Disclaimer: No, I don't own, or claim to own Harry Potter or its characters. They belong to JK Rowling, obviously.

“James,” Lily said once she saw all of the stares, “I don’t like this. I hate attention. I wish they’d stop. I mean, it’s not my fault I was pretty much blind six and a half years for not seeing you for your true self.”

James laughed. “True, but still. Even if it’s just a nonchalant couple, people still look and start rumors.”

“Do the teachers stare?” Lily asked, looking at the table the teachers sat.

“Well, no. But, you have to admit, this would be quite odd to most people.”

“I suppose, but still, this isn’t their business!” Lily exclaimed angrily.

She looked up at the table with the teachers again. She noticed Dumbledore gave her a smile, as if he knew that it was bound to happened.

“Lily, does it matter? We are together. Big deal,” James said.

She bit her bottom lip. “I suppose you are right, but still.”

“What?” James asked sarcastically. “Are you embarrassed by me, or something?”

“No!” Lily said quickly. “Of course not. I’m just usually looked at as the smart girl, not the girl scoring with the most popular boy at Hogwarts. That’s all.”

“You aren’t just a smart girl. You are a beautiful, intelligent, girl. I am very glad that you are my girlfriend, Lily,” James said seriously.

Lily blushed. “You are a strong, handsome, amazing boy, James.”

Before James could say anything, the Marauders came up.

“Did you snog her yet?” Sirius asked.

“Sirius, shut it,” Remus advised. “They don’t have to tell you every little thing they do together.”

“Yeah, really,” Peter said, “you are being as bad as the people that were staring at them earlier.”

Alice also came over. “Yeah, really. So, Lily, did you kiss him yet? Word has it that you kissed Potter here on the cheek.”

“I did,” Lily said in the littlest voice she could go. She turned as red as an apple.

Alice smiled. “You did? Way to go!”

“We should leave the two of them alone,” Remus suggested. Sirius, Peter, and Remus walked away.

“Thank you,” Lily said, “and please, do not say that I clarified what I did. I hate getting attention.”

“You’re too modest,” Alice said walking away.

James and Lily looked at each other for a moment. Lily looked away, blushing again.

“Why are you blushing? We are together, you shouldn’t be embarrassed.”

“I’ve never had a boyfriend before. I’ve never kissed a boy on the lips,” Lily admitted quietly.

“I can change that,” James whispered.

James and Lily were still looking at each other. James came closer into Lily’s face. She too, moved in. They kissed using tongues. Lily was always afraid of her first kiss, but she enjoyed it.

Soon, everyone in the Great Hall was staring at them. It was unusual to see snogging in the Great Hall, let alone James Potter and Lily Evans.

“What are you all staring at?” Sirius asked loudly. “Gosh, it’s none of your business! Go back to eating.”

All of the girls blushed, being acknowledged by Sirius Black. The guys on the other hand, glared, but went back to eating.

Lily looked up at the teacher’s table. Again, they were staring with shock. Some with mouths gaping open. Others, with food half way to their mouths, but stopped short. Lily gave a small, embarrassed smile. Next, she looked at the Slytherin table. They were all glaring that a pureblood was with a Muggle born.

James looked to see what Lily was looking at. He gave them the worst glare that Lily has ever seen James give. His eyes were the most unfriendly things a person could see.

“You’re my girlfriend,” he explained, “and I am not going to let stupid purebloods upset you.”

“Er... James, you are a pureblood.”

“Well, yeah, but I don’t think all Muggle borns are filth, now do I?”

“No,” Lily said, “thank you for doing that. It was sort of frightening, but thanks.”

James smiled. “Really? I could do such a colder glare.”

“When would you do that?”

“When England didn’t go to the Quidditch World Cup and Bulgaria did,” James answered.

Lily rolled her eyes. “Is that the only thing you think about? Quidditch?”

“No, I think about you.”

Lily smiled.

“Aww,” said a cold voice. Lily turned around to see none other than Narcissa Black.

“Why won’t you leave me alone?” Lily asked.

“Because, it’s all in Potter’s best interest that he leave you, you stupid Mudblood.”

“Leave. Her. Alone.”

Lily looked up to see who the cold voice belonged to. It was her ex-best friend’s.

“Alright, Snape. Only because you say so,” Narcissa said.

“Th-thank you, Severus,” Lily said in barely a whisper. It wasn’t any use, he had already walked away.

Severus was walking very fast. His sleeves went up twice. Lily noticed something awful. It was the Dark Mark. Lily never forgave him after what he did to her. He called her a Mudblood. It was the first time she talked to him in months.

“He may not be so bad after all,” James whispered. He noticed Lily was crying. “Lily? What’s wrong?”

“I never apologized to him. I saw his arm when he walked away. He had the Dark Mark,” Lily sobbed. “I have to tell him I’m sorry. I have to. I’m ruining your robes.”

“It’s okay,” James whispered. “It’s fine. Just cry as long as you need. You can always cry on my shoulder, Lily.”

“I should stop acting so weak,” Lily said, her face red, “I can’t help it. He was my best friend, James. What if the only reason he said it was because he was around them so long?”

“I don’t know, Lily.”

“I mean, Slytherin House is notorious for having people saying ‘Mudblood.’ I don’t know why I’m so offended. I’m a Mudblood, and darn proud of it, too.”

“Lily, don’t call yourself that,” James said.

“Why? It’s true. I don’t care if I’m a Mudblood. It hurts me more than it should.” By now, Lily had stopped crying on James’ shoulder.

Alice came over, noticing that Lily had been crying.

“Are you okay, Lily?” Alice asked. “Why were you crying?”

“Severus had the Dark Mark,” Lily said, fighting the tears that were threatening to come again.

“Oh, Lily,” Alice said hugging Lily.

“It’s okay. I’m fine now, honest,” Lily said managing a fake smile.

All James could to was hug and kiss Lily. He knew that her and Snape were only friends, but still. He called her a Mudblood, then ran off to join the Death Eaters. James didn’t know what to think.

Lily didn’t know what to think, either. She knew she loved James, in a love way. She wasn’t sure about Severus. They were best friends for four years.

They were both very, very confused.

A/N: I think you can all guess what the AU factor is.

As you can tell, I've changed my pen name. It's Ostentatious1379 now, not Aria1379. So,, if you noticed that, it wasn't the computer or anything.

Read and review,

Ostentatious