Hey! Thanks for all the amazing reviews, seriously. I'm glad people liked the last chapter, especially. This one - not much to say about it. Doesn't have the love of my life Madam Pomfrey. Kind of depressing. But it does have several other little funny delights, not least of all the idiotic Gryffindor Girls' Potter chant. Ha.
Crap ending, but it's 3.30am and I can't be bothered to write a good'un. That's pathetic. I'm an awful author. I have no idea how any of you lot can invest in this crap. Ha. Besides, the chapter would have been far too long if I'd written all the events of this night in. There'll probably be lots of James-ish angst, Marauders jokes, etc. It'll come soon in the next chapter, which I'll probably write tomorrow.
IF I get good reviews, so please R&R. Love ya'll. (the early hours of the morning clearly do funny things to me).
Snape would spend the better part of the next month savouring the way Lily had tasted in his mouth, whilst Lily would still be stuck on just how good he had smelled.
Neither told anyone of what had transpired between them, for obvious reasons. Mary would now refuse to walk the castle alone, and Alice and Lily could no longer even mention Snape's name anywhere in Gryffindor Tower. Snape, of course, wouldn't have dreamed of letting slip that he and Lily had been romantic in the Slytherin dungeon – for fear of losing his friends and the respect he had started building up. He was busy perfecting his Sectumsempra creation with the aim of passing it on to Malfoy, Bellatrix and Rodolphus Lestrange. He wanted the Dark Lord to see it performed and be pleased. He wanted to be admired; regarded as an asset.
Lily and Snape never again discussed what he had said to Mary; and Snape was glad for it. He had told himself that he would not apologize for having hurt her feelings, because no matter how much he had tried to summon up some compassion for the bossy and talkative girl who had spent the last five years trying to convince Lily to end their friendship; it just wasn't there. He had no sympathy for her. He had more sympathy for Regulus Black, who was having to fend off his brother every time he found himself without company – Sirius apparently getting quite upset about Regulus' choices. Snape found it hard to imagine Sirius' laid back, cool, calm and joking form being upset over anything. His prevailing belief was that Sirius; in particular, out of the Marauders; had the emotional range of a teaspoon.
One brilliant consequence had come from the 'mudblood' incident. Potter and his pathetic little gang had laid off of Snape. Snape didn't know what their reasoning was; but he had not so much as spoken to any of them in almost three weeks. It was bliss to be able to walk around the castle without fear of having a bucket of slime fall on his head; or to see a giant banner slung out in the courtyard reading "Snivellus Snape: Grimy or Greasy?", charmed so that it would yell its question to anyone who walked within ten feet of it. That particular happy gift had been a third year occurrence that was not out of sorts with the abuse Snape was receiving. Black had been particularly insufferable that year – his mother had threatened to throw him out, apparently. Snape couldn't blame her.
Potter was still performing his regular circus tricks when it came to Lily; sending her enchanted flowers (though why it had never occurred to him to send an actual lily to Lily; Snape did not know), singing to her in the Great Hall, his voice amplified and deepened, constantly infesting the air with his pleas of courtship. Snape and Lily were busy discussing other matters.
"You just brushed my thigh."
"Did I? I'm very sorry…"
"No you're not." Lily whispered, with a tantalizing smile lighting her features. Yet again their Shared Cauldron was taking delight in operating as the sole barrier that kept their seats further apart than Snape would have had them be.
"You're right, I'm not." Snape breathed, moving around her to begin powdering moonstone for the Draught of Peace they were attempting to brew.
"I'm definitely reporting this." Lily said, nonchalantly. Snape laughed softly, looking over at her with an eyebrow raised. Lily announced, more loudly than she had intended; "These are blatant attempts to scandalize me."
A few people glanced over warily, and Slughorn chuckled from somewhere, jovially. On the desk behind them sat Lily's friend Val, partnered to Remus. They had been trying to focus in Potions for a week now, whilst chairs scraped and people giggled constantly in front of them. There seemed to be non-stop whispering and liquids being dropped on the floor and glass breaking… Remus sighed.
Snape was thankful that Potter and Black resided at the back of the dungeon, so were unaware of their very private dialogue.
"So I take it you would like all infringements of personal space to cease, then?" Snape asked, innocently.
