Chapter 1 - Memories
Professor
Severus Snape regarded the setting before him with disgust. Yet he felt his
heart pang at the familiar scene. It was reminiscent of his own schooldays at
Hogwarts. Little did Harry know it, but James usually used to sit in the same
place. Sirius Black would have been at his right, as Ron Weasley was, Lily
Evans would take Hermione Granger's place to the left, and in front would be
Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew, instead of Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan….
* * * *
*
"He won't be
doing that for a long time!" James laughed.
"He could
never do it properly as it is." Sirius snorted.
"What's so
funny?" Remus asked Lily, sitting next to Peter. They stared at her James who
was rolling around in his chair laughing.
"James
challenged Snape to a duel this morning, they were arguing and Snape didn't
dare back out when Sirius suggested it." Lily tried to sound disapproving, but
there were traces of amusement on her lips and her eyes twinkled. "James hit
him with a what's-it-called charm. You know, the one that makes whatever you
charm, change colour. Anyway Snape tried to disarm James, only he missed, and hit
Professor Kettleburn, you know that Care of Magical Creatures teacher. So he
got a detention, and James got off scott-free." Lily giggled, unable to hold
back.
"You should have seen him, he was trying to give James a dirty look, but
he kept flashing different colours, it was hysterical." Sirius finished, as
James and Lily went off into fresh peals of laughter. At the unfortunate victim
walked past the laughing group.
"Are you okay Snape? You look a bit off-colour." Lily giggled. James,
Sirius Peter and Remus laughed.
"Shut up you filthy little mudblood!" The Slytherin spat angrily. James
leapt to his feet, and had to be restrained by Sirius. Lily caught his arm.
"Leave it." She warned, nodding to Professor Prewett, the Potions
teacher, who had just entered the dungeon.
"Call my girlfriend that again, and you're a dead man Snape." He
muttered angrily. The other boy paled and hurried to his seat.
* * * * *
"Why did I have to say that?" Snape thought reproachfully to himself.
"Why doesn't she like me? I never was horrible to her, before she started
seeing the wonderful Potter! He's so obnoxious; he doesn't deserve her.
She should be with someone that appreciates her, like me." Severus felt jealous
and angry. He comforted himself, by thinking: "They won't last! Potter will
drop her, thinking he's too good for her. He is so arrogant. But she is so
gorgeous, her brilliant emerald eyes, her beautiful mane of chestnut hair. I
love her." He sat up, shocked. "I what?" He thought. "Of course I don't… or do
I?" The rest of his potions lesson was spent, watching Lily, and the way she hung
on James' every word. Snape disliked James even more now; he couldn't see the
tender, loving glances thrown at Lily by her boyfriend, or their hands,
entwined together, underneath the table. Bitterly Severus packed up his things
and headed to lunch. "If I could just get her on her own, then I could explain,
show her how I feel. How do you explain your love for someone who despises your
very existence?" He scowled as the couple walked past him, arms wrapped around
each other, oblivious to everyone except each other. James smiled at Lily and
gently kissed her cheek. Lily responded with one on his mouth. Smiling happily
they sat at the Gryffindor table. "A kiss, of course. Once I kiss her, Lily
will see that Potter is just using her, and see how much I love her. Then
she'll leave Potter, for me, and won't life be sweet." Wrapped in a blanket of
daydreams and fantasies, he sat and began his lunch. He didn't even realize he
was sat at the Ravenclaw table. Sirius, James and Peter howled with laughter,
when they saw the Ravenclaw's kick Snape off their table. Angry and indignant,
Snape wondered where Remus was."
* * * * *
"Sssh!" Lily
heard James hiss. She was the only one left in the Gryffindor common room,
everyone else was at dinner, but Lily had a sore throat had was not in the mood
for eating, so she had sat down in a high-backed armchair before the fire, with
a book.
"Okay, stop nagging." That
was definitely Sirius, and by a high squeak, she knew that Peter was with them.
Peering over the back of the chair, she saw them hurriedly climbing out of the
portrait hole. Clearly they hadn't seen her, and Lily felt hurt that James had
not told her what they were going to do. Stealthily, she followed them out of
the hole, and along the corridor, she paused at the end, unsure which way they
had gone, but a stifled chuckle from up ahead, immediately let her know.
"They are probably wearing James' invisibility cloak, but why?" Lily
thought. "We are still allowed around the castle, and the grounds so why are
they hiding. Turning a corner, Lily walked straight into a crowd of
Slytherin's, with Snape at the head. Inwardly, the fifth year groaned.
* * * * *
There she was,
standing, looking a little dazed, right in front of him. She looked just as beautiful
as ever, but this time…alone!
"This is my chance," thought Severus. "I have to tell her now." He
motioned the other Slytherins on, who left them together in the corridor.
"Hello Lily." He said, trying to be cheerful, but it came out as a sneer.
"Snape." Lily nodded coldly.
"Where's your precious Potter?" He said scornfully.
