A/N: The last thing I want to do is to offend anyone so as a heads-up, this chapter includes some intimate moments. If you are not partial to such things you may skip over that scene, but I've tried to gauge an appropriate level and I truly hope most of you will enjoy it! :P

Chapter 35: A Glimmer of Hope

Lily fidgeted, waiting impatiently for her friends to leave for dinner. She had spent all of Saturday afternoon in the dormitory with the other girls, who had been trying to learn some tailoring spells to liven up their wardrobe, but Lily had been so distracted thinking about tonight that she had hardly listened to a word they had been saying. She knew she would not have long to get ready for her secret dinner with Severus, and she was worried her friends would never head down to the Great Hall and give her the opportunity to get ready unseen.

At last, Mary suggested that they go down to dinner, and Alice and Marlene tidied away their books from Mary's bed. Lily however stayed sitting, trying not to look like she was up to something.

"You three go on down," she said, "I don't think I'll come today… I'm not really hungry."

"Don't be silly, you'll be hungry when you see what's for dinner," Marlene said cheerily, heading to the door.

Lily pulled a face. "I don't really feel like eating…"

Alice and Mary hung back. "Are you feeling unwell?" Alice asked, peering at her anxiously.

"I'm fine," Lily insisted, getting up and propelling Alice out of the door to join Marlene. "I just don't feel like dinner right now."

"You're not going off to the Library again, are you, Lily?" Mary said, looking at her sceptically.

"Well–" Lily spluttered, stuck between not wanting to lie but not wanting to tell her friends the truth either.

Mary turned to Alice and Marlene, who were hovering outside on the stairs. "You two go ahead. I'll bring Lily along in a minute."

Lily opened her mouth, determined to argue otherwise. There was no way she would forgo her date with Severus! But when Mary shut the door and turned around, words deserted her. Suspicion was burning all over her friend's face.

"What are you up to, Lily Evans?" Mary said, wearing a sly grin. "I know you're hiding something. You've barely been out of the Library this week, and now you're going there again…?"

Lily laughed lightly. "I've been working, Mary! There's nothing suspicious about that."

Mary pointedly raised her eyebrows. "You're my friend, Lily. I know you're studious, but I can tell there's something going on when you practically sing that you're off to the Library, and you come back to the dorm smiling as if you've had the best snog of your life! You're not just working in there, are you?"

Lily's mouth dropped open indignantly. "I don't sing – "

"I think you're seeing a boy, Lily Evans…"

Lily's heart spasmed. Her eyes shot to the door in a panic, and she hoped desperately that Alice wasn't waiting behind, listening. She would be hopping mad if she knew she was seeing Severus…

"…And I don't think it's James, is it?" Mary finished softly, a knowing smirk sitting upon her lips.

Lily glared at her, disgruntled at having been caught.

Mary laughed. "Don't worry, I'm not going to tell Alice. I know she thinks you should be locked up in St Mungo's for turning down James, and she will take you there herself if she finds out that you're dating someone other than him. Come on, Lily. You're rubbish at hiding secrets."

Lily shot a sharp look at Mary, for her friend truly had no idea of the hopes and fears for Severus that she had secretly harboured over their years at Hogwarts. Lily had kept a great deal quiet despite sharing a dorm with her three friends, and although they picked up on her mood, they were frequently left to speculation in an attempt to understand why.

Yet after a moment Lily sank down onto her bed, resigned to give way to Mary's insurmountable interest. "Yes, there is someone," she whispered. "But you mustn't tell anyone else. You have no idea how mad this will make Alice, she'll do far more than send me to St Mungo's…"

A massive grin broke out onto Mary's face. "Merlin's pants, it's Severus, isn't it?" she breathed, her eyes nearly popping out in excitement.

Lily's heart pounded so hard she thought it would break out of her chest. She was so astounded that for a few seconds she couldn't speak a single word. "What? How in Merlin's name did you get that? Did James tell you?"

"Lily Evans, are you saying James bloody Potter knew you were dating someone else and I did not?!"

"So he didn't tell you?" Lily sighed in relief.

"No, he did not! But are you saying that it's true? You're going out with Severus?"

Lily glanced up at her friend, feeling as guilty as if she had been caught kissing Severus by Professor McGonagall. She chewed her lip and nodded, half feeling like crying. Severus would be so cross when he found out Mary knew about them…

"Merlin, Alice really would jinx you!" Mary laughed. "Oh, Lily! I've kind of known there was something more between you two for a while now, even before you 'accidentally' kissed him in Hogsmeade, but I can't believe you're actually dating him!"

"So you're not livid with me?" Lily asked tentatively. She had expected that all of her friends would react badly, but perhaps Mary was not quite as narrow-minded as Alice when it came to boys.

"Well, I would not say that Severus Snape really fits the 'boyfriend' stereotype, but as long as he treats you well and you have fun –" Mary shrugged. "I trust your judgement, Lily. And you're sixteen, you have to live a little on the edge!…"

Lily tuned out Mary's chatter, her attention caught up in something her friend had said. Yes, she was only sixteen, and everyone around her was having fun like they were supposed to at sixteen. But what had come between her and Severus was not the kind of fleeting fancy and lustful flirtation that she had seen between her peers… It was something far more profound, something that held their lives inescapably entwined, something that she had only begun to recognise after he had shattered their friendship last June. She had been broken to pieces and felt like she had aged a hundred years… and at that time they hadn't even been boyfriend and girlfriend! Even now that their feelings had been made official, 'boyfriend' was an unfeeling, shallow term that did not even graze the surface of what Severus meant to her.

