Author's Note: This chapter has now been edited. Thank you to my grammar editor Fainting Fancies

Chapter 7 – I Believe

"I know it seems strange. What was I doing at Hogwarts on Christmas Eve?" Lily responded to Severus's question. "I suppose I should have been visiting with friends or relatives. But, you have to understand. I really have no other relatives – except Petunia, and we haven't spoken in years. I do have friends, of course, mostly at the hospital, but they have families, and I would have felt like an intruder."

Snape continued to hold Lily in his arms, his love for her now overcoming all of his other emotions, except curiosity. "But," he questioned, "why Hogwarts? Why were you drawn to the school?"

Lily sighed and gave Severus an incredulous look. "Why do you think? You were there."

Snape smiled, overlooking the obvious. He was still having trouble connecting his past, even his recent past with this brand new hopeful world.

"I had stopped by earlier to …" Lily paused and looked away shyly. "I went to see how you were getting along, and then I went to visit the only other person in the world that knew me as Lily Potter. "

Raising an inquisitive eyebrow, he stated, "Let me guess. Was it Minerva?"

"How did you know?" she gasped.

"Simple deduction. Did you not admit that you continued your spy missions well after Dumbledore's death?"

"Yes," Lily said, tilting her head as she admired his quick mind.

"It seems logical that Dumbledore would have entrusted your identity to another loyal Order member, and she is also," Snape smirked, "a fellow Gryffindor."

"I don't think that had anything to do with it. It's just that there wasn't anyone else in a position to take my information and pass it on. Minerva knew right from the beginning. Over the years, she has become a very good friend, so, of course, I wanted to wish her a Happy Christmas. We had a nice long talk, and I didn't leave until quite late."

"Are you still delivering information?" Snape inquired.

"No, not any more. I think the need is gone now. But, we still get together and discuss … other things."

"Such as?"

Lily looked in his eyes, her gaze distorted by teardrops that had formed once again. "You," she answered in a very small voice.

With a softness borne out of true love, Severus kissed her cheek softly. "And what was so interesting about me that you felt a need to share?"

"Well, Minerva had been trying to convince me to reveal myself to you. Actually, it was an old argument that we've had these past couple of years, but she was quite adamant about it last night. She told me you …" Lily was a bit embarrassed to go on. She knew how much Snape hated his privacy disrupted, and having others discuss his ways would surely anger him.

"Go on."

"She told me you seemed lost."

"That is an interesting word. I do not believe I am in any way 'lost'," Severus frowned impatiently.

"I think what she meant was that you didn't seem to enjoy teaching any longer."

"My, my. That's a surprise," Snape replied sarcastically. "I hate teaching. I always have – except for my Newt level instruction. Any fool that knows me can clearly see— "

Lily interrupted, "Yes, she understands that, but I think she feels you need to direct your life elsewhere. You have so much potential, Sev. You've saved so many people's lives, not just by your actions in the war, but as a healer and a brilliant Potions master. Your skills shouldn't be wasted here at Hogwarts. Have you ever thought about leaving the school?"

Silently, he contemplated her question. The answer was yes. Of course he had, but the idea of working for some uncompromising, short-sighted academic had soured his urges to leave. Hogwarts was the safe alternative. Boring and useless, but at least the teaching position allowed him to work as he liked without much supervision. Minerva had allowed him room to act as he wanted, within reason, of course. He had even dappled in experiments and research on his own from time to time as his schedule allowed. And that outlet was quite a pleasure for him, although lately, he had neglected the work.

"I must confess that I have … thought about it," he finally answered without elaboration.

Lily continued, "Minerva suggested that it was time that you thought about it a little harder. That was one of the reasons she urged me to speak to you as soon as possible, thinking maybe I could convince you, but also …"

"What?" he prodded her to reveal the rest.

"She knew how much - how I …" Lily swallowed and then looked at him. "How I needed you. How we need each other right now. "

Severus narrowed his eyes and finished her thought. "How we've always needed each other. Minerva's right. We've waited long enough." Taking her chin in his hand, he asked her, "Do you agree? Shall we pursue this new course?"

Smiling with an angelic glow, Lily answered softly, "Yes, my friend, my love. It is time. You know, it's strange. Last night, when I left Minerva, there were so many things I had on my mind. I wanted to just go home and think about what she had said, maybe try to get my courage together. So, I hurried out toward the main gate."

"But," Severus interrupted, the puzzlement clear upon his features. "That path leads no where near the Black Lake."

"Yes. That's the strange part. Something drew me there last night. I just found myself walking down to the beach, maybe hoping the walk would help me think – I really don't know. But, that's when I heard the splash."

In a whisper, he added, "And you saved my life."

"Yes," she sighed.

With a sigh he spoke sadly, "I'm sorry. I should never have—"

"No. You shouldn't have. Sev, you need to promise me. Can you promise never, ever to do that again? You are needed here. You have a very full life ahead of you, so full of potential. Will you do that for me? Promise me, my love?"

