Disclaimer:
I own nothing created and or mentioned, by J.K. Rowling, in the books of Harry Potter. This story is a product intended for enjoyment not financial gain.

Rating: Mature
Language Content; Sexual Content; Dark Themes; Drug Abuse; Child Abuse; Implied Rape; Implied Incest; Underage Drinking; Underage Drug Abuse; Implied Underage Prostitution

Today was the day that Severus was going to attempt Invocatio Elementorum. He stood in a clearing of the forest, nothing but trees and shrubbery to bear witness to his first crack at invoking the spirit. Birds chirped in the background while the sun admirably tried to burn through the clouds in the melancholy sky. The snow of winter was down to its last meager piles, which were more slush than actual ice. Severus furrowed his eyebrows in concentration as his eyes darted across the tiny scroll of the invocation volume. His finger was diligently following his gaze as he devoured the sentences word by word.

"Ave cu-custodes," Severus stumbled, reading the incantation aloud for practice before he made his first attempt. "Sep-ten-trio . . .Sep-ten-trio. . .Septentrio; Mer-id-ies. . .Meridies; Oriens; O-Oci-Occi-dens. . .Occidens et diam. Vo-vocat Poten-Potenti— oh, for fucks sake—Occidens et diam. Vocat Potentias airt, deas, iar, tuath, aethyr. What a bloody mouth full," he lamented before running through the opening lines again and again until it flowed like running water with the entire incantation.

Severus walked towards the satchel he had brought along; filled with the items he would need to complete the spell. This was very old magic and could not be done with a simple wave of his wand. In olden times witches and wizards opted to give sacrifices in order to strengthen their curses and, by extension, themselves. While some spells required a mere pinprick of blood, others required an entire animal as an offering. This spells required neither flesh nor blood alone but nature itself as well. It was the five elements that Severus had to appease with his offering of Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and the Center or Spirit.

For Earth, Severus had a jar of dirt that he had collected from the bank of the Great Lake where the soil was nutrient rich and full of microscopic life. He had mixed the soil with purified salt and onyx stone as the two were supposed to strengthen the magic. For Air, Severus was enticed to utilize a symbol. Trapping the atmosphere into a jar was impossible, even for a wizard. He opted for a bundle of eagle feathers tied with crimson twine that he had anointed with the smoke of burning clove and topaz stones that the invocation book had said embodied the element of Air. For Fire, he had made a small hearth from a circle of rocks found upon the forest floor. With a flick of his wand the sticks he had gathered ignited. Filling the clearing with the crackle and aroma of flame. Water was simple enough. He had taken a bowl from the great hall at last night's supper and since brought it to the clearing to use for his experiment. Severus went into his satchel and pulled out a bottle of water with heavy pearls sunken at the bottom. There was a film on top of the water that was liquid mercury, which Severus had to steal from Slughorn's personal store. Amongst the bottle was yet another item which was the skin of shaven cherries. With gentle hands he knelt before his bowl, pouring a healthy amount of sparkling water and cherry skin in. As for the element of Spirit, which Severus understood to be the most important and powerful, he had but one choice. Next to his satchel sat four or five white doves in a square cage (which Severus had acquired through much effort in the forest over the last week)

"Alright," Severus breathed as he opened the cage to extract one of the little things. With a quick jerk of his wrist the animal's neck was snapped leaving it limp in his hands. Severus took a switchblade from his pocket, flicking it up to life before cutting the bird's head off. He sprinkled the blood that poured from the wound about his altar, 'purifying' it with the blood of the dove, which was the symbol and embodiment of all that was: the spirit of the universe.

Severus then picked up the book from the ground and propped it on a nearby stump. With a quick look at his watch (which told him he had about forty minutes until potions class) he prepared to begin. He slowly took a cleansing breath as he drew his wand, raising his hands above his head as the book had instructed. There was a thick silence in the clearing as he closed his eyes, raising his chin so his nose pointed towards the heavens. There was nothing else to do but speak the Latin incantation.

"Hail to the guardians of the North, South, East, West, and Center," he began slowly and powerfully, his voice echoing all around the clearing. "Cave of darkness, windswept meadow, breath of fire, rushing stream removing strife. I invoke thee!"

