A/N: Written for Round Six of the House Points Competition, representing Slytherin House. Category: Themed [Disappointed vs. Proud] / Prompt: Heart to Heart / Word Count: 1330

o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.

It had been three weeks since their very public falling out. Three weeks of missing her at his side in the library, of walking together in the halls, and sharing fleeting looks across the Great Halls at meal times. It tore at something deep inside Severus every time he played back that look of hurt and pain in her beautiful green eyes when he'd said that word. He'd never said that word before, and he swore he never would again. It had been necessary, the only thing that would convince both of their houses that they were done. Things were getting dangerous, for both of them.

The Dark Lord was gaining power, starting to move openly. There were mentions of attacks and disappearances every week in the Prophet, and lines were being drawn amongst the members of his house. While some, like the Greengrass family, could rely on their reputations to protect them while they declared neutrality, he had no such luxury. He was the Half-blood son of a blood traitor, he was either for the Dark Lord or against him. There would be no one to protect him if he declined to join his ranks. Avery had pulled him aside at the beginning of the year and explained that all too clearly.

Lucius was a friend, but his assistance reached only as far as singing his praises and painting him as a valuable commodity. It was the best his friend could do, and he appreciated that he'd been willing to go that far. He couldn't hope that the Malfoys would protect him if he simply tried to stay out of it, Lucius had to think about his new wife now and hopefully a family soon. No, he was on his own. He's pushed Lily away hoping to protect her. If she wasn't associated with him, Potter and Black would protect her from what was coming. He knew that Potter coveted the beautiful witch, relentlessly so. If he wasn't in the picture anymore, it would be easier for her to accept the protection of her fellow Gryffindors.

A non-descript barn owl fluttered own in front of him. He frowned a little and gave it a piece of ham and took the letter. It was early and only a handful of his housemates were here eating this early on a Sunday. He unfolded the parchment.

If you need to ask, then you'll never know. If you know, you need only ask. Meet me there at midnight.

He felt his heart jump, realizing that she understood what he'd done. She knew they needed to appear to be at odds, but she wanted to see him. Pride flooded through his entire being as he realized that she'd seen through his plan. He thanked Merlin that his friend was just as clever as he was, and willing to at least hear him out. He slipped the piece of paper into an inner pocket of his robes. She'd taken the words from the Grey Lady of Ravenclaw. The sad ghost had offered her help to them back in their second year when they'd been searching for a place to study together where no one would hurt them. It had taken them time to find it, but it was now their secret place. He had no idea how he was going to last until midnight, but he would be there.

o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.

Severus was sitting on an abandoned sofa in the Room of Forgotten Things, waiting for Lily. When the door opened, he felt his heart jump up in his throat. She all but ran across the room and threw herself into his arms. He wrapped his arms tightly around her. The familiar scent of vanilla and strawberries surrounded him in a comforting cloud that was just her. "I'm so sorry Lily, I'm so sorry…"

"I know Sev," Lily whispered back. "You were trying to protect me. I know you didn't mean it," her voice trembled with emotion. Tears streamed down her cheeks, as she buried her face in Severus's shoulder. "You should have told me, trusted me with your plan," she reproached him. It hurt that he'd felt the need to hide this from her. "You always try and shoulder everything alone, you don't need to do that. Not with me."

"I had to try…I couldn't live with myself if you got hurt because of me," he whispered. "I couldn't be so selfish."

Lily pulled back and punched him in the arm. "Severus Tobias Snape, you are the least selfish person I've ever met! Ok, so you can be moody, possessive, and you have a vindictive streak a mile wide…but you've never been selfish. How dare you not trust me! I spend three days thinking you hated me until I figured it out. I've never felt so horrible, it was like someone had carved my heart out of my chest. I'm disappointed you felt you couldn't talk to me about this."

Severus rubbed his arm, distantly noting that it would probably bruise. "I thought you'd be better off without me. I'm in too deep already Lils…and the water is only going to get deeper," he sat down on the couch, head falling forward into his hands. He hated the disappointed, disapproving look she gave him whenever she saw him Avery and Rosier. "I'm trapped, and I can't figure a way out."

Lily sat down beside him, wrapping an arm around his back and resting her chin on his shoulder. "Two heads are always better than one Sev, even if the one is yours," she whispered. "Tell me."

"I have to choose sides Lily, and I don't have anyone to protect me if I try and side against him. My mother turned her back on her family, she's a blood traitor, and I'm just her half-blood son. If I don't join them, they will kill me as an example to the others. I can probably put that off until I graduate, but I won't be able to stave it off forever," he sighed, hating that he was laying this on her. He'd wanted her clear of his problems, free of the guilt and shame. He was so disappointed that she'd seen through his plan, even as he rejoiced with pride that she had. His beautiful, clever, kind-hearted friend.

She slipped her fingers through his, squeezing his hand. "So don't fight them, at least not in the open. Fight from the inside, pass on what information you can, when you can. Anything could help," she said. "No one knows that we're still friends, if we keep it secret…we can help each other."

Severus turned his head and looked at her, speechless for a long moment. He leaned in and stole the softest of kisses. He'd wanted to do that for so long. "You're so bloody brilliant," he whispered.

Lily blushed almost as red as her hair. "I've wanted you to do that all year," she whispered, teeth catching her bottom lip.

Severus timidly reached up and stroked her cheek, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "If we do this, no one can ever know…at least not until it's all over," he said, meeting her eyes. "We'll both have to do things we don't want to, to make everyone believe the lie. We have to make them all believe it, implicitly."

"But we never lie to each other, no matter what Severus. Promise me that we'll always have truth between us," Lily's eyes were intense.

"Always, I swear it," Severus whispered his oath before leaning in to kiss her again, ever so softly. He loved his beautiful friend, so much it made his heart want to shatter into pieces. He'd never dared hope that she'd feel the same, or that he'd ever be able to tell her. They might only ever have these secret moments. He promised himself he would live every day however he had to in order to ensure that these secret moments remained theirs.

~Fin~