"Alright, concentrate on the feeling first, then we will go from there."
Lily's face was that of intense focus.
"Are you ready?" He asked.
She nodded once.
Severus took her hands in his. "Legillimens."
His mind was flooded with the surface thoughts in her head. She was nervous, but determined, and much less fearful than Potter-who-lived was.
He was also under a lot more pressure and (to no small degree) hated Severus...Which should have been a motivator to do better and not have to spend more time with him. He also maybe could have been slightly less aggressive, but the boy had to learn quickly. There was no better teacher than experience, so Severus had shown no mercy. To this day he understood little of how that boy's mind functioned without imploding in on itself.
Lily was trying to concentrate on his presence in her mind, though her thoughts occasionally flickered off onto any tangents they could connect to. Keeping one's mind from making those connections was a defensive tactic. Perhaps he would have her attempt that one, but that was not for today.
Severus skimmed along the surface, avoiding being too invasive. He followed a 'tangent' that was innocent enough about her sister's reaction when she came home for the summer, which led to the memories of every summer she had returned from school so far. He then put pressure on a few places she was not thinking about and then removed himself from her mind.
She blinked a few times. "That felt weird."
"Yes, it is a strange sensation at first."
"I-I think I have a headache."
"I forgot that is a possibility... I am not nearly as good of a legillimens as the headmaster."
"You mean to tell me that Severus Snape is not all powerful?"
He scoffed. "No one is."
She raised an eyebrow at him.
"Not that that will stop me from trying." He admitted.
She rubbed her temples. "Wait, back up...the headmaster is a legillimens?"
"Well, yeah. He did try seeing my thoughts a couple times after we were caught in his office."
Lily seemed disturbed. "That's...creepy. It seems unlike the Headmaster to invade someone's mind without permission."
"He had to only be checking what's on the surface, he never pushed very hard…I believe that's how he always knows when someone is lying."
"That explains a lot…" Lily mused more to herself than him.
"Anyway, now that you know what to expect, I want you to try and push me out."
"My headache is only going to get worse, isn't it?"
"Probably. We can stop whenever it becomes too uncomfortable."
She took a breath. "Okay. Let's do it."
There was a soft knock on her door before it opened to reveal Lily's mother.
She noted that they were holding hands but he refused to budge or feel embarrassed.
"Sorry to interrupt...I was just wondering if you would be joining us for supper tonight, Severus?"
"I'm afraid I can't, Mrs. Evans. I promised my mother I would be home this evening." So that I don't have to be uncomfortable while being glared at by your husband and eldest daughter. Maybe I'll have the patience to deal with them next time.
"I see…Well, you know you are always welcome." She glanced at their hands again. "What are you two up to?"
"Mental exercises." Lily said smoothly.
"Ah. Like meditation?"
"Somewhat." Severus responded.
"Right, right. A magical equivalent I'm sure." She waved a hand and laughed lightly. "Well, have fun I suppose. I'll be downstairs if you need anything."
"M'kay. Thanks mum."
She smiled at them and closed the door as she left.
"Right." Stated Severus as he squeezed her hands slightly. "Where were we?"