Disclaimer: All previous disclaimers apply.
Chapter 4
Two weeks into November the first blizzard hit. Hagrid was the only one able to move to and from the castle. All the students were warned not to go outside because visibility wasn't any more than five feet and they could quickly lose their way.
The Yule Ball was scheduled for December 18th so they had a month to get ready for it. Dumbledore had already issued orders that all the professors were required to attend and help chaperone it.
"Hey, Lils," James yelled down the table at Lily who was sitting next to Minerva. "You're going to go with me to the Yule Ball, of course. We'll chaperone it together and have a great time!"
"I'm going by myself, Professor, but thank you for asking," Lily replied politely declining.
At the Slytherin table, Severus started snickering much to Luc and Cissa's confusion. "Sorry," Severus apologized with a grin. "I was just wondering if Potter's going to be wearing that same hideous dress robe he wore our last year. You should have seen it! It was this red velvet monstrosity with gold braid on the collar, cuffs and hem. He looked like some sort of demented admiral."
"I'm assuming he thought he was going to be Head Boy and had it made up for that," Narcissa said.
"He obviously does not know the proper way to invite a woman to a formal ball," Luc said with a shake of his head. "You certainly do not scream the invitation down a table."
Lily wasn't unaware of the fact that Dumbledore was attempting to push her and Potter together as much as possible, but for what reason she didn't know. She only knew it wasn't going to happen while she had breath in her body. If Dumbledore thought for one minute that she would be content to spend her life with an arrogant, spoiled, vain, peacock like Potter, he definitely had another thing coming. He was even worse than Gilderoy Lockhart!
Dumbledore shook his head regarding Lily's refusal to accompany James on their chaperoning duties at the Yule Ball. He may have to have a talk with them both about the prophecy. Surely Lily would fall into line when she heard about all the people who would die if the prophecy didn't come true?
Minerva noticed Albus' expression. He was apparently still obsessed with that stupid prophecy Sybill had 'foretold'. She bent her head slightly and asked quietly, "Lily, can you come to my quarters after dinner? Don't say anything, just nod."
Lily nodded. Minerva was acting strangely and she wondered what it was all about, but she guessed she'd just have to wait until after dinner to find out. She knew Severus had office hours until nine, but fortunately they didn't have to patrol tonight. The castle always got very cold when it was snowing hard.
Dinner ended and Dumbledore dismissed the students. Minerva left first and after a few minutes, Lily left too. She made sure neither Potter nor Black was following her and made her way to Minerva's quarters. She knocked on the door and Minerva quickly opened it and pulled her inside.
"Minerva, what's this about?" Lily asked as she sat down and Minerva poured tea for them and then sat down opposite Lily.
"I know you're aware of Albus attempting to push you and Professor Potter together whenever possible," Minerva began.
"It would be hard not to notice," Lily responded. "I don't know why though. He surely knows I can't stand the idiot and never will."
"Unfortunately, the headmaster's become obsessed with a prediction made by Sybill Trelawney that says a boy born of two brave lions will be the one to defeat You-Know-Who."
"And he thinks Potter and I are the 'two brave lions'?" Lily asked with a horrified expression.
"Yes. I tried to point out that if by some chance Sybill actually made an authentic prediction, Frank and Alice Longbottom had Neville so the prophecy had already been fulfilled, but Albus is having none of it. I don't know why he's fixated on you and Potter."
"He's always favored Potter and treated him like his own son because Potter Sr. is his Godson, but you already know that. Sev said there were about ten Slytherins in his year who were actually sitting on the fence and hadn't decided to join You-Know-Who, but Dumbledore's favoritism of Gryffindor and the Marauders especially, pushed at least half of them into You-Know-Who's camp. That's why he's so ardent in protecting his snakes; he says he won't allow the headmaster to push anymore Slytherins into You-Know-Who's arms with his favoritism and his prejudice."
"I'm glad Severus is so staunch in his defense of his house; that's what Slytherin House has needed for a long time. While I was very fond of Horace, his favoritism of those who could gain him something and his friendship with Albus came first to the detriment of his house."
