Note: Sorry about the number of errors... I can never seem to catch them all... This chapter didn't come out exactly how I wanted, but I still thought it ended up pretty cute... I had so much fun writing it ... So without furthur ado...

Chapter two

Hands touch, eyes meet

Sudden Silence, sudden heat

Hearts leap in a giddy whirl

Don't dream too far

Don't loose sight of who you are

Don't remember that rush of joy

The rest of term wore on with much of the same torment. The workload, boring classes and unfriendly students were the same as always. Like every year, Snape sat alone in the common room or the library studying for tests or doing his homework nearly every night. On weekends he read all day long about powerful spells and dark potions, longing to use each one on James Potter. Enthralled with powerful spells, Snape loved to study ways of controlling his enemies best of all. Everything was the same as always except one thing. One terrible, fearful feeling that had crept into Snape's thoughts. It was her. It was that unsettling thought of the Gryffindor girl that wouldn't let him rest. He saw her everywhere now. In the corridors he saw her laughing with her friends, studying quietly and demurely in the library, attending the lesson studiously in her classes. Even when she wasn't around, Snape could see her smiling countenance when he closed his eyes. He felt as if he'd caught some incurable illness that was slowly killing him, like dark flames were burning him steadily from within his chest. Whenever he saw her the cruel flames would grow stronger, making him ache with sickness. He detested this new affliction, and yet… it fascinated him. The more he tried to ignore it, the more powerful it became. He sat there in the joint Slytherin and Gryffindor classes, stealing glances at the back of her dark red plait, longing to know her name.

One day as Defense Against the Dark Arts was coming to a close the Professor, a short, bespectacled woman, handed back the midterm tests to the students.

"These tests had egregiously bad scores. I'm disappointed in every one of you… Except Mr. Snape that is. He managed to scrape one-hundred and ten percent, the only O in the class. I hope the rest of you idiots can maybe take a page out of his book and learn something for once!" She shouted, looking quite irritated. Snape wished she hadn't of said anything at all; Potter and Black would surely have a field day. Concentrating on the test paper in front of him, Snape remained silent. Once the Professor began lecturing the students on another topic, Snape looked back up. Once again he felt the uncomfortable sense of vertigo overcome him. The red-head was looking back at him. She was smiling. Feeling sick, Snape's eyes snapped back down at his paper, his curtains of hair shielding his burning face. He forced himself not to look up for the remaining thirty minutes of the class period. Once the bell's emancipating clang announced the end of class, Snape shot out of the classroom before Potter and Black could notice he was gone. Speeding down the hallway towards his next class, Snape heard his name being called from behind him. He didn't dare stop, but chanced a glance over his shoulder. When he saw who it was he tripped clumsily over his own feet. The red-head was trotting in his direction, her shining hair flowing behind her as she ran. Throat seizing up, Severus had no choice but to stand paralyzed as she reached him.

"Hi!" She said, slightly out of breath. Two pink patches played across her cheeks. Snape couldn't move.

"Oh…" He coughed. "Hello…" His eyes shifted nervously.

"That's amazing how you got that grade on the test! I could barely get a B!" She smiled at him. Snape studied her tone. It wasn't mocking or unkind. Feeling very awkward and odd-footed he replied to her.

"Um… Thanks, I guess…" He couldn't think of anything else to say, he could barely hear over the pounding blood in his ears.

"Maybe you could teach me sometime, huh? I think I'd need the help… I'm Lily by the way, Lily Evans." Snape tried to smile back at her, but knew that he must look very pathetic and unattractive. He managed a nod. She looked at him a moment longer, then her eyes unexpectedly darted down to his forearm where the long, jagged scar was. Lily put her fingers to her lips.

"Oh my gosh. Did James do that to you?"

Snape hide his arm behind him and shook his head. "Potter wouldn't have the guts."

"I'm sorry he treats you that way, Severus. It's really-"

"I'm used to it after four years. I don't need anyone's pity…" As soon as he spoke he wanted to crawl to somewhere dark and die. Lily stared at his with he sparkling eyes. They were so clear and beautiful. "Er, I mean… Well… I didn't mean to…" Severus felt idiotic. His usually pale face had become quite red. "Aggh, I'm… Sorry…" He turned on his heel, robes billowing around his ankles and sped off towards Potions with the Ravenclaws.

