The last Saturday in May was bright and breezy, perfect weather for the Quidditch final against Ravenclaw. In the days leading up to the match, every second James wasn't on the pitch, he was talking strategy with Parvana Patil and Peregrine Flint, or running plays using the chess pieces he'd Transfigured into miniature Quidditch players. When he slept, he dreamt of flying.
"Captains, if you would," said Madam Hooch. James nodded and stretched out his hand towards Chester Fernsby, the beefy Ravenclaw captain, who pretended to yawn before shaking hands. James' grip tightened, and Fernsby smirked; clearly, he thought this would be an easy win for Ravenclaw. Admittedly, Gryffindor needed to be at least forty points up before catching the Snitch if they wanted to win the Cup, which was a lot to ask, but it wasn't impossible.
"Great, they've started," said Sirius from the commentator's box as Madam Hooch blew her whistle. "Show of hands, who thinks James is gonna be even more of a Quaffle-hog than usual today, in hopes that some third-rate recruiter is watching from the stands?… Just me, then?"
James grinned, urging his broom upwards as the two teams shot into the sky. It was good to hear Sirius' taunts again.
Sirius' voice continued to drift across the stadium as James and his fellow Chasers, set up their first formation. "Looks like Potter's got the Quaffle, surprise surprise, Potter to Peregrine Flint, Flint to Hana Suzuki — nice avoidance of Ravenclaw there — Suzuki shoots… and — GRYFFINDOR SCORE!"
There was a roar of approval from the stands, and several students shot red and gold sparks into the air. As James followed the other Chasers back towards the Gryffindor side of the pitch, he hopped to his feet on his broom and bowed dramatically.
"Someone needs to tell Potter this is Quidditch, not Muggle surfing," remarked Sirius. "James, mate, you didn't even score the goal. Ooh, speaking of Muggle culture, ugly hand gesture there from Potter towards the commentator's box… that merits at least a penalty, I'd think… Anyway, Ravenclaw in possession, Fernsby to Archibald Bole — looks like the Ravenclaw Chasers are attempting a Howlet's Wing formation — which falls apart thanks to double Bludgers from Gryffindor Beaters Marlene McKinnon and Otis Podmore… looks like Bole's nose is bleeding quite badly. That's why I stick to commentating, ladies and gents, can't risk damaging the Galleon-maker… Oh, of all the —"
Sirius swore loudly into the megaphone. "Ravenclaw score, didn't even realize they had possession — Professor McGonagall says if I stuck to describing the match at hand, I wouldn't have this problem, she may have a point — bad luck, Gryffindor…"
Within ten minutes, both Gryffindor and Ravenclaw had scored twice more. "They're too good, James," called Parvana from high above him. "Just let me catch the Snitch so we can end on a high note."
"Not a chance," said James, keeping one eye on the Ravenclaw Chasers. "We're taking the Cup if it's the last thing we do."
Parvana reached up to adjust her plait. "Got something to prove, do you?"
"Trust me," said James. "Don't you dare touch the Snitch till we're forty points up."
Parvana looked like she wanted to argue, but she dipped her head in response before veering away to continue her circle of the pitch.
"Score's thirty-thirty, Gryffindor in possession," said Sirius. "Suzuki to Potter — Usman Shafiq sending a nasty Bludger Potter's way, and — Oh, that's not good…"
James had swerved at exactly the wrong moment, and the Bludger smashed directly into his chest, knocking the air from his lungs. The force of the blow hurtled him backwards, nearly off his broom, and the Quaffle slipped from his fingers.
Madam Hooch's tinny whistle sounded from far below him. "Ravenclaw foul!"
"You alright, James?" asked Hana Suzuki as they lined up for the penalty shot.
James was wheezing for breath. "Ask me again in a minute." He turned the Quaffle over in his hands as he watched Sylvia Bellchant, the Ravenclaw Keeper, hover in front of the goalposts. With a grunt of pain, he hefted the Quaffle and flung it towards the hoop on the far right. Bellchant dove, but she wasn't fast enough, and the Quaffle soared through the hoop.
"That's better," said James, rubbing his smarting chest. "Ravenclaw's Chasers are good, but Bellchant can't defend worth dung."
"New strategy, then?" asked Peregrine. "Sacrifice our bodies for penalty shots?"
James nodded. "Exactly."
Hana Suzuki got the next shot on goal after she was mowed down by Ravenclaw's Chasers as they sped towards the Gryffindor hoops.
"No good, Ravenclaw!" Sirius cried gleefully, shaking his head. "Can't make a formation when the other team are in the way. Basic physics — that's the Muggle theory of matter, for those who don't know…"
"I'm glad you're well-prepared for you Muggle Studies O.W.L., Black," said Professor McGonagall over the megaphone, "but could you please focus on the match?"
