AN: Well guys, after attempting
to reread Least Likely of All, I decided it DESPERATELY needed editing.
Therefore, I give you the edited version of a story I wrote and posted almost
two years ago. It's 100 chapters long and nearly twice as long as Prisoner
of Azkaban. This one will be a thousand times better, I promise. There are
some things that simply can not be improved, however, and as a result this
story is far from perfect. If you're reading LLOA for the first time,
do yourself a favor and don't go back to read the original. You'll miss
out. What you'll see here are my pathetic little edits of the story. The
plot will not change, but I can guarentee you the style and maturity of
it will. I was much less experienced (writing-wise) when I wrote the original
version, and to be quite honest I was lacking in anything that even remotely
resembled talent. Since then, I've gone on to write an unbelievable amount
of crap, including three novels, one of which is published and two of which
are about to be.
By the way, I'm seventeen.
Enjoy.
Dedicated to Amy Gordon, who turns sixteen today, on April 18th, 2003.
Chapter One: The Perfect Couple
Lily Evans and James Potter, voted best couple of 1976 by all four houses. James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew, voted most popular group by three of the four Hogwarts houses. Lily Evans, voted prettiest 6th Year by all four of the houses. Sirius Black, voted most eligible bachelor of the Gryffindor house. Remus Lupin, voted most likely to become the next Minister of Magic. Severus Snape, voted most likely to become a Death Eater.
To Severus, the thought was ridiculous, but to the rest of the school, it was inevitable. Even from the very beginning, when he took his first arrogant steps down the aisle of the Great Hall, the young boy showed all the traits; he was a first-class Slytherin and knew more hexes than the rest of the student body combined. With his long black hair and cold black eyes, he looked more menacing than any teacher ever did, even while threatening expulsion. His stare was enough to frighten any of those who were younger or naïve, and when given the choice, many would have preferred an evening with Argus Filch, the bitter Hogwarts Caretaker, rather than have to face even a moment of the wrath of the irrationally vindictive Severus Snape.
However evil he looked, however much vice of which he was believed to take part, however much chaos he seemed to have caused, in a secret corner of his mind, the young man hated it. To him, it wasn't so much the fact his classmates seemed to ignore him; rather, what irritated him to the point of fury was that he had inherited the reputation to begin with. His father before him—a bastard in Severus' eyes—had done more than his share of wrongdoing within the walls of Hogwarts, and now his son, whom he rarely saw more than twice a year, was paying the price.
He was constantly teased for his looks and heritage; while the insults and taunting continued to slice through his thick skin year after year, they were something he eventually learned to ignore. By the end of his third year, he firmly believer that the school would have left him alone if it hadn't been for two boys; James Potter and Sirius Black. Ringleaders of a gang they had dubbed the Marauders, since the first day the three stepped into Hogwarts, Potter and Black had tortured Severus. He didn't know what he had done to deserve their wrath, or if they simply thought it was great fun to torment people they thought lower than themselves. Either way, by their sixth year, after an incident where Sirius and James had nearly killed Severus, he had spent most of his time looking for things to get them back with; he was hell-bent on the sweetest revenge the cunning boy could muster, not only for their pranks but for their utter inability to be human.
It was then, when he had begun to give up all hopes of ever being accepted, when Severus silently vowed to prove them all wrong. James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, and Lily Evans were the Beautiful Ones; to show the rest of the school that their precious Gryffindors were, in fact, only human was the only thing he see in his last years at Hogwarts. In his mind, they had little to do with what he would eventually turn out to be, but despite that, he was regretful in his admittance to exercising little of his self-control. He was unable to see past the present, able to only see what lay directly in front of him.
Revenge was a dish best served cold, and Severus knew that the longer he waited, the more perfect and poetic justice would be Gryffindors were unable to understand the exact art of revenge, but fairness and justice were two concepts they had down pact.
Severus slowly began to hate all that surrounded him: the students, the faculty, the mediocre and tedious lesions he received from the school—by the time Christmas of '76 rolled around, he was convinced that the entire six years he had attended Hogwarts had been a joke. Top of his class, yes, but always right below James Potter. The dark haired Quidditch god was the epitome of everything Severus hated, and at the same time he was everything he yearned to be. As much as he hated to admit it, he was jealous of James. Severus dreamed of having even a portion of James' popularity or a percentage of the respect James was given. The arrogant son of one of the wealthiest wizards in the country had everything he desired—everything down to the girl.
