I'm not JKR!

Iphooqui, thanks for spotting my ridiculous typos!

Chapter 8— Dahlia

Lily was relieved to find James in the common room when she returned from her final patrol duty of the evening at 9 pm; it was time to tell him about Severus. She was surprised that there weren't very many people around, but then again, everyone tended to be more studious at the at the start of term. Lily had played out a hundred different scenarios in her head about how this would go but nothing felt quite right; she'd just have to wing it.

"Hello, Evans. How was your day?"

"It was good, thanks," she said sounding sweeter than she wanted and having a seat next to him. "How'd your schedule turn out?"

"Good. Good. I'm happy with it."

James seemed more mellow than usual, which didn't help matters. It'd be easier to deliver the news to him if he were being his usual arrogant, annoying self.

"That's… good to hear," she said awkwardly tapping her hands on her knees. "Where are your friends?"

James gave a half smirk and looked at her over his glasses. She hated that she thought he was kind of good looking.

"Excluding you… Sirius is off trying to woo Mary. Peter is off getting ready for bed and I suppose Moony just hasn't returned from duty."

"Ohh," Lily said, hardly listening at all. "So how was your summer?" she asked after a moment, hoping he'd return the question.

"Pretty uneventful honestly," he replied, waving at Remus who'd just entered through the portrait hole.

It seemed that the sight of his friend switched something on in James because he sat up straighter and ruffled his hair before turning to look at Lily and speaking.

"Say, Lily? Why don't you go to Hogsmeade with me on the first weekend trip?"

Lily sighed. "I can't do that, James."

"Oh c'mon! You have given me every possible excuse in the book. It's the first day of school. No one else could have beaten me to asking you and I'm asking so early that you'll absolutely be able to plan your schedule around it, c'mon. Why not? I mean I can take a hint… you don't fancy me— yet, but couldn't you just give me a chance? I'm asking for one date."

"I'm seeing someone else."

James looked taken aback for a moment. "Who? Not that Hufflep—"

"No. Look, James… I'm seeing Severus and—"

She was cut off by James's loud outburst of laughter. She stared at him fiercely, waiting.

"Snape?" he began between laughs, "that's a good one, Lily."

"Tell me why I would make a joke like that about someone I've always called my best friend?" James had irritated Lily enough to make the whole conversation much easier.

He looked at her stone cold expression for a moment before speaking. "Don't tell me you're serious."

Lily's expression didn't budge.

"Holy Merlin, you are," he said blowing out a deep breath and sticking a hand in his hair. He slowly slid his hand down his face before grabbing both of Lily's hands and looking her in the eye. "Are you insane? I mean, have you completely lost your mind? Have you looked in a mirror lately? You are too good for him."

"And you're better?"

"Yes, absolutely, enormously, one hundred percent… Because I don't just mean you look too good for him, Lily. I mean you're too good for him. Too good-hearted."

"Oh please, Potter," she said removing her hands from his. "You're a bully. You and friends pick on Sev and hex him for no good reason. He only defends himself."

"I could argue that point but I wont right now because that isn't what I mean. I mean bigger. I mean good and evil. Gryffindor and Slytherin. Dumbledore and Voldemort."

"I haven't got time for your sick generalizations and prejudice, Potter."

"Lily it is the truth! You Know Who recruits Slytherins for a reason—"

"Because most of them are purebloods and he likes that. Go figure, your blood is purer than Severus's. Should I stereotype you? Or since you buy into all of that business, shouldn't you be making some ridiculous assumptions about me?"

"You're being ridiculous! You know what I mean. I'm not pulling this out of my ass, Lily. You're being dense. If it weren't for that stupid boy you'd be saying the same damn thing as I am and you know it! Even if he is, which I don't think for a second… but even if he is the sole exception, how do you think he is going to get out of it? He got sorted into that retched house for a reason. I can't let you ruin your life, Lily— and this is that big, yes. If you keep associating yourself with that shifty boy and that house, you'll end up dead. I never would have imagined you could be so stupid. I should probably go to Dumbledore and make sure that greasy git hasn't got you under the imperius curse."

