It wasn't much farther, just about a five-hundred feet before she reached the entrance when she heard faint footsteps and before she could even look at the map to see who it was she collided with something or someone soft but yet pretty hard for a person. Lilly would have fallen back from the force of the impact, but a pair of arms roughly stopped her.
"I suggest you reveille your self immediately or I shall do it for you, and I will do it in a way most unpleasant." said a cold deep voice she did not recognize. Must be the new DADA professor, didn't get a good look who replaced Professor McKay, maybe they've updated the curriculum to something useful...
Lily Evens complied with the mysterious professor's wishes, she pulled back the hood of the cloak to reveal her face. "Lumos." The tip of the professor's wand suddenly cut through the darkness, illuminating her face, making her squint from the sudden brightness.
"And do tell me, what is a Gryffindor doing wandering by the Slytherin house, in the middle of the night, under an invisibility cloak?" He asked.
How does he know what house I am in? He obviously saw you when you walked in late with James. Stupid.
She figured she might as well tell him the truth, he was the new DADA professor so maybe he would go a bit easy on her if he new what she was going to do. "I had to see my best friend, sir. Well former friend I guess, he wants to become a Death Eater. He has so much potential and he's going to waste it serving that genocidal psycho, I just can't let him do that…" She told him.
"I assure you that if he has not taken the mark over the summer, that at breakfast he will be no more a Death Eater then he is right now. You may speak to him then." The professor replied impatiently. lowering his wand just slightly so she could see again.
"He would only think I am trying to make a fool of him if I attempted to speak to him at breakfast. Merlin forbid a filthy little mudblood like me dares to speak to him in front of his friends." she replied bitterly
"Do not say that foul word! I assure you that despite what ever delusion you may be suffering, your blood is quite mud free." The man hissed. She was getting the impression that this professor was not a pleasant person.
"That is not what he believes, sir. He made quite the point of telling me, and half of Hogwarts last year." She wasn't sure what was making her speak back to this man, she was not the type to argue with a professor. Typically she was the kind of person who always followed a professor's orders. This was making for a very bad first impression.
"Foolish girl, why do you think you can change his mind then?" He wasn't sure why he was interrogating the girl, normally he would have simply deducted house points and given out detentions before dragging her back to her house. There was something about her...
"He's bloody brilliant! That's why, he just doesn't see it. He knows more about the dark arts and potions then another student here and is easily the most powerful. He was inventing his own spells, powerful,useful spells by the middle of fourth year. He thinks that everyone will respect him if he has that stupid thing on his arm, people won't pick on him for being poor or for the way he looks… I think if he only knew that someone believed in him, if he had some more confidence, then he wouldn't do it. He could be the next Dark Lord if he wanted, I think he really could. He'll be powerful enough one day. He already is more powerful then half the professors, sir. If you saw what he can do, really do. Its amazing! Before we even started first year he knew more spells then half the seventh year, I swear!"
She knew she probably sounded half crazy but she didn't care.
"I'll do what ever I can to stop him. I'll beg, plead, I hate the dark arts but I'll help him study them, I'll study them myself for Merlin's sake! I know he's fancied me since we were in second year, I'll throw my self at him, marry him, anything as long as he doesn't become a Death Eater. He's just so much better than that. He begged me to forgive him and I refused. I was a bloody idiot, the last good influence on him. I have to try Sir!" Lily was on the verge of hysteria now, all the pain of losing him, the loneliness and, rejection all bubbled to the surface at once.
Feeling what he believed may be sympathy, being he was not sure he ever felt it before, he decided to offer her some help. If only to get her to go to bed, he was sure that she was the most stubborn Gryffindor he had met in all his life . Any other student he had ever caught wandering the halls usually took off running all the way back to their common rooms to avoid getting into even more trouble. All but one… He would not sit back and let a student of his become a Death Eater. Perhaps that is why he was not threatening to expel her at this point….
"Tell me who this student is, I assure you I shall personally speak to them on your behalf on this subject. I know first hand the horrors that await him."