Lily Evans had never acknowledged his existence, as far as Severus was concerned. Of course, every once in a while a disgusted look or nasty comment was thrown his way, but he doubted she even knew his first name. She did, however, know his last; all she ever referred to him as was 'Snape.'
James Potter and Lily Evans; they were the seemingly perfect couple to everyone except the precious few who truly knew what went on. They were the most powerful and respected couple in Hogwarts, and as a result, no one dared to question their relationship, convinced it would last forever.
On one snow-filled evening in the middle of their sixth year, all four male Gryffindors were gathered around the common room fire, swapping stories and boasting of a prank they had only recently managed to pull off. The fire crackled merrily as the sounds of laughter filled the air, and a calmness unrecognizable to any who hadn't sat on the cushioned red sofa sifted silently through the room.
A flash of rich red announced Lily Evan's presence at the top of the staircase, and a moment later she began her descent down of the stars, clothed in robes of rich green velvet bought only hours before at one of the most expensive stores at Hogsmeade. Catching Remus' eye as she stepped onto the lushly carpeted floor, she smiled as he winked, nodding his head slightly in his approval. Before she could take another step towards the four, James whirled around and gaped at her opening, before smirking and shaking his head in a pitiful attempt to cover up what had been complimentary astonishment only moments before.
"Green isn't your color, Lily," James snapped, his cold blue eyes icy with a possessive quality placed within since the day he had first laid eyes on the pretty redheaded girl. He eyed her lewdly before shaking in head in a disappointed manner, one Lily was trained to respond to with utmost obedience. "You look like a trashy whore. Go put on some decent clothes."
"It isn't?" she questioned in a surprised tone. "I'm sorry," she said quietly, gentle shock evident in her gaze as she glanced away from James and looked directly at Remus, her green eyes searching for something she had yet to find. The werewolf's eyes were filled with something akin to sympathy, but Lily would hear nothing of it. Bravely, she nodded toward the group once more before pulling the hem of the luscious velvet robe off the floor and beginning her ascent to her dormitory. What had once been a gorgeously tailored masterpiece was now reduced to nothing more than a pile of rags fit not even for a servant. Years of training had robbed her of an outspoken opinion, something few had noticed.
"You know, this would have been the perfect opportunity to compliment her," Remus pointed out after Lily was well out of earshot, sighing inwardly at James' harsh words towards the girl.
"Why though? Whenever you compliment a girl they get all giddy and never leave you alone." James shuddered before dipping a freshly sharpened quill into an inkpot. His cool indifference to the girl he claimed he loved numbed Remus to the very core; while he harbored no feelings of lust, he readily admitted to feeling protective of the girl in what could only be described in a sister-like manner. He had sat back and watched their relationship progress for years, but never could he muster the courage to tell one of his best friends off. James was powerful, more so than Remus would ever be, and he cherished the friendships he had developed with the other three too much to lose them over something as trivial as an attitude problem.
"Five words my friend, five words," Sirius said with a grin, holding up a splayed hand showing four fingers and a thumb. He was sitting directly across from Remus, yet was oblivious to the obvious discomfort his friend was feeling.
"And which five words are those?" Peter Pettigrew smirked, adjusting his robes slightly so his potbelly was completely concealed. The least admirable and attractive of the three, he was nonetheless treated equally and considered a vital member of their exclusive group. Remus had always seen him as a follower of James; Peter was unable to think for himself and was always looking up toward the more popular and charismatic boy. Underneath his calm exterior, he was wary not of Peter's loyalty, but of his placement within their group. Remus was by no means an elitist, but from the very first moment he had laid eyes on the pudgy boy and caught a whiff of his slightly pungent odor, he had carried an internal dislike for him, one he hoped would never have the opportunity to surface.
"'To get in her pants.'" Sirius shot his best friend a knowing look before punching his shoulder with all the force of an excited sixteen-year-old behind his fist.
"Damn…good point." James scowled slightly and returned to the piece of parchment on which he was doodling. His drawing depicted a rather violent Quidditch match, one where a dark-haired Chaser, the emblem of Gryffindor plainly visible on the figure's robes, thought it prudent to introduce the opposing team's Keeper—a Slytherin—to the rough and splintering handle of his broomstick. He was putting the finishing touches on the drawing just as Lily came back down, dressed modestly in her school robes once again.
"Sorry, James," she apologized softly after sitting down next to him. In her eyes, a repressed fear was plainly evident, but only Remus paid enough attention to the redheaded girl to notice.
