The remainder of the summer was the most enjoyable one both children had ever had. Each day Severus and Lily met at the park and they played their own version of 20 questions. Before long they knew each other almost as well as they knew themselves. Severus was elated. He couldn't believe he had a friend! Now he was playing the common muggle game he saw Lily playing that first day in the park- hide and seek

"SEV!"

Lily screamed from behind Severus as she tackled him to the ground. Together they rolled down the hill to its base. When they finally came to a rest Lily was shrieking in laughter

"Y-YOU SHOULD OF SEEN YOUR F-FACE!"

Lily continued to laugh clutching her aching sides rolling in the grass.

Severus mean while was dusting himself off scowling fiercely. His eyes began to prickle with betraying tears. Cut it OUT

Lily finally calmed down enough to look at Severus clearly. When she saw his expression she stopped laughing abruptly.

She got up and ran quickly to Severus help him up. As soon as she shot her welcoming hand out however, Severus flinched horribly and scrambled away to the base of the old willow tree, breathing hard.

"Damn it Lily why did you have to do that!"

Lily shot back a scowl of her own and jutted her chin out defiantly.

"When did it become a crime to try and have some fun with my best friend? I mean your sometimes so stuffy Sev! I just wanted to play!"

Severus blinked hard, eyes widening in surprise

"Best friend?" Severus whispered blushing

Lily's cheeks held a blush of their own, an uncommon occurrence.

"Yeah, I mean if thats ok with you..."

The green eyes meet black as she searched.

Severus was simply in shock. He had never had a best friend before. He was the "unwanted", the "rat", the "devils spawn". Now his light, his Lily wanted him as a best friend?

Severus nodded his head so vehemently his hair was a charcoal colored blur.

Lily smiled to herself and then remembered the situation at hand. With much less speed she made her way towards her best friend. He sat curled in a defensive pose, shoulders tensed like he was expecting a blow.

"Sev? Is everything ok?"

Severus realized how he must if looked and visibly relaxed. It was amazing how Lily Evans could calm him.

"Yes. Everything is superb. Lils I just got startled"

Got startled, terrified beyond belief- same difference right? Well I'm certainly not going to explain to her WHY I startle at unexpected contact. Come on Lils believe me this once

Severus smiled at the use of her nickname in his head. They agreed to use nicknames the other day when Lily called him 'Sev'. Merlin how he liked it when she said that.

Lily looked at the small infrequent smile that appeared on her Sevs face.

Ok so maybe there really isnt a problem. Ill drop it...for now

Lily crawled over and sat next to Severus at the base of the Willow tree. Lifting his finger, Severus brought a flower from the nearby bush and called it to his hand.

I never have done accidental magic before when i was happy, other than that one time with Lily

Smiling even wider at his accomplishment he offered the flower to the girl currently laying her head on his shoulder. His heart was fluttering sporadically.

Lily took the flower and held it for a moment before looking up at Severus. Both eyes held eachother for a long time. Lilys tradmark wry smile crept on her face as she jumped up to her feet.

"Get up"

Severus sat there confused

"Did I ask Sev? No- now get up her i wanna give you something!"

Severus had barely stood when her tiny body hurled into him once again.

"Oh!"

Before Severus knew what was what, her arms were around him, and he had inhaled a mouthful of her hair. He felt his face burn with a surprised joy, but also with embarrassment, he knew he probably didn't smell too good. She clutched him harder though, laughed that musical laugh that sounded so very much like bells.

She looked up and rested her pointed chin on his chest and smirked- a habit she recently picked up from Severus.

"I guess I know what to do if I ever wanna see your blush huh!"

She hugged him even tighter to prove her point before laughing again.

Severus on the other hand could barely process thoughts. He couldn't remember the last time anyone had hugged him, probably because this was the first time.

"You are very naughty Lily Evans," he stated regaining what little dignity he had left.

"Oh the tone of surprise," she stated finally releasing him and grabbing his hand. She then proceeded to drag him up the hill to a stump.

"Come on I read this in the giving tree, do you have anything sharp? Boys have those funny little pocket knives dont they?" She stated with a wide teasing smile.

Severus fumbled with his oversized patched jacket and brought out a small pocket knife he nicked from his attic. He watched Lily curiously as she grabbed it and started carving in the base of the tree. When she was finished with her work she stood back triumphantly with a loud "TADA!"

There in Lily's messy scrawl was "S+L Best Friends Forever"

Severus stared for a moment before found himself whispering the words "why me"

Lily knew Severus had confidence issues so she grabbed his hand to reassure him.

"Because your different Sev. I dont think I would want anyone else as my best friend. The other kids, well, theyre all children, but you...You're brilliant, Sev. You know everything. And you've got loads of magic yourself. Sometimes I wonder you don't think I'm just a silly girl."

"Lily, you're the best friend I've ever had," he said quietly. The only friend I've ever had

Next chapter: Surprise's: Birthday and Otherwise