What held them together despite all their conflicts over the Death Eaters and the Dark Arts was something far greater than what she had seen between her peers – it was enough to make her risk her beliefs, her morals, her future – even her own safety. Yes, she thought shrewdly, she really was living on the edge…

Lily dazedly shook her head and tried to turn her attention back to her friend.

"Besides," Mary was saying, giving her a wicked smile at the same time, "you know what everyone says about Slytherins being particularly adept in the bedroom department…"

"MARY!" Lily gasped, thunderstruck by her friend's insinuation. "That is completely irrelevant – that is ridiculous – totally – "

Mary laughed. "Fine, I was just teasing. But honestly, it's not as if Gryffindors and Slytherins typically get on personality-wise, is it? This is just a bit of fun, it's not going to be a serious long-term thing, right?"

"Severus and I have been close for years!" Lily protested.

Mary looked at her sadly, wincing. "What about the incident last June? …Look, I understand the allure, Lily. He was your best friend, he's gone over to the dark side, you're curious… No wonder you want to know what exactly he and the other Slytherins get up to behind closed doors. If you make out with him I bet you can get close to him and find out loads of dirty secrets that will get them expelled and help Dumbledore fight back against You-Know-Who! Frankly, it's ingenious. You've got some guts."

"I am not going out with Severus just so I can find out what dark stuff the Slytherins are up to!" Lily said, her chin jutting out defiantly.

"Well, not just for that reason alone, I grant you that," Mary said with a wink.

Wearied, Lily sank onto her bed and buried her flushed face in her hands. For a moment she considered arguing back but she swiftly gave up on the idea. It seemed that none of her Gryffindor friends would ever believe that she and Severus could make any kind of relationship work. But at least Mary was not trying to tear them apart – that was something. She sighed and looked up at her friend, who was sitting down eagerly on the bed next to hers.

"So tell me," Mary said, leaning in, "how long have you been together?"

Lily hesitated. She did not dare reveal the depth of her feelings for Severus, but she could not deny that she had longed to confide in someone – someone would not immediately accuse her of being an idiot for not going out with James. And now that the cat was out of the bag and Mary knew that they were together (even if she was unaware of the many levels of significance beneath that), there seemed little reason to be tight-lipped. Besides, Mary was being surprisingly open to the idea of her going out with Severus.

"Two weeks today," she admitted.

"Two whole weeks? Blimey, you are good at covering up…"

"You see," Lily muttered indignantly.

"And?" Mary prompted her. "What's it like? Is he looking after you? How was your first date? Has he been snogging you senseless all these times you've been tucked away in the Library?"

"Mary!"

"What? He's your first boyfriend Lily!" Mary moaned. "You've been keeping this secret from me for two bloody weeks! Now that I know you might as well just spill all the beans and tell me the juicy details!"

"He has been perfectly chivalrous, thank you, before you start developing any scathing opinions like Alice! And – well, our first date is actually tonight… in an hour…"

"TONIGHT?! AN HOUR?!" Mary jumped up. "MERLIN, LILY!"

"So you see why I can't go down to dinner with you three?"

"Right," Mary said, scanning the room distractedly and counting various things on her fingers, "right. I can spare ten more minutes before the others start getting suspicious so that I can help you get ready. Then I'll run down and tell them you've gone to the Library again… After all, by now that is practically synonymous with you seeing Severus anyway…"

Lily blushed as Mary wiggled her eyebrows pointedly. "Thank you so much, Mary," she said sincerely. "And I wanted to tell you, I swear, but Severus made me promise not to say a word to a single soul – I know there were those rumours that we were going out a few weeks ago but he seems to think that if the other Slytherins find out they're true, they'll make life very unpleasant for us. And James and the other Marauders are the only ones who know, and that's only because James saw it in my mind in our Vallatus class – I'm so sorry to have been so deceptive, I feel so bad – but please don't tell anyone, Mary – I – "

She broke off from her babbling when Mary hauled her to her feet and dragged her over to her trunk full of clothes. "Oh, Lily! It's fine, stop apologising!" Mary chirped, nearly dancing around the room in excitement. "I know just in time, and that's what matters! Now, tell me – what in the name of Merlin's baggy underpants are you going to wear?"

xXxXx

Lily smoothly descended the steps to the dungeons, shivering a little in the cooler air and pulling her cloak more tightly around her shoulders. The dress she was wearing underneath was not exactly designed for warmth, but she had wanted to please Severus and to feel desirable. She knew Severus favoured black, yet the colour was a little harsh against her pale skin, so she had chosen a dark blue, simple but pretty knee-length dress that was softer on the eye, while its v-neckline was undeniably attractive without being lascivious. James had asked her out three times in one evening when she had last worn the dress at a Quidditch after-party in the Gryffindor Common Room, so she suspected Severus would find it agreeable.

She had also deemed it wise to cloak herself so that she could escape the Gryffindor Common Room without anyone noticing her dress and becoming curious as to where she was going – or rather, who she was seeing. Luckily she had not been waylaid by anyone on her route down to the dungeons as most people were back in their Common Rooms following dinner, but as she turned into the hallway that led past the Slytherin Common Room, it seemed that her luck had run out.