A small wind began to pick up, rustling the leaves and trees about the clearing. As Severus' hair twirled mildly in the gust his arms grew relaxed and limp. His hands appeared to be slouching in the air as his wand hung in the balance of his relaxed fingers.

"Woven together! As above, so below, as within, so without. I invoke thee. With clarity and the power to know, I invoke thee!"

The wind began to grow stronger as the water in his bowl began to ripple. The doves in their cages were fluttering their wings and cooing viciously at the rabid wind. The jar of dirt was vibrating softly as the fire was being bullied and beaten by the blowing breeze. Severus' hair was whipping wildly around him as he reiterated the incantation. On the second go-around the gusts picked up even more as sparks began to emit from Severus' wand. He noticed that his feet and face felt extremely hot like they were encased in steam. There was a buzzing noise filling the clearing that Severus hadn't even noticed until it became overwhelming.

"Hail to the guardians—to the guardians—Fuck!" He screamed as his head felt fit to burst from that damn buzzing. His hands leaped to his ears with fiery quickness as he gave an agonizing howl before sinking to his knees. "Fuck!" he screamed again but his voice seemed drained out by the overbearing noise. It felt like his whole brain was pulsating. Just as everything became too devastating to bear and Severus was sure his entire body was going to spontaneously combust there was a loud bang that drove a quiver through the clearing. Severus was pushed off his knees and slammed against a tree, hitting his head against the trunk before falling face first into the loamy forest floor. That's when everything went dark.

The first sense to return to Severus was sound- birds chirping, doves cooing, the rustle of the breeze through the bushes, the exhausting pound of his own pulse parading in his ears. The next sensation was pain- a debilitating ache at the back of his head and a stinging above his right eye. Severus groggily pushed himself up, his hands mixing with rotting leaves and rubbish from the forest floor. A small groan escaped his lips as he placed a hand on the back of his head only to wince in discomfort. There was a small gash above his eye that was manifested by blood on his fingers upon inspection. With much effort, Severus succeeded in pushing himself to his feet. He wavered extravagantly before toppling over, grabbing the very tree that had assaulted his head for support.

"What the fu—," he moaned as he pressed his hand to the side of his face devoid of lacerations.

The cold skin of his hand felt soothing on his pounding head, bringing him moderate relief. He groaned as he pushed himself away from the support of the tree, staggering towards his satchel to retrieve the pain killing solution he foresaw he would need. Severus sloppily dropped to his knees before the backpack, coughing slightly as he did. As fate would have it the bottle containing the potion was hidden somewhere at the bottom forcing Severus to feebly search for it. His fingers didn't appear to be working correctly as he dug through the contents of his bag.

"Ugh, what am I doing?" Severus thought as he looked around for his wand on the forest floor. It was of course lying next to the tree that had knocked him unconscious. With much chagrin he crawled back to the tree to collect his wand before forcing the pain killer into his hands with magic. He uncorked the bottle with urgency before spilling the entire vial down his throat. Relief came quickly after as the ache in his head turned into a dull throb and then, nothing. He sat for a moment, relishing the fact that his head didn't feel like cracking open as he remembered he had class. How long had he even been passed out? With a quick glance at his watch he discovered he was late for potions by twenty minutes.

"Shit!" Severus cursed as he quickly pushed his tired body off the forest floor. He grabbed his satchel, put up the wards to protect his designated altar, and made quickly for the castle.

. . .

Severus bounded down the hall, his footsteps echoing all around him, his bag hitting his side as he charged. He spun around the corner, sliding ungracefully on the slick stone floor before he rushed down a staircase. His breath was beginning to run short as he sprinted through the complex maze that was the dungeons. As the potion's classroom door came into view, Severus gave a final spurt of speed before bursting in the classroom.

"Ah, Severus!" Slughorn boomed as Snape rounded in. "I thought you might be—what happened to your eye my boy?" He asked, his face contorting into concern as he took steps to approach the young man. The whole class was now watching Severus and the professor, which made Snape feel uncomfortable and on display.

