Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter

Slytherin's Potter

Chapter Eleven: A Snake in the Lions' Den

The days of the second year all seemed to blend together for Lily, with only a few moments standing out. Like how Mitch really did dye his hair an electric blue, making him stand out in a crowd. It was more noticeable than the Weasley hair. But Lily had to admit that some how, he made that hair color work.

And then there was a game against Gryffindor. It had been very close. Gryffindor had started off and pretty much ended dominating Slytherin. When things looked bleak, Lily started to hunt intently for the Snitch. She had made no show when she saw it, and caught it, much to everyone's shock, for no one had seen her chasing it. The game ended three hundred and sixty to three hundred and forty, with Slytherin barely winning. Raven had been furious, and had increased their practices, and upped how brutal they were.

But otherwise, things were the same. She went to classes, played Quidditch, hung out with her friends, and fought with Gryffindors. Her life was beginning to get dull. But a few days before Christmas break came, things looked a bit brighter. Well . . . she found something to entertain her that is.

Lily had been asked by Professor Slughorn to come and see him after dinner in his office. She took her time eating, but could no longer prolong it. It wasn't that she didn't want to talk him, in fact Professor Slughorn was probably her favorite teacher. It was just that Lily knew he would ramble if given the chance and time. But if she came in later, she wouldn't be able to stay there long before curfew. Lily had reached the floor where Slughorn's office was when she found them.

"So, we've got only one last Hogsmeade visit before Christmas break." Lily stopped walking. That was Albus's voice. Lily looked around the corner to see him talking to . . . a girl! She was about his height, maybe a little shorter, with light blonde hair and dark eyes. Lily knew who she was. She knew her name was Emma, but couldn't remember her last name. But Lily was positive that she was a Ravenclaw.

"Yeah, but I am excited for Christmas. Some of my cousins are coming to our house for this one. It'll be the first time I'll have seen them in a long time," Emma said with a happy smile.

"You don't see them often?" Albus said with a furrowed brow, an interested look in his eyes.

"No, they go to Beauxbatons. I really like seeing them," Emma replied. "I love my family."

Albus smiled. "As do I. They're the most important people to me."

Lily bit back a loud laugh. What a lie! He was the most important person in his life! In fact, he hated his sister! But this was something Lily just had to take advantage of.

Lily stepped out from behind the corner, but the two flirting teens didn't notice her. "Oh! Al, I've been looking for you everywhere!" Lily exclaimed.

Both fourth years looked at her, Albus trying to hold back an angry look, and failing. "Yes?" he asked, his teeth clenched.

Lily stepped so that she was just in front of them. "Well, perhaps you could come with me, and we can talk?"

Just like Lily expected, Albus didn't move. "Just tell me, Lily. I see no reason why we can't talk in front of Emma."

Lily smiled. She knew what he was trying to do. In his mind, she could do or say nothing bad in front of Emma without him seeming like an innocent victim. At least, that's what he thought.

"Well, I just got a letter from Mum. She said that she would send your potion for that um . . . problem you've got, ya know?" Lily said, mumbling a bit at the end, trying to appear meek.

Emma looked at Albus curiously. Albus himself looked horrified and furious. "What problem, Al?"

Lily bit her lip, hoping that she didn't seem like she was going to laugh. "Well, I should be going. Professor Slughorn needs to speak with me. Bye, big bro. Bye, Emma."

"Goodbye, Lily," Emma said with a sincere smile.

Lily knew Albus wasn't going to speak, so she skipped off, not laughing until she'd turned the corner. Even though she probably should have felt bad, Lily didn't. Emma seemed like a very nice girl, someone Albus needed around him. But Albus wasn't someone that Emma needed around her.

When Lily came to the door to Slughorn's door, she gave a knock before opening it. She'd been called to his classroom too many times, and no longer felt the need to be 'allowed' in. She was too . . . familiar with him.

It seemed that Professor Slughorn felt the same way, for he didn't look at all upset at her quick entrance. "Ah, Miss Potter! I'm glad to see you!" He was sitting on a couch, papers around him. To Lily, it seemed like papers that he was grading.

