CHAPTER TWO

It was the morning of the Hogsmeade trip and the air had grown a little chilly since the sun was not out as it had been for the last week, and a cool mist had seemed to settle over the grounds. Lily was in the 5th year girls' dormitory digging in her trunk looking for her scarf.

"Lils, what are you doing in Hogsmeade today, anything special?" asked her best girlfriend Alice.

"No not really. Just the usual, hanging out with Severus."

"Lilly, I know he's your best friend and you don't want to hear a word against him, but I think he has had a hand in all those first year hazings."

"What? No, he would never do that. Now I don't doubt that his good-for-nothing Slytherin friends would."

"Are you sure he hasn't been joining them recently?"questioned Mary Macdonald while twirling a strand of her blonde hair.

'I'm not discussing this anymore," snapped Lily. She immediately felt bad. Her friends were only trying to help and sometimes, though she would never admit it, she secretly worried that they weren't that far off base.

"Fine. Let's discuss this then. Severus fancies you," stated Mary.

"Oh my God. Please, not this again," Lily groaned, and slumped back on to her four poster bed giving up the search for her scarf.

"Frank says the same thing." Alice added as she threw a pillow from her bed to Lily's.

"How did Longbottom end up in this conversation? For that matter how does he end up in every conversation we ever have? Oh that's right because you fancy him!" Mary taunted Alice.

Alice blushed then threw her remaining pillow at Mary while yelling, "Well not as much as you fancy Sirius!" which prompted the throwing of many different objects. Lily joined in on the fight when a rouge shoe flew by narrowly missing her ear. She was grateful for the distraction from the topic of Severus.

……….

Severus wondered around his dormitory getting ready for Hogsmeade. He tried not to think too much about Lily and pretending that it was possibly a date. He wasn't having much success. He instead tried to decide whether or not to bring a coat. He didn't think he would need one, but it was a little chilly and Lily might get cold. Just then Mulciber and Avery banged into the room.

"Snape, want to help us smuggle some fire whiskey back into the castle?" Avery asked.

"Can't but save me some."

"Aw come on. Wait are you hanging out with that Mudblood again?"

Snape stiffened trying very hard to control himself. "Yes."

"Well just make sure you shower before coming back in here. I don't want you stinking up the room with her filth," spat Mulcieber.

"For scum she does have a pretty banging body though." Avery added with a leer.

"Oh so that's it. You just want a quick shag. This isn't the way to go about it though, too much work. There are some pretty hot fourth years around. Just tell them you have something to show them then pull them in a broom closet. Nice and easy."

Snape stood still and clenched his fists. He forced himself to let out a strangled laugh. Luckily Mulciber and Avery were already on their way back out the door. Once the door closed behind them Severus turned to rummage through his trunk. He found what he was looking for at the very bottom. He pulled it out and set down on his four poster bed while running the fabric through his fingers. Lily had left it behind in Herbology on a wintery day. Severus had taken it with the intention on returning it to her soon, but it still smelled like her so he couldn't bring himself to part with it. He laid back on his bed and continued to finger Lily's scarf waiting for his anger at Mulciber, Avery, and most of all himself to pass.

………..

"We have to hit up Zonkos. I'm running dangerously low on supplies."

"I second that notion, Prongs."

"Why thank you Padfood."

The Marauders minus Remus made their way down to the village. Remus wasn't feeling too well since the full moon was happening that night. The other three were all keeping in mind that they wanted to get back to the castle earlier than usual for the night's festivities.

"Hey maybe we can get Rosmerta to slip us some fire whiskey under the table so we can sneak it back to the castle for tonight," suggested Sirius.

"Ah it sure is great to have an old Hogwarts' student working at the Three Broomsticks. It makes for an excellent supplier. It also doesn't hurt that she finds me so boyishly attractive," added James.

"Ha! You think that you're the reason she always helps us out!? Please "boyishly attractive"… what she wants is a real man like me," said Sirius.

"Oh come on everyone knows I'm the hottest guy at Hogwarts."

"Who does "everyone" include? Moaning Myrtle and the house elves? I am by far the most attractive guy at the school or for that matter ever!"

"Looks like we have to agree to disagree."

"I disagree unless you will agree with me."

"That didn't even make sense"

"Yes, it does you git…."

"Hey guys. I'm freezing can we head on over to the Three Broomsticks to warm up?" Peter interrupted.

"Yeah sure Wormtail," James answered a little bit surprised. He hated to admit it, but he had almost forgotten Peter was there which was an easy thing to do.

"Well let's get a move on then. Rosey is waiting for the hottest guy in Hogwarts to stop by. I bet she's even wearing that very nice red low cut number," Sirius said with a wink.

"I better get there quick then I wouldn't want her to think she got all dressed up for nothing."

…………

Lily and Severus had just made their way into the Three Broomsticks. Lily set down at one of the tables, and Severus made his way to the bar to order. While Lily sat, she watched her best friend make her way to the bar. She couldn't help but notice that he had gotten taller and his shoulders had gotten broader. Loud laughter interrupted her thoughts. James, Sirius, and Peter had just entered the small pub. She barely had time to wonder where Remus was before James had slid into booth beside her.

"Hey Evans! Can I get you a drink?" James asked with a wink.

"No James. The answer is no like always," Lily replied with a sigh.

"So," interrupted Sirius. "You decided to ditch Snivellus. I always knew you were a smart one."

"Actually no she didn't ditch me, but I'm sure she wouldn't mind if you lot left," Severus interjected as he returned to the table two butterbeers in hand.

"Ha Ha Ha, Evans you really know how to keep a joke going, but you still need to learn that eventually it gets old," James said to Lily not even looking at Severus.

"And YOU still need to learn that not everything is a joke." Lily said pointedly while standing up to join Severus and taking her butterbeer out of his hands.

"Evans has anyone ever told you how sexy you look when you're angry?"

With that Lily dumped the contents of her butterbeer bottle on James's head.

……………………………

James had left for the bathroom to clean himself up. He would have hexed Snape to pieces for laughing, but in the crowded Three Broomsticks that didn't seem like such a good idea. But Snape would get his eventually. James was a Marauder after all.

While James was in the bathroom Sirius and Peter found them a table. Madame Rosmerta came to take their orders. After some serious flirting from Sirius she agreed to sneak them some fire whiskey later as usual, and went to bring them three butterbeers for now. After she had moved away from their table, Sirius saw Snape winding his way through the tables up to the bar.

"Hey, Pete. I Think I have an idea, just play it cool ok. When Snivelius comes by our table, I will put the plan in action. We need to teach him a lesson that he can't one up a Marauder."

"Ok… But wasn't it Lily who poured the butterbeer on James," questioned Peter.

Sirius just rolled his eyes in response.

As Snape made his way back through the tables and neared the Marauder's table Sirius began talking in a loud voice. "So Peter I can't wait for tonight. We will have so much fun. I can't wait to sneak out to the Whopping Willow at about midnight." When Snape heard this he paused about a foot from the Marauder's table. Perfect, thought Sirius. He fell for it.

Sirius then changed the subject and Snape walked away. "Sirius what are you doing!? Tonight's a full moon. Remus will be changed!" squeaked Peter.

"Aww Wormtail don't get you panties in a bunch. We are just playing a good ole trick on Snape. Don't tell James though, I want it to be a surprise," finished Sirius in a rush as James headed back from the bathroom.