A.N. Ok, so most of you want them long. They're going to be a bit less often then, I'm afraid. Plus, guess who drove her dad's car into a drystone wall? Damn thing jumped out at me…
Disclaimer: Jo writes children's books. Here is an example of what she would NEVER write:
'I'll get him for this!' James bellowed as they walked away, his cheeks burning as humiliation and rejection bubbled together in a seething mass, mutating into fury. 'Stupid git' Lily sighed 'Don't let him ruin this. Come on, we're going to celebrate'. Severus raised an eyebrow. Lily laughed 'No, that's not what I meant. I'll show you. You won't believe what I've found, it's incredible…' she led him along a dusty old corridor that Severus had never seen before. To his surprise, a doorhandle appeared from nowhere in a wall of unbroken stone. Lily led him inside and he was, despite himself, impressed. 'What is this place?' he asked, looking around. 'No idea' Lily admitted 'But it gives you whatever you ask for. Best bit is Potter and his gang haven't discovered it yet. In fact, I've never heard anyone mention it. It's just ours, I think'.
The room was decorated as a tropical paradise, presumably to match the season outside (though there are few places but Scotland that consider 15ºC tropical). It had a comfortable hammock, just room for two if they were willing to squash up, a cabinet full of snacks, a hot tub and what sounded remarkably like ukulele music.
'I wanna go in the hot tub' Lily decided straight away. Severus looked suspicious. 'This isn't just a clever ruse to get me to wash my hair, is it? After all, we both know I take pride in my greasy locks. I spend all my time devising new ways to reach the height of slimyness, and don't think I'll be tempted by the thought of you in a bikini'. Lily managed, just about, to keep her face straight. 'Alas, foiled' she placed the back of her hand to her forehead theatrically 'I admit it; I just couldn't stand it any longer. I was beginning to get scared it would grow wild and eat me. And it's a good job you won't be tempted, because I don't have one'.
Severus was surprised at how innocent Lily managed to look, even now. He would have been even more impressed if he had noticed her kick the swimsuit, that had appeared after she had lamented her lack of one, to a far corner of the room. 'Turn around' she demanded. Severus stared. 'Because I might see you naked?' he asked, amused. There seemed little point in modesty after the previous night. 'Yes' Lily said seriously 'I'm retaining an aura of mystery'. Severus complied as she unbuttoned her shirt. 'Ah' he said, trying not to listen to the rustling behind him 'This would be because…?'
'Because' Lily grunted, hopping around, struggling with the fastener on her skirt 'If I don't, you'll get bored and screw some Slytherin whore. And then I'd have to kill her. And I doubt there's an adequate supply of moisturiser in Azkaban, and as my skin dries out really quickly in cold weather, my lips would chap. And we don't want that, do we?'. Severus was nearly speechless. 'Oh' he blinked 'Right. I suppose not. Witch Weekly?'. Lily nodded, forgetting he couldn't see her 'Yeah, where else would I get crap like this? You can turn around now, by the way'.
She was sat in the hot tub, bubbles coming almost up to her shoulder blades, smiling coyly. The bottom couple of inches of her hair were floating gently on the tide. He took a deep breath, yet sounded oddly breathless when he spoke 'Wow. Ah, well, I, um' she cut him off. 'Shut up and get in, Sev' she laughed. Severus shrugged. 'Fine. Close your eyes'. Lily stared. 'You're kidding'. 'No' he replied, deadpan 'If I don't retain an aura of mystery, you'll get bored and screw some Gryffindor bastard, and I'll be forced to torture him mercilessly. I'll be sent to Azkaban where there's no sun, and frankly, if my skin gets any paler I'll be blue'.
Lily did as asked, the corners of her mouth twitching. He turned away from her and began undressing. Lily couldn't resist. She cracked an eye open and grinned. Her heart began to pound as she watched the curve of his pale back, sending her blood where it believed it was needed. She took a deep, steadying breath and closed her eye again, for her own good. She heard a slight splash and looked up to see Severus sitting uncomfortably opposite her. Sighing good-naturedly, she waded her way across and settled herself on his lap. Though he instinctively reached out to steady her by placing his hands at her hips, he was clearly petrified.
'Now you'd better not be getting any ideas' she murmured, threading her fingers through his hair 'I'm still sore from last night. Honestly, it feels like you split me in half. I'm still not walking straight'. Severus gulped. 'Wouldn't dream of it' he replied hoarsely, desperately trying to focus on her eyes and not let his own wander, pushed by teenage hormones. He looked away, but she placed her fingertips on his jawline and gently pulled him back to face her. 'Embarrassed?' she teased. He nodded. He had never been able to hide anything from Lily.
'Why?'. He frowned, unable to think of a rational answer. 'Uh. Because I'm not wearing anything?'. Lily's lips curved upwards bewitchingly 'So am I. Fair's fair. I'm not embarrassed'. Severus rolled his eyes. 'Yeah, but you've no reason to be. You're probably one of the most gorgeous girls in the school'. Lily tapped him lightly in reprimand. 'I'll let the 'probably' go, for now' she mock-warned 'But I still don't understand why you're so insecure. You really ought to have stopped that by now. Do you think I'd do anything like this if I didn't really, really want to? I don't care what anyone else thinks. As far as I'm concerned, if they can't see how shiver-inducingly, breath-stoppingly, dream-invadingly attractive you are, they're mad'.
