Thank you for the reviews! Sorry, there isn't any Lucius or Bellatrix in this chapter, but they will be making an appearance very soon.

Chapter Eight- The Room

1971

Severus missed the days by the river.

He caught glimpses of Lily, laughing with Alice and Marlene, glowering at James Potter, but he had barely spoken to her. He knew Lily wouldn't mind if he approached her. On the contrary, she would welcome it. But he didn't want to talk to her with them there. He wanted only Lily.

In double Potions with the Gryffindors, he resolved to speak to her alone.

It was easier than he expected. Professor Horace Slughorn turned out to have an appetite for prattle that complemented his massive waistline. As he rambled on about his previous students and fondness for crystallized pineapple, Severus raised a cynical eyebrow at Lily.

Lily giggled. "Subtle, isn't he?"

No one else could hear them. His mood already improving, Severus set to work on his boil cure potion. It was a simple task, one that he and Lily had mastered over a year ago with Eileen's crumbling book of potions.

"Do you want to explore the castle after Potions?" Severus asked, peering over at his bubbling cauldron. With a satisfied nod, he added the porcupine quills before stealing a glimpse at Lily. He was almost dreading her answer, expecting her to want to bring a Gryffindor or two along.

To his relief, she didn't. "Let's look around for the secret passages," Lily brightened. "I want to find them all before them," She tilted her head at Potter and Black, who were whispering suspiciously.

Severus snickered. "I doubt they have the brains."

Suddenly, Lily seemed upset. "I don't know, Sev. Potter is really good at Transfiguration. I think I actually saw McGonagall smile. For a second anyway."

"She smiled?" Severus echoed in disbelief. He couldn't imagine the stern witch giving James Potter an approving nod, let alone smile.

"He already turned his matchstick into a needle," Lily said sadly. "No one else could."

Severus hadn't been able to either, not that he was about to admit that now. "It's probably just a fluke. You can't tell from the first lesson."

"I suppose," Lily consented, but her jaw was set determinedly. Severus knew that expression well and restrained a grin. He knew Lily would find a way to master that Transfiguration lesson within a day.

Before Severus could pry further, Professor Slughorn sailed by, his velvet robes swishing against the icy dungeon floors. He had been stroking his monstrous handlebar mustache disappointedly, but when his pale eyes latched onto Severus and Lily's potions, his hands fell to his chest in an enthusiastic clap. "Well done, Mr. Snape and…who might you be?"

"Lily Evans," Lily smiled, reminding Severus of their sun-drenched days by the river. He could feel his own lips turning up. Her smile was contagious.

"Evans. I don't believe I ever had an Evans," Professor Slughorn mused reflectively. "I think I would've remembered an Evans."

"My parents are Muggles," Lily explained easily.

Severus silently groaned. He had been hoping that he could keep that detail quiet for now. Across the dungeon, he could see Wilkes and Rosier perking up. They were watching him.

Professor Slughorn may have been Head of Slytherin, but Lily's lack of blood purity didn't diminish his beam. "I don't doubt you'll be the beginning of a great wizarding line." He squinted his small, prominent eyes for a closer inspection. Her potion frothed merrily, already deepening to a clear scarlet. "I couldn't have done better myself. Ten points to Gryffindor, and ten for Slytherin. Can't forget Mr. Snape here." He clapped his hand against Severus's back and Severus flinched.

Professor Slughorn went on to examine the next potion, but his praise for Severus and Lily continued throughout the lesson. Severus wished he would stop. Wilkes, Rosier, Mulciber, and Avery were all ogling him, conspicuously wavering between horror and glee, while Potter pretended to vomit into his cauldron.

Once the lesson had ended, Severus immediately leapt to his feet. He saw the four Slytherins leaving, but he wasn't fooled. He would have to face them before they confronted him later in front of Lily. "I have to put away my books. I'll meet you outside the Great Hall."

If Lily thought it was a strange request, she didn't question it. She simply smiled her cheery smile and left. Severus didn't dare breathe a sigh of relief until he saw that she had headed for the opposite direction.

The Slytherin common room wasn't too far. A few stairs and a minute or two later, Severus had approached the familiar wall. As soon as he muttered, "Parseltongue," he was granted access to the shadowed realm of Slytherin.

The four were waiting for him, just as he knew they would be. With the green lamps casting an eerie gloom over their pale faces, they appeared oddly solemn. Behind them, the rest of the dim room seemed to fade into darkness. Between their imposing figures and the low ceilings, Severus felt trapped.

"A Mudblood, Snape?"

"Don't call her that," Severus countered, irritable that his prediction had been accurate. He may not have had much experience with other wizards, but he had spent nearly a lifetime silently observing from the outside. He could handle them.

Mulciber crossed his bulky arms and leered at Snape. The other three sniggered. "I'm beginning to think Potter might be right about the grease. Mudbloods are filth."

At that, Severus instinctively withdrew his wand, his temper rising. Mulciber did the same, although his reflexes weren't nearly as sharp.

"We're friends. That's all. She's the only one," Severus said quietly, his wand steady. All he had to do was convince them that he was one of them. That was all they cared about. "It's not as if I'm about to join a Mudblood fan club."

At his use of the offensive term, the others laughed. Severus did not. The word itself felt like a betrayal to Lily. Her face floated in his mind, and Severus's grip on his wand tightened.

