All of this belongs to J.K. Rowling!

Chapter 6

Lily woke the next morning, feeling slightly tired, but refreshed. She laid in bed and grinned euphorically into her pillow. Why was she so happy?
The events of last night flooded back to her in a rush. She shot upwards on her bed into a sitting position so quickly that it made her dizzy.
How had she let herself drop her guard like that? How could she let James do that to her? Make her so weak and vulnerable, but feel so protected and safe at the same time? No, she couldn't let that happen again. She resolved firmly to be more wary, stronger, more independent. James Potter would never see that side of her again. She got up and headed to the shower. James was in there; she could hear the sink running. She sunk to the floor by the doorway to wait. He never took long in the bathroom. She thought about their little adventure last night. After she had cried out all her tears, he had brought her back and said goodnight. That was all, but it had been enough. She never let her walls crash down like that. She had only ever let two people into her world, truly. Severus and Tuney. And what had they done? Betrayed her and scorned her. She wouldn't let her heart get trampled like that again, especially not by James bloody Potter. A few minutes later, James walked out of the bathroom, carrying his clothes in a bundle under one arm and wearing only a fluffy green towel, which was wrapped rather low around his waist.
"Bloody hell, Lily! You scared me!" James jumped back at the sight of her and blushed furiously. She also felt her face turning red as her eyes involuntarily stared at James's torso - tanned and perfect. Bloody hell was right! His abs were like a punch in the face, impossible to miss. He had the upper torso of a male model, probably better, with his six pack becoming more prominent with every inhale, and his solid-looking, bronzed pecs glistening slightly from the shower. Oh, Merlin, those arms...
"Sorry." They apologized at the same time as Lily forced herself to look at his face."
"I, er, thought you'd still be sleeping..." James drifted off towards the end of his sentence. Lily felt her resolve to stay distant from him crumble underneath his gaze that didn't quite meet her eyes. His facial expression was so opposite of what it usually was, now flushed, embarrassed and awkward. She giggled very un-Lilyishly. James looked at her with a somewhat hurt expression. His puppy-dog face just made her laugh even harder, falling against the wall and stomping her foot on the floor. She knew she looked like a fool, but she couldn't help it! When she thought she'd collected herself, she opened her eyes, but it was a mistake. His alarmed expression caused a whole new round of laughter. James's deep chuckles soon joined in with her shouts of laughter and he had lean against the doorframe of the bathroom for support. They were both on the floor, throats sore from laughing by the time they had collected themselves. "Why are you laughing?" Lily choked, rubbing tears off her face.
"I have no idea." James panted. "I think it might have been the fact that you are absolutely insane!" he gasped through his laughter.
"I am not!" she defended herself, "You should've seen your face, it was the most pathetic thing I've ever seen in my life." James scowled at her. "Well you are just the most pathetic thing I've ever seen in my life!" he countered. "What in the blazes were you doing sitting on the floor hugging your knees in front of the bathroom door in your dressing gown?"
"Waiting for the shower." she said as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. He rolled his eyes.
"Fair enough." He got to his feet, carefully making sure the towel covered his lower body. "If you don't mind, I'm going to get dressed." He said, turning around and heading towards his room. She gazed at wonder at his rippling back and tricep muscles. When he reached his door he turned and narrowed his eyes at Lily. "I do wish you wouldn't stare at my butt."
"I wasn't!" Lily shrieked a little too quickly. James grinned widely. "Okay, Lilypad."