Two Slytherins from her year – Mulciber and Wilkes – were loitering in the corridor. They turned and as they saw who it was, ugly expressions of distaste wrinkled their faces, as if they had just detected a bad smell. Lily bowed her head and hoped she could slip around them without having a confrontation, but Mulciber walked into the middle of the hallway and planted his arms on his hips, barring her way.

"Oi, Evans. Just what do you think you're doing?"

"Please let me pass by, Mulciber," Lily asked, forcing herself to be polite in front of one of the Slytherins she detested the most.

Mulciber snorted. "I think not. What business does a Mudblood like you have down here?"

Lily was taken aback by the rapid deterioration in the quality of the conversation. "Excuse me?"

"Your filth are not welcome around here, Evans," he said savagely. "This part of the castle is for Purebloods only, and you're tainting it."

Lily drew herself up tall, seething with anger and indignation. "Remember who you're talking to, Mulciber! I happen to be a Prefect," she said boldly, determined to put this upstart firmly back in his place. "I have permission to walk wherever I like in the castle. I am simply doing my Prefect rounds for the evening, and I suggest you –"

Her confident, authoritative speech was cut short when she saw Mulciber raising his eyebrows at her cynically. "You're doing Prefect rounds, dressed like that?"

Wilkes appeared next to him, and raked his eyes over her shamelessly. "Wanna spend the evening with us?" he said, licking his lips lewdly.

Lily took a step back, affronted, and pulled her cloak more tightly around her. How Severus could stand these vile beasts, she did not know! "Five points from Slytherin!" she said shrilly, willing her voice to be strong even though her heart was racing ten to the dozen in her chest. Being in these Slytherins' presence was making her skin crawl. She couldn't understand how Severus could possibly bear living with these horrid, vulgar creeps!

"Watch it, Evans," Mulciber said through narrowed eyes. "That old crackpot might have appointed you as a Prefect, but you've got no authority over us."

"Is that so?" Lily said grumpily. She had not at all anticipated spending her evening being disparaged like this…

Mulciber clucked his tongue. "Mind your tone, Evans. You owe your superiors some respect."

"You think you are my superiors?" Lily shouted, outraged. "You and your reptilian friends are not superior to anyone! Your only claim at superiority comes from your being Pureblood – the pathetic inbred product of several generations of quasi-incestuous relationships! It is not impressive, or worth your while gloating about your illustrious family tree – it is utterly ridiculous!"

Mulciber's eyes turned icy cold with fury and Wilkes growled.

"You're a fool, Mudblood," Mulciber hissed. "You'll pay for that insult."

But Lily had had enough of their conceit and crass language. Any longer in their company and she would seriously consider risking her Prefectship so that she could gain the satisfaction from hexing those arrogant Slytherins several times over!

"Your empty threats mean nothing, Mulciber. Just leave me alone, unless you're stupid enough to risk more points being deducted from your House for disruptive behaviour!"

Again Lily tried to edge past the two glowering Slytherins, and was overcome with relief when this time they did not stop her. She marched on down the hallway, ignoring the urge to turn back and hex them. As soon as she turned the corner, however, she quickened her pace and cast the Disillusionment Charm over herself. Severus had always pestered her about using it whenever she came down here lest someone tried to find his secret hideout, but tonight she wanted it in case those Slytherins decided not to give up on her company for the evening after all. There had been something horribly sinister in the way they had looked at her, and she felt much safer knowing she was unseen and drawing nearer to Severus with every step.

She still remembered the route to Severus' dungeon hideout, after many months of not visiting, even though there were many tunnels in the depths of the castle dungeons. It was as if it had been ingrained into her memory, and instinct – or desire – led her feet there without second thought.

xXxXx

Severus stood back and surveyed his handiwork, ruminating on whether it would meet with Lily's approval.

As difficult as it seemed, he had done his best to make the old dungeon classroom suitable for an intimate dinner, with the help of the house-elf Berry. He had cleared a large space in the half of the room nearest the fireplace, where a fire was this moment crackling into life, and scavenged a square desk and two chairs with all legs still intact from the flotsam that had been stacked all over the room. Then Berry had covered the desk in a white tablecloth and carefully laid out the cutlery, china and glinting crystal glasses. He and the elf had disagreed quite vehemently over the matter of flowers, but she had insisted that Miss Lily would want them, so in the end Severus had given way and allowed a single rose to stand in a vase on the table.

Severus disapproved of silly, useless decorations cluttering up the place, but so as to bring light to the dark room he had seen to it that every crevice and ledge was occupied by a small candle. Of course, they were no ordinary candles – they were imbued with magic. He had spent every spare hour of the last few days making them down here in his secret hideout, burning himself with hot wax and sweating over his cauldron. The wax had been steeped in potions that he himself had brewed, and he had then left the dripping tapers to set before casting spells upon them to enhance their appearance.

Once lit, the candles slowly released their potions, which were designed to uplift the spirits of anyone who might breathe in their scent. They were not love-potions, rather something to help enhance the mood, to induce serenity and encourage intimacy. Severus wanted an evening with Lily that for once was not marred by sadness or anger over their disparate friends and strong views, and he hoped that these candles would enable them to have just that. The commentary on them in his latest book 'Experimenting with Potions' indicated that the popularity of several pubs and restaurants in wizarding communities had been found to be a result of the surreptitious use of these candles, and the ingenuity of this unusual idea fascinated him.