"What's it to you? Why can't you just leave him alone? Just because
you're jealous."
"What of exactly?"
"The fact that James is popular, good-looking, is brilliant at
Quidditch. He has everything you want, but don't have, and can't get." Severus
bristled. This was true, all of it.
"One thing in particular." He growled, he stared at Lily suggestively,
and she took a step back. She tried to step around him, but he moved and
blocked her path. Confused, she tried again, the same thing happened.
Frustrated, she ran her fingers through her hair. Severus gulped nervously, as
he watched her pulse, beating underneath the choker-necklace given to her by
James. It had a miniature lily dangling down, and she played with this
subconsciously. Unable to control himself, Snape grabbed her shoulders and
pushed her against the wall. Letting go, he ran his fingers through his hair,
and Lily went to sidestep him, but he banged his hand against the wall. When
she tried to go the other way, he put a hand on her shoulder, pinning her to
the wall.
"What do you want?"
"In an ideal world? You and me, together, with Potter dead, or severely
ill!" He said.
"Let me go." She said firmly, but her voice
was quiet, and Severus knew she was scared. The power he had over her was
immense, and he enjoyed every second of it.
"If he loves you so much, where is he now?" He breathed heavily. She
remained silent, and Severus smiled at her response, or lack of it. He lowered
his head slightly, resting his fore-head upon hers, but Lily turned her head
sharply to the right, her eyes desperately searching for James or Sirius. Angrily, Severus
moved his arm from the wall and gripped her chin forcefully. He lowered his
face and their lips had almost met, when he felt himself being thrown
backwards. Lily sighed with relief as she felt the immense weight of Snape
being torn from her body. She felt even happier when she saw James' strong
figure in front of her. His handsome
features were clouded with anger and concern. Pulling her towards him, James
hugged her tightly and lovingly kissed her head. Then he nudged her towards
where Peter was standing and joined Sirius who had Snape in a tight headlock.
"What did you do to my girlfriend?" James demanded. Snape stayed silent.
"Well? What did you do to Lily?" Sirius grabbed the Slytherin boy's hair, and
pulled it, causing him to yelp in pain.
"Come on Severus, answer the lad." He told him menacingly.
"Nothing." Snape muttered.
"Yeah right." Sirius said angrily, but his rage was nothing compared to
James, who livid.
"It looked to me like you were going to hurt her! You were going to
weren't you?" Sirius released the boy, who immediately took a clumsy, misguided
swing at James, who ducked and then hit him, hard.
"James Potter! Severus Snape! What in Gods name do you think you're
doing?" It was Professor Bones, the Defence against the Dark Arts teacher. She
hadn't quite seen James hit Severus, only the blood on the Slytherin's face,
and the fury on the Gryffindor's. Both boys shrugged and denied everything, and
the teacher carried on, suspiciously. James grabbed Snape by the scruff of the
neck, and slammed him against the wall.
"If you so much as look at her again, I'll batter you! Do you
understand?"
"Yes." Snape muttered sullenly. Not quite satisfied, James saw the
teacher, and reluctantly let go of Snape's robes, he slipped an arm around
Lily's waist, and the four of them headed back to the Gryffindor common room."
* * * * *
"Are you okay?
Are you sure?" James fussed, twenty minutes later. Lily had explained what had
happened and repeatedly assured them that she was okay.
"James, I'm okay! You need to calm down." She turned him round to face
her, and kissed him softly.
"Oh, god! Get a room!" Sirius groaned.
"Snape will pay for this." James declared. Smirking, Sirius agreed.
"And I think I know a way." Nothing the others could say would provoke
him into letting his idea slip.
"Lily'll kiss you." James joked.
"I'm assuming I don't get a say in that?" Lily said indignantly. Sirius
looked thoughtful.
"Okay." He decided, taking the girl in his arms. She pulled back,
annoyed, and James stood up quickly.
"I was only joking." He said angrily.
"Easy tiger!" Sirius grinned. "So was I."
"I'm going to the library, I've still got that Charms essay to do." Lily
announced, standing up and getting her bag. "James, are you coming?"
"No, I think I'll stay here." He said thoughtfully.
"Okay." She shrugged nonchalantly, but she was surprised. James always
went with her, whenever she asked him. He was doing a lot without her lately.
"Where's Remus by the way? I haven't seen him today." James, Sirius and Peter
exchanged glances.
"His mum's ill." James said, but Sirius answered at the same time:
"He had to go to a wedding." Lily felt hurt and suspicious.
"Why are they lying to me?" She thought.
"He had to go to a wedding, but his mum is ill, so he had to go home now
instead of the weekend." Peter amended quickly. James and Sirius threw grateful
looks at their small friend, but Lily was not convinced. She climbed out of the
portrait hole and headed towards the library.
"Phew. That was close." James sighed.
"Do you think she was convinced?" Peter asked.