"Even if I were insane enough to be involved with Potter that way and got pregnant; what makes him think I'd just turn over my son to him to be a sacrificial goat? What kind of mother does he think I would be?"
"Obviously, Albus has no conception of what being a mother even involves," Minerva answered. "But I will warn you. Do not allow yourself to be caught alone with Albus or Potter and definitely not Albus and Potter together."
"Do you really think they would try and force me?" Lily asked in shock.
"I would hope not, but as my father used to say, it's better to be safe than sorry the next morning."
When she left Minerva's quarters, Lily cautiously made her way back to her own quarters on the fourth floor. She sat down to think about what Minerva had told her. It was a preposterous idea – her as the mother of the savior of the wizarding world! But if Albus was as obsessed with this prophecy as Minerva said then he and Potter could very well be cooking up something. She looked at the clock and saw it was almost eight o'clock. Sev would still be in his office, but he had keyed her into his quarters so she could wait for him there. There were still many older students in the hallways as they had a later curfew than the younger students and she felt perfectly safe as she made her way to the dungeon. When she came to the portrait on his quarters, she put her hand on the portrait as he had showed her; there was a click and the portrait swung open. She walked in and sat down on the couch. There was a fire burning in the grate and the room felt warm and homey. There was a sudden pop and Tita appeared. "Professor Evan, how can Tita be of service to you?"
"A pot of tea would be good, Tita. Thank you."
"Tita will be right back." She was back in a few moments with not only a pot of tea, but also a plate of freshly baked cherry scones.
"Thank you very much, Tita. These scones smell scrumptious!"
She curled up on the couch sipping her tea and munching on one of the scones that proved to be as delicious as it smelled. There was a brand new potion book sitting on the coffee table and Lily picked it up and began reading. A sudden opening and shutting of a door startled her, but she smiled as she saw Severus walk into the room.
He had come in through the private entrance in his office. He smiled as he saw Lily. "Hi, Lily; what brings you down here?"
"I just came from seeing Minerva and I'm a bit upset about what she told me."
'What did she say?" Severus asked settling himself on the couch beside Lily. He poured himself a cup of tea and took a scone. He wasn't all that fond of sweets, but knew Tita would be hurt if he didn't eat any.
Lily explained about the prophecy Sybill Trelawney had made and how Dumbledore viewed it
"Let me get this straight …in a nutshell Dumbledore believes you and Potter will be the parents of the savior that will defeat You-Know-Who?"
Lily nodded. "Minerva said that he's become obsessed with this prophecy and seeing that it's fulfilled."
"I recall Minerva saying on more than one occasion the divination is a very imprecise magic because it's filled with symbols that can easily be misinterpreted because they have more than one meaning."
"Yes, I do remember her saying that when we were students."
"And that was the time fifth year when Potter claimed his tea leaves had predicted you and he were destined to be together."
Lily giggled. "I remember her saying, 'Oh Mr. Potter, do be quiet' and then saying divination was an imprecise magic and she had little patience with it."
"The bad thing is that Dumbledore believes it and he may have told Potter who would swallow it hook, line, and sinker as my father always says."
"Minerva told me never to be alone with either Dumbledore or Potter and definitely not if they're together."
"That's sound advice, I'd say. Dumbledore cares only for the 'greater good'," Severus sneered. "And Potter's too stupid to question anything he says especially when it will be to his advantage."
"It makes me furious to think he views this child, whether it's Neville or someone else's child, as nothing more than a weapon against You-Know-Who," Lily said. "What kind of a life would he have with that hanging over his head?"
"Not a very good one that's for sure," Severus answered.
Lily looked at the clock on the mantle and sighed. It was almost ten o'clock. "I suppose I'd better floo back to my quarters."
"We could walk back to your quarters," Severus suggested.
"I'd enjoy that," Lily replied nodding.
Severus and Lily walked from the dungeon to the fourth floor under the watchful eyes of Minerva and Filius who were about to start their patrolling. "I say, Minerva, they do make a nice looking couple, don't they?" Filius remarked.
"Indeed they do, Filius," Minerva agreed.