"News flash, everybody, Professor McGonagall is not a fan of Muggles," said Sirius loudly into the megaphone. "You heard it here first — Okay, okay, sorry Professor... Ravenclaw in possession, Bole passes to — ouch, the Quaffle hits Gryffindor Beater Podmore in an unfortunate spot… not likely to do any permanent damage, though — you'd want a Bludger for that, a Quaffle's the wrong ball… excuse the pun, Podmore…"
"Now, Parvana!" called James after Peregrine Flint managed to fall dramatically off his broom after being jostled by Fernsby, earning Ravenclaw their fourth foul and Gryffindor their fourth penalty shot.
"Eighty-forty, Gryffindor in the lead," said Sirius from the commentator's box. "The match could be either team's to win, now — Ravenclaw in possession, Fernsby and Bole doing something weird with their brooms… Shafiq joins them, bit funny the way he's holding his Beater's bat — ooh, they've made the Dragon's Egg formation, that's going to be tricky for Gryffindor to break… Fernsby narrowly avoids a Bludger from McKinnon, they're closing in on the goal now… Wait a moment, MERLIN'S BADLY BLEEDING —"
There was a dull thump as Professor McGonagall put her hand over the megaphone, muffling whatever Sirius was about to say next.
"Parvana Patil of Gryffindor has gone into a steep dive," said Professor McGonagall over the megaphone, a slight tremble in her voice betraying her excitement. "Ravenclaw nearly at the hoops now —"
"PATIL'S SEEN THE SNITCH!" screamed Sirius, drowning out Professor McGonagall.
James' heart leapt into his throat as Parvana dove, arm outstretched, towards the ground. She cut in front of the Ravenclaw Chasers, who slammed into her, turning her nosedive into a tumble as she grappled with her broom.
The Snitch was skimming across the grass of the Quidditch pitch now. Parvana was still in a freefall, barely ten feet from the ground. She flipped upside-down on her broom, hanging by her knees as she reached both arms towards the Snitch —
"SHE'S GOING TO CRASH!" yelled Sirius. "MERLIN, PATIL, HANG IN THERE!"
Parvana uncrossed her legs and plummeted off her broom. She somersaulted over the grass once, twice, before crumpling in a heap on the ground. The stadium was silent, watching her limp form.
Slowly, she raised one arm above her head, a glint of gold between her fingers.
"SHE'S GOT IT!" screamed Sirius, and an enormous roar went up from the stands. "FINAL SCORE TWO HUNDRED AND THIRTY TO FORTY — GRYFFINDOR WINS THE CUP!"
Madam Hooch blew her whistle three times, signalling the end of the match, and James nudged his broom towards the ground. Marlene and Otis had already landed and were helping Parvana to her feet.
"Alright, Patil?" called James, placing a hand on her head. Her neat plait had come undone in several places from her dive.
"Never better," she replied, flashing him a triumphant grin.
James plucked the Snitch from Parvana's hands and pocketed it before she could protest. "If Madam Hooch asks, tell her the Snitch got away from you in all the excitement."
Parvana grinned. "We're keeping it forever, aren't we?"
"'Course we are," said James, rolling the ball between his fingers. "Gryffindor wins the Cup for the first time in over a decade? This Snitch is part of history."
After showering in the changing room, James joined the rest of his teammates in a triumphant parade back to the castle, holding the Cup high over their heads. As they reached the first floor landing, he paused.
"You lot go on, I'll catch you up," James said, trying to shrug sheepishly.
"Off to do the dirty with the Cup, eh?" said Peregrine, laughing and slapping him on the back. "Your deepest fantasy finally realized…"
"Piss off, Flint," said James, but he was smiling. His teammates continued up the stairs, Otis and Marlene carrying Parvana above their heads, and James ducked around the corner, towards Professor McGonagall's office.
He knocked on the door, but there was no answer; McGonagall must have been with the other teachers, doing whatever they did after a Quidditch match. Rubbing Gryffindor's win in Professor Slughorn's face, he hoped.
The door to the office was locked, but James had expected that. He pulled his wand out of his robes and pointed it at the Cup.
"Alliago," he muttered, and the Cup's form began to melt as it turned into a sheet of parchment. He slid the parchment under the door and, with another flourish of his wand, Untransfigured it back into a trophy.
Next came the hard part. James waved his wand blindly, hoping to send it in the direction of Professor McGonagall's desk. A series of loud crashes sounded from the office, accompanied by the sound of shattering glass. In the end, he was fairly certain the Cup was sitting comfortably in the display case behind her desk, although he was fairly certain he'd broken the case's glass front in the process.
James pulled a quill and a scrap of parchment from his bag and scribbled a brief note, which he slid under the door.
Professor McGonagall,
Found this old Cup lying around and thought you might like to have it.
- JP
P.S. Wild storm we had the other day, eh?
The common room was completely empty by the time James got back to Gryffindor tower, save for Remus' battered old trunk, was lying rather conspicuously in front of the fireplace. James knelt beside the trunk and flipped the latches, humming to himself.
