A/N: OK, important note: It said in the first chapter that Severus was in his fifth year, but that was a spelling error. It's s'posed to be sixth year.

Disclaimers and all that in chap 1. Chapter title taken from the "Shoop shoop song."

Chapter 3 – It's in his kiss

She wasn't looking at him. She hadn't looked at him once during the whole period. He knew this for sure because he hadn't taken his eyes off her. Severus sighed, for the first time turning his attention to the glass jar he was supposed to be transfiguring into a book-holder. He hadn't even started it.

It had been a week since he had snapped at Lily in the library, and she had ignored him ever since. Not that he had made much of an effort to make her talk to him. Though Sirius Black had yet failed to make a threat that had actually scared Severus, there had been something in his eyes that afternoon in the library that made Severus think it best to do as he had suggested. He looked over at Lily again, and found himself wondering what she was thinking of. Who she was thinking of.

*

He was looking at her again. She ignored him, and wasn't even looking in his direction. But she could still feel his cold eyes on her. Part of her wanted to turn around, meet his eye, but she was forcing herself not to. She'd had it. Besides, she wasn't quite sure how she would react if she did meet his eye. In the week that had passed, she had several times tried to convince her heart of what her mind was constantly telling her; There was no way Severus Snape was interested in anything but making her miserable, and it was about time she got her head out of the clouds.

*

Severus waited outside the room after class. Lily had stayed behind to talk to Professor McGonagall, and when she came out the door he pulled her aside.

"I need a word," he said silently.

"And what makes you so sure I'm going to give you one," she asked, looking coldly at him.

'Because I'm trying to apologize here,' he though, but couldn't bring himself to say it.

"I have other classes you know," Lily said impatiently.

"I need your help," Severus blurted out, and Lily stared at him.

"With what?" she asked.

'Way to go,' he told himself. 'You'd better think fast now.'

"Transfiguration," he said, taking the first thing that popped into his head. "I can't… it just doesn't make sense. And with the OWLs this year… You're the best student in the class."

"Yes, I have a way with those winks and smiles," Lily said coldly. Severus sighed.

"Look, I didn't mean that," he said quietly. "I'd had a bad day. I'm… sorry."

Lily stared at him as if he had just told her he wanted to be a tap-dancer.

"You don't have to give me that look," he snapped. "I'm not completely heartless, despite that seemingly being the general opinion."

Lily was about to say sorry when she realised that after all the things he had said to her, he still owed her an apology or two himself.

"You need help with Transfiguration?" she asked, changing the subject. Severus nodded.

"Yes. Do you have time?"

Lily hesitated. After the way he had treated her when she tried to be nice… Did he really deserve her help? And what would Sirius and the guys say? Sirius would never let her live it down. And, knowing Snape, it would be far from pleasant. But Lily had a hard time saying 'no' to people who needed help of any kind.

"Yeah sure," she said. "When have you got time?"

Her answer caught him a bit by surprise. He had expected her to say 'no', and rightly so after the way he'd behaved.

"Tonight?" he asked, and she nodded.

"Library. Be there at six."

Before he had a chance to reply, she turned and walked up the hall. Severus watched her go, fiercely ignoring the little voice in the back of his head, which was now whistling cheekily.

'Brilliant,' he thought as he made his way to Rune studies. Now he had to think up ways to be utterly useless in Transfiguration. He was starting to understand why lying was a bad idea. But he couldn't back out now. Besides, he wanted to spend the afternoon with Lily… No he didn't. Aw, hell; yes he did. He was getting sick of arguing with himself. Yes, Lily was pretty. Yes, he liked her. And yes, he was hoping that she felt that way too. Not that he could figure out why he was getting his hopes up.

'At least one good thing will come out of this,' he thought. He was sure it would annoy Sirius Black beyond limits that his precious Lily was voluntarily spending time with his archenemy.

*

"Hey, Lily." James dumped himself down next to her at dinner. "Wanna reschedule that quidditch practice for today?"

"I'm sorry, I can't," Lily excused, feeling bad about turning down his offer two days in a row. James looked rather hurt.

"Don't tell me you have homework," he said disbelievingly. "It's Friday."

Lily didn't think it was a good idea telling him she would be spending the afternoon with Severus Snape.

"I've got to tutor someone," she said, piling mashed potatoes onto her plate.

"Who?" James asked, and Lily shifted uncomfortably.

"Lily, tell me," James urged, a funny tone in his voice.

"Severus," Lily said quietly, hoping Sirius wouldn't hear it.

"Grumpy!?" James almost shouted, and Lily hushed him.

