Severus had always wondered what it would feel like to slip the bonds of gravity without a clumsy broom beneath him. The fact that it felt like a pair of soft lips upon his own amused him to no end. Slender fingers were walking through his hair, teasing lightly along his scalp, and curling into that cascade the colour of kohl. For once in his life, he didn't feel inadequate. He didn't feel ugly or awkward. His nose wasn't too large and his skin wasn't too pale. He wasn't James Potter's whipping boy or Sirius Black's target. He was Severus Snape and he was kissing Lily Evans, and everything was right with the world.

"Sev..."

"mmm..."

"Sev, what if...mmm..." She was trying to form coherent thoughts but his lips were so warm. She'd felt so cold while she slept, always cold. His hands are warm too, she thought, as they cupped her face, his thumbs stroking the hollows of her cheeks. "...What if Pomfrey comes back?" she said, forcing her lips to quit his for a brief moment.

What's a Pomfrey? he thought momentarily. Whatever it was, it wasn't important he decided as he took her mouth again, nibbling on her bottom lip, relishing the fact that this, this was his...this kiss was happening and nothing could change that. He felt that he would forever covet himself in this moment, always long for his own experience greedily...and Merlin, she tasted so good. The lingering bitterness of the potions was gone. She didn't taste like cherries, or chocolate, or any of those other things people always claim, she tasted like flesh and warmth and Lily, and nothing could ever be better than that.

"Mr. Snape, if you're not careful to quit that this instant, I might find myself catching you any moment."

Ah yes, that's a Pomfrey. Severus withdrew his mouth from Lily, though her hands lingered in his hair for a moment longer. "Yes, Madam Pomfrey, I'm sorry...I..."

"Yes, well, it seems everything is in order here. Mr. Snape, I believe it would be best if you returned to your dormitory for the evening. Miss Evans' convalescence will continue much faster with less...exertion on her part."

"Yes Ma'am," he said with a nod of his head, feeling the flush rise in his cheeks and a gratefulness bloom in his heart. I swear if there is ever anything I can do for this woman, all she has to do is ask. She swept away and he turned to Lily, who was also reddened by the blush in her cheeks.

"I'll be back before breakfast tomorrow." He took her hand and kissed her folded fingers lightly. He walked from the infirmary, still marveling at the fact that gravity was such a feeble thing.

"Oi Sev. I hear your little mudblood girl's pulled through. Maybe those demons cleared up some of that dirty blood for her."

"Don't talk about her like that Mulciber! EVER." It figures, as soon as he walks back into his shared room, gravity comes back with all its binding fury...but what could one expect being buried in the dungeons?

"Look...Snape, I know you care for this...Lizzy person, but you need to face facts. The Dark Lord is coming to power. You do realize that right?"

"Lily. I don't want to talk about The Dark Lord Mulciber."

"Maybe you should want to Snape. The evidence is all around you...we grow stronger every day. Think about it. He wants to meet you, you, a halfblood! Do you realize what an honor that is?" The contempt in his voice was guarded, but evident. To think that He-Who-Should-Not-Be-Named would garner for the attentions of a muggle sired half-breed made the bile rise in his belly. It's not that he found Snape particularly offensive, hardly. He was Slytherin through and through, his skills with magic, dark and light were honestly, quite a bit more than admirable; it was just the principle of the matter. "Perhaps if you found yourself among his ranks, in his inner circle, he'd allow you to keep her."

"'Keep her?' She's not a pet Mulciber!"

"Better a halfblood's pet than an undertaker's burden, Snape. Mull it over. Look...Lucius has asked me to bring you to the next meeting. I know you admire him...and for all he did for you while he was here at Hogwarts; you owe him that much."

"I'll think about it alright? For now will you please just piss off?"

"No worries mate, I was on my way out anyway. Avery and I've got detention tonight thanks to that old cow McGonagall."

The days continued to pass and Lily's recovery was proceeding swiftly. Severus still spent all of his free time in the infirmary, sneaking a kiss with Lily now and then. Granted, Pomfrey had shown him unspeakable grace once, but he didn't really care to tempt fate by being too bold. Word had gotten around that Lily was pulling through and a few visitors were being allowed in after meal times.

James made his way to the infirmary, more than a bit put off that Madam Pomfrey had failed to inform him when Lily awoke. He rounded through the ward until he saw that flash of red hair...he failed to notice the column of black right next to it...well, for a moment.

"Alright Eva...SNAPE! What are you doing here you snivelling bast..."

"Potter!? Why are YOU here?" said Lily before he could finish his insult towards Severus.

"I'm here to see you of course, I've been sick with worry!"

"Yes, I'm sure it's been torture," she said in a tone so dry and flat and full of loathing that Severus couldn't help but wonder if he'd actually spoken the words.

"You're the reason I'm even in this blasted condition!"

"Me? What? How on earth is this my fault? Snivellus is the one..."

"…that saved me. Yes, he is. I was so upset about that stunt you pulled, you know, the one where you practically molested me and broke the heart of the man I love. Sound familiar? I ended up roaming the around grounds so distraught that I wasn't paying attention to where I was. It's hard to see with that many tears in your eyes you know! Before I knew it, I was in that stupid, forbidden forest...and then...well you can figure out the rest!" she said, yelling, holding up her bandage wrapped arms.

Lily and James continued to spar but Severus' mind had snagged on one particular proclamation. '…the man I love…' Dear Merlin…love? She loves me. What world have I fallen into? This…this can't be my life…she loves me, me, Severus Bloody Snape! He was suddenly ripped from his revelry however when he felt strong hands gripping his robe and slick spittle landing on his face.

"I know about the map too you prick. Remus told us all about it! You'll give it back if you don't want to end up in here yourself!"

Ah, so Lupin had been up to something…figures. "Who's to say I have it anymore Potter? Maybe…maybe I lost it. Tsk, tsk, it seemed to be…such a useful little piece of parchment," he said with cold indifference.

"Well, if I were you, I'd set myself to finding it…" He released Severus' robes and slammed the flowers he'd brought for Lily roughly into Severus' chest, causing him to let out a gasp of air.

As he stalked away, Severus tossed the flowers into the rubbish bin by the bed. Though he was still breathing heavily and his chest hurt a bit from the thump, he couldn't force himself to think of James' anger, the map, or Lupin's betrayal.

"You love me?"

"What?"

"When you were yelling…you said…you said you love me. Did you mean it?"

"I…" Lily's mind raced. Had she said that? She was so angry, she was trying to come up with anything that would hurt that arrogant toe rag…she's said she loved Severus? Do I love him? She looked at him, standing before her with an intensity in his eyes she'd never seen before; through all their years together, this growing thing between them…the spark she knew was there suddenly took flame.

"YES! I love you!"

Severus bent to her bedside and crushed his lips to hers, embracing boldness as his arms wrapped around her, pulling her to him… Fate and all its temptations be damned.

AN: I'm going to try to end this with some modicum of sufficiency fairly soon...I feel I'm losing my ground in it. I don't know. I wish I'd taken more time to plot it...as I can actually write a cogent story when I try! :(