As he opened the lid, he heard shouts and whistles coming from inside, accompanied by loud music. He climbed into the trunk and straightened up, grinning. On the inside, the trunk was the size of a ballroom, covered from floor to ceiling in red and gold hangings and filled near to bursting with what looked like the entirety of Gryffindor house.
"The man of the hour!" cried Sirius, bounding forward and pressing a goblet full of dark red liquid into his hand. He swept his arms out, indicating the room. "What do you think? Impressive, eh?"
"Remind me to never underestimate your spellwork," said James. He took a long swig from the goblet. The drink must have been one of Sirius' concoctions; immediately after he swallowed, scarlet-coloured steam began to pour from his ears. "I didn't realize Undetectable Expansion Charms could make things quite so… expansive."
"Well, not normally," said Sirius. "We had to finagle it a bit, which had the unfortunate side-effect of making the trunk a bit… magically unstable."
"No duelling, in other words," said Remus, appearing at James' side and holding out a hand. "Your wand, please, Sirius."
James frowned. "You're confiscating our wands?"
"Nah," said Remus with a grin. "Just Mr Magically-Unstable over here. He's nearly blown us all up twice already."
"I maintain that exploding the punch bowl was an accident and doesn't count," said Sirius, but he shoved his wand at Remus anyway and promptly skipped onto the dance floor.
"You two are getting on well, then, aren't you?" asked James, watching Remus' eyes track Sirius in the crowd. "If you're back to pushing the limits of spellcasting together…"
Remus lifted a shoulder. "He said he was sorry. Can't ask for more than that, can I?"
"Sure, but 'sorry' doesn't mean everything goes back to normal."
"James," said Remus, sounding pained. "He's your best mate."
"I mean, yeah, but that doesn't — you didn't have to…"
Sirius was dancing unselfconsciously with Mary Macdonald. His movements were large and exuberant, yet somehow still graceful. Remus watched them, a thoughtful expression on his face. "I've chosen to believe he means well," he said finally. "For the good of us all." James opened his mouth to protest, but Remus jerked his head towards the punch bowl at the edge of the room. "Come on. Enough mopey Moony. Let's celebrate your victory."
Bella called for a special ritual to be held during the first week of O.W.L.s. She didn't give any details, only saying they'd meet at midnight on Monday, but Severus knew what was about to happen; this was when Lucius Malfoy would dose them with Veritaserum.
Severus could barely keep his eyes open after taking both the theory and practical portions of his Charms O.W.L. Avery, for his part, appeared to be staying awake through sheer anxiety, muttering to himself when he thought nobody was listening. Mulciber didn't show any signs of fatigue at all.
As they were leaving the common room for Dungeon Thirteen, Severus pretended to have forgotten his wand and dashed back to the dormitory. Once he was safely hidden behind the curtains of his bed, he pulled a small vial filled with golden liquid out from under his pillow. As soon as Severus looked at it, his stomach twisted, and he felt like he'd swallowed a rock.
He'd stolen Lily's Felix Felicis while she was taking the Charms practical. As he'd snuck down to the potions workrooms, he had debated Disillusioning himself, but Professor Slughorn had been nowhere in sight. He'd slipped in and out of Workshop Five using the little bronze key he'd copied the previous week, and nobody had been any the wiser.
He unstoppered the vial, tipping his head back and letting a couple of drops slide down his throat. After a moment, a feeling of warmth began to grow inside of him. It was if he'd swallowed a candle. His guts untwisted themselves as his guilt vanished and a sense of wellbeing settled over him. He had been foolish to worry about the Veritaserum, truly… His mental defences were strong, nearly as strong as Bella's. Nobody would suspect a thing.
No longer anxious about his Induction, Severus stowed the empty vial under his pillow and rejoined his fellow Intents, who were waiting for him in the corridor.
Inside Dungeon Thirteen, Lucius Malfoy was lounging in a high-backed white chair at the head of a table that was inlaid with gold. In front of him were seven crystal glasses filled with clear liquid, and Bella sat in the chair at his side.
Bella smiled as the Intents filed in. "Sit," she said grandly, gesturing towards the empty chairs at the table. The Intents sat, shooting each other nervous glances.
"Sev," hissed Avery from the corner of his mouth, his eyes on the glasses. "Is that — are they —"
Severus inclined his head a fraction, and a whimper escaped Avery's throat. Severus locked eyes with Bella, who was draped in so many layers of silver silk that it looked as if she were part Veela. She narrowed her eyes, and he thought he felt a little nudge at the edge of his consciousness. He lifted his chin a bit, daring her to probe deeper even as he cleared his mind of all emotion and memory. Keep looking. You will find nothing here.
Bella blinked and settled back in her chair, a small smile playing around her lips. She looked obediently towards Lucius, who nodded in response and leaned forward, his hands steepled in front of him.
