Disclaimer: Still don't own the Potterverse, it's still JK's.
Chapter 10
Severus paced up and down the long entry hall, holding a sleeping Draco. He had tossed aside several magazines, scanned several dozen books, unable to keep his mind on anything. He had been relieved when Draco awakened, fussy. He had grabbed the infant before his mother could, and escaped.
Lily had not been gone long, but he was already terrified that she was at the ministry, tearing up the divorce papers, forgiving that rat of a husband…forgetting him again.
No, he shook his head, Lily would not be that stupid.
Of course contingency plans were always good. Let's see - if she came to pick up Harry to go back to James he could cast a few binding spells, take her to a remote cottage and reason with her…and then…Lily would kill him. He was an excellent duelist, but he would be hampered by the fact he was incapable of harming Lily.
Very well, a different plan, Lily wouldn't leave without Harry so…hold Harry hostage! Babies were easy to hide – they pretty much stayed where you put them. And then…Lily would kill him.
Damn.
Maybe he would have to just trust her to do the right thing. But Severus had issues with trust. Trusting people rarely worked out. He could count on one hand the number of people he trusted. Most of them were in the next room. Trusting Lily was especially problematic, as there was no one who could do as much damage to him as she could, and he didn't think he could survive if she crushed his hopes again.
Draco started to whimper and Narcissa appeared, declaring that Draco was hungry. Severus could never figure out how she knew which cry meant what – he was sure they all sounded alike. Lucius and he had inquired about it once. Narcissa had laughed and told them that unless they suddenly started producing large amounts of estrogen and grew breasts they were unlikely to ever understand it. He and Lucius had paled at the thought and never asked again.
The soft chime sounded, announcing a portkey arrival, and Severus rushed to the room and stopped, sighing in relief, Lily was back. But he had expected her to look, well, happier.
Lily looked pale and upset, and he could see grief in her eyes. Severus pulled her into his arms and just held her as she cried into his chest. Lucius looked in, smiled grimly and left them alone. Severus had never been good at comforting people, always paralyzed by tears, so afraid of saying the wrong thing that he ended up saying nothing. But he had always made an effort for Lily, and although it never seemed to him that he had said anything terribly helpful, she had always seemed to appreciate the effort.
"Is it over, then?" He asked tentatively.
She nodded in response, pulling away and scrubbing at her eyes. Severus pulled a handkerchief from his sleeve, and presented it with a flourish. Lily smiled and took it. They walked together into the sitting room.
Lily picked up the sleeping Harry and cuddled him close. Severus thrust a pang of jealousy away firmly.
The one sure way he could lose Lily now was to become jealous of Harry. It was ridiculous to feel jealous of a mothers love for her child. Besides, he liked Harry – he had his mother's eyes. He truly needed to nip this in the bud.
He would just have to pitch in and help with Harry as much as possible, that way he would be spending even more time with Lily, and impress her with his baby-tending skills. He'd had plenty of practice with Draco. He could think of Harry as his co-conspirator! – Harry would be helping him win Lily's affection. That would be preferable to seeing him as a rival.
He looked over at Lucius and flushed, Lucius was looking at him with ill-concealed laughter, as if he could hear his every thought. Severus sniffed, let him laugh, he intended to win this fight, and Lily as well.
He sat by Lily and listened to her tell everything that had gone on in Madame Bones' office.
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Albus dropped another strand of memory into the pensieve wearily.
He had been viewing memories of the marauders all evening, steeling himself to look at them with an unprejudiced eye. He had watched himself with mounting horror as he alienated almost every student not in Gryffindor over the seven years that James and Sirius had been in Hogwarts. He had watched the other students, who had looked on as he punished Slytherins, who had usually been defending themselves against the 'pranking'.
He had thought that the fawning over the marauders by other students had been from popularity, it soon became obvious that much of it was to avoid becoming a target. And, yes the pranks had become more and more harsh as he worked his way through the 3rd year.
Severus Snape had become a favorite target by 4th year, and he suddenly realized that the odds against Snape had never been less than three to one, and usually it was all 4 of the marauders after him. How had he missed that?
It had been especially difficult to watch the first year Slytherins as their faces hardened, when they realized that simply by being in Slytherin they were universally disliked by the rest of the schoolchildren.
This would be the last memory he looked at, he was quite sure he could not take any more.
Albus found himself again in the great hall, dinner had finished and it was almost empty. The marauders were at their table, and Severus Snape walked by, nose in a book, as always. Sirius tripped him and he fell with a yelp, and rose rubbing his elbow.
"Why did you do that, you moron, can't you fit your big feet under the table?" Severus had his sneer firmly in place.
Sirius hadn't taken the insult well. "What? Are you going to cry Snapey? Sniveling Snapey?"
"No" shouted James, "Snivellus! Snivellus Snape!" Soon all four were chanting it. Sure enough he could hear himself chuckle. The marauders heard it, and by the horrified devastation in Severus' eyes, he had heard it, too. He looked over at the head table. Yes, there was Professor Sterling crying and running for the door, while he sat, oblivious.
Regulus Black and Avery ran over and pulled Severus away before he could get out his wand. Lucius Malfoy, in 5th year and a prefect, charged in and threatened to take points if they didn't shut up.
Albus winced as he heard his own, rather cold voice tell Malfoy "That is quite enough." Malfoy looked at him in incredulous hatred – another Slytherin pushed firmly toward the dark by him. He didn't need to look at the marauders to know they were smirking.
He pulled out of the memory and sat heavily in his chair. So, he had helped humiliate the victim, gave the rescuer a firm kick, and then patted the dragons on the head and shooed them off to go scorch someone else.
He wanted to put his head in his hands and weep. Instead he pulled a parchment towards himself to write ideas on. He had a house to reunite with the rest of Hogwarts.
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Sunday morning dawned bright and sunny. Lucius and Severus were early birds, and were discussing the idiocy of Minister Fudge over breakfast. Narcissa had told him to bugger off, and pulled the covers over her head when he had tried to wake her. He sent a house elf to let Lily know breakfast was available at her leisure.
"I have to go back to my job tomorrow, Lucius." Severus grumbled." I have my Potions mastery, but I have promised to work for the remainder of the year."
"Well, you visit almost daily, you can continue that while she's here, and I'm sure by the time she has moved, she will be disposed to invite you to visit at her home." Lucius sounded quite smug, things were working out according to plan.
"Yes, you're right, I just have a hard time believing that fate is actually favoring me." And Severus dug into the omelet, resolving to simply enjoy his good fortune.
"Well, fate owes you a few favors, for past bad luck", Lucius chuckled.
The ladies soon appeared, and plans were laid out to visit the five manors Lily had been shown, over the coming week. They spent a lazy Sunday talking about everything and getting to know one another.
Severus took his leave that evening, hoping the week would be a tranquil one for all four of them.
Unfortunately, others had plans for them.
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A/N Voldemort makes an appearance soon, I really haven't forgotten him.