Lily slapped James in the face and stormed out of the common room leaving him sitting there with his head cocked to side in shock and a bit of saliva hanging from his open mouth. She headed for the prefects bathroom, instantly regretting her dramatics. She was usually really good with words but she hadn't felt so enraged in a long time. She knew deep in her heart that James meant no harm and was genuinely concerned for her but he always got away with spewing any random arrogant thought that popped into his head and in that moment, the only thing she could think of was knocking some sense into him, literally. In hindsight there were a number of things she wished she said rather than hitting him… or in addition to hitting him at least. She felt bad that she didn't stand her ground and verbally defend Severus.

When Lily got to the bathroom, she splashed some cold water on her face and took a few deep breaths. This was not how she wanted to start off her year but despite her displeasure at how it went down, at least James was aware of her relationship. She didn't really care how everyone else found out about it. All she could do was hope that those with negative comments would just keep them to themselves.

Lily woke up early the next morning and rushed down to breakfast hoping to find Severus there, which she did. "Hey. Do you want go eat outside with me?" she asked.

"Yes, I'll go with you. I've already finished eating though," he replied, gathering up his things.

Lily rolled her eyes in frustration but said nothing upon catching the title of the book he'd been reading as he put it in his bag, "Infamous Dark Wizards." She grabbed a banana off the table and took his hand.

Severus looked at their linked fingers. "So… I guess you told Potter?"

"I did."

"How'd that go?"

"Awfully. I hit him."

"You… hit him?" Severus asked, surprised that he didn't have the pulling urge to snigger or make some snide remark.

"Yes."

"I think, perhaps, some elaboration is called for…"

"There isn't much to say. I do wish I hadn't slapped him and I have every intention to apologize. He just said some really stupid things but he was really upset… but obviously, so was I."

"Right," Severus responded. As much as he disliked Potter, he couldn't stop from thinking that he just as easily could have been in his position. He shuddered after imagining how he would feel if the tables were turned and Lily broke the news to him that she was dating his arch-nemesis and slapped him all in the same night.

Lily picked a spot by a tree near the black lake and sat down. "But I really don't want to talk about him right now. What time is your first class?"

"Nine."

"Mine too. We've got about half an hour before we should start heading off," she said with a sigh.

Severus rested his back against the tree and pulled Lily close to him. She felt instantly soothed by the smell of him.

"Can we officially make this our thing, Sev? Will you meet me out here for breakfast? We could do homework or anything else… I just want to make sure that we get at least a little quiet time together everyday. We can find a new spot to meet when it gets cold… or for when it rains."

"That sounds good to me," he said kissing the top of her head.

"I love this…. When it's just me and you."

"Why is that?"

"Well…" she started, playfully sitting back on her heels. "For one, I can tell you all the dirty little details of the dream I had last night."

"Oh?"

Lily nodded eagerly and chewed on her bottom lip.

"Tell me about it," Severus prodded.

"Alright. Now let's see…" Lily closed her eyes and ran her fingers through her hair. "We rode together for the whole ride on the Hogwarts Express. We had an entire compartment to ourselves and played exploding snap nonstop, laughing about times we had over the summer. When we got to school, we skipped the welcome feast and went straight to the common room—"

"Whose common room?"

"Our common room," she replied with a smile. "It seems my dream mind forgot all about the different houses… and now that I think of it, the inside of Hogwarts looked a lot like some strange combination of your bedroom back home and the inside of Flourish & Blotts but it was all ordinary to us… anyway, I went to set my things on the table and you came up behind me and placed the softest kiss just here," she said grazing her fingertips across the skin just below her ear. She laughed, "then it all proceeded rather quickly from there. Your hands went under my skirt and I bent myself over the—"

Severus's eyes had about popped out of head when Lily stopped speaking, her eyes fixed over his shoulder with a grin playing at the corners of her mouth.

"I'll have to finish that one later," she said.

Severus turned to see Mary Macdonald apprehensively approaching. He wished she would go away.

"Good morning, Lily. Hello, Severus. I hope I'm not interrupting anything!" She said sounding honestly apologetic.

"Well ac—" Severus started but Lily cut him off.

"No, of course not, Mary! What's up?"

