Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Author's Notes: Once again, read and review!

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Chapter 3: Smile

Why had he said that?

It was the night he'd have to meet her and he was regretting it already…it was quite clear this was some kind of Griffindor ploy to embarrass him. Why had she agreed with Slughorn that she needed his help at all? Why had she sat next to him? Just to thank him? Surely not…there must have been some ulterior motive…

Yes, Lily Evans was brimming with surprises. She was an enigma…and he'd seen a sly, quick side to her, so different than her usual bright, bubbly self…she'd given as good as she got. He thought over their…what had she called it?...ah, yes, their 'argument'. He smiled again, remembering her flashing eyes, then her laughter...

"I can't help it – you're so funny." No one had ever called him that...

"What you grinning about, Severus?" It was Johansen, a handsome seventh year with a famously short temper. "About the whole Evans mudblood situation?" Severus jerked his head up. "Oh, yes, Avery told all of us about your little slanging match…" Johansen grinned. He slipped into a chair opposite Severus, and took off his Prefect's badge.

"Perhaps."

"I was surprised when I heard…never had you down as one of us really." He began polishing the badge with small circular movements.

"Some would be grateful for that, I'm sure."

"Hey, don't get all smart on me, Snape," Johansen snarled. Severus said nothing, just continued staring into the fire. "I'm glad you called Evans mudblood though…perhaps I can use it to my advantage…" Johansen smiled enigmatically as Severus' looked up at him.

"What do you mean?"

"Oh? Suddenly interested are you?" Johansen sneered. Snape didn't reply, "Well, let's put it this way…you know what happened to Sian Moore, right?"

"The girl from Ravenclaw?"

"That's the one," Johansen leered and Severus felt the blood leave his face.

"Johansen!" Avery had stumbled in through the secret wall, he hunched over, gasping. "Professor Slughorn is looking for you! He said it was about Prefect duties…" Johansen scowled.

"Well, see you around, Severus…"

Severus watched him leave and breathed in deeply; it was true he had never fitted in. But what had he meant by using it to his advantage? Would she be in danger? He wondered, forgetting even to reprimand himself for caring at all. What had happened to Sian was terrible…was Johansen just bluffing? Trying to seem the consummate bad-boy, as usual?

"Slughorn also said the Potions dungeon is open for you…" Avery was settling in Johansen's armchair, his eyes closing. Thankfully, he began snoring loudly, leaving Severus free from unwanted questions. Severus glanced at the clock. He'd have to meet her soon. But after what Johansen had said…maybe…maybe she would be safer if he didn't…

Suddenly he got the strong mental image of her sitting, alone in the Potions dungeon, waiting for him, maybe writing random words the way she was prone to, or reading her potions book, or letting her hair down so it fanned across her shoulders…

Why would she be doing that? Severus frowned.

At any rate, he couldn't not go. It was against his principals to make an appointment and not keep it; having convinced himself he got up and left the Common Room with a swish of his robes.

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Lily was having serious second thoughts about meeting him.

She was sitting a little further away from Danielle, Janet and the other girls than would seem socially acceptable, on her favourite spot by the window – Merlin was asleep in her lap, having tired himself out chasing mice all day.

There was fifteen minutes and then he'd be there, waiting…

"Hi, there, Lily," she looked up, startled. James' clear hazel eyes were looking at her mischievously.

"James."

"Hey, don't take that tone with me!" he said in an injured tone, "And after all I did for you too…" He gave her a mocking pout.

"What? You mean nearly killing Snape?" He stopped smiling, "Well, forgive me for sounding ungrateful but that's not the way to impress me." There was a long pause.

"So you think I was just trying to impress you?" He asked coolly.

"Sorry, you didn't?" She asked, narrowing her eyes. "Did it just for fun then?"

"Look, Lily, he called you a…"

"He didn't do anything until you attacked him!"

"And look how he reacted!" He seemed to calm down a bit. "He's a bad person, Lily, anyone can see that." He said this gently, his countenance one of supreme patience.