The candles' effects were subtle, and their appearance both attractive and innocuous. Their crimson hue had an iridescent sheen, and once alight they burned with a rose-coloured flame. But what Severus suspected would most appeal to Lily were the sparkling trails of smoke that meandered up into the air from the candles, like pulverised gems and flower petals, and coalesced into a fine smoky cloud as they reached the ceiling, so that above Severus' head there was now a roof like glittering stardust. Severus himself could not deny the warmth he felt upon breathing in the scent that was now suffusing the dungeon room, and he was secretly proud of what he had achieved.

"You is doing a good job, master Severus, sir," Berry commented. "Miss Lily is going to be liking this very much."

Severus' head whipped around. "What do you mean?"

Berry went over to the fireplace to stack up some more logs so that the fire would keep burning for some time. "If you is wanting to please Miss Lily, you is doing well to be lighting candles and giving her a rose," she said matter-of-factly.

Severus felt his cheeks colour. "Thank you, Berry," he said shortly.

The house-elf nodded. "I is returning when Miss Lily is here to start serving your dinner," she said, and vanished.

Severus paced up and down in front of the fire, caught on the precipitous cusp between excitement and nervousness. Everything was in place; everything was ready. He just hoped that Lily would like it…

There was a funny tingling that signalled a faint disturbance in the magical protection Severus had placed upon the door three years ago. It made his heart lurch and he turned around, heart hammering, body tingling with uncontrollable nerves.

"Lily," he whispered, and as he set his eyes upon her his breath was stolen from his lips.

Severus had always believed Lily to be pretty, and on occasions when her smile spread to her eyes and filled them with warmth and sincerity, he knew her to be beautiful. But never before had he beheld her in this way… Tonight, Severus felt spellbound, and he knew that if Lily should ever slip him Amortentia, he still could not possibly think her any more captivating than he did now.

Underneath her cloak, he glimpsed a dark blue dress embellished below the chest with jewels of the exact green that brought out the colour of her eyes. Her hair was long and sleek, and tumbled in thick, dark red waves around her shoulders, past the clasp at her throat and even past the necklace below it. She looked so exquisite, he did not think he could speak without betraying his surging emotions.

"Hi," Lily said with a small smile, and she quickly lowered her eyes, blushing. Was he being that obvious? Severus tilted his head forward so that his black hair obscured his eyes, allowing him to continue watching her more covertly. Lily was looking around the dungeon hideout, and he saw her gaze move from the crackling fire to the old desk, draped in a tablecloth and set for dinner. Her smile grew.

"This looks wonderful," she said, moving into the room and undoing the clasp at her neck. She spun around, her head turning this way and that as she admired his handiwork. "I can't believe what you have done – the transformation is – well, incredible. You should keep it like this permanently!"

Severus' heart flipped at her praise. He knew that Lily appreciated the warmth and the light; on many occasions when she had visited down here he had caught her looking longingly at the empty fireplace, and she had complained about the paucity of candles. But his tastes were far more suited to the cool, earthy air and the dim, hazy light that crept out of the shadows and whispered like some enigmatic presence, inspiring him to imagine, invent, experiment, create…

"It is enough for tonight," he said. But at his words he saw Lily's smile falter and he quickly corrected himself. "However, if it would encourage you to come down here again, I might allow some of the alterations remain…"

Lily laughed and headed over to the fire, warming her hands in its glow. "You're very thoughtful, Severus," she said.

Severus raised an eyebrow. In his opinion she was the only person who deserved any of his thought. He slowly followed her over to the fire and reached out to take her cloak off her shoulders. As his fingers skimmed her bare skin, Lily looked around in surprise. Feeling rather hot suddenly, Severus quickly removed her cloak, but just as he was about to turn away he caught sight of the deep open back of her dress that he had just exposed, and his mouth went dry. His eyes roved over the expanse of perfectly smooth skin, covered only by a single criss-cross of thin, dark blue straps, and he was consumed with hunger by the sight. He was unable to stop wild thoughts of sweeping his fingers down the gentle curve of her spine and feeling the sensation of her soft skin flowing underneath his hands. His stomach clenched and he swallowed, his attention locked on the provocative low-cut back…

Lily twisted around to fix him with an inquiring gaze and his breath hitched. He hurriedly turned away and marched over to a three-legged chair, where he laid her cloak over its back, trying to clear his indecent thoughts and steer them back onto more important matters.

"Did anyone see you on your way down?" he said as he rejoined her. He tried to make the question sound casual, but truly he was concerned. It was vital that he know if she had been seen if he was to be at ease this evening, for should any of his housemates see Lily down here, he did not doubt that they would put two and two together…

Lily turned her back to the fire and shrugged. "A couple of your friends, but I told them I was doing Prefect rounds." His anxious misgivings must have shown on his face, for she continued, "It's alright, they didn't follow me down here. I used the Disillusionment Charm as I entered the deeper tunnels, like you always wanted."

Something leapt and somersaulted in his stomach. She hadn't forgotten after all this time…

Lily blushed and ducked her head. Damn, he must have been staring again. Nonetheless, he was relieved that her presence here with him was not known. Now he could turn his attention to more pleasurable matters.

