The Beginning of Forever

"Severus, how many times do I have to tell you? I won't go to Hogsmeade with you this weekend!" Lily Evans, a beautiful sixth year was telling Severus Snape for what seemed like the millionth time that she would not be going on a date with him like he wanted so badly.

"But Lily," said Snape in his oily voice, "we'd have a great time." He always insisted this, but on the occasion when she did accompany him, he got slobbering drunk and embarrassed her in front of all her friends. She could remeber those nights like it was yesterday, and that was the reason that she would not accept Severus's offers.

"Listen," she said gently, "Every time we go out, you end up embarrassing me, I'm sick of it!"

"But Lily!" He yelled out to her retreating back. He gave up and went back to his common room. Lily was quiet upset when she arrived at the Gryffindor common room and her fried James Potter was quick to notice.

"Hey Lil!" he called to her. Lily's heart skipped several beats. She had been completely in love with James ever since their fourth year. But they were just best friends, and it broke her heart every time he thought about it. "What's the matter?" James asked her, and he really wanted to know too. That was the good thing about James, he always made it seem like he was completely interested in what you had to say.

"Oh, it's just that Severus Snape again!" she complained to her friend, "He won't stop asking me out! He knows I'll just say no! I've given him so many chances just because I felt sorry for him. Remember last time I went with him? It was completely humiliating! He poured Butterbeer all over my new robes! I've never been so embarrassed!"

"Ahh, a fine moment, Lily, our whole year will remember it. But don't worry, he embarrassed himself far more than he did to you! Madam Rosmerta still laughs about it when me and Sirius re-enact it for her! I can still picture it when he fell flat on his face slobbering all over the place!"

Lily laughed, "James, you always make me feel so much better after talking to that slimeball!" James laughed too and for a brief moment she thought she caught him holding her gaze a bit longer than usual. But a second later she was sure she had imagined it; James thought no more of her as a romantic partner than he did for Sirius. But still, he'd never looked at her like that before.

"Well, I should get going to bed James," Lily began, but James grabbed her arm to stop her. "What is it James?" she asked.

"It might be the Fizzing Whizzbees talking, but have I ever told you how gorgeous you look in front of the fire?" James said,gazing into Lily's vibrantly green eyes.

"No," she said softly, "Are you going to?" she smiled and he laughed quietly.

James pulled her close to him and kissed her for the first time ever. Lily's heart stopped, it was the moment she'd waited for for two years, and it was wonderful. When they pulled away, James looked embarrassed, then he said quietly, "Lily, do you want to go to Hogsmeade this weekend? Just the two of us?"

Lily smiled, "Yeah, that would be really nice."