Everything seemed black.
"This way," Sev whispered in Lily's ear. Suddenly lights appeared, shining upon a sea of dark silver, lighting up the pathway. There were carriages that pulled themselves, and a huddle of gormless youngsters, crowded around a man.
"First years!" He called.
Sev pulled her along towards the voice. He was short and stocky, with dark blond hair that seemed even darker in the dim light.
"This way first years," he repeated.
Lily shivered, and Sev pulled her close to him. A sheath of heat seemed to radiate from his skin, moulding itself to the curves of his limbs, dancing out to embrace her. The first years were disappearing slowly – about three to five at a time, sliding into little wooden boats, which carried themselves across the shimmering lights.
"Don't fall in," the man warned. "There's creatures down there that don't want to be disturbed."
Severus' face lit up at this, and he began to gabble on about some type of mythical creature that he'd heard about and how it might live in this lake. He kept talking until it was just them left... Them, and the man.
"Are you two ready?" he growled.
Lily jumped back, and stared at him wide eyed, nodding. Sev stared too, but with a look of recognition, not fear or surprise.
"You're Valens Hicksbury!" he exclaimed.
The man nodded slowly. "That's Professor Hicksbury to you."
"You're not a professor though, you're gamekeeper! Right?" Sev said, a bit too enthusiastically.
"Right, come on," Hicksbury replied. "or you'll be late for your sorting. We wouldn't want to miss that would we?" He turned and winked at Lily.
"Don't care," Sev mumbled. "I'm gonna be a Slytherin no matter what, so it's fine. It's her –" he pointed at Lily, "- who needs to see. I'm hoping she'll be a Slytherin too though." He smiled at her fondly.
Lily just shrugged. She didn't know, and frankly, right now, she didn't care. She was cold and hungry, and Sev was just keeping them longer.
"Can we go now Professor?" She asked.
He nodded, and growled again. "It's just Hicksbury – the little know-all's right – I'm just gamekeeper."
Sev smirked into the darkness, as Hicksbury led them towards the last remaining boat. It was lighter than Lily'd thought – she could now clearly see the castle ahead – it's crumbling walls, and climbing ivies. It was beautiful. And it was hers.