Lily smiled at him. "Right back at ya, Professor. So, what did you need me for?" She moved about the room, not yet taking a seat.

"Well, I've been thinking about your excellent potions work. You have very high marks. In fact, you are probably the best student I've had, and I've had many. You probably beat your father . . . even your grandmother for whom you were named after," Slughorn told her. "So, I wanted to give you something."

Lily finally moved over toward him, and took a seat on the couch opposite of him. He handed her a book. The cover was nice, excluding a few burn marks. But once Lily opened it, she saw that it was old. Very old. Words were written in it, paragraphs crossed out. A potions book.

"What is this, Professor?" Lily asked.

Slughorn smiled. "Well, one day, your father confessed to me how he did so well in potions his sixth year. He said it was thanks to this book, which an excellent potions master had owned. He had written better instructions in it, making the potions even more potent. He told me where it was, so I went searching for it to see if I could find it. And I did. I never knew what to do with it, but I've been thinking that you might like it."

Lily looked at the book in wonder. Her father had owned this book at a time, and before him a master at potions had owned it, and written notes? But who . . . "Who was the other owner of the book?"

"His name was Severus Snape."

Now Lily looked at it in awe. Severus Snape. Her father had said that he had known no braver man. In fact, her father had given her brother his name! This was his book? "Thank you, Professor. Thank you so much!"

Professor Slughorn looked proud. "I knew you would like it. Sometimes, you're more excited about potions than your grandmother Lily. She was an excellent student."

Lily glanced up at him. He often mentioned her grandmother. Lily wondered what she was like at times. He always compared her to her grandmother, so perhaps they were alike? And like herself, her grandmother was apart of the Slug Club.

"Professor Slughorn," Lily addressed.

"Yes?" he asked.

"Well . . . my father once mentioned that you had a wall dedicated to your favorite students and members of the Slug Club. I was wondering if I could see it," Lily asked.

Slughorn smiled. "Of course. It's just behind you."

Lily turned her head, and saw a wall with shelves, and a table pressed against it. It was covered with pictures. Lily put down the book and went over to it. Some of these people she even knew, while some were a mystery. She saw her father, Hermione, Ron. She almost laughed. She remembered how her uncle Ron had often complained about how long it took for Professor Slughorn to remember his name. Her mother was there, and Gwenog Jones. But she couldn't find who she was looking for. Until she had thought that she was looking at a mirror. She knew that she had found Lily Evans.

Lily picked up the moderate sized picture frame. She was young, and very pretty. She could see why her grandfather had loved her. She had long, flowing red hair, but it was a darker shade than the Weasley color. She had green almond-shaped eyes, just like her father and brother. Fair skin, and Lily guessed that she wasn't very tall, but not very short. She was smiling at the camera, her eyes gleaming. And every now and then, she would seem to laugh. It was as if she knew a funny joke, but one that Lily wouldn't understand. Like a secret. This was the woman that saved her father's life. The one that she had been named after. This was the woman that she was constantly compared too. Lily suddenly felt inadequate. She would never be that pretty, she would never compare to the wonderful things that Lily Evans had done.

But Lily loved this picture.

"I think she looks a lot like you," Slughorn commented.

Lily jumped. She hadn't heard him come up behind her. "Oh! Um . . . I don't think so, sir. She's much too pretty."

"You have her eyes," he commented.

"My eyes are brown."

Slughorn laughed. "I mean the shape. You have almond-shaped eyes. And even though you're a Weasley, you don't have many freckles, and the ones you have are hardly noticeable. And that smile. It's the exact same."

"I look more like my mother," Lily told him, glancing at the picture of her mother.

"I disagree. I think that you are a wonderful blend of Lily Evans and Ginny Weasley," Slughorn told her. "You're both headstrong, intelligent, brave, and very loyal."

Lily snorted. "I'm not that loyal. I've practically turned my back on my brothers and cousins. That's not loyalty."

"They weren't exactly loyal to you," he reminded.

Lily kept looking at the picture. She loved it, and she found it hard to stop looking at the picture of the beautiful young girl.

"Would you like a picture?" Slughorn asked suddenly.

