Sorry it's taken so long, guys. I kinda lost my drive for this story, plus real life had some issues that needed solving. The biggest problem with this chapter was that I couldn't figure out how to end it, because I originally planned on doing each chapter as a year in Lily's life. Well, that didn't work out to well, so this is what we've got. 4,807 words, though, that ain't to bad.
Anyways guys, enjoy!
Lily was awakened by the distant sound of something banging. After several seconds of her trying to pull herself from the bed, she walked downstairs. The banging became louder as she approached the entrance to their tent.
She unzipped the tent and found the banging to be someone at the front door.
Clothed in her black cotton robe and hair mussed from sleep, she opened the door and was greeted by two people. The sun made everything bright gold; it was still early in the morning.
"Good morning, Miss Potter! Did we wake you? May we come in?" asked the old man who had introduced himself as Goren. Hyu was standing behind him once more, eyes fixed on the floor ahead of her.
In the golden glow that the rising sun cast, Hyu looked almost doll-like. Lily saw for the first time how tiny Hyu truly was.
Goren's voice cut through her thoughts, bringing her back to the present.
"Oh..what? I'm sorry, I'm really tired," she said in defense and then maneuvered herself into the tent flap and swung the door open wider.
Goren frowned looking at the setup.
"What is all this about?" he asked, stepping inside the house. He was not yet into the tent itself however.
"Ah..it's. We just wanted...well, come inside and see. It's silly to talk in a doorway like this. I can make tea."
Goren said nothing, only stepped forward through the tent flap Lily was holding open. As soon as he stepped inside his frown disappeared.
Once Hyu was inside, Lily shut the door and zipped the tent back up, before making her way to the kitchen.
"Ah, now I see!" Goren exclaimed, stroking his beard. "Very clever. Very, very clever. Did you do this all yourself?" he asked, walking towards the TV set. He began to poke and prod the buttons, while squinting at the darkened screen.
"No, actually," Lily responded. "I'm really not that good with expanding spells. I tried once and one wall was half the side of it's opposite, not to mention the floor was somehow lumpy. Nah, my dad and mum did this. Mostly dad." She set about making tea, pulling out tea cups.
Now that she was up, Lily was starting to feel the beast of hunger rumbling within her.
"Are you two hungry? I could make breakfast!" she called from the kitchen area. Goren appeared with Hyu, shaking his head as he entered the tiny kitchen space.
"No, my dear, thank you. I was actually just coming by to ask if you and your friend would like to join us in the summer harvest festivities? I'm afraid no one will be doing any other kind of work or training until harvest has been taken care of. Do you by chance have sugar available?" he asked, accepting the freshly brewed tea that Lily had just finished making.
"Would you prefer sugar, or honey? I have both," she said, turning to the cabinet above the tiny muggle sink.
"Sugar is fine, thank you," Goren replied warmly, accepting the small bag of sugar. Lily noticed Hyu had yet to touch her tea.
"Do you not want tea?" she asked, trying to look at Hyu's face, but the stubborn woman did not speak, nor did she make any indication that she had heard Lily.
"Do not worry with her," Goren said, using his wand to magically stir his tea. Lily said nothing, only wondered why this woman followed Goren about.
"Well," Lily finally said, taking a sip of her tea. "I can wake Lysander up and see if he wants to help out. He usually doesn't wake up until around 11:00. As for me, I'd be happy to help. I didn't travel this far to sit inside a house all day!"
Goren finished his cup of tea, smacking his lips after the cup had been drained. He said, "Very well. Hyu and I will be going so you can get ready. I suggest you wear something you don't mind getting a little...dirty."
Lily nodded and the two of them showed themselves out. Lily pondered upon the actions (or lack thereof) of Hyu, before snapping to and heading upstairs to dress.
Once she was dressed, she grabbed her wand and stuffed it into her back pocket. She penned out a note on a scrap of parchment, and left it on the kitchen counter-hopefully Lysander would see it there.
