Chapter 4

Lily made her way through the portrait hole and into the Gryffindor common room. She hadn't spoken to Potter or Black at dinner time, and didn't want to speak to them now. Seeing them lounging in the padded armchairs by the fire, she quickly tried to make her way to the dorm room stairs before they could spot her. Unfortunately, Black's gaze alerted Potter to her presence

"Evans! Wait" Potter shouted as he turned to face her, leaping from his chair as fast as he could

"Give me a good reason why I should" Lily ground out furiously, not in the mood for his excuses

"Look, I'm sorry, ok"

"Save it, Potter. It's Severus you should be apologising to. It's Severus you put in the Hospital Wing. Again!" She shouted

"I know, I know. I just, I didn't expect him to fall down the stairs like that" he said quietly

"Well what exactly did you think would happen, tripping him up near the top of the stairs?" she spat at him, trying to ignore the stares of their house mates, obviously drawn in by her raised voice

"I thought he'd just trip up the last step or something, maybe bang his knee" he shrugged. "I didn't mean for him to come down like that" he admitted, at least he was looking a little bit guilty. It wasn't good enough though.

"And I suppose you think that makes it ok then? You didn't mean it" her voice was quieter now, but no less furious "It's not going to stop you going after him again though is it?" Potter looked away from her now, "Thought not" she added when he didn't answer.

"I got a detention for it you know" he finally spoke, looking sulky.

"Good! You deserve it" she snapped back "It's not going to stop you lot plotting something else. You're going to keep trying to hurt him. He's done nothing to you, only defend himself"

"Now that's not fair, he hexed us today too!"

"Yeah, to slow you down so we could get away from you. After you hexed him! For what? Your amusement?" he rolled his eyes and looked away from her again. She knew she was right, the bloody Marauders seemed to delight in finding new ways of annoying him, provoking him. Anything for their amusement. "I've said it before, and I'm saying it again, Potter - leave Severus alone. Leave both of us alone" and with what she hoped had been the final word, she headed off towards the stairs.

"He's one of them, you know" Potter shouted after her

"A Slytherin? Yes, I'm aware of that strangely enough" she replied, rolling her eyes at the stupidity

"That's not what I meant. But it doesn't take a genius to see he's following his scum bag mates off on the road to You-Know-Who"

"You know nothing about Severus" she whispered, shaking her head. And with that, she finally stomped up the stair case and into her dorm. Safely inside, she threw the bag down on the floor, plopping onto the bed stretching out onto her stomach, letting a muffled scream of frustration out into the pillow.

As she suspected it was only a matter of minutes before she heard the door opening again. Mary and Alice had been in the common room and were probably eager for gossip. All she really wanted was to be left alone in silence, it had been a long and emotional day, and quite frankly she didn't have the energy to fend off their questions. Face their judgement.

"So what happened then?" Mary asked quietly, perching herself on Lily's bed

"When? A lot has happened today, you'll have to narrow it down a bit"

"Well, you obviously found him this morning" Mary began

"Obviously" Lily repeated back to her

"And Potter put him in the Hospital Wing"

"Yes"

"Then you disappeared with him"

"To the library. To study" she said, trying to keep her voice level

"And then you got mad at Potter"

"Mary," she snapped "If you know every detail of my day already, what exactly are you asking me about?" Lily questioned, getting frustrated

"Well, what are you still mad at Potter for?"

Lily turned and sat herself up on the bed " Are you seriously asking me that" she spat out. Ridiculous question!

"Well James got a detention for it, so that should be the end of it" she said matter-of-fact

"Well it isn't! I'm sick of it, Mary. Potter and his friends keep hurting him, and there's no reason for it!" she yelled, temper still raging

"Well he's just like Avery and Mulciber though, isn't he?"

"No he isn't! He doesn't get to choose who his dorm mates are, nobody does. It doesn't mean he's like them"

"Are you going out with him or something?" Alice finally joined the conversation, sitting herself down on the next bed along

"What? No!" Lily snapped quickly, shocked by the sudden change in topic "Why would you think that?"

"You've been holding his hand an awful lot today" Alice pointed out, looking amused. Lily couldn't argue that point, they had.

"What of it? He's my friend" she said quietly

"Hmmmm" Alice raised an eyebrow, she didn't look convinced "Have you ever kissed him?" she asked quietly, grinning

"No of course not, he's my friend!" she stated again, though she knew the blush creeping up her face would do little to help her

"Do you want to kiss him?" Mary asked now, obviously eager to know something

"No!" Lily answered a bit too quickly. It was a lie saying that she'd never thought about it. Wondered what it would be like. She knew now, with blush fully covering her face, the girls were not convinced in the slightest, and she suspected Mary would just love to give Potter another reason to go after Severus.