Lily looked back at him quickly. "Really?" She carefully set down the picture frame.

Slughorn smiled, and moved over to a closet. He started rummaging through a box. "Of course. I have dozens of pictures of my favorite students, the members of the Slug Club. Every year I put one a different one, one that I find to be my favorite. I'd be glad to give you one." He pulled out a picture, and handed it to her.

Lily grabbed it carefully, not wanting to tear it with her eager hands. This picture was different. It was taken during the spring, out by the Black Lake. She looked much more relaxed. Her tie was loosened, jumper off, and she had kicked off her shoes. She looked a bit older as well. Her hair was longer, her skin a little more tan. And once again, she was smiling, and would give a laugh. And her eyes, they seemed to be laughing as well.

"She's a bit older in that picture. That was during her seventh year, some time in May. Her friend, Alice took the picture, and was kind enough to give it to me," Slughorn told her.

Lily looked up happily. "Thank you, Professor!"

Slughorn chuckled. "It's no problem at all, Miss Potter. Anything for my favorite and best student." Then he seemed to notice the time. "Well, I should be letting you go. Your curfew is almost up. Once you're older and your curfew gets longer, perhaps we can have some prolonged talks."

Lily smiled, and picked up the book. She placed the picture between two pages. Then she looked back at Slughorn. "Well, thank you again, and good night, Professor."

"Good night, Miss Potter," he said politely.

When Lily got back to the common room, it was practically empty, excluding a few older students who seemed to be cramming information into their brains. Fifth and seventh years probably. So Lily moved to take a seat on the empty couch across from the fireplace, and she delved into the book.

"Shouldn't you be in bed?"

Lily looked behind the couch to see Scorpius coming toward her. He was in loose pants and a thin shirt.

"Shouldn't you?" she quipped.

He gave a smirk. "I'm hungry, so I'm going to go off to the kitchen. What's your excuse?"

"Reading a book that Slughorn gave me," she replied.

He gave a small hum. "Well, would you like to join me for a late snack?"

Lily closed the book, the picture acting as her bookmark. "Sure, why not."

The two left the common room quietly, and walked in silence toward the kitchens. Lily's thoughts were whirling around her new book and picture. Severus Snape, the man her father called the bravest man he knew. Lily had never seen a picture of him, but she remembered stories.

Flashback

"Severus Snape was the bravest man I knew," Harry had told his tiny daughter. She was laying in bed, her father trying to get her to go to sleep with a story. "But I didn't really like him as a teacher. He was mean sometimes."

"Why was he mean?" Lily had asked, her childish eyes wide with wonder.

"Well, he was in love with a beautiful girl a long time ago, and he never stopped loving her," Harry started, moving to lay beside his daughter. "But, this girl was in love with someone else, and it was someone he hated."

"You mean Grandpa James?" Lily asked, remembering vague stories about him.

"Yep. So, he and Grandma Lily stopped being friends. But he still loved her. Even after she got married, even after she had a child, and even after she died. His love never stopped," Harry finished with a whisper.

Lily smiled at the romantic, yet sad story. Her daddy's life had been so full of adventure, so eventful. It had everything!

"How come he never visits?" Lily mumbled through a large yawn.

Her father had given her a smile that seemed a little sad. "He can't. So all we can do is remember him."

End of Flashback

Lily hadn't understood at that time that Severus Snape was dead, and even after that story, she'd pretty much forgotten about it the next morning.

"Deep thoughts?" Scorpius asked suddenly.

Lily was happy that she didn't jump. He really had startled her. Then she realized that they were at the portrait that hid the kitchens. "What?" she whispered as they stepped inside.

"You seemed very spaced out," Scorpius said with a shrug.

The house elves swarmed around them, and they each said what they wanted. The house elves had it made in a minute, and the two sat down to eat.

"I was just thinking about that book," Lily told him, remembering what he'd said just a moment ago.

"Is it any good?" he asked, taking a bite of the piece of cake on his plate.

Lily couldn't help but smile. "Yeah, it's really good."

"Could I borrow it when you've finished it?" he asked, a brow raised in question.