She pulled on her trainers and headed out of the tent, and then through the cottage door. She was greeted by the dazzling sunlight and the smell of crisp clean air.
She could feel summer leaving the village.
Lily found Goren and Hyu a little ways off, Goren watching a group of people pulling up large potatoes. Hyu was watching the ground.
Goren spotted her as she came towards them and a great smile broke out across his face. "Ah, Potter!" he shouted, and a couple of men and women looked in her direction. She could tell by the way they eyed her and how two women whispered something to another man, that they knew the Potter name.
She ignored them and instead smiled back at Goren. As she came closer, she realized she had failed to see the man who was standing next to Goren.
"I'd like you to meet Potions Master Farrell. He has agreed to train you, once summer harvest is over with, that is. Farrell, this is Miss Lily Potter."
The man Goren had introduced was nearly the same height as Severus had been. His hair was equally as dark, yet there were several strands of silver running throughout it. It reached mid-back length. His mouth seemed to be set in hard stone, for his severe frown was set deep within his face.
His nose was sharp, eyes small and narrowed, looking in her direction. She felt like a mouse in front of a very, very large cat. He was eyeing her with something akin to disdain.
He looked very Slytherin in his long dark green robes.
"My, my," drawled Farrell, sounding very much like Severus, "Potter, did you say? Hmph. You look more like a wretched Weasley than anything else."
An anxious, boiling rage filled up within Lily. She was unsure what to say though; he had undeniably insulted her and the majority of her family.
"Look at her face, Goren," Farrell said, smirking. Lily opened her motuh, could think of nothing to say, and closed it with a snap.
Goren himself shot Farrell a dirty look, before coming towards Lily and putting a hand on her shoulder.
"Ah...don't mind Farrell. He's just messing you around! You know how Slytherins are!" He laughed loudly, and Lily gave him a half-hearted smile, rubbing her elbow absentmindedly.
"I-I was a Slytherin too, you know," she said loudly, voice wavering. She stared Farrell down, who now had his arms crossed and a glare across his face.
"You give us real Slytherins a bad name! It's people like, like Voldemort and you-people who pick on others because of the way they look, or how poor they are-you are the reason why everyone has these absurd ideas about people who graduated out of Slytherin!"
Goren's beard was twitching, as if he was trying to hold back a smile. The people around them had slowed their work, eyeing the scene between the new student (a Potter no less!) and the old Potions Master. Hyu was staring at the ground, but she seemed to be almost unnaturally still. Had she been paying attention to the scene taking place?
"If you don't mind, sir, I would like to return to my quarters. I feel something is making me ill," Lily requested of Goren, staring at Farrell. She didn't even await an answer; off she went in the direction she believed the cottage to be.
"I don't have to take this crap," she muttered angrily as she stomped off. She felt her eyes burning, her heart pumping hard with the adrenaline. Was she really going to have to train under someone as prejudice as Master Farrell? Was there no one else?
How could someone so rude and offensive be so great at potions? But then again, she thought, eyes misting over as she was taken back into a memory.
Severus had never been very nice either. And he had been a well-known Potions Master.
"Nevermind that!" she snapped to herself, glad that no one was in her immediate vicinity.
"Where the devil is my house?!" she growled slightly louder, looking around. The area looked vaguely familiar; she recognized the large windowed houses as greenhouses. She was slightly curious about the area, but still very angry.
All she wanted right now was to be in her room, with a cup of tea and a nice bowl to smoke.
Lily huffed, before starting off west from the greenhouses. After thrity minutes of wandering, Lily finally found the area with all the tiny cottages, and she made a beeline for her and Lysanders.
She met Lysander on the way in, nearly knocking his nose off with the door.
"Sorry!" she exclaimed, leaning in the doorway and shaking her head.
"It's okay, but what's wrong? You look fit for murder!" Lysander replied, slight concern gracing his features.