Snape sat through the entire period not hearing a word Professor Slughorn said. In his mind her name repeated over and over again.

I'm Lily by the way, Lily Evans.

Her eyes were so beautiful… He could see her face swimming before him. Feeling guiltily pleased, he found it hard to concentrate on anything but her clear voice and emerald green eyes.

I don't need anyone's pity…

His own voice echoed in his head. Severus was muddled with a mixing feeling of embarrassment and slightly shameful joy. What was this annoying feeling? Why wouldn't it just leave him alone?

The flames burned in his chest all day long, pestering him constantly. He sat enveloped in thought into the evening where he sat staring into the crackling fireplace. Did he…possibly…like her?

The very thought was ridiculous to him. A Slytherin… like a Gryffindor? Preposterous.

Even more so, the most unattractive and undesirable boy in all of Hogwarts fancy a stunning and vivacious beauty like Lily Evans? It was laughable. It was almost depraved. She probably hates me… she just pities me because I have no friends…

Even the thought of her pure kindness towards the outcasts of the school was enough to make an uncontrolled wave of affection rise towards her. Snape felt confused and licentious. He wished whatever enchantment started the wicked fire within him had never visited him.

Look at it clearly… Even if you did like her, which you don't… Nothing could ever come of it, understand? You're not the type of person that gets caught up in things like this… You're Snivellus, the dark and angry loser who obsessivly studies dark magic. If you hope for something you can never get, you'll only get hurt. Just calm down and-

He felt a tap on his shoulder. With an unexpected hope that Lily would be there, he turned around speedily. When he saw it was a Slytherin girl called Cleo Mulligan he felt even angrier and more ashamed of his feelings.

"Hey Snape. What're you doing out here?" She spoke without feeling. She was referring to the fact that Snape usually remained holed up in the dormitory, reading. She had short, sleek, jet-black hair that hung around her chin. Her eyes were dark and deep and contrasted with her stark white face.

"Just thinking. What do you want?" He asked her, showing as little emotion as she did. She smiled, her red lips curling gently.

"I heard how well you did today… You know a lot of the Dark Arts don't you?" She asked. Snape knew she already knew the answer.

"Yeah, I know a bit, I suppose." He mumbled blandly.

"I admire a man who seeks power like that. Maybe you could come hang out with me and my friends sometime." She gestured towards the other end of the common room where a ring of older Slytherins sat in a ring. Snape knew these people weren't a wholesome bunch, but held a lot of power over others in the school. There was no doubt they were all heavily involved in the Dark Arts. The prospect of joining a group that could help Severus exact his revenge on James and offer him protection was quite tempting. He smiled at Cleo.

"You know…" He began to accept her invitation, but something suddenly stopped him. What would Lily think of that? She wouldn't admire someone who was in that sort of group. He faltered for a moment, then looked back into Cleo's black eyes. "Maybe sometime…" He said almost dispiritedly.

"Well, anytime you feel like it we'll be okay with it…" She gave him a careless wave then moved to join the ring.

Snape went to bed that night feeling just as confused as ever. It was a long while before he drifted off to sleep.

The city of Hogsmeade was brimming with energy. It was the second visit of the year, scheduled right at the end of the term. There were Christmas displays and all of the Shops were bustling with Hogwarts students buying holiday gifts. Snape stood in the snow, alone, wondering why he'd even come. He plodded around the village from sometime in the snow, feeling cold and unhappy. He hated the end of term always because it meant he'd be home very soon. As he walked up the path leading away from the center of the village, he though that how every year as soon as he'd gotten used to his miserable life at Hogwarts, he always had to be swept back away to the misery of his home. Walking slowly up the path and watching his breath turn white on the air, he climbed the steep slope lined with trees. Away from all the laughing and loudness of the village it was much more peaceful and enjoyable. Taking the winding trail up more and more, he emerged onto a sort of snow covered plateau. A chain link fence was there to greet him with a jagged opening cut in the center of it. At the end of the long winding path that meandered through a white plain littered with various piece of junk stood a dilapidated mansion. Severus stared at it, wondering how long it had been there, rotting. The broken shingles were piled high with snow and the windows were boarded up. In the front yard was a dead tree in which several skeletal crows were roosting.