"Tonight is a special night," said Lucius, his eyes sweeping the table. "I count myself fortunate to be in attendance, as this is my favourite of all the Rituals of Intention."
"Mine as well," said Bella. "Some of you may have already guessed, from the potion on the table — tonight we will be drinking Veritaserum."
"We, Bella?" asked Evan Rosier, his eyes darting towards Lucius as if he was unsure whether he was allowed to speak.
Bella winked at him. "Of course. Don't I partake in every ritual, as your mentor? This will be no exception."
Mulciber and Avery looked impressed, but Severus knew better. Bella was an accomplished Occlumens, and had already been exposed to Veritaserum when she was an Intent; she was not Truth Potion-naive like the rest of the Intents. Taking Veritaserum would hardly leave her vulnerable. Her willingness to participate made a good show, though, he supposed.
"It is time, I believe," said Lucius, nodding at the potions. "Let us see what you would rather hide."
Bella smiled beatifically at the Intents, raising her own glass in a toast before downing its contents. The Intents followed suit, though Avery looked distastefully at his vial before swallowing the potion.
Severus put his glass carefully to his lips and took a sip. The Veritaserum had no smell, no taste; it could have been water. In fact, after he had drunk the entire glass, he felt no different than he had a minute before. He raised his glass to eye level, examining the way the crystals caught the light. Was it possible there had been a mistake? Could his glass actually have been full of water?
Caution, warned a voice in the back of Severus' mind. Things are not as they appear. Severus nodded to himself, agreeing with the voice, and his chest swelled with pride. He was so clever, he always had been. He only needed to trust himself.
"That's better," breathed Bella, her eyelids fluttering open as she swallowed the last of the liquid in her glass. She gave the Intents a benevolent smile, flashing every one of her square teeth at them. "I will go first, I think, to show how this is done. If you are in agreement, Lucius?"
"I am," said Lucius, inclining his head. "Bella, if you would tell me, what form does your Boggart take?"
My father, thought Severus. The words were on the tip of his tongue, and he had to fight the urge to blurt them out. It's Bella's turn, he reminded himself, but that didn't satisfy him; he needed to speak, he craved it. Perhaps Veritaserum had been in his glass after all.
Bella hummed, tilting her head. "My Boggart takes the form of a Muggle with a torch who wants to burn me alive."
"Enlightening," said Lucius. Privately, Severus thought it was awfully coincidental that Bella's Boggart doubled as a demonstration of her devotion to the cause.
"My turn, then," said Bella, scanning the Intents. Avery had his hands clapped over his mouth to prevent himself from speaking. "Rabastan?"
Rabastan Lestrange's head snapped up, an eager look in his angled eyes. "Yes, Bella?"
"Tell me, Rabastan," purred Bella, "who in this room do you hate the most?"
"I hate you, Bella," said Lestrange, though his eyes seemed to widen in surprise at the words that were tumbling out his mouth. "There're lots of reasons. My brother courts you, and you say that you love him, but I know he's not the only one you're seeing. And you make us — the Intents — hurt each other. We should be hurting other people, not ourselves. It's wrong."
"Oh, Rabastan," said Bella, smiling widely. "You're giving away secrets that are not your own. Don't worry — I'm not angry. But I think I will refrain from speaking on my relationship with your brother for now. Does it feel good to speak the truth?"
"It does," said Lestrange, though his brow was still furrowed.
"It does," agreed Bella. "Now, do you know why I have you practice on each other, Rabastan? It is so you don't embarrass me when the Dark Lord gives you unpleasant tasks to perform. Our rituals teach obedience, and discipline, and trust. Have any of you come to permanent harm under my guidance?"
"No, Bella," said Lestrange, looking somewhat ashamed now.
"So will it be when you swear allegiance to the Dark Lord. Obey and trust, and no harm will come to any of you." Bella leaned back in her chair and arranged her silver robes, looking quite pleased with herself. "Aren't you glad we had this talk, Rabastan? Do you have more confidence in my leadership?"
"I do," breathed Lestrange. "Now I think I hate Malfoy the most. That is —" His entire face flushed scarlet. "Not that — I don't know him well enough to —"
Bella's laugh was high and sharp. Beside her, Lucius smiled graciously. "You've got a little problem with authority figures, don't you, Rabastan?" he asked. "From what I know of your father, it runs in the family. No matter — I am not offended. Now then, which of you would like to go next?"
"Me," said Avery at once. He nearly bouncing up and down with eagerness, though Severus noticed that he also looked vaguely confused, as if he wasn't quite sure why he was volunteering himself.
Lestrange smiled, seeming relieved that he was no longer the centre of attention. "Right, then, Edmund," he said. "Erm… what did you think about the last time you, er, polished your wand?"
Avery's ears turned red, and Mulciber snickered. Severus shifted uncomfortably in his seat. For all Bella's talk, Lestrange had a point; most of these rituals were humiliating, even if they were designed to bond the Intents further.
