AN: Don't own anything. Silliness Warning.

Over the next two weeks, Snape was pleased that he and Lily seemed to have settled into what he thought of as a companionable equilibrium, at the very least. Communication over the notebooks was frequent, although the topics admittedly superficial. They tended to sit near, if not always next to each other at meals, and he'd even met with her in the potions classroom to discuss curriculum, supplies and other teaching related questions. They hadn't been alone again in either of their suites, but she'd always request his presence when she, Longbottom and Bentham gathered in one of the teacher's suites for grading or socialization. Although he usually demurred in the former, he typically accepted in the later. Longbottom and Bentham had even proved to be adequate adversaries in chess or the odd card of board game.

The first flying lessons, on the other hand, had been more of a disappointment. It seemed that the three of them had been regularly practicing combative spellwork – a combination of habit from DA and Order days, and a need to break up the tedium of the school year apparently. That was why Bentham and Longbottom had been so keen to rope Snape in as a guest instructor, so to speak. The three professors had been able to apply the principles of the wandless "flying" spell to items with some practice, but applying it to themselves in a sustained, controlled manner was proving more of a challenge.

Snape had decided to start simple, and tried various ways of initiating propulsion – he'd initially thought of using a piece of muggle equipment called a "trampoline," which was similar to the device the Dark Lord had used to teach him. He'd decided against it all most immediately, however. He could be overthinking it, but he wasn't ready to watch Lily on one again – he had enough memories from his youth to know the effect of that sort of activity on her chest, and the effect of that on him. He quickly decided to try a rope swing instead.

So far, the results had been frustratingly poor – all three had managed to slow their descents, but none could maintain anything consistent. When they arrived at the room of requirement for their fifth day, they'd all been surprised when a trampoline had been added to the equipment.

"Oh wow, that looks like it could help," said Longbottom.

"Oh I haven't been on one of those in ages," giggled Bentham.

Having a laugh now? Fucking room, thought Snape. Then he caught Lily looking at him with a discrete smile.

As the other two started taking off their shoes, she turned to him and said, "do you think you can manage to keep all your teeth this time Sev?"

"That trampoline was defective," he responded in a harsh whisper.

"Mmmhmm. Right Sev."

"Besides, I don't think there is any need for me to get up on that thing," Snape said a little more loudly.

"Well, how do you expect to explain how we're supposed to start flying by jumping on this thing if you don't do it?" asked Bentham.

Snape didn't dignify her question with a response. Instead, his eyes settled on his third pupil who had begun to walk gingerly onto the trampoline. "Longbottom!"

"Yes sir?"

"Step down."

Neville complied. Snape climbed onto the surface, gauging the spring of the equipment as he walked to the center. "Pay attention to how I wait until the apex of the jump where my velocity is zero and lengthen that time – I will perform some purely vertical exercises and then I'll jump forward, and, using the same principles, fly forward onto the ground," he explained while trying not to think about how silly he would look.

The three onlookers watched as he bent his knees, and sprang into the air, coming to an almost complete stop about 3 feet off the top of the trampoline, then slowly accelerated downwards, hitting the trampoline at the same speed at which he'd left it. He jumped higher the second time, commenting as he rose and floated the second time, "Concentrate on reducing the rate of acceleration!" He jumped a third time, aiming himself forward as well as up, travelling about twenty feet past the trampoline before coming to rest.

The other three professors looked unsure. "Can you show us the vertical jumping again?" asked Bentham.

Reluctantly, Snape climbed back on the trampoline and demonstrated again.

"Now, it's your turn," he said.

No one stepped forward initially. After a pause, Lily started toward the trampoline. As she approached the edge, he realized that because she was shorter than he was, she was either going to have to hoist herself up and roll onto the top or he could pull her up. Before he could make a decision, their eyes met, and Snape interpreted this as a request for a hand. He extended his arm, and she clasped it, her hand gripping right below his elbow, the inner side of their arms aligned. In a swift movement, he brought her up, lightly touching the back of her shoulder with his free hand to steady her, then backed away as she found her balance. She wasn't looking at him anymore. Snape climbed down from the trampoline and took up a position to observe her.

Lily bounced a few times without trying to extend her time in the air, getting a feel for the trampoline. Then, with her eyes closed, she began to slow her descent little by little on each jump. Finally, she looked almost like she was slowly sinking in a pool. Too bad she didn't wear her hair loose instead of in that braid, she'd look so beautiful with her hair spread all around her, thought Snape, before he chastised himself. Focus Severus!

Opening her eyes, Lily jumped forward, landing softly about fifteen feet from the trampoline. Longbottom and Bentham gave her a brief round of applause, and Lily, still flushed and breathing heavily from the exertion, bowed with comic exaggeration before glancing at Snape,

Next, Bentham climbed on the trampoline, and eventually managed similar, if less pronounced, results. Finally, Longbottom climbed on the trampoline. Taking a deep breath, he too began to jump the regular fashion to begin with, and then attempted to lengthen his fall. Snape looked to his side to watch Lily, who was absentmindedly wrapping her braid around her index finger and then unwinding while watching Longbottom. He saw the alarm on her face for a split second before he was knocked flat on his back.