"Scary, huh?" Said a voice by his shoulder. Snape was surprised to see Lily standing beside him once again. Why are you following me? He thought, feeling a mixture of anger and excited joy. He turned back to the sight of the decaying mansion.

"More like unsightly…" He said dryly. Lily giggled and Snape's heart leapt, though his face didn't show it.

"Don't you know what that place is? It's the Shrieking Shack! They say it was built on a cursed burial ground by a super rich ministry worker. The story goes that when the family moved in, the father went crazy and tortured them all to death. The townspeople say you can still hear their ghosts screaming in agony every so often." Lily spoke with exhilaration and delight. Snape raised an eyebrow.

"I don't believe it." He said shortly. Strangely, his pounding heart calmed slightly, but the flames in his heart burned brighter than ever.

"You don't, do you?" Lily looked over at him grinning, one hand on her hip. "I dare you to go inside then." She said playfully. Snape looked over at her.

"Why would I do that?" He asked simply. Lily shook her head and laughed.

"You are scared, huh?" She teased in a playful way. Snape gave her an aloof glance.

"I am not. I'll go if you really want me to…" He said, glancing sideway at the creaking house.

"All right then, let's go!" She started off on the path. Snape stood still for a moment, then caught up to her. She looked quite content, the cold air creating two rose colored patches on her cheeks. Her green eyes looked out towards the horizon.

"You're going to come with me?" He asked, confused. The vertigo was beginning to clear from his head.

"Of course, I have to make sure you won't just run away." Snape couldn't find anything to say to this. He looked down at his feet as they moved ever closer to the house. Passing torn chairs and broken pieces of furniture in the yard, the atmosphere of the Shrieking Shack was definitely not the sort that made someone feel welcome. Severus looked over at Lily and noticed something around her neck.

"That's a nice necklace." He said averting his eyes. He hoped if he gave her a compliment it might make up for his rudeness before.

"Oh this?" Lily touched the silver pendant around her neck. It had a shining ring of silver set with a pale blue stone. "My mother gave me this necklace when I was born. I haven't taken it off since I was three." She smiled, looking at the stone with sentiment in her stare. Snape smiled back feebly.

"Your family must be pretty well off if they can afford things like that. What's your mother's profession?" He asked. Lily stopped for a second and laughed a tad nervously.

"Erm, she's a… doctor actually." She spoke demurely, not catching Snape's eye. He looked over at her fixatedly.

"You're half-blood?" He was amazed that someone of her magical talent wasn't pureblood. She looked less enigmatic than usual.

"Muggle-Born, actually." She admitted, shrugging. Snape at once felt a rush of understanding and admiration. For so long he'd hid the fact that he himself was half-blood and for her to come out and admit her heritage without worry was extremely brave. He smiled genuinely for the first time in many years. Lily seemed to notice and she returned the smile.

"That's…" He voice seemed to be caught. He cleared his throat slightly, looking forward towards the destination he was growing closer to. "That's brave of you to say. Some people care a lot about that heritage stuff…" He hoped that he'd shown her that he didn't mind if she was Muggle-Born. She replied almost at once.

"Oh God, yes. I'm always so worried about who thinks I'm inferior to them. I really want to prove myself worthy, you know?" She seemed to be confiding in him. Another wave of happiness washed over him.

"You don't need to prove yourself at all. You're already one of the most talented witches in Gryffindor." Why Severus found it so easy to be nice to Lily he couldn't figure out; it seemed to come naturally.

"Thanks for saying so." She stopped suddenly. "Oh, look. We're here." Snape looked forward and saw they stood in the doorway of the Shrieking Shack. Although he was frightened at all, he had to admit to himself it was a pretty creepy place. He put his hand on the door and pushed it open. "Wow… You're actually going to do it, huh?" Snape stepped inside, looking around. It was dusty and reeked of mildew.