"Sure, doesn't bother me," Lily told him. She took a drink of water. "So, how are you and Layla?"

Scorpius smirked. "Done."

Lily raised a brow this time. The two had been seeing since their first date two months ago, and Lily had never seen them fight. "What happened?" she inquired.

Scorpius gave a shrug. "She was annoying. Clingy, whining, and flaky. Not to mention an airhead. It was hard to keep up a conversation with her."

Lily tried not to laugh. "Well, I'm sorry it didn't work out."

"I'm not," Scorpius said with a chuckle.

Now Lily laughed. "So, how did Layla take it?"

"She threw a big hissy fit, and now she refuses to talk to me." Scorpius rolled his eyes. "Our whole relationship, she never shuts up. Now that we're done, she's quiet. Just my luck."

Days kept going, and Lily soon found herself back at home for Christmas break. She also found herself to be very bored. And she knew only one way to bring about some excitement.

"Daddy," Lily said as she stepped into his study.

Harry looked up from his desk with a smile. "What is it, princess?"

"Well, I was wondering if Scorpius could come over for a day or two this week? You know, since he invited me over during the summer?" Lily pleaded.

She watched as her father slightly tensed. Lily knew he was hesitant about her friendship with Scorpius, but he never argued about it. Mainly because Lily always talked about him when her mother was with them, and her mother liked him. But this was the first time Lily had come to her father alone with something about Scorpius. She wanted to know what he thought without her mum giving him a stern gaze.

"Oh, well . . . have you talked to your mother?" Harry asked, clearing his throat.

"No, I thought I should come to you first," Lily told him.

"Why not Lola?" Harry questioned, a bit of pleading look in his own eyes.

Lily almost laughed. "I invited her last year. Besides, I thought it would be nice for you to meet Scorpius. And he's never been to a house that had Muggle things in it. He's curious."

Harry sighed. "You know that your brothers are going to kick up a fuss when they find out?"

Lily almost squealed. "They always have a problem with something. So, can he?" she asked again, even though she already knew his answer.

He sighed again. "I guess. Just give me a heads up a day early."

Lily smiled brightly. "Well, he might be here tomorrow."

Harry shook his head and gazed at her with fondness in his eyes. "Thanks for the warning, sweetheart."

Lily raced out his study, and up to her room. She started to write a quick letter. She and Scorpius had been discussing having him over for a few days through letters. They both were bored, and they knew it would be fun to hang out, especially when they knew it would irritate her brothers. What better way to entertain them?

The next morning, Lily sat at the breakfast table, waiting for the mail. But then her father dropped the news.

"Oh, Ginny, I forgot to mention, I told Lily that she could have Scorpius over for a few days," Harry stated.

"What?" James and Albus exclaimed angrily.

Ginny ignored her two furious sons. "I think that's a fine idea. He's such a nice boy."

"He's an arse!" James argued.

"James Sirius Potter!" Ginny scolded. "You will be nice while he's here, young man!"

James glared balefully at his sister.

An owl came with the mail, and Harry handed Lily a letter as he unfolded the paper. Lily quickly read the letter.

"Dear Lily Lu,

I'm glad that I can come over. What fun we will have! Ha, ha. I just can't wait to see your brothers. I've told my parents that I'll be staying at your house for a day or so, and they don't mind. So, I'll probably Floo over to your house this afternoon, or tomorrow, depending if you get this before you go to sleep, although I doubt that. Sorry if that was confusing. Either way, I'll see you on the 20th.

Sincerely,

Scorpius"

Lily bit back a few giggles. When she refolded the letter, she noticed her father looking at her questioningly. "Scorpius will be here this afternoon."

Harry gave a nod, but said nothing else. The boys, not allowed to say anything, glared. Ginny smiled. "Good to know. I'll have to make a bigger lunch."

"Oh, Mum," Albus said quickly, "Rose is coming over later. She's going to help me clean my room."

"You can't do that alone yet, Albus?" Ginny said with an exasperated look.

Albus shrugged. "There's a lot to clean."

"You should clean it more often. Like, more than once every two years," Harry teased.

Albus rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah."

