Chapter Ten – Danger

Lily stormed back to her chambers, or rather Severus's chambers, face flushed and angry. "How dare he try to kiss me. I'm going to jinx him the next time he comes near me again!" she said out loud to herself, holding her wand and threw a rather fierce 'Incendo' to the fireplace to light the fire. Severus could not help but smile when he saw how angry she was. However he was concerned with the Malfoy boy. He could not tell if he was just playing around or really meant harm.

Later that night, when Lily's anger had ceased, he asked her about Malfoy's family. It turned out that after Voldemort had fallen 30 years ago, Lucius Malfoy was sent to Azkabank. Draco Malfoy, his son, decided that he did not want to do any more evil, and worked hard to become an Auror. When Voldemort was revived, he sought out the Malfoys and asked of them to return as deatheaters. Draco refused, and Voldemort killed him in anger, but his wife and son, Scorpius Malfoy escaped. Scorpius then became an Auror.

Severus spent the whole night thinking about Scorpius, but could not find any reason why he might harm him or Lily. He then went to sleep hoping not to see that guy ever again.

The next morning things went back to normal. Severus was as usual at his office making potions and planning his lesson, while Lily was diligently learning from Mdm Pomfrey. There was no sign of Malfoy and the two of them did not mention his name at lunchtime. All was well, till that evening. Lily was cleaning up the hospital wing and Mdm Pomfrey had gone home. "Hey," someone called out from behind her. As an instinct, she whipped out her wand again and pointed to whoever was behind her. She was not pleased to see that it was Malfoy.

"What do you want?" she snapped.

"Mixing with Snape sure made you snappy too. I remember you were such a sweet girl," he teased.

"I won't be sweet to people like you. Get out before I jinx you," she snapped.

"Alright, calm down lady, you don't want to jinx an Auror. Anyway, I'm just here to apologize for my behaviour yesterday. It was irrational. Here, as a token of apology," he said, giving her a box of chocolates.

"Apology accepted. Now can you please leave?" Lily said, still with a hard tone.

"Why don't I stay here with you? You look lonely, here, have a chocolate," he said suggestively, pushing the box of chocolates into her hands.

"You heard her, Malfoy, get out," came a dark voice at the entrance of the hospital. Malfoy turned around. Severus walked in, his eyes threateningly dark. Malfoy threw both hands up and saying, "Whatever", left the hospital.

"Are you alright?" Severus asked Lily with a softer tone. Lily nodded, still holding the box of chocolates absentmindedly. "Give me the chocolate," Severus said firmly. Lily handed it over to him. Severus took out a piece of chocolate and inspected it, sniffing it carefully. "Spiked with love potion," he mumbled, throwing the chocolates into the bin and threw a spell, blasting the chocolates into dust. "I suspected so," Lily said, her voice cold and shaking.

Severus put both his hands on her shoulders and shook her slightly. "I don't want you alone with him or even near him. If he doesn't leave the hospital no matter what you say, you leave," he said fiercely. She nodded, shuddering as well. "Come," Severus said, "I'll escort you back," he said, holding her hand and leading her.

Things went back to normal for the next few days. Severus made sure she was never alone. In the morning, he will escort her to the hospital. In the evening, after Mdm Pomfrey left, he would appear at the hospital and waited till she finished her work before escorting her back to the chambers.

One night Professor Flitwick knocked on the door of their chambers. Severus opened the door suspiciously and relaxed when he saw who it was. "Headmaster wants to see you, Severus," he informed him. Severus cursed at being asked to go to the headmaster's office at night. He looked at Lily, who was reading a book about potions. "Remember not to open the door to anyone but me," he told her, but he knew that he need not worry about her. Lily is as cautious as him. Lily nodded, smiling, and went back to her book.

An hour later, Severus returned. He knocked on their chamber door, and Lily opened it when she saw that it was him. He looked tired and worn out. "What happen?" she asked curiously. Severus shook his head. "A whole pile of new syllabus," he mumbled, grumpy. "Would you like to take a walk outside with me? I need some fresh air," he asked. Seeing how unhappy he was, Lily decided to go with him. They walked around the school corridors, both silent, not knowing what to talk about. Eventually, they stopped outside the Room of Requirement, and it showed itself suddenly, opening the doors invitingly.

Lily jumped back, wand out. Severus just looked at the room curiously. "Want to explore it?" he suggested. "But is it safe?" Lily asked, bewildered that he would suggest that. Severus just shrugged and walked into the room, Lily following cautiously behind. Something's not right, I can feel it. she thought. "Severus I think we should go back, something's wrong," she whispered. Severus turned around suddenly, and Lily almost bumped into him. He awkwardly steadied her, and she caught a scent from his robes.

Her mind flashed through her memories as she tried to remember where she had sniffed the similar scent from. She also thought of how awkward he seemed when he caught her from falling, and how it seemed different from the other times. She put two to two together when she remembered that the scent was from the Polyjuice Potion. She gasped and stepped back. "Nothing's wrong here, Lily," 'Severus' smirked at her. She screamed.

Severus, the real Severus, paced around in the Headmaster's office. Flitwick said she wanted to see him, but she was not in the office. He had waited for an hour now, and she was still nowhere to be seen. Suddenly, he felt rather than heard a piercing scream that no doubt belonged to Lily. He raced out of the office, realising that it was a trap, and sped back to his chambers. It was empty, Lily was gone. In a craze, he started running around the corridor's calling out Lily's name. He called and called, but did not hear any response.

Think! he screamed to himself mentally, where can you hide someone in this school? His thoughts went to the Room of Requirement. He ran up to the room, knowing how it works, and the room showed itself to him almost immediately when he reached. He raced into the room.

Malfoy was prepared for him. He knew that Severus was a smart man and knew where to find them. But he was ready for that man, no matter how strong he is. He knew that Severus's weakness was Lily. He had already have his trap ready for him. Malfoy looked at the terrified Lily, bound and gagged magically to a chair. "If only you took my chocolates, that would have saved you from all this, and saved me from all the trouble," he whispered to her ear, and gave a soft chuckle.