"Oh Merlin! I'm so ss-sorry Professor!" Neville said as he sprang off of Snape, his face already red and his hands gesturing erratically in front of him. "Are you alright?"

Stupid. Fucking. Dunderhead. It's a miracle you haven't killed yourself already idiot, is it too much to ask you don't injure the rest of us bastard, thought Snape. Finally he managed to say, "I'm fine." It came out with more glower than he'd intended, but his uncharacteristically minimal reaction seemed to calm Longbottom somewhat.

Snape decided the day's lesson was over.

That evening, Lily apparated to the Potter residence for their monthly "family dinner." Third Sundays were dinners at Harry and Ginny's home, with their children and Lily. (First Sundays were a more chaotic meal at the burrow that included all Weasleys, and several other regular guests). Ginny called from the kitchen to welcome her, Albus and Lily the younger had caught a gnome that they wanted to show her. Harry was nowhere to be seen. After inspective her grandchildren's captive, Lily Potter hung up her coat and scarf in the closet and asked if Harry was home.

"Not yet," answered James.

"Working on a Sunday again?" asked Lily.

"Uh huh," answered James. At that, Harry appeared in the fireplace.

"There you are. I was almost prepared to go to the ministry and drag you out myself Harry," said Lily.

"I'm sorry – it really couldn't be helped; everything's fine now," he said as he kissed her cheek.

Lily backed up a step, her hands on his sides and regarded him. "Well, it's my prerogative worry; think of it as making up for lost time."

"Poor man had all those years without, now he has the both of us nagging – go easy on him Lily," said Ginny, appearing from the kitchen. "Anyway, foods ready, so get in there while it's hot – all of you."

Lily smiled and followed the rest of the Potters into the dinning room for dinner.

Afterwards, Lily found Harry in the kitchen. Since Harry had only arrived after the food had been prepared, he was relegated to washing dishes. Lily took up the drying end of the operation. She didn't ask about work (since she knew she would only get vague answers), but instead said, "So, Severus and I are friends again."

"Oh, uh. That's good. I mean, how'd that happen?"

"Well, we pretty much avoiding each other for awhile, then I ended up talking to him when he came to get some of his things from his old rooms – and we got to talking and we've gotten over our spilt I guess…."

"But?"

"Well, things are still a tad awkward of course and he said… at first he said he didn't think he could be my friend because he couldn't just be my friend… but… he's fine with how things are, for now."

"Hmm. And are you?"

"Yes. I mean. He's right, I can't just expect things to go back to the way they were – and if part of the problem was that he… felt differently than I did… then, it will eventually become a problem again."

"Yeah, I think I understand. What's he going to do the next time you start dating someone? He might care about you, but he's human."

"Uh huh. Well, I'll be gone soon anyways – that will at least delay the issue."

"And he's really not going to like that."

"He hasn't seem too put out by it – I think it might be a bit less stressful for him not having me around. I don't think my going to Australia worries him too much."

"You know what I meant," Harry whispered. "I guess you're not planning on telling him?"

"Well, not now at least – I've barely told anyone – and I probably won't. He'd just try to talk me out of it."

"Can't blame him," said Harry with concern.

"Anyways," said Lily, redirecting the course of the conversation, "I'm inviting him to my birthday party, if it's alright with you."

"No problem. Although I'm having trouble picturing Snape showing up," Harry said. He continued with mock seriousness, "Then again, the power of love is a mysterious and mighty thing."

"Harry!" Lily said disapprovingly.

"Sorry, I can't help it. I mean – I believed him when I saw the memories. But the reality of Snape being lovesick is a bit much to picture," he answered.

"I wouldn't call him that – I mean, it's not like he's showing up with flowers and making grand gestures. He's still very reserved – like I described before."

"That's good. Glad to know the world hasn't totally gone mad," he said with a hint of weariness.

"Anyways, you'll see him for yourself on Saturday – promise to be mature about this Harry."

"Trust me. The last thing I want is to remind Snape I know about all that," he said with conviction.

With a smile, and a shake of her head, Lily concentrated on drying the last of the dishes.

Monday morning, Lily found herself seated next to Severus at breakfast. He greeted her with a brief smile and the usual pleasantries as she took her seat before returning to his food.

After most of the teachers had left, she said, "Harry's having a bit of a get-together for my birthday this weekend."

"Oh?"

"And you're welcome to come – it's this Saturday at 7, we're portkeying to a cook out."

"In the middle of winter?" he said neutrally.

"Hermione's been getting good at really large warming charms – we thought grilling in the snow and woods would be novel – rather silly but there it is. Anyways, I'd be happy to have you there," she finished.

He didn't speak at first, then seemed to remember that a response was expected. "Thank you – I'm sure I can spare the time to make an appearance."

"Great," she said as a grin spread across her face as tension she hadn't realized she'd had fled her body.

AN: Reviews are always appreciated and are also the best way to keep new chapters coming with a semblance of regularity. I'm sure you're all eagerly awaiting the next installment after that sexual tension in the trampoline scene between Neville and Snape ;)