20A/N: Ok, so not totally original, more to come. I always wondered if maybe Lily loved Severus back, even if she also loved James. Plus I wanted to see how James treated Snape when they were alone. So I set them loose, let's see where they go! R&R please, tell me what I can do to make it better!
He kissed her.
Her mouth was suddenly overfilled with sensation. Sweet, and warm, hot, cold, welcoming, exciting, soothing. Nothing felt normal, but everything felt right. She tried to collect herself, but she realized she couldn't feel the rest of her. It was as if the whole world was centered between her lips and his. She was certain that if he asked her what her name was, she wouldn't be able to answer. His name would float to her mouth, because he was her whole world.
He couldn't help himself. When he looked at her, he couldn't help but wonder what she would feel like in his arms, what her lips would taste like, what her eyes would say when he looked into them. So he kissed her. And nothing he imagined could compare. His world blew apart, being held together only by her, her name, her scent, her lips, her heartbeat. He knew he would never be the same. And he knew that the only reason he would pull their lips away from each other, where they fit so perfectly, would be to see her eyes, and the stars shining through the window reflected in them. Her beautiful emerald eyes.
"Mr. Potter, Miss Evans, do you mind explaining why you two are…congregated…in my corridor?"
They flung out of each other's arms, shocked. Watching them was the potions teacher, Professor Slughorn. Lily felt a magnificent blush erupt on her face, and she tried to stutter out an answer to the kindly man. "Er…um…well…I-it's…well-"
"I'm sorry, sir, we didn't know that you were there." James broke in with an easy grace. Slughorn chuckled. Even though Lily had known that the professor was joking, and that he didn't actually mind them being there, she was incredibly embarrassed.
"Erm, I'm sorry sir, and um, I'll just be going," She made to leave, but James grabbed her arm lightly and chatted a little with Slughorn, not even slightly mortified.
Eventually the Potions Master left and they were alone again in the deserted corridor.
She tried to leave again, but he tightened his grip and looked at her. "You're going to leave me that easy?"
She sighed and corrected him, "I'm not leaving you, James. I'm going to our common room to work on homework assigned by the teacher who interrupted you kissing me." She tried for a glare, but couldn't muster up the will to be angry at him.
He looked affronted. "I…kissed you? It takes two to snog, love."
Suddenly she found the will. "What?! First off, I wasn't snogging you. Second, don't call me love!" She stormed off. And then realized he could just follow her. Even if she got in the portrait hole to the common room first, he knew the password. Lovely.
Coming up behind her, he said, "What do you call what just happened then?"
She glanced at him, and then looked down at her feet. She felt her face settle into a mask she didn't recognize. She whispered, "A mistake."
And then she ran.
James stood there, flabbergasted, watching her red hair dance out of sight. She had just turned his world upside down, with a single kiss, insulted him, and then run away. He sighed, and began his walk up to the dormitory. When he rounded the final corner, he saw someone he really didn't want to see.
"You!" Severus looked up to see the boy who had made his life hell since the moment he stepped foot on Platform 9 ¾. This was another thing he really didn't need that night.
"Me." Even to Snape, who didn't know him very well, this was a sound of defeat. Then he saw the Rose Petal Pink lipstick on his mouth.
Snape was not a connoisseur of lipstick, or any other type of cosmetic, but he would know that exact shade of Pink from millions of other shades. Billions. He had spent everyday since fifth year memorizing every detail of the girl who wore that color.
In an instant, he stood ramrod straight, his wand in his hand and pointed at the poisonous Gryffindor in front of him. He was shaking; not with fear, but with anger. The git, the spoiled little child, had the nerve to look at him as if he was insane.
"Snivelly? We know you're not so good with the wand…why don't you put it away?
"You kissed her! You prat!" He was barely controlling himself now, feeling the shred of control falling apart…any second now…
Then he saw James' face. It had emptied of color, and it was in pain. Snape was shocked. He had expected the git to look as if he had won the Quidditch cup; he had thought Potter's face would boast to him that the girl of his dreams had chosen Potter. But it didn't. Instead, it was an expression Snape was familiar with. Pain.
"Yeah. Now leave me alone." James turned to go, trying to hide his expression. But Snape was too quick for him.
"Wait!" Why did Potter look like that?
"What Snape? What's your problem?"
"You. Usually."
"Thank you." Another fine compliment to add to tonight's collection.
"What…?" He knew he would regret asking. Potter would tell him, and he would break as if in two. Again.
"You can feel better, she told me…" What had she told him, really? It didn't matter anyway.
"Oh." Snape was relieved. But also…sympathetic?
James saw the expression in the Slytherin's eyes and refused to acknowledge it. Instead he hurled an insult at the boy.
"Look Snivelly, maybe she'd kiss you too if you'd wash your bloody hair…No, not even then." He turned on his heels and walked to the entrance, not even sparing a glance at the lost-looking boy behind him. He hurried through the opening, too quickly to see the tear slide down the boy's face. Too quickly to hear the whispered, "I know."