She sighed. "Okay, well he has long greasy hair, pale skin, and a rather large nose. but he's pretty stubborn Sir, it will take a lot for him to even listen. Tell him, Severus, that-" but Lily didn't get to tell the professor the message she wished for him to convey because he was suddenly enraged.
"How dare you! You insolent little girl, be thankful you are not in my house or you would be on the train home before your classmates even woke for breakfast!" His deep voice echoed off the stone walls of the dungeon carrying far down the corridor. Although she could not see his face, she had a feeling it had gone white with rage. The professor continued; "Wandering around the castle in the middle of the night, trying to sneak into another house, and showing such disrespect, I expect better even out of Potter, that arrogant,attention seeking, rule breaking boyfriend of your's and his friends, Ms. Weasley" seethed he.
furrowing her brow in confusion Lily meekly replied "My name is not Ms. Weasley, sir. And Potter is most defiantly not my boyfriend! My name is Lily Evens."
If the new professor was furious before it was nothing compared to now. Saying nothing he roughly grabbed her arm and swiftly marched down the corridor pulling her with him. She struggled to keep from stumbling while keeping up with him and avoiding stepping on his billowing black robes. Wanting to cry out from the pain in her shoulder where it felt like her arm was being pulled from her socket she bit down on her lip she doubted protesting would help and no one could hear them anyway.
It was several minutes and one very painful staircase latter when he abruptly stopped and roughly shove her into Slughorn's office, slamming the door behind her. For a moment they were plunged into total darkness, the torches flickered into life casting dancing shadows on all sorts of strange and glistening jared things on the tall shelves lining the walls.
It was brighter here then it was in the corridor. She saw that he was tall and thin, his black hair hung down just above his shoulders and from what wasn't cast in shadow she could see he had a hooked nose and sallow face. He carried himself in a very formidable almost elegant way, in the way she imagined a much feared ruler would.
Why does he look familiar?
Approaching her her spoke in barely above a whisper. "I do not care to know what sort of sick joke you are your Mr. Potter are playing Ms Weasley, masquerading around the castle as his dead mother. But! It has his good for nothing Godfather written all over it, I assure you all that he has told you this past summer are lies. It is clear he has disillusioned you into thinking it funny to make a mockery of me. I will see to the expulsion of both you and Mr. Potter with the utmost of pleasure."
It was terrifying, she had no clue what he was speaking about but she was scared of expulsion. It was clear he was not the professor to anger. As scared as she was of him there was something else about him that made her want to argue back and she just couldn't help her self.
Taking a step back Lily, straining to keep her voice from wavering and showing her fear said "Professor, sir. I truly don't know what you are talking about. One trip to Hogsmead that has not yet happened doesn't make me Potter's nor he mine. I am only accompanying him in return for a favor. I have certainly never met his godfather in my life, I spent my summer at home with my family. I was not even aware his mother was dead. I am a prefect sir! I would never make a mockery of a professor. My name is Lily Evens, I am a sixth year and all I was doing was trying to stop someone who has so much potential from waisting their life!"
Who was this man to accuse her of all sorts of absurd things and try to have her expelled! He didn't even know her name.
"Sit." The professor motioned to a wooden chair in front of the desk. Not wanting to anger him more she did as told and took the seat. Standing several paces in front of her then pointed his wand at her "Finite incantatem!" he cried. Even though she felt nothing upon the spell's impact she still flinched. Muttering to himself he began rummaging around on the shelves for something. Looking around Lily noticed a stack of ungraded papers on the desk. Curiosity as to why they were there on the first night she silently ruffled though them. She knew Slughorn wouldn't care, infect he would probably be happy if she did. He hated grading and would be more then happy to pass them off to her for extra credit.
Leafing through a few of them she decided that they must be first years, none of the names were recognizable.
"Professor, perhaps if you are having trouble finding something I could find it. I helped Slughorn organize at the end of last term."
He did not take kindly to his for he whirled around on the spot giving her a look that could kill. "Professor Slughorn has been retired for longer than you have been alive, and I keep a much cleaner store room then that man."
Slughorn was at the feast! What is this man talking about?