"I-. It's nothing, I just...I met Potions Master Farrell, the one who has agreed to train me."
Lysander broke out into a grin, asking, "What was he like?"
"A total ass, that's what he was like! He said I looked like a 'wretched Weasley'!" Lily exploded, stomping towards the TV. She picked up the remote, and turned around to face her friend.
She said, "I can't believe the nerve of that man! And to think, I really traveled this far to be looked down by some old goat just because I have red hair!"
Lily looked at the remote and screamed in exasperation before she flung it back down onto the couch. She turned back to Lysander who was leaning against the wall of the kitchen entrance, arms crossed.
"What if he's like that the whole time? What if I can't get my training?" she asked, suddenly frightened.
Lysander came to her side. He put an arm around her shoulder and pulled her close.
"Hey, now," he said softly. "It'll all be okay, alright? He's just rude, that's all. You know as well as I do that personal feelings have nothing to do with your studies. Just do the work he gives you, study as hard as you can. Learn, and just ignore anything else that hasn't to do with potions."
He smiled her and Lily, who didn't see it, sniffed. Her eyes looked wet, but there was no tears upon her face.
"I just thought we were passed bloodline discrimination," she whispered, crossing her arms. Her elbow dug into Lysanders side, but he ignored it.
"I was getting ready to go out and join you with Goren," he said quietly, pulling away just the slightest.
"If you want though, I'll stay here with you. We can hang out. It's not like we're starting our studies today," he added, before pulling away completely. He noted that something inside him wilted once he was no longer in contact with her.
Lily smiled, sniffed again and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. She crossed her arms again, and said, "Thanks, Lysander. Really, thanks. I don't think I'll be going out again, but you go on ahead. Or you can stay here, but I really just think I'm going to go head back to bed for a bit."
She smiled again as Lysander nodded and left the tent and cottage. She made herself a cuppa and then went to her room, where she packed a bowl and sat in the dark, sipping her tea.
Farrell had been more than a little rude, she thought. While he only said one cutting remark, it had been about her family. She knew from her mum that growing up, she and Uncle Ron hadn't been very well off. Ginny was the only one who had ever really gotten something new.
Her brothers had worn hand-me-downs. They had been called muggle lovers, traitors, they had been ridiculed for being so poor, unlike the rest of the pureblood families.
The way her mother explained it had sounded bad, but she had never thought she herself would have to experience what her mother and father had fought so hard against.
Lily finished her tea and smoked a bowl, cuddling up under her blankets and watching as the smoke wafted out of the fist sized hole she had made for air flow.
She found herself drifting back to sleep in her little tent of bed covers. She didn't even have the strength to put her bowl away before she passed out with it still in hand.
She dreamed. And in her dream, there was he.
"I miss you," she said, her voice echoing strangely. She looked around, but there was nothing but blackness beyond her. Above, below. Left, right, it didn't matter. An endless void of blackness surrounded her and Severus.
"Severus," she said. He stood there, hair and robes blending in seamlessly with the black behind them. His pale face contrasted heavily with the dark.
He was staring hard at her, his eyes somehow shining. There was no light, how was he...? But she pushed the thought effortlessly out of her mind.
"It doesn't matter," Lily said aloud. Within one motion she stepped to Severus, put her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply.
The kiss seemed very slow, but then it was over and she had no recollection of ever pulling away. She was now standing within his arms, looking up at him.
"Where are we?" she asked, a sudden feeling of alarm shooting through her. Where was the sun?
"We're here," he said, and his voice sounded strange to her. As if, that's how she thought he sounded, but knew he didn't. She couldn't make sense of her own thoughts and went to ask something.
"Your hair," Severus murmured, bringing his hand up to brush her temple. Lily smiled, leaning into his touch.
"You look like a wretched Weasley," he finished softly, and Lily jerked away, shocked. "W-what?" she exclaimed, pulling out of his arms.
"I thought you liked my hair!"
