Truth Isn't Beauty

Lives Begun

Lily was surprised to find she was becoming one of the most popular girls in her year, especially in her house.

Severus was unsurprised to find that he was one of the least popular boys in his year, even in his house.

James and Sirius were the most popular boys in their year, period. In fact, they became among the most popular in the school. The two were boisterous and loud, and of course arrogant. They had skills and they knew it.

Peter stayed below the radar trailing along after James and Sirius like a little puppy. One could see how enamored he was of James by the look in his eyes as James played one of his legendary pranks, or cast a spell or charm far beyond first year levels.

Remus was quiet and often seen as an outsider. He would watch Sirius and James from a distance, laughing and shaking his head. But his secret was in peril. Remus was scared of how curious James and Sirius could be. They would ask questions and Remus was running out of excuses.

But the most surprising friendship was not between Peter and James and Sirius, or between Remus and James and Sirius. The most surprising friendship, both then and looking back now, was between Lily and Severus. They would spend hours in the Library reading, studying, occasionally talking. Lily liked how smart Severus was, and the fact that he didn't realize he was that smart. Severus liked the fact that Lily didn't ask anything of him outside of the occasionally help in potions. Around Lily he could just be Severus, which he was finding out was a rather nice guy.

It was toward the end of third year when things began to change. Lily had noticed that Severus had been slightly distant since returning from Christmas Holiday. He said less than usual, and snapped at her. Despite all the things James and Sirius had done to Severus, and in those three years they had done a lot of things, Severus, before this, had never snapped at Lily.

So, one day after exams she caught up to him by the lake and confronted him."What's going on Sev?" she said, cornering him one day. "Is it your father again?" Severus had told Lily all about his family. He had told her about his cruel resentful father. Mr. Snape hated Mrs. Snape, whom Severus more closely resembled, and thus by extension, hated Severus. Mrs. Snape was a cold manipulative woman. She had used seduction and subterfuge to marry Mr. Snape. Mrs. Snape was less cruel towards Severus, but far from loving. She was more apathetic. Still, she was where he had learned his potions making, his curses. Severus respected, if not loved, his mother deeply.

"Yes… No," Severus said, obviously confused himself.

"What is it Sev," Lily said, practically begging her best friend to bare his sole.

"Lily, when I get back from Summer Holiday…" he paused again. "We can't hang out anymore."

"What?! Why?" Lily was confused. She and Severus were as close as ever.

"Its… It's a blood thing," he explained feebly.

"But you don't care about blood!" she protested.

"Well I do now," he countered standing up from the tree root he had been sitting on. The truth was that his parents had gotten word that he was hanging out with the schools most prominent Muggle-Born. Now his parents agreed on exactly two things; Severus wasn't worth loving, and Blood purity mattered. Severus was from a pure blood family, and his parents would be damned before they let that reputation be tarnished by their weak willed son. So they threatened Severus… or rather they threatened Lily. Severus was told that if he continued to associate with that girl in the next fall semester, accidents would begin to happen at Hogwarts, and they would center on Lily Evans.

"Why do you let them run you like this?" she yelled at him before he had a chance to storm away.

"Because…" he closed his eyes as tears leaked out. He had to get her away. He had to get her to hate him. It was the only way this could ever work. "Because they're right!" he finally yelled. "You're nothing but a filthy mudblood that has been doing nothing but mooching off my brains!"

Lily stepped back. He had never used the "M" word around her before. Her bottom lip started shaking. Severus expected her to go running off. Instead he suddenly felt a sharp sting across his cheek. She had slapped him! He looked at her. Her eyes pulsed with anger. Tears streamed from her eyes as she turned. "Prat!" she said as she stormed off. Severus fell to his knees right there and cried.

The Marauders walked past, but even they had their standards. He would have to be way less pathetic than that for them to be ready to prank him. James split off outside the library, saying he wanted to pick up a book or two on special spells for the holidays. The truth was, he knew this is where Lily came when she needed to cry.