"Are you working today, James?" Ginny asked.

James nodded, but didn't look too happy. "Yeah, it's gunna be rough. I'm working with Cecilia today, and she talks too much."

Both adults laughed. "Why isn't Fred working with you today?" Harry asked.

Lily was curious when both boys looked a little annoyed. "He's mad at me," James replied. "But he'll get over it."

"What happened?" Ginny asked worriedly.

James waved it off. "Nothing, just a tiff. Like I said, he'll get over it."

"I'm sure you two will get past it," Harry told him. "You've been best friends for too long."

James looked like he wanted to say something else, but he kept his mouth shut.

Later, after James had gone to work, and Albus had disappeared to his room to clean with Rose, Lily was waiting in the living room. She was waiting for Scorpius to show up. He finally did, not even tripping. Lily envied his graceful steps. She always tripped or at least stumbled.

"Why hello, Lily Lu," Scorpius greeted with a smile.

Lily smiled too. "Welcome to the Potter house. And be ready. James has left, but Rose has joined us."

Scorpius chuckled. "What fun!" He placed a bag down next to the couch. Then he moved over to the tv. "So, this is a . . . televisable?"

It took all of Lily's restraint to not laugh. "A television. It uses electricity, and it lets us watch Muggle shows and sports," Lily explained. "Do you know what shows are?"

Scorpius nodded as he examined the tv. "Yeah, I remember that from Muggle Studies. They don't really make sense to me, but I know what they are."

Lily grinned. "Would you like to watch one?"

Scorpius raised a brow. "Can we?"

Lily pointed to the couch. "Sit down. I'll give you a better lesson than Professor Fleet can."

For the next few hours, Lily and Scorpius watched tv shows, cartoons, and a few sports. Watching sports led Lily to having to explain the rules to Scorpius, who kept calling fouls for things that didn't exist in the Muggle world.

"You can't hit someone for the ball in soccer," Lily said with a roll of her eyes.

"That's stupid!" Scorpius exclaimed. "First, you can't use your hands, and then you can't hit someone? What good are hands then?"

Lily laughed. "It's a good thing you don't play Muggle sports, then."

Scorpius just waved her comments off as he leaned back. "Alright, so I've seen a 'tv', what else is there?"

"Grab your bag. I'll show you my room. There are a few other Muggle things in there I can show you," Lily told him.

Scorpius did as she asked, and followed her up the stairs. And they were lucky enough to reach the second floor just as Albus and Rose were leaving Albus's room. Both faces twisted into disgust when they saw them. Lily and Scorpius just stared on innocently.

"Go get a shovel, Rose. I see a snake we should cut in half," Albus mocked.

Scorpius just smiled politely. "Why hello, Al. May I call you that? After all, we'll be in the same house for a few days."

Lily tried not to laugh as she saw the anger swirl in her brother's eyes. "Well, Scorp, we should continue. Albus's face here looks like it might explode, and I don't want to dirty my shirt." Ignoring the two's sour looks, Lily led Scorpius to the door that led to her room. She let him in, and smiled at her brother and cousin before closing the door. Scorpius was looking around.

"For being a girl, you have an awesome room . . . except for one thing," he said with a grin.

Lily raised a brow as she sat on her bed. "And what would that be?"

"I don't see a Slytherin banner, or even a poster," he said with mock offense.

Lily grinned. "Well, you're right. I'll have to fix that."

Scorpius held up a hand. "No worries. I know just how to get one."

Lily fell back to stare at her ceiling. "How is that?"

"Lana. Her dad's got a few that graduating kids have left in the dorms. That's how I got mine," he replied. He plopped down on the bed next to her, jolting her entire body.

Lily laughed. "Moocher."

"Your point?" he quipped. He gave a sigh. "So, where am I sleeping?"

"You are getting the most comfortable bed ever! We call it a couch," Lily joked.

Scorpius laughed. "That is awesome! Just the place I wanted to sleep!"

Lily smiled and turned to look at him. "I'll make sure that my brothers cause no trouble."

"And I'll pray that I live through the night," he teased. Lily giggled and stared back up at her ceiling. "So, is this the book Slughorn gave you?" Lily glanced over to the Severus Snape's book in his hands.

