Thanks to Gothgirl3030, edboy4926, Marauderhater, Frustration, Ujemaima, Gyoro and Ururun, Badgirlgoesworse, Alethea27, Tbird1965, 8thWeasleykid, Joe, Flame55, Sakura Lisel, KraZiiePyrozHavemoreFun, PurplewolfDOTcom and Pigfarts23 for the reviews.

A/N: I do not mind constructive criticism and even appreciate suggestions for improvement. What I don't know is why anyone feels the need to flame and tell me they just can't read on because honestly, I don't really care. I can't please everyone and I know that. I am not changing that conversation between Severus and Lily at all. I like it how it is as I feel it shows real emotion and the turmoil after such a devastating loss that was forced upon her. If you really think they are going to go make a baby as a graduation present, then okay, think whatever you want as you are allowed to draw your own conclusions, but yes it was a 100% serious remark on Lily's part and Severus's too that they actually would do that*sarcasm*. Lily wanting another child as soon as possible isn't idiotic, it's normal. Doesn't mean she will have one for real, but she is allowed to feel that desire. That was the whole point of that conversation-her emotion after this and Severus trying to soften her pain in some way.

Chapter Ten: The Trouble with Magic

Severus saw the Minister and his unease grew even more. They were in a lot of trouble now. He looked back over at the Marauders. James was frowning, glancing over at Peter with a look at almost agitation. Sirius was trying not to smirk. Peter was fawning over Sirius as usual.

Lily clutched her robes, fingers trembling. The silence and adults' eyes on her and Severus made her breathing heavier. She took a deep breath. She saw Severus twisting his fingers a little at the eerie stillness that filled the room. Even Fawkes was silent and motionless. The tension could have been cut with a knife.

Finally, the silence was broken by the Minister moving toward them.

"You are Mr. Severus Snape?"

Severus cleared his throat quickly. "Yes, sir."

He turned to Lily. "And you Ms. Lily Evans?"

Lily nodded. "Yes, sir."

The Minister glanced between them. "Quite the scandal you two have conjured up."

"Scandal?" Severus asked, his eyes displaying a fury underneath.

"Conjured up what?" Lily asked almost at the same time.

"Love Potion claims? Getting pregnant? Banned curse used here? And even more."

Lily and Severus frowned.

"It was not done on purpose. We never asked for-" Lily started, but stopped at Dumbledore's hand for silence.

"Do not say anything else." Dumbledore stated. "I would like everyone except Mr. Black to step out of the office."

James, Peter, Lily and Severus left the room. They waited in tense silence for about five minutes with Filch watching all four of them, blocking their exit.

Severus watched Lily pace, glancing at him from time to time. He noticed James looking at Lily, almost on the verge of speech a couple times, but he stopped short as Peter started to talk to him. James glared at Peter with an almost incensed expression, giving Peter the cold shoulder.

"I would like to speak with Mr. Pettigrew next."

Sirius came out and James appeared relieved and more content in Sirius's company. Lily did not say anything, pacing the floor and counting the tile pieces. Severus looked over his Ancient Runes text, trying to not think about what might happen to him and Lily for this incident. Another five minutes passed and Pettigrew left the room.

"Mr. Potter?"

When the door closed, Lily glared between Peter and Sirius. Severus looked ready to whip out his wand and hex them both. They talked between each other, but Sirius did not look happy with Peter either, which surprised him. There was a lot more tension alone with Peter and Sirius than there was with James and Sirius or James and Peter alone. Lily asked him about their Ancient Runes homework that she had missed that morning. Finally, James left the office.

"Mr. Snape?"

Severus left Lily alone uneasily, but as Filch stood guard, watching their every move, he knew Lily would be fine in their company, even if she likely did not enjoy it. The door closed behind him with a heavy thud, startling him.

"Sit." Dumbledore spoke, pointing to the chair in front of his desk. Slughorn, McGonagall were seated to the left and the Minister stood by Dumblecdore.

Severus sat in a chair.

"Now. Tell us what happened."

"When?"

"Everything you can remember from the start."

Severus took a deep breath. "Start of what? The curse or-at what?"

"What day did the" The man looked over his glasses. "incident between you and Lily happen? What was the day like for you?"

"The day Lily got pregnant?"