Severus blinked and reached for her, gathering her up in his arms. His last remark melted from her mind as he kissed her.
Suddenly they were in a bedroom. The walls were smooth, dark grey cobblestone. Bits of moss hung from some of the stones, others were completely clear. There was light emanating from somewhere, but Lily couldn't pinpoint the location.
Severus was standing behind her; somehow she knew he was there. His arms came around her from behind, slowly unbuttoning her blouse.
His mouth landed upon her neck. He placed small kisses and nips along her jawline, neck and ear. He wrung breathy moans from her. He finished unbuttoning and pulled it from her frame, turning her head with one hand and kissing the other side of her neck.
"Sev-everus," she whimpered as his hands traveled up her stomach and over her breasts.
His hands traveled back down and behind her, and she watched as her bra fell away onto the wine colored coverlet beneath her knees.
Severus tugged on her elbow gently, and Lily shifted her weight, readying herself to turn to face her love.
Yet as she turned, the room seemed to bend around her and when she finally faced him...
He was not there, and she was lying on her side, bowl still in hand and gaze adjusting to the dim light coming from beneath her blanket.
She felt disappointment surge throughout her, coupled with her lust. It was a depressing feeling and although she desired touch, she did not indulge herself.
It wouldn't have felt right, nor would it have felt the same.
Lily ventured out later that afternoon (even though she had said she wouldn't), mind still on the dream of Severus. She missed him, and hadn't even realized how much she had missed him until she had seen him, felt his touch.
It had felt strangely real.
She found Lysander talking animatedly with Goren in what was basically a town square. There was nothing designating the area as the town square, other than four benches side by side and back to back, a tiny patch of grass with some flowers and a large stone laid into the grass.
"Hey," she said, coming up behind Lysander. He turned to face her, his eyes lit by excitement.
"Oh, hey Lils! I just met Herbologist Langley; I can't wait to start my training. Did you know she trained Professor Longbottom?! No wonder he's so great!" he exclaimed, his voice nearly squeaking.
Lily laughed at her friend and turned to Goren, who was also grinning.
"I want to apologize for earlier," she started, and Goren waved a hand at her.
"Oh, pish posh!" he boomed, and a small grin spread across Lily's face.
"You did right telling Farrell off! He's chased away at least a dozen would be trainees with his attitude; it's about time one of them bit back! Don't worry about a thing, you have nothing to apologize about. In fact, I should make him apologize to you! But I can't promise you anything, m'dear-he's as stubborn as Severus Snape!"
Lily froze, her smile faltering. Her heart jumped into her throat and it took everything in her power not to sound desperate as she asked, "Severus, Severus Snape? F-from Hogwarts?"
She felt Lysanders eyes burning a hole into the side of her head, but she ignored him.
Severus, her Severus had trained here? But of course he had; he had once been listed as one of the greatest Potions Masters of his time.
"Ah, yes, that Snape," replied Goren, his smile fading. "Quite good, that one. So unfortunate what happened to him. But he was a product of his generation, honestly, we can't blame him for joining up with the dark side. He and Farrell were always so close, even after Snape had been trained fully."
Lily's mind reeled. Farrell had trained Severus? And it made so much sense, now, she thought. No wonder he had such an abrasive personality! Being cooped up with someone as acidic a personlity as Farrell had had no other choice but to develop the same attitude.
Goren was still talking. "...he was always very good at making every potion precisely. He talked about writing a potions book, but alas, that never happened, as we all well know. Ah...is anyone hungry? I still haven't showed you two the cafeterias..."
Lily tuned him out, biting at the nails on her right hand. All she could think of was Severus and Farrell. The way Farrell had crossed his arms, the way he had sniffed and turned his nose up at her. His dark hair, his dark eyes.
He resembled so closely the one she loved.
"Severus," she murmured, before coming back to the present. Lysander was trailing after Goren a little ways off, and Lily jogged to catch up with them.
