The courtyard was empty. There was nobody within the perimeters of the area. The designated space for students to enjoy the great outdoors was unoccupied.

Severus sighed out of both discouragement and disbelief. He didn't believe that Lily would lead him out into the courtyard while everyone else filed into the Great Hall for the feast. She wasn't a conniving schemer, at least that he knew. And he was certain that the note was from her: the note. Perhaps he had misinterpreted the message? Maybe she meant meet her after the feast? Severus pulled the note out from his left jean pocket from under his robes, and unfolded the paper.

Sev-

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

It clearly read "before the feast". And it was Lily's handwriting: Severus recognized the crooked 'T's and the slim 'S's all too well. No one else called him 'Sev', so there was that. Settling down on the fountain edge behind him, Severus brought the note up to his nose and sniffed.

Had this note been brought to him in his present time, the time where Severus Snape was a twenty year old unmarried man, destined to live his life alone in the house that he was born in, and had he been asked to whom the paper had been handled by, twenty year old Severus, although having not seen her for close to four years, would have instantly answered "Lily Evans". It was the sweetest smell he knew, the one he held closest to his heart.

However, the source of the smell, and, less creepily, of the note, was nowhere to be found. Judging on the loud roars of laughter and chatter emitting from the direction of the Great Hall, the fest had been served. Severus' stomach ached in envy.

"Oh, Sev, I'm so sorry!' At long last, Lily rushed out of a door on the opposing side of the courtyard. She reached Severus in record time, flinging her arms around his neck. 'I hope you weren't waiting long."

"Oh, no, it's fine, I just- What's he doing here?'

Severus dropped his arms from around Lily's waist, and automatically moved his hand to his wand. Among all the threats that he imagined were coming his way, he couldn't help notice that this was the first time that he'd ever seen Remus Lupin by himself, no Potter or Black to trail, no Pettigrew to lead.

"Relax, Sev,' said Lily, guiding his arm away from his wand inside his robes, though Severus struggled against her. 'Remus and I were in the dungeons talking with Professor Slughorn about taking Potions next year."

Severus couldn't believe that a good friend of Potter's and of Black's would be without an ulterior motive. He couldn't even imagine Lupin as taking Advanced Potions.

"Is Lupin alone?' he asked Lily, fingers again wrapped tightly around the handle of his wand.

"I am, and I'm just leaving, actually.' announced Remus, who had stopped in the doorway when he saw Severus. 'Good seeing you, Severus."

He left hastily, arms at his side, robe billowing behind him in his hurry. Lily followed him with her eyes, arm now resting on Severus'. He, however, did not watch as Lupin left. Instead, Severus stared down at the ground, hair falling into his face. A feeling of irritation arose.

"Does- did you tell Lup- I mean, Remus- about us?' he asked, still irritated but too nervy to confront Lily. 'Because you know he's good friends with Potter, and with Black."

"Oh, no, no.' she said, pulling his downward chin towards her. 'He doesn't suspect a thing. And don't you worry about James Potter or his friend Sirius, because there's no way that I'd let them get to you." She kissed the corner of his mouth, drawing his attention.

"Oh, good.' he said, losing all senses of irritation. ' So- mmm,' he tried to continue, but he found talking was quite hard when he was being kissed on the mouth. 'Lily- Lily…'

"What is it, Sev?' she said softly, fingers still under his chin.

"Is there anything you wanted to ask me before the Great Feast?' he queried quietly. Her eyes opened wide, and she dropped her hands.

"Oh, shoot, the Great Feast. We're late!' she cried. 'Can you imagine what they'll say when we come in late together?"

Severus had an idea, though he really wouldn't care what "they" would say, because whatever "they'd" say was probably true.

"Severus, let's go!"

xxx

The Feast had barely started once Severus and Lily arrived. Ravenclaw banners hung proudly from the ceiling, meaning that the House Cup must have been given out earlier in the evening.

"What happened to you, Severus?' asked Avery, in the midst of a large amount of Yorkshire Pudding. 'We 'aven't seen you all day."

"More like all week.' added Mulciber, mouth full of sprouts and ham. 'It's like you was in the hospital wing or somethin'."

"Yeah, you never did show up that night in the Forest.' Avery complained, eyes narrowing at Severus. 'There something that you're not telling us, Snape?"

But Severus did not know whether there was something that he was not telling Avery and Mulciber: well, by all accounts he was keeping his relationship with Lily Evans a secret, but he was barely paying any attention to the two beefy boys. His attention was drawn towards Lily Evans across the Hall, looking as beautiful as he always saw her. He was happy to see that Potter and his group were nowhere near her, and that Potter sat looking miserable towards the front of the Hall near the Staff table.

"Hey, Snape!' Avery failed at his attempt to catch Severus' attention. 'Look at him, Mulciber, not even eatin' his food. Something's up with him, and I don't think he's thinking about no Dark Arts, either."

Severus, only semi-paying attention to his seating companions, mumbled something along the lines of "Oh, Dark Arts, yeah, cool", took a large bite of the chicken thigh sitting on his plate, swallowed, and took a large sip of the pumpkin juice in his goblet. He figured that if he continued to watch Lily, he would most likely be spotted, and would be accused as a creeper, because no one would ever suspect that Lily Evans would fall for Severus Snape: even Severus himself was beginning to feel as if she really had not.

xxx

"Severus Snape is looking at you, Lily.' Mary announced, taking a dainty sip of pumpkin juice out of the heavy golden goblet. 'What's his deal anyways?"

Lily was staring back over at Severus, who had just looked down at his plate, narrowly averting catching Lily's gaze. She snapped quickly back to reality.

"What do you mean, what's his deal?' she snapped. 'Sev doesn't have a deal."

"Jesus, calm down Lillian.' said Mary, taken aback. 'You don't have to defend him, I wasn't attacking or anything."

Still fuming, Lily took a spoonful of the mashed potatoes. True, Mary wasn't attacking Severus, but Lily still felt more defensive of him than she ever felt before.