"Yes. Because it is very, very bad." Scolded Lily.
Snape turned on his stool to face Lily. He leant forwards slightly, putting his hand lightly on her knee.
What are you doing!?
It's obvious, isn't it?!
This is wrong!
Shut up!
Snape ignored the niggling, pestering voice in his head.
What is he doing?!
It's obvious, isn't it!?
Is this wrong?
Shut up!
Lily failed miserably in trying to appear calm and collected; her eyebrows flew up into her hairline and her eyes drifted downwards to where Snape's hand resided.
Remus and Val were both cupping their heads in their hands as they neglected their bubbling cauldron and watched the pair, with latent disdain, curiosity and enjoyment.
Snape managed to engage Lily's eye contact and muttered; "Would it be bad if I did this?"
You don't even need a conscience anymore; you're a lost cause; I'm bloody leaving.
Lily nodded slowly; words having difficulty forming in her mouth. "Yes. Yes – it – it would be bad-"
"-Very bad" She gulped quickly, as Snape's hand began to travel up her leg indolently, grazing the bare skin. A wicked grin was spreading across his face.
"Very bad, or just bad?" He murmured.
Lily squirmed slightly, as her eyes followed Snape's wandering hand, as it now reached her thigh and gripped it firmly.
"Very bad." She breathed, almost inaudibly.
Snape swivelled on his chair instantaneously and continued collecting moonstone powder. "Oh, well, in that case; I suppose I had better stop being so very, very bad."
Lily was not able to fully move for another two minutes.
Their Draught of Peace won them the highest praises of Slughorn; if it were possible that they could rise in his esteem; they did.
"Now class – it would be wise that you all aspire to follow in the footsteps of Mr Snape and Miss Evans, here. The Draught of Peace will almost always be examined as part of your O.W.L, and it is one of the – ah – trickier potions on the syllabus."
Lily's quiet pride submerged her, and as she glanced at Snape she knew that he was the real talent in their partnership. She watched him admiringly and happily reflected that she couldn't have settled with a better partner. Merlin, how she loved Slughorn.
"Mr Snape, would you mind enlightening us as to the precise quantity of syrup of hellebore administered in this concoction?" Slughorn asked, his walrus-like moustache wiggling as he spoke.
"Three millilitres precisely – and it was on Lily's whim that we added half a millimetre of Re'em blood, which I think gives the scent that… Spice."
James Potter scoffed from the back of the classroom. Lily shot him a glare, whilst Slughorn ignored him completely.
"Why – what – what made you choose to do so, Miss Evans? Re'em blood is not on the ingredients list; nor can it function as a supplementary or substitute ingredient. I was not even aware that we stocked it…" His eyes drifted over to the store cupboards, then back to Lily and Snape; alight with curiosity.
"Well; I just wanted to sort of – experiment a little." Said Lily. "And I wouldn't dream of doing it in the O.W.L," she assured Slughorn, "but I got to thinking about what situations facilitate the need for the Draught… Excruciating shock or unbearable trauma usually, right? Well, the classic properties of the Draught are great for treating those – but it just calms anxiety and soothes agitation – and it doesn't last long. For example – say the drinker was experiencing loss. The Draught is perfect – but what of helping in the long term? The Re'em blood gives the drinker immense strength that does not fade away instantaneously. That strength is what people coping with loss lack, in the midst of bleakness, right? No potion can take away the pain of the drinker, so I thought that the Draught needed – needed an extra something – to prepare the drinker for whatever follows."
Snape could have married her, then and there.
"The Re'em…" Slughorn mused. "The strongest and most long living of unicorns…" His eyes glimmered. "It's ingenious. Brilliant."
With a wave of his wand, he bottled the Draught. But as he began to move towards his desk to place it with the other potions from the class, he paused, looked down at it, and shook it, smiling.
"And as a prize for brewing one of the most creative Peace Draughts I have encountered," Slughorn said dramatically, turning back to face the class on the spot, "I will allow you to keep what you have made – what you have, indeed, discovered!"
He strode forwards – or at least strode as much as his overbearing frame allowed – and set the bottle down on Snape and Lily's desk. Leaning forwards and chuckling slightly, he added "Better not tell Madam Pomfrey about this – I promise her all worthy medicinal potions for the school's useage."