"May I ask where Farrell is right now?" Lily asked, surprising herself. She had had no intention of saying anything, and yet here she was, with her mouth betraying her.
"He should be in his office in the Potions building...try the basement level, I'm fairly sure that's where his office is!"
Lily thanked him, said she'd meet up with them in a bit and dashed off towards the front of the village.
She found the potions building, and the directions to the lower levels. Farrells office was at the very back of the bottom floor. Lily jogged all the way down and found herself slightly out of breath when she finally knocked on his door.
There was no immediate answer, and Lily knocked again. Still no answer. She timidly knocked once more, and just as her knuckle rapped a third time, the door swung open.
Farrell was standing there, long hair tied back and a pair of goggles over his eyes. He was wearing a tight fitting long black shirt and a pair of black pants.
"Did you not hear me?!" he nearly shouted and Lily frowned, confused.
"Hear what, sir?! I knocked three times and heard nothing from you!"
Farrell ripped off the goggles, squinting at her and then glanced at his doorframe.
"Damned soundproofing charms! Get in here, girl!" he grumbled and pulled her roughly into the room, shoving his goggles into her hands.
"I don't care what you're here for right now; if you've ruined my potion I'll skin you alive! Now put those on and come with me. And none of that talking nonsense, just do as I say!"
Lily nodded and strapped the goggles to her face, following Farrell.
It was her first lesson with him.
Lysnder and Lily met up once more that night, and Lily told Lysander what had happened.
"Seems like you guys are getting along better now," he mumbled, staring at the TV set, which showed a blonde American woman reporting on local charities.
"Eh, a bit," Lily responded from the kitchen, focused on making some soup. She had missed the late lunch with Goren and hadn't actually left the potions building until after dinner either.
They had worked together, her and Farrell, on a potion that was meant to stimulate the growth of mandrakes, making them mature faster, thus being able to be harvested earlier, too.
Once it was done, Lily settled down on the couch with her soup and picked up the remote, flipping through channels.
"Don't even ask, it's not like I was watching that or anything," Lysander snapped, scowling.
"Excuse me?" Lily asked, setting down her bowl of soup on the coffee table. She turned towards him, eyes wide and arms crossed.
"You weren't watching that, Lysander. You weren't even listening to me. So, if you really want to spit out what's actually bothering you, then fucking do it. But do not get snippy with me! I am in no mood to listen to you bitch!"
Lysander's nostrils flared before he got up from the couch and made his way to his room.
"Oh, so there is no problem?" Lily yelled at his retreating form.
"You're just being an ass for no reason? Thanks a fucking lot, Lysander, great friend you are!"
Lily shook her head and returned to the TV. Nothing good was on, though, and Lily instead pondered what had just happened.
Lysander didn't usually snap like that unless something was really bothering him. But he had always come out and said it; he had never been known to bottle it up.
She wondered briefly if it had something to do with Severus, brushed it away, but then thought about the idea a little harder.
Lily was not stupid. Lysander had admitted his feelings to her once ago, and she had shut him down. Rejected him for someone who...who wasn't really alive.
She couldn't help who she loved though! And maybe if Lysander had acted sooner...but no, she thought. That's not true, and you know it, an tiny voice in her head said.
You always loved Severus, even when you were younger. You and Lysander weren't even friends then. It didn't matter.
Lysander had no right to act jealous. She didn't love him, and most likely never would. He had to understand that. And if he didn't, then was it really wise to continue living together?
"We have no reason to anyways," she muttered to herself.
That's right, said the voice. You don't. He's just holding you back, making you feel guilty for not loving him.
But he was her only real friend in this village. He may have loved her, but he had never done anything untoward.
"I can't help who I love!" she whispered harshly to herself and banished her bowl of soup, no longer hungry. She turned the muggle contraption off and made her way up the stairs and to her room.
"I will not feel guilty for not loving you," she said aloud in her own room, imagining Lysander standing before her.
