Here's the next chap. Thank you guys for all the wonderful comments so far. I'm really glad that there is still interest in my story.

Disclamer: Harry Potter and characters belong to J.K. Rowling.

Why First Years Are Not Allowed to Own Brooms

It was a chilly November morning at Hogwarts and a line of twenty-six, rosy cheeked first years bounced about the Quidditch pitch. Except Severus Snape of course, who's eyes were sharp and focused. He was going to make his mother proud today. He imagined owling her about his natural knack for flying a broomstick, about how he would be a great Beater just like she was and she would send him back a letter (which would be her first of the term) glowing with pride and encouragement.

"Sev," Lily tugged his hand, "Come stand next to me," she pulled Severus to her side and he shifted a bit uncomfortably when he noticed he was a Slytherin boy sandwiched in a line of babbling Gryffindor girls.

The two stood in front a pair of sad looking school brooms. Severus had considered taking his mother's broom, but it was ancient in her day and he would have been laughed off the pitch if he brought it.

"We're going to fly!" Lily piped before feeling rather silly for pointing out the obvious, "Your mum was a good flyer right?"

Severus nodded enthusiastically, unaware that James and his gang were making their way toward him.

"Your mum played Quidditch, Snivellus?" James asked loudly enough for most of the class to hear, "A girl playing Quidditch?"

"And what's wrong with that?" Lily turned red.

"Nothing, nothing," James said hastily and winked, "Especially if you decided to play, Evans," the class tittered.

Severus said nothing but glowered more viciously than any eleven year old should have been capable of. His knuckles were white on his wand. He and Potter's gang had already had several altercations this term, usually with him losing in some embarrassing way. The only time he stood a chance was when Lily was with him, Potter seemed less inclined to torment him or others he perceived to be unworthy of his presence.

James ran a hand through his already messy hair, "I know everything about Quidditch at Hogwarts so I would know if your mum was any good or not or if she even played. I could see you lying to impress your only friend."

The class burst into "oohs" and sniggers as Severus leapt forward. James and Sirius drew their wands, Peter squeaked in excitement and Remus pretended there was something very interesting off in the distance. Lily leapt in front of Severus.

"That git isn't worth the effort, Sev," she said quietly.

"What's her name Snivelly? Or are you making up stories for your girlfriend?" James taunted.

"Eileen Prince!" Severus snarled.

"Eileen…Prince," James looked thoughtful before a look of recognition swept across his face and he began to howl with laughter, "Beater for Slytherin? 1954 to1958? Merlin's beard!" he gasped for breath, "When I first saw her picture I thought she was a man! Ugliest broad I've ever seen, sure it wasn't your dad?"

Severus tore away from Lily "STUPEFY!"

James was thrown into his three friends and they toppled over like bowling pins.

"Enough horsing around boys," Madam Hooch approached looking distractedly at her clipboard. The first years hushed and ordered themselves.

"Alright, put your brooms in front of you," Madame Hooch instructed and all but Remus, Lily and Severus, who had to use school brooms, put theirs on the soft grass. James and Sirius both had Nimbus 500's, the finest models to date.

"First, I want you to say 'up'," she instructed. They obeyed, only a few came to their owners, Severus and Lily were included.

"It worked," Lily said with surprise.

"That's because you're not afraid," Severus said, "You're too brave to have a little thing like flying frighten you."

"Now, one at a time, when I tell you, I want you to mount your brooms, then hover a few feet from the ground," She pointed her quill absentmindedly at Severus, "You first boy, the stringy one."

The class laughed as Severus stepped forward. He would show them. He mounted his broom and rose slowly. The broom gave a sudden jerk and he was nearly thrown. It shot upward twenty feet and began swirling, doing figure eights, and violent spins. It was almost all Severus could do to hold on.

A blonde girl next to Lily was clutching her sides with mirth. Lily gave her a sound sock on the arm, mounted her broom and flew after Severus, kicking dust onto the blonde girl's robes. The girl growled, mounted her own broom and took off after her.

Severus was hanging upside down by his knees when he saw it. Potter had his wand out with a great smirk on his face, mumbling under his breath. He drew his wand from the tangle of his robes and fired a curse at him. James's hands shot to his face as giant green boils began to swell. He regained his balance just as Lily reached him.

"Sev, are you alright?" she asked, "What--"

At that moment she was rammed by a girl with blonde hair, "These robes cost twenty Galleons!"

Severus was so distracted by the collision he barely had time to dodge when Sirius zipped by him snarling, "Greasy git!"

Soon most of the Slytherin and Gryffindor first years had taken to the skies despite Madame Hooches shouts and threats. Curses and hexes were being fired in every direction. Peter had taken the chaos as an opportunity to sneak out to the equipment shed and release several Bludgers.

James and Severus were dueling violently. Severus glanced James with a curse and took the time to check on Lily who had solidly defeated the blonde girl and was now tangled with what was probably the girl's friend.

She looked quite intimidating, his Lily. He loved when she departed from her silly sweetness, and politeness she held around most people and let loose. She could be so witty, so passionate, so powerful. He thought back to their summers and the Muggle school when she—

WHAM!

Stars burst in front of his vision and his broom dipped. He tried to reach the ground. He felt the top of the grass brush the tips of his toes before everything went black.

"—Two cracked ribs, one broken arm, three concussions, one missing nostril, one smashed jaw, and cuts and bruises in Merlin knows how many places!" Madame Pomfrey shrieked, "And for what? So a bunch of children can zip around on brooms too powerful for them and they are obviously not ready to control? I've always said…" Severus closed his eyes again.

"I should be up later today," Severus assured Lily who had come to see him in the infirmary the next morning.

"I have good news and bad news," she said while she pushed his hair back and fluffed his pillow, "Bad news is, they found Avery's nostril."

"I never thought you would begrudge someone their nostril," Severus grinned.

"Well, for Avery I'll make an exception…y'know he actually looked better with one nostril…"

Severus started to laugh, but stopped because his ribs hurt, "What's the good news?"

"Potter is out of the infirmary," she stopped, "Oh wipe that look off your face I'm not finished. He's out, but Madame Pomfrey sealed his jaw shut for the next few days so it would heal properly."

Severus's eyes misted over, "No Potter running his mouth off," the two looked at each other, "Do you know what this means?"

Lily smirked, "Payback."

Severus gave his low laugh but winced, "Head hurts," he said.

Lily eyed the bandage on his head, "You want me to kiss it better?"

"Mrk," Severus choked.

She pecked his forehead and asked, "Feel any better?"

He was at Hogwarts, with Lily, who had kissed him. The day was clear and sunny, James Potter could not run his mouth, he was at Hogwarts, Lily had kissed him…

"Mmhm," he sighed and he shut his eyes for a bit.

What do you guys think? Reviews are always appreciated.