Oddest Couple

Severus Snape was a rather curious boy. He wasn't very popular like James Potter or Sirius Black. He spent most of his time learning Potions or working with the Dark Arts. But in no way was he a dark wizard. Do not get the wrong idea about Severus Snape. After all, he was falling for a lovely muggleborn, much unlike the average dark wizard.

Lily Evans pondered this as she headed for the Forbidden Forest. She knew the forest was forbidden, hence the name, but it couldn't be forbidden for them to just meet at the edge, so long as they didn't enter the forest.

Severus was leaning against one of the trees, a rather large oak tree, his arms folded across his chest, waiting for Lily. He looked up to see her and a smile, his ever so perfect smile, appeared on his face.

He took her hand and raised it to his face, kissing it softly, causing Lily to blush profusely. He noticed this and chuckled. 'You are so beautiful when you blush like that,' he commented.

Lily, unsure what to say, remained silent, blushing even more.

'Come with me,' he whispered, leading her toward the forest.

Lily held back and Severus looked at her, a questioning look washing over his face. 'It's forbidden,' she stated promptly.

'Would you like to snog out in the open where Potter and Black can see us?' Severus offered, not being at all helpful in the situation.

'No,' Lily said quickly. 'But if we get caught...'

'I'll say I kidnapped you,' Severus said, leading her into the dark, cool forest.

'Great, just what you need, another reason for James and Sirius to hate you,' Lily laughed. Severus chuckled as he led her to a clearing where he had set up a lovely picnic, complete with a green blanket, obviously signifying the Slytherin house.

'It's beautiful,' Lily whispered.

'Thank you,' Severus said, sitting down on the blanket.

'But I think it needs one minor change,' Lily said, pulling out her wand. She raised it and pointed it at the blanket. 'Cambiare Color!' she said.

The blanket turned to a brilliant shade of scarlet beneath Severus.

Severus grinned at her as she sat down next to him. 'Very funny.'

Lily kissed him gently on the cheek and cuddled up next to him. Severus, who would not seem like the romantic type at all, seemed to react very well to Lily. He put an arm around her waist and pulled her closer.

'This is amazing,' Lily said quietly.

'What is?' Severus asked, rubbing her back affectionately.

'This,' she said, not referring to anything. 'Being here...with you.'

Severus smiled to himself. 'You're amazing,' he whispered, kissing her forehead.

Lily looked up at him and beamed. He lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her passionately. Within a matter of minutes, they were lying on the blanket snogging furiously in a tangle of arms and legs. And then, within a few more minutes, they were lying together, just enjoying each other's company.

'What would anyone say if they saw us like this?' Lily said happily.

'I reckon Potter and Black would hex me into oblivion,' Severus said, running his fingers through Lily's shiny ginger hair.

'So would Remus,' Lily added. 'He nearly had a heart attack when I told him that we study together in the dungeons.'

Severus chuckled. 'Probably because he knows that he doesn't have a chance with you.'

'What do you mean?' Lily asked curiously, looking up at him.

'Please, Lily, you can't tell me you haven't noticed the way he looks at you,' Severus said, rolling his eyes. 'He obviously fancies you.'

Lily smiled to herself, feeling rather good about herself. Was she really that fanciable? 'That would explain why he was looking at Amortentia earlier,' Lily said, remembering how awkward Remus had acted upon being caught reading it.

'Let me get this straight,' Severus said, suddenly sitting up straight. 'Lupin is going to try to make a love potion and give it to you?'

'That's what most people tend to do with love potions, give them to people,' Lily said cheerfully. She saw the nervous look on Severus' face and added, 'I'm not saying I'm happy about it. I just thought that it was rather amusing. Never thought of myself as being that fanciable.'

'You're more than fanciable, my dear Lily,' Severus said, almost reminding Lily of James. 'You are beautiful and smart and simply extraordinary.'

Lily blushed and smiled. 'Thank you,' she said cheerfully. 'But could you do me one favour?'

'Anything.'

'Don't call me my dear Lily,' she said. Lily was sure it sounded rather odd and explained further upon seeing Severus' rather confused expression. 'James, that prat, called me it the other day.'

'Best just stick to Lily then,' Severus agreed. He looked at his watch and frowned. 'Ten minutes until lunch is over.'

Lily frowned as well before sitting up. 'When can I see you again?'

'You'll see me in ten minutes,' Severus joked. 'We have Potions today.'

'You know what I mean,' Lily said, making a silly face at him.