"How can you say that? You hung him upside down, for heaven's sake! And embarrassed him in front of everyone…"

"I was defending you! That was the only reason I did it…"

"You always fight with him! Why can't you just…?" She sighed.

"Just what? Be friends?" His voice was soft once more. "You know what he is…a Dark-magic-obsessed-Slytherin…hardly friendship material. And anyway, don't you think it would make more sense to be friends with your fellow Griffindors…?" She felt her face warm – she couldn't deny it was flattering to have one of the most desired boys in school say something like that to you – she shook her head. "I only did it to defend you…"

"James!" Sirius ran in, interrupting them, looking excited, closely followed by Lupin who was looking, as usual, calm and centred. "Oh," he paused, looking uncertain, "you chatting up Lily again?" Lily had not taken her eyes off James, and he was still looking down at her, with the perplexed look of a lost puppy.

"No…"

"Alright," he seemed slightly perturbed by James' unusual behaviour. "Well, guess what? Snivelly is on his own in the potions dungeon! Perfect for plan get-greasy-haired-git, eh?" He laughed, but then he stopped abruptly at James' expression.

"Sorry, James, you were saying?" Lily waited – James was opening and closing his mouth like a goldfish. "I thought so." She gently placed Merlin on the rug (he twitched and gave a bemused look about the room) and stormed out of the Common Room – she distinctly heard Sirius say. "Wow, Lupin I owe you a galleon…"

"Lily, wait!" She was out of the portrait hole and tempted to simply begin running. She stood very still thinking…and then ran…ran with all her heart…through the corridors, skipping down steps two at a time, through the entrance hall…the physical exertion assuaging her confusion…her heart beating so hard and fast…

Smash! She crashed to the floor…She'd ran into something, badly scraping her elbow...She closed her eyes tightly, hoping against all hope it wasn't a human being - she looked up – a suit of armour stepped aside, muttering. She noticed a young man next to the armour, who was wearing an expression of superior incredulity.

"I knew you were clumsy, Evans, but this really is the limit." Severus' lip curled. Tears came to her eyes…not because of pain, or embarrassment…she was angry.

"Can't you find one nice thing to say? How about asking how I am!?" She jumped up and bounded towards him – jabbing a finger in his chest, "Or do you think we're all cold, heartless bastards by nature?" To irritate her further he smiled coolly.

"Like me, I presume?"

"Exactly like you…" She realised how pathetic this sounded and looked away, rubbing her grazed elbow. He watched her.

"Can't you even do a simple healing spell?" She couldn't be bothered to be insulted for her lack of magical skill so she shrugged in a defeated way and began walking towards the dungeon. To her surprise, he grabbed her arm; she turned to face him – once again their eyes met. He placed the tip of his wand on her injured elbow – her first reaction was to push him away and scream bloody murder – but she was immediately ashamed of this impulse because the graze magically disappeared.

"Pathetic," He mused, letting go of her arm and entering the dungeon…she pressed her hand where his hand been…she felt her face warm. She decided she'd ignore his last comment.

"You can do non-verbal spells?"

"What of it?"

"Nothing…it's just quite advanced…" She tried to not seem impressed, "Anyway, how comes you weren't in the dungeon?" She asked lightly as possible, sitting on the table in the middle of the room.

"I am not late." Severus glanced at her, a strange flicker in his eyes.

"I know, but Sirius saw you in here already…I was wondering why you…"

"Look, Evans, as much as I know you enjoy wasting your own time wondering the impulses and thoughts of other far more complex beings I would much rather get this over with." Severus did not sit, but swept over to the board.

"You? Complex?" She made a disbelieving noise in her throat. "I think not."

"Don't even try to pretend you understand me, Evans," His tone was icy.