Lily had dropped her hands to his shoulders by this point, and ignored the snort of derision from the Slytherin. She stroked them delicately under the water, memorising every dip of his skin and every arch of his bones. Sliding her hands behind him, she drew his chest forwards and pressed herself firmly against him. She trailed one hand up his neck into his hair and dragged his mouth down to meet hers. She grinned and licked her lips when she eventually pulled away. 'Love you 'she murmured, staring into his eyes, intense and endless darkness.
Severus looked away. Lily was surprised when he gently but firmly pushed her off him. 'I can't do this' he muttered, staring at the bubbles 'I'm corrupting you'. Lily reached out to him 'Maybe I like being corrupted' she suggested. Severus shook his head, his face hidden behind his long hair 'I'm nothing you say I am' he said despondently 'You ought to be with someone you can be proud to be with'. Lily smiled 'I am proud. I'm probably the first Gryffindor girl in a thousand years to bag a Slytherin. It's quite an achievement, what with you lot being so cold and calculating. You're impossible to read'.
'Don't joke, Lily'. She frowned. 'Sev, are you fishing for compliments?'. He snorted contemptuously. Lily sighed. 'Sev, I understand you get insecure sometimes, though I don't understand why. But you've got to believe me' her tone became sincerely worried 'I need you just as much as you need me. You know how many of my friends have guys who'll listen when they're having cramps, let alone work two nights straight on a potion so advanced even Slughorn hadn't heard of it?'. Severus scoffed 'You were in pain, what was I supposed to do, let you suffer?' Lily ignored him.
'And how many of them even dare dream about a guy who knows them better than they know themselves? One who they know loves them for them, not just their bodies, because they spent six years being perfectly happy as friends? None of them. I'm damned lucky, so don't you dare sell yourself short'. Severus sighed deeply. 'Lily…' he started, but she glared at him. 'You're dumping me, then?' she asked coldly. Severus looked alarmed 'No! Of course not, I just…' 'Because that's classy, the day after we slept together…' Severus managed to get a word in eventually.
'Lily, don't be stupid' she scowled at him 'I wasn't suggesting anything of the sort. I'm still getting over the idea you want to be with me. Hell, I'm still getting over the fact you're my best friend, let alone…' he blushed. He seemed to be doing an awful lot of that in the past couple of days, and he didn't like it one bit. Lily raised an eyebrow 'Lovers?' she suggested. Then she giggled. 'Honestly, don't we sound grown up if I put it like that? Not like us at all. Sev, you have to understand, this is just what I expected to happen, sooner or later. Friends, then best friends, now, and I dare say we'll end up getting married and churning out a couple of kids some day'. His eyebrows rose. 'You know' she mumbled, looking at the water 'If you want them'.
Severus allowed himself a small smile. 'You've picked out names already, haven't you?' he asked teasingly. Lily grinned guiltily 'Maybe'. Severus groaned good-humouredly 'I hate kids'. Lily cocked her head. 'Even with me?' she asked. He considered it for a moment. 'I suppose not' he said reluctantly. Lily smirked 'What if I had a kid with…uh, someone ridiculous…Lucius Malfoy?'. Severus sighed 'This is going to be a long game, isn't it? Ok, no, I guess not even if it was half Lucius'. A wicked grin spread across her face 'What about…James Potter?'. A dark look passed Severus' features. 'Now that would be the line. I'd probably be so pissed off you'd slept with Potter, Merlin forbid' they both shuddered, though the water was warm 'I'd make their life a living hell. So you'd better not go off with him, if only for the sake of the children' he finished, mock-solemnly.
'Damn, there goes my plan for this weekend' she laughed 'I'll just have to settle for you'. The mood significantly lightened, Severus and Lily gladly resumed their business. After a while, Lily started to yawn, so they got out and dried themselves on the large fluffy towels the room immediately provided, and got dressed.
'Tired now' she mumbled, leaning on the Slytherin's shoulder. 'Ok, don't fall asleep just yet' he said, carefully guiding her over to the hammock, then laying her down into it as gently as he possibly could, brushing her flaming hair from her face with his long fingers. She whimpered a wordless protest, pulling him down with her. 'Sev' she bleated, half asleep. 'I'm here' he soothed, lying down next to her 'It's ok'. She rested her head in the crook of his neck and breathed in deeply, inhaling his scent. He covered the pair of them with his cloak and stroked her hair tenderly. She was asleep in moments.
She woke up hours later, glancing at her watch and panicking. 'Shit!' she exclaimed 'It's eleven o'clock! We should have been in our houses an hour ago! Sev, why did you let me sleep?'. He looked at her guiltily. 'I thought you might have needed it. You didn't get much last night'. Lily's expression softened. 'Aw, Sev. I don't deserve you. Come on, let's sneak back before we're caught by the prefects and get a year's worth of detentions'.
He reluctantly rolled out of the hammock and grabbed his cloak, following her from the room. He was just as surprised to see the door disappear as if it had never been there. With a final kiss, they parted and made their separate ways to their houses.
A.N. The next chapter is written, but I won't post it until I get a few reasons to distribute cookies. It's nowhere near as rambling and fluffy as the last chapter, you'll be glad to hear. In fact it's quite dark, as James lives up to his promise and Lily argues with her friends. Damn, I've told you what happens, you won't want to read it now. ;-)