh Sev," she wanted to run to him but instead she turned and made a beeline for Gryffindor tower. Tears dripping on the stone floor the whole way.