"Would you like a drink?"

When Lily nodded, he fetched a bottle of red wine that he had placed earlier on one of the nearby desks, along with a corkscrew that the house-elf had given him. He began to wind the corkscrew in when he noticed Lily watching him curiously.

"Surely you didn't get that wine from the kitchens too?"

Severus looked at her sidelong as he formed a tight grip on the bottle and pulled the cork out with a loud pop that echoed around the room. "No, I did not. This bottle was a gift from Lucius last Christmas. I understand it is something quite special."

"You've kept it all this time?" Lily watched him pouring the dark red wine into two crystal glasses.

"I was waiting for an appropriate occasion." Severus rejoined her by the fire and handed her a glass. "I believe this is it."

Lily smiled shyly. "To what shall we toast?" he asked.

"To hope," she answered, clinking her glass on his, "for our future."

"To hope," he echoed and inhaled the rich aroma before taking a sip. Flavours of fruitiness and aged oaken barrels melted in his mouth.

Lily lowered her glass. "I'm no expert, but it's very nice."

Severus chuckled.

"Severus…" Lily said cautiously. "May I ask you something?"

He nodded. "Go on."

Lily took a deep breath. "What happened yesterday, when Dumbledore wanted to see you?"

Ah. He had not seen her since his conversation with the Headmaster after yesterday's Potions class.

He lowered his eyes and trailed his finger around the rim of his glass. "Dumbledore offered me a proposal," he answered slowly.

Lily gave a sigh of relief and smiled. "Thank goodness. I was worried you were in trouble."

Severus shook his head in the negative. "He wanted to talk to me about his Vallatus class. He has offered me a place, on a few conditions."

Lily's eyes expanded. "He did?" she breathed. "What are the conditions?"

She obviously remembered how angry he had been the last time Dumbledore had offered him a condition on which he could join the Vallatus class. But this time he knew he could trick Dumbledore into believing he was working in opposition to his Slytherin companions and wind his way in. "They are surmountable," he said carefully.

Lily was wearing an expression of barely suppressed delight. "But that's brilliant, Sev! Isn't that just what you wanted?"

"Yes… it is exactly what I wanted," he said softly, his eyes meeting hers. Lily was gazing at him in admiration.

"Oh, Sev! I'm so proud of you! You – you are happy, aren't you? You are going to accept his offer?"

"Yes, I will," he said, unable to hold her gaze any longer. Lily beamed, and his insides twisted with guilt. For while he was going to take up a place in Dumbledore's class, it did not mean that he was forsaking the path he was currently laying down for himself with the Dark Lord, even though that is what Dumbledore – and now Lily – clearly presumed.

"I am so pleased that Dumbledore has finally trusted you," Lily said, sipping her wine happily.

Severus said nothing. However, he suspected that Dumbledore trusted Lily's judgement of character more than him himself. He knew Dumbledore's stance would not alter so drastically in such a short space of time as it seemed; this was no doubt all part of some grand scheme to convert him – the offer of joining his class would be the bait, and Lily would be used as the innocent tool of persuasion.

"Do you know who you will partner in the class?" said Lily.

"That detail has not been finalised," Severus replied.

"Well, if James ever gets the flu, I'm sure you and I could work together!" Lily laughed.

A dark smile rose over Severus' lips. "That would be excellent."

There was a CRACK in the air and Berry the house-elf appeared, bearing a silver platter. Lily appeared momentarily startled but then smiled at the elf.

"Good evening, Berry is at your service," the elf squeaked, bowing low. "Berry is proud to be serving you dinner tonight, Miss Lily. Master Severus, is you wanting to start now?"

Severus glanced over at Lily as she appreciatively eyed the elf's platter and he gave a nod, his eyes twinkling good-humouredly. "Yes. Let us sit down for dinner."

xXxXx

Severus sighed and leant back in his chair, pleasantly full. Dinner had been even more delicious than he had anticipated.

However, he was regrettably not satisfied… The way Lily had been looking at him throughout the meal, snatching longing glances when she thought he wasn't looking, and gazing at him in raptures when he spoke, was making a fierce desire that would not be fulfilled by excellent cuisine alone build up within him – and as he feasted his eyes on Lily now, a silent groan stirred in his throat.

She looked wondrously beautiful tonight; and the combination of that with her obvious enamour with him now that she believed him converted was deadly. He had been unable to take his eyes off her during their starter, and uncharacteristically distracted throughout their main course. Dessert had him so aroused he was impatient for her to finish the tart just so the meal would be over and they could leave the table to progress to… other activities. It was torture to behold such divinity and yet to be separated from it, unable to give in to the fantasies of pulling her to into his arms and urgently kissing her that were rolling continuously in his mind. It was taking all his self-control to sit here maintaining an unaffected exterior, and just wait.

Yet still, the matter was not so simple. Severus could see the kind of desires playing on Lily's mind, too, and her inclination to indulge him, but though they were gloriously tempting, he was so ridden with guilt that he felt compelled to resist. Lily was only behaving so coyly because she believed that Dumbledore trusted that he was gravitating to their side of the War. She was convinced that soon he would be on their side and there would no longer be any danger threatening their relationship. She was so willing to give her heart to him because she assumed he was leaving the Death Eaters and Dark Arts behind him.

