Thanks once again for all the great reviews guys. They really help a lot. I'm glad most of you liked or at least were amused by Sev's song : ), it was pretty tricky for me to write. I wish I could respond to all the reviews, but I always get confused as to whether I replied to someone or not 0.o. Anyway, just know that your comments and critiques are of great value to me : ) This next chap is sort of a two-parter, this is the first part obviously. It will seem a bit familiar to you…
Disclaimer: Characters and all that are J.K. Rowling's.
Chapter 4 Part I
Two Ants
Two ants under
The magnifying glass
One fled left, the other fled right
To escape the eye so burning bright
"Get him!"
"Ow!"
"Greasy little bastard!"
Severus clawed and swung at the circle of jeering boys who had surrounded him. He could fight viciously, like a cornered alley cat, but many of the boys were older and much bigger than him. One of the boys grabbed his long and threw him on the blacktop, where he skinned his knees badly.
A crowd began to gather, one that was far from friendly. More people meant more pointing, more laughter. Severus became tangled in his coat as he tried to scramble up. A thickly set fifth grader placed his foot on Severus's behind and gave a great shove. Severus collapsed face first into the dirt. It found its way into his eyes, nose, mouth and ears. He gagged and sputtered while the other children roared in excitement.
"Hey!" Lily stormed pink-faced through the crowd, which even as it parted for her, let out a loud, taunting, "Ooohhhhh!"
She went up to his biggest bully and jabbed her finger at his broad chest, "Winchell! I told you to leave him alone! How many times do I have to tell Ms. McCormick on you before you get it through your thick head?"
While the bully's twisted code of honor did not permit the hitting of girls, it said nothing about being incredibly nasty to them.
"If you need some time to snogyour boyfriend alone, you could just say so," sneered Winchell egged on by the mob's cheers.
Lily flushed scarlett, but recovered enough to say, "Stupid! You know full well that if Ms. McCormick tells your mummy you've been behaving like a PRAT one more time," she crossed her arms and smirked, "She's going to beat your arse until it's so red and sore, you won't be able to sit down for a whole week!"
Despites the crowd's allegiance, there were several hoots of laughter.
Severus glowered at Winchell with a pure hatred rarely found in a boy his age. His face was beet red, and his black eyes watered a bit from the sand and a bit (though he would never admit it) from humiliation and pain.
"Evans looovvves Snape!"
"How do you like having a girl stand up for you Snapey?"
And to make matters more terrible—in his mind—Lily was always there to witness, and to save him. This was the third time this week she had confronted his bullies in the schoolyard.
With a feral growl, Severus lunged at Winchell, attempting to tackle him. It had much of the effect of ramming a motorcycle into a brick wall. He flew backward as Winchell gave him a simple shove. The children roared with laughter.
"Sev!" Lily rushed to help him, but he yanked his arm from her grasp and stumbled up on his own.
"I don't need your help!" he shouted at her.
She looked shocked, but she approached him again and said quietly, "C'mon Sev, let's get out of here. Let's--"
"No!" Severus snapped, "I don't want anything to do with you…you…you bitch!"
The jeering playground quieted. Some of the more skittish children ran away. A rush of whispers burst forth from those remaining, but neither Lily nor Severus seemed to notice them.
Severus wanted to say something as he saw her lip quiver, but his throat was too tight. And what could he say really? Lily turned ran and away from the playground and Severus chased after her. He gained on her as they dashed through the open field by the schoolhouse. She was fast, her dark red hair flew out behind her.
"Lily, wait!" Severus called and put on a burst of speed until he was able to grab her arm.
Lily whirled around and snarled at him, "Get away from me!"
"I'm sorry!"
"You're sorry?!" Lily shrieked, "All my old school friends have stopped talking to me, people laugh at me, and I'm treated like—like some kind of freak! All because--" her eyes narrowed, "All because I'm friends with you! And now this! You made everyone who talked bad about you right…I never really believed them…until now."
Severus felt as though she had ripped through his chest and pulled out his heart. She held it still beating in her hand. If only she would not smash it. If only he could find the right words. The foul word had slipped out, he had been angry, humiliated. He would throw himself back on the dirt if only she would forgive him. He would be better, he would not drag her down into isolation with him. He stepped closer to her.
She squeezed shut his heart in her fist, "Severus, I never want to see you again."
Lily turned and ran once more, and this time Severus did not follow.
Eep, tension! Thoughts and opinions are very much appreciated.