The average kiss lasts for 12.6 seconds.

The average first kiss lasts even shorter.

The average first kiss of Severus Snape and Lily Evans lasted only 6.9 seconds.

For Severus, it was 6.9 seconds of true bliss, wonder and magic. His skin flushing, Severus dared himself to pinch his arm to see if he was actually awake, and not still under the influence of Madame Pomfrey's Battered, Bruised and Broken Potion.

And for Lily, who would have not given her best friend Severus a chance if he had tried to kiss her four days before, felt an instant spark. It was like a Butterbeer, or a package of Drooble's Best Blowing Gum. It was nothing like she had ever experienced before.

Severus, his lips tingling with excitement and slight confusion, pulled away. He sat back on his pillow, and looked straight up at the ceiling. No emotion on his face whatsoever, though his face was slightly flushed.

Lily, however, couldn't help but giggle lightly. Still failing to fully realize the significance of what had just happened, Severus moved his eyes towards her, keeping his head still upon the starchy white cotton of the pillowcase. She continued to giggle softly, and Severus refrained from inquiring the reason for this laughter. Instead, he just lay there, watching her, and taking in every second. He had never seen her as beautiful as she was at that very moment. It took her a few seconds before she realized that he was looking at her. She stopped.

"I'm sorry-' she said, cheeks flushing. 'I didn't mean to laugh, I-"

"Why were you laughing?' he inquired.

'It's just- well, no offense, but I never expected my first kiss to be with you Severus. I always imagined it to be with some dashing prince or something."

Severus decided that this was not the best time to tell her that his nickname for himself was the 'Half-Blood Prince'.

"Not that you're not attractive or anything-' she said, cheeks still a rosy pink that clashed with her red hair.' because you are- but- ohh." She paused in an awkward moment of self-frustration.

"I understand.' he said. He really wasn't surprised by this: it was better than he expected, in any case.

"Oh, Sev, please don't take that as an insult.' she pleaded gently. 'I really didn't mean it that way."

Severus didn't know what to say: after having gone through so many years watching Lily and waiting for this moment, she could say that his greasy hair was a turn-off and that he had a terrible personality and he smelled absolutely disgusting, and he would still think she was incredibly beautiful.

So instead, he leant towards her face once again, but did not get the chance to kiss.

"Miss Evans,' said Mademoiselle Pomfrey at the foot of the hospital bed, a large round jug in her hands. 'Visiting hours are over. If you would please leave now to allow Mr Snape time to take his medicinal potion."

"Oh, yes.' Lily said, opening her eyes and moving back from Severus, who found himself in an awkward position and quickly lay back on his pillow. 'Sorry, Mademoiselle."

"It's quite alright, dear.' Mademoiselle Pomfrey answered dryly, handing Lily her sweater from the foot of Severus' bed, and adding quietly: 'Mr Snape will be out of the hospital tomorrow before the feast. You should have enough time to see him then."

"Thank you.' Lily said, taking her sweater. She pushed her hair back from her face, still pink from before. 'Bye, Sev."

"Bye, Lily."

xxx

As promised, Severus Snape was dismissed from hospital the following afternoon. Carrying the red book under his right arm, he blushed as Mademoiselle Pomfrey wished him a 'good summer' and told him to stay away from trouble. He mumbled a shaky "You, too" as he left the wing and awkwardly stumbled towards the staircases. Still drowsy from the medicinal potion that Mademoiselle Pomfrey quite possibly overdosed him on, he reached clumsily into the left pocket of his jeans.

Earlier that morning, Severus had woken up to a small scrap of paper sitting on his bedside table. Folded three times upon itself, the scrap had a faint smell of lavender and of newt toe. The message was simple:

Sev-

Meet in the courtyard before the feast. Sorry I can't be at the hospital.

And so that is why, for the first time since the day of the Defence Against The Dark Arts O.W.L., and since the day that had sent Severus to the hospital wing due to James Potter's actions for the second time, Severus Snape stepped out from the dark and stony hallway on the ground floor of Hogwarts, and into the soft sunshine of the courtyard, red book in tow.

A/N: Apologies for the delayed update. With summer coming, I'll have no homework or projects to focus on, meaning more fanfiction, meaning I may actually get through this story. It's not near finished, though, there's still a long way to go. ;)

I want to wish a very Happy youtube-Birthday to Team Starkid, who on June 19th 2011 celebrated two years on youtube.