"It's okay, luv," he said in a low voice, bringing his calloused hand up to brush the pale smoothness of her skin. "I'm sorry I was so harsh—you just looked so beautiful in those robes, I didn't want to share you with the other guys." His voice, harsh and critical before, was now smooth and loving as he nuzzled her neck and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. The other three tried to watch the couple without being obvious, all failing miserably. The pair ignored them, however, and after a moment of manipulative maneuvers on James' part, Lily's face was flushed and her green eyes danced brightly.
"Would you like to go upstairs and see it?" she asked in a low voice after inching her face away from James'. "I really think you'll like it."
"I'm sure I will," James replied as he took Lily's small hand in his own. The two stood up and he led her to the stairway, taking the time to briefly glance back at his three friends, two of whom were trying desperately not to laugh.
"Score one for Potter!" Sirius exclaimed before giving Peter a high-five. Remus just glanced up forlornly towards the staircase James and Lily had disappeared up, sighing once more to himself as he looked downwards towards his hands in pity. The Lily he knew was a smart girl; to see her fall all over herself in order to please James made him lose more than a little faith in the world and the way he felt things should be.
The next morning, Lily and James ambled into the Great Hall for breakfast nearly half an hour late. None of the Gryffindors were surprised; they had seen to what extent the two had taken their relationship, and they had grown accustomed to seeing the pair holding one another up while trying to make it on time, whether it be to a class or a meal. Severus, seated toward the back of the Slytherin table, however, was disgusted at the scene unfolding in front of him, along with the rest of the Great Hall; James had wrapped his muscular left arm around Lily's small shoulders tightly, chaining her to his side. Even from a distance Severus could see the dark circles under her eyes. She looked as if she hadn't slept in days, and for a moment Snape felt a pang of deep concern, one that surprised even him. What shocked him the most was that as James brought his hand down to rub her upper arm in what looked to be a comforting gesture, he could plainly make out the wince that dashed across her face before she regained control of her features.
As he leaned over his bacon, Severus' eyes shifted from the Gryffindor table back to his own plate. There was nothing immediate he could contribute regarding the manner, but his history insisted he do what little he could. The Snapes, while one of the most prestigious wizarding families there were, had a history of abuse a mile wide, one Severus was unable to escape. While he himself had never experienced what his father had gone through, during the summer holidays, each time he heard the shouts and cries coming from his parents' side of the manor, he had to exercise every restraint he could muster not to help his mother. Abuse, both physical and verbal, was something he had grown accustomed to, but he had yet to accept it as a fact of life and he was sure he never would.
Throughout their first class of the day, Transfiguration, Severus tried to catch Lily's eye, but it was only towards the end of the hour that he was successful. He was shocked to see the vivid emerald of her eyes dulled and her demeanor lacking in enthusiasm for what he had assumed her favorite lesson to be. While James was turned around talking to Sirius, Severus inconspicuously walked by her desk and managed to catch her attention over a large porcupine. He nodded toward her in acknowledgement, surprised when he received a silently cordial greeting in return.
"I need to talk to you," he said in the lowest voice he could manage, so as to not alert James of his intentions.
She shot him a curious look, shrinking back slightly from his menacing stance. "After class," she said warily, in a voice barely above a whisper.
"Of course," he replied even as he began to walk away. His cool exterior refused to betray the utmost astonishment his insides were reeling with; the times when the two of them had spoken civilly to one another were few and far between, and he was anxious to see how their impending meeting would end up.
He gathered his supplies much slower than usual as he waited for Lily to excuse herself from the massive group of Gryffindors that had surrounded her immediately after class had ended. She was one of the most well-liked students in the school, and she was always in the presence of more than a few friends. She gracefully pleaded the need to speak with Professor McGonagall, the Transfiguration teacher, and soon she was left standing alone in the doorway leading back out into the cool stone corridor.
"What do you want, Snape?" she asked in a voice that lacked her normal amount of bite, her eyes darting around as if she was afraid to be caught with such formidable company as the much taller boy approached her.
After a moment of simply staring at her freckled features, Severus narrowed his eyes slightly and allowed himself to slouch. "I just wanted to know if you were all right," Severus said quietly in a blunt tone of voice. Dancing around the subject had never been something he approved of, and he was set on making a lasting impression on the Gryffindor. "You look like hell and that bruise on your arm is probably turning a nasty shape of purple right about now."
