Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, but boy do I wish I did. That would be wonderful. Enjoy!
Chapter Three: Strictly Business
"Full moon tonight," Severus whispered as he came up behind Lily in the library.
The redhead, who had been reading with intense focus by a bookshelf, gave a terrible start, practically throwing her book in the air. She turned to glare at him momentarily before picking the book up off the floor.
"Would you let it go?" she scowled, looking exhausted. "He isn't a werewolf. Drop it already."
"He'll disappear again tonight," he challenged. "You just wait."
"So what if he does?" she rolled her eyes and went back to scanning the black leather-bound book she held once more. "His mum has been really sick, you know. He has to go visit her."
"Every full moon? Lily, you're smarter than…what are you reading?" he asked incredulously, breaking off mid-thought.
She looked up at him and sighed quietly. "I'm trying to figure out if you can take over someone's thoughts and actions from afar. Like a long distance Polyjuice Potion."
Sev looked surprised. "I know Potter's been a prat lately but I don't think he's possessed, Lils."
Lily eyed him curiously. "How did you know I was talking about Potter?"
"It's all you've been talking about for days," he answered with an edge of jealousy in his voice. "Why do you care so much about him anyway?" he asked sourly.
"Because he's tried attacking me twice. Does that sound normal to you, Sev? He called me Mudblood. That isn't typical of him."
It had been a week since her first encounter with Potter and things were only getting worse. There was something seriously wrong with him, and she was determined to figure out what.
A quiet voice suddenly alerted, "Time to go. Time to go."
Lily looked at her watch and sighed. "I've got to go teach Black how to transfigure a book into a dove."
"You actually agreed to that?" Severus frowned. "Since when do you cater to them?" he asked softly. Lily was supposed to spend time with him, not the stupid Marauders.
"I'm not catering to them," she assured. "It's just like you helping me with Potions. Strictly platonic." She smiled, grabbed her bag, and left.
Sev's face fell as she walked off and he nodded sadly. "Yeah…strictly platonic."
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"I'm trying," a slowly drawling voice hissed out into the darkness. "He's stronger than we expected."
"You're five years older than him!" a woman's whisper bounced against the stone wall of the castle and around the empty grounds. "If you aren't up to forcing the task upon him, I'll get the girl myself!"
"Don't be hasty, Bella," the man tsked. "It wouldn't do nearly as much damage if you were the one to bring her to us. I only need a few more days."
"In a few more days she could have figured it out!"
"It won't stop us if she knows what is happening to him." The drawling hiss became a comforting whisper. "She has no way of stopping it, and once I can take over his mind without interruption, she won't know how to break him out of it. She'll have no chance against him." After a pause, he added, "Go to sleep, Bella. The wolves are out tonight."
Somewhere in the distance, a loud howl broke the silence, and the two deceivers parted ways.
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"You're sure you're ok?" Lily frowned over at Remus as they climbed the Gryffindor bleachers to watch the Quidditch game. "You look exhausted."
His tired amber eyes flicked over to her and he smiled. "I'm ok," he promised her softly as they found seating and he basically collapsed down.
She sat carefully beside him, regarding him as though he could break at any moment. "Is this because of your mum? Are you worried about her?"
"My mum?" he asked in confusion. Oh, right! His cover story. He shrugged. "She's doing better. It's not that," he promised. "I haven't gotten much sleep lately, is all."
Lily gave a small nod, conversation cut short as the teams took the field amidst roaring cheers from the stands. Immediately, she noticed something was amiss.
"Where's James?" she frowned at the stand-in Chaser dressed in scarlet robes on the field. "He didn't get detention, did he?"
Remus held a look of deep worry. "No. He was already dressed for the match at breakfast. I'll go look for him." He began to stand.
"I'll go," Lily offered quickly, standing beside him. "You should stay in case he shows up. I don't much like Quidditch anyway."
He glanced to her and nodded, taking his seat. Lily could hold her own if anything happened.
Lily hurried down the stairs so she wouldn't disturb the spectators who genuinely wished to watch the game. She reached the bottom and rounded the bleachers, slowing slightly to walk at a normal pace. As she walked along the underside of the bleachers, the referee's whistle sounded to begin the game.
In the same moment, a set of hands snaked around her waist and mouth, pulling her underneath the bleachers and restraining her with a strong hold. She struggled instinctively and screamed, but the cry for help was lost among the great cheers of the eager crowd above.
Before their excitement started dying down, thin black ropes wrapped around Lily's small frame, and a gag tightened over her mouth. She fought against them a moment and glared around to catch sight of her captor. Her eyes widened in surprise for a split second before the curse hit and she blacked out.