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Chapter 4: Time, Please Stop

Disclaimer: I do not own any part of the story which directly takes ideas from JK Rowling. This story is not being used for commercial purposes it is simply for pleasure and fun.

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The first week of school was officially over and everyone in the NEWTS level looked exhausted. None of the 6th years expected it to be quite this hard, even Severus was a little worried about the workload. He always believed he was the one helping Lily with her work but perhaps she did something to help him as well, she was quick at finding books and was much more organized. It looked rather sunny outside and Snape really wished he was doing something other than sitting in the library finishing his Defense homework, well, not that he wanted to frolic in the sunshine really.

Non-verbal spells weren't a problem but figuring out what a spell was and how to counteract it was very difficult. Of course Snape didn't feel anyone in the class could cast a complicated spell non-verbally but that didn't mean Snape shouldn't know how to predict and block every spell he knew verbally. Frustrated with another book full of useless information Snape got up to put the book away and find another one. Between the rows of books Snape noticed a head of red hair and knew it was Lily. She was skimming the books and picking them out quickly just like she was always able to. Within minutes she had a large stack of books and she sat down at a table not far from his and began working on an essay. Creeping closer but hidden by a shelf Snape noticed she was also working on her Defense essay. Snape returned to his table and finished his Charms essay instead, it was clear that he would not find any good books because Lily had them all.

Snape kept a close eye on Lily to see if she was almost finished. He wanted to get the books before someone else did. About 10 minutes after Snape finished revising his Charms essay, Lily stretched and put down her quill. She grabbed the books and walked over to the shelves, Snape jumped out of his seat and followed close behind. Snape was trying to stay a few rows behind Lily so she wouldn't see him but he must have let her get too far ahead because he lost her. As he turned around to try to find her again Snape walked into someone.

It was Lily. She fell on her bottom and her books fell helter-skelter all around her.

"Oh, sorry, I didn't see you."

She seemed a little shocked because she hadn't gotten up yet.

"It's alright Sev, I wasn't looking where I was going."

Lily smiled weakly but Snape was left a little breathless upon hearing Lily call him "Sev". Snape bent down and helped her pick up her books noticing they were the ones he needed for his Defense essay.

"Hey Lily do you think I could borrow these? I haven't finished my essay yet."

"Uh, yeah of course. I'm all done; I was just putting them back now but here…,"

Lily grabbed one of the books,

"Don't bother with this one, total nonsense."

Snape smiled slightly and started gathering the books and levitated them instead of attempting to carry them all as Lily had. Lily seemed to notice this.

"Right… we can levitate things, sometimes I forget I'm a witch since I'm….. muggle-born.

Lily suddenly looked embarrassed and hurried away from Snape mumbling something that sounded like "gotta go". Severus knew the topic of her blood status would be touchy but that hadn't gone as badly as he thought it would. Determined not to let Lily control his mood Snape sat right back down and started on his Defense essay. He opened one of the books and a piece of parchment fell out. It had writing all over it and it was definitely Lily's, he'd recognize her tiny rushed handwriting anywhere. There were notes, dates and names scribbled across both sides of the parchment and there didn't seem to be any order to them. Words and phrases like "eye witness disappears", "Stopped at midnight" and "Lattimer" all jumped out at Snape. He was certain this didn't have to do with any of his classes but Lily was taking History of Magic so it could be notes for that. Snape stowed the parchment in his bag, he'd give it to Lily during their Transfiguration class on Monday.

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Sunday passed by quietly as the majority of 6th years were busy trying to finish all their work, it was not good to be behind after just the first week. Sluggish and yawning, a group of students slowly made their way into Professor McGonagall's classroom early Monday morning.

Snape was fairly tired as well but did not show it. He put his things down at his usual back-of-the-classroom seat then went over to Lily who just collapsed into her seat from fatigue.

"Hey Lily, you left this in one of the library books I think. Is it for History of Magic?"

Snape held out the parchment but Lily just sat and stared at him. After a few moments she seemed to regain her senses and took the parchment out of Snape's hand and looked it over a few times before saying,

"No, not for History of Magic, I just… well thanks."

Lily shoved the parchment in her bag and smiled weakly before putting her head back down on the desk. Severus went back to his seat wondering what would have Lily so interested that she spent who knows how long taking notes when she obviously barely had time to finish her school work. Just as Snape got to his seat Professor McGonagall called the class to attention.

"Now, most of you seem to have a good grasp of how to return Transfigured items into their original state and while we will continue to practice this, in the real world things are not so simple. In class you've always known the original state of the transfigured item. This makes it much easier to reverse the transfiguration process. On top of that you all know that something has in fact been transfigured. Being able to tell if something has or has not been transfigured is also very important or you may end up at the Hog's Head drinking out of a rat instead of an actual goblet. Now each of you will have a set of 5 items, two have been transfigured and the rest have not. Figure out which ones have been transfigured and what they were before."

A Hufflepuff raised his hand,

"How can we tell?"

