Chapter 39: Beautiful Nightmare

Lily opened her eyes to find that she was sitting at a table in the library with her arms outstretched a foot apart. The place was nearly deserted and candles were floating above the tables to illuminate the study areas. In front of her was a stack of books, a piece of parchment that had some words written on it and Lily's quill held in her limp hand. One of the books was propped open to reveal a section on some type of Dark creature, though the words were slightly blurred and the photograph was out of focus.

"What happened?" she murmured. "Wasn't I in the Divination Tower a moment ago?"

The bewildered girl looked at her surroundings before sitting up in the creaky wooden chair and rubbing her eyes. She was about to get up when somebody approached her from the side and placed his hand on her shoulder.

Lily blinked before whispering, "Severus?"

"Hi Love," he smiled. "Did you get much studying done?"

"I-I don't think so," she answered. "I must have fallen asleep or something..."

Severus took Lily's hand in his and helped her stand up. He took his other hand and gently cupped her face in his palm before looking into her eyes. His expression became serious and his eyes held a strange blaze, something that Lily could not recognize.

"I have something very important to ask you Lily," he whispered. "Come with me."

He took his hand from her face and guided her out of the library toward a tapestry that hid a secret passage not far off. They decened the mysterious staircase as it wound its way downward for several minutes. Finally the couple stopped at a wall that held a plain picture frame that was empty on an iron nail.

Severus tapped on one of the blocks under the frame with his knuckles six times. On the sixth one the wall produced a heavy, dark oak door with a cobra-shaped handle looking at them intently.

Reflexively Lily's hand closed tighter on Severus' hand and looked at him with curious yet frightened eyes.

"Sev..."

"Don't worry Lily. I have you," he whispered.

Before Lily could say more her boyfriend took the handle of the door and pulled it open with unexpected ease.

Severus looked back at her and smiled as the flame that Lily saw earlier intensify, making his black eyes have an almost mesmorizing effect.

"This way my princess," Severus lightly commanded, his free arm motioning her inside.

Lily took a deep breath then allowed her escort to guide her into a room that was lit up with green and silver lanterns floating near the low ceiling. There were black clothed tables that lined the walls, each holding a candlelabria with wrought silver snakes that coiled around red flamed white candles. Every other table also had a medium mirror with emerald encrusted pythons that made up the frames.

There were also people in the room dressed in formal wear of black, green and silver wearing pale masks that covered their faces. Yet Lily could tell by their postures and dispositions that they were throughly enjoying themselves while holding delicate wineglasses in their hands.

Lily turned to Severus for an explaination and was astounded by what she saw.

Severus was somehow dressed in a set of new and expensive looking dressrobes. They were a shimmering black with an emerald trim and had silver lapels that stood out slightly from his wardrobe. His hair was neatly sleeked back and it distinguished his facial features in an elegant fashion. Even the glow of the lights that touched his pale skin made him look like he belonged there.

"Sev? How did you...?" Lily asked.

The teenager just smiled as he answered, "I wanted this to be special for us."

He brought her hand to his lips and lightly kissed the porceilen skin that was showing from a long, black silked sleeve with its own emerald trim.

Lily gasped in surprise and looked down at herself. She was now wearing the dress that she wore at the Yule Ball and, by looking at a mirror across from her, she saw that her red hair was done up in a delicate and intricate bun. Her face had a light touch of make up on it and her necklace looked like a dark red, almost black, rose against her white complexion.

Suddenly music started playing and Lily at once recognized it as the harp and chimes music she heard at her birthday party. Many of the people there started to paired up and made their way to the open space to start dancing while some stayed behind to talk further.

Lily's attention turned back to Severus and he made a light gesture to the dance area.

At first she did not want to, but a strange sensation overtook her senses, filling her with a strong urge to do as he asked. Lily could not resist any longer and took Severus up on his offer.

As the couple joined the others the music grew louder and faster, picking up the tempo of its hypnotic melody. Every so often she could feel the stares of the other guests on them but she did not care. All Lily could pay attention to was the person in front of her and how safe she felt in his arms.

When the final notes of the music faded Severus whispered lovingly in Lily's ear, "Lily, Love, I have something to ask you."

"What is it Sev?" Lily asked dreamily.

Severus guided Lily away from the dance area and led her to a private corner of the room.

"Lily, we have been friends since we were children and have been going out with each other for some time now," he began. "Every moment that I've been with you has been the happiest time of my life and I don't wish for that to end."

He reached into the inside of his robes with his left hand and took out a black felt box with a silver lily on the top. Lily's eyes filled with tears at what she knew was going to come next.