Her shocked expression was enough to convey her emotions. Severus blanched inwardly at the way she allowed her feelings to show blatantly upon her face.
"How do you know…?" Lily whispered after a long moment of silence. She looked up at him with questioning eyes, her right hand gingerly touching her left arm.
"Observation," Severus said with a dismissive shrug, his eyes focused on a spot on the stone wall some five feet behind her. He wasn't much for confrontation, and the lack of insults exchanged between them was more than a little intimidating. While he was experiencing a shocking show of genuine concern for the girl, he didn't know how to handle it and was regretful in his eagerness to move on.
"Well…" There was another long pause, and this time Lily shifted her stance uncomfortably. "Thank you for asking," she finally said, her gaze meeting Severus' in an open show of gratitude. "And yes," she added, "I'm fine. I'll live, anyway."
Both parties heard the sharp sounds of footsteps falling from around the corner, breaking the tentative concentration the two had placed upon one another. Lily glanced over her shoulder, surprised to see Remus Lupin turning the corner. Severus scowled slightly, but refused to allow his disgust to show too much, in fear of insulting Lily. Instead of paying attention to the boy, he looked directly down toward Lily once more, his intense gaze making her involuntarily freeze and listen with rapture. The silky sounds of his voice were enough to make even Remus stop walking, his ears pricking up as he heard each word the Slytherin was saying.
"Listen, if you ever want to talk…" It pained Severus to speak those words and it pained Lily even more to hear them, but he refused to back down from his goal. No matter how much he disliked the girl, he didn't want to see her in trouble. That simple thought was enough to keep him motivated, no matter how many people heard. At that moment in time, pride wasn't an issue; safety and security were the only things for which he strived. "I know we're different and everything, but I can listen if you need someone," Severus said quietly, eyeing Remus suspiciously out of the corner of his eye.
"Thanks for the offer," Lily responded in a soft voice before glancing over her should once more. "Maybe someday, I'll take you up on it." She bit her bottom lip and hugged her books tightly to her chest. "I'll talk to you later."
"All right," Severus replied smoothly, this time having no qualms with glaring over toward the brown-haired boy. With a final nod toward Lily, Severus departed in a cloud of black, leaving Remus to run up toward Lily, who was staring after the Slytherin prefect with a look of pure astonishment dripping off of her features. Remus shot a curious glance in Severus' direction before turning toward Lily once again, concern evident in his gaze.
"Why were you talking to that piece of Slytherin scum?" he asked in a tone that was neither harsh nor accusatory. Instead, it was one full of worry that rewarded him with the redhead's full attention. "He's really not stable enough for you to be left alone with him," Remus murmured, touching Lily's shoulder n what he meant as a friendly gesture.
Lily flinched in pain, an action not lost on Remus, and shrugged his hand off before clutching her books even more tightly to her chest.
He sighed, a look of hopelessness brushing his graceful features. "You shouldn't let James do that to you, Lily."
She shook her head as she felt the very beginnings stabs of tears of frustration sting against the back of her eyes. "Well, what else am I supposed to do? Stand up to him?" She blinked back a wayward tear, the biting tone of sarcasm creeping into her voice. "I'm sure that'll help. Make him stop right then, that will."
"I can try to talk to him if you'd like," Remus suggested, ignoring her sarcasm. What went on between Lily and James might have been lost on the other two, but he was acutely aware of how she was treated. "I'm his friend, he should listen to me."
"Remus, thanks, but I'm his girlfriend," Lily pointed out in a tired voice. "He claims he loves me, so why shouldn't he listen to me?" With a shake of her head, she motioned for the two to start making their way down the corridor. Remus fell in easily with Lily's strides, his gaze ever-concentrated on her soft features.
"Besides," she started once again as the two rounded a corner. "If he even thinks I told you anything, I won't be able to move for a week." She sniffed slightly, bringing her hand up to touch her bruised arm gently, "He's really a good man, you know that, right?" she asked in a soft voice.
"Yeah, I know," Remus answered, laying his hand fondly on her uninjured shoulder.
"He just doesn't know how to handle his anger," she continued in a far-away voice. "I'm the closest thing to him most of the time. Therefore I usually end up being the target." She furrowed her eyebrows and trained her unsure gaze toward the cobblestone floor. "It's not his fault, I really shouldn't make him so mad."
Remus squeezed her shoulder gently before dropping his hand back down to his side. "If that's what you want to believe, Lily, then believe it. I don't agree with you and I certainly can't do anything about James, but talking to Snape sure as hell isn't going to help the situation."