Severus stood up and Lily followed, helping him fold the blanket, which he changed back to green to avoid questions.

'I'll send you another owl,' he said, 'after Potions.'

'Remember to change owls,' Lily reminded him. 'It'll look less suspicious.'

'Of course,' he agreed. Severus kissed her gently on the lips before walking away. 'Follow this path in a minute or two. It will lead you back to the grounds.'

'Good-bye, Severus,' Lily called after him. He waved to her and Lily watched him until he was completely out of sight before heading back to the castle.

*****

Lily sat down behind her cauldron in Potions class. She opened her book, just as she noticed Severus had done. Unfortunately, he sat across the room, nowhere near Lily. She glanced up at him and saw him glancing over his book at her. Lily smiled at him, but the smile faded from her face as James and Sirius entered the classroom.

Lily sighed and looked down at her book, focusing on a Polyjuice Potion.

'Oi! Evans!' James called cheerfully. Lily let out a deep breath and lowered her book to the desk in front of her.

'What can I do for you, James?' Lily said, keeping a fake smile on her face. There was no way that James Potter was going to ruin her day. 'Anything that doesn't involve me snogging you or going to Hogsmeade with you?'

'Well, now that you mention it,' James said, a mischievous smirk forming on his face, 'if you'd fancy joining me in the boys' dormitory tonight, that would be -'

Lily's temper exploded. She rose to her feet faster than you could say hippogriff. 'JAMES POTTER! HOW DARE YOU EVEN THINK ABOUT THAT! IF I'M NOT WILLING TO DATE YOU, WHAT MAKES YOU THINK I'LL SLEEP WITH YOU?' she shrieked.

'Now, now, Miss Evans, Mr. Potter, please settle down and take your seats,' Slughorn said, appalled at Lily's outburst.

'Sorry, Professor Slughorn,' Lily said, sitting down, her hands in fists and shaking terribly.

James grinned and whispered to Lily, 'See you later, love,' before sitting down behind his cauldron.

Lily made a face of absolute disgust and noticed Severus hiding a smirk behind his textbook.

'What's going on between you and Snivellus, Lily?' Remus whispered as Slughorn began to talk about their O.W.L. exams.

'None of your business,' Lily muttered, trying to listen to Slughorn and not blush as Remus talked about Severus.

'Then, where were you at lunch?' Remus asked nosily. 'I came here to find you and you weren't here.'

'That's none of your business, either,' Lily whispered harshly.

'And Snivellus wasn't here either,' Remus added.

'Shut up, Remus,' Lily said through gritted teeth.

'You were with him, weren't you?' he asked.

'Remus, can we please talk about this after class?' Lily asked, speaking a bit louder than she meant to.

'Miss Evans, is there something you would like to share with the class?' Slughorn asked, staring at her.

Lily turned a dark shade of scarlet and muttered, 'No, sir.'

'Very well,' Slughorn said, continuing his talk about the O.W.L.s.

*****

'Now, Lily, will you please tell me what's going on?' Remus asked once out of class and walking down a deserted corridor.

Lily stopped. 'You're not going to like it, Remus,' she started.

'No, Lily, don't tell me you actually fancy that git,' Remus begged.

'OK, I won't tell you,' Lily said, continuing walking down the corridor.

'But Snivellus?' he said, following behind her.

'Remus! His name is Severus. And he's a perfectly respectable person,' Lily said sharply. He opened his mouth to speak but Lily cut him off. 'And don't give me any of this crap about him being a Slytherin because I don't want to hear it.'

Remus fell silent as they walked down the corridor. He timidly asked, 'Are you...dating?'

'In fact, we are,' Lily said definitively.

'And, are you happy with him?' Remus asked sadly.

Lily smiled to herself and answered, 'Yes, I am.' She stopped and faced Remus. 'I'm sorry, Remus. I know you fancy me, but I really do like Severus, and I am very happy with him.'

Remus frowned and looked at his feet. 'It's OK, I suppose,' he said to his feet. 'You can't choose who you like; well, you can, but it's still not your fault. Just don't make me tell James that you're dating him.'

'James will never know,' Lily said, staring at Remus. 'No one can know about this, Remus. Not yet at any rate.'

Remus looked up and thought for a moment. He then nodded.

Lily sighed in relief. Their secret was safe for now. But Lily's mind was still not at ease. It would be difficult to keep her feelings and her secret love life from the entire school. Not to mention...what would happen if they were forced to confront each other in public?