Disclaimer: This story is being written for fun. I do not own the plot line or characters. Anything that you recognize is not mine.

Severus Snape woke up feeling a bit groggy. He automatically rose from his Slytherin-green bed and checked the calendar next to it only to fall back on the bed in shock. He wasn't in his own house. He wasn't even in his own time.

"What on earth are you doing, Severus?" asked his roommate, Avery. "Get up! We're going to miss breakfast, and even though you may not need it, I'll fail my potions OWL without it."

"Of course," he said with a tight nod as Avery left the room.

His thoughts were racing back and forth. Potions OWL, potions OWL. That meant that it was his second to last exam. He only had Defense against the Dark Arts left. And then he'd- oh, right. The worst day of his life was coming up. At least he could do it over again. For the first time in his life, Severus Snape praised the name of Harry Potter.

Severus hurried up to breakfast. When he saw Lily, his heart almost stopped. She was sitting at the Gryffindor table pointedly ignoring everyone there other than Remus Lupin who she seemed to tolerate.

"Sev!" she called to him. "Could you come here for a second?"

He started walking shakily to the Gryffindor table. Right then and there, he decided that he wasn't a good enough actor for this (even after years of spying), so he said, "Oh, thank goodness," almost sobbing.

"Are you alright, Sev?" Lily asked concerned. No one was looking at them because the Great Hall was so loud.

"Sorry, Lily," Severus said. "I dreamt that you had died.

"Oh," Lily said, not really knowing how to handle this. She awkwardly patted him on the back. "Well, I'm still here."

That seemed to catch the attention of James Potter. His Lily was touching Severus Snape, greasy git. "Hey," James said, "Stop touching him. You might get infected!" He laughed at his own joke when Sirius and Peter started to join in. Remus did, too, but it seemed a little bit forced.

Lily glared at him, but her glare which could make the Gryffindors nervously recite survival tactics paled in comparison to Severus Snape's. James took one look at Snape and took off running. This was only when Severus' glare broke down. Lily was gasping with laughter.

"Potter, glare, run, chicken!" she gasped out. "Glorious day!"

At this, Severus started to crack a smile as well and anyone besides Peter and Sirius (who were too thick to see it) could tell that Remus Lupin was holding one back, too.

Suddenly Lily stopped laughing. "Oh, no!" she exclaimed. "So that's why James ran. No one else is here. Were missing our potions exam!"

Those remaining in the great hall took off into a run. When they finally reached the examination room, they were greeted by a quick glare from Horace Slughorn.

"In. Now," he said.

They all quickly complied.

ooooooooooooooooooooo

Two hours later, Severus Snape could proudly say that he got a perfect score. Any job he wanted would be open to him with his 1st place ranking beating out even the notable alchemist Nicolas Flamel.

"Ugh," Lily said when she reached Severus. "Why were we asked to make Draught of Living Death? That's a sixth year potion. I mean- of course I made it, but I didn't practice it before hand like all of the fifth year potions."

"Lily," Snape said, giving her a quick smile, "I would be surprised if you didn't get at least an O."

"Thanks, Sev, that's sweet of you," Lily said smiling. "Let's go to our Defense against the Dark Arts exam now."

"Right," Severus replied all-the-while composing himself. "Let's go."

ooooooooooooooooooooo

Another two hours later, Severus heard the start of his worst nightmare.

"Did you like question ten, Moony?" asked Sirius.

Severus new that as of now, his and Lily's friendship was already at its breaking point and he needed to cement it. What better way than to let things play out almost exactly the same?

"Loved it," said Lupin briskly. "Give five signs that identify the werewolf. Excellent question." He heard Remus say.

Severus brought out his OWL paper and went over it again like last time. Finally, he heard,

"Excellent. Snivellus."

For the first time, Severus noticed Remus he heard, "All right, Snivellus?"

Severus did the same thing as last time. He dropped his bag, grabbed his wand and this time let James use Expelliarmus to take it.

Severus made himself look like he was struggling.

"Impedimenta!" he heard. He was knocked off his feet while diving for his wand.

Again, students were watching.

He heard James ask, "How'd the exam go, Snivelly?"

"I was watching him, his nose was touching the parchment," said Sirius viciously. "There'll be great grease marks all over it; they won't be able to read a word." Again, laughter ensued.

Severustried to get up, but the jinx was still operating on him; he was struggling, as though bound by invisible ropes.

"You - wait," Severus said once more.

"Wait for what?" said Sirius coolly. "What're you going to do, Snivelly, wipe your nose on us?"

Severus swore.

"Wash out your mouth," said James coldly. "Scourgify!"

And then Severus finally heard, "Leave him ALONE!"

He saw James and Sirius look around. James's free hand immediately jumped to his hair. It was Lily.

"All right, Evans?" said James, and the tone of his voice was suddenly pleasant, deeper, more mature.

"Leave him alone," Lily repeated. She was looking at James with every sign of great dislike. "What's he done to you?"

"Well," said James, appearing to deliberate the point, "it's more the fact that he exists, if you know what I mean…"

Many people started laughing, but Remus and Lily didn't.

"You think you're funny," she said coldly. "But you're just an arrogant, bullying toerag, Potter. Leave him alone."

"I will if you go out with me, Evans," said James quickly. "Go on… go out with me and I'll never lay a wand on old Snivelly again."

This hurt Severus just as much as the last time.

Once again, Severus was beginning to inch towards his fallen wand, spitting out soapsuds as he crawled.

"I wouldn't go out with you if it was a choice between you and the giant squid," said Lily.

"Bad luck, Prongs," said Sirius briskly, and turned back to Snape. "Oy!"

Severus again pointed his wand at James and made a gash on the side of his face.

James cast levicorpus and Snape was hanging upside-down in the air, his robes falling over his head to reveal skinny, pallid legs and a pair of graying underpants.

Many people in the small crowd cheered; Sirius, James and Wormtail roared with laughter.

Lily said, "Let him down, now!"

"Certainly," said James and he jerked his wand upwards; Severus fell into a crumpled heap on the ground. Disentangling himself from his robes he got quickly to his feet, wand up, but Sirius said, "Locomotor mortis!" and Snape keeled over again at once, rigid as a board.

"LEAVE HIM ALONE!" Lily shouted. She had her own wand out now.

"Ah, Evans, don't make me hex you," said James.

"Take the curse off him, then!"

James sighed deeply, then turned to Snape and muttered the counter-curse.

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

Snape had rehearsed these words thousands of times. "Yes," he said furiously, "I am lucky. I'm lucky that my best friend would stand up for me and help me out. Yours assist you with bullying and would turn coward on you any second. I, however, have Lily to help me, and she's worth more than all of your friends put together."

"Thanks, Sev," Lily said looking pleased. "Let's get away from these imbeciles."