A/N: Hello readers. My goal is to switch between updating this and my other WIP for now. And if I can keep myself writing, this should be fairly regular, but I make no promises. Only the promise to do my best. I hope you enjoyed the last chapter. And here we're kind of skipping ahead a little because I want to get to a certain plot point and honestly can't think of another way. But that's okay, because I think you'll enjoy this chapter.

Chapter Seven

The remaining weeks leading up to the winter break, were the best that Evelyn ever had. She spent her time between the broken-hearted Lily and Severus. She did everything she could to make Lily feel better about Remus's rejection. But honestly, it had only cemented the idea in the both of them that he was perfect because he was so thoughtful and sensitive of others. Evelyn had almost been tempted to try and talk to Remus about it, but she knew how his loyalty worked. She'd even go so far as to say that he was more loyal than she could ever be. Because if Severus wanted her, but Lily loved him, Evelyn knew she'd never be able to give him up for Lily. Het heart was far too invested in him.

Her time with Severus saw them finally making true progress at being close. It was no longer about her being there for him and him being there for Lily. He was purely her friend. He was asking things about her. They were sharing stories and bonding. And she could not have been happier. And with the exception of James coming over and yelling at her about how rude it was for her to completely ignore Sirius, their time was pretty Marauder free. Severus had told her that he didn't expect her to go forever without speaking to Sirius, especially she had the misfortune of having to live with him, but that he appreciated her willingness to prove how much their friendship meant to her. If only he knew how much him being in her life meant.

So by the time break came around, they were as good of friends as he had once been with Lily. That thought alone made Evelyn's heart soar more than it ever had. She felt so comfortable with him that she knew she could finally trust him with her secret. The one she had always wanted to share with him.

James and Sirius had attempted to convince her to join them one last time before loading into the carriages to leave for the train. She simply told them that she hoped they didn't get eaten by a dragon, though secretly she hoped they might come back scared silly. She and Severus enjoyed the first few hours playing a few extremely intense games of Wizard's Chess. They could have been much quicker games than than they turned out. But Evelyn wanted them to last. And it had gotten to a point where they each spent a few minutes thinking about each move before making it. So far they were tied 3-3. And whoever won the current game would get to know the other's deepest secret. Secretly, Evelyn hoped he would win. It would give her the perfect excuse to show him hers. And the way the game was looking, he might very well beat her.

"Rook to A8," Severus commanded his piece, "and that makes check."

Evelyn looked at the board, searching for her best move. But her king was in the opposite corner and even if she sacrificed her remaining knight to protect her king, once he took that, she'd be in check mate because of strategically placed pawns and the other remaining piece.

"I forfeit. You'll have me in another move, and my poor king could not take another beating."

"Well now you owe me your deepest secret," Severus teased her.

"I know. But let me tell you later. I promise that I'll tell you today, but not right now."

She didn't give him a chance to argue against it before she jumped up and took off for the Ravenclaw common room.

It was a pretty well known fact that curfew enforcement was almost nonexistent over breaks. With so few students, the only ones that anyone worried about were the first and second years. After that, if you were old enough to be trusted in Hogsmeade, they really didn't care as long as you didn't cause any trouble. So after making herself more presentable than usual, she made her way to dungeons before transforming into her cat form. Then she waited patiently by the entrance to the Slytherin dorm, knowing that one of the few remaining Slytherins would either leave or return at some point.

And in fact, the very person she had been waiting for came by and she followed him casually into the Slytherin common rooms without his notice. When he sat down on the couch she brushed up against his legs to get his attention.

He looked at her as if he'd never seen a cat before. Though perhaps none of the Slytherins had a purely black cat or perhaps none of the SLytherins even had a cat. Either way, he gently pushed her away with his foot.

Instead of leaving him alone she jumped up on the couch and sat facing him, cocking her head to one side.

"Go away you silly cat. You don't belong here."

Evelyn meowed at him, not quite sure what she was really doing besides messing with him.

"I don't like cats, so you won't be getting any attention from me. Go find someone else."

And then Evelyn decided it was her moment and she transformed back into herself. Severus jumped back a little bit, and she giggled at his surprise.

"So, in case you hadn't figured it out, this is my secret," she stated simply.

Severus gawked at her, still trying to wrap his head around it.

"I thought you said I should be an animagi, because I'd be able to complete it successfully."

"I did, but I- how long have you been able to-" he trailed off.

"Since fourth year."

"Two years? Does Lily know?"

"No. You're the only one. Well, almost the only one."

"James?"

"He is my brother."

"Can he?"

"He's why I learned. I black mailed him into teaching me when I learned that he was learning."

Severus got a look in his eye, like he was going to use this information to finally get his revenge.

"Severus, you can't tell anyone. Not about me or James or anyone. Okay? I know that you are mad at them. And I know that you have every right to hate them and out them. But they did it because they wanted to support their friend. I always thought it odd that Remus wasn't learning with them, but I understand now."

"But it's against the law!"

"Are you going to out me too then?"

"No, of course not."

"Then you can't out them because against the law."

"Ev-"

"Please, Severus. Because if you out them, they'll out me."

"No they wouldn't."

"James would. He doesn't like that I side with you over him. He thinks I'm not loyal to him, so he wouldn't be loyal to me."

Severus sighed and looked at Evelyn closely.

"Could you teach me?"

"Only if you swear to never tell anyone about James, Sirius, Peter, or myself."

"Fine."

"Vow it."

"Evie," he sighed.

"Vow it, or I won't."

"Fine. I, Severus Tobias Snape, vow to never reveal the secret Animagi ability of James Potter, Sirius Black, Peter Pettigrew, or Evelyn Potter."

"Thank you."

Break ended far too quickly for Evelyn's taste. Or at least the James free part of break. He was returning on the train home that day. In fact, he would be arriving any moment. Instead of meeting him though, she took solace in the library. And stumbled across Severus standing in a corner in a library, reading a book off the shelf.

But it wasn't what he was reading that made such an effect, it was where he was. It was the same corner where she had set up Lily and Remus. And she had seen just how happy Lily was to have made such a move, even if it had been outside of her control. And she felt a surge of confidence.

"Sev?" she spoke quietly.

He looked up at her and closed the book. "Hey Evie. What are you doing here?"

"Hiding. James and Sirius return today."

"Ah. Makes enough sense."

Evelyn walked over to him, just to be nearer. "What are you reading?"

"A book on potions."

"Why? You know more than they likely do."

"I enjoy seeing the mistakes."

"you're a strange boy, Sev."

"No stranger than you are, Evie."

She smiled. "Fair enough."

She let a few moments pass as he opened the book again.

"So, Sev, have you ever thought about dating anyone?"

He almost looked startled. "No."

"Is there anyone you might-"

"I don't really want to talk about this," he said curtly.

"I'm sorry," Evelyn responded softly. "It's just that I was curious."

"Why?"

"Well, I-um-" the library door opened in the distance, startling her as she tried to explain herself.

Words simply wouldn't come out. So she just leaned in. Her lips pressed against Severus's, sending a shock of pure joy through her body.

Severus had been in shock. This was his first kiss, and it was not Lily as he had always hoped. It was Evelyn. The girl who only wanted to be noticed and involved. He should have pushed her away. He was about to. Until his open eyes met those of a horrified Sirius Black. And before he could think of any of the ramifications, he closed his eyes and kissed her back.