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The next day was Saturday and James was woken early by an owl pecking on his window. He yawned widely and was tempted to ignore it, but he threw back the covers and hurried across his cold bedroom to the window and threw it open. The owl hopped in, dropped the note at James' feet and then flew back out the window. James quickly shut the window and bent to pick up the message. He recognized the writing on the envelope immediately as Albus' and tore it open. It was a note inviting him to breakfast in his office at nine o'clock. James sighed. It was Saturday and he really wanted to sleep late and he had half a mind to fire-call call Albus and turn down his invitation. He cast a Tempus and saw it was barely six o'clock, groaned, and crawled back in bed. Just because Albus got up at the crack of dawn, did it mean everybody else had to get up too? "Dazzy!" He yelled, summoning the elf his parents had given him when he'd accepted the teaching position at Hogwarts.
A tiny female elf appeared in his room with a pop. "Yes, Master Potter?"
"Make sure I'm awake by 8:30. I've got an important breakfast meeting with the headmaster."
"Dazzy will do as Master Potter requests." She popped back out again and James pulled the covers over his head and went back to sleep. At 8:30 Dazzy popped back in to wake him and James hurriedly took a shower, dried himself and his hair and got dressed. He stopped in front of the mirror to check his appearance and then ran a hand through his hair, messing it up a bit. He smiled at his reflection. If he ran into Lily, she'd think he'd been out for an early morning broom ride. He gave the Gargoyle the password, 'Chocolate Cockroach Clusters' and rode up the stairs to Albus' office.
Albus had just finished laying out the breakfast of Irish oatmeal, eggs, bacon, sausages, and toast and a pot of hot tea when he heard a knock on his door. He looked up and saw James Potter over the door. "Come in, James," he called.
James came in and his stomach immediately started growling at the delicious smells emanating from a table to the side of Albus' desk. Albus smiled at him. "Please help yourself, James."
"How come you didn't ask Siri here too?" James asked as he was filling his plate.
"Because I have something to tell you that is for your ears only. You cannot tell Sirius or anyone else what I'm going to reveal to you. I must have your oath on that."
"Okay …it must be pretty serious stuff, huh?"
"Yes, it is," Albus agreed. "It means the freedom of the Wizarding World from the scourge of Voldemort."
James winced at the mention of name, but asked, "How so?"
"A prophecy was made in my presence by Sybill Trelawney who is the granddaughter of Cassandra Trelawney and she predicted that two brave lions would have a son that would be the downfall of Voldemort. I believe that you and Lily are the two brave lions Sybill spoke of."
James' face lit up. "I agree, Albus. Lily's always been brave right from the first day at Hogwarts when she faced down Adam Avery after he called her a Mudblood and of course You-Know-Who doesn't scare me. I'm ready to fight him any way and anywhere!"
"Now I must have your oath on this," Albus insisted.
James didn't see why he couldn't tell Siri and gave his oath somewhat reluctantly.
"James, if you and Lily are to be together; you must treat her like a lady and not like one of your Quidditch buddies. You must court her," Albus explained.
"Court her?" James asked scratching his head in confusion.
"Yes, pay her compliments; give her flowers or candy unexpectedly and not just on special occasions like her birthday or a holiday. Invite her out and not by yelling the invitation down the table either. Be a complete gentleman with her."
"I have to do all that?"
"If you wish to win Lily's heart, yes."
"My tea leaves in Divination my fifth year predicted Lily and I would be together, but Minerva scoffed at it."
"Well, sometimes Professor McGonagall's logical mind doesn't leave room for consideration of those things that don't fit into logic easily."
James continued to eat his breakfast, his mind ablaze with different ideas of how he could impress Lily.
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At the monthly staff meeting in November, Albus handed out the Christmas schedules. Severus and Lucius both had to stay while Potter, Black, and Lily got to go home. Remus volunteered to stay so Minerva could visit her grandchildren. Severus wasn't surprised, but he would need to inform his parents and grandparents that they would be coming to Hogwarts for Christmas rather than celebrating it at Witches Moon as they usually did. He would need to floo to Diagon Alley to do his Christmas shopping. Maybe, he would ask Lily if she'd like to come with him. He was headed back to his quarters to fire-call his parents when he heard Lily call his name. He stopped and waited for her to catch up.