"Yes."

Severus raised an eyebrow. "I don't think you want those details, do you?"

"Young man, this is a serious situation and we need to know how she got pregnant."

"Same way every woman gets pregnant."

The Minister glared at him. "If Lily did not consent to the incident-"

"Are you implying I raped her?" Severus sat up straighter; his eyes bore into the Minister with a raw fury. "Someone cursed her with a banned curse causing her lose her pregnancy and you try to spin this on me that I would harm her that way?"

"We are trying to figure this all out."

"Suggesting that I would rape Lily isn't figuring anything out."

Dumbledore and the Minister looked at each other for a moment. The only noise came from Fawkes singing happily as he bathed in a small pool of water.

"What happened that lead to it happening-the incident between you two-what happened that day? Start from the beginning and discuss that day." The Minister huffed heavily.

"It was just another day, the day before the holidays. It was the morning when most people leave for home. Went to Slughorn's party."

"What was the date?"

"December-21? I think anyway."

"What happened at that party?"

"He, Slughorn, asked me to help Lily hand out the butterbeers. He usually doesn't ask me, but did then. My butterbeer tasted funny, I remember that. It smelled...odd. Like what attracts me, I remember that. I thought I was just imagining things though. No one would give me a love potion so that did not occur to me that it could be that."

"Your drink smelled odd, but you drank it anyway?"

"No one would give me a potion. I never had any admirers like that. That just didn't cross my mind at first so I drank it. Until I finished it and I felt almost insane with desire and want for someone."

"Lily?"

Severus nodded. "Yes, sir. And she felt the same after her drink. It was crazy. We behaved crazy and got too out of hand."

"You two-slept together."

"Yes. She ended up pregnant, didn't she? She didn't get herself that way."

"Just once?"

Severus cocked his head, trying to hide any embarrassment. "Maybe more than that-during that time we were under it."

"And when did you realize you were under the potion?"

"Next morning. Both of us realized we had been under the potion then."

"What happened the next morning?"

Severus refrained from rolling his eyes. "We woke up and realized what had happened and what we had done. We spent a lot of time talking and discussing it and other things after that."

"Who do you think did it?"

"Sirius Black. He made it obvious by trying to talk to us and get angry. He slipped up by implying that Lily should have been with James, sleeping with him that night instead of me. Why would that be his business? But it was and he made it clear it was his intention that Lily have been-ought to have been that is-in bed with James that night. Lily and I do believe that he intended the potion for James, but it got mixed up and I ended up with it instead."

"So, Sirius Black claimed Lily should have slept with James that night instead of you?"

Severus nodded, rubbing his thumb with unease.

"Then Lily got pregnant?"

Severus huffed in annoyance. "Yes."

"By you?"

Severus nodded. "Only person she's been with."

"Now Valentine's Day, what were you two doing leading up to the incident?"

"Nothing really."

"Nothing? That's not what the others said."

Severus raised his eyebrow. "Well, what did they say we were doing?"

The Minister frowned. "You tell us what you were doing?"

"Nothing really. Just hanging out."

"Alone in the trees?"

"We might have been kissing, but that's it."

"You weren't doing anything more than that?"

"No, of course not. It's a public area. That's a private matter."

The four adults looked between other and there were some harsh whispers. Severus wished he could hear them. He let out a breath, his hands shaking a little.

"Then what happened?" The minister continued.

"The Marauders showed up-minus Lupin."

"Marauders?" The Minister asked, clearly perplexed at the term.

"That's what they call themselves. Like the three musketeers."

The Minister looked confused and Severus realized the man did not know who they were.

"Eh, never mind. It's just their nickname as a group."

The Minister glanced at Dumbledore. "Okay. What happened then?"

"They attacked us, mostly Potter attacking me. We got into a little duel."

"A duel?"

"A little one. Lily tried to stop us. Black got involved. A crowd quickly gathered at the noise and a few of them threw some hexes and things toward us."

"And one of them fired the curse at Ms. Evans?"

Severus nodded. "I still don't know who."

"And then you left with Ms. Evans?"

