PART TWO – MIDDLINGS
Eternity
CHAPTER THREE – MRS SEVERUS SNAPE
With a face like a crab's bus ticket
And skin like a llama's door mat
He was always going to struggle
Nature had seen to that
I May Be Ugly – Beautiful South – Quench
* * *
Five weeks after the disastrous dinner party, Lily still hadn't made up with James. Jenine and her Aunt were getting fed up with her.
It was a Saturday morning and Uncle Richard had just announced that he was going to be attending a dinner party tonight and he wanted the whole family to go with him.
Lily didn't particularly want to go, especially when she heard the name of the host. Selwyn Snape.
In the car on the way to the Snape's house, Lily had to listen to Uncle Richard telling everyone how nice the Snape family were.
"He's a Wizard you know, and his wife is named Sylvia and he has the most wonderful son named Severus, who is the same age as Lily. In fact, Severus was at Hogwarts at the same time as Lily."
Her Aunt seemed to think that this was amazing.
"Really? It's a small world isn't it? Was Severus your friend Lily?"
"Snape? My friend? Yeah right." And Lily went back to staring out of the window.
"Apparently, his son, Severus," Uncle Richard continued, "was the victim of an onset of bullying at Hogwarts. Selwyn said that people there were quite mean to him."
"Poor boy! I wonder why?" Simpered Aunt Clara, "Do you know why Lily dear?"
"It could be because he never washes his hair, and he's quite smelly." Lily replied.
Aunt Clara narrowed her eyes and Lily knew she was going to lose her temper. Luckily, the car pulled up in front of a dark gloomy house and Lily hurried out of the car before Aunt Clara could say anything.
The evening dragged on and the food was terrible. The Snape household looked like something out of a horror movie, even Aunt Clara said so. There were bottles and jars filled with strange liquids everywhere, and there were more than ten jars with dead animals floating in them.
Severus was unbearable. He kept on pretending that he and Lily were the best of friends and he tried to make it look like they were going out. Lily hated it and was quite glad when she was able to escape outside with her older cousin Sandi whilst the adults talked about business.
"Man am I glad to get out of there!" Sandi exclaimed.
"Yeah, me too." Lily agreed.
"I mean, what's with all them dead animals everywhere? And all the jars of funny coloured liquids?"
"Snape was top of potions when we were at school, so I guess his family is quite into that sort of stuff." Lily explained.
"Creepy. When I walked into the house I felt all weird. Like there were eyes everywhere watching over me. And I know this sounds strange, but I kept hearing all these whispering noises." Sandi said, shuddering.
"I thought that too. It could be because Snape's family are all Death Eaters."
"They're all whats?"
"Supporters of Voldemort." Lily replied.
Sandi looked at her blankly, as if she was talking a foreign language. Lily sighed.
"Voldemort is an evil Wizard, who is set on killing. He's already murdered over a thousand witches and wizards and Muggles all over the world and will continue to murder innocent people until somebody stops him. The Death Eaters are like his servants. They do a lot of the killing for him."
Sandi looked disgusted.
"Why would anyone want to do that?"
"He's evil. He wants to rid the Wizarding world of all Muggle-born. At any cost."
"So we have just been eating at the house of people who are under orders to kill you?"
"Sort of." Lily said, "except they won't want to kill me."
"What makes you so sure?" Sandi asked.
"Well what would be the point? What would it achieve?" all the same, she was starting to look a bit uncomfortable.
"Actually, Sandi, could you pretend to be ill? I don't feel like staying any longer."
"Yeah okay then. Um, I'll have a migraine. Go and tell Mum."
Lily hurried off to the Snape's house with Sandi in tow. Severus's pet Snake, Ada crawled out from beneath the bench the two girls had been sitting on. He had heard every word of their conversation.
As Ada crawled back into his master's house, an evil plan began to form in his brain. He would show that girl for talking badly of his master. The snake smiled evilly. He would show her.
* * *
"Yes. I like it Snape. Well done."
"Thankyou Master. The plan shall be put into action immediately. Her Uncle will not refuse."
"Yes well. If he does refuse, not only will you be killed, but the girl will also die. Now go. She is a powerful little Witch and will be very useful to us. You say she used to go out with the Potter boy? Excellent. This just seems to be getting better and better."
"Yes Master. Er, will there be a reward if the plan goes ahead?"
"If the plan goes ahead without problems then you shall be made my second in command. Everyone will look up to you."
"Even Lloyd Malfoy?"
"Lloyd Malfoy will look up to you. Even your own Father will be under your command."
"Thankyou master. And if the plan doesn't work…?"
"Then you shall die."
"Yes master. May I kiss your robes?"
"If you so desire."
"Thankyou Master."
* * *
Lily was discussing the previous nights events with Jenine when Aunt Clara knocked on her bedroom door.
"Lily, your Uncle and I need to talk to you. Will you come down to the sitting room please."
Lily exchanged a puzzled glance with Jenine and told Jenine to wait there for her. She then followed Aunt Clara down to the sitting room.
"Have a seat dear." Lily sat down, still feeling puzzled.
"Now, before we continue, I need to ask you something. Do you have a boyfriend?"
Lily frowned at Uncle Richard.
"No. We broke up, remember?"
"Yes. Well, as you are unattached, it makes it easier to say."
Uncle Richard took a deep breath and then grabbed hold of Aunt Clara's hand.
"Lily, you are to be married next Month."
Her Aunt and Uncle sat back to watch her reaction. She just sat there staring open mouthed at them. They took this as a good sign and continued.
"We received a letter this morning from Selwyn Snape, expressing his son's desire to be wed to you."
Lily stared at them a moment longer and then whispered "You are joking, aren't you?"
"No dear. We want you to get married to Severus Snape."
With a chin like a tramps juke-box
And eyes like a rhino's ash-tray
It was always going to be a pantomime
That made him sing and dance anyway
I May Be Ugly – Beautiful South – Quench
* * *