A Thin Line

Entering (& Leaving) Enemy Territory

"What's he doing there?"

"Lily Evans is best friends with him, dummy. Jealous?"

"No! Well, maybe a little, but the point is, he's a slimy Slytherin! He can't go to the Gryffindor table, it's like one of us sneaking into enemy territory and eating with the Slytherins!"

All eyes were on Severus Snape as he gingerly ate beside Lily Evans.

"Er, Lil', I feel like the whole school's looking at me," Severus whispered.

"Why would the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws care, Sev?" Lily took a sip of orange juice before returning to toast.

"Well, this doesn't usually happen," Severus said.

"Cheer up, Sev, it'll be fine," Lily pulled off a piece of burnt crust.

"Look, they're all staring at me," Severus looked around.

Lily sighed, her patience wearing. "Are you gonna eat or not? Because it is breakfast, you know, most important meal of the day? Ring any bells?"

"Right," Sev looked back down to his spotless plate. "Sorry, Lil'." He began loading food on.

"That's alright."

All of a sudden, streams of fire started erupting from the Gryffindor table until they flew into the air. Up there, the flames moved and twisted unnaturally, until they formed words ...

"UGH!" Lily banged her head on the table, her next words coming out muffled. "I am never, ever, ever going out with you in the next million years, Potter!"

Severus scowled at the words, 'Hogsmeade next week, Evans!'

"Might wanna be less cold, Snivellus. What are you even doing here?"

Lily looked James in the eye. Sirius grinned behind him; Remus was shaking his head and Peter was watching intently, his face blank and expressionless.

"I invited him," Lily snapped, throwing a piece of burnt toast at James.

Sirius caught it in his mouth before spitting it out. "Ew, why couldn't you have passed one of the good pieces?"

"You are disgusting," Alice muttered.

"Like a dog," Marlene added.

The Marauders exchanged mischievous glances.

"Don't they ever annoy you Lil'?" Severus whispered.

"Yup," Lily nodded. "Thought you'd have realised that the first fifty times he asked me out."

Severus eyed James. "Why does he have to like you?"

"So she's not good enough to be liked?" Marlene murmured.

"Please, Mar," Lily said.

"No, Lil', Snape here should think ahead before he talks," Marlene had another spoonful of porridge.

"Clearly I'm not wanted here," Severus growled.

"Nope," Marlene said through a full mouth.

"Sev, wait," Lily said as he got up.

"Your friends don't like me," Severus said. "Try picking better ones."

"Ha!" Alice couldn't keep it in anymore, sending apologetic glances to Lily. "Please. How did you even get lucky enough to get on Lily's good side?"

"Alice!" Lily yelled. "We were eight, okay? My sister said I was a freak 'cause I could do magic but Sev explained it to me. Leave him alone, alright?"

She turned back around. Severus had left.