"I'm sorry you have to stay here for Christmas, Sev. I volunteered to stay, but Dumbledore wouldn't accept it. I even explained that I have nowhere to go since my parents are dead and Petunia and Vernon hate me. He gave me some garbage about the Potters inviting me over for Christmas as if I'd want to spend Christmas with Potter and Black."
Severus put his hand on the portrait in front of his quarters and it swung open. He and Lily went inside and sat down.
"You're welcome to come here for Christmas. It might be a bit crowded with my parents and grandparents, and Cissa and Luc, but fortunately Slughorn did spell the kitchen to enlarge so we won't have to worry about jabbing each other in the face with our elbows while we're eating. I'm going to invite Remus too."
She frowned suddenly. "Speaking of Potter; he's been acting really strange lately."
"How so?"
"He paid me a compliment the other morning for no reason; he said I looked like a beautiful spring morning in the middle of winter."
Severus almost started laughing, but managed to muffle it. "He actually said that?" He wondered who was writing Potter's clichéd compliments for him. Probably Black.
"Yes, and then this morning he presented me with a bouquet of roses because he said just looking at me made him feel better." She shook her head. "I gave them to Poppy for the hospital."
"Sounds as if he's trying to court you," Severus said.
"He's wasting his time. I have absolutely no interest in him. And who'd want to marry Potter anyway with Black coming along as part of the package?"
"True. He's never been able to survive five minutes without Black. I was thinking I would to go to Diagon Alley this weekend and do some Christmas shopping. Would you like to come along?"
Lily smiled. "That would be wonderful, Sev. I'll need to go into Muggle London to buy my nephew, Dudley a Christmas gift. He's two, but I've never even seen him."
I know Petunia's always been jealous of you because she wasn't magical too, but I'd think she would have been able to put it aside by now."
"No, it's only gotten worse since mum and dad died. Petunia blames me and thinks because I'm magical I could have done something to prevent it."
Severus shook his head. "That's ridiculous! Magic is not automatically able to detect carbon monoxide or a faulty furnace."
"I wish I could find a way to make her feel better about my magic," Lily said with a sigh. "She's my only sister and now my only family."
"There may come a time when she needs your help," Severus replied. "There's a possibility that your nephew could be magical. It skipped Petunia, but it may not have him. If he does turn out to be magical, she's going to need help and who else can she turn to except you."
"I hadn't even thought that Dudley could be magical," Lily admitted. "What time do you want to leave tomorrow?"
"I thought about ten o'clock. That will give us plenty of time to look around. I haven't the slightest idea what to get my grandfather."
"Well, I'm sure we'll find something for him. We can look in both Diagon Alley and in Muggle London."
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Lily was going back to her quarters when she was stopped by Albus. Remembering Minerva's warning she kept her eye on his wand hand and positioned her wand so she could pull it out quickly if he tried anything.
"Lily, have you decided to spend Christmas with James and his family?"
"No, I don't even know the Potters. Professor Snape invited me to spend Christmas with his family and the Malfoy's. I accepted since I know his mum and dad as we grew up two blocks away and I've met his grandparents also."
"I believe James was counting on you accepting his invitation and he's going to very disappointed that you're spending the holidays elsewhere."
"The fact is, Headmaster I cannot stand Professor Potter or his sidekick, Professor Black. They're idiots and the worst professors I've ever seen at this school."
"Perhaps we can go to my office and discuss it," Albus suggested.
"We can discuss it right here or not at all," Lily replied.
"Well, I don't want to take the chance of a Slytherin student overhearing, reporting to their parents and having them reporting it to Voldemort."
"I'll come to your office …" Albus smiled at that, but it soon faded as Lily continued, "But I'm sending my Patronus to Minerva so she can come with me." Keeping her eye on Albus, she took out her wand and said, "Expecto Patronum." When her doe Patronus appeared, she gave it a message to take to Minerva.
Within a few minutes, footsteps were heard coming down the stairs and Minerva appeared. Lily turned back to Albus. "Whatever you have to say to me can be said in front of Minerva."