Severus was so lost in thought that he missed Avery's answer. From the way Mulciber and Wilkes shifted their chairs away from Avery, though, he had a good guess as to what Avery might have said.
"Interesting," said Bella, her eyes sparkling. "So you like to think about other people's wands. Do you feel better, letting us know your secret?"
Avery was biting his lip in an effort to keep himself from responding. He was silent for nearly ten seconds, and a trickle of blood ran down the corner of his mouth. Finally, he spoke. "No. There's a reason I was keeping that to myself."
"But if we don't know the secrets you hide, how will we be able to protect you as Primaries and Secondaries?" asked Bella, as if she were talking to a child. "It wouldn't do for us to be caught off guard. That's how Death Eaters get compromised. You don't want to be compromised, do you, Edmund?"
Avery shrugged, not meeting Bella's eyes. "No."
"It's good that you've shared," said Lucius. "This is information that your brothers need to know. And not to worry; no Death Eater will raise an eyebrow at your" — he coughed delicately — "affinities, so long as they don't extend to Muggles. Now, who would you like to question?"
"Mulciber, I guess," said Avery. He lifted a trembling hand to his mouth to wipe away the blood there. He looked like he was about to cry, but he seemed unable to stop himself from turning towards Mulciber. "Augustus, have you ever… I mean, would you be interested in… We spend a lot of time together, and…"
"No," said Mulciber at once, and Wilkes laughed. "Absolutely not."
If Severus hadn't been focused on emptying his mind of emotion, he would have felt sorry for Avery, who looked as if he wanted to sink into the floor and disappear.
"On the same topic, though, I have a question for Severus," said Mulciber. Severus took a slow breath through his nostrils, willing himself not to react. He had known this was coming, whether from Mulciber or Bella or another Intent. There was no escaping it.
Calm, said the voice at the back of his empty mind. He had nothing to hide. He was detached from emotion, from memory, from self.
"So, Sev," said Mulciber, leaning forward in his chair. There was a vicious glint in his icy blue eyes. "Care to tell us about Lily Evans? See, I don't know if I can trust a brother who finds Mudbloods attractive."
Severus' lip curled, though inside he felt like jumping for joy. Stupid, stupid, Mulciber. Didn't he know Truth Potions needed specificity to be effective?
"Lily Evans," he said, dragging the words out, waiting to see what memories rose to the forefront of his mind. Nothing. "We met in Potions class first year." Not a lie; they had met in Potions class, and other places besides. "We shared an interest in the subject. In the years that followed, our friendship persisted, even as the political climate grew considerably more… hostile."
Lucius smirked at that, and Bella giggled a little, giving Severus a moment to collect himself. He knew that Felix Felicis was the only reason his heart wasn't beating out of his chest. "Recently, though," he said, "our relationship has been… tense. You may find it hard to believe, but she has a certain distaste for the Dark Arts."
"Get to the point," growled Mulciber. "Who is Lily Evans to you?"
Severus fixed his eyes not on Mulciber, but on Lucius, who was listening attentively, head cocked to one side. "Lily Evans is my Potions partner and a Mudblood," he said flatly. "She is someone of little consequence."
Severus paused, Felix Felicis thrumming through his blood. He felt elated and slightly out of breath, like he'd just run a marathon. He examined the contents of his mind, but no thoughts of Lily rose to contradict what he'd just said.
Lucius nodded slowly. Beside him, Bella caught sight of Mulciber's expression and laughed.
"Oh, Augustus, no need to look so disappointed!" she said. "We can't all be harbouring secrets as juicy as Edmund's. Severus, who do you have a question for?"
"Lucius," said Severus immediately.
Lucius Malfoy blinked. "I haven't taken Veritaserum tonight, Severus."
"As is your right," said Severus, letting Felix Felicis guide his speech. "Nevertheless, I hope you will answer me honestly. Who here do you think has the most potential?"
He held his breath, waiting for a response. A slow smile stretched across Lucius' thin face. "Excellent question," he said. "I admire your nerve. And I must say — every time we interact, I find myself more and more impressed by you, Severus. Does that suffice for an answer?"
Severus inclined his head, a slight smirk across his lips as he leaned back in his chair. He'd done it. He'd actually done it.
There was another small nudge at the back of his mind. He couldn't tell whether it was coming from Bella, or one of the potions he'd taken that night, or, God forbid, his own conscience — if he even still had one. That's right, you've done it. Now to pay the cost.
Something was wrong with her potion. Lily knew it as soon as she let herself into Workroom Five, an hour before her Potions O.W.L. was due to start. There was no movement to the liquid, no burbling golden drops, and the colour had turned a deep bronze.
The protective charms on her Felix Felicis had been activated, then. She'd set them to overheat the cauldron if anyone other than her disturbed the surface of the potion. It would have taken less than fifteen seconds for the potion to spoil.
There was only one conclusion. Someone had attempted to steal her Felix Felicis, and she knew exactly who it had been.