"It's nothing, Sir," said Severus as he placed a finger over the wound as if assessing it to prove to Slughorn of it's well-being.

"Have you been to see the nurse, Mr. Snape? It looks like a nasty gash," he said bending to look closer at the scratch, which had already began to scab with dried blood.

"Yes," he lied as he began to walk towards his seat where Lily was watching the scene. Her chin was in her hand and she was seemingly deep in thought.

"And she said everything—looked—alright?" Asked Professor Slughorn, his voice oozing with skepticism. He was very suspicious that some begrudged student might have attacked Severus. This wouldn't be the first time it happened. He was also doubtful that he went to see Madam Pomfrey. The laceration seemed void of any cleaning or treatment. Had he actually been to see the nurse, that wound would be unnoticeable.

"Yes, Sir," Severus replied. "She gave me a clean bill of health," he informed his instructor as he pulled out his chair.

"Well, if you're sure, you can open your book to page one-hundred-twenty-three. We're studying the properties of alkaline bases."

Severus sat down at his desk eliciting Lily's attention who gazed at the wound on his forehead with extreme curiosity. He opened his textbook as she leaned to try and make eye contact with him, her face steaming with interest.

"So, how did you say you got that scratch?" She whispered under Slughorn's lecture.

"I didn't," he grunted, his eyes glued to the words on his textbook.

"Well, how did you get it then? Were those idiots giving you a hard time again?" She inquired, jerking her head towards the Marauders who sat in the back of the classroom.

"No," he replied defensively. "I accidentally knocked myself unconscious," he informed her nonchalantly.

"Seriously?" Lily asked, her expression incredulous.

"Yes," he answered casually, still not turning to look at her.

"How did you manage to do that?" She asked with a small chuckle.

"Oh, think that's funny do you?" He asked with something that might have resembled a mischievous grin if it weren't plastered on Severus' face.

"Hell yeah," she said happily. "But really how did you," she paused to laugh. "Knock yourself out?"

"I was in the forest," he replied cryptically. Lily rolled her eyes.

"What were you doing in the forest?" She asked. "I mean I know you're dark and brooding and the forest 'calls' to you but I'm almost certain that you were up to something."

"Oh please," Severus snorted. "The forest does not 'call' to me. Just because I don't have pink frosting running through my veins like you doesn't mean I'm brooding or otherwise."

"Awww," Lily cooed, placing a comical hand over her heart. "Your denial is so cute," she said with a teasing grin. Severus squirmed uncomfortably in his seat.

"I'm not—cute," he said seriously. As if the word harbored some kind of grave insult.

"Right, of course not," Lily said with an undertone of condescension. "You're very manly and brusque."

"Thank you," he said simply with an air of jest about him to which Lily chuckled merrily.

"A little less chatter over there, please," Slughorn boomed at Severus and Lily from the front of the classroom.

"Sorry Professor," they both chimed in unison.

. . .

The bell rang in due time but it couldn't have come soon enough. The lecture Professor Slughorn had given was both boring and exceedingly lengthy. The fact that Severus knew alkaline bases like the back of his hand didn't help with the bore of the curriculum. As Severus stalked through the halls of the dungeons, heading for the entrance hall to make his way to Ancient Runes, he found Lily by his side.

"So, you never did tell me how you managed to knock yourself out," she said as they walked through a sea of chattering first years.

"I know that," he informed her. "If you hadn't noticed I was being deliberately cryptic."

"I did notice," she countered without missing a beat. "But I'm surprised you haven't noticed that I'm going to keep asking you until you give in."

"Alright," he complied with mild irritation, knowing very well she was telling nothing but the truth. "I made an attempt at the Invocation Spell and it didn't go as smoothly as I would have hoped."

"You tried it?" She asked excitedly. "What happened? How did you end up unconscious?"

"The spell is more powerful than I am at the present time. There's no way a bag can carry an item that exceeds its volume, correct?"

"Yeah? So, you're the old bag and The Invocation Spell is the item?"

". . . .Yes," he said after a short pause to properly hate her interpretation of his metaphor (calling him an old bag).

"Well, I was reading up on it and I found that it's meant to be cast by an entire coven not just one wizard. Maybe that has something to do with why you failed so miserably?"