"We headed back to the castle. She became sick a few times-vomiting-along the way. Then she started to bleed and I-" Severus took a breath, trying to block out his emotion of the events of that day. "I took her to the bathroom-head bathroom-she's a head-the head of Gryffindor so she's allowed in there and it's private-so-she, um, her stomach was cramping badly. I went to get help. She lost the pregnancy." Severus choked as his throat suddenly went tight. He swallowed hard, making his throat a little sore.

"And you were with her during the time she lost the pregnancy?"

Severus nodded, looking down at the Slytherin crest on his robes.

"The potion that was used to drug you two was your potion?"

Severus sighed, running his finger over the snake on his crest. "Yes."

"Why did you make such a potion?"

"I like to experiment. Test the limit. I kept it so I could play around some more, but I planned on eventually tossing it out. I don't or almost never use the potions I play around with them."

"So you made this potion just to play around and not use it for an indecent purpose?"

"I was not going to use it. I don't even like love potions. Never have. Doubt I ever will."

The four talked in hushed whispers again for a couple minutes and then turned to him.

Dumbledore was looking right at him. "Thank you, Mr. Snape. You may go."

Severus slowly got up and left the room.

"Ms. Evans?"

Lily took a deep breath and entered the room, glancing back at Severus for a moment before the door slammed in her face. She jumped and turned to the four adults.

"You may sit." Dumbledore said, pointing to the chair in front of him.

Lily looked at the Minister uneasily as he stood by Dumbledore with a smile, but sat down.

"So, you were recently with child?"

Lily paused a moment before nodding. "Yes, sir."

"By Mr. Severus Snape?"

"You mean, was Severus the father of it?"

"Yes, young lady."

Lily cracked her neck, her tongue dry. She sighed before finally nodding. "Yes, sir. He is-was."

"And what day did this rendezvous between the two of you occur?"

Lily felt the heat rise in her cheeks. "Is that necessary?"

"Yes." He spoke with hesitation.

"December 21, into the 22."

"Were you drunk at the time of this-incident?"

She shook their head.

"No, sir. Unless you count a love potion as drunk."

The Minister frowned along with Dumbledore, McGonagall and Slughorn.

"Was Mr. Snape drunk-not under the potion?"

"No. Just under the potion like I was-that was the only type of drunk he would have been. I was with him. He wasn't drunk. I remember the entire thing quite well."

"This potion you were under at the time as you say-was an aphrodisiac?"

Lily nodded. "It was."

"Where did it come from?"

Lily had tried to come up with a good explanation for that for awhile, but it all sounded wrong and made Severus look guilty. She shrugged, looking at the griffin on her crest, fingering the snake tail of the lion.

"Lily-" McGonagall started. "We know you know who made that potion. The healer who took care of you that day told us what you and Mr. Snape told her."

Lily glared at them. "Then I don't have to tell you. You already know who it was. I won't blame Severus. It wasn't his fault. He did not drug me or himself with that potion."

"Then who do you think gave you that potion?"

"Based on our experiences and run-ins and conversations with Black, we believe he gave us the potion."

"By our and we, you mean you and Mr. Snape?"

"Yes, sir."

"Before this incident, were you and Mr. Snape friends?"

"We were-platonic friends for several friends, even best friends until the end of fifth year."

"What happened?"

"I'd rather not talk about it."

"Did he do anything inappropriate to you?"

Lily was taken aback by that statement. "No. He's not like that. He's not a creep."

"Where do you believe you got the potion? From a butterbeer?"

Lily nodded. "Yes, at Slughorn's party. It smelled a little odd, but lovely. I shouldn't have kept drinking it, but I naively thought nothing could be wrong with it."

"Then what happened?"

"I went crazy. Severus and I both did. Things got way out of hand with us both under it and, well-you know the rest."

"So how do you think it happened?"

"Well, my parents always told me that when a man and woman love each other very much-"

"Not what happened between you and Severus that night, but how do you think it happened? Do you think it was a mix up with the potions?"

"Yes. Severus and I both believe Sirius meant the potion for James and me. He stated that I ought to have been with James that night-that night Severus and I-got together."

"And that day-Valentine's Day. What were you and Severus doing leading up the curse being cast at you?"

"Not much." Lily shrugged. "Just talking."

McGonagall looked at Lily, pulling her glasses down slightly to peer over them. "Nothing more than talking?"