She went to Professor Slughorn immediately, to notify him that there'd been a breach in the protective enchantments surrounding her workroom. The expression on his face when he peered into her cauldron confirmed things for her, and it was all she could do not to cry. An entire year of work, ruined. Sabotaged.
Stolen.
She swore up and down to Professor Slughorn that she had no idea who might have tampered with her potion, despite wondering dully why she was even bothering to protect Severus anymore. He'd shown her all year who he was, and now the evidence was undeniable. She was so naive. So stupid.
In the end, she managed to convince Professor Slughorn that someone must have thought it funny to ruin her potion as an anti-Muggle-born prank; she left out the bit about being certain at least a thimbleful of Felix had been stolen. No use upsetting Professor Slughorn further, not when she knew who the perpetrator was. Not when she could enact a vengeance sweeter than any detention he could give.
It was in this mindset that she entered Dungeon One, which had been magically expanded to accommodate all the fifth years at Hogwarts. Severus was seated in one of the upper tiers, next to Mulciber; interestingly, Avery was a couple of rows down, sitting on his own.
"Is this seat taken?" she asked, and Severus looked up, startled. His heavy brow furrowed as his black eyes searched her own. Looking, she was sure, for a sign that she was angry. That she knew what he did.
"Go ahead," said Severus at last, still regarding her warily.
She smiled sweetly at him in response, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Thanks, Sev."
Their examiner was a man with greying hair who was so tall and thin that he looked like a ghostly scarecrow. He waved his wand slowly through the air, and examination booklets appeared on each desk, along with a blank scroll of parchment.
"Good luck, then," said Lily brightly to Severus as the examiner turned over the large hourglass that sat on the central podium. "I'm sure you'll do well — you're brilliant at Potions."
"Thanks," said Severus. He was still eyeing her as though at any moment she would turn into a chimaera and begin wreaking havoc on the classroom. "You, too."
Theory of Potions was easier than Lily had expected, which was a good thing, seeing as she was more than a little distracted by sitting so close to Severus. She gritted her teeth at the sound of his quill scratching on his parchment. She wanted nothing more than to upend his table and throw him bodily across the room. Maybe she really was part chimaera.
Something knocked against her hand, startling her, and she looked down. Her inkwell was rattling violently, threatening to spill its contents across her parchment. She took several deep breaths, and the inkwell calmed down. There was no use in creating a scene here with accidental magic; it was better to be patient. She would have her revenge.
Her moment came that afternoon, during the practical portion of their Potions O.W.L. "Oh, well done, well done," said the examiner, bending slowly over her cauldron and wafting the fumes towards his pointed nose. "A beautifully brewed Alihotsy Draught… and do I smell citrus?"
"Yes, sir," said Lily, giving her potion one last stir. "I add limewort to balance the side-effects from the moondew, which causes flushing in a minority of wizards who take the Draught."
"Splendid improvisation," said the examiner. "I daresay you've got quite a future in Potions ahead of you, Miss…?"
"Evans," said Lily. She pretended not to notice the slight raise of the examiner's eyebrows at her Muggle surname. "And actually, sir, I've been working on an independent study this year, brewing… well, can I show you?"
She smiled brightly up at the examiner, who chuckled and nodded, allowing Lily to reach into her bag. At the desk beside her, Severus stiffened.
"Let me see…" Lily said, digging around in her bag. "Got it!"
She pulled the little vial out of her bag and held it up so it caught the light. Inside the vial, her ruined potion was the colour of rotting autumn leaves. "Felix Felicis," she said with relish. Beside her, Severus was as still as if he had been Petrified, one hand stretched over his cauldron.
"If I may…" said the examiner, holding out his hand. Lily nodded and dropped the vial into his palm, smiling so broadly that her cheeks hurt.
"This… That is…" said the examiner, making a humming noise. "I suppose you added the rue during the new moon?"
"Oh, always, sir," said Lily. "What do you think? It's a perfect specimen if I do say so myself."
"And you used a female Ashwinder egg, not that of a male?"
"Of course," said Lily. "I followed the instructions exactly. Would you like to try a drop? Not too much, though, or you might not feel like marking our exams." She giggled a little.
"Ah… though tempting, I'm afraid I must decline," said the examiner. He set the vial delicately down on her table, as though afraid it would explode.
"Then I'll have to be the one to try it," said Lily, and the examiner's indulgent smile changed to a look of horror.
"Lily…" said Severus at last, and she had to fight to keep the grin plastered on her face.
"This is exciting, isn't it, Sev?" babbled Lily, breaking the seal on the vial with her thumb. "I've heard it's an amazing feeling, taking Felix…"
"Miss Evans," said the examiner weakly, "I don't know how to tell you this, but that sample… It might be for the best that we let it be…"
"Oh, no, I couldn't do that," said Lily, widening her eyes. "I've worked so hard all year — I need to know how it came out! Felix is a tricky potion, you know, disastrous effects when improperly brewed…" She winked at the astonished examiner before raising the vial to her lips.