"Well I was just wondering if you might've grabbed my care of magical creatures book instead of your own. I'm only curious because I was sure I left my schedule inside of mine but I can't find it."

"Oh, possibly. I did rush out quickly this morning. Let me check." Lily pulled the textbook out of her bag and opened it up. "Ah, yes. This one is yours."

"Great," Mary said sounding relieved. "I don't have my schedule memorized yet and I wouldn't have had time to go looking around for it before class." Lily and Mary exchanged books. "I'll see you in class. Don't let me forget to tell you about last night!" Mary said animatedly.

"Oh, right! I wont!" Lily said looking eager to talk with her departing friend.

Severus rubbed her arm. "Why don't you go talk to her now? It's almost time for us to go anyway… Better than having to sit all the way through class waiting to hear about last night!" he ended teasingly.

"…Okay then. I'll linger in the transfiguration classroom. Maybe I'll catch you on your way in," she said squeezing his fingers. "Mary! Wait!" she called out before grabbing her bag and starting to walk off. Severus stood and returned a wave to Mary. Lily stopped walking when she was about half way to her bouncing friend. She turned, ran back to Severus and kissed him on the mouth. "I love you," she breathed into his ear before rushing back toward Mary.

Severus stood there for a moment and reddened when he realized that several random people were staring at him.

Severus made it to herbology fifteen minutes early. He pulled out some parchment and ink.

Lily,

Meet me outside of the room of requirement Friday after class. Perhaps you can show me more about that dream of yours.

Always,

Sev

Knowing Lily was a fan of his artwork, Severus absently drew little pictures at the bottom of the note until it was time for class to begin. He listened very carefully in herbology. It wasn't one of his favorite classes by a long shot but it had very significant applications in potioneering. It would do him well to master the subject. Luckily he shared the class with Natalie who seemed be a natural when it came to handling plants. She also seemed at ease when talking about plants and had plenty of useful information to share with Severus.

As promised, when Severus arrived to Transfiguration before lunch, Lily was waiting there. She had a free period and was heading to the library to get going on the truckload of homework Professor McGonagall had assigned. "Here," he said passing her the note he wrote earlier. There were several students doing a poor job of pretending not to watch their interactions.

Lily exited the classroom and read Severus's note with a blush.

"Is it true, Evans?" someone shouted.

Lily tucked the note in her robes and looked up to see Frederick McLaggen looking at her with his usual smug expression.

"Is what true?" she asked knowing very well what he was referring to.

"Are you dating that weirdo Slytherin kid?"

"Bugger off."

"Oh I'm sorry Evans. I s'pose that was a bit rude. What's his name St-Sne-everson?"

"His name is Severus, and yes I am dating him," she said with a sigh. This was going to get old really quickly.

"Hm. Didn't realize you were into the dark, brainy wizard thing. Had I known, maybe I'd have put on a little show for you."

"You don't know him and I honestly don't very much like you so please stop talking to me."

"Got a bit of fire in you don't cha? It's true you slapped Potter then?"

Lily ignored him and hurried into the library where she sat at a table with Alice. "I don't know how long I'll be able to take all of the questions and snide remarks about Severus," she said in a low voice, opening up her transfiguration book.

"Yes well… you know… it'll take people a minute to get used to it. I'm still adjusting to it myself. I mean, it was always obvious that he fancied you but because you never showed any interest like that, he just seemed sort of creepy… like he couldn't take a hint or something."

"And James didn't seem that way?"

"Well, he did but… he's funny you know— not to say Severus isn't, I really wouldn't know but James is so outgoing and forward. You don't have to fill in any holes about him. There isn't anything to piece together. With Severus, people just link together the few pieces of information they have. He's in Slytherin, he obviously isn't very wealthy, he's a brain and he likes reading about dark magic… It doesn't really create the best image, does it?"

"Honestly I don't see what's so bad about it. I suppose the books are strange but he doesn't mean anything by it. He reads about everything. And have I done anything in my past to give people the impression that I'm a dumb girl? Have I been swayed by any idiot boys?"

"No and that is 90% of the reason why I know that this is okay."

"Well I'm glad you trust me."