They followed Albus up to his office and went inside. Minerva stood beside Lily while Albus seated himself behind his desk. "Lily, a prophecy was made by a well-known seer …"
Beside Lily, Minerva snorted loudly. Albus frowned at her, but continued in the same calm tone, "It was predicted that a boy born of two brave lions would defeat Voldemort."
"And as I've pointed out to you before. Neville Longbottom has already fulfilled it if you want to believe that silly prediction is even true," Minerva replied scornfully.
Lily's eyes widened when she realized what he was saying. "And you actually believe Potter and I are the two brave lions? If it wasn't so pathetic, I'd laugh!"
"I told him it was ridiculous. Sybill couldn't predict her way out of a paper bag!" Minerva exclaimed.
"You expect me to marry Potter and have a child by him and then just blithely hand that child over to you so you can offer him up as a sacrificial goat to You-Know-Who?" Lily snapped. "In the first place I wouldn't allow Potter to touch me with a ten-foot pole and in the second place if I did have a child I wouldn't let you anywhere near it!"
"I believe you've received the answer to your query, Albus and the answer is no!" Minerva said and held out her arm. "Come, Lily. I'm sure you have papers to grade and lessons to plan."
As they were going out the door, Lily stopped and turned around, "And you can tell Potter to stop with the phony compliments, flowers, and candy unless you want to see me sick up all over staff table some morning."
As they walked downstairs, Lily was still spluttering. "The nerve of those two treating me as if I'm just some handy carrier for the supposed defeater of You-Know-Who!"
"I hope Albus will drop the whole idea and focus on something else, but I doubt it," Minerva said. "So you best not let your guard down just yet."
"I won't and when I see Potter; he's going to be lucky if I don't transfigure him into a cockroach!"
"I suggest a snake," Minerva said. "That will get a better reaction."
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"Lily just wouldn't accept that the prophecy was real," Albus said. "And Minerva certainly didn't help with all her scoffing!"
"If we could get her away from Snivellus; maybe we could give her Amortentia or something," James suggested. "Just enough to get us married and …err …get the wedding consummated."
"James, you have no way of knowing if Lily would conceive on the first attempt. You may recall my telling you that your parents had just about given up when your mother conceived you. The Potter line has never been known for its fertility."
"So I'll just use the Amortentia until she does get pregnant," James replied with a shrug.
Dumbledore shook his head. "No. There's too much chance of Snape, Minerva, or Filius noticing it and raising a fuss about it."
"Well, what are we going to do then?" James asked.
"I could cast a compulsion spell," Albus speculated. He sighed and shook his head. "But it's illegal and again Minerva, Filius or Snape might notice and become suspicious if her behavior towards you suddenly changed."
"Well, Lily must be under some kind of dark spell," James concluded. "She's been spending too much time with Snivellus and his sidekick Malfoy. One of them could easily have cast a spell on her without her even noticing."
"I know, James, I know," Albus replied with a sigh.
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Severus accompanied by Lily, Luc, and Cissa all went together to Diagon Alley Saturday morning to Christmas shop. Severus got his mother an expensive leather journal to record her potion experiments in. It had silver edges and was spelled to never run out of pages. He had her initials E.P. S. put on in silver in the lower left corner of the front cover. For his dad, he bought a complete set of hand tools that were spelled to remain sharp and never wear out. He bought a complete set of oil paints, a palette, and canvases for his grandmother who enjoyed painting and was quite a good artist. Severus was at his wit's end for a gift for his grandfather. What do you buy the man who already has everything? He found his answer in a Muggle antiques store in London that Luc had insisted visiting. The shop had a rare scroll; a treatise by written by Dante Alighieri who in addition to being a writer was an apothecary. Severus knew his grandfather would be thrilled with it. Lily found her nephew a fire-engine, a hook and ladder truck that he could ride. The lights would flash and a siren would sound as he peddled it. There was also a fireman's hat to wear that came with it. Even though she suspected Petunia would probably throw her gifts in the dustbin; she bought her sister a new set of baking pans and Vernon a basket containing, meats, wines, cheeses, and all sorts of crackers. She arranged for the store to deliver her gifts to Little Whinging.
The night of the Yule Ball was one of intense excitement. End of term exams were through and the students would be heading home on the Hogwarts Express the next morning so tonight was strictly for fun and enjoyment.
