BitterSweet: Chapter 4 – Trial and Error.
Disclaimer: I am not J.K Rowling, therefore I do not own any of the characters etc. Unfortunatly.
Snape POV:
"What subject do we have now?" I ask Narcissa as we step out of the Slytherin common room. The dungeons are beginning to irritate me – does anyone ever feel the need to be happy? The need for a little extra light? I chuckle at myself as I realize how much being with Lily affects me. I like it.
"Potions with Slughorn and then Herbology with the substitute teacher, Lockhart Snr." Narcissa replies. Narcissa has always been one of my friends, and is the only true friend I now have in Slytherin.
"Ugh. Please don't tell me Lockhart Snr is related to that first year Gilderoy Lockhart from Slytherin! Lockhart Snr is probably some crackhead who invents names of herbs and knows nothing more then how to count to three!" I rant. Nothing frustrates me more then idiots who think they know stuff they don't.
"Severus, watch your mouth!" Narcissa scolds. "You don't talk like that in front of ladies!"
"Meaning yourself?" I scoff.
"Meaning myself and Miss Evans." She replies, but before I can react, Lily suddenly appears at my side, having obviously followed from behind.
"No need to worry, Narcissa. I just came from Herbology – he is a crackhead." Lily says. We are walking down the dungeons stairs into the Potions classroom. I can't help but smirk at Lily's comment. Narcissa just giggles as she sat down next to her cousin Regulus. Lily and I take our seats at the front of the room and started taking out our cauldrons.
Professor Slughorn comes through the door, with a bit of toilet paper trailing behind him. Despite him being head of Slytherin, I can't help but snigger at his embarrassing mistake. I look at Lily, who has her hand clamped over her mouth.
"Well, we know why he's late…" I say innocently. Lily bursts out laughing from besides me, causing me to chuckle at her lack of control. Professor Slughorn notices our unusual outburst.
"Ah! Severus, Lily – my top Potions students – what's so funny?" Slughorn asks pleasantly.
"I just told Lily a joke, Sir." I reply.
"Oh, well you know how I love jokes Severus! Tell us!" Slughorn says with eagerness, unaware that we were laughing at his expense. I wrack my brain for a different joke, but am interrupted by none other then Potter.
"He probably told Lily he is really a famous Quidditch player and not a greasy Death-Eater." Potter remarks, causing uproar of laughter from the Gryffindors. I turn in my seat to face Potter and Black who are three tables behind me.
"Ignore them, Sev. No need to sink to their level." She said, patting my hand. She must have sensed that I was about to abuse the living day lights out of Potter. I take a deep breath and turn to face Slughorn, who has a confused look on his face.
"I don't understand the joke." He says. Had this situation involved someone else, I would have laughed at his stupidity.
"Never mind James Potter, Professor. He has a knack for being extremely rude and irritating." Lily says smartly.
"Right, well, today you have to complete the following potions." Slughorn announces as he writes on the board, probably not wanting to waste any more class time.
I start taking out my ingredients for the potions, when Potter decides to make his thoughts known to everyone.
"Has anyone seen the way Snivellus looks at Lily?" he asks his peers. Anger starts flowing through my veins, and before I know it I am holding my wand. All it would take is one quick curse.
"One would think he is about to eat her, he practically drools everywhere as he watches her every move." James mocks.
"I wonder why Lily is even friends with Snivelly – he's just a git with overgrown greasy hair and a hooked nose who loves to play with his chemistry set." Sirius wonders.
"True, Padfoot, true." James replies.
I begin shaking with anger. The curse is ready on my tongue; all I need to do is open my mouth. I could watch him scream for mercy. But, with one touch, Lily reminds me to stay in control.
"Sev, just ignore them. Show them you're the better man, which you are." She says while she holds onto my hand. I quickly look into her eyes, sure I could see a few tears. Why would she be crying?