"I do. And be strong, Lily. People will badger you for a while but don't let any doubt work into your decision to be with him. Frank and I had a huge falling out after I met Mrs. Longbottom over the summer. She's a very… opinionated woman and I let some things she said really get in between Frank and me. Luckily it's all worked out now but it was a tough summer."

"I'll keep that in mind. I can just be so impatient sometimes."

Severus pouted all the way to the quidditch pitch where wizarding recreation was held. The instructor for the boys had not arrived yet but he could see that the girls had already begun their lesson on the other side of the field. They all had broomsticks. He thought he caught a glimpse of Lily's hair when he heard Sampson call him. Severus started to walk over to him when James Potter and Sirius black stepped into his path.

"What do you think you're playing at, Snape?" James spat at him.

"I'm not playing at anything, Potter," he replied and made to walk around the two boys. Before he could take two steps Potter shouted, "Fodio!" hitting him with a powerful stinging hex. Severus retaliated quickly, "Engorgio skullus!" Potter's head swelled to five times it's regular size causing him to sway round and round in attempt to keep his balance.

"Now your head matches your ego," Severus said quietly. He made to walk away again but Sirius shouted a jinx that caused Severus's feet to stick to the ground and then he quickly returned Potter's head to its normal size.

Severus took the opportunity to try out one of his homemade spells on Sirius, "Ungues accretus!" Moments later Sirius's toenails busted through his shoes and grew so rapidly that he was knocked off his feet.

"Sit around making up new hexes, do you Snape? Remember how that worked out for you last year or do you need reminding? Levicorpus!"

Severus effortlessly blocked the spell, feet still stuck to the ground. James released his feet and the two began rapidly throwing jinxes and hexes back and forth. Sirius awkwardly contributed to the fight from the ground. Most of the spells were dodged or blocked but by the time the instructor arrived and worked his way through the crowd to break it up, Severus was wearing a dress and had a severely bloody nose, James was fat and bald with two small horns growing out of his head and Sirius's toenails were still getting longer. They were all given detention and sent to the hospital wing.

That evening Lily busted into the hospital wing fuming.

"Your boyfriend looks at home in a dress, Lily," James said, still bald.

"Have a thing for men in women's clothing, Potter?" Lily said storming past him and stopping at Severus who was sitting at a desk writing. "Are you okay?" she asked.

"I'm fine," he replied a bit short, his upper lip stained red and his right eye a bit puffy from one of the stinging spells.

"What are you doing?"

"Under threat of detention for the rest of the year, writing a counterjinx for Black," he said through gritted teeth.

Lily looked around and gasped when she saw Sirius. His toenails had grown out and so long and curled under so much that it looked like he had a basketball on the end of each toe. "Severus!" she chided.

"I didn't do anything!"

"So these two did all of this to themselves?"

"I mean I didn't start any of it. Ungues Restoralis Originales!" Severus shouted at Sirius. The huge masses of nails disappeared but were replaced by something distinctly more claw-like than toenail-like. Sirius literally growled and would have jumped out of the bed if his feet weren't so sore.

"Tut-tut. Not quite, Severus. Try again," Madam Pomfrey instructed.

"I think it suits him," Severus said under his breath, scribbling out some lines on the parchment in front of him. "Ungues hominem Restoralis," Severus sighed flicking his wand in Sirius's direction again. Madam Pomfrey inspected his feet and his toenails appeared normal.

"Very nice adjustment, Severus but make sure this is a lesson learned. All of you!" She said looking sharply at each of the boys.

"What about my hair?" James asked sounding a bit hysterical.

"It should be back to its usual state of disarray in two to three days," she replied.

James stared daggers at Severus.

Madam Pomfrey drew the curtains around James and Sirius's beds with a flash of her wand and went into her office.

"You really shouldn't try out made up spells on people. What if you hadn't been able to undo it?" Lily asked quietly.

"Please, Lily. It took me all of two minutes to create that and the same to undo it. I'd have done it sooner if it hadn't taken three hours to get my nose to stop bleeding, or rather, running red fluid because I'm sure I would have bled to death if it had actually been blood. Do you really think Madam Pomfrey would have had me write the counterjinx if it was something very complex?"

