A/N: Wow, I haven't posted anything for a long time. This feels weird. Anyway, this'll have at least a couple more chapters, if you guys like it. Otherwise there's no point, is there?
Disclaimer: The wizarding world and its inhabitants belong to JK Rowling. I am not JK Rowling, therefore, they do not belong to me.
Love, Lily
Dear Severus,
Happy birthday. I have something for you, but I don't want the boys to know about it. Meet me in the trophy room during dinner? It should be empty then.
Love,
Lily
"You don't think the 'Love, Lily' thing was a bit overkill?" Sirius asked. He and the rest of the Marauders were hanging out in the dormitory, wasting their free period playing wizard chess and eating animal crackers.
"Of course not, Padfoot," James responded, "did you see him leaving the dungeons? He's never going to put that note down. It's pathetic." He looked up from the chessboard to find Remus buried in his Muggle Studies notes. "Oy, Moony! What're you doing?"
"My Muggle Studies homework; what does it look like I'm doing?" Their speechless looks told him he was going to have to explain this in terms that James and Sirius would understand. He tried again. "Think how much extra credit Professor Burbage will give me for writing my essay in muggle pen."
"Oh, right, yeah." Remus gave up on the two boys and went back to his essay until the door opened and Lily walked in. "Have any of you seen my pen?" she asked. "I only have so many and it's not exactly like I can just go buy some more in Hogsmeade."
"Nope," they all said quickly.
"Remus," she said, "you're a terrible liar. And when did your writing get so neat? This essay is completely blotless." Remus sighed and handed over the pen.
"Nice job, Moony," Sirius said.
Lily stopped. "What have you boys been up to?"
"Nothing, Lils," James said, "Moony just wanted to do his Muggle Studies homework in real muggle pen. No big deal."
"But you stole it. I'm not stupid, James. If that was really all then Remus would have just asked me for a pen. What's really going on?"
"The Marauders all exchanged looks. Finally Peter spoke up. "It's Snape's birthday," he squeaked. "We left him a note from you and we had to use muggle pen so it would look authentic."
Sirius looked at James. "Why do we ever tell him anything?"
"Beats me," James replied. "You'd think we'd learn."
Lily ignored them. "And what did the note say, Peter?" she asked. He wouldn't respond. "Remus?" Silence. Finally she pulled out her wand and turned to James and Sirius. "Boys?" They froze. Lily was the smartest witch in their class and not above an immobilization charm when it came to defending Snivellus.
"It said that you'd meet him in the trophy room during dinner," James finally said. Lily raised her wand higher. "We were just going to lure him in there and lock the door, honest, Lily. We weren't going to hurt him. One of the ghosts or Filch would have found him eventually."
"Or Peeves," Lily said. James didn't respond. She lowered her wand. "Did it say anything else?"
"We might have said you had a present for him and closed it with 'Love, Lily' at the bottom," Sirius said.
Lily sighed. "All right. I'll meet him tonight. You four will stay away. Meanwhile, I need you four to sneak into Hogsmeade. Apparently I have a gift for him."
"Come on, Lily," Sirius protested, "we'll miss class."
"Tough. You screwed up. You got caught. Besides, it's not like you've never skipped class before." She walked to the door. "He likes fizzing whizbees. You don't even have to leave Honeydukes." She gave them one last look. "You had to write love?" she asked, but she was gone before any of them could respond.
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