"I promise," he answered. Knowing in his heart that she was right, he realized that he had the power to change. Had he not done it before at another critical juncture in his life? This was a much easier decision, and he would not walk away from the challenge.

Then, he made another decision. One that was even easier. With a voice that was urgent and full of need, Severus said, "I want you now, Lily. I must have you. Would you have me?"

"I – well, perhaps we … um …" Lily hesitated. Trying to resist, she attempted weakly to push him away, but her arms would not cooperate. Severus lowered his head and touched his nose to her cheek and then slid his lips down to her chin lightly touching the skin. Insistently, he moved his body into hers and breathed deep of her perfume. Realizing there was no way she could stop it, she drew her arms up and around his back, sliding her hands to his shoulders. The ache of so many years of yearning and the pain of hopelessness fueled the surge of desire that now coursed wickedly through their bodies.

Taking her head in his hands, he began to kiss her, his tongue snaking hungrily into her mouth, a deep moan escaping his lips. She unfastened three of the buttons of his frock coat and dress shirt wanting to feel his skin under her fingers. Eagerly, he undid the rest for her and then started to unfasten the back of her robes.

"Wait, Sev," she said huskily. "Come into my bedroom." Urgently, she pulled him along down the darkened hallway.

In a rush, they both removed their clothes, leaving them in a heap on the floor, not caring to delay their tryst. In the heat of passion, they fell into each other's arms, their naked bodies intertwining with a desperate need.

Releasing his kiss, Severus pulled her toward the bed, pushing her backward to fall onto the quilt, her hair flinging out wildly underneath her. Like a strange looking spider he crawled over her, letting his torso hover above her waist, his stiff manhood poised to perform. She opened her legs and reached up grasping his shoulders.

"I've waited so long for this, Lily. I've wanted you all my life," Severus spoke to her, his voice full of love. Inhaling deeply, he felt himself grow harder still, but he did not move. Relishing the moment, he looked down at her beautiful naked form.

Shyly, she dropped her arms and tried to cover her scars, afraid it might repulse him, but he pushed her hands away.

"No Lily, I want you just as you are." He sighed and lowered his body down onto hers. Rising to his elbows, he placed his hips between her legs, his hardened maleness rubbing against her thigh. With a gentle tenderness, Lily reached down and slipped him inside her silken wetness. His moan told her he was ready, and she began to pant as the lust shot through her like a thunderbolt.

"Severus, my God, I've been watching you, wanting to feel you inside me. Oh please," she whimpered. With a rising eagerness, she thrust her hips up to meet him and wrapped her legs tightly around his buttocks.

Thrusting deep into her, his length a bit too large for her to hold, he stopped for a moment and then pulled back slowly before thrusting into her again. "I can't … last, oh my God, Lily," he cried and thrust again. Panting, the sallow skin of his face became flushed as the pressure built within him.

"I love you, Severus, I want you. I've never wanted anything more." Lily gasped as he thrust again, his hair moving with the rhythm as he pulled back and then thrust into her once more. Her hands grasped his slim hips tightly, the muscles tight and tense in her grip. She could feel her juices coating his hardness, and her own climax began to build like a freight train. With the force of a rocket, she reached her zenith, the explosion causing her to cry out, the strength of it stronger than she had ever felt before.

Feeling her throbbing pulsations, Severus was pushed flying over the edge, his rock hard stalk releasing his seed in a torrent within her, his Lily. Gasping, he collapsed weakly onto her before rolling off, his spent manhood sliding out of her.

Falling onto his back, he laid his head down on the pillow beside her and closed his eyes.

"Are you going to fall asleep now?" Lily asked impishly.

"No, I'm just …" he breathed deeply and then exhaled slowly. "I'm memorizing this feeling of utter contentment. I need nothing more from life, now that I have you."

"So, do you believe me now? That I'm Lily?" she teased.

"No, I'm not sure yet," he smirked. "As I have had no previous experience of lovemaking with Lily to compare this to, there is still no conclusive evidence to support—"

"Oh, you!" she whacked him on the arm.

In response, he smiled lazily, his heavily lidded eyes feasting on the beauty lying naked next to him. "I much prefer to lay nude in bed with you when you, too, are unclothed. It is decidedly a more appealing visual display. And …" he leaned closer to her and placed his hand on her breast. "It provides much easier access to your nipples."

Lily whacked him again and laughed, her fears evaporating like mist under a desert sun.

"By the way, did you just say that you loved me?" Severus queried, his voice taking on a serious tone.

Lily moved close to him and gazed into his obsidian eyes. "I did."

"And I love you, Lily … always," he replied. Then, like tendrils on a vine, his arms folded around her as they snuggled their bodies together, feasting on their new discoveries.

The afternoon soon turned into night as they eagerly talked and planned for the future. Finally, as the day ended, Severus fell asleep. It was a very deep sleep.

Xxxxxxxx

Author's note: Stay with me here, there is more to come.