"Lily Aurora Evans, I know we are still young but will you do me the honor of being my betrothed?" Severus asked. "Of becoming my wife?"

The box opened and, cushioned in the minisule pillow, was a ring made of emerald with garnets lined around it. In the center was a diamond that had an obsidian stone inside of it.

"Y-"

She suddenly stopped when, out of the corner of her eye, she saw that the sleeve of his left arm had slipped away and on the inner forearm was some sort of black outline.

"What?" she whispered.

Severus looked at where her eyes had gone and place his other hand on the top of the sleeve.

"Do not be afraid of this Lily."

He then pushed the sleeve back all the way and Lily's hands flew to her mouth at what came into full view.

There, on the once clear skin, was the symbol of the Death Eaters: The Dark Mark.

"Like the one that was on mi-," she could not finish the sentence.

Suddenly Lily could feel the eyes of the masked audience on her and was further horrified by what she saw. All of the guests' legs were gone and replaced by long, thick serpent tails that shimmered green and silver, leaving their upper bodies dressed in their fancy attire.

One of the attendants literally slithered his way toward the front of a gathered crowd and Lily could tell that he was the leader of all present. He had a pale, hairless face, red irises that had cat-like slits for pupils, and was dressed in finer robes than the others. He was also the tallest there and had long, thin fangs that showed from his smiling mouth.

Lily lightly jumped when she felt something warm on the left side of her face and turned to the source of it to see that Severus had placed his right hand on her cheek.

He whispered imploringly, "Lily please."

Lily felt the heavy stare of the leader on her and turned back to see him nodding at her in approval. It looked like he was giving her his consent, maybe even a blessing.

"If he approves of this then surely it must mean I can-" she thought but stopped.

She looked back at the expectant Severus before stammering ,"I- I have to think," then presently sprinted out the door.

The moment she stepped out of the door Lily could feel that her dress had changed back into her school uniform and quickly made her way up the hidden staircase back to the library. She then took the Main Staircase to the first floor and went out of the castle where the setting sun was shining extrordinarily brighter than usual.

The soft prattering of footsteps made Lily's ears prick up as she registered who it was that followed her.

"Lily! Wait!"

The young witch fought with herself for a second before she instinctively slowed down her pace and allowed the young wizard to catch up to her. She then turned around and was ashamed of herself when she saw the look on his face. Severus' expression was that of confusion mixed with hurt and it tore Lily up inside to know that she was the cause of it.

"Sev, I'm sorry," she said. "Really I am, but I was just unnerved when I saw your Mark and that Vol- the Dark Lord was there. It all took me by surprise."

Severus' expression brightened up as he gave her an understanding smile and a peck on the cheek.

"I'm sorry as well Love," he replied. "But it is thanks to him I was able to do all of that for you."

Lily looked at him questionably and Severus took it as his cue to elaborate further.

"Lily being in his service gives me all the power I could ever need or want, and having this Mark on my arm," he showed her the tattoo, "gives me a feeling of protection. He is the most powerful sorcerer our time has ever seen and becoming more powerful still. It is a great honor to be chosen by him as you have."

"Me?" Lily gasped. "He wants to recruit me?"

"Yes," Severus answered. "You are a very skilled witch Lily. Grand Champion of Hogwarts, Prefect, top of the class, and of noble blood. You would make an excellent addition to our ranks."

"That IS why he has been coming here! The Dark Lord wishes for me to join his ranks and he approves of Severus wanting to marry me," she thought.

As Lily took all of this in the couple had reached the beech tree by the Lake's shore where the red head leaned casually against the trunk and Severus towered over her, looking intently at her thoughtful expression.

A few minutes later Severus spoke again, "Have you considered what I asked?"

Lily's heart skipped a beat as she answered, "Yes, I have thought about it and I would like to be your betrothed."

"I'm glad," he smiled in relief.

He gave her a full kiss on the mouth, which she returned gladly, and both teenagers broke apart smiling.

Then Severus became serious as he talked to her in a smooth and light voice.

"So, have you given any thought as to what I said?" Snape asked.

"Well," Lily hestitated. "I have given it some thought, but I'm still not... too... sure."

When Lily's eyes met Severus' she faltered at his gaze and seemed unable to speak. The fire in his eyes grew stronger the longer he gazed into hers and his voice whispered reassurances in her mind.

"I know it is a lot to take in, but it is the right thing to do. It is the only way we can have the proper recognition we deserve," he whispered.

Severus placed one of his arms around Lily's shoulder blades, pulled her away from the tree and pressed her closer to him. His other hand lightly cradled Lily's chin and he began stroking her cheek with his thumb. A shiver went up and down Lily's spine at his touch.