After assuring Slughorn they would use it well, Snape and Lily left the dungeon feeling elated. Slughorn had kept them behind, and now they were running late for the next period – Lily had Divination, whilst Snape had Defence Against The Dark Arts.
"You keep it – you'll need it more than me. Maybe use it to quench some of those raging hormones?"
Lily gasped. "My hormones? My hormones? What hormones?"
Snape smirked. "Or you'll need it for – what was it you said earlier? 'Excruciating shock and unbearable trauma'?" He mocked. "You'll certainly need it for your upcoming Quidditch loss this Saturday. Playing Slytherin, I believe?"
"Let's not pretend you know anything about Quidditch, Sev." Lily said sardonically.
Slughorn then ambled out of the classroom, where he had quite happily been eavesdropping on their conversation.
"Ah yes, my dear, we'll be seeing you shortly on that Quidditch pitch again, will we? And playing my own house!" He clapped his hands together in glee.
"Yes, sir. It should be an interesting match." Lily said.
"Indeed, indeed! Ah, Miss Evans, such a treat you are! A masterful potions maker and knows how to ride a good broomstick! A girl after my own heart! Though," he added, looking at Snape mischievously, "I daresay our Lily has her sights set elsewhere!" He winked in Snape's general direction. Snape frowned, and grumbled out an unenthusiastic "Ha."
Slughorn finished laughing, then announced, as if to the empty corridor at large; "My wonderful little duo! Big things await the two of you! Keep up the good work!" And with that, he tumbled out of sight.
Snape and Lily were quiet for a moment.
"Would your son be named Horace Junior?"
"Shut up!"
"'A girl after my own heart!'" Snape boomed, his mimicry surprisingly spot on. "I must admit I didn't believe it wholeheartedly until now, but the man really does love you. It really is a match made in-"
Heaven, Snape's heart screamed, this is heaven. Lily was kissing him wildly, her hands holding his face.
She pulled away and covered his mouth with her hands.
"What do I have to do, to make you shut up?"
"That." Snape mumbled from behind her palms.
"Expect to be beaten on Saturday, Slytherin scum." Lily said jokingly, dancing away down the corridor.
"Ah, but what do I get if you lose? What do I win?" He called after her.
Lily shrugged, smiling the particular smile that drove Snape into the depths of lunacy.
"You don't know?" She was already walking away. "But I thought you knew everything! You're the one who knows how to ride a good… Broomstick."
"Ooh you little tease." Came the reply, echoing and reverberating back to him.
"I've known worse!" He called back. Then, lowering his voice; just talking to himself; "Trust me."
Saturday came and went, and Slytherin won the Quidditch match. Potter had been as entertaining to the crowds, or the "throngs of screaming fans" as he had once called them, as usual, and had scored an almost alarming amount. Snape had sat moodily in the stands, hearing roars of support for the Gryffindors and a sickening chant that a chorus of girls had made for Potter. Snape suspected it Lily's friend Jynea was behind it; for she had belted the chant startlingly proudly and obnoxiously.
'Potter, Potter,
Beat the Slytherin rotters,
'Cos you are just the best,
So much better than the rest,
So come here unzip my dress,
You make my heart a mess!
(Oh yes!)'
Snape had almost vomited when he had managed to decipher the lyrics. The entire crowd had largely fallen silent as the considerable band of girls had belted it like a war-cry, and over in the staff stands; Dumbledore chuckled, McGonagall's lips had pursed, and Slughorn actually joined in once he had caught onto the lyrics.
But, despite the best efforts of the Gryffindor team, and their cheerleaders, Lily had failed to catch the snitch before the Slytherin seeker, the third-year Regulus Black, had flown a lap of victory, a triumphant grin plastered to his face.
Snape hadn't been able to find Lily in time to tell her she had looked brilliant, and that Black had caught the snitch by fluke, because the Gryffindor team had immediately departed for their common room, for an emergency meeting, and several arguments, interspersed by the consumption of several bottles of firewhisky.
Lily trudged behind her team into the common room. None of them had spoken to her since Madam Hooch had blown the whistle, signalling the end of the match. It was going to be a long night.