Oh, how dreadfully wrong she was…

There was something wonderfully sinful in seeing her turn her eyes upon him and smile warmly at him, her gaze full of an intoxicating blend of happiness, naivety, and, dare he believe it, playful desire. To Severus it was utterly bewitching, and it made his blood burn with desperate want; but it was soon eclipsed by a surge of self-condemnation, and he swallowed uncomfortably, unable to hold that unbearably open, trusting gaze. Goddammit, he had dreamed for so many years of her beholding him like this, and handing over her heart so willingly, but now his damned conscience was threatening to ruin it all! No matter how much he wanted her to give herself to him, he did not think he could let her do so when she was attracted to him under a false illusion. It would all be a lie… and Lily was too good, too innocent for him to allow himself to do that to her, Severus knew that for sure. Lily deserved better…

"That was a marvellous dinner, Sev. Thank you so much!" Lily said softly, beaming at him and breaking his tangled thoughts.

"You're welcome," he said, his voice tight. He quickly drained his glass and then stared at the firelight gleaming upon its multi-faceted surface, desperate to find some sort of solution. If he couldn't kiss Lily tonight, he thought he might explode. He craved the taste of her lips like a parched man in a desert, aching for water…

"Are you okay, Sev?" Lily asked, tilting her head to one side in concern. His heart pounded at the exquisite sight and he gripped the stem of his glass tightly, giving one sharp nod.

Perhaps, if he promised himself to at least consider changing to her side of the War, to open himself up and listen to what she had to say on the matter, it would not be so wrongful to let her believe what she wanted about him. He would not be deceiving her then, really. He would be giving her vision a chance…

"Would you like to go over to the fire?" he asked hoarsely, pushing back his chair from the table.

Lily smiled brightly, and as she tucked her hair behind her ear the necklace on her chest caught the light, drawing his eyes helplessly downward. "That would be lovely."

Oh Merlin. He was becoming more undone by the minute. He would have to be very careful, very careful tonight indeed, lest his passion was unleashed and he frightened her away with his enthusiasm! He had to get a grip, for Merlin's sake!

He was on his feet in a blink of the eye and forced his breaths to come deep and slow as he followed her over to the warming glow of the fire. For a moment, he doubted whether he could do this. He was unsure if he truly believed his own promise to himself, but he knew that tomorrow he would be consumed by self-loathing if he let Lily initiate any intimacy between them.

Could he do it? Could he really give her idealistic future a chance?

He looked down at her beautiful face and swallowed thickly. His body screamed out with desire.

He would try. For Lily's sake, and his own peace of mind, he would honestly try.

xXxXx

Lily was beyond happy – never again had she envisaged being as happy as she had been aged eleven, heading off to Hogwarts to learn magic with her best friend Severus, living in a time of innocence and wonder – but tonight she could barely stop smiling, she was brimming with joy. Her evening with Severus was turning out to be more perfect than she had ever imagined, for Severus had been impossibly polite and attentive, their dinner had been a delight, and above all he had brought her the best news she could ever have wanted – he was joining her side of the War! Dumbledore and reached out to him and he was soon to be joining her in the Vallatus class – it was wonderful, wonderful news!

She was over the moon that Dumbledore had finally recognised Severus' potential and deemed that he was worth rescuing from Voldemort's clutches. A while ago Dumbledore had told her that she was the only one who could save Severus, but Lily had always known that a gesture like this would have the power to sway Severus, when it gave him a sense of being one of the elite, the opportunity to learn complex magic he could not study on his own, and the chance to be with her… For a moment, she had been unsure whether it was all too late, but then Severus had said he would accept Dumbledore's offer, and all her doubts had been dispelled!

To offer Severus a place in his special class, Dumbledore had to trust Severus – or if he did not fully trust him yet, he would soon when Severus fulfilled whatever conditions he requested. And if Dumbledore trusted Severus, then what reason on earth did she have to not trust him too? This was a sign, the sign she had longed for for so, SO long! This was the sign that a path to the light had opened up to Severus, and moreover that he was about to take it-!

Oh, she was alive with joy! Here was her Severus, back with her! After being lost to her for the last few years, caught up in the dark affairs of his Slytherin housemates and their filthy lies, here was the young man she knew and loved! She had known he could come back, she knew she had been right to trust to hope! And Merlin, she felt such exhilarating relief at knowing that his soul had been saved!

Now there was no reason to hold back, no reason to fear a closer relationship with him. Now there was every reason to show him just how much this meant, just how much she cared! She could display her love for him without fearing that his devotion to his 'Dark Lord' outshone his feelings for her, and know that to do so would only seal his decision to leave the Death Eaters! She could show him a glimpse of the future they could share, now that he had given it a chance. She could show him how much he meant to her, and how good life would be if they were together, living in the light.

Lily looked at Severus now as he stood beside her, his features striking in the dancing firelight. He was carefully watching her as he had been all night long – with soft, dark eyes that looked hopeful, yet scared and very – very young. He seemed to be struggling with some kind of internal battle, for he dared not get too close, yet he kept sending her looks of longing. Why Severus was afraid of embracing her, Lily could not say. But she would try coax him into letting go – for now there was no reason to hold back.