"You researched the spell?" He asked, ignoring her comment about his epic failure as they began to climb the stairs to the entrance hall.

"Yeah, I just said that," she said as if he was being deliberately obtuse. Her tone and attitude could have been something that came straight from Severus. "I went to the library that day after we talked. Even though you said you didn't need any help it's obvious you do," she said with a little laugh.

"You shouldn't have researched the spell," he told her firmly. She was still trying to assist him in invoking the spirit and he didn't want her to for two reasons. One: he wanted the power the spell would bring for his own. Second: it turned out the spell was twice as unstable as he had figured meaning Lily becoming injured was an ever-present danger.

"Why not? You just said you knocked yourself out when trying to cast it and you still deem it unnecessary for anyone to help you?"

"Not 'anyone' just not you," he snapped quickly.

He hadn't meant to say it but it had slipped out. A wave of disgrace washed over Severus immediately as the familiar guilt of upsetting Lily took over. The two of them had stopped walking and were staring at one another intently. Lily was chewing the inside of her bottom lip and was looking uncharacteristically offended and—angry. Her lively green eyes had a film of animosity over them, masking their usual cheerful undertone. Severus eyed her with suspicion hoping she wasn't awfully furious although she looked it. Living with three sisters had taught him something about reading women.

"Fine," she said smoothly as if his comment hadn't insulted her. Severus knew this meant she was very insulted. She turned around with a meager 'see you' and stalked off in the opposite direction.

"Wait I didn't mea—" Severus called after her. Unfortunately she was lost in the sea of students and out of ear shot. . .

. . .

Severus, his body tense and his jaw clenched, walked into ancient runes wishing nothing more than for the class to end quickly so that he may go and find Lily to explain what he had said to her. He really hadn't meant it to come out as offensive as it had, but he could see why she was upset. He took his seat in silence, resting his chin on folded arms as he simmered in his own resentment. Not only was it resentment for his actions but for his emotions as well. He still wasn't accustom to feeling guilty about hurting a muggle born's feelings (or anyone's for that matter). For all intents and purposes he should have counted Lily's offense an immense victory but even he had to admit he had since changed and was well beyond that point. In order to avoid this insatiable guilt he would have to watch his big, stupid, insulting mouth.

As Severus was seething he was unaware that one of his prime enemies had been walking indisputably in his own direction. Severus' eyes found Sirius as he approached, pulling out the chair beside him. The seats were unassigned in that class but Amanda Moore usually occupied the seat beside Severus. Not Sirius Black.

"What are you doing?" Snape asked bitterly. The words coming out like the lash of a whip.

"Sitting? What does it look like?" He asked as he plopped his arrogant Gryffindor ass in the chair beside Severus.

"I can see that you're sitting. I meant why beside me?" Severus asked through almost clenched teeth as Sirius turned toward him.

"I saw you last week, Snivy, behind those hideous bushes. What were you doing there?" Sirius asked intimidatingly. He was now sitting sideways in the chair so that he could face Severus entirely. His hand was resting on the desk in a slackened fist as he leaned near Snape so that he may speak in a hushed tone.

For some reason Severus' heart sank into his body as he was informed he had been caught spying. It wasn't clear why the notion brought him such dread but it was clear that he didn't want any of those idiots to know he had seen them. It was supposed to be his own private mission to expose those rat bastards for what ever it was they were doing. Not to mention unveiling what ever issue Lupin dealt with. He so wished to learn what it was so that he may disclose it to the entire Hogwarts populace.

Severus didn't answer right away, instead he stared blankly back at Sirius and blinked as if befuddled. "What the hell are you talking about, Black?"

"Last week when James, Peter, and me went into the whomping willow. I saw you, mate, jumping behind some bloody bushes. You were spying on us you twat, don't lie," Sirius said in an agitated whisper. Sirius had brought up a hand and was pointing an accusing finger at Severus while he indicted his espionage.