"He fancies you, you know" Mary put forward

"Don't be ridiculous" Lily said, rolling her eyes, really not in the mood for discussing feelings that she, or Severus, may or may not have for each other. "Look, it really has been a long day, I just want to get some sleep, ok?" she said quietly, really hoping they would give her some peace

"Fine, we'll leave you alone then" Alice said softly as her and Mary left the room, finally leaving her with her thoughts.

She doubted Severus had feelings for her, not in the way they were suggesting at least. He'd never shown an interest in any girl, he was more interested in studying. More interested in spending time with her, as friends. He'd never given her any indication that he wanted her as anything other than his best friend. His only friend.

It wasn't a topic she would be bringing up with him, not any time soon. Right now, with these nightmares, he needed her support, needed her to help him figure out what was happening. For the moment, she needed to let him know she would be there for him, would do anything she could to reassure him that she would fight by his side. And if that meant more hand holding, she wasn't going to complain. They could figure out the rest later.

...

Severus absently gave the gargoyle the Slytherin password and wandered through to the common room, finding a seat on a low couch. He noticed a group in the corner, but wanted to avoid them, preferring to sit alone. Lack of sleep, frustration, and a returning headache from his trip down the stairs was making him rather more irritable than usual. Not that it usually took much to make him irritable.

Severus leaned back, letting his head rest against the back of the couch, rubbing his forehead with his thumb and forefinger.

"Where've you been all day?" Mulciber ground out as he sat next to him

"Hospital Wing, Library, the usual" not wanting to elaborate, he knew where this conversation was going

"With her" Mulciber spat, looking disgusted. Severus didn't answer, tried to keep his temper under control, he didn't want another hexing today "You weren't in bed this morning, were you with her?" Mulciber continued

"Don't be ridiculous" he shot back. That was ridiculous at least "I went outside for some fresh air" that much was true "then I spent the morning in the Hospital Wing after Potter hexed me behind my back" he finished, trying to keep his voice neutral. Keep calm.

"I saw you, running off after that Mudblood"

"Don't call her that" he snapped, eyeing the other boy angrily. He spotted two others making their way over to where he was seated.

"Touched a sore spot, have we?" Mulciber smirked, looking pleased with himself. Calm down, Severus he told himself mentally, getting mad was stupid

"It doesn't look good, you know" Mulciber continued "It's not good for Slytherin, you wandering all over the castle, hand in hand with that Mudblood" he said the word again, trying to provoke a reaction. Challenge him. Severus stayed quiet "And it won't look good to the Dark Lord when the time comes" he whispered.

Again, Severus stayed quiet. Settling for glaring at the others in turn.

"Well, have some fun with her if you must" Avery added in "Some of these Mudbloods can be a good shag" the others laughed. Severus continues glaring. How dare they suggest that about Lily?

"Good point, but get rid of her when she's served her purpose" Mulciber put in, smug shit, before he stood and the group started to move away.

"Oh, we're planning some fun later in the week, Snape. We'll fill you in on the details later"

"What kind of fun?" he asked warily. He suspected he knew what kind of fun already.

"Just going to play with a Gryffindor or two" Mulciber stated, and with that, the conversation was over and the group made themselves comfortable back in their corner, far away from him. No doubt they were discussing how brilliant they were, how much better than Mudbloods, how they could teach them all a lesson. Put them in their proper place.

Disgusted, Severus grabbed the books he'd taken from the library and headed for the dorm, to read in peace away from the others. Besides, he didn't want to be seen reading a book on 'Dream Meanings to Divine the Future', that alone would give them ammunition for torment. The other book was an old potions manual, specialising in a variety of potions that effected emotions, the other book had a section on rather obscure curses. Neither of them were restricted, though the one describing the curses was more of a grey area - no incantations were given, just their effects and a variety of names they were known by. Maybe if he found something that matched what he was experiencing he could talk to the Headmaster. Maybe he should talk to him anyway, he probably would have to if the nightmares continued. Maybe last night was a one-off. He didn't think it would be though.

The afternoon in the library hadn't been productive. Lily and himself had sat mostly in silence, pouring over the books for clues; Severus sneaking glances at Lily when she was engrossed in her book, concentration written all over her face. His heart beat quickening every time he thought about the fact that she was there. With him. Wanting to help him.

Exhausted after the day's events, he doubted he would be able to concentrate on the books now. Instead, Severus stashed them in his trunk, Dream Meanings on the bottom, took his robe off and threw it over the top. He swallowed the dose of Dreamless Sleep that Madam Pomfrey had given him and lay on the bed, not even bothering to change into his night clothes. Feeling his eyelids getting heavier, he desperately hoped that tonight, his sleep would be trouble free.

...

