Close Call
Disclaimer: These characters and settings all belong to the admired author, Joanne Kathleen Rowling. Do I look like JKR? Nope. So I do not own any of her material!
Information: This story is a continuation of the day Severus Snape calls Lily Evans a Mudblood.
It was sunset as she sat there lying against the old tree. The only sound accompanying her slow rugged breathing was the slight breeze tickling the leaves. The Black Lake shimmered in what was left of the sunlight. Reds, oranges, and pinks licked the water's gentle waves.
What happened to him? She thought impatiently.
Mudblood? Who does he think he is?! He thinks he can tell me who I can and con not hang out with? He's the one who's friends with those filthy Death Eaters!
She glared deep into the sky. The colors escaped her vision as her brain ran its course.
"Who's there?" she demanded. The sun had gone down while she was lost in thought. She didn't feel alone in the pitch black darkness.
"It's me," he answered.
"Go away, Snivellus."
"Lily, please listen. I'm sorry! I didn't mean-"
She cut him off, "You didn't mean to call me Mudblood? Really, Severus? I know what you and your friends have been doing huddled around in the darker corridors! You think I don't know that you're going to report straight to You-Know-Who when you're out of Hogwarts?"
"Lily, I-"
"Leave her alone, Snivellus," cried a distant voice. "She doesn't want to talk to you," the voice inched closer.
"Potter. Where're your ickle friends? Not too scared to attack without them, I hope."
"Shut up. They're busy," he glanced at the full moon.
"You can't tell people how I feel! You don't know how I feel, Potter!" shouted Lily.
"And yeah, Evans, like we can't hear you yelling from across the lawn at old Sniv here,"
Lily couldn't respond.
"I know how you feel," he whispered for only her ears to hear.
She hesitated, and then pushed him away from her.
"Both of you just go away,"
"Lily," they said simultaneously. She could almost feel the heated glare between them.
Severus began, "Lily, you can't stay here alone. It's too dark and it's after hours. You'll get in trouble,"
James finished, "There could be… animals roaming around." He glanced at the moon's reflection in the lake. "You… you don't want to be out here tonight,"
A loud, strangled howl pierced the night. It sounded like a monster in pain.
"I've got to go. Evans, just… go with Snivellus if you have to. Get back in the castle," James stumbled over his words and ran off.
"You can't tell me what to do!" she screeched. There was a faint silhouette of a stag in the distance.
"Lily, let's go," pled Severus.
"I'll leave. But not with you."
Lily slowly left her seat at the tree and walked towards the castle. Severus followed closely behind, listening to her mutter angrily under her breath. The door to the castle came into view as a figure crossed their path. It looked like an anorexic bear to Lily. Snape ran in front of her, knowing the werewolf would notice the both of them within seconds. He threw his hand over her mouth. Lily struggled to remove it, trying to shout for help. The werewolf whipped its head around to face the two. It slowly walked towards them, trying to figure out, food or friend. It seemed to pick food as it leaped at Lily.
A stag tackled the werewolf to the ground as Lily screamed. The stag glared at her, seeming to beg her to leave. A huge dog was also running towards the wolf. She ran into the castle, with Snape following at her feet.
"What w-was that?" she stuttered.
"Werewolf… I bet you that Potter was up to something again,"
"I don't want to hear it, Severus." With that, she sped up to Gryffindor Tower, leaving her once best friend to shrink back to the dungeons.