"It's really nothing to be afraid of." Snape said, shrugging. Lily took a few careful steps inside, looking around warily with a smile on her face.

"Let's look around, come on…" She moved towards the stairwell and put a foot onto one creaking step. Severus followed her, dust rising from his footsteps as he moved across the floor. Jagged claw marks were torn into the wall paper and at the top of the stairs a dark stain greeted them. They both looked at each other, then slowly moved on towards the gaping hallway. As they passed into the dark arching hall, Lily gave a nervous laugh. She didn't look nearly as confident as before and fell into step behind Severus. Halfway into the hall Snape froze and extended his arm, signaling her not to go any further.

"Stop. Listen."

Voices echoed from the room at the end of the hall. The muffled sounds of laughter and footsteps were quite audible. Lily shot an alarmed look at Severus.

"Let's get out of here." She whispered urgently, tugging at Snape's sleeve.

"Wait a second. I know that voice." He hissed back. Listening closer he could make out the words.

"Try again, Sirius! You almost had it that time."

"I'm dead tired mate, let's go back."

"One more go, come on!"

Snape narrowed his eyes as a triumphant feeling rose in his chest. So Potter and his little minions were up to something and they were using this old mansion as a secret base. Snape smiled, thinking the day couldn't possibly get any better.

"I knew they were up to something!" He said a little too loudly. Then silence resounded. Lily backed up behind him.

"Who's there?" James' voice called from behind the door. Snape stood still. He wanted to escape, but the prospect of catching James doing something illegal was much too tempting.

"Severus, let's go!" Lily, grabbed his arm and tugged. The door swung open violently and a red stunning curse shot out and knocked Snape and Lily over. Lily screamed a little and her hand flew to her neck. Snape opened his eyes and saw he was lying on top of her. A little trickle of blood was smeared across her soft, white neck.

"WHAT THE HELL!?" Roared James' voice. Snape tried to move his bruised legs and get off of Lily before anything could happen but James got there first. He ripped Snape off of her and tossed him aside.

"Evans! What's he done to you? Are you safe? Are you still-" James tried to pick her up.

"Get off of me!" She slapped James' hand away. "Don't be so rude, James. If it wasn't for your bonehead curse, none of this would have happened!" Lily winced in pain. She'd cut her neck when she fell.

"Lily, I'm sorry about tha-" Snape started to apologize for her cut and for falling on her.

"Hey, what makes you think you're allowed to speak to Evans, grease ball?" James rounded on Severus. Snape sneered at him. Peter Pettigrew and Sirius came out of the room at the end to see all the commotion.

"I wouldn't talk like that, Potter, me knowing about your felonious plans in your secret clubhouse. I don't think the headmaster would take to kindly to that." Snape flaunted the point, smiling. He took supreme delight in seeing the panic-stricken look on James' usually smug face. Lily stepped between them.

"Look, you two… Stop fighting, we're going to be late getting back and this is just stupid…" She pleaded. James' expression darkened.

"Sorry, Evans, I gotta teach this worm to keep his goddamn mouth shut and to never touch you again." James walked to Severus, looking him dead in the eyes. Without warning he gave him a quick punch in the stomach, then backed away, letting Severus fall to the floor, gasping for breath. Snape looked up at him with the utmost loathing, grasping his stomach.

"James! How could you?" Lily pushed James aside and helped Severus to his feet. Her sudden touch made Snape feel sick with nerves all of a sudden. The vertigo had returned and it was worse than ever.

"Evans, what are you doing?" James asked, regaining that frenzied look of rage Snape saw in him before. She stood back from them both and looked quite displeased.

"I can't believe you two! Going at it like little children! I'm leaving." She turned on heel and stormed out of the door. Snape and James watched her go, then turned and glared at one another, mutual hatred streaming from the both of them. Sirius and Peter still stared from the doorway.