Cissa had volunteered to help the Slytherin girls get ready for the Ball. Severus was thankful for her offer as he knew nothing about hair and make-up except that the final product was always worth waiting for. He and Luc helped the boys wherever they could and Severus found himself administering more than one calming draft to settle nerves.
Remus had asked Lily to help the Gryffindor girls with their hair and make-up so he wouldn't see her until the actual ball.
When the students had left to meet their dates and go to the Great Hall, Severus straightened his forest green dress robe and followed Luc and Cissa upstairs. He had given his snakes strict instructions about behaving properly and avoiding the punch since the Gryffindors had a tendency to sneak a bottle of Old Ogden's Finest into it.
The hall was beautifully decorated with not only the usual twelve Christmas trees, but different colored stars that hung suspended from the ceiling, sparking brightly and fake snow lightly fell from above. The house tables had been banished and in their place were round tables seating an average of ten people. Severus, Luc, and Cissa made their way over to a table where Minerva, Pomona, Filius, Remus, and Lily were already seated. Professor Fleinhardt joined them a few seconds later. Severus looked around the room, but saw neither Potter nor Black although he heard them when they came swaggering in a few minutes later. They'd obviously had a few shots of something stronger than pumpkin juice before they came down.
James wore his hideous red velvet robe with the gold braid while Sirius was dressed more conservatively in expensive black robes made of fine linen.
Severus nudged Luc and nodded towards Potter. "He still looks like some sort of demented admiral."
"They're apparently intoxicated as well," Cissa said, wrinkling her nose. "Not exactly a good example for the students."
Dinner was served by the elves and it was a traditional Christmas feast of roasted turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, pigs in blanket, gravy, Brussels sprouts, carrots, and parsnips. Dessert consisted of Christmas pudding, mince pies or trifle.
When dinner finished, Filius got up from the table and went over to get the orchestra warmed up for the first song of the evening. Professor Fleinhardt got up too and offered his hand to Minerva, "Professor, may I have the pleasure of your company for the first dance?"
"You may, Lawrence," she replied taking his hand.
Remus asked Pomona and Severus asked Lily. As they moved out onto the dance floor, Severus pointed up at the ceiling, "Those stars really make this ball come alive."
"Thanks, Sev. Pomona and I worked hard on decorating the hall so I'm happy to hear you think it looks nice."
"The hall's not the only thing that looks nice tonight," Severus added. "You're looking beautiful also, Lily."
Lily blushed. She wore a gown of pale blue with thin straps and a modestly flared skirt and matching strapped heels. She wore her hair up in curls on top of her head and wore sapphire stud earrings that her parents had given her upon her graduation from Hogwarts. "Thanks, Sev and I must say you look quite handsome. I've seen a lot of your sixth and seventh year girls shooting you admiring glances," she teased him.
Severus flushed. "I think they just admire the fact that I'm wearing so many different hats – Head of House, Potion Master, Wardsmith, and Medi-Wizard."
"Maybe so, but maybe not," Lily said as they whirled around the dance floor.
James came over and tried to cut in. "Get out of the way, Snivellus. I want to dance with Lily," He attempted to shove Severus aside, but staggered and almost fell instead. If his breath was any indication, Potter was pretty drunk.
Minerva stopped dancing with Professor Fleinhardt and came over. "Professor Potter," she said in an outraged tone. "You are intoxicated and you know the rules regarding alcoholic beverages. Leave right now and return to your quarters and take Professor Black with you. I can see he's flirting with a seventh year. You both will see me in my office in the morning before you leave."
James looked angry and opened his mouth to argue, but seeing the look on Minerva's face, he thought better of it, squared his shoulders as much as he was able to, and walked off.
They watched as he stopped by Sirius, said something to him and they both left the Great Hall. Sirius cast a dirty look back at Severus as he left.
"What jerks!" Lily exclaimed.
Severus closed his eyes and placed his thumb and index fingers on his forehead and said, "I foresee another three-day suspension for Professor Potter and one for Professor Black."
"I hope so!" Lily snapped. "That's three days more after they return that we don't have to see the two idiots."