However Lily mentally replied, "I- I don't know. I feel so confused Severus."

Out loud the Slytherin replied in a whisper, "I can help you with that."

His thin pale lips found Lily's full pink ones again and Lily's mind was suddenly flooded by the images she saw in the Mirror of Erised: Her and Severus in a glorious mansion; her being recognized and compensated as a potioneer; her having immeasurable power coursing through her veins...

Lily slid her hands on Severus' collar bone the same time she felt something slide around her ankles and move slowly upward. It did not matter though. She knew Severus would never hurt her or let her get hurt.

A few seconds later the couple parted and Severus looked at her with the same intense expression that he had earlier, but it had gotten stronger and Lily saw that he had the same ambitions as she did, as if he too looked into the Mirror and saw his own heart's desire.

"Your desire is my desire, as my heart is your heart," he mentally whispered to her in a spell-like manner.

"Have you decided?" Severus asked verbally.

Another voice, much stronger and just as familiar, called out to her in frantic fashion, "Lily! Look away!"

Lily was about to turn her head to see who it was but Severus' hand was still holding her chin. He gently tightened his grasp and Lily's eyes met his again as he telepathically spoke to her.

"Become one of us Lily," he said. "Become my bride and together we will be unstoppable. We will have each other and we will have the power we deserve."

"Your answer?" he requested.

"By choosing one I also gain the other," Lily thought, paying no more mind to the third party.

Half of a heartbeat later, "Yes."

Severus smiled at his betrothed as he instructed, "Hold still", and his snake's tail securely wrapped around her tiny waist.

Lily nodded and allowed her boyfriend to tilt her neck to the right. He lightly brushed away the hair that clung to her neck and stroked it its length, sending an anticipating shiver up and down her spine.

Severus used his appendage to carefully lift the porceilin skin closer to his mouth as Lily's grip on his collar bone hardened for what came next. Severus' own set of long, white fangs became exposed and quickly plunged themselves into the awaiting flesh. Then something warm entered the opened wounds and made it feel like her blood was on fire.

At first the sensation felt too painful that Lily's first instinct was to pull away before it got worse and set the rest of her body ablaze. But the impulse vanished as quickly as it came and was replaced by a sense of accomplishment.

"Sev," she gasped so lightly that it sounded more like she was just trying to breathe.

"NO!" the third voice cried out.

One second later Severus' fangs retracted and Lily found herself falling on the hard ground with her back against the tree.

"What was that?" she thought.

"Lily!"

From behind her thick curtain of hair Lily saw that her lover had been thrown ten feet away from her and was struggling to get up as James Potter aimed his wand directly at him while he ran to her side.

"How dare he do that to Severus! How DARE he try to come between us again!" Lily thought furiously.

Potter knelt down her front of her and put his hands on her shoulders.

"C'mon Lily! Wake up!" he exclaimed as he shook her. "I'm sor-"

He was cut off, however, by Severus' rare bout of laughter and Lily raised her head while Potter's back was turned. Her eyes dotted back to her legs only to find that they were not quite the same as before.

"What did you do to her?" Potter screamed at Severus.

"It was her choice Potter, so man up and deal with the consequenes," he answered with a flickering smirk at Lily.

Lily returned the smirk and quickly got out her wand just as Potter raised his. She sent a silent Disarming Charm and his weapon flew away from his reach.

"And no Marauders to back you up. What a pity," Lily thought.

Using her new form Lily wrapped Potter up in her coils with lightening speed and raised him high into the air, a feeling of emmence pride and wonder at her ability as she looked at his horrified expression with a smile on her face.

Her smile grew bigger as she felt Severus put his arms around her still-human waist and plant a kiss on her cheek.

"Well done Love," Severus commented.

"Thanks," she replied.

She turned her head and kissed him fully on the lips, not caring that her grip on Potter was tightening or that he was struggling to gain his freedom.

"Time to end his misery."

Lily parted company with her fiance and asked, "Would you like to finish him off?"

Severus looked tempted for a bit before he kissed her on the lips again and answered, "Go ahead."

She smiled at Severus and then turned back to her victim.

"No! Lily, you can't!" Potter pleaded.

For a split second Lily considered letting him go but then she remember all that he had done and decided enough was enough. For good...

"Oh but I can," she purred to him. "G'bye Potter. Happy landings!"

A merciless laugh broke out from Lily as she sent him crashing to the ground screaming...

Lily's eyes popped opened and saw that she was completely alone in the empty Divination Tower. No Professor Trelawney, no tea cup, no crystal ball. Nothing.

A.N. Nothing I can really say here except to Read and Review...