Disclaimer: They aren't mine. I used bits of the book to fit in with my plotline.

Summary: AU. What if he had never called her Mudblood? A short story about the relationship between Lily and Snape, beginning with his worst memory. LilyEvans/SeverusSnape.

Tagline: What if… what if he had never said the cursèd word?

The Prince, the Toerag, and the Lily

Chapter Four

On Holiday

'Oh look! Isn't it beautiful?' Lily pointed to a large building below them. James made a face that clearly said, it's only a building but he kept the opinion to himself, smiling at her. The sun laughed over the city, and his hand brushed against Lily's hopefully.

'Do you reckon we could get back to the hotel early and have a swim in the pool?' He asked, trying to seem as excited as he could about the prospect of walking around the hot city in the flaming sun for hours as she examined Muggle tourist attractions.

Lily nodded absentmindedly, and grabbed his hand. 'Look!' she exclaimed, pointing to a street sign. 'They have the Carnival parade here! Right on this street.'

James looked at her, startled. His hand was still in her grasp. He didn't care the least bit for the Carnival, only to slide his fingers through hers. When she realized that they were holding hands, she reddened, but didn't pull away.

'Lily?' There was a knock on her door. It was night, nearly a week into their holiday. Lily lay on her bed, writing an owl to her parents about how she and her friend Janie were visiting Macchu Picchu, when in fact she and James had just come from watching a springy couple tango in a tiny café in Buenos Aires.

'Yes?' She opened the door.

'Can I come in? I can't sleep,' James smiled at her. She smiled back reluctantly, opening the door a bit more.

'James?'

'Hmph?' A muffled sound came from under the pillow next to Lily's head.

'Can we stay in today? Can we skip all the sightseeing?' She asked, ruffling the bit of hair sticking out from between the sheets and pillow. He turned, exposing a grin.

'Merlin, you have no idea how long I've been waiting for you to say that!' She leaned in and kissed him. He suddenly seemed much more awake, and kissed her back, shoving her backward on the bed. She giggled.

'My hair! You're pulling it!' she swatted at his hand, under which a large gleaming red chunk of hair was caught. He kissed her, rolling her on top of him.

'There. Now you are welcome to pull at my hair,' James grinned, and Lily rolled her eyes.

I've been for a visit at the Malfoy Manor since you left, you know, working on the job search. I'm thinking of taking up a trip to Albania with some new acquaintances I've made. I was hoping to see you before I left. When is your holiday ending? I'll be leaving on Thursday. Owl as soon as you can.

Love,
Sev

'What are you reading, Lovely Lily Lady?'

'Oh James, stop it,' she swatted his hand away from the parchment, which only made him peer over her shoulder. She whipped her hair in his way and stood. 'I'm serious, James. Leave me alone.'

'Of course, milady, as soon as you tell me who the owl is from,' he tried to snatch it from her hand playfully. She lowered it, face glowering.

'Leave me alone, Potter. Just because we share a room that doesn't entitle you to examine all my stuff! It's none of your business,' her tone seemed to revert to the one she used when he had flirted with her at Hogwarts. James held his hands up, Disapperated. Lily sighed, sitting back down to examine the letter. There was a loud crack behind her, but by the time she had turned, face livid, it was too late.

'Snivellus? Love?' said a voice of disgust behind her. She hit him on the arm and waved her wand. Her things began to arrange themselves in her trunk.

'I was wrong, Potter. You really are nothing but an arrogant toerag!' She shouted, shoving a remaining few bits of parchment, postcards and her owl, Daisy, into their places. James grabbed her hand, forcing her still.

'Lily! You don't mean that,' he said, staring into her eyes as if hoping he could proof in them. But the lividness of the green was clear.

'Let go of me, Potter,' he dropped her hand.

'Please, Lily.'

'Toerag! Taking me to expensive hotels while mummy and daddy pay and trying to make me fall for you on an exotic holiday! I should have known it was all an act."

'Lil-'

'Don't interrupt me, Potter!'

'Right, I didn't mea-'

With a loud crack, her trunk, the owl cage and Lily herself had disappeared.

James stared at the place where she had last stood, astounded. The last month and a half had been the best in his life, even better than when the Marauders had first managed their Animagi transformations. His eyes swept over the room, now half-empty and he saw that she had dropped the letter. He bent over and picked it up. He felt the anger rise. She had just left him to see someone who was well on his way on becoming a Death Eater, if he wasn't one already. Who else hung around the Malfoy Manor?

Author's Note: Sorry bout the short short chapter. But it's a pretty short story, like I said. A bit of a prequel to the big ol' AU Lily/Snape story, like I said before. So keep an eye out for that, alright?