Severus carried Lily through the forest with eyes closed and no complaints. This pleased the Gryffindor girl immensely; she felt as though her Slytherin friend was finally easing up a bit. He was always so tense and serious; it was nice that he was calm for a change. She smiled at the thought that it was being caused by carrying her around, but Severus was funny like that. As Lily became distracted by her thoughts, she did not realize that he was about to walk headlong into a tree.

"Ow! Lily!" Severus whined, "You're supposed to be directing me!"

Lily giggled, so much for calm. Even in the darkness, she could see him blushing in embarrassment. She clung on tightly to her friend; he went rigid, not used to being shown affection.

"Hey Sev…" Lily whispered softly, as she buried her face in his hair (she did not even mind that it was greasy and dirty. Severus was now blushing profusely.

"Y-yeah, Li-Lily?"

"I…" she began, but it seemed as though she had changed her mind, "We're here." She jumped down from his back, "Keep your eyes closed! I'll be right back."

As Lily wandered off, Severus stayed where he was, feeling rather pissed off.

"What was she really going to say!?" he thought angrily to himself as he waited for his beloved to return.

"Close your eyes again! I've got one of them!" Lily called out from somewhere in the darkness. He placed his hands over his eyes, despite feeling ridiculous for doing so. He heard footsteps as she approached him.

"Ok! You can open your eyes now!"

Severus removed his hands and saw Lily standing before him holding out a fuzzy, black thing, with large yellow eyes. As he leaned in closer to get a better look, the thing mewed at him. He stared wide-eyed at it; it was a kitten, a tiny little thing, no more than six weeks old. Lily grinned broadly as she held the mewling bundle out for him to hold.

"Isn't it cute?" she gushed. Severus' face turned to stone.

"This is what you dragged me out, in the middle of the night, to see?"

"What? You don't like him?"

"I do," Severus lied just for her happiness, and took the kitten from her. He struggled in his hands and scratched him up quite a bit.

"Let me get the other one, then!"

"Oh Merlin," he thought to himself, "There's another one?"

Lily returned again, this time holding a tiny orange kitten.

"I found them the other day," Lily explained, holding the kitten to her chest, "They were both together, so I figured that they were friends. You should keep him, Sev! And I'll keep this one!" she exclaimed.

"I really couldn't." Severus held the kitten out at arms length, giving it a look of slight disgust.

"But he looks like you, Sev!"

"What do you mean it looks like me?"

"He has black fur and you have black hair," Lily pointed out, "And this one, has fur the same color as my hair; it's not a coincidence, it's fate!"

Severus rolled his eyes; thirteen year old girls were so stupid (he was only thirteen too, but still he felt more intelligent). But something about Lily Evans was so endearing. He did not know exactly what love was all about, but his instincts told him that's what he was feeling.

"So?" Lily asked, "Are you going to keep him?"

"Sure…"

"Sev!" she held onto the kitten with one arm, and flung the other around his neck. And once again he stood completely still not knowing how to respond. His kitten had now clawed onto his ridiculous smock-like shirt, and had climbed up onto his shoulder, leaving his hands free. He looked sideways at the kitten and it gazed back at him: Severus knew what to do.

He slipped his arms around Lily's waist and drew her close to him. They stood that way for what seemed like forever; the moon moved across the sky as Severus felt her heartbeat. Finally, Lily broke the enchantment.

"We should head back…" she said softly with a yawn.

"Yeah…"

Lily reached out and grasped Severus' hand in her own as they walked through the forest that now held a memory that neither would forget.

---

Severus walked Lily all the way to her house, right up to her front door.

"What if your parents find out?" he asked.

"Oh, don't worry about it," she replied, rubbing her eyes, "They'll know that I was with you."

"Well, um, goodnight…" he turned and began to walk in the direction of Spinner's End, all the while holding the black kitten.

"Severus! Wait!" Lily cried out and ran toward him, "Don't go! Stay with me for a little while longer…"

He was blushing again; he could feel the color rise in his usually pallid face. She grasped onto his arm, and led him to the Evans' backyard, which was extremely well groomed, unlike the Snape family yard. They both sat underneath an ancient maple tree, with the kittens in their laps.

Lily began to stroke her orange one. At the same time she inched a bit closer to Severus, and rested her head on his shoulder, closing her eyes.

"Lily, what if- Lily?" He nudged the red head a bit, but she was unresponsive: she had fallen asleep.

Severus was feeling bold, now that her watchful green eyes were closed, he did not feel embarrassed. He gently rested his head on hers and closed his eyes.

Nefi and Girly asleep in the yard.