-I own none of this, that right and privilege lies with J.K. Rowling-
-I write because I enjoy it, please no nasty comments. Constructive criticism and random "hi"s are welcome-
Chapter 2: A Proposal She Couldn't Refuse
Over the next two years Severus and Lily got there share of strange looks and whispered muttering. As a general rule people from Gryffindor and Slytherin don't get along never mind date. In his seventh year Severus began taking private lessons with Professor Dumbledore to get occlumency and legilimency skills. Dumbledore couldn't, as he put it let Severus "Dangle from the arm of Lord Voldemort without first giving him the proper tools." He got so good at it that he could project thought to Lily during class without anyone noticing, and even once or twice he'd helped her out during a test without letting her know it was him.
***
Nearing the end of August two summers after they'd finished their final year at Hogwarts, Severus Waited for Lily after she finished work at a small apothecary in London. Lily stepped out into the bright evening sun light, her whole face lighting up as she saw him. Lily rushed over to him and he held her, remembering once again the first time he'd held her like this, that fateful night,
"Lets go for a walk" Severus suggested slyly
"Alright" Said Lily eyeing him suspiciously, "Since when do you walk?"
"Since now." He grinned back
"Fair enough, where are we going?"
"It's a surprise. Hold on" He said clutching her closer to him as he disapparated.
They reappeared on an old winding lane and Severus pointed the way. Lily took his hand as they set out.
"How was your day at the school?" Lily asked
"More of the same," He replied "Slughorn thinks I'm nearly ready to take over as Potions Master, and Dumbledore gave me more instruction, The Order's having its first official meeting tonight by the way" Lily pressed herself closer to him, once again hoping that Severus would make it out of this war alive.
"Lil I'm the only one who can do this.'' He said having just heard her thoughts as clearly as she herself had.
"That's not polite Severus." Lily said her criticism made entirely weightless by the way she smiled up at him while she said it, her eyes tearing up.
"Well I am, only Slytherins 'Go bad' remember? And I'm the only Slytherin in The Order"
"I know," She whispered "but I don't have to like it Sev, I worry about you."
"Please don't Lily" He said as he nudged her to the right.
"I can't help it." She said as she saw where he'd taken her, back to the playground where they'd met. The halfway point between there houses, the place where he'd told her what she is. Severus dropped her hand so she could walk farther in. Lily turned back a few moments later after she'd taken it all in, it was exactly the same. She then saw Severus down on one knee, Lily began to cry. Severus stood up immediately,
"Lily... Oh Lily don't cry." He said wiping the tears from her cheeks.
"I'm trying" Severus took her left hand in both of his and knelt back down.
"Lily Evans, I love you. I've loved you since I was ten years old, I will love you still when the sun goes cold and the earth stops spinning. Will you marry me?" Lily couldn't speak; she opened and closed her mouth several times. Severus got up.
"You don't need to say yes Lily; you don't need to say anything at all." He said his head drooping.
"No Sev, I..." Lily was crying again "Yes" she finally managed to choke out ''Yes." Severus was stunned, he'd never let himself hope she'd say yes, but he'd had to try. Lily took him by the hand and led him back out of the playground.
***
Severus saw where she was taking them, to her house. He looked down at her quizzically.
"We need to tell my parents." She said giggling a little at his mortified expression.
"I guess, I should give you this them." He said reaching into his pocket, Severus pulled out the most beautiful ring Lily had ever seen. The ring was white gold; it had a diamond pattern engraved around the bad. The stone was a ruby deep red and flawless surrounded by seven small emeralds.
"Sev…" Lily could hardly spear, "You… you didn't have too."
"Yes I did Lily; you always believed the best of me, even when I didn't deserve it. And you forgave me when I deserved your hatred. Besides Flamel made the gold and Dumbledore the stones all I did was put it all together. And the engraving." He added as an after thought, pointing to the inside of the band.
Lily read the tiny curling script and threw her arms around his nick. The band read simply Always.
When Lily pulled back Severus slipped the ring on her left hand.
"I would have given it to you earlier," He said. "But you started crying."
"I couldn't help it Sev," Lily said smiling up at him. "Let's keep going though, or we'll have to apparate to get there before dark."
Lily's parents were thrilled, they'd known Severus for nine years and unlike Petunia and her friends, Lily and Severus never seemed to fight.
Petunia was a different story though; she wouldn't be in the same room with them for longer than the time it took to glare furiously. But they'd expected that much.
***
-Thank you all for reading this chapter of my story-
-Love Always-
-Lily-