"But Sir, I saw him at the feast earlier! I missed your introduction but I know I saw him." Lily insisted.
Abandoning his search all together he stalked over to her looking murderous
"Despite what ever delusions you have been suffering for the last four years, I have been your potions professor for the your entire stay in this school, one that will be coming to an end tonight may I remind you. So unless you wish to bring further trouble to yourself, I suggest you drop the act, Ms. Weasley " His deep voice was nearly above a whisper. It was terrifying. So terrifying she didn't even correct him on her name this time.
Some Gryffindor you are.
After rummaging for a few minutes more he pulled a small vial off the shelf. Coming back to where she sat, he uncorked the vial, sniffed it's contents and ordered she take a sip. Rather then do as he said, she clamped her lips tightly together, so tight they turned white. "This will not hurt you Ms. Weasley. Open your mouth or I shall do it for you." Obliging out of fear Lily opened her mouth and allowed him to tip a small amount of the potion into her mouth.
Within a minute she felt her as though her head was filled with fog. The professor watched as her eyes glazed over before speaking again.
"What color is your hair?" He asked
"Red" She replied in a monotone voice as if she had no control of her vocal cords or her mouth for that matter. The black clad man continued his questioning...
"What is the name of this school?"
"Hogwarts school of witch craft and wizardry."
"what house are you in?"
"Gryffindor."
"How old are you?"
"Sixteen."
"What year is it?"
"1976"
"What is your full name?"
"Lily Ann Evens"
"From whom did you acquire this invisibility cloak?"
"James Potter."
"How?"
"I flirted with him and tricked him into thinking I was just going for a walk."
"Is he your boyfriend?"
"No."
"What were you doing wandering by Slytherin House?"
"I was on my way to speak to Severus Snape."
"What did you need to speak to him about?"
"I wish to stop him from becoming a Death Eater."
"What is your relation to Mr. Snape?"
"He was my best friend for many years."
"Why did you end the friendship?"
"He called me a Mudblood." The professor flinched at this.
"How did you discover you were a witch?"
"Severus Snape told me when we were nine."
"What was the name of the neighborhood Severus lives in?"
"Spinner's End."
"What did he give you for your fifteenth birthday?"
"Perfume he brewed."
"What was the sent?"
"Lavender, Honeysuckle, and Vanilla."
"Have you ever had romantic feelings for Severus Snape?"
"Yes."
"When?"
"During my fourth year at Hogwarts."
"How did he acquire the scar on his right shin?"
" He sliced his leg open on a broken branch trying to keep me from falling out of a tree we climbed."
"What was your favorite nickname for him?"
"Dr. Pangloss."**
"What was his nick name for you?"
"Blodeuwedd."***
"Who do you think I am?"
"This years new DADA professor."
Satisfied with his questioning, the professor forced another potion down her thought and watched the glassy look in her eyes fade, to be replaced by one of fire.
"Did you just give me Veritaserum? I am a student that is illegal!" She yelled, jumping to her feet, if looks could kill he would be dead and buried.
Remaining calm, too calm, he simply replied "You are not my student Lily." Her name rolling off his tongue slowly as if he were trying to savor the taste of a rare delicacy.
"If your not a professor then who are you?" there was a look of fear in her eyes as she took a step back from him and pulled out her wand. Surveying her situation she realized with dismay that she would have to pass him to exit the room. It could be done, a body bind or stunning hex would easily take care of that but if he pulled his wand on her it would be hard to hit him.
"I'm not going to hurt you Lily. I promise." She clearly didn't buy it, stepping back farther into the shadows of the room lined with shelves of potions.
"I said who are you!" Come on Lils your a Gryffindor don't let him see that he's scaring you! Swallowing loudly she shook off the fear replacing it with suspicion. "Tell me who you are or I will curse you! Don't think I won't do it. I can curse your awful nose right off your face." Lily threatened taking a stance that reminded him of a Lion ready to pounce. A small smile formed on the man's lips as he chuckled obviously amused by her threat. "Lily you would never use Sectumsempra and we both know it. Now put your wand away."