"Are you off your meds?" Severus asked in a tone that suggested Sirius was insane. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"I was just mentioning it because I was wondering if you would be interested in joining us the next time we congregate at the willow," Sirius said, obviously ignoring Severus' charade of ignorance. His tone had shifted as well…to something more pleasant and inviting; manipulative. Sirius may have been sorted into Gryffindor but he was still a Black. And the Black family knew how to 'work' people.

"We meet on the twenty-first next month," he said, his eyebrows raised. "I really hope you can make it." He concluded. As he pushed himself out of the chair the bell rang. "But it's really no snot off my nose—hey Amanda," he said as the Ravenclaw approached her seat with an armful of books.

"Sirius," she said awkwardly as he slid past her. She looked at Severus as she sat, placing her books on the desk. "What was he sitting here for? I thought you guys hated each other?"

"We do," Snape replied as he watched Black saunter over to the back corner that he usually inhabited.

"So, what did he want?" She asked as The Professor entered the classroom with commands that the class settle down.

"Nothing, he was offering me something. . . ."

. . .

Severus had the invocation book propped up on his knees. He was a third reading, a third partaking in the conversation going on in the dorm, and a third forcing himself not to go find Lily and apologize to her for what he had said earlier. Mulciber, Avery, Evan, Regulus were all in a circle around the dormitory, entertaining themselves with conversation. There was a large pile of garbage in the center of the group. The wrappers of many candies and chips.

"I hear that if you perform a task admirably he'll reward you with what ever you want," Mulciber said happily before stuffing an entire chocolate frog into his mouth. "Which includes women."

"That isn't true," Regulus said, shaking his head slightly.

"Oh, like you know!" Mulciber countered.

"The Dark Lord doesn't give his followers women to play with when they've done well. That's so simple! If anything you're rewarded with a higher position in his ranks. More responsibility and acknowledgement—more power."

"No way," Mulciber said. "That sucks. He's the only one with power so what difference does it make if you're higher or lower in his ranks? I wanna fuck!"

"For fuck's sake," Regulus said as he rolled his eyes.

"Exactly!" Mulciber said happily as he unwrapped another chocolate frog.

"I mean Regulus would know," Avery commented. "Isn't your cousin like one of his right hand death eaters?" He asked.

Regulus looked down bashfully and smiled, biting his bottom lip. "I don't know, mate, I can't really say."

"So, that's a yes, right?" Avery asked with a smile before shoving the younger boy lightly.

"Bella's in the inner circle. I know that much," Regulus said boastfully. His voice had gone quieter, almost a whisper, as he spoke of Bella and Lord Voldemort's ranks. "Then there's Lucius who I see every Christmas. Like you guys all know he's in charge of recruitment."

"That's what he was recruiting for?" Severus asked suddenly, shutting his book with a snap as he became very interested in their conversation. "That day in the Hog's Head?"

"Yes," Avery said exasperatingly, throwing his arms into the air and letting them fall. He resembled a giant rag doll as he did so. "That's why I wanted you to come! But then you left before we could even get down to business."

"I already told you that I had felt nauseated," Severus said quietly. It wasn't a complete lie. Lucius had been making him feel sick.

"Well, I know that he's really interested in you," Avery continued as he picked up a magazine on his bedside table.

"He is?" Severus asked as a bout of nerves over came him. Could he truly be that close to obtaining his father's goal of connecting with the death eaters? It seemed too good to be true. Only a letter away from never being strapped into his father's chair again. . .So, why wasn't he going straight to the owlery that very minute? For some unknown reason he didn't want to.

"Duh, Snape!" Mulciber said, throwing a chocolate frog at him that, to Severus' surprise, he caught with his left hand. "You're from a pureblood family that's sole fame is based off of how much you hate muggles and the wizards and witches they produce."

"Yeah," Severus said quietly as he opened his book once more.

Another unwanted wave of disgrace flooded him as Lily paraded in the forefront of his mind. His family, and by extension himself, was famous for hating muggles and muggle borns. A small sigh escaped his lips as he turned the page of his book. Things used to be so simple when he wholeheartedly identified with that belief system. It was easy: hate anybody that wasn't pure blood. Everything was so complicated now. He thought he still hated muggle borns but his feelings for Lily were really starting to contradict that notion. Now that they were talking regularly out of class (and he wasn't calling her mudblood) things felt so convoluted. He didn't really know where he stood anymore and it was unsettling. So, like most anyone, he opted to go with what was comfortable by hiding behind his mask of prejudice although his heart wasn't in it any longer. If he pretended long enough perhaps it would make it true again. . .