"It's nice here by the fire," she said conversationally. "It is a little chilly in the dungeons…"

She glanced up at Severus, wondering how he might react. She was rewarded when he drew nearer and wrapped his arms around her to offer her some of his body warmth. To her surprise, she felt a slight tremor in his arms, though she did not think he was shivering from the cold.

"Forgive me," Severus murmured, moving one hand to gently tease her hair off her face and entwine his fingers in her long waves. His touch barely skimmed her skin, yet the sensation was electrifying. Her breath left her lips in a rush, and as she gazed at him she found herself entranced by the velvety-dark intensity of his eyes, betraying a tenderness he could not bring himself to voice. He leant in very slowly and pressed a light kiss to her forehead, making her eyes fall shut. She sighed, and wondered if everything Severus did around her would be so softly tender, so gentle and stirring, as his caresses had always been so far, and she reckoned so – unless, that is, she asked for something different…

Lily caught her breath and swallowed, trying to still the thrill that had flared up within her stomach. She could not deny that at times when they had kissed before, beneath the tenderness and the exquisite care, she had felt something fiercer burning below, a force stronger than anything she had ever encountered, raw passion crying to be let out and expressed – And suddenly there was nothing more she wanted than to feel it – to really feel it.

Her heart leaping about in her chest, Lily leant in and pressed her mouth the angle of Severus' jaw. At times like this she was infinitely glad she had a streak of Gryffindor headstrongness, for inside she was quaking with fear at her own daring. She was close enough to hear the shaky breath tumble out from Severus' parted lips, and as he held his breath she lingered there.

"You don't have to hold back, you know," she murmured, her lips buzzing against his skin. Severus froze beneath her, and she slowly drew back.

"Wh-" he stammered, alarm darting all over his face.

Lily gave him a playful one-sided smile and bit her lip meaningfully. The pupils in Severus' eyes dilated at the sight. "You know how I feel about you… You don't need to hide how you feel from me, either, Sev…"

His eyes were glued to hers, and she found herself transfixed, wondering distantly if he was trying to use Legilimency on her.

"But…" he protested.

"I trust you, Severus," she said simply. "I need to know how you really feel."

Severus pursed his lips, and the little muscles around his eyes contracted, indicating that he was thinking fast. His eyes glittered and narrowed as he looked at her penetratingly. She felt him skimming the surface of her mind, and she caught her breath.

And then she became aware of a change in his eyes – they began to fill with a molten desire that made her heart flutter madly in excitement. They seemed to glow like hot coals in the darkness of the room, mesmerisingly pulling her towards him.

"If you're quite sure…" Severus purred, sliding his hand down her neck and sweeping her hair away to expose her skin to the dungeon air. He dipped his head and pressed scorching lips to her collarbone, making her tremble.

Severus paused and looked up as if to reassure himself her reaction was not out of fear or repulsion; but he seemed brush the contents in the surface of her mind with ease, for his lips instantly curled up into a soft smirk. Lily could hardly breathe under that smouldering stare, and when she felt his fingers toy with the shoulder strap of her dress she thought her knees would buckle. By now she was aching with longing, so much that it hurt. She couldn't possibly bear the wait any longer – she would beg – she didn't care – she just needed him.

"Please, Severus…" Lily murmured. Her request had a note of desperation that seemed to act like a trigger; with a sudden moan Severus bent down and crashed his lips upon hers. He dove straight into her mouth and caught her by so much surprise that she could barely stay conscious amid the tidal wave of pleasure that swept through her. His hands ran down her arms in one fluid, sensual motion, then gripped her wrists, and, still kissing her with a fierceness that made her faint with breathlessness, he leant his lean body into hers and pressed her flush up against the stone wall next to the fireplace.

The action caught her by surprise, but it was swiftly succeeded by a thrill of excitement at being trapped between the hard wall and Severus' firm body. They had kissed each other and shared gentle touches before, but this was something different, something new and strangely enticing. She was just becoming aware of how close she wanted to be to Severus… how much she wanted to give him… how strongly she wanted to show her feelings for him…

A moan escaped her mouth as Severus pressed a little more of his weight onto her and evoked tingles of rapture wherever their bodies touched. The feel of his body pressed firmly against hers was driving her insane, but his hands were keeping her pinned tightly against the wall and though she struggled and longed to touch him, he would not let her. Lily ached with yearning but all she could do was arch up into his mouth and kiss him deeply, straining against him. Now she knew that Dumbledore trusted Severus and that he had a clear pathway leading to the light, she had no reason to hold back, and every reason to show him that he was right to be with her, right to join her side, and that this perfect moment of candlelight and trembling breaths was perfectly and wholly right.

Suddenly the hands that had been gripping her wrists loosened and began to wander up over her bare arms. Only as they ghosted over her cheeks and made her forget how to breathe did his lips leave hers. Lily looked up, her chest rising and falling rapidly, and found Severus watching her intently, his eyes very dark. Lily wondered what was running through the depths of his mind.

"I was going to ask…" Severus began, but broke off as Lily shivered. There was something utterly bewitching in his voice; in his passion either the timbre of his voice had altered, or he was using it differently – but whatever it was, the sound of his murmur in the close space between them made her dizzy with desire. Realising she was now free to move her hands, she slipped her arms around Severus' lithe body and drew him towards her.

"Never mind…" he breathed, "I see it is quite unnecessary…" A rich chuckle flowed down from his mouth before he sealed it against hers, and he groaned as if the way she was kissing back was something he had never dreamed of being possible.

