One day he heard them talking. He was a third year and imagining what he could possibly say that would speak "Lily, do you want to go to Hogsmeade with me?" "Of course, Sev. I always go with you." "No, I mean with me…."

He heard them talking. Black with his careless grace, Potter with his arrogance – scheming at how best to get Evens – they called her Evens! – to Hogsmeade with Potter. Severus felt his blood boil and reached for his wand because they were degrading, insulting her –

The werewolf said, his voice casually naïve, "But isn't Lily Snape's girl?"

The others laughed uproariously. Severus felt his anger reach pitch and heart leap in a towering pull of conflicting emotions….

The werewolf shrugged it off, "Just something I've heard people talking about." They walked away and Severus stayed hidden behind the corner. He'd let them go…this time, and raced off to go find Lily, where she'd ask him what he was smiling so about.