A/N: I don't own anything! It all belongs to the fabulous J K Rowling! Thank you to lilly flower forever and alpha1001 for following this story! I really appreciate it!

TWO WEEKS LATER

"I can stand up for myself. I appreciate that you're worried about me, Sev, but I am independent."

"I don't like watching whilst you get verbally abused. Besides, I thought we were supposed to be friends? Best friends?"

"We are, Sev, but I don't like some of the people you're hanging around with! I'm sorry, but I detest Avery and Mulciber! Mulciber! What do you see in him, Sev? He's creepy! D'you know what he tried to do to Mary Mcdonald the other day?"

I lean against a pillar in the courtyard.

"That was nothing. It's was a laugh, that's all –"

"It was Dark Magic and if you think that's funny –"

"What about the stuff Potter and his mates get up to?" Sev demands colour rising to his cheeks. I didn't want him to get angry.

"What's Potter got to do with anything?"

"They sneak out at night. There's something weird about that Lupin. Where does he keep going?"

I can feel the blood rushing to my own cheeks, insulting Potter is one thing but insulting Remus.

"He's ill," I must admit this had been puzzling me a bit as well. "They say he's ill."

"Every month at the full moon?" Sev looks at me sceptically.

"I know you're theory," I really have had it with Sev and Remus. "Why are you so obsessed with them, anyway? Why do you care what they're doing at night?"

"I'm just trying to show you that they're not as wonderful as everyone seems to think they are."

He stares at me with great intensity.

"They don't use dark magic, though. And you're being really ungrateful. I heard what happened the other night. You went sneaking down that tunnel by the Whomping Willow and Potter saved you from whatever's down there –"

Sev's face contorts with rage.

"Saved? Saved? You think he was playing the hero? He was saving his neck and his friends' too! You're not going to – I won't let you –"

"Let me? Let me?"

"I didn't mean – I just don't want to see you made a fool of – he fancies you, James Potter fancies you! And he's not… Everyone thinks… Big Quidditch hero –"

The bitterness of his voice almost makes me laugh. As if I would ever date Potter. I raise my eyebrows, I know better than most the truth about Potter.

"I know Potter's an arrogant toerag. I don't need you to tell me that. But Mulciber and Avery's idea of humour is just evil. Evil, Sev. I don't understand how you can be friends with them."

We start walking again.

"So, you know, let me handle things on my own. I won't learn to protect myself properly if you're always doing it for me. Do you not think I'm capable or something? Do you think that just because I'm a girl and a Muggle-born that I don't know how to defend myself?"

"NO! But if I do stop, Potter will have won."

"Won what?" I narrow my eyes.

"Won you," Sev sighs.

"Did you even hear what I just said? I AM NOT AN OBJECT! I am a fully-functioning witch and, in case it escaped your notice, a human being."

"I know," Sev says quickly.

We walk in silence for a bit.

"Are you going to Slughorn's party?"

I hesitate.

"Yes," I say very carefully.

"Are you going with anyone?" Sev tries to pass his voice off as casual but it still sounds anxious.

"No. Unless Alice counts but I think Amos asked her."

"D'you want to go with me?"

"Okay," I feel my heart skip a bit and Sev grins. This will be my first ever date. Can I call it that?

I go back to the common room. I have a date. I have a date. I have a date.

Alice and Marlene are getting ready when I enter our dormitory. I hunt down my mother's green dress which she's leant me. I put it on and I'm not one to brag but I think it looks gorgeous.

"That's such a beautiful dress!" Alice exclaims when she sees it.

I look at them both, Marlene looks astonishing as always and Alice looks breath-taking.

"You two look amazing though!" and they really do.

Together, we head for the entrance to the portrait hole. Frank comes for Mar and then Amos comes for Alice and I'm left waiting for Sev.

"Lily?" it's Sev.

"Hey."

Sev looks at me, but really looks at me. I blush. It's not a very comfortable stare, it's like he's trying to eat me.

We start to walk to the party, Sev babbling on about some sort of Transfiguration homework he's got and I find myself distracted by such odd things like the window and the carpet. I'm not really listening to Sev at all. Sev can be so boring sometimes.

"Lily?"

"Mhm?"

"Are you ready to go inside?" Sev asks.

I nod and we enter Slughorn's party. It seems less pathetic than last year, maybe that's because I have a date. Professor Slughorn comes our way.

"My two best students! How's the party for you?"

"It's wonderful, thank you Professor." I smile at him.

"Good! Ah, it looks as if we have a few unexpected guests. Potter! Black! What are you doing here?"

Professor Slughorn makes his way over to them and I feel Sev's hand go firmly around my waist. I look up at him but his eyes are fixed on Potter.

"Well, you see Professor, we saw the wonderful atmosphere of your party practically miles away. So we thought, why don't we pay Professor Slughorn a visit? I mean, who can resist this sort of party? In fact, it's such an amazing party, did you sort out the music?"

"Why, yes! Yes, I did."

"We thought so didn't we, Sirius?" Potter turns to Black. Black nods in agreement.

"Oh, well! I suppose you could stay." Professor Slughorn beams at them.

I roll my eyes; trust Potter to get in through flattery. Potter and Black begin to walk toward us. Sev turns me into him and kisses me, deeply. At first, I am shocked but then I'm thinking how to untangle myself from this kiss. His arms go around me, pulling me in even closer, if that is possible. It is uncomfortably unpleasant and I did not give permission for him to kiss me. I come to my senses and push him away.

His eyes are wide and I see that Potter's wand is pressed into his back.

"Potter," I hiss at him, trying not to make a scene. "Let Severus go."

Potter reluctantly pulls his wand away. I take Sev's hand but he's staring a pointed ice stare at Potter.

"Sev, let's go." I say.

"Wait a moment, Lily. I need to straighten something out with Potter." Sev sneers.

"Certainly, Snivellus. Shall we take this outside?"

Potter and Sev leave, I try to run after them but two firm hands pull my shoulders backwards. I swivel around, Black is staring at me.

"What?" I snap at him.

"You kissed Snivelly."

That's when I realise what happened, Sev kissed me and I didn't like it. I definitely don't want to do it again but that was my first kiss. I don't know if I like kissing.

"He kissed me," I say defensively.

"I don't blame him, you look bloody great."

"I'm going to pretend you never said that."

Black shrugs. I remember Potter and Sev and I make to move away but Black grabs my wrist.

"Wait! Evans, where are you going?"

"I need to find Severus."

"You can't. James said –"

"I don't give a shit what Potter said! He doesn't own me."

"I can't let you go out there, what if a hex or something hits you?"

"I'm a witch, Black! I'm more than capable of handling a duel."

Black says nothing and lets go of my wrist and runs after me. It doesn't take long to find them, surprisingly; they're fighting Muggle-style with no wands.

"Give up Potter! She's made her choice." Sev hits Potter square in the nose, Potter punches Sev's jaw.

"I have done no such thing!" I shout, pushing Sev away from Potter and rounding on him. "How many times have I told you? I'm a human being! I wish you would treat me like one."

I start yelling random crap in his face.

"But we kissed," he says bluntly.

"No. You kissed me. I don't remember saying you could."

"Well, you didn't exactly protest."

"Yeah, well I'm protesting now."

I walk away, leaving Sev and Potter behind me, not knowing where to turn next.