"Yeah, that's the one," she told him.

He hummed for a moment as he thumbed through it. "Who's this?"

Lily sat up to see that he had her picture of her grandmother in his hands. "That's my grandma. The one that died."

Scorpius hummed shortly again. "You look a lot like her. Around the eyes and such."

"You're not the first person to tell me that," Lily murmured.

"How many other people told you that?" he asked.

"Only one other," she said with a small laugh. "Slughorn gave me that as well. He said he has a lot of pictures of his favorite past students and Slug Club members, so he gave it to me."

Lily watched as Scorpius stared at the picture, seeming to want to speak. Finally he looked at her. "Can I see where your grandparents are buried?"

Lily raised a brow. "Why would you want to see that?"

His cheeks turned pink. "Well, don't laugh, but I've never seen a graveyard beyond the creepy one in my own backyard."

Lily laughed. "Um, sure. I'll show you. Come on."

They both stood up, and left Lily's room. They both went to the front door, and began to slip on their shoes and coats.

"Mum, Scorpius and I are going to take a walk!" Lily called.

"Be back before dark," her mother called back.

"Kay," Lily yelled. Then she looked at Scorpius. "Well, shall we?"

Scorpius smirked and nodded. "Lead the way."

They walked outside, and Lily immediately started toward the cemetery. As they walked, Scorpius asked about the village, so Lily told him about living in Godric's Hollow. Festivities, past, and the Muggles that lived there. And as they went, she explained certain Muggle things, like cars and Christmas lights, and how they are put up without magic.

"That sounds like a lot of work," Scorpius muttered after her explanation. Lily just shook her head. He really hadn't seen many Muggle things.

"Hello, Lily!"

Lily looked to see an elderly woman waving at her as she was stepping into her home. She smiled and waved back. "Hello, Mrs. Dempsey! Having a nice holiday?"

"I know I'm having a cold one," the woman said with a laugh. "Come over sometime this week, I haven't seen you for over a year it seems."

Lily gave a laugh. "I will. Goodbye, Mrs. Dempsey."

"Happy Christmas, Lily!" And with that, the woman closed her front door.

Scorpius instantly looked at Lily. "Who was that?"

Lily smiled as they started to walk again. "Mrs. Dempsey, and elderly woman that adored my parents when they were young and first moved here. Now she adores us kids. When my parents' work schedules get hectic, she offers to watch us. She's really nice."

"She a Muggle?" Scorpius asked.

Lily nodded. "Yeah. So, she's how I really know a lot about Muggles. Her, my father, my aunt Hermione, and my grandfather all contribute to my knowledge of Muggles."

"Remind me to meet your grandfather sometime then," Scorpius said with a smile.

They came to the cemetery, and Lily led him past the gate. "Here is where we bury the dearly departed. Ignotus Peverell is buried here, as is Godric Gryffindor, and the Dumbledore family," she told him. Then she led them over to where her father had taken her once on Halloween. "And here is where James and Lily Potter are buried."

Scorpius looked down at the joint grave. He moved forward to brush away a bit of snow. "It's bare," he noted.

"My father usually waits until Christmas to put flowers here again. He said that on Christmas during the war was the first time he'd come here. So he does it every year," Lily explained.

Scorpius walked away, and Lily watched him. She watched as he went over to a rose bush, and carefully plucked off a rose. He started to walk back to her. "I'm surprised these still grow," he commented.

"Magic. There's a lot of it in this village, even if the Muggles don't ever notice it," Lily replied. "They just make up their own reasons for the odd things around here."

Scorpius gave a nod as he placed the flower before the grave. He smiled when he looked back at her. "Just so they know that it's not just their son thinking about them this Christmas."

Lily smiled softly, and she went and carefully picked a rose of her own. Then she came back, and kneeled down in front of the grave. She placed the rose next to Scorpius's. "Happy Christmas, Grandma and Grandpa," Lily whispered, looking at the grave.

Scorpius kneeled down next to her. "Happy Christmas, Mr. and Mrs. Potter."