Lily gulped. "Well, maybe we might've been snogging at the time."

"Just snogging?"

"Yes, nothing more than that. We weren't completely alone and anything more would have required more privacy."

The Minister cleared his throat. "Then the others showed up?"

"Yes, sir. There was a bit of an argument between Severus and James and Sirius too. It got out of hand when others showed up."

"That was when the curse was thrown at you?"

Lily nodded. "Yes."

"We won't discuss what really happened after that as we have been made aware of the curse's effects and how it affected you by Healer Willow. Mr. Snape took you away afterward-back the castle though?"

"Yes. He stayed with me throughout the time. He was great-very supportive." Lily spoke quickly, feeling defensive.

The four of them spoke in hushed whispers for a couple minutes. "Thank you, Lily." Dumbledore asked the others to come in.

"Now, we have some contradicting statements. Either some of you are lying or all of you are." The Minister spoke up, glaring at all five of them.

James opened his mouth, but closed it as Sirius spoke up. "Why would I lie?"

Lily scoffed, feeling the heat in her body rise. She clenched her fists and closed her eyes. "Oh, you did it and you know it. Just admit it! I am sick of this! I've been through enough hell! Just admit your stupid mistake!"

Black rolled his eyes, pretending to look appalled at the allegation. "Why would I give you a potion to sleep with him? Please. You sound ridiculous."

"You wanted me to sleep with James!" Lily wagged her finger accusingly.

"Then why would I give it to Severus?"

"You didn't-you didn't want him to have it! You wanted-you wanted-James and I to have it!"

"Me. James and me." Sirius corrected.

Lily gave Sirius an almost murderous glare. "You should worry less about my grammar and more about what will happen when they discover what you did to me! What you did to us-me and Severus! You tried to make James and I give each other the potion! You failed that and Severus got it instead! This is all YOUR FAULT!"

"How could I do that?"

Lily huffed in aggravation, clenching her fists hard. "You know perfectly well how! You lace our butterbeers at Slughorn's party and we give them to me-I mean, he gives it to me-we give them to each other! James and I usually give things out, don't we? Don't we? You know that! James has bragged! I have heard it! I've heard him tell you! Don't pretend you don't know that? Even Slughorn knows it! Tell him!" Lily stated, turning to Slughorn. "You usually have James help you. James and I, don't you?"

Slughorn turned to them in shock. "Well, yes. You two are some of my best students."

"But that day he had Severus pass them out and Slughorn told me he had knocked a few bottles over! He must have put Severus's name on the bottle originally meant for James. Severus and I gave each other the laced bottles on accident and that led to the rest of this whole mess! You know it! Stop denying it! We figured it out! We are not idiots!"

"You can't prove I did anything. Your theory is nice, but really, Lily, why think it was me?"

"Because it sounds exactly like you and that conversation the next day-you assuming I ought to have been with Potter the night before. You think Severus and I were too stupid to get it, don't you?"

James looked between Lily and Sirius in confusion while Peter was trying to not laugh. Severus wished the adults in the room were gone so he could throttle Sirius.

"You don't know what you are talking about, Evans!" Sirius spat out.

"Quiet!" Professor Dumbledore spoke up.

Lily and Sirius got quiet.

"So you and Severus both claim your bottles were possibly laced with a love potion-a strong and experimental one?" The Minister asked while looking at Lily.

Lily shook her head. "No-they were laced with love potion. It's not a question."

"And you think Mr. Black did it instead of Mr. Snape here?"

Lily looked at the Minister, feeling her mouth go dry. "Are you trying to accuse Severus of drugging me? We were not even speaking at the time."

"He always liked you." James stammered out.

"Shut it, Potter. It's not your concern!" Severus snapped.

"Did you like Ms. Evans before this incident?" The Minister glared at Severus.

Severus felt his throat go dry. He coughed. The room was silent. "Well, I, um, I-I" Severus heaved a heavy sigh. "Yes, but I didn't-"

"So you tested a potion of yours out on Ms. Evans?"

"No!" Severus spoke defiantly. "I would not do that. I already told you that."

"Then why did you make a love potion like that if not to be used? Surely you would want to test it out, even if you liked to just play around. Why not on a girl you like?"