"But you're like an open book, Snape!" irony heavily laced her words. "It's quite clear you're an emotionally stunted little boy trying to keep people from getting too close by acting like a complete…"

"Be quiet," Severus said it in such a chilling voice she was silenced. "I have been asked to help you with this potion – after this I will have the absolute pleasure of severing all ties from you…"

"An open book!" She could feel angry tears glimmering in her eyes, "That's what you are! That's why you're being horrible to me, because I can read you!" They glared at one another. Finally, he sighed, turning to tap the board with his wand.

"Well? What are you waiting for? Copy this down."

Lily blinked.

"I…I didn't bring anything…"

"What? Are you just intent on wasting time or are you just woefully incompetent by nature?" She couldn't stop herself.

"I was too busy defending you, actually," Tears were dangerously close to spilling, "big mistake that turned out to be…" She rose and began walking away.

The door shut with a snap before her. She turned to see Severus' wand pointed at the door.

"Sit."

"You can't order me to do anything," she tried to open the door. It didn't yield. "Open the door!"

"Evans, you said it yourself, you have your Potions OWL to think about." He said quietly.

"And I thought you said you didn't care!"

"I don't. But I do care about what Professor Slughorn will do if he finds out we left each other on such terms…" She glanced at him, as he looked away, his face betraying an emotion she couldn't identify.

Lily, once again, was faced with the choice: he didn't deserve the benefit of the doubt again – she was sure of that. She stroked her elbow – he'd healed it. He'd also given her that potion…words were words. Sometimes they don't mean anything – just the dirty wrappings of meanings that could be completely different. Or the beautiful parcel that held an emptiness within.

Again she was left with the choice.

James and his words or Severus and his actions?

She silently returned to the table.

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Severus was wholly surprised by her decision to stay – he'd gone too far, let his emotions run away with him…

She took her wand out and muttered something – Parchment, an ink bottle and quill shot out of the supplies cupboard and parked itself before her. She began taking down the ingredients on the board; he tried hard not to look at her…no one could deny that she looked adorable, her tongue sticking out between her teeth, her face confused and vulnerable…

His subconscious was suffering – so confused. What was with this creature…? This girl, who surprised him in every way…a girl who had defended him.

Supposedly.

But there was still a small chance that she had…

A small chance.

Trust.

Did he…? Could he…?

No.

Why not?

"This is hard…" She said, unaware of his internal battle. "Why would you need to make a Draught that caused you to nearly die anyway…?"

He just couldn't.

But why?

"It's not nearly dying," He corrected her, his gaze far-away, still standing at the board, "It causes a sleep so deep that it causes those around you to believe you are dead…"

"Exactly, nearly dying," He glanced at her – she was smiling. She stopped writing the complicated ingredients for a moment, "Why don't you sit down? You're making me nervous just standing there…"

He contemplated her for a moment; he didn't want to let it on, but making her nervous appealed to him…for some reason. He ignored her and paced the length of the class.

"So what's the use of it, then? The Draught…"

"What do you think?"

"I don't know…"

"Think, Evans." She scowled.

"Well…if those around you think you're dead then they won't bother killing you off for real will they?" She said it so quickly he had to start – he couldn't help but let a smile grace his lips. "Why don't you do that more often?" She asked suddenly.

"What? Attempt to kill people?"

"No – smile."

He quickly glanced at her; she was looking at him with a mildly puzzled expression…there was no hint of deviousness, or laughter…his heart was beating uncomfortably fast.

"Oh, I'm sorry!" She suddenly broke into a grin, "I always make people get all uncomfortable…my mum used to tell me off about it…used to upset guests…"

"You certainly have a knack for uncomfortable remarks…" He said, more to assuage his discomfort than to converse.

"You think so?" She frowned a little. "Maybe I shouldn't…"

"No!" She looked at him strangely – he'd said this rather louder than he'd intended, "I mean – no, you should not curb your urge to…to…"

"Make people feel uncomfortable?" She offered – she burst out laughing and he smiled. A real smile…

And he realised that he'd been smiling quite a bit lately…