Chapter Four: Messy Encounters

The day of the quidditch game had arrived. The animosity between the Slytherin and Gryffindor houses with the growing excitement of the match had grown to the point of several violent punching matches and sign reading "Slytherin eats slugs" painted above the entrance to the great hall.

Lily sat with her friends at breakfast, everyone at the table decked patriotically in red and gold. Per her agreement with Sirius, she was wearing his red quidditch jacket with the name "Black" stitched on the back. She didn't notice Severus staring at her from across the hall.

She walked with James and Sirius to the entrance of the quidditch pitch. "Good luck," she said, giving James an awkward side hug and kissing Sirius. It had become so natural to kiss him nowadays, funny how easily one can get used to a fake boyfriend.

Sirius grinned, "we don't need luck." Lily smiled as she watched them exit into the changing room. After a moment, she turned to join her friends in the stand, only to find herself face to face with Severus.

"Hi Sev," she said, tentatively. This was the first time they'd spoken since their conversation after potions. She had taken to sitting next to Sirius, assuming she would not be welcome next to her former close friend.

"Hi, Lily." He stared into her green eyes and seemed to take in her appearance, as though he hadn't seen her in years. He grimaced at the sight of her jacket. "Do you have to wear that?"

"Sirius asked me to," she said, scrunching her eyebrows together.

"Sev—" she started to say before Severus cut her off.

"I miss you," he said simply.

She sighed in relief, "I miss you too." Before she could stop herself, she hugged him. He stiffened at her touch, but eventually relaxed, wrapping his arms around her waist. They pulled away from each other after a moment and Lily wiped at the tears that were falling down her cheeks.

"I'm sorry, I don't know why I'm crying," she said.

"Don't apologize," Severus said, reaching out to wipe away a stray tear on her cheek with his thumb. "If anything, I should apologize to you. I wasn't there for you, and… I'm sorry Lil." She smiled at the nickname.

"It's ok."

"I just— I don't understand what's going on. I thought—" he sighed, " I don't know what I thought." His face was pale.

Lily bit her lip, she hated lying to her friend. "It's a bit more complicated, Sev." At his impassive expression she continued, swallowing her pride as she said, "We're not dating. Sirius and I. It's fake."

He stared at her. "What are you talking about?"

"I… I fancy James and Sirius sort of suggested that we pretend to date, and I don't know. It got so complicated." He continued to stare at her for a few moments. When he hadn't responded for two minutes (Lily looked at the clock) she said, "Ok Severus, you've got to say something it's beginning to freak me out a bit."

"You fancy Potter?" He said the name with disgust. Lily nodded hesitantly. "You've got to be kidding me, Lily," he said. "You've got to be kidding me."

"Sev, I know this is a stupid idea, I just got caught up in it all, and I don't know. I feel like I've been a bit of an idiot where James is concerned. I absolutely despised him for years and turned him down so many times and as soon as he finally gave up and started dating someone else I realized my feelings for him." She sighed, "I don't think he still feels the same way."

Severus rolled his eyes. "Give me a break Lily, Potter's been in love with you since first year. Not that you'd be one to pick up on it."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

He sighed, "nothing."

"Severus," she stared at him.

"Lily, come on."

"No Severus, tell me what you mean. How would I not realize someone's in love with me?"

Well if that isn't the question of the century, I don't know what is, Snape thought. He shook his head. "This was a mistake. I thought— I don't know what I thought, but if you think I'm just going to complacently be your friend and listen to you pine after Potter, then you're mistaken."

"Sev—"

"Please don't call me that," he said staring into her eyes, pleading. "You know I can't walk away from you when you call me that and I have to right now Lily. I have to walk away." She looked completely confused. He sighed and stepped closer to her. "You are blind, Lily Evans," he said, and before he could think better of it, he placed a hand gently on her face and kissed her.

Lily was frozen, her hands resting uselessly on top of his shoulders. Of all the things she thought would happen today, kissing Severus Snape was definitely not one of them. His hand cupped her cheek gently, as if it were the most precious thing in the world. He kissed her softly, ending the kiss as quickly as it started, leaving them standing inches away from each other both in pure shock. Lily opened her mouth to speak, but before she could he quickly turned away from her, practically running down the hallway in retreat.

…

The game went off to a roaring start with Gryffindor scoring thirty points in the first three minutes and two Gryffindor players knocked off their brooms in retaliation afterward. Lily, however, had other things on her mind besides quidditch. She sat with her head in her hands next to Remus, who, being an observant friend, immediately knew something was amiss.

"What's wrong Lily?" This was his third attempt to engage her in conversation, the first two resulting in incomprehensible moans.

"Severus kissed me," she whispered, finally looking up at him.

Remus stared at her for a second, looking thoughtful. "I can't say I'm that surprised. I mean he seemed to fancy you for a while."

Lily looked at him, wide-eyed. "Really? Oh Merlin, I had no idea. You know what he said to me right before he kissed me? 'You're blind Lily Evans.' And he's not wrong, is he? I am such an idiot, here I was telling Sev how I fancy James and he just sits there and listens to it because he's a wonderful human being. Ugh!" She buried her face in Remus' shoulder.

He sighed and wrapped an arm around her. "You didn't know," he said softly.

"But I should have," she said to his shoulder.

…

After the game, (Gryffindor won 320 to 50 after a few spectacular saves and a stellar steal of the snitch by right under the Slytherin seeker's nose) the majority of the Gryffindors headed back to the common room to celebrate. Sirius came up behind Lily with James and put his arm around her.

"What'd you think of the game, Lils?"

She smiled, "not bad." Sirius was too caught up in his celebratory mood to notice, but James saw that Lily was worried about something.

A/N: Sorry this is up kind of late! I've just started school again and have been a bit busy. As usual, I love hearing what you think of the story! I'd like to thank KingTJStevens for always reviewing my chapters you're support is really appreciated :)