This is a little short, but I hope to post again sooner this time.

Reasons ch. 10

Brainchild

The first half of double potions may have been over, but Snape was determined to get there. It was the only chance he had of being in close proximity to Lily, even if she was completely ignoring him. She hadn't said two words to him in the previous two classes. On entering the potions dungeon Snape was greeted by a nod of acknowledgement from Professor Slughorn who understood why he was tardy. He was also greeted by dirty looks from Black and Pettigrew. It was then Severus saw that Lupin was working with Lily. Both of them jumped slightly when they realized Snape had silently walked up next to them.

"I believe," Severus said in a low tone. "You are in my place Mr. Lupin."

"Professor Slughorn put me here," Lupin countered. "Mr. Snape. Since both of our potions partners were absent."

Resigned to the fact that he couldn't order Remus to take a hike, Severus stood looking at their work. "What are you brewing?"

Lily didn't look up from her work. Lupin told Snape, "Slughorn wants to give us a taste of what N.E.W.T. classes will be like. It's Veritaserum."

This perked Snape right up. He went to reach for Lily's potion book, something he had always done, because his was back in his dorm room.

"Who said you could do that?" The first words Evans said to Snape after the 'save your breath' conversation were just as crushing.

"You always let me - - "

"Well I don't anymore." She slammed the book shut and stowed it in her book bag. Apparently she didn't need it at the moment.

Anyone looking at Snape, which Lily wasn't, would have seen the desperate look her words had brought to his face. Severus began nervously rubbing his hands together the way he did when he was worried. This preoccupied moment did not last long. A waded up piece of parchment struck him in the face. It came from the direction of Sirius. Snape picked it up and whipped it back at Black. Black then threw it at Lupin. Lupin gave Black a 'what the heck did you do that for' look. Sirius made a pointing motion to the ball of paper. Lupin opened it up and read, 'where is James?'

Remus said, "They want to know where James is."

"How would I know?" Severus retorted.

"What did you do to Potter this time?" Lily snipped, "Is that why you were late? Too busy hexing people to get here?"

"Didn't you fellow Gryffindors tell you?" Severus was cross. "Wasn't there a news flash in the tower last night?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Didn't Potter's pals brag about - - " Something inside of Severus went off. He didn't want to sound like a whiny kid. He wasn't going to be the one to tell her what they had done. He walked off towards the storeroom. As he did Lily thought she heard him mumble, "Not going to waste my breath."

While Snape was apparently off looking for a potions book to use for the second half of class, Lily asked Remus, "What happened?"

They continued to work on the potion as this discussion took place.

Lupin looked embarrassed. "Let's just say, the marauders were up to no good yesterday."

"And Snape," she had fallen into not using her x-friend's first name, just like everyone else. "Did something to James?"

"You almost sound as if you're concerned."

Lily just made a face at Remus.

"Either you care what happened to James, or you're still worried about Snape."

Lily grew angrier. Lupin did always know how to read her. He added, "Maybe a little of both?"

"You're too clever for your own good Remus. So tell me what happened or face the wrath of Evans."

"I didn't know Evans had any wrath." Lupin teased back. "I'll tell you anyway. Sirius, Peter, and I admit, myself wanted to make sure Snape didn't hurt James in another one of those detentions, we saw him in the library - - " He thought the short version might be better. "The prank went wrong and Snape had to be taken to the hospital wing, where I imagine he's just come from."

"You haven't mentioned Potter yet, what was his part in this, or did Sev - - Snape get his revenge on him?"

"James was down here in detention. Snape was supposed to come down here and see if James had used the correct ingredient. James hadn't so he was injured by the result. Both of them were in the hospital wing last night."

When Severus reappeared with a book and began to gather his potions equipment taking it to an empty table to set up, Lily gave him a sympathetic look. He looked away from her. 'Lupin must have blabbed,' Snape thought. The caring look from Lily did not comfort him; he did not want her sympathy. He wanted her friendship back.

"He looks fine now," Lily whispered to Lupin.

There were no more words, as the potion in their cauldron needed their complete attention. Every once in a while Lily looked over to the boy working alone at the next table. Severus was furiously chopping up herbs at this point, his head down, hair hiding his face. Even when he looked up a stray strand obscured his features. Lily went back to her and Lupin's brew knowing that Snape was in his 'I'll show you' mode; 'I'll show you I don't need anyone; I'll show you I'm best; I'll show you - - ' Lily shook her head to get Severus' voice out of her head. 'Stop thinking about him,' she silently reprimanded herself.

Slughorn's voice telling them it was lunchtime helped in clearing Lily's thoughts. "If you have done everything correctly," the professor let it be known. "The serum should be ready for cooling down. You may proceed to the great hall if you think it's ready."

The only ones who weren't sure were Black and Pettigrew. To his regret, Sirius had allowed Peter to do a few of the steps on his own, and the potion didn't look right. "Sorry," Peter moped.

"Well," Sirius concluded. "If it's wrong, missing lunch isn't going to help." They were the first out of the dungeon.

Professor Slughorn took note that Severus was still there after everyone left. "Aren't you going to lunch Mr. Snape?"

"I want to catch up," Snape informed. "I don't need lunch."

Slughorn had the feeling that last one was not quite a true statement. It was the boy's choice however. The only word of advice he gave was, "Be careful, no cauldron accidents today, please." The professor knew the cautionary was not really needed. Snape never made mistakes in potions. He made mistakes in many other areas, but never in potions.

Severus had stayed behind to catch up with the rest of the class, but he had a second motive. Thinking it was fortuitous luck that Slughorn had chosen this day to have the class brew truth serum. He knew the batch they were brewing wouldn't be ready for a month, but the sample that the professor must have used as an example would be aged already. Soon as everyone else was gone Snape began searching for the bottle on Slughorn's desk. 'Of course he hasn't moved it,' Snape thought. 'How good of you Professor.' Severus nervously picked up the full bottle; his hand shook as he looked at it. 'Beautiful.'

'He'll notice this missing. I'd only need a few drops.' As if he were pulling off the greatest caper in Hogwart's history an odd exhilaration ran through him while he reached for an empty potions bottle from an inner pocket of his robes. Gingerly he put the serum down and opened the empty bottle. He then placed the empty down and took up the full bottle. Calming himself first, he took all care as he poured around a half a dozen drops from one to the other. He recapped Slughorn's putting it back exactly where it had been.

When he went to reach for his to recap it, Snape almost knocked it off the table. He fumbled with it until he finally grasped it firmly. When recapped the bottle with the pilfered potion went inside his robes where it had come from. 'I've got plans for you.' Snape smiled to himself as he patted the place where the potion waited. 'Oh yes, very special plans indeed.' He went back to his own brew. No one knew why, when they returned, Snape looked as if he had just won the lottery. Lily and Lupin figured he was just happy that his potion looked as good as any that had been worked on all morning. They had no idea.

tbc