"You can leave now, but not because I feel like it. It's because she told me to." James said through gritted teeth. Snape made to move but James grabbed his shoulder. "And Snape, if you ever touch her again I'll grind you to a pulp…" Anger boiling within every inch of him, Snape turned to leave. He was about to descend the stairs when a sparkle in the dust and gloom caught his eye. It was Lily's necklace, lying forgotten on the ground. His first reaction was to pick it up, but he knew Potter wouldn't let him walk away with it. Pretending he was simply brushing the dust off of his robes, Snape continued down the stairs silently and left through the door, purposely leaving it open. He darted to the side, and crouched behind the tall dead bush that sat dying beside the front door. He saw Lily going back up the path alone and felt a twinge of sorrow. Everything had been going so well. If only Potter hadn't shown up…

He closed his eyes and listened to the muffled voices within the creaking wood building. Potter's arrogant tones resounded in the house for what seemed like an hour more. The sun was setting behind the cobbled rooftops of Hogsmeade. Snape knew he'd be in a lot of trouble for coming back late, but he didn't want to let Lily's precious necklace be consumed by the darkness and dust of the Shrieking Shack. Finally, when the low rumbling of voices disappeared, Snape chanced a look inside the house. It was even darker than before, but there was no sign of Potter or his faithful fellowship. Walking inside the Shack alone and at night was much more unnerving, Snape had to admit. Climbing the stairs as carefully as he could, he reached the top almost silently. Looking out for anyone, Snape searched the floor for several minutes before he found the necklace. It was hooked around a bent nail that had several drops of blood on it. Snape picked up the delicate chain and saw it was broken.

"Reparo…" He whispered, mending the broken chain with his wand. He smiled somewhat serenely. With a sudden shock the ceiling above him groaned with what might have been footsteps. Lily's voice replayed in his head.

…the father went crazy and tortured them all to death…

…you can still hear their ghosts screaming in agony….

Severus looked around, trying to control his heartbeat. He sped down the stairs and out the door. He didn't stop running until he cleared the twisted chain link fence, where he collapsed, supine, in the snow. He panted, the frosty air stinging his lungs. Inky black and dull red were staining the sky above him. Stars twinkled like tired lamps in the winter sky. Snape dangled the silver chain above him. He stared at the twisting and dancing pendant then, closed his eyes and let his arm fall to the side, losing consciousness completely.

He awoke in the pitch black hospital wing hours later. He sat up in bed and rubbed his temples with his hands. Suddenly he realized the necklace was no longer secured in his palm and looked about frantically. Plunging his hands into his robes he felt the delicate chain and smooth stone in his pocket. He looked outside the window. Snow fell steadily, a soft purplish light shining through the clouded panes. His body felt weak and sick, but in his chest the fire that had been ignited some months ago burned strong. He had won over Potter in the end and he was one step closer to expelling the entire group for good. He fell asleep with a crooked smile on his pale lips.

Lily stood outside the Hogwarts express, distraught. She hadn't seen Severus or James at dinner last night. What's more she heard from Slughorn that Snape had been found lying in the snow outside the Shrieking Shack, unconscious. She couldn't feel at ease knowing that one or more of her friends could be hurt. The scarlet steam engine gave a shrill whistle, signaling the students to board. Sighing, Lily picked up her bags and moved towards the train. Just as she was about to step on, she felt a light tap on her shoulder. She turned to see Snape, looking pale and dismally weak. In his hand he dangled her silver necklace. Lily gasped, and put a hand to her neck and felt with horror that it really wasn't there.

"Severus… you… how did my…are you all right?" She sputtered.

"You lost it at the Shrieking Shack when you fell…" He said, trying to sound detached and sour. She stared at him dumbfounded. He knew that she

somehow understood what he'd done for her. His cheeks burned again and he shook it a bit. "Just… take it already…" He mumbled, looking at the ground. Her expression changed from surprised to affectionate. She was so beautiful and the tender glance from her stunning eyes was shockingly lovely. Snape felt his heartbeat rise painfully high. He tried to hide his blushing face by shielding it with his dark hair. For some reason Lily just wouldn't move. With a sigh of frustration, Severus grasped her hand roughly and shoved the necklace in her palm. Flustered, he pushed past her and boarded the train, not stopping to look back even for one second.