Severus was walking down one of the many corridors of Hogwarts Castle. Following behind Avery and Mulciber, smirking as they followed Mary MacDonald and Alice Prewett. Only one of the girls was a target - Mary - the Mudblood. No need to target a Pure Blood, even if they were a self-righteous Gryffindor. Alice would make herself a target sooner or later. If she refused to join the Dark Lord.

"You sure that potion will do its job, Snape?" Mulciber asked quietly over his shoulder

"If you brewed it correctly" he replied. Severus had come across a potion in the library, once taken it would make that person feel as if they were heating up, making them agitated and uncomfortable, heightening feelings of anger. For the victim, best case scenario - they would get hot, flustered and angry, lashing out at their friends. Worst case scenario - the resulting rise in temperature that accompanied their anger, would have them removing their own clothes to remedy it themselves. Personally, Severus was hoping the clothes stayed on, he had no desire to see MacDonald strip. Though he had the feeling his friends would prefer more of a 'show'.

Avery and Mulciber exchanged glances and smirks, as MacDonald started pulling on the neckline of her robes, face starting to flush red as she looked around uncomfortably. Prewett looking at her in confusion, MacDonald's strange behaviour. MacDonald evidently snapped at her, as Prewett stormed off, marching up the stairs alone as MacDonald continued pulling at her clothes and wandering slowly up, step by step.

"Disappointing that" Avery stated "thought we'd at least get the robe off"

"Maybe we ought to give her a little scare" Mulciber added in "Just watch when she gets to the top of the stairs" he smirked. Severus stayed quiet, unsure but eager to see what they would do next.

As MacDonald reached the top step, Mulciber pointed his wand at her, and she was launched upwards, dangling by her ankle. Obviously a victim of someone using Severus' Levicorpus jinx. MacDonald screamed as her robes and skirt fell over her head, underwear on shall for anyone nearby, hands flailing with the fabric as she tried to cover herself over.

Before Mulciber could do anything else to the girl, they were interrupted by Professor McGonagall, her voice cutting through the murmurings of the onlookers.

"Mr Mulciber! What do you think you're doing to Miss MacDonald?" she demanded

"Nothing, Professor" he whispered quietly, releasing her with the counter jinx to place her back on the top step, her face flushed due a combination of being dangled upside down, embarrassment, and the potion they'd slipped her at breakfast.

"25 points from Slytherin, and come with me please to arrange your detention Mr Mulciber." Mulciber rolled his eyes as he followed her up the stairs. Did she really think he cared about losing house points? "Are you alright, Miss MacDonald?" McGonagall asked the dishevelled student

"I'm not sure Professor. I don't think I feel well"

"You do look awfully flushed, dear. Perhaps a trip to the Hospital Wing then, just to check you over" Professor McGonagall suggested. MacDonald nodded, subdued and miserable as she made her way away from the small crowd, back down the stairs passing Avery and Severus on her way out.

"Thanks for the show, Mudbood" Avery sniggered as she walked by. MacDonald faltered in her steps, but she carried on her way in silence.

"Not a total let down then" Severus smirked at his dorm mate and the two of them started their trek up the stair case.

Severus woke with a start, evidently the Dreamless Sleep had not done its intended job, Yet again. Disgusted with himself, he wandered through to the bathroom, unable to look at his own reflection in the mirror.

Is that who he really was? Is that who he was slowly turning into? Was this the fun Avery and Mulciber were planning? It wouldn't surprise him if it was.

Severus had come across a potion which described similar effects to those he'd witnessed in his dream. He wouldn't be telling the others about it this time, and he'd make sure he kept that book safely hidden in his trunk.

After splashing his face with cold water, he headed back to his bed. He wanted to get outside again, but it wouldn't do for him to make a habit of wandering the castle, or heading outside, every time he had an unsettling dream. He ran the visions through his mind, over and over, wondering the best way to tell Lily. At least she could warn MacDonald, tell her to watch her back. Watch each other's backs. Even if he wasn't helping Avery and Mulciber this time, he knew they planning something, they'd already said so earlier this evening.

He just hoped that Lily would believe him, that he wasn't part of the plans himself. He knew she was worried that he was slowly becoming one of them, and after seeing himself in that dream, it wasn't difficult to see why. But he hadn't done it yet, and if could prevent this incident, maybe he could prevent some of the other stuff he'd dreamt about too.

A/N. Hello! Thanks so much to those of you who have reviewed and followed the story, it means a lot to me. It is the first time I've written anything (other than one or two short stories as a teenager), so been trying to figure out the best way of planning and writing. I wasn't sure how to describe the story in the summary - whether AU or non canon, I will be using a lot of canon events, but things will be changing, more and more as the story progresses (hopefully that makes sense).