Several hours later, Lily was humming to herself quietly and flipping through Quintessence: a Quest absentmindedly as she strode down to the dungeons for Potions. Suddenly, a clammy hand grabbed her arm and wrenched her into the shadows, causing her book to fall to the floor with a smack. A couple of students turned and gave her puzzled glances.
"Snape." she snarled when the greasy, black haired boy stepped out from the shadows. "Let go of me." He released her arm slowly.
"Hi Lily." he said cooly, but she could see the hurt in his eyes at her cold greeting. Why did he always do that? He had called her a mudblood multiple times since fifth year, he only hung out with his death eater friends, and he claimed he hated her. Then why, for Merlin's sake, did he always get that look on his face when he saw her? It drove her mad! Was that supposed to make her feel guilty? Well, it worked. Very well.
"What do you want, Severus?" Lily sighed.
"Lils..." he began. She internally cringed at the use of her old nickname. It brought back so many wonderful childhood memories of her and Sev's friendship. "I- this is our last year at school..."
"So?" she said harshly.
"I just- can't we be friends? I don't want to leave school on bad terms with you. Don't you miss me?" she gaped wordlessly at his pleading expression. How dare he? After being cruel to her all through last year, now he asks for her friendship? What was she, some sort of disposable companion, worthless for the most part, but able to be used whenever he wished? No. James had said that she gave people second chances too easily. Well, this was her not giving Severus his fifteenth undeserved chance.
"WHO THE BLOODY HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE, SEVERUS SNAPE?" She exploded angrily, causing several students to stop and stare in interest.
She watched the cold look seep back into his eyes and immediately regretted her outburst.
"I just thought we could be friends, but if that is not a pleasurable idea to you, it isn't necessary." He said smoothly, all stutter and emotion void from his voice. Was he bipolar? She was so confused as his black eyes bored into hers, lifeless.
She softened her tone slightly. "Severus." she hesitated. "I miss you like crazy, but I can't be around you. You say you love me, but you hurt me. You say you don't care that I'm muggleborn, but you want to kill muggleborns like me and put purebloods in charge. You say you're not interested in Voldemort, but I know that you're planning on joining him. You're a liar, Severus. I just can't figure you out." she shook her head sadly. "I'll be your friend, Sev, when you realize that we're all equals, muggleborn, half-blood, or pureblood.
"I don't understand why I can't be friends with you and Mulciber and Avery at the same time." he said cooly.
She huffed, frustrated. "I've told you this before, Severus. They. Are. Evil. If you enjoy being with them, you're not the person you used to be."
"Have fun spending your life with Potter, then!" Snape spat as she swept up her book and turned on her heel away from him. "He's the only one that will accept filth like you!" Tears of anger welled up in her eyes. She turned to face the greasy boy, knowing that her tears would make him feel guilty. Sure enough, horror filled his expression at the sight of her emotional pain. "And you have fun spending your life killing mud-bloods like me." Lily flared her nostrils and marched out of the corridor, brewing with rage at Severus and his stupid, horrible, evil friends. She stomped into Potions, surprisingly early, went to her desk and slammed her books down. The students who were already there scooted away from her apprehensively, knowing that an angry head girl is not a good thing. Lily laid her head on her arms in misery. She really did miss Sev, but how could he do this to her? Boys were so stupid. A few minutes later, when more students started coming in, she felt someone sit down next to her. Who would be stupid enough to sit next to her while she was in this state? Only... "James." she greeted him dully. He looked at her with concerned hazel eyes. Merlin, how was he so gorgeous?
"May I sit here today?" he flashed a charming half-smile. She buried her head back in her arms so he wouldn't see her ridiculously watery grin. She was obviously emotionally unstable today...
"I don't care." she managed to grunt, hoping she sounded indifferent. There was a long silence. She could feel his gaze boring into the side of her head.
She peeked at him. He was staring at her intently.
"What?" she asked, slightly exasperated.
"What happened?" he asked seriously. She was about to say "nothing." but that darn expression on his face...
"Severus." she admitted. James gave menacing growl. She turned to face him, startled. His anger was so apparent, blazing in his eyes, in his tense posture, in his flared nostrils.
"James?" she asked tentatively.
"I'm so sick of him hurting you." James growled, his hand clenching their desk. She was astonished by how much he actually cared about her.
"That berk..." James muttered angrily. She placed a hand gently on his arm. This did seem to help a bit, because when their eyes met, his had lightened up again.
"It's okay, James." she said reassuringly. Why was she comforting him?
"What did he want?" James asked, relaxing his tense posture.
"To be friends." she answered shortly.
"Blimey, that bloke has some nerve." James scowled at their table. "How many times did he call you the M word last year?"
"At least once a month." she answered sullenly. James rolled his eyes. "That was a rhetorical question." She couldn't help but smile. They sat there, facing eachother, Lily's hand still resting on his arm. Their eyes bored into each-others, both smiling. Lily's heart began to speed it's pace. She felt heat rise up to her face. Bloody hell. Was she falling for James Potter?