1Lily snapped her brief case smartly and hurried out of the classroom in flustered distraction. She'd have a lot to do before the evening and she'd need to stop by her in-laws and have a chat with Theresa to confirm the plans with Shelby and confirm the plans for dinner before stopping to pick up food.
On her way down the hall, she began to mentally prepare dinner. She'd originally hoped to just throw some sandwiches together for James and the boys, but she was sure her mother-in-law's judging nature would make sandwiches a bad idea.
She was going to have to stop by the grocery store anyways, to pick up some stuff to make pies. But her grocery list had just grown exponentially.
She sighed at her expanded to-do list, and turned the corner, running smack dab into Severus Snape and knocking his crate full of liquid filled bottles all over the hallway.
Lily's hand slapped over her face.
"I'm so sorry, "she groaned. "I was just in a hurry and I wasn't watching..."
She knelt and began consolidating the spilled liquids.
"It's quite alright," Snape responded coldly.
"No it's not," she insisted. "Let me get this stuff cleaned up and into your classroom."
"I believe it would be easier if I just transferred the mess to the dungeons and cleaned it up there and began re-brewing the potions for my class Monday," Snape stated firmly.
"No sir," Lily responded, equally determined to take this chance to reach out to her colleague. "I caused this mess and I'm going to help you straighten it up. I know from experience that this potion will take two hours to brew. I'll help."
"I thought you were in a hurry?" Snape questioned.
"Oh, it's okay. I'll just have James do it," She smiled at him, knowing that giving James extra work would make Snape happy.
"If you can spare the time," Snape conceded, surprising Lily by returning her smile. He was touched by her willingness to help, and remembered the conversation she'd had earlier with the guys. This may be his chance to prove himself.
"Okay," she sighed. "I just need to talk to James. May I use your fireplace?"
Severus nodded his approval and told her to go on down there and call James. He'd be along in a minute with the mess for them to straighten out.
As Lily retreated down the hall, Snape couldn't help but notice the butterflies in his stomach. He was going to spend two hours alone with Lily Evans–er–Potter. Not only was she gorgeous smart and intimidating, she was married to a man he detested, and he should hate her. All of this confused Snape and he was incredibly distracted as he made his way down to the dungeons.
When he got to his classroom, he found Lily and James standing in front of the classroom, discussing their situation. James looked like he'd just gotten out of the shower. He was wearing only athletic shorts and an indignant expression.
"So he's making you help him?" James accused.
"No, baby," Lily contradicted softly.
James started to protest, but Lily interrupted him.
"I'm doing it out of the kindness of my heart...and because it's my fault. But I need you to get ready for tonight," Lily rubbed her cold hands across James' chest and moved in closer to his body, distracting him from the large workload she was giving him. He closed his eyes and enjoyed his wife's teasing touch. At that moment, James would have promised Lily anything.
He grinned and she knew she'd won.
"Now, I know you're tired from Quidditch practice," she condoned, running her hand through his hair and making him smile. "But I need you to run by your parents' house and make sure that Karen wasn't mistaken in saying that they're coming tonight. Then I need you to give this note to your mom for me," she paused and gave him a quickly scribbled note which he quickly opened and read.
"An owl?" James questioned.
"That's what she wants," Lily assured, giving him a reproachful look for invading her privacy without her permission. She was going to clear the gift with James first, but he should have asked.
"Anyways, I need you to run to the grocery store and pick up this food," she handed him another note with her grocery list. "And this time, don't take Sirius. You guys always alter my lists, and we can't afford that tonight. Then I need you to get the message out to the guys that we're going to have to postpone our dessert party. Give this note to Sirius for me."
Another note was handed over. James read it and sniggered slightly.
"He's not going to like this," James exclaimed.
"I know," Lily sighed, "but what else can we do?"
"Let's have the guys over anyways," James requested pleadingly. He then squeezed her hand and lowered his head so they were eye-level. "Please? I just can't deal with my parents tonight."
"Okay," she conceded, knowing the fights James and his dad had been having of late. James crumpled the note to Sirius and threw it triumphantly to Lily, who caught it and tossed it into the trash can. "But if they come, I expect Sirius, Peter and you to clean while Remus cooks. And no switching assignments. Remus cooks. Peter can assist him, and you two hopeless idiots can clean," she added with a teasing grin.
"Okay," James whispered hoarsely as he kissed her hand and pulled her into a hug. "Now if you're going to give Sirius his dessert tonight, then I still want mine."
Lily giggled and nodded, making James' face light up. Snape cringed at the idea of what he might be talking about. James didn't deserve Lily.
"I love you," James said into her hair.
"I love you, too," Lily responded, hugging him tighter as she reached up to kiss his jaw. Again Snape recoiled. Why had she stopped hating him.
James released Lily and turned to go. Lily watched him with a goofy look, her pretty mouth forming a grin. Snape was sure that she was in love. He wasn't quite sure whether James was in love, or just viewed her as something he'd been denied for years but had finally won in the end.
"James?" she called, and he turned expectantly to her. "Get dressed first?"
He smiled is promise and then was gone. She grinned and rolled her eyes.
Snape watched the exchange and after James left, he walked into the room. He felt guilty for having eavesdropped and mad that such a horrible person could have someone who loved him, while Snape had nobody.