His hands swept down the curves of her body before gravitating to the small of her back and pulling her more tightly against him, while he kissed her with a fervour that hinted of a ravenous hunger accumulated over years of wanting. Lily responded just as earnestly, glad that she was now able to run her hands over his dress robes and feel through the material the toned chest she had once spied on a sunny afternoon from across the lake.

She could scarcely believe this was happening – that for the first time, Severus was revealing how he truly felt for her – and it was mindblowing. Every intimate gesture and moment of passion carried so much more meaning because he was usually so impossibly reserved and devoid of any expression. His shiver at her touch, his displays of affection, his moans of passion were all so unlike the Severus Snape that masqueraded around the Hogwarts corridors that she found it staggering to see just how much she meant to him – and in turn just how much of an effect she could have on him, too. She had once suspected that she could use that to her advantage, and now she was sure that by proving her feelings for him he would not think twice about joining her side for good…

This all occurred to Lily in a vague sort of way as she was kissed and caressed to the point of barely being able to stand, and in some distant corner of her mind, she recalled Mary's earlier words about Slytherins' reputations as skilful lovers. Suddenly, she was very glad that Severus was currently occupied.

As if he could sense her embarrassment, however, Severus pulled back to look at her. He smirked as if he knew what she was thinking. Then it occurred to Lily that he probably did know what she was thinking, and her face flooded with heat. Drat Mary for filling her head with such things!

An eyebrow arched on Severus' face and he leant in, whispering. "I wonder, do you still feel the cold?"

His voice was a warm rush of breath against her neck and Lily shuddered. She didn't know how Severus could sound so impossibly calm, his voice so darkly attractive, when she was a bundle of tangled, tightly stretched nerves firing off in all directions!

She shook her head, speechless.

"I thought not… There is a very becoming flush on your cheeks." His lips curled up even further as Lily felt herself redden even more.

He sighed contentedly and rested his forehead against hers, as if he was trying to imprint this forever on his memory. "I have dreamed of this moment, but I did not expect – hope – for such a gratifying reaction from you." His voice was softer than silk, overcome with disbelief and wonder.

Lily's heart swelled with emotion. "Is that so?" she laughed softly. "Well, I have found that I like to see you lose control, Severus Snape…"

Severus pulled back a little so as to look her in the eye. "Do you now? You surprise me, Miss Evans. And I thought I was the one in control here…"

"You may have succeeded in being restrained until now, but tonight, upon my request, your control has quite slipped away," Lily grinned.

"And yours?" he said, trailing a finger down her throat, making her swallow. His eyes glimmered with satisfaction. "Whatever you like to think about your control, Lily, you are at my mercy tonight."

He languorously kissed his way along her jawbone and Lily's eyes fluttered shut. Dimly she became aware of a cool hand edging its way down her neck, onto the smooth expanse below her collarbone, and her breath hitched as it slowly descended further. She could scarcely breathe as Severus' fingers grazed the soft, hypersensitive skin and then skimmed over the fabric of her dress in playful circles until they gently squeezed and she gasped. Clearly pleased by her reaction, Severus continued to toy with her as she withered beneath him. Then his skilful hands slipped over her sides and left to hungrily map out her waist, her back, and even down to where the flowing skirt of her dress covered her thigh. It was nearly enough to send her over the edge.

Lily moaned and pulled out of his grasp. Soft laughter fell from Severus' lips and he watched her wearing an amused smirk. Its vivid Slytherin-like quality made her suddenly feel defiant. She would meet his challenge! She would not let him win, not when she knew how much he secretly wanted her!

"Ah," she said, "but I know exactly where to kiss you to break down all of your damned self-restraint, whether you want to let go or not."

Severus cocked an eyebrow doubtfully. "Test me…"

More than keen to oblige, Lily slowly traced a finger down the groove from his earlobe to the angle of his jaw, and Severus was unable to withhold a shudder. With a rather Slytherin-like smile herself, Lily fastened her lips to that sensitive spot on his neck and gently sucked and nipped the skin. A whimper escaped Severus' lips and he protested, yet at the same time he pulled her to him and arched his neck to give her better access. Lily was not fooled, and when she pulled back she wore a broad smile.

"Well?"

Severus blinked slowly, his eyes still simmering as they came to focus on her. "I suppose that was rather distracting…" he conceded huskily.

Lily laughed, and after a brief second where he pretended to be annoyed Severus chuckled with her. This had to be one of the happiest moments she had ever shared with him, and after hearing his news, she was quick to believe that there might be many more to come.

xXxXx

In the next chapter, there will be more from James (as we haven't heard from him for a while) and the Slytherins (who are up to mischief) ;) So once again, Lily and Severus have different interpretations of events. Is Lily too naïve to hope that by joining her in the Vallatus class Severus will change sides? Or do you think if she gives him a little temptation she will be able to sway him for good? I'd love to hear your ideas!

I hope the level of intimacy between Severus and Lily in this chapter was acceptable (hopefully enjoyable!); earlier in the story the feedback I had was that most people seemed to want more sexual intimacy, as long as Lily wasn't cheating on Severus, so here you are… I feel it is important to show their relationship progressing, and I'm trying to do so without being too explicit. Please let me know if you think this kind of handling is ok, as such feedback would be really useful for future chapters.