The dance ended at midnight and Severus escorted Lily to her quarters. "I had a lovely time, Sev," she said as she magically unlocked her door. It would only respond to her magical signature so nobody else could come in without her say so.
"At least we didn't have to break up any snogging couples. Luc always dreads that," Severus snickered. He'd told Lily the story about Luc and Cissa stumbling across the head boy and girl snogging after hours when they were seventh year prefects.
"I can imagine," Lily said turning to go into her quarters, but she suddenly turned around again, threw her arms around Severus neck and kissed him. His arms wrapped around her and he returned her kiss.
"I'll see you tomorrow at the train station," she said.
"Okay," he replied. Severus bemusedly made his way back to Slytherin House. He wanted to check with the Prefects to make sure everyone who was supposed to be in bed, was and everyone had returned from the dance.
The Prefects reported everyone was accounted for and he bade them goodnight. He returned to his quarters. He had a yen for a glass of tomato juice and got the pitcher out of the refrigerator. He poured himself a glass, added hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice and garlic salt to it, stirred it and took it into the living room. He sat down in his recliner, sipping his drink and thinking about Lily's kiss and his response to it. He knew he'd been in love with her since their fourth year, but had not let her know for fear of it wrecking their friendship. Maybe, it was time to let her know.
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"I have never in my entire time at Hogwarts seen such a disgusting display as I did last night!" Minerva said loudly. "Coming intoxicated to a school function and trying to attack another professor, Professor Potter! And you, Professor Black, flirting with a seventeen year-old student!"
"You don't have to yell, Minerva, we're not in Hogsmeade," James groaned as his head pounded. It felt as if it was about to fall off and roll away.
"Yeah," Sirius agreed, rubbing his forehead. "We just had a couple of drinks before we came to the dance. We couldn't stand to look at Snivellus' ugly face without it."
"If the odor was any indication; I'd say it was more like a couple of bottles," Minerva snapped. "It a violation of the Hogwarts Code of Conduct to come inebriated to any school function. Therefore starting when you return on January 2nd, you will be suspended without pay for three days."
"What!" James yelled.
"Take it easy, Prongs," Sirius advised. "We can appeal it," He nodded at James.
James stared at him for a few seconds and then remembered what he was referring to. Albus would be a guest at Potter Manor for Christmas. He nodded. "You're right, Padfoot."
"May we go now?" Sirius inquired being sarcastically polite.
"Please do," Minerva said. They left, letting the door to her office slam loudly behind them. She sighed loudly and searched through her drawer for the headache potion she always kept there.
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After she had returned from seeing the students off on the Hogwarts Express, Lily decided to go to Hogsmeade. She had found a picture in the albums she had taken from the house when she and Petunia had cleaned it out before putting it up for sale. It was taken after hers and Sev's first year at Hogwarts. Her family and his had vacationed together at Kemp Town Beach in Brighton. The picture had been taken by somebody else and showed them all sitting on the beach with the sun setting in the background. She made a copy of it and wanted to find a nice frame for it. She planned to give it to Eileen and Toby for Christmas. She had purchased a meat, cheese, crackers, chocolate, and tea basket for Sev's grandfather. She knew Tiberius owned part of a vineyard and winery in Italy and the Prince-DeLuca Winery was one of the most successful wines and had won many awards so that's why she hadn't purchased the exact same basket as she had for Vernon. For Audra who she knew loved to crochet; she had purchased several different balls of magical crochet thread in Diagon Alley.
During the week leading up to Christmas Tita and Blinky went on a cleaning spree in Severus' quarters. He could barely move without one of them popping in with a cleaning rag. He planned the Christmas meal with Tita. They were having a ham and goose, mashed and roasted potatoes, broccoli, carrots and corn, plus stuffing, gravy and a Christmas pudding with brandy sauce for dessert. On Christmas Eve, Severus made the Christmas Wassail and invited Lily, Remus, Luc and Narcissa to his quarters. Tita had made all sorts of Christmas cookies to go with it.
"I don't know why you had to stay, Severus," Remus remarked. "None of the kids staying are Slytherins."
"Dumbledore was just being nasty, that's why," Lily spoke up.