"Lily," said Severus urgently. Beside him, Mulciber was gazing at her like a cat watching a mouse. "Don't. Clearly now's a bad time —"
"Don't be jealous, Sev," said Lily. "It's not a good look on you."
"You ought to test it on an animal, to make sure it's safe," said Severus, his voice rising. "Or a couple of willing first years, or — or give it here, and I'll —"
"Thanks but no thanks," said Lily, locking eyes with him. "I made this potion, and I know I followed the steps correctly, so I have nothing to be afraid of, right?"
Severus stared at her, mouth ajar. She smiled back at him. She hoped her performance was good enough, that Severus couldn't see the heartbreak that lurked just underneath. Silly Severus. He was so predictable. He had expected her to rage at him, but that wouldn't be revenge enough for her this time. He hated himself; he would feel he deserved any words she hurled at him.
So Lily would hurt herself instead, and it would be his fault for tampering with her potion, and that would twist the knife deeper than any insults she could yell.
She winked at him. Then, before either Severus or the examiner could stop her, she swallowed the contents of the vial.
She ended up spending two days in the hospital wing while Madam Pomfrey regrew her spleen, and missed both her Arithmancy and History of Magic O.W.L.s as a result. Luckily, Professor McGonagall assured her that due to the extenuating circumstances of having nearly blown herself up, she would be allowed to retake the O.W.L.s she had missed during the second week of examinations.
When she emerged from the infirmary on Thursday, it was just in time for dinner in the Great Hall. She sat between Mary and Marlene, who nearly suffocated her in a hug. Towards the end of dinner, she finally glanced over at the Slytherin table. She met Severus' dark eyes immediately. He looked awful; his stringy hair hung in clumps about his face and he was paler than ever. Lily stared at him cooly, daring him to acknowledge her. He looked away in response.
Lily spent the rest of the evening in the company of her friends, who fussed appropriately over her. Marlene, of course, had realized at once what had happened, and in the week that followed, a rumour spread through Gryffindor House that Severus had tampered with Lily's potion.
When curious students asked if this was true, Lily would merely nod before returning to her Arithmancy notes. She wasn't interested in spreading gossip, but she had no problem letting people know the truth.
There was a saying in the Muggle world, after all, that the truth would set you free.
James Potter came for Severus after their Defence O.W.L., like Severus knew he would. The rumour that he, Severus, had ruined Lily's potion had spread through the school like wildfire, even reaching the ears of his fellow Intents, who by and large had congratulated him on successfully 'putting a Mudblood in her place'. It was too much to hope that the rumour had bypassed James and his friends.
They found him out on the grounds of Hogwarts, behind a cluster of bushes at the edge of the lake.
Even though Severus had been expecting an attack, James managed to Disarm him and Sirius hit him with an Impediment Jinx before he managed to get a curse of his own off. A small group of students noticed the commotion and clustered around to watch. Come to see the show, Severus thought nastily.
"You're so predictable it's pathetic," spat Severus, struggling uselessly against the jinx as James and Sirius loomed over him. "Hexing me when I'm alone, surrounded by sycophants who can back you up… your mother must be so proud to have a son like you."
James levelled his wand at Severus' head. "Leave my mother out of this, Snape."
"I must not have made myself clear," sneered Severus. "I was speaking to Black. You're growing up to be quite the mama's boy, aren't you?" he asked, addressing Sirius, whose grip on his wand tightened. "Cruel streak a mile wide. If I were you, I'd try the Sorting Hat on again, now that you've grown up to be a proper Black —"
Sirius cracked his wand like a whip, teeth bared. Severus felt a searing pain along his back, and he collapsed into the grass.
"My... point... exactly," said Severus through gritted teeth, twitching as he fought to stand up. "Duel me like a wizard and we'll see who wins, you inbred waste of space. Ventrum mortis. Crus crura — let me up, you blood traitor. Mutatum carnifero..."
As James had Disarmed him, nothing happened.
"Wash out your mouth," said James coldly. He stepped in front of Sirius, who looked murderous. "Scourgify!"
Severus gagged; soap bubbles were rising up his throat and pouring out of his mouth. His hand flew to his throat as he struggled to breathe. Above him, James raised an eyebrow, smirking.
"Leave him ALONE!"
Severus' heart stopped. Lily. It couldn't be. Surely she had gotten the message after he'd betrayed her, surely she knew to stay away, that trying to save their friendship was futile…
"All right, Evans?" said James.
Lily glared at James. "Leave him alone. What happened is between me and him. I don't need you intervening on my behalf, like some knight in shining armour…"
"Rest easy, Evans," said Sirius. "I can't speak for James here, but I'm acting on motives entirely my own. You don't factor into it."
"Is that right?" asked Lily, hands on her hips. "What's he done to you, then?"