"Are you
kidding? After me and James messed up, she wouldn't believe the truth." Sirius
said. "Dumbledore has taken him to the Shrieking Shack already, so if we hurry,
we can make it before he transforms." James grabbed his invisibility cloak, and
the three of them slipped under it.
Ten minutes later they arrived at the whomping willow. Glancing around
them cautiously, Sirius hastily nodded and the three of them transformed.
Peter, as a rat, was the smallest, and slipped under the wildly thrashing
branches. He touched a knot on the gnarled trunk. Instantly the tree froze, and
James as stag, and Sirius as a large dog, followed their tiny friend around the
tree, and into a hidden tunnel to meet Remus.
* * * * *
"Morning
gorgeous." James greeted Lily cheerful the next day.
"Morning."
Lily replied flatly. There was none of her usual smile, nor her cute wave and
the kiss on his cheek. In fact, she barely bothered to answer. James felt
surprised and slightly hurt, but dismissed it assuming she was just tired.
"Did you get
Charms essay done?" He asked.
"Yeah." She
told him shortly, sounding bored. She turned to Remus.
"How was the
wedding?" Her voice was distant and filled with false enthusiasm.
"Fine
thank-you." He answered carefully. Staring at him skeptically, she carried on.
"And your
mother…?"
"Is also fine
now, thank you for asking."
"Anytime."
Came the sarcastic reply. She smiled, but it came out as a sneer. She strolled
off and joined another group of Gryffindors, whom she proceeded to sit with.
The four boys stared at her. She had sat with them at every mealtime, ever since
she and James had started seeing each other.
"Okay, what
the hell was that?" James exploded.
"Lily started
acting weird, and went and with someone else." Peter informed him. The other
three stared at him.
"Something is
definitely wrong." Sirius concluded.
"No shit
Sherlock!" James exclaimed sarcastically. Sirius was taken aback. "Sorry mate.
I didn't mean it. It's just I can't understand what Lily is playing at. What is
she doing?" He apologised, looking at each of his friends in turn; they each
looked as clueless as he felt. "Maybe she doesn't like me any more." He sighed.
"She has been paying that sixth year a lot of attention lately." He nodded at
the handsome boy sitting beside Lily. They were talking and laughing.
"What's-his-name? Sam something?"
"Stephen
Jordan." Peter told him.
"Oh shut up
Prongs." Sirius said good-naturedly.
"He's right
James. Lily could never like anyone more than you." Remus said comfortingly.
"Then what is
that all about?" He spluttered exasperatedly, gesturing wildly at the flirting
Lily and Stephen. "That should be me and Lily, not Lily and him.
Right that's it! I can't stand any more of this."
"James, what
are you going to do?" Peter asked nervously.
"Prongs?"
Remus said in a warning tone of voice. However James paid no heed to his
friends, and strode angrily over to Lily and Stephen.
"Lily what is
going on?" He muttered furiously.
"What?"
"You know
perfectly well what! Come on, what's it to be?"
"What are you
talking about James?" Lily hissed. People were starting to stare at them.
"The fact
that you can't decide who your boyfriend is."
"Well why
don't you ask Felicity Spinnet." Lily shot back.
"What?"
"Don't play
games with me! You've been flirting with her all week!"
"I've been
flirting? At least I have the decency to sit with you, and speak to you!"
"Oh isn't
that good of you James? Listen up everyone; James Potter actually has the
decency to sit with his girlfriend! Well it's just a pity he can't be bothered
to say when he doesn't like her anymore."
"Yeah? Well
at least I don't go swanning off with anyone who looks in my direction!" He
retorted angrily. Lily's eyes narrowed dangerously.
"What exactly
is that supposed to mean?"
"It's not
hard. You work it out!" Lily's eyes welled up with tears, but she refused to
let them fall.
"Fine! If
that's what you really think, then forget it. We're over." She told him, with
as much dignity as she could muster. James felt his heart pang as he saw her
eyes glisten with unshed tears, but his pride would not let call her back as
she strode out the Great Hall. The girls ran past him, they were Lily's best
Amber Thomas, Sophie Barnes and Courtney McKee. They all gave James dirty looks
as they rushed after Lily. Turning he miserably re-joined his friends. He
played with the food in front him as he slumped in his chair. Remus opened his
mouth to speak.
"Save it
Moony. I'm not in the mood." James snapped, interrupting.
"Well if the wonderful James Potter hasn't
finally been beaten down, and by a girl too!" Snape sneered smugly, as he
approached the Gryffindor table. "Ooh that must hurt." James stood up and
glared fiercely at Snape. Sirius noticed a couple of teachers looking down, and
grabbing his wrist, pulled him back into his seat.
"No leave
it." He muttered, and turned to the trouble-making Slytherin.
"You must really love hospital food Snape." He said
mutinously.
"And why is
that?"
"Because if
you don't shut your mouth, right now, you'll be eating it for a long time. I'll
take care of that." James told him wrathfully. Snape stepped back uneasily, and
smirked that his remark had caused the intended damage.