In this whole situation, Slughorn seems oblivious to all the events as he sips his wine and hums merrily. I breathe in deeply. Potter and Black are just !#! #!#!# #!# #!#! . That made me feel better. I begin to loosen up as I continue to curse Potter and Black in my head, while brewing the potions with Lily.
"I wonder if he knows he doesn't deserve her." Sirius asks James, unknowingly acknowledging one of my biggest fears. In an instant the anger is back and I crush the jar of monkswood in my hand. Lily's hands immediately reach for my hands and try to pry the bits of glass from my hands.
"So, Sev, do you want to come to my house for Christmas?" Lily asks me in a loud voice to be sure that Potter heard. She begins taking shards of glass out of my hand gently, while I grin weakly at her. The next thing we heard was a cauldron smashing.
"Prongs you idiot!" Sirius yells at James. "What did you do that for!"
James just stares at me, and I can't help but grin. But my grin quickly disappears; Lily just pulled a large piece of glass out of my hand.
"Professor Slughorn?" Lily asks.
"Yes, Lily dear?" Slughorn replies, beaming at his favourite student.
"Severus has been injured – may I take him to Madam Pomfrey?" Lily sweetly inquires. How could she ever be denied?
"Of course, Lily. I will clean the rest up, and you don't need to do it for homework. You take care of yourself Severus." He adds to me.
Once Madam Pomfrey heals my hand, Lily and I walk outside to the Lake.
"I am so sorry that you had to deal with those dimwits. They were so rude. But you were so brave today, Sev. I'm so proud of you." Lily says, smiling.
"Are you crazy? I'm a monster! I still cannot control myself!" I yell angrily. How can she think that! If it weren't for her I would have killed Potter by now. I turn away from her, unable to meet her gaze.
"Severus Tobias Snape, you look at me right now." Lily demand. I turned to look at her and she cups my face with her hands.
"You are no monster; James and Sirius are the monsters. You did so well – no hexes! It will take time, trial and error." She praises.
"You always see the best in people, Lily." I chuckle, though still fuming.
"And is there a problem with that?" She asks, slightly offended.
"No, no! It's just I don't see anything great about Potter or Black or me, but you always do." I reply lamely. I never seem to be able to get my words out right.
"Well, there isn't anything great about James and Sirius, but they do have a few good qualities. You have lots of great things about you; you just refuse to see them." Lily says looking into my eyes. The emotions become overwhelming.
"Sorry, Lily. I have to go to Herbology." I said, trying to free myself of the confusing emotions.
"Oh, ok. I better go off to Defence then. See you later." Lily says, slightly hurt by my sudden need to get away. She turns and begins walking away.
"If Professor I-Know-Nothing-But-I-Have-A-Great-Smile Lockhart doesn't stun me with his stupidity." I mutter, and I am sure Lily heard me because she began giggling. It feels great to know I can make her laugh; make her happy in some way.
I walk to Herbology, my heart lighter then it has been in years. She believes in me. She thinks I'm doing great. She still stands up for me. I break into a smile, which happens to scare a lot of first years.
The moment I walk into Herbology, I want to walk straight out. Professor Lockhart is dressed in a floral dress robe, smiling idiotically at everyone.
"S-m-i-l-e children! Smiley smiles!" He chants. What an absolute idiot. I'm getting goose bumps for being so close to someone so stupid! Nonetheless, at least it will make the lesson a lot more entertaining…
"Don't worry baby
'bout how it should be
I sent a message out into the dark
I'd rather talk to you
About how it could be
I've gotta find my way to your heart"
-Into the Dark, Ben Lee.
Sorry about taking so long to update! I had no time at all yesturday; my aunty was moving into a new house and I helped.
I'm not 100 happy with this chapter, but see what you guys think. And I have a question for future chapters, which is a more romantic setting:
- a) Hogwarts at Christmas
- b) The playground near Sev's and Lily's house with snow everywhere,
- c) Hogsmeade on Valentines Day...
Please read and review! Greatly appreciated!
Missteque xx.