"Well Mr. Aitken by turning to page 42 of your text and reading until the end of the chapter but all the theory in the world won't be enough. Practice and developing an instinct is the surest way. By graduation you should be able to sense the traces of magic on transfigured items. Now everyone pair up and grab a set of items from the front."

Several people began making their way to the front. Lupin and Black paired up and Potter almost immediately stood next to Lily who ignored him and got a set of items from the front. Avery was coming back from the front with a lamp, a comb, a plate, a thumbtack and a tiny enchanted broom that was sweeping the other items. He set them all down in front of Severus and opened his text to page 42.

"Blimey she's making every class an on the spot test, how are we supposed to read all this and then understand it and remember it and then practice? I guess this is going to take the whole 3 hours."

Severus shrugged and looked over at Lily and Potter. They had a key chain, a rusty and dented spoon, a Frisbee, a bell and a conk shell. Potter was tapping the items with his wand while Lily was hovering her hand over each item one at a time. Snape turned to his set of objects, he'd already read this chapter and while the tips and clues were good what McGonagall said was right, practice and instinct are the best methods for distinguishing transfigured items from non transfigured ones. Snape tapped and prodded his items and could tell right away which ones were transfigured. He tried to look confused and let Avery have a go. After 30 minutes McGonagall started making her rounds. A few students guessed one object correct but not another, mostly people just guessed. When she reached Potter and Lily's table Snape turned and watched. Potter was leaning on the back two legs of his chair and had his eyes closed while Lily was still prodding the objects and taking notes.

"Well Mr. Potter you seem mighty relaxed. Am I correct in assuming you've got it all figured out?"

"Well Professor I don't mean to brag but this is downright easy."

"Very well, which items have been transfigured and how did you know?"

"Well first the spoon, it's all rusted and dented. The person who transfigured it obviously did a bad job and secondly the bell, just cause I know."

Lily sighed and rolled her eyes.

"Well Mr. Potter it seems Miss Evans disagrees with you. Which two do you think were transfigured?"

"Well first of all the spoon was not. The most common transfiguration error that occurs in transfiguring metal cutlery is malformation, not dents or rust. Secondly the bell was transfigured but not "just because". It vibrates for uncommonly long when tapped with a wand and the pitch changes irregularly. A bell is a very precise thing and it is difficult to master by even the best magicians. The second item that was transfigured is the key chain. It was just plain poorly made. While at first glance it looks like a key chain upon further inspection the key ring is solid meaning it would be impossible to get a key on it."

McGonagall seemed pleased and turned to Potter who was slightly shocked.

"Well Mr. Potter perhaps more practice and less lollygagging and you could come up with half as good an answer. Very well done Miss Evans."

Lily turned back to her book ignoring the looks Potter was giving her, Snape was smirking and when Potter turned his way he noticed. Snape turned and pretended to read his book, continuing to smirk.

"Well, well, well, how did that mudblood get so good at sensing magic, and James is pure too, what an embarrassment."

Avery was staring at Lily in a way Snape did not altogether like.

"Actually, muggle-borns are more sensitive to magic precisely because they aren't used to it."

"A correct assessment Mr. Snape muggle-borns are more sensitive to magic but I'm sure Mr. Avery here will do a splendid job seeing as he is a pureblood himself. Go ahead Mr. Avery,"

McGonagall was standing behind Severus and Avery who was looking a bit sick.

"Ugh, well the boom seems weird, who would make a tiny self-sweeping broom and…. the plate?"

Avery pointed to the plate and tried to smile. McGonagall's face, however, was as stern as ever and her lips were extremely pursed.

"No Mr. Avery, it seems your pure blood does not help you much here, what about you Mr. Snape?"

Snape turned and picked up the lamp.

"Well the lamp, it lights without a bulb or being plugged in, a wizard wouldn't be aware of how electricity works and would assume the light just appeared. The second item is the comb, it also vibrates when tapped with a wand and unnaturally reacts to magic for something that should be plastic."

For good measure, fearing that McGonagall assumed he shared Avery's sentiments about muggle-borns, Snape tapped the comb and it turned back into a candle.

"Very well done Mr. Snape. Don't worry Mr. Avery, you'll have plenty of time to practice in detention.

With that the professor turned and moved on to the next table, Avery groaned and slid into his chair. When McGonagall was out of hearing range Potter turned to Snape.

"Seems a pity about the comb, you could have used it!"

Snape just sneered back at Potter and Black who were laughing.

"Please, James, look at yourself, there isn't a comb in the world that could fix that filthy mop you call hair."

Lily hit James with her book and went over to sit with some of the girls, crossed her arms and turned away from Potter. A slightly shocked Potter turned to Snape and pointed at him mouthing the words "one of these days!" Snape ignored him and tried to comfort Avery who was worried about missing Quidditch practice.

