Shortly before Christmas, the students in the Great Hall were quite startled by the very large owl with tufted eyebrows that landed in front of Severus Snape.
"What the bloody hell is that thing?" asked Sirius.
"A Blakiston's Fish Owl. One that size and with that coloring is probably a native to Russia."
"Remus, you're a bloody know-it-all!" declared James affectionately.
"Russia? It's probably Karkaroff's," said Peter.
Lily looked at Remus strangely, it was an odd fact to know. But the thought was fleeting. She was watching Severus's face as he read the letter the owl was holding, and realized it couldn't be from Igor Karkaroff. Severus had that small flush he got when he was pleased, and really, that only occurred around a woman. I wonder what someone who has enough money for that owl would ever see in Sev. I mean he's got potential, but who wants to wait? And he isn't very good-looking, either.
Severus stared at the letter in his hand. He didn't think his small gift would have been so well-received.
Dearest Severus,
Thank you so much for the wonderful custom-made shampoo. It suits me beautifully, both the scent and the way it makes my curls just a little easier to handle.
I was considering your dilemma quite seriously and thought of something. What if you managed a sort of reflective shield? If you could ward yourself with it, then they couldn't attack you quite so cavalierly, now could they? Just consider it. I had an image of Diana, with her shield and her doe, protecting you. Silly image for a man, but there you have it.
It wouldn't be for very long, but I will be in London for about three hours December 29th. I do hope we can meet, even if just for a cup of tea. Please let me know.
Do take care of yourself. I don't make too many real friends, but I find myself quite pleased that I can consider you one.
Most affectionately,
Caterina
Severus nodded. He was always fond of the images of the goddess of the hunt. His mother loved the old myths and would tell him the stories as a child. He tucked the letter into his breast pocket. He called Tilly, the Slytherin house-elf, and asked her for a plate of freshly caught sardines. The plate appeared and the majestic owl ate well. Severus penned a quick answer and rolled it up, tying it to the now sated owl's outstretched leg, with a secret smile. The bird took off, winging powerfully out the window.
The Marauders were quite put out over the next few weeks when anything they hit Severus with bounced right off of him.
"Lily, ask him what he's done," cajoled Sirius.
"No."
"I thought he was 'not a bad sort, and your friend'," he sing-songed in response.
"If he's found a way to keep you from ambushing him, it's all for the better." Lily turned up her nose at any more overtures from the good-looking Black heir.
"Fine, Red. I don't know what James sees in you anyway."
Lily shook off the insult. She knew that Sirius would be completely cut off if he went after a Muggle-born, so she never even bothered. James was the perfect one to lure to get the life she wanted. Love didn't matter, it couldn't. Remus would never be able to give her a comfortable home, so her feelings for him or his for her didn't matter. Severus might, but he was tainted by his past; too many of her parents' associates remembered the boy from the violent home. Lily shrugged. I know what I want, and there are sacrifices to be made to get there.
"Hi, Sev."
"Hi, Lily. How are you?"
"So polite. Have you forgotten we are friends?"
'No, I will never forget. But you seem to want to move on, and I don't want to hold you back."
"What ever happened to my being your forever love?"
"I realized how stupid that was when you said you only wanted to compare a 'real human' to Remus in bed. I may be young, but I'm not masochistic. I know when I'm not wanted."
Lily was aghast. "I thought you were asleep, Sev!"
"You know where I live, Lily, both at home and here. So, what would ever give you the idea that I would let myself sleep, especially at a time like that?" He looked at her, upset all over again.
Lily thought for a second, then shrugged and tossed her hair over her shoulder. "I guess I should've realized. Well, we are going to have to break up our friendship, then. That way I can cry my way into James' life."
"Fine. Actually, you can help me with one last thing."
"What is that, Sev?"
"My Master is a spy, an Unspeakable. I will have to have you make a magical oath to me not to reveal that."
Lily considered the implications, then nodded her agreement.
"I need to be ensconced with the Dark Lord. So, you will start telling people you are worried about me going dark over the course of the year. Then at the end we will stage something humiliating, and I will call you Mudblood. You will refuse to forgive me. That gives me a very good way to get to where I need to be, and you will have your opening with Potter. Do you agree?"
"Yes, Sev. I will miss your friendship, but at least this way we can end it the way we wish, with no one the wiser. Can we stay in touch afterward?" She held her hands out, almost in supplication.
Severus peered closely at her. "Will you really want to, Lily?"
She thought about it. "No. I want the nice house and the wealth and everyone looking up to me, and I won't get that with you. You do understand, don't you?"
Severus smiled sadly. "Yes, Lily. Unfortunately, I do."
Lily left the room.
Caterina was right. She is shallow. At least she will help me reach my goals. I can't wait until Christmas. I need to see Caterina.
The Winter Break came around and Lily made a point of saying good-bye to Severus at Kings Cross Station. "Do you need a ride home, Sev?"
"Sure, Lils."
It was a pleasant car ride home, Lily and Severus relaxing together for the first time in months.
"So, do you want to go with us to the seaside? We'll be heading out on the 28th and be back for the New Year.
"No, thank you, Lily. I'm meeting someone in London on the twenty-ninth."
"You have a woman, don't you? She must be older, out of school... be careful, Sev. You don't want anyone to ruin your plans for the future."
"I don't think I ever realized you were so calculating, Lily."
"It isn't like Tuney is going to look out for me, now is it? I have to find a way to take care of myself."
"You'd have made a great Slytherin, Lily."
"That's what the hat said. It also said I wouldn't be safe, and that my heart's desire would be in Gryffindor. So that's where I went."
Severus shook his head and then turned and walked away. That explains so much, actually.