"I wish you could just understand," she murmured gently, and collapsed onto her bed. Her pipe was still on the bed, half smoked, and she picked it up and relit it.
You're here because of Severus, she thought. "I cannot give up my dream. I'm doing it for you," she whimpered, tears suddenly coming to her eyes.
She sniffed, holding back the tears, and tried to breathe slowly. She'd have to apologize to Lysander tomorrow, and hopefully have a talk and find out why he had snapped in the first place.
For now, she was going to sleep. She felt exhausted once again, and fell asleep without another thought.
The next day was the celebration of the end of summer harvest. The place was alive with action-games , dancing, singing and people eating and drinking all started in the early morning. It continued all day, and both Lily and Lysander forgot about their fight as they joined in the festivities.
Goren was spotted among some of the older women, booming with laughter. He seemed a bit drunk, for his cheeks were rosy. Hyu was nowhere to be seen.
"Don't worry about her!" was all he said when Lily asked where she was. He then grabbed one of the older ladies breasts and laughed riotously. Lily's face turned red and she and Lysander both hurried off in the opposite direction.
Everywhere around them were people who were losing more and more of their inhibitions as the day turned to night. It grew chilly out, but the people lit fires about the village and cast warming charms about the area so as not to ruin the fun.
"This is ridiculous!" Lily shouted over a group of people screaming as they played grab ass. Lysander laughed and nodded.
"It's mad! I can't believe these people act like this...although, I must say, it's a bit liberating," he added as a voluptuous redhead grinned and winked at him. Lily watched as Lysander blushed and she rolled her eyes.
"Uh, hey, I'm gonna go...over here," Lysander muttered before walking away and leaving Lily standing alone. She watched as he traipsed on over to the bigger woman, and Lily shook her head, turning to walk in the opposite direction.
She found Goren once more, this time with an obviously inebriated Farrell, who was trying hard not to seem drunk.
"Hey there, Weasley!" said Farrell very loudly, causing Lily to step back a bit.
"I am right here," she said through gritted teeth. "There is no reason to yell. And it's Potter, you drunk fool!"
Farrell squinted, glared, squinted again. "'m not talkin' to yoou," he slurred, pointing an unsteady finger at her left. Lily looked in the direction he was pointing; there was no one there.
"'m talkin' to the other weaselpot next to you," he finished and Lily looked at him in exasperation.
"You're drunk, aren't you," she sighed, shaking her head.
Farrell shook his head and Goren just laughed like this was one of the funniest things he had ever seen.
"No no no, weaselpot, 'm merrily having fund. Fun. 'm an old man, can't I have a bit 'o' that?!" he sounded angry but looked nothing more than gassy. Goren roared with laughter once more and shook Farrell roughly by the shoulders.
"I am the poshuns mastur...I have ways of...of...of...Goren stop shakin me..." he groaned and clapped a hand over his mouth. Lily's eyes widened and she stepped back two spaces.
"Right, I'll just see you two tomorrow then! Goodbye, have a nice time!" Lily shouted and walked hurriedly away. She heard the sound of someone sicking up as she left.
She decided to go back to her own house. She wasn't up for any partying. She hadn't wanted to travel so long and far for a bit of drunken fun.
"I just want my damn training," she muttered angrily as she stepped back into the house.
She heard a woman moaning and the sound of grunting coming from Lysanders room.
"Can't you use a fucking soundproofing charm or something?!" she yelled and kicked the door of Lysanders room before heading upstairs.
The day had passed by so quickly, Lily was almost grateful that it would soon technically be the next day. She was anxious to get her studies started, was tired of all the shenanigans taking place. One moment Lysander was angry, the next he was fucking some fat chick. One moment she was arguing with Farrell and the next he was giving her a lesson in potions!
All Lily wanted was for people to act normal...but then she thought, well, I guess I'm not entirely normal either.
After all, she had fallen in love with a dead man.
The next chapter is already half written, so it shouldn't be too long of a wait!