"Well," said James, pretending to be thinking, "for us it's more the fact that he exists, if you know what I mean. . . ."
Some of the onlookers laughed, and Severus noticed that Mulciber, Lestrange and Bella were watching from a distance. Lestrange's wand was half-raised, as if he wanted to intervene, but Bella's hand rested on his arm, stilling him. She met Severus' eyes and tilted her head, a smile playing around her lips.
Severus cursed inwardly. He'd denounced Lily under Veritaserum, yet she was coming to his rescue. He had to get rid of her somehow — he couldn't afford for the Intents to guess his true feelings.
James and Lily were arguing; they had seemingly forgotten about Severus, allowing him to crawl towards his wand. His fingers closed around the walnut wand, and he pointed it at James, who was still fixated on Lily. Sectum, he thought, aiming at James' face.
There was a flash of light and James stumbled as the skin of his cheek split open, blood speckling his robes and the grass at his feet. Immediately, James turned, and Severus felt the world around him spin as he was hoisted upside-down into the air. My own hex, he thought bitterly, fighting to keep his robes covering his pants. The bastard hits me with my own hex —
"Let him down," said Lily, but she didn't look upset at all. Severus felt like he was going to vomit, and he wasn't sure if it was from being hung upside-down in the air or from shame. That Lily, of all people, would see him like this, humiliated —
No sooner had Severus collapsed onto the ground than Sirius hit him with another curse. He froze, cheek pressed into the dirt, unable to move except for his eyes.
Bella, Mulciber and Lestrange had come closer and were standing at the edge of the crowd. Bella's hand had drifted casually towards her side, hovering over her wand, but she shook her head slightly when Severus met her eyes, begging her silently to intervene. She pointed her chin towards Lily, who had begun to argue with James again, and the implication was clear. Her or us? We can't both be your saviour.
"Take the curse off him!" demanded Lily, who looked like she was ready to pull her own wand out.
James hesitated; then he sighed and pointed his wand at Severus. "Finite."
Severus felt the jinx lift. He got unsteadily to his feet and cast an imploring glance at Bella, but she widened her eyes innocently and didn't move. Her voice from months ago rose to the forefront of Severus' mind. He could hear her so clearly it was as if she had used Legilimency. Honestly, you will have to choose at some point, but it will be easy.
He should have known that she had been lying to him. It was never going to be easy.
"That's better, isn't it?" James asked Severus, eyeing him with distaste. "You're lucky Evans was here to save you, Snivellus —"
All the rage and humiliation of that afternoon welled up in Severus, and the words poured out of him unbidden. "I don't need help from filthy little Mudbloods like her!"
There was a beat. A couple of the students whispered to each other, and James raised an eyebrow. Behind him, Bella was smiling as she drew her wand.
Lily was staring at Severus as if she was seeing him for the first time. "Fine. I won't bother in future. And I'd wash your pants if I were you, Snivellus."
"Apologize to Evans!" shouted James, advancing on Severus. "After all you've put her through, you dare —"
Lily whirled on James, fury blazing in her emerald eyes. "I don't want you to make him apologize! You're as bad as he is!"
"What? I'd NEVER call you a — you-know-what!"
"Messing up your hair because you think it looks cool to look like you've just got off your broomstick, showing off with that stupid Snitch you didn't even catch, hexing anyone who annoys you just because you can — I'm surprised your broomstick can get off the ground with that fat head on it. You make me SICK." She turned on her heel and stormed away without so much as a glance at Severus.
Mulciber put a hand on Severus' shoulder, but before they could slip away, there was another flash of light. The contents of Severus' stomach rushed into his throat as he flipped upside-down in the air.
"Who wants to see me take off Snivelly's pants?" James asked the crowd. Sirius laughed and advanced on Severus, wand raised —
"That's quite enough, dear cousin," said Bella smoothly, stepping forward and levelling her wand at his chest. "I think you've had your fun for today." Mulciber and Lestrange flanked her, wands drawn.
James eyed them warily. He jerked his wand upwards and Severus fell to the ground. "Fine," he said shortly. "Come on, Pad —"
But Sirius was nose-to-nose with Bella now. "I'm not afraid of you," he growled.
Bella laughed. "That's because you're stupid." Before Sirius could react, she flicked her wand and there was a boom like a cannon. Sirius went flying backwards, knocking students out of the way. There was a crunch as he hit a tree and crumpled into a senseless heap.
Bella turned her wand on James. "No more bullying," she said lightly. "You won't much like what happens to Sirius if you do."
James regarded her for a moment before giving a curt nod.
"Let's go," said Bella, putting an arm around Severus and directing him towards the castle. "We'll have a nice dinner in Dungeon Thirteen. We'll celebrate."
"Celebrate what?" said Severus, his mind still on Lily. Salazar's fangs, she'd seen his pants — and he'd called her a —
"You, Sev," said Bella, drawing him closer. "Celebrating you. You chose us. Like I always knew you would."