She did not do as he asked but instead of retreating again she stepped closer. "How do you know that curse?" Lily wanted to get out of the room and back to the safety of her own room as soon as possible. She silently vowed never to sneak out again, and never to go to the dungeons alone. Chuckling some more he looked her in the eye and told her he invented it.
"You did not! Sev-" She began, but expecting her reaction he cut her off. "Yes, Severus invented it. And you hated it when I showed you it, and you still hate it, Lil." She was totally lost, she never saw him before in her life.
Sensing her confusion, he gracefully pointed a long bony and pale finger at the desk.
Sitting there right at the front was an engraved sliver name plate reading;
PROFESSOR S. SNAPE; POTIONS MASTER.
Eying him carefully, Lily picked it up. She could not believe what it said. How could this grown man before her be him, he was a sixteen year old! She saw him at the feast that night, there was no way in the world this could be possible. Maybe this is just a bad dream Lily, you probably just fell asleep talking to the girls. Clenching her fist around her wand, she dug her fingernails into her palm, she could feel them and when she opened her hand there was a row of half moon indentations in her skin.
It was not a dream.
Looking around again Lily noticed that the room was quite different then the last time she had been in it. The crystal jars on the marble shelf behind the desk that held Slughorn's most rare and valuable potions and ingredients were all gone, replaced by several glass jars holding strange pickled looking substances Lily dared not ask about. In the center of the shelf stood a small silver statue of a wizard and a cauldron. The wizard, his clad in long robes and a pointed hat, stood behind a large cauldron that reached his waist and was emitting small puffs of steam every few seconds. In his left hand he held a vial and in his right was a wand, which he raised above his head. On the base of the statue it read; Severus Snape, for extraordinary contribution to the most noble science.
"But how…?" She wondered to her self out loud, completely perplexed. It was as if she fell into an alternate universe… "What year is it sir?" Why she asked she wasn't sure but it came out on impulse.
Looking at her suspiciously for a moment, he answered "1995"
Lily's beautiful green eyes widened in surprise. It couldn't be, that would mean somewhere between her tower and the dungeons she ended up nineteen years into the future. For a moment she let it all settle in.
1995, nineteen-ninety-five, Nine Teen Ninety Five! Professor Snape…. Potions master; Professor S. Snape. The pale skin, greasy black hair, the nose! Could it really be him? Oh it must be!
She placed the name plate back on his desk and stood before the Snape. Her green eyes were calculating in the dim light as she surveyed his pale, weary looking face. His usually ramrod straight posture began to drop as his shoulders hunched forward as if he were pulling himself inward to protect himself from the intensity of her gaze. He knew now what it was like to be one of his students. If anyone were to walk in at that moment they, like Lily, would wonder if they stepped into another universe. To see the formidable Professor Snape, the most feared man in the schoolcowering under the gaze of a Gryffindor who's head barely reached his shoulder. A most strange sight indeed.
After standing there for what may have been seconds or hours, neither could tell, Lily spoke, testing him. Her voice was soft and quiet, if she spoke to loud he might disappear. "On the emerald green Lily pad lives a frog…" she began
"He is the Half-blood Prince of Spinner's End." He finished, equally as soft and quiet as her. It was their code, a secret handshake of sorts, an oath of friendship only they knew.
It is Him!
A/N:
Snape has finally arrived! I'm not really sure if I portrayed him correctly. I hope I did, or at least it wasn't too bad. I'd love to hear what you guys think, like always I'm open to constructive criticism.
** Dr. Pangloss
Character from Voltaire's Candide.
The royal educator of the court of the baron. Described as "the greatest philosopher of the Holy Roman Empire." Pangloss defends optimism, and his reasoning is silly at best.
(Lily calling Sev this is meant to be ironic, poking fun at his sour disposition.)
***Blodeuwedd
Celtic Goddess.
Description: Lily maid of Celtic initiation ceremonies. Known as the Ninefold Goddess of the Western Isles of Paradise. Created by Math and Gwydion as a wife for Lleu. The Maiden form of the Triple Goddess, her symbol was the owl.
Rules Over: Flowers, wisdom, lunar mysteries, initiations.