"Thank you, James. I was worried Hagrid wouldn't hear it all the way down in his hut," she said sarcastically, and James blushed. Lily looked over at Severus, but he didn't seem to know he was being discussed.

"Why would you want to tutor him?" James asked. "I mean, of all people Lily."

She shrugged. "He asked nicely."

James just snorted.

"Right," he said, sounding miffed.

Only a few minutes later he left the table. Sirius looked over at Lily, and hurried after him.

*

James went out into the cold October air. He walked down to the lake, kicking pebbles as he went.

"Bugger," he muttered to himself. "Bugger, bugger, bugger." How could Lily like Severus Snape? Of all people, why Severus Snape? James could have handled loosing her to someone like Sirius, or Remus. But Severus Snape?!

'She doesn't necessarily have to like him though,' he thought. After all, Lily was nice to everyone. If Severus had in fact asked her nicely for help, something James strongly doubted he was capable of, the Lily that James knew wouldn't be able to say 'no'.

'So that's it,' he thought. 'She just being her usual, nice, helpful, lovable Lily.' The thought cheered him up a little.

"Prongs!"

Sirirus' shouting shook him from his thoughts. James turned, and Sirius caught up with him.

"What was that hasty departure all about?" he panted. James shrugged.

"I just needed air," he said. Sirius caught his eye.

"I was right, wasn't I?" he asked. "She likes him, doesn't she?"

"Who are you talking about?" James asked as casually as he could. Sirius sighed.

"I don't get you, Prongs" he muttered, but James just laughed. "I don't get you either, Padfoot."

*

"You're late," Severus remarked surly when Lily joined him in the library. She looked at her watch.

"Oh, five whole minutes," she said sardonically, sitting down. "The wait must have nearly killed you."

"I wasn't the one who set the time," he muttered, but Lily ignored him.

"So, what's the problem?" she asked.

Severus had spent the entire day trying to figure out something he could have trouble with in Transfiguration, without it making him look like a complete idiot. He had failed, however, and now he was forced to improvise.

"Today's lesson," he said, mentally crossing his fingers. But the look Lily gave him told him he had missed by a mile.

"Severus, McGonagall taught us that charm in third grade," she said, astonished. "How the hell did you get this far without ever learning it."

'Damn!' he thought, making a mental note never to lie again.

"If you're going to be patronizing, I can get help elsewhere," he snapped, and Lily sighed.

"I'm sorry," she said softly. "The pressure of the OWLs is getting to you, am I right?" He nodded, wondering why he hadn't come up with that excuse.

"Right then," Lily said, opening her book. "Page 35."

Severus tried not to look at her too much. He had discovered that wasn't a good idea after he had tried to keep eye contact while she explained a charm to him, and she had ended up having to repeat it because he hadn't caught a single word she was saying. It was those eyes. You couldn't look into those eyes without loosing yourself.

"Severus?" He looked up.

"Are you even listening to me?" Lily snapped, getting up from the table. "I'm getting a book, I'll be right back. I suggest you finish reading that page, you've been staring at it for ten minutes." She disappeared into the section about Animal Transfiguration, and Severus cursed. Why couldn't he behave like a normal human being for once?

Severus looked around the library. They seemed to be alone, though he wouldn't be surprised if Sirius was hiding behind a bookshelf somewhere. It would be just like him, using any means to make a fool out of Severus. Or anyone else for that sake of matter. But Severus had trouble believing that Lily would be in on it. Unlike the rest of James Potter's little gang, Lily was never part of whatever mayhem the other four came up with.

Maybe this wasn't one of Sirius' little pranks. Maybe Lily was actually doing this because she wanted to. And what about all those times he had caught her looking at him in class. Could she really be interested? He was beginning to believe so, ignoring the warnings in his head. But he needed to know for sure. Prepared to make a complete fool of himself, he got up and went after her.

"Lily?" She jumped at the sound of his voice, and turned to look at him.

"There's something I've got to do," he said quietly. "But I need you to promise that you won't hit me." At first, Lily just stared at him in disbelief. Then she laughed.

"I'm not the violent type, Severus," she assured him. "Go on then."

He hesitated. If this was indeed one of Sirius' little schemes, he might as well go straight to his room, pack his things and leave Hogwarts because he would never live it down. But if he was right… Lily looked curiously at him.

"Severus?" she asked carefully. "What is it?"

He didn't answer. His courage had begun to fail him.

"No, never mind," he said, turning to walk away. Lily grabbed his hand, and he turned back to face her.

"Tell me," she said.

