hαrrч pσttєr σnє shσts

Snape + Lily -Brother by AnnaT03

Lily Evans-- flaming red hair, and the most beautiful, almond-shaped green eyes. The bell rang and her eyes it up--even more than they already were from earning 15 points for Gryffindor; Slughorn would've gave her twenty if her best friend hadn't raised her hand before she did, of course.

Lily raced out of the dungeon, ignoring the calls and cries of "Hey, Evans!" being issued from the lot of James Potter-- she didn't want to do anything before consulting her best friend. And, she rather spare her best friend from their taunts by leaving as quickly as possible.

She dragged Severus up the stairs as he half sulked, half grinned-- he always enjoyed these one-on-one times with Lily, even if it never escalated into something more. As long as she was there with him, he was happy. As long as that arrogant toe-rag Potter stayed out of their business, all was well.

They started to walk into the grounds-- the bell had just rung, not many students had left class yet. Lily and Severus slowed their pace-- she was glowing, it was obvious that something had lifted her spirits up. Sev thought back to the lesson; Lily usually wasn't this happy from earning a mere 15 points from one class... unless something else got her hopes up...

Sev pushed all negative thought out of his mind and focused on the beauty before him; Lily was still blooming, she skipped towards the tree under which they always sat, and gestured for Severus to follow suit, patting the ground beside her enthusiastically.

Snape held back a grin as he sat down beside her. "A mere 15 points for Gryffindor got you this happy? I'm surprised that you aren't upset that I took another 5 from your little streak," Sev teased, and Lily gave a light chuckle, waving her hand dismissively.

"I got another 10 from Defence and 20 from Charms-- well, 10, Remus scored the other 10, but still, that's a Gryffindor win." Severus frowned, and Lily rolled her eyes playfully. "Oh come one, Sev, I'm allowed to talk to them, aren't I? They're my friends," she added rather softly-- Severus scowled.

"They nearly got me killed, Lily," he said, and Lily rolled her eyes, with a little less humor, and much more annoyance. "Oh come one, Sev! We already discussed this, and besides, I... I need to ask you something."

Severus knew that this was serious-- Lily had gone as red as her hair, and she started playing with the hem of her robes nervously, and had started biting her lip. "What is it?" He asked-- was this the moment he had been waiting for, the moment he anticipated for who knows how long?

He looked at her intently, and Lily took a deep breath and she began to speak. "How do you know if you like somebody?"

Lily, badass, smartass, anything-is-possible Evans, who is not afraid of anything and would do anything to protect those that she loved, is asking Severus, I-don't-really-care-about-anything-or-anyone-except-Lily Snape, how you know whether or not you like someone. Fortunately, he has quite a lot of experience in that expertise.

"Well," he started, trying hard not to turn red as well. "You feel really happy every time you see them, and you find everything they do perfect, even if it isn't. You have this need to make them feel happy, too, and there's this feeling in your stomach, that makes you feel like... like..."

"Butterflies, in your stomach?" She said, and Severus looks at her-- she's smiling, embarrassed, and Severus smiled a bit. "Tuney told me that it feels like that sometimes when she and I used to... to..."

Lily sighed, pushing the bad memories out of her head. "Severus, I think... I think I like someone."

Sev's heart leapt and bounded for joy-- could this be it? The light in his life, finally admitting that he's hers, as well? Yes, while he is dabbling in the Dark Arts, with friends he knows he shouldn't have, he felt like Lily had accepted it by now, and that they have finally gotten over that.

"Really?" He asked, unable to contain his excitement.

Lily nodded, grinning. "He's such a nice person once you get to know him, Sev, and he really cares for people, and he's so sweet..."

Severus frowned-- she's talking about him, right? Lily looks at him apologetically.

"Severus, I think I like James."

His heart fell and the glimmer and hope in his eyes faded, and for once, he felt like the battle was lost-- James had finally, finally, won over her heart. James was the one whom Lily was attracted to-- he, Severus, did not.

"Oh," he said, rather reluctantly, as Lily was expecting him to speak. "Well, whatever happens to you and... and him, just know that... that I'll always be here for you, Lily."

Lily sighed, relieved; she grinned, before getting up, kissing his cheek as he does so. Warmth filled his cold heart-- there was a small glimmer of hop for him, still, no matter how miniscule.

"Thanks, Sev, you're like the brother I never had."

And as she trotted off, probably to talk to Potter, Snape remained sitting underneath the tree, mourning over the loss of the love of his life, and making sure that he'd keep the last promise he made her before losing her to James.

~