Caterina stood by Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor in a grey coat and fur hat and boots, her eyes shining. Her smile grew when she saw the young man, all in black, striding up to her quickly. "Severus!"
"Caterina! You look like a porcelain doll of a Russian princess."
Caterina blushed delightedly in response, and Severus blushed when he realized what he said.
"My mother loved to look at porcelain dolls. If we ever walked by the shoppes, we had to stop."
"Don't explain, Severus. It vas a beautiful thing to say."
"You are beautiful."
"Let's haff some ice cream, shall ve?"
"It's cold, Caterina, but I will certainly buy you an ice-cream."
Caterina giggled. "I know it is cold, Severus, but my babushka said to try the basic ice cream here. She said it would devine ice cream for me."
"The one with no flavor?"
"It has milk and sugar. What other flavor is needed?" She quirked an eyebrow at him.
"Hmph. I will only believe that when I try it."
The two entered the shoppe and ordered their respective ice creams.
"Ve seem to enjoy opposites, Severus," Caterina said when she saw their orders arrive at the table.
Her ice cream was a creamy white, and Severus's was dark dark brown. "I like dark chocolate, what can I say?"
Caterina smiled and held a spoon of creamy white ice cream up to Severus's mouth. He leaned forward and took a bite, enjoying the sweet cream.
He reciprocated for her, spooning up some of the dark chocolate.
"I think both are fery good," said Caterina. "It is so good to see you. Thank you again for the shampoo, it has made such a difference."
"Well, you are practically glowing. I'm glad to be a small part of that."
"You haff no idea how much of that is due to you, Severus. I belieff this is just the beginning of a beautiful friendship."
"Caterina, I really want that; but my mentor is a spy. He wants me to use my potential position with the Death Eaters to try to stop some atrocities."
"I belieff in you, Severus. You vill accomplish many great things."
"Thank you. That means a lot to me."
The two chatted a bit about everything and nothing.
Severus had been expounding on his theory on a way to suppress the change in a werewolf when he realized Caterina was smiling at him. "What?"
"Vhat do you mean, vhat?"
"You're smiling at me oddly."
"I just realized how much I like you. This you. The vun that is so passionate and knowledgeable about things, that cares for his friends."
"Well... " Severus stopped. He didn't know what to say.
"Truly, Severus, I usually do not efen speak to boys younger than I, yet you drew me, and I hadn't realized you vere so young."
"The law of nobility states the only heir to a House to be of age at fourteen. I'm older than that."
"Yes, I am avare of the letter of the law. I know your Dark Lord uses it to draw in the young men in part. But my relationship vith you vas completely unplanned."
Severus cocked his head. "I don't understand what you're saying, Caterina."
"I belieff this is something that vill be refealed later. Just don't hate me vhen you find out, please?"
"Do you plan to harm me?"
"No."
"Do you plan to humiliate me?"
"Nefer!"
"Then I think you will be the part of my life I can't plan- You said relationship. What do you mean by that?"
"For now, an owl-friendship, I belieff. Ve have much to do in our lives. I am only eighteen and you, only fifteen. But I think, if ve try, ve can haff much more later."
"I'd like that, Caterina."
Caterina smiled, then caught Igor waving at her from the doorway. "I must go, Severus. Take care, my dear friend."
Severus stood and kissed her on the cheek. "Same to you."
Caterina rushed out, and Severus watched her go, with a soft ache in his heart. Then he paid for the ice creams and headed to the Leaky Cauldron so he could get something warm for the trip home.
The new year brought lots of changes. Severus held himself like a man, not a boy anymore, driving the Marauders to more and more ridiculous heights of stupidity. They never even realized how orchestrated their attacks had become.
The notebook on Severus's lap warmed up, making him open it up.
Sev, the idiots are planning to ambush you near the portrait of Barnabus the Barmy. They are going to practice a few hexes you can handle, and their new one is Levicorpus, which I "let" them steal, per your instructions. Have fun, but be careful. Lily.
He pulled out his quill and answered her.
Understood, thanks. Don't be surprised if they get upset because I'm pining for you.
If James or Sirius or even Remus had realized that their bullying was playing right into the hands of the Slytherin, they would have probably gone catatonic. He could easily use their actions to show why he would be a loyal Death Eater.
As Albus Dumbledore did nothing to stop the bullying, he lost quite a bit of face in the wizarding world at large. At least with those who paid attention to such things, and they were more numerous than the old man ever considered.
Severus,
The old man must be going senile. None of this behavior is going to endear him to anyone once they find out how one-sided his affections are.
He has lost all sense of reason. Be ready to protect yourself, my apprentice. And make a clean break from the girl. I agree it is a good plan to give you a reason to want to be part of the Dark Lord's coterie. End it once and for all, then play the fool for a bit to make certain all of it is believed.
Your Master
Severus read the missive from the Italian spy and knew he had to act. OWLs were upon them, and the stress levels were getting higher and higher.
"Spinky, find my oldest and grayest pair of underwear. I have a break up to stage."
He pulled out his notebook and wrote a quick note to Lily.
Time to end it, my first friend. I will miss you, but here's to hoping we both move on to better things.
She answered fairly quickly.
All right, Sev. I will let them know your preferred place to study.
The Marauders never knew they had been set up. Severus had his perfect reason to join the Death Eaters and Lily had the perfect reason to insinuate herself into James Potter's life.
You know, Sev, the fact that I wouldn't forgive you would make most rational people be wary, but these idiots thought it made me the perfect addition to their little group.
I do miss you, but I think we are both better off this way.
Severus read Lily's last entry with a bemused affection. His path was set, hopefully he could make a difference.