There was a knock on the door making all the boys jump slightly.

"Are you expecting someone?" Avery asked Mulciber who shook his head. "Anyone expecting someone?" There was a choir of negative responses.

"Whos that?" Mulciber asked as he pushed himself off the bed.

"It's Missy," came Melissa's voice. "Is Severus in there?"

"Yeah," Mulciber said as he unlocked and opened the door with a gentleman's finesse, hanging against the doorframe as she entered.

"Hiya," she said to Severus with a seductive turn of her lips.

"Hey," he responded as he too cracked a smile.

Melissa being there was an absolute Godsend! If there was anything that could distract him from his current situation with Lily it was having sex. He eagerly bounced off his bed and made a quick couple of strides until his hand was enveloping Missy's and he was leading her out of the room, the whistles and encouragement from his friends echoing in his ears. He didn't care about any of that, however—he barely even noticed their catcalls. Severus was dead focused on removing these guilty emotions from his tired mind. . .

Severus buttoned his shirt slowly, his brain and chest fuming with frustration. He and Melissa had gone to their clearing in the forest, quickly removed each others clothes, and copulated for about an hour on the forest floor. Severus' climax, the instance where everything was supposed to go blank and be vacantly wondrous was plagued by thoughts of Lily. It was maddening! The moment that was meant to be a rush of pleasure that was his alone to enjoy was infected by thoughts of that damn girl. His hopes that having sex would occupy his mind away from such things had failed. Where he should have been thinking of anything but his disgrace, it was all he could think of. It was too insatiable to bear.

. . .

Severus walked through the forest, the dead leaves and twigs cracking underneath his feet. He was on his way to his altar to attempt invoking the spirits again, his satchel secured to his back. Filled with all the items he was going to need. He was muttering the incantation to himself as he trudged, imagining himself successfully executing the curse.

"Hey, Sev—Severus wait up!" Came a voice along with the sound of running footsteps. Severus turned quickly, drawing his wand to see Lily Evans jogging towards him.

"Evans!" Severus yelled with a tone of incredulity as he re-pocketed his wand. "What in Merlin's name are you doing out here?"

"I-I—hold on," she said as she huffed and puffed with labored breathing.

"Did you run all the way from the entrance of the forest?" He asked, observing her tortured body gulping and gasping for air.

"Mmhm," she said as she leaned on her knees. "I-I saw you—going in," she swallowed hard. "Into the forest, I mean. I thought you might be—going to try invoking the spirit again."

"Not that it's your business but that is precisely what I'm doing," he said sharply. Why was he such a prat all the time? "So if you don't mind I would like to get back to that," he concluded as-a-matter-of-factually before turning around and heading for his altar.

"I wanna see," she chimed as she began to follow him.

"You most certainly will not see," he said without looking back at her while he walked. "You'll go back to the castle."

"Oh, and who's going to make me?" She asked challengingly.

"I am," he answered monotonously, still without looking back at her.

"You and what army?" She asked under her breath.

"What?"

"I said I'd like to see you try," she said happily as she made her way to walk by his side. This is when Severus realized she wasn't wearing her school uniform but tight bell-bottom jeans and a loosely fitted beige tank-top assorted with multiple necklaces and bracelets that made her jingle as she walked. The familiar scent of redwood radiated off her, intoxicating Severus' sense of smell.

"What are you wearing?" He asked with an amused smile.

"This outfit," she said taking the hem of the shirt and spreading it out. "My Mum sent it for my birthday." She let the shirt flutter back down to her abdomen.

It wasn't that he didn't like it. In fact he thought Lily looked quite—'distinguished' wasn't the right word but it was the first one that came to mind.

"So, they're muggle clothes then?" He asked as they continued on their way through the forest. Severus didn't understand why he was leading her to his altar but he didn't seem to be questioning it either. Her company was becoming comfortable for him and he was shocked to find he was pleased to have her by his side.