"Leave it be, or I'll hex you until you can't see straight," Severus warned, more resentful of himself than anyone. The bitterness was seeping into his tone, threatening to pour out onto them.

After a pregnant pause, Mulciber lowered his wand. "I knew I liked you."

Severus said nothing, but allowed his arm to drop. Even so, his hand remained ready, just in case Mulciber changed his mind. He would have to keep a watchful eye on them.

He had a feeling he would always have to.

1971

While she waited for Severus outside the great oak doors of the Great Hall, Lily's eyes wandered over the thousands of paintings that slathered the walls of Hogwarts. There was everything from lazy summer days at the country to dignified portraits of pivotal witches and wizards to still lifes that did anything but remain still.

A shriveled witch concealed beneath a heavy black cloak faced Lily. She bore a shiny red apple, most tantalizing against the shadowy background of greens and blacks. Lily suspected it was poisoned. "Lost, dearie?"

"No," Lily said quickly. Feeling rude, she hastily added, "But thank you."

Before the witch in the forest painting could reply, Severus's voice greeted Lily's ears. Lily was more than grateful.

"Sorry I took so long," Ebony strands had fallen into his eyes, and Severus absentmindedly pushed them away, his dark gaze never wavering. "I was sidetracked."

"You're here now," Lily wasn't bothered, considering it was her that was usually late and she had plenty to keep her distracted. "Where to first?"

"The first floor. We'll work our way up," Severus paused. "I want to find a room."

Lily was more than accustomed to Severus's hazy words. He had used them in his stories of Hogwarts. It contributed to the mystery and suspense. A small smile crossed her lips. "What does this room have?'

"Anything and everything you want."

"Is that all?" Lily teased as they began walking. The marble steps of the main staircase beckoned them, and as they made their way up, Lily felt a twinge of familiar delight. She may have dreamed about Hogwarts for a while, but even though, she could hardly believe that she lived in a castle now, a castle of magic. It was a concept that was difficult getting used to.

Despite her light manner, Severus seemed to seriously consider her question. The faintest of reds tinged his pale cheeks. "Maybe not everything. But close to it."

Lily didn't have time to ponder his words. The step she stood on had suddenly vanished, causing her foot to fall through. Just as she shrieked out in terror, Severus calmly caught her by the arm and helped her up.

"Thanks," Lily was embarrassed, feeling remarkably Petunia-like by her reaction. "I know you warned me about disappearing steps, but I didn't think it would actually disappear."

Severus's lips twitched and Lily felt that a hasty subject change was in order before her face became any redder. "Can you give me another hint of about this room?"

"It's there only when you need it."

Lily gaped at him in disbelief. "I can't believe you managed to sound even more vague."

"I do my best," Severus said with a touch of smugness as they reached the first floor.

Lily studied the corridor around her. It was similar to the other floors, and she wasn't sure what she was supposed to be looking for. "So how do we find it?"

"Think about what you require."

"All right. I'm thinking," Lily frowned in concentration. She didn't even know what she required, let alone wanted. Several things crossed her mind. A happier Severus, a nicer Petunia, her hair not to be so red… "Sev, do you know what you want?"

Severus shrugged his thin shoulders, just barely. "Yeah. I think.

Lily didn't press him, but she was curious. Severus could be private, but he almost always told her in the end, when he was ready. It was important not to rush him or he would instantly clam up. But to her surprise, Severus elaborated only seconds later.

"I want to be someone," Severus said finally. The lightness had drained from his voice and was replaced by solemnity. "Someone that people see."

Lily tore away from a rather sumptuous tapestry that had caught her eye. "Sev," Lily said quietly, stepping toward him, wishing that he and everyone else could see that was so obvious to her. "You already are someone."

"Not to people," Severus whispered.

"You are to me," Lily said firmly, intertwining her fingers with his. She felt a sudden stab of resentment toward Potter and Black. Their constant jabs of 'Snivellus!' certainly weren't useful. "You don't need a room to help you."

Severus mustered a sheepish grin, but Lily could see that it had taken him a great deal of effort. "I don't even know how it would work. I just heard some Slytherins talking about it."

"It's only a room," Lily was serious. "You don't need magic to make you someone. You're better than that."

"I suppose you're right."

"I always am," Lily said brightly, hoping that her cheeriness would distract him. His guarded moods had lessened over the two years, and she wanted it to stay that way. She didn't want to see the fathomless ice return to those coal black eyes.

"You wish," Severus teased lightly.

Lily was pleased to see that his grin seemed less forced this time. "Let's do something else instead. Since you're so brilliant, want to help me with my Defense essay?"

"Gladly," Severus hesitated for a moment. "But only if you go over Charms with me."

Lily considered Severus to be an expert at anything magic related. Ever since that first week they had met, he seemed to know everything. He had never asked for her help before. It was a strange feeling, but a welcome one. Lily's cheeks glowed with pleasure as she beamed at him. "Of course! Library?"

Severus nodded. "I think it's on the third floor."

"No vanishing steps?" Lily wanted to know.

This time, there was definite amusement in Severus's eyes. There was not a trace of black ice to be found. "I hope so."

As they departed for the library, there was a new spring in Lily's steps. She had been worried that being Sorted in two different Houses would tear them apart, but evidently, she had been anxious for no reason.

She was too happy with her realization to notice that Severus had glanced over his shoulder, eyeing what could have been the Room with untold longing.