Severus wished he had a glass of water. He did not like where this was going. "No. No, I would not do that. I don't test them out on random people. I don't like love potions. I think they are stupid. I would never do that, especially not to her."

"Then why play with one at all?"

Lily felt her breathing get shallow and cut across Severus's attempt to try and defend himself. "He always experiments with potions. He's good at potions. He never used to really use them, just see if he could make them. It doesn't seem weird to me that he would make a strong love potion like that-just for the heck of it. He hates love potions though. He thinks they are cheating and are worthless."

"That may well be true, but it does not change the matter at hand. Mr. Snape made an unauthorized potion that has the ability to make people-do undesirable things. He liked you before this incident and you found yourself pregnant as a result."

"Severus did not do this. I was there with him that morning after this. He was just as shocked as I was over this. It was a shock to us both. You cannot punish him for something he didn't do."

The Minister shook his head. "No further questions. We will need to review your statements and discuss the matter at hand."

Dumbledore nodded. "Everyone may return to their classes now. We will speak to you all again in a couple days."

They started to leave the room. Sirius left with Peter trailing behind.

"Wait!" James called out. "Lily-um, stay."

Lily turned as she started to leave with Severus. Severus stopped as well.

She raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

James tugged at his collar. "I-I have to tell you something. Something I haven't said yet."

"What?"

James waved Sirius on. "Can we shut the door?"

The door closed. The room was almost at a deafening silence with the only the sound coming from Fawkes pecking at his food.

"Well-I don't want to stand here all day." Lily snapped.

James took a deep breath. "I know who did it."

"Did what?"

"Sent that curse to you. I know."

Lily gasped and narrowed her eyes to almost slits. "You what? You knew and you didn't tell me!"

"Well, I-I wasn't sure at first so I didn't-I didn't want to accuse before-before I know for sure."

Severus moved toward James, who reached for his wand.

Lily put her hand against Severus's chest. "Don't."

"Who do you think did it?" Dumbledore asked.

James paled and mumbled something.

"What?"

"Peter."

"Pettigrew?" Lily and Severus asked, looking at each other with shock.

"I didn't believe it either, but he sort of admitted it to me when he said that thanks to him you-you wouldn't have a child by Sniv-Severus anymore."

Lily gaped and Severus glared hard at James.

"Mr. Potter. You realize you what you are saying can have very serious implications." The Minister stated.

James nodded. "Yes, sir. I do. It's why I was so hesitant before, but I heard Peter last night admit it while in the shower. He didn't know I was listening, but I heard Lily's name so I listened in and he admitted to it-to finding the curse in a book while we-I mean, he found it somewhere and decided to use it on Lily when he could-to fix this-what he called mess."

"You aren't trying to get revenge by making such an accusation, are you?" McGonagall asked.

"No. I have nothing to be vengeful about in regards to Peter. It's the height of dishonour to not trust your friends, but I fear I cannot trust Peter anymore."

Severus started on the verge of speech, his body burning with fury. He wanted to curse them all. Dumbledore put his hand to signal him not to say anything.

"Thank you, Mr. Potter. The three of you may return to your classes."

James started to leave, but stopped at the doorway. "I'm sorry, Lily. I really am." He left.

Lily knew he meant it, but that did not stop her from feeling ready to hex him down those stairs. Severus left with Lily. His fingers touched the middle of her back as he placed his hand on her. Her lips formed into a grin for a moment as they walked down the stairs and out of the office.

"I don't know if I want to go to class."

"We have the same class. We'll go together if you want."

'I don't want any lunch."

"Me either. Let's go out to the courtyard."

Lily nodded, folding her arms under her chest. He moved his hand to her left side, his arm across her back. She slid her hand over to his right side with her right arm across his back. They walked across the courtyard in silence. They sat on a bench in the bare garden. Patches of leftover snow were scattered over the area. The day was gray and dreary. Lily moved closer to Severus, trying to stay warm as the bitterly cold wind hit them, making her gasp for a breath. She did not dare mention going inside.

Severus tried to ignore the biting cold winds that kept hitting them. He did not want to go in. He moved close to her to stay warm. After awhile they had to force themselves to go back inside. Lily took her time getting her school things and they were almost late for class. As she entered the room with Severus, she could feel all the eyes in the room on them.