"Yep, these are my muggle clothes," she said pulling at the hem of her shirt once more and smiling down at it. "I like them."

"They suit you," he said without missing a beat.

"I know right—I'm just kidding!" she said as she laughed at her own joke. Making Severus smile at her adorable amusement. As Lily's chuckles dissipated, giving way to the noises of the forest, the two walked in silence. Severus looked down at her as they walked, an apology aching to roam free from his lips.

"Lily, about the other day in the hall," he blurted out against his own discretion. It was as if it were ripped from him against his will. He refused to look at her while he spoke, his gaze focused straight ahead as they walked on.

"What about it?" She asked, her stomach tingling as she felt an apology in the very near future.

"Well, about the spell. I had said that I would rather have anybody's help but yours or something like that? And well—I feel like I might have been a little short with you."

"Yeah you were," she agreed, nodding her head a little. 'Here it comes,' she thought excitedly. Though the elation didn't read on her face. At a single glance one would assume she wasn't anticipating anything or have any hopes for the direction of the conversation.

"Well, I—," He drew in a large breath and expelled it fluidly. "I would like to apologize. Your help would be as good as any," he continued seeing the smile light up Lily's breath taking face.

"This doesn't mean I'll accept your help," he concluded anticlimactically. "I still don't want you associated with this mess."

"Ugh, why not?" She asked, her voice strained with exasperation. She had craned her neck back in frustration as she spoke, her long red hair raining over her back like a waterfall.

"It's too dangerous," he stated simply. "Or need I remind you that I was knocked unconscious last week."

"All the more reason for someone to be there when you whack yourself on the head," she argued. "I don't have to participate, I can just watch," she offered.

"I don't know," Severus said, trailing off as he looked up at the canopy where a patch of sun was shining through. "I don't know how far the radius of the magic goes or if you'll be affected by it."

"Since when do you care what happens to me anyway?" She asked with a chuckle. "I thought it didn't matter what befell dingy lil' mudbloods like me."

There was a momentary pause while Severus contemplated saying what was actually on his mind. Well, honesty hadn't made him spontaneously combust yet. "You're not a dingy little mud—muggle born."

"Yes, I am. I am muggle born," she countered. She had definitely noticed that he was going to say 'mudblood' but had changed his mind. This made her heart soar.

"Well, I know that—but you're not a—mudblood," he said, looking down at the ground. He was unable to look straight ahead for he felt mortified and embarrassed. The words felt odd yet refreshing on his tongue. The conversation was going to such unexpected places that it made Severus want his previous sentence to be his final words on the subject lest he melt from humiliation and discomfort.

"Thanks, Severus," Lily said with a slight smile on her lips. She understood what a milestone this was for the young man and was astounded that he had said it. She knew he would have had to come around eventually but she never thought today was that day when she woke that morning. "That means a lot coming from you." She meant it.

"Let me ask you a question," Severus said after a while as they were close to approaching his precious altar. He knew they were near for they were passing through a designated patch of fir trees that Severus used as one of his many land markers to navigate the forest.

"What's that?" Lily asked as she began to swing her arms at her sides. She would swing them towards her rear until they sprang back around to clap in front of her only to go back and repeat their previous path.

"Why do you hang around me all the time?" He asked. "I mean up until today I've been completely nasty to you."

"Not completely. Not all the time," she said to which he pulled a skeptical expression. "I mean it," she said in a laugh. "I'm sure you thought your prickly personality caused me a lot more damage than it actually did."

"Indeed," he said as he pushed a large hanging branch out of his way and holding it up so Lily could pass through unmolested.

"Thanks," she said simply as she walked through.

"But really, why hang around me?" He asked as he abandoned the branch. "I would always call you mudblood and all kinds of other things. Why did you bother with me so incessantly?"

"Well, I guess I'm just drawn to you for some reason," she said with an omniscient grin.

"Oh," he said, looking disappointed and confused. "How—cryptic."

"Yep," she said happily, eliciting a scowl from Severus, which melted into a tiny smile. He would just let her have her secrets. . .

Author's Note: Chapter 10! Thoughts?