"I'm surprised she allowed you to do it at all honestly."

"Hmph. Well I think Slughorn told her about my potential in healing."

"Still Severus. I'm disappointed any of this happened."

"If that's case go talk to those two. I told you I didn't start it. Am I supposed to just allow them to jinx me into oblivion?"

"I'm sorry, Sev," she said reaching for his hand but he folded his arms and looked away. Lily smiled. "Severus. C'mon. I'm sorry."

He didn't budge.

"C'mon. I've got a surprise for you."

He looked at her out the corner of his eye.

"You've got to hurry though," she said backing away.

He turned and watched her, a sexy mischievous look on her face. "If you don't hurry up, you won't find me in time," she said before turning and running.

"Ah, Lily! You know I don't run," he said getting up and chasing after her anyway, pleased to see Potter peaking through the curtains around his bed.

Severus and Lily ended their game of cat and mouse on the deserted stairs of the astronomy tower. It was too cloudy an evening for any stargazing.

"Got you," Severus said pulling Lily close to him.

"Only because I let you."

"I don't doubt that for a moment," he said with a laugh before kissing her. Lily loved the way he let his teeth graze her bottom lip before trailing his kisses down her jaw to her neck.

"I have a… surprise for you," she said, enjoying the feel of his mouth on her skin.

"I thought this was my surprise," he replied, the vibration of his voice against Lily's skin sending chills down her spine.

"No. I'm not the surprise, but the surprise is hidden on me."

Severus smiled and began inspecting the pockets of her cloak. "Nothing there," he said sliding it off her shoulders. He gave the inside of her wrist a kiss before feeling his way up her arms. "Nothing there," he said. Severus ran his hands down the curve of her waist before slipping his hands under her shirt. He tickled her belly button. "Nothing there." He slid his hands up to her breasts and thoroughly felt around her bra. "Hmm… you're a sneaky one," he said, his voice growing deeper with lust. Lily quivered when Severus dropped to his knees and slowly worked his way up her legs, planting kisses here and there. Her knees nearly gave way when his head disappeared beneath her skirt. Unable to control the moan that escaped her lips, she held onto the railing for support when she felt his tongue graze her inner thigh. She was getting impossibly worked up but no sooner than it had appeared, his touch was gone. She opened her eyes to see him standing in front of her with a quill in his teeth. He removed it and smiled. "Found it."

"R-right," she said, realizing she brought this terrible teasing game on herself. "It's a Self-Inking Eagle Feather Quill and it—it uhm—"

Lily could hardly think straight as Severus stepped onto the same step as her, the bulge in his pants pressing against her body.

"Thank you," he whispered into her ear.

She gripped the railing even tighter. "Holy Merlin, what have I started?"

"You'll be late for your duty if you don't leave soon," he said, cupping her ass in his hands.

Lily nearly knocked them both down the stairs as she jumped up, wrapped her legs around his waist and began slaughtering him with kisses, leaving love bites on his neck. Severus got them to solid ground and pressed her against the wall, slipping his hand under her skirt and fiddling with the edge of her knickers. Lily rubbed his crotch in earnest and moaned as he slid two fingers into her slick opening. She desperately tried to get his pants undone and touch him but she couldn't devote the necessary amount of focus to the belt, button and zipper as he worked his fingers inside of her. "Undo your pants," she demanded, between heavy breaths. Severus fiddled with his belt but stopped dead when he heard talking and laughter from stairs below. "Nooo," Lily whined as Severus slid his fingers out of her.

He, ever so casually, sucked her juices off his fingers.

"Dammit, Severus!" He laughed at her and quickly waved his wand so that they appeared completely innocent to whoever was climbing the stairs.

"The astronomy tower is closed!" Lily snapped at the couple, obviously looking for a place to snog, when they came into view and started to stomp her way down the stairs, shooing them as she did.

"This is unacceptable," Lily said to Severus when they reached the bottom and the other students scurried away.

He smiled and kissed her. "You started it."

"Well aren't you Mr. Perfectly Innocent today," she said grumpily.

"I love you."

Severus could see the smile playing on her lips but she kept up her attitude as she headed down the corridor for duty. "Yeah, yeah."

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