"He seems…nice," she said carefully, her tone measured and balanced. "It's not his fault he's like that, I guess."
Remus shot his friend a half-grin. "Lily, with you, nothing is ever anyone's fault."
Lily turned her head toward him and smiled slightly, her eyes once again dancing with something akin to happiness. "One day that'll change, Remus…eventually."
By the way, I'm seventeen.
Enjoy.
Dedicated to Amy Gordon, who turns sixteen today, on April 18th, 2003.
Chapter One: The Perfect Couple
Lily Evans and James Potter, voted best couple of 1976 by all four houses. James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew, voted most popular group by three of the four Hogwarts houses. Lily Evans, voted prettiest 6th Year by all four of the houses. Sirius Black, voted most eligible bachelor of the Gryffindor house. Remus Lupin, voted most likely to become the next Minister of Magic. Severus Snape, voted most likely to become a Death Eater.
To Severus, the thought was ridiculous, but to the rest of the school, it was inevitable. Even from the very beginning, when he took his first arrogant steps down the aisle of the Great Hall, the young boy showed all the traits; he was a first-class Slytherin and knew more hexes than the rest of the student body combined. With his long black hair and cold black eyes, he looked more menacing than any teacher ever did, even while threatening expulsion. His stare was enough to frighten any of those who were younger or naïve, and when given the choice, many would have preferred an evening with Argus Filch, the bitter Hogwarts Caretaker, rather than have to face even a moment of the wrath of the irrationally vindictive Severus Snape.
However evil he looked, however much vice of which he was believed to take part, however much chaos he seemed to have caused, in a secret corner of his mind, the young man hated it. To him, it wasn't so much the fact his classmates seemed to ignore him; rather, what irritated him to the point of fury was that he had inherited the reputation to begin with. His father before him—a bastard in Severus' eyes—had done more than his share of wrongdoing within the walls of Hogwarts, and now his son, whom he rarely saw more than twice a year, was paying the price.
He was constantly teased for his looks and heritage; while the insults and taunting continued to slice through his thick skin year after year, they were something he eventually learned to ignore. By the end of his third year, he firmly believer that the school would have left him alone if it hadn't been for two boys; James Potter and Sirius Black. Ringleaders of a gang they had dubbed the Marauders, since the first day the three stepped into Hogwarts, Potter and Black had tortured Severus. He didn't know what he had done to deserve their wrath, or if they simply thought it was great fun to torment people they thought lower than themselves. Either way, by their sixth year, after an incident where Sirius and James had nearly killed Severus, he had spent most of his time looking for things to get them back with; he was hell-bent on the sweetest revenge the cunning boy could muster, not only for their pranks but for their utter inability to be human.
It was then, when he had begun to give up all hopes of ever being accepted, when Severus silently vowed to prove them all wrong. James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, and Lily Evans were the Beautiful Ones; to show the rest of the school that their precious Gryffindors were, in fact, only human was the only thing he see in his last years at Hogwarts. In his mind, they had little to do with what he would eventually turn out to be, but despite that, he was regretful in his admittance to exercising little of his self-control. He was unable to see past the present, able to only see what lay directly in front of him.
Revenge was a dish best served cold, and Severus knew that the longer he waited, the more perfect and poetic justice would be Gryffindors were unable to understand the exact art of revenge, but fairness and justice were two concepts they had down pact.
Severus slowly began to hate all that surrounded him: the students, the faculty, the mediocre and tedious lesions he received from the school—by the time Christmas of '76 rolled around, he was convinced that the entire six years he had attended Hogwarts had been a joke. Top of his class, yes, but always right below James Potter. The dark haired Quidditch god was the epitome of everything Severus hated, and at the same time he was everything he yearned to be. As much as he hated to admit it, he was jealous of James. Severus dreamed of having even a portion of James' popularity or a percentage of the respect James was given. The arrogant son of one of the wealthiest wizards in the country had everything he desired—everything down to the girl.
Lily Evans had never acknowledged his existence, as far as Severus was concerned. Of course, every once in a while a disgusted look or nasty comment was thrown his way, but he doubted she even knew his first name. She did, however, know his last; all she ever referred to him as was 'Snape.'
James Potter and Lily Evans; they were the seemingly perfect couple to everyone except the precious few who truly knew what went on. They were the most powerful and respected couple in Hogwarts, and as a result, no one dared to question their relationship, convinced it would last forever.