Lily tried to stifle her shudders. She hoped to God she was right, that he was really trying to…

"Lily," he whispered, and she closed her eyes. Slowly, he leaned over and kissed her gently. She put her arms around him, pulling him closer. Carefully, he put his arms around her too.

'I'm kissing Grumpy,' Lily thought. 'If anyone sees us now…' She suddenly realised where they where they were standing.

"Severus," she whispered, pushing him away. He looked disappointed.

"I'm sorry," he said, letting go of her, but she just shook her head.

"Come here," she said, and dragged him further into the section. They found a secluded corner, and Lily pulled him towards he again.

"For future reference," she whispered, "if you're going to kiss me, make sure it's somewhere a little less public."

He smiled, and it occurred to Lily that it was the first time she had ever seen him smile. She

was about to tell him that he should do it more often when he kissed her again.

"You're not worried about your OWLs, are you?" she whispered.

"What makes you say that?" he asked.

"We had them last year," Lily smiled. Severus went flushing red.

Neither of them knew how long they stood back there, and they both jumped at the sound of madam Pince's voice declaring that the library was about to close. They hurried back to the table.

"Do you have time tomorrow?" Severus asked as they were gathering up their books.

"Yes, certainly," Lily said stiffly, looking suspiciously around her. Severus smiled.

"Relax," he whispered. "We're alone." He threw a glance in the direction of Pince's office, and when he saw that the door was closed he pulled Lily into his arms and kissed her.

"Severus, if anyone sees us," she whispered, and he sighed.

"I know," he said, letting go of her. "We have to keep it a secret, for obvious reasons."

"We do," she said quietly. "If Sirius and James find out about this… they'll accuse you of having fed me some kind of black magic love potion or something." Severus smiled.

"And if Lucius Malfoy finds out he'll have me kicked out of Slytherin." 

'Which doesn't necessarily have to be a bad thing,' he thought to himself.

They were restrained from any further discussion on the subject when Pince showed up and practically chased them out.

The halls were empty, but Severus still didn't dare take Lily's hand. He half expected someone to jump out from behind something, take one look at them and know. Lily, it seemed, felt the same way. She was looking nervously around her, jumping at every sound.

They parted in the entrance hall.

"When tomorrow?" Lily asked, and he shrugged.

"Eleven?" he suggested.

"Sounds great," Lily agreed and, looking quickly around her, pecked him on the cheek. "I'll see you." She turned and hurried down the hall before he had time to reply. Severus watched her go, a slight smile on his lips.

*

The fat lady gave Lily a disapproving look when she neared the portrait.

"I was in the library," Lily tried to excuse, but it didn't seem to have much of an effect. She muttered the password, and hurried inside.

James was sitting on the sofa, his owl Bartus perched on his arm. He was reading a letter, and didn't seem to have heard Lily come in.

"James," she said carefully, and he jumped.

"Oh, Lily. You scared me," he said, attempting a smile.

"What's the matter?" Lily asked, sitting down next to him.

"Nothing," James tried to assure her, but Lily wasn't fooled.

"James, tell me."

He sighed. "My uncle, he's... ill. They don't think he's going to make it." Lily hugged him.

"James, that's terrible," she whispered. "I'm here if you need to talk you know."

"I know," he guaranteed her. "I'm fine, don't worry… How was studying with Grumpy?" Lily shrugged.

"I wouldn't go as far as to call it pleasant, but considering the fact that we're talking about Severus Snape it wasn't so bad." She wondered how she could stay so calm talking about it, when just the thought of his face made her stomach fill with butterflies.

"He behaved himself then?" James asked, and she nodded.

"Good," he said. "If he ever gets unpleasant, let me know OK."

"Thanks James," she smiled, getting up. " But I think I can handle him. Goodnight."

*

Severus lay in bed, listening to his roommates snore. Adrian Goyle was the worst. No matter how many Anti-Snoring spells they had tried, it had no effect on him. Severus wasn't bothered by it tonight, though.

'If only they knew,' he though, smiling. If only they knew that Severus Snape, their favourite verbal punching-ball, had gotten Lily Evans. But he couldn't tell them, of course. He could hear Lucius Malfoy all to clearly;

"A mudblood? And I thought you couldn't sink any lower."

He turned over, and closed his eyes. He didn't want to think about the problems they would encounter. Not now… not yet…

***

Yes, I am well aware that I stole the 'Bugger, bugger, bugger'-line from '4 weddings'…This time I am not implying when I might have the next chapter up, because I can't stand having dead-lines when I write, no matter how flexible they are…

Next chapter? Well, sneaking around, dilemmas… and a bit more snogging…*evil grin*