Luc chuckled. "Potter and Black got suspended by Minerva for three days for turning up drunk at the Yule Ball. Narcissa is going to be teaching Potter's classes again."
"Yes, and I'll be teaching Sirius'," Remus added.
"They both should have been fired. You certainly would at any other school," Cissa stated.
"Muggle schools too," Severus pointed out. "And if it had been Luc or I, we would have been out the front entrance on our bums."
The clock struck midnight and everyone wished each other a 'Happy Christmas' and returned to their quarters.
Severus rose early the next morning. His parents and grandparents were due to come at nine o'clock. He went to the Great Hall for breakfast, checked to make sure there were no problems with the remaining students, and then returned to his quarters shortly before nine. Since Professor Sinistra and Professor Fleinhardt were going to be present for lunch and dinner, he didn't need to be there for either of those.
Eileen, Toby and his grandparents, Tiberius and Audra Prince came through the floo promptly at nine o'clock. "Happy Christmas, Sev," Eileen said giving him a hug. His dad gave him a hug and said, "Happy Christmas, son."
Severus gave his grandparents a hug and said, "Happy Christmas, Grandpa and Grandma."
"Happy Christmas, Severus," they replied. Tiberius looked around his quarters approvingly. "It looks very comfortable here."
Severus slapped his forehead with the flat of his hand. "Where are my manners? Please sit down and I'll get the Wassail and snacks Tita prepared."
Severus brought in the Wassail and snacks and everyone enjoyed them before they opened presents. Severus had given Tita and Blinky their presents earlier that morning; he knew a lot of the wizarding world didn't give their elves presents, but his grandparents always did their elves and he wanted to follow their example. He had put up a tree in his quarters and his gifts sat under it. They exchanged gifts. Tiberius was thrilled with the scroll Severus had given him and Audra thanked him for her art supplies. Eileen was thrilled with her new potion journal and Toby couldn't wait to try out his new tools. One of the gifts Severus got from his grandmother was a knitted jumper with the Slytherin House crest on it. At eleven o'clock there was a knock on his portrait door and the names Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy were spelled out above the door. Severus opened the door and invited them in. Eileen and Toby already knew the Malfoy's as Lucius had been a good friend of Severus' all through Hogwarts. Luc knew Tiberius through his business reputation only and was pleased to meet him. Lucius was quite the savvy businessman himself and had tripled the Malfoy fortune in the years following his father's death.
There was another knock on the door and Lily Evans and Remus Lupin were spelled out above the door. Severus led them inside and introduced Remus to everybody. Lily gave her gifts to Severus' parents and seemed to be really pleased with them and thanked her generously.
"I remember this picture," Severus said looking over his dad's shoulder. "It was taken after our first year here when we went to the beach in Brighton and stayed for a week."
Toby chuckled as he looked at the picture. "I remember your mum could never be out in the sun until later in the day or else she'd end up looking like a lobster. She had the same pale skin and red hair as you." He handed the picture to Eileen for safe keeping. "There's a lot of good memories there."
Lily smiled at Toby's words.
By the time later afternoon arrived, everybody was ready for the Christmas feast. The smells emanating from the kitchen were causing mouths to start watering. Severus with his mum's and dad's help got dinner on the table. After they sat down, Tiberius produced a bottle of wine from his vineyard and poured some into everybody's glass. Everyone stood for the toast.
"To family and friends; there is nothing stronger!" Tiberius proclaimed. Everyone clicked glasses and sat down.
"You're quiet, Lily," Eileen remarked. "I know this is your first Christmas without Alan and Violet, but I know they'd want you to enjoy yourself."
"It's not just that, Mum," Severus said. "Lily's been having some problems with the headmaster and Potter."
Remus put down his fork and knife. "Does this involve that stupid prophecy Minerva was telling me about?"
Lily nodded and then explained to Severus' parents, grandparents, Luc and Cissa what Severus and Remus were referring to.
Toby was cutting his meat. "Well, there's one sure way to put a big spoke in the Dumbledoof's prophecy wheel." He disliked Dumbledore intensely for refusing to see or stop the Marauders from bullying Sev.
"What would that be?" Lily asked.
"You can marry someone else."