That was where James found her, weeping softly amid the stacks. "Lils?" he called to her softly.

She looked up and scowled a bit at him, but couldn't manage it.

James came and sat beside her, putting a comforting arm around her. "Lily," he tried again. "Did Snivillus hurt you?"

Lily nodded without thinking. He had… or had she hurt herself, having feelings for a Slytherin.

"He is so getting pranked," James said, anger showing in his voice.

"No!" Lily implored. "Don't. He… he… Just don't prank him over this."

James grimaced. "If you say so Lily," James lied.

She hugged James tight as she cried.

From that day Lily and James had an on again, off again relationship. He could be truly kind and loving at times, this Lily knew. But at other times he could be so arrogant and vindictive that she very nearly feared him. One thing was for certain though, Lily would not be hurt like that again. She resolved not only to not trust Severus again, but also to make herself tough. She became the girl that no boy dared call weak, though they all wanted her. Lily Evans didn't have the raw natural talent that James had, or the inborn intelligence that Severus had had, but she had more determination than all of Hufflepuff. She read constantly. If you needed to find her, there was only one place to look; the library. She was changed. She became a third party in the wheel of power at Hogwarts. It was Lily, James and Sirius, and a Slytherin that had taken Severus under his wing.

But, Lily was also compassionate. Though she never trusted Severus, she never allowed James or Sirius to attack him unprovoked. If they did, she would make sure they did not go unpunished. Not a single person was surprised when she became Head-Girl.

It was in Sixth year that her feelings began to be confused. "Lily!" James called, as they got off the Hogwarts' Express. He rushed up to her. "Lils, we need to talk."

Lily was intrigued. James never ran for anyone. She paused, and James turned to shoo Sirius and Peter away. Remus was, as always, hanging back with a knowing smile.

"Lily… I have to tell you something and I need you to understand it isn't easy for me to say."

"Okay," she said, feeling very confused.

"The truth is…" he paused. "I love you."

She stepped back for a moment, surprised. He guided her into one of the horseless-carriges, and closed the door, magically locking it.

Lily, all the stuff I pull here, the pranks, the jokes, the bullying…" he sighed. "Its just trying to get you to notice me. Its to impress you."

"And what brought this revelation?" she asked suspiciously.

"My mother died this summer, and"

"I'm so sorry," Lily interrupted.

"Thanks," he said, but hurriedly continued. "The thing is I realized that I never told her how much I appreciated the things she did for me. I looked deep inside and realized that I really loved my mom, not just 'cause she was my mom, but for everything she did…" he shook his head, realize he was on a tangent. "The thing is, I realized I did that a lot. Experienced feelings for people and didn't deal with them. Then I thought how horrible would it be for someone else I care about to die, or leave, or whatever, and never know how I feel. Sirius, Remus, Peter, they all know how I feel. But, Lily you probably had no idea."

"I didn't," she said, a little of the shock wearing off.

"That's my point, Lily I want to be with you, but I'm not sure how… I mean you yell at me for nearly everything I do."

"No pranking," she said firmly.

"What?"

"No pranking for one week." She clarified. "All four of you. One week, no pranks, especially not on Severus."

Even in sixth year, Severus was the school punching bag. Everyone did things at Severus' expense. "C'mon Lils."

"If you do that, I'll go out with you. After that first week, I can't hold you accountable for Sirius, and Remus and Peter aren't that bad anyway, but you are barred from pranking Severus again."

James gulped. "For you… I'll do it."

"We'll see." She said, not believing him capable of it.

Lo, and behold, James was able to keep Sirius from pranking anyone, for a whole week. And from that day on, not one of the four marauders pranked severus again, for fear it would endanger James' relationship. Quite quickly Lily found out why James was so popular with all the other girls. He was very charming. Soon, she returned his love, and a year after they left Hogwart's, they were married. At the wedding Lily almost had to restrain James and Sirius to keep them from hurting Petunia, who made snide remarks ever few minutes.

The honeymoon was beautiful, and the first few months were bliss… but it was down hill from there.