On one snow-filled evening in the middle of their sixth year, all four male Gryffindors were gathered around the common room fire, swapping stories and boasting of a prank they had only recently managed to pull off. The fire crackled merrily as the sounds of laughter filled the air, and a calmness unrecognizable to any who hadn't sat on the cushioned red sofa sifted silently through the room.
A flash of rich red announced Lily Evan's presence at the top of the staircase, and a moment later she began her descent down of the stars, clothed in robes of rich green velvet bought only hours before at one of the most expensive stores at Hogsmeade. Catching Remus' eye as she stepped onto the lushly carpeted floor, she smiled as he winked, nodding his head slightly in his approval. Before she could take another step towards the four, James whirled around and gaped at her opening, before smirking and shaking his head in a pitiful attempt to cover up what had been complimentary astonishment only moments before.
"Green isn't your color, Lily," James snapped, his cold blue eyes icy with a possessive quality placed within since the day he had first laid eyes on the pretty redheaded girl. He eyed her lewdly before shaking in head in a disappointed manner, one Lily was trained to respond to with utmost obedience. "You look like a trashy whore. Go put on some decent clothes."
"It isn't?" she questioned in a surprised tone. "I'm sorry," she said quietly, gentle shock evident in her gaze as she glanced away from James and looked directly at Remus, her green eyes searching for something she had yet to find. The werewolf's eyes were filled with something akin to sympathy, but Lily would hear nothing of it. Bravely, she nodded toward the group once more before pulling the hem of the luscious velvet robe off the floor and beginning her ascent to her dormitory. What had once been a gorgeously tailored masterpiece was now reduced to nothing more than a pile of rags fit not even for a servant. Years of training had robbed her of an outspoken opinion, something few had noticed.
"You know, this would have been the perfect opportunity to compliment her," Remus pointed out after Lily was well out of earshot, sighing inwardly at James' harsh words towards the girl.
"Why though? Whenever you compliment a girl they get all giddy and never leave you alone." James shuddered before dipping a freshly sharpened quill into an inkpot. His cool indifference to the girl he claimed he loved numbed Remus to the very core; while he harbored no feelings of lust, he readily admitted to feeling protective of the girl in what could only be described in a sister-like manner. He had sat back and watched their relationship progress for years, but never could he muster the courage to tell one of his best friends off. James was powerful, more so than Remus would ever be, and he cherished the friendships he had developed with the other three too much to lose them over something as trivial as an attitude problem.
"Five words my friend, five words," Sirius said with a grin, holding up a splayed hand showing four fingers and a thumb. He was sitting directly across from Remus, yet was oblivious to the obvious discomfort his friend was feeling.
"And which five words are those?" Peter Pettigrew smirked, adjusting his robes slightly so his potbelly was completely concealed. The least admirable and attractive of the three, he was nonetheless treated equally and considered a vital member of their exclusive group. Remus had always seen him as a follower of James; Peter was unable to think for himself and was always looking up toward the more popular and charismatic boy. Underneath his calm exterior, he was wary not of Peter's loyalty, but of his placement within their group. Remus was by no means an elitist, but from the very first moment he had laid eyes on the pudgy boy and caught a whiff of his slightly pungent odor, he had carried an internal dislike for him, one he hoped would never have the opportunity to surface.
"'To get in her pants.'" Sirius shot his best friend a knowing look before punching his shoulder with all the force of an excited sixteen-year-old behind his fist.
"Damn…good point." James scowled slightly and returned to the piece of parchment on which he was doodling. His drawing depicted a rather violent Quidditch match, one where a dark-haired Chaser, the emblem of Gryffindor plainly visible on the figure's robes, thought it prudent to introduce the opposing team's Keeper—a Slytherin—to the rough and splintering handle of his broomstick. He was putting the finishing touches on the drawing just as Lily came back down, dressed modestly in her school robes once again.
"Sorry, James," she apologized softly after sitting down next to him. In her eyes, a repressed fear was plainly evident, but only Remus paid enough attention to the redheaded girl to notice.
"It's okay, luv," he said in a low voice, bringing his calloused hand up to brush the pale smoothness of her skin. "I'm sorry I was so harsh—you just looked so beautiful in those robes, I didn't want to share you with the other guys." His voice, harsh and critical before, was now smooth and loving as he nuzzled her neck and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. The other three tried to watch the couple without being obvious, all failing miserably. The pair ignored them, however, and after a moment of manipulative maneuvers on James' part, Lily's face was flushed and her green eyes danced brightly.