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After Charms on Monday Snape decided to start on his Potions assignment. Befuddlement Draughts weren't overly complex but making them on your own was different than in a class environment. Either way Severus had run out of Sneezewort and was on his way to Slughorn's office to get some. He got to Slughorn's office only to notice the door was slightly ajar. He knocked on the door gently and opened it with his wand out when he got no answer. It was too quiet in the office, usually Slughorn had some music playing and even without that the old fodder made noise every time he moved. Snape crept in silently and immediately knew someone was inside, he could feel it. He went around the desk and was suddenly face to face with a wand.

It was Lily.

"Oh God, Sev, it's just you. You scared the life out of me… I thought you were Slughorn!"

A shocked Lily was holding several letters and other papers. By the look of the desk and drawers, Lily had been going through them.

"What are you doing?"

"Me? I'm just… looking for something… why what are you doing?"

Lily was clearly nervous, she wasn't used to sneaking around and lying. She wasn't making eye contact with Severus, she was trying to keep him from finding out what she was doing.

"I need some Sneezewort for the Befuddlement project."

"Oh, well it's in the supply cabinet, second drawer from the top, on the left."

"Right and I'll get right to it after you tell me what you're doing going through my head of house's desk while he's gone. Where is he anyways, did you get Potter and his mates to distract him? Are you in on this together?"

"No Sev, it's not like that. I'm looking for something but I'm doing this alone. Slughorn's with the headmaster having tea and cookies, you know the man has to eat every 3 hours."

Lily tried to smile but Snape kept his face fixed.

"Alright I'll tell you but you can't tell anyone. Did you hear about what happened this summer? Big Ben stopped. You know the big clock tower..."

"Yes Lily, I know. I'm not stupid and yes I did hear about it. The thing is old and decrepit, it was bound to break eventually, miracle it lasted this long."

"Well that's not exactly true. I overheard Professor Dumbledore talking to Minister Leach about it. Apparently the muggle architect was under the Imperius curse while he designed the tower and then went crazy and died shortly after. Dumbledore was a kid when it was built and knows all about it. He suspects a dark wizard was behind the malfunction this summer. The minister wouldn't listen but it's very suspicious, the clock was probably magical in some way and Dumbledore says magic broke it too, it doesn't make sense that someone would break a clock for no reason."

Snape considered what Lily was saying, it was just a clock and if a wizard wanted to destroy it they would have done more damage.

"Alright so what does this have to do with you breaking into Slughorn's office?"

"Well, Dumbledore reckons that a man named George Lattimer knows what happened and why someone would want to break the clock. Lattimer happens to be an old Slug Club member. Slughorn says Lattimer never mentioned anything about the clock but he was a wizard and he chose to watch and take care of a muggle clock tower? It doesn't make much sense since he was top of his class years back, he could have gotten a good wizard job. On top of that he disappeared just after the clock was broken. I'm looking through Slughorn's records to see if I can find anything. He keeps all the letters his club members send him and all their school records."

Severus couldn't help but be impressed by Lily. Most people wouldn't have put two and two together, perhaps that's what someone wanted.

"Alright well did you find anything?"

"I only just got here when you came by and Slughorn will be back soon, I'll have to come back another time. You won't tell anyone will you?"

Snape nodded "no" while Lily magically put everything back the way it was. He went over to the cupboard and grabbed the Sneezewort he needed and left with Lily. As they were walking down the hall they saw Slughorn waddling towards them.

"Hello Professor, I hope you don't mind but Lily and I got some Sneezewort for our Befuddlement Draught."

"No, no problem. Getting an early start eh? I'd expect nothing less from you Lily, carry on."

Snape sneered at Slughorn, he totally ignored him, typical. Lily and Snape walked together until it was time for them to separate in order to get to their own dormitories. They turned to each other.

"Thanks for not telling on me… Goodnight."

Snape waved goodbye and walked down towards his common room. Lily might be on to something but he couldn't imagine what anyone would want with the tower and why break it during that particular summer? And why was Dumbledore so curious that he was talking to the Minister for Magic about it? A kid when it was built? Blimey Dumbledore was old! Snape got to his common room and went up to his bedroom where Wilkes and Walden Macnair, who was in Mulcibur's year, were bent over some parchments.

"Hey Snape, mind if we borrow the room for a bit? Go hang out in the common room."

"No problem, but whatever you're going to do, do it on your own bed!"

Snape turned and left before the pillow Wilkes threw, hit him. He was only in there for a moment but Snape was sure of what he saw. As he walked down to the common room Snape's heart began to beat progressively faster. He only saw a bit because he was wearing long sleeves but he was sure of what he saw, the Dark Mark. Macnair was working for him and Wilkes probably was too if Macnair wanted to be alone with him. Worst of all were the parchments. They were definitely the building plans of Big Ben. Were he and his followers involved in what happened this summer and what would happen to Lily if they found out she was investigating it? As he sat down in a chair Snape was sure of one thing, he had to stop Lily from snooping around any further, he had to protect her.

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Author's Note: During the summer of 1976 Big Ben did stop. It had its first and only major breakdown in 150 years after some weights fell and destroyed a good chuck of the clock mechanism. It is also true that the architect went crazy and died after designing the clock.