"Would you like to go upstairs and see it?" she asked in a low voice after inching her face away from James'. "I really think you'll like it."
"I'm sure I will," James replied as he took Lily's small hand in his own. The two stood up and he led her to the stairway, taking the time to briefly glance back at his three friends, two of whom were trying desperately not to laugh.
"Score one for Potter!" Sirius exclaimed before giving Peter a high-five. Remus just glanced up forlornly towards the staircase James and Lily had disappeared up, sighing once more to himself as he looked downwards towards his hands in pity. The Lily he knew was a smart girl; to see her fall all over herself in order to please James made him lose more than a little faith in the world and the way he felt things should be.
The next morning, Lily and James ambled into the Great Hall for breakfast nearly half an hour late. None of the Gryffindors were surprised; they had seen to what extent the two had taken their relationship, and they had grown accustomed to seeing the pair holding one another up while trying to make it on time, whether it be to a class or a meal. Severus, seated toward the back of the Slytherin table, however, was disgusted at the scene unfolding in front of him, along with the rest of the Great Hall; James had wrapped his muscular left arm around Lily's small shoulders tightly, chaining her to his side. Even from a distance Severus could see the dark circles under her eyes. She looked as if she hadn't slept in days, and for a moment Snape felt a pang of deep concern, one that surprised even him. What shocked him the most was that as James brought his hand down to rub her upper arm in what looked to be a comforting gesture, he could plainly make out the wince that dashed across her face before she regained control of her features.
As he leaned over his bacon, Severus' eyes shifted from the Gryffindor table back to his own plate. There was nothing immediate he could contribute regarding the manner, but his history insisted he do what little he could. The Snapes, while one of the most prestigious wizarding families there were, had a history of abuse a mile wide, one Severus was unable to escape. While he himself had never experienced what his father had gone through, during the summer holidays, each time he heard the shouts and cries coming from his parents' side of the manor, he had to exercise every restraint he could muster not to help his mother. Abuse, both physical and verbal, was something he had grown accustomed to, but he had yet to accept it as a fact of life and he was sure he never would.
Throughout their first class of the day, Transfiguration, Severus tried to catch Lily's eye, but it was only towards the end of the hour that he was successful. He was shocked to see the vivid emerald of her eyes dulled and her demeanor lacking in enthusiasm for what he had assumed her favorite lesson to be. While James was turned around talking to Sirius, Severus inconspicuously walked by her desk and managed to catch her attention over a large porcupine. He nodded toward her in acknowledgement, surprised when he received a silently cordial greeting in return.
"I need to talk to you," he said in the lowest voice he could manage, so as to not alert James of his intentions.
She shot him a curious look, shrinking back slightly from his menacing stance. "After class," she said warily, in a voice barely above a whisper.
"Of course," he replied even as he began to walk away. His cool exterior refused to betray the utmost astonishment his insides were reeling with; the times when the two of them had spoken civilly to one another were few and far between, and he was anxious to see how their impending meeting would end up.
He gathered his supplies much slower than usual as he waited for Lily to excuse herself from the massive group of Gryffindors that had surrounded her immediately after class had ended. She was one of the most well-liked students in the school, and she was always in the presence of more than a few friends. She gracefully pleaded the need to speak with Professor McGonagall, the Transfiguration teacher, and soon she was left standing alone in the doorway leading back out into the cool stone corridor.
"What do you want, Snape?" she asked in a voice that lacked her normal amount of bite, her eyes darting around as if she was afraid to be caught with such formidable company as the much taller boy approached her.
After a moment of simply staring at her freckled features, Severus narrowed his eyes slightly and allowed himself to slouch. "I just wanted to know if you were all right," Severus said quietly in a blunt tone of voice. Dancing around the subject had never been something he approved of, and he was set on making a lasting impression on the Gryffindor. "You look like hell and that bruise on your arm is probably turning a nasty shape of purple right about now."
Her shocked expression was enough to convey her emotions. Severus blanched inwardly at the way she allowed her feelings to show blatantly upon her face.
"How do you know…?" Lily whispered after a long moment of silence. She looked up at him with questioning eyes, her right hand gingerly touching her left arm.
"Observation," Severus said with a dismissive shrug, his eyes focused on a spot on the stone wall some five feet behind her. He wasn't much for confrontation, and the lack of insults exchanged between them was more than a little intimidating. While he was experiencing a shocking show of genuine concern for the girl, he didn't know how to handle it and was regretful in his eagerness to move on.
"Well…" There was another long pause, and this time Lily shifted her stance uncomfortably. "Thank you for asking," she finally said, her gaze meeting Severus' in an open show of gratitude. "And yes," she added, "I'm fine. I'll live, anyway."
Both parties heard the sharp sounds of footsteps falling from around the corner, breaking the tentative concentration the two had placed upon one another. Lily glanced over her shoulder, surprised to see Remus Lupin turning the corner. Severus scowled slightly, but refused to allow his disgust to show too much, in fear of insulting Lily. Instead of paying attention to the boy, he looked directly down toward Lily once more, his intense gaze making her involuntarily freeze and listen with rapture. The silky sounds of his voice were enough to make even Remus stop walking, his ears pricking up as he heard each word the Slytherin was saying.
"Listen, if you ever want to talk…" It pained Severus to speak those words and it pained Lily even more to hear them, but he refused to back down from his goal. No matter how much he disliked the girl, he didn't want to see her in trouble. That simple thought was enough to keep him motivated, no matter how many people heard. At that moment in time, pride wasn't an issue; safety and security were the only things for which he strived. "I know we're different and everything, but I can listen if you need someone," Severus said quietly, eyeing Remus suspiciously out of the corner of his eye.
"Thanks for the offer," Lily responded in a soft voice before glancing over her should once more. "Maybe someday, I'll take you up on it." She bit her bottom lip and hugged her books tightly to her chest. "I'll talk to you later."
"All right," Severus replied smoothly, this time having no qualms with glaring over toward the brown-haired boy. With a final nod toward Lily, Severus departed in a cloud of black, leaving Remus to run up toward Lily, who was staring after the Slytherin prefect with a look of pure astonishment dripping off of her features. Remus shot a curious glance in Severus' direction before turning toward Lily once again, concern evident in his gaze.
"Why were you talking to that piece of Slytherin scum?" he asked in a tone that was neither harsh nor accusatory. Instead, it was one full of worry that rewarded him with the redhead's full attention. "He's really not stable enough for you to be left alone with him," Remus murmured, touching Lily's shoulder n what he meant as a friendly gesture.
Lily flinched in pain, an action not lost on Remus, and shrugged his hand off before clutching her books even more tightly to her chest.
He sighed, a look of hopelessness brushing his graceful features. "You shouldn't let James do that to you, Lily."
She shook her head as she felt the very beginnings stabs of tears of frustration sting against the back of her eyes. "Well, what else am I supposed to do? Stand up to him?" She blinked back a wayward tear, the biting tone of sarcasm creeping into her voice. "I'm sure that'll help. Make him stop right then, that will."
"I can try to talk to him if you'd like," Remus suggested, ignoring her sarcasm. What went on between Lily and James might have been lost on the other two, but he was acutely aware of how she was treated. "I'm his friend, he should listen to me."
"Remus, thanks, but I'm his girlfriend," Lily pointed out in a tired voice. "He claims he loves me, so why shouldn't he listen to me?" With a shake of her head, she motioned for the two to start making their way down the corridor. Remus fell in easily with Lily's strides, his gaze ever-concentrated on her soft features.
"Besides," she started once again as the two rounded a corner. "If he even thinks I told you anything, I won't be able to move for a week." She sniffed slightly, bringing her hand up to touch her bruised arm gently, "He's really a good man, you know that, right?" she asked in a soft voice.
"Yeah, I know," Remus answered, laying his hand fondly on her uninjured shoulder.
"He just doesn't know how to handle his anger," she continued in a far-away voice. "I'm the closest thing to him most of the time. Therefore I usually end up being the target." She furrowed her eyebrows and trained her unsure gaze toward the cobblestone floor. "It's not his fault, I really shouldn't make him so mad."
Remus squeezed her shoulder gently before dropping his hand back down to his side. "If that's what you want to believe, Lily, then believe it. I don't agree with you and I certainly can't do anything about James, but talking to Snape sure as hell isn't going to help the situation."
"He seems…nice," she said carefully, her tone measured and balanced. "It's not his fault he's like that, I guess."
Remus shot his friend a half-grin. "Lily, with you, nothing is ever anyone's fault."
Lily turned her head toward him and smiled slightly, her